'Promoting Love Jihad': Aamir Khan Gets 'Choke The Breath' Threat From Lawrence Bishnoi Gang
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 July 2026
· 'Promoting love jihad': Aamir Khan gets 'choke the breath' threat from Lawrence Bishnoi gang
· Islamic Resistance in Iraq announces a $10 million reward for killing of criminal Trump
· Saudi-backed Masam project destroys over 4,500 unexploded mines and other weapons in Yemen
· Why did a bomb threat at a Muslim school in Birmingham get so little coverage?
· Trump ‘betrayal’ puts US on path to revolution – Tucker Carlson
· Beyond Faith: Why Muslims, Christians Must Reject Division
· Malaysia monitors Iran-US conflict to protect oil supply
· Hasina's extradition: India says Bangladesh’s request is under legal review
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India
· Why decades-old mosque in UP is facing eviction, Rs 6.41 crore penalty
· ‘Krishna was 5-time namazi’: Hindu outfits livid over Muslim cleric comment, demand apology, legal action
· ‘No treatment without my consent’: SonamWangchuk's wife after cops forcefully take activist to Safdarjung hospital
· Airport mosque protest fizzles out as police and central forces turn area into fortress
· Riots case: HC seeks police reply on Sharjeel’s bail plea
· PinarayiVijayan slams UDF government over Waqf Board reconstitution, alleges ‘total surrender’ to BJP
· Protests and internet blackouts grip J&K’s Doda and Kishtwar after fatal police firing incident
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Mideast
· Iran’s Guards say two oil tankers explode after hitting mines in Hormuz
· Damascus court hears witnesses in trial of former grand mufti
· Syria says Daesh group plotted church, shrine attacks to inflame sectarian tensions
· Strikes kill nine Iranian Kurdish rebels in Iraq: opposition group
· Israeli demolition crushes Palestinian family’s dream home
· EU welcomes first session of Syrian People’s Assembly as ‘positive step’
· Lebanese-Israeli military talks postponed over pilot zones dispute
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Arab World
· Riyadh Air expands European network with new nonstop Madrid service
· Saudi Arabia welcomes introduction of regular commercial flights between Amman and Sanaa
· Saudi foreign minister receives Venezuelan counterpart
· Saudi Arabia’s progress in urban development highlighted at UN
· Muslim World League chief opens Al-Rahman Mosque in New Zealand
· Experts urge responsible use of AI at major Paris conference
· Tuwaiq launches new technology programs for leaders
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Europe
· Sheikh-ul-Islam AllahshukurPashazade calls for global peace at UN-backed summit
· Met chief visits mosque in alleged terror plot
· Council 'strongly condemns' divisive mosque posts
· JalsaSalana: UK’s largest Muslim convention to return to Hampshire
· Azerbaijani journalists visit religious sites in Guba during media tour
· From colonial symbol to sanctuary: Paris's Grand Mosque turns 100
· Zelensky fired defense minister to tighten grip on power – opposition leader
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North America
· Trump threatens new Canada tariffs over fires sending 'filthy' air into US cities
· 'Landmark' Connecticut Islamic studies law sparks MAGA backlash
· Local Regina mosque puts out survey for feedback on call to prayer
· Ontario man charged in Canada Day attack on Muslim family
· 'People will pay because they have to': Trump Media pitches $100,000 monthly fee for faster Truth Social posts
· Trump’s Truth Social to sell early access to ‘market-moving’ posts
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Africa
· Terrorists Invade Kwara Community, Abduct Businessman, Islamic Cleric
· Osun 2026: Muslim leaders task stakeholders on violence-free election
· Senegal: Ex-president Sall arrives back for meeting with successor
· ‘The Terrorists Laughed And Said We Should Thank God That We Have Been Freed’ – Oyo Kidnapped Teacher Reveals Fresh Angle
· Retired General Backs Makinde’s Call For UN Oriire Probe
· ‘He Has Lost Control’ – ADC Asks National Assembly To Probe Tinubu’s Fitness
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Southeast Asia
· Media must embrace tech without losing values, says PM Anwar
· Malaysians in Qatar urged to stay alert amid Gulf tensions
· Muhyiddin claims Bersatu is Parliament’s only true Opposition amid shifting alliances
· MACC steps in over KWAP’s RM200m investment loss linked to Indonesia’s eFishery
· PAS eyes wider Sarawak presence with plan to contest eight seats in next state election
· BN will run a civil campaign in Negeri Sembilan, says Umnoveep
· Johor Regent reminds new exco members to keep feet on the ground and focus on public’s needs
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South Asia
· Indian Police Arrest Afghan Man Over Alleged Visa Overstay
· Minority leaders demand release of HaridasTarani Das
· ‘Anyone you dislike is being branded a fascist’: Cumilla SP tells JCD leader
· New loan programme: IMF to push for banking reforms, tax boost
· State minister inspects tree plantation programme on Bishkhali River bank
· Badakhshan Officials Say Yaftal-e Payin District Retaken After Overnight Attack
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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'Promoting love jihad': Aamir Khan gets 'choke the breath' threat from Lawrence Bishnoi gang
Jul 18, 2026
NEW DELHI: Following threats to Salman Khan, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has now become the latest target of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. In a social media post and an audio clip, gangsters AarzooBishnoi and Tyson Bishnoi issued death severe threats against the actor.
Investigators said the post may have been an indication by the gang that they were not deterred by FBI's "Operation Hardball" and are back in business as usual.
The gang has alleged that Khan and others were promoting "love jihad" in the country, framing it as a direct attack on their culture. Using hostile and derogatory language, the post declares that such actions will not be tolerated and promises a swift retaliation, explicitly threatening to "choke the breath" of anyone using their stardom to promote these alleged acts.
In addition to the threats directed at Aamir Khan, the post also highlights a heinous crime recently committed against an innocent young girl in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. While the gang praised the local administration's handling of the case, they issued a direct and violent ultimatum to politicians who are allegedly shielding some of the culprits.
The gang warned that if these political figures did not immediately cease their interference, they will face the exact same brutal consequences intended for any perpetrators who manage to escape the law.
The social media post concludes by paying tribute to two deceased associates, Parvesh and Himanshu, referring to them as martyrs. The gang vowed that their sacrifice will not go in vain and promised a fierce retaliation against their enemies.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/promoting-love-jihad-aamir-khan-gets-choke-the-breath-threat-from-lawrence-bishnoi-gang/articleshowprint/132474092.cms?val=3728
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Islamic Resistance in Iraq announces a $10 million reward for killing of criminal Trump
17 Jul 2026
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced on Thursday evening a $10 million reward for the killing of the criminal Trump.
In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), it said, "The most telling evidence of the moral bankruptcy of the American administration is the criminal Trump's boastful boasting about his treachery and aggression in targeting the leaders of victory, the martyred commanders Hajj QassemSoleimani and Hajj Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (may Allah be pleased with them)."
It affirmed that "this brazen boasting has only increased their pure blood in glory and immortality, and has only brought their killer eternal shame and disgrace that will haunt him and his administration for as long as they live." The statement continued, "The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announces a financial reward of $10 million, collected from the donations of its loyal sons and valiant supporters, designated for whoever kills the criminal Trump, or for whoever orders its allocation or direction to an individual, group, entity, or institution."
It further explained, "The free people of the world will pursue the killer of children and scientists. Tyrants will never know peace, and the criminal will find no refuge from the wrath of the honorable. Retribution is a binding pledge upon the mujahideen, and the blood of the martyrs will remain a curse that shakes the thrones of the arrogant until the aggressors are defeated and the fortresses of tyranny crumble."
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3744727.htm
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Saudi-backed Masam project destroys over 4,500 unexploded mines and other weapons in Yemen
July 17, 2026
Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam recently destroyed 4,573 landmines and other unexploded weapons in Yemen’s Abyan governorate. (Supplied)
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam recently destroyed 4,573 landmines and other unexploded weapons in Yemen’s Abyan governorate.
The controlled demolitions took place in the WadiDofs area, the project said on Friday. The devices included artillery shells, antipersonnel and antitank mines, hand grenades, improvised explosive devices, fuses, ammunition and other military explosives retrieved from the southern governorates of Aden, Abyan and Lahj.
MontherQassem, the leader of Masam’s special tasks team, said the explosives were recovered during operations to clear parts of the country contaminated by what is known as “explosive remnants of war.”
Some of the ordnance was collected from the Salah Al-Din area of Aden’s Al-Buraiqah district after residents posting a video online showing unexploded munitions near residents’ homes.
Acting on instructions from the Masam operations center, a team secured the site, removed the explosives and took them to the demolition site in WadiDofs, Qassem added, which he described as an approved location for the safe disposal of unexploded ordnance under procedures established by the project’s explosives experts.
He warned that explosive remnants of war continued to pose a serious threat to civilians, particularly women and children. He urged residents not to approach suspicious objects and to report any suspected munitions to authorities.
Project Masam, launched by Saudi Arabia in 2018, works to clear landmines and other unexploded devices deployed during the conflict in Yemen, which humanitarian organizations say cause civilian casualties and hinder access to farmland, roads and communities.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651322/saudi-arabia
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Why did a bomb threat at a Muslim school in Birmingham get so little coverage?
17 July, 2026
West Midlands Police evacuated hundreds of pupils from a school and searched it with sniffer dogs [GETTY]
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Hundreds of students and staff, mainly Muslim, were left in fear on Tuesday after a bomb threat at their school in the UK city of Birmingham forced them to evacuate their school.
450 pupils, including children as young as 11, had to evacuate after a threatening email was sent to the Hamd House School in Birmingham and to school regulators Ofsted. Police swept through the institution, with sniffer dogs searching the grounds, before the students and staff were given the all-clear to return.
While it has not been confirmed the attack was an Islamophobic one, West Midlands Police told The New Arab that officers were satisfied there was not a credible threat.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, it failed to make the headlines in mainstream publications or prompt a government response, with local paper Birmingham Live being the only outlet to report it initially.
"I think the message this sends is really quite a scary one because it shows that this is not worth covering," NimaAkram, founder of NewsCord, told The New Arab.
"In some ways, it greenlights future attacks or puts no pressure on the government or anyone to act against this."
Akram, who founded NewsCord to detect and expose media bias, said that even if mainstream media were to pick up such stories, it would be buried on their site.
The Canary, 5 Pillars and Middle East Eye soon picked up the incident, but mainstream media have seemingly ignored the story.
'Media blackout'
While it's hard to pin down why the story was not picked up, Akram says there seems to be a lack of reportage when it comes to anti-Muslim incidents in western media, suggesting that one religion or religious group matters less than others.
"There's almost a media blackout on coverage of attacks against Muslims in the UK," Akram said, contrasting this with wall-to-wall coverage of antisemitic attacks.
"All of these crimes should be condemned. But you're seeing that selective outrage, and then you're seeing the government makes decisions differently, which seem even more unfair and cements this vicious loop."
After the Golders Green attack, where two Jewish men were stabbed, through their analysis, NewsCord found that in just 72 hours, 372 articles were published across all of the Western mainstream and global outlets and failed to mention that a Muslim man was also stabbed three hours before.
However, a stabbing spree in Edinburgh where several Muslims were attacked was only covered by 30 outlets in the first 72 hours.
"This really just sends that signal of what it seems like the establishment is trying to further," Akram said.
From a mosque replica being added to a bonfire in Northern Ireland, to a Muslim man being stabbed outside a mosque in East London, the UK has been witnessing a string of anti-Muslim attacks with no official comment on the matter.
"We're seeing in general that there is this selective outrage amongst the media class and also the Prime Minister and [the] kind of the language in government," Akram says, highlighting that no Cobra meetings have been held after major anti-Muslim attacks, which is typically done to respond to national crises/
"There really is this double standard that's becoming extremely clear to see," Akram added.
While the threat ended up being a hoax, the lack of stories reflect where priorities lay, with Akram noting that £250 million had been allocated for security for the Jewish community, with no new funding for the Muslim community.
Source: newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/why-was-bomb-threat-muslim-school-ignored-uk-media
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Trump ‘betrayal’ puts US on path to revolution – Tucker Carlson
18 Jul, 2026
FILE PHOTO. American conservative journalist Tucker Carlson. © Jason Koerner/Getty Images
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The US is on the path to revolution because President Donald Trump has betrayed Americans by putting foreign interests ahead of those of his own country, journalist Tucker Carlson has said.
In an interview on Bloomberg’s The Mishal Husain Show aired on Friday, the conservative commentator – once among Trump’s most prominent supporters – accused the president of being “totally disloyal” to the US, saying he had “cheated on the United States with a foreign power.”
“This is why countries have revolutions,” Carlson said, adding: “I don’t want revolution, but we’re going to get a revolution if this continues.”
The former Fox News host, who backed Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign before breaking with him over Iran, argued that many Americans no longer believed the political system represented their interests. He said Republicans had failed to fulfill promises to dismantle the “deep state,” citing the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files as evidence of why many supporters had lost faith in the party.
Carlson has become increasingly critical of US backing for Israel’s war in Gaza and publicly urged Trump not to attack Iran during Israel’s 12-Day War with the Islamic Republic in June 2025. Their rift deepened after the US joined Israel’s strikes on Iran in late February, with Carlson accusing Trump of putting Israeli interests ahead of America’s. He also described Trump’s “true religion” as “Israelism” and called the Iran war “disgusting and evil.”
“Trump allowed the US government to be completely steered by this tiny little country in the Middle East, Israel, to our great detriment,” Carlson told Bloomberg, adding that he had argued directly against Trump’s approach, but “that had no effect at all.”
“And then we wound up in a war with Iran that has gravely hurt the United States,” he said.
The interview comes as the US continues its military campaign against Iran. US Central Command said it had completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Thursday after Trump threatened to expand attacks to Iranian energy infrastructure and bridges.
Iran has responded with drone and missile strikes on US military facilities across the region. Tehran has also warned that regional oil and gas exports could be halted, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until Washington ends its “illegal” military intervention.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/643173-tucker-carlson-us-trump-revolution/
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Beyond Faith: Why Muslims, Christians Must Reject Division
18 Jul 2026
Nigeria stands today at one of the most defining moments in its history. A nation richly blessed with abundant natural resources, youthful energy, and remarkable cultural diversity continues to grapple with a challenge that has persisted for decades: the manipulation of religious differences for political, economic, and social gains.
Across the country’s towns and villages, Muslims and Christians wake up every morning with remarkably similar aspirations. They desire peace, security, quality education for their children, accessible healthcare, employment opportunities, and a government that serves the people with integrity. Yet, despite these shared dreams, religious identity is often exploited to divide communities and distract citizens from the real issues that determine national progress.
The greatest threat to Nigeria isn’t Islam or Christianity. It’s the deliberate exploitation of religious and ethnic identities by those who benefit from division. As long as Nigerians remain fragmented along religious lines, genuine national development will remain elusive.
Both Islam and Christianity teach peace, compassion, justice, honesty, forgiveness, and service to humanity. These aren’t conflicting values but common moral foundations upon which a united nation can be built. The Qur’an and the Bible both encourage believers to uphold justice, show kindness, and respect the dignity of others. Violence, hatred, and intolerance have no legitimate place in the authentic teachings of either faith.
History demonstrates that Nigeria has countless examples of peaceful coexistence. Across the country, Muslims and Christians have lived together for generations, sharing neighbourhoods, marketplaces, schools, workplaces, and even extended family ties through interfaith marriages. Farmers cultivate their lands side by side, traders build businesses together, security personnel protect the nation together, and healthcare workers save lives regardless of religious identity.
These daily acts of cooperation rarely make newspaper headlines, yet they represent the true character of Nigeria far more than isolated incidents of religious conflict.
Unfortunately, during election periods, religious sentiments are frequently inflamed. Instead of engaging citizens on issues such as insecurity, unemployment, inflation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic reforms, some political actors appeal to religious loyalties to mobilise support. Such tactics divert public attention from governance and accountability.
When citizens vote primarily on religious identity rather than competence and integrity, democracy suffers. Public office should be entrusted to individuals based on their character, experience, vision, and commitment to public service, not merely on whether they attend a mosque or a church.
Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and equal citizenship. Every Nigerian, irrespective of faith, deserves equal protection under the law and equal opportunities to contribute to national development. Respecting religious freedom doesn’t require abandoning one’s beliefs; it requires recognising that fellow citizens are entitled to their sincerely held beliefs.
Religious leaders carry a profound responsibility in shaping public attitudes. Imams, pastors, and other faith leaders wield significant moral influence and can play a decisive role in promoting tolerance, dialogue, and reconciliation. Sermons and public teachings should inspire believers to reject violence, avoid inflammatory rhetoric, and embrace peaceful coexistence.
So does the media; it bears an enormous responsibility. Responsible journalism should inform rather than inflame. News organisations must report religiously sensitive issues with accuracy, context, and restraint while avoiding sensationalism that could deepen tensions. Balanced reporting can help foster understanding rather than suspicion.
Parents and educators likewise shape the next generation’s attitudes. Children who are taught from an early age to respect different faiths are more likely to become adults who value diversity as a strength rather than a threat. Schools should encourage civic education, ethical values, and opportunities for interfaith interaction that build trust and mutual respect.
Youth organisations, civil society groups, traditional rulers, and community associations should continue creating platforms where people of different religious backgrounds can collaborate on community development projects. Shared service often builds stronger relationships than dialogue alone.
The government must also fulfil its obligations impartially. Justice delayed or selectively applied fuels resentment and undermines confidence in public institutions. Acts of violence committed in the name of religion must be investigated thoroughly, prosecuted fairly, and condemned unequivocally, regardless of the perpetrators’ identities. Equal application of the law is essential to preserving public trust.
Economic hardship further underscores the need for unity. Inflation, unemployment, insecurity, and inadequate infrastructure affect Muslims and Christians alike. Hunger recognises no religion. Poverty asks no denomination. Illiteracy does not distinguish between mosque and church. The challenges confronting Nigeria require collective solutions rather than sectarian divisions.
Nigeria’s diversity should be viewed not as a liability but as one of its greatest strategic advantages. Nations around the world have demonstrated that people of different faiths and backgrounds can live peacefully under inclusive institutions founded on justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. Nigeria has the human capital, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural richness to do the same.
Political leaders must demonstrate statesmanship by avoiding divisive rhetoric. Responsible leadership demands language that unites rather than polarises. Leaders should seek common ground, encourage national cohesion, and remind citizens that the country’s destiny is shared.
The security agencies equally have a role to play in protecting all communities without discrimination. Citizens are more likely to trust public institutions when they perceive them as fair, professional, and accountable.
At the grassroots level, interfaith dialogue should move beyond conferences into practical cooperation. Joint health campaigns, educational initiatives, environmental projects, humanitarian programmes, and community security partnerships can strengthen relationships while addressing local needs.
Every Nigerian also bears personal responsibility. It begins with rejecting rumours, refusing to spread inflammatory messages on social media, verifying information before sharing it, and treating neighbours with dignity regardless of their faith. Small acts of respect often prevent larger conflicts.
National unity doesn’t require uniformity of belief. Muslims and Christians will continue to practise Islam faithfully. Diversity of faith is entirely compatible with loyalty to one nation. Indeed, genuine unity is strengthened, not weakened, when citizens are free to practise their religion while respecting the rights of others.
Nigeria’s future depends less on what separates its citizens than on what unites them. Every child deserves quality education. Every family deserves security. Every entrepreneur deserves an enabling business environment. Every community deserves infrastructure and opportunities. These aspirations transcend religious identity.
The country’s founding ideals call for a federation where diversity becomes a source of resilience rather than conflict. Achieving that vision requires courage from political leaders, responsibility from religious institutions, professionalism from the media, impartiality from government institutions, and commitment from ordinary citizens.
The next generation deserves to inherit a Nigeria where religious identity is never a barrier to friendship, opportunity, or public service. They deserve a nation where elections are won through ideas rather than division, where public policy is driven by evidence rather than prejudice, and where citizenship matters more than sectarian affiliation.
The choice before Nigeria is clear. One path leads to continued mistrust, periodic conflict, and missed opportunities. The other leads to cooperation, stability, economic growth, and sustainable development. History will judge today’s generation by the path it chooses.
Muslims and Christians need not surrender their beliefs to build a united Nigeria. They need only recognise a simple but powerful truth: before they differ in faith, they share a common humanity and a common citizenship. The future of the Federal Republic depends not on the triumph of one religion over another, but on the triumph of justice over injustice, unity over division, and hope over fear.
If Nigeria is to realise its immense potential, Muslims and Christians must stand together, not because they believe the same, but because they believe in the same nation’s future. That is the patriotism this moment demands, and that is the legacy worthy of leaving to generations yet unborn.
Source: dailytrust.com
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https://dailytrust.com/beyond-faith-why-muslims-christians-must-reject-division/
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Malaysia monitors Iran-US conflict to protect oil supply
17 Jul 2026
The government will continue to closely monitor developments in the Iran-US conflict to safeguard Malaysia’s oil supply and minimise economic impact.
KUALA KANGSAR: The government will continue to closely monitor developments in the conflict between Iran and the United States (US) to safeguard the nation’s oil supply and minimise any impact on the economy and the well-being of the people.
Political Secretary to the Finance Minister, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, said geopolitical tensions involving major oil-producing countries have the potential to disrupt global energy markets, particularly crude oil supply and prices.
“As we know, the immediate impact is on oil supply. However, Alhamdulillah, the government has diversified its sources of supply, and we will continue to closely monitor developments.
“Our priority is to ensure that the country’s oil supply remains secure and that the conflict does not adversely affect Malaysia,” he said.
He told reporters this after attending the Teachers’ and Staff Clubs Empowerment Programme and a contribution presentation ceremony for schools in the Padang Rengas parliamentary constituency at SMK Tun Perak here.
According to international media reports, global oil prices rose today after renewed hostilities between the US and Iran in the Gulf region disrupted oil export flows through the Strait of Hormuz, fuelling fresh concerns over global energy supplies.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/malaysia-monitors-iran-us-conflict-to-protect-oil-supply/
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Hasina's extradition: India says Bangladesh’s request is under legal review
17 JULY 2026
India on Friday reiterated that Bangladesh's formal request seeking the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is currently under examination and will be processed strictly in accordance with applicable legal provisions and judicial procedures.
Responding to questions during the Ministry of External Affairs' weekly media briefing in New Delhi, official spokesperson RandhirJaiswal confirmed that New Delhi had received Dhaka's extradition request and said the matter remains under review.
"Yes, we have received an extradition request. As we have stated earlier, the request is under examination," Jaiswal said.
He emphasised that India's response would be guided by the country's legal obligations, the provisions governing extradition, and the due judicial process rather than political considerations.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/hasinas-extradition-india-says-bangladeshs-request-under-legal-review-4226276
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India
Why decades-old mosque in UP is facing eviction, Rs 6.41 crore penalty
Manish Sahu
Jul 17, 2026
Holding that a mosque inside the Saharanpur Collectorate campus is an unauthorised structure, a city magistrate court ordered its eviction in 30 days. It also imposed a cost of Rs 6.41 crore for the ‘unauthorised occupation’ of government land, directing that it be recovered from the unauthorised occupants.
The order was passed under the Uttar Pradesh Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1972. MutwaliTanveer Ahmed claimed the mosque is 150 years old, adding that they will file a revision petition against the order.
City Magistrate, Saharanpur, Kuldeep Singh told The Indian Express that the occupants have been given 30 days to vacate the 315-square-metre parcel of land, failing which authorities will carry out the eviction.
He said proceedings were initiated after the Revenue Department conducted an inquiry into a complaint filed by one VikasTyagi, who alleged the mosque had been constructed on government land within the Collectorate campus.
In March 2025, a revenue official (Lekhpal) lodged a complaint against Abdul Hamid, the alleged manager and maulvi of the mosque, alleging unauthorised occupation of government property.
Notices were issued to the respondents in April 2025 and objections were filed on June 11 of that year.
Why did the authorities move court?
In his application to the city magistrate, the revenue official submitted that the land on which the mosque stands is part of the Collectorate campus and recorded in revenue records as government property.
According to the petition, the building housing the mosque was originally constructed as a rest house for litigants visiting the Collectorate. It alleged that the respondents later encroached upon rooms on both the ground and first floors, began offering namaz there, rented out several rooms to third parties for residential use, and collected rent from a post office operating from the premises.
The petition further alleged that they carried out unauthorised construction, converting part of the government building into a religious structure.
The inquiry also found that the respondents possessed no licence, permission or other legal authority to reside within the Collectorate premises, accommodate third parties there, or convert the government building into a religious structure.
While the respondents relied on a purported letter issued by the Sunni Central Waqf Board, Lucknow, to stake their claim, the petition alleged it was forged and asserted that the property has been recorded in revenue records as Kachahri (Collectorate) and Kothiyat land and not as a religious site.
The petition further argued that the Sunni Central Waqf Board has no legal authority to declare government land as Waqf property. It stated that although the respondents claimed to be the maulvi and mutawalli of the mosque, they failed to produce documentary evidence during the inquiry to substantiate those claims.
The petitioner sought recovery of the alleged illegally collected rent, along with penal rent. It also sought recovery of all rent allegedly realised from third parties during the period of unauthorised occupation, together with 12% compound interest, to be deposited in the government treasury.
What did the mosque side argue?
In their reply, the respondents argued that the petitioner had failed to establish the State’s ownership over the disputed property or produce any documentary evidence. They further contended that the revenue records relied upon by the petitioner reflected only the physical status of the land, not its ownership.
The respondents alleged that the petition had been filed with the ulterior motive of unlawfully taking over the mosque and the land on which it stands. They alleged that the petitioner had suppressed material facts and attempted to mislead the court by withholding relevant revenue records and other documents.
Court’s ruling
The court stated that it had examined the evidence placed on record, and held that the respondents had failed to substantiate their claim over the disputed property, including the mosque, and had not produced any evidence to establish the land was their private property.
It observed that Khasra No. 539 has been recorded as Collectorate/Kachahri land in the revenue records since Fasli Years 1324 and 1359, and even earlier. On that basis, the court held that the land belongs to the State government and that occupation without lawful authority amounts to unauthorised occupation.
Taking into account the alleged unauthorised occupation of the 315 sqm parcel for a prolonged period, the court directed that compensation be calculated for 70 years, commencing from Fasli Year 1359, in accordance with the prescribed formula.
Last month, the Northern Railways’ Varanasi division had issued a notice to remove a mosque near the Kashi railway station by June 20, maintaining that the mosque, located near the gate 1 of the railway station, is built on railway land. The ‘AnjumanIntizamiaMasajid Varanasi’, the committee managing the religious structure, has called the move “illegal”.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/saharanpur-collectorate-mosque-eviction-order-fine-crores-government-land-10791314/
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‘Krishna was 5-time namazi’: Hindu outfits livid over Muslim cleric comment, demand apology, legal action
AMIR QURESHI
17 July, 2026
Mathura: Hindu outfits have demanded legal action against an Islamic cleric for describing Hindu deity Krishna as a ‘Paanchwaqtkenamazi‘ (one who offers Namaz five times a day). They also want the preacher to also apologise for the comment—made in a video on 23 June, but which recently went viral—claiming it hurt their religious sentiments.
MahendraPratap Singh, the president of Shri Krishna JanmabhoomiMuktiNyas, rubbished the statement and said that there is no scriptural or historical basis to the statement made by maulanaJarjis at a religious gathering in Jharkhand. He added that it was an attempt at cultural misappropriation.
He said that attributing the religious beliefs of Islam to a highly revered deity of Sanatan Dharma was not only despicable, but also an attempt at disturbing communal harmony. “There is ample documentation of the life and teachings of Krishna in the Sanatan scriptural tradition, including the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata and Harivamsha, and there is no mention of anything like the maulana‘s characterisation of the deity,” said Singh.
Hindu preacher Mudgal Kant Shastri also objected vehemently to the statement, calling it a deliberate slur on the beliefs of Hindus. He said that for the maulana to call Krishna, one of the central deities of the Sanatan Dharma, a follower of an Islamic worship practice, is highly disrespectful to the beliefs of over 1.2 billion followers of Sanatan Dharma worldwide, besides being completely unfounded both chronologically and theologically.
“We demand an unconditional apology from the Maulana for his statement and urge the government to take legal action against him, if he doesn’t apologise,” said Shastri.
Several other Hindu outfits and leaders have demanded that the Jharkhand government register a case against the Islamic cleric and initiate legal proceedings against him.
Vishal Sharma, vice-chairman of the All India Hindustani Biradari, an organisation engaged in the promotion of communal harmony, said that any statements that are made on public platforms and involve religious and social commentary, should be made with due respect and responsibility towards the sentiments of people who may listen and get affected by them. Such irresponsible statements can lead to the disruption of public order and cause social tension, which should be avoided at all costs, he said
Hindu preacher PanditYashpalShastri said the statement made by the maulana was historically untenable, as while Krishna lived in the Braj region of Aryavarta thousands of years ago, Islam as a religion originated in the seventh century AD in Saudi Arabia.
“If the cleric was trying to reinterpret Krishna through the theological lens of his faith, by claiming that many religions and ‘prophets’ preached worshipping ‘One God’, then it is his belief, and not something consistent with historical accounts. He should have kept his contentious beliefs to himself, especially when he was commenting on one of the primary religious figures of Sanatan culture, who is also considered the eighth avatar of Vishnu,” Shastri said.
The remarks made by the cleric have resulted in widespread contention and debate on social media as well. Mohd. Zahid, a well-known social media commentator, said people like Jarjis Ansari are the real enemies of Muslims in this country.
Another commentator RamashankarSuman said that there is a difference between Krishna and a prophet and to compare the deity with a prophet is dishonoring the Hindu faith and a criminal offence.
This episode has highlighted the long-debated issue of sensitivity of religious matters in a diverse society like India, especially when statements disparaging the beliefs held sacred by one or the other community in the country, are made by religious and political leaders ascribing to competing religious beliefs.
From Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, maulanaJarjis Ansari has been a controversial figure and has been embroiled in legal trouble several times in the past over his activities and statements. He’s been known to make controversial and instigating comments, and in 2022, he courted legal trouble when he urged muslim women to not refuse sex to their husbands even when pregnant, as it was a sinful act.
Later the same year, he was convicted of rape in a 2016 case by a fast-track court in Varanasi and sentenced to ten years imprisonment and a Rs 10,000 fine. He is currently out on bail but the current controversy has resulted in the filing of over 90 complaints against him all over Uttar Pradesh, as well as an FIR filed in the Hazratganj police station in Lucknow.
Source: theprint.in
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‘No treatment without my consent’: SonamWangchuk's wife after cops forcefully take activist to Safdarjung hospital
18.07.26
Activist SonamWangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, on Saturday objected to the medical treatment being administered to her husband after Delhi Police took him from the JantarMantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike. Angmo insisted that no treatment should begin without her consent and questioned the need to hospitalise the activist, claiming he was in stable condition a day earlier.
"He is at Safdarjung Hospital. I forbid them from administering anything without my consent. No treatment should start without my consent. I hold everybody accountable if anything happens," Angmo told PTI.
Questioning the decision to take Wangchuk to the hospital, she said, "Yesterday, he was doing fine. There was no need to bring him to the hospital. It's my right under Article 32. Without my consent and my doctor's consent, nothing can be administered."
Delhi Police, however, maintained that the activist was taken to the hospital following medical advice and in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions.
Delhi Police cites medical advice, high court directions
Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said Wangchuk was taken to a government hospital after his health deteriorated during the hunger strike.
"Following the directions of the High Court and according to the health conditions and medical advice, we have taken SonamWangchuk to appropriate government hospital which was much needed medical intervention and under medical supervision," Sharma told PTI.
In an official statement, Delhi Police said, "As per orders of the Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advice, due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. SonamWangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care."
Police added that some protesters attempted to obstruct the exercise, leading to a brief commotion.
"The protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued; however, police exercised maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely," the statement said.
The force also appealed to demonstrators to end the protest, stating, "We request the protestors at JantarMantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest."
Security tightened around JantarMantar
Following Wangchuk's hospitalisation, Delhi Police significantly stepped up security arrangements in and around JantarMantar and across parts of the New Delhi district.
Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel and paramilitary forces was made, while barricades were erected at key locations to regulate the movement of protesters and visitors and to prevent any law and order issues.
Protesters allege police crackdown
Soon after Wangchuk was taken to the hospital, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder AbhijitDipke accused Delhi Police of using force against protesters.
"I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police," Dipke said in a post on X.
In another post, he alleged that police personnel were beating protesters and forcibly taking Wangchuk away.
AISA members Neha, Aameen and Manish, however, continued their hunger strike at the protest site on day 21. According to AISA, protesters formed a human chain around them and stopped the police from forcefully removing the three hunger strikers.
Neha, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28, said some police personnel in plain clothes came to the protest site around 7 am and after 10 minutes, a heavy police deployment moved towards the stage.
"SonamWangchuk was forcibly removed. Then they tried to come to the AISA tent to detain us, but because there were a lot of protesters around, they could not do so. The attempts by Delhi Police to forcibly end a peaceful protest are shameful," she said.
"The government has been ignoring the protest, and now, on day 21, they want to force us to end our agitation. We appeal to all to come to JantarMantar," she added.
Wangchuk had vowed to continue fast
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.
His health has steadily declined over the past three weeks. Doctors have said he has lost nearly 9.5 kg since the hunger strike began, while his blood pressure and blood sugar levels have remained under close monitoring.
On Friday night, Wangchuk reiterated that he would continue the fast despite his worsening health, saying he had "lost 20 per cent of my body" during the protest.
"Governments have fallen over the price of onions. I have lost 20 per cent of my body. It is time for this government to listen to the voice of the youth," he had said in a video message.
The Delhi High Court has been monitoring Wangchuk's medical condition and has directed that his health be regularly assessed, with appropriate medical intervention to be provided whenever required.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Airport mosque protest fizzles out as police and central forces turn area into fortress
Jul 18, 2026
Kolkata: A planned protest against the suspension of congregational prayers at the 136-year-old mosque inside Kolkata airport fizzled out on Friday after a massive deployment of police and central forces prevented supporters of the Bankra mosque committee from assembling near the airport, prompting the protesters to call off the demonstration.
Responding to a protest call by West Bengal JamiatUlema-e-Hind president Siddiqullah Chowdhury, hundreds of supporters, sporting black badges, started gathering on Jessore Road to protest against the current restriction on the entry into the mosque. But police cited prohibitory orders under Section 163 of BNSS, which bars the assembly of more than four persons, and refused permission for any gathering or prayer near the airport.
In a bid to thwart the protest, police turned the stretch into a virtual fortress right in the morning. Two CRPF companies, around 250 personnel from Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate and a large number of officers in riot gear were deployed in the locality. Barricades were erected, a fire engine was stationed nearby and water cannons and tear-gas units were kept on standby. Police also held route marches in lanes around Chowdhury’s residence and stopped people entering the neighbourhood from outside.
Chowdhury, who on Thursday urged people to assemble at Gate No. 7 on Jessore Road from 11.30 am for a peaceful demonstration against the bar on the entry to the mosque, arrived at the Bankra crossing around noon with a handful of supporters and sought permission from police to proceed with the original programme. But when police did not allow him to alight from his vehicles, he left, announcing the protest was being withdrawn and that prayers would be offered elsewhere.
Munshi Jamil Ahmed, secretary of the mosque committee, said supporters were prevented from reaching the mosque and were also denied permission to offer namaz on the service road. “We then offered prayers at the Jamiat office near Bankra Bazaar,” he said.
Ahmed maintained that the mosque, built in 1890 on land donated by his great-grandfather AkherMunshi, was never acquired during airport expansion in 1962. He said devotees complied with all the directives even as security measures became more stringent over the years, including permission, Aadhaar check and door-frame metal detector scans. He argued there was never any security breach linked to worshippers. “We are protesting against the manner in which the ban was imposed by misleading us, first telling us about low visibility and then, work being undertaken on the access road. It has been a week but there has been no official communique from the airport authority on why access was stopped. We have no option but to seek legal remedy after another round of discussions,” Ahmed said.
The suspension of prayers at the airport mosque has sparked a political row. While chief minister SuvenduAdhikari maintained that the restriction is driven solely by airport and national security considerations, BJP MLA SouravSikder questioned the insistence on offering prayers inside the airport zone, alleging Chowdhury was attempting to provoke communal sentiments. “There are several other mosques nearby. So why is Siddiqullah Chowdhury so upset about not being allowed to offer prayers inside that high-security zone? We need to examine whether any foreign forces are involved behind this. Chowdhury makes a business out of religion. To keep that business going, he is provoking Muslims,” Sikder claimed.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Riots case: HC seeks police reply on Sharjeel’s bail plea
Jul 17, 2026
New Delhi: Delhi High Court Friday sought police’s stand on activist Sharjeel Imam’s bail plea in a case under the anti-terror law, UAPA, concerning the alleged larger conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots in 2020.
Imam has challenged the trial court’s July 4 decision to dismiss his second regular bail application. A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan sought the police response within two weeks.
The counsel for Imam, advocates Talib Mustafa and Ahmed Ibrahim, argued that the prolonged stagnation of the trial entitled Imam to bail, pointing out that charges were yet to be framed.
Opposing the plea, additional solicitor general SV Raju, appearing for the state, submitted that arguments on framing charges had continued for more than 200 days because of the large number of accused in the case.
Rejecting Imam's bail plea earlier this month, the trial court had said it had "no option but to follow" Supreme Court's Jan 5 order and, therefore, could neither entertain the application nor grant the relief sought.
Source: indiatimes.com
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PinarayiVijayan slams UDF government over Waqf Board reconstitution, alleges ‘total surrender’ to BJP
July 17, 2026
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, PinarayiVijayan, on Friday accused the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government of completely surrendering to the BJP and SanghParivar agenda. He said the decision to implement the revised Waqf law, which mandates the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in the state Waqf Board, amounts to a direct surrender to the BJP’s agenda.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, PinarayiVijayan said the state government has abandoned its original opposition to the controversial amendments to the Waqf Act.
He claimed the government had formally assured the Kerala High Court that it would enforce the amended law exactly as written, “without missing a single dot or comma.” Vijayan described the government’s sudden alignment with the petitioners and the resulting court order as a deeply shocking development.
He claimed that mandating the inclusion of non-Muslims breaks a long-standing secular convention under which religious properties are managed internally by their respective communities. He further alleged that, among the non-BJP-ruled states, only Kerala has agreed to implement this provision.
Vijayan charged that the Centre’s extensive 2025 amendments to the Waqf Act were explicitly designed to advance the SanghParivar’s objectives. He pointed out that the revised law mandates the inclusion of non-Muslim members in the management of Muslim religious endowments.
“The Waqf Board is an institution belonging exclusively to the Muslim community. The SanghParivar has attempted to infiltrate its administration by bringing in non-Muslims. That is what the BJP government has implemented through the amended law,” he said.
Reading from a government statement submitted to the High Court on July 14, Vijayan noted the government’s willingness to reconstitute the Board in accordance with Section 14 of the Unified Waqf Act.
He claimed that a Muslim League-nominated Special Government Pleader filed the document, with the Advocate General personally appearing to support the government’s stand.
The Board currently functions with 11 nominated members, whereas only five members are required to constitute a legal quorum. Vijayan argued that there was no technical necessity to fill the vacancies urgently while the validity of the law is still under challenge before the Supreme Court.
When asked about Higher Education Minister Roji M. John’s appeal to oppose the Viksit Bharat ShikshaAdhishthan (VBSA) Bill in Parliament, Vijayan countered that Kerala’s university system is already facing a crisis from within.
He blamed the Governor for causing severe disruption, particularly in matters relating to MG University and the appointment of vice-chancellors. He also criticised the UDF for remaining silent on the issue.
The CPM leader further alleged that the reconstituted university senates are being packed with SanghParivar loyalists.
PinarayiVijayan also urged the state government to firmly resist the Governor’s interference in universities, claiming that the administration has failed to protect higher education institutions from such disruptive actions.
Source: thestatesman.com
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Protests and internet blackouts grip J&K’s Doda and Kishtwar after fatal police firing incident
18 Jul 2026
A partial shutdown disrupted normal life in the twin district headquarters of Doda and Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, as widespread protests erupted following the death of a 30-year-old man in alleged police firing.
In an effort to control the escalating unrest and prevent the mobilization of crowds, authorities extended a complete suspension of mobile internet services across Doda district for a second day. Meanwhile, internet speeds were intentionally throttled in Kishtwar as security forces and paramilitary units deployed in large numbers.
Aarif Hussain, a resident of Cheeka village, was killed during a firing incident in the Jaie area of Bhaderwah on Friday.
Police claim the firing took place after he allegedly attempted to snatch a service rifle from a policeman during a scuffle.
Three personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police were also injured in the incident.
Locals, however, rejected the police's version and staged a massive protest in Bhaderwah during Hussain's funeral on Friday.
They demanded a CBI probe and strict action against the guilty.
Senior CPI(M) leader and MLA M Y Tarigami expressed grief and demanded a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident.
"Sharing the pain and grief of the family of Hussain, who was killed in Doda on Friday.
His killing has caused deep anguish and unrest in the area.
There must be a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident so that the truth comes to light.
Accountability must be fixed, and justice ensured," Tarigami said in a post on X.
Officials said two people -- Rehmatullah and Sajjad Ahmad -- who were accompanying Hussain at the time of the incident and had fled the spot, were taken into custody from Tanda village of Bhaderwah late Friday for questioning.
A police officer ruled out any terror link but said the men were suspected of involvement in cattle smuggling.
He said that they were moving suspiciously when intercepted by the SOG team, leading to a scuffle.
An open FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including 109 (attempt to murder), 121 (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 132 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 307 (Theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint) was registered in connection with the incident, officials said.
The shutdown was observed after local religious groups in Doda and Kishtwar issued separate calls for a strike, alleging that Hussain was innocent and demanding a fair investigation.
Most shops and business establishments remained closed across the affected areas, though public transport operated normally.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in strength at sensitive locations to maintain law and order, officials said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Home Department on Friday ordered the temporary suspension of mobile data services and public Wi-Fi, including broadband internet services, across Doda district from July 17 to 19.
The order was issued on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, who is also the designated authorised officer under the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Service Rules, asserting that the high-speed Internet services are likely to be misused by anti-national elements or miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Mideast
Iran’s Guards say two oil tankers explode after hitting mines in Hormuz
July 18, 2026
TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that two oil tankers transiting through the Strait of Hormuz hit mines and exploded, a claim disputed by the US military.
“An hour ago, two oil tankers, which were trying to pass through the minefield south of the Strait of Hormuz by deceptive American intelligence agencies, exploded and caught fire,” the Guards said in a statement published by state news agency IRNA, without identifying the tankers.
“To protect their capital and, more importantly, their lives, the sailors should not be deceived and enter the minefield,” they said.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a brief denial, saying on X, “Like most IRGC claims, this is false.”
The Guards said separately on Saturday that they had “stopped” four ships trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
“In the past hours, four violating ships with the support of the terrorist US army were trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and all four ships were stopped in place during a combined missile and drone operation,” the Guards said in a statement carried by the state broadcaster.
Iran has again virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz for a week.
It is seeking to control the vital waterway and has been warning tankers and cargo ships to only use channels close to its coastline, to the north of the strait, and not southern corridors the United States has been attempting to protect.
The US, in response to Iran’s threats to shipping in the strait, reimposed a navy blockade against Iranian ports. It has also been carrying out nightly airstrikes on targets in Iran aimed at weakening Tehran’s abilities to monitor and threaten the strait. Source: arabnews.com
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Damascus court hears witnesses in trial of former grand mufti
July 18, 2026
DAMASCUS: A Damascus criminal court has heard testimony from prosecution witnesses during the second session of the trial of Ahmad Hassoun, Syria’s former grand mufti, who faces charges including inciting violence and justifying killings during the rule of the ousted Assad regime.
The Fourth Criminal Court hearing on Thursday was attended by representatives of Syrian and international human rights organizations and presided over by Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan, with advisers Abdul Hamid Mohammad al-Hammoud and Hossam Hussein Abdul Rahman. Public Prosecutor Judge Omar Mahmoud al-Radi represented the prosecution.
The court held its first session on June 25, when prosecutors formally presented the charges against Hassoun.
According to the indictment, Hassoun abused his position as grand mufti to advance personal interests and maintained unofficial ties with deposed President Bashar Assad, former intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk, senior military officers and leaders of sectarian militias.
Prosecutors also accuse Hassoun of delivering speeches to officers and members of the former regime’s armed forces urging them to support military operations against opposition groups.
The indictment alleges that he made public statements inciting violence against civilians in opposition-held areas and refugees who had fled the deposed regime’s repression, particularly in eastern Aleppo and Idlib, and called on regime forces to destroy those areas.
Hassoun is also accused of publicly endorsing military commanders and other figures accused of war crimes, including IssamZahreddine and QassemSoleimani, and supporting Russian and Iranian military interventions in Syria despite alleged widespread violations committed by their forces and allied militias.
Zahreddine was a prominent general in the Syrian Republican Guard and Soleimani was a commander of Iran’s Quds Force who led Iranian military interventions in Arab countries. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 3, 2020.
Under Syrian law, Hassoun faces charges including incitement to intentional killing, complicity in homicide, participation in acts aimed at provoking civil war and sectarian conflict, incitement of sectarian and racial hatred, and abuse of influence for personal gain.
The proceedings form part of Syria’s transitional justice process, which seeks to establish the truth, deliver justice for victims and hold those accused of crimes accountable through judicial proceedings.
Source: arabnews.com
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Syria says Daesh group plotted church, shrine attacks to inflame sectarian tensions
July 18, 2026
RIYADH: Detained members of the ISIS/Daesh terrorist group have confessed to their involvement in the June 2025 bombing of Mar Elias Church in Damascus and described plans for further attacks aimed at inflaming sectarian tensions and undermining Syria’s new government, Syria's Interior Ministry has said.
In news releases carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the ministry said the group sought to exploit the security vacuum that followed the fall of the ssad regime by moving fighters from the Syrian desert into urban areas, establishing sleeper cells and seizing weapons and explosives from abandoned stockpiles.
The attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus’ Al-Dweilaaneighborhood on June 22, 2025, killed 25 civilians and wounded 63 others.
In recorded confessions released by the ministry and reported by SANA, detainees said ISIS had planned to attack the church by opening fire on worshippers before detonating an explosive vest. They also described a separate plot targeting the SayyidaZainab shrine, which was later postponed because of heightened security measures.
One detainee, identified as Abd al-Ilah al-Jumaili, said he joined ISIS in 2017 and transported two operatives from Al-Nabk in the Damascus countryside to the capital. He later learned that one of them had been assigned to carry out the church bombing.
Another detainee, identified as Abu Waqqas, said an ISIS operative known as Abu Mujahid had outlined the plan to attack Mar Elias Church. A suspect identified as Khaled Abu Aisha had previously been assigned to surveil the church, according to the Interior Ministry.
Deputy Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Abdul QaderTahan said ISIS had primarily targeted revolutionary and opposition factions before Syria’s liberation, with about 99% of its operations directed against those groups. He said the group later changed its strategy after military factions were integrated into the Ministry of Defense and state security institutions were rebuilt.
ISIS then turned to targeting members of different religious communities, including Christians and Shiite Muslims, in an effort to inflame sectarian tensions and erode public confidence in the new authorities, Tahan said.
A Counterterrorism Directorate officer said the group deliberately targeted places of worship associated with different religious communities to deepen divisions and weaken Syria’s emerging institutions. He said the church bombing was carried out by an operative who was unable to refuse orders.
The officer added that ISIS had also established military and security commanders in its provincial branches to select targets and plan attacks against government institutions and civilians.
According to the Interior Ministry, security forces have arrested about 1,300 suspected ISIS members, including senior leaders, and dismantled 34 cells in recent months. Authorities have also disrupted the group’s financing networks and dismantled cells involved in attacks on Syrian state institutions, including an assault on a customs patrol between Idlib and Aleppo.
Other cells linked to assassination operations along Syria’s coast have also been dismantled, SANA quoted the ministry as saying.
Abdul Rahman Khadra, director of the Interior Ministry’s Moral Guidance Directorate, said ISIS ideology was rooted in violence and sought to destroy Syria’s social fabric by targeting civilians, security personnel and religious communities.
He said the Syrian state remained committed to protecting all communities and safeguarding religious events and places of worship.
Survivors and relatives of victims of the Mar Elias Church bombing recounted its aftermath and called for justice, saying attempts to incite sectarian strife would not undermine Syria’s longstanding social cohesion.
The Interior Ministry said in June 2025 that it had arrested the leader of the ISIS cell responsible for the church bombing, along with five other members involved in the attack.
Source: arabnews.com
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Strikes kill nine Iranian Kurdish rebels in Iraq: opposition group
July 18, 2026
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq: Drone and rocket strikes killed nine members of an Iranian Kurdish armed opposition group in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Friday, the exiled party said, blaming the attack on Iran.
In Irbil, the capital of Kurdistan, the US-led anti-jihadist coalition shot down several drones and AFP journalists heard loud explosions in the city.
The attacks, which the Kurdish government also blamed on Tehran, come against the backdrop of renewed military escalation between the United States and Iran, Iraq’s main allies.
During the Middle East war, the Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and foreign oil companies as well as exiled Iranian Kurdish rebels, has been a target for attacks carried out by Iran and pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups.
IdrissKohlwazi from the exiled Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan told AFP: “The Iranian regime attacked at 04:30 am (0130 GMT) with drones and rockets a camp.”
The strikes killed nine members of the party at their camp near the city of Sulaimaniyah, he said.
Later, a strike hit another camp belonging to Kurdish rebels, wounding two fighters, according to Komala’sAmjadPanahi.
Even after a ceasefire was announced in April, Iran continued to strike Kurdish opposition groups, which Tehran accuses of serving both Western and Israeli interests.
But Friday’s attack marked the biggest escalation, with these groups having mostly evacuated their bases and camps since the war.
IRANIAN ATTACKS
In Irbil, Kurdish counterterrorism forces said that “coalition forces downed eight explosive-laden drones over Irbil between 04:19 and 05:25 am (0119 and 0225 GMT)” on Friday, with no damage or casualties reported.
Later, a Kurdish security official said five more drones were intercepted.
Irbil is home to a major US consulate complex and its airport houses military advisers attached to the US-led coalition.
Separately, a strike hit a weapon warehouse belonging to Kurdish forces in northern Iraq on Friday, a Kurdish military source said.
“A missile hit a Peshmerga arms depot in the town of Tasluja,” which is near Sulaimaniyah, the official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media.
The strike caused a huge fire in the area, but no casualties were reported, he said.
The prime minister of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region on Friday denounced “the unjustified attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Kurdistan region.”
MasrourBarzani’s office said that “while urging the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop this escalation, we also call on the Iraqi federal government and the international community to end these violations.”
On Wednesday evening, the coalition also shot down eight drones over Irbil, with AFP journalists reporting that the drones were hit by air defenses near the US consulate, which was a primary target of attacks during the regional war.
No group has claimed responsibility for any attacks in Irbil.
During the Middle East war, pro-Iran armed groups, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, targeted US facilities in Iraq more than 600 times in support of Tehran.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli demolition crushes Palestinian family’s dream home
July 17, 2026
BETHLEHEM: When Mohammed Adnan Sbeih, also known as Abu Amous, began building a home for his family, he believed years of sacrifice would finally provide the stability he had worked so hard to achieve. Instead, 4 years of continuous labor, decades of savings, and mounting debt were erased within hours when Israeli forces demolished the two-story house in September 2025.
Standing before the ruins of what was once his family’s dream home in the town of Al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, Abu Amous looked across the debris and raised his hands in prayer, hoping for compensation after an unimaginable loss.
“With the demolition of the house, everything was gone,” he said. “The house, with two floors of 270 square meters each, cost around 1.3 million shekels ($427,645). I sold all of my wife’s gold, spent everything I had saved over 20 years, used my son’s savings, and even sold my old apartment to my brother. It is incredibly painful to watch your dream collapse before your eyes.”
Despite losing the house, Abu Amous remains burdened with approximately 45,000 shekels in construction-related debt. Unable to remain without shelter, he was forced to repurchase the apartment he had previously sold, despite lacking the financial means to do so, further deepening his debt.
His experience is one of dozens in Al-Khader and hundreds across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, where demolitions have left families without homes while imposing significant financial and emotional hardships.
Al-Khader has faced years of escalating Israeli measures, including home demolitions, stop-work orders, and demolition notices. At the same time, thousands of residents have been unable to access more than 20,000 dunums of agricultural land isolated behind Israel’s separation barrier.
Israeli settlements established on land belonging to Al-Khader — including Efrat, Daniel, Elazar, and Sde Boaz, alongside several settlement outposts — have further reshaped the landscape surrounding the town.
Mahmoud Abdullah, a member of Al-Khader Municipality and head of its agricultural activities, described the town’s situation as “disastrous,” saying Israeli policies have intensified significantly since Oct. 7, 2023.
According to Abdullah, movement restrictions have become increasingly severe, with entrances blocked by earth mounds, limiting residents’ ability to move freely or reach their farmland.
He said authorities have also expanded demolition policies and construction restrictions in areas considered the town’s last remaining urban extensions, while some residents have reportedly been forced to evacuate their homes under armed threats.
The impact has extended far beyond housing. Abdullah said approximately 5,000 dunums of farmland have been completely closed off, while access to remaining agricultural areas has become heavily restricted.
He added that eight iron gates have been installed along agricultural roads, access routes crossing Route 60 have been sealed, several natural springs have been damaged, and four water wells have been filled in.
The consequences have been reflected in agricultural production.
Al-Khader has roughly 7,000 dunums planted with trees and had traditionally produced around 6,000 tons of grapes annually.
Since October 2023, annual production has fallen to approximately 2,400 tons.
The decline has forced some farmers to purchase grapes and vine leaves from local markets despite previously being among the area’s leading producers.
Among them is 82-year-old farmer NaeemMarzouq, who can no longer reach the agricultural land he cultivated for decades behind the separation barrier.
Marzouq said he once supplied produce to markets in Bethlehem, Ramallah, and Jerusalem. Today, however, he says he is prevented from entering his land and faces threats and attacks by Israeli settlers whenever he attempts to approach it, forcing him to turn back before setting foot on his fields.
For a farmer who spent decades relying on his harvest, buying grapes and vine leaves from the market has become a painful symbol of how dramatically life has changed.
Hassan Breijieh, an expert on Israel’s separation barrier and settlement affairs, said developments in Al-Khader reflect a systematic policy aimed at reducing the Palestinian presence while expanding Israeli settlement activity.
He warned that several areas of the town face increasing risks of displacement, noting that Israeli authorities recently issued demolition and stop-work notices for 32 homes in Ard Al-Deir.
According to Breijieh, Route 60, which runs west of the town, threatens approximately 175 Palestinian families with displacement under allegations of unlicensed construction.
He warned that implementing these plans would amount to forced displacement linked to settlement expansion.
Citing data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Breijieh said there are around 350 Israeli settlement outposts across the occupied West Bank, including 39 in Bethlehem governorate.
He argued that these outposts are strategically established to connect existing settlements, serve as launching points for attacks on nearby Palestinian communities, and facilitate the expansion of new settlements.
He added that since Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli authorities have seized around 70,000 dunums of land across the occupied West Bank, including around 500 dunums in Bethlehem governorate, according to official figures.
For families like Abu Amous’s, however, the broader statistics remain deeply personal.
Behind every demolition order and every inaccessible field lies years of work, savings, and hopes that can disappear in a single day.
Source: arabnews.com
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EU welcomes first session of Syrian People’s Assembly as ‘positive step’
July 17, 2026
BRUSSELS: The EU welcomed the first session of Syria’s People’s Assembly as “another positive step” in the country’s political process.
EU foreign affairs spokesperson Anouar El-Anouni said the bloc supports the assembly, which held its inaugural session on July 12, as part of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process.
In a statement published Thursday on the EU Council’s website, El-Anouni said the assembly would be tasked with adopting a new constitution, launching fundamental reforms to shape Syria’s future, and strengthening accountability and transitional justice.
He added that the assembly would play a key role in addressing the legitimate aspirations of all segments of Syrian society.
The EU reiterated its commitment to supporting Syria’s recovery, reconstruction efforts and humanitarian assistance, saying member states were ready to cooperate with the People’s Assembly on capacity building, good governance and joint efforts to ensure respect for international law and the UN Charter.
The bloc also highlighted its desire to deepen the European-Syrian partnership in support of the Syrian people, work toward a future partnership agreement, and facilitate Syria’s reintegration into Euro-Mediterranean frameworks, as well as global trade and connectivity networks.
The People’s Assembly held its first session following liberation on Sunday in the presence of President Ahmad Al-Sharaa and several ministers.
Al-Sharaa said that the launch of the assembly marked an important national milestone and a new step toward boosting consultation and responsibility while building state institutions founded on dialogue, competence and the rule of law.
In a post on X on Sunday, he congratulated the assembly’s members on the start of their work, wishing them success in carrying out “this national responsibility” in service of the Syrian people and in support of national reconstruction and prosperity.
UK Special Envoy to Syria Barrie Peach said the assembly session marked an important step in the country’s political transition, and highlighted the UK’s support for efforts to strengthen Syrian state institutions.
In a statement posted by his office on X, Peach said the UK stands ready to support efforts aimed at strengthening Syrian state institutions and promoting long-term peace, stability and security.
Italian Ambassador Stefano Ravagnan described the inaugural session as a key step in Syria’s political process.
In a post on X, Ravagnan said he was honored to attend the session, adding that it paves the way for legislation that will help shape Syria’s future.
Source: arabnews.com
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Lebanese-Israeli military talks postponed over pilot zones dispute
NAJIA HOUSSARI
July 17, 2026
BEIRUT: A planned virtual meeting between Lebanese, Israeli and US military representatives to discuss the implementation of pilot zones in southern Lebanon was postponed on Friday, sources told Arab News.
The meeting had been expected to focus on finalizing the pilot zones, setting a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal and expanding the Lebanese army’s deployment under the framework agreement signed in Washington on June 26.
“It was supposed to take place today, but no time had actually been set for it, partly because of the time difference between Lebanon and the US,” a Lebanese military source told Arab News.
The meeting has been postponed to a later date, yet to be agreed, according to the source.
The postponement came as Lebanese army units stepped up their presence in southern Lebanon, conducting patrols and establishing checkpoints in the towns of Froun, Ghandourieh, Qalaouiyeh, BurjQalaouiyeh and KfarDounine — areas close to Israel’s so-called “Yellow Line.”
The deployment, which received extensive coverage in Lebanese media, was seen as demonstrating the army’s ability to deploy forces and establish observation and inspection points in the area.
“We are present in these zones and have reinforced our deployment over the past two days to make it clear that we are on the ground and carrying out our mission,” the military source said.
The June 26 framework agreement, signed by Lebanon and Israel under US auspices, calls for the Lebanese army to gradually extend state authority across Lebanese territory, beginning with two pilot zones and paving the way for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.
However, the source said the agreement does not explicitly state whether the two pilot zones themselves are located within Israeli-occupied territory.
“Common sense suggests that they are,” the source said, arguing that the purpose of the mechanism is to enable Israeli forces to withdraw and allow the Lebanese army to deploy in their place.
The source attributed delays in defining the pilot zones and beginning the withdrawal process to Israel, which, the source said, was unwilling to vacate the areas.
Meanwhile, tensions continued on the ground. On Friday, an Israeli tank advanced along the main road connecting Mansouri and Bouyout Al-Sayyad on the Tyre-Naqoura route and positioned itself near a Lebanese army checkpoint before later withdrawing.
The military source said the deployment of the Lebanese army in the town of Froun should have been followed by the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the town of Zawtar Al-Gharbiyah.
“However, instead of preparing to withdraw, the Israeli army has been demolishing houses there in recent days,” the source told Arab News.
“The main obstacle is on the Israeli side.”
Israel-Lebanon talks held in Rome earlier this week in the presence of US mediators were expected to define the pilot zones, while Friday’s military meeting, which has since been postponed, was intended to establish the mechanism for Israel’s withdrawal and the Lebanese army’s subsequent deployment.
“However, it appears that neither Israel nor Hezbollah want this,” the source said.
Retired Brig. Gen. MounirChehade said the postponement of the military meeting was not “merely a procedural detail that can be overlooked,” but could be the first tangible sign that implementing the framework agreement would not be straightforward.
He said the Lebanese military’s objection to including towns or areas that were not occupied by Israel during the last war in the two pilot zones was not simply a technical matter but reflected broader concerns over Lebanese sovereignty.
“This is the central point of contention over the ‘pilot zones,’” Chehade told Arab News.
He explained that the framework agreement, according to its circulated provisions, does not provide a detailed legal definition of pilot zones, identify specific villages or explicitly designate them as occupied territory. Instead, their designation was left to a subsequent agreement between the Lebanese and Israeli militaries.
The two sides, however, have differing interpretations of the concept, Chehade said.
Lebanon considers a pilot zone to be territory occupied by Israel during the war, where an Israeli withdrawal would coincide with the deployment of the Lebanese army and the transfer of security control to the state, ensuring that the withdrawal is genuine rather than simply a redeployment.
Israel, by contrast, considers a pilot zone not necessarily to be territory under direct occupation, but an area where the Lebanese army’s ability to establish control and prevent the presence of weapons outside state authority can be tested before the mechanism is expanded to other areas, Chehade said.
He warned that Lebanon’s acceptance of deployment in areas that were not occupied could effectively amount to acknowledging Israel’s right to determine where the Lebanese army should deploy.
“Even more concerning is that any Israeli withdrawal from territories it occupied during the war, in exchange for the Lebanese army’s deployment in other, non-occupied areas, would turn the occupation into a bargaining chip rather than treating it as an act of aggression requiring unconditional withdrawal,” he said.
Chehade also expressed concern that Israel was seeking to establish a new security reality in southern Lebanon that went beyond the requirements of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, imposing what he described as new political and security conditions through war and international pressure.
The US delegation to the military coordination committee is headed by Lt. Gen. Joseph Clearfield, who began mediation visits between the Lebanese and Israeli sides a week ago. He has since returned to the US and is expected back in Lebanon on July 23, according to the military source.
Last week, the delegation held talks with the Lebanese army leadership on the mechanisms for implementing an Israeli withdrawal from one of the two pilot areas.
On Thursday, the Lebanese presidency announced that President Joseph Aoun had been informed by US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa that a military delegation would soon arrive in Lebanon to oversee the beginning of the Israeli withdrawal in accordance with the agreement.
The framework agreement does not establish a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, while Israeli officials continue to insist that the army will not pull back from the security zone it has carved out to a depth of 10 km beyond the border unless Hezbollah is disarmed.
Aoun is expected to travel to Washington on an official visit to meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Riyadh Air expands European network with new nonstop Madrid service
July 18, 2026
RIYADH: Riyadh Air launched its inaugural nonstop flight to Madrid on Friday, expanding its European footprint to boost economic and tourism ties between Saudi Arabia and Spain, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Flight RX0531 touched down at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, marked by a reception attended by Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas, Atlético de Madrid CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, and senior executives from both companies. Atlético de Madrid is as sports partner of Riyadh Air.
Coinciding with the launch, the Saudi national carrier signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Spanish airline Air Europa. Pending regulatory approvals, the agreement establishes a framework for interline connectivity, codeshares, and aligned loyalty programs across Air Europa’s network in Spain, Southern Europe, and Latin America.
The Madrid route follows the July 14 launch of seasonal flights to Málaga, which run through Sept. 8. Both routes were developed in cooperation with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program to support Vision 2030 objectives.
SPA noted the new connection will serve the estimated 250 Spanish companies operating in the Kingdom. It also cements Riyadh Air’s presence in Spanish sports, where it serves as the principal sponsor of Atlético de Madrid’s men’s and women’s teams and holds the naming rights to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium.
“Today, we have launched a vital bridge connecting Saudi Arabia and Spain like never before,” Douglas said. He added that the new routes and the Air Europa partnership mark a milestone in connecting Riyadh to leading global destinations.
The Madrid service is part of Riyadh Air’s initial network rollout, which began with ticket sales last month for flights to Jeddah, Dubai, Cairo, London, and Manchester.
Powered by a growing fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the Public Investment Fund-owned airline expects to receive 10 aircraft by the end of 2026. Riyadh Air targets over 100 global destinations by 2030, projecting nearly $20 billion in contributions to the Kingdom’s non-oil economy and the creation of 200,000 jobs.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia welcomes introduction of regular commercial flights between Amman and Sanaa
July 18, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi authorities welcomed the announcement on Friday by Jordan of regular commercial flights between Amman and the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Royal Jordanian Airlines would operate the route and work is underway to complete the necessary technical and logistical procedures for them to begin.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom welcomes the introduction of the flights, which aim to help meet the humanitarian needs of the Yemeni people. Yemen’s government also hailed the announcement.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi foreign minister receives Venezuelan counterpart
July 17, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Venezuelan counterpart, Felix Plasencia, in Riyadh on Thursday.
During the meeting, Prince Faisal congratulated Plasencia on his recent appointment to the position, wished him success and expressed his aspiration to continue working together to strengthen cooperation between the two friendly countries.
The two ministers discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and reviewed the latest regional developments and issues of mutual interest.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia’s progress in urban development highlighted at UN
July 17, 2026
NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has established an advanced model for sustainable urban development, progressing from planning and policymaking to implementation and measurable impact, Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail has said.
Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has made quality of life, housing, municipal development and sustainability key pillars of its national transformation.
His remarks came during an address at the UN General Assembly meeting on the new urban agenda.
Al-Hogail said Saudi Arabia had submitted its updated 2026 National Report to the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), documenting the Kingdom’s urban transformation in recent years and highlighting its transition from establishing policy frameworks to expanding implementation and delivering tangible results on the ground.
The minister reviewed key national achievements, highlighting that the homeownership rate among Saudi households increased from 47 percent in 2016 to 66.24 percent by the end of 2025, approaching the Vision 2030 target of 70 percent.
He added that more than 25 percent of Saudi households benefited from housing support services under the Kingdom’s housing programs between 2018 and 2025.
Source: arabnews.com
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Muslim World League chief opens Al-Rahman Mosque in New Zealand
July 17, 2026
JEDDAH: Muslim World League Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa opened Al-Rahman Mosque in Auckland, New Zealand, and delivered its first Friday sermon.
Al-Issa also led worshippers in prayer following the mosque’s official inauguration.
His sermon highlighted Islamic teachings on how Muslims should respond to situations that they may encounter while living in culturally diverse societies.
The mosque’s administration said that the sermon would serve as an important source of guidance and would be published and distributed across New Zealand.
Al-Issa is visiting the country following an official invitation and is scheduled to meet government, parliamentary and religious leaders from different faiths.
Source: arabnews.com
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Experts urge responsible use of AI at major Paris conference
July 17, 2026
PARIS: The Riyadh-based International Center for Artificial Intelligence Research and Ethics called for the responsible and inclusive use of AI during a global science conference at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris this week.
ICAIRE participated in the first Global Conference of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, a hybrid event that took place from July 15 to 17.
The conference brought together ministers, scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world.
Majed Al-Shehri represented ICAIRE and emphasized the pivotal role the center has been playing to transform global AI priorities into actionable programs to ensure inclusive use of AI technologies.
In his address, Al-Shehri also highlighted international initiatives led by ICAIRE, including the Elevate Program, a global initiative to empower women in AI developed in partnership with Microsoft and supported by the Saudi Data and AI Authority, as well as the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad.
Al-Shehri also outlined the center’s efforts to support the implementation of UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology.
He underscored the importance of achieving equitable geographical access to AI technologies and enabling developing countries to benefit from knowledge transfer, expertise, and capacity-building opportunities.
Al-Shehri reaffirmed the center’s commitment to fostering inclusive participation, supporting researchers and policymakers, and empowering women and young people to strengthen countries’ readiness to harness advanced technologies.
He also highlighted ICAIRE’s continued support for countries through capacity-building programs, and contributions to AI policy and governance development.
He emphasized the center’s assistance in implementing UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment Methodology, and the provision of practical tools and international expertise to help countries move from strategy development to implementation and measurable impact.
ICAIRE emphasized the importance of building capacity across communities and promoting the responsible use of AI to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, translating global priorities into practical initiatives that benefit countries and societies worldwide.
Officially established in 2023, ICAIRE is dedicated to bridging the gap between advanced technology and moral responsibility, headquartered in the Kingdom’s capital.
It actively leads global efforts to implement UNESCO’s AI ethics recommendations, publishes specialized studies, and builds international capacity networks.
Source: arabnews.com
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Tuwaiq launches new technology programs for leaders
July 17, 2026
RIYADH: Tuwaiq Academy has announced the launch of a new set of “Tuwaiq Executives” programs, set to run at its headquarters in Riyadh from July to December.
The programs aim to develop leaders and decision-makers and equip them to keep pace with emerging technologies through partnerships with leading international organizations. They offer a comprehensive learning experience that blends practical application with global best practices, enabling leaders to adopt emerging technologies across diverse sectors and strengthen their capabilities in leading technology initiatives and making data-driven decisions.
The programs cover key areas aligned with the rapid evolution of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, cloud computing and digital transformation, cybersecurity, and information technology. They are designed to equip participants with the expertise and capabilities required to meet the demands of executive leadership and the evolving needs of the job market.
Tuwaiq Academy CEO Professor Abdulaziz Al-Hammadi said: “The launch of these programs reflects Tuwaiq Academy’s ongoing commitment to developing national leaders and equipping them to keep pace with rapid technological change through professional programs delivered in partnership with leading global organizations. This contributes to enhancing institutional performance, advancing the goals of digital transformation, and preparing leaders capable of creating sustainable impact across various sectors”.
Tuwaiq’s executive programs are built on core educational pillars that include continuous learning, alignment with labor market needs, and learning grounded in practical application. This approach ensures that knowledge is translated into effective practices that enhance institutional performance and strengthen the competitiveness of organizations, while empowering national leaders to help build a promising new generation.
The Tuwaiq Executives program is delivered in partnership with more than 10 leading global institutions, most notably Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, INSEAD, and KPI Institute.
It offers more than 30 executive programs and aims to develop over 500 executive leaders as part of Tuwaiq Academy’s efforts to strengthen national capabilities and equip leaders to keep pace with the technological future, in alignment with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
More information about the programs and the registration process is available on the academy’s Tuwaiq Executives platform at https://executives.tuwaiq.edu.sa.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Sheikh-ul-Islam AllahshukurPashazade calls for global peace at UN-backed summit
18 July 2026
Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMO), Sheikh-ul-Islam AllahshukurPashazade, took part in the Peace Alliance Summit held in Luanda, Angola, on July 16–17 at the invitation of Miguel ÁngelMoratinos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, AzerNEWS reports.
The summit was organized as part of the "Call for Peace, End of Wars and Respect for International Law" initiative.
According to the CMO's press service, the opening ceremony featured speeches by Miguel ÁngelMoratinos, Angolan President João Manuel GonçalvesLourenço, and President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. Speakers highlighted that Sheikh-ul-Islam AllahshukurPashazade was the only religious leader participating in the summit.
During his visit, Pashazade held meetings with Moratinos, the presidents of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Prime Minister of Namibia, Angola's foreign minister, the mayor of Gernika in Spain, and several other senior officials.
Addressing the opening of a thematic session on July 17, AllahshukurPashazade praised the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations for its efforts to promote peace and respect for international law. He also commended Moratinos for his contribution to strengthening dialogue among civilizations.
The Sheikh-ul-Islam highlighted Azerbaijan's experience in promoting peace, multiculturalism, and interfaith dialogue, as well as the country's close cooperation with the UN Alliance of Civilizations. He noted that President IlhamAliyev's efforts to advance the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process have received broad international recognition.
Pashazade stressed that all holy scriptures regard the killing of a single innocent person as a crime against all humanity. He underscored the importance of preserving the memory of the tragedies of Guernica, Srebrenica, and Khojaly, calling for ongoing conflicts to be resolved peacefully on the basis of international law and for stronger international cooperation to prevent future humanitarian disasters.
The thematic session continued with discussions on "The Role of Religious and Faith Leaders in Promoting Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence."
Source: azernews.az
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Met chief visits mosque in alleged terror plot
July 18, 2026
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said the force is "doubling down" on efforts to protect communities from hate crimes, as he visited a south London mosque at the centre of an alleged terror plot.
Earlier this week, a 14-year-old boy was charged with preparing acts of terrorism aimed at two mosques in Sutton.
Sir Mark met representatives of the Sutton Central Mosque following Friday prayers to reassure worshippers and show "determination in fighting hate crime".
He told the BBC this was among a number of similar plots the Met Police had recently foiled and that the force had its "work cut out" amid current terror threats against "many different communities".
The boy accused of plotting an attack was allegedly planning to target the two mosques on 28 August.
The child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also charged with racially aggravated damage to property.
He denied the charges at Westminster Magistrates' court on Thursday and will appear at the Old Bailey in August.
During his visit to the mosque, Sir Mark said: "It's important for me to be here today in Sutton with the Muslim community, partly showing our determination in fighting hate crime and protecting them and partly to hear their reflections and look at what more we can do."
He said that since the alleged plot had been foiled, police patrols had been deployed to protect worshippers.
"They're seeing at the moment increased presence around mosques here and elsewhere, just like we've done recently for Jewish [people] in other communities.
"And we'll keep doubling down on this because it matters."
Moin Uddin, the mosque's treasurer, said he felt "very scared" when he found out about the alleged plot.
He told the BBC that since it had come to light, he believed local Muslims had been increasingly targeted with hatred.
One man, a doctor, recently described being followed by a cyclist and verbally abused, Uddin said.
"He had to rush to come into the mosque because he was scared, because this guy was on his bike with a dark cloth on his face following him and calling him and he was very scared."
Another worshipper who regularly cycles from Cheam was spat at and sworn at as he made his way to the mosque, Uddin said.
"People are worried, very worried."
The mosque's general secretary Mohammed Ali Sayestha agrees that worshippers have been shaken up.
"They are feeling very frightened. A lot of them are vulnerable and elderly, 60-year-olds, 70-year-olds, and young children.
"People are frightened to bring their children here for prayer."
He said he was glad more police officers were patrolling but said more education was needed to eradicate racial hatred.
According to Met Police data, 1,636 instances of anti-Muslim hate crime were recorded in London over the past 12 months - an increase of 31.4% on the previous year.
In Sutton, there were 35 instances of anti-Muslim hate crime in that period, up 119% annually.
According to the figures, the Met has had 145 positive outcomes for anti-Muslim hate crimes, up 76.8% compared with the previous year.
Sir Mark said: "We're living in difficult times where the threats against many different communities from different terrorist groups is deeply troubling.
"We're in times where there's high levels of hate crime that's driven by an online world that monetises hatred, the extremes of public debate which license hatred, and hostile states like Iran and Russia which encourage hatred on the street."
Source: bbc.com
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Council 'strongly condemns' divisive mosque posts
July 18, 2026
Martin Heath
A council has said it "strongly condemns" divisive social media posts about plans for a borough's first purpose-built mosque.
Some online responses to the proposals in Hertsmere, Hertfordshire have been described as "openly racist" by one councillor.
The Elstree and Borehamwood Islamic Community (EBIC) wants to redevelop the site of a former Girl Guide hall in Maxwell Park.
Hertsmere Borough Council said it would "continue to reject any attempt to use these matters to stoke division or spread misleading commentary".
The Girl Guide hall became vacant in 2019 and EBIC got permission to convert it into a mosque a year later.
The community has been worshipping in the building for several years but now wants to demolish the structure and create Hertsmere's first purpose-built mosque.
While some responses on social media applauded the plan, others claimed it was part of a "deliberate attempt to take whole areas over".
One person said they did not believe a mosque would be built, saying there were "not enough Muslims" living nearby.
In a statement, the council said: "While we welcome open, democratic debate about local developments, we strongly condemn and will continue to reject any attempt to use these matters to stoke division or spread misleading commentary."
The motion from Labour's AadityaKaza noted "the deeply disappointing and, in some cases, openly racist, Islamophobic and hateful commentary that appeared on social media following the announcement of the mosque project".
Hertsmere's faith leaders have signed a joint statement condemning "the surge of toxic and hateful discourse that has spread across local social media in recent days".
"It is shameful that a place of peace, prayer and welcome should provoke such hostility", they said.
EBIC has emphasised that the mosque will be built on the footprint of the existing hall and will not affect the rest of Maxwell Park.
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Source: bbc.com
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JalsaSalana: UK’s largest Muslim convention to return to Hampshire
17 JULY 2026
Thousands of Muslims from across the UK are set to gather in Hampshire for this year’s JalsaSalana.
Each year, the convention at Hadeeqatul Mahdi in Alton brings together over 50,000 visitors from all over the UK.
This year will be its 60th anniversary and it will run from July 24 until July 26.
This year’s programme will include a women's panel discussion exploring whether Muslim women need “saving” by the West– a topic that is at the heart of public discourse around Islam.
There will be a special feature from the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who will provide insight into his teachings, which emphasise justice and peace, and how these can be applied in the world today.
Other previous guest speakers have included the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, and Archbishop Miguel MauryBuendia, apostolic nuncio to Great Britain.
Mahmood Rafiq, head of external relations, said: "This is no ordinary convention. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a distinct, revivalist movement within Islam, uniquely led worldwide by its Caliph, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, and defined by one motto: 'Love for All, Hatred for None'. This year marks the 60th UK Jalsa. At a time when the Islamic faith is too often reduced to negative headlines, it is the hopeful counter-story your readers won't have seen before."
A highlight of the convention is the Pledge of Allegiance, which is led by the Caliph.
Held on the final day, thousands of participants will join together, reaffirming their faith and commitment to serving humanity and God.
The 210-acre site, which is transformed into over 240 marquees with the help of 7,000 volunteers, also hosts many other showcases, where visitors can explore displays of the community's work.
This can include humanitarian projects, discovering the important work done by the International Association of Ahmadi Architects and Engineers, providing in 50+ countries.
Human rights are also brought to the attention of many, raising awareness of the ongoing persecution of Ahmadi Muslims.
The celebrations mark the communities' efforts in the UK to spread Islam, striving to live by its teachings.
Social action projects have since reflected this message, including blood donation and feeding the homeless.
You can register your attendance at www.jalsa.org.uk, where more details are available, including the order of events.
For those unable to make the event in person, a media broadcast is available globally on Muslim Television Amadiyyha International.
Source: hampshirechronicle.co.uk
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Azerbaijani journalists visit religious sites in Guba during media tour
17 July 2026
BakhtiyarAbbasov
Azerbaijani representatives of media outlets have visited religious sites in Guba during a media tour arranged by the Azerbaijani State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations.
The tour was held as part of the conference titled Coverage of Religious Issues in the Media: Shared Responsibility for Maintaining Religious Stability, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.
The initiative aimed to give participants a closer look at Azerbaijan's rich religious and cultural heritage, its long-standing traditions of tolerance, and the conditions created in the country for the free functioning of various religious communities.
The first stop of the tour was the Juma Mosque. Built in the 19th century, the mosque is one of Guba's oldest places of worship and occupies an important place in the city's religious and spiritual life. Distinguished by its unique architectural style, the mosque is protected by the state as a historical and architectural monument.
Participants then visited the Sakina Khanum Mosque, where they were introduced to the architectural features of the historic place of worship, preservation efforts, and the activities of the local religious community.
Officials noted that the mosque was built in the mid-19th century using the personal funds of Sakina KhanumBakikhanova in memory of her husband, Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov. Constructed from red brick and featuring elegant architectural elements, the mosque is regarded as an important part of Guba's religious and cultural heritage.
The media tour later continued to the Krasnaya Sloboda settlement in the Guba district. At the AltıGumbaz Synagogue, media representatives were told that the synagogue was built in the 19th century and played a significant role in the religious life of the community.
Once one of the region's main places of worship, the synagogue has since been restored and is protected by the state. It continues to operate today as an important example of Azerbaijan's religious and cultural heritage.
Journalists also visited the Museum of Mountain Jews. Established in 2020 in the building of the historic 19th-century Karchagi Synagogue, it is considered the world's first museum dedicated to Mountain Jews.
The museum houses a rich collection of exhibits reflecting the history, traditions and way of life of Mountain Jews, including traditional clothing, religious artifacts, manuscripts, rare books and household items dating back to the 19th century.
As part of the media tour, participants also had an opportunity to exchange views with representatives of religious communities and receive answers to questions of interest.
Source: caliber.az
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https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijani-journalists-visit-religious-sites-in-guba-during-media-tour
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From colonial symbol to sanctuary: Paris's Grand Mosque turns 100
17/07/2026
Tucked away in the heart of the Latin Quarter neighbourhood, the Grand Mosque of Paris is one of the city’s essential landmarks. Inaugurated on July 15, 1926 by former French president Gaston Doumergue and Moulay Youssef, Morocco’s sultan at the time, the mosque was built as a tribute to the more than 100,000 Muslim soldiers who fought and died for France during World War I.
The Mosque's Hispano-Moorish architecture boasts a 33-metre-high minaret, courtyards and interior gardens inspired by Arab-Andalusian palaces and porticoes embellished with tiles hand-carved by Moroccan craftsmen in 1922. A jewel of Islamic architecture in France, the Grand Mosque of Paris has been listed as a historic monument since 1983.
This place of worship – now also a major tourist attraction – has evolved with history, as evidenced by the collaborative work published for the centenary: "La Grande Mosquée de Paris, Regards sur 100 ansen 100 événements" (The Great Mosque of Paris, Views on 100 years in 100 events). This book, edited by Mosque rector Chems-eddineHafizn, offers photos and archival documents for a journey through time.
The iconic house of worship hides a lesser-known history between its walls. Over the years, the mosque became a major geopolitical asset for France – first as a way to exert control over Muslims in France during the colonial era, then during the Algerian War and later as a safehouse for Jews being persecuted under German occupation.
French historian Benjamin Stora has spent his career studying Algeria and France's colonial past. While carrying out research on Algerian immigration and the relationship between Jewish and Muslim communities in France, he unearthed hidden truths about Paris's Grand Mosque.
Benjamin Stora: There were very few places of worship for Muslims in Paris after World War I, and the Grand Mosque took time to be built.
Opposition to the construction project began as early as 1922 and intensified upon its inauguration in 1926, a period that coincided with the founding of the North African Star ("Étoile Nord-Africaine" in French), the first Algerian pro-independence organisation led by MessaliHadj, who is often regarded as the father of Algerian nationalism. For the early Algerian nationalists, the mosque was seen as a tool through which the French authorities sought to counter the rise of Algerian nationalism.
Algerian immigrant workers in France were also wary of the institution, fearing it would be used to monitor, influence, or co-opt them. Over time, however, many gradually developed closer ties with the place of worship.
Did French authorities initially want to use the building to monitor Paris’s Muslim population?
At first, yes, of course. Around 100,000 Algerian workers of mostly Kabyle [a Berber ethnic group indigenous to the north of the country who mostly live in the Atlas mountains] origin arrived in France between 1919 and 1939. Many institutions were built as a way to monitor and control this population, including the Grand Mosque. There was also the Franco-Muslim Institute and the Franco-Muslim Hospital in Bobigny (a northeastern suburb of Paris). Surveillance was carried out by the North African Indigenous Affairs Department, built in 1925 and run by the Parisian police headquarters.
Because so much of the French colonial empire stretched across Muslim-majority countries, France had a lot of influence at the time. In the interwar period, the Grand Mosque was a way for France to exert that influence on the Muslim world. But it also let France project an image of tolerance toward Muslims and Islam. That ambivalence persisted throughout World War II and the Algerian War, which took place between 1954 and 1962.
Did surveillance intensify during the Algerian War?
Algerians were radically dispossessed of their land, which drove many peasants to leave the country. It’s impossible to understand Algerian immigration without addressing this fundamental fact, especially for those of Kabyle origin.
Once in France, Algerian immigrants were forced to weather widespread segregation and lived in slums throughout the 1950s.
Surveillance in France indeed intensified during the Algerian war. It was enforced through a whole range of social and charitable organisations. The Social Action Fund, for example, was founded in 1958 and aimed at providing housing for migrant workers living in slums, but it was also used to monitor them.
Were Muslims wary when they visited the Grand Mosque?
Yes, and it took time for that mistrust to ease. Before the Grand Mosque, Muslims in Paris often held Friday prayers in private places like cafés or hotels. The mosque was one of only a few places they could pray, and it was the only visible one. Over time, it drew in more and more worshippers, but it took nearly 40 years for it to become a well-known landmark.
Is it true that, under German occupation, the Grand Mosque was a safe haven for Jews?
French officials, judges and police officers collaborated from the beginning of the German occupation during World War II. There are photos of German army officials visiting the Grand Mosque, but they would often pose in front of institutions.
From around 1942 onwards, especially after the Vel’ d’Hiv roundup (a mass arrest of Jews in Paris by French Vichy police officers), the mosque’s rector Si KaddourBenghabrit began issuing fake Muslim IDs to Jewish children. The Jewish-Algerian singer Salim Halali, whose real first name was Simon, also took shelter in the mosque during the Occupation.
Yet there are some critics who claim that never happened…
It’s a shame that there is controversy around this moment in the mosque’s history. There is irrefutable evidence, such as eyewitness accounts, and I myself gathered testimonials in 2010. It’s of course impossible to quantify just how many Jews were helped, but it definitely happened.
Some people are so bent on destroying any possibility of a friendly relationship between Jewish and Muslim communities that they want to erase this chapter in history. That erasure really saddens me.
Jews and Muslims lived together for 1,500 years. It wasn’t hell, nor was it paradise, but they did coexist. Maimonides, one of the most important Jewish scholars of the Middle Ages, wrote in Arabic. Jewish prayer books were written in Arabic. Now we are in the process of destroying all of that history. It’s important to try and preserve the places serving as bridges between religious communities.
The mosque has been repeatedly attacked by the right and far right in France. Why is this?
Since its construction, the Grand Mosque has been targeted by the far right. The very idea of building a mosque in Paris was hard to accept. The far right, nationalist and royalist political movement Action Française (French Action) wanted to block its inauguration. Violent campaigns and intense hostility from the far right persisted for years.
The mosque may be an undeniable part of France’s cultural and architectural heritage now, but it still gets caught in political crosshairs. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau refused to attend the Iftar meal marking the end of Ramadan in 2025 following the imprisonment of writer BoualemSansal in Algeria. And the mosque's current rector Chems-eddine Hafiz is constantly criticised, attacked and vilified. He faced accusations of opacity in how the mosque carried out an exclusive mandate – granted by Algeria in 2023 – to certify halal products across the EU. The attacks targeting him are in reality targeting Algeria.
There are also tensions between Algeria and Morocco around Paris's Grand Mosque. Algeria has been accused of taking control of the site.
Morocco's sultan may have initially headed the project, but Algeria gradually gained influence through its large population in France and the ripple effects its independence in 1962. Moroccans only began arriving in large numbers from the 1960s onwards. It’s just a matter of history.
Source: france24.com
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https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260717-from-colonial-symbol-sanctuary-paris-grand-mosque-turns-100
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Zelensky fired defense minister to tighten grip on power – opposition leader
17 Jul, 2026
Ukraine’s latest government reshuffle is not about reforming the military but about Vladimir Zelensky trying to preserve his grip on power, exiled opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk has said.
Medvedchuk, who formerly led the Opposition Platform – For Life party, banned by Kiev, made the remarks after Zelensky dismissed Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov and launched a broader cabinet overhaul that has triggered protests across Ukraine.
Zelensky justified Fedorov’s dismissal by citing tensions between the defense minister and Commander-in-Chief AleksandrSyrsky, stating the two could not work together without his personal mediation.
However, in an article published on Thursday via his Other Ukraine platform, Medvedchuk said the real political struggle in Kiev is actually between Fedorov and Zelensky himself, and is “not for military power, but for civilian power, for overall leadership of the country.”
He claimed that despite nationwide protests, Zelensky cannot afford to back down after firing Fedorov because doing so would mean surrendering political control and access to wartime graft schemes.
“For the bloody clown, to retreat now means to finally lose power and hand over military corruption flows to others,” Medvedchuk wrote.
The replacement of Fedorov with acting Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) chief EvgenyKhmara is intended to extend the influence of the Zelensky-controlled agency over the Defense Ministry, Medvedchuk added.
Ukrainian media have reported that Fedorov’s dismissal was also linked to Zelensky’s dissatisfaction with the minister’s “independent political game” and ties to circles close to the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), which have investigated multiple high-profile corruption cases involving senior Ukrainian officials.
Fedorov, 35, was Ukraine’s youngest-ever defense minister and only assumed the role in January. He deepened Ukraine’s ties with Palantir, a controversial US data-mining and military technology company, but failed to reform his corruption-prone ministry in accordance with “NATO standards,” as Fedorov himself admitted while confirming his departure.
His dismissal has sparked demonstrations in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities, with protesters demanding that he be reinstated and some calling for Syrsky to be removed instead. Fedorov has also accused Syrsky of “splitting the country” and backed calls for his dismissal.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/643171-medvedchuk-zelensky-defense-minister/
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North America
Trump threatens new Canada tariffs over fires sending 'filthy' air into US cities
Jul 17, 2026
Nadine Yousif
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada after hundreds of wildfires have left much of the northern US covered by a blanket of smoke.
The threat follows complaints by US lawmakers over the wildfires and Ontario's premier Doug Ford asking the US to send support to fight the fires, rather than complain.
"The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air," Trump said, threatening to impose new levies over Canada's "willful negligence".
As of Friday, there were about 888 fires actively burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System - with the majority burning out of control.
More than 190 of those blazes are burning in Ontario, some out of control.
Trump said in his post to Truth Social that he would call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to demand an explanation over his country's "willful negligence," accusing the country of "not properly maintaining" their forests and brush.
Fellow Republicans have used the issue to renew Trump's call to make Canada the 51st US state, a musing that has offended Canadians and prompted many to stop travelling to their southern neighbour in protest. Others online suggested a delay in opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a Canada-funded project that will connect Ontario to Michigan.
Carney earlier noted that it was the responsibility of both countries to fight climate change.
After Trump's remarks, Carney's emergency management cabinet minister said the two countries remain in constant contact and share a long history of working together on such disasters, citing a reciprocal fire-fighting agreement from 1982 and another assistance agreement from emerged from the 2025 G7 summit.
Canada has worked to prevent wildfires and invested about C$12bn ($8.5bn; £6.4bn) in forests sustainability and fire prevention, MP Eleanor Olszewski said in the statement.
"This is a challenge that knows no borders, and Canada is working with speed, collaboration and coordination to keep people safe," she added.
Relations between the US and Canada have been tense at times over the last year, mostly due to trade. Last year, Trump imposed tariffs on Canada - a country that had enjoyed decades of free trade with the US - and both countries have still yet to reach a trade deal.
What started the wildfires?
According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, nearly 3 million hectares of land in Canada has already been destroyed by the wildfires.
The impacts have been far-reaching, with a thick blanket of smoke spreading across US states, from Minnesota and Michigan to Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.
"Hazardous" air quality alerts have been issued across much of the region, leading to the cancellation of many outdoor events.
As of Friday, air quality in Detroit was worst in the world, Swiss air quality tracker IQAir said, followed by the Midwestern city of Chicago, Washington DC, and New York in seventh place.
In the open letter addressed to Canadian officials, US lawmakers John James, John Moolenaar, Jack Bergman and Lisa McClain said their "patience has run out".
"We are done accepting apologies in place of action," they said, warning the US could explore direct involvement in cross-border wildfire protection and firefighting if Canada failed to act.
"We were told last year that this would be treated with urgency. It was not," they claimed, adding that instead "American lungs are paying the price for Canadian inaction, year after year".
They said that issues such as "chronic under-investment in forest thinning, fuel reduction, and prescribed burns, along with inadequate enforcement against arson", had not been addressed "adequately enough".
But scientists BBC Verify have spoken to say the picture is more complicated.
"Weather doesn't care about international borders," says Dr Patrick James from the University of Toronto.
Once smoke reaches the atmosphere, it travels wherever the winds take it - and smoke from major US wildfires has also affected Canada in recent years.
Experts also say many of the current fires are burning in Canada's vast, remote forests, where fires can be difficult to detect or contain before they become too large.
While better forest management can reduce wildfire risk in some areas, particularly near communities, it cannot prevent fires across an ecosystem of this scale.
Wildfires are very common in Canada, but the number of outbreaks has rapidly increased in recent weeks. Experts in both the US and Canada agree that this is likely because of sustained hot weather at the end of June across northern Ontario, coupled with a below average rainfall.
Scientists also say increasingly severe wildfire seasons are being driven in part by climate change, which is creating hotter, drier conditions that allow fires to spread more easily. Some of the fires have also been sparked by lightning.
"Climate change is a global issue, and it would be inaccurate to suggest that Canada alone caused or could have prevented these wildfires," says Dr AnabelaBonada from the University of Waterloo.
Instead of complaining, send help - Canada's Ford tells US lawmakers
Ontario Premier Ford replied to the lawmakers on Friday, saying that Canada has helped the US battle wildfires in California and respond to hurricanes in North Carolina.
"Maybe what you should do rather than complain is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends," Ford said.
The premier also said that the US states of Michigan and Massachusetts, which are both led by Democrats, have offered assistance with water bombers, firefighters and rescue operations.
Responding to the criticism from US lawmakers, Carney said in French during a news conference in Ontario: "Climate change is everyone's responsibility - truly everyone's - including the United States."
He added that his government was "in close communication" with provinces and local communities.
Meanwhile, Ford dismissed criticism of his government's handling of the fires, noting that more than 150 fire crews are on the ground battling the blazes, along with over 80 water bombers and helicopters.
He added that his government has spent more than a billion dollars on wild land fire since 2018, and routinely spends more than its base budget allocated annually for firefighting due to the need.
"We are throwing every single resource we can," he said.
Fires burn down communities as haze grips region
Some residents in northern Ontario were forced to evacuate due to the ongoing fires. One First Nations chief reported her community was "burnt to ashes".
Fires are also burning on the country's west coast, where more than 59 active fires in British Columbia were reported on Friday. The British Columbia Wildfire Service said that 39 of those fires started in the last 24 hours and more than half (31 fires) are out of control, prompting firefighters to use more aggressive means to control them.
A large cluster of fires affecting northwestern areas of Ontario are responsible for sending thick plumes of smoke and poor air quality across the region and into the US.
On Thursday, thick haze of smoke blocked views across New York City, including the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. Likewise, national monuments across Washington DC were obstructed by the hazy conditions.
Officials have stressed for people to stay indoors, some areas even passing out free masks, due to the poor health impacts of inhaling the fumes.
It's led to outdoor activities being cancelled across the northern parts of the US, from Chicago and Detroit to parts of Pennsylvania and New England. Summertime camps were brought indoors, concerts were rescheduled - and at least one beach was shuttered along a popular lake.
Poor air quality also affected air travel in some areas where low-visibility conditions at airports caused flight delays.
The inclement weather has also sparked concerns around Sunday's World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium - an open-air venue - in New Jersey, where Trump is due to attend.
White House officials - including Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House's World Cup task force - is holding informal meetings with Fifa officials and others monitoring the wildfires, but no larger, formal meeting has so far been planned.
Forecasters believe that rains in the area over the weekend will improve conditions before the two teams take the pitch at 1500e (2000 BST).
In addition to the hazardous smoke extending across to the US, wildfires in northern Ontario have forced dozens from local First Nations communities to evacuate, with videos showing some fleeing the remote area by boat.
Members of the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation in the northern part of the province say they are "distraught" after fires tore through the community with very little warning.
Matthew Hoppe, incident commander for the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, told the BBC that his community was devastated by the wildfires in northern Ontario.
Community members had to "self-evacuate" via small boats on Monday afternoon with the fire rapidly approaching, Hoppe said, adding that there were no deaths or direct injuries, he says, but the community has been "completely levelled".
Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Chief Helen Paavola told local news outlet CityNews in an interview that an aerial flyover showed that her community has been "burnt to ashes".
Ford said a total of 10 communities have had to evacuate, with many now seeking refuge in southern Ontario cities.
"It's a miracle that no one lost their lives," the premier said.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyq93j34lgo
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'Landmark' Connecticut Islamic studies law sparks MAGA backlash
17 July, 2026
A new Connecticut law directing the development of optional Islamic and Arabic studies resources for public schools has sparked backlash from MAGA activists and right-wing commentators, who have accused Democrats of promoting "Islamisation" in schools, while advocates insist the measure is intended to improve historical understanding and combat prejudice.
The legislation, which came into force earlier this month as part of a wider education bill, requires the Connecticut State Department of Education to develop optional curriculum resources on Islamic and Arab studies for local school districts.
Schools will not be required to adopt the materials.
But on X, right-wing users described the law as "teaching Islam" in schools, while others claimed it was part of an effort to "Islamise" public education. Some posts warned, without any evidence, that the legislation would eventually lead to pressure on girls to wear the hijab or burqa, while others urged US Education Secretary Linda McMahon to intervene.
Similar arguments were advanced by conservative outlet Connecticut Centinal, which accused Democrats of "rolling out the red carpet for Islam" while "kicking Christianity out of schools".
The publication argued the legislation reflected "selective secularism", claiming Christianity had been excluded from public education while Islam was being afforded special treatment.
It also questioned whether anti-Muslim incidents in Connecticut justified the new curriculum and criticised plans for CAIR-Connecticut to help advise on the educational resources.
Farhan Memon, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT), rejected those claims, describing the legislation as "a landmark piece of legislation for Connecticut".
"It recognises that an accurate education about Islam, Arabs, and Muslim civilizations is an important part of a well-rounded education," Memon told The New Arab.
"Just as importantly, it acknowledges that education is one of the most effective long-term tools for combating prejudice, misinformation, and anti-Muslim bias."
Memon said the legislation was designed to address gaps in students' understanding of Islamic and Arab history rather than promote any religion.
"Students cannot fully understand world history without understanding the contributions of Islamic and Arab civilizations," he said.
"From mathematics, medicine, and astronomy to philosophy, architecture, and literature, these contributions helped shape the modern world. The goal is not to promote a religion—it is to provide students with historically accurate, balanced educational resources that fill an existing gap in many classrooms."
Responding directly to critics who characterised the measure as "Islamisation" or ideological indoctrination, Memon said the accusations fundamentally misrepresented the legislation.
"It does not mandate instruction, nor does it promote any religion. It simply directs the State Department of Education to develop optional educational resources for local school districts," he said.
"Teaching students about a civilization or a faith tradition is not the same as teaching them to adopt it. We already teach about Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other world religions as part of history and social studies. Islam should be treated no differently."
The legislation also contains provisions aimed at combating antisemitism in schools, something Memon said demonstrated that it was intended to protect all communities rather than favour one.
"We strongly support efforts to combat antisemitism, just as we support efforts to combat anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice," he said.
"This legislation recognises that every student deserves to learn in an environment free from hate and discrimination. Promoting understanding of different communities benefits everyone—it is not a zero-sum exercise."
Memon also linked the reaction to what he described as a broader increase in anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States since the start of Israel's war on Gaza.
"Unfortunately, we've seen a significant increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric, harassment, and discrimination since the war in Gaza began," he said.
"We've also seen attempts to politicise even basic educational initiatives about Muslims and Arabs. That is precisely why factual, age-appropriate education matters. Ignorance creates fertile ground for fear and prejudice; education helps replace stereotypes with understanding."
Source: newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/landmark-connecticut-islamic-studies-law-sparks-maga-backlash
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Local Regina mosque puts out survey for feedback on call to prayer
July 17, 2026
Surveys were conducted all day on Friday in front of Regina City Jamia Masjid to determine the future of their decision to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer.
Known as the Adhan, the call to prayer is an announcement in Arabic to call Muslims to prayer. The mosque intended to broadcast it around noon on Fridays after receiving a permit from Regina Police Service allowing them to do so last month.
After broadcasting the call to prayer once in mid-June, the mosque faced online threats that ultimately led them to make the decision to temporarily halt the broadcasting. Since then, they’ve decided to host an open house to gain feedback from the community, answer any questions and determine the fate of the call to prayer.
“Our neighbours are our first priority so they are the ones to decide whether or not we will be able to continue with the call to prayer,” says M AnisurRahaman, director of Regina City Jamia Masjid.
Surveys were conducted throughout Friday in front of the mosque, with people sharing their opinions for and against.
“I think they have every right to broadcast their call to prayer, just as any church in the city would have the right to ring their bells,” says CaleFladager, a participant in the survey.
Another participant doesn’t share the same sentiment. Gail Becker says it sets a precedent for the future that she’s opposed to.
“They’re welcome here, but I don’t want to hear their call to prayer,” says Gail Becker.
All responses, including those opposed, will be submitted to the Regina Police Service for the permit review and which will lead to a decision being made about whether or not the call to prayer will continue.
Source: globalnews.ca
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https://globalnews.ca/news/11970706/local-regina-mosque-survey-feedback-call-to-prayer/
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Ontario man charged in Canada Day attack on Muslim family
July 17, 2026
A 41-year-old man from Thunder Bay, Ont., is facing multiple charges in connection with a Canada Day assault that police say may have been racially motivated, with the city’s hate crime unit taking over the investigation.
The Thunder Bay Police Service announced the charges more than two weeks after officers responded to reports of an assault in the area of Villa Street and Cumberland Street North in the city area shortly after 12:45 p.m. on July 1.
The accused faces three counts of assault, one count of assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, and causing a disturbance.
Police said the man was remanded into custody following his first court appearance.
Police initially arrested one suspect on July 1 and charged him with assault, but at the time said the investigation would continue as the hate crime unit would be engaged.
“A victim received treatment from EMS and was transported to a local hospital for further treatment of injuries that can be described as non-life threatening,” said police in a news release July 16.
Family targeted with anti-Muslim slurs, advocacy group says
The Anti-Racism Program of the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East Foundation (ARPCF) has identified the victims as a Palestinian Muslim family and said the attack unfolded while a man of Palestinian descent was walking with his wife, two young children and his 63-year-old mother.
According to the advocacy group, the family was allegedly targeted with anti-Muslim slurs and obscenities, including “f*** Muslims,” before the incident escalated into violence.
“This attack must be understood as both Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism,” the group said in a statement emailed to media on July 17.
The group said the family was targeted while two women in the family were visibly Muslim, but added the incident occurred in a climate where Palestinians and those perceived to be Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim are increasingly treated as legitimate targets of hostility.
“Such violence does not emerge in isolation; it is enabled by public discourse that dehumanizes Palestinians and normalizes suspicion toward Muslim communities,” said Jamila Ewais, the program’s lead researcher.
Police thank the public
The Thunder Bay Police Service thanked community members for assisting with the investigation through the submission of cellphone and security camera footage.
The service had previously acknowledged a string of social media posts and comments regarding the assault that may have been racially motivated.
“Every person has a right to feel safe in our community and the Thunder Bay Police Service remains committed to investigating any allegations or reports that a person has been targeted based on hate or bias,” said police in an earlier release.
Advocacy group calls for broader response
The ARPCF said it welcomed the involvement of the hate crime unit and has called for a thorough, transparent and trauma-informed investigation.
“The assault of a Palestinian Muslim family walking with children and an elderly parent is a horrifying reminder that anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia have real and immediate consequences for families in Canada,” the group’s statement said.
The organization has also urged public officials at all levels to condemn the incident clearly and to recognize the structural nature of anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia, adding that protecting affected communities requires sustained public education, stronger anti-racism policies and stronger supports for victims.
Source: ctvnews.ca
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https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/article/ontario-man-charged-in-canada-day-attack-on-muslim-family/
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'People will pay because they have to': Trump Media pitches $100,000 monthly fee for faster Truth Social posts
Jul 17, 2026
Donald Trump's social media company has discussed charging traders and investors as much as $100,000 a month for faster access to the US president's posts on his Truth Social platform, according to a report by the Financial Times.
Trump Media & Technology Group has allegedly quoted the six-figure monthly sum in talks with prospective buyers of the "Truth API" data service.
Proprietary trading firms and hedge funds pay huge amounts for ultrafast data feeds because every millisecond counts when reacting to market-moving news. Trump often makes major announcements on Truth Social that trigger huge fluctuations across global markets.
"People will pay because they have to," an executive at a hedge fund told the FT. "If you're behind on that news, you'll get crushed."
Trump's posts move markets
Just before the Trump administration paused a number of tariffs last year, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was a "great time to buy." The S&P 500 rallied 9.5 per cent shortly after.
He has also backed specific stocks, complimenting companies such as Nvidia and Apple and helped their share prices. More recently, after the outbreak of the war with Iran, Trump posted on March 23 that there had been "very good and productive conversations with Iran," sending oil prices falling sharply.
Wall Street backlash
The announcement of the API product sparked a backlash on Wall Street as traders and investors were not in favour of having to pay a company tied to the president for market-moving information.
Social media platforms such as X also offer data feeds to algorithmic traders through financial terminals such as Bloomberg. TMTG expects the feed to provide coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The general public would not notice the difference in speed between Truth API and updates on Truth Social itself because Truth API would give an advantage of "milliseconds" to customers of the feed.
"Milliseconds is a big deal in this world, high-frequency trading firms and systematic quant hedge funds would definitely want this product," the chief executive of a US market infrastructure company told the FT.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/people-will-pay-because-they-have-to-trump-media-pitches-100000-monthly-fee-for-faster-truth-social-posts/articleshowprint/132467139.cms?val=3728
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Trump’s Truth Social to sell early access to ‘market-moving’ posts
18 Jul, 2026
US President Donald Trump’s social network Truth Social will start selling investors early access to posts from prominent accounts, most likely including his own, the holding company has announced.
Critics argue that the move could create an unprecedented new way for the president to profit from his office, given his family controls Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), the platform’s publicly traded corporate parent.
The move was announced on Thursday, when TMTG unveiled Truth API, a business-to-business data feed providing “real-time access to posts from the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts.”
What is on offer?
The service will give paying institutional clients and algorithmic trading firms machine-readable access to posts from top Truth Social accounts “in milliseconds,” rather than relying on manual monitoring, TMTG said. The feed will offer 24/7 coverage and an archive of posts dating back to 2022. It is scheduled to launch on August 1, though the company did not disclose pricing.
“Markets already move on Truth Social posts. Truth API delivers a direct, licensed, real-time feed of the platform’s most market-moving Truths,” said Kevin McGurn, Interim Chief Executive Officer of TMTG. “We expect Truth API to become a meaningful, ongoing source of revenue for the company, creating lasting value for shareholders.”
Trump founded TMTG in 2021 after many major social media platforms suspended his accounts following the January 6 Capitol protests. He has extensively used Truth Social to announce major policy decisions with posts that have repeatedly moved financial markets – such as his April 9, 2025 post announcing a 90-day pause on many tariffs, which sent Wall Street indices sharply higher within minutes.
Why is it different?
While other platforms also sell premium data access, critics argue Truth Social’s move is different because it potentially allows Trump to monetize official presidential communications.
While the announcement does not explicitly say that the mechanism will cover Trump’s own posts, the president is the platform’s most-followed account with 12.9 million followers, trailed by his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, and the White House. Critics argue that as the largest shareholder of TMTG, he stands to benefit directly from the new service.
“He’s selling expedited, privileged access to information about what he is doing as president,” Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law and an expert in government conflict-of-interest rules told AP. “It’s yet more brazen corruption, an improper exploitation of government power to enrich himself.”
Conflict-of-interest controversy
US conflict-of-interest laws bar executive branch officials from participating in government matters in which they have a financial interest. The president and vice president, however, are exempt.
Ethics experts note, however, that previous presidents generally divested holdings that posed conflicts and avoided monetizing official communications. Trump, in contrast, has retained his stake in TMTG, along with major crypto and real estate holdings. Recent financial disclosures show that his 2025 income exceeded $2.2 billion.
Multiple cases this year drew attention after well-timed trades ahead of political announcements generated huge profits. The Financial Times reported in March that oil traders placed more than $500 million in bets minutes before Trump announced “productive” talks with Iran at the height of the war. The timing prompted questions over who may have benefited, though the White House denied any official profited from insider knowledge.
Separately, market commentary platform The Kobeissi Letter claimed in May that a massive crude oil position placed shortly before reports of a possible US-Iran peace deal generated about $125 million in little more than an hour, again fueling insider trading speculation.
Also on Thursday, CNN reported that Trump himself may have timed investments around his Truth Social posts. The outlet said after comparing Trump’s posts with stock trades disclosed in his annual financial filings, it found at least 44 purchases involving 21 companies, including Nvidia, Tesla, Boeing, RTX, and Northrop Grumman, within a week before Trump posted messages about the companies, their executives, or products.
A Trump Organization spokesperson insisted in a statement that “neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization plays any role in selecting, directing, or approving specific investments.” Earlier, Trump also dismissed concerns, telling reporters last week that outside parties make his investment decisions and that his gains merely reflect a strong stock market.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/643166-trump-truth-social-access-posts/
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Africa
Terrorists Invade Kwara Community, Abduct Businessman, Islamic Cleric
18 Jul, 2026
Suspected terrorists have reportedly invaded Eggi Oyo-Ipo community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State and abducted a businessman and an Islamic cleric after a late-night attack.
Already, the suspected terrorists have placed a ransom of N65 million for the release of the two victims.
THISDAY investi-gations revealed that the incident was said to have happened last Wednesday night when the heavily armed assailants stormed the community, creating panic among residents before whisking away the two victims.
It was gathered that the suspected terrorists were said to have established contact with members of the community and were demanding a total ransom of N65 million for the release of the abductees.
Source: thisdaylive.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/07/17/terrorists-invade-kwara-community-abduct-businessman-islamic-cleric/
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Osun 2026: Muslim leaders task stakeholders on violence-free election
July 18, 2026
Ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Osun State, Muslim leaders have urged stakeholders to ensure that the election is conducted in an atmosphere devoid of violence, rancour, and mud-slinging.
The call was made on Friday in Osogbo during a meeting between the AsiwajuMusulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, AsiwajuKhamisOlatundeBadmus and the leadership of the league of Imams and Alfas in Osun State.
The forum, which also had the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) AsiwajuMunirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, in attendance, stressed the importance of the need for Muslim parents across the state to educate their wards never to allow themselves to be used as tools for thuggery and violence by politicians.
In his remarks, Badmus said the forum was convened to set an agenda for muslims in the state to partake effectively in administration and governance at all levels in Nigeria.
” When I was turbanned as the AsiwajuMusulumi of Yoruba land over forty years ago by the body of Imams and Alfas, I made a commitment that I would ensure that muslims in Yoruba land were accorded their rightful position in the scheme of things in Nigeria, hence it is part of my responsibility to awaken our consciousness to participate actively in matters of administration and governance for the benefit of all Muslims, particularly our children “
The forum, which was attended by the leaders of the Islamic faith from the thirty local government areas in Osun state, discussed the need for the government to expand the scope of Islamic education in its school curriculum.
In his remarks, Oyebamiji expressed appreciation to the AsiwajuMusulumi of Yorubaland and the body of Imams and Alfas for allowing him to address muslims in the state through the forum.
Oyebamiji remarked that he was born into a Muslim family. According to him, ” I have never done anything to the contrary from childhood through the decades that I have lived by Allah’s mercy.”
He assured all Muslims in the state of his administration’s commitment to their welfare and the welfare of all, irrespective of faith or political leaning, if elected as governor. In his words, ” if elected, I will be governor for all citizens irrespective of religious persuasion, political beliefs or philosophy, every citizen will be protected under my administration “
The President of the Osun State League of Imams and Alfas, Sheikh Musa Animahsaun, prayed for peace to reign in the state before, during, and after the election.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/osun-2026-muslim-leaders-task-stakeholders-on-violence-free-election/
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Senegal: Ex-president Sall arrives back for meeting with successor
July 18, 2026
Senegal's ex-president MackySall, who is campaigning to become the next UN secretary-general, arrived in Dakar Friday for a brief meeting with his successor, a visit criticised by the former leader's detractors.
The trip marks the first time that Sall, who led the nation between 2012 and 2024, has returned to the west African country since leaving office in April 2024.
More than 1,000 supporters turned out in the heat to welcome him mid-afternoon at a military airport in Dakar, where he greeted the crowd from atop a vehicle.
Noisy throngs of supporters then flocked towards the presidential palace downtown as he arrived for his visit, cheering and honking loudly from motorbikes.
Sall's party, the APR, which he still leads, had invited his supporters to come out to welcome him.
Sall stands accused by the current government of violent political repression during his last years in office that led to dozens of deaths and of covering up unfavourable economic data.
The meeting granted by President BassirouDiomaye Faye has sparked controversy within his own camp, which has been divided since he dismissed prime minister OusmaneSonko, once a staunch ally.
Following Faye's falling out with Sonko, he may be seeking political support from new quarters. Sonko and Sall are arch-rivals.
One of Faye's political advisors, AliouneIbnouAbitalib Sow, announced his resignation on Friday in protest at the visit.
"He is responsible for a large part of the troubles the country is facing today," Sow posted on X.
"Senegalese people have died, and families are still waiting for the truth," he added.
The Senegalese presidency did not respond to a request for comment from AFP regarding the meeting.
Sall, who has lived in Morocco since leaving Senegal, announced Tuesday that he would travel to Dakar for the visit.
A "collective denouncing the crackdown under Sall has described his visit as an "incident" and is demanding answers regarding the deaths that took place during his tenure.
Sall said he would leave Dakar "immediately" after his meeting with Faye.
Burundi, which holds the rotating African Union presidency, nominated Sall earlier this year for the UN secretary-general position rather than his own country, which would have been customary.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/07/17/senegal-ex-president-sall-arrives-back-for-meeting-with-successor/
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‘The Terrorists Laughed And Said We Should Thank God That We Have Been Freed’ – Oyo Kidnapped Teacher Reveals Fresh Angle
July 18, 2026
A teacher abducted during the attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has narrated how he spent 56 days in captivity before he and other victims regained their freedom.
Naija News reports that the school counsellor, OlatundeOlutuyeZaccheaus, said he was the last victim seized by the gunmen and also the last person to be released from their custody.
Zaccheaus spoke during an emotional telephone interview on Nigeria Info’s Morning Crossfire programme on Friday, alongside his wife.
His account, particularly the circumstances in which the victims left the kidnappers’ camp, has generated questions over whether they were released following negotiations or rescued during a security operation.
Narrating the day of the attack, Zacchaeus said the first indication of danger was the sound of motorcycles approaching the school.
According to him, gunshots followed almost immediately, throwing pupils and teachers into panic.
“What we just heard was the movement of a bike. Immediately, we heard gunshots. They were shooting sporadically,” he said.
He added that the terrified pupils began shouting warnings as the assailants entered the premises.
“Our students, the voices we were hearing from them, were saying, ‘Bandits, bandits, bandits,’” he recalled.
Zaccheaus said he attempted to escape through a window with some pupils but injured his left leg while landing.
He explained that he had been managing arthritis in the leg before the attack, and the impact worsened his condition.
“When I jumped through the window and wanted to land, I landed on the left leg where I had arthritis. Immediately, I knew there was a problem. I was unable to walk,” he said.
Some pupils initially tried to assist him, but he urged them to flee when it became clear that he could not keep up with them.
“I told them, ‘Please, you go. Don’t worry about me. Let them not capture you,’” Zaccheaus said.
He subsequently hid beneath thick vegetation, covering parts of his body with leaves in an attempt to avoid detection.
Pupil’s Action Exposed Hiding Place
The teacher said one female pupil refused to leave the area despite his pleas. According to him, the attackers’ commander approached the girl, and her reaction inadvertently revealed where he was hiding.
He said, “When he wanted to take the student, the student looked at the position where I was. Their commander also looked in that direction and saw me.
“He opened his mask. He was wondering whether I was a human being or something else. Then he told me to stand up. That was how I was captured.”
Zaccheaus said his capture surprised many in the community, who had initially believed he had escaped and gone into hiding.
“Everybody was saying they trusted me and that they could not capture me. The students were saying they knew I was alive and that nobody captured me,” he said.
He added that the assumption later made it difficult for some people to believe that he had spent the entire period with the abductors.
Victims Barred From Loud Prayers
Although Zacchaeus declined to disclose some details about conditions in captivity, he said the kidnappers communicated in English, Yoruba and other languages.
He said the captors did not appear to be Yoruba despite their ability to speak the language. The teacher also disclosed that the victims were initially prevented from praying openly.
“After a month, they told us we could pray, but we should not call the name of Jesus loudly. Whenever we were praying, we should not pray aloud so that they would not see or hear us,” he said.
Zaccheaus also claimed that his long-standing leg condition improved after the abductors gave him an unidentified medication.
He said, “The leg on which I had spent a lot of money, visited many hospitals and used different medicines, when I complained to them, they gave me one drug.
“When I took the drug, the arthritis went. I stood up.”
He did not identify the medication or explain whether medical professionals had examined him after his release to confirm the improvement.
Captors Announced Freedom
Speaking about the day the victims left the camp, Zaccheaus said the behaviour of the gunmen suddenly changed. According to him, the captors began smiling and told the victims that they had regained their freedom.
“They were laughing and smiling. They said we should thank God that we had been freed. They told us to open our eyes,” he recalled.
He said he and another man had remained blindfolded, handcuffed and chained by the legs until the announcement.
Zaccheaus stated that his release was briefly delayed after the key to his handcuffs broke.
He further stated, “There was no key to remove the handcuff from my hand. That was how I was carrying the handcuff.
“One of them said maybe they should cut off my hand, but another said they should not.”
According to him, the captors eventually used a rope to remove the restraint from his wrist.
The teacher said he became disoriented after the victims were left in the forest and initially walked in the wrong direction.
He claimed that the group’s commander, whom he described as an ISWAP member, called him back at gunpoint and directed him towards the route taken by the others.
The claim about the commander’s identity could not be independently verified.
“He told me to come back. I was afraid that I was alone in the bush. I thought it meant I was going to die,” Zaccheaus said.
He explained that the victims trekked for about an hour before reaching motorcycles, which conveyed them towards Kinyere village.
They reportedly continued on foot for another 90 minutes before meeting government security personnel.
Teacher Describes Freedom As Miraculous
Zaccheaus acknowledged the Oyo State Government’s efforts during and after the ordeal, but said the extent of financial assistance to the affected teachers remained uncertain.
He said a private individual gave the victims envelopes while they were receiving treatment in Ibadan.
The teacher added that reports that a vehicle had been promised to the school principal had not been confirmed.
Zaccheaus, who said he had taught at the school for six years, described the incident as the first abduction directly targeting a school in the community, although criminal activity had previously been recorded in the area.
Reflecting on his survival, he attributed the victims’ freedom to divine intervention and public prayers.
“The way we were rescued was miraculous. It was people’s prayers and God’s help. Let me put it that way,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/18/oyo-kidnapped-teacher-reveals-fresh-angle/
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Retired General Backs Makinde’s Call For UN Oriire Probe
July 18, 2026
By EnioluwaAdeniyi
A retired two-star general, Ishola Williams, has backed Oyo State Governor, SeyiMakinde’s call for an independent investigation into the abduction and eventual rescue of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Naija News reports that Williams said the governor’s demand was consistent with precedents established during earlier national security crises, particularly the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.
He spoke on Friday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.
The retired military officer said Makinde’s request for international scrutiny was neither unusual nor inappropriate.
He recalled that opposition leaders and other stakeholders called for international intervention during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan after the Chibok schoolgirls were abducted.
“Makinde is right in making that call. And why is he right? Everybody remembers that during the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan, when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, they were calling on everybody, international organisations and the rest,” Williams said.
He added that those who criticised Jonathan at the time had created a precedent that justified Makinde’s present position.
“And the President was the head of that opposition party, and he was criticising Jonathan like hell. Now, what comes around turns around. So, that’s what’s happening.
“So, in that way, Makinde is not doing anything that is new. He’s following a precedent,” he said.
Governor Cannot Formally Invite UN
Williams, however, noted that a state governor lacked the constitutional authority to formally invite the United Nations (UN) to investigate a security incident.
He suggested that Makinde could instead approach internationally recognised independent organisations capable of conducting credible inquiries.
“What I expected Makinde to do, even though he mentioned it, is to call Amnesty International, for example, that is well known all over the world for doing independent and thorough investigation of the sort of situation Oyo State found itself,” he said.
The retired general also questioned how armed men were able to abduct dozens of pupils and teachers without being detected or confronted.
He said the incident exposed significant weaknesses in Oyo State’s grassroots intelligence and internal security network.
According to him, officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Amotekun Corps, local intelligence structures and community leaders must explain how such a large-scale operation occurred unnoticed.
“In normal circumstances, or in a serious country, the SSA to Makinde could have been sacked. The committee here, too, has to be punished because that simple grassroots intelligence failed,” Williams said.
He queried how the attackers entered the community, seized their victims and moved them into the forest without attracting the attention of local security operatives or traditional authorities.
“For those kidnappers to be able to ride into his crew and just capture so many children and get them into the bush. How? Without Amotekun knowing? Without the village head knowing?” he asked.
‘Kidnappers Had Local Collaborators’
Williams argued that the abductors could not have carried out the operation successfully without assistance from people familiar with the area.
He maintained that accountability should extend beyond the suspected kidnappers to security officials and community leaders who failed to detect or prevent the attack.
The retired officer said local authorities should be held responsible whenever criminal groups repeatedly operate within their jurisdictions.
He said, “Somebody needs to tell community heads, if this sort of thing happens in your community again, you are in trouble.
“No more jokes with the communities because some communities and some villages must be making money, especially in a place like Katsina State.”
Williams also expressed doubt about aspects of the official account of the rescue operation.
He said the authorities should release more details so security experts can assess the operation and identify lessons to strengthen responses to similar incidents.
The retired general questioned the level of manpower, intelligence and resources deployed to secure the release of the Oriire victims.
He argued that applying similar capacity consistently in areas affected by insurgency could produce stronger results.
Williams said, “If they are using so much effort for the release of people, then you can imagine what they needed in the North-East to be able to deal with the problem of insurgency.
“And if the intelligence system has been working, like the one that they said the DSS has been bragging that they’ve been doing this, they’ve been doing that, why can’t they do the same thing in the North?”
Williams urged security agencies to devote greater attention and resources to tackling insurgency and repeated mass abductions in the northern part of the country.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/18/retired-general-backs-makindes-call-for-un/
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‘He Has Lost Control’ – ADC Asks National Assembly To Probe Tinubu’s Fitness
July 17, 2026
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the National Assembly to investigate whether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fit to discharge the duties of his office, following controversies surrounding appointments and leadership changes in some federal agencies.
The opposition party alleged that the reported leadership dispute at the Border Communities Development Agency indicated that the President had lost control of his administration.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, BolajiAbdullahi, the ADC said the controversy raised questions about whether presidential directives on appointments and removals were still being obeyed.
The party also cited the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council and a series of Federal Government policy reversals as evidence of what it described as growing confusion within the Presidency.
The party expressed concern over reports that an official publicly removed from office by presidential directive continued to occupy the position and hold meetings with senior government officials.
It said the development, if confirmed, went beyond a disagreement over an appointment and raised broader constitutional questions about the exercise of presidential authority.
“The African Democratic Congress is deeply alarmed by yet another bizarre episode in the affairs of the Federal Government, where a man publicly removed from office by presidential directive reportedly continues to occupy that same office and still hold meetings with senior officials of the same government,” the statement read.
The ADC argued that where a President announces a replacement but the affected official remains in office, the situation suggests a struggle over control of the executive arm.
“If the reports concerning the Border Communities Development Agency are true, then this is no longer about one disputed appointment. It is about something far more disturbing: who is actually in charge of the Nigerian Presidency?” the party asked.
The ADC said the BCDA dispute could not be treated as an isolated incident, pointing to the earlier controversy involving the purported PFIPC.
The party described the council as a “phantom” agency that allegedly operated as though it were a legitimate arm of the Federal Government despite official claims that it did not exist.
According to the party, the controversy only attracted significant official attention after allegations emerged linking the self-styled head of the council to senior officials in the Presidency.
The ADC said the incidents had created uncertainty over whether appointments and dismissals announced by the Presidency were final.
“Today, Nigerians no longer know whether an appointment announced by the Presidency is final, whether a dismissal actually takes effect, or whether someone somewhere possesses a superior authority capable of overruling presidential decisions without explanation,” it stated.
The opposition party alleged that unelected individuals and competing interests had begun to interfere with the President’s constitutional powers to appoint and remove public officers.
It said official announcements appeared to be competing with unofficial centres of influence within the administration.
“Effectively, the Tinubu administration has become a place where official announcements compete with unofficial power, where competing interests fight over appointments and patronage,” the ADC said.
It added that the Presidency, like the economy and security situation, was beginning to resemble a system governed by “the survival of the fittest.”
The party also criticised what it described as repeated policy reversals by the Tinubu administration.
It cited the suspension of the cybersecurity levy after public criticism and the withdrawal of the expatriate employment levy following opposition from investors.
The ADC said frequent reversals and contradictory announcements had weakened public confidence in government decisions.
“A government that cannot consistently stand by its own decisions gradually loses not only credibility, but authority,” it said.
The party argued that such uncertainty could unsettle investors, confuse civil servants and encourage public institutions to disregard directives because they were unsure whether the decisions would remain in force.
The ADC called on the National Assembly to exercise its oversight powers and determine whether the President remained capable of carrying out his constitutional responsibilities.
It said lawmakers should establish whether powers vested in the President were being personally exercised by him or appropriated by unelected officials behind the scenes.
The party asked who authorised appointments, whether the President’s directive at the BCDA had been countermanded and how the disputed PFIPC was allowed to present itself as a government agency.
“These are not opposition questions. They are constitutional questions. They go directly to the integrity of executive authority and the stability of our nation,” it said.
The ADC maintained that a government in which citizens, investors, diplomats and public officers were unsure whether the President’s decisions were final faced a serious crisis of authority.
It urged Tinubu to resign if he could no longer assert control over his administration.
“If President Tinubu is unable to assert control over his own Presidency, then the honourable course is to acknowledge that reality and resign. Nigeria cannot afford a Presidency where nobody knows who is truly in charge,” the statement added.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/17/he-has-lost-control-adc-asks-national-assembly-to-probe-tinubus-fitness/
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Southeast Asia
Media must embrace tech without losing values, says PM Anwar
17 Jul 2026
Anwar Ibrahim reminds media to uphold ethics and national identity while adopting AI and digital technology, urging unity in navigating challenges.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged media practitioners not to lose sight of values, ethics and national identity in the race to embrace rapid technological advancement.
He said the reminder was crucial as the country risked going astray if it failed to remain vigilant against challenges that accompanied technological progress.
Anwar said while freedom in information technology, digital technology and artificial intelligence must be upheld, these new technologies should not be devoid of values, adding that the issue also deserved greater attention from columnists.
“I believe the government, through Communications Minister Datuk Seri FahmiFadzil and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), has a shared responsibility to support the media.
“We will listen to views and accept criticism with an open mind because, in this matter, the country cannot afford to be divided,” the prime minister said in his speech at the Malaysian Press Night (MWM) 2026 and the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI)-PETRONAS Journalism Awards 2026, which was also attended by Fahmi, here today.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/media-must-embrace-tech-without-losing-values-says-pm-anwar/
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Malaysians in Qatar urged to stay alert amid Gulf tensions
17 Jul 2026
Malaysian embassy in Doha advises citizens to prioritise safety and remain vigilant as the Gulf region situation remains uncertain.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians in Qatar have been advised not to be complacent and to always prioritise safety as well as remain alert to developments around them amid the still uncertain situation in the Gulf region.
The Embassy of Malaysia in Doha said that, for now, embassy operations are continuing as usual and that it is updating information on the whereabouts of Malaysians in Qatar.
“Therefore, please update your and your family’s information through the eKonsular system of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. If you have yet to register, please visit the eKonsular website: https://ekonsular.kln.gov.my/register,” according to a notice posted on the embassy’s official Facebook page on Friday.
In addition, Malaysians transiting through Qatar are also encouraged to use the Foreign Ministry’s MyWorldAlert application to enable immediate assistance to be provided in the event of any emergency.
Malaysians in Qatar who require eKonsular assistance can contact +974 3374 6733 / +974 4483 6463 or email: mwdoha@kln.gov.my.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/malaysians-in-qatar-urged-to-stay-alert-amid-gulf-tensions/
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Muhyiddin claims Bersatu is Parliament’s only true Opposition amid shifting alliances
18 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has claimed PartiPribumiBersatu Malaysia is now the country’s only “standalone” Opposition party, arguing that it must remain independent as the country’s sole credible check on the government amid shifting political alliances.
In a Facebook post today, the Bersatu president said the party had returned to the role it played when it was founded in the wake of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, but now faced an even tougher political landscape.
“Today, Bersatu stands as an Opposition party, just as it did at the beginning of its journey.
“In fact, the challenges are even greater now because Bersatu is the only standalone Opposition party in the Malaysian Parliament,” he wrote.
Muhyiddin argued that PakatanHarapan (PH) and BarisanNasional (BN) were both part of the federal government, while PerikatanNasional’s (PN) political cooperation with BN had, in his view, effectively turned the coalition into a supporter of the government.
The comments come as strains deepen within the Opposition following PAS’ decision to cooperate with BN in the Negeri Sembilan state election, exposing divisions over PN’s future direction.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu had no choice but to endure the political pressure because “there is now a major void in Malaysian politics”, claiming no other party was capable of providing effective checks and balances or representing Malaysians struggling with the rising cost of living.
He also accused BN and PH of sharing collective responsibility for policies he said had burdened the public, citing higher diesel and petrol prices, persistent cost-of-living pressures and what he described as the government’s failure to deliver institutional reforms.
Turning his criticism towards BN and Umno, Muhyiddin accused them of shifting blame while benefiting from being in government before appealing to Malay-Muslim unity for political gain.
“Believe me, this is nothing more than political theatre designed to deceive the Malays and the wider public in the pursuit of power.”
He said Bersatu would remain steadfast in its founding mission to defend the people’s interests and advance the country despite mounting political challenges.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/18/muhyiddin-claims-bersatu-is-parliaments-only-true-opposition-amid-shifting-alliances/228125
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MACC steps in over KWAP’s RM200m investment loss linked to Indonesia’s eFishery
18 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched an investigation into the RM200 million investment loss suffered by the Retirement Fund (Incorporated) (KWAP) involving Indonesian aquaculture technology company eFishery.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said an investigation team from the commission’s headquarters was formed yesterday to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the matter.
“MACC stresses that the investigation will be carried out fairly, transparently and impartially in accordance with existing legal provisions,” he said in a statement today.
Abd Halim also advised the public against making any speculation on the investigation to avoid confusion and preserve the integrity of the process.
Previously, the Ministry of Finance (MOF), in a written parliamentary reply, confirmed that KWAP’s investment in eFishery had fallen victim to an alleged organised fraud following the manipulation of financial reports by the Indonesian company’s management.
The ministry said a consortium of investors, including KWAP, had taken firm action, including pursuing legal proceedings, efforts to recover funds, conducting internal governance reviews and strengthening controls to protect investment interests.
Media reports previously stated that eFishery was being investigated over alleged financial misconduct, including the manipulation of financial statements that resulted in the company’s revenue being overstated.
According to DealStreetAsia, KWAP invested about US$47.7 million (RM200 million) in eFishery’s Series D funding round in 2023. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/18/macc-steps-in-over-kwaps-rm200m-investment-loss-linked-to-indonesias-efishery/228115
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PAS eyes wider Sarawak presence with plan to contest eight seats in next state election
18 Jul 2026
MIRI, July 18 — PAS is aiming to contest at least eight seats in the next Sarawak state election following a review of its performance in previous polls
Its Sarawak commissioner, Mohammad ArifiriazulPaijo, said the party began preparing its election machinery early this year in anticipation of the state election, which he expects to be held by the end of the year.
“In the 2016 state election, PAS contested 11 seats, while in the 2021 election we contested only one.
“After conducting a post-mortem and analysing our previous election performance, Sarawak PAS has now set a target of contesting at least eight seats in the next state election,” he told reporters after the PAS Youth Wing Convention at a hotel here on Saturday (July 18).
Mohammad Arifiriazul said at least four of the eight proposed seats have been submitted to the party’s central leadership for consideration.
They include constituencies within the Betong and BatangLupar parliamentary areas, as well as several seats in northern Sarawak, including Bintulu, Sibuti and Miri.
He added that the party was also hoping to secure its first-ever seat in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.
However, he declined to disclose which constituency PAS believes offers its best chance of winning.
Responding to claims that PAS is an “outside” party contesting in Sarawak, Mohammad Arifiriazul said the party had been established in the state for nearly three decades.
He noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of PAS’ presence in Sarawak.
“Historically, PAS has been in Sarawak longer than PartiKeadilan Rakyat (PKR), which shows that the party continues to receive acceptance from the people of Sarawak,” he said.
He also rejected the notion that only local-based parties should contest elections in the state, saying such a perception was inconsistent with democratic principles.
He said that Malaysia is a democratic country, and that a healthy democracy requires competition as well as checks and balances for the benefit of the people.
“Based on the political landscape in Sarawak, we have our own strategy and focus according to the resources available. Our emphasis is on a localised approach to ensure PAS has a meaningful presence in every community.
“There may be issues that can be addressed by the state government, but there is also room for the opposition to contribute through its role as a check and balance. That is the role PAS intends to play,” he said.
Also present were PAS Youth chief information officer KhairulNadzirHelmi, Sarawak PAS Youth chief SahrulKhair Osman, and Sarawak PAS Youth information chief AwangAzwanAwangTaib. — The Borneo Post
Source: malaymail.com
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BN will run a civil campaign in Negeri Sembilan, says Umnoveep
18 Jul 2026
TAMPIN, July 18 — BarisanNasional (BN) will ensure that the Negeri Sembilan state election campaign is conducted in a healthy and prudent manner throughout the 14-day campaign period, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
He said all BN machinery must prioritise democratic practices by approaching voters in a mature and civilised manner to ensure that the people can make the best choice.
“We have two BN candidates, one in Gemencheh and one in Repah. Both will campaign in a healthy manner and I advise all machinery to campaign prudently.
“We need to go down to the villages to meet the community to ensure that these two BN candidates receive support. The aim is to bring in leaders of calibre to help the people, especially in the Gemencheh and Tampin parliamentary constituency,” he told reporters after accompanying BN candidates on the nomination day for the Negeri Sembilan state election at DewanPerdanaTampin, here today.
Johari said the two BN candidates, SuhaimizanBizar for the Gemencheh state assembly seat and Koh Kim Swee for the Repah state assembly seat, have a good service record and are confident of being able to serve the people.
He said the reputation of Suhaimizan, who had been a representative of the people before and intends to continue his service to the people, was seen as an advantage, while Koh has his own approach in reaching out to the community, especially the Chinese community.
Johari said the election is a democratic process that gives the people the opportunity to choose the best leaders to represent them at the state level.
“We are holding elections to practise the democratic process, which is to find great leaders to help the people in their respective constituencies,” he said.
In a similar development, Johari said any future understanding between BN and PerikatanNasional (PN) depends on the willingness of both coalitions to find common ground even though they each have different political ideologies.
He said differences of opinion are normal in politics, but if there is room to reach an understanding in a certain area or state, that can be considered.
“In politics, each party has its own ideology. If each can find common ground and there is an area or state that they can contest together, that is up to them.
“Ultimately, it is not the leaders who choose, it is the people who choose. So it is the people who will make the decision,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Johor Regent reminds new exco members to keep feet on the ground and focus on public’s needs
18 Jul 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, July 18 — The Regent of Johor, TunkuMahkota Ismail, has reminded all state executive council (Exco) members to carry out their duties with dedication, integrity and sincerity, while always prioritising the people’s well-being and the state’s progress.
In a post on his official Facebook page, His Royal Highness said every policy and decision made must be rooted in the people’s interests and benefit Johor as a whole.
The Regent also urged all Exco members to remain grounded by regularly engaging with the community, ensuring that government services are delivered efficiently, effectively and with integrity.
The royal reminder came during the Exco appointment and oath-taking ceremony at BalaiMengadap, Istana Bukit Serene earlier today, where 10 Johor assemblymen took their oaths of office before His Highness. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Indian Police Arrest Afghan Man Over Alleged Visa Overstay
By Fidel Rahmati
July 18, 2026
Indian police arrested an Afghan national accused of overstaying his visa for five years and using forged identity documents, authorities said.
Police in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata have arrested an Afghan national accused of overstaying his visa for nearly five years and using forged Indian identity documents, Indian media reports.
The suspect, identified by police as Jamil Khan, was arrested by Kolkata Police’s Security Control Organisation during an operation in the Bhawanipur area of south Kolkata, Indian media reported on Friday.
According to police, Khan entered India in February 2021 on a three-month tourist visa. Authorities allege that after his visa expired in May 2021, he remained in the country without legal authorization.
Investigators further allege that Khan obtained forged Indian identity documents, including a local identity card and a driver’s licence, and used them to establish and operate a business in Kolkata. Police have not publicly disclosed the nature of the business.
According to Kolkata Police, the alleged document fraud was uncovered during a verification exercise conducted by the force’s intelligence wing, which was reviewing passport and visa records.
Indian media, citing police officials, reported that Khan admitted during questioning that he had remained in India after his visa expired. Police said a criminal case has been registered at Bhawanipur Police Station, and the investigation is continuing.
Authorities are also examining whether Khan was connected to a broader network involved in producing forged identity documents for foreign nationals. Police have not announced any additional arrests.
Officials have not disclosed whether Khan has legal representation or whether deportation proceedings have begun.
India periodically conducts immigration enforcement operations against foreign nationals accused of overstaying visas or using fraudulent documents. Under Indian law, offences involving forged identity documents can carry criminal penalties, including imprisonment, fines and deportation following legal proceedings.
Following political changes in Afghanistan in 2021, Indian authorities have maintained heightened scrutiny of visa compliance and document verification involving foreign nationals, including Afghans, while continuing to host Afghan citizens under various visa categories.
Source: khaama.com
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Minority leaders demand release of HaridasTarani Das
18 Jul 2026
Leaders of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council today demanded the immediate release of Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, the president of a temple who was arrested over the construction of a Ram idol in Gaibandha'sPalashbariupazila.
They also urged the government to ensure religious freedom, prevent "attacks" on minority communities, and stop "interference" in the construction of places of worship.
The demands were made at a protest rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. The demonstrators later marched through Paltan before returning to the club.
Addressing the rally, the council's General Secretary Manindra Kumar Nath alleged that Tarani Das had been unfairly arrested despite the temple having been under construction for a long time.
He demanded withdrawal of the case against Tarani Das. Manindra Kumar also called for the release of ISKCON leader Chandan Kumar Dhar, also known as Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari.
Council Vice-President NirmalRozario urged the government to ensure the constitutional rights, religious freedom and security of minority communities.
Source: thedailystar.net
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‘Anyone you dislike is being branded a fascist’: Cumilla SP tells JCD leader
17 JULY 2026
A superintendent of police (SP) has criticised the practice of branding political opponents as “fascists”, saying the label was increasingly being used against anyone viewed unfavourably.
Addressing former Cumilla city JatiyatabadiChhatra Dal (JCD) president Fakhrul Islam Mithu, SP Anisuzzaman said, “You are now trying to hand over your own rivals to the police by tagging them as Awami League members. Anyone you dislike is being labelled a fascist.”
The SP made the remarks during a discussion organised at the Cumilla Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Thursday on the occasion of July Martyrs’ Day.
While addressing the discussion, Fakhrul Islam Mithu alleged that fascists have become active in Cumilla again but police are not taking any action in this regard.
In response, SP Anisuzzaman said, “This is not a political platform. You cannot make such remarks about a disciplined force. I was also involved with Chhatra Dal. I joined Chhatra Dal in Dhaka long before you did. Whenever you speak at a public meeting, you should speak based on facts and evidence.”
Mithu later took the microphone again and said, “Even when we provide you with information, you still do not make arrests.”
Replying to the allegation, the SP said, “You are now labelling your own rivals as Awami League members and trying to hand them over to police. Anyone you dislike is being branded a fascist.”
The SP further said, “After August 5 [2024], there was virtually no effective policing in the country. The police force has now regained its footing.”
“Judicial process is underway. Verdicts have already been delivered against Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman. Please be patient. During my service in Dhaka, I personally submitted charge sheets against many individuals.”
A video showing the heated exchange between the JCD leader and the SP has gone viral on social media, sparking widespread public discussion.
The discussion was attended, among others, by Cumilla Deputy Commissioner RoziAkter, Cumilla City Corporation Administrator Yusuf MollaTipu, Cumilla Development Authority Chairman Udbatul Bari Abu, and Cumilla South District BNP General Secretary Ashikur Rahman Mahmud Wasim.
Source: thedailystar.net
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New loan programme: IMF to push for banking reforms, tax boost
17 JULY 2026
The conditions for the possible new International Monetary Fund programme are likely to be based on raising the tax-GDP ratio, reducing subsidies, exchange rate flexibility and banking sector reforms.
“Banking sector restructuring should be anchored in a credible and comprehensive strategy, with a well-managed cleanup of the sector needed to safeguard macro-financial stability and support investment,” said Ivo Krznar, the IMF mission chief, on the conclusion of the five-day visit to Dhaka yesterday.
The IMF staff team visited Dhaka following a request from the government for a new economic reform programme, the statement said.
The fact-finding visit provided an opportunity to better understand the authorities’ policy plans, economic reform priorities and capacity development needs, it said, adding that discussions on the possible parameters of a new arrangement -- including its size and associated reform commitments -- will take place in coming months.
During the visit, discussions were guided by the policy priorities identified in the 2025 Article IV consultation.
In the 2025 Article IV consultation in January, the IMF identified persistently low fiscal revenues, weaknesses in the banking sector, stubbornly high inflation and slippages in exchange rate reform as major challenges for Bangladesh.
“Stronger revenue mobilisation and subsidy rationalisation are needed to create fiscal space to increase priority social and development spending. Well-targeted social support can help mitigate the impact of revenue reforms on vulnerable households,” said the statement yesterday.
Tight monetary and prudent fiscal policies should be maintained to reduce inflation and rebuild foreign exchange reserves.
Consistent implementation of the crawling peg regime adopted in 2025 would help enhance exchange rate flexibility and safeguard external stability.
The IMF mission projected economic growth to slow to 3.5 percent this fiscal year and weaken further to below 3 percent over the medium term in the absence of decisive reforms to strengthen revenue mobilisation and create fiscal space, and to address weaknesses in the banking sector.
“Risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside, reflecting the potential interaction of banking sector strains, fiscal challenges and external pressures,” it added.
The government is likely to agree to reforms to raise the tax-GDP ratio, fix the banking sector, make the exchange rate more market-based and reduce subsidies, The Daily Star has learnt from finance ministry officials involved with the proceedings.
During the discussions, the IMF mission advised implementing the recommendations of the Pay Commission with caution, the officials said.
The mission welcomed the electricity hike, while calling for making subsidies more targeted.
“Although the introduction of the Family Card was praised, a warning was given to ensure that it is well-targeted and not misused,” said one of the officials on the condition of anonymity.
The government has informed the IMF that reforms under any new loan programme would be implemented gradually, based on the priorities and needs of an elected government, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury told journalists after the closing meeting with the IMF mission.
Discussions had already been held on the foundations of the proposed programme, which would be built on the policy priorities outlined earlier.
“I have said before as well that the reform process will be carried out while respecting the mandate of the elected government.”
The reforms would be introduced in phases as per the country’s needs and priorities rather than all at once, he said, adding that several reforms have already been implemented.
Source: thedailystar.net
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State minister inspects tree plantation programme on Bishkhali River bank
17 Jul 2026
BAGERHAT, July 17, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Forests and Environment Dr. Sheikh Faridul Islam inspected the tree plantation programme on the Bishkhali River between Kachua and Morelganjupazilas of Bagerhat this morning.
At that time, he toured the relevant areas and planted trees on both banks of the river.
Faridul Islam said that there is no alternative to massive tree plantation to preserve the river banks, maintain environmental balance and combat the adverse effects of climate change. To this end, the government is implementing various programmes to build a green belt in the riverside areas.
KachuaUpazila Executive Officer Md. Ali Hasan, BNP President SardarZahid, General Secretary Sheikh Touhidul Islam and a large number of leaders and activists of the party's organs and associate organizations were present at the inspection and tree plantation programme.
Source: bssnews.net
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Badakhshan Officials Say Yaftal-e Payin District Retaken After Overnight Attack
By Fidel Rahmati
July 18, 2026
Badakhshan uthorities said they retook a district in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province after an overnight attack claimed by an anti-Kabul administraion.
Badakhshan authorities said on Friday they had regained control of Yaftal-e Payin district in northeastern Badakhshan province after an overnight attack, following earlier claims by an anti-Taliban armed group that it had briefly seized the district.
Police spokesperson EhsanullahKamgar said the attack occurred while several Taliban fighters and commanders were on leave. He said reinforcements returned within hours and restored control over the district.
Kamgar said Taliban authorities arrested seven people in connection with the incident and seized weapons and military equipment. He did not identify those detained or specify which armed group was responsible for the attack.
Following the incident, Taliban army chief of staff FasihuddinFitrattraveled to Badakhshan and said security forces would take action against anyone attempting to destabilize the province.
Local residents said security measures were tightened in Yaftal-e Payin after Fitrat’s visit and alleged that some civilians were harassed during subsequent security operations.
Earlier on Friday, local sources said the Maihan Soldiers Front, an armed group, had briefly taken control of the district and raised its flag over government buildings. Badakhshan has witnessed periodic clashes between security forces and armed groups since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
Source: khaama.com
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