Arunachal Christian Forum gives 15-day ultimatum to govt to halt framing of rules for Freedom of Religion Act
New Age Islam News Bureau
06 June2026
The forum submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu.(File Photo | ANI)
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· Arunachal Christian Forum gives 15-day ultimatum to govt to halt framing of rules for Freedom of Religion Act
· Iran FM warns any attack on Beirut will trigger ‘full-scale resumption of war’
· Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan condemn Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain
· UK far right 'hijacking' Henry Nowak killing to spew anti-Muslim rhetoric
· CAIR Urges Congress to Support Lebanon War Powers Resolution Before Israel Uses U.S. Support to ‘Turn Lebanon into the Next Gaza’
· Boko Haram: Families Cry Out Over 13 Abducted Borno Travellers, Seven-month-old Baby
· Indonesia, seven nations condemn Israeli settler attack on Al-Aqsa
· Italy PM condemns ‘barbaric’ attack that killed three Afghan refugees and Pakistani worker
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India
· Omar Abdullah off-site retreat fuels Jammu and Kashmir government stability buzz
· Cockroach Janta Party's Saturday protest seeks Dharmendra Pradhan exit over exam scandal
· ‘Paranoia and fear’: Owaisi slams Centre over SIR, alleges exercise may create ‘permanent class of excluded Indians’
· Kashi station remodelling: Mosque,encroachments cleared from railway land
· NIA raids ex-TMC MLA Saokat Molla’s residence, party office in bomb blast probe
· PIL in Calcutta High Court seeks quashing of mandatory Vande Mataram singing in madrasas
· India set for $2-billion military drone order in biggest buy as global conflicts boost demand
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Mideast
· Palestinian Authority condemns Israeli approval of 2,162 settlement housing units
· Israeli strikes kill three people in Gaza, medics say
· Israeli strikes kill at least 8 in Gaza: civil defence
· Jordan and Kuwait discuss expansion of security and military cooperation
· A conditional ceasefire and "pilot zones": Lebanon, Israel and the US issue a joint statement
· Syria ready to open government records to EU investigators of Assad regime’s war crimes
· Rubio hopeful for action plan on Israel-Lebanon
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Arab World
· Saudi ecotourism milestone as Al-Urumah Season draws 800,000 visitors
· Saudi FM receives IAEA chief
· Saudi centre forecasts hotter summer this year
· Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province receives Dutch ambassador to Riyadh
· Riyadh deploys flexible hours initiative to ease traffic, boost productivity
· Cultural seminar highlights role of literary translation in building civilizational bridges
· Makkah exhibit displays rare Grand Mosque artifact
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Europe
· ‘Blasphemous’ protest is not a crime, humanists tell human rights committee
· Sandwell Council says mosque expansion should be rejected over lack of parking
· Sutton ambulance station to mosque plan - community divided
· PSNI ask council to remove Mid Ulster ‘Muslims not welcome’ playpark banner
· Ukrainian drone attacks kill four in Crimea – governor
· Germany fails to win UN Security Council seat for first time ever
· Has Hungary opened the EU door for Kiev?
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North America
· CAIR-MI Joins Call for Action After Racist, Neo-Nazi Incident Targets Black-Owned Business in Grand Haven
· CAIR-Florida Condemns Dumping of Pork Outside Middle Eastern Market in Port St. Lucie
· CAIR to Announce Lawsuit Against VA’s Fairfax County Public Schools for Suspending Muslim Students for Participating in Viral Trend
· Los Gatos mosque appeals restrictive conditions on approved permit
· US House votes to rein in Trump's war powers in rebuke over Iran
· Trump confirms calling Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’
· US mulls placing nukes in more NATO countries – FT
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Africa
· Foreign nationals in South Africa seek community protection after weekend of deadly violence
· Atiku backs CAN’s security reform demand, asks Muslim leaders to join campaign
· Upgrade Amotekun To State Police – Afenifere Tells FG Amid Rising Insecurity In South-West
· Rubio Confirms US-Nigeria Joint Operations Against ISIS
· ‘Please Release These Children’ – Peter Obi ‘Begs’ Terrorists Over School Kidnappings
· Aiyedatiwa Reacts To Court Judgement On Owo Church Attackers
· Five countries elected non-permanent members of UN Security Council
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Southeast Asia
· Anwar backs TNB to power Malaysia’s energy and AI ambitions
· Anwar: Crisis in Hormuz Strait shows how vulnerable fossil fuel economies are
· Melaka GH, Masjid Tanah, Umbai and Merlimau lets patients drive-through to get their meds
· Anwar: Asean energy demand to surge over 60pc by 2040 as AI, urbanisation drive consumption
· Johari: US 10pc tariff on Malaysian exports temporary, to be reviewed after 150 days
· Penang council cracks down on burger stall over halal stickers that sparked segregation claims
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South Asia
· Islamic Emirate Urges Global Partners to Keep Counter-Narcotics Cooperation Free from Politics
· Bangladesh Jamaat to protest power tariff hike today
· Govt to streamline foreign investment
· New force commander of UN peace corps in Cyprus calls on PM
· Herat Holds Coordination Meeting with Local Media Outlets
· Kabul Seeks UN Support for Climate, Conservation Initiatives
· Nearly 6,000 Foreign Nationals Visited Afghanistan in Past Two Months
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Arunachal Christian Forum gives 15-day ultimatum to govt to halt framing of rules for Freedom of Religion Act
03 Jun 2026
The forum submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu.(File Photo | ANI)
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GUWAHATI: The Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF), the state’s largest Christian organisation, issued a 15-day ultimatum to the state’s BJP-led government, demanding the immediate suspension of the ongoing process of framing and notifying rules under the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act (APFRA).
APFRA was introduced in 1978 but never implemented. In September 2024, the Gauhati High Court had directed the Arunachal government to frame and notify the rules.
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the ACF said the Christian community of the state was deeply concerned over the implementation of the Act through the framing of rules, as it might have far-reaching consequences, affecting constitutional rights, religious freedom, social harmony, and peaceful co-existence of people.
“The present action of the high-powered committee on APFRA, 1978, undertaken without adequate public consultation, has generated widespread apprehension and resentment among large sections of the population,” the ACF said.
It lamented that the state government appeared determined to move ahead on the matter despite appeals made by various organisations, including religious bodies and citizens.
“Such action without broad consensus and meaningful consultation with all stakeholders is likely to create avoidable tension and unrest within the state,” the ACF cautioned, demanding that the entire process be immediately suspended.
“The government should publicly declare its decision to halt the process and initiate comprehensive consultations on repealing APFRA with all affected stakeholders,” the memorandum read.
The Act was introduced to safeguard the traditional religious practices of indigenous communities from external influence or coercion. Earlier, the state government stated that APFRA would be implemented in deference to the court’s directive, with Khandu clarifying that the draft rules were not against any religion.
His government has been under pressure from non-Christian groups, which are demanding the Act’s early implementation. Indigenous faith believers, Christians and Buddhists are Arunachal’s three major communities.
According to available data, the state’s Christian population increased from less than 1% in 1971 to more than 30% in 2011. The population of those following indigenous faiths and other religions, and Buddhists, declined from more than 63% and 13% to 26% and 12%, respectively, during the same period. The number of Hindus increased from 22% in 1971 to 29.03% in 2011.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Jun/03/arunachal-christian-forum-gives-15-day-ultimatum-to-govt-to-halt-framing-of-rules-for-freedom-of-religion-act
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Iran FM warns any attack on Beirut will trigger ‘full-scale resumption of war’
June 03, 2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any attack on Beirut would trigger a “full-scale resumption” of the Middle East war. (AP/File Photo)
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TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any attack on Beirut would trigger a “full-scale resumption” of the Middle East war, as Israel pressed its campaign against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Iran has repeatedly insisted that any deal to end the wider Middle East war — which its ally Hezbollah joined on March 2 — must also halt the fighting in Lebanon.
“The fate of the war between Iran and the Zionists (Israel) and Americans is inseparable from the fate of the battle in Lebanon, and these two fronts have been intertwined since day one,” Iranian news agencies quoted Araghchi as telling Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV.
“Any attack on Beirut will have grave consequences and will lead to a full-scale resumption of the war,” he continued, adding Iran’s “armed forces are ready to strike Israel if it attacks Beirut.”
He also insisted that for the war in Lebanon to end, Israeli forces must get out of the country.
“The end of the war in Lebanon also means the end of the occupation. That is, the end of the war must be accompanied by the withdrawal of the Zionist regime’s forces from the areas they have occupied,” he told the pro-Hezbollah Lebanese broadcaster.
His comments came as Israeli and Lebanese diplomats were to hold a second day of direct talks in Washington.
They are part of a fourth round of talks since the fighting in Lebanon erupted when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.
Hezbollah is sharply opposed to the direct negotiations.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US broadcaster CNBC that he and Trump shared the goal “to disarm Hezbollah and... to demilitarise Lebanon.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645934/middle-east
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Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan condemn Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain
June 03, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi condemned “brutal” Iranian attacks targeting Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday.
An Iranian attack killed an Indian national and injured 63 people at Kuwait's international airport on Wednesday, forcing it to close temporarily.
Bahrain’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its military intercepted and destroyed three missiles and a number of drones fired by Iran.
During a telephone call, Prince Faisal and Safadi denounced Iran’s violation of Kuwaiti and Bahraini sovereignty and its undermining of efforts to de-escalate current tensions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They also discussed recent developments and their joint efforts to restore security and stability to the region, SPA added.
Prince Faisal also received a phone call from his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani during which they reviewed the latest developments in the region, in light of the ongoing coordination and consultation between their countries.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645907/saudi-arabia
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UK far right 'hijacking' Henry Nowak killing to spew anti-Muslim rhetoric
03 June, 2026
A far-right demonstrator in Southampton appears to be making Nazi salutes to police officers [Getty/file photo]
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British far-right demonstrators have been accused of exploiting the murder of British student Henry Nowak to amplify Islamophobia - despite the incident having no links to Islam or Muslims
In Southampton on Tuesday, a group of far-right individuals rioted in the southern English city following the verdict on Nowak’s case, which convicted Vickrum Digwa of murder and sentenced him to life with a minimum of 21 years in prison.
Videos on social media appeared to show one man saying: "Our nation has been invaded. Many of them bow down to the false God of Islam. This is a Christian nation".
Digwa is a British Sikh and had stabbed Nowak with a Sikh dagger, also known as a kirpan.
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, attended the march and also used the occasion to spew anti-Islam rhetoric.
Robinson was filmed saying: "Henry’s murder - I’ve spoken about this for 20 years. To be a victim of a race gang, i.e., Pakistani Muslims, will be beating up a white kid, the police will turn up, and they will jump on the white kid. Every time, I’ve seen it my whole life."
The far-right activist, who has been convicted multiple times on fraud, harassment, and contempt of court charges, had urged his supporters to protest in Southampton in an earlier video message.
In response to the Islamophobic language used in Southampton, British Muslim advocacy group MEND said Robinson was "not deterred" in the slightest by the fact that the perpetrator was a Sikh man when he made the remarks.
"The facts of the case were never the point. The target was always Britain’s minorities, and any tragedy would be used as a pretext."
"They took a real horror, stripped it of its truth, and turned it into fuel against whichever community is convenient," the group told The New Arab. "And now the noise they’ve generated pulls attention away from the questions that actually demand answers.
"A young man told officers he could not breathe, that he had been stabbed, and was disbelieved and handcuffed as he lay dying. That catastrophic failure of policing, and the accountability it demands, is what justice for Henry looks like. The far right grifters offer only heat, division, and a body to stand on."
The incident, dating back to 3 December 2025, saw Nowak, an 18-year-old student at the University of Southampton, stabbed to death five times by 23-year-old Digwa.
Police body cameras showed Nowak pleading with officers that he had been stabbed, which was ignored by them. The 18-year-old died at the scene.
Additionally, Digwa accused Nowak of physically and racially abusing him in a bid to justify the stabbing. This was rejected by the jury due to lack of evidence, accusing Digwa of fabricating a "false narrative" of the events.
The case has attracted attention in the UK over the carrying of Sikh ceremonial knives and whether they should be banned or not.
It has also triggered claims by right-wing politicians, including Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, that police forces implement "a two-tier policing" system, implying that the police favour one ethnic group over another when it comes to certain incidents.
Farage, as well as Robert Jenrick’s comments, have been slammed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for creating "grievance and division" with their accusations.
Starmer also condemned the violent rioting outside of Southampton Police Station, calling it "disgraceful and completely unacceptable". The demonstrations saw 11 police officers injured and two people arrested.
Rioters were seen pelting law enforcement with objects, including bricks, and setting other items on fire, such as bins. One video, published on X, showed some protesters making Nazi salutes in front of officers.
Source: newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/uk-far-right-hijacking-henry-nowak-murder-islamophobia
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CAIR Urges Congress to Support Lebanon War Powers Resolution Before Israel Uses U.S. Support to ‘Turn Lebanon into the Next Gaza’
June 3, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on every member of Congress to support the Lebanon War Powers Resolution introduced by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and co-led by Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, with floor debate expected as early as today and a vote possibly tomorrow or in the coming days.
CAIR said Congress must act now to end all U.S. participation in Israel’s illegal and devastating military campaign in Lebanon, which has already killed more than 3,400 Lebanese civilians, injured over 10,000, and displaced more than 1.2 million people, destroying entire communities and quickly turning southern Lebanon into the “next Gaza.”
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Congress must support the Tlaib-Ramirez Lebanon War Powers Resolution and end all U.S. involvement in Israel’s ethnic cleansing of southern Lebanon. The United States cannot allow Israel to use American weapons and support to continue turning Lebanon into the next Gaza; a place where entire neighborhoods are erased, civilians are slaughtered, hospitals and paramedics are targeted, schools are destroyed, and Christian and Muslim houses of worship are desecrated.
“Congress has both the constitutional authority and the moral obligation to stop unauthorized U.S. participation in these hostilities. Every day of delay means more innocent lives lost. Lawmakers must choose justice, accountability, and human dignity over unconditional support for a government that is openly violating international law.
“Our nation cannot keep enabling Israel to commit war crimes with American weapons, intelligence, and diplomatic cover as it commits the same atrocities in Lebanon that it carried out in Gaza. Israel’s escalating attacks are also threatening to derail the fragile ceasefire negotiations with Iran, risking a wider regional war that the American people do not want and Congress has never authorized.”
CAIR noted that in recent weeks:
Israeli forces have carried out mass-casualty attacks across Lebanon, killing at least 254 people and wounding more than 1,165 in a single day, despite a ceasefire agreement requiring a halt to attacks on Lebanon.
More than 1.2 million Lebanese civilians have been displaced from southern Lebanon and the surrounding regions, with entire border communities emptied under bombardment.
Israeli soldiers have been documented destroying Christian and Muslim villages — including Aita al-Shaab, Yaroun, Rmeish, Marwahin, and Kfar Kila — and looting civilian homes in occupied Lebanese towns, with commanders reportedly aware and failing to intervene.
Israeli forces have conducted multiple “triple tap” strikes on paramedics, killing and wounding rescue workers responding to earlier attacks.
Israeli strikes have hit mosques, churches, schools, and medical facilities, displacing entire villages and forcing families to flee only to be bombed again in their places of refuge.
CAIR urged members of Congress to vote YES on the Lebanon War Powers Resolution and to take immediate steps to end all U.S. military aid and support that enables Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank.
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.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-urges-congress-to-support-lebanon-war-powers-resolution-before-israel-uses-u-s-support-to-turn-lebanon-into-the-next-gaza/
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Boko Haram: Families Cry Out Over 13 Abducted Borno Travellers, Seven-month-old Baby
June 4, 2026
By Richard Ogunsile
Families of 13 travellers abducted by suspected Boko Haram insurgents along the Biu–Damaturu highway in Borno State have appealed to the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue their loved ones.
The victims, including women and a seven-month-old baby, were reportedly abducted on April 15, 2026, around the Kamuya axis of the state.
The suspected terrorists were said to have intercepted two Golf Wagon vehicles conveying passengers along the highway before whisking the occupants away to an unknown destination.
Naija News reports that the appeal was contained in a statement signed on Wednesday by Mallam Hassan Yati on behalf of the affected families.
Yati said relatives of the abducted travellers had been living in fear, pain and uncertainty since the incident, adding that the families had received little or no information about the whereabouts or condition of the victims.
He described the abduction of women and children, including a seven-month-old baby, as heartbreaking and traumatic.
According to him, the affected families have continued to endure sleepless nights and emotional distress as days turned into weeks without any meaningful update on rescue efforts.
“The families are calling on government authorities, security agencies, humanitarian organisations and all relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene and ensure the safe rescue of the abducted travellers,” Vanguard quoted Yati’s statement as reading.
Yati said the continued captivity of the victims had deepened the suffering of their families, who were only hoping to see their loved ones return home alive.
He added that every passing day had increased the fear and anxiety of innocent families already traumatised by the abduction.
The families also appealed to Nigerians to remember the victims in prayers and support all lawful efforts aimed at restoring peace and security along major highways in the North-East.
They expressed hope that with urgent and coordinated action by the authorities, the abducted travellers could still be rescued alive and reunited with their families.
Meanwhile, residents have continued to raise concerns over the deplorable condition of the Buni Gari-Kamuya-Buratai-Biu road.
The road serves as a major route linking parts of Southern Borno with Maiduguri, as well as communities in Adamawa and Gombe states.
Residents said the poor condition of the road had made travelling difficult and dangerous, especially for commuters and commercial drivers who use the route regularly.
According to them, the highway has become a death trap, with insurgents allegedly taking advantage of its bad state to launch attacks and carry out abductions.
They called on the government to urgently rehabilitate the road and increase security presence along the route to protect travellers from further attacks.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/04/boko-haram-families-cry-out-over-13-abducted-borno-travellers-seven-month-old-baby/
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Indonesia, seven nations condemn Israeli settler attack on Al-Aqsa
June 3, 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and UAE strongly condemned ongoing attacks by extremist Israeli settlers on Al-Aqsa Mosque under Israeli protection, including the display of the Israeli flag within the mosque compound.
According to a statement issued by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry on its X account in Jakarta on Wednesday, the foreign ministers said the actions were unacceptable and violated international law, the longstanding status quo, and the legal framework governing holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
They condemned the violations and systematic actions carried out by Israel aimed at changing the historical, legal, and demographic character of occupied East Jerusalem and undermining the sanctity and status of the Islamic and Christian holy sites there.
“They reaffirm their categorical rejection of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites and stress its preservation while recognizing the special role of the historical Hashemite custodianship in this regard,” it said.
The ministers reaffirmed that the entire 14.4-hectare area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a dedicated place of worship for Muslims.
They stated that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, is the legal body with exclusive jurisdiction to manage the affairs of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and regulate access to it.
The ministers urged the Israeli authorities to be held accountable and to halt these escalatory actions, warning that repeated Israeli violations exacerbate tensions, fuel instability and extremism, undermine international efforts to achieve peace, and constitute a flagrant violation of Israel's obligations under international law.
“They call for an immediate cessation of all such Israeli illegal and provocative practices and reaffirm the need to respect the historical and legal status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif in its entirety,” the statement said.
The ministers reiterated their full solidarity with the Palestinian people and their support for their legitimate rights, including the right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
They also affirmed their support for various efforts to end the Israeli occupation and achieve a just, sustainable, and comprehensive peace through a two-state solution in accordance with international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the Arab Peace Initiative.
It was previously reported that Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on May 31, 2026, under Israeli police protection and raised the Israeli flag in the mosque's courtyard.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/417875/indonesia-seven-nations-condemn-israeli-settler-attack-on-al-aqsa
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Italy PM condemns ‘barbaric’ attack that killed three Afghan refugees and Pakistani worker
By Fidel Rahmati
June 4, 2026
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has vowed to bring those responsible to justice after three Afghan refugees and a Pakistani migrant worker were killed in what authorities describe as a brutal arson attack in southern Italy.
Meloni said she was deeply shocked by the deaths and praised investigators for the swift arrest of two suspects.
“Italy will not retreat in the face of violence and barbarity,” Meloni said, adding that uncovering the full circumstances of the crime and ensuring accountability remains a priority for her government.
Italian prosecutors said the victims were trapped inside a vehicle that was allegedly set on fire near the town of Amendolara in the southern region of Calabria.
The victims were identified as Afghan refugees Amin Afzal Khogyani, 28, Safi Ejad, 27, and Esmatullah Qayemi, 19, as well as Pakistani national Waseem Khan, 29. All four worked in the agricultural sector.
According to Italian media and prosecutors, two Pakistani men, both aged 32, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Investigators allege the suspects locked the workers inside a vehicle, poured fuel on it and set it ablaze after a dispute linked to labour conditions.
A survivor, identified as Taj Mohammad, told local media he escaped by breaking a window and fleeing through the flames.
He alleged that the workers had not been paid for more than a month and were forced to continue working under threats involving knives and firearms. The workers had reportedly refused to continue labouring without contracts and under exploitative conditions shortly before the attack.
Alessandro D’Alessio, the prosecutor leading the investigation, described the case as one of the most horrific crimes he had encountered in three decades of legal work.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of Italy’s long-standing problem of labour exploitation in the agricultural sector, particularly in southern regions where migrant workers often face poor working conditions, low wages and limited legal protection.
Human rights groups and labour unions say thousands of migrant workers, including refugees from Afghanistan and asylum seekers from Asia and Africa, remain vulnerable to abuse by illegal recruitment networks known in Italy as the caporalato system.
The tragedy comes as Europe continues to face growing migration pressures. Many Afghans who fled conflict, economic hardship and restrictions on rights in Afghanistan have sought protection and employment across Europe, often ending up in low-paid and insecure jobs.
Italian trade unions estimate that more than 200,000 undocumented migrant workers are employed across the country, many in agriculture. Rights groups have called on Rome to address the root causes of labour exploitation rather than relying solely on criminal prosecutions after major incidents.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/italy-pm-condemns-barbaric-attack-that-killed-three-afghan-refugees-and-pakistani-worker/
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India
Omar Abdullah off-site retreat fuels Jammu and Kashmir government stability buzz
Muzaffar Raina
04.06.26
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday opted for an off-site, a first-of-its-kind meeting for party legislators, a move reminiscent of the cloak-and-dagger politics seen when parties seek to prevent defections and stave off a government collapse.
Omar himself lent an air of drama to the outing by keeping the venue under wraps, choosing a no-network zone and ferrying legislators in buses to an “undisclosed location” before choreographing the release of their smiling photographs to put up a united show.
Opposition leader Sunil Kumar Sharma of the BJP called the meeting a “floor test” and said the chief minister’s paranoia of losing power had reduced governance to “loyalty parades”.
The Opposition claims Omar’s government is on the brink even though there appeared to be no immediate threat. The meeting drew its significance from the fact that it was held after a long gap amid mounting criticism over failure to deliver on key promises such as the restoration of statehood.
Sources in the government said the lieutenant governor's administration was keeping a close watch on the meeting, which was held at the Dachigam National Park on the outskirts of Srinagar.
“We are off for an off-site to spend the day taking stock of the last 19 months — the good, the not so good and everything in between,” Omar said on X, posting smiling pictures with his legislators in a bus on the way to the meeting. Omar was seated in the backseat of the bus.
He rebuffed a report that claimed the meeting was being shifted from his Gupkar residence to the Cheshma Shahi tourist resort in Srinagar at the last moment.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you but it has NOT ‘been shifted at the last moment’. It was always my intention to conduct this meeting off-site and all arrangements have been made, days in advance, at the location originally chosen by me,” he said.
Later, he shared a selfie clicked by National Conference legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri, mentioning in the caption that they had crossed Shalimar Garden for an “unknown destination”.
The party is facing opposition within, with Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi publicly accusing Omar of betraying the mandate and asking him to quit. Sources said Ruhullah was not invited to the meeting.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/omar-abdullah-off-site-meet-fuels-jammu-and-kashmir-government-stability-buzz-prnt/cid/2163841
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Cockroach Janta Party's Saturday protest seeks Dharmendra Pradhan exit over exam scandal
Amiya Kumar Kushwaha
04.06.26
Online satirical platform Cockroach Janta Party held its first media conference on Wednesday, outlining plans for its offline protest on Saturday in the national capital and demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over exam irregularities.
In its first public appearance, the party’s chief spokesperson, Saurav Das, addressed the media along with spokespersons Vijeta Dahiya and Ashutosh Ranka to demand accountability and answer questions regarding the outfit’s funding.
The three spokespersons were appointed a few hours before the media conference. Das is an investigative journalist, Dahiya a political researcher and Ranka a filmmaker, former management consultant and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the London School of Economics.
Das said CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke would land at New Delhi airport at 8am on June 6 to organise a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has shown interest in joining him.
“Dipke has called upon his supporters to come to the airport and receive him, and all of them, along with Sonam Wangchuk ji, will then head towards Parliament Street and seek permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar. We invite everybody from all political shades to come and be part of this movement,” Das said, calling upon protesters, both from the ruling party and the Opposition, to join the movement minus political banners. He said the theme of the movement concerned the youth.
“Our only demand is the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan,” Das said, asserting that the CJP was a youth political movement demanding accountability. The three speakers blamed Pradhan for the NEET paper leak, the CBSE on-screen marking irregularities and other related issues.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/cockroach-janta-party-protest-targets-dharmendra-pradhan-over-exam-scandals-prnt/cid/2163839
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‘Paranoia and fear’: Owaisi slams Centre over SIR, alleges exercise may create ‘permanent class of excluded Indians’
Jun 3, 2026
NEW DELHI: As the Election Commission expands its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across multiple states, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a fresh attack on the exercise, alleging that it could be used to create a “permanent class of excluded Indians” and disproportionately affect Muslims, women, migrants and the poor.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Owaisi claimed that the Centre was using a document-based voter verification exercise as a precursor to broader mechanisms for identifying, detaining and deporting alleged illegal immigrants.
“The right to vote is the poor's only weapon against the powerful. Without it, the government will do what it pleases with them,” the Hyderabad MP said.
Owaisi questions purpose of review committee
Owaisi alleged that a document-driven SIR exercise had earlier resulted in the deletion of nearly 6.5 crore names from electoral rolls across 13 states and Union Territories.
He claimed that most of those excluded were Muslims, women, migrants and economically weaker sections.
“SIR will be used to create a permanent class of excluded Indians,” Owaisi said, arguing that deletion from electoral rolls does not automatically mean a person is not an Indian citizen.
The Union Government first carried out a document-driven SIR that deleted nearly 6.5 crore names from electoral rolls across 13 States and UTs. Now it wants a committee to study those very exclusions and build a permanent system for the identification, detention, and deportation…
“Under the law, a deletion through SIR does not mean that a person is not a citizen,” he said.
The AIMIM leader noted that around 27 lakh cases remain under adjudication and many individuals could still seek enrolment through Form 6.
He also questioned why a committee was needed to examine the exclusions when, according to him, the Election Commission had not provided data showing how many names were removed because the individuals were foreigners.
“Why do we need this committee, then? So that there can be constant paranoia and fear directed against Muslims,” Owaisi said.
He further alleged that the NDA government routinely forces citizens to undergo documentation exercises such as KYC and SIR while failing to efficiently conduct other administrative tasks.
SIR exercise underway in several states
The remarks come as the Election Commission continues Phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision process in Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim.
The exercise aims to verify the eligibility of voters based on three constitutional criteria under Article 326, Indian citizenship, minimum age of 18 years and absence of any legal disqualification.
Enumeration began on the previous Saturday and will continue until June 28. Eligible voters whose forms are received by that date will be included in draft electoral rolls scheduled for publication on July 5.
A claims-and-objections period will run until August 4, with final electoral rolls expected to be published on September 6.
The Election Commission has urged all eligible voters to participate and cooperate with officials conducting house-to-house verification.
Supreme Court upheld electoral roll revision
Owaisi's criticism comes weeks after the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission's authority to conduct the SIR exercis.
A Bench headed by chief justice Surya Kant ruled that the revision falls within the constitutional powers of the Election Commission under Article 324 and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
The court said that “free and fair elections” depend on the “integrity, accuracy and credibility” of electoral rolls and held that the revision exercise was aimed at safeguarding the electoral process.
The apex court also clarified that exclusion from electoral rolls does not amount to a declaration that an individual is not an Indian citizen.
It stated that if a competent authority later determines that a deleted person is a citizen, their name can be restored to the voter list.
The SIR exercise, which began in Bihar before being expanded to other states and Union Territories, remains one of the most politically contested electoral initiatives undertaken by the Election Commission in recent years.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/paranoia-and-fear-owaisi-slams-centre-over-sir-alleges-exercise-may-create-permanent-class-of-excluded-indians/articleshowprint/131481348.cms\
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Kashi station remodelling: Mosque,encroachments cleared from railway land
Jun 4, 2026
Varanasi: A joint team of the Railways, district administration and police launched a mega drive on Tuesday night to clear railway land for the Rs 304.61-crore Kashi Railway Station remodelling project aimed at improving connectivity through road and water transport.
During the drive, the decades-old Azgaib Shahid mosque and other encroachments were removed, and the debris was cleared overnight.
While no one from the mosque management was ready to comment on the issue, local Muslims claimed the structures had existed for a long time, with the mosque being several hundred years old. Administration officials said the land was part of old Railway property and had been encroached upon over the years. They also said that a Hanuman temple had also existed at the location and was removed earlier because the area was encroached upon.
Divisional commissioner S Rajalingam said on Wednesday that notices had been issued to remove illegal encroachments and constructions on railway land, including those built for lease or logistics purposes without permission. “Some litigants had approached the court but got no relief, following which the removal drive was carried out as per the notices,” he said.
The area covering Bhadau Chungi, Rajghat and Kila Kohna under Adampur police station limits was fortified with the deployment of heavy police force, PAC and central armed police forces. The Azgaib Shahid Masjid and a graveyard existed on railway land, which is now being merged with the Kashi Railway Station area for expansion.Before the arrival of ACP (law and order) Shivhari Meena and DCP (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal, teams led by ADCP (Kashi Zone) Vaibhav Bangar and ACP Kotwali Vijay Pratap Singh had cordoned off the entire area.
Before the demolition began with the deployment of bulldozers, earthmovers, loaders and dumpers, surveillance on surrounding routes was increased and public movement was restricted. Immediately after the structures were demolished, the debris was cleared by early morning and traffic was normalised, though police remained deployed as a precautionary measure.
The project, aimed at ensuring seamless interconnectivity between rail, road and water transport networks, as well as rejuvenating Kashi Railway Station and linking it with Namo Ghat, was initiated in 2022.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had reviewed the progress of railway projects in 2022 and approved the design of the proposed Kashi Railway Station building to reflect the religious and cultural ethos of the city.
The then chief secretary had also inspected the site and issued directives for early land clearance in 2022, following which a major exercise was launched in 2023. However, the process faced delays after some parties approached the court over removal of structures on the Bhadau Chungi and Kila Kohna sides, although construction on available land continued.
At present, Kashi station has only one entry point. After redevelopment, additional entry points will be created on both sides of the station. Buildings at each entrance will be constructed over an area of 10,000 square metres and connected through a 2,700 sq m air concourse (skywalk), which will house facilities such as waiting rooms, food outlets, ticket counters and deluxe toilets.
A double-decker signature bridge — with a six-lane road on the upper deck and four railway tracks on the lower deck — is also being constructed alongside the existing structure, which is over 135 years old, to complement the station redevelopment project.
An inland waterway jetty already exists, enabling the conversion of Kashi Railway Station into an intermodal transport hub. The expanded section of Namo Ghat will also have large platforms capable of accommodating multiple helicopters.
Railway officials expect the project to be completed by December 2027.
Source: indiatimes.com
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NIA raids ex-TMC MLA Saokat Molla’s residence, party office in bomb blast probe
Tanusree Bose
Jun 4, 2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at premises linked to former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Saokat Molla, including his residence in Jibantala in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district.
Saokat was not at home at the time, and only his son, Imran, was present, NIA sources said.
According to the sources, the searches are being held in connection with the investigation into a bomb blast in the Dakshin Bamunia area of Bhangar, just days before the Assembly elections in the state. The NIA had earlier arrested TMC leader Wahidul Islam in connection with the case.
NIA officials also conducted searches at the TMC party office that Saokat used to sit in, the residences of his relatives, and a restaurant owned by his son.
According to NIA sources, Saokat was in Kolkata on Wednesday, where he met a few party members. Locals reported seeing him in Jibantala on Wednesday, and NIA sources said call location data placed him in the area.
Upon learning about the search operation, Saokat’s wife and daughter-in-law arrived at their residence. They claimed that no notice had been served and said they had no information about Saokat’s whereabouts. Sources added that both were being interrogated.
In March, a crude bomb exploded in Dakshin Bamunia village, killing one person and injuring three others. The Indian Secular Front demanded an NIA probe into the incident. Subsequently, the central agency took charge of the investigation.
In April, the NIA arrested Ahidul Islam Molla of Bijoyganj Bazar in South 24 Parganas district. According to the agency, Ahidul was a co-conspirator and was involved in the preparation of bombs and the destruction of evidence. The bombs exploded while being assembled, killing one of the accused.
Source: indianexpress.com
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PIL in Calcutta High Court seeks quashing of mandatory Vande Mataram singing in madrasas
Tanusree Bose
Jun 4, 2026
A Howrah resident has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court, seeking the squashing of the West Bengal government order making it mandatory to sing Vande Mataram in all the madrasas of the state.
The petition filed by Md Mahatabuddin Lasker, who identifies himself as the guardian of a minor Muslim student in a madrasa in Sankrail, Howrah, stated that the May 19 order issued by the Directorate of Madrasah Education, Government of West Bengal, violated Articles 14 (Fundamental Right to Equality), 19(1)(a) (Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression), and 25(1) (Fundamental Right to Freedom of Religion) of the Constitution of India.
According to the petition, the Government of India’s own guidelines dated January 28 provided that the day’s work in schools “may begin” with community singing of the National Song (Vande Mataram), thereby making the practice “permissive and not compulsory”.
“The impugned order unlawfully converts a discretionary practice into a mandatory obligation without statutory authority,” it said.
“The official lyrics of Vande Mataram contain explicit invocations to Hindu deities such as Goddess Durga and Kamala and references to devotional worship in temples, which are contrary to the sincerely held Islamic belief in absolute monotheism,” the petitioner contended.
Lasker said in his petition that his ward, a minor child, “is willing to stand respectfully during the assembly, but compulsory singing violates freedom of conscience and the right against compelled expression”.
The petitioner stated that the act of singing the passages of Vande Mataram that identify the Motherland with Goddess Durga, invoke Goddess Kamala, and declare devotion to the Motherland as a form of religious bhakti to be installed in temples, is directly and irreconcilably contrary to the tenets of the Islamic faith.
“This religious objection is not the outcome of any perversity, disrespect, or unpatriotic sentiment,” he said, adding that the Fundamental Right to freedom of speech and expression, under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution “includes, within its ambit, not only the freedom to speak and express, but equally the freedom to remain silent and to refrain from speaking or singing against one’s will or conscience”.
“Thus an order compelling a student to sing a particular song against his or her will and conscience is a direct infringement of the right guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a),” he added.
Calling the government’s May 19 order “arbitrary and unconstitutional”, he urged the High Court to quash it.
The High Court is likely to hear the plea on Friday.
Within a week of coming to power in West Bengal, the new BJP government made the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in the morning routine for all schools and madrasas in the state.
On Monday, as all the government schools reopened after the summer vacations, Vande Mataram was sung during morning assembly at all the 1,600 madrasas under the state Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education Department.
As proof of compliance, the heads of the madrasas videographed the entire morning assembly and uploaded the clips to WhatsApp groups administered by school sub-inspectors and district inspectors of schools.
On Tuesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had said, “Anyone who wants to live in the country must respect the national song and the national anthem. If you want to live in this country, you must sing Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana, and you must respect 26 January (Republic Day) and 15 August (Independence Day).”
“The recitation of Vande Mataram has been made mandatory in every school… This is Indian culture. This is Sanatan culture. India is known as both Hindustan and India. This country cannot go into anyone else’s hands,” he had added.
Source: indianexpress.com
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India set for $2-billion military drone order in biggest buy as global conflicts boost demand
03.06.26
India is likely to order more than $2 billion worth of military drones from domestic firms this year in its biggest such purchase, an industry body working with the government told Reuters, as global and regional conflicts boost demand.
The plans are in advanced stages with deliveries expected over 18 to 24 months, for a jump in value from recent government orders worth 30 billion rupees ($313 million) for tactical-class drones, said Smit Shah, president of the body.
"In the next phase, tactical drone procurements in India may exceed 200 billion rupees, or more than $2 billion," said Shah, whose Drone Federation India represents more than 550 companies and works closely with the government.
Shah said the new orders may follow a fast-track procurement route designed to meet urgent operational needs, with deliveries probably needed within 24 months.
The defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the likely purchase order, which Reuters is the first to report.
Offensive potential of low-cost drones in spotlight
India's push follows clashes with arch-rival Pakistan in May last year, when both sides deployed unmanned aerial vehicles at scale for the first time, highlighting the offensive potential of low-cost drones.
The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have further sped adoption globally, driving down costs and reshaping battlefield tactics.
In March, the defence ministry approved a proposal worth about 2.38 trillion rupees ($24.85 billion) to buy transport aircraft, missiles system and "remotely piloted strike aircraft", or armed drones, without giving a spending breakdown.
"Drones are force multipliers on the modern battlefield," said Ramesh Chandra Padhi, an executive at IG Defence, a builder of advanced unmanned aerial and short-range missile systems.
"The Indian army is following emergency or fast-track procurement to expedite the induction of drones on a very large scale," the former senior army officer added.
Drone industry explodes in India
India has more than 600 firms making drones and components, with more than 100 focused on defence applications.
The companies range from large players such as Adani Group, Larsen & Toubro and Tata Advanced Systems to startups like ideaForge, Newspace Research and Asteria Aerospace.
They work on building reconnaissance, logistics, loitering munition, precision-strike and critical component systems.
In recent years, India has overhauled a typically slow defence procurement process to allow faster acquisition of drones, particularly after clashes with Pakistan exposed gaps in surveillance and strike capabilities, Reuters has reported.
New Delhi has started relying on emergency procurement powers and swifter efforts under the Defence Acquisition Procedure, compressing timelines to months instead of years.
At the same time, in its push to boost domestic manufacturing, it is giving priority to systems made at home.
The government has also expanded schemes such as Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to fund prototypes and enable smaller firms to win initial orders and help scale up production quicker.
At the same time, the defence ministry has opened more areas of procurement to startups and private firms, eased testing norms and pushed the armed forces to add systems through repeat and interim orders that let companies refine products rapidly.
The changes are reshaping India's drone industry, long dominated by small players, as better order visibility and policy support unlock funding and partnerships, DFI's Shah said.
Venture investment and tie-ups with larger defence firms have picked up, with companies ramping up manufacturing and research to fill rising military demand, he added.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Palestinian Authority condemns Israeli approval of 2,162 settlement housing units
June 03, 2026
LONDON: The Palestinian Authority condemned on Wednesday an Israeli plan to build 2,162 new settlement housing units in the occupied West Bank.
It called on the US administration to intervene immediately to halt Israeli actions, which risk further escalation in the region, according to the Palestine News Agency.
The Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration, which is part of the Israeli Defense Ministry, has approved the construction of new housing units in several settlements located in both the southern and northern West Bank. This includes 1,006 units designated for the Gvaot settlement, which the Israeli government officially recognized in March of last year.
All settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law. The majority of UN General Assembly members have condemned the policy of settlement expansion as an obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state and wider peace in the region.
Excluding East Jerusalem, about 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, alongside about 3 million Palestinians. Before the Israeli occupation in 1967, the region was under Jordanian control from 1948, and prior to that, the British Mandate governed it.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli strikes kill three people in Gaza, medics say
June 03, 2026
CAIRO: Israeli strikes killed three Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, health officials said, and the Palestinian militant group Hamas said an end to such attacks was crucial to further talks on safeguarding a US-brokered ceasefire.
Medics said one Palestinian was killed in an airstrike near the Mughraqa area in the central Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military said it had struck a person acting suspiciously near forces operating in an Israeli-controlled area to remove the threat.
A separate Israeli airstrike killed two brothers — Saqer and Moamen Khalil Abu Karim — in the courtyard of a house in the nearby Maghazi refugee camp, medics said.
Israel’s military did not immediately comment on the incident.
The ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump has failed to halt Israeli attacks in Gaza, and left Israel in control of over half the enclave following the conflict that began with Hamas attacks on southern Israel in October 2023.
Indirect talks on implementing the second phase of the deal, which includes the group’s disarmament and Israeli army withdrawals, are deadlocked.
Sources close to the talks said further negotiations had been expected this week in Egypt, but Hamas denied it had sent delegates to Cairo.
A Hamas official told Reuters on Wednesday the group has been in daily contact with mediators and underlined the need for Israeli attacks in Gaza to stop.
“Israel has so far rejected ending its attacks, it continues to restrict aid and goods coming into Gaza and expand its occupation, in stark violation of the ceasefire agreement,” the official said.
Israel says its strikes are aimed at thwarting imminent attacks. It also says it allows aid and goods to flow into Gaza.
Some 930 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce began, according to figures from Gaza health officials that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period, Israel’s military has said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli strikes kill at least 8 in Gaza: civil defense
June 04, 2026
GAZA CITY: Israeli attacks on Gaza killed at least eight people on Thursday, a spokesman for the civil defense agency in the Palestinian territory told AFP.
“At least eight martyrs as a result of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City at dawn,” with seven killed in strikes on residential buildings and one in the Al-Shati refugee camp to the west of Gaza City, said spokesman Mahmoud Bassal.
Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City also reported 15 people wounded in the strikes, he added.
Despite a truce technically in effect since October, daily violence has rocked the Gaza Strip, over half of which is under Israeli military control in defiance of the ceasefire’s terms.
Israel has killed at least 936 people since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.
Both Hamas and Israel accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.
The first phase of the truce involved the release of the last Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
A transition to the second phase of the ceasefire, which was supposed to involve Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army, has been stalled for months.
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to take control of 70 percent of the Gaza Strip.
The latest head of Hamas’s armed wing in Gaza, Mohammed Odeh, was killed in an Israeli strike last week, a month after his predecessor was also killed.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordan and Kuwait discuss expansion of security and military cooperation
June 03, 2026
AMMAN: Senior Jordanian and Kuwaiti officials held talks on Wednesday about security and military cooperation between their countries.
Jordan’s interior minister, Mazen Faraya, and his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, met in Amman to discuss the enhancement of security coordination and expansion of joint training programs.
Faraya praised the level of cooperation between Jordan and Kuwait on security matters, and stressed the importance of continuing consultations between the countries’ interior ministries and security agencies on issues of mutual interest, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Describing the nations’ relationship as strong and longstanding, Sheikh Fahad reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to deeper security ties and increasing exchanges of expertise.
In separate talks, the chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Maj. Gen. Yousef Hunaiti, and the visiting chief of the general staff of the Kuwaiti army, Lt. Gen. Khaled Daraj Shuraiaan, discussed ways to enhance military and defense cooperation. The meeting focused in particular on expanded collaborations between their forces, and the strengthening of their strategic partnership.
Hunaiti highlighted the close ties between the two countries and the role they play in supporting regional security and stability, while Shuraiaan confirmed the commitment of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces to broader military cooperation with Jordan, as well as greater exchanges of expertise and experience.
The meetings come amid continuing efforts by Jordan and Kuwait to strengthen bilateral relations across the realms of security, defense and other sectors.
Source: arabnews.com
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A conditional ceasefire and "pilot zones": Lebanon, Israel and the US issue a joint statement
June 03, 2026
BEIRUT: Israel and Lebanon agreed Wednesday to renew their fragile ceasefire and establish a number of pilot security zones in southern Lebanon from which Hezbollah militants would be excluded.
In a joint statement issued after a fourth round of US-mediated talks at the State Department, the two sides said the ceasefire would be contingent on a complete halt to Hezbollah attacks and the withdrawal of the group’s operatives from areas south of the Litani River.
“The two sides agreed, with the guidance of the United States, to swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors,” the statement said.
The agreement is intended to pave the way for a broader peace and security arrangement between the two countries.
“These steps will enable progress toward a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the statement said. “All countries reaffirmed that the future of the relationship between Israel and Lebanon must be decided by the two sovereign governments. They rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage.”
The reference appeared aimed at Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer. Tehran has insisted that any agreement to end its conflict with the United States and Israel must also include a halt to Israeli military operations in Lebanon. Hezbollah is not participating in the Israel-Lebanon talks.
Israel and Lebanon previously agreed to a cessation of hostilities in April, later extended in May, but fighting has continued despite the truce efforts.
A US-mediated arrangement announced Monday prompted Israel to suspend plans for strikes on Beirut’s Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs, while Hezbollah halted cross-border attacks.
Nevertheless, violence persisted on Wednesday. Lebanese security officials said Israeli drone strikes killed at least six people in southern Lebanon and targeted a vehicle in Khaldeh, south of Beirut. Israel said it intercepted a hostile aircraft launched from Lebanon but did not immediately attribute it to Hezbollah.
The two sides also agreed to continue direct political and security negotiations. They are expected to reconvene during the week of June 22 in an effort to build confidence and resolve outstanding disputes.
Lebanon hopes the ceasefire can be expanded into a comprehensive nationwide agreement. Israel, meanwhile, is demanding Hezbollah’s disarmament before ending military operations in Lebanon and withdrawing troops from villages and towns it continues to occupy.
Israeli warning rattles Tyre
Israeli strikes continued across southern Lebanon, particularly around the heavily damaged cities of Tyre and Nabatiyeh.
Two overnight strikes near Tyre killed four Syrians and two Palestinians, according to local officials.
Israel also warned that Hezbollah members were operating within Christian neighborhoods of the coastal city. The warning alarmed residents and displaced families, many of whom had sought refuge there after fleeing bombardment in predominantly Shiite areas along the Mediterranean coast.
In response, the Lebanese army deployed forces to the Christian district of Tyre, seeking to demonstrate that Hezbollah had no armed presence there and to deter potential Israeli attacks.
The latest round of fighting began on March 2, when Hezbollah launched rockets toward northern Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded by invading southern Lebanon and has expanded its operations in recent weeks, while Hezbollah has continued to claim rocket and drone attacks against Israeli targets.
The conflict has killed 3,468 people in Lebanon and displaced an estimated 1.2 million others. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, at least 27 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon. Two civilians have also been killed in northern Israel.
Strike wipes out most of a family
Despite ongoing hostilities, many residents have returned to villages near the front lines after earlier evacuation orders.
Among them was the Al-Abdallah family, who returned to their home in Marwaniyeh believing the area had become safer after previous strikes.
A day later, two rockets hit the house, collapsing the three-story building and killing six family members, according to Eissa Al-Abdallah, whose brother Hassan was among the dead.
The family’s only survivor was 13-year-old Ahmed Al-Abdallah, who was thrown clear by the force of the blasts. He suffered two broken legs and multiple shrapnel wounds.
“What good is talking now? They are gone, and nothing will bring them back,” Eissa Al-Abdallah told The Associated Press by phone. “This land costs blood.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Syria ready to open government records to EU investigators of Assad regime’s war crimes
June 03, 2026
LONDON: The government of the Syrian Arab Republic has offered to cooperate with EU members in investigating individuals from the ousted Bashar Assad regime who are complicit in war crimes during the civil war, which lasted from 2011 to 2024.
The Syrian Interior Ministry announced its readiness to grant access to European investigators to official government records, witnesses, and crime scenes to help achieve justice for victims of the Assad regime’s violent suppression of protests.
The spokesman for the Syrian Interior Ministry, Nour Eddin al-Baba, announced that authorities would soon release a list of approximately 1,000 wanted individuals, which includes former officers and officials, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
He said that many former members of the Assad regime, who were part of the security agencies, are now living in Europe, including Sweden, where authorities have identified 15 of these individuals.
Swedish prosecutor Reena Devgun emphasized that European countries should not become safe havens for Assad-era officials accused of serious violations, according to SANA.
Germany, Sweden, France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands have prosecuted officials from the former Assad regime for state-sponsored torture and crimes against humanity. On Monday, a former Syrian intelligence chief from the city of Raqqa went on trial in Austria, facing charges of torture and sexual abuse against anti-Assad activists.
Source: arabnews.com
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Rubio hopeful for action plan on Israel-Lebanon
June 03, 2026
WASHINGTON: US Secretary Marco Rubio voiced hope Wednesday that the latest round of talks in Washington between Israel and Lebanon will produce a security roadmap, despite Israel and Hezbollah’s continuing hostilities.
Israeli and Lebanese envoys meeting Wednesday for the fourth round of direct talks in the US capital “hopefully today will... produce a joint statement and an action plan on the track for security in that country, independent from Hezbollah,” Rubio told a congressional panel.
The negotiations come days after US President Donald Trump said the two countries had pledged to de-escalate.
But Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire, with Hezbollah claiming missile attacks on northern Israel Wednesday and Lebanon saying Israeli strikes in the south killed at least nine people, including two paramedics.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Saudi ecotourism milestone as Al-Urumah Season draws 800,000 visitors
June 04, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s flagship ecotourism initiative, Al-Urumah Season, has concluded its fifth edition after attracting more than 800,000 visitors over six months, underscoring the Kingdom’s growing appetite for nature-based tourism and conservation-focused travel.
The Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority said the season, held across the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve and the King Khalid Royal Reserve northeast of Riyadh, drew visitors from within the Kingdom and abroad while generating jobs, supporting local communities and strengthening environmental awareness.
According to the authority, 14 tourism service providers participated in this year’s season, offering 14 activities ranging from hiking and cycling to horseback riding, camel trekking, stargazing and guided exploration trips. The season also created around 84 jobs and contributed to the growth of ecotourism-related industries in surrounding communities.
The latest figures mean that nearly two million people have now visited Al-Urumah Season since its launch five years ago, a remarkable rise for an initiative that began as a niche outdoor tourism project and has evolved into one of Saudi Arabia’s leading ecotourism destinations.
Named after the Al-Urumah mountain range, a 700-kilometer natural landmark stretching east of Riyadh, the season is distinct from the Kingdom’s urban entertainment festivals. Instead, it focuses on connecting visitors with Saudi Arabia’s natural landscapes, biodiversity and cultural heritage through sustainable tourism experiences.
The event is staged during the cooler months of autumn, winter and spring, when moderate temperatures make outdoor activities more accessible. Organizers say the timing has helped establish Al-Urumah as a preferred destination for nature enthusiasts, adventure travelers and families seeking alternatives to traditional tourism offerings.
The season is centered on two of Saudi Arabia’s most important protected areas. The 11,300-square-kilometer Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve encompasses parts of the Dahna Desert and renowned green areas such as Rawdat Khuraim, while the neighboring King Khalid Royal Reserve is known for its dramatic desert-and-mountain landscapes, archaeological sites, ancient rock art and wildlife, including Arabian oryx and gazelles.
The authority says the initiative reflects broader efforts under Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the economy, expand tourism offerings and promote environmental sustainability. Over the years, infrastructure improvements, eco-lodging facilities, private-sector participation and community engagement programs have helped fuel steady growth in visitor numbers.
The first Al-Urumah Season welcomed about 52,000 visitors. Attendance rose to roughly 230,000 in the second edition, surpassed 300,000 in the third and exceeded 400,000 in the fourth before reaching the latest milestone.
Officials have already announced plans for a sixth edition next November, with new programs aimed at enhancing sustainability, increasing community participation and showcasing the natural and cultural heritage of the two royal reserves.
As Saudi Arabia expands its tourism sector beyond cities and heritage sites, Al-Urumah Season is emerging as a showcase for a different side of the Kingdom — one defined by open landscapes, wildlife conservation and a growing culture of responsible outdoor recreation.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645942/saudi-arabia
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Saudi FM receives IAEA chief
June 03, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed cooperation between the Kingdom and the IAEA, particularly regarding nuclear non-proliferation and ensuring nuclear safety and security, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Grossi was in the UAE on Wednesday where he visited the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant which came under a drone attack last month.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645916/saudi-arabia
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Saudi center forecasts hotter summer this year
June 03, 2026
JEDDAH: The National Center for Meteorology said that climate forecasts for summer 2026 indicated above-normal temperatures across all regions of Saudi Arabia, while rainfall was expected to range between near-normal and below-normal levels in several areas.
In its seasonal climate report, the center said that rainfall in June was expected to remain near normal across the Kingdom.
Forecasts for July indicated below-average rainfall in Jazan, Baha, parts of Asir, Makkah, Najran and the Eastern regions, while precipitation was expected to remain near normal in the rest of the Kingdom.
The center said that June could see increases of up to 1.5 degrees Celsius above normal in Jazan, Baha, parts of Makkah, Asir, Madinah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail and Tabuk.
During July and August, temperatures are expected to rise by as much as 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal in Jazan, Baha, and parts of Asir and Makkah.
The center stressed the importance of following reports and updates issued through its official channels to support preparedness in operational and service sectors and enhance planning for summer climate conditions.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645919/saudi-arabia
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Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province receives Dutch ambassador to Riyadh
June 03, 2026
Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Kingdom Hans Peter van der Woude in Dammam on Wednesday.
During the meeting, they held cordial talks and discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi recently received Kyrgyzstan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Ulukbek Maripov in Riyadh to discuss topics of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645930/saudi-arabia
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Riyadh deploys flexible hours initiative to ease traffic, boost productivity
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
June 03, 2026
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, began implementing a flexible working hours initiative across six work zones in Riyadh on June 2.
The initiative is part of efforts “to enhance mobility efficiency in the capital, support traffic flow, and improve quality of life,” according to a joint statement from the two bodies.
Two experts who spoke to Arab News agreed that extending the flexible window to four hours enhanced mental efficiency and productivity, stressing that its success required a fundamental shift toward results-based evaluation, along with leadership training and the designation of core working hours to ensure continued collaboration.
The initiative covers more than 50 entities across six work zones (KAFD, Digital City, Diplomatic Quarter, Laysen Valley, Granada Business and ROSHN Front) by extending the flexible hours window to four hours, allowing staggered arrival and departure times, and reducing traffic concentration during peak hours.
According to the statement, the initiative is expected to provide employees with greater flexibility in choosing their arrival times, which will positively reflect on the work experience, enhance mobility efficiency, and support efforts to develop a more efficient and sustainable urban environment.
The initiative applies to administrative positions with fixed schedules, while exempting sectors that require continuous operation and service delivery, such as healthcare, public education, field and operational jobs.
Ali Aljumhour, co-founder of Value Executive Consulting, said that extending the flexible hours window to four hours in Riyadh, the capital, would enhance employees’ mental efficiency compared to the traditional fixed system.
“Increasing the flexible window will shift the employee into a state of deep focus, as it allows them to align with their biological and family rhythms, thereby raising performance quality and peak productivity during working hours,” he told Arab News.
To ensure that this flexibility translates into greater discipline and increased productivity, the HR expert recommended that executive management reshape its institutional culture and evaluation systems.
“The fundamental requirement here is a radical shift from an evaluation culture based on physical presence and hours logged to performance management based on results and smart outputs (OKRs/KPIs).
“Productivity will be enhanced when an employee is measured by their impact and accomplishments, not by the hours they clock in. This also requires high digital transparency and the designation of shared core hours to ensure continued collaboration and communication among work teams,” Aljumhour said.
Dhafer Al-Qarni, a member of The KPI Institute, said that expanding the initiative’s flexibility window to four hours gave entities a practical tool that positively impacted employees’ mental and physical readiness, and transformed flexibility from an individual privilege for some entities into an institutional policy for a larger segment of work environments.
“This time window allows for scheduling workshops and training programs outside peak hours, which may contribute to increasing attendance rates and reducing disruption to task performance,” he said.
Al-Qarni, a former member of the Saudi Management Association, added that “the initiative requires training leaders and developing their skills in managing flexible teams and results-based performance measurement mechanisms, in addition to raising employee awareness and training them to utilize the initiative in ways that positively reflect on productivity, discipline and sustainable professional development.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645894/saudi-arabia
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Cultural seminar highlights role of literary translation in building civilizational bridges
June 03, 2026
Kuala Lumpur: A cultural seminar titled “Literary Translation and the Engineering of an Interconnected Cultural Future” was held, moderated by journalist Ahmed Al-Alkami and featuring Sami Al-Salmi as a speaker.
The seminar was part of the cultural program accompanying Saudi Arabia’s participation as guest of honor at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair and was attended by intellectuals and specialists in translation and literature.
Al-Salmi highlighted the role of literary translation in reshaping the global cultural map, describing it as a tool that goes beyond language barriers to convey human awareness, philosophies, and civilizational perspectives.
He emphasized that translated literature does not merely transfer words but also conveys ways of understanding humanity and the world, along with the values, experiences, and cultural perceptions embedded in texts.
He also noted that literary translation represents a space for civilizational dialogue and openness to others. The seminar discussed ongoing transformations in the translation sector amid the rise of artificial intelligence.
The Kingdom’s broader cultural and intellectual presence at the fair is being led by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission. The book fair is being held at the World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until June 7.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645885/saudi-arabia
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Makkah exhibit displays rare Grand Mosque artifact
June 03, 2026
MAKKAH: The Exhibition of the Two Holy Mosques’ Architecture continues to enrich the visitor experience by showcasing rare historical artifacts that reflect the development of services at the Grand Mosque over recent decades.
Among these is a wooden platform on a marble base, once placed next to the Black Stone, where a soldier stood to organize the movement of pilgrims performing Tawaf around the Kaaba.
The artifact highlights early crowd-management practices at the Grand Mosque before the introduction of modern systems and technologies.
The exhibition explains its historical significance, showing how it helped facilitate the movement of pilgrims and Umrah performers in highly crowded areas.
The display aligns with the exhibition’s mission to document the history of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, highlighting their architectural and service development through artifacts, photographs, and historical records.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645882/saudi-arabia
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Europe
‘Blasphemous’ protest is not a crime, humanists tell human rights committee
3 June, 2026
Humanists UK has warned the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights that accusations of ‘blasphemy’ must not be used to suppress peaceful protest.
In its response to the Committee’s inquiry into the role of human rights in security, safety and protest, Humanists UK called for blasphemy-specific guidance for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in England and Wales to protect subjectively offensive but lawful expression from being criminalised, while threats, harassment, and incitement to violence are properly investigated and sanctioned. Humanists UK said this concern sits within a broader erosion of protest rights in recent years.
Case studies
In its evidence, Humanists UK cited a series of recent blasphemy-related incidents that it said demonstrated how public authorities have too often treated alleged religious offence as a crime, while failing to protect those targeted by intimidation, threats and even violence. Examples included the case of Hamit Coskun, who was prosecuted after burning a Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in protest against the Turkish government, and had his conviction overturned on appeal and upheld by the High Court. Coskun was attacked with a knife during his protest and was taken to hospital before being arrested. Despite pleading guilty to assault, his attacker avoided a prison sentence.
Humanists also UK drew attention to the Batley Grammar School teacher who was suspended and forced into hiding after receiving death threats for using an image of the Prophet Mohammed in a Religious Education lesson on freedom of expression. Other examples cited by Humanists UK included:
Cineworld’s cancellation of screenings of The Lady of Heaven – a film from a Shia Muslim perspective – amid protests that it was ‘blasphemous’ because management was concerned about the safety of their staff and customers.
The suspension of four pupils at Kettlethorpe High School for minor damage to a Quran. This incident was initially recorded as a ‘non-crime hate incident’, while one of their parents made a public apology for blasphemy at a local mosque alongside police, and said they did not wish to press charges for the death threats the child had received.
Humanists UK pointed to these cases as examples of authorities appeasing protesters who use intimidation to censor others rather than defending victims of harassment.
Humanists UK said the law struck the right balance in relation to Safe Access Zones around abortion clinics. It supports the restriction on protests within 150 metres of premises providing abortion services, arguing that this is a lawful, necessary, and proportionate limitation on protest rights because it protects women and staff from harassment, intimidation, and unwanted interference when accessing healthcare. The response stressed that such measures do not ban anti-abortion protests altogether, but make sure that women are not made a captive audience at the point of accessing medical services.
A Humanists UK spokesperson said:
‘Freedom of expression includes the right to criticise, challenge, and even ridicule religion and belief. But too often, public authorities have treated alleged blasphemy as the problem, while failing to protect those facing threats and intimidation for exercising their rights. The police and CPS need clear guidance so that lawful expression is protected, while harassment, incitement and violence are dealt with firmly.’
Source: humanists.uk
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https://humanists.uk/2026/06/03/blasphemous-protest-is-not-a-crime-humanists-tell-human-rights-committee/
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Sandwell Council says mosque expansion should be rejected over lack of parking
Christian Barnett
04 Jun 2026
A plan to triple the size of a mosque without providing enough parking spaces for worshippers should be turned down, a council’s planners have recommended.
The application asks for permission to build a two-storey ‘extension’ to the existing Tividale Mosque in Gate Street which includes a dome and minarets, and would more than triple the amount of floorspace to 1,280 square metres.
The neighbouring former Burnt Tree Methodist Church, which had been converted into offices, would be demolished to make way.
The council said more than 230 parking spaces would be required based on the proposed floor size but only 15 spaces had been included in the plans.
The mosque said the size of its congregation would not increase under the proposals and most worshippers would attend the place of worship on foot.
Sandwell Council’s planning committee meets on June 10 to make a decision.
The planning report published ahead of the meeting said: “The extensions and increase in floorspace of this development raises concerns over a significant increase in worshippers and the additional parking provision cannot be accommodated within the site leading to parking being displaced on surrounding residential streets causing congestion and nuisance to surrounding residential properties.
“Furthermore, the scale of the extension proposed would be out of character with the local area and impact on residential amenity.”
The plans raised eyebrows at Sandwell Council due to its lack of parking spaces when it was first submitted in June last year and highways officers said they would not be supporting the application in its then state due to a lack of information.
A plan to demolish the former church to make way for new homes was approved by Sandwell Council in 2022 but never carried out.
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
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https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/sandwell-council-says-mosque-expansion-34059295
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Sutton ambulance station to mosque plan - community divided
3RD JUNE 2026
By Ezekiel Bertrand
Plans to convert a former ambulance station in Sutton into a mosque have triggered a deeply divided response, with more than 2,700 objections and letters of support submitted.
The vacant building in Dorset Road, Belmont could be transformed under proposals submitted by the Belmont and Sutton Muslim Assembly (BASMA), with the application still awaiting a decision from Sutton Council.
The application was first submitted in December, although the council did not validate it until February.
Since then, public engagement has continued to grow, with residents split over whether the site should be converted into a place of worship and community hub or remain unchanged.
Under the proposals, the single-storey building would be largely retained, with a small extension added to create a women’s prayer and multi-use space, alongside accessible toilets, ablution facilities and a kitchen.
Inside, the former ambulance garage would become a male prayer hall, alongside a multi-purpose hall, an imam’s office and community rooms.
Outside, the forecourt would be resurfaced to provide parking, with boundary treatments and planting also proposed.
If approved, the centre would operate seven days a week, with community activities running from 7am to 10pm and prayers continuing until 11pm.
Supporters say the scheme would meet growing local demand and “provide much-needed space for worship, education and wider community use”.
Mr A Aamir said the area lacks a nearby mosque capable of serving the local Muslim community.
He said: “The proposed conversion of an existing building would provide an accessible facility for prayer and community activities without the need for complete new construction.”
Naushad Mirza said it would benefit the community as there is “not enough capacity in other places of worship which are overflowing in Sutton”.
Fauzia Khan said the centre would provide wider community benefits beyond worship.
Ms Khan said: “The centre will also provide health and wellbeing, youth activities, education and support for elderly residents.”
As of June 1, 1,079 statements of support had been submitted alongside 1,625 objections.
Among the opposition is a detailed submission from a group of residents, which includes traffic and planning assessments and argues the scheme would intensify pressure on local roads and residential amenity.
The letter, sent to Sutton Council’s planning department, raises concerns over traffic, parking capacity, safety and the cumulative impact of nearby developments, and calls for the application to be refused on planning grounds.
James Stevens said congestion in the area is already a major issue, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up times, warning the development would “cause more pollution, reduce road safety and add to noise levels”.
Adam Rogers said the proposal was “not in keeping with the community”, and raised concerns over parking enforcement and existing congestion, adding that a better use of the site would be a youth and sports centre.
Sunpatch Satiarujikanon objected on the grounds of inadequate parking provision, saying up to 240–250 worshippers could attend across two Friday sessions.
He warned parking would likely spill onto nearby residential streets, including Holland Avenue and Avenue Road, particularly during peak periods such as Ramadan and other religious events.
The application remains under consideration by Sutton Council, with a decision expected by July 3.
Source: yourlocalguardian.co.uk
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https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/26156633.sutton-ambulance-station-mosque-plan---community-divided/
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PSNI ask council to remove Mid Ulster ‘Muslims not welcome’ playpark banner
June 03, 2026
The PSNI has asked a council to remove a ‘Muslims not welcome’ display put up at a children’s playpark, it has been claimed.
The offensive display in the loyalist village of Moygashel, in Co Tyrone, has been branded as a “hate incident” by the PSNI.
The signage, which has been fixed to the fence of a play area owned by Mid Ulster District Council, has drawn widespread criticism.
The image includes several bearded men, believed to represent Muslims, wearing headscarves.
In front of them is a barrier and a stop sign, while a small white man can be seen holding up his hand in a ‘halt’ motion.
He is wearing a hi-Vis vest with the words ‘our community, our rules”.
The image also includes the words “not welcome, not wanted, not here”.
Local SDLP representative Malachy Quinn said he has been told that police have contacted the majority nationalist council to remove the banner.
The PSNI has previously removed similar racist displays themselves.
Located near Dungannon, the village of Moygashel has become synonymous with race-hate signs and sectarian intolerance.
Earlier this week it emerged environment officials have launched a criminal investigation after toxic tyres were placed on a loyalist bonfire in the village.
The ‘Eleventh Night’ pyre has been at the centre of controversy in the past.
Last year, a sickening display placed on the bonfire mocked the plight of vulnerable refugees and migrants.
A small boat with a number of dark-skinned mannequins dressed in lifejackets and hi-vis vests was hoisted to the top of the pyre before it was set alight.
A banner stating “Stop the boats” was also hung from the bonfire.
Mr Quinn welcomed “confirmation the PSNI are treating the banner.... as a hate incident and have written to Mid Ulster District Council requesting its removal”.
The councillor said the banner “has caused considerable hurt and concern, not only within our local migrant communities, but among many people who believe that racism, intimidation and division have no place in our society”.
The decision by the PSNI sends an important message that such displays cannot simply be dismissed or ignored,” he said.
“We all have a responsibility to challenge attempts to sow fear and hostility within our communities.
“I now hope the banner is removed as quickly as possible.”
Source: irishnews.com
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https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/psni-ask-council-to-remove-mid-ulster-muslims-not-welcome-playpark-banner-6FQCG6PJJRCBXPHQ5JEEHN72GU/
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Ukrainian drone attacks kill four in Crimea – governor
4 Jun, 2026
At least four people have been killed and ten others wounded in Ukrainian drone attacks on Crimea, local governor Sergey Aksyonov has said.
One person was killed and three others were wounded during a drone attack on a suburban train traveling from Azovskoye to Kerch, Aksyonov wrote in a post on Telegram on Thursday morning.
The strikes damaged several “nonresidential facilities” in the city of Simferopol, killing at least three people and injuring seven others, the governor added.
The Crimean port city of Sevastopol, home to the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was also attacked overnight, according to its governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev.
At least 20 incoming Ukrainian drones were shot down by air defenses, and there were two incidents of drone debris falling in residential areas. No injuries were reported.
The attack on Crimea came less than a day after a Ukrainian strike on a passenger bus en route from Moscow to Simferopol while it was traveling through the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). Eight civilians were killed and 11 others injured in what the Russian authorities are investigating as an act of “terrorism.”
Moscow previously warned that it would carry out “systematic and consistent strikes” on Ukraine’s military infrastructure, such as drone production facilities, command posts, and “decision-making centers,” in response to Kiev’s terrorist attacks, including one in the Lugansk People’s Republic on May 22.
On that occasion, Ukrainian forces struck a college dormitory in the town of Starobelsk in several waves of drone attacks late at night while students were asleep, killing 21 people, mostly teenage girls, and injuring dozens of others.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the Ukrainian leadership had opened “a new chapter in its crime spree” with the attack on Starobelsk, adding that those responsible would face “well-deserved and inevitable punishment.”
On May 24, Moscow launched a large-scale missile and drone attack against military-related targets in Ukraine, among other things deploying intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik systems. Another major Russian raid took place on Tuesday, targeting defense industry facilities in Kiev, parts of Zaporozhye and Kherson regions still under Kiev’s control, as well as Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Khmelnitsky, and Sumy regions.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/640951-crimea-simferopol-drone-ukraine/
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Germany fails to win UN Security Council seat for first time ever
3 Jun, 2026
Germany has failed to win a temporary seat on the UN Security Council for the first time, losing a General Assembly vote to Austria and Portugal. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called the outcome “a real disappointment,” after Berlin had won all six of its previous bids.
Portugal won 134 votes and Austria 131 in the contest for two seats allocated to the Western Europe and Others group, while Germany received only 104 votes in a secret ballot on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago were elected unopposed to seats reserved for Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, respectively.
Kyrgyzstan secured the Asia-Pacific seat after defeating the Philippines. The five incoming elected members will replace Pakistan, Somalia, Greece, Denmark, and Panama for a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2027.
The vote was presided over by former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who is serving as president of the UN General Assembly.
Germany’s failed bid marked a break from its previous Security Council campaigns, which were traditionally preceded by years of coordination within the Western group. In earlier races for the 1977–1978, 1987–1988, 1995–1996, 2003–2004, 2011–2012, and 2019–2020 terms, Berlin either ran unopposed or entered as a clear favorite, and chose to stay on the sidelines when facing serious competitors.
Germany has also long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council, arguing that the body must be expanded to better reflect today’s political and economic realities, while also promoting itself as a major UN donor and supporter of multilateralism.
Wadephul said last year that the council should include additional permanent and non-permanent seats, especially for underrepresented regions in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Germany has framed its push for a permanent seat as part of a wider Global South demand for reform of a body still dominated by Western powers.
African leaders have called for at least two permanent seats for the continent, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership as “indefensible.”
India has also pushed for permanent membership, saying it is “eminently suited” for the role and citing its population, economy, democratic system, and UN peacekeeping record. New Delhi is also using its Voice of Global South initiative to cast itself as a representative of developing nations in debates over global governance.
The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent veto-holders – Russia, China, the US, the UK, and France – and ten elected members, half of which are replaced each year for staggered two-year terms.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640948-germany-loses-un-security-council-seat/
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Has Hungary opened the EU door for Kiev?
3 Jun, 2026
Hungary has lifted its veto on Ukraine beginning formal accession talks with the EU, following days of hints from Prime Minister Peter Magyar and strategic leaks from Brussels, whose reporters announced the news with much fanfare on Wednesday.
Will Magyar compromise on Hungarian rights?
In the hours following the announcement Magyar claimed that a "comprehensive agreement on the linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights of the 100,000-strong Hungarian minority,” has been reached with Kiev, but no confirmation has come from the Ukrainian capital.
Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Tuesday, Magyar said that he was “very optimistic” that a deal could be done to guarantee the rights of Ukraine’s Hungarian minority, in exchange for his government lifting the veto.
“The negotiations are progressing encouragingly,” he said, adding “I am ready to meet with Ukraine’s president at the beginning of next week, if we manage to agree on these fundamental human rights.”
Within an hour of Magyar’s statement, Politico published an article claiming that Budapest had privately “signaled it will drop its long-standing opposition to Ukraine’s bid for EU membership,” citing four unnamed diplomats.
How did Politico try to influence EU members on Ukraine?
Politico, the Axel Springer-owned Brussels insider, reported that Magyar’s government had “privately signaled openness to lifting its veto following a meeting on Monday between Ukrainian and Hungarian experts.” The Ukrainian side, the outlet claimed, provided verbal assurances that they would resolve most of Hungary’s concerns – including the Hungarian minority’s right to use their native language in schools – and formal accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova will be opened at an EU leaders’ summit on June 15.
Why was Politico’s article important?
That this story first appeared on Politico was likely no coincidence. Politico’s neoliberal, Atlantacist worldview is literally written into the constitution of its owner, Axel Springer, and its journalists’ proximity to power in Brussels has made it the outlet of choice for all kinds of strategic communications from within the EU machine – from telegraphed policy moves like Tuesday’s report, to outsourced smear campaigns.
For example, when Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever shot down the European Commission’s plan to use €185 billion ($218 billion) in frozen Russian assets to finance a massive aid package for Ukraine in December 2025, Politico responded with a hit piece portraying his country as “Russia’s most valuable asset” in Europe.
Further hit pieces – all of them citing EU diplomats and officials – followed, claiming that “Europe is failing Ukraine,” de Wever “fears retaliation from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” and “Europe still doesn’t want to pay to save Ukraine.”
Magyar’s predecessor, Viktor Orban, derided Politico as “the Brusselian elite’s official publication” after it named him 2025’s “disruptor of the year.”
How are Hungarians treated in Ukraine?
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, around 156,000 ethnic Hungarians found themselves trapped within Ukraine’s borders, after Kiev refused to recognize a successful self-rule referendum in the region of Transcarpathia. Relations between Budapest and Kiev rapidly declined from 2017 onwards, when Ukraine passed a series of laws mandating the sole use of the Ukrainian language in schools and local government.
Tensions were further inflamed after 2022, when the Ukrainian military targeted Transcarpathians in what the Hungarian Foreign Ministry called a “brutal” military draft.
Ukraine’s language laws have been criticized by the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission for failing to safeguard minorities’ linguistic rights, and condemned by human rights organizations.
Why lift the veto now?
Orban maintained that Ukraine joining the EU would drag the bloc into open war with Russia, undercut Hungary’s agricultural sector, and effectively give a free pass to the corruption and criminality of the Ukrainian government. However, the Transcarpathia issue was the brightest of red lines for Orban, with the then-prime minister declaring in 2023 that Hungary “will not support Ukraine in any issue in international life until the previous laws that guaranteed the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians are returned.”
Anita Orban, Magyar’s foreign minister (and no relation of Viktor), has maintained this policy, telling an interviewer last month that “until the situation of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine is resolved, we cannot make progress in any other area.”
Hungary’s concerns are laid out in an 11-point plan. Anita Orban has refused to say whether her government would compromise on these demands, but Politico noted that Ukraine would address “most” – but not all – of the points, and added that this would be done without “passing new legislation in Ukraine.”
All of this suggests that the Ukraine's language laws have not been repealed or replaced, but that Magyar has been forced to abandon some of the document’s points, which have not been made public.
It is unclear, but likely, that Magyar and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed Ukrainian membership of the EU when they met to discuss frozen funding for Hungary last week.
Although Magyar said afterwards that the funding issue is “not connected in any way with the issue of Ukraine,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said beforehand that she expected Hungary to lift the veto ahead of the June summit. With accession a pet project of von der Leyen, and with Vladimir Zelensky set to attend the summit, it is highly likely that Magyar came under significant pressure to resolve the dispute before next week.
Could anyone else block Ukrainian attempts to join the EU?
With Viktor Orban out of office, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is now considered the EU’s most Ukraine-skeptic head of state. However, while Fico maintains cordial relations with Russia and opposes all military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky claimed that the Slovak prime minister would support Ukraine’s EU membership bid after the two met in Armenia last month.
Has Zelensky’s veneration of Nazi collaborators harmed Ukraine’s EU bid?
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said last week that Ukraine “is not ready to be part of the European family,” after Zelensky granted the title ‘Heroes of the UPA’ to a Ukrainian commando unit. The UPA, or Ukrainian Insurgent Army, was the armed wing of Stepan Bandera’s Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), and collaborated with Nazi forces to murder around 100,000 Polish civilians in what is now western Ukraine between 1943 and 1945.
However, Nawrocki added that supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia remains Poland’s “strategic goal.”
Even if Nawrocki wanted to block Ukrainian accession, the decision would not be his to make. Poland’s government is run by Nawrocki’s pro-Brussels rivals, and Nawrocki would be unable to veto any accession treaty without finding a majority of MPs or senators to support him.
What comes next for Ukraine?
Euronews’ report suggests a win for von der Leyen and her expansionist plans for the EU, and barring the emergence of some last-minute obstacle, formal talks will likely be confirmed on June 15. However, with the accession process in motion, all of the old issues between Kiev and its European counterparts will return to the forefront: corruption, agricultural market disruption, and the prospect of a permanent welfare recipient joining the European bloc.
These long-term issues could be far more challenging for Zelensky and his officials to solve than the Transcarpathia impasse ever was.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640927-hungary-magyar-ukraine-eu/
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North America
CAIR-MI Joins Call for Action After Racist, Neo-Nazi Incident Targets Black-Owned Business in Grand Haven
June 3, 2026
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined community leaders and civil rights advocates in condemning a reported racist, neo-Nazi incident targeting a Black-owned business in Grand Haven, Michigan.
According to media reports, the suspects allegedly harassed and intimidated patrons and staff at the business broadcasting “Heil Hitler” along with “F you n*****” over a hijacked speaker.
“Acts of intimidation targeting Black-owned businesses and minority communities have no place in Michigan or anywhere in our nation,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “The alleged open use of neo-Nazi and racist slurs is not merely offensive; it is a threat to the safety and dignity of all people.”
Walid added: “History has shown the danger of allowing hate-filled ideologies to take root. Community leaders, elected officials, law enforcement agencies, faith institutions, and civil rights organizations must work together to ensure that those who spread hatred and intimidation are confronted through lawful and effective means.”
He said Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-joins-call-for-action-after-racist-neo-nazi-incident-targets-black-owned-business-in-grand-haven/
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CAIR-Florida Condemns Dumping of Pork Outside Middle Eastern Market in Port St. Lucie
June 3, 2026
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, today condemned the reported dumping of pork products outside a Middle Eastern market in Port St. Lucie and called for a thorough investigation into the incident as a possible hate crime.
According to reports, Port St. Lucie police are investigating after pork products were allegedly left outside a Middle Eastern market in what authorities are examining as a potentially bias-motivated act. The incident remains under investigation.
[NOTE: Muslims are prohibited from consuming pork products and bigots often use pigs or pork to deliberately offend Muslim sensibilities.]
“Targeting a business associated with a particular ethnic or religious community by leaving pork products outside its entrance is an act that appears designed to intimidate, harass, and send a message of exclusion,” said CAIR-Florida Communications Director Wilfredo Amr Ruiz. “We welcome the swift response by law enforcement and urge investigators to determine whether anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, or other bias motivations played a role in this disturbing incident. No member of our community should have to fear being targeted because of their faith, ethnicity, or background.”
He noted that noted CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
CAIR-Florida’s mission is to enhance an understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, proteger las libertades civiles, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-florida-condemns-dumping-of-pork-outside-middle-eastern-market-in-port-st-lucie/
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CAIR to Announce Lawsuit Against VA’s Fairfax County Public Schools for Suspending Muslim Students for Participating in Viral Trend
June 3, 2026
On Thursday, June 4, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to hold a press conference to announce the filing of a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology decision to investigate and suspend Muslim and Arab students for participating in a viral video trend while not punishing other students who participated in the same or similar trends.
The lawsuit alleges that the school’s discriminatory actions violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
WHERE: Media outlets interested in attending in-person can contact CAIR Programs Manager David Rodriguez (d-rodriguez@cair.com) for the location of the press conference. Only verified media outlets will be approved for entry.
In October 2025, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology created a video to encourage students to attend their upcoming event. The video followed a viral trend used across the country, including by other student organizations in the Fairfax County Public Schools.
Following backlash and threats made against the students, the school condemned the video as “antisemitic,” opened an investigation against the students involved, and ultimately suspended them.
Fairfax County Public Schools did not punish or even investigate any other student groups who made similar or identical videos. This incident showcases a trend of schools across the nation disproportionately disciplining Muslim students and failing to protect them from Islamophobic threats.
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.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-to-announce-lawsuit-against-vas-fairfax-county-public-schools-for-suspending-muslim-students-for-participating-in-viral-trend/
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Los Gatos mosque appeals restrictive conditions on approved permit
June 3, 2026
The West Valley Muslim Association is challenging multiple conditions of approval of its use permit imposed by the Los Gatos Planning Commission, garnering support from a Muslim civil rights group on Monday.
“Approving a mosque’s permit while attaching uniquely burdensome conditions is not equal treatment,” said Zahra Billoo, San Francisco Bay Area office director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in a statement. “The Town Council should grant the appeal and ensure that any conditions are neutral, evidence-based and consistent with federal religious freedom protections.”
On May 21, the commission approved WVMA’s application to amend its conditional use permit, which included a limit on morning services and extended hours for nighttime services. The association runs the only mosque in Los Gatos. According to the appeal submitted on Monday by WVMA founder Razi Mohiuddin, they are appealing certain conditions on grounds of abuse of discretion and lack of substantial evidence.
WVMA argued that the challenged conditions “substantially burden WVMA’s religious exercise” and are based on subjective complaints, thus violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, a federal law protecting religious organizations from discrimination in land use cases.
Mohiuddin’s appeal challenges 19 of the 33 conditions of approval, including annual compliance reviews, restrictions on the use of the Farley Road facility, attendance caps and capital improvement conditions for parking expansion, landscaping and screening. Mohiuddin is asking the town to preserve the permit approved by the Planning Commission on May 21 and remove or revise the 19 conditions in question.
“No church or synagogue in Los Gatos faces anything close to the burdensome conditions imposed on our community,” said Mohiuddin in a statement. “The disparity is documented, it is stark, and we believe it is a clear federal civil rights violation.”
Local government app
The Town of Los Gatos is putting “the power of local government in the palm of your hand” with a mobile app to help residents conveniently report non-emergency issues.
MyLosGatos311 is a new mobile community engagement app designed to make it easier for residents and community members to connect with town staff on menial issues like potholes and graffiti. The app allows community members to report and track service requests and keeps them informed throughout the resolution process.
Source: eastbaytimes.com
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https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2026/06/03/los-gatos-mosque-appeals-restrictive-conditions-on-approved-permit/
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US House votes to rein in Trump's war powers in rebuke over Iran
Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
June 4, 2026
The US House of Representatives has passed a measure that seeks to halt President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Iran.
The 215-208 vote, which is largely symbolic, was successful after four Republicans joined Democrats in a public show of disapproval of the war, which began in February.
The vote was to adopt the war powers resolution, which requires Trump to withdraw US forces or seek congressional approval for the conflict.
It is unclear how much legal force this House measure would have. The White House has dismissed the merits of the resolution, saying it is an unconstitutional attempt to restrict presidential power.
But its passing is significant because it adds to the pressure on the White House to find an end to the Iran War, as petrol prices have spiked and public opposition to the war has increased.
This was the fourth attempt by the House to rein in Trump's war powers. The Senate advanced a similar resolution in May but has yet to hold a full floor vote.
The measure considered on Wednesday was a concurrent resolution. If it is also passed by the Republican-controlled US Senate, it would not require the president's signature, though it could be subject to a legal challenge.
The vote on Wednesday marked the latest sign of division within Trump's Republican Party, coming just days after a revolt by conservatives in Congress led his administration to pull back plans for a $1.8b "anti-weaponization" fund for political allies.
In the House, Republicans Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson joined a united front from Democrats to pass Wednesday's resolution. Democrat Jared Golden of Maine, who had previously voted against similar measures, gave his support this time.
"Congress alone declares war, that's something certainly we need to be protective of," Barrett, a Republican from Michigan, said. Asked if he was worried about retribution from Trump for his vote, Barrett said: "I vote my conscience for what I think is right and willing to accept that."
Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs committee, described the vote as "a significant bipartisan rebuke of President Trump's illegal and costly war in Iran and the first step toward ending it once and for all".
Meeks said that Trump had failed to achieve the war's stated aims while pushing up fuel prices at home and making a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear programme even more difficult to achieve.
"The passage of this [measure] today signals a significant turning point: more and more Republicans are listening to their constituents who do not want another open-ended war in the Middle East," Meeks, who co-sponsored the resolution, said.
The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on 28 February. Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global shipping.
In April, the US announced it would impose a blockade on ships travelling to or from Iran's coast.
The US and Iran reached an initial ceasefire agreement on 8 April.
Despite that agreement, the US has struck Iran in recent days, with Tehran responding with strikes on Kuwait, a US ally. Ahead of the vote, Trump again asserted that negotiations to end the war are going "very well" and could be finalised as soon as this weekend.
"We hit them pretty hard the night before, and actually last night," Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday, referring to strikes in Iran. "Some people would say they were slightly provoked because we took a strong action for a different reason, so they were reciprocating."
The president added that most of the members of his administration are hoping to end the conflict soon with a deal "without killing everybody".
"In theory they're pretty close to signing a paper, we've actually gotten along with them very well."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6pldg39deo
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Trump confirms calling Netanyahu ‘f***ing crazy’
3 Jun, 2026
US President Donald Trump has confirmed reports that he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” during a heated phone conversation over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.
Axios reported earlier this week that Trump had angrily urged Netanyahu to cancel planned strikes on Beirut, warning that further escalation could jeopardize ongoing US-Iran negotiations and a fragile regional ceasefire.
Speaking on the New York Post’s ‘Pod Force One’ podcast on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged using the language attributed to him.
“I did,” Trump said when asked whether he had called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy.”
“I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon. At some point I said, ‘We gotta stop this. We gotta stop it.’” Trump added that he still had a “very good relationship” with the Israeli leader.
The US president also dismissed claims that Netanyahu had pushed him into the conflict with Iran, saying anyone making such accusations was “the enemy.”
Israel has intensified its campaign in Lebanon in recent days, carrying out strikes it says are aimed at Hezbollah commanders and infrastructure. Israeli troops have also advanced further into southern Lebanon, including the capture of Beaufort Castle, a medieval fortress overlooking the Litani River.
Lebanese health authorities said on Wednesday that more than 3,500 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since early March. The escalation has drawn criticism from Tehran, which insists that the US-Iran ceasefire framework also covers Lebanon.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Tuesday that continued Israeli operations could derail diplomacy.
“If the Israeli aggression against Lebanon continues, we will not only halt the path of negotiations, but we will also be in direct confrontation with the enemy,” he wrote on X.
The tensions come as the eight-week-old ceasefire between Iran and the US faces renewed strain. US Central Command said it carried out “self-defense strikes” on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Wednesday, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted US-linked assets in the Gulf in retaliation for recent American attacks. Kuwait International Airport was reportedly struck during the exchange.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640942-trump-netanyahu-lebanon-iran/
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US mulls placing nukes in more NATO countries – FT
4 Jun, 2026
The US is mulling the deployment of its nuclear weapons to more NATO states in Europe, the Financial Times has reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions. Russia has already said that any NATO nuclear moves toward its borders would not go unanswered.
The potential move comes as Washington seeks to reassure allies unsettled by plans to reduce US troop numbers and critical weapons systems in Europe and redirect some resources to Asia and other regions, the FT said on Tuesday.
The US is broadly scaling back its military presence in Europe, where more than 80,000 US troops were stationed in 2025 under a system of combined territorial defense and deterrence dating back to the end of World War II.
Last month, the Pentagon canceled the planned rotation of 4,000 troops into Poland, shortly after announcing the withdrawal of 5,000 soldiers from Germany.
The FT paper described the talks as “highly confidential” and said they may not lead to any changes in existing nuclear-sharing arrangements. Currently six NATO countries host US nuclear weapons and dual-capable aircraft (DCA) certified to deliver them – Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Türkiye, and the UK.
Several NATO members on the bloc’s eastern flank, including Poland and some Baltic states, have expressed interest in hosting US nuclear weapons and DCA, people familiar with the matter told the FT.
European NATO members remain heavily dependent on the US for key capabilities, though they have drastically increased their military budgets in recent years on the pretext of a supposed Russian threat.
Moscow has repeatedly voiced concern over NATO’s buildup in Europe, condemning the region’s militarization and the bloc’s intensified military activity near its western borders.
Russia argues that Western governments are using “ostentatious Russophobia” to justify turning the EU into a military bloc and to divert attention away from domestic issues.
The Kremlin has stated that it has no intention of attacking any NATO nation, but has warned that it would aim its nuclear arsenal at countries hosting weapons directed at Russia.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640912-us-nukes-europe-nato-expansion/
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Africa
Foreign nationals in South Africa seek community protection after weekend of deadly violence
June 4, 2026
At least two people died after anti-immigrant protests in South Africa's Western Cape this weekend turned violent. Now foreign nationals in the country are seeking shelter in community centres, while others are leaving the country.
Carrying their belongings through the night, foreign nationals along the coast of South Africa’s Western Cape, are fleeing their homes after a weekend of anti-immigrant violence.
On Friday, angry locals in Mossel Bay torched 55 shacks after a small protest against illegal migrants accused of taking jobs from locals, officials said.
South African authorities say two Mozambicans were killed. But Maputo claims five of its nationals died as a result of what it called “xenophobic violence.”
These are the first deaths since a new wave of anti-migrant protests began sweeping the country.
Police only confirmed that two Mozambicans, aged 27 and 43, had died after being assaulted following the march. The circumstances were being investigated, they said, refusing to confirm a link with xenophobic sentiment.
The body of an 18-year-old South African was found with stab wounds in the same area on Sunday, police said, adding he had been involved in an attempted robbery. Five people had been arrested since the violence broke out, three of them on charges related to public violence and the possession of stolen property, they said.
The Mozambique government said 300 Mozambican nationals had returned home on Saturday.
"The remaining just over 500 have since been sheltered in a safe location in the Western Cape Province, and as of... 1 June, the process of their repatriation to Mozambique is already underway," it said.
Mossel Bay mayor, Dirk Kotze, at the weekend voiced "deep concern and dismay at the current xenophobic attacks where people have been murdered, houses burned and families displaced."
'Many of them are afraid'
Now many of the displaced people are seeking shelter in community centres.
”The people, they just chased us away," says Thomas Vincent Baloyoi, a displaced Malawian national who sought shelter at a centre in Kleinmond. "They didn't ask us we have a document or not. Just chased us away like dogs so that thing is unfair because actually I'm a human being.”
"In the community there were Somailians, Malawians, Zimbabweans, Zambians, Congos," says Michael Markson, who was also displaced. "Many of them are afraid, others they are still there living but they are locked inside their houses.”
Grant Cohen is speaker of the Overstrand Municipality:
"We are going to be open until this is resolved. We will not put somebody out. We want this space to be available for anyone who comes in. As I say there are still more people arriving. So we don't know how many we are going to end up here. But we will be open until this is resolved.”
Ghana last week evacuated 300 of its citizens. On Tuesday, Malawi joined Nigeria in announcing repatriations for any nationals requesting assistance.
June 30 'order'
After one citizen-led organisation demanded that undocumented foreign nationals exit South Africa by June 30, there have been reports of vigilante groups checking the documentation of foreign nationals and forcing small businesses run by non-South Africans to close.
The action has no official backing and has been criticised by the authorities.
Last month several hundred foreign nationals from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia sought protection in the eastern port city of Durban, saying locals were going door-to-door to tell them to leave by the end of the month.
Several countries including Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have meanwhile urged their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution.
South Africa has experienced repeated waves of xenophobic violence over the past decades.
The latest spike comes as political parties seek support ahead of local government elections in November.
In 2008, 62 people -- including 21 South Africans -- were killed in anti-immigrant riots that also displaced thousands. Further outbreaks followed in 2015 and 2016.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/06/03/foreign-nationals-in-south-africa-seek-community-protection-after-weekend-of-deadly-violen/
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Atiku backs CAN’s security reform demand, asks Muslim leaders to join campaign
June 3, 2026
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed support for the resolutions of the Christian Association of Nigeria at its 2026 National Church Leaders Summit.
The former Vice President also backed the association’s call for urgent reforms to address the country’s worsening security situation.
In a post on his verified X handle on Wednesday, Atiku said he aligned with the concerns raised by the Christian body and sympathised with Nigerians affected by insecurity across the country.
“I have just read the communique released by the Christian Association of Nigeria under the leadership of His Grace Archbishop Daniel Okoh from the 2026 National Church Leaders Summit, and I align with the concern and sympathies of the Church in Nigeria over the security of the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
The former presidential candidate noted that CAN’s demand for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security framework echoed concerns he had repeatedly raised about the performance of the current administration.
“The demand for a comprehensive review of the nation’s security architecture, enhanced intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency cooperation, improved operational effectiveness and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry and violent crime, are all fully in line with my position on the failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government,” Atiku stated.
He commended Christian leaders across various denominations for speaking with one voice on the security challenges confronting the country, describing the move as a timely intervention.
“It is encouraging for Nigerians to see Christians from various denominations and blocs unite in this spiritual wake-up call upon the political leadership to do better,” he said.
According to Atiku, the decision by Christian leaders to declare three days of national mourning should serve as a moment of reflection for those entrusted with leadership responsibilities.
“From the Catholic Secretariat to the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches to the TEKAN/ECWA and other Christian blocs in Nigeria, the declaration of a three-day period of national mourning should serve as moments of reflection for all political leaders, especially those in power with the responsibility to do better by Nigerians,” he added.
The former vice president argued that insecurity had continued to affect Nigerians regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations and called for broader support for efforts aimed at addressing the crisis.
“As insecurity ravages without concern for religious or ethnic differences which have been made more glaring by the 360 degrees failure of the incumbent government, I commend this noble effort to hold the ruling party accountable and encourage solidarity from all Nigerians in this regard,” he said.
Atiku also urged Islamic organisations and leaders to join the call for urgent action on insecurity.
“I enjoin other faith organisations especially of the Muslim block to lend their voices to this wake-up call,” he stated.
He concluded by calling on President Bola Tinubu to heed the concerns raised by CAN and take concrete steps to address the country’s security challenges.
“On behalf of the political opposition whom Tinubu has ignored as well as the Nigerian people, I urge Tinubu to listen to this urgent call from CAN and diligently ponder his courses of action beyond rhetorics, at least for his remaining months in office,” Atiku said.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/atiku-backs-cans-security-reform-demand-asks-muslim-leaders-to-join-campaign/
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Upgrade Amotekun To State Police – Afenifere Tells FG Amid Rising Insecurity In South-West
June 4, 2026
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has warned that the continued delay in the establishment of state police may force communities to resort to self-help in the face of worsening insecurity across the country.
The group faulted what it described as the Federal Government’s reactive deployment of security forces after terror attacks, saying such an approach had failed to protect citizens, especially farmers and rural dwellers in ungoverned spaces.
Naija News reports that in a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo State capital, Afenifere’s Secretary-General, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said there was now a broad national consensus that Nigeria could no longer delay the creation of state police.
He said, “If there is any issue on which there is consensus currently in Nigeria, it is that the time for State Police is now.”
Ebiseni said the delay in establishing state police was creating a dangerous vacuum that could be filled by ethnic conflicts and self-defence arrangements if urgent steps were not taken.
According to him, citizens naturally want to protect themselves, their families and their communities when the state fails to provide adequate security.
He said, “The unnecessary vacuum being created by the intolerable delay in ensuring State Police may soon be filled by intractable ethnic wars in response to the natural instincts for self and kindred protection if no urgent and immediate action be not taken.”
Afenifere urged political actors not to exploit insecurity for political gain, saying the issue should be treated as a national emergency.
The group said the fight against insecurity should be approached with the same collective spirit with which the country responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ebiseni said Nigeria had become a deliberate target of international terrorism with a territorial agenda.
He noted that terrorists and armed groups do not respect state boundaries or national sovereignty, and that the Federal Government must be willing to seek support beyond Nigeria’s borders where necessary.
He said, “The Federal Government should particularly note that terrorism is such a rapacious international scourge that seeking collaboration beyond borders for its termination is not tantamount to a surrender of national sovereignty.”
The Afenifere secretary-general argued that Nigerians who agreed to be part of the country for better protection should not be permanently subjected to terror by compatriots working with foreign elements.
‘Federal Deployment Ineffective’
Afenifere said the Nigerian Armed Forces, once celebrated for peacekeeping missions across West Africa, had become overstretched by several internal conflicts.
Ebiseni said repeated deployment of federal security forces after attacks had not provided lasting protection for vulnerable communities.
He said, “The fire-brigade deployment of federal security forces after each strike of terror is infeasible, ineffective in the protection of citizens including particularly the farmers scattered in the huge ungoverned spaces all over the country while such permanent engagements strip the military of the awesomeness of its invincibility.”
The group said Nigeria needed a more decentralised security system that would allow states to respond quickly and effectively to threats within their territories.
Afenifere recalled that former Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun had expressed support for state police after his appointment and submitted a memorandum to the National Assembly on constitutional amendment.
The group also cited the recent support for state police by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and ongoing debates in the House of Representatives.
However, Ebiseni rejected parts of the Inspector-General’s proposal, especially the suggestion of a 60-month transition period.
He said, “Contrary to the published content of the IG Memo, the State Police cannot tarry for a 60-month gestation period; its structure and recruitment will not be determined by the Federal Police or constituted by as many as 60% of federal police officers from the State concerned.”
He added that state police must be adequately equipped to confront modern security threats.
“The firepower should be no less than that possessed by the Federal Police or the terrorists they are recruited to tackle,” he said.
‘Amotekun Only Requires Immediate Upgrade’
Speaking on regional security in the South-West, Ebiseni said the Amotekun Regional Security Network should be immediately upgraded to state police.
He said the outfit only required stronger legal backing, better equipment and continuous training to perform more effectively.
He said, “In Yoruba land, the Amotekun Regional Security Network only requires immediate upgrading as State Police with appropriate and commensurate firepower and continuous training. They are prepared physically and mentally for the task ahead.”
Afenifere said Amotekun operatives were already familiar with local terrains, communities and security threats, making them suitable for the kind of grassroots policing Nigeria urgently needs.
The group commended the military for its efforts in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges across the country.
Ebiseni, however, warned security personnel against being drawn into politics or any attempt to interfere in democratic governance.
He urged them to “shun any temptation or ill-advised encouragements and recruitment for intervention in civil and democratic governance.”
Afenifere maintained that the solution to Nigeria’s insecurity lies in urgent reforms, decentralised policing, stronger community intelligence and a security structure that allows states to protect their people effectively.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/04/upgrade-amotekun-to-state-police-afenifere-fg/
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Rubio Confirms US-Nigeria Joint Operations Against ISIS
June 4, 2026
United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said Washington is actively cooperating with the Nigerian government and security forces in counterterrorism operations.
poke on Wednesday in Washington, DC, during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the State Department’s FY27 budget request.
The US official said there was widespread concern in America about violence against Christians in Nigeria.
According to him, the US is now involved in active counterterrorism cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
“We are now actively in counterterrorism cooperation with the Nigerian government and Nigerian security forces, including a joint operation a couple of weeks ago that took out the number two leader of global ISIS operating from inside of the country, and that continues,” Rubio said.
Rubio was referring to the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, described as the second-in-command of ISIS, during a joint US-Nigerian operation on May 15.
The operation targeted his compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, said Al-Minuki was most responsible for attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu had confirmed Al-Minuki’s death, saying several of his lieutenants were also killed during the mission.
Tinubu also said he looked forward to more decisive strikes against terrorist enclaves.
Since Al-Minuki’s death, more joint operations have reportedly targeted terrorist positions in Nigeria.
Days after the operation, the Defence Headquarters said more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters were killed in multiple US-Nigerian airstrikes in Metele, Borno State.
On June 1, the Nigerian military, working with the United States Africa Command, was also reported to have killed 21 ISWAP fighters in an airstrike in Arege, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/04/rubio-confirms-us-nigeria-joint-operations-against-isis/
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‘Please Release These Children’ – Peter Obi ‘Begs’ Terrorists Over School Kidnappings
June 3, 2026
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has appealed to abductors to release kidnapped school children across the country.
Naija News reports that Peter Obi, in a statement via 𝕏 on Wednesday titled ‘Please release these children for the sake of our shared humanity’, said he is shocked and heartbroken over the condition of the abducted school children.
Peter Obi also lamented that insecurity has eaten deep into Nigeria.
The statement read, “I am deeply shocked and heartbroken by the condition in which these abducted school children are, as seen from their flagellated bodies. It is a painful reminder of the depth of insecurity in our land.
“I have always made it clear that the society we abuse today will take its revenge on our children tomorrow. When I first began making that statement, some of these children were not even born. This is a classic example of how the abuse of governance and society today can produce devastating consequences long after the abusers are gone.
“It is on the same line that I argue that the loans our leaders take today will hurt our children in the future, as many of them will mature for repayment and consequences long after we are gone.
“To those holding these children, I make a direct appeal to your conscience. Remember that these are innocent children – sons and daughters of people who have placed their hopes, dreams, and entire future in them. In every one of them, you will find reflections of your own children, your own family, and your own humanity.
“No grievance, no hardship, no justification can ever outweigh the sanctity of a child’s life and innocence. Whatever path has led to this moment, there is still room for remorse, for humanity, and for a change of heart.
“I therefore appeal to your sense of mercy: release these children immediately. Let them go. Return them safely to society to reunite with their families.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/03/please-release-these-children-peter-obi-begs-terrorists-over-school-kidnappings/
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Aiyedatiwa Reacts To Court Judgement On Owo Church Attackers
June 3, 2026
By Oladipo Abiola
The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has welcomed the court judgement on the four individuals found guilty of involvement in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo.
The Governor, in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the judgement is a confirmation that those who take innocent lives will face justice regardless of how long it takes.
Naija News recalls that Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had earlier on Wednesday, sentenced four persons to death by hanging for their roles in the Owo church attack.
The court delivered the judgment after finding the defendants guilty in the terrorism case brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In his reaction, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the verdict as a victory for justice, the rule of law, and the families of victims affected by the deadly attack that claimed dozens of lives and left many worshippers injured.
The governor commended the efforts of investigators, prosecutors, and the judiciary for ensuring that those responsible for the heinous crime were brought to justice.
According to him, the judgment demonstrates the government’s resolve not to tolerate acts of terrorism, violence, or attacks on innocent citizens.
“This judgment sends a strong message that those who take innocent lives will face the full weight of the law, regardless of how long it takes to secure justice,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa also commended the people of Owo and members of the Catholic community, for remaining peaceful despite the trauma and pain caused by the attack.
He assured residents that his administration would continue to collaborate with security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve public safety, and prevent a recurrence of such tragic incidents in the state.
While noting that no judgment can restore the lives lost, the governor said the court’s decision offers a measure of closure to grieving families and reinforces public confidence in the justice system.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died in the attack and asked God to continue to comfort their families and loved ones.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/03/aiyedatiwa-court-owo-church-attackers/
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Five countries elected non-permanent members of UN Security Council
June 4, 2026
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday elected five countries to join the 15-member Security Council as non-permanent members.
Zimbabwe was voted in unopposed for the African Group and will be joined by Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, and Trinidad and Tobago for the two-year term staring on 1 January 2027.
The election marks a historic milestone for Kyrgyzstan, which will serve on the Security Council for the first time since joining the United Nations in 1992.
Germany, which had lobbied hard for a seat, came third for the two places contested by the Western European and Others Group.
Zimbabwe will replace Somalia on the Security Council which is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions or authorising the use of force.
Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, and Panama, will also be leaving when their terms conclude at the end of 2026.
Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia will remain on the UN body until the end of 2027, providing continuity in its work.
The Security Council’s five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - have the power to veto decisions.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/06/04/five-countries-elected-non-permanent-members-of-un-security-council/
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Southeast Asia
Anwar backs TNB to power Malaysia’s energy and AI ambitions
04 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he has full confidence in national power company Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s ability to lead Malaysia's energy transition efforts as well as support the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure investments in the country.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that this coupled with the country’s strategic location and competitive investment environment has enabled Malaysia to emerge as a key destination in the global digital infrastructure race.
“We continue to attract major data centre investments, particularly in Johor and Sarawak.
“This raises the stakes – but in this regard, I have full confidence in TNB’s ability to guide our energy transition and to deliver on the promises of AI and energy,” he said at the launch of the Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26) here today.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad and TNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Razak Abdul Majid.
The prime minister also gave the assurance that energy transition will be just, energy secure and AI-driven in the nation's interest.
“That is, and must continue to be, the measure of this work.”
Anwar also commended TNB for again convening ETCon to foster discussions, deliberations and critical dialogue on the energy transition agenda.
The first ETCon was held in conjunction with the National Energy Transition Roadmap in 2023.
Held from June 3 to 5, 2026, ETCon26 by TNB brings together global stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the national energy transition agenda and serve as a global meeting platform that brings together policymakers, technology experts, investors, academics and industry stakeholders from more than 60 countries, with 4,000 delegates participating throughout the three-day event.
Themed “Energy & AI: The Synergy for Energy Transition”, the conference is anchored on three content pillars, namely Energy for AI, AI for Energy and Energy Transition for People, reflecting the growing interdependence between energy systems and digital technologies. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar: Crisis in Hormuz Strait shows how vulnerable fossil fuel economies are
By Anis Zalani
04 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said growing geopolitical tensions affecting major global energy routes have exposed the vulnerabilities of relying on fossil fuels, warning that countries remain vulnerable to supply disruptions beyond their control.
Speaking at the Energy Transition Conference 2026, Anwar pointed to recent developments around the Strait of Hormuz as an example of how events far from South-east Asia can still have significant repercussions for the region.
“In the Straits of Hormuz, the epicentre lies far from here, yet its tremors are felt across the entire region. They are straining supply lines that power industries and keep homes running, while also triggering energy emergencies across Asean, neighbouring countries, and indeed the world.
“It is a stark reminder that our world is deeply interconnected, and in times of global geopolitical uncertainty, we are all equally exposed to external vulnerabilities,” he said.
He said the situation underscores the need to recognise that fossil fuels, which have powered civilisations since the industrial age, are not only finite but may also be less secure and reliable than previously assumed.
He also said Malaysia’s energy transition agenda is becoming increasingly important as the country seeks to drive economic growth through artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital infrastructure, and other emerging technologies.
Anwar said Malaysia is also playing a leading role in advancing the Asean Power Grid, a regional initiative aimed at improving cross-border electricity connectivity and strengthening energy security across South-east Asia.
Source: malaymail.com
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Melaka GH, Masjid Tanah, Umbai and Merlimau lets patients drive-through to get their meds
04 Jun 2026
MELAKA, June 4 — Melaka has introduced drive-through pharmacy services at four healthcare facilities, enabling patients to collect their medication more conveniently without having to queue at pharmacy counters, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said.
He said the service is available at Melaka Hospital and the Masjid Tanah, Umbai and Merlimau Health Clinics as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare services.
Implemented by the Melaka Health Department under its Value Added Services (VAS) programme, the facility allows patients to obtain their medication without leaving their vehicles.
“The service helps reduce congestion at pharmacy counters while speeding up the medication collection process,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook today.
Ab Rauf said the initiative is in line with the Melaka Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) agenda, which emphasises the state government's commitment to prioritising public well-being through faster, more accessible and effective service delivery.
He added that the state government is confident the drive-through pharmacy service will enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery while contributing to a better quality of life for the people of Melaka. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar: Asean energy demand to surge over 60pc by 2040 as AI, urbanisation drive consumption
By Anis Zalani
04 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said Asean’s energy demand is projected to rise by more than 60 per cent by 2040, driven by rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).
He said the region is entering a period of unprecedented energy demand as governments and businesses invest heavily in digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and AI technologies.
“The swift expansion of AI is set to accelerate this trajectory further, as data centres and advanced computing infrastructure require unprecedented levels of electricity.
“I recall that three years ago, when I first looked at these projections, I told TNB and the ministry to reassess them because the growth of industrial hubs in this region, particularly in Malaysia, alongside rising interest in AI and semiconductors, would inevitably demand more water and more energy,” he said in his speech at the Energy Transition Conference 2026 here today.
Anwar also praised Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for adapting to changing industry demands and responding to growing energy requirements.
He said the challenge facing policymakers is not simply to produce more energy, but to ensure future energy supplies remain secure, affordable and environmentally sustainable.
According to Anwar, AI can improve grid efficiency, optimise industrial energy consumption and enhance forecasting for renewable energy generation.
“As nations compete to build digital economies and harness AI-driven growth, our challenge is not merely to generate more energy, but to ensure it is secure, affordable, and sustainable.
“I stress the word affordable, because regardless of how impressive the results presented to me may be, I will always acknowledge them, but I will also examine the cost borne by consumers,” he said.
Anwar added that researchers, universities, policymakers and industry leaders should pay greater attention to issues such as affordability, connectivity and societal values when developing and deploying AI technologies.
Despite these concerns, he said AI remains a powerful tool that can support the energy transition by improving grid efficiency, forecasting renewable energy generation and optimising industrial energy consumption.
“However, the challenge lies in ensuring that the growth of AI does not exceed the sustainability ambitions it is meant to support,” he said.
Anwar also said Malaysia has emerged as a key destination in the global digital infrastructure race due to its strategic location and competitive investment environment, attracting major data centre investments, particularly in Johor, the Klang Valley and increasingly in Sarawak.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/06/04/anwar-asean-energy-demand-to-surge-over-60pc-by-2040-as-ai-urbanisation-drive-consumption/222473
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Johari: US 10pc tariff on Malaysian exports temporary, to be reviewed after 150 days
04 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The current 10 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on Malaysian exports is only a temporary measure and will expire after 150 days, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said.
According to the New Straits Times (NST), Johari said a new tariff structure would be determined after ongoing discussions between Malaysia and the US are concluded.
He said Malaysia’s exposure in the negotiations centres mainly on market access capacity and forced labour concerns, while environmental and state subsidy issues do not apply to the country.
“Malaysia does not practise forced labour, but the issue arises from goods imported from third countries where we do not have a mechanism to verify whether forced labour is involved,” he was quoted as saying.
According to the report, Johari said the US had proposed a 10 per cent tariff linked to forced labour concerns, while the final tariff level would depend on the outcome of negotiations on market access capacity.
He stressed that the proposed 10 per cent tariff is not an additional levy on top of the temporary tariff currently being imposed.
“Not on top of what we are paying right now, 10 per cent that is under temporary. My take is very simple. All of this is only not preferable to people who export to the US.
“So the outlook for the reduction of 19 per cent to 10 per cent is better than before. When the 10 per cent that we paid in the last 150 days expires, then this 10 per cent will be replaced,” he told NST.
Johari told NST that Malaysia is engaging with US authorities to present its position, although the country currently has no legislation covering forced labour practices in third countries.
He said any impact would be felt primarily by exporters shipping goods to the US, as higher tariffs could increase product prices and potentially reduce demand.
However, he noted that the proposed 10 per cent rate remains more favourable than the previous 19 per cent tariff.
“When we export to the US, the tariff is ultimately paid by consumers there. If products become more expensive, orders may decline. But essential products will continue to be sold,” he reportedly said.
Johari added that the proposed measures remain under discussion and that the final outcome will depend on Malaysia’s negotiations with the US.
Source: malaymail.com
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Penang council cracks down on burger stall over halal stickers that sparked segregation claims
04 Jun 2026
GEORGE TOWN, June 4 — The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has issued a warning to the operator of a burger stall at a food court in Jalan Terengganu here for displaying unapproved halal logo stickers on dining tables, which could spark racial sensitivities.
MBPP, in a statement last night, said the action was taken following an investigation into claims circulating on social media that Muslim and non-Muslim customers were segregated at a food outlet in the area.
“MBPP wishes to stress that no such action or practice should have been in place at any food premises, public market or food complex under its supervision and management.
“Such a practice was not contained in any official MBPP policy,” the statement said.
MBPP said investigations found that a new burger stall operating within a food shop had attached halal logos to three tables to prevent their use by customers consuming non-halal food.
“The owner of the premises has complied with the instructions and immediately removed all the stickers,” according to the statement. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Islamic Emirate Urges Global Partners to Keep Counter-Narcotics Cooperation Free from Politics
June 4, 2026
KABUL: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has called on international partners to ensure that cooperation in the fight against narcotics remains free from political considerations, emphasizing the need for sustained global engagement to address one of the country’s most pressing challenges.
The request was made by Shaikh Abdul Rahman Munir, Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs for Counter-Narcotics, in a meeting with Polik Ouk Srey, Head of the Kabul Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Kabul, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Shaikh Munir stressed that counter-narcotics initiatives should be guided by humanitarian and development priorities rather than political interests.
He noted that continued international cooperation is essential for consolidating gains in the fight against illicit drugs and addressing the broader social and economic consequences of narcotics production and addiction.
The deputy minister also underscored the importance of fulfilling previously pledged commitments to support alternative livelihoods for Afghan farmers.
He said providing sustainable economic opportunities is critical to helping rural communities transition away from dependence on illicit crop cultivation and ensuring lasting success in counter-narcotics efforts.
Meanwhile, the UNODC representative commended the achievements of Afghanistan’s counter-narcotics authorities, particularly in the treatment and rehabilitation of individuals affected by drug addiction.
He also pledged to enhance cooperation and support in relevant sectors, including prevention, rehabilitation, and community-based assistance programs.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Bangladesh Jamaat to protest power tariff hike today
4 JUNE 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami has announced protest programmes in Dhaka and other metropolitan cities today against the recent increase in electricity tariffs.
Meanwhile, Jamaat Ameer and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman has said opposition leaders and activists are ready to take to the streets to resist any attempt to take over or control Islami Bank.
In a statement yesterday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar condemned the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to raise electricity prices by an average of 16.68 percent at the consumer level and 19.85 percent at wholesale level.
He demanded immediate withdrawal of the increased tariffs and measures to curb rising living costs.
According to BERC decision, the average wholesale electricity tariff has been increased from Tk 7 to Tk 8.39 per unit, while the average retail tariff has risen from Tk 9.11 to Tk 10.63 per unit. Transmission charges have also been increased by nearly 24 percent, he said.
The Jamaat leader claimed that higher electricity prices would raise industrial and agricultural production costs, leading to further increases in the prices of essentials.
He urged the authorities to prioritise public interest by stopping corruption and irregularities in the power sector, and called for immediate withdrawal of tariff hike.
According to Jamaat, a protest rally in Dhaka will be held at 5:00pm at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, organised by its Dhaka city unit.
Meanwhile, speaking at an Eid reunion programme in Mirpur last night, Shafiqur alleged that the government was trying to hand over Islami Bank to individuals appointed during the tenure of the previous Awami League government.
“Opposition leaders and activists are ready to take to the streets to ‘liberate Islami Bank’. No one will be allowed to play games with Islami Bank,” he said.
The opposition leader claimed that Tk 34,000 crore was embezzled from Islami Bank during the AL government’s tenure. He warned that there were fears of another attempt to damage the banking sector in a “fascist manner”.
Calling for stability in the banking sector, he also criticised the Bangladesh Bank governor at the time. “The country cannot continue like this,” he said.
Jamaat would act as a strong voice for the people and would never play the role of a “subservient opposition”, he added.
He said extortionists do not belong to any party, describing them as “birds of passage”. He also said extortion could be eliminated if all 300 members of parliament took a unified decision.
Shafiqur said while gas reserves in the country were declining, no effective initiative had been taken to explore and extract new gas fields.
He termed the increase in gas prices by several hundred taka, followed by a reduction of only Tk 50, as “mockery with the nation”.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/jamaat-protest-power-tariff-hike-today-4190126
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Govt to streamline foreign investment
4 JUNE 2026
The government is working to bring services of different agencies under a one-stop system to speed up business approvals and make investment procedures easier for foreign investors.
The matter was discussed when a delegation from Mitsui & Co, one of Japan’s largest trading and investment companies, met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Division office in the Secretariat yesterday.
During the meeting, the Bangladesh government told the delegation that it was pursuing an investment-friendly policy and would extend full cooperation to attract and expand foreign investment.
Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Mostafa Julfikar Hasan said the meeting discussed investment prospects and possible expansion in different sectors, including food, agriculture, energy and ICT.
Mitsui & Co operates globally in several sectors, including logistics, infrastructure, metals, energy and food trade.
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Shakirul Islam Khan, and Finance Secretary Md Khairuzzaman Majumder were present.
The Mitsui delegation included Makoto Sato, director, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Business Unit; Takanobu Murayama, chief strategy officer of the Asia Pacific Business Unit; Kenichiro Kawamoto, country chairperson of Mitsui Bangladesh; and Md Moniruzzaman, deputy general manager of the Dhaka branch.
Source: thedailystar.net
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New force commander of UN peace corps in Cyprus calls on PM
3 JUNE 2026
Newly appointed Force Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Lt Gen Mohammad Asadullah Minhazul Alam, met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today before leaving to assume his new assignment.
The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat in the afternoon, confirmed Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Hasan Shiplu.
He said they discussed Bangladesh's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, the professionalism of the country's armed forces and ways to uphold Bangladesh's reputation and prestige in the international arena.
On April 9, Lt Gen Minhazul Alam was appointed the 23rd Force Commander of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
He is the eighth Bangladeshi army officer to be appointed as a UN force commander.
He is scheduled to leave for the UN HQ in New York on Friday before assuming his new post.
Before his appointment, Minhazul served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Bangladesh Army.
According to the Prime Minister's Press Wing, a total of 10 military officers from different countries, including one Bangladeshi officer, are currently serving as force commanders in 10 UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
Maj Gen Mohammad Fakhrul Ahsan is now serving as Force Commander in Western Sahara.
With Minhazul Alam's joining in Cyprus, the number of Bangladeshi officers serving at the force commander level in UN missions will rise to two.
Bangladesh's first force commander in a UN mission was late Brig Gen Anisur Rahman, who served in Mozambique in 1993.
The following year, Major General Mohammad Abdus Salam took over the same responsibility in that country.
Other Bangladeshi officers who served as force commanders include Maj Gen Fazle Elahi Akbar in Sudan, Lt Gen Abu Tayeb Mohammad Zahirul Alam in Liberia, Maj Gen Abdul Hafiz in Côte d’Ivoire and Western Sahara, and Maj Gen Mohammad Humayun Kabir in Cyprus.
UNFICYP is one of the UNs' longest-running peacekeeping missions. It was established in 1964 to help prevent conflict between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
Its main responsibility is to maintain the UN buffer zone, known as the "Green Line", and supervise the ceasefire lines on the island.
The mission has an authorised strength of 1,090 personnel. As of October 31, 2025, it consisted of 727 military personnel, 60 police officers and 148 civilian staff members.
Military personnel from 18 countries currently contribute to the mission, including Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Ghana, Hungary, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the UK.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/armed-forces/news/new-force-commander-un-peace-corps-cyprus-calls-pm-4189826
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Herat Holds Coordination Meeting with Local Media Outlets
June 4, 2026
KABUL: The Directorate of Information and Culture of Herat Province has held a coordination meeting with managers of local media outlets to discuss challenges facing the media sector and explore ways to improve cooperation.
During the meeting, representatives of local media organizations outlined a range of operational challenges and obstacles affecting their work, emphasizing the role of media as a vital bridge between the public and government institutions, according to a statement from the Ministry of Information and Culture on Wednesday.
Officials from the Directorate of Information and Culture reaffirmed their commitment to supporting journalists and media organizations, stating that relevant information would continue to be provided transparently to facilitate accurate reporting.
They also stressed that there are no restrictions on media access to information and affirmed their readiness to respond to the informational needs of journalists and media outlets.
The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen communication and coordination between government institutions and the media community in Herat.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/herat-holds-coordination-meeting-with-local-media-outlets/
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Kabul Seeks UN Support for Climate, Conservation Initiatives
June 4, 2026
KABUL: Mawlavi Zain-ul-Abidin Abid, Deputy Director for Policy and Professional Affairs of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), met with a delegation from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to discuss environmental cooperation and climate-related challenges.
Mawlavi Abid called for UNDP’s support in resuming suspended projects in Afghanistan, mobilizing assistance from international donors and countries, and securing the financial resources needed for environmental initiatives, according to a statement from the authority on Wednesday.
He also stressed that the international community has a humanitarian and environmental responsibility to help mitigate the effects of climate change in Afghanistan.
The UN delegation assured continued cooperation in areas including sustainable natural resource management, the protection of the Wakhan National Park, and the implementation of climate change programs aimed at strengthening environmental resilience across the country.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/kabul-seeks-un-support-for-climate-conservation-initiatives/
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Nearly 6,000 Foreign Nationals Visited Afghanistan in Past Two Months
June 4, 2026
KABUL: A total of 5,756 foreign nationals entered and exited the country through airports and land border crossings during the first two months of the current solar year, the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
The statement said that 2,995 foreign citizens arrived in Afghanistan, while 2,761 others departed the country during the past two months of the current solar year.
The majority of visitors traveled to Afghanistan for tourism, business activities, and visits to the country’s historical and archaeological sites.
“Afghanistan’s improved security environment has contributed to increased international travel to the country,” the statement said, adding that many foreign visitors have reportedly expressed surprise at the realities they encountered during their stay, saying that the situation on the ground differed significantly from portrayals often presented in international media.
The figures reflect growing interest among foreign travelers in exploring Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and business opportunities as the country seeks to revive its tourism sector and strengthen economic engagement with the outside world.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/nearly-6000-foreign-nationals-visited-afghanistan-in-past-two-months/
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