Over 50 Jamia Students Stage Protest Against 'Saffronisation Of Campus' At RSS Centenary Event
New Age Islam News Bureau
29 April 2026
Jamia Millia Islamia University
File picture
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· Over 50 Jamia students stage protest against 'saffronisation of campus' at RSS centenary event
· US spy agencies examine how Iran would react to Trump declaring victory
· Muslim World League chief calls for ethical framework governing AI
· Video doesn’t show mayor calling for Sharia law and ‘expulsion’ of non-Muslims from Britain
· CAIR-LA Calls on LBUSD to Publicly Condemn Anti-Muslim Hate Following Islamophobic Statements at Board Meeting
· 40 Killed As ISWAP, Boko Haram Clash In Sambisa Forest — Sources
· Malaysia: Police probe RM415,000 Haj permit scam after Kuching man tricked by suspect in Mecca
· Kabul urges end to Pakistan clashes in talks with UK envoy
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India
· Asked for mosque address, came back 90 minutes later: What led to ‘lone wolf’ attack near Mumbai
· Gujarat local body election: Hindu woman scripts victory in Muslim-majority Godhra ward
· Dal Mandi project: AIMC urges people to ignore rumours on mosque impact
· Clean chit to Pakistan: Congress slams Rajnath Singh for saying terror has 'no nationality' at SCO
· Jaishankar, Baerbock discuss West Asia; UNGA President questions Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ plan
· Kashmir LoC funeral reunites divided families recalling 1990s PoK migration
· Dawood aide Mohammad Salim Dola deported from Turkey, held in India drug case
· Producer who made ‘Udaipur Files’ had planned movie on ‘ex-Muslim’ Wastik
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Mideast
· Young Palestinian artists in Gaza exhibit their impressions of war as a fragile ceasefire holds
· Israeli strikes kill five in south Lebanon, including three rescuers
· US embassy congratulates Iraq’s PM-designate
· Pro-Kurdish party criticizes Turkiye’s ‘hesitant’ steps toward PKK peace
· Can Iraq’s new leaders withstand the storm of a prolonged US-Iran confrontation?
· Jordanian field hospital treats nearly 400,000 Palestinians over 2 years
· EU provides almost $11m to fund medical treatment for Palestinians in Jerusalem
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Arab World
· Saudi deputy minister receives Indonesian ambassador
· Makkah launches smart guide for pilgrims, visitors
· Saudi Arabia’s Abaad platform promotes space photography
· Najran workshop explores AI tools in design
· Meeting explores Saudi Tapline’s historical, cultural legacy
· Saudi FM discusses regional developments with UN chief
· Jeddah launches ‘Bride of the Red Sea’ photography exhibition
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Europe
· Thousands raised to build mosque as lasting tribute to 'beacon of light' killed in horror crash
· Man in court after Nottinghamshire mosque collection box stolen
· Mosque seek talks with council over lair levy change
· PM won't face inquiry over claims he misled MPs on Mandelson vetting
· Third Ukrainian strike hits Russian oil refinery and prompts evacuations
· Man admits plotting attack on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
· Russian archaeologist freed in top-secret prisoner swap
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North America
· CAIR-WA Welcomes Court’s Decision to Move Afghan Asylum-Seeker Cases Forward Despite Trump Admin Pause
· CAIR on Air Podcast to Address Struggles of Former Incarcerees Trying to Rebuild Their Lives
· CAIR Maryland Concludes 2026 Muslim Youth Day at the Capitol (#MYDAC2026)
· Comey charged with threatening Trump's life in Instagram post
· Pentagon admits ‘no defence’ against Russian and Chinese hypersonic weapons
· Ex-FBI chief Comey charged with threatening to kill Trump
· US envoy to Ukraine to resign over disagreements with Trump – FT
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Africa
· 'The situation is under control,' Mali's junta leader says in first address since weekend attacks
· Police rescue abducted Islamic school students, search for nine others
· Libyan court jails four human traffickers for up to 22 years, attorney general says
· Islamic State claims attack that killed 29 in northeastern Nigeria
· Sudan’s war leaves Khartoum with unexploded mines and other weapons
· Ghana quits US aid deal talks over privacy concerns
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Southeast Asia
· Halal-certified? Muis sheds light on SIA's Muslim meals following online discussion
· King of Malaysia meets Johor Menteri Besar at Istana Pasir Pelangi to discuss current issues
· High Court blocks RM6.7m transactions in Barbados as MACC widens 1MDB asset hunt
· PAS targets 16 seats in Melaka state election
· Ringgit opens higher against US Dollar, mixed versus peers
· Man fined RM30,000 for insulting judiciary on Facebook
· Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail for Gaza
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South Asia
· Recently passed digital laws still pose risks to freedom of expression: Speakers
· JS heats up over Jamaat’s role in ’71 war
· Haqqani Emphasizes Implementation of Supreme Leader Decree No. 17, Cultural Development
· Beradar Kicks Off Three Power Transmission, Distribution Projects in Faryab
· Pak Military Regime’s Brutality and Civilian Resilience in Kunar
· 8th of Saur: A Historic Turning Point in Afghanistan’s Struggle for Independence
· Afghan Forces Need Advanced Military Equipment to Defend Country
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Over 50 Jamia students stage protest against 'saffronisation of campus' at RSS centenary event
28.04.26
Jamia Millia Islamia University
File picture
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More than 50 students of Jamia Millia Islamia staged a protest on the campus on Tuesday, opposing a programme marking 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Amidst the heavy presence of Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force, students held placards that read "Jamia is our university, not your shakha' and 'reject saffronisation of our campus', as they raised slogans of 'Inquilab Zindabad' on the campus.
"The RSS is trying to get their chief guest inside the auditorium through one of the many entrances, but we are protesting right outside the auditorium," one of the protesting students told PTI.
The protesters, affiliated with left-leaning student organisations such as the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students' Association (AISA), urged the RSS functionaries present there to leave the campus immediately.
The RSS-linked event, being held as part of the 'Yuva Kumbh' initiative to celebrate the organisation's centenary, had drawn objections a day earlier from the SFI's Jamia unit, which termed it a "direct provocation".
AISA Delhi president and Jamia student Saiyed alleged differential treatment by the university administration.
"This is the same Jamia where other student groups are not even allowed to hold discussions without security intervention, but the RSS has been permitted to organise a full programme in an air-conditioned hall," he said.
He added that students would continue to resist similar events in the future to "defend our democratic rights".
Visuals circulating on social media showed protesting students enduring sweltering heat as temperatures in the National Capital remained high.
The tensions at the Jamia come in the backdrop of Delhi University colleges holding RSS-linked events, which have come under criticism from students and teachers' organisations.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/over-fifty-jamia-students-stage-protest-against-saffronisation-of-campus-at-rss-centenary-event/cid/2158193
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US spy agencies examine how Iran would react to Trump declaring victory
April 29, 2026
Goal is to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from the conflict. (AFP)
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US intelligence agencies are studying how Iran would respond if President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory in the two-month-old war that has killed thousands and become a political liability for the White House, two US officials and a person familiar with the matter said.
Trump told Britain's King Charles III and other guests at a state dinner Tuesday that Iran has been “militarily defeated”, in his first public comments on the sensitive topic during the ongoing royal visit.
“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent," Trump said at the White House dinner, adding: “Charles agrees with me even more than I do -- we're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
The intelligence community is analyzing the question along with others at the request of senior administration officials. The goal is to understand the implications of Trump potentially pulling back from a conflict that some officials and advisers worry could contribute to deep Republican losses at the midterm elections later this year, according to the sources.
While no decision has been made — and Trump could easily ramp back up military operations — a quick de-escalation could ease political pressure on the president, even as it could leave behind an emboldened Iran that could eventually rebuild its nuclear and missile programs and threaten US allies in the region.
The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.
It is not clear when the intelligence community would complete its work, but it has previously analyzed the likely reaction of Iran’s leaders to a US declaration of victory.
In the days following the initial bombing campaign in February, intelligence agencies assessed that if Trump were to declare victory and the US drew down its forces in the region, Iran would likely view it as a win, one of the sources said.
If Trump instead said the US had won but maintained a heavy troop presence, Iran would likely see it as a negotiating tactic, but not one that would necessarily lead to the end of the war, the source said.
“CIA is not familiar with the intelligence community’s reported assessment,” Liz Lyons, director of the agency’s office of public affairs, said in a statement after the publication of this story. The CIA declined to answer Reuters’ specific questions about its current work on Iran.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the US is still engaging with the Iranians on negotiations and would “not be rushed into making a bad deal.”
“The president will only enter into an agreement that puts US national security first, and he has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” she said.
High political costs
Opinion polls show the war is overwhelmingly unpopular with Americans. Only 26 percent of respondents in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week said the military campaign has been worth the costs, and only 25 percent said it has made the US safer.
Three people familiar with White House discussions in recent days have described Trump as keenly aware of the political price being paid by him and his party.
Twenty days after Trump declared a ceasefire, a flurry of diplomacy has failed to fully open the economically vital Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran closed by attacking ships and laying mines in the narrow waterway.
Choking off the shipping that carries about 20 percent of the world’s crude oil has driven up energy costs worldwide and the price at US gasoline pumps. Iran’s ability to disrupt commerce gives it powerful leverage against the United States and its allies.
A decision to scale back the US military presence in the region, paired with a mutual lifting of the blockade, would eventually bring down gasoline prices.
So far, however, the two sides appear far from any agreement.
Last weekend, Trump canceled a trip by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to meet Iranian officials in Pakistan, telling reporters on Saturday that it would take “too much time” and that if Iran wanted to talk “all they had to do was call.”
Military options remain on table
Various military options remain formally on the table, with renewed airstrikes on Iran’s military and political leaders among them, according to a separate person familiar with administration dynamics.
One of the US officials and another person familiar with the discussions said, however, that the most ambitious of those options — such as a ground invasion of the Iranian mainland — appear less likely than they did a few weeks ago.
A White House official described the domestic pressure on the president to wrap up the war as “enormous.”
One of the sources said Iran has taken advantage of the ongoing ceasefire to dig out launchers, munitions, drones and other materiel that had been buried by US and Israeli bombing in the opening weeks of the conflict.
As a result, the tactical costs of resuming full-scale war are arguably higher now than they were in the initial days of the ceasefire, which began on April 8.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2641650/middle-east
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Muslim World League chief calls for ethical framework governing AI
April 28, 2026
Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa was speaking at the opening of the conference titled “The Future of Human Civilisation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” hosted by the Euro-Mediterranean University in Fez. (Supplied)
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FEZ: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League has called for a unified ethical framework to govern artificial intelligence.
It came as Mohammed Al-Issa delivered the keynote speech at the opening of “The Future of Human Civilization in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” a major international conference in Morocco attended by more than 2,000 people this week.
The event, hosted by the Euro-Mediterranean University of Fez, brought together international officials, including the UN’s high representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, alongside academics, experts and thinkers from 75 countries.
In his address, Al-Issa highlighted the significance of the conference’s theme, which he described as central to “understanding the evolution of human civilization and its intellectual transformation.”
He traced this trajectory from the knowledge revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, when scientific thinking expanded beyond traditional frameworks, to the present-day AI revolution, which has transformed machines from tools of data storage into systems capable of analyzing and generating ideas.
He noted that the foundations of the experimental scientific method had been laid centuries earlier by Muslim scholars, and suggested that the current technological shift represented another pivotal moment in human development.
Advances in AI must be guided by shared human values to ensure they serve as a force for good, Al-Issa said. He warned against the risks of unregulated systems, particularly in sensitive areas such as religion, race and culture, in which misuse could fuel division, hatred and conflict.
He called for the establishment of clear ethical standards before the further development of AI systems, alongside greater transparency and more accountability for companies operating in the field. He also underscored the need for strict limitations on use in high-risk domains, especially those that involve critical decision-making, insisting that ultimate authority must always remain in human hands.
Drawing a distinction between humans and machines, Al-Issa said that while the former possess the freedom to think and reach sound conclusions for themselves, AI systems are shaped entirely by the data and inputs they receive, whether accurate or misleading.
Such systems lack awareness and independent will, and therefore cannot be treated as autonomous entities, he added.
Al-Issa concluded his remarks by noting that technology ultimately reflects the human choices and values included within the parameters set by its developers.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2641649/saudi-arabia
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Video doesn’t show mayor calling for Sharia law and ‘expulsion’ of non-Muslims from Britain
28 APRIL 2026
A video has been widely shared on social media with false claims that it is footage of the Mayor of Rotherham calling for Sharia law and the deportation of non-Muslim UK citizens.
But that’s not what the clip, which has circulated widely on X and Facebook, actually shows.
It features Councillor Rukhsana Ismail, a Labour councillor for the Rotherham East ward, speaking to the camera in her ceremonial role as the Mayor of Rotherham.
In the short clip currently circulating she speaks in Arabic. Text included with some of the posts sharing it says: “Muslim mayor of Rotherham in the UK says that Britain can only be great again by implementing Sharia law, and demands the expulsion of all Non Muslims! Including British Citizens.”
That is not what Councillor Ismail actually says in the video, however.
We traced the video to a longer version shared on her official councillor Instagram page on 18 February, in which she speaks both Arabic and English.
The original post is captioned “Ramadan Kareem 🌙 Ramadan Mubarak 🌙”. In the first few seconds of the footage when Councillor Ismail is speaking in Arabic, she wishes people a “Ramadan Kareem”, meaning “generous Ramadan”, and delivers a blessing which we have verified using Google Translate. She then switches to English and talks about the meanings of the month of Ramadan, including “reflection, compassion and generosity”.
As another fact checker has also verified, at no point does Councillor Ismail mention Sharia law, or any kind of action against non-Muslims. We also couldn’t find any evidence that she’s made any such comments elsewhere.
For some Muslims in the world, this year’s Ramadan began on 18 February, while it began on 19 February in the UK.
We have contacted Councillor Ismail and Rotherham council about the claims, and will update this article if we receive a response.
Videos are often reshared widely online with misleading captions, so before sharing content like this which you may come across on social media, take a moment to consider whether it comes from a verifiable and trustworthy source, and whether it shows what others say it does. Our Full Fact toolkit can help you do this.
Source: fullfact.org
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https://fullfact.org/politics/muslim-rotherham-mayor-sharia-law-expulsion-citizens-false/
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CAIR-LA Calls on LBUSD to Publicly Condemn Anti-Muslim Hate Following Islamophobic Statements at Board Meeting
April 28, 2026
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today sent a letter to the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Board of Education expressing concern over Islamophobic and xenophobic statements made during a board meeting held earlier this month.
On Wednesday, April 15, a member of the public, who identified himself as Rudy Krause, made several remarks demeaning Islam and Muslims during the meeting, including stating that “We have a massive Muslim problem in the United States … they are taking over with their political caliphate like in New York with Mamdani,” and “The biggest crime of the mind ever perpetrated in the history of the world is Islam.”
In the letter, CAIR-LA called on the school board to immediately and publicly condemn the hateful and Islamophobic remarks made during the meeting and affirm the District’s commitment to the safety and dignity of all students and community members.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“The silence from LBUSD’s leadership in response to hateful, Islamophobic, and xenophobic rhetoric during a school board meeting is deeply concerning. As the speaker’s remarks veered clearly off-topic and descended into hateful vitriol targeting the Muslim community, the board had both the authority and the obligation to intervene. Instead, they allowed hate speech to go unchecked.
“The LBUSD school board’s failure to halt or publicly condemn this blatant display of bigotry is damaging to every Muslim student, every immigrant family, and every community member who looks to this board for leadership. We call on LBUSD to immediately and publicly condemn this incident and take concrete steps to uphold its obligation to create a safe, inclusive educational environment for all students, regardless of their faith or background.”
If you or someone you know are the victim of a hate crime or incident, click here to contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights department or call (714) 776-1177 (ext. 1).
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-calls-on-lbusd-to-publicly-condemn-anti-muslim-hate-following-islamophobic-statements-at-board-meeting/
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40 Killed As ISWAP, Boko Haram Clash In Sambisa Forest — Sources
April 29, 2026
No fewer than 40 fighters have been reported killed following a deadly clash between rival terrorist factions, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State.
Security sources disclosed that the confrontation occurred within the forest axis, a known stronghold of insurgent groups.
According to the sources, the clash took place on April 27 at about 2:47 p.m., following exchanges between fighters operating around Bama Local Government Area and the wider Sambisa region.
A Boko Haram fighter identified as “MANYA” reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that his group engaged ISWAP fighters around the Gazwa camps.
He was quoted as saying that about 40 ISWAP fighters were killed during the confrontation.
The sources further revealed that several motorcycles and bicycles used by the insurgents were either seized or destroyed during the clash.
Some of the equipment were reportedly set ablaze in the course of the fighting, dealing a blow to the logistics capacity of the affected faction.
In a reported response, an ISWAP-linked affiliate acknowledged the incident, describing it as “good work” while offering prayers for the safety of their members.
Security sources noted that the ongoing rivalry between the factions has continued to weaken their operational cohesion within the Sambisa axis.
The sources added that troops are expected to take advantage of the infighting to further degrade the capabilities of the insurgent groups and restrict their movement within the forest.
They also stated that intelligence monitoring is ongoing, with authorities assessing further developments from the incident.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/04/29/40-killed-iswap-boko-haram-sambisa-forest/
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Malaysia: Police probe RM415,000 Haj permit scam after Kuching man tricked by suspect in Mecca
29 Apr 2026
KUCHING, April 29 — A 62-year-old man lost RM415,000 in a scam that began when he met a suspect in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, who offered to arrange Haj permits and a hotel for pilgrims.
Kuching police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the victim was introduced to the Malay male suspect on October 30, 2024, at a restaurant near The Clock Towers in Mecca.
The victim was offered assistance to obtain Haj permits and to invest in accommodation for pilgrims during the Haj and Umrah seasons.
“Attracted by the offer, the victim made six online payment transactions to two different bank accounts.
“The first payment was made while the victim was at his residence in Kuching, Sarawak, on November 10, 2024.
“As a result of the incident, the victim suffered total losses amounting to RM415,000,” Alexson said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, which carries a jail term of between one year and 10 years, with caning, and a possible fine upon conviction.
Members of the public are advised to not be easily swayed by business offers, particularly those involving Haj permits or overseas investments.
All such offers should be verified with the relevant authorities before financial transactions are made.
They are also encouraged to use tools such as the Whoscall application and PDRM Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Semak Mule at https://semakmule.rmp.gov.my portal to check suspicious phone numbers and bank accounts.
The public can also follow official CCID social media accounts @JSJKPDRM and @CYBERCRIMEALERTRMP for information on the latest scam modus operandi. — The Borneo Post
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/04/29/police-probe-rm415000-haj-permit-scam-after-kuching-man-tricked-by-suspect-in-mecca/218088
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Kabul urges end to Pakistan clashes in talks with UK envoy
By Fidel Rahmati
April 29, 2026
Taliban calls for an end to clashes with Pakistan during talks with a UK envoy, as rising border violence and humanitarian concerns intensify.
Taliban officials urged an end to clashes with Pakistan during talks with a UK envoy, as rising border violence fuels humanitarian concerns.
Senior Taliban official Abdul Wasi has called for an end to ongoing clashes with Pakistan during a meeting with the United Kingdom’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Richard Lindsay. The talks focused on rising border tensions, migration challenges, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
According to a Taliban statement, Abdul Wasi condemned recent Pakistani strikes on civilian areas, including homes and a university, and stressed the need to prevent further escalation. He said the Taliban remains committed to reducing tensions and building stable, cooperative relations with Islamabad.
Wasi reiterated that Afghanistan territory would not be used against other countries and urged Pakistan to uphold its commitments. The UK envoy expressed sympathy for victims of the recent violence and emphasized the importance of strengthening peace efforts between the two sides.
Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have intensified in recent months, with both sides trading accusations over militant activity and cross-border attacks. Islamabad has repeatedly raised concerns about armed groups operating from Afghan soil, while Taliban authorities deny the claims and call for dialogue.
The latest escalation comes after reported artillery strikes in Kunar province, where at least seven people were killed and dozens more injured earlier this week. Such incidents have heightened fears of a broader deterioration in security along the volatile frontier.
The UK envoy also called on the Taliban to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries through Pakistan, a key route for assistance into Afghanistan. Aid agencies have warned that disruptions along the border could worsen the already severe humanitarian crisis in the country.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has faced economic collapse, widespread poverty, and increasing reliance on international aid. Access to humanitarian assistance remains critical for millions, particularly as political tensions complicate cross-border cooperation.
The meeting underscores growing international concern over rising violence and the urgent need for de-escalation, as continued clashes risk further destabilizing the region and deepening humanitarian challenges.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/kabul-urges-end-to-pakistan-clashes-in-talks-with-uk-envoy/
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India
Asked for mosque address, came back 90 minutes later: What led to ‘lone wolf’ attack near Mumbai
Apr 29, 2026
MUMBAI: A 31-year-old man has been arrested and remanded to Maharashtra ATS custody till May 4 after two security guards were attacked at a construction site in Mira Road in the early hours of Monday, police said.
Investigators have also recovered digital material allegedly showing references to Islamic State from his residence.
The accused, identified as Zaib Zubair Ansari, allegedly targeted the guards after questioning them about their religion, according to the FIR.
‘Are you a Hindu?’
In his police complaint, one of the victims, Subroto Sen, said the attacker first approached him around 3 am while he was on duty.
“Ansari first came up to him as he was guarding the front of the site and asked for the address of a local mosque. When he told Ansari the address, Ansari asked him if he knew the name of the mosque. As the guard said ‘no,’ Ansari asked him, ‘Are you a Hindu?’ The guard replied in the affirmative, and Ansari left.”
Sen said the accused returned about 90 minutes later and allegedly attacked him with a knife.
“He returned around 4.30 am, Sen said and, stating ‘You are a Hindu, correct?’ held the guard’s right hand and pulled out a knife to stab him. Sen said he tried to evade the attack and got stabbed in the back.”
Supervisor also attacked inside cabin
After escaping, Sen ran into supervisor Rajkumar Mishra’s cabin, but the attacker followed him, the FIR said.
“He asked Mishra, ‘Tu bhi Hindu hain na?’ (‘You too are a Hindu, aren’t you?’) and then asked him to recite the ‘kalma’, and when Mishra couldn’t recite it, stabbed him in the stomach,” Sen stated.
Both victims were later rushed to hospital with the help of local residents.
‘They were terrified’
A resident who assisted in the rescue said the injured guards were in shock after the attack.
“The guards were terrified and were asking for help. We took them immediately to the cops and then to hospital.”
Police said Mishra is in ICU but stable, while Sen sustained minor injuries on his back.
ATS seizes devices
Following the arrest, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) seized electronic devices from Ansari’s residence in Naya Nagar, Mira Road (East), including a laptop and mobile phones.
According to officials, preliminary analysis has flagged potential extremist material.
Police also said a letter was recovered from the house which made mention of such an attack, though further verification is underway.
Returned from US in 2020
Ansari had lived in the United States with his parents for several years before returning to India in 2020, officials said.
He was reportedly living alone in Mira Road after separating from his wife, who had gone back to the US, according to police.
Arrest within an hour after CCTV trail
Police said Ansari was identified through CCTV footage and apprehended within an hour of the attack by Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police.
Police have invoked multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
Section 109: Attempted murder
Section 196(1): Promoting enmity between groups on religious grounds
Section 118(2): Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous weapons
Investigators are now examining the digital evidence and alleged ideological material recovered from the accused’s residence.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/asked-mosques-address-left-then-returned-after-90-minutes-what-happened-moments-before-lone-wolf-attack-near-mumbai/articleshowprint/130595625.cms
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Gujarat local body election: Hindu woman scripts victory in Muslim-majority Godhra ward
Apr 29, 2026
AHMEDABAD: Defying odds in a communally sensitive pocket of Godhra — Ground Zero of the 2002 Gujarat violence — an independent candidate, Apexa Soni, scripted an unlikely victory from Ward 7, where Hindu votes are negligible, underscoring a rare show of social harmony and grassroots support.
The ward comprises Satpul, Hayatni Wadi, Vachla Odha, Chuchla Plot, Geni Plot and other localities. It is less than a kilometre away from Godhra railway station and Signal Falia, two sites closely linked to the Sabarmati Express burning, which triggered the riots.
After narrowly losing the 2021 election by around 100 votes, Apexa was hesitant to contest again. However, residents — largely from the Muslim community — urged her to re-enter the fray, assuring their full backing.
A resident of Ward 7, where her husband Nainesh Soni runs a jewellery shop, Apexa had built her connect by actively addressing local civic issues and assisting residents. Even after herdefeat, she continued her work, often spending from her own pocket to address sanitation and other minor concerns.
Following a ward delimitation exercise last year, she had decided against contesting, but was persuaded by locals and community leaders to give it another try. Their faith paid off as she emerged victorious on Tuesday.
Calling the result a reflection of unity, Apexa said voters treated her “like a sister or daughter” and stood firmly behind her. Local councillor Sajid Kala credited her consistent work for the win, noting that the ward has barely two dozen Hindu voters.
District Congress vice president Rafiq Tijoriwala described her victory as an example of people rising above divisions to support a candidate committed to public service.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-local-election-results-hindu-woman-scripts-victory-in-muslim-majority-godhra-ward/articleshowprint/130596382.cms
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Dal Mandi project: AIMC urges people to ignore rumours on mosque impact
Apr 28, 2026
The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC), which manages the Langde Hafiz Masjid, has urged people to ignore rumours regarding the mosque, a portion of which falls under the Dal Mandi road widening project.
The appeal was issued followed a meeting convened on April 26 to discuss the impact of the project on the mosque and other Waqf properties in the area.
AIMC joint secretary SM Yaseen said around six mosques and several Waqf properties in Dal Mandi are likely to be affected, with a part of the Langde Hafiz Masjid on Nai Sadak also falling within the project’s scope.
He said the district administration had earlier written to the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, but as the Board’s tenure has expired, it cannot provide formal consent. In line with provisions of the Waqf Act, a response was submitted to the administration on April 23, 2026. The administration has also sought cooperation from mutawallis (mosque custodians).
Calling the matter sensitive, particularly with Bakrid approaching, Yaseen said the meeting was organised to enable wider consultations among stakeholders.
The meeting was attended by imams of mosques, religious scholars, representatives of social organisations, prominent citizens and weavers’ groups. It was presided over by Maulana Zakiullah Qadri, chief imam of the Langde Hafiz Masjid.
Participants shared their views, and it was decided to convene another meeting soon.
The committee reiterated its appeal to the public to avoid spreading or acting on unverified information, stressing the need to maintain peace and the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (composite culture) of the city. The meeting concluded with a prayer led by Maulana Qadri.
The Dal Mandi road widening project, undertaken by the state government, aims to expand a 650-metre stretch from about 5 metres to 17.5 metres. A total of 187 structures, including six religious sites, have been identified. So far, 45 buildings have been acquired and around 30 demolished by the PWD with administrative support, while acquisition of the remaining properties is underway.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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Clean chit to Pakistan: Congress slams Rajnath Singh for saying terror has 'no nationality' at SCO
Apr 29, 2026
The Congress on Wednesday accused Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of giving a “shameful clean chit” to Pakistan during his remarks at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Bishkek, calling his statements “anti-national.”
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the minister’s comments reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy approach of “appeasement” towards the United States and “calibrated capitulation” to China.
Sharing a video clip of Singh’s address, Ramesh quoted him saying, “We must not forget that terrorism has no nationality and no theology. No grievance, real or supposed, can become an excuse for terrorism and humanitarian loss.”
In a post on X, Ramesh said, “Yesterday, the Defence Minister, obviously with the approval of and at the instance of the Prime Minister, gave a shameful clean chit to Pakistan while speaking in Bishkek.”
He further questioned Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism, asking, “Is Pakistan not the epicentre of terrorism?”
“Are there no terrorist camps in Pakistan with India as their target? Is there no ideological anti-India indoctrination in Pakistan? Were not the Mumbai and Pahalgam terror attacks masterminded and executed by terrorists from Pakistan?” Ramesh asked.
He added, “Clearly this new stance in relation to Pakistan is all part of the PM's policy of appeasement of the US and calibrated capitulation to China.”
Ramesh also said, “The Defence Minister's shocking statements are as anti-national as the PM's bizarre clean chit to China on June 19, 2020.”
Earlier, speaking at the SCO conclave in Bishkek, Rajnath Singh had said Operation Sindoor reflected India’s resolve that “terror epicentres” are no longer immune to “justifiable punishment.”
He also urged member nations to remain vigilant against “state-sponsored” cross-border terrorism and warned against any “double standards” in tackling the threat.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Jaishankar, Baerbock discuss West Asia; UNGA President questions Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ plan
Jayanth Jacob
29 Apr 2026
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks with President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, focusing on global challenges including the West Asia conflict, artificial intelligence governance, and the future of multilateral cooperation.
Baerbock also took a swipe at a proposal by Donald Trump to establish a “Board of Peace,” questioning how a framework requiring countries to pay a joining fee could function effectively.
The meeting comes as the United Nations General Assembly marks its 80th anniversary, amid growing concerns over geopolitical tensions and the effectiveness of global institutions.
Jaishankar stressed the need to adapt international frameworks to contemporary realities, particularly from the perspective of developing nations.
“A pleasure to host UNGA President Annalena Baerbock in New Delhi. Discussed UN80, SDGs, AI implications, and the West Asia conflict. Underscored the need for reformed multilateralism reflective of today’s realities,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The discussions also reviewed progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and examined the implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Earlier in the day, Baerbock paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat before holding consultations with UN officials in India, including Resident Coordinator Stefan Priesner. Her visit highlights continued engagement between India and the United Nations, following António Guterres’s trip to New Delhi earlier this year.
Addressing the press at UN House, Baerbock issued a strong warning about the state of the global order, saying, “The United Nations, multilateralism, and international law are under direct attack.”
She emphasised that mounting pressures are affecting all three pillars of the UN system, peace and security, development, and human rights.
Referring to ongoing conflicts and global disruptions, she added that “no country can address today’s interconnected challenges alone,” citing climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic fallout from wars, including the conflict in Ukraine.
Baerbock also stressed adherence to international norms, stating, “The UN Charter is not optional,” and cautioning countries against unilateral actions that undermine global stability. “Complying with international law and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals is in the interest of all,” she said.
Baerbock reiterated her criticism of Trump’s “Board of Peace” proposal, questioning how a system that requires countries to pay a joining fee could work effectively.
Trump unveiled the initiative, known as the Board of Peace (BoP), in January with the aim of overseeing global peace efforts, initially focused on Gaza. Under the proposal, permanent members would be required to contribute a fee of USD 1 billion, drawing criticism from some quarters that the mechanism could sideline or even replace the United Nations.
Responding to a question on the proposal, Baerbock stressed the foundational principles of the UN system and its inclusive structure.
“Because every country, no matter how big or small, how powerful or rich, has a seat at the table, you will not find just peace for anybody in the world if you have to pay a fee to join,” she said.
She added that there is a reason the United Nations continues to hold primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, emphasising the importance of universal participation over exclusive arrangements.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Kashmir LoC funeral reunites divided families recalling 1990s PoK migration
Muzaffar Raina
29.04.26
Memories of an overlooked chapter of Muslim displacement that unfolded in the Valley at the peak of militancy from its border villages to the other Kashmir were revived this week by the death of Raja Liaqat Ali Khan, the naib tehsildar of Ganderbal, following a cardiac arrest.
The fast-flowing waters of the Kishanganga river, also known as the Neelum, bore witness to that haunting migration as Liaqat's coffin was placed on the bank, which doubles as the line of control (LoC). His close relatives, standing on the other side of the river, were only able to catch a last distant glimpse.
Driven by fears of State excesses, Liaqat’s father Raja Izhar Khan, his stepmother and siblings were among hundreds who migrated to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from villages in Keran, Tanghdhar and some other border areas around the same time when Pandits migrated to Jammu and other places. PoK officials put their recent numbers at over 40,000.
Liaqat, 52, passed away at a Srinagar hospital on April 25. Before his body could reach his home village, his separated close relatives and acquaintances in PoK learnt about it through social media. Large crowds gathered on both sides of the LoC for his last rites.
"We could not identify them, nor hear their screams due to the gushing waters. But they were clearly mourning. Liaqat Sahab’s father is already dead, but his siblings were possibly on the other side. They were quite young when they migrated,” Ghulam Rabani Wani, a retired government employee from Mundiyan, 2km from Keran, said.
After Liaqat's father divorced his mother, he was raised by his uncle, Sharafat Ali Khan, then a senior officer, who also did not migrate. His father and siblings from the other marriage went to the other side.
Hundreds of people had migrated to PoK from Keran and adjoining villages in 1989 or 1990.
Another local said around 50 per cent of Keran's population had migrated along with almost all residents from Khoriyan, Bore, Bitchwal and Bogna villages.
“There was a small bridge connecting us to the other side. Those were very tense days, and people feared they might be targeted. Around 2,000-3,000 people left their homes,” the local, who requested not to be identified, said. “They initially lived in camps that were set up for Muhajirs (migrants). The well-off built their lives and are living in different parts of PoK and even Pakistan.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Dawood aide Mohammad Salim Dola deported from Turkey, held in India drug case
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
29.04.26
Mohammad Salim Dola, 59, an alleged drug kingpin and close aide of fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim, was deported to India early Tuesday from Turkey and handed over to the Indian agencies, sources in the security establishment said.
Acting on inputs from Indian agencies, Dola, allegedly a key mephedrone producer across India, was detained by the Turkish intelligence agency on Saturday. He landed at Delhi airport and was taken into custody by the Narcotics Control Bureau.
In a post on X, home minister Amit Shah said: "The NCB today made a major breakthrough in securing the return of notorious drug trafficker Mohammad Salim Dola from Turkiye. Under Modi govt's mission to ruthlessly smash drug cartels, our anti-narcotics agencies have extended their claws across borders through a robust network of global agencies. Now, no matter where they hide, no place is safe for drug kingpins."
Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice against Dola on the CBI’s request as he was wanted by the Mumbai police and the NCB. "Dola runs Dawood’s drug network and has been active since the 1980s. He was living in Beylikduzu under a false identity. He hailed from Mumbai’s Dongri and has been linked to many drug busts. He had been arrested earlier by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Mumbai police, and the NCB before he jumped bail and fled the country sometime in 2018," said an NCB official.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Producer who made ‘Udaipur Files’ had planned movie on ‘ex-Muslim’ Wastik
Alok Singh
Apr 29, 2026
Had Salim Wastik’s luck finally not run out, he may have been working with a Bollywood crew making a film on his life.
The man who allegedly kidnapped and killed a 13-year-old boy in 1995 and then hid in plain sight as an “ex-Muslim” provocateur on YouTube, had been approached by a Bollywood filmmaker who wanted to make a biopic on him, police sources said.
Wastik was rearrested on April 24, but the film may still be made, Amit Jani, the producer who had approached him, told The Indian Express.
Jani, who has earlier made Udaipur Files, a film based on the murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Lal by two Muslim men in 2022, said he intended to call his film on Wastik “Ex-Muslim”.
“The film is not entirely a biopic of Salim Wastik. However, he is one of the main characters, and shooting will begin very soon,” Jani said.
Based on what Wastik has allegedly told police interrogators, sources said the film had been planned to include Wastik’s rebirth on the Internet as an activist opposed to Islam, and his survival after the grievous attack on him, allegedly by two brothers named Zeeshan and Gulfam, at his home in Loni, Ghaziabad on February 27.
Both attackers were killed within days in separate encounters by the Uttar Pradesh Police, who described them as “fanatics”.
But in a dramatic twist in the tale, Wastik was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police on April 24, who revealed that he was, in fact, Salim Khan alias Salim Ahmed – a kung fu instructor who had been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in 1997, but who had vanished in 2000 while on bail.
According to police, Wastik spent nearly 10 years in Haryana before he came to Loni and started a small business. He declared himself to be an “ex-Muslim” and started to post content on the Internet.
“He (Wastik) was arrested for a crime that he committed before turning into an ex-Muslim,” Jani said. “We will show that in the film as well. Whatever money we earn from this movie will be donated to the parents of the 13-year-old boy who was killed by Wastik in Delhi three decades ago,” he said.
The planned film, Jani said, would focus on Wastik’s life after he became an “ex-Muslim”, the attack on him, and the UP Police’s action against the attackers.
“I gave him Rs 1 lakh from my side and another Rs 1 lakh from people who wished him good health while he was undergoing treatment in hospital after the attack,” Jani said.
Jani’s earlier film, Udaipur Files, was released on August 8 last year. He said his team was currently working on two other films: Kala Hiran, based on the blackbuck poaching case of 1998 and the threats issued to actor Salman Khan by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, and Kalki Sambhal, based on the communal riots in Sambhal in 1978.
According to police, Wastik – who identified himself as Salim Khan at the time – learned Shaolin kung fu at a martial arts school in Shamli in UP and landed himself a job as a physical instructor at a well known school in East Delhi. There, he, along with an accomplice, kidnapped the 13-year-old boy and demanded a ransom of Rs 30,000. But they ended up allegedly killing the boy and dumping the body in a drain.
Police identified Wastik based on his photo on his ID card from the kung fu academy in Shamli, and the fact that his father’s name (Noor Hasan), and wife’s name (Afsana) were the same as the ones he had submitted while getting his Aadhaar in 2015.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Mideast
Young Palestinian artists in Gaza exhibit their impressions of war as a fragile ceasefire holds
April 28, 2026
BUREIJ, Gaza Strip: Young Palestinian artists in Gaza staged an impromptu exhibit on Tuesday, seeking another way to show the world what has happened during the war and the fragile ceasefire.
The row of paintings, like much of Gaza life itself, was displayed outdoors, open to the weather and curious stares. There was a painting of a dove, a bullet hole, a person’s silhouette in a territory where the war between Israel and the militant Hamas group has killed well over 70,000 people.
It was a sunny day in Bureij in central Gaza. Children shouted and played as admirers of the paintings took photos and reflected.
“They painted their feelings, their ambitions, their hopes, their visions, over four months during a continuous workshop in my studio,” said Ghanem Al-Din, who organized the exhibit of dozens of paintings.
One artist was displaced seven times
Obay Al-Qarshali, 21, was one of the artists. He said he fled his home in Gaza City in late 2023 after the war began, sparked by the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. He took only what he could in his hurry, leaving over 30 of his paintings behind.
They are now lost in the bombing and destruction, he said.
His painting on display showed broken glass, cars topped with mattresses and other belongings and the debris of buildings. All are too familiar for him and hundreds of thousands of fellow Palestinians who have been displaced, often more than once.
Al-Qarshali said he had changed locations at least seven times in the war.
“Because of how much we were displaced and suffered in moving and carrying our belongings, the tents, the crowds, and so much more, I wanted to express something that deeply troubled me: that we left our homes and our safe places, forced to flee, scatter, and change our location. This piece expresses so much,” he said.
The timing of next steps in Gaza’s ceasefire is unclear. The disarming of Hamas is a major challenge before the territory’s shift in governance, stabilization and reconstruction can begin in earnest.
“Critical demilitarization talks with Hamas are continuing,” former British prime minister Tony Blair, a key member of the US-created Board of Peace meant to focus on Gaza, told a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday.
Reconstruction likely will cost over $70 billion and take a decade, a report by the United Nations and the European Union said last week.
It said Gaza’s economy has contracted by 84 percent. More than 371,000 housing units have been destroyed. Over half of Gaza’s hospitals are “non-functional.” Nearly all schools are destroyed or damaged in the territory of over 2 million people.
In a report on Tuesday, Doctors Without Borders said Israel has destroyed or damaged about 90 percent of Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure. And a Mercy Corps study found only 7 percent of Gaza’s agricultural infrastructure remains functional.
A child collecting firewood is among the dead
While large-scale fighting has eased since the ceasefire took effect in October, Israeli forces have continued near-daily strikes and fire around military-held zones, killing over 800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. It does not give a breakdown of civilians and militants.
On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike hit a car in Gaza City, killing four men, according to Shifa Hospital.
The strike happened away from the so-called Yellow Line that separates Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza. Israel’s military said it struck a “terrorist” in the location, with no details.
The bodies were wrapped in white and placed on the ground, outdoors, so a crowd could mourn.
And a 9-year-old boy was killed by Israeli fire while gathering firewood in the southern city of Khan Younis, about 400 meters (1,312 feet) west of the Yellow Line, Nasser Hospital said. Israel’s military did not immediately comment.
Associated Press video showed siblings crying over the boy at the morgue.
“What is the guilt of those children,” a woman said during the funeral. “God is plaguing you, Israel.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Israeli strikes kill five in south Lebanon, including three rescuers
April 28, 2026
BEIRUT: Two successive Israeli strikes on a building in a southern Lebanese town killed five people on Tuesday, including three rescuers who went to help those wounded in the initial attack, Lebanon’s health ministry said.
A spokesperson for the Lebanese Civil Defense, a state-run rescue force, told Reuters the three rescuers were initially trapped under rubble by the second Israeli strike on the town of Majdal Zoun and were later confirmed dead.
The Lebanese army said earlier that two troops were also wounded in the second Israeli strike.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
LEBANESE PM SAYS STRIKES ARE A ‘WAR CRIME’ Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the strikes as “a new and blatant war crime committed by Israel.” The United Nations Human Rights office said last month that Israeli airstrikes on civilians including health care workers in Lebanon may amount to war crimes. More than 2,500 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across Lebanon since March 2, when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired on Israeli positions and triggered a widespread Israeli air and ground campaign. The toll includes more than 100 medics, as well as over 270 women and more than 170 children. The US-mediated ceasefire agreed between Israel and Lebanon has led to a reduction in hostilities, but Israel and Hezbollah have continued to clash in southern Lebanon, accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
Israeli troops are occupying a strip of southern Lebanon and have warned people not to return to their homes there, but the Israeli air force has also continued strikes outside that strip, including the town hit on Tuesday. Last week, Israeli strikes killed a Lebanese journalist in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese authorities and press advocates saying continuing Israeli attacks had blocked rescuers from accessing the site where the journalist had been trapped under the rubble.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, has kept up its drone and rocket attacks against Israeli troops in Lebanon and on northern Israel.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had found and dismantled tunnels in southern Lebanon used by Hezbollah.
Source: arabnews.com
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US embassy congratulates Iraq’s PM-designate
April 29, 2026
BAGHDAD: The US embassy in Baghdad congratulated Iraq’s new prime minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi on Wednesday, after Washington’s interference scuppered the chances of former candidate Nouri Al-Maliki.
“US Mission Iraq extends its best wishes to Prime Minister-Designate Ali Al-Zaidi as he works to form a government capable of fulfilling the hopes of all Iraqis for a brighter and more peaceful future,” the embassy posted on X.
Source: arabnews.com
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Pro-Kurdish party criticizes Turkiye’s ‘hesitant’ steps toward PKK peace
April 29, 2026
ANKARA: Turkiye’s pro-Kurdish DEM Party issued one of its strongest criticisms yet of the government’s handling of a fragile peace process, highlighting on Tuesday a growing stand-off between Ankara and Kurdish militants over next steps to end a decades-long conflict.
DEM is parliament’s third biggest party and helped facilitate steps toward peace between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), whose conflict has killed more than 40,000 people since 1984. Speaking to her party MPs, DEM co-chair Tulay Hatimogullari said the government was “failing to match the momentum” created by a February 2025 call by jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan to lay down arms.
“While such a bright outlook lies ahead of us, and we should be moving at full speed toward the goal of peace, the government is acting in a hesitant, timid and stalling manner,” she said. All sides involved in the process, including DEM, the PKK and President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, have traded blame for perceived delays more than a year since hopes were raised for a breakthrough. The PKK — designated a terrorist group by Turkiye, the US and EU — halted attacks and said in May 2025 it had decided to disband and end its armed struggle. But Ankara has said it must do more and that disarmament must be verified before broader legal or political steps.
A Turkish parliamentary commission voted overwhelmingly in February to approve a report setting out a roadmap for legal reforms alongside the PKK’s disbandment, shifting the process into the legislative arena. The insurgency has fueled instability in Turkiye’s mainly Kurdish southeast and spilled over into Iraq and Syria. Hatimogullari warned that delays risked derailing the broader peace process.
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Can Iraq’s new leaders withstand the storm of a prolonged US-Iran confrontation?
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH ROBERT EDWARDS
April 28, 2026
DUBAI/LONDON: As the US-Iran war grinds on despite the ceasefire, Iraq is at risk of being pulled back into a role it has spent years trying to escape — as a battleground for regional conflict, driven by its inability to defang Iran-backed militias.
That risk now coincides with a pivotal political shift. Iraq’s newly elected president has nominated businessman Ali Al-Zaidi as prime minister-designate, asking him to form a government after weeks of deadlock.
The appointment followed intense pressure from Washington, which opposed the return of former premier Nouri Al-Maliki, a figure closely aligned with Iran. Shiite parties ultimately coalesced around Zaidi — a little-known compromise candidate — in a bid to avoid punitive US measures and preserve external support.
His nomination underscores the tightrope Iraq continues to walk between Washington and Tehran — and the growing difficulty of maintaining that balance.
Iraq’s geography and post-2003 political order, combined with Iran’s projection of influence and a web of sectarian and ideological divisions, have placed the country squarely in the line of fire.
Analysts say that regional spillover could further disrupt social stability, damage the economy, and destabilize internal politics. The question remains: Does Iraq have any realistic capacity to stay out of a widening war?
The involvement of Iran-backed Iraqi militias has already transformed Iraq into an unwilling yet critical secondary battlefield. These factions have launched hundreds of drone attacks across the Gulf, targeting sensitive infrastructure.
Over a five-week period beginning in late February, assessments suggest that nearly half of the estimated 1,000 drone strikes recorded in the Gulf originated from Iraqi territory.
This campaign, largely conducted by factions operating under the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” has drawn sharp condemnation from Gulf Cooperation Council states.
They have warned Baghdad that failure to rein in these groups risks diplomatic isolation and could invite direct retaliation against militia assets on Iraqi soil.
The conflict is also playing out within Iraq’s borders. Iran-backed militias have launched drone and missile attacks on US diplomatic and military facilities in Baghdad and Irbil, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has directly targeted US positions in Iraqi Kurdistan.
In response, US forces have carried out retaliatory airstrikes on militia bases, weapons facilities, and command positions linked to groups such as Kataib Hezbollah and other factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces.
While the Pentagon has framed the operations as “precision strikes” aimed at degrading militia capabilities, they have drawn condemnation from Baghdad, which views them as violations of sovereignty.
At the same time, the semiautonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq has emerged as a distinct flashpoint, symbolizing the country’s vulnerability.
For decades, the region has hosted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, whose presence Tehran views as a persistent security threat.
In the lead-up to the current conflict, reports that Washington had considered backing a Kurdish-led offensive from northern Iraq into Iran — even if ultimately abandoned — appear to have sharpened Tehran’s threat perception.
Since then, Iranian forces, under the pretext of targeting “separatist terrorists,” have carried out strikes against Kurdish infrastructure, military sites, and senior officials, signaling a broader effort to pressure the Kurdistan Regional Government and limit its alignment with the US.
The reach of that pressure was underscored on March 27, when a drone targeted the residence of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok.
This escalation comes at a moment of political transition in Baghdad. Zaidi, a businessman and political outsider, has never held government office and would become Iraq’s youngest prime minister at 40 if he succeeds in forming a cabinet.
His mandate is formidable.
Iraq’s next government will be expected to respond to Washington’s longstanding demand to disarm Iran-backed groups, while also managing relations with Tehran and repairing ties with Gulf states angered by cross-border attacks.
At the same time, it must confront mounting economic pressure as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz threatens oil exports, which account for about 90 percent of state revenues.
Before the war, the government of outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani had been trying to turn a page, focusing on economic recovery and political stabilization after decades of conflict.
Since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the territorial defeat of Daesh in 2017, two dominant external influences have shaped Iraq — Iran and the US.
Iran has projected power through its network of militias and proxies, reinforced by its religious influence in the Shiite Muslim world. The US, as a former occupying power, has retained significant leverage over Iraq’s economic and political institutions.
Sudani had attempted to walk a tightrope, positioning Iraq as a partner to both — a strategy that initially appeared to be working, with investment flowing into reconstruction and major infrastructure projects.
Now, with Washington and Tehran locked in confrontation, that delicate balance risks collapse, warned Renad Mansour, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House.
“I think Sudani’s balancing strategy was the idea of keeping Iraq stable and making the point that a stable Iraq is better for both Iran and the US. That was the way of trying to balance one off (against) the other,” Mansour told Arab News.
“The current pressure is that Iran has taken the war into the economic battlefield and so that bargaining chip that Sudani had, Iraq’s massive oil resource, for example, is less powerful in the current context of this economic war.”
In the years leading up to the conflict, Mansour said Sudani had courted the US, securing momentum through multibillion-dollar oil and gas deals.
On Feb. 23, less than a week before the war began, US oil giant Chevron entered exclusive talks over the West Qurna 2 oil field — one of the largest in the world — moving closer to acquiring it from sanctioned Russian company Lukoil.
It was the latest in a series of major energy developments. But Mansour warned that such progress was contingent on stability — a condition now under threat.
“I think the biggest challenge first will be economic,” he said.
“Much of Iraq’s revenue is from oil, and any inability to trade oil would mean that the budget that was already teetering is now going to struggle to pay public salaries, to provide electricity in the hot summer months, and to provide food.
“Prices will go up, and all of these will fuel unrest in the country, and this will lead to potential protests and widespread disillusionment beyond that.”
Iraq has already experienced recurring unrest. In 2025, mass protests erupted over teachers’ salaries, alongside continued demonstrations against the US presence. Mansour said the country now risks becoming both a figurative and literal battleground.
“Being a battleground would mean the proliferation of violence and armed groups and would make life very difficult and very dangerous and violent for ordinary Iraqis,” he said. “So I think, sadly, the scenarios grow more grim each day that this conflict continues.”
Compounding these pressures is a fragile political system. Zaidi’s 30-day window to form a government presents an immediate test of whether Iraq’s factions can coalesce around a unified leadership.
Failure to do so would deepen the vacuum that has already emboldened competing political and armed actors.
Hannan Hussain, a senior expert at Initiate Futures, said Iraq’s leadership faces mounting constraints.
“The current conflict is applying greater pressure, because Iraq is in the line of fire when it comes to US bases, and is also a sphere of historic influence for Iran, making it difficult for Iraq to project the kind of sovereignty and state control that it aspires to in a conflict situation like this,” Hussain told Arab News.
He added that Iraq would need to contain Iran-backed militias without provoking Tehran — a delicate and uncertain task.
The militias in question — primarily Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq — have grown into a force of about a quarter of a million members, with several billion dollars in funding, and an arsenal that includes long-range missiles, according to analysts.
These groups operate within the Popular Mobilization Forces, a vast network of semiautonomous militias that are formally integrated into the state.
Hussain warned that the conflict could embolden them further.
“The current conflict transcends the diplomatic weight which Iraq historically applied to both Iran and the US,” he said.
Similar concerns were raised by James Jeffrey, a fellow at the Washington Institute and former senior US official on Iraq. He said Iraq’s alignment with US interests was now “under pressure” given the “choke hold Iran holds over Iraq.”
Unless there is a dramatic shift — such as regime collapse in Iran — he sees little room for Baghdad to change course.
“An underlying issue that goes back before 1979 (Iran’s Islamic Revolution) is oil export competition,” he said.
“Iraq exporting from north and south has for many years doubled its output. Still, the main complication is if any Iran proxy attacks on the US in Iraq really harm or kill Americans.”
Even so, Jeffrey noted that Iraq retains external support.
“The Shiite community is in many ways deeply split,” he said. “Both Sunnis and especially Kurds have power and agency beyond non-Shiite groups. There is also a view from the US and Arab states that Iraq is too big to lose.”
Despite that, conditions on the ground remain fragile. A combination of political transition, militant expansion, and economic vulnerability is pushing Iraq toward the center of a widening conflict.
For ordinary Iraqis, the promise of a post-Daesh era — defined by investment and regional integration — is rapidly giving way to a return of familiar instability.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jordanian field hospital treats nearly 400,000 Palestinians over 2 years
April 28, 2026
LONDON: A Jordanian field hospital has treated 398,673 Palestinian patients and performed 2,494 surgeries over the course of more than two years in the northern occupied West Bank.
On Tuesday, it organized a blood donation campaign to support Rafidia Government Hospital, aiming to meet the needs of patients and those wounded in the raids by Israeli forces, according to the Petra news agency.
The Jordanian Armed Forces dispatched 10 medical teams to operate in the hospital, which began its operations in late 2023.
The facility includes radiology and sterilization units, a pharmacy, and clinics for pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, dermatology and dentistry, as well as two operating rooms and intensive care units.
The ninth medical team deployed by the Jordanian military returned to Amman in March after treating about 20,600 patients and performing more than 90 major and minor surgical operations.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2641647/middle-east
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EU provides almost $11m to fund medical treatment for Palestinians in Jerusalem
April 28, 2026
LONDON: European nations have provided a further €9.29 million ($10.88 million) of aid to fund medical services in Jerusalem for Palestinians.
Alexander Stutzmann, the EU’s representative in occupied East Jerusalem, said during a visit to the Augusta Victoria Hospital on Tuesday that the funding, from Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland, will help provide treatment for Palestinians referred to hospitals in the city.
The Augusta Victoria and other healthcare facilities, including Al-Makassed Islamic Charitable Society Hospital, provide specialized treatment for patients referred by medics in the West Bank or Gaza who lack the necessary supplies or equipment to provide the care that is required.
Since 2013, the EU has reportedly provided more than €225 million to cover the cost of referrals for Palestinian patients who require treatment for cancer and other conditions.
Stutzmann reaffirmed the EU’s support for Palestinian healthcare and the Palestinian Authority. He called for all border crossings in Gaza to be reopened to allow deliveries of medical supplies and the transport of patients who require treatment, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Saudi deputy minister receives Indonesian ambassador
April 28, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Mohammed Al-Shammari received Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom Abdul Aziz Ahmad in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they discussed relations and consular topics of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X on Tuesday.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to France Fahad Al-Ruwaily recently received Lebanon’s Ambassador to France Rabih Chaer at the Saudi Embassy in Paris.
During the meeting, they reviewed the strong relations between their two countries and discussed a number of current issues and matters of mutual interest, the Saudi Embassy said in a statement on X.
Source: arabnews.com
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Makkah launches smart guide for pilgrims, visitors
April 28, 2026
JEDDAH: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has launched a digital platform, “Discover Makkah,” to improve access to information and services for visitors to the holy city.
The platform provides a unified official source to help pilgrims and visitors plan their journeys and navigate key locations in Makkah.
It features information on historical landmarks, cultural sites and museums, along with interactive tools such as smart maps and a trip planner.
The commission said that it offered reliable, regularly updated information through a single channel, reducing the need for multiple sources and supporting visitors from planning to their on-ground experience.
CEO Saleh Al-Rasheed said that the initiative aimed to enhance destination management and deliver an integrated, user-friendly experience based on accurate information.
He added that it helped to unify Makkah-related content and present it digitally in an organized format. The platform also highlights Makkah’s cultural and historical heritage by showcasing sites linked to Islamic history.
It targets citizens, residents, researchers and content creators by providing verified information and images for educational and creative use.
The launch aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to improve services for pilgrims and enhance the visitor experience. The platform is available at discovermakkah.sa.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia’s Abaad platform promotes space photography
April 28, 2026
RIYADH: The Saudi Space Agency has launched the Abaad platform to promote astrophotography, enrich Arabic content in the field, enable enthusiasts to document cosmic phenomena, and build a specialized visual archive.
The platform highlights Arab talent in astrophotography through several participation tracks, including deep space, the solar system, star trails, and space and heritage.
This aims to showcase Arab photographers’ creative work and strengthen their presence in the field, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Participants can capture astronomical images and upload them via the platform. Submissions will be evaluated and displayed monthly, with the best image selected and published across the agency’s platforms.
The initiative is part of the Saudi Space Agency’s efforts to promote scientific awareness, support creativity, and enable community engagement with space sciences in innovative ways.
Those wishing to participate can visit the Abaad platform at ssa.gov.sa/abaad-platform/.
Source: arabnews.com
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Najran workshop explores AI tools in design
April 28, 2026
NAJRAN: The Najran Culture House organized a training program on using Canva and artificial intelligence technologies in design to mark International Design Day, observed annually on April 27.
The program targeted individuals interested in design and digital creativity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
It introduced the Canva app and its tools and reviewed the use of AI technologies to speed up design processes and improve outputs.
The program included presentations and hands-on exercises, during which participants created sample designs using Canva templates and AI-powered tools.
It also discussed best practices and ethical considerations related to the use of AI, the SPA reported.
The program is part of the Najran Culture House’s efforts to equip participants with practical skills in producing visual content and strengthen the link between digital skills and labor market needs.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2641634/saudi-arabia
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Meeting explores Saudi Tapline’s historical, cultural legacy
April 28, 2026
RIYADH: The Museums Commission organized a virtual session as part of its monthly open-meeting series, during which it explored the historical and social legacy of the Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline) and its role in shaping the identity of the Northern Borders region.
The meeting highlighted Tapline’s story as one of the largest construction projects of the 20th century, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Construction began in 1947, and operations commenced in 1950, linking the oil fields of eastern Saudi Arabia to the port of Sidon on Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast. Pumping operations ceased permanently in 1990.
Speakers focused on transforming this industrial legacy into a contemporary museum narrative that highlights Tapline’s impact on the emergence of modern cities in the Northern Borders region.
The meeting concluded with an open dialogue on the role of museums and exhibitions in preserving industrial memory while transforming it into cultural platforms that strengthen connections to national identity.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM discusses regional developments with UN chief
April 28, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a telephone call from the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres on Tuesday.
During the call, they reviewed areas of cooperation and discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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Jeddah launches ‘Bride of the Red Sea’ photography exhibition
April 28, 2026
JEDDAH: Jeddah Mayor Saleh Al-Turki inaugurated the “Bride of the Red Sea” exhibition, part of a wider initiative aimed at showcasing the city’s beauty through the lenses of Saudi photographers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The exhibition features 25 photographs documenting sculptures and landmarks across Jeddah, representing part of a total of 100 images selected for the first phase of the initiative.
The works on display present a distinctive artistic vision by five photographers, capturing details of the city’s urban landscape and visual identity.
Organizers said the exhibition marks the first in a series of showcases, to be followed by traveling and permanent displays at various locations in the coming months, SPA reported.
The initiative seeks to broaden public engagement and encourage greater interaction with the project.
The title, “Bride of the Red Sea,” reflects Jeddah’s historic identity and coastal beauty, highlighting its reputation as a vibrant and evolving city.
Coinciding with the launch, Jeddah Municipality unveiled a dedicated webpage for the exhibition featuring all participating images.
Each photograph is accompanied by detailed information, including the name of the sculpture, its artistic significance, the artist, year of creation and location, as well as the photographer’s name.
Displayed images also include a QR code enabling visitors to access additional information about the sculpture through the municipality’s website.
A second QR code links to the photographers’ Instagram pages, in support of their work and to enhance community partnership under the initiative.
Al-Turki honored members of the municipal team and participating photographers in recognition of their efforts in delivering the creative project, which reflects Jeddah’s stature and highlights its aesthetic character.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Thousands raised to build mosque as lasting tribute to 'beacon of light' killed in horror crash
28 Apr 2026
Thousands of pounds have been raised to build a new mosque in honour of a "beacon of light" who tragically died in a car accident.
Daniel Mahmood, 32, died on Saturday, April 25, after a black Porsche Cayenne crashed into a Seat Ibiza on Saville Street East in Sheffield at around 10.40pm on Friday, April 24, South Yorkshire Police confirmed.
Described as a "beacon of light" and "selfless in the truest sense", a fundraiser has been launched to raise money towards a new mosque.
Uswah Iman, Daniel's brother, said: "Daniel was a beacon of light; he was the kind of soul who could illuminate any room he entered and place a smile on any face. He was funny, charming, beautifully outgoing and most importantly, humble.
"He was selfless in the truest sense, the kind of person you could call at any hour, for any reason and he would come without hesitation. His absence is felt deeply by our family, his circle of friends and the wider community.
"Daniel’s heart was open, generous and always inclined towards giving. Therefore, in his memory, and on his behalf, we have chosen to donate to The NK Foundation.
"Through this foundation, we will be donating to various appeals and In Sha Allah (God willing), building a masjid (mosque) in his name. This is offered as Sadqah Jariyah, a charity that continues to flow like a river of light, reaching him in the barzakh (the stage between this world and the hereafter)."
As of 11am on Tuesday, April 28, over £6,000 has been raised in Daniel's honour.
Daniel's cousin, Haseeb, was also involved in the crash. He sustained severe injuries but is in stable condition in hospital.
Source: examinerlive.co.uk
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https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/thousands-raised-build-mosque-lasting-33850648
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Man in court after Nottinghamshire mosque collection box stolen
Joel Moore
29 Apr 2026
A man is due to appear in court after charity collection boxes were stolen from a mosque and a supermarket in a Nottinghamshire town.
Jorge Inacio, 51, will face magistrates after police were alerted to the thefts which occurred within two days of each other in Beeston last month.
A box was first stolen from the Taybah Masjid mosque in Victory Road on March 21, before another was taken from a supermarket at around 8.15am on March 23, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
"Officers were alerted when the boxes were taken from the mosque in Victory Road on 21 March this year and the supermarket at about 8.15am on 23 March," the force said in a statement.
"Jorge Inacio, aged 51, has was charged on 12 April with two counts of theft.
"Inacio, of Abbey Road, Beeston, has been released on bail and is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 1."
Source: nottinghampost.com
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https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/man-court-after-nottinghamshire-mosque-10940535
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Mosque seek talks with council over lair levy change
29 Apr 2026
Glasgow’s Central Mosque has criticised the city council over huge hikes in burial charges and a new levy on lairs which could almost double funeral costs for some families.
Under the new pricing structure, approved by councillors in February, the purchase of an exclusive right of burial on an initial 25-year lease for a Glasgow resident is £1,573, while the same lair for a non-resident is £3,146.
Previously it had been a fixed sum of £1,542, regardless of whether someone lived in the city or not.
Resident interment fees have increased too, and are now listed at £1,171, rising to £2,342 for non-residents.
Combined with associated council costs, mosque leaders say that takes the total burial cost to £3,038.10 for a resident family but £5,782.10 where either the deceased or the lair owner lives outwith Glasgow.
In a strongly worded statement circulated to worshipers, Glasgow Central Mosque said the changes had been introduced “without any consultation or prior warning”.
It warned the new structure would create “real concern, creating both financial pressure and practical difficulty for families at an already difficult time”.
The mosque said it was now engaging directly with the council to “challenge the impact of these changes” and seek “a more reasonable and workable approach”.
As well as the steep non-resident surcharge, the mosque questioned the decision not to offer burial lairs in perpetuity.
Instead, the council now issues an initial lease of 25 years, with future 10-year renewals charged at 20% of the prevailing lair purchase price.
For Muslims burial rather than cremation is a religious requirement and funerals are generally expected to take place as quickly as possible after death.
Community representatives fear the sudden increase could leave bereaved relatives facing major unexpected bills with little time to make alternative arrangements.
There is also concern that many Glasgow Muslim families have close relatives across neighbouring local authority areas, meaning the non-resident definition could capture a significant number of burials even where the funeral is arranged through Glasgow institutions.
In their statement, the mosque said: “These new charges have been imposed without any consultation or prior warning. We know that this will be a source of real concern, creating both financial pressure and practical difficulty for families at an already difficult time.
“We are engaging directly with Glasgow City Council to challenge the impact of these changes and to seek a more reasonable and workable approach for our community.
"At the same time, we are raising this issue with elected representatives, ensuring that the wider implications for Muslim families are properly understood.
“Alongside this, we are working closely with neighbouring local authorities to explore practical ways to reduce the burden on families. Discussions are ongoing, and we are actively pursuing both policy changes and practical solutions.”
A council spokesperson said: “Under national legislation, the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Act 2016, any lair purchased in Scotland after 1 March 2026 comes with a 25-year right of burial. After 25 years, the right of burial may be renewed for 10 years at a time, with no limit on how many times this can be done.
“We will contact a lair holder prior to the right of burial expiring with information on how to renew it.
“We recognise that arranging a funeral can be a difficult and emotional time. Your funeral director will guide you through the process, including the purchase of a right to burial.”
The introduction of non-resident charging is expected to bring in £150,000.
Budget papers state the average surcharge for non-residents using other councils’ funeral services is 181%.
Glasgow’s figures are “based on introducing a surcharge of 100% and savings have been reduced for a 25% reduction in demand from non-Glasgow residents”.
The council provides burial services in the 32 cemeteries and churchyards within the city boundaries as well as cremation services at Linn and Daldowie crematoria.
Source: heraldscotland.com
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https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26061682.mosque-seek-talks-council-lair-levy-change/
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PM won't face inquiry over claims he misled MPs on Mandelson vetting
29 Apr 2026
Richard Wheeler
Sir Keir Starmer will not face a parliamentary investigation over claims he misled MPs about the process to appoint Lord Mandelson as US ambassador.
The House of Commons voted 335 to 223 against a Conservative-led motion which sought to trigger the inquiry.
Some Labour MPs on the left of the party said the PM should have referred himself to the Privileges Committee, but the majority voted to reject the motion after a concerted operation by No 10 to ensure they were on side.
Sir Keir has denied accusations he misled MPs over whether vetting for the role of US ambassador followed "full due process" and his assertion that "no pressure whatsoever" was applied to officials at the Foreign Office.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch tabled a motion which sought to have the PM's remarks assessed by the cross-party committee responsible for looking into cases of MPs breaking parliamentary rules.
The Ministerial Code states that ministers who knowingly mislead Parliament are expected to resign, while any inadvertent error should be corrected "at the earliest opportunity".
Badenoch had suggested Labour MPs were "acting like sheep" for labelling the motion a "stunt".
But some Labour MPs questioned why they had been instructed to oppose it and suggested it risked looking similar to a "cover-up".
The division list showed 14 Labour MPs rebelled to support the motion while another voted both aye and no, which is usually regarded as a formal abstention.
It is not yet clear what action those Labour MPs who did not follow No 10's orders to oppose the motion will face.
The Lib Dems, SNP, Greens, DUP, Plaid Cymru, Reform and nine independent MPs were among those who also voted with the Tories in favour of the motion.
A total of 53 Labour MPs did not have a vote recorded - this can be because they have been given permission to miss the vote or are on government business, and does not mean they are abstaining.
South Shields MP Emma Lewell, who was among the rebels, told the debate that the government's handling of the vote "smacks, once again, of being out of touch and disconnected from the public mood".
She said: "It has played into the terrible narrative that there is something to hide and good, decent colleagues will be accused of being complicit in a cover-up."
Lewell said Sir Keir should have referred himself to the committee "with a clear statement that he is doing so to clear his name".
Speaking to the BBC's Politics Live, Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey suggested there would be a "moment of reckoning after the local elections" on 7 May for Sir Keir's future.
But several Labour MPs defended the government's approach during the debate, with Gurinder Singh Josan describing the call for a Privileges Committee referral "premature" given the vetting process was being scrutinised elsewhere in Parliament.
Cardiff West MP Alex Barros-Curtis said he did "not believe the case was made out" for the motion by the Conservatives.
In a sign of the government effort to ensure the motion was rejected, Labour MPs campaigning in Scotland ahead of next week's elections were summoned back to Westminster.
'Cannot outrun Mandelson'
Opening the debate, Badenoch examined Sir Keir's defence of his remarks before noting the Ministerial Code is "very clear" in the need for the record to be corrected at the earliest opportunity.
She said: "It is very obvious that what the prime minister said at the despatch box was not correct. It's clear that full due process was not followed."
Senior cabinet minister Darren Jones accused Badenoch of "ranting incoherence" as he defended Sir Keir's handling of the issue.
Pressed by Badenoch to repeat the PM's assertion that "no pressure existed whatsoever" in the case, Jones said Sir Keir's words should be placed "in the right context".
Jones was heckled by opposition MPs as he said Sir Keir was "specifically responding to the allegation that there was pressure that Peter Mandelson should not be vetted at all and that he should be sent to Washington regardless of the vetting outcome".
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey earlier said the country needed a government focused on dealing with cost-of-living concerns, adding: "Crucially it needs a government that it can trust."
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Labour MPs "cannot outrun Peter Mandelson, they cannot outrun their own prime minister and his record".
Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said Sir Keir "prides himself on process" but anecdotally it "seems that there is a culture that does not exist around him and within him"; while Green MP Ellie Chowns said "it is clear that there is a case to answer here" for the PM.
Lord Mandelson began the Washington ambassadorial role in February 2025 but was sacked in September after Downing Street said new information about the depth of his relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had emerged.
Sir Keir has faced repeated questions over the appointment, including on why the peer was given security clearance for the role by the Foreign Office despite concerns being raised by vetting officials.
The Commons debate on Tuesday came after the Foreign Affairs Committee heard further evidence about the vetting process, including from the senior civil servant at the Foreign Office when the PM decided to send Lord Mandelson to the US.
Sir Philip Barton said no-one in Downing Street consulted him before making the decision and also noted he thought the appointment could be a "potentially difficult issue" because of the peer's known links to Esptein.
He said he was "presented with a decision" made by Sir Keir and "told to get on with it".
And Morgan McSweeney, the PM's former chief of staff, told MPs he made "a serious mistake" in recommending the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
McSweeney said that No 10 wanted Lord Mandelson in post "quickly" but insisted officials were never asked to "skip steps".
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21lx9ne83o
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Third Ukrainian strike hits Russian oil refinery and prompts evacuations
29 Apr 2026
Jaroslav Lukiv
A major Russian oil refinery on the Black Sea has been hit for the third time this month by Ukrainian drones, causing a "massive fire" and forcing the evacuation of people living nearby, local officials have said.
Earlier strikes in the past two weeks at the Tuapse refinery caused a big oil spill in the sea and residents reported "black" rain falling on the city and leaving an oily residue everywhere.
The Kremlin accused Ukraine of "further increasing the oil shortage in global energy markets... and provoking further destabilisation".
Ukraine's military confirmed the latest drone strike, saying such refineries helped fund Russia's full-scale invasion launched in 2022.
More than 160 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the blaze, Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Tuesday. No casualties were reported.
In a post on Telegram on Tuesday morning, Kondratyev said firefighters and other rescuers were working in "extremely difficult conditions", and he described their efforts as "true heroism".
"Our top priority is preserving the lives and health of city residents and visitors," he added.
The head of the local municipal district, Sergei Boyko, asked residents of nearby streets to leave and reports said a temporary evacuation centre had been set up in a local school.
Meanwhile, the regional crisis centre warned that "due to the severe fire, combustion products are being released into the atmosphere".
Residents were urged to wear masks and rinse their nose, eyes and throat, as well as keep windows closed and limit time outdoors.
Anastasia Troyanova, a local correspondent for environmental news outlet Kedr, described "a huge cloud of black smoke over the town; it smells of burning".
In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country's emergencies minister to fly to Tuapse urgently to oversee firefighting and cleanup efforts.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Ukraine had struck oil storage facilities intended for export operations, arguing that Kyiv was destabilising global energy markets.
In a statement, Ukraine's military confirmed it had again hit the Tuapse refinery, as part of concerted efforts to "reduce the military-economic potential of the Russian aggressor".
In recent months, Ukraine's military has intensified its strikes on key energy facilities across Russia.
Kyiv says they are legitimate targets, as they allow Russia to continue its war effort.
In a separate development, one person was injured in a Russian drone attack on Kyiv, the capital's Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.
Ukrainian officials also reported several fires, including one at a cemetery.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzd4qk7qgo
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Man admits plotting attack on Taylor Swift concert in Vienna
29 Apr 2026
Bethany Bell
A 21-year-old Austrian man has admitted plotting a jihadist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in August 2024.
The man, named only as Beran A, also admitted to being part of a terrorist organisation, although he denied other charges including involvement in planning an attack in the Islamic holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The state prosecutor told the court in Wiener Neustadt near Vienna that police had found an almost completed bomb during a search of the man's house.
Beran A was arrested after a tip-off from the CIA just before Swift's opening concert in Vienna in 2024.
As a result, all three sold-out gigs by the US superstar singer at Vienna's Ernst Happl Stadium were cancelled.
More than 195,000 people in total had been expected to attend.
Thousands of disappointed fans roamed the streets of the city, singing and exchanging Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelets.
Beran A was brought into the courtroom, wearing a blue shirt and handcuffs, to face charges of terrorism and other offences.
He went on trial with another 21-year-old man, named as Arda K, who is accused of being part of an Islamic State cell with him. They are accused of planning attacks in Istanbul and Dubai, as well as in Mecca.
The main defendant's lawyer, Anna Mair, told the court: "My client has caused a great deal of fear and panic among many people, and he will have to answer for that, no question. But please try to look beyond the headlines."
Vienna prosecutors allege that Beran A started planning the attack at the latest by 21 July 2024. He was arrested on 7 August, a day before the first concert.
Prosecutors accuse him of declaring allegiance to, and spreading online propaganda online for, the jihadist group Islamic State, as well as making explosives and attempting to purchase weapons illegally.
He is suspected of having obtained instructions via the internet on how to make a shrapnel bomb, of a type "specific to IS attacks", according to the indictment.
Prosecutors accuse him of having received training from other IS members on how to handle explosives and of having made several attempts to purchase various firearms and a hand grenade through illegal dealers, with the intention of importing the weapons into Austria.
The two men, who were in their teens at the time of the attack, both face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Last year, a teenager in Germany was also given an 18-month suspended sentence, for helping to prepare the foiled attack.
Prosecutors said the Syrian national, named as Mohammed A, helped Beran A with a translation of bomb-making instructions from Arabic and put him in contact with an IS member.
The trial is expected to continue until late May.
Taylor Swift - one of the world's biggest superstars - learned about the bomb plot in Vienna when she was on the plane to Austria, according to a documentary on the Eras Tour.
In her own words, she said the tour narrowly "dodged a massacre situation" when the CIA identified a plot to explode a bomb at the concert.
Speaking to select members of the media, including the BBC, at the New York premiere of her new six part Disney+ documentary, she said that after performing for 20 years "being afraid that something is going to happen to your fans is new".
In a post on social media after the incident in 2024, she wrote: "Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating.
"But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives."
The 149-show Eras Tour kicked off in March 2023 and closed in December 2024.
It spanned five continents, selling more than 10.1 million tickets and becoming the first tour in history to surpass $1bn (£786m) in ticket sales.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c05d5qgprjzo
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Russian archaeologist freed in top-secret prisoner swap
28 Apr, 2026
Renowned Russian archaeologist Aleksandr Butyagin, who was detained in Poland at Ukraine’s request, has been released as part of a five-for-five prisoner exchange which involved multiple countries. The negotiations are understood to have been conducted in absolute secrecy, resulting in the release of another Russian national and three Belarusian citizens.
Butyagin was apprehended by the Polish authorities last December while on a European lecture tour. Kiev demanded his extradition, accusing the senior researcher at St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum of conducting illegal excavations and damaging cultural heritage in Crimea, Russia – which Ukraine claims as its own territory.
In a statement on Tuesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Butyagin was freed earlier in the day, and that Moscow released two officers of Moldova’s Security and Intelligence Service, who were arrested by the Russian authorities last June.
According to BELTA media outlet, citing Belarus’ State Security Committee (KGB), the prisoner swap took place on the Belarus-Polish border, and was made possible thanks to talks that started in September 2025.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko personally oversaw the process, in which the intelligence services of seven countries were involved, the article claims.
Warsaw released three Belarusians who had been “carrying out highly important tasks in the interest of [Belarusian] national security and defense,” according to the outlet. Minsk released Andrzej Poczobut, an opposition activist of Polish descent.
The identities of the other prisoners who were freed have not been disclosed.
Speaking at a joint press conference with John Coal, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Belarus, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said the prisoner swap, which led to the release of three Polish nationals, would not have happened without Washington’s assistance. He revealed that Warsaw released three people, including the Russian archaeologist.
According to Sikorski, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Poland were involved in the process, which was undertaken in absolute secrecy.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/639226-russian-archaeologist-freed-prisoner-swap-poland/
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North America
CAIR-WA Welcomes Court’s Decision to Move Afghan Asylum-Seeker Cases Forward Despite Trump Admin Pause
April 28, 2026
The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the U.S. District Court’s decision in CAIR-WA’s lawsuit to allow Afghan asylum-seekers cases to move forward without further delays.
CAIR-WA filed a lawsuit in July 2025 against the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of several Afghan asylum seekers and CAIR-WA immigration clients who have been waiting for years for the government to decide their cases. The lawsuit compels USCIS to move their cases forward without further delays. The government responded with a motion to dismiss the case because the Trump administration paused all applications from “high-risk countries” in response to the acts of violence in the D.C. Shootings in December 2025.
Oral arguments were heard in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, last week, and the court submitted their decision a day later, on April 24, 2026. CAIR-WA argued that the policy itself violates the law, and the court should allow the case to move forward to challenge the government’s unlawful delay for our clients as well as to challenge the government making discriminatory and restrictive policy for immigrants already here in the U.S.
In a statement, Faiza Duale, Deputy Legal Director at CAIR-WA said:
“This country has a long-standing system and rule of law when it comes to asylum and the immigration process as a whole. The administration cannot just enact policies that circumvent these laws and expect our justice system to not enforce the law. I am pleased with the decision by the court, and it only affirms that USCIS cannot decline to perform its duties to adjudicate asylum applications as provided by the laws of this country. CAIR-WA continues to fight for our clients to ensure that they are afforded due process just like everyone else and hold this government accountable.
“This decision is a big step toward making sure people seeking asylum are treated fairly and get a real chance to tell their stories. It pushes back on blanket policies and helps protect the rights of asylum seekers to have their cases decided individually and with dignity. CAIR-WA celebrates this decision and will continue to advocate for the Muslim community through all legal channels.”
SEE THE COURT ORDER.
The court’s order denied most portions of the government’s motion to dismiss the case. Which means that the claims are valid and can move forward, including our clients’ claim of unreasonable delay and the arbitrariness of the December 2025 policy. Though the court ordered that this decision does not grant a nationwide injunction covering all asylum applicants, we can still seek to invalidate the policy under the Administrative Procedure Act, which may have a broad effect for any other, Muslims and targeted immigrant communities, who may be in similar situations.
CAIR-WA plans to continue to challenge the government’s pause on asylum applicants and will be submitting additional filings by the end of May 2026.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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CAIR on Air Podcast to Address Struggles of Former Incarcerees Trying to Rebuild Their Lives
April 28, 2026
On Wednesday, April 29, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will release its latest CAIR on AIR podcast addressing the struggles incarcerees face when they go free and try to rebuild their lives.
In this episode of CAIR on Air, we speak with DeBorah Boneta, director of Oklahoma Prison Support and an Islamic chaplain who works directly with incarcerated individuals and those reentering society.
She breaks down what life is actually like for people inside prison, including Muslim reverts, the challenges they face after serving their sentences, and what needs to change to break the cycle.
Tune in this Wednesday on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Amazon.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-on-air-podcast-to-address-struggles-of-former-incarcerees-trying-to-rebuild-their-lives/
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CAIR Maryland Concludes 2026 Muslim Youth Day at the Capitol (#MYDAC2026)
April 28, 2026
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the successful conclusion of its annual Muslim Youth Day at the Capitol (MYDAC) 2026, a statewide civic engagement initiative that aims to empower young Muslim leaders.
Held at the Maryland House of Delegates, the free, day-long program brought together youth ages 11–19 from across the state for an immersive experience focused on civic education, leadership development, and advocacy.
Building on the program’s mission to equip young participants with the tools to understand government and engage with lawmakers, #MYDAC2026 provided firsthand exposure to the legislative process and opportunities to connect directly with elected officials.
This year’s theme, “Built Different: Purpose & Power Over Pressure,” guided the day’s programming, encouraging participants to strengthen their identity, build resilience, and lead with purpose in the face of social and political challenges.
Participants toured the State House and heard from keynote speaker Imam Mustafa Brent of Masjid Ul Haqq, alongside CAIR and community leaders and public officials. The program also featured interactive sessions focused on civic engagement, leadership skills, and effective advocacy.
In a statement, CAIR Maryland said:
“MYDAC continues to demonstrate the power and promise of our young people. This program was not only about learning how government works, but about empowering youth to see themselves as leaders, advocates, and change-makers in their communities. We are committed to investing in a generation that is informed, confident, and committed to shaping a more just future.”
CAIR noted that MYDAC is part of its broader commitment to developing civic leadership among the Muslim community by fostering meaningful engagement within the democratic process. The organization thanked the Greater Baltimore Muslim Council, volunteers, speakers, community partners, and families whose support contributed to the program’s continued success.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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Comey charged with threatening Trump's life in Instagram post
April 29, 2026
Nardine Saad
Former FBI Director James Comey has been charged with threatening the life of US President Donald Trump, a formal accusation that stems from an image he briefly shared on social media.
The image posted on Instagram last year showed seashells forming the numbers "86 47". "Eighty-six" is a slang term used to mean "eject" or "remove".
Comey has insisted he did not know what the numbers on the image meant, but Trump and other administration officials have said the post was a threat against the 47th president.
Responding to the charges on Tuesday, Comey said: "I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid, and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary."
At a press conference to announce the indictment, FBI Director Kash Patel said that as the former director of the agency, Comey "knew full well the attention and consequences of making such a post".
"James Comey disgracefully encouraged a threat on President Trump's life and posted it on Instagram for the world to see," Kash Patel said on Tuesday.
Comey was fired by Trump during his first term, after the former FBI director opened an investigation into Russian interference in the US 2016 presidential election.
Since then, Trump has repeatedly called for his prosecution - Tuesday's charges are the administration's second attempt to do so.
"Well, they're back. This time about a picture of sea shells on a North Carolina beach a year ago. And this won't be the end of it, but nothing has changed with me," Comey said in a statement.
Comey faces charges of making a threat against the president and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, according to court documents. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The criminal charges were filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina, the same region where the shells were reportedly found.
"Threatening the life of the President of the United States is a grave violation of our nation's laws," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. "The grand jury returned an indictment alleging James Comey did just that."
US Secret Service agents interviewed Comey last May about the seashell photo.
Comey deleted the Instagram post, saying in a follow-up that he "assumed [the sea shells] were a political message".
"I didn't realise some folks associate those numbers with violence," he added. "It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down."
Trump, who has long criticised Comey, said of the post that "a child knows what that meant".
Some legal experts said the indictment appeared insubstantial and raised new questions about the DOJ's efforts to target Trump's perceived political opponents.
"It's very thin," said Michael Gerhardt, a constitutional law expert at the UNC School of Law.
Comey's social media post will likely be viewed by courts as free speech that is protected by the first amendment, Gerhardt added.
Jimmy Gurulé, a former federal prosecutor and former assistant US Attorney General appointed by President George W Bush, said the new indictment was "an embarrassment to the American criminal justice system".
"The DOJ will not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that James Comey had the intent to threaten or harm President Trump," Gurulé, now a Notre Dame Law School professor, said in a statement to the BBC. "The indictment is a transparent attempt to intimidate one of the President's perceived political enemies."
This is the second time the justice department has brought charges against Comey.
Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury in late September on charges that he lied to Congress during testimony in September 2020 and obstructed a congressional proceeding.
The charges came days after Trump called on the country's top law enforcement official to more aggressively investigate his political adversaries, including Comey.
Comey pleaded not guilty during a brief court appearance in October before the case was dismissed in November.
US District Judge Cameron Currie tossed the indictment against Comey because of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan's "invalid" appointment as US attorney.
Halligan, the prosecutor in eastern Virginia who secured the indictments, was not authorised to present the charges to the grand jury, the judge said. Halligan is a former White House aide who had never prosecuted a case before.
The judge, however, left the door open for the government to try again.
Earlier on Tuesday, a separate judge ruled that former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey - James Comey's daughter - can move forward with her case challenging her firing by the Trump administration.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgz4rvlem5o
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Pentagon admits ‘no defense’ against Russian and Chinese hypersonic weapons
28 Apr, 2026
The United States will struggle to defend itself against advanced missile systems developed by China and Russia, senior Pentagon officials told lawmakers as they called for funding for the proposed Golden Dome missile defense program.
President Donald Trump unveiled the initiative shortly after taking office in January 2025, proposing a large-scale investment – potentially reaching hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade – to expand ground- and space-based capabilities.
The upgrade is urgently needed, as the US has “a very limited ground-based single layer homeland defense system that was specifically designed against a small scale rogue attack,” Assistant Secretary of War for Space Policy Marc Berkowitz said at a Senate armed services committee hearing on Monday.
The country would face serious issues against ballistic missiles and has “no defense against hypersonic weapons or cruise missiles today,” he stressed.
Michael Guetlein, who leads the Golden Dome program within the US Space Force, testified that both China and Russia are continuing to modernize and expand their missile arsenals.
He pointed to the deployment of hypersonic glide vehicles – warheads capable of maneuvering at high speeds within the atmosphere after launch – as well as Russia’s development of the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile.
These systems, Guetlein said, are “designed to challenge the tracking and engagement capabilities of our sensors” and ensure a “responsive and survivable strike capability."
Moscow has said its investment in advanced strategic weapons was largely a response to the US withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty under President George W. Bush. Washington’s move was required to develop a national anti-ballistic missile system.
While the US has insisted that the shield was aimed at countering limited threats from countries such as North Korea or Iran, Russian officials have long warned it was undermining nuclear deterrence by enabling a potential decapitating first strike. In that scenario, Moscow argued, American missile interceptors could be used to neutralize a retaliatory strike by surviving Russian missiles.
The US-Israeli war on Iran has raised questions about Washington’s missile defense capacity, with reports suggesting that interceptor stockpiles used in systems such as THAAD and Patriot have been significantly depleted, potentially requiring years to rebuild.
The Golden Dome system is expected to cost around $175 billion over the next decade, according to initial estimates by the Trump administration, although Pentagon projections have since risen to roughly $185 billion and some analysts warn the final price could be substantially higher.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639208-golden-dome-peer-competitors/
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Ex-FBI chief Comey charged with threatening to kill Trump
28 Apr, 2026
A federal grand jury has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for making threats against US President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison.
The DOJ alleges that “a reasonable recipient familiar with the circumstances” would interpret Comey’s May 2025 Instagram post showing seashells arranged in the sand to form the numbers ‘86 47’ as “a serious expression of an intent to do harm to the president of the United States.”
Critics noted that ‘86’ is slang for eliminating someone, and that Comey’s post could be viewed as a call to kill Trump, who is serving as the 47th president.
Comey denied the allegations, saying he “didn’t realize some people associate those numbers with violence.” He deleted the seashell post shortly after the backlash.
“Threatening the life of the president of the United States is a grave violation of our nation’s laws,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “This country has witnessed violent incitement followed by deadly actions against President Trump and other elected officials.”
The indictment came just days after a failed attempt to kill Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC on Saturday. Trump also survived two assassination attempts during his 2024 reelection campaign. Republicans and Democrats have accused each other of incitement amid a wave of attacks on officials and activists.
Comey, who led the FBI from 2013 to 2017 under former President Barack Obama, has often criticized Trump, who he compared to a mob boss in his memoirs.
Last year, a federal grand jury indicted Comey for lying to Congress, a charge later dismissed by a judge.
Source: rt.com
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US envoy to Ukraine to resign over disagreements with Trump – FT
29 Apr, 2026
Acting US Ambassador to Ukraine Julie Davis will leave her post over disagreements with President Donald Trump regarding his waning support for the country, the Financial Times has reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
The State Department has confirmed Davis’ departure but denied that she was leaving because of differences with the president.
“Ambassador Davis has been a steadfast proponent of the Trump administration’s efforts to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement on Tuesday. He added that Davis will depart Kiev in June.
Davis has served as chargé d’affaires in Ukraine since May 2025, following the resignation of her predecessor, former Ambassador Bridget Brink, who accused Trump of “appeasement” toward Russia.
“Unfortunately, the policy since the beginning of the Trump administration has been to put pressure on the victim, Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia,” Brink wrote in an op-ed in the Detroit Free Press shortly after resigning.
Trump has angered many in Kiev and the EU by suggesting that Ukraine may have to make concessions to Russia, including potentially ceding territory. He also criticized Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, whom he once branded “a dictator” for refusing to hold elections.
The US mediated several rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine throughout 2025, although they did not result in any breakthroughs. Trump also broke with the Western diplomatic boycott of Russia by hosting President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August 2025.
Source: rt.com
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Africa
'The situation is under control,' Mali's junta leader says in first address since weekend attacks
April 29, 2026
Mali's military leader on Tuesday insisted the situation in his country was "under control" as he made his first public address since unprecedented large-scale attacks at the weekend destabilised his ruling junta.
Jihadists and Tuareg separatists are still positioned in the vast Sahelian country's north, three days after launching a stunning wave of attacks, in what junta chief Assimi Goita acknowledged was a situation "of extreme gravity".
Goita had made no public appearance or statement for three days, fuelling doubts about his ability to cling to power, but on Tuesday evening -- hours after jihadists threatened to blockade the capital Bamako -- he made a speech to the nation on state TV.
"As I am speaking to you, security arrangements have been reinforced. The situation is under control and clearing operations, search efforts, intelligence gathering and security measures are continuing," he said.
He urged the population to "stand up against division and national fracture", saying the west African country needed "clarity, not panic."
Earlier on Tuesday, his office released photos of him meeting wounded soldiers and civilians, as well as the ambassador of key ally Russia.
The photos were the first anyone had seen of Goita since the rebels launched a coordinated dawn offensive on Saturday against strategic junta positions, including areas around Bamako.
The attacks were the largest in nearly 15 years and saw two former foes -- Islamist insurgents and Tuareg separatists -- join forces against the military junta and its Russian paramilitary backers.
At least 23 people were killed in two days of fierce fighting, a hospital source told AFP on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Sadio Camara, seen as the mastermind behind the junta's pivot to Russia, was among those killed.
The clashes pitted the army against Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and their allies within the Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
At his meeting with Goita, Russian ambassador Igor Gromyko "reaffirmed his country's commitment to stand with Mali in the fight against terrorism", according to the Malian leader's office.
Military withdrawal
Russia's defence ministry earlier said the rebels, who have captured the key town of Kidal in the mostly desert north, were "regrouping."
It confirmed that mercenaries from Russia's Africa Corps, controlled by the government in Moscow and sent to back up the Malian junta, had been forced to withdraw from Kidal.
The assaults raise questions about the junta's ability to tackle the crisis, despite its insistence that its strategy, foreign partnerships and increased military efforts have stemmed the jihadist threat.
The notable absence of Goita, who seized power in 2020 pledging to combat the Islamist militants, had prompted uncertainty about the future of the country's military leaders.
In a sign of the high tensions, the army has withdrawn from several positions in the northern Gao region, local sources told AFP on Tuesday.
Gao is the army's second-largest military stronghold after Kati, a garrison town near Bamako which is home to several senior junta officials and was targeted in the weekend attacks.
Diversion?
On Tuesday, a JNIM spokesman released a video saying the militants were imposing a blockade "on all roads into Bamako."
Spokesman Bina Diarra said people who wanted to leave the capital would be allowed to do so "but entering it is forbidden until further notice."
The same applied to Kati, he said, adding: "Anyone breaching this blockade... will face the consequences."
AFP was not able to verify whether the blockade was in place on Tuesday evening.
The attacks near the centres of Malian power have been seen by some analysts as a diversion to seize Kidal in the vast, arid north.
This pro-independence stronghold was controlled by Tuareg rebel groups for years before being retaken in November 2023 in an army offensive, supported by Russian mercenaries from Africa Corps' predecessor, the Wagner Group.
The weekend attacks recall a crisis that rocked Mali in 2012, when Tuareg rebels joined forces with jihadists to capture strategic hubs in the north.
The alliance eventually unravelled when the groups turned on each other and the jihadists drove the Tuareg separatists out.
Although they have different goals, according to experts, they are now united against a common enemy -- the ruling junta and its Russian paramilitary backers.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/04/29/the-situation-is-under-control-malis-junta-leader-says-in-first-address-since-weekend-atta/
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Police rescue abducted Islamic school students, search for nine others
April 29, 2026
By Nana Ismail
Security forces in Kogi State have rescued 17 pupils who were recently kidnapped in the state, leaving nine others including two women in captivity.
The rescue happened after days of joint operations by security agencies following a school abduction reported on April 27.
According to Zagazola Makama on X, those freed include Sultan, Zeidah, Ahmed, Yusuf, Farooq, Museen, Mustapha, Hasheem, Mohammed, Toheer, Abdulmumin, Abdulazeem, Mahmud, Ameerah, Firdaus, Tabarakallah, and Ibrahim.
However, nine victims remain in captivity. They include Habibullah, Shakir, Ahmed, Abdulhammed, Mubarak, Sultannah, Zulaiha, and two women identified as the wives of the school owner, Nana-Hawa and Halimat.
Security operatives have stepped up efforts to rescue the remaining victims. They are combing nearby forests and tracking the kidnappers.
More personnel have also been deployed to key areas, with stop-and-search operations ongoing along major routes like Kabba Junction and Zariagi.
Twenty three students were abducted from their orphanage/Islamic school at Zariagi, Lokoja in Kogi state, which government says operates illegally.
Source: dailypost.ng
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https://dailypost.ng/2026/04/29/police-rescue-abducted-islamic-school-students-search-for-nine-others/
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Libyan court jails four human traffickers for up to 22 years, attorney general says
April 29, 2026
TRIPOLI: Libya’s Tripoli Criminal Court on Tuesday convicted four members of “a criminal gang” involved in human trafficking, abductions for ransom and torture, with sentences up to 22 years, the attorney general’s office said on its Facebook page.
The attorney general’s office did not disclose the names of the four defendants, who were sentenced in absentia to between 12 and 22 years in prison.
Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to Europe via dangerous routes across the desert and over the Mediterranean since the toppling of Muammar Qaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.
Charges against the four defendants including smuggling illegal migrants from Zuwara, a coastal city west of Tripoli, the attorney general’s office said.
The gang also kidnapped migrants, forcing their families to pay ransom by sending them “videos documenting the victims’ torture,” it added.
At least 17 bodies believed to be migrants were recovered by a medical service center two weeks ago from the shores of Zuwara.
On Monday, the Public Prosecutor’s Office ordered the arrest of “a criminal gang” that sent migrants from the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk to the northern Mediterranean on a dilapidated and unsafe boat that capsized and resulted in the death of 38 Sudanese, Egyptian, and Ethiopian nationals.
In November, several states including Britain, Spain, Norway and Sierra Leone urged Libya at a UN meeting in Geneva to close detention centers where rights groups say migrants and refugees have been tortured, abused and sometimes killed.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2641669/middle-east
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Islamic State claims attack that killed 29 in northeastern Nigeria
April 29, 2026
At least 29 people have been killed in a brutal attack in northeast Nigeria, where gunmen opened fire on civilians gathered at a football pitch in Adamawa state, underscoring the country’s deepening security crisis.
The attack took place Sunday in Guyaku community, located in Gombi Local Government Area near the border with Cameroon.
Witnesses said the attackers stormed a football viewing gathering and began shooting indiscriminately, killing mostly young people, including women.
Residents described scenes of fear and chaos, with bodies left scattered across the area.
In addition to the killings, attackers reportedly burned homes, places of worship, and dozens of motorcycles.
Conflicting claims of responsibility
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri confirmed the death toll, stating that “no fewer than 29 people” lost their lives.
He blamed militants from Boko Haram, long active in the region.
However, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a rival faction, claimed responsibility.
In a statement, the group said it killed at least 25 people and torched a church along with nearly 100 motorcycles.
A region under siege
Adamawa remains a hotspot for violence driven by jihadist insurgencies, criminal gangs, and communal clashes over land.
A separate incident the same day in Lamurde area, more than 100 kilometers away, was attributed to farmland disputes, with additional casualties and property losses reported.
A long-running conflict
Since 2009, the insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions across northeast Nigeria, according to the United Nations.
The violence has also spread to neighboring countries including Niger and Chad.
Mounting pressure ahead of elections
The latest bloodshed comes as Nigeria faces mounting scrutiny over its worsening security situation, with general elections less than a year away.
Authorities have vowed to intensify military operations, while the government increasingly looks to international partners, including the United States, for training and technical support.
Governor Fintiri condemned the attack, promising that those responsible “will not go unpunished” as efforts to restore stability intensify.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/04/28/islamic-state-claims-attack-that-killed-29-in-northeastern-nigeria/
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Sudan’s war leaves Khartoum with unexploded mines and other weapons
April 29, 2026
KHARTOUM: Khaled Abdulgader noticed children using an unusual object as a football and tried to stop them. He grabbed it, and it exploded in his hand. He lost two fingers, and shrapnel sliced into his chest.
In a hospital for a checkup after last year’s blast, he tried to stay positive.
“I feel like, ‘Thank God it was just my hands,’” Abdulgader said.
He is among hundreds of people who have been injured or killed by unexploded ordnance in Sudan’s three years of war. That includes mines as well as weapons such as bombs, shells, grenades or rockets that failed to detonate, tens of thousands of items in all.
The government and aid groups say it’s a problem particularly in and around Khartoum, where residents, many unfamiliar with the threat, have started to return after the Sudanese military recaptured the capital last year.
Many of the dead or injured are children
Nearly 60 people were injured or killed in Khartoum state last year, over half of them children, and 23 were injured or killed in the first three months of this year, 21 of them children, according to the United Nations.
Decades of conflict in Sudan have left unexploded ordnance scattered across the country, with a combined area of about 7,700 football fields contaminated.
More than half of that is the result of the war that erupted in 2023 between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, with new areas such as Khartoum state affected.
Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have been accused of laying mines, according to aid groups, during the war as they fought for control of the capital.
“The presence of land mines and other explosive ordnance is of great concern to everybody,” said Juma Abuanja, the team leader for Jasmar, a Sudanese demining group.
He said it will take years to clear. Demining is a slow, careful process with staff covering 10 to 15 square meters a day.
Sudan’s capital is studded with the remains of weapons
Khartoum city is still a ghost town, strewn with remnants of fighting. Charred, abandoned buildings are pocked with bullet holes.
Walking through the streets, AP journalists saw a soldier emerge from a house with a small metal object that appeared to be a tail of a rocket-propelled grenade after being summoned by a resident to assess the threat.
A member of the military media accompanied the AP during the visit, including during interviews. The AP retains full editorial control of its content.
Tens of thousands of people have returned to the city and 1.7 million have returned to Khartoum state, according to the UN
The UN says deminers over nearly the past year have cleared some 7.8 million square meters of land in Khartoum state. They found more than 36,000 items including hundreds of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.
Those that are safe to move are destroyed away from population areas. Those that can’t be moved are destroyed on the spot.
There is still much to clear as people try to rebuild their lives.
In Khartoum, Jasmar’s demining team has spent eight months clearing a popular park from land mines, one of at least seven identified mine fields in Khartoum state. Some locations are on the outskirts. Others are downtown. Some are near important bridges.
Removing their heavy vests and face shields, team members rested last week under trees between shifts, shielded from the scorching sun.
The clearance of some 123,000 square meters in the park began in August and is expected to be completed in May. So far the group has found more than 160 devices, including anti-personnel and anti-tank mines.
Abuanja said at least one person was killed in the park before they started clearing it. The area is now cordoned off, surrounded by danger signs.
Some people hesitate to tell authorities
Sudan’s government says it is doing what it can to reduce the threat but says it is strapped for cash and personnel.
A government official told the AP it is trying to raise awareness by speaking at mosques and in the markets and via radio and podcasts, and it is creating educational materials with schools. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Yet several injured people told the AP they hadn’t seen or heard any warnings, which began in late 2024.
Some people said there could be fear of reporting unexploded ordnance to authorities because they could be questioned about why they have weapons. A report earlier this year by Human Rights Watch said security forces have detained civilians for allegedly collaborating with the RSF, especially in areas where the army has regained control.
Others don’t recognize the threat until it’s too late.
Mogadem Ibrahim once picked up a piece of metal thinking it was part of a car. But when it stuck to his hand and he tried to strike it away, it exploded.
The 18-year-old now keeps his bandaged left arm hidden beneath his clothes. The blast outside his home in Omdurman in August took his fingers, and he can no longer work as a laborer.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2641680/middle-east
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Ghana quits US aid deal talks over privacy concerns
April 29, 2026
Ghana has pulled out of talks on a multi-year US aid deal after Washington allegedly demanded access to citizens’ personal data, a source close to the west African nation’s government has told AFP.
Negotiations collapsed after Accra rejected the request, according to a source close to Ghana’s government. The source said the US team then became “hostile” and increased pressure.
The proposed package was reportedly worth $109 million over five years and may have included health funding, according to Reuters.
The US State Department declined to discuss details of the negotiations, but said the support could have gone toward fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
The breakdown comes as Washington signs new bilateral health aid agreements across Africa under its America First Global Health Strategy, following the dismantling of USAID.
Zimbabwe and Zambia have already rejected similar proposals, while Kenya’s agreement was suspended by a court over data-sharing concerns.
Despite recent signs of improving ties between Accra and Washington, Ghana has now ended the talks. The US says it still wants to strengthen bilateral relations.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/04/28/ghana-quits-us-aid-deal-talks-over-privacy-concerns/
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Southeast Asia
Halal-certified? Muis sheds light on SIA's Muslim meals following online discussion
29 Apr 2026
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has addressed public concerns regarding Muslim meals served on board Singapore Airlines flights.
The online discussion was sparked by a post on Threads on April 20, which questioned whether cabin crew heated halal meals alongside those containing pork in the same oven.
On April 22, MUIS responded to the post, saying that it had been "eyeing this discussion from the side for a while".
"Definitely monitoring, we're not on airplane mode," it wrote.
The religious board then reassured Muslims that it is safe to order Muslim Meals (MOML) while flying.
Such meals on Singapore Airlines, as well as other outward-bound flights from Singapore, are prepared in dedicated halal-certified establishments before being loaded onto the aircraft.
"While the ovens may be shared, flights generally have procedures in place to prevent cross-mixing (e.g. sealed meals, proper handling)," MUIS explained.
Not having halal-certification does not automatically mean the food itself is not halal, it said.
The religious board also advised Muslim travellers to follow its guidelines when looking to decide if something is safe for them to consume.
They are:
Check – Look out for ingredients. Any high-risk items? Better to avoid them
Ask – Unsure? Reach out to the airline beforehand instead of waiting until you are onboard
Decide – If still doubtful or unable to confirm, it's safer to avoid it
"Also! No such thing as over-preparing! If you are still unable to ascertain the halal status of the in-flight meals, bringing your own food is also an option," MUIS added.
Singapore Airlines also addressed the public's concerns in a media statement, clarifying that its Muslim meal options are prepared without pork, lard, or alcohol and with ingredients from halal-certified suppliers.
"However, these meals are not halal-certified, as the serviceware used is not segregated by meal type and the meals are reheated in the same ovens as other in-flight meals," the airline's spokesperson said.
Source: asiaone.com
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https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/halal-certified-meals-singapore-airlines-muis
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King of Malaysia meets Johor Menteri Besar at Istana Pasir Pelangi to discuss current issues
29 Apr 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, April 29 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today granted an audience to Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
During the meeting, His Majesty was briefed on matters relating to state development, the well-being of the people and current issues.
According to a post on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s official Facebook page, the audience session took place at Istana Pasir Pelangi, here. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/04/29/king-of-malaysia-meets-johor-menteri-besar-at-istana-pasir-pelangi-to-discuss-current-issues/218077
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High Court blocks RM6.7m transactions in Barbados as MACC widens 1MDB asset hunt
29 Apr 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has obtained a prohibitory order on transactions involving funds amounting to USD1.7 million (RM6.7 million) held in Barbados, believed to be linked to funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
MACC, in a statement yesterday, said the funds were held in two bank accounts at Amicorp Bank and Trust Limited in Barbados.
“The order was issued by Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid today after he was satisfied with the prosecution’s application under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
“The application showed that the funds are linked to money laundering activities based on investigations by MACC’s Special Operations Division,” it said.
Investigations found that between 2014 and 2019, several individuals who were account holders and directors of offshore companies are suspected of receiving, concealing, transferring and converting proceeds of unlawful activities through the companies’ bank accounts in Barbados.
Following this, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed a prohibitory order on financial transactions involving USD56,285.88 (approximately RM222,441.80) in an account owned by Lambasa Global Opportunity Fund BV and USD1,649,118.40 (approximately RM6,517,315.92) in an account owned by Universal Ventures Fund SCC.
Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, in a brief statement, said the action reflects the commission’s continued commitment to ensuring that all misappropriated funds are traced and returned to the country.
He said that amid the current challenging global economic conditions, including uncertainties arising from conflicts in the Middle East, asset recovery efforts are not merely enforcement actions but also a responsibility to safeguard the nation’s financial interests.
“Every ringgit successfully recovered belongs to Malaysians and will continue to be pursued. MACC will continue to strengthen international cooperation and utilise all available legal avenues to ensure that assets hidden abroad can be traced, frozen and forfeited,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/04/29/high-court-blocks-rm67m-transactions-in-barbados-as-macc-widens-1mdb-asset-hunt/218053
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PAS targets 16 seats in Melaka state election
29 Apr 2026
PAS is set to contest 16 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Melaka state election, aiming for a strong showing
MELAKA: PAS is set to contest 16 of the 28 seats in the upcoming Melaka State Election.
Melaka PAS Commissioner Zulkifli Ismail said the party has identified the following constituencies — Pantai Kundor, Paya Rumput, Klebang, Tanjung Bidara, Ayer Limau, Linggi, Taboh Naning, Rembia, Durian Tunggal, Ayer Molek, Pengkalan Batu, Telok Mas, Duyong, Sungai Rambai, Merlimau and Serkam.
He said PAS had resolved to field candidates for the 16 seats, selecting individuals with credibility, integrity and strong leadership qualities.
“This decision is in line with the announcement made by PAS Central Election Director Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor during the recent launch of Melaka PAS’ election machinery,” he said in a statement posted on the Melaka PAS Facebook page today.
The current term of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly will expire this December, setting the stage for the state election this year.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/pas-targets-16-seats-in-melaka-state-election/
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Ringgit opens higher against US Dollar, mixed versus peers
29 Apr 2026
The ringgit strengthened against the US dollar but was mixed against other currencies in early trade today, amid cautious sentiment over oil price volatility and developments in the Strait of Hormuz, an analyst said
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit strengthened against the US dollar but was mixed against other currencies in early trade today, amid cautious sentiment over oil price volatility and developments in the Strait of Hormuz, an analyst said.
At 8.03 am, the local currency stood at 3.9475/9540 against the greenback, compared with 3.9505/9550 at Tuesday’s close.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit is expected to trade within a narrow range as market participants await further clarity on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
At the time of writing, oil prices remained volatile following the United Arab Emirates’ exit from the OPEC alliance. West Texas Intermediate fell 0.83 per cent to US$99.10 per barrel, while Brent crude slipped 0.59 per cent to US$110.60 per barrel.
“News of the UAE’s departure from OPEC in May, after more than six decades of membership, is set to reshape the oil and gas landscape. The country will be free to determine its output levels in line with its investment in the sector,” Mohd Afzanizam told Bernama.
However, for now, the focus is on supply cuts amid the war in Iran, which has disrupted the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, he added.
Mohd Afzanizam said US data showed the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to 92.8 in April following a ceasefire in the Iran conflict.
However, he added that expectations of a US recession over the next 12 months have risen, while plans to purchase big-ticket items have declined.
“Tonight, the Federal Open Market Committee’s decision will be closely watched for signals on whether policymakers are becoming more wary of growth prospects amid a higher inflation environment,” he said.
At the opening, the ringgit was mixed against a basket of major currencies.
It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.4740/4782 from Tuesday’s 2.4756/4785, but weakened against the British pound to 5.3394/3482 from 5.3292/3353, and slipped against the euro to 4.6261/6337 from 4.6189/6242.
The local currency traded mostly higher against ASEAN peers.
It edged up against the Singapore dollar to 3.0937/0990 from 3.0943/0983 at Tuesday’s close and strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.1484/1759 from 12.1494/1685.
The ringgit was little changed against the Indonesian rupiah at 228.9/229.4 and was steady against the Philippine peso at 6.44/6.45 from 6.44/6.46.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/ringgit-opens-higher-against-us-dollar-mixed-versus-peers/
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Man fined RM30,000 for insulting judiciary on Facebook
28 Apr 2026
A 41-year-old man was fined RM30,000 for posting offensive content and insulting the judiciary on Facebook, MCMC confirmed.
PUTRAJAYA: A 41-year-old man was fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to posting highly offensive content and insulting the judiciary on Facebook.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), in a statement today, said Mohamad Azri Sahlam entered the plea at the Keningau Sessions Court in Sabah after being charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 for knowingly using a network application to initiate the transmission of offensive communication with the intent to annoy others on Dec 22 last year.
“The court ordered the accused to pay the fine, and he has settled the amount,” the statement read.
The offence is punishable under Section 233(3) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both upon conviction.
The commission reminded the public to use social media prudently and responsibly to ensure cyberspace remains safe and free from abuse that could cause public anxiety or tension.
“MCMC takes the dissemination of extreme offensive content involving the 3Rs (religion, race, and royalty) seriously.
“Such actions not only undermine the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary but also have the potential to threaten public peace and harmony,” the statement added.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/courts/man-fined-rm30000-for-insulting-judiciary-on-facebook/
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Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail for Gaza
28 Apr 2026
A total of 56 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla have departed from Italy to break Gaza’s blockade with Malaysians aboard.
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 56 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) have set sail from Catania port in Italy to proceed with their mission to Gaza.
The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) said in a statement today that the mission brought together a 40-vessel flotilla from Barcelona with the Italian group, swelling the total fleet to 56 ships.
SNCC also said several vessels are undergoing technical checks and repairs at Catania port and will follow once complete.
SNCC said all 36 Malaysians aboard, comprising boat engineers, captains, medics, crew, organisers and participants, are in good health and spirits as they push forward with the voyage.
“The organising team is keeping a close watch on crew safety and wellbeing to ensure smooth sailing through international waters,” read the statement.
SNCC also said that after several vessels sustained severe damage, three Malaysians, namely Nur Heliza Helmi, Nur Hazwani Afiqah Helmi, and Nurul Hidayah Mohd Amin, were reassigned and have safely returned home.
They will resume duties at SNCC’s Sepang base, now doubling as the Regional Operations Hub coordinating strategy across seven countries.
SNCC also reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to the mission, urging Malaysians to continue their moral support and prayers for the safety of the entire Global Sumud Flotilla fleet.
“The media and public should check with SNCC for reliable updates on the latest mission developments,” it said.
GSF 2.0 brings together a global coalition determined to break Gaza’s blockade amid the worsening humanitarian crisis there.
Source: thesun.my
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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/global-sumud-flotilla-sets-sail-for-gaza/
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South Asia
Recently passed digital laws still pose risks to freedom of expression: Speakers
29 APRIL 2026
Speakers at a national conference have expressed concern that recently passed digital laws in parliament still pose risks to freedom of expression and personal privacy, urging authorities to review the legislation to better safeguard citizens’ rights.
The observations came at the Digital Rights Asia-Pacific (DRAPAC) Bangladesh National Conference 2026, held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre today.
Participants said the laws were passed quickly without input from stakeholders, and that some provisions allowing extensive digital surveillance have been retained.
The conference, themed “Meaningful, Inclusive Lawmaking,” was jointly organised by Digitally Right and EngageMedia. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and development organisation D-Net participated as session partners.
Speaking at the event, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftikharuzzaman expressed concern over various provisions of the recently passed Cyber Security Act, the amended Telecommunications Act, the Personal Data Protection Act, and the National Data Management Act in Parliament.
He also said the new laws contain numerous inconsistencies and conflict with the spirit of July or the electoral promises of the parties represented in Parliament. “The old laws have essentially been reintroduced under new names, which has not been very helpful in empowering people. Yet, many leaders of parliament themselves were victims of the misuse of such laws in the past, and still they have enacted similar laws.”
Adding to the concerns, Aasha Mehreen Amin, joint editor of The Daily Star, said, “The way lawsuits were filed due to Facebook posts before, we are seeing that lawsuits are being filed in the same way during this government as well. Journalists, who were at risk of surveillance before, are still at similar risk.”
The event was also addressed, among others, by Unesco Country Representative in Bangladesh Susan Vize; Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Additional Secretary Muhammad Anwar Uddin; Meta’s Public Policy Manager Ruzan Sarwar; Telenor Asia’s Head of Public and Regulatory Affairs Pratyush Rao; local startup ShareTrip’s founder Sadia Haque; Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Commissioner Mahmud Hossain; D-Net Executive Chairperson Ananya Raihan; and Digitally Right Managing Director Miraj Ahmed Chowdhury.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/recently-passed-digital-laws-still-pose-risks-freedom-expression-speakers-4163366
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JS heats up over Jamaat’s role in ’71 war
29 APRIL 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami MPs erupted in protest in parliament yesterday after ruling party lawmaker Fazlur Rahman said that it was a “double crime” for members of 1971 martyrs’ families or freedom fighters to engage in Jamaat politics.
Freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman, speaking during the motion of thanks to the president’s address, asserted that the Liberation War was unparalleled and could not be compared with any other movement.
His remarks sparked an uproar that raged for more than ten minutes, forcing Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad to rise to his feet and urge opposition members to restore order.
At one stage, treasury bench MPs also stood in protest, further escalating the chaos. Frustrated by the disorder, the Speaker remarked that the way lawmakers were behaving “would make children ashamed”.
Fazlur said that the opposition leader stated that he himself comes from a freedom fighter’s family and a martyrs’ family and yet is involved in Jamaat politics.
“No one from a martyrs’ family or a freedom fighter can join Jamaat. If someone does so, it amounts to a ‘double crime’,” he said.
At this point, Jamaat MPs began shouting in protest.
The Speaker repeatedly urged the opposition MPs to maintain order, asking Fazlur to continue his speech: “Honourable Members, please preserve discipline in the House.”
But Jamaat MPs ignored his call and kept shouting. Amid the uproar, Fazlur said: “Had they found our leader Ziaur Rahman before December 16, they would have killed him.”
At one point, the Speaker rose from his seat and urged the opposition members to restore order.
The Speaker reminded the MPs: “This is Bangladesh’s national parliament. Every member here is elected and has the right to speak. If you disagree, you may counter with arguments. But disturbing a member while speaking is unacceptable.”
He urged the MPs to respect parliamentary procedure, warning: “The way you are behaving, even children would be ashamed. Such venerable individuals, who have become grandfathers, their grandchildren may be sitting in the gallery watching. What will they think about this?”
“When the Speaker rises, it is the duty of all members to sit down. If you do not respect the Chair, people will lose respect for the parliament itself.”
He assured the opposition that after Fazlur’s speech, they would be given time to respond, even extended time if necessary, and that any unparliamentary remarks would be examined and expunged.
Concluding, the Speaker asked Fazlur to finish within three minutes, after which the opposition leader would be heard.
Fazlur was then allowed to complete his address, in which he said that December 14, 1971 is observed as Martyred Intellectuals Day.
The hundreds of intellectuals who were killed are said to have been murdered by Al-Badr.
“And you all know whose force Al-Badr was. Unfortunately, on the first day of this parliament, I could not hear much in the parliament [due to sound malfunction]. In this House, a condolence motion was also brought regarding them. Even if I were alone, I would have protested, but since my party did it, I remained silent. The matter is very clear: whether today or tomorrow, or the day after, the main message will go down in history.”
Fazlur said he respects the participants of the July uprising. To compare it with the Liberation War and freedom fighters is “wrong”.
“But for any reason, August [mass uprising] is not a revolution. August was a mass uprising… Comparing the Liberation War is like comparing the Pacific Ocean with a pond, or the Himalayas with a hillock.”
The Liberation War is unparalleled, he said.
“In the jungles of this country, not only cuckoos sing -- there are royal places where the Royal Bengal Tiger lives. Against freedom fighters, Razakars will never win in this country,” he said.
Both he and the Speaker were freedom fighters, he said.
“After December 16, hundreds of Razakars surrendered to me. I did not kill anyone -- I sent them all to jail for trial. My point is: after August 5, 2024, so many police stations were looted, so many policemen were killed. They were not fighting then; they were innocent. So many weapons -- where did they go?”
The incidents that occurred after August 5 should not be immune under any law.
“If policemen were killed, police stations looted, weapons taken after August 5, those should be investigated and tried. And before August 5, whatever the police did, they were a state force. If they committed injustice, let there be a trial,” he added.
Then, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said that Fazlur spoke about his contribution to the Liberation War.
“But in so doing, he hammered down on another’s contribution. No one has the right to do that. He personally hurt me. He said that I claim to be from a martyred freedom fighter’s family, and he challenged that.”
Secondly, he said no freedom fighter or martyred freedom fighter’s family member can be in Jamaat-e-Islami.
“Then he must be asked -- why? I strongly condemn this. My identity has been questioned. That is a serious offence. He also spoke about my ideological choices. That is an added offence,” Shafiqur said.
Calling for Fazlur’s unparliamentary remarks to be expunged, he said: “As is the brain, so is the conclusion. I did not expect this kind of behaviour from such a senior person, a politician.”
Later, when Fazlur wanted to speak again, the Speaker did not give him the floor and said: “Now it is not necessary to speak further. We do not want the Parliament to be heated. Please sit down.”
If there is anything unparliamentary in Fazlur Rahman’s speech, it will be expunged, he said.
“If there is anything unparliamentary in the opposition leader’s speech, that too will be expunged.”
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/js-heats-over-jamaats-role-71-war-4163451
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Haqqani Emphasizes Implementation of Supreme Leader Decree No. 17, Cultural Development
April 29, 2026
KABUL: Shaikh Shir Ahmad Haqqani, Minister of Information and Culture visited Ghazni province where he participated in a large public gathering focused on the implementation of Decree No. 17 issued by the Supreme Leader, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, Minister Haqqani elaborated on the significance of Decree No. 17, stating that all directives issued by the leadership are rooted in the principles of the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Prophet, and are intended to promote societal reform and serve the broader interests of the nation.
The minister also visited multiple sections of the provincial Directorate, including publishing departments, an educational center, and the Al-Biruni Public Library, the statement said.
Minister Haqqani praised the ongoing work of the department and pledged that serious steps would be taken toward establishing a modern exhibition facility for the province’s historical and cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Publications Affairs Mawlavi Mohajer Farahi emphasized the importance of effective implementation of the decree, highlighting the critical role of media organizations, religious scholars, and community elders in raising awareness and ensuring coordinated efforts toward social reform.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/haqqani-emphasizes-implementation-of-supreme-leader-decree-no-17-cultural-development/
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Beradar Kicks Off Three Power Transmission, Distribution Projects in Faryab
April 29, 2026
KABUL: Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, inaugurated construction work on three major electricity transmission and distribution projects worth 1.2 billion Afghanis in Faryab province.
The projects include the extension of a 110-kilovolt transmission line from the central substation in Faryab to Belcheragh and Garziwan districts, the construction of a 110/20 kV substation in Belcheragh, and the expansion of electricity distribution networks, the Office of the Deputy PM for Economic Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.
The upgrades will be supported by transformers with a capacity of 18 MVA in Belcheragh and 5 MVA in Pashtun Kot district, the statement said.
Funded by the Islamic Emirate, the projects are expected to be implemented by the private sector and completed within three years.
The statement added that the initiatives will help reduce electricity shortages in the region and provide improved access to reliable power for local residents, contributing to economic activity and better public services.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/beradar-kicks-off-three-power-transmission-distribution-projects-in-faryab/
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Pak Military Regime’s Brutality and Civilian Resilience in Kunar
April 29, 2026
Recent coward airstrike by the Pakistani military regime on civilians in the country’s eastern province of Kunar highlight both tragic consequences of ongoing tensions and the remarkable resilience of local communities.
Despite the deeply unfortunate loss of civilian lives due to reported drone and missile strikes by Pakistani military regime on residential areas, the situation also reveals several important and constructive elements that deserve attention. These include local peace efforts, community solidarity, responsiveness of authorities, and the enduring strength of ordinary people in the face of hardship.
One of the most notable positive aspects is the role played by tribal elders and community leaders on both sides of the hypothetical Durand Line. Their involvement in facilitating a ceasefire demonstrates the continued importance of traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms in the region. At a time when formal diplomatic channels often face challenges, these grassroots efforts reflect a shared desire among local populations to reduce violence and maintain stability. The fact that such negotiations even took place shows that there is still space for dialogue and mutual understanding, even in highly sensitive border areas.
Another important point is the strong sense of unity among civilians. The accounts shared by residents, although heartbreaking, also reflect courage and family solidarity. Individuals are not only supporting their own families but are also helping neighbors and others affected by the violence. In difficult conditions, such community bonds become a vital source of strength. This collective resilience helps communities recover more quickly and maintain hope despite repeated challenges.
The response of local authorities also deserves recognition. Officials were quick to report the number of casualties and injuries, ensuring that the situation received attention. Transparent communication is essential in such crises, as it allows humanitarian organizations and medical teams to respond more effectively. The transfer of critically injured individuals to better-equipped facilities in provinces like Nangarhar shows that there is coordination within the healthcare system to provide urgent care where needed. Even under pressure, these systems continue to function and save lives.
Furthermore, the clear condemnation of attacks on civilians by officials highlights a commitment to protecting human rights and upholding international norms. Public statements describing such actions as unacceptable and calling attention to their impact on civilians help bring global awareness to the situation. This kind of advocacy is important, as it encourages accountability and promotes the protection of non-combatants in conflict zones.
Another positive aspect is the attention drawn to the impact on educational institutions. By highlighting that schools and learning centers were affected, the report underscores the importance of education in Afghan society. Even in times of conflict, communities value education and recognize it as a path toward a better future. Bringing attention to this issue can encourage efforts to safeguard schools and ensure that children continue their education without interruption.
The resilience of healthcare workers and emergency responders also stands out. Treating a large number of injured civilians in a short period requires dedication and professionalism. Despite limited resources, medical staff continue to provide care, often under challenging conditions. Their work not only saves lives but also provides reassurance to affected families that help is available.
The situation in Kunar highlights the importance of continued dialogue and peaceful solutions. While violence has caused suffering, the earlier ceasefire efforts show that conflict is not inevitable. There are always opportunities for negotiation and cooperation, especially when local communities are actively involved. Strengthening these channels can help prevent future incidents and build a more stable environment for everyone living in the region.
In conclusion, while the recent events in Kunar are deeply tragic, they also reveal several encouraging elements. From tribal mediation and community solidarity to responsive governance and dedicated healthcare services, these positive aspects provide hope. They remind us that even in the most difficult circumstances, people continue to work toward peace, support one another, and strive for a better future.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/pak-military-regimes-brutality-and-civilian-resilience-in-kunar/
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8th of Saur: A Historic Turning Point in Afghanistan’s Struggle for Independence
April 29, 2026
By: S. Naser Watandost
The 8th of Saur stands as one of the most significant days in Afghanistan’s contemporary history—a day widely regarded as the Victory Day of Jihad and a symbol of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring struggle for independence. Each year, Afghans commemorate this occasion as a reminder of the immense cost paid for freedom and the aspirations tied to that historic victory.
A Victory Born of Sacrifice
The events leading to the 8th of Saur are rooted in a turbulent period that began decades earlier. Following years of conflict and resistance, the Afghan people, through sustained struggle, brought an end to a foreign-backed system. This culminated on 28 April 1992 (8th of Saur 1371), when the Mujahideen forces entered Kabul and the government of Dr. Najibullah collapsed.
This moment was seen by many as the successful conclusion of a long and difficult struggle. It represented not only a military victory but also the hope of establishing a system aligned with the values, beliefs, and aspirations of the Afghan people.
The Islamic Emirate’s Perspective
In its official statement marking the occasion, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan describes the 8th of Saur as a historic day of “victory, success, and independence,” achieved after a 14-year struggle. The statement emphasizes that this victory was made possible through perseverance and sacrifice, and it regards the day as a blessing for which gratitude is due.
The statement also reflects on the public sentiment at the time, noting that Afghans rejoiced at what they believed was the beginning of a peaceful era under a system of their choosing. However, it acknowledges that internal divisions and factional conflicts soon undermined these hopes, leading to further instability and hardship.
Lessons from the Past
While the 8th of Saur marks a moment of triumph, it also carries important lessons. The period that followed the victory was marked by internal disagreements among different groups, which ultimately contributed to prolonged conflict—particularly in Kabul. These events highlight the challenges of transitioning from struggle to governance and the importance of unity in preserving hard-won gains.
A Call for Unity and Stability
The Islamic Emirate, in its statement, reiterates that its formation was aimed at restoring independence, ensuring unity, and establishing order. It calls on Afghans to reflect on the lessons of history and to prioritize cohesion and cooperation.
The message emphasizes that maintaining stability and preventing renewed division is essential for the country’s future. It urges all citizens to contribute to strengthening national unity and supporting efforts toward reconstruction and development.
Conclusion
The 8th of Saur remains a powerful symbol in Afghanistan’s historical narrative—representing both the achievement of independence and the complexities that followed. It is a day that invites remembrance, reflection, and a renewed commitment to unity.
As Afghanistan continues to navigate its path forward, the legacy of the 8th of Saur serves as both inspiration and caution: a reminder of what can be achieved through collective struggle, and of what can be lost without collective harmony.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/8th-of-saur-a-historic-turning-point-in-afghanistans-struggle-for-independence/
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Afghan Forces Need Advanced Military Equipment to Defend Country
April 29, 2026
In today’s rapidly changing global environment, national security cannot rely on outdated methods or obsolete equipment. Afghanistan, positioned at the crossroads of regional interests, faces unique challenges that demand a modern, well-prepared security apparatus. The call for equipping the country’s security forces with advanced technology is not merely a matter of prestige, it is a necessity for safeguarding sovereignty and ensuring stability.
The Afghan National Army and Police have long carried the burden of maintaining internal order and protecting the nation’s borders. Yet, the reliance on limited resources and outdated tools has often left them vulnerable to external threats and internal unrest. Modernization is therefore essential. Advanced communication systems, surveillance technologies, and protective gear can dramatically enhance their ability to respond swiftly and effectively to any potential aggression. A well-equipped force not only deters adversaries but also reassures citizens that their safety is prioritized.
The role of public support is also noteworthy. Security institutions cannot function in isolation; they thrive when backed by the trust and cooperation of the people. The Afghan population, weary of decades of conflict, seeks peace and stability. By investing in modern equipment and training, the government demonstrates its commitment to protecting citizens, thereby strengthening the bond between the state and its people. This partnership is vital for resilience against both external interference and internal challenges.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly emphasized that it does not seek war. Its stated objective is to maintain peace and prevent unnecessary conflict. However, peace cannot be sustained without preparedness. History has shown that nations unprepared for defense often become easy targets for exploitation. By ensuring readiness against any potential aggression, Afghanistan sends a clear message that while peace is desired, it will not compromise its sovereignty.
Modernization of security forces is not about militarization, it is about empowerment. It is about giving soldiers and police officers the tools they need to protect communities, secure borders, and uphold national dignity. In a world where threats are increasingly sophisticated, Afghanistan must not remain bound by the limitations of the past.
Ultimately, the path forward lies in balance as a commitment to peace coupled with readiness for defense. By equipping its security forces with modern technology and fostering strong public support, Afghanistan can stand firm against external threats while continuing to pursue stability and prosperity. The nation’s future depends on this dual commitment; peace as a principle, and preparedness as a guarantee.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/afghan-forces-need-advanced-military-equipment-to-defend-country/\
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