Muslim Voters No Longer Matter To BJP. Only A New Hindu-Led Coalition Can Challenge Modi-Shah
New Age Islam News Bureau
09 May 2026
Illustration: Shruti Naithani | ThePrint
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· Muslim voters no longer matter to BJP. Only a new Hindu-led coalition can challenge Modi-Shah
· UN experts condemn Israel’s interception of Gaza aid flotilla, demand activists’ release
· Saudi FM discusses regional crisis in phone calls with Egyptian and Russian counterparts
· Scottish Reform candidate who backed deporting all Muslims elected MSP
· CAIR-SD Condemns Islamophobic Jewish Heritage Month Display at UCSD
· 36 Soldiers, Policemen Feared Killed In Yobe Boko Haram Attacks
· Indonesian Ministry highlights need to strengthen sharia health services
· Rising pressure in Iran drives growing migrant returns to Afghanistan
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India
· ‘Waning Crescent’: A biography of the journey of Islam from divine faith to ideological system
· SIT files charge-sheet against man accused of bid on Farooq Abdullah’s life
· AIMIM corporator sheltered absconding TCS accused Nida Khan, claim police in Nashik conversion probe
· Infiltration, cattle smuggling will become impossible in Bengal under BJP govt: Amit Shah
· No bail for PFI leader’s Haj farewell as Delhi High Court prioritises security over religious grounds
· “Why do you need police protection to get married?”: Gujarat HC to state in interfaith couple matter
· 2024 Haldwani violence: As Supreme Court cancels default bail of 2, a look at other accused and bail orders
· Rajnath Singh urges armed forces to stay future ready after Operation Sindoor
· Omar Abdullah accuses BJP of bid to split NC, seize Jammu and Kashmir government
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Mideast
· Surfers in war-torn Gaza find rare moments of joy taking to the waves
· US imposes sanctions on 10 individuals, companies for aiding Iran’s weapons sector
· Palestinian American developer asks US judge to dismiss lawsuit alleging he aided Hamas
· EU to hold 2 high-level meetings with Syrian transitional authorities in Brussels
· Hezbollah claims new attack targeting military base in Israel
· Why Syria’s cultural restoration must go hand in hand with political and economic recovery
· Syria says arrested Assad-era general over chemical attack
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Arab World
· Saudi aid agency expands Syria recovery push with new school rehabilitation agreements
· Saudi students win two golds, bronze at Balkan Mathematical Olympiad
· SDAIA issues deepfakes guidelines to regulate responsible AI use
· World Migratory Bird Day: Saudi Arabia strengthens role as vital refuge
· Hajj health guide launched in 8 languages
· ZATCA seizes 8.4 kg of cocaine at Jeddah Port
· Saudi climate envoy meets Costa Rica FM
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Europe
· Asif Khan: Planet Omar gives British Muslims a voice on stage
· Azerbaijan Joins Islamic Organization for Food Security
· Political Islam sees Europe as a territory to be claimed
· SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second
· Britons on virus-hit cruise ship will be tested before charter flight back to UK
· How Russia is quietly returning to ‘Europe’
· Starmer’s Labour Party ‘wiped out’ in UK elections
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North America
· 'Suspension of all kinetic activity': Trump announces 3-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, 1,000-prisoner swap
· Iran accuses US of 'reckless military adventure'
· Trump is punishing Germany for not enough appeasement
· CAIR Releases Analysis of Anti-Muslim Oklahoma Politics
· White House calls Mark Hamill 'sick' after actor's Trump grave post
· Global reputation of US sinks below Russia’s rating – survey
· Washington ignored intel warnings on Iran – Trump’s ex-counterterror chief
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Africa
· Sultan urges religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence
· Sultan commissions ultra-modern mosque built by business mogul, Badmus at 80
· Lateef Adedimeji, Mo Bimpe name triplet sons at private Islamic ceremony
· Court Adjourns Angwan Rukuba Terrorism Case
· Chad sentences eight opposition leaders to prison and bans coalition
· France moves to repair ties with Algeria as ambassador returns to Algiers
· Rights group calls for investigation after death of Rwanda govt critic in custody
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Southeast Asia
· Malaysia and Vietnam deepen ties in digital economy and AI
· Proposed care law for ageing parents should consider support systems for families, says Sarawak minister
· Malaysia’s airspace stays resilient amid rising regional flight traffic, says CAAM
· Kedah govt to seek Sultan’s consent over fate of two Bersatu-sacked reps
· Army deploys drones, ATVs and scramblers along Malaysia’s border ahead of Aidiladha to curb smuggling
· Anwar to seek explanation from Amir Hamzah over Pahang allocation row, says economy must be considered
· Anwar backs Selangor Sultan’s concerns over pig farms, cites public health risks
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South Asia
· Any Discussions Relating to Afghanistan Should Be Represented by Islamic Emirate
· Democracy, tolerance key to free media: Speakers
· Administrative Commission Holds Meeting on Ministries Issues
· Nearly 230,000 Families Receive Aid Nationwide in Three Months
· Over 140 Media Outlets Granted Licenses Since Islamic Emirate’s Return, MoIC
· BNP earned public trust through service, says Nazrul Islam Khan
· Star wins global accolade for youth readership drive
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/not-muslim-voters-but-only-hindu-led-coalition-can-challenge-modi-shah-bjp/d/139971
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Muslim voters no longer matter to BJP. Only a new Hindu-led coalition can challenge Modi-Shah
SHEKHAR GUPTA
09 May, 2026
Illustration: Shruti Naithani | ThePrint
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Nearly seven years ago, I wrote this National Interest under the headline: “Do Muslims matter for Modi-Shah BJP, or India?” This is an important time to raise that question again.
On the evidence of the latest state elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam where Muslims constitute upwards of 30 percent of the electorate, the issue remains the same, if more compounded. The answers are more vexed. And politically, the conclusion would be, Muslims today matter even less to the Modi-Shah BJP than they did in 2019.
In West Bengal and Assam the BJP won two-thirds of the seats this time without fielding even one Muslim. Conversely, of the 24 opposition candidates who won in Assam, 22 are Muslim. This includes 18 out of the Congress tally of 19.
In West Bengal 40 of the 293 newly elected MLAs are Muslim. Of these, 34 are from TMC, about 45 percent of the party’s tally of 80. In effect then, in the two states (J&K isn’t a state) where Muslims have their largest population, they’re out of the power structure, cleansed out, and effectively forming the only opposition to the BJP. Irony or paradox, their leaders are still Hindus. And they’re all the losers in the fight with the BJP.
These elections mark the completion of the BJP-secular party divide purely on Hindu-Muslim basis. In Kerala, for example, of the UDF’s 102 newly elected MLAs 30 are Muslims and 29 Christians. The secular relief at knowing that the Muslims having their place at least in the Kerala sun needs to be tempered by the realisation that the BJP will now exploit this as evidence of minority rule, work on the Hindu vote and divide the Kerala Christians.
Nationally, this Lok Sabha, the 18th, has 24 Muslim MPs, or a mere 4.42 percent, while the community’s proportion in the national electorate is more than 15 percent. In the 16th and 17th Lok Sabha, there were 22 and 27 Muslim MPs, respectively. This, however, isn’t as big a surprise as it might seem from a first reading. Except 1980 and 1984 when Muslims won 49 and 45 seats, accounting for 9 and 8.3 percent, respectively, the percentage of Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha has stayed around the 5-percent mark. But they were always represented significantly in the Union Cabinet—even Vajpayee had Sikander Bakht.
They were present in significant constitutional positions like President, Vice President, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, and occasional heads of armed forces and intelligence agencies. Today, there’s none. There’s no Muslim chief minister; J&K is a Union Territory. There’s one Muslim Governor, in Bihar, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain. Among the nearly 100-strong list of central government secretaries, Kamran Rizvi (Heavy Industries) is the only Muslim. Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah is the only Muslim among the 32 Supreme Court judges today. The last Muslim CJI, Justice A.M. Ahmadi, retired on 24 March, 1997.
While on the one hand this list would give the impression of marginalisation of Indian Muslims, it needs qualification. More Muslims are entering the key professions: medicine, law, academia, science, software, banking, and of course entertainment and news media. The civil services and armed forces (including officers’ academies) are seeing Muslim selections rise. The qualification, therefore, has to be that this loss of representation is specific to politics.
The headline of that first column on the same theme in 2019 was drawn from a 1999 conversation with then BJP leader, intellectual/ideological spokesperson, and former Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Punj. He was also briefly my colleague at the Indian Express Group where he wrote for The Financial Express. Punj passed away last month.
He was furious after the second Vajpayee government lost its majority in Lok Sabha by one vote in 1999, after the 13-day government in 1996.
He was frustrated because no party that counted on the Muslim vote was willing to accept the BJP. This was the veto the Muslims had on who would rule India, and who wouldn’t. The Modi-Shah era has changed all of that.
These facts lead to three important outcomes:
● BJP’s rivals, or the so-called secular parties, are increasingly looking like ‘Muslim’ parties though their leaders are all Hindus. This is exactly where the BJP would want its opposition to be. A Hindu versus the rest equation is 80:20 in their favour. And they will keep working on the Christians in chosen geographies.
They’ve already conquered Goa and Kerala is a work in progress. The BJP has patience and time. In the Northeast they’ve built a comfortable compact with the Christian tribes. In none of these states has the BJP demanded a beef ban. That’s why Asaduddin Owaisi mocks their hypocrisy by taunting them with “UP mein gai mummy, Goa mein gai yummy”.
(In Uttar Pradesh the cow is mother, in Goa it’s yummy)
Some ‘secular’ parties, which still count on the Muslim vote, have become wary of even seeming to be speaking for them. Like the previous AAP government in Delhi during Shaheen Bagh protests and the communal riots that followed. The fear of being seen as ‘pro-Muslim’ kept them away.
● This puts the burden of saving Indian secularism squarely on the backs of Muslims. This is onerous, unrealistic and unfair. It’s the logic of Partition that the Muslim community is scattered and doesn’t have majorities in significant electoral geographies.
Today they’re being persuaded to vote for the candidate most likely to defeat the BJP merely on the hope that it might protect them physically. This is hopelessly minimalistic in a robust secular democracy. As the Sachar Committee showed, it’s done nothing for them. In fact, the report became Mamata Banerjee’s rallying call because it showed how miserably the Muslims had done under the Left in West Bengal. It’s for the ‘secular’ parties to build large enough coalitions with the Hindus to reach winning vote shares. In the past, the Hindi heartland parties did so by dividing the Hindus among castes and signing up large enough caste groups. That fortress has now been breached by Modi and Shah. Who has any new ideas here? Certainly, this Congress looks far from it. It has the bewildered look of a confused hare on a highway, frozen in the headlights of an onrushing truck.
● Owaisi has floated another idea. The Muslims form their own parties, choose their own leaders. This is unsustainable because all of India isn’t old Hyderabad. If Muslims float their own parties, they’ll be the BJP’s biggest force-multipliers. The remarkable fact is, after Jinnah, Indian Muslims have never trusted a Muslim as their leader. They’ve counted on Hindu leaders, from the Nehru-Gandhi family to the Yadavs of UP and Bihar, Mamata Banerjee, and the Left where it matters. Did it work for them? Not perfectly. But they were never as out of of the power structure as now.
India’s Muslims, Hindus, and secularists all need to think afresh. The fear of being an outnumbered minority goes back to the era of Sir Syed Ahmed and ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan. Who it benefited or didn’t is a debate for another day.
It’s odd to put them in one category but just for our understanding, think Pakistan and Israel. One is an Islamic Republic and the other a Zionist one. Both have proportionate representation and though it works differently, it guarantees some seats for the minorities. A little bit of ‘jitni aabaadi, utna haq’.
(to each according to their absolute numbers)
India, a secular Republic, follows the first-past-the-post system and to expect any proportionality in elected representation is unrealistic. But, there’s a gap and an imbalance.
The only way of addressing it is for another enlightened leadership to rise and build a new coalition with a large enough section of the Hindus. Indian Hindus chose constitutional secularism and the responsibility of preserving it lies with them. Any credible challenger of the BJP will need to build trust with them.
Source: theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://theprint.in/national-interest/india-muslims-modi-shah-bjp-congress-secularism/2926251/
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UN experts condemn Israel’s interception of Gaza aid flotilla, demand activists’ release
May 08, 2026
Protesters hold flares with the colours of the Palestinian flag, during a demonstration calling for the release of Saif Abu Keshek and Brazilian Thiago Avila, who were detained aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Greece, while an Israeli court extended their detention until May 10, in Athens, Greece, May 5, 2026. (Reuters)
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LONDON: A group of UN experts on Friday condemned Israel’s interception of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza and called for the immediate release of activists detained during the operation in international waters.
The condemnation came via a statement signed by several UN special rapporteurs and independent experts, including Francesca Albanese, Reem Al-Salem and George Katrougalos.
The experts said Israeli forces intercepted 22 boats carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip on April 29, about 500 nautical miles off Israel’s coast, detaining 180 civilians taking part in what they described as a peaceful humanitarian mission.
“We are seriously concerned over the capture in international waters and reported severe mistreatment of these activists,” the experts said in a statement.
They accused Israel of violating international law and said the operation demonstrated a determination “to continue its genocidal policy of suffocating the population of Gaza by any means necessary.”
According to the statement, one vessel in the flotilla was sabotaged and left adrift with passengers on board, while those detained were later released in Crete.
At least 35 people reported severe mistreatment and sexual assault that the experts said could amount to torture or inhumane and degrading treatment.
The experts also said Thiago Avila, a Brazilian national, and Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish-Swedish national, had been transferred to Israel and remained in detention under harsh conditions, including reported isolation.
“They have begun a hunger strike in protest,” the statement said, adding that their detention was unlawful both because of the circumstances of their apprehension and the charges brought against them.
The experts criticized what they described as the failure of the Greek coastguard to respond to repeated distress calls from the flotilla despite the vessels being within Greece’s search and rescue zone.
“The apparent ease with which Israel carried out these actions raises alarm about the possible complicity of European governments,” they said.
The statement also highlighted the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the experts said Israel, as a party to the Fourth Geneva Convention, was obligated to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries.
“The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is unlawful,” the experts said.
They urged governments to condemn attacks against civilian vessels, secure the release of those detained and ensure reparations for violations of international law.
“When the international community failed to ensure the delivery of humanitarian supplies, global civil society has taken action,” the experts said.
“States should take necessary action to prevent genocide and to support all efforts to deliver aid to the Palestinian population,” they added.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2642837/middle-east
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Saudi FM discusses regional crisis in phone calls with Egyptian and Russian counterparts
May 08, 2026
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the ongoing regional crisis in phone calls with Egyptian and Russian counterparts. (SPA)
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RIYADH: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone with his counterpart from Egypt Badr Abdelatty on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, they discussed the latest developments in the region and the continuation of Saudi-Egyptian coordination and consultation on this matter, SPA added.
Later on Friday, Prince Faisal also spoke on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which they discussed regional developments and their security and economic implications.
The two ministers also reviewed joint efforts aimed at maintaining stability in the region, according to the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2642824/saudi-arabia
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Scottish Reform candidate who backed deporting all Muslims elected MSP
May 09, 2026
Senga Beresford was elected as a Reform UK MSP for South Scotland (Image: Reform UK)
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A REFORM UK candidate who supported deporting all Muslim people from the UK has been elected an MSP.
Senga Beresford, who has also expressed support for the far-right agitator Tommy Robinson, was elected on the South Scotland regional list.
In 2024, Ashlea Simon, the deputy leader of the far-right Britain First group wrote online: "In the UK Muslims are demanding that sharia law is implemented. I demand that we deport the lot of them. Who’s with me?"
Beresford replied: "Me."
The new Reform MSP's posts additionally included her saying "yes" to a message which read: "Was Enoch Powell RIGHT? Please Retweet.... YES or NO?"
Asked about Beresford during the campaign, Malcolm Offord – the Reform UK Scottish leader who was elected an MSP on the West Scotland list – said it was “done in a former life before she was a member of Reform”.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who is a Muslim, described her as “poisonous” and urged Reform UK national leader Nigel Farage to sack her, but no action was taken.
Offord urged people to “grow up” and “not take offence at every moment in time”.
He added: “As long as they have not done anything criminal, they’re allowed to express their opinion.
“We’re not stopping people from standing for Reform UK just because they might have said something fruity in the past.”
He further said they came before she was a member of Reform UK, "but you know what, we move on. She’s a good person, she’ll be a first-class MSP".
Reform UK failed to win a constituency race in the Holyrood elections – the only one of the six biggest Scottish political parties to do so. Instead, their representation is coming from the regional list.
In South Scotland, where Beresford was elected, Jamie Langan and David Kirkwood also became Reform MSPs.
Elsewhere on that list, Labour returned two MSPs, Carol Mochan and Joe Fagan, the Greens returned one, Laura Moodie, and the LibDems one, Duncan Dunlop.
Source: thenational.scot
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https://www.thenational.scot/news/26092010.scottish-reform-uk-msp-backed-deporting-muslims-elected/
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CAIR-SD Condemns Islamophobic Jewish Heritage Month Display at UCSD
May 8, 2026
The San Diego and Imperial Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SD) today condemned an Islamophobic display on UCSD’s campus during Jewish Heritage Month.
Multiple UCSD students expressed concern to CAIR-SD about the display located at UCSD’s Price Center. Intended to represent the 30,961 lives “impacted as a result of radical Islamic terrorism and war,” the number appears to reference data published by Israel’s Ministry of Defense and National Insurance Institute in anticipation of the Jewish holiday Yom HaZikaron.
In a statement, CAIR-SD Executive Director Tazheen Nizam condemned the display’s Islamophobic rhetoric:
“While we unequivocably mourn the loss of all innocent life and reject antisemitism, framing a political conflict by equating Islam with terrorism and violence is profoundly harmful. Phrases such as ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ do not simply reference acts of violence but instead connect an entire religion and its followers to those acts.
“Islam is practiced by some two billion people around the world, and language that links religious identity to violence contributes to harmful stereotypes about Muslim students and communities. Religion is also a protected characteristic, making rhetoric such as this especially concerning on a university campus. Universities should be spaces where all students feel respected and supported, especially during conversations surrounding difficult and sensitive topics.
“It is also historically inaccurate to label every Israeli soldier death since 1948 as “radical Islamic terrorism.” The conflict long predates recent events and has involved wars, occupation, displacement, and political struggle across generations.
“We demand that UCSD remove this display and take meaningful steps to protect its Muslim students from rhetoric that perpetuates harmful stereotypes about their faith and identity.”
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-sd-condemns-islamophobic-jewish-heritage-month-display-at-ucsd/
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36 Soldiers, Policemen Feared Killed In Yobe Boko Haram Attacks
May 9, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
At least 36 soldiers and mobile police officers were reportedly killed after Boko Haram insurgents launched coordinated attacks on two military formations in the Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Naija News reports that the attacks were said to have occurred around 1 am on Friday and targeted the Theatre Training Centre in Buniyadi and the 27 Task Force Brigade in Buni Gari.
Gujba is the hometown of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni.
Soldiers who survived the attacks told SaharaReporters that the insurgents stormed both camps almost simultaneously, forcing troops into gun battles that lasted several hours.
One of the soldiers said the attackers overwhelmed parts of the formations during the midnight assault.
He said, “My camp was attacked by Boko Haram. In 27TF BDE Buni Gari, three soldiers were killed in action, and the attack started by 1:00 a.m. The Boko Haram were attacking us and at the same time attacking our neighbouring camp.
“This is in Gujba Local Government in Yobe State, at Governor Mai Mala Buni’s hometown. The names of the two camps attacked are Theatre Training Centre Buniyadi and 27 Task Force Brigade Buni Gari.”
Another soldier confirmed the attack, saying the two formations were hit around the same time.
He said, “Good evening, bro. So yeah, last night was bloody. The attack happened in two locations near our neighbouring camp, which was the NSF. So we were in Bunigari, which is the governor’s town. The other camp is in Buniyadi. The two camps are very close.
“So, unfortunately, we started hearing that Boko Haram was attacking Buniyadi last night around one o’clock a.m. They started attacking them. We were preparing to go and reinforce them. Before you know it, we started hearing gunshots in our own camp too.
“So we could not go and get involved with the Buniyadi camp. Those in Buniyadi are the ones in charge of training soldiers coming to the Northeast with the police. Those are the MOPOLs. They are meant for training those people. But we are not training anybody. We are in Gujba Local Government, which is the governor’s town.”
Training Centre Records More Casualties
The soldier said three soldiers were killed at the 27 Task Force Brigade, while the Theatre Training Centre recorded a higher casualty figure.
He added, “But in our 27 Task Force Brigade, we lost three soldiers. There are casualties at the training centre too.
“Information sharing on the platform shows that the training centre has more casualties. Thirty-three people were killed: 17 mobile police officers that came for training were killed in action, 10 soldiers that came for training were killed in action, while six soldiers permanently deployed there were also killed in action. Yesterday was bloody, bro.”
Based on information from military sources, the total casualty figure from both attacks currently stands at 36.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/09/36-soldiers-policemen-feared-killed/
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Indonesian Ministry highlights need to strengthen sharia health services
May 8, 2026
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Health Dante Saksono Harbuwono highlighted the need to strengthen sharia compliant healthcare services that are medically superior and capable of meeting the spiritual needs of the Indonesian people.
He believes that spiritual values are an inseparable part of Indonesian society including within the national healthcare system.
This approach is in line with the first principle of Pancasila, belief in the One Almighty God, which reflects the identity of Indonesia as a religious nation.
"When someone is sick, what do they need most besides medicine and medical treatment? The answer is a sense of calm, a sense of respect, and the assurance that they are being cared for in line with their values," said the deputy minister on Friday.
"For Indonesians, this is not just an added convenience, but a fundamental spiritual need," he added.
With a Muslim population reaching 87 percent, Indonesia has great potential to become a leading destination for halal healthcare services for both domestic and international patients.
"This potential demands our readiness to provide holistic sharia health care services," he said.
He stated that sharia hospitals exist not only to prioritize medical and technological aspects, but also to provide holistic, humane, and equitable services as part of the transformation of the national health system.
The deputy minister also praised the development of sharia compliant hospitals and noted that 24 facilities have received sharia certification across Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan.
"This achievement demonstrates our real commitment to integrating religious principles into every aspect of health care," he said.
Besides strengthening hospitals he highlighted the importance of supporting the halal product ecosystem where approximately 44,000 pharmaceutical products will be halal certified by 2026.
The Ministry of Health continues to strengthen collaboration with the Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH), the National Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance (KNEKS), as well as the pharmaceutical industry to support these achievements.
He stated that the 6th International Islamic Health care Conference and Expo, organized by the Indonesian Islamic Health Care Council (MUKISI), with the theme "From Certification to Collaboration," is an important momentum to strengthen cross-sector synergy in building a national sharia health care ecosystem.
"Certification is the foundation, but collaboration is the driving force. We need an integrated ecosystem from upstream to downstream to make Indonesia a global hub for halal health tourism, both medically superior and spiritually soothing," he said.
The Deputy Minister of Health hopes the forum will produce concrete commitments that can be immediately implemented to support the achievement of a more holistic, inclusive, and dignified Indonesian health system.
On the same occasion, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Sharia Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI) KH Cholil Nafis emphasized sharia certification in the health sector is universal and can be applied in all hospitals, both government and private.
"We have conveyed to the Minister of Health that this sharia certification is not only intended for Islamic hospitals, but is also open to both government and private hospitals," he said.
He noted that Islamic hospitals have provided service standards based on Islamic values such as cleanliness and an Islamic financial system that benefits the entire community.
He stated that all aspects of healthcare services need to meet halal principles including medicines and medical devices as well as injection materials.
In addition he concluded that health services must always prioritize patient comfort and peace of mind.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://en.antaranews.com/news/415117/ministry-highlights-need-to-strengthen-sharia-health-services
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Rising pressure in Iran drives growing migrant returns to Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
May 8, 2026
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says worsening economic conditions, tighter migration policies and growing hardship in Iran are driving an increase in Afghan migrant returns.
In a recent report, the agency highlighted the case of two Afghan siblings, Zainab and Ali, who returned to Afghanistan after spending their entire lives in Iran.
The IOM said the siblings faced growing difficulties after their father died in a workplace accident, leaving their residency status unresolved and forcing them to abandon school and work to survive.
After traveling for nearly 10 days, the two entered Afghanistan through the Islam Qala border crossing and received food, medical care and psychological support from the IOM.
The organization said many Afghan returnees continue to face unemployment, housing shortages and uncertain futures after arriving back in Afghanistan.
Iran and Pakistan have both increased pressure on undocumented Afghan migrants in recent years, leading to large-scale returns amid Afghanistan’s worsening humanitarian and economic crisis.
Aid agencies warn that Afghanistan’s fragile economy and limited humanitarian resources are struggling to absorb the growing number of returning migrants and refugees.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/rising-pressure-in-iran-drives-growing-migrant-returns-to-afghanistan/
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India
‘Waning Crescent’: A biography of the journey of Islam from divine faith to ideological system
Saleem Rashid Shah
09 May, 2026
Mir Taqi Mir and Mirza Ghalib were the two most prominent Urdu poets of 18th-century Mughal India. Apart from being contemporaries with a fair amount of envy for each other’s poetic repertoire, they also held each other in great esteem. Revered as Mir was as Khuda-e-Sukhan (God of Poetry), Ghalib went a step further and praised him in the following couplet:
Reekhta ke tum hi ustad nahin ho Ghalib
Kehte hain agle zamane men koi mir bhi tha
You are not the only master of Rekhta, Ghalib
They say there used to be a Mir in the past
Faisal Devji, much like Mirza Ghalib, reverentially starts his new book Waning Crescent: The Rise and Fall of Global Islam with an interesting couplet by Mir Taqi Mir:
Mir ke din-o-mazhab ko ab puchhte kya ho unne to
Qashqa Khincha, dayr men baytha, kab ka tarq islam kiya
Why do you ask Mir about his religion and school?
He’s daubed saffron on his forehead and is sitting in a temple
Having long abandoned Islam.
What makes this couplet interesting is the context in which it was written. The Mughal Empire, though on its last legs, was still alive. Muslims living in the subcontinent barely felt any anxiety about their political relevance, or for that matter, any concern regarding their downfall. What is even more curious about this couplet is the treatment of the word “Islam”. Islam at this point in time, and particularly in Mir’s couplet, meant something completely different from what it means today.
What’s in a name?
It is this novel treatment of the word “Islam” that Faisal Devji explores in great detail in Waning Crescent. It also ends up as the subject of the fundamental premise of the book. “Islam was a rare word,” writes Devji, “with a largely negative meaning in the poetic canon of 18th-century India. That is because in Mir’s time it had not yet become the only or even the most important name by which Muslims could be identified.”
Islam at that point in time was at best understood as a set of ritualistic practices rather than a political entity or a civilisation that needed to be saved or resurrected. Mir’s treatment of “Islam” was personal, and did not imply any threat to Islam or to the collective life of Muslims. This distinction is particularly interesting, as it reminds the reader of how unburdened religious vocabulary once was before it became entangled with the identity politics and communal anxieties that shape much of our discourse today.
Sometime around the middle of the 19th century, when most of the Muslim empires in the world were endangered, another Indian poet, Altaf Hussain Hali, in his epic Madd-o-Jazr-e-Islam (The Flow and Ebb of Islam), turned Mir’s interpretation of the word “Islam” on its head. In Hali’s epic, Islam represented a broader idea than just a religion with a set of ritualistic practices. His understanding surpassed all traditional definitions of Islam, which thought of it merely as a theological idea or a conception of law.
Hali dealt with Islam historically, and personified it as an actor in its own right, with the agency to act in shaping the world. It is this vision of Islam, argues Devji, that has come to define and even dominate its modern history. This shift from Mir’s intimate and personal vocabulary of faith to Hali’s civilisational imagination reflects the anxieties of a world in transition where religion has gone on to become more of a question of collective destiny rather than merely a personal belief.
Over the course of the 19th century, Islam was gradually transformed from a set of ritual practices into a comprehensive structure, almost like a system that claimed to act in the world as civilisations did in the nineteenth century and ideologies would in the 20th. During this time, Islam faced the possibility of the downfall of its political empires, but not necessarily of its spiritual expanse.
From this point onwards, it’s this anxiety about the end of Islam end that has marked its influential presence in modern history. To be a Muslim now was to act in a way so as to prevent Islam’s demise and stand as a bulwark against all the projects of reform that put its existence in doubt. According to this conception of Islam, all endeavours spearheaded by the West, which led to the globalisation and progress of the world, acted against the interests of Islam. Devji’s insight here is particularly striking: once Islam was imagined as a historical actor, it lost something of its purely theological character and began to resemble a mortal entity with a finite life. In such a conception, the end of Islam no longer required an apocalypse – history itself could bring it about.
Islam today
But is that really the case? Do all Muslims around the world think of Islam only in historical terms and not in theological ones, as Devji argues? Do not most of the Muslims even today adhere to the five pillars of Islam religiously, which are in fact entirely spiritual in nature? It is this argument that Devji fails to address in his book. The section of Muslims which is not exposed to the global transitions that Islam has gone through, particularly the ones that Devji talks about, are the Muslims for whom Islam is still primarily a theological construct. For them, Hajj or even Namaz are religious practices, and they still believe in the religious definition of the apocalypse.
In the conclusion to his book, Devji attempts to explain the end of Islam as a subject of global concern, with most of the mobilisation in the Muslim world no longer simply having to do with the protection of faith. In the recent women-led protests in Iran after the killing of Mahsa Amini or the student-led demonstrations in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, there was a notable absence of Islam in public conversations. They often bypassed religious or cultural moorings. The world witnessed the end of the possibility of deploying Islam as a historical, political or even a religious subject of protest. We may be looking at the disappearance of Islam as an agent of history.
In this thoroughly argued book, Devji throws ample light on the changes in the Islamic world and the ways in which Muslims around the world have reacted to these changes. This book is, in a sense, a biography of Islam that traces its journey from being a faith concerned with the scripture or the divine to becoming an ideological system. But this construction, argues Devji, has lost support among Muslims around the world. In fact, movements based on modern ideas of democracy, nationalism or even populism have not percolated deeply in the Muslim world.
This peculiar ambiguity of breaking ties with the old norms and yet being hesitant to accept the new has located the politics of the Islamic world at a crucial juncture. It now faces a vacuum, and is undergoing a churning that might set it on an entirely different trajectory.
Source: scroll.in
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SIT files charge-sheet against man accused of bid on Farooq Abdullah’s life
May 8, 2026
JAMMU: The SIT Friday filed charge-sheet against the man accused of attempt to assassinate former J&K CM National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah during a wedding ceremony in Jammu on March 11 this year.
The accused, Kamal Singh Jamwal, 63, is a Jammu resident.
The seven-member SIT was constituted on March 14, days after the abortive bid on Abdullah’s life.
According to the charge-sheet, as Abdullah was leaving the function at in Greater Kailash area, Jamwal allegedly fired at him from a revolver, which was seized soon after.
The SIT probe revealed the accused had allegedly developed deep resentment against Abdullah and blamed him for issues relating to Kashmiri migrants and their properties.
Citing the accused’s conduct, material seized and collected during the probe, the SIT has alleged the man had come to the venue with a “pre-meditated mind and a specific intention to target Abdullah”.
Jamwal is currently lodged in District Jail in Jammu.
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AIMIM corporator sheltered absconding TCS accused Nida Khan, claim police in Nashik conversion probe
09 May 2026
NASHIK: Nida Khan, an absconding TCS employee accused in a case of alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment at the company's Nashik unit, was arrested in central Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with police claiming that a local AIMIM corporator had provided her shelter.
Following her arrest on Thursday, she was produced before the Nashik Road sessions court on Friday. The court remanded her in police custody till May 11.
After her name figured in a First Information Report registered at Deolali Camp police station, Khan (27) had moved the sessions court last month seeking anticipatory bail, pleading innocence and citing her three months pregnancy. Rejecting the plea on May 2, the court had said there seemed to be a "systematic plan" of brainwashing the victim.
Reacting to the development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it was clear that an AIMIM corporator had a role to play in sheltering Nida Khan.
"We will find out who was behind it. We will also find out whether they are involved in the conversion racket, encouraging it," Fadnavis told reporters.
Khan was produced before Additional Sessions Judge K G Joshi on Friday with the police seeking her custody for seven days. District Government Prosecutor A S Misar said there was an attempt to convert one of the victims who was given a burqa and given training for offering Namaz.
Khan had visited the victim's house and engaged in "activities related to Namaz and burqa," the prosecution claimed.
A detailed probe was being conducted into Instagram, YouTube links and reels that were repeatedly sent to the victim, said Misar.
As per the probe, the victim's name was to be changed to 'Haniya' and she was to be sent to Malaysia. Links to an alleged conversion racket at Malegaon in Nashik district also surfaced during the investigation, the prosecution said, adding that all these aspects needed a thorough probe and Khan's custodial interrogation.
Earlier, talking about Khan's arrest, Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik said that a crime branch team from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, led by the city's police chief Pravin Pawar, had been tracking her movements for the past few days.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police is probing nine cases of alleged molestation and harassment at TCS's local unit. It had earlier arrested eight persons, including a woman operations manager, by registering nine FIRs after allegations of exploitation, attempt of forceful conversion to Islam, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of women employees surfaced.
Nida Khan was accused of targeting employees in a WhatsApp group, pressuring them to pray and eat non-vegetarian food. She allegedly advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Khan has also been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant in her case belongs to a Scheduled Caste.
According to police, local All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) corporator Matin Patel harbouned Khan and her family in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for the past few days.
Sustained questioning of Patel led to Khan's arrest, and he was named as an accused in the case for allegedly providing shelter to Khan who was apprehended from Naregaon area, police said.
Her father Ejaj Bashir (52), mother Nilofar Ejaj (44), brother Mohammad Ejaj (20), and aunt Noorjehan Sheikh Ali (44), were also with her, officials said.
After the case came to light, TCS asserted that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office have been suspended.
Meanwhile, Nida Khan's arrest triggered a war of words between Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat and AIMIM leader and former MP Imtiaz Jaleel.
Shirsat, who belongs to the Shiv Sena, said the police should investigate if AIMIM and Jaleel had any links to the TCS case. Jaleel hit back, asking why the minister was acting as if he was the police and the court.
Shirsat, who is the guardian minister of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, alleged that Jaleel had earlier openly supported Khan and made statements in her favour.
The AIMIM leader, on his part, said that Nida Khan was being treated as if she had killed many people.
"If the police have filed an FIR, they will act according to law. I will ask the police authorities about this and also my people. I will cooperate with them," he said, while claiming that Khan was a victim of a media trial.
State BJP minister Nitesh Rane dubbed the AIMIM a "terrorist organisation".
Against the backdrop of the TCS case, the Maharashtra government on Friday directed strict implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act to safeguard women at workplaces.
All government and private establishments employing 10 or more persons must set up Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and register them on the Centre's She-Box portal, said an official release.
The directions were being issued following a "serious incident reported at a reputed multinational company in Nashik", the release said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Infiltration, cattle smuggling will become impossible in Bengal under BJP govt: Amit Shah
08 May 2026
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said infiltration and cattle smuggling would become “impossible” in West Bengal after the BJP elected Suvendu Adhikari as the leader of its legislature party and the party’s chief ministerial face.
Addressing the BJP legislature party meeting in Kolkata, Shah described the party’s sweeping victory in the Assembly elections as more than just an organisational expansion or ideological endorsement.
He said the mandate reflected the people’s desire for stronger national security and the restoration of democratic values in the state.
“This victory is not about the expansion of our organisation or validation of ideology, but about fixing the biggest hole in the country’s national security….Now infiltration and cow smuggling will become impossible in West Bengal,” he asserted.
Launching a sharp attack on the outgoing TMC regime, Shah alleged that during Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule, “politicisation of the administration and criminalisation of politics” had taken place in the state.
“During the BJP’s rule, neither administration will be politicised, nor politics will be criminalised,” he said.
Shah formally declared Adhikari as the BJP legislature party leader after what he described as a unanimous endorsement by the newly elected MLAs in West Bengal.
“The process of electing the legislature party leader has been completed. Eight proposals were received and all of them had only one name. Adequate time was given for a second name, but no other name was proposed. Therefore, I announce Suvendu Adhikari as the chief minister of West Bengal,” Shah said.
Adhikari’s elevation paves the way for the formation of the first BJP government in West Bengal after the party’s emphatic victory in the assembly elections, ending the TMC’s 15-year rule.
Shah thanked the people of Bengal for backing the BJP despite what he alleged was an atmosphere of fear and political violence prevailing in the state for decades.
“I want to express my gratitude to the people of Bengal. The atmosphere that had been created here since the Communist era was further intensified under Mamata ji’s rule. In such conditions, expressing one’s vote had become almost impossible,” he said.
“Despite hundreds of instances of violence and brutality, the people of Bengal placed their trust in the Bharatiya Janata Party and our leader Narendra Modi and gave us a massive victory,” he added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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No bail for PFI leader’s Haj farewell as Delhi High Court prioritises security over religious grounds
Vineet Upadhyay
May 8, 2026
Delhi High Court news: Alleged Popular Front of India (PFI) leader Anis Ahmed’s plea to briefly reunite with his family before their Haj pilgrimage found little favour with the Delhi High Court, which refused interim bail to the accused, holding that the security risks flagged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) outweighed the religious and emotional grounds he cited.
A bench of Justices Pratibha M Singh and Madhu Jain was hearing an appeal filed by Ahmed under Section 21(4) of the NIA Act, 2008, challenging a March 27, 2026, order passed by a Patiala House Court rejecting his plea for interim bail in an NIA case registered in 2022.
Justices Pratibha M Singh and Madhu Jain Delhi High Court While hearing the matter, Justices Pratibha M Singh and Madhu Jain noted the Kerala High Court’s observations regarding the PFI and the consequences of action taken against its leadership.
“While there can be no doubt that the ‘Haj Pilgrimage’ is a religious pilgrimage which is of immense importance and is a very pious trip for those who are undertaking it, the mere travel of family members for the ‘Haj Pilgrimage’ and for the Appellant to meet them is not sufficient ground to release the Appellant on interim bail,” the Delhi High Court said on May 5.
“Moreover, grant of interim bail entails the travel of the Appellant from Delhi to Bangalore, which could also result in security threat at the airports etc,” the bench added.
Bail plea based on Haj customs
Ahmed had sought six days’ interim bail on the ground that his mother and immediate family members were travelling for Haj pilgrimage and that it was customary in his community for relatives to meet and seek blessings before the journey.
Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat, appearing for Ahmed, argued that the request was limited, humanitarian and rooted in religious and cultural practice. He submitted that Haj ceremonies carried deep significance and that family members ordinarily gathered to bid farewell to pilgrims before departure.
The NIA opposed the plea, contending that Ahmed was a senior functionary of the banned organisation PFI and had played a key role in the organisation’s operations at the national level. The agency argued that his release, even temporarily, could allow him to interact with large sections of the community and potentially create security and law-and-order concerns.
Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi also argued that the accused could create “disturbances and disharmony” if released on interim bail.
Court examines allegations in chargesheet
The Delhi High Court referred in detail to the allegations contained in the NIA chargesheet dated March 18, 2023.
According to the prosecution, Ahmed had been associated with the PFI since 2012 and served as a member of its National Executive Council as well as secretary and general secretary of the organisation.
The chargesheet alleged that he oversaw administrative work at the national level and participated in activities aimed at radicalising Muslim youth and creating communal divisions.
The NIA further alleged that Ahmed visited alleged “terror camps” in Karnataka and other parts of the country, reviewed weapons training activities and motivated participants to build a “PFI army” and wage war against the Government of India with the objective of establishing an Islamic Caliphate by 2047.
The agency also accused him of participating in meetings at the organisation’s Shaheen Bagh office in Delhi relating to recruitment, weapons training and financing of alleged unlawful activities.
Ahmed’s counsel disputed the allegations and argued before the Delhi High Court that the accusations in the chargesheet were false.
Farasat also contended that the weapons referred to by the agency were merely “self-defence weapons.”
Security concerns outweigh humanitarian grounds
The Delhi High Court, however, found merit in the apprehensions raised by the NIA.
It said Ahmed’s alleged role in the banned organisation and the possibility of public interaction during the pilgrimage-related gatherings raised serious concerns that could not be overlooked at this stage.
Considering the allegations against Ahmed and the position he allegedly held within the organisation, releasing him on interim bail could pose security concerns, especially as the relief sought would involve travel from Delhi to Bengaluru and movement through public places, including airports, the Delhi High Court observed.
The court also referred to its earlier judgment in O M A Salam vs National Investigation Agency, where the activities of the PFI and the disturbances allegedly caused after arrests of its members had been discussed.
It additionally noted observations made by the Kerala High Court regarding the organisation and the consequences of action taken against its leadership.
‘No opinion on merits’
Dismissing the appeal, the Delhi High Court clarified that it had not examined the merits of the criminal allegations levelled against Ahmed and that its observations were confined to the issue of interim bail under Section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
“Considering the role of the Appellant as set out in the charge-sheet, and the role of the Appellant in the PFI organisation, this Court is not inclined to release the Appellant on interim bail,” the Delhi High Court held.
Source: indianexpress.com
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“Why do you need police protection to get married?”: Gujarat HC to state in interfaith couple matter
Aditi Raja
May 9, 2026
A day after right-wing groups allegedly disrupted the marriage registration of a Hindu woman and a Muslim man in Ahmedabad despite Gujarat High Court directions to facilitate the process under the Special Marriage Act, the High Court on Friday questioned the State as to why “two adults” required police protection to get married.
Hours later, after the Public Prosecutor assured the bench that instructions had been conveyed to senior police officers of DCP rank, the young couple walked into the marriage registrar’s office under police protection and solemnised their marriage — completing the process that was stalled just a day earlier due to protests.
On the morning of May 7, the marriage registration office in Ahmedabad witnessed dramatic scenes. As word spread that a young Hindu-Muslim couple would appear there to register their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, despite objections from the woman’s parents, alleged members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged protests on the office premises. Police scrambled to manage the situation. And when the dust settled, the marriage registrar postponed the registration, citing the need for police protection. The couple, who had come not only to exercise a constitutional right but also to comply with the High Court directions issued in March, had left empty-handed.
On Friday, a Special Division Bench of Justice NSS Gowda and Justice DM Vyas did not mince words as they questioned the “helplessness” of the authorities empowered by law in the matter. In open court, Justice Gowda verbally said, “It’s going to get worse, I think… Do you need police protection for this? I don’t seem to understand– why do you need police protection to get married? They are two adults.”
What court said
The court expressed its displeasure at the delay and stated that it had already spent considerable time satisfying itself while hearing the original habeas corpus plea filed by the man in March that the woman was acting of her own free will and was under no illegal confinement.
The bench orally said, “This is the reason why we didn’t close the matter… there must be a better behaviour than this. We spent a lot of our time to satisfy that there is nothing… you are holding the court to ransom. We did not want do anything that is harsh on anybody. We understand the pain of the parents but they have certain rights… it cannot be disregarded. You may feel that it is immoral…”
The court sent out a stern warning that it had only two choices in the matter– to either summon the Principal Secretary personally or to pass orders that would ‘deem the marriage registered’. Public Prosecutor Hardik Dave assured the court that direct instructions would be conveyed to senior officers of the Ahmedabad police to ensure the compliance and registration of marriage on Friday.
On Friday evening, under police protection, the couple’s marriage was solemnised at the marriage registrar’s office, officials told The Indian Express.
March 9 order
The High Court had on May 1 issued strict instructions to comply with its March 9 order, when it had directed the 22-year-old man and the 21-year-old woman to register their marriage under the Special Marriage Act.
The Indian Express had, on March 10, reported the Gujarat HC order in the case that had begun as a habeas corpus petition filed by the man seeking to be reunited with his live-in partner, who had been placed in a women’s protection home. The two had grown up in the same neighbourhood in a North Gujarat district, fallen into a relationship, and chose to build a life together. What followed was a courtroom journey of affidavits, financial safeguards and undertakings. The petitioner had given an undertaking and agreed to deposit Rs 3 lakh in the name of his partner, with the interest to be disbursed exclusively to her, as a guarantee of her financial security.
The Gujarat High Court, exercising both its protective and its facilitative jurisdiction, had directed authorities to process the couple’s marriage application and ensure it was solemnised within six weeks. On Friday, the court said orally, “We imposed certain security conditions, to satisfy that the girl’s life is not in jeopardy… We were satisfied.”
The court will now sign the final order in the matter next week, sources said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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2024 Haldwani violence: As Supreme Court cancels default bail of 2, a look at other accused and bail orders
Aiswarya Raj
May 9, 2026
More than two years after the demolition of a mosque and a madrasa in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, led to violence and the death of five people in clashes with police, two of the accused may be sent back to jail.
In sweeping arrests following the violence in February 2024, the authorities had picked up 89 people, including women. In August 2024, 50 of them were granted default bail by the Uttarakhand High Court, regretting the “sluggish” pace of the investigation and noting that the chargesheet had not been filed within the 90-day time limit.
In other instances, the court questioned the State’s inability to establish evidence of conspiracy.
Javed Siddiqui and Arshad Ayub, charged under the UAPA among other Sections, had got default bail, in January 2025, on the same grounds as the other accused. Accused of attempted murder, rioting, dacoity, criminal conspiracy, possession of firearms, and committing a terrorist act, the two contended before the High Court that the investigation into the case was incomplete, and chargesheets had not been filed within the 90-day period.
Giving them bail, the High Court said, “The right to life and liberty is one of the integral parts of the Constitution of India and it is the most sacred Fundamental Right. The custody of people in the name of various enactments and without adhering to the promptness of the investigation… cannot allow the appellants to remain under incarceration.”
On Wednesday, however, the Supreme Court set aside the default bail of Siddiqui and Ayub, and told them to surrender before the trial court within two weeks.
Following the Supreme Court order, the Uttarakhand Police claimed it had achieved “a significant breakthrough” in the cases. “During the incident, rioters launched life-threatening attacks on police personnel, administrative officials and municipal corporation employees. They also set fire to the police station, government vehicles and other public property, and carried out extensive vandalism,” police said.
D S Patni, who represented Siddiqui and Ayub in the High Court, said they would move for regular bail as well as “a 482 petition” against the three FIRs against Siddiqui and Ayub. A petition under Section 482 of the CrPC is filed to quash criminal proceedings.
“The High Court has granted regular bail to the other accused in the case, citing the lack of evidence for police claims,” Patni said.
Following the February 8, 2024, violence in Haldwani, three FIRs had been registered, with many of the accused charged under the UAPA. The alleged main “conspirators”, Abdul Malik and his son Moied, are out on bail.
Malik’s advocate Sanpreet Singh Ajmani – who also represents Moied and another accused, Raeez – told The Indian Express that Malik, who had been behind bars since February 2024, got bail “on merits” in April 2026, and not default bail like the others.
While the prosecution alleges that Malik and Moied were the “main conspirators” and a meeting was conducted at Malik’s house on January 31, 2024, a week before the Haldwani violence, Ajmani contended before the High Court that Malik was not even in Uttarakhand on February 8, 2024. “He was in Noida and Delhi. There is no direct evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy. The entire allegations against the appellant do not inspire confidence, and the possibility of false implication cannot be completely ruled out…” the advocate told the court.
Ajmani also argued that chargesheets had already been filed in the three FIRs. The court ruled in favour of bail for Malik, if he was not wanted in any other criminal case.
In Moied’s case, Ajmani pointed out that no specific role had been assigned to him regarding the crime. It was also argued that Moied was in Dehradun only to meet a friend at the Secretariat on the day of the incident, and was not initially named in two of the three FIRs against him.
In its order granting bail to Moied in November 2025, the High Court said: “… there is no direct evidence even of conspiracy against the applicant. The prosecution could not tell us as to who has named or identified the applicant. It is also in the mind of this Court (that) the applicant has already spent more than one year and eight months in custody in connection with the alleged FIR.”
In another case, against Abdul Rehman – who was accused of arson, rioting, and hurling petrol bombs at police, and was in custody since February 20, 2024 – the prosecution argued that criminal activities carried out by him fell within the definition of “terroristic attack” as these were meant to create terror.
Granting him bail, the High Court said Rehman had spent two years in jail, and that there was no direct evidence even of conspiracy against the applicant. “The prosecution could not tell us as to who has named or identified the applicant,” the High Court said on March 20, 2026.
Aiswarya Raj is a Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, covering Uttarakhand. She brings sound journalistic experience to her role, having started her career at the organisation as a sub-editor with the Delhi city team. She subsequently developed her reporting expertise by covering Gurugram and its neighbouring districts before transitioning to her current role as a resident correspondent in Dehradun. She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) and the University of Kerala. She has reported on the state politics, governance, environment and wildlife, and gender. Aiswarya has undertaken investigations using the Right to Information Act on law enforcement, public policy and procurement rules in Uttarakhand. She has also attempted narrative journalism on socio-economic matters affecting local communities. This specific, sustained focus on critical regional news provides the necessary foundation for high trustworthiness and authoritativeness on topics concerning Uttarakhand.... Read More
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Rajnath Singh urges armed forces to stay future ready after Operation Sindoor
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
09.05.26
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday called upon the military to remain future-ready to deal with any security challenges by drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor and other ongoing global conflicts.
He asked the top commanders of the armed forces to cultivate the “element of surprise” to remain unpredictable to the nation’s adversaries and secure a strategic edge in any given situation.
The four-day military conflict with Pakistan in May last year, Rajnath said, signalled India’s collective resolve and new military ethos, and the “short-duration, deep-penetration, high-intensity and high-impact operation” compelled Pakistan to surrender.
Addressing the Joint Commanders’ Conference in Jaipur, the day after the country marked the first anniversary of the operation, he said: “Operation Sindoor is a testament to the swift, precise and joint response of the Indian defence forces to safeguard national interests. The operation was a demonstration of India’s growing capabilities and a symbol of the nation’s collective resolve and new military ethos.”
The conference, themed “Military Capability in New Domains”, carried out a comprehensive review of the combat preparedness of the three services amid the evolving regional security situation.
Underscoring the need to strengthen capabilities in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, data analytics and secure communication networks, he said future conflicts would increasingly be shaped by hybrid threats, information dominance and operations conducted simultaneously across cyber, space, electromagnetic and cognitive domains.
Lauding the progress in enhancing integration and technology adoption across the three services, he said: “Future wars will not be won solely through weaponry, but through innovative thinking and enhanced synergy.”
Later, Rajnath released a joint doctrine for integrated communication architecture, aimed at strengthening “clarity, interoperability and integrated communications across the armed forces in future multi-domain operations”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Omar Abdullah accuses BJP of bid to split NC, seize Jammu and Kashmir government
Muzaffar Raina
09.05.26
Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday alleged the BJP would not let his government function smoothly until it assumed power in the Union Territory, the comments coming amid a rise in acrimony fuelled by the Bengal election results.
Omar suggested that certain remarks by leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma —who has purportedly claimed an Eknath Shinde would emerge from the National Conference — implied the BJP wanted to split his party to try and grab power in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma, widely seen as a loose cannon, has been bragging about the BJP’s victory in Bengal, suggesting Jammu and Kashmir is the next target, and attacking Omar relentlessly.
“I say it repeatedly that LoP Sahab is by his statements proving that unless the BJP gets the government here, they will not allow (us) to work smoothly and they will not make Jammu and Kashmir a state,” Omar said.
“It’s obvious that LoP Sahab is desperate to occupy the chair of Jammu and Kashmir chief minister. I want to tell LoP Sahab, there is no Eknath Shinde in the National Conference. National Conference MLAs are stubbornly with the National Conference.”
Shinde had split the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra in 2022 to form the state government with BJP support.
Sharma recently said that Jammu and Kashmir was the BJP’s next target and that the party had been making plans for it for more than a year. He later “clarified” that the National Conference was on ventilator because of internal issues and denied his party was working to destabilise it.
On Friday, Sharma claimed the National Conference would split if the Jammu and Kashmir government attempted a cabinet expansion.
“This shows you the motives of the BJP. (They want) Aaya Ram Gaya Ram. Eknath Shinde emerged because the BJP helped him move out,” Omar said.
He said his government had refrained from expanding the cabinet not out of fear but because Jammu and Kashmir had not been given back statehood.
The chief minister said those who had voted for the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir should know that Sharma and his party were engaging in
the politics of blackmail and that people were being intimidated in the context of the statehood demand.
He said the controversial delimitation exercise undertaken by the central government in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022 was aimed at benefiting the BJP and its allies, appearing to deride the party for failing to win the last election despite such measures.
Omar said there was no justification for the Tamil Nadu governor to stop TVK leader Joseph Vijay from forming the government.
He underlined that the Supreme Court had made it clear that in a hung House, the leader of the single largest party should be given an opportunity to form the government.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Surfers in war-torn Gaza find rare moments of joy taking to the waves
May 09, 2026
DEIR AL-BALAH: Despite the dire humanitarian crisis across the Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire remains in place, a handful of Palestinian surfers are finding joy — and relief — riding the waves of the territory’s Mediterranean coastal waters.
Only three or four men still surf due to a shortage of surfboards and the materials needed to fix damaged ones, said Tahseen Abu Assi, a surfer in Gaza City.
Abu Assi carried his surfboard with him through every displacement he endured during the two-year war because, he said, he wouldn’t be able to replace it.
“If something happened to it I won’t be able to get another one,” he said, noting that no boards have entered the Palestinian territory since 2007. Surfboards are among sports equipment and other products that are banned by Israel.
On Tuesday, Abu Assi was among three surfers who took to the sea off the Gaza City port, including Khalil Abu Jiab, who road the high waves with his arms raised in joy.
After the war began, the Israeli military heavily restricted sea activity in Gaza, with the United Nations reporting that some fishermen were attacked onshore or at sea, including incidents involving fishermen using paddle boats.
Last year, Israel declared Gaza’s waters a “no-go zone,” banning fishing, swimming and sea access, making surfing risky.
Fishing and swimming are prohibited and dangerous in the waters off northern and southern Gaza. It’s also risky to enter the waters off central Gaza, where Gaza City is located, due to Israeli patrols.
“There is fear of course, but we can’t leave this sport,” Abu Assi said. “During the war, in the middle of the war, in the middle of the bombing and the planes above us, we used to go down and practice this sport.”
Gaza’s waves rarely rise high enough for surfing, so when they do, surfers drop everything to get in the water, he added.
Intense fighting across the enclave eased after a shaky ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, but deadly Israeli strikes have continued, with both Hamas and Israel accusing each other of violating the truce. Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed 72,628 Palestinians and injured 172,520 others, according to the latest figures by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Palestinians continue to struggle to secure food, clean water, medical care and shelter after the war caused widespread destruction, dismantled health care infrastructure and displaced most of the territory’s residents.
But for the territory’s few surfers, there is relief, even if only fleeting, when they take to the waves.
“As soon as the sea gets high, you leave your work and leave your whole life,” Abu Assi said. “Work can be caught up on, as they say. We go practice this sport.”
Source: arabnews.com
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US imposes sanctions on 10 individuals, companies for aiding Iran’s weapons sector
May 09, 2026
WASHINGTON: The US Treasury on Friday announced sanctions against 10 individuals and companies, including several in China and Hong Kong, for aiding efforts by Iran’s military to secure weapons and raw materials used to build Tehran’s Shahed drones.
The Treasury move, first reported by Reuters, comes days before US President Donald Trump plans to travel to China for a meeting with President Xi Jinping and as efforts to end the war in Iran have stalled.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian American developer asks US judge to dismiss lawsuit alleging he aided Hamas
May 09, 2026
JERUSALEM: A prominent Palestinian-American developer asked a US judge on Friday to throw out a lawsuit accusing him of supporting Hamas through his Gaza projects, arguing it equates participating in Gaza’s economy with terrorism.
Bashar Masri, who built luxury hotels in Gaza and the Palestinians’ first planned city in the West Bank, was sued last year by US families of victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks who alleged his Gaza properties concealed tunnels the militant group used to stage its assault.
Before Israel’s war in Gaza, Hamas built a labyrinth tunnel network that stretched across nearly all of Gaza. Businesses often grappled with whether and how to invest in a territory ruled by a group deemed a terrorist organization by the US and whose tacit approval was needed for large development projects.
The civil complaint, filed on behalf of around 200 American plaintiffs, alleges that Masri knew about Hamas tunnels under his two seaside hotels, which it says the group accessed from guest rooms. It also says the group powered underground fortifications with electricity from solar panels in an industrial zone he operated.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages from Masri and four of his companies under the Anti-Terrorism Act, which lets American victims of terrorism sue for damages in US courts.
Filing a motion to dismiss the complaint in federal court in Miami, Masri’s lawyers said he bore no blame for the October 2023 attacks on Israel, describing them as “barbaric acts of terrorism.”
The defendants “unequivocally condemn Hamas’ violence and the suffering it inflicted upon innocent civilians,” they wrote, adding that the plaintiffs had failed to show Masri knew his conduct could aid Hamas in staging attacks.
The complaint amounts to “speculation” that Masri and his companies “engaged in international terrorism merely by participating in economic development projects” in Gaza, Masri’s lawyers wrote.
Masri declined to provide further comment. Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately provide comment.
PLAINTIFFS INCLUDE MASRI’S EX-BUSINESS PARTNER WHOSE DAUGHTER WAS KILLED
Masri has had a high profile as a developer, and received US aid grants. His flagship project is Rawabi, a $1.4 billion development in the occupied West Bank that is the first master-planned city built by and for Palestinians.
In Gaza, his companies’ major projects included two Mediterranean-front luxury resorts — the Ayan Hotel and the Blue Beach Resort — and the Gaza Industrial Estate located on the border with Israel. All suffered major damage during the war, during which Israeli bombardment reduced much of Gaza to ruins.
The plaintiffs include Israeli tech mogul Eyal Waldman, a peace activist and former business partner of Masri whose youngest daughter was among those killed by militants at the Nova outdoor dance festival on October 7.
One of Waldman’s firms once employed more than 100 Palestinian engineers in Rawabi and in Gaza through an IT company backed by Masri, an arrangement both men held up as an example of how economic cooperation could foster peace.
Waldman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source: arabnews.com
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EU to hold 2 high-level meetings with Syrian transitional authorities in Brussels
May 08, 2026
LONDON: The EU will hold two high-level meetings in Brussels on Monday with Syria’s transitional authorities aimed at strengthening ties and supporting recovery and reconstruction efforts in the country.
Announcing the talks, EU officials said on Friday that they mark a new phase in relations between Brussels and Damascus, with the discussions set to focus on the political transition, economic recovery and long-term stability in the wake of the fall of the Assad regime.
The EU said it had opened “a new chapter” in its relationship with Syria through engagement with the country’s transitional authorities after President Bashar Assad was removed from power in December 2024, following almost 14 years of civil war.
It added that Syria was “opening a path to reconciliation and recovery,” and the EU was prepared to support the process through a new framework of cooperation.
The first of the two meetings on Monday is the Syria Partnership Coordination Forum, at which international stakeholders will gather to coordinate aid, reconstruction and development efforts.
It will be co-chaired by Dubravka Suica, the European commissioner for the Mediterranean, and Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Syria’s foreign minister. Senior representatives of EU member states, G7 countries, Arab nations, the UN and international financial institutions are expected to attend.
Later in the day, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas will co-chair with Al-Shaibani the first EU-Syria High Level Political Dialogue, following a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. EU officials described this meeting as a strategic shift from crisis management toward a longer-term partnership based on “stability, recovery and prosperity.” Commissioner Suica and the EU’s humanitarian chief, Hadja Lahbib, are also expected to participate.
The meetings follow a visit to Damascus in January by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, which EU officials said underscored Brussels’ support for the political transition in Syria.
The EU added that Monday’s talks provide an opportunity for the bloc to reaffirm its commitment to “an inclusive and peaceful transition” that reflects the aspirations of all Syrians and supports long-term regional stability.
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Hezbollah claims new attack targeting military base in Israel
May 08, 2026
BEIRUT: Hezbollah said it launched a swarm of drones at an air base in northern Israel on Friday, after having claimed another attack targeting an Israeli base earlier in the day.
The Iran-backed group said the launches were in response to an Israeli attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday, as well as ongoing strikes in Lebanon’s south.
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Why Syria’s cultural restoration must go hand in hand with political and economic recovery
ANAN TELLO
May 08, 2026
LONDON: In early November, six Roman-era marble statues vanished from Syria’s National Museum in Damascus. Staff later found that one of the museum’s doors had been broken from the inside, and officials concluded they had been stolen.
The heist took place overnight on Nov. 12 in the museum’s classical wing, which houses priceless antiquities. Many pieces had survived 14 years of civil war stored in secret locations to protect them from looting and destruction.
The loss has drawn fresh attention to the disappearance of antiquities that carry the story of the region’s ancient civilizations, even as the more visible scars of war dominate the landscape.
In response to the heist, the Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums temporarily closed the museum and opened an investigation into the “circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits.”
The agency also said in a statement it had taken steps to strengthen protection and monitoring systems.
UNESCO has condemned the theft, calling it an attack on Syria’s cultural heritage and history.
For researchers and heritage specialists, the episode emphasizes the risks facing cultural institutions during Syria’s transitional period.
“Hearing about the theft was distressing,” Madison Leeson, an Amman-based cultural heritage crime researcher, told Arab News.
“Despite the positive news that has come out of Syria since December 2024 — namely the toppling of (Bashar) Assad’s regime — and the cautious optimism I think a lot of us have about the political future of the country, it draws attention to how vulnerable Syria’s cultural heritage remains.
“These statues are obviously historically significant, but they also represent part of Syria’s cultural inheritance, to which collective identity is often tied in societies grappling with conflict and instability.”
The stolen items include six small Roman-era statues of Venus, the goddess of love, fertility and victory, according to a statement by the Culture Ministry.
The statement, released on Nov. 14, showed images of the missing statues, along with their registration numbers and dimensions. It said the items were made of marble, alabaster, and plaster.
The ministry urged official and civil institutions in Syria and abroad to help locate the missing objects.
The National Museum in the Syrian capital has long played a key role in safeguarding the country’s past. Since its establishment in 1919, it has been home to some of Syria’s most important archaeological treasures.
These include clay cuneiform tablets dating to the 14th century B.C. from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; first and second century A.D. Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, once one of the most important cultural centers of the ancient world; and a third century A.D. synagogue built at Dura Europos.
Like many cultural institutions in Syria, the museum was affected by the civil war. It closed in 2012, a year after the conflict erupted, and most of its collection was evacuated to secret locations for safekeeping.
Maamoun Abdulkarim, the former director-general of antiquities and museums, said protective measures were implemented during one of the war’s worst periods, between 2012 and 2017.
“Gates and windows were reinforced and structurally upgraded, security was strengthened inside and outside the building, and adequate lighting and high-level surveillance systems were installed,” he told Arab News.
The museum reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after rebel forces led by interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa overthrew longtime ruler Assad.
The reopening was widely seen as a sign of national recovery. UNESCO returned with a pilot project after a 14-year absence, introducing cultural first-aid measures, training and digitization initiatives aimed at supporting heritage preservation and economic recovery.
Despite the recent setback, some experts believe the statues could still be recovered.
Leeson said tracing the artifacts “will be difficult but is certainly not impossible,” particularly if authorities collaborate with the public and share data with galleries, auction houses and international law enforcement partners.
“From what I understand, the specific statues had been documented so they should be easily identifiable on the open market,” she said.
“This is, of course, assuming the thieves intend to sell the objects and that the theft wasn’t symbolic in nature — in which case the statues may be in danger of being destroyed or disfigured.”
Between 2014 and 2017, the extremist group Daesh systematically targeted pre-Islamic sites for iconoclastic reasons, demolishing Palmyra’s Temple of Bel, Baalshamin Temple, and parts of its Roman theater and tetrapylon.
They also publicly executed archaeologist Khaled Al-Asaad in August 2015 after he refused to disclose the location of valuable artefacts.
Abdulkarim, now a professor of archaeology at the University of Sharjah, offered a similarly cautious assessment, saying recovery is “possible but not guaranteed.”
He said the outcome depends on three main factors: the speed of reporting and response, the quality of prior documentation, and effective international cooperation.
“Technically, a precise documentation record significantly increases the chances of identifying the objects if they appear on the art market or online,” he said.
Recovery efforts, he added, often involve activating tracing mechanisms through international databases and coordinating with specialized anti-trafficking units to monitor auctions, dealers, online platforms and the gray market.
Such efforts have succeeded before, according to Abdulkarim.
“We successfully halted the sale of looted artifacts in international auctions in cooperation with UNESCO and Interpol,” he said. “These objects had been stolen from archaeological sites rather than museums.”
Still, recovery is often a complex legal process.
“A strong legal file is required to prove state ownership, illicit origin, and illegal export, followed by judicial procedures or formal restitution requests under relevant international conventions,” Abdulkarim said.
“The more thoroughly an object is documented in official museum records, the stronger and easier the ownership claim becomes.”
Diplomacy can also play a decisive role. Abdulkarim said successful recovery often depends on the cooperation of the country where an object surfaces and the political will to enforce legal measures, particularly when organized trafficking networks are involved.
“Given recent diplomatic developments and the restoration of relations with several countries, there may now be improved opportunities for official cooperation,” he said.
However, the theft of the Venus statues is only one example of a broader pattern of cultural loss.
“The loss of these statues is serious, but the loss is of a different scale than the widespread destruction and looting of Palmyra and other sites,” said Leeson.
“Those losses were about erasing entire cultural landscapes, whereas individual artifacts like the statues can still theoretically be documented and recovered.”
Other incidents underscore the continuing threat. On Dec. 20, authorities in Damascus confirmed the theft of a statue of Saint Paul, a 1999 gift from the Vatican to the Church of the Monastery of Saint Paul in the Bab Kisan area of the Old City.
Investigators said the theft occurred early on Dec. 18 and was carried out by several individuals using simple tools. Authorities believe the motive was the value of the copper from which the statue was made.
Abdulkarim said the statue’s religious symbolism may draw additional attention but “does not fundamentally change the legal and procedural complexity of recovery.”
The broader context is stark. All six of Syria’s UNESCO World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war, including the ancient cities of Damascus, Bosra and Aleppo; the site of Palmyra; Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din; and the ancient villages of northern Syria known as the Dead Cities.
Palmyra in particular became a symbol of heritage loss. In 2015, Daesh destroyed mausoleums and other structures at the site, famous for its 2,000-year-old Roman colonnades and extensive ruins.
“The destruction or looting of sites such as Palmyra or parts of Old Aleppo represents an assault on living heritage, on the urban landscape, and on the memory of place,” Abdulkarim said. “It affects identity, economy, tourism, and the daily life of communities.
“In brief, the destruction of sites means loss of context and place, while theft from a museum means loss of trust and sovereignty over memory.”
During the war, Abdulkarim said, he repeatedly appealed to both regime forces and armed opposition groups to avoid archaeological sites.
“I formally addressed the minister of defense requesting that military forces be withdrawn from certain sites,” he said. “Although we did not possess the authority to enforce such measures, I considered it my moral responsibility to continue sending those communications despite the personal risks involved.”
Regime and opposition forces reportedly used UNESCO sites as military positions, causing shelling damage to Aleppo’s Umayyad Mosque minaret, Crac des Chevaliers’ fortress walls, and Bosra’s Roman theater.
Despite the damage, there have been some signs of progress. On Jan. 13, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the arrest of two individuals in connection with the theft of historical weapons from the National Museum in Damascus, recovering 24 stolen items, SANA reported.
The arrests followed another theft at the museum on Oct. 10, when several ancient statues and rare artifacts were stolen.
Drawing on cases elsewhere in the region, experts say there is cause for optimism.
“In Iraq, for example, hundreds of artifacts looted in 2003 were eventually recovered through coordinated research and law enforcement efforts,” Leeson said.
“With political stability, proper documentation, and international cooperation, I’m hopeful that Syrian authorities can reclaim at least part of the many objects that have been looted.”
Abdulkarim echoed that view but warned that the challenges remain significant, particularly given the scale of trafficking networks and the length of Syria’s crisis.
“The determining factors will include reforming cultural governance to ensure transparent inventories, updated protection systems and effective accountability (and) establishing and continuously updating a modern national database of stolen artifacts,” he said.
It will also require “strengthening international partnerships with law enforcement and heritage experts; achieving greater security stability, since illicit markets thrive in instability; and targeting financial networks and intermediaries, not just the objects themselves.”
Furthermore, he emphasized the role of media and public awareness in making illicit sales more difficult and increasing the reputational and financial costs of trafficking.
Ultimately, Abdulkarim argued, protecting heritage must remain a national responsibility beyond politics.
“Cultural heritage protection must transcend political authority and be grounded in professional, scientific practice that unites heritage professionals across the country under one objective: safeguarding Syria’s cultural heritage regardless of political positions,” he said.
“Syria can recover part of its heritage, but this requires sustained institutional effort rather than short-term responses to isolated incidents.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Syria says arrested Assad-era general over chemical attack
May 08, 2026
DAMASCUS: Syria’s interior ministry on Friday announced the arrest of a general from ousted president Bashar Assad’s era, accusing him of involvement in a 2013 chemical attack on a suburb of the capital, Damascus.
In August 2013, the army under Assad’s rule was accused of using chemical weapons to target areas then under rebel control, killing more than 1,400 men, women and children, according to US intelligence and rights groups.
With Syria at the height of its civil war, the Assad government denied responsibility, but agreed to hand over its chemical arsenal in order to avert US strikes.
Assad went on to remain in power for more than a decade, only to be ousted in 2024 by Islamist-led rebels led by now President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
On Friday, the ministry said it arrested “Khardal Ahmed Dayoub, a former brigadier general in the forces of the ousted regime and former head of the Air Force Intelligence branch in Daraa, for his direct involvement in systematic violations against civilians.”
The ministry accused Dayoub of being “implicated in chemical attacks during his service in the Damascus branch and his presence in the Harasta area” where “he oversaw repressive operations and contributed to the logistical coordination for the bombing of Eastern Ghouta with internationally prohibited chemical weapons.”
Dayoub, the latest in a string of Assad-era officials detained in recent months, is also accused of extrajudicial killings and coordination with Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, both of which were backing the ousted government.
Survivors of the attacks, including medics, at the time risked their lives by posting dozens of videos online, and spoke to journalists including AFP reporters about the horror they had witnessed.
The footage showed dozens of corpses, many of them children, outstretched on the ground.
Other images showed unconscious children, people foaming at the mouth and doctors trying to help them breathe.
- Global condemnation -
The scenes provoked revulsion and condemnation around the globe.
A United Nations report later said there was clear evidence sarin gas had been used.
Syria agreed that year to join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and disclose and hand over its toxic stockpile under Russian and US pressure, averting the threat of strikes by Washington and its allies.
But that was not the last of the chemical attacks: the OPCW went on to blame Assad’s forces for others later in the civil war.
Syria’s civil war had begun in 2011, with a brutal crackdown on dissent that yielded an armed rebellion. More than half a million people ended up being killed, and millions more forced into exile.
Last month, Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced the arrest of Adnan Abboud Hilweh, one of the Syrian generals internationally sanctioned over involvement in the Ghouta attack.
Syria’s new authorities have vowed to provide justice and accountability for Assad-era atrocities, while activists and foreign governments have emphasized the importance of transitional justice to ensure the country moves forward.
Last month, a Syrian court conducted the first hearing in an in absentia trial of Assad himself, alongside several senior members of his government.
Assad fled to Moscow as his country fell to rebel hands in December 2024, bringing to a stunning end decades of rule by his clan.
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Arab World
Saudi aid agency expands Syria recovery push with new school rehabilitation agreements
May 09, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed two new cooperation agreements to rehabilitate schools and a social facility in Syria’s Idlib and Deir ez-Zor governorates, extending the Kingdom’s broader humanitarian and reconstruction support for communities affected by years of conflict, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreements, signed via videoconference with civil society organizations, are expected to directly benefit nearly 4,990 people while indirectly supporting about 19,894 others, according to SPA.
The projects form part of a wider KSrelief initiative focused on restoring Syria’s educational infrastructure, including the rehabilitation, construction and provision of temporary classrooms for 48 schools across several governorates.
Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, has increasingly expanded its humanitarian footprint in Syria in recent months, combining emergency relief with longer-term recovery and development projects aimed at rebuilding essential public services.
Earlier this year, KSrelief signed separate agreements to rehabilitate schools and community facilities in the Rif Dimashq and Idlib governorates, including equipping buildings with furniture and solar-energy systems to improve educational and community services, SPA previously reported.
The aid center has also continued emergency assistance operations inside Syria. In February, KSrelief distributed 245 shelter kits to families affected by flooding and heavy rainfall in Idlib as part of ongoing Saudi support for vulnerable communities in the war-torn country, according to SPA.
Beyond infrastructure projects, Saudi humanitarian efforts have increasingly focused on strengthening Syria’s healthcare sector and institutional capacity.
Last month, Arab News reported that KSrelief launched the Saudi Virtual Volunteer Program in Syria, a medical and training initiative overseen by KSrelief Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
The program includes 53 volunteer projects spanning 239 medical and technical fields aligned with the priorities of Syria’s Health Ministry. Its first phase comprises 15 projects and specialized medical lectures expected to benefit more than 18,000 people.
Al-Rabeeah said the initiative reflected KSrelief’s institutional approach to humanitarian work and sustainable knowledge transfer, noting that the agency’s volunteer initiatives have surpassed 1,300 programs.
The latest agreements underscore Saudi Arabia’s growing emphasis on restoring educational and community infrastructure in Syria while supporting longer-term recovery efforts alongside humanitarian relief operations.
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Saudi students win two golds, bronze at Balkan Mathematical Olympiad
May 09, 2026
THESSALONIKI, Greece: Saudi Arabia’s national mathematics team captured two gold medals and one bronze at the 43rd Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2026 in Greece, extending the Kingdom’s growing record in international science and mathematics competitions.
The Olympiad, held in the Greek city of Thessaloniki from May 3 to 8, brought together around 148 students representing 24 countries.
Abdulilah Mohammed Al-Saqqaf, from the General Administration of Education in Jeddah, and Abdulsalam Abdullah Al-Sulami, from the General Administration of Education in Madinah, each secured gold medals for Saudi Arabia.
Elias Shaker Al-Faraj, representing the Eastern Region Education Department, earned a bronze medal.
The latest achievement raises Saudi Arabia’s overall tally at the Balkan Mathematical Olympiad to 68 awards since the Kingdom first participated in 2010. The haul includes four gold medals, 14 silver medals, 46 bronze medals and four certificates of appreciation.
Saudi Arabia’s participation is organized under the international Olympiads program run by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.
The program prepares students through national competitions and intensive training camps supervised by Saudi and international specialists, as the Kingdom continues efforts to strengthen science, technology and innovation education in line with broader national development goals.
The BMO was first held in Athens in 1984. Last year’s BMO was held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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SDAIA issues deepfakes guidelines to regulate responsible AI use
May 09, 2026
RIYADH: To address the rapid evolution of artificial media, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) has issued the "Deepfakes Guidelines: Mitigating Risks While Fostering Innovation," a comprehensive regulatory document published in May 2025 under document number SDAIA-P119.
The guidelines define deepfakes as hyper-realistic synthetic media created using deep learning techniques — including Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), auto-encoders, and face-swap algorithms — that manipulate audio, video, or other digital content in ways that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality.
A dual-edged technology
The document draws a clear distinction between malicious and non-malicious deepfakes, emphasizing that the technology is not inherently harmful — its intent and application determine its impact.
While acknowledging positive applications across six key sectors — marketing, entertainment, retail, education, healthcare, and culture — SDAIA warns of significant risks on the malicious side, categorized under three primary threat types.
The first is impostor scams, where deepfakes are used to convincingly mimic voices, facial expressions, and mannerisms of trusted individuals to authorize fraudulent financial transactions or extract sensitive information. The guidelines cite a real-world case in which an employee at a multinational firm was deceived into transferring a large sum of money to fraudsters who impersonated a senior executive during a video conference call.
The second threat category is non-consensual manipulation, involving the creation of explicit or compromising content without individuals' consent, leading to severe emotional distress, reputational damage, and potential blackmail.
The third is disinformation and propaganda, where deepfake videos or audio clips are used to falsely depict political figures making statements they never made, with the potential to sway public opinion and destabilize democratic processes.
Looking ahead, the document warns of an emerging threat landscape involving near-perfect AI-generated voice scams and entirely fabricated virtual environments designed to deceive users through simulated news reports, meetings, or interviews.
Obligations for developers and content creators
For deepfake technology developers, the guidelines mandate adherence to local and international data privacy frameworks, specifically referencing Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and Anti-Cyber Crime Law alongside international standards such as GDPR and CCPA.
Developers are required to implement robust data protection measures, including privacy-by-design principles, anonymization techniques, and consent management systems that allow individuals to request the removal of their likeness from training datasets.
On transparency, developers must embed non-intrusive digital watermarks into synthetic content, maintain comprehensive documentation of AI models, and incorporate explainability features so that outputs can be understood by users and stakeholders.
The guidelines also call for Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) oversight mechanisms at critical stages of model training and deployment, alongside automated systems to detect and flag unauthorized or unethical use of deepfake tools.
Content creators face equally stringent requirements. They are prohibited from using deepfake services for fraud, impersonation, or defamation, and must apply visible, tamper-resistant watermarks to all synthetic content. Creators must secure explicit consent before using any individual's likeness, maintain auditable consent records, and distribute content exclusively through secure, controlled channels.
The guidelines also recommend the integration of blockchain and cryptographic hashing to create immutable records of original content, ensuring that any alterations can be traced back to their source.
Guidance for regulators
Regulators are directed to establish platform monitoring mechanisms that prioritize high-risk deepfake content — particularly in the domains of finance, politics, and identity impersonation — while allowing more flexibility for low-risk or educational material. The document calls for a formal approval process for deepfake technologies before commercial deployment and recommends that regulators adopt content provenance standards, such as those outlined by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA).
On enforcement, penalties for misuse are to be proportional to the severity, intent, and recurrence of violations, while provisions exist to limit sanctions for minimal or incidental uses of the technology. Annual use-case inventories, independent audits, and mandatory training programs for government employees are also stipulated, along with public awareness campaigns to foster informed societal discourse.
Empowering consumers to detect deepfakes
A substantial section of the guidelines is devoted to equipping the general public with practical detection skills. SDAIA recommends a three-step approach: assessing the message source and context; analyzing audio-visual elements for telltale signs such as irregular facial movements, lip-sync delays, unnatural blinking patterns, and lighting inconsistencies; and authenticating content using AI-based detection tools such as Deepware Scanner and Sensity AI, as well as content provenance tools like Adobe's Content Authenticity Initiative and blockchain-based verification systems.
Victims of deepfake incidents are advised to immediately document evidence, report the content to the relevant platform, and notify Saudi authorities through the Kollona Amn app or the Ministry of Interior's Cybercrime Unit.
Financial fraud cases should also be reported to the Saudi Central Bank. Legal counsel experienced in digital rights is recommended, alongside engagement of digital forensics experts to trace the origin of the manipulated content.
Beneficial applications and the path forward
The guidelines highlight how deepfake technology, when used ethically, holds transformational potential. In healthcare, voice reconstruction has already improved quality of life for ALS patients by restoring their ability to communicate. In education, virtual tutors and remote training tools can expand access to underserved communities. In culture, the technology can preserve endangered dialects and bring historical events to life. In entertainment, consensual de-aging of actors and digital character creation are cited as legitimate and creative applications.
The document concludes with three overarching principles: the necessity of continuous learning and skills development to keep pace with AI evolution; organizational preparedness through tailored training and strategic hiring; and a commitment to ethical, positive applications that foster innovation while safeguarding public trust.
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World Migratory Bird Day: Saudi Arabia strengthens role as vital refuge
RAHAF JAMBI
May 08, 2026
RIYADH: As millions of birds cross continents each year, navigating vast distances between breeding and wintering grounds, Saudi Arabia continues to serve as a critical point on their journey — a safe haven for migratory species.
At the center of this effort lies the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest and most ecologically significant protected areas.
Spanning nearly 91,500 square kilometers, the reserve is home to rich biodiversity, hosting 184 recorded bird species — more than a third of Saudi Arabia’s avian diversity. The reserve serves as a key stopover point for migratory birds, providing essential habitats and resources that sustain them during their long journeys.
The reserve also plays an active role in protecting endangered wildlife. Among its most notable efforts are breeding programs for species including the red-necked ostrich, alongside yet-to-be-launched initiatives focused on conserving the houbara bustard.
“This unique reserve embodies Saudi Arabia’s commitment to protecting biodiversity and preserving vital ecosystems for both resident and migratory species.’” A.M., a representative from the reserve, told Arab News.
The reserve’s conservation strategy is rooted in carefully designed ecological systems that support migratory birds along their routes. Natural water sources located along migration paths provide essential hydration during long flights, while protected vegetation enhances food availability by supporting insects and seeds. Strict enforcement of hunting bans also reduces direct threats and improves survival rates.
Inside the reserve, all bird species, both migratory and resident, are monitored and protected through a combination of field observation, modern technology and habitat management.
“Efforts begin with systematic environmental monitoring programs, which rely on periodic surveys to document species and their distribution using geographic information systems,” the official said. “This allows us to track long-term changes in bird populations and movement patterns. These efforts are supported by advanced monitoring technologies such as drones, thermal cameras, and remote sensing, which provide accurate data even in rugged desert environments.”
Conservation work also extends to restoring ecological balance through breeding and reintroduction programs.
“Within the reserve, endangered species breeding and reintroduction programs are implemented through a scientific approach focused on restoring ecological balance,” they added.
Recent efforts include the introduction of captive-bred groups of red-necked ostriches into the reserve. Raised in protected environments under veterinary supervision, the birds are gradually released into suitable habitats, with their behavior and adaptation closely monitored.
For the houbara bustard, plans include establishing a breeding center within the reserve, supporting release programs in protected environments, and conducting post-release monitoring. Habitat improvement initiatives are also underway to increase survival and stability, supported by integration with national breeding programs.
While the reserve offers a localized example of conservation in action, Saudi Arabia’s role extends far beyond a single protected area. The Kingdom lies along the African-Eurasian flyway, one of the world’s most critical migration routes, placing it at the center of global bird movement.
“World Migratory Bird Day is an important occasion for the Kingdom due to its strategic location along one of the most important bird migration paths in the world, hosting diverse habitats that represent crossing, rest, and feeding stations for millions of migratory birds,” a representative from the National Center for Wildlife, who asked to remain anonymous, told Arab News.
Under Vision 2030, environmental protection has become a national priority. Protected areas are expanding, enforcement has strengthened, and conservation is increasingly supported by scientific research and monitoring. According to the NCW, Saudi Arabia received leadership awards in 2024 and 2026 from the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, highlighting its role in combating illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking.
“This international recognition comes as a result of the Kingdom’s contributions to the protection of migratory species,” the NCW official said.
Despite progress, migratory birds continue to face modern challenges. Raptors such as the Egyptian vulture and the steppe eagle are at risk of electrocution from power lines. In response, authorities are installing insulation in key areas, including major reserves and coastal habitats.
Additional protections include hunting bans along coastal zones and near wetlands, ensuring safer environments for birds during critical stages of their journeys.
The NCW also emphasizes the role of public awareness in conservation efforts.
“Harmful behaviors that people may not be aware of include approaching birds for photography, chasing them or forcing them to fly, throwing waste, or operating drones near bird gatherings and nests,” the center explained in a statement.
Such disturbances can force birds to expend valuable energy, increasing the risk of exhaustion during migration.
Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia aims to protect 30 percent of its land and marine areas, while continuing to expand research and monitoring programs.
“We expect clear progress in the quality of monitoring, habitat management, and community awareness, enhancing the Kingdom’s role as a safe station for migratory birds,” the NCW stated.
As World Migratory Bird Day shines a spotlight on the importance of protecting migratory species, Saudi Arabia’s expanding network of reserves, policies, and partnerships reflects a growing commitment to safeguarding some of nature’s most remarkable journeys.
Source: arabnews.com
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Hajj health guide launched in 8 languages
May 08, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health has launched the Hajj 1447 AH Health Awareness Guide in eight languages under the slogan “Hajj in Health,” aiming to promote preventive awareness and safeguard the well-being of pilgrims arriving from across the globe.
The guide accompanies pilgrims throughout their entire health journey — from pre-Hajj requirements to on-ground guidance — covering protection against heat exhaustion and heatstroke, prevention of respiratory infections in high-density crowds, and food safety measures to guard against foodborne illness.
The guide also includes first aid instructions and rapid response steps for emergencies prior to reaching medical care, alongside tailored guidance for high-priority groups, helping reduce potential complications and maintain their health stability throughout the performance of rituals.
The guide is available in Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Persian, Indonesian, Turkish, and Malay — ensuring health messages reach pilgrims of all nationalities and linguistic backgrounds.
The initiative falls under the Health Sector Transformation Program, an integral part of Saudi Vision 2030.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to continuously developing awareness content that empowers pilgrims to perform their rites in a safe and healthy environment.
Source: arabnews.com
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ZATCA seizes 8.4 kg of cocaine at Jeddah Port
May 08, 2026
RIYADH: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at Jeddah Islamic Port thwarted an attempt to smuggle 8.4 kg of cocaine hidden within the air conditioning unit of a container arriving at the port.
ZATCA spokesperson Hamoud Al-Harbi highlighted the authority’s commitment to tightening customs control and working closely with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control to protect society from prohibited substances.
The authority urged the public to assist in combating smuggling by reporting suspicious activities through the secure hotline 1910, via email at 1910@zatca.gov.sa, or by calling 009661910 from abroad.
ZATCA maintains strict confidentiality for all tipoffs. It offers financial rewards for accurate information leading to the detection of smuggling crimes.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi climate envoy meets Costa Rica FM
May 08, 2026
SAN JOSE: Adel Al-Jubeir, the minister of state for foreign affairs, climate affairs envoy and Cabinet member, met Minister of Foreign Relations and Worship of Costa Rica Manuel Tovar Rivera, in San Jose.
Al-Jubeir, who is on an official visit to Costa Rica, congratulated Rivera on his new role and the two ministers reviewed opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation, along with exchanging views on issues of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Hassan Al-Ansari, the Saudi ambassador to Peru and non-resident ambassador to Costa Rica.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Asif Khan: Planet Omar gives British Muslims a voice on stage
May 09, 2026
A NEW play about Islamophobia challenges stereotypes and shows audiences what a genuine Muslim family is really like, its Asian playwright has said.
Planet Omar, which had its world premiere at Leeds Playhouse last month, is aimed at people who may not know any Muslims personally, or whose understanding of Islam comes only through news and social media, Asif Khan said.
Based on Zanib Mian’s children’s novel of the same name, the play follows Omar, an eight-year-old British Pakistani who moves to a new neighbourhood with his family, starting a new school, an unfriendly neighbour and a bully.
In an interview with Eastern Eye, Khan said, “The beautiful thing about this young boy is his imagination. He has this wonderfully vivid imagination, and on stage, whatever he imagines comes alive.”
At one point, Omar imagines a dragon for comfort, which appears on stage played by a large puppet, “so, we get to see the world inside his mind, as well,” Khan said.
“That is his superpower, his special gift.” Khan said the play touches on Islamophobia in Britain today.
“It is dealing with the political climate in the UK today, a world where Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred is very high.”
'Our leaders have a responsibility'
Directed by Sameena Hussain, the play also examines how rhetoric from political leaders filters down to children. It references former prime minister Boris Johnson’s remarks comparing Muslim women to bank robbers and letter boxes, and shows a similar insult being directed at Omar in the playground.
Khan said, “That insult, in this play, travels down into the playground, and a child at school says something similar to the character of Omar. It looks at holding our prime ministers to account for what they say, because what they say filters all the way down – right into the playground – and affects an eight-year-old boy.
“Our leaders have a responsibility; their words matter and they should be thought about carefully.”
The cast includes Justin Kendal-Sadiq as Omar, with Umar Butt as the father, Isobel Coward as Charlie, Emaan Durrani, Joanna Holden and Aizah Khan as the mother.
Khan, who grew up in Bradford, said placing a child at the centre of the story allowed audiences to empathise more easily.
“There is an innocence to children of that age, they do not fully understand the world yet, and they are trying to make sense of it. Omar is a boy like any other child, and any parent would be able to relate to him.” He said the perspective of a young British Muslim boy was one rarely seen on stage.
“We do not see it very often at all – a British Muslim eight-year-old boy telling you about his world, about what he feels and what is happening to him. And you cannot really argue with that, because it is his own experience and his own feelings. He is very truthful, and he is very expressive on stage.”
Khan described how often he faces racial prejudice. “It affects me every single day – even this morning I was upset about something. It affects my family. You constantly read or hear something, or something is said in the news,” he said.
“I feel as though people can say things about Muslim people that they would never say about any other community. It is not even shocking any more.”
Writing the play was in some ways therapeutic for Khan.
“When I do my work, I hope to make the world a little bit better, and to help people who do not have an understanding of Muslims and Islam to understand it a little bit more – to foster a bit more tolerance and a kinder world.”
Khan said he was motivated in part by concern for his own children.
“As a parent, I am worried about my nine-year-old son and the world he is going to grow up in. In fact, on the poster for the show, that is my son. So, in some small way, I am hoping to create a better world for him. People from our community can see the show and think, ‘we are finally being represented’. There is finally a play with someone who looks like me on stage.”
Though Planet Omar is set in London to remain faithful to Mian’s novel, Khan said he remained proud of Bradford and wanted to represent the northern city, which was home to his parents who moved there from Pakistan as teenagers.
“Bradford has had a bad reputation, and, probably still does, in some quarters. There were riots a couple of decades ago that really damaged its reputation. I am proud of the city. I want to represent it, even though I now live in London.”
'My acting background helped me'
Khan recalled a career in the arts was uncommon in his community.
“It is very rare, from my community in Bradford, to go into this profession. But I think it is important we have people there, so we can tell our own stories.
“Quite often, decades ago, stories about communities like ours were being written by others. We should write our own stories, play our own characters, and show the world who we are.
“It is very important for south Asian and Muslim voices to be present in the arts, in the media, everywhere – and for children growing up to see that there are real opportunities for them in these professions.”
His background as an actor helped him with his writing, Khan said.
“Even before I decided to become a writer, I was an actor first. I studied plays from ancient Greek tragedies right through to Shakespeare, Restoration drama, Chekhov, American plays, British plays.
“When you see a good script as an actor, you think this is really good. And so, as a writer, you know what the standard is, and you know where you need to aim.”
Khan’s debut play Combustion toured the UK in 2017 and won Best Production at the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theatre Awards. He won the Channel 4 Playwright’s Scheme Award in 2018. His most recent play Sisters360, was on at Leeds Playhouse and in Bradford as part of City of Culture 2025, has been nominated for Best Production at the Asian Media Awards 2025.
Source: easterneye.biz
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Azerbaijan Joins Islamic Organization for Food Security
8 MAY 2026
ASTANA – Azerbaijan has officially joined the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) on May 6, expanding cooperation among Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in food security and sustainable agriculture.
The accession agreement was signed by Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Minister, Majnun Mammadov, during the 19th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition and Forum in Baku. Uzbekistan also signed a related document during the ceremony, reported Kazinform.
The event was attended by IOFS Director General Berik Aryn, representatives of the OIC, international organizations, and foreign delegations.
According to Aryn, Azerbaijan’s membership will strengthen cooperation among member states and support joint efforts to address food security challenges.
Established at Kazakhstan’s initiative in 2016, the IOFS is headquartered in Astana and focuses on sustainable agriculture and food security across member countries.
Source: astanatimes.com
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Political Islam sees Europe as a territory to be claimed
May 09, 2026
The experiment is over, and the results are in: The British laboratory has blown up in the face of its creators. For decades, London has been the global capital of a specific, elitist delusion, according to which you could host any ideology, no matter how hostile to your way of life, and it would eventually be tamed by the sheer charm of the English Sunday roast and the rule of law. Complete nonsense, as it turns out.
Instead, the UK is now the primary staging ground for a Political Islam that does not recognise borders, British values, or the very concept of a secular state. This extremist ideological franchise has successfully occupied the vacuum left by a de-industrialised and spiritually bankrupt establishment, while aggressively eating into the British identity.
This is no longer about “community relations” – such terms merely form the lingo of a bureaucratic cast that is being paid to manage a slow-motion surrender. This is about power. It is about a transnational movement that views the British urban landscape as a set of outposts for a global caliphate.
It is by now clear that the English Channel is no moat. Even worse, the castle has no walls against a siege that is global. The tremors felt in Birmingham and Leicester are not isolated British incidents. They are a preview of the structural paralysis coming for the entire European continent. If the heart of the Anglosphere can be so easily compromised, what chance does a fragmented Brussels have?
We are witnessing the death of the border as a concept of forging identity. Political Islam does not ask for permission to enter. It simply occupies the space that the West is too ashamed to defend. It then leverages demography and the democratic process to advance an agenda that would, at a given chance, abolish that very process.
The British state, once the global premier standard for stability, is now being held hostage by alien forces. When elections in a Western democracy are decided by how a candidate stands on the Sharia law or on a conflict five thousand miles away, the social contract is effectively being dismissed as irrelevant. Institutions and the Law ought to have shielded us from such derailments. They most certainly can. But those serving them do not act.
Europe is following closely. However, in what looks like a suicidal illusion, Brussels remains comfortably detached, watching the chaos in the UK as if it were a foreign affairs reel. This is a fatal mistake. The networks that operate in the shadow of Big Ben are the same ones that move through the banlieues of Paris and the squares of Athens. They are part of what one could call a “Political Islam without borders” that sees Europe not as a home to be integrated into, but as a territory to be claimed.
We need to be blunt. What we see is a fight for the soul of our homelands, and the proponents of this movement have a clarity of purpose that our secular leaders seem unable to grasp. They aim at taking over. Nothing less. We must also stop using euphemisms. Integration has failed because it never was the goal of the other side. You cannot integrate a group that believes it possesses the ultimate truth and views your liberal democracy as a temporary, decadent concession.
We are faced with a strategic threat that attacks the foundation of the state as we know it – a state that has developed into its current form as a result of millennia of history based on Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian values. Brussels must pay attention out of pure self-preservation instinct. The vacuum created by the retreat of British national identity is being filled by a militant, cross-border ideology, which treats the “European Project” with utter contempt.
To ignore the fire in the UK is to sleep while the neighbour’s house is burning. We are part of the same civilisational block, and the ideology currently dismantling the British social contract is already threatening us too. The British experiment failed because it prioritised “rights” over survival. If we do not change course as a Union, the same failure awaits us. For, even if some EU nation states refuse to submit, European cultural cohesion will have been gone.
We must learn this lesson before our own political borders are erased and the world as we know it ceases to be. It is time for a robust, politically incorrect defence of our demographic, political and civilisational integrity. We must decide if we are still a continent of sovereign nations or a collection of unprotected provinces waiting for Islamists to occupy them. The UK is a collapsing frontline. The enemy is at the gates.
Source: brusselssignal.eu
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SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second
May 09, 2026
Angus Cochrane
The SNP has won a fifth successive Scottish Parliament election, but fallen short of its target of an overall majority at Holyrood.
The party won 58 seats, with 65 needed for a majority.
Labour, who not so long ago harboured ambitions of toppling the SNP, finished a distant second on 17 seats - tied with Reform, who made their electoral breakthrough in Scotland.
The Scottish Greens won a record 15 seats - including their first ever constituency victories.
The Conservatives lost their position as the parliament's largest opposition party, suffering their worst-ever Holyrood election result to finish with 12 seats.
The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, returned 10 MSPs.
Leader John Swinney had said an SNP majority could pave the way for another independence referendum.
Overall, there is a majority of parties at Holyrood who support Scottish independence - with the SNP and the Greens totalling 73 of the 129 seats.
While the SNP is expected to return to government, it will have to rely on help from other parties to pass legislation and reinstall Swinney as first minister.
The SNP leader told BBC Scotland News that his party had won the Holyrood election "hands down".
As a result of this "commanding position", he added "the public expectation will be for me to be returned as first minister and to lead a government".
Along with an SNP victory, it had long been predicted that Reform UK - led in Scotland by former Tory peer Malcolm Offord - would become a major force at Holyrood.
The party, promising tax cuts and action to curb immigration, had never had an MSP elected before - previous MSPs had defected from other parties.
Reform's best hope of a constituency victory - where the candidate with the most votes is elected - was in Banffshire and Buchan Coast, but the party lost out to the SNP by just 364 votes.
Yet the party performed far better on regional lists - where parties that do not fare as well in constituencies can make gains thanks to a more proportional voting system.
Offord, who was elected via the West of Scotland list, told BBC Scotland News he had aimed to get more than 20 MSPs, but that the result would provide "a really good group to establish a base inside Holyrood".
The Reform leader said his party would be "challengers and scrutineers" of the Scottish government.
And he added: "We will be very focused on trying to get Holyrood focused on the day job, on devolved matters and really highlighting the issues that matter to people on the doorsteps: the schools, the roads, the day-to-day matters that Holyrood needs to be focused on."
Reform's success, fracturing the unionist vote, helped the SNP return a swathe of constituency seats despite their share of the vote declining since 2021.
Their major scalp came from Shetland, which had been held by the Lib Dems since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999.
But the SNP did not have it all its own way, losing the Western Isles to Labour, as well as seats in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The highest-profile election casualty was SNP heavyweight Angus Robertson, who lost Edinburgh Central to former Green co-leader Lorna Slater in the party's first-ever constituency win.
The Greens backed that up in Glasgow Southside, Nicola Sturgeon's old seat, with the party returning a further 13 MSPs on the list.
Co-leader Ross Greer called it a "historic day" for his party.
On a disappointing day for Scottish Labour, Anas Sarwar effectively declared defeat after just seven seats had been announced.
He told reporters that Labour had failed to overcome "a national wave of disappointment", adding: "My party is hurting today and it's my job to hold it together."
His deputy, Jackie Baillie, did manage to hold onto her seat - Dumbarton - which she has held since 1999.
Baillie backed Sarwar to continue as leader, but said voters' perceptions had been "coloured" by the performance of the Labour UK government.
The Scottish Conservatives had enjoyed 10 years as Holyrood's largest opposition party.
That position has been lost - they have dropped into fourth place, as Reform ate into their support.
Leader Russell Findlay, who was returned on the West of Scotland list, said: "While I'm pleased that we won the bulk of the constituencies we were defending, I'm disappointed to have lost so many excellent parliamentary colleagues.
"We warned repeatedly during the campaign that Reform were a gift to the SNP – and so it's proved.
"Despite not winning a single constituency seat, Reform have let the SNP sneak home in several constituencies they would otherwise have lost."
While the Lib Dems lost Shetland, they won seven constituency seats.
Alex Cole-Hamilton's party overturned a large SNP majority in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, where former deputy first minister Kate Forbes was stepping down.
Cole-Hamilton said that his MSPs would "deliver change with fairness at its heart".
Source: bbc.com
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Britons on virus-hit cruise ship will be tested before charter flight back to UK
May 09, 2026
Hugh Pym
British passengers and crew on the cruise ship hit with an outbreak of hantavirus will be tested before returning to the UK.
The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Canary Islands this weekend, with the remaining 22 Britons due to fly home on a charter flight soon after.
Five cases of hantavirus have been confirmed, including one of the three passengers who have died during a cruise on the Dutch vessel.
Two British men with confirmed cases are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa, while a third Briton is being treated for a suspected case on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.
Ahead of the ship's arrival on the island of Tenerife on Sunday, government officials have been setting out plans to fly home the British citizens.
When the vessel arrives, passengers and crew will be tested for the virus onboard by Spanish officials. If they are symptomatic they will be taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Those without symptoms will be taken straight to a chartered plane and flown to the UK as soon as possible, most likely the same day.
Although none of the remaining Britons are currently displaying symptoms, they will be asked to isolate and self-test for 45 days - either at home or at other accommodation - upon their return. No legislation will be used to impose self isolation.
Support from medical staff will be available to help carry out blood tests.
British national Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer and an expedition guide on board the MV Hondius, was evacuated to the Netherlands on Wednesday alongside a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German.
He remains in a stable condition and told the BBC that he was "fine".
Another British passenger, 69, has a confirmed case and was medically evacuated to South Africa at the end of April.
He remains in intensive care and has been said by officials to be "doing better".
Two other British nationals are already self-isolating at home in the UK after potential exposure. They are doing so voluntarily and do not have any symptoms.
They were part of a group of 30 people from a dozen nations - including seven Britons - who disembarked from the ship at St Helena in the South Atlantic on 24 April, according to operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
The operator said the first confirmed case of hantavirus was not reported until 4 May and that all guests who disembarked the ship had been contacted.
Four Britons who disembarked on St Helena remain there.
They do not have symptoms but are in contact with health officials. It is understood that medical staff will be sent to the islands to provide support.
A military plane has arrived at Ascension Island, a British territory in the South Atlantic, with supplies of testing kits, oxygen and other medical equipment. Medical personnel are expected to take these to St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.
Contact tracing is under way in several other countries for dozens of passengers who left the Dutch cruise ship before the outbreak was detected - including Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The World Health Organization (WHO) called it a "serious incident" but said the risk to the public was low, stressing the outbreak was not similar to the Covid-19 pandemic.
British people affected by hantavirus outbreak
Three Britons are confirmed or suspected to have contracted hantavirus
One of them is being treated in the Netherlands, another man is being treated in South Africa, and a third is on the remote Atlantic island of Trista da Cunha
Seven Britons disembarked the MV Hondius in St Helena on 24 April before the first confirmed case of hantavirus was reported on 4 May, with four remaining there
Two of the Britons who disembarked on 24 April have already returned to the UK and are self-isolating voluntarily but do not have symptoms
The seventh person has not yet been traced, the UKHSA has said
The origin of the outbreak is still unknown and it is not known if people other than cruise ship passengers and crew have been infected with the disease.
WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus told a news conference that the first two cases had "travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present".
One of the three deaths was a Dutch woman, 69, who left the MV Hondius when it stopped at St Helena on 24 April and travelled to South Africa where she died two days later.
Her husband died on board the vessel on 11 April, while a German woman also died on board. Neither are confirmed to have had the virus.
Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents such as mice and rats, but experts believe that in this circumstance it may have passed between humans who were in close contact.
Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, stomach pain, vomiting and shortness of breath, usually appearing between two to four weeks after being exposed to the virus.
The UKHSA said the virus was not spread through everyday contact such as walking in public spaces and that in the rare instances where a person has caught it from another person, they have had "close and prolonged" contact.
Source: bbc.com
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How Russia is quietly returning to ‘Europe’
By Vitaly Ryumshin
May 09, 2026
The West’s Overton window on Russia is slowly beginning to reopen. A revealing example emerged this week in Italy. At the Venice Art Biennale, organizers decided to reopen the Russian pavilion for the first time in four years. More importantly, it wasn’t handed over to representatives of the émigré opposition or anti-Kremlin proxies, but to actual Russian delegates who travelled from Moscow.
Predictably, the decision provoked outrage. The European Commission reportedly sent angry letters to the Biennale organisers and the Italian government. Ukraine imposed sanctions on those involved in running the pavilion. Activists quickly descended on Venice, including members of Pussy Riot, the punk group banned in Russia as extremist, who staged demonstrations against the event.
What’s striking is that, despite the pressure, the Italians refused to back down. Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco openly accused critics of censorship and narcissism. The Russian pavilion remained open.
Only a year or two ago, such a scenario would have seemed impossible. During the height of the Ukraine conflict, even the slightest positive gesture towards Russia in the West was treated as morally unacceptable, as evidence of “sympathy for the aggressor.” Any deviation from the approved line had to be condemned immediately, and those responsible risked public ostracism.
Now the atmosphere is gradually changing. Russia is cautiously being allowed back into international cultural and sporting life. The Venice Biennale is only the latest example.
Earlier this year, Russian athletes at the Paralympics in Milan were once again allowed to compete under national symbols. The pattern was similar as Ukraine protested loudly and Western activists demanded restrictions. Yet the International Paralympic Committee ultimately sanctioned Ukraine’s most disruptive athletes rather than reversing the decision. Russia’s return proved highly successful: six athletes won 12 medals, and the team finished third overall.
Taken together, these episodes suggest that attitudes towards Russia inside the EU are beginning, however slowly and reluctantly, to soften.
It is hardly surprising that Italy is at the forefront of this shift. From the beginning of the conflict, Rome adopted a distinctive position. Officially, Italy supported collective Western European initiatives. In practice, however, it maintained a noticeably more restrained attitude towards Moscow than many of its allies. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among the first major EU leaders to openly raise the question of restoring official contacts with the Kremlin.
Italian society reacted calmly. That is no accident. For decades, Italy has maintained close cultural and economic ties with Russia, and ordinary Italians have generally viewed Russians favourably.
A similar dynamic can increasingly be seen elsewhere in Europe, although in many countries it is still drowned out by the aggressive rhetoric of political elites. France offers a good example. While Emmanuel Macron continues discussing the “containment” of Russia at European summits, French audiences have enthusiastically embraced a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin performed in Russian.
More broadly, Western Europeans increasingly recognize an uncomfortable reality: Russian culture cannot simply be erased. Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky and Chekhov are not merely “Russian” figures in a narrow national sense. They are part of world civilization. Attempts to cancel them always looked intellectually shallow and culturally self-destructive.
And this is precisely where the growing demand for normalization comes from. Once people accept that Russian literature, music, and art remain legitimate parts of European cultural life, it becomes harder to argue that everything contemporary Russia produces must remain permanently quarantined as well. One thing inevitably leads to another.
Another important shift is also visible. The West no longer treats Ukraine’s position as morally unquestionable in the way it once did. There was a period when every statement from Kiev was amplified as if it carried unique ethical authority. Zelensky and his officials were treated less as political actors than as moral arbiters, but that mood has faded.
Even if the EU’s illusions about Ukraine have not disappeared entirely, expectations have become more grounded in reality. Western Europeans increasingly understand that Kiev’s total rejection of everything Russian is not simply a cultural preference but a wartime political necessity for the Ukrainian leadership. It’s part of the ideological framework through which Zelensky maintains internal unity during a prolonged conflict.
The EU’s interests are ultimately different. However hostile rhetoric towards Moscow may sound today, many in Europe understand at a deeper level that Russia is not going anywhere. Geography alone dictates that some form of coexistence will eventually have to be rebuilt.
And if Western Europe and Russia will ultimately need to find a path back to peaceful coexistence anyway, then perhaps the small steps now being taken are not merely symbolic gestures, but the beginning of something larger.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/pop-culture/639712-how-russia-is-quietly-returning/
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Starmer’s Labour Party ‘wiped out’ in UK elections
8 May, 2026
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has been decimated in parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, as well as local elections in England. However, Starmer is refusing calls to resign.
Labour was the biggest loser in Thursday’s elections. As results came in on Friday, Starmer’s party had lost more than 1,300 local council seats in England, around five seats in the Scottish Parliament, and 21 seats in the Welsh Senedd, as of 11 PM local time.
While full results are not expected until Saturday, Starmer has already admitted that “when voters send a message like this, we must reflect and we must respond.” However, although the PM has been urged to resign by some within his own party, including Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, he has dismissed the idea, stating that he is not “going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos.”
Some 5,066 out of 16,000 local council seats in England and all 129 and 96 seats in the Scottish and Welsh legislatures were up for grabs on Thursday. Labour went into the election holding 5,873 local seats, but looks set to emerge with closer to 4,000.
For the first time this century, Labour will lose control of Wales, with First Minister Eluned Morgan losing her seat and the Plaid Cymru and Reform dominating the Senedd.
Labour’s loss has not been the Conservative Party’s win. While power has typically swung back and forth between both parties for more than 100 years, the Tories are on track to lose 550 council seats, plus 16 seats in Scotland and 9 in Wales.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK was the big winner in England, picking up more than 1,200 local council seats. In some constituencies, Reform’s gains have come almost entirely at the Conservatives’ expense. Reform picked up 37 seats in Suffolk, where the Tories lost 36. Farage has spent years hammering successive Tory governments over their failure to reduce immigration and lower the cost of living, and as such has drawn the votes of dissatisfied right-wingers who once backed the Tories.
“It’s a big, big day, not just for our party, but for a complete reshaping of British politics in every way,” Farage told reporters, adding that Labour had been “wiped out.”
Zack Polanski’s Green Party has also drawn votes from former Labour supporters abandoning Starmer’s party over the prime minister’s austerity policies and support for Israel. “I said that the Green Party was going to replace Labour,” Polanski told reporters, “and we’re seeing that right across the country. The new politics is the Green Party vs. Reform.”
As of Friday evening, Polanski’s Greens had picked up 363 seats in England, five in Scotland, and two in Wales.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639680-starmer-labour-loses-election/
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North America
'Suspension of all kinetic activity': Trump announces 3-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, 1,000-prisoner swap
May 9, 2026
US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine starting Saturday, expressing hope that the temporary truce could pave the way for a long-term agreement to end the war.
The ceasefire, which will run from May 9 to May 11, will also include a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side, Trump said. The announcement comes as the US president continues efforts to end the conflict that has stretched into its fourth year.
“I am pleased to announce that there will be a THREE DAY CEASEFIRE (May 9th, 10th, and 11th) in the War between Russia and Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“This request was made directly by me, and I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” he added.
“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War.”
The announcement followed Russia’s previously declared unilateral ceasefire linked to its Victory Day commemorations on May 9. Ukraine had earlier said Moscow ignored Kyiv’s own proposal for a short-term truce earlier this week.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, fighting continued on Friday with both sides trading attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of maintaining assault operations despite the declared truce.
“Despite the declared ceasefire, the enemy has not reduced the intensity of assault operations,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine was responding “in kind”.
Russia’s defence authorities said more than 400 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted since midnight, including around 100 targeting Moscow, and stated that Russian troops were “responding symmetrically”.
A Ukrainian drone strike killed a 41-year-old man and his 15-year-old daughter in the Russian-occupied Kherson region, according to Moscow-backed officials.
Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 67 drones overnight, marking the lowest number of drone attacks in almost a month.
Ahead of the ceasefire announcement, Kyiv had dismissed Russia’s temporary truce proposal as an attempt to secure calm for the annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow’s Red Square. Zelensky had also warned foreign leaders against attending the event.
Russia had threatened a large-scale strike on Kyiv if Ukraine disrupted the parade and had urged foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital in advance.
On the streets of Kyiv, residents reacted cautiously to the warnings. “Nothing new will happen,” Vasyl Kobzar, a 40-year-old bank employee, told AFP. “I'm worried, but it's become routine, unfortunately.”
A Ukrainian lawmaker, speaking anonymously to AFP, said authorities had not introduced additional security measures. “We're just giving (the Russians) the finger,” the lawmaker said.
Meanwhile, Zelensky praised a Ukrainian strike on an oil depot in Russia’s Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow. Russia’s transport ministry also said 13 airports in southern Russia were temporarily shut after a Ukrainian drone struck an air navigation centre in Rostov-on-Don. Flights were later partially restored.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a security council meeting following the strike and described it as “an act of a terrorist nature” that endangered civil aviation.
The war, launched after Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, most of them in Ukraine. Diplomatic efforts to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II have made little progress in recent months.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/suspension-of-all-kinetic-activity-trump-announces-3-day-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-1000-prisoner-swap/articleshowprint/130966066.cms
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Iran accuses US of 'reckless military adventure'
May 9, 2026
Olivia Ireland
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the US of opting for a "reckless military adventure" every time a "diplomatic solution is on the table".
Iranians would "never bow to pressure", Araghchi said in a post on X, a day after each side accused the other of launching attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and as the US fired on more Iranian vessels.
Despite the clashes, Trump said the ceasefire was intact. It is meant to enable talks to end the war that the US and Israel launched in February.
Iran was expected to respond to US proposals on Friday, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio said during a visit to Italy.
Iran has been controlling the Strait of Hormuz as well as attacking US allies in the Gulf in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks. Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas uses the crucial waterway whose blockage has sent prices soaring.
Early this week, Trump launched - and then paused - a US military operation to help free some 2,000 vessels which have been stranded in the area since February.
The US is also maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports in order to exert pressure on Tehran to agree to the US terms - a move that has angered Tehran.
On Friday, US Central Command (Centcom) said US forces had disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers attempting to pull into an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman "in violation of the ongoing US blockade".
US forces had fired "precision munitions into their smokestacks, preventing the non-compliant ships from entering Iran," the statement said.
Centcom said US forces were preventing more than 70 tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Later on Friday the US signalled its readiness to host a new round of Israel-Lebanon talks next week aimed at halting the clashes in Lebanon between Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Israeli forces.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said the "intensive" talks on 14 and 15 May would aim to deliver "lasting security for Israel, and sovereignty and reconstruction for Lebanon".
The US and Israel say any peace deal requires full disarmament of Hezbollah, but the Shia militant group rejects the talks, which began between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington last month. A fragile ceasefire was agreed, but has been repeatedly broken by Israel and Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, US Vice-President JD Vance met Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Washington on Friday to discuss Pakistan's mediation efforts between the US and Iran.
The Qatari PM urged all parties to engage with the negotiations to address the "root causes of the crisis" and achieve "lasting peace", a statement on X from the country's foreign ministry read.
The latest US attacks on Iranian targets followed Thursday's exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz, which both sides blamed on each other.
Centcom accused Iran of launching missiles, drones and small boats against three of its warships, in what it called an "unprovoked attack".
Iran's top military command, meanwhile, alleged the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz and carried out "aerial attacks" on several coastal areas.
One of the cargo vessels attacked near the waters of Minab had caught fire, according to Mohammad Radmehr, an official in the southern Hormozgan province.
"Ten injured sailors have been transferred to hospital, and local groups and search teams are trying to learn the fate of the other sailors," Radmehr told Iranian state news agency Mehr.
US President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social overnight that the US had destroyed multiple small boats, missiles and drones, adding that "great damage" was "done to the Iranian attackers".
"Just like we knocked them out again today, we'll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don't get their Deal signed, FAST!"
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99lpn9ze8ro
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Trump is punishing Germany for not enough appeasement
8 May, 2026
Despite what Western mainstream media, think-tanks, and some propagandists with academic titles have been telling us, NATO-EU Europe has never “appeased” Russia.
In reality, the NATO-EU European elites, with Germany among the leaders, have certainly appeased the US. Because you don’t end up with the Nord Stream scandal and US President Donald Trump’s Turnberry tariff diktat without a policy of irrationally self-damaging submission driven by shortsightedness and fear bordering on panic – that is, appeasement.
And what has all that fear been about? In essence, a very simple thing: being abandoned by Uncle Sam, because NATO-EU European elites have a breathtakingly perverse relationship with the US, the greatest abuser of the sovereignty of their countries and spoiler of the prosperity of most of their citizens.
During last century’s Cold War, which ended almost four decades ago – in 1987 with the INF Treaty’s unprecedented elimination of an entire class of nuclear weapons – Western Europe’s dependency on Washington could at least claim some kind of rationale. It was dubious, but plausible on its own terms. But there is no remotely reasonable or good-faith explanation for the European elites’ failure to emancipate their countries from America after 1987 or, at the latest, 1991 when the Soviet Union itself ceased to exist.
That is why what is happening between the US and Germany now is one of those ironies of history so implausible you’d never dare invent them. And yet it’s true: Washington has just announced the largest drawdown of US troops in Germany – it’s single biggest and most important base in Europe – since the end of the great post-Cold War re-adjustment.
In the 1980s, there were still 250,000 American troops in what was then West Germany. After the end of first the old Cold War and then the Soviet Union, by 2005 that number had decreased to somewhere between 35,000 and 40,000. Which is where it has, in essence, remained.
Until now: Trump has just decreed that 5,000 – or 14% of the current number – of American troops must leave within no more than one year. That is still less than the 12,000 soldiers Trump wanted but failed to pull out during his first term, but it’s enough to matter. Especially since that departure is unlikely to be the last: Trump has already announced that US numbers in Germany will be “cut way down” and “go down a lot further.”
Moreover, medium and intermediate-range, nuclear-capable missiles – the old Tomahawk combined with Typhoon launchers and the new Dark Eagle hypersonics – scheduled to be stationed in Germany next year, a Washington-Berlin agreement never submitted to serious debate in Germany, are also shelved. By the way, being punished by “Tomahawk withholding” is now a common experience that Berlin and Kiev can commiserate about. What an achievement for Berlin: getting the Ukraine treatment from Trump’s US.
For reasonable people, the absence of the missiles is a good thing, of course: if it lasts, this US cancelation will put a damper on the plans of the most bellicose in Berlin who seem to positively relish the idea of going to war with Russia within the next decade or two. From the perspectives of these dark fantasists, however, the American change of mind hurts badly, since the NATO-EU Europeans have no comparable systems and will still need years to develop them.
The unwitting trigger of what may well be remembered as a historic turning point is Friedrich Merz, a German chancellor whose signature style has combined harsh and bossy austerity talk and mean social policy at home with almost absolute submission to Washington abroad. It was Merz’s off-the-cuff and very unguarded comments about America’s humiliation by its lost war against Iran that made Trump go ballistic. Merz, speaking before an audience of German high-school students who will now forever remember how individual incompetence can make history, has “torpedoed” – in the Financial Times’ words – his prior policy of flattering Trump no matter what.
That can mean only one of two things: Washington doesn’t have enough respect for Berlin to even discuss American plans concerning Germany. Or Berlin is not smart – or courageous – enough to raise urgent issues in a clear manner and due time. Or perhaps, of course, it means both.
Merz is no rebel by nature, to put it politely. Indeed, the only – if tragically important – thing about which Merz has ever shown any substantial disagreement with the current American leadership is the Ukraine war. Where Washington has displayed – whether in earnest or just the always devious American way – an imperfect willingness to end this perfectly avoidable and unnecessary war by some form of compromise, Merz’s Germany has led the European rebellion against too much American reasonableness. By now, it is Berlin that has become the main supporter of the proxy war, even while its own economy keeps tanking and over 17.5 million – one fifth – of Germans are “at risk of poverty and social exclusion.”
Even mainstream mouthpiece Spiegel admits that the German model of economic growth “has reached its end.” Yes, it’s that simple and that obvious. Spiegel is, of course, not honest about the causes of this not-so-sudden death: it is not merely a result of China and the US no longer buying enough German exports. In reality, cutting Germany off from competitively priced Russian energy and instead establishing an unprecedentedly severe dependency on the US and sources it can control and sabotage (as currently, the Persian Gulf suppliers) has been a decisive factor.
But that obvious fact is a taboo of German mainstream discourse because it stands for perhaps the single worst policy failure of post-unification Germany. Whether by treacherous design or criminal stupidity – it is not something its elites will ever allow to be publicly admitted while still in control of the mainstream media.
And if the German economy looks miserable, so does the German government. Merz himself, leader of a coalition so fractious its members can’t hide their shouting matches from the media, is abysmally unpopular, raking up the worst ratings of any German chancellor since there have been polls. Some 76% of Germans are dissatisfied with the government as a whole. Indeed, a majority of Germans (59%) wants fresh elections now. If they were to take place, the winner would be the new-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), which is outdistancing Merz’s CDU.
Merz is the rare leader who has mastered the art of antagonizing literally everyone and at once: his voters, most Germans in general, his coalition “partners,” and his overlord in Washington as well. And all for nothing, or at least, nothing worthwhile: Germans cannot stand him for his broken promises, his staggering arrogance and lack of empathy with a nation in considerable pain, while he has not even achieved any major reforms.
His SPD coalition partners defy him despite the fact that he has bent over backwards to accommodate them, so much so that his own party has had enough of his perverse submission to a junior partner.
And Trump hazes and punishes him not because Merz has taken a principled stand against the genocide in Gaza or the war against Iran. On the contrary, in both cases, he has been a willing follower of America’s – and Israel’s – criminal leadership. What Trump does not like about Merz is that the latter has not been perfect in his submission.
And that is how Merz does represent the worst about the current iteration of Germany’s elites. Stuck in an archaic Cold War client mentality that is not even opportunistically advantageous. To paraphrase a great French statesman: Berlin’s policies are worse than criminal, they are stupid. But they are also worse than stupid because they can’t even avoid being shamefully criminal and immoral.
Source: rt.com
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CAIR Releases Analysis of Anti-Muslim Oklahoma Politics
May 8, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released a new analysis detailing a multi-front effort to push Oklahoma Muslims outside the circle of the state’s protected civic and religious life — through legislation, through zoning, and through the investigative power of the state.
CAIR’s analysis, titled “As a Dog Returns to its Vomit: Anti-Muslim Extremism in Oklahoma in 2026,” states in part:
“In recent months, powerful public officials across our nation tried to tell Americans that our freedoms come with their conditions. We must look, speak, think, and worship in their approved ways or we do not belong.
“In Oklahoma, anti-Muslim extremists manifested these conditions by repeating a 2010 campaign seeking to essentially ban the practice of the world’s second largest religion in the state and deprive Muslims of places of worship. The effort to deny First Amendment protected freedom of religion in Oklahoma included legislative action, zoning, and the investigative power of the state.
“The First Amendment is not a privilege that government grants to Americans. It is a right that neither government nor public polling can touch. Public disfavor of a minority faith is not a credible basis to mobilize the government’s investigatory power.”
Central to CAIR’s analysis is state Rep. Gabe Woolley’s (R-Broken Arrow) resurrection of an anti-Muslim extremist state constitutional amendment that the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unconstitutional in 2012.
As introduced, Woolley’s measure used the same name and substantially the same language as the previous measure. Woolley appears to believe that a new administration combined with the passage of 16 years opens a window for him to dictate what religions Oklahomans are permitted to practice.
CAIR also notes significant organizing against a proposed new mosque, distribution of fliers disparaging Islam to target a candidate for public office, and an investigation apparently launched not on credible evidence but due to “substantial public concern,” a sentiment that is neither an indicator of wrongdoing nor an investigative lead.
In its analysis, CAIR notes that Oklahomans have practiced the Islamic faith for decades, at least back to 1977, and points to a free clinic and food pantry Muslim provide to their neighbors. This includes citing a 1995 letter written by then-Governor Frank Keating thanking Muslims contributing to relief efforts in days after anti-government extremists bombed the Murrah Federal Building. Initial reporting inaccurately pointed to a possible Middle Eastern connection to the 1995 attack, which drove backlash against Arabs and Muslims around the country.
In March, CAIR released its 2026 Civil Rights Report “The Right to be Different,” which documents a pattern of public officials using their offices to narrow the definitions of what Americans can look like, say, or believe in 2025.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-releases-analysis-of-anti-muslim-oklahoma-politics/
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White House calls Mark Hamill 'sick' after actor's Trump grave post
May 9, 2026
Paul Glynn
The White House has called Star Wars actor Mark Hamill "one sick individual" after he posted an AI-generated image of US President Donald Trump in a shallow grave, alongside the caption "if only".
The image, posted on Hamill's Bluesky account, showed Trump lying with his eyes shut, next to a headstone with the inscription "Donald J. Trump 1946-2024".
Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars films from 1977 onwards, later deleted the post and apologised. "Actually, I was wishing him the opposite of dead, but apologize if you found the image inappropriate," he wrote.
BBC News has asked the actor's representatives for a comment on the White House remarks about him.
In the now-deleted X post, Hamill - who has also voiced the Joker character in various DC Comics projects - wrote that Trump "should live long enough to witness his inevitable devastating loss in the midterms, be held accountable for his unprecedented corruption, impeached, convicted & humiliated for his countless crimes. Long enough to realize he'll be disgraced in the history books, forevermore."
The White House press team responded on the same platform, calling Hamill "one sick individual".
"These Radical Left lunatics just can't help themselves," they replied.
"This kind of rhetoric is exactly what has inspired three assassination attempts in two years against our President."
Last month, a man fired a shotgun outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, in what the authorities have said was an attempt to assassinate Trump.
Following the shooting, Melania Trump and other US officials demanded that comedian and TV chat show host Jimmy Kimmel be sacked by ABC after he joked on-air, in a parody sketch days before the shooting, that the first lady had a "glow like an expectant widow".
Mrs Trump said Kimmel's "hateful and violent rhetoric" was intended to divide the US, adding: "It is time for ABC to take a stand.
"How many times will ABC's leadership enable Kimmel's atrocious behaviour at the expense of our community?"
Kimmel rejected the criticism, saying his joke had been a reference to the couple's 24-year age difference.
"I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something we should reject," he later said on-air.
"I do, and I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it."
The president was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania in 2024, where the gunman was killed by the Secret Service.
The same year, a man was found hiding in bushes with weapons close to where Trump was playing golf. In February, he was convicted of an attempted assassination.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g723pkgllo
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Global reputation of US sinks below Russia’s rating – survey
8 May, 2026
America’s reputation has been worsening under US President Donald Trump and the country now lags behind China and Russia, an annual study commissioned by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation indicates.
The Denmark-based nonprofit was founded by former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in 2017 in response to the purported retreat of Washington from the global stage amid Trump’s first tenure. Over the past six years, the foundation has released Democracy Perception Index reports, which assess “the state of democracy” in countries across the globe.
The return of Trump to office has seen the US plummet in the rating, which ranges between +100% and -100%, with the country currently dropping to -16% from +22% two years ago. The current indicator is less than China (+7%) and Russia (-11%), according to the survey.
The Nordic countries, Sweden, Norway, and the host nation of the non-profit, Denmark, were listed as the top three nations in the latest index. Ukraine was among the bottom five, taking 95th place in the rating and measuring -23%.
The survey was conducted by Nira Data polling company between March 19 and April 21, reaching more than 94,000 respondents across 98 nations. The study, however, does not provide much detail on what exact criteria were used to compile the index.
The poor performance of the US is “saddening but not shocking,” Rasmussen stated when the report was released. The ex-NATO chief squarely blamed Trump for the situation, citing the US administration’s actions, including repeated run-ins with Washington’s European allies over various issues ranging from aggressive trade policies to the openly proclaimed intent to seize Greenland from Denmark.
“US foreign policy over the past 18 months has, among other things, called into question the transatlantic relationship, imposed widespread tariffs, and threatened to invade a NATO ally’s territory,” Rasmussen said.
The strained transatlantic ties have been further aggravated by the US-Israeli war against Iran, which has been unpopular among many European NATO allies. The conflict has led to global oil shortages, with Europe emerging as one of the worst-affected regions.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639679-us-global-reputation-sinks/
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Washington ignored intel warnings on Iran – Trump’s ex-counterterror chief
8 May, 2026
Washington joined Israel’s war against Iran despite intelligence assessments that the Islamic Republic was not developing nuclear weapons, US President Donald Trump’s former counterterrorism chief, Joe Kent, has said.
Kent, who resigned in protest as head of the US National Counterterrorism Center in March, argues that West Jerusalem dragged Washington into another “never-ending” conflict that does not serve American interests.
In a post on X on Thursday, Kent said the entire US intelligence community, including the CIA, had agreed before the escalation that Tehran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon.
He added that US agencies had also warned that Iran would target American bases across the Middle East and attempt to shut down the Strait of Hormuz if attacked by Israel or the US.
Despite this, “the narrative and agenda spun by a foreign government – Israel, won the argument and forced us into this war,” Kent wrote.
A former CIA officer, Kent claims that Trump fell victim to an Israeli misinformation campaign portraying Tehran as a threat. Similar lies were used to drag the US into war with Iraq back in 2003, he has argued.
Trump rejected those allegations last month, insisting that “Israel never talked me into the war with Iran” and reiterating that “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful.
The US and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran in late February, prompting retaliatory strikes by Tehran on regional targets and shipping routes linked to the Strait of Hormuz. Despite a ceasefire announced by Trump last month, the US military launched a wave of strikes on Iranian targets near the strait on Thursday night, while Tehran accused Washington of violating the truce and responded by targeting American warships in the area.
According to Axios, US-Iran negotiations have focused on a proposed 14-point memorandum that reportedly includes a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, phased US sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian funds, and guarantees of free transit through Hormuz.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639657-us-israel-iran-war/
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Africa
Sultan urges religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence
May 9, 2026
By Bola Bamigbola
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims to be more tolerant of adherents of other religions and become agents of peace and national unity.
Abubakar stated this on Friday in a statement made available to journalist in Osogbo, Osun State, at the commissioning of Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde Badmus Central Mosque, built by Asiwaju Musulumi for South-West States, Edo and Delta States, Olatunde Badmus, to mark his 80th birthday celebrations.
Represented by the Deputy President General (South), Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, the spiritual leader explained that true religious understanding should produce disciplined, compassionate and enlightened Muslims who build peace and not destroy it.
He said, “Let me give my Muslim brothers and sisters some advice. Let us make efforts to understand our religion properly. True religious understanding should produce disciplined, compassionate and enlightened Muslims who build peace and not destroy it.”
“Religion should transform us inwardly, turning intolerance into friendship, hostility into love and conflict into collaboration. In essence, we become agents of peace and reconciliation.”
He commended Badmus for putting in place the mosque for the use of Muslims in the area and beyond, saying apart from making available a place where people can worship God, the edifice will also enhance the progress of humanity.
In his sermon at the event, Grand Mufti of Ilorin Emirates, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa, admonished people in the positions of authority to imbibe fear of God and serve humanity with the privileges they have.
Onikijipa, who said wealth should be used for the purpose that will benefit humanity, commended Badmus for building the mosque to mark his birthday.
“God will question the rich people regarding the source of their wealth and how they administer it. If they fail to provide good answer to the two questions, they will go to hell.
“80 years is for reflection of ones life and the reflection must lead to gratitude to Allah. Part of the ways to give gratitude to God for the past years, is building of mosque, house of worship,” he said.
Speaking with the journalists after he had led the first Jummat in the mosque, the National Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Shiek Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, harped on other important roles that religious centres play on fostering communal peace.
Describing a mosque as not just a prayer hall, Ahmad said, “It is a community and resource centre. It is a place for social and community development and a place that would cater to the needs of the less privileged.
“It is an educational institution. A mosque should solve the problem of society not create problems for society. It is a go-to place for people who are in need.”
The event which was attended by friends, family members and business associates of the celebrants, also had in attendance personalities that include ex Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Grand Imam of Osun State, Shiek Musa Animasahun, legal luminary, Prof Yusuf Alli (SAN) among others.
Source: punchng.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://punchng.com/sultan-urges-religious-tolerance-peaceful-coexistence/
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Sultan commissions ultra-modern mosque built by business mogul, Badmus at 80
by Toba Adedeji, Osogbo
May 9, 2026
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commissioned an ultra-modern mosque built by renowned businessman and philanthropist, Chief Khamis Olatunde Badmus, as part of activities marking his 80th birthday anniversary, where he commended the celebrant for investing in projects that promote spiritual growth and community development.
The monarch also urged Nigerians to embrace the true teachings of religion by promoting love, unity, and collaboration among people of different faiths, saying genuine religious practice should eliminate hatred and division in society.
The Sultan, who was represented by Deputy President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, advocated for religious tolerance.
“Let us make efforts to understand our religion properly. True religious understanding should produce disciplined, compassionate, and enlightened Muslims who build peace and not destroy it. Religion should transform us inwardly, turning intolerance into friendship, hostility into love, and conflict into collaboration. In essence, we become agents of peace and reconciliation.”
Speaking on behalf of the celebrant, Executive Director of Marine and Operations, Nigeria Port Authority(NPA), Dr. Olalekan Badmus, disclosed that it has been a long-time goal for Asiwaju Badmus to build a mosque.
He said: “This gesture from our father, whose life has been a beacon of discipline, purpose, and enduring impact, is a long-time wish; we thank Allah for bringing it into fruition. Building this ultramodern mosque is a way to give gratitude to Almighty Allah, who has sustained him thus far in the journey of his life. We have learnt a lot from him, his unwavering passion for Allah and his work has shaped many lives and restore hope for many of us.”
The National Missioner of Ansar-u-Deen Society, Sheik Abdulrahman Ahmad, commended Badmus for the edifice, noting that a mosque should not be reduced to just observance of five daily prayers, saying it is the nucleus of the Muslim society, where social, economic, and political conflicts are resolved for the progress of the society.
In his remarks, a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Suliman Faruq, said: “Alms giving are highly rewarding, but building mosques is more rewarding. Quran said all those things we are pursuing on earth do not carry weight but what we are doing for him on earth. God will question the rich people about the source of their wealth and how they spend it. If they fail to provide an answer to the two, they will go to hell.”
Similarly, Executive Director, Engineering and Technical Services NPA, Engr. Abba Umar said: “It is very inspiring, and thank God for what he has done. The Prophet said whoever builds a Mosque, Allah will build a house for him in Jannah. May Allah reward him for what he has done. Everyone of us needs to learn from what he has done and try to build a Mosque.”
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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Lateef Adedimeji, Mo Bimpe name triplet sons at private Islamic ceremony
by Yewande Fasan
May 8, 2026
Actor and filmmaker Lateef Adedimeji and his wife, actress Adebimpe Oyebade popularly known as Mo Bimpe, have named their newborn triplet sons in a private Islamic naming ceremony.
The couple announced on social media that their sons, born earlier this year, are named Rahman, Raheem, and Rakeeb affectionately referred to by the parents as their “three kings.”
In an Instagram post, Adedimeji wrote: “Yesterday, we officially named our 3 kings in an intimate circle of love. Rahman, Raheem, Rakeeb”.
The naming ceremony, held in a small gathering of close family and friends, follows the couple’s well-documented journey of faith.
Adedimeji and Mo Bimpe, who married in 2021, have often spoken publicly about their gratitude for the arrival of the triplets, describing them as divine blessings.
According to him, a larger thanksgiving celebration open to well-wishers is scheduled for July, with specific dates to be announced in the coming weeks.
He added, “JULY, we’re coming for you with the big celebration! The thanksgiving party will be for everyone to witness God’s goodness! Dates will be announced soon”.
The couple has received widespread congratulations from colleagues in the Nigerian film industry and fans across the country, many of whom followed their story amid past public scrutiny.
Adedimeji also expressed gratitude to his followers on X and Twitter for their messages of support and prayers, noting that he will return to the platform soon.
The actor and filmmaker also addressed the spread of AI-generated images of babies online, clarifying that the photos are not of his children and urging the public to disregard them.
Adedimeji added: “To my X/Twitter family, I truly appreciate all the love and prayers. I’ll be back soon!.
“Also, please note that the AI-generated baby photos circulating right now are not ours. Thank you for understanding!”
Adedimeji, known for his roles in both Yoruba and English-language films, and Mo Bimpe, a prominent actress, have expressed deep appreciation to God and to supporters who stood by them.
“We are Forever grateful to God and to everyone that came to celebrate with us”, he added.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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Court Adjourns Angwan Rukuba Terrorism Case
May 8, 2026
By Richard Ogunsile
A High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has fixed July 1 and 2, 2026, for a definite hearing in the terrorism case linked to the Angwan Rukuba killings involving four defendants accused of terrorism and acts of terrorism.
The matter came up on Thursday before Justice Gidelia Fomyon of Court 9 for a Case Management Conference conducted in line with the provisions of Order 4 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2024 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.
At the commencement of proceedings, the Attorney General of Plateau State, Philemon Daffi, led the prosecution team on behalf of the state government.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mustapha Shaba Ibrahim, represented the first and second defendants alongside his legal team, while M.M. Salihu appeared for the third defendant and M.B. Abdullahi represented the fourth defendant.
The defendants standing trial are Isa Umar Ibrahim, Adamu Isa Alhassan, Auwalu Abubakar and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim.
Addressing the court, Daffi informed Justice Fomyon that the matter was scheduled for a Case Management Conference and that the prosecution was fully prepared to proceed.
The Attorney General adopted the prosecution’s case management form filed on May 17, 2026, and urged the court to issue its report.
Counsel to the defendants also confirmed readiness for the conference and adopted their respective responses already filed before the court.
The counsel for the first and second defendants told the court that their response was filed on May 6, while the third defendant filed on May 7 and the fourth defendant also filed on May 6, 2026.
Naija News reports that during proceedings, the court observed that some of the defendants had pending applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
Defence counsel argued that the notices of preliminary objection should be heard and determined alongside the substantive case at the end of the trial.
However, the prosecution opposed the request, insisting that the jurisdictional questions must first be resolved to avoid what it described as a “journey in futility.”
Daffi further urged the court to take into consideration the level of public interest generated by the case and ensure an accelerated hearing process by addressing the objections before commencement of full trial proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Fomyon held that the case management process had been duly concluded in accordance with the law.
The judge noted that although a case management report is ordinarily expected to be issued within 60 days, the peculiar circumstances of the matter and the intense public interest surrounding it made it necessary for parties to suggest convenient dates for hearing.
Justice Fomyon subsequently adjourned the matter to May 26, 2026, for the court’s report on case management.
The court also fixed July 1 and 2, 2026, for a definite hearing and witness appearances in the terrorism trial arising from the Angwan Rukuba killings.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/08/court-adjourns-angwan-rukuba-terrorism-case/
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Chad sentences eight opposition leaders to prison and bans coalition
May 9, 2026
Eight Chadian opposition leaders arrested at the end of last month were jailed for eight years on Friday, their lawyer told AFP, the latest detentions of President Mahamat Idriss Deby's critics.
The defendants, all members of the only political movement to have systematically challenged Deby's election, had been detained in the capital N'Djamena a week before a "protest and indignation march" that was banned by the government.
They were taken into custody pending the outcome of a judicial investigation into "criminal association, rebellion and illegal possession of weapons of war".
"We are not surprised but are disappointed by the court's decision, which is based on non-existent offences," said the defendants' lawyer, Moussa Adoum.
He said they would be requesting the case be taken to the criminal court of appeal in N'Djamena, "so that the court can rule without political pressure".
Since coming to power following the death of his long-ruling father Idriss Deby Itno at the hands of rebels, Deby has overseen the jailing of many of his main rivals.
Top opposition leader Succes Masra, a former prime minister, was sentenced to 20 years for "incitement to hatred" in May 2025, following a trial Human Rights Watch denounced as politically motivated.
Masra's Transformers party had called for the eight opposition leaders' liberation in early May at a rally in support of their jailed leader, during which the security forces killed a protester.
- Supreme Court ban -
Friday's sentences come a day after the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of their GCAP movement, which brings together 13 political parties and civil society representatives.
The GCAP was vocal in calling for a boycott of the ballot that saw Deby elected president in May 2024, three years after he took power on an interim basis after his father's death at the front.
In mid-April, the movement launched a call on social media for Chadians to protest against "injustice, exclusion and for the re-establishment of our rights, our liberties and of justice".
And in October, the coalition slammed the "climate of terror" caused by "intimidation" and "threats", on top of the authorities' bans on demonstrations and public meetings.
Early in the same month, Chad's parliament passed a constitutional revision allowing the president unlimited seven-year terms by a landslide.
The tinkering, which the opposition slammed as "authoritarian", could allow Deby to remain in power for life and surpass his slain father's 30-year-long rule.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/08/chad-sentences-eight-opposition-leaders-to-prison-and-bans-coalition/
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France moves to repair ties with Algeria as ambassador returns to Algiers
May 9, 2026
France's ambassador to Algeria has returned to the North African country along with a senior envoy set to commemorate a colonial-era massacre, a move seeking to improve frayed relations.
Ties between France and Algeria have been fraught since 2024, when Paris officially backed Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, where Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front.
French Deputy Armed Forces Minister Alice Rufo landed in Setif, eastern Algeria, on Friday to attend ceremonies marking the 1945 repression of mainly Muslim Algerian protesters by French colonial troops.
Rufo was accompanied by Ambassador Stephane Romatet, who will resume his duties in the North African country more than a year after being recalled from his post.
The visit marks a major sign of rapprochement between Algiers and Paris, with the Elysee saying it reflected the "determination to address relations between France and Algeria with honesty, while respecting all the memories connected to them" and to "restore an effective dialogue".
The 1945 crackdown led by French General Raymond Duval left as many as 45,000 people dead, according to Algerian figures. Pro-independence protests broke out following a rally on May 8 of that year marking the allied victory over Nazi Germany.
Tensions between Algiers and Paris worsened in 2024 over the arrest of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal -- who was pardoned last November -- and in April 2025 when an Algerian consular official was charged in France over the alleged abduction of Algerian influencer and government critic Amir DZ.
Friday's visit is the second trip to Algeria by a French cabinet ministry in less than three months, following Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's visit in February.
While both countries show signs of a diplomatic thaw, an unresolved issue remains the detention of a French sports journalist in Algeria on terror charges.
Christophe Gleizes, 37, was arrested in May 2024 while travelling to northeastern Algeria's Kabylia region to write about the country's most decorated football club, Jeunesse Sportive de Kabylie.
In June last year, he was sentenced to seven years in jail for "glorifying terrorism" after being accused of having been in contact with a member of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylie (MAK), a foreign-based group that Algiers has designated a terrorist organisation.
His family said last week Gleizes had withdrawn his appeal to Algeria's highest court, a move seen as opening the way for a presidential pardon.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/08/france-moves-to-repair-ties-with-algeria-as-ambassador-returns-to-algiers/
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Rights group calls for investigation after death of Rwanda govt critic in custody
May 9, 2026
Controversy is growing in Rwanda following the death in custody of a government critic, with rights groups and opposition figures calling for an independent investigation.
Aimable Karasira, a former lecturer at the University of Rwandadied on Wednesday from a drug overdose, according to Rwandan authorities.
Confirming the death, the Rwanda Correctional Service said Karasira was "taken to the hospital after consuming more than the recommended amount of medication prescribed by his doctor."
Prisons spokesperson Hillary Sengabo told local media Karasira "overdosed on his mental health medication just after he had been released but [was] still in the prison compound awaiting pick up by his family."
But Human Rights Watch called Karasira's death suspicious, saying Kigali bore the burden of proving he was not unlawfully killed.
The group said Karasira had been the victim harassment and persecution by the authorities for years.
A genocide survivor, had had accused the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) of killing members of his family in the immediate aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The Nyanza High Court Chamber of International and Cross-Border Crimes sentenced him in September 2025 to five years imprisonment on charges of "inciting divisions", although he had been in jail since 2021.
Karasira's lawyer, Felicien Gashema, told AFP he was "shocked" by the death, particularly as his client had been in good spirits when he saw him on Monday, ahead of his release.
Lawyer and political analyst Louis Gitinywa called for an independent inquiry and for accountability.
He said the death was "a stain on the reputation of government."
Human Rights Watch said several deaths of detainees and high-profile political critics in state custody had gone unexplained by Rwandan authorities.
"The Rwandan government has a well-established track record of evading its obligation to ensure transparent and independent investigations into the deaths of detainees and high-profile political critics in state custody," it said in a statement.
It cited the 2020 death in a police cell of singer and government critic Kizito Mihigo. He had been arrested only four days earlier as he tried to flee the country.
The government ruled Mihigo's death a suicide.
Source: africanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Malaysia and Vietnam deepen ties in digital economy and AI
8 May 2026
Both nations agree to boost cooperation in digital economy, AI, and STEM as part of broader strategic partnership, says Anwar.
CEBU: Malaysia and Vietnam are committed to expanding cooperation in the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Both nations also agreed to broaden cooperation in food security, renewable energy, and more sustainable and progressive financial governance following Anwar’s meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung here today.
“Malaysia also welcomes the signing of various strategic initiatives, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the digital economy, as well as the implementation of cross-border energy projects that can support regional growth,” said Anwar in a Facebook post today.
He said Malaysia and Vietnam will continue to strengthen their friendship, which is now driven by a comprehensive strategic partnership.
“ASEAN must continue to move forward as a platform for cooperation based on trust, sustainability and shared progress.
“In an increasingly challenging world, the strength of this region depends on our willingness to strengthen economic, educational, technological networks and collective well-being,” said Anwar.
The prime minister is leading the Malaysian delegation to the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings, here from May 7 to 8.
Source: thesun.my
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Proposed care law for ageing parents should consider support systems for families, says Sarawak minister
09 May 2026
KUCHING, May 9 — The proposed new law requiring children to care for their ageing parents must reflect the diverse realities across Malaysia, said State Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
Commenting on the federal government’s consideration of the legislation announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, she said while Sarawak welcomed the intention, she also stressed that policy formulation must be comprehensive and sensitive to local contexts.
“So we hope it would be very holistic, very extensive, taking into account the Sarawak context as well: what it is like in longhouses, in villages, and in urban areas,” she said this at a press conference called after the Special Committee on Citizenship Status (JKKSK) Article 15A Sarawak Level No. 2/2026 monthly meeting at the National Registration Department (JPN) office here.
Fatimah said while the concept aligned with cultural and religious values, implementation must consider the varying capacities of families.
“When we come up with the policy later, we also need to look at the situation of the children who need to care for their parents, and what support systems need to be in place,” she said, adding that many elderly preferred to age at home, based on findings from Swinburne research.
She also noted that senior citizens remained among the largest groups applying for welfare assistance under the Welfare Department.
“It is stated that although they have children, their children often do not have stable incomes and have their own families to support.
“That is commonly mentioned.”
Fatimah also hoped Sarawak would be included in discussions on the proposed law to ensure regional perspectives are reflected in the final framework.
On citizenship matters, the state minister said applications under Article 15A involving illegitimate children continued to make up the highest number of cases in Sarawak, with Kuching recording the most submissions, at nine, through JPN Kuching.
It was informed that a total of 32 applications were tabled during yesterday’s meeting.
Fatimah said 21 applications involved illegitimate children; those born before their parents’ marriage was properly registered.
“The second category involves foster children with 10 cases, namely children cared for by individuals other than their biological parents, while the third category involves one adopted child application.”
Fatimah added that out of the 314 applications received under Article 15A between 2024 and May 8 this year, a total of 191 involved illegitimate children, while 98 were guardianship cases and 25 involved adopted children.
“From 2024 until May 8 this year, there have been 314 citizenship applications under Article 15A, and the majority fall under the illegitimate children category with 191 cases.”
She said the committee’s role was to facilitate and verify applications before recommending whether they should be supported, while reminding applicants to ensure all required documents are submitted.
“There are cases where birth certificates are not included, making the applications incomplete.
“We need applicants to complete the forms because we do not want their applications to be rejected,” she said.
Fatimah also stressed that all final decisions on citizenship applications remained under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry, and would be subject to existing regulations and policies.
On approved applications, she said there were 141 applications between 2023 and 2024, with the applicants currently undergoing the process of obtaining citizenship certificates.
“The record shows that a total of 1,037 applicants successfully received their citizenship certificates between 2023 and April 2026,” she added. — The Borneo Post
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia’s airspace stays resilient amid rising regional flight traffic, says CAAM
09 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Malaysia’s airspace operations remain resilient in handling high volumes of regional air traffic, underscoring the country’s role as a key aviation connectivity hub in Southeast Asia, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
In a statement today, CAAM said it continues to strengthen airspace efficiency within the Kuala Lumpur Flight Information Region (KL FIR) and Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Region (KK FIR) amid evolving global airspace dynamics and increasing operational complexity.
Regional traffic data showed that Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) remains among the busiest airports in Southeast Asia, supported by several of the region’s most heavily travelled routes.
CAAM said key corridors such as Kuala Lumpur-Singapore, Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu-Kuala Lumpur continue to record high flight frequencies.
“This underscores Malaysia’s strategic role in maintaining regional connectivity and ensuring the continuity of air travel across Asean,” it said.
The authority said continuous improvements in airspace design and air traffic management have enabled both KL FIR and KK FIR to accommodate growing traffic volumes while maintaining high standards of safety, efficiency and reliability.
These include the implementation of Required Navigation Performance Approach (RNP APCH) procedures at KLIA, as well as full Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Standard Instrument Departure (SID), Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) and RNP APCH procedures in the Kota Kinabalu FIR.
CAAM said the measures enable more precise routing, reduced track miles and improved arrival and departure efficiency.
It added that the expansion of Direct Route Operations (DRO) and User Preferred Routes (UPR) allows aircraft to operate on more efficient and flexible flight paths, reducing congestion, flight times and fuel consumption.
Enhanced cross-boundary coordination also supports more adaptive routing in response to changing operational conditions.
CAAM said the adoption of advanced air traffic management concepts such as System Wide Information Management (SWIM) and Flight and Flow Information for a Collaborative Environment (FF-ICE) enables real-time data sharing, improves predictability and supports more effective collaborative decision-making across the aviation ecosystem.
Advancements in Performance-Based Communication and Surveillance (PBCS) have also enhanced operational capacity by enabling more efficient aircraft separation while maintaining high safety standards, it said.
It further noted the efficiency of KL FIR and KK FIR as critical to supporting one of Southeast Asia’s busiest aviation networks, with KL FIR serving as a central node for major regional routes and KK FIR strengthening connectivity across East Malaysia while supporting growing cross-border traffic flows. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Kedah govt to seek Sultan’s consent over fate of two Bersatu-sacked reps
09 May 2026
ALOR STAR, May 9 — The Kedah government will refer the positions of two state assemblymen — one a state executive councillor and the other a deputy speaker — sacked by Bersatu yesterday to the Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, New Straits Times (NST) reported.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said any decision involving Suka Menanti assemblyman Dzowahir Ab Ghani, who is state agriculture, plantation and transportation committee chairman, and Sungai Tiang assemblyman Abdul Razak Khamis, who is a deputy state assembly speaker, must follow due process and receive the consent of the Kedah ruler.
“We need to discuss this in detail, inform the Sultan, and proceed according to established procedures.
“They are still carrying out their respective duties at this time,” he was quoted as saying.
Sanusi said both assemblymen continued to support the Perikatan Nasional-led state government and were not in the opposition.
“They are Independent assemblymen who support the state government. Their positions will be discussed further,” he reportedly said.
He added that the state government had previously received a letter from Bersatu requesting changes to the exco and deputy speaker posts, but no action was taken then as both were still party members.
Sanusi said the matter was also discussed with Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali during the Kubang Rotan state constituency and Kedah Bersatu Aidilfitri open house on April 10.
“Now that official dismissal letters have been received, any action remains subject to the appointment procedures for exco members and the deputy speaker,” he was quoted as saying.
Yesterday, Bersatu disciplinary board chairman Datuk Mohd Radzi Manan issued a notice confirming the dismissal of Dzowahir and Abdul Razak over alleged breaches of ethics.
Source: malaymail.com
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Army deploys drones, ATVs and scramblers along Malaysia’s border ahead of Aidiladha to curb smuggling
09 May 2026
PUTRAJAYA, May 9 — The Malaysian Army (TDM) is tightening security along the country’s borders to curb smuggling and cross-border crimes ahead of the Aidiladha celebrations later this month.
Army chief General Datuk Azhan Md Othman said the force remains on constant alert to ensure the continued security and sovereignty of the nation’s borders.
“We will further tighten control at every border, especially along the northern border between Malaysia and Thailand.
“It is during festive periods like this that activities violating regulations tend to occur,” he told reporters after officiating the Army Run 2026 in conjunction with the 93rd Army Day celebration here today.
According to Azhan, existing operations along the country’s borders will continue to ensure there are no security breaches at the nation’s entry points.
Earlier, Azhan said the army would continue strengthening the deployment of personnel and assets along the country’s borders to ensure border security remains safeguarded and under control.
He said the effort is being supported by the latest technology, including the use of drones, scrambler motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and optronic equipment.
The media previously reported that the army successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 20 cattle from Thailand, estimated to be worth RM225,000, during an operation at the border on May 4.
On Army Run 2026, Azhan said the event received an encouraging response, with the participation of 6,000 people comprising members of the Malaysian Armed Forces, government agencies, the private sector, amateur athletes and the public from across the country.
“Insya-Allah, we will organise this event again next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, the army, in a statement, said the inaugural Army Run 2026 reflected the close unity between army personnel and the public, in line with the Whole of Government and Whole of Society (WoGoS) approach in strengthening cooperation for the nation’s interests.
“Besides promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, the programme also serves as a platform to strengthen ties between the army and the people through community participation in a safe, organised and patriotic environment,” it said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar to seek explanation from Amir Hamzah over Pahang allocation row, says economy must be considered
09 May 2026
PETALING JAYA, May 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will ask Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan to provide a comprehensive explanation on the federal government’s allocation for Pahang, amid renewed scrutiny over the state’s revenue matters, Bernama reported.
The matter comes after the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, called for federal intervention on issues involving the state’s revenue, including the approval of river sand exports.
Speaking after attending the Asean summit in the Philippines, Anwar said the government respects the views raised but will examine them carefully.
“As citizens, we respect (his views) and will examine them thoroughly,” he was quoted as saying.
Anwar said Malaysia is currently facing multiple economic challenges, and stressed the need to consider the broader fiscal context.
“The Tengku Mahkota should also understand the macroeconomic situation, because Pahang’s allocation is substantial, not small,” he was quoted as saying.
“While criticism can be made, I think it is reasonable to first consider the macroeconomic situation, current economic pressures, and any leakages that may be occurring,” he told Bernama.
Earlier today, Tengku Hassanal expressed disappointment over the federal government’s decision to ban river sand exports, saying it has affected Pahang’s revenue.
Speaking at the opening of the state assembly sitting, he said Pahang — which has the longest river in Peninsular Malaysia — has substantial sand deposits that require dredging to ensure smooth river flow and prevent flooding.
He added that the state previously generated tens of millions of ringgit from sand exports, but the practice has since been banned despite land and sand resources falling under state jurisdiction.
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar backs Selangor Sultan’s concerns over pig farms, cites public health risks
09 May 2026
CEBU, May 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the concerns raised by Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah over pig farming in the state were justified due to repeated excesses that have affected public health.
Speaking at a press conference after the closing of the 48th Asean Summit here on Friday, Anwar said there had been inadequate control and enforcement over certain farming operations.
“The Sultan of Selangor voiced his views because what is happening now involves too many excesses that are affecting public health and are not being properly controlled,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that, in principle, he did not agree with pig farms operating without strict regulation, particularly when located too close to residential areas.
He said one of the main concerns was the existence of farms near villages and housing areas, including in Klang.
“In principle, I do not agree with pig farming being allowed just anywhere. There must be strict controls, and the farms must be located far away from residential areas.
“It is not only Muslim residents who object to living near such areas, even Chinese residents also do not want to live nearby. So the farms should be located further away,” he said.
Anwar said that pig farming operations must also adopt modern technology and provide assurances that no environmental pollution will occur.
“If there are companies capable of meeting these strict conditions, then it would be difficult for the government to reject their applications outright.
“That is why, for the time being, let us put this matter on hold first,” he said.
On Thursday, Sultan Sharafuddin maintained his stance against allowing pig farming activities in any district in Selangor, according to a statement issued by the Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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South Asia
Any Discussions Relating to Afghanistan Should Be Represented by Islamic Emirate
May 9, 2026
The Islamic Emirate has reiterated its call for Afghanistan’s participation in regional and international meetings, emphasizing that the governing authority seeks to represent the interests of the Afghan people in all discussions that affect the country. Afghanistan should not be excluded from platforms where decisions with direct implications for its future are made.
Afghanistan’s absence from the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers’ meeting in Bishkek demonstrates the challenges of inclusion. Despite holding observer status, no representative was present. Such gaps weaken Afghanistan’s ability to contribute to regional dialogue and limit opportunities for cooperation. The Islamic Emirate has also expressed interest in joining organizations such as the SCO and BRICS, underscoring its desire for recognition and integration into broader frameworks of cooperation.
Political analysts argue that Afghanistan must be viewed beyond the narrow lens of security. Regional countries benefit when Afghanistan is treated as a partner rather than a buffer zone. Increased engagement can foster trust, strengthen economic ties, and create more effective solutions to shared challenges.
The Islamic Emirate maintains that it has ensured security across the country and therefore holds the responsibility of representing Afghanistan in international forums. Participation would allow Afghanistan to present its perspectives, advocate for its people, and contribute to regional stability. For Afghanistan, inclusion is not about prestige but about ensuring that its voice is part of the collective conversation shaping the region’s future.
Regional and global actors face a choice: continue to exclude Afghanistan or recognize the practical benefits of engagement. Constructive dialogue does not require endorsement of every policy, but it does require acknowledgment of the governing authority that holds responsibility for the nation. Ignoring Afghanistan risks isolating the country and undermining regional progress.
The way forward lies in pragmatism. Inviting Afghanistan to participate in discussions offers a path toward cooperation and stability. It ensures that decisions affecting the Afghan people are made with their representation and strengthens the collective capacity of the region to address pressing issues.
Afghanistan’s call for participation is both reasonable and necessary. The Islamic Emirate has expressed its commitment to stability and security. Now, the international community must decide whether to engage with Afghanistan as a partner in shaping the future of the region.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/any-discussions-relating-to-afghanistan-should-be-represented-by-islamic-emirate/
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Democracy, tolerance key to free media: Speakers
May 9, 2026
It is difficult to expect a positive reflection in the media without democracy, tolerance, and respect for the opposition in society, speakers observed at a panel discussion today.
They said true press freedom depends on the overall political situation, good governance, and accountability, rather than merely the development of legal or institutional frameworks. It cannot be achieved unless democratic practices are established within political parties, they added.
The remarks came at a session of the Bangladesh Journalism Conference 2026 titled “Politico-Governance Ecosystem and Free Media”, organised yesterday by the Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) at the Radisson Blu Water Garden hotel in Dhaka.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said press freedom is closely tied to fundamental rights, freedom of speech, and accountability within the governance system.
“A ‘winner-takes-all’ or zero-sum game has been going on in Bangladesh’s politics for a long time. The politics of money, muscle power, and partisanisation are controlling the entire governance system,” he said.
He observed that dissent and the disclosure of information are often treated as threats to monopoly power, negatively affecting the media. Every state institution has been subjected to extreme politicisation, he added.
Speaking about the growing influence of business interests in politics, he said the proportion of MPs primarily involved in business rose from 17.5 percent in the country’s first parliament to 60.9 percent now.
He also said Bangladesh’s performance in indexes related to democracy, rule of law, good governance, political stability, voice and accountability, civic space, and corruption remains “deeply embarrassing”.
Kamal Ahmed, consulting editor of The Daily Star, said, “The media is a part of society. If there is no democracy in society, it is difficult to expect it in the media.”
Criticising the political system, he said what exists in the name of democracy is “majoritarianism”, not genuine democracy.
“Remnants of feudalism remain in our political system. Our political leaders live like feudal lords,” he said.
Kamal also stressed the importance of financial independence for media outlets, saying press freedom cannot survive without financial self-reliance. He called for eliminating the influence of black money in politics and media and ensuring transparency in media ownership.
Journalist Shakeel Anwar said press freedom is currently under pressure globally, including in Western countries such as the United States and India.
“Governments never like scrutiny,” he said, adding that journalism becomes difficult when democratic institutions weaken.
Senior journalist Shahed Mohammad Ali highlighted political pressure inside newsrooms, saying reporters covering political parties often become aligned with those parties because neutral journalists are denied access.
Zaffar Abbas, editor of Pakistani daily Dawn, said South Asian media face similar political and social challenges. He stressed the need for greater unity and exchange of experiences among journalists in the region.
The session was moderated by The Business Standard Executive Editor Shakhawat Liton.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/democracy-tolerance-key-free-media-speakers-4171296
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Administrative Commission Holds Meeting on Ministries Issues
May 9, 2026
KABUL: The meeting of the Administrative Commission was held under the chairmanship of Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, discussing issues on ministries, Arg said in a statement the other day.
The meeting focused on issues related to the Ministry of Interior and the National Statistics and Information Authority, with members conducting detailed discussions and evaluations, the statement said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, additional tasks were assigned to relevant committees for further review and verification of agenda items, with findings expected to be presented during upcoming sessions.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/administrative-commission-holds-meeting-on-ministries-issues/
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Nearly 230,000 Families Receive Aid Nationwide in Three Months
May 9, 2026
KABUL: The National Disaster Preparedness Authority said in a statement the other day that humanitarian assistance worth 483 million Afghanis has been distributed to 229,759 families across Afghanistan during the past three months.
Qari Mohammad Yusuf Hamad, spokesperson for the authority, said that during the past three months of Dalwa, 109,000 families received food and non-food aid packages, while more than 120,000 other families were provided with direct cash assistance.
The authority stated that efforts by Emirate institutions to support vulnerable families and internally displaced people have intensified in various provinces, with hundreds of families reportedly receiving assistance on a daily basis.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/nearly-230000-families-receive-aid-nationwide-in-three-months/
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Over 140 Media Outlets Granted Licenses Since Islamic Emirate’s Return, MoIC
May 9, 2026
KABUL: The Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement the other day that the Islamic Emirate has continued its efforts to support and organize media activities nationwide.
According to the statement, 145 media outlets and media-related institutions have received operating licenses since the Islamic Emirate assumed power.
“The newly licensed institutions include five television channels, 53 radio stations and 27 print media outlets,” the statement said, adding that the Ministry of Information and Culture remains committed to managing all media organizations in accordance with the country’s media policy framework while continuing efforts to strengthen and expand the media sector.
The ministry emphasized that coordination with media institutions and the regulation of broadcasting activities remain among its key priorities.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/over-140-media-outlets-granted-licenses-since-islamic-emirates-return-moic/
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BNP earned public trust through service, says Nazrul Islam Khan
08 May 2026
JAMALPUR, May 8 (BSS) - Political and Agricultural Advisor to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam Khan said the people have placed their trust and confidence in BNP and party leaders must work to fulfill public expectations.
Speaking at a meeting of Upazila and Poura BNP leaders at the Islampur Upazila Auditorium this afternoon, he said BNP achieved victory in all five parliamentary seats in Jamalpur district for the first time after the party's establishment.
He urged party members to remain committed to public service and uphold the confidence people have shown in the party.
Highlighting the importance of agriculture, Nazrul Islam Khan called for greater encouragement for farmers to increase production. He also stressed the need to ensure fair prices for agricultural products so farmers can become economically solvent.
The meeting was presided over by MP AE Sultan Mahmud Babu.
Among others, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MPs Advocate Shah Md Wares Ali Mamun and Mostafizur Rahman Babul and Jamalpur Zila Parishad Chairman Md Sirazul Haque also spoke at the event.
Source: bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/news/385397
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Star wins global accolade for youth readership drive
9 MAY 2026
The Daily Star has clinched the third place in the Best Initiative to Bolster Next Generation of Readership category at the 89th INMA Global Media Awards 2026, a global stage that honours the most innovative initiatives in the news industry across the world.
The recognition came for the paper’s flagship youth engagement platform, the National Newspaper Olympiad (NNO).
INMA announced 60 winners on Thursday, awarding first, second, and third places in each category, with select exceptions where judges exercised discretion.
This year’s competition drew a record 960 entries from 274 leading news media brands across 46 countries, including newspapers, magazines, digital outlets, and TV and radio stations.
From 200 finalists chosen in March by an international jury of 60 media executives from 26 countries, winners were revealed in Berlin.
The Daily Star’s NNO is one of Bangladesh’s pioneering youth‑focused media literacy initiatives, designed to reconnect Gen Z and young millennials with newspapers through a competitive, participatory platform.
The leading fintech company bKash has joined hands with The Daily Star to patronise this community initiative.
In its fourth season in 2025, the Olympiad directly engaged 24,500 students from 1,274 institutions across 37 districts.
Through district rounds, journalist‑led workshops, and a national grand finale, the initiative turned newspaper reading into an aspirational skill, encouraging critical thinking, current affairs awareness, and deeper engagement with credible journalism.
Beyond reach, the programme has built long‑term readership habits, strengthened media literacy, and positioned The Daily Star as a trusted mentor for the next generation in an era increasingly dominated by fragmented digital content.
Other finalists in the category included Aftenposten (Norway), South China Morning Post (Hong Kong), Beobachter (Switzerland), and Nexo Jornal (Brazil).
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/star-wins-global-accolade-youth-readership-drive-4171001
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