'Kashmir Files' Supporter Says Valley Muslims Not Responsible For Pandit Exodus
New Age Islam News Bureau
14 June 2026
A poster of The Kashmir Files
File picture
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· 'Kashmir Files' supporter says Valley Muslims not responsible for Pandit exodus
· Al-Amiri: Fatwa of the Sufficient Jihad Marked a Historic Turning Point in Confronting Terrorism
· Saudi and Pakistani foreign ministers discuss regional situation, US-Iran deal
· 1,569 days and counting: Russia-Ukraine war now longer than World War I
· Trump’s Iran deal achieves none of Israel’s war goals – opposition leader
· ‘No Negotiation With Terrorists’ – Tinubu Reacts To Death Of Retired Major General
· Indonesia hosts Muslim Youth Forum focused on global unity
· Islamic Emirate Leader Stresses Implementation of Sharia-Based System
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India
· After SC observation, Khalid, Sharjeel move fresh bail plea in UAPA case
· What right have you given to Kashmiris under your control: Sheikh Abdullah asked Pakistan
· ‘We are not like Hitler’: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat backs Hosabale's dialogue with Pakistan remark
· Imtiaz Ali was ‘jokingly’ asked how he got admission in Hindu College as a Muslim
· ‘Musalman’, India’s first Muslim superhero who fights hate with humour
· Meeting held with Muslim community members concerning Moharram procession
· 14 men sentenced to life by MP court for lynching Muslim man over cattle smuggling allegations
· 'Rs 12 lakh' seizure in Ayodhya Ram temple intensifies scrutiny over donation theft
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Mideast
· Dozens protest peace deal outside Iran foreign ministry: media
· What the discovery of Assad-era chemical weapons means for Syria
· Iranians endure war fatigue and soaring prices as conflict deepens domestic woes
· Tanker struck by unknown projectile 6 nautical miles east of Oman, UKMTO says
· Funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei to begin July 4, burial set for July 9
· Sheikh Hamoudi: The Fatwa Was a Divine Inspiration and the PMF Must Be Kept Free from Partisan Domination
· “Islamic Jihad”: Ongoing crimes against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
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Arab World
· Saudi farmer’s passion grows into orchard of 1,700 mango trees
· Saudi climate envoy meets Germany’s minister in Berlin
· Masam project destroys 1,354 land mines, war remnants in Yemen
· Saudi World Cup fans buzzing in Miami as players countdown to Uruguay opener
· Saudi Arabia urges global action on elder rights
· 21 Umrah companies suspended for poor performance, regulatory breaches
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Europe
· Humza Yousaf breaks silence after conviction in 'Dundee axe girl' case as he warns 'Muslims are a target'
· Sweden shows that not all immigrants are the same
· Two people charged in Royal Court over attack outside Mosque
· Thousands gather for anti-racism rally in Belfast after disorder
· Rival protesters clash in Glasgow amid migration tensions
· Puffy Putin peril: The West’s latest attempt to scare itself
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North America
· Trump says Iran deal will be signed on Sunday
· US ban on Anthropic models sparks AI sovereignty concerns
· 'All vessels should comply with orders from US forces in Hormuz', Rubio tells Jaishankar
· Why the US economy keeps defying the odds
· Judge rejects last-minute bid to stop Trump’s White House UFC event
· US-funded biolabs project ‘overwhelmingly’ focused on Russia – ex-CIA analyst
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Africa
· Abdulsalami Was Working To Release Abiola Before His Death – Obasanjo
· Tears As Retired General Who Died In Bandits’ Captivity Is Buried
· DHQ Reacts As Ex-spokesperson, Gen. Radabe Dies In Bandits’ Captivity
· Somali President says Israel exploiting row with Somaliland
· Mauritanian Ambassador Affirms His Country's Commitment to Strengthening Cooperation and Friendship with Libya
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Southeast Asia
· IAEA chief: Malaysia on solid footing to pursue nuclear power
· Malaysia’s political stability secures energy supply, says PM
· Rosmah denies role in alleged US$13m property deal, lodges police report over online claims
· PAS says Hamzah Zainudin’s return as Opposition Leader was always the plan
· Anwar: National Integrity Enculturation Strategy can strengthen culture of integrity across all segments of society
· Singapore launches Standards and Conformance 2035 roadmap to boost global competitiveness
· Hadi: PAS supports Parti Wawasan Negara joining Perikatan, Bersatu free to decide its future
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South Asia
· IEA’s supreme leader chairs cabinet meeting in Kandahar, urges stronger religious education and public service
· Won’t give govt ‘much time’
· Jamaat seeks clarification on new Indian envoy’s remark
· Opposition trying to create unrest over budget
· U.S. Deports Migrants, Including Afghans, to Central African Republic
· Brussels’ Opening: A Path Toward Constructive Engagement
· MoU Signed to Provide Healthcare in 6 Provinces
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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'Kashmir Files' supporter says Valley Muslims not responsible for Pandit exodus
Muzaffar Raina
14.06.26
A poster of The Kashmir Files
File picture
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The Kashmir Files, the deeply polarising film on the Kashmiri Pandit migration, appears to be facing an unexpected challenge from within, with a senior Pandit figure associated with the film exonerating ordinary Valley Muslims from culpability over his community’s exodus.
"Kashmiri hospitality is world famous. We have no complaint against the people here. The Kashmiri Pandit is not the enemy of anybody here. We are one people," US-based doctor Surunder Koul said in a media interaction this week.
Dr Koul, head of the Global Kashmir Pandit Disapora, had been part of the 2022 film’s promotions and had in multiple interviews recalled how he had convinced director Vivek Agnihotri to make a film on the "genocide and ethnic cleansing" of the Pandits.
Currently, the doctor is a participant in a nine-day "heritage tour" of Kashmir organised by several Pandit bodies.
"Our civilisation, this 800-year-old Martand temple, is the heritage of everybody, whether Muslim or Hindu. We have never had any problem with anybody," he said.
The Kashmir Files paints Kashmiri Muslims as villains and claims they played an active role in the Pandits’ migration. Dr Koul had defended the film against charges of propaganda, saying it had depicted the truth. However, at his recent media interaction, he said his only complaint against ordinary Kashmiri Muslims was their silence during the Pandit migration.
"There is one grievance with the people — and you can express grievance with your own. When it (the migration) was happening in 1989 and 1990, (it was like) they saw nothing, heard nothing and said nothing," he said. "But we are not against them. We are coming as strangers to our home after 36 years; think about it."
Several Kashmiri Pandits have criticised Dr Koul’s remarks. Kashmir Pandit Conference leader Kundan Kashmiri said the remarks were "deeply disturbing, insensitive, and wholly unrepresentative". Dr Koul praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing "very positive" changes to Kashmir. He recalled a meeting in Houston with Modi in 2019 where the Prime Minister reportedly told the Pandit diaspora that they had suffered a lot but things were about to change. "I feel happy to say that he really changed the situation," Dr Koul said.
Modi had publicly praised The Kashmir Files when it released in 2022. Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha too had recently provoked Pandit anger by exonerating ordinary Muslims from complicity in the Pandit migration.
On Saturday, addressing a Pandit conclave here, he said the Pandits’ journey from displacement to global success stood as a remarkable example of courage, resilience and determination. He said the time had come for the Pandits’ return to the Valley.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah's adviser, Nasir Aslam Wani, who too spoke at the conclave, called for the revival of the apex committee on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits. He said a structured dialogue mechanism was needed to find a lasting solution to the issue of the community’s return to the Valley.
In an old interview where he had backed the film, Dr Koul had claimed to have helped collect 700 testimonials from Pandit survivors. Of the about 50,000 people killed in the Kashmir insurgency, around 250 were Pandits.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/the-kashmir-files-backer-surunder-koul-urges-unity-and-pandit-return-to-valley-prnt/cid/2165413
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Al-Amiri: Fatwa of the Sufficient Jihad Marked a Historic Turning Point in Confronting Terrorism
June 13, 2026
Secretary-General of the Badr Organization Hadi al-Amiri said on Saturday that the Fatwa of the Sufficient Jihad marked a historic turning point in confronting Islamic State terrorism, contributing to the protection of Iraq and its holy sites and the liberation of territories seized by the terrorist groups.
In a statement marking the 12th anniversary of the issuance of the Fatwa of the Sufficient Jihad, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Amiri said that Iraq's highest religious authority, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, “confronted through this fatwa the most dangerous terrorist assault targeting Iraq, its land and its holy sites,” adding that “the supreme religious authority was present, as Iraqis have always known it to be, in confronting critical junctures and major events.”
He added that “the call of the religious authority mobilized the Iraqi people to shoulder their responsibilities and join the battle to defend the homeland, resulting in a broad and rapid response embodied by the arrival of thousands of volunteers at the battlefronts.”
Al-Amiri noted that “this response contributed to defeating terrorism and liberating occupied territories within a record period of time.”
He further said that “the supportive stance toward the resistance forces and the leaders of victory played an important role in strengthening efforts to confront terrorism,” recalling “the sacrifices of the martyrs, the wounded and the disabled among the men of the fatwa and members of the security forces in all their formations, including the Ministries of Defense and Interior, the Counter-Terrorism Service and the Popular Mobilization Commission.”
AL-Amiri also praised “the significant role played by the Iraqi people, in all their segments, in supporting the fighters through logistical assistance and care for their families,” stressing that “this constituted a popular support base that contributed to achieving victory over terrorism.”
He concluded his statement by praying for mercy and forgiveness for the martyrs and for patience and steadfastness for the wounded and the families of the martyrs, stressing the importance of preserving a united, sovereign and independent Iraq.
Source: ina.iq
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https://ina.iq/en/politics/49567-al-amiri-fatwa-of-the-sufficient-jihad-marked-a-historic-turning-point-in-confronting-terrorism.html
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Saudi and Pakistani foreign ministers discuss regional situation, US-Iran deal
June 13, 2026
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his counterpart from Pakistan Muhammad Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone on Saturday. (SPA)
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RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his counterpart from Pakistan Muhammad Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, they discussed the latest regional developments and the efforts being made in this regard, SPA added.
The two ministers also reviewed progress in ongoing United States-Iran talks for a deal to end their war and expressed optimism that it would lead to lasting peace in the Middle East, the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
The statement came shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has mediated between Iran and the US, said that a peace deal to end the US-Iran war would “likely” be finalized within 24 hours
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2647056/saudi-arabia
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1,569 days and counting: Russia-Ukraine war now longer than World War I
Jun 13, 2026
The Russia-Ukraine war has entered uncharted territory. More than four years after Russian forces crossed into Ukraine in February 2022, the conflict has now lasted longer than World War I, the global conflict that raged from 1914 to 1918 and came to be known as the Great War.
According to a NYT report, the war has reached 1,569 days, surpassing the duration of World War I. What began as a military operation that the Kremlin believed would bring Kyiv to its knees within days has instead evolved into Europe's longest and bloodiest conflict since World War II.
However, unlike World War I, which drew in multiple great powers across continents, the Russia-Ukraine war remains primarily a two-country conflict. Yet the extensive use of modern military technology, from drones and precision-guided missiles to electronic warfare systems, has made it one of the most technologically advanced wars in recent history, shaping the strategies of both Putin and Zelenskyy.
In 2022, Moscow expected a swift victory. Instead, the invasion has turned into a prolonged and costly confrontation, reshaping Europe's security landscape and defying nearly every early prediction about its trajectory.
So far, numerous attempts have been made to cool tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. None has succeeded in bringing the war any closer to a durable peace.
American commander-in-chief Donald Trump, who has often cast himself as a dealmaker capable of resolving some of the world's toughest conflicts, also sought to play mediator.
Yet the Ukraine problem proved far more hard-nosed than expected.
In one of the conflict's most closely watched diplomatic moments, Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska, hosting him on American soil for the first time in a decade.
The optics included handshakes, bilateral talks, joint appearances and promises of engagement. But when the cameras were switched off, little changed on the battlefield.
Putin returned to Moscow, and the war machine kept moving.
Zelenskyy, meanwhile, continued to shuttle between capitals in search of support. Dependent on Western military aid and financial assistance to sustain Ukraine's resistance, the Ukrainian leader made repeated visits to Washington.
Yet some of those visits generated as much discussion about his trademark wartime attire as they did about the substance of diplomacy, a reminder of how symbolism often competed with strategy in the public narrative surrounding the war.
Putin's gamble, Zelenskyy's resistance
The war between Russian President Vladimir Putin, the former KGB officer who has dominated Russian politics for more than two decades, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the comedian-turned-politician who became the face of Ukraine's wartime resistance, has stretched far beyond initial expectations.
Few would have predicted that Ukraine, a country outside Nato and without nuclear weapons, would be able to withstand Russia's military power for so long.
Equally, the Kremlin is unlikely to have anticipated that a campaign expected to last days or weeks would still be raging more than four years later.
Russia launched the invasion seeking to bring Ukraine firmly within its sphere of influence. However, Kyiv's resistance, backed by extensive Western military and financial support, transformed the conflict into a grinding war of attrition, consuming lives, resources and political capital on a vast scale.
"I thought maybe two or three years, and then politicians will find some kind of consensus," a Ukrainian soldier identified only by his call sign "France" told The New York Times.
Instead, the war continues with no clear end in sight.
Echoes of World War I
For years, analysts and military observers have compared the war in Ukraine to World War I.
The similarities are difficult to ignore: trench warfare, brutal infantry assaults, staggering casualties and the relentless struggle for incremental territorial gains.
The Economist described the anniversary as a "sombre milestone", mentioning the irony that a conflict many expected to last only days has now outlived the war that people in 1914 believed would be "over by Christmas".
The parallels extend beyond duration. Then, as now, military planners anticipated quick victories. Instead, soldiers found themselves trapped in prolonged warfare, battling not only the enemy but also exhaustion, uncertainty and rapidly evolving military technologies. Where machine guns, tanks and mustard gas transformed warfare a century ago, drones, precision strikes and digital surveillance define the modern battlefield.
For many Ukrainians, moreover, the war's origins stretch beyond 2022. They trace the conflict back to 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow-backed separatists ignited fighting in eastern Ukraine. Viewed through that lens, the conflict has already lasted well over a decade.
Search for peace
Despite the symbolic milestone, peace remains elusive.
According to The Economist, recent battlefield developments have marginally improved Ukraine's position. Ukrainian drone strikes are reaching deeper into Russian territory, while Europe is preparing substantial financial assistance for Kyiv even as American support appears less certain than before.
Yet diplomatic efforts remain stalled. Putin has shown little willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations despite repeated calls from Ukraine and its Western allies. The war continues with neither side appearing ready to make the concessions necessary for a breakthrough.
Lessons from Versailles
For The Economist, the lessons of World War I's aftermath may ultimately prove as important as the lessons of the war itself.
The Treaty of Versailles ended the fighting in 1919 but left behind grievances and unresolved tensions that contributed to another, even more devastating global conflict two decades later. That history, the publication argues, should weigh heavily on policymakers seeking an end to the Ukraine war.
A future settlement is unlikely to resemble a decisive victory by either side. Russia is not a defeated state facing unconditional surrender, while Ukraine's allies will eventually confront difficult questions involving territory, sanctions, reconstruction and long-term security guarantees.
The challenge will be to construct a peace that prevents future conflict rather than merely freezing the current one.
No end in sight
More than four years after the invasion began, the war has already transformed Europe.
The war has tested Western unity, strengthened Ukrainian national identity and exposed the limits of military forecasting.
Above all, it serves as a reminder that wars often outlast the ambitions, assumptions and timelines of those who start them.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/1569-days-and-counting-russia-ukraine-war-now-longer-than-world-war-i/articleshowprint/131697154.cms
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Trump’s Iran deal achieves none of Israel’s war goals – opposition leader
14 Jun, 2026
An airstrike during US-Israeli attacks against Iran, March 2, 2026. © Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu via Getty Images
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The peace agreement being finalized between the US and Iran is bad for Israel, Yair Lapid, the leader of the Israeli opposition and a former prime minister, said on Saturday.
US President Donald Trump announced that the deal would be signed on Sunday, while Iran said a memorandum of understanding would be agreed in the coming days, without confirming a specific date.
“The emerging agreement achieves none of Israel’s war objectives. The (Iranian) regime survives, its missile program remains intact, and Iran can rebuild its nuclear program,” Lapid wrote on X. He argued that the deal represented “a complete failure” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US and Israel launched a joint military campaign against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes across the Middle East and leading Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz to nearly all shipping, triggering a surge in global energy prices. The regular exchange of strikes largely ceased after a truce was reached in April.
Although the exact details of the agreement have not been made public, Trump said Iran would pledge not to seek nuclear weapons, while the US would dilute and “destroy” the country’s enriched uranium stockpile.
Iran has long insisted that uranium enrichment is its sovereign right. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that a memorandum of understanding would focus on ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while providing a 60-day window for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has repeatedly denied having any plans to develop nuclear weapons.
The US and Israel have previously demanded that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear program and surrender its entire stockpile of enriched uranium. Netanyahu also repeatedly called on Iranians to topple their government.
“As long as I am prime minister of Israel, Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons. There is complete agreement between President Trump and me on this issue,” Netanyahu said on Friday.
According to Axios and CNN, however, news that a deal was close to being reached caught Netanyahu by surprise. Trump said Israel would have “no choice” but to accept the agreement and acknowledged pressuring Netanyahu to halt airstrikes in Lebanon during several heated phone calls.
Both Democrats and dissident Republicans have accused Trump of going to war with Iran on Israel’s behalf. Trump has rejected the claim, insisting that he was acting in the interests of the United States.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/641508-lapid-slams-trump-iran-deal/
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‘No Negotiation With Terrorists’ – Tinubu Reacts To Death Of Retired Major General
June 13, 2026
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed shock over the death of retired Major-General Rabe Abubakar while in the custody of terrorists in Katsina State.
Naija News reports that the Katsina State Government on Saturday confirmed the death of Major General Rabe Abubakar, while in the captivity of bandits.
The government described the incident as tragic, saying his death was a major loss not only to his family and Katsina State but also to the country.
According to the statement, the retired major general died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while still being held by his abductors.
Reacting in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President noted that General Abubakar, after a distinguished career in the military, retired a few years ago, adding that he was on his way to his hometown when the hoodlums captured him.
Tinubu commiserated with his family, especially his wife, who is still being held against her will by the captors.
He also extended his condolences to the Katsina State government and the armed forces.
The statement said: “While the terrorists have done their worst, the President wants them to know that the government will never bow to their demand to release their members held by our security agencies.”
“As I said on June 12: “Bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terror should now surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian State. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. And no mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians.
“As Nigerians, we must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation.
“General Abubakar’s death should further serve as a defining moment in our battle against terrorists and insurgents, never to negotiate with them on any terms, but to continue to treat them as the greatest enemies of our dear nation, who should never be spared,” the statement added.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/13/negotiation-terrorists-tinubu-death-retired-major-general/
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Indonesia hosts Muslim Youth Forum focused on global unity
June 13, 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) regarded the International Muslim Youth Forum (IMYF) 2026 in Jakarta as a platform for young Muslims worldwide to strengthen unity amid complex global challenges.
“Forums like this are important to build awareness, strengthen unity, and tighten collaboration among young Muslims worldwide,” Head of the DPR’s Committee for InterParliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) Syahrul Aldi Maazat noted in a statement received here on Saturday.
He made the remarks on the opening day of the forum, which carried the theme “Beyond Borders: Muslim Youth Shaping the Future of the Ummah in a Turbulent World.”
Maazat described the international forum as a strategic platform for Muslims to broaden networks beyond countries and nationalities.
He said the platform was expected to generate ideas and pave the way for concrete cooperation with tangible impact on the international community.
The lawmaker observed that emerging challenges are pushing young people worldwide to foster collective strength through innovation, collaboration, and real action.
“We should not be pessimistic. As youth, we must remain optimistic. The future should be shaped through collaboration, unity, and confidence that we are capable of contributing to the world,” he affirmed.
He added that Islamic values emphasize peace, justice, and respect for humanity, calling on young Muslims to amplify messages of peace globally to help ease tensions surrounding ongoing armed conflicts in various regions.
“Let us hope this spirit will sustain and energize young Muslims around the world to align steps toward shaping a more peaceful, just, and prosperous future,” Maazat remarked.
He said key ideas from IMYF 2026 would become critical points of reference at related international events, notably the upcoming session of the Parliamentary Union of OIC Member States (PUIC) in Azerbaijan.
“We will bring the spirit and ideas cultivated in this forum to the PUIC meeting to inspire the parliaments of OIC countries to continue strengthening cooperation and the role of young people in building world peace,” he concluded.
Source: antaranews.com
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/419088/indonesia-hosts-muslim-youth-forum-focused-on-global-unity
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Islamic Emirate Leader Stresses Implementation of Sharia-Based System
14 Jun 2026
The leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada, emphasized the proper implementation of the Sharia-based system and the enforcement of his decrees during a meeting with members of the Cabinet in Kandahar.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada instructed cabinet members to ensure the implementation of the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice principles and to enforce issued decrees. He also directed officials to familiarize the public with Islamic teachings alongside carrying out their official responsibilities.
According to Fitrat, “His Excellency Amir al-Mu’minin provided ministers of the Islamic Emirate with necessary guidance and important recommendations regarding the proper fulfillment of their duties, implementation of the Sharia-based system’s decrees, adherence to justice in dealing with the public, resolution of people’s problems, and sincere service.”
The Islamic Emirate’s leader also called on cabinet members to work toward expanding religious education and awareness across the country and to further acquaint the public with Islam, Sharia, and the Islamic system.
Political analyst Abdul Malik Afghan said that continuing such meetings could contribute to better implementation of decrees, improve officials’ awareness, and help familiarize the public with religious teachings.
Religious scholar Sayed Hamed Hosseini said: “Religion and governance are inseparable, and if one is separated from the other, both will suffer.”
The remarks come as the leader of the Islamic Emirate previously stated in his Eid al-Adha message that under the Islamic system, citizens’ Sharia-based rights are protected and injustice and oppression are prevented.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-199622
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India
After SC observation, Khalid, Sharjeel move fresh bail plea in UAPA case
Jun 14, 2026
New Delhi: Activists Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid moved fresh bail applications Saturday before a court in the larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, citing prolonged incarceration and delay in trial.
The pleas were filed before additional sessions judge Sumedh Kumar Sethi after a Supreme Court bench in May questioned the interpretation of its earlier judgment that was relied upon to deny them bail in Jan 2026. The trial court sought a response from Delhi Police and listed the matter on July 4.
Khalid submitted that he had spent nearly six years in custody without charges being framed and the trial was unlikely to start in the near future considering the large number of accused, witnesses and documents relied upon by the prosecution.
Referring to the apex court’s observations in its May 18 order in a terror-related case, Khalid also argued that subsequent judicial developments constituted a “change in circumstances”, making the current bail plea maintainable despite rejection of his earlier application.
He also cited several Supreme Court precedents to contend that statutory restrictions on bail under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) cannot override constitutional protections where trial is unlikely to conclude within a reasonable time.
Imam’s application also stated that there was no “significant development” in the proceedings even six months after the Supreme Court judgment denying him bail and that he had remained in custody for nearly six years.
The plea argued that subsequent Supreme Court judgments had clarified the legal position regarding grant of bail in UAPA cases involving long incarceration. It also contended that Imam was not in Delhi after the second week of Jan 2020 and was already in custody in another case before the riots broke out in Feb that year.
On Jan 5, the Supreme Court denied bail to Khalid and Imam while granting relief to a few co-accused.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/after-sc-observation-khalid-sharjeel-move-fresh-bail-plea-in-uapa-case/articleshowprint/131711452.cms
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What right have you given to Kashmiris under your control: Sheikh Abdullah asked Pakistan
Sheikh Abdullah
14 June, 2026
Today they [Pakistan] appeal to the world that resolutions are being violated. Today they send their letters to the United Nations saying that Abdullah and Indira are violating resolutions. Which resolutions do they name? Are they the same resolutions which only yesterday they called scraps of waste paper? Was that statement correct or is this one? You are pining for the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir; I want to ask: those 1.5 million Kashmiris under your control—have you given them that right? Have you given them the freedom to shape their destiny as they wish? You are appealing to the world, you are abusing India, but what is the situation in your own home?
I would only believe you were an honest person, I would only believe your words and deeds were one, if you had given those 1.5 million of our brothers the right to live there with dignity, honor, and freedom. Then I would understand that yes, Pakistan does what it says. No, this is not the case. I know you don’t need the people of Kashmir; you need the forests of Kashmir, you need the water of Kashmir, you need the beautiful atmosphere of Kashmir.
You want to treat Kashmir in the same way as others treated it in the past—considering it their pleasure ground and the Kashmiri people as objects of luxury. You will also think the same. We have suffered these wounds; we recognize friend and foe. We know what anyone’s intention is. You may appeal to the world as much as you like, but we know it is you who have put us in trouble for 27 years. Had you not attacked, had you not sent the tribesmen, had you not brought trouble here, had you not massacred our brothers here… we don’t understand that [version of] Islam.
We understand the Islam which gave refuge to the oppressed, which supported the fallen, which never killed humanity but instead raised the flag of humanity. If you people had not done this, perhaps the situation would be different. What did you say to us? Why did you send tribesmen? Why did you want to finish us with the sword? Sherwani’s soul is still calling us. Master Abdul Aziz, who was a very big worker of ours from Muzaffarabad, his soul is still calling us. Why did you put him to the sword? Why did you massacre him in Baramulla and Muzaffarabad? It was because Abdul Aziz gave refuge to Hindu and Sikh women in his house there. He said that Islam does not permit killing in this manner. ‘These are also your sisters. These are also your mothers. If I gave them refuge, did I commit a sin?’ You want to make Pakistan; I have no concern with that, but merely for this ‘sin,’ he was riddled with bullets. If you hadn’t committed these acts, the map might have been different. You committed such acts and lost the game. Otherwise, at that time, we would not have allowed our nation to be slaughtered like sheep and goats. We fought back. We didn’t have India’s army, we didn’t even have the state’s army here, but there was a resolve, there was a determination. That resolve was not something we made in ’47; we had made that determination in ’31. We will not allow any person to play with our destiny. Whoever it may be. Your representatives came to us, and we told them that we have no quarrel…
Pakistan and India were created by you people. We will think here whether it will be beneficial for us to go to Pakistan, or beneficial to stay in India, or beneficial to remain independent. Making this decision is our job. Making this decision is the job of the Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims here. This is what is called the right of self-determination. We said that you must accept whatever our decision is. Whatever our decision is, India will have to accept it. Whatever our decision is, the world will have to accept it. You said no. You said, ‘We have decided your destiny.’ I asked, who gave you that power of attorney? We did not give you a power of attorney. You decide our destiny? We have been fighting since ’31 to become the masters of our own destiny. How could you decide our destiny? They said, ‘Anyway, we have, and if you don’t agree, then we will adopt another method.’ I said if you adopt that method, there will be our corpses before we let you enter our homeland.
They did exactly that. They sent tribesmen. They wanted to make us their slaves by the force of the sword. We refused. We resolved that we would give our lives but would never accept this position. We sought assistance; we asked for help. After all, we had to save our honor. At that time, India came forward. It agreed with our values and the objectives for which we were fighting, and it fully recognized our right that the destiny of the country can only be made by the people here, whatever their will may be. Consequently, that was our connection with them. In this very Lal Chowk—you probably won’t remember—India’s distinguished son and leader, Jawaharlal Nehru, came here; he placed his hand, India’s hand, in mine.
Source: theprint.in
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‘We are not like Hitler’: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat backs Hosabale's dialogue with Pakistan remark
14.06.26
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has defended senior RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabale's remarks advocating for a dialogue window with Pakistan, saying he was talking about the people of the neighbouring country.
Responding to a question about the RSS' view on remarks made by Hosabale in an interview to PTI Videos in May, Bhagwat said the organisation will follow the union government's policy regarding the state of Pakistan.
"But there are a lot of people in Pakistan who believe the partition of Bharat was wrong and many journalists there praise the RSS and its work. There is a distinct undercurrent there of people being anti-Pakistan and against the two-nation theory and they say living together was better," he said during an interactive session held here as part of the centenary celebration of the RSS on Saturday.
Bhagwat said that if, in the future, India was to defeat Pakistan beyond repair, the people there will have to be brought into the fold of Bharat or they should be able to live peacefully in that country itself, "and for that the doors of dialogue need to be kept open." "We are not like Hitler. That is not our nature or our way. So we need to keep some doors open. We should vanquish injustice and tyranny, but we should also preserve what is good," he added.
Bhagwat stressed that the RSS has no independent foreign policy regarding any nation and follows the central government's stand.
In the interview with PTI Videos, Hosabale had said, "The security and self-respect of a country have to be protected and the government of the day should take care of it. But at the same time, we need not close the doors. We should always be ready to engage them in a dialogue." He was asked how India should deal with Pakistan and its continued sponsorship of terrorism.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-backs-dialogue-with-pakistan-clarifies-focus-is-on-people/cid/2165458
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Imtiaz Ali was ‘jokingly’ asked how he got admission in Hindu College as a Muslim
Jun 13, 2026
A massive controversy rocked Bollywood earlier this year after Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman alleged that he had been receiving less work from Hindi cinema over the past eight years and opined that the reason could be “communal.” While many, including industry insiders, were quick to audit and dismiss what Rahman shared from his personal experience, only a few pondered whether his statement carried weight. During a recent interview, renowned filmmaker Imtiaz Ali opened up about the communal dynamics in Bollywood and whether he has had any similar experiences.
Imtiaz Ali on ‘discrimination’
Attesting that he has never faced any discrimination on the grounds of his religion, even in the industry, Imtiaz further maintained that he isn’t the representative of any community.
During the conversation, the director, an alumnus of Hindu College in New Delhi, recalled a time he faced ragging as a student when a senior asked him how he, as a Muslim, secured admission at a college with “Hindu” in its name. Imtiaz, however, maintained that his senior was joking.
The ‘Hindu College’ ragging joke
“Once, one of my seniors was ragging me. He heard my name and said, ‘Imtiaz Ali? How did you end up at ‘Hindu’ College?! You write an apology letter, saying that you must be removed from here. Maybe they (the administration) didn’t notice that you are a Muslim.’ But I realised that it was a joke,” he shared during a conversation with Times Now.
Check Out | Inside Mika Singh’s 99th house, designed by Gauri Khan: ‘Shah Rukh said lootegi tujhe’
When asked whether he had given a fitting reply to the senior student, Imtiaz quipped, “He would have sent me to Shimla in that case.” Imtiaz continued, “Hilariously, however, that senior hadn’t noticed that he was sitting on top of a trunk which had the name, Mehboob Alam. So, it was just a joke.”
Maintaining that he isn’t a religious person in life, the filmmaker noted, “I have never experienced any discrimination. How else do I prove it but by the fact that I am able to do what I am doing? If I had faced discrimination, I would have been stopped from making films, right?”
“Earlier, we could say anything in jest. Now, we have to think a lot before talking. It is, however, good to think before talking because people get hurt easily these days. I am not a representative of any community. And I cannot say that I have ever faced discrimination as I am here only because of the people,” the director stated.
The lasting impact of Bhagavad Gita on Imtiaz Ali
Imtiaz Ali had once also revealed that the Bhagavad Gita, which he read for the first time when he was 10, is one of the books that impacted him the most in life. “Bhagavad Gita has been an important thing in my life. It has been the small book that has always been kept on my side table. It was miraculous that I was lucky to get exposed to it,” he told Ranveer Allahbadia.
Imtiaz’s latest film, Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, and Sharvari in key roles, was released on Friday, June 12.
Disclaimer: This article is a piece of entertainment journalism and reflective storytelling centered on personal industry experiences, cultural dynamics, and historical anecdotes shared by a public figure. The views and recollections expressed are entirely those of the individual and are presented here solely for informational and entertainment purposes.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/imtiaz-ali-jokingly-how-he-got-admission-hindu-college-as-muslim-10737798/
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‘Musalman’, India’s first Muslim superhero who fights hate with humour
Bilal Gani
Jun 14, 2026
Historically, Muslims have lacked political representation but in recent years, they have had to face the wrath of the State and the majority community. However, a saviour is here to rescue them and fight back. Meet ‘Musalman’, India’s first Muslim superhero who fights hate with humour.
Created by Bengaluru-based writer and stand-up comedian Falah Faisal, with illustrations by Artist Spud, this graphic novel is the best antidote to religious majoritarianism and the political turmoil of our times. It explores identity, Islamophobia and Indian pop culture through humour, art and an unconventional hero.
This superhero dons a skull cap and fights for truth in non-violent ways. Faisal writes in the Afterword: “Ideas rarely arrive fully formed. ‘Musalman’ was no exception. One of the sparks came from a stand-up comedian and friend who once joked that he looked like a ‘Muslim Clark Kent’. That throwaway line stuck. What if there was a Muslim Superman?”
This superhero takes readers on a journey into the heart of India’s Muslim question and acquaints them with how the community is being stereotyped in mainstream media and popular writing; how Muslims have been made an imminent enemy to Hindu identity; and how their very existence is projected as a threat to the nation. A brilliant political commentary on India’s current political turmoil, ‘Musalman’ is a provocative act of storytelling, while blending humour, comedy and comics.
The novel contains eight themed chapters and each unveils the dark underbelly of hate, genocidal mindsets and how Muslims live in this atmosphere.
In ‘Musalman vs Coronavirus’, Faisal depicts how the community was blamed for spreading the virus because a Muslim religious outfit had organised a congregation. Instead of condemning the Tablighi Jamaat, the superhero takes coronavirus into space by attracting it to his new glowing costume and saves the nation.
In ‘Musalman vs Arnab Cowswamy’, the superhero goes to a prime time show where the nation wants to know if this new superhero is a hero or villain. Arnab Cowswamy, speaking on behalf of the Muslim superhero, says: “Despite what I have said in the past, I’d like to clarify that Indian Muslims have far more in common with Indian Hindus than they do with Muslims anywhere else in the world.”
As the superhero enters his studio, his whataboutery changes and he appears to be a toxic hatemonger whose media trials have damaged India’s rich social fabric.
In ‘Kahan Milega Musalman’, a reporter goes looking for the Muslim superhero after her editor scolds her for not bringing the superhero on their show first. Her search takes her to mosques, cricket academies and ghettos to find where this Musalman lives.
Brutally honest and painfully poignant, this is a stunning novel of courage in the face of darkness. A remarkable work of satire and art, this book is a combination of commentary, humour and comics, which speaks of both the triumph and tragedy of India’s Muslim community.
Its nuanced narrative, delicate subjectivity and refined yet funny presentation of Muslim-ness make this novel a bold adventure in graphics. Falah Faisal is a wonderful comedian who makes you laugh till the very end.
Source: tribuneindia.com
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https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/book-reviews/musalman-indias-first-muslim-superhero-who-fights-hate-with-humour
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Meeting held with Muslim community members concerning Moharram procession
Jun 13, 2026, 11.42 PM IST
Times News NetworkKanpur: Deputy commissioner of police (South) Deependra Nath Chaudhary on Saturday convened a meeting with community members at Juhi police station in view of the forthcoming Moharram festival.
The key points discussed during the meeting included the condition that the procession should follow only the pre-approved routes designated by the district administration, the procession would commence at the designated time and conclude within the stipulated time frame, the organizers will ensure that no provocative slogans, speeches are raised or inappropriate materials are carried during the procession.
The administration directed the organisers not to believe in any misleading information or rumours circulating on social media and refrain from sharing them, report to the police any suspicious activities, refrain from carrying any arms, swords, sticks, or other dangerous weapons during the procession.
Use of DJs or loudspeakers producing excessive noise is not allowed during the procession and adherence to the Supreme Court’s regulations concerning noise pollution is mandatory.
The organisers have been asked to deploy volunteers to facilitate passage of emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire brigades. Videography of the procession will be conducted, and legal action will be taken in the event of any law violation.
Source: indiatimes.com
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14 men sentenced to life by MP court for lynching Muslim man over cattle smuggling allegations
13 Jun 2026
BHOPAL: Fourteen men have been awarded life imprisonment by an additional district and sessions court in Narmadapuram district of central Madhya Pradesh for lynching a Muslim man from Maharashtra over alleged cattle smuggling in August 2022.
Those sentenced to life imprisonment by the Seoni Malwa-Narmadapuram additional district and sessions judge Tabassum Khan on Friday, after being convicted for the August 3, 2022 murder of Amravati (Maharashtra) resident Nazir Ahmad, include 38-year-old Deepak alias Baba Kevat, Ajju alias Ajay Rathore (36), Prakash Kaushal (33), Chetan Maratha (23), Pawan Bathav (31), Amar alias Bhola Bathav (38), Kanhaiya Bathav (32), Devendra alias Chhotu Kori (22), Sandeep alias Raja Kaushal (26), Anuj alias Ballu Raghuvanshi (24), Sanju alias Rajendra Kaushal (39), Akash alias Pintoli Bathav (31), 24-year-old Gaurav Yadav (24) and Akash Sarathe (33).
Family members of the convicts later gathered outside the court premises in large numbers upon coming to know about the verdict.
As the police started shifting the convicts to jail, the convicts’ kin tried to stop the police vehicle, with some of the relatives even trying to lay down in front of the vehicle to block its passage.
Family members of the convicts were in tears after the court's decision, with some of them claiming that their children had gone for Gau Seva and Gau Raksha (cow protection) but were now facing the consequences of the incident.
The brutal mob lynching had taken place in Seoni Malwa area of Narmadapuram district on August 3, 2022 late night. A truck carrying cattle illegally was travelling from Amravati in Maharashtra when it was intercepted near Barakhad village at around 1 am by a group of 10-15 people.
After seeing the cattle being transported in the vehicle, the group allegedly assaulted the truck driver and the two other occupants.
Police reached the spot after receiving information about the assault and shifted all three injured persons to the hospital. Nazir Ahmad later died during treatment, while the other two injured persons survived.
Following the incident, police registered a case of murder and attempted murder against 14 accused and launched an investigation. After nearly three years of judicial proceedings, the ADJ court in Seoni Malwa on Friday found all 14 accused guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/madhya-pradesh/2026/Jun/13/14-men-sentenced-to-life-by-mp-court-for-lynching-muslim-man-over-alleged-cattle-smuggling-in-2022
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'Rs 12 lakh' seizure in Ayodhya Ram temple intensifies scrutiny over donation theft
Piyush Srivastava
14.06.26
Allegations about the theft of donations and daily offerings to the Ayodhya Ram temple, one of the Narendra Modi government’s showpiece achievements, appeared to gain traction on Monday with a police seizure of cash from a shrine employee’s home.
While the police were yet to make an official statement, perhaps because of the sensitivity of the matter, sources said ₹12 lakh was recovered from temple staffer Luvkush’s home.
“The police broke the lock of a room and took away cash,” Luvkush’s father Bacchu Lal Mishra told reporters at his home in Minapur Thakuran Fagauli village, Ayodhya district.
“I live in Ghaziabad and arrived here only a few days ago. The police had already detained my son. I don’t think my son kept the money here; someone did it to
implicate him and save themselves.”
Several sadhus and Ayodhya residents had last week alleged the theft of crores of rupees and gold from the temple, either offered by daily visitors or donated by other devotees, including the rich and powerful. Several Opposition politicians too had picked up the issue.
But Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai had denied any theft.
Sources suggested the ₹12 lakh seized was part of a sum of ₹7 crore stolen by some of the temple employees assigned to collect and count the donations and offerings and deposit them with the temple trust’s SBI account.
Villagers said Luvkush, 27, was a motor mechanic before being recruited by the temple last year. They said he had repaired his home and bought a plot of land soon after.
“He used to charge temple visitors several thousand rupees for easy entry. He would take them directly to the sanctum sanctorum and allow them to stay there for 15 to 30 minutes,” a villager who didn’t want to be named said.
A police source said: “At least three people are involved in the crime. Members of the temple trust were present during the raid on Luvkush’s home.”
The state government washed its hands of the matter.
“This is an internal matter of the trust and they are capable of handling it. The state government doesn’t see a role for itself,” state agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi said.
But the central government seemed more concerned. Building the Ram temple had for decades been a core ideological issue with the BJP, and Modi had presided over its bhoomi pujan in 2020 and consecration in 2024.
Nripendra Mishra, a retired bureaucrat known for his long proximity to Modi, arrived in Ayodhya on Saturday and met trust members minutes after they had returned from the raid.
Asked about the outcome of the meeting, he merely said: “My job is to supervise the construction of the temple.”
However, construction of the temple is virtually over. The grapevine has it that the PMO sent Mishra to take stock of the situation.
After the theft allegations last week, the trust had quickly begun an audit of the collections although Rai described it as a “routine exercise”.
However, Mohit Ashok, a lawyer, filed a public interest plea before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Friday seeking an FIR and a CAG audit of the temple funds.
Earlier, local BJP leader Rajnish Singh had written to the PMO saying the ordinary devotees had the right to know what the temple had done with their money.
On a request from the trust, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday formed a three-member special investigation team of senior police and administrative
officials to probe the theft allegations.
A source in the temple management committee told The Telegraph that corruption had existed “from the beginning” when the trust was formed in 2020.
However, the latest thefts became public when a senior RSS member tried to take over the trust, currently under the VHP’s control, he said.
“The RSS leader found that three employees were stealing money. One of the three is associated with a trust member from Ayodhya,” he said.
“We don’t know whether the trust member was aware of his associate’s activities, but it gave the RSS leader a chance to pin the trust down.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/ayodhya-ram-temple-donation-theft-row-deepens-after-cash-seizure-from-employee-prnt/cid/2165417
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Mideast
Dozens protest peace deal outside Iran foreign ministry: media
June 13, 2026
PARIS: Dozens protested Saturday outside a foreign ministry office in Iran’s northeastern city of Mashhad, chanting slogans against top diplomat Abbas Araghchi after a televised interview in which he discussed signing a peace deal with the US.
In a video shared by Fars news agency, women in black chadors chanted “death to dishonorable Araghchi, the infiltrator” in front of the building, while waving red and black flags.
The protest comes as the peace deal touted by US President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan faces opposition from hard-line Iranian figures.
They argue that it does not serve Iran’s interests and would deprive Tehran of leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. They also accuse Iranian negotiators of having made too many concessions to secure the deal.
In an interview with state television Friday, Araghchi had said the deal on the table called for the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, imposed in response to Iran’s own blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The administration of Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same as before,” he added, calling the waterway one of Iran’s “main instruments of deterrence.”
Other videos on social media that AFP could not independently verify showed people in front of the foreign ministry building in Tehran chanting “Araghchi, resign” and “Ghalibaf, resign,” in reference to parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Trump and Pakistan on Saturday said the deal to end the war could be signed as early as Sunday, though Tehran was more circumspect regarding the timing.
Source: arabnews.com
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What the discovery of Assad-era chemical weapons means for Syria
ANAN TELLO
June 13, 2026
LONDON: A cache of previously undeclared chemical weapons from the Assad era has been uncovered by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ technical secretariat and Syria’s interim authorities, exposing a potential security threat should other remaining stockpiles fall into the wrong hands.
The disclosure came in the OPCW’s May 26 monthly update on Syria, which outlined both the scale of the discovery and its potential consequences.
Inspectors found dozens of chemical munitions not previously declared to the organization, including aerial bombs matching those used in attacks on Hama’s Ltamenah in March 2017 and Khan Shaykhun in Aleppo in April 2017.
They also identified rockets of the same type used in the August 2013 attack on the Ghouta agricultural belt around Damascus.
Syrian authorities have arrested 18 suspects for alleged involvement in Assad’s chemical weapons program, including senior military, political and technical officials, Reuters reported, citing Mohamad Katoub, Syria’s permanent representative to the OPCW in The Hague.
“Despite the secrecy, the danger, and the immense security challenges ... today we delivered for the Syrian people and for the world,” Katoub said. “It is the first time such munitions could be recovered before they were used in crimes against the Syrian people.”
OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias described the deployment’s outcome as “significant,” underscoring longstanding doubts about the completeness of Syria’s disclosures.
“It confirms the secretariat’s repeated assessment since 2014 that the former Syrian regime withheld information and unsuccessfully attempted to mislead the secretariat and the international community on the extent of its chemical weapons program,” Arias said in a May 27 statement.
Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN high representative for disarmament affairs, called the discovery “momentous,” not only for Syria but for international security and the global disarmament regime.
Addressing the UN Security Council on June 4, Nakamitsu stressed that the newly discovered weapons must now be formally declared and destroyed under OPCW verification, adding that further inspections of additional sites are needed.
Damascus has framed the discovery as evidence of a break with the past. The interim government’s representative to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, hailed the discovery as a “decisive turning point” and a “major leap forward in delivering accountability.”
He also noted that his government had facilitated 32 OPCW inspection visits and handed over more than 60,000 pages of documents.
“Syria suffered from chemical weapons for more than 12 years,” he told the Security Council on June 4. “Today, it is committed to rid itself of its legacy.”
The newly uncovered cache is inseparable from the memory of Ghouta, the attack that came to define Assad’s chemical record.
In the early hours of Aug. 21, 2013, rockets filled with the nerve agent sarin struck opposition-held suburbs in Eastern and Western Ghouta, killing hundreds of civilians in what rights groups describe as the 21st century’s largest chemical weapons attack.
Human Rights Watch, as well as other investigators, later concluded that the delivery systems, trajectories and scale of the attack pointed to the involvement of Syrian government forces.
Assad’s government denied responsibility and blamed opposition groups but presented no supporting evidence, according to the New York-based monitor.
Some analysts say the latest revelations reflect a broader political shift since the fall of Assad’s government — one in which cooperation is driving progress.
Nanar Hawach, senior Syria analyst at the International Crisis Group, said “a decade of red lines, sanctions and strikes never forced these weapons into the open — a change of government did.
“What surfaced then is a successor in Damascus that treats cooperation on chemical weapons as currency for sanctions relief and reintegration,” Hawach told Arab News.
“The accountability the international community long demanded is advancing because it now serves Syrian interests, and not because outside enforcement finally worked.”
That political calculation sits atop a long, fraught history.
Syria acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention in October 2013. While Damascus submitted an initial declaration, the OPCW found that it failed to fully disclose its program and “attempted — unsuccessfully — to mislead the international community about the overall scope and scale” of its chemical weapons activities.
Over the course of the civil war, which erupted in March 2011, the OPCW documented and independently confirmed the use of chemical weapons in Syria by former government forces and nonstate actors, including the militant group Daesh.
The Dec. 8, 2024, fall of the Assad regime, in a swift rebel offensive led by now-interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, opened new avenues for investigators on the ground.
The change enabled the OPCW technical secretariat to broaden efforts to uncover the full extent of Syria’s program and dismantle it in line with the convention.
That shift was soon reinforced by high-level engagement with the new authorities.
In February 2025, OPCW chief Arias visited Syria and met with its new leadership, who affirmed recognition of all OPCW mandates and reiterated Syria’s commitment to its obligations under the convention.
In early March 2025, Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad Al-Shaibani, visited the OPCW and addressed its executive council, again renewing the pledge.
“Syria is dedicated to this task through a strong commitment and will need the support of the international community, with the OPCW, to achieve it,” he said at the time.
Even as officials emphasize cooperation, the latest discovery has underscored the risks that remain.
Hawach highlighted the urgency of safely securing and destroying the newly uncovered stockpiles.
“These weapons stay dangerous as long as they are neither fully found nor destroyed,” he said.
That danger, he added, extends beyond the materials already recovered.
It includes “the material already recovered but still in storage, and the far larger amount buried at sites no one has reached, which could slip into the hands of a group like (Daesh), which has used such weapons before,” he said.
“How small the risk stays depends on the size of the efforts and speed of the search.”
Other experts warn that the problem is not only technical but also financial and criminal.
Randa Slim, who leads the Middle East program at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank, said the uncovering of previously undeclared sites suggests that former Assad regime officials with links to the program may still have access to relevant materials or information.
“There is definitely an economic benefit to them to sell these materials to non-state actors — like Hezbollah or (Daesh),” she told Defense News on June 4.
The combination of military transition and incomplete information about the locations of chemical weapons materials, she said, could create a “proliferation risk” given the militant groups still operating in the region.
Indeed, Daesh used chemical weapons on several occasions during 14 years of civil war in Syria.
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the group carried out five chemical weapons attacks in Syria between April 9, 2013, and Aug. 20, 2023, all in Aleppo Governorate, injuring at least 132 people.
An early-2024 OPCW Investigation and Identification Team report found that on Sept. 1, 2015, Daesh used sulfur mustard in the town of Marea in Aleppo.
Today, a Daesh resurgence remains plausible.
In early February, the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team warned that Daesh “established networks across all Syrian governorates, embedding sleeper cells in urban centers, including Damascus.”
The group has reportedly exploited the security vacuum left by the US pullout and the handover of northeastern Syria to the new authorities.
Days after the US announced its withdrawal from Syria, Daesh spokesperson Abu Huzaifa Al-Ansari released an audio message urging members to target the new authorities in Damascus, Kurdistan24 reported on Feb. 22.
Observers say the US pullout removed a key pillar of on-the-ground intelligence, air support and coordination for local partners.
Meanwhile, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Washington’s main ally against Daesh from 2013 until the group’s territorial defeat in 2019, are now in the process of integrating with the central government, raising fears that any breakdown could open space for Daesh to regroup.
Those fears deepened after a “mass escape” from Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, which holds the wives and children of Daesh militants, was confirmed by Syrian authorities on Feb. 25, following the withdrawal of SDF guards in January.
The SDF cited “international indifference” to Daesh and “the failure of the international community to assume its responsibilities in addressing this serious matter.”
US intelligence agencies, according to The Wall Street Journal, reported that 15,000 to 20,000 people — including Daesh affiliates — are now at large in Syria after the escape.
For many Syrians, those numbers raise the stakes for containing the newly uncovered stockpiles.
If any remnants of Assad’s chemical weapons program fall into the wrong hands, the painful memories of attacks during the 14-year civil war could yet be repeated.
Source: arabnews.com
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Iranians endure war fatigue and soaring prices as conflict deepens domestic woes
June 13, 2026
CAIRO: Iranians are living between confusion and exhaustion as the country and its economy are squeezed between war and multiplying crises at home.
US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he called off fresh strikes on Iran as he claimed a deal to end the war was imminent. Back-and-forth strikes earlier this week pushed a shaky ceasefire to the edge of collapse, which, if it happens, would inflict more havoc on Iran’s battered economy.
Strikes on steel and petrochemical industries and energy infrastructure earlier in the war have spurred a wave of business closures and job losses in Iran, where people now struggle to afford groceries in the face of triple-digit food inflation.
Many Iranians are desperate for peace
Along with the cratering economy, the spectre of war has left many people desperate for an end to the turmoil and deeply anxious about the future. Huraz Ahmadi, a 19-year-old street vendor in the capital of Tehran, said he feared renewed fighting.
“I don’t think they will reach an agreement, given the way things are going. But I hope they make a deal. An agreement is much better than war,” Ahmadi said. “In wars, innocent and good people die. I personally lost a relative.”
In the past year, Iranians have faced two wars – first Israel’s 12-day war in 2025 against Iran followed by a joint assault with the US that began on Feb. 28. Both attacks were launched in the middle of talks about Iran’s nuclear program.
Fresh US strikes on Monday sowed confusion in Iran’s capital following growing optimism that Tehran and Washington were nearing a deal. One Tehran resident in his late 20s said the echo of explosions and air defenses in the capital triggered “maybe a half hour of panic.” Long lines formed at gas stations, but people returned within hours to “living normally,” he said.
“War is also becoming normal. And that is very upsetting,” the resident said, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of security fears.
“Everybody is stressed out for a thousand reasons,” he added. “Our lives are constantly in this political game where we can’t plan anything or know what’s going to happen.”
A country ‘tired of instability’
A critical demand in talks for Iranian negotiators is that the US deliver some kind of sanctions or economic relief, besides lifting a naval blockade that has throttled Iran’s oil exports as well as imports of raw materials and other goods.
Many business owners are struggling to survive, a member of a council representing Iranian industrialists said.
“The main concern of many industrialists and entrepreneurs is the survival of their businesses and production. The concern is about the disruption of the supply chain of raw materials, parts and machinery due to the cruel US blockade,” Mehdi Bostanchi said.
Tehran-based Bostanchi, who owns a company that makes ventilation systems, is part of a trade group for factory owners across Iran. Its members include textile, food and metal producers and printing firms.
Bostanchi said uncertainty over any deal to end the war is stifling the ability of businesses to plan ahead and look toward any kind of recovery.
“Society is tired of instability and does not want a wider war to break out,” he added.
Iran’s rial currency has also lost over half its value in the past year. Exchange rates have crashed to around 1.8 million rials to the dollar, compared with 41,600 rials 10 years ago.
Economic woes stoke unrest and fear
The deepening economic problems have stoked unrest in Iran. In January, security forces shot thousands of anti-government protesters in the streets. Arrests of protesters and those expressing support for them has continued through the war.
Alongside fear of their own leaders, Iranians who oppose the government also fear a return to open war, said a social media influencer and therapist who lives in central Tehran and has participated in past anti-government protests.
“The war isn’t anything but destruction for us. And in reality, the attacks that happened killed a number of ordinary people and destroyed a number of homes and residential buildings,” she said, speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.
Residents contacted by The Associated Press also expressed worries that renewed conflict would lead Iranian authorities to cut Internet service again. Repeated blackouts since the January protests have crippled what was a strong digital economy and stoked job losses. A partial restoration has seen a limited uptick in connectivity.
Next steps are unclear
A few hours after threatening to launch further attacks, Trump posted on social media that significant points in the negotiations “have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.” But a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said in a live phone call on state television that mediators were active and nothing had been finalized to end the conflict.
Iran’s ability to withstand US-Israeli assaults and to close the globally strategic Strait of Hormuz has also rallied the Islamic Republic’s hard-liner base. Authorities have organized nightly rallies in past weeks as they try to project popular support for a tough stance in US talks.
Hamid Reza Bani Ebrahimi, a 47-year-old merchant, said he opposed any agreement that would limit what he sees as Iran’s right to enrich uranium and develop nuclear technology. Israel and the US have repeatedly struck sites and figures linked with the country’s atomic program.
“Our scientists worked so hard to acquire this technology, and then they came and martyred them,” Bani Ebrahimi said.
Abdullah Hosseini, a 45-year-old university professor in Tehran, said Iranian strikes on Gulf states and Jordan this past week were part of an effort to deter further attacks.
“I don’t like war. I am extremely worried about people and children being killed,” Hosseini said. “But sometimes war is necessary, and now is the time for Iran to stand against its enemy.”
But Tehran-based analyst Rahman Ghahremanpour said the back-and-forth strikes this week had deepened concerns in Iran that the conflict “could turn into a crisis without end and in reality make running the country more difficult” in the face of economic pressures.
“Both America and Iran are looking for a way out of this situation with honor and claiming victory so they can strengthen their own domestic situation,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Tanker struck by unknown projectile 6 nautical miles east of Oman, UKMTO says
June 13, 2026
LONDON: A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in its port bow off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday.
UKMTO said the incident had occurred on Friday, 6 nautical miles east of Oman.
The crew were reported safe and there was no reported environmental impact, while the tanker was continuing to its next port of call.
The incident came after Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday in protest after American strikes on three largely Indian-crewed merchant vessels off Oman killed three Indians, upping the diplomatic ante.
The call came as New Delhi summoned a senior US diplomat in the Indian capital for a second time in two days over the incident.
“Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening,” Jaishankar said early Saturday in a post on X.
“I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei to begin July 4, burial set for July 9
June 13, 2026
DUBAI: The funeral for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in his hometown, the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, on July 9, state media reported on Saturday.
Khamenei was killed on the first day of Israeli and US airstrikes against Iran on February 28. The 86-year-old cleric had been at the helm of the Islamic Republic for 36 years.
The funeral arrangements will include ceremonies on July 7 in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, media said.
Islamic law requires the deceased to be buried as soon as possible, and ideally within 24 hours of death, but exceptions are allowed, for example in time of war.
During his rule, Khamenei built Iran into a powerful anti-US force, spreading its military sway across the Middle East through proxy forces such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, while using an iron fist to crush outbreaks of unrest at home.
Khamenei remained a strong critic of the United States throughout his rule, while successive US administrations tried unsuccessfully to resolve a dispute with Iran over its nuclear program.
The airstrike that killed him pulverised his central Tehran compound. His 56-year-old son Mojtaba, who also lost his wife in the airstrike and was himself injured, succeeded his father as Supreme Leader.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Iran and the United States had agreed on a framework for a peace deal after more than three months of war and are expected to sign the initial deal in the next 24 hours.
Source: arabnews.com
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Sheikh Hamoudi: The Fatwa Was a Divine Inspiration and the PMF Must Be Kept Free from Partisan Domination
June 14, 2026
Head of the Islamic Supreme Council Sheikh Hummam Hamoudi said on Saturday that The Fatwa of The Sufficient Jihad was a divine inspiration granted to a courageous religious authority, stressing that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) must remain a project of the religious authority for a free and independent Iraq and a dignified people by keeping it away from partisan domination and politicization.
Speaking at a dialogue forum, Hamoudi said that “The Fatwa of The Sufficient Jihad was a divine inspiration granted to a courageous religious authority, embodying a clear vision for the future that turned tragedy into security, hardship into ease, and fragmentation into cohesion and victory.”
He added that “ISIS was a Zionist project and, through the massacres it committed in Speicher and elsewhere, embodied the dark face of tyrants such as Hitler, Netanyahu, Saddam and the Baath, as well as the school of killing, chauvinism and terrorism.”
“We thank Sayyid Ali al-Sistani for saving the country through his fatwa, and we thank the people who responded to it with their Iraqi conscience. We also thank all those who extended assistance in ending the most malicious project that targeted our existence, sought to fragment our nation and distort Islam,” he said.
Hamoudi noted that “through its sacrifices, courage and strength of faith, the PMF achieved victories and accomplishments within three years that are now being studied abroad, after the world had believed the battle could last for many years.”
He stressed that “the PMF must remain a project of the religious authority for a free and independent Iraq and a dignified people, by keeping it away from partisan domination and politicization.”
Hamoudi expressed hope that the PMF Commission would be as Sayyid al-Sistani intended it to be, as the people trust it to be, and as it is expected to be, adding that it should receive the highest levels of training, possess a strong sense of responsibility and cooperate with other security forces.
He pointed out that “the uncovering of a Baathist cell that had planned to target the head of the National Security Service and senior officers confirms that the Baathist project has not ended,” warning that Iraq’s enemies are still lying in wait and that Iraqi people should remain vigilant.
Source: ina.iq
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“Islamic Jihad”: Ongoing crimes against Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
13 Jun 2026
The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine said on Saturday that the continued systematic abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons reflects grave , organized violations targeting their dignity, health, and humanity, without any legal or moral restraint.
It stated that prisoners are subjected to ongoing shackling, humiliation, harsh treatment, and deliberate neglect of their health, including the spread of disease and signs of severe weakness, confirming a policy of collective punishment aimed at breaking their will.
The movement described these practices as serious crimes and violations of international law, holding the Israeli prison authorities fully responsible for the lives and safety of the prisoners.
It called on international and Arab institutions to act to stop these abuses and hold those responsible accountable, stressing that prisoners will remain a symbol of resilience despite the suffering they endure.
Source: saba.ye
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Arab World
Saudi farmer’s passion grows into orchard of 1,700 mango trees
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
June 13, 2026
MAKKAH: Abdullah Al-Nashiri’s journey into agriculture began long before he planted his first mango tree. As a former teacher, with chalk in hand, he planted knowledge in the minds of his students, while his heart remained tied to a mango tree that had yet to be planted.
When he decided to leave teaching and devote himself to agriculture, he faced skepticism, including from his father, who doubted the venture would succeed. His early years as a farmer were marked by drought, limited experience and a series of setbacks that forced Al-Nashiri to step away for a time.
He returned stronger, surer of himself, and more determined than before.
Al-Nashiri’s story is one of perseverance, of falling and rising again, of a man who chose to write his own ending, no matter how difficult the beginning.
In an interview with Arab News, Al-Nashiri recalls the early moments that first rooted his love for agriculture, above all the memory of his late father, who made his living by cultivating crops including corn and millet.
He recalls accompanying his father to the fields, watching him plow, sow and harvest, experiences that created a lasting connection to the land.
“My mother wanted to secure water for the house and the livestock, and she would travel every day to a well five kilometers from the village,” Al-Nashiri said.
A pond was later built to collect water delivered by tankers, helping him develop his farming skills. His interest in agriculture continued to grow, supported by local agricultural festivals and the Saudi radio program “The Good Land.”
In the 1990s, his family drilled its first artesian well near their home, providing a more reliable source of water for farming.
With his father’s support, Al-Nashiri began cultivating corn and legumes before later expanding into mango farming, which was still relatively uncommon in the area at the time.
After their father’s death, Al-Nashiri and his brothers expanded the family farm. They secured legal ownership of additional land and began developing a broader agricultural project.
Al-Nashiri started with 200 mango trees and gradually expanded production, despite the challenges of the early years. Support from mango festivals and cooperation with relevant authorities helped farmers organize and raise issues affecting the sector, he said.
He focused on cultivating date palms, lemons, figs, and pomegranates, and obtained organic certification for his farm as he moved closer to realizing his vision of transforming it into a tourist farm and family resort.
Al-Nashiri’s farm now contains more than 1,500 trees. He praised the support provided by Hassan bin Ibrahim Al-Mu’idi, head of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s branch in Al-Qunfudhah, as well as the initiatives of the Makkah Province Development Authority, which helped advance his project.
Al-Nashiri expressed deep gratitude to everyone who has supported his journey so far, and added that he will continue to pursue the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and to make agriculture an inseparable part of his identity.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi climate envoy meets Germany’s minister in Berlin
June 13, 2026
BERLIN: Saudi Arabia’s climate envoy and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Carsten Schneider in Berlin recently.
The pair discussed ways to coordinate bilateral efforts on climate and environmental protection and reviewed the latest developments in international climate action, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
They also highlighted the Kingdom’s priorities and efforts related to climate, environmental protection and combating desertification.
Khalid Al-Angari, the director-general of the minister’s office, and Fahd Al-Hathal, acting charge d’affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Germany, were also present at the meeting.
Source: arabnews.com
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Masam project destroys 1,354 land mines, war remnants in Yemen
June 13, 2026
JEDDAH: Teams from the Masam Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen, working in cooperation with the Mukalla branch of the Executive Mine Action Center, on Wednesday destroyed 1,354 land mines and explosive remnants of war in Hadramout governorate.
The total included 63 82 millimeter mortar shells, 14 anti-personnel mines, 14 anti-vehicle mines, 123 rounds of 23 mm artillery ammunition, 37 rounds of 37 mm artillery ammunition, 16 hand grenades, 636 rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition and 356 artillery shell fuzes.
The operation was the eighth of its kind in Hadramout since mid-January, in which time Masam teams have destroyed 15,463 landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi World Cup fans buzzing in Miami as players countdown to Uruguay opener
June 13, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi soccer fans in the US took part in a celebratory march in Miami on Saturday as the countdown begins to the Green Falcons’ opening World Cup game.
Organized by the Saudi National Team Fans Council, the march was a joyous event, with supporters proudly waving their national flags and chanting patriotic songs, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The World Cup is now well underway, with all three host nations — Canada, Mexico and the US — having played their opening matches.
Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Group H begins against Uruguay in Miami on Tuesday. The Green Falcons will also play group games against Spain and Cape Verde and their fans are hoping they can progress to the knockout rounds for only the second time, following their memorable achievement at World Cup 1994, which was also held in the US.
As the fans were celebrating in Florida, Georgios Donis, the Saudi team’s Greek coach, was leading his players through a closed training session at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Midfielder Abdullah Al-Khaibari told the media that the team had been working hard at the daily training sessions and tactical meetings to ensure that they fully understood what Donis — who has been in charge of the side for just two months — wanted from them.
All of the players were now fully focused on working under Donis, he said, while also acknowledging the valuable work carried out by former boss Herve Renard.
Defender Moteb Al-Harbi said that the squad was now in its final phase of preparations and all of the players were determined to deliver a strong performance against Uruguay for their fans and the nation as a whole.
Another Saudi who is delighted to be at the World Cup is referee Abdullah Al-Shehri who described his selection as an “exceptional career milestone.”
Being chosen to take part in the World Cup was not just a personal triumph but also a validation of the many years of hard work by everyone involved in the sport in Saudi Arabia, he said.
That included the AFC Referees Academy, which he thanked for providing the confidence and skill development necessary for him to compete at the highest level of the sport.
“Participating in this tournament means a great deal to me. As a Saudi citizen, it is a tremendous honor to be present and represent the Kingdom among the world’s best referees.
“I am committed to representing my country to the best of my ability.”
He said he hoped his presence at the tournament would help to motivate the next generation of Saudi referees.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia urges global action on elder rights
June 13, 2026
NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has called for stronger international efforts to protect older people, particularly those with disabilities.
The call to safeguard older people’s rights, dignity, and full participation in society was made by Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN, on behalf of the Group of Friends on Ageing and Sustainable Development, in New York.
The event was held on the sidelines of the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Alwasil said elder abuse is a global issue requiring a collective response, adding that about 46 percent of people aged 60 and above live with some form of disability.
One in six older people experiences abuse, with higher risks for those with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, he said.
Alwasil called for the addressing of data gaps; strengthening of age- and disability-disaggregated data, legal frameworks, and care and support services; oversight of long-term care institutions; and reporting and protection mechanisms.
Efforts must continue to ensure safe and inclusive environments for older people, enabling them to contribute to their communities, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the principles of justice and equity, he said.
Source: arabnews.com
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21 Umrah companies suspended for poor performance, regulatory breaches
June 13, 2026
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has suspended 21 Umrah service companies for failing to meet the required standards last season.
Evaluations of the companies revealed a decline in service quality and violations of the regulations by which they are governed.
The rulings were a reflection of the ministry’s commitment to providing high-quality services to pilgrims, it said.
Of the companies suspended, 15 failed to achieve the necessary evaluation standards and six were found to have committed regulatory violations requiring corrective action, the ministry said.
The ministry said its evaluation system was based on operational and supervisory indicators measuring service quality and regulatory compliance.
The system is designed to enhance competition among service providers, raise performance standards and support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by delivering a safe and enjoyable experience for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.
The ministry said it would continue to enforce regulations and would not tolerate any shortcomings that affected service quality or compromised pilgrims’ rights.
Continuous evaluation of Umrah service providers remained a key mechanism for developing the sector and improving service quality, it said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Humza Yousaf breaks silence after conviction in 'Dundee axe girl' case as he warns 'Muslims are a target'
14 June 2026
Douglas Dickie
Humza Yousaf has commented publicly for the first time since a Bulgarian national was convicted of assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Dundee, as he said Muslims were now a "target" in the UK. The former first minister has faced criticism for claiming the far right was pushing "misinformation" in relation to the case last year.
It followed video images that showed a young girl wielding an axe and knife in the Lochee area of the city. Police Scotland even released a statement saying they were aware of "misinformation" about the event being posted on social media, which they said had involved a "Bulgarian couple" being "approached by youths".
But it later emerged the girl only produced the axe and a knife after being assaulted by Ilia Belov. Police Scotland even admitted that information it released at the time "did not fully reflect the situation".
At the time, Mr Yousaf tweeted: "But Stephen-Yaxley Lennon (Tommy Robinson) and his racist far-right mob told me migrants tried to sexually assault the girls? Who would have guessed the far-right were full of bulls**t?"
He has resisted commenting on the case since Belov's conviction, but has tweeted about a horrifying incident down south where an Imam's home was targeted in a suspected arson attack. He said: "This is what happens when you make Muslims a target. When you talk of Muslims and Islam as a problem that needs dealing with, don't be surprised that people act on your rhetoric."
Mr Yousaf, who stays in an upmarket Dundee suburb, also slammed Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying: "Where is the emergency COBRA meeting from the PM? Or is he too busy trying to save his job to care?"
Belov, 22, was also convicted of behaving in a "threatening or abusive manner" towards four girls, all of whom were aged between 12 and 14. His sister Nadjedzha Belova, 20, earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of assaulting a 13-year-old girl in the incident, which happened in the Lochee area of the city in August 2025.
During a two-day trial, Dundee Sheriff Court heard the 12-year-old had been walking with a group of girls on their way to a bus stop when Belov made sexual remarks to her. Giving evidence by video-link, the girl, who is now 13, recalled: "He kept saying, ‘come here sexy. I will show you how to have a good time’."
She said his words made her feel "dead angry", and she turned around and began shouting at him. Belov then phoned his sister, who arrived shortly afterwards and began attacking a 13-year-old member of the group.
In the ensuing fracas, Belov pushed the 12-year-old, who told the court she hit her head on a metal handrail as she fell to the ground. After standing back up she pulled out an axe and knife she said had been hidden in her waistband for five to 10 minutes before the incident.
She said after revealing the weapons she was "basically sat holding them", saying she "knew" the man would "try to go for (the other girl)".
Source: scottishdailyexpress.co.uk
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Sweden shows that not all immigrants are the same
14 June 2026
I’m just going to say it. Not all immigrants are the same. I know that reading that might make you feel uncomfortable, particularly if you’re white and British and therefore more vulnerable to cancel culture and snowflakery. But it’s true. Some immigrants are simply better than others. And by better, I mean that immigrants from certain nations and cultures are more likely than others to integrate and make a positive contribution to their new country.
Sweden is a useful terrarium of immigration; the good, the bad and the ugly. I was born in Sweden to Iranian parents in the early 1990s. At the time, Sweden had a population of just over eight million, and the country was rapidly becoming a destination for migrants. Fast forward to today, and it has a population of over ten million, of which about a fifth were born abroad. When including those born in Sweden with two foreign-born parents, the number of those with a ‘foreign background’ rises to almost a third of the population.
Today, Sweden is home to people from all over the world: Iranians fleeing the Islamic occupation; Iraqis who fled the Gulf war; Yugoslavs who escaped civil war and genocide; Kurds (from Turkey, Iraq and Syria) and Assyrians (Aramaic- and Syriac-speaking Christians from Iraq and Syria) fleeing persecution, as well as Turks. There are Chileans who fled Pinochet; East Africans (Somalis, Ethiopian and Eritreans) fleeing, well, everything. And Poles looking for greater opportunities.
All of these nationalities and cultures in one tiny, historically homogenous society, make for a wonderfully interesting study of migration and integration. Living there for 15 years – until I was 13 and for a few years in my thirties – made me convinced that not all immigrants are the same, and nor should they be treated as such.
In Sweden, there is one common thread amongst those who have integrated well and those who have done so less well. Non-Muslims, including Iranians, Assyrians, Christian Eritreans, Poles and to some extent people from the Balkans, are often in the former group. Kurds, Ethiopians and Somalis, particular those of the Muslim faith, have not, generally speaking, fared as well. Turks are often somewhere in between. The difference in Christian and Druze Lebanese in Sweden, compared to Lebanese Muslims, and Christian Eritreans and their Muslims counterparts, is also clear to see.
Iranians in Sweden have a stellar reputation and, from both personal and anecdotal experience, saying you’re of Iranian descent in a business meeting gives you immediate credit. Swedish-Iranians are known for becoming doctors, dentists and entrepreneurs. There are at least ten members of Swedish parliament of Iranian descent. The environment minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, was born in a Stockholm suburb to a family of Iranian origin. When she took office, she was 26 years old, making her the youngest cabinet minister in Swedish history.
Ali Ghodsi, co-founder of Databricks, one of the most valuable private companies in the world, is Swedish-Iranian. There is even a significant population of British-Swedish-Iranian doctors and dentists in the UK who left Iran in the 1980s and 1990s, studied in Sweden and moved to the UK over the last 20 years.
Sweden has clearly benefitted from immigration, but it has also paid a price. When I was a kid growing up in Uppsala – the sacred heart of pre-Christian Scandinavia, where my father got a place at the medical school after teaching himself Swedish – a fatal car crash would make the national news. Now Sweden is known globally, usually for positive reasons, but also for its gang violence. It seemed unthinkable back then that knife crime and bombings would happen in Sweden. Yet many Swedes are now tragically familiar with these crimes.
Those with migrant backgrounds are overrepresented in Sweden’s criminal gangs, acting as both perpetrators of violence and leaders of these networks. The shootings and bombings have spread from the city centres, to the suburbs. In 2023, in Upplands-Bro, 30 minutes north of Stockholm, a teenage boy was found dead in a forest; in the months before, there were several shootings and bombings targeting houses and apartments. Police think that some of the violence was organised by criminal leaders based in other countries, including Turkey and Serbia. The violence hasn’t stopped. In 2025, there were 84 homicides in Sweden.
Two main rival gangs are responsible for much of the violence in Sweden. These networks, Foxtrot and Rumba, are both run by immigrants. Foxtrot, by a Kurdish Turk; Rumba, by the Swedish-Turkish national Ismail Abdo. Both gangs are heavily involved in drug trafficking. Both have been responsible for bombings in Sweden, including the deliberate murder of innocent relatives of their rivals. Criminals in Sweden have also been used as European proxies by Iran’s Islamic Republic, the regime that has taken the Iranian people hostage for 47 years.
As an immigrant myself, I think the attitude of some immigrants, particularly in Sweden is a disgrace. In Sweden, everything you could possibly want as an immigrant, or otherwise, is handed to you on a plate. There is excellent health care, language classes, housing, social services and benefits. Schooling, school meals (before and after school) and university places, with stipends for those who can’t afford higher education, are on offer. When I was a kid, the state would even pay for after-school lessons for your mother tongue. It was a beautiful acknowledgement by the state of the importance of languages to the development of a young person.
Unlike the disadvantages some people have in Britain, a poor socio economic background is not an excuse in Sweden. So why do immigrants in Sweden turn to crime and violence? There really is no excuse, and it is hard not to point the finger at their cultural or familial upbringing.
Whether there is a lesson here, that’s for the economists, social and political scientists, and policy makers to say. I believe in a points-based immigration system where every prospective migrant is assessed based on their likelihood to integrate and contribute (as well as their richness and depth of culture and emphasis on enlightenment, education and hard work within that culture). Countries must also have a humane and compassionate approach to immigration, taking responsibility for the displacement caused by arms sales and their foreign policy.
But Sweden shows that there is an uncomfortable truth when it comes to immigration: cultural compatibility is a legitimate and necessary part of any assessment to determine if a person should, or shouldn’t, be allowed in.
Source: spectator.com
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Two people charged in Royal Court over attack outside Mosque
by Megan Davies
13 June 2026
TWO people accused of an attack outside Jersey’s Islamic Centre are due to face trial in September.
Tamara Nadine Dubois (36) had already pleaded guilty to one count of assault in the Magistrate’s Court.
Appearing in the Royal Court yesterday, she denied one charge of threatening, abusive or disorderly conduct and two more assault charges.
Her co-accused, Jade Clarke James Hamon (52), denied one charge of threatening, abusive or disorderly conduct.
They will face trial on 21 September.
Dubois is due to face a Newton hearing on the same dates to establish the facts of the assault, which she committed on a child.
Crown Advocate Luke Sette, was prosecuting and the Bailiff, Robert MacRae, was presiding.
Source: jerseyeveningpost.com
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Thousands gather for anti-racism rally in Belfast after disorder
Darran Marshall
Jun 13, 2026
Thousands of people gathered on Saturday at an anti-racism protest in Belfast, after violence erupted across the city this week which saw people's homes, businesses and vehicles targeted.
The disorder was sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night, which left the victim with serious injuries, was shared widely on social media. A man has been charged with attempted murder.
The "Together Against Hate" rally started at about 13:00 at Belfast City Hall.
Police closed a number of roads to facilitate the crowd.
A number of political parties and trade unions were represented in the crowd.
Some in the crowd held up banners saying: "Strike back against racism", "Refugees welcome" and "Riots don't speak for Belfast".
The protest was organised by the group United Against Racism.
An anti-racism protest also took place at Londonderry's Guildhall.
It was organised by United Against Racism - Derry and North West.
'The whole world watched Belfast in horror'
The event in Belfast started with the crowd chanting: "Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here. Who is Belfast? We are Belfast."
Speaker Ivanka Antova, the chair of United Against Racism Belfast, said: "This week we witnessed something we will never forget. The scenes of families and young children fleeing their homes in terror.
"We'll never forget how rich and powerful people used their online platforms."
Sympathy was also extended to the victim of last week's knife attack in north Belfast before Antova turned to the trouble over the past few days.
"The whole world watched Belfast in horror," she said.
"There is nothing legitimate about racist pogroms, and racism has no place in our city."
Solidarity was extended to the hundreds of volunteers "who evacuated people, provided meals, and reassured frightened communities".
The crowd was also addressed by the city's new Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly, from Sinn Féin, Alliance's Kate Nicholl, the Social Democratic and Labour Party's Matthew O'Toole, People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll and the Green Party's Mal O'Hara.
Meanwhile, Carmel Gates from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions praised healthcare workers, fire fighters, bus drivers and teachers, who "picked up the pieces" and dealt with the aftermath of the violence.
"I got a call from a government minister who asked what he could do. The only practical thing that Westminster can do is provide money to tackle the poverty that fuels racism," she said.
She said her "message to the far right was to 'get out of our communities'."
"We will not stand for you in our communities," she said.
"We have had enough division in this community, we have had enough sectarianism and we will not tolerate racism."
She also led a chant of: "Worker's rights are migrant's rights, same struggle, same fight."
A number of speakers criticised the police and the political institutions in Northern Ireland, claiming that it had been left to refugee women and local groups to coordinate the response to the violence and intimidation.
To date, police have made 23 arrests, 17 people have been charged to court, five have been bailed, and one person was reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
Elaine Crory, a lobbyist at the Women's Resource and Development Agency, also addressed the crowds in Belfast.
She told people that "nothing about this violence supports the safety of women and girls in our community".
Crory said hundreds attended the event out of "disgust and rage".
What motivated people to attend the rally?
Mohamed Eltayeb has been living in Belfast for almost 20 years.
He said the "correct way" to react to anger was by taking part in "civilised protest" that did not involve violence.
He said he had been contacted by concerned family members checking he was safe.
He added that Saturday's event made him "feel more relaxed" to see "overwhelming support" from politicians, trade unions and local people.
Manal Mahdi said that after attending the rally in Belfast she received the "reassurance" she was hoping for, and no longer felt "rejected in this community".
She said she was originally "scared" to attend the event, but now felt "safe in an immense crowd who appreciate us".
Her son has been sitting GCSE exams this week, and she said a lot of children had been "traumatised" and "stressed" about completing school work on time.
Mahdi, who is originally from Sudan, but has been living in Northern Ireland for 10 years, said this week was "beyond description" and "startling".
Raied Al-Wazzan, from the Belfast Islamic Centre, said he attended the rally to "tell all ethnic minorities that they are welcome in Belfast".
He said he has experienced "a lot of hatred in the streets recently" but on Saturday he saw "a lot of love".
Al-Wazzan said the Belfast he calls home was reflected in "people delivering food to their neighbours and driving nurses to their work" in the aftermath of violence.
Having lived in Belfast for almost four decades, Al-Wazzan said he had noticed an increase in race hate incidents but "at the same time there are a lot of good people out there".
What caused the violence?
The disorder earlier in the week was sparked after footage of a knife attack in north Belfast on Monday night was shared widely on social media.
Hadi Alodid, a 30-year-old originally from Sudan, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder over the attack which left the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, with serious injuries.
Many of the protests passed peacefully but, elsewhere, hundreds of masked people took to the streets and violence followed.
The disorder was restricted to pockets of Belfast and other towns, but across Northern Ireland schools and shops closed early, and public transport shut down.
Police have released a number of images of people they would like to identify following the disorder.
Source: bbc.com
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Rival protesters clash in Glasgow amid migration tensions
14 Jun, 2026
Anti-immigration and anti-racism protesters scuffled with police during rival demonstrations in Glasgow, Scotland, amid tensions fueled by a stabbing attack allegedly involving a Sudanese asylum seeker.
On Saturday, the NGO Stand Up to Racism held a rally in downtown Glasgow, with organizers calling on supporters to “reclaim the streets from the far right.” Participants carried Scottish and Palestinian flags and chanted, “Refugees are welcome here,” according to The Herald.
Around 70 counterprotesters arrived at the event, many dressed in black and wearing balaclavas.
As police sought to keep the rival groups apart, some anti-immigration demonstrators pushed against barriers and shoved officers. Some of their opponents also pushed police while attempting to break through the separation line.
Police Scotland said one man was arrested for threatening an officer, while another officer was struck by an egg thrown during the unrest.
“A number of reported hate crimes will now be investigated,” a police spokesperson said.
An anti-racism demonstration also took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to denounce the riots that followed a stabbing on Monday. A Sudanese asylum seeker has been charged with attacking a man in the street and allegedly blinding him in one eye.
Another high-profile incident occurred on Friday in Brierfield, northwest England, where a man stabbed a 17-year-old girl in the middle of a street, causing non-life-threatening injuries. Police described the suspect as a British man of Pakistani descent.
The recent attacks have reignited debates about migration and what right-wing politicians and activists describe as “two-tier” policing. They argue that the incidents highlight the government’s inability to adequately address crimes committed by foreigners and other non-white offenders.
Prominent anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson said he was detained for several hours at Heathrow Airport on Saturday under anti-terrorism legislation and had his phone seized by police.
According to Sky News, Robinson is scheduled to take part in a debate at the Oxford Union next week on whether the West is “right to be suspicious of Islam.”
Source: rt.com
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Puffy Putin peril: The West’s latest attempt to scare itself
13 Jun, 2026
You can’t argue with a man observing the obvious: We are living in unusually perilous times. In the Middle East, for instance, the Israeli-American infernal duo have been on a rampage of war, state terror, all-purpose devastation, and genocide that, as a bonus, has also brought the world economy to the verge of cardiac arrest by clogging one of its vital fossil fuel arteries. Indeed, that particular risk is so obvious that even Germany’s less than brilliant Friedrich Merz has long spotted it.
In the Far East, Taiwan is currently ruled by a government so hell-bent on antagonizing their fellow Chinese on the mainland that Taipei’s political reflexes seem almost as perverse as those of Berlin. In the West, you have the German elite which can’t find enough billions to fork over to Ukraine when Kiev and friends blow up Germany’s vital pipelines and lethally cripple its already ailing economy. In the East, there is Taipei, getting really, really angry when the Philippines and Japan start negotiating away Taiwan’s maritime Exclusive Economic Zone. Angry, that is, at Beijing.
And in the EU, that “garden” of “values” that really is a swampy jungle of eternal confusion and corruption, the catastrophe that in its foreign policy is now obvious enough for several European bigwigs to gang up on the abysmally, ragingly incompetent Kaja Kallas. Her tenure as de facto EU foreign minister has been so breathtakingly blundering that her employers aren’t merely itching to kick her out but thinking about, in essence, abolishing her job.
Being so horrible at something that you won’t just get fired yourself but take it down with you – perhaps only the Baltic Girl Boss Wonder could pull that one off. But then, maybe it’s really all just another power grab by EU’s German queen (of the absolute kind) and US viceroy (of the submissive kind) Ursula von der Leyen. Either way, frightful insanity abides.
We could add more scary and grotesque evidence, but things are clear enough: It’s a grim picture all around. So, fair enough if you feel like being a big sad downer and doom monger. Where it gets weird is when you get your scare priorities all upside down.
Granted, from a hapless NATO-EU European perspective, Russia may look a little unsettling: after all, once you have waged years of proxy war, sanctions, and propaganda war against it, who knows what the mood is really like in Moscow? As a good NATO-EU apparatchik, you certainly would not, because you have displayed the foresight of a gnat by proudly not talking – or listening – to the Russians. So, when you feel a little insecure, that might really be your bad conscience calling (in a merely professional, not moral sense, which you are likely to lack).
But, generally speaking, the worse the stupidities and mistakes you have produced but keep repressing, the higher the price. Old Sigmund Freud called it “affective debility.” In essence, it means that lying to yourself makes you dim. And once you are BS'ing yourself for years as if there’s no tomorrow, you’ll turn positively imbecilic.
That’s the only way to explain a fresh wave of transparently hysterical scare mongering about Russia in the West, in particular, this time, in Britain. Thus, on the occasion of the recent St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), centrist mainstream flagship The Independent came out with a fascinating piece of fiction masquerading as analysis. Under the clickbait title “‘Puffy-looking’ Putin is acting weirder than ever – and that should chill us to the bone,” readers were treated to a highly imaginative horror tale about, in essence, a terrible loose cannon in the Kremlin pondering staged incidents and nuclear terrorism and ready to blow up the world or at least Europe or perhaps just Britain because Russia is losing the war. Also, he looks “puffy”!
All of this backed up (not really) by yet another statement from a high British military officer that things are dire as never before in (his) living memory. He and his comrades in arms – plus a few tweedy spy gents and dames – produce these Cassandra screams at least twice a month; it seems to be a standing order.
Indeed, there is such an inflationary over-production of men and women in khaki and with stiff upper lips crying big bad Russian wolf that even Politico has already produced at least one ‘best of’ collection, gathering “The 5 doomiest Russia warnings from Britain’s military chiefs.” Perish the thought any of this may have anything to do with fattening defense budgets and driving up the obscene profits of His Majesty’s military industrial complex!
Generally speaking, The West has a rich tradition of declaring Russia vanquished, its president Vladimir Putin at death’s door or on the verge of being regime-changed away, and, of course, Ukraine (and, really, the West) on the cusp of winning the war. And, at the same time, of predicting that Russia will attack all of Europe, likely tomorrow. Notwithstanding occasional and intriguing anomalies, when a NATO commander (from Trump’s US, of course) lets slip a fragment of truth, such as that actually Moscow is not looking for conflict.
In short, we are speaking about the severe and very sad but also funny mental condition already well known as Russophrenia: the afflicted live with an imaginary Schrödinger’s Russia occupying their suffering minds, a Russia that is always simultaneously half-dead and yet so alive and kicking, it’s about to roll into their living room on a tank.
In that sense, the silly Independent piece is merely an almost comically perfect specimen of an absurd genre: its whole argument boils down to “Russia is finished and that’s why it’s coming for all of us as never before.” Yet there is something special about this particular emanation of Russophrenia: it’s so easy to debunk you must wonder if its author has any relationship to or respect for empirical reality left.
Don’t believe it? See for yourself. The address and panel Q&A featuring Putin at the SPIEF are easily available online because that’s what the Office of the Russian Presidency habitually does: publish full video records of major events in which Putin takes part, with good English dubbing too (I know because I know both Russian and English).
Once you do that tiny bit of elementary fact-checking, you’ll see that “puffy” must be a very elastic term in contemporary British English. Let’s say, Sir Keir Starmer is much more obviously lobster-red on most days, when he doesn’t look pale and pasty with fear of the last scandal or defeat he is desperately trying to survive.
More importantly, you will also hear Putin give a speech that is, if anything, determinedly factual, even a touch dry, crammed with statistics and clearly carefully worked-out, balanced language. Whether you love or hate, like or dislike the man, the cornered loose cannon The Independent pretends to have spotted is pure, shameless fiction.
Likewise, Putin’s Q& A response to a disingenuous public letter by Ukraine’s leader Vladimir Zelensky was certainly not friendly (that, indeed, would be disturbingly inadequate) and, in part, deservedly caustic. But it was also calm and serious, pointing out the Kiev regime’s primitive behind-the-scenes maneuvering (never mentioned in the West, of course) and its blatant dishonesty, as well as their deadening effect on any prospects of genuinely worthwhile negotiations.
What we should really be afraid of in the West with respect to Russia is that our own so-called elites, in politics, the media, and the world of academia and expertise suffer from an apparently incurable epidemic of Russophrenia. They are cynical propagandists constantly trying to brainwash us, which is bad enough. But what is even worse is that all too many among them seem to be unable to stop believing their own nonsense, even when it’s obviously absurd. That is the only possible explanation for a major mainstream newspaper not only printing a fantasy but one so easily to see through. The West has waged information war for so long and so fiercely it has managed to defeat itself.
Source: rt.com
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North America
Trump says Iran deal will be signed on Sunday
13 Jun, 2026
A peace deal between the US and Iran will be signed on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Tehran earlier denied that an agreement can be reached by Sunday, though it did not rule out a deal “in the coming days.”
The two nations have been engaged in talks mediated by Pakistan for more than two months following a truce reached in early April. The negotiations came after the US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran in late February.
Iran responded with strikes against Gulf states that host US bases and by closing the Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles around a quarter of global seaborne oil and LNG trade.
“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” Trump wrote on Saturday.
He added that the agreement will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons “either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement.” Tehran has denied that it seeks nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
Trump said, “no money will exchange hands,” implying that the US will not unfreeze Iranian assets. He also stated that “at the appropriate time” the US will take possession of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium in order to “downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States.”
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that an agreement is “likely expected in the next 24 hours.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said earlier on Saturday that it “will not happen tomorrow.”
“The possibility that it could take place in the coming days cannot be ruled out,” Baghaei said, adding that a memorandum of understanding, which is currently being drafted, will focus solely on ending the conflict between the US and Iran, while “the nuclear issue will not be addressed.”
Baghaei previously said the memorandum will give the two sides 60 days to negotiate the future of Iran’s nuclear program, and that the agreement will include an end to Israeli operations in Lebanon.
He also accused Israel of seeking to derail the deal. “We are not dealing with parties that are fully committed to their obligations. They take advantage of every opportunity to break their promises.”
Source: rt.com
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US ban on Anthropic models sparks AI sovereignty concerns
Jun 14, 2026
NEW DELHI: Just over a day after Anthropic hailed India as its “second-largest market” and unveiled a major partnership with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Indian developers, enterprises and researchers found themselves locked out of the company’s most powerful artificial-intelligence tier — Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 — following a US govt export-control order.The two use the same underlying model and are distinguished only by their safeguards: Fable 5 is the safeguarded version released to the public, while Mythos 5, with those cyber restrictions lifted, had been reserved for a small group of vetted partners. Cybersecurity experts warn that broad restrictions could undermine defensive security efforts while accelerating calls for sovereign AI capabilities.
The move has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over whether frontier AI models should be treated as strategic technologies subject to export controls, similar to advanced semiconductors and other dual-use technologies.
Jaspreet Bindra, co-founder and chief executive officer of AI & Beyond, said, “In cybersecurity, the same model can be both a weapon and a shield.” While restrictions could reduce certain offensive cyber risks, particularly among less sophisticated actors, he cautioned that blanket measures could also weaken legitimate defenders. “The question is not simply access or no access, but who gets access and under what controls...”
Neehar Pathare, managing director, and chief information officer of 63SATS Cybertech,described the move as a “geopolitical seizure” rather than a security safeguard. “By pulling these models from the global market, you haven’t disarmed the attacker; you have disarmed the defender,” Pathare said, arguing that cybercriminals are unlikely to depend on commercial AI services and can instead turn to open-source or locally hosted alternatives.
The controversy comes at a time when AI models are increasingly being used to automate vulnerability discovery, software testing and security analysis.
Ritwik Batabyal, chief technology and innovation officer at Mastek, said restricting access to advanced AI systems may reduce some immediate risks but could also make it harder for enterprises and researchers to identify vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
The development echoes a warning issued just weeks ago in JPMorganChase Center for Geopolitics’s report, Beyond the Benchmarks: A Systemic View of US-China AI Competition, which argued that AI has become “the whole ballgame” geopolitically and identified Anthropic’s Mythos as a model whose significance extends beyond technology into national security.
On Friday night, that assessment moved from theory to reality for India. For India, which is rapidly positioning itself as a major AI market and innovation hub, the episode raises difficult questions. The country has the talent, the demand and increasingly the investment. Yet, the sudden loss of access to Anthropic’s most advanced models shows that participation in the AI revolution may also be shaped by strategic competition between major powers.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-ban-on-anthropic-models-sparks-ai-sovereignty-concerns/articleshowprint/131713454.cms
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'All vessels should comply with orders from US forces in Hormuz', Rubio tells Jaishankar
Jun 14, 2026
US secretary of state Marco Rubio told external affairs minister S Jaishankar that all commercial vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz must comply immediately with orders issued by US forces.
According to a US state department readout of the conversation, Rubio spoke with Jaishankar on Saturday and discussed recent developments in the Strait of Hormuz, which has become a flashpoint amid the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke yesterday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The two officials discussed recent events in the Strait of Hormuz. The Secretary stressed that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from US forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait. He underscored that violations of the US blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated," the statment said.
The call came after India lodged a strong protest over a series of incidents involving commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members in the Gulf of Oman. Three ships with Indian sailors on board have come under attack off the Oman coast within a week, with one incident resulting in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
Following his conversation with Rubio, Jaishankar said India had conveyed its concerns directly to Washington. “Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India’s strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” he wrote on X.
The three sailors were killed after the tanker MT Settebello came under fire on Wednesday. US forces had accused the vessel of violating the blockade imposed on Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued while three were later confirmed dead.
India has since stepped up its diplomatic response. The ministry of external affairs summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time in a week and lodged what it described as a “strong protest” over continuing attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Why the US economy keeps defying the odds
Jun 14, 2026
Michelle Fleury
In Dresden, in east Germany late last year, the final car rolled off the assembly line at Volkswagen's "Transparent Factory", built to showcase the pinnacle of European industrial power. Thousands of miles away in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a different German giant, BMW, is running its biggest plant in the world.
The contrast between the two plants helps explain a puzzle economists have been debating for a while: why has the American economy continued to outperform so many of its peers, despite facing the same global shocks?
Over the past few years, much of the developed world has buckled under a succession of shocks. Trump's sweeping tariffs have disrupted global trade. Mass deportations are changing labour markets. And conflict in the Middle East has sent oil prices lurching.
Many economists expected those pressures to weigh heavily on the US. Instead, the economy has continued to grow at a steady pace. Inflation has proved stubborn at times, but the combination of weak growth and persistently rising prices that many feared hasn't happened.
Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM, argues the trade war itself became the strongest proof of American resilience.
"The own goals that the Trump administration has imposed on the US with respect to trade and immigration are probably the single best example of the underlying dynamism of the American economy," he says.
Faced with a sudden tax on foreign components, US corporations didn't accept lower margins, they invested harder.
"CapEx (capital expenditure) right now is 13.9% of US GDP," says Brusuelas. "That should be slowing, given the mix of supply and demand shocks the economy is absorbing, and it's not."
Instead, much of that pressure has been offset by a notable rise in productivity. The broader US economy has continued to expand at an annualised rate of around 2%.
Energy markets offer another explanation. The war in the Middle East has pushed oil prices higher, a development that historically would have posed a major threat to US growth. But the shale revolution fundamentally altered America's exposure to energy shocks. Over the past two decades, the US has become one of the world's largest oil and gas producers, while businesses have steadily reduced their reliance on petroleum.
"The development since the early 2000s of fracking in the United States, alongside the evolution of alternative fuels, has created the conditions where oil's contribution to GDP per unit has fallen by half over the past 50 years," says Brusuelas.
The difference with Europe is clear. While the US has focused on flexibility, embracing fracking and letting prices respond to the market, Europe has relied on long-term contracts and interconnected supply networks to guarantee energy security. That approach left many countries exposed when Russian gas supplies were cut after the Ukraine invasion. And given the current tensions in the Middle East, that vulnerability remains.
For Rebecca Christie, senior fellow at the Brussels think tank Bruegel, the divergence is not just about policy choices but about cultural attitudes towards risk.
"Americans are very solutions-oriented and much more comfortable with taking a short-term risk in service of a long-term advantage. Europe as a culture is risk-averse."
She says she was at an event where the EU's own commissioner for financial services said in Europe people don't talk enough about the risk of not taking risk.
Even the difference in how businesses and retirement systems are structured reflects this divide. In much of Europe, companies rely heavily on bank loans for financing, and workers' pensions are often tied to guaranteed insurance contracts that cap both losses and gains.
"If you finance your business with a bank loan, you don't have the same flexibility that you do if you sell shares or attract venture capital," says Christie.
In the US, companies can tap investors and the stock market for financing. That flexibility, even with its ups and downs, gives American firms an advantage over state-backed European models.
Still, Christie is careful to note that resilience at the macro level can mask genuine pain below it.
"The US is a land of very high inequality," she says. "If you're struggling, you are really going to have a hard time because the labour market is not adding piles of new jobs, things are getting more expensive, many cities have housing crises."
Her deeper worry is that inequality hits a tipping point. "Even then having the dollar and fairly stable banks won't help if you have a real jobs crisis in the real economy."
So far, there is little evidence of that. In fact, American employers added 172,000 jobs in May, smashing expectations.
But new inflation data this week, showing consumer prices rising at their fastest pace in three years, suggests the limits of America's resilience may be approaching. Prices in May were 4.2% higher than a year earlier, up from 3.8% in April.
America's economy may be outperforming many of its rivals. That does not mean it is immune. Higher energy prices, stubborn inflation and widening inequality all pose risks that could erode the country's current advantage.
Even so, compared with many other advanced economies, the US continues to look robust. Its combination of flexible markets, rapid investment, abundant energy, and tolerance for risk has helped it weather shocks that have strained its peers.
As Brusuelas puts it: "It's the cleanest shirt in a very filthy laundry."
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy031el03po
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Judge rejects last-minute bid to stop Trump’s White House UFC event
13 Jun, 2026
A US federal judge has rejected a last-minute attempt to block President Donald Trump from hosting a UFC event at the White House this weekend.
Trump announced plans in 2025 for a UFC title event at the White House as part of the America 250 celebrations and his 80th birthday, which falls on Sunday, calling it “a birthday party the likes of which you have never seen.” Ahead of the event, the South Lawn has been transformed into a mini-coliseum, featuring an octagon surrounded by thousands of seats and dominated by a 28-meter-tall, 600-ton steel structure dubbed ‘The Claw’.
The plans, however, sparked public debate, with critics accusing the administration of commercializing national landmarks for private gain. Political activist Susan Douglas and Vietnam War veteran Paul Romano, represented by the anti-corruption nonprofit Public Integrity Project, filed a lawsuit last week seeking to stop the show.
The plaintiffs claimed that officials were improperly relying on a federal rule exempting events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary from certain permitting requirements. They also argued that the event is being run by private entities rather than the government and could financially benefit Trump, who holds stock in UFC parent company TKO Holdings.
US District Judge Amit P. Mehta ruled on Friday that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge the event. While he did not address whether the UFC show itself is lawful, the judge noted that halting it at the last minute would have significant consequences, citing nearly a year of planning and the $60 million spent by the UFC and affiliated organizations on preparations.
“The potential loss of those dollars resulting from a last-minute, court-ordered stoppage cannot be ignored,” Mehta wrote.
In filings defending the event, Justice Department lawyers rejected claims that officials had bypassed federal permitting requirements and argued that temporary structures on the South Lawn were common for special events.
“Temporary structures are ubiquitous on the White House grounds, erected for nearly every special event, yet nobody has ever before suggested that Congress somehow needs to pass legislation for every concert tent or Easter egg roll kiosk,” they wrote, as cited by the media.
The White House welcomed the ruling, with spokesman Davis Ingle telling the New York Times that the court “rightly rejected an untimely and frivolous effort to halt the historic UFC event.”
Despite the decision, some media reports suggest the event could still be cancelled due to forecasts of severe storms in the Washington area on Sunday.
Source: rt.com
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US-funded biolabs project ‘overwhelmingly’ focused on Russia – ex-CIA analyst
13 Jun, 2026
Newly released evidence from US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard suggests that Russia could have been the ultimate target of a US-funded network of biological laboratories around the world, including in Ukraine, Larry Johnson, a former CIA analyst and CEO of BERG Associates, has told RT.
Gabbard published a trove of declassified documents on Friday revealing that Washington had funded 120 biological facilities in over 30 nations. A third of them were located in a single country: Ukraine. According to the documents, laboratories that collaborated with the US Army and other agencies worked with “especially dangerous pathogens,” including anthrax, avian flu, Ebola, plague, and tuberculosis.
“The evidence that has come out shows the overwhelming focus of this program was on Russia,” Johnson said, adding that the scale of the project exceeded anyone’s “darkest fantasy.” “It’s unbelievable,” he added.
Moscow has repeatedly accused Kiev of aiding the US in its biological weapons program.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces, who led an investigation into the laboratories, was assassinated in 2024, allegedly by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). A year earlier, he stated that the US had “conducted dual-use research, including the creation of biological weapons components, in close proximity to Russian borders.”
According to Johnson, all the US-funded laboratories were established “at the initiative” of Washington. The research conducted in those laboratories “has no role in the defense of a country,” he believes. “It is [for] offensive [purposes].”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/641500-us-funded-biolabs-focus-russia/
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Africa
Abdulsalami Was Working To Release Abiola Before His Death – Obasanjo
June 14, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday disclosed that former Head of State General, Abdulsalami Abubakar, (retd.) was actively working to secure the release of the winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, before Abiola’s sudden death in detention.
Naija News reports that Obasanjo said Abiola’s son, Kola, was already in Abuja to take his father home when news of his death broke.
He made the disclosure at the public presentation of three books in honour of Abubakar’s 84th birthday.
The event, themed “The Legacy of a Statesman @84,” was held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and attended by President Bola Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour.
Obasanjo recalled private conversations he had with Abubakar during the period, saying the former Head of State kept him informed about efforts to free Abiola.
He said, “Your next move was how to get MKO Abiola released, and you kept me regularly informed and also related messages to the family.
“Kola was already in Abuja to pick up his father when the unexpected happened.
“I remember you telling me on the telephone, ‘our man is dead.’”
Obasanjo Praises Abdulsalami
The former President described Abubakar as “a great military leader, an officer and a gentleman, a patriot, a nationalist and a peacemaker.”
He said Abubakar steadied the country after the death of Gen. Sani Abacha in June 1998 and moved quickly to address the political crisis surrounding Abiola’s continued detention.
Obasanjo said, “You sagaciously managed the seeming confusion and uncertainty that followed Abacha’s death. You emerged from the cloud and carefully proceeded to untangle the nation. Political prisoners were released, and I was.
“As has been said by the President of the Senate, the National Assembly is a beneficiary of that.”
Obasanjo also credited Abubakar with initiating and sustaining Nigeria’s return to democratic governance. He praised the speed with which the transition to civilian rule was completed.
“Within less than one year of your taking office, we had democracy restored,” he said.
Jonathan Hails Former Head Of State
Speaking earlier, former President, Goodluck Jonathan, described Abubakar as a remarkable statesman with a lifetime of dedication to the service of the nation and humanity.
Jonathan praised him for guiding Nigeria through a peaceful transition to civilian rule.
He commended Abubakar for what he described as uncommon courage and selflessness in promoting peace and progress in Nigeria.
The former President also noted Abubakar’s continued advocacy for peace after leaving office, saying his legacy was measured not by the number of years he spent in power but by his achievements.
Jonathan further praised Abubakar for stabilising Nigeria’s democracy and resisting pressure to remain in office longer than necessary, describing the decision as a defining act of statesmanship.
Source: naijanews.com
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Tears As Retired General Who Died In Bandits’ Captivity Is Buried
June 14, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Tears flowed on Saturday evening as family members, friends, military officers, government officials and sympathisers bid farewell to retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who died while in bandits’ captivity.
Naija News reports that the late senior military officer was buried around 6:00 pm at the Gidan Dawa Cemetery, located opposite his residence in Katsina metropolis.
The burial followed funeral prayers attended by a large crowd of mourners.
Among those present were top government officials, security chiefs, senior military officers, traditional title holders, political associates, family members and well-wishers.
Recall that Abubakar was abducted alongside his wife on May 30, 2026, while travelling to his hometown along the Katsina-Matazu road.
His death has triggered fresh public outrage over the worsening insecurity in the country, especially the persistent wave of banditry and kidnappings across northern Nigeria.
For many mourners, the retired general’s death symbolised the painful reality facing Nigerians who remain vulnerable to criminal attacks despite ongoing security operations.
Katsina Govt Explains Death
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Mu’azu, said the retired officer died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while in captivity.
The explanation, however, drew criticism from some groups, who argued that the circumstances of his death could not be separated from his abduction.
Reacting, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) rejected any suggestion that Abubakar died a natural death.
He said the retired general’s death was directly linked to the country’s security crisis.
Charanchi said, “There is nothing natural about dying in the hands of bandits.
“A man abducted from his home or along the road and held captive by criminals did not die a natural death, he died because the state failed in its most sacred responsibility: protecting the lives and property of its citizens.”
Charanchi said the death of a retired Major General in captivity raised serious questions about the safety of ordinary Nigerians.
“When even a retired major general can be kidnapped and perish in captivity, what hope remains for ordinary Nigerians? This tragedy is a damning indictment of the worsening insecurity ravaging our nation. No amount of official wording can whitewash this painful reality,” he stated.
According to him, the incident underscored what he called the collapse of security and the authorities’ inability to adequately protect citizens.
Charanchi prayed for the repose of the late officer’s soul and asked Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.
He also prayed for strength and comfort for the bereaved family. The CNG leader urged leaders at all levels to confront insecurity with sincerity, courage and determination.
“We pray that Allah blesses Nigeria with sincere, courageous and compassionate leaders who will confront insecurity with honesty, determination and unwavering commitment, so that no family will have to endure such a tragedy again,” he added.
Source: naijanews.com
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DHQ Reacts As Ex-spokesperson, Gen. Radabe Dies In Bandits’ Captivity
June 13, 2026
By Oladipo Abiola
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed the death of Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), while in the captivity of bandits in Katsina State.
The DHQ, in a statement on Saturday, which was signed by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, said all efforts were put in place to rescue the retired officer before his death, but unfortunately, it was not successful.
Uba conveyed the condolences of the Armed Forces of Nigeria to his family, his colleagues and all Nigerians.
The statement also recalled the meritorious service by Abubakar to Nigeria through the military, adding that the late officer served with distinction.
Naija News earlier reported that the retired military officer died in the captivity of bandits.
The DHQ noted that his death has strengthened their resolve to dislodge every bandit, terrorist and criminal across the nation, adding that they will pay for their actions.
It added that no public statement was made earlier about his abduction due to ongoing rescue efforts by security agencies.
The full statement reads, “The Defence Headquarters regrets to announce the passing of Major General Rabe Abubakar (Retired), who tragically lost his life in captivity following his abduction.
“The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) convey its deepest sympathies to the Abubakar family, his colleagues and all Nigerians. Maj Gen Abubakar served the nation with distinction and held many appointments including spokesperson of various military formations as well as spokesman for the AFN as Director Defence Information. He made immense contributions to counter-insurgency operations, professional development of the AFN and numerous other commendable and outstanding impacts. His commitment to duty and to the unity of Nigeria remains a shining example for all personnel of the AFN.
“The Defence Headquarters withheld public comment on his abduction in deference to ongoing rescue efforts by the AFN and sister security agencies. Every operational resource was deployed in the hope of securing his safe return.
“This sad loss further strengthens the resolve of the AFN. We will remain resolute in the discharge of our constitutional mandate to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria and to protect all citizens.
“In response to series of unfortunate abductions across Nigeria including that of Maj Gen Abubakar, ongoing operations have since been further intensified to bring perpetrators to justice and to dismantle all terrorist networks threatening our nation.
“We assure Nigerians that the Armed Forces will not relent until peace and security are restored and those responsible for terrorists activities across the nation are held to account.”
Naija News reports that on May 30, 2026, Abubakar and his wife, Hajiya Amina Abubakar, were ambushed and abducted by suspected armed bandits while travelling in a Peugeot 406 near Zakin Baure village in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Their driver survived the attack after sustaining gunshot injuries.
Source: naijanews.com
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Somali President says Israel exploiting row with Somaliland
June 13, 2026
In an interview with a local TV station, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Israel's recognition of Somalliland marked one of the darkest days in Somalia's history.
He said Mogadishu remained committed to peace in its pursuit of reunification.
Israel recognized the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state in late December 2025, becoming the first country to do so.
But Mogadishu maintains that the recognition is null and void.
In Somaliland too, some are opposed to ties with Israel, citing atrocities in Gaza and the occupation of several Muslim countries.
Dozens have been arrested for protesting against the alliance, including religious scholars and youths waving Palestinian flags.
Somaliland's value as a strategic military and trade hub on the Gulf of Aden, close to Yemen, is coveted by Israel which has long sought a naval presence on the Red Sea Coast.
The Somali president's remarks come after days of violent clashes in the capital Mogadishu, prompted by an extension of his mandate by a year.
Source: africanews.com
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Mauritanian Ambassador Affirms His Country's Commitment to Strengthening Cooperation and Friendship with Libya
2026-06-13
Tripoli - June 13, 2026 (LANA) - The Head of the Presidential Council, Mohammed Al-Manfi, received the credentials of Medhi Yahya Lemrabott as the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to Libya on Saturday. The official ceremony took place at the Council's headquarters in Tripoli, marking the commencement of his diplomatic duties and the start of his work as the accredited ambassador to Libya.
Al-Manfi welcomed the Mauritanian Ambassador, expressing his wishes for his success in his mission. He emphasized the strong fraternal relations between Libya and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding coordination and consultation to achieve the mutual interests of the two brotherly countries.
For his part, the Mauritanian ambassador conveyed to the head of the Presidential Council the greetings of the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, stressing his country’s keenness to consolidate relations of cooperation and friendship with Libya, and to strengthen communication and coordination channels between the two countries on various issues of common interest.
Source: lana.gov.ly
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Southeast Asia
IAEA chief: Malaysia on solid footing to pursue nuclear power
14 Jun 2026
VIENNA, June 14 — Malaysia is well-positioned to pursue a nuclear power programme, having built a long-standing tradition and expertise in nuclear technology, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.
He said Malaysia’s experience in operating research reactor has provided the country with a strong foundation to advance its nuclear energy ambition as part of its future power mix.
“We have been working with your country, and there is a strong interest that has been manifested to us by the government to explore more systematically the possibility of acceding to nuclear energy,” he said at a media conference with journalists participating in the IAEA Journalists Seminar held here.
Grossi said having a research reactor was “certainly a very good, solid basis” for Malaysia, as it also meant the country already had people familiar with nuclear technology and reactor operations.
“There are many people in Malaysia who know nuclear technology and know what a nuclear reactor is,” he added.
Malaysia operates the TRIGA PUSPATI Reactor, the country’s only nuclear research reactor, which began operations in 1982 and reached first criticality on June 28 of the same year.
Located at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) in Bangi, Selangor, the reactor has been used for training, research, isotope production and other scientific applications.
Malaysia has been actively exploring the potential of developing nuclear power as part of strategy to diversify its energy mix, secure clean and reliable electricity supply, and strengthen national energy security agenda.
The ambition was also outlined under the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030), which identifies nuclear energy as a viable source of clean electricity in the national energy mix, with implementation targeted to begin from 2031.
The move comes amid growing electricity demand, the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and Malaysia’s commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as well as concerns over the current global energy crisis caused by the West Asian conflict.
According to IAEA, as of January 2026, about 70 newcomer countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia, are either pursuing or exploring nuclear energy as part of their national development agenda.
Malaysia is among 28 countries currently in the decision-making phase, where governments are assessing the feasibility of embarking on nuclear power programmes.
Grossi said the IAEA provides assistance to countries embarking on nuclear power programmes, including helping them develop the necessary capacity and establish national nuclear regulatory bodies.
He highlighted the IAEA’s Milestones Approach, established since 2007, which enables countries to develop their nuclear programmes in an orderly and systematic manner by drawing on more than 70 years of global experience in commercial nuclear power operations.
The three-phase framework guides newly embarking countries in developing the legal, regulatory and institutional infrastructure necessary for the safe, secure and sustainable deployment of nuclear power in line with IAEA standards.
Grossi added that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach for countries pursuing nuclear energy, with the IAEA providing independent and impartial advice according to each country’s characteristics and needs.
This includes assisting governments in evaluating reactor technologies and vendor proposals to ensure the selected technology are compatible with national grid capacity, supply chain capabilities and long-term development objectives.
“Nuclear is a marriage for life. Nuclear power plants operate for close to one hundred years. So it means that there will be several generations that will be benefiting from it, working around it and so on and so forth.
“So it’s a very consequential decision,” he said, describing that making the decision to adopt nuclear energy as a long-term national commitment with lasting strategic significance. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia’s political stability secures energy supply, says PM
13 Jun 2026
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says Malaysia’s strong ties and stable politics have safeguarded oil and gas access amid the global energy crisis.
SIPITANG: Malaysia’s strong international relations and political stability have enabled the country to secure continued access to oil and gas supplies despite growing uncertainty arising from the global energy crisis, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said Malaysia’s prudent diplomatic approach had allowed countries such as Russia and Turkmenistan to regard Malaysia as a close and trusted partner.
Recalling his recent official visit to Turkmenistan, Anwar said the country’s leadership had expressed its willingness to collaborate with Malaysia through Petronas in operating one of the world’s largest gas fields.
“Our country maintains friendly relations with all nations, including the United States and China. At the same time, our domestic political situation remains stable, without upheaval or racial discord,” he said when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sabah Southern MADANI Link (SSML) project here today.
Also present were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud.
Anwar said political stability was key to enabling the government to focus on its development agenda while continuing to attract foreign investment.
“That is why I have continued to support Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. We have had enough disputes over many issues, but the country’s politics must remain stable because without stability, investors will not come,” he said.
Anwar also said that the world was facing growing uncertainty due to energy supply disruptions arising from conflicts in the Middle East, which had also affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and driven up global oil prices.
He said the situation had forced several countries, including some ASEAN members, to take drastic measures, including closing about 400 petrol stations due to supply shortages.
“We are grateful that despite these circumstances, fuel prices remain low… in Malaysia, RON95 remains at RM1.99 per litre.
“We adjusted diesel prices slightly, but not for sectors such as agriculture, buses and public transportation because we must ensure that, whatever the challenge, the burden does not fall on the people,” he said.
Source: thesun.my
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Rosmah denies role in alleged US$13m property deal, lodges police report over online claims
14 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor has denied allegations linking her and her family to an alleged US$13 million (RM53 million) property transaction, saying she had lodged a police report and would pursue legal action against those responsible for disseminating the claims online.
In a statement issued today in response to videos circulating on social media, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said she had no involvement, either directly or indirectly, in the acquisition, transfer or ownership of any luxury property, including one allegedly valued at US$13 million.
She also rejected claims that she had used shell companies, offshore financial structures or intermediaries to facilitate transactions on behalf of her son-in-law or any other individual.
“The allegations purporting to implicate me in the use of shell companies, offshore financial structures, or associations with any of the individuals or entities named in these videos are wholly without foundation, utterly false, and maliciously fabricated,” the statement said.
Rosmah said the videos had harmed her family’s reputation.
She said a police report had been lodged on June 14 to enable authorities to investigate those responsible for creating and disseminating the material.
Rosmah added that she would cooperate fully with investigators.
She also called on social media platforms to remove the content and prevent its further circulation, arguing that the allegations amounted to defamation and malicious falsehood.
The statement further warned that legal action could be taken against individuals who had published, republished or continued to share the claims online.
“I hereby reserve all rights available to me at law, including the right to institute civil and pursue criminal proceedings against any individual or party who has published, republished, shared, or continues to disseminate these false and injurious allegations,” it said.
Rosmah urged both the public and media organisations to exercise restraint and avoid amplifying unverified information while investigations are ongoing.
The statement did not identify the individuals behind the videos or elaborate on the specific allegations beyond references to an alleged luxury property transaction and purported offshore arrangements.
Source: malaymail.com
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PAS says Hamzah Zainudin’s return as Opposition Leader was always the plan
14 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — PAS said Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin's return as Opposition Leader had long been its preferred outcome, adding that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia had previously been uncomfortable with him remaining in the role following his expulsion from the party.
Berita Harian reported that PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the Islamist party had wanted to retain Hamzah in the role from the outset because of his performance and the support he commanded among Opposition lawmakers.
“Actually, from the very beginning, we wanted to retain Datuk Seri Hamzah because of his performance and because many MPs were with him. It was just that Bersatu was not particularly comfortable with Hamzah’s position at the time, as he had been expelled from the party.
“So when he formed a new party (Parti Wawasan Negara) and joined us (PAS), we thought we should continue to retain him (as Opposition Leader),” Tuan Ibrahim told reporters after a pre-election ceramah at the PAS operations centre in Seremban last night.
According to the national daily, Tuan Ibrahim said the arrangement had already been agreed upon before PAS vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was appointed PN chairman in February, after Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stepped aside from the position.
Hamzah had relinquished the role after being expelled from Bersatu, with Ahmad Samsuri succeeding him as Opposition Leader following PN's Supreme Council meeting on May 16.
Tuan Ibrahim added that Hamzah’s decision to establish Parti Wawasan Negara and align himself with PAS meant the issue was no longer tied to Bersatu.
“Because he formed a new party and is with us, we decided to retain him once again,” he said.
Yesterday, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced that Hamzah, who is also the Larut MP, would return as Opposition Leader during the RESET convention in Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
Hadi said PAS and the RESET movement had agreed to retain Hamzah in the role, adding that the decision had been reached through consultation within PAS and among MPs.
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar: National Integrity Enculturation Strategy can strengthen culture of integrity across all segments of society
14 Jun 2026
KOTA KINABALU, June 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday launched the National Integrity Enculturation Strategy (NIES) to strengthen the culture of integrity across all segments of society in a comprehensive, progressive, and systematic manner.
The national strategic initiative, introduced through the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), was launched by the Prime Minister in conjunction with the 2026 National Unity Week celebrations at the Likas Sports Complex here.
In his speech, Anwar said that the launch of NIES marks the Madani Government’s continuous commitment to anchoring the culture of integrity.
“This serves as the foundation for sustainable, ethical, and resilient national development,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Meanwhile, Aaron said NIES is a crucial national initiative to strengthen integrity by internalising noble values such as honesty, trustworthiness, transparency, and accountability in daily life.
He said the launch of NIES in conjunction with the 2026 National Unity Week Celebrations is highly significant, as integrity and unity are essential foundations for building a strong nation-state.
“Enduring unity requires trust, and trust can only be built through the continuous practice of integrity among the citizens, institutions, and national leadership,” he said.
In the meantime, IIM said in a press release that NIES was formulated across various levels of society - including families, communities, educational institutions, the public and private sectors, political institutions, and civil society organisations - to cultivate a culture of integrity comprehensively.
NIES also reinforces previous national efforts, such as the National Integrity Plan, the National Anti-Corruption Plan, and the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, by emphasising that forming a culture of integrity is a shared responsibility of the entire society.
According to IIM, the strategy was developed based on three main pillars - Education and the Building of Individuals with Integrity; Governance and Ethical Institutions; and Community and the Outreach of a Culture of Integrity.
“These three pillars focus on instilling integrity values from a young age, strengthening transparent systems and institutions, and establishing the culture of integrity as a social norm in community life,” the statement said.
IIM will spearhead the implementation of NIES with the support of various ministries, agencies, the private sector, educational institutions, civil society organisations, and local communities through a collaborative and whole-of-society approach.
The launch of NIES on the platform of Unity Week also demonstrates that unity and integrity are two critical pillars that must be strengthened simultaneously in the effort to build a Malaysia MADANI.
IIM described NIES not just as a national strategy, but as a clarion call to all Malaysians to collectively internalise and practice the values of integrity in every aspect of life. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Singapore launches Standards and Conformance 2035 roadmap to boost global competitiveness
13 Jun 2026
SINGAPORE, June 13 — Singapore has unveiled the Standards and Conformance (S&C) 2035 roadmap to guide businesses in competing and growing in an increasingly complex global environment.
The roadmap is anchored on three strategic pillars that will shape the next phase of Singapore’s S&C development, according to Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG) in a statement yesterday.
“The strategic pillars are driving economic growth, building a future-ready ecosystem, and strengthening Singapore’s role as a trusted partner in regional and global S&C ecosystems.
“Singapore’s success has depended on being connected to the world. But geopolitical tensions, fragmenting trade rules, and rapid technological changes are reshaping cross-border flows of goods, people, capital, and data,” it said in a statement yesterday.
In this environment, a robust S&C ecosystem acts as critical infrastructure for trust and interoperability in global trade, said EnterpriseSG, Singapore’s enterprise development agency.
The S&C 2035 roadmap is also aimed at strengthening public health and safety, sustainability, business resilience, and digital trust.
“For businesses, S&C is also a growth lever enabling earlier market access, stronger supply chain resilience, and greater credibility with international partners,” it added.
The roadmap was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong during the S&C gala dinner on Thursday. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Hadi: PAS supports Parti Wawasan Negara joining Perikatan, Bersatu free to decide its future
14 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — PAS yesterday endorsed Parti Wawasan Negara’s bid to join Perikatan Nasional (PN), as party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia was free to decide whether it wanted to remain in the Opposition coalition.
According to Harian Metro, Hadi said PAS was open to accepting Parti Wawasan Negara into PN and that the majority of the coalition’s component parties had agreed to the move in line with its constitution.
“PAS supports and accepts Parti Wawasan Negara joining PN.
“The cooperation between PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara is not a new alignment; rather, we are strengthening what already exists. We will further energise PN,” he told reporters after the RESET Convention in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, yeserday.
Also present were Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau, Reset movement founder Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, PN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.
Hadi added that PAS remained committed to strengthening PN, noting that the coalition’s current chairman was from the Islamist party.
“PAS agrees to accept Parti Wawasan Negara into PN because PAS is open. It is after the majority of component parties, in accordance with the constitution, agreed to accept Parti Wawasan Negara.
“The process is that when a party wishes to apply to join PN, it must submit an application and we will bring the matter to a meeting,” he said, as reported by the national daily.
Asked about Bersatu’s position in PN, Hadi said the matter was for the party itself to decide.
“We have already parted ways with Bersatu and it is up to that party whether it wants to leave or walk away because that is its own matter,” he said.
The development comes after PAS officially decided to end its political cooperation with Bersatu on June 8.
Speaking at the same convention earlier, Hamzah, who is the Larut MP, announced that he and the RESET movement would operate under Parti Wawasan Negara, describing it as a platform for cooperation with PAS and other like-minded parties.
“Many people have asked me which party I, together with RESET, will be under. Here, I wish to announce that I will be with Parti Wawasan Negara.
“The name was given by Ayah Chik (Abdul Hadi).
“This party has just been born and is still taking its first steps. We want to work together with PAS, Gerakan and other parties. Insya-Allah, we will come together to build a consensus,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
IEA’s supreme leader chairs cabinet meeting in Kandahar, urges stronger religious education and public service
June 13, 2026
The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), Hibatullah Akhundzada, chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers in Kandahar, where he called for greater emphasis on religious education, justice, accountability, and public service, according to Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat.
Speaking at the meeting, Akhundzada provided guidance to cabinet members on carrying out their responsibilities, implementing Sharia-based directives, addressing public concerns, and serving citizens with sincerity and commitment, Fitrat said.
The IEA leader stressed that strengthening the country’s Islamic system depends on expanding religious education and increasing public awareness of Islamic teachings. He urged officials to uphold Islamic values, provide religious guidance, and work to protect society from influences he described as harmful to moral and religious principles.
According to Fitrat, the supreme leader further called for the expansion of Islamic education nationwide, noting that knowledge and strong religious conviction contribute to stability and effective governance.
The Council of Ministers also reviewed the implementation of previous decisions and discussed a range of administrative, economic, social, and political issues. Officials presented progress reports on ongoing programs, while decisions were taken on measures aimed at improving educational services and strengthening the country’s economic and political sectors.
Source: ariananews.af
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Won’t give govt ‘much time’
14 June 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday warned that the opposition alliance would not give the government much time to implement the public mandate delivered through the July charter referendum.
Addressing a rally organised by the 11-party alliance at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram, Shafiqur, also leader of the opposition in parliament, said the government was constitutionally bound to honour the referendum verdict.
“A government that rejects the public mandate ceases to be a government of the people,” he added.
Shafiqur acknowledged that the BNP government came to power securing 51 percent of the vote, but said it was “equally undeniable that 71 percent of the population voted in favour of implementing the July charter in the referendum.”
Invoking historical parallels, the Jamaat chief said if the government refuses to accept the referendum outcome or the public demand, a situation akin to that of 1996 will ultimately emerge. Just as it (the then BNP government) was forced to introduce and pass the caretaker government bill in 1996, it will also be compelled to implement the referendum verdict this time. It should accept the mandate willingly rather than forcing people to take to the streets.
“A previous regime attempted to establish fascism and is now hiding out in the forests, fleeing through rivers and canals. Where will you flee?” he warned.
The 11-party alliance organised the rally to press a set of demands, including immediate implementation of the referendum mandate, strict control of soaring commodity prices, improvement of law and order, and protection of public rights.
In his speech, Shafiqur launched a sharp critique of the proposed national budget, also targeting the prime minister’s remarks suggesting that the opposition opposed it due to reduced duties on alcohol and cigarettes.
“The opposition’s role is to deliver logical and constructive criticism of the budget. What is there to be angry about? Why lose patience so easily?” he said, advising the prime minister to identify individuals within his inner circle who, he claimed, were misguiding him. “Those who take receptions while riding in the vehicles of notorious bank defaulters can offer you nothing of value,” he added.
He further alleged that parliamentary proceedings were being bypassed on key national security issues. Despite formal opposition notices seeking discussion on border concerns, he said, the government had continued to delay. “What is there to fear? Who are you afraid of? History shows that no one escapes after betraying the nation.”
Expressing concern over the law and order situation, Shafiqur said people had expected extortion to end under an elected government but that it had instead worsened.
He also criticised the government for failing to curb corruption.
“Before the election, you promised to take a stand against corruption. Instead, we are seeing that corruption has effectively been nationalised,” he said.
Speaking at the rally, Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and opposition chief whip, strongly criticised the budget, saying it lacked clear measures to stop financial looting and institutional corruption.
“We genuinely wanted to applaud the government and the prime minister, but you have taken zero concrete steps to halt public looting, financial corruption, or hostile bank takeovers,” he said, adding that corruption could not be eliminated without structural state reforms.
He also alleged that due to the absence of police reform, a national team cricketer was subjected to harassment in Chattogram. “If the government chooses the path of autocracy, the masses will inevitably choose the path of an uprising,” he warned.
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Oli Ahmed urged the prime minister to exercise executive authority directly rather than through proxies.
“You must declare directly: ‘I am the prime minister; I do not need sycophants.’ While you have the legislative support of the 11-party alliance, you must identify and purge the foreign agents and opportunists surrounding you,” he said.
Questioning the government’s hesitation on reforms, he added, “You have the constitutional provision to serve terms spanning up to two decades as prime minister and president. How many more years do you need? You cannot survive with enemies on all sides. Build a bridge of friendship with the opposition.”
Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (JAGPA) leader Rashed Prodhan claimed the current administration’s rapid decline in public popularity was unprecedented.
He alleged that the government was quickly repeating authoritarian patterns of the past regime.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Jamaat seeks clarification on new Indian envoy’s remark
14 June 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman has urged the government to seek clarification from newly appointed Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi over his reported remark about “India and Bangladesh becoming one”.
In a post shared on his verified Facebook page at 12:06pm yesterday, Shafiqur said the envoy’s comment had come to his attention following his arrival in Bangladesh.
“We believe our government should seek clarification from him regarding what he meant by the phrase ‘India and Bangladesh becoming one,’” he wrote.
Emphasising the sovereignty of both countries, the Jamaat chief said, “Just as India is an independent country, Bangladesh is also an independent country.”
He said the remark, if left unexplained, would create confusion among the public.
“We request our government to address this matter sincerely,” he wrote.
Shafiqur further said that if the envoy had intended the statement in its literal sense, “then it is certainly condemnable”.
“The issue needs to be clarified,” he added.
Trivedi entered Bangladesh by road through the Benapole-Petrapole border at around 11:00am on Friday. He was received at the Benapole No Man’s Land by officials from Bangladesh’s home ministry, the Indian High Commission and the Benapole Land Port. His wife Mrinal Trivedi accompanied him.
He later left for Dhaka by road at around 12:30pm and briefly spoke to Bangladeshi journalists before departing.
In April, the Indian government appointed Trivedi, a former Indian railway minister and former MLA from Barrackpore representing the BJP, as India’s 18th high commissioner to Bangladesh. He succeeded Pranay Verma.
The appointment marked a departure from India’s longstanding diplomatic practice of appointing career Indian Foreign Service officers as high commissioners. In the 55-year history of bilateral relations, Trivedi is the first politician to be appointed as India’s high commissioner to Bangladesh.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Opposition trying to create unrest over budget
14 June 2026
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday accused the opposition of taking a stance against the proposed budget to create instability and mislead the public, rather than safeguarding public interest.
Tarique said taxes on around 60 essential products, including rice, lentils, edible oil and salt, have been withdrawn in the budget to prevent the prices of daily necessities from rising.
“The objective is simple -- to ensure that people can live well,” he said while addressing a brief gathering after inaugurating the re-excavation work of the historic Patali Canal in PM Khali Union under Cox’s Bazar Sadar.
He said, according to newspaper reports, no commodity prices have increased since the budget, unlike in the past.
Tarique questioned the motive behind the opposition’s rejection of the budget, which he claimed reduced taxes on essentials and increased the prices of alcohol and cigarettes.
“Their objective is not to stand beside the people of the country. Their only goal is to create instability and unrest in the country and mislead people,” he said.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury placed the proposed budget for FY2026-27 in parliament on Thursday.
Highlighting the budget’s emphasis on production and employment, Tarique said Bangladesh must strengthen industry and commerce alongside agriculture.
“Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country. But at the same time, we must build industries and expand trade. If industries and businesses grow, employment opportunities will be created for our young people. They will be able to find jobs and engage in business activities,” he said.
The PM said the government has increased taxes on imported products that compete with locally manufactured goods to protect domestic industries.
“We have included such measures in this budget. Even this is not acceptable to the opposition,” he said.
Tarique said the people, not any political party or family, are the true owners of the country.
“I want to say that you are the owners of this country. No political party is the owner of the country; no family is the owner of the country. The owners of the country are its 20-crore people,” he said.
Before addressing the gathering, the PM formally launched the canal re-excavation work by digging soil with a spade and planting a sapling on the canal bank.
Highlighting the significance of the canal restoration project, he said re-excavating canals across the country would help boost agricultural production, improve water management and benefit rural communities.
Tarique said BNP believes in politics for the welfare of the people and that his government has already started implementing various election pledges to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
He said the government has introduced initiatives such as the Family Card and Farmers’ Card programmes to support low-income families and farmers.
“We are standing beside farmers. We are standing beside ordinary people. Every commitment we made before the election is being implemented step by step,” he said.
The PM also formally inaugurated a nationwide programme to plant 25 crore trees over the next five years, aiming to strengthen environmental protection and address the impacts of climate change.
He inaugurated the programme, as promised in its electoral manifesto, by planting a Garjan sapling at Malumghat Reserved Forest in Dulahazara under PM Khali Union around 2:55pm.
In the afternoon, Tarique visited the grave of Wasim Akram, a martyr of the 2024 July uprising, in Cox’s Bazar’s Pekua. He offered fateha there, said PM’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.
Wasim, a second-year student at Chattogram College and a member of the Chhatra Dal’s college unit, was killed on July 16, 2024, during clashes between protesters and police in Chattogram.
Later, the PM met Wasim’s family members and enquired about their wellbeing. As a gesture of support, he handed over savings certificates worth Tk 20 lakh to his mother.
Tarique, along with his wife Zubaida Rahman, also visited Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar during his daylong tour of the district.
Source: thedailystar.net
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U.S. Deports Migrants, Including Afghans, to Central African Republic
By Fidel Rahmati
June 13, 2026
A U.S. deportation flight carrying migrants from several countries, including Afghanistan, departed for the Central African Republic on Friday as part of the Trump administration’s expanding policy of removing migrants to third countries, according to Reuters and a U.S. immigration flight-tracking initiative.
The flight reportedly included citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey and Georgia, many of whom had been living in the United States under “deferred removal” protections that temporarily shielded them from deportation.
The latest deportation comes amid growing controversy over Washington’s efforts to relocate migrants and asylum seekers to third countries rather than returning them directly to their countries of origin. Human rights groups and immigration lawyers have argued that some deportees could face prolonged detention, legal uncertainty or eventual return to places where they may be at risk of persecution.
The policy has drawn particular concern among Afghan refugees. In recent weeks, reports emerged that the United States was exploring options to transfer Afghan refugees stranded in Qatar’s Al Udeid and Al Sailiya facilities to African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo. More than 80 members of the U.S. Congress have opposed the proposal and called on the administration to halt any such transfers until legal and humanitarian concerns are fully addressed.
According to Reuters, the aircraft departed from Louisiana on Thursday and later stopped in Ghana before continuing its journey. Immigration attorney Alma Davis said it remained unclear whether all passengers would be transported to Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, or whether some would disembark in Ghana.
The U.S. State Department currently advises against travel to the Central African Republic, citing armed conflict, insecurity and the presence of armed groups across parts of the country.
Critics say the administration has expanded deportations even for some migrants who previously benefited from legal protections. Deportees and their attorneys have reported concerns about lengthy detention in transit countries and the possibility of eventual forced return to their home countries.
The flight appears to be the first publicly known arrangement between Washington and Bangui involving the acceptance of deported migrants from the United States. Authorities in the Central African Republic have not yet publicly commented on the reported agreement.
The Trump administration has defended its tougher immigration policies as necessary to strengthen border security and enforce immigration laws. However, the strategy has faced legal challenges in U.S. courts and criticism from refugee advocates and international human rights organizations.
It remains unclear how many additional deportation flights to third countries are being planned and whether further transfers involving Afghan migrants and refugees will proceed in the coming weeks.
Source: khaama.com
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Brussels’ Opening: A Path Toward Constructive Engagement
June 14, 2026
The recent discussions in Brussels regarding a possible visit by an Islamic Emirate delegation mark a significant moment in Afghanistan’s evolving relationship with the European Union. While European officials have stressed that such talks do not amount to formal recognition, the very consideration of hosting Afghan representatives reflects a growing acknowledgment that engagement is both necessary and inevitable.
Belgian authorities have confirmed that security agencies are assessing the potential issuance of visas for the delegation, though no formal application has yet been submitted. Analysts such as Najib-ur-Rahman Shamal note that the invitation is primarily aimed at exploring mechanisms to facilitate the return of Afghan migrants from Europe. Yet beyond the technicalities of migration, this initiative signals a broader willingness to open channels of dialogue.
The European Union’s migration commissioner has candidly stated that Europe has no option but to engage with the Islamic Emirate in order to manage the return of asylum seekers whose applications have been rejected. This pragmatic stance underscores a reality long recognized by observers. Afghanistan’s government cannot be ignored in matters that directly affect European societies. Such talks could address critical technical issues such as identity verification and the provision of consular services, thereby laying the groundwork for more structured cooperation.
This development an opportunity to expand Afghanistan’s image internationally. Holding such meetings could positively influence the growth of political and economic relations, paving the way for deeper interactions between Afghanistan and the European Union. Indeed, while the EU maintains its position of non-recognition, the practical engagement itself represents a step toward mutual understanding and shared responsibility.
The European Commission has clarified that the invitation is part of its broader policy to combat irregular migration and accelerate the return of migrants without legal grounds to remain in Europe. By opening dialogue, the EU acknowledges Afghanistan’s role in addressing global challenges, and Afghanistan gains a platform to present itself as a responsible partner in international affairs.
Although the Islamic Emirate yet to comment on the matter, the potential visit to Brussels could serve as a milestone in Afghanistan’s gradual reintegration into the global community. Constructive engagement, even on technical issues, strengthens trust and builds pathways for cooperation. For Afghanistan, this is an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to dialogue and stability and for Europe, it is a chance to manage migration responsibly while fostering regional security.
In the long run, such interactions may help bridge political divides and encourage broader cooperation between Afghanistan, the European Union, and the wider international community. Engagement, even without recognition, is a vital step toward building a more interconnected and stable world.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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MoU Signed to Provide Healthcare in 6 Provinces
June 13, 2026
KABUL: The Ministry of Public Health said in a statement on Friday that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the Afghan Family Guidance Association (AFGA) to strengthen healthcare services in several provinces.
The $50,900 agreement will support health service delivery in Balkh, Kabul, Kunar, Parwan, Kapisa, and Logar provinces for a period of one year, the statement said.
The statement added that the project is designed to improve service quality, expand healthcare access, and reduce health-related challenges in targeted communities.
According to the statement, approximately 1,460 people will directly benefit from the program, while around 10,000 others are expected to benefit indirectly.
The initiative will also create employment opportunities for at least one individual in the health sector.
AFGA representatives pledged to implement the project according to established standards and ensure effective delivery of healthcare services throughout the implementation period.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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