The Archaeological Survey Of India Permits Daily Worship By Hindus At MP Bhojshala After High Court Ruling
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 May 2026
The Bhojshala Complex was declared as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi by the MP High Court. (PTI Photo)
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· The Archaeological Survey of India permits daily worship by Hindus at MP Bhojshala after High Court ruling
· Lebanon death toll reaches 3,000 in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah
· Foreign Policy magazine hosts Muslim World League’s chief for talks on religion, global issues
· EU nation urges NATO to attack Russian exclave
· CAIR Demands Politicians End ‘Campaign of Hate’ Against American Muslims After Deadly San Diego Mosque Shooting
· Nigeria’s Military Can Defeat Terrorists Without US Help – Gumi Insists
· Anwar demands release of 16 Malaysians detained after Israeli interception of aid flotilla
· Afghanistan: Nearly 29,000 Residential Plots Distributed to Returning Refugees Nationwide
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India
· No monthly aid to imams and priests, lens on OBC tag under new Bengal regime
· Mirzapur gym jihad case: Gangster Act invoked against 10 accused in UP
· Many claims: Editorial on MP high court's Bhojshala verdict and its legal ramifications
· ‘Govt of Bengal, not of a community’: Samik hails ‘religious dole’ scrapping
· Yogi's 'fall in line' diktat warns Muslims against road namaz and rule violations
· HC grants bail to remaining six Muslim men held for allegedly eating chicken biryani on Ganga
· ‘I could not call myself an engineer’: How Maharashtra’s aborted Muslim quota left a Beed man without his degree for nine years
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Mideast
· Hormuz tanker traffic edges higher after wartime low
· Iran’s proposal to US calls for sanctions lifting and funds release, deputy foreign minister says
· 6,600 Palestinian pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals in Makkah
· Syria allocates $15m to health, education and recovery efforts
· Israeli settlers uproot olive trees near Ramallah
· Jordanian, Lithuanian FMs discuss cooperation, Gaza development
· Palestinian president’s son vows to put ‘Gaza first’
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Arab World
· Reuters: Pakistan deploys jets, thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia — but no official confirmation from KSA
· Holy sites see wide-ranging upgrades ahead of Hajj
· Testament to Saudi Arabia’s modern history, Hassan Yassin passes away
· Saudi Arabia celebrates International Museum Day
· Economic expert stresses Gulf unity for maximizing global capital inflows
· World languages heard at Hajj as organizers provide translation services
· Experts in Riyadh discuss migration governance
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Europe
· Iran wants to hand over nuclear stockpile to Russia – media
· London Far-Right Rally Condemned as Anti-Islam Performer Wears Raw Bacon 'to Ward Off' Muslim Counter-Protesters
· New High Street crime unit to target gangs fronting shops after BBC investigation
· Ex-British soldier imprisoned by Russia says he feels abandoned in occupied Ukraine
· Decade of strategic partnership: Key Putin-Xi meetings that shaped Russia-China ties
· Europe’s search for a Putin negotiator deadlocked
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North America
· CAIR Condemns Bill Maher for Downplaying Growing Anti-Muslim Hate, Falsely Claiming Rep. Fine Never Called for Nuking Gazans
· CAIR-TX Joins DFW Muslim Groups in Calling for End to Hateful Fearmongering by Texas Politicians
· CAIR ACTION ALERT: Urge Congress to Support Rep. Tlaib’s Recognizing Nakba Resolution
· CAIR-Ohio’s ‘Team Palestine’ Raises Awareness for Palestinian Orphans at Cleveland Marathon
· CAIR-NJ Calls for Immediate Release of Amrou Ibrahim, New Jersey Global Sumud Flotilla Participant
· Houston man charged after alleged threats at Islamic centre
· Trump delays ‘very major attack’ on Iran
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Africa
· You Will Be Hunted Down, Don’t Test Trump – US Lawmaker Sends Warning to Nigerian Terrorists
· Over 120 deaths in latest DR Congo Ebola crisis: this is what we know
· Kenya transport protests turn deadly as four killed in fuel price unrest
· Nigeria: Joint US strikes hit militants as 46 kidnapped in school raids
· Somaliland marks independence day with renewed push for international recognition
· Uganda enacts new law to protect sovereignty despite opposition
· Libyan ex-prison boss faces ICC war crimes hearing
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Southeast Asia
· Police seize 167 tonnes of frozen food in Kajang for crackdown on smuggling, halal fraud
· Housewife charged again over Facebook comments against King
· ‘Come once a week’: Selangor Sultan asks Ronnie Liu, DAP rep to visit Rukun Negara monument over pig farming controversy
· Malaysia beats growth forecasts despite oil price surge above US$100, says Anwar
· Four Malaysians continue voyage towards Gaza despite flotilla interceptions
· Malaysian Army eases age, height and BMI requirements to boost new recruit numbers
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South Asia
· Dhaka, Washington upbeat over growing Bangladesh-US ties
· Arakan Army’s actions amount to war crimes: HRW
· IAB announces mayor candidates for Dhaka polls
· Denmark Donates Over $5 Million to Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund
· Central Asia’s Security Depends on Stability in Afghanistan, Kyrgyz President Says
· Nationwide United Front Required to Irradiate Polio
· Renovation of Balkh University Teaching Hospital Completed, Ministry
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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The Archaeological Survey of India permits daily worship by Hindus at MP Bhojshala after High Court ruling
May 19, 2026
The Bhojshala Complex was declared as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi by the MP High Court. (PTI Photo)
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The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has allowed Hindu devotees unrestricted daily worshipping rights at the Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, after the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court declared the disputed site a a temple dedicated to goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).
The ASI order, dated May 16 and reviewed by HT, supersedes all previous orders, including the April 7, 2003 directive that divided access between Hindu and Muslim devotees on separate days of the week. The high court order quashed this two-decade-old order.
The May 16 order added that the site will continue to be a protected monument under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, with worship timings to be determined by the superintending archaeologist in consultation with the district administration.
The 11th-century monument has been at the centre of a prolonged dispute, with Hindu groups asserting it is a temple dedicated to goddess Saraswati and the Muslim community maintaining it is a mosque dedicated to a sufi saint.
On Friday, the high court said the site was a temple, relying on a 2024 report of the Archaeological Survey of India that said that the Bhojshala complex-Kamal Maula mosque was constructed using remnants of earlier temples, with the mosque built centuries later.
The court also quashed the 2003 ASI order that restricted Hindu prayers and allowed namaz at the site, and said the Muslim side can approach the state government for land at an alternative site in Dhar district to build a mosque.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented the Hindu petitioners, said, “The ASI order brought the high court’s directions into effect and that Hindus could now visit and worship at the complex without any restriction”.
Dhar city Qazi Waqar Sadiq indicated that the Muslim petitioners will approach the Supreme Court.
“The Muslim community had no intention of accepting any alternative land,” he added.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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Lebanon death toll reaches 3,000 in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah
May 18, 2026
An emergency worker inspects the damage following an Israeli strike on an apartment building in Baalbek on May 18, 2026. (AFP)
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BEIRUT: The death toll in the latest round of fighting between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon surpassed 3,000, Lebanon’s health ministry said Monday.
The ministry said the toll is now 3,020 killed in the Israeli strikes, including 292 women and 211 children. Fighting began on March 2 with the Hezbollah militant group firing at Israel, two days after the US and Israel attacked Iran. Attacks from both sides have not stopped despite a fragile ceasefire.
Israel has since invaded southern Lebanon and bombarded the capital, Beirut, and other areas, saying it is targeting Hezbollah efforts to rearm. Hezbollah, also a powerful political entity in Lebanon, has resisted pressure, including by the Lebanese government, to disarm.
More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon by the fighting, with some sheltering in tents along roads and the sea in Beirut. Israel, meanwhile, has struggled to halt frequent Hezbollah drone attacks targeting both their troops on Lebanese soil and in northern Israeli border towns.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have continued daily, even after groundbreaking ongoing talks between Lebanon and Israel in Washington produced a ceasefire that began on April 17 and has been extended into June. Israeli troops remain in large swaths of southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah, however, is not part of the talks and has opposed them. The group, instead, backs its key ally Iran in its own talks with the United States mediated by Pakistan.
The neighbors have been officially in a state of war since Israel was created in 1948.
Negotiations press on despite fighting
Israeli military Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adaree called on residents in several towns near the southern coastal city of Tyre on Monday to evacuate ahead of airstrikes. Meanwhile, the militant Palestinian Islamic Jihad group said one of its officials was killed in an Israeli strike on his house at midnight alongside his daughter in the city of Baalbek near the Syrian border.
Israeli officials have focused on disarming Hezbollah and described the negotiations as a precursor to a potential normalization of diplomatic relations.
Lebanese officials have said they seek a security agreement or armistice that would stop short of normalization, focusing on Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon, while maintaining their commitment to disarming the Iran-backed group.
Despite the ongoing attacks, the two sides agreed Friday to extend the ceasefire by 45 days and announced that military delegations will take part in direct talks of their own on May 29.
US President Donald Trump has publicly called for a meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Aoun has declined to go to Washington to meet or speak directly with Netanyahu at this stage — a move that would likely generate blowback in Lebanon, where talks with Israel were met with protests.
Twenty Israeli soldiers, two Israeli civilians inside Israel and a defense contractor working in southern Lebanon have been killed on the Israeli side since the latest fighting started.
UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon have also been caught in the crossfire and six have been killed.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644087/middle-east
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Foreign Policy magazine hosts Muslim World League’s chief for talks on religion, global issues
May 18, 2026
The American global affairs magazine Foreign Policy hosted on Monday Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League, for a discussion session focused on religious, intellectual and international issues. (Supplied)
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WASHINGTON: The American global affairs magazine Foreign Policy hosted on Monday Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League, for a discussion session focused on religious, intellectual and international issues.
The event, which took place in Washington, was attended by the magazine’s editorial leadership, chief executive and publisher, alongside a group of religious, media, political and intellectual figures.
Al-Issa addressed questions about the Makkah Document, a declaration promoting coexistence, moderation and dialogue within the Islamic world and beyond.
Participants praised the document’s themes and its emphasis on tolerance and engagement with others, while also addressing a range of contemporary global issues.
The Makkah Document was endorsed in 2019 by more than 1,200 Islamic scholars and muftis and launched during a conference attended by more than 4,500 Muslim intellectuals and religious leaders.
It has since been supported by member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. They have recommended that its principles be incorporated into religious, educational and cultural institutions across the Islamic world.
According to the Muslim World League, imams in several countries are currently receiving training on the document’s principles as part of efforts to promote moderation and to counter extremism.
The session also touched on broader international developments in light of the Muslim World League’s global outreach and interfaith initiatives.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644054/saudi-arabia
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EU nation urges NATO to attack Russian exclave
19 May, 2026
FILE PHOTO: The Fishing Village district in the Russian city of Kaliningrad. © Getty Images / Michal Fludra
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NATO should strike Russia’s Kaliningrad to make a point to Moscow, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys has said.
Kaliningrad Region is a Russian exclave of over a million people, which sits on the Baltic Sea coast and borders NATO member-states Lithuania to the north and Poland to the south.
In his interview with Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung on Monday, Budrys insisted that the Europeans “need to turn our fear of the [Russian] threat into a sense of self-empowerment.”
“We must show the Russians that we can penetrate their small fortress that they have built in Kaliningrad,” he said.
The minister claimed that “NATO has the means to raze the Russian air defense and missile bases there to the ground in an emergency.”
The Kremlin has repeatedly reject claims of them harboring aggressive plans against Europe as “nonsense,” saying that they are only being made by Western politicians to distract the public from domestic problems and justify increased military spending. A clash with NATO is only possible if Russia is attacked first, they said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned in late 2025 that any action by the West against Kaliningrad, including a possible blockade of the exclave, “will simply lead to an escalation unprecedented to date… taking it to a completely different level… up to a large-scale armed conflict.”
Speaking about incursions into Lithuanian airspace by Ukrainian drones targeting northwestern Russia, Budrys complained that “we obviously lack air defense” and called upon NATO to fix that.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu said last month that either Western air defenses are proving ineffective against Ukrainian UAVs or the Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – and Finland “deliberately provide their airspace, thereby becoming open accomplices in aggression against Russia.”
In the latter case, Moscow has the right to self-defense in response to an “armed attack” under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Shoigu stressed.
Lithuania is a former Soviet republic which has seen its population fall from a peak of approximately 3.7 million when it gained independence in 1991 to approximately 2.8 million today. It shares a 250 km border with the Russian exclave, which it is seeding with landmines as part of a massive €1 billion ($1.2 billion) defense initiative, according to Defense News.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640155-nato-kaliningrad-lithuania-budrys/
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CAIR Demands Politicians End ‘Campaign of Hate’ Against American Muslims After Deadly San Diego Mosque Shooting
May 18, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, tonight demanded that politicians end their “campaign of hate” targeting American Muslims after today’s deadly shooting attack targeting a San Diego mosque.
Law enforcement authorities reportedly identified Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, as the suspects in the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego and “are examining possible anti-Islamic writings found in the car where police found the dead suspects.”
According to the New York Times: “Investigators recovered anti-Islamic writing in the car, according to two law enforcement officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to share details publicly. Before the shooting, one of the two suspects took a firearm from his parents’ house and left a suicide note, the officials said. The words ‘hate speech’ were written on one of the firearms used in the attack.”
Earlier today, CAIR and its San Diego office (CAIR-San Diego) condemned the attack and said CAIR-San Diego representatives are on the scene monitoring developments.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We are deeply disturbed, but not at all surprised, to learn that those who attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego were reportedly motivated by anti-Muslim hate.
“Hate against American Muslims is completely out of control. Numerous politicians have spent the past year claiming that all ‘mainstream Muslims’ should be destroyed, that American mosques and elementary schools should be shut down, and that American Muslims should be expelled from our nation. Just last week, House Republicans held a congressional hearing to fan the flames of hate against American Muslims, their houses of worship and even Muslim school children.
“Time and time again, we have seen that hate speech like this can lead to hate crimes. The mass shooters who massacred families at the Christchurch mosques in New Zealand and worshipers at a mosque in Quebec all embraced the rhetoric of prominent anti-Muslim extremists.
“A deadly attack on an American mosque was as predictable as it is unacceptable. Anti-Muslim hatred is one of the last acceptable forms of bigotry in American society, and it is long past time for the tolerance of this hate to end.”
Also today, CAIR’s Texas chapter (CAIR-TX) joined with a number of Dallas–Fort Worth Muslim organizations in calling for an end to the hateful rhetoric and fear-mongering by some Texas politicians.
Last week, CAIR commended Democratic members of Congress who defended American Muslims and constitutional religious freedom during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on “Sharia law.” CAIR also condemned Republican members and witnesses for promoting anti-Muslim fearmongering and dangerous smear tactics amid rising anti-Muslim hate incidents nationwide.
CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR encourages community members facing bias or hate incidents to report them to law enforcement and to CAIR.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-demands-politicians-end-campaign-of-hate-against-american-muslims-after-deadly-san-diego-mosque-shooting/
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Nigeria’s Military Can Defeat Terrorists Without US Help – Gumi Insists
May 18, 2026
Controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned against the involvement of the United States (US) in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, saying such a move could worsen the country’s security crisis rather than solve it.
Naija News reports that Gumi, in a Facebook post on Monday, said Nigeria must be careful not to compromise its sovereignty in the name of seeking foreign assistance to tackle banditry, Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of insecurity.
According to him, Nigeria’s sovereignty remains “a red line,” adding that the country’s military has the capacity to deal with the security challenges if its operations are guided by fairness, transparency and proper rules of engagement.
The cleric argued that foreign military involvement, especially from the United States, could turn Nigeria into a fresh battleground for international terror networks.
He warned that such intervention could attract foreign extremist groups into the country and expose Nigerians to a wider scale of violence.
Gumi wrote, “The military can handle the situation if the rules of engagement are free from prejudices and deception, both in the application of force and finances.
“The involvement of the USA will only attract international terror groups to the ‘new arena,’ exposing Nigeria to an unnecessary increase in violence.”
The cleric also dismissed claims that the Nigerian military had been stopped from confronting bandits and Boko Haram insurgents because of amnesty initiatives.
He described the allegation as false and malicious, insisting that such claims were being used to mislead the public on the nature of the country’s security problems.
Gumi has, over the years, advocated dialogue and non-kinetic approaches in dealing with armed groups, a position that has repeatedly drawn criticism from Nigerians who believe the government should adopt a tougher military response.
He further argued that the heavy reliance on military force had failed to end terrorism and banditry in the country.
According to him, Boko Haram has remained active nearly 17 years after the extra-judicial killing of its founder, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009.
Gumi linked the continued violence to what he described as excesses by security forces, including alleged attacks on innocent civilians during military operations.
He maintained that the fight against terrorism should be handled in a way that avoids injustice, prejudice and financial deception, warning that military action alone would not bring lasting peace if the root causes of insecurity were ignored.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/18/nigeria-military-defeat-terrorists-us-gumi/
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Anwar demands release of 16 Malaysians detained after Israeli interception of aid flotilla
19 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Malaysia strongly condemns the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 (GSF2.0) bound for Gaza by the Israeli Zionist regime, as well as the detention of more than 100 activists, including 16 Malaysians, involved in the peaceful humanitarian mission.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a Facebook post yesterday, said Malaysia demands guarantees for the safety of all activists involved and their immediate release.
“This outrageous act by the evil regime against a humanitarian aid mission not only violates human rights and international law, but also reflects the Zionist regime’s ruthlessness in blocking humanitarian assistance, silencing humanitarian voices and oppressing anyone who rises to defend and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” he said.
Anwar stressed that the world could not continue to bow to the cruelty and atrocities committed by the Zionist regime.
“The oppression against the Palestinian people and those delivering humanitarian aid must stop immediately, and Israel must face justice and accountability,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/05/19/anwar-demands-release-of-16-malaysians-detained-after-israeli-interception-of-aid-flotilla/220489
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Afghanistan: Nearly 29,000 Residential Plots Distributed to Returning Refugees Nationwide
May 19, 2026
KABUL: Hamdullah Fitrat, the Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said on Monday that nearly 29,000 residential plots have so far been distributed to returning refugees across the country.
According to him, 1,491 plots were distributed on Sunday alone in Nangarhar, Samangan, Zabul, Farah, Kunduz, Helmand, and Ghazni provinces.
Recently returned Afghan refugees have welcomed the initiative, saying that the lack of shelter had been one of their biggest challenges upon returning home and that the allocated land now enables them to build permanent housing.
The Islamic Emirate have repeatedly pledged support for returnees, stating that the process of distributing residential plots has been accelerated and that land will be provided to all families lacking property for housing construction.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/nearly-29000-residential-plots-distributed-to-returning-refugees-nationwide/
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India
No monthly aid to imams and priests, lens on OBC tag under new Bengal regime
Pranesh Sarkar
19.05.26
The new Bengal government on Monday announced it would from next month discontinue financial aid schemes based on religion, with officials clarifying this referred to the monthly assistance to imams, muezzins and Hindu priests.
The BJP government will also re-examine all the OBC certificates issued in the state after 2011 — a sizeable proportion of them to Muslims — as directed by Calcutta High Court in May 2024.
“Our government’s second cabinet meeting approved a proposal to discontinue assistance schemes based on religion, (and) run by the information & cultural affairs and the minority affairs & madrasah education departments, from next month,” social welfare minister Agnimitra Paul said.
“The beneficiaries of the schemes will get the benefits this month. A detailed notification will be issued soon,” she added, without identifying the schemes to
be discontinued.
“The minority affairs & madrasah education department provides financial assistance to 41,205 imams and 39,028 muezzins, while the information & cultural affairs department gives funds to nearly 5,000 (Hindu) priests,” a bureaucrat explained.
“The minister perhaps alluded to these two schemes as they are based entirely on
the beneficiaries’ religious identity.”
The previous Mamata Banerjee government had introduced the financial assistance to imams and muezzins soon after coming to power in 2011. But Calcutta High Court struck the scheme down as unconstitutional in September 2013, ruling it was discriminatory on the grounds of religion.
But the then state government continued the scheme through the backdoor, transferring the funds to the waqf board as a monthly donation, to be disbursed among imams and muezzins.
The assistance to Hindu priests started just before the 2021 Assembly polls. It was never challenged in court.
Sources in the administration said the financial assistance given to clubs for Durga Puja could also be seen as based on religious lines. “The government will later take a call on this scheme,” an official said.
“The cabinet approved a proposal to work on the list of OBC sub-castes as directed by Calcutta High Court in May 2024,” Paul said.
On May 22 that year, the high court had scrapped all the OBC certificates issued in Bengal after 2010 and asked the state government to frame fresh rules in keeping with national norms before issuing new certificates.
“The erstwhile Left Front government had in 2010 included 53 Muslim sub-castes, accounting for 87.1 per cent of the state’s more than 2 crore Muslim population, in the OBC category ahead of the 2011 Assembly polls,” an official said.
“At the time, OBC reservation in government jobs was increased from 7 per cent to 17 per cent.”
The Trinamool government subsequently included a few more Muslim sub-castes in the OBC category and began issuing certificates. It later appealed against the May 2024 high court order before the apex court.
The Suvendu Adhikari government is likely to seek the Supreme Court’s permission to withdraw the appeal, a senior official said.
Recently, the new government’s backward classes welfare department issued an order asking district magistrates to re-verify all caste certificates issued after 2011.
It said nearly 48 lakh OBC certificates were issued after 2011, of which 8.64 lakh were based on applications received via Duare Sarkarcamps.
“All these OBC certificates will now be considered invalid. The new government will verify all the documents submitted by people from the sub-castes since 2010 and take a fresh call on their inclusion in the OBC category,” a source said.
Paul on Monday clarified that the benefits of the Annapurna Bhandar would be available to those excluded from the voter list, too, if they have applied for citizenship under the CAA or challenged their deletion from the rolls before the tribunals.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/no-monthly-financial-aid-to-imams-and-priests-scanner-on-obc-tag-under-new-bengal-regime-prnt/cid/2161240
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Mirzapur gym jihad case: Gangster Act invoked against 10 accused in UP
May 19, 2026
Gangster Act has been invoked against 10 accused in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur after police uncovered an alleged organised religious conversion network that investigators claim operated through gyms and social media platforms to target young Hindu women.
According to Uttar Pradesh Police, the accused allegedly used multiple gyms as recruitment centres while relying heavily on Instagram and other social media platforms to identify, approach and monitor potential victims. Investigators suspect that more than 50 women may have been targeted as part of the operation.
Police said the case initially emerged from a complaint against a gym owner but later expanded into what authorities now describe as a systematic and coordinated network involving several accused with defined roles.
Police said the case initially emerged from a complaint against a gym owner but later expanded into what authorities now describe as a systematic and coordinated network involving several accused with defined roles.
At the centre of the investigation is a woman identified as Sanno, whom police describe as a key operative responsible for befriending women, gaining their confidence and gradually introducing them to men linked to the alleged network.
“Her role was crucial in building confidence and lowering suspicion before the girls were led further into the trap,” a senior police officer said.
Investigators alleged that the accused divided potential targets among themselves. If attempts to lure a woman failed at one gym, the target was allegedly shifted to another gym linked to the network.
Police claimed the accused initiated contact through Instagram friend requests and slowly intensified conversations under the guise of casual interaction. Officials said social media was also used to monitor the activities, interests and personal profiles of potential victims.
During the probe, police recovered a specially maintained digital folder from the mobile phone of one of the arrested accused. The folder allegedly contains hundreds of photographs, videos and chat records, which investigators are currently analysing for evidence related to the case.
Police believe several women may have been manipulated or pressured into religious conversion after being drawn into the network.
Following directions from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, authorities booked 10 accused under the Gangster Act, including Maulvi Khalilu Rahman and gym trainer Imran Khan.
Officials said the stringent law was invoked based on previously registered cases, digital evidence and the alleged organised nature of the operation. Authorities are also examining the financial records and properties linked to the accused as part of the ongoing investigation.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/mirzapur-conversion-case-gangster-act-against-10-accused-2913709-2026-05-19
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Many claims: Editorial on MP high court's Bhojshala verdict and its legal ramifications
19.05.26
Last week, the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court stated, on the basis of the findings of a ‘scientific’ survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India among other documents, that the Bhojshala complex, an 11th century structure, is not a mosque but a temple dedicated to Saraswati. The verdict has nullified, in effect, an erstwhile directive by the ASI that permitted Hindus and Muslims to offer prayers inside the contested site on different dates. The Hindu petitioners pointed to such artefacts as coins and sculptures to claim the complex was of Hindu lineage. The Muslim contestants have dismissed the ASI report, alleging that it was skewed in favour of the arguments of their rivals. What is interesting — disturbing? — to note is that reports suggest that the ASI, despite the court’s express order, had refused to conduct carbon dating to assess the nature of the artefacts. Moreover, there are allegations of the ASI not mentioning the retrieval of a figurine of the Buddha from the precincts in its report: would such a recovery have weakened the argument of the Hindu side? These, among other creases, would perhaps attract the attention of the highest court where, a Muslim cleric has said, there would be an appeal.
The legal ramifications of the verdict are of considerable import. This is because a legal precedent is now on record that bypasses the wisdom of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The latter freezes the religious character of any place of worship — the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site being the only exception — as it existed at the time of Independence. In the Bhojshala case, the high court agreed that the strictures of the Places of Worship Act were not applicable because, among other things, the Hindu side was not demanding the alteration of the religious character of the contested structure. Is such reasoning fool-proof? More pressure is likely to come the way of the Places of Worship Act that is already being challenged in the Supreme Court. Yet, this cannot undermine the legislation’s soundness. In a society marked by religious pluralism — the Bhojshala site was being claimed by a Jain petitioner too — attempts to unearth the historical veracity of religious structures are more than likely to reveal their layered histories. Can it be said with certainty that Hindu shrines do not have Buddhist or Jain antecedents?
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/many-claims-editorial-on-mp-high-courts-bhojshala-verdict-and-its-legal-ramifications-prnt/cid/2161247
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‘Govt of Bengal, not of a community’: Samik hails ‘religious dole’ scrapping
May 19, 2026
Kolkata: Lauding state govt's move to end stipends paid to imams, muezzins and purohits, Bengal BJP on Monday said it supported all welfare schemes, but they should not be based on religious basis.
Speaking on this, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said, "The Constitution does not allow discrimination among communities based on religion. Govt will work for the people of Bengal and not any specific community. It will neither favour a Hindu or a Muslim."
State govt on Monday decided to discontinue all assistance on the basis of religious classification starting June 1, cancelling such stipends introduced under the previous govt. "Priests and imams are part of the society and govt will not have any specific policy for their welfare. There are general social welfare schemes and a welfare state should be equally responsible to a priest or a farmer," Bhattacharya said. On the OBC issue, BJP said state govt's decision towards a complete overhaul of the reservation framework aligned with the party's stand against the inclusion of 75 Muslim communities in the state's OBC list.
Clarifying the party and state govt's stance on issues related to religion, Bhattacharya said, "a religious practice or process of worship does not define dharma. We will continue to oppose divisive policies based on religious practices or methods of worship," he said.
BJP, during the election campaign, had stressed on "equal respect to all faiths" and opposed "appeasement". Reiterating the party's stance, Bhattacharya said, "Nobody can occupy a govt land and construct a mazar or mosque there. Similarly, nobody will be allowed to construct a Hanuman temple on land that belongs to the state. This practice needs to be stopped and the govt will ensure that." Bhattacharya went on to say, "Cow slaughter in public will not be tolerated any more. We have specifically said that nothing can be done which can hurt the religious sentiments of another community."
Speaking on cattle slaughter nroms, state BJP spokesperson and lawyer Debjit Sarkar said Bengal govt was merely following the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950. "The law was made almost three decades before BJP was formed. Govt is implementing this and establishing rule of law in the state," he said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Yogi's 'fall in line' diktat warns Muslims against road namaz and rule violations
19.05.26
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday warned Muslims to follow government orders or get ready to face the consequences.
Referring to a long-pending demand of some Muslim organisations to let them offer namaz outside mosques, Adityanath said at an event here: “Learn to follow the rules if you want to live within the system. The rule of law is the same for all. You can offer namaz in shifts if it is necessary. We’ll not stop you, but don’t do it on the roads. The road is for a common man, someone who is unwell, an employee, a businessman… we will not let you block roads.”
Adityanath said he had made it clear that he would not let anarchy prevail on the roads.
“It is fine if they accept it with love, but we will adopt another method if they don’t follow the rules. It is my job to initiate dialogues. It is good if you are ready for a dialogue. But if you are not ready, then you can take the path of strife and see (the results). People tried to challenge (the government) in Bareilly, and saw the power (of the government),” he said.
Bareilly is an important centre of learning for the Barelvi sect of the Sunni community, which dominates the Muslim population in India and many other Islamic countries.
Adityanath had banned Friday prayers on roads after taking over as chief minister in 2017. The district magistrates were directed to enforce the administrative order. Although the community had accepted the diktat, the state has witnessed isolated cases of its violation in Bareilly, Sambhal and Moradabad.
Maulana Tauqeer Raza, founder of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council and an important cleric from the Barelvi sect, was arrested on September 26 last year for taking out a procession after offering Friday prayers to support the “I Love Mohammed” campaign launched by some Muslims across the state.
He is currently out on bail.
“People (in other states) ask me whether it is true that namaz is not offered on the roads in Uttar Pradesh and I say: ‘You go and see for yourself. Roads are for the movement of the people and not for any tamasha (spectacle)’,” Adityanath said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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HC grants bail to remaining six Muslim men held for allegedly eating chicken biryani on Ganga
May 19, 2026
The Allahabad High Court on Monday granted bail to the remaining six of the 14 Muslim men who were arrested after they organised an iftar party on a boat in the river Ganga and allegedly ate chicken biryani, PTI reported.
The 14 men had been arrested after a video of the iftar party was widely shared on social media on March 16.
Justice Rajiv Lochan Shukla on Monday said that eight of the 14 men had already been granted bail for the same offence. The judge added that the present six applicants are also entitled to bail on the same terms.
Shukla on May 15 had granted bail to five of the men after observing that they were apologetic for their actions and that their families also regret the pain that had been caused to the society at large, the news agency reported.
On the same day, Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha granted bail to three other accused in the case.
The men had moved the High Court after a session court in Varanasi denied bail to them on April 1.
They had also been denied relief on March 23 by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Amit Kumar Yadav, who said that the offences allegedly committed by the men were of “a serious nature and non-bailable”.
On Monday, Shukla said that the investigation would not be “thwarted” if the six remaining men were granted bail, PTI reported.
All men accused in the matter face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections pertaining to defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of a class, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of a class by insulting its religious beliefs and promoting enmity between groups.
They were also booked under sections pertaining to public nuisance, fouling water of a public spring or water reservoir, disobeying a public servant’s order and sections of the Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act.
The police later added charges of extortion under threat of death or grievous hurt to the case. This came after the owners of the boat alleged that the men forcibly took the boat.
Charges under the Information Technology Act section 67, which punishes publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form, have also been invoked.
Source: scroll.in
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‘I could not call myself an engineer’: How Maharashtra’s aborted Muslim quota left a Beed man without his degree for nine years
Zeeshan Shaikh
May 19, 2026
For nine years, Farukh Ilahi Sayyad carried the qualifications of an engineer without the degree certificate to prove it.
A beneficiary and later a casualty of Maharashtra’s brief and controversial 5 per cent Muslim reservation policy, the 33-year-old from Beed spent nearly a decade caught between changing governments, a lapsed ordinance and bureaucratic deadlock before the Bombay High Court finally directed the University of Mumbai to release his engineering degree earlier this month.
Sayyad’s ordeal traces back to 2014, when the then Congress-NCP government announced 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions ahead of the Assembly elections. To navigate constitutional restrictions against religion-based reservation, the quota was structured under a Special Backward Category-A (SBC-A), covering around 50 socially and educationally backward Muslim communities.
It was under this category that Sayyad, then 21 years old and a resident of Jawalben village in Beed district, secured admission to Finolex Academy of Management and Technology in Ratnagiri for a degree course in electrical engineering.
The youngest son of a daily wage worker in a family with little formal education, Sayyad completed Diploma in Electrical Engineering with 72.71 per cent marks, making him eligible for direct second-year admission to an engineering course.
“With the reservations announced, I was initially allotted a Pune-based college based on the marks. However, I opted out as the fees of Rs 1.13 lakh was too high. In the second round of selection, I was allotted a seat in the Finolex Academy of Management and Technology in Ratnagiri under the SBCA category and I accepted as the fee was Rs 63,000 per year and affordable,” Farukh Ilahi Sayyad told The Indian Express from Dubai.
"I could not call myself an engineer": How Maharashtra's aborted Muslim quota left a Beed man without his degree for nine years Farukh Ilahi Sayyad
In July 2014, he obtained a caste certificate confirming his SBC-A status. But when he applied for a caste validity certificate in February 2015, the political and legal landscape had changed.
The BJP-led government had come to power in Maharashtra in October 2014, and the reservation policy was challenged before the Bombay High Court. In November that year, the High Court struck down Maratha reservation but permitted 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in educational institutions, observing that denying such reservation would impede efforts to bring Muslim youth into the mainstream of secular education.
However, the ordinance was never converted into a permanent law and lapsed in December 2014 after the new government chose not to preserve the Muslim quota framework.
Soon after, Sayyad said the state scrutiny committee informed him that it could not issue a caste validity certificate because the reservation itself was no longer in force.
“I made various representations to authorities but to no avail. I was told that I would be able to continue my studies if I paid the fees that was being charged for open category students. I agreed, hoping that the issue would get resolved,” he said.
Although he completed the course in 2017, the college and the University of Mumbai withheld his final-year marksheet and engineering degree because he had not submitted the caste validity certificate.
Unable to resolve the issue, Sayyad moved to Kuwait in 2018 on the basis of his diploma qualification before finding work in Dubai. He returned briefly during the Covid pandemic.
“What pinched me is that in spite of being an engineer, I could not call myself one or get the desired jobs because I did not hold a physical copy of my degree,” Sayyad said. “With companies tightening norms on whom they hired for engineering jobs, I felt it was time that I took from the state what was rightfully mine.”
Earlier this year, during a visit to India, Sayyad approached advocates Amol Ghuge and Gaurav Ugale and moved the Bombay High Court seeking release of his degree and results.
“Our contention before the court was that repeal of a law does not automatically extinguish rights, liabilities or proceedings that arose under it. We argued that withholding our client’s degree was preventing him from practising his profession and infringing upon his right to livelihood. We also submitted that the petitioner could not be penalised for a subsequent shift in the government’s legal position and that education already imparted ought to be protected,” advocate said.
The state argued that since the 2014 ordinance had lapsed without becoming law, all related government resolutions and circulars automatically stood cancelled.
Earlier this year, the Maharashtra government formally scrapped a decade-old resolution linked to the Congress-NCP government’s 2014 Muslim reservation policy in education, triggering a political sparring match between the ruling BJP and the Opposition. While Opposition parties termed the move anti-minority, the BJP dismissed the quota as an unimplemented “appeasement” measure announced ahead of elections.
In its May 6 verdict, the Bombay High Court directed the University of Mumbai to release Sayyad’s eighth semester results along with his original degree, passing and leaving certificates after recording his statement that he was not seeking the benefit of the 5 per cent reservation under the February 17, 2026 Government Resolution, and had already paid fees applicable to the open category. Sayyad also undertook to pay any additional fees, if required. Accepting the statement, the bench of Justices Advait M Sethna and R I Chagla disposed of the petition.
“It is a huge relief,” Sayyad said. “It has been a harrowing nine years trying to get hold of my degree. I do not know how many other Muslim students got admission during this four-month window and are facing similar problems. I feel strange fighting for a right that was granted by the state. In spite of not doing anything illegal, I had to suffer for nine years.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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Mideast
Hormuz tanker traffic edges higher after wartime low
May 18, 2026
LONDON: Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was slightly higher last week, returning to levels in line with the average recorded since the start of the Middle East conflict after hitting a wartime low.
A total of 55 commodities vessels crossed the strategic waterway between May 11 and 17, according to data from maritime tracking firm Kpler as of Monday morning.
That marked a sharp increase from the previous week, when just 19 vessels crossed — the lowest weekly figure since the first US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which led to widespread disruption of traffic through the strait.
Iranian state television said Friday the Revolutionary Guards were allowing more ships to transit the strait, after reporting a day earlier that “more than 30 ships” had been permitted to pass.
Despite the increase, last week’s crossings remain broadly in line with wartime averages.
Since March 1, Kpler has recorded 663 commodity vessels transiting the strait, 55 per week on average.
Around half the tankers crossing last week carried liquids.
These included three very large crude carriers, reportedly bound for China, Oman and Japan.
Kpler data also showed 15 dry bulk commodity vessels and 16 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers crossed the strait last week.
Only one liquefied natural gas tanker carrying Qatari gas to Pakistan crossed, on May 12.
That brought the total number of LNG tanker crossings since the start of the war to eight.
In peacetime, the Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, as well as other major commodities, including fertilizer.
Iran has repeatedly warned that maritime traffic through the shipping lane would “not return to its pre-war status.”
On Monday, Tehran announced the creation of a new body to oversee the strait and charge vessels for transiting the waterway, which Iran has reportedly been doing since early on in the war.
Chinese vessels crossing
Iranian officials said on Thursday that Chinese vessels had been allowed to transit, after a slowdown the previous week.
According to Kpler, only three commodities vessels linked to China through their flag, ownership or cargo crossed the strait last week.
Two additional Hong Kong-flagged vessels also transited and were heading to Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
The data may not provide a complete picture, however, as vessels do not always disclose final destinations while crossing.
Traffic through the strait since the start of the war has depended on nationality, with Iran saying on May 10 that countries complying with US sanctions against the Islamic republic would face difficulties crossing.
Since the start of the conflict, China and India have been among the most frequently reported non-Gulf destinations or departure points for commodity carriers transiting the strait.
Other non-Gulf destinations listed in Kpler’s shipping data include Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia, while relatively few vessels reported Western countries as destinations.
Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the central issues in stalled negotiations with the United States, which have yet to produce a breakthrough.
Source: arabnews.com
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Iran’s proposal to US calls for sanctions lifting and funds release, deputy foreign minister says
May 19, 2026
WASHINGTON/DUBAI/KARACHI: Iran‘s recent proposal to the United States calls for the lifting of sanctions on Tehran, the release of frozenIranian funds and an end to the marine blockade on the country, Iran's Deputy Foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Tuesday, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency.
The proposal also includes ending war on all fronts including in Lebanon, the exit of US forces from areas close to Iran and damages to cover destruction caused by the war, Gharibabadi said.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack against Iran after Tehran sent a peace proposal to Washington, and that there was now a “very good chance” of reaching a deal limiting Iran’s nuclear program.
After Iran sent the US a new peace proposal, Trump said he had instructed the US military that “we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached.”
No such attack had previously been announced, and Reuters could not determine whether preparations had been made for strikes that would mark a renewal of the war Trump started in late February.
Under pressure to reach an accord that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Trump has previously expressed hope that a deal was close on ending the war, and similarly threatened heavy strikes on Iran if Tehran does not reach a deal.
In his post, he said the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had requested that he hold off on the attack because “a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all Countries in the Middle East, and beyond.” He did not offer details of the agreement being discussed.
Speaking to reporters later, he said the United States would be satisfied if it could reach an agreement with Iran that prevents Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I would be very happy,” Trump told reporters gathered for an unrelated announcement.
Trump’s post on calling off an attack came after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that Tehran’s views had been “conveyed to the American side through Pakistan” but gave no details. A Pakistani source confirmed that Islamabad, which has conveyed messages between the sides in the war in the Middle East since hosting the only round of peace talks last month, had shared the latest proposal with Washington. But the source suggested progress had been difficult.
The sides “keep changing their goalposts,” the Pakistani source said, adding: “We don’t have much time.”
Iran remains defiant
Iran remained defiant in statements issued on state media after Trump’s announcement, warning the US and its allies against making any further “strategic mistakes or miscalculations” in attacking Iran, while contending the Iranian armed forces were “more prepared and stronger than in the past.”
Iran’s top joint military command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said Iran’s armed forces are “ready to pull the trigger” in the event of any renewed US attack, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“Any renewed aggression and invasion … will be responded to quickly, decisively, powerfully, and extensively,” the commander of Khatam Al-Anbiya, Ali Abdollahi, was quoted as saying. The Iranian peace proposal, as described by a senior Iranian source, appeared similar in many respects to Iran’s previous offer, which Trump rejected last week as “garbage.”
It would focus first on securing an end to the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz — a major oil supply route that Iran has effectively blockaded — and lifting maritime sanctions.
Apparent softening by Washington
In an apparent softening of Washington’s stance, the senior Iranian source said on Monday that the United States had agreed to release a quarter of Iran’s frozen funds — totaling tens of billions of dollars — held in foreign banks. Iran wants all the assets released.
The Iranian source also said Washington had shown more flexibility in agreeing to let Iran continue some peaceful nuclear activity under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The US has not confirmed that it has agreed to anything in the talks.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency separately quoted an unidentified source as saying the US had agreed to waive oil sanctions on Iran while negotiations were under way.
Iranian officials did not immediately comment on Tasnim’s report, which a US official, who declined to be named, said was false. A fragile ceasefire is in place after six weeks of war that followed US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, although drones have been launched from Iraq toward Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, apparently by Iran and its allies. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Monday condemning a drone attack on Sunday, in which Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted three drones that entered the country from Iraqi airspace.
Source: arabnews.com
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6,600 Palestinian pilgrims to perform Hajj rituals in Makkah
May 18, 2026
LONDON: A total of 6,600 Palestinian pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia over the past weeks to perform the annual Hajj rituals in Makkah, scheduled to take place from May 24-29, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said on Monday.
The pilgrims have traveled through Jordan from towns and cities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, while the 700 pilgrims from the Gaza Strip traveled through Egypt. On arrival, the ministry confirmed that the pilgrims were hosted in six hotels in the Kingdom, according to the Wafa news agency.
Saudi authorities in Khaybar governorate, in the Madinah region, have received thousands of pilgrims from various nationalities, including Palestine, Jordan and Egypt. They have arrived by land through the Kingdom’s northern ports since late April, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every non-disabled Muslim is required to undertake the pilgrimage to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah at least once in their life.
Last year, 1,673,230 pilgrims performed Hajj, according to the General Authority for Statistics, of whom 166,654 were citizens or residents, while the rest came from outside the Kingdom.
An estimated 21,000 pilgrims from Syria are expected to perform the Hajj this month, and about 8,000 others from Jordan.
Source: arabnews.com
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Syria allocates $15m to health, education and recovery efforts
May 18, 2026
DAMASCUS: The Syrian Development Fund announced on Monday, in coordination with government ministries, a strategic plan to distribute an initial $15 million in donor contributions to sectors needing urgent recovery.
In a statement, the fund said the allocation aims to address humanitarian needs while transforming charitable contributions into sustainable projects that support livelihoods.
According to the fund, economic empowerment received the largest share of financing, with $6 million allocated to support families seeking employment and income-generating initiatives to help restore self-sufficiency.
The healthcare sector received $5 million to improve access to medical treatment and strengthen the availability of essential services in affected communities.
Education projects were allocated $3 million to support children returning to school and to help ensure continued access to learning opportunities.
An additional $1 million was earmarked for public safety initiatives, including landmine clearance, debris removal and strengthening emergency response systems in conflict-affected areas.
The fund said donor contributions represent a key driver in rebuilding communities and supporting social recovery efforts.
On May 14, the fund announced the initial commitment of $15 million following field assessments conducted across multiple Syrian provinces to identify the most urgent recovery priorities.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli settlers uproot olive trees near Ramallah
May 18, 2026
RAMALLAH: Settlers cut down olive trees in the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, on Monday.
According to the Al-Baydar human rights organization, a number of colonists cut down several olive trees in the area as part of ongoing attacks targeting agricultural lands and Palestinian property.
The organization also noted that settlers stormed the Abu Faza’ Al-Kaabneh community east of the town, harassing and intimidating children on their way to school.
According to a report by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers’ attacks, supported by the Israeli army, have resulted in the uprooting, destruction and poisoning of 4,414 trees — all olive trees— in the Hebron governorate (2,169 trees), Ramallah and Al-Bireh (1,170 trees), Nablus (740 trees), Jerusalem (200 trees), and Bethlehem (135 trees).
Settlers set fire to a sheep pen and oven with Molotov cocktails in the Wadi Al-Rakhim area south of Hebron on Monday morning.
Anti-settlement activist Osama Makhameh said that a number of armed colonists, under the protection of Israeli soldiers, attacked the home of Riyad Yousef Shanaran in Wadi Al-Rakhim, throwing Molotov cocktails at it, which set his sheep pen and oven ablaze.
He said that Shanaran sustained burns to his hand while trying to extinguish the fire.
Also on Monday, Israeli forces issued demolition and stop-work orders for 15 homes, some of which are inhabited, in the town of Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem.
Tuqu Mayor Saqr Suleiman said that Israeli forces raided the Al-Halqum neighborhood, west of the town, and issued demolition and stop-work orders for the homes.
The orders gave the residents one week to comply, despite prior notification.
Suleiman indicated that the homes belong to several residents.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordanian, Lithuanian FMs discuss cooperation, Gaza development
May 18, 2026
LONDON: Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met his Lithuanian counterpart, Kestutis Budrys, during a visit to Lithuania on Monday, marking the first trip by a Jordanian foreign minister to the Baltic state.
Safadi and Budrys discussed a plan for formal political consultations in the coming months and developing cooperation across the investment, defense, education, tourism and cybersecurity sectors, according to the Petra news agency.
They also discussed expanding coordination with the EU. Lithuania is taking part in the Jordan-EU Investment Conference in Amman, which was rescheduled from April to late this year.
Safadi and Budrys discussed Israeli violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, highlighting the importance of stabilizing the Gaza Strip and removing Israeli obstacles to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid.
The Jordanian foreign minister also met Lithuanian Parliament Deputy Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen at the Seimas in Vilnius to discuss cooperation in key sectors, Petra added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian president’s son vows to put ‘Gaza first’
May 18, 2026
RAMALLAH: The son of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Monday said Fatah would prioritize Gaza and return it “to the fold of Palestinian legitimacy,” the day after being elected to the movement’s top decision-making body.
Fatah’s first congress in a decade came as the Palestinian movement faces existential challenges in the wake of the devastating Gaza war.
Veteran Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, 90, was re-elected as head of the movement, with his 64-year-old son Yasser Abbas securing a place on its central committee.
In his first remarks since his election, Yasser Abbas said he would focus on “Gaza first, prisoners and the families of martyrs, and the refugee camps.”
“We will work to return Gaza to the fold of Palestinian legitimacy,” he told journalists in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah.
Fatah has historically been the dominant force within the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole representative of the Palestinian people in international forums.
It groups most Palestinian factions but excludes Islamist movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
“Achieving full national unity requires agreement to all the conditions for joining the Palestine Liberation Organization in all its provisions: one law, one state, one legitimate weapon, and recognition that the organization is the sole legitimate representative” of the Palestinian people, Yasser Abbas said.
“Whoever accepts that is welcome.”
In recent decades, Fatah’s popularity and influence have dwindled amid internal divisions and growing public frustration over the stagnation of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The sense of disappointment led to a surge in support for rival Hamas, which won the last legislative elections held in 2006, before going on to expel Fatah from the Gaza Strip after a bout of factional fighting.
Under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, Hamas is to play no role in the future governance of the territory.
It also demands sweeping reforms of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority as a condition for it to play any meaningful role in post-war Gaza.
On Monday, the Fatah congress announced the official preliminary results of the elections for its central committee and the revolutionary council, the party’s parliament.
A closing statement read out on Monday said that: “there is no state without Gaza, and no state in Gaza.”
“Any international administrative arrangement must preserve the ceasefire, end the occupation, ensure the flow of aid, and begin recovery and reconstruction, all clearly linked to the Palestinian government, which must be enabled to exercise all its responsibilities in Gaza,” it added.
It also said it was moving toward elections for the Palestinian National Council, the PLO parliament, on November 1, followed by general elections.
Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are under mounting international pressure to implement reforms and hold elections, amid widespread accusations of corruption and political stagnation.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Reuters: Pakistan deploys jets, thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia — but no official confirmation from KSA
May 19, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defense system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defense pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war.
The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia’s military if the kingdom comes under further attack.
Pakistan’s military and foreign office and Saudi Arabia’s government media office did not respond to requests for comment on the deployment.
The full terms of the defense agreement, signed last year, are confidential, but both sides have said it requires Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to come to each other’s defense in the event of an attack. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has previously implied that it places Saudi Arabia under Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella.
According to the sources, Pakistan has deployed a full squadron of around 16 aircraft, mostly JF-17 fighters made jointly with China, which were sent to Saudi Arabia in early April. Two of the security officials said Pakistan had also sent two squadrons of drones.
All five sources said the deployment includes around 8,000 troops, with a pledge to send more if needed, as well as a Chinese HQ-9 air defense system.
The equipment is operated by Pakistani personnel and financed by Saudi Arabia, they said.
Thousands of troops
The military and air force personnel deployed during the Iran conflict will primarily have an advisory and training role, according to two of the security officials, who said they had seen exchanges between the two countries and documents on the military assets’ deployment.
The deployment adds to thousands of Pakistani troops with a combat role that were already stationed in the kingdom under previous agreements, all three security officials said.
One of the government sources, who has seen the text of the confidential defense pact, said it provides for the possibility of up to 80,000 Pakistani troops being deployed to Saudi Arabia, to help secure the kingdom’s borders alongside Saudi forces.
Two of the security officials said the agreement also involved the deployment of Pakistani warships. Reuters was not able to determine whether any had reached Saudi Arabia.
The scale and composition of the deployment — combat aircraft, air defenses and thousands of troops — mean Pakistan has sent far more than a symbolic or advisory mission, the sources said.
Reuters previously reported that Pakistan had sent jets to Saudi Arabia after Iranian strikes hit key energy infrastructure and killed a Saudi national, raising concerns that the Gulf kingdom might retaliate heavily and widen the conflict.
This took place before Islamabad emerged as the war’s principal mediator, helping to broker a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran that has held for the past six weeks. Islamabad hosted the only round of US-Iranian peace talks so far, and had planned further rounds which the sides called off.
Reuters has since reported that Saudi Arabia launched numerous unpublicized strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks carried out inside the kingdom.
Pakistan has long provided military support to Saudi Arabia, including training and advisory deployments, while Riyadh has repeatedly stepped in to support Islamabad financially during periods of economic stress.
Source: arabnews.com
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Holy sites see wide-ranging upgrades ahead of Hajj
TAREQ AL-THAQAFI
May 18, 2026
MAKKAH: Kidana Development Co. is continuing a series of infrastructure and service projects at the holy sites as part of efforts to improve pilgrim comfort, mobility and operational readiness during this year’s Hajj season.
The company, the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, told Arab News that the second phase of pilgrims’ rest areas along pedestrian routes was now complete, adding 36,000 sq. meters to the area developed during the previous Hajj season.
The areas include seating spaces, service kiosks, shaded canopies with misting fans and rubber flooring designed to ease movement between the holy sites.
Kidana said it planted more than 60,000 trees during the second phase of its greening project while at the Jamarat Bridge courtyards, the company replaced 400 misting-fan columns over two phases. The cooling systems are designed to serve nearly 180,000 pilgrims per hour heading to perform the stoning ritual.
Kidana added the Mina restroom development project now included 79 two-story complexes with 7,838 restrooms after 18 additional complexes were added to existing facilities. The upgrades will increase capacity and reduce waiting times.
To improve mobility, a three-phase escalator project brings the total number of escalators in Mina to 74, including 10 new units across eight locations.
Kidana also completed the second phase of the shading and cooling project surrounding Mount Arafat, with the project now covering more than 272,000 sq. meters and increasing utilization rates through the installation of 18 modern canopies, 36 misting fans, seven cooling units and 107 additional misting columns.
The company said its pedestrian pathway project now extended across more than 240,000 sq. meters, supported by more than 150,000 sq. meters of rubber flooring, 25,000 sq. meters of green spaces, 241 misting-fan columns, and 240 smart-device charging units.
Shading works for pedestrian pathways in the Al-Sha’ibayn area in Mina have also been completed, covering a total of 103,000 sq. meters, alongside the operation of 990 misting fans and the addition of 72 new fans, in addition to advanced surveillance cameras at the site.
The company also operates more than 6,000 misting columns and over 25,000 chilled-water taps across the holy sites. A supervisory control and data acquisition system has been activated to monitor 400 reserve tanks, more than 300 cooling systems, 800 electrical panels, 500 misting fans, and 1,000 restroom complexes.
Meanwhile, the completed Rabiah Kidana housing project covers more than 33,000 sq. meters and the Kidana Al-Khaif Tents project more than 24,000 sq. meters.
In the energy sector, Kidana confirmed the completion of electrical network upgrades totaling 550 megavolt-amperes, while the fire and cooling network project included the development of 188 residential blocks comprising 565 camps.
Kidana said the number of participating brands at the holy sites increased to 66, representing 127 percent growth.
Source: arabnews.com
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Testament to Saudi Arabia’s modern history, Hassan Yassin passes away
RASHID HASSAN
May 18, 2026
RIYADH: Prominent Saudi adviser Hassan bin Youssef Yassin, who lived through the reigns of all the kings and served in several advisory roles, passed away on Sunday.
His life was closely connected to the modern history and development of Saudi Arabia, during which he witnessed successive Saudi kings and devoted his life to serving the Kingdom.
Yassin worked closely with Saudi petroleum ministers Abdullah Tariki and Ahmed Zaki Yamani from 1959 to 1967. He headed the Saudi Information Office in Washington from 1972 to 1981 and served with the Arab League observer delegation to the UN from 1981 to 1983.
He represented the continuation of a family legacy rooted in the career of his father, Sheikh Youssef Yassin, a prominent political adviser to King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia. Yassin the elder served as a key figure in the Kingdom’s founding political and diplomatic era.
Hassan Yassin was a columnist for Arab News.
Born in Makkah in 1934, he began his professional career as director of the office of Saudi Oil Minister Abdullah Tariki before establishing the Saudi media office in Washington.
During his childhood in Riyadh, Yassin was closely connected to the social environment surrounding King Abdulaziz due to his father’s role as an adviser to the founding king.
Against the backdrop of his father’s long public career, Yassin grew up immersed in the details and inner workings of Saudi politics from an early age.
He became familiar with many pivotal moments that shaped the establishment and evolution of the Kingdom, and his role deepened further through his close association with former Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal and his involvement in major, sensitive political issues.
He belonged to the first generation of Saudis educated abroad, studying at Berkeley University in the US in the 1950s before returning to Saudi Arabia to work in the energy sector.
During the 1960s and 1970s, he lived in Washington, where he founded the Saudi Information Office and developed extensive relationships with members of the US Congress, as well as senior American officials.
Yassin received his early education in Makkah and Taif before enrolling at Victoria College in Egypt, one of Alexandria’s oldest and most prestigious English-language schools. There, he studied in the same classroom as Jordan’s late King Hussein.
With his passing, the nonagenarian leaves behind a legacy of a long national and professional journey marked by service, dedication and achievement.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan posted on X: “With the passing of Hassan Yassin, we lose a national memory and a cultural treasure trove that accompanied our kings and witnessed the renaissance of our country. A few years ago, my colleagues at the Ministry of Culture were honored to register his home in the national register of urban heritage.”
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir condoled his death, saying: “My elder brother and friend, Hassan Yassin, has passed away after a life filled with sincerity, defined by his giving to his homeland and his loyalty to his friends. I knew him for over 40 years for his captivating personality, exceptional culture and love for all. May God have mercy on him and grant him a spacious place in His gardens. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi said: “May God have mercy on the late luminary of diplomacy, media and history, who lived through the reigns of this country’s kings and the stages of its development, and devoted his life to serving his faith and homeland.”
Condoling the demise, British adviser Fiona Hill CBE, who served as chief of staff at 10 Downing Street with former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, told Arab News: “I first met Hassan, or HY as I would come to call him, in 2016 when I was visiting Riyadh with my then boss Theresa May, who was the UK prime minister at the time. We were invited to dinner with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. HY was sitting across from me. With a razor-sharp mind that never left him, he quizzed May better than any opposition leader in the House of Commons! We immediately became dear friends and to this day, if I am experiencing a challenging time, I always ask myself, ‘what would HY do?.’
“He leaves behind a Kingdom that I know he was enormously proud to call home. I will never stop reflecting on the numerous conversations we had about life and the universe, and I will continue to learn from his wisdom. He may not be here to bring his friends together for dinner and an enlightening conversation, but I know whenever I visit Riyadh, the spirit of my wonderful friend HY will endure.”
In his condolence message, Osama Nugali, former Saudi ambassador to Egypt, said: “During my diplomatic journey spanning four decades, I witnessed his prolonged illness, which neither weakened his resolve nor halted his vibrant activity. It was as if he was continuing the path of his father, Sheikh Youssef Yassin — the political adviser to the founder King Abdulaziz — in serving the homeland. He was distinguished by his breadth of vision and relationships. His heart knew no hatred, resentment, or grudge toward others, and thus others loved him in return.
“I did not realize that our last meeting, a month ago at the launch ceremony for Prince Saud Al-Faisal’s book, would be our final one. His eyes still held the same sparkle, and his mind the same vibrant energy, despite the frailty of his body under the weight of illness. With hearts steadfast in faith in God’s decree and destiny, I mourn with profound sorrow and grief the passing of Hassan Yassin.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia celebrates International Museum Day
HAJAR ALQUSAYER
May 18, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia marked this year’s International Museum Day on Monday with exhibitions, workshops and cultural programs highlighting their growing role as spaces for dialogue and community engagement.
This year’s global theme, “Museums Uniting a Divided World,” focused on how cultural institutions can help foster connection and shared understanding across societies.
At the Saudi National Museum in Riyadh, the occasion was marked through immersive public programs, panel discussions, interactive workshops and traditional performances aimed at encouraging visitors to engage more actively with heritage and culture.
“The National Museum has always been a guardian of history,” Rola Al-Ghrair, director of the institution, told Arab News.
“It is the Kingdom’s main repository of archaeological findings and artifacts. We operate under the Museums Commission, which aims to preserve cultural heritage as well as enable the museum ecosystem,” she said.
“But the National Museum is also a living, breathing cultural platform. The focus is to make sure that these artifacts are not just observed but truly felt.”
Al-Ghrair said the museum’s role has evolved beyond displaying artifacts to creating shared public spaces that connect communities with their cultural identity.
“It is not just a place with over 3,000 artifacts in glass cases; it is a vibrant civic space,” she said.
She added that the museum’s courtyards and outdoor spaces have increasingly become part of everyday community life, where families gather and interact with heritage in informal settings.
This year’s programming included discussions on traditional urban heritage, language and local dialects, alongside workshops and performances designed to encourage public participation.
“Heritage is ultimately about people, and communities thrive in welcoming spaces where all voices are heard respectfully, and where stories are built collaboratively,” Al-Ghrair said.
Technology and artificial intelligence were also integrated into the activities as Saudi Arabia continues to expand investment in digital and cultural innovation.
“Technology has always been a priority for the National Museum,” Al-Ghrair said. “For example, the multilingual virtual 360-degree tour was developed several years ago to provide interactive access to those unable to visit in person.”
The museum also introduced an AI-powered “Design Your Journey” experience allowing visitors to customize how they explore the museum’s collection.
Al-Ghrair said young people are increasingly approaching museums as interactive and social spaces rather than traditional educational institutions.
“Young people today want to be active participants rather than passive observers,” she said.
Last year, the National Museum welcomed more than 17,000 students through school visits, Al-Ghrair said.
She said this year’s activities included debates and interactive programs aimed at encouraging critical thinking and participation among young visitors.
“For them, the National Museum isn’t just an educational institution; it is a dynamic community hub where they can gather, learn, and explore their identity,” she said.
Alongside their cultural role, museums are also becoming increasingly tied to Saudi Arabia’s tourism and economic diversification ambitions under Vision 2030.
“A great museum is a must-visit destination that naturally draws people to a city,” Al-Ghrair said.
She noted that the National Museum’s location within the King Abdulaziz Historical Center and its direct connection to the Riyadh Metro have helped make it more accessible to visitors.
The Royal Commission for AlUla marked the day by highlighting AlUla’s position as one of the world’s largest living museums, home to archaeological sites and ancient civilizations dating back more than 200,000 years.
Among AlUla’s most prominent landmarks is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once the principal southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom, the ancient city spans more than 52,000 sq. meters and contains over 100 well-preserved rock-carved tombs that reflect AlUla’s historical importance along ancient trade and caravan routes.
One of Hegra’s most recognized landmarks is Qasr Al-Farid, or The Lonely Castle, a massive standalone tomb carved into sandstone rock that has become one of AlUla’s best-known heritage attractions.
Another key site is Ikmah mountain, often described as an “open-air library” because of the thousands of inscriptions and ancient writings carved into its canyon walls.
Recognized as part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, the site documents social, economic and religious life in ancient civilizations and stands as one of AlUla’s most significant cultural landmarks.
Source: arabnews.com
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Economic expert stresses Gulf unity for maximizing global capital inflows
HEBSHI ALSHAMMARI
May 18, 2026
Economic experts discussed unifying the Gulf market in order to maximize inflows of capital from abroad during a virtual meeting on Sunday.
General Coordinator for Negotiations and head of the GCC Negotiating Team Dr. Raja Al-Marzoqi suggested completing the unified Gulf market and developing mechanisms for resolving investment disputes would attract more foreign investment and contribute to the economic diversification of Gulf states.
The comments came during a presentation delivered remotely by Al-Marzoqi from Riyadh to a select group of Gulf specialists, when he addressed the relationship between economic openness, regional integration, bilateral agreements and attracting foreign direct investment.
Foreign investment has declined in recent years due to geopolitical tensions stemming from shifting US trade policies, unstable global inflation trends and rising energy prices resulting from the Iran war and its impact on the international economy.
Al-Marzoqi explained that membership in formal integration agreements and the signing of free trade agreements send a credible signal to investors that market liberalization policies will not be reversed, thus reducing obstacles for small-scale investment projects.
He said regulatory disparities between countries add between 8 and 15 percent to the operating costs of companies serving fragmented markets, according to World Bank estimates.
The veteran economist reviewed global figures showing enormous leaps in trade and investment, noting the rise in global foreign direct investment flows from $207 billion in 1990 to peaks of $1.9 trillion in 2007 and 2015. These flows then declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic to $985 billion in 2020, before rebounding to $1.51 trillion in 2024, according to the UNCTAD World Investment Report.
Global trade volume grew by 4,300 percent between 1950 and 2024, and its value increased 382 times, while the average tariff for World Trade Organization member countries fell to just 8.8 percent.
Al-Marzoqi pointed out the structural transformations in the global economy that shaped the features of the modern economic system after the signing of the Bretton Woods Agreement in 1944 shifted the tools of economic policy from isolation to openness. This made bilateral agreements and economic blocs the most important tools for attracting investment and achieving economic growth rates.
Al-Marzoqi said free trade agreements increase bilateral trade by an average of 60 to 100 percent over a 10-year period, according to recent estimates using updated gravity models. The number of agreements in force worldwide has exceeded 400,600, compared to fewer than 50 in 1990, and the countries that have joined these agreements represent 90 percent of global trade.
He cited the experience of the European Union, explaining that the countries which joined in 2004 witnessed a tripling of foreign direct investment in just three years. In Poland, for example, investment rose from $4 billion in 2003 to $19 billion in 2006 immediately after joining.
Furthermore, intra-EU trade is projected to be 25 to 35 percent higher than in the alternative scenario, thanks to the single market.
According to IMF data for 2026, global GDP is expected to grow by 3.0 percent, with global inflation at 3.6 percent, down from 4.3 percent in 2025. However, the IMF warned of geopolitical risks, particularly escalating tensions in the Middle East and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which could drive oil prices up by as much as 80 percent. It said the US PCE inflation rate reached 3 percent, exceeding the Federal Reserve’s target.
Al-Marzoqi identified key investment opportunities in the coming period in artificial intelligence and technology, where capital spending is growing rapidly; infrastructure and defense, supported by increased government spending in Europe and Asia; and renewable energy, which enjoys strong government support.
He presented recommendations to policymakers in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including completing the genuine unified Gulf market, accelerating Gulf negotiations. He also suggested developing mechanisms for resolving investment disputes, considering the establishment of a Gulf court and updating the network of double taxation avoidance agreements to include the digital economy.
Al-Marzoqi called for launching proactive vocational retraining programs alongside the signing of agreements and developing technical education and training curricula.
“Countries that open up to the global economy in a sound manner do not lose their sovereignty but rather gain the ability to shape the terms of openness for the benefit of their people and achieve their economic security,” he concluded.
Source: arabnews.com
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World languages heard at Hajj as organizers provide translation services
May 18, 2026
RIYADH: During the Hajj season, Makkah transforms into a place where Arabic is heard alongside languages from around the world.
Urdu, Indonesian, Turkish, Persian, Bengali, English, French, Swahili and more are heard during the pilgrimage, reflecting the unity of Muslims.
While diverse cultures mix at the holy sites, the language of the rituals brings worshippers together as pilgrims share supplication and circumambulation, while the authorities work to overcome language barriers by offering multilingual services.
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque provides simultaneous interpretation of Grand Mosque sermons into 10 languages via the Manarat Al-Haramain platform and FM radio. It also offers spatial and cultural guidance in more than 50 languages through wireless headphones and digital guidance cards.
Translation efforts include books, brochures, directional signs and electronic screens inside the Grand Mosque, alongside copies of the Holy Qur’an and multi-language translations of its meanings.
At the holy sites, multilingual field teams and volunteers facilitate communication with pilgrims, providing health, organizational and religious guidance to enhance crowd safety and ensure the smooth performance of rituals.
This all helps ensure an integrated experience that improves visitors’ understanding of the Islamic message and the services of the Grand Mosque. It exemplifies the position of Makkah as a global meeting point for Muslims from around the world, with a microcosm of the Islamic world in all its human and cultural diversity being formed.
Source: arabnews.com
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Experts in Riyadh discuss migration governance
May 18, 2026
RIYADH: The Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a strategic workshop in Riyadh on enhancing migration governance and cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
The workshop was organized by the International Organization for Migration, with participation from several government entities.
The three-day event aimed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation for effective, evidence-based, development-oriented migration governance.
It highlighted the Kingdom’s progress and leadership, fostered understanding of global and regional trends, and built stronger partnerships between relevant entities and the IOM.
Ali Al-Qarni, assistant director-general for capacity development at the institute, said the Kingdom has made significant progress in recent years in migration governance and labor mobility, including labor market development, wage protection, and digital services.
The IOM’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Othman Belbeisi, highlighted strategic partnerships with Saudi entities that support humanitarian and development efforts regionally and globally, especially KSrelief, the Saudi Human Rights Commission, and Naif Arab University for Security Sciences.
UN Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom Mohamed El-Zarkani said migration is a key factor linked to the economy, security, social cohesion, and human rights.
He noted that as Saudi Arabia shifts toward a knowledge-based economy, it is attracting global talent and improving integration and development.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Iran wants to hand over nuclear stockpile to Russia – media
18 May, 2026
Iran is allegedly ready to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile to Russia, the Saudi news broadcaster Al Hadath has reported. The idea was floated as part of the latest peace proposal Tehran sent to the US via Pakistan, the outlet said on Monday, citing a leaked document it had obtained.
Indirect talks between the two sides mediated by Islamabad have been stalled since a ceasefire was established in early April. It followed a month of hostilities initiated by the US and Israel against the Islamic Republic in late February. Both Washington and Tehran have since repeatedly put forward proposals to end the conflict while dismissing each other’s demands.
According to the report, Iran is allegedly ready to freeze its nuclear program for a long period of time but only on the condition that its highly enriched uranium will be transferred to Russia instead of the US. Tehran still rules out dismantling its program completely, Al Hadath added.
Iran retains more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60%, according to International Atomic Energy Agency estimates. Weapons-grade levels typically require 90% enrichment and higher.
Moscow has repeatedly offered its assistance in ending the conflict, in particular by removing the Iranian highly enriched uranium stockpile.
“Not only did we make such an offer; we already implemented it once before, back in 2015. Iran has complete trust in us, and not without reason,” Russian President Vladimir Putin told journalists earlier this month. Moscow has never violated its agreements, he stressed, and continues to cooperate with the Islamic Republic on its peaceful nuclear energy program.
Washington has reportedly already dismissed Iran’s latest proposal as insufficient, Axios reported on Monday, citing an unnamed American official briefed on the issue. According to the official, Tehran made only “token” improvements on the previous version.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran’s highly enriched uranium should be handed over to America. Last week, he told Fox News that the issue was “more for public relations” and getting the Iranian stockpile would just make him “feel better.”
Source: rt.com
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London Far-Right Rally Condemned as Anti-Islam Performer Wears Raw Bacon 'to Ward Off' Muslim Counter-Protesters
18 May 2026
A cellist performed on stage at Tommy Robinson's 'Unite the Kingdom' rally in London draped in what appeared to be raw bacon, in a stunt widely condemned as a deliberate act of Islamophobic provocation.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, marched through central London on 16 May 2026 for the second major 'Unite the Kingdom' rally organised by the far-right activist, culminating in speeches at Parliament Square.
The day saw anti-Islam theatrics on the main stage, a mass government ban on foreign far-right speakers, 43 arrests, and a guerrilla counter-stunt that drew more attention than the event itself. Critics, including Amnesty International UK and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, described the march as an exercise in hate dressed up as patriotism.
Rashers on Stage: The Bacon Performer, the Niqab Stunt, and What Was Said
The most widely reported spectacle of the Parliament Square stage programme came near its close, when a cellist performed wearing what Reuters described as 'rashers of raw bacon' on his shoulders. Pork products are forbidden under Islamic dietary law, and commentators on social media, including French politician Thomas Portes on X, interpreted the display as a deliberate act of anti-Muslim intimidation. No statement from the performer explaining his intent was publicly available at the time of publication.
Before the cellist took to the stage, three women from the French anti-immigration feminist group Collectif Nemesis, led by founder Alice Cordier, appeared on stage wearing Islamic-style face veils. They encouraged jeers from the crowd, who chanted 'take it off,' before removing the garments to loud cheers. Cordier told attendees: 'We are alone against the system that wants to destroy our Christian civilisation.'
Far-right activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull also addressed the crowd, calling for Islam to be 'removed from every single place of authority,' including schools and official offices. When asked directly what he would do if he became Prime Minister, Robinson told a supporter on camera: 'I would stop Islam.'
Robinson also urged crowds to prepare for what he called the 'Battle of Britain', telling male supporters to 'get fight-ready.' The remarks prompted immediate alarm from community leaders and online commentators, who questioned whether Robinson was calling for paramilitary organising.
Smaller Turnout, Blocked Speakers, and a £4.5 Million Police Operation
The Metropolitan Police deployed 4,000 officers, alongside horses, dogs, drones, helicopters, and live facial recognition technology, in what it described as its biggest public order operation in years. The force estimated the operation cost £4.5 million ($6 million). Police confirmed 43 arrests by close of day for a range of offences, including nine for hate crimes among Unite the Kingdom attendees, two from the Nakba Day counter-march.
Police put attendance at the rally at around 60,000, significantly below the 110,000 to 150,000 who attended September 2025's event. Organisers had predicted a larger turnout this time. The government had barred 11 overseas figures it described as 'foreign far-right agitators' from entering the country ahead of the rally.
Those refused entry included Valentina Gomez, a Colombian-American anti-Islam influencer who at the 2025 rally had called for Muslims to be 'sent back to their Sharia nations,' Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek, and Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had revoked Gomez's electronic travel authorisation weeks earlier, citing that her presence 'would not be conducive to the public good.' The Muslim Council of Britain, which had written to Mahmood urging the ban, welcomed the decision, stating that 'people who propagate hate speech and division should not be given free entry to the United Kingdom.' The ban followed the same legal justification used to block rapper Kanye West from the country weeks prior.
The Counter-Stunt, the Condemnations, and Where This Leaves British Politics
The day's most viral moment did not come from the stage. Campaign group Led By Donkeys drove a mobile LED billboard van into the heart of the march. The screen initially displayed the Unite the Kingdom logo, drawing supporters to pose for photographs, before switching to a pro-immigration video set to Wham's 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go', showcasing the contributions of immigrant Britons including Mo Farah and Dua Lipa under the caption 'Immigration makes Britain brilliant.' Several attendees attempted to climb the truck and switch off the screen before police intervened.
Starmer condemned the rally's organisers the day before, accusing them of 'peddling hate and division, plain and simple,' and described some participants as 'convicted thugs and racists.' Kerry Moscogiuri, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, said the event 'brings racism, violence and fear to the streets of London.' Correspondent Murtaza Ali Shah, reacting to the niqab stunt on X, wrote: 'Open display of Muslim hate but the police looked on. One law for pro-Palestine activists and Muslims and another for the right wing.'
The rally came a week after Reform UK's surge in local elections, with Robinson encouraging supporters to join political parties ahead of the next general election. Five Labour Cabinet members resigned the same week, and a fifth of the parliamentary Labour Party has reportedly called on Starmer to step down, leaving the government visibly weakened heading into a period of heightened social tension.
As bacon-draped imagery and niqab removals became the defining visuals of 16 May 2026 in London, the question those scenes posed was harder to brush off: how far, and how fast, Islamophobic performance has moved from the margins to the main stage.
Source: ibtimes.co.uk
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New High Street crime unit to target gangs fronting shops after BBC investigation
19 May 2026
Ed Thomas,
A new £30m High Street organised crime unit has been announced by the government after the BBC's year-long investigative reporting into illegal mini-marts, vape shops and barbers.
Over 12 months BBC News exposed drug gangs, child sexual exploitation reports, money laundering, immigration crime and ghost directors linked to shop fronts selling illegal cigarettes and illegal vapes.
The law enforcement response will be run across the UK by the National Crime Agency (NCA) over the next three years - with a cash boost for trading standards.
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) suggested cuts to its members' resources under previous governments had helped allow serious and organised crime to gain a foothold in High Streets.
The government has also pledged to carry out a review on how to strengthen law enforcement powers - as well as consulting on extending the length of closure orders to shut criminal businesses down for longer, an area the CTSI said needed to be changed.
Under the government plans:
Shops will face raids, closures and cash seizures in a crackdown by police and trading standards over the next three years
Some £20m of funding will go towards the NCA and there will be 75 new police officers in three hotspot regions - in the Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and Essex and Kent forces
£6m of funding will go to trading standards
The remainder of the funding - £3.75m - will be split between immigration enforcement, HMRC and the running of the unit.
The NCA estimates that at least £1bn of criminal cash is laundered through High Street stores in the UK each year through businesses connected to the sale of fake goods, tax evasion, illegal working and illegal drug supply.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: "We are hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash and drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars."
Proposals for the High Street organised crime unit - which will be overseen by Security Minister Dan Jarvis - were originally outlined in the 2025 Autumn Budget but the government has now released more details.
Over the course of 12 months, BBC News has gone undercover to expose the shocking reality of organised crime taking over our High Streets leading to an "urgent" Home Office investigation, multiple arrests across the country and pledges to change the law.
In April 2025 the BBC joined the NCA as it raided barbers, mini-marts and vape shops in response to growing intelligence reports that some of these shops were being used for money laundering and illegal working.
In May and June of last year the team found secret underground tunnels supplying sacks of illegal cigarettes to High Street mini-marts in Hull, with authorities warning us that there was a "war" against organised crime that they couldn't win, with the profits from counterfeit tobacco now rivalling "heroin and cocaine" in a black market worth up to £6bn a year.
The then Immigration Minister, Seema Malhotra, described what the BBC had found as a "national scandal" and the then-Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, later said it was a "disgrace".
In July, mass Freedom of Information requests revealed for the first time that 3,700 illegal shops had operated across the UK.
In November last year, we exposed asylum seekers buying and selling High Street mini marts for cash and criminal kingpins erasing £60,000 illegal working fines, and exposed a Kurdish organised crime gang operating on High Streets the length of Britain.
In response to our investigations, Mahmood launched an "urgent" investigation led by the NCA, Immigration Enforcement, HMRC and police forces from across the country. She said the BBC's evidence proved that "the system was broken" and demonstrated a pull factor in the small boat crisis.
In March of this year a senior council worker repeatedly shared with West Midlands authorities reports of children as young as 11 being sexually abused in High Street mini-marts and last month undercover reports exposed how cocaine, cannabis, laughing gas and prescription pills were being offered for sale. One street we visited in the West Midlands was described as "lawless" by an anonymous law enforcement source.
In response, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government was "absolutely focused" on tackling such criminality, pledging stronger powers and more police officers to do so.
The NCA said 950 people had been arrested and more than £10m worth of goods seized over the past 18 months and the new unit would help it target and disrupt more "high harm offenders".
Sal Melki, deputy director of illicit finance at the NCA, said: "This criminal activity makes our communities less safe and less prosperous.
"It undermines legitimate business, deprives public services of tax revenues, and fuels a range of predicate offences such as the drugs trade, illicit goods, trafficking, and organised immigration crime."
Lord Bichard, chairman of National Trading Standards, said the unit would "help drive a coordinated national response while strengthening local enforcement capability".
John Herriman, chief executive of the CTSI, told the BBC that cuts of about 50% had been made to trading standards resources between 2011 and 2023.
He said there was a "sense" that the situation on High Streets "has been getting worse and worse for a number a years", adding: "That is pretty demoralising."
"This funding is the start of that fight-back process," he said.
Currently courts can order shops to be closed for three months. Herriman said the CTSI wanted new powers to be brought in to raise the limit to 12 months, with a complete ban possible for the worst offenders.
Responding to the government plans, the Conservatives said Labour had "done more damage to our High Streets than 75 officers can fix".
Chris Philp MP, shadow home secretary, said there were fewer police officers as well as "anti-business legislation" under the government.
"Crime and antisocial behaviour are at unacceptably high levels, every day, too many people witness things that anger and alarm them," he said, adding a Tory government would aim to put extra police officers on the streets.
Source: bbc.com
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Ex-British soldier imprisoned by Russia says he feels abandoned in occupied Ukraine
19 May 2026
Will Vernon
A former British soldier sentenced to 15 years in a maximum-security Russian prison colony has told the BBC he feels abandoned by the UK government.
Hayden Davies was captured in Ukraine by Russian forces more than 18 months ago after joining the Ukrainian army's foreign legion as a volunteer. He was convicted of mercenaryism, which means taking part in a military conflict for material reward as a so-called "private soldier".
Davies was sentenced to 13 years in a Russian prison in December last year by a court in Donetsk, a Ukrainian city occupied and controlled by Russia. The UK does not recognise the court or Russia's occupation of the city. Last week, a judge in Moscow added two more years to the sentence, after ruling Davies' initial jail term was too lenient.
A UK Foreign Office (FCDO) spokesperson told the BBC: "We remain in close contact with Hayden Davies' family and are providing consular support. We strongly condemn the sentencing of Mr Davies in a Russian-controlled court on false charges of mercenaryism."
The following paragraphs contain details some readers may find upsetting
In letters written to the BBC from inside a detention facility, Davies says he was captured by Russian forces after being seriously injured on the front line. "My radio broke, my partner was killed and I couldn't escape," he writes, "I had to make a decision: lie there and die, or take action. I crawled 150 metres [500 feet] to reach an area I knew. It took a whole day."
Davies says the pain from his injuries was unbearable, with bones protruding from his leg. "I reached a ruined house with a basement and decided to stay there. Luckily, there was lots of tinned food."
The former soldier says he treated his wounds as best he could, pushing the bone back inside the leg. "I've never experienced such terrible pain in my life. I made a splint and crutches out of wood," he writes. Davies stayed in the basement for two months until Russian soldiers discovered him.
The 33-year old says he was imprisoned on his own for a whole year before being put in a cell with other prisoners.
He told the BBC he felt lonely in prison, and hadn't had any contact with representatives of the British government: "I served my country for 12 years in the [British] Army, and now, when I need help and medical treatment, no-one wants to know. This is a disgrace!"
British officials are regularly denied access to detainees in Russia, and cannot travel to occupied Ukrainian territory.
All letters exchanged with Russian prisoners are read, and often censored, by the Russian authorities. Davies gave his permission for the letters to be published. His family declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.
Human rights organisations and other international bodies have accused Russia of systematically denying prisoners of war (POWs) and other detainees appropriate medical treatment, which Moscow denies. The International Red Cross says it does not have full access to POWs in Russia and Russia-controlled territory, which is a requirement under the Geneva Convention.
A source close to Davies said the soldier had a serious injury to his leg and "he's getting no help at all". The person added that representatives of the British government had not been in contact with Davies' legal team, who are based in Russia.
Writing to the BBC in March, Davies says he has received only one letter from his sister. The BBC understands he has since received a letter from another relative.
"The attitude towards him in the prison is bad because he's British, [Russia says] he's a mercenary," says Anastasia Shevchenko, a respected political activist based in Lithuania who helps POWs in Russian captivity.
Russian authorities insist prisoners are treated in accordance with law and international standards, and reject accusations of mistreatment.
Shevchenko told the BBC she informed the British authorities of Davies' capture last year after speaking to Ukrainian POWs held in the same prison, who put the two in contact.
She says she informed the British Embassies in Ukraine and Lithuania about Davies' imprisonment: "They thanked me, and that's it…From Kyiv, I got the message that we wish him to be brave, and we think about him, and...that's all."
"For me, this is very strange because [POWs] are starving in prison, they need help immediately," the activist adds, "I sent [Davies] money so he could buy some food there… the food they are given is not enough. Every month they need food, clothes and medication."
The FCDO did not respond to specific requests for comment on Shevchenko's claims.
She says other countries do more than the UK to help their imprisoned nationals.
"[The British] can do everything possible to swap Hayden and give him the support in prison so that he could feel like people around are thinking about him," says the activist, "This is the most important [thing] in captivity, not to be forgotten."
A source in the Ukrainian government with knowledge of the matter told the BBC they're unaware of any "active work" by the UK authorities to assist imprisoned citizens.
Ex-soldier Shaun Pinner, who was captured in eastern Ukraine in 2022, was sentenced to death by a Russia-controlled court and spent five months in Russian captivity with four other British men before they were freed in a prisoner swap.
The UK government was "exceptionally good at keeping in contact with my family", he said, but it played no part in his exchange, which was brokered by the Saudi government.
He believes it's very difficult for the government to get involved in prisoner exchanges: "The best outcome is if it goes through Ukraine. I can understand there's a lot of frustration over lack of access but if Russia doesn't let diplomats in to see POWs, there's not a lot you can do," says Pinner.
The FCDO told the BBC: ""Under international law, Prisoners of War cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities. We demand that Russia respect these obligations, including those under the Geneva Conventions, and stop using Prisoners of War for political and propaganda purposes."
In its travel advice for Ukraine, the FCDO advises: "If you travel to Ukraine to fight…your activities may amount to offences under UK legislation. You could be prosecuted on your return to the UK."
It adds that "British nationals fighting in Ukraine have been killed or captured…The British Government's ability to support you in these circumstances is very limited."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxper4k5w1o
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Decade of strategic partnership: Key Putin-Xi meetings that shaped Russia-China ties
18 May, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China on May 19-20 is expected to mark a new milestone in the deepening partnership between Moscow and Beijing. The two sides are reportedly preparing to sign around 40 agreements, and issue a joint statement on expanding their comprehensive strategic cooperation.
Since Chinese President Xi Jinping took office in 2013, the two leaders have met more than 40 times, repeatedly producing major agreements and driving Russia-China ties to new heights.
RT looks back at some of the key meetings that have shaped relations between the two countries over the past decade.
March 2013
Russia became the first country visited by Xi after he took office. During talks with Putin, the two leaders discussed issues ranging from trade and technology cooperation to the crisis in Syria. Moscow and Beijing signed more than 30 agreements covering energy and humanitarian and cultural cooperation, including a deal to expand oil trade and an action plan under the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation.
May 2014
Putin’s state visit to Shanghai marked a watershed moment in Russia-China energy ties. In the presence of the two leaders, Russian energy giant Gazprom and China’s CNPC signed a landmark $400 billion gas deal under which Russia agreed to supply China with 38 billion cubic meters of gas annually over 30 years.
May 2015
Xi visited Moscow for Victory Day celebrations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The visit also produced a series of agreements linking China’s Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, a Moscow-led economic bloc of which Russia is a founding member.
September 2015
Putin traveled to Beijing for celebrations marking the end of World War II, with the visit also serving as a platform for extensive talks between Russian and Chinese officials. The trip resulted in nearly 30 signed documents, including 16 agreements between Russian and Chinese companies. Russian energy giant Rosneft alone signed deals with an estimated investment potential exceeding $30 billion, according to CEO Igor Sechin.
June 2016
Economic ties between Russia and China deepened further during another state visit by Putin to Beijing. The two sides signed a broad range of agreements covering energy, high speed rail development, aircraft manufacturing, and major investment projects.
July 2017
During Xi’s visit to Moscow, Putin awarded the Chinese leader the Order of St. Andrew, Russia’s highest state honor, in recognition of his role in strengthening the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two nations. Putin described Xi as a “big friend” of Russia who had consistently supported closer ties between Moscow and Beijing.
June 2018
Xi returned the gesture by awarding Putin the Chinese Order of Friendship, making him the first foreign leader to receive the honor. The Chinese president described Putin as a “founder” of modern Russia-China relations and the “most recognizable and respected” foreign leader in China.
June 2019
Russia and China declared that their comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation had entered a “new era” in a joint statement issued during Xi’s visit to Moscow. The declaration said the two countries had elevated bilateral ties to their highest level, setting an example of good neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Moscow and Beijing also pledged to deepen coordination on defending their core national interests, sovereignty, and long term development strategies.
February 2022
Russia and China described their relationship as a “no limits” partnership, emphasizing that their cooperation has “no forbidden areas” and is not constrained by traditional alliance structures. The phrase was formalized in a joint statement issued by Putin and Xi, in which the two sides pledged deeper coordination on security, economics, technology, and global governance while opposing what they described as Western dominance in international affairs.
March 2023
Russia became the first country visited by Xi after securing a third consecutive term as Chinese president. Beijing attaches “great importance” to ties with Moscow, Xi said at the time, describing the relationship as rooted in “historical logic” and driven by the two nations’ shared goals and interests.
Putin hailed the “major progress” in bilateral relations, noting that annual trade between Russia and China had surged from $87 billion to $185 billion over the previous decade.
May 2024
Putin chose China for his first foreign trip after securing re-election in 2024, describing ties with Beijing as a model of good-neighborly relations. Xi said the partnership had become a key pillar of global “strategic stability” and a driving force behind the democratization of international relations.
May 2025
Xi Jinping joined Russia’s Victory Day celebrations once again, a decade after first attending the commemorations in Moscow. During the visit, Xi said Russia and China had found the “right” model for cooperation and pledged to work together toward a more just and balanced system of global governance.
September 2025
Vladimir Putin traveled to China to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, describing the visit as a tribute to the sacrifices and heroism of the Russian and Chinese peoples during the conflict. The memory that “our ancestors paid an enormous price for peace and freedom” remains the foundation of modern Russia-China relations, he said.
Xi Jinping described ties between the two countries as a model of “eternal” friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640149-putin-xi-meetings-strategic-partnership/
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Europe’s search for a Putin negotiator deadlocked
18 May, 2026
The EU’s search for a potential negotiator with Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently been narrowed down to three candidates: Angela Merkel, Alexander Stubb, and Mario Draghi. However, all three come with baggage that could end any Ukraine peace talks before they begin.
European leaders have reportedly discussed appointing an envoy to Moscow since early 2025, apparently out of concern that the EU’s interests could be sidelined if the US and Russia draw up a peace deal for Ukraine without their involvement. In a report on Monday, Politico revealed that chatter in Brussels has focused on three potential candidates: former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Notable for her absence from this list is EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who as the bloc’s chief diplomat would normally be a natural fit for the role. Kallas nominated herself for the position last week, boasting that she could “see through the traps that Russia is presenting.”
However, EU diplomats told Politico that Kallas’ open hostility toward Russia – she refers to Putin as a “terrorist” and has expressed support for the defeat of Russia and its dissolution into “many different nations” – makes her a non-starter for the job. “She’s ruled herself out for this one, unfortunately,” one diplomatic source told the outlet.
While Merkel, Stubb, and Draghi have not called for the outright dissolution of the Russian state, their track records will likely give the Kremlin pause before entering talks in good faith.
Merkel the deceiver
Merkel, who served as Germany’s chancellor from 2005 to 2021, has a long relationship with Putin, speaks fluent Russian, and in late 2021 proposed the establishment of a diplomatic format between the EU and Russia, which failed to find backing from other members of the bloc. Merkel has recently defended her support for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, and on Monday criticized EU leadership for their refusal to engage with Moscow over Ukraine.
However, Merkel has also admitted that she negotiated the 2014 and 2015 Minsk accords – under which Kiev agreed to grant some autonomy to the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in exchange for a ceasefire with pro-independence forces – in bad faith. In 2022, Merkel admitted that the agreements were in fact an “attempt to give Ukraine time” to “create powerful armed forces” in preparation for a more intense conflict with Russia.
Putin has said that Russia was “simply led by the nose [and] deceived” by Merkel and the other European guarantors of the Minsk agreements.
Even if the Kremlin were to overlook Merkel’s deception, the former chancellor has ruled herself out as a potential envoy to Moscow. “We were only able to hold [the Minsk] talks with President Putin because we had political power, because we were heads of government,” she told German broadcaster WDR. “You need that power. And I, personally, would never have thought of asking a mediator to go to Minsk for me and talk to Putin.”
Stubb the hawk
While Stubb has said that it is “time to start talking to Russia,” he continues to take a maximalist position on the Ukraine conflict. The Finnish leader maintains that Helsinki’s two dozen military aid packages to Kiev are intended “to defeat Russia in the war,” and maintains that Ukraine “will join NATO and the EU,” the former of which is a glaring red line for Russia and one of the conflict’s triggers.
Stubb has also repeatedly invoked the Second World War as a template for Finland to follow in dealing with modern Russia, telling US President Donald Trump last year that “we found a solution in 1944 – and I believe we can find one in 2025.”
His retelling of the Second Soviet–Finnish War left out the fact that Nazi-allied Finland allowed a buildup of German troops on its soil before declaring war on the USSR in 1941, and omitted Finland’s participation in the extermination of a million Soviet citizens during the siege of Leningrad.
On top of these grievances, Stubb has also lifted a ban on hosting NATO nuclear weapons on his country’s soil, and given Ukraine his blessing to use Finnish weapons in long-range strikes on Russia.
Draghi the no-show
Politico describes Draghi as “widely respected in Europe and seen as neither overly hawkish nor sympathetic to the Kremlin.” While the former Italian PM lacks Stubb’s belligerence and Merkel’s track record of betrayal, his record on Ukraine is broadly in line with his European counterparts. Before resigning in July 2022, Draghi declared it “impossible to have meaningful dialogue with Moscow,” sent military aid to Ukraine, and promised Kiev “whatever it takes” to defeat Russia.
Draghi served as president of the European Central Bank from 2011 to 2019, and returned to economic affairs after his tenure as Italian PM ended, currently working as the EU’s rapporteur on competitiveness. While his name has come up in Brussels for the envoy position, Politico conceded that “there’s been no public signal that the economically focused Draghi wants the role.”
Who does Russia want?
Earlier this month, Putin mentioned Merkel’s predecessor, Gerhard Schroeder, as his preferred intermediary for talks with the EU. Schroeder served as chancellor from 1998 to 2005 and signed off on the Nord Stream 1 project, which buoyed Germany’s industrial output and economic growth during the Merkel years. A close friend of Putin, Schroeder worked as a director of the German-Russian consortium responsible for both Nord Stream pipelines after leading office, and served on the board of Russian oil giant Rosneft until 2022.
However, Schroeder is as unacceptable to Brussels as Kallas is to Moscow. Describing the former chancellor as a Russian “lobbyist,” she told reporters last week that it “would not be very wise” to side with Putin in choosing him.
Russia maintains that it is open to constructive dialogue, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed last week that any debate over who will lead the European delegation is meaningless until “a political decision to resume dialogue” is made in Brussels.
“How can you discuss anything with Kaja Kallas?” Peskov remarked to reporters earlier this year. Brussels, he added, is full of “semi-literate, incompetent functionaries.”
No matter who Brussels sends to Moscow, the EU’s vision for Ukraine remains fundamentally unacceptable to Russia. After the first iteration of Trump’s draft peace plan leaked to the media last year, Britain, France and Germany released a counterproposal that removes limits on NATO expansion, clears the way for Ukraine to join the military bloc, hands Ukraine security guarantees along the lines of NATO’s Article 5, and mandates that Moscow pay reparations to Kiev.
Top EU officials, including Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have endorsed all of these positions and insisted that Ukraine not be forced into making territorial concessions. With the US and Russia treating territorial concessions as a foregone conclusion, Brussels’ stubbornness all but guarantees that the EU will continue to be sidelined as the real powers draft a deal.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/640155-nato-kaliningrad-lithuania-budrys/
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North America
CAIR Condemns Bill Maher for Downplaying Growing Anti-Muslim Hate, Falsely Claiming Rep. Fine Never Called for Nuking Gazans
May 18, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today condemned comedian Bill Maher for downplaying growing anti-Muslim hate and falsely claiming Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) never called for using nuclear weapons on Gaza and for the destruction of all Muslims.
On his Real Time with Bill Maher, he said: “Now there are absolutely horrible things said about Muslims too. That should also be, of course, roundly condemned. Like Republican Congressman Randy Fine saying, ‘If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.’ That’s awful. But it’s not the same as they need to be nuked and let’s exterminate them.”
In fact, last year CAIR called on U.S. House leaders and members to demand Rep. Fine’s resignation after he posted a “deranged” call for the destruction of all “mainstream Muslims.”
Also last year, Rep. Fine suggested on national television that the United States should use nuclear weapons against Gaza, invoking the atomic bombings of Japan as a model for dealing with Palestinians.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“Bill Maher’s attempt to minimize and dismiss growing anti-Muslim hate is both irresponsible and dangerous at a time when American Muslims are facing rising bigotry, harassment, and threats. Rep. Randy Fine did not merely make one offensive comment, he repeatedly used genocidal, dehumanizing rhetoric targeting Palestinians and Muslims. Public figures should be condemning such hate unequivocally, not sanitizing or excusing it.
“When influential media personalities downplay anti-Muslim rhetoric, they contribute to a climate in which Muslims and Palestinians are viewed as less deserving of dignity, safety, and basic human rights.”
In March, CAIR said that the Kennedy Center’s award of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Bill Maher “highlights the glaring double standards surrounding bigotry and violence that exist in our society.”
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
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
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-bill-maher-for-downplaying-growing-anti-muslim-hate-falsely-claiming-rep-fine-never-called-for-nuking-gazans/
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CAIR-TX Joins DFW Muslim Groups in Calling for End to Hateful Fearmongering by Texas Politicians
May 18, 2026
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX), a chapter of the Nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined with a number of Dallas–Fort Worth Muslim organizations in calling for an end to the hateful rhetoric and fear-mongering by some Texas politicians.
‘It’s solid gold’: Some Texas Republicans ramp up criticisms of Muslims to energize primary voters – CNN
Texas GOP’s Anti-Sharia Crusade: The Dangerous History of State Islamophobia – Dallas Observer
Anti-Muslim rhetoric in Texas politics – Texas Tribune
Muslim Southerners Face a Fresh Wave of Hateful Political Rhetoric – New York Times
Manufacturing the Muslim Threat – Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH)
How anti-Muslim rhetoric has become a focus point for Texas Republicans on the campaign trail – KVUE
Republicans go all-in on ‘Sharia law’ attacks ahead of Texas primary – Politico
In Texas, a state hearing on social studies becomes a clash of religions – Washington Post
Young Muslims say GOP politicians’ anti-Islam focus is at odds with the Texas they know – Houston Public Media
Under attack by their own congressman – Washington Post
Without a Border ‘Invasion,’ Texas G.O.P. Turns to an Old Enemy, Islam – New York Times
The coalition of organizations – including Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim American Society (MAS-Dallas), Islamic Circle of North America’s Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ), Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP-UTD), Faith Power Alliance, Ahlul Bait Student Association (ABSA), Muslim Alliance for Black Lives (MABL-DFW) – say this hateful fearmongering not only harms Muslim communities, but also creates dangerous real-world consequences by normalizing hostility, intimidation, and potential violence against Muslims in Texas.
In a joint statement, the coalition of groups said:
“This hate-filled rhetoric by some Texas politicians and government leaders is dangerous as it threatens the safety of Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim. It also undermines the values of unity and respect that Texans hold dear. We urge public officials and community leaders to reject bigotry and to instead foster a safer environment for all Texans.
“The DFW Muslim community stands united against hate and calls on elected officials to promote unity, inclusivity and a mutual understanding for a safer, more harmonious Texas. This hateful fearmongering not only harms Muslim communities, but also creates dangerous real-world consequences by normalizing hostility, intimidation, and potential violence against Muslims in Texas.”
A Number of Texas members of Congress are members of the so-called “Sharia-Free America Caucus,” which CAIR has designated as an anti-Muslim hate group.
In March, CAIR-Texas and CAIR Action Texas condemned the creation of a so-called “anti-Sharia” caucus in the Texas Legislature, saying it is rooted not in reality, but in misinformation and fear that unfairly targets Muslim Texans.
Earlier this month, the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today responded to Governor Greg Abbott’s threat to terminate $530,000 in state grants to the City of Grand Prairie. The governor’s ultimatum forced the cancellation of “DFW Epic Eid,” a private community celebration at Epic Waters waterpark.
In March, CAIR-Texas condemned a social media post by U.S. Representative Chip Roy (R-TX) calling for “No more Muslims,” and called on House members to hold him accountable for his blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom.
Join the interfaith call to defend Muslim neighbors and to promote unbiased religious freedom in the United States
Last year, CAIR released an analysis of the fearmongering led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and anti-Muslim campaigner Amy Mek around a Muslim-led development project, EPIC City. The analysis places the attack in the context of both a continuing tradition of Texas political figures engaging in anti-Muslim actions and a broader national pattern of fearmongering around Muslim-led development projects.
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR encourages community members facing bias or hate incidents to report them to law enforcement and to CAIR.
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
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-tx-joins-dfw-muslim-groups-in-calling-for-end-to-hateful-fearmongering-by-texas-politicians/
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CAIR ACTION ALERT: Urge Congress to Support Rep. Tlaib’s Recognizing Nakba Resolution
May 18, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling on all Americans to call on their members of Congress to support Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s resolution recognizing the ongoing Nakba and support for Palestinian refugee rights.
The resolution was introduced ahead of the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, the Arabic word for “catastrophe,” which refers to the mass displacement, ethnic cleansing, and dispossession of Palestinians beginning in 1948 during the establishment of the State of Israel. More than 750,000 Palestinians were expelled or forced to flee their homes, hundreds of villages were destroyed, and generations of Palestinian families became refugees.
For Palestinians, the Nakba is not only a historical event but an ongoing reality continuing today through war, military occupation, settlement expansion, forced displacement, home demolitions, and the destruction of civilian life in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“For 78 years, Palestinians have endured exile, dispossession, and erasure while the world looked away. As Gaza burns and families are wiped from existence, more and more members of Congress are recognizing that Nakba can no longer be ignored or continue enabling the suffering and displacement of the Palestinian people. We urge every American to call on their members of Congress to demand support for this historic resolution.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-action-alert-urge-congress-to-support-rep-tlaibs-recognizing-nakba-resolution/
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CAIR-Ohio’s ‘Team Palestine’ Raises Awareness for Palestinian Orphans at Cleveland Marathon
May 18, 2026
On May 16, CAIR-Ohio participated in the 2026 Cleveland Marathon, joining over 13,000 runners in a citywide celebration of health, resilience, and community. For the third year in a row, CAIR-Ohio sponsored Team Palestine, a powerful initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), an organization providing life-saving medical care and humanitarian relief to Palestinian children.
CAIR-Ohio’s Executive Director, Faten Husni Odeh, crossed the finish line side-by-side with Dr. Robin Schaer, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Cleveland. Team Palestine was represented by a diverse and passionate group of runners who not only completed the race but also helped raise funds and awareness for Palestinian orphans in need.
Layali Muhammad, PCRF Cleveland Volunteer Vice President , said: “Team Palestine has been a part of the Cleveland Marathon for 5 years. This year we had 176 team members- we just keep growing, which is amazing! This year we were able to raise about $75,000 and counting for the PCRF Orphan Sponsorship Program. I love watching everyone cross the finish line. It warms my heart to see everyone accomplish something so special.”
Through physical endurance and collective action, Team Palestine reminded marathon spectators and fellow runners that advocacy can take many forms—from the streets to the finish line.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ohios-team-palestine-raises-awareness-for-palestinian-orphans-at-cleveland-marathon/
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CAIR-NJ Calls for Immediate Release of Amrou Ibrahim, New Jersey Global Sumud Flotilla Participant
May 18, 2026
The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) demands the immediate release of New Jersey resident and American citizen, Amrou Ibrahim. Amrou was detained by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
CAIR-NJ is concerned with reports that Amrou and other flotilla participants are being held on a cargo ship while they await transfer to an Israeli prison.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter said:
“Nutley resident, Amrou Ibrahim, was on a humanitarian mission to Gaza when he along with other flotilla passengers were abducted by Israeli authorities on international waters. We call on our federal representatives to find out where he is being held, ensure he is treated humanely, and to advocate for his release.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-calls-for-immediate-release-of-amrou-ibrahim-new-jersey-global-sumud-flotilla-participant/
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Houston man charged after alleged threats at Islamic center
Ronnie Marley
May 18, 2026
HOUSTON - A Houston man is facing a felony terroristic threat charge after investigators say he made violent threats during a confrontation at a northwest Harris County Islamic center last month, according to court documents filed in Harris County.
Houston man charged after Islamic center threats
Jacolby Trevon Poindexter, 29, was charged with terroristic threat stemming from an April 11 incident at the Ismaili Center located along Allen Parkway in Houston. The center serves the Ismaili Muslim community as a place of worship, education and community gatherings, according to the charging documents.
Investigators with the Houston Police Department’s Hate Crimes Unit stated in court documents that Poindexter drove onto the property and began speaking with a security guard before making a series of threatening and derogatory remarks. Court documents state a volunteer staff member told investigators the suspect made comments about the Prophet Muhammad and repeatedly stated he would "kill all the Muslims and Jews."
Witnesses told police they feared for their safety and the safety of worshippers at the center because of the repeated threats and the suspect’s behavior. One witness said the man appeared angry and refused repeated requests to leave the property. Another witness told investigators the suspect was seen leaving the property in a silver Toyota.
Police said surveillance footage captured a vehicle matching the description entering the property and leaving shortly afterward. Investigators later linked the vehicle’s license plate to Poindexter through vehicle registration and driver’s license records, court documents state.
According to investigators, Poindexter admitted during an April 22 interview that he had been at the Ismaili Center and said he was upset over what he described as his views about Islamic people. Court documents state he denied threatening to kill anyone but acknowledged confronting individuals and expressing his opinions.
Court records show Poindexter’s bond was set at $30,000, which he has posted.
Source: fox26houston.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.fox26houston.com/news/houston-man-charged-after-alleged-threats-islamic-center
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Trump delays ‘very major attack’ on Iran
18 May, 2026
US President Donald Trump has postponed what he described as a “very major attack” on Iran, saying Gulf leaders had asked Washington to give negotiations with Tehran another “two or three days.”
Trump said the strike had been scheduled for Tuesday, but that he had ordered the Pentagon to stand down for now after Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and “some others” urged him to allow more time for diplomacy.
“We were getting ready to do a very major attack tomorrow,” Trump told journalists. “I’ve put it off for a little while, hopefully maybe forever, but possibly for a little while, because we’ve had very big discussions with Iran.”
The president claimed that the Gulf states believe Tehran is “getting very close to making a deal,” adding that any agreement must prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Trump also instructed the US Department of War to remain ready for a “full, large-scale assault” at “a moment’s notice” if Washington does not receive what it considers an acceptable deal, according to his earlier post on Truth Social.
The announcement follows a series of threats by Trump, who warned Iran over the weekend that “the Clock is Ticking” and that “there won’t be anything left” of the country unless it accepts Washington’s demands.
Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran have remained stalled since a fragile ceasefire was established in early April, following a month of hostilities initiated by the US and Israel.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has insisted that “dialogue does not mean surrender,” promising in a post on X on Monday that Tehran would defend “the interests and honor of Iran” with “all our might.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran enters into dialogue with dignity, authority, and the preservation of the nation’s rights, and under no circumstances will it retreat from the legal rights of the people and the country,” Pezeshkian wrote.
Iran previously accused the Trump administration of taking a “maximalist approach,” while insisting that its own nuclear program is peaceful and that it will not dismantle its enrichment capabilities entirely. Tehran has also demanded sanctions relief, reparations, an end to Israel’s campaign in Lebanon, and recognition of what it calls its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: rt.com
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Africa
You Will Be Hunted Down, Don’t Test Trump – US Lawmaker Sends Warning To Nigerian Terrorists
May 18, 2026
United States Congressman Riley Moore has sent a stern warning to terrorists targeting Christians in Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview on NewsNation with anchor Anna Kooiman on Sunday, he stated that the insurgents will face consequences.
He warned them not to test United States President Donald Trump’s resolve to protect Christians in Nigeria.
He credited Trump with ordering the joint Nigerian-American operation that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS globally.
The Republican lawmaker, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, also discussed the recent strike and the broader crisis of religious persecution in north-eastern Nigeria.
“President Trump is laser focused on defending our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria against the slaughter and martyrdom they’ve faced at the hands of radical Islamic terrorists.
“The strike on Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS Number 2 globally, sends a clear message: those who target innocent Christians will be hunted down and brought to justice. Do not test President Trump’s resolve,” Moore wrote on his 𝕏 account on Monday alongside a video clip of the interview.
According to him, the administration’s engagement with Nigeria had intensified following Trump’s designation of the country as a nation of particular concern on October 31 last year.
The lawmaker further said that Trump had personally directed him to investigate the situation.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/18/trump-us-lawmaker-warning-nigerian-terrorists/
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Over 120 deaths in latest DR Congo Ebola crisis: this is what we know
19 May, 2026
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international health emergency after more than 120 suspected deaths and hundreds of possible infections linked to the highly contagious virus.
Health officials warn the outbreak could spread rapidly across the region as cases have already been confirmed outside the epicentre in north-eastern DR Congo.
At Kyeshero Hospital in Goma, medical staff have introduced strict infection prevention measures to limit the spread of the virus.
Hospital worker Celestin Ngengele said all visitors are required to pass through handwashing stations before entering pre-triage areas where temperatures and other vital signs are checked.
According to him, anyone showing signs of fever is immediately identified and isolated for further examination.
Health workers warn of shortages
Medical director Fabrice Bichenge said hospitals were not fully prepared for the outbreak and are facing shortages of infection prevention and control supplies.
He said the hospital had already appealed to partners and aid organizations for urgent support, expressing hope that assistance would arrive quickly.
More than 120 deaths reported
Congolese Health Minister Samuel-Roger Kamba said 91 reported deaths are suspected to be linked to the outbreak, while around 350 suspected cases have been identified.
Most patients are aged between 20 and 39, with women accounting for more than 60 percent of the reported cases.
The outbreak is centred in Ituri province, a region bordering Uganda and South Sudan that experiences heavy population movement linked to mining activities.
Virus spreads beyond Ituri province
Authorities confirmed a case in Goma, a major eastern city currently under the control of the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group.
Uganda has also recorded one confirmed case and one death involving Congolese nationals who travelled from DR Congo.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has warned of a high risk of regional spread to neighbouring East African countries.
No vaccine for Bundibugyo strain
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment.
The strain previously caused outbreaks in Uganda in 2007 and in DR Congo in 2012, with mortality rates estimated between 30 and 50 percent.
Health experts say rapid case detection, isolation, and strict hygiene measures remain the main tools available to contain the outbreak.
Communities initially feared “witchcraft”
The Congolese Health Ministry said some affected communities initially believed the disease was linked to witchcraft or a “mystical illness,” delaying medical intervention.
Instead of seeking hospital care, many infected people reportedly visited prayer centres first, slowing efforts to identify and isolate cases.
Experts now fear the outbreak could accelerate because of dense populations, insecurity, and the movement of people across borders.
Source: africanews.com
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Kenya transport protests turn deadly as four killed in fuel price unrest
19 May, 2026
At least four people have been killed during nationwide transport protests in Kenya, the interior minister has confirmed, as anger over rising fuel prices paralysed major cities and exposed deep economic strain.
The unrest erupted on Monday when public transport operators went on strike, forcing “matatu” minibuses off the roads and leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Protesters blocked highways, lit bonfires on major roads, and attempted to halt private vehicles and motorbike taxis in several cities, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Nyeri.
The government-linked strike was triggered by sharp fuel price increases, including a 23.5 percent rise in diesel, which authorities say was driven by global oil shocks linked to instability in the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials say Kenya, heavily dependent on imported fuel, has been hit hard by rising international prices.
Interior officials confirmed that four people were killed during the protests, without immediately providing further details on the circumstances of the deaths. Security forces were deployed in several hotspots as tensions escalated between demonstrators and police.
“They do not want to listen to the citizens when we say the prices are too high,” said one protester, describing widespread frustration over the cost of living.
The strike brought daily life to a standstill. Schools closed, businesses shut early, and major roads into Nairobi’s central business district were unusually empty, a stark contrast to the city’s typical congestion.
Treasury officials defended the price adjustments, arguing they were unavoidable amid global market pressures and fiscal constraints. However, critics say high domestic taxes on fuel have amplified the impact on consumers already struggling with inflation and poverty.
Economic analysts warned that prolonged disruption could deepen losses in an economy where a single day of protests can cost hundreds of millions of dollars, further straining households and businesses already under pressure.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/18/kenya-transport-protests-turn-deadly-as-four-killed-in-fuel-price-unrest/
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Nigeria: Joint US strikes hit militants as 46 kidnapped in school raids
19 May, 2026
Nigeria is facing a renewed surge in violence as security operations intensify in the northeast and kidnappings spread in the southwest, highlighting the country’s widening security crisis.
In the northeast, Nigeria and the United States have carried out fresh joint airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants, according to military officials. The strikes, conducted on Sunday, targeted convergence points of fighters in a coordinated operation involving the Nigerian Armed Forces and United States Africa Command.
Nigerian authorities say at least 20 jihadists were killed in the strikes, part of a continuing campaign following earlier operations that eliminated a senior Islamic State figure in the region. Officials described the attacks as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle ISWAP networks operating in the country’s northeast, where insurgent activity remains persistent despite years of military pressure.
“Multiple air strikes were conducted resulting in the elimination of more than 20 ISIS/ISWAP fighters,” Nigeria’s defence headquarters said, adding that intelligence confirmed the targets were militants and that no friendly forces were harmed.
But even as military pressure increases in the north, insecurity is escalating in other parts of the country.
In the southwest, the Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 46 people — mostly children — were kidnapped in coordinated attacks on three schools. The victims, aged between two and 16, were seized during raids in Oyo State, according to church officials and local authorities.
Police described the incidents as “coordinated attacks” carried out by armed gunmen who stormed multiple schools simultaneously, abducting pupils, students, and staff, including a vice principal. The attacks prompted temporary school closures before authorities later ordered a cautious reopening.
Nigeria continues to battle both jihadist insurgents in the northeast and criminal gangs known as bandits, who frequently target rural communities and schools for ransom. The twin crises underscore the country’s stretched security forces as violence spreads across multiple regions.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/18/nigeria-joint-us-strikes-hit-militants-as-46-kidnapped-in-school-raids/
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Somaliland marks independence day with renewed push for international recognition
19 May, 2026
Somaliland marked its independence day on Monday with renewed calls for international recognition, five months after Israel became the first nation to formally recognize the breakaway region.
Thousands gathered in the capital, Hargeisa, for military parades and celebrations as President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said Somaliland had met all the standards of a peaceful and democratic state.
“The Republic of Somaliland has fulfilled all the requirements of a responsible, peaceful, law-abiding, and democratic nation,” he said.
Abdullahi urged the international community to move beyond debate over Somaliland’s legitimacy.
“The question Somaliland asks the world is no longer whether we deserve recognition, but rather: when will the rest of the world recognise the Republic of Somaliland?”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has yet to gain broad international recognition.
While Israel’s decision was celebrated by many, it has also sparked divisions, with some residents concerned about regional tensions and opposition from parts of Somaliland’s eastern territories.
Despite the fanfare, no other country has followed Israel’s lead, leaving Somaliland’s quest for wider recognition unresolved.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/18/somaliland-marks-independence-day-with-renewed-push-for-international-recognition/
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Uganda enacts new law to protect sovereignty despite opposition
19 May, 2026
Uganda's president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has signed into law forbiding foreign interference in the country despite warnings from different concerned parties.
Museveni, 81, has always accused mainly the opposition and other NGOs of receiving funding from abroad with the intent to destabilize the East African nation.
The "Protection of Sovereignty" bill, passed by the parliament earlier this month, intends to criminalize the promotion of foreign interests at the expense of Uganda's interests.
The law, which carries a maximum imprisonment of 10 years, also bans anyone from implementing or developing policies without government approval.
The bill has sparked widespread concern among rights groups, journalists and sections of the private sector, who say it could undermine freedoms and deter investment in the East African nation.
"This bill has been opposed by almost all segments of society," said Mwesigwa Rukutana, a former deputy attorney general and finance minister.
"My advice is... to do widespread consultations to improve on it, to make it less toxic — or better still, shelve it," he added.
Human Rights Watch said it "mimics" laws passed in Russia and allied countries, using deliberately vague terms that can be applied to any campaigner deemed a nuisance.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/18/uganda-enacts-new-law-to-protect-sovereignty-despite-opposition/
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Libyan ex-prison boss faces ICC war crimes hearing
19 May, 2026
THE HAGUE: A former boss of a notorious Libyan prison faces three days of hearings at the International Criminal Court from Tuesday, accused of war crimes including murder, rape and torture.
Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, 47, is suspected of 17 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed at Mitiga prison near Tripoli between February 2015 and early 2020.
ICC judges say there are “reasonable grounds to believe” El Hishri was involved in “personally torturing, mistreating, sexually abusing, and killing detainees” at the prison.
Prosecutors say El Hishri ran the prison with an iron fist, with special responsibility over the women’s section.
According to the ICC, a “significant number” of people died during El Hishri’s time there, from torture, untreated injuries, starvation, or being left outside during winter.
At least five prisoners, including a 15-year-old boy, were raped by guards or other prisoners, the court alleged.
The proceedings at the ICC headquarters in The Hague, which run until Thursday, are not a trial but “confirmation of charges” hearings.
Judges will assess whether the charges against El Hishri are credible enough to proceed to a full trial. They have 60 days to decide.
They can either confirm the charges, in which case a full trial takes place, throw out the case and free El Hishri, or change the charges he faces.
Libya chaos
At an initial hearing in December, El Hishri sat impassively as he confirmed his name and date of birth before the judging panel of three women.
When invited to speak, he said he had no observations — “just requesting my release.”
El Hishri is the first suspect to appear at the ICC as part of the court’s UN-mandated investigation into Libya which began in 2011.
The oil-rich country is still grappling with the aftermath of the armed conflict and political chaos which followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
It remains divided between a UN-recognized government in the west and its eastern rival, backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
The ICC tries individuals for the world’s worst crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The court is seeking Osama Almasri Najim, head of Libya’s judicial police, on charges also relating to alleged crimes at the Mitiga prison.
Najim was arrested in Italy but released and returned to Libya, sparking a major political row in Italy and consternation at the ICC.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644084/middle-east
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Southeast Asia
Police seize 167 tonnes of frozen food in Kajang for crackdown on smuggling, halal fraud
By Anis Zalani
18 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — Police have crippled a major illegal frozen food syndicate in Kajang, seizing 167 tonnes of products worth RM12.4 million and arresting five individuals.
The syndicate is suspected of using a legitimate business as a front to distribute uncertified imported frozen goods, including allegedly adulterated halal items.
The operation was led by the Royal Malaysia Police’s Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA).
In a press conference today, KDNKA director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the raid targeted a premises that had been operating for approximately four years.
“During the operation, police arrested one local man and four Myanmar nationals aged between 21 and 43 who were believed to be employed at the premises,” he said.
Mohd Yusri revealed that the syndicate allegedly used a company registered for cold storage and logistics as a cover.
However, the facility was found to be operating without the proper licences required for frozen food storage and inspection under the Animals Act 1953.
The syndicate was believed to have used the business to distribute imported frozen products that were not properly certified, while also allegedly mixing halal and non-halal items, Mohd Yusri said.
The seized goods included 4,840 cartons of carcass products, 410 cartons of imported chicken wings, and 115 cartons of duck products. The possible source countries for the products were identified as China, Brazil, and Argentina.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the full extent of the network, including its masterminds and distribution channels, which could include restaurants and supermarkets nationwide.
From January 1 to May 15 this year, KDNKA has recorded 88 cases involving seizures worth RM157.3 million.
Under the specific “Op Taring Chiller,” eight cases have resulted in seizures totaling RM15.1 million.
Source: malaymail.com
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Housewife charged again over Facebook comments against King
19 May 2026
SHAH ALAM, May 19 — A housewife who was previously granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for posting offensive comments on Facebook against the King, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, was today charged again at the Sessions Court here with the same offence.
The fresh charge follows a Federal Court ruling that the words “offensive” and “annoy” in the relevant law are valid and constitutional. Suhaila Abd Halim, 40, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to her once more.
She is accused of knowingly making and posting offensive comments against the King with the intent to annoy others. The comments were seen at 8.30am on January 5, 2025, at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
The mother of six was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998, which is punishable by a fine of up to RM50,000, or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, as well as a further fine of RM1,000 for each day the offence persists after conviction.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab and prosecuting officer Mohamad Azmir Mohd Razali appeared for the prosecution, while Suhaila was represented by lawyer Rushilan Gunalan.
Fadhli proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety, while Rushilan requested a lower amount, arguing that his client is from the B40 income group and still has a breastfeeding child.
Judge Nor Hasniah Ab Razak allowed the accused to be released on bail of RM7,000 with one surety, ordering her to report to the nearest MCMC office once a month until the case is resolved. The court then set July 17 for further mention.
On July 7 last year, Suhaila pleaded not guilty to the charge at the Shah Alam Sessions Court. However, she was granted a DNAA on September 17, 2025, following a Court of Appeal ruling that had declared the words “offensive” and “annoy” in Section 233(1)(a) of the CMA 1998 unconstitutional.
The Court of Appeal had struck down those words after allowing an appeal by activist Heidy Quah to set aside a High Court decision that had dismissed her suit in 2023.
But on February 6 this year, the Federal Court reversed that position, ruling that the words “offensive” and “annoy” are valid and consistent with the Constitution. This reversal led to Suhaila being charged again today. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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‘Come once a week’: Selangor Sultan asks Ronnie Liu, DAP rep to visit Rukun Negara monument over pig farming controversy
19 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has called on all Selangor assemblymen to visit Dataran Selangor twice a month to read and understand the Rukun Negara displayed on a newly built monument plaque.
In a statement today, His Royal Highness said the reminder was especially directed at Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki of DAP and former Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew.
“I suggest that they come once a week to Dataran Selangor to understand and appreciate the meaning of the Rukun Negara, so that they become citizens who know how to respect the sovereignty of the royal institution and uphold courtesy and morality,” Sultan Sharafuddin said.
His Royal Highness said the plaque, placed in front of the Selangor state flagpole, was built and installed by the Selangor Public Works Department together with benches for visitors.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he had fully funded the cost of the Rukun Negara monument plaque and the benches.
His Royal Highness said the monument was meant to remind Malaysians, especially the younger generation, of the history behind the Rukun Negara, which was introduced after the May 13, 1969 racial riots and the declaration of a state of emergency.
The royal reminder comes after recent debate over Selangor’s proposed large-scale pig farming project in Bukit Tagar, after Sultan Sharafuddin said he did not consent to pig farming being carried out in any district of Selangor, citing environmental concerns, limited land resources and public well-being.
In January, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he would consult Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari on a proposal to cancel the Bukit Tagar project and consider relocating it to a more suitable site.
Anwar later said the government did not prohibit pig farming, but such farms should not be located in areas that could cause public concern, including near residential areas.
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia beats growth forecasts despite oil price surge above US$100, says Anwar
By Anis Zalani
19 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Malaysia’s economic performance has continued to outperform initial forecasts, despite global pressures and rising oil prices, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said that economic projections had earlier been based on oil prices of around US$70 (RM278) per barrel, but these have since climbed to above US$100 amid shifting global conditions.
“I heard projections indicating improved performance. However, forecasts are often slightly optimistic.
“When earlier economic projections were made, oil prices were around US$70 per barrel. They are now above US$100,” he said in his speech during the National Sports Awards 2025 here today.
He said that nevertheless, despite the challenging conditions, Malaysia’s economic growth performance for last year and the first quarter of this year had still come in higher than projected.
The increase in global oil prices has been driven partly by escalating tensions in the Middle East, including the Iran-Israel conflict, which has intensified since February this year.
Ongoing hostilities have contributed to volatility in global energy markets, particularly amid concerns over potential disruptions to key shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: malaymail.com
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Four Malaysians continue voyage towards Gaza despite flotilla interceptions
19 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — Four Malaysians are still continuing their journey towards Gaza even as most vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF 2.0) convoy have been intercepted and detained by Israeli forces.
They are Muhammad Hareez Adzrami, also known as Haroqs, and Chin aboard the vessel Alcyone; Syed Amirul on Don Juan; and Dr Thanisah on Zefiro, according to a report published in Berita Harian today.
Of the 44 ships in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF 2.0), only eight remain active, including Nablus (Alcyone), Beit Hanoun (Zefiro) and Isdud (Don Juan), which carry the four Malaysians.
Five other active GSF vessels are Hawsha (Cabo Blanco), Balad al-Sheik (Girolama), Kasrı Sadabat, Ramle (Sirius) and Akka (Andros).
At present, Nablus is 157.8 nautical miles from Gaza, while Zefiro and Isdud are 162.7 and 158.2 nautical miles away respectively.
According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) tracker, several vessels under its separate mission have already been intercepted, leaving only Lina Al-Nabusi still active.
The GSF 2.0 mission is carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis linked to the prolonged conflict in the region.
So far, 16 Malaysians involved in the GSF 2.0 humanitarian mission have been detained by Israeli forces.
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysian Army eases age, height and BMI requirements to boost new recruit numbers
18 May 2026
PORT DICKSON, May 18 — The Malaysian Army (TDM) has introduced improvements to its recruitment requirements for young soldiers to provide wider opportunities for the public to join military service.
Army chief General Datuk Azhan Md Othman said the improvements include raising the entry age limit from 25 to 30, as well as allowing applicants who wear glasses to apply.
He said the minimum height requirement for male candidates has also been lowered to 1.57 metres from 1.62 metres previously, while the Body Mass Index (BMI) limit has been raised to 28 from 26.9.
“These improvements have already been implemented. The move is aimed at expanding opportunities for Malaysians with the potential and qualifications to join the army.
“Each candidate will undergo a rigorous assessment and training process to ensure that only those who truly meet TDM standards are absorbed into the service,” he said when speaking to reporters at the Passing-Out Parade for Young Male Recruits Series 205/25 here today.
The main focus is not only on the number of personnel, but also on quality, expertise and the balance of the manpower structure to ensure that every Corps and Regiment is at an optimal level of readiness.
Azhan said the approach reflects the organisation’s commitment to becoming a more inclusive, progressive and sustainable force without compromising professionalism and combat readiness.
He expressed confidence that the improvements could increase new applications to the army by between 10 and 20 per cent, noting that more than 10,000 applications are received each year, but after initial screening, including health checks, only about 3,000 candidates meet the required criteria.
In a related development, the army is also committed to strengthening women’s participation in the service in line with organisational needs and future capability development.
Several suitable areas have been identified to expand women’s involvement, particularly in specialised roles to support operational effectiveness and organisational readiness.
“The recruitment of female young soldiers will be open for the July intake, with an estimated 350 recruits. This will be carried out in a planned manner to meet the army’s current and future needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the army fully supports the implementation of a holistic action plan through the establishment of an Anti-Bullying Task Force by the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to address the culture of bullying.
Azhan said the army has also set up a monitoring team, as most bullying and abuse incidents were found to occur outside working hours, in addition to raising awareness among personnel about bullying and alternative ways to resolve issues without resorting to such behaviour.
“In the long term, we have also established a special committee that will monitor the issue both holistically and at a micro level to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement in addressing this issue (bullying among military personnel).
“All three branches of the MAF are also conducting studies on cases since 2022 to identify patterns of incidents and subsequently formulate more effective mitigation plans,” he said.
He added that, to date, more than 10 officers and personnel have faced disciplinary action, including dismissal from service, for various offences.
Meanwhile, Azhan said a military officer involved in a fatal accident in the capital last month is currently undergoing the process of termination of his Short Service Commission, while a corporal involved in an assault case that led to the death of a private in Bentong, Pahang, was also dismissed from service on May 13. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Dhaka, Washington upbeat over growing Bangladesh-US ties
19 May 2026
Dhaka and Washington have expressed satisfaction over the growing trajectory of Bangladesh-US relations, reaffirming their commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and US Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs S Paul Kapur shared the view during a meeting at the US State Department yesterday, according to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, defence, the Rohingya crisis, the Indo-Pacific region, and people-to-people contact.
They also underscored the importance of regular high-level engagements to maintain momentum in the evolving bilateral relationship.
Shama Obaed also met US Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Andrew Veprek at the bureau’s office.
The state minister thanked the United States government for its continued support for the Rohingya cause.
Both sides agreed to continue working together to ensure the safe, sustainable, and voluntary repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar.
During her visit to Washington, Shama Obaed met President of the International Republican Institute Daniel Twining at the organisation’s headquarters.
She appreciated the institute’s longstanding partnership in supporting Bangladesh’s democratic development and praised its election observation delegation for promoting transparent and credible elections in the country.
The state minister highlighted the government’s commitment to inclusive democracy, youth empowerment, women’s political participation, protection of religious minorities, and strengthening civil society and media capacity.
Later, she addressed a roundtable discussion at the Atlantic Council, where she spoke about Bangladesh’s democratic transition, economic openness, and balanced foreign policy.
Following the roundtable discussion, Shama Obaed held a meeting with the Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council, Jenna Ben-Yehuda.
She reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to constitutional democracy, inclusive development, women’s empowerment, minority rights, and regional stability.
The state minister also stressed the need to sustain international attention on the Rohingya crisis and called for greater engagement from leading US policy institutions to promote a balanced and objective understanding of Bangladesh globally.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/dhaka-washington-upbeat-over-growing-bangladesh-us-ties-4179291
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Arakan Army’s actions amount to war crimes: HRW
19 May 2026
The Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, committed grave violations of the laws of war amounting to war crimes when it killed and wounded hundreds of Rohingya Muslims and torched their village in 2024, according to a Human Rights Watch report published yesterday.
The 56‑page report on the May 2, 2024 massacre at Hoyyar Siri in Buthidaung Township notes that details only began to surface more than a year later, after some survivors fled to Bangladesh and Malaysia.
HRW interviewed several dozen witnesses and survivors, corroborated their accounts by satellite imagery, and analysed and verified photographs and videos.
According to the report, hostilities between Myanmar junta forces and the Arakan Army in Rakhine State resumed in November 2023. Both sides have been responsible for serious abuses, including targeted attacks on civilians, arson, and unlawful conscription.
In Hoyyar Siri, the Arakan Army, which has been fighting the Myanmar junta for autonomy, deliberately fired on unarmed villagers who were seeking safety after the armed group advanced on two Myanmar military bases in the vicinity.
Two years after the massacre, the survivors remain unable to return home, with many effectively detained.
The AA rejected responsibility for the massacre, saying its fighters only targeted military personnel or members of Rohingya armed groups, but the HRW findings contradict the AA claims.
“Its fighters first opened fire on a group of civilians leaving Hoyyar Siri, some of whom were waving white flags,” the report reads.
“First, my son was hit by a bullet,” said one man, adding, “Then my wife and baby daughter were shot, followed by my other daughter.”
The fighters continued to fire on the villagers as they turned back and attempted to flee. One woman said the fighters gathered a group of villagers in a paddy field.
“Within minutes they opened fire at us randomly, without saying anything,” the statement quoted the woman as saying.
“No one was spared. My husband was hit by a bullet. When the Arakan Army saw he was still alive, they came closer, firing at him several more times.”
The attacks on the Rohingya people took the Arakan Army’s armed conflict with Myanmar’s junta to a new level of depravity, said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at HRW, in a statement.
“Today, the massacre’s survivors are effectively detained by the Arakan Army, which has neither provided redress nor held those responsible to account.”
Human Rights Watch compiled a list of over 170 villagers, including about 90 children, who were killed or are still missing after the Hoyyar Siri massacre. The actual death toll is likely much higher.
It analysed and verified photographs and videos showing human remains at three separate sites in the village.
In February 2025, the Arakan Army ordered all surviving Hoyyar Siri residents to relocate to a makeshift camp nearby.
Villagers who later managed to flee to Bangladesh told HRW that they were denied freedom of movement, subjected to forced labour, and faced severe shortages of food and medical care.
Over the past decade, the Myanmar military has committed ethnic cleansing, genocidal acts, and other atrocities in Rakhine State that have forced over a million Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
The massacre in Hoyyar Siri shows that returning to Rakhine State is still unsafe for Rohingya refugees, even in areas now controlled by the Arakan Army, HRW asserts.
It called for an immediate end to the attacks on civilians, the release of all civilians unlawfully detained, and the provision of redress to victims and their families. Both the Myanmar junta and AA should cooperate fully with independent investigations.
“Concerned governments should urgently press both the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army to respect the rights of all communities in Rakhine State,” said HRW Deputy Asia Director Ganguly.
Source: thedailystar.net
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IAB announces mayor candidates for Dhaka polls
19 MAY 2026
Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) yesterday announced its mayoral candidates for the upcoming elections to the two Dhaka city corporations.
Atikur Rahman Mujahid, central president of Islami Jubo Andolan, will contest in Dhaka North, while Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf will run in Dhaka South, said IAB Ameer Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim at a views‑exchange meeting with journalists at the party’s central office in Paltan.
Rezaul said the party would contest local government polls independently.
He also termed the trade agreement signed with the US during the interim government’s final days a “deal of subjugation”, urging both government and opposition to discuss the matter in parliament.
The IAB chief further spoke about the collapse of the party’s electoral understanding with Jamaat, blaming unilateral decisions on seat‑sharing, inclusion of new parties, secret meetings with India and the US, and commitments to run the country under existing laws instead of Islamic law.
He said attempts to preserve the understanding later failed.
Secretary General Maulana Yunus Ahmad, spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman, and senior leaders of the party were, among others, present.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Denmark Donates Over $5 Million to Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund
By Fidel Rahmati
May 18, 2026
Denmark has contributed more than $5 million to the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to support urgent relief operations across the country.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said new humanitarian funding will support emergency relief programs in Afghanistan and help vulnerable communities access critical assistance.
The UN agency said the additional funding will strengthen delivery of essential services and cover parts of ongoing humanitarian operations targeting people affected by crisis conditions across the country.
OCHA warned that Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remains highly fragile, with millions of people continuing to require urgent food, healthcare and livelihood support.
The organization thanked donor countries for continuing financial support and described sustained international assistance as essential for maintaining humanitarian operations throughout Afghanistan.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan may require humanitarian assistance during 2026, while food insecurity and poverty remain widespread.
Aid agencies have also warned that mass returns and deportations of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran are increasing pressure on Afghanistan’s already overstretched humanitarian and public service systems.
International organizations have repeatedly warned that declining global aid budgets could worsen living conditions for millions of Afghans dependent on emergency humanitarian assistance.
The UN previously launched a $1.71 billion humanitarian response plan for Afghanistan, describing the country as one of the world’s largest ongoing humanitarian crises.
Source: khaama.com
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Central Asia’s Security Depends on Stability in Afghanistan, Kyrgyz President Says
May 19, 2026
KABUL: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has emphasized that the security of Central Asia cannot be separated from stability in Afghanistan.
He reaffirmed Bishkek’s commitment to continuing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and stated that Kyrgyzstan supports Afghanistan’s integration into the international community.
Japarov also noted that if Kyrgyzstan is elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the country will prioritize efforts related to Afghanistan’s situation.
Over the past four years, relations between Kabul and Bishkek have significantly expanded, with officials from both countries working to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/central-asias-security-depends-on-stability-in-afghanistan-kyrgyz-president-says/
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Nationwide United Front Required to Irradiate Polio
May 19, 2026
Afghanistan, under the Islamic Emirate, has once again taken a decisive step toward safeguarding the health of its children by launching the second round of the 2026 sub-national polio vaccination campaign. From May 18 to May 21, more than 8.3 million children across 20 provinces will receive the life-saving vaccine, with additional coverage in Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, and Zabul from May 19 to May 22. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Public Health in cooperation with international partners, is not just a medical campaign, it is a national mission to eradicate one of the world’s most persistent diseases.
Polio remains endemic in only a handful of countries, and Afghanistan is among them. The virus, which can cause irreversible paralysis, continues to threaten the future of countless children. Yet, with each vaccination round, the country moves closer to eliminating this scourge. The commitment expressed by Public Health Minister Noor Jalal Jalali underscores the seriousness of this effort. Afghanistan will not rest until polio is eradicated.
But vaccines alone cannot achieve this goal. Success depends on the active cooperation of citizens. Parents must open their doors to vaccinators, ensuring that every child receives protection. Religious scholars, tribal elders, and community leaders must lend their voices to encourage participation, dispelling myths and reinforcing trust. When society unites behind science and compassion, progress becomes unstoppable.
The role of security forces is also vital in this area. For vaccinators to reach every corner of the country, they must be able to travel safely and without fear. The assurance of security across all provinces by the forces of the Islamic Emirate is therefore indispensable. Protecting health workers is protecting children, and protecting children is protecting Afghanistan’s future.
This campaign is more than a health initiative, it is a symbol of resilience. It demonstrates that even in the face of challenges, Afghanistan can mobilize its institutions, communities, and international allies to fight for a healthier tomorrow. Every vaccinated child represents hope, every supportive parent represents courage, and every secure province represents progress.
The eradication of polio is within reach, but only if all citizens recognize their responsibility. Cooperation with vaccinators, support from community leaders, and the guarantee of nationwide security form the three pillars of success. Afghanistan has the opportunity to join the ranks of polio-free nations, ensuring that future generations grow up free from the shadow of this disease.
The time to act is now. So, let us stand together, parents, elders, scholars, and officials, to protect our children, strengthen our communities, and secure a healthier, stronger Afghanistan.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/nationwide-united-front-required-to-irradiate-polio/
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Renovation of Balkh University Teaching Hospital Completed, Ministry
May 18, 2026
KABUL: The Ministry of Higher Education said in a statement on Sunday that the renovation of Balkh University Teaching Hospital has been completed at a cost of more than 9.5 million Afghanis.
According to the statement, various sections of the hospital have been repaired and modernized, while electricity and water systems, operating rooms and other facilities have been upgraded and improved.
The statement added that the reconstruction project will not only improve healthcare services for patients but also provide a better environment for the practical training of medical students.
The ministry described the renovation as part of broader efforts to strengthen educational and healthcare institutions and improve the quality of medical training in the country.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/renovation-of-balkh-university-teaching-hospital-completed-ministry/
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