BJP MLA, Usha Thakur Called For A Sharia-Like Punishment ‘Chop Hands, Gouge Eyes’ Of Those Guilty Of ‘Love Jihad’
New Age Islam News Bureau
30 May 2025
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Usha Thakur has demanded a Sharia-like punishment for love jihad.(Facebook account/Usha Thakur)
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· BJP MLA, Usha Thakur Called For A Sharia-Like Punishment ‘Chop Hands, Gouge Eyes’ Of Those Guilty Of ‘Love Jihad’
· ‘Radicalised’ Engineer,Who Wanted To Attain ‘Jannat’, Attacked Madrasa Staff After They Refused To Answer His ‘Absurd’ Questions
· Chhattisgarh HC Refuses To Quash FIR Against Professors Who ‘Asked155 Students To Offer Namaz’On Eid During An NSS Camp
· How Saudi Arabia Is Leveraging AI To Strengthen Cybersecurity And Combat Cybercriminals
· 44 Killed In Israel Attacks In Gaza, After Food Warehouse Looted
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India
· Flanked By ISI Men At Lahore Rally, Pahalgam Attack Plotter, Saifullah Kasuri, Says He Is ‘More Famous Now’
· Religious Preacher, Swami Rambhadracharya, Seeks Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir As Gurudakshina From Army Chief
· BJP MLC Who Suggested IAS Officer Had Come From Pakistan Gets Interim Relief Against Arrest
· Mass resignations in Congress minority unit in Mangaluru over ‘revenge killings’
· Karnataka may send Muslim reservation bill to President for assent
· In Bengal, PM Reminds Bangla Of Pakistan's 'Torture' Amid Warming Dhaka-Islamabad Ties
· Himachal court extends Sanjauli mosque demolition stay order
· K’taka transfers top DK cops, forms new force to nix communal trouble
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Arab World
· Kingdom’s Higher Education Gaining Global Prominence
· India’s Parliamentary Delegation Meets Saudi Officials, Underscores Strong Position Against Terrorism
· Saudi FM meets with chairperson of African Union Commission
· Saudi Arabia shortens Friday sermons and prayers during Hajj amid extreme heat
· Medical Specialists In Makkah Save Egyptian Pilgrim From Losing Eyesight
· King Abdulaziz University highlights academic programs, global partnerships at NAFSA 2025
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Mideast
· Macron Says Stance On Israel Must ‘Harden’ Unless Gaza Situation Improves
· US says that Israel accepts Gaza ceasefire plan; Hamas cool to it
· Cyprus Offers Syrian Families Money To Resettle And Work Permits For Main Earners
· Muslim Scholars Union Calls For Designating Friday As Day Of Support For Al-Aqsa Mosque
· Zionist Forces Raise Flag Over Mosque Dome In Tulkarm
· Islamic Jihad: Israeli New Settlement Plans War Crime
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Africa
· Paramilitaries Claim Capture Of Key Sudan Towns
· Court orders Oyo mosque’s reopening three years after
· Uganda: Over 600 Ugandan Muslim Pilgrims Depart for Hajj Amid Visa Setbacks
· Kano Police Arrest 41 Suspects In Connection With DPO’s Murder
· Scores Killed In Fresh Benue Attack
· Kenyan literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong'o mourned as a cultural icon
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Europe
· Samarkand Hosts International Forum On Spiritual Heritage And Cultural Expression Of Islamic World
· Over 30 religious officials from Türkiye and Georgia on official visit to Azerbaijan
· Polish knife-edge presidential vote pits liberal mayor against conservative
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North America
· CAIR Condemns French Government’s “Bigoted, Fascist” Targeting of European Counter-Islamophobia Group
· Lawsuit Filed Against Melvindale Police By Muslim Officer Alleging Systemic Racism
· Trump commutes gang leader's sentence in flurry of pardons
· Sean 'Diddy' Combs raped and attacked ex-assistant, she tells court
· Five ways the world's richest man changed the White House
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Southeast Asia
· PM Anwar: 13MP Priorities Guided By State-Led Requests, Not Putrajaya Alone
· Jakim, Domestic Trade Ministry Step Up Checks On Halal Certificate Holders After Melaka Hotel Breaches
· Minister Umar leaves choice of Damm sacrifice site to pilgrims
· King graces Yasin recital in conjunction with birthday celebration
· PM Anwar to Sabah: Let industry lead TVET training to avoid skills mismatch
· Lynas, Kelantan join forces to tap local rare earths for Kuantan plant
· Home minister’s WhatsApp hacked via foreign VPN, police launch probe
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South Asia
· No Responsibility For Actions Beyond Party Discipline: Jamaat Ameer
· ICT prosecution seeks responsible cooperation from all in ensuring justice
· 4,813 bodies of migrant workers arrived in 2024
· New Telecommunication Sites to Be Established in Paktika Province
· Afghan, UNODC authorities discuss counter-narcotics cooperation
· Herat hosts meeting on Afghan-Turkmen sports cooperation
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/sharia-punishment-gouge-eyes-love-jihad/d/135720
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BJP MLA, Usha Thakur Called For A Sharia-Like Punishment ‘Chop Hands, Gouge Eyes’ Of Those Guilty Of ‘Love Jihad’
May 29, 2025
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Usha Thakur has demanded a Sharia-like punishment for love jihad.(Facebook account/Usha Thakur)
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Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Usha Thakur has called for a Sharia-like punishment for ‘criminals’ indulging in love jihad. Speaking to news agency PTI on Thursday, the BJP MLA in Indore stated that criminals who violate the law by indulging in 'love jihad' should have their “eyes gouged out and hands chopped off.”
“Sharia, the traditional Islamic law, has a provision for such harsh punishments for such criminals, ” she said.
The former state culture minister further told PTI that the “criminals” involved in the alleged love jihad cases in Indore and Bhopal “very maliciously say they are doing 'sawab' (virtuous) work.”
"If these people are openly violating the anti-love jihad law, then according to Sharia, their eyes should be gouged out and their hands should be chopped off. I think there is a provision for such strict punishment in Sharia for thieves, characterless people and criminals who spoil the lives of other people," Thakur said.
"If such evil people are caught (by the police), they will not be spared. Their houses, property, and everything will be confiscated, and they will roam the road as beggars. Only then will they stop doing such demonic acts," she added further.
Earlier this month, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the Madhya Pradesh police to investigate alleged cases of love jihad in the state.
This SIT probe comes after the Bhopal rape and blackmail case, in which a group of men were accused of raping college students while hiding their religious identity.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madhya-pradesh-bjp-mla-says-chop-hands-gouge-eyes-of-those-guilty-of-love-jihad-101748520936001.html
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‘Radicalised’ Engineer,Who Wanted To Attain ‘Jannat’, Attacked Madrasa Staff After They Refused To Answer His ‘Absurd’ Questions
May 30, 2025
In Bongaon, Humayun Kabir attacked teachers and staff at the Hafizia Kharizia Orphanage Madrasa with a knife, injuring four individuals critically.
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BONGAON: Thirty-five-year-old Humayun Kabir first asked those present at the Hafizia Kharizia Orphanage Madrasa about their knowledge of Islam.
Only when they refused to respond to his "absurd" and "irrelevant" questions and asked him to leave, did he draw out his knife and slash at all those present close to him.
Jafar Ali Mondal (46), Meheruddin Mondal (60), Sofiar Mondal (70), and Hasanur Molla (26), who taught and worked in the orphanage-madrasa, sustained severe stab injuries on their heads, faces, hands, back and shoulders. They are now being treated in the Bongaon Jiban Ratan Dhar Sub-Divisional Hospital. Their condition is critical but stable.
A day after Kabir's horrific attack, the students, boarders, teachers, and other staff members of the Bongaon orphanage are still struggling to overcome the shock and fear. The orphanage-madrasa, located beside the Bongaon-Bagdah Road at Eidgah Maidan in Motiganj under Bongaon Municipality, has been there for three decades. It is located about six kilometres from the India-Bangladesh border.
According to sources, the incident occurred around 6.30 pm on Wednesday, just after the evening Azaan, when the students were preparing for their regular studies. Sources said Kabir was asking absurd and irrelevant questions about Islam. When he was asked to leave, he suddenly pulled out a sharp weapon and attacked the people inside the madrasa.
"Suddenly, the unknown young man entered the madrasa without asking anyone. He began raising religious topics and started asking various irrelevant and absurd questions about Islam. When we protested and asked him to leave, he drew out a sharp weapon and attacked us. Four of us were seriously injured by his frenzied and reckless blows. We screamed in terror. Hearing our cries, locals rushed in and somehow managed to disarm him and informed the police," a madrasa teacher said, requesting anonymity.
The locals immediately caught and tied him while some also beat him up before handing him over to the police. Despite being injured, Kabir reportedly showed no remorse. "He kept repeating that he killed his parents because they disliked the poor and treated them like servants.
He claimed he wanted to attain 'Jannat' (heaven)," said Riaz Ali Mollah, a local trader who witnessed the incident. "We live in peace. A Kali temple, a mosque, and this madrasa have coexisted in harmony for years. It is terrifying to see such violence in a place meant for orphaned children," said Debasish Mondal, a local resident.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/radicalised-bengal-engineer-attacked-madrasa-staff-after-they-refused-to-answer-his-absurd-questions-claimed-he-wanted-to-attain-jannat/articleshow/121502051.cms
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Chhattisgarh HC Refuses To Quash FIR Against Professors Who ‘Asked155 Students To Offer Namaz’On Eid During An NSS Camp
by Jayprakash S Naidu
May 30, 2025
The counsel for the professors argued that the complaint by students was lodged on April 14, after a delay of 14-15 days, and that the complaint was “politically motivated”.
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The Chhattisgarh High Court in a recent order dismissed two petitions seeking quashing of an FIR registered by Kota police in April this year against professors of Guru Ghasidas Central University in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district for purportedly asking 155 students to offer namaz on Eid during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp.
The High Court cited a Supreme Court ruling from 2021, which said courts should not thwart any investigation into cognisable offences and not scuttle criminal proceedings at the initial stage, and that the power to quash proceedings should be exercised sparingly.
“When a prayer for quashing the FIR is made by the alleged accused, the court when it exercises the power under Section 482 CrPC, only has to consider whether or not the allegations in the FIR disclose the commission of a cognizable offence and is not required to consider on merits whether the allegations make out a cognizable offence or not and the court has to permit the investigating agency/police to investigate the allegations in the FIR,” the High Court observed.
One petition seeking quashing of the FIR was filed by the coordinator for the NSS camp, Professor Dilip Jha, who was arrested in the case and was granted bail. The second petition was filed by six assistant professors, who were also named as accused in the case. As per the FIR, the students had gone to Shivtarai village in March this year as part of the NSS camp, and on the day of Eid, non-Muslims students were also purportedly asked to offer namaz along with the Muslim students. The petitioners deny that any student was forced to offer namaz.
The counsel for the professors argued that the complaint by students was lodged on April 14, after a delay of 14-15 days, and that the complaint was “politically motivated”. Even though 150 students participated in the camp, only three lodged the FIR, the petitioners argued.
“The participants were not compelled by the petitioners to offer namaz, and on a false accusation, the police registered the offence,” the counsel argued.
On the other hand, the counsel for the state argued, “The petitioners, by using words and visible representations, compelled the complainants, who belong to the Hindu religion, to offer namaz.”
Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey dismissed the petition, pointing out that the petitioners are already out on bail, investigations are ongoing, and observations cannot be made on the merits of the case.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-high-court-refuses-to-quash-fir-against-professors-who-asked-students-to-offer-namaz-10037399/
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How Saudi Arabia is leveraging AI to strengthen cybersecurity and combat cybercriminals
SULAFA ALKHUNAIZI
May 29, 2025
“AI is transforming imper- sonation scams by making them more convincing, more scalable, and harder to detect,” said Zainab Alamin. (Images credit: Shutterstock/Pexels)
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RIYADH: As generative artificial intelligence reshapes industries and transforms daily life, it is also fueling a new generation of cybercrime — smarter, faster, and harder to detect. Across the Gulf region, governments and tech leaders are working hard to stay one step ahead.
At the heart of this regional defense is Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority and its Cybersecurity Toolkit, which offers a template to shield critical infrastructure and public services from digital threats.
“The Cybersecurity Toolkit offers public and private sector organizations a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance cyber readiness and reduce cyber risks,” Zainab Alamin, vice president of national digital transformation at Microsoft Arabia, told Arab News.
Available in Arabic and English, the toolkit is part of the NCA’s mission to embed cyber resilience across the Kingdom.
But the NCA’s efforts go beyond templates. Its national cybersecurity portal, HASEEN, helps manage and develop cyber services, while the CyberIC Program cultivates homegrown expertise to defend Saudi systems from evolving threats.
“Recognizing the importance of public awareness, the authority also launched the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, which aims to raise cybersecurity awareness among all segments of society,” said Alamin.
And the investment is substantial. “Saudi Arabia has significantly increased its investment in cybersecurity, with spending reaching SR13.3 billion ($3.5 billion) in 2023, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding its digital infrastructure,” she added.
But while Saudi Arabia is stepping up, so are cybercriminals. Generative AI has made it drastically easier to forge realistic emails, clone voices, and generate deepfake videos, giving fraudsters a dangerous new edge.
“As AI models improve, the output becomes more authentic, contextually accurate, and emotionally manipulative — making it increasingly difficult for traditional detection systems and even well-informed users to distinguish real from fake,” said Alamin.
Gone are the clumsy phishing emails littered with typos. Today’s scams are polished and personalized. “AI is transforming impersonation scams by making them more convincing, more scalable, and harder to detect,” said Alamin.
Microsoft Arabia’s latest Cyber Signals report revealed the extent to which criminals are exploiting generative AI.
“In this new wave of fraud, AI is being used to produce everything from hyper-realistic images and fake videos to cloned voices, personalized phishing messages, and even entire fraudulent websites,” said Alamin.
The threat is not theoretical. “Imagine receiving a voicemail that sounds exactly like your manager asking you to urgently transfer funds, or an email that looks and reads just like one from your bank, complete with branding and a personalized message,” said Alamin.
“These are no longer far-fetched scenarios; they are happening right now.”
Deepfakes can hijack video calls. Voice clones mimic family members or executives. Even phishing links now use language models to tailor tone and content.
“Thousands of phishing emails can now be tailored with just a few prompts, mimicking tone, language, and even regional nuances,” said Alamin.
In response, Microsoft is deploying its own AI-powered defenses. From April 2024 to April 2025, its systems blocked $4 billion in fraud attempts and prevented over 49,000 fraudulent partnership enrolments.
“We also work closely with law enforcement and industry partners to share threat intelligence and combat criminal misuse of AI,” said Alamin. “Scammers are evolving fast, but so are we.”
Microsoft’s platforms, such as Defender for Cloud and Entra, use AI to detect and neutralize cyber threats across email, chat, and cloud infrastructure.
Edge, the company’s browser, now offers typo and domain impersonation protection, as well as a “Scareware Blocker” to shut down alarming pop-up scams.
“In addition, our identity and access management tools, like Microsoft Entra, help organizations enforce Zero Trust principles, ensuring that no one is trusted by default, whether human or AI-generated,” said Alamin.
Yet the battle is not just technical — it’s also behavioral. “In the age of AI-assisted scams, both individuals and organizations need to adopt a more proactive, layered approach to cybersecurity. This means combining technology, awareness, and policy to build digital resilience.”
Education remains key. “Scammers often try to short-circuit your judgment with fear or pressure. A perfect example of this is ‘limited-time’ deals and countdown timers when online shopping,” said Alamin.
Other signs of AI-generated deception include overly formal language, generic greetings, or unusual phrasing. “If something ‘feels’ off, trust your instincts and immediately stop engaging,” she added.
For deepfakes and voice clones, look for unnatural lip-sync, poor lighting, or glitchy visuals. Subtle typos in domain names or email addresses can also be giveaways. And always verify communications that involve sensitive information — especially money.
“If you receive a call, video, or email that seems unusual — even from someone you know — double-check it via another trusted channel,” said Alamin. “Also, avoid direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency payments, which lack fraud protections.”
Saudi Arabia is not alone in its response. Gulf nations, from the UAE to Oman, are advancing cybersecurity frameworks aligned with global standards. The UAE recently launched its Green Bond and Sukuk Framework, with cybersecurity embedded in its digital finance architecture.
Microsoft’s regional partnerships reflect this shared urgency to modernize defenses without stifling innovation.
“Tools that generate text, synthesize voice, or create hyper-realistic imagery can empower innovation in education, accessibility, and customer service,” said Alamin. “However, in the wrong hands, they can be weaponized for scams, misinformation, and manipulation.”
That dual-use challenge is at the heart of the cybersecurity conundrum. “A key challenge is intent. AI doesn’t have ethics, but its users do.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602659/saudi-arabia
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44 killed in Israel attacks in Gaza, after food warehouse looted
May 29, 2025
GAZA CITY: At least 44 people were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, rescuers said, a day after a World Food Programme warehouse in the center of the territory was looted by desperate Palestinians.
After a more than two-month blockade, aid has finally begun to trickle back into Gaza, but the humanitarian situation remains dire after 18 months of devastating war. Food security experts say starvation is looming for one in five people.
The Israeli military has also recently stepped up its offensive in the territory in what it says is a renewed push to destroy Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war.
Gaza civil defense official Mohammad Al-Mughayyir told AFP “44 people have been killed in Israeli raids,” including 23 in a strike on home in Al-Bureij.
“Two people were killed and several injured by Israeli forces’ gunfire this morning near the American aid center in the Morag axis, southern Gaza Strip,” he added.
The center, run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), is part of a new system for distributing aid that Israel says is meant to keep supplies out of the hands of Hamas, but which has drawn criticism from the United Nations and the European Union.
“What is happening to us is degrading. The crowding is humiliating us,” said Gazan Sobhi Areef, who visited a GHF center on Thursday.
“We go there and risk our lives just to get a bag of flour to feed our children.”
The Israeli military said it was looking into the reported deaths in Al-Bureij and near the aid center.
Separately, it said in a statement that its forces had struck “dozens of terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip” over the past day.
In a telephone call Thursday with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Israel’s “systematic starvation tactics have crossed all moral and legal boundaries.”
On Wednesday, thousands of desperate Palestinians stormed a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in central Gaza, with Israel and the UN trading blame over the deepening hunger crisis.
AFP footage showed crowds of Palestinians breaking into the WFP facility in Deir Al-Balah and taking bags of emergency food supplies as gunshots rang out.
“Hordes of hungry people broke into WFP’s Al-Ghafari warehouse in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, in search of food supplies that were pre-positioned for distribution,” the UN agency said in a statement.
The issue of aid has come sharply into focus amid starvation fears and intense criticism of the GHF, which has bypassed the longstanding UN-led system in the territory.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told the Security Council that aid was entering Gaza by truck — under limited authorization by Israel at the Kerem Shalom crossing — and accused the UN of “trying to block” GHF’s work through “threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate.”
The UN has said it is doing its utmost to facilitate distribution of the limited assistance allowed by Israel’s authorities.
The world body said 47 people were wounded Tuesday when crowds of Palestinians rushed a GHF site. A Palestinian medical source reported at least one death.
GHF, however, alleged in a statement that there had been “several inaccuracies” circulating about its operations, adding “there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail.”
But 60-year-old Abu Fawzi Faroukh, who visited a GHF center Thursday, said the situation there was “so chaotic.”
“The young men are the ones who have received aid first, yesterday and today, because they are young and can carry loads, but the old people and women cannot enter due to the crowding,” he told AFP.
Negotiations on a ceasefire, meanwhile, have continued, with US envoy Steve Witkoff expressing optimism and saying he expected to propose a plan soon.
But Gazans remained pessimistic.
“Six hundred days have passed and nothing has changed. Death continues, and Israeli bombing does not stop,” said Bassam Daloul, 40.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Out of 251 hostages seized during the attack, 57 remain in Gaza including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Thursday that at least 3,986 people had been killed in the territory since Israel ended the ceasefire on March 18, taking the war’s overall toll to 54,249, mostly civilians.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602611/middle-east
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India
Flanked By ISI Men At Lahore Rally, Pahalgam Attack Plotter, Saifullah Kasuri, Says He Is ‘More Famous Now’
May 30, 2025
NEW DELHI: Top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander and one of the plotters of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack Saifullah Kasuri made inflammatory remarks against India at a rally in Lahore on Wednesday. Surrounded by Pakistani security forces, fellow terrorist commanders and officials of Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, Kasuri seemed to relish the infamy he had attracted for the massacre of innocent civilians marked out on the basis of their faith.
"I have become more famous since being accused of the attack," he gloated, as per information reaching here.
Kasuri, who had earlier disclaimed responsibility for the slaughter in Pahalgam, was sharing the stage with US-designated terrorist Talha Saeed, son of Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed, along with Malik Ahmad Khan, speaker of the Punjab assembly - something that once again laid bare Pakistan's claim of having taken action against terrorists.
Talha publicly lauded Pakistan's so called Bunyan al-Marsoos operation, in retaliation to India's Operation Sindoor. "Allah loves those who engage in jihad," he said while Kasuri and others cheered.
The speeches appeared to be meant to rally members of the jihadi outfit after India's successful precision strikes on the Lashkar headquarters in Muridke which killed several terrorists.
In an apparent reference to PM Narendra Modi's remarks a few days ago, Kasuri said they were not afraid of bullets. "Narendra Modi samajhta hai hum goliyon se darne wale hain? Ye uski bhool hai (Modi is mistaken if he thinks we are scared of bullets)," he said. Addressing at a rally at Bhuj earlier this week, the PM had said Pakistan should be ready to face India's bullets if it did not stop using terror as a weapon.
Kasuri had earlier claimed that he had no role to play in the Pahalgam carnage. On Wednesday, he was all fire and brimstone.
While claiming that Pakistan had avenged the 1971 war and the vivisection of Pakistan by the then PM Indira Gandhi, Kasuri went on to praise Pakistan's cyber team for 'targeting' India's critical infrastructure pertaining to communications and railways.
During the rally, he also referenced the upcoming elections and asked the people of Kasur (his hometown) if they'd support him running against Modi in the next election. He styled himself as a thorn in India's side. "Main rehta hun Hindustan ke dil me kaante ki tarah. Apne rab ka shukr karta hu. Agla election Modi ke muqable mai na lad lun," he said.
He also said that India had tried a lot to isolate Pakistan and specific individuals, but now it was they who stood isolated. Kasuri was spotted in Kanganpur army base in Punjab in the run-up to the Pahalgam attack where he exhorted Pakistani soldiers and spewed venom against India.
On Hafiz Saeed's instructions, Kasuri, Talha and Sheikh Sajjad Gul of The Resistance Front are learned to have sent in highly trained terrorists for a "spectacular attack' in Pahalgam.
Kasuri, who was earlier president of Milli Muslim League, was also part of Jamaat-ud-Dawa's coordination committee, the 'charity' wing of Lashkar. Since the Pahalgam attack, the outfits have intensified public rallies to gather funds in the name of supporting the jihad in Kashmir.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/flanked-by-isi-men-at-lahore-rally-pahalgam-attack-plotter-says-he-is-more-famous-now/articleshow/121498420.cms
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Religious Preacher, Swami Rambhadracharya, Seeks Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir As Gurudakshina From Army Chief
Piyush Srivastava
30.05.25
Religious preacher Swami Rambhadracharya on Thursday asked Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as gurudakshina while giving diksha (spiritual initiation) to him and his wife Sunita Dwivedi, saying he “needed it at any cost”.
“I gave them the diksha of Ram mantra. It was the same diskha which Hanumanji had received from Sitaji before invading and winning over Lanka. I demanded PoK in gurudakshina because I need it at any cost,” the seer, who was awarded Padma Vibhushan by the Narendra Modi government in 2015, told local reporters after the hour-long rituals at Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot.
“The world is seeing a new India under Narendra Modi. We demand that he declare the Ramcharitmanas (written by Tulsidas) as a national textbook,” Rambhadracharya said.
Dwivedi, who arrived in an army helicopter, was quoted as telling the students of a school run by the ashram that he was thankful to the Modi government for giving freedom to the forces during Operation Sindoor.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/religious-preacher-seeks-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-as-gurudakshina-from-army-chief-prnt/cid/2104550
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BJP MLC Who Suggested IAS Officer Had Come From Pakistan Gets Interim Relief Against Arrest
May 29, 2025
The Karnataka High Court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to BJP MLC N Ravikumar, who has been booked for comments suggesting that a Muslim IAS officer who did not act in favour of a BJP leader during a Congress protest had “come from Pakistan”.
Ravikumar moved the court with a plea to quash the FIR registered against him on Monday, said his counsel, M Vinod Kumar. A vacation bench, which also ordered the issuance of notices to the state government and the complainant in the case, has posted the matter for hearing on June 6.
The BJP MLC, who is accused of damaging national integrity, making deliberate statements to outrage religious feelings, and of atrocity against members of the SC/ST community, moved the high court after a special court did not grant him anticipatory bail on Wednesday. The special court is due to hear the anticipatory bail plea on Friday.
The MLC also sought an interim stay on the investigation in the case filed under sections 197, 224, 299, 302, 351, and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and section 3(1)(R) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
A social worker in Kalaburagi, Dattatraya Ikkalaki, filed a police complaint against Ravikumar on Monday over his remarks that Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum “might have come from Pakistan” and the MLC’s alleged remarks against Congress minister Priyank Kharge and the Dalit community to which the minister belongs.
In videos that went viral on social media on May 25, the BJP MLC was heard allegedly saying the deputy commissioner’s office at Kalaburagi had lost its independence.
“The DC madam is listening to what they (the Kharge family) say. I don’t know whether she comes from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Listening to your applause, I think she might have come from Pakistan,” Ravikumar said during a BJP protest on May 24.
The special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru heard the BJP MLC’s interim bail application on Wednesday but ruled that the state government must be heard before passing any orders since the provisions of the SC/ST Act had also been cited in the FIR.
The BJP MLC has stated that he had apologised for the remarks made against the IAS officer. BJP state president B Y Vijayendra also said that Ravikumar had apologised for the incident. “This is a closed chapter,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-bjp-mlc-n-ravikumar-ias-officer-pakistan-interim-relief-10036840/
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Mass resignations in Congress minority unit in Mangaluru over ‘revenge killings’
May 30, 2025
MANGALURU/BENGALURU: Several Muslim functionaries of the governing Congress’s minority unit in Dakshina Kannada quit en masse Thursday, accusing the state govt of negligence and failing to protect the community amid a spate of revenge killings.
Hours later, the govt announced a specialised Communal Violence Control Force (CVCF) to curb tensions in the coastal region that includes Mangaluru, and transferred two top police officers.
The resignations were announced during an emergency meeting in Bolar, Mangaluru, attended by both booth-level workers and senior workers. Party workers stormed the stage, demanding justice for Abdul Rahman, secretary of a mosque in Kolathamajalu area who was brutally murdered.
KPCC general secretary MS Mohammed, DK district Congress minority unit president Shahul Hameed and other seniors were present at themeeting, which descended into chaos. The leaders struggled to calm the agitated rank and file. Under intense pressure, Suhail Kandak, who was state secretary in Youth Congress, was the first to step down, triggering a chain reaction and sending a strong message to Congress high command and state govt.
Siddaramaiah issued a stern warning from Bengaluru. “We will take action as per law against anyone involved, irrespective of how influential that person is,” the CM said. Late Thursday evening, the govt transferred Mangaluru City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal and Dakshina Kannada SP Yateesh N to reinforce the message it was serious about curbing violence.
On CVCF govt said it’d comprise personnel from AntiNaxal Force who would be deployed in Mangaluru, Udupi and Shivamogga, districts witnessing heightened communal tensions.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Karnataka may send Muslim reservation bill to President for assent
May 30, 2025
Bengaluru: The govt is considering sending the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to President Droupadi Murmu for assent, after governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot returned it for the second time, insisting it be forwarded to the President.
The bill proposes 4% reservation for Muslims in civil contracts up to Rs 1 crore, besides quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBCs (Category I and II-A) in govt tenders for goods and services. It was passed by the legislature in March.
Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil had planned to convene a meeting with senior officials and legal experts on Thursday to decide the next course of action, but that meeting was postponed. "We will consult our officials and legal team before making a final decision," Patil said.
But senior officials, privy to the developments, said the govt had considered challenging Gehlot's decision in court. However, constitutional experts reportedly advised against legal action, urging the govt to pursue alternative routes instead. The issue is likely to be informally discussed during a key meeting of deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs, which chief minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to chair on Friday.
Gehlot had already referred the bill to the President previously following objections from BJP. The principal opposition party argued that providing reservation based on religion violates constitutional provisions and urged the governor to withhold assent.
The govt then re-sent the bill to Raj Bhavan without amendment but included detailed explanations justifying its stance and requesting the governor's approval. Gehlot, however, remained firm and sent it back again, reiterating that the matter should be placed before the President.
Meanwhile, BJP's state core committee Thursday resolved to step up ongoing agitation against the govt on is-sues of price rise and corruption. The core committee meeting was considered significant as it comes after the expulsion of senior legislators Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, ST Somashekhar and A Shivaram Hebbar. The expulsion of Yatnal especially is seen as a victory for the camp led by state president BY Vijayendra. The panel also decided to defend party MLC N Ravikumar in the row over controversial remarks against the Kalaburagi DC.
Source: indiatimes.com
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In Bengal, PM reminds Bangla of Pakistan's 'torture' amid warming Dhaka-Islamabad ties
Avijit Sinha, Anirban Choudhury
30.05.25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reminded Bangladesh of the 1971 “terror” by Pakistan’s army on its soil, his comments at a public meeting in Alipurduar coming amid an upswing in Dhaka-Islamabad ties since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster last year.
Modi’s visit to Bengal, with less than a year left before the Assembly elections, came as part of his countrywide itinerary to extol Operation Sindoor that has invited accusations of politicising the military offensive.
He faced similar charges on Thursday from chief minister Mamata Banerjee who, speaking in Calcutta, accused the Prime Minister of “playing a political Holi” and alleged the cross-border operation had been named “Sindoor” for partisan reasons.
“The Pakistani army has ‘expertise’ in terror and mass execution. We have not forgotten the atrocities they carried out in today’s Bangladesh (then East Pakistan),” Modi told his audience in Alipurduar, a north Bengal town barely 50km from the Bangladesh border.
“In our neighbouring country, the Pakistani army committed rapes and murders and unleashed a reignof terror.”
Modi’s remarks come at a time when Dhaka-Islamabad relations are witnessing an improvement after decades of stagnation while India-Bangladesh ties have plummeted.
Many politically influential people in Bangladesh, especially representatives of radical groups, have been issuing pro-Pakistan statements while criticising India.
In April, Bangladesh and Pakistan resumed foreign secretary-level talks in Dhaka after a gap of 15 years. Earlier, a military delegation from Bangladesh had travelled to Rawalpindi, the Pakistan army headquarters, and met the army chief and other senior officers.
Reports said that a team from Pakistani spy agency ISI had visited Bangladesh earlier this year.
On the economic front, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has resumed direct bilateral tradewith Pakistan.
Several people convicted of war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War have been acquitted and released, betraying a pro-Pakistan tilt not just in the popular mood but among key institutionsin Bangladesh.
Even on Wednesday, A.T.M. Azharul Islam, a former general secretary of the Jamaat-e-Islami who had been sentenced to death, was acquitted of all war crime cases and released.
Against this background, Modi’s comments represented a caution to Bangladeshis not to forget the past, a retired army officer in Siliguri said.
“The Prime Minister has obliquely passed on the message that Bangladeshis should not forget how the Pakistani army tortured and killed people in their country,” the veteran said.
“It’s an important message at a time when the interim government of Bangladesh is getting closer to Pakistan.”
Modi also referred to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
“They dared to wipe off the sindoor (vermilion)… our army has shown them the strength of the sindoor. We have crushed the terror hubs in Pakistan, a country that has nothing positive to share with the world. They had never dreamt of such an assault,”he said.
Modi accused Pakistan of sponsoring terrorism and planning attacks on India since the Partition in 1947.
“Through this operation (Sindoor), India has made it clear that if there is any terrorist attack in India, the enemy will have to pay a heavy price,” the Prime Minister said.
“Pakistan should realise that we have entered (its territory) thrice and carriedout assaults.”
Operation Sindoor, he reaffirmed, has “not ended yet”.
Mamata’s attack on Modi came later in the afternoon.
“Nowadays, the central government fixes all the names. They gave the name ‘Operation Sindoor’ because they wanted it to catch on politically. I will not go into it right now,” she said.
“Representatives from different political parties, including non-BJP parties, are raising their voice on behalf of the country in foreign nations,” she added, referring to the all-party delegations visiting foreign capitals to convey India’s stand on Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor.
“At this time, in the name of election campaigning, the Prime Minister has entered the political arena to play a political Holi. It is unbecoming and bereft of decency.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Himachal court extends Sanjauli mosque demolition stay order
ByPress Trust of India, Shimla
May 30, 2025
A court here on Thursday extended the stay on the demolition of the disputed mosque located in Sanjaul locality till the time the case is under judicial consideration.
The order was passed by a single bench of additional district and sessions judge Yajuvender Singh.
During the hearing, the Shimla municipal corporation argued that the demolition order issued by the commissioner’s court should be upheld and that no stay should be granted. However, after considering the arguments, the court observed that the matter is fit for detailed hearing and the demolition orders should be stayed. It then scheduled the next hearing of the case for July 5.
On May 26, the court had passed the stay orders and had sought the MC’s reply in this case.The Waqf Board has challenged the orders passed by the commissioner’s court on May 3. The court had directed the remaining two floors of the mosque to be razed, saying the Waqf Board and the Sanjauli Mosque Committee were not able to provide documents regarding the ownership of the mosque’s site.
On October 5, 2024, the commissioner’s court had found the top three floors of the five-storeyed mosque illegal, after which it ordered the mosque committee and the Waqf Board to demolish the floors within eight weeks and also bear the cost of the demolition.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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K’taka transfers top DK cops, forms new force to nix communal trouble
May 30, 2025
Mangaluru/Bengaluru: Following communal tension and a spate of murders in the restive coastal Karnataka, the state govt Thursday night transferred Mangaluru City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal and Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police Yateesh N with immediate effect.
The govt issued transfer order hours after announcing the formation of Communal Violence Control Force (CVCF) comprising personnel from Anti-Naxal Force (ANF). The new force will be deployed in Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga, the three districts witnessing heightened communal tension.
The twin near-simultaneous developments follow a wave of resignations announced by ground-level workers of Congress minority wing in Dakshina Kannada over state govt's alleged failure to protect the minorities in coastal Karnataka. Several Muslim functionaries and office-bearers quit, accusing the govt of negligence and failing to safeguard the Muslim community amid recent targeted killings.
Sources said the police transfer order was to send out a message that the govt is serious about ensuring law and order and no community should feel it's in jeopardy.
The mass resignations were announced during an emergency meeting at Shadi Mahal auditorium in Bolar, Mangaluru, attended by both booth-level workers and senior workers. Party workers stormed the stage, demanding justice for Abdul Rahiman, secretary of Kolathamajalu mosque who was brutally murdered recently.
KPCC general secretary MS Mohammed, DK district Congress minority unit president Shahul Hameed and former corporator Abdul Rauf were present at the meeting, which descended into chaos. Emotional scenes unfolded as leaders struggled to calm the agitated crowd. Workers accused the leadership of backtracking after initially deciding to postpone their resignations.
Under intense pressure, Suhail Kandak, who was state secretary in Youth Congress, was the first to quit as a member of the party, triggering a chain reaction.
Amid uproar, CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru issued a stern warning. "We will take action as per law against anyone involved in it irrespective of how influential that person is. No one is above the law. Law alone is above all," he declared.
To address the escalating crisis, the government has repurposed part of the ANF, now largely dormant following a decline in Naxal activity in Karnataka. Of the 648 existing posts in the ANF, 248 will be allocated to the new force. The govt order on Thursday said, "The new STF will have three companies and they will be established in Udupi, Shivamogga and Mangaluru districts."
According to the order, the Communal Violence Control Force will include an intelligence unit with a technical cell to monitor hate speech and communal activity across media and social platforms. It will also focus on early-warning systems, outreach programmes, and monitoring radicalisation.
The DG&IGP will oversee deployment of CVCF personnel during communal riots. The remaining 376 ANF staffers will continue in service for three more years due to intelligence inputs that Maoists may be shifting from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand to Karnataka's border regions.
Home minister G Parameshwara said the Mangaluru murder had forced the government into immediate action. "We will take action without any hesitation. If such incidents keep recurring, we cannot remain silent. We will further tighten the law," he said.
He reiterated that Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga will be treated as sensitive zones. "We will focus more attention on these three districts," he said. "If hatred spreads, what will remain of society? How can people live in such an environment? The government will not stay silent."
Parameshwara added that investigations into the Mangaluru murder have revealed disturbing details. "Serious information has come to light, and action will be taken accordingly." He also appealed to political leaders to help restore peace. "If they try to provoke people, how can peace be maintained? I have instructed officials to hold peace meetings with religious leaders," he said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/ktaka-transfers-top-dk-cops-forms-new-force-to-nix-communal-trouble/articleshow/121504954.cms
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Arab World
Kingdom’s higher education gaining global prominence
May 29, 2025
WASHINGTON: Taaref bin Yusuf Al-Aama, president of King Abdulaziz University, said that Saudi higher education is gaining prominence around the world.
“Higher education in the Kingdom is experiencing a qualitative renaissance and gaining a prominent position within the global academic landscape,” he said.
“This success is attributed to the unwavering support of the Kingdom’s wise leadership and the strategic vision led by the Ministry of Education in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030.”
In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency during the university’s participation in the NAFSA 2025 International Education Expo in San Diego, US, Al-Aama said: “Saudi universities, including King Abdulaziz University, have made substantial progress in education, research and innovation.”
He also highlighted achievements in pioneering research and patents. This helps build a robust knowledge economy, he said. Through the expo, the university seeks to exchange expertise with international universities and promote its advanced academic programs, Al-Aama added.
Higher education institutions in the Kingdom now offer study programs that operate in line with top international standards, he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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India’s Parliamentary Delegation Meets Saudi Officials, Underscores Strong Position Against Terrorism
RASHID HASSAN
May 29, 2025
RIYADH: An all-party parliamentary delegation from India visited Riyadh to convey the country’s firm stance against terrorism and its continued efforts to combat it.
The delegation is visiting various countries to convey India’s response to terrorism in the aftermath of the military campaign, “Operation Sindoor.”
During the Riyadh visit, from May 27-29, the delegation met a cross-section of political dignitaries, government officials, thought leaders and members of the Indian community.
Led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, the delegation held an extensive interaction with the Indian diaspora organized by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on Thursday. The delegation shared with them the national consensus in the fight against terrorism.
Praising the Indian community, Panda said: “Our Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia continues to make India proud through its success, contributions and standing in local society. Today, we are here with you to share India’s united national stance, the success of Operation Sindoor, and our unwavering commitment to combat cross-border terrorism with a zero-tolerance approach.”
On Wednesday, the all-party delegation had discussions with Adel Al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, and underscored India’s position.
The Indian delegation appreciated the support received from the political leadership in Saudi Arabia in condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
Delegates reiterated India’s policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism, highlighting what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech earlier this month: “This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism.”
It also held a meeting with Dr. Mishaal Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of the Shoura Council, and Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Alharbi, chairman of the Saudi-India Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Shoura Council, and conveyed India’s strong position against terrorism.
It expressed deep gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
The delegation also met Dr. Mushabab bin Ayed Al-Qahtani, director general of the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies, and held discussions with the Institute on India’s approach to countering terror.
In all the meetings, the Indian delegation underlined that India has received unwavering support from Saudi Arabia on issues related to counter-terrorism. Both countries will continue to work together in their efforts toward de-radicalization and curbing extremism.
On Wednesday night, the Indian Embassy hosted a dinner interaction with distinguished personalities from Saudi civil society, which gave an opportunity for further discussions on countering terrorism as well as broader topics related to the India-Saudi bilateral partnership.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM meets with chairperson of African Union Commission
May 29, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Riyadh on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed aspects of relations between the Kingdom and the union and ways to strengthen them in various fields. Topics of common interest were also discussed.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia shortens Friday sermons and prayers during Hajj amid extreme heat
May 30, 2025
Dubai: Friday sermons and prayers will be shortened during the 2025 Hajj season in Mecca and Medina to help alleviate the effects of extreme summer heat, according to directives issued by Sheikh Abdulrahman Al Sudais, President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
The decision is intended to ease physical strain on pilgrims and worshippers, particularly the elderly and those gathered in densely populated areas such as the Mataf (the circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba), the upper floors, and the open courtyards.
It also includes reducing the interval between the call to prayer and the start of the sermon, to further minimise exposure to intense heat.
Sheikh Al Sudais stated that the measure reflects the presidency’s responsibility to ensure a safe, comfortable, and spiritually uplifting environment for worshippers at the Two Holy Mosques, in line with the leadership’s directives and commitment to the well-being of pilgrims.
He emphasised that the move aligns with Islamic principles that prioritise the alleviation of hardship, particularly under challenging circumstances such as extreme weather, and considers the arrival of millions of pilgrims from around the world.
In his address, Sheikh Al Sudais called on all visitors and pilgrims to diligently fulfil their religious obligations, including prayer, zakat, fasting, and the rites of Hajj.
He also urged Muslims to embrace compassion, kindness, and generosity, especially during this sacred time, noting that such values reflect the noble character and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
He concluded by encouraging pilgrims to seize the spiritual opportunities of Hajj, drawing benefit for both this life and the hereafter.
Source: gulfnews.com
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Medical specialists in Makkah save Egyptian pilgrim from losing eyesight
May 30, 2025
MAKKAH: Quick and precise intervention by a medical team at the Eye Health Center of King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah saved the sight of an Egyptian pilgrim who experienced sudden vision loss, Saudi health authorities announced on Thursday.
A series of examinations revealed that the patient was suffering from retinal detachment accompanied by cataracts, an emergency eye condition that can result in permanent vision loss if not treated promptly, said a Makkah Health Cluster statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
After a one-day surgery, the patient was discharged in stable condition and was able to continue with her Hajj rituals safely and with comfort.
"She is now receiving close medical follow-up to ensure retinal stability and gradual improvement in her vision," the health cluster said.
Each year, Saudi Arabia deploys around 50,000 healthcare and technical professionals to work 24 hours daily during Hajj to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims.
Last year, the Ministry of Health said more than 142,000 pilgrims benefited from various healthcare services provided by health centers and hospitals.
Of the number, 4,082 were admissions to hospitals and medical centers, out of which 24 open-heart surgeries, 249 cardiac catheterizations, and 1,006 dialysis sessions were rendered.
Source: arabnews.com
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King Abdulaziz University highlights academic programs, global partnerships at NAFSA 2025
ARAB NEWS
May 29, 2025
RIYADH: King Abdulaziz University is taking part in NAFSA 2025 in San Diego: The Association of International Educators’ Annual Conference and Expo.
It forms part of a Saudi Ministry of Education delegation featuring 12 universities.
Running until Friday, the event has gathered more than 8,000 education professionals from over 100 countries.
KAU is showcasing its academic programs, research achievements, and global collaboration initiatives, with a focus on innovation, talent attraction, and joint academic ventures.
The university is also promoting the Study in Saudi Arabia platform, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a top destination for international students.
Tareef Al-Aama, the president of KAU, said the Kingdom’s higher education sector was undergoing a transformative phase under Vision 2030, supported by strong leadership and strategic planning.
He also emphasized KAU’s commitment to global engagement, academic excellence, and expanding international partnerships.
Source: arabnews.com
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Mideast
Macron says stance on Israel must ‘harden’ unless Gaza situation improves
May 30, 2025
SINGAPORE: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that European countries should “harden the collective position” against Israel if it does not respond appropriately to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
With international pressure mounting on Israel over the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza, Macron said action was needed “in the next few hours and days.” He also asserted recognition of a Palestinian state with conditions was “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity.”
Source: arabnews.com
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US says that Israel accepts Gaza ceasefire plan; Hamas cool to it
May 29, 2025
WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS/CAIRO: I srael has agreed to a US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, the White House said on Thursday, and Hamas said it was reviewing the plan although its terms did not meet the group’s demands.
As a US-backed system for distributing food aid in the shattered enclave expanded, Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted a deal presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
Netanyahu’s office did not confirm the reports, but White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters in Washington that Israel had signed off on the proposal.
She did not detail its contents. A source briefed on the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the initial phase of the proposed deal would include a 60-day ceasefire and the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was studying the proposal, and senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters the group was still discussing it.
But Abu Zuhri said its terms echoed Israel’s position and do not contain commitments to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops or admit aid as Hamas has demanded.
Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March after only two months.
Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely and be dismantled as a military and governing force and that all 58 hostages still held in Gaza must be returned before it will agree to end the war.
Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war.
Aid effort expands
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private group backed by the United States and endorsed by Israel, expanded its aid distribution to a third site on Thursday.
Heavily criticized by the United Nations and other aid groups as inadequate and flawed, the group’s operation began this week in Gaza, where the UN has said 2 million people are at risk of famine after Israel’s 11-week blockade on aid entering the enclave.
The aid launch was marred by tumultuous scenes on Tuesday when thousands of Palestinians rushed distribution points and forced private security contractors to retreat.
The chaotic start to the operation has raised international pressure on Israel to get more food in and halt the fighting in Gaza. GHF has so far supplied about 1.8 million meals and plans to open more sites in the coming weeks.
Witkoff told reporters on Wednesday that Washington was close to “sending out a new term sheet” about a ceasefire to the two sides in the conflict that has raged since October 2023.
“I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict,” Witkoff said then.
Israel has come under increasing international pressure, with many European countries that have normally been reluctant to criticize it openly demanding an end to the war and a major relief effort.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the devastating Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
The campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and left the enclave in ruins.
Source: arabnews.com
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Cyprus offers Syrian families money to resettle and work permits for main earners
May 29, 2025
NICOSIA: Cyprus will offer Syrian families money to help them resettle back in their homeland and allow the main income earners to remain on the island nation for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program, a Cypriot minister said Thursday.
Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides said that a prerequisite for families to qualify for the program is that they must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status already granted to them prior to Dec. 31, 2024.
Unveiling the program, Ioannides said that families wishing to voluntarily return will be given a one-off sum of 2,000 euros ($2,255) for one adult and 1,000 euros ($1,128) for each child. Childless couples are also eligible to apply. The application period runs from June 2 to Aug. 31.
Additionally, the family’s main income earner — either the father or mother will be granted a special residency and work permit allowing them to stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of another year.
Ioannides said that many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country, but are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty surrounding where they’ll be able to earn a living wage.
According to the head of Cyprus’ Asylum Service Andreas Georgiades, the program’s premise is to help families overcome any such reluctance by affording them a modest nest egg with which to cover their immediate needs while enabling the main income earner to continue working and sending money to his family.
The income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria while his or her residency and work permit are valid.
Syrian nationals make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus by far. According to Asylum Service figures, 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year — almost 10 times more than Afghans who are the second-largest group.
“This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria’s post-war transition to normality,” Ioannides said, adding that European Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner considers the program as a potential example for other European Union member countries to follow.
Meanwhile, Ioannides repeated that a 2009 Search and Rescue agreement that Cyprus has with Syria enables Cypriot authorities to send back boatloads of Syrian migrants trying to reach the island nation after they’re rescued in international waters.
Ioannides said that two inflatable boats each loaded with 30 Syrian migrants were turned back in line with the bilateral agreement after being rescued when they transmitted that they were in danger.
Ioannides again denied Cyprus engages in any pushbacks, despite urgings from both the UN refugee agency and Europe’s top human rights body to stop pushing back migrants trying to reach the island by boat.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602620/middle-east
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Muslim Scholars Union calls for designating Friday as day of support for Al-Aqsa Mosque
29 May 2025
The International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) called on Thursday for tomorrow’s Friday to be a day of solidarity with Al-Aqsa Mosque and outrage over the genocide in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the union said, “In light of its religious and moral responsibility, the IUMS urges the scholars, preachers, imams, and religious leaders of the Muslim Ummah to make this Friday—3 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH, corresponding to May 30, 2025—a day of support for Al-Aqsa and condemnation of the occupation’s crimes in Gaza.”
The union renewed its call for a "broad Islamic mobilization" to express absolute rejection of the aggression and affirm the Ummah’s support for the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
It demanded that Friday sermons be dedicated to condemning the Israeli enemy’s aggression against Al-Aqsa Mosque and its atrocities in Gaza, while praising any stance calling for an end to the war and the genocide.
Additionally, the IUMS called for organizing peaceful, civilized demonstrations in major cities and capitals, as well as in front of embassies and international missions, to amplify the Ummah’s voice and pressure for an end to the aggression and the lifting of the siege, according to the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency.
Source: saba.ye
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Zionist forces raise flag over mosque dome in Tulkarm
29 May 2025
Zionist enemy forces raised their flag over the dome of the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the city of Tulkarm.
According to the Palestinian Ma'an Agency on Thursday, eyewitnesses reported that enemy soldiers climbed onto the roof of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque in the center of the Nur Shams camp and hoisted their flag on the minaret.
In a related context, Israeli enemy forces stormed the village of Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah, on Thursday evening.
Local sources reported that a foot patrol from the enemy army entered Nabi Saleh, deployed through its streets, and positioned themselves in the center of the village. No arrests or raids were reported.
Source: saba.ye
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Islamic Jihad: Israeli new settlement plans war crime
29 May 2025
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement on Thursday said the Israeli enemy's approval of a large-scale settlement plan in the West Bank constitutes a new war crime added to its record of crimes, coinciding with the ongoing massacres against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The movement added in a statement, "The plan includes the establishment of 13 settlement cities and the construction of 180,000 housing units by 2050. This is in addition to the announcement by Israeli government ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Yisrael Katz of the establishment of 22 new settlements, some of them near the border with Jordan, in a move aimed at imposing a new settlement reality on the ground."
The statement pointed out that these policies are part of a colonial project aimed at annexing the West Bank, displacing its population, realizing Talmudic fantasies, and enforcing a system of apartheid and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.
Jihad emphasized that these measures represent a slap in the face to anyone who relies on a settlement or international pressure, which has failed even to stop the massacres in Gaza or deliver humanitarian aid.
It stated, "Resistance, especially armed resistance, is the only option to confront these plans, as it is a legitimate right to defend land, rights, and holy sites."
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3490101.htm
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Africa
Paramilitaries claim capture of key Sudan towns
May 30, 2025
PORT SUDAN, Sudan: Paramilitary forces fighting Sudan’s military have said they captured two strategic towns in the war-ravaged nation, which has been hit by a cholera outbreak that killed 70 people in the capital this week.
For more than two years Africa’s third-largest country has been engulfed by a war between the army, led by the nation’s de facto ruler, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The surge in cholera infections comes weeks after drone strikes blamed on the RSF knocked out water and electricity supplies across the capital Khartoum, which now faces a mounting health emergency.
The RSF announced Thursday that its forces had retaken the key towns of Dibeibat, in South Kordofan state, and Al-Khoei, in West Kordofan state, which border South Sudan.
“The liberation of Dibeibat, followed by Al-Khoei, not only means a field victory; it also consolidates the complete control of the RSF over most of the Kordofan region,” an RSF spokesman said in a statement.
Al-Khoei, located around 100 kilometers (62 miles) from El-Obeid — a crossroads between Khartoum and the Darfur region — had been briefly recaptured by the army this month.
Residents confirmed to AFP that Dibeibat, which links the states of North and South Kordofan, was now under RSF control.
The conflict has effectively split Sudan in two: the army controls the center, east and north of the country, while paramilitaries hold almost all of Darfur in the west and parts of the south.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 13 million and created what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Last week, the military-backed government said it had dislodged RSF fighters from their last bases in Khartoum state, two months after retaking the heart of the capital from the paramilitaries.
Khartoum has been a battleground throughout the war and remains devastated, with health and sanitation infrastructure barely functioning.
Up to 90 percent of hospitals in the conflict’s main battlegrounds have been forced out of service by the fighting.
Now the capital is facing a major health crisis.
A cholera outbreak claimed 70 lives on Tuesday and Wednesday, the health ministry for Khartoum state said Thursday.
Health officials also recorded more than 2,100 new infections over the same two days.
But the UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, said it is “difficult to assess the true scale of the outbreak” with “significant discrepancies” in official data.
The federal health ministry reported 172 deaths in the week to Tuesday, 90 percent of them in Khartoum state.
Authorities said 89 percent of patients in isolation centers are recovering, but warn that deteriorating environmental conditions are driving a surge in cases.
Cholera vaccinations have begun in Jebel Awila, the hardest-hit district in Khartoum, UN chief Antonio Guterres’s spokesman said Thursday.
Meanwhile the World Health Organization had delivered more than 22 metric tons of cholera and emergency health supplies, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Cholera is endemic to Sudan, but outbreaks have become worse and more frequent since the war broke out.
Since August, health authorities have recorded more than 65,000 cases and over 1,700 deaths across 12 of Sudan’s 18 states.
“Sudan is on the brink of a full-scale public health disaster,” said Eatizaz Yousif, the International Rescue Committee’s Sudan director.
“The combination of conflict, displacement, destroyed critical infrastructure and limited access to clean water is fueling the resurgence of cholera and other deadly diseases.”
Aid agencies warn that without urgent action, the spread of disease is likely to worsen with the arrival of the rainy season next month, which severely limits humanitarian access.
Sudan’s government also faces US sanctions over allegations by Washington that the Sudanese military used chemical weapons last year in its war against the RSF.
On Thursday, Sudan’s foreign ministry announced the creation of a national committee to investigate the charge, while expressing its “disbelief in the validity of the US administration’s accusations.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2602708/middle-east
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Court orders Oyo mosque’s reopening three years after
29 May 2025
Tosin Oyediran
Jum’ah prayers are set to resume at the Ado-Awaye Central Mosque, Oyo State this Friday, May 30, 2025, after a prolonged hiatus caused by leadership disputes and security concerns.
This follows a court ruling affirming the fundamental right to freedom of worship and the mosque leadership’s announcement of the prayer’s recommencement.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the mosque’s leadership recounted the chain of events that led to the disruption.
“The immediate past Chief Imam of Ado-Awaye, Shaykh Solahudeen Oniyo, passed away on the Mimbar during the course of Solatul Jum’ah on Friday, August 13, 2021,” the statement read.
It added that the ensuing race for succession “threatened security” and led to the stoppage of prayers in September 2021.
While activities briefly resumed in February 2022 with the installation of Shaykh Ibrahim Kolade as Chief Imam, the mosque was plagued by further attacks on worshippers.
Legal action was initiated to resolve the impasse.
Similarly in a letter dated May 29, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, the mosque’s legal counsel, Abdul-Waheed Olowonjaye, reiterated the gravity of the ruling.
“We have the firm instruction of our clients to notify Your Excellency that Jum’ah (Friday) prayers, regular daily prayers, and all other services shall resume from tomorrow, Friday, May 30, 2025,” the letter read.
The court judgment, delivered by Justice E. O. Ajayi on May 20, 2025, emphasised the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
Referring to precedents like Lagos State vs. Abdulkareem (2022), the ruling stated, “The right to freedom of thought, conscience, or religion implies a right not to be prevented without lawful justification from choosing the course of one’s life.”
Justice Ajayi, in the May 20 ruling, declared the applicant entitled to practise Islam at the Ado-Awaye Central Mosque, where he is a bona fide member.
Also, the mosque’s leadership, in its press statement, urged members to remain law-abiding and move past the turbulence.
“We implore all the disciples of the Chief Imam and the respected leaders and members of Ado-Awaye Central Mosque not to allow the ugly past to preoccupy them,” the statement concluded.
PUNCH Online reports that the letter addressed to the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government also copied and acknowledged several key figures and stakeholders, including the Governor of Oyo State; members of the state cabinet; the state Ministry of Justice; the Oyo State House of Assembly; the Iseyin Divisional Police Headquarters; and the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun).
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/court-orders-oyo-mosques-reopening-three-years-after/#google_vignette
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Uganda: Over 600 Ugandan Muslim Pilgrims Depart for Hajj Amid Visa Setbacks
29 MAY 2025
Muhamadi Matovu
More than 600 Ugandan Muslims have departed for the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia, one of the most sacred obligations in Islam.
The pilgrims converged at Entebbe International Airport in the early hours of Thursday morning, accompanied by family members who came to see them off.
The group, largely coordinated by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC), will undertake the pilgrimage that represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is required at least once in a lifetime for every physically and financially capable Muslim.
At the airport, pilgrims underwent final clearance procedures, including document verification and issuance of travel essentials by leaders of their respective Hajj travel agencies.
The main delegation was led by Sheikh Ali Juma Shiwuyu, the UMSC Secretary in charge of Hajj and Umrah, alongside Sheikh Abdu-Barri Muhammad Kaloozi and other UMSC officials.
However, not all intending pilgrims were able to make the journey.
Several individuals were reportedly left behind due to challenges in securing travel visas from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The group now joins millions of Muslims worldwide who are expected to gather in Makkah for this year's pilgrimage, which will begin in mid-June.
Hajj, a spiritual journey and an act of worship, includes a series of rituals such as the Tawaf (circling of the Kaaba), standing at Arafat, and symbolic stoning of the devil at Mina. The event is considered a profound religious milestone in a Muslim's life.
Source: allafrica.com
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https://allafrica.com/stories/202505290258.html
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Kano Police Arrest 41 Suspects In Connection With DPO’s Murder
May 29, 2025
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Kano State Police Command has announced the arrest of 41 individuals in connection with the tragic killing of Baba Ali, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Rano Division.
Naija News reports that Ali was murdered on Sunday after a violent attack on the Rano Police Station by hoodlums, who also set parts of the station on fire, including two vehicles.
The attack on the police station was reportedly triggered by the death of Abdullahi Musa, a motorcycle mechanic who had been arrested earlier that day.
Musa was apprehended due to several public complaints about his reckless driving. According to police reports, Musa was taken into custody, but his condition worsened, prompting his transfer to Rano General Hospital. Tragically, he passed away the following morning.
In a statement released on Thursday, Abdullahi Kiyawa, the Police Spokesperson for Kano State, condemned the killing of Ali, describing it as a “grave attack on the fabric of society.”
Kiyawa reiterated the command’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice, emphasising that the police were working tirelessly to ensure all those involved in the incident were apprehended and prosecuted.
The Commissioner of Police in Kano, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, assured residents that the police were fully dedicated to investigating the attack and ensuring justice for the slain DPO. He also praised the cooperation and support from the public and urged citizens to remain calm as investigations continue.
The statement also paid tribute to the late Baba Ali, noting his bravery and dedication to duty. “The command honours the memory of CSP Baba Ali and commends the bravery of officers and men who risk their lives daily to keep our state safe,” Kiyawa said. The Kano State Police Command further called for unity and support from the public to maintain peace and security in the region.
The command also emphasized the importance of working together to address threats to law and order, urging all residents to support the ongoing efforts to ensure safety in the state.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/29/kano-police-arrest-41-suspects-in-connection-with-dpos-murder/
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Scores Killed In Fresh Benue Attack
May 29, 2025
By Richard Ogunsile
Multiple individuals are believed to have lost their lives, with numerous others sustaining injuries, as a result of a lethal assault by suspected herdsmen on the Agan community in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.
According to Daily Post, sources disclosed that the assailants invaded the community at approximately 6 pm on Thursday, May 29, firing indiscriminately and igniting homes.
Naija News understands that Agan is situated only a short distance from Makurdi.
As the assault continued without any response from security forces, residents had no choice but to escape to save their lives.
The fresh attack occurred not long after traditional rulers in Benue State had issued a stern 14-day ultimatum to herders and suspected terrorists, demanding they vacate the state’s farmlands or face harsh repercussions.
Naija News reports that the joint declaration was made by His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Traditional Council, alongside His Royal Majesty, Chief John Elaigwu Odogbo, the Och’Idoma, representing the Benue State Traditional Council.
The announcement was made during a Town Hall Meeting at the New Banquet Hall of the Government House in Makurdi.
The event was organised to mark the second year in office of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, with the office of the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communications, Solomon Iorpev, overseeing the proceedings.
During the meeting, the traditional rulers expressed grave concerns over the increasing insecurity in the state, particularly the attacks attributed to armed militias suspected to be Fulani herders.
They condemned the killings of innocent citizens, which they said were escalating at an alarming rate.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/05/29/breaking-scores-killed-in-fresh-benue-attack/
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Kenyan literary giant Ngugi wa Thiong'o mourned as a cultural icon
May 30, 2025
The literary world is mourning the loss of Ngugi wa Thiong'o, the revered Kenyan author, scholar, and activist who passed away in the United States after a prolonged illness at the age of 87. Tributes poured in from fellow writers and publishers, who described him as a beacon of African consciousness and an unflinching critic of both colonialism and post-independence authoritarianism.
Ngugi, a towering figure in African literature, authored dozens of works — from groundbreaking novels like Petals of Blood and The Wizard of the Crow, to incisive essays such as Decolonizing the Mind — that challenged not only the legacies of imperialism but also the cultural and linguistic systems left in its wake.
“He touched the hearts of the people,” said David Maillu, a Kenyan author and publisher. “Africans were colonised and colonialism was not just economic, it was cultural destruction. And for him to talk about that, that was very impressive. It is like saying he was God-sent.”
Ngugi’s work was as revolutionary in content as it was in form. A pioneer in promoting African languages in literature, he made a radical shift in the late 1970s to write primarily in Gikuyu, arguing that language was central to reclaiming African identity. This decision, along with his outspoken criticism of Kenya’s political elite, led to his imprisonment and decades in exile.
For younger generations, Ngugi's writings remain a cornerstone of African literature and education. Author Sophia Waweru recalled her first encounter with his books in high school, saying, “He's a living legend. We've not lost him — he is living through the work of his hands.”
His impact was also deeply personal and cultural. Abdulahi Bulle, a Nairobi-based bookstore owner, reflected on Ngugi’s devotion to African heritage: “He really loved his culture and his people and he documented it very well. So besides being a good storyteller, he was also preserving and laying the foundation where Africans must appreciate their names and their colour.”
A panoramic view of Ngugi's books — spanning fiction, memoir, essays, and children's literature — offers a testament to a life devoted to truth-telling and cultural preservation.
Ngugi was often considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature and was recognized globally, including being shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and winning the Pak Kyong-ni Literature Award. His admirers included literary icons like John Updike and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, as well as former U.S. President Barack Obama, who once hailed Ngugi’s ability to show how “the transformative events of history weigh on individual lives and relationships.”
Having survived assassination attempts and government persecution during the Moi regime, Ngugi never wavered in his mission to “decolonize the African mind.” His legacy will live on — not only in his extensive body of work but in the cultural and intellectual awakening he helped inspire.
He is survived by nine children.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2025/05/30/kenyan-literary-giant-ngugi-wa-thiongo-mourned-as-a-cultural-icon/
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Europe
Samarkand hosts International Forum on Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Expression of Islamic World
29.05.2025
An international forum titled “The Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Expression of the Islamic World: Calligraphy, Music, Poetry and Solidarity” was held in Samarkand, the capital of Uzbekistan, marking the declaration of the city as the cultural capital of the Islamic World for 2025.
The Azerbaijani delegation led by Murad Huseynov, Deputy Minister of Culture, attended the forum.
Ozodbek Nazarbekov, Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), as well as other officials, and media entities also joined the forum.
Addressing the event, the Uzbek Culture Minister highlighted great progress made by the country in thoroughly studying, preserving and developing the Islamic science and spiritual heritage.
The ICESCO Director-General pointed out Samarkand’s contributions to the Islamic science and cultural heritage, describing the declaration of the city as the cultural capital of Islamic World as a landmark occasion.
The Azerbaijani Deputy Culture Minister briefed the participants about the country’s efforts aimed at preserving cultural heritage. Murad Huseynov added that Samarkand occupies a special place in the history of Islam.
He also noted that Azerbaijan’s ancient city of Shusha had successfully completed its obligations as a cultural capital of Islamic World for 2024.
President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev and President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Aktoty Raimkulova highlighted Samarkand’s crucial role in advancing the Islamic heritage.
Prior to Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s cities of Tashkent and Bukhara were named the cultural capitals of Islamic World for 2007 and 2020 respectively.
Source: azertag.az
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https://azertag.az/en/xeber/samarkand_hosts_international_forum_on_spiritual_heritage_and_cultural_expression_of_islamic_world-3584843
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Over 30 religious officials from Türkiye and Georgia on official visit to Azerbaijan
29 May 2025
A delegation of Azerbaijani religious leaders from Türkiye and Georgia is set to visit Azerbaijan.
This trip, organised by the State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations and the Foundation for the Promotion of Spiritual Values, is intended to strengthen religious and moral connections, as well as unity and solidarity with Azerbaijanis living abroad, Caliber.Az reports, citing domestic media.
During their visit, the guests will tour the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology and pay respects to notable figures at the Alley of Honour, along with honouring the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country's freedom at the Alley of Martyrs.
The delegation will also visit Victory Park and the Monument to Turkish Martyrs. Moreover, they will explore the operations of various mosques and churches representing different confessions in the capital city.
A key part of their itinerary includes a visit to the territories of Karabakh liberated from occupation. There, the delegation will see the Juma Mosque and the Imaret Complex in Agdam, and the culturally significant city of Shusha. They will also visit the Ashaghy Govharagha and Yukhary Govharagha mosques, along with the Saatly and Mamai mosques.
The visit is scheduled to continue until June 2 and will include more than 30 prominent Azerbaijani religious figures from Türkiye and Georgia.
Source: caliber.az
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https://caliber.az/en/post/over-30-religious-officials-from-turkiye-and-georgia-on-official-visit-to-azerbaijan
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Polish knife-edge presidential vote pits liberal mayor against conservative
30 May 2025
Poles will vote for a new president on Sunday in a tight election that will have major consequences for the future of the country's pro-EU government.
Opinion polls say Warsaw's liberal mayor Rafal Trzaskowski and national conservative historian Karol Nawrocki are running neck and neck.
Poland's president is a largely ceremonial role, but it does come with significant negative power.
The president has the right to veto legislation, and the coalition government lacks a big enough parliamentary majority to overturn it.
Karol Nawrocki is a staunch opponent of Donald Tusk's coalition, and he is expected to use the veto as much if not more frequently than the incumbent conservative President Andrzej Duda, who cannot run for a third consecutive term.
Tusk has been unable to deliver many of his campaign promises since taking office 18 months ago due to Duda's veto and divisions within his coalition which includes conservatives, centrists and leftists.
Tusk promised Polish women legal abortion up to the 12th week of pregnancy and voters he would repair the rule of law in the judiciary.
Many critics say Poland's top courts were politicised under the previous Law and Justice-led (PiS) government that lost power in late 2023.
On both issues, Tusk has made little headway.
After narrowly winning the election's first round on 18 May, Rafal Trzaskowski pledged to co-operate with the government to accomplish both.
Whichever candidate mobilises their voters in Sunday's second round run-off will be key to who becomes the next president.
Another significant factor is who can attract the votes of two far-right candidates who placed third and fourth in the first round.
The anti-establishment candidates received three times as many votes as they did in the last presidential election in 2020.
While those voters support Nawrocki's socially conservative views, some libertarians disagree with his support for generous state benefits for the less well-off.
Both candidates led large, rival patriotic marches in Warsaw last Sunday to show who had the biggest support.
Almost all the participants at Nawrocki's rally carried the red-and-white Polish flag. No-one had the blue EU flag. One banner read "Enough of Tusk's [demolition] of democracy".
Magdalena and her sister Marta said Nawrocki's patriotism was important. "We care first for our family, then the nation and after that the world," Magdalena told me.
"A lot of politicians say, 'Oh, we can't do that because what will the Germans think about us?' Sorry, I don't care what they think," she said.
Karol Nawrocki, 42, is head of the Institute of National Remembrance, a state body that investigates crimes dating back to the communist era and World War Two. He was relatively unknown nationally before he was picked by PiS to run.
According to the CBOS polling company, voters view him as someone who supports traditional Catholic values and stands up for average Poles, including small farmers who consider themselves threatened by the EU's Green Deal limiting the use of chemicals and greenhouse gases.
His typical voter is seen as aged over 40, conservative and family-oriented and living in the countryside or small towns and cities.
Previously he was director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk where he changed the exhibition to emphasise Polish heroism and suffering during the conflict.
A keen amateur footballer and boxer, he likes to publish images of himself working out on social media.
His strongman image has been pushed by Polish and foreign politicians alike. Ex-PM Mateusz Morawiecki posting a mock-up of Nawrocki as a Polish Captain America on social media.
Supporter Magdalena said he wasn't particularly charismatic, but Poland needed "a strong man who will be stable when he's pushed by the world".
Earlier this week, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem flew to a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Poland to endorse him as a "strong leader" like President Donald Trump.
"I just had the opportunity to meet with Karol and listen, he needs to be the next president of Poland," she said five days ahead of the vote.
Noem said his rival Trzaskowski was "an absolute train wreck of a leader".
Nawrocki's campaign has been bedevilled by revelations from his relatively unknown past, although so far the allegations appear not to have damaged his support.
He does not deny taking part in football hooligan brawls, and has called them "noble fights". But in that he is not alone, as several years ago Donald Tusk spoke of taking part in similar fights as a young man.
However he has strongly denied a series of other allegations - that he had links with gangsters and neo-Nazis; that he took advantage of an ill senior citizen to acquire his council flat at a huge discount; and that he helped arrange prostitutes for guests at the luxury Grand Hotel in the seaside resort of Sopot when he worked there as a security guard.
Nawrocki has said he will donate the flat to charity and threatened to sue the news website that published the prostitute story because it was a "pack of lies".
Many of his supporters think the the stories were made up by the mainstream media, which they see as largely pro-Trzaskowski.
Shaking off the revelations, Nawrocki posted a video on social media set to an old Chumbawamba song, with the chorus, "I get knocked down, but I get up again".
Trzaskowski's supporters have been more inclined to believe the allegations, with one man in Warsaw holding a banner reading: "No to the gangster".
The son of a famous jazz pianist, the 53-year-old mayor of Warsaw is deputy leader of Donald Tusk's centrist Civic Platform party.
He is also speaks multiple languages who once served as Europe minister.
He was joined in last Sunday's march in Warsaw by another liberal mayor who won the Romanian presidency earlier this month. Nicusur Dan told supporters they shared the same values of a united and strong European Union.
According to CBOS, Trzaskowski's typical voter is in his 30s, fairly well-off and lives in a city. Voters see him as having left-liberal views supporting LGBT and migrants' rights.
While his opponents see Trzaskowski as part of Poland's privileged elite, supporter Malgorzata, a statistician, told me he was "an intelligent, professional European. That's enough to be a president of Poland".
Against a backdrop of war in neighbouring Ukraine and the Tusk government's tough stance against illegal migration, Trzaskowski has portrayed himself, artificially according to some voters, as a man who believes in a strong nation state and patriotism.
Another supporter, Bartosz, said he wanted Poland to remain safely anchored in Europe.
"We know history. In 1939, we counted on Britain and France, but nobody came. If we are partners with Europe politically and economically, then it's in their interests to support us," he said.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0ln987g582o
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North America
CAIR Condemns French Government’s “Bigoted, Fascist” Targeting of European Counter-Islamophobia Group
May 29, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the French government’s targeting of a European Muslim organization dedicated to opposing anti-Muslim bigotry, the Collectif Contre l’Islamophobie en Europe (Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe, CCIE), as a baseless and fascist act of government-sanctioned Islamophobia.
According to a statement issued by Belgium-based CCIE, “Yesterday, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, the CCIE was targeted by searches and custody measures involving, notably, its founding members.” CCIE added, “These searches are not based on any serious offense or imminent threat—they are clearly politically motivated. Their aim is to delegitimize grassroots efforts and support for victims, and to create a climate of fear around initiatives that call out anti-Muslim racism. This is an attempt to apply pressure, to discredit, to portray anti-racist activism as a threat. The police apparatus is being used to obstruct forms of expression that are nonetheless protected by the fundamental principles of law.”
Shortly after, 26 organizations issued a statement saying the action “is unworthy of a democracy and must end.’
“Civil society organizations countering hate are something the French government should encourage, particularly in the wake of the horrific, Islamophobic murder of Aboubakar Cissé,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “This raid raises many questions and raises the specter of Austria’s embarrassing Operation Luxor. The French government’s radical hostility to religious freedom, free speech and equal rights for French Muslims must end.”
SEE: The Dirty Secrets of a Smear Campaign
SEE ALSO: Factsheet: Operation Luxor
[Note: Translations from French were done using Google Translate.]
CAIR has previously condemned the French government’s hypocritical and dangerous campaign of Islamophobic bigotry targeting French Muslims, mosques, and Islamic organizations.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Rejection of France’s Proposed Ban on Hijab, Other Religious Attire in Sports
CAIR Condemns French Ban on Abaya in Schools, Reiterates Call for State Department to Designate France as Country of Concern
CAIR Urges Biden to Condemn France’s Forced Closure of Last Major French Muslim Civil Rights Organization
CAIR Condemns Court Ruling Against French Muslim Civil Rights Group, Expresses Solidarity with France’s Muslim Community
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-french-governments-bigoted-fascist-targeting-of-european-counter-islamophobia-group/
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Lawsuit filed against Melvindale police by Muslim officer alleging systemic racism
May 29, 2025
DETROIT (FOX 2) - A Melvindale police officer has filed a lawsuit against the department, claiming years of racial harassment and discrimination.
Corporal Hassan Hammoud, a Lebanese Muslim officer, also alleges "systemic racial harassment and discriminatory practices" by the department toward him and civilians within and in the surrounding community.
The backstory:
The lawsuit, announced on Thursday and brought forward by Marko Law, PLLC, said at the time of Hammoud's hiring in 2021 he was one of the only Arabic and Muslim-practicing employees in the department.
"During his years on the force, Corporal Hammoud was targeted due to his religion and ethnicity by superiors and coworkers," said a statement from Marko Law, which added that his complaints of discrimination went unaddressed.
Included in the lawsuit are claims including
• Bibles and crucifixes left in Corporal Hammoud’s locker at the department.
• Leaving nude photographs of women in his locker at the department.
• A job application for a pizza delivery position with a note stating "Go."
Hammoud said the department and officers discriminated and racially profiled citizens while on patrol.
"The lawsuit alleges that Melvindale Police Department’s officers would actively target African American citizens at the Detroit/Melvindale border and would use phrases such as "let’s go hunt" and/or use code words in referring to patrolling the Detroit/Melvindale border to target African Americans," the release said.
A request for comment from the City of Melvindale and police chief for comment, but have not yet heard back.
Attorney Jon Marko claims that the systemic issues were allowed to flourish, unchecked, by the city and police department.
"This lawsuit reveals a deeply disturbing culture of racism and religious bigotry that not only isolates and punished Corporal Hammoud because of his religion and race, but also directs that bias outward toward the communities the department is sworn to protect," Marko said in a statement. "If Melvindale can’t protect it’s own officers, how can it serve and protect the citizens?"
Source: fox2detroit.com
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https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/lawsuit-filed-against-melvindale-police-muslim-officer-alleging-systemic-racism
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Trump commutes gang leader's sentence in flurry of pardons
30 May, 2025
As part of a spree of more than two dozen clemency actions this week, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday commuted the federal prison sentence of Larry Hoover, the founder of a notorious Chicago street gang.
Hoover was the leader of the Gangster Disciples and in the 1990s was given six life sentences on conspiracy, extortion, drug and other criminal charges.
In addition to his federal sentence, Hoover still faces a 200-year jail term in the state of Illinois for murder, and is unlikely to be released soon. A president is unable to commute state-level sentences.
On Wednesday the president also granted a pardon to other convicts including Michael Grimm, a former New York City congressman.
He served seven months in prison after pleading guilty to felony tax fraud.
As well as Hoover and Grimm, at least eight others have been pardoned by the president in recent days; the New York Times reported that Trump issued a total of 25 pardons or commutations of prison sentences on Wednesday.
Department of Justice (DoJ) records indicate that during his second term Trump has pardoned more than 40 people, in addition to almost 1,600 pardons doled out to people charged or convicted in connection with the 6 January 2021 US Capitol riot.
During his first presidential term, Trump granted a total of 237 pardons and commutations, according to the Pew Research Center. Most of those occurred in the final month of his term.
Hoover, 74, built the Gangster Disciples into a nationwide street gang from its origins on Chicago's South Side in the 1970s.
In 1973 he was convicted of ordering the execution of a rival drug dealer. Authorities allege that he continued to lead his gang from prison.
In the 1990s he formed a political organisation and claimed that he had transformed the Gangster Disciples into a community-service organisation called Growth and Development.
However, he was found guilty of a long list of federal charges in 1997.
In recent years he has advocated for criminal justice reform including the First Step Act, which Trump signed into law in 2018. Among other things, the law allows for reduced sentences for inmates who participate in programmes aimed at reducing reoffending.
Hoover has continued to publicly disavow gang life.
"I am no longer a member, leader, or even an elder statesman of the Gangster Disciples," Hoover wrote in a letter to a court in 2022. "I want nothing to do with it now and forever."
However, authorities have taken a different view, and prosecutors alleged in 2021 that he was still involved in promoting Gangster Disciples members while locked up in prison. They have argued that he is still effectively the leader of the group.
On Thursday the top FBI official in Chicago indicated that Hoover will not be released from jail any time soon.
"The President of the United States has the authority to pardon whoever he wishes," FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta told the Chicago Tribune. "I think Larry Hoover caused a lot of damage in this city and he deserves to be in prison and he will continue to be imprisoned in the state system."
In a statement, Hoover's lawyers called upon Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to issue a commutation of his state-level sentence, arguing that "there is no purpose in returning a 74-year-old man in failing health to prison after 52 years of incarceration.
"Mr Hoover has now received a full and complete commutation for his federal drug convictions. The Governor of Illinois must follow suit," said attorneys Joshua Dubin and Justin Moore.
Pardons for rapper and former politicians
Grimm, the former congressman, pleaded guilty to underreporting income from a restaurant that he owned.
In addition, Trump issued pardons on Wednesday for:
Former Connecticut Governor John Rowland, who was convicted on election fraud charges and sentenced to two and a half years in prison in 2015
Kentrell Gaulden, a rapper known as NBA YoungBoy, who has faced numerous drugs, weapons and fraud charges
Convicted fraudster Kevin Eric Baisden
Mark Bashaw, an army officer who was convicted in a court martial of violating Covid protection rules
Tanner Mansell and John Moore, who were convicted of theft at sea when they released sharks they thought were being illegally fished. It turned out the sharks were being legally caught for research purposes
Michael Harris, the co-founder of Death Row Records, who spent decades in prison on drug charges. Harris had his sentence commuted by Trump during his first term, and was issued a full pardon on Wednesday
On Tuesday, Trump also pardoned Todd and Julie Chrisley, two reality TV stars who were convicted of tax evasion and defrauding banks.
Also on Wednesday, Trump said he would "take a look at" pardoning a group of men charged with planning to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020.
"I did watch the trial," he said. "It looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job… It looked to me like some people said some stupid things."
Source: bbc.com
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Sean 'Diddy' Combs raped and attacked ex-assistant, she tells court
30 May, 2025
A former assistant of rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has told a New York court that he repeatedly sexually assaulted her while she was employed by him for eight years.
The witness - who testified anonymously under the pseudonym "Mia" - also tearfully said she lived in fear of violent rages from Mr Combs as she worked by his side.
The hip-hop mogul watched from the defence table with arms folded in his lap as she testified about her fears of retribution for reporting his alleged abuse.
Mr Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing
"I couldn't tell him no about a sandwich," she said. "I couldn't tell him no about anything."
Mr Combs' legal team has not yet had the chance to question Mia, or respond to her claims.
She is the second witness in the New York trial to allege that Mr Combs sexually abused her, along with Mr Combs' ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura.
Mia testified that she started working for Mr Combs as a personal assistant in 2009 when she was in her mid-20s, joining what she described as a "chaotic" and "toxic" work environment.
"The highs were really high and the lows were really, really low," she told the court on Thursday.
The job required her being "always within eyesight" of Mr Combs, she testified, and "anticipating his needs, whims and moods".
She said she was often required to stay at his homes, where she could not lock the door or leave without the rapper's permission.
During her time working for Mr Combs, he was frequently violent towards her, Mia testified.
On one occasion, she said he threw a spaghetti bowl at her, which narrowly missed her head, Mia told the court.
Another time, she said Mr Combs forcefully threw his computer at Mia's head when she told him the wifi nearby was still being fixed, she testified.
She also testified about another situation when she witnessed Mr Combs being violent with his ex-girlfriend, Ms Ventura, who had became close friends with Mia during her time working for the rapper.
Mia once went on holiday with the couple in the Turks and Caicos, she told the court. One late night on the trip, she said Ms Ventura ran into her room screaming that Mr Combs was "going to kill me", she testified. They ran away and hid on the beach, she said.
Also on that holiday, Mia testified that she and Ms Ventura had used a paddle board to go into the water to escape Mr Combs, who was pacing back and forth on the beach. Before they knew it, the sky turned dark, portending a storm.
"I was trying to weigh if it was scarier to face mother nature, or go back to Puff [Mr Combs]," Mia testified.
Mia was also there one night in 2013 when she said that Mr Combs was banging on Ms Ventura's door in Los Angeles.
She testified that he attacked her and cut open her eyebrow when throwing her on to the bed frame. Mia told the court that she tried to jump on Mr Combs' back, but he threw her against the wall.
"He's actually going to kill her," Mia said she remembered thinking to herself.
Mia told the court that despite witnessing Mr Combs's abuse toward Ms Ventura, she did not report him because she "believed that Puff's authority was above the police".
She testified about multiple instances where she alleged Mr Combs sexually assaulted her, including one time when she said she woke up to him trying to rape her.
Mia told the court that the assaults began early in her career working for Mr Combs, including one night on his 40th birthday at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
She said he gave her two vodka shots that hit her "very hard" and kissed her and put his hand up her dress.
Another night, between the years of 2009-10, while Mia was sleeping in a bunk bed at Mr Combs' Los Angeles home, she said she woke up to the "weight" of Mr Combs on top of her. She was confused, she said, and Mr Combs began to rape her.
"I just froze," she said. "It was very quick but it felt like forever."
Mia told the court that Mr Combs sexually assaulted her "sporadically" throughout her time working for the rapper.
But she told the court she didn't always remember the details, only a "dark feeling in my stomach".
Pressed by a prosecutor on why she did not say "no" when Mr Combs assaulted her or go to the police, Mia told the court she feared what he would do.
"I knew his power," she said. "I knew his control over me and I didn't want to lose everything I worked so hard for."
She told the court that another assistant had been fired for reporting Mr Combs' violence toward Ms Ventura.
Mr Combs also threatened to tell Ms Ventura, Mia's close friend, about the sexual encounters between them, she testified.
After the alleged assaults, Mia told the court that she tried her best to pretend the "most shameful thing" of her life never happened.
Asked by prosecutors why she was telling her story in court, she replied: "I had to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
Mia will continue to testify on Friday and Mr Combs' defence team will be able to question her on the stand.
Source: bbc.com
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Five ways the world's richest man changed the White House
30 May, 2025
Elon Musk's time in the Trump administration is coming to an end after a tempestuous 129 days in which the world's richest man took an axe to government spending - stirring ample controversy along the way.
Earlier this week, the South African-born billionaire, on his social media platform, X, thanked President Trump for his time at the Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge.
Trump announced he will host a news conference in the Oval Office on Friday with Musk, writing: "This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way."
While Musk's time in government lasted little more than four months, his work with Doge upended the federal government and had an impact not just in the halls of power in Washington - but around the world.
Let's take a look at some of the ways Musk has left a mark.
Doge's chainsaw to federal spending
Musk took a job with the Trump White House with one mission: to cut spending from the government as much as possible.
He began with an initial target of "at least $2 trillion", which then shifted to $1tn and ultimately $150bn.
To date, Doge claims to have saved $175bn through a combination of asset sales, lease and grant cancellations, "fraud and improper payment deletion", regulatory savings and a 260,000-person reduction from the 2.3 million-strong federal workforce.
A BBC analysis of those figures, however, found that evidence is sometimes lacking.
This mission has at times caused both chaos and controversy, including some instances in which federal judges halted mass firings and ordered employees reinstated.
In other instances, the administration has been forced to backtrack on firings.
In one notable instance in February, the administration stopped the firing of hundreds of federal employees working at the National Nuclear Security Administration, including some with sensitive jobs related to the US nuclear arsenal.
Musk himself repeatedly acknowledged that mass firings would inevitably include mistakes.
"We will make mistakes," he said in February, after his department mistook a region of Mozambique for Hamas-controlled Gaza while cutting an aid programme. "But we'll act quickly to correct any mistakes."
Doge's efforts to access data also garnered controversy, particularly the department's push for access to sensitive treasury department systems that control the private information of millions of Americans.
Polls show that cuts to government spending remain popular with many Americans - even if Musk's personal popularity has waned.
Blurred lines between business and politics
The presence of Musk - an unelected "special government employee" with companies that count the US government as customers - in Trump's White House has also raised eyebrows, prompting questions about potential conflicts of interest.
His corporate empire includes large companies that do business with US and foreign governments. SpaceX has $22 billion in US government contracts, according to the company's chief executive.
Some Democrats also accused Musk of taking advantage of his position to drum up business abroad for his satellite internet services firm, Starlink.
The White House was accused of helping Musk's businesses by showcasing vehicles made by Tesla - his embattled car company - on the White House lawn in March.
Musk and Trump have both shrugged off any suggestion that his work with the government is conflicted or ethically problematic.
A nudge for US isolationism?
Around the world, Musk's work with Doge was most felt after the vast majority - over 80% - of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID's) programmes were eliminated following a six-week review by Doge. The rest were absorbed by the State Department.
The Musk and Doge-led cuts formed part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to bring overseas spending closer in line with its "America First" approach.
The cuts to the agency - tasked with work such as famine detection, vaccinations and food aid in conflict areas - quickly had an impact on projects including communal kitchens in war-torn Sudan, scholarships for young Afghan women who fled the Taliban and clinics for transgender people in India.
USAID also was a crucial instrument of US "soft power" around the world, leading some detractors pointing to its elimination as a sign of waning American influence on the global stage.
Conspiracies and misinformation
While Musk - and Trump - have for years been accused by detractors of spreading baseless conspiracy theories, Musk's presence in the White House starkly highlighted how misinformation has crept into discourse at the highest levels of the US government.
For example, Musk spread an unfounded internet theory that US gold reserves had quietly been stolen from Fort Knox in Kentucky. At one point, he floated the idea of livestreaming a visit there to ensure the gold was secured.
More recently, Musk spread widely discredited rumours that the white Afrikaner population of South Africa is facing "genocide" in their home country.
Those rumours found their way into the Oval Office earlier in May, when a meeting aimed at soothing tensions between the US and South Africa took a drastic twist after Trump presented South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with videos and articles he said were evidence of crimes against Afrikaners.
Revealed divisions inside Trump's camp
Musk's work in government also showed that, despite public pledges of unity, there are tensions within the "Trump 2.0" administration.
While Trump publicly - and repeatedly - backed the work of Musk and Doge, Musk's tenure was marked by reports of tension between him and members of the cabinet who felt Doge cuts were impacting their agencies.
"They have a lot of respect for Elon and that he's doing this, and some disagree a little bit," Trump acknowledged in a February cabinet meeting. "If they aren't, I want them to speak up."
At one point, he was asked whether any cabinet members had expressed dissatisfaction with Musk and turned to the room to ask them. No one spoke.
The announcement of Musk's departure also came the same day CBS - BBC's US partner - publicised part of an interview during which Musk said he was "disappointed" by Trump's "big, beautiful" budget bill. The bill includes multi-trillion dollar tax breaks and a pledge to increase defence spending.
Musk said the bill "undermines" the work of Doge to cut spending - reflecting larger tensions within the Republican Party over the path forward.
Source: bbc.com
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Southeast Asia
PM Anwar: 13MP priorities guided by state-led requests, not Putrajaya alone
30 May 2025
PENAMPANG, May 30 — The federal government always takes into consideration the needs and requests of all states in determining the priority of projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He explained that the priority of projects could not be determined solely by the federal government and, instead, is jointly decided with the state governments after their requests are heard and attended to by the Federal leadership.
Citing Sabah, Anwar said that in almost every working visit he has made to the state, meetings or gatherings are held between leaders and senior federal and state officials to directly discuss requests from the state government.
“I’m not saying that 13MP (projects) do not take place, previously there are requests which are vetted by the federal ministries... now no more, (as) requests are made directly (at meetings) chaired by the prime minister, there are chief ministers, there are state ministers.
“We listen and pay attention directly. Frankly, this only happens because of uniformity, (as well as) good and close relationships due to mutual trust,” he said when officiating the Sabah state-level Kaamatan Festival celebration here today.
The event, held at Dewan Hongkod Koisaan, Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), was also attended by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam and KDCA president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.
Anwar also expressed his gratitude to Hajiji and the Sabah government for their openness to cooperating with the leaders and Federal government in a bid to develop and elevate the dignity of Malaysia and Sabah.
The prime minister emphasised that the spirit to strengthen Sabah must be nurtured through the strong unity between the federal and state governments within the framework of the Federation.
As such, he reminded everyone not to raise issues that can erode that good relationship simply for political mileage, especially ahead of the Sabah state election.
“In the battle leading up to this election... leaders who have led before, who were together, sometimes forget just to ramp up the political atmosphere, raising issues that erode confidence in the country... this is not healthy,” he said.
Anwar said the federal government and the states, particularly Sabah and Sarawak, have many diversity and differences, but this must be seen as a strength for Malaysia as a country for the wellbeing of its people.
He said that when Malaysia was established, “Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu” (Unity is Strength) was chosen as the national motto to illustrate the importance of togetherness in diversity in strengthening the country.
“Diversity can also be destructive, where there are countries in this world which initially embraced a multiracial and multi-religious society, but later experienced hostility between races, religions and regions. Which nation can be successful like that, everything will end up in ruin.
“So, no matter how difficult it is, any sensible leader in a political campaign to fight for the post of state assemblyman or member of parliament must remember never to sacrifice the state or country,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Jakim, Domestic Trade Ministry step up checks on halal certificate holders after Melaka hotel breaches
30 May 2025
PUTRAJAYA, May 30 — The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), in collaboration with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), is actively working to monitor and enforce compliance among halal certificate holders nationwide, ensuring that businesses uphold halal standards according to established guidelines.
Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said this was to ensure halal certificate holders comply fully with the conditions set under their certification.
“In terms of monitoring and enforcement, we at Jakim are working closely with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) because the authority under the Trade Descriptions Act and the Trade Descriptions Order (Halal Definition) 2011 falls under its jurisdiction,” he told reporters after the Jakim monthly assembly here today.
He said this when asked on the withdrawal of the halal certificate issued to two hotels in Banda Hilir, Melaka, recently.
The action was taken after they were found hosting “alcohol parties” two weeks ago.
Sirajuddin said Jakim viewed the incident seriously and would never compromise with anyone in cases involving the misuse of halal certificates in the country.
Regarding the issuance of halal certificates, he said Jakim remains committed to continuously enhancing and streamlining the application and approval processes to ensure greater efficiency and benefit for all stakeholders.
“We are focused on improving and expediting the certificate issuance process so that it can better serve businesses and the public, while maintaining the integrity of our halal certification standards,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Minister Umar leaves choice of Damm sacrifice site to pilgrims
May 29, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has said that the decision on where Indonesian hajj pilgrims wish to perform their Damm sacrifice (animal sacrifice as a form of fine)—be it Mecca or Indonesia—will be up to them.
"Regarding the location for slaughtering Damm, we leave it to the individual," the minister said before leaving for Saudi Arabia to lead Amirul Hajj on Thursday.
He noted that the Damm sacrifice is usually carried out in the Holy Land. However, questions have been raised as to whether the practice would possibly be carried out in Indonesia. The question was.also raised by the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj.
Minister Umar said that a number of countries are carrying out the Damm sacrifice within their own territories. Therefore, the Religious Affairs Ministry sent a letter to the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), seeking its opinion on the position of Islamic law on the matter.
"Because this concerns a fiqh issue, the government has no right to issue a fatwa. The one who can issue a fatwa is the Ulema Council," he explained.
As per the MUI Fatwa Number 41 of 2011, Damm Tamattu outside the Holy Land is forbidden.
However, the MUI is open to reviewing the provisions of the fatwa as long as there are new things that are sharia-compliant and worthy of consideration in determining new laws.
Hence, the ministry prepared the legal basis for sharia law (ilat) so that the Damm sacrifice can be carried out in the country.
"Yesterday, we got an answer from the Ulema Council that as long as the legal basis is not adequate, slaughtering Damm in Indonesia is not yet permitted. Logically, this must still be done in Mecca," he said.
However, he added that several Islamic organizations such as the Muhammadiyah, Persis, and a number of clerics from Nahdlatul Ulama have reportedly permitted the Damm sacrifice in the country.
Therefore, he has left the choice on whether to perform the Damm sacrifice in Saudi Arabia or Indonesia up to each individual.
"We only conveyed the considerations. For the implementation, it goes back to the pilgrims' beliefs and fatwas they believe in," the minister said.
For pilgrims choosing to perform the Damm sacrifice in the Holy Land, the entire slaughter and sacrifice process needs to be carried out through the Adahi Project, which is managed by Al-Hay'ah Al-Malikiyyah li Madinat Makkah wal-Masyair al-Muqaddasah.
Meanwhile, for pilgrims choosing to perform the sacrifice in their homeland, the process can be carried out through Indonesia's National Alms Agency (Baznas) and paid for through a designated official account.
Source: antaranews.com
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King graces Yasin recital in conjunction with birthday celebration
Bernama
29-05- 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, graced the Yasin recital and ‘doa selamat’ in conjunction with His Majesty’s official birthday celebration at the Muadz Bin Jabal Mosque in Setiawangsa, here, today.
Upon arrival at 5.20 pm, His Majesty was welcomed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Also present with about 600 congregants were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Yasin recital and ‘doa selamat’, which commenced at 5.25 pm, was led by the Grand Imam of the National Mosque, Ehsan Mohd Hosni.
After the ceremony, Sultan Ibrahim spent time greeting the congregation before departing for home.
Today’s ceremony was part of the events commemorating Sultan Ibrahim’s official birthday celebration this Monday. His Majesty was installed as the 17th King of Malaysia on July 20, 2024.
Tomorrow, a special Friday sermon in conjunction with the celebration will be delivered at the National Mosque, while the investiture ceremony for federal awards, honours, and medals is scheduled to take place on June 2.
Source: thesun.my
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PM Anwar to Sabah: Let industry lead TVET training to avoid skills mismatch
By Julia Chan
30 May 2025
KOTA KINABALU, May 30 — Sabah must put more focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes that can produce more competitive workers for today’s as well as future markets, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said that companies and those running TVET programmes needed to be flexible and industry-driven to better meet market requirements instead of using bureaucracy and outdated technical rules as excuses.
“It might not be a formal certificate by the ministry, it may be a certificate by the company which can be as good or at times better than some of our departments. Let them handle the training, let them make sure that the training meets the standards and more so the requirements of that particular industry.
“If they want 200 people from a particular event or university to work in the company or in the industry, let them train them so that there will not be a mismatch between what is being trained and what is required by the industry,” he said.
He was speaking at the launching of the first phase of the Esteel Entreprise project in Sabah at the Sabah International Convention Centre, here, today.
The finance minister said it was important to bridge the gap between what the central agencies were teaching and what the industry needed.
Anwar said that the traditional model, where training institutions operate independently of industry input, risks producing graduates whose skills do not align with real-world needs.
He said that past successful collaborations in Kuala Lumpur’s High Tech area, the Johor-Singapore Economic Zone, and Melaka as examples where industry and academia jointly shape training to meet market needs.
He said such models should be introduced in Sabah, particularly in light of upcoming large-scale investments.
“Don't give some bureaucratic, technical rules. You think about the future of your students and they will be better served if the industry trains these people for their requirements. If they need to be sent to either Kuala Lumpur or China, then come back as qualified engineers or technicians,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
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Lynas, Kelantan join forces to tap local rare earths for Kuantan plant
30 May 2025
KUANTAN, May 30 — Lynas Rare Earths Ltd and the Kelantan state government’s investment arm, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the supply of mixed rare earths carbonate (MREC).
In a statement today, Lynas said the MoU is non-binding and remains subject to the negotiation and finalisation of definitive agreements.
It said the memorandum outlines a framework for both parties to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation to advance the Malaysian rare earths industry in Kelantan.
“It also provides a basis for MB Inc and Lynas to negotiate a definitive agreement for the supply of MREC feedstock to the Lynas Malaysia Advanced Materials Plant in Kuantan once the project commences production,” it added.
Lynas Rare Earths chief executive officer and managing director Amanda Lacaze said Malaysia is already recognised as a rare earths centre of excellence through Lynas’ operations, and the MoU marks a significant step towards developing locally sourced and separated rare earth products.
“Lynas is delighted to sign this MoU with the Kelantan state government’s MB Inc. This is a significant step for Lynas and the Malaysian rare earths industry, bringing together Lynas Malaysia’s over a decade of rare earths industry expertise and Kelantan state’s rare earth resources,” she said.
Lacaze noted that Malaysia’s ionic clay deposits have strong potential as future feedstock for Lynas Malaysia, particularly due to the high concentration of heavy rare earths, which are in demand for advanced technologies such as electric vehicles and electronics.
“We look forward to working closely with MB Inc to ensure that the MREC produced meets the high environmental and technical standards required by Lynas and our customers across Malaysian and global manufacturing supply chains,” she added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Home minister’s WhatsApp hacked via foreign VPN, police launch probe
By Malay Mail
30 May 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Police suspect that Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s official WhatsApp account was hacked using a foreign virtual private network (VPN).
Acting director of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali, said the hacker used the compromised account to send URL links to the minister’s contacts, according to a New Straits Times report.
He said, “Police is investigating the case under Section 4(1) of the Computer Crimes Act 1997.”
Muhammed Hasbullah also confirmed that police are working to trace the hacker’s location.
So far, authorities have not received any complaints of individuals suffering losses due to the incident.
“The swift action by the minister’s officers, who immediately reported the incident, prevented anyone from being deceived,” he added.
The breach of Saifuddin’s WhatsApp account was first reported last Monday.
The Home Minister’s office confirmed the hack and promptly lodged a police report.
Investigators believe the use of a foreign VPN was intended to obscure the hacker’s origin.
Authorities are urging the public to be cautious and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about cybersecurity threats targeting high-level officials in Malaysia.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/05/30/home-ministers-whatsapp-hacked-via-foreign-vpn-police-launch-probe/178678
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South Asia
No responsibility for actions beyond party discipline: Jamaat ameer
May 29, 2025
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman today said that if anyone acts beyond the party's viewpoint, decision, and discipline, the organisation will not take any responsibility for it, and no one, regardless of who the individual is, will be given any leeway.
He made the statement in a Facebook post.
"Therefore, I urge everyone to carry out their responsibilities with utmost loyalty to the party's discipline, decision, and viewpoint," the Jamaat ameer said.
"If any deviation occurs anywhere, the organisation will certainly decide on the matter," he said.
The Jamaat chief's statement came after separate clashes erupted between some left-leaning organisations and Shibir activists in Chattogram city and on Rajshahi University campus yesterday and Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Democratic Student Allinace central vice-president Annie Chowdhury in a press conference today claimed that after Islami Chhatra Shibir men attacked their peaceful procession at Rajshahi University, the alliance was attacked again during a protest programme in front of Chattogram Press Club yesterday.
She also demanded that the culprits be brought to justice.
However, the Chhatra Shibir denied the allegations.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/no-responsibility-actions-beyond-party-discipline-jamaat-ameer-3906776
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ICT prosecution seeks responsible cooperation from all in ensuring justice
29 May 2025
DHAKA, May 29, 2025 (BSS) - The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today sought responsible cooperation from all concerned in ensuring justice.
“Any false and intentional misinterpretation of law in mass media or social media platforms obstructs the efforts to ensure justice,” the ICT said in a statement, signed by its administrative officer Md Masud Rana. It protested the aggressive, false and intentional remarks against the ICT Prosecution.
Some social media statements regarding the ‘conflict of interest’ in the hearing of ATM Azaharul Islam’s case in the Appellate Division has been drawn the attention of the prosecution, which is totally unreal, false, intentional and misinterpretation of law, the ICT said, adding that at the same time, there were some personal attacks and aggressive statements about the members of the prosecution team that is also defamatory and unseemly.
The office of the Chief Prosecutor in this regard said that the Chief Prosecutor remained absent from the hearing after mentioning the matter in the Appellate Division on the first day as he worked as a defense lawyer of ATM Azaharul Islam in the ICT. Later, Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque moved for the state and prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim, Barrister Shaikh Mahadi and Md Mamunur Rashid moved for the prosecution and none of them earlier moved for ATM Azaharul Islam in the ICT.
During the hearing, the Attorney General Office and the ICT prosecution submitted their arguments and explanations before the Appellate Division, the statement said, adding that the prosecution also opposed the statements of the defense lawyers regarding the formation and proceedings of the ICT and the implication of international laws and its necessity.
The decision of the Appellate Division on evidences and arguments presented by the prosecution during the trial will be final, the statement said, adding that a person cannot represent two sides of a particular case. But there is no legal bar in any place of the world that a person (lawyer) cannot move for a similar case, or a particular party or a section of people.
It may be mentioned here that present prosecutor Karim Khan, before joining to the ICT prosecution wing, moved for war criminals former president of Liberia Charles Taylor, Kenyan President William Ruto and Libyan president Gaddafi’s son Saif Gaddafi in International Criminal Court (ICC).
Besides, widely respected advocate Khandkar Mahbub Hossain worked as the chief counsel of the International Crimes Tribunal formed to hold trial of those who were made accused in 1973 collaboration act of Bangladesh.
The prosecution office also said that the Chief Prosecutor office of the ICT and its investigation agency have been working relentless for ensuring justice. In this context, misinterpretation of law, intentional or false statements in mass media and social media networks will hamper the move to ensure justice. In this regard, the prosecution expects responsible role and cooperation from all concerned.
Source: bssnews.net
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4,813 bodies of migrant workers arrived in 2024
May 30, 2025
Balram's mother left for Lebanon in search of a better life. Nur Mohammad's sister made the same journey with a lot of hope to Jordan. Both returned in coffins.
Their families still do not know why.
The official medical certificates from the destination countries say the same thing -- suicide.
But their loved ones had left healthy and full of purpose. To the families, the explanation doesn't make sense -- and they are not alone.
According to a 2022 study by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), nearly half -- 48 percent -- of the families of deceased migrant workers do not believe the causes of death listed on the certificates.
Their doubts stem from what they saw: injury marks on the bodies, disturbing phone calls describing abuse, and signs of physical and psychological torture.
The study shows that 31 percent of repatriated bodies of migrant workers died due to accidents, suicides, or suspected homicides.
Meanwhile another report said the deaths of Bangladeshi migrant workers abroad reached a record high in 2024, with 4,813 bodies repatriated -- marking a 5.7 percent increase from the previous year. Among them, 94.4% were men and 3.6% were women. The average age of deceased workers was reported to be just 38 years.
The report is based on data compiled by Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training and the Wage Earners' Welfare Board.
The findings were shared at a dialogue titled "Dignity and Honour for Deceased Migrant Workers", held at a city hotel yesterday.
The event, which was jointly organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and RMMRU, gave bereaved families a rare chance to be heard.
"We are losing our workers in silence. Their deaths deserve answers, as well as dignity," said Prof Tasneem Siddiqui, executive director of RMMRU, who also shared firsthand testimonies from families.
NHRC Secretary Shebastian Rema called migrant deaths "especially painful," urging that the issues be raised in labour-receiving countries and international forums.
"These deaths are not just statistics. They are stories of dreams being cut short," he said, proposing that death-related protocols be included in future bilateral agreements.
Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, senior secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, stressed the need for inter-ministerial coordination to ensure dignified handling of bodies.
"While we cannot control the global context, we can at least act responsibly at home," he said.
Former Secretary Selim Reza acknowledged progress in reducing repatriation delays but stressed the need for more awareness to prevent avoidable deaths -- such as those caused by improper road crossing.
Masud Rana, director at BMET, highlighted the importance of including families of deceased migrants in reintegration programmes like the RAISE project, to help them rebuild their lives.
ATM Abdur Rouf Mondol from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Bangladeshi missions abroad will soon be authorised to use the ministry's own budget for repatriation if funding from the Wage Earners' Welfare Board is unavailable.
He also addressed past indignities -- such as coffins being treated as cargo and families waiting for hours without a place to seat -- and noted that designated spaces have now been established for storing bodies and comforting families.
Still, harrowing incidents continue to emerge.
In one such case, a family noticed a deep surgical cut on their relative's body during burial. A later post-mortem revealed that the kidneys had been removed.
"When there's doubt about the cause of death, a second autopsy in Bangladesh must be an option," said Prof Kamrul Hasan, a forensic medicine specialist.
The event was part of the SIMS Project, supported by Helvetas Bangladesh and the Swiss Embassy.
Other speakers included Muhammad Ikram Ullah, director at the Civil Aviation Authority; Ali Haider Chowdhury of BAIRA; Sarowat Mehjabin, senior assistant secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs; and representatives from WARBE, OKUP, BNSK, Pratyashi, CCDDA, Ain o Salish Kendra, BNWLA, and various legal and migration experts.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/4813-bodies-migrant-workers-arrived-2024-3906611
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New Telecommunication Sites to Be Established in Paktika Province
2025-05-29
PAKTIKA(BNA): Mawlavi Najibullah Hayat Haqqani, the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, announced the establishment of 29 new telecommunication sites.
The decision was made during a meeting with local administration officials, including Maulvi Makhdoom Abdul Salam Saadat, the deputy governor of Paktika.
During the meeting, Saadat highlighted that two areas in the province have been without telecommunication coverage for the past 20 years, indicating a long-standing need for improved connectivity.
In response, Minister Haqqani confirmed that these new sites are part of a broader initiative directed by the Prime Minister to enhance communication services in underserved regions.
The approved telecommunication sites will be strategically located in areas currently lacking access to services, aiming to address the needs of the local population. Furthermore, Haqqani revealed plans for an additional 75 telecommunication sites to be activated this year, which are expected to meet the communication needs of approximately 95 percent of residents in the province.
The minister also noted that the implementation of four telecommunication sites with single source technology and 25 sites utilizing DDF technology is set to begin, with completion anticipated within the next two months.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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Afghan, UNODC authorities discuss counter-narcotics cooperation
May 29, 2025
KABUL: Mullah Abdul Haq Akhund Hamkar, the Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs for Counter-Narcotics, met with Polik Ock, the Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Afghanistan, to discuss cou-narcotics cooperation, the ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
Hamkar stated that the cultivation, smuggling, purchase, and sale of poppy have been prohibited in Afghanistan and emphasized the necessity for aiding farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, according to the statement.
He also urged UNODC to persist in their collaboration, particularly in areas such as police training and staff capacity enhancement.
Meanwhile, Polik Ock commended the Islamic Emirate’s anti-narcotics efforts and expressed intentions to share well-documented information on these activities with the global community.
Facilitating addiction treatment and offering farmers alternatives to their cultivation practices have also been discussed in the meeting, the statement said.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/afghan-unodc-authorities-discuss-counter-narcotics-cooperation/
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Herat hosts meeting on Afghan-Turkmen sports cooperation
May 29, 2025
The General Director of Physical Education and Sports in Afghanistan, Mawlavi Ahmadullah Wasiq, met with Turkmenistan’s Consul General, Batur Yolov, during an official visit in Herat. The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of sports and physical education.
Also present at the meeting were Mufti Abdul Rahim Rahmani, Head of the Herat Provincial Sports Department; Gulabuddin Khpalwak, Advisor to the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports; Atal Mashwani, Head of Public Relations and Spokesperson for the Directorate; and Hamidullah Safi, Acting Head of the Technical and Professional Department.
Consul General Batur Yolov opened the meeting by expressing Turkmenistan’s interest in not only maintaining strong political ties with Afghanistan but also in expanding cultural and sports relations. He mentioned that Turkmenistan has previously supported sports initiatives in Afghanistan and expressed satisfaction in meeting with the leadership of Afghanistan’s sports authority. Yolov emphasized his country’s willingness to take stronger steps toward organizing joint sports programs in the future.
In response, Mawlavi Ahmadullah Wasiq expressed appreciation for Turkmenistan’s ongoing support and commitment to sports cooperation. He highlighted the existing good relations between the two nations, particularly in the sports sector. Wasiq noted that Turkmenistan had already supported several sports programs in Herat, which he described as commendable and encouraging.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to further expanding and strengthening sports ties. The session ended with prayers, reflecting a spirit of goodwill and shared aspirations for future collaboration.
This meeting marks another step forward in fostering regional cooperation and friendship through the unifying power of sports.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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