Indian-Origin Muslim Stabbed 15 Times After Being Asked ‘Are You Muslim?’ In Utah Mall
New Age Islam News Bureau
16 July 2026
Indian-origin Syed Sohail Uddin, who was stabbed inside Valley Fair Mall in Utah after being asked his religion. (Credit: GoFundMe.com)
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· Indian-origin Muslim stabbed 15 times after being asked ‘are you Muslim?’ in Utah mall
· US expands attacks deeper into Iran as Tehran retaliates against Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait
· How Saudi Arabia is promoting the waqf to help finance global development
· 'Muslim bashing has gone on too long': Major study finds systemic anti-Muslim bias at UK's Spectator
· ‘They don’t want you there’: Trump tells Netanyahu to leave Syria and Lebanon – Axios
· US Pressures Nigeria To Step Up Protection For Christians Amid Rising Attacks
· Anwar mourns passing of scholar John L. Esposito, a ‘true friend to the Muslim world’
· The BNP-led government will never tolerate extremism or militancy: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman
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India
· ‘Built for personal interests, not to educate poor Muslims’: 38 of 40 buildings at Azam Khan-founded Jauhar University are ‘illegal,’ face demolition
· 2020 Delhi riots case: Court allows Umar Khalid 2 family video meetings every week
· Hyderabad school 'Kalma' homework row: Class had 24 Muslim students, one Hindu; complete violation of education policy, say cops
· 'Indian Muslims have Hindu DNA': Loni BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar sparks fresh row
· Kerala HC restrains State Waqf Board from taking major decisions until challenge to its composition is decided
· Man’s namaz video lands wife in jail, Shamli couple’s life upended
· Tea-stall owner ‘framed’ in fake WA azaan plaint
· ED conducts raids in four states in terror funding, illegal infiltration case
· Omar slams Centre over protest nod delay for Jammu and Kashmir statehood rally
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Mideast
· Israel says killed three Hezbollah members in south Lebanon
· Lebanon and Israel move toward implementing withdrawal agreement, US officials say
· Israel tells Pentagon chief will keep troops in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza ‘security zones’
· Iraq PM condemns ‘drone attack’ over Erbil: statement
· Saving Gaza’s past, one artefact at a time
· Oman sends medical supplies to Jordanian hospitals in Gaza
· Blasts heard near US consulate in Iraq’s Irbil, air defences activated: AFP
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Arab World
· Rare Qur’an manuscript on display in Makkah
· Muslim World League chief attends scholars’ meeting in Pakistan
· Saudi defence minister offers condolences to Qatar PM after passing of former emir
· Saudi engineers graduate from WAA’ID Program
· KSrelief, UK back $10m food security project in Yemen
· Saudi foreign minister receives Syrian counterpart in Riyadh
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Europe
· After £250m for Jewish security, UK offers no new funding for Muslim communities
· Moscow demands IAEA action over ‘terrorist’ killing of nuclear plant staff
· Boy, 14, charged over alleged plan to target mosques
· Norwich pub could be turned into place of worship
· Russian couple detained in Istanbul for reading the Bible inside Hagia Sophia, now a mosque
· More teenagers charged over stabbing near mosque
· Zelensky dismisses another defence minister
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North America
· US launches fresh strikes on Iran as Trump warns Tehran it 'better behave'
· Trump says ICE should not give up traffic stops in wake of fatal shootings
· New York mayor blasted over justifying rising rape numbers
· US military to start screening for testosterone deficiency, Hegseth says
· Blanche apologises on Capitol Hill for Epstein files 'mistakes'
· US lawmakers question Trump’s UAE AI chip policy change
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Africa
· Tinubu Healing The Wounds Of Civil War In The Southeast – Soludo
· Tinubu Confirms Attendance At 81st UNGA, To Address World Leaders, Meet Trump
· ‘They Want To Finish Us With Muslim-Muslim Ticket’ – Rev Dachomo
· PFIPC Scandal: ‘If Gbajabiamila Resigns, These Four Top Officials Must Go With Him’
· Uganda opposition leader refuses court-appointed lawyers at treason trial
· State Police: Why Nigeria Should Not Be Held Back By Fear
· Bishop rejects alleged Islamisation, sharia policy
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysia condemns Israel’s latest settlement expansion in Occupied Palestinian Territory
· Malaysian Army says viral rape allegations against member contradict probe findings
· Court of Appeal upholds ‘Mentega Terbang’ ban, rules film censorship powers constitutional
· Samsuri rebuts Muhyiddin, says PAS-BN talks had his approval
· Religious affairs minister: Govt strengthens crackdown on online deviant teachings
· Police remind cosplayers to comply with laws on military uniforms, replica weapons
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South Asia
· Security Commission Reviews National Security, Issues Directives to Strengthen Coordination
· Hasina to face immediate arrest on return
· Mahdi Amin defends HSC exam decision, lists 5 govt measures
· U.S. Lawmakers Seek Autopsy Report After Afghan Refugee Dies in ICE Custody
· U.S. Judge Strikes Down Four USCIS Policies Delaying Afghan Immigration Cases
· Saudi Aid Agency Delivers Food Assistance to Vulnerable Families in Northern Afghanistan
· Noor Jalal, Veronica Mawiya Discuss Health Cooperation
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Indian-origin Muslim stabbed 15 times after being asked ‘are you Muslim?’ in Utah mall
Jul 16, 2026
Indian-origin Syed Sohail Uddin, who was stabbed inside Valley Fair Mall in Utah after being asked his religion. (Credit: GoFundMe.com)
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An Indian-origin Muslim man was allegedly stabbed 15 times inside a shopping mall in the US state of Utah after a stranger asked him, “Are you Muslim?” Police say the suspect later admitted he targeted the victim because of his religion and “intends to kill Muslims”, according to court documents.
The Indian-origin man, identified as Syed Sohailuddin, was reportedly stabbed 15 times inside Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City in an alleged case of “hate crime”. Syed is currently hospitalised in critical condition after undergoing multiple surgeries, according to a GoFundMe page.
Syed was bleeding profusely from multiple stab wounds across his body when police officers arrived on the scene, according to the affidavit.
“I know he doesn’t have insurance. He’s the only man that is working in his family. He has two babies and a wife, and they are not working right now,” Syed’s friend Luna Nunez told KSL, a media and broadcasting company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Utah mall stabbing
Nunez, who set up the GoFundMe page, detailed the sequence of events in an interaction with local television network affiliate ABC Salt Lake City.
How the attack unfolded
The alleged attacker, Larsen, who has a history of violence, reportedly went around the mall asking people their religion. Then he asked Syed where he was from.
Upon hearing that he was from India, he further probed, asking if Syed was “Muslim”.
“Sohail said yes, and he just began stabbing him,” Nunez said.
Another account of the violent encounter mentioned that the suspect asked the Muslim mall worker for his name, religion and then indicated he wanted a bottle of water. As Syed turned to fetch the bottle of water, the attacker began stabbing him, the Salt Lake Tribune reported, citing comments from Imam Shuaib Din, who leads the Utah Islamic Centre and had been in contact with the victim’s family.
Suspect had history of violent incidents
According to court documents, prosecutors argued Larsen should remain in custody because he posed “a substantial danger to the public” owing to his violent ideology and references to planned mass-casualty events.
This isn’t the 48-year-old alleged attacker’s first brush with violence. In 2022, Larsen had set his yard on fire, threatened to shoot at responding firefighters, and was released from jail only in January last year, according to reporting by Salt Lake City’s Fox affiliate.
Shots were reportedly fired in that incident but an armed Larsen remained unharmed.
Bystanders subdued suspect
As Monday’s attack unfolded, bystanders swung into action, throwing nearby objects at the attacker before overpowering him till officials arrived at the scene.
“I was throwing anything I could, shoes, a chair, anything. [Larsen] was stabbing him so vicious. I was scared for his life. I was just scared. I thought he was going to die,” Syed’s friend Nunez was quoted as saying by local media house Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
Syed’s manager, Adnan Mohammed, called the incident a ‘hate crime’ and said “there’s no space for hate” while talking to the same news outlet.
Mohammed said Syed was promoted as manager “to operate everything” and described him as “always smiling, laughing, working very hard”.
Muslim rights groups, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned the “hate-motivated stabbing”.
The largest Muslim civil rights organisation in the US said the “horrific attack is yet another reminder that anti-Muslim rhetoric has real-world consequences”. It also called on America’s “political and community leaders to reject anti-Muslim hate in all its forms before more innocent people are harmed”.
The crime would have ramifications beyond Syed. “When you kill a human, you’re not just killing one guy,” said Mohammed, “you’re killing a whole family.”
Larsen remains in custody as prosecutors pursue attempted murder and other charges.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/world/indian-origin-muslim-man-stabbed-utah-valley-fair-mall-hate-crime-10788275/
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US expands attacks deeper into Iran as Tehran retaliates against Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait
July 16, 2026
The US launched a wave of strikes against Iran on July 15, after it reimposed a naval blockade in a return to war between the two foes. Nearly a month after they signed a memorandum of understanding towards ending the Middle East war, the two sides resumed fighting with strikes on targets across the region. (US Navy handout photo / AFP/File)
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DUBAI/CAIRO: Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan early Thursday after the United States expanded its military campaign with strikes deeper inside Iran and tightened its naval blockade around the Islamic Republic, marking another sharp escalation in the conflict centered on the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian army said on Thursday that it targeted US military facilities in Jordan with drones, state media reported, after the US carried out another wave of strikes on Iran.
Jordan’s military said Thursday it shot down eight missiles launched by Iran targeting the kingdom. The military made the announcement via the kingdom’s state-run Petra news agency.
“The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced that... in response to the enemy aggression, it targeted the communication systems and fuel storage facilities of the US military in Jordan using suicide (kamikaze) drones,” state television IRIB said.
Iran’s military said it targeted “radar systems, a Patriot air defense system, and fuel storage facilities at Ali Al-Salem Air Base” in Kuwait and US military facilities at the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, IRIB reported.
Kuwait said its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles and drones aimed at the country, while air raid sirens sounded across neighboring Bahrain as authorities urged residents to seek shelter. The attacks followed another night of US airstrikes on military targets across Iran, including areas around Tehran.
Just before daybreak on Thursday, the US military announced that it had completed its latest wave of strikes.
In a post on X, the US Central Command said its forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities.
The statement said the US military hit targets in multiple locations, including Bandar Abbas, home to Iran’s largest port and key navy and Revolutionary Guards facilities on the Strait of Hormuz.
The retaliatory strikes underscored the widening regional dimensions of the conflict, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying it had targeted US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Kuwaiti authorities said four missiles and 21 drones were intercepted, causing material damage but no casualties.
More than 35 people have been killed and more than 300 wounded by US airstrikes in recent days, said Hossein Kermanpour, a spokesperson for the Iranian Health Ministry. Kermanpour did not break down the figures between civilians and combatants.
The announcement marked the first overall toll given by Iranian authorities for this round of fighting. The number of wounded was far larger than for any other recent violence between Iran and the US The army said it would make “a decisive response,” according to state TV.
US Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads Central Command, said in a statement that Iran had launched dozens of missiles and drones at neighboring Gulf Arab countries.
Missile-alert warnings sounded Wednesday in Bahrain and Kuwait as they faced incoming Iranian fire — a daily occurrence recently. In a post on X, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged people to “head to the nearest safe place.”
Jordan said it shot down three incoming Iranian missiles. Iran claimed attacks on the three nations, all of which host US forces.
US expands strikes across Iran
The latest US attacks reached farther north than previous operations, with Iranian state media reporting strikes around Tehran and in Semnan province, home to Iran’s ballistic missile production facilities and space program.
US Central Command said it also carried out fresh attacks on Greater Tunb Island, targeting coastal defense systems, cruise missile launch sites and other military facilities it said threatened freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media also reported strikes near Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas, Konarak, Sirik and Qeshm, while state broadcaster IRIB said an attack near a hospital in Ahvaz temporarily forced the evacuation of a pediatric cancer center. Iranian officials did not immediately report casualties from the latest wave of strikes.
Separately, Iranian state television said another US attack struck barracks of the 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing seven soldiers and wounding others.
US enforces blockade
Washington has intensified military pressure since reimposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports after efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz faltered.
The US military said it disabled a Curacao-flagged oil tanker heading toward Iran’s Kharg Island export terminal after the vessel ignored repeated warnings. American aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship’s smokestack, rendering it inoperable.
The military said two other vessels had been redirected since the blockade resumed, adding that the operations are intended to prevent attempts to undermine the US maritime restrictions.
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz after the US and Israel launched military operations on Feb. 28, disrupting one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. Before the conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed through the waterway.
Brent crude settled at a one-month high of $84.95 a barrel on Wednesday amid concerns over prolonged supply disruptions.
Tehran warns of “existential war”
Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the country was engaged in an “existential war with America,” warning that Iran’s security depended on maintaining what he described as Iranian control over arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement published online, Qalibaf said the United States had not lived up to the terms of the interim peace deal, which he said included “Iranian arrangements” over the Strait of Hormuz.
“Now that we have entered the implementation phase, the United States, having exhausted its legal and diplomatic options, is trying to undermine those Iranian arrangements through force,” he wrote.
Qalibaf’s comments appeared aimed at critics within Iran who oppose negotiations with the US He argued that negotiations should not be equated with compromise or surrender, but as part of a broader strategy of resistance.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned that regional energy exports would remain under threat as long as the blockade continued.
“The export of oil and gas from the region will be either for everyone or for no one,” the Guard said.
Tehran warned Thursday it would target regional infrastructure if the United States carried out threats to attack Iran’s infrastructure, as the war in the Middle East resumed.
The spokesman for Iran’s military headquarters said that if the US followed through on its threats, “all infrastructure in the region” would be “crushed under the steel blows” of Iran’s armed forces.
Trump says Iran wants a deal
Despite the escalating hostilities, US President Donald Trump insisted Iran remained interested in reaching a negotiated settlement.
“They don’t like what we’re doing, and they do want to settle. We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off,” Trump said during an appearance at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania.
Trump also said Iran had released an American citizen detained since late 2024, describing the move as a gesture of goodwill. Human rights lawyer Jared Genser identified the individual as Dena Karari.
The latest exchanges come after the collapse of an interim agreement intended to halt the fighting, raising fears that the conflict could slide back into full-scale regional war as both sides continue to exchange military strikes and threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651085/middle-east
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How Saudi Arabia is promoting the waqf to help finance global development
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
July 15, 2026
Tufeeq Alghamdi, general manager of empowerment and development at Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Awqaf
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NEW YORK CITY: As governments scramble to close a multitrillion-dollar funding gap threatening the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Saudi Arabia is promoting a solution rooted not in modern finance but in a 1,400-year-old Islamic tradition.
Presenting its third Voluntary National Review at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development this week, the Kingdom’s General Authority for Awqaf argued that the waqf — the Islamic charitable endowment — could become a powerful tool for financing sustainable development.
The authority participated as part of the Saudi delegation to the forum, running July 7-15 in New York, where 36 countries presented their VNRs this year.
For the first time, the role of endowments and their contribution to sustainable development has been included in the Kingdom’s national review, according to Tufeeq Alghamdi, general manager of empowerment and development at the General Authority for Awqaf.
“This participation gains significance as it is the first time that the role of endowments and their contribution to sustainable development have been highlighted within the Kingdom’s VNRs,” Alghamdi told Arab News.
The authority organized a roundtable at the headquarters of the UN Development Programme to present the Saudi endowment experience. Alghamdi described the event as an extension of a partnership between the UNDP and the General Authority for Awqaf to develop what he called the Endowment Excellence Index, or Waqf Excellence Index.
He said that the roundtable was designed to showcase the transformation that the sector has undergone in the Kingdom “in terms of governance, development, technological transformation, and enhancing transparency,” as well as the integration of endowments into the national development framework.
The index, Alghamdi said, is a tool to measure the maturity of endowment institutions that was developed domestically but built to international standards, allowing it to be adapted elsewhere.
He described it as the first tool of its kind to assess endowment practices against international benchmarks, saying it establishes “a common language among endowment institutions for measuring their performance, their level of maturity, and their efficiency,” while linking their outputs to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and national priorities.
He traced the waqf concept to the earliest centuries of Islamic history, calling it “the first model of sustainability known to history, predating the contemporary concept of sustainability and sustainable development.”
Endowments historically financed schools, hospitals and other infrastructure, he said, and today can help address funding shortfalls facing charitable organizations, particularly in countries with fragile economies, because of the model’s defining feature; preserving a principal asset while sustaining the benefits it generates.
Alghamdi linked the sector’s growth to Saudi Vision 2030, which set a target for the non-profit sector to contribute 5 percent of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.
The General Authority for Awqaf, he said, was established as an independent government body to develop legislation reconciling the historical and Shariah-based dimensions of waqf with modern governance practices.
He said that the Kingdom was now positioned to share its expertise with counterparts in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and through broader UN partnerships such as the one with UNDP.
“Our message is that, at a time when many countries are facing challenges in financing development projects … the endowment model stands out as one of the models capable of playing an important role in bridging the global financing gap,” Alghamdi said.
The practice has a “proven record of success” across the Islamic world that had not always received the attention it deserved, he added.
In remarks delivered at the roundtable, Alghamdi laid out the scale of the sector, saying the assets of Saudi awqaf now exceed SR460 billion ($122.6 billion), with more than 30,000 registered endowments — including more than 600 registered in the past month alone.
He said that the Kingdom records one of the highest levels of waqf assets per capita globally, at an estimated SR12,647 per person.
He described governance as the first pillar of the sector’s institutional transformation, saying the authority has strengthened regulatory frameworks and compliance standards, safeguarding waqf assets valued at about SR100 billion and recovering nearly SR1.5 billion.
Digital transformation was the second pillar, he said, citing electronic registration and recognition of the waqf’s legal personality as improvements to transparency and data quality.
The third pillar, institutional development, is supported through the authority’s Riyadah Center, which builds professional standards for custodians and leadership in governance, investment and risk management.
Alghamdi said that studies have identified more than 35,000 endower conditions spanning 27 fields, with total spending exceeding SR1.8 billion on areas including education, healthcare, orphan care, mosque services, and Hajj and Umrah support.
He pointed to contemporary applications including the Health Endowment Fund, the Environmental Initiatives Endowment Fund, Al-Salam Endowment Hospital, university endowments, and housing initiatives such as Jood Housing.
The sector contributed an estimated SR48 billion, or 1.2 percent, to Saudi GDP in 2023, Alghamdi said, with ambitions to raise that to SR78 billion.
He said that waqf investment funds achieved an average return of about 9.74 percent in 2024, rising to 12.83 percent when excluding underperforming cases, while initiatives and agreements exceeding SR6 billion have been launched covering financing, guarantees, pooled waqf funds and qard Al-hasan — interest-free lending — products.
Alghamdi said that the inclusion of awqaf in this year’s VNR for the first time reflects their recognition as part of the Kingdom’s national development framework and as a contributor to the UN SDGs.
“This sends a clear message; awqaf are not merely a traditional form of giving, but a modern, governable and scalable instrument for financing sustainable development,” he said.
He concluded by describing the Saudi experience as “a platform for cooperation” rather than a closed model, saying that the authority is committed to working with governments, international organizations and other waqf institutions on governance, impact measurement and financial innovation.
“We believe the future of awqaf lies in partnerships, transforming national experiences into shared knowledge and scalable solutions that serve communities across regions.”
Source: arabnews.com
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'Muslim bashing has gone on too long': Major study finds systemic anti-Muslim bias at UK's Spectator
15 July, 2026
Over a third of articles addressed Islamophobia, often framing it as a threat to free speech and British values [GETTY]
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Britain's oldest political magazine has spent years publishing harmful anti-Muslim narratives that have become normalised in public debate, researchers and media experts told The New Arab, as a major new report accused The Spectator of systemic bias against Muslims.
The Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) on Tuesday published the most extensive independent analysis ever conducted of a single British publication's coverage of Muslims, examining almost 4,000 articles published by The Spectator over the past eight years.
The report, No Mere Spectator: Anti-Muslim Hostility in Britain's Oldest Political Magazine, found that more than half of the articles analysed, over 2,100 pieces, were rated either "biased" or "very biased" against Muslims, with only a small proportion meeting standards of balanced and fair representation.
"Our findings have shown that on so many levels, in terms of the kind of themes, patterns, narratives that they're regurgitating on a daily basis, not only is it not acceptable, but it's really harmful," CfMM director Rizwana Hamid told The New Arab.
"This kind of Muslim bashing has gone on for too long, and it's no longer acceptable and [The Spectator] need to be made aware of that," Hamid said.
Hamid said the publication's reporting formed part of a broader pattern of media narratives that repeatedly portrayed Muslims through the lens of security, extremism and cultural conflict, contributing to growing hostility towards British Muslim communities.
The report comes amid growing concern over rising anti-Muslim hatred in Britain, following a series of far-right incidents and renewed debate over Islamophobia in politics and the media.
According to the findings, over a third of The Spectator's articles discussing Islamophobia framed it as a threat to free speech or British values, while coverage frequently undermined accepted definitions of Islamophobia and questioned Muslim experiences.
Researchers also found recurring narratives portraying Muslims as a civilisational threat, repeatedly linking Muslims with terrorism and crime while platforming far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Geert Wilders.
The findings were presented on Tuesday during a panel discussion featuring Hamid, former Conservative Party chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, journalist and former Spectator political editor Peter Oborne, former Sun editor David Yelland, broadcaster Gavin Esler, and academic Aaron Winter.
Yelland told The New Arab he doubted the magazine would be surprised by the findings.
"It is entirely possible that [The Spectator] won't disagree with quite a lot of what's in this report, because a lot of these columnists believe what they're writing," he said.
While describing the report as important, Yelland cautioned against expecting immediate change.
"We need to be realistic about this. If we're going to see progress, it won't be linear. They're not going to wake up tomorrow and completely change their opinion," he said.
"I think it's very important that this report exists. I think it'd be a very uncomfortable reading," he added. "It's very difficult to read the report and come away without realising, for without any shadow of a doubt, that there is bigotry and racism."
CfMM had previously identified The Spectator as the publication with the highest level of anti-Muslim bias in its 2025 State of the Media Report, which compared coverage across multiple British news outlets.
Academic Aaron Winter, whose research focuses on the far right, warned that giving extremist figures a platform under the banner of free speech helped normalise anti-Muslim hatred.
"We need this kind of evidence. We need to call out the establishment legacy media for their role in it, both Islamophobia and the mainstreaming of the far right," Winter told The New Arab.
Winter said politicians also needed to confront the impact of such rhetoric.
"So much damage has already been done. There needs to be a continuation of the racial reckoning of 2020. But it needs to also fight attempts to repress it politically through legislation, through demonisation, and through sort of counter-extremism and counterterrorism."
Baroness Warsi also spoke about the impact of Islamophobia on British Muslims and reflected on her own experiences as the only brown member of a Conservative cabinet, saying anti-Muslim prejudice had become increasingly mainstream.
She added that she had been in contact with The Spectator's editor, Michael Gove, before the event and believed he was willing to engage with the report's findings.
While The Spectator has yet to publicly respond to the report or The New Arab's request for comment, Hamid said CfMM stood firmly behind its findings.
"We know what they're going to come at us with, but the reality is, we have the evidence, and so that's what we will defend our analysis on the evidence that we have there," she said.
"We're not going to hide behind what we've found," she added.
Source: newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/major-study-accuses-uks-spectator-systemic-anti-muslim-bias
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‘They don’t want you there’: Trump tells Netanyahu to leave Syria and Lebanon – Axios
15 Jul, 2026
US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. © Getty Images / Joe Raedle
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US President Donald Trump has pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw Israeli troops from Syria and begin redeploying forces from southern Lebanon, Axios has reported, citing US and Israeli officials.
The reported appeal is the latest sign of a widening rift between the two leaders, with Trump pressing Israel to scale back its military deployments while Netanyahu’s government continues to insist on maintaining them indefinitely.
According to Axios, Trump warned Netanyahu during a phone call on Thursday that Israel’s military presence in southern Syria risked further escalation.
“They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump reportedly told the Israeli leader. The president delivered a similar message regarding southern Lebanon, the outlet said.
The reported push follows a meeting between Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Türkiye last week. According to Axios, the Trump administration has spent months trying to broker a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria.
It also comes amid Washington’s attempts to implement a US-backed framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon reached last month. Under the deal, Israel committed to withdraw its forces from two ‘pilot zones’ in southern Lebanon and allow the Lebanese army to deploy there. Israel has yet to begin the withdrawal.
Israel says its troop deployments in southern Syria and Lebanon are necessary to prevent cross-border attacks similar to the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault. Several senior members of Netanyahu’s government have called for an open-ended military presence, with some also advocating Jewish settlements in the occupied areas.
In a statement released after the call, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister had stressed “the need for security zones along Israel’s borders.”
The Jerusalem Post, citing defense officials, reported on Tuesday that the Israeli military was surprised by the Axios account and stressed there had been “no change on the ground” in either Lebanon or Syria.
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly criticized Israeli strikes in Lebanon, reportedly arguing Netanyahu had “no f**king judgment” and calling him “f**king crazy.”
The White House declined to comment on the details of the call and did not dispute Axios’ account. Instead, a US official reaffirmed Washington’s support for Israel, telling the outlet that “there has been no greater friend to Israel and a fighter for peace than President Trump.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/643080-trump-tells-netanyahu-leave-syria-lebanon/
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US Pressures Nigeria To Step Up Protection For Christians Amid Rising Attacks
July 16, 2026
By Justina Otio
The United States has urged Nigeria to intensify efforts to protect Christian communities from attacks.
Naija News reports that the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, made the call during a visit to Abuja, where he held talks with senior Nigerian government officials aimed at advancing the U.S.-Nigeria strategic partnership.
In a statement issued by the US Embassy in Abuja, on Wednesday, Garcia demanded that the Nigerian government ensured the safe return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
Garcia met with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Sola Enikanolaiye; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Olufemi Oluyede; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The statement said discussions covered security cooperation, protection of Christian communities, justice sector reform, digital transformation, commercial diplomacy and regional stability.
During meetings on defence and security, Garcia welcomed Nigeria’s increased efforts under the U.S.-Nigeria Joint Working Group to address the country’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern.
The statement said, “He also pressed the Nigerians to do more to protect Christians from attacks, and that greater efforts and resources must be allocated to the safe return of internally displaced persons to their homes.”
It added, “He is looking forward to the next meeting of the JWG in Washington, DC, this August to assess progress made on these lines of effort.”
The statement noted that discussions with the Attorney General focused on Islamic terrorism prosecutions, criminal accountability and religious freedom.
Garcia also held talks with Tijani on opportunities for increased U.S. investment and expanded private sector engagement in Nigeria’s growing economy.
The Assistant Secretary further met with senior executives of leading U.S. energy and technology companies to discuss Nigeria’s business climate and investment opportunities.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/16/us-nigeria-protection-christians-rising-attacks/
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Anwar mourns passing of scholar John L. Esposito, a ‘true friend to the Muslim world’
16 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today extended his deepest condolences over the passing of Professor John L. Esposito, one of the world’s most respected scholars of Islam.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said his friendship with Esposito spanned more than five decades, dating back to their first meeting in the early 1970s.
He described Esposito as an influential scholar who built the intellectual foundations for a deeper understanding of Islam in the West, adding that his contributions to Muslim-Christian dialogue were immense.
Anwar also highlighted Esposito’s role as founder of Georgetown University’s Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding and his work as co-author of Makers of Contemporary Islam.
“Esposito built bridges where others were content to build civilisational barriers,” the Prime Minister said.
He said Esposito’s more accessible works, including “What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam” and “Who Speaks for Islam?”, brought academic rigour to a wider audience, especially after 9/11, when the world badly needed it.
Recalling their decades-long bond, Anwar said he had always valued Esposito’s wisdom and guidance, calling him a formidable scholar and above all, a loyal friend.
He said Esposito was “as generous in private conversation as he was rigorous on the page” and stood by him through thick and thin.
“On behalf of Malaysia, I extend my deepest condolences to his beloved wife, Jean, and to John’s family, colleagues and students.
“May his scholarship and the dialogue he spent his life building continue to bear fruit. He was, to the end, a true friend to the Muslim world,” Anwar said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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The BNP-led government will never tolerate extremism or militancy: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman
16 JULY 2026
The BNP-led government will never tolerate extremism or militancy, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said yesterday, while reaffirming his government’s commitment to combating corruption, strengthening democratic institutions and implementing the July charter.
Delivering the concluding speech of the budget session of the 13th parliament, Tarique said martyrs had envisioned a Bangladesh founded on justice and fairness, where no one would face discrimination.
“We firmly believe in that Bangladesh -- a country where extremism or militancy will never be allowed to take root,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the opposition would cooperate in preventing extremism despite political differences. “While we may have differences with the opposition on some issues, we are united in our resolve that extremism will not be allowed to flourish.”
Tarique said the government’s goal was to build a people-centred state and prevent the return of authoritarianism by making both the state and its citizens politically and economically stronger.
“We want to transform a debt-dependent economy into an investment-driven economy,” he said.
Referring to remarks of Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman during the budget debate, the prime minister said the government agreed that curbing corruption and maintaining law and order must remain top priorities.
“The government is determined to control corruption by any means necessary,” he said.
He also said law enforcement agencies would be developed into fully professional institutions to ensure public safety and reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing every clause of the July charter.
Highlighting social protection reforms, Tarique announced plans to introduce a “universal card” that would combine benefits now distributed through the Farmers’ Card, Family Card, Probashi Card and honorarium cards for imams and muezzins under a single system.
The prime minister accused the previous government of systematically weakening key state institutions, particularly the education and health sectors. He said his government planned to improve the quality of both sectors and gradually raise public spending on education and healthcare to 5 percent of GDP.
Tarique also stressed the need to ensure that “fascism and authoritarianism never rise in Bangladesh again” and that the country never becomes subservient to any foreign nation, expressing confidence that the government and opposition shared a common position on the issue.
Earlier, Shafiqur urged the government to restore discipline across all sectors, saying the financial sector could not be reformed without tackling corruption.
“We want to see this discipline reflected everywhere -- from parliament to banks, insurance companies, corporations and the stock market.”
Shafiqur also called for dedicated initiatives and budgetary support to preserve the memory of those killed or injured in the July uprising.
He urged special allocations to address Dhaka’s chronic waterlogging, drainage congestion and pollution.
Calling the 13th parliament “a gathering place for the oppressed”, the Jamaat-e-Islami ameer also expressed disappointment that lawmakers had not been able to participate fully in deliberations on a recently passed bill.
“If we are not allowed to fulfil our duties, there is no point in sitting here,” he said.
The budget session, also the second session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, began on June 7.
During its 26 working days, parliament held nearly 49 hours of general discussion on the Tk 9,38,000 crore budget for FY2026-27, with 316 lawmakers participating. The House also passed 10 bills, formed 11 committees -- including the special committee on constitutional amendments -- and reconstituted the Business Advisory Committee.
Source: thedailystar.net
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India
‘Built for personal interests, not to educate poor Muslims’: 38 of 40 buildings at Azam Khan-founded Jauhar University are ‘illegal,’ face demolition
July 16, 2026
Less than a year ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a major political controversy has erupted in the state with the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordering the demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.
The authority has claimed that the structures were constructed without receiving prior approval from the competent authority, IANS reported.
The BJP-led state government has defended the action as being in accordance with the law, while Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) has accused the Yogi Adityanath government of acting with political vendetta.
As per the official directive, the university has been asked to remove the unauthorised structures within 15 days. If it fails to comply with the order, then the administration will initiate demolition proceedings.
Defending the state government’s stand on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said the administration remains committed to make sure that the rule of law is followed without exception.
“Our government is committed to maintaining law and order. We will ensure that the law is upheld in every situation and that no unauthorised construction takes place,” IANS quoted Pathak as saying.
The state’s Minority Welfare Minister, Danish Azad Ansari, alleged that the university was developed by encroaching upon public property.
“Jauhar University was not built for the welfare of society, nor was it built to educate poor Muslims. It was built for personal interests. Government land was encroached upon for the construction of the university,” Ansari said.
He further stated that roads worth crores that were built by the government were included on the university campus along with some Waqf properties.
“All this was revealed in an investigation. Following this, necessary action was taken,” Ansari added.
Criticising the move, the Opposition Samajwadi Party said the demolition order was politically motivated and discriminatory.
SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra claimed that the saffron party was acting out of “malice and a spirit of vendetta.”
“They are preparing to bulldoze Jauhar University. The BJP government failed to bulldoze the homes of those who embezzled donations meant for the Ram Mandir, yet they are attempting to demolish a place where students study. The BJP will have to pay a heavy price for this; it has sparked anger among the youth,” he said.
Notably, the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University is administered by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was earlier chaired by Azam Khan.
The RDA passed the demolition order under Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, after carefully examining records and hearing arguments from all sides.
The university was established in 2006 through an Act passed by the Uttar Pradesh Legislature.
Source: thestatesman.com
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2020 Delhi riots case: Court allows Umar Khalid 2 family video meetings every week
Jul 15, 2026
NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday allowed activist Umar Khalid's plea seeking restoration of two video meetings with his family every week in jail. The court observed that Khalid had been using the facility for the past six years without violating any jail rules.
The order comes after jail authorities reduced the number of weekly video meetings from two to one in May 2026.
The Karkardooma Court directed that Khalid's earlier facility be restored, observing that there was no material to justify the reduction.
Allowing the plea, the court observed that Khalid had been availing the facility for six years without any breach of prison rules and found no reason to continue the restriction.
Khalid has been lodged in jail in connection with the larger conspiracy case linked to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The case relates to allegations that Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and several others were part of a larger conspiracy behind the riots that broke out during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The violence claimed 53 lives and left more than 700 people injured.
The accused have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
The latest order comes days after a Delhi court rejected fresh bail pleas filed by Khalid and Imam. They had argued that their prolonged incarceration without the trial beginning violated their fundamental right to personal liberty and cited recent Supreme Court observations that "bail is the rule" even under the UAPA in appropriate cases.
However, the court dismissed their pleas, observing that the Supreme Court had already refused them bail on January 5, 2026, while granting relief to five co-accused. The apex court had held that Khalid and Imam stood on a "qualitatively different footing" because of their alleged role in the larger conspiracy.
It had also directed that they could renew their bail pleas only after protected witnesses were examined or after one year, whichever was earlier.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Hyderabad school 'Kalma' homework row: Class had 24 Muslim students, one Hindu; complete violation of education policy, say cops
Jul 16, 2026
HYDERABAD: Amid the controversy over alleged 'Kalma' homework at a Hyderabad school, police on Thursday revealed that the Class 2 section at Success School had 25 students, including only one Hindu student, while the remaining 24 were Muslims.
The class comprised 25 students, including only one Hindu student.
Deputy commissioner of Police (DCP), Charminar Zone, Khare Kiran Prabhakar, said, "Yesterday, in Success School, an incident came to our notice. In this school, one lady teacher wrote that everyone has to read Kalma as the homework."
"Out of 25 students, all were the Muslim students only but one Hindu student was there. It was a complete violation of the education policy as well as the school policy."
"The parents of the Hindu students came in the evening to the police station as well as the school. The school management has taken action and the MD of the Success School has given a statement and the teacher has been terminated," he added further.
"Parents are satisfied that action has been taken in this case. Police is monitoring the situation. No one should spread any kind of Hindu-Muslim hatred or any kind of communalism. Please do not entertain any kind of rumours. The school management and parents are on the same side," he said.
"For the protest here, over 30 people were taken into preventive custody and the situation is peaceful. Parents have given a statement to the police as well that they do not have any complaint against the management. So we have not registered any kind of complaint regarding this issue. If any kind of further complaint comes to us, we'll take legal opinion based on that," he further said.
Photographs of the student's homework diary went viral on social media on Thursday.
The diary pages, dated July 11, allegedly show the homework entries "Read 1,2 Kalma" and "Read Surah Fateha" under the subject "Deeniyath", while other entries on the same pages are listed under subjects such as Math and Computer.
The homework entries also allegedly bear the teacher's signatures on both pages.
The controversy centres on teacher Shaik Aisha Parveen of Success, The School in Hyderabad's Sayeedabad, who was terminated.
In its termination letter, the school said Parveen had been permanently barred from seeking employment at any institution under the Success Group of Education Institutions.
Meanwhile, BJP workers protested outside the school, demanding action in the case.
Police detained BJP leader Andela Sriramulu Yadav, advocate and BJP leader Karuna Sagar, along with several other party workers during the protest.
Addressing reporters before being detained, Karuna Sagar questioned why no FIR had been registered and demanded action against the school's principal.
Source: indiatimes.com
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'Indian Muslims have Hindu DNA': Loni BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar sparks fresh row
Jul 15, 2026
GHAZIABAD: BJP Loni MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar, known for his anti-Muslim remarks, has stirred yet another controversy. Terming Indian Muslims as "converts", Gurjar has claimed that they all have "Hindu DNA".
Referring to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s remark that he has "Indian DNA" during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Indonesia, Gurjar said that while the world acknowledges India’s civilisation, Muslims in the country have deliberately sought to distance themselves from their Indian lineage.
“Partition of India took place on the basis of religion, and Muslims who stayed back in India agreed that they would honour Hindu traditions and way of life. But what we are witnessing is just the opposite. They are challenging traditions and claiming temples and religious places as their own,” Nand Kishore Gurjar told The Times of India.
“Even the Indonesian President acknowledged his Indian roots, while fake Muslims here, who also share the same roots, have remained hostile to Hindus. I urge the Prime Minister that such Muslims should be sent to Pakistan, and Hindus living in Pakistan, who have been facing persecution, should be brought back to India,” Gurjar added.
Gurjar made the remarks when asked about the ongoing disputes over Bhojshala and Gyanvapi, where members of the two communities are contesting ownership claims in court.
A two-time MLA from Loni, Gurjar holds a law degree from Meerut University. He was an active student leader and was associated with the Samajwadi Party in 2003 before joining the BJP in 2010. Since then, he has frequently made controversial remarks targeting minorities. He has also been involved in multiple incidents of forcibly shutting meat shops and abattoirs during festivals such as Navratri.
Source: indiatimes.com
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Kerala HC restrains State Waqf Board from taking major decisions until challenge to its composition is decided
July 15, 2026
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday restrained the Kerala State Waqf Board from making any major decisions, incurring capital expenditure or making policy decisions until the legal challenges against its composition are decided.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM passed the interim order on Wednesday while considering the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petitions challenging the constitution of the present Board.
The Bench observed that the board’s existing composition prima facie appeared to be contrary to Section 14 of the 2025 Waqf Amendment Act, which mandates the inclusion of at least two non-Muslim members in every State Waqf Board.
“In view of the fact that, admittedly, two non-Muslim members have not been included in the Waqf Board and also, as urged by some of the writ petitioners, that one Shia member should also be included, we hold that the constitution of the Board prima facie appears to be not in conformity with Section 14 of the said Act. Hence, the present Board shall not take any major decisions or incur any capital expenditure or take any policy decision without the express leave of this Court,” the court said.
The court further directed that, for the time being, the Board shall function under the administration and supervision of the Joint Secretary to the State government who deals with Waqf matters.
Kerala Advocate General Jaju Babu, representing the State, admitted that the Board’s constitution has certain flaws. The Court noted this admission in its order.
“The state government, in its affidavit affirmed on July 14, submitted that there is a requirement to reconstitute the Board in compliance with the mandate of Section 14 of the Waqf Act,” the court said.
The order stems from PILs filed by parties, including Shone George and the Assembly of Christian Trust Services (ACTS).
The petitioners contend that the Board is continuing to function and issue orders despite the alleged defects in its constitution. They argue that the amended law mandates the inclusion of two non-Muslim members, who have not yet been nominated.
The petition filed by BJP leader Shone George highlights that a February 2026 government order appointed nine members—all of whom are Muslim—failing to comply with Section 14(1) of the amended Act, which strictly mandates the inclusion of at least two non-Muslim members.
The petition filed by the Assembly of Christian Trust Services (ACTS) also challenges the uploading of details of the disputed Munambam land on the Centre’s UMEED (Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development) portal. The organisation argues that the entry affects Hindu and Christian residents in the area and that only the mutawalli is authorised under the Act to upload such details.
The ACTS petition points out that the Board lacks required representation from the Shia, Bohra, and Aghakhani communities as required under the amended law and seeks a direction to the state to reconstitute the Board.
Source: thestatesman.com
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Man’s namaz video lands wife in jail, Shamli couple’s life upended
Pragynesh
Jul 16, 2026
In the heart of western Uttar Pradesh, which in recent years has turned into a cauldron of deep socio-religious divide, a young Muslim woman, Chandni, was arrested along with her father in Shamli last month under the new stringent law against religious conversion brought in by the BJP government in the state. Chandni and her father, Islam Qureshi, were booked for extortion, criminal intimidation, and unlawful conversion
And like many other similar cases of alleged unlawful religious conversion, hate crimes, cattle smuggling, and hurting of religious sentiments that have dominated the region, it all began with a video clip that was widely circulated on social media in the first week of June.
At the centre of the short clip was Ayush Malik — a 31-year-old son of a local businessman — seen offering Eid prayers at a mosque in Delhi.
“Someone recognised him as Ayush Malik, the only son of prominent businessman Devender Malik from Shamli,” said a police officer.
The Hindu right-wing groups took note and started circulating the video as an example of “manipulated” and “illegal” religious conversion. Soon, Malik made a revelation: he had converted to Islam nearly a decade ago, changed his name, and later married Chandni. The police, however, didn’t give any credence to his public statements and booked Chandni and her father.
A businessman and his son’s namaz video
In the narrow lanes of Shamli, a primarily agrarian town located around 100 km from the National Capital, Bharat Medicos, a four-floor glitzy showroom-like medical shop, and its several small branches spread across the town are difficult to miss. Such is the dominance of Bharat Medicos, and its owner Devender Malik— who is also the chairman of the local medical traders’ association – that large billboards of the shop look down upon the entire market.
Devender Malik, however, doesn’t resemble a typical western UP businessman, adorned with heavy gold chains or wearing a pair of black aviators. He cuts a lean, bony frame with a black mane of hair and a moustache. Clad in a plain checkered shirt, he resembles a government official more than a millionaire pharmaceutical businessman.
In the days that followed the circulation of the namaz video, Devender said that, like others in the town, he came to know from Ayush that his only son had converted to Islam 10 years ago and had married a 28-year-old physiotherapist, Chandini Qureshi, in 2022.
“I knew that he was seeing this girl called Chandini Qureshi about five years ago. I knew about it. Par lekin baat yahan tak aayegi ye nahi pata tha (But never knew that things have gone this far),” said Devender initially. “Shocked” by the revelations, Devender filed a complaint with the local police on June 6, alleging that his son had been “brainwashed”.
“She (Chandni) must have influenced him. She forced him to convert if he wanted to marry. She and her family had been trying to convince us to give Ayush’s property to him and convert us as well,” Devender alleged. While the father claimed that he had no knowledge of his son’s marriage to Chandni, he admitted that his son started to live separately in 2022.
According to him, he was lost for words when he saw Ayush last February. “He was wearing a kurta and a skull cap and had a beard. He told me his name was now Rahim. We tried to reason with him. We begged him to just become Hindu again, and we would accept everything else. But she (Chandni) tried to convince other members of our family to convert to Islam,” Devender claimed.
As the video caught more eyeballs and Hindu right-wing groups trolled the young man while expressing sympathy with his father, Ayush came forward and told mediapersons that he had converted out of his own free will.
“There was no pressure (of converting to Islam) on me. I was always interested in Islam as a child. I converted to Islam around 2007, years before I met Chandini,” Ayush told mediapersons.
According to a police officer, Chandini and Ayush came to know each other and started talking in 2021. At that time, Ayush— a tall and well-built young man with a wheatish complexion — had been eased into his father’s business. Ayush had completed a B.Pharma course from a university in Amroha and used to frequent several small pharma shops owned by his family.
According to Ayush, he met Chandini in a hospital where she worked. “I had gone to the hospital for some consultation, and that’s how I got to know her,” Ayush said.
An employee of Bharat Medicos described Ayush as “the nicest boss to have”. “He is very mild-mannered. Baaki maalik ke tarah gussa nahin karte the jyada (Unlike other owners, he used to not shout at us),” said the staffer.
The nikah and arrests
At Qureshi Mohallah in Shamli, where labyrinthian lanes are lined up with meat shops, dilapidating shanties, as well as imposing bungalows, Chandini’s three-storeyed house stands apart from the rest.
“It’s strange that out of all the reasons, she (Chandni) is accused of doing it for money,” said her relative, on the condition of not being named. “Her family has decent money. Her father operates several fruit vendors in the main market. She was allowed to be a gym trainer. They were way more progressive than most of us,” the relative added.
According to her relatives, Devender Malik first learnt of his son’s relationship with Chandni four years ago. “It was late 2022, and his son was 26. In a place like Shamli, that’s the perfect time to tie the knot and settle down. He (Devender) told us that Ayush likes this Muslim girl and wants to marry her only. We initially resisted (their marriage)… lekin jab soch liya hai tab kya karein (But once they had decided, we did not resist),” the relative said, adding Ayush married Chandini after organising the nikahah somewhere near Delhi
The advent of Yashveer Maharaj
After Devender filed a police complaint on June 6, alleging forceful conversion of his son and extortion demand from Chandini’s family, the police did not immediately register an FIR.
The same day, Swami Yashveer Maharaj, the head of Yog Sadhna Manch, declared that he would call a mahapanchayat in a week, which would be held near the Qureshi Mohallah, where Chandini’s family lived.
“If she wanted to marry (Ayush), she should have converted to Hinduism. She was after his family property. I ask the BJP government to take strict action against those accused,” Yashveer Maharaj said.
Maharaj, whose ashram is located 14 km from Muzaffarnagar at Baghra village, is also the leader of Chatrapati Shivaji Sena, known for vigilantism. During last year’s Kanwar Yatra, the members of Shivaji Sena allegedly stripped the owners of shops falling on the yatra route to identify their religion.
Usually clad in an orange dhoti, with a matching saffron shawl draped over his torso, Maharaj is known for taking an interest in cases of Hindu-Muslim couples, and he often “investigates conversion cases” in the area around Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, saying that he doesn’t trust the police to do their job.
Yashveer Maharaj first came to the limelight last December after a 23-year-old Hindu woman eloped with a married Muslim man in Shamli. At a mahapanchayat held on December 25, he allegedly gave an inflammatory speech in the presence of BJP MP Hukum Singh and BJP MLA Suresh Rana — fanning communal tension in the area.
A day after Maharaj announced to hold a mahapanchayat for Ayush, the police swiftly registered an FIR under sections 308 (extortion), 318 (cheating), 336 (forgery), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The FIR was registered against 10 people. Chandini, her father, and six others, including three clerics, were arrested.
Despite Ayush claiming that he had converted to Islam in 2007-2008 of his own free will, way before he met Chandni, the police went ahead and registered the FIR against her under the anti-conversion law. This law, enacted in 2021, prohibits conversions done solely for the purpose of marriage, or marriages done solely for the purpose of conversion.
As per the Act, any marriage done for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice versa, either by converting before or after marriage, shall be declared void.
In Ayush’s case, he claimed that he had converted to Islam nearly 10 years before his marriage to Chandni.
A vanishing act and surfacing of puja video
After police arrested Chandini and her father, Ayush “vanished”. The 31-year-old, who frequently spoke to the media after the controversy broke, was nowhere to be seen.
In one of the last conversations he had with the media, Ayush spoke of being “isolated” after his father filed a complaint with the police. “I had converted to Islam a long time ago, not just to marry her (Chandni). Now, everyone who dares to speak with me is being questioned by the police,” he had said.
Since then, Ayush was not seen in Shamli or in Delhi until another video clip emerged. In the new clip, Ayush is seen fully bald performing puja at a relative’s house. His relatives claimed that the 31-year-old has converted back to Hinduism, and that he is living at his sister’s place, away from the media glare.
“We are convincing him that he has been manipulated to convert to Islam and that he should come back to our fold. He seems more agreeable now,” Devender said. “His sisters explained to him that his decision would break us. That he won’t be able to perform my last rites as a Muslim man. He soon realised his mistake and started performing all Hindu rituals,” Devender told The Indian Express.
Two weeks ago, Yashveer Maharaj had claimed that Ayush would eventually “return to Sanatan”. After the new video clip surfaced, Maharaj said, “He (Ayush) has removed all items related to Islam from his home and has installed a temple in his house. For the past week, he has been doing puja. Now, he will observe 15 days of silence,” he told media persons.
Meanwhile, police said that their probe would continue even if Ayush had converted back to Hinduism. “We are now trying to find the role of Pakistan-linked clerics in this case. From where did Ayush learn the basics of Urdu and Islam? There are still some arrests to be made,” a senior police officer said.
While Chandini and her father remain in jail — their bail pleas rejected by the court — Devender has an offer for Chandini to reunite with his son, Ayush. “We will only agree to their marriage if she converts to Hinduism, or else not,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Tea-stall owner ‘framed’ in fake WA azaan plaint
Jul 15, 2026
Kolkata: Police have launched a probe after a tea stall owner in Beniapukur, Madan Shaw (54), lodged a complaint against a viral, fake WhatsApp voice message being circulated in his name.
The audio, he claimed, falsely declared that he had complained to the police about the “high volume of azaan (call to prayer) at a local mosque.”
Beniapukur Police Station has registered a case under Section 196(1)(a) of the BNS, which deals with promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different religious groups.
Shaw, a resident of Rameshwar Shaw Road, who runs a popular local tea joint called “Paresh’s Tea Shop,” approached the cops on Sunday.
Denying the allegations, Shaw expressed deep distress over the attempt to portray him as religiously intolerant. “I have lived here since birth. I know the Imam personally. I myself asked Imam Saheb about it, and he too mentioned that voice message. He also said that it was false propaganda, and that he was informing all the people he knew through messages that it was misleading. It hurts the faith of people belonging to a particular religion and may disturb communal harmony. I request that proper legal action be taken against the perpetrators,” he stated.
Police officials stated that the misinformation appeared to be a calculated conspiracy that can be borne out of personal rivalry.
Source: indiatimes.com
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ED conducts raids in four states in terror funding, illegal infiltration case
16 Jul 2026
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out searches at various locations in four states in connection with a money laundering probe linked to an alleged terror funding and illegal infiltration network.
Officials said about 13 premises in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal were raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Lucknow zonal office of the central agency.
The 2024 ED case stems from an Uttar Pradesh ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) FIR related to an organised syndicate allegedly involved in facilitating illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, arranging forged Indian identity documents and aiding their rehabilitation in various parts of the country.
The ATS probe found a "deep-rooted" financial network involving certain charitable trusts and entities allegedly receiving substantial foreign contributions and diverting the same through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered transactions to facilitate illegal activities, the officials said.
It also indicated the use of cash withdrawals and small-value transfers to suspected beneficiaries, they said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Omar slams Centre over protest nod delay for Jammu and Kashmir statehood rally
Muzaffar Raina
16.07.26
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday accused the Centre of keeping his party in limbo over permission for its proposed July 20 protest near Jantar Mantar for statehood restoration.
He said the leaders would travel to Delhi on July 19 regardless of whether permission was granted and despite his uncle’s death on Tuesday.
The National Conference (NC) has decided to take its battle for statehood restoration to the streets, beginning with the protest on July 20. The party has invited top INDIA bloc politicians and other regional players to join the protest, reportedly angering the BJP central leadership.
The Abdullah family suffered a bereavement on Tuesday with the death of Dr Mustafa Kamal, younger brother of NC president Farooq Abdullah.
Omar ruled out any change in the protest programme.
“Mustafa Sahab would not have wanted to have any change in that (programme). His condition deteriorated on July 11 and doctors told us he might not survive. But Farooq Sahab directed me that our Jammu event on July 12 should continue, no matter what.... The July 20 programme would also certainly happen,” he said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Israel says killed three Hezbollah members in south Lebanon
July 15, 2026
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it killed three Hezbollah members in south Lebanon on Wednesday, shortly after US-sponsored Israel-Lebanon negotiations were held in Rome.
“Earlier today (Wednesday), IDF soldiers identified three armed Hezbollah terrorists in the area of Beit Yahoun, located within the Security Zone in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.
“Following the identification, the IDF eliminated the three terrorists, who were carrying combat equipment, in order to remove the threat posed to IDF soldiers operating nearby,” it added.
Israeli forces remain deployed in what the military describes as a security zone extending roughly 10 kilometers (six miles) into Lebanese territory.
Israel and Lebanon on Wednesday concluded two days of talks aimed at reaching a permanent peace deal in Rome, with Washington describing the discussions as “productive and positive.”
The US-brokered negotiations took place in the Italian capital over the framework agreement sealed last month after five rounds of talks in Washington, with Lebanese negotiators hoping for progress on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
The deal seeks an end to the state of war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, disarmament of the Iran-backed militant group, the deployment of Lebanese troops in the south and for Israeli forces to steadily withdraw from the country, starting with two “pilot zones.”
Hezbollah pulled Lebanon into the Middle East war when it launched strikes on Israel on March 2 in support of its backer Iran.
Despite a ceasefire, Israel still launches occasional strikes in southern Lebanon and carries out detonations in villages it occupies near the border.
Source: arabnews.com
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Lebanon and Israel move toward implementing withdrawal agreement, US officials say
July 15, 2026
BEIRUT: After two days of US-mediated talks in Rome, Lebanon and Israel took steps toward implementing “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces would withdraw and turn over control to the Lebanese army, the US State Department said Wednesday.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began when the Lebanese militant group fired rockets into Israel days after Israel and the US launched their war on Iran on Feb. 28. Israel invaded Lebanon and has since occupied a large swathe of the country’s south. Hezbollah has been vehemently opposed to the direct Lebanon-Israel talks.
The State Department said in a statement that the talks were “productive” and the parties “agreed on the structure and guidelines for the pilot zone process, to be finalized and implemented in the coming days.”
There was no immediate statement from Lebanon or Israel on the outcome of the negotiations.
Lebanon and Israel announced a “framework agreement” on June 26, laying out a plan for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon, in exchange for the disarmament of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. It also envisions steps toward an eventual peace agreement between the two countries — which technically remain in a state of war nearly 80 years after Israel’s establishment.
The deal was supposed to begin with two “pilot zones” where the Israeli military is to turn over control to the Lebanese army, which would clear the areas of any Hezbollah presence. However, implementation on the ground had stalled ahead of this week’s talks.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is slated to visit Washington on July 21, said in a statement ahead of the Rome talks that instructions had been given to the Lebanese delegation “to demand the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the two pilot zones before any further discussions.”
Wednesday’s statement did not specify where the pilot zones would be, but Lebanese and Israeli officials previously said they would include the towns of Froun, Ghandouriyeh and Zawtar.
The designated zones generated some controversy in Lebanon because Israeli troops were not present in most of the selected area to begin with, raising questions about how a withdrawal could take place. The Lebanese army had pushed for pilot zones that were larger and included more area occupied by Israeli forces.
The State Department said Wednesday that following implementation of the pilot zones, “we will move to expanded technical talks ... with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
Hezbollah and Iran had sought to link the end of the war in Lebanon to the outcome of broader US-Iran talks. The Lebanese government, trying to minimize Iran’s influence, aimed to keep the two tracks separate and negotiate a ceasefire directly with Israel.”
The Lebanese militant group has said it will not abide by the agreement and has no plans to disarm. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have said publicly that they plan an extended occupation of southern Lebanon.
US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Fox News, a clip of which was aired Wednesday, said he wants to see Israel withdraw or “redeploy” forces from Lebanon as well as from a strip it is occupying in southern Syria.
“Southern Syria and from parts of Lebanon, yeah, it would be good to get out, I think, and I think you might see things get a little bit calmer,” Trump said, adding, “We have to focus our energy on the big leagues. The big leagues are Iran.”
Trump also once again repeated his proposal for Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa to send forces into Lebanon to “take care of” Hezbollah, saying that Al-Sharaa “would be more precise” than Israel.
Al-Sharaa has said publicly that he wants Syria to stay out of the regional war and has no desire to intervene militarily in Lebanon.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel tells Pentagon chief will keep troops in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza ‘security zones’
July 16, 2026
JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz told his US counterpart Pete Hegseth early Thursday that Israel is determined to keep its forces in “security zones” it has carved out inside Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Katz’s office said the two men spoke overnight and the minister “emphasized Israel’s determination to remain in the security zones in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon in order to protect Israel’s borders and the communities near the border from the threats posed by jihadist forces.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Iraq PM condemns ‘drone attack’ over Erbil: statement
July 16, 2026
BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi condemned a “drone attack” that violated the airspace of Erbil in the northern Kurdistan region, his office said Thursday, after several drones were shot down.
“We have directed the relevant security agencies … in coordination with the Region’s security forces, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such attacks and to thwart anyone attempting to harm the security of our noble Iraqi society, wherever they may be,” he said, without identifying the source of the drones.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saving Gaza’s past, one artefact at a time
July 16, 2026
KHAN YUNIS, Palestinian Territories: Armed with paintbrushes and wearing surgical gloves, volunteers inside a large tent in Gaza delicately brushed dust from a stone mosaic before placing it into storage, part of an effort to preserve cultural heritage hit by war.
More than 160 historic and cultural sites across the Palestinian territory have been damaged during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, according to the United Nations.
Many of these artefacts date back thousands of years.
“Several mosaic artworks have been lost or destroyed, either completely or partially,” said Mohammed Abu Lahia, a Palestinian visual artist taking part in the preservation efforts in the south Gaza city of Khan Yunis.
“It is important that we work to revive this art, remind our children and our community, and send a message to the world that we are committed to our heritage and our Palestinian cause.”
Beyond archaeological treasures, more recent cultural artefacts are also at risk of being damaged or buried beneath rubble from shelling and airstrikes.
More than 90 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, according to the UN.
Over the centuries, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans all left their mark on Gaza, creating a rich historical landscape of churches, mosques, ports and artefacts, many of which have suffered damage during the conflict.
“This stone is a piece called a mortar, and it was used for grinding grains and herbs. It is approximately 5,000 years old,” said Muhannad Abu Lahia, a cultural heritage guide with the Mayasem Association for Culture and Arts, the NGO leading the preservation efforts.
Behind him, artefacts already catalogued for safekeeping were stacked on wooden shelves inside weatherproof plastic containers.
Preserving the past
With Israel maintaining tight controls over goods entering the Gaza Strip — restrictions that have at times contributed to severe shortages of food and other supplies — volunteers have had to work without professional conservation equipment.
Instead, they gently removed dust from mosaics using ordinary paintbrushes and built a makeshift scanning station by mounting a camera above a box lined with black craft paper.
The improvised scanner allowed volunteers to digitise old photographs and paper documents, which were then uploaded to a computer for preservation.
Not everything entering storage is ancient.
Many items date from the 20th century, including the late Ottoman period, the British Mandate and the Egyptian administration. Their owners sought to save them from destruction or loss after being displaced.
“This is a paper archive containing maps of Khan Yunis and structural maps of the Khan Yunis area from the time of the British Mandate,” said 29-year-old volunteer Taghreed Hajjari.
At one table, three women painstakingly rearranged hundreds of fragments to recreate a contemporary mosaic, using a printed copy of the original artwork as a guide and trimming excess stone with carpenter’s pincers.
Many artefacts, however, remain beyond the so-called “Yellow Line,” which separates territory under Hamas control from areas held by the Israeli forces.
Israel says it now controls more than 60 percent of the Gaza Strip, up from about half when the ceasefire took effect in October last year.
Volunteers say retrieving artefacts from Israeli-controlled areas remains extremely difficult.
Meanwhile, Hajjari said efforts continue to preserve everything still within reach, including documents that chronicle centuries of Gaza’s history.
“We also have newspapers and documents here from the British Mandate and the Egyptian era until the arrival of the Palestinian Authority,” she said.
“They were collected through visits and conversations with elderly residents.
“We documented their oral histories so they can serve as a reference for future generations.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Oman sends medical supplies to Jordanian hospitals in Gaza
July 15, 2026
LONDON: Oman on Wednesday provided medical supplies and equipment to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with help from Jordanian authorities.
The Jordanian Royal Medical Services and Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization worked with the Oman Embassy in Amman to arrange the shipment which will be sent to Jordanian field hospitals operating within the enclave, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The death toll from the Israeli war in Gaza rose to 73,246 this week, with 173,727 people injured since Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestine News Agency.
At least 1,123 people have been killed and 3,616 injured since October last year, when a US-sponsored peace plan for Gaza was signed to ensure a permanent ceasefire and the beginning of reconstruction efforts. That plan has since stalled.
Doctors at the Jordanian Armed Forces’ field hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday carried out surgeries on two patients with broken limbs. The military also runs a field hospital in the north of Gaza.
Jordan’s other humanitarian initiatives in Gaza include the provision of a land route for aid deliveries, a mobile bakery and a scheme to evacuate critically ill people to hospitals in Jordan.
Source: arabnews.com
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Blasts heard near US consulate in Iraq’s Irbil, air defenses activated: AFP
July 15, 2026
IRBIL: Air defenses were activated as several explosions were heard Wednesday near the US consulate in Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, AFP journalists said.
AFP journalists reported seeing several drones hovering over Irbil, before being hit by air defenses, resulting in explosions and visible smoke near the consulate, which was a target of repeated drone and rocket attacks during the Middle East war.
These are the first reported blasts near the consulate in Irbil since a fragile ceasefire began in April.
They coincide with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s one-week visit to Washington, where he met President Donald Trump, and also come against the backdrop of renewed military escalation between the United States and Iran.
No group has claimed responsibility for any attacks.
During the Middle East war, the Kurdistan region, which hosts US troops and numerous foreign oil companies, was a primary target for drone attacks, carried out mostly by pro-Iran Iraqi armed groups.
Those groups, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, targeted US facilities in Iraq more than 600 times in support of Tehran.
Zaidi has given pro-Iran armed groups, which Washington designates as terrorist organizations, until September 30 to disarm, coinciding with the end of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition’s mission.
While some armed groups have said they would cooperate, others remain firm in their refusal to disarm, instead vowing to strengthen their capacities.
Since the start of the war, and even after the ceasefire, Iran has also repeatedly struck Iranian Kurdish rebel groups, which have camps and bases in Iraq’s Kurdistan.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Rare Qur’an manuscript on display in Makkah
July 15, 2026
MAKKAH: A rare Holy Qur’an manuscript is drawing visitors to the “Iqra” exhibition organized by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque at the King Abdulaziz Endowment.
The manuscript is one of the exhibition’s main attractions, highlighting Muslims’ care for the Holy Qur’an throughout the ages.
The exhibition features a rare copy of the Holy Qur’an written by the renowned calligrapher Ali bin Hilal, known as Ibn Al-Bawwab, more than 1,000 years ago.
It is displayed alongside a scholarly index and analysis of the calligraphy and ornamentation on its pages, allowing visitors to explore its historical and artistic value and trace the development of Arabic calligraphy and Islamic ornamentation over the centuries.
The manuscript is considered one of the rarest Islamic manuscripts because of its exceptional scholarly, artistic and historical value. Only two known copies exist worldwide, reflecting the high status of the Holy Qur’an throughout Islamic history.
Source: arabnews.com
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Muslim World League chief attends scholars’ meeting in Pakistan
July 15, 2026
JEDDAH: Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa this week inaugurated the third consultative meeting with Pakistani religious scholars in Islamabad.
The religious leader praised the forum for its rigorous scholarly discussions and broad perspective, reflecting Pakistani scholars’ commitment to unity and solidarity in addressing issues facing Muslims.
He also commended their efforts to build bridges of dialogue and cooperation among diverse Islamic communities and with humanity at large, strengthening Islamic brotherhood and promoting harmony among peoples.
Al-Issa, who is also chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic role as a trusted and respected mediator for global peace.
Following approval by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, the National University of Modern Languages awarded Al-Issa an honorary doctorate in the philosophy of international relations.
According to the award citation, the honor recognized his global efforts to correct misconceptions about Islam, strengthen Islamic solidarity by countering narratives of religious and ideological conflict and extremism and promote dialogue among Islamic schools of thought, religions and intellectual and cultural traditions.
The ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Federal Education Wajiha Qamar, who delivered the welcome address, university President Shahid Mahmood Kayani, members of the faculty and diplomats.
During his visit, Al-Issa met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss a range of Islamic and international issues. He praised the government’s efforts to mediate in the conflict between the US and Iran.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi defense minister offers condolences to Qatar PM after passing of former emir
July 15, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman expressed his condolences on Wednesday to Qatar’s prime minister after the passing of the country’s former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
In a phone call with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prince Khalid prayed that God have mercy on the deceased and grant him a place in paradise.
Sheikh Hamad led Qatar from 1995 to 2013 and was 74 when he passed away.
He was seen as one of the architects of modern Qatar and led the country during a period of rapid economic growth.
His funeral was held on Sunday.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi engineers graduate from WAA’ID Program
July 15, 2026
RIYADH: CEER, Saudi Arabia’s first automotive company and Saudi-born electric vehicle brand, recently celebrated the graduation of its Saudi engineers from the WAA’ID Program under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program.
The event was held at the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, its minister, Yousef Al-Benyan, minister of education, senior government officials, and representatives of participating companies.
The ceremony celebrated 69 graduates, including 40 from CEER, and highlighted the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources’ role in advancing automotive innovation.
CEER was also recognized for its role as a national partner in delivering programs that equip Saudi talent with the skills needed in emerging industrial and technological fields, supporting the Kingdom’s industrial growth.
The ceremony also included the signing of a cooperation agreement between CEER and JVIS to strengthen efforts to attract and develop Saudi talent.
The agreement builds on the organizations’ existing collaboration to support the growth of the Kingdom’s automotive industry and advance local content.
Jim DeLuca, CEO of CEER, said: “CEER is truly excited to celebrate the achievements of our WAA’ID graduates. These bright engineers represent the future workforce that will lead Saudi Arabia’s automotive sector for decades to come.
“Having now moved directly into their permanent, full-time roles with our team, they are already actively in the driver’s seat to helping us build the Kingdom’s very first homegrown EV brand. We extend our deepest gratitude to our ministerial partners for their unwavering support in making this career-launching program a reality.”
CEER’s WAA’ID Program, developed with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Education, bridges the gap between education and labor market needs. It provides Saudi talent with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to support industrial transformation and Saudi Vision 2030.
As part of the program, CEER employed 40 Saudi graduates last year, providing six months of academic study at Kettering University in Michigan, US, followed by six months of on-the-job training with leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSrelief, UK back $10m food security project in Yemen
July 15, 2026
RIYADH: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the supervisor general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, has signed a cooperation agreement to support vulnerable groups in Yemeni governorates and help strengthen their resilience, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement was signed with Carl Skau, acting executive director of the UN World Food Programme, via video conference and in the presence of the UK’s Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alice Burt.
Under the agreement, KSrelief and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will each contribute $5 million to a $10 million package for the WFP to support the project in the governorates of Al-Mahrah, Hadramout, Aden, Al-Dhale, and Lahij.
The agreement aims to address food needs of the most vulnerable groups by supporting asset creation and improving access to food through conditional cash transfers, helping beneficiaries become less dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The project also includes restoring productive infrastructure and helping households transition from emergency food insecurity to greater stability and self-reliance.
It also provides vocational training to enhance productivity, strengthens local authorities, and improves governance systems to manage and sustain community assets.
The agreement is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief efforts through KSrelief to support people in need and those affected by crises worldwide.
Since 2015 KSrelief has implemented 4,421 projects worth more than $8.5 billion in 113 countries, in cooperation with 356 local, regional, and international partners.
The largest share of the aid has gone to Yemen ($4.8 billion), followed by the Syrian Arab Republic ($585 million), Palestine ($542 million), and Somalia ($257 million).
KSrelief’s programs cover food security, health, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, telecommunications and logistics, along with other sectors.
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Saudi foreign minister receives Syrian counterpart in Riyadh
July 15, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed Saudi-Syrian relations and ways to strengthen and develop them across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They also discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to support security and stability in the region.
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Europe
After £250m for Jewish security, UK offers no new funding for Muslim communities
15 July, 2026
The UK government has declined to say whether it will increase funding to protect Muslim communities despite a series of anti-Muslim attacks and a record £250 million security package announced for Britain's Jewish community, telling The New Arab it is instead focused on existing measures.
The response comes after police arrested 12 people across England on Monday over a suspected far-right terror plot targeting a gathering attended by thousands of Muslims at a country house in Suffolk, the latest in a string of anti-Muslim incidents in the UK.
In response to questions from The New Arab on whether ministers planned to introduce additional protections or funding for British Muslims similar to those announced for Jewish communities, the Home Office pointed to existing schemes but did not indicate that further resources would be allocated.
"Muslims in the UK face appalling levels of religious hate crime. It's crucial that they not only are safe but feel safe," a Home Office spokesperson told The New Arab.
"This government has increased funding for protective security at mosques, Muslim faith schools and community centres to record levels – up to £40 million in 2026-27," the spokesperson said, referring to funding announced in February, before the recent surge in anti-Muslim incidents.
The spokesperson added that the Home Office was "implementing a number of changes in order to speed up the processing of applications to the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme".
The response followed the government's announcement on Monday of its "largest-ever investment" of more than £250 million to strengthen security for Britain's Jewish communities amid rising antisemitism.
The arrests over the alleged far-right plot targeting Muslims come against a backdrop of growing concern over anti-Muslim hatred in Britain.
Recent incidents include the attempted murder of three Muslim men in Edinburgh in June and anti-immigrant riots in Belfast the same month.
By 26 June, Amnesty International warned that Islamophobic attacks had reached "emergency levels", and urged the government to take urgent action.
However, Muslims in the UK have expressed concerns that Islamophobia is not being treated with equal importance by the government — a sentiment captured by Leicester South MP Shockat Adam in a question to Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month.
"When a Sikh woman was raped in Walsall, the perpetrator repeatedly called her an 'effing Muslim Bitch', whilst there was no outcry from the minister in the dispatch box, no outcry from the members of this chamber who openly call out these matters when the perpetrators are of a different colour," Adam said.
"When we had the Unite the Kingdom march calling openly for the expulsion of Muslims in this country, there was no ministerial statement condemning such statements," the MP noted.
"When [...] we had five members of the Muslim community stabbed on the streets of Edinburgh, there was no ministerial statement of condemnation, no cobra meeting, no solidarity," he continued, in what appeared to be a comparison to the government's proactive response to recent attacks on Jewish communities.
Outgoing Premier Starmer has himself been accused of mishandling complaints of Islamophobia within the Labour Party. The 2022 Forde Report - commissioned by Starmer - concluded that the party was "in effect operating a hierarchy of racism or of discrimination".
Months after its publication, the report's lead, Martin Forde KC, said the party had not fully engaged on the charge that anti-black racism and Islamophobia were not being taken as seriously as antisemitism.
Islamophobia 'downplayed'
A recent analysis by the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) of coverage surrounding the conviction of neo-Nazi Alfie Coleman, who was jailed for plotting a gun attack targeting a mosque and London's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, found that 67% of headlines led with "neo-Nazi jailed" or "neo-Nazi guilty", while references to Muslims as the intended victims were frequently buried within articles or omitted altogether.
"Public understanding of Islamophobia is shaped in large part by how it is represented in the media. When anti-Muslim prejudice is consistently minimised, disputed or treated as less serious than other forms of racism, it becomes harder for the public and policymakers to recognise its scale and impact," CfMM director Rizwana Hamid told The New Arab.
Hamid added that CfMM studies have repeatedly found patterns in which Muslims are disproportionately associated with extremism and threats, while anti-Muslim hatred is downplayed, questioned, or "framed as a matter of political controversy rather than a lived reality".
"Media narratives do not determine government policy, but they do influence the wider public conversation in which policy is made. If anti-Muslim hatred is not consistently recognised as a serious form of prejudice, there is a risk that the security concerns of Muslim communities will receive less sustained public and political attention than they warrant."
Source: newarab.com
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Moscow demands IAEA action over ‘terrorist’ killing of nuclear plant staff
15 Jul, 2026
Moscow is expecting an explicit response from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after the killing of a senior engineer at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) by the Kiev regime, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said.
Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been targeted by Ukraine on multiple occasions since Russia took control of the facility in March 2022. On Wednesday, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said a Ukrainian drone struck a ZNPP service vehicle on the edge of the plant’s industrial site near the city of Energodar, killing chief engineer Aleksandr Yakovlev and driver Dmitry Filippov.
Rosatom CEO Aleksey Likhachev described the strike as a “deliberate terrorist act” by the “Kiev regime,” saying Yakovlev had devoted his life to the nuclear industry and “died, in essence, at his post.” Likhachev added that similar attacks over the past two and a half months had killed 13 people and wounded 48 others, warning they pose a “real threat of a massive nuclear incident” affecting parts of Russia, Ukraine and the EU.
Reacting to the attack, Zakharova said it should finally compel IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to acknowledge the “crime of the Kiev regime” and issue a clear public statement. Grossi “is obliged at last to see this crime,” she said, adding that Moscow expects the agency to deliver an unequivocal condemnation.
Later on Wednesday, the IAEA said on X that Russia had informed it of the killings and that Grossi had condemned the incident, calling it an “unacceptable attack on the plant and its management” that “seriously threatens nuclear safety.” The agency reiterated its call for an “immediate end to all attacks on or near nuclear sites and their staff.”
Russia has repeatedly urged the IAEA to respond more forcefully to Ukrainian attacks on the plant. Likhachev has previously warned that “radiation knows no borders and does not recognize passports,” arguing that any nuclear incident would pose a long-term threat to multiple countries.
In recent months, Kiev has also increasingly targeted infrastructure linked to the plant and the nearby city of Energodar, according to Russian officials. Kindergartens, schools, roads, transport enterprises and vehicles delivering supplies to the local community have all come under attack, Moscow has said.
The IAEA, which maintains a permanent team of experts at the ZNPP, has repeatedly confirmed that the plant and its surroundings have come under attack, but has not assigned responsibility for the strikes.
The ZNPP has been operated by Rosatom since the autumn of 2022, after the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, along with the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, voted in referendums to join Russia. Moscow has argued that attacks on the plant and its personnel constitute not only acts of terrorism but also a direct challenge to international nuclear safety norms that the IAEA cannot afford to ignore.
Source: rt.com
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Boy, 14, charged over alleged plan to target mosques
July 16, 2026
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with a terrorism offence after police discovered an alleged plan to target two London mosques that was linked to "extreme right-wing terrorism".
The child was initially arrested at an address in south London on suspicion of criminal damage to a vehicle, but officers found "a number of documents of concern", the Metropolitan Police said.
He is accused of planning to target the two places of worship in Sutton and has been remanded in custody.
He is due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with preparation of terrorist acts on or before 9 July, and racially aggravated damage to property, the force said.
Det Ch Supt Nick Blackburn, in charge of local policing for the south London area, said: "These charges come just days after 12 people were arrested for a suspected threat to an Islamic festival in Suffolk and a man was arrested for an alleged assault outside a mosque in Leyton."
He added: "We should not underestimate the cumulative impact of incidents of this nature on the Muslim community."
Cdr Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, said it was a "very serious terrorism charge against a young boy" and "particularly concerning" to the Muslim community.
She said they were seeing an increasing number of children and young people in their casework.
The Met said it had been working closely with counter terrorism teams on the probe and had increased patrols in affected areas.
There is not believed to be "any enduring or wider threat" and police are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incidents, a statement said.
Source: bbc.com
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Norwich pub could be turned into place of worship
July 16, 2026
A former pub on the city outskirts could be transformed into a mosque and community centre.
The Norwich Muslim Centre has lodged plans with City Hall to turn the Gatehouse on Dereham Road into a place of worship and events space.
The association have said the site is intended for use by the wider community and not as an exclusive mosque.
Sirajul Islam, a trustee of the Norwich Muslim Centre said: "We are trying to emphasise working with the community.
"It is not only for worship but for community meeting.
"The purpose is to bring people together. We want to share it with everyone."
As part of the scheme an extension would be built at the back of the pub.
According to the plans, hall space could be used for celebrations and festivals, youth services, and school visits.
There would be space for more than 200 worshipers at the site.
A mission statement submitted with the plans says: “Our dream is to create a community hub that not only provides a space for worship but also empowers the next generation with strong Islamic identity, promotes interfaith engagement and tackles misconceptions about Muslims.”
Built in 1935, the grade II listed Gatehouse is similar architecturally to the Artichoke pub in Magdalen Road and is classed as an "asset of community value" by Norwich City Council.
The architect has never been identified but it is believed to have been Buckingham & Berry, who designed the Artichoke.
The pub closed in 2023 when its owner died and was then bought by the Norfolk Muslim Community Association.
Last year, the Gatehouse Community Hub group lost a bid to buy the pub.
They had hoped to buy the building through a community-led initiative, encouraging people to pledge funds with the goal of converting contributions into shares.
They wanted to create a community-owned pub - offering a bar, cafe and outdoor area.
Source: eveningnews24.co.uk
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Russian couple detained in Istanbul for reading the Bible inside Hagia Sophia, now a mosque
July 15, 2026
A Russian married couple told the news outlet Ostorozhno Novosti that Turkish authorities had detained them for reading the Bible inside Hagia Sophia.
Victoria, 35, and Igor F., 32, had traveled to Turkey from Moscow on vacation. On July 14, they visited Hagia Sophia — historically the Cathedral of Saint Sophia — one of the city’s main landmarks. There, Igor took out a Bible he had brought with him and began reading from it.
The couple said they were surrounded and escorted out of the mosque, then taken to a police station in the Fatih district. According to the couple, the police report states that they are suspected of “inciting hatred or enmity among the population.”
They were not allowed to return to their hotel and were ultimately transferred to a detention center for foreigners pending deportation, in the Arnavutköy district. “My wife and I were separated. We haven’t eaten in a long time and feel very unwell,” Igor said.
Russia’s Consulate General in Istanbul is handling the case, Ostorozhno Novosti reported, citing Russia’s Foreign Ministry. Diplomats are reportedly in contact with the couple’s lawyer.
Source: meduza.io
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https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/russian-couple-detained-in-istanbul-for-reading-the-bible-inside-hagia-sophia-now-a-mosque
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More teenagers charged over stabbing near mosque
15 July, 2026
Three more teenagers have been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old outside a mosque.
Zeshan Afzal was found with serious injuries following disorder on Oldbury Road in Smethwick, West Midlands, on 20 February. He died from his wounds shortly afterwards.
Two 18-year-olds, Aaman Khalil and Rehaan Siddique, along with a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age were charged. The trio were due to appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court later.
Thirteen teenagers have now been charged with murder since Afzal's death. Police are still urging anyone with information who has not yet spoken to officers to do so.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0m09llgrgo
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Zelensky dismisses another defense minister
15 Jul, 2026
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has dismissed the country’s youngest-ever defense minister, Mikhail Fedorov, who deepened Kiev’s controversial cooperation with US data-mining and military technology company Palantir during his six months in office.
The 35-year-old technocrat confirmed his departure on Wednesday, saying it was “a great honor” to serve as defense minister. In a lengthy farewell statement, Fedorov listed his supposed achievements but acknowledged that he failed to reform the corruption-prone ministry in accordance with “NATO standards.”
Zelensky has not publicly explained the decision, which comes as part of yet another sweeping government reshuffle that has already seen Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko and her cabinet removed.
Ukrainian officials and lawmakers cited by local media claimed that tensions between Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky “crossed all lines,” particularly over military reform and procurement. MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said Zelensky blamed Fedorov for failing to rebrand Ukraine’s notorious mobilization press gangs.
Fedorov entered the government in 2019 as minister of digital transformation and became closely associated with Kiev’s drone warfare and the rapid integration of civilian technology into military operations. After taking over the Defense Ministry in January, he deepened Ukraine’s ties with Palantir, a controversial US data-mining and military technology company.
During a meeting in May with Palantir CEO Alex Karp, Fedorov discussed expanding cooperation in AI, battlefield data analysis, and military planning. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the partnership was intended to help Kiev identify aerial targets, predict attacks, and ultimately “transfer the war onto Russian territory.”
Palantir was also involved in creating the Brave1 Dataroom, which gives Ukrainian developers access to real battlefield information for training AI models. Kiev said the company’s technology has already been integrated into intelligence processing and the planning of long-range strikes. Karp previously claimed that Palantir software was responsible for “most of the targeting” conducted by Ukraine.
Fedorov replaced Denis Shmigal, who was appointed defense minister in July 2025 but lasted less than six months before being transferred to the Energy Ministry amid a reshuffle triggered by a major corruption scandal. Zelensky praised Shmigal for achieving “solid results” shortly before removing him and reappointing him to head the similarly corruption-prone Energy Ministry.
The defense portfolio has repeatedly changed hands under Zelensky amid battlefield setbacks, increasingly violent mobilization, and persistent procurement scandals. Previous ministers Aleksey Reznikov and Rustem Umerov were both removed after their tenures became embroiled in allegations of graft involving military supplies and Western-funded weapons contracts.
Interior Minister Igor Klimenko has reportedly been tapped to become the next defense minister, although the appointment requires parliamentary approval.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/643113-zelensky-dismisses-defense-minister-fedorov/
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North America
North America'They better behave': Trump says Iran wants settlement amid fresh strikes
Jul 16, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Iran, saying "they better behave" if Tehran wants negotiations with Washington to resume.
In an interview, Trump claimed that Iran wanted to meet and was interested in reaching a settlement with Washington.
"We'll find out if we settle with them," he said, adding, "They better behave."
This comes as the US military intensified its strikes on Iran, hitting targets further north while American forces also fired at a ship it accused of attempting to break its naval blockade of the Islamic Republic.
The US Central Command said it had completed a new wave of military strikes targeting Iranian command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities.
In a statement, CENTCOM said the strikes concluded at 9 pm ET on July 15 (Wednesday). The operation employed precision-guided munitions against multiple targets, including in Bandar Abbas, an important Iranian port city.
"US forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners crewing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM used precision munitions to hit targets in multiple locations, including Bandar Abbas," the statement said.
CENTCOM also said that earlier in the day, American forces carried out a separate 90-minute operation targeting Iranian coastal defence and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island.
"Earlier this morning, American forces struck coastal defense and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island during a 90-minute wave," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities said a missile attack struck areas near a cancer hospital in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, hours after CENTCOM announced a second wave of strikes targeting Iranian military capabilities linked to threats against maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz.
Hossein Kermanpour, head of the Public Relations and Information Center at Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said the attack occurred near Boghayi Hospital 2, which treats cancer patients.
In a post on X, Kermanpour said, "Moments ago, the areas near Boghayi Hospital 2 (dedicated to cancer patients) in Ahvaz were hit by a missile attack. Some patients and their companions, out of fear from the intense sound and severe tremors, have fled the hospital, and now only the most critically ill patients remain!"
Iranian state media outlet Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) also reported damage to an industrial facility in Qeshm, located in Hormozgan Governorate.
According to IRIB, quoting a statement from the Hormozgan governor, "Following an enemy attack on part of the Souza fish powder factory in Qeshm, limited damage was caused to the factory. Due to the empty location, no injuries have been reported at this time."
The developments came after CENTCOM announced that US forces had launched a second wave of strikes against Iran, saying the operation targeted Iranian military capabilities allegedly used to threaten vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/they-better-behave-trump-says-iran-wants-settlement-amid-fresh-strikes/articleshowprint/132429050.cms?val=3728
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US launches fresh strikes on Iran as Trump warns Tehran it 'better behave'
Ella Kipling
Jul 16, 2026
The US said it had launched a fresh wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday as President Donald Trump warned Tehran it "better behave".
The US military said "Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels" moving through the Strait of Hormuz had been targeted. Air defences also sounded in the capital Tehran, according to state media.
Iran meanwhile said it had struck US military targets in the region, including in Bahrain and Kuwait, as a fifth day of renewed hostilities strained their preliminary deal to end the war.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told state media Tehran had "no reason" to abide by the deal if it did not benefit from it.
Trump had threatened late on Tuesday to attack bridges and power plants should Iran not return to talks next week.
Asked by reporters late on Wednesday whether he would give a deadline before doing so, he responded: "I don't like giving deadlines, but they pretty much know, they know the story... they better behave."
He later told delegates at a defence summit that Iran was "not happy right now".
"They want to settle so badly. They don't like what we're doing," he said. "We'll find out whether we want to settle with them or if we just finish it off."
Ghalibaf, however, said Iran's national security depended on Tehran maintaining "Iranian arrangements" in the strait.
He added that negotiation - along with war - was part of Iran's strategy of resistance as it engaged an "existential" conflict with the US.
A previous threat by Trump in April to bomb Iran's civilian infrastructure drew condemnation at the time from UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who said it would be a war crime.
Despite the renewed fighting, Trump welcomed what he saw as a potential olive branch from Tehran in freeing an American detainee that the US president said had been "wrongfully detained" in December 2024.
"She is now safely outside of Iran, and in good condition," Trump wrote on Wednesday evening on his Truth Social social media platform. "The United States of America appreciates this gesture of Goodwill by Iran!"
The woman, Dena Karari, was on her way back to the US, according to her attorney, Jared Genser, in a post on X.
The latest US strikes marked the second wave its military said it had carried out during daylight hours on Wednesday. It said it had "further degraded Iran's ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz" earlier in the day, and that it had also fired on a ship attempting to violate its renewed blockade of Iran's ports.
A 90-minute wave targeted Iran's coastal defences and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island, US Central Command (Centcom) added.
At 21:00 ET (01:00 GMT) on Wednesday, Centcom said the second wave of US attacks had been completed.
Its statement said the US had hit Iranian "command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities", including in Bandar Abbas, an Iranian city on the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to the air defences sounding in Tehran, state media reported that in Ahvaz, near the head of the Gulf, a hospital was evacuated due to nearby missile strikes.
In response to the US strikes, Iran said it had targeted US army communication systems and storage facilities in Jordan using drones, state media reported. Jordanian state media reported that its military had intercepted eight drones and that the attack led to no injuries or material damage.
Centcom also said it had redirected two commercial vessels since reimposing its blockade on Iranian ports on Tuesday evening, which stops vessels from transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
The blockade had previously been lifted as part of a deal that was struck by the two countries last month - known as a memorandum of understanding - that aimed to end the months-long conflict.
However, a dispute over the strait has become a key point of contention.
In response to the renewal of the US blockade, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned the US that it should "expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes that serve the interests of the United States and its allies". It did not elaborate on which routes could be affected.
Ongoing US-Iran hostilities have underscored the strategic importance of the Strait to the global economy, with a sharp rise in oil prices triggered by tanker traffic virtually stalling through the key shipping lane.
Source: bbc.com
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Trump says ICE should not give up traffic stops in wake of fatal shootings
Nadine Yousif
Jul 16, 2026
US President Donald Trump has said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should not give up traffic stops in the wake of two fatal shootings involving the agency in Texas and Maine.
Trump said the tactic was one of the agency's "most important and effective Crime Fighting tools" - a day after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it had instructed ICE agents to halt most vehicle stops nationwide immediately.
Trump's border tsar Tom Homan had said on Tuesday it would be a temporary suspension of vehicle stops, which have been a common tactic in ICE enforcement operations under Trump.
The agency has faced scrutiny over deaths that have occurred during its activity.
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Homan also said that agents already had extensive vehicle-stop training.
Officers have only a few moments to react during stops and "every arrest is different", he said.
The pause, Homan added, would be brief and would allow leadership to conduct a short-term review.
But Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday morning to express his opposition to giving up traffic stops.
The president wrote: "We CANNOT give up one of I.C.E.'s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP! Once we do, we are playing right into the criminal's hands."
Referring to the wider purpose of the agency's operations, Trump added: "The men and women of ICE are doing a GREAT job, one that has to be done. CRIME IS WAY DOWN IN AMERICA, in many cases with numbers that haven't been seen in decades."
The suspension reported on Tuesday was due to apply to most circumstances except in cases involving serious criminal targets.
Asked by the BBC for clarification on what constitutes official policy now and whether Trump's post changes the reported internal memo, DHS provided a statement from Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
"Illegal aliens will be arrested and deported wherever they are," the statement said.
"We remind illegal aliens attempting to evade arrest is dangerous," it added.
On Tuesday, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told the BBC he was fearful that more incidents like the recent fatal shootings would happen because of what he called "quotas" at ICE for deportations and arrests.
Durbin, a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees federal policing as well as immigration and criminal justice reform, said people at ICE "are not following the basic rules and principles when it comes to good policing".
In one of the recent incidents, an ICE agent fatally shot a 25-year-old Colombian national, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero, during an immigration enforcement operation in Maine.
The DHS said the officer, "fearing for public safety", opened fire on the man when he attempted to flee the scene of the operation and after agents tried to stop his vehicle. The department did not specify the threat he posed.
The shooting took place in Biddeford, Maine, about 24km (15 miles) south of Portland.
Immigration advocates have said the man was authorised to work in the US and had a social security number.
In another incident last week, another man - a Mexican national who had been living in the US for decades - was shot and killed by an ICE officer in Houston, Texas.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, 52, was stopped while driving to work and was killed shortly afterwards.
The DHS has said the stop was initiated because officers saw "a white van with an individual who resembled the target" of an operation. It has said the officer shot in self-defence and that Araujo was not the man ICE was looking for.
Passengers in the van and the victim's family have disputed the department's account and the agency's legal watchdog has opened an investigation into the fatal shooting.
Both shootings in Maine and Texas have sparked protests.
In another incident early on Tuesday, a person fleeing from federal immigration agents in St Augustine, Florida, was struck and killed by a tractor trailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
At least seven people have been killed in immigration enforcement operations since January 2025, according to Reuters.
It comes after national demonstrations earlier this year following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Both US citizens, they were protesting when they were fatally shot in separate confrontations with ICE agents in January.
Source: bbc.com
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New York mayor blasted over justifying rising rape numbers
15 Jul, 2026
New York City’s self-professed ‘democratic socialist’ mayor Zohran Mamdani has drawn backlash for attributing the recent uptick in rape reports to an expanded definition of what constitutes the crime.
In an interview with PIX11 News published on Monday, Mamdani was asked about recently released NYPD rape complaints statistics.
“A lot of the increase in rape also comes from an expanded definition of what counts as rape, as well as survivors coming forward for acts that took place years prior,” he said. He did not elaborate on what he meant.
Mamdani’s statement about the “expanded definition” likely refers to NY’s 2024 Rape is Rape Act, which broadened the definition of rape to any forced sexual intercourse. Prior to the decision, the definition was limited to non-consensual vaginal penetration with a penis.
According to NYPD crime statistics released last week, rape complaints are up 6.6% year to date. The figures cover the period from January-July, 2026, meaning the increase came well after the 2024 legislation took effect.
The remarks prompted criticism from numerous people online, including New York City Council Member Susan Zhuang.
“Expanding the legal definition of rape was an important step… but it should never be used to deflect from the responsibility to reduce sexual violence. Survivors deserve leadership, action, accountability, and justice. They don’t deserve deflection,” she wrote on X in response to a clip of the interview.
Mamdani, an openly socialist political outsider, campaigned on a platform focused on affordable housing, public ownership of utilities, and wealth taxation. He was elected last year despite little enthusiasm from fellow Democrats and fierce opposition from Republicans, including US President Donald Trump.
Trump initially described Mamdani as a “communist” and warned that New Yorkers will soon flee the city under his leadership, but moderated his rhetoric after meeting the Democrat in person last November.
However, in his July 4 speech at Mount Rushmore, Trump warned about what he called “a resurgence of the communist menace” in the US. Communism is “a mortal threat to American liberty,” he said.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/643093-mamdani-nyc-rape-statistics/
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US military to start screening for testosterone deficiency, Hegseth says
Sareen Habeshian
Jul 16, 2026
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that military personnel aged 30 and older will undergo testing for testosterone deficiency as part of annual health screenings.
In a video posted on X, captioned "High-T Department", Hegseth said he was authorising the screening programme for troops to ensure "you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best".
Troops with low testosterone levels will be offered voluntary hormone replacement therapy. The tests will be optional for those younger than 30.
Hegseth did not specify whether the screening would apply to women, whose testosterone levels also decline as they age.
"We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this programme delivers on that obligation," Hegseth said in Wednesday's video.
"Taking care of your long-term health means ensuring you remain strong, resilient and capable - not just for your next deployment, but for the rest of your life, so you can thrive long after you take off the uniform," he added.
Taking testosterone for non-medical reasons, like artificial muscle enhancement without a doctor's prescription, is strictly prohibited in the military.
Hegseth said in the video that the new programme was "not about artificial enhancement".
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement that the mandatory screening for testosterone deficiency would be effective immediately for all active duty and reserve component personnel aged 30 and older.
"The protocol will enable the Department to establish a comprehensive baseline and offer targeted testosterone therapy, ensuring that it sustains a healthy, capable, and decisively dominant fighting force," he said.
Asked whether both male and female troops would be tested, and if female troops would be able to be evaluated for oestrogen-based therapy as they enter perimenopause, the Pentagon said it had no comment to add to Hegseth and Parnell's statements.
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Iraq war veteran and member of the armed services committee, called on the defence secretary to make hormone testing available for both men and women.
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, a Pennsylvania Democrat and Air Force veteran, dismissed it on X as Hegseth's "latest culture-war obsession".
Dr Mohit Khera, who led a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expert panel last year on screening and testosterone utilisation in the military, told the BBC on Wednesday that all men over 30 should get screened because it is the top marker of a person's overall current and future health.
"The key here is that many young men have low testosterone levels, which puts them at a disadvantage in terms of muscle mass, energy, and that could be an issue if you are in combat," Khera, a professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine, said.
But he added: "You have to be careful not to just give someone testosterone unless they do have some kind of symptoms."
The benefits of the hormone replacement therapy, he explained, are increased muscle mass, decreased fat deposition, and decreased risk for depression. Over time, Khera added, it can also help with bone mineral density.
He cautioned, though, that it is not meant for everyone.
"If young men do take testosterone, it can make them infertile," Khera said. "You got to be careful. If someone's in the reproductive years, you need to make sure they understand it's going to make you infertile."
It can also result in a theoretical increased cardiovascular risk, he noted.
Hegseth's announcement comes after US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and other administration officials have sought to remove barriers for medical professionals to prescribe men testosterone.
The health secretary has floated it as a solution to a national "fertility crisis".
The FDA last month requested the removal of safety and effectiveness language on testosterone replacement therapy product labelling, and proposed loosening prescribing limits for testosterone products.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0nlx18rz0o
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Blanche apologises on Capitol Hill for Epstein files 'mistakes'
Kayla Epstein
Jul 16, 2026
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has faced a tense bipartsian grilling on Capitol Hill, as he seeks a permanent appointment to lead America's top law enforcement agency.
Blanche was questioned about his personal relationship with President Donald Trump, the Epstein files, and a controversial settlement between Trump and the US tax agency that a federal judge nullified this week.
Trump dismissed his previous attorney general, Pam Bondi, amid a political firestorm over the Epstein files release. Blanche has led the agency in the interim.
Here are five key moments from Blanche's confirmation hearing.
Blanche asked if he is Trump's friend
Going into Wednesday's hearing, Blanche faced questions about whether he would operate independently from Trump, who has vowed "retribution" against his political enemies in his second term.
Trump has pressured the justice department to pursue controversial prosecutions of several of his critics, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Blanche served as Trump's personal attorney in three of the four major criminal cases he faced leading up to the 2024 election. Most notably, Blanche led Trump's legal defence in his New York criminal trial.
Senator John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican who broadly supports the administration, asked Blanche on Wednesday if he was "friends" with Trump.
"I'm his lawyer - was his lawyer," Blanche said in response. "And now I'm the deputy attorney general."
"I met him as his criminal defence attorney, I'm not sure there's very many people who have ever had a criminal defence attorney who calls that person their friend," Blanche said.
Is the 'anti-weaponisation fund' dead?
The day before Blanche's confirmation hearing, a federal judge quashed a settlement between Trump, his business and family, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The deal included immunity from future audits and the creation of a $1.7bn (£1.2bn) "anti-weaponisation fund" for people who believed they were unfairly targeted by the government.
The settlement had sparked bipartisan outrage on Capitol Hill, and senators from both parties questioned Blanche about the agreement. Republican senators, in particular, seemed to want Blanche on the record saying that the fund was truly dead.
"You have no reason to believe that the so-called weaponisation fund will continue because of the settlement, agreement, is that correct?" Senator Mike Lee, a Republican, asked Blanche.
"I am confident it will not," Blanche said.
"It should never be paid out," said another Republican senator, Thom Tillis. He pressed Blanche for an "agreed to piece of text, coming from the administration, that just renders this thing dead, gone."
Blanche apologises for Epstein files 'mistakes'
The Epstein files are the biggest challenge to face the justice department since Trump's return.
After public outcry, Congress mandated that the justice department release its trove of millions of files related to the investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, the slow pace of their release and extensive redactions have drawn criticism from lawmakers and survivors.
Blanche faced probing questions from both parties about the justice department's handling of the files.
About a dozen women, wearing T-shirts that featured images of the redacted files, attended the hearing to protest.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the panel, asked Blanche about "problematic redactions", "insufficient effort" on following investigative leads and "refusal to meet with victims", as well as questions surrounding the Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell's move to a lower-security prison.
Blanche responded that redacting and releasing six millions pages of files within a short timeframe was a "Herculean task".
"There were mistakes that were made, and so approximately 1% of the redactions had to be fixed," Blanche added. "We had dozens of lawyers on call."
During one exchange, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal asked if Blanche would apologise to Epstein survivors for "the mishandling and mistakes".
"I will absolutely say that any mistake that we made should not have been made," Blanche said. "And I very much. I very much apologise."
Blanche says Trump not eligible for third term
Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, asks Blanche about calls from some of Trump's backers that he should serve a third term as president, which is prohibited under the US Constitution.
"Is President Trump, just as a simple matter of constitutional law, eligible to run for another term as president in 2028?" Coons asked.
"I don't believe he is, no," Blanche responded.
Trump himself has said he would "love" to seek a third term, but rejected the possibility of seeking the vice-presidency as a loophole.
Trump has also praised two likely Republican contenders, Vice-President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as potential future presidential candidates.
'An extraordinarily obnoxious question'
Blanche mostly tackled pointed questions with technical and lawyerly responses. At times, however, he surfaced flashes of the pugnacious defence attorney who had grilled witnesses in Trump's criminal trial and sparred with the judge.
"That's an extraordinarily obnoxious question, Senator," Blanche told Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who had asked him about FBI Director Kash Patel's fitness for office.
Later in the hearing, Blanche took issue with Democratic Senator Cory Booker's rapid-fire questioning about a proposed merger between two major media corporations, Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery.
Booker asked him about his role in reviewing a decision to close an investigation of the proposed merger, then immediately asked a follow-up as Blanche began to answer.
"You don't even let me answer, man," Blanche exclaimed.
Blanche's confirmation not yet in the bag
Blanche needs the backing of all Republicans on the judiciary committee, but Senator John Cornyn of Texas has yet to commit his support.
After questioning Blanche, he told CNN he continues "to have some concerns" and is not "going to make any decisions at this point".
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis was the biggest Republican question mark on the panel.
But he indicated he might support Blanche, despite his misgivings about the "anti-weaponisation fund", after the nominee said the fund was not moving forward.
The judiciary committee will next vote on whether to advance Blanche's nomination to the full Senate.
After that, the entire Senate chamber will vote whether to confirm or reject Blanche's nomination.
Source: bbc.com
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US lawmakers question Trump’s UAE AI chip policy change
16 Jul, 2026
The administration of US President Donald Trump has come under scrutiny in Congress over its decision to give the United Arab Emirates easier access to advanced AI chips. Critics question whether business ties involving the president’s family influenced the policy change.
The US Commerce Department announced on Friday that the UAE will be eligible for license-free exports and transfers of sensitive technologies, including advanced AI chips and servers, meaning approved entities will no longer need individual US export licenses. Washington cited “support in advancing US national security interests,” including operations against Iran.
Abu Dhabi had sought the policy change for years, but previous administrations blocked it over concerns that sensitive technology could reach China. The move gives the UAE privileged access unmatched by any other Middle Eastern state, including Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Media reports say the decision has come under scrutiny because it followed a series of business deals between UAE-linked entities and companies tied to Trump’s family.
The controversy centers on World Liberty Financial (WLF), a cryptocurrency venture launched in 2024 by Trump, his special envoy Steve Witkoff and their sons. According to The Hill and The Wall Street Journal, UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought a 49% stake in WLF for $500 million last year. Another fund he chairs, MGX, later used the company’s stablecoin for a $2 billion investment in crypto exchange Binance.
Critics say the investments coincided with negotiations over AI exports that first resulted in Washington approving annual sales of 500,000 advanced AI chips for a planned Nvidia-powered AI megacampus in the UAE and have now culminated in license-free access to the technology.
House lawmakers on Tuesday grilled Jeffrey Kessler, head of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), over the administration’s handling of advanced AI exports. Representative Bill Keating (D-MA) pressed Kessler on whether he had discussed the UAE AI chip export controls with Witkoff, but the BIS chief declined to comment.
“Why are you evading the answer?” Keating asked. “Could it be the conflict of interest in there with Witkoff and World Liberty Financial and the Trump administration, which the president personally benefited by? Could it be that? Could it be a fear?”
Senator Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, argued last week that the policy effectively grants license-free access to advanced AI chips for MGX and G42, another UAE company chaired by Tahnoon. She said the timing raised conflict of interest concerns.
Former senior US export controls official Chris McGuire, now at the Council on Foreign Relations, called the decision “impossible to justify on national security or economic grounds,” telling the WSJ there was “only one explanation” for the policy shift: “the UAE paid for it.”
US and UAE officials cited by the WSJ rejected claims that Emirati investments influenced Washington’s policy changes. Neither Trump nor Witkoff has commented on the allegations.
Financial disclosures released last week showed Trump earned at least $2.24 billion in revenue in 2025, including $1.16 billion from his family’s cryptocurrency ventures. However, asked last week about his financial disclosures, Trump brushed off concerns, saying his gains reflected a strong stock market.
Source: rt.com
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Africa
Tinubu Healing The Wounds Of Civil War In The Southeast – Soludo
July 16, 2026
By Oladipo Abiola
The Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a demonstrated commitment to the reconstruction of the southeast.
The Governor, in a statement on Wednesday, said President Tinubu is finally healing the wounds of the civil war by implementing several infrastructure projects in the region.
Naija News reports that Soludo gave the commendation in reaction to the President’s approval for the dualization of the 108-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji (Kogi), and the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube (Okigwe Junction), connecting Anambra/Imo to the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, which also passes through Abia.
According to him, he made the request for the road construction during a visit to President Tinubu on July 1, and the next day, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, contacted him to send the details of the affected roads.
He disclosed that the President, within a few days, approved both roads for “design and procurement.”
“I can’t contain my joy and that of my people regarding the great news from DIKESIMBA Anambra; DIKESIMBA NDIGBO, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR!
“Certainly, President Tinubu has a date with history, and even more so with the Southeast. He continues to demonstrate his avowed commitment to orchestrating the reconstruction of the Southeast, thereby finally healing the wounds of the Civil War. There are several unprecedented, foundational infrastructural rebirths going on in the Southeast at the moment. We will celebrate the full list later….
“But the news from him today is history in itself. I met the President on Wednesday, July 1. The next day, the Hon. Minister for Works and Infrastructure (our own ever-productive and beloved Sen. Dave Umahi) contacted me to send him the details of the roads we had repeatedly discussed. On Friday, July 3rd, I sent him the following two roads:
1. Otuocha–Anam–Abaji (Kogi), about 108km to be dualized; and
2. Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube (Okigwe Junction), connecting Anambra/Imo to the Enugu–PH Road, which also passes through Abia, about 150km to be dualized,” Soludo wrote.
The Anambra State Governor praised the development as a collaborative effort, saying the approved roads are gamechangers for the southeast, adding that building alliances to improve the lives of the people is a welcome development.
“Today, 15th July, I received a message from the Min. of Works that the President has graciously approved both roads for “design and procurement”! What can I say? These two roads constitute critical game-changers for the Southeast, South-South and North Central. The man who tamed the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos is certainly redefining politics, and the Southeast won’t be the same again! For me personally, this is why politics makes sense to me: working collaboratively and building alliances to achieve concrete results that improve the lives of the people.
“Thank you, ASIWAJU! History will be kind to you!!,” Soludo concluded.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/16/tinubu-healing-the-wounds-of-civil-war-in-the-southeast-soludo/
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Tinubu Confirms Attendance At 81st UNGA, To Address World Leaders, Meet Trump
July 16, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled to hold in New York, United States, in September.
Naija News reports that Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday after meeting the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Ibrahim said Tinubu had confirmed that he would personally lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual gathering of world leaders.
“The President was able to give us his word. Now he will come to UNGA this September,” the envoy said.
The diplomat, who presented the proposed budget for Nigeria’s participation in this year’s assembly, said the President would take part in several engagements on the sidelines of the event.
According to him, the discussions would cover energy, education, healthcare and hospital management.
Ibrahim said Tinubu’s attendance would provide Nigeria with an opportunity to present the reforms being implemented by his administration to the international community.
The President attended the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in person but was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 79th and 80th sessions.
The envoy said Tinubu’s return to the gathering would allow him to engage directly with world leaders, international organisations, investors and development partners.
Ibrahim said the President would also use the UN platform to seek international support for improved border policing in West Africa.
He described the region’s porous borders as a major security challenge that had made it easier for terrorists, arms traffickers and other criminal groups to operate across national boundaries.
“So, border policing will be fine. These are the kind of things that the UN is established for,” Ibrahim said.
He added that the Federal Government was already collaborating with the UN on a regional border-policing initiative and would seek broader international backing during the assembly.
The discussions are expected to focus on improving surveillance, intelligence sharing and cooperation among countries in the sub-region.
The permanent representative also raised the possibility of a meeting between Tinubu and United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
He, however, did not confirm whether a formal bilateral meeting had been scheduled.
According to Ibrahim, Tinubu is expected to sit in the front row during the general debate and deliver Nigeria’s address at about 10.45am New York time.
The address is expected to outline Nigeria’s position on international peace and security, economic development, climate change and reform of global institutions.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly is scheduled to open on September 8, while the general debate will hold from September 22 to 28, 2026.
The annual gathering will bring together heads of state, government leaders, ministers and representatives of international organisations to deliberate on major global challenges.
Issues expected to dominate discussions include international security, climate change, sustainable development, humanitarian crises and economic cooperation.
The session will be presided over by a representative of the Asia-Pacific Group in accordance with the UN’s regional rotation arrangement.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/16/tinubu-confirms-attendance-at-81st-unga-to-address-world-leaders-meet-trump/
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‘They Want To Finish Us With Muslim-Muslim Ticket’ – Rev Dachomo
July 15, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of promoting an Islamic agenda through the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
Naija News reports that Dachomo, who made the allegation in a video, expressed concern over continued attacks on Christian communities in Plateau State and called on the Federal Government to strengthen security in Barkin Ladi and other vulnerable areas.
The cleric alleged that the religious composition of the Tinubu administration had heightened fears among some Christian communities, particularly amid recurring killings and displacement in parts of the Middle Belt.
“Tinubu, I’m begging you in the name of Jesus to stop this Islamic agenda,” Dachomo said.
He also questioned whether the Muslim-Muslim ticket was being used to marginalise Christians, saying, “Under Muslim-Muslim ticket, they want to finish us?”
Dachomo urged the authorities to deploy additional security personnel to Barkin Ladi Local Government Area following reports of fresh threats against members of his congregation.
He said residents had become increasingly anxious over repeated attacks and alleged threats from armed groups.
The cleric maintained that Christianity would continue to survive despite the security challenges confronting communities in the state.
He appealed to security agencies to act swiftly to prevent further violence and protect residents from possible attacks.
“Let more security be added in Barkin Ladi Local Government,” he said.
Dachomo also alleged that suspected armed men had written a letter threatening to attack one of his church members.
According to him, the warning came while his community was still mourning nine members of his extended family recently killed in an attack.
“Christians, wake up and open your eyes. I have not finished mourning my people, my nine siblings, now Fulanis are writing a letter to my member that they are coming to kill him,” he said.
The cleric did not provide a copy of the alleged letter in the video, while security agencies had yet to publicly confirm receiving or investigating the threat.
Dachomo Warns Plateau Government
Addressing Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Dachomo urged the state government to take the alleged threat seriously and ensure the safety of his congregation.
“Governor, this is Ezekiel Dachomo speaking. If anything happens to my members, there will be mass protests in Plateau State,” he warned.
He argued that the patience of affected communities should not be interpreted as weakness, adding that residents expected the government and security agencies to protect their lives and property.
Dachomo also alleged that some security formations might have been compromised by extremist elements, but he did not present evidence to support the claim.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/15/muslim-muslim-ticket-rev-dachomo/
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PFIPC Scandal: ‘If Gbajabiamila Resigns, These Four Top Officials Must Go With Him’
July 16, 2026
The legal consultant to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, Jiti Ogunye, has asserted that the call for the resignation of his principal spells doom for four top government officials.
Naija News reports that Ogunye made this known during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, saying that calls for his principal to resign over the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) scandal are unjustified.
Ogunye argued that Gbajabiamila had the least official interaction with the ‘fake DG’ of PFIPC, Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, compared to other government officials.
According to him, if Gbajabiamila were expected to resign because of the ongoing controversy, several other public officials who had more direct dealings with Adeyemi would also have to step aside.
Ogunye listed the Director-General of the Budget Office, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Accountant-General of the Federation among officials whose offices allegedly had more documented interactions with the individual.
He said available records, including official correspondence and documentation, showed that Gbajabiamila’s office had the least official engagement with the person in question.
The legal consultant also described the focus on Gbajabiamila as unfortunate, adding that officials who processed requests, generated correspondence, and had more direct interactions with Adeyemi were better positioned to answer questions arising from the controversy.
He said, ‘This man in the chain of those who dealt with him, if I were to say, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila is the least person, is the least authority that dealt with this man.
“So, if Mr. Gbajabiamila were to leave office because of this investigation that some people are calling for the United Nations to come and investigate, no institution in Nigeria is competent to investigate, who and who will leave the office?
“The DG Budget Office that dealt with the man on record, the head of service that dealt with the man on record, the SGF (Secretary to the Government of the Federation) whose office dealt with the man on record, and whose officer ensured that the man got an office at the federal secretariat, the accountant of the federation. All this will have to leave office. Is that what you are saying?
“If you look at the trails, the paper trail, the documentation, and all that, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila was the person who had the least official interaction with the man you are talking about.
“So, except there is something there that I do not know why people are going for his head. I don’t see how his being in office is so important or not important to the investigation that’s going to be conducted.
“So the point I’m making is that this fixation on Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila is rather unfortunate. I have just told us that those who dealt with the man, those who interacted with the man more, are the officers I have mentioned, generating letters, making requests on his behalf, and so on and so forth.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/07/16/pfipc-scandal-if-gbajabiamila-resigns-these-four-top-officials-must-go-with-him/
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Uganda opposition leader refuses court-appointed lawyers at treason trial
July 16, 2026
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye refused to accept the lawyers being forced upon him for his treason trial on Wednesday after his chosen advocates were arrested or barred from the country.
Besigye, 70, a long-time rival of President Yoweri Museveni, has been in jail since late 2024 when he was kidnapped in Kenya and smuggled back to Uganda.
Last month, his main lawyer, former Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago, was seized by the army and thrown in jail, while his other lead lawyer, Kenya's Martha Karua, was barred from entering the country.
When his treason trial began on Monday, the court said he had to choose from a list of state-approved lawyers, but Besigye has refused.
"The legal team we had is one in whose competence we placed full confidence," he told the court on Wednesday.
The judge said he had two weeks to accept the lawyers and adjourned the case until July 29.
Human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza told AFP that Besigye's "chosen lawyers have been deported, abducted and terrorised" and the court has become "an instrument of the very power it exists to restrain".
Uganda has seen mounting political repression in recent months, with the army arresting opposition figures, lawyers and shutting down a major media group.
President Museveni, 81, has taken a backseat since winning a seventh election in January, allowing his son and head of the army, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to exert increasing control.
Besigye was a doctor to Museveni during their time fighting as insurgents in the 1980s, but they later fell out and he ran multiple times for the presidency, often facing severe repression.
"We know this trial won't be fair. Our rights have been abused and laws are not followed. We no longer wish to be part of it," Besigye told the court on Monday.
Besigye initially faced a court martial but the case was later moved to a civilian court after the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional to try civilians in military courts.
The civilian trial was set to start in September 2025 but there were long delays because the state only presented evidence in June, just as he was losing access to his lawyers.
Besigye has also argued he is being illegally denied bail and medical treatment.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/07/15/uganda-opposition-leader-refuses-court-appointed-lawyers-at-treason-trial/
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State Police: Why Nigeria Should Not Be Held Back By Fear
July 16, 2026
The ongoing national conversation on State Police has attracted both strong support and genuine reservations. Those who oppose the reform often point to Nigeria’s historical experience with regional police and express concerns that decentralising policing could lead to political abuse, threaten national unity, or undermine professionalism.
These concerns deserve respect. Constitutional reforms should never be undertaken lightly, especially where national security is concerned. Yet history should guide reform not prevent it.
Nigeria today is fundamentally different from the country that existed when the former regional police system was abolished more than five decades ago. Our democratic institutions have evolved considerably.
Constitutional governance has become more entrenched. Judicial independence is stronger, legislative oversight is more robust, the media is more vigilant, civil society is more active, and citizens now enjoy unprecedented access to information and public accountability.
These institutional developments provide a far more suitable environment for designing a policing system that reflects contemporary democratic standards. Rather than allowing the mistakes of the past to discourage reform, we should use those lessons to build stronger safeguards against their recurrence.
Equally important, decentralised policing is neither novel nor peculiar to Nigeria. It is a well-established feature of many federal democracies. Countries operating federal systems have successfully maintained national and subnational police services with clearly defined constitutional responsibilities, professional standards, independent oversight and effective coordination.
Nigeria, therefore,enjoys the advantage of learning from both its own experience and international best practices. We are not starting from scratch. We have decades of comparative knowledge from which to adopt proven safeguards while avoiding earlier mistakes.
It is also important to understand that the current proposal is fundamentally different from the former regional police arrangement.
What is before the National Assembly is not the replacement of the Nigeria Police Force but the creation of a complementary policing framework. Under the proposed constitutional arrangement, the Federal Police and State Police would coexist, each exercising clearly defined constitutional responsibilities while cooperating through established mechanisms of coordination and accountability.
The federal police would continue to shoulder responsibility for national security, terrorism, transnational and interstate crimes, border security, organised criminal networks and other federal offences. State Police, on the other hand, would concentrate on community policing, local intelligence, enforcement of state laws, neighbourhood crime prevention and rapid response to local security challenges.
Far from weakening national security, this complementary arrangement has the potential to strengthen it by bringing policing closer to the communities it serves while allowing the federal police to focus more effectively on strategic national responsibilities.
One of the most frequently expressed fears is that State Police could be abused by political office holders.
That concern should never be dismissed. However, the possibility of abuse is not unique to State Police. Every constitutional institution carries inherent risks. Executive authority can be abused. Legislative powers can be misused.
Electoral processes can be manipulated. Yet democratic societies do not abolish these institutions because of those risks. Instead, they strengthen constitutional safeguards, independent oversight, judicial review and public accountability.
The same principle should apply to policing.
The proposed constitutional framework already contemplates stronger safeguards than existed under the previous system. These include constitutional limitations on powers, minimum operational standards, independent oversight, legislative supervision, judicial scrutiny, intergovernmental coordination and clearly defined circumstances under which federal intervention may occur. These safeguards are intended to ensure that policing remains accountable to the Constitution and the rule of law rather than to individual office holders.
Perhaps the strongest argument for considering reform lies in Nigeria’s own experience.
For over five decades, our nation has relied almost exclusively on a centralised policing structure. During that period, successive governments have implemented numerous reforms, increased recruitment, reorganised commands, procured equipment and reviewed policing strategies. Yet public concern over insecurity has remained persistent across many parts of the country.
This observation should not be interpreted as a criticism of the Nigeria Police Force or its dedicated officers, whose commitment and sacrifices under extremely difficult conditions deserve national appreciation. Rather, it suggests that the scale and complexity of Nigeria’s contemporary security challenges may now require a more decentralised and complementary institutional response.
Security challenges are increasingly local in character. Effective intelligence often begins within communities. Timely intervention frequently depends upon officers who understand local languages, customs, geography and social dynamics. A complementary State Police system could significantly strengthen these capabilities while operating within national constitutional standards.
Finally, constitutional reform is not a one-time event. Democracies continuously refine their institutions as practical experience reveals strengths and weaknesses. If implementation exposes gaps, the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly retain the constitutional authority to amend the law, strengthen oversight mechanisms and improve operational arrangements. That is precisely how enduring democratic institutions evolve.
Nigeria should, therefore, approach this reform with confidence, caution and constitutional discipline—not fear.
If properly designed and responsibly implemented, State Police can improve community safety, strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance collaboration with the Federal Police and bring law enforcement closer to the people without compromising national unity.
After more than 50 years of relying on a single centralised policing model, giving a carefully regulated complementary policing system a fair opportunity is not a leap into the unknown. It is a measured constitutional response to changing security realities, informed by history, strengthened by comparative experience and guided by democratic principles.
The real question before Nigeria is not whether reform carries risks. Every meaningful reform does. The real question is whether we possess the wisdom to learn from our past, the courage to improve our institutions and the determination to build a policing system that better serves the security needs of all Nigerians.
History should remain our teacher—not our jailer.
Source: dailytrust.com
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https://dailytrust.com/state-police-why-nigeria-should-not-be-held-back-by-fear/
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Bishop rejects alleged Islamisation, sharia policy
July 16, 2026
The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Calabar; His Lordship, Prof. Nneoyi Egbe, has rejected alleged attempt to Islamise Nigeria and integrate sharia laws and financial systems into the country’s economy.
He stated this at the end of the three-day third session of the 12th Synod of the diocese at the Holy Trinity Anglican Communion in Calabar, Cross River State.
Egbe said the proposed integration of Sharia into Nigeria’s financial regulations would not guarantee transparency and accountability.
He said, “This move will not enhance clarity, credibility, accountability, or transparency as claimed. We again say No to Islamisation of our country. We cannot continue this dance of death with the deliberate intention to islamise this nation.”
The Bishop lamented that Nigeria had become a “two-tier nation” where the political elite live in comfort while the majority of citizens wallow in hardship.
“The first tier is the self-sufficient Nigeria, characterised by solar energy, private security, controlled systems, and comfort. The political class and few of the private sector cronies of theirs live in this tier. The second tier is Nigeria of survival, marked by darkness, bad roads, insecurity, poor healthcare, and uncertainty where the large majority of Nigerians live”, he added.
He accused leaders of prioritising personal comfort over national development, citing the reliance of Aso Rock on solar power while the national grid remains epileptic.
“They have chosen to insulate themselves from what is happening rather than engineer transformation of the nation,” Egbe said.
Egbe called on Christians to return to God in genuine repentance and to shun modern idolatries such as money, status, pleasure, fashion, technology and human rights.
He pointed out that political appointees, including the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), should emerge from a college of religious and traditional leaders, adding that any appointment should be by merit, ability and resilience over ethnicity and state of origin.
He expressed delight at developments in the diocese, including the establishment of a printing press, scholarships for indigent children, provision of boreholes in underserved communities, economic empowerment programmes, building a house for a widow, and reroofing a storm-damaged home.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/bishop-rejects-alleged-islamisation-sharia-policy/
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Southeast Asia
Malaysia condemns Israel’s latest settlement expansion in Occupied Palestinian Territory
16 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Malaysia strongly condemns Israel’s latest announcement of a US$2.3 billion settlement expansion plan in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, calling the plan a deliberate attempt to entrench the Zionist regime’s illegal occupation and undermine the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.
The Foreign Ministry said the plan represents a blatant violation of international law and a direct assault on the prospects for a just and lasting peace.
“Such actions demonstrate Israel’s continued disregard for its obligations under international law, including relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention.
“The continued seizure of Palestinian land and expansion of settlements will only perpetuate injustice, instability and further escalation in the region. The Palestinian people have endured decades of occupation, dispossession and systematic violations of their fundamental rights,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
Malaysia said the regime’s continued settlement expansion cannot be justified under any pretext whatsoever.
“Instead, it clearly reflects a calculated effort to deny the Palestinian people their legitimate and inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination and to an independent and sovereign State of Palestine on their own Territory of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem,” it said.
Malaysia called upon the international community and the United Nations to unequivocally reject and challenge the expansion plans, and reiterated its longstanding support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/16/malaysia-condemns-israels-latest-settlement-expansion-in-occupied-palestinian-territory/227844
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Malaysian Army says viral rape allegations against member contradict probe findings
15 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — An internal investigation by the Malaysian Army (TDM) into allegations linking one of its members to rape, molestation and sexual intercourse offences that recently went viral on social media found that the claims were inconsistent with the actual facts.
In a statement today, Army Headquarters said the findings were reached following an internal investigation, after which the affected member lodged a police report over the matter.
“The issue has gone viral since 2024 and TDM’s internal investigation found that the complaints circulating on social media platforms contradict the actual facts.
“In addition, the officer and member involved have lodged reports with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for further action,” it said.
TDM described the complainant’s use of social media as a reporting channel as unprofessional and viewed it as an attempt to tarnish the organisation.
It said that as of today, no police report had been lodged by the complainant regarding the criminal allegations circulated online, while the social media account involved had also been deleted.
TDM noted that the culture of “trial by viral” should not be normalised and said civil and criminal laws would be used to address this tendency.
“Every allegation must be submitted through legitimate channels to enable a fair, transparent and lawful investigation.
“TDM takes seriously the spread on social media of allegations and content that are defamatory, baseless and capable of damaging the reputation of its members, the chain of command and the organisation,” it said.
On July 8, Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Malek Razak Sulaiman said the Malaysian Armed Forces had taken note of allegations involving a TDM member in a rape case that had gone viral on social media and that investigations were underway. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/15/malaysian-army-says-viral-rape-allegations-against-member-contradict-probe-findings/227724
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Court of Appeal upholds ‘Mentega Terbang’ ban, rules film censorship powers constitutional
16 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Malaysia’s Court of Appeal has upheld the government’s ban on the controversial film Mentega Terbang, ruling that the home minister’s power to prohibit films in the public interest is constitutional and may be exercised before any public disorder occurs.
A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Ismail Brahim, Datuk Ong Chee Kwan and Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Salleh unanimously dismissed an appeal by the film’s director, Khairi Anwar Jailani, and producer, Tan Meng Kheng, affirming the High Court’s dismissal of their judicial review application, Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported.
Delivering the court’s broad grounds, Justice Ong rejected the appellants’ argument that Section 26 of the Film Censorship Act, which empowers the home minister to prohibit a film in the “public interest”, is unconstitutional.
Khairi and Tan had argued that the provision confers overly broad powers that infringe the right to freedom of speech guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
Ong said the provision must be interpreted in light of the Constitution and Parliament’s intention in enacting the law.
“Its operation is confined to the constitutionally permissible grounds under Article 10,” Ong said, adding that the phrase “public interest” is limited to matters involving national security, public order and morality.
The court also rejected the appellants’ claim that the prohibition order was irrational, stressing that judicial review concerns the legality of the minister’s decision-making process rather than whether the court itself would have reached the same conclusion.
Ong said there was sufficient objective material before the minister to justify the decision, including assessments by the Film Censorship Board, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the Special Branch, police reports, opinions from Islamic authorities and the minister’s own viewing of the film.
The bench also dismissed the argument that the authorities should have waited for evidence of public disorder before issuing the prohibition order.
Khairi and Tan argued that Mentega Terbang had been publicly available on a streaming platform for several months before the ban without triggering any public disorder.
However, Ong said Section 26 of the Act is preventive in nature and does not require the authorities to wait until public disorder has occurred before acting.
The absence of disorder during the monitoring period did not eliminate the risk that unrestricted exhibition could undermine public order, he added.
The bench further held that Khairi and Tan were not entitled to be heard before the prohibition order was issued because the order was legislative in nature, applying generally to the public rather than targeting them personally.
Consequently, the common law rules of natural justice requiring a prior hearing did not apply.
Khairi and Tan filed the judicial review in December 2023, arguing that the ban was irrational, violated their constitutional right to freedom of expression and adversely affected their livelihood by preventing the film from being screened or distributed in Malaysia.
The High Court dismissed the application in September 2025.
The Home Ministry issued the Film Censorship (Prohibition) Order 2023 on Aug 21, 2023, banning the screening and publicity of Mentega Terbang, which had previously been available on a streaming platform.
The film sparked controversy over scenes said to depict conflicting religious beliefs and themes.
Counsel N. Surendran, who represented Khairi and Tan, said he had instructions to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision to the Federal Court.
Senior federal counsel Sallehuddin Ali appeared for the home minister and the government.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/16/court-of-appeal-upholds-mentega-terbang-ban-rules-film-censorship-powers-constitutional/227845
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Samsuri rebuts Muhyiddin, says PAS-BN talks had his approval
16 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar today rejected Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that PAS acted unilaterally in engaging with Barisan Nasional (BN) ahead of the Negeri Sembilan state election, saying all preliminary discussions were conducted with his knowledge and approval.
In a statement, Samsuri said all preliminary discussions and engagements with parties had taken place with his knowledge in his capacity as PN chairman before being finalised and approved by the coalition’s supreme council.
“Referring to the statement by the Bersatu president yesterday, all preliminary discussions and engagements with parties were conducted with my knowledge and approval as chairman of PN,” he said.
“These matters were subsequently finalised and approved by the PN supreme council at today’s meeting.”
The statement directly contradicted Muhyiddin’s assertion yesterday that PAS had held discussions with BN without consulting PN’s other component parties or obtaining approval from the coalition’s supreme council.
Muhyiddin said Bersatu was disappointed by what he described as PAS’ unilateral actions, arguing they ran counter to PN’s position as a national coalition offering an alternative to both BN and Pakatan Harapan.
Samsuri also said the PN supreme council had approved the allocation of Negeri Sembilan state seats among PAS, Wawasan, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP).
He added that the council had also agreed that all PN candidates would contest the August 1 state election under the coalition’s logo, with the candidates due to be announced today.
The exchange follows weeks of public tensions between PAS and Bersatu. PAS severed ties with Bersatu last month, although both remain component parties within PN and contested last Saturday’s Johor state election under the coalition’s banner.
Muhyiddin had said yesterday that Bersatu would contest the Negeri Sembilan election under its own logo, adding that several other parties had also expressed interest in using the party’s symbol.
PAS also instructed its members to support BN in constituencies where PN was not fielding candidates, a move Muhyiddin said had not been approved by the PN supreme council.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/07/16/samsuri-rebuts-muhyiddin-says-pas-bn-talks-had-his-approval/227837
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Religious affairs minister: Govt strengthens crackdown on online deviant teachings
16 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — The government is adopting a whole-of-government approach to strengthen cooperation among agencies in efforts to contain the spread of deviant teachings, which are increasingly circulating on digital platforms and across borders.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Zulkifli Hasan, said the government, together with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and state Islamic religious authorities, remains vigilant in monitoring and addressing any deviant doctrines that go against the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah school of thought.
He said the enforcement landscape has grown more challenging, with deviant teachings evolving from clandestine face-to-face meetings to digital platforms and messaging apps, while being presented under the guise of personal development programmes, charitable initiatives, alternative therapies and informal religious learning.
“Some groups were using motivational and spiritual narratives, psychological approaches, conspiracy theories and the influence of prominent figures to spread ideas that could mislead the public,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during a question-and-answer session today.
He was replying to Sabri Azit’s (PN-Jerai) question on the government’s approach to curbing the spread of deviant teachings in Malaysia, the number of arrests carried out and interventions aimed at strengthening the beliefs of groups that had moved far away from mainstream teachings.
Zulkifli said the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies, including JAKIM, state Islamic religious departments, police, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the National Security Council, local authorities, the Immigration Department and the National Registration Department, had enabled several enforcement actions.
“The enforcement actions included the detention of 288 Ahmadiyya Qadiani followers in Sabah on May 31 and a raid on a Syiah centre in Petaling Jaya, where 226 foreign nationals were detained,” he said.
He said the government was also carrying out a range of intervention efforts, including targeted counselling for affected members and leaders, Syariah court-ordered placement at faith rehabilitation centres, and rehabilitation programmes to strengthen religious understanding under the supervision of Islamic authorities.
Zulkifli said the government had formed the National Steering Committee to Address Threats to Faith as part of efforts to strengthen young people’s religious understanding, adding that the committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Home Affairs, JAKIM, and other agencies.
He said the initiatives include programmes organised by Institut Pemantapan dan Perkaderan Akidah Malaysia (IPHAM), the My Insaniah Programme and the Rakan Masjid Programme, carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as strengthening the KAFA 2.0 (Quran and Fardu Ain) curriculum to foster stronger identity and religious resilience among youths. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Police remind cosplayers to comply with laws on military uniforms, replica weapons
16 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — Costumes representing anime, video game and movie characters have become a common sight at cosplay events organised around the capital.
Characters from series such as Naruto, Sailor Moon, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Genshin Impact, as well as superheroes from DC and Marvel comics, are among the most popular choices for participants.
However, a few participants choose to wear Nazi and Imperial Japanese military uniforms from the Second World War era, complete with replica weapons to complement their costumes.
Although regarded as an expression of personal interest and hobby, for the police, the wearing of costumes and the use of certain accessories is actually subject to legal provisions.
Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said that wearing uniforms resembling those of security forces, including foreign soldiers, at cosplay events is not automatically an offence.
However, he said the act could become an offence if done with the intention, or under circumstances, that mislead the public into believing the individual involved is an actual military member, adding that such cases would be investigated under Section 140 of the Penal Code.
“If the costume is accompanied by imitation weapon props, such as rifles, replica pistols or airsoft guns without a valid licence, the individual may be investigated under Section 36 of the Arms Act 1960 (Act 206).
“Participants must also pay attention to the ban on carrying imitation firearms that resemble real weapons, scheduled sharp weapons including the keris, machetes, spears, axes, brass knuckles and samurai swords, even if they are replicas,” he told Bernama.
Noor Hisam said that during the first six months of this year, one investigation paper was opened under Section 140 of the Penal Code following an incident in Gombak, Selangor, after a viral video showed a man wearing clothing resembling that of security personnel while carrying what was believed to be an imitation weapon, but no arrests were made.
He added that for Section 36 of Act 206, a total of 63 investigation papers were opened, resulting in 95 arrests during the same period.
“Ignorance of the law cannot be used as an excuse to avoid legal action,” he said, while advising cosplay participants and organisers to always be careful and ensure that the wearing of costumes and the use of props do not violate the law.
As such, he encouraged cosplay and anime event organisers to provide participants with clear guidelines on costumes and accessories that are not allowed and to display them at registration areas.
He said the move is not intended to restrict the creativity of the cosplay community, but rather to ensure that the activity can continue in a safe, orderly and law-abiding environment.
Meanwhile, an anime and cosplay event organiser who wished to be known only as Lman said such events focus on anime, manga and video games rather than military attire.
“These events are more about anime characters that participants are interested in, but when there are participants dressed in wartime military uniforms, the public may get the wrong impression about the cosplay event,” Lman said.
Lman added that organisers emphasised the aspect of compliance with the law by setting guidelines prohibiting participants from bringing sharp objects or replica weapons that could pose a security risk.
“We will only ask participants about the accessories they bring and check them first, and if they do not comply with the conditions, they may be asked to leave the venue or change their clothing,” Lman said.
However, for a 19-year-old private university student who wished to be known only as Daniel, the military uniform he wore was not intended to impersonate a soldier or promote any particular ideology.
Instead, he said he wore it because of his interest in history and historical reenactment.
“I am interested in history and this uniform because of its design and seeing this clothing as part of history... I wear it out of interest, not to support an ideology, and I only wear it in the event area,” he said, adding that he bought the uniform online.
Sharing a similar interest, a private sector employee who only wanted to be identified as Muiz, 27, said that he and a group of individuals have been active in the historical reenactment community for the past two years and attend cosplay events as a platform to interact with others who share the same hobby.
Another participant, who wished to be known only as San, 27, said that the replica weapons he brought were made of wood and plastic, besides admitting that every cosplay event has guidelines that participants must adhere to. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Security Commission Reviews National Security, Issues Directives to Strengthen Coordination
July 16, 2026
KABUL: The meeting of the Security and Clearance Commission was held with National Defense Minister Mawlavi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, on the chair, reviewing the country’s overall security situation and discussing measures aimed at further strengthening nationwide security.
The commission said in a statement on Wednesday that the participants conducted a comprehensive assessment of the security situation across the country and exchanged views on improving security arrangements and ensuring continued stability.
The commission’s leadership emphasized the importance of providing reliable and comprehensive security for citizens across Afghanistan and issued recommendations to provincial commissions to improve coordination and reinforce security-related activities.
Officials said the directives are intended to enhance cooperation among provincial bodies and further strengthen the country’s security framework.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Hasina to face immediate arrest on return
16 JULY 2026
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed yesterday said there would be no scope for ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to surrender, as she would be arrested immediately upon return and the court verdict against her would be executed in accordance with the law.
“We have always wanted her return through legal means. During the interim government’s tenure, a letter was sent to the Indian government under the extradition treaty, and we have also sent reminders. We want her brought back to Bangladesh so that the verdict against her can be executed,” he said.
He made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at a discussion, titled “The Day that Changed the Course of the Mass Uprising”, organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at the TSC Auditorium of Dhaka University.
He said efforts were underway to bring back former ministers, MPs and officials who had supported the previous Awami League government and were now abroad.
“Those involved in genocide and those who -- like the Pakistani occupation forces -- attacked freedom-loving people of Bangladesh also have the right to due process, and we will bring them to justice,” said the home minister.
“We want the political fate of the Awami League to be determined through a fully lawful and judicial process,” he said, adding that amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act and Anti-Terrorism Act now allowed Hasina to be tried as an individual and the Awami League as a party.
Recalling the early days of the uprising, Salahuddin said when students at Dhaka University chanted slogans on July 15, 2024, he was in exile but remained fully focused on and supportive of the movement.
“Achieving freedom is easier than protecting it. We want democratic reform of the state structure so that no authoritarian force can ever again trample democracy,” he said.
Salahuddin urged parties not to use the spirit of July for partisan interests. “The credit for the July uprising belongs to no single party or group. Ordinary people fought fascism by putting their lives on the line, and the credit belongs to them,” he said.
Salahuddin also said, “The students of Dhaka University have always been a driving force in Bangladesh’s democratic struggles.”
He called on the younger generation to build a safe, democratic and prosperous Bangladesh free from authoritarianism.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Mahdi Amin defends HSC exam decision, lists 5 govt measures
15 JULY 2026
Amid continuing protests by HSC examinees, Prime Minister’s Adviser and PMO spokesperson Mahdi Amin today said the government had taken five steps to address weather-related disruptions to the ongoing exams.
In a Facebook post, Mahdi defended the decision to continue the tests outside the Chattogram Education Board, saying today’s examinations were held peacefully at 2,583 centres across the country. He added that the weather had improved considerably and candidates took part with enthusiasm.
Mahdi said the decision to continue the exams according to schedule was taken unanimously after consultations with divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, police superintendents, education board chairmen, meteorological officials and other stakeholders. “The interests of the overwhelming majority of candidates were given priority in reaching the decision,” he wrote.
Local administrations have been instructed to take necessary measures wherever candidates face difficulties due to transport disruption or waterlogging. Depending on conditions, authorities may change centres, postpone a test or extend exam time. Candidates who missed exams because of adverse weather will be allowed to sit the corresponding tests with Chattogram board candidates, using the same question papers on dates fixed by the education ministry.
Mahdi also said all candidates would receive full marks for the two erroneous questions in the Physics First Paper exam. Those responsible for preparing the flawed questions have been temporarily suspended.
“For the prime minister, the HSC is not merely an examination; it is an important stage in shaping the future of those who will build tomorrow’s Bangladesh,” he wrote, adding that the government was trying to conduct the exams with sincerity and responsibility while protecting students’ welfare.
The post came as students demonstrated for a second consecutive day in Dhaka and Savar, protesting exams held amid heavy rain and waterlogging, errors in the Physics First Paper test, and remarks by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon that protesters said likened them to “farm chickens.”
Source: thedailystar.net
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U.S. Lawmakers Seek Autopsy Report After Afghan Refugee Dies in ICE Custody
By Fidel Rahmati
July 16, 2026
Six Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to release the full autopsy report of an Afghan refugee who died after being taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, while seeking information about the detention and deportation of other former Afghan partners of the United States.
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the lawmakers requested details surrounding the death of Mohammad Nazir Paktiawal, an Afghan national whom they said had supported U.S. military forces in Afghanistan. The letter also asked DHS to explain why he was detained and to provide information on the department’s treatment of former Afghan allies in immigration proceedings.
The lawmakers who signed the letter are Seth Magaziner, Julie Johnson, James R. Walkinshaw, Dan Goldman, Shri Thanedar, and LaMonica McIver.
According to the lawmakers, Paktiawal was arrested by ICE officers on March 13 while taking his children to school. They said he had no criminal convictions and had a documented history of assisting U.S. Special Forces during the war in Afghanistan.
The letter states that Paktiawal suffered from a respiratory condition and that his wife attempted to provide him with an inhaler during the arrest. DHS has said he later experienced breathing difficulties while in custody and was transported to a hospital, where he died the following day.
The lawmakers said the circumstances surrounding his death warrant greater transparency and urged DHS to release the complete autopsy report.
“It is unacceptable that someone who bravely fought alongside American forces could be so easily abandoned by the very government he served,” the lawmakers wrote, adding that Paktiawal’s family deserves a full account of the events leading to his death.
The lawmakers also requested information about the broader treatment of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces before the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Specifically, they asked DHS to disclose how many former Afghan partners have been detained, deported or are currently in immigration detention, as well as how many face removal proceedings.
The request comes amid continuing concern among veterans’ groups, refugee advocates and some members of Congress over the treatment of Afghans who relocated to the United States after supporting U.S. military and diplomatic missions during the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan.
The Department of Homeland Security had not publicly responded to the lawmakers’ letter at the time of publication.
Source: khaama.com
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U.S. Judge Strikes Down Four USCIS Policies Delaying Afghan Immigration Cases
By Fidel Rahmati
July 16, 2026
A U.S. federal judge has struck down four U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies that delayed or subjected immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of Afghanistan and 38 other countries to heightened scrutiny, ruling that the agency exceeded its legal authority under federal administrative law.
The decision follows a ruling that also rejected the U.S. government’s request to pause the judgment while it pursues an appeal. According to AfghanEvac on 15 July, USCIS has already resumed processing immigration benefit applications that had been placed on hold under the now-vacated policies.
The ruling, issued under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), found that USCIS acted beyond the authority granted by Congress when it implemented policies that paused adjudications, suspended certain asylum decisions, required previously approved cases to undergo additional review, and instructed immigration officers to treat nationality from designated countries as a significant negative factor in discretionary decisions.
The court vacated four agency policies: the Benefits Hold Policy, which prevented final decisions on many immigration applications; the Global Asylum Hold Policy, which paused asylum and withholding-of-removal cases; the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy, which required previously approved applications to be reassessed; and the Country-Specific Factors Policy, which directed officers to weigh an applicant’s nationality negatively in discretionary immigration determinations.
The judge concluded that USCIS failed to provide an adequate legal basis for the policies and did not properly consider the reliance interests of applicants who had already completed interviews, submitted biometric information and passed security screenings. The court found the agency’s actions to be arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.
On July 15, the court also denied the government’s motion to stay the ruling pending appeal, finding that the administration had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on appeal or shown that allowing the decision to remain in effect would cause irreparable harm.
According to AfghanEvac, USCIS has already implemented the ruling nationwide and is treating the challenged policy guidance as no longer in effect. As a result, immigration benefit applications that had been frozen under the policies have resumed moving through the adjudication process.
The ruling is expected to have its greatest immediate impact on Afghan nationals and other affected applicants already residing in the United States with pending applications for adjustment of status, asylum-related benefits, employment authorization and naturalization.
However, the decision does not invalidate the presidential travel restrictions affecting Afghanistan and other countries. It also does not restart the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, resume Operation Enduring Welcome, reopen overseas visa processing, or affect Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications handled by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
The court resolved the dispute solely on administrative law grounds and declined to issue a permanent injunction or rule on broader constitutional claims.
The Justice Department has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. While the challenged USCIS policies remain invalid, the government may still seek emergency relief from the appellate court as the litigation continues.
Source: khaama.com
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Saudi Aid Agency Delivers Food Assistance to Vulnerable Families in Northern Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
July 16, 2026
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed food assistance to 154 vulnerable families in Afghanistan’s northern Balkh province, as humanitarian agencies continue to warn of widespread food insecurity across the country.
KSrelief said on Wednesday that the assistance benefited 1,078 people, including returning refugees, internally displaced persons, low-income households and orphaned children. The food packages were distributed under the center’s Food Security and Emergency Support Project in Afghanistan.
According to KSrelief, the initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian assistance aimed at supporting vulnerable communities affected by Afghanistan’s prolonged humanitarian and economic crisis.
The distribution comes as international aid agencies continue to warn that millions of Afghans face acute food insecurity. Humanitarian organizations have identified returning refugees, internally displaced families and low-income households among those most in need of emergency food assistance.
UNICEF recently warned that severe acute malnutrition among children has expanded to 26 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, placing millions of children at increased risk without sustained humanitarian support. The agency has called for additional funding to maintain nutrition and health services across the country.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with years of economic decline, widespread poverty, climate-related shocks and declining international assistance contributing to growing humanitarian needs. Aid agencies say food insecurity continues to affect millions of people, particularly those displaced by conflict, natural disasters or economic hardship.
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have also warned that restrictions imposed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 have complicated humanitarian conditions. They say limits on girls’ education and women’s participation in the workforce have reduced household incomes and affected the delivery of health, nutrition and other essential services.
Humanitarian organizations continue to appeal for sustained international funding, warning that millions of Afghans will remain dependent on emergency assistance unless aid operations receive adequate financial support.
Source: khaama.com
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Noor Jalal, Veronica Mawiya Discuss Health Cooperation
July 16, 2026
KABUL: The country’s Minister of Public Health Mawlavi Noor Jalal Jalali, in a meeting with Veronica Mawiya, Gavi’s Country Manager for Afghanistan, alongside representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, discussed expanding primary healthcare services, strengthening routine immunization, and enhancing cooperation in Afghanistan’s health sector.
Speaking at the meeting, Jalali outlined the ministry’s priorities, and emphasized the expansion and support of primary healthcare services, the further development of routine vaccination programs, and closer cooperation with Gavi, according to a statement from the ministry on Wednesday.
He said combating measles, polio, and other communicable diseases remains among the ministry’s top priorities, adding that preventive healthcare efforts are being strengthened alongside the continued expansion of basic health services throughout the country.
The minister also referred to Afghanistan’s National Vaccination Strategy and National Health Strategy, stating that both documents are in the final stages of preparation and will soon be shared with all development partners to facilitate coordinated implementation.
Representatives of Gavi, WHO, and UNICEF shared their views on the issues discussed and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s health sector.
They stressed that Afghanistan remains one of Gavi’s priority countries and pledged to continue long-term cooperation in immunization and other essential healthcare services.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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