Should Civilised Societies Allow Talaq-e-Hasan: SC On Practice To Divorce Muslim Women
New Age Islam News Bureau
20 November 2025
The Supreme Court of India | Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters
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· Should Civilised Societies Allow Talaq-e-Hasan: SC On Practice To Divorce Muslim Women
· Radicalisation Chain Around Kashmiri Cleric Unravels After JeM Module Probe
· Saudi-US Investment Forum Yields Billions In Private Deals, Cementing Tech And Energy Partnership
· Christians, Muslims Are Victims Of Terrorist Attacks In Nigeria, Says Pope Leo
· UNGA Adopts Resolution Seeking Return Of Rohingyas To Myanmar
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India
· Three Talaqs Sent Through Lawyer Not Valid: Supreme Court
· BJP’s Union Minister Hits Back At BJP MP, Says ‘If 12% Muslims Unite, Why Not 80% Hindus?’
· Kashmiri Cleric Radicalised Muzammil, Who Then Roped In Shaheen In Terror Plot
· Muslim Body Seeks Separate Government Nodal Agency For Haj And Umrah Pilgrims
· MLA Behind Bars, AIUDF Says Will Field Him From Jail In Assam Polls
· Faridabad terror module: Jammu, Poonch jails raided
· 200 doctors, staff under investigation as scrutiny tightens at Al Falah University
· Delhi court sends Al Falah chief Jawad Siddiqui to ED custody amid Rs 415 crore fraud probe
· Omar Abdullah says Article 370 move failed to end violence; fears rising mistrust on Kashmiris
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia and US sign ‘Strategic Artificial Intelligence Partnership’
· Saudi Artisanal Co. highlights heritage and innovation at Banan 2025
· Saudi crown prince meets US House of Representatives leaders in Washington
· Trump says will start ‘working’ on Sudan after Saudi crown prince makes request
· ‘Youth is the Future,’ says Saudi sports minister at Misk forum
· GCC-Korea annual seminar explores future cooperation in renewable energy, AI
· Misk Global Forum begins with aim to empower youth
· MWL chief meets Spanish officials in Madrid
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Africa
· Govt Summons Katsina Cleric Over Alleged Violations Of Islamic Law
· Nigeria Is Bleeding, “Christian Genocide” Becoming A Self-fulfilling Prophecy – ADC Warns
· ISWAP Leader Bags 20-Year Jail Term For Terror Attacks
· Boko Haram: The Worst Is Over – Gov Zulum Declares During Meeting With COAS
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· South Asia
· Farahi Calls For Responsible Reporting That Respects Islamic, National, And Cultural Values
· IEA Foreign Minister Criticizes Double Standards in International Humanitarian Approach
· ‘Shariah Review And Fiduciary Ratings’ Deserves To Be Considered: Bangladesh Bank
· Beradar Inaugurates First Agricultural Product Testing Laboratory in Kandahar
· Deputy PM Highlights Economic Stability, Investment Opportunities at Kabul Policy Seminar
· Kabul, Tehran Sign $90 Million Trade Transportation Agreement
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Europe
· Muslim Charity Run In East London That Stopped Women And Girls Over 12 From Taking Part, Reviews Policies After Backlash
· Community Relations Among Muslims And Jews In Britain
· MP offers seat to Burnham for Starmer challenge
· Europeans’ grandchildren would pay for new Ukraine loan – Orban
· Ukrainian energy minister dismissed as corruption fallout expands
· EU ‘kept in the dark’ about Trump’s Ukraine peace plan – Telegraph
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Mideast
· Israeli Airstrikes Kill 25 Palestinians In Gaza, Rattling Ceasefire, Medics Say
· Jordanian Foreign Minister Calls For Renewed Global Support Of UN’s Agency For Palestinians
· Israeli forces demolish another Palestinian house in Jerusalem
· Israeli military steps up strikes in south Lebanon, says it is targeting Hezbollah
· WHO aims to vaccinate 40,000 children in Gaza Strip
· Gruelling search for Gaza’s dead beneath the rubble
· Syria condemns Israeli PM’s visit to country’s south
· Gaza water provider resumes services after Hamas frees employee
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North America
· Texas District Attorneys Probe Imaginary Sharia Courts
· CAIR-NC Joins Community in Painting Over Hate Vandalism Targeting North Carolina Mosque
· CAIR Calls on Dominican Republic to Allow Construction of Mosque | CAIR Pide a la República
· Community Classroom - Sharia Brent from Sabal Palm Elementary School
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Southeast Asia
· Indonesia To Partner With Malaysia For Islamic-Malay Culture
· ‘Not democracy at work’: Shafie warns rising multi-cornered fights may tear families apart
· Anwar: Malaysia-Ethiopia partnership reinforced through strategic agreements
· Stronger collaboration, AI governance key to boost Malaysia’s industrial credibility – Fadillah
· Malaysia completes 24 anti-corruption strategies under NACS initiative
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/societies-talaq-e-hasan-divorce-muslim-women/d/137711
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Should Civilised Societies Allow Talaq-e-Hasan: SC On Practice To Divorce Muslim Women
Scroll Staff
Nov 20, 2025
The Supreme Court of India | Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned how the practice of Talaq-e-Hasan for divorcing Muslim women can be allowed to continue in a civilised society, reported Bar and Bench.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh also noted that the practice may need to be “regulated”, instead of being struck down like instant triple Talaq, or Talaq-e-Biddah, reported Live Law.
Talaq-e-Hasan is a practice in which a Muslim man divorces his wife by uttering the word “Talaq” once a month over 90 days. The divorce is considered final after the third utterance.
Triple Talaq allows a Muslim man to instantly divorce his wife by pronouncing “Talaq” three times. The practice was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2019.
On Wednesday, the court was hearing petitions against Talaq-e-Hasan, including one filed by journalist Benazeer Heena, who challenged its constitutionality in 2022 on the grounds that it is discriminatory against women.
“What kind of thing is this?” Bar and Bench quoted the court as asking. “How are you promoting this in 2025? Whatever best religious practice we follow, is this what you allow? Is this how a dignity of a woman be upheld? Should a civilised society allow this kind of practice?”
The bench said that as the matter affects society at large, the court may have to intervene and asked the petitioners to submit broad questions that may arise while considering it.
“Once you give us a brief note, we will consider the desirability of referring it to a five-judge bench,” said the bench.
In her plea, Heena said her husband divorced her by sending Talaq-e-Hasan notices through a lawyer after her family refused to pay dowry.
As the notices did not have her husband’s signature, Heena’s advocate told the court that she has been unable to prove that she is divorced, reported Live Law.
“The problem started with the schools where I wanted to get my child admitted,” her petition stated. “Everywhere I said I was a divorcee, my papers were not accepted. Admission was rejected. I said the father has moved on and married again. I don’t know the technicalities.”
The court posted the matter for November 26 and also directed the husband to be present for the next hearing.
“It’s Constitution Day and therefore we must do something,” Live Law quoted the bench as saying.
In August 2022, a different bench of the Supreme Court had noted that the practice of Talaq-e-Hasan was not prima facie improper.
“Women also have an option,” a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh had said. “Khula is there.”
Khula is a form of divorce in which the wife returns her Mehr amount to the husband. Mehr is the exclusive property, goods or money given by the groom to the bride as a mark of respect.
Source: scroll.in
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Radicalisation chain around Kashmiri cleric unravels after JeM module probe
Nov 20, 2025
Lucknow: Kashmiri cleric Moulvi Irfan Ahmad of Shopian, who also worked as a paramedic at Srinagar's Govt Medical College and led prayers at Nowgam mosque since 2020, has been accused of radicalising Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie of Pulwama and Dr Shaheen Shahid of Lucknow. All three are in custody for allegedly steering Jaish-e-Mohammed's "white-collar" module linked to the network busted in Faridabad before the Nov 10 New Delhi car blast.
Investigators said Irfan used layered indoctrination and emotional manipulation to recruit Muzammil, who later identified and cultivated Shaheen during her time at Al Falah University.
Shaheen, already consuming extremist content online since 2023, was allegedly drawn into ideologically loaded conversations framed around injustice in conflict zones. Muzammil and fellow suspect Dr Umar Un Nabi invited her to late-night meetings that functioned as soft indoctrination sessions exposing her to JeM world view and operational language. Irfan allegedly supplied sermons, curated videos, and talking points on "women's role in jihad", "martyrdom as service", and "Muslim medical professionals' duty to the ummah". Once trust was established, Shaheen was connected to Irfan through VOIP calls, where he reinforced indoctrination with spiritual messaging and promises of honour and purpose, investigators said. She was allegedly encouraged to build a women's wing of JeM — Jamaat-ul-Mominaat — and assigned the code name "Madam Surgeon". Investigators also flagged the alleged role of Irfan's wife in targeting women recruits.
Irfan first met Muzammil and Umar at GMC Srinagar in 2023, after which Telegram channels, encrypted calls, and discreet meetings deepened radicalisation. Officials alleged Irfan received encrypted instructions from handlers in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.
Irfan allegedly arranged meetings where two assault rifles were handed to the module. One was seized from Shaheen's car; the other from a GMC Srinagar locker linked to Dr Adeel Majeed Rather, later arrested in UP's Saharanpur after CCTV footage showed him putting up pro-JeM posters in Srinagar. His interrogation led to Muzammil's arrest, seizure of explosives, and the exposure of the network built around Irfan.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/radicalisation-chain-around-kashmiri-cleric-unravels-after-jem-module-probe/articleshow/125446106.cms
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Saudi-US Investment Forum yields billions in private deals, cementing tech and energy partnership
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
November 19, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. The economic momentum generated by the White House meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday shifted swiftly to the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
It was here on Wednesday that high-level government agreements announced in the Oval Office and at a White House gala dinner the previous evening were rapidly translated into concrete private sector deals worth billions.
The forum, hosted by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia under the theme “Leadership for Growth: Strengthening the Saudi-US Economic Partnership,” brought together senior government officials, investors, and CEOs from some of America’s most powerful firms.
Addressing the forum on Wednesday afternoon, the crown prince said the foundations had been laid for a stronger partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US and that further investment agreements in defense, energy, AI, and financial services could be expected.
In his own remarks, President Trump said that $270 billion in agreements and sales were being signed between dozens of companies. He praised the crown prince, calling him a bold leader who was committed to the Saudi-US relationship.
Trump also said he would start “working” on the war in Sudan after the crown prince asked him to help end the conflict, which has raged since April 2023 and took a darker turn in the past month following the fall of El-Fasher.
“His majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan. It was not on my charts to be involved in, I thought it was just something that was crazy and out of control,” Trump said.
“But I just see how important that is to you, and to a lot of your friends in the room, Sudan. And we’re going to start working on Sudan.”
Opening the forum on Wednesday morning, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih emphasized the scale of Saudi-US cooperation, announcing the event would witness the launch of “groundbreaking business agreements worth hundreds of billions of dollars.”
“Yesterday, at the White House, we witnessed the signing of a set of strategic G2G agreements across several verticals, including defense, AI, the supply chains of minerals and critical metals, among others,” Al-Falih said.
He said the crown prince’s visit to Washington demonstrated “the strength of the Saudi-US partnership and our shared ambition.”
Al-Falih added that “an important step” was taken during Tuesday’s discussion regarding the “US-Saudi strategic framework on investment acceleration, a mechanism that supports timely investment approvals between our two countries.”
“Today, we will also witness, again, the launch of groundbreaking business agreements worth hundreds of billions of dollars, further underscoring the strength of our partnership and shared ambition.”
The investment minister emphasized that the US is the largest foreign investor in Saudi Arabia, “with one of every four dollars invested by international investors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia coming from America.”
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who addressed the forum after Al-Falih, added that the newly finalized agreements “open the door for US companies to lead globally (in) innovation, in safety and in deployment.”
The event was designed to cement the economic dimensions of the alliance by aligning Saudi investment ambitions — particularly those driving the Vision 2030 transformation — with American innovation and technology.
It underscored the strategic importance of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, as a cornerstone of the new partnership.
Following the formal signing of the Strategic Artificial Intelligence Partnership between Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both sides affirmed it as a historic step to advance innovation and technological progress.
This partnership is designed to leverage Saudi Arabia’s competitive advantages in available land, energy resources, and geographic location to build AI technology clusters serving local, regional, and global demand.
The collaboration encompasses the supply of advanced semiconductors, the development of advanced AI applications and infrastructure, and building national capabilities and expanding high-value investments.
The private sector immediately capitalized on this focus with major joint ventures. Advanced Micro Devices, Cisco Systems, and Saudi startup Humain announced the formation of a joint venture to build data centers in the Middle East.
This initiative will kick off with a 100-megawatt data center project in Saudi Arabia.
Source: arabnews.com
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Christians, Muslims are victims of terrorist attacks in Nigeria, says Pope Leo
November 19, 2025
Seyi John Salau
Pope Leo XIV has added his voice to the conversation on the killings in Nigeria, saying adherents of both Christianity and Islam are victims of terrorist attacks in the country.
“I think in Nigeria, in certain areas, there is certainly a danger for Christians, but for all people. Christians and Muslims have been slaughtered,” Pope Leo said on Tuesday evening while leaving his Castel Gandolfo residence.
The Pope made this known while addressing issues about the safety of Nigerian Christians, adding that the killings in Nigeria are multi-faceted and called on the Nigerian government to take actions seen at deepening religious freedom across the country.
“There’s a question of terrorism. There’s a question that has to do a lot with economics, if you will, and control of the lands that they have. Unfortunately, many Christians have died, and I think it’s very important to seek a way for the government, with all peoples, to promote authentic religious freedom.”
Pope Leo left his Castel Gandolfo residence, Villa Barberini, to return to the Vatican after spending the day at the papal retreat, located 18 miles south of Rome.
Nigeria has been in the news since Monday November 3, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as ‘a country of particular concern.’ The U.S. government designates countries with severe religious freedom violations as countries of particular concern.
However, the Nigerian government denied the allegation, saying ongoing violence across the country is not affiliated to religious crises. “Portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as a targeted campaign against a single religious group is a gross misrepresentation of reality.
“Terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology — Muslims, Christians, and those of no faith alike. Christianity is neither endangered nor marginalized in Nigeria,” the government said in a statement posted on X on Sept. 28.
Source: businessday.ng
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https://businessday.ng/news/article/christians-muslims-are-victims-of-terrorist-attacks-in-nigeria-says-pope-leo/
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UNGA adopts resolution seeking return of Rohingyas to Myanmar
20 Nov 2025
A Bangladesh delegation spoke on the Rohingya crisis at the Third Committee meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. Photo: PID
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DHAKA, Nov 20, 2025 (BSS) - The UN General Assembly's Third Committee has adopted by consensus a resolution on Rohingya Muslims, urging renewed global efforts for a durable solution to the crisis and for the safe, voluntary return of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Jointly tabled by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union (EU), the resolution was cosponsored by 105 countries on Wednesday, according to a message received here from Bangladesh mission to the UN in New York.
Adopted annually since 2017, it expresses deep concern over persistent human rights violations in Rakhine State, targeted persecution of Rohingya Muslims, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the continued influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.
The resolution also calls for sustained international engagement to ensure the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to their homeland.
Following the adoption, the Bangladesh delegation thanked member states for their continued support but voiced disappointment that no meaningful progress had been achieved in the last eight years toward enabling the return of the displaced population.
The delegation stressed that Bangladesh could no longer bear the burden of hosting 1.3 million Rohingyas and urged urgent international action to facilitate their repatriation to Myanmar.
Source: bssnews.net
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India
Three Talaqs Sent Through Lawyer Not Valid: Supreme Court
Nov 20, 2025
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the validity of the practice among Muslim men to authorise a lawyer to send notices to his wife for divorce through three Talaqs, each notified after a month’s gap, and said this would not be regarded as a valid annulment of marriage as the notices do not bear the man’s signature.
Appearing for a TV journalist petitioner questioning the Muslim men’s unilateral right to divorce through triple talaq under Talaq-e-Hasan process, senior advocate Rizwan Ahmed told a bench of CJI-designate Surya Kant and Justices U Bhuyan and N K Singh that her advocate husband sent talaq notices through a lawyer, finalised divorce and remarried.
“When a talaqnama does not bear the husband’s signature, it is not a valid divorce document. If, based on this document, the woman remarries, the man can later accuse her of polyandry by claiming he has not validly divorced the woman. Moreover, whenever she wants to remarry, the other man can decline citing the invalidity of the divorce document,” Ahmed said.
When senior advocate M R Shamshad attempted to justify the advocate husband’s action terming it as a custom prevalent among Muslims, Justice Kant-led bench asked, “How can this be a valid practice? The notices for talaq and talaqnama must have the signature of the husband. How can a third party give the woman notice on behalf of her husband?”
“Is this legal? How are such innovations made to give talaq? How is the community promoting such practices? We will not permit such processes to harm the dignity of the Muslim women. No one can give authorisation to a lawyer or any other person to give talaq notice to a woman on his behalf. If tomorrow the husband says he has not authorised the lawyer, what will happen to the woman? We have seen in many cases where the clients have disowned lawyers’ action,” the bench said.
Deprecating the actions of the advocate-husband, the bench asked him to follow the Sharia law procedures and give a valid divorce to the woman, Benazeer Heena, who was present in court and narrated how she had been made to run from pillar to post after being virtually abandoned by her husband after paying a total alimony of Rs 17,000. SC asked her to file an application seeking appropriate directions for her and child’s welfare and education. “We will do the needful,” it assured.
Turning to Shamshad, Justice Kant said, “We salute her for gathering courage to move the court challenging the unilateral Talaq-e-Hasan process of divorce. Think of the condition of millions of Muslim women, illiterate and living in rural areas. What would be their plight? The relief cannot be confined to those women who have the wherewithal to move the SC. We will decide the validity of Talaq-e-Hasan after a detailed hearing.”
Source: indiatimes.com
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BJP’s Union Minister Hits Back At BJP MP, Says ‘If 12% Muslims Unite, Why Not 80% Hindus?’
Nov 20, 2025
Hyderabad: In a fresh escalation of the simmering rivalry within Telangana BJP, Union minister of state for home Bandi Sanjay on Wednesday hit back at fellow BJP MP Eatala Rajender's assertion that divisive politics cannot bring electoral success, declaring that there is ‘nothing wrong' with 80% of Hindus uniting as a vote bank and insisting he would advocate Hindutva "till the day he stops breathing."
His comments, delivered in the Huzurabad assembly constituency—Eatala's stronghold for six terms—signalled a new round of open posturing between the two leaders. Addressing party workers, Sanjay said he would take the message of Hindutva ‘to every doorstep' in the state and urged the Muslim community to introspect on its voting behaviour. He also reiterated his commitment to ushering in ‘Ram rajya' in Telangana.
Pointing to the BJP's rapid rise in Greater Hyderabad, he said: "In GHMC, we jumped from four seats to 48, thanks to Hindutva. If the Muslim community votes as a single bloc, what's the harm in Hindus rallying together to support the BJP?"
He argued that the Modi govt extends welfare schemes to all, asking, "So why don't Muslims support the BJP? Why do they gather in mosques during elections to pledge to vote against us? If 12% of Muslims can unite, what's wrong with 80% of Hindus doing the same?"
Citing recent attacks in Pahalgam and Hyderabad on Hindus and cow protectors, the Union minister questioned why discussing Hindutva should be deemed controversial.
Turning to local polls, he warned that ‘not a single penny' would reach panchayats that vote for the Congress in the upcoming sarpanch elections, asserting that all development funds originate from the Centre. He said the elections were essentially about securing central funds and insisted that the welfare of panchayats depended on supporting the BJP.
Sanjay was speaking at the launch of the ‘Kashaya Samara Bheri' campaign, aimed at highlighting what the BJP terms Congress's failures over the past two years. A signature collection drive is planned for Nov 26 in Karimnagar parliamentary constituency. Sanjay and BJP affairs in-charge Chandrasekhar Tiwari distributed pamphlets criticising the state govt, while Tiwari also released a song praising Sanjay as ‘Kashaya (saffron) soldier,' prompting workers to dance to ‘Bhali Bhali Ra Bhali' from the film Baahubali-II.
Bandi Sanjay's remarks are widely seen as a pointed response to Eatala Rajender's recent observation that divisive politics does not deliver electoral gains—a comment that revived tensions long brewing between the two leaders. Their cold war resurfaced in July when Eatala hinted, without naming Sanjay, that he was always ready for a ‘street fight, not a steel fight,' comments interpreted as directed at the Karimnagar MP. His supporters have previously accused Sanjay of obstructing their organisational efforts.
Eatala recently announced plans to open party offices in every mandal of Huzurabad and asserted that he would decide BJP tickets for local elections in the region. Sanjay countered that the party leadership, not individuals, takes such decisions. Relations have remained frosty since Sanjay stepped down as state party chief—an episode his supporters blame on Eatala. Notably, Eatala joined the BJP under Sanjay's leadership and went on to win the Huzurabad seat in a by-election.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Kashmiri cleric radicalised Muzammil, who then roped in Shaheen in terror plot
Nov 20, 2025
Lucknow: Interrogation of the arrested accused in the Delhi blast case has revealed a deeper chain of influence, with investigators claiming that the arrested Kashmir-based cleric, Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, radicalised the key conspirators. Investigators say he systematically targeted young medical professionals using layered indoctrination and emotional manipulation.
Maulvi Irfan first radicalised Dr Muzammil by establishing a mentor-disciple relationship with him through long conversations on faith, geopolitics, and the "obligation of action". Muzammil, described as devout and impressionable, gradually became Irfan's conduit for expanding the network beyond Kashmir.
Investigators say Irfan deliberately used Muzammil as the bridge to reach and radicalise Lucknow-based doctor Shaheen Shahid, whom he viewed as a high-value recruit because of her education, influence, and financial stability. Shaheen was first self-radicalised through online content and then systematically brainwashed by Muzammil.
Shaheen, who had little contact with her family, had been consuming extremist material online since 2023 and developing ‘lone-wolf ideological leanings'. This made her an ideal target for Muzammil during her stint at Al-Falah University. He assessed her vulnerabilities — isolation, ideological confusion, and strong ambition to work abroad — and marked her as a "potential high-value recruit".
Officials said Muzammil first took Shaheen into confidence through long, ideologically loaded conversations, often framed as discussions on "injustice in conflict zones". He positioned himself as her intellectual mentor, gradually replacing her social circle and becoming her primary emotional anchor. She was then invited to late-night meetings with Muzammil and another suspect, Dr Umar Un Nabi of Pulwama.
"These meetings, initially projected as academic debates on geopolitics, were in reality soft indoctrination sessions where she was exposed to Jaish-e-Mohammed world view and operational language," an investigator said.
Muzammil first approached Shaheen under the guise of religious discussions, sharing sermons, curated videos, and audio clips supplied by Irfan. Over months, Irfan dictated ideological talking points to Muzammil, instructing him on how to present concepts like "women's role in jihad", "martyrdom as service", and "Muslim medical professionals' duty to the ummah".
Once confidence was built, Muzammil connected Shaheen directly to Maulvi Irfan through VOIP-based voice calls, where the cleric reinforced the indoctrination with personalised messages, spiritual framing, and promises of ‘honour' and ‘purpose'. Shaheen was gradually convinced that she could ‘lead other women', after which Irfan began involving her in operational discussions.
Sleuths say this two-stage radicalisation — ideological initiation by Muzammil followed by doctrinal reinforcement by Irfan — was calculated to avoid suspicion and establish emotional dependency.
Acting on Irfan's instructions, Shaheen, Muzammil and Umar then tried to influence Shaheen's brother Dr Parvez, urging him to join the network. He refused, but investigators now consider him a crucial witness to the group's communication patterns and meetings. Officials believe Irfan received encrypted guidance from terror handlers in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, which shaped the module's ideological direction and assignments.
Investigators have also uncovered the involvement of Irfan's wife, who allegedly helped target women recruits and reinforced extremist messaging for Shaheen. Investigators say Shaheen was encouraged to form a women's wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed — Jamaat-ul-Mominaat — and was assigned the code name "Madam Surgeon", given by Irfan himself.
Irfan first met Muzammil and Umar Nabi in 2023 at GMC Srinagar while accompanying a patient whose role remains under probe. Subsequent communication via Telegram channels, encrypted calls, and clandestine meetings led to deep radicalisation. Videos of Umar calmly discussing suicide bombings — calling it "a misunderstood concept" — are said to reflect Irfan's doctrinal influence.
Irfan also arranged meetings with Jaish operatives in south Kashmir, during which two assault rifles were handed over to the module. One rifle was found in Shaheen's Swift Dzire, while the second was recovered from a locker at GMC Srinagar, used by another accused — Dr Adeel.
Adeel, caught on CCTV putting up pro-Jaish posters in Nowgam, was arrested in Saharanpur. His interrogation exposed the broader network, leading to the arrests of Muzammil, recovery of explosives, and the unravelling of the radicalisation chain built around Maulvi Irfan.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/kashmiri-cleric-radicalised-muzammil-who-then-roped-in-shaheen-in-terror-plot/articleshow/125447077.cms
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Muslim body seeks separate government nodal agency for Haj and Umrah pilgrims
November 19, 2025
Syed MohammedSYED MOHAMMED
The United Muslim Forum, a body of faith leaders, expressed deep anguish at the death of Umrah pilgrims in Medina and has urged the Centre to recommend establishment of a government-level supervisory mechanism for Haj and Umrah pilgrims travelling from Hyderabad.
The organisation emphasised the need for a dedicated department at the Centre through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Minority Welfare, similar to the model followed by the State of Kerala. It also called for focused policies to ensure the welfare of Indian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, including the large workforce from Telangana.
Telangana State Haj Committee chairman Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani told The Hindu that he, along with Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society office bearer Faheem Qureshi, had met Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer who is scheduled to leave for Medina. Mr. Biyabani said officials of the Union government including those from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Minister of Minority Affairs will also travel to Saudi Arabia to oversee arrangements and coordination.
Source: thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/muslim-body-seeks-separate-government-nodal-agency-for-haj-and-umrah-pilgrims/article70299233.ece
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MLA behind bars, AIUDF says will field him from jail in Assam polls
November 20, 2025
Jailed MLA Aminul Islam will contest next year’s legislative assembly elections from behind bars if he is not released by then, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal declared on Wednesday.
short article insertFollowing the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, Islam, who has been the MLA representing Assam’s Dhing constituency since 2011, had been arrested on April 24 for statements in a political rally suggesting that the attack was a “conspiracy” by the central BJP government. Section 152 of the BNS, invoked against him, pertains to “acts endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India”, which is similar to “sedition” under the IPC.
He was the first of at least 97 people from across the state who have been arrested for social media posts in a campaign to “to detain Pakistan supporters” run by the Assam government after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Three weeks later, he received bail in the case from a Nagaon court on May 14. However, the very same day, he was detained under the NSA, and continues to be incarcerated.
At the time, his party, the AIUDF, a regional party from Assam which has its primary support base among the state’s Bengali-origin Muslim community, had refrained from lending support to him.
However, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, AIUDF Ajmal stated he has not committed an offence that merits the NIA and that the party will field him as a candidate even if he continues to be behind bars.
“Aminul Islam has been in jail for the last eight months. He has been kept in jail with NSA charges as part of a conspiracy. He has done no such offence which merits the NSA. The offence he had been arrested for, he got bail within weeks. After that, he was jailed under the NSA. There is political motivation behind this,” he said.
He added that the party will continue to seek legal recourse.
“If even after that the government does not let him go… Congress is the one which wants this man in jail. Their candidate who wants to contest from this seat wants him to remain in jail. In past elections, we have seen jailed candidates winning. If we are bound to, Aminul will contest the elections from jail,” he said.
The AIUDF, which has 15 members in the 126-member assembly and is the third-largest party, has been excluded from Congress-led efforts to forge a regional alliance for next year’s elections. In light of this, Ajmal has expressed interest in exploring a front with the AIMIM, which does not have a presence in Assam. On Wednesday, he said that he will meet AIMIM leaders next month to discuss this. However, on Tuesday, the AIMIM had issued a statement saying, “Neither has AIMIM decided to start operations in Assam, nor enter into alliance with any party in the state.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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Faridabad terror module: Jammu, Poonch jails raided
Nov 20, 2025
JAMMU: J&K police and its counter-intelligence unit conducted simultaneous raids on Jammu’s high security Kot Bhalwal Central Jail and Poonch Jail Wednesday as part of the ongoing crackdown on the terror ecosystem linked to the Faridabad-based terror module responsible for the Nov 10 suicide blast near Delhi’s Red Fort.
“These two jails house hardcore Pakistani and local terrorists. The raids are part of an operation to bust terror networks running from inside the prisons,” an official said.
IGP Bhim Sen Tuti visited the border district of Poonch and reviewed the security situation.
In the past three days, security forces have intensified their operations across the state, raiding the residences of terror sympathizers and overground workers. Authorities raided Doda district jail on Nov 11 and detained 15 suspects including surrendered terrorists, a day after a similar surprise inspection at Rajouri district jail.
Source: indiatimes.com
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200 doctors, staff under investigation as scrutiny tightens at Al Falah University
Harpreet Bajwa
20 Nov 2025
CHANDIGARH: The scrutiny has intensified at Al Falah University as around 200 doctors and staff working at the university are reportedly under the scanner of investigative agencies for possible links to the alleged suicide bomber Dr Umar Nabi.
Investigative agencies have detained Afsana, an anganwadi worker from Golpuri village who manages her father’s house and rented a room in Hidayat Colony, Nuh to Umar on the recommendation of her relative Shoaib, who worked as an electrician at the university. She had been absconding since the November 10 blast, and her family is also being questioned.
According to sources, the agencies are trying to determine how many people left the university after the blast and are attempting to identify them. Some are suspected to have links to terrorists, and several individuals have deleted mobile data. Over 1,000 people have been questioned, and police are searching hostels and rooms of students living off campus.
Frequent checks at the university have raised concerns among students and staff. On Wednesday, several employees were seen leaving the campus with packed belongings. “They are taking leave and returning home,” said university sources.
Investigators are also probing whether Umar had an internal handler at Al Falah University, as Umar reportedly received “special treatment’’ at the university. Two doctors doing their apprenticeship said Umar remained absent for nearly six months in 2023 without any leave or intimation, yet rejoined duty without action. They added that he rarely attended classes, delivering only short lectures, lasting only 15–20 minutes before returning to his room, which other lecturers reportedly resented. He was mostly assigned evening or night shifts at the hospital.
Umar reportedly confined himself to the rented room for ten days, stepping out only late at night to eat. On October 28, Shoaib called his sister-in-law Afsana to inform her that he had a guest who would stay for a few days. On October 31, Umar arrived with Shoaib in a car. He left the place on November 9.
Sources said the agencies have also questioned seven others in Nuh to determine Umar’s links with them. The alleged suicide bomber used multiple mobile phones during his stay. Police are reviewing their data and call records.
The controversy has also affected the Al Falah Medical College hospital, where outpatient numbers have dropped from about 200 a day to fewer than 100 after reports of the university’s suspected links to terrorism.
Meanwhile, three others, a cleric at a Sohna mosque, his 18-year-old son, and a madrasa teacher, have been detained for questioning. Investigators have also seized the DVR containing CCTV recordings from the mosque, located near the room that Umar rented.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Delhi court sends Al Falah chief Jawad Siddiqui to ED custody amid Rs 415 crore fraud probe
20.11.25
A Delhi court on Wednesday remanded Al Falah Group chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui to Enforcement Directorate custody for 13 days in connection with a money-laundering case.
The Faridabad-based Al Falah School of Medical Science and Research Centre, run by the group, is being probed after three doctors working there were allegedly found to be part of the “white-collar terror module” linked to the November 10 Red Fort car blast.
Siddiqui, who was arrested by the ED on Tuesday following raids on Al Falah properties, was presented before metropolitan magistrate Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan at midnight at her residence. During the hearing that continued till 1am, Chaudhary allowed the ED to question Siddiqui in the agency’s custody till December 1.
“After carefully considering the submission made, I am of the considered view that all the compliances under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) have been done. Moreover, considering the gravity of the offence and that the investigation is at a nascent stage, I deem it appropriate that the accused is granted ED custody remand for a period of 13 days,” the magistrate said.
Section 19 of the PMLA deals with the power to arrest.
The investigating agency had conducted searches at 25 locations across Delhi and Faridabad linked to the Al Falah Group in connection with alleged fraudulent claims of accreditation and financial irregularities by the group’s flagship institutions.
According to the ED, Siddiqui has committed the offence of money laundering and under his instructions, the university and the trusts run by the Al Falah Group have defrauded students to the tune of ₹415 crore by making false claims of accreditation.
The ED told the magistrate that multiple family members and close associates of Siddiqui appeared to hold posts, including those of trustees, directors and office-bearers, in the Al Falah Group. The agency said Siddiqui’s questioning was crucial to map the entire laundering network.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Omar Abdullah says Article 370 move failed to end violence; fears rising mistrust on Kashmiris
19.11.25
Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah on Wednesday claimed that revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir has not ended the bloodshed in the union territory, and said those responsible for security should be made accountable.
"We want this cycle (of violence) to stop. Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kashmir, has witnessed so much bloodshed in the last 30-35 years. We were told that this will not happen now and this cycle will end after 2019. But, it has not," Abdullah told reporters in the south Kashmir's Kulgam district.
The Centre on August 5, 2019 abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to J-K. The erstwhile state was also bifurcated and downgraded into two Union territories - J-K, and Ladakh.
The chief minister said those responsible for the security in J-K should be made accountable.
"You will have to ask those responsible for our security as to why it (violence) has not ended. That responsibility does not lie in our hands," he added.
While highlighting the security concerns, Abdullah said there is an incident of violence happening somewhere or the other.
"If a bomb is not exploding in Delhi, then it goes off here," he said referring to the recent car blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, and Friday's accidental blast in Nowgam Police station here.
He lamented that innocent people were losing their lives in such incidents.
The chief minister said he went to five places for condolences on Tuesday, and was scheduled to visit two more on Wednesday.
Abdullah visited the families of Aijaz Afzal Mir at HMT Zainakote, Mohammad Amin Mir at Bemina, and Showkat Ahmad Bhat at Qamarwari, all members of Forensic Science Laboratory team, Suhail Ahmad Rather at Natipora (revenue department chowkidar), and Mohammad Shafi Paray at Wanabal (tailor), who lost their lives in the Nowgam blast on Friday.
Abdullah on Wednesday said people in Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly apprehensive about travelling outside the Union territory, arguing they are treated as suspects for the violent acts of a few.
“In the prevailing circumstances, perhaps parents will not like to send their children outside. When we are looked at with suspicious eyes from every side, when attempts are made to defame us for someone else’s doing, when attempts are made to bring everyone into the ambit of what few people have done, then it is obvious that it becomes difficult for us to leave for outside,” Abdullah said at the event.
Abdullah added that he now hesitates before driving a Jammu and Kashmir–registered vehicle in the national capital. “Today, even driving a J-K registration vehicle in Delhi is being seen as a crime. When I do not have many security personnel with me, I myself think whether I should take out my car or not, as I do not know if anyone will stop me and ask me where I was from and why I had come there,” he said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia and US sign ‘Strategic Artificial Intelligence Partnership’
November 19, 2025
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia and the US signed the Strategic Artificial Intelligence Partnership on Wednesday, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Secretary of State Marco Rubio officiating.
Prince Faisal and Rubio affirmed the partnership as a historic step that established a new milestone in the strategic relationship between the two countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The agreement occurred on the sidelines of the state visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, where he met US President Donald Trump and top officials on Tuesday.
The Strategic AI Partnership capitalizes on Saudi Arabia’s advantages in land, energy and geography to develop AI technology clusters that meet local, regional and global demand for AI and cloud computing services, while leveraging the US technology ecosystem for economic growth, SPA reported.
The two sides noted that the agreement includes the supply of advanced semiconductors, AI application development, building advanced AI infrastructure and national capabilities, as well as expanding high-value investments.
The partnership will boost productivity, innovation and both economic and social benefits. It reflects the commitment of the Kingdom and the US to encourage innovation and technological advancement through a long-term economic security partnership.
The two sides emphasized the partnership’s role in advancing economic relations between Saudi and American companies in future technologies and innovative solutions across key industries, including health, education, energy, mining and transportation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Artisanal Co. highlights heritage and innovation at Banan 2025
RAHAF JAMBI
November 19, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Artisanal Co. is taking part in the third edition of the Banan Exhibition, part of Saudi International Handicrafts Week, at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, to boost the local sector.
The event, which began last Thursday and ends on Nov. 26, has been organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission.
It is being held under the patronage of Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and brings together local and international artisans to celebrate traditional crafts and cultural exchange.
The Saudi Artisanal Co. is showcasing a range of initiatives aimed at elevating the handicrafts sector, including the signing of an agreement with Kayanee, owned by Princess Reema bint Bandar, to develop culturally-inspired fashion lines.
Speaking to Arab News at the event recently, CEO Ibrahim Al-Nasser explained the goals behind their participation in Banan, one of which is empowering 270 local artisans with business opportunities.
Al-Nasser said: “One of the strategic moves for the company is to activate and unleash new business lines, such as fashion. And we chose Kayanee which is one of the PIF (Public Investment Fund) subsidiaries to start with the fashion business line.”
He added: “It’s the first activation of this collaboration. And then we will develop with them other lines related to fashion.”
The Saudi Artisanal Co. aims to expand its market reach, introduce new initiatives within the crafts sector, and further develop artisanal products.
Al-Nasser explained that it was a two-pronged approach. “The first one is to enable the artisans, and the second one to upgrade the products within the markets within the Kingdom.”
So the participation at Banan is “to make sure we are having the right talent and the right position for a good future” for the development of artisanal products, said Al-Nasser.
The company recently opened a branch at Al-Zalal Mall in Diriyah, to bring products closer to the public. There are branches in Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi crown prince meets US House of Representatives leaders in Washington
November 20, 2025
WASHINGTON: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held meetings at the US Capitol in Washington on Wednesday with the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, and the leaders and members of House committees.
The crown prince discussed with his hosts a number of critical issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported, including the latest regional and international developments, as well as cooperation between the Kingdom and the US in several sectors. The American officials emphasized their commitment to the historic relationship between the two countries.
The aims of the crown prince’s state visit to the US included a deepening of ties in sectors such as defense, energy projects and artificial intelligence, and he was accompanied by several government ministers.
Other Saudi participants in the meetings on Wednesday included Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman; the Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar; Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan; National Security Adviser Musaed Al-Aiban; Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi; Minister of State Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh; Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan; and the secretary-general of the US-Saudi Partnership Council, Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri.
Source: arabnews.com
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Trump says will start ‘working’ on Sudan after Saudi crown prince makes request
November 19, 2025
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he would start “working” on the war in Sudan on Wednesday, after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked him to help end the conflict during a visit to the US.
“His majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan,” Trump said at the US-Saudi Investment Forum.
“It was not on my charts to be involved in, I thought it was just something that was crazy and out of control,” he added.
“But I just see how important that is to you, and to a lot of your friends in the room, Sudan. And we’re going to start working on Sudan.”
Since its outbreak in April 2023, the war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly 12 million.
Shortly after leaving the forum, Trump condemned the “tremendous atrocities” in Sudan’s civil war and said he would work with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to end the conflict.
“Tremendous atrocities are taking place in Sudan. It has become the most violent place on Earth and, likewise, the single biggest Humanitarian Crisis,” Trump said on Truth Social.
Source: arabnews.com
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‘Youth is the Future,’ says Saudi sports minister at Misk forum
LAMA ALHAMAWI
November 19, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal underlined the importance of investing in the nation’s youth during Day 1 of the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh.
“The youth is the future,” Al-Faisal told Arab News. “And in Saudi Arabia, 70 percent of the population is below the age of 40.
“So, we need to have a strong, bright, inspiring youth for the future and for a bright future for Saudi Arabia, and to leave a legacy for the future to the next generation coming up,” he said.
Misk Global Forum, the largest youth forum and annual flagship event hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s nonprofit Misk Foundation, kicked off on Wednesday at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, “Misk City.”
With the theme of this year’s forum being “Created by Youth” the MGF25 theme centers on empowering young people to create their own stories, solutions, and initiatives.
“Youth are very important, we engage with them and the ministry of sports and the Olympic Committee every day.”
He said these foundations and programs form a “growth path for the future and to have a brighter future for the Kingdom.”
One of the programs running at the forum is the Misk 20 under 30, which spotlights 20 groundbreaking initiatives driven by creators under 30.
One of the Misk 20 under 30 leaders was Zubair Junjunia, founder of study aid platform ZNotes.
“Today I had the privilege of being recognized with the Misk 20 under 30 award. This is the first of its kind, where they’re recognizing 20 individuals under 30 who are making a development towards social impact,” Junjunia told Arab News.
“And it’s really an honor because ZNotes started right here in Saudi Arabia, 11 years ago. And, hamdullah, today it’s reached over six million students to impact and ensure educational access is equitably available,” he said.
Some of the forum’s other initiatives included MGF Webinars and Majlis X, a year-round digital series bringing expert insights and future skills to youth screens worldwide and a global youth-led majlis reimagining open dialogue.
This year is the 9th edition of the global forum welcoming high-level speakers including figures such as Chris Barton, founder and creator of Shazam, and Rio Ferdinand, former Manchester United footballer and media personality.
With eight youth initiatives in action, youth this year are not only participants, according to MGF, they are the architects of the experience itself.
The forum was organized by a youth advisory committee, with 15 young creators from around the world co-designing its program, themes and speaker selection.
Source: arabnews.com
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GCC-Korea annual seminar explores future cooperation in renewable energy, AI
RASHID HASSAN
November 19, 2025
RIYADH: The South Korean Embassy in cooperation with the Gulf Research Center jointly held the second Korea-GCC Cooperation Seminar in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The seminar explored ways to enhance cooperation in advanced technology and energy, including opportunities to cooperate in circular carbon economy, transportation, artificial intelligence, data, defense, space, energy transition, renewable and hydrogen energy.
Acting Korean Ambassador Moon Byung-jun said that the seminar came at a timely moment considering the active high-level exchanges between Korea and the GCC countries, which reflect the strength of relations and strong will to further expand cooperation between the two sides.
Experts from both sides explored opportunities in artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, renewable energy technologies, and digital transformation, and reviewed global trends in these sectors for driving economic growth.
Speaking to Arab News on the sideline of the seminar, the ambassador said: “This is our annual seminar organized jointly by the embassy and the GRC rotating the theme. This year we focus on energy and technology. There are a lot of changes going on globally, we have to discuss it for better cooperation.
“There’s a lot going on here in renewable energy. So we have to discuss how we can work together. Creativity is important and to discuss in detail will help us all,” he added.
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a leader in the hydrogen economy, with significant investments in green and blue versions of the fuel with the aim to generate half the Kingdom’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
With its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, strategic partnerships, and projects like Neom’s hydrogen initiative, Saudi Arabia is paving the way for a sustainable, hydrogen-powered future.
South Korea has decided to close all coal-fired power plants by 2040. Renewable energy capacity in the East Asian country has increased sixfold from 2013 to 2023.
“Our president is currently visiting the UAE where he has discussed cooperation in renewable energy, AI and defence with his counterpart, so we are looking for better coordination in the GCC in all these areas,” the envoy said.
South Korea has agreed to work with the UAE on the US-backed Stargate project to build a huge new artificial intelligence data campus in the Gulf country.
South Korea said it will help build computing power and energy infrastructure for the world’s largest set of AI data centres outside the US, after South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held a summit with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
South Korea, home to chipmakers Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix, aims to become a regional AI hub after the president, who took office on June 4, prioritised AI investment to spur growth.
On Saudi Arabia, ther ambassador said: “The Kingdom is a key ally, the biggest oil supplier to our government and the largest economic partner in the region. We have a very strong relationship in the area of oil and gas. But we have to expand that beyond the energy cooperation and work together in AI and data.
“So we are discussing the way of, how we can work together for the mutual benefit, and focus on technological advancements so that the two sides can mutually benefit from it,” he said.
The annual seminar is a platform for policymakers, business leaders, and researchers to exchange insights, identify opportunities for joint projects, and strengthen the strategic partnership between Korea and the GCC to address current and future challenges.
It aims to provide a dynamic platform for dialogue, and create a space for academic experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders from Korea and GCC countries to exchange perspectives, share experiences, and discuss emerging global trends.
The seminar aims to deepen mutual understanding of the opportunities and challenges faced by both regions in the rapidly evolving technological and energy landscapes.
The goal is to generate a roadmap for joint initiatives, policy recommendations, and future cooperation mechanisms that can contribute to long-term economic resilience and sustainable growth for both sides.
The relationship between Korea and the GCC has long been anchored in a foundation of mutual interests, particularly in the areas of energy security, trade, and investment.
In past decades, both sides have built strong ties through the exchange of energy resources, technology, and expertise, which has played a pivotal role in supporting the economic growth of both regions. A significant milestone in this partnership is the Korea-GCC Free Trade Agreement.
Source: arabnews.com
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Misk Global Forum begins with aim to empower youth
LAMA ALHAMAWI
RAHAF JAMBI
November 19, 2025
RIYADH: The Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, or Misk, launched the ninth edition of its global forum on Wednesday under the theme “Created by Youth.”
The two-day Misk Global Forum is being held at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City in Riyadh.
This year’s event builds on a legacy of empowering young people as agents of change.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the event, Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal highlighted the importance of the Kingdom's young population.
“The youth is the future, and in Saudi Arabia, 70 percent of the population is below the age of 40,” Prince Abdulaziz said.
“So, we need to have a strong, bright, inspiring youth for the future and for a bright future for Saudi Arabia and to leave a legacy for the future to the next generation coming up.”
He went on to say: “We engage with them and the Ministry of Sports and the Olympic Committee every day, and having such foundations like Misk and programs supports all of these growth paths for the future and to have a brighter future for the Kingdom.”
Alwaleed Shaaban, agency and ecosystem lead at Snapchat, was one of the speakers who took the stage at the Skills Lab.
Sharing with Arab News an inspiring message for young professionals, Shaaban said: “Being part of a country that is pushing its youth forward, with global companies hiring local talent, you have to put yourself out there. Be yourself. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself. Ask questions, learn, make mistakes, and get back up—that’s how you grow.”
Expected to draw more than 10,000 visitors, the 2025 edition features more than 200 speakers and experts participating in over 80 sessions and workshops.
Youth-led spaces and initiatives is focusing on providing practical solutions for real-world challenges, supported by more than 30 local and global partners.
The spotlight this year is on arts and culture, entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, global engagement, sports, quality of life and sustainability.
This environment is aimed at helping young people connect to decision-making processes locally and globally.
Additionally, the forum is encouraging partnerships between government entities, the private sector and nonprofits, aimed at promoting long-term youth empowerment.
A Skills Lab at the event is providing capacity-building workshops focused on innovation, while the Impact Lighthouse initiative facilitates policy-driven discussions among young people.
The 180 Space will challenge conventional perspectives, and the Majlis area encourages open dialogue inspired by Saudi Arabia’s tradition of social gatherings.
A Leaders Meet event will extend this discourse in a television-style format, while the main stage serves as a central hub for global leaders and youth to exchange ideas.
In this ninth edition, young people will play a pivotal role in designing, delivering and measuring the forum's impact.
This year’s forum also includes a number of projects focused on cross-cultural training.
Source: arabnews.com
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MWL chief meets Spanish officials in Madrid
November 19, 2025
RIYADH: Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa met Pedro Rollan, president of the Senate of Spain, in Madrid on Wednesday.
The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation between the MWL and the Spanish Senate and exploring shared concerns. Key topics included advancing dialogue and cross-cultural communication to promote peace amid rising civilizational tensions.
Discussions also highlighted the league’s initiatives supporting Muslim minorities and fostering their positive integration into national communities.
Al-Issa received the Senate’s highest medal, the MWL posted on X.
Rollan praised the league for promoting Islamic values of tolerance, coexistence, and bridge-building. He noted the importance of the Charter of Makkah as highlighted by the UN, religious leaders, and international research centers.
He also likened the city of Toledo’s historical role to the MWL’s current efforts, which emphasize the importance of religious diversity.
Al-Issa also had separate discussions with Hana Jalloul, vice-chair of the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Maria Francisca Carazo Villalonga, mayor of Granada.
Source: arabnews.com
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Africa
Govt summons Katsina cleric over alleged violations of Islamic law
Faith Awa Maji
November 19, 2025
The Katsina State Government has summoned an Islamic cleric, Mallam Yahaya Masusauka, over alleged contravention of the general principles of Islamic law during his regular teachings and preachings in the State.
Abdullahi Faskari, the Secretary to the State Government, announced this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Almu-Gafai and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Katsina.
According to him, the state government has earlier received complaints that the teachings and preaching of the said preacher, Masussuka, contravene the general principles of Islamic law.
The statement read, “The government equally received another complaint from the side of Masussuka, that members of Jama’atu Izalatul Bidia are insulting and threatening to attack him.
“In an attempt to address the issues, the above concerns were forwarded to the Katsina Emirate Council, where both sides were invited for a discussion.
“At the end of which, the Emir, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir-Usman, admonished that nobody is permitted to conduct preaching and teachings in such a way as to offend another.
“In the interest of peace and harmony, Governor Dikko Umar Radda has directed that Masussuka should prepare to defend himself on the allegations, before a Committee of Ulamas.”
According to Faskari, after which, standards and guidelines will be set out, and whoever contravenes them, the government will take appropriate action against such individuals.
“The secretary of the state government further urged the general public to be patient as the matter is being judiciously handled”, the statement read.
Source: businessday.ng
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https://businessday.ng/news/article/govt-summons-katsina-cleric-over-alleged-violations-of-islamic-law/
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Nigeria Is Bleeding, “Christian Genocide” Becoming A Self-fulfilling Prophecy – ADC Warns
November 19, 2025
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the killing and abduction of worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.
The party warned that the “Christian genocide” narrative, previously dismissed, is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy under the Tinubu administration.
Naija News reports that terrorists had invaded the church during a live programme.
At least three people were reportedly killed, several others injured, and an unspecified number abducted.
In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, the party accused the Federal Government of being reactive and defensive instead of confronting the challenge.
The full statement read: “The African Democratic Congress, ADC, condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where innocent worshippers were murdered during a church service, and others, including the pastor, abducted. This tragedy is another painful reminder of the pervasive insecurity that has taken root across the country.
“Coming within hours of another attack in Kebbi State where school officials were killed and students abducted, this particularly brutal attack and abduction give the impression that this government has lost control and Nigerians now live at the mercy of gunmen who are now emboldened by government’s failure to act decisively.
“The ADC is particularly concerned that the Christian genocide narrative, which we dismissed when it was first proposed, is gradually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy due to the failure of the government to conduct an honest appraisal of the problem.
“We were indeed dismayed by the statement made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in a recent interview claiming that only 177 Christians have been killed in the last five years. We find this statement unfortunate and offensive, and if it reflects the thinking within the Federal Government, such a statement would explain why this government has failed to address the problem and why they cannot be trusted to solve it.
“We would like to reiterate, deaths cannot be reduced to numbers. It does not matter how many people have been killed or what religion or language they speak. As seen in the video of the Eruku church attack, one poor old woman cut down by bullets while she prays is enough. But this government does not know how to take responsibility or how to be accountable. Or else, how can an official of government engage in the wrong-headed and dangerous race-to-the-bottom argument over which religious group has recorded more casualties in the country?
“Does 177 deaths make this situation more acceptable? Or does the argument that more Muslims have been killed make it less tragic?
“In addition to the wanton killings, what is shaping up as another great tragedy is the Tinubu government’s defensive mindset and its growing tendency to minimise the scale of this crisis. But the truth is that under this Tinubu administration, Nigeria is fast turning into a killing field, and the President does not appear to recognise that his most important job is to protect life.
“Nigeria is bleeding, communities are grieving, families are being destroyed, and the government continues to respond with excuses, denial, and dangerous rhetoric.
The ADC calls on the Federal Government to arrest this growing anarchy before it consumes us all. Nigerians deserve protection, not platitudes. Our houses of worship must be safe, our communities must be safe, our country must be safe.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/19/nigeria-is-bleeding-christian-genocide-becoming-a-self-fulfilling-prophecy-adc-warns/
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ISWAP Leader Bags 20-Year Jail Term For Terror Attacks
November 19, 2025
An Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander, Hussaini Ismaila, has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for his role in a series of deadly terror attacks carried out in Kano State over a decade ago.
Naija News reports that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered the judgment on Tuesday after Ismaila, also known as Mai Tangaran, changed his plea to guilty on a four-count charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the prosecution, Ismaila coordinated multiple ISWAP-linked assaults in 2012, including attacks on: Kano Police Headquarters, Bompai; Mobile Police Base, Kabuga Road; Pharm Centre Police Station; Angwa Uku Police Station.
Several people were injured in the operations described as part of ISWAP’s early onslaught in northern Nigeria.
Ismaila was arrested on August 31, 2017, at Tsamiyya Babba Village in Gezewa Local Government Area of Kano State. He was later arraigned under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The trial suffered repeated delays due to appeals and a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of his statements to the DSS.
When the prosecution eventually opened its case, it presented five witnesses, including two DSS operatives and two civilians who witnessed some of the attacks.
After the fifth prosecution witness testified, Ismaila reversed his earlier not-guilty plea. His counsel from the Legal Aid Council, P. B. Onijah, urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the defendant was remorseful and wanted to avoid wasting the court’s time.
Justice Nwite found the ISWAP commander guilty on all counts and issued the following sentences: 15 years for Count 1, 20 years each for Counts 2, 3, and 4.
The court ruled that all sentences will run concurrently, and the jail term will commence from the date of his arrest, August 31, 2017.
The judge further ordered the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to confine Ismaila in any designated facility and mandated that he undergo rehabilitation and de-radicalisation upon completion of his sentence before reintegration into society.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/19/iswap-leader-bags-20-year-jail-term-for-terror-attacks/
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Boko Haram: The Worst Is Over – Gov Zulum Declares During Meeting With COAS
November 19, 2025
By Oladipo Abiola
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has declared that the activities of Boko Haram insurgents have been subdued in the state.
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Shuaibu Waidi, in Maiduguri, Zulum said the worst is over, compared to the previous activities of the terrorists in the state.
He affirmed the commitment of his administration to ensuring the insurgents are totally wiped out and their recent surges are curtailed.
Zulum also called on the people of Borno State to continue giving their necessary cooperation and support to the military and other security agencies, stating that the war against terrorism requires a collective effort.
“Yes, we have witnessed a series of attacks on our communities and the security forces, but the worst is over; we shall continue to collaborate and provide the needed intelligence to our security forces to bring this madness to an end.
“The frequency and scale of attacks on our communities then were overwhelming. Today, while we grieve any single setback, we can also see that the worst is indeed behind us. The trajectory is towards peace, and we are committed to sustaining it,” Zulum said.
While appreciating the military for their sacrifices and efforts in fighting the Boko Haram insurgents, Governor Zulum commiserated with the leadership of the military over recent attacks on its personnel, which resulted in injuries and deaths to some of the personnel of the Nigerian Army.
“On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, I wish to reiterate that we stand with the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. We will not take their sacrifice for granted,” the governor said.
In his submission, Gen. Waidi appreciated the Zulum government for its support to the Army and gave assurances that the Army headquarters would provide necessary logistics to the troops in the discharge of their duties.
He said, “I want to most sincerely, on behalf of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army, extend our appreciation to His Excellency for visiting us at a time like this. We appreciate your support in Borno.
“We have confidence in our society here in the theatre and from the Army headquarters, we will provide all the necessary resources needed to ensure they achieve their mission.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/11/19/boko-haram-the-worst-is-over-gov-zulum-declares-during-meeting-with-coas/
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South Asia
Farahi calls for responsible reporting that respects Islamic, national, and cultural values
November 20, 2025
KABUL: Muhajir Farahi, the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture for Publication Affairs called for responsible reporting that respects Islamic, national, and cultural values.
Farahi made the remarks in a one-day training seminar aimed at enhancing the professional skills of government spokespersons and journalists which was organized by the provincial Department of Information and Culture of Nangarhar in Jalalabad city, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Muhajir Farahi, emphasized that media act as a vital bridge between the government and citizens.
He urged spokespersons to provide timely information to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Mawlawi Zabiullah Noorani, head of the provincial information department, praised the media for their role in distributing accurate and timely information.
He said such training programs are essential for improving communication between government institutions and the public.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/farahi-calls-for-responsible-reporting-that-respects-islamic-national-and-cultural-values/
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IEA Foreign Minister Criticizes Double Standards in International Humanitarian Approach
November 20, 2025
KABUL: The country’s Foreign Minister, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, has sharply criticized what he described as the “double standards” of the United Nations and the wider international community toward the Afghan people, according to a statement from the ministry the other day.
Speaking at the fifth coordination meeting between Afghanistan’s sectoral ministries and UN agencies, he said that humanitarian needs continue to be overshadowed by political considerations, leaving millions of Afghans without adequate support.
“The Islamic Emirate has taken serious steps to address major national challenges, including the repatriation of returning migrants, treatment of drug addicts, poverty reduction, unemployment, climate-related vulnerabilities, and the provision of alternatives to poppy cultivation,” he said, stressing that despite limited financial resources, the government has managed to carry out substantial work in these areas.
“Humanitarian matters should not be linked with political agendas,” he said, adding that this approach has had “deep negative impacts” on the daily lives of Afghan citizens.
The foreign minister also criticized UN offices operating in Afghanistan for excluding Afghan representatives from key meetings.
The minister according to the statement, went on as saying that although Afghanistan needs international coordination and assistance, political biases have deprived the country of proper participation in decision-making.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/muttaqi-criticizes-double-standards-in-international-humanitarian-approach/
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‘Shariah Review And Fiduciary Ratings’ Deserves To Be Considered: Bangladesh Bank
19 Nov 2025
DHAKA, Nov 19, 2025 (BSS) – Deputy Governor of the Bangladesh Bank Nurun Nahar today said that introduction of external shariah review and fiduciary ratings deserves will be considered seriously.
“It will increase transparency, enhance market discipline, and improve confidence among depositors and regulators. Moreover, the call for structured training, competency development, and Shariah awareness programs is aligned with our priorities for building a resilient Islamic banking ecosystem,” she said.
Nurun Nahar, also Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) executive committee chairman, made the remarks while speaking at a research workshop on ‘Operational Risk Management in Islamic Banks: Best Practice and Evaluation’ at the BIBM conference room in the city.
The BIBM Associate Professor Dr Md Mahabbat Hossain, Associate Professor Dr Alamgir, Additional Director of the Bangladesh Bank IBRPD Md Rabiul Karim, Senior Vice President of the IBB PLC Md Atiqur Rahman Khan Khadem and the BIBM Lecturer Md Emon Arefin delivered the presentation on research.
The BIBM Professor and Director (Training) Dr Mohammad Tazul Islam delivered the welcome speech while the BIBM Director General Md Mahbuibul Haque delivered the speech as session chair.
At the research paper, the BIBM laid emphasis on strengthened governance structures, modernized systems, enhanced human capacity, and updated regulations of Bangladesh’s Islamic banks.
It observed that recent findings concerning the operational framework of Islamic banks in Bangladesh highlight critical deficiencies in both Shariah compliance oversight and internal auditing, prompting strong recommendations for comprehensive institutional reform.
The institution suggested that these banks must transition from a fragmented, compliance-driven approach to an institution-wide, data-driven, and Shariah-embedded operational risk framework.
The BIBM mentioned that a key concern raised is the structure and authority of the Internal Shariah Audit (ISA). “The ISA is reported to frequently lack operational independence and institutional authority. Furthermore, both the Shariah Supervisory Council (SSC) and the ISA often encounter internal resistance and management influence,” it added.
The BIBM noted that the engagement of the SSC itself remains uneven, with involvement sometimes being reactive rather than proactive.
It mentioned that a primary recommendation is ensuring the ISA's functional independence by requiring it to report jointly to the SSC and the Audit Committee of the Board.
“The role of the SSC must also be significantly enhanced. The SSC should be directly involved in various critical areas, including policy formulation, system vetting, product approval, and post-execution reviews. Additionally, requiring SSC participation in Board Risk Management Committee (BRMC) meetings is seen as crucial for enabling the Council to influence policy-level decisions,” it added.
To improve oversight efficiency, BIBM explained that the sources advocate for the expansion of ISA coverage towards population-based audits. A shift towards automated Shariah auditing using system logs is also recommended, moving practices into the modern data era, it added.
To ensure the SSC can effectively manage evolving standards, BIBM mentioned that it is vital to provide SSC members with capacity-building and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs to keep them updated with global standards.
In her speech, Nurun Nahar said operational risk has evolved into a defining concern for the modern banking industry.
“With technology-driven processes, increased regulatory scrutiny, and rising customer expectations, the operational risk landscape has become more complex than ever. For Islamic banks, this complexity is further amplified by the requirement to ensure full compliance with Shariah rules across every process, product, and transaction. This dual compliance—regulatory and Shariah—is both a responsibility and a strategic differentiator,” she added.
She said the report prepared by the research team underscores several critical issues. “It shows that while Islamic banks have made progress in adopting structured operational risk frameworks, significant gaps remain. The study finds insufficient integration between Shariah governance and the operational risk function, inadequate documentation and contract management processes.
Many institutions lack a systematic approach to Key Risk Indicators, business continuity, and technology-driven surveillance. These limitations expose Islamic banks to heightened Shariah non-compliance risk—an area that the IFSB clearly identifies as an integral component of operational risk,” she added.
She stated, “The findings also reflect a pressing need to modernize ORM practices. As the report notes, operational lapses in product structuring, documentation errors, weaknesses in ICT systems, and constraints in internal audit and Shariah audit capacity continue to contribute to operational losses.”
She said that the growing demand of Islamic banks, coupled with their increasingly sophisticated business models, demands stronger risk governance, disciplined process automation, and a culture of accountability throughout the institution.
She said “I want to emphasize that Bangladesh Bank expects Islamic banks to elevate their ORM frameworks to match global standards, particularly the updated requirements of Basel III and IFSB principles.”
Banks should enhance their risk architecture by adopting real-time operational dashboards, standardizing Shariah-compliant documentation, strengthening Internal Shariah Audit (ISA), and ensuring that Boards and Senior Management actively oversee operational and Shariah risks, she added.
Integrating technology—especially in workflow automation, error detection, and contract execution—must be a priority, she added.
Source: bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/business/333497
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Beradar Inaugurates First Agricultural Product Testing Laboratory in Kandahar
November 20, 2025
KABUL: Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, inaugurated the first agricultural product testing laboratory worth $2 million in Kandahar province, his office said in a statement on Wednesday.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Beradar described the project as a crucial step toward improving the country’s agricultural output.
“For years the agricultural sector suffered from the lack of scientific soil and water testing services, resulting in reduced crop quality and lower yields,” he said, adding that the newly established laboratory will allow farmers and producers to access essential testing services within the country, thereby reducing costs and improving product standards.
During the same visit, the deputy PM also inaugurated a large industrial park covering 1,000 acres of land in Kandahar province.
The park includes newly launched road-construction and canalization projects costing more than 28 million Afghanis.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/beradar-inaugurates-first-agricultural-product-testing-laboratory-in-kandahar/
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Deputy PM Highlights Economic Stability, Investment Opportunities at Kabul Policy Seminar
November 20, 2025
KABUL: Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, delivered a detailed address at a scientific seminar held at the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences, where officials and experts gathered to discuss the IEA’s policy for attracting domestic and foreign investment.
Expressing satisfaction over the organization of the seminar, Hanafi emphasized that a nation’s economic strength forms the foundation of progress in all sectors, according to a statement from Arg on Wednesday.
“Islam encourages production, prosperity, and social justice, and that no society can flourish in technology, defense, or national preservation without a stable economic base,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Hanafi noted that, for the first time in nearly five decades, Afghanistan is experiencing nationwide security and stability under the Islamic Emirate.
The deputy PM highlighted the elimination of administrative corruption, the nationwide ban on drug cultivation, trafficking, and use, as well as the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate drug addicts.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting investors, Hanafi reiterated that the Islamic Emirate is fully prepared to provide all necessary facilities to traders and entrepreneurs seeking to invest in Afghanistan.
He pointed to significant potential in the mining sector, energy production, transportation, logistics, telecommunications, and other key industries.
The Deputy PM stressed the importance of domestic production in boosting economic growth, creating jobs, strengthening national self-sufficiency, and developing local talent.
He said that supporting domestic industry reduces reliance on foreign imports and contributes to building a resilient national economy.
Hanafi added that investment in local production directly leads to increased national revenue, stronger exports, improved banking and trade systems, the introduction of digital commercial services, and better infrastructure.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/deputy-pm-highlights-economic-stability-investment-opportunities-at-kabul-policy-seminar/
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Kabul, Tehran Sign $90 Million Trade Transportation Agreement
November 20, 2025
KABUL: The country’s Dried Fruit Exporters Union has announced in a statement on Wednesday the signing of a $90 million agreement between Afghan authorities and an Iranian shipping company.
The deal was finalized on the sidelines of a multilateral business meeting involving senior commercial officials from Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and India.
Under the agreement, Afghan goods will be transported aboard Iranian vessels to international markets, expanding Afghanistan’s export routes and reducing shipping costs.
Officials say the deal will enhance Afghanistan’s trade capacity and provide producers with greater access to global customers.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/kabul-tehran-sign-90-million-trade-transportation-agreement/
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Europe
Muslim Charity Run In East London That Stopped Women And Girls Over 12 From Taking Part, Reviews Policies After Backlash
19TH NOVEMBER
By Saeed Ibrahim
A charity run that stopped women and girls over 12 from taking part is "reviewing its policies" after a backlash from the local community and senior politicians.
The Muslim Charity Run, held in east London's Victoria Park last month, was billed as an "inclusive 5km race" welcoming "runners and supporters of all ages and abilities", but it was open only to "men, boys of all ages and girls under 12".
The event was organised by the East London Mosque and was attended by hundreds of people.
In an update on Sunday, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said it would not be taking any further action.
A spokesperson said: "We recognise that the organisers have committed to reviewing their policies and the format of the event in advance of the next Muslim Charity Run.
"If we are made aware of any further complaints about the event, we stand ready to re-examine the concerns and take action where appropriate.
"We also have guidance available on compliance with the Equality Act 2010 to help the organisers avoid unlawful discrimination and ensure their events are inclusive."
The decision not to allow women to participate drew a lot of criticism and senior politicians also publicly spoke out against it.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed said last month: "Speaking for myself, I was appalled. We do not want a situation in this country where men are allowed to do things that women are then barred from. We cannot tolerate that."
The East London Mosque responded by saying: "ELM (East London Mosque) encourages women to take part in sporting activities. There are many Muslim women from our community who have taken part in sporting events including boat races, cycling, hiking and marathons as well as various sporting challenges to raise funds for charity.
"We remain committed to listening to the needs of our community and ensuring our programmes serve everyone."
The annual event is described as the highlight in the east London Muslim calendar, raising thousands of pounds for vital causes across the UK and abroad, from local youth projects, food banks and refugee support to international humanitarian relief
Source: guardian-series.co.uk
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https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/25634542.muslim-charity-run-east-london-reviews-policies-backlash/
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Community relations among Muslims and Jews in Britain
Dr Jonathan Boyd
18 November 2025
In this webinar, which followed the murderous attack on a synagogue in Manchester during Yom Kippur, and, on the other hand, the ceasefire in Gaza, community leaders discuss how to support local discussions, while at the grassroots level “brave souls and heroes” continue to engage, encouraging small, informal meetings that help people to “disagree well.” Speakers described the task as urgent — “a fight for the soul of the nation” — and appealed to the government to “lean into this” by offering consistent support for interfaith initiatives.
The discussion was hosted by Ruth Peacock, with guests:
Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies
Jonathan Boyd, executive director of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research
Rabbi Warren Elf, from Manchester
Imam Qari Asim, Head Imam at Makkah Mosque, Leeds and Chair of Mosques & Imams National Advisory Board
Hasan Moosa Reza, chief of staff, office of the Chief Imam (Scotland)
Dr Adeela Shafi, founder of the Bristol Muslim Strategic Leadership Group
Conversations between Jews and Muslims in Britain have been “very difficult” over the past two years, following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza. Still, in this Religion Media Centre briefing, community leaders of both faiths said that, two years on, there is a growing desire to rebuild good relations — despite continuing anxiety and mistrust, and amid rising antisemitism and islamophobia..
Source: jpr.org.uk
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https://www.jpr.org.uk/insights/community-relations-among-muslims-and-jews-britain
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MP offers seat to Burnham for Starmer challenge
20 November 2025
Paul Moseley
Labour MP Clive Lewis has offered to give up his seat to allow Andy Burnham to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.
There has been ongoing speculation that Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham wants to take on Sir Keir for the top job, but he would need to be an MP to do so.
Lewis told the BBC's Politics Live that he was willing to step down from his Norwich South seat to allow Burnham to return to the Commons and put "country before party, party before personal ambition".
Burnham was contacted for comment. Number 10 declined to comment.
Lewis, who has been an MP for 10 years, said he had spoken to Burnham, and when asked if he would give up his seat for him, he said it was "a question I've asked myself".
He added: "Do you know what? If I'm going to sit here and say country before party, party before personal ambition, then yes, I have to say yes, don't I."
Last week, he said Sir Keir's position as prime minister was "untenable" and told Channel 4 News that Burnham should be given the chance to "step up".
Later, the Sun's political editor Kate Ferguson said that Lewis had told her he had "no plans to stand down".
She reported on X that he said: "A hypothetical question was put to me, and my answer was consistent with what I've been saying, that I am serious about putting country before party."
Lewis first won his seat in 2015, and last year he increased his majority to more than 13,000.
But if he were to step down, any would-be successor would first need to win a selection contest before a by-election was held.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting - who last week denied claims he was plotting a leadership bid of his own - told LBC he thought it was a "peculiar" move by the Norwich South MP.
"I've got a lot of time for Andy and I think we need our best players on the pitch," Streeting said.
"And whether he's doing that as mayor of Greater Manchester or whether he wants to come back into parliament in the next general election, that is an issue for Andy.
"I think it's a bit of a peculiar thing for Clive to have said to his own constituents, 'Oh, well, I'm not interested in being your MP, I'm happy to do a deal with someone'.
"I would just say from personal experience, don't take your voters for granted."
In September, Burnham said he had "no intention of abandoning Manchester" but did not rule out challenging Sir Keir after a series of interviews in which he said colleagues had been urging him to stand.
Two Manchester Labour MPs, Andrew Gwynne and Graham Stringer, ruled out standing down for him ahead of the party's conference in September.
Sir Keir has, meanwhile, said he will lead Labour into the next general election. It came after a bruising time last week, when anonymous briefings were given to journalists that some cabinet ministers - including Streeting - were plotting to oust him.
The ministers concerned have insisted this is not the case - but speculation continues about whether the PM will face a challenge in May, when Labour is expected to do badly in Scottish and Welsh elections, and in English local elections.
Anyone mounting a leadership bid would have to secure the backing of 80 Labour MPs.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gwgdyl52lo
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Europeans’ grandchildren would pay for new Ukraine loan – Orban
19 Nov, 2025
A push by the European Commission to raise an additional €135 billion ($156 billion) for Ukraine would burden future generations of Europeans with debt, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned. The remark comes as a major corruption scandal is unfolding in Kiev.
On Wednesday, Orban wrote on X that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had “once again asked the member states for additional funds to finance Ukraine and the war.”
The target sum, he argued, amounts to 65% of Hungary’s annual economic output and nearly three-quarters of the EU’s yearly budget. Such an “astronomical sum,” he added, “simply does not exist today.”
“The Brusselian ‘magic trick’ would once again be a joint European loan, a move that would ensure even our grandchildren would be burdened with repaying the costs of the Russian-Ukrainian war,” Orban wrote, describing the idea as “categorically absurd.”
Von der Leyen reportedly urged EU governments to reach a swift agreement to cover Ukraine’s military and financial needs for the next two years, outlining funding options including bilateral contributions, joint EU borrowing, and a reparations loan based on Russia’s immobilized assets.
Orban, in response, said Brussels’ strategy was like trying to “help an alcoholic by sending them another crate of vodka.” He noted that the proposal was even more “astonishing” at a “time when it has become clear that a war mafia is siphoning off European taxpayers’ money.”
Last week, the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced a probe into a “high-level criminal organization” allegedly led by Timur Mindich, a former business associate of Vladimir Zelensky. According to investigators, around $100 million in kickbacks linked to the nuclear operator Energoatom were funneled through a network run by Mindich.
While the bloc regularly issues general warnings about corruption in Ukraine, EU officials have often refrained from addressing scandals that could reflect poorly on Zelensky and his inner circle.
Orban said recently the EU had already “burnt” €185 billion since the conflict escalated in 2022. The war “kills the EU economically,” he warned, adding that Brussels should instead pursue diplomacy with Moscow.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/628035-hungary-pm-orban-eu-plan-ukraine-funding/
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Ukrainian energy minister dismissed as corruption fallout expands
19 Nov, 2025
The Ukrainian parliament has voted to dismiss Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk, marking the second high-level ouster in a single day as the government struggles to contain a growing corruption scandal linked to a close ally of Vladimir Zelensky.
Lawmakers approved Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko’s request to fire Grinchuk on Wednesday, shortly after voting to dismiss Justice Minister German Galushchenko. Galushchenko previously served as energy minister before handing the post to his then-deputy Grinchuk during a cabinet reshuffle earlier this year. Both dismissals received unanimous approval from MPs who voted.
The officials were drawn into an alleged kickback network operating inside the state-run nuclear energy company Energoatom. Businessman Timur Mindich, a longtime associate of Zelensky, was charged last week by the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), which claims he and accomplices extracted at least $100 million from contractors.
The broader graft probe has implicated additional senior figures, including former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and former Deputy Prime Minister Aleksey Chernyshov. Zelensky is also facing mounting calls to remove his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, whom observers and critical officials see as the political linchpin of the alleged criminal network.
Opposition parties have moved to capitalize on the turmoil, pushing for the dismissal of the entire Sviridenko cabinet and demanding the formation of a coalition-backed government.
Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, which won a commanding majority in 2019, has shown signs of internal fragmentation in recent weeks. His earlier attempt to curb NABU’s independence – a move reversed after Western backlash – and the unfolding scandal have reportedly shaken MPs’ loyalty to the Zelensky team.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/628002-ukrainian-energy-minister-fired/
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EU ‘kept in the dark’ about Trump’s Ukraine peace plan – Telegraph
20 Nov, 2025
EU officials have received almost no information on the peace plan presented to Ukraine by the administration of US President Donald Trump, The Telegraph reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
Several outlets, including Axios, the Financial Times, and The Telegraph, claimed that Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff had delivered to the Ukrainian leadership a 28-point plan for a phased settlement of the conflict with Russia. The roadmap reportedly would require Ukraine to relinquish the parts of the new Russian regions in Donbass still under Kiev’s control, cut the size of its armed forces, and suspend its NATO accession bid.
Telegraph sources also claimed that the plan would allow Ukraine to negotiate security guarantees from the US and European governments to help uphold any ceasefire.
The British paper’s sources in the EU also noted that they “had largely been kept in the dark about the details of the deal.” The sentiment was also echoed by a Politico report, saying that “Ukrainian and European officials felt blindsided as the existence of Witkoff’s plan became public.” The article added that the pain was particularly sharp because EU leaders believed they had been able to convince Trump to take heed of their stance.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, who has repeatedly ruled out any territorial concessions, is also reportedly dissatisfied with the proposal.
Commenting on the reported deal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was “nothing new” beyond what had already been discussed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump during talks in Alaska in August. Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev said the proposal went beyond a basic ceasefire, adding that “we feel the Russian position is really being heard.”
Moscow has insisted that any sustainable settlement of the conflict can only be reached if Ukraine commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification, and recognizes the new territorial reality on the ground.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/628047-eu-kept-dark-trump-ukraine-peace-plan/
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Mideast
Israeli airstrikes kill 25 Palestinians in Gaza, rattling ceasefire, medics say
November 19, 2025
CAIRO: At least 25 Palestinians were killed in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in a part of Gaza under Hamas control since a shaky ceasefire took effect in October, health authorities said.
The Israeli military said its forces struck Hamas targets across Gaza after members of the Palestinian militant group fired on its troops in violation of the nearly six-week-old ceasefire. No Israeli forces were injured.
Hamas condemned the Israeli strikes as a dangerous escalation, and urged the United States to “honor its stated commitments and exert immediate pressure on Israel to enforce the ceasefire and halt its attacks.”
But a US official, who spoke anonymously, said Hamas was aiming to break the ceasefire and not fulfill its commitment to demilitarize.
“These desperate tactics will fail,” the official said.
INCIDENTS TEST FRAGILE CEASEFIRE
Medics said 10 people were killed in the Gaza City suburb of Zeitoun, two in the Shejaia suburb to the east, and the rest in two separate attacks in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Repeated shooting incidents have pointed to the fragility of the ceasefire. Israel and Hamas have traded blame for what both call violations of the US-brokered truce, the first stage of President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for a post-war Gaza.
All four attacks were far beyond an agreed-upon imaginary “yellow line” separating the areas under Israeli and Palestinian control, according to medics, witnesses and Palestinian media.
The Zeitoun attack was on a building belonging to Muslim religious authorities and the Khan Younis attack was on a UN-run club, both of which house displaced families. The October 10 ceasefire in the two-year Gaza war has eased the conflict, enabling hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to Gaza’s ruins. Israel has pulled troops back from city positions, and aid flows have increased.
But violence has not completely halted. Palestinian health authorities say Israeli forces have killed 305 people in strikes on Gaza since the truce, nearly half of them in one day last week when Israel retaliated for an attack on its troops.
Israel says three of its soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire began and it has targeted scores of fighters.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623227/middle-east
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Jordanian foreign minister calls for renewed global support of UN’s agency for Palestinians
November 19, 2025
LONDON: Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, on Wednesday stressed the need for international political and financial support so that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees can continue to perform its “indispensable and irreplaceable” role.
He highlighted the crucial work of the agency in delivering essential services to Palestinian refugees, especially in the Gaza Strip, which is in the grip of a humanitarian crisis as a result of Israeli military aggression.
Safadi was speaking at a UNRWA Advisory Commission meeting that included the agency’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, as well as representatives of the commission’s 29 member states, and four observers: Palestine, the EU, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“No one can take UNRWA’s role to face the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” Safadi said as he reiterated Jordan’s rejection of Israeli legislation banning the agency, which came into effect early this year, describing it “a blatant violation of international law and a denial of essential rights and vital services recognized by the international community.”
In January, Israeli authorities ordered UNRWA to vacate all of its offices in occupied East Jerusalem and cease its operations there after accusing the agency of employing “military operatives” from Hamas and other armed groups. Despite the ban, UNRWA operations continue in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Safadi warned that the ongoing Israeli actions targeting UNRWA were part of a larger effort by the nation to “liquidate” the refugee issue, which began with the 1948 conflict that resulted in the founding of the State of Israel and a mass exodus of the Palestinians who lived there at the time.
The UNRWA Advisory Commission meets twice a year to address issues relevant to the agency’s mandate, and advises the commissioner general. Member states take turns chairing the commission for a 12-month term, with Brazil currently filling the role.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623223/middle-east
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Israeli forces demolish another Palestinian house in Jerusalem
November 19, 2025
LONDON: Israeli forces demolished on Wednesday a Palestinian house in the town of Anata, east of occupied Jerusalem, the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem Governorate confirmed.
The 100-sq-m house house belonged to Raed Hajjaj Fahidat, and this is the second time Israeli forces have demolished Fahidat’s home under the pretext of building without a permit.
The house is located near the separation wall, which divides the West Bank from Jerusalem. Anata faces weekly Israeli demolitions and eviction notices affecting numerous homes and structures to expand “buffer zones” or settlement projects, the Jerusalem Governorate said.
“These policies constitute part of a systematic plan to uproot the indigenous population and impose further occupation control over the areas surrounding the city, within the framework of a comprehensive and escalating Judaization process,” it added.
In October, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that Israeli forces carried out 25 demolition operations across the West Bank and Jerusalem, affecting 28 structures, including 17 homes and 11 agricultural facilities. Another 30 facilities received demolition notices.
Israel regularly denies building permits to Palestinians in Jerusalem, while illegally expanding Jewish settlements in the city and the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli government faces charges of war crimes and genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623212/middle-east
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Israeli military steps up strikes in south Lebanon, says it is targeting Hezbollah
November 19, 2025
BEIRUT: The Israeli military stepped up airstrikes in south Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least one person as it pressed a campaign of near-daily attacks which it says is designed to block a military revival by Iran-backed Hezbollah in the border area.
Israel has accused Hezbollah of trying to rearm since a US-backed ceasefire last year. The group says it has abided by requirements for it to end its military presence in the border region near Israel, and for the Lebanese army to deploy there.
On Wednesday, residents fled after Israel issued warnings on social media identifying buildings it planned to strike in four villages in the south, saying it was attacking Hezbollah military infrastructure.
Strikes on the villages — Deir Kifa, Chehour, Aainata and Tayr Filsay — sent thick plumes of smoke into the air.
The Israeli military said it struck “weapons storage facilities belonging to Hezbollah’s rocket unit,” saying these were “located in the heart of the civilian population” and that it had taken steps to mitigate harm to civilians.
The Israeli military also accused Hezbollah of working to rebuild capabilities in the area of another village, Beit Lif, saying it had identified Hezbollah headquarters and weapons storage facilities there.
A Hezbollah official denied the Israeli accusations, calling these “false claims to justify continued attacks.”
Earlier in the day, one person was killed in an Israeli strike in the southern village of Al-Tiri, the Lebanese health ministry said. The Israeli military said it had killed a Hezbollah member who was working to “reestablish Hezbollah’s readiness in the area.”
DEADLY STRIKE IN REFUGEE CAMP On Tuesday, Israel carried out one of its deadliest strikes in Lebanon since last year’s war with Hezbollah, killing 13 people in a Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon, the Lebanese health ministry said.
The Israeli military said that it struck a compound in the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas to carry out attacks on Israel. Hamas said Israel’s claim was “pure fabrication,” and that there were no military establishments in refugee camps.
A Hamas official told Reuters on Wednesday that none of the group’s members were among the dead.
Under the terms of the truce brokered by the US and France, Lebanon’s armed forces were to confiscate “all unauthorized arms,” beginning in the area south of the Litani River — the zone closest to Israel.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem has said the agreement only applies to the area south of the Litani rather than all Lebanon.
Lebanon says Israel has violated the agreement by continuing to occupy positions in Lebanon’s south.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623194/middle-east
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WHO aims to vaccinate 40,000 children in Gaza Strip
November 20, 2025
GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that it aims to vaccinate more than 40,000 children against various diseases in Gaza, as it takes advantage of the recent ceasefire.
The WHO and its partners already vaccinated over 10,000 children under the age of three in the first eight days of an initial phase of the campaign launched on November 9.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said phase one of the program has been extended until Saturday and hopes to protect children against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, polio, rotavirus and pneumonia.
Phases two and three of the campaign, which is being conducted in collaboration with UNICEF, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and the health ministry in Gaza under Hamas control, are planned for December and January.
The WHO chief said he was “encouraged to see that the ceasefire continues to hold, as it allows the WHO and its partners to intensify essential health services across Gaza and support the necessary re-equipment and reconstruction of its devastated health system.”
The UN Security Council voted on Monday to endorse the plan of US President Donald Trump, which facilitated the establishment of a ceasefire on October 10 between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The truce has already been marked by several outbreaks of violence in the Palestinian territory, devastated by over two years of hostilities triggered by the bloody attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023.
That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count of official data.
More than 69,500 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military’s retaliatory campaign, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN, does not specify the number of combatants killed but indicates that more than half of the deaths are minors and women.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623261/middle-east
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Grueling search for Gaza’s dead beneath the rubble
November 19, 2025
GAZA CITY: Standing beside the mound of rubble that was once his home, Ahmed Salim cannot hold back the tears as he struggles to retrieve the bodies of loved ones trapped underneath tonnes of debris.
Over 30 people were killed when his home was struck, he said, among them “my wife, my children, my mother, my father.”
“I’m the only one who survived,” he said, pointing to the pile of broken concrete and twisted metal that was once a five-story building in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood.
The building was destroyed on Dec. 24, 2024 and he has been waiting ever since to retrieve their bodies and give them a proper burial.
“The only thing that matters to me is to be able to bury them,” the 43-year-old said.
After two years of war between Israel and Hamas that ravaged the Gaza Strip, thousands of other Palestinians are in a similar situation.
According to UN data, as of late September, the Israeli military had damaged or destroyed around 83 percent of the buildings in Gaza that stood prior the war.
The densely populated Palestinian territory is covered in 61.5 million tonnes of debris: nearly 170 times the weight of New York City’s Empire State Building.
Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency, estimates that about 10,000 bodies are buried under the rubble. “We cannot extract thousands of bodies without heavy machinery. We need the means to lift the roofs and the tonnes of cement,” said Bassal, whose organization conducts search and rescue operations in Gaza.
Iyad Rayan holds out the same hope as Salim: burying his wife and children with dignity.
“My wife, my son Samir and my daughter Lana are still here under the rubble,” he said by the wreckage of his Gaza City home, which he said was destroyed in early October this year.
“I want to send an appeal to the whole world: Help me retrieve them,” the 55-year-old said.
Amal Abdel Aal is waiting for heavy equipment to enter the Gaza Strip so the bodies of her son and brother can be recovered.
They have been under the rubble in the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City since the early days of the two-year war.
“They never leave my thoughts. My heart aches at the thought of dogs reaching their bodies and eating them,” said the 57-year-old woman now living in southern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people have sought shelter during the war.
“I will only find relief when I have buried them, even if only a single bone remains.”
After the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, Israel allowed Egyptian bulldozers to enter Gaza to help recover the remains of hostages, to be returned under the US-brokered truce deal.
“The world is unfair. We see bulldozers digging to retrieve the Israeli prisoners, while no one cares about the thousands of our martyrs,” said Abdel Aal.
Since the ceasefire, Palestinians have been able to recover around 500 bodies in areas that emergency workers could access following the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, Bassal said.
The halt in fighting allowed Amer Abu Al-Tarabish to return to Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, he said, to extract the bodies of his parents from the ruins of their family home “with my bare hands.”
“My parents, my brother and his children, his wife, my uncle, his wife and their children ... Thirty people remained under the rubble for more than a year,” he said.
“I pulled out their bodies intact; they were not decomposed,” he recounted, adding that he was “overwhelmed by sadness, loss and pain.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623243/middle-east
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Syria condemns Israeli PM’s visit to country’s south
November 19, 2025
DAMASCUS: The Syrian Arab Republic condemned a trip Wednesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials to Syria’s south, where they visited troops deployed in a buffer zone intended to separate the two countries’ forces.
Syria “condemns in the strongest terms the illegal visit... considering it a serious violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the foreign ministry said in a statement, calling it “a new attempt to impose a fait accompli that contradicts relevant Security Council resolutions.”
Netanyahu visited Syria’s southern region along with ministers of defense and foreign affairs.
The ministry said the visit “falls within the occupation’s policies aimed at consolidating its aggression and continuing its violations of Syrian territory.”
“We call on the international community to assume its responsibilities, deter the occupation’s practices and compel it to fully withdraw from southern Syria and return to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement,” the statement added.
The United Nations expressed concern over Netanyahu’s visit to Syria, describing it as “worrying.”
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the visit, which took place publicly and openly, is “concerning at the very least,” and called on Israel to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623239/middle-east
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Gaza water provider resumes services after Hamas frees employee
November 19, 2025
GAZA: A Gaza company that operates water desalination plants serving nearly half of the enclave’s population said on Tuesday it had resumed operations after Hamas-led security freed a staff member whom they detained on Monday.
A statement issued by the Abdul Salam Yassin Company, whose services reach more than 1 million people, said the decision to resume operations came after the issue was resolved, adding that the staff member was “fine and in good health.”
The company apologized for what it said was a “misunderstanding” that led to the detention of its employee and affirmed its respect for the Hamas-led government in Gaza.
Hamas government officials declined comment on the arrest, but a source on Wednesday confirmed the employee had been freed, without elaborating on the reasons for his detention.
The Palestinian militant group has been gradually reasserting control in areas of Gaza from which Israeli forces have withdrawn under an October 10 ceasefire deal as talks over the war-devastated Palestinian territory’s future grind on.
Israel halted all water and electricity supply to Gaza early in the war triggered by Hamas’ cross-border attack in October 2023, but partially eased the utilities blockade later.
Most of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure has been destroyed and pumps from its aquifers often rely on electricity from small generators. But fuel for generators is rarely available given Israel’s curbs on deliveries into the enclave, citing the risk of diversion into Hamas’ hands.
The company’s work is vital to the population in Gaza, where clean water is scarce. It owns three major desalination plants, and 80 smaller ones across the territory. It also runs over 70 trucks that carry water containers across Gaza.
US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for post-war Gaza, whose first stage was the ceasefire, stipulates that Hamas disarm and renounce any future role in governance of the enclave, but who would replace them has yet to be agreed.
Hamas has refused to yield its weaponry before a Palestinian state is established. Israeli forces continue to control around half of the coastal Gaza Strip.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2623200/middle-east
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North America
Texas District Attorneys Probe Imaginary Sharia Courts
November 19, 2025
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called Texas Governor Greg Abbott “increasingly deranged” after he bizarrely demanded that state district attorneys investigate “sharia courts,” which is a longstanding anti-Muslim conspiracy theory.
CAIR-Texas said trying to ban “sharia” would be no different than banning Jewish halacha or Catholic canon law and the Islamophobic effort is a direct assault on religious freedom itself.
[NOTE: Last month, CAIR’s national office distributed a formal congressional briefing memo “Weaponized Islamophobia: The Return of the Anti-Sharia Hoax,” to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, along with a companion educational document titled “Sharia in American Life.”]
In a statement, CAIR-Texas said:
“Greg Abbott’s disregard for the First Amendment, his obsession with Texas Muslims and his dedication to protecting the Israeli government from criticism apparently knows no bounds.
“First he tried – and failed – to fire a Texas special education teacher who refused to sign a loyalty pledge to the Israeli government. Then he tried and failed to ban state contracts with a Texas business that refused to sign the same pledge. Earlier this year, he tried and failed to expel Texas college students who criticized the Israeli government.
“Now, the day after issuing an unconstitutional and error-riddled proclamation targeting the state’s largest Muslim civil rights group, he is ordering Texas distract attorneys to investigate imaginary ‘sharia courts.’
“Greg Abbott appears to understand the law as well as he understands Texas Muslims – not at all. If Abbott is referring to private arbitration that businesses, religious communities, and others sometimes choose to engage in, every American has the right to engage in voluntary arbitration, only official courts can enforce private arbitration decisions, and such decisions must not violate public policy or the law.
“CAIR-Texas plans to continue to vigorously defend the Texas Muslim community from this governor’s increasingly desperate and deranged attempts to shred the First Amendment for the benefit of a foreign nation.”
Yesterday, CAIRsent a formal response letter to Governor Abbott strongly condemning his recent proclamation smearing the organization as “defamatory” and that the proclamation “has no basis in law or fact.“
In the letter, CAIR writes to Governor Abbott that his proclamation does not have “the authority to unilaterally declare any Americans or American institutions terrorist groups.”
Also yesterday, CAIR National and CAIR-Texas issued an initial public response affirming that their civil rights work in Texas will continue undeterred.
CAIR noted that this is not the first time Greg Abbott has tried and failed to use state law to smear Muslim nonprofit organizations in the statement.
Abbott has also shared dehumanizing content from anti-Muslim bigot Amy Mek’s social media account, deleted it, then shared content from another anti-Muslim bigot alleging Islam is a “militant ideology.” Mekelburg is best known for her Islamophobic content but has previously encouraged her readers to follow a white supremacist and antisemite.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-texas-calls-greg-abbott-increasingly-desperate-and-deranged-after-his-demand-that-texas-district-attorneys-probe-imaginary-sharia-courts/
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CAIR-NC Joins Community in Painting Over Hate Vandalism Targeting North Carolina Mosque
November 19, 2025
The North Carolina office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, joined community members in helping to paint over hate vandalism targeting a mosque in that state.
CAIR-NC previously called for a hate crime probe of the vandalism.
That vandalism targeting Al-Mu’minun Masjid in Statesville, North Carolina, included the phrase “go home,” a cross, a scribbled image of a dead pig, and the number 1683 spray-painted on the side of the mosque, an apparent reference the year of a battle between Muslims and Christians in Europe.
[NOTE: “Masjid” is the Arabic word for “mosque.” Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products and bigots often use pigs or pork to offend Muslim sensibilities.]
Washington, D.C., based CAIR is urging community leaders to utilize its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nc-joins-community-in-painting-over-hate-vandalism-targeting-north-carolina-mosque/
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CAIR Calls on Dominican Republic to Allow Construction of Mosque | CAIR Pide a la República Dominicana que Permita la Construcción de una Mezquita
November 19, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, called on the government of the Dominican Republic to allow the construction of a mosque in that Caribbean nation that is facing Islamophobic opposition based on anti-Muslim stereotypes and bigotry.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We urge the government of the Dominican Republic to uphold the principles of religious freedom and equal treatment of all faiths by allowing the construction of the proposed mosque in Punta Cana. No community should face discrimination or intimidation for seeking to establish a place of worship, and no project should be blocked on the basis of anti-Muslim stereotypes or bigotry.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of organized opposition to the mosque rooted in Islamophobic misinformation. Such hostility not only harms Dominican Muslims but also undermines the nation’s longstanding commitment to pluralism, tolerance, and democratic values.
“We call on local and national authorities to ensure that Dominican Muslims are free to practice their faith without harassment or discrimination, and we encourage community members to reject fear-mongering and instead embrace mutual respect and understanding.
“Religious freedom is a universal right. We urge officials to permit this project to move forward in accordance with the law and without prejudice.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
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Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-on-dominican-republic-to-allow-construction-of-mosque-cair-pide-a-la-republica-dominicana-que-permita-la-construccion-de-una-mezquita/
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Community Classroom - Sharia Brent from Sabal Palm Elementary School
Nov. 19, 2025
By Lanetra Bennett
That’s why Ms. Sharia Brent at Sabal Palm Elementary School in Tallahassee is asking for help in providing pizza for her students — in this Community Classroom segment.
She said the pizza not only feeds their hunger, but it also helps with learning.
Ms. Brent wants to use pizza to teach fractions. The third-grade math teacher said she’s big on hands-on learning.
Once her students can see and touch the lessons, and in this case, eat the lessons, it can be easier to grasp the concept of fractions.
Ms. Brent said teaching fractions with pizza can be fun, motivating, confidence-building, and of course, delicious!
“Sometimes, when you can just use those things around you to bring that in, it does help them to see, oh, it’s not as difficult as I thought,” she said. “So for me, that’s important because the book can be fearful. You know? But, pizza and cutting and seeing pieces, that’s not so fearful.”
The name of Ms. Brent’s project, or wish list, on DonorsChoose is “Filling in the Missing Part” with Fractions.
DonorsChoose, our partner for Community Classroom, is a website that allows teachers to request donations for their classroom needs.
Ms. Brent said she wants to show her kids that math is all around them and that it can be as easy as pie.
If you’d like to help her students achieve their goal and have a slice of fun, click here.
Source: wctv.tv
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https://www.wctv.tv/2025/11/19/community-classroom-sharia-brent-sabal-palm-elementary-school/
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Southeast Asia
Indonesia to partner with Malaysia for Islamic-Malay culture
November 19, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is set to collaborate with Malaysia to hold an Islamic-Malay cultural festival, aiming to highlight its rich cultural diversity and status as the world’s most populous Muslim nation.
“I fully support exhibitions using public art, especially showcasing Islamic-Malay culture. Indonesia has a long tradition of blending Islam with local arts,” Culture Minister Fadli Zon said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The festival, Malaysia Islamic Art and Design, will use public art installations to promote Islamic-Malay culture.
Fadli highlighted Museum Gedung Pusaka Keraton Kanoman in Cirebon, West Java, as an example of a modern public exhibition space using advanced technology.
“Recently, we inaugurated the museum’s exhibition hall, transforming an 18th-century warehouse into an art space with installations and video mapping to convey museum narratives,” he said.
Scheduled for November 2026, the festival will display art across multiple public spaces in Jakarta. It aims to educate the public while introducing the richness of Islamic-Malay heritage.
Paulina Gallardo, Director & Advisory Ltd, emphasized the importance of collaboration among cultural practitioners, curators, and audiences.
“This festival is the first initiative celebrating the heritage of Malay countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Southern Thailand, and Southern Philippines,” Gallardo said.
Fadli also explored potential partnerships between government, cultural organizations, and private sectors to advance Islamic-Malay arts.
“Promoting Islamic-Malay arts can create a sustainable ecosystem, enhancing livelihoods for artists and cultural practitioners,” he added.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/392717/indonesia-to-partner-with-malaysia-for-islamic-malay-culture
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‘Not democracy at work’: Shafie warns rising multi-cornered fights may tear families apart
20 Nov 2025
KOTA BELUD, Nov 20 — Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal warned that Sabah may one day see up to even 50 candidates contesting a single seat, if the trend of multi-cornered contests continues.
He said while certain quarters, including some among the younger generation may deem it as “democracy at work”, the reality is that people are allowing themselves to be split instead of being united and for others to take advantage.
The former chief minister was referring to the record 596 candidates taking part in the 17th Sabah Election come Nov 29. Many of the contests involve 10 to 12-cornered fights, with Tulid in the interior registering 14 contenders.
Shafie said having 10 or 11 contenders for a seat reflects a troubling level of fragmentation that could confuse voters and strain family ties.
“Some families are contesting against each other. This will break up families.
“I experienced this myself when members of my own family contested against me. But now, they are united again under Warisan,” he said.
Shafie said the rise in small parties and independent candidates though not illegal, required serious attention from leaders at all levels to prevent Sabah’s political system from becoming unmanageable.
“If we allow this to continue, it might not stop at 14 candidates. One day we might see 50 people running for one seat, Sabahans must take the initiative to restore unity.”
Shafie also lamented the water, electricity and infrastructure issues in Sabah despite multi-billion-ringgit annual budgets.
He said Warisan-era measures revitalised tourism, citing a government-backed RM300 million loan to AirAsia, which resulted in direct international flights from China, Korea, Indonesia, Australia and Peninsular Malaysia into Sabah without transits through KLIA.
“I told Tony Fernandes (head of AirAsia), if we lend you money, make sure flights come straight to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau and Sandakan.
“Today, you can see tourists from Korea and beyond filling our hotels and resorts, especially in Semporna, which now has a five-star hotel. Kota Belud still has none,” he said, referring to the constituency being decades under Barisan Nasional.
Shafie claimed Sabah’s economic resources were also not being fully utilised for local benefit, noting that some 300,000 Sabahans had to seek jobs in the peninsula.
“Furniture factories in Singapore and Johor use timber from Sabah. Yet we (previous state governments) never built these industries here,” he said.
“Warisan established a cooking oil plant in Tawau and planned similar facilities in Pitas, Keningau and Sandakan, though some of these were not continued.
“If Warisan returns to power, it would prioritise industrial development in Sabah to create employment and reduce reliance on external markets,” he said.
On Warisan’s chances in Kota Belud which has four state seats, Shafie said the party is focusing on fielding younger and fresh faces who represent a new direction for the district.
“In Kota Belud, the time has come for new faces. We cannot depend solely on those who have served far too long but didn’t do much,” he said.
Shafie highlighted Kota Belud’s strong economic potential, noting its agricultural strengths, padi cultivation history and tourism prospects.
He recalled past investments worth hundreds of millions of ringgit to support rice-growing activities.
He also spoke of opportunities in aquaculture and crab farming, that these sectors could be expanded significantly with proper support.
“If we form the Government, we will implement key initiatives in this area.
“When industries flourish, job opportunities follow. And when people have jobs, that becomes a major tool in eradicating poverty in Sabah. — Daily Express
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/11/20/not-democracy-at-work-shafie-warns-rising-multi-cornered-fights-may-tear-families-apart/199070
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Anwar: Malaysia-Ethiopia partnership reinforced through strategic agreements
20 Nov 2025
ADDIS ABABA, Nov 20 — Malaysia-Ethiopia cooperation has been strengthened through the exchange of several important documents across various strategic areas, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this represented both countries’ determination to build a more structured, inclusive and competitive framework for relations, opening up space for progress that can benefit the people of Malaysia and Ethiopia.
“PM Abiy (Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali) and I also witnessed the exchange of several important documents that will strengthen cooperation between Malaysia and Ethiopia across various strategic areas.
“The documents include the air services agreement and the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on health cooperation,” Anwar said on his social media page.
Among other documents were the MoU on tourism, the cooperation between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Addis Ababa City, and the announcement of the exchange of notes to initiate regular bilateral consultations.
At a joint press conference, Anwar and Abiy Ahmed once again expressed their determination to strengthen relations between Malaysia and Ethiopia in all dimensions based on genuine friendship and mutual trust.
“We also reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every form of cooperation between the two countries runs smoothly, is orderly and provides real benefits to the people as a whole,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/11/20/anwar-malaysia-ethiopia-partnership-reinforced-through-strategic-agreements/199059
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Stronger collaboration, AI governance key to boost Malaysia’s industrial credibility – Fadillah
20 Nov 2025
Deputy PM Fadillah Yusof calls for stronger collaboration and AI governance to boost Malaysia’s global industrial standing through SIRIM certifications.
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between government, industry, academia and innovators to enhance Malaysia’s global industrial credibility.
He stated that such cross-sector partnerships are crucial for ensuring standards, certifications and technological solutions contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s international standing.
“We remain steadfast in supporting SIRIM as the national certification body and as a leading institution that champions artificial intelligence governance, smart manufacturing and sustainable industrial ecosystems,” Fadillah said in his opening remarks at the Majlis SIRIM Industri 2025.
The event carried the theme “Quality and Sustainability through AI-Driven Innovation” and was held here tonight.
Fadillah added that Malaysia must decisively embrace AI as a catalyst for smarter factories, greener operations, safer products and world-class competitiveness.
He highlighted SIRIM’s evolution beyond merely setting standards to shaping industrial possibilities and strengthening Malaysia’s stature as a trusted global partner.
“For 50 years, SIRIM has not merely set standards; it has shaped possibilities,” he noted.
The deputy prime minister emphasised that economic strength must be inclusive, sustainable and value-anchored as guided by the MADANI Economy Framework and the 13th Malaysia Plan.
During the event, SIRIM Berhad introduced two new certifications: the AI Management System Certification and the Innovation Management System Certification.
ISO/IEC 42001 represents the world’s first international standard for responsible and transparent AI governance, providing organisations with a structured framework to manage AI ethically.
MS ISO 56001 offers a systematic approach for organisations to manage innovation effectively while strengthening internal processes and fostering structured creativity.
SIRIM Berhad also received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for employing 396 auditors, the highest number within a single organisation in the country.
This achievement underscores SIRIM’s strong technical capacity and longstanding commitment to national quality assurance.
Present at the event were Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry deputy secretary-general Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil and SIRIM chairman Datuk Dr Khairol Anuar Mohamad Tawi.
Also in attendance were SIRIM acting president and group CEO Nik Sazali Nik Hussin and SIRIM Board members. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/collaboration-key-to-boost-industrial-credibility/
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Malaysia completes 24 anti-corruption strategies under NACS initiative
20 Nov 2025
Malaysia’s NACS 2024-2028 shows progress with 24 substrategies completed, contributing to improved Corruption Perceptions Index ranking.
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has completed 24 substrategies under the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2028 as part of ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the progress following a NACS Performance Coordination Meeting at the ICU Conference Hall, Perdana Putra Building.
He revealed that 13 lead agency heads have fully implemented their respective responsibilities, with five substrategies completed in 2024 and 19 throughout 2025.
“I urge lead agency heads who have completed their substrategies to step up promotional and publicity efforts, within available resources,” Azam said in a statement.
He emphasised that this demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to good governance and consistent anti-corruption measures.
The implementation of NACS has been recognised as a factor contributing to Malaysia’s improved ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index.
Azam noted that nine short-term substrategies remain incomplete and must be finalised before December 31, 2025.
Four agencies have requested extensions, which will be tabled at the Special Cabinet Committee on National Governance on December 8.
The remaining five substrategies are expected to be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
The MACC, through the NACS Secretariat, reaffirmed its commitment to assist lead agencies facing implementation challenges.
“The success of NACS depends on the collective effort of all parties,” Azam added.
He expressed hope that the meeting would produce thorough follow-up measures to strengthen national governance, integrity, and accountability.
Implementation of substrategies is monitored through two digital dashboards, r-NACS and d-NACS, operated under the MACC server for transparency and effective oversight.
The meeting was attended by Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman and Ministry of National Unity secretary-general Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid.
Also present were National Governance Planning Division senior director Datuk Idris Zaharudin and MACC Community Education Division director Datuk Ahmad Nizam Ismail. – Bernama
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/malaysia-completes-24-anti-corruption-strategies/
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