‘Choice Of Faith Protected’: Calcutta High Court Sets Aside Premature Retirement Of Bank Officer Amid Discrimination Claim
New Age Islam News Bureau
12 May 2026
The petitioner had joined the respondent authority - United Bank of India (at present Punjab National Bank) on April 1, 1981. (Image is generated using AI)
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· ‘Choice of faith protected’: Calcutta High Court sets aside premature retirement of bank officer amid discrimination claim
· Israeli strikes kill six in south Lebanon: state media
· Saudi FM discusses mediation efforts aimed at ending Mideast crisis with Iran, Pakistan counterparts
· OTS chief, Azerbaijan's top cleric discuss strengthening interfaith dialogue
· Trump considering resuming airstrikes as talks with Iran stall – Axios
· Alleged Coup Plot: Islamic Cleric Claims Organisers Sought Spiritual Support
· PM Anwar congratulates Vijay on election as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
· Afghan Soil Will Not Be Used Against Any Country, Mujahid Emphasizes
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India
· NCW flags 'pervasive sexual harassment', 'zero POSH compliance' at TCS Nashik in report to Maharashtra govt
· Omar Abdullah presses Amit Shah again for Jammu and Kashmir statehood demand
· Srinagar Diary: Mehbooba alleges corruption in Omar's government
· Strait of Hormuz blockade triggers fertiliser squeeze ahead of Kharif season
· Bakrid 2026 date in India: When is Eid al-Adha?
· Omar Abdullah faces backlash over liquor remarks as PDP escalates attack in Kashmir
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Mideast
· Syria says two soldiers killed in attack in northeast
· Israeli police kill Palestinian, 30, in West Bank
· Palestinian shot and detained by Israeli forces last month dies in hospital
· Israeli lawmakers set up a special tribunal and allow for death penalty for Hamas-led 2023 attackers
· Israel’s military said a Palestinian family could bury their father. Then the settlers arrived
· Jordanian king meets commander of army task force helping to combat threats along borders
· Al-Shaibani says Syria seeks long-term partnership with EU at Brussels forum
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Arab World
· Kingdom displays literary, Islamic heritage in Rabat
· Religious guidance program launched for Hajj pilgrims
· Saudi Arabia provides 24,000 meals for Palestinians
· Saudi FM arrives in the UK on official visit
· Saudi Culture Ministry opens applications for non-profit support program
· Saudi Arabia’s EP governor receives Dominican ambassador
· Saudi teen recognized for her work in science
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Europe
· Four men remanded in custody over alleged plot to attack a mosque in Co Galway
· Man charged with disturbing place of worship after allegedly making threats at north Brisbane mosque
· Has Amsterdam banned meat adverts to avoid offending Muslims?
· Arrest made after swastika painted on wall at Shrewsbury Muslim Centre
· Denmark’s pro-Ukraine PM is on the way out – who will replace her?
· Nearly $22 billion secretly shipped to Ukraine – Austrian politician
· Berlin and Kiev to jointly develop ‘deep strike’ capabilities – German defence minister
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North America
· US in closely guarded talks to open new bases in Greenland
· Paladino Settles With Council Over Anti-Muslim Tweets
· Capital Region Muslim leader reflects on 50 years of community
· CAIR-Oregon Welcomes Resignation of Officer Over Racist Comments Caught on Bodycam
· CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Australian Muslim Community After Shooting Threat at Brisbane Mosque
· Trump says Iran ceasefire is on 'massive life support'
· When titans talk: What’s at stake for Trump’s China visit?
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Africa
· The Result Was Predetermined – Fubara Loyalists Reject APC Screening Report
· Seyi Tinubu Has Never Insulted Allah – City Boy Movement Addresses Blasphemous Report
· Osun Boils As Adeleke Summons Emergency Security Meeting Over Fresh Attacks
· Ramaphosa says he will not resign as South Africa moves toward impeachment inquiry
· M23 pulls back from eastern DRC towns as ceasefire pressure mounts
· France and Kenya enter new partnerships in arts, sports, and technology
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Southeast Asia
· Temple terror: Man held after sword attack during Cameron Highlands ceremony
· No haj fraud complaints yet, monitoring stepped up for pilgrims
· Pig farming not sole cause of Sungai Kereh pollution, says state exco
· 57 Gaza aid vessels ready to resume mission
· Public to access global supply crisis dashboard from May 15, says Akmal
· Penang open to hosting music rave festivals with right venues, budget, sponsors, says exco
· Johor polls not discussed during audience with King, Regent, says Zahid
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South Asia
· Public participation must be ensured in tree plantation prog: Nazrul Islam Khan
· EU plans Brussels meeting with Kabul officials over Afghan deportations: AFP
· UN Provides Emergency Aid To 27,000 People In Balkh And Jawzjan
· Afghanistan’s Participation in Upcoming World Urban Forum Discussed
· Collection of Speeches by Amir al-Muminin Published, Fitrat
· Noori Stresses Role of Afghans in Economic Growth, National Unity
· Aga Khan, ALIPH Foundations to Expand Cultural Heritage Projects in Country
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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‘Choice of faith protected’: Calcutta High Court sets aside premature retirement of bank officer amid discrimination claim
Somya Panwar
May 11, 2026
The petitioner had joined the respondent authority - United Bank of India (at present Punjab National Bank) on April 1, 1981. (Image is generated using AI)
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Calcutta High Court news: Coming to the relief of a bank employee who claimed that caste-based discrimination forced him to convert from Hinduism to Islam, the Calcutta High Court recently held that the right to practise and change one’s religion is protected under Article 25 of the Constitution, and no adverse administrative action can be taken based on a person’s faith.
Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay was hearing the plea of the man, who had served for more than 30 years at the United Bank of India (Punjab National Bank at present), claiming that after converting to Islam, he became a victim of targeted harassment, inviting retaliatory measures cloaked as administrative action.
“Equally fundamental is the guarantee under Article 25, which secures to every individual the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practise and propagate religion. The petitioner’s assertion regarding change of religion, whether arising from personal conviction or otherwise, falls squarely within the protective ambit of this constitutional guarantee. No adverse administrative consequence can be predicated upon an individual’s choice of faith,” the May 5 order said.
Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay Calcutta High Court Justice Ananya Bandyopadhyay heard the matter on May 5.
“The merger of the respondent bank with Punjab National Bank does not abdicate its responsibilities in dealing with the service records of the petitioner in its proper statutory perspective,” the Calcutta High Court added.
Allegation related to caste and religion
The court reiterated that constitutional guarantees under Articles 14, 15 and 25 are not ornamental declarations but enforceable mandates.
The Calcutta High Court observed that no administrative action can be sustained if it is based on discrimination against a person’s conscience and religion.
It found that although there was no conclusive material on record to establish that the decision was tainted by discrimination, it held that such allegations demand fairness and transparency.
The court said that the petitioner’s assertion regarding change of religion, whether arising from personal conviction or otherwise, falls squarely within the protective ambit of this constitutional guarantee under Article 25 of the Constitution.
The Calcutta High Court stated that no adverse administrative consequence can be predicated upon an individual’s choice of faith.
It emphasised that the state and its authorities are constitutionally obligated to maintain neutrality in matters of religion and to ensure that no discrimination, direct or indirect, takes place.
The court said that such allegations impose a heightened duty upon the administrative authority to act with scrupulous fairness, transparency and objectivity. Failure to adhere to such standards undermines the credibility of the decision-making.
Must justify premature retirement: HC
The Calcutta High Court observed that the case required a careful balance between administrative discretion and the inviolable discipline of law.
The matter before the court was not merely upon the validity of an order of premature retirement, but whether the bank exercised its power fairly and transparently under the service regulation, within the constitutional fidelity.
The granting of an employee’s retirement on his last day of the month in which he attains the age of superannuation is a normative standard of uniformity; any deviation from this must be justified with compelling reasons, the Calcutta High Court said.
‘Premature retirement’
The petitioner had joined the respondent authority – United Bank of India (at present Punjab National Bank) on April 1, 1981.
The petitioner rose to the position of senior manager and asserted his service record remained satisfactory throughout.
However, his otherwise stable service tenure was brought to an abrupt and unjustified cessation by the respondent authorities under circumstances of arbitrariness and premeditated intent.
The petitioner alleged that he had to sustain racial and caste-based discrimination at the workplace.
Originally belonging to a Dalit community, he was allegedly subjected to systemic humiliation and exclusion, which compelled him to embrace Islam.
He alleged that he became a victim of targeted harassment because he exposed the bank’s internal irregularities and corruption, thereby inviting retaliatory measures cloaked as administrative action.
A premature retirement order was issued under Regulation 19(1) of the United Bank of India (Officers’) Service Regulations, 1979.
The procedure adopted by the respondent bank, whereby a special committee allegedly recommended premature retirement which was then accepted by a competent authority, was asserted to be an impermissible deviation from the statutory scheme, rendering the entire action void ab initio (void from the beginning).
The memorandum dated March 22, 2016, directed premature retirement with immediate effect and was accompanied by a pay order of Rs 1,83,904.94, representing three months’ salary, instead of notice after deduction of TDS.
Despite a specific request on April 18, 2016, seeking disclosure of the recommendation and the materials forming its basis, the respondent authorities rejected the request on April 20, 2016, on vague and untenable grounds.
The aforementioned denial deprived the petitioner of the opportunity to contest the decision.
While the petitioner’s matter was pending before the board of directors, the authorities initiated processing his provident fund and pension benefits, and a memorandum dated June 8, 2016, sought completion of formalities for the disbursement of the provident fund.
Through a communication on June 6, 2016, his representation before the board was rejected by the authority.
‘Institutional discipline, indispensable’
The Calcutta High Court said that institutional discipline and decorum are indispensable to the function of any public authority, more so in a financial institution entrusted with public confidence.
An ample discipline, one occupying a responsible position, is expected to maintain a conduct befitting the office, it highlighted.
The court observed that if the petitioner had indeed engaged in a pattern of communications couched in offensive, intemperate or unsubstantiated language, it would certainly justify corrective administrative attention.
However, there is an obvious distinction between misconduct warranting disciplinary action and unsuitability justifying premature retirement in the public interest, the Calcutta High Court added.
The court stated that service regulation 19(1) is not designed to serve as a substitute for disciplinary proceedings, and it is not an instrument disguised to expel the employee without adhering to the procedural safeguards.
It mentioned that unless there is material on record to demonstrate the incapacity of the employee or institutional inconvenience, mere frustration, however genuine, cannot be elevated to a legal precinct for the exercise of statutory power.
The Calcutta High Court observed that while it does not condone the use of abusive or intemperate language in official communications, mere administrative displeasure or frustration, without an objective assessment under the law, cannot be a valid ground for invoking premature retirement.
The scope of judicial review is confined to examining the legality of the process, but where the process is vitiated by arbitrariness, non-application of mind, violation of natural justice or deviation from statutory provisions, judicial intervention becomes not only permissible but necessary to uphold the rule of law.
Accordingly, the Calcutta High Court set aside the order of premature retirement, along with all consequential and appellate orders, noting that the case stands as a reaffirmation of the principle that administrative discretion, however wide, must operate within the disciplined confines of legality, fairness and constitutional morality.
Employee’s contentions
Advocate M R Sarbadhikari, appearing for the petitioner, challenged the very foundation of the decision-making process by contending that the special committee had no authority to “recommend” premature retirement, as the regulation contemplated only a “review”.
In addition to the retirement, the petitioner had brought forth grievances relating to the denial of legitimate service dues, including stagnation of increment due in June 2012 and medical aid allowance for 2015.
It was contended that, despite repeated representations, the aforementioned denial was arbitrary and reflective of continued hostility. His housing loan facility was also discontinued, causing financial hardship.
The counsel argued that the respondent’s action was not a mere violation of service rules but also an infringement of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
It was submitted that from August 6, 2015, the respondent bank premeditatedly tried to discharge him from service on the pretext that he was mentally unfit, which was contradictory to the medical report.
It was mentioned that the petitioner was never charged with misconduct or disciplinary proceedings throughout his tenure, even though he had four years left before his retirement date of Match 31, 2020.
He was discharged from service prematurely on March 22, 2016, without disclosing the procedure and effective date determined by the authority.
The counsel drew attention towards the arbitrariness, wherein the petitioner was singled out to be ineligible to continue service, and his representations before the board were rejected.
The order dated March 22, 2016, together with all consequential actions, was vitiated by patent illegality, violation of statutory provisions, breach of natural justice and constitutional infirmity, warranting the court’s interference in the petitioner’s favour, the counsel said.
‘Decision in accordance with applicable service regulations’
The respondents’ counsel, advocates R N Majumder and S M Obaidullah, strongly opposed the petition, arguing that the action was neither arbitrary nor de hors (outside the legal framework), but was a valid exercise of power in accordance with the applicable service regulations.
It was submitted that the petitioner, initially inducted into the services of the former United Bank of India and subsequently elevated to the position of senior manager, had over a considerable period exhibited a pattern of conduct wholly inconsistent with the discipline and decorum expected of an officer of a nationalised bank.
It was urged that he was in the habitual practice of using derogatory and intemperate language while communicating with public authorities, and such communication was borne out of his imagination and suspicion against his colleagues and the workplace.
He also added that due to such aforementioned events, the bank, having institutional integrity, was concerned about the petitioner’s mental composure and fitness to continue the service, and because of this, the competent authority deemed it appropriate to subject the petitioner to a mental assessment.
The review committee, upon consideration of the petitioner’s overall performance, including adverse remarks regarding unsatisfactory discharge of duties, concurred with the medical findings and formed the opinion that the petitioner was no longer fit to be retained in service.
On the special committee’s written recommendation, the competent authority ordered the petitioner’s premature retirement, accompanied by payment of three months’ salary in lieu of notice, as mandated under the regulations.
It was submitted that the merger of United Bank of India with Punjab National Bank, with effect from April 1, 2020, had no bearing on the legality of the impugned action.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/legal-news/calcutta-high-court-religious-conversion-bank-employee-10683899/
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Israeli strikes kill six in south Lebanon: state media
May 12, 2026
Residents inspect the rubble of a building in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Dounine on Jan. 25, 2026, after being hit by an Israeli strike. (AFP file photo)
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BEIRUT: Israeli strikes on a town in southern Lebanon killed six people and wounded seven others, state media said Tuesday, as fighting continued despite a ceasefire agreement.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli strikes Monday night hit a house in Kfar Dounine, a town about 95 kilometers (59 miles) from capital Beirut.
The NNA reported the wounded were transported to hospitals in the coastal city of Tyre.
Israel has intensified its attacks in south Lebanon as it trades fire with Iran-backed Hezbollah despite an April 17 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon that aimed to halt the fighting.
More than 2,800 people have been killed in Lebanon since the country was dragged into the Middle East war on March 2, according to health authorities.
Lebanese leaders recently urged the US ambassador to Beirut to pressure Israel to halt its attacks during the ceasefire, though Israel has also reported coming under fire.
Israel’s military said over the weekend that one of its soldiers had been killed in fighting near the border with Lebanon, bringing its losses to 18 troops and a civilian contractor since the war began.
The NNA on Tuesday reported strikes near other southern Lebanese towns, and the Israeli military ordered an evacuation of the town of Sohmor in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa valley.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2643219/middle-east
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Saudi FM discusses mediation efforts aimed at ending Mideast crisis with Iran, Pakistan counterparts
May 11, 2026
This handout photograph taken on March 29, 2026 and released by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (L) greeting his Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan, upon his arrival at the Foreign Ministry office in Islamabad. (AFP)
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RIAYDH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the latest regional developments with his Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in separate calls, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Prince Faisal spoke on the phone with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed “the latest developments related to Pakistani mediation efforts and the ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and US,” the ministry said.
The foreign minister also called his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.
The officials discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and the US.
Both sides affirmed the importance of diplomatic solutions, and stressed their support for all efforts aimed at restoring stability to the region, the Saudi Press Agency said.
Pakistan is leading neutral mediation efforts between the United States and Iran to de-escalate the regional war.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2643158/saudi-arabia
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OTS chief, Azerbaijan's top cleric discuss strengthening interfaith dialogue
12 May 2026
Secretary General of the Organisation of Turkic States, Kubanychbek Omuraliev, met in Istanbul with the Chairman of the Caucasus Muslim Board, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, during which the sides discussed strengthening interfaith dialogue.
In a post on X, Omuraliev said they also exchanged views on solidarity and spiritual cooperation in the Turkic world, while also emphasising the importance of preserving family values and passing on our shared cultural and moral heritage to younger generations, Caliber.Az reports.
The sides also focused on preparations for the 7th meeting of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Administrations of the OTS, scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan on September 14–15.
According to Omuraliev, this event is expected “to further contribute to strengthening spiritual, cultural, and institutional cooperation within the Turkic World.”
Source: caliber.az
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https://caliber.az/en/post/ots-chief-azerbaijan-s-top-cleric-discuss-strengthening-interfaith-dialogue
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Trump considering resuming airstrikes as talks with Iran stall – Axios
12 May, 2026
Pro-government supporters stand beside a cartoon depicting US President Donald Trump. Tehran, Iran, April 29, 2026. © Morteza Nikoubazl / NurPhoto / Getty Images.
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US President Donald Trump is considering resuming the bombing campaign against Iran as peace talks remain stalled, Axios reported on Monday, citing three US officials familiar with the matter.
On Sunday, Trump rejected Iran’s latest terms as “totally unacceptable” and said the ceasefire reached around a month ago is “on massive life support.”
According to Axios, Trump was set to meet with his national security team on Monday to discuss the next steps, including potentially resuming Project Freedom – an operation aimed at guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz – as well as restarting airstrikes and hitting the remaining 25% of targets identified by the Pentagon but not yet struck.
The Washington Post, citing a CIA assessment, reported last week that Iran retained around 75% of its pre-war mobile launchers and 70% of its missiles, and could withstand a US naval blockade for at least three to four months.
Trump suspended Project Freedom within 24 hours of announcing it last week, following a request from Pakistan, which has acted as a mediator in the conflict. NBC later reported that the president shelved the initiative after Saudi Arabia refused to allow the US to use its bases and airspace to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Sunday that the US has “no alternative” but to accept Tehran’s terms.
“The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it,” he wrote on X. Iranian state media described Trump’s demand to shut down the country’s nuclear sites as “a non-starter that Iran has rejected for decades.”
According to Press TV, Iran’s conditions include lifting the sanctions, reparations, and a new framework governing the Strait of Hormuz that recognizes “Iran’s sovereign control over this vital waterway.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639875-trump-new-strikes-iran/
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Alleged Coup Plot: Islamic Cleric Claims Organisers Sought Spiritual Support
12 May, 2026
A Kaduna -based Islamic cleric standing trial over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government has told investigators he was approached to provide spiritual support for the coup plan but warned the organisers it would fail due to betrayal within the group.
The cleric, Abdulkadir Sani, made the disclosure in a video recording played before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday during the ongoing trial of six defendants accused of involvement in the alleged failed coup attempt.
The video, tendered by the prosecution, captured moments of Sani’s interrogation by military investigators.
In the recording, Sani said he became acquainted with the alleged coup ringleader, Mohammed Ma’aji, a serving army colonel, less than a year before the arrests were made.
According to him, a middleman identified as Sanda contacted him on behalf of Ma’aji, requesting prayers and spiritual consultation concerning the success of the alleged operation.
“Sanda told me his Oga wanted to stage a coup and needed prayers and divination to know whether it would succeed,” Sani said in the recording.
The cleric claimed he carried out prayers but later informed the group that the operation would fail because two members involved in the conspiracy would eventually betray the others.
He further stated that after delivering the warning, another message was relayed to him requesting additional prayers “so that the two individuals would not betray the group.”
Sani also disclosed that names of alleged conspirators were forwarded to him for inclusion in the prayers, while money was allegedly sent to him through intermediaries.
However, he maintained that the funds were not payments for supporting a coup but were “gifts” and donations meant for “prayers and charity.”
“I did not collect money for a coup. The money was for prayers,” he insisted during the interrogation.
The defendant said he never reported the alleged plot to security agencies because he “did not know who to report to.”
He narrated that his eventual arrest followed a visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after discovering that his bank account had been restricted.
According to him, he attempted to withdraw part of the money transferred to the account but discovered it had been flagged by authorities.
Sani said he later contacted an EFCC deputy director and was invited to the commission’s office, where he explained that the funds were connected to spiritual prayers.
He also denied making any statement relating to a coup while in EFCC custody.
The Federal Government had, on 22 April, arraigned Sani alongside retired Brigadier-General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana and four others over the alleged coup plot.
The other defendants are retired navy captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, police inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Presidential Villa electrician Zekeri Umoru, and Bukar Kashim Goni.
The six defendants are facing a 13-count charge bordering on treason, terrorism, money laundering and failure to disclose information relating to the alleged conspiracy to topple the Tinubu administration.
Authorities said details of the alleged plot were uncovered September 2025, leading to the arrest of serving and retired military officers as well as civilian collaborators.
Some serving military personnel linked to the alleged conspiracy are currently being tried separately before a General Court Martial.
During Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, sought to tender extra-judicial statements allegedly made by the defendants alongside video recordings of their interrogations.
However, defence lawyers objected to the admissibility of the statements and recordings, arguing that they were not made voluntarily.
The defence team, comprising several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, alleged coercion, inconsistencies in the statements, and lack of legal representation during interrogation.
Following the objections, trial judge Joyce Abdulmalik ordered a joint trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness and admissibility of the statements and video evidence.
The prosecution has so far called four witnesses in the trial, including an army officer identified only by the codename “AAA” for security reasons.
Source: leadership.ng
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https://leadership.ng/alleged-coup-plot-islamic-cleric-claims-organisers-sought-spiritual-support/
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PM Anwar congratulates Vijay on election as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
12 May 2026
“I look forward to working closely with Chief Minister Vijay in the years ahead,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has extended his warmest congratulations to his friend and South Indian cinema icon Vijay on his election as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Anwar, in his Facebook post today, said that for many years, fans had watched Vijay defeat corrupt politicians and various villains within the span of a three-hour film, often punctuated by a short interval.
“The people of Tamil Nadu have now entrusted Vijay with a responsibility far greater than any role performed on screen.
“Oru Viral Puratchi or the ‘one-finger revolution’ is now on the cusp of creating history,” he said.
Anwar also said that Malaysia and Tamil Nadu share deep historical, cultural and people-to-people ties across generations.
“I look forward to working closely with Chief Minister Vijay in the years ahead,” he said.
Vijay, or his true name Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay, 52, who recently transitioned from a prolific acting career to full-time politics, led his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to a significant victory in the state elections, following in the footsteps of several legendary film figures in Tamil Nadu’s political history.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/pm-anwar-congratulates-vijay-on-election/
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Afghan Soil Will Not Be Used Against Any Country, Mujahid Emphasizes
May 12, 2026
KABUL: Mawlavi Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, emphasized that Afghanistan’s soil will not be allowed to be used against any country.
In a video clip on Monday, Mujahid rejected claims made by Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir regarding the alleged use of Afghan territory against Pakistan, emphasizing that preventing the use of Afghan territory against other nations, including Pakistan, is a key part of the Islamic Emirate’s strategy and policy.
He also urged Pakistani authorities to address security challenges within their own borders and handle such matters with greater accuracy and caution.
It should be noted that the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly emphasized that Afghanistan now has a strong and centralized government capable of maintaining security and stability across the country, and no individual, group, or organization will be permitted to use Afghan territory to threaten or carry out activities against other countries.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/afghan-soil-will-not-be-used-against-any-country-mujahid-emphasizes/
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India
NCW flags 'pervasive sexual harassment', 'zero POSH compliance' at TCS Nashik in report to Maharashtra govt
11 May 2026
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has flagged “pervasive sexual harassment”, “systemic bullying” and “zero compliance” with the POSH Act at the Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), according to a fact-finding report submitted to the Maharashtra government, reported PTI.
The commission said it had taken suo motu cognisance of complaints from women employees at the TCS Nashik office following serious allegations and constituted a fact-finding committee under NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.
The committee comprised retired Bombay High Court judge Justice Sadhna Jadhav, former Haryana DGP B K Sinha, Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora and NCW senior coordinator Lilabati, which visited Nashik on April 18 and 19. It interacted with victims, members of the POSH Internal Committee (IC), police officials and other witnesses, and submitted a detailed report of over 50 pages with more than 25 recommendations, PTI reported.
The report was submitted to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on May 8.
According to the findings, the committee observed a “deeply disturbing and toxic workplace environment” marked by “pervasive sexual harassment” and alleged abuse of authority.
It stated that “the accused persons had assumed effective control of the TCS, Nashik. They used to target young and vulnerable girls, and harassed them sexually, emotionally and mentally,” adding that complainants had faced sexual harassment and alleged attempts of molestation.
The panel also noted allegations that women employees were subjected to religious insults and “anti-Hindu commentary” at the workplace.
“The accused used to bully female employees by denigrating Hindu mythology, beliefs, traditions and practices and by impressing upon the girls that Islam was a far superior religion to Hinduism,” the report said.
PTI stated that the report further alleged that a coercive environment was created through repeated “anti-religious commentary”, particularly impacting younger employees, and described the situation as “a typical case of sexual harassment at the workplace”, reported .
The committee said women employees were subjected to bullying, stalking and demeaning conduct that led to humiliation and sustained mental harassment. It also noted that several employees feared retaliation, transfers or termination if they raised complaints.
The report alleged that the Nashik office was effectively controlled by individuals identified as Danish, Tausif and Raza Memon, with Ashwini Chainani named as having “through her silence and insensitivity” allegedly endorsed the conduct.
It further said “no employee had the courage to raise their voice”, citing fear of professional consequences.
On infrastructure and compliance, the committee flagged serious lapses including non-functional CCTV cameras and what it described as “zero compliance” with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), reported PTI.
It noted that the Internal Committee for Pune and Nashik offices was common, which it said violated legal requirements, and that there was no awareness programme, orientation, or visible POSH-related communication at the Nashik unit.
“No awareness programmes for employees and no orientation programs for IC members” were conducted, the report said, adding there was “zero compliance of the POSH Act.”
The committee also expressed concern over the functioning of the Internal Committee, stating there was “no expression of empathy or sympathy for the female employees at TCS Nasik” and highlighting failures under Section 19(C) of the POSH Act, reported PTI.
Calling it not just a compliance lapse but a “governance deficit”, the panel recommended strict enforcement of Sections 19, 25 and 26 of the POSH Act, along with stronger grievance redressal systems and workplace safeguards.
It also stressed protection for complainants, stating that “lodging a complaint should not impact their jobs or service conditions”, and called for witness protection measures under the Witness Protection Act, 2017.
The report suggested possible legal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 75, 78, 79, 299 and 68(a), noting that Section 299 penalises deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, reported PTI.
It further recommended preventive oversight mechanisms, regular monitoring of workplace safety systems including CCTV functioning, and ensured supervision so that complainants are not subjected to intimidation or interference.
The NCW has urged authorities and TCS management to take appropriate action and ensure strict compliance with legal safeguards for the dignity, safety and protection of women employees, reported PTI.
Meanwhile, a Nashik court on Monday remanded TCS sexual harassment and alleged forced conversion case accused Nida Khan to judicial custody till May 24, according to PTI.
Khan was produced before the court of Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi after her police custody ended earlier in the day. She was arrested on May 7 from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after being on the run since the case surfaced following complaints from employees of the IT major’s Nashik unit, police said, reported PTI.
As the police did not seek further custody during the hearing, the court sent her to judicial custody. She is currently lodged at Nashik Road Central Jail, reported.
Khan, who is pregnant, has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment and defamation, along with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, after the complainant, a Scheduled Caste woman, alleged attempts at coercion and forced religious conversion, reported PTI.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing nine FIRs in the matter, including one registered at Deolali Camp police station and eight at Mumbai Naka police station.
The complainants have alleged exploitation, attempted forced conversion, molestation, mental harassment, and hurting of religious sentiments, officials said, reported PTI.
Khan had earlier approached the sessions court seeking anticipatory bail after her name appeared in a Deolali Camp FIR, claiming innocence and citing her pregnancy. However, the plea was rejected on May 2, with the court observing that there appeared to be a “systematic plan” of influencing the complainant, reported PTI.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Omar Abdullah presses Amit Shah again for Jammu and Kashmir statehood demand
Muzaffar Raina
12.05.26
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Monday petitioned Union home minister Amit Shah again for the restoration of statehood in a meeting in Delhi, the fresh demand coming days after he claimed the BJP would not let his government function smoothly unless it got power in the Union Territory.
Omar has met Shah on multiple occasions to plead for the restoration of statehood, a promise that remains unfulfilled despite Shah assuring Parliament in 2019 during the abrogation of Article 370 that it would be restored at an appropriate time after
normalcy returns. The Centre has since made multiple statements that normalcy
has been restored in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Chief Minister met Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah in New Delhi today and held detailed discussions on a range of important issues concerning Jammu & Kashmir, including restoration of Statehood, Transaction of Business Rules, rationalisation of reservation, and other key governance and public welfare issues,” the chief minister’s office posted on X.
“The meeting also deliberated on the prevailing security and economic situation, with emphasis on ensuring sustained peace, stability and inclusive growth for the people of J&K.”
Before leaving for the national capital, Omar told reporters in Srinagar that he would raise important issues with Shah.
“I wish we could have got statehood after one meeting (with Shah). In that case, we would have got it a long time ago. The process is going on. Whenever we meet, I talk about statehood. At the same time, there are other issues where I need to talk to the home minister sahab, like our business rules, (appointment) of advocate-general, the reservation issue referred to Delhi by LG sahab.”
Rationalisation of reservations is a pressing demand in Kashmir, as it gives general category candidates a smaller share than their population.
Omar, in response to a recent decision of the Centre to hand over telecom powers to LG Manoj Sinha, said there was nothing wrong with it as long as the LG was in charge of the security of the Union Territory.
“This is the right thing. These powers should be with the lieutenant governor. This is not against the business rules or the reorganisation act,” Omar said.
“Home, law and order, security is the responsibility of the LG sahab. It is obvious that if the situation deteriorates somewhere and mobile Internet has to be stopped, the order will be issued by the home department... by the LG.”
The Centre last week authorised the Jammu and Kashmir LG to exercise powers, such as interception of signals, suspension of service and decryption of messages, related to telecom services in the UT during public safety events or national emergencies.
The hybrid power system in Jammu and Kashmir, where the LG enjoys real power, has been a source of strain for years between his administration and the elected government.
Omar is facing criticism for failure to take a stand on the restoration of statehood, limiting himself to occasional reminders to the Centre or raising the matter in speeches, while largely leaving the issue to the goodwill of the central government.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Srinagar Diary: Mehbooba alleges corruption in Omar's government
Fayaz Wani
12 May 2026
Mehbooba alleges corruption in Omar govt
PDP chief and former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has accused the government led by Omar Abdullah of corruption, alleging that a senior minister demanded Rs 30 lakh from an officer in exchange for a transfer. Addressing party workers, the PDP chief claimed that an NC worker, who is also a government officer, approached a minister seeking a transfer but was allegedly asked to pay Rs 30 lakh. She alleged that when the officer raised the issue with NC president Farooq Abdullah, he was told to speak directly to the minister concerned. Without naming the minister, Mehbooba said the incident reflected the level of corruption.
‘Personal mobiles not valid for e-Challans’
In a significant ruling on the legality of electronic traffic challans, a court in Srinagar has held that personal mobile phones used by police officials cannot be treated as authorised electronic enforcement devices under Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989. The judgement was delivered by the Court of Special Mobile Magistrate Srinagar Shabir Ahmad Malik while allowing a plea challenging several e-challans issued for alleged traffic violations. The court observed that a personal smartphone does not attain the legal status of a prescribed enforcement device merely because it is used by a police officer.
‘One ponywala-one horse’ policy in Pahalgam
Authorities in the tourist resort Pahalgam have introduced a “one ponywala–one horse” policy in a move aimed at improving visitor safety and protecting the region’s fragile ecosystem. The move comes nearly a year after the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack. According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Pahalgam Development Authority, it was found that ponywalas were operating four to five horses on a single licence, creating difficulties in regulation and increasing environmental pressure in the hill resort. Under the revised policy, each registered ponywala with a valid licence will now be permitted to operate only one horse.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Strait of Hormuz blockade triggers fertiliser squeeze ahead of Kharif season
Vismay Basu
12 May 2026
NEW DELHI: India is heading into the Kharif sowing season under mounting fertiliser pressure after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since February 2026 severely disrupted global supply chains for urea, DAP, ammonia, sulphur and LNG, key inputs for domestic fertiliser production.
The disruption has sharply pushed up import costs, with urea prices nearly doubling from about $510 per tonne in early 2026 to around $950 per tonne by April.
Domestic production has also weakened, falling to around 1.5 million tonnes per month as LNG shortages constrained fertiliser plants.
Against a Kharif requirement of 19.4 million tonnes of urea, current stocks stand at 76.65 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). Total fertiliser stocks across categories are 199.65 LMT, higher than 178.58 LMT in May 2025, but still insufficient against projected demand, government data showed.
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has assessed the total Kharif fertiliser requirement at 390.54 LMT, meaning existing stocks currently cover only about 51 per cent of demand. India’s fertiliser dependency remains structurally high. The country consumes about 70.7 million metric tonnes annually, importing 20 per cent of urea, 50 per cent of DAP and 100 per cent of muriate of potash (MOP).
Compounding this, nearly 85 per cent of the natural gas used for urea production is imported, and around 60 per cent of that supply flows through the Strait of Hormuz, raising the sector’s effective import exposure to nearly 68–70 per cent.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday chaired the fifth meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on West Asia, stressing the need to ensure uninterrupted energy flows, secure maritime trade routes and maintain economic stability. He also called for institutionalising fuel efficiency and responsible consumption across ministries and states.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also urged farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser use by 50 per cent and shift towards natural farming, alongside greater adoption of solar-powered irrigation instead of diesel pumps, though the appeal remains advisory.
On the policy front, the government has initiated emergency urea imports of 2.5 million tonnes through Indian Potash Limited. However, buffer stocks of 30–45 days are seen as inadequate for a disruption that has now stretched beyond 70 days.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Bakrid 2026 date in India: When is Eid al-Adha?
May 12, 2026
Bakrid 2026 Date in India: Bakrid, also known as Eid al-Adha or the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is expected to be celebrated in India this year. One of the most significant festivals in Islam, Bakrid is observed with deep faith, prayers, charity, and togetherness by millions of Muslims across the country and around the world. However, since the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, the exact date may vary depending on the sighting of the moon.
The festival commemorates the devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son as an act of faith in God’s command. According to Islamic belief, before the sacrifice could take place, God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead. Bakrid symbolises sacrifice, compassion, gratitude, and devotion towards humanity and faith.
The day begins with special Eid prayers held in mosques and open prayer grounds known as Eidgahs. Dressed in traditional attire, families and communities gather early in the morning to offer prayers and exchange warm greetings of “Eid Mubarak.” The atmosphere is filled with joy, spirituality, and celebration.
May the spirit of sacrifice and kindness fill your heart with joy. Eid Mubarak! May the spirit of sacrifice and kindness fill your heart with joy. Eid Mubarak!
One of the key rituals of Bakrid is Qurbani, or the act of sacrifice. Families who can afford it sacrifice an animal such as a goat, sheep, or camel, following Islamic traditions. The meat is then divided into three parts — one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for those in need. This act reflects the values of sharing, kindness, and caring for the less fortunate.
Also read | Happy Bakrid 2025: Eid al-Adha Mubarak Wishes Images, Status, Quotes, Messages, Shayari, and Photos
Bakrid is not only a religious occasion but also a festival that strengthens family bonds and community spirit. Homes are decorated, delicious dishes are prepared, and relatives visit one another throughout the day. Popular delicacies such as biryani, kebabs, korma, and sheer khurma become an important part of the celebrations in many households.
In India, the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai, where markets witness festive crowds and mosques are beautifully illuminated. The festival also highlights India’s cultural diversity and spirit of unity, as people from different communities often join in extending greetings and celebrations.
As Bakrid 2026 approaches, preparations are expected to begin days in advance, with markets bustling with shoppers buying clothes, sweets, spices, and sacrificial animals. For many, the festival serves as a reminder of humanity, generosity, and the importance of helping those in need.
While the expected date for Bakrid in India is May 28, 2026, official confirmation will depend on the moon sighting closer to the festival. Muslims across the nation eagerly await the occasion to celebrate faith, togetherness, and the spirit of giving.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Omar Abdullah faces backlash over liquor remarks as PDP escalates attack in Kashmir
Muzaffar Raina
12.05.26
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah was on Monday forced to eat humble pie after his off-the-cuff remarks, apparently justifying liquor consumption, triggered outrage.
The controversy turned personal after Omar’s aide trained guns on the late former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s drinking habits.
Omar opposed liquor consumption by Muslims, saying “our religion” does not permit it. He said liquor available in Jammu and Kashmir was only for the adherents of
other religions that allow its consumption.
Omar was asked on Sunday to explain how liquor consumption was right while drug addiction was bad. The question came against the backdrop of the ongoing 100-day Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan launched by the lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha-led administration.
Earlier, health minister Sakina Itoo had criticised the LG-led campaign for disproportionately targeting Kashmiris while Jammu had “more” addicts.
“Did anybody force them (boozers) to drink? You are going to the shops on your own volition. Why are you going there? We are not dragging you there. We are not advertising it (either). We have not increased the number (of shops),” Omar said in Ganderbal on Sunday.
The remarks triggered outrage, with the Opposition blaming him for justifying liquor consumption.
Asked to clarify his stand, Omar said: “The mistake is mine. I keep talking to you like this on the roadside. You ask questions, which need detailed answers, but because of time constraints, I give answers, which allow the Opposition to twist them,” he said.
“These shops are for those whose religion allows them. The Jammu and Kashmir government has never banned these shops. That does not mean we want liquor to be consumed more... let those consume it whose religion permits it. Our religion does not allow it. Nor do we want people to go this (liquor) way,” he added.
Omar said his government had not opened any new shops.
“My opponents are hiding their wrongs by (twisting) my statement. If my statement is wrong, what did their (PDP-led) government do? What I said in Ganderbal is the same as what their finance minister said in the Assembly (during their government) on record,” he said.
Omar later clarified that the shops were not for everybody, but for those who come from outside. “It is not for locals. My opponents have got used to twisting my statement,” he said.
His fresh remarks did not satisfy the Opposition, with PDP leader Iltija Mufti calling it deeply unfortunate. “If it is wrong to impose a liquor ban on Hindus, then how have Hindu-majority states like Gujarat and Bihar enforced prohibition successfully?” she posted on X.
Omar’s key aide Tanvir Sadiq, however, shot back and referred to the alleged boozing habits of Iltija’s grandfather and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
“Very rich coming from a party that opposed a liquor ban in the name of a ‘free world,’ while its own founder publicly stated about his habits after 7pm. Dulat’s (former RAW chief A.S. Dulat) video is still on YouTube. One small,” remember?” Tanvir wrote on X.
Dulat described Mufti as a “tippler” and said he was fond of “Black Label whisky”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Syria says two soldiers killed in attack in northeast
May 11, 2026
DAMASCUS: Syria said two soldiers were killed in an attack by unidentified assailants in the country’s northeast on Monday, while a military source told AFP investigations were underway to identify the perpetrators.
In recent months, Syria’s new Islamist government has expanded its control to parts of the country’s north and northeast that were previously held by Kurdish-led forces, including areas near the site of Monday’s attack.
The government has also formally joined the international coalition against the Daesh group, which has long launched attacks in those areas.
The two soldiers were killed “and others wounded in a treacherous attack by unknown assailants” on a bus in Hasakah province, state news agency SANA quoted the defense ministry as saying.
A military source told AFP on condition of anonymity that a military bus “came under gunfire” along the highway between Ras Al-Ain in Hasakah province and Ain Issa in Raqqa province, adding that two soldiers were killed and two others wounded.
Investigations were underway to determine who was behind the attack, the source added.
Once in control of large swathes of Syria and Iraq, IS was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019 in a battle spearheaded by Kurdish-led forces with support from a US-led international coalition.
The terrorists however maintain a presence in Syria, mainly in the country’s vast desert, and repeatedly attacked Kurdish-led forces while they controlled swathes of the northeast.
In February, after government forces seized control of many of those areas, IS urged its terrorists to fight Syria’s new authorities.
Days later, state media said four Syrian security personnel were killed in an IS attack in the northern city of Raqqa, which had been recently taken by Damascus’s forces.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli police kill Palestinian, 30, in West Bank
May 11, 2026
QALANDIYA, Palestinian Territories: The Palestinian Health Ministry said Israeli forces killed a young Palestinian man in the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Monday, while Israeli police claimed their officers had foiled a “terrorist attack.”
The Ramallah-based ministry said it had been informed of the “martyrdom of 30-year-old Ayman Rafiq Mohammed Al-Hashlamoun, who was shot by occupation forces near Qalandiya refugee camp.”
In an Arabic-language statement, Israeli police said its “border police forces in the West Bank thwarted an armed terrorist attack in Qalandiya.”
The police said its “forces identified a suspect exiting a vehicle and opening fire at them using a long-barrelled weapon.
“The forces responded immediately with live fire and neutralized the assailant, with no injuries reported among the personnel.”
Video footage circulating on social media showed a man lying face down and bleeding on a road near the Qalandiya refugee camp, before Israeli soldiers took away a weapon that had reportedly been in his possession.
AFP footage, meanwhile, showed Israeli forces firing tear gas and stun grenades during clashes at the Qalandiya camp, including in the direction of journalists, with a Palestinian youth throwing back a canister at the heavily armed troops.
A spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the Israeli army prevented the organization’s ambulances from reaching the scene and that soldiers fired warning shots.
The Red Crescent later said that Israeli forces wounded a 15-year-old boy with rubber bullets in the Qalandiya camp.
On Monday, Israeli forces also raided the Qalandiya Vocational Training Center run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, a source at the agency said.
The source said Israeli forces “detained staff and students and verbally informed employees that there would be no new academic year” at the center.
The source also said that Israeli forces “detained students and patients at a clinic and school located inside Qalandiya camp.”
Since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, after Hamas’s attack on Israel, violence has also surged in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,070 Palestinians, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian Authority figures.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian shot and detained by Israeli forces last month dies in hospital
May 11, 2026
LONDON: A 29-year-old Palestinian man shot and seriously wounded last month by Israeli forces in the northwestern West Bank died on Monday in an Israeli hospital east of Tel Aviv.
The Commission of Detainees’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society said Qusai Ibrahim Ali Rayan, from the village of Qarawat Bani Hassan, died from gunshot wounds inflicted by a soldier. He was admitted to Beilinson Hospital on April 15, the same day he was shot during a military raid in Salfit Governorate.
Israeli authorities issued a detention order for Rayan while he underwent several surgeries, but his health continued to deteriorate. They agreed to release him this month but his lawyer decided he should remain in hospital as he was unconscious and needed help from a ventilator to breathe, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
Israeli authorities accused Rayan, who was said to have one child, of attempting to carry out a stabbing attack. The detainees’ organizations rejected this allegation and accused Israeli forces of killing him in cold blood based on false accusations.
At least 40 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers or soldiers since January, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 100 detainees have died in Israeli custody since October 2023; of those, only 84 have been publicly identified, including 50 detainees from Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli lawmakers set up a special tribunal and allow for death penalty for Hamas-led 2023 attackers
May 12, 2026
JERUSALEM: Israeli lawmakers approved a bill on Monday setting up a special tribunal that would try and have the authority to sentence to death Palestinians convicted of taking part in the 2023 Hamas-led attack that triggered the war in Gaza.
The measure passed 93-0 in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament, reflecting widespread support for punishing those found responsible for what was the deadliest attack in Israel’s history. The remaining 27 lawmakers were absent or abstained from voting.
Rights groups have criticized the measure, saying it makes the death penalty too easy to impose while also doing away with procedures safeguarding the right to a fair trial. Defendants can appeal their sentences but the appeals have to be heard by a separate, special appeals court rather than regular appeals courts.
Because the bill empowers a panel of judges to hand down the death penalty by a majority vote — and requires the trials to be conducted in a livestreamed Jerusalem courtroom — it has drawn comparisons to the 1962 trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, which was broadcast live on television.
Eichmann was executed by hanging, the last time the death penalty was carried out in Israel, though technically capital punishment remains on the books for acts of genocide, espionage during wartime and certain terror offenses.
Opponents of the bill also say that livestreaming the proceedings before guilt is established risks turning the trials into a spectacle. They have raised questions about the reliability of the evidence that may be presented, saying it could have been extracted by harsh interrogation methods.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 as hostages. Israel’s ensuing blistering offensive on Gaza has killed over 72,628 Palestinians, including at least 846 killed since a ceasefire took hold last October.
That’s according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children. The figures by the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.
Israeli forces also killed hundreds of militants in battles in the coastal enclave, and took an unknown number of suspects into Israeli custody where they now await trial.
Simcha Rothman, one of the bill’s sponsors who is part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s ruling coalition, said the overwhelming consensus for the bill in the Knesset shows Israeli lawmakers can come together “around a common mission.”
Several Israeli rights groups — including Hamoked, Adalah and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel — said on Monday that while “justice for the victims of October 7 is a legitimate and urgent imperative,” any accountability for the crimes “must be pursued through a process which includes rather than abandons the principles of justice.”
The bill is separate from a law passed in March that approved the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a measure harshly condemned by the international community and rights groups as discriminatory and inhumane.
That law applies to future cases and is not retroactive so it could not apply to the October 2023 suspects.
According to the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, the country still holds about 1,300 Palestinians from Gaza without charge in its detention facilities. At least 7,000 Palestinians from Gaza had been held in Israeli custody since October 2023, and 5,000 of them were later released.
The 1,300 number does not include those held on suspicion of attacking Israel on Oct. 7 or involvement in holding the hostages.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel’s military said a Palestinian family could bury their father. Then the settlers arrived
May 12, 2026
RAMALLAH, West Bank: A Palestinian family has described how Israeli settlers in the northern West Bank forced them to exhume the newly buried grave of an older relative, claiming it was too close to a settlement recently authorized by Israel’s government.
Mohammed Asasa said his family had coordinated the burial of his 80-year-old father, Hussein, with the Israeli military. He said the burial took place in a cemetery belonging to his village, also called Asasa, where the family said generations have been buried in clearly marked graves.
The incident last Friday illustrates the influence extremist settlers have gained during the past four years of Israel’s current government and the military’s inability or unwillingness to halt settler violence and land seizures.
Asasa said after the funeral, armed men from the nearby settlement of Sa-Nur arrived and ordered the family to exhume the body, claiming the land belonged to the settlement, less than half a kilometer away.
“While we were receiving condolences at home, some young men from the village came running and told us that the settlers were digging at the grave we had just buried at the cemetery.” he said. “When we reached the cemetery we found it filled with settlers and the army surrounded by them.”
He said the villagers decided to exhume the remains themselves after settlers threatened to dig up the grave with a bulldozer. Video showed them carrying the body from the cemetery with military escorts, with men who appeared to be settlers further uphill.
“This had never happened before,” he said. “You have no other choice.”
The Israeli military said forces responded to reports of clashes at the site and confiscated settlers’ digging tools. It said the army did not force the family to move the remains, but protected them as they relocated the body to a nearby cemetery. It did not say whether anyone was arrested.
Israel evacuated Sa-Nur in 2005, but settlers opposed to that withdrawal have spent years trying to reestablish it as an outpost. Israel reauthorized it in 2025 and reestablished it last month with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting attended by multiple government ministers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s government is dominated by settler leaders and their allies.
The Palestinians and most of the international community consider all settlements in the occupied West Bank to be illegal and obstacles to peace, categorizations Israel disputes.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has developed strong ties with settler representatives, in contrast to his predecessors.
Asasa said the sequence of events left him confused about what will happen with funerals in the future. “Are we going to go around the neighboring villages asking for a place to bury them?” he asked.
Palestinian man is shot and killed near a school
Separately, a Palestinian man that Israeli police said was armed with a rifle was shot and killed on Monday by Israeli forces near a school for refugees on the outskirts of Jerusalem.
Israeli police said the man was shot after exiting his car with a military-style rifle. The Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry identified him as Ayman Al-Hashlamoun, a 30-year-old from Kufr Aqab on Jerusalem’s northern outskirts. They said his body remained in Israeli custody.
The shooting, which took place outside a school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Kufr Aqab, near the Qalandia refugee camp, came amid broader violence in the occupied West Bank as Israel authorizes new settlements and revises the administrative measures governing areas under its control.
As of May 3, at least 45 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordanian king meets commander of army task force helping to combat threats along borders
May 12, 2026
LONDON: King Abdullah of Jordan on Monday visited the country’s Eastern Military Region Command, which has reported several successful efforts to thwart threats originating from Syria and Iraq in recent weeks, as part of broader efforts to protect national security.
The king reviewed the operational readiness and technical capabilities of the forces and met the chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, the Jordan News Agency reported.
He also met the commander of Task Force Fahd, which was formed by the Jordanian Armed Forces to support border guards and enhance security and operational readiness in response to recent developments in the region.
Jordan shares a 362-kilometer border with Syria and a 179-kilometer border with Iraq, along which the military repeatedly confronts illegal infiltration attempts, including the smuggling of drugs and weapons using drones or balloons.
This month, the Royal Jordanian Air Force launched strikes against drugs and weapons warehouses in the Druze-majority southern-Syrian province of Sweida.
Source: arabnews.com
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Al-Shaibani says Syria seeks long-term partnership with EU at Brussels forum
May 11, 2026
LONDON: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani said that the country was entering a new phase centered on economic recovery and the rebuilding of institutions during the opening of the EU-Syria Partnership Coordination Forum in Brussels on Monday.
“Syria today is not asking the world to shape its future on its behalf ... We are here to build real partnerships based on mutual interests, responsibility and long-term stability,” Al-Shaibani said, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
The European Council decided on Monday to restore more extensive trade ties with Syria, which had been partially suspended since 2011.
Syria is seeking a deeper partnership with the EU, Al-Shaibani said, as its authorities work to strengthen the economy and encourage investment.
“Today, our focus is on recovery, reconstruction and restoring confidence in state institutions.
“Syria and Europe already have a basis for cooperation ... What is needed now is genuine political will,” he added.
Before the civil war, the trade volume between Syria and the EU surpassed €7 billion, equivalent to $9.1 billion in 2010.
The EU partially suspended its cooperation agreement with Syria following the brutal crackdown on protests by the Bashar Assad regime since 2011. The EU imported goods worth €103 million ($121 million) from Syria in 2023, while exports reached €265 million, according to data from the European Commission.
Al-Shaibani said that Syria’s stability would contribute to broader stability in the Mediterranean region and Europe and enable the voluntary return of displaced Syrians currently living across the bloc’s 27 countries.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Kingdom displays literary, Islamic heritage in Rabat
May 11, 2026
RABAT: Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the 31st Rabat International Book Fair, held from May 1 to 10, highlighting the nation’s cultural and intellectual ties with Morocco.
Abdullatif Al-Wasel, CEO of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, said the participation reflects the relations between the two countries and aims to introduce Saudi literary and intellectual output to the Moroccan public.
Al-Wasel added that the Saudi pavilion served as a cultural platform showcasing the Kingdom’s literary and creative production under Saudi Vision 2030.
The pavilion hosted a program featuring Saudi writers, including panel discussions and poetry readings.
It also highlighted growing interest in Saudi literature, alongside national initiatives supporting authors and publications across various fields.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs also participated in the pavilion, attracting academics, researchers, media professionals, families, and children.
Visitors viewed publications from the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex and learned about the stages of Qur’an printing.
The pavilion also showcased Qur’anic recitations, translations in several languages, rare manuscripts, and digital content highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts in serving Islam and Muslims.
Source: arabnews.com
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Religious guidance program launched for Hajj pilgrims
May 11, 2026
MAKKAH: The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched the Dalalah wa Tibyan program as part of its Hajj season plan.
The program aims to raise religious awareness and support pilgrims’ educational and spiritual experience by distributing guidance booklets and awareness materials in several languages throughout the Grand Mosque in Makkah and its courtyards.
The initiative is part of the presidency’s efforts to guide pilgrims on Hajj rituals and Islamic etiquette while promoting moderation and balance.
The presidency said the program supports multilingual religious outreach by providing guidance content that helps pilgrims during Hajj and aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in serving pilgrims.
It added that the program addresses the needs of pilgrims from different nationalities by offering religious guidance in several languages to help them perform rituals with greater clarity and understanding.
The program also provides printed religious references that pilgrims can carry and consult during Hajj, covering rituals, worship guidance, and behavioral instructions as part of the presidency’s seasonal services.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia provides 24,000 meals for Palestinians
May 12, 2026
GAZA CITY: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has recently provided 24,000 hot meals to vulnerable people displaced by conflict in Gaza’s central and southern areas.
A central kitchen was established by KSrelief in Gaza in February to provide the food. In Khan Younis, 820 food baskets were delivered, benefiting 4,920 people.
This aid is a part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to assist the people in the Palestinian enclave.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM arrives in the UK on official visit
May 11, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has arrived in the United Kingdom on an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
During the visit, Prince Faisal is scheduled to meet with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper to discuss Saudi-British relations and regional and international developments.
The visit comes as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer struggles to fight off growing demands to step down after devastating local election results for his Labour Party.
Starmer’s government has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living, and been hamstrung by repeated missteps and policy U-turns on issues including welfare reform.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Culture Ministry opens applications for nonprofit support program
May 11, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has opened applications for nonprofit organizations to join its “Support for Performance Program.”
The program offers eligible entities the opportunity to apply for six financial support products aimed at strengthening the Kingdom’s nonprofit cultural sector.
It seeks to enhance nonprofit organizations’ contribution and impact across cultural fields, expand their reach across cultural sub-sectors, geographic regions and stages of the cultural value chain, while increasing financial sustainability and improving organizational maturity and implementation capabilities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Among the products is financial support for projects and programs with cultural impact, aimed at increasing their contribution and impact in priority cultural fields while boosting financial sustainability.
Another product provides funding for consultancy services and specialized training programs to help cultural nonprofit organizations strengthen their maturity and operational capabilities.
The ministry also introduced a support product for newly established nonprofit cultural organizations in priority fields, providing financial support during their establishment phase to accelerate institutional maturity and strengthen cultural impact.
Another product targets nonprofit cultural organizations facing financial or administrative difficulties caused by exceptional circumstances or natural disasters, provided they have a record of high performance or a recognized position within the nonprofit cultural sector.
The program also includes an institutional excellence award for nonprofit organizations that demonstrate strong governance and management practices.
The program was launched by the ministry in previous years as part of its broader strategy for the nonprofit cultural sector, with support linked to organizational performance to encourage greater efficiency and cultural impact.
Applications for the program will run from May 11 to June 22.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2643175/saudi-arabia
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Saudi Arabia’s EP governor receives Dominican ambassador
May 11, 2026
DAMMAM: Eastern Region Gov. Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz has received in Dammam the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Kingdom Andy Rodriguez Duran.
The parties enjoyed cordial exchanges and discussed topics of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Meanwhile, Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh has received the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Saudi Arabia Akram Karimi. The meeting took place at the council’s headquarters in Riyadh. The parties discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2643179/saudi-arabia
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Saudi teen recognized for her work in science
SADIYA A. NADEEM
May 11, 2026
JEDDAH: At just 15, Sulaf Al-Johani is the first Saudi Arabia female to participate in and win the Most Inspiring Young Leader award at the Impact CEO Awards in Dubai earlier this year, for her leadership and scientific contributions at international gatherings.
She is “proud” of several projects and innovations, most notably research in the fields of energy and biomedical science.
One biomedical research project is a treatment that addresses brain death caused by neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, traumatic injuries, internal bleeding, and Alzheimer’s disease.
“I developed the treatment from four natural medicinal plants, combined with a catalyst and nanotechnology, and integrated with AI-guided targeting. This resulted in what I call an AI-directed nano therapeutic treatment,” said Al-Johani, who conducted the research at King Abdulaziz University.
The inspiration behind Al-Johani’s research was the story of Prince Alwaleed bin Khalid bin Talal, also known as the “Sleeping Prince.”
“At the age of 12, I decided to search for a treatment for his condition. I began working on the treatment, thinking about what he feels and what he wants to say. I decided to develop an innovation that reads the thoughts of brain-dead patients and their brain signals that we cannot perceive,” she said.
In the field of energy, Al-Johani was part of a “selective hydrogen production from tree leaves” project, where she helped produce “hydrogen fuel cells from leaf-derived hydrogen as a renewable alternative to traditional fuel.”
“My role centers on contributing to Saudi Arabia’s renewable-energy future, supporting national sustainability goals, and aligning with the Green Initiative — showing that even damaged or fallen leaves can be a source of clean hydrogen,” she added.
Al-Johani presented this project at international gatherings, including engagements linked to a G20 Summit and the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. It earned her The Explorers Medal and other recognition.
The ambitious teen from Yanbu was also part of Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit 2025.
In addition, Al-Johani has been an ambassador at the World Youth Parliament for Water and Kafila Foundation, and president of the Saudi chapter of the Perception Foundation among others.
Despite being a high school student, Al-Johani has completed multiple courses through US-based academic programs, balancing advanced study alongside her formal education.
Her passion for science and research began at the age of 8. “I was constantly asking questions and trying to understand how things around me work. I had a very strong scientific curiosity, which over time developed into a genuine interest in scientific research and innovation.”
The polyglot can also speak nine languages — Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, German, Spanish, and Italian — at different proficiency levels.
When not deep diving into science, Al-Johani enjoys practicing Arabic calligraphy in all styles.
While most middle teens are still figuring out their career trajectory, Al-Johani’s path is set for the future. “I aspire to become a major political and leadership figure who builds strong international relations and to expand across the various fields in which I work.”
Her message to Saudi girls is that “there is no young age for achievement, and no impossible dream with determination and knowledge. Saudi girls today are capable of leadership, innovation, and global competition.
“Do not wait for opportunities to come to you — create the opportunity and make change happen.
“Let the world say that Saudis are the foundation of change and the foundation of the world, the ones who create opportunities for the world. Let the world know that the impossible is not Saudi.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2643152/saudi-arabia
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Europe
Four men remanded in custody over alleged plot to attack a mosque in Co Galway
11/05/2026
Lawyers for four men accused of a terrorist plot to attack a Galway mosque have indicated that there is "potential for progress" ahead of their trials.
The Director of Public Prosecutions this morning served papers on each of the four explaining that their trials will be heard before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court.
The four accused are Darren Gorman (33), O’Moore Place, Portlaoise Co Laois; Charles Flynn (35), Castlerock Avenue, Castleconnell, Co Limerick; Garrett Pollock (35), Kilhorne Greene, Annalong, Co Down; and Karolis Peckauskas (38), Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth.
They are each charged with attempting to engage in a terrorist activity or a terrorist-linked activity to damage by fire Maryam Mosque, Old Cottages, Monivea Road, Galway, intending to damage or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged, an offence which was aggravated by hatred, between November 4th and 5th 2025.
Peckauskas and Pollock are also accused of having two hatchets, a knuckle duster and a hunting knife in a silver BMW at O’Moore Place, Portlaoise, on November 4th 2025, contrary to Section 9 (5) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.
Peckauskas and Pollock are further charged with possession an explosive substance - four threaded pipe end caps and six litres of hydrogen peroxide - under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that they did not have it in their possession for a lawful object at O’Moore Place on November 4 that year.
Pollock is also charged with possessing an explosive substance under such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable suspicion that he didn’t have it in his possession for a lawful object at An Tobar, Newfoundwell Road, Drogheda, Co Louth on the same date.
Lawyers for each accused today told the court that there is "potential for progress" when they come before the court again next month.
Justice Patrick McGrath, presiding, remanded each accused until that date.
Source: breakingnews.ie
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https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/four-men-remanded-in-custody-over-alleged-plot-to-attack-a-mosque-in-co-galway-1898366.html
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Man charged with disturbing place of worship after allegedly making threats at north Brisbane mosque
By Sarah Richards
11 May 2026
A man has been charged after allegedly making verbal threats at a Brisbane mosque, with the Muslim community describing the incident as deeply concerning.
Police were called to the Masjid Taqwa mosque in Bald Hills on Sunday morning following reports that a man attended the place of worship and made verbal threats.
No one was physically injured, and the man fled the scene before police arrived.
A 33-year-old Mitchelton man has since been charged with one count of creating a public nuisance and one count of disturbing a place of worship.
In a statement on social media, Masjid Taqwa's board said the alleged incident caused fear and distress among members of the congregation.
The board said several people reported that the man stated he had a gun in his car.
"While we understand the current charges before the court, our community remains deeply concerned by the circumstances surrounding this incident and the broader pattern that appears to be emerging," they said.
The board said it was the fourth incident involving the mosque and congregation within the past six months.
In an unrelated incident in December, offensive graffiti, including a Nazi symbol, had been spray-painted on the mosque's wall.
The Australian National Imams Council strongly condemned the alleged incident and acknowledged the police's prompt response.
"We trust that the justice system will deal with the matter appropriately and expect that this alleged offending be treated with the level of seriousness consistent with hate crime," the council said in a statement.
Labor MP for Sandgate Bisma Asif, the first Muslim politician elected to state parliament, said: "a place of worship should be a place of peace".
The 33-year-old is due to appear in court on May 22.
Source: abc.net.au
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-11/man-charged-making-threats-north-brisbane-mosque/106667352
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Has Amsterdam banned meat adverts to avoid offending Muslims?
11/05/2026
By James Thomas
The Dutch capital recently banned adverts depicting meat products, with European far-right figures claiming the reason behind the move is to appease Muslims. The Cube uncovers the truth behind the measure.
André Ventura, the leader of Portugal’s far-right Chega party, recently claimed that the Dutch capital has banned meat adverts because they could be seen as offensive to Muslims.
In this post on X, Ventura published a video of himself reacting to a headline that says Amsterdam has prohibited such adverts in all public places, and he says in the clip that it shows Europe is descending into madness.
"Please see the point of insanity we're reaching, this is in Europe," Ventura says in the clip. "Meat adverts, for any kind of meat, are forbidden in public spaces because Muslims get offended because they supposedly don't eat meat and don't want anyone else to eat meat or see meat ads."
"Look at this, it's happening now in Europe," he continues. "If we don't stop this in time, this is going to eat us alive, it's going to make us disappear, it's going to make us be ruled over in the future. Wake up. This is in Holland, but soon it will be here in Portugal. Wake up."
While it is true that Amsterdam has banned meat adverts, it has nothing to do with not wanting to offend Muslims.
The city became the world's first capital to prohibit public adverts for both meat and fossil fuel products on 1 May, getting rid of ads for airlines, cruises, meat, fish and other products in the process.
The move was made to bring Amsterdam in line with the local government's environmental targets, which include making the capital carbon neutral by 2050, and for residents to halve their meat consumption in the same time frame.
The approved text says advertising fossil fuel and meat products normalises high-carbon lifestyles incompatible with climate targets — it doesn't say anything about Islam anywhere.
The livestock industry is responsible for around 15% of the world's global greenhouse emissions, according to researchers, although more recent analyses have put this total closer to 12%.
Several meat and travel industry groups have criticised Amsterdam's move as paternalistic and overly restrictive for consumers.
As the measure was quick to be brought in after being approved in January, there is still some leeway for companies to take down any posters and signage advertising fossil fuel and meat products. The authorities say that they will only start handing out fines for non-compliance from 2027 onwards.
Nevertheless, on-site and shopfront advertising is still allowed, so places such as supermarkets and butchers' shops will still be able to promote their products as normal.
While Amsterdam is the world's first capital to bring in fossil fuel and meat advert bans, it's not the first city, even in the Netherlands.
Haarlem was the first city in the world to do so, with its ban coming into effect in 2024, and other Dutch cities since following suit. Meanwhile, places such as The Hague, Stockholm in Sweden, Geneva in Switzerland and Bristol in the UK have heavily restricted or outright banned fossil fuel advertising only.
Returning to the false claim shared by Ventura, Islam does not have a blanket ban on eating meat, as he implied.
Traditional Islamic law says that Muslims can't eat pork and carnivorous animals, for example, but that other meat can be consumed as long as it's prepared according to halal requirements.
Source: euronews.com
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https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/11/has-amsterdam-banned-meat-adverts-to-avoid-offending-muslims
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Arrest made after swastika painted on wall at Shrewsbury Muslim Centre
By Kirsty-Louise Card
11 May 2026
A 41-year-old has been arrested after a Nazi symbol was painted on the wall of the Shrewsbury Muslim Centre.
A man has been arrested during an investigation into a reported hate crime incident in Shrewsbury.
A black swastika was painted on a wall at the Shrewsbury Muslim Centre, Preston Street, at around 8.10pm on Thursday (May 7).
West Mercia Police has arrested a 41-year-old man on suspicion of criminal damage and said the incident is being treated as a racially or religiously aggravated hate incident.
Images of the vandalism were posted to social media on Saturday by Councillor Adam Fejfer, who described the incident as a “gut punch”.
“It’s a symbol of pure hate scrawled onto a place of peace and community,” he said.
He added: “The irony is the most painful part. Our history is full of brave Muslim soldiers who wore the British uniform and gave their lives in every major conflict to protect the very freedoms and rights this person is now abusing. They fought for a Britain that is diverse, respectful, and united - not one divided by ignorance.
“We are better than this. Let’s stand and remind everyone that hate has no home here.”
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in connection with graffiti at Shrewsbury Muslim Centre on Preston Street in Shrewsbury.
“At around 8.10pm on Thursday 7 May graffiti of a racist nature was sprayed onto the building. This is being treated as a racially or religiously aggravated hate incident.”
Source: shropshirestar.com
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https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/arrest-made-after-swastika-painted-on-wall-at-shrewsbury-muslim-centre-8517098
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Denmark’s pro-Ukraine PM is on the way out – who will replace her?
11 May, 2026
By RT newsroom
Denmark’s government has collapsed after a record poor election showing for Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. King Frederik X has now asked Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen to form a right-wing government, but little will change: every major Danish party is preparing for war with Russia.
In a statement on Friday night, Denmark’s monarch announced that he had tasked Poulsen with forming a government “that does not involve the participation” of Frederiksen’s center-left Social Democrats or Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen’s Moderates. The announcement came after Frederiksen tried and failed to build a government after winning a plurality – but not a majority – in general elections in March.
Frederiksen’s party won just under 22% of the vote in March, the worst result for the Social Democrats since 1903.
The election was dominated by two issues: the rising cost of living, and immigration. Poulsen’s center-right Venstre party, Frederiksen’s Social Democrats, and Rasmussen’s Moderates are all in favor of restricting inward migration, but the right-wing Danish People’s Party wants citizenships revoked, migrants deported, and “measures that will lead to Muslim net emigration from Denmark.”
Two issues that went undiscussed in the runup to the vote were Denmark’s support for Ukraine, and its historic rearmament program. Unlike in recent elections in Hungary and Bulgaria, where the frontrunners had dramatically different views on relations with Kiev and Moscow, blind support for Ukraine is apparently baked into the Danish system.
Denmark’s uniparty
During Denmark’s last general elections in 2022, Frederiksen focused her entire campaign around defense and security issues. On these, her views were indistinguishable from those of her rivals. Six months before the election, Denmark’s five main parties had signed a ‘National Compromise on Danish Security Policy’ in which they agreed to hike defense budgets, inject an additional 7 billion DKK ($1.1 billion) in emergency funding into the country’s armed forces, and end Russian energy imports.
Frederiksen went on to form a government with Venstre and the Moderates, both of which supported these policies. Together, the PM and her traditional rivals on the right have announced planned increases in military spending from 2.4% to 3.5% of GDP, purchased hundreds of new armored cars and dozens of fighter jets, given Ukrainian arms manufacturers grants to produce weapons components on Danish soil, and in an historic first, introduced compulsory military service for women.
Frederiksen and Poulsen both explicitly blamed Russia for a series of drone sightings at Danish airports and military sites in late 2025, despite months of investigation concluding that there was no credible evidence the drones ever existed. Frederiksen used the drone panic to push her rearmament program, telling the public in September that “there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe's security – and that is Russia… and that is why we are embarking on a historic buildup here in Denmark.”
Under Frederiksen, Denmark has given Ukraine just over €11 billion in bilateral military and economic aid. At 3.27% of its GDP, Denmark has proportionately handed Ukraine more money than any other Western country. After meeting Frederiksen in Cyprus in April, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky “noted the cross-party consensus on supporting Ukraine” in Denmark, according to a Ukrainian government statement.
More of the same
A government led by Poulsen will in all likelihood deliver more of the same. Poulsen warned in 2024 that Russia could attack NATO territory “within a three- to five-year period.” To prepare for this eventuality – which Russia has outright dismissed as “ridiculous” and a ploy by European leaders to extract more tax money from their citizenry – Poulsen has called for Denmark to increase military spending yet again, to 4% of GDP. Such an increase would put the country’s per-capita defense expenditure higher than that of the US.
Poulsen’s potential coalition partners include the Danish People’s Party, Liberal Alliance, and Conservatives. Of these, the Danish People’s Party is the only voice of moderation on Ukraine. Party leader Morten Messerschmidt has called for an end date to military aid to Kiev, has urged Ukraine to make territorial concessions for peace, and opposes its accession to NATO.
“Every time we spend a billion in Ukraine, that money goes from Denmark, from welfare, from whatever it is we want here,” he told Danish state broadcaster DR in 2024. Messerschmidt added that he intends to pressure whoever is in power in Copenhagen to “conduct a Ukraine policy that is based on the world of reality and not on a fantasy world.”
However, despite the party tripling its vote share to 9% in March, its leadership has told King Frederik that their only demand from Poulsen is that he enact policies that will reduce Denmark’s Muslim population.
Will Russia’s relations with Denmark change?
It is highly unlikely that the transfer of power from Frederiksen to Poulsen will alter Moscow’s sub-zero relations with Copenhagen. Denmark currently has no ambassador to Russia, and is considered an “unfriendly” nation by the Kremlin.
“If anyone wishes to talk, we will never refuse dialogue, even though we fully realize… that reaching an agreement with the current generation of European leaders will most likely be impossible,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in January. “They have entrenched themselves too deeply in a posture of hatred towards Russia.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639868-denmark-right-wing-government/
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Nearly $22 billion secretly shipped to Ukraine – Austrian politician
11 May, 2026
A right-wing Austrian politician has demanded that the country’s Finance Ministry explain how nearly $22 billion in cash and gold was shipped to Ukraine from Austria since 2022 without triggering concerns about money laundering or regulatory oversight.
In a statement published on Sunday, Austrian Freedom Party (FPO) Secretary General Christian Hafenecker called out what he described as Vienna’s “two-class justice system” for overlooking massive payments to Kiev, while keeping a tight hold on taxpayers’ purse strings.
“We’re not talking about play money here: 1,030 registered cash and gold shipments, around €12 billion ($14 billion) plus $7.75 billion, physically transported over 1,300 kilometers into the war zone,” Hafenecker said.
“And the responsible finance minister simply tells me… ‘We know nothing, we’re not investigating anything, we haven’t collected any information.’ That’s not an answer, that’s dereliction of duty,” he added.
By comparison, Austrian money laundering rules require a private citizen withdrawing as little as €12,000 from an inherited account to prove the origin of the funds, and any person crossing the EU’s external border with more than €10,000 in cash must declare it, Hafenecker said. “This is a two-class justice system in finance.”
The politician demanded full disclosure on all cash shipments from Austria to Ukraine since the escalation of the conflict, a full audit by the country’s Financial Market Supervisory Authority, and a report by the Austrian Money Laundering Reporting Office in parliament.
Earlier this year, the Euroskeptic FPO party demanded that Vienna cut all financial aid to Ukraine, denouncing the country as a corrupt “bottomless pit,” following a wave of high-level embezzlement scandals in Kiev.
Major probes by Ukraine’s Western-backed anti-graft agencies have implicated senior officials in Vladimir Zelensky’s government since last year. Two ministers and the Ukrainian leader’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, stepped down following the massive scandal.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the current leadership in Kiev, calling it a “criminal gang” sitting on “golden potties,” and interested far more in personal enrichment than in the fate of ordinary Ukrainians.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639864-22-billion-shipped-ukraine-austria/
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Berlin and Kiev to jointly develop ‘deep strike’ capabilities – German defense minister
11 May, 2026
Germany and Ukraine will jointly develop long-range drones, German Defense Minister Boris Pistiorius has said during an unannounced visit to Kiev. The Ukrainian military has routinely used unmanned aerial vehicles for attacks deep inside Russia that target civilians and critical infrastructure.
Moscow has accused Kiev of “terrorism” over the strikes. Last week, one attack killed five civilians in Crimea.
Berlin has emerged as Kiev’s largest single military donor after the US switched from donating weapons directly to Ukraine to selling it to Kiev’s other NATO backers which hand them over. Germany spent around €20 billion ($23.5 billion) on weapons for Ukraine from January 2022 to February 2026, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
On Monday, Pistorius claimed that further military cooperation with Kiev would be advantageous for Berlin since it has also launched its own military buildup, citing the alleged ‘Russian threat’.
“Germany and Ukraine are strategic partners who both benefit from the cooperation. This gives rise to numerous new projects,” the minister told dpa news agency. “The focus is on the joint development of advanced unmanned systems of all ranges, especially in the area of deep strike.”
According to Pistiorius, the ‘Brave Germany’ program he signed off on, along with Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Federov, on Monday will focus on supporting startups capable of demonstrating “promising innovations.”
Ukraine’s most prominent drone manufacturer, Fire Point, recently found itself at the center of a corruption scandal when leaks exposed its close ties to Timur Mindich, a former business partner and longtime associate of Vladimir Zelensky. Mindich stands accused of orchestrating a $100 million graft scheme. One of the company’s top figures and its co-owner were also reportedly recorded saying that peace is “bad for business.” Prior to the scandal, the company was touted globally by Zelensky himself.
Moscow has stated that it harbors no aggressive intent toward any NATO nation and dismissed the speculation as “nonsense.” It also warned that the current German and EU leadership is transforming the bloc into “a Fourth Reich.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639870-berlin-kiev-develop-deep-strike/
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North America
US in closely guarded talks to open new bases in Greenland
May 12, 2026
Daniel Bush
The US has been holding regular negotiations with Denmark to expand its military presence in Greenland, according to multiple officials familiar with the discussions, with talks between both sides progressing in recent months.
US officials are seeking to open three new bases in the south of the territory, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, as they work to resolve a diplomatic crisis sparked by President Donald Trump when he threatened to seize Greenland by force.
Trump said in January that the US should "own" Greenland to prevent Russia or China from taking it. He said this could happen the "easy way " or "the hard way".
The White House confirmed the administration was engaged in high-level talks with Greenland and Denmark, but declined to comment on details of the negotiations. A White House official told the BBC the administration was very optimistic the talks were headed in the right direction.
Denmark has previously expressed a willingness to discuss additional American military bases in Greenland, and its foreign ministry confirmed talks with the US were taking place. "There is an ongoing diplomatic track with the United States. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not go into further detail at this time," a spokesperson said.
US officials have floated an arrangement in which the three new military bases would be formally designated as US sovereign territory, according to one source with knowledge of the negotiations.
The bases would be in southern Greenland and primarily focus on surveillance of potential Russian and Chinese maritime activity in an area of the northern Atlantic between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom known as the GIUK Gap, the officials who spoke to the BBC said.
The two sides have not formally agreed to anything yet and the final number of bases could change, the sources said. One of the new bases would likely be located in Narsarsuaq, on the site of a former US military base that housed a small airport.
Any other new military bases would likely also be located on sites in Greenland that have existing infrastructure such as airfields or ports, which could be upgraded at a lower cost than building new facilities, analysts said.
US officials have not raised the possibility during talks of somehow seizing control of Greenland, something that Denmark and Nato have publicly rejected.
Despite Trump's threats, the countries have been actively working towards a deal in recent months.
The talks have been confined to a small working group of officials in Washington who have made headway negotiating outside of the spotlight while the administration has been consumed by the war in Iran.
General Gregory Guillot, the head of US Northern Command, gave a broad sense of the negotiations during congressional testimony in March. He said the US was seeking to open new bases, but the sources close to the talks described new details that paint a picture of regular high-level meetings that have progressed in recent months.
The delicate diplomatic effort is being led by Michael Needham, a senior state department official who has been tasked with crafting a deal that satisfies Trump while also respecting Denmark's redlines around protecting its borders.
"Needham is running point" on Greenland, said a senior diplomat with knowledge of the talks. Behind the scenes, the person said, the administration is "approaching it very professionally".
The teams have met at least five times since mid-January. Needham is usually accompanied by one or two US officials from the state department or National Security Council, several sources said. His counterparts in the room include Jesper Møller Sørensen, Denmark's ambassador to the US, and Jacob Isbosethsen, the top Greenlandic diplomat in Washington.
Trump's special envoy to Greenland, Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, hasn't taken part in the negotiations and is largely absent from the diplomatic process, three sources said.
"He was supposed to be more of like a rah-rah cheerleader of the idea that we could just flex our muscles and take over Greenland as a security asset," said a close Landry ally who asked not to be named. Landry "has never been to any of the actual talks."
Landry's office did not respond to a request for comment.
The US currently has one military base in Greenland, down from approximately 17 military facilities during the height of the Cold War. Pituffik Space Base is located in northwestern Greenland - it monitors missiles for NORAD but is not configured to conduct maritime surveillance.
Some current and former officials, as well as Arctic security experts, told the BBC that Washington could have advanced its interests in Greenland without threatening a Nato ally in such strong terms.
"Why threaten an ally with a military operation or invasion when what you want is something that could be negotiated quite easily?" said one former senior US defence official.
Others, however, praised the co-operation between the US and Denmark.
"Wherever the US and our allies leave a vacuum, that vacuum is often filled by China and Russia," retired General Glen VanHerck, the head of Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) from 2020 to 2024, told the BBC.
Behind closed doors, negotiators have sought to reach a compromise under the framework of an existing decades-old security agreement between the US and Denmark.
The 1951 pact grants the US a wide berth to expand its military operations in Greenland. The Danish government must approve any US military expansions in the territory, but Denmark has historically supported America's military operations there and has never rejected a US request to expand its presence, Arctic security experts said.
Representatives of the Greenland government in Washington declined to comment. The US state department also declined to comment.
Trump expressed interest in the US gaining greater access to Greenland during his first term as president. But his renewed interest earlier this year set off a diplomatic crisis that highlighted tensions between Nato and the Trump administration.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21669452lo
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Paladino Settles With Council Over Anti-Muslim Tweets
MAY 11, 2026
Councilmember Vickie Paladino and the City Council settled their ethics feud over her anti-Muslim social media posts, with the Queens Republican agreeing to delete her tweets and remove any mention of her job on her personal accounts.
The charges filed March 2 by the Council’s ethics committee were permanently withdrawn, according to a court filing. In turn, Paladino withdrew a lawsuit she filed against the Council.
The Committee on Rules, Privileges, Elections, Standards and Ethics voted in early March to charge Paladino for social media posts she made after Zohran Mamdani was elected as the city’s first Muslim mayor, and a tweet she published after an ISIS-inspired terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia.
In one now-deleted tweet, she posted that “we need to take very seriously the need to begin the expulsion of Muslims from western nations, or at the very least the severe sanction of them within western borders.”
Under the settlement, Paladino will have to modify her account on X to remove “council woman” from her display name, and delete three tweets that are still up.
Paladino will also have to make a public statement.
“To be clear, my personal social-media posts were not directed at any Council Member or staff,” she will be required to post. “I am responsible for the content, I never intended to make Council Members or staff feel unwelcome or unsafe in their work environment. I send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the court for facilitating this resolution.”
Councilmember Sandra Ung, the chair of the ethics committee, is also required to post that she believes “the resolution strikes the right balance between protection of council staff and the first amendment liberties of council members.”
Paladino was represented by Jim Walden, a failed 2025 mayoral candidate. He argued in at least one hearing that the tempest was a free speech issue, and provided examples of other Council members posting their own opinions about police officers or, in some cases, white people.
Source: thecity.nyc
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https://www.thecity.nyc/2026/05/11/vickie-paladino-settles-nyc-city-council-muslim-tweets/
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Capital Region Muslim leader reflects on 50 years of community
MAY 11, 2026
Established in 1979, the Islamic Center of the Capital District is one of the oldest mosques in the area.
“We are standing outside the Islamic Center, between the old building and the new building that was built here about 13 or 14 years ago," said Dr. Mussarat Chaudhry, one of the Pakistani immigrant women who helped make the mosque the community center it is today.
Chaudhry came to the Capital Region from Pakistan in 1971. Now a retired radiologist, Chaudhry began her medical career in the United States as an intern at St. Peter’s Hospital. At the time, there were no mosques in the area, and the small Muslim community that did exist congregated to pray in any space people could find.
“We used to pray and get together for the holidays in the basement of churches, in the hospital facilities, or in the university rooms," she said. "And then one day, we were all at a dinner together, and we decided we do need something. We started to work on the fundraising and people wanted to mortgage their homes, get the funds out of their pension plans, what have you.”
Funding the construction of the mosque took several years, especially as the group wanted to follow Islamic rules of finance, which forbid taking or giving loans with interest. That meant relying heavily on community donations.
“We pretty much had to wait, from day to day, go home and cry and pray for money to show up so we can continue the building, and so it did,” she said.
The funds that finally got the construction over the finish line came in the form of an unexpected gift. Shakir Al-Aboud, a businessman, came to Albany for medical treatment from Paris and visited the construction site that would eventually become ICCD.
“But at that time, Shakir Al-Aboud had said, ‘You build this mosque like you're building your own home, and I will pay to the last penny for it,' SubhanAllah," she said. "So this is one of those stories that you know you make an intention, and you make it feeling the need for it and serving God, Allah, and things happen.”
Now, the mosque has been in the area for almost 50 years. In that time, it has expanded significantly according to the community’s needs, including an Islamic school and a larger community center that can fit thousands, especially during the Eid holiday prayers. The Islamic school, An-Nur, was established in 1991, and Chaudhry has been a member of the school board since it opened.
Chaudhry has also been at the forefront of interfaith work in the Capital Region and is part of several interfaith organizations in the area, including the Interfaith Alliance of Upstate New York and the Sidney and Beatrice Albert Interfaith Lecture Series Board.
“I had been approached by several church communities to do some interfaith work, and I got very involved with it very early, because, initially, our imam was not English speaking," she said. "There weren't many imams. So I took on the role of doing that for many years.”
Although the community was initially welcomed by its neighbors, Chaudhry says 9/11 drastically changed how Muslims viewed themselves as part of the community, particularly for her and her fellow hijabi women facing Islamophobia.
“There were times when people would try to pull off the scarf and strangulate so, at that time, we had set up a program with a local taekwondo teacher," she said. "I think it was in Clifton Park, and we went and we did a little training for young women and older women to how to be safe if that happens. So he taught us. He said, 'If somebody is trying to pull your scarf, you put your hand, put you in a scarf, in that and turn your face. It won't affect your breathing.'”
For many Muslims in the community, it became much more important to be politically involved. In the Capital Region, there are now multiple advocacy groups aimed at organizing Muslims to be politically active, including the Albany Muslim Advocacy Coalition, which hosts many of its events at ICCD, and the United Muslim Alliance of Albany.
Chaudhry, who is South Asian, sees the AAPI community and AAPI Heritage Month as an important step toward ensuring AAPI voices are heard.
“I think it’s very, very important, especially people from those areas to get together and have a unified focus on what our needs are and how we can benefit our communities.”
After 55 years of being in the area, Chaudhry sees the community changing with its next generation, particularly when it comes to challenging Islamophobia or racial discrimination. She said she hopes the region’s next generation of Muslims will continue the work she helped start half a century ago.
“I think that's the hope: that we keep connected and we let the community know that Muslims are here, and we value our traditions," she said. "We're here to stay, and we're here to help as other citizens are.”
Source: wamc.org
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https://www.wamc.org/news/2026-05-11/capital-region-muslim-community-aapi-heritage-month
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CAIR-Oregon Welcomes Resignation of Officer Over Racist Comments Caught on Bodycam
May 11, 2026
The Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Oregon), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the resignation of a Eugene police officer after body camera video reportedly captured the officer making racist and offensive comments during an anti-ICE protest earlier this year.
Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner described the video as containing “racist and deeply offensive language.”
“Racism and bias have no place in law enforcement or in any institution charged with protecting the public,” said Zakir Khan, Board Chair for CAIR-Oregon. “While the officer’s resignation is an important first step, true accountability requires a transparent investigation into the broader culture that allowed these comments to occur. Communities targeted by racism deserve policing rooted in dignity, fairness, and respect.”
He urged Eugene officials to ensure full transparency regarding the investigation, implement stronger anti-bias training and accountability measures, and reaffirm protections for communities impacted by discriminatory policing.
Khan said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-oregon-welcomes-resignation-of-officer-over-racist-comments-caught-on-bodycam/
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CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Australian Muslim Community After Shooting Threat at Brisbane Mosque
May 11, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed its solidarity with the Australian Muslim community after a man threatened to shoot worshippers at a mosque in Brisbane.
Worshippers at Masjid Taqwa in Brisbane were reportedly threatened by a man who entered the building and claimed he had a weapon outside on Sunday morning. Police later tracked down a suspect who was charged with one count each of creating a public nuisance and disturbing a place of worship. The mosque had been defaced with a swastika and anti-Muslim graffiti in December.
“We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Australia and thank law enforcement authorities there for taking swift action and apprehending a suspect,” said CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison. “Violent anti-Muslim hate is a threat to Muslim communities everywhere and must be combatted wherever it appears.”
He noted that CAIR previously expressed solidarity with Australians protesting a visit by the genocidal Israeli President Isaac Herzog after police abused protesters and forcibly stopped Muslims from praying.
In January, CAIR expressed solidarity with the Muslim community in Australia following a reported hate attack on an Imam (religious leader) and his wife.
Last year, CAIR joined Australian Muslims in denouncing a deadly attack on the Jewish community in that nation and commended a Muslim “hero” for acting to disarm one of the attackers.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-expresses-solidarity-with-australian-muslim-community-after-shooting-threat-at-brisbane-mosque/
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Trump says Iran ceasefire is on 'massive life support'
May 12, 2026
Ella Kipling
US President Donald Trump has said the month-long ceasefire between the US and Iran is on "massive life support".
He told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that while the ceasefire remained in place, it was "unbelievably weak".
Following Trump's comments, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf wrote on X that Iran's armed forces were, "ready to respond and to teach a lesson for any aggression."
Iran laid out its demands to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in a counter-offer sent to the US on Sunday. Trump rejected the proposal, calling it "totally unacceptable" and a "piece of garbage".
After Trump's comments, Esmail Baghaei, a foreign ministry spokesperson for Iran, said Tehran's proposals were "responsible" and "generous".
After his comments saying Iran's armed forces ready to respond, Ghalibaf said in a separate post on X that there was "no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal".
"The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it," he said.
Tehran's offer includes an immediate end to the war on all fronts - a reference to the continued Israeli attacks against Iran-supported Hezbollah in Lebanon - a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and guarantees of no further attacks on Iran, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency.
It also reportedly includes a demand for compensation for war damage and an emphasis on Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump criticised the proposal, writing on Truth Social on Sunday: "I have just read the response from Iran's so-called 'Representatives.' I don't like it - TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE."
In response to Trump's comments, Baghaei said Iran would act "in any way necessary to secure our interests".
Speaking in the Oval Office later on Monday, Trump addressed the ceasefire between the two countries which has largely been observed since April despite occasional exchanges of fire.
He told reporters: "I would say the ceasefire is on massive life support... when the doctor walks in and says, 'Sir, your loved one has approximately a 1 percent chance of living'."
The US president said Iran's leaders were "very dishonourable people", adding: "Look, I've had to deal with them four or five times - they change their mind."
"That piece of garbage they sent us - I didn't even finish reading it," he said.
Trump also accused Iran of going back on an agreement to allow the US to remove its supply of enriched uranium. He insisted that Iran would "never have a nuclear weapon".
Iran's Tasnim news agency quoted a source close to the negotiating team as saying: "There is no such thing in Iran's proposal as accepting taking out enriched nuclear material."
Earlier this week, Trump repeated that the war in Iran will be "over quickly".
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium must be "taken out" before the war can be considered over.
"There's still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled," Netanyahu said in an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes show.
US news outlet Axios reported that the initial one-page, 14-point US memorandum includes provisions such as a suspension on Iranian nuclear enrichment, the lifting of sanctions, and restoring free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
It cited two US officials and two other sources - all unnamed - who it described as briefed on the issues. These sources were reported as saying that many of the terms laid out in the memo would be contingent on a final agreement being reached.
Iran has continued to block the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a rise in world oil prices. Normally about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait.
The US, for its part, has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports to exert pressure on Tehran to agree to its terms - a move that has infuriated Iran.
Israeli and US forces began massive air strikes on Iran on 28 February. A ceasefire in the Iran war came into effect last month.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgznxn18zgo
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When titans talk: What’s at stake for Trump’s China visit?
11 May, 2026
Donald Trump is set to touch down in Beijing, China, on Wednesday for a two-day state visit – the first by a US president in eight years – as relations between the world’s two largest economies teeter at a crossroads defined by the Iran war, trade friction, and technological rivalry.
The visit is expected to feature a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning, to be followed by a visit to the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet, as well as a working lunch on Friday before Trump departs for home.
White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly described the trip as “a visit of tremendous symbolic significance” while teasing “more good deals on behalf of our country.”
The high-stakes talks will likely revolve around the US-Israeli war on Iran – which was the reason for postponing the visit, originally scheduled for late March – as well as Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
Iran and oil
The Iran war and the Hormuz crisis are expected to loom large over the agenda, with an unnamed US official telling reporters during a briefing that Trump would likely “apply pressure” on China on the purchase of Iranian oil and on the alleged supply of dual-use components to Tehran.
The hallmarks of this approach became evident last week when the US sanctioned Chinese refineries buying Iranian crude, as well as what Washington described as “China-based entities providing satellite imagery to enable Iran’s military strikes against US forces.”
In response, China ordered its firms to ignore US sanctions, a move Max Meizlish, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described as an “unprecedented… measure of defiance by Beijing.”
Trump is also expected to call on Xi to leverage Beijing’s unique clout over Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway accounting for around 20% of pre-war seaborne oil trade. China, itself the world’s largest buyer of Gulf oil, has been sympathetic to the cause, urging Tehran to remove obstacles to maritime traffic.
The ‘Five Bs’ of trade
The two leaders are poised to discuss what observers have labeled the ‘Five Bs’: Chinese purchase of Boeing aircraft, American beef and soybeans, and the creation of a Board of Trade and a Board of Investments.
On Boeing, the leaders could greenlight the purchase of as many as five hundred 737 MAX aircraft and about 100 widebody jets for several Chinese flight operators. The deal would be valued at tens of billions of dollars, and Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is reportedly a member of the US delegation.
As the world’s largest importer of soybeans, China has historically purchased half of US exports of the crop and has been a primary market for American agricultural produce. The soybean trade has not been problem-free, however, as US beans currently face a total duty of 13% from China, while Brazilian beans are subject to only 3%. In addition, while China fulfilled its pledge to purchase 12 million metric tons of beans in 2025, it is unclear whether Beijing will meet the larger target of 25 million tons annually for 2026-2028.
Taiwan hotspot
Taiwan, which China regards as part of its sovereign territory, has long been a sore point in relations between Washington and Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has described the self-governed island as “the biggest point of risk” in the bilateral relationship and urged Washington to “honor its commitments and make the right choice, to open up new space for China-US cooperation.”
Several media reports have indicated that China wants Trump to say the US “opposes” Taiwanese independence, rather than the current language, with officials in Taipei nervous that the US president could oblige.
An unnamed American official told the Financial Times, though, that “we don’t expect to see any changes in US policy [on Taiwan] going forward.”
While the Trump administration has continued to supply Taiwan with weapons, the US president has previously expressed skepticism about defending the island and accused it of stealing the US semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Rare earths and tariffs
China holds a powerful card in its near-total grip on rare earth mineral supply chains, with analysts cited by the Guardian suggesting Beijing may dangle a long-term commercial arrangement to grant US access to the commodities, on condition they are not used for military ends.
The issue has been a flashpoint in relations for years, with China’s decision to introduce export restrictions on rare earth elements in 2025 sending the US high-tech industry into turmoil. While in late 2025, Washington and Beijing reached a tentative “trade truce” – which expires this November – US industry leaders have complained of delays in export licenses and overall volatility in supply chains.
As for the wider trade war, both sides are also locked in a “ceasefire” that puts Trump’s effective tariffs at between 19% and 24% after peaking at 145% during intense tit-for-tat escalations. The US and China are reportedly debating a one-year extension in exchange for guaranteed rare earths flows.
The digital battleground
Trump’s visit comes as the White House has accused China of “stealing” AI technologies, including running “deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns” to extract capabilities from America-based AI models to train cheaper rivals.
In response, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said Beijing “opposes the unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the US,” adding that it “attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights.”
Beijing has long protested what it views as a US crackdown on its tech companies, including restrictions on Huawei and a push to replace China-linked technology in American-connected cars, a policy widely seen as a blow to Chinese EV manufacturers.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639861-trump-xi-summit-explainer/
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Africa
The Result Was Predetermined – Fubara Loyalists Reject APC Screening Report
May 12, 2026
Loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have rejected the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise for aspirants seeking tickets to contest the 2027 Rivers State House of Assembly election.
Naija News reports that the controversy followed the release of a report by the APC screening committee led by Ajibola Muraina after a two-day exercise held in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
According to the report, 98 aspirants appeared before the committee, but only 33 were cleared to participate in the party primaries, while 65 others were disqualified.
Among those cleared were 28 serving lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The lawmakers are led by Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol.
The Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, who is seeking a seat in the House of Representatives, had already completed his screening at the APC national secretariat.
The report showed that aspirants believed to be aligned with Governor Fubara were among those screened out.
Former factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy, Timothy Orubibanugha and Chijioke Ihunwo were listed among those not cleared by the committee.
The committee stated that the screening process was conducted peacefully and in line with party rules.
It said aspirants submitted their documents while petitions against some contestants were also reviewed during the exercise.
According to the report, Victor Oko-Jumbo allegedly caused disagreement at the screening venue after insisting on entering with security aides before police officers restored order.
The committee also accused an aspirant for the Asari Toru 1 constituency seat, Tonye Garrick Tom-George, of attempting to influence the process with money.
The report claimed he handed an envelope containing cash and his passport photograph to committee members and that the matter was reported to the police.
The committee listed several reasons for disqualifying aspirants. These included missing voter cards, issues with party membership records, conflicting dates of birth, incomplete documentation, unpaid dues by nominators, and inconsistencies in names and affidavits.
However, confusion later followed the release of the report after the secretary of the screening committee, Tanko Yamowa, distanced himself from the document.
In a disclaimer issued on May 11, Yamowa described the circulating report as false and unauthorised.
He explained that the committee had only completed its work less than 24 hours earlier and insisted that no official screening list had yet been released by the party.
He urged party members and the public to ignore the document making rounds online, adding that official communication would come through the proper party channels.
Meanwhile, Tonye Tom-George denied the allegation that he attempted to bribe members of the committee.
He said he had never tried to influence anybody and challenged the committee to provide evidence to support the accusation.
He also said his lawyers would respond formally to the allegation.
Some of the affected aspirants also faulted the screening outcome. One of them, Gogo-Ogute Isaiah, who contested for the Andoni constituency seat, said he fulfilled all party requirements and had not been officially informed why he was disqualified.
He explained that he paid all dues, submitted the required documents and attended the screening exercise, adding that he only saw his disqualification online alongside many others.
Another aspirant, who spoke anonymously, questioned why all aspirants linked to Wike were cleared without any issues while others were screened out.
He argued that some of the reasons given by the committee, such as typographical errors and minor discrepancies, could have been corrected instead of leading to outright disqualification.
He also claimed the quick release of the report suggested the outcome may have been predetermined.
Another disqualified aspirant, Solomon Lenu, also criticised the process, saying the exercise did not reflect fairness within the party.
Lenu maintained that his documents were complete and that he fulfilled every requirement requested by the APC before the screening exercise.
He warned that the dispute could create division within the party ahead of the 2027 election.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/12/fubara-loyalists-reject-apc-screening-report/
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Seyi Tinubu Has Never Insulted Allah – City Boy Movement Addresses Blasphemous Report
May 11, 2026
By Justina Otio
The CityBoy Movement has responded to a viral social media post that allegedly attributes blasphemous statements about Almighty God and the 2027 presidential election to its Patron, Seyi Tinubu.
The Movement, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director-General, Communication and Public Affairs, O’tega Ogra, said that the write-up, purportedly authored by one “Albaabu Abudulahi,” is deliberately aimed at provoking the public and inciting religious tension.
The statement stressed that Tinubu never made such comments “at any time, in any place, through any channel or under any circumstance whatsoever.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, Barr. Seyi Tinubu did not make the statement credited to him. The attribution is entirely false, malicious in intent, reckless in circulation and dangerous in consequence,” the statement read.
The Movement further described Seyi Tinubu as a man of faith who holds deep reverence for God, insisting that he has never disrespected or questioned the supremacy of Almighty God.
“Barr. Seyi Tinubu is a man of faith who holds deep reverence for Almighty God. He believes firmly that all power belongs to God alone and that no man can attain, retain or exercise authority except by the grace, mercy and permission of the Almighty,” it stated.
It added that while he remains committed to mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, he has never placed political ambition above religious conviction.
He has never insulted, mocked, questioned or diminished the supremacy of Almighty God or Allah, and will never do so,” the statement added.
The group warned that the viral publication was a calculated attempt to distort his image and incite religious sentiments in the country.
“The CityBoy Movement therefore urges Nigerians, across all faiths and political persuasions, to disregard this malicious fabrication and treat it for what it is: a calculated attempt by mischief makers to inflame passions and mislead the public,” it said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/11/seyi-tinubu-allah-city-boy-movement-blasphemous-report/
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Osun Boils As Adeleke Summons Emergency Security Meeting Over Fresh Attacks
May 12, 2026
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for an emergency security council meeting following fresh attacks and destruction of government property in different parts of the state.
Naija News reports that the governor announced the decision through a statement released on Monday by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, the meeting became necessary because of growing security worries connected to alleged political violence ahead of the governorship election in Osun State.
The emergency meeting is expected to take place at the Governor’s Office and will have the attendance of security chiefs and service commanders across the state.
The state government said discussions during the meeting would focus on rising cases of thuggery and attacks allegedly linked to supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adeleke said the situation had become a matter that required urgent attention from security agencies and government officials. He questioned why public property was being attacked without arrests being made by security operatives.
The governor also stated that the security council would work on ways to stop further violence and restore confidence in the ability of security agencies to maintain peace and order across the state.
This development comes after the killing of Kolade Eluyera, the son of the Accord Women Leader in Ikire, located in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/12/osun-adeleke-summons-security-meeting-over-attacks/
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Ramaphosa says he will not resign as South Africa moves toward impeachment inquiry
May 12, 2026
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Monday that he will not resign from his position despite the establishment of an impeachment committee to reinvestigate allegations that he committed serious misconduct by hiding the theft of more than half a million dollars in cash, which had been stashed in a sofa at his game ranch.
In a televised address to the nation, Ramaphosa said he would legally challenge a parliamentary report which found credible evidence of wrongdoing on his part, a process that is likely to significantly delay possible impeachment proceedings against him.
He has faced calls from various quarters, especially opposition parties, to step down from his position while these processes unfold.
His announcement came a few hours after the South African Parliament said it would establish the impeachment committee in compliance with a decision of the country's highest court last week that the report should referred to an impeachment committee.
“I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign,” Ramaphosa said on Monday.
His decision follows a ruling by the top Constitutional Court on Friday saying a 2022 Parliament vote that blocked impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa over the scandal was unconstitutional.
At the time of the vote, Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party had a majority in Parliament. The vote was held despite an independent report finding evidence of wrongdoing by the president in allegedly not properly reporting the theft to police and trying to keep an investigation to recover the money secret.
The Constitutional Court last week said that, according to procedure, the 2022 independent report should have been referred to an impeachment committee for further investigation.
Impeaching the leader of Africa's top economy would require the support of at least two-thirds of lawmakers in the 400-member Parliament, according to the Constitution.
The multi-party impeachment committee still needs to conduct an investigation before any move to hold an impeachment vote. No time frame was given for that in Monday's Parliament statement.
The allegations against Ramaphosa were first made by a former head of South Africa's state security agency, who walked into a police station in 2022 and accused the president of money laundering and other offenses over the money. It emerged the theft happened in 2020 and had been kept secret.
Ramaphosa denied wrongdoing and said the money — in US dollars — came from the legitimate sale of buffaloes on his ranch. However, questions arose over the source of the money and why it was hidden in a sofa.
The 2022 independent report said there was “legitimate doubt” over the source of the money, and some evidence that the amount was more than the $580,000 Ramaphosa claimed.
It also said Ramaphosa had used the head of his presidential protection unit and others to “surreptitiously” try and track down the suspects.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/12/ramaphosa-says-he-will-not-resign-as-south-africa-moves-toward-impeachment-inquiry/
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M23 pulls back from eastern DRC towns as ceasefire pressure mounts
May 12, 2026
Fighters from the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group have withdrawn from several areas of the violence-plagued eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the group, locals and the military told AFP on Monday.
The United States is attempting to enforce an unsuccessful peace deal between the anti-government M23 and the Congolese government in return for privileged access to the eastern DRC's vast mineral riches.
The M23 launched an offensive in December on the city of Uvira, in the eastern province of South Kivu, at a time when the DRC and Rwanda were in the process of ratifying a peace deal under US mediation.
The group withdrew in January under pressure from Washington, which on Friday again said the belligerents should respect the ceasefire.
Early on Monday, M23 fighters left several areas north of Uvira near the border with Burundi, Rwanda's southern neighbour, the armed group, local officials and the military said.
The most important of these is the town of Sange, a major crossroads lying 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Uvira.
Locals said pro-government militia fighters known as "wazalendo" had moved into Sange to take their place.
"M23 has withdrawn from Sange," senior local official Paul Fikiri Mudeda told AFP.
The army's spokesperson in the region, lieutenant Reagan Mbuyi, said the M23 had retreated from Sange and the nearby areas of "Kabunambo... Mutarule and Bwegera."
A security source within the M23 confirmed the fighters had withdrawn from Sange and the surrounding area.
But it continued to control Kamanyola, a town 70 kilometres north of Uvira, where the borders of the DRC, Rwanda and Burundi converge.
"We are returning to the positions we held before taking Uvira," the M23 source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
They said Kamanyola was "not included in the withdrawal."
Locals said pro-government militia fighters "entered Sange on Monday" after the M23 left.
"There's a real sense of jubilation," one inhabitant told AFP.
"Young people, women, children — even school kids — are all celebrating right now."
For more than 30 years the mineral-rich eastern DRC has been a battleground between various armed groups, vying for control of its many mines.
Since 2021, the M23 has seized swathes of territory in the eastern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, bordering South Kivu.
The seizure of Uvira marked a major expansion southwards into South Kivu of its sphere of influence.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/12/m23-pulls-back-from-eastern-drc-towns-as-ceasefire-pressure-mounts/
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France and Kenya enter new partnerships in arts, sports, and technology
May 12, 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on Monday announced new partnerships in arts and sports and emphasized the need to leverage Africa's human capital abundance and France's technological advancement to grow economies.
The two presidents met young people at Kenya's University of Nairobi on the first day of the Africa Forward Summit and interacted with top African artists and athletes.
Macron said tech solutions used by most countries come from the United States and China yet Africa and Europe could collaborate for stronger innovations.
"I think we have a common fight, a common battle together of investment, which is to build our strategic autonomy for Europe and Africa, and if we build it together, we will be much stronger," he said.
Ruto said Africa's youthful and enterprising population was critical in ensuring technological advancements and called for partnerships.
"We have young people with the right skills," he told the audience.
"We have the right infrastructure in terms of internet connectivity and we have a very enterprising and entrepreneur population. So in my opinion, this is the space in which we are operating and I think every other country should be able to think in that direction because the future is about technology," he added.
Source: africanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Temple terror: Man held after sword attack during Cameron Highlands ceremony
12 May 2026
KUANTAN, May 12 — Police arrested a man for allegedly injuring an individual with a sword at a temple in Cameron Highlands on Sunday.
Cameron Highlands police chief Supt Azri Ramli said the 39-year-old suspect was arrested after police received a public tip-off regarding the incident at about 6pm.
Initial investigations found that the incident happened while the 31-year-old victim was taking part in a religious ceremony at the temple with his friends.
“The suspect suddenly entered the temple grounds, making noise and disturbing visitors. When asked to leave, the suspect became enraged, seized a sword found at the temple, and swung it at the victim.
“The victim, who tried to ward off the attack, sustained injuries to his hands, forehead, and body. He was taken to the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital in Tanah Rata before being referred to Fatimah Hospital in Ipoh for further treatment,” he said in a statement last night.
Azri said checks found the suspect has a previous criminal record, including drug-related offences.
The suspect has been remanded for four days until Thursday to assist in investigations under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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No haj fraud complaints yet, monitoring stepped up for pilgrims
12 May 2026
Minister Zulkifli confirms no haj fraud reports for 2025 season, with TH and JAWHAR intensifying monitoring to protect Malaysian pilgrims.
KUALA LUMPUR: No complaints involving haj fraud cases have been received for this year’s haj season so far, but monitoring efforts are being intensified to curb such activities from becoming widespread.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan said his ministry, together with the Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) and Department of Waqf, Zakat and Haj (JAWHAR), is continuously monitoring the situation to prevent Malaysians from falling victim to irresponsible parties.
“The public is advised to always refer to TH for verification should they receive any suspicious offers or information related to haj matters to avoid becoming victims of fraud,” he told reporters after officiating the Religious Affairs’ Department 2025 Excellent Service Awards ceremony here today.
TH yesterday confirmed that no Malaysian pilgrims had been detected using fake visas or detained by the Saudi Arabian authorities so far for attempting to perform the pilgrimage without valid permits or haj visas.
Zulkifli said this year’s haj operations have been running smoothly overall due to careful planning and continuous improvements by TH.
He said the trend also reflected a positive change as the percentage of prospective pilgrims appealing to postpone their haj journey had shown a significant decline.
“As a result of meticulous planning this year, we can see very significant changes and improvements. Among them, the rate of prospective pilgrims postponing their haj has continued to decline to a very encouraging percentage,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Zulkifli said civil servants, particularly those in the Religious Affairs’ Department, must cultivate critical thinking in carrying out their duties in line with the challenges of the technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) era.
He said transformation in the civil service should not depend solely on technological adaptation, but must also involve changes in work culture, behaviour and ways of thinking.
He also urged civil servants to reassess personal and organisational approaches in efforts to strengthen the quality of service delivery to the people.
According to him, the concept was also highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim through his book titled ‘Rethinking Ourselves’, which encourages society to re-evaluate its way of thinking in building a better future.
Source: thesun.my
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Pig farming not sole cause of Sungai Kereh pollution, says state exco
12 May 2026
Penang exco says pollution in Sungai Kereh stems from agriculture, drainage and waste, not just pig farming, with integrated enforcement underway.
GEORGE TOWN: Pollution in Kampung Selamat and Sungai Kereh in Tasek Gelugor is not solely caused by pig farming activities, but is also linked to several other sources.
Penang Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said other contributing factors include agricultural activities, waste discharge, drainage systems and environmental factors that fall under the jurisdiction of various agencies.
He said enforcement action is being carried out in an integrated manner involving the Department of Environment (DOE), local authorities, the Penang Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and other technical agencies to identify the actual causes of the pollution and implement corrective measures.
Among the measures being planned is the transfer of pig waste to the Ampang Jajar Transfer Station (SPAJ) to be processed as feedstock for an anaerobic digestion system.
“Through this process, organic waste is broken down in an oxygen-free environment to produce methane gas, which can be utilised as a renewable energy source,” he said during the Penang State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
He was responding to a question from Mohd Sobri Saleh (PN-Permatang Berangan) on the number of complaints received over pollution in Sungai Kereh and the action taken by the state government.
H’ng said the initiative would not only help reduce river pollution and environmental risks, but also support sustainability efforts through more systematic waste management and the generation of green energy.
According to records from the Penang DOE, seven complaints related to water pollution and foul odour in Sungai Kereh were received between 2024 and this year.
He said field investigations, including site inspections, found drains overgrown with aquatic weeds, which may have slowed water flow and contributed to the odour problem.
Source: thesun.my
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57 Gaza aid vessels ready to resume mission
11 May 2026
57 Global Sumud Flotilla vessels are in Turkiye, crew finalising preparations for the final phase of their humanitarian voyage to Gaza.
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 57 Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) vessels are now ready to continue their humanitarian aid voyage to Gaza.
Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby said this follows the safe arrival of 30 GSF vessels from the island of Crete, Greece at Marmaris Port, Turkiye at 2 am yesterday.
“The flotilla has joined the existing GSF vessels at Marmaris Port, bringing the total number to 57 vessels.
“SNCC confirms that all crew members are currently undergoing a coordination process involving the arrangement of participants, logistical requirements, sailing technicalities and final preparations before the flotilla proceeds with the final phase of the voyage,” he said in a statement today.
Sani Araby also confirmed that all Malaysian participants are in good condition, stable and ready to continue the humanitarian mission alongside other international delegations.
Meanwhile, SNCC confirmed that two international humanitarian activists and GSF steering committee members, Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek, were released yesterday after being detained in international waters near Greece for 11 days since April 30 by the regime authorities.
Sani Araby said the interception of GSF vessels in international waters and the detention of the two activists constituted a serious violation of human rights and international law.
“At the same time, it reflects the broader reality of the continued detention of more than 9,500 Palestinians in prison without due judicial process, including facing the risk of the death penalty following a new law recently passed by the Knesset (Israeli parliament),” he said.
On April 30, Sani Araby confirmed that six of the 22 vessels intercepted and intruded upon by Israeli regime forces in international waters while heading to Gaza involved 10 Malaysians, namely Zainal Rashid Ahmad aboard Arkham III; Osman Zolkifli and Dr Jihan Alya Mohd Nordin (Eros 1); Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, Mohd Hanafi Mohd Salim, Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzaman and Norhelmi Ab Ghani (Bianca BCN).
Also involved were Mohd Redzal Amzah and Muhamad Muhsin Zaidi, who were on board Freia and Marea respectively, as well as Mohd Shamsir Mohd Isa (Esplai).
Meanwhile, Sani Araby stressed that the current mission emphasises efforts to push for the recognition of a humanitarian maritime corridor under international law as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
He also called on Malaysians to continue strengthening advocacy efforts for the liberation of Gaza and Palestine by intensifying efforts to spread verified facts, counter regime propaganda and raise public awareness through all media and social media platforms.
“SNCC also urges Malaysians to continue performing special prayers, Qunut Nazilah and continuous supplications for the safety of the entire mission delegation and the success of efforts to liberate Gaza.
“Any dissemination of information must be guided by authentic and authoritative sources and accompanied by continuous advocacy efforts at both national and international levels,” he said.
GSF 2.0 brings together an international coalition from around the world, combining maritime efforts with global mobilisation movements on land, including legal advocacy and solidarity campaigns in various countries committed to breaking the blockade on Gaza in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Source: thesun.my
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Public to access global supply crisis dashboard from May 15, says Akmal
12 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — The Global Supply Crisis Monitoring Dashboard, jointly developed by the Ministry of Economy and the Department of Statistics Malaysia, is expected to be accessible to the public from May 15, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
He said the dashboard is intended to serve as a transparent and easily accessible central reference point for the public to monitor current developments related to the global supply crisis.
“The public-facing dashboard comprises 10 main submenus, including energy, commodities, cost of living, economic performance, foreign exchange rates and trade flows,” he said during the Global Supply Crisis Briefing today.
At the same time, he said the government’s dedicated version would be used as an internal monitoring platform to assess crisis developments, identify early risks, and formulate mitigation strategies and actions in a more structured manner based on near-real-time data.
He said the initiative marks an important shift in how the government manages crises by using near real-time data to detect early pressures, coordinate responses and provide clearer information to the public.
Akmal Nasrullah also said the government welcomed the World Bank’s recommendation on four priorities for Malaysia, namely ensuring energy security, strengthening fiscal space, managing energy demand and targeting support to households and businesses genuinely affected.
He said this aligns with the government’s decisions through initiatives currently at various stages of implementation, as the approach also emphasises the importance of ensuring smooth supplies of critical goods and supply chain financing for vulnerable firms.
“… the World Bank’s view is that global pressures are layered. Rising global prices of oil, fertiliser and food have different but interconnected impacts. Based on the World Bank’s assessment, these developments indicate that price pressures remain concentrated on key commodities, with spillover effects on production costs and the cost of living.
“Therefore, policy responses must take into account the direct impact on the people as well as the knock-on effects on businesses and supply,” he said.
As such, he said the government is focused on securing supply, extending the resilience of existing supply and curbing price pressures, with efforts underway to coordinate export controls on certain fuels, ensure the supply of essential goods, manage purchase quotas, promote energy conservation and strengthen close cooperation with industry players.
He said any policy adjustments would be implemented carefully, in a targeted and temporary manner, with priority given to protecting the people, ensuring supply stability and managing the country’s fiscal position responsibly.
“The National Economic Action Council will continue to update the status of energy and fuel supplies from time to time to ensure domestic needs remain prioritised, while boosting industry confidence in operational continuity and the sustainability of the country’s economic activities,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
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Penang open to hosting music rave festivals with right venues, budget, sponsors, says exco
12 May 2026
GEORGE TOWN, May 12 — The Penang state government is ready to host a music rave festival in the state with appropriate locations, budget and sponsors, said state exco Wong Hon Wai.
The state tourism and creative economy committee chairman said the state is open to hosting a variety of music festivals provided it is in a suitable location, with an appropriate budget and sponsors.
“In fact, back in 2024, during the Penang Bridge International Marathon, we held a rave music festival in Batu Kawan but it was mostly attended by the runners,” he told the state legislative assembly today.
“Many people may not have known about it because it was held around 9pm to 10pm, but participants who attended were able to enjoy the experience of running alongside entertainment and music elements,” he added.
Wong (PH - Paya Terubong) was replying to an additional question by Joseph Ng Soon Siang (PH - Air Itam) on whether the state plans to organise a rain rave festival.
In 2024, a Run Rev Carnival was held at Aspen Vision City in Batu Kawan on December 14 between 6pm and 1am before the start of the marathon.
The carnival featured performances by Bunkface, Rabbit Mac as well as DJs Tick Lim and Blink with live band performances.
Wong said Penang is focused on promoting experiential tourism to visitors on top of promoting the existing tourism attractions in the state.
“Visitors can have good experiences such as a visit to Penang Hill is not only about visiting the hill but can also include other experiences such as hiking up the trails, camping overnight and going for night walks,” he said.
He said the state also aims to focus more on interactive visitor experiences based on heritage, culture and nature to attract various segments of domestic and international tourists.
He said this is why the state is open to organising music festivals to attract visitors and enliven the tourism and sporting events in the state.
“With the appropriate budget, suitable location and the right organiser, I think we can continue with more music festivals in the future,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wong said the Penang government, through Penang Global Tourism (PGT), is planning various strategic initiatives to strengthen the state’s tourism attractions in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
He said among the new attractions in the state included the Penang State Museum Board Automotive Gallery, Guar Kepar Archaeological Gallery, Ferringhi Bay and the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre.
He added that the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery, Penang History Gallery, Penang Indian Heritage Gallery and Cultural Centre, Penang Ferry Museum and Straits Oriental Museum have also been introduced.
“In addition, several tourism products based on interactive experiences are also being developed such as the Penang River Cruise, Entopia by Night, Penang Hill Gallery @ Edgecliff, Umi Umi and Forest Island,” he said.
He said PGT is intensifying various marketing efforts domestically and internationally, including through digital campaigns via the Penang Travel Deals platform.
Wong said other efforts include familiarisation trips involving media representatives and travel agents, as well as participation in trade missions and tourism exhibitions in key and emerging markets such as China, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and India.
He added that strategic collaborations are also being forged with airlines, online travel agencies and media partners to promote Penang as one of the country’s leading tourism destinations.
Source: malaymail.com
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Johor polls not discussed during audience with King, Regent, says Zahid
11 May 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, May 11 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said his audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim and Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail at Istana Besar here today did not involve discussions on the upcoming Johor state election.
He said the discussions mainly centred on Umno’s 80th anniversary celebrations, which were held here today.
“We met, but I did not touch on (the Johor state election) at all. The discussions were more on national issues.
“I would like to state that this was just a normal audience,” he told reporters after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting at the party’s Johor headquarters in Jalan Yahya Awal here today.
Also present were Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and the party’s top leadership.
Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, said the Johor state election was likewise not discussed during the Supreme Council meeting.
He said the matter would only be raised with Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi once consent is granted.
On his meeting with Tunku Mahkota Ismail, Zahid described it as significant for Umno as it coincided with the party’s anniversary celebrations in Johor Bahru, the birthplace of the party.
He said Tunku Mahkota Ismail was pleased to attend and meet with Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders.
“We know that the establishment of Umno on May 11, 1946, was held at Istana Besar in Johor Bahru.
“This is not just nostalgia, but something memorable that will be appreciated by all party members,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zahid expressed hope that Johoreans would continue to appreciate the contributions made by Onn Hafiz’s administration following the state’s economic growth.
“We hope the growth will continue to bring prosperity to Johoreans as a whole,” he said.
Earlier, Umno leaders led by Zahid attended a prayer session in conjunction with the party’s anniversary celebrations.
Those present also recreated the historic 1946 group photograph at the grand staircase of Istana Besar in Johor Bahru.
Umno was founded during a gathering of Malay leaders at the palace’s grand staircase on May 11, 1946, a moment often regarded as the party’s birthplace.
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Public participation must be ensured in tree plantation prog: Nazrul Islam Khan
11 May 2026
DHAKA, May 11, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister's Political Adviser and Chairman of the Cell for the Five-Year 25 crore Tree Plantation Programme Nazrul Islam Khan today stressed the need for ensuring public participation in implementing the nationwide tree plantation initiative.
"The programme to plant 25 crore trees over five years is one of the government's priority initiatives in line with the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the government's election manifesto," he told the second meeting of the cell formed to implement the programme at the conference room of the Ministry of Environment in the Secretariat today.
The meeting discussed in detail issues related to the successful implementation of the programme, including collection of saplings, selection of suitable tree species, determining trees according to regional soil conditions, coordination among ministries and agencies and overall monitoring of the activities.
Nazrul Islam Khan, also member of BNP Standing Committee, said the plantation activities of different ministries, departments and agencies, including the Local Government Division, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Agriculture, and Roads and Highways Division, would be monitored through the cell.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said a target has been set to plant 5 crore trees in the first phase by 2026.
He emphasized planting suitable tree species based on soil type and directed the Forest Department to implement the recommendations of the technical committee.
State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam said tree plantation alone would not be enough and effective measures must also be taken to prevent deforestation.
"As part of implementing the government's election manifesto, forest, fruit-bearing and medicinal trees will be planted across the country following the directives of the Forest Department," he said.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez, who holds the rank of secretary and serves as technical expert, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka Central University Professor Dr. Md. Nurul Islam, and technical expert Jamail Bashir, among others, were present at the meeting.
Secretaries, additional secretaries and joint secretaries from concerned ministries also attended the meeting.
Source: bssnews.net
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EU plans Brussels meeting with Kabul officials over Afghan deportations: AFP
By Fidel Rahmati
May 12, 2026
The European Commission plans to invite Taliban authorities to Brussels for talks on migrant deportations as several EU states push to increase returns to Afghanistan.
The European Commission told AFP it is preparing a technical meeting in Brussels with Taliban authorities to discuss migrant returns and deportations.
Sources familiar with the matter said an invitation letter would soon be sent to Kabul to coordinate the date of the talks, which are being arranged with Sweden.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said EU officials were working on a “possible technical meeting” with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities after earlier discussions held in Kabul in January 2026.
The move comes as around 20 European Union countries review plans to return migrants, particularly those convicted of crimes, to Afghanistan as part of broader immigration restrictions.
European governments have increased pressure to accelerate deportations despite warnings from rights groups about Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian crisis and restrictions on women and civil liberties since 2021.
Several human rights organizations and U.N. experts have criticized European engagement with Taliban authorities, arguing that deportations could place returnees at risk.
Afghanistan continues to face severe economic hardship, widespread unemployment and heavy dependence on international humanitarian assistance following years of political instability and sanctions.
Source: khaama.com
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UN Provides Emergency Aid To 27,000 People In Balkh And Jawzjan
By Fidel Rahmati
May 11, 2026
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it has delivered life-saving humanitarian assistance to more than 27,000 people in Afghanistan’s northern provinces of Balkh and Jawzjan amid worsening humanitarian conditions across the country.
In a statement issued Monday, May 11, OCHA said the aid included access to clean drinking water, sanitation services and hygiene support for vulnerable families affected by ongoing economic hardship and natural disasters.
The agency thanked international donor countries for continuing humanitarian support to Afghanistan, where millions of people remain dependent on external assistance following years of conflict, economic collapse and climate-related disasters.
According to OCHA, around 22 million people in Afghanistan are expected to rely on humanitarian assistance in 2026, while approximately 17 million urgently require life-saving aid and emergency support services.
The organization said recent heavy rains and flooding in several Afghanistan provinces have significantly increased humanitarian needs, with more than 72,000 people affected by the latest floods nationwide.
Earlier, UNICEF said it had distributed educational support packages to more than 239,000 children in Herat and Badghis provinces and rehabilitated several schools damaged by earthquakes and natural disasters.
Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned that children and women remain among the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan, particularly as restrictions on girls’ education and women’s employment continue limiting access to education, healthcare and humanitarian services.
The United Nations has also expressed concern that restrictions imposed on Afghan women working for non-governmental organizations and aid agencies have complicated relief operations and reduced the effectiveness of humanitarian assistance in several parts of the country.
Source: khaama.com
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Afghanistan’s Participation in Upcoming World Urban Forum Discussed
May 12, 2026
KABUL: Mawlavi Matiulhaq Khalis, Director General of the National Environmental Protection Agency, in a meeting with Stephen Luzi, Head of the UN-Habitat, discussed environmental cooperation and Afghanistan’s participation in the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF).
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between Afghanistan and international environmental institutions, with particular attention to Afghanistan’s participation in the upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF), which is scheduled for Azerbaijan, the Agency said in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, both sides emphasized the importance of Afghanistan’s active engagement in global environmental initiatives, especially those related to sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and environmental protection in developing countries.
The two sides described the participation as an important opportunity to strengthen Afghanistan’s presence in global environmental discussions and to exchange experiences with other countries and international organizations.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation, with UN-Habitat expressing readiness to support Afghanistan in areas of urban planning, environmental sustainability, and capacity building for environmental management institutions.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Collection of Speeches by Amir al-Muminin Published, Fitrat
May 12, 2026
KABUL: A new collection featuring speeches of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Shaikh Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, has been officially published, Hamdullah Fitrat, the Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, said in a statement the other day.
The publication contains speeches delivered by Amir al-Muminin during seminars and official gatherings and was compiled by the Media Directorate of the Leadership Office, Fitrat said.
According to the deputy spokesman, the collection has been produced in magazine format with modern printing, professional design, and high-quality paper across 37 pages.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Noori Stresses Role of Afghans in Economic Growth, National Unity
May 12, 2026
KABUL: Mullah Noorullah Noori, Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, emphasized the important role of all Afghans in strengthening the country’s economy and promoting national unity.
Speaking at a meeting with a number of influential figures and former officials, Noori stated that all Afghan citizens, whether living inside or outside the country, are considered valuable members of society and have a significant role in the nation’s welfare and development.
He stressed that professional cadres and experienced individuals can make vital contributions toward economic growth, institutional improvement, and social stability, according to a statement from the ministry on Monday.
The minister also underlined the importance of unity and cooperation among Afghans, describing national solidarity as essential for long-term progress and prosperity.
Meanwhile, participants shared a number of recommendations aimed at improving reforms and enhancing the performance of civilian and military institutions across the country.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Aga Khan, ALIPH Foundations to Expand Cultural Heritage Projects in Country
May 12, 2026
KABUL: Representatives of the ALIPH and Aga Khan Foundations pledged to expand and continue major cultural heritage projects across Afghanistan, focusing on the preservation and restoration of historic sites, archaeological landmarks, and ancient monuments in several provinces.
The representatives made the announcement in a meeting with Mawlavi Atiqullah Azizi, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture for Culture and Arts, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
They highlighted ongoing efforts aimed at protecting Afghanistan’s historical and cultural heritage, the statement said.
The representatives pointed to restoration and preservation work at Mes Aynak in Logar Province, projects in Bamyan Province, preservation efforts for the Minaret of Jam in Ghor Province, the historic minarets of Herat Province, Bala Hissar in Kabul, and other cultural projects underway in several provinces.
Meanwhile, Azizi welcomed the delegation’s visit and described the organization’s role in preserving Afghanistan’s historical sites and cultural legacy as valuable and significant.
“After decades, conditions have now been created to seriously protect the country’s historical monuments, archaeological sites, and cultural heritage,” Azizi said, expressing hope that international organizations would continue supporting cultural preservation efforts without political considerations.
Both sides also emphasized the importance of closer and more organized cooperation, stressing the need for a clear mechanism to improve coordination between the foundation and the Ministry of Information and Culture.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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