SC Refuses To Grant Urgent Hearing On Plea Seeking Complete Ban On Cow Slaughter Ahead Of Baqrid
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 May 2026
A view of the Supreme Court of India premises in New Delhi.(Photo | ANI, FILE)
-------------
· SC refuses to grant urgent hearing on plea seeking complete ban on cow slaughter ahead of Baqrid
· Rubio says Iran deal still possible within days despite US strikes
· Pilgrims gather at Arafat for spiritual climax of Hajj
· Russia’s human rights commissioner mourns 21 students killed by Ukrainian strike
· CAIR Condemns Anti-Muslim Vandalism in Missouri
· Bandits Are Hiding There – Presidency Warns Residents Of Kwara And Kogi States Against Praying On Mountains
· Malaysian police arrest 51 men, seize drugs in raids linked to ‘gay party’
· UN Warns Of Rising Congo Fever Risk In Afghanistan Ahead Of Eid
-----
India
· ‘Mohammad Deepak’ may shut Uttarakhand gym amid financial crisis; alleges harassment from BJP, Bajrang Dal
· Madhya Pradesh to give Rs 5 lakh to families of 3 killed during 2003 Bhojshala protest
· Declare cow as national animal, stop mob lynchings: Muslim group
· Temples, churches & mosques fall within RTI ambit: AP info panel chief
· Masjid committees meet cops before Eid
· Rush Hour: NDTV criticised by regulator for ‘thook jihad claims, petrol prices up again & more
· Raids on study centres in Kashmir as NIA probes Jamaat-e-Islami terror funding
------
Mideast
· Israeli military says hostile aircraft sirens in north were false alarm
· Israel steps up Lebanon strikes as Netanyahu escalates offensive
· Explosions heard in Iran, Mehr says Bandar Abbas situation under control
· Israeli withdrawal ‘non-negotiable,’ says Lebanon president
· Mojtaba Khamenei ‘suffered only superficial wounds in US-Israel strike’
· Israeli fire kills six-year-old girl and a woman in Gaza, medics say
· Iranian officials in Qatar for talks, frozen funds, source says
-----
Arab World
· Saudi Arabia unveils new wildlife safari, birdwatching projects
· Saudi nature reserve celebrates 12 rock hyrax births in biodiversity boost
· Saudi Arabia’s interior minister meets security and military leaders ahead of Arafat Day
· KSrelief chief meets US embassy official in Riyadh
· Saudi aviation regulator issues first drone medicine delivery permit for Hajj
· Upgrades prepare Arafat’s Namirah Mosque for peak day
· Makkah’s first model slaughterhouse to recycle 100% of organic waste
------
Europe
· Police 'increase presence' in two Birmingham areas during Eid al-Adha celebrations
· Russia threatens more Kyiv strikes and tells foreign nationals to leave
· Pope Leo says AI must be 'disarmed' in first major teaching
· Fewer Germans buying into warnings of Russian attack – poll
· How Russia’s Kh-101 missile uses decoy flares to slip past air defence shields
· Finland to impose new customs fees on low-cost online purchases from outside EU
· Cyprus positions itself as Europe's innovation gateway for Indian AI enterprises
-------
North America
· 'Lifelong Hindu pretending to be Christian': Laura Loomer criticises Tulsi Gabbard over Bible verse post
· San Diego mosque gunman attended school dressed up as notorious killers
· US launches new strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boats
· White House gunman had previous run-ins with Secret Service, court documents show
· Iranian enriched uranium stockpile to be ‘destroyed’ – Trump
· US jets attack Iranian naval vessels
· Epstein weaponized in US midterm battles
------
Africa
· Eid-el Kabir: Military issues Security Advisory, Assures Public of Safety Across North-northeast
· DR Congo: New wave of drone strikes hits Kisangani Airport
· Congo throws open its borders to Africa
· Bandits: ‘Give Them Amnesty’ – Gumi Charges FG
· Court Adjourns Ali Bello’s ₦10 Billion Fraud Trial
· Thugs Attack Itsekiri Youths Protesting At INEC Headquarters
· FG Yet To Approve My Security Plan To Dislodge Terrorists In South-West – Igboho
------
Southeast Asia
· Anwar says korban is about sacrifice, resilience and helping the needy
· National security council says military exercises will follow strict safety, coordination measures
· Singapore foreign minister visits North Korea for first time since 2018 Trump-Kim summit, S. Korea next
· Pahang Sultan calls for unity and harmony in Aidiladha message
· Families claim bodies of three Sepat FSO tragedy workers
· Ministers urge Muslims to embrace Arafah Day blessings
--------
South Asia
· Farhad Darya says Afghanistan belongs to all ethnic communities
· Economic corridor: ADB to provide $5b over 5 years
· IMF, govt close in on a fresh 3-year deal
· Dhaka all set for Eid-ul-Azha congregations
· Ireland contributes $3.44 million to UN humanitarian fund for Afghanistan
· Uzbekistan sends 320 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
· Afghan Cultural Attaché Participates in “Colors of the World” Exhibition in Moscow
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
------
SC refuses to grant urgent hearing on plea seeking complete ban on cow slaughter ahead of Baqrid
26 May 2026
A view of the Supreme Court of India premises in New Delhi.(Photo | ANI, FILE)
-------------
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant urgent hearing on a plea seeking implementation of the law imposing a complete ban on cow slaughter, ahead of the Eid al-Adha (Baqrid) festival celebrated by Muslims.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Satish Kumar Aggarwal, former vice-president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.
The plea sought directions to enforce a complete ban on the slaughter of cows and its progeny.
Refusing to grant urgent hearing, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, "You remembered this a day before. No urgency. Thanks."
Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha mentioned the matter before the bench seeking urgent hearing.
"Day after tomorrow is Baqrid. This is a plea to seek implementation of anti-cow slaughter law. If this can be listed tomorrow," Sinha said.
The plea also sought a direction to state governments to notify guidelines for regulating slaughterhouses in each and every state in accordance with law.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/May/26/sc-refuses-to-grant-urgent-hearing-on-plea-seeking-complete-ban-on-cow-slaughter-ahead-of-bakrid
------
Rubio says Iran deal still possible within days despite US strikes
May 26, 2026
JAIPUR, India: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal with Iran was still possible despite new American strikes that cast doubt on their fragile ceasefire.
“There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress. I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” Rubio told reporters in Jaipur during a visit to India.
“The president’s expressed his desire to make it. He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” he said.
The strikes came as top Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for the latest round of talks to end the months-long conflict, which had prompted Iran to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global energy exports.
Rubio told reporters that “the straits have to be open.”
“They’re going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open. What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644945/middle-east
----
Pilgrims gather at Arafat for spiritual climax of Hajj
May 26, 2026
ARAFAT: More than 1.6 million pilgrims gathered Tuesday on the Plain of Arafat for the most sacred and spiritually defining stage of the Hajj pilgrimage, in scenes of intense devotion and prayer reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
From dawn on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, where they will spend the day in worship, Qur’an recitation, remembrance of God and supplication, remaining within the designated boundaries of the sacred site until sunset.
Widely regarded in Islamic tradition as the pinnacle and heart of Hajj, the standing at Arafat — known as Wuquf Arafah — is considered the pilgrimage’s central rite. Prophet Muhammad said: “Hajj is Arafah,” emphasizing the essential nature of the gathering.
Islamic scholars describe the day as one of the holiest in the Islamic calendar and a moment associated with mercy, forgiveness and spiritual renewal. It also coincides with the Farewell Pilgrimage of Prophet Muhammad in A.D. 632, during which he delivered his final sermon at Mount Arafat, outlining principles of justice, equality and the sanctity of life and property.
• Hajj 2026: Pilgrims gather at Mount of Mercy on the plain of Arafat for most sacred stage of Hajj
At noon, the Arafah sermon will be delivered to pilgrims, offering religious guidance and reminders about the virtues of the day. Pilgrims will then perform the Dhuhr and Asr prayers combined and shortened in accordance with the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad.
Throughout the day, worshippers raise their hands in prayer, recite the Talbiyah and Takbeer, and seek forgiveness in an atmosphere marked by humility and reflection.
Arafat, located about 20 kilometers southeast of Makkah, is an open plain dominated by Jabal Al-Rahmah, or the Mount of Mercy, where many pilgrims gather for prayer and contemplation. Islamic tradition holds that the site is linked to the reunion of Adam and Eve and remains deeply symbolic for Muslims worldwide.
The movement to Arafat followed the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, where pilgrims spent Monday preparing spiritually and physically for the most demanding phase of Hajj.
Saudi authorities deployed extensive operational plans to facilitate the movement and safety of pilgrims, supported by crowd-control systems, medical services, transportation networks and emergency response units across the holy sites.
Health authorities remained on high alert amid temperatures exceeding 45 C, urging pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
At sunset, pilgrims began departing Arafat for Muzdalifah, where they were set to perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers combined and shortened before spending the night in worship and rest ahead of the symbolic stoning ritual.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644943/saudi-arabia
-----
Russia’s human rights commissioner mourns 21 students killed by Ukrainian strike
25 May, 2026
A makeshift memorial commemorating the victims of the Ukrainian drone strike on the Starobelsk Professional College in Lugansk, Russia, May 25, 2026 © Evgeny Biyatov/RIA Novosti
----------
Russia’s newly appointed human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, has honored the 21 students killed in a recent Ukrainian drone strike on a college dormitory, sharing photos of the victims – some just 18 years old – on Telegram.
According to Russian authorities, another 60 people were injured when three waves of Ukrainian kamikaze drones struck the main academic building and dormitory of the Starobelsk Professional College in the Lugansk People’s Republic overnight between Thursday and Friday.
The Russian military responded to what President Vladimir Putin called a deliberate “terrorist act” with a “massive strike” on Ukrainian military targets early on Sunday, using the intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik system, Iskander ballistic missiles, Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic cruise missiles, along with other weapons.
In a Telegram post on Sunday, Lantratova, who traveled to Starobelsk following the attack, accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out a “targeted strike that killed 21 children.”
“No words can ease this pain. It is impossible to imagine the grief of parents who have lost the most precious thing – their child,” she wrote.
Lantratova said Ukrainian forces launched follow-up strikes targeting first responders after the initial attack. She described the incident as a “war crime” and said she had appealed to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
The commissioner also visited survivors receiving treatment in a hospital and pledged that her office would provide all necessary assistance.
Source: rt.com/
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/russia/640559-russia-mourns-students-killed-ukrainian-strike/
------
CAIR Condemns Anti-Muslim Vandalism in Missouri
May 25, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned anti-Muslim vandalism targeting a neighborhood in south St. Louis County, Missouri, where Islamophobic graffiti was reportedly spray-painted on streets and sidewalks.
According to local reports, police are investigating multiple incidents involving hateful messages directed at Muslims and immigrants in the affected area.
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We strongly condemn these acts of anti-Muslim hate and intimidation targeting residents in Missouri. Bias-motivated vandalism and hate rhetoric contribute to a climate of fear and division that threatens the safety and well-being of American Muslims and other minority communities. We urge law enforcement authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable.”
CAIR noted that its latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
The Center for the Study of Organized Hate showing an approximately 1,450 percent increase in anti-Muslim extremist rhetoric by public officials in the 15 months after February 2025, warning that many such statements satisfy criteria for speech likely to inspire violence.
CAIR is also calling on Muslim community leaders to utilize its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
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
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-anti-muslim-vandalism-in-missouri/
-----
Bandits Are Hiding There – Presidency Warns residents of Kwara and Kogi states Against Praying On Mountains
May 26, 2026
Abiodun Essiet
---------
The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement for the North Central region, Abiodun Essiet, has advised residents of Kwara and Kogi states to stop holding prayer gatherings on mountains for now because of rising insecurity in the areas.
Naija News reports that in a statement released on Monday, the presidential aide appealed to religious groups and residents who usually gather at prayer sites known as “Ori Oke” to temporarily suspend such activities until the security situation improves.
Many Christians and other worshippers in the two states often visit mountain tops and forest areas for fasting and special prayers because they believe such locations provide a quiet environment for spiritual activities.
Essiet said the warning became necessary due to increasing attacks by armed groups in parts of Kwara and Kogi. According to the statement, mountains and forests are now being used as hiding places by bandits and other criminals, putting worshippers at risk.
The aide also stated that people can worship God anywhere without exposing themselves to danger. The office advised residents to remain careful and avoid isolated areas that may expose them to attacks or kidnappings.
The statement read: “The Office of the SSA to the President on Community Engagement, North Central, has appealed to residents and religious groups in Kwara and Kogi States to temporarily suspend Ori Oke prayer gatherings until the security situation in the affected areas stabilises.
“The Office noted that God is omnipotent and can be worshipped anywhere, stressing that mountains and forests have increasingly become hideouts for bandits and criminal elements, thereby posing security risks to worshippers and communities.”
Kwara and Kogi states have recorded several violent incidents in recent months. Armed gangs have reportedly attacked communities, abducted residents and killed many people in different parts of the two North Central states.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/26/presidency-warns-against-praying-mountains/
------
Malaysian police arrest 51 men, seize drugs in raids linked to ‘gay party’
May 26, 2026
KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian authorities detained 51 men in a series of raids on May 24 in connection with what the police described as a drug-fuelled “gay party” held at a Kuala Lumpur hotel.
Homosexuality is criminalised in Muslim-majority Malaysia, which operates a dual-track legal system with Islamic laws for Muslims running alongside civil laws.
Sodomy is a crime, while syariah laws in place also ban same-sex acts and cross-dressing.
The police arrested the men, aged between 21 and 52, including 28 foreigners, in four separate raids, narcotics investigations department director Hussein Omar Khan said in a statement late on May 25.
The authorities also seized about RM103,070 (S$33,000) worth of illicit drugs, including MDMA, ecstasy pills and powder, and ketamine, he added.
“This group was found to be using rooms in upscale hotels for entertainment, drug abuse, and is believed to be involved in immoral activities,” he said, adding that the case was being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Before the raids, one man suspected of being at the party was found unconscious in the lobby of the hotel. He was taken to Kuala Lumpur Hospital and pronounced dead upon arrival, Mr Hussein said. He did not provide details about the cause of death.
Those detained have been remanded for three to six days as investigations continue, he said, adding that 36 of the men tested positive for drugs.
Rights groups have warned that LGBT people in Malaysia have come under increasing scrutiny and face growing intolerance.
In 2025, the Kuala Lumpur police said they would review procedures after 171 people detained on suspicion of same-sex activities following a raid were released without charge after no evidence was found to prosecute them.
LGBT advocacy groups had accused the police of holding some of the detainees unlawfully for nearly two days, even after a court had ordered their release. REUTERS
Source: straitstimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-police-arrest-51-men-seize-drugs-in-raids-linked-to-gay-party
-----
UN Warns Of Rising Congo Fever Risk In Afghanistan Ahead Of Eid
By Fidel Rahmati
May 25, 2026
Food and Agriculture Organization warned Monday about an increased risk of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Afghanistan during the Eid al-Adha period, when animal trading and slaughter activities intensify.
In a statement posted on X, the UN agency said the disease spreads between animals and humans through infected ticks and can become fatal without timely treatment and medical attention.
FAO said it is conducting spraying operations in livestock markets and awareness campaigns across Afghanistan with support from the World Health Organization and the United Kingdom embassy for Afghanistan.
The organization added that its teams are sharing safety guidance with shepherds, livestock traders and families on safe animal handling practices ahead of Eid celebrations.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a contagious viral disease transmitted from animals to humans and remains a recurring public health concern in Afghanistan, especially during warmer months.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system continues to face severe shortages of medicine, diagnostic facilities and trained medical staff, particularly in rural provinces vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.
Health organizations have repeatedly warned that poverty, weak sanitation systems and limited veterinary oversight increase the risk of zoonotic diseases spreading among communities.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/un-warns-of-rising-congo-fever-risk-in-afghanistan-ahead-of-eid/
------
India
‘Mohammad Deepak’ may shut Uttarakhand gym amid financial crisis; alleges harassment from BJP, Bajrang Dal
25.05.26
Deepak Kumar, popularly known as 'Mohammad Deepak', has said he may have to vacate his gym and move out of Kotdwar due to a financial crunch that has spiralled ever since he stood up against the harassment of a Muslim shopkeeper.
The 42-year-old operator of 'Hulk' gym said his landlord has given him an ultimatum over four months of unpaid rent. He said he did not know if "external entities pressured the landlord" to force his eviction.
"My landlord has given an ultimatum since I could not pay the rent for the last four months. I now think of selling the equipment and moving out of the city to take up a job," Deepak told PTI.
On January 26, Deepak confronted Bajrang Dal activists who were demanding that a 70-year-old shop owner, Vakil Ahmed, change the name of his shop, 'Baba' clothing store, on Patel Marg.
Deepak identified himself as 'Mohammad Deepak' when asked his name in solidarity with the Muslim shopkeeper. “I am not a Hindu, I am not a Muslim, I am not a Sikh, and I am not a Christian. First and foremost, I am a human being,” Kumar had said in a viral video.
On January 31, a bigger crowd gathered outside the clothes shop and Kumar's gym, blocked the road and raised slogans. The police registered three separate FIRs in connection with the incidents.
Deepak said that his gym currently has 60 to 65 members and that this turnout fails to cover operational expenses. "The monthly rent for the premises stands at Rs 40,000," he said.
He said that any ramp-up in the membership is unlikely, considering the hot weather and ongoing controversies.
Deepak alleged that workers from the BJP and Bajrang Dal target his clients.
"These activists visit the homes of gym members whose parents affiliate with the BJP to discourage them from coming to the gym," he said.
"This targeted campaign has severely destabilised my business," he added.
Kotdwar Station House Officer Pradeep Negi said the police had not received any complaint so far.
In March, the Uttarakhand High Court had turned down the plea of Deepak Kumar to quash an FIR accusing him of attacking the goons. The single-judge bench of Justice Rakesh Thapliyal also asked the gym owner from Kotdwar, who has become a secular-liberal hero of sorts, not to post about the incident on social media since the matter was sub judice.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/mohammad-deepak-may-shut-uttarakhand-gym-amid-financial-crisis-alleges-bjp-bajrang-dal-harassment/cid/2162367#goog_rewarded
------
Madhya Pradesh to give Rs 5 lakh to families of 3 killed during 2003 Bhojshala protest
May 26, 2026
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of three persons who died in February 2003 during protests seeking to declare the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Dhar district as a temple, The Hindu reported.
The 11th-century building, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. While the Hindus believe that the Bhojshala is a temple dedicated to the deity Vagdevi, or Saraswati, the building is a mosque for the Muslim community.
In February 2003, several Hindutva groups, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, launched a protest demanding complete access to the site after claiming that it was a temple built by King Bhoja, an 11th-century ruler of the Parmar dynasty, The Hindu reported.
Three men – Van Singh Araadi, Lakshman Singh and Anwar Singh – were killed in clashes with security forces at the time.
Subsequently, under an arrangement made by the Archaeological Survey of India on April 7, 2003, Hindus performed prayers on the premises on Tuesdays and Muslims offered namaz in the complex on Fridays.
However, on May 15, the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that the disputed complex is a temple of the Hindu deity Saraswati and quashed the 2003 Archaeological Survey of India order.
During an event in Dhar on Monday, the chief minister described the May 15 verdict as the “result of a 750-year-long struggle”, The Hindu reported.
“Dhar is now stepping into a new era,” the newspaper quoted Yadav as saying. “I congratulate the residents of Dhar on this judgement by the High Court. Underlying this verdict is your 750-year-old struggle.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader added that the court had “clearly distinguished right from wrong”.
The case
In May 2022, the Hindu Front for Justice filed a public interest litigation in the High Court against the Archaeological Survey of India’s 2003 arrangement.
The group had argued that the Kamal Maula mosque was constructed during the reign of Alauddin Khilji between the 13th and 14th centuries by “destroying and dismantling ancient structures of previously constructed Hindu temples”.
On March 11, 2024, the High Court directed the Archaeological Survey of India to carry out a survey of the site. The Archaeological Survey of India found in July 2024 that the mosque was constructed using parts from earlier temples at the site.
Holding that the disputed complex is a temple of the deity Saraswati in its verdict on May 15, the High Court allowed the Muslim side to seek alternative land within Dhar district to build a mosque.
The bench said that it arrived at its decision on the basis of the precedent laid down by the Supreme Court in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case from Ayodhya.
In November 2019, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court held that the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992 was illegal, but handed over the land to a trust for a Ram temple to be constructed. At the same time, it directed that a five-acre plot in Ayodhya be allotted to Muslims for a mosque to be constructed.
More than four years later, the Ram temple was inaugurated in Ayodhya in a ceremony led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024.
The High Court remarked that every government has a “constitutional obligation to ensure preservation and protection of not only ancient monuments and their structures, including temples of historical and archaeological importance, but also of sanctum sanctorum as well as the deities of spiritual importance.”
Source: scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://scroll.in/latest/1093100/madhya-pradesh-to-give-rs-5-lakh-to-families-of-3-killed-during-2003-bhojshala-protest
------
Declare cow as national animal, stop mob lynchings: Muslim group
Soham Shah
May 26, 2026
Moolnivasi Muslim Manch in Pune has demanded that the cow should be declared as the ‘national animal’, in an appeal to reduce mob lynchings. Activists led by the president of the Manch Anjum Inamdar on Monday submitted a memorandum to District Collector Jitendra Dudi demanding the same.
A press release by the group said, “In our country, which not only regards the cow as sacred but also accords her the status of a mother, it is deeply distressing to witness the shedding of innocent human blood in her very name. The mob lynching (violence by crowds), the politics of hate, and this malicious game of defaming a specific community (Muslims)—all perpetrated in the name of the cow—must cease immediately. To find a permanent resolution to this issue, the Central Government should urgently declare the cow a ‘National Animal’.”
Inamdar told The Indian Express, “Our religion has not made it compulsory to eat meat. If the cow was to legally receive the status of a National Animal, she would be accorded her rightful respect, and the entire responsibility for her protection would officially devolve upon the designated state machinery. This measure would significantly aid in curbing mob lynching.”
He added that Chief Minister Fadnavis has said that action under MCOCA will be taken.
“MCOCA will not be put on the farmer who sold the barren cow, but it will be put on the transporter. All of this is false love of the government, be it the Maharashtra government or Union government. Our demand is that all these religious issues where religious tensions and riots are created…all these won’t happen. Hindus will also not die and Muslims will also not die. So we demand that the cow should be declared as a national animal,” he said.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/cow-national-animal-mob-lynchings-muslim-group-10707962/
-----
Temples, churches & mosques fall within RTI ambit: AP info panel chief
May 26, 2026
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Information Commission (APIC) has ruled that all religious institutions functioning under govt supervision, statutory regulation, or receiving state funding and public donations fall within the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The commission clarified that temples, mosques, churches, waqf institutions, and other religious bodies administered or supervised by the govt cannot deny information sought under the law.
State chief information commissioner Vajja Srinivasa Rao made the observations while hearing a petition concerning disclosure of information by the authorities of Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi temple in Visakhapatnam.
In a detailed 25-page order, the commission held that institutions operating under statutory control or receiving administrative oversight from the state qualify as "public authorities" under the RTI Act. Rejecting the temple authorities' contention that they were exempt from disclosure obligations, Srinivasa Rao observed that the RTI Act was enacted to promote transparency and accountability in institutions substantially controlled, regulated, or financed by the govt.
The ruling came while disposing of a second appeal filed by K S N Patnaik after temple authorities refused to provide information relating to temple festivals, citing an earlier high court judgment.
The commission noted that temples governed under the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 function under extensive govt supervision through executive officers, trust boards, and statutory authorities appointed under the law. Their administration, finances, audits, and properties are also subject to state regulation.
The order further observed that offerings and donations made by devotees assume the character of public funds once they are administered within a statutory framework. "Transparency becomes essential when institutions receive public donations, govt grants, or financial assistance," Srinivasa Rao stated.
Extending the same reasoning to waqf institutions, mosques, and churches, the commission observed that such bodies often receive public contributions, foreign donations, and various forms of state support while functioning under regulatory mechanisms established by law.
However, the APIC clarified that matters relating to personal faith, religious rituals, ceremonies, and individual beliefs remain private and do not come under the RTI Act.
The commission directed the public information officer (PIO) of Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi temple to furnish the requested information within 15 days.
The order also noted that the Supreme Court and several high courts have repeatedly interpreted the scope of "public authority" broadly in cases involving institutions subject to direct or indirect govt control. Merely being a religious institution, the commission said, does not place an organisation outside the RTI framework.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/temples-churches-mosques-fall-within-rti-ambit-ap-info-panel-chief/articleshowprint/131316874.cms
------
Masjid committees meet cops before Eid
May 25, 2026
Kolkata: Cops in Kolkata and the adjoining districts have been holding meetings with imams, muezzins and mosque representatives ahead of Eid-uz-Zuha, with officials urging strict adherence to existing regulations governing animal sacrifice and public observance during the festival.
Such meetings are conducted routinely before major religious festivals involving different communities. This year, however, the outreach has gained significance following a recent state govt notification reiterating restrictions on cattle slaughter under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, and a 2018 Calcutta HC order. Meetings have been held across Kolkata and suburbs, with senior cops and administrative officials in attendance.
An officer said the meetings were intended to maintain coordination with religious representatives and ensure peaceful observance of the festival on Thursday.
Nasser Ebrahim, trustee of the Nakhoda Mosque who attended a meeting, said, "The police requested that the festival of sacrifice should be observed following all govt guidelines. We have been reaching out to people with the message since then."
Abbas Ali Biswas, an imam associated with a mosque in Rajarhat, said similar instructions were issued to religious figures in the neighbourhood.
"Police officials asked us to cooperate with the administration and ensure that all existing rules related to sacrifice are followed. We have been urging people to adhere to all guidelines in our sermons," said Biswas.
Two weeks ago, the state govt issued a public notice saying no animal, including cows, bulls, bullocks, calves and buffaloes, may be slaughtered without certification declaring the animal fit for slaughter.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/masjid-committees-meet-cops-before-eid/articleshowprint/131315801.cms
------
Rush Hour: NDTV criticised by regulator for ‘thook jihad claims, petrol prices up again & more
May 26, 2026
The News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority cautioned NDTV against using the term “thook jihad” in a generalised and stereotypical manner after a programme depicted a cook allegedly spitting on rotis.
“Thook jihad” or spit jihad is a Hindutva conspiracy theory that claims that Muslims deliberately spit into food to spread disease among Hindus.
A complaint about the broadcast had been registered with the news regulator in December 2024 about a widely circulated video from Meerut that purportedly showed a man spitting on rotis as he made them. NDTV described the claimed incident as “thook jihad” and allegedly suggested that similar acts were being reported from other places.
The channel said that it had voluntarily removed the video. It claimed that the word “jihad” was not intended to attribute the act to any particular community. However, the regulator rejected the argument, adding that the term itself carried an implicit meaning. Read on.
Hindutva has found a new target – “gym jihad”, writes Sneha.
The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Assam introduced a bill on the Uniform Civil Code in the Assembly seeking to ban polygamy and make registration of live-in relationships compulsory.
The bill is slated to be taken up for discussion on Wednesday.
The bill proposes to make it mandatory for live-in relationships to be registered within one month. Failing to register a live-in relationship within one month may lead to imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to Rs 10,000.
According to the draft legislation, the minimum age of marriage would be 18 years for women and 21 years for men. The legislation will also make the registration of marriages and divorces mandatory “to prevent fraud”.
On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted that the provisions of the Uniform Civil Code will not apply to Adivasis and will not encroach upon the rights of Scheduled Tribe communities. He claimed that there was a “conspiracy underway to send out the message that UCC will take away tribal communities’ traditions and way of life”. Read on.
Petrol and diesel prices were increased for the fourth time in two weeks, with fuel rates going up by an average of Rs 2.8 per litre across the country.
In Delhi, the price of petrol increased by Rs 2.61 to reach Rs 102.12 per litre, while diesel increased by Rs 2.71 to Rs 95.20 per litre.
Petrol rates in Mumbai reached Rs 111.21 per litre and diesel went up to Rs 97.83 per litre. Kolkata recorded the highest petrol price among the four metros at Rs 113.51 per litre, while rates in Chennai stood at Rs 107.77 per litre for petrol and Rs 99.55 per litre for diesel.
Commenting on the fuel price hike, Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi quipped on social media: “Inflation man Modi strikes again”. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that “every fuel price hike is another blow to household budgets, and has a cascading effect on every aspect of the economy”. Read on.
The Supreme Court issued notice asking the National Testing Agency to respond to a batch of petitions on the alleged paper leak in the 2026 undergraduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for medical college seats.
The court said that the authority seemed to have not learnt any lessons from the past.
The bench sought a status report from the agency on the steps it had taken as per the recommendations of a committee set up in 2024 following similar allegations of a paper leak.
A petition has sought a panel chaired by a retired judge, along with a cybersecurity expert and a forensic scientist, to supervise the re-exam that will be held on June 21. A separate plea argued that the National Testing Agency lacked direct parliamentary accountability and sought a direction to the Union government to replace it with a statutory authority. Read on.
Source: scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://scroll.in/latest/1093078/rush-hour-ndtv-criticised-by-regulator-for-thook-jihad-claims-petrol-prices-up-again-more
------
Raids on study centres in Kashmir as NIA probes Jamaat-e-Islami terror funding
Muzaffar Raina
26.05.26
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday raided three locations in Kashmir, including a leading Islamic seminary in Shopian and a girls’ residential educational institute in Srinagar, as part of a terror funding case linked to the banned separatist group Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).
The NIA said in a statement that searches were conducted at three locations in Srinagar and Shopian districts of Kashmir, leading to the recovery of several “incriminating financial documents and electronic gadgets suspected to be related with the activities” of the Jamaat and various trusts and associations of the group.
The agency did not identify the locations, but police sources said they included Jamia Siraj ul Uloom in Shopian and Jamiat ul Banaat in Srinagar. The third raid was conducted at the residence of Jamaat leader Shahzada Aurangzeb at Molu Chitragam in
Shopian.
The Shopian-based seminary, which combines traditional religious teachings with modern education, was declared an unlawful entity under the UAPA last month, marking the first time action had been taken under an anti-terror law against a major Islamic institution.
Jamia Siraj ul Uloom has denied any link with the Jamaat. The Srinagar-based Jamiat ul Banaat also denies association with the separatist group and describes itself as a women’s educational institution run by the Taleem e Niswaan Trust that is recognised by the Jammu and Kashmir government. The institution, located at Umer Colony in Srinagar’s Lal Bazar, says it imparts moral and contemporary education to girls.
The NIA said it had been probing the separatist and secessionist activities of the JeI, already declared an unlawful association under the UAPA.
“The NIA’s investigations so far have revealed that JeI was actively involved in collecting terror funds and fueling terrorism in the Valley and other parts of India. It was engaged in collecting funds domestically and internationally in the name of donations for charity and welfare activities such as health and education,” the NIA said in a statement.
“It was diverting such funds towards violent and secessionist activities, and also channelling them to proscribed terrorist organisations such as the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and others through well-organised networks of cadres,” it added.
The central agency said the terror conspiracy also involved “radicalisation and recruitment of impressionable Kashmiri youth as new members (Rukuns) for carrying out secessionist activities”.
“The NIA is continuing with its investigation in the case in a bid to end the outfit’s secessionist activities and dismantle the terror network operating in J&K,” the statement said.
Though the JeI, a religious-cum-political organisation, has borne the brunt of the crackdown on separatists after the 2019 scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, several leaders of the group were allowed by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha’s administration to contest the 2024 Assembly polls in an apparent bid to weaken the National Conference, the biggest pro-India party in Jammu and Kashmir. The Jamaat leaders failed to win any seat.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/nia-raids-kashmir-study-centres-in-jamaat-e-islami-terror-funding-probe-prnt/cid/2162423
------
Mideast
Israeli military says hostile aircraft sirens in north were false alarm
May 26, 2026
CAIRO: The Israeli military said on Tuesday that sirens warning of a hostile aircraft infiltration sounded in several areas of northern Israel were determined to have been a false identification.
The military had earlier said such sirens were sounded in the area of Sasa.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644938/middle-east
------
Israel steps up Lebanon strikes as Netanyahu escalates offensive
May 26, 2026
BEIRUT: The Israeli army intensified strikes in southern Lebanon on Monday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to escalate its offensive in an effort to “crush” Hezbollah.
The airstrikes come as the United States and Iran seek to finalize the terms of an agreement to end the Middle East conflict, which could include the Lebanon front, where Israel and Hezbollah have waged war since March 2.
Despite a ceasefire that came into effect on April 17, Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have continued to exchange fire on a near-daily basis.
“I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations,” Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on his Telegram channel.
“It is true that they are attacking us with drones, including fiber-optic drones, but we have teams working on countermeasures and we will solve this issue … We will intensify our blows, increase our firepower, and we will crush them.”
Following the call for escalation, an AFP correspondent saw residents fleeing the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold.
The Israeli air force carried out successive strikes in the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon on Monday evening, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
Dozens of Israeli strikes earlier targeted several towns and villages in southern Lebanon in the early hours, killing three people in two cars and on a motorcycle, NNA reported.
Israeli airstrikes then targeted several towns near the ancient city of Tyre, according to the state-run agency.
Those strikes came after Israel issued evacuation orders for 10 villages, accusing Hezbollah of breaching the truce.
“In light of Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to operate against it with force,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee said in a social media post, listing the names of the villages.
Hezbollah, a Lebanese Iran-backed movement, has regularly launched drone attacks against Israeli forces inside Lebanese territory and across the border, including several on Monday.
The group late Monday said it had targeted three barracks and a military post in northern Israel “in response to the violation of the ceasefire” by the Jewish state.
According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes since early March have killed more than 3,100 people.
The Israeli military also announced on Monday that a soldier had been killed the previous day in southern Lebanon.
That brings the number of Israeli soldiers killed since the outbreak of hostilities with Hezbollah to 23. One civilian contractor has also been killed.
‘Buildings must fall’
Two far-right ministers called for an expansion of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon.
“There is an urgent need to put an end to the threat posed by Hezbollah’s explosive drones,” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who lives in an occupied West Bank settlement, said on Telegram.
“For every explosive drone strike, 10 buildings must fall in Beirut.”
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for a “return to intensive warfare” and for “taking control” of the Zahrani River, located further north than the Litani River.
The Israeli army, which controls a strip of land approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) deep in Lebanese territory, has designated the Litani River as the boundary of the area to be cleared of Hezbollah fighters.
On Monday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun defended his decision to hold talks with Israel, adding that his demand for a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon was “non-negotiable.”
Lebanon and Israel, which do not have diplomatic relations, are holding another round of negotiations in Washington on June 2 and 3, preceded by a meeting of military officials from both countries at the Pentagon on May 29.
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem reiterated his opposition to direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on Sunday evening and repeated his refusal to have his movement to disarm.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644944/middle-east
-----
Explosions heard in Iran, Mehr says Bandar Abbas situation under control
May 26, 2026
CAIRO: Explosions were heard in Iran’s Bandar Abbas city and coastal areas near the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Monday, adding that the cause was unknown.
Iran’s Mehr news agency said the situation in Bandar Abbas was under control and there was no cause for concern after the explosions were heard east of the city. It said official sources had not yet commented.
The Tasnim news agency said three explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, while the Fars news agency said similar sounds were heard close to Sirik and Jask near the strategic waterway.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644930/middle-east
-----
Israeli withdrawal ‘non-negotiable,’ says Lebanon president
May 25, 2026
BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Monday said Israel’s withdrawal from the country’s south was a “non-negotiable” demand that authorities would pursue through negotiations, days ahead of a new round of talks in Washington.
In a statement commemorating Israel’s previous withdrawal from south Lebanon in 2000 after some two decades of occupation, Aoun said that “this year, the anniversary of the liberation comes as Lebanon is weighed down by a painful reality.”
“Israeli attacks have not stopped, and our dear southern villages are still suffering under a renewed occupation,” he said.
Israeli troops who invaded Lebanon during the latest war with Hezbollah began on March 2 are operating inside a self-declared “yellow line” running around 10 km deep inside Lebanese territory.
Israel’s military has also been conducting heavy strikes well beyond that area despite a ceasefire supposed to be in force since April 17.
“Lebanon will not accept this reality,” Aoun said.
“The path to a full Israeli withdrawal will remain an uncompromised, constant national demand that the Lebanese state works to achieve through the option of negotiations,” he added.
Lebanon and Israel began landmark US-brokered talks last month and are preparing for a fourth round in early June, preceded by a meeting between military delegations at the Pentagon on May 29.
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Sunday reiterated his opposition to the direct talks with Israel and his group’s refusal to disarm, as it keeps up attacks on Israeli targets in south Lebanon and across the border.
“If this government is incapable of guaranteeing sovereignty, it should go,” Qassem said, adding: “Where is the sovereignty if America runs the cogs of the Lebanese state?“
Aoun said that negotiations were “neither a concession nor a surrender.”
“The liberation of the south is a duty borne by the state with the support of its people,” the president added.
Lebanese authorities have committed to disarming Hezbollah, and they prohibited its military activities after it drew Lebanon into the Middle East war with rocket fire at Israel, in retaliation for strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader.
Israel’s military warned residents of 10 villages, most of them in southern Lebanon, on Monday to evacuate their homes ahead of expected strikes against alleged Hezbollah targets.
“In light of Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Israel Defense Forces are compelled to operate against it with force,” the military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, said in a social media post, listing the names of the villages.
“For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and move at least 1,000 meters away from these towns and villages to open areas.”
Later on Monday, Adraee issued another evacuation warning directed at residents of a building in Rashidiyeh and two buildings in Burj Al-Shamali, near the city of Tyre.
“We urge residents of the building marked in red on the attached map, as well as nearby buildings: you are located near a facility used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization,” he wrote on X.
“For your safety, you must evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away.”
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned what he called Hezbollah’s “reckless call to overthrow Lebanon’s democratically elected government,” accusing it of “actively trying to drag Lebanon back into chaos and destruction.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644912/middle-east
-----
Mojtaba Khamenei ‘suffered only superficial wounds in US-Israel strike’
May 25, 2026
TEHRAN: An Iranian Health Ministry official said on Monday the injuries suffered by supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes in late February were only “superficial,” offering a rare account of the day he was wounded.
The 56-year-old has not appeared publicly since he was named as Iran’s supreme leader on March 8, issuing only written statements, fueling speculation about his health.
In March, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Mojtaba was “believed to be alive, wounded, and disfigured.”
Mojtaba succeeded his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28 that triggered retaliatory Iranian attacks across the region.
On Monday, Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour described the day Mojtaba was wounded and his arrival at a hospital, which he did not identify.
He said Mojtaba arrived at the hospital around 1 p.m. Tehran time on Feb. 28 and “entered the operating room along with several other wounded individuals.”
“Apart from superficial injuries to the face, head, and legs, which caused neither amputation nor any particular medical problem, nothing major had happened,” Kermanpour told ILNA news agency.
“From my perspective as a physician, these were not considered serious injuries and required no special procedures apart from one or two stitches.”
He added that Mojtaba, who was fasting until nightfall during the holy month of Ramadan, “refused to break his fast and kept fasting until iftar, which itself showed his good health.”
Kermanpour said he was discharged from the hospital at around 2:00 am on March 1, but did not say where he was moved.
On May 7, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said he had met the leader and that their meeting lasted two and a half hours.
Three days later, Iranian state TV said the head of Iran’s military central command, Ali Abdollahi, met with the supreme leader, who gave “new directives and guidance for the continuation of operations to confront the enemy.”
Iran warned Monday that, while some progress had been made, it was not yet close to striking a deal with the US to end the Middle East war.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a weekly news briefing: "It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion.
"But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent -- no one can make such a claim."
Baqaei stressed that Iran would continue to manage maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by charging service fees -- arguing that this did not amount to Tehran "seeking to collect tolls."
Ali Vaez, director of the Iran Project at independent monitor the International Crisis Group, said Tehran would need hundreds of billions of dollars to repair its shattered economy.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644911/middle-east
-----
Israeli fire kills six-year-old girl and a woman in Gaza, medics say
WAFA REUTERS
May 25, 2026
CAIRO/GAZA: An Israeli airstrike on a tent in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday killed two people including a six-year-old girl and wounded 17 other people, including children, Palestinian health officials said.
Medics said the Israeli airstrike on a tent encampment of displaced families in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave, had killed six-year-old Mennatallah Abu Libda and a 31-year-old woman, Hanan Mahmoud.
The attack was carried out by two helicopters, witnesses said. The Israeli military told Reuters it had struck militants in the area but provided no further information.
Relatives of the victims arrived at the hospital to bid farewell. Men and women who were related to the dead girl wept beside her white-shrouded body.
“This little girl, a little bird from the birds of paradise, was playing at the door of her home,” said the dead girl’s grandmother, Soheir Abu Libda.
An October ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump, has failed to halt Israeli attacks in Gaza, with Israel and Hamas deadlocked in indirect talks over implementing the second phase of the deal, which includes the militant group’s disarmament and Israeli army withdrawals.
The ceasefire left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, with Hamas controlling a sliver of territory along the coast.
Some 900 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the truce came into effect, according to figures from Gaza health officials that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Four Israeli soldiers have been killed by militants during the same period, the country’s military has said. “There is no ceasefire, nothing at all. It’s all just deceiving people, nothing more and nothing less,” said Khader Abu Libda, a relative of the dead girl, during the funeral procession.
Later on Monday, the Israeli military said in a statement it had killed Mohammad Abu Mallouh, a senior armed Hamas militant in an airstrike on Sunday, adding he was a key member of the group’s weapons production department.
It said that Abu Mallouh helped to produce weapons that posed threats to its forces operating in the enclave and beyond, including to civilians inside Israel.
There was no immediate Hamas comment on the Israeli military statement. On Sunday, Palestinian health officials said Abu Mallouh, his wife and their six-month-old child, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
Hamas does not disclose figures for casualties among its fighters. Israel says its post-ceasefire strikes are aimed at preventing attacks or stopping people from approaching its armistice line with Hamas.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644904/middle-east
-------
Iranian officials in Qatar for talks, frozen funds, source says
May 25, 2026
DOHA: A high-level Iranian delegation including the country’s top negotiator and central bank chief were in Doha on Monday to discuss an agreement with the US and the release of frozen funds, a source briefed on the matter told AFP.
“Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Doha earlier today for talks on ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict,” the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
The visit will focus, the source added, “on issues relating to the Strait (of Hormuz) and highly enriched uranium. The Central Bank governor is part of the delegation to discuss the issue of frozen funds, which is addressed in the MoU as part of an eventual final deal.”
There was no official confirmation from the Qatari side, but Iran’s official news agency IRNA confirmed the visit, saying: “This trip comes as part of the diplomatic process.”
Other media in Iran including Tasnim and Fars news agencies confirmed the delegation included the Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati.
Pakistan has so far been the main mediator in the peace talks between the US and Iran, which have been ongoing since a ceasefire came into force on April 8.
The talks aim to comprehensively end the war and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In recent weeks Qatar, which has mediated between Iran and the US in the past, appears to have played a growing role to push for talks.
Earlier this month, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held meetings with top US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644901/middle-east
-----
Arab World
Saudi Arabia unveils new wildlife safari, birdwatching projects
May 26, 2026
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s National Center for Wildlife has launched new ecotourism projects, including safari destinations and birdwatching areas, to expand sustainable tourism tied to biodiversity and conservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The NCW’s initiatives include the development of safari experiences in Taif and Thadiq, bird sanctuaries in several reserves and national parks, and designated birdwatching sites in the Farasan Islands Reserve and other locations across the Kingdom.
The projects are part of broader efforts to position Saudi Arabia as a global destination for wildlife and nature-based tourism while promoting environmental awareness and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Officials said the initiatives are designed to allow visitors to experience native wildlife in natural habitats through tourism models that combine conservation with outdoor recreation and environmental education.
The NCW said the projects would support species and habitat protection while helping transform environmentally significant areas into sustainable tourism destinations that contribute to the national economy.
Saudi Arabia has accelerated environmental and conservation programs in recent years through large-scale habitat restoration, wildlife reintroduction initiatives and the expansion of protected areas under the Kingdom’s broader sustainability agenda.
The Farasan Islands Reserve, one of the Kingdom’s most prominent biodiversity sites in the Red Sea, is known for its marine ecosystems, migratory birds and wildlife including the endangered Arabian gazelle, making it a key destination for ecotourism and conservation research.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644946/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi nature reserve celebrates 12 rock hyrax births in biodiversity boost
May 26, 2026
RAFHA, Northern Borders: Saudi Arabia’s Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve has recorded 12 rock hyrax births during the first quarter of 2026, in another sign of improving biodiversity and habitat recovery efforts across the vast protected area, according to a report by the Saudi Press Agency.
The reserve authority said the births reflect the success of breeding and environmental protection programs aimed at strengthening wildlife sustainability and boosting populations of desert species in their natural habitats.
The rock hyrax births are part of a broader wave of wildlife reproduction at the reserve, which documented more than 90 births of various wild species in the first quarter of 2026 alone. Among the other wildlife species were Arabian gazelles, Arabian oryx, Cape hares and red-necked ostriches.
Officials said the figures highlighted the growing effectiveness of reintroduction and habitat-management programs, with many species now reproducing naturally in the wild rather than relying on captive breeding.
The rock hyrax, a small herbivorous mammal adapted to rugged mountain and rocky environments, shelters in caves and rock crevices that protect it from predators and harsh desert conditions. Despite its compact appearance, the species is known for remarkable agility, aided by specialized rubbery pads on its feet that help it grip steep and smooth rock surfaces.
Environmental experts consider the species an important part of desert ecosystems because it contributes to vegetation balance and supports the wider food chain.
Established by royal decree in 2018, the nature reserve spans up to 104,800 square kilometers across parts of Al-Jouf, Qassim, Hail and the Northern Borders. It is managed by the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority.
The reserve includes diverse landscapes ranging from sand dunes and wadis to basalt plateaus and seasonal floodplains.
Authorities overseeing the reserve have expanded restoration efforts in recent years through native tree planting, rangeland rehabilitation, anti-poaching patrols and wildlife monitoring programs supported by scientific surveys and aerial observation.
The reserve is also home to species including the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, caracal and migratory birds such as the Asian houbara, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s broader environmental strategy to protect biodiversity and restore natural habitats for future generations.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644937/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi Arabia’s interior minister meets security and military leaders ahead of Arafat Day
May 26, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif met with security and military leaders ahead of the day of Arafat, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Tuesday.
More than 1.6 million pilgrims are taking part in this year’s Hajj, with many heading to the plain of Arafat for the climax of the pilgrimage on Tuesday.
Saudi authorities are conducting a massive operation to keep the Hajj safe for all those participating.
On Monday, movement into the tent city of Mina was carried out under a unified operational system, with authorities reporting smooth flow along key routes, supported by traffic management plans and aerial monitoring to ensure orderly crowd movement.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644936/saudi-arabia
------
KSrelief chief meets US embassy official in Riyadh
May 25, 2026
RIYADH: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, advisor at the royal court and supervisor-general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, recently met with Alison Dilworth, charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in the Kingdom, in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they discussed topics of mutual interest related to humanitarian and relief affairs, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Dilworth praised the humanitarian efforts of the Kingdom through KSrelief to assist vulnerable people around the world.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644916/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi aviation regulator issues first drone medicine delivery permit for Hajj
May 25, 2026
MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation has issued the first operational permit for drone-based medicine delivery and medical logistics operations to Terra Drone Arabia.
The permit covers operations within the boundaries of the Holy Sites in Makkah during the Hajj season, reflecting the authority’s push to adopt advanced technologies to serve pilgrims.
GACA said the permit forms part of its efforts to develop the aviation sector, support advanced technologies, and localize innovative solutions aimed at improving operational efficiency and accelerating medical and logistical response services in the Holy Sites while maintaining high safety and quality standards.
The permit builds on operational trials conducted during the previous Hajj season involving the use of drones for medical and logistics services. GACA said those trials helped support the development of operational and regulatory frameworks that led to the issuance of the first permit of its kind during the current Hajj season.
Through these initiatives, GACA aims to support innovation in the aviation sector and expand the use of modern technologies in operational environments, helping improve system readiness and service quality for pilgrims in line with the Aviation Program and Saudi Vision 2030.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644896/business-economy
------
Upgrades prepare Arafat’s Namirah Mosque for peak day
May 25, 2026
MINA: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has enhanced the readiness of Namirah Mosque to receive pilgrims on the Day of Arafat on Tuesday, as part of its integrated operational, technical, and awareness services to ensure a comfortable environment for worshippers.
The mosque has been furnished with high-quality carpets covering an area of 125,000 sq. meters, as part of a comprehensive plan to prepare it for large numbers of pilgrims.
Namirah Mosque has undergone extensive developmental projects over the past seven years to enhance its operational and technical efficiency, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
These projects have included upgrading air conditioning, ventilation, infrastructure and electrical and audio systems, as well as implementing heat-mitigation measures, courtyard cooling projects, and expanding water supply services, strengthening the mosque’s capacity to accommodate hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
Among the most notable projects is the cooling of the rear courtyard through the installation of 19 canopies — which helps reduce temperatures by up to 10 C — and sun-reflective coatings of the floor.
The surrounding courtyards have also been cooled by utilizing 117 misting fans powered by high-pressure pumps, helping reduce temperatures by up to 9 C.
The central control system has been upgraded to monitor carbon dioxide levels to ensure that air inside the mosque is fully refreshed twice an hour.
The efficiency of water pumps has also been enhanced. In addition, 70 water cooling units have been installed.
Comprehensive renovation work has included repairing expansion joints, updating flooring and paintwork, installing LED lighting, and upgrading electrical panels and the rainwater drainage system.
Namirah Mosque has also been equipped with an advanced sound system and surveillance cameras, while its 72 entrances have been assessed to ensure smooth movement. This involves the continuous, round-the-clock supervision of maintenance and monitoring teams.
The ministry also plans to operate 150 digital screens to broadcast messages inside the mosque, while providing 10 video call platforms to answer religious inquiries in multiple languages.
Islamic awareness booths have also been activated near Namirah Mosque and Mount Arafat, along with toll-free telephone services to respond to inquiries through awareness centers in Makkah, with preachers available round the clock.
To further reinforce these efforts, awareness materials have been distributed through the booths, with 200 preachers and 50 translators assigned to serve pilgrims. In addition, outreach activities have been conducted in pilgrims’ camps near Mount Arafat by 300 preachers.
These initiatives are part of the ministry’s strategic plan to enhance the readiness of mosques at the holy sites and provide high-quality services to pilgrims, enabling them to perform their rituals with ease.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644895/saudi-arabia
-------
Makkah’s first model slaughterhouse to recycle 100% of organic waste
May 25, 2026
RIYADH: The National Center for Waste Management has launched the model livestock city project in Makkah, marking the first model slaughterhouse to process carcasses and organic waste during Hajj using advanced rendering technology.
The project is aiming for a 100 percent landfill diversion rate, using an integrated system with specialized units for processing blood, fat and offal, bone grinding, and automated odor control. It has capacity to handle up to 2,500 tonnes of solid and liquid waste annually.
Developed through a memorandum of cooperation with Oclean, the facility applies private-sector innovation to convert waste — about 45 percent of slaughtered animal mass — into marketable products. These include organic fertilizers, protein powders and animal feed components, creating a scalable circular economy model for nationwide expansion.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture stressed the importance of using supervised slaughterhouses during Eid Al-Adha, saying using authorized facilities was essential for meat safety, environmental protection and the safeguarding of public health.
It said designated facilities nationwide were equipped with advanced technologies and specialized veterinary teams, ensuring meat quality and preventing the spread of livestock-borne diseases.
All approved slaughterhouses comply with local and international veterinary standards and operate under continuous regulatory oversight as part of efforts to deliver integrated services that support environmental sustainability and public health.
Earlier, the ministry announced that strong livestock production would meet rising demand for sacrificial animals during the Hajj season.
Backed by a national inventory of more than 22 million sheep, 7.6 million goats, 2.2 million camels and 510,000 cattle, the sector continues to strengthen food security, self-sufficiency and animal disease prevention systems.
It added that markets and slaughterhouses in Makkah were fully prepared with sufficient high-quality supply, supported by intensified inspections and health monitoring to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance for pilgrims.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2644881/saudi-arabia
------
Europe
Police 'increase presence' in two Birmingham areas during Eid al-Adha celebrations
Robson McCallister
25 May 2026
Eid al-Adha is a major Islamic festival which will take place from the evening of Tuesday (May 26) until Saturday (May 30).
Known as the festival of the sacrifice, the event honours Prophet Ibrahim's devotion to Allah as told in the Quran.
Eid al-Adha also marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.
In Birmingham, Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre confirmed this year's celebration will take place on Wednesday (May 27) with thousands expected in Small Heath Park.
Over the next few days, police officers will be visible around Ladypool Road and Alum Rock Road.
Officers will be there to reassure communities and ensure that everyone who wants to can celebrate Eid safely.
In previous years, police have had reports of anti-social behaviour – specifically noise and nuisance caused by vehicles.
To tackle this, West Midlands Police will use dedicated resources, including specialist officers from the Roads Policing Unit.
This will see anti-social drivers tackled in an attempt to clamp down on nuisance vehicles
In addition to this, dedicated neighbourhood policing teams will also be on patrol alongside colleagues from Birmingham City Council ’s Trading Standards, Environmental Health, and Licensing teams.
Chief Inspector David Amos said: “We want to make sure that all who come together to celebrate Eid have a safe and enjoyable time.
“That’s why we work closely with leaders from the Muslim community and why I am keen to set out clearly how we will be policing this event.
“Our officers are here to help and support the community, but as ever we will be taking a fair, balanced and robust approach and taking appropriate action against anyone looking to cause trouble by driving or behaving in an anti-social manner.”
Chief Inspector Chanelle Whitney, from Birmingham Police, added: “Eid is a time of celebration, and we enjoy our conversations with residents and business owners who are looking forward to it.
“We’ve been working closely within our communities in the lead up to the event and, as with our policing operations for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, we welcome the feedback given to us.
“Should you have any concerns or issues to report, please speak to local officers.”
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/police-increase-presence-two-birmingham-34006843
------
Russia threatens more Kyiv strikes and tells foreign nationals to leave
26 May 2026
Ian Aikman
Russia has threatened to launch a fresh wave of "systematic strikes" against Kyiv, days after carrying out one of its largest attacks on the Ukrainian capital since the start of the war.
The new strikes will target "decision-making centres and command posts", alongside drone manufacturing facilities in the city, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Moscow has called for foreign nationals and diplomats to leave Kyiv "as soon as possible" and warned citizens to stay away from administrative and military buildings.
Ukraine said Russia's threats were "nothing short of shameless blackmail" and urged allies to increase pressure on Moscow.
With its warning to foreign nationals, Moscow is "effectively admitting that its shelling is aimed, among other things, at intimidating the foreign diplomatic corps", the statement continued.
It said Russian strikes on Kyiv "have not ceased for virtually a single week" since the start of the war, and the overall security threat posed by Moscow "remains the same as in previous years or months".
Large-scale Russian strikes on Saturday night killed four and injured about 100 people in Kyiv and other areas, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Moscow said that barrage and threatened further strikes were in response to what it claims was a deliberate Ukrainian attack on a student dormitory in the town of Starobilsk on Friday, in which Russian officials said 21 people were killed.
Ukraine's military said its forces had struck an elite Russian military drone unit in the area, in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, and had not targeted civilians.
Russia has launched several waves of deadly missile and drone attacks on Kyiv since a brief ceasefire, that coincided with Moscow's annual Victory Day parade, expired earlier in May.
Shortly after that, Russian strikes on Kyiv killed 24 people, including three children, in a block of flats.
Days later, Russian officials said three people were killed in a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, with Zelensky saying the strikes were an "entirely justified" response to deadly Russian attacks.
Kyiv then suffered one of the biggest aerial assaults of the war overnight on Saturday.
Videos posted on social media showed explosions lighting up the sky throughout the night, and many Kyiv residents reported blasts rocking the city as numerous civilian targets were hit.
Russia employed dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones to hit the capital, as well as firing a hypersonic, nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile on the area of Bila Tserkva, 90km south of Kyiv.
Non-military targets such as the Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv's historic district and the National Art Museum of Ukraine were damaged or destroyed. A shopping centre, a market and several residential buildings in the area of Lukanivka were also destroyed.
On Monday evening, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American diplomats from Kyiv in a phone call, Russia's foreign ministry said.
After that phone call, Rubio said major strikes from either Ukraine or Russia are a "reminder of why this is a terrible war" and "it needs to come to an end."
He continued: "The US stands ready and prepared to help do whatever we can to help facilitate the end of this war and hopefully the opportunity will present itself at some point."
Many are interpreting Russia's warning for foreign nationals to leave Kyiv as a form of psychological pressure.
Russia already carries out large-scale strikes on the capital, and has done so since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
But four and a half years of war have taught Ukraine to develop and ramp up a sophisticated and layered air defence system.
It now intercepts a vast proportion of drones and missiles – although Russia often fires them in such great numbers they overwhelmed air defences and many do get through.
Ukraine also remains heavily dependent on foreign air defence systems for missile interception.
In March, Zelensky warned that his country would face a deficit of such weapons due to the US and Israel's war with Iran.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e22n55zn4o
-----
Pope Leo says AI must be 'disarmed' in first major teaching
26 May 2026
Aleem Maqbool
Pope Leo has presented the first major teaching document of his papacy, warning that artificial intelligence needs to be "disarmed".
"The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention," the Pope said.
Encyclicals are technically letters to Catholic bishops, but over recent decades the missives have become messages to the world from a Pope.
While this letter was largely focused on AI, Pope Leo also included one of the strongest, most comprehensive apologies from the Vatican for the Catholic Church's role in slavery.
It was "impossible not to feel deep sorrow when contemplating the immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many," the Pope wrote, adding that he "sincerely asked for pardon" in the name of the Church.
Leo mentioned the slave trade in relation to AI, suggesting that the world was in danger of normalising the exploitation of people again - both in its production and in its applications.
Some of the Pope's strongest imagery in the document related to slavery, warning parallels between the historical tragedy of traditional slavery and the emerging threats of "new digital slaveries".
He suggested a risk of similar normalisation of exploitation and that humanity was at a similar moral crossroads.
Unusually, Pope Leo chose to present the encyclical - titled "Magnifica Humanitas" ("Magnificent Humanity") - himself, at the Vatican, alongside AI experts including Christopher Olah, co-founder of US AI giant Anthropic.
In remarks following the presentation of the encyclical, Olah said that every AI lab including his operated "inside a set of incentives and constraints that can sometimes conflict with doing the right thing".
It would be a mistake to believe that matters of AI were best handled by computer scientists like himself, Olah added: "The questions raised by AI are bigger than the AI research community, not just in their implications, but also in their nature."
The Pope's encyclical - which also acknowledged the many potential pitfalls in AI - is also a stark and direct message to those in positions of power about their responsibilities in kerbing the "threats" it poses.
For example, the Pope condemned the use of AI in warfare, saying that reducing human control of weaponry makes it even harder to consider a war "just" and warned against launching an AI arms race.
"No algorithm can make war morally acceptable," the Pope wrote.
Not only does AI not remove the "intrinsic inhumanity" of war, he said, but it also risks sparking conflict more quickly and rendering it more impersonal by "lowering the threshold for resorting to violence, transforming defense into threat prediction and thus reducing victims to data".
Leo also decried the way AI impacts on politics - such as the way it was used to manipulate images and videos, which he said exposed people to biased or misleading perspectives.
In the past, the Pope has likened today's need for safeguards to protect people in the face of AI developments to those that were needed to ensure human dignity during the industrial revolution.
He suggested comparisons of failing to act against the risks of AI today with the "delay with which both society and the Church came to denounce the scourge of slavery". He even referred to the risks of "digital colonialism," linking the abuses of the colonial era to modern tech practices.
At one point in this document, the Pope directly issued a "special appeal" to those who develop AI.
"Developers bear a particular ethical and spiritual responsibility, for every design choice reflects a vision of humanity," he said.
But what impact will all of this have?
Pope Leo has convened a commission to take his work forward, but there are huge questions as to how effective all this will be in the face of rapid technological advances.
In 2015, the late Pope Francis wrote his encyclical Laudato Si which focused on the urgent need to address the climate crisis - but then followed it up in 2023 talking about his disappointment in the inaction there had been.
As passionate as he has been about the needs to rein in AI, Pope Leo may find himself issuing a similar warning in the years ahead.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedppn6002jo
------
Fewer Germans buying into warnings of Russian attack – poll
26 May, 2026
The number of Germans who believe Russia may launch a military attack on their country has fallen sharply since last year, according to a recent poll.
In recent years, senior German officials have repeatedly claimed that Moscow could pose a direct military threat to NATO by the end of the decade.
In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung earlier this month, Germany’s top military officer, General Carsten Breuer, asserted that Russia could be ready for such a confrontation by 2029.
However, only 38% of Germans now consider an attack from Russia to be a plausible threat – down 14 percentage points from September of last year, Bild am Sonntag reported on Saturday, citing an INSA survey.
Half of respondents said they “are no longer afraid of a Russian attack at all,” according to the newspaper.
The poll also found that only 17% of those surveyed believe the German military would be capable of defending the country in the event of an attack, while 43% doubt the US would come to Berlin’s aid in such a scenario.
Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Germany launched a major rearmament drive, with defense spending projected to exceed €500 billion ($585 billion) by 2029.
Despite mounting economic challenges and a widening budget deficit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to turn the Bundeswehr into the “strongest conventional army in Europe.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly dismissed claims that Moscow plans to attack NATO as “nonsense,” accusing European leaders of using the narrative to distract their citizens from domestic problems.
Commenting on Germany’s military buildup last month, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that the country’s rearmament could trigger a global tragedy comparable to World War II.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/640561-germans-no-russian-threat-poll/
-----
How Russia’s Kh-101 missile uses decoy flares to slip past air defence shields
May 26, 2026
During the recent Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital, a footage was circulated online that appeared to show a Russian-made Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile releasing decoy flares during flight. This was similar to a video released in 2023, which had offered a rare visual confirmation of its countermeasure capability that had been immensely discussed in Ukrainian and Western reports. Adding a visible layer to Russia’s broader effort to modernise the Kh-101 family during the war, including upgrades meant to improve survivability against Ukrainian air defences.
The footage has added another visible layer to Russia’s broader effort to modernise the Kh-101 missile family during the ongoing war, including upgrades designed to improve survivability against increasingly sophisticated Ukrainian air defence systems.
According to The War Zone, the countermeasures in the video could reportedly be heard “popping off” as they were deployed. Unlike traditional flares, they did not appear to leave visible smoke trails behind them. Analysts suggested these may have been spectral flares, where the primary heat plume is invisible to the naked eye, or smaller flares with shorter burn durations. Radar-confusing chaff may also have been released alongside the flares. Chaff generally consists of thin metallic strips, metalised paper, or fibreglass threads designed to interfere with radar tracking, though its deployment is often difficult to observe from the ground.
Russia upgrades Kh-101 missile during war
Ukrainian defence reporting points towards a broader wartime modernisation programme involving the Kh-101. According to Ukrainian outlet Defence Express, analysis of recovered missile fragments identified at least four major upgrade phases carried out during the conflict.
The upgrades reportedly include a tandem warhead configuration designed to penetrate hardened targets, a cluster warhead equipped with incendiary elements, improved guidance systems, and a new electronic warfare protection suite.
The electronic protection package is believed to be one of the most significant improvements. Defence Express reported that the system can generate decoy jamming signals while deploying both thermal flares and radar-confusing chaff to mislead enemy air defence networks.
The latest footage has therefore strengthened assessments that Russia is actively adapting its long-range strike systems to overcome Ukraine’s layered air defence capabilities, which have become increasingly effective with Western military assistance.
Ukraine claims high interception rates
Despite Russia’s missile upgrades, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly claimed strong interception rates against Russian aerial attacks, including cruise missiles and drones.
According to Defence Express, Ukrainian air defence systems were reportedly able to intercept around 88 per cent of launched Kh-101, Kh-55 and Kh-555 missiles during previous attack waves.
While such figures are difficult to independently verify during wartime, analysts believe Russia’s decision to equip the Kh-101 with advanced countermeasures itself reflects Moscow’s concerns over Ukraine’s improving air defence network.
The War Zone noted that it could not independently confirm Ukraine’s interception claims, but added that the appearance of countermeasure-equipped Kh-101 missiles suggested Russia viewed Ukrainian air defences as a growing operational challenge.
Oreshnik hypersonic missile remains bigger concern
Even as Ukraine demonstrates growing success against Russian cruise missile attacks, analysts say Kyiv faces a more difficult challenge in countering Russia’s emerging hypersonic missile capabilities.
Particular attention has focused on the Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads while travelling at speeds reportedly exceeding Mach 10.
Such speeds drastically reduce interception windows for air defence systems and complicate detection and tracking efforts. Military experts believe hypersonic systems like Oreshnik could become increasingly central to Russia’s long-range deterrence strategy if the war continues to escalate.
What is the Kh-101 cruise missile?
The Kh-101, known by its Nato reporting name AS-23 “Kodiak”, is one of Russia’s most advanced strategic air-launched stealth cruise missiles.
The missile is primarily deployed by Russian strategic bombers including the Tupolev Tu-95 and Tupolev Tu-160.
Key features of the Kh-101 missile:
Range: Estimated operational range of 2,500 km to 3,000 km
Speed: Travels at subsonic speeds of approximately Mach 0.8
Guidance systems: Use GLONASS satellite navigation, inertial navigation and terminal TV/imaging infrared guidance
Stealth features: Flies at low altitudes using terrain-hugging flight paths and radar-absorbent materials to reduce radar detection
Warhead options: Carries conventional warheads, while the nuclear-capable variant is designated the Kh-102
Recent upgrades: Includes tandem warheads, cluster munitions and integrated flare and chaff countermeasure systems
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/how-russias-kh-101-missile-uses-decoy-flares-to-slip-past-air-defence-shields/articleshowprint/131322814.cms
------
Finland to impose new customs fees on low-cost online purchases from outside EU
25 May 2026
Finland will introduce new customs charges on low-cost online purchases from outside the European Union beginning in July, amid wider EU efforts to address the growing volume of inexpensive imports, public broadcaster Yle reported Monday.
According to Finnish Customs, a new €3 ($3.4) customs fee will apply to low-value goods ordered by private individuals from non-EU countries, including products purchased through online platforms such as Temu.
The report said the charge will apply to each customs declaration item rather than to an entire parcel.
“For example, if a shipment contains three shirts and dozens of pairs of socks, the shirts would be declared as one item and the socks as another, meaning the customs fee would total six euros,” Senior Customs Inspector Antti Hastbacka said.
Finnish authorities also said customs duties would begin applying to purchases valued below €150, which are currently exempt under existing rules.
Officials added that a separate processing fee will take effect in November as part of broader EU customs reforms responding to the rapid growth in low-cost imports from outside the bloc.
The new processing charge will apply to all online purchases arriving from non-EU countries regardless of value and will be paid during customs clearance procedures.
Authorities said the changes form part of wider EU measures aimed at addressing environmental and consumer concerns linked to the increase in imports of inexpensive products, particularly from Asian online retailers.
The measures are expected to affect consumers who frequently order low-cost products from overseas e-commerce platforms.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/finland-to-impose-new-customs-fees-on-low-cost-online-purchases-from-outside-eu/3948080
-----
Cyprus positions itself as Europe's innovation gateway for Indian AI enterprises
May 25, 2026
NEW DELHI: An exclusive investors’ roundtable hosted by Invest Cyprus and attended by His Excellency Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, brought together statesmen, technologists, entrepreneurs and investors to explore deeper economic and technological ties between India and Cyprus.
The meeting, chaired by Evgenios Evgeniou, chairman of Invest Cyprus, moved quickly from formalities to substantive discussions on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, startup ecosystems, media-tech, intellectual property frameworks and the role of Cyprus as a gateway for Indian companies seeking entry into European markets.
Evgeniou opened the session by referencing India’s entrepreneurial and technology success stories, establishing common ground and setting the tone for practical dialogue. Participants discussed AI-led growth, startup acceleration, cross-border innovation and how agile economies can influence the next phase of global technological transformation.
President Christodoulides, who took office in 2023 and is viewed as a reform-minded and outward-looking leader, outlined Cyprus’s ambition to shift beyond its geographic constraints and develop as a hub for technology, innovation and strategic diplomacy. A former diplomat and foreign minister, he contributed both diplomatic experience and strategic intent to the discussions.
Speakers emphasized the growing India-Cyprus Strategic Partnership, which is extending beyond traditional diplomacy into investment, entrepreneurship, AI, digital transformation and innovation-led economic collaboration.
Representing HT Labs, the innovation and technology arm of HT Media Group, Avinash Mudaliar, Co-Founder and CEO, participated in discussions that traversed artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, startup ecosystems, media-tech, intellectual property frameworks, and the strategic evolution of Cyprus into a gateway for ambitious Indian enterprises entering Europe.
Speaking during the engagement, Avinash Mudaliar observed, "Cyprus is fast emerging as a strategic innovation bridge connecting India to Europe. What distinguishes the country is its ability to combine European market access with agile policymaking, startup-friendly thinking, and a deeply collaborative innovation ecosystem. The passion, consistency, and commitment exhibited by Cyprus towards building future-facing technology infrastructure is extraordinary. For Indian businesses seeking global scale in AI, media-tech, and digital infrastructure, Cyprus presents a compelling opportunity."
Dr. Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, described a policy architecture focused on innovation sandboxes, AI enablement, startup acceleration, regulatory agility and experimentation environments intended to help companies iterate rapidly within European frameworks.
Demetris Skourides, Chief Scientist of the Republic of Cyprus, reiterated the country’s ambition to become a regional innovation hub and a strategic gateway into Europe for Indian enterprises. He highlighted Cyprus’s competitive IP Box regime, which can offer an effective tax rate as low as 3% on qualifying IP income, along with a 120% deduction on eligible R&D expenditure.
Indian firms already operating from Cyprus were cited as examples of the island’s growing reputation as an intelligent European base for AI firms, SaaS companies, startups, digital platforms and media-tech organisations pursuing global scale.
Participants expressed strong interest in leveraging Cyprus’s sandbox environments and innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks to test and scale new businesses and technologies. Discussions explored co-building opportunities across AI systems, digital infrastructure, recommendation engines, content intelligence and next-generation consumer engagement platforms, using Cyprus as an agile experimentation and European deployment base.
Evgenios Evgeniou said the response from Indian companies and entrepreneurs had been encouraging, noting that several organisations expressed serious intent to explore investments and long-term strategic partnerships in Cyprus. He added that Invest Cyprus would pursue systematic follow-up to facilitate deeper engagement and tangible co-building opportunities.
Stavros Stavrou, president of the Cyprus-India Business Association, was credited with fostering an environment of strategic seriousness and warmth that helped sustain candid dialogue between governments, investors, startups and technology leaders.
Following the roundtable, Stavrou and Demetris Skourides held detailed follow-up conversations about long-term collaboration opportunities, AI ecosystems, innovation sandboxes and future technology partnerships with Indian enterprises. Those discussions signalled a strong intent toward sustained engagement and strategic cooperation.
By the end of the event, participants said Cyprus had made a clear case for itself not simply as a participant in Europe’s innovation landscape but as a country seeking to shape it — and as an increasingly persuasive gateway for Indian companies aiming for European expansion.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/cyprus-positions-itself-as-europes-innovation-gateway-for-indian-ai-enterprises/articleshowprint/131311741.cms
-------
North America
'Lifelong Hindu pretending to be Christian': Laura Loomer criticises Tulsi Gabbard over Bible verse post
May 26, 2026
A social media clash erupted between far-right activist Laura Loomer and former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard after Loomer accused Gabbard of “pretending to be a Christian” over a Bible verse shared online.
The controversy began after Gabbard posted a verse from the Bible on X, writing: “But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge - Psalm 141:8”.
Loomer reacted to the post and questioned Gabbard’s religious identity in an online rant.
“It’s really interesting how Tulsi Gabbard pretends to be a Christian. She did this at Charlie Kirk’s memorial too, if you recall,” Loomer wrote on X.
“Tulsi is a lifelong Hindu. Yet nobody seems to know that. She should embrace it," Loomer added.
It’s really interesting how @TulsiGabbard pretends to be a Christian. She did this at Charlie Kirk’s memorial too, if you recall.
Tulsi is a lifelong Hindu. Yet nobody seems to know that.
She should embrace it.
Loomer also shared a screenshot from Gabbard’s YouTube channel showing highlights from her Hindu Vedic wedding ceremony. The video description read: “Here are some highlights from Tulsi’s beautiful Hindu Vedic wedding on April 9, including walking down the aisle and a fire ceremony which ended with a lively yoga kirtan.”
Gabbard follows Hinduism and is recognised as the first Hindu member of the US Congress. She was raised in a multicultural family with Hindu spiritual influences. She has often spoken publicly about how Hindu teachings shaped her life and politics. She took her congressional oath on the Bhagavad Gita and has frequently discussed concepts such as karma, selfless service, spirituality and meditation during political campaigns and interviews.
Meanwhile, Loomer is known for her hardline far-right activism and support for Christian nationalist, MAGA politics in the US. Over the years, she has drawn criticism for inflammatory remarks about Islam and immigration. She has previously described Islam as a “cancer” and supported bans on Muslim immigration, comments that led to backlash and temporary bans from major social media platforms. Loomer has also faced criticism over remarks about Indians and the H-1B visa programme. She argued that foreign workers on H-1B visas undercut American workers by accepting lower salaries.
During a visit to India earlier this year, Loomer apologised for some of the remarks but continued to oppose the visa system.
Source: indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us
------
San Diego mosque gunman attended school dressed up as notorious killers
May 26, 2026
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — One of the teenage gunmen responsible for the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego went to school dressed like notorious killers responsible for mass shootings, court documents obtained by Team 10 show.
Caleb Vazquez alarmed his classmates and teachers at High Tech High in Chula Vista after he started dressing up as various mass murderers, a detective with Chula Vista police wrote in a request for a gun violence restraining order last January.
The teen also came to class in 2024 dressed up as Dexter, the TV character who lives a double life as a blood splatter expert and serial killer.
“He also admitted to dressing up similarly to the recent health care CEO shooter,” Det. Nicholas How wrote in a court document. The detective was referencing Luigi Mangione, who’s accused of killing the late UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The list of notorious killers the teen became obsessed with included Patrick Crusius, who murdered 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 and Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian terrorist who killed 77 people in 2011 gun and bomb attacks.
Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17, are accused of shooting three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego last Monday before dying in a murder-suicide. Vazquez first landed on law enforcement's radar after two of his friends reported concerns to High Tech High's assistant principal.
Court documents show Chula Vista police did a welfare check last January after Vazquez, who was 17 at the time, told his friend not to attend school the next day.
Claimed to be bullied by trans student
When officers arrived at the home, Vazquez’s father refused to let them speak to his son alone and would not allow police to verify that his firearms were secured properly.
“The father’s lack of cooperation hindered officers’ ability to fully assess and evaluate the reported concerns and ensure the safety of all parties involved,” How alleged in a court document.
Vazquez handled a 2024 breakup with his girlfriend poorly, according to the assistant principal, who noted that school officials conducted multiple threat assessments on the student.
Talked about joining military
In one incident that alarmed school leaders, Vazquez “was observed punching a tree and exhibiting irrational behavior.” In another, he said he looked like someone in a concentration camp after shaving his head and pointed a banana at people like a gun.
Despite the outbursts, the assistant principal told police Vazquez had never been suspended.
The educator added that he was surprised to learn Vazquez claimed he was being bullied by a transgender student named Kai/Vivica, noting no students by those names attended the small campus.
The assistant principal also told police that Vazquez talked about wanting to join the military because he “wants to experience the risk of potentially dying.”
The day after the welfare check, school resource officers and an emergency psychiatric response team met with Vazquez.
Teen used the dark web
He told the team he was becoming increasingly infatuated with mass shootings and World War II.
“Respondent made statements about idolizing Hitler and believing he had some redeeming qualities.”
The teen told the resources officers he had been doing a lot of research on the dark web so it couldn’t be traced back to him.
Vazquez was placed on a 72-hour mental health hold, and police successfully obtained a temporary gun violence restraining order against him.
After his son was served, Marco Vazquez told police that he and his wife removed more than two dozen guns, ammunition, and knives from their home and put them into storage.
The father was then served with a gun violence restraining order, which Superior Court Judge Enrique Camarena dismissed two weeks later.
Source: 10news.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.10news.com/san-diego-mosque-gunman-attended-school-dressed-up-as-notorious-killers
------
US launches new strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boats
May 26, 2026
Toby Mann
The US said it launched new strikes on southern Iran, targeting Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to place mines.
The strikes were taken in "self-defense" and were designed "to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces", US Central Command said in a statement.
Central Command spokesperson Capt Tim Hawkins said the US military "continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire" between the two countries.
Iran is yet to respond to the US attack. However, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai earlier said that while some progress had been made in talks to end the war, a deal "is not imminent".
It is unclear what impact the strikes will have on any potential peace agreement between the US and Iran.
Following the strikes, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal was still possible and pointed to talks on Tuesday between Iran's top negotiator and foreign minister and Qatar's prime minister.
"We'll see if we can make progress. I think it's a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it'll take a few days," Rubio told reporters during an official visit to India.
He said President Donald Trump had "expressed his desire to make it".
"He's either going to make a good deal or no deal," Rubio said.
Asked again later about Monday's strikes, Rubio said: "The straits have to be open. They're going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open. What's happening there is unlawful, it's illegal, it's unsustainable for the world, it's unacceptable."
Capt Hawkins said the US strikes targeted an area near Bandar Abbas, a southern port city and home of an Iranian naval base that sits on the Strait of Hormuz, according to the New York Times.
Iranian state media had earlier reported that local officials in Bandar Abbas were investigating after explosions were heard.
Earlier in May, a clash between Iranian and US naval destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz - for which each side blamed the other - led Trump to insist a ceasefire was still in place.
At the weekend, Trump had suggested the sides were close to a deal, but later said he had instructed negotiators "not to rush into" one, while Rubio had said an agreement could possibly be reached on Monday.
But Baqai responded: "It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion... But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent - no-one can make such a claim."
The memorandum of understanding being discussed reportedly involves a 60-day ceasefire extension, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a plan for further negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.
CBS News, the BBC's US partner, has reported that US intelligence believes Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei - who was injured in an Israeli strike on the first day of the war which killed his father and predecessor - is holed up in an undisclosed location, making communication with his envoys difficult and therefore delaying pace of talks with the US.
According to US media, the discussions will not immediately lead to a final settlement. Contentious issues will likely be negotiated later, including details of Iranian sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian funds, and US demands for Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions.
At the start of the war, Iran is thought to have had about 440kg (970 lbs) of uranium that was enriched up to 60% purity - a short process away from being enriched further to the weapons-grade 90%, which theoretically could allow it to create a nuclear bomb.
On Monday night, Trump said the enriched uranium would either be "immediately" turned over to the US, or "preferably, in conjunction and co-ordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place".
US and Iranian forces have observed a ceasefire since 8 April. Iran has maintained controls on Gulf shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the US Navy has sought to blockade Iran's ports.
The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, sparking conflict across the Middle East. Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. The move sent oil prices soaring globally.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzzn4y1n8o
------
White House gunman had previous run-ins with Secret Service, court documents show
Ana Faguy
May 26, 2026
The suspect who fired shots outside the White House, striking a bystander before the Secret Service shot and killed him, had previous run-ins with authorities there, court documents show.
Nasire Best, as he has been identified to the BBC by Washington DC's Metropolitan Police Department, previously obstructed a White House entry lane in June of 2025 and told Secret Service agents he was Jesus Christ.
He was sent for a mental evaluation after that incident.
Best is accused of firing shots outside the president's home just after 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT) on Saturday - reporters filming outside ducked and ran for cover inside. US President Donald Trump was at the White House but was unharmed.
Court documents show that during a June 2025 incident with the Secret Service, Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, told agents he wanted to be arrested.
Despite having a mental evaluation, a month later in July, he again tried to access the White House.
Best was arrested by Secret Service agents after that second incident and charged with unlawfully entering a federally controlled property, according to court records.
He was released after being arraigned on the unlawful entry charge, but in August of 2025, he failed to appear for a status hearing, the documents show. That led to a no-bond bench warrant, allowing law enforcement to arrest him.
Then on Saturday, less than a year later, he reappeared outside the White House and began firing at a Secret Service checkpoint at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Secret Service officers posted on the corner returned fire, striking the gunman. Best was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A bystander was also shot and seriously wounded, but was in stable condition as of Sunday. It's not clear how the bystander was shot. No officers were injured in the attack.
Trump was at the White House at the time, but officials said no "protectees" or operations were impacted.
"Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House," Trump wrote on social media.
The shooting occurred a month after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, forcing a swift end to the event and forcing Trump to be escorted out by Secret Service as hundreds of attendees were evacuated.
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1l22pg12mpo
----
Iranian enriched uranium stockpile to be ‘destroyed’ – Trump
25 May, 2026
US President Donald Trump has outlined his preferred options for disposing of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile as negotiators meet for high-stakes talks in Qatar.
The US has demanded that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear program, while Tehran insists that uranium enrichment is its sovereign right. Iranian officials have denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
“The Enriched Uranium (Nuclear Dust!) will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place or at another acceptable location, with the Atomic Energy Commission, or its equivalent, witnessing this process and event,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday evening.
On Sunday, CBS News, citing a senior US official, reported that Iran had agreed “in principle” to dispose of its enriched uranium. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, however, said on Monday that the negotiations were focused on ending the armed conflict with the US. “At this stage, we are not discussing nuclear issues,” he said.
The sides are expected to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz and potentially unfreezing Iranian assets. According to media reports, the two sides are close to extending the truce announced on April 8 by another 60 days.
Axios and Al Arabiya reported that the draft agreement to be discussed in Doha includes a commitment to negotiate the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile over a 60-day period.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Friday that Iran would “not compromise on its rights” as a sovereign nation. Iranian officials said ahead of the talks that the US needed to rebuild trust after launching airstrikes on Iran in late February, shortly after a round of Omani-mediated negotiations.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/640567-trump-iran-enriched-uranium-disposal/
-----
US jets attack Iranian naval vessels
25 May, 2026
US fighter jets have struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) speedboats as explosions were heard near the port of Bandar Abbas.
The attack occurred on Monday as US and Iranian negotiators arrived in Qatar in hopes of advancing stalled talks.
According to SNN, the attack on the Iranian vessels took place south of Larak Island, in the narrowest section of the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under a dual US-Iranian blockade. At least three Iranian sailors were killed, SNN said.
Media outlets also reported a series of explosions in Bandar Abbas, home to an Iranian naval base.
Al Jazeera journalist Ali Hashem cited an Iranian official as saying that the IRGC targeted an unidentified vessel after US jets struck IRGC boats. The source added that gunfire was heard near Bandar Abbas.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) later said in a statement that US forces had “conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” The statement added that the targets included missile sites and “Iranian boats attempting to emplace mines.”
Earlier, the US military had warned that it would intervene in response to Iranian attacks on ships transiting the strait.
Iran closed the vital shipping lane to vessels from “hostile countries” in response to the US and Israeli airstrikes launched on February 28. Last month, the US announced a blockade of Iranian ports.
The fragile truce reached between the US and Iran on April 8 has largely held, despite US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatening to resume the bombing campaign unless Tehran agrees to his demands.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/640566-iranian-speedboat-attacks-hormuz/
-----
Epstein weaponized in US midterm battles
25 May, 2026
Several Democratic candidates vying for seats in the US Congress have accused their Republican rivals of protecting the wealthy and politically connected associates of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, referring to them as the “Epstein class.”
The party has sought to use the controversy as part of a broader push to regain control of Congress from the GOP.
While President Donald Trump has long accused the Democrats of having ties to Epstein, his administration has come under mounting criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans over its handling of the Epstein files. Critics have accused the Department of Justice of concealing key details through heavy redactions in materials released last November and January.
In the race for an Ohio Senate seat, Democrat Sherrod Brown has been airing a TV ad for weeks that accuses his Republican rival, Jon Husted, of receiving more money from Epstein associates than any other members of Congress.
“Husted’s taken over $116,000 from one of Epstein’s closest friends and co-conspirators,” the ad says, referring to billionaire Leslie Wexner, a longtime client of the disgraced financier.
“Last year, he took a maximum donation from him just weeks before voting to block the release of the Epstein files,” the ad alleges.
In Maine, presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner has aired a similar TV ad accusing Republican Senator Susan Collins of selling out voters to “the president and the Epstein class.”
Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff has also repeatedly portrayed the Trump administration as part of a corrupt elite tied to the convicted sex offender.
“This is the Epstein class ruling our country,” Ossoff said at a rally in February.
Speaking to Axios, Republican National Committee spokesperson Kiersten Pels dismissed the Democrats’ criticism as “cynical political theater” from a “party with no message and no credibility.”
The Epstein files have also exposed growing divisions within the GOP. Outgoing Representative Thomas Massie, who joined Democrat Ro Khanna in advancing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, has suggested his push for disclosure put him at odds with Trump.
Last week, Massie lost a Kentucky primary to Trump-backed Republican Ed Gallrein, whose campaign received support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), and other special interest groups.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/640552-epstein-weaponized-us-midterm-battles/
------
Africa
Eid-el Kabir: Military issues Security Advisory, Assures Public of Safety Across North-northeast
By Chimezie Godfrey
May 25, 2026
The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), has issued security advisory, assuring that comprehensive security arrangements have been put made ahead of the celebrations to ensure a safe and security of citizens.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer, OPHK, Lt Col. Sani Uba hinted of credible intelligence that indicate possibility of isolated attempts by remnant Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements to exploit the festive period to carry out attacks against civilian targets.
Lt. Col.Sani however, assured that all necessary security measures have been emplaced to forestall any threat and guarantee a secure festive period for all residents.
He stated,”The Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), extends warm felicitations to all Muslim faithful ahead of the Eid El Kabir 1447AH celebrations scheduled for Wednesday, 28 May 2026, and wishes all residents of the North East a peaceful and joyful festivity. In keeping with its mandate to protect lives and property across the Theatre, the Command wishes to inform the general public that comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place well ahead of the celebrations to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.
”Credible intelligence available to the Command indicates the possibility of isolated attempts by remnant Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements to exploit the festive period to carry out attacks against civilian targets using suicide bombers and IEDs, particularly in areas of high population concentration. The Theatre Command wishes to assure the public that these threats have been thoroughly anticipated. Ahead of Wednesday’s celebrations, troops have been forward-deployed to critical and vulnerable locations across all sectors of the Theatre, surveillance and ISR assets have been fully activated, patrols have been intensified, and security forces are operating in close coordination with sister agencies, the CJTF, and community vigilance groups to forestall any threat and guarantee a secure festive period for all residents.”
He also advised members of the public to conduct Eid prayers and festivities as close to their homes and familiar localities as possible, and avoid large open gatherings
”In addition, members of the public are strongly advised to observe the following security guidance in the days leading up to and throughout the celebrations:
”Conduct Eid prayers and festivities as close to your homes and familiar localities as possible, and avoid large open gatherings where practicable.
”Exercise heightened vigilance in crowded public spaces such as markets, motor parks, banking halls, and prayer grounds.
”Report any suspicious persons, unattended objects, or unusual movements to the nearest military checkpoint, police station, or civil-military liaison point immediately.
”Cooperate fully with security personnel during patrols and screening operations.
”Avoid unnecessary movement, particularly at night or in areas with limited security presence.
”Refrain from spreading unverified information or rumours capable of causing public panic. Rely only on official information from verified government and security channels,” he stated.
According to Sani, the Theatre Command called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, media organisations and community stakeholders to actively engage their communities and encourage the timely reporting of credible security information ahead of and during the celebration period. “Your cooperation with security forces remains invaluable to the success of ongoing operations.
”Operation HADIN KAI reassures all residents of the North East that troops are on standby, fully prepared, and firmly in control. The Command remains resolute in its determination to deny terrorists any freedom of action and ensure that the Eid El Kabir celebrations proceed in an atmosphere of peace, safety, and dignity for all. The Theatre Command wishes the entire Muslim community a peaceful and rewarding Eid El Kabir celebration,” he stated.
Source: newsdiaryonline.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://newsdiaryonline.com/eid-el-kabir-military-issues-security-advisory-assures-public-of-safety-across-north-northeast/
----
DR Congo: New wave of drone strikes hits Kisangani Airport
May 25, 2026
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new wave of drone strikes has hit both rebel-held and government-controlled areas.
On Sunday evening, around 5:30 pm, multiple explosions struck Bangboka airport in Kisangani, in the Tshopo province. Local authorities report nine blasts between Sunday night and early Monday morning.
Two flights were canceled, no casualties have been reported so far, and the full extent of material damage is still being assessed. It is reportedly the fourth time this airport has been targeted. Officials suspect drone strikes and say investigations are underway.
These attacks come amid ongoing fighting in the east of the country. The AFC/M23 movement accuses government forces of carrying out drone strikes on its positions in North Kivu – including Rumangabo, home to the headquarters of Virunga National Park, the mining area of Rubaya in Masisi, and parts of Minembwe. The group claims buildings were hit and civilians killed.
Neither side has formally claimed responsibility for these latest strikes, but both trade accusations as the ceasefire agreed in April in Switzerland continues to be repeatedly violated. On Friday, the international contact group for the Great Lakes region – including Belgium, France, the United States and the European Union – condemned the growing use of drones by various actors and the rising number of civilian victims in eastern Congo.
The region has been plagued by violence for more than 30 years but fighting intensified in early 2025 when Rwanda-backed M23 fighters seized the key cities of Goma and Bukavu, overwhelming Congolese forces.
Drones have become increasingly common in recent months.
Congolese forces, long outmatched on the ground, have acquired Turkish and Chinese attack drones to strike M23 positions in the east.
But the M23 anti-governmental group is also using drones.
Its fighters have targeted sites including the airport in the northeastern city of Kisangani, where aircraft used by the government take off.
The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, condemned a "wave of deadly attacks targeting civilians" in the east, including the Mushaki strike.
The United States also denounced the attack, though without naming those responsible.
The M23 has frequently accused the army of carrying out deadly strikes on civilians.
UN experts have identified the M23 itself as a leading perpetrator of rights abuses in the region, where dissent is tightly suppressed in areas under the armed group's control.
In March, the M23 announced the death of one of its spokesmen, Willy Ngoma, in a drone strike near the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province.
A French aid worker with UNICEF was also killed in early March in a drone strike in the city of Goma.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/25/dr-congo-new-wave-of-drone-strikes-hits-kisangani-airport/
------
Congo throws open its borders to Africa
May 26, 2026
From January 1, 2027, the Republic of Congo will abolish visa requirements for all African citizens, marking a major step toward continental integration. Announced in Brazzaville by President Denis Sassou Nguesso, the move positions Congo among Africa’s champions of free movement.
The Republic of Congo has announced the end of visa requirements for all African nationals entering its territory, effective January 1, 2027.
President Denis Sassou Nguesso made the declaration on May 25 during the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank in Brazzaville, held alongside celebrations marking Africa Day.
The announcement immediately drew attention across the continent, as Congo became the latest African nation to embrace visa-free travel for fellow Africans.
A growing continental movement
Congo follows the path already taken by countries such as Benin, Togo, Rwanda, Ghana, Seychelles and The Gambia, all of which have adopted policies allowing Africans to enter without visas.
Benin has offered visa-free access to citizens of all African countries since 2020 for stays of up to 90 days.
Togo introduced a similar policy on May 18, 2026, allowing 30-day stays subject to prior online declaration.
By joining this trend, Brazzaville is aligning itself with a broader African ambition to ease mobility, strengthen trade and deepen regional cooperation.
“Beyond narrow nationalism”
Speaking before African leaders and delegates, Denis Sassou Nguesso defended the reform as a concrete contribution to African unity.
He urged governments across the continent to move beyond what he described as “selfishness and narrow nationalism” in order to collectively tackle development challenges.
The Congolese president also highlighted the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area as one of the key pillars for accelerating economic integration and intra-African exchange.
Economic and cultural opportunities ahead
The measure is expected to facilitate travel for entrepreneurs, students, researchers, artists and tourists across Africa.
Supporters believe easier access to Congo could stimulate investment, tourism and cultural exchange while reinforcing Brazzaville’s role as a regional hub.
Authorities still have several months to define the practical framework of the reform.
Details regarding the maximum duration of stay, possible pre-arrival formalities, as well as health and security requirements, have not yet been officially released.
A new chapter for African mobility
With this decision, Congo is presenting itself as a country open to cooperation and continental solidarity.
The reform is being widely viewed as both a symbolic and strategic step toward a more connected Africa.
As the continent pushes for stronger integration, the abolition of visa barriers is increasingly seen not only as a diplomatic gesture, but as an economic necessity.
From January 2027, Congo intends to place itself firmly at the heart of that transformation.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/26/congo-throws-open-its-borders-to-africa/
------
Bandits: ‘Give Them Amnesty’ – Gumi Charges FG
May 25, 2026
Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged the Federal Government to consider granting amnesty to armed bandits as part of efforts to end insecurity in the country.
Naija News reports that Gumi said Nigeria should adopt a rehabilitation and reintegration approach similar to the one used for repentant Boko Haram members who surrendered to the military.
He spoke on Monday during a press conference at his residence in Kaduna.
The cleric said Nigeria’s continued reliance on military force had failed to end banditry and insurgency after many years.
Gumi said, “If the kinetic approach is not working for 17 years, why don’t you change the approach? Let’s change the method.
“Because what Katsina did was to bring the bandits, give them money, and let them go with the rebels. Why don’t we change the method? Let’s engage them.
“Let’s dislodge them from the forest. Let’s take their children and put them in school. Let’s do something different. But you see, when you want money to be spent, when you want a budget to be spent, that is when it will come.”
Gumi said some bandits had expressed willingness to lay down their arms if they were assured of safety.
According to him, the government needed to listen to their concerns and address their fears.
He asked, “These people told us they are ready to lay down their arms, but what are their conditions? Has anybody listened to them?
“They said they fear that when they lay down arms, they will then be pursued and arrested.
“So give them the amnesty so that they don’t need to fear putting down their arms and see. Let’s change the approach. Let’s change the methodology.”
Cleric Denies Backing Terrorism
Gumi also denied allegations that he supports terrorism or violent groups.
“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me, whether directly or by innuendo, suggesting support for, justification of, protection of, or advocacy for banditry or terrorism in Nigeria or anywhere else does not emanate from me,” he said.
The cleric said he remained committed to peace and hoped Nigeria would overcome its security challenges.
“I sincerely hope that our great nation will heal, and that all victims affected by this violence will find comfort in the collective determination of the nation and the international community to achieve a lasting solution to the insecurity fueled over time by ignorance, poverty, and widespread social injustice,” he added.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/25/bandits-amnesty-gumi-fg/
------
Court Adjourns Ali Bello’s ₦10 Billion Fraud Trial
May 25, 2026
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the trial of Ali Bello and Dauda Sulaiman until June 2, 2026.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ali Bello, a nephew of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, alongside Sulaiman over alleged misappropriation and money laundering amounting to ₦10.27bn.
The anti-graft agency arraigned the defendants on an amended 16-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and money laundering.
At Monday’s proceedings, the 17th prosecution witness, Ahmed Audu Abubakar, testified during cross-examination conducted by defence counsel, A.M. Aliyu (SAN).
The witness gave evidence relating to transactions linked to the acquisition of several properties in Abuja.
The properties mentioned during proceedings include buildings located on Danube Street, Guzape, Sheriff Plaza, Ikogosi Close, Durban Street and Dalla Hills Street.
According to the prosecution, the properties form part of the assets linked to the alleged laundering of public funds.
Following the proceedings, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until June 2, 2026, for continuation of hearing in the case.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/25/court-adjourns-ali-bellos-%e2%82%a610-billion-fraud-trial/
------
Thugs Attack Itsekiri Youths Protesting At INEC Headquarters
May 25, 2026
Pandemonium broke out on Monday at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja after suspected thugs attacked Itsekiri youths protesting over the delineation of Warri Federal Constituency in Delta State.
The protesters, numbering about 200, had converged on the INEC headquarters to demand what they described as justice over the alleged unjust delineation of the constituency.
The youths, under the platform of Ugbarajo Itsekiri Youths, carried placards with inscriptions such as “INEC must protect indigenous communities,” “Warri Federal Constituency is not for sale,” “Justice for Itsekiri Communities Now”, and “Dollars Cannot Buy Our Land.”
As the protest continued, the suspected thugs reportedly swooped on the demonstrators with sticks.
They allegedly destroyed placards and disrupted the gathering, forcing people around the area to run for safety.
An INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, and journalists at the scene were said to have retreated during the chaos.
Zuru later returned to address the protesters. He assured them that the matter had already been taken to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for attention.
The Legal Adviser of Itsekiri Youths Worldwide, Solomon Ogholaja; National Secretary, Laura Oritseweyinmi; and Secretary-General, Jakpah Jolomi, vowed to continue pressing for justice.
They said the group would not back down in its demand for fairness from INEC and the Federal Government over the Warri Federal Constituency delineation.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/25/thugs-attack-itsekiri-youths-inec-headquarters/
------
FG Yet To Approve My Security Plan To Dislodge Terrorists In South-West – Igboho
May 25, 2026
Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Igboho has said he is still waiting for approval from the Federal Government to begin the operations of his proposed security group, Iru Ekun Security Network, aimed at clearing criminals from forests in the South-West.
Naija News reports that in a statement on Monday, he explained that all required papers for the registration and approval of the outfit have already been submitted to the Federal Government, and he is expecting a response soon.
Igboho stated that the group is fully prepared to work with security agencies such as the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and others to tackle kidnapping, banditry, and other crimes affecting rural communities.
He also expressed support for the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, saying the administration is working to improve security across the country, especially in the South-West.
The activist added that his group is ready to obey the new rules introduced by the Oyo State Government on private security operations under Governor Seyi Makinde.
He noted that better security is needed for farming and rural life, stressing that peace is important for economic activities and food production in the region.
“We have submitted all the required documents for our registered security firm, Iru Ekun Security Network, and are only waiting for the Federal Government approval which will be granted soon.
“We are absolutely ready to collaborate with the police, Department of State Service (DSS), Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other relevant stakeholders in the security sector to flush out terrorists, kidnappers, bandits, and other hoodlums, who are threatening the peace and safety of our people, most especially in rural communities.
“It is obvious that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is resolutely committed to tackle criminalities not only the South West but also in all other regions in the plagued by insecurity.
“Besides, I want to state that we are also ready to comply with the new executive order issued by Governor Seyi Makinde to regulate the activities of private security concerns.
“We are ready to support and cooperate with measures aimed at strengthening the security and peace in Oyo and other states in Yorubaland.
“Without peace and security, healthy socioeconomic developments cannot thrive, most especially in the rural communities which remain the hub of agricultural production critical to the nation’s food security and means of livelihood for farmers,” the statement read.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/25/fg-yet-to-approve-my-security-plan/
------
Southeast Asia
Anwar says korban is about sacrifice, resilience and helping the needy
By Opalyn Mok
26 May 2026
SEBERANG PERAI, May 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said the spirit of sacrifice should extend beyond religious obligations and serve as a reminder of perseverance, social responsibility and helping those in need.
He said Malaysia has remained resilient despite economic uncertainty and global tensions.
He said the practice of sacrifice in Islam carried values of faith, patience and a commitment to improving society.
“The act of korban (sacrifice) was not solely a personal form of worship but one that should also benefit the wider community, particularly the poor and needy,” he said in a speech at the Madani Korban Cattle Distribution Ceremony in Seberang Jaya here.
“Without sacrifice and the spirit of struggle, there is no meaning in life,” he added.
Anwar said worship should strengthen not only a person’s relationship with God but also with society.
He said the benefits of korban should be shared with neighbours, families and vulnerable communities rather than being confined within one’s household.
He also welcomed a new approach to korban programmes involving shared contributions from participants who could afford to do so, instead of relying entirely on government support.
He said such participation creates a greater sense of ownership and appreciation for the religious obligation.
As for current economic challenges, Anwar said Malaysia remained in a relatively stable position despite global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions affecting energy supply chains.
He said Malaysia’s diplomatic ties had helped ensure sufficient petrol supplies despite concerns over disruptions involving shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Today, at 6pm, I am expecting a call from the President of Iran,” he said.
He emphasised that this relationship with Iran helps the country as a whole despite criticisms by certain parties labelling him as the “toilet prime minister” who only knows to build ties with other countries.
“When we face difficulties and our ships and oil need to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, we are among the first to be allowed through,” he pointed out.
He also urged Malaysians to remain grateful while continuing to provide criticism and feedback responsibly.
“We can criticise and give views, but we should also be thankful for the blessings we receive,” he said.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/05/26/anwar-says-korban-is-about-sacrifice-resilience-and-helping-the-needy/221451
------
National security council says military exercises will follow strict safety, coordination measures
26 May 2026
PUTRAJAYA, May 26 — Military exercises by the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will be carried out in close coordination with state governments and relevant agencies to ensure they are conducted in an orderly, safe and responsible manner, in line with national security interests and public well-being.
The National Security Council (MKN) under the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), in a statement today, said the MKN meeting on May 25 supported MAF’s commitment to ensuring all military activities are implemented professionally, systematically and responsibly.
It said all exercises and operations must comply with established guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and directives issued by the relevant authorities, including requirements related to safety and environmental conservation.
“The implementation of military exercises is subject to strict approval procedures and coordination with relevant ministries and agencies,” the statement said.
For both gazetted and non-gazetted training areas, all applications must undergo approval and verification processes involving the relevant authorities, including the State Security Working Committee (JKKN) chaired by the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister, as well as technical agencies.
“Applications must also be submitted within the stipulated timeframe before any exercise is conducted to ensure that safety aspects, procedural compliance and local sensitivities are properly addressed before landowners are informed,” MKN said.
It added that SOPs related to military exercises would continue to be enhanced from time to time.
Post-exercise evaluations will also be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the activities, identify any impact caused and determine responsibility for repair works involving any damage.
The MKN meeting viewed defence preparedness as a key element in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty, security and strategic interests.
At the same time, it stressed the importance of balancing defence operational requirements with local sensitivities through continuous engagement and coordination with all stakeholders.
On May 24, MAF Headquarters said it respected and would comply with the decree of the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, regarding military activities in the state.
The MAF Headquarters said it remained committed to ensuring all exercises and operations are conducted in a planned, professional and responsible manner.
Earlier, media reports stated that Tengku Hassanal had voiced concerns over military exercises in island areas in Pahang that could potentially affect the ecosystem.
He also directed that MAF obtain the consent of the Sultan of Pahang before conducting any military exercise. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/05/26/national-security-council-says-military-exercises-will-follow-strict-safety-coordination-measures/221426
------
Singapore foreign minister visits North Korea for first time since 2018 Trump-Kim summit, S. Korea next
26 May 2026
SINGAPORE, May 26 — Vivian Balakrishnan is making a rare visit to North Korea as Singapore steps up diplomatic engagement amid rising global tensions.
Singapore’s foreign ministry said Vivian is visiting North Korea from Tuesday as part of a regional trip that also includes China and South Korea, business wire Bloomberg reported today.
His last official trip to North Korea was ahead of the 2018 summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Vivian will also make the first official visit by a Singapore foreign minister to South Korea in nearly 20 years.
The trip comes as Singapore seeks to strengthen ties beyond traditional partners amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.
Vivian began the tour in Beijing, where he and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a ceasefire in the Middle East where the US and Israel have been making strikes against Iran and its neighbours.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2026/05/26/singapore-foreign-minister-visits-north-korea-for-first-time-since-2018-trump-kim-summit-s-korea-next/221449
------
Pahang Sultan calls for unity and harmony in Aidiladha message
26 May 2026
Sultan of Pahang urges Malaysians to safeguard unity and avoid divisions in his Aidiladha message, highlighting the importance of brotherhood and social stability.
KUANTAN: Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today called on the people, particularly Malays and Muslims, to continue safeguarding unity, avoid divisions and not be easily influenced by matters that could disrupt social harmony.
His Royal Highness said Aidiladha symbolises sacrifice, sincerity and the strength of ‘ukhuwah’ (brotherhood) among Muslims.
“The gathering of millions of Muslims in the Holy Land, regardless of race, status and background, proves that Islam calls on its followers to remain united, respect one another and strengthen brotherhood,” His Royal Highness said in a message in conjunction with Aidiladha 2026.
Al-Sultan Abdullah noted that Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, in his Aidiladha 2026 message, had also urged Muslims and Malays in the country to remain united and avoid divisions that could weaken the community and create unease among the people.
His Royal Highness said the strength of a nation and country does not depend solely on economic progress and development, but also on the unity of its people, social stability and mutual respect among races and religions.
The Sultan also expressed hope that the people of the state would continue to uphold good values, strengthen the spirit of consensus and prioritise the common good for the sake of peace and national well-being.
In the message, His Royal Highness and Tengku Ampuan of Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah also extended Aidiladha greetings to Muslims, especially the people of Pahang.
“On this occasion, Tengku Ampuan of Pahang and I also pray that all Malaysian haj pilgrims will have their religious duties eased, be blessed with good health, attain a mabrur haj and return home safely,” His Royal Highness said.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/pahang-sultan-calls-for-unity-and-harmony-in-aidiladha-message/
------
Families claim bodies of three Sepat FSO tragedy workers
26 May 2026
Remains of three workers killed in Sepat FSO lifeboat accident claimed by families for burial in Pahang and Melaka.
KUALA TERENGGANU: The remains of three workers who were killed after a lifeboat plunged into the sea during maintenance work at the Sepat floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility in the Terengganu-Kelantan waters yesterday afternoon have been claimed by their families for burial.
A Bernama check at the Forensic Medicine Department of Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) found that the remains of the first victim, Nik Muhammad Hafifi Asri Ab Majid, 38, were taken out at about 12.25 pm for funeral prayers at Masjid Al-Iman As-Shafie KotaSAS, before being laid to rest at the Setali Muslim Cemetery in Kuantan, Pahang.
Meanwhile, the remains of the second victim, Muhammad Faezuan Hakim Mohammad Bustamam, 28, were taken out at about 1.40 pm for funeral prayers at Masjid Cenderawasih, Kuantan, before being laid to rest at the same cemetery.
As for the third victim, Ahmad Fiqri Zakaria, 38, from Alor Gajah, Melaka, his remains were released after the post-mortem examination and taken back to Melaka at about 2.50 pm for burial at the Padang Sebang Muslim Cemetery in Alor Gajah.
Yesterday, Bernama reported that three oil platform workers were killed, while another suffered serious injuries, after their lifeboat fell into the sea while carrying out maintenance work at the Sepat FSO facility.
The injured victim, Mohd Taufik Mohd Ruslan, 37, from Banting, Selangor, is currently receiving treatment at HSNZ.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/people-issues/families-claim-bodies-of-three-sepat-fso-tragedy-workers/
------
Ministers urge Muslims to embrace Arafah Day blessings
26 May 2026
Cabinet members call on Muslims to seize Arafah Day for spiritual reflection, unity and prayers for Malaysia’s peace and prosperity.
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the Cabinet today urged Muslims to embrace the blessings of the Day of Arafah and use it as an opportunity for spiritual reflection, unity and prayer for the peace and prosperity of Malaysia.
The Day of Arafah, observed today on the ninth day of Zulhijjah, marks the climax of the haj pilgrimage as millions of Muslims gather for wukuf at the Plain of Arafah in Saudi Arabia.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, in a Facebook post, encouraged Muslims to take advantage of the sacred occasion by increasing prayers, remembrance, repentance and seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT.
“Happy fasting on the Day of Arafah. May we always remain under His mercy, love and protection,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, said Arafah Day carries important lessons in nation-building within the framework of Malaysia MADANI.
She said this is because, on the Day of Arafah, millions of haj pilgrims come together, dressed alike, regardless of their race, background or social status, standing on the same ground and worshipping the one and only Allah SWT.
“This is the important lesson we must embrace from the Day of Arafah in building a harmonious nation founded on diversity, strengthened through unity and guided by compassion and mutual respect,” she said.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu offered prayers for the well-being of Malaysians, especially farmers, breeders and fishermen who continue to ensure the country’s food security.
“May all their efforts be eased, rewarded with good harvests, abundant sustenance and protection of Allah SWT,” he said.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, on the other hand, described Arafah Day as one of the most significant and blessed days in Islam, filled with mercy, forgiveness and spiritual rewards.
As such, he said Muslims who are not performing haj are highly encouraged to increase acts of worship, prayers and remembrance, while also observing voluntary fasting.
“Let us seize the blessings of the Day of Arafah with sincerity and hope, renewing our repentance and drawing closer to Allah SWT,” Armizan said.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the Arafah Day should also remind Muslims of the meaning of servitude, repentance and the power of prayer despite the busyness and challenges of life.
“Let us increase our istighfar, pray for the well-being of those we love and pray that Allah SWT continues to guide our steps in life with His mercy and guidance.
“May all our deeds be accepted and all Muslims be granted blessings, forgiveness and peace of mind. May the dhuyufurrahman who are currently performing wukuf in Arafah also have their affairs made easier and have a mabrur haj, Insya-Allah,” he said.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/ministers-urge-muslims-to-embrace-arafah-day-blessings/
--------
South Asia
Farhad Darya says Afghanistan belongs to all ethnic communities
By Fidel Rahmati
May 25, 2026
Farhad Darya called for greater acceptance of Afghanistan’s ethnic and cultural diversity during a gathering marking Hazara Culture Day in Washington, D.C.
Speaking Sunday at the event, Darya said he hopes a day will come when “no child fears because of identity and no mother cries because of her child’s ethnicity.”
Darya described the celebration as more than a cultural gathering, saying it carried a message that Hazara culture, identity and community remain alive despite years of violence, displacement and migration.
Darya praised the resilience of the Hazara community and encouraged young Hazaras to tell their own stories rather than allowing others to define them only through suffering and discrimination.
He also stressed that Afghanistan becomes “beautiful and complete” only when all ethnic and cultural groups are respected equally, adding that true strength comes from accepting differences rather than erasing them.
Hazara Culture Day has been observed annually since 2017 and is now celebrated by Hazara communities across Asia, Europe, North America, Australia and parts of Africa.
The Hazara community has faced decades of targeted violence, discrimination and deadly attacks in Afghanistan, including assaults on schools, mosques, educational centers and civilian gatherings.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, concerns over ethnicty and cultural rights, cultural freedoms and ethnic inclusion have continued to grow among Afghanistan communities inside and outside the country.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/farhad-darya-says-afghanistan-belongs-to-all-ethnic-communities/
------
Economic corridor: ADB to provide $5b over 5 years
26 MAY 2026
The Asian Development Bank will provide $5 billion to Bangladesh over the next five years to implement a special 20-year economic corridor plan that would create jobs, improve connectivity and promote more balanced regional growth.
The five-year package is expected to amount to about $1 billion a year and will be strategically integrated into ADB’s enhanced annual sovereign commitment envelope for Bangladesh.
The plan was presented to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday by the visiting ADB President Masato Kanda.
“Bangladesh is entering a critical new phase. ADB will help the country protect hard-won stability, unlock new sources of growth and build a more diversified and resilient economy that delivers better jobs and wider opportunity,” Kanda said, according to a press release from the ADB.
Called the Integrated Growth Network Development Initiative, it is part of the North-West Dhaka South-East Economic Corridor, a 20-year development plan involving about $79 billion to build a major economic corridor from Teknaf to Tentulia with the view to decongesting Dhaka and Chattogram, in line with the BNP’s election manifesto.
The proposed corridor would connect Matarbari, Chattogram, Mirsharai, Dhaka North and South, Gazipur, Bogura, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Tetulia. Development activities would span a 100-kilometre belt -- 50 kilometres on each side of the route -- covering 44 surrounding districts, The Daily Star has learnt from finance ministry officials with knowledge of the proposal.
Special focus would be given to building suitable health, education, power and energy infrastructure to encourage people to relocate from Dhaka and Chattogram.
In its 51-point election manifesto, the BNP pledged to reduce population density in Dhaka by enhancing services in districts and upazilas and by strengthening local governments.
Once operational, the corridor could raise Bangladesh’s GDP growth by two percentage points on average and generate 10 million jobs within a decade and help reduce poverty for around 12 million people.
The plan envisages investments of $20 billion in the first three years, $45 billion over the following seven years and the remainder over the final decade, the finance ministry officials said.
In a separate development, the Manila-based multilateral lender signed about $1.4 billion in loans as part of the 2026 annual commitment programme during Kanda’s visit, said the press release.
The ADB support was scaled up by $250 million to help address financing gaps linked to the economic impact of the Middle East conflict, which is adding pressure to Bangladesh’s economy, driving up the cost of fuel, liquefied natural gas, fertilisers and shipping.
These strains come as inflation remains high and the banking sector remains under stress.
The ADB will work with the government and development partners to track the situation, bring in additional financing and private investment, and help Bangladesh build a more resilient economy through more diverse energy sources and exports and stronger institutions.
ADB plans to increase its annual sovereign commitments for Bangladesh by 20 percent to about $2.4 billion over the medium term.
The higher annual envelope will support Bangladesh’s development priorities, including investment-led growth, job creation, economic diversification, stronger governance and a smooth transition from least developed country status.
The ADB will also provide $2 million in technical assistance to support the preparation and implementation of Bangladesh’s medium-term development framework and align the lender’s forthcoming country partnership strategy with government priorities.
Kanda also met Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, with discussions focused on Bangladesh’s reform agenda, macroeconomic pressures, external financing needs and ADB’s support for the government’s growth and resilience priorities.
He also met with key private sector leaders to discuss the opportunities and constraints shaping investment.
The ADB is also working with the government to mobilise additional private capital by deepening capital markets, preparing bankable projects and attracting co-financing and private investment.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/economic-corridor-adb-provide-5b-over-5-years-4184806
------
IMF, govt close in on a fresh 3-year deal
26 MAY 2026
The government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed to adopt a new three-year programme, replacing the existing $5.5 billion loan package, according to a statement from the finance ministry.
“Both sides agreed on a realistic and implementable new IMF programme, and to begin related activities without delay,” said the statement, which was issued yesterday.
The breakthrough came in a virtual meeting on May 21 between Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, the finance and planning minister, and Nigel Clarke, the deputy managing director of the IMF, it said.
The meeting discussed Bangladesh’s macroeconomic situation, progress under the ongoing IMF programme and prospects for future cooperation.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to macroeconomic stability and structural reforms, Khosru said the current IMF programme had been adopted under a different economic and policy context.
Since then, domestic realities, political economy factors and global uncertainties have posed challenges to implementing many of those reforms.
He stressed that the government does not intend to retreat from reforms, but rather seeks to implement measures that are realistic, phased and aligned with the country’s circumstances.
Discussions therefore focused on a new IMF programme under the newly elected government, with priority reforms to be carried out within a practical three-year timeframe, it said.
The statement, however, did not clarify the status of the existing IMF programme.
As per procedure, the government must send a no-objection letter from the highest level to the IMF to formally exit the current programme, said a finance ministry official involved with the proceedings.
The IMF would then close the programme. Khosru would then have to submit a request letter for the new programme.
An IMF mission is expected to visit Bangladesh in July or August to discuss the reform agenda and determine the final size of the programme.
Once Bangladesh formally exits the current arrangement, any undisbursed amount will be returned to Bangladesh’s special drawing rights quota.
The size of the new package would depend on Bangladesh’s IMF quota and the facilities the government seeks to access, the official said.
In January 2023, the IMF approved $4.5 billion for Bangladesh under three facilities: the Extended Credit Facility (ECF), Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF).
The package was expanded by $800 million in May last year under the interim government, taking the total to $5.5 billion.
Bangladesh has so far received $3.8 billion in five tranches.
The sixth tranche remained pending after the IMF suspended discussions in November last year and decided to resume talks with the new government following the election.
Under the previous schedule, the fifth and sixth tranches, together worth $1.3 billion, were due by June, while the final tranche was expected in December.
Discussions on a replacement programme began during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in April.
The IMF signalled during the Spring Meetings that no further tranches would be released without visible progress on economic reforms.
Since then, virtual discussions have continued every week over the proposed loan amount and reform conditions.
The BNP-led government had reservations about continuing the programme from the outset, partly because it was initiated under the Awami League government and because many of its conditions are difficult to implement under current economic conditions, according to finance ministry officials involved with the proceedings.
Maintaining the programme would require Bangladesh to meet several stringent conditions within the next six months, a target the government considers unrealistic amid global and domestic economic pressures.
A new programme would allow reforms to be postponed to a later date.
The key areas of disagreement include introducing a single VAT rate, reducing tax exemptions, adopting a fully market-based exchange rate, cutting power and fertiliser subsidies, and implementing reforms in the banking sector and the National Board of Revenue.
But Bangladesh needs an active IMF programme because it serves as a “seal of approval” for international lenders and investors, helping unlock financing from other development partners.
According to finance ministry officials, the government will require $3 billion to $4 billion annually in budget support to finance large upcoming budgets and fulfil electoral commitments.
Securing at least $1 billion a year from the IMF would help attract further support from lenders such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/imf-govt-close-fresh-3-year-deal-4184791
------
Dhaka all set for Eid-ul-Azha congregations
26 MAY 2026
The main jamaat of Eid-ul-Azha will be held at the National Eidgah in Dhaka at 7:30am, while five congregations will also take place at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
According to the National Moon Sighting Committee, Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated across the country on May 28.
Dhaka South City Corporation has completed all preparations for the main congregation. DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam expressed hope that President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, cabinet members, judges, senior state officials, and foreign diplomats will attend.
The National Eidgah ground covers nearly 30,000 square metres, of which around 25,400 square metres have been allocated for the main prayer pandal. Authorities said approximately 35,000 worshippers can offer prayers there simultaneously in 121 rows.
Special arrangements have been made for 250 male and 80 female VIPs. Separate prayer spaces have also been designated for around 31,000 male and nearly 3,500 female worshippers.
There will be four entry gates at the venue -- one for VIPs, two for general male worshippers, and one for women. Seven exit gates have also been designated -- including one for VIPs, five for male worshippers, and one for women.
Among the 121 prayer rows, five have been reserved for male VIPs and one for female VIPs. There will also be 65 large rows for general male worshippers and 50 smaller rows for women.
Authorities have taken extensive security measures around the congregation. Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel will be deployed with firefighting equipment. Facilities including first aid, mobile toilets, rainwater drainage, and waterproof canopies have also been ensured.
Meanwhile, five Eid congregations will be held in phases at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
According to the Islamic Foundation, the first congregation will begin at 7:00am, the second one at 8:00am, the third one at 9:00am, the fourth one at 10:00am and the fifth and final at 10:45am.
Meanwhile, five Eid congregations will be held in phases at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
According to the Islamic Foundation, the first congregation will begin at 7:00am, followed by the second at 8:00am, the third at 9:00am, the fourth at 10:00am, and the fifth and final congregation at 10:45am.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/dhaka-all-set-eid-ul-azha-congregations-4184686
------
Ireland contributes $3.44 million to UN humanitarian fund for Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
May 26, 2026
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Ireland has contributed $3.44 million to the UN-managed humanitarian fund for Afghanistan to support emergency assistance across the country.
OCHA said the funding would strengthen humanitarian operations and help vulnerable communities facing worsening economic and humanitarian conditions.
Ireland has previously pledged 4 million euros in humanitarian assistance for Afghanistan, with a focus on supporting women, girls and at-risk communities.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme said in a recent report that although prices of some food items have slightly declined in Afghanistan, families continue to face weak purchasing power and limited job opportunities.
According to the report, wheat prices fell by 1.7 percent during the third week of May, while prices of rice, cooking oil, sugar and bread also declined slightly.
However, the agency said many essential goods remain significantly more expensive than a year ago, with first-grade rice prices rising 38 percent, second-grade rice 28 percent and sugar 27 percent compared with the same period last year.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with millions of people dependent on international aid following years of conflict, economic collapse and natural disasters.
International organizations have repeatedly warned that restrictions on women’s employment and education under the Taliban have worsened poverty levels and limited humanitarian and economic recovery efforts across the country.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/ireland-contributes-3-44-million-to-un-humanitarian-fund-for-afghanistan/
-----
Uzbekistan sends 320 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
May 26, 2026
Uzbekistan has announced that, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and in support of families affected by floods, it has sent around 200 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
According to a statement on Monday that the assistance was handed over to local officials in Balkh and included 10 types of food supplies, among them 96 tons of flour, 22 tons of rice, 10,000 cans of halal beef, 15,000 liters of sunflower oil, 22 tons of pasta, 41,220 packets of assorted biscuits, 3 tons of banana-flavored biscuits, 22 tons of sugar and 22 tons of chickpeas.
The assistance comes as Afghanistan continues to face severe poverty, food shortages and growing humanitarian needs affecting millions of people across the country.
According to UNICEF, around 21.9 million people in Afghanistan are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026, including millions of children facing hunger and disease risks.
UNICEF has also warned that nearly 11.6 million Afghan children remain at risk of malnutrition because of worsening economic conditions and limited access to adequate food supplies.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, with international sanctions, economic collapse and unemployment worsening living conditions nationwide.
Restrictions imposed on women and girls, including limits on education and employment, have also affected humanitarian operations and deepened concerns among international aid organizations working in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/uzbekistan-sends-320-tons-of-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan/
------
Afghan Cultural Attaché Participates in “Colors of the World” Exhibition in Moscow
May 25, 2026
KABUL: Fazl-ul-Hadi Hamza, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Moscow, participated in an exhibition of creative works by foreign diplomats titled “Colors of the World,” organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation at the Tretyakov Gallery building.
The exhibition was held with the support of the State Protocol Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry and in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement on Sunday.
The exhibition will remain open to the public for three days, the statement said.
It is noteworthy that Zabih Paikan, an Afghan painter residing in Russia, also displayed his artworks at the exhibition, receiving special attention from visitors.
The exhibition organizers awarded his artwork first place as the top artistic work. Zabih Paikan had been introduced to the exhibition by the Cultural Attaché of the Afghan Embassy in Moscow.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thekabultimes.com/afghan-cultural-attache-participates-in-colors-of-the-world-exhibition-in-moscow/