Not Every Muslim Religious Institution Is Waqf Property: Madras High Court
New Age Islam News Bureau
10 June 2026
The Madras HC set aside a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board declaring a 240-year-old dargah in Chennai as waqf property.. (File photo)
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· Not every Muslim religious institution is waqf property: Madras High Court
· Over 20,000 Palestinian students killed in Israeli war on Gaza
· Saudi Arabia and Turkiye sign rail cooperation agreement
· Five men charged after man injured in West Auckland mosque
· Bowen: Trump and Netanyahu wanted to reshape the Middle East - now they risk a permacrisis
· First war crimes complaint against Sudan’s paramilitary forces filed in Kenya
· Malaysian PM Anwar urges firm stand against discriminatory tariffs, calls for stronger free trade voice
· Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 13 in Eastern Afghanistan
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India
· Hindutva groups targeting Muslims will never understand what makes biryani Indian
· ‘Conspiracy to change religious demographics’: Yogi invokes ‘love jihad’ to defend anti-conversion law; Akhilesh fires back
· Hunt on for Firozabad madrasa teacher for raping teen
· How ‘gym jihad’ added a new weight to fitness centres
· Assam: Muslim woman arrested, son detained for allegedly forcing Hindu students to eat ‘beef’ tiffin
· NIA raids in Punjab, Haryana to probe terror-gangster nexus cases linked to Pakistan-based terrorist
· India condemns PoK protest killings, says Pakistan must be held accountable
· Phone theft claim, train chase, then a fatal shove: Bareilly Police solve Bihar cleric’s murder
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Mideast
· US launches airstrikes on Iran after blaming Tehran for helicopter crash, prompting retaliation
· Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait deal with Iranian missile and drone attacks
· Israeli NGO publishes footage challenging army claims on killing of Palestinian baby
· Christian leaders in Lebanese city of Tyre call for quick international action after Israeli warning
· Deadlock in Egypt talks over Gaza disarmament
· Analysis: How long can Iran’s regime fight on?
· Syrian and Turkish defence ministers discuss strategic ties
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia to host entrepreneurship week from June 14
· Saudi FM receives Swedish counterpart
· Saudi FM receives phone call from Egyptian counterpart
· Saudi officials review KSrelief Sudan programs
· Kingdom uncovers 1,774 archaeological finds in Madinah’s Al-Mahd governorate
· Riyadh students win ReCreators award for sustainable art
· Makkah forum bridges education, tourism sector
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Europe
· NATO country to stop supplying arms to Ukraine
· Watford Leavesden Road mosque plan to return 'very soon'
· Azerbaijan’s Islamic banking sector developing, Kazakh official says
· South Wales Police pauses Islam guidance after political backlash
· Murder of Lyhanna, 11, enrages France and turns up heat on government
· Scrapping of Franco-German fighter jet leaves allies at odds on defence future
· Ukraine must compensate Germany for blowing up Nord Stream – AfD co-leader
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North America
· CAIR Calls on Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to Correct False Claim that Muhammad Ali ‘Disavowed’ Islam
· CAIR-Chicago, Local Pastor Demand Concordia University Cancel Event Platforming Anti-Muslim Speakers
· US strikes Iran in response to downing of military helicopter
· Nasa names next astronauts for Artemis Moon programme
· US blockade of Cuba killing children – UN commissioner
· 'Israel may not like it but ...': US VP JD Vance says long-term deal with Iran in interest of US
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Africa
· Shariah Council Makes Fresh Demand Amid Rising Insecurity In Nigeria
· Bandits Kill Four, Abduct 11 In Fresh Kaduna Attacks
· Tinubu Orders Urgent Return Of Nigerian Prisoners From Ethiopia
· Despite outrage, Kenya and U.S. launch $1.6 billion health programme
· Malawian migrants in South Africa prepare for repatriation as protests continue
· Kidnapped Islamic Cleric Dies in Bandits’ Captivity in Kebbi – Police Confirm
· AUC Chairperson received H.E. Al-Hussein Ould El-Naji, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
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Southeast Asia
· CAIR-LA, Indonesian Consulate in LA Host Second Annual Global Muslim Village
· Negeri Sembilan Bersatu says it will contest election under PN banner despite PAS split
· In Tokyo, Anwar pitches Malaysia-Japan alliance for chips, AI and clean energy
· Anwar: Japanese support vital as Malaysia builds AI, semiconductor and quantum capabilities
· Singapore police use AI, drones and 3D scanning to speed up crime scene investigations
· Singapore, Indonesia deepen bilateral economic cooperation through 6WG platform
· West Asia crisis pushes Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill to RM7.5 billion
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South Asia
· Karzai Condemns Pakistan Airstrikes in Afghanistan
· Iran Calls for Unfreezing Afghan Assets at UN Security Council Session on Afghanistan
· Islami Bank seeks Tk 10,000 crore support from BB
· Jamaat proposes Tk 8.4 lakh crore shadow budget
· UN reports 57% rise in security incidents across Afghanistan
· UN Presence in Afghanistan Should Focus on Afghan People’s Needs, Not Geopolitical Interests
· SAARC Report Highlights Afghanistan’s Economic Stability Despite Challenges
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Not every Muslim religious institution is waqf property: Madras High Court
Jun 10, 2026
The Madras HC set aside a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board declaring a 240-year-old dargah in Chennai as waqf property.. (File photo)
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In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has held that the existence of a dargah or Muslim religious institution does not automatically make it a waqf property, and that the Waqf Board cannot assume jurisdiction without first establishing the property's legal status under the Waqf Act.
The court set aside a resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board declaring a 240-year-old dargah in Chennai's Triplicane locality as waqf property.
It held that the Board lacked the jurisdiction to exercise control over the institution without following the statutory procedure prescribed by law.
While reading the verdict, Justice K Govindarajan Thilakavadi said, ""Mere existence of a dargah does not automatically confer jurisdiction upon the Board unless the institution is established or treated as a waqf in accordance with law."
The judge emphasised that the Board cannot extend its authority merely because a religious structure or shrine exists on a property.
He further underlined that the "Board must first establish jurisdictional facts before exercising control over the institution."
The dispute arose after the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board passed a resolution declaring the historic Triplicane dargah a waqf property.
Source: indiatoday.in
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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/madras-high-court-triplicane-dargah-not-waqf-without-legal-status-2924461-2026-06-10
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Over 20,000 Palestinian students killed in Israeli war on Gaza
June 09, 2026
A displaced Palestinian child writes on a blackboard during class inside a tent at the Mada Educational School in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, Apr. 13, 2026. (AFP)
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LONDON: The Palestinian Ministry of Education reported on Tuesday that 20,647 students in the Gaza Strip have been killed since Israel launched its war on the coastal enclave in October 2023.
During the same period, Israeli forces or settlers killed 128 school students and 39 university students in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestine News Agency.
The ministry confirmed that Israeli forces have destroyed 63 university buildings, 179 government-run schools, and severely damaged another 105 schools managed by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees across the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli campaign has also resulted in the deaths of 1,054 teachers and educational staff members in Gaza. Of those killed in Gaza, 19,101 were school students, while the remainder were university students.
Over 660,000 school-aged children in Gaza have not received formal education for over two years, as 97 percent of educational buildings there were targeted by Israeli forces, according to UNICEF.
Some students have recently returned to tent classrooms in makeshift schools but with a reduced curriculum that includes Arabic, English, mathematics, and science.
Israel currently faces charges of committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice. The International Criminal Court, meanwhile, has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former minister of defense, Yoav Gallant, as well as for three Hamas leaders linked to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, who were all later confirmed dead.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2646573/middle-east
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Saudi Arabia and Turkiye sign rail cooperation agreement
June 09, 2026
Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in the railway sector, as the Kingdom continues to work to expand its transport infrastructure and logistics capabilities. (SPA)
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in the railway sector, as the Kingdom continues to work to expand its transport infrastructure and logistics capabilities.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Riyadh by the Saudi minister of transport and logistics services, Saleh Al-Jasser, and the Turkish minister of transport and infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It seeks to enhance collaboration on railway technologies, specifications and innovation, and promote the exchange of expertise in the design, operation and maintenance of rail projects. The countries will also cooperate on infrastructure development, engineering standards and rail safety, and explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of the sector.
The agreement includes provisions that will help support research and development activities, facilitate the exchange of technical knowledge, and encourage the adoption of advanced technologies designed to improve the efficiency and performance of railway networks.
One key focus of the partnership will be the development of national talent through specialized training programs and railway academies, alongside efforts to localize industries linked to the rail sector and strengthen its competitiveness.
Saudi officials said the agreement supports the objectives of the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and the Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, which aim to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.
It comes amid growing cooperation between the two countries in a range of sectors, including transport, infrastructure, technology and investment.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2646580/saudi-arabia
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Five men charged after man injured in West Auckland mosque
10 Jun 2026
Five men have been charged after a serious assault at a West Auckland mosque.
Police were called to Masjid As-Salam on Akatea Rd, Glendene, about 7.20pm last night.
One man was found with head injuries and taken to Waitakere Hospital in a moderate condition.
A 45-year-old man arrested last night has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and was due to appear in the Waitakere District Court today.
Four other people were spoken to this morning, Acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie, from Waitemata CIB, said.
The men, aged between 19 and 22, had been jointly charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
One person suffered injuries in an alleged attack police are describing as family harm at Masjid As-Salam in Glendene.
The events involve those known to each other, Goldie said.
“I can reassure the community that this is a family-related dispute and is not an incident where individuals have been targeted.
“Violence is unacceptable in our community, and these five men have now been put before the court.”
Source: newstalkzb.co.nz
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https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/five-men-charged-after-man-injured-in-west-auckland-masjid-as-salam/
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Bowen: Trump and Netanyahu wanted to reshape the Middle East - now they risk a permacrisis
June 10, 2026
Jeremy Bowen
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu believed that victory over Iran would reshape the Middle East.
The region is being reshaped. But not in the way they expected. The Islamic Republic of Iran has not been defeated. The risk now is of a long, attritional permacrisis that will lurch in and out of outright conflict.
The Iranian regime has proved to be a much harder nut to crack than Trump and Netanyahu had assumed. Their judgement was wrong, and they have lost control of the consequences.
The latest of those is Iran's downing of the US Apache helicopter. It is another reminder that Iran's rulers can still hurt the Americans and will not budge in their determination to come out of this war on top. For them, victory equals survival and enhanced deterrence, in the shape of acknowledgement of their control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategic waterways.
The president and his generals will try to calibrate their response to the loss of the helicopter, to show just as emphatically that they cannot be pushed around, but at the same time to preserve the sluggish and so far unproductive diplomatic process. The Apache's crew survived. Had they been killed, a much harsher response would have been likely.
Trump has been banking on a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and agree the terms of much longer-term talks over the big issues, starting with Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and its wider nuclear plans.
The war is unpopular in America and he wants a way out he can present as a victory. It is proving to be a tough challenge.
Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau are learning an old lesson.
Ever since humans discovered the art and curse of war, leaders have found out that it is easier to start a war than to end one with a clear victory.
When they led their countries to war with Iran on the last day of February, both issued video statements, choosing words that reflected an assumption that a moment of historical change was coming. The regime that had ruled Iran since the Shah was overthrown in 1979 was on the way out.
In the small hours of the morning at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort, Trump, picked up on the promise he had made to Iranian opponents of the regime in January that "help is on its way."
"To the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."
The next morning, Netanyahu stood in the sunlight on the roof of the Kyria, Israel's high rise defence ministry in central Tel Aviv, to record his address. Like Trump, he spoke as if victory was certain.
"This coalition of forces allows us to do what I have yearned to do for 40 years: smite the terror regime hip and thigh. This is what I promised – and this is what we shall do."
Throughout his political life, Netanyahu has argued that the real threat to Israel comes from Iran, not from the Palestinians or his country's Arab neighbours. He had tried and failed to get other American presidents to join him in attacking Iran. Trump was different.
For more than two years, since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, Netanyahu had told Israelis that the power of their military, backed by America, would vanquish their enemies and usher in a richer and safer future. Force, not diplomacy, was the answer.
Netanyahu had the air of a man whose moment had come. In contrast, when he faced the cameras after Trump told him to cancel his plans to attack Beirut on Monday, the leading Israeli newspaper columnist Ben Caspit said he looked like a deflated balloon.
Caspit is one of the prime minister's most vociferous critics. But it is clear that Netanyahu's strategy of using force to bend the region to his will has failed.
Trump expected a quick victory. He had watched with delight as the US military abducted the president of Venezuela and his wife, sent them to a jail in New York and installed a compliant successor in Caracas. Textbook regime change, he believed, way better than the forever wars fought by his predecessors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran would be next on the list.
Both men must be wondering what went wrong. The United States has the world's most powerful military. Israel is the superpower of the Middle East.
Trump and Netanyahu saw a regime in Tehran reeling from economic crisis caused by sanctions, mismanagement and corruption. Israel had delivered hammer blows to its allies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Its other key ally, Bashar al Assad had been deposed as president of Syria and fled to Moscow. In January the regime crushed huge demonstrations against it by killing thousands of Iranian citizens.
They underestimated the resilience, ruthlessness and guile of the Islamic regime. They believed that killing its supreme leader and his closest lieutenants would cause the regime to collapse from within.
They overestimated the efficacy of military force against a regime that had faced repeated threats for almost 50 years, had engineered itself to survive an attack and had thought hard about a conception of national security backed up by its religious and ideological convictions.
The Gulf oil states, allies of the US, and in the case of the UAE and Bahrain of Israel too, have suffered hammer blows. It is not simply lost revenue from petrochemicals and their byproducts, like fertiliser. They have built their futures around creating an oasis of stability and multi-billion-dollar business in the Gulf. Potential investors, and tourists, see the war turning that vision into a mirage.
The Iranian regime believes its survival and the ease with which it put a chokehold on the world economy by closing the Strait of Hormuz and attacking its Gulf Arab neighbours can be translated into long-term deterrence against the US and Israel.
The men who have replaced the old guard of Iranian leaders killed by Israel and the US are just as ideological as their predecessors but much more willing to take risks in what they see as an existential struggle. They believe that words alone will not stop more attacks in the future from the US or Israel. Instead, they want to demonstrate that more attacks on Iran will lead to painful consequences.
A key part of its strategy is linking the war in Lebanon with the war in the Gulf. The regime's message to Trump is that he cannot hope for any kind of deal if Israel continues to bomb Lebanon and to try to destroy Hezbollah, the militia and political movement that it has nurtured since the 1980s as its forward defence against Israel.
By curbing Israel's plans to attack Beirut, on the grounds that a deal was near (a claim he has made before, erroneously), Trump has shown implicitly that he accepts the link between what happens in Lebanon and what happens in the Gulf.
On Monday, Netanyahu said he would not accept the linkage. It was he said, "intolerable and completely unacceptable." His problem is that Trump will put his interests and desire to end the war ahead of Netanyahu's determination for it to continue until he can declare the Islamic regime in Tehran has been crippled.
Netanyahu cancelled a planned attack on Beirut, but since then Israel's military, the IDF, has continued to hit southern Lebanon very hard.
When the Strait of Hormuz was closed in March, there were dire warnings of global economic consequences if it was still closed by June.
Not only does the vital waterway that was open until the US and Israel attacked Iran remain closed. Without remarkable diplomatic breakthroughs, it is hard to see it reopening any time soon.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjdgl548x3eo
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First war crimes complaint against Sudan’s paramilitary forces filed in Kenya
June 09, 2026
NAIROBI: Victims of alleged atrocities linked to the war in Sudan on Tuesday asked prosecutors in Kenya to investigate allegations of torture and sexual violence by members of a notorious paramilitary group.
It is the first attempt to prosecute members of the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, the paramilitary group fighting against the Sudanese military for over three years, outside Sudan.
The group, which has been accused by rights organizations of committing atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity, has ties with Kenya’s government, while Kenyan President William Ruto has previously hosted RSF leader Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo for talks that he said were aimed at advancing peace efforts in Sudan, a move that sparked diplomatic tensions.
The complaint filed by the global legal organization Legal Action Worldwide details torture and sexual violence committed by RSF members at various locations in and around Khartoum between April 2023 and March 2025 when the Sudanese capital was controlled by the paramilitaries.
The 12 victims are urging Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions to approve charges against 10 members of the RSF, some of whom are believed to be residing in Kenya.
According to this latest complaint, the victims were held in inhumane conditions, with little or no food, limited access to water, and inadequate sanitation facilities. They allege that they were beaten, burned, suffocated, subjected to electric shocks, and sexually abused, including through rape. Some were reportedly forced to transport dead bodies from detention facilities.
Legal Action Worldwide founder Antonia Mulvey said Kenya should consider prosecuting the alleged crimes under the country’s International Crimes Act of 2008.
“For Kenya, despite the sensitivity of the matter, it is an opportunity to lead in the fight against impunity. Authorities can now demonstrate the strength of the country’s investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial institutions in addressing the most serious international crimes, regardless of where they are committed,” she said.
The RSF has been at war with the Sudanese military since April 2023, when tensions between the two sides erupted into open conflict in Khartoum and other parts of the country.
The group emerged from the notorious Arab Janjaweed militias, which were accused of widespread atrocities in the early 2000s against communities identifying as East or Central African in Sudan’s western Darfur region.
The RSF has been accused by human rights organizations and the United Nations of committing atrocities during the conflict that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in Darfur, where the group maintains a strong presence.
Mulvey argued that the victims are unlikely to obtain justice in Sudan because the country’s justice system is currently “inaccessible, unavailable, and ineffective.”
She said the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction is limited to Darfur and does not extend to crimes committed in or around Khartoum.
Willis Otieno, a lawyer in Kenya who filed the complaint locally, said there was information suggesting that some of the persons of interest have links to Kenya and that the country possesses the legal framework necessary to investigate and prosecute such crimes.
Otieno described Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as competent, adding: “We have faith that the office will act. For now, let’s treat them with that goodwill.”
The RSF has in the past been accused of mass killing, gang rape, and ethnicity-motivated crimes, most recently in October during an assault on the Darfur city of El-Fasher, in which over 6,000 people were killed in three days. UN-commissioned experts have described the offensive as bearing the “hallmarks of genocide.”
In one of its last decisions, the Biden administration accused the group of genocide and imposed sanctions of its commanders, including Dagalo.
The war killed at least 59,000 people over the course of three years, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a US-based war tracking group which said the toll was almost certainly undercut given the difficulties in reporting.
The conflict has created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with about 34 million people — almost two out of every three Sudanese — need assistance, according to the UN.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2646562/middle-east
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Malaysian PM Anwar urges firm stand against discriminatory tariffs, calls for stronger free trade voice
10 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Sovereign countries should not be timid in defending free trade and opposing punitive tariffs or discriminatory policies, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said as a sovereign interdependent country, Malaysia took its position on tariffs very clearly, and has been appealing to countries to be more affirmative and more pronounced in their views on free trade and multilateralism.
“Do we agree that there should be punitive tariffs or discriminatory policies? (No,) we don't. Do we support free trade? (If yes), then say it as a policy.
“Of course, you know the limits, but you (still) have to say it. Otherwise, you are not contributing to this new thinking,” he said during a question-and-answer session following his keynote address at the Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, Japan, today.
The session was broadcast live on television and social media. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/06/10/anwar-urges-firm-stand-against-discriminatory-tariffs-calls-for-stronger-free-trade-voice/223204
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Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 13 in Eastern Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
June 10, 2026
Pakistan carried out airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 13 people, including 11 children, a woman and an elderly person, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Wednesday, marking the latest escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries.
Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost and Paktika, leaving 14 others wounded. He published photographs on social media and accused Islamabad of targeting residential areas.
Local residents reported hearing multiple powerful explosions overnight in eastern and southeastern Afghanistan, while Taliban authorities began assessing casualties and damage in the affected areas.
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai condemned the strikes, saying Pakistan should abandon policies of conflict and destruction toward Afghanistan and instead pursue good-neighborly relations and regional cooperation.
The latest incident comes amid growing tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban administration over security concerns along their shared border. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan-based militant groups of carrying out attacks inside Pakistan, allegations the Taliban have denied.
A recent report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the U.N. Secretary-General said cross-border violence and military operations have caused significant civilian casualties in Afghanistan. The report documented hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries linked to clashes and strikes involving Pakistan during recent months.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban government have deteriorated since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Border disputes, militant attacks, and Pakistan’s deportation of large numbers of Afghan migrants have strained ties, despite repeated diplomatic contacts between the two sides.
The strikes also come as Afghanistan faces mounting humanitarian challenges, with the United Nations warning that millions of people remain dependent on aid while large numbers of returning migrants place additional pressure on already fragile communities and public services.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-airstrikes-kill-13-in-eastern-afghanistan/
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India
Hindutva groups targeting Muslims will never understand what makes biryani Indian
YUNUS LASANIA
10 June, 2026
I have always feared that, among other things, biryani would become another casualty of Hindutva groups who love associating it with Muslims. And with Hyderabad’s obsession with it, this was just waiting to happen.
An X user posted a video saying biryani should not be sold because it is from Hyderabad, and that local shops that sell vegetarian biryani should call it pulao. In all honesty, I wish biryani had originated in Hyderabad, because then we would have the perfect city to claim it.
Anyway, this verbal diarrhoea got me actually thinking about biryani itself, because despite it not being from Hyderabad, it is an absolutely omnipresent dish. In fact, it is so good in the city that even vegetarians do not want to feel left out — and they don’t want pulao, but want the same thing with vegetables.
How biryani came to India
Let’s make a few things clear first. Biryani’s origins can be traced to Central Asian kitchens, but the dish is essentially Indian. In fact, pulao as we know it is generally associated with being vegetarian, but in Central Asia it is largely a dish of slow-cooked meat and rice.
The techniques for biryani came to India via migrants from the region and even Persia. The dum technique used to make it was apparently perfected in the royal kitchens of the Mughals. The dish eventually made its way into states and cities under the Mughal Empire.
Hyderabad and the Golconda kingdom (covering most of present-day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh), founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of the Golconda dynasty (1518–1687), were eventually conquered by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Nizams of Hyderabad were appointed Mughal governors of South India, and they would have brought the dish along with them, as their khansamas travelled with them.
It is in the royal kitchens of the Nizams of Hyderabad that the Hyderabadi version of biryani was perfected. While the dish itself would have been restricted to the elite, or served at functions, there is also another angle to how biryani became popular in Hyderabad.
Thanks to the presence of hundreds of Irani cafés, many of which served as cultural centres, biryani soon became a favourite among locals. Irani café owners have told me how different and meat-heavy the dish was in cafés and Irani restaurants until a few decades ago.
Apparently, the meat-to-rice ratio was 65:35, and not the 20:80 ratio it is today.
Kalyani biryani and Hyderabad
Another story about how a version of biryani, called Kalyani biryani, became famous is also very interesting and dates back to the pre-Independence era. The Nawabs of Basavakalyan under the Nizams (now in Karnataka) were known for extending their hospitality by feeding people from their dominions whenever they visited Hyderabad for legal work (as the courts and High Court were located there).
People would be served mutton biryani, but apparently the arrangement was affected after the annexation of Hyderabad in 1948, as many of the Nawabs faced financial difficulties. That is when the Kalyani Nawabs, as they were known, substituted mutton with beef, creating a different version of biryani called Kalyani biryani, which remains fairly popular in the city today.
And with Telugu people forming a significant part of the elite under the Nizams, biryani essentially ended up becoming an all-pervasive dish. Whether you are at a Hindu, Muslim or Christian wedding in Hyderabad, biryani will always be present.
It’s also an easy dish to make for large numbers of people at one go, which is why it is so readily prepared. Cooks who make biryani at weddings often can’t cook for smaller numbers, which is pretty interesting. I remember one man whom we hired to cook for a small group of 20, but he insisted on using his regular degh (cauldron).
Either way, one can visit the fanciest place in Hyderabad or the smallest hotel, and both will have biryani. The dish may vary in taste, quality and preparation, but it has been democratised in the sense that the elite have not distanced themselves from it despite its becoming a common dish. Such is the aura of biryani.
Source: theprint.in
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https://theprint.in/opinion/hyderabad-heart/hyderabadi-biryani-history-hindutva/2955673/
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‘Conspiracy to change religious demographics’: Yogi invokes ‘love jihad’ to defend anti-conversion law; Akhilesh fires back
June 10, 2026
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday renewed his government’s defence of the state’s anti-conversion law, saying people must remain vigilant against what he described as “love jihad”, which he alleged was aimed at changing religious demographics.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the nine-day Shri Ram Katha Mahotsav in Lucknow, the chief minister said concerns over the issue had been raised years ago but were not acted upon until Uttar Pradesh enacted a stringent law in 2020.
The remarks come amid a continuing political and legal debate over anti-conversion laws enacted by several states. While supporters argue such laws are necessary to prevent forced or fraudulent religious conversions, critics have challenged them in courts, contending that they infringe upon constitutional freedoms.
Referring to observations made by the Kerala High Court in the past, Adityanath said the issue had been flagged as early as 2009 and 2011.
“The Kerala High Court had expressed concern in 2009 and 2011 about this, that it is a conspiracy to change religious demographics. We never paid attention to it. We enacted a strict law on this in Uttar Pradesh in 2020. We must remain vigilant. Whoever has made Ram the ideal of their life, their welfare has been ensured,” he said.
Akhilesh Yadav questions government’s commitment to Sanatan values
The chief minister’s remarks drew a response from Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who accused the government of straying from the principles of truth and brotherhood associated with Sanatan Dharma.
Speaking to reporters, Akhilesh alleged that the state’s leadership was not practising the values it often invokes in public discourse.
“Our CM has no love for affection, his love is for land. Just check the records in Gorakhpur to see in whose name the highest number of property registrations have been made. Sanatan Dharma shows us the path of love, brotherhood and represents the path of truth. Yet, the head of the government does not follow the path of truth,” he said.
RSS chief had also raised issue of ‘love jihad’
The issue was also referenced earlier by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who said efforts to prevent “love jihad” should begin within families while addressing the ‘Stri Shakti Samvad’ programme in Bhopal.
In December 2025, Bhagwat had also spoken against live-in relationships and stressed the importance of family structures in society.
Anti-conversion laws remain under legal scrutiny
Several petitions challenging anti-conversion laws enacted by Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh are pending before courts.
The petitioners have argued that provisions in laws enacted by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand against alleged “love jihad” and the punishments prescribed under them are unconstitutional and violate the basic structure doctrine.
Those challenging the laws have maintained that the provisions are unconstitutional and infringe upon fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens.
Source: thestatesman.com
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Hunt on for Firozabad madrasa teacher for raping teen
Jun 09, 2026
A cleric at a mosque in Firozabad city was booked for raping a teenaged student. A case was registered at Ramgarh police station of Firozabad against the cleric on Sunday but the accused is on the run.
Superintendent of police (city), Firozabad, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said on Tuesday that teams have been constituted and efforts are on to arrest the absconding cleric.
The case was registered under section 65(1) (rape with minor under age of 16), 351(2) (Criminal intimidation) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) of BNS beside section 5F and 6 of Pocso Act on complaint of the mother of the girl, who used to go to the madrasa attached to the mosque.
The mother complained that her 14-year-old daughter used to go to the madrasa to learn Urdu and had gone to fetch water from water cooler in the mosque at about 1 pm on Sunday when Zakir, a Hafiz at the mosque, grabbed the girl and dragged her into his room and raped her.
According to the FIR, the victim tried to shout for help but the accused struck the victim and threatened her of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone.
Later, the girl informed the police at Dial 112 but the accused had absconded by then and continues to be on the run.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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How ‘gym jihad’ added a new weight to fitness centres
Jun 9, 2026
The gym was supposed to be neutral territory where people arrived in all shapes and sizes to sweat through their weights and workouts. Nobody cared what you were called or who you prayed to. Over the past few months, however, a mix of criminal cases and viral claims has brought communal suspicion into a space that once seemed insulated from it.
Like ‘love jihad’, ‘thook jihad’, ‘land jihad’ and ‘UPSC jihad’, the latest addition to this growing vocabulary of compound nouns is ‘gym jihad’. In January, police in Mirzapur alleged some gym owners and trainers were using fitness centres to befriend women, film compromising videos and pressure them into conversion. In March, a Saharanpur gym trainer was accused of drugging a nursing student's protein drink and sexually assaulting her.
By April, right-wing groups in Karnataka's Hubballi were protesting outside a police station, claiming gyms had become hubs of ‘love jihad’. In the last four years, more than a dozen such cases have surfaced. On May 19, authorities in Mirzapur booked 10 gym operators under the Gangsters Act.
The most recent flashpoint unfolded in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, where the family of 30-year-old Ayush Malik accused a female gym trainer-physiotherapist of a calculated conspiracy. According to the police complaint filed by Malik’s father, a pharmaceutical businessman, the accused trainer engineered a relationship to brainwash his son, coercing him into a secret nikah and a new identity as Mohammad Ali to usurp the family's property.
The narrative fractured when Ayush publicly rejected the allegations, asserting he converted entirely of his own free will after a decade of studying Islam. Despite his defense, local authorities registered an FIR under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act and arrested both the gym trainer and her father.
In such cases, even before the charges can be verified, social media amplifies the narrative. One viral video last month claimed a Delhi-based Muslim gym instructor was using personal training sessions to advance an agenda. Fact-checkers later debunked the clip as manipulated, but not before it spread widely through WhatsApp groups.
The resulting anxieties rarely manifest as overt violence. Gurgaon-based fitness enthusiast Himesh Nanda (name changed) says he began noticing more overt religious symbolism among trainers after the UP cases gained traction online.
“You’ll see the red and yellow thread — the kalawa — very prominently on wrists now,” he says. “And more conspicuous displays of tattoos with imagery like Mahadev, Bajrangbali, Om, Ram, etc. In my knowledge, they are more closely associated with akharas and pehlwani culture than with urban gym chains.”
In Hubballi, a 23-year-old Muslim gym trainer, Sameer Mulla, was assaulted by local groups over allegations involving a young Hindu woman. While right-wing outfits branded the case as ‘love jihad’, city police and the woman’s family cited rape, blackmail and abduction. “The fact is that we have a victim of sexual abuse and an accused person, and we have taken necessary legal action. A fitness trainer is a fitness trainer. Which community or caste a person belongs to is not a matter of concern for us,” TOI was told by police commissioner N Shashi Kumar, who led the investigation.
In Bhopal last year, right-wing activists demanded gym owners pledge not to employ Muslim men and organised mass recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa inside gyms. The controversy escalated when a police officer was filmed ordering a gym to ban Muslim staff and clients. Senior officials later suspended the sub-inspector for issuing the directive.
“But suspension hardly works. There is always a new fever in MP. Sometimes it’s ‘thook jihad’ because of an unverified viral video of a fruit vendor gargling water over a fruit cart, or it’s ‘land jihad’ or ‘UPSC jihad’. The community is routinely targeted to deflect attention from other administrative issues,” says Bhopal-based advocate Deepak Bundele, who has routinely petitioned the NHRC on alleged ‘love jihad’ cases.
Members of the community have also challenged the cases in court. “Under what law have the gym owners been arrested in Mirzapur,” asks Anas Tanwir, founder of the Indian Civil Liberties Union. The Supreme Court is reviewing the Gangsters Act used in the case, but Tanwir says that despite earlier rulings that allegations alone are insufficient grounds for arrest, youth remain in jail for indefinite periods.
In north Delhi's Wazirabad, Sultan Shaikh insists his gym is “not a battleground in the culture wars”. He has run GS Fitness, a neighbourhood gym, for five-six years. His Instagram reels mix workout clips with messages against violence, hate and vandalism, and draws on Hindu religious values. “People hear rumours, then they go shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and vandalise places. I tell them to first understand what Ram actually stood for.”
The response is often hostile. “People comment asking if I’m running a madrasa or a temple in the name of a gym,” he says. But Shaikh insists that “all this ‘gym jihad’ nonsense is political tactics.”
Yet gym-goers like Prachi, a Pune-based fitness enthusiast, proudly says her gym does not hire Muslim trainers. “That makes me feel safe,” says the 35-year-old IT professional, who also recounts how her husband’s friend “saved” a cousin in Vidarbha from a Muslim gym trainer after they had an affair. “When a Hindu trainer misbehaves with a Hindu girl in a gym, at least there is no added fear of conversion, right?”
Source: indiatimes.com
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Assam: Muslim woman arrested, son detained for allegedly forcing Hindu students to eat ‘beef’ tiffin
Jun 10, 2026
A Muslim woman was arrested and her son detained on Saturday after he allegedly brought beef in his school tiffin and allegedly forced two Hindu classmates to eat it in Assam’s Goalpara district, The Times of India reported on Sunday.
The mother, who had cooked the meal, was charged with criminal conspiracy, wrongful restraint, deliberate and malicious intention of outraging religious sentiments and criminal acts done by several persons, the newspaper quoted the police as saying.
The first information reports were filed based on complaints by the families of the Hindu students.
The incident occurred at a higher secondary school in Krishnai town on Friday and sparked tensions in the communally sensitive district, according to the newspaper.
Private consumption of beef is permitted in Assam. It is prohibited in public spaces such as restaurants and at community events.
The police were questioning four other Muslim students who also allegedly tried to feed beef to their classmates, The Indian Express reported.
The four boys and the student who has been detained could be expelled, according to the newspaper. A decision would be taken at a meeting of the School Management Development Committee on Tuesday.
Mustafizur Rahman, the father of one of the four students, claimed that the boy who has been detained had brought beef biryani in his tiffin and shared it with his Muslim classmates, including his son.
The boy had also offered it to two other Hindu classmates, Rahman stated.
“He had only offered the rice, not the meat,” he told Scroll. “The Hindu classmates didn’t eat and ran towards the teacher’s office.”
Rahman added: “The headmaster heard the matter and resolved it. He had asked them not to tell this to their parents. However, the Hindu students told their parents and the [Hindutva group] Bajrang Dal and RSS [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] people got to know.”
Hindutva groups held a protest the following day, after which the mother was arrested and the boy was detained, he added.
The school has directed that only vegetarian food be brought in tiffins, The Indian Express reported.
The newspaper quoted District Commissioner Prodip Timung as having directed the inspector of schools that “students should at most be allowed to bring eggs to school” and that fish should not be allowed.
Source: scroll.in
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NIA raids in Punjab, Haryana to probe terror-gangster nexus cases linked to Pakistan-based terrorist
09 Jun 2026
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday searched multiple locations in Punjab and Haryana in connection with three terror-gangster network cases related to Pakistan-based terrorist Shahzad Bhatti.
NIA teams conducted coordinated searches at multiple premises at 18 locations in nine districts of the two states and examined several persons to gather relevant information.
They also seized several digital devices and documents, along with information linked with various communication networks, financial transactions and activities of persons under the agency's scanner in the three cases, a statement issued by the probe agency said.
All the information and evidence collected during the searches have been sent for scrutiny as well as forensic and technical examination to unravel the larger cross-border conspiracy.
Notices have been issued to certain individuals to join the investigation for further examination as part of NIA's ongoing probe aimed at unravelling the larger conspiracy behind the network operated by gangster-turned-terrorist Bhatti from across the border, the statement said.
"Today's searches were focused on identifying Bhatti's associates and others linked with the terror conspiracy related to all the three cases," it said.
NIA's investigation so far in the case has traced the March 2025 grenade attack at the residence of social media influencer Roger Sandhu in Jalandhar, Punjab, to Bhatti.
In April 2026, NIA had chargesheeted Bhatti as an absconder, and one other accused in the case.
The anti-terror agency has further found that Bhatti had also masterminded the November 2025 explosion at the Women Police Station, Sirsa, Haryana and the January 2026 blast at Baldev Nagar police station in Ambala, Haryana.
In the Sirsa case, NIA had chargesheeted nine individuals, including Bhatti and another Pak-based handler Sohail Ahmad alias Sohail Baloch, in May 2026.
The Baldev Nagar police station case relates to a car bomb explosion, in which one arrested accused was found to have been in touch with Bhatti.
Investigations in these cases are continuing as part of NIA's aggressive efforts to trace all linkages in the terror attacks, the statement added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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India condemns PoK protest killings, says Pakistan must be held accountable
09 Jun 2026
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday criticised Pakistan over what it described as "brutality" against people in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and urged the international community to hold Islamabad accountable for alleged human rights abuses.
India's response came amid reports that more than 20 people had been killed in police action against protesters in several parts of PoK.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal accused Pakistan of making "desperate" attempts to cover up its "failings" and divert attention from alleged human rights violations.
Speaking at a media briefing, Jaiswal expressed concern over what he described as a heavy-handed crackdown by Pakistani security forces on civilians protesting against economic hardship and the lack of basic rights in the region.
"We continue to see in this context, a pattern of fake news and videos emanating from Pakistan. It is a desperate attempt by Pakistan to cover-up its own failings and deflect attention away from its human rights abuses," Jaiswal said.
"There are reports of severe police brutality in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir in which several protestors have been killed and many injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan accountable for its misdeeds and abuses," he added.
The remarks come amid widespread protests in PoK, where residents have taken to the streets over issues including governance, economic hardship and the allocation of reserved legislative seats.
Protesters have also raised concerns over soaring inflation, high electricity bills and shortages of essential commodities.
According to local media reports, the Pakistani administration has deployed paramilitary forces to quell the unrest, leading to violent clashes and casualties.
Clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Rawalakot and other areas have reportedly left several people dead and many injured, prompting condemnation and calls for an independent investigation.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Phone theft claim, train chase, then a fatal shove: Bareilly Police solve Bihar cleric’s murder
Bhupendra Pandey
Jun 10, 2026
A deadly shove from a moving train in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district that claimed the life of Bihar cleric, Maulana Tauseef Raza, has now been cracked wide open, with the Government Railway Police (GRP) arresting a suspect after an extensive trail involving 300 passengers across four coaches.
The incident, which took place on April 26, was triggered by a brawl over alleged theft of a mobile phone, officials claimed.
The accused has been identified as Pankaj Rajput, a resident of Moradabad.
While the police had initially termed the cleric’s death an accident, they launched a probe after his wife handed them a clip of her conversation with Raza that night, in which he is heard asking her to seek police help.
Raza, a cleric in a mosque at his home in Kishanganj district, had come to attend a religious event in Bareilly and was returning home in a Bihar-bound train. Police were informed that his body was lying near the tracks in the Cantonment area, with a mobile phone helping identify him.
The accused was identified after scanning over 300 passengers aboard the train the cleric was travelling in and questioning many of them, officials said.
Moradabad GRP Superintendent of Police (SP) Ashutosh Shukla told The Indian Express, “We got major help from Home Guards Recruitment Exam candidates travelling in the same train. These aspirants recorded on their mobile phones a heated exchange between Raza and Pankaj. But the police team investigating the case had a tough time tracing these candidates.”
How police traced passengers
Raza was travelling in a sleeper coach, S-8, even though he had a general ticket, it is learnt.
The police team collected the list of nearly 300 passengers travelling in the S-7, 8,9 and 10 coaches. While many of these passengers were contacted on phone, a woman admitted to having witnessed the cleric being heckled by a likely drunk passenger, the SP added.
He said, “The woman said the accused picked a fight with the cleric, accusing him of stealing his mobile phone even as he had the device with him. The cleric tried to convince him that he had no other mobile phone except his own, but the man kept abusing and shouting at him. She said Raza went to other coaches to avoid the confrontation, but the accused kept chasing him. Raza came to the door of a coach when the accused manhandled him and pushed him in the wee hours of April 26.”
After getting the woman’s testimony, police were told by some passengers that there was a group of youths who had recorded the incident.
A video procured from these youths, found to be Homeguards exam aspirants, showed the face and physical appearance of the accused.
Police also scanned footage from CCTV cameras installed at railway platforms in Moradabad, Bareilly and Shahjahanpur. Then they zeroed in on Pankaj by scanning the mobile phones active in the area during that period, the SP informed.
Police said during his questioning, Pankaj admitted to having pushed the cleric off the train after a physical assault, and claimed he was drunk.
Pankaj had boarded the train in Moradabad for Bareilly, but did not deboard at his destination since he was drunk and instead got down at Shahjahanpur, police said.
Earlier employed at a liquor shop, he lost the job due to his drinking habit and was currently working as an electrician, the SP said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Mideast
US launches airstrikes on Iran after blaming Tehran for helicopter crash, prompting retaliation
June 10, 2026
DUBAI: The United States launched airstrikes early Wednesday against Iran after blaming Tehran for the crash of an American attack helicopter, prompting new attacks from Iran and further widening the retaliatory strikes that threaten to derail talks to end to the war.
Iran launched attacks on sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, which both sounded alerts and fired air defenses in response. Jordan also reported shooting down five missiles that Iran shot at an air base hosting US forces.
Since the US and Israel started the war with attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, the conflict has shaken the global economy, driven up energy prices around the world and made many basics, including food, more expensive.
Officials have been unable to turn the April ceasefire into a deal to permanently end the conflict, particularly as Israel intensifies and expands its military campaign in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.
The downing of the Apache attack helicopter and the strikes by the US military further strained the ceasefire a day after Iran and Israel exchanged fire for the first time since the fragile truce took effect. Iranian state television said Tuesday that the Israeli attacks killed at least two members of the country’s air-defense units.
Strikes by US and Iran shake the Middle East
Fighter jets from the US Air Force and Navy conducted the strikes in Iran, the US military’s Central Command said, targeting “air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites.” Iran acknowledged strikes around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, but gave no details on the damage.
“The operation was a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” Central Command said.
Iran’s top diplomat said foreign military forces near its territory “are at constant risk” and later vowed that there would be a response to the new US strikes.
Iranian forces “will leave no attack or threat unanswered,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X. “Leave our region if you want to be safe.”
Jordan said Wednesday it shot down five incoming missiles launched by Iran, which Iran said targeted the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. That air base has hosted American F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.
Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency carried the statement from its military, which added that there were no injuries in the attack and that explosives experts had examined the debris from the interceptions.
US helicopter collided with Iranian drone, official says
A US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with an Iranian drone, according to a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
It wasn’t clear whether the collision was intentional, and official statements only said the crash is under investigation. CNN, CBS News and other outlets earlier reported the collision.
In the first known operation of its kind by the American military, a drone boat rescued both of the helicopter’s aviators at 3:30 a.m. local time Tuesday, about two hours after their aircraft went down during a patrol off the coast of Oman, US Central Command said.
Trump said both crew were “safe and uninjured.”
The US service members were spotted and picked up by a drone boat that took them to another location on the water, where they were picked up by a helicopter, said Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command.
AH-64 Apache helicopters have been a key asset for the American military as it enforces a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers, seeking to pressure Tehran into a deal. The helicopters have also been used by the United Arab Emirates to shoot down Iranian drones.
Trump has insisted an Iran deal is coming
Before he accused Iran of downing the US helicopter, Trump expressed renewed optimism over negotiations with Iran, but didn’t say why there was reason for optimism.
Mediators, led predominantly by Pakistan, have been trying for weeks to get a deal across the line. However, both Iran and the US have taken hard-line positions.
The US wants to see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to have been buried by American airstrikes during the 12-day war in 2025. But Iran is refusing that and demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something rejected by Trump.
The continued fighting between Israel and Hezbollah is still a top Iranian priority. Lebanon’s army chief, Gen. Rodolphe Haykal, traveled to Pakistan on Tuesday. There, he met Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been a key figure in the Iran-US talks.
Haykal’s visit comes as Lebanon’s government takes an increasingly hard line on Hezbollah but remains unable to disarm the powerful militia. Hezbollah thanked Iran on Tuesday for attacking Israel “in defense of our Lebanese people,” suggesting that Lebanon’s government should take this opportunity to improve relations with Tehran.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait deal with Iranian missile and drone attacks
June 10, 2026
RIYADH: Kuwait said it was dealing with drones early Wednesday and Bahrain set off air raid sirens and told the public to find shelter after Iran said it launched attacks on US assets in the region.
Kuwait’s army, in a post on social media, said that air defense systems were intercepting hostile aerial targets in accordance with approved operational procedures.
Bahrain’s interior ministry told the public to seek shelter amid the sound of air raid sirens in the Gulf state.
?Jordanian armed forces meanwhile said they intercepted and shot down five missiles ?launched from ?Iran toward ?Al-Azraq ?area ?in ?Jordan.
The military ?added that debris from the interception operation ?fell on ?Jordanian ?territory ?but ?caused no ?injuries or material damage.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran’s ?Revolutionary Guards said that they had ?targeted ?four sites at the US Al-Azraq base in Jordan using long-range missiles.
The Middle East war escalated on Tuesday when the US hit targets in Iran after Tehran brought down a US military helicopter.
The US said it was still investigating how the Army Apache helicopter was downed off the coast of Oman.
Israel and the US launched a war against Iran on Feb. 2. The conflict appears to be escalating again despite a ceasefire calming hostilities for two months.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli NGO publishes footage challenging army claims on killing of Palestinian baby
June 09, 2026
JERUSALEM: An Israeli rights group published footage Tuesday said to refute claims by the Israeli army regarding an incident in which a soldier allegedly killed a seven-month-old Palestinian infant.
Sam Fahd Abu Haikal died and his parents sustained light injuries when Israeli forces opened fire on the family’s car in the city of Hebron last week, in the occupied West bank.
Shortly after the incident, which occurred on Friday, the military said its forces had fired after “soldiers perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them.”
However, the footage published by the NGO B’Tselem on X shows that the car slowed down and came to a halt as it approached two Israeli soldiers.
The video does not show the troops opening fire, but shows the Palestinian family outside their car after the shooting, with the baby bleeding in his father’s arms.
Shortly after the shooting, the military said it was opening an investigation into the incident, and said an initial inquiry found that the Palestinian couple and their baby were “uninvolved civilians.”
The NGO further accused soldiers of failing to provide help to the wounded.
“After the shooting, the soldier who opened fire and another soldier who was with him left the scene without checking the vehicle and without providing aid to the critically injured infant and his mother,” B’Tselem wrote on X.
The army told AFP it was “checking” the footage published by the NGO.
At Sam’s funeral on Saturday, his father Fahd Abu Haikal said he rejected statements suggesting that the shooting was a mistake.
“When more than one bullet is fired, when there’s no warning shot and no warning at all, it can’t be a mistake,” he said.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and violence has sharply escalated in the Palestinian territory since the Gaza war began in 2023.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 1,080 Palestinians — many of them militants, but also scores of civilians — in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the Palestinian health ministry.
In the same period, at least 44 Israelis, including soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, Israeli official figures show.
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Christian leaders in Lebanese city of Tyre call for quick international action after Israeli warning
June 10, 2026
SIDON, Lebanon: Christian religious leaders from Lebanon’s southern port city of Tyre on Tuesday called on the international community and Lebanese officials to act quickly to prevent Israel from attacking the city’s Christian district. Airstrikes on nearby neighborhoods killed eight people and wounded dozens of others, officials said.
The Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for the port city, including the Christian quarter, which has been spared so far.
The statement by the Christian leaders was from George Iskandar, the metropolitan archbishop of Tyre for the Melkite Greek Catholic Church; Elias Kfoury, the Greek Orthodox metropolitan of Tyre, Sidon and Dependencies; and Charbel Abdullah, the archeparch of the Maronite Catholic Archeparchy of Tyre.
Israeli warning leads to evacuations
The warning from Israel’s military prompted hundreds of people to flee the Christian district along the Mediterranean coast, while members of the Civil Defense evacuated older people to safer areas, the state-run National News Agency said.
Cars packed with mattresses, luggage and household belongings stretched for kilometers (miles) along Lebanon’s coastal highway, as residents fled Tyre following the latest Israeli warning. Traffic ground to a halt as families crammed whatever they could into vehicles, with carpets protruding from rooftops, and trunks left partially open to accommodate furniture and personal belongings.
“After the warnings in Tyre, we left. We picked up and left,” said Ali Bahar, who was traveling with his wife and three children in a car loaded with possessions.
“Where should we go? There is nowhere to go,” he said. “We will end up in the streets. We are heading to Sidon.”
Nearby, Hussein Darwish sat in the gridlock after packing his vehicle with what he could carry. “We left to be reassured and safe,” he said.
An Israeli airstrike Tuesday in another neighborhood in Tyre killed eight people and wounded 32 others, according to the Health Ministry.
The three Christian leaders called on the international community and Lebanese leaders to “take immediate and serious action to spare the old quarter of Tyre from destruction and human tragedies.”
The Israeli warning to Tyre came after Israel and Iran traded fire following Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah in Beirut on Sunday, triggering heightened tensions in the Middle East and fears that the conflict could spread further.
Over the past few weeks, Israel’s airstrikes have caused wide destruction in Tyre, the fourth-largest city in the country.
Tyre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Considered one of the oldest metropolizes in the world, Tyre has several archaeological sites, some of them submerged. The city was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
“The old city is not merely a residential area,” the clergy said in their statement. “It is the historical and human heart of Tyre, home to thousands of civilians, including families, children, and the elderly.”
They said the old quarter also holds a rich cultural, religious and civilizational heritage dating back centuries. “Any targeting or destruction of this neighborhood would constitute a humanitarian and national catastrophe with irreversible consequences,” they warned.
Kfoury said the ongoing conflict isn’t only a war on Hezbollah. “The war is against all of Lebanon, not just one particular group within Lebanon,” he said.
“They are destroying Lebanon. Period,” Kfoury said about the ongoing Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel two days after the US and Israel began attacking Iran on Feb. 28.
He said the fighting should stop because it’s a “destructive war.”
Last week, Israel warned the Christian neighborhoods in Tyre that Hezbollah members were among them. Many Lebanese Shiite Muslims fled to those areas over the past two weeks, because they were spared from the aerial bombardment along the Mediterranean coast.
After last week’s warning, the Lebanese army deployed to the Christian district of Tyre to try and prevent Israeli attacks there and to show that Hezbollah has no armed presence in the area.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, posted on X that as the military warned days ago that Hezbollah members were working inside the Christian district, the Israeli military “will have to act against their terrorist activities in the neighborhood soon.”
Adraee said that any building used by Hezbollah for military purposes “may be subject to targeting.”
Israeli security chief proposes arresting Hezbollah family members
Later on Tuesday, Israeli media outlets, including The Jerusalem Post, quoted Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as proposing the arrest of family members of Hezbollah fighters. Ben-Gvir told members of Israel’s parliament that the arrest of women and youth would hurt Hezbollah members the most.
Ben-Gvir’s office confirmed when contacted by The Associated Press that he made the comments in a closed security discussion that leaked but declined further comment saying the office does not comment on internal discussions.
The latest Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon has killed around 3,500 people and displaced more than 1.2 million.
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Deadlock in Egypt talks over Gaza disarmament
June 09, 2026
CAIRO: Discussions between Palestinian factions and mediators in Cairo aimed at reaching a permanent end to the war in Gaza have stalled over the pivotal question of disarming the territory and Hamas, Palestinian sources told AFP on Tuesday.
“Talks are continuing … in a context of clearly differing visions … with the issue of weapons remaining the only point of contention,” a Palestinian source familiar with the talks told AFP on condition of anonymity as he was not supposed to speak publicly about the discussions.
A second Palestinian official spoke of “progress” in the talks but added that “the weapons question was one of the most contentious issues being discussed.”
The ball was “now in Israel and mediators’ court,” he said, referring to Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye.
Palestinian factions insist on the principle that any disarmament must be linked to a “complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip,” he said.
That prospect remains distant.
The peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, which has received UN endorsement, envisages a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, who currently control roughly 60 percent of the territory, only in the long term.
Israeli strikes have continued at a near-daily pace despite the ceasefire announced in October 2025 after two years of war, under the framework presented by Trump.
Each side blames the other for the current impasse.
Hamas accuses Israel of failing to honor its commitments, particularly on humanitarian matters, while Israel is demanding the complete disarmament of the Islamist movement before any further progress under the plan.
Palestinian sources told AFP earlier on Tuesday that representatives of Palestinian factions including Hamas agreed in principle for Gaza’s armed groups to hand over parts of their arsenal to a yet-to-be-created, ad hoc Palestinian entity.
This too is unlikely to be accepted by Israel, which demands a complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, starting with Hamas.
The talks were attended by Gaza’s main armed factions, including Hamas and its ally the Islamic Jihad, but not the Fatah party that dominates the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority.
Hamas has repeatedly stated that it is not opposed to handing over some of its arsenal, but only as part of a Palestinian political process.
Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal also suggested a weapons “freeze” or “storage,” which Israel rejected.
Source: arabnews.com
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Analysis: How long can Iran’s regime fight on?
JONATHAN GORNALL
June 09, 2026
LONDON: When the US and Israel launched their joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28, some 59 percent of gamblers on the controversial predictions site Polymarket wagered the Iranian regime would survive Operation Epic Fury.
As of Monday, 99 percent are now betting on the regime’s survival. Just 1 percent believe the regime will fall by the end of June.
On Feb. 28, as Israeli and US weapons rained down on Iran, 55 percent wagered the regime would collapse by the end of 2027. By Monday, just 13 percent backed that proposition.
Indeed, with the ebb and flow of ceasefires, continued missile exchanges, the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the US-Iran war passing its 100-day mark, the Iranian regime does not appear to be facing imminent collapse.
“Undoubtedly, the US and Israeli escalation against Iran has put both the Iranian economy and security under immense strain, but we cannot definitively state that this will be an existential threat to the regime’s survival,” said Caroline Rose, a senior director at the Soufan Center.
“History has shown us that the Iranian regime has reflected deep resiliency amid the impact of international sanctions, water shortages, infrastructural challenges, and social unrest.”
Reports from inside Iran reflect “disillusionment and despair” among Iranians who had hoped that the US-Israeli attacks at the end of February signalled that the end of the regime was imminent.
Now, as The New York Times reported on Sunday, “after devastating strikes and amid a teetering ceasefire, those hopes have been snuffed out.
“Feelings of disillusionment and despair have taken their place, driven by a reported death toll of 1,700 civilians, vast destruction and an economic implosion that has made daily life a struggle.”
According to interviews carried out before the weekend’s strikes with more than 20 Iranians in Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz and Mashhad, “the on-again, off-again peace talks, along with US proclamations that the war is over when it’s not, has left both supporters and opponents of the government confused and anxious.”
But confusion and anxiety, said Rose, poses no threat to the regime.
“While this duress has incited social agitation and dissatisfaction, occasionally culminating in anti-governmental protests and demonstrations, the regime has thus far survived, in part thanks to the monopoly that Iranian security institutions have imposed over daily life,” she said.
There is, said Sir John Jenkins, former British ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria and Burma, and consul-general in Jerusalem, no doubt that the Iranian economy “is in a shocking state.”
“Currency collapse, massive inflation, huge damage to industrial capacity and production, a squeeze on already limited oil exports, damage to wells and fields and of course the internet shutdown,” he said.
“Plus the chronic water crisis and environmental degradation more generally. But they’ve cracked down on domestic dissent even harder than before — big increases in arrests and executions, and there are lots of young basijis (paramilitary volunteers) on the streets.
“And given that the US seems reluctant to escalate and Israel has limited short-term options without US support, I’m pretty sure the regime can survive for the moment.”
Although Iran has undoubtedly seen its military infrastructure and stockpiles seriously degraded since Feb. 28, the extent to which it has both bounced back and remained dangerously armed has surprised US intelligence agencies.
According to US intelligence assessments leaked to The New York Times and the Washington Post, by mid-May Iran had repaired 30 of its 33 missiles sites overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, “still fields about 70 percent of its mobile launchers across the country and has retained roughly 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile.”
If true, these assessments are at odds with repeated statements by both President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that Iran’s military capability had been decimated.
On Sunday and Monday, Iran and Israel exchanged fire for the first time since the ceasefire was agreed on April 8. Israel suspended its strikes after a very public intervention by President Trump, who posted on Truth Social: “Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting’.”
“My read of the situation right now is that Iran is in a much stronger position than the US, and I think that that is actually quite obvious from its behavior,” said Andrew Gawthorpe, lecturer in history and international relations at Leiden University and author of the Substack newsletter America Explained.
“You can see that Iran is frequently willing to take risks in the conflict, to re-escalate things, as it did the other day.
“Trump always seems to back down in the face of these challenges, and I think that that reflects the fact that his domestic position is very difficult, and it’s only getting more difficult as time goes on, because as the midterm elections approach the economy is going to be a huge issue.”
The Iranians, he said, “are calculating that the longer this drags on, the more likely they are to get concessions that they want out of Trump, whereas he is in a rush to try to solve it as quickly as possible.”
It is, said Sanam Vakil, director of the MENA program at Chatham House, “quite clear that the regime is surviving. But how this war ends is so important for the leadership in Iran, because they recognize that survival on its own is not a guarantee for success.
“They need to be able to translate survival into an agreement that can guarantee economic rehabilitation, and through that they will be able to have increased domestic political legitimacy.”
Inevitably, she said, “the war will end, and it is now a question of the terms and conditions of that end, which could take one of three forms.
“One is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that lays the groundwork for a longer negotiation process on the other issues, pertaining to Iran’s role in the region and its nuclear program.
“A second way this ends is an MOU that lays the groundwork for further negotiations, but that those further negotiations are never concluded, and so we remain in a situation similar to that in Gaza, stuck in a process for process’s sake.
“The third outcome is that we just sort of stay where we are — no war, no peace, and this plays out.”
The best outcome for the Gulf states, she added, “is scenario one, that we get an MOU, preferably over the next month, and then the region creates a scaffold for a process that leads to a broader resolution.
“Without that, if regional rivalries and fractures, alongside the domestic challenges facing Iran and the US, prevent a broader deal, we’ll be stuck in this cycle of conflict.
“It can be contained, but we’ll see flare-ups, and those flare-ups are always dangerous and will impact the regional economic and security order.”
Sir John believes that, while “this is going to be a long game,” the potency of the leverage Iran is currently enjoying will ultimately expire.”
“The regime may think that using Hormuz as a protection racket compensates to an extent,” he said. “But even if that was accepted, it wouldn’t make up for everything else.
“And I can’t see any state — regionally or internationally — accepting it.”
Although it is currently weathering the storm, albeit badly battered, “Iran has alienated all its neighbors and is not making China happy. Israel can do that and get away with it. I don’t think Iran can.
“In the short term, oil and gas consumers will look for fixes and over the next five to 20 years, the GCC will build alternative export infrastructure. So Hormuz is a wasting asset and in the same period, the Iranian economy will suffer.”
Trump, he adds, “may lose interest. But that’s not necessarily a plus for Tehran.” Ironically, “they need his attention.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Syrian and Turkish defense ministers discuss strategic ties
June 09, 2026
LONDON: Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra met with his Turkish counterpart, Yasar Guler, in Ankara on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations between Syria and Turkiye.
Abu Qasra and Guler discussed military cooperation and broader strategic ties, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
Damascus built a close relationship with Turkiye following the collapse of the Bashar Assad regime in December 2024. Ankara supported groups opposed to the Assad rule and hosted over 3.5 million Syrian refugees after the civil war started in 2011.
Last month, the Syrian Arab Army took part in the Efes 2026 land, naval and air forces drills in Turkiye alongside 50 countries from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The Syrian Army’s participation alongside NATO members is the first time since the fall of the Assad regime.
Turkiye deployed approximately 10,388 military personnel in the drills, alongside 1,305 soldiers from various countries, including the US, Germany, France, and the UK.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia to host entrepreneurship week from June 14
June 09, 2026
RIYADH: The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, in partnership with the National Center for the Non-Profit Sector and the Social Development Bank, will hold Social Entrepreneurship Week from June 14 to 18.
The event aims to highlight the importance of social entrepreneurship and its role in empowering SMEs, enhancing their growth and sustainability.
It also seeks to connect entrepreneurs with social investment opportunities and specialized partnerships within the sector.
More than 44 entities from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors will participate, along with organizations supporting social investment and community development.
The week will be held at SME support centers in Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah, Alkhobar, and Asir.
The program will feature more than eight main sessions, 50 entrepreneurial meetings, advisory sessions, and exhibition participation, with the involvement of officials, experts, and specialists.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM receives Swedish counterpart
June 09, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The ministers reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields, the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs said in a statement on X.
Sweden reaffirmed its condemnation of the Iranian attacks, expressed solidarity with affected countries, and stressed the importance of restoring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to protect the global economy from the impact of the current situation.
The two sides also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Lebanon, and the need to intensify international efforts to prevent further escalation, preserve regional security and stability, and prevent the conflict from widening.
Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati attended the meeting.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM receives phone call from Egyptian counterpart
June 09, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a telephone call from his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on Tuesday.
During the call, they discussed developments in the region and the importance of intensifying efforts to halt escalation in order to preserve regional peace and security, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The call came after Israel struck targets in Iran for the first time since ?a ceasefire ?in April on Monday, after Iran fired ?missiles at Israel in what Tehran said was retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanon’s capital.
Israel and Iran both called a halt to the exchange on Monday shortly after Trump told them to stop hostilities, although they each left the door open to a possible resumption.
Prince Faisal also held a telephone conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago Sean Sobers.
During the call, the Kingdom’s foreign minister congratulated his counterpart on the election of Trinidad and Tobago as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2027-2028.
He expressed hope for enhanced coordination and cooperation between their countries to contribute to regional and international security and stability.
They also discussed a number of topics and issues of common interest.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi officials review KSrelief Sudan programs
June 09, 2026
RIYADH: The supervisor-general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, recently met Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Zaid Al-Harbi in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they discussed mutual humanitarian issues and reviewed the latest KSrelief projects in Sudan.
Al-Harbi expressed appreciation for KSrelief’s programs and initiatives, highlighting their professionalism and impact on vulnerable communities worldwide.
Meanwhile, KSrelief, in cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, held a strategic virtual session to discuss challenges and solutions for improving humanitarian access in Afghanistan, Gaza and Syria.
The session brought together KSrelief department directors, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and OCHA officials from the Palestinian territories, Syria and Afghanistan.
The session was part of KSrelief’s efforts to strengthen coordination with international partners and improve aid delivery to vulnerable populations in crisis-affected regions.
Source: arabnews.com
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Kingdom uncovers 1,774 archeological finds in Madinah’s Al-Mahd governorate
June 09, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has concluded the second season of archeological survey work in Al-Mahd governorate in the Madinah region, documenting traces of past civilizations reflecting a history stretching back to the earliest days of the Islamic state.
The commission documented 1,774 archeological discoveries across three survey areas: Al-Suwayriqiyah, Al-Muwayhiyah, and Hadhah, with each site preserving enduring signs of human presence that have withstood the passage of time.
The survey recorded 156 new archeological sites, yielding 461 Islamic inscriptions, 34 Thamudic inscriptions, 1,259 rock art panels, 11 stone structures, three historical palaces, two caravan routes, and four wells.
Among the most notable finds are rock inscriptions bearing the name of Omar ibn Al-Khattab, alongside Arabic poetry engraved on rock surfaces, significantly enhancing the site’s cultural and historical value.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to continuing survey and documentation programmes nationwide, in support of Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives to preserve cultural heritage across the Kingdom.
Last week, the commission completed the first season of its joint scientific mission with the University of Exeter at the ancient Al-Juhfah Miqat site, uncovering more than 1,700 artifacts and confirming the site’s significance along the Egyptian pilgrimage route.
Discoveries included diverse fragments used in daily life, six pottery kilns, a water channel believed to have served pilgrims and travelers, and 13 tombstones dating to the Umayyad and Abbasid periods.
Some of the finds originated from the Levant, Egypt, and Ethiopia, reflecting the diverse origins of pilgrims who passed through the miqat.
Al-Juhfah Miqat is located 187 km northwest of Makkah and has served as an established miqat since the early Islamic period, associated with the Hijrah of the Prophet. It is believed to have flourished in the second Hijri century, with water facilities and shops that once served pilgrims.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh students win ReCreators award for sustainable art
June 09, 2026
RIYADH: Three Saudi Arabian students have been recognized for making artwork from recycled materials as part of Epson’s ReCreators contest.
The competition was launched by the technology company on World Sustainability Day last October, when schools in the Kingdom were invited to take part.
The aim of the event was to introduce students aged seven to 12 to recycling and everyday sustainability choices.
It included three categories — best use of recycled materials, most creative design, and most practical or inspiring idea with entries judged by Epson regional representatives and influencer Dina Butti.
The winning students were Saud bin Ibrahim Al-Aouda and Thunayan bin Turkey Al-Shehri from Kawarzmie School and Fahd Mansour Al-Jaafari from Al-Salam School, which are both in Riyadh.
Their works included a star-shaped lamp made from waste wood, a coffee table made from an old tire with sackcloth and a glass top, and a vase sculpture made from recycled paper, tissue paper, and watercolors.
Kawarzmie School art teacher Ahmed Saeed Elgamal said: “I congratulate the winners and all the students who participated in the competition for their innovative and highly creative artwork. Everyone involved in the initiative was rightly amazed by the level of ingenuity shown by the students and the beautiful artwork they created from discarded items.
“I also thank Epson for this initiative, which encouraged our students to consider the impact of waste, the value of recycling and the power of creativity to help promote eco-conscious behavior in the Kingdom.”
Each winning student received an Epson EcoTank printer as a prize, with participating schools receiving an Epson projector.
Bella Tobing, head of corporate sustainability and government affairs at the company, said: “Our aim was to empower young minds to explore new skills, think innovatively, and express their creativity while caring for the planet by using recyclable materials.
“The initiative was also the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of re-using and recycling to reduce waste in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Makkah forum bridges education, tourism sector
June 09, 2026
Makkah: Umm Al-Qura University concluded its Career and Innovation Forum on Tuesday, focusing on aligning higher education outcomes with the Kingdom’s growing tourism labor market.
It was attended by the university president Moaddi Al-Madhhab, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Human Capital Development Razan Al-Aayed, along with officials, experts, academics, and tourism sector stakeholders.
The two-day event aimed to empower national talent while fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in one of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing sectors.
It featured an academic and professional program with four panel sessions led by specialists and decision-makers, along with 21 workshops aimed at developing the skills of students, graduates, and those interested in tourism.
The forum also included participation from more than 60 employers, enhancing participants’ job readiness and competitiveness in the labor market.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
NATO country to stop supplying arms to Ukraine
9 Jun, 2026
Bulgaria’s new government has announced it will halt weapons deliveries to Ukraine, signaling a major policy shift for the NATO and EU member, which has been supplying arms to Kiev since the escalation of the conflict in 2022.
The conflict cannot be resolved on the battlefield, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters on Tuesday, arguing that Ukraine’s primary challenge is a shortage of personnel rather than weapons.
“What we are witnessing is a war of attrition, and no matter how much weaponry is amassed, its only result is the loss of human lives,” he said, as quoted by AP.
According to Stoyanov, it is time to sit down at the negotiating table “to seek a just peace that is defined by both sides.”
Ukraine has faced persistent manpower shortages throughout the conflict with Russia despite repeated mobilization drives. Kiev has increasingly relied on compulsory conscription to replenish its ranks amid troop shortages, desertions, and draft evasion. The campaign has been marred by reports of forced recruitment, while thousands of military-age men have left the country to avoid being drafted.
Under the previous government, Bulgaria emerged as one of Ukraine’s most important suppliers of Soviet-standard weapons and ammunition. Its shells accounted for roughly one-third of the munitions used by Ukraine during the first year of the conflict, according to former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kirill Petkov and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
New Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, whose Progressive Bulgaria party won the April election, has long been a vocal critic of Brussels’ policy on Ukraine. During his tenure as president between 2022 and 2025, Radev opposed Bulgaria’s embargo on Russian energy, blocked a proposal to send armored vehicles to Ukraine, and consistently advocated for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
The debate over direct engagement with Moscow has gained momentum within the EU in recent weeks. Several European leaders have floated the idea of appointing a senior envoy to engage with Russia amid concerns that the bloc has been sidelined in previous US-led diplomatic initiatives.
Russia has maintained that continued weapons shipments only prolong the fighting and increase the human cost of the conflict, while undermining prospects for a negotiated settlement.
Source: rt.com
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Watford Leavesden Road mosque plan to return 'very soon'
June 09, 2026
Plans to turn a Watford church into a mosque look set to return in the near future after a previous rejection.
Watford Borough Council refused the proposal to convert Leavesden Road Baptist Church into a Muslim place of worship, citing the impact works would have had on the listed building.
The Watford Observer understands that a new planning application will be submitted for consideration "very soon".
The revised plan will likely be similar but scaled back in a bid to address concerns, with an internal mezzanine with roof lights believed to part of the new proposal.
Following January's refusal, Shabaz Khaliq told the Watford Observer that he was keen to "work with the planners to achieve the best possible outcome".
While not operated as a church in more than four years, Mr Khaliq has been using the building since January 2024 for youth clubs, elderly circles, a library supporting literacy among children with English as an additional language, health sessions, and workshops.
It has previously been stressed that no work will be carried out unless planning permission is secured.
Explaining why the original plan was refused, an officers' report said: "The proposals would cause substantial harm to the significance of the listed building, as they would destroy, remove, subdivide, or obscure almost the entirety of its carefully designed and well-preserved interior.
"In addition, proposed exterior alterations are excessive and inappropriate. The substantial harm has not been demonstrated as being necessary to achieve substantial public benefits."
There were 13 public objections lodged against the original plan.
Shortly after the Leavesden Road plan was refused, planning permission was granted for a similar proposal to turn the former St Thomas' United Reformed Church site into a mosque.
The Langley Road church shut in 2015 and the building has since become “not fit for purpose” due to “serious structural defects”.
A planning committee meeting saw councillors decide that the community benefits outweighed issues raised over parking.
Source: watfordobserver.co.uk
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Azerbaijan’s Islamic banking sector developing, Kazakh official says
09 June 2026
Islamic banking is actively developing in Azerbaijan, with the “Islamic window” model seen as the most suitable framework for integrating the sector into the domestic financial system, a Kazakh banking executive has said.
Speaking at the International Finance and Banking Summit in Baku, Javid Isayev, head of the Deposits Centre at Kazakhstan’s Bank Centre Credit, said that of the four Islamic banking models used in Kazakhstan, the “fatwa” and “window” approaches were the most applicable for Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports via local media.
Under the “fatwa” model, conventional banks adapt existing products by imposing Sharia-compliant restrictions and subjecting them to external religious compliance audits, effectively transforming them into Islamic financial instruments, he said.
Isayev noted that although this model was initially selected two years ago, regulatory changes later prompted a shift in strategy. “At present, we are preparing to obtain an Islamic banking licence in the form of a ‘window’,” he said, adding that other options include obtaining a full Islamic banking licence within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) or operating as a fully-fledged Islamic bank.
He said both latter options required significantly higher costs and greater institutional readiness, making them more complex in practical terms.
Isayev also said that, contrary to expectations, the primary demand in Muslim markets was not for standard banking products such as cards or buy-now-pay-later services, but rather for a basic mechanism for savings. He cited Kazakhstan’s creation of the Islamic investment fund “Wardat al-Hayat” as an example that could be relevant for Azerbaijan.
Source: caliber.az
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South Wales Police pauses Islam guidance after political backlash
June 9, 2026
By Tom Sinclair
Force says policy under review pending national guidance after referral to equality watchdog
SOUTH WALES POLICE has confirmed to The Herald it is pausing controversial guidance relating to the recording of anti-Muslim hostility following criticism from Conservative MP Claire Coutinho.
The force issued the statement after Ms Coutinho, Shadow Minister for Equalities, formally referred South Wales Police to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), claiming the guidance risked creating a “de-facto blasphemy law” around discussion of Islam.
In a statement to The Pembrokeshire Herald, South Wales Police said: “We are pausing the aligning with this definition in order to consider whether to maintain or amend the adoption, pending guidance from NPCC. The force remains committed to ensuring the public safety of all of our communities.”
The response appears to indicate the force is reconsidering whether to continue using the definition in question while awaiting guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Ms Coutinho had accused the force of instructing officers to record comments deemed to go beyond “legitimate” discussion of Islam, arguing that no equivalent standard applied to other faiths.
In a letter to the EHRC chair, she wrote that the policy risked creating “a more restrictive category of speech that applies only in the context of one religion”.
The controversy centres on concerns about how non-crime incidents are recorded and whether lawful speech could be logged by police, potentially affecting public confidence in free expression and equal treatment under the law.
South Wales Police has not said whether the guidance will ultimately be scrapped, amended or reinstated following the review.
Source: pembrokeshire-herald.com
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Murder of Lyhanna, 11, enrages France and turns up heat on government
Hugh Schofield
June 9, 2026
France's government is under mounting pressure over the murder of an 11-year-old girl whose alleged killer had several times been denounced to police as a sex offender.
More than 60,000 people took part in protests across the country on Monday following the killing of Lyhanna, many demanding the resignation of Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin – one of the senior members of the government.
There is fury because the suspect – 41 year-old Jérome Barella – had been reported to police last August by the mother of a 10-year-old called Rosa, who alleged he had sexually abused her daughter on several occasions.
Medical evidence confirmed she had been abused, and yet not once in the nine months since the complaint was filed was Barella questioned by investigators.
In the eyes of an angry French public, had the suspect been at least contacted by police he would have known he was being watched and that may have prevented Lyhanna's death.
Lyhanna's body was found last Thursday at a farm around 10km (6 miles) from the town of Fleurance in south-west France, where she was last seen at the end of school six days previously.
Barella, who is the father of a friend of Lyhanna, was taken into custody three days after her disappearance.
He has denied any involvement in her death but has admitted taking her in his car to a local swimming pool. When he was questioned by an investigating judge he refused to answer any questions.
It has since emerged that he was named in several other cases of alleged sexual abuse in recent years, which should have made the Rosa case a priority - but did not.
Rosa's mother has now announced through her lawyers that she is filing a lawsuit against the state and against Darmanin for their responsibilities in the affair.
Darmanin, a leading figure in the Renaissance party that generally supports President Emmanuel Macron, has agreed that the Lyhanna case revealed "shocking and unacceptable failings in the services of the state", but he has ruled out resignation.
He and the government find themselves caught between an increasingly incensed public and a justice system whose magistrates and prosecutors refuse to be made scapegoats.
The Higher Magistrature Council (CSM) said it "deplored the discredit being thrown on thousands of magistrates" because of the affair, which was being "instrumentalised by people who have decided in advance that magistrates are the guilty parties".
The CSM said magistrates, who in the French system direct police in the conduct of a criminal investigation, lacked the financial and manpower resources to do their work correctly.
But, speaking before a Senate committee on Tuesday, Darmanin said resources were not the problem in the Lyhanna affair.
"What is missing in this story is not a new law; it's not more money; it's not better IT. It's the need to prioritise allegations of rape," he said.
"The principle of precaution should have been applied to take Mr Barella out of circulation and determine whether the allegations against him were true. We had all the elements. Nine months later it is quite incomprehensible that he was never taken into custody," Darmanin said.
The minister has told state prosecutors to review some 70,000 complaints of sexual abuse on minors that are still awaiting treatment.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has also promised to toughen a law on child protection currently going through parliament, so that serial rapists face potential life terms in jail, rather than a maximum of 20 years.
Source: bbc.com
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Scrapping of Franco-German fighter jet leaves allies at odds on defence future
June 9, 2026
Jessica Parker
Germany has pulled the plug on a joint fighter jet programme with France, in a blow to European defence co-operation.
The flagship project had been billed as an ambitious and unparalleled military partnership. Instead, it became a glaring example of discord between the two nations.
The decision undermines efforts to show that Europe can act strategically and with common purpose.
It also comes at a time of fraying ties with the US, and continued Russian aggression in Ukraine.
So, how did we get here and why does it matter?
The project was "conceived in a different world", said Christoph Bergs - an air power analyst at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).
The jet was a key part of the wider Future Combat Air System (FCAS) scheme. It was a plan hatched in 2017 by then German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and a freshly elected French President, Emmanuel Macron.
Back then, it was a way of "resetting" Franco-German relations and pooling what were, at the time, more "limited" financial resources in terms of defence expenditure, Bergs explained.
"This is a revolution," declared Macron at the time. "But we're not afraid of revolutions when they are peaceful, well-thought and meant to last."
He has long championed the idea that Europe must pull together in areas like defence, to make itself less dependent on partners who may prove unreliable.
There are multiple pillars within FCAS including engines, sensors and a digital intelligence network known as "combat cloud".
But the jet always took centre stage.
German officials claim "core" aspects of the project – outside of the fighter plane – will continue, but it isn't exactly clear what that means.
What is known is that disagreements emerged, over time, between the main industry players, France's Dassault Aviation and European aerospace firm Airbus – which represented Germany and Spain, who joined the project later.
There were disputes about control of the scheme and how the work would be divided up.
In France, Dassault was seen as the prime contractor, but prominent German defence analyst Nico Lange claimed the problem ultimately lay with the French firm, amid German reports that it was pushing for a leadership role.
"Things go well with other French companies," said Lange on X. "FCAS is not synonymous with "European defence… there will be many other good projects."
Dassault has yet to comment on the situation.
However, it also became apparent that Germany and France were after different things.
The French wanted a "small, light fighter" that could take off from its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, whereas the Germans wanted a bigger jet that could offer "air superiority", said Rusi's Christoph Bergs.
At the same time, German industry has become "emboldened" by massive domestic hikes in defence expenditure, meaning it's less likely to make concessions it didn't see as feasible, observes Bergs.
Germany's once-thrifty approach to defence has taken an about-turn following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and since US President Donald Trump piled pressure on Europe to pay more for its own security.
By February this year German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was openly questioning the scheme.
"Will we still need a manned fighter jet in 20 years' time?" he mused on the Machtwechsel podcast. "Do we still need it, given that we will have to develop it at great expense?"
A discussion between Merz and Macron, at a summit last week, appears to have been a decisive moment in bringing the jet project to an end.
Berlin would then go first in announcing the news on Monday, with German officials saying that Merz had "suggested" to Macron that they should abandon the jet.
Both leaders, said Berlin, had reached a shared conclusion that the companies involved "cannot reach an agreement".
A subsequent statement from the Élysée Palace struck a more mournful note, saying that the leaders had expressed "regrets" that the industries involved hadn't been able to make it work.
"France remains convinced that the Franco-German co-operation in defence and security is essential for both countries, as well as for our European partners," the Élysée added.
Christoph Bergs of Rusi said that while the timing was "inopportune", the countries involved now had a chance to "reassess" what they want given technological developments in recent years.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg02541ykpo
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Ukraine must compensate Germany for blowing up Nord Stream – AfD co-leader
9 Jun, 2026
Ukraine should compensate Germany for the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the co-leader of the right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, has said.
German investigators have attributed the explosions, which crippled the pipelines built to transport Russian gas to Germany, to a small group of Ukrainian operatives. The alleged ringleader was extradited to Germany from Italy last autumn.
Moscow has repeatedly questioned Berlin’s account of the attack, arguing that such a sophisticated operation could not have been carried out by a handful of divers in NATO-monitored waters without state backing.
Speaking at a party event on Tuesday, Weidel rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s proposal to grant Ukraine associate membership in the European Union, describing the country as a “bottomless pit” that is already heavily reliant on foreign financial assistance.
“Germany has already transferred more than €100 billion to Ukraine over the past four years alone,” she said.
Weidel argued that Kiev should first explain its role in the Nord Stream sabotage.
“We need to know how this state-terrorist act against the most important infrastructure we had, namely the Nord Stream pipelines, came about and what role Ukraine played in it,” she said.
“The flow of payments should actually be moving in the opposite direction. Ukraine must pay reparations to the Federal Republic of Germany, because we have suffered enormous damage – and so has Europe as a whole – from the loss of cheap Russian fossil fuels,” Weidel added.
The co-leader of the AfD also called for an immediate halt to German military and financial assistance to Ukraine, urging Berlin to focus instead on facilitating negotiations between Kiev and Moscow and restoring dialogue with Russia.
According to several recent opinion polls, the AfD is currently Germany’s most popular political party. An INSA survey published by Bild on Saturday put support for the party at 29%, while 77% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with Chancellor Merz’s performance – the worst rating of his tenure, according to the newspaper.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/641319-ukraine-germany-nord-stream-compensation/
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North America
CAIR Calls on Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to Correct False Claim that Muhammad Ali ‘Disavowed’ Islam
June 9, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to correct a false claim that sports icon and international justice advocate Muhammad Ali “disavowed” Islam.
Those mobile museums reportedly contain a display that states: “After converting to Islam, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali though he later disavowed the religion.”
Freedom 250 is a national organization announced by President Trump to lead America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“Muhammad Ali was a devout Muslim. Suggesting otherwise distorts both his personal faith journey and the historical record. Like many other African-Americans who originally belonged to the Nation of Islam, Muhammad Ali transitioned to Sunni Islam under the leadership of Imam W.D. Muhammad in the 1970s and lived the rest of his life contributing to causes of justice and peace, motivated by his faith. Any exhibit honoring his life should accurately reflect his unwavering commitment to Islam. We call on the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to correct the record.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also urged the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to consult Rep. André Carson’s Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act, which recognizes Ali’s lifelong commitment to justice, humanitarian service, and his proud identity as an American Muslim.
The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, and Rep. Carson’s legislation makes clear that Ali’s legacy cannot be separated from the Islamic faith and moral convictions that guided his stand for civil rights at home and human rights abroad.
When Muhammad Ali died in 2016, CAIR called him a “champion for peace and justice.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-calls-freedom-250-mobile-museum-to-correct-false-claim-that-muhammad-ali-disavowed-islam/
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CAIR-Chicago, Local Pastor Demand Concordia University Cancel Event Platforming Anti-Muslim Speakers
June 9, 2026
The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, demands that Concordia University Chicago immediately cancel its decision to lend its facilities to host Robert Spencer, Megan Basham, and other speakers at the 2026 ‘Issues, Etc.’ “Making the Case” conference scheduled to take place on Concordia’s campus on Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, 2026.
CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab in a statement wrote, “Shame on Concordia for resurrecting a corpse of hatred and attempting to resurrect Islamophobic rhetoric.”
Pastor Ben Squires of Bethel Lutheran Church stated, “Many from outside the Church, and even inside the Church, view some of these speakers as those who stoke hatred, encourage white Christian nationalism, and demonize those who do not hold right wing beliefs. Specifically, I believe that Robert Spencer (Jihad Watch) inflames anti-Muslim hatred through his rhetoric. I do not think that this exemplifies how Jesus calls His people to be in the world demonstrating God’s truth, grace, mercy, and love. I do not think this conference, and Concordia as host, encourage such cross-faith interaction, but instead, it could amplify fear, false narratives, and cause harm to my Muslim friends. I call on Issues, Etc., to rescind the invitations to these speakers.”
Despite receiving CAIR-Chicago’s letter outlining serious concerns regarding the speakers, including their histories of inflammatory remarks and policies aimed at vilifying and spreading hate towards Muslims, the University has not returned any communications.
Robert Spencer is co-founder of Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA), and director of Jihad Watch, both of which have been designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Megan Basham is a culture reporter for The Daily Wire and has faced backlash for Islamophobic rhetoric and promoting hatred towards Muslim communities.
CAIR-Chicago acknowledges that speakers with different political, religious, and ideological views may be invited to speak at universities. However, a climate of hostility and violence is becoming increasingly prevalent for Muslim, Arab, immigrant, and other minority groups. Just a few weeks ago, a hate crime at the Islamic Center of San Diego took the lives of three people, terrorizing the community and leaving Muslims across the country fearing for their safety.
In light of recent events, Concordia’s decision to lend its facilities to speakers known for demonizing Muslims is not neutral. Hateful rhetoric can lead to greater fear, exclusion, and violence towards Muslim communities, and platforming it sends a damaging message to Muslim students, staff, and community members about whether they are safe, respected, and fully welcome on Concordia’s campus. This follows the disturbing recent trend of universities platforming hatemongers.
In late April, CAIR-Chicago released a statement condemning Judson University’s decision to grant a “Democracy Award” to Milorad Dodik, a repeated denier of the Srebrenica Genocide, in which over 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered. Similarly, CAIR-Chicago’s demand letter went unanswered by Judson University.
CAIR-Chicago reiterates its demand that Concordia University Chicago cancel the event and make amends with the communities harmed by this decision.
Report any bias incident, threat, or hate crime via www.cairchicago.org/report-discrimination
CAIR-Chicago’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-chicago-local-pastor-demand-concordia-university-cancel-event-platforming-anti-muslim-speakers/
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US strikes Iran in response to downing of military helicopter
Gary O'Donoghue
June 10, 2026
The US says it has carried out a series of strikes on Iranian military and surveillance sites in response to the downing of an American helicopter in the Gulf.
Air defence systems, ground control stations and radar sites were targeted near the Strait of Hormuz, the US military Central Command (Centcom) said.
In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched strikes on 21 targets at US bases in the region, one in Bahrain and the other in Jordan, while Kuwait's army said it was also intercepting an attack.
The US has described its strikes as "a proportional response" for the Apache helicopter downing on Monday, while the IRGC described the attacks as "vicious".
US President Donald Trump had earlier accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter and said the US "must, of necessity" respond. The two crew members survived and were rescued by an American sea drone.
According to US officials, Iran used a drone to launch the attack on the helicopter. But it is not clear whether the Iranian drone had deliberately attacked, an unnamed US official told CBS News, the BBC's US partner. The semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that Iran had not claimed responsibility for the downed aircraft.
Trump said the helicopter had been patrolling the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping channel that was effectively closed days after the US and Israel launched its first strikes on Iran in late February.
On Wednesday, the IRGC said US strikes had damaged a telecommunications tower and two water tanks, and added the US had targeted the cities of Jask and Sirik, and Qeshm - an island in the Gulf.
US officials are yet to comment on reports of attacks on its bases and it is unclear if there has been any damage. However, an air raid alert was issued in Bahrain, according to local authorities who said Iranian attacks had been repelled.
Iran's foreign minister issued a threat to the US in the aftermath of the renewed US attacks, saying the country "will leave no attack or threat unanswered".
"Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the US opted to test our determination," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.
He added: "Leave our region if you want to be safe."
In Washington, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was in the room with Trump when he decided that US attacks on Iran should resume.
"We lament that it became necessary," said the top Republican in Congress, adding that "we're going to have to take care of this business".
Araghchi said on Tuesday that foreign forces near Iran's territory were at "constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents or potentially being caught in crossfire".
"To reduce risk, best solution is for them [foreign forces] to leave," the Iranian leader said in a post on X.
Minutes before Trump's comments on the downed American Apache helicopter on Tuesday, Iran's top negotiator in peace talks with Washington, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, took to social media to signal retaliation.
"We prefer the language of diplomacy, but we speak other languages far more fluently. Break your commitments, and we'll switch to what we speak best."
"You ride the horse you saddled!," he wrote.
The flare-up between the US and Iran comes after Israeli forces carried out strikes across southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
Tehran had warned that Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon would trigger another wave of retaliatory strikes.
Israel and Iran halted attacks on each other after exchanging fire over the weekend for the first time since April's truce.
Trump publicly told both countries to "immediately stop 'shooting'" because they were jeopardising negotiations between Washington and Tehran on a deal to end the regional war.
He said on social media platform Truth Social that Israel and Iran are looking to do "an immediate ceasefire" but peace is "subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way".
On Tuesday he also told journalists: "We're in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal," adding that it could take "two or three days" and the Strait of Hormuz would open immediately after.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cze9359gglyo
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Nasa names next astronauts for Artemis Moon programme
June 10, 2026
Pallab Ghosh
NASA has named its crew for its next major Moon mission, Artemis III, though the astronauts will not walk on the Moon or go anywhere near it.
The mission was originally planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972, with two astronauts due to set down near the Moon's south pole and spend a week on the surface.
But in February, Nasa changed that plan and said the mission would fly only in low Earth orbit, barely deeper in space than the International Space Station, and dock with prototype lunar landers.
Nasa's Administrator Jared Isaacman said the mission would nevertheless be the most complex ever.
"This mission will require the most awe-inspiring coordination of heavy-lift rocket launches in history, drawing on the talent and capability of teams across government and the spaceflight community," he said.
Randy Bresnik, a Nasa astronaut, will serve as the mission's commander.
Luca Parmitano, of the Italian Space Agency, will be the pilot of Artemis III. He's spent more than 300 days in space.
Americans Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio will be the mission specialists.
Bob Heintz will serve as a backup crew member. He is a test pilot who logged 170 days in space and can step into any role needed on the mission.
Artemis III changed from being an historic, crewed Moon landing to a technology test in Earth orbit because of delays to Elon Musk's SpaceX's Starship rocket. This is the vehicle intended to take astronauts from lunar orbit to its surface.
It was also judged to be too big a leap to go from looping the Moon, with Artemis II, to go straight to a lunar landing without first testing the procedure to dock with the lunar landers in Earth orbit.
In March 2026, the Government Accountability Office found that SpaceX had made "limited progress maturing the technologies needed for in-orbit refuelling and cryogenic propellant storage."
Starship is so heavy that it cannot reach the Moon withot being refuelled in Earth orbit first. This involves launching a fleet of tanker vehicles which transfer cryogenic liquid methane and liquid oxygen across in sequence, a highly ambitious manoever has not yet been tested.
Nasa's Moon mission team received a further setback last month when its other partner, Blue Origin, watched its New Glenn rocket blow up during a routine engine test.
No one was hurt, but the launch pad was extensively damaged.
Blue Origin has no other way to launch New Glenn and it could take months to repair the damage.
When SpaceX suffered an explosion in September 2016, it took 15 months to return to service - and SpaceX had other pads to fall back on. Blue Origin does not.
The consequences are immediate: the Blue Moon cargo lander intended for a Moon flight possibly as early as this autumn may not be able to launch on schedule; the crewed lander needed for Artemis 4 faces an uncertain timeline; and there are questions over both lander pathfinders that Artemis 3 is supposed to test.
On Nasa's most optimistic timeline, Artemis 3 flies in 2027 as a demonstration. Artemis 4 targets landing on the Moon in early 2028. Artemis 5, designed for a second landing and the start of base construction, follows later that year.
John Couluris, a vice president at Blue Origin, said that Nasa and Blue Origin were working around the clock to be ready for launch in 2027.
Most independent experts regard that timeline as ambitious.
What drives the urgency is partly geopolitical. China has announced a target of a crewed Moon landing by 2030. A Trump executive order in December 2025 directed Nasa to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028, when his term of office comes to an end, and establish initial base elements by 2030.
"It would not surprise me at all if China gets there first," Dr Simeon Barber, a lunar scientist at the Open University, told BBC News.
Nasa's margin for error is thin. The refuelling technology for Starship has yet to be demonstrated. A key commercial partner no longer has a functioning launch pad. And the first lunar landing now depends on a sequence of things that have never been done before all going right in the right order.
Nasa Administrator Jared Isaacman said after last month's explosion that the agency is "committed to helping the Blue team recover."
The question now is how much time recovery will take, and whether the calendar can absorb it.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdejn0gj12go
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US blockade of Cuba killing children – UN commissioner
10 Jun, 2026
Children in Cuba are dying amid acute shortages of essential medical supplies caused by US-imposed economic sanctions, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has said.
The island nation has endured daily blackouts and severe fuel deficits in recent months after Venezuela, once Havana’s main oil supplier, stopped crude shipments under pressure from the US in early 2026. This was preceded by the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American commandos in January.
US President Donald Trump has since repeatedly stated that he intends to “take” Cuba “one way or another.”
Turk described the plight of ordinary Cubans as “unacceptable,” warning that “children are dying because doctors lack access to essential medical supplies and medicines,” as quoted in a statement issued on Monday. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), infant mortality in Cuba has doubled to 9.9 per 1,000 births, with childhood cancer survival rates down from 85% to 65% since the US imposed a fuel blockade on the Caribbean country.
“Critical medical services such as oncology, dialysis, and maternal health are under severe strain,” with essential medicines in “critical short supply,” the report warned.
International humanitarian efforts to alleviate the situation are being hampered by US extraterritorial sanctions, with private companies refusing to deliver such shipments for fear of running afoul of them, OHCHR stated.
“Such severe sanctions packages that target entire sectors of an economy and produce broad, indiscriminate and harsh effects on populations are incompatible with basic principles of international human rights law,” Turk charged.
Last month, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla accused the US of meting out “collective punishment” in that Cubans are being subjected to conditions “that violate their human rights and cause pain, suffering, and anguish.”
Axios, citing several anonymous US officials, reported in late May that the White House was looking to further ramp up the pressure on Cuba in the hope that worsening economic conditions would eventually lead to regime change.
Russia, China, Mexico, and several other countries have been supplying Cuba with humanitarian aid. Moscow sent a shipment of around 700,000 barrels of crude oil in late March.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/641301-us-blockade-cuba-killing-children-un-commissioner/
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'Israel may not like it but ...': US VP JD Vance says long-term deal with Iran in interest of US
Jun 9, 2026
US Vice President JD Vance has said Washington's approach towards Iran will be guided by American interests, even if those do not fully align with Israel's position, as the Trump administration pushes for a long-term settlement over Tehran's nuclear programme.
Speaking to Fox News, Vance acknowledged differences between the two allies while underscoring their broader strategic partnership.
"The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests, but we also have some situations where our interests diverge," he said.
Vance argued that recent developments had created an opportunity to pursue a diplomatic resolution with Iran and expressed confidence in President Donald Trump's strategy.
"Over the last year and a half, we've created the space necessary where the president believes – and I think that he's right – that we can get the long-term settlement to Iran's nuclear deal," he said.
He added that Washington's priority remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, regardless of how Israel views a potential agreement.
"I think where the president has been very clear here is that while Israel obviously has some objectives that it has, the United States' main objective in Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon," Vance said.
"Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that. But fundamentally, we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America."
His comments come amid reports of friction between the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the handling of Iran and regional security issues.
Vance also suggested that Tehran was showing signs of engagement in ongoing negotiations and had an incentive to avoid a prolonged conflict.
"The Iranians don't want this war to continue. It's not in their best interest, and I think they're coming to the table, putting some real things on the table," he said.
At the same time, he cautioned against assuming good faith in the talks.
"Everybody's always trying to play everybody. I don't assume that anybody's acting in good faith," Vance said when asked whether Iran could be attempting to gain leverage at the negotiating table.
The vice president said any future agreement would need a strong verification framework to ensure compliance, arguing that effective inspections would be critical to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
"If we get to this deal, it's gonna be a home run win for the American people," he said.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/israel-may-not-like-it-but-us-vp-jd-vance-says-long-term-deal-with-iran-in-interest-of-us/articleshowprint/131615149.cms
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Africa
Shariah Council Makes Fresh Demand Amid Rising Insecurity In Nigeria
June 10, 2026
The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria has expressed concern over the worsening security situation in the country, calling on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action against killings, kidnappings, terrorism and banditry.
The Council said Nigerians had continued to wake up daily to reports of violent attacks despite repeated assurances from government officials that the security challenges were being addressed.
Naija News reports that in a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, the Council said the level of insecurity in the country had become alarming and required more than promises and official statements.
The Council said recent attacks in Borno, Oyo, Niger and Zamfara states showed that many communities remained vulnerable to terrorists, kidnappers and armed gangs.
It also cited the recent abduction of a retired Army General and his wife in Katsina State, describing the incident as further evidence that criminal groups were becoming more daring.
According to the Council, attacks in rural and underserved communities are often not reported, meaning the actual scale of the crisis may be higher than what is captured in official records and media reports.
It said reports from security monitoring and human rights organisations indicated that thousands of Nigerians had been killed, abducted or displaced in recent months.
The Council also referred to reports suggesting that more than 1,000 people were kidnapped across northern Nigeria in the first quarter of the year.
‘Nigerians Tired Of Promises’
The Council expressed disappointment that repeated appeals by traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders had not produced meaningful improvement in the security situation.
It said Nigerians wanted concrete results, not repeated assurances from those in authority.
“Nigerians are tired of speeches, promises, condolences, committees and official rhetoric that are not matched by concrete action and measurable outcomes. What the nation requires now is decisive intervention and visible results,” the statement said.
The Council reminded the Federal Government that the protection of lives and property remained one of its primary constitutional responsibilities.
It added that no administration could be regarded as successful while large parts of the country remained exposed to criminal attacks.
While acknowledging the sacrifices of military and security personnel deployed across different operations, the Council said its concern was with what it described as wider failures in leadership, planning and strategy.
It noted that security personnel had continued to pay a heavy price in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
However, the Council said the Federal Government must do more to provide clear direction, better coordination and effective support for those on the front lines.
The Council also called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds allocated to the security sector.
It said Nigerians deserved to know how resources meant for defence, intelligence gathering and security operations were being used.
The group argued that improved accountability would help strengthen public trust and ensure that security funds are deployed for the purpose for which they were approved.
The Council urged the government to adopt more innovative and proactive measures to tackle insecurity across the country.
It listed such measures to include improved intelligence gathering, deployment of modern technology, stronger collaboration among security agencies, community participation and effective border control.
The Council warned against complacency, saying Nigerians now expected competent leadership, decisive action and measurable progress in restoring peace.
It maintained that the current security situation demanded urgent intervention to protect vulnerable communities and prevent further loss of lives.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/10/shariah-council-insecurity-in-nigeria/
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Bandits Kill Four, Abduct 11 In Fresh Kaduna Attacks
By George Oshogwe Ogbolu
June 10, 2026
No fewer than four persons have been killed and 11 others abducted in separate attacks by suspected bandits in Kachia and Kajuru Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
The attacks, which reportedly occurred between Saturday and Monday, targeted several communities in Southern Kaduna, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in the area.
Residents and eyewitnesses said the assailants stormed villages in both local government areas, killing residents and whisking away others, including women and children.
In Kachia Local Government Area, the bandits reportedly attacked Mafofadiya and Zagom Mazuga villages between Sunday and Monday, according to Sahara Reporters.
During the invasion, a resident identified as Joel Dauda was killed.
The attackers also abducted seven residents identified as Leo Bakut, Kefas Hilary, Vitoria Leo, Cristiana Joel, Iseal Joel, Hannatu Iseal and Isreal James.
Sources in the communities said the attackers operated for several hours before leaving with their captives.
In a separate attack in Kajuru Local Government Area, bandits reportedly invaded Kallah and Kufana villages between Saturday and Sunday.
Residents said two persons identified as Jagora Dabo and Misali Adamu were killed in Kallah village during the attack.
According to community sources, the attackers abducted Jagora Dabo’s pregnant wife and their children.
Two other persons were also reportedly kidnapped during the raids, bringing the total number of abductees in Kajuru to four.
Residents further disclosed that another person was killed in Kufana village, although the identity of the victim had yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The latest attacks have renewed fears among residents over the persistent insecurity in Southern Kaduna.
Community members alleged that violent incidents in the area were often underreported despite repeated attacks on rural settlements.
They expressed concern over the continued threat posed by bandits, saying many communities remain vulnerable to kidnappings, killings and other criminal activities.
The attacks have also sparked fresh concerns about the effectiveness of government efforts aimed at tackling insecurity, including non-kinetic strategies such as dialogue, reconciliation and rehabilitation programmes designed to encourage armed groups to abandon violence.
Residents called on security agencies and relevant authorities to intensify operations in the affected areas, improve protection for vulnerable communities and ensure that those responsible for the attacks are apprehended and prosecuted.
They maintained that urgent action was needed to prevent further loss of lives and restore confidence among residents living in fear of recurring attacks.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/10/bandits-kill-four-abduct-11-kaduna/
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Tinubu Orders Urgent Return Of Nigerian Prisoners From Ethiopia
June 10, 2026
President Bola Tinubu has ordered urgent steps to return nearly 300 Nigerians serving prison terms in Ethiopia back to Nigeria to complete their sentences.
Naija News reports that the move follows growing concerns over the condition of Nigerian inmates held in Ethiopian prisons, particularly at Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa, where reports of poor treatment, overcrowding, illness and deaths have continued to raise alarm.
According to Punch, the President has sent a delegation to Ethiopia to begin discussions with the Ethiopian government. The team includes Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.
Their mission is to conclude and sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia to be transferred home. Once returned, the inmates would serve the remainder of their jail terms in Nigerian correctional centres.
The President gave the directive after receiving reports about the worsening situation of the prisoners.
The delegation reportedly left for Addis Ababa on Tuesday to speed up the process.
The effort represents the first direct intervention by Tinubu in a matter that has remained unresolved through diplomatic discussions for more than three years.
Records from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs show that over 270 Nigerians are serving prison terms in Ethiopia, with many convicted for drug-related offences.
Most of them are being held at Kaliti Prison, a facility that has faced repeated allegations of overcrowding, inadequate feeding, poor healthcare and harsh treatment of inmates.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/06/10/tinubu-orders-urgent-return-of-nigerian-prisoners-from-ethiopia/
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Despite outrage, Kenya and U.S. launch $1.6 billion health programme
June 10, 2026
Kenya and the United States have officially launched a $1.6 billion health partnership after months of legal disputes delayed its implementation. The five-year agreement aims to strengthen disease surveillance, healthcare systems and emergency preparedness across the country.
The Kenyan and U.S. governments have finalized plans to implement the Kenya–U.S. Health Cooperation Partnership, ending months of uncertainty surrounding one of the country's largest health agreements.
Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo confirmed that both governments had agreed to proceed with the five-year programme, valued at $1.6 billion (KSh207 billion), following a series of court rulings and consultations.
The announcement came after a meeting between Kiptoo and U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Susan Burns in Nairobi.
Court rulings clear the way
The partnership faced significant legal hurdles after Kenya's High Court suspended its implementation in December 2025, citing constitutional concerns raised by petitioners.
In February 2026, the United States also paused implementation, stating it would respect the ongoing judicial process.
The Court of Appeal later lifted the freeze, ruling that prolonged delays could undermine essential health services and public health preparedness, effectively reopening the path for implementation.
Focus on strengthening healthcare
The agreement is designed to support several critical areas of Kenya's health sector.
Key components include disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory system improvements, medical supply distribution, frontline health workforce transition and the expansion of digital health systems.
Officials say the programme will help strengthen Kenya's ability to respond to future health emergencies while improving access to healthcare services nationwide.
Critics raise transparency concerns
The deal has faced sustained opposition from civil society groups, legal experts and some lawmakers.
Critics argued that the agreement was negotiated without sufficient public participation or parliamentary oversight.
Among the most prominent opponents was Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who questioned the transparency of the process and the executive's authority to commit the country to such a significant international arrangement without broader scrutiny.
Data privacy and immunity questioned
Concerns were also raised about the handling of sensitive health information.
Organizations including the Consumers Federation of Kenya and the Katiba Institute warned that provisions related to data sharing could potentially expose confidential patient records, including HIV and tuberculosis data.
Health rights group KELIN also expressed concern over clauses granting legal immunity to certain U.S. personnel and contractors, arguing that such protections could limit accountability in the event of disputes or alleged misuse of data.
U.S. officials have repeatedly insisted that Kenya's data protection laws will remain fully applicable and that any information sharing would be aggregated and compliant with privacy regulations.
Economic and political implications
Beyond healthcare, officials highlighted the broader economic relationship between Kenya and the United States.
Kiptoo noted that American companies continue to contribute significantly to employment, investment and skills development in Kenya, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two countries.
While implementation is now set to begin, debate over the agreement's transparency, financial obligations and legal safeguards is likely to continue as the programme rolls out over the next five years.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/06/09/despite-outrage-kenya-and-us-launch-16-billion-health-programme/
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Malawian migrants in South Africa prepare for repatriation as protests continue
June 10, 2026
Hundreds of Malawian migrants in Durban prepared to be repatriated on Tuesday, driven out by a growing wave of xenophobic violence sweeping South Africa.
Malawi says its planning to repatriate about 3,000 of its nationals. In the meantime, many Malawians and other foreigners have been left with nothing.
Foreign nationals in the country have reported intimidation and beatings by mobs going door-to-door, telling them to leave by the end of June.
"As you know, the foreigners have been put a deadline to be out of the country," says Mohammed Hussein, a community member helping migrants.
"A lot of these guys don't have papers. They are illegal foreigners. Some were forced out of their houses, shops and whatnot, so we're here as a humanitarian act. The community is here to give the basic essentials, food, clothing.“
The June 30 cut off has no official backing but for foreigners, the deadline looms large.
"They told us that on 30 June, if we are still here on 30 June, it will be a disaster," says Matthews Kadkala, a Malawian migrant. "So we decided before 30 June, we must have to move. And others they started already, they started fighting with us.”
President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday in an effort to calm the situation and reassure the public. But it’s done little to quell the protests. Instead, more and more countries are working to bring their citizens home.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/06/10/malawian-migrants-in-south-africa-prepare-for-repatriation-as-protests-continue/
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Kidnapped Islamic Cleric Dies in Bandits’ Captivity in Kebbi – Police Confirm
June 10, 2026
The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed reports that a kidnapped Islamic cleric, Alhaji Muhammad Maibarga, may have died while being held by bandits in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said security agencies were aware of the development and were making efforts to verify the situation while continuing operations to rescue other victims still in captivity.
According to him, “We are aware of reports concerning the victim’s deteriorating condition and possible death in captivity.”
He added that security operatives have sustained search and rescue efforts in Koko-Besse and Wasagu Local Government Areas, where cases of kidnapping and bandit attacks have remained a major concern.
POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the abduction of the cleric was not immediately made public. The incident later came to light after enquiries by journalists and members of the public.
Maibarga was reportedly kidnapped alongside a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Koko-Besse Local Government Area.
A video that later surfaced online showed the two elderly men pleading for help from their captors’ hideout. In the footage, they spoke about their worsening health conditions and the harsh treatment they were facing.
The former APC chairman said they had been forced to walk long distances through the forest despite old age and illness. He appealed to their families, community leaders and government authorities to intensify efforts to secure their freedom.
The video sparked widespread concern across Kebbi State and on social media, with many Nigerians calling for urgent action to save the captives.
Reports later emerged that the Islamic cleric was unable to survive the ordeal after his health reportedly deteriorated in captivity.
Residents of his community have since held Salatul Gha’ib, the Islamic funeral prayer observed in the absence of a body, as his remains have not been recovered.
The police, however, said efforts were still ongoing to rescue other abducted victims and tackle criminal gangs operating in parts of the state.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
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https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/06/10/kidnapped-islamic-cleric-dies-in-bandits-captivity-in-kebbi-police-confirm/
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AUC Chairperson received H.E. Al-Hussein Ould El-Naji, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
June 09, 2026
The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf received H.E. Al-Hussein Ould El-Naji, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.
Their discussions focused on continental priorities & Mauritania’s engagement in advancing the AU agenda & collective aspirations.
They reaffirmed the strong spirit of cooperation between Mauritania qnd the African Union.
Source: au.int
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https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20260609/auc-chairperson-received-he-al-hussein-ould-el-naji-ambassador-mauritania
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Southeast Asia
CAIR-LA, Indonesian Consulate in LA Host Second Annual Global Muslim Village
June 9, 2026
More than 1,200 community members, dignitaries, consulate representatives, and vendors gathered in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 6, for the second annual Global Muslim Village (GMV), hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia.
The multicultural, family-friendly event featured a global marketplace, halal food stalls, consulate and community booths representing countries from around the world, and CAIR-LA’s Social Justice Film Screening. The event also included a variety of cultural performances, such as tari piring (plate dancing), a drum beating demo, and a bamboo instrumental performance from Indonesian groups; a Senegalese kora (string instrument) performance; and a fashion show featuring traditional Malaysian outfits.
Representatives from the African American community and the Azerbaijan, Belize, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Türkiye consulates also attended the event.
During the program, CAIR-LA and the Indonesian Consulate were presented with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from California Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove’s office recognizing their dedication to uplifting and celebrating the diversity and economic contributions of the Muslim community.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“The purpose of the Global Muslim Village is to celebrate the diversity of our Ummah—our community—and the beauty of Islam and what our faith teaches us. There are nearly two billion Muslims around the world, from every ethnicity, every language, and every background. GMV is dedicated to bringing our cultures and heritage together to showcase the beauty of that diversity.
“During a time when anti-Muslim hate and bigotry are on the rise nationwide, one of the best ways we can combat it is through education, through embracing our shared humanity, and allowing people to appreciate one another—and that’s what GMV is all about.”
CAIR-LA is Southern California’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-la-indonesian-consulate-in-la-host-second-annual-global-muslim-village/
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Negeri Sembilan Bersatu says it will contest election under PN banner despite PAS split
10 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Negeri Sembilan Bersatu has said it will continue to contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner in the next state election, despite PAS’ decision to end political cooperation with the party.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan Bersatu chief Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker said Bersatu’s victories in the previous state election were secured on a PN ticket, meaning voters had given their mandate to the coalition.
Wednesday, 10 Jun 2026 3:54 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Negeri Sembilan Bersatu has said it will continue to contest under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner in the next state election, despite PAS’ decision to end political cooperation with the party.
According to Utusan Malaysia, Negeri Sembilan Bersatu chief Mohamad Hanifah Abu Baker said Bersatu’s victories in the previous state election were secured on a PN ticket, meaning voters had given their mandate to the coalition.
“Their support should be given attention by PN and be considered by the coalition as it prepares to face the coming state election.
“At the same time, PAS’ decision is rather confusing because it is said to have severed political ties with Bersatu but remains together in PN, which we are also part of,” he was quoted as saying.
PN currently holds five seats in the Negeri Sembilan state assembly, three through PAS and two through Bersatu.
Meanwhile, Utusan Malaysia reported that Negeri Sembilan PAS commissioner Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa reportedly said no decision had been made on whether PAS would use the PN logo or contest under the PN ticket in the next state election.
He reportedly said matters concerning the state election and the use of logos would be discussed later by PAS’ central leadership, with the state chapter to abide by the decision made at the top level.
The remarks came as PAS central committee member and PN information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said earlier today that PAS would discuss PN’s position with Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People’s Party (MIPP) this week, following its decision to end political cooperation with Bersatu.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/06/10/negeri-sembilan-bersatu-says-it-will-contest-election-under-pn-banner-despite-pas-split/223250
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In Tokyo, Anwar pitches Malaysia-Japan alliance for chips, AI and clean energy
10 Jun 2026
TOKYO, June 10 — Malaysia and Japan can make a meaningful contribution to strengthening regional supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
He said Malaysia’s strengths in assembly, testing and advanced packaging complement Japan’s leadership in materials, equipment and advanced manufacturing, creating opportunities to build more resilient and integrated technology ecosystems.
“This is where Malaysia and Japan can make a meaningful contribution,” he said at the Nikkei Forum on “Navigating Strategic Uncertainty”, held as part of the 31st Nikkei Forum under the theme “Working Together for a More Resilient and Prosperous Asia” here.
In energy, Anwar said the partnership could support Asia’s transition to a lower-carbon future while maintaining economic growth and energy security.
He added that initiatives such as the Asia Zero Emission Community show that sustainability and development can advance together.
On the digital economy and artificial intelligence, he said cooperation is needed to ensure innovation remains people-centred and inclusive, creating opportunities rather than deepening inequalities.
“Growth, not stagnation, empowerment, not subjugation,” he stressed.
Anwar recalled Malaysia’s industrial transformation in Penang in the 1970s, saying Japanese firms played a key role in laying the foundations for its emergence as one of Asia’s leading electronics and semiconductor hubs.
He said the relationship was built not only on investment, but also on confidence, partnership and a shared commitment to long-term development.
“Today, that spirit remains highly relevant, and must continue to ride on the mantra of proactivity over passivity,” he added.
Earlier in his address to a distinguished audience at the forum, he said the international system underpinning decades of growth and development is now under significant strain.
According to Anwar, the multilateral trading system, once the cornerstone of global economic integration, faces mounting pressures from fragmentation, unilateral actions and strategic competition.
“It appears that (US President Donald) Trump’s failed ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are being given another new lease on life via new proposed impositions invoked under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974,” he said.
He also pointed to a growing trend of export restrictions and industrial policies shaped by geopolitical rivalry, warning that economic interdependence is increasingly being weaponised.
“Supply chains, technology, critical minerals, finance and market access are increasingly viewed through the lens of rivalry rather than mutual benefit,” he added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar: Japanese support vital as Malaysia builds AI, semiconductor and quantum capabilities
10 Jun 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — The Japanese government and industry support is critical to helping Malaysia build its capabilities in advanced technologies, particularly semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and advanced packaging, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the country is positioning itself to move beyond traditional growth sectors by embracing digitalisation, AI and other emerging technologies, while strengthening its role as a regional semiconductor hub.
“(As for) semiconductors, we are more fortunate, because now Malaysia has become the semiconductor hub in the region, not only for the low-end, but also more high-end (products).
“We are talking about packaging and advanced packaging. And that is where collaboration with Japanese industries and support from the Japanese government are critical,” he said during a question-and-answer session following his keynote address at the Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, Japan today.
The session was broadcast live on television and social media.
Anwar said Malaysia is also focusing on developing capabilities in quantum technologies, noting that the country is learning from international partners that are further ahead in the field.
Beyond technology, he said energy transition would be another key driver of Malaysia’s next phase of growth, supported by the country’s existing strengths in the energy sector.
“We are fortunate we have Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Bhd). Then we have this thinking of the Asean (Power) Grid, which I promoted very strongly and is supported by the Vietnamese government, Laos and now Singapore, and we are also working with Sarawak,” he said.
While these are new areas, he also noted that there are stages of growth even with regard to old technologies.
Anwar said Malaysia would continue to maintain its traditional growth engines while simultaneously pursuing new areas and disciplines to accelerate economic transformation and achieve high-income nation status.
He also highlighted that political stability, strong institutions and a clear policy direction remain essential in supporting the country’s long-term development agenda.
“Our duty is to ensure that reforms take place gradually, to fortify and strengthen. And this means, with the political stability which we are fortunate (to have), then we should start embarking on clarity of policies,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Singapore police use AI, drones and 3D scanning to speed up crime scene investigations
10 Jun 2026
SINGAPORE, June 8 — The Singapore Police Force is using artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 3D scanning technology to enhance forensic investigations, improve efficiency and optimise resources, according to The Straits Times.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Tan Boon Kok, who is the officer in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department’s Special Investigation Section, said the tools are helping investigators recreate crime scenes more quickly and accurately.
“With current 3D scanning technologies, we can produce a digital twin of the scene, which allows us to revisit the scene anytime to take additional measurements,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that with the new scanners, investigators now require only about a quarter of the time previously needed to reconstruct crime scenes.
Tan reportedly said UAVs are also deployed to capture aerial views of large or complex scenes, while 3D scanners help preserve spatial details, including for road traffic accidents, allowing investigations to continue while roads are reopened.
On June 8, the police conducted a media demonstration showing how these technologies are being used in investigations and training.
Tan said AI is also being used to process large volumes of documents and evidence, significantly reducing time spent on administrative work.
“What took months previously could now be done in a matter of hours,” he said, adding that AI improves data-driven analysis and information sharing among investigators.
He emphasised, however, that human judgment remains central to investigations, particularly in interpretation and decision-making.
“However, the core investigative craft – judgment, empathy, on-site perception and strategic decision-making – remains firmly in the hands of human investigators,” he was quoted as saying.
Senior crime scene specialist Wong Jun Yan said officers are first trained in manual methods before being introduced to new technologies to ensure strong fundamentals are maintained.
He said the technologies are intended to assist, not replace investigators, by improving efficiency and enabling more comprehensive analysis of crime scenes.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2026/06/10/singapore-police-use-ai-drones-and-3d-scanning-to-speed-up-crime-scene-investigations/223208
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Singapore, Indonesia deepen bilateral economic cooperation through 6WG platform
09 Jun 2026
SINGAPORE, June 9 — Singapore and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen bilateral economic ties amid global uncertainties during the 16th Singapore-Indonesia Six Bilateral Economic Working Groups Ministerial Meeting (6WG MM) held today.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) Singapore said the 6WG is a key economic platform between Singapore and Indonesia to advance cooperation in six areas: Batam, Bintan and Karimun (BBK) and other special economic zones; investments; manpower; transport; agribusiness; and tourism.
The meeting, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, and co-chaired by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, also discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration between businesses and expand investment in sectors important to both economies.
Gan said Singapore and Indonesia share longstanding economic ties, forged over decades of partnership.
“We are working closely to build resilient supply chains and create new opportunities in areas such as the digital economy, green economy, industrial infrastructure and agri-tech.
“The BBK, for instance, is seeing growing momentum in these areas, with multiple investments taking shape and a joint technology sector study soon to be underway,” he said in a statement.
According to MTI, Singapore and Indonesia are advancing plans to transform the BBK region into a vibrant digital hub, with multiple data centre investments underway, including the expansion of the Nongsa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and new data centre commitments.
Both countries have also agreed to work towards strengthening cooperation in supply chain resilience, reflecting a shared commitment to keeping trade flowing even under uncertain global conditions.
“Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining a conducive and stable business environment to support long-term investor confidence and sustainable growth,” it added.
On the green economy front, Singaporean and Indonesian companies have deepened cooperation in areas of mutual interest, it said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2026/06/09/singapore-indonesia-deepen-bilateral-economic-cooperation-through-6wg-platform/223161
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West Asia crisis pushes Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill to RM7.5 billion
9 Jun 2026
Malaysia’s fuel subsidy bill peaked at RM7.5 billion in April due to West Asia tensions, but has since moderated as oil prices eased.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s monthly fuel subsidy bill climbed to as high as RM7.5 billion at one point in April, as tensions in West Asia pushed up global oil prices and heightened concerns over energy supplies, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said.
He said the subsidy bill had soared from about RM700 million a month in January and February to RM5 billion in March, before peaking in April, although the amount has since moderated following a decline in oil prices.
“But now with prices coming down and moderating, we’re probably looking at about RM3.5 billion-RM4 billion of subsidies,” he said during a session titled “Balancing Fiscal Focus with External Risks” at Invest Malaysia 2026 here today.
Amir Hamzah said the government’s immediate priority was to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies to support the economy.
“The economy cannot function if there’s no supply,” he said.
He noted that Malaysia had thus far avoided supply disruptions partly because it is a net energy exporter, while national institutions and oil companies were able to secure supplies through their global networks.
Amir Hamzah said reforms implemented over the past few years had also helped strengthen the country’s ability to withstand external shocks and manage rising subsidy costs.
Without the reforms, the government would be facing subsidy costs higher than RM10 billion, he said.
He said the government has continued to balance fiscal sustainability with measures to protect vulnerable groups and maintain economic activity, while ministries have also undertaken more efficient spending practices to help manage public finances.
Speaking to reporters later, Amir Hamzah said subsidy pressures have begun to ease as global oil prices retreated from earlier highs.
He said oil prices had declined from about US$120 per barrel to between US$90 and US$98 this month, which helped to ease pressure on subsidy spending.
He added that the government will maintain the current quota and subsidised fuel price under the BUDI MADANI fuel assistance programme.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/west-asia-crisis-pushes-malaysias-fuel-subsidy-bill-to-rm7-5-billion/
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South Asia
Karzai Condemns Pakistan Airstrikes in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
June 10, 2026
Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has condemned Pakistan’s reported airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, saying Islamabad’s continued “hostile policies” and military actions will not achieve their objectives and risk further destabilizing the region.
In a statement published on X on Wednesday, Karzai expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in the strikes and urged Pakistan to abandon what he described as a policy of war and destruction toward Afghanistan. He called on Islamabad to pursue good-neighborly relations and constructive engagement instead.
The remarks came after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani forces carried out overnight airstrikes in the provinces of Khost, Paktika and Kunar. According to Mujahid, at least 13 people were killed and 14 others wounded.
Mujahid claimed that 11 children, one woman and one elderly man were among those killed. He also alleged that the strikes targeted civilian homes and described the attacks as a “crime.” Pakistan had not publicly commented on the allegations at the time of reporting.
Local sources reported multiple explosions across parts of eastern Afghanistan overnight, while details about the exact targets and circumstances of the strikes remain unclear.
The latest incident underscores persistent security tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where both sides have repeatedly exchanged accusations over the presence and activities of militant groups operating in the region.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban administration have deteriorated in recent years amid disputes over cross-border attacks, security concerns and the movement of armed groups. Pakistan has frequently accused Afghanistan-based militants of carrying out attacks inside its territory, allegations the Taliban authorities have denied.
The strikes also come amid growing international concern over regional stability, as neighboring countries face mounting security challenges linked to militancy, refugee flows and economic pressures.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/karzai-condemns-pakistan-airstrikes-in-afghanistan/
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Iran Calls for Unfreezing Afghan Assets at UN Security Council Session on Afghanistan
June 10, 2026
NEW YORK CITY: Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets, stressing that humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people must continue without politicization or preconditions.
Speaking at a UN Security Council session on Afghanistan, Iravani urged the international community to avoid using humanitarian aid as a political tool, emphasizing that the needs of the Afghan population should remain the central priority.
The Iranian envoy also highlighted the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue with the authorities in Afghanistan, stating that such cooperation is essential for addressing the country’s economic, humanitarian, and security challenges.
The Iranian representative expressed concern over recent tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, welcoming regional efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, confidence-building, and long-term stability between the two countries.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/iran-calls-for-unfreezing-afghan-assets-at-un-security-council-session-on-afghanistan/
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Islami Bank seeks Tk 10,000 crore support from BB
10 JUNE 2026
Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has sought a special liquidity support of Tk 10,000 crore from Bangladesh Bank as the country’s largest Shariah-based lender reels from deposit withdrawals amid unrest over its chairman’s appointment.
Contacted by The Daily Star yesterday, a senior Islami Bank official, requesting anonymity, said, “Considering the current cash crisis, we have sought this support.” He added that the central bank has not yet communicated any decision in this regard.
The Daily Star could not reach Mohammad Shahriar Siddiqui, a director and assistant spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, despite several attempts, as his phone was switched off.
Meanwhile, protesters continued their demonstrations, demanding the resignation of Islami Bank’s newly appointed chairman, Md Khurshid Alam.
Between June 1 and 7, the bank lost Tk 4,241 crore in deposits amid protests that began earlier this month under the banner of the Conscious Customers’ Forum.
The demonstrations have disrupted operations at several Islami Bank branches.
According to internal data, Islami Bank’s total deposits fell from Tk 184,382 crore on May 31 to Tk 180,141 crore on June 7.
Acting Managing Director Md Altaf Hossain confirmed to The Daily Star that Islami Bank was struggling with withdrawals, noting that the ongoing instability has prompted many customers to withdraw their deposits.
The central bank announced Khurshid’s appointment as chairman on May 24.
On June 1, the first working day after the Eid holidays, hundreds of people gathered in Dhaka’s Motijheel, demanding that Bangladesh Bank cancel his appointment and reinstate former Islami Bank Managing Director Omar Faruk Khan.
Islami Bank’s new chairman, Khurshid, was among the four senior Bangladesh Bank officials who resigned amid protests by central bank employees shortly after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/islami-bank-seeks-tk-10000-crore-support-bb-4195051
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Jamaat proposes Tk 8.4 lakh crore shadow budget
10 JUNE 2026
The Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday presented a Tk 8,39,505 crore shadow budget ahead of the national budget for fiscal year 2026–27, which is scheduled to be placed in parliament tomorrow.
The shadow budget prioritises education and health and includes measures such as raising the tax-free income threshold to Tk 500,000, using National Identity (NID) card numbers as Tax Identification Numbers (TIN), increasing social safety net allowances, and introducing a new government pay scale.
Jamaat leader and Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Khan Milon presented the proposal at an event titled “People-Oriented Budget Proposal 2026–2027” at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar.
The shadow budget sets a revenue target of Tk 6,65,926 crore and projects an overall deficit of Tk 1,68,329 crore, equivalent to 2.43 percent of GDP.
Saiful said the proposals were based on the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity with the goal of building a welfare state.
He alleged that years of political patronage, corruption, and money laundering had weakened the country’s economic foundations. Recovering laundered money could help reduce the budget deficit, he said.
As part of tax reforms, the Jamaat proposed replacing the separate TIN system with NID numbers and introducing a “Smart Social Security Number” to widen the tax base.
Besides raising the tax-free income threshold for individual taxpayers from Tk 4,50,000 to Tk 500,000, the party proposed introducing tax rebates on educational expenses incurred by taxpayers, their family members, or dependents.
Under the social safety net programme, the Jamaat proposed increasing old-age, widow, and disability allowances, as well as benefits under the mother and child assistance programme, from the current Tk 650–900 per month to Tk 1,000 initially and gradually to Tk 3,000.
The proposal also includes monthly honorariums of Tk 7,500 for imams, Tk 5,000 for muezzins, and Tk 3,000 for mosque caretakers nationwide.
For government employees, the Jamaat proposed a new pay scale under which employees in grades 10–20 would receive a 100 percent salary increase, while officials in grades 1–9 would receive a gradual 80 percent salary adjustment.
In terms of sectoral allocation, public administration received the largest share at Tk 2,02,245 crore, accounting for 24.09 percent of the total budget.
Education and technology were allocated Tk 1,25,575 crore, followed by Tk 1,27,500 crore for debt servicing, Tk 65,340 crore for transport and communication, Tk 51,670 crore for agriculture, Tk 48,150 crore for social security and welfare, Tk 45,240 crore for health, and Tk 45,220 crore for local government and rural development.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Opposition Leader and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said honesty, transparency, and accountability were essential not only for preparing a budget but also for ensuring its effective implementation.
Without these, no budget could succeed, he said.
Shafiqur alleged that increasing political interference in financial institutions was putting economic management at risk.
Criticising the tax collection system as ineffective, he said revenue collection could rise significantly if businesses were allowed to operate in a transparent and harassment-free environment.
He also questioned the current July–June fiscal year structure, arguing that it encourages a rush to implement Annual Development Programme (ADP) projects during the monsoon season, creating opportunities for waste and corruption.
The Jamaat chief said his party would propose aligning the fiscal year with the calendar year.
“In June, development activities are often disrupted by monsoon rains, droughts, cyclones, and other natural disasters. Yet a large portion of the ADP is rushed through at that time. The public does not benefit from it; rather, dishonest beneficiaries do,” he said.
Shafiqur also proposed placing supplementary budgets in parliament at least three months before the fiscal year ends to improve oversight of public spending.
At present, supplementary budgets are often tabled at the end of the fiscal year after most expenditures have already been made, limiting parliamentary scrutiny and accountability, he added.
The event was moderated by Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, head of Jamaat’s publicity and media department.
Others present included National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Khelafat Majlish Nayeb-e-Ameer Ahmad Ali Qasemi, AB Party General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad, and Jagpa President Tasmia Pradhan.
Jamaat leaders present included Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam, Nayeb-e-Ameer Mujibur Rahman, and Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/politics/news/jamaat-proposes-tk-84-lakh-crore-shadow-budget-4195041
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UN reports 57% rise in security incidents across Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
June 9, 2026
The United Nations has reported a sharp increase in security incidents, human rights violations, and restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, warning that the country continues to face serious challenges despite relative political stability under the current administration.
In a new quarterly report to the UN Security Council covering the period from February 1 to April 30, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said 3,687 security-related incidents were recorded across Afghanistan, marking a 57.7 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
The report, based on findings by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said anti-Taliban groups, including the National Resistance Front, National Mobilization Front, and Green Trend Movement, claimed responsibility for 18 attacks in 10 provinces. Sixteen of those attacks were independently verified and included rocket attacks, grenade assaults, and shootings targeting Taliban checkpoints and security convoys.
While the report noted that anti-Taliban groups remain active, it said they have not posed a significant challenge to the Taliban’s territorial control. At the same time, the UN assessed that the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) has retained its operational capabilities despite not claiming any major attacks during the reporting period.
The UN also documented 92 security incidents directly affecting UN personnel and operations, up significantly from 62 incidents recorded during the same period in 2025.
One of the report’s most alarming findings concerns civilian casualties linked to cross-border violence. According to the UN, Pakistani airstrikes and border shelling between January 26 and March 31 killed at least 372 civilians and wounded 392 others inside Afghanistan. The deadliest incident was a March 16 strike on Kabul’s Omid drug rehabilitation hospital, which reportedly killed 269 people and injured 122, most of them patients.
The report further documented continued human rights concerns, including the killing of five former Afghan security personnel, 20 cases of arbitrary detention, and eight cases of torture or mistreatment involving members of the former government’s security forces.
UNAMA also recorded 228 public floggings carried out by Taliban authorities during the three-month period, including punishments against 29 women, 196 men, and three boys. The individuals were accused of offenses such as adultery, running away from home, gambling, alcohol consumption, and same-sex relations.
The report highlighted growing concerns about the situation of women and girls. Guterres said Taliban restrictions continued to affect education, employment, freedom of movement, religious participation, and public life. In provinces such as Herat and Kandahar, the enforcement of dress codes reportedly became stricter, with women subjected to public reprimands and verbal abuse for alleged violations.
These concerns have also been echoed by UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan Richard Bennett, who recently condemned the reported detention of dozens of women in Herat over alleged dress-code violations. Bennett described the arrests as arbitrary and unacceptable, calling for the immediate release of the detained women and an end to measures targeting women and girls.
UNAMA has repeatedly warned that restrictions on women and girls are having far-reaching consequences for Afghan society. In its recent briefing to the Security Council, the mission reported that approximately 3.8 million Afghan girls remain out of school, including more than 2.6 million adolescent girls. The UN warned that every year roughly 250,000 more girls are permanently excluded from secondary education, creating what officials describe as a “lost generation” of talent and opportunity.
The report also noted that women continue to face increasing barriers in daily life, including requirements to travel with a male guardian, restrictions on access to public spaces, and limitations on religious activities. According to the UN, women were even prevented from attending Taraweeh prayers during Ramadan despite designated spaces for them in mosques.
UN officials have warned that the continued erosion of rights, combined with economic hardship and humanitarian challenges, risks deepening Afghanistan’s isolation from the international community. The organization has repeatedly urged Taliban authorities to reverse restrictions on women and girls and uphold Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/un-reports-57-rise-in-security-incidents-across-afghanistan/
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UN Presence in Afghanistan Should Focus on Afghan People’s Needs, Not Geopolitical Interests
June 10, 2026
NEW YORK CITY: Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, has criticized the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), accusing it of adopting a biased approach in its operations.
Speaking during a UN Security Council session on Afghanistan, Nebenzya said that the UN mission is increasingly perceived as aligned with Western political interests, raising questions about its neutrality and effectiveness on the ground.
He stated that under such perceptions, it is unlikely that Afghan authorities will fully support the continued presence of the UN mission in the country.
According to him, international engagement in Afghanistan must be based on trust and impartiality rather than political positioning.
Nebenzya emphasized that the United Nations’ presence in Afghanistan should prioritize the needs and interests of the Afghan people, rather than advancing broader geopolitical agendas.
He stressed that humanitarian and development efforts must remain free from political influence to be effective.
The Russian envoy further argued that Western countries have not learned lessons from past interventions in Afghanistan, claiming they continue to pursue pressure-based policies instead of constructive engagement.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/un-presence-in-afghanistan-should-focus-on-afghan-peoples-needs-not-geopolitical-interests/
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SAARC Report Highlights Afghanistan’s Economic Stability Despite Challenges
June 10, 2026
DHAKA: A new report covering the 2024–2025 fiscal year, published through Bangladesh’s central bank and referenced by SAARC member states, indicates that Afghanistan has managed to maintain relative economic stability despite ongoing sanctions, restrictions, and frozen foreign assets.
The report noted that Afghanistan’s financial sector remains stable, while inflationary pressures have been managed with caution.
It further states that the country has succeeded in maintaining key macroeconomic indicators under difficult conditions.
According to the findings, the Afghan currency strengthened by 11.21 percent against the US dollar, despite a significant reduction in foreign aid inflows.
The report also highlights a 4.2 percent decline in consumer prices, suggesting movement toward greater price stability and economic balance.
SAARC member countries, including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives, reportedly acknowledged that Afghanistan’s central bank has achieved most of its monetary policy objectives during the fiscal year.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/saarc-report-highlights-afghanistans-economic-stability-despite-challenges/
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