An Italian Teenager Who Planned To Fly To Somalia To Join The Islamic State Group Jailed in UK Over Gun Attack Plot
New Age Islam News Bureau
03 July 2026
Muhammad Billal was motivated by Islamic State ideology and by martyrdom, the judge said
----------
· A teenage who planned to fly to Somalia to join the Islamic State group jailed over gun attack plot
· Ayodhya donation scam: Kapil Sibal slams BJP for 'seeking votes in Ram's name and looting Ram himself'
· 54 Palestinian children killed in West Bank not isolated incidents, says B’Tselem
· Saudi, Pakistani foreign ministers discuss US-Iran talks
· 'We did something nobody knew': Trump details secret US operations near Strait of Hormuz
· Scores Of Terrorists Killed In Niger Air Strikes
-----
Europe
· Germany rejects Trump’s demand for loyalty
· EU court backs criminal prosecution for sharing RT videos
· Armenian PM to attend Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral in Iran
· Amir Karim appointed to Bungay Town Council in Suffolk
· Three men sentenced to life in prison for murder outside Örebro mosque
· Leyla Aliyeva visits Juma Mosque in Yevlakh
--------
India
· ‘Don’t panic, keep papers ready’: Shaheen Bagh’s daadis are back, this time to help neighbours
· From Quad and energy to terrorism: India and Japan align on global issues
· 'Op-eds on Gaza, silence on Sikhs': BJP questions Sonia Gandhi over Pakistan gurdwara demolition
· Shia leader Aga Hassan stopped from boarding Delhi-Tehran flight for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral, his son claims
· Bihar Governor, MoS Pabitra to leave for Iran on Friday to attend Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral
· Court denies anticipatory bail to husband of Mahakumbh viral girl
· Congress MP slams India-Pakistan peace letter, cites Pahalgam attack, history of cross-border terror
· 'Baseless allegations of terrorism': Pakistan rejects India’s ‘strategic asset’ stance on Indus waters
-------
Mideast
· Can foreign energy investment help power Syria’s recovery after years of war?
· Omani sultan and British PM discuss navigation in Gulf’s waterways
· Bahrain FM demands Security Council action after Iranian attacks
· Lebanese parliament speaker, UK’s deputy national security adviser meet for talks
· Syrian military officials take part in CENTCOM-led conference in Bahrain
· Syria’s parliament takes shape under Al-Sharaa’s managed inclusivity, analysts say
· Lebanese president says will not yield ‘a single inch’ of territory to Israel
--------
Arab World
· Saudi Water Week ends with roadmap for World Water Forum 2027 in Riyadh
· Saudi tourism turns to AI for smarter, more personalized travel
· Masam destroys 6,009 war explosives in Bab Al-Mandab
· Jeddah residents flock to Friday’s bird auction
· Royal reserve signs memorandum to protect houbara bustard
· KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Gaza, Afghanistan Yemen
-----
North America
· CAIR-CA Welcomes Release of Attorney General’s 2025 Hate Crime Report, Highlights Statewide Increase in Anti-Muslim Hate
· CAIR-MI Condemns Rep. James Comparing Dearborn Muslims to Extremists in Iraq
· Muslim-rights advocacy group sues Gov. DeSantis over ‘domestic terrorist’ designation
· Manchester Man Charged In Vernon Mosque Harassment Case
· Tibetan protester sets himself on fire outside UN headquarters in New York City
· Dangerous heatwave scorches US ahead of Fourth of July holiday
· US diplomat wants to turn Taiwan into ‘hornet’s nest of drones’
-------
Africa
· FG Secures 1,721 Terrorism Convictions Since 2017
· US Withdraw Troops From Nigeria After ISIS Commander’s Killing
· Troops Repel ISWAP Attack On Borno Base, Kill Insurgents
· Tanzania deploys security forces to major cities ahead of planned protests
· Why Tinubu Avoids Prepared Speeches When Addressing Nigerians – Ex-Aide
· ‘More Answers Needed’ – Buhari’s Former Minister Faults Presidency’s Defence Of Gbajabiamila
· ‘I’m Ready To Face The Law’ – ‘Non-existent’ Presidential Council DG Says
--------
Southeast Asia
· Indonesia promotes 15 provinces as Muslim-friendly destinations
· Anti-financial crime body says Azam Baki’s board role is in ‘individual capacity’, not tied to MACC
· Fahmi says RTM prepared to host Maszlee-Onn Hafiz dialogue on Johor’s development agenda
· Anthony Loke: Govt to seek audience with Selangor Sultan to explain LRT3 implementation issues
· New Malaysian passports: When and where they are rolling out at the 69 locations nationwide plus seven outside of the country
· Belgium eyes tech transfer over rare earths from Malaysia, seeks deeper mineral cooperation
· Anwar sends congratulations letter to Xi Jinping on China ruling party’s 105th anniversary
--------
South Asia
· Protecting dignity of Islamic symbols a duty of faith: Bangladesh Religious Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain
· Amana Bank featured at IsDB Group’s Annual Meetings in Azerbaijan
· Bangladesh religion minister says creating confusion over 'Kalema-featured flags' unacceptable
· DBH Finance shariah committee holds 10th meeting
· 147 Afghan Refugees Released From Pakistani Prisons
· Mullah Baradar to Lead Delegation to Funeral of Iran’s Former Supreme Leader
· Jhenaidah Jamaat leader returns bicycle allocated for student after giving it to granddaughter
· Holey Artisan: Japan vows stronger ties against terror
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
--------
A teenage who planned to fly to Somalia to join the Islamic State group jailed over gun attack plot
Neil Henderson
July 03, 2026
Muhammad Billal was motivated by Islamic State ideology and by martyrdom, the judge said
----------
A teenager who planned to fly to Somalia to join the Islamic State group has been jailed after he admitted planning a terrorist attack with a gun.
The Old Bailey in London heard how Italian national, Muhammad Billal, who lived in Nelson, Lancashire, had researched how to buy weapons and downloaded maps of locations including military bases in the UK and a college in his local area.
When police arrested Billal at Manchester Airport in November 2024 they found terrorist literature on his mobile phone, and an internet search history of guns, such as rifles and semi-automatic weaponry.
Billal, now 19, has been given a 13-and-a-half year sentence after pleading guilty to terrorism charges.
He was charged in February 2025 with two counts of preparation of terrorist acts and four counts of collecting information likely to be used by a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
The judge, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, told Billal: "By your own account to the probation officer, you intended to kill members of the public and you hoped to be killed by police."
She added: "You could not be sure that you would not have gone through with the attack."
The court heard he repeatedly accessed IS material and declared his support for the organisation throughout 2024 until his arrest.
The teenager also avidly collected "a wealth" of terrorist propaganda published by IS's propaganda arm.
After downloading a secure messaging app and chatting to contacts he went on to buy plane tickets to fly to Somalia via Dubai so he could train at a terrorist camp, the court heard.
'Dark web'
Billal told police in an interview that he had been "naive and bored" and claimed he was "not a violent person".
He said he had been travelling to Somalia "for the sunshine".
But prosecuting counsel Simon Gurney KC told the judge that if police had not stopped Billal he would have received a three-month spell of terrorism training with the Islamic State group.
The court heard how in the run up to his arrest he was challenged and labelled as a terrorist in a chat on the Discord discussion app.
"I'm protecting Muslims and fighting their enemies," he replied.
"For you they're (IS) terrorists but for me they're fighters for justice and truth."
The court heard his terror attack planning involved researching "nearby shooting ranges" and buying a gun on the "dark web" using cryptocurrency.
He also conducted online reconnaissance of potential attack locations, including churches, synagogues, busy railway stations and Manchester United's stadium.
Defending Billal, Andrew Morris said the defendant was "vulnerable" and had been "brainwashed" as a teenager after coming to the UK from Italy with his parents when he was 13.
Judge Cheema-Grubb accepted that Billal had been looking for "belonging and brotherhood" through the ideology, but not that he had been exploited.
"You were motivated by Islamic State ideology and you were motivated by martyrdom," she said.
Since being in prison, Billal has reportedly started to move away from that ideology but was still assessed as a "high risk" of further terrorist related offending, the court heard.
In April last year, prison officers found a picture of an IS flag in Billal's cell.
Judge Cheema-Grubb added: "You said that if you had gone to Somalia you would have killed innocent people and that you were glad you had now been arrested because it stopped you from becoming a murderer."
Billal admitted all six offences in July last year.
The judge said that while some of his offending had occurred when he was 17 "it doesn't reduce the gravity of what you did".
"I don't accept you were groomed; you started off on this track entirely yourself," she added.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czde7rqjy8lo
--------
Ayodhya donation scam: Kapil Sibal slams BJP for 'seeking votes in Ram's name and looting Ram himself'
02 Jul 2026
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal speaks during a press conference in New Delhi.File Photo | ANI
-----------
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday termed the BJP, the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) as "farzi Hindus" over their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of donation funds received at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
In a post on X, the senior lawyer alleged that the organisations that sought votes exploiting the name of Ram have now robbed Ram himself.
"VHP, BJP, Bajrang Dal -- 'Ram ke naam pe vote to leinge, fir Ram ko hi woh looteinge (They will seek votes in the name of Ram and then loot Ram himself). Asli Hindu ye kya jaane, ye to farzi Hindu hain (What do they know of real Hindus, they are fake Hindus)," Sibal wrote.
Eight people have been arrested, including the driver of former general secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, as the investigation into the alleged embezzlement progressed.
The arrest followed the registration of FIR, which came two days after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government submitted its preliminary findings on 23 June.
The alleged irregularities came to light on 7 June after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that donations made to the Ram temple had been embezzled.
Meanwhile, amid backlash, general secretary Champat Rai and trust member Anil Mishra confirmed their resignations on Saturday.
Speaking to his close associates, Rai claimed he has been "betrayed by those he trusted" while also stating that his "service in Ayodhya is complete" and that he will not continue with the "stigma," PTI reported on Saturday, citing sources.
Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) have been alleging that the investigation is circling around small players while the influential people are being allowed to roam scot-free.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Jul/02/ayodhya-donation-scam-kapil-sibal-slams-bjp-for-seeking-votes-in-rams-name-and-looting-ram-himself
--------
54 Palestinian children killed in West Bank not isolated incidents, says B’Tselem
Kanzah Maktoum
July 02, 2026
Children stand near a damaged car, which Palestinians say was burned by Israeli settlers,in Halhul near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in May. (Reuters/File Photo)
------------
DUBAI: Israeli forces killed 54 Palestinian children in the West Bank in 2025, according to a report by Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, which linked the deaths to an increasingly permissive open-fire policy and military conduct in the occupied territory.
The report also pointed to what it described as a broader dehumanization of Palestinians and a climate of “public impunity” surrounding the killings, calling 2025 one of the deadliest years for Palestinian minors in the West Bank over the past two decades.
“The widespread killings are not the result of isolated mistakes but of policy,” B’Tselem spokesperson Yair Dvir told Arab News. “This includes the authorization to shoot at Palestinians suspected of throwing stones even when they pose no danger to soldiers.
“Israel routinely invokes security arguments, labeling those who are killed as terrorists. But we are talking about 54 children killed in a single year, including infants and very young children. Many of these children were killed in their own homes, in their family’s car, on a football pitch, or while on their way to visit a family member. This is not about security.”
According to B’Tselem, only two of the 54 children and teenagers killed were armed with firearms when they were shot. The organization said that at least 21 were not involved in clashes, while seven were killed in airstrikes.
B’Tselem said that it has documented a sharp increase in Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since October 2023. Nearly a quarter of the more than 1,000 Palestinians killed during that period have been children.
“We are seeing a growing number of incidents in which soldiers shoot and kill Palestinians who posed no threat to them,” Dvir said. “In many cases, the killings were captured on camera.”
He also pointed to public statements by senior Israeli military officials as evidence of what he described as a shift in military conduct.
“Not only does the system provide full backing for these killings, but the military commander responsible for the West Bank has publicly boasted that Israel is killing Palestinians in the West Bank at levels not seen since 1967,” he said.
The report is based on investigations conducted by B’Tselem’s Palestinian field researchers across the West Bank. According to the organization, researchers visited the scenes of incidents, collected eyewitness testimony, gathered video footage where available, and conducted detailed investigations into each case.
The organization also raised concerns about delays in medical treatment for wounded minors. According to the report, soldiers delayed or prevented medical teams and residents from reaching injured children in nearly one-quarter of the documented cases.
One such case involved Mohammed Halak from Hebron.
“Mohammed was a nine-year-old boy who was playing football with his friends when soldiers entering the village shot him from a hundred meters away, even though he posed no danger whatsoever,” Dvir said. “The soldiers also delayed his evacuation, causing a delay of more than 15 minutes before he reached the hospital.”
B’Tselem said that Israeli forces have not provided explanations for restricting access to wounded children in such cases. The report also questions the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms surrounding the killings.
“In none of the cases documented in the report has an indictment been filed against those responsible for the killings, including cases involving young children and infants,” Dvir said.
While some incidents have reportedly been subject to internal military investigations, Dvir argued that such processes rarely lead to “meaningful” outcomes.
The report also highlights Israel’s policy of withholding the bodies of Palestinians killed by its forces. As of June 2026, Israel was holding the bodies of 18 of the 54 children documented in the report.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649455/middle-east
--------
Saudi, Pakistani foreign ministers discuss US-Iran talks
July 02, 2026
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. (File/AFP)
----------
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar discussed the latest round of negotiations between the US and Iran in Doha on Thursday.
Mediator Qatar said on Thursday that Iran and the US have made progress in talks over ending the four-month US-Israeli war on Iran.
The talks made “positive progress” on matters related to the memorandum that halted the war in June, a Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a post on X.
During a phone call, the two ministers expressed satisfaction with the positive progress achieved and their hope that the talks would lead to a peaceful and comprehensive resolution to the conflict in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The memorandum of understanding that halted the war in June was brokered by Qatar and Pakistan and included a 60-day ceasefire.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649477/saudi-arabia
-------
'We did something nobody knew': Trump details secret US operations near Strait of Hormuz
Jul 3, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Thursday said American forces had systematically destroyed Iran's radar infrastructure, forcing Tehran to repeatedly rebuild its systems.
Speaking to CNBC's Business Day, Trump elaborated on the stealth operations carried out by the US Central Command (Centcom) and said, "We did something nobody knew. Every night, we were taking ships out through the South, which is the furthest point from where they have their little weapons, and they were going along the coast with no lights for a month and a half."
"We blew up Iran's radar. They had no radar, they still don't. We blew it up again the other night. They had a nice new radar, they were all set to go, and we blew it up last week. They have to start all over again for a third time," he added.
Trump further said American forces carried out strikes on Iran across three consecutive nights in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
"They (Iranians) have some missiles left, we could wipe them out too. I hit them three times last week very hard, because they sent a drone into a ship, I hit them. Then they did something else, and I hit them. I hit them three nights in a row, the week before I hit them two nights in a row, very hard," Trump said.
"We had one night where we took 22 ships out. That's a lot of oil. Our Navy took them out. We escorted them out, and nobody knew. The lights were off, everything was off, everything was silent," he added.
This comes a day after the US and Iran wrapped up another round of indirect talks in Doha without any visible breakthrough toward a lasting peace. Instead, the discussions focused on implementing provisions of the interim agreement announced two weeks ago.
According to news agency Reuters, negotiators spent two days discussing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the unfreezing of Iranian funds — two key issues covered under the interim deal.
The next round of talks will take place after the funeral ceremonies for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is set to be buried on July 9, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said.
Doha said the talks made "positive progress" on issues linked to the memorandum that ended the June war and were "building on the outcomes" of an earlier summit in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Trump said the two sides were making progress on possible limits to Iran's nuclear programme — the main reason he said he launched the war alongside Israel in February. "The denuclearisation of Iran is moving along well," he told reporters. "They've had very good meetings, and we'll see."
However, Reuters, citing sources, reported that Iran's nuclear programme was not discussed during the Doha talks, which were technical in nature. US Vice President JD Vance said the issue would be taken up in a later round. "Obviously, we're worried about the nuclear issue, we're going to start talking about that," he said.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/we-did-something-nobody-knew-trump-details-secret-us-operations-near-strait-of-hormuz/articleshowprint/132151790.cms
-------
Scores Of Terrorists Killed In Niger Air Strikes
July 2, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Scores of terrorists have reportedly been killed in air strikes carried out by the air component of Operation Fansan Yamma in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
Counter-insurgency publication, Zagazola Makama, said the strikes were conducted on June 29 and disrupted terrorist movement in the area.
According to the report, the operation followed intelligence that over 200 terrorists on motorcycles were moving along the Sangeko–Dogon Dawa–Womba axis.
Makama said the group was allegedly planning coordinated attacks and reinforcing criminal enclaves within the Kamuku forest corridor.
“In response, the Air Component immediately launched an Armed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission using the military aircraft to conduct extensive aerial reconnaissance over Womba, Dogon Dawa, Kurugin, Birnin Gwari, Polewaya and Udawa,” Makama said.
Makama said the aircrew identified terrorists travelling on three motorcycles towards Kamuku Forest.
“Following positive target identification and in line with established Rules of Engagement, the aircraft engaged the hostile elements with precision munitions, successfully neutralising them,” he said.
He added that a battle damage assessment, carried out with ground troops, confirmed the killing of the suspected terrorists.
In a separate mission on the same day, the aircraft reportedly conducted another armed reconnaissance operation over Dogon Dawa, Kurugin Maidawa and surrounding areas.
“During the surveillance, several terrorists mounted on motorcycles were observed converging at a logistics and refuelling point,” Makama said.
He added that the aircrew launched a precision strike on the location, destroying the logistics point and killing several terrorists.
“The operation was executed with exceptional precision, professionalism and adherence to operational procedures, with no reported collateral damage,” he added.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/02/terrorists-killed-in-niger-air-strikes/
-------
Europe
Germany rejects Trump’s demand for loyalty
2 Jul, 2026
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has rejected US President Donald Trump’s demand for loyalty from other NATO members, insisting that no member state should impose its will on the others.
Pistorius made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with Der Spiegel, which was published on Thursday. He used the opportunity to play down tensions between Washington and Berlin, which were exacerbated by the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Pistorius was pressed on Trump’s remarks from last week, in which he said he is “disappointed with most” of the NATO members over their reluctance to take part in the Iran war. “I just want loyalty. You know, we’re so loyal to them. We are always fighting for them,” he said.
He went on to single out Germany, noting that the US has tens of thousands of troops in the country. “And then you want a little – give us a little nudge, give us a little kiss. We don’t want much. And they say, ‘No, we can’t do it.’”
Pistorius pushed back, telling Der Spiegel that “NATO’s concept is not one of blind obedience, but rather… a spirit free in deliberation.” He stressed that decisions within the bloc are made “by free consensus of all member states and without being dictated by individual member states.”
Asked what military support the US actually wanted from Berlin, Pistorius said he is “not aware of any” requests. “Besides, refusing a little kiss can happen in the best of relationships. And unintentionally, too. That’s hardly a marital crisis,” he added.
The defense minister, however, concurred with Trump’s longstanding demand that NATO spend more on defense, but insisted that Germany is doing so “because it’s in our interest, not because the US wants us to.”
Relations between the US and Germany frayed after Pistorius signaled that Berlin would not join US-led operations in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that “this is not our war.” Following the spat, the Pentagon announced in May that it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany over the next 6 to 12 months. US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth – who called the behavior of NATO members “shameful” – announced a six-month review of the US military posture in Europe last month.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.rt.com/news/642496-germany-snubs-trump-loyalty-demand/
---------
EU court backs criminal prosecution for sharing RT videos
2 Jul, 2026
The EU’s top court has ruled that private individuals can face criminal prosecution for posting RT videos on public websites, widening the bloc’s crackdown on Russian media.
The Court of Justice of the European Union issued the ruling on Thursday in a case from Germany, where three people are being prosecuted for publishing RT DE videos on a freely accessible website.
The site did not charge readers and was financed only through voluntary donations. The CJEU, however, said that made no difference and ruled that all persons who are “directly or indirectly” responsible for making banned content available to the public can be treated as “operators” under EU sanctions rules.
The judges argued it was irrelevant if the individuals were running a business, how long the content was available, or how widely it was spread.
Under the German law cited in the ruling, violations of EU sanctions-based media bans can carry up to five years in prison.
The ruling effectively pushes the EU ban on RT beyond broadcasters, platforms or media companies, allowing for the criminal prosecution of any individuals accused of making RT content publicly available online.
The EU banned RT and Sputnik, among other Russian media outlets, after the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022. Brussels said the sanctions would remain in place until the end of the Ukraine conflict and after Moscow ceases to conduct “disinformation and information manipulation actions against the EU.”
The measures were followed by platform blocks, app-store removals, banking restrictions, and personal sanctions against media figures and journalists accused of working with Russian outlets.
Germany had targeted RT even before the bloc-wide ban, with RT DE facing licensing pressure, platform bans, banking problems and regulatory action.
RT has vehemently condemned the restrictions and rejected the EU’s accusations, stressing that the bloc has consistently failed to point to a “a single example, a single grain of evidence” of false reporting.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned the restrictions as censorship and an information war against Russia, accusing EU governments of using the Ukraine conflict as a pretext to silence dissent, suppress Russian-language media, and intimidate journalists who challenge the mainstream Western narrative.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.rt.com/russia/642490-eu-court-rt-germany/
--------
Armenian PM to attend Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral in Iran
Siranush Ghazanchyan
July 2, 2026
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will travel to Iran on July 3 to attend the funeral ceremony of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Pashinyan confirmed the visit during a briefing with journalists, responding to a question about media reports that he would participate in the ceremony.
“Yes, I will leave tomorrow and return tomorrow. Naturally, meetings with Iran’s leadership are planned,” the Prime Minister said.
Pashinyan did not provide further details about the planned meetings.
Iranian media have previously reported that senior officials from a number of countries are expected to attend the farewell and funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Source: en.armradio.am
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://en.armradio.am/2026/07/02/armenian-pm-to-attend-ayatollah-ali-khameneis-funeral-in-iran/
--------
Amir Karim appointed to Bungay Town Council in Suffolk
2nd July 2026
By Victoria Humphrey
The Imam behind a rural village mosque that welcomes visitors of all backgrounds has become a town councillor.
Amir Karim, who founded the Siddiqa Nawaz Mosque in Broome, has joined Bungay Town Council.
Mr Karim, a British Muslim of Pakistani origin, said: "Strong communities are built through trust, inclusion, and consistent engagement and not just policies.
"Leadership is not about the position you hold; it is about the difference you make in people’s lives.
"I would be proud to make that difference here in Bungay."
After relocating to Bungay in December 2022 with his wife Saira, and their children Abdullah and Naseem, Mr Karim has remained deeply involved in community support and public service.
His professional background includes roles in communications and journalism in Pakistan, before moving to the UK in 2009 and later becoming an Imam.
He previously worked in Cambridge, serving the community through the Cambridge Central Mosque and helped develop Jamia Al Maarif, a charity providing education programmes, youth mentoring, and community support initiatives across the UK.
More recently, he set up the Siddiqa Nawaz Mosque in Broome, which hosts coffee mornings, cooking classes, school visits, and open events for people of all backgrounds.
Mr Karim said: "I’m so proud of what it has become.
"It’s a place where the wider community comes together.
"Many residents who had never entered a mosque before now come regularly, feel comfortable, and are part of that space.
"And I think that reflects something important."
Bungay Town Council has welcomed his appointment, noting his experience in community leadership and interfaith engagement.
The council said it looks forward to working with Mr Karim as he settles into his new role serving locals and businesses in the town.
Bungay Town Council has 15 locally elected or co-opted councillors, who serve four-year terms.
Source: edp24.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/26246350.amir-karim-appointed-bungay-town-council-suffolk/
---------
Three men sentenced to life in prison for murder outside Örebro mosque
2 Jul 2026
Several people have been sentenced after the shooting death of a 25-year-old man outside the Örebro mosque last summer. Three men have been sentenced to life in prison.
A now 17-year-old boy has admitted shooting the man outside the mosque after Friday prayers on August 15. Another man was shot in connection with the incident. The teenager, who was 16 years old at the time, was sentenced to nine years and ten months in prison for murder and attempted murder.
Two other people, a 23-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, were also convicted of murder after being directly involved in the shooting in various ways. Both received life sentences.
Another man was sentenced to life imprisonment for aiding and abetting murder and for preparing to commit murder in another case. In addition, six others were sentenced for aiding and abetting.
The shooting is linked to a conflict between criminal networks in Örebro.
Source: swedenherald.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://swedenherald.com/article/three-sentenced-to-life-in-murder-outside-orebro-mosque
-------
Leyla Aliyeva visits Juma Mosque in Yevlakh
2 July 2026
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2. On July 1, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of the IDEA Public Union, visited the Juma Mosque during her trip to the city of Yevlakh.
Leyla Aliyeva inspected the conditions created at the mosque for worship and the performance of religious rites.
The mosque's imam noted that the Juma Mosque was inaugurated in 1998 and can accommodate up to 600 worshippers at a time. He said that the restoration of mosques in the liberated territories has brought particular joy to religious figures and worshippers, adding that the Juma Mosque also receives the state's attention and care. The imam expressed his gratitude to the country's leadership.
At the conclusion of the visit, Leyla Aliyeva was presented with a copy of the Holy Quran as a gift.
Source: trend.az
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/4203449.html
--------
India
‘Don’t panic, keep papers ready’: Shaheen Bagh’s daadis are back, this time to help neighbours
Jul 2, 2026
New Delhi: Outside Shaheen Bagh’s Chand Masjid, the questions are no longer about protest sites or road blockades, but about booth-level officers (BLOs), enumeration forms and whether elderly parents have the documents they may need.
Volunteers say the mosque will set up neighbourhood camps, this time not to mobilise a protest, but to help residents complete Delhi’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Six years after Shaheen Bagh became the face of the anti-CAA movement, the neighbourhood’s mosques and community organisations are now helping residents navigate one of Election Commission’s biggest voter verification exercises, spanning over a month, with over 13,000 BLOs visiting households across Delhi’s 70 Assembly constituencies while reassuring those anxious about the process.
Shaheen Bagh’s now-famous “daadis”, who once sat through Delhi’s winter protesting against the CAA, are reminding neighbours to keep voter documents ready.
Bilkis Bano, the 88-year-old Shaheen Bagh protester who became an international symbol of the anti-CAA movement after being named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people, currently in her native village in Hapur after the SIR there, told TOI: “Age doesn’t allow many of us to go out like before, but we can still help our neighbours. We must check on the elderly and ensure no one misses the BLO’s visit.”
Fellow protester Gul Bano, also in her 80s, says she reminds neighbours to keep their “papers ready”. “Six years ago, we spent months sitting on the roads. Today, we are telling people to cooperate with the BLOs. Our biggest concern is that no genuine voter should be left out.”
‘Saira daadi‘, from nearby Zakir Nagar, echoed the message. “Everyone should remain alert, but not panic.“ She said, “Relatives and friends in Bihar and West Bengal who kept their documents ready faced little difficulty.“
In Shaheen Bagh, Batla House and Zakir Nagar, however, the exercise has revived memories of 2019-20, when documents became central to the public debate.
“We are telling people it’s their duty as citizens,” said Mufti Hisamuddin, the imam of Chand Masjid. “We will guide people on required documents, helping elderly residents complete the process and ensuring no one misses a BLO’s visit,” he told TOI on Thursday.
A few kilometres away, Batla House-based Mufti Khan said residents are anxious about procedural lapses rather than the documentation itself. “Elderly people, migrants, daily-wage workers and economically weaker families often do not know whether they possess all the required records or whether old documents will be accepted. Reports of names being removed during similar exercises in Bihar and West Bengal have spread quickly, leaving many uneasy,“ he said.
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has begun holding SIR readiness camps across several Muslim-majority localities. “There is widespread fear that genuine voters could be excluded,” vice-president Malik Motasim Khan told TOI. “Our effort is to ensure that people keep their documents ready, cooperate with BLOs, avoid rumours and pursue constitutional and legal remedies wherever necessary.”
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Storyhttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/dont-panic-keep-papers-ready-shaheen-baghs-daadis-are-back-this-time-to-help-neighbours/articleshowprint/132144631.cms
-------
From Quad and energy to terrorism: India and Japan align on global issues
Jul 3, 2026
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi and his counterpart Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed their commitment to cooperating towards an early convening of the next Quad Leaders’ Summit and underlined the importance of ensuring unimpeded freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a joint statement that showcased the deep strategic convergence between the countries on regional and global issues.
With both countries heavily dependent on the critical maritime chokepoint for their energy supplies, Modi and Takaichi also registered their opposition to any restrictive measures hampering the flow of commercial vessels. According to the India-Japan joint statement, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on strategic petroleum reserves, including through technical collaboration on stockpiling ecosystem, with Takaichi affirming her support for India’s membership to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Significantly for India, the statement, unlike the one issued after the Tokyo summit last year, named Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism against India.
‘The two Prime Ministers unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism from Pakistan,” said the joint statement, while strongly condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack and seeking action against Pakistan-based groups like Jaish and Lashkar.
India too backed Japan’s position on the East China Sea and South China Sea with the leaders expressing serious concern over the situation in the region and, in a message to Beijing, reiterating their strong opposition to any unilateral action that endangers the safety as well as freedom of navigation and overflight and attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
“They shared their serious concerns over the growing militarization of disputed features. They reaffirmed that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS,” said the joint statement. According to diplomatic sources, the leaders discussed the ongoing diplomatic standoff between China and Japan over the Taiwan issue that has seen Beijing impose export controls on Japanese companies.
While President Donald Trump’s China policy has complicated the Quad summit process, seen not long ago as the cornerstone for a free and open Indo-Pacific, India and Japan unequivocally backed the grouping as they welcomed the “steady progress” under the Quad framework and reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhance practical cooperation.
“They underscored the importance of Quad collaboration across the four pillars of maritime and transnational security; economic prosperity and security, including critical minerals; critical and emerging technologies; and humanitarian assistance and emergency response,” said the joint statement. However, official sources from both sides admitted there was no clarity yet on the dates and venue for the next summit, even though Japan would like India to host it.
On the Gaza situation, the leaders backed the two-state solution, saying that continued diplomatic efforts are indispensable to restoring stability at the earliest and achieving lasting peace in the region.
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to working with other G4 countries – Germany and Brazil – for an urgent reform of the UN Security Council. While they reiterated their mutual support for each other’s candidature for a permanent seat in a reformed UNSC, India and Japan also backed each other’s respective candidatures for non-permanent seats in 2028-29 and 2033-34.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/132147757.cms
-------
'Op-eds on Gaza, silence on Sikhs': BJP questions Sonia Gandhi over Pakistan gurdwara demolition
Jul 2, 2026
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday said senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's "silence" on the reported demolition of a gurdwara in Pakistan is in sharp contrast to her op-eds on Gaza, and accused her of displaying "double standards."
The attack came days after Sonia Gandhi, in an opinion piece in an English daily, accused the BJP-led central government of remaining silent on the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza resulting from Israel's war against Hamas.
The Congress parliamentary party chairperson has repeatedly criticised the government over the Gaza issue.
"Certain champions of human rights like Sonia Gandhi write op-eds on Gaza but remain silent on Sikhs being mistreated and persecuted in Pakistan, atrocities against Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh, or even Muslims in China's Uyghur region and those killed in Pakistani bombing (in Afghanistan). This shows their double standards. They cry for Gaza but remain silent on our Sikh brothers in Pakistan," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a video statement.
Pakistan, he asserted, has no "moral authority" to "lecture" India or the world on minority rights.
"A 125-year-old important gurdwara has been targeted and demolished. This is not the first such incident. Several sites associated with Guru Nanak Dev have been targeted by Islamist mobs with impunity, and no action is taken against them," he alleged.
Poonawalla further claimed that the Sikh population in Pakistan had declined from around 20 lakh at the time of Partition in 1947 to a few thousand now, saying this reflected the "continued persecution" of the community in the neighbouring country.
"It is a 99% decline. No wonder the government of India not only condemns such acts but also safeguards Hindus, Sikhs and other minority communities persecuted in Pakistan," the BJP spokesperson added.
His remarks came a day after India condemned the reported demolition of the historic Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Pakistan's Punjab province, describing it as "highly deplorable" and calling on Islamabad to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/op-eds-on-gaza-silence-on-sikhs-bjp-questions-sonia-gandhi-over-pakistan-gurdwara-demolition/articleshowprint/132140869.cms
--------
Shia leader Aga Hassan stopped from boarding Delhi-Tehran flight for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei funeral, his son claims
Bashaarat Masood
Jul 2, 2026
Prominent Shia leader and Hurriyat Conference executive member Aga Syed Hassan Musavi was stopped from boarding a flight to Iran on Thursday by officials in New Delhi, his son claimed.
Aga Hassan had been invited to Tehran to attend the funeral of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“He (Aga Hassan) was stopped by immigration officials in Delhi. They told him that he would be allowed to go only on the condition that he does not say anything against India’s official stance or talks about the arrests made in Kashmir,” Hassan’s son Aga Muntazir Mehdi, a PDP MLA, told The Indian Express.
“He told them that he was going only to attend the funeral and that he was not going to deliver a speech. However, he refused to agree to their condition,” Muntazir claimed.
Muntazir further claimed that immigration officials then seized Hassan’s passport and sent a seizure memo to the Regional Passport Officer (RPO) in Srinagar.
The seizure memo, issued by Ajay Singh of the Bureau of Immigration at Indira Gandhi International Airport, said, “The passport/Travel document… issued at Srinagar in the name of Aga Syed Hassan Mosvi is seized and sent to RPO Srinagar for necessary action…”
Hassan was one of five leaders from Jammu and Kashmir invited to Tehran to attend the funeral of the Ayatollah Khamenei. The others were prominent Shia leader and MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, Shia leaders Imran Ansari and Syed Hadi, and former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti. Mufti was the only non-Shia leader from J&K invited for the funeral.
Mufti and Ansari were allowed to board the special plane sent by the Iranian government to take invited guests from India to Tehran. Syed Hadi has not yet made the journey.
Hassan’s son, Muntazir, is a PDP legislator and represents the Budgam Assembly constituency that he won during the bypolls. Hassan has been an executive member of the moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shia-leader-aga-hassan-stopped-from-boarding-delhi-tehran-flight-for-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-funeral-his-son-claims-10768791/
-------
Bihar Governor, MoS Pabitra to leave for Iran on Friday to attend Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral
July 2, 2026
Bihar Governor Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Syed Ata Hasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita will visit Iran on Friday to attend the funeral ceremony of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, late Supreme Leader of the Islamic nation.
“The high-level representation in the ceremony underscores the importance of civilisational ties, including people-to-people connection, between the two countries, providing a robust foundation to political and economic engagements,’’ the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
Iran had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the funeral ceremony but the PM is scheduled to leave here next week on a three-nation tour of Indonesia, New Zealand and Australia.
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on his Tehran compound on February 28, which marked the first day of the war. His funeral had to be delayed since the war was going on.
PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have spoken to Iranian leaders from time to time during Iran’s conflict with the US and Israel.
On Tuesday, the PM spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who briefed him on the latest developments in West Asia following the recent understanding reached to ease regional tensions.
Source: thestatesman.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.thestatesman.com/india/bihar-governor-mos-pabitra-to-leave-for-iran-on-friday-to-attend-ayatollah-khameneis-funeral-1503612344.html
-------
Court denies anticipatory bail to husband of Mahakumbh viral girl
July 2, 2026
ASpecial POCSO Court at Mandleshwar in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh denied anticipatory bail to the Muslim husband of the Haridwar Mahakumbh’s viral girl popularly referred to as Monalisa.
Special Judge Ravi Jharola ruled that the accused could not be granted relief because he is absconding and there is a possibility that he may tamper with evidence or influence witnesses.
The case is related to an FIR lodged by the girl’s father on March 25, alleging that the accused lured his minor daughter to Kerala on the pretext of offering her opportunities in films. According to the complaint, after keeping her with him for some time, the accused persuaded her to marry him.
The girl’s father had also alleged that the Muslim man carried out ‘love jihad’ with his minor daughter.
During the court hearing, held by video conferencing on Wednesday, the girl’s mother through her advocate produced the girl’s birth certificate in the court, stating that she was a minor at the time of the marriage, which took place in Kerala in March this year.
After hearing both sides and examining the case diary, the court observed that the police investigation is still underway and the victim’s statement is yet to be recorded.
The court also noted that the accused has not cooperated with the investigation and remains absconding.
The court further clarified that the girl’s actual age will be determined during the trial on the basis of evidence.
Source: thestatesman.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original https://www.thestatesman.com/india/court-denies-anticipatory-bail-to-husband-of-mahakumbh-viral-girl-1503612329.html
--------
Congress MP slams India-Pakistan peace letter, cites Pahalgam attack, history of cross-border terror
Harpreet Bajwa
02 Jul 2026
CHANDIGARH: Congress MP Manish Tewari has criticised a letter signed by over 100 prominent citizens from India and Pakistan calling for the restoration of peace and dialogue between the two countries, arguing that such appeals overlook repeated terror attacks and the history of cross-border violence.
Referring to the Pahalgam attack and a year after Operation Sindoor, the Chandigarh Lok Sabha MP wrote on X: "After Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941 the US persevered till they obtained the unconditional surrender of Japan in 1945. Post 9/11 the US chased the Al Qaeda and the Taliban to the gates of hell and back for twenty years including neutralising Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in Pakistan in 2011. From 2003-13 the House of Saud fought a secret war inside Saudi Arabia against the Al Qaeda before driving the remnants to Yemen and other places in the Middle East. From 1999-2009 Russia fought a brutal campaign against Chechen separatists before finally triumphing. The fight against terror requires firmness and steadfastness and the national resolve to stay the course."
"How can people forget the Baisaran (Pahalgam) Massacre within 14 months? And the countless similar atrocities perpetrated over the past four decades that were state sponsored by Pakistan," Tewari questioned.
"To some folks it seems that the misty eyed romanticism of a dialogue with Pakistan is far more important than the lives of innocent Indian Tourists who were identified on the basis of their faith and slaughtered in cold blood by terrorists who came from Pakistan," he added.
"Which is that invisible hand that is incentivising the push for a pseudo normalisation with Pakistan without any verifiable guarantees that Pakistan will dismantle the Military- Jehadi Complex ( MJC) they have spawned over the past 55 years?" he concluded.
More than 100 prominent figures from India and Pakistan, including politicians and public figures, have jointly appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, to take concrete and sustained steps towards restoring peace, dialogue and normal bilateral relations between the two countries.
The appeal, issued by the Centre for Peace and Progress and signed by 117 people — 61 from India and 56 from Pakistan — urged both governments to end the prolonged hostility, saying it was denying millions of young people opportunities, prosperity and a secure future.
The signatories also called for the reopening of the Attari-Wagah land border for trade and travel, the revival of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, and other cross-border connectivity initiatives.
Those signing the appeal included J&K National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, RJD MP Manoj Jha and AJUP leader Humayun Kabir.
The Pakistani signatories included former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former diplomat Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, National Assembly member Isphanyar Bhandara, and nuclear physicist and author Pervez Hoodbhoy.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Jul/02/congress-mp-slams-india-pakistan-peace-letter-cites-pahalgam-attack-history-of-cross-border-terror
------
'Baseless allegations of terrorism': Pakistan rejects India’s ‘strategic asset’ stance on Indus waters
02.07.26
Pakistan on Thursday rejected the alleged Indian effort to control rivers by treating water as a "strategic asset," especially in the case of the Indus basin.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi's comments during his weekly press briefing were in response to a question about India's decision to put the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in "abeyance."
India took a series of punitive measures against Pakistan a day after last year's Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. One of the major steps was putting in "abeyance" the 1960 vintage IWT, which has governed the distribution and use of the Indus river and its tributaries since then.
Andrabi said that Pakistan rejected "India's attempt to invoke baseless allegations of terrorism as a pretext for placing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and obstructing the lawful flow of the Pakistani share."
"Let this be very clear: the real issue is not terrorism. The real issue is the growing disposition within the Indian leadership to treat a shared international river system as a strategic asset that can be controlled, withheld or diverted at will," he alleged.
Andrabi said that water is not a tool of coercion or political pressure and any attempt to deny Pakistan its legitimate share of water under the IWT constituted a clear violation of the international legal obligations undertaken by India.
Under the IWT, brokered by the World Bank, Pakistan received the entire flows from the three western rivers, Chenab, Jhelum and Indus, while India had complete rights over the three eastern rivers, Sutlej, Beas and Ravi.
The spokesman also mentioned a seminar titled "International Seminar on Indus Waters Treaty: An Instrument of Peace and Regional Stability" held in Islamabad on Tuesday, and reminded how different participants supported the IWT and "rejected weaponisation of water."
Andrabi also quoted Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as saying at the seminar that the IWT could not be suspended or terminated under any pretext and that the abeyance by India was "illegal, unilateral and without any basis."
When asked if the seminar would help Pakistan from becoming a barren land, Andrabi said: "No country can do that. Not India, not any other country has the power to do that."
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/baseless-allegations-of-terrorism-pakistan-accuses-india-of-weaponisation-of-indus-waters/cid/2168303
-------
Mideast
Can foreign energy investment help power Syria’s recovery after years of war?
ANAN TELLO
July 02, 2026
LONDON: Syria’s battered energy sector faces a daunting challenge after nearly 14 years of war, sanctions and underinvestment that have left much of the country struggling with chronic electricity shortages.
As Damascus seeks to rebuild, international investment is increasingly viewed as essential to restoring oil and gas production, improving power generation and reviving wider economic activity.
One of the most closely watched tests of that effort is a major gas development project involving US energy giant ConocoPhillips and Novaterra Energy, which are working with the state-owned Syrian Petroleum Co. to develop new gas fields and increase output from existing assets. An implementation deal was reportedly signed on June 16.
Syrian officials hope the project will help stabilize the electricity network and support economic recovery, while analysts say its broader significance lies in whether it can deliver tangible improvements and encourage further foreign investment.
The deal has been hailed as a strategic breakthrough in economic and political ties between Syria and the US since the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in late 2024.
Mohammed Al-Bashir, Syria’s energy minister, said the deal is intended to stabilize the country’s electricity network and support broader economic recovery.
At a news conference in Damascus, Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, said the company’s return to Syria, in partnership with Novaterra, is intended to “grow the gas production in the country.”
Alex Macdonald, CEO of Novaterra Energy, said the company would offer “training and providing access to cutting-edge software and technology” as it expands operations in Syria.
Still, analysts say the agreement’s significance will depend less on the announcement itself than on whether it produces tangible results.
“Politically and commercially, I’d say the deal is quite important because ConocoPhillips would be one of the first major US energy companies to re-enter Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime and years of sanctions and conflict,” Benjamin Feve, a senior consultant at Karam Shaar Advisory, told Arab News.
“That sends a positive signal, especially when combined with other recent moves in the energy sector involving TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, and the discussions surrounding Block 3 offshore near Latakia.”
Before the civil war erupted in 2011, Syria produced about 900 million cubic feet (25 million cubic meters) of gas and an average of 400,000 barrels of oil per day, including roughly 109,000 barrels per day for export, making it the Mediterranean’s only significant crude producer, according to reports.
By 2021, oil production had fallen about 80 percent, leaving it at just 50,000 to 80,000 barrels per day, much of it reportedly smuggled, while gas output had nearly halved.
Syria’s energy infrastructure has been badly degraded by the war, division and Western sanctions, leaving the country able to generate only a fraction of the electricity needed to meet domestic demand.
While most oil fields were under the control of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria during the civil war, gas production in areas held by the Assad regime fell to 3 billion cubic meters in 2023 from 8.7 billion cubic meters in 2011, Reuters reported on Dec. 9, 2024, a day after Assad’s downfall.
The World Bank estimated that oil and mineral revenues declined from 26 percent of Syria’s gross domestic product in 2012 to 16 percent of total budgeted revenue in 2023.
In February, however, the interim government took control of key oil and gas areas, boosting its share of national oil output from about 20 percent to roughly 88 percent.
Last year, Yousef Qiblawy, CEO of Syrian Petroleum Co., said the deal with ConocoPhillips was intended to increase gas output by 4 million to 5 million cubic meters per day within a year.
“In a single year, that would amount to about 1.5 billion cubic meters, which would increase Syria’s gas production by about 50 percent, which is very positive for future prospects,” Feve said.
Even so, he said it would not resolve the broader crisis. “In practical terms, it would not solve the serious energy crisis, but it could materially reduce the gap between available gas and what power plants need to operate more regularly.”
For ordinary Syrians, who have endured prolonged power cuts since at least 2012, that could still bring meaningful relief. But with about 90 percent of the population living below the poverty line, many are unlikely to benefit from lower costs anytime soon.
“The main effect would likely be felt first through electricity supply rather than cheaper prices because more gas means existing power plants can run for longer hours, obviously, and thereby reduce reliance on expensive diesel generators,” Feve said.
“More gas and more electricity would also help factories, workshops, hospitals, bakeries, water systems and households operate more predictably.
“This does not automatically mean cheap or cheaper electricity. Syria does not produce, or actually receive, a huge amount of gas, so there is still a major gap between actual supply and demand.”
That gap is visible in daily life across the country.
With much of the electricity generation system down, many businesses and some homes in Damascus rely on noisy diesel generators that are expensive, available only for limited hours and vulnerable to fuel shortages and rising prices.
In some areas that have borne the brunt of war, including parts of rural Damascus, residents have improvised by running cables from roadside transformers to their homes, further overloading the network and sometimes causing fires.
Damascus-based graphic designer Salma Saleh said Syria’s electricity infrastructure “is not ready today.”
“The government cannot equip it; it cannot, for example, buy meters,” Saleh told Arab News. “There is simply no financial capacity, so you need to bring in a private investor — there is no way around it.
“It is important for an investment company to come in, whether Qatari, American, or any other nationality. You have entire streets where the electricity situation is a mess.”
At her family home in rural Damascus, she said, the burden of restoring basic services has fallen on residents themselves.
“For example, at our home, which we were displaced from, when we go there and want to do any work, we have had to run an electricity line from the transformer to our house at our own expense,” she said.
“We went and bought the cable ourselves and extended it, because there is no one who will do that for us.
“There is simply no capacity to ask the government to come and install an electricity cable. In destroyed areas, there is no proper cabling. Each person has to wire things up on their own.”
As a result, billing is often beside the point.
“So naturally no one is really going to be paying a bill when they are connected directly to the transformer and there is no meter or anything to measure usage,” she said. “This is not really theft. The authorities know that people are wiring things up themselves.
“You could have about 50 cables all tangled together. Sometimes, when things get bad, one of the cables burns out and everything erupts. So this is where companies would need to come in, assess all of this, dig up the ground and lay the cables underground.
“Then you would have a proper system — of course, that is for the future.”
At the start of this year, many Syrians reported a spike in electricity bills months after the interim government introduced a tiered electricity pricing system that effectively raised consumer costs. Authorities said the move was necessary to ensure a more consistent supply.
State-owned Syria TV reported on Jan. 26 that the new pricing system had increased bills by more than 600 percent for some groups, in some cases pushing charges above household income.
That trend reinforces Feve’s view that Syria is moving away from energy subsidies, not toward them.
“What we also know, just from looking at the recent moves by the authorities and the government, is that the Syrian government is not interested in subsidizing the price of electricity, gas, or oil,” he said. “Quite the contrary, we have seen subsidies being lifted.
“I see the government selling electricity at least at production cost, which means it would not be subsidized. Of course, it may still make a profit rather than sell electricity below cost, but the key point is that it is unlikely to subsidize it.
“So, I think the most likely short-term impact would be fewer and shorter blackouts, but not any dramatic fall in prices.
“We could perhaps see lower overall costs if state electricity becomes available more frequently and people reduce their reliance on private diesel generators, which are obviously more expensive than state electricity.
“So, in that sense, people might end up paying less overall, even if state electricity prices themselves remain the same.”
For workers who depend on a stable connection, even that limited improvement could matter.
A more reliable power grid could improve working conditions for small-business owners and freelancers such as Alexandra Hammoud, an independent English teacher based in the coastal city of Tartous who teaches online.
“Electricity is critical for my work because I rely on my mobile phone and laptop, sometimes for long, continuous hours,” Hammoud told Arab News.
“So, when I have electricity available all the time, I feel reassured that my laptop will not suddenly shut off in the middle of a session or that my phone will not run out of charge and force me to cancel work plans.”
Speaking about rising energy bills, she said her own consumption was relatively limited compared with that of a shop or a larger household. Official promises of an improved power grid were “something I feel optimistic about, especially if it takes ordinary citizens into account.”
For now, ConocoPhillips’ return to Syria comes as a welcome development for ordinary Syrians, many of whom are still struggling to make ends meet.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649484/middle-east
-------
Omani sultan and British PM discuss navigation in Gulf’s waterways
July 02, 2026
LONDON: Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met in London on Thursday to discuss developments in the Middle East and to affirm their countries’ historical ties.
The meeting focused on ways to support negotiations and diplomatic efforts to ensure safe and secure maritime navigation through the Gulf’s strategic waterways, according to Oman News Agency.
The two leaders also discussed outstanding issues in the region, foremost among them the Iranian nuclear file. They agreed that a lasting agreement should uphold regional stability and promote peaceful coexistence among neighboring countries.
Last month, the US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the clashes and to start negotiation rounds on critical issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The US-Iran conflict began on Feb. 28 and has escalated across the region for more than 100 days.
Oman was one of 10 countries in the Middle East targeted by Iran amid the US-Israel war with Tehran. Muscat hosted talks between Iranian and US officials to iron out tensions just days before the outbreak of war.
Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, the Omani foreign minister, and Badr bin Mohammed Al-Manthri, ambassador to the UK, attended the meeting at 10 Downing Street.
Jonathan Powell, national security adviser, and Liane Saunders, ambassador to Oman, represented the British side.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649478/middle-east
-------
Bahrain FM demands Security Council action after Iranian attacks
Ephrem Kossaify
July 02, 2026
NEW YORK: Bahrain’s foreign minister flew to New York on Thursday to demand action from the UN Security Council after what he described as a “renewed and treacherous” Iranian attack on his country this week, as the US and Russia clashed sharply over responsibility for the escalation.
Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani told the emergency session, called at Bahrain’s request, that his country had endured 808 attacks since Feb. 28, including 203 ballistic missiles and 605 armed drones, killing three civilians and wounding 465 others, including women and children. He said the latest strikes came despite Bahrain signing a memorandum of understanding with Washington on June 17.
“Bahrain requested this emergency meeting confident that this council will not remain a bystander in the face of such a blatant challenge to its authority,” Al-Zayani said, adding that the aggression extended beyond his country, with coinciding attacks on Kuwait International Airport and a drone strike on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant that he said brought the region “to the brink of a nuclear safety disaster.”
He said the attacks violated the UN Charter and Security Council Resolution 2817, which was backed by 136 member states.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz delivered one of the sharpest rebukes of Iran, saying he had personally visited strike sites in Bahrain, including the Bahrain Petroleum Company, where he said Iranian forces deliberately targeted fire suppression lines and first responders before hitting fuel tanks and chemical storage areas in a manner designed to maximize casualties. He said a drone that failed to explode near a residential neighborhood could have killed two to three thousand people.
Waltz said Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz had inflicted lasting damage on 61 developing economies, according to a UN Trade and Development report issued this week, and accused Tehran of using the waterway to “hold the world’s economy hostage” regardless of who signs onto its conflict with Israel and the US.
He said that 136 countries co-sponsored Resolution 2817 and that Gulf states had rallied a further 143 co-sponsors on a separate draft resolution circulated in May condemning Iranian mining of the strait.
Waltz also raised the case of two young men, Javad Zamani and Abolfazl Saedi, whom he said were executed in Iran 10 days ago on charges of “waging war against God,” and cited Amnesty International reporting on the detention and alleged torture of protesters. He warned that US President Donald Trump’s “patience is not unlimited” and that Iran must abide by its obligations under Resolution 2817.
Asked by Arab News what he believes should be the Security Council’s next step, Waltz pointed to the draft resolution condemning Iran over recent sea mine deployments and attacks on commercial shipping in the strait.
He said the council should let the measure move forward, or at minimum begin negotiating on it, framing this as the body’s necessary next move — one that would also open the door to humanitarian aid urgently needed for East Africa’s growing season.
Saeid Iravani, Iran’s ambassador, rejected the accusations, telling the council that Washington and Israel bore “full responsibility” for the wars afflicting the region.
He said the council itself had failed in its duty by not holding the US and Israel accountable, arguing that this inaction had “reinforced impunity and emboldened further unlawful acts.”
Iravani said Iran had exercised its “inherent right of self-defense” under the UN Charter by striking US military facilities and bases in the region, and warned Iran would continue defending its sovereignty if attacks persisted or the US continued violating the Islamabad agreement.
Anna Evstigneeva, Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, backed Iran’s self-defense argument, saying US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait were “logical targets” that did not enjoy immunity, though she said deliberate strikes on civilian infrastructure, wherever located, were unacceptable.
She said the “root cause” of the escalation was what she called US-Israeli aggression against Iran and voiced regret that Gulf states had been “held hostage” to the exchange between Washington and Tehran.
UK Ambassador James Kariuki condemned what he called Iran’s reckless attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and shipping in Hormuz, saying they violated Resolution 2817, and called for the restoration of transit passage through the strait free of tolls or threats.
Pakistan’s Ambassador, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad’s mediation, which produced the Islamabad MoU, reflected “a victory of robust and determined diplomacy,” noting talks between US and Iranian negotiators in Doha on Wednesday made “positive progress” and would continue.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Elizabeth Spehar gave the council a chronology of the past week, including drone strikes on the Singapore-flagged vessel Ever Lovely and the Panama-flagged tanker Kiku on June 25, followed by US strikes on Iranian coastal military infrastructure in Hormozgan province on June 26 and 27, and Iranian missile and drone strikes on Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain overnight into June 28.
Spehar said the US and Iran agreed on June 28, following Qatari mediation, to cease attacks on each other, with indirect talks in Doha on implementing the agreement now underway.
She welcomed the deescalation but warned that “each new strike, each new interception, each new maritime incident increases the risk of miscalculation,” urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint and uphold the protection of civilians and freedom of navigation.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649472/middle-east
--------
Lebanese parliament speaker, UK’s deputy national security adviser meet for talks
July 02, 2026
LONDON: Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, met the UK’s Deputy National Security Adviser Barbara Woodward on Thursday at his headquarters in Ain Al-Tineh to discuss the latest political and security developments.
The talks also covered bilateral relations between Lebanon and the UK, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.
The British ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell also attended.
Britain has long supported the Lebanese Armed Forces through training, equipment, infrastructure and border security assistance.
According to the British government, the UK spent more than £115 million ($153 million) from 2009 to 2025 to support the Lebanese Armed Forces with infrastructure, vehicles, training and equipment. Since 2013, it has also supported the establishment of land border regiments along Lebanon’s border with the Syrian Arab Republic.
The relationship between Lebanon and the UK also includes economic and development ties.
Separately, Berri received Jean Arnault, the acting head of the UN’s Special Coordinator’s Office for Lebanon, on a protocol visit. The meeting, which was also attended by Imran Riza, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, included a review of recent developments and UN programs in the country.
The ongoing Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon has deepened an existing humanitarian crisis. Since early March, the Israeli army’s attacks on the south have razed entire villages, devastated critical infrastructure, displaced more than 1 million people and killed at least 4,298, according to official figures.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649463/middle-east
-------
Syrian military officials take part in CENTCOM-led conference in Bahrain
July 02, 2026
LONDON: A military delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic on Thursday took part in a conference in Bahrain led by US Central Command alongside 10 countries from the Middle East.
Col. Ahmad Saeed Issa, director of the Department of International Cooperation within the Ministry of Defense, led the delegation at the “Strategic Military Partners Dialogue” conference, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Syrian military officials discussed regional security and opportunities for enhancing defense collaboration with their US and Arab counterparts from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.
They confirmed a strong commitment to ensuring the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a CENTCOM statement.
CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper said: “We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our regional partners ... the discussions underscored our shared commitment to regional security and stability.”
The event marked the first time military leaders from both Syria and Lebanon took part in a CENTCOM-led event.
In May, the Syrian Arab Army took part in the Efes 2026 land, naval and air forces drills in Turkiye alongside 50 countries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It was also the first participation in military drills alongside NATO members since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December 2024.
In November, Syria became the 90th member of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh, a multinational force established in 2014 that includes the US, UK and France.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649459/middle-east
---------
Syria’s parliament takes shape under Al-Sharaa’s managed inclusivity, analysts say
ANAN TELLO
July 02, 2026
LONDON: Recent appointments to Syria’s parliament by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa appear designed to project a broader, more inclusive political tent, bringing in prominent figures such as Kurdish politician Abdul Hakim Bashar and Druze leader Laith Al-Balous.
On Wednesday, Al-Sharaa named the final 70 members of the new parliament, including 15 women, completing the 210-seat People’s Assembly. According to the chamber’s own geographic breakdown, the appointments span all 14 Syrian governorates, with the largest shares going to Aleppo, Hasakah, Homs and Deir Ezzor.
The distribution published by the assembly showed 14 representatives from Aleppo; seven from Hasakah; six each from Homs and Deir Ezzor; five each from Idlib, Hama, Damascus and Rif Dimashq; four each from Latakia and Daraa; three from Raqqah; and two each from Suwaida, Tartous and Quneitra.
Presenting the appointments in Damascus, Mohammad Taha Al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People’s Assembly Elections, described the announcement yesterday as “a new national milestone in the journey of building the Syrian state.”
He said the final 70 members were chosen to balance “the voice of sacrifice and the voice of expertise” — a reference to both veterans of the anti-Assad opposition and technocratic figures expected to help shape legislation.
That balance, analysts say, reflects an attempt to widen the chamber’s appeal without loosening executive control.
Nanar Hawach, Senior Syria Analyst at the International Crisis Group, said Al-Sharaa’s appointments “suggest that Damascus wants a chamber that can pass laws efficiently and speak to many audiences, while avoiding internal political surprises.”
“The list broadens the chamber’s profile, bringing in more technocrats and more women, which can improve the quality and presentation of legislation,” Hawach told Arab News.
However, “the overall outcome suggests that loyalty, coordination and institutional continuity were highly valued,” he said.
“A cooperative parliament can help a transition move quickly from decrees to laws and reduce uncertainty in government work,” he added. “The downside is that difficult questions risk being filtered out before they reach the floor.”
Ghassan Ibrahim, a London-based Syrian analyst and head of the Global Arab Network, argues that, given Syria’s current circumstances, some degree of presidential intervention was unavoidable. He said Al-Sharaa’s decision to appoint a smaller bloc himself “appears to have been aimed at creating some balance.”
“The broader selection process seems to have revealed gaps: there were not enough women, not enough highly qualified people, and not enough minority representation,” Ibrahim told Arab News. “His appointments were meant in part to address those shortcomings.”
Nearly a year after the fall of longtime ruler Bashar Assad, the October 2025 parliamentary elections marked the first institutional test of Syria’s transition, but the process quickly drew some criticism.
Critics at the time noted that one third of the 210-seat assembly was reserved for presidential appointment, that voting did not take place nationwide, and that several areas outside Damascus’ control — including Suwaida and parts of the Kurdish-held northeast at the time — were left unrepresented or postponed.
Representation was also a demographic issue. Early results showed low female and Christian representation among those chosen through the indirect process, with women accounting for only six of 122 elected members, Al-Majalla reported on Oct. 6.
Al-Sharaa’s latest appointments raised the number of women in the chamber to 21.
Ibrahim said those shortcomings had to be viewed in the context of a country still in transition.
“There is no realistic way to form a parliament without the authorities playing a role,” he said. “This is a transitional government, a transitional authority, and the parliament itself is part of that transition.”
“A normal free election is not really possible right now,” he added. “Many Syrians still lack proper documentation, many are refugees, and under those conditions it would be very difficult to hold a genuinely practical nationwide vote.”
Even so, he argued that a genuinely free election held now would still likely produce a parliament broadly supportive of Al-Sharaa, “because many Syrians are exhausted by Assad and that would naturally produce a pro-Al-Sharaa outcome.”
He also argued that fully open elections might not necessarily produce a more inclusive chamber.
“If there were free elections now, minorities might well end up with even less representation than they have received already,” he said. “That is not necessarily because Syrians do not want minorities to participate, but because that can simply be the outcome of majoritarian elections.”
For Ibrahim, the central question is less how the chamber was formed than what it does next. He asked: “The real test is how they perform once they begin working: are they doing the job, and are they genuinely representing their communities?”
Hawach of the ICG argued that the longer-term issue is not simply whether the chamber looks diverse, but whether it can exercise real authority.
“Over time, public confidence will depend less on how broad the membership looks and more on whether parliament can meaningfully initiate legislation, amend draft laws, and exercise oversight over the executive,” he said.
Benjamin Feve, a senior consultant at Karam Shaar Advisory, noted that the 70 appointees include women, minorities, conservatives, liberals, technocrats, prominent figures from the IT sector and other nonparty profiles.
“From what I have gathered, there does not seem to be an overwhelming presence of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham hardliners or explicitly pro-HTS figures,” he told Arab News, referring to the group that led the offensive that toppled Assad and was once headed by Al-Sharaa.
“That is important because it gives the parliament a degree of domestic and international acceptability,” Feve said.
At the same time, he said the chamber may not emerge as a particularly strong or independent political actor.
“My expectation is that, in the short term, it will function more as a consultative and ratifying body than as a legislature capable of seriously challenging the executive,” he said.
“That is not necessarily a bad thing in itself,” Feve added. “Syria urgently needs to amend, replace, and pass a large body of laws, and the authorities will likely use parliament to give that process formal legislative legitimacy.”
“In the initial phase, it could be quite useful, because the transition requires laws, and I do not expect major parliamentary blockages or deep ideological confrontation at first,” he said.
“Over the medium to long term, however, there may be grounds for concern, because many of the appointees are not professional politicians, which could limit the quality of parliamentary debate.”
The names chosen by Al-Sharaa reinforce the message of a chamber meant to appear broader in composition. Among them is prominent Druze Sheikh Laith Al-Balous, who was part of a coalition of Druze leaders that exercised autonomy from Assad in Suwaida.
Also appointed was Gabriel Moshi Kourieh, a Syrian Christian and member of the Assyrian Democratic Organization who was detained by the Assad government from 2013 to 2016.
Hassan Soufan, the former head of the Islamist rebel group Ahrar Al-Sham who also spent time in the notorious Saydnaya prison, was also named to the chamber.
Abdul Hakim Bashar of the Kurdish National Council was among two Kurdish appointees from Hasakah.
The final list also included actress Rozina Lazkani and Aisha Al-Dibs, head of the government’s women’s affairs office.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649448/middle-east
-------
Lebanese president says will not yield ‘a single inch’ of territory to Israel
July 02, 2026
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended on Thursday negotiations with Israel, saying they were not a betrayal and he would not surrender “a single inch of Lebanon’s territory,” according to the presidency.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the Israeli army would remain “until further notice” in what it describes as “security zones” in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.
Lebanon signed last week a US-backed framework agreement with Israel with the aim of securing peace between the two countries — a move that has been met with major protest from Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Negotiations with Israel are not “treason but a diplomatic war without unnecessary bloodshed,” Aoun said on Thursday.
The latest war erupted on March 2 when Hezbollah launched missiles at Israel in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader.
Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground invasion that have killed more than 4,200 people in Lebanon, according to the authorities.
The Lebanese president said that Beirut has decided to engage in talks “to guarantee Israel’s withdrawal from its territory.”
“We will not yield a single inch of Lebanese territory,” Aoun declared.
The framework agreement envisions the Lebanese army gradually establishing its authority over south Lebanon as Hezbollah disarms and Israel withdraws, but does not set a timeline for this.
The process will be detailed in a security annex, the contents of which have not been made public.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a visit to the so-called “security zone” in south Lebanon on Tuesday, reaffirmed that forces would remain there so long as Hezbollah remained a threat.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649443/middle-east
--------
Arab World
Saudi Water Week ends with roadmap for World Water Forum 2027 in Riyadh
July 03, 2026
JEDDAH: The first edition of Saudi Water Week concluded in Jeddah on Thursday after five days of discussions that brought together more than 2,500 participants from over 80 countries and laid out a roadmap toward the 11th World Water Forum, which Saudi Arabia will host in Riyadh in 2027.
The June 28-July 2 event attracted 20 ministerial delegations, more than 180 international experts and speakers, and featured 97 specialized sessions and activities as well as 20 participating pavilions, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the event was billed as a strategic milestone in advancing global cooperation on water issues and positioning the Kingdom at the center of international dialogue on water security, sustainability and innovation.
Road to Riyadh 2027
The ministry said the event established a comprehensive “Road to Riyadh 2027” framework that will guide preparations for the World Water Forum, one of the world’s largest gatherings on water issues.
Saudi Water Week also hosted consultative meetings for the 11th World Water Forum and the Seventh Arab Water Forum, bringing together policymakers, experts and stakeholders from Saudi Arabia, the Arab region and beyond.
Discussions focused on reducing water waste, improving efficiency, expanding access to sustainable water solutions and addressing future challenges to water security.
Workshops and dialogue sessions examined governance, financing, innovation, integrated water resources management and youth engagement, with organizers saying the aim was to translate ideas into practical and implementable strategies.
The ministry said the event received positive feedback for integrating multiple international forums into a single platform that strengthened both political and technical dialogue and accelerated preparations for the global gathering in Riyadh.
Global recognition
During the event, World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in developing the water sector and said the Kingdom should aspire to become the world’s “water capital.”
Speaking at the second stakeholders’ consultation meeting for the World Water Forum, Fauchon said the council remained committed to ensuring the success of the 2027 forum through international partnerships, sustainable solutions and innovation.
He identified food, health, the environment and renewable energy as priority areas and said the forum in Riyadh should help mobilize proposals from experts and institutions worldwide.
Fauchon also reiterated the council’s commitment to supporting poorer regions in securing access to clean water and called for safe drinking water to remain at the top of international political and development agendas.
Reforms and partnerships
Throughout the week, Saudi officials highlighted major reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening water governance and sustainability.
The Saudi Irrigation Organization (SIO) used the event to showcase initiatives on treated water reuse, sustainable resource management, digital transformation, smart data, remote sensing and the Irrigation Practices Code.
The organization signed five agreements and memoranda of understanding with the Saudi Water Authority and other entities to strengthen cooperation, support the adoption of the Irrigation Practices Code, qualify irrigation-system auditors and develop modern technologies to improve water-use efficiency.
Its exhibition pavilion also featured digital services, technology solutions, guidance manuals and a mobile laboratory designed to promote best practices in irrigation and support more sustainable water management in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Earlier during the week, Saudi authorities also announced a series of reforms and strategic agreements aimed at accelerating innovation, expanding international partnerships and reinforcing the Kingdom’s role as a global hub for water-sector cooperation.
A 90-year journey
One of the highlights of the accompanying exhibition was a historical mural documenting more than 90 years of development in Saudi Arabia’s water sector.
The exhibit traced the sector’s evolution from 1931, when King Abdulaziz commissioned international experts to conduct geological surveys and identify water resources, to the Kingdom’s emergence as a global leader in water management and sustainability.
The mural also outlined future ambitions, including increasing water service coverage to 85% and sanitation coverage to 70%, ensuring a continuous 24-hour water supply and expanding water production capacity to 21 million cubic meters per day by 2050 to serve more than 20,000 communities across the Kingdom.
Saudi Water Week marked the first time that several major water-sector gatherings and consultations were brought together under one umbrella in the Kingdom, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s ambition to shape global discussions on water security and sustainable resource management ahead of the World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649500/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi tourism turns to AI for smarter, more personalized travel
Basmah Albasrawi
July 02, 2026
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector expands in pursuit of its ambitious Vision 2030 goals, artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly embedded across the travel experience — from planning itineraries and streamlining accommodation bookings to delivering more personalized customer experiences.
Industry leaders say AI is driving a broader transformation of the sector by enabling more tailored visitor experiences while reinforcing responsible governance.
Speaking to Arab News, Muzzamil Ahussain, CEO of Almosafer Travel and Tourism Co., the Kingdom and region’s leading omnichannel travel brand, said AI is reshaping the industry by cutting through the overwhelming number of travel options and delivering more relevant recommendations.
“The real problem was never having too few options; it was having too many irrelevant ones. AI shifts that equation by understanding intent first — who is traveling, with whom, for what purpose, at what budget, and with what cultural preferences,” Ahussain said.
He cited Saudi families planning trips to the rapidly emerging Red Sea destination as an example, explaining that AI can summarize reviews from travelers with similar profiles and preferences to generate more meaningful recommendations.
Ahussain said the growing intersection of AI and tourism is also helping diversify travel across the Kingdom.
“By highlighting trending destinations such as Abha, Jubail, and Tabuk, alongside fast-rising giga-destinations like The Red Sea and Qiddiya City, we are actively diversifying tourism beyond the traditional major hubs.”
He added that Almosafer is working with the Saudi Tourism Authority to improve the discoverability of destinations across the Kingdom.
“Our models already summarize reviews and tag content to deliver relevant choices, resulting in a 22 percent increase in conversion rates. We are moving from a click economy to a conversation economy,” he added.
Industry leaders such as Ahussain believe AI will fundamentally reshape the tourism sector. While the technology is enhancing the customer experience, its impact extends well beyond user-facing services into software development and engineering.
“Our engineering platform is supported by over 250 million lines of code and a microservices architecture that processes approximately 10 billion requests per month,” he said, adding that around 50 percent of Almosafer’s code is co-authored by AI and that 85 percent of its engineering teams actively use AI.
As AI adoption accelerates across the tourism industry, discussions around ethics, accountability, and trust are becoming increasingly important. IBM, a global leader in enterprise AI, is among the companies addressing the governance challenges associated with deploying AI across sectors including tourism.
Speaking to Arab News, Ayman Al-Rashed, regional vice president of IBM Saudi Arabia, said trust will become even more critical as AI becomes embedded in travel ecosystems spanning airlines, airports, hotels, and digital travel platforms.
“Tourism has always been a trust industry. Visitors share their identities, travel plans, payment information, and preferences throughout their journey.”
He said IBM is helping organizations navigate the complexities of responsible AI deployment.
“What we are seeing today is that as organizations scale AI-driven services, they also need the ability to manage sensitive data and AI workloads in line with local requirements while maintaining resilience and flexibility. This is one of the reasons IBM introduced Sovereign Core, software designed to help organizations embed governance, control, and compliance into their cloud environments while creating a secure foundation for innovation.”
Al-Rashed said safeguarding customer information remains paramount as AI systems become more deeply integrated into travel services.
“The biggest consideration is not the volume of data being collected, but how that data is governed throughout its lifecycle.”
He also echoed Ahussain’s view that AI's most significant impact often takes place behind the scenes rather than through visible customer-facing features.
“What customers see is often the visible layer — a chatbot, mobile application, or personalized recommendation. The real work happens behind the scenes, ensuring the AI is using trusted data, models are governed, systems are monitored, and humans can intervene when needed.”
His comments underscore how AI is becoming central to the operation of digital tourism platforms, extending far beyond virtual assistants and recommendation engines.
As Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry continues to evolve, so too does the technology underpinning it. Driven by Vision 2030, the convergence of artificial intelligence and tourism is bringing together two of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing investment sectors. Industry leaders say the sector’s long-term success will depend not only on innovation, but also on maintaining trust, transparency, and personalization while making travel more seamless for visitors.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649464/business-economy
-------
Masam destroys 6,009 war explosives in Bab Al-Mandab
July 02, 2026
JEDDAH: A task team of Saudi Arabia’s Masam project destroyed 6,009 pieces of unexploded ordnance and war remnants in the Bab Al-Mandab area of Taiz governorate on Wednesday.
According to Masam, the destroyed items included 109 artillery shells, 3,012 fuses, 2,769 rounds of ammunition, 29 anti-personnel mines, 53 anti-tank mines, seven hand grenades, eight rockets, 10 improvised explosive devices and 12 projectile components.
Team member Yasser Al-Mazloumi said in a statement that the explosives had been collected by project teams operating in districts along Yemen’s western coast in Taiz and Hodeidah governorates, as well as in Al-Dhale governorate.
Al-Mazloumi said the destroyed materials had posed a direct threat to local communities. “The safe disposal of these remnants is a necessary step to protect lives and enhance security in liberated areas,” he said.
He warned that incidents involving unexploded ordnance continue to occur, citing a recent explosion in the Al-Raibi area of Al-Dhale governorate that affected 13 children, with several killed.
Al-Mazloumi urged residents not to approach suspicious objects or war remnants and called on them to immediately report such findings to Masam teams or the authorities.
The operation is a part of Masam’s ongoing efforts to remove mines and unexploded ordnance, reduce risks to civilians and help create safer conditions for the return of normal life in liberated areas.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649422/saudi-arabia
--------
Jeddah residents flock to Friday’s bird auction
SALEH FAREED
July 02, 2026
JEDDAH: The Haraj Bird Market in the south of Jeddah hosts a lively, weekly public auction every Friday afternoon for amateurs, hobbyists and bird enthusiasts who make their way to buy, sell and admire a variety of bird species.
The auction features a wide variety of birds, from colorful ornamental birds to domestic birds such as budgies, lovebirds, canaries, cockatiels, rose-ringed parakeets and various types of parrots, in addition to poultry and pigeons.
In one corner of the market, a group of people quickly gather around an energetic and experienced auctioneer known as “Uncle Matar.” Sellers carefully place birds of different species in cages next to the auctioneer after which buyers examine the birds’ appearance, health and pedigree before placing their bids.
Once the auction begins, the auctioneer, “Uncle Matar,” displays the birds one after the other on the table in front of him and accepts bids starting from as low as SR100 ($26), until the owner of the bird agrees on the highest bid. If the owner agrees the buyer pays and leaves with his purchase, and the auctioneer gets 10 percent from the sale.
If the auctioneer does not get a bid for the bird, the bird owner then has to remove his cages from the display.
Mahmoud Halwani, who brought his two African Grey parrots, which are widely considered as the best talking parrots, removed them from the auction after he failed to sell each for SR2,500.
Speaking to Arab News while leaving the auction, he said: “The highest bid was SR2,000 and the auctioneer tried to convince me to sell for SR2,000 but I refused. My parrot is worth more than what they offered me.”
He added that there are many types of parrots, including African, Brazilian and Belgian, and their prices range between SR3,000-SR16,000 and often more depending on the bird’s shape, size and age.
“The bird’s ability to speak and the fact that some birds memorize many prayers and songs may be a major factor in raising the value of the bird,” he said.
As the afternoon progresses, dozens of birds find new owners, and the excitement continues until the final cages are sold.
The Friday auction offers a fascinating glimpse into a community united by a shared passion for birds.
Youssef Mohammed, a bird enthusiast and collector who was witnessed bidding, told Arab News that he visits the market weekly to stay informed about new bird species, whether parrots, lovebirds (as he calls them), or other types, adding that prices vary from season to season and are affected by supply and demand.
“I come to the auction every Friday because I love birds. Sometimes, I come to see what is new and other times I come to buy new birds. This time, I am here to buy a gray or black color, and red tail African parrot. I know it is an expensive parrot with its prices ranging from SR1,300 to SR4,500 depending on its age and capability to talk.”
Direct deals are also made between buyers and sellers without the presence or need of an auctioneer.
One of the sellers at the market was Hameed Al-Wadaani, who, along with his daughter, were selling popular colorful green parakeets for about SR800, and lovebirds for between SR350-SR500.
“They are popular with many visitors and are in high demand. They are distinguished by their captivating colors. Most owners display them prominently in their homes or entrances,” he said.
Some birds are purchased by experienced breeders, while others are bought by first-time hobbyists eager to begin a new passion.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649410/saudi-arabia
--------
Royal reserve signs memorandum to protect houbara bustard
July 02, 2026
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for Houbara Conservation to support national efforts to protect the endangered bird and reintroduce the houbara bustard into its natural habitats, contributing to the sustainability of ecosystems across the Kingdom.
The memorandum focuses on developing specialized programs to reintroduce the houbara bustard into the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, while leveraging scientific and technical expertise in breeding, release, monitoring, and tracking programs, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
The agreement also supports efforts to provide a safe and sustainable environment for the endangered bird by developing suitable movement corridors and reducing potential threats, including challenges associated with power lines.
In addition, it seeks to raise public awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation and the combating of illegal hunting.
The houbara bustard holds special environmental and cultural significance in the Kingdom and across the Arabian Peninsula due to its role in maintaining the natural balance of desert ecosystems.
Programs to restore its wild populations represent one of the Kingdom’s leading national initiatives to enhance biodiversity and protect native species.
As part of the Rewild Arabia initiative, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve reintroduced the Asian houbara bustard in January 2026, after an absence of more than 35 years from the site.
The reintroduction formed part of a renewed, science-led approach to conserving a bird that has shaped cultural life in the Arabian Peninsula.
A total of 20 Asian houbara have been released into the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, as part of a collaboration between the reserve, the National Center for Wildlife, and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for Houbara Conservation, which aims to establish viable wild populations of the bird in the Kingdom.
The historic range of the Asian houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) extends from Egypt to China.
The Asian houbara is today classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as critically endangered across the Arabian Peninsula. Its population is in continued decline despite decades of conservation efforts and captive breeding programs.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649405/saudi-arabia
--------
KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Gaza, Afghanistan Yemen
July 02, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency Ksrelief carried out humanitarian activities in Gaza, Afghanistan Yemen with the provision of emergency shelter, food and medical services to affected individuals and families.
At the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, dozens of Palestinian families received emergency shelters after their tents were destroyed, leaving them exposed to the elements for hours.
The Saudi aid agency also distributed 24,500 hot meals earlier this week in the central and southern Gaza Strip.
In Afghanistan’s Ghor Province, 950 boxes containing food essentials were handed out to returnees from neighboring countries, displaced persons, people in need and orphans.
In Yemen, the Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz has served 8,050 beneficiaries through KSrelief’s eighth phase of its project to provide prosthetic limbs and physical rehabilitation services for patients with various mobility impairments via the center.
Over the past 12 months, the project manufactured 300 new upper- and lower-limb prostheses, provided physical rehabilitation services to 3,900 beneficiaries, and delivered technical rehabilitation and maintenance services to 700 beneficiaries.
The center also offered medical and technical consultations to 3,100 beneficiaries. It also generated 50 employment opportunities for local staff.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649371/saudi-arabia
-----
North America
CAIR-CA Welcomes Release of Attorney General’s 2025 Hate Crime Report, Highlights Statewide Increase in Anti-Muslim Hate
July 2, 2026
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today welcomed the release of California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s 2025 Annual Hate Crime Report, which showed a 58% increase in anti-Muslim hate statewide compared to the previous year.
The Attorney General’s annual report compiles hate crimes reported to law enforcement agencies statewide. According to the 2025 data, hate crime events and hate crimes involving religious bias in California overall decreased from 2024. However, anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias events rose from 24 in 2024 to 38 in 2025, according to the report.
These findings are consistent with CAIR’s internal reporting. CAIR’s most recent civil rights report reveals that complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination across the nation are at an all-time high. In 2025, the organization received the highest number of single-year complaints ever recorded since its first civil rights report was published in 1996. In California, CAIR-CA’s offices received 119 hate crime and hate incident reports in 2025.
The Attorney General’s report shows that crimes involving racial bias also rose in 2025, with anti-Black bias events increasing by 2.8% and anti-Hispanic/Latino bias events increasing by 30.3%.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“The findings from Attorney General Bonta’s 2025 Hate Crime Report mirror the alarming increase and persistence in hate and bias targeting the Muslim community that has been reported to our offices statewide over the past year. This rise in hate can be directly attributed to the Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric perpetuated by elected officials, media outlets, and extremists online that has become normalized and politically rewarded in the U.S.
“At the same time, we know that hate crimes and hate incidents are underreported, and these numbers do not fully capture the extent of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate our community faces. Many individuals do not feel safe going to law enforcement, whether out of fear, past negative experiences, or distrust of the system. Much more work needs to be done to address hate against vulnerable communities in California, starting with the commitment from our elected officials to the safety and well-being of their Muslim, Black, Latino, and other diverse constituents.”
CAIR-CA urges community members to report all hate crimes and incidents, even if they are not seeking legal action. Doing so helps build an accurate picture of the harm communities are facing and strengthens advocacy efforts to create systemic change.
To report any bias incidents to your local CAIR-CA office, click here.
CAIR-CA is the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ca-welcomes-release-of-attorney-generals-2025-hate-crime-report-highlights-statewide-increase-in-anti-muslim-hate/
-------
CAIR-MI Condemns Rep. James Comparing Dearborn Muslims to Extremists in Iraq
July 2, 2026
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today condemned Rep. John James (R-MI) for his recent comments comparing Muslims observing a religious procession in Dearborn with extremists in Iraq when he served in the United States military.
In a recent interview on NewsMax, Rep. John James compared Muslims engaging in a peaceful procession in Dearborn marking the Shia religious observance of Ashura to extremists he claimed to fight while serving as an attack helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army during the war on Iraq.
James said, “I didn’t go and fight extremists to have them on our doorstep here. Under no circumstances will we be a home in Michigan for extremism.”
“We condemn James’ misguided comparison of peaceful Americans expressing their First Amendment right of freedom of assembly to violent extremists which he claimed to fight against while he proudly served in an unjust, immoral war in Iraq,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “James in comments joins others in a bigoted framework that posits Muslims by default as extremists unless proven otherwise.”
Walid, who is also a veteran of the U.S. military, also noted that the Shia procession in Dearborn marked the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Husayn, who was murdered along with his family members including women and children at the hands of an unjust army. He further stated that there were persons participating in the procession who had family members displaced and killed in the war on Iraq.
NOTE: CAIR is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that does not endorse political candidates.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-condemns-rep-james-comparing-dearborn-muslims-to-extremists-in-iraq/
-------
Muslim-rights advocacy group sues Gov. DeSantis over ‘domestic terrorist’ designation
July 2, 2026
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ anti-terrorism campaign is facing a lawsuit from one of its targets.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations sued Thursday to stop the Republican governor from designating the group as a “domestic terrorist organization” under HB 1471, a newly enacted law aimed at rooting out “radical terrorist ideologies” in Florida.
Representing the council are the American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Poverty Law Center, which accused the governor of violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments with the state’s “statutory scheme.”
“Gov. DeSantis does not have the power to unilaterally brand an organization with this vilifying designation and punish those who support it without due process or judicial review,” Scott McCoy, SPLC deputy legal director, said in a statement. “Denying due process and suppressing and punishing constitutionally protected speech and advocacy are clear violations of both the First and Fourteenth Amendments.”
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida (Tallahassee Division) the day after Mr. DeSantis announced that CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood and Antifa will be tagged as domestic terrorist organizations.
He also said he has received recommendations to designate more than 90 other groups as foreign terrorist organizations, including Cartel de Sinaloa, Tren de Aragua, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran, Cartel de Noreste, and Cartel de Golfo.
“Keeping our community safe starts with identifying the threat,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said in a Wednesday statement. “The safety of our community is strengthened by that knowledge every day, and reinforced by the collaboration between our officers, our federal partners, and — most importantly — the people we serve.”
This isn’t the first time Mr. DeSantis has tangled with the Muslim-rights advocacy group. In December, he signed an executive order pinning the terrorist label on CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, which was blocked in March by a federal judge.
The governor has appealed the ruling, but said Wednesday that the state needs “more of a legal structure to be able to add teeth to these designations, and the Legislature responded, and I signed that legislation earlier this year.”
The lawsuit said the designation would have “draconian consequences” for CAIR and CAIR-Florida, including “harsh criminal and civil penalties for virtually any activity intended to further the group’s mission or interests.”
That includes employing staff, working with volunteers, fundraising, making deposits or withdrawals from bank accounts, leasing or renting property, and using social media.
“As a result of the DTO [Designated Terrorist Organization] regime, an organization that is designated simply cannot function or exist in Florida in any meaningful sense,” the lawsuit said.
Under the law, which went into effect Wednesday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement may recommend designating organizations operating in Florida as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations provided they meet certain criteria.
The governor’s cabinet has seven days to approve or reject the proposed designations.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation declaring CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations, a designation blasted by CAIR as “defamatory.”
Source: washingtontimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/jul/2/muslim-rights-advocacy-group-sues-florida-gov-ron-desantis-domestic/
-------
Manchester Man Charged In Vernon Mosque Harassment Case
Jul 2, 2026
VERNON, CT — Vernon police have made an arrest in connection with harassment complaint from a local mosque.
On July 1, the Vernon Police Department arrested Jason Biggar, 45, of Manchester, in connection with an investigation involving "repeated harassing and bias-motivated
communications" received by the Islamic Center of Vernon.
The investigation began on June 26, after Vernon Police received reports that a man, later identified as Biggar, had made multiple unsolicited phone calls containing derogatory and offensive remarks targeting someone at the mosque and the person's religious beliefs, according to a warrant.
During the investigation, police were able to identify Biggar as
the individual responsible for the communications. He seemed drunk at times and even threatened to spit on the mosque member if encountering him in public, according to a warrant.
According to a warrant, he repeatedly insulted "the prophet" and referred to him as "a pig," among other terms, according to a warrant.
When police went to Biggar's residence, he repeatedly yelled over them and told them to get off his lawn, according to a warrant.
Biggar was eventually taken into custody and has been charged with second-degree harassment, second-degree breach of peace and intimidation based on bigotry or bias in the second degree, according to a warrant.
He was held on an $100,000 surety bond and was to appear in Rockville Superior Court on Thursday, records show.,
Said police, "The Vernon Police Department takes all reports of bias-motivated crimes seriously and remains committed to protecting the rights and safety of all community members."
The Connecticut chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned what it described as an "anti-Muslim" set of messages on the part of Biggar.
Source: patch.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://patch.com/connecticut/vernon/manchester-man-charged-vernon-mosque-harassment-case
--------
Tibetan protester sets himself on fire outside UN headquarters in New York City
Jul 3, 2026
A man carrying a Tibetan flag set himself on fire outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, on Thursday evening in an apparent act of protest, according to officials and local media reports.
The protester was identified by a friend as Lobga Rangzen, who had reportedly been living in the US for about 20 years. The incident occurred at around 7 pm near East 43rd Street and First Avenue in New York City, as reported by NY Post.
Surveillance footage showed Rangzen, dressed in traditional monastic robes, placing a Tibetan flag on the sidewalk before setting himself on fire along the busy street during the evening rush. He collapsed to the ground less than a minute after being engulfed in flames as traffic continued to pass by, with several vehicles sounding their horns.
Police officers and security personnel rushed to the scene and extinguished the flames within 15 seconds. The man was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead, officials said. Meanwhile, the Tibetan flag remained at the scene for about an hour as police cordoned off the area and carried out their investigation.
Police at the scene were seen collecting leaflets, including one bearing the slogan "China Out of Tibet", a message commonly associated with the Tibetan independence movement, also known as the Free Tibet campaign.
A UN spokesperson said the incident happened after all scheduled meetings were finished for the day.
According to advocacy group Free Tibet, more than 150 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009 in protest against what they describe as Chinese rule over Tibet.
The Free Tibet movement advocates for the restoration of Tibetan self-determination and the return of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, to Tibet. The group says many self-immolation protesters have shouted slogans calling for the Dalai Lama's return, the release of the Panchen Lama, and greater human rights and freedom in Tibet.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/tibetan-protester-sets-himself-on-fire-outside-un-headquarters-in-new-york-city/articleshowprint/132150539.cms
-------
Dangerous heatwave scorches US ahead of Fourth of July holiday
Jul 3, 2026
Millions of people across the US East Coast are enduring dangerous heat and humidity, with temperatures expected to reach and stay at 100F (38C) for several days.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned the heat index - a measure of how hot it feels based on temperature and humidity - could reach as high as 115F in cities such as Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York over the 4 July weekend.
The soaring temperatures are raising concerns as President Donald Trump hosts a celebration marking America's 250th birthday and multiple World cup matches take place outdoors.
The heatwave follows an unprecedented spell of early summer heat across Europe, with record highs across the continent.
The stifling heat that has been blasting the Midwest has now spread into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states. Extreme heat warnings continued on Thursday from the Midwest to the Northeast.
"This level of rare and long-duration heat, with little or no overnight relief, affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the NWS said in a warning.
By 9:00 EST (14:00 GMT) on Thursday, temperatures were already close to 90F in Washington and New York City. They later hit 100F in Central Park, but felt like 106F, according to the NWS - the hottest it had been there in 15 years.
"My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned at a press conference, "and if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden, you will be staying inside and you will be staying cool, and I think it's a good example to set for the city at large."
Pop star Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce are reportedly celebrating their wedding at the New York arena on Friday.
Further south in the nation's capital, the city could record four days in a row of 100F heat. This has only happened twice before.
On Thursday, the United States Capitol Police announced that only essential personnel would be allowed to attend a rehearsal for a 4 July concert in Washington, due to concerns about members of the public gathering amid the excessive heat.
Trump is expected to speak outside at a 4 July celebration on Saturday, despite the predicted high temperatures; the president has maintained he wants to gather outside for the celebration.
"By the way, on July 4th, it's going to be approximately 107 degrees out, and I'm gonna go and I'm gonna make a really long speech just to show that I can do anything," he said.
America's northern neighbour, Canada, has also been seeing extreme heat this week, with temperatures up to 99F on the horizon in Ontario.
Heat warnings are also in place across much of Quebec, including Montreal and Quebec City.
Forecasters say high humidity levels will make conditions feel even more oppressive, with heat index values set to reach 115F in the coming days. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.
The heat is building under a persistent area of high pressure in the central and eastern parts of the US – also known as a "heat dome".
As well as strong sunshine, dry soil is intensifying the heat - the coastal Northeast has been in drought this year. Without soil moisture to evaporate, solar energy goes entirely into baking the ground, thereby amplifying temperatures.
Heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and last longer because of human-induced climate change. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
Temperatures in the Northeast will drop a couple of degrees on 4 July with the threat of severe thunderstorms. Temperatures will still be well above average, though with a more significant drop on Sunday and Monday as cooler air moves down from the north.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevlkzer7vdo
--------
US diplomat wants to turn Taiwan into ‘hornet’s nest of drones’
3 Jul, 2026
The top US diplomat in Taiwan has called for turning the self-administered Chinese island into a “hornet’s nest” of air, surface and subsurface drones, as Washington continues to expand military cooperation with Taipei despite repeated warnings from Beijing.
The US does not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state but remains its main military backer and arms supplier, and maintains diplomatic ties through a quasi-embassy, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Its director, Raymond Greene, claimed on Thursday that drones represented a “game-changing opportunity” to strengthen Taiwan’s security and bolster what he described as a “broader deterrence posture.”
“The US and Taiwan can anchor ‘democratic’ drone production and strengthen the collective deterrence posture of the free world,” Greene said at a drone forum in the central city of Taichung.
“Fortunately for Taiwan, drones have significantly boosted defenders, even when facing overwhelming odds,” he added, citing the Ukraine conflict. “Nothing will deter conflict more effectively than turning Taiwan into a hornet’s nest of air, surface, and subsurface drones.”
Beijing considers Taiwan an inalienable part of China under the One China principle and has repeatedly accused Washington of encouraging separatist forces on the island through arms sales, military contacts and political messaging.
The remarks came just days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to handle Taiwan-related issues with “the utmost caution,” and warned that “a slight move on the Taiwan issue could affect the whole situation.”
The June 30 call followed a mid-May meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in Beijing, where Xi reportedly warned that mishandling disagreements over Taiwan could push China-US relations into an “extremely dangerous place.”
Taipei’s current leadership has sought to expand so-called asymmetric military capabilities, including drones and unmanned systems, while relying heavily on US weapons supplies. In May, the opposition-dominated legislature approved only two-thirds of a proposed $40 billion extra defense package requested by Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te, earmarking the funds only for US arms over fears of domestic corruption.
Chinese officials have repeatedly condemned US arms sales to Taipei, imposing sanctions on American defense firms. Beijing has intensified military and maritime activity around Taiwan in recent months, describing its operations as legitimate measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Xi has said that China’s reunification is “unstoppable” and has tied the issue to what Beijing calls the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” During a rare meeting with opposition Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun in April, he said no changes in the international situation would alter that historical trend, while pledging support for peaceful cross-Strait relations.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.rt.com/news/642513-taiwan-drone-hornet-nest/
-------
Africa
FG Secures 1,721 Terrorism Convictions Since 2017
July 3, 2026
The Federal Government has said it secured 1,721 convictions for terrorism and related offences since the commencement of its mass trial programme in October 2017.
The Director of Legal Services in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing by spokespersons of security, defence and law enforcement agencies in Abuja.
Naija News reports that Mijinyawa said the programme, coordinated by the ONSA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, security agencies and international partners, had completed 10 phases of terrorism trials.
“Since the commencement of the programme in October 2017, 10 phases of mass trials have been successfully conducted, resulting in 1,721 convictions for terrorism and related offences,” he said.
Mijinyawa said the programme also ensured that defendants against whom the prosecution failed to prove its case were discharged or acquitted.
He said the first three phases, conducted between 2017 and 2018 at Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, recorded 366 convictions, 882 discharges, five acquittals and 61 adjourned cases.
According to him, Phase Four in 2023 secured 14 convictions, while Phases Five and Six in 2024 produced 351 convictions.
He said Phases Seven and Eight, conducted in 2025, recorded 125 additional convictions.
Mijinyawa added that Phases Nine and Ten, conducted in 2026 at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, produced 865 convictions, alongside 28 discharges, one acquittal and 224 adjourned cases.
He said the 865 convictions recorded in 2026 accounted for more than half of all terrorism-related convictions since 2017.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said troops neutralised 1,597 terrorists and insurgents, rescued 1,516 kidnapped victims and conducted 14,221 operations nationwide between January and June 2026.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, represented by Group Capt. Kabiru Ali, said the operations covered major security flashpoints in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo and Kaduna states.
He said troops recovered 451 firearms, 16,726 rounds of ammunition, 161 explosives and improvised explosive devices.
According to him, troops also neutralised 412 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, arrested 332 terrorists, rescued 261 kidnapped victims from terrorist enclaves and received 132 surrendered insurgents.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force dismantled several criminal networks and strengthened intelligence-led policing during the first half of the year.
He said the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team arrested 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, and recovered 17 rifles, an anti-aircraft launcher and 111 rounds of ammunition.
Iniedu said police also dismantled a 33-member criminal network involved in terrorism, cattle rustling and violent attacks in Kwara State.
He added that operatives rescued a kidnapped woman and her 12-year-old twin sons on June 6 after neutralising two kidnappers and recovering two firearms.
The police also said they dismantled a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered about 60 tonnes of vandalised railway materials valued at approximately N400m.
The security agencies urged Nigerians to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to support ongoing operations.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/03/fg-1721-terrorism-convictions/
-------
US Withdraw Troops From Nigeria After ISIS Commander’s Killing
July 3, 2026
The United States (US) has withdrawn most of its troops deployed for a joint counterterrorism operation in Nigeria’s Lake Chad Basin.
The Commander of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference 2026.
The US had deployed about 200 military personnel to Nigeria in February to support intelligence, surveillance and counterterrorism operations in the Lake Chad Basin.
Anderson said the operation had ended, adding that most of the American personnel involved had left for Washington, D.C.
He, however, said the US would continue its security partnership with Nigeria, especially in intelligence sharing.
“And so that operation in the Lake Chad Basin of Nigeria not only helped the countries in that immediate region, but it also helps countries globally as that disrupts the ISIS network.
“And so, and then we have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing and the understanding that’s necessary to be able to prosecute these difficult tasks,” he said.
US Hails Nigeria’s Military Capacity
The US general described Nigeria as a capable partner with a strong military, large economy and educated population.
He said intelligence cooperation between both countries had produced significant results in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups.
“I think the partnership that we’ve shown recently with Nigeria, where Nigeria’s a very capable and large country — it’s got a strong economy; it’s got a large, educated population; it’s got a very capable military,” Anderson said.
According to him, US counterterrorism experience helped strengthen Nigeria’s intelligence operations and contributed to the successful targeting of a senior ISIS figure.
“But there are things that we have learned in the counterterrorist fight over several years that we were able to assist and integrate with them to help them with their intelligence and help with the intelligence sharing that eventually led to a cooperative effort to where we were able to bring some unique capabilities that the U.S. brings and be able to prosecute together the number two leader within the ISIS or Daesh organization who is responsible for much of their global operations, their global media, and their recruiting,” he added.
ISIS Commander Killed
Naija News reports that the partnership between Nigeria and the US reportedly culminated in the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS, at his hideout in Borno State.
Before then, the US had carried out airstrikes on two terrorist enclaves in the Bauni Forest in the Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State on December 25, 2025.
The US deployment followed increased security cooperation between Washington and Abuja in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist groups in the region.
Anderson said the US model of support showed how Washington intended to work with African partners by providing unique capabilities that would help local forces become more effective.
“So I think as we go forward, that is an example of how we’re looking at engaging with partners to help them be more effective by only bringing unique U.S. capabilities that allow the partner to be effective in these fights,” he said.
He also called for stronger intelligence sharing among African countries to combat terrorism, illicit trafficking and other transnational crimes.
According to him, effective communication and established partnerships recently contributed to the interception of a record 31-ton cocaine shipment originating from South America and transiting along the West African coast.
“I was able to coordinate through our interagency in the United States, through AFRICOM, and then notify some of the partners. And eventually it was a Spanish ship that interdicted the ship that had 31 tons of cocaine on it, and it turns out is the largest interdiction of drugs at sea that we’ve ever seen,” Anderson said.
He added that sustained cooperation among African countries, international partners and the private sector would remain critical to tackling security threats and promoting economic stability and investment across the continent.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/03/us-withdraw-troops-from-nigeria/
-------
Troops Repel ISWAP Attack On Borno Base, Kill Insurgents
July 2, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have repelled a coordinated midnight attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a Forward Operating Base in Mairari, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.
The attack, according to the military, occurred around 11:25 pm on Tuesday, July 1, when the insurgents attempted to overrun the base manned by troops of CIB XIX.
In a statement on Thursday, the Acting Military Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the troops put up a fierce resistance and engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat with heavy casualties.
Goni said several weapons and combat equipment abandoned by the fleeing terrorists were recovered after the encounter.
He listed the recovered items as AK-47 rifles, loaded magazines, Rocket Propelled Grenade tubes and other military hardware.
The statement added that surveillance footage later showed the terrorists evacuating several dead and wounded fighters from the scene.
The military, however, confirmed that two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Joint Task Force were killed while defending the base.
“The Theatre Command mourns these gallant heroes and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones,” the statement said.
It added that some military equipment was damaged after being hit by Rocket Propelled Grenade fire.
Attack Targeted Resettlement — Military
The military said the attack was an attempt by ISWAP to frustrate the ongoing resettlement of displaced residents in Mairari, a community recently reopened after years of insurgent occupation.
According to the statement, more than 950 households had recently returned to the community.
The military said the terrorists failed to penetrate the base or harm civilians, adding that no civilian casualties were recorded.
Goni also said reinforcement troops deployed from Monguno discovered and safely detonated two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) planted along the route by the fleeing terrorists.
He said the reinforcement team later engaged the insurgents during their withdrawal, inflicting additional casualties and disrupting their escape.
The statement added that troops remained in full control of the base and had continued offensive operations to deny terrorists freedom of movement in the area.
Goni commended the courage and fighting spirit of the troops, reaffirming the military’s commitment to sustaining operations against terrorist groups until peace and stability are restored in the North-East.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/02/troops-repel-iswap-attack-2/
-------
Tanzania deploys security forces to major cities ahead of planned protests
July 3, 2026
Tanzania has deployed military personnel and police in Dar es Salaam and other major cities ahead of planned protests over last year’s contested election.
The government last week announced a ban on all political rallies citing security threats, without saying how long it would be in place.
Youth-led protesters plan to gather on 7 July to call for democratic reforms and justice for those killed in last year’s election violence.
A government-appointed commission found that at least 518 people died in the unrest, but opposition and religious groups say security forces killed thousands.
The protests were driven by the exclusion of leading opposition candidates from the election which was won by President Samia Suluhu Hassan with nearly 98 per cent of the vote.
She claimed the unrest was an attempt to overthrow her government. The authorities have denied allegations by human rights groups that security personnel used excessive force.
Next week’s demonstrations are set to coincide with the government-organised Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.africanews.com/2026/07/02/tanzania-deploys-security-forces-to-major-cities-ahead-of-planned-protests/
-------
Why Tinubu Avoids Prepared Speeches When Addressing Nigerians – Ex-Aide
July 2, 2026
A former Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu during his time as governor of Lagos State, Professor Dapo Thomas, has revealed that the president does not like reading prepared speeches.
Naija News reports that Thomas disclosed this in excerpts from his autobiography, Lagos Boys and Lagos Politics, scheduled for launch on July 9, 2026.
Thomas explained that Tinubu would often sit with him to proofread, edit and agree on the key points of speeches before events, but would end up departing from the script.
The former aide recalled a conversation with the then-governor, Thomas wrote: “Oga, can we discuss the observations I told you about?”
“Go on.”
“I observed that on two or three occasions, you didn’t really read the speeches I wrote for you during events. I am asking because the two of us normally sit together to proofread, edit and agree on the points or issues to raise in most of the speeches,” I inquired.
Responding, Tinubu explained that he preferred to engage directly with his audience rather than read from prepared remarks.
“When we go through the speeches here in my office, I always pick most of the salient points I will discuss at the events. As a politician, I must allow the drummers and the singers to play a part in every event. Every event is a campaign platform for the politician.
“In most of the speeches, I know which points will excite the people, and the moment I make those points, the singers and the drummers will take over in appreciation. That’s when you will hear songs like, ‘Asiwaju ma ba se rere lo, ise re ma da wa l’ọrun, Asiwaju ma ba se rere lo,’ meaning, ‘Asiwaju, keep doing the good work. It is delightful the way you are going about it.’”
Thomas further quoted Tinubu as saying that prepared speeches served a different purpose.
“The prepared speeches are for the press, not for the people. I talk to the people. I do not like reading speeches when addressing the people. I prefer talking to them,” Tinubu said.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/02/tinubu-prepared-speeches-nigerians-ex-aide/
-------
‘More Answers Needed’ – Buhari’s Former Minister Faults Presidency’s Defence Of Gbajabiamila
July 2, 2026
A former Minister of Youth and Sports in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung, has faulted the Presidency’s defence of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over allegations surrounding Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew.
Dalung said the official response issued by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, failed to answer critical questions about how a purportedly fictitious presidential agency allegedly operated within government circles.
According to him, while the Presidency sought to exonerate Gbajabiamila, its explanation exposed major gaps in government oversight.
Dalung said the Presidency must explain how an individual allegedly forged an appointment letter, operated from the Federal Secretariat, recruited personnel, engaged government institutions, met diplomats and reportedly obtained a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account without being detected.
He also questioned reports that the alleged agency appeared in the national budget.
“If the council was fake, explain how it entered the budget,” Dalung said.
He argued that budget proposals pass through several stages of executive and legislative review before approval and asked who introduced, processed and approved the alleged provision.
Dalung also queried how office space was allegedly secured at the Federal Secretariat, asking which authority approved the allocation and why the operation was not discovered earlier.
He further raised questions over the reported death of Dolapo Babatunde Tanimola, whom investigators allegedly identified as the person Adeyemi claimed helped procure the alleged forged appointment letter.
Dalung asked whether investigators conducted an autopsy, coroner’s inquest or forensic review of Tanimola’s communications and financial records.
While noting that the allegations against Adeyemi are before the court, Dalung said accountability should not stop with the prosecution of one individual.
He said the government must explain how its institutions either interacted with or failed to detect what the Presidency now describes as a fictitious agency.
Dalung called on the Presidency to publish documentary evidence, timelines and official records relating to the alleged agency’s inclusion in the national budget, its reported operations within the Federal Secretariat and the failure of institutional safeguards.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/02/buharis-minister-faults-presidencys-defence-gbajabiamila/
-------
‘I’m Ready To Face The Law’ – ‘Non-existent’ Presidential Council DG Says
July 3, 2026
Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the disputed Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), has denied allegations of forgery and impersonation, saying he is ready to defend himself in court.
Naija News reports that Adeyemi spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday amid the deepening controversy over the alleged agency, which the Presidency has disowned.
For months, Adeyemi had publicly spoken about his activities with the council and appeared in photographs with prominent Nigerians, but the Presidency has since described the organisation as fictitious and filed criminal charges against him.
Asked if he was ready to face the law, Adeyemi said, “Definitely, sir. If I’m wrong, let the court of law do that, and if I’m right, let the court of law do that; do the right thing.”
Adeyemi rejected claims that he was a fraudster, insisting that the matter should be allowed to proceed before a court of competent jurisdiction.
“Since the matter is in the court, let the court of competent jurisdiction vindicate me because I’m ready to clear my name,” he said.
“Let the court take its course. Since my lawyers are involved, everybody will follow us. They will monitor the whole thing.”
When asked about the source of funding for the salaries of staff under the council, Adeyemi declined to provide details, saying the matter was already before the court.
“The truth will be unravelled at the court of law,” he said.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier described Adeyemi as a “con artist” who allegedly forged official documents and falsely presented himself as head of a non-existent presidential agency.
“We are aware of the public interest in the matter of a man called Adeyemi Adeniyi Matthew, who has been parading himself as the director-general of a fictitious Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council cum Presidential Economic Advisory Council,” Onanuga said.
He added that police investigations had established allegations of forgery, impersonation and fraudulent misrepresentation against Adeyemi.
The Presidency said an eight-count charge had been filed against him and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Adeyemi, however, denied wrongdoing and accused the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, of frustrating his activities after he allegedly refused certain demands.
He claimed the disagreement was linked to an alleged request for 48 per cent of the agency’s take-off grant of ₦27.39bn.
“The major rationale behind the disagreement between myself and the Chief of Staff is that he allegedly requested 48 per cent of the take-off grant from the same agency, which he denies,” Adeyemi claimed.
He further alleged that ₦400m had been collected by proxy, with an outstanding ₦200m allegedly demanded to secure the appointment.
Adeyemi called on President Bola Tinubu to set up an independent investigative panel to examine the allegations.
The controversy has also raised questions over the appearance of an entity described as the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The Budget Office’s published details reportedly listed the entity with a total allocation of ₦1.303bn, comprising ₦802.98m for personnel, ₦200m for overhead and ₦300m for capital expenditure.
The Presidency, however, maintained that the agency does not exist and alleged that Adeyemi opened multiple bank accounts linked to fictitious entities.
According to the Presidency, police found that Adeyemi allegedly used fake documents to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, though no government funds were paid into the account.
The case is expected to continue at the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 27.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/03/im-ready-non-existent-presidential-council-says/
--------
Southeast Asia
Indonesia promotes 15 provinces as Muslim-friendly destinations
July 2, 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Tourism is developing 15 provinces as quality Muslim-friendly tourist destinations.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana in a statement on Thursday said the 15 provinces are identified as having strong potential for Muslim-friendly tourist destinations based on the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI), which is compiled based on the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).
The provinces considered to have the potential to become Muslim-friendly tourist destinations include Aceh, Riau, Riau Islands, West Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
To support the development of these provinces as Muslim-friendly tourist destinations, the ministry is incorporating events and activities aimed at attracting Muslim travelers into the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program.
Events such as the Aceh Ramadhan Festival, Aceh Culinary Festival, Muslim Life Fest, Balangan Islamic Festival, Batam Takbir Parade, and Batam Wonderfood & Art Ramadhan are expected to attract Muslim tourists, Wardhana noted.
She added that a dedicated Muslim-Friendly Travel page has been launched on Indonesia.travel to facilitate Muslim tourists in obtaining information about destinations, event calendars, places of worship, and Muslim-friendly tour packages.
The Indonesian government also supports the diversification of Muslim-friendly tourism products to meet the needs and preferences of Muslim travelers worldwide.
"Indonesia's Muslim-friendly tourism products are also continuously being diversified, ranging from religious tourism and halal culinary experiences to spiritually-based wellness," the minister conveyed.
Furthermore, the ministry is strengthening the capacity of tourism businesses, implementing business mentoring programs, and expanding market access and financing for providers of Muslim-friendly tour packages.
Wardhana noted that Indonesia has the potential to increase Muslim tourist arrivals from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states amid ongoing geopolitical developments in the region.
Saudi Arabia is projected to continue contributing significantly to Muslim tourist arrivals in Indonesia due to its well-established and strong flight connectivity.
In addition to seeking to attract tourists from countries with large Muslim populations such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, the ministry is also targeting countries outside the OIC with a high demand for Muslim-friendly tourism.
Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia, and New Zealand are among the countries considered potential Muslim-friendly tourism markets.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://en.antaranews.com/news/421231/indonesia-promotes-15-provinces-as-muslim-friendly-destinations
------
Anti-financial crime body says Azam Baki’s board role is in ‘individual capacity’, not tied to MACC
03 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC) today insisted that Tan Sri Azam Baki was appointed to its advisory board in his individual capacity, and not for his former position as MACC chief commissioner.
In a statement today, the NFCC also said the appointment was made with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“Therefore, his membership in the NFCC advisory board is not tied to the position of chief commissioner of the MACC and remains in force until the appointment expires, unless terminated earlier by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” the NFCC said.
The NFCC also clarified that Azam’s term is valid for three years, running from September 2024 to September 2027.
This defence follows a challenge from opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who questioned the justification for Azam’s continued involvement given that he is currently under investigation.
The issue gained traction after a post on the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) Facebook page showed Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar chairing an NFCC advisory board meeting on June 30 with Azam in attendance. The AGC maintained that the session focused on inter-agency cooperation and financial crime prevention.
The NFCC, operating under the Prime Minister’s Department, said that Azam’s presence at the meeting was fully compliant with the law, as he remains a lawful member of the board.
The controversy stems from allegations over Azam’s shareholdings during his tenure at the MACC, which led to the formation of a three-member task force, led by Dusuki, to investigate.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/03/anti-financial-crime-body-says-azam-bakis-board-role-is-in-individual-capacity-not-tied-to-macc/226184
-------
Fahmi says RTM prepared to host Maszlee-Onn Hafiz dialogue on Johor’s development agenda
03 Jul 2026
MUAR, July 3 — Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is ready to provide a live broadcast platform for an interactive debate should Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi agree to face Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Puteri Wangsa state seat, Dr Maszlee Malik.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the dialogue could be held at any time and at any mutually agreed venue, including in Johor Bahru, with discussions focusing on Johor’s development agenda and future.
The PH Communications Director also said the platform was not meant for political sparring or partisan debate, but instead to facilitate an exchange of ideas on the state’s development agenda.
“There is still time. If necessary, I am ready to provide a platform on RTM TV1 for Dr Maszlee and Datuk Onn Hafiz to hold a dialogue. We can discuss the issues in a respectful manner, and I believe Onn Hafiz will be willing to engage with Dr Maszlee,” he told reporters here.
He was commenting on calls by some quarters for PH to name its Menteri Besar candidate before agreeing to any debate or dialogue.
Fahmi said that the ability to face differing views and criticism professionally is an important quality a leader must have for the state’s future progress.
He also commended Maszlee for his openness in holding an interactive dialogue with 41 youths to discuss the state’s future aspirations.
Commenting on the setting of polling day for the 16th Johor state election in mid-month, Fahmi urged young voters to set aside any logistical challenges and turn out to fulfil their responsibility in deciding Johor’s development direction over the next five years.
Maszlee will face Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Teow Chia Ling, Nicholas Paul Vincent of Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama), Rashifa Aljunied of the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA) and independent candidate Wang Wee Seong in a race for Puteri Wangsa.
Meanwhile, Machap incumbent Onn Hafiz (BN) will face PH’s Nor Hafiz Roslan in a straight fight.
Polling day for the Johor state election has been set for July 11, with early voting on July 7.
To get the latest news on the 16th Johor state polls, visit
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/03/fahmi-says-rtm-prepared-to-host-maszlee-onn-hafiz-dialogue-on-johors-development-agenda/226135
-------
Anthony Loke: Govt to seek audience with Selangor Sultan to explain LRT3 implementation issues
03 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — The Madani government will seek an audience with the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to provide further clarification on the LRT3 Shah Alam Line, following the Ruler’s remarks on the project’s cost and delays on Wednesday.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the move was prompted by the ruler’s concerns over the project’s implementation.
“We accept His Royal Highness’ remarks, and I will seek an audience with the Sultan of Selangor to provide further clarification,” he said when met by reporters during a charity dinner held at a restaurant here last night.
Also present were Pakatan Harapan (PH) Communications Director and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, PH’s Johor State Election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and several PH candidates contesting in the Muar area.
On Wednesday, Sultan Sharafuddin said that following the change in the Federal Government administration in 2018, the LRT3 project was suspended for more than 18 months before facing a further 19-month delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic until 2021.
His Royal Highness said that during the period, the proposed size of each station was reduced, the number of train carriages cut, while five proposed stations along the alignment were cancelled.
The Sultan stressed that the LRT3 project was not a mega project undertaken for prestige, but rather an important initiative for the benefit and well-being of the people.
In another development, Loke said the Ministry of Transport had taken the initiative to increase the frequency of public transport services to facilitate outstation voters returning home to fulfil their civic responsibility in the 16th Johor State Election on July 11.
He said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) had agreed to increase the frequency of its Electric Train Service (ETS) between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.
“KTMB has already added more ETS trips between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. This will also benefit those returning from Singapore, as they can take the ETS to Segamat, Labis and other areas.
“Likewise, voters from the northern region can use the ETS to return to Johor. We have increased the number of public transport services and hope this will encourage more voters to return home to cast their ballots,” he said.
The 16th Johor State Election will see 172 candidates contesting 56 state seats, with polling set for July 11 and early voting on July 7.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/03/anthony-loke-govt-to-seek-audience-with-selangor-sultan-to-explain-lrt3-implementation-issues/226119
--------
New Malaysian passports: When and where they are rolling out at the 69 locations nationwide plus seven outside of the country
By Ida Lim
03 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — If your Malaysian passport is expiring soon and you want to apply for the newly-launched passport version, here is a quick guide on how soon you can get it in the Immigration Department’s 69 offices nationwide and seven locations outside Malaysia.
Launched on June 30, the new passport comes with more security features, and most importantly, allows you to choose if you want the five-year option (RM200) or the new 10-year option (RM350).
But if your passport is not nearing its expiry, you can continue using it until it expires, and there is no need to rush to change it yet.
However, your passport must be valid for at least six months before you can travel abroad so do renew it if it expires in six months or less.
Here is the full list from the Immigration Department of the dates when you can apply for the new passports as they will be rolled out in seven stages locally:
These are the 14 Immigration offices where you can already apply for the new Malaysian passport (available since July 1):
• The Putrajaya headquarters, Menara Ikhlas;
• Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur;
• Kelana Jaya;
• KLIA;
• Melaka;
• Seremban;
• Eight UTC locations: UTC Puduraya, UTC Selangor, UTC Johor Bahru, UTC Pasir Gudang, UTC Ipoh, UTC Kedah, UTC Sungai Petani, UTC Seberang Prai.
Next Monday (July 6) and onwards in eight locations:
• Kajang, Setia Tropika, Kulai Jaya, Kulim;
• UTC Sentul, UTC Keramat, UTC Melaka, UTC Pulau Pinang (Komtar)
Next Thursday (July 9) and onwards in seven locations, including in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu:
• Shaftsbury Putrajaya, Shah Alam (PKNS), Kluang, Batu Pahat;
• UTC Kuantan, UTC Kota Bharu, UTC Kuala Terengganu
July 13 and onwards in nine locations:
• Kuala Selangor, Wangsa Maju, Puchong, Port Klang, Besut, Segamat, Muar, Kukup, Taiping
July 21 and onwards in 10 locations, including in Perlis:
• Lumut, Teluk Intan, Alor Setar, Kuala Langat, Kuala Kubu Baru, Temerloh, Raub, Port Dickson, Mersing, UTC Perlis
By the end of this month, it will also start to be available in parts of Sabah and Sarawak:
July 27 and onwards in 11 locations:
• Chukai, Pengkalan Hulu, Cameron Highlands, Bintulu, Sri Aman, UTC Kuching, UTC Miri, UTC Sibu, UTC Kota Kinabalu, UTC Tawau, UTC Keningau
August 3 and onwards in 10 locations:
• Langkawi, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kuching, Lawas, Limbang, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, LTA Kota Kinabalu, Lahad Datu, UTC Labuan
If you are based abroad, this is when and where the new passports will be available at Immigration attache offices in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, the UK and US:
August 18 and onwards: Jeddah, Jakarta, Hong Kong
August 25 and onwards: Singapore, Melbourne, London, New York
Bonus tips
If you are thinking about what to choose, the 10-year passport offers a better value as it will save you RM50 and time when compared against a five-year passport renewed twice.
But the Immigration Department in a Facebook post also informed Malaysians that currently the online passport renewal method (MyOnline Pasport website) is only available for applications for passports with a five-year validity period.
“For applications for passports with a 10-year validity period, applicants have to walk in at the nearest passport-issuing office,” it said in its announcement.
This means if you want a 10-year Malaysian passport, you will have to wait till it becomes available in the list of passport-issuing offices above.
Please keep your passport safe
While having a 10-year passport will reduce how often you have to apply for a new passport, do note it also comes with higher passport replacement fees if you lose it.
For example, if you are aged 18 to 59, you will have to pay replacement fees for a 10-year passport at RM550 (first time), RM850 (second time), RM1,350 (third or subsequent times).
If you are aged 60 and above, the replacement fees for a 10-year passport is RM375 (first time), RM675 (second time), RM1,175 (third or subsequent times).
If you are aged 13 to 59, you will have to pay replacement fees for a five-year passport at RM400 (first time), RM700 (second time), RM1,200 (third or subsequent times).
If you are aged 60 and above, the replacement fees for a five-year passport is RM300 (first time), RM600 (second time), RM1,100 (third or subsequent times).
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/03/new-malaysian-passports-when-and-where-they-are-rolling-out-at-the-69-locations-nationwide-plus-seven-outside-of-the-country/226081
-------
Belgium eyes tech transfer over rare earths from Malaysia, seeks deeper mineral cooperation
By Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan
02 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Belgium seeks to strengthen rare earth mineral ties with Malaysia in its bid to reduce reliance on China, the kingdom’s deputy prime minister Maxime Prévot said today.
However, Prévot stressed that Belgium wants to strengthen technology transfer with Malaysia in the critical mineral sector rather than merely increasing exports of resources.
He said Malaysia could benefit from the expertise of Belgian companies like Solvay and Umicore to efficiently extract different elements within the rare earth supply chain.
“We do not intend to import products coming from the critical minerals in Malaysia because according to the discussion I have had with the authorities, they would like to avoid to export such critical materials,” Prévot told Malay Mail in an exclusive interview after attending the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable today.
“So, I think that there exists a room for cooperation between the expertise that Belgians have and the needs of the Malaysian authorities on this issue.
“We are certainly not trying to vaporise your assets,” he added.
Malaysia was the third-largest supplier of rare earth elements to the European Union (EU) after China and Russia in 2025, accounting for 23 per cent or 3,500 tonnes of imports, according to Eurostat.
However, Malaysia — also the world’s second-largest exporter of refined rare earth elements after China — bans the export of raw, unprocessed rare earths to protect its domestic resources.
The country is also a key exporter of refined petroleum to Belgium, which amounted to RM317 million in April 2026, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC).
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Belgium totalled RM9.74 billion in 2025, comprising RM6.85 billion in Malaysian exports and RM2.89 billion in imports from Belgium.
Asked if disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have hurt Belgium’s oil flow, Prévot said the energy shocks has compelled EU countries to diversify their supply chain.
“That is one of the reasons it is really important to be in contact with many countries around the world, and certainly countries from the Asean region, in order to conclude new opportunities.
“It is also important to achieve a peace agreement in order to keep the Strait of Hormuz free and to guarantee respect of international maritime law.
“Like most Asean countries, we (Belgium) are also a maritime nation. So, it is really important to respect such international law,” he explained.
Push for Palestinian statehood
Prévot also described the Belgian government’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine and impose sanctions against Israel — which Malaysia also strongly advocates — as a “coherent and crucial move that aligns with international law.”
“Belgium is a friend of the Jewish community and the Israeli people. We have no problem with the citizens.
“We have problems with the current Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the way he is acting.
“And that’s what we are denouncing through a concrete manner and not just by staying at the balcony,” he said.
Belgium formally recognised the Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly last year and slapped Israel with 12 sanctions that included an import ban on products from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Prévot, who also oversees Belgium’s foreign affairs, European affairs and development cooperation portfolio, is on his first working visit to Malaysia since taking office in February 2025.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/02/belgium-eyes-tech-transfer-over-rare-earths-from-malaysia-seeks-deeper-mineral-cooperation/226105
--------
Anwar sends congratulations letter to Xi Jinping on China ruling party’s 105th anniversary
02 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has congratulated the Chinese government in conjunction with the 105th anniversary of the Chinese ruling party.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said he had sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, conveying congratulations from the Malaysian government and people.
The Prime Minister said he also expressed his appreciation for the long journey of the Chinese ruling party which has shaped the country’s progress based on the strength of its civilization, history and values inherited over a long period of time.
“I also recall Malaysia’s historic decision on May 31, 1974, as the first non-socialist country in Southeast Asia to recognise the People’s Republic of China.
“The decision, made with great wisdom and foresight, continues to be a solid foundation for the close relationship that has been strengthened for over five decades,” said Anwar.
Anwar also reiterated Malaysia’s commitment to continue to deepen strategic cooperation with China based on respect, trust and shared benefits for the sake of regional peace, stability and prosperity. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/02/anwar-sends-congratulations-letter-to-xi-jinping-on-china-ruling-partys-105th-anniversary/226097
--------
South Asia
Protecting dignity of Islamic symbols a duty of faith: Bangladesh Religious Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain
02 Jul 2026
DHAKA, July 2, 2026 (BSS)- Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad today said that protecting the sanctity of Islamic symbols and sacred signs is an imaan-based duty of every Muslim.
He made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a view-exchange meeting with Islamic scholars titled “Our Responsibilities in Protecting the Honour of Flags Bearing the Holy Kalema” held at the Islamic Foundation head office in Agargaon here.
The minister said that any confusion, disrespect or political misuse of flags bearing the Holy Kalema or other Islamic symbols is not desirable; adding that such acts may create misunderstanding in society and undermine national unity.
He said Islam is a complete way of life and there is no place for any ideology or practice outside the guidance of the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
He further said that religious matters must be guided by authentic Islamic teachings, and the Muslim Ummah would not accept any attempt to introduce beliefs contrary to Islam.
The meeting was chaired by Islamic Foundation Director General Mufti Muhammad Muhibullahil Baqi Nadvi and attended by scholars, muftis, khatibs and religious leaders from across the country.
Participants said that although pious youths often display flags bearing the Kalema out of devotion, such issues are sometimes misrepresented, creating confusion.
They urged youths to remain cautious and called for collective efforts to preserve the sanctity of Islamic symbols.
Speakers also said that any attempt to disrupt peace and harmony through misuse of religious symbols would be collectively resisted by scholars and conscious citizens.
Source: bdnews24.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.bssnews.net/news/402040
------
Amana Bank featured at IsDB Group’s Annual Meetings in Azerbaijan
2 July 2026
Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group visiting the Amana Bank booth and having a discussion with Amana Bank Managing Director/CEO Mohamed Azmeer on the Bank’s progress
Amana Bank was recently featured at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Private Sector Forum held in Baku, Azerbaijan coinciding with IsDB Group’s 2026 Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors. The events were held under the patronage of Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group.
Held under the theme “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity”, the flagship gathering of the IsDB Group, the AAA-rated multilateral development institution, brought together Central Bank Governors, Finance & Economic Ministers, policymakers, development practitioners, and financial leaders from across the IsDB Group’s 57 Member Countries and beyond.
The Annual Meetings and IsDB Private Sector Forum serve as a premier platform to deliberate on key development issues affecting member countries, while fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships. The four-day event saw over 4,400 participants from 78 countries and numerous regional and international organizations, including participation of 46 heads of institutions. The meetings culminated in the signing of 67 agreements totalling US$ 6 billion with member countries, regional institutions, and private-sector partners.
Despite Sri Lanka not being a member country of the IsDB Group, Amana Bank, whose principal shareholder is the IsDB Group, was invited to share its success story in establishing and growing Islamic banking in a Muslim-minority country, highlighting its role as a benchmark for ethical and inclusive financial services through its development-focused and people friendly approach to banking.
Apart from its success story, Amana Bank also had the opportunity to showcase its unique CSR initiative, OrphanCare, as its Founder Sponsor, through which the Bank is addressing an often-overlooked social need by empowering orphaned children with long-term financial support and opportunities for a brighter future, thereby saving them from a ‘second abandonment’. The initiative is guided by Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which advocates for zero discrimination based on race, religion, region or ethnicity.
Amana Bank was represented by Managing Director/CEO Mohamed Azmeer, Senior Vice President – Business Banking Irshad Iqbal, Asst. Vice President – Marketing & Corporate Communications Azim Rali and Manager – Strategy and Sustainability Maznavi Rumy commenting on the Bank’s participation Amana Bank Managing Director/CEO Mohamed Azmeer said, “We are honoured to have once again been given the opportunity to showcase Amana Bank’s success story at this prestigious platform. The IsDB Private Sector Forum serves as an excellent platform for fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and business partnerships among stakeholders from across the globe.As a bank operating in a non-member country, we were particularly honoured to share our journey in advancing Islamic banking and to showcase OrphanCare, our flagship CSR initiative. The high-level discussions on trade, connectivity, energy, food security, Islamic finance, private sector growth, climate action, and digital transformation provided valuable insights into emerging opportunities and challenges, further strengthening our commitment to enabling sustainable and inclusive growth.”
Source: dailymirror.lk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Amana-Bank-featured-at-IsDB-Groups-Annual-Meetings-in-Azerbaijan/273-344436
-------
Bangladesh religion minister says creating confusion over 'Kalema-featured flags' unacceptable
02 Jul 2026
Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad has warned against confusion, degradation or political misuse of flags imprinted with the Kalema Tayyiba or other Islamic symbols.
Addressing a discussion at the Islamic Foundation office in Dhaka’s Agargaon on Thursday, Kaikobad said any such attempt creates confusion in society and can destroy national unity.
“It is the religious duty of every Muslim to protect the dignity of the sacred symbols of Islam and religious symbols.”
Flags bearing the Kalema Tayyiba on a white or black cloth background recently emerged in parts of the country.
The flags appeared on roads, bridges, and flyovers, while groups carrying them marched in several districts and staged motorcycle processions.
Analysts and rights activists warn that similar imagery has been used by extremist groups in other parts of the world and could be exploited to portray Bangladesh as vulnerable to militancy.
Experts fear a vested quarter may try to “expose Bangladesh as a terrorist state” by displaying this flag.
And if that happens, Bangladeshis living abroad may also be in danger, they say.
In the discussion, Kaikobad said there is no place for any new doctrine, belief or practice in Islam.
He said, “Decisions on all religious matters will be taken in the light of the Quran and Hadith. The Muslims of the country will never accept any attempt to establish any new doctrine outside the ideals of Allah and Prophet."
The minister said the country's Muslim community will unite to resist such attempts.
Source: bdnews24.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/914d7869321f
--------
DBH Finance shariah committee holds 10th meeting
03 Jul 2026
DBH Finance PLC (DBH), one of the country’s largest housing finance institutions and the only non-bank financial institution (NBFI) exclusively focused on housing finance, recently held the 10th meeting of its shariah supervisory committee (SSC).
Muhammad Saifullah, chairman of the DBH shariah supervisory committee, presided over the meeting held at the institution’s head office in Gulshan, Dhaka, according to a press release.
DBH Finance PLC currently operates its fully dedicated Islamic Financing Wing (IFW) at all 17 of its branches across the country under the brand name “DBH Islamic”, alongside its conventional financing operations.
The company offers shariah-compliant home financing and accepts Mudaraba deposits to cater to the growing demand of its clients.
Md Fariduddin Ahmed and Md Abdul Awwal Sarker, members of the committee, and Nasimul Baten, managing director and CEO of the NBFI, along with other senior officials, were also present at the meeting.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.thedailystar.net/business/organisation-news/news/dbh-finance-shariah-committee-holds-10th-meeting-4214371
-------
147 Afghan Refugees Released From Pakistani Prisons
By Fidel Rahmati
July 2, 2026
Pakistan has released 147 Afghan nationals from its prisons, and they have returned to Afghanistan, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said on Thursday, as Islamabad continues its campaign against undocumented migrants.
According to the statement, those released had been detained by Pakistani police because they lacked legal residency documents. The group included families as well as individual returnees.
The ministry said 125 people re-entered Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing, while 22 others returned via Spin Boldak, the main crossing between southern Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The latest release follows the return of at least 344 Afghan nationals who were freed from prisons in Pakistan during the previous week, according to the Taliban ministry.
Pakistan has intensified the detention and deportation of Afghan nationals in recent months as part of its efforts to remove undocumented foreign residents. The campaign began in late 2023 and has since resulted in the return of more than 2 million Afghans, according to the reports.
The deportation drive has drawn concern from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and other humanitarian organizations, which have warned that large-scale returns are placing additional pressure on Afghanistan’s fragile economy and limited public services.
Aid agencies say many returnees face significant challenges upon arrival, including shortages of housing, employment, healthcare, and education. They have called for increased international support to help meet the humanitarian needs of returning families and host communities.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.khaama.com/147-afghan-refugees-released-from-pakistani-prisons/
-------
Mullah Baradar to Lead Delegation to Funeral of Iran’s Former Supreme Leader
By Fidel Rahmati
July 2, 2026
A senior delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will attend the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
The ministry said the delegation will also include Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and other officials. According to the ministry, the delegation will represent the Taliban administration at the funeral ceremonies in Iran.
Iranian authorities are preparing a multi-day state funeral for Khamenei, with ceremonies scheduled to begin on July 4 in Tehran before continuing in the holy city of Qom and concluding with his burial in Mashhad on July 9, according to Iranian state media.
State media have reported that Khamenei’s body will first lie in state at Tehran’s Mosalla Imam Khomeini prayer complex before a public funeral procession through the capital. Additional commemorations are planned in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala before the final burial ceremony in northeastern Iran.
Iranian officials have said they expect between 15 million and 20 million people to participate in the funeral events. Authorities also said representatives from more than 30 countries, including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Cuba, as well as religious leaders from around 90 countries, are expected to attend. China has confirmed it will send senior legislator He Wei as President Xi Jinping’s special representative.
Iran has introduced heightened security measures ahead of the ceremonies. Military officials said the armed forces remain on high alert, border security has been reinforced, and the country’s air defense systems are continuously monitoring Iranian airspace amid ongoing regional tensions.
The funeral comes months after Khamenei was killed during Israeli and U.S. airstrikes on Iran, marking the end of more than three decades as the country’s supreme leader. His death has prompted a leadership transition at a time of heightened regional tensions and renewed diplomatic efforts involving Iran and the United States.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.khaama.com/mullah-baradar-to-lead-delegation-to-funeral-of-irans-former-supreme-leader/
-------
Jhenaidah Jamaat leader returns bicycle allocated for student after giving it to granddaughter
2 July 2026
A senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Jhenaidah has come under fire after allegedly collecting a bicycle allocated in the name of a madrasa student and handing it over to his own granddaughter.
The allegation was brought against Maulana Tazul Islam, ameer of Kotchandpur upazila Jamaat-e-Islami and former upazila chairman. Following public criticism, he returned the bicycle to the upazila parishad.
According to Kotchandpur upazila parishad records, allocations under the discretionary fund of the Jhenaidah-3 lawmaker Md Motiar Rahman of Jamaat included bicycles for disadvantaged meritorious students, sewing machines for underprivileged women, spray machines for farmers, goats for beggars, and footballs for youths. From Tk 37.4 lakh, the upazila distributed 24 bicycles, 28 sewing machines, 37 spray machines, 16 goats, 150 footballs, and several medical devices.
One bicycle was allocated in the name of Saimun Islam, a class 7 student of Kotchandpur Kamil Madrasa. Saimun said his family had provided his birth registration certificate to Tazul without knowing it would be used to claim the bicycle.
Responding to the allegations, Tazul told The Daily Star that he used Saimun’s documents "due to an error" in his granddaughter’s birth registration. He said he signed the register himself when Saimun was absent at the Upazila Parishad at the time of distribution, and later gave the bicycle to his granddaughter. After questions were raised, he returned it to the Upazila Parishad.
He acknowledged that he made a mistake.
Kotchandpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Deepa Rani Sarkar told The Daily Star, "After the distribution, we came to know that the upazila Jamaat ameer had used another person's name to receive a bicycle and later gave it to his own granddaughter. When the matter became public, he returned the bicycle to the Upazila Parishad, and it was subsequently handed over to a disadvantaged student," she said.
When contacted, district Jamaat Ameer Ali Azam Muhammad Abu Bakar declined to comment on the issue.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/jhenaidah-jamaat-leader-returns-bicycle-allocated-student-after-giving-it-granddaughter-4214166
-------
Holey Artisan: Japan vows stronger ties against terror
3 July 2026
Japan will continue working with Bangladesh and the international community to strengthen counterterrorism efforts and security measures, said Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shimada Tomoaki yesterday.
Speaking at a memorial ceremony organised by the Japan International Cooperation Agency at the Metro Rail Exhibition and Information Centre in Uttara, marking the 10th anniversary of the July 1, 2016, Holey Artisan Bakery attack, he said, “We remember all the victims of this brutal and unjust terrorist attack.
“We are determined to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. To achieve this goal, Japan will continue working with Bangladesh and the international community to strengthen counterterrorism efforts and security measures.”
The seven Japanese consultants killed in the attack were members of the preparatory study team for the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project.
The programme began with a one-minute silence in memory of those killed.
Jica President Tanaka Akihiko said, “Bangladesh has gone through major political and social changes, but the wish shared by those we have lost -- that more people may live better and more fulfilling lives -- remains alive in this country.
“We will carry their wishes forward, along with our strong commitment to safety, and continue our work in international cooperation.”
He said Jica would preserve the memory of the attack as part of its organisational memory and continue its efforts to build a safety-focused work culture.
Tanaka added that MRT Line-6 has become an important part of daily life in Dhaka since it opened in December 2022, while Shimada said the Dhaka metro rail was a long-cherished dream of Bangladesh and symbolised the friendship between Japan and Bangladesh.
Shimada added that he travelled on the metro rail on Wednesday and felt that the dream of the seven victims had taken shape in Dhaka.
Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd Managing Director Md Shougatul Alam said DMTCL would always remember the seven Japanese consultants who died in the attack.
Paying tribute to the victims, he said, “They made an invaluable contribution to Dhaka’s metro rail project, which we warmly acknowledge.”
Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, director general of the East Asia and Pacific Wing at the foreign ministry, recalled that he was serving at the Bangladesh embassy in Tokyo when the attack took place.
He said the embassy issued emergency visas for Bangladeshi officials and others after receiving a request from Dhaka.
“I later accompanied the Bangladesh ambassador to Haneda Airport when the victims’ bodies arrived in Tokyo. The Japanese families and citizens showed courtesy and dignity even in deep grief.
“These Japanese engineers and experts came to Bangladesh to assist us in our development efforts.”
Japan has been a steadfast development partner of Bangladesh since independence, he said, adding, “The people of Bangladesh will never forget the supreme sacrifices made by these innocent engineers and experts for this metro rail project.”
At the end of the ceremony, participants placed flowers at a memorial bearing the names of the victims.
Family members of the victims, diplomats, government officials, development partners and representatives of Japanese firms attended the ceremony.
Among those present were Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Ziaul Hoque, Economic Relations Division Additional Secretary Mohd Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi, Jica South Asia Department Director General Yamada Tetsuya, and Jica Bangladesh Office Chief Representative Takahashi Junko.
Representatives of Japanese engineering and development firms, including Nippon Koei and Oriental Consultants Global, also attended.
On July 1, 2016, militants stormed Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan, killing 20 hostages, mostly foreigners, and two police officials.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/holey-artisan-japan-vows-stronger-ties-against-terror-4214606
--------