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Islamic World News ( 30 Jun 2026, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Bengal Passes OBC Amendment Bills, Removes 77 Muslim Communities From List

New Age Islam News Bureau

30 June 2026

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari | Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

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· Bengal passes OBC amendment bills, removes 77 Muslim communities from list

· Turkiye ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli incursions in Syria

· Saudis are increasingly turning to AI over experts for answers

· Man arrested in connection with suspected arson attack on Islamic prayer hall on Talbot Street

· One big win and three defeats for Trump in dramatic day at Supreme Court

· Boko Haram Abducts NECO Candidates, Teachers In Borno, Kills One

· Malaysia drafting new national guidelines for non-Muslim cemeteries, crematoria and columbarium planning

· Islamabad, Kabul exchange protests after Karachi attack and airstrikes

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India

· 2015 Jamaat poll loss drove Muharram poisoning accused against Khoja Shias: Police

· Union minister Pabitra Margherita, Bihar governor Syed Ata Hasnain to go for Ayatollah Khamenei’s state funeral

· ‘Why did god do this to me’: Karnataka physiotherapist found dead, engineer boyfriend unconscious; family claims ‘love jihad’

· Police lodge FIR after scuffle between Shia groups in Kashmir

· 'Declare cow as Rashtra Mata': Muslim leader writes letter in blood to PM Modi

· Islamic scholar Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi dies at 73 in Lucknow

· Pakistan Minister warns India over Indus waters, says ‘we’ll cut off that hand’

· J&K faces mutton supply crisis as traders halt imports over alleged illegal charges in Punjab

· Yasin Malik named as main accused in charge sheet in 1990 killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat

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Mideast

· King Abdullah dines at Jordanian restaurant in Texas after country’s final FIFA World Cup match

· Iraq PM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Corruption crackdown Is irreversible, arms must be under state control

· UN hails US-brokered Israel-Lebanon ‘Framework’ agreement as a ‘milestone’

· West Bank suffering its largest displacement crisis since 1967, UN Security Council told

· Iran says held first meeting with Oman on managing Hormuz

· Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in West Bank: Palestinian health ministry

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Arab World

· 215 students join Saudi AI training program

· Saudi climate envoy receives British ambassador in Riyadh

· High-octane stunts thrill crowd at sanctioned drifting event in Riyadh

· Kingdom leads G20 in public safety rankings

· KSrelief opens new medical complex in Syria

· Makkah museum displays rare Qur’an printed in Kazan

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Europe

· Europe’s Holocaust guilt is no longer protecting Israel

· NATO and Kiev seek weapons to destroy Russian airfields – Moscow

· Crawley Borough Council defers decision on faith school

· Planning decision on already-built Aylesbury mosque remains unresolved one year later

· Türkiye calls for stronger economic integration among Islamic countries

· Germany could bring back conscription next year – senior MP

· King Charles loses historic ‘Defender of the Faith’ title

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North America

· CAIR Expresses Support for Irish Muslim Community After Suspected Arson Attack on Islamic Prayer Center

· CAIR Maryland Welcomes Sentencing for Threats to Black, Muslim Communities

· CAIR-MI Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Threat Targeting Madison Heights Mosque

· CAIR, CAIR-NY Call for Barring Entry of Genocidal Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Scheduled to Visit U.N. Headquarters in New York

· Trump's final appeal of E Jean Carroll sex abuse case rejected

· US Supreme Court Rejects Trump mail ballot challenge

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Africa

· Warring parties in Mali committing serious rights abuses, HRW report finds

· Security Operatives Rescue 7 Abducted NECO Candidates In Borno

· EU imposes visa restrictions on Somalis after readmission row with Mogadishu

· Soldier, CJTF Member Die During Rescue Of Borno NECO Candidates, Teachers – Army

· Government Knows Location Of Bandits – Sani Bello

· ‘Politicians Risk Lives Of Adhoc Officers, Don’t Care About Your Life’ – Amaechi

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Southeast Asia

· Malaysia’s nuclear footprint is bigger than many realise, stretching from rice fields to cancer wards

· PM: Malaysia, Indonesia committed to strengthening cooperation in legislation, governance

· MPR pushes Indonesia-Uzbekistan direct flights to boost ties

· Syed Saddiq to skip Johor election campaign after Federal Court ruling postponed

· Anwar: Selangor and Penang aside, all states receive higher development funds than they give in tax

· ‘Pray for him’: Syed Saddiq’s fiancée Bella Astillah arrives at Federal Court ahead of final appeal verdict

· Indonesia turns to Felda playbook to transform newly secured border land

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South Asia

· Islamic Emirate Summons Pakistani Chargé d’affaires Lodges Strong Protest Over Airstrikes

· Over 367,000 Jeribs of Public Pasture Identified in Jawzjan, Ministry

· UNODC Urged to Reflect Afghanistan’s Anti-Drug Achievements in Global Report

· Pak Military Regime’s Airstrikes Kill 38, Injure 163 Civilians in Eastern Provinces, Fitrat Says

· Refugees Ministry Signs MoU to Support Vulnerable Families in Nangarhar

· Make progress in killing, disappearance trials visible

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bengal-passes-obc-bills-removes-77-muslim-communities/d/140617

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Bengal passes OBC amendment bills, removes 77 Muslim communities from list

30.06.26

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari | Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP

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The West Bengal Assembly on Monday passed two bills to amend laws pertaining to Other Backward Classes reservations and remove several Muslim communities from the OBC list as directed by the Calcutta High Court in May 2024, the Hindustan Times reported.

The amendments will revise the share of the Other Backward Classes quota in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state to 7% from 17% and reorganise the backward classes categories. A law applicable to the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes was also amended.

The West Bengal government’s earlier list of Other Backward Classes had 113 sub-groups, of which 77 were Muslim and 36 non-Muslim. The High Court had struck down the list in May 2024 and reduced OBC reservations to 7% from 17%.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government at the time had challenged the judgement in the Supreme Court.

Introduced by Backward Classes Development Minister Gourishankar Ghosh, the bills were passed with 186 MLAs voting in favour and 17 against it in the 294-member Assembly.

Six members abstained from voting, The New Indian Express reported. A section of TMC rebels led by Ritabrata Banerjee staged a walkout, the Hindustan Times reported.

Ghosh told the Assembly that “as directed by the High Court, all communities included in the OBC list without any survey by the former government, solely to offer undue advantage to Muslims, have been removed”, the newspaper reported.

He added: “Only 66 communities added after surveys have been retained.”

Under the amended laws, the new Other Backward Classes list would include Muslim groups such as Jolah, Fakir, Pahadia Muslim, Hajjam and Chowduli.

The minister also said that the West Bengal Commission for Backward Classes would conduct surveys to determine the status of communities seeking OBC status.

“The previous government completely bypassed the commission,” the Hindustan Times quoted him as having alleged. “The bills will also ensure that fake OBC certificates are not issued any more. This was rampant during the previous regime.”

Source: scroll.in

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https://scroll.in/latest/1093922/bengal-passes-obc-amendment-bills-removes-77-muslim-communities-from-list

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Turkiye ‘strongly condemns’ Israeli incursions in Syria

June 30, 2026

A man speaks with a child while sitting near an unexploded artillery shell that fell during reported overnight Israeli bombardment that hit the village of Abidin in Syria's southwestern Daraa province, close to the Golan Heights, on June 29, 2026. (AFP)

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ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s foreign ministry on Monday blasted Israeli incursions and ammunition fire in southern Syria, after tensions near the Golan Heights forced some local residents to flee.

“We strongly condemn the Israeli attacks against Quneitra and Daraa, which violate the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of Syria,” it said in a statement.

“These attacks, which trample on the lives and property of the Syrian people and make life increasingly difficult for civilians in the region, constitute a flagrant violation of international law.”

“We reiterate our call on the international community to fulfil its obligations and put an end to these attacks,” the Turkish ministry added.

Syria’s foreign ministry also condemned the Israeli incursions and shelling on Monday.

The Israeli army claimed on Sunday it had killed “several armed terrorists” the day before in the southern part of Syria that it has occupied since late 2024.

Israel expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights in 2024 by seizing the demilitarised buffer zone supervised by the United Nations.

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2649032/middle-east

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Saudis are increasingly turning to AI over experts for answers

Waad Hussain

June 29, 2026

AI-generated concepts are reshaping client expectations, prompting some graphic designers to rethink how they deliver creative services. (cjnetworksystems)

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ALKHOBAR: Whether designing a restaurant brand, building a workout plan or learning a new language, more Saudis are turning to artificial intelligence for answers before consulting with experts.

Tasks that once would require advice from a professional coach, tutor or designer are increasingly becoming reduced to conversations with chatbots.

This is redefining expertise as the country rapidly embraces AI, giving consumers faster and cheaper access to knowledge while forcing many professionals to rethink their roles.

Arab News previously reported that the Kingdom ranked second globally for societal awareness of AI, according to Stanford University’s 2023 Artificial Intelligence Index Report.

The country ranks fifth globally for AI sector growth and first in the Arab world, with more than one million Saudis trained in data and AI skills through SDAIA’s SAMAI initiative.

When Danya Al-Hamr began developing the visual identity for her new restaurant, she expected branding to consume a large part of her budget.

Like many first-time business owners, instead of hiring a graphic designer, she opened ChatGPT.

“I described the style I wanted and asked it to create a visual identity,” she said. “It suggested colors, typography, branding concepts and references that honestly exceeded my expectations.”

She said the decision saved her nearly SR3,000 ($799) and gave her a complete starting point before investing in professional branding.

“It wasn’t only about saving money,” she said. “It helped me organize my ideas before I invested in the business.”

Yasser Al-Saleh has found chatbots useful for designing his fitness regimen.

Instead of paying for a personal trainer, he asked ChatGPT to build a complete program.

“I entered my height, weight, goals, foods I like and foods I don’t,” he said. “It created a full nutrition plan and workout schedule.”

Several months later, he says the plan has delivered exactly what he wanted.

“My progress has been great and I’ve started building muscle,” he said. “Everything was personalized, and I didn’t have to pay hundreds or thousands of riyals for coaching.”

He said he still verifies information when needed, but no longer feels he needs a coach to build the foundation of his fitness journey.

For many users, the attraction of AI tools goes beyond cost.

The software is available around the clock, responding within seconds, and can tailor answers to individual goals, budgets and preferences.

But while consumers are embracing the technology, many professionals say they have already begun feeling the impact.

Umaima Al-Harbi, a fitness coach with 17 years of experience in the Eastern Province, said she has noticed fewer people seeking traditional personal coaching than in previous years.

“There’s definitely less demand than there used to be,” she said. “Gyms aren’t hiring coaches the way they once did because more people are relying on AI or online content.”

Instead of resisting AI, she decided to adapt.

Today, she encourages clients to create their own workout plans using ChatGPT before booking a consultation with her.

“I actually recommend it,” she said. “Then they come to me and I review the program, correct mistakes and make sure it’s suitable for their body and health.”

She believes AI has not eliminated the need for professionals, but has changed what clients expect from them.

“People don’t always need someone to write everything from scratch anymore,” she said. “They need someone to tell them whether what AI produced is actually correct.”

For many professionals, the job increasingly involves helping clients decide whether AI got it right.

Graphic designer Sarah Al-Hajri has had to respond differently.

As more clients arrive with AI-generated concepts in hand, she says pricing has become one of the biggest challenges.

“I’ve had to lower my prices just to stay competitive,” she said. “They expect something that took seconds to generate to replace work that can take days.”

She argues that the comparison overlooks the creative process behind professional design.

“Most AI-generated designs are based on patterns that already exist online,” she said. “Professional designers spend hours, sometimes days, developing something original that reflects a client’s identity, values and audience.”

She worries that convenience is beginning to outweigh originality.

“People naturally choose what’s faster and cheaper,” she said. “But they don’t always realize they’re sacrificing creativity and originality in the process.”

Education is experiencing the same transformation.

For years, English tutor 44-year-old Sami Al-Sharif supplemented his income by teaching private lessons after work.

This year, he decided to stop offering private lessons.

“There simply isn’t the same demand anymore,” he said. “People have YouTube, language-learning apps and now AI.

“They can practise speaking, ask grammar questions and get explanations for free.”

Unlike some professionals, however, he believes the change is understandable.

“English has become much easier to learn independently than it was years ago,” he said.

Yet he believes the limits of AI become clearer in more specialized subjects.

“A friend of mine teaches engineering,” he said. “Students still book lessons with him because engineering requires deeper explanations, calculations and practical understanding. AI is useful, but students don’t completely trust it with complex subjects.”

The changing relationship between expertise and technology is already visible in other fields.

According to a recent Arab News report, family physician Dr. Mohannad Al-Qarni said patients are increasingly arriving at clinics after consulting artificial intelligence rather than doctors.

“In many cases, they come in treating the physician almost as a second opinion after what they’ve already seen through AI,” he said.

“It used to be doctor first, then search. Now for many, it’s AI first, then doctor.”

Al-Qarni said the challenge is not that AI always provides incorrect answers, but that it often presents information confidently without understanding the full medical context.

“The issue is not that AI is always wrong,” he told Arab News. “It’s that it can sound convincing even when it lacks context.”

AI has made expert knowledge more accessible than ever before, but it has also changed what expertise means.

For many Saudis, professionals are no longer the first stop. Increasingly, they are the second opinion.

The question is no longer whether AI can answer. It is when will people still choose to ask an expert?

Source: arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2648995/saudi-arabia

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Man arrested in connection with suspected arson attack on Islamic prayer hall on Talbot Street

Emma Nevin

29 Jun 2026

The scene outside Al-Madinah Prayer Hall on Talbot Street today(Image: Robbie Kane)

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A man has been arrested in connection with the suspected arson attack on an Islamic prayer hall in Dublin city centre today.

The blaze broke out at Al-Madinah Prayer Hall on Talbot Street at around 3:35pm this afternoon. Four fire engines and 20 firefighters/paramedics attended the scene alongside gardaí.

Gardaí are now appealing for witnesses to come forward and confirmed that a man aged in his 40's has been arrested in connection with the incident. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances around an incident of criminal damage by fire at a premises on Talbot Street Dublin 1, this afternoon, Monday 29th June 2026.

"The incident occurred at approximately 3.35pm. Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene and extinguished the fire. No injuries have been reported at this time.

"A male (aged in his 40's) was arrested in connection with the investigation, and is currently detained at a Garda Station in the Dublin North City area pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

"Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information in relation to this incident or who may have video footage (including dash-cam) who were in the area of Talbot Street Dublin 1, between 3.00pm and 4.00pm on Monday 29th June 2026 to come forward.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on (01) 666 8000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing."

Source: dublinlive.ie

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https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/man-arrested-connection-suspected-arson-34207983

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One big win and three defeats for Trump in dramatic day at Supreme Court

Anthony Zurcher

June 30, 2026

Watch: Trump reacts to expanded presidential power in Supreme Court ruling

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On the second-to-last day of Supreme Court decisions for this term, the justices delivered a big win for Donald Trump.

But beneath the headline-generating ruling on expansive presidential power, the court gave some indications that this particular president may not always get what he wants – and the three liberal justices may have a few unexpected allies amongst the six conservative justices on the high court.

Here's a look at the three biggest takeaways from an eventful Monday morning for America's judicial branch.

1. Sweeping presidential authority over 'independent' regulators

Nearly 100 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt did not have unchecked power to replace commissioners on regulatory agencies set up by Congress to be insulated from presidential authority.

On Monday, facing a challenge by Republican Trump, the court decisively scrapped that precedent.

"Subordinates who exercise the president's power are subject to removal by him," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion. "Then, and only then, can they remain accountable to the president, and the president to the people."

In this ruling, the court's justices divided into familiar groupings. All six conservatives, three of whom were appointed by Trump, found in favour of the president. The three liberal justices, all appointed by Democrats, dissented.

The court's decision will give Trump, and all future presidents, broad power to remove and replace regulators from dozens of key agencies with whom they disagree.

The Federal Trade Commission was directly at issue in this case (as it was in Roosevelt's), but the precedent the court sets here will apply to regulatory bodies interpreting election laws, issuing communications policies, resolving labour disputes and establishing financial and environmental regulations.

By now, Americans are used to dramatic policy swings when a president of a different political party takes over the presidency – from Barack Obama to Trump to Joe Biden and back to Trump. This court's decision is sure to supercharge that trend.

"Ninety years of precedent has been completely and unequivocally overruled," Trump exclaimed in a Truth Social post after the decision, "greatly increasing presidential power at a time when it is most needed!"

2. Liberal justices find conservative allies – much to Trump's dismay

While the Supreme Court on Monday gave presidents broad powers over supposedly independent regulators, a different grouping of justices drew the line when it came to Trump's efforts to remove a member of the powerful Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

In a narrow five-to-four ruling, two conservatives – Chief Justice John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh – joined the three liberals in blocking Trump's attempts to remove Lisa Cook from the central bank's board.

He has alleged that she committed mortgage fraud, but hanging over the particulars of this dispute were Trump's larger disagreements with recent decisions by the Fed (including Cook) not to lower US interest rates.

Writing for the majority, Roberts said that Cook deserved a chance to challenge her removal and rebut Trump's accusations, which would have to be further substantiated. Roberts warned of the "calamities that could arise" if presidents were able to impose their will on the Federal Reserve.

If that ruling weren't enough of a setback for the president, another court decision on Monday – on whether federal law prohibits states from counting mail-in ballots postmarked by election day but received after – broke against the president.

In that case, the three liberal justices were joined by Roberts as well as Trump-appointee Amy Coney Barrett, who penned the majority opinion.

States have broad powers to set the "time, place and manner" of holding congressional elections, Barrett wrote, quoting the US Constitution. She dismissed Trump's allegations that mail-in balloting is susceptible to election fraud, indicating that this was an issue best resolved through the "democratic process".

Trump was quick to call for just that, urging Congress to pass his election-reform package that would significantly curtail mail-in voting.

Although the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has approved this legislation, Democrats – and a handful of Republicans – have blocked a vote in the Senate.

The president may have won sweeping new powers, but when it comes to two of his big policy goals – lower interest rates and election reform – the court majority was not his friend on Monday.

3. Trump's defamation appeal quietly flops

If Trump's Truth Social account is any indication, the biggest source of his ire on Monday was buried in 28 pages of court orders released on Monday morning.

Listed among dozens of cases the justices chose not to weigh in on was "Trump, President of US v. Carroll, E. Jean".

With no further explanation provided, the court declined to review the $5m civil judgement against Trump that was the result of a 2023 jury finding that Trump had defamed Carroll, a former magazine writer who accused Trump of sexually assaulting her in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.

"I will continue the fight against this weaponization and lawfare case against me, including the ridiculous claim of defamation, with all my power and strength," Trump wrote on his social media website.

"This injustice cannot be allowed to stand!"

Although Trump plans to appeal a separate $83.3m finding of damages won by Carroll in a second case, this is likely the end of the line for Trump's efforts to block the $5m judgement.

When it comes to interpretations of the law, the Supreme Court's rulings are final – a point that was vividly illustrated for Trump, both to his joy and disappointment, on Monday.

Source: bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceqdzd7zx24o

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Boko Haram Abducts NECO Candidates, Teachers In Borno, Kills One

June 29, 2026

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Monday invaded the Lassa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, abducting students sitting the ongoing National Examinations Council examinations (NECO) and several teachers, while killing one teacher during the attack.

According to Sahara Reporters, the assault occurred on a market day as heavily armed insurgents, reportedly dressed in military camouflage and riding motorcycles, stormed the town, causing panic among residents.

Eyewitnesses said the terrorists targeted the community while students were writing their NECO examinations, whisking away an unspecified number of candidates and teachers to an unknown destination.

They added that at least one teacher was shot dead during the attack, while the number of abducted persons had yet to be ascertained.

Residents alleged that troops stationed in the area were away on patrol to nearby Uba, about 16 kilometres from Lassa, when the insurgents struck.

“The soldiers were not around when the terrorists invaded. They came in large numbers, firing sporadically and causing panic everywhere. They took away students’ writing NECO and their teachers,” an eyewitness said.

Naija News understands that this attack comes amidst moves by the Oyo State and Federal Government to rescue pupils and teachers, abducted in schools in Oyo communities.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/29/boko-haram-abducts-neco-candidates/

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Malaysia drafting new national guidelines for non-Muslim cemeteries, crematoria and columbarium planning

30 Jun 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Malaysia is preparing to roll out a national planning guideline for non-Muslim cemeteries, crematoria and columbarium facilities, in an effort to tighten rules on how such developments are sited and managed.

According to The Star, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the draft guideline is being developed by the Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia (PLANMalaysia) to strengthen planning standards for burial and cremation facilities nationwide.

He said the framework would require planners to take into account a wide range of factors before approval is granted.

“Site selection must also avoid high-risk areas such as flood-prone zones, landslide-prone areas, and locations that may have adverse impacts on the environment and surrounding communities,” he said in a parliamentary reply.

Nga said the guideline would also set clear distance requirements between crematoria and surrounding developments.

“A buffer zone of at least 30m (100ft) must be provided between crematorium sites and development boundaries,” he said.

He added that crematoria may be integrated with cemeteries or memorial parks, but would not be allowed in residential, commercial, recreational or tourism zones.

Facilities using diesel or oil fuel may only be located in heavy industrial areas, he said.

Open-air cremation, Nga said, would be permitted in rural or village areas but would not be allowed on peat soil.

All proposed developments must still obtain planning permission from local authorities, with assessments covering land suitability, infrastructure readiness, traffic impact and technical input from relevant agencies.

“In considering such applications, the local authority will refer to the guidelines, taking into account site suitability, compatibility with surrounding land use, infrastructure provision, traffic systems, as well as technical comments and recommendations from relevant agencies,” he said.

On a proposed crematorium in Pekan Endau, Mersing, Johor, Nga said the project falls under state and local authority jurisdiction.

The facility, proposed on Lot 213 in Mukim Padang Endau by the Endau Chinese Cemetery Association, would be the first crematorium in the district.

It is located within a 10-acre Chinese burial reserve, with the crematorium occupying 0.66 acres.

Nga said no formal objections were received from residents, and planning permission was issued on April 16, 2026.

“According to Mersing District Council records, up to the date the application was considered, no written objections or official feedback from local residents had been received regarding the proposal,” he said.

“A Planning Permission approval form (Form C1) was issued to the applicant on April 16, 2026,” he added.

The ministry, Nga said, will continue ensuring crematorium developments are carried out in an orderly manner in compliance with laws and guidelines, while taking into account local sensitivities.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/06/30/malaysia-drafting-new-national-guidelines-for-non-muslim-cemeteries-crematoria-and-columbarium-planning/225743

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Islamabad, Kabul exchange protests after Karachi attack and airstrikes

By Fidel Rahmati

June 29, 2026

Pakistan and Afghanistan have exchanged diplomatic protests after a deadly attack in Karachi and Pakistani airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, further escalating tensions between the neighboring countries.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said it summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Talban Embassy in Islamabad to lodge a strong protest over the recent attack on a Rangers facility in Karachi, where three Pakistani security personnel were killed. Islamabad claimed that several Afghan nationals were involved in the assault, including one suspected attacker who was captured while wounded. Pakistan also said its ambassador in Kabul, Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, delivered the same protest to authorities.

Kabul’s Foreign Ministry responded by summoning Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires , condemning Pakistani airstrikes on the eastern provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar. Zabihullah Mujahid said the strikes killed 36 civilians, including women and children, and wounded 163 others, describing the attacks as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and international law.

Relations between the two countries have deteriorated sharply over the past two years as Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan-based militants, including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban authorities have consistently rejected the allegations, insisting they do not allow Afghanistan territory to be used against any neighboring country.

The latest diplomatic row follows a series of cross-border military operations and security incidents. Pakistan recently announced operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in which it said 15 militants were killed, while the Karachi attack marked one of the most serious security incidents in the country’s largest city in recent months.

Pakistan says its air operations targeted militant hideouts and killed armed fighters. Taliban authorities reject that claim, saying only residential areas were hit. The exchange of accusations has pushed bilateral relations to one of their lowest points in recent years, raising concerns about further military escalation along the shared border.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/islamabad-kabul-exchange-protests-after-karachi-attack-and-airstrikes/

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India

2015 Jamaat poll loss drove Muharram poisoning accused against Khoja Shias: Police

Mohamed Thaver

Jun 30, 2026

Faiyaz Premji (39), the Pune-based man accused of plotting to poison mourners during a Muharram procession in south Mumbai, has told investigators that he developed anti-religious sentiments after losing the Jamaat (community) elections in 2015.

According to police, Premji said his defeat convinced him that his “reformist views” had little support within the Khoja Shia community, prompting him to gradually distance himself from the faith.

In earlier public statements, Premji had said that around 2015-16 he became associated with a small group of like-minded Khoja Shias in Mumbai that advocated reforms within the community. He had claimed the group promoted a more liberal interpretation of Islam and questioned conservative religious practices.

Premji had also alleged that his criticism of religious leaders and institutions led to sustained harassment, claiming complaints were filed against him, his business in Pune was vandalised, and he was socially ostracised.

Over the past decade, Premji appeared on several podcasts describing himself as an “ex-Muslim” who no longer believed in the tenets of Islam.

“He blamed the community for the breakdown of his marriage and that of his brother. There was simmering resentment over the years, which eventually led him to take this extreme step,” a police officer said.

Debarred by Pune Jamaat

Meanwhile, the Pune Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat (KSIJ) issued a statement announcing that Premji had been debarred from the organisation. Police, however, said they were yet to ascertain whether he had contested the 2015 elections in the Mumbai or Pune KSIJ.

The Pune KSIJ alleged that Premji had, over several years, engaged in conduct detrimental to the interests of the community. It accused him of defaming the Jamaat’s trustees and members and alleged that he had been involved in several physical altercations that created difficulties for the community.

No clarity on victim count

Sources said the FIR was initially registered based on one person who was admitted to hospital after consuming a capsule, but investigators suspect there may have been more victims.

“Some may have self-medicated while others may have been admitted to hospitals. We are trying to ascertain how many people actually consumed the capsules,” a source said.

Premji first came under suspicion when volunteers noticed him distributing pills during the Muharram procession, claiming they were painkillers.

While food and water are routinely distributed along the procession route, ambulances also accompany participants to treat injuries sustained during self-flagellation.

“No one usually distributes pills. Volunteers became suspicious and alerted policemen deployed for bandobast,” a source said.

Police recorded Premji’s name and phone number and initially allowed him to leave.

Later, after a hospital informed police that a person had been admitted with vomiting and stomach ailments after consuming one of the capsules, officers linked the case to the earlier complaint. Premji was traced near the procession route, detained and formally arrested on Saturday.

He was produced before a court, which remanded him to six days of police custody.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/faiyaz-premji-muharram-poisoning-motive-jamaat-election-ex-muslim-10763718/

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Union minister Pabitra Margherita, Bihar governor Syed Ata Hasnain to go for Ayatollah Khamenei’s state funeral

Jun 30, 2026

NEW DELHI: Bihar governor Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) and junior foreign minister Pabitra Margherita are likely to represent India at the funeral of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, official sources said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had earlier invited PM Modi for the multi-day funeral that begins on July 4. Modi is scheduled to depart for a three-nation tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand on July 6.

Notwithstanding the pressure from Western sanctions, India has maintained ties with Iran, which Iran provides India crucial access to Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan and also Central Asia and Eurasia through the Chabahar Port and International North-South Transport Corridor.

Participation by govt of India in the funeral builds upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian in the middle of the West Asia conflict that India remains a friend of Iran. Ali Hosseini Khamenei’s successor Mojtaba Khamenei was reported to have thanked Prime Minister Modi for his Eid al-Adha greetings earlier and expressed confidence that relations between India and Iran will continue to deepen.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I have received Your Excellency’s message of congratulations on the occasion of the blessed Eid al-Adha. While expressing my sincere appreciation and extending my reciprocal congratulations, I am confident that the historic friendship between our two countries, founded on mutual respect and shared interests, will continue to be further strengthened and expanded through the efforts of our two govts,” said Mojtaba, according to ANI.

Source: indiatimes.com

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‘Why did god do this to me’: Karnataka physiotherapist found dead, engineer boyfriend unconscious; family claims ‘love jihad’

Jun 29, 2026

CHIKKABALLAPUR: A tragic incident unfolded near the popular tourist destination of Nandi Hills on Monday morning, where a young physiotherapist was found dead inside a locked resort room under mysterious circumstances.

Her boyfriend, an engineer and cab driver, was found unconscious next to her. It is suspected that he attempted suicide after murdering her.

The deceased has been identified as Sai Surabhi, a resident of Banashankari and a physiotherapist at Satya Sai Hospital in Muddenahalli. Her boyfriend, Sanjeeth Ali, a cab driver hailing from Kozhikode, Kerala, and working in Bengaluru, was found unresponsive alongside her body.

Discovery at the homestay

According to police, Ali had checked into a homestay near Muddenahalli, close to the Nandi Hills foothills, on Saturday. However, it is not clear when Surabhi joined him.

The incident came to light on Monday morning when resort staff noticed that the couple had failed to check out at the scheduled time. Despite repeated knocking and calls, the room remained locked from the inside.

Suspecting something amiss, the resort management alerted local police. Upon breaking open the door, officers discovered Surabhi dead. A rope was found tightly tied around her neck, with initial medical indications pointing toward strangulation or hanging. Sanjeeth Ali was found lying unconscious next to her.

Police also recovered a diary containing multiple entries from the room, along with scattered medical pills, suggesting Ali may have consumed an overdose in a bid to end his life. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency medical care.

Chikkaballapur Superintendent of Police (SP) Kushal Choksi and local police personnel visited the crime scene to conduct a preliminary investigation and oversee forensic collection.

Mother, uncle claim it a love jihad

Mother Geeta and her brother Shankar Narayan termed it ‘Love Jihad’ case.

According to Geeta, her daughter had joined Satya Sai Hospital around 10 days ago as a physiotherapist. “We had rented out a small house in Chikkaballapur so that Surabhi can travel to hospital easily. Weekends, we would return to our Banashankari house,” she said, adding that Surabhi had told her there was a satsang at the hospital on Saturday and that she would attend it. She also said Surabhi told her she would stay at the hospital that night.

“Ali was continuously torturing Surabhi; he made her consume drugs and alcohol. After separating from him, we had shifted her to rehabilitation centre and she was cured. But again, he came into her contact. I don't know how i will go and see my daughter’s body. She would have lived with us had not rejoined with him. Why did god do this to me? Why am i treated in this cruel way,” she said.

According to Shankar Narayan, Ali came into Surabhi’s contact when the latter was studying in Dayananda Sagar college. “Through common friends, they became close and Ali started visiting our home. We had opposed Ali’s closeness to Surabhi. However, Surabhi would tell us that Ali harassed and tortured her. Still, she kept in touch with him,” he said.

Superintendet of police-Chikkaballapur Kushal Chouksey said it looks like a murder case.

"A suspected murder case was reported this afternoon at a homestay near Muddenahalli village. On receiving information from the caretaker that a man and a woman were inside a room, the police rushed to the spot and found the woman dead and the man unconscious.

The deceased has been identified as Sai Surbhi, a physiotherapist from Bengaluru. The man has been identified as Sanjeet Ali, a B.E. (Mechanical) graduate presently working as an Uber driver. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the two were in a relationship and had earlier eloped to Kannur last year, after which they returned and stated that they had gone voluntarily.

As per the victim’s mother, Sai Surbhi had come to volunteer at Satya Sai Hospital about a week ago. Homestay records indicate that Sanjeet Ali had checked in on Saturday, while the caretaker is unaware of when the deceased joined him.

A murder case is being registered. It is suspected that the man also consumed pills and is currently unconscious, police said.

Source: indiatimes.com

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Police lodge FIR after scuffle between Shia groups in Kashmir

June 29, 2026

The Jammu & Kashmir Police on Monday (June 29, 2026) lodged an FIR in connection with a scuffle between groups of the Shia community in Budgam’s Hardpanzoo even as the All J&K Shia Association president Molvi Imran Reza Ansari blamed Pakistan-backed elements for the violence.

“A fair, impartial and evidence-based investigation is underway. Anyone found involved, irrespective of affiliation, will face strict legal action as per law,” the police said.

The fight happened over a religious site where a procession is taken out on the 12th of the Islamic month of Muharram every year. Officials said Mr. Ansari’s relatives were among those attacked.

“They (the attackers) are those who are backed by Pakistan, the country that again wants to spill blood on the roads of Kashmir. They are those who killed policemen in their homes. We will not allow it this time. We have full faith in the police and our Constitution,” said Mr. Ansari, also a member of Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference.

In a post on X, Mr. Lone, a legislator, said he “failed to understand why the police were showing so much tolerance for what was clearly a criminal conspiracy”.

“There is nothing like a good criminal and a bad criminal. Likes and dislikes are ok. But this is stretching it too far. I have seen people being summoned for the flimsiest of charges by police. And here a person takes to social media to absolve himself of any criminal intent and in the same breath subtly justify the criminal event that took place yesterday,” said Mr. Lone.

Another Shia cleric Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari condemned the incident and alleged that “a local and limited issue was being used for political interests, personal publicity and vote bank politics”.

“It’s not only irresponsible but also a deliberate attempt to hurt the unity of the Shia community and the sanctity of mourning. We have no direct or indirect connection whatsoever with the incident. Despite this, levelling baseless and fabricated allegations against our late father is deeply regrettable and highly condemnable. This approach not only reflects political bankruptcy but also harms the unity of the Shia community,” he said.

Source: thehindu.com

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'Declare cow as Rashtra Mata': Muslim leader writes letter in blood to PM Modi

Jun 29, 2026

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leader Zeeshan Ansari on Monday wrote a letter in his own blood to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to declare the cow as the country's "Rashtra Mata" (national mother).

Ansari wrote the letter outside district magistrate's office in Varanasi before submitting it to the PM through local administration. He said his move was intended to seek clarity from the BJP on its stand regarding cow protection.

"I come from the Muslim community; that is why I have taken this initiative. BJP leaders keep making different statements regarding the cow. We want the BJP to make its stand clear by declaring the cow as the 'Rashtra Mata'," PTI quoted Ansari as saying.

He said the cow holds a special place in the sentiments of people across India.

"In many households, the first roti is set aside for the cow. At the same time, BJP chief ministers such as Shubhendu Adhikari and Himanta Biswa Sarma have made statements about having roti with cow," Ansari said.

The Samajwadi Party leader said his letter was aimed at urging the Centre to formally recognise the cultural and religious significance attached to the cow by declaring it the "Rashtra Mata."

Source: indiatimes.com

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Islamic scholar Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi dies at 73 in Lucknow

Jun 29, 2026

LUCKNOW: Prominent Islamic scholar, author and educator Maulana Syed Salman Husaini Nadwi passed away in Lucknow in the early hours of Monday at the age of 73.

According to his family, Maulana Nadwi had been in stable health for most of his life, although he had undergone a pacemaker implantation around six to seven months ago. Speaking to TOI, his son, Yusuf Husaini, said he passed away between 2.30 am and 3 am after a brief illness.

Born in Lucknow in 1954, Maulana Nadwi belonged to a family of Islamic scholars. He received his early education at Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, before pursuing higher studies in Islamic theology and Shariah. He later completed master's degrees in Hadith from Nadwatul Ulama and Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University in Saudi Arabia.

After returning to India, he joined Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama as a faculty member and later served as Dean of its faculty of Dawah and Shariah. During his academic career, he taught Islamic studies and mentored students from India and other countries.

Maulana Nadwi wrote several books and research works in Arabic and Urdu on Islamic theology, Hadith, history and contemporary issues. He also served as the President of Jamiat Shabab-ul-Islam, an organisation founded to engage Muslim youth in educational and social activities. In addition, he was associated with the establishment of educational institutions in different parts of the country.

His funeral prayers will be held on Monday evening at around 5 pm, followed by his burial at an educational institute campus in Malihabad near Lucknow.

“The burial will take place there in accordance with my father's wish,” said Yusuf Husaini.

Speaking about his father's legacy, Yusuf said, “My father consistently encouraged people to serve humanity and help those in need. This was the principle my father followed throughout his life and continued to emphasise in his teachings.”

Source: indiatimes.com

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Pakistan Minister warns India over Indus waters, says ‘we’ll cut off that hand’

30 Jun 2026

Pakistan's Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik has accused India of seeking to control Pakistan's share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that Islamabad would respond firmly to any attempt to deprive it of its allocated waters.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Malik alleged that India was attempting to restrict water flows to Pakistan after New Delhi placed the 1960 treaty in abeyance following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 25 tourists and a local resident were killed.

"There is a tap being controlled by the prime minister of a neighbouring country. He says he will not let even a drop of water flow into Pakistan," Malik said.

He said that 40-50% of Pakistan's population depended on agriculture and argued that restricting water supplies would affect the country's food security, employment and economy.

"Someone else [is trying to] control the entirety of the country's food security, 50 per cent of employment in the country and 25 per cent of the economy," he said.

Malik said Pakistan had already made its position clear on the issue.

"But there is also the question of justice. We will protect ourselves...Not that we've just announced it, but we've proved that if anyone lays a hand over our share of water, we'll cut off that hand," he said.

Malik argued that rivers continued to flow across borders even in the absence of formal agreements.

"Does every upper riparian now have the right to stop the flow of water to the lower riparian? But we even have a treaty. How can the water be stopped here then? This is the case that we will present tomorrow," he said.

"The treaty exists," he asserted, adding that Tuesday's conference was primarily about justice and rights.

"It will be decided what justice is internationally. […] It will be decided whether the children in lower riparian areas across the world have a right to water."

Malik's remarks were reported by several Pakistani media outlets, including Dawn, and video clips of the press conference circulated on social media. However, the authenticity of the videos could not be independently verified.

At the same press conference, Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar maintained that the Indus Waters Treaty remained legally binding and could neither be suspended nor amended unilaterally.

"Legally, Pakistan's stance has garnered support internationally, as the IWT cannot be unilaterally revoked, abolished or amended," Tarar was quoted as saying by Dawn.

He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had repeatedly maintained that "water is our lifeline as well as our red line".

Source: newindianexpress.com

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J&K faces mutton supply crisis as traders halt imports over alleged illegal charges in Punjab

Fayaz Wani

29 Jun 2026

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is staring at a major mutton crisis after wholesale mutton dealers went on an indefinite strike and retail meat sellers suspended sales to protest the alleged imposition of hefty unauthorised charges on livestock-carrying vehicles transiting through Punjab.

The protest prompted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek immediate intervention from his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann.

The Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association (KMDA) has suspended the import of sheep and goats into the Union Territory from markets outside J&K.

KMDA general secretary Mehraj-ud-Din alleged that traders transporting livestock from Delhi, Haryana, Ambala, Rajasthan and other parts of north India are being subjected to unauthorised fee collection and repeated stoppages while passing through Punjab.

"Till last year, traders were compelled to pay around Rs 10,000 per truck. We paid about Rs 18 crore as unauthorised transit tax in Punjab last year. Now they are forcing us to pay between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 for every livestock vehicle crossing Punjab. This has become an unbearable financial burden," he said.

He alleged that livestock-laden trucks are frequently detained for several hours at multiple checkpoints by contractor groups in Punjab.

"The prolonged delays, particularly amid scorching heat, have led to the death of several sheep during transit, resulting in additional financial losses for traders," Mehraj said.

He said the issue had been brought to the notice of both the J&K and Punjab governments but remained unresolved.

"In protest, wholesale dealers have suspended livestock imports," he said.

The strike has significantly disrupted the mutton supply chain across the Union Territory, raising fears of a major shortage.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Omar Abdullah said he has been pursuing the matter with Mann for several months.

"I told the Punjab CM that this is a total injustice to our mutton traders because they are only using the highway. They are neither buying nor selling goods in Punjab. They are buying livestock from Rajasthan and selling them in J&K. They are only using the highway," Omar told reporters.

Describing the levy as a "total injustice" and an "illegal tax", Omar said he has written to Mann seeking immediate intervention.

"I hope that he will do justice. If he does not do justice, then we will have to raise this issue in the North Zone State Council and seek help from the central government because this tax is an illegal tax," he said.

Expressing hope that Mann would resolve the issue, Omar added, "Their elections are coming up and we will also be of some help to them."

In his letter to Mann, Omar said livestock-laden vehicles carrying valid permits were being stopped by contractor groups associated with cattle fairs and subjected to unauthorised fee collection, resulting in avoidable delays, financial losses and hardship for transporters, besides adversely affecting animal welfare.

The Chief Minister also referred to the findings of an internal committee constituted by the J&K Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, which found that transporters were being compelled to make substantial payments without any apparent legal sanction.

Omar urged Mann to ensure the smooth, secure and unhindered movement of livestock transport vehicles through Punjab and prevent any unauthorised collection of charges from transporters carrying valid documentation and complying with all statutory requirements.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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Yasin Malik named as main accused in charge sheet in 1990 killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat

29.06.26

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Monday filed an over 700-page chargesheet naming banned JKLF chief Yasin Malik as the key accused in the kidnapping and brutal killing of young Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat by terrorists in April 1990. The agency described it as a "historic milestone" in the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism.

The SIA, which reopened the case after it was handed over in 2024, submitted the chargesheet before the designated NIA court here, 36 years after Bhat, working as a nurse at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, was found dead in downtown Srinagar, several kilometres away, a day after she went missing.

Besides Malik, who was the self-styled commander-in-chief of the JKLF terrorist outfit at that time, his four accomplices -- Khursheed Ahmad Chalkoo, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Ghulam Mohammad Taploo and Mohammad Yousuf Sofi -- have also been named as accused in the case. Chalkoo is believed to be living in Pakistan after exfiltrating from Kashmir.

The accused have been charged under various sections of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), 1987, and Indian Arms Act, 1959.

In a statement, the SIA said time can never become a shield for terrorism and those responsible for atrocities will continue to remain answerable before the law.

The case was handed over to the SIA in March 2024 and the investigation agency carried out raids at several places over the past two years to stitch up the chargesheet against the five accused persons.

A spokesperson of the SIA said the voluminous 737-page chargesheet, painstakingly compiled after an exhaustive investigation, brings together a formidable body of oral, documentary, forensic, ballistic, medical and electronic evidence accumulated over decades and analysed meticulously.

"The filing of the chargesheet after nearly 35 years marks a historic milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism and stands as one of the most significant breakthroughs in the investigation of legacy terror crimes in Jammu and Kashmir.

"More importantly, the chargesheet sends a powerful and unequivocal message that time can never become a shield for terrorism. No matter how many years have elapsed, those responsible for terrorist atrocities will continue to remain answerable before the law," the spokesperson said in a six-page handout.

He said the case demonstrates that while terrorism may delay justice through fear, intimidation and violence, it can never permanently defeat the rule of law.

"The investigation has revealed the involvement of Mohammad Yaseen Malik, then Chief Commander of JKLF, along with Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Idrees and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo in planning and executing the abduction and brutal killing.

"While Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Idrees and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo are deceased, Mohammad Yaseen Malik is presently in judicial custody in another case," he added.

The spokesperson said legal proceedings, including proclamation proceedings, have been initiated against absconding terrorist Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo, the man who pulled the trigger.

"The chargesheet establishes offences punishable under Sections 364, 341, 302 read with 34, 201 and 120-B RPC, Sections 3(2), 3(3), 4 and 6 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA), and Sections 7 and 27 of the Indian Arms Act, 1959," he added.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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Mideast

King Abdullah dines at Jordanian restaurant in Texas after country’s final FIFA World Cup match

RAY HANANIA

June 30, 2026

CHICAGO: King Abdullah will no doubt have been disappointed by the outcome of the Jordanian national team’s game against Argentina at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 27, in which a 3-1 defeat marked the end of his nation’s World Cup 2026 adventure.

But his mood was lifted the following day when he dined at Khashoka Middle East Cuisine, a Jordanian restaurant in nearby Richardson, with members of his family, staff and guards.

Owner Mohammed Albakri, who opened the chain’s first US location last November, told Arab News that the king was “gracious, humble, supportive and proud” during his visit, as he greeted staff and ate a “traditional Jordanian breakfast” alongside regular customers.

“It was very exciting to have King Abdullah II visit our restaurant and enjoy a meal with us,” said the 25-year-old, whose family is from Amman. “We have a mission and we have a vision, which is to spread the authentic Jordanian flavors into the United States — and to the whole world, eventually.

“The king very much enjoyed the meal. It was a privilege to have served him. It shows what we stand for.

“The king is the most humble individual I have ever seen in my entire life. He insisted on us serving all the other guests who were in the restaurant while he was there. The same plate of food from the menu that the king enjoyed is the same plate and recipe that we served to every single customer.”

The restaurant was “a natural” choice for the royal visit after the World Cup match, Albakri added, because it strives to be “the most authentic” in its representation of Jordan and its people.

“Khashoka is actually a franchise from Jordan,” he explained. “We currently have 12 locations worldwide, specifically in the Middle East, and this is the first US location. We’re the first Jordanian restaurant that represents Jordan in the whole United States the way it should be represented.

“Everything we have, including 90 percent of all our food ingredients, comes from Jordan. We import all of our olive oil, our makdous, labneh; almost everything except, of course, the produce and the meat, which is raised locally and always fresh.

“Everything in the restaurant, from the decorations on the walls to the dining-room tables, chairs and furniture, is imported directly from Jordan. Our head chef is also from Jordan. We are the only authentic Jordanian restaurant in America. The king also noted the authenticity of what we offer on our menu.”

King Abdullah ordered a Levantine-Jordanian meal of galayet bandora, a pan-fried vegetarian tomato stew, Albakri said, which is a typical example of the dishes the restaurant offers.

“What we’re trying to do is spread the authentic Middle Eastern food properly and not just do a replica of what’s existing in the market,” he explained, adding that his goal was to make the king “feel at home.”

He added: “He greeted our employees, said hello to a lot of our customers. They were all thrilled and he took a lot of pictures with different people. He enjoyed the food. He was happy. He was having conversations in the restaurant. We wanted the king to feel at home. We believe we did that. It was an absolute honor to have him with us and to serve him our authentic foods.”

Jordan has made a strong positive impression on Texans, Albakri said, thanks to the visit by the king and also through the work of the country’s ambassador to the US, Dina Kawar, who visited Khashoka for a meal a few months ago while she was meeting local officials in Dallas to promote business relations between Texas and Jordan, and her country’s commitment to the protection of Christians.

In a message posted on social media platform X, Kawar spoke about her visit to the First Baptist Church of Arlington, where she helped showcase “Jordan as an integral part of the Holy Land and home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.”

She was accompanied on her visit by the minister of tourism and antiquities, Imad Hijazin, who emphasized Jordan’s commitment “to values of interfaith coexistence, reinforcing its status as a global destination for pilgrimage, peace and dialogue,” and to the preservation of the country’s many sacred sites, particularly that of the baptism of Jesus.

Source: arabnews.com

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Iraq PM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Corruption crackdown Is irreversible, arms must be under state control

Ghassan Charbel

Asharq Al-Awsat

June 30, 2026

BAGHDAD: Journalists live for the unexpected especially in Iraq, where events can overtake a carefully planned interview before it even begins.

I had requested a meeting with Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, who emerged after a prolonged political contest involving two of his predecessors, Nouri al-Maliki and Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The interview was scheduled for June 28th, so I arrived in Baghdad the day before. As it turned out, the timing could not have been better.

When al-Zaidi took office, I wondered whether he had made the biggest mistake of his life. He had built a successful career in finance and business and amassed considerable personal wealth. Why abandon that world for the unforgiving arena of Iraqi politics, and for a job in which success has often proved elusive?

From his first day in office, he appeared to be confronting two of Iraq’s most dangerous challenges: entrenched corruption, which has drained the country’s wealth, and armed groups operating beyond state control, which have exacted a heavy price on Iraq’s economy, reputation and regional and international relations.

I woke early in the Green Zone to messages saying that armored vehicles had sealed off the area overnight and restricted access. At first, I assumed it was a routine security incident. It soon became clear that something far more significant was under way.

Acting on judicial warrants, security forces raided the homes of figures who had long believed themselves beyond reach. Within hours, influential politicians, lawmakers and provincial officials had been detained for questioning over allegedly stolen public funds. The operation extended beyond Baghdad to other provinces and remained ongoing.

Al-Zaidi launched his tenure by giving up his salary and official allowances, declaring that he would accept no gifts, “not even a necktie.” In Baghdad, there was widespread talk that a man accused of offering him $200 million to draw him into a corruption network was now himself under investigation.

Al-Zaidi speaks in firm, unambiguous terms. He says there will be no protection for the corrupt and “no retreat from the decision to fight corruption or from the decision to bring all weapons under state control. Both will be enforced through the law.”

He also rejects foreign dictates and tutelage, insisting that Iraq will not submit to pressure from any side. When I joked that those with money seek power and those with power seek money, he replied that he was already financially secure. He said he would neither contest the next parliamentary elections nor seek a second term as prime minister. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat Editor-in-Chief in Baghdad on Sunday.

The fatigue was visible in his eyes when we met. He said he had not slept for 24 hours, having followed what Baghdad residents were calling “the night the big fish were caught.”

A visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shortened the time available for al-Zaidi’s first interview with an Arab media outlet, leaving some questions unasked.

The following is the full interview:

BAGHDAD: Journalists live for the unexpected especially in Iraq, where events can overtake a carefully planned interview before it even begins.

The fatigue was visible in his eyes when we met. He said he had not slept for 24 hours, having followed what Baghdad residents were calling “the night the big fish were caught.”

A visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shortened the time available for al-Zaidi’s first interview with an Arab media outlet, leaving some questions unasked.

Q: Is the fight against corruption an irreversible decision?

A: Yes. There is no turning back, and it is not a matter of choice. Corruption has become a threat to the very existence of the Iraqi state.

Some chose to enter the institutions of the Iraqi state to steal rather than to serve. There is no longer any place for such people.

From 1980 to 2003, Iraq's wealth was consumed by wars, followed by years of sanctions, leaving Iraqis unable to benefit from the riches of their own country. That was 23 years. From 2003 until this year, 2026, another 23 years have passed, and you can clearly see what Iraq has gone through during that period. A distorted mindset emerged, driven by a race to plunder and steal. We are determined to end that era, open a new chapter for Iraq, and turn the page on that period.

Q: So, you have decided to close the chapter on corruption?

A: Yes. There is no place for corruption, and there is no place for weapons outside the authority of the state. By the end of this year, we will announce a National Sovereignty Conference that will establish the state's exclusive authority over the use of force through its official institutions alone. No group will be allowed to bear arms outside the framework of the state, and Iraqis will finally enjoy the wealth of their country.

We face two paths: either we protect the interests of certain individuals and lose the approval of God and the people, or we remove them. Today, we will instruct the finance minister to open a dedicated account to recover Iraq's stolen funds from those involved, and they must return them. Anyone who refuses to do so will face other measures. We are prepared to reach settlements with those who return misappropriated public funds while safeguarding the rights of the Iraqi people in accordance with the law. The procedures will remain confidential. I have undertaken this mission with sincere intentions for the sake of God. We owe Iraq a debt that we are duty-bound to repay.

Q: What do you mean by that responsibility?

A: Iraq has blessed us with all that we have. Where would we be today without this country? We now have a duty to repay that debt. That is why I announced that I will not receive a salary or accept any gift, even if it is only a necktie, and that my hands will never touch public money. If I ever act otherwise, I hope I receive what I deserve. I have made this pledge to myself so there can be no turning back. The highest aspiration we have is to earn God's approval and secure the happiness of the Iraqi people.

Q: Will you continue the anti-corruption campaign regardless of the cost?

A: I see death as a meeting with God, and it is the least we can offer Iraq. We have already announced that we will not seek another term and will not establish a political party. My priority is for the world to see Iraq as a true source of leadership and to recognize that its people are fully capable of governing this ancient country. I will not allow any dictates from outside our borders, whether from the East or the West. Iraq's decisions belong to its people and are expressed through parliament, and it is the government's duty to implement those decisions.

Q: So, your slogan is “Iraq First,” not the interests of major powers or regional powers?

A: Absolutely. Iraq comes first, and nothing takes precedence over it. The interests of the Iraqi people come first for me. It is also in our people's interest to build strong relations with the international community, neighboring countries, and the Arab Gulf states. Iraq is a state, not a village.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during the parliamentary vote on his government in the Iraqi Parliament (Government Media)

Q: Prime Minister, during the recent war with Iran, Iraq's relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries came under strain after attacks on targets in the Gulf were reportedly launched from Iraqi territory.

A: Specialized committees have been formed to verify those reports, and we are also awaiting evidence from the relevant authorities in the Gulf states. We will take the necessary measures. We have ordered an investigation and instructed all security commanders to prevent any attempt to use Iraqi territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries. At the same time, I urge everyone not to judge the present by the past. This situation already existed when we assumed office.

Q: You are scheduled to visit Washington in the middle of next month, and I assume there will be other foreign visits as well.

A: We have received many invitations to visit a number of brotherly and friendly countries, including France, Britain, and Germany. However, the visits that take priority because of the importance of our joint agenda will be to the Republic of Türkiye, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following my visit to Washington.

Q: What do you expect from your visit to Washington? And would it be an exaggeration to say that Iraq is facing a severe financial crisis?

A: That characterization is inaccurate. State employees' salaries are secure and are being paid regularly, and we are fully committed to maintaining that. When our government took office, Iraq's debt stood at about 208 trillion dinars. The state budget relies on oil for 93 percent of its revenues, while non-oil revenues account for the remaining 7 percent.

My view is that Iraq's economy is caught between two competing economic models; an old economic model that refuses to die and a modern one struggling to be born. Our economic vision is to move decisively toward a market economy and leave the old model behind.

In practice, however, we face a large body of conflicting legislation. Some laws date back to the dissolved Revolutionary Command Council and were drafted with a socialist mindset that is no longer effective, while Iraq's constitution is founded on the principle of economic freedom. We have launched a broad effort to reform these inherited laws. In the coming days, the Council of Ministers will finalize the legislative package and submit it to parliament.

We are also moving ahead with the establishment of an Energy and Development Fund, with participation from the Central Bank of Iraq. The fund will be offered through a public subscription, and we will invite Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar to participate, along with American and European funds and banks. The fund will support development, industry, agriculture, and all other productive sectors needed by the Iraqi people.

Q: How did your government manage public finances during the closure of the Strait of Hormuz? Did you rely on borrowing from the Central Bank while drawing on reserves?

A: We discounted promissory notes and borrowed from commercial banks as well as the Central Bank of Iraq.

Q: Iraq's position within OPEC has sparked considerable debate, and it is clear that Iraq wants a larger production quota. How do you balance increasing output with maintaining oil prices?

A: I would like to address those responsible within OPEC. Iraq entered a war in 1980 and emerged eight years later with debts exceeding $100 billion. It then became embroiled in the occupation of Kuwait and came out owing more than $200 billion. After 2003, terrorism took root in our country, and we endured years of instability. Iraqis later fought the terrorist group ISIS, not only in defense of Iraq, but on behalf of the entire region. Had ISIS succeeded in taking control of Iraq, the national security of neighboring countries and the wider region would have been threatened.

That war caused nearly $400 billion in damage to our infrastructure, and to this day thousands of Iraqis have yet to return to their hometowns and destroyed homes. These circumstances must be taken into account. In addition, Iraq's population has reached 47 million, while our production quota stands at 3.4 million barrels per day. These realities should be taken into account when OPEC determines production quotas. That is why we are seeking a fair allocation mechanism that does not undermine the rights of Iraq and its people.

Q: There have been reports that Iraq could enter a lending program with the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. Is that still under consideration?

A: With the resumption of shipping and exports in the Gulf region and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, those financing options have been set aside. They are no longer needed.

Q: Washington withheld shipments of US dollar cash destined for Iraq. Do you expect to resolve this issue with the US president?

A: Those were precautionary measures, not an attempt to extract concessions in return for specific demands. There were concerns regarding cash transactions, and we explained to the American side the mechanisms governing those funds and the channels through which they moved. The issue has since been resolved, and the cash shipments have been delivered.

Members of the Saraya al-Salam cheer during a ceremony marking the start of the process of handing over their weapons to Iraqi state forces in Samarra, north of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Q: Did the government negotiate with the armed factions that oppose restricting weapons to the state? And if they ultimately refuse after the withdrawal process, will the government be forced to confront them?

A: Let me be clear: there is no force other than the force of the state. We will enforce that through the rule of law. There will be no weapons outside the state's authority.

Q: Some believe the plan to restrict weapons to the state is little more than a symbolic measure adopted to accommodate political forces.

A: If we listen to the skeptics, we will never achieve any results. As for the armed factions, they are ideological groups. We believe that their public acceptance of giving up their weapons is an important and significant first step. In practice, weapons have already been handed over to the state, in various forms, from Saraya Al-Salam, Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, and the Imam Ali Brigades. More important than the handover of weapons itself, however, is severing the link between each faction and the fighters under its command.

In practice, the weapons of these factions are now in the state's custody, with only a small amount remaining. The transfer of the remaining weapons to the armed forces will begin soon. This issue will be resolved in full. Nothing is stronger than the state. We believe resistance is a necessity, not a profession, and that necessity no longer exists. We will not accept the existence of a state within a state.

Q: What did US envoy Tom Barrack ask of you?

A: He did not make any requests. However, we discussed the suspension of operations by some American companies because of bureaucratic obstacles, and we have since facilitated the procedures affecting those companies.

Q: Do you believe the United States is genuinely prepared to support your government's plans?

A: I have spoken with President Donald Trump only once by telephone, and yes, we have sensed a willingness to provide support. At the same time, we place Iraq's interests first in every decision we make. Others may have made concessions in pursuit of material interests, but that is not something we would ever do.

Q: Prime Minister, have the political forces pledged to facilitate your mission?

A: Yes, absolutely. In fact, I was offered the post of prime minister twice before, and I declined it both times.

Q: Is there anyone who has personally influenced you?

A: Yes. My late father had the greatest influence on me. He always took me with him, detested injustice, and warned me never to incur God's displeasure by wronging His servants.

Q: How would you describe your relationship with Syria and President Ahmad al-Sharaa?

A: Our relationship is moving in a positive direction. Our foreign minister will visit Syria soon, and President al-Sharaa called to congratulate me. We are working toward greater economic openness and cooperation for the benefit of our two brotherly peoples.

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UN hails US-brokered Israel-Lebanon ‘Framework’ agreement as a ‘milestone’

Ephrem Kossaify

June 29, 2026

NEW YORK CITY: The UN on Monday described a newly announced “Trilateral Framework” established by the US, Israel and Lebanon as a “milestone” development.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters the arrangement “constitutes a milestone in efforts to end decades of conflict and advance lasting stability” between Israel and Lebanon.

The framework, which was announced on June 26, brings together the three nations in what officials described as a renewed political track that aims to resolve longstanding tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

Dujarric said the UN continues to stress the importance of working to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue “to achieve sustainable stability on both sides of the Blue Line,” referring to the de facto border that separates the countries, and to safeguard the sovereignty and security of both states.

He added that the UN remains committed to providing support for Lebanon and Israel in their efforts to fulfill their obligations in pursuit of a long-term resolution to the conflict, in line with the terms of Security Council Resolution 1701, which has governed the ceasefire arrangements along the border since 2006.

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West Bank suffering its largest displacement crisis since 1967, UN Security Council told

Ephrem Kossaify

June 29, 2026

NEW YORK CITY: The West Bank is experiencing its largest displacement crisis since 1967, the UN Security Council heard on Monday.

It came as officials and humanitarian agencies warned of an entrenched and unlawful Israeli occupation, while the US accused the world body of ignoring atrocities committed by Hamas against Palestinians in Gaza.

Ramiz Alakbarov, the deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the council that settler violence, access restrictions, demolitions and prolonged security operations had combined to produce the worst wave of Palestinian displacement in the West Bank for nearly six decades.

He cited continuing Israeli military activity in Jenin and Tulkarm, including the establishment of an army post in the former, as especially troubling given that these areas fall under the civil and security control of the Palestinian Authority.

Alakbarov reiterated condemnation by the UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, of settlement expansions, formal land registrations in Area C (which constitutes about 61 percent of West Bank territory and is under full Israeli security and administrative control), and decision to establish military facilities at the former UN Relief and Works Agency compound in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, which he urged Israeli authorities to rescind.

Regarding the situation in Gaza, Alakbarov said Israeli airstrikes and military operations have continued in the territory despite the ceasefire agreement, pushing the death toll since the truce to more than 1,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. He said Israel now controlled about 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, squeezing civilians into increasingly limited areas.

While conditions have eased somewhat since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2803 in November (which endorsed the US-backed “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”), including a reduction in the share of households going to bed hungry from 92 percent to 36 percent, Alakbarov said 70 percent of the population still lacked dignified shelter.

He voiced concern over reports of intimidation in relation to anti-Hamas protests in Gaza on June 26, and called for the full implementation of Resolution 2803, including the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the deployment of the International Stabilization Force, and the transfer of governance to a “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.”

Itay Epshtain, representing the Norwegian Refugee Council, delivered a legal argument in which he told council members that the question was no longer whether Israeli settlements violated international laws but “whether the council is prepared to give them effect.”

He said more than 33,000 Palestinians had been displaced from Jenin, Tulkarm and Far’a refugee camps, and that more than 70 percent of displaced households cited threats against women and children, including sexualized threats, as decisive in their decisions to flee.

Citing a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, Epshtain said it had found Israel’s continued presence in the occupied territory unlawful “as such,” elevating what was once a political call within the text of Resolution 2334 to “a judicially endorsed legal obligation.”

He rejected any framing of settler violence as mere “extremism,” arguing that when armed settlers operate as part of military structures, the issue becomes one of state responsibility.

He called for restitution of Palestinian land and property, expansion of the UN Register of Damage to cover compensation claims since 1967, and protective measures for communities at risk of displacement before any harm occurs, as he accused Israel of continuing to obstruct the work of humanitarian organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The US permanent representative to the UN, Mike Waltz, told the story of a young Gazan girl, Masa, who recently received a bag of school supplies, describing this as a sign that “life is starting again in Gaza.”

He said disarmament of Hamas remained “the heart” of the peace plan endorsed by Resolution 2803. He credited mediators Turkey, Egypt and Qatar for their efforts, and noted that the former US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, had recently endorsed the plan as the “only game in town.”

Waltz cited a UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry report this month that documented executions, torture and beatings of Palestinians carried out by Hamas-affiliated forces in Gaza between 2024 and 2026, including public killings at the Nasser Medical Complex, which he said amounted to war crimes.

He criticized what he described as the near-total absence of coverage of the report, and said Hamas had mounted an “industrial-scale campaign of terror” on June 26 against Gazans protesting against its rule, including house arrests and threats against families.

Regarding the implementation of Resolution 2803, Waltz said troops from Morocco, Kosovo and Albania were being deployed as part of the International Stabilization Force, while Egypt and Jordan were training a new Palestinian police force, with the UAE pledging $100 million toward the effort.

“Hamas does not get to negotiate its way into keeping a terrorist army,” he added.

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Iran says held first meeting with Oman on managing Hormuz

June 29, 2026

TEHRAN: Iran’s foreign ministry said it had held on Monday the first meeting with Oman on managing the Strait of Hormuz since Tehran and Washington signed their preliminary deal to end the Middle East war.

Both Iran and Oman say they hold sovereignty over the waterway, a vital route for Gulf energy exports that Tehran blockaded during the war.

“During a trip to Muscat, the first meeting of the Joint Hormuz Committee was held,” said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on X.

“While reviewing the current issues related to the strait, we exchanged views on the future management,” he added.

Hormuz is a narrow stretch of water separating Iran and Oman that is only about 30 kilometers (18 miles) wide.

The future of the strait has been a key sticking point during talks between Tehran and Washington to end their conflict.

Iran is considering imposing “services fees” that did not exist before the war, while the United States opposes any charges, arguing Hormuz is an international waterway.

Gharibabadi later said in a phone interview with state television that during the meeting on Monday, Tehran and Muscat had reached “a common understanding” on the administration of the waterway.

He said Oman “also supports being involved in these arrangements as a coastal state with sovereign rights, and... believes that fees should be collected in return for the services that are provided.”

Gharibabadi added that they “decided that technical committees would be established between the two countries.”

“Beginning in seven or eight days, our experts will start their specialized discussions, in accordance with the understanding we reached today, so that we can discuss these arrangements, prepare a text, and also hold technical negotiations regarding the shipping routes,” he continued.

In recent days, Oman has indicated an ambiguous stance on the issue.

Last Tuesday, following a visit by Iranian officials, Oman and Iran announced in a joint statement that they were examining the costs associated with the future management of the strait.

But later in the week Oman indicated that no “passage fees” were planned and announced the opening of a “temporary maritime corridor” close to its coast that it said was coordinated with the UN.

Iran responded by saying the only authorized passage was a corridor skirting its own coastline.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Sunday that any attempt to use alternative routes risked “escalating tensions” in the region.

It followed a flare-up in hostilities in which Iran struck a commercial ship in the strait and the United States responded with strikes on Iranian coastal targets.

The text says passage through the strait was to be toll-free “for 60 days only” after the signing of the deal. It remains unclear what will happen after that period.

Gharibabadi on Monday said that “under Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the Islamic Republic of Iran determines the shipping routes under these temporary conditions, and we cannot accept any other route.

“It is our commitment to provide safe conditions for passage. That is why, if vessels transit through other routes, we will oppose it, we will seek to prevent it, and if any incident occurs involving those vessels, the responsibility will rest with them,” he said.

“Over the past few days, the Americans have understood this message: if they seek to establish parallel routes... the Islamic Republic of Iran will use the various means at its disposal to provide an appropriate response to that violation.”

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Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen in West Bank: Palestinian health ministry

June 29, 2026

RAMALLAH: Israeli forces fatally shot a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said, as violence surges in the Israeli-occupied territory.

“The child Amir Ahmad Jawad Jaber, 15 years old, was martyred after being shot in the head and once in the chest by occupation soldiers during their raid in the Umm Al-Sharayit neighborhood in Al-Bireh” near the West Bank city of Ramallah, the ministry said.

The Israeli military said in a statement that during a military operation “a violent riot began, during which rocks were hurled toward IDF soldiers.”

“The soldiers responded with fire toward a suspect in the area. A hit was identified,” it added.

The Palestinian Red Crescent had earlier said its teams were transporting to hospital and trying to resuscitate a 15-year-old who was shot in the head with live ammunition during a raid in the Umm Al-Sharayit area.

Dozens of mourners gathered at the Palestine Medical Complex as grieving relatives wept over the teenager’s body.

“Today, we witnessed a clear-cut execution in broad daylight,” Laila Ghannam, governor of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, told AFP.

“This is a disgrace to all institutions who claim to uphold democracy and human rights.

“When it comes to our cause, they see nothing. They allow this occupation to escalate its campaign of terror every single day — not only across Palestine, but throughout the entire region.”

Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, violence has escalated in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.

Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,085 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023, including both militants and civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry data, which says 71 people were killed in 2026.

Official Israeli figures show that at least 46 Israelis, both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war.

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Arab World

215 students join Saudi AI training program

June 29, 2026

RIYADH: A total of 215 male and female students from 28 universities have begun training at the headquarters of the Saudi Data and AI Authority in Riyadh.

The program aims to equip them with knowledge and skills in data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies while providing practical experience in a professional work environment as part of efforts to develop national talent.

Through its academy, the authority will prepare this new generation of high-achieving university students to lead the future of data and AI by providing comprehensive training that combines academic knowledge with practical experience in computer science, data science, and AI.

The program will enable participants to contribute to high-impact projects, gain exposure to best practices and advanced technologies, and help align academic outcomes with labor market needs.

Through partnerships with universities and educational institutions across the Kingdom, the authority continues to empower young talent and strengthen national data and AI capabilities.

It aims to enhance students’ academic and practical qualifications, enabling them to become skilled national talent that strengthens the Kingdom’s competitiveness and supports the goals of the Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026.

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Saudi climate envoy receives British ambassador in Riyadh

June 29, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir received British Ambassador to the Kingdom Stephen Charles Hitchen in Riyadh.

During the meeting at the ministry’s headquarters, the two officials discussed topics of mutual interest.

In another meeting, Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed El-Khereiji received Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Morino Yasunari in Riyadh.

They reviewed relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan, and discussed regional and international developments, as well as efforts to address them.

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High-octane stunts thrill crowd at sanctioned drifting event in Riyadh

June 29, 2026

RIYADH: More than 4,000 people attended an organized Hajwala, or drifting, event in Riyadh over the weekend, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Six professional drivers demonstrated their daring high-speed drifting skills, with 15 marshals overseeing the display.

Ambulance teams were on standby to provide emergency assistance in the event of accidents, but the event concluded without incident.

The show was held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation from Friday to Saturday and was the first in a series of planned events.

Coordination with the Riyadh region principality and relevant authorities ensured smooth traffic flow and an organized experience for attendees.

Drifting in Saudi Arabia began as a grassroots, illegal activity that saw mostly young men gather on highways on the outskirts of cities to perform high-octane stunts.

Over the years the authorities clamped down on illegal drifting, introducing harsher penalties to crack down on the unregulated, dangerous practice.

Illegal drifting carries heavy penalties including a SR20,000 ($5,300) fine and the vehicle being impounded for 15 days for first offenders, rising to a maximum fine of SR60,000 and imprisonment for third-time offenders.

Support from the government and motoring authorities, however, has allowed enthusiasts to practice the activity in safe, sanctioned events away from public thoroughfares and with emergency services available.

The event was held in the northern Banban district from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., with ticket prices starting at SR50.

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Kingdom leads G20 in public safety rankings

June 29, 2026

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia ranked first among G20 countries in the 2025 Safety Index, according to data from the UN Sustainable Development Goals indicators database released by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics on Monday.

The findings showed that 97.7 percent of the population feels safe walking alone at night in their neighborhoods, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also found that 94.9 percent of women, 97 percent of Saudi citizens, and 97.2 percent of people aged 60-64 feel safe walking alone at night in residential areas.

The results highlight the efforts of government agencies to maintain high levels of safety across the Kingdom, the SPA added.

It aligns with initiatives to strengthen security, stability, and quality of life across economic, food, environmental, health, social, political, intellectual, technological and cybersecurity sectors in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The General Authority for Statistics conducts its work using a unified methodology based on the Statistical Business Process Manual, which aligns with international statistical standards.

In a separate report, the authority said that 75.3 percent of Saudi Arabia’s population attended cultural events or activities in 2025. The figure reflects growing public participation in cultural activities across the Kingdom.

The data was released under the Raqam Saudi initiative, which highlights national achievements, promotes national pride and citizenship values, and showcases the role of official statistics in tracking progress toward the goals of Vision 2030 and sustainable development.

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KSrelief opens new medical complex in Syria

June 29, 2026

Saudi aid agency KSrelief inaugurated Al-Huda Medical Complex and its annexes in the Qudsaya suburb of Damascus, Syria, benefiting around 50,000 people.

The inauguration was attended by Syrian Health Minister Musab Al-Ali, Awqaf Minister Mohammad Abu al-Khair Shukri, and other senior officials.

The complex provides integrated primary healthcare services, including a dialysis center and clinics for pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, ENT, dentistry, and family medicine.

It includes a speech and hearing rehabilitation center, an autism rehabilitation unit, an emergency department, a medical laboratory, and a pharmacy.

Al-Ali described the complex as a valuable addition to Syria’s primary healthcare system and thanked the Saudi leadership for its continued support of the Syrian people.

The project reflects KSrelief’s efforts to strengthen Syria’s healthcare sector and expand access to sustainable, quality medical services.

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Makkah museum displays rare Qur’an printed in Kazan

June 29, 2026

MAKKAH: The Holy Qur’an Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah showcases rare Qur’anic artifacts, attracting visitors from across the Kingdom and around the world.

Among its highlights is one of the oldest printed copies of the Holy Qur’an, produced in Kazan in 1906. The Qur’an on display features scholarly commentaries and marginal annotations, reflecting generations of efforts to interpret and explain its verses.

The museum houses rare artifacts, manuscripts, and Qur’ans that trace key milestones in the writing and printing of the Holy Qur’an, enhanced by modern interactive display technologies.

Visitors can explore the history of the Holy Qur’an, from its revelation and compilation to its preservation and printing across different eras.

The district is one of Makkah’s leading cultural destinations, offering educational and enriching experiences for visitors.

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Europe

Europe’s Holocaust guilt is no longer protecting Israel

29 Jun, 2026

Relations between Israel and the EU are in a major crisis following Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s announcement of cutting contact with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas. This move was prompted by reports that during a visit to Mexico, Kallas compared Israel’s policy toward the Palestinians to the apartheid regime in South Africa.

This rhetoric provoked outrage in Israel. Gideon Saar viewed these statements as a manifestation of systemic bias against Israel and stated that contacts with Kallas would be frozen until she officially denies or retracts her remarks. Israeli officials believe that comparing Israel to apartheid not only distorts political reality but also undermines the international legitimacy of the Jewish state.

Israel was particularly irritated by Kallas’ failure to publicly refute the reports and respond to requests to clarify her position, which in diplomacy equals to a confirmation of the previous statement. Saar emphasized that such accusations constitute slander against the “only democracy in the Middle East” and will have repercussions.

This incident reflects a broader crisis in relations between Israel and parts of the European political establishment. Amid the ongoing war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian territories, as well as disputes over Israeli policy in the West Bank, differences are growing within the EU over the appropriate tone for dialogue with Israel. Some European countries (Spain and France) advocate for harsh pressure on the Israeli government, while others (Germany) fear that overly harsh language only destroys opportunities for negotiations and undermines the EU’s role as a mediator.

The scandal around Kallas’ remarks is also significant on another level: it demonstrates that Israel has become a highly sensitive topic in European foreign policy. Comparisons to apartheid are perceived in Israel not merely as criticism of specific government decisions, but as an attempt to question the moral and political foundations of the Jewish state. This is why the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s response was so harsh.

At the same time, this situation poses a significant diplomatic challenge for the EU. The EU High Representative is supposed to express the common position of all member states; however, when it comes to the Israel-Palestine issue, there’s been no unity within the EU for a long time. Against this backdrop, the personal conflict between Saar and Kallas is turning into a broader question about the EU’s ability to form a single stance on the Middle East.

Up until now, Israel had believed that Europe would remember its historical responsibility to the Jewish people. For decades, European-Israeli dialogue was built not only on diplomacy, trade, or security issues, but also on the difficult historical legacy of the 20th century. For Israel, the Holocaust is not just a tragic chapter of the past, but one of the fundamental arguments for Europe’s special relationship with the Jewish state. From the Israeli perspective, Europe has no moral right to accuse Israel of anything and throw around terms like “apartheid” or “racial segregation.” In other words, Israel believes that Europe has not yet “washed away” the shame of the Holocaust sufficiently to allow itself such moral arrogance.

However, the problem goes beyond Kallas’ statement. Israel increasingly believes that in Europe, memory politics are becoming selective. Europe readily speaks of the unacceptability of anti-Semitism, yet in some cases turns a blind eye to the glorification of forces and movements historically associated with violence against Jews, including the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UIA) in Ukraine. Israel should have taken heed of this much earlier: if Europe is willing to ignore inconvenient chapters of its history for the sake of political expediency, it means that in the future, it could apply the same logic to Israel.

It must be noted that for a long time Israel had ignored the problem and failed to take action on a diplomatic level. Instead of reminding the EU of the inadmissibility of historical revisionism, Israel often preferred caution, silence, or temporary compromises. Perhaps it hoped that Europe’s guilt before the Jewish people would itself act as a deterrent. But it turns out that political memory is not a given; when not defended properly, it soon becomes a bargaining chip.

Now, this approach has backfired on Israel. Despite speaking of its special responsibility before the Jewish people, Europe is increasingly adopting an accusatory tone. Moreover, some European politicians are acting as if the moral debt of the past has already been written off, and Israel no longer has the right to appeal to historical memory. Jerusalem’s painful reaction isn’t just due to the current conflict; it is concerned about the destruction of the tacit post-war consensus between Europe and Israel.

The US factor has also influenced Europe’s behavior. US President Donald Trump’s influence and his desire to reshape the foreign policy agenda have given European elites additional room to maneuver. While Washington is seeking new balance between its previous unconditional support for Israel and the desire to distance itself from the Middle Eastern crisis, Europe has decided to act more boldly and forcefully. In other words, Europe’s arrogance is partly explained by the weakening of the US shield over Israel.

But even if Trump were to change his tune, abandoning his excessively pro-Israel stance, things wouldn’t go back to the way they were before: the wheel has already been set in motion. European rhetoric has become harsher, diplomatic taboos have been broken, and Israel must come to terms with the fact that the historical memory of the Holocaust is no longer a guarantee of political protection in the West. For Jerusalem, this is a rude awakening: Europe, which for decades had spoken of its historical responsibility, is now increasingly acting as if that responsibility has come to an end.

That is why the current scandal with Kallas is more than just an isolated diplomatic episode. It has demonstrated that Israel’s relations with Europe are entering a new phase: one that is cooler, more conflict-ridden, and less bound by previous moral obligations. For many years, Israel had believed that Europe would remember its history; but now, Israel sees that historical memory does not guarantee political loyalty in the present.

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NATO and Kiev seek weapons to destroy Russian airfields – Moscow

29 Jun, 2026

NATO is openly helping Ukraine acquire weapons capable of destroying strategic targets deep inside Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. The latest joint arms development tender shows that the US-led bloc is actively integrating Ukraine into its structures, coming dangerously close to an open confrontation with Moscow, she warned.

Zakharova was referring to the €250,000 ($285,656) bidding contract announced in mid-June by NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) – one of the bloc’s two strategic commands – in cooperation with the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC). Created in February 2025, JATEC openly describes itself as “the first joint NATO-Ukraine organization in the NATO Command Structure.”

Although the contract does not mention Russia directly, it contains a clear reference to enhancing Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities with “solutions” capable of “persistent airport denial.” The project gives priority to various unmanned systems or loitering munitions capable of flying in signal-denied, electronic-warfare-contested environments and effectively striking runways, fuel reserves, and ground support facilities.

The tender stipulates that any “solutions” must be ready for combat deployment within 12 months and should not require extensive training for operators, with submissions due by late July.

The contract proves that NATO is accelerating Ukraine’s integration into its command structures as well as its military-industrial complex, Zakharova said on Monday. The bloc “is steadily losing what remains of its rationality and drifting into an increasingly high-risk zone” in a bid to turn Ukraine into a “testing ground” for emerging military technologies, she added.

However, NATO strategists are “clearly underestimating” the risk of further escalation of the Ukraine conflict into a direct confrontation with Moscow, the spokeswoman warned.

“With their recklessly aggressive actions, the Ukrainian-NATO partnership is giving the Russian military additional grounds to pay heightened attention to any enterprises involved in the development and production of weapons used against our country,” Zakharova said.

The development comes amid broader European militarization, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte consistently urging member states to adopt a “wartime mindset.” Top British and German defense officials recently urged citizens to accept “difficult choices” on military spending as NATO states move to hit targets of 5% of GDP. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius claimed last year that Russia could attack a NATO member “as early as 2028,” insisting on the need for a costly military buildup.

Moscow has consistently denied any intention of attacking NATO, dismissing such claims as “nonsense” used to whip up anti-Russian hysteria. President Vladimir Putin warned last week that the bloc was no longer hiding its preparations for war with Russia and was using false claims about the supposed “Russian threat” to justify rampant militarization.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in February that Russia has “no reason” to attack Europe unless struck first. Earlier, he also warned that the EU was sliding into what he called a militarist “Fourth Reich.”

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/russia/642374-nato-weapons-ukraine-russia-airfields/

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Crawley Borough Council defers decision on faith school

By Karen Dunn

June 29, 2026

Crawley Borough Council will not make a decision about plans to build a faith school next to a mosque until September.

The application from Jamiat-Ul-Muslemeen Quwat-Ul-Islam Masjed, to build a primary school on the site in Broadwood Rise, Broadfield, was deferred by members of the planning committee on Thursday (June 25).

This was the second time such an application had been put before the committee, with the last one refused in 2021 for reasons including over-development of the site, the loss of parking at the mosque, and harm to a designated area of ancient woodland.

Officers recommended the latest plans for refusal as well but, after three hours of discussions, the committee voted against their advice.

When it came to the ancient woodland, they felt that the current use of the site "significantly reduces its ecological value".

Labour councillor for Pound Hill North and Forge Wood Nick Hilton said: “The significant social, educational and economic benefits are considered to outweigh any residual harm.”

And Labour councillor for Ifield Julian Charatan called for a number of conditions to be included, such as an "enforceable and robust" traffic management plan – not just putting marshals in place one week and not the next.

Officers had some concerns with the "validity" of the wording being proposed and, after adjourning the meeting for almost half an hour, it was agreed to defer the decision so that the reasons for going against the recommendation could be "tested and discussed".

To view the application, log on to planningregister.crawley.gov.uk and search for CR/2022/0469/FUL.

Source: theargus.co.uk

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https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/26236588.crawley-borough-council-defers-decision-faith-school/

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Planning decision on already-built Aylesbury mosque remains unresolved one year later

By Nathaniel Lawson, Local Democracy Reporter

29 Jun 2026

Plans to create a mosque in Aylesbury, despite the work already having been carried out, remain undecided nearly a year later.

An application had first been received on July 11, 2025, for retrospective planning permission to establish a mosque at Unit 2 in Aylesbury Business Centre, located on Chamberlain Road.

With it subsequently being validated on July 31, however the application remains undecided, with the last document submitted in the council planning portal in October last year. According to the planning portal, under the important dates section, a determination deadline had been set for September 25 last year.

The application currently has 14 objections, none of which can be seen as Buckinghamshire Council hides public representations. The delay on the decision is understood to be due to the council waiting for further information from the applicant’s agent, in response to comments raised by consultees.

The submission is need as part of the council’s overall assessment on the application, and are believed to be the source of the delay. According to documents submitted with the application, the unit is already being used as a mosque, community centre, and educational facility.

Plans submitted outline the original layout of the building. On the ground floor, there was a reception area, informal breakout space, two multi-use meeting rooms, a community hall, toilets, storage areas, and a loading area. The first floor included four offices, a lobby, a second community hall, a kitchen, additional toilets, and another breakout area.

However, significant internal alterations have already been made. The ground floor has been reconfigured to include separate entrances for men and women.

A new kitchen, library, and security room have been constructed in the space that previously housed the reception and breakout areas. Four classrooms have been added, the staircase has been relocated, and 12 toilets—including two accessible ones—have been installed, along with multiple storage rooms.

Where the original loading area once stood, a mortuary and an additional kitchen have now been created. This area also features space for six cold body storage units, a wash table, and a newly installed staircase.

Upstairs, the former community hall and breakout space have been converted into a prayer hall, complete with an audio room and book hall at the rear. The space that previously contained four offices has been transformed into a meeting room and a first-floor kitchen.

Aylesbury Town Council said it had no objections to the plans. It said: “Provided that the parking survey highways has requested, also includes adequate highways safety measures for people entering and exiting the building.”

Source: bucksherald.co.uk

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https://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/politics/planning-decision-on-already-built-aylesbury-mosque-remains-unresolved-one-year-later-8767322

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Türkiye calls for stronger economic integration among Islamic countries

by Anadolu Agency

Jun 29, 2026

Türkiye on Monday urged for closer economic cooperation among Islamic countries, saying stronger production partnerships, investment collaboration, logistics, connectivity and integration are needed to boost their share of global trade.

"We need to increase the share Islamic countries receive from the world economy and trade. This will happen not only through efforts we make individually, but also through what we do together," Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said.

Yılmaz was speaking at an event held as part of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development meetings in Ankara.

The event, hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), brought together chamber representatives from 20 Islamic countries.

Yılmaz said the global economy is facing challenges including geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism, supply chain changes, financing constraints, digitalization and the green transition.

He said the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which has 57 members, accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world's population but only 10%-11% of global goods trade, highlighting significant untapped potential.

"This picture needs to change," he said. "In this context, we need more production partnerships, more cooperation in investments, logistics, connectivity and integration."

Trade with OIC countries reaches $118B

Yılmaz said Türkiye has played a leading role in advancing economic and commercial cooperation within the OIC.

Türkiye's economy grew from $238 billion in 2002 to more than $1.6 trillion in 2025, he said. He added that the country's exports of goods and services reached $396 billion last year and are expected to exceed $400 billion this year.

Türkiye's trade volume with OIC member countries reached $118 billion last year, while OIC member states have invested $27.3 billion in Türkiye since 2003, he said. Türkiye's direct investments in OIC countries totaled $15.2 billion over the same period.

Yılmaz said mutual investments should be increased to place trade relations on a stronger foundation.

He also pointed to the work of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the OIC (COMCEC), chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying it has supported economic and commercial cooperation among Islamic countries for more than 40 years.

Under COMCEC, 155 technical working group meetings have been held, 119 research reports have been prepared, and 209 projects have been supported, he said.

Yılmaz added that 38 projects have been implemented in Palestine under the COMCEC Al-Quds Program, while the COMCEC Syria Program will be implemented this year.

Intra-OIC trade target still not met

Yılmaz said Islamic countries have not yet reached their target of increasing intra-OIC trade to 25%.

"In fact, even this 25% is low. We need to target much more," he noted.

He said the OIC Preferential Trade System is one of the most important tools for reaching that goal, while the long-term objective should be to establish a free trade area among Islamic countries.

Yılmaz also underlined the importance of strengthening the OIC Arbitration Center for the fair and independent resolution of trade and investment disputes.

He said the world is moving from a low-cost production model toward resilient economic structures, making ties with nearby and friendly countries more important.

"In this important transformation process, we must increase our cooperation and turn this environment to our advantage," he said.

Yılmaz said Türkiye is also working to improve its investment climate and strengthen the Istanbul Financial Center (IFC), particularly through participation and Islamic finance instruments.

He welcomed a memorandum of understanding signed between TOBB and the Federation of Saudi Chambers, saying Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have positive economic and political relations.

Source: dailysabah.com

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https://www.dailysabah.com/business/economy/turkiye-calls-for-stronger-economic-integration-among-islamic-countries

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Germany could bring back conscription next year – senior MP

29 Jun, 2026

Germany could reinstate conscription as early as late July 2027 because its volunteer-based recruitment system is insufficient to meet Berlin’s military buildup plans, senior lawmaker Thomas Rowekamp has told AFP.

Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Germany has pursued a major recruitment drive, aiming to increase Bundeswehr personnel from the current 186,000 to 260,000 active soldiers and another 200,000 reservists by the mid-2030s, citing the supposed “Russian threat.”

Late last year, the German parliament passed the Military Service Modernization Act obliging all 18-year-old males to register for potential service by filling out a questionnaire and undergoing a medical checkup. Potential recruits are allowed to state they have no interest in joining the military in any capacity. The legislation, however, stipulates that recruits could be called up via lottery should the armed forces face manpower shortages.

Only 530 people volunteered for military service between January and May out of some 300,000 Germans who filled out the forms under the new law, AFP reported.

“In the first half of next year ... we will need to have a very fundamental discussion about whether we can achieve the very ambitious growth requirements for active forces and reservists on a voluntary basis,” Rowekamp, who heads the parliament’s defense committee and represents Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, told AFP over the weekend. He added that he had “serious doubts that we can.”

The MP insisted that Germany would have to “return to conscription” if it fails to meet the projected recruitment numbers. “We must take that decision by July 31 of next year,” he said.

The government’s policies sparked a wave of major youth demonstrations against the potential reintroduction of conscription earlier this year. In March, a thousands-strong ‘School strike against the draft’ took place in Berlin, with similar actions held in other German cities.

Germany abolished conscription in 2011. Senior German officials, including Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, have recently mulled bringing it back, citing the need to prepare for potential Russian “aggression.” Pistorius claimed last year that Russia could attack a NATO member “as early as 2028,” insisting on the need for a costly military buildup.

Merz also announced plans to transform the German army into the strongest conventional armed force in the EU.

Moscow has repeatedly dismissed claims that it poses a threat to European countries as “nonsense” and even suggested providing written guarantees that it has no plans to attack them.

President Vladimir Putin said last week that Western nations are openly preparing for war with Russia while using claims about a ‘Russian threat’ to justify their sweeping militarization.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that Germany and the wider EU are sliding into what he had called a militarist “Fourth Reich” with their military buildup drive.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/642366-american-pride-low-poll/

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King Charles loses historic ‘Defender of the Faith’ title

29 Jun, 2026

Buckingham Palace has dropped “Defender of the Faith” from King Charles’ official job description, swapping the 500-year-old title for a vaguer pledge to safeguard religion across Britain’s “multi-faith nation,” according to the UK’s annual royal finance report.

The Sovereign Grant report for 2025-2026, released on Friday, stipulates that “His Majesty is Supreme Governor of the Church of England and protects the space for Faith within the multi-faith nation.” The wording, however, differs significantly from last year’s version describing Charles as “Head of the Church of England and Defender of the Faith.” The title, however, remains on the royal family website.

The phrase “Defender of the Faith” dates back to 1521, when Pope Leo X granted it to Henry VIII after the king positioned himself as a staunch opponent of Martin Luther’s Reformation.

The change revives a debate that has trailed Charles for three decades. As Prince of Wales in 1994, he suggested that he would rather be “defender of faith” than “defender of the Faith,” indicating he wanted to represent all religions, not just Christianity.

During his coronation in 2023, he did not change the oath in this regard, but the preface of the vow said that the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.”

Religious messaging previously put Charles in hot water after he recorded a Ramadan greeting to British Muslims in February but would not deliver a personal Easter message, drawing accusations from Christian commentators that he was sidelining the church he formally leads. Following backlash, the royal family’s social media account posted a brief “Happy Easter” message, though Charles never made a personal address.

For comparison, Queen Elizabeth II never recorded a Ramadan message and issued only one dedicated Easter message during her rule – at the time of the 2020 Covid lockdown. She also traditionally recorded Christmas messages which mentioned other faiths beyond Christianity.

The latest amendment comes after an Ipsos poll last week put support for the monarchy at 55%, the lowest figure in decades, and down from a peak of 80% in 2012.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/642356-king-charles-loses-defender-of-faith/

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North America

CAIR Expresses Support for Irish Muslim Community After Suspected Arson Attack on Islamic Prayer Center

June 29, 2026

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed solidarity with Ireland’s Muslim community following a suspected arson attack on an Islamic prayer center in central Dublin.

According to Irish authorities, emergency services responded Monday afternoon to a fire at the Al-Madinah Islamic Prayer Hall on Talbot Street in Dublin. A suspect in the case has been arrested.

In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:

“We stand in solidarity with Ireland’s Muslim community as they respond to this disturbing attack on a house of worship. Every person deserves to worship in safety and without fear of violence or intimidation. We urge Irish authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure that Muslim communities receive the protection they deserve.”

Earlier this year, CAIR expressed support for Ireland’s Muslim community after an arson attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre in Limerick and condemned that act of hatred. CAIR also recently condemned racist riots targeting Muslim communities in Northern Ireland.

Last year, CAIR similarly expressed solidarity with the Muslim community in Ireland after two men were arrested for an alleged terrorist plot by a right-wing group to attack Galway Mosque.

CAIR urged Muslim community leaders to utilize CAIR’s “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-expresses-support-for-irish-muslim-community-after-suspected-arson-attack-on-islamic-prayer-center/

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CAIR Maryland Welcomes Sentencing for Threats to Black, Muslim Communities

June 29, 2026

The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR Maryland), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the sentencing of an Aberdeen man who admitted making online threats targeting Black and Muslim communities, as well as public officials and their families. The defendant was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty earlier this year to transmitting threats in interstate commerce.

In February, CAIR Maryland welcomed the defendant’s guilty plea, saying it sent a clear message that threats of violence targeting minority communities would not be tolerated.

In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:

“We welcome today’s sentence as another important step toward accountability for those who use online platforms to target Black, Muslim, and other vulnerable communities. Hate-filled threats are not protected expressions of opinion. They are criminal acts that inflict real fear, undermine public safety, and can inspire acts of violence.

“We thank federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies for pursuing this case and demonstrating that those who target minority communities with threats of violence will face serious consequences. At a time when hate incidents continue to impact communities across our nation, it is essential that authorities respond swiftly and decisively.”

Washington, D.C., based CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-maryland-welcomes-sentencing-for-threats-to-black-muslim-communities/

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CAIR-MI Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Threat Targeting Madison Heights Mosque

June 29, 2026

The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate recent threats targeting a mosque in Madison Heights, Michigan as a hate crime.

The American Islamic Community Center yesterday receiving two profanity laced audio messages in which the caller stated “I am going to make you blood… I am going to kill you. I am going to kill your people” and “We’re going to come and we’re going to come strong. We’re going to get rid of you one way or another.”

“We call on the local, state and federal law enforcement to use their full resources to investigate yesterday’s threats as a hate crime against the Madison Heights mosque,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “Given the recent terror attack on a mosque in San Diego, which led to three fatalities, such threats must be dealt with the utmost seriousness by law enforcement.”

He urged Muslim community leaders to utilize CAIR’s “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” bookletto help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.

Walid also noted that the American Islamic Community Center has a history of receiving threats and harassment relating to construction of a new mosque in neighboring Sterling Heights.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-calls-for-hate-crime-probe-of-threat-targeting-madison-heights-mosque/

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CAIR, CAIR-NY Call for Barring Entry of Genocidal Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Scheduled to Visit U.N. Headquarters in New York

June 29, 2026

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its New York chapter (CAIR-NY) today called on U.S. authorities to bar the entry of genocidal Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who reportedly plans to visit to United Nations headquarters in New York.

CAIR’s call follows reports that the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice alleging that Ben-Gvir bears criminal responsibility for war crimes, torture, crimes against humanity, and incitement to genocide committed against Palestinians. The complaint reportedly urges the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation and pursue legal action while Ben-Gvir is on U.S. soil.

Ben-Gvir is expected to attend an international conference for police chiefs and interior security officials at U.N. headquarters in New York on July 7-8.

[NOTE: For years, Ben-Gvir infamously kept a photo in his living room of Baruch Goldstein, the Israeli-American who massacred 29 Muslim worshipers at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in 1994.]

In a joint statement, CAIR and CAIR-NY said:

“No top official of the genocidal Israeli government should enjoy impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or acts of genocide. If our nation is truly committed to the equal application of international law and human rights principles, Israel’s genocidal National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir should be barred from entering the United States.

“For years, Ben-Gvir has directly overseen the torture and murder of kidnapped Palestinians in prisons he controls and advocated for the mass murder of Palestinians in Gaza. The rule of law cannot apply only to America’s adversaries while exempting officials from so-called allies.”

Washington, D.C., based CAIR noted that Ben-Gvir has repeatedly made statements advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and harsher treatment of Palestinian detainees. Human rights organizations have accused Israeli authorities of widespread abuses against Palestinian civilians and detainees during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

In a recent statement, CAIR called on Congress to condemn a video posted by Ben-Gvir depicting him longing to hang Palestinians using a new racist law passed by the Israeli Knesset.

CAIR also called for the United States to impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir and other members of the Israeli government responsible for the apartheid state’s prisons after a Palestinian journalist and others kidnapped by Israel recounted details of sexual assaults, including the use of various objects and dogs to sodomize them.

During the Biden administration, CAIR called on the Biden administration to condemn Ben-Gvir’s call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

Source: cair.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-cair-ny-call-for-barring-entry-of-genocidal-israeli-minister-itamar-ben-gvir-scheduled-to-visit-u-n-headquarters-in-new-york/

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Trump's final appeal of E Jean Carroll sex abuse case rejected

June 30, 2026

Ana Faguy

The US Supreme Court will not hear an appeal requested by President Donald Trump to review the civil case that found he defamed and sexually abused writer E Jean Carroll.

A New York jury awarded Carroll $5m (£3.6m) in damages in 2023 over her civil claim that Trump sexually assaulted her in the 1990s, and then branded the incident a hoax on social media.

Trump denied the allegations and repeatedly claimed that the judge who oversaw the civil trial improperly allowed evidence to be presented that affected how the jury viewed him.

A federal appeals court agreed with the jury's verdict last year and said a new trial was not warranted. Trump then asked the highest court to intervene.

The Supreme Court gave no details about their decision not to take up the case, as is customary.

It was Trump's final hope of overturning the jury's unanimous verdict and means he will have to pay Carroll the damages she had been awarded.

Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement that the Supreme Court's decision "affirms once and for all the jury's unanimous verdict that President Donald J Trump sexually assaulted and defamed E Jean Carroll".

"His multiple efforts to appeal that verdict have all failed and today's ruling ends his quest to avoid accountability for his actions," she added.

Carroll's counsel had not previously commented on the president's decision to bring a challenge to the Supreme Court.

In a lengthy Truth Social post after the ruling, Trump said he would continue to fight against the "Weaponization and Lawfare Case" including "the ridiculous claim of Defamation, with all of my power and strength".

"This Case is really against the United States of America, and all it stands for, and should never be allowed to happen to another President, or Candidate to be," he continued.

"New York State created a Law, for an instant speck of time, going back many decades, in order to wrongfully "nab" me. It was tailormade, and this Injustice cannot be allowed to stand!"

In the petition to the Supreme Court, Trump's lawyers argued Carroll's lawyer should not have let jurors see the 2005 Access Hollywood tape that showed the president talking about groping and kissing women.

Trump's comments about the jury's findings in the case led a separate jury to order him to pay Carroll $83m for defaming her. A panel of federal judges denied his appeal of that decision in September.

While Trump was found to have defamed and sexually abused Carroll, the jury rejected her claim of rape as defined in New York's penal code.

Carroll, a former magazine columnist who is now 81, sued Trump for attacking her in the mid-1990s in a department store dressing room in Manhattan. The defamation stemmed from Trump's post on his Truth Social platform in 2022 denying her claim.

Trump has said Carroll was "not my type" and that she had lied.

Source: bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8q2z5wpn2o

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US Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot challenge

30 Jun, 2026

The US Supreme Court on Monday narrowly rejected a challenge backed by President Donald Trump seeking to tighten mail-in ballot deadlines ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

In a 5-4 ruling, the court upheld a Mississippi law allowing ballots postmarked by election day to be counted if they arrive within five days.

“The election-day statutes require the electorate’s choice to be made on Election Day. That occurs so long as Election Day is the deadline for individuals to vote – as it is in Mississippi,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the majority.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing in dissent, argued that counting ballots received after Election Day “effectively postpones the date on which the electorate’s choice is made, and federal law precludes that postponement.”

Responding on Truth Social, Trump called the ruling a “tremendous loss” for voters’ rights and renewed his call for Congress to pass the Save America Act.

The proposed legislation would require voters to present photo identification and proof of citizenship and would sharply restrict mail-in voting.

“There is only one reason to oppose – CHEATING!” Trump wrote.

Trump has long pushed to tighten US election laws, claiming that widespread voter fraud cost him the 2020 presidential election against Joe Biden. Election rules vary widely across the US, with some states allowing voters to cast ballots without presenting photo identification or proof of citizenship.

Democrats and voting rights groups have argued that Trump’s proposals would make it harder for eligible Americans to vote, particularly minorities, low-income voters, and the elderly.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/642365-scotus-rejects-trump-mail-ballot-challenge/

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Africa

Warring parties in Mali committing serious rights abuses, HRW report finds

30 Jun, 2026

Warring parties in Mali are committing serious rights abuses, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Islamist fighters, Malian forces and government-backed foreign mercenaries have all committed serious abuses against civilians since fighting escalated in April, the NGO claims.

On April 25, al Qaeda-linked jihadists looking to overthrow the military junta joined forces with Tuareg fighters of the Azawad Liberation Front, killing Defense Minister Sadio Camara and seizing the northern town of Kidal.

The Malian army and Russian Africa Corps fighters have responded with apparent reprisals against Fulani communities and two apparent airstrikes killing civilians, HRW says.

The JNIM militants have imposed a blockade on the country’s capital, Bamako. In May, they burned more than 40 civilian vehicles trying to enter the city and publicly executed a man in Tonka, near Timbuktu.

“Longstanding impunity continues to fuel the cycle of abuses against civilians in Mali,” HRW’s senior Sahel researcher says, and called on the United Nations and African Union to support independent investigations into the abuses.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2026/06/29/warring-parties-in-mali-committing-serious-rights-abuses-hrw-report-finds/

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Security Operatives Rescue 7 Abducted NECO Candidates In Borno

June 29, 2026

Security operatives have rescued seven of the unspecified number of students sitting for the National Examinations Council examinations (NECO) at Lassa Day Secondary School who were abducted in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, on Monday.

This was confirmed in a terse statement on 𝕏 by presidential aide, Dada Olusegun.

Naija News understands that security operatives who carried out the rescue operation included the Army, Police and local Civilian Joint Task Force.

It would be recalled that gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters on Monday attacked Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attackers reportedly abducted an unspecified number of students who were writing the National Examinations Council examination.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the school around 9 am, shooting sporadically and causing panic among students, teachers and residents.

A teacher was reportedly killed during the attack, while another sustained injuries.

Confirming the incident, the Borno State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Nahum Daso, said some students were still unaccounted for.

Daso said security operatives, including the military, Civilian Joint Task Force and the area commander in Askira/Uba, had begun a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.

He said the team was combing the surrounding forests to rescue the abducted students and arrest the attackers.

The rescue of seven of the abducted students was confirmed to Punch by the Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar.

He added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining abductees.

“For now, seven of them have been rescued. We cannot confirm their gender yet. Assessment is still ongoing.

“We have sent a delegation to the community to assess the situation and build confidence in the minds of the residents,” Tar said.

Source: naijanews.com

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EU imposes visa restrictions on Somalis after readmission row with Mogadishu

30 Jun, 2026

The European Union is imposing new restrictions on visas for Somali nationals after a disagreement with Mogadishu over the return of irregular migrants to their home country.

Somalis will no longer be eligible for multiple-entry Schengen visas and the processing time for visa applications will increase to 45 days. Diplomatic passports won’t be exempt from fees or offered simplified procedures.

Brussels has complained of a lack of cooperation from Somalia over the return and readmission of its nationals deported from the EU.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud contested the EU’s criticism, saying Mogadishu will accept all Somalis. But he said many people claiming to be Somali were nationals from other countries, posing as Somali in order to be granted asylum in Europe.

Brussels has previously imposed similar measures on Ethiopia and The Gambia. But they’ve since been lifted after an improvement in cooperation over deported nationals.

Source: africanews.com

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Soldier, CJTF Member Die During Rescue Of Borno NECO Candidates, Teachers – Army

June 29, 2026

The Nigerian Army has confirmed the safe and successful rescue of ten National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP attack on Lassa Community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The rescue was confirmed in a statement on Monday by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, Maiduguri, Captain Mohammed Goni.

According to him, the Theatre Command scrambled both strike and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft from the Air Component of OPHK to support troops mobilised to the area for a coordinated search and rescue operation.

The spokesperson, however, disclosed that one soldier and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force lost their lives during the exchange of fire with the terrorists.

As earlier reported by Naija News, armed men invaded the school while the students were writing exams and abducted some of the students.

However, the Army confirmed that troops, in conjunction with other security operatives, engaged the abductors in a gun fight, leading to the rescue of some of the victims.

The statement by Goni added that efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims.

Below is the full statement.

TROOPS OF OPERATION HADIN KAI RESCUE ABDUCTED NECO CANDIDATES IN LASSA, INTENSIFY SEARCH FOR REMAINING VICTIMS

“Troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have successfully rescued ten National Examinations Council (NECO) candidates and teachers abducted during an ISWAP attack on Lassa Community in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The attack, which occured at about 0900 hours (9:00 a.m.) on Monday, 29 June 2026, targeted the Technical Secondary School while the students were writing exams. Immediately upon reciept of the incident, Theatre Command scrambled both strike and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircrafts from the Air Component of OPHK to support troops mobilised to the area for a coordinated search and rescue operation.

“The troops, with support from the air platforms overhead providing guidance, made contact around DAGGU and after the firefight, the operation has so far resulted in the successful rescue of ten victims, who were unhurt and are currently receiving the necessary care and support, while efforts remain ongoing to rescue the remaining victim and bring the perpetrators to justice. During the contact, troops out maneuvered the fleeing terrorists inflicting casualties on them and capturing seven of their motorcycles, significantly disrupting their escape.

“Regrettably, during the intense firefight, one gallant soldier of OPHK and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force made the supreme sacrifice during the intense exchange of fire with the terrorists. Their courage, selflessness and unwavering commitment exemplify the collective resolve of security forces and local volunteers who continue to risk their lives daily to protect innocent citizens and restore peace across the North East.

“In collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders, troops have intensified operations and sustained pressure on the terrorist elements responsible for the attack. Security measures across the affected area have also been reinforced to protect vulnerable communities, safeguard schools and prevent any recurrence. The incident further underscores the desperation of terrorist groups who, faced with sustained pressure from ongoing military operations, have resorted to attacking soft targets and vulnerable members of society in a futile attempt to sustain their campaign of terror. However, such cowardly acts will neither deter OPHK’s resolve nor diminish its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and restoring lasting peace and security across the North East.

“Operation HADIN KAI remains steadfast in its mandate to protect civilians, safeguard critical national infrastructure, and create a secure environment for educational activities and other essential services to thrive. Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and continue to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to facilitate prompt operational response. The public is also urged to disregard unverified reports and misinformation relating to this incident and rely only on updates issued through official channels, as ongoing operations may necessitate further verified updates.”

Source: naijanews.com

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Government Knows Location Of Bandits – Sani Bello

June 29, 2026

A former military governor of the old Kano State, Colonel Sani Bello (retd), has claimed that the Federal Government know the locations of notorious bandit leaders and possesses the capacity to eliminate them.

Bello asserted that Nigeria has the intelligence, equipment, and military capability required to confront armed groups effectively.

Naija News reports that Bello made the claim in an interview with Premier Radio Kano over the weekend.

He urged the Federal Government to integrate police personnel into military operations and recall retired soldiers to strengthen the fight against banditry and insurgency across Nigeria.

“Wherever these bandits are hiding, the government knows their locations. Security personnel know exactly where they are and how to reach them.

“If someone insults the Kano State governor today, they can be tracked by the following day because the authorities know their location. Yet bandits such as Turji continue to make provocative statements despite their whereabouts being known.

“Even an ordinary citizen can use Google Maps to locate places. Why then can’t the government? I maintain that the security agencies know where these criminals are.”

Bello insisted that Nigeria has the intelligence, equipment, and military capability required to confront armed groups effectively.

“The government may have its reasons for not pursuing and eliminating them one after another, but no one is above the authority of the state if there is the political will to act.

“They know where these criminals are and have the equipment needed to track them. How can they continue using mobile phones or appearing on social media if they cannot be traced?

“Some people argue that Nigeria lacks the weapons to prosecute this war effectively. That is simply not true. We have surveillance drones, artillery capable of striking targets within a 25-kilometre range, and military aircraft. Do the bandits have aircraft? They do not. They cannot match the sophisticated weapons and technology available to the government,” he said.

The retired army officer and diplomat, who governed the old Kano State between 1975 and 1978, however, commended troops on the front lines, saying they were overstretched because of the scale of insecurity across the country.

“Our troops are doing their best. Insecurity has spread across many parts of Nigeria, making the task increasingly difficult. We need to increase troop numbers substantially and treat this as a national emergency rather than addressing it in a piecemeal manner,” he said.

Drawing on his experience during the Nigerian Civil War, Bello recalled how the country rapidly expanded its military strength by recruiting personnel from the then Native Authority Police, popularly known as ’Yan Doka, and recalling retired servicemen.

“Before the civil war, the Nigerian Army, including the Biafran side, had barely more than 10,000 personnel. Federal forces numbered just over 8,000 at the outbreak of the war. Through intensive recruitment, the strength of the army grew to more than 200,000 by the end of the conflict,” he explained.

According to him, police officers would require only limited additional training before deployment because they already possess basic military discipline.

“If police personnel are integrated into the military, they do not need to be taught basic drills. What they require is combat orientation, weapons handling, and battlefield tactics, which can be completed within a week,” Bello said.

Source: naijanews.com

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‘Politicians Risk Lives Of Adhoc Officers, Don’t Care About Your Life’ – Amaechi

June 29, 2026

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has claimed that Nigerian politicians steal result sheets at the risk of the lives of ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Naija News learnt that Amaechi made this known while addressing a group of youths in a video making the rounds online on how to secure their votes.

The former Governor of Rivers State also claimed that politicians do not care about citizens and warned parents against allowing their children to serve as ad hoc staff.

Amaechi also urged Nigerians to always insist that their votes be counted at the polling units during elections and uploaded.

He said, “On the day of election in your Ward and in your Unit, you finish voting, you stand for the counting. I have been a politician all my life, I have never worked anywhere before.

“I left university in 1987 and joined politics that same year, so you won’t teach me, unit level is where they vote.

“Politicians steal result sheets at the unit level risking the life of the INEC adhoc officer. As he comes, show us the result sheet or you are not going because politicians don’t care about your life, some parents must stop their children who want to be adhoc staff.

“If there is a result sheet, we will queue up and when they finish counting, if you don’t upload it you are not going

“If we finish the election and there are one million persons in front of INEC and trust me if you do all these, ADC can mobilize one million people to INEC office.

“Don’t forget that there is an election that would have been rigged in Nigeria, the election that made Kwankwaso governor, how many of you remember that, when they looked outside and saw 500 persons what did they do, they announced.”

Source: naijanews.com

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Southeast Asia

Malaysia’s nuclear footprint is bigger than many realise, stretching from rice fields to cancer wards

By R. Loheswar

30 Jun 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — As conflict in the Middle East threatens to disrupt global energy markets and reignite concerns over fuel prices, Malaysia’s long-dormant nuclear ambitions are once again returning to the spotlight.

With the government expecting the country to feel the effects of higher energy costs in the coming months, policymakers have increasingly spoken about the need to diversify Malaysia’s energy sources and strengthen long-term energy security.

In recent months, discussions surrounding nuclear energy have resurfaced, prompting questions about whether Malaysia is finally moving closer to joining the ranks of countries that generate electricity through nuclear power.

Where exactly does the country stand today?

The answer, according to the National Nuclear Technology Policy (DTNN) 2030, is that Malaysia already possesses a sizeable nuclear ecosystem — just not one centred on electricity generation.

While public discussions have largely focused on nuclear power plants, the government’s roadmap reveals nuclear technology is already being used across agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, research and environmental monitoring.

In many ways, Malaysia’s nuclear journey began decades ago.

Malaysia has operated the Triga Puspati research reactor since 1982, making it one of the longest-running nuclear facilities in South-east Asia. Run by Nuclear Malaysia, the reactor is used for research, training and the production of radioisotopes for medicine, agriculture and industry.

One of the country’s lesser-known nuclear success stories, however, can be found not in a laboratory, but in paddy fields.

According to the policy document, Malaysia has developed more than 30 crop and seed varieties through mutation breeding, a technique that uses radiation to improve plant traits.

Among the most successful is the IS21 rice variety, which received international recognition from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Nuclear technology also plays a significant role in healthcare.

The policy paper notes that Malaysia had 38 radiotherapy centres, 36 nuclear medicine centres and more than 1,700 radiology facilities nationwide as of 2019.

For thousands of cancer patients, nuclear technology is already part of everyday treatment through diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy and specialised medical procedures.

Yet the government’s ambitions extend further.

Under the DTNN 2030, Malaysia aims to strengthen local capabilities in designing, developing and manufacturing nuclear-related devices, equipment and reactor components while increasing participation in the global nuclear technology supply chain.

By 2030, the government projects exports of nuclear technology products and services could reach RM2.403 billion annually.

These are just some of the initiatives under the DTNN 2030.

The roadmap goes much further, covering everything from infrastructure development and human capital training to radioactive waste management, nuclear safety and security, research capabilities and international cooperation.

The policy also outlines plans to strengthen environmental monitoring capabilities using nuclear analytical techniques and expand the country’s pool of nuclear scientists, engineers and specialists.

Taken together, the initiatives suggest Malaysia is building many of the capabilities associated with an advanced nuclear nation, even if it has yet to commit to nuclear electricity generation.

That distinction is important.

Despite recent discussions on nuclear power, the DTNN 2030 is primarily focused on expanding peaceful nuclear applications rather than setting out a roadmap for constructing a nuclear power plant.

Nevertheless, the foundations being developed are the same building blocks required by countries pursuing broader nuclear programmes.

Nurhisham Hussein, Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser, recently argued that nuclear energy may ultimately be necessary for Peninsular Malaysia’s long-term electricity needs, saying solar power alone could not provide stable baseload generation while the peninsula lacked the hydropower resources available in Sabah and Sarawak.

He described nuclear energy as “the way to go” for Peninsular Malaysia, while acknowledging that any move would require extensive public education, policy reforms, international agreements and a comprehensive waste management framework.

The policy itself acknowledges that Malaysia remains at an early stage compared with more advanced nuclear nations despite more than four decades of experience in the sector.

For now, however, the country’s nuclear footprint is already larger than many Malaysians realise.

Source: malaymail.com

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PM: Malaysia, Indonesia committed to strengthening cooperation in legislation, governance

29 Jun 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, June 29 — Malaysia and Indonesia are committed to strengthening cooperation in the fields of legislation, governance and various strategic areas of mutual interest, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said he discussed the matter with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction, Prof Dr Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who paid him a courtesy call at the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya today.

During the meeting, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said both leaders also exchanged views on efforts to strengthen cooperation in those fields.

“May the close fraternal relations and cooperation between the two countries continue to be strengthened for the progress, peace, and well-being of the people of Malaysia and Indonesia,” he said. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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PM: Malaysia, Indonesia committed to strengthening cooperation in legislation, governance

29 Jun 2026

During the meeting, Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said both leaders also exchanged views on efforts to strengthen cooperation in those fields.

Source: malaymail.com

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MPR pushes Indonesia-Uzbekistan direct flights to boost ties

June 29, 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Ahmad Muzani, is pushing for the opening of direct flights between Indonesia and Uzbekistan to support religious tourism and strengthen bilateral ties between the two Muslim-majority nations.

He raised the proposal during a meeting with the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Tanzila Narbayeva, in Uzbekistan on Monday, local time.

In a written statement received in Jakarta, Muzani noted that direct flights would ease travel for Indonesians wishing to visit the tomb of Imam Bukhari in Uzbekistan before continuing their Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

"Uzbekistan's religious tourism potential holds great appeal for Indonesian pilgrims who want to visit Imam Bukhari's tomb before embarking on Umrah. This means that before performing Umrah in Mecca and Medina, Indonesian pilgrims can transit in Uzbekistan," he said.

Beyond enhancing connectivity, Muzani and Narbayeva also discussed opportunities for cooperation in the halal industry.

He noted that both nations possess significant potential to develop the sector, given their shared status as Muslim-majority countries.

The MPR speaker assessed that the halal industry is now not only related to religious needs but has also developed into a global economic sector that continues to grow.

"The global Muslim population continues to grow rapidly and is projected to reach nearly 30 percent of the world's total population by 2030. This represents a massive consumer base that requires assurance of products that align with Sharia principles," he said.

Therefore, he hoped that Indonesia and Uzbekistan could strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in developing the halal industry.

Muzani also touched upon the long-standing historical ties between the two nations, highlighted by the visit of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno, who had expressed a deep desire to visit the tomb of Imam Bukhari.

"From that point onward, friendship and bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Uzbekistan have continued to thrive to the present day," he said, expressing hope that ties would further expand across the economic, tourism, and interparliamentary sectors.

Source: antaranews.com

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Syed Saddiq to skip Johor election campaign after Federal Court ruling postponed

30 Jun 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman will sit out the Johor election campaign as the Federal Court has postponed its decision on his appeal against an acquittal in his graft case involving Armada funds.

According to Free Malaysia Today, Syed Saddiq said the delay means he will now have to wait another two weeks before the court delivers its ruling, shifting his focus back to his ongoing legal battle.

He said the postponement came as a setback after years of court proceedings.

“Obviously, I hoped there would be finality today, especially after six gruelling years of seeking justice, but now I will have to wait another two weeks,” he told reporters at the Palace of Justice.

“During that time, I will continue working with my lawyers and family as we pursue the justice we seek in court. My priority is to clear my name,” he said.

Johor goes to the polls on July 11, just two days before the new date fixed for the Federal Court’s decision on July 13. Muda is contesting four state seats — Puteri Wangsa, Bukit Batu, Maharani and Simpang Jeram.

Earlier, The Star reported that the ruling was postponed after one of the Federal Court judges on the three-member panel, Justice Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali, fell ill and was placed on medical leave.

Court of Appeal president Justice Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, who chaired the panel, said the court could not proceed in the absence of the full bench.

“We are ready with the decision, but this is the unfortunate event that happened today,” he was quoted as saying.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who leads the prosecution team, said such postponements were part of court proceedings.

“We, from the prosecution, pray for Justice Che Mohd Ruzima’s recovery. These things happen. We only need to be patient,” he said when contacted.

In 2021, Syed Saddiq was charged with abetting then Bersatu Youth assistant treasurer Rafiq Hakim Razali, who was entrusted with RM1 million in Armada funds, to commit criminal breach of trust.

He was also accused of misusing RM120,000 from Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise’s Maybank Islamic account between April 8 and 21, 2018.

The remaining two charges involve money laundering, each involving RM50,000, allegedly transferred into his Amanah Saham Bumiputera account on June 16 and 19, 2018, in Johor Bahru.

On November 9, 2023, the High Court convicted him on all four charges, sentencing him to seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the rotan and a RM10 million fine.

However, on June 25 last year, the Court of Appeal unanimously acquitted him, overturning the conviction.

The prosecution subsequently filed an appeal to the Federal Court seeking to restore the High Court’s decision.

Source: malaymail.com

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Anwar: Selangor and Penang aside, all states receive higher development funds than they give in tax

30 Jun 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Datuk Seri Anwar told Parliament today that all states except Selangor and Penang receive higher development allocation than the tax they contribute, as he again denied accusations of unfair treatment.

Taking questions during Prime Minister’s Question Time this morning, Anwar said Selangor and Penang get “more or less the same” development funds relative to their tax contributions.

The two states are the industrial hearts of the country, contributing the most in tax revenue.

“All states get more compared to previous (administrations) and relative to what they contribute in tax.

“So this counters the allegations that the two states get favourable allocation,” he said.

Selangor’s average tax revenue from 2023 to 2025 was RM43.6 billion.

During that same period, the federal government allocation spent on Selangor was RM15 billion, Anwar said.

For Penang, the average revenue obtained by the federal government from 2023 to 2025 was RM10.7 billion while the expenditure was RM7.9 billion.

Anwar has had to defend against allegations that his administration treats Perikatan Nasional-held states, even as data indicated increased funding as his administration looks to overturn decades of underdevelopment.

Kelantan, held by PAS for the past 36 years, recorded an average revenue of RM946 million from 2023 to 2025, but federal expenditure over the same period was RM8.9 billion.

Kedah, also under PAS administration, recorded RM3.7 billion in revenue from federal tax collection, while federal allocations to the state totalled RM9.5 billion.

Terengganu contributed RM1.2 billion over the same two years, with an additional RM1.2 billion from oil revenue, bringing total revenue collected to RM2.4 billion.

Anwar said the state received RM7.8 billion during the same period.

Perlis contributed RM419 million in tax collection while federal expenditure in the state was RM2.2 billion.

Johor, while was governed by Barisan Nasional and currently part of the federal ruling coalition, generated RM14 billion in tax collection, while federal expenditure in the state was RM16 billion.

“And this is an increase for all states, but we defend this decision based on urgent needs, namely those projects I have listed, including poverty eradication, upgrading infrastructure facilities, schools, and so on, especially for poor and marginalised communities,” Anwar said.

Source: malaymail.com

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‘Pray for him’: Syed Saddiq’s fiancée Bella Astillah arrives at Federal Court ahead of final appeal verdict

30 Jun 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s fiancée, Bella Astillah, arrived at the Federal Court here this morning ahead of the prosecution’s final appeal against his acquittal on four charges involving criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of property and money laundering.

Dressed in a yellow baju kurung, the 33-year-old arrived at about 7.55am accompanied by members of her family, Sinar Harian reported.

When approached by reporters and asked about her hopes for the outcome of the case, Bella simply replied: “Pray for him.”

She then entered the courtroom to join Syed Saddiq’s parents, who had arrived earlier at about 7am.

The Federal Court is expected to decide today whether the 34-year-old former youth and sports minister will remain acquitted or have his conviction reinstated, which carries a sentence of seven years’ imprisonment, two strokes of the cane and a RM10 million fine.

A three-member bench led by Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, sitting with Datuk Che Mohd Ruzima Ghazali and Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, is scheduled to deliver its decision after previously hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defence.

The proceedings mark the prosecution’s final avenue of appeal, with Syed Saddiq appearing as the respondent.

Source: malaymail.com

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Indonesia turns to Felda playbook to transform newly secured border land

30 Jun 2026

JAKARTA, June 30 — Malaysia’s Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has been highlighted in Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) as a successful model for managing agricultural land and improving rural livelihoods, with elements of the scheme proposed for the development of newly recognised border areas.

The proposal was put forward by Chairman of DPR Commission II, Muhammad Rifqinizamy Karsayuda, during a hearing on Monday with Home Minister Tito Karnavian, who also heads Indonesia’s National Border Management Agency (BNPP).

DPR Commission II oversees home affairs, regional administration, agrarian affairs, and land issues.

Citing Felda as a model, Muhammad Rifqinizamy said Malaysia’s experience demonstrated how state-managed land development and plantation could improve rural livelihoods.

“There are good things from Malaysia that we should acknowledge. Back in the 1970s, Malaysia introduced the New Economic Policy centred on land redistribution. Poor families were allocated land under Felda, while plantations were managed under an organised system and settlers worked on their own land.

“People were not simply given fertiliser and seedlings and then left to their own devices. Felda was organised through a state holding, so there had to be standards for the industry. During the early years, they received wages, and once the plantations became productive, they also shared in the returns,” he said during the session, which was streamed live on YouTube.

Muhammad Rifqinizamy raised the proposal while discussing the future management of about 5,207.7 hectares in the Sinapat and Sesai border segments, following the latest Indonesia–Malaysia border delimitation agreement.

He said the land has yet to be assigned legal status despite the boundary agreement, and argued that the process should have commenced immediately after the agreement was concluded. He noted that much of the area comprises oil palm plantations previously managed by a Malaysian plantation company.

Referring to the Felda model, he proposed placing the land under Indonesia’s Land Bank before cultivation rights are granted to state-owned Agrinas and local communities, with Agrinas serving as the offtaker to ensure plantations remain professionally managed while providing residents with sustainable sources of income.

He said such an approach would allow the government to not only continue improving housing and infrastructure in border areas, but also provide residents with productive land that could become a long-term source of livelihood. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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South Asia

Islamic Emirate Summons Pakistani Chargé d’affaires Lodges Strong Protest Over Airstrikes

June 30, 2026

KABUL: The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday that it has summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul to formally convey its strong protest over the violations of Afghan airspace and airstrikes targeting civilian homes in Kunar, Paktia, and Paktika provinces.

According to the statement, the ministry condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, calling them a clear violation of international law, humanitarian principles, and the sovereignty of states.

The ministry also accused Pakistan’s military leadership of repeatedly attempting to shift attention from its internal political and security challenges by making what it described as unfounded allegations against Afghanistan.

According to the statement, such actions undermine mutual trust, damage bilateral relations, and threaten regional peace, security, and stability.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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Over 367,000 Jeribs of Public Pasture Identified in Jawzjan, Ministry

June 30, 2026

KABUL: The Ministry of Justice of the Islamic Emirate said in a statement on Monday that the Commission for the Prevention of Land Grabbing has identified more than 367,000 jeribs of public pasture across Jawzjan Province.

The land is located in the provincial capital and six districts and has been officially recognized as public pasture, as part of ongoing efforts to protect state-owned land and prevent illegal appropriation, the statement said.

“The move is part of broader measures aimed at preventing illegal land appropriation and ensuring that public and government-owned lands are safeguarded for lawful use and future generations,” the statement said.

The statement added that the identification process was carried out after detailed field surveys and documentation conducted bythe relevant authorities in coordination with local offices.

Similar efforts are continuing in other provinces of the country to review land ownership records, resolve disputes, and distinguish public property from private holdings, the statement added.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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UNODC Urged to Reflect Afghanistan’s Anti-Drug Achievements in Global Report

June 30, 2026

KABUL: Shaikh Abdul Rahman Munir, Deputy Minister for Counter-Narcotics of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, has called on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to ensure that the country’s efforts in combating narcotics are accurately and fairly reflected in its upcoming global report.

The request came during a meeting with Polak Ouk Serey, Head of the UNODC Office, who said the organization’s next global report would present the Islamic Emirate’s achievements in drug prevention and counter-narcotics based on facts and in a balanced manner, according to a statement from the ministry on Monday.

Munir expressed hope that Afghanistan’s progress in preventing drug production and trafficking would be represented truthfully and impartially, emphasizing that the fight against narcotics is a shared international responsibility requiring continued global cooperation.

He also highlighted recent successes by Afghan security forces in disrupting drug trafficking networks and preventing narcotics smuggling along major highways across several provinces.

The deputy minister further urged UNODC to expand practical cooperation in supporting alternative livelihood programs for farmers, saying sustainable economic opportunities are essential to replacing poppy cultivation and other illicit crops.

The two sides also discussed strengthening cooperation between Afghanistan and UNODC while ensuring that international assessments accurately reflect developments in the country’s ongoing counter-narcotics efforts.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://www.thekabultimes.com/unodc-urged-to-reflect-afghanistans-anti-drug-achievements-in-global-report/

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Pak Military Regime’s Airstrikes Kill 38, Injure 163 Civilians in Eastern Provinces, Fitrat Says

June 30, 2026

KABUL: Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said in a statement on Monday that the Pakistani Military Regime’s forces carried out overnight airstrikes on residential areas in the Giyan district of Paktika, Chamkani district of Paktia, and Manogai district of Kunar Province, killing 38 people and injuring 163 others, including women and children.

According to Fitrat, the deadliest attack occurred in Chamkanidistrict of Paktia Province, where civilians had gathered to recover bodies and assist the wounded following an initial strike.

He said the area was hit again during the rescue effort, resulting in 30 deaths and 158 injuries.

The deputy spokesman added that Afghan Air Force personnel promptly arrived at the scene and transported the injured to hospitals for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, said in a statement on early Monday morning that the Pakistani Military Regime’s forces carried out overnight airstrikes on residential areas in the Giyan district of Paktika, Chamkani district of Paktia, and Manogai district of Kunar Province, killing dozens of civilians.

The Islamic Emirate strongly condemned the attacks, calling them a “crime” and a “barbaric act” against civilians, Mujahid said, adding that the strikes constituted a blatant violation and stressing that such actions are unacceptable.

A few weeks ago, the Pakistani aircraft also carried out airstrikes in the eastern provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika, and according to the Afghan officials, those attacks killed at least 13 civilians, including 11 children and wounded 14 others, most of whom were women and children.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://www.thekabultimes.com/pak-military-regimes-airstrikes-kill-38-injure-163-civilians-in-eastern-provinces-fitrat-says/

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Refugees Ministry Signs MoU to Support Vulnerable Families in Nangarhar

June 30, 2026

KABUL: The country’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement on Monday that it has signed a cooperation agreement worth $537,855 with a humanitarian organization to provide protection services for vulnerable people in Nangarhar Province.

The project will benefit 10,343 internally displaced persons, returnees, and members of host communities by delivering essential protection and support services, the statement said.

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to assist vulnerable populations and improve conditions for families affected by displacement, the statement added.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://www.thekabultimes.com/refugees-ministry-signs-mou-to-support-vulnerable-families-in-nangarhar/

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Make progress in killing, disappearance trials visible

June 30, 2026

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday called for visible progress in the trials over enforced disappearances, killings, and other alleged atrocities committed during what he described as “the country’s fascist rule.”

Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in parliament, he also urged the government to increase allowances for all freedom fighters, reopen Ad-din Medical College Hospital on “humanitarian and logical” grounds, and put an end to what he called “the political practice of cutting the opposition into pieces.”

Referring to the trials over enforced disappearances and killings, Shafiqur said victims and their families had expected quicker progress after the “democratic government” assumed office four months ago.

He added that accountability should extend beyond public acknowledgement.

“This is not only a matter of social recognition; there must also be judicial accountability. All perpetrators, regardless of how powerful or influential they may be, must be brought to justice.”

The opposition leader urged the government to bring all victims of enforced disappearances and killings over the past 17-and-a-half years under state consideration and strengthen the recognition already accorded to those killed during the July uprising.

On parliamentary politics, he described the treasury and opposition benches as the “two wheels” of parliament, saying one could not function effectively without the other.

On the proposed budget, Shafiqur welcomed the increase in allowances for decorated freedom fighters but said the benefit should be extended to all freedom fighters.

Referring to the closure of Ad-din Medical College Hospital, he said those found responsible should face trial and punishment following a proper investigation. However, he warned that keeping the hospital closed without alternative arrangements would jeopardise the academic future of hundreds of students.

He said around 750 medical students and a similar number of nursing students were affiliated with the institution.

“Our response should be humanitarian and logical,” he said, urging the government to reopen the hospital without delay.

Shafiqur also proposed aligning Bangladesh’s fiscal year with the calendar year, from January to December, instead of the current July-June cycle, arguing that the move would reduce year-end spending pressures and curb waste and corruption.

He also suggested placing budget implementation review reports before parliament every three to four months.

The opposition leader criticised the proposed budget for lacking a clear roadmap for recovering money allegedly laundered abroad.

He said recovering even a fraction of the funds would significantly reduce the budget deficit and urged the government to pursue legal measures with the relevant countries to bring the money back.

Shafiqur also called for bringing Qawmi and Ebtedayee madrasas under budgetary support, including eligible educational institutions in the MPO scheme, transforming universities into research-oriented institutions, increasing investment in education and healthcare in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, strengthening healthcare infrastructure and workforce, forming a parliamentary task force for expatriate Bangladeshis, and dismantling labour recruitment syndicates, particularly those linked to the Malaysian job market.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/make-progress-killing-disappearance-trials-visible-4211851

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Islamic World News ( 30 Jun 2026, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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