Shiv Sena Minister Alleges AIMIM Links in Nashik TCS ‘Conversion’ Case, Seeks MCOCA Probe
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 May 2026
Nida Khan, who is one of the eight accused in the alleged TCS sexual harassment and conversion case, was arrested by the Nashik City police
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· Shiv Sena Minister Alleges AIMIM Links in Nashik TCS ‘Conversion’ Case, Seeks MCOCA Probe
· How conflict, displacement and rising prices are pushing Lebanon toward acute food insecurity
· Riyadh symposium discusses how KSA balances international human rights with local values
· The Muslim victim who wasn’t there: Golders Green and the ‘ghost logic’ of Islamophobia
· Trump White House reveals counterterrorism strategy to deal with foreign, domestic threats
· Two Soldiers Killed As Troops Repel ISWAP Attack In Borno
· Anwar urges Asean to set up food security mechanism for regional crises
· Foreign Ministry Expresses Condolences Over Deadly Explosion in China’s Henan Province
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India
· Delhi Police bust ISI-backed terror plot targeting Delhi temple, dhaba, military camp
· Muslim law board rejects Centre’s move on ‘Vande Mataram’
· No terror sanctuary is safe: India fires warning to Pakistan on Operation Sindoor anniversary
· Why should only Muslims be responsible for defending secularism? TMC’s Bengal loss isn’t on us
· Gujarat cop, who threatened man with fake ‘love jihad’ case for bribe, absconding 3 weeks on
· Muslim jail officer marries ex-murder convict in Madhya Pradesh; 'kanyadaan' performed by Bajrang Dal leader
· Red Cross: Insignia of peace and aid in times of distress of humanity
· Congress Counters 'Muslim League' Image After Assembly Poll Results
· Students protest closure of Shopian seminary after UAPA action in Kashmir
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Mideast
· Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli attacks
· Israel indicts Jewish man accused of attacking Christian nun in Jerusalem
· Lebanon civil defence says Israeli strike kills rescuer in south
· UAE reports drone and missile attack as Iran war ceasefire is challenged
· Lebanon, Israel to hold new talks in Washington May 14-15: US
· US imposes sanctions on Iraq’s deputy oil minister, militias over Iran support
· Israel strikes across southern Lebanon despite truce
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Arab World
· Saudi Arabia a ‘no-go area’ for Pakistan, deputy PM says amid US-Iran conflict
· Saudi Arabia expands digital Hajj services through Tawakkalna app for Makkah Route pilgrims
· Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy calls for free flow of shipping through Strait of Hormuz
· Saudi Arabia chairs digital cooperation event at UN Sustainable Development Forum
· Saudi defence minister discusses regional developments with Swedish counterpart
· KSGAAL, Muslim World League sign deal to champion Arabic language
· Digital Government Authority and UN to establish centre in Riyadh
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Europe
· NATO members divided over Ukrainian drone incidents
· Islamic Development Bank Group expresses readiness to finance AI initiatives in Azerbaijan
· ICD strikes numerous agreements with Azerbaijan - official
· Council centre of ombudsman complaint over 'pro-mosque' bias in Abergavenny
· Long vacant Gosport shop could become Islamic prayer centre
· Europeans want to break free from US – survey
· Germany mulls fines amid faltering army recruitment drive – Spiegel
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North America
· Trump promises ‘one big glow’ in Iran if ceasefire collapses
· CAIR OP-ED: OK Muslims have religious rights despite efforts to erase them
· CAIR-WA Welcomes Hate Crime Charges in Racist Attack
· CAIR-CT Urges Travelers to Know Their Rights Ahead of Hajj and Summer Travel Season
· St. Albert man charged after Muslim man attacked, allegedly called racial slurs
· US diplomats warned against wagering on Iran talks – media
· US could drill for oil under military bases – Bloomberg
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Africa
· UN rights chief says Tunisia must end repression of civil society, media
· Twin jihadist-claimed attacks kill more than 30 in central Mali
· 2027: Muslims should produce next Oyo governor – ICC
· Miyetti Allah Leader Backs Tinubu’s Re-election, Joins Senatorial Race
· Oloyede, Alaro, LEMU emphasise Imams’ roles in politics
· Pray for Nigeria’s prosperity, Sanwo-Olu urges 2026 Hajj pilgrims
· Chad declares state of emergency in Lake Chad region after Boko Haram attacks
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Southeast Asia
· Ex-Armed Forces chief’s RM3m graft case: 23 documents submitted to defence
· Let court decide on compensation for Jalan Masjid India sinkhole victim, says Hannah Yeoh
· Jalan Bukit Bintang closed from midnight for Quranic Madani event at Pavilion KL
· Saifuddin Nasution: Malaysia, Singapore to share CIQ facilities when RTS Link begins 2027
· Home minister tells Malaysians to ‘take your time’ in switching to new MyKad
· Targeted assistance ready for businesses hit by Middle East crisis, says BNM
· Malaysia’s oldest union MTUC hit with temporary dissolution order over missing financial documents
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South Asia
· Seven-day holiday for Eid-ul-Azha
· Ward quota returns to CU following court ruling
· Ensure workplace safety, protect labour rights
· Hanafi Chairs Meeting on Groundwater Protection, Water Resource Management
· IEA Calls for Immediate Resolution of Problems Facing Returning Migrants at Torkham Crossing
· Investment Applications of Returning Traders, Industrialists Assessed, Ministry
· MoIC Launches Strict Market Monitoring to Ban Fireworks Sales in Kabul
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Shiv Sena Minister Alleges AIMIM Links in Nashik TCS ‘Conversion’ Case, Seeks MCOCA Probe
Vallabh Ozarkar
May 8, 2026
Nida Khan, who is one of the eight accused in the alleged TCS sexual harassment and conversion case, was arrested by the Nashik City police
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Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat Friday alleged that AIMIM leaders helped key accused, Nida Khan, evade arrest in connection with the alleged sexual harassment and conversion, which he described as a “corporate jihad”, at a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) office in Nashik.
Nida Khan, who is one of the eight accused in the alleged TCS sexual harassment and conversion case, was arrested by the Nashik City police from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Thursday.
Addressing reporters after the arrest, Shirsat targeted former All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen MP Imtiaz Jaleel and alleged that Khan had received support from AIMIM leaders while she was on the run and demanded criminal action and inquiry against the party leader.
The Shiv Sena leader demanded that AIMIM leaders must be charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and that he would meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard.
While speaking to reporters, Shirsat claimed the party was encouraging such activities in the state. “Attempts are being made to expand such activities through AIMIM. Incidents involving religious conversion and trapping of girls are taking place under their leadership,” he alleged.
“This is a larger conspiracy. Nida Khan is only a pawn and this network is spread across Maharashtra. Similar incidents can emerge in Ahmednagar, Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as well. Poison is being spread against the Hindu religion, leading to anger in society,” he said.
The minister also targeted former AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel, alleging that Khan had received assistance while she was on the run. He said Jaleel had publicly supported Khan by addressing a press conference in her favour. Citing information from the Nashik police, Shirsat claimed that Khan stayed for five days at the residence of Matin Majid Patel, an AIMIM corporator in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
According to the Nashik police SIT investigation, local AIMIM corporator Majid Patel allegedly sheltered Khan in Naregaon while she was absconding. They also said corporator Majid Patel has been named as an accused in the case, and action will be taken against all those found to have sheltered the accused or obstructed the legal process.
Shirsat demanded a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the matter and said he would seek a detailed investigation into the alleged “corporate jihad” network. He said he would raise the demand with Fadnavis and seek identification of the alleged masterminds behind the case.
The minister also questioned the financial background of some of the accused. “How do unemployed youths own expensive bikes and iPhones? The source of this money should be investigated,” he said.
Shirsat also raised several questions, including why Khan allegedly stayed in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for nearly two months while absconding, why AIMIM leaders were said to have supported her, and why she allegedly submitted false information about being pregnant while seeking anticipatory bail.
Meanwhile, the Nashik police said Khan was arrested after her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the court. Following the order, Nashik police, along with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Police, conducted a two-day joint operation to trace and apprehend her.
The information was shared with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police Commissioner Pravin Pawar, after which special teams were deployed in the area for surveillance. The police said plainclothes personnel, using unmarked vehicles, carried out a “swift and well-coordinated” operation in Naregaon before taking Khan into custody.
The police said they also questioned Majid Patel during the operation. They added that Khan will be produced before a Nashik court Friday.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/tcs-nashik-case-sanjay-shirsat-aimim-allegations-10679183/
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How conflict, displacement and rising prices are pushing Lebanon toward acute food insecurity
NAJIA HOUSSARI
May 07, 2026
Displaced Lebanese families who lost their homes and livelihoods rely on aid to survive. (Reuters)
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BEIRUT: About one in four people in Lebanon are expected to face acute food insecurity this summer as Israel’s military campaign in the south enters its third month, deepening a humanitarian crisis in a country already reeling from economic collapse and dwindling aid.
A new assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the global standard for measuring hunger and malnutrition, found that 1.24 million people, or nearly one-quarter of the population assessed, are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity through August. The report classifies them as IPC Phase 3 or higher.
Published on April 29, the report said the situation was “worse than previously anticipated” due to the “rapid escalation of hostilities.” It raised the earlier projection of 961,000 people expected to be in IPC Phase 3 or above during the same period under an October 2025 analysis.
That warning has sharpened fears that Lebanon’s crisis is no longer just economic or political, but increasingly a matter of survival.
The deterioration has been driven by a widening conflict.
Since March 2, when the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah launched attacks on northern Israel in retaliation for the joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israel has carried out a bombing campaign across Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
As the fighting has intensified, many in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah’s stronghold, have begun to fear the region is starting to resemble Gaza in the scale of destruction and displacement.
Even a US-mediated ceasefire announced on April 16 has offered little relief. Israeli attacks have continued, further eroding the basics of daily life for more than 1.2 million displaced Lebanese, including at least 390,000 children.
The displaced fled nearly one-quarter of Lebanon’s territory. About half sought shelter in public schools or tents set up in designated displacement areas. But as those sites became overcrowded, hundreds of others pitched tents along Beirut roadsides in scenes many described as catastrophic.
The strain has been compounded by the collapse of basic services, a weak government response and international aid that remains far short of soaring needs, according to UN agencies. As a result, pressure on public services has only intensified.
For Hassan Harb, 73, the crisis is deeply personal. After fleeing his hometown of Kherbet Selem in southern Lebanon, he and his family spent 27 hours on the road trying to reach relatives in Beirut.
“When we arrived, we discovered that our relatives in Beirut’s southern suburbs had themselves become displaced,” he told Arab News.
The family now lives in a tent on the roadside near the Tayouneh roundabout at the entrance to Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“We had no choice except to set up a small tent beside the wall of Beirut’s pine forest. It neither protects us from winter rain nor from the scorching sun,” Harb said.
While he and his wife sleep in the tent, their two daughters sleep in the family car. “We have been living like this for more than two months now,” he said.
The hardship has also cost Harb his livelihood. Before the war, he ran a small kiosk in his village selling tea and coffee.
“Now I am unemployed,” he said. “I used what little money I had left to buy this tent, and part of what remained was stolen. No one is helping us. We receive neither hot meals nor medical assistance. Since we were displaced, we have received only one box of canned food.
“No political party has checked on us — neither Hezbollah nor even the state itself,” he said. “We live only with the hope of returning home, and we pray that Israel has not destroyed our house.”
His daughter Fatima described the daily humiliations of displacement as she cooked potatoes in the tent.
“Meat has become a luxury,” she told Arab News. “We have no refrigerator, no kitchen, not even a bathroom.
“I go to the public restroom inside the park to wash my face, and when I want to shower, I go to a friend’s home nearby.”
For many families, however, returning home may not be an option. The scale of destruction has been immense.
A BBC Verify analysis found that more than 1,400 buildings were destroyed in less than two months, from March 2 to April 15. But BBC Verify said the real number is likely higher because access is restricted and satellite coverage is incomplete.
That destruction had been mounting even before the latest escalation. Looking at the period from Oct. 1, 2024, to Jan. 26, 2025, Amnesty International said more than 10,000 structures were severely damaged or destroyed in 26 Lebanese municipalities along the Israeli border.
Israel said in late March that it would occupy the area below the Litani River, about 19 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border, and destroy homes along the frontier to create a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon and protect northern Israel from Hezbollah’s attacks.
Human Rights Watch said statements by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who vowed to destroy homes “in accordance with the Rafah and Beit Hanoun model in Gaza,” could amount to forced displacement and wanton destruction, which are war crimes.
But Israel’s military operations recently moved beyond that area.
In early May, Israel issued new displacement orders in Lebanese towns and villages outside its current zone of occupation. Its operations have continued well beyond the Litani River, striking villages to which many displaced families had fled because they believed they were safer.
Entire households in Lebanon have lost their jobs and livelihoods, with many now surviving on charity.
The IPC assessment warns that the country now faces a compounding crisis, with food security being eroded from several directions at once.
Livelihoods have collapsed. Local markets in conflict-affected areas have been disrupted. Food and fuel prices are rising. Humanitarian food assistance is expected to fall short of demand.
The broader regional conflict, the report said, is also likely to pile pressure on fuel and transport costs, import prices, remittance flows, agricultural inputs, fertilizer costs and overall market confidence. Together, those pressures are expected to further hollow out household purchasing power across the country.
Some regions are being hit harder than others. The assessment singled out Baalbek and Hermel in the east, Akkar in the north, and the southern districts of Bint Jbeil, Marjayoun, Nabatieh and Tyre, along with Syrian and Palestinian refugee communities.
“The displaced found themselves overnight with no jobs, no homes, and no horizon,” Ziad Abdel Samad, executive director of the Arab NGO Network for Development, told Arab News.
“Those surviving on aid cannot be accurately counted,” he said. “We do not know exactly how to reach them all. There are several programs under the ministry of social affairs, but the assistance is extremely limited.”
Civil society groups have begun adapting to the scale of the crisis, he said, and coordination among NGOs, the ministry and international organizations has improved. Still, he said, the ministry is operating far beyond its means.
Abdel Samad said the risks extend beyond hunger alone.
“A social catastrophe is coming,” he warned. “The economic situation is fragile and the central bank has started sending signals of financial instability.”
Even as Arab and foreign donors have stepped up and relief efforts have become more organized, he said food security cannot be reduced to food availability alone.
“Food security is not just about having food available,” he said. “It is about whether that food is safe. Is the quality healthy? Is drinking water clean? What about sanitation?”
UNHCR spokesperson Dalal Harb described the IPC report as a wake-up call.
“It signals that we could be heading toward acute food insecurity,” Harb told Arab News.
Displacement has become fluid and unpredictable, she said. Some families are considering whether to return, while others briefly go back for belongings before fleeing again. Some even commute daily between home and a shelter, unsure what the next day will bring.
There is no firm count of those back-and-forth movements, she said, but one figure stands out — in just three days during the ceasefire, Israeli strikes destroyed 428 homes in southern Lebanon and western Bekaa.
Harb said UNHCR has flexible programs and is working closely with the ministry of social affairs on the emergency response.
“All funds are channeled through the ministry, and under the SRSN program, 490,883 displaced people have benefited from cash assistance,” she said.
She added that UNHCR was among the parties involved in the Lebanese government’s urgent relief appeal to secure $300 million from the international community to meet the needs of about 1 million displaced people.
“UNHCR expects to receive $61 million from that assistance to help 600,000 people,” she said, adding that 40 percent of the relief aid had been received so far.
Rasha Abou Dargham, a spokeswoman in Lebanon for the World Food Program, said the country is facing one of the gravest food insecurity crises in its history.
“Lebanon is confronting a refugee crisis alongside economic fragility, soaring food prices, growing pressure on host communities and regional instability that continues to drive food costs even higher,” she told Arab News.
She said Lebanon had long been vulnerable to repeated shocks, but that the current crisis was especially devastating because of its deep impact on daily life.
“Food security has been under threat since 2019, leaving the country in an extremely fragile position and poorly equipped to absorb any new shock,” she said.
The displacement crisis, she added, has become a major driver of need.
“Despite generous donor support, the needs remain immense and the crisis continues to deepen,” she said.
The Food and Agriculture Organization has also warned that the crisis is being worsened by disrupted livelihoods and heavy damage to the agricultural sector, which has yet to recover from the 2024 conflict.
FAO data shows the crisis is affecting all segments of society, with especially severe consequences for refugees and internally displaced people. Many, it said, are being forced to cut back on meals or adopt desperate coping strategies, including borrowing money or selling essential assets to survive.
According to the agency, many families are replacing meat with pasta and potatoes because the cost of nearly everything has become prohibitively high.
To meet urgent needs, the Lebanese government is considering reorganizing budget priorities, including redirecting loans originally allocated to infrastructure projects, after curbing public sector salary increases a few weeks ago.
Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani said that Lebanon has entered an “exceptionally dangerous phase.”
“Conflict, combined with mounting economic pressures, has pushed national food security into an unprecedentedly critical situation,” he told Arab News.
He said the share of people experiencing food insecurity and requiring a rapid, coordinated humanitarian response had risen from 18 percent to 24 percent.
Despite the difficulties facing agricultural production in southern Lebanon, along with the livestock and poultry sectors, Hani said other parts of the country were still producing enough to help maintain an acceptable level of food security.
He noted, however, that “opening Arab markets to Lebanese products and reopening the land corridor have become urgent priorities.”
“Safeguarding food security in Lebanon is now a shared national and international responsibility,” he said, adding that investment in agriculture is central to stability and to strengthening communities’ resilience in the face of successive crises.
Source: arabnews.com
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Riyadh symposium discusses how KSA balances international human rights with local values
Hebshi Alshammari
May 07, 2026
Dr. Ali Al-Qarni, assistant director general for competency development at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, moderated a seminar in Riyadh on Thursday regarding human rights, along with Dr. Samer Al-Jutaili, Mohammed Althaly, and Foza Almehaid. (Supplied)
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia adopts a balanced approach to integrating international human rights standards with national cultural and religious values, experts at a symposium in Riyadh said on Thursday.
Speaking at the event organized by the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies, spokesperson for the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Dr. Samer Al-Jutaili said the Kingdom has made human rights the starting point for its work across multiple sectors.
He added that humanitarian work has become an effective tool for promoting coexistence and tolerance, stressing that it is based on the principle of non-discrimination.
Al-Jutaili said that the Kingdom’s sole criterion is humanitarian need, regardless of race or religion. He pointed out that this approach contributes to achieving security and stability and promotes comprehensive development.
“The Kingdom’s message is clear: humanitarian work is the true face of Islam’s tolerant values,” he said, noting that KSrelief has received numerous UN reports praising its models for rapid response and reconstruction in Yemen, Gaza, and Sudan.
Foza Almehaid, director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the symposium that human rights are universal in their core principles related to human dignity, as reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
She said that real differences between nations do not lie in the principles themselves, but rather in their interpretation and implementation.
National specificity is not the opposite of universality, but rather a framework through which universality is implemented, Almehaid added.
She stressed that Saudi Arabia does not seek to present itself as an exception to the international human rights system, adding: “The Kingdom aims to serve as a model demonstrating that universality becomes meaningful only when translated into practical approaches that reflect national realities and produce tangible outcomes in people’s lives.”
Under Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has increasingly sought to align international human rights discourse with national specificity, Almehaid said.
She noted a shift from a discourse centered on “responding to criticism” toward one focused on “building a model.”
Almehaid said: “The model is based on a clear equation: universal principles, national priorities, and realistic implementation.”
Mohammed Althaly, the Human Rights Commission deputy for international cooperation, said universality and locality are not contradictory in Saudi human rights discourse.
He explained that human rights are grounded in shared universal objectives, such as dignity and justice.
National particularities, he noted, serve as a means to embed these values within local legal and cultural frameworks. He cautioned against presenting them in cultural discourse as a justification for retreating from international commitments.
Althaly added that the Saudi approach seeks to contribute to the global conversation on advancing and sustaining human rights.
He noted that the Kingdom addresses the politicization of human rights not by rejecting the international framework, but by applying it in a disciplined manner and presenting a practical model validated through results and data. At the same time, he acknowledged the existence of intellectual challenges that require ongoing dialogue, a belief in incremental reform, and efforts to help correct perceptions of the Kingdom’s human rights achievements.
Source: arabnews.com
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The Muslim victim who wasn’t there: Golders Green and the ‘ghost logic’ of Islamophobia
May 7, 2026
by Ismail Patel
British police investigate the scene with the support of counterterrorism units after two people were injured in a stabbing attack in a neighborhood with a large Jewish community in Golders Green area of north London, United Kingdom on April 29, 2026. [Raşid Necati Aslım – Anadolu Agency]
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“As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there. He wasn’t there again today. I wish, I wish he’d go away.”
Scholars David Tyrer and Salman Sayyid open their 2012 essay on race and Islamophobia with this nursery rhyme about a haunting.
Reading the British media coverage of the Golders Green stabbings, it is impossible not to think of it again. Last Wednesday, a man named Essa Suleiman, a British national reportedly discharged from a psychiatric hospital days earlier, was accused of stabbing three people in London.
The first victim was Ishmail Hussein, a Muslim man who appears to have been an acquaintance of the alleged attacker. Then two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green: Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76.
All three were allegedly victims of the same man, on the same day, in the same city. You would not know this from the coverage that followed.
The Metropolitan Police’s official post on X (formerly Twitter) made no mention of Hussein. Media outlets including SkyNews, Channel 5, Reuters and the BBC reported Suleiman’s court appearance as being for the attempted murder of two Jewish men.
Some observers took to social media to ask why police hadn’t mentioned the third Muslim victim. A fair question; nobody in authority rushed to answer it.
Into the open
Britain has always had an unofficial ranking system for victims; an unwritten hierarchy that determines whose suffering commands national attention – and whose quietly disappears.
Most of the time, this hierarchy operates below the surface, plausibly deniable and, if highlighted, easily met with the charge of “playing the victim”. The Golders Green coverage brought it into the open with unusual clarity.
Two Jewish men were named, interviewed and photographed. Their injuries were described in detail. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made an announcement from Downing Street, portraying the attack as an “antisemitic” act of “terrorism”, while counter-terrorism police launched an investigation. The nation’s moral machinery clicked into motion.
Hussein’s name appeared nowhere. His injuries went undescribed. His community was not consulted. He was, in every meaningful sense, absent from the story of his own attack.
The message this sends, whether or not anyone consciously intended to send it, is that Muslim suffering operates on a different frequency in Britain – one that most institutions simply cannot tune in to.
Tyrer and Sayyid offer a framework for understanding why this happens, and it goes beyond editorial carelessness. They argue that Islamophobia does not merely demonise Muslims. It does something more structurally damaging: it renders them ghostly.
Muslims exist in the western imagination as “either unreal or as a hyperreal interruption to our consciousness”. They are either invisible or monstrous; never simply human, never simply people who can be wronged in the way other people are wronged.
Look at what happened in Golders Green, and this logic is almost surgically precise. Essa Suleiman, the signifier of a Muslim name accused of carrying out the attacks, was made hyperreal; his identity foregrounded, his religion noted, his threat amplified. He became the ghost that bursts violently through the fabric of civilised life. Hussein, the Muslim victim, was made invisible – erased, banished from consciousness.
One Muslim confirms the story Britain wants to tell about itself. The other would complicate it beyond repair.
Institutional Islamophobia
It would be convenient if institutional Islamophobia arrived with warning signs, like far-right slogans or open hostility. It rarely does. It arrives instead as a news release that mentions two victims instead of three; as a headline that loses a name in the edit.
This is precisely what makes it institutional rather than individual. No single journalist woke up that morning and decided that Hussein’s suffering was unimportant. No police officer consciously chose to erase him. The erasure happened through accumulated habit, through the unremarkable reflex of organisations steeped in a culture that has never quite learned to see Muslim pain as pain that counts.
Tyrer and Sayyid are clear that this dynamic cuts across political lines, from the liberal left to the extreme right. The BBC is not a far-right organisation. The Met is not a fascist institution. And yet both, in their coverage of this attack, reproduced a hierarchy of victims that any Islamophobe would recognise and approve of.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
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Trump White House reveals counterterrorism strategy to deal with foreign, domestic threats
05/07/2026
The White House has released its US Counterterrorism Strategy report, outlining the Trump administration’s plan for addressing threats both homegrown and foreign. It states that the US currently faces three major types of terror groups: "Narcoterrorists and Transnational Gangs," "Legacy Islamist Terrorists," and "Violent Left-Wing Extremists, including Anarchists and Anti-Fascists." These threats can be defeated, the White House said, "but the threat is significant and pervasive."
The first priority for the administration’s counterterrorism strategy is the "neutralization of hemispheric terror threats," including incapacitating cartel operations.
The report notes that the open border under the Biden administration led to cartels and gangs "flooding" the US with drugs, weapons, and illegal immigrants, leading Trump to designate such groups as foreign terrorist organizations. In addressing the issue of cartels, the Trump administration has been taking out cartel drug boats in waters near the US, as well as capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The US is also working to target such groups’ finances and supply lines, including connections to terrorist funding.
The second priority is destroying the top five Islamist terror groups with the ability to "execute External Operations against the US," including al Qaeda and the subgroup al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS groups including ISIS-K, and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The White House said that "hundreds of Jihadist terrorists in multiple countries" have been taken out since Trump returned to office, and the Counterterrorism Strategy " is predicated on maintaining and increasing that pressure on those groups until they no longer pose a threat to the homeland because they are destroyed, or because we can hand suppression operations over to capable allies or partners."
The report said the "greatest threat" to the US emanating from the Middle East region is from Iran, "directly in the form of its nuclear and missile capabilities, and indirectly in the form of the billions of dollars it funnels to its terror proxies, including Hezbollah." The White House said "decisive actions" such as June’s Operation Midnight Hammer and the ongoing Operation Epic Fury "will continue until the regime in Tehran is no longer a threat to the United States."
The report states that "President Trump knows that all modern Jihadi groups, from al Qaeda to ISIS to Hamas, can trace their roots back to one organization: the Muslim Brotherhood." The group was called "the root of all modern Islamist terrorism predicated on recreating the Muslim Caliphate." Multiple international chapters have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by Trump.
The report also noted the terror threat of Europe, being called an "incubator" of such threats due to mass migration and open borders. "Europe can be strong again if it rediscovers traditional principles of freedom of speech, has honest conversations about Islamism, devotes sufficient resources to mitigate terrorism and cartel threats within its nations, and then actively shares its threat intelligence globally and moves counterterrorism burden shifting to take greater responsibility for its own security."
Also being prioritized by counterterrorism is "the rapid identification and neutralization of violent secular political groups whose ideology is anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist." The report said the administration is using tools to map these groups, identify members and ties to organizations such as Antifa, and working to "cripple them operationally before they can maim or kill the innocent."
In Africa, the administration aims to block terrorist groups from building a base of operations there, and to protect Christians on the continent. Christians have frequently been targeted in mass killings in African nations such as Nigeria.
Beyond the three categories of terrorist threats, the Counterterrorism Strategy also addresses five functional aspects of the current counterterrorism environment: "New and evolving collaboration between nation-states and threat groups such as cartels," "New and deepening alliances between the far-left and Islamists, i.e., the 'Red-Green' alliance," "New and evolving alliances between established terrorist groups, such as the collaboration between Al Shabaab and the Houthis," "Exploitation of new weapons, like drones, by cartels and Jihadists, as well as the provision of these technologies to terrorists by state actors, namely, Iran, China, and Russia," and "The remaining threat of terrorists acquiring and using nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons."
"Additionally, there is the special category of terror-like actions taken by state actors, including acts of sabotage and the use of proxies, assassinations, and what some of our allies have labeled "hybrid" attacks. We will continue to work with our CT partners to make it impossible for such state-driven terrorism to occur in the homeland," the report states.
The report stated that the counterterrorism operations "will not be used to target our fellow Americans who simply disagree with us," and that "millions of Americans have lost confidence in the rectitude of the most powerful elements of our Federal government; the national security apparatus of the United States" in the wake of the Biden administration’s actions, including Catholics attending traditional mass and parents speaking out at school board meetings.
The report stated that "this Administration will continue to prohibit the IC from being used politically against innocent Americans. As real threats were ignored or underplayed, Americans have witnessed the politically motivated killings of Christians and conservatives committed by violent left-wing extremists, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk by a radical who espoused extreme transgender ideologies."
Source: humanevents.com
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https://humanevents.com/2026/05/07/trump-white-house-reveals-counterterrorism-strategy-to-deal-with-foreign-domestic-threats
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Two Soldiers Killed As Troops Repel ISWAP Attack In Borno
May 8, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Nigerian Army has said two soldiers were killed while troops repelled an attack by ISWAP terrorists on a military base in Magumeri, Borno State.
Naija News reports that the Army disclosed this in a statement by the Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Sani Uba.
Uba said the terrorists attempted to infiltrate the base on Thursday under poor visibility and recorded minor breaches on an isolated section of the camp.
The Army said troops responded swiftly and defeated the attack, killing several of the terrorists.
Uba said, “Impressively, troops fought gallantly and decisively contained and defeated the attack by neutralising scores of the terrorists.
“It is important to state that further exploitation of the general area revealed extensive blood trails, body drags and the recovery of terrorist corpses, confirming the heavy casualties inflicted on the attackers during the failed assault.
“Troops also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the fleeing terrorists, including PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, AK 47 rifles and magazines.”
Uba said one officer and other personnel sustained injuries during the encounter. He added that the injured personnel were in stable condition and receiving medical attention.
According to him, some equipment and temporary structures were destroyed by fire during the intense battle.
The Army said troops were still carrying out operations in the area to consolidate the gains recorded during the encounter.
Uba added that efforts were ongoing to assess the full extent of the damage.
He said, “The failed attack further underscores the fighting spirit of OPHK troops in denying terrorists freedom of action across the Theatre of OPHK.
“The Military High Command commends troops for their impressive battle performance, urging them to sustain the operational tempo.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/08/two-soldiers-killed-in-borno/
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Anwar urges Asean to set up food security mechanism for regional crises
08 May 2026
CEBU, May 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has proposed that the relevant Asean ministers urgently explore the establishment of a regional standby mechanism for food security during crises, including the ongoing conflict in West Asia, to enable faster coordination and emergency response efforts.
Speaking at the plenary session of the 48th Asean Summit here today, he warned that the energy crisis is already exacerbating food insecurity, as rising fuel prices continue to drive up fertiliser, transportation and production costs, creating immediate supply pressures across the region.
“If disruptions persist, Asean faces the risk of lower yields and sustained food inflation well into next year. Food security must therefore be treated as a regional strategic priority,” he said.
He added that there is a need to strengthen the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) mechanism and work with its partners to expand cooperation beyond rice reserves to include fertiliser security.
Referring to the Kuala Lumpur Declaration adopted last year, he said the 20-year framework recognises that energy security, food resilience, supply chain stability and stronger regional connectivity are now strategic imperatives, rather than merely sectoral concerns.
Hence, he called on the Asean member states to build on the momentum of the declaration, which reaffirmed its shared commitment to strategic autonomy, economic resilience and sustainable growth.
On the implementation of the Asean Framework on Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), Anwar said Malaysia fully supports accelerating the initiative, as it provides an essential layer of protection as domestic oil and gas production declines across the region.
“We must also diversify our fossil fuel sources and reduce overdependence on vulnerable supply chains. We must recognise that strategic collaboration with trusted partners and regional groupings can strengthen Asean’s long-term energy security,” he said.
He also urged Asean to fully leverage cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including the broader Asean-GCC-China nexus, to build more reliable and resilient energy arrangements.
At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Asean Power Grid remains central to the bloc’s energy transition and long-term security.
He said greater investment is needed to accelerate cross-border interconnectivity and low-carbon growth.
On Asean nationals’ safety amid the West Asia crisis, Anwar urged member states to strengthen information-sharing, consular cooperation and emergency response mechanisms.
He said closer collaboration with external partners, international organisations and relevant stakeholders will be essential in ensuring the welfare of the people.
“From migrant workers and seafarers, to peacekeepers and students, the risks posed by regional instability demand stronger coordination among us,” he said.
Reaffirming Malaysia’s full support for the Philippines’ Asean chairmanship this year, Anwar said the theme Navigating Our Future, Together, is both timely and necessary.
“It reflects the continuity of our shared vision and the resolve to strengthen Asean’s unity, resilience and centrality, in an increasingly complex global environment,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/05/08/anwar-urges-asean-to-set-up-food-security-mechanism-for-regional-crises/219192
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Foreign Ministry Expresses Condolences Over Deadly Explosion in China’s Henan Province
May 7, 2026
KABUL: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has expressed deep sorrow over the casualties caused by an explosion at a fireworks factory in Luoyang City, located in China’s Henan Province.
In an official statement on Wednesday, the ministry conveyed its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims affected by the tragic incident and expressed sympathy with the people and government of China during this difficult time.
The Islamic Emirate’s Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its solidarity with the bereaved families and wished peace and comfort for those impacted by the explosion.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/foreign-ministry-expresses-condolences-over-deadly-explosion-in-chinas-henan-province/
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India
Delhi Police bust ISI-backed terror plot targeting Delhi temple, dhaba, military camp
08.05.26
Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI had allegedly planned attacks on a historic temple in Delhi, a popular dhaba on the Delhi-Sonipat highway and a military camp in Haryana through operatives linked to the Shahzad Bhatti module, sources said on Friday.
According to the sources, the revelations emerged during the interrogation of nine alleged operatives of the module arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell under their 'Gang Bust Operation 2.0' from multiple states.
Investigators found that one of the accused had conducted reconnaissance of a historic temple in Delhi and sent photographs of the premises to Pakistan-based handlers through social media platforms, the source said.
The module had allegedly planned to target police personnel and paramilitary forces deployed at the temple and carry out firing to create panic and disruption, he said.
The source also added that the accused were also tasked with carrying out a grenade attack on a popular 'dhaba' on the Delhi-Sonipat highway, frequented by thousands of people daily, with the intention of causing large-scale damage and casualties.
"A military camp in Hisar was also allegedly surveyed and videos of the area were shared with handlers across the border. Some police stations in Uttar Pradesh were also on the target list," the source added.
482 people have been arrested by the Delhi Police while conducting raids at almost 1000 locations during this 48-hour 'Gang Bust Operation 2.0' operation. Police said the operation took place across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh between Tuesday and Thursday.
The police were successful in recovering 141 pistols, 212 cartridges, 79 knives, 24 vehicles, Rs 19 lakh cash and 19kg narcotics from the operation.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/delhi-police-bust-isi-backed-terror-plot-targeting-delhi-temple-dhaba-military-camp/cid/2159590
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Muslim law board rejects Centre’s move on ‘Vande Mataram’
May 8, 2026
NEW DELHI: All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Thursday rejected Union cabinet’s decision to accord “Vande Mataram” a status equal to national anthem “Jana Gana Mana”, make all six stanzas of the song compulsory and mandate its recitation before the national anthem in govt and educational institutions.
In a statement, the board said if the govt does not immediately withdraw this decision, AIMPLB will be compelled to challenge it in court. AIMPLB has termed the move “direct violation of the basic spirit of Constitution, religious freedom, secular values and historic decisions of the Constituent Assembly”.
AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas said, “Cabinet’s decision is not only unconstitutional and undemocratic, but also contrary to the religious and cultural diversity and constitutional ethos of the country.” Ilyas said a secular state cannot impose religious concepts or beliefs of one community upon all citizens by force.
“Several stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ contain invocations and glorification of Goddess Durga and other deities, which are in direct conflict with the Islamic doctrine of Tawheed (absolute oneness of God).” “Islam permits worship only of Allah, the One without partner, and doesn’t accept any form of ‘shirk’ (associating partners with God),” Ilyas said
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muslim-law-board-rejects-centres-move-on-vande-mataram/articleshowprint/130922553.cms
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No terror sanctuary is safe: India fires warning to Pakistan on Operation Sindoor anniversary
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
08.05.26
Acts of terror will carry consequences and Operation Sindoor has shown that no sanctuary across the frontier is safe, India’s top military brass said on Thursday, marking the first anniversary of the covert assault on mainland Pakistan that was carried out as retribution for the Pahalgam terror attack.
In a warning to Pakistan, the military said India would continue to dismantle terrorist infrastructure under the “new normal”, enunciated following the Pahalgam attack in April last year that killed 26 people.
The military leadership said the strategic successes of Operation Sindoor marked a major shift in India’s security doctrine against cross-border terrorism and also offered invaluable combat experience to the armed forces.
“No sanctuary across the Line of Control is safe. We will hit everything. We will go after everything and that has been made clear in the new normal that the Prime Minister said last year. But the conditions, the timing and the method will be ours,” said deputy chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, in a tri-service joint media briefing in Jaipur.
During Operation Sindoor on May 7 last year, India had destroyed nine terror camps — four within Pakistan’s territory and five in PoK — all linked to banned outfits, including the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed, and the Hizbul Mujahideen.
Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, the deputy chief of air staff, said India’s military objectives remained limited and focused strictly on terror infrastructure and the mission had sent out a resounding message: “We delivered the message and the message was very clear — acts of terror will carry consequences.”
The target, he said, was terrorists and their support infrastructure, ensuring there was no collateral damage.
“We achieved our objectives, and our mission was complete. But when the Pakistani establishment decided to side with terror and make it their own fight, we had no choice but to respond in kind. It was more of self-defence,” he said.
“When we responded, it was lethal and ruthless. After taking the beating, sense kicked in the adversary, and they asked for a cessation of hostilities. We paused when the request came. The forces were given full operational freedom.”
US President Donald Trump has claimed many times that it was he who got India and Pakistan to stop hostilities. India says no third country was involved in that decision.
Lt Gen. Ghai said the mission saw India moving “beyond its earlier approaches and methods” to target terror infrastructure across the Line of Control “with precision and clarity” and cautioned that Operation Sindoor was not an end.
“It was just the beginning. India’s fight against terror will go on. A year on, we remember not just the operation but also the principle behind it. India will defend its sovereignty, its security, and its people decisively, professionally and with the utmost responsibility,” he said.
Operation Sindoor, Ghai said, showcased capabilities of India’s indigenous weapons systems and platforms, including BrahMos and Akash
missiles, homegrown surveillance and targeting systems and ammunition.
The director-general of naval operations, Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod, said that by striking the terror hubs in the heart of Pakistan using long-range precision weapons, India effectively called the bluff on Pakistan’s “nuclear blackmail”.
Air Marshal Bharti said the Indian Air Force had been constantly monitoring the activities of China and Pakistan.
PM’s vows
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor reflected “India’s firm response against terrorism and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security”.
“Today, a year later, we remain as steadfast as ever in our resolve to defeat terrorism and destroy its enabling ecosystem,” he said in a post on X.
Modi changed the display pictures on his social media handles to mark the anniversary and asked everyone to do the same as a mark of respect for the armed forces and their success. The DP had Operation Sindoor written against a black background, along with the picture of a Tricolour, with one of the ‘O’s of Sindoor filled with vermilion.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/operation-sindoor-anniversary-india-warns-pakistan-over-terror-and-loc-attacks-prnt/cid/2159502
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Why should only Muslims be responsible for defending secularism? TMC’s Bengal loss isn’t on us
Amana Begam
08 May, 2026
Seeing the results in West Bengal and Assam, social media has raised questions about democracy, especially the SIR controversy.
I asked my own question online: Can we now say that India has entered the era of Hindutva?
And, unsurprisingly, the responses were mixed. Some answered with pride, saying that Hindutva is now the dominant force in Indian politics. Others sounded more defensive—as if they supported the Bharatiya Janata Party politically, but did not want to associate themselves too directly with the idea of Hindutva, or at least with what they believed that term represented
But what caught my attention amid all the debates around SIR, Hindutva, incumbency, nationalism, and development was something else entirely, the discussion around the “Muslim vote bank.”
Mahua Moitra, in a now-deleted X post, pointed out how Muslim-majority areas did not ensure victory for certain All India Trinamool Congress candidates. And to be fair, I understand where that sentiment comes from. It reflects a feeling of political betrayal.
But it also made me pause. Why betrayal? Why does a party that presents itself as secular begin to feel a sense of entitlement over Muslim votes? And why do they not have the same sentiment toward Hindu voters who chose not to vote for TMC?
In an earlier column, I wrote about the voting patterns in my family—there were none. There is no single Muslim political mind, no unified instruction, and honestly, it would be impossible for that to exist in a country like India.
For a long time, I assumed the idea of Muslims voting as one bloc was pushed by sections of the Right, shaped by ignorance or hostility. But it looks like the perception on the other side is not entirely different.
There remains an underlying assumption that Muslims should vote for parties calling themselves secular—not because individual Muslims may genuinely believe in those values, but because those votes are somehow expected to belong there, even when other candidates contest the same space.
It also says something deeper about how secularism itself is understood in India. There is this common idea that secularism mainly exists to protect minorities. But reality is not that simple.
Secularism is equally important for the majority because it protects individual freedoms, prevents society from turning every identity into a political weapon, and creates space for people to live differently from one another without fear.
So why should defending secularism only be the burden of minorities? In the end, democracy moves in the direction that the majority wants.
Politics of fear
The other thing that came to my mind is how much of my childhood—as a Pasmanda Muslim—was shaped by fear around politics. Growing up, I constantly heard that we had to vote for certain parties, otherwise something terrible would happen. We had no real choice. If we wanted safety and if we wanted to avoid becoming targets because of our identity, then we had to support these parties.
And what did this politics slowly do to the community? It filled people with fear and pessimism to such an extent that many Muslims began looking at institutions, politics, and even society itself with deep distrust. Our political imagination became limited to survival.
Every election used to become a battle against some larger monster. Any form of change or reform is immediately framed as an attack on the community. Dissenting voices within were not allowed to exist. There was no concept of accountability. We were told not to ask too much from the leaders we voted for because, after all, they were supposedly giving us “protection.”
But now what?
The very political force we were told to fear is now in power in many parts of the country. So where does the community go from here? Do we finally begin asking different questions—how to strengthen the community within the constitutional framework, how to improve education and opportunities, how to build confidence rather than permanent anxiety? How to choose to vote for more than fear?
It increasingly feels like leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi are comfortable with the politics of fear continuing. His recent statements seemed to suggest that Muslims should rally behind their own community’s leaders rather than look elsewhere politically.
And of course, for elite Muslim leaders, such politics can become very convenient. If identity alone becomes the main qualification, then accountability slowly disappears from the conversation. Look at Hyderabad, despite decades of AIMIM leadership, large sections of Muslims there reportedly continue to live below the poverty line.
A vision for the future
Perhaps this is the moment when the community needs to pause and rethink its political imagination altogether. Fear alone cannot remain the foundation forever.
Muslims, like every other community, need politics that go beyond symbolic protection and emotional rhetoric. Questions around education, economic upliftment, institutions, representation within the constitutional framework, internal reform, and accountability cannot always remain secondary.
Maybe the biggest shift is to stop seeing ourselves only as a community under permanent siege, and start seeing ourselves as citizens with agency, responsibility, and the ability to shape our own future beyond fear. In the end, Muslims need a vision for the future.
We also have to accept a political reality. Whoever is in power, the community has to learn how to work with institutions, understand constitutional rights, and stand for them instead of living only through fear and political dependency.
At the same time, the Bharatiya Janata Party also needs to understand that a country like India cannot function by politically excluding entire communities. Statements like those made by BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari—that he will work only for Hindus because only Hindus voted for him—may sound politically useful in the moment, but such rhetoric ultimately weakens the idea of a shared nation.
Elections can be won like this. But nations are not built this way.
Source: theprint.in
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https://theprint.in/opinion/why-should-only-muslims-be-responsible-for-defending-secularism-tmcs-bengal-loss-isnt-on-us/2925044/
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Gujarat cop, who threatened man with fake ‘love jihad’ case for bribe, absconding 3 weeks on
Brendan Dabhi
May 8, 2026
A police inspector accused of threatening to turn a case of domestic spat into one of “love jihad” to coerce a man and his live-in partner into paying him a bribe of Rs 2 lakh, continued to remain absconding even three weeks after the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) booked him for graft.
VA Charan, who was last posted as the station house officer (SHO) of Padra police station in Rural Vadodara, went missing after the ACB caught his alleged accomplice while accepting the bribe amount from the complainant, said Narmada ACB’s DD Vasava, the investigation officer (IO) of the case, adding Charan was yet to be arrested.
When asked if there has been any departmental action taken against Charan, Vadodara rural superintendent of police (SP) Sushil Agrawal said, “We have filed a report on this matter and submitted it to the DGP. Further action will happen from his office.”
Notably, in such cases, if an officer is arrested and in custody for 48 hours, they can be directly suspended, but when the officer is absconding, a report is submitted to the office of the DGP, and usually leads to the transfer and subsequent suspension of the officer.
The Gujarat ACB had, on April 16, booked Charan and arrested middleman Sajid Ali Gulamrasul Syed, for demanding and accepting a sum of Rs2 lakh from an individual, who works as a cook’s help, after allegedly threatening to book him in a false case of “love jihad” under the provisions of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act.
On April 9, a domestic spat reportedly broke out between the complainant and his live-in partner at their residence in Padra. The woman called the ‘112’ helpline, and the couple, both in their 30s and belonging to different faiths, were taken to Padra police station. On the basis of a complaint by the woman, the police placed the man in preventive detention for 24 hours.
ACB inspector Ankur Prajapati, who had executed the corruption trap, had earlier told the Indian Express that after he had been placed in lockup for 24 hours, the woman told the police that they had reached a compromise and that she wanted to take the man back home, ending the matter.
“It was then that the accused PI, VA Charan, asked the man to pay him Rs 6 lakh or he would be booked for “love jihad”. The man pleaded with the inspector that he didn’t have the amount to pay him. But the accused inspector called in the middleman Sajid Ali Syed and asked him to speak to the man (ACB complainant),” ACB Inspector Prajapati had said.
The accused Syed then allegedly pretended to plead with the accused inspector on behalf of the man and told him that he had managed to bring the bribe amount down to Rs 2 lakh. Over the next three days, between April 12 and 15, the accused persons allegedly kept calling the man, asking him to pay the money or a false case would be filed against him.
The man then approached the ACB, leading to the middleman being arrested and the inspector being booked for corruption.
According to ACB inspector Vasava, Syed was in judicial custody but had filed a bail petition, which was yet to be heard by the local court.
Brendan Dabhi works with The Indian Express, focusing his comprehensive reporting primarily on Gujarat. He covers the region's most critical social, legal, and administrative sectors, notably specializing at the intersection of health, social justice, and disasters. Expertise Health and Public Policy: He has deep expertise in healthcare issues, including rare diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the complex logistics of organ transplants, and public health challenges like drug-resistant TB and heat health surveillance. His on-ground reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic and Mucormycosis was critical in exposing healthcare challenges faced by marginalized communities in Gujarat. Social Justice and Legal Administration: He reports on the functioning of the legal and police system, including the impact of judicial philosophy, forensics and crucial administrative reforms (. He covers major surveillance and crackdown exercises by the Gujarat police and security on the international border. Disaster and Crisis Management: His work closely tracks how government and civic bodies respond to large-scale crises, providing essential coverage on the human and administrative fallout of disasters including cyclones, floods, conflict, major fires and reported extensively on the AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad. Civic Infrastructure and Governance: Provides timely reports on critical civic failures, including large scale infrastructure projects by the railways and civic bodies, as well as the enforcement of municipal regulations and their impact on residents and heritage.... Read More
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-cop-who-threatened-man-with-fake-love-jihad-case-for-bribe-absconding-3-weeks-on-10678362/
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Muslim jail officer marries ex-murder convict in Madhya Pradesh; 'kanyadaan' performed by Bajrang Dal leader
May 8, 2026
BHOPAL: The central jail in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district is, perhaps, the last place one would imagine love to bloom. But so it happened.
What made it even more special is that the blessed couple — Firoza Khatoon, assistant jail superintendent at Satna Central Jail and Dharmendra Singh alias Abhilash, a former life convict who served his sentence in the same prison facility — put a ring on their relationship and even exchanged nuptial vows.
What started with curious conversations over prison files inside the guarded corridors of the correctional facility eventually blossomed into a real-life love story straight out of a Bollywood script.
Wooed and eventually swept off her feet, Firoza married Dharmendra at a wedding solemnised in accordance with Hindu rituals, complete with the chanting of Vedic hymns, in Chhatarpur district on May 5.
The wedding at Lavkushnagar in Chhatarpur has since become the talk of the town, with many calling it a Bollywood rip-off.
According to officials in the know of how the love story unfolded, Firoza, a native of Rewa, was posted as warrant in-charge at Satna Central Jail when Dharmendra was serving a life sentence in a high-profile murder case.
As a reward for his good conduct, Dharmendra was asked to assist in warrant-related paperwork and clerical duties, bringing him into regular contact with the jail officer.
What began as routine interaction during official work slowly grew into friendship and later a relationship, sources said.
Dharmendra, a resident of Chandla in Chhatarpur district, had been convicted in the 2007 murder of Krishna Dutt Dixit, then vice-chairman of Chandla Nagar Parishad. Investigators had alleged that the body was buried after the murder to conceal the crime.
The case made headlines across the region at the time.
Dharmendra was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent nearly 14 years behind bars before being released around four years ago because of good conduct.
Even after his release from prison, the two remained in contact, sources said, adding that over time, they decided to marry despite knowing their relationship could face resistance from relatives and society at large.
Sources said several relatives of Firoza opposed the union and chose not to attend the wedding.
In the absence of her family members, Rajbahadur Mishra, the leader of a rightwing outfit, stepped in to perform the ‘Kanyadaan’ (a Hindu wedding ritual where the bride’s father ceremonially entrusts his daughter’s responsibility to the groom).
Soon after the wedding, photographs of the bride in traditional attire standing beside the former convict spread rapidly across social media and WhatsApp groups, turning the couple into local celebrities overnight.
Inside Satna Central Jail, too, the marriage became one of the biggest talking points among prison staff and inmates. Several officials familiar with the couple congratulated them on their marriage.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/satna-jail-officer-finds-love-behind-bars-marries-former-convict/articleshowprint/130919498.cms
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Red Cross: Insignia of peace and aid in times of distress of humanity
May 8, 2026
The Red Cross insignia evokes an image of hospital, ambulance, medical and healthcare staff. But beyond these services, it stands for neutrality in times of extreme hostilities and assurance of dignified treatment every human being deserves.
Since the adoption of a red cross on a white flag as the emblem of Red Cross movement in 1864, the organisation has spread across the globe where every country has an individual unit of the Red Cross Society. The ‘red cross on a white flag’ was a tribute to Switzerland whose flag has a white cross on a red flag. This was so because peace apostle Jean Henri Dunant was a Swiss national, born in Geneva on May 8. Dunant was the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1901). That is why May 8 is celebrated as the World Red Cross Day.
However, the Muslim world initially found the emblem objectionable as the cross is also associated with the crucixion of Jesus Christ.
Muslims found an answer to the sign of Red Cross in Red Crescent though crescent has nothing to do with Islam. Crescent became a Muslim sign when the Ottoman rulers adopted it from the Byzantine empire which had the ‘crescent’ on their honour medals. Muslim relation with Crescent, at best, be claimed for them following the lunar calender which begins with a Crescent. Many Islamic countries have crescent insignia on their flags.
Red Cross and Red Crescent both are displayed on white flag and their internal federation is called the International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Both share the same motto: neutrality and selfless service.
Red Cross became so popular that even Mahatma Gandhi served as a volunteer during the Boer War (1889-1903). A pencil drawing shows him wearing stricter bearer’s uniform, red cross band and an army hat.
In 1884, disaster relief was added to the Red Cross agenda.
UP CONNECTION: Uttar Pradesh Red Cross Society, too, has a contribution to the Red Cross, both in terms of membership drive and for pressing against the unauthorized use of the Red Cross emblem. Late MN Abdi of Lucknow Red Cross, who served as the vice-chairman of Indian Red Cross, tirelessly fought for ban on use of ‘red cross’ sign by chemists, doctors, and other medical services without becoming a member of the society. He also urged for legislative intervention for securing the sanctity of the mark in line with the Chinese Red Cross which had banned the use of Red Cross by non-Members and bodies. Finally, under the amended Red Cross Act, the ‘Red Cross’ was barred from use by any other organisation or service and a new sign was adopted by medical services. In 1985, MN Abdi was awarded presidents gold medal which was the first and the only honour UP Red Cross received so far at the national level.
Red Cross has its junior unit which enrolls young men and women as volunteers. Additionally, The St John Ambulance Brigade is its arms for training of First Aid and auxiliary services.
With noble objects of selfless service Indian Red Cross should expand its working to include changing social needs in its agenda. Chaotic urban traffic, falling environmental standards, ecological imbalance and civic awareness for healthy life can be the new task for red cross society to adopt. Junior red cross volunteers can imbibe the required sagacity in the impressionable minds.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/red-cross-insignia-of-peace-and-aid-in-times-of-distress-of-humanity/articleshowprint/130922873.cms
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Congress Counters 'Muslim League' Image After Assembly Poll Results
Jainendra Kumar
May 8, 2026
The Congress faces an image problem after the recent state elections. The party won just 19 seats in Assam. Of those, 18 candidates are Muslims and one Hindu. Even in Bengal, its two newly elected MLAs are Muslims. This has triggered "Muslim League" jibes by the BJP and Badruddin Ajmal's AIUDF, a regional party in Assam.
The Congress's social media chief, Supriya Shrinate, countered the narrative with data. Of the total of 664 Congress MLAs across the country, there are 520 Hindus (78%), 80 Muslims (12%), and 64 from other religions (10%), she pointed out.
This data indicates that the MLA demographics are in proportion to the population, concluded a senior Congress leader. The Congress represents everyone, according to the population, he stressed, calling it the "real development" of everyone.
"The BJP leaders say they don't need Muslim votes. If the BJP rejected the Muslims, the Muslim voters also rejected the BJP. So, what is the objection if Muslims voted for a national secular party instead of the BJP and so-called Muslim parties like the AIUDF and AIMIM?" asked the Congress leader.
'Muslim League' Jibes
The BJP had long been accusing the Congress of appeasing Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, called the party "Muslim League Maoist Congress" during the campaign. The Congress retaliated sharply. It described the PM's remark as an attempt to polarise and distract from basic issues.
The Congress had never presented the religion data of its MLAs and MPs earlier. But its worst-ever performance in Assam has now forced the party to do so to counter this BJP narrative.
The reason was clear: of all 24 opposition MLAs in the 126-member assembly, only two are Hindus. One of them is the Congress's JP Das, and the other is Congress ally Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi. Besides, all except one of the party's Assam MLAs are Muslims.
Assam's minister Pijush Hazarika has said that the Congress has turned into a "Muslim League". Claiming that Congress is surviving politically only based on minority votes, he said, "Even senior leaders have admitted this reality. Congress has now become a Muslim League in the state."
Even Badruddin Ajmal, who himself is a minority politician, echoed similar remarks.
Is Congress Worried?
The Congress's response shows that it is worried about the inherent dangers to its image due to such narratives. Especially so, because it comes months ahead of another election cycle crucial for the party.
Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand are set to go to polls at the beginning of next year. At the end of 2027, Gujarat and Himachal will vote. Next year, in 2028, elections will be held in Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.
The Congress is in direct competition with the BJP in all these states. In three of these, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, the Congress is also in power. Therefore, the party realises that a 'Muslim League' image may be problematic in front of Hindutva politics.
A Congress leader told NDTV that the party is not afraid. They (BJP) have been saying such things since the time of Gandhi-Nehru, and it is our duty to respond to misleading things with facts so that the right message reaches the people, he said.
According to Supriya Shrinate, this is not a changed strategy.
"We are proud that the Congress represents all religions, classes, regions, and languages of the country. It is our responsibility to respond to the BJP's fake propaganda. In Kerala, the Congress coalition won a great victory. Our MLAs are in equal proportion to the population of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities," she added.
The Congress's only Hindu MLA in Assam, Joy Prakash Das, told NDTV that there is no doubt that the BJP has won big and that the Congress has lost, but it is wrong to say that the Hindus did not vote for Congress.
Congress candidates received up to 40 per cent votes in the Hindu-majority seats, he said, adding that it is natural that the BJP candidates who got more votes won.
Das won the Nowboicha seat in Lakhimpur by a margin of more than 23,000 votes against Assam Gana Parishad candidate Basanta Das.
Source: ndtv.com
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Students protest closure of Shopian seminary after UAPA action in Kashmir
Muzaffar Raina
08.05.26
Students and teachers of Shopian’s Islamic seminary Siraj-ul-Uloom have staged protests against the recent closure of the institute after being declared an unlawful entity under the anti-terror law UAPA.
The protesters urged the administration to reopen it to safeguard their future.
The protests against government decisions involving security issues have been rare in Kashmir since the 2019 scrapping of Article 370, as the victims fear further victimisation by the agencies.
Scores of students, accompanied by their parents, staged protests in Shopian and marched towards the deputy commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum urging the government to reconsider its decisions. They carried placards that read “save
our future” and “open our school” and raised slogans that education was their fundamental right.
A student said it was one of the best educational institutions in the Valley and its closure threatens to ruin their future. “We received modern education at our school. We have come here to urge the government to reconsider its decision,” he said.
Siraj-ul-Uloom was a leading Islamic seminary in the Valley, which combined traditional religious teachings with modern education. It was declared an entity under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), marking the first time a major Islamic institution had been brought under the anti-terror law.
The seminary runs a school and a college, with a combined staff and student strength of 102 and 814.
The government order issued by Kashmir divisional commissioner Anshul Garg on April 24 claimed the institution maintained a “sustained and covert linkages” with the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. The management denied the claims.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Mideast
Lebanon says at least 12 killed in Israeli attacks
May 07, 2026
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s health ministry reported at least 12 people killed, including two children and a paramedic, in a series of Israeli airstrikes carried out on Thursday in spite of a ceasefire.
In separate statements, the ministry reported 11 people killed, two of them children, in strikes on three different villages in Nabatieh district. Another strike in Marajayoun district killed one paramedic from a Hezbollah-affilitated rescue service and wounded another, the ministry said.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel indicts Jewish man accused of attacking Christian nun in Jerusalem
May 07, 2026
TEL AVIV: Israel on Thursday indicted a Jewish man over a violent attack on a nun near Jerusalem’s Old City last week, the latest in a string of high-profile incidents targeting Christians and religious symbols.
The indictment identified the man as Yona Schreiber, 36, from the Israeli-occupied West Bank settlement of Peduel. It comes after a video of the assault received wide condemnation from foreign and Christian leaders.
Schreiber was arrested last week, and Israel’s attorney general recommended extending his detention for the duration of the case. Schreiber’s lawyer refused to speak to an Associated Press journalist at the court.
According to the indictment, Schreiber attacked a woman in Jerusalem, just outside of the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, because she was wearing a habit that identified her as a Catholic nun. He pushed her and then kicked her while she was lying on the ground, and also attacked a passerby who attempted to halt his attack, the indictment said.
Schreiber is being charged with simple assault, and assault motivated by religious hostility.
Olivier Poquillon, the director of the French School of Biblical and Archaeological Research, said that the nun was a researcher at the school. He called the attack an “act of sectarian violence” in an X post.
Religious groups have documented a rise in acts of harassment and violence against Christian pilgrims and clergy as well as Palestinian Christian residents, including assaults and spitting, often by extremist ultra-Orthodox Jews.
The arrest comes as Israeli treatment of religious minorities is under scrutiny, weeks after police limited access for holiday worship in Jerusalem’s holiest sites because of security concerns during the Iran war.
Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was prohibited from holding a private Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday, the first time in centuries Catholic leaders have been prevented from observing Palm Sunday at the church. After the uproar, Jerusalem police eventually worked out a compromise for a limited Easter Mass at the church.
Israel also drew international criticism after a soldier photographed himself bludgeoning a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross with an ax in southern Lebanon. Israeli leaders later disavowed the incident and said that he would be reprimanded, and assisted local residents in replacing the statue.
The Israeli military also opened an investigation into a soldier photographed shoving a cigarette into the mouth of the statue of the Virgin Mary, which was apparently photographed several weeks ago. The military said that it views the incident with “utmost severity.” And there have been questions and concern about Israeli soldiers bulldozing parts of a Catholic convent in southern Lebanon.
Last month, Israel’s Foreign Ministry appointed former Ambassador George Deek to be the special envoy to the Christian world, in response to the incidents. Deek previously served as Israel’s ambassador to Azerbaijan and was Israel’s first Arab Christian ambassador.
Deek condemned the soldier filmed smoking a cigarette with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and stressed that Israel “is committed to preserving religious freedom and the dignity of all religions.”
Israel’s founding declaration includes safeguarding freedom of religion and all holy places, and it portrays itself as an oasis of religious tolerance in a volatile region.
But some church authorities and monitoring groups have lamented a recent increase in anti-Christian sentiment and harassment. The issue is particularly pronounced in Jerusalem’s Old City, a densely populated area with narrow alleyways of ancient stones, which houses holy sites for Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Wadie Abunassar, the coordinator of the Holy Land Christian Forum, last week called attacks targeting Christians a growing phenomenon. He attributed the quick response to the attack on the nun to the fact that it was caught on video.
He said that he felt “great anger on the system and great sadness, because I feel that this will not end anytime soon.” One of the problems, he said, was insufficient deterrence against such violence.
“Many times in such cases there are no arrests and if there are arrests, sometimes after one or two days, (suspects) are released,” he added. “In some cases, the police do not recommend the prosecution to file charges or to indict them. And in some cases, when there is indictment, the indictment is mild.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Lebanon civil defence says Israeli strike kills rescuer in south
May 08, 2026
BEIRUT: An Israeli strike on south Lebanon killed a member of Lebanon’s civil defense, the rescue organization said Friday, a day after another strike killed a rescuer from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee.
In a statement, the civil defense said their rescuer was killed “as a result of an Israeli strike that targeted him” on the road between two southern towns, despite the truce in effect.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday it had “verified 152 attacks on health care that resulted in 103 deaths and 241 injuries” in Lebanon since the war began on March 2.
Source: arabnews.com
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UAE reports drone and missile attack as Iran war ceasefire is challenged
May 08, 2026
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defense announced that the country’s air defenses were “actively engaging” with a missile and drone attack early Friday as the shaky ceasefire in the Iran war came under renewed strain.
The ministry advised residents not to approach, photograph or touch “any debris or fragments that have fallen as a result of successful air interceptions.”
The latest attack came amid growing regional tensions despite a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States that has largely held since April 8.
Hours earlier, the US military said it had intercepted Iranian attacks on three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday night and carried out strikes on Iranian military facilities linked to attacks on American forces.
US Central Command said in a social media post that US forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with self-defense strikes.
US Central Command said in a social media post that US forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and responded with self-defense strikes.
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The US military said no ships were hit and stressed that it did not seek escalation but “remains positioned and ready to protect American forces.”
President Donald Trump told reporters in Washington that the ceasefire was still holding despite the latest violence.
The UAE was heavily targeted during the first six weeks of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began on Feb. 28 when Washington and Israel launched strikes against Iranian targets.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi this week accused Tehran of resuming drone and missile attacks on UAE territory, with strikes reported on Monday and Tuesday marking the first such attacks since the April 8 ceasefire agreement.
According to UAE officials, the country has faced more than 2,000 drones, hundreds of ballistic missiles and dozens of cruise missiles launched from Iran since the conflict began. While most were intercepted, the attacks killed at least 13 people, wounded more than 200 and damaged energy infrastructure and landmark buildings.
Other Gulf Arab states have also faced repeated attacks during the conflict despite insisting they were not involved in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
On Thursday, the UAE announced the formation of a national committee tasked with documenting Iranian attacks and the resulting human, economic and material damage as part of preparations for possible legal action against Tehran.
The committee, chaired by the UAE attorney general, will compile evidence of what officials described as “Iranian acts of aggression” and alleged international crimes committed against the UAE, its citizens, residents and visitors.
State news agency WAM said the body would document violations according to internationally recognized legal and technical standards to support the country’s pursuit of accountability, justice and reparations.
The announcement came a day after the UAE condemned what it described as hostile statements by Tehran accusing Abu Dhabi’s cooperation with the US of threatening Iran’s security and national interests.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said its defense partnerships and international relations were a “purely sovereign matter.”
In-person talks between the US and Iran hosted by Pakistan last month failed to produce a broader agreement to end the war.
Source: arabnews.com
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Lebanon, Israel to hold new talks in Washington May 14-15: US
May 07, 2026
WASHINGTON: Lebanon and Israel will hold a new round of peace talks on May 14-15 in Washington, a US official said Thursday, despite a new Israeli strike in the heart of Beirut.
The attack late Wednesday killed a senior commander of Hezbollah, with Israel saying it will keep targeting the Iranian-backed group despite a ceasefire in place in Lebanon.
Next week’s talks will be the third between Israel and Lebanon, which had not spoken directly for decades and have no diplomatic relations.
“There will be talks between Lebanon and Israel Thursday and Friday next week in Washington,” a State Department official said on condition of anonymity.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 2,700 people since March 2, including dozens since a ceasefire was declared, according to Lebanese authorities.
At the last talks on April 23, the two sides met in the White House with President Donald Trump, who announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire.
He also said that he expected a historic meeting within the ceasefire period between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
But Aoun said Monday that the timing was not yet right for a meeting, saying that first the two countries must reach a security agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at a news conference on Tuesday, said that “there’s no problem between the Lebanese government and the Israeli government” and that Hezbollah was the issue.
“By and large, I think a peace deal between Lebanon and Israel is eminently achievable and should be,” Rubio said.
Israel has carried out heavy bombings of Lebanon and as well as a ground invasion of southern Lebanon.
It was responding to rocket fire by Hezbollah, a Shia group backed by Iran’s ruling clerics which had vowed to avenge the killing of Iran’s long-time supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the start of the war on Iran launched by Trump and Netanyahu on February 28.
An Israeli strike on Wednesday also killed four people in the eastern Bekaa Valley, with Israel saying it was targeting Hezbollah.
The two previous rounds of talks in Washington were held between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States.
Source: arabnews.com
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US imposes sanctions on Iraq’s deputy oil minister, militias over Iran support
May 07, 2026
WASHINGTON: The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on Iraq’s deputy oil minister and militias over support for Iran, the Treasury Department said.
The Treasury Department accused Iraq’s deputy minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly of abusing “his position to facilitate the diversion of oil to be sold for the benefit of the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in Iraq.”
Iraq’s oil ministry and the deputy minister did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In March, Iraq’s oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani said Iranian oil tankers stopped by US forces in the Gulf were using forged Iraqi documents. Tehran denied using such documents.
The move to sanction the deputy minister comes as the United States and Iran edged toward a temporary agreement to halt the war, with Tehran reviewing a proposal that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues unresolved.
The US Treasury is also sanctioning three senior leaders of Iran-aligned militias Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, it said.
“Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran’s military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against the United States and our partners,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
The sanctions freeze any US assets of those targeted and generally bar Americans from dealing with them.
Source: arabnews.com
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Israel strikes across southern Lebanon despite truce
May 07, 2026
NABATIEH: Israel pummelled southern Lebanon on Thursday, state media and AFP correspondents said, a day after it targeted a Hezbollah commander in its first strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs since a truce sought to end weeks of fighting.
The Israeli army said Thursday that the strike on the southern suburbs killed “the Commander of Hezbollah’s ‘Radwan Force’ Unit,” an elite unit within the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.
A ceasefire in the war between Hezbollah and Israel began on April 17, but combat has largely not stopped in southern Lebanon.
Wednesday’s strike near the capital, however, came as a shock in Lebanon.
AFP photographs taken in the southern suburbs showed the top floors of a residential building totally destroyed, and rescuers searching through the rubble on Thursday morning.
Hezbollah has not retaliated for the attack.
Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes across a number of southern towns and villages, and the Israeli army issued fresh evacuation warnings to three villages north of the Litani River, and outside the area occupied by Israeli troops following their ground invasion of the border area.
Some of the Israeli strikes, on the southern city of Nabatieh, targeted a shopping center and residential buildings, state media and an AFP correspondent said.
In the nearby village of Toul, two rescuers from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee were wounded in an Israeli strike as they were dispatched following a previous attack, spokesperson Mahmoud Karaki told AFP.
The team’s ambulance was heavily damaged, he added.
The Israeli military said in a statement Thursday that an “explosive drone impact” wounded four soldiers — one severely — in southern Lebanon the previous day.
Despite the ceasefire, Hezbollah regularly claims attacks against Israeli forces occupying parts of southern Lebanon.
Since the war began on March 2, Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,700 people in Lebanon.
The Israeli military says it has lost 17 soldiers and a contractor in south Lebanon.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab World
Saudi Arabia a ‘no-go area’ for Pakistan, deputy PM says amid US-Iran conflict
Falak Mahmood Khan
May 07, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday Islamabad had warned all parties involved in the US-Iran conflict that Saudi Arabia was a “no-go area” for Pakistan, underscoring the country’s security commitment to the Kingdom under a mutual defense pact signed last year.
Dar’s remarks come amid heightened regional tensions following months of confrontation between Iran, Israel and the United States that have raised fears of a broader Middle East conflict involving Gulf states.
“We told the parties involved [in the US-Iran conflict] that, ‘Please, Saudi Arabia is a no-go area for us. That anyone should even cast an evil eye toward it,’” Dar said while addressing the 6th International Paigham-e-Islam Conference in Islamabad.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic mutual defense agreement in September 2025 that formalized decades of military and security cooperation between the two allies. The pact states that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both and strengthened joint deterrence arrangements between Islamabad and Riyadh.
Dar said Pakistan was bound by the agreement to support Saudi Arabia’s security if required. He also noted that Pakistani military personnel, including an air force contingent, were already stationed in the Kingdom.
Pakistan has longstanding defense ties with Saudi Arabia, including military training cooperation, troop deployments and security coordination spanning decades.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also addressed the conference, said Pakistan considered the protection of Saudi Arabia’s holy sites a matter of utmost importance.
“The protection, defense and security of the sacred land of the Two Holy Mosques is extremely important and dearer to us than our lives,” Sharif said.
“The mutual defense agreements between the two brotherly countries affirm this iron resolve of ours.”
Sharif also praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
“I would like to pay tribute to my very dear brother, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
“For he played his full role for these peace negotiations. He played a complete role.”
Pakistan has in recent months positioned itself as a mediator in regional diplomacy, hosting direct US-Iran talks in Islamabad in April following decades without formal face-to-face negotiations between the two sides.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia expands digital Hajj services through Tawakkalna app for Makkah Route pilgrims
May 08, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is expanding its digital services through the national “super app” Tawakkalna, allowing beneficiaries of the Makkah Route Initiative to access and display their Hajj permits electronically before departing from their home countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The move is a part of the Kingdom’s broader push to streamline the pilgrimage journey through integrated digital platforms powered by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
The SDAIA has developed and operates the digital ecosystem supporting the Makkah Route Initiative, linking participating government entities within a unified technical framework designed to speed up procedures and improve verification of personal and biometric data, according to SPA.
Pilgrims using the Tawakkalna application can now view Hajj permits and related travel documents electronically from the initial stages of their journey, enabling a smoother and more efficient experience from departure through arrival at accommodations in Makkah.
The Makkah Route Initiative, launched under the Ministry of Interior, enables pilgrims from selected countries to complete many immigration, customs and health procedures at airports in their home nations before traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
Tawakkalna now offers more than 1,300 services in partnership with over 350 government and private-sector entities, reflecting the Kingdom’s rapid digital transformation drive under Vision 2030.
The application has grown into one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship digital platforms, with more than 35 million users and over 1 million active daily users, according to SPA.
Saudi officials have increasingly positioned Tawakkalna as a unified digital gateway for citizens, residents and visitors, integrating government services, permits, identification documents and travel-related functions into a single platform accessible worldwide.
Last year, the app won the Best Arab Smart Government App award at the Arab Government Excellence Awards organized by the Arab League in Cairo, recognition that highlighted its role in improving digital government services and user experience across the Kingdom.
Saudi officials have also emphasized the platform’s growing use of AI to improve connectivity between government systems and enhance service efficiency.
During the Google Cloud Saudi Summit in Riyadh in November 2025, Tawakkalna executives described the application as an AI-powered national “super app” supporting millions of users through advanced digital infrastructure and integrated services.
The platform is available in multiple languages and has been promoted as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to modernize public services, improve quality of life and facilitate the experience of international visitors, particularly pilgrims traveling for Hajj and Umrah.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy calls for free flow of shipping through Strait of Hormuz
May 08, 2026
NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN said there was an urgent need to "safeguard the stability and security” of the Strait of Hormuz as Gulf nations and the United States pressed the UN on Thursday to demand Iran end its blockage of the vital waterway.
Abdulaziz Alwasil made his comments alongside Gulf allies and the US at the UN as they urged countries to support a resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining of the strait.
The Saudi envoy said the draft resolution calls for immediate international action to “de-escalate tensions, ensure the free and safe flow of trade and humanitarian assistance, restore stability to global markets, and protect affected populations.”
“The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital artery of global trade and any disruption to its security is a matter of serious international concern,” Alwasil said.
“Disruptions to marine transit are affecting global energy markets and hindering the delivery of essential goods, including food, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance with particular severe consequences for vulnerable and import dependent countries,” he added.
Alwasil was joined by US ambassador Mike Waltz and his counterparts from Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.
Waltz said: “We believe in some basic fundamental principles, namely the freedom of navigation for the entire world's economies. That's what's at stake here, nothing less than a cornerstone of worldwide stability and commerce.”
Diplomatic sources said veto-holding Russia, a key ally of Iran, had warned on Wednesday it was prepared to block the UN Security Council resolution, AFP reported.
The United States and Bahrain recently presented the Security Council with a draft resolution calling on Iran to free up the Strait of Hormuz, refrain from charging tolls, specify where it has placed mines, and allow the creation of a humanitarian corridor for shipments of fertilizer, amid fears of global food shortages.
A fifth of the world's oil supplies and a third of the global fertilizers normally pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping has been largely cut off since the war broke out on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
In mid-March the council passed a strongly worded resolution urging Iran to stop attacking its Gulf neighbors and condemning its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia and China abstained in that vote. But in early April they vetoed a text urging countries to coordinate their efforts in a "defensive" way to ensure free navigation through the strait.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia chairs digital cooperation event at UN Sustainable Development Forum
May 07, 2026
Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil co-chaired the “Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development” event alongside Permanent Representative of
Pakistan Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad in New York, SPA reported on Thursday.
The event was organized by the UN Group of Friends for Digital Cooperation in partnership with the Digital Cooperation Organization and the UN Conference on Trade and Development, on the sidelines of the UN Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum in New York.
In his opening remarks, Alwasil emphasized that digital innovation has become a key driver of economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable development.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in digital infrastructure, data, and innovation, as well as efforts to enhance quality of life under Saudi Vision 2030.
He underscored the importance of international digital cooperation in bridging the digital divide and supporting developing countries in benefiting from modern technologies.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi defense minister discusses regional developments with Swedish counterpart
May 07, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minsiter Prince Khalid bin Salman discussed the latest regional developments with his Swedish counterpart on Thursday.
During a call with Pal Jonson, Prince Khalid reviewed Saudi-Swedish defense relations and efforts to promote regional and international security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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KSGAAL, Muslim World League sign deal to champion Arabic language
May 07, 2026
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language and the Muslim World League signed a memorandum of understanding in Riyadh to reinforce the Arabic language in academic, educational and technical sectors.
The agreement was signed by deputy secretary-general Dr. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Abanmi on behalf of the academy and assistant secretary-general Abdulwahab bin Mohammed Al-Shehri on behalf of the league.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the league and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, expressed pride in the partnership, praising the academy’s wide-reaching work in serving Arabic around the world.
The academy’s secretary-general, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, added that the cooperation with the Muslim World League is an opportunity to broaden joint work and develop impactful linguistic initiatives that support the teaching of Arabic and facilitate its use in academic and technical contexts.
The memorandum aims to expand cooperation in the service of Arabic and reinforce its presence in educational and scientific environments by establishing a structured framework for joint work that supports the exchange of expertise and contributes to the development of high-quality programs and initiatives.
Areas of cooperation cover several key tracks, most notably the computerization of Arabic, the building of digital dictionaries and linguistic corpora, teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, the administration of language proficiency tests, and the exchange of linguistic services and consultations.
The memorandum forms part of the academy’s broader efforts to strengthen its international footprint and activate institutional partnerships with measurable impact; supporting the development of linguistic content and reinforcing the position of Arabic across various fields.
On the sidelines of the signing, Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa met Dr. Al-Washmi, with the two discussing a number of issues of mutual interest.
Source: arabnews.com
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Digital Government Authority and UN to establish center in Riyadh
May 07, 2026
RIYADH: The Digital Government Authority held discussions with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) to establish a digital government center affiliated with the UN, to be headquartered in Riyadh, and aimed at enhancing international cooperation, exchange experiences, and developing best practices.
This came as a result of signing of a letter of intent between the DGA and the UN on the sidelines of the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum on Wednesday in New York, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
DGA Governor Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan said that selecting Riyadh as the headquarters for the UN digital government center reflects Saudi Arabia’s leadership and global role as a model in building an integrated digital ecosystem that is human-centric and future-oriented.
He noted that the center represents a pivotal milestone in advancing digital government practices globally, supporting member states, enhancing knowledge exchange, and leveraging artificial intelligence and modern technologies.
He affirmed that this step is a result of the support and enablement that digital government receives from the Sudi leadership within the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Bjorg Sandkjaer, assistant secretary-general for policy coordination at the UN department, indicated that the current discussions are an extension of the ongoing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the UN over the past period, and lay the foundation for a long-term partnership aimed at supporting digital government and strengthening public sector capacities.
She said it will contribute to bridging the digital divide, as the center will work on developing frameworks, standards, and best practices to help member states build comprehensive and sustainable digital strategies that contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals and enhancing their inclusiveness globally.
Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Declaration during the 19th session of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF 2024), which was held in Riyadh. The forum is organized annually by the UN and brings together global experts to discuss and shape international directions and policies in internet governance.
This center builds on the declaration’s focus on enhancing international cooperation, supporting digital inclusion through the use of AI technologies to increase access and bridge the digital divide, and supporting sustainable development by improving quality of life, enhancing environmental protection, and driving economic growth, in addition to enabling responsible innovation and increasing productivity at the global level.
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Europe
NATO members divided over Ukrainian drone incidents
7 May, 2026
A Ukrainian kamikaze drone was likely responsible for damage to empty fuel storage tanks in Latvia, but Kiev should not be blamed for such incidents, Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds has argued. Finland earlier rebuked Kiev for breaches of its airspace.
Several NATO countries bordering Russia have recently reported cases of Ukrainian unmanned aircraft entering their airspace and crashing instead of striking targets inside Russia. Latvian officials said two drones – which the Russian military identified as Ukraine’s Lyuty-type fixed-wing aircraft – crossed into the country overnight. One remains unaccounted for, while another sparked a fire near the town of Rezekne, roughly 40km from the Russian border.
“Ukraine has every right to defend itself,” Spruds stated. He added that incidents involving foreign aircraft entering Latvian airspace will continue as long as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine remains unresolved, blaming Moscow for it.
The muted reaction is in contrast to remarks by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who said earlier in the week that while his nation supports Kiev, he told Vladimir Zelensky during a meeting in Armenia that Finland deems Ukrainian aircraft entering its airspace “unacceptable.”
Russia accuses NATO of enabling attacks
Russian officials have previously accused NATO members of quietly permitting Ukraine to use their airspace to launch strikes on targets inside Russia, particularly in the northwestern Leningrad Region.
The latest string of reports of Ukrainian drones falling in NATO states started in late March, when Kiev focused attacks on Russian Baltic Sea oil export terminals. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland – nations that lie on a flight path from Ukraine to Leningrad Region that avoids Russian ally Belarus – were all affected.
Some of the incidents include:
March 23. A drone explodes after falling into Lake Lavysas in Lithuania;
March 25. Drone wreckage found in Latvia’s Kraslava area;
March 25. A drone hits a chimney of the Auvere Power Plant in Estonia;
March 29. A drone crashes near the city of Kouvola in Finland;
April 1. Drone wreckage found in the Rezekne area in Latvia.
Kiev probing Moscow defenses ahead of Victory Day parade
During the latest overnight wave of Ukrainian attacks, Russian air defenses intercepted 347 drones, according to the Defense Ministry. It added that 570 robotic aircraft were downed over the last 24 hours.
Bryansk Region Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz said 13 civilians, including a child, were injured in strikes on the regional capital. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin also reported a stream of over 30 drones stopped while trying to approach the Russian capital.
Russia is set to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on Saturday. Zelensky previously hinted that Ukraine could target the military parade in central Moscow, prompting Russian officials to warn of a severe retaliatory response against Kiev. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has advised foreign diplomats to stay out of the Ukrainian capital over the weekend as a precaution.
Moscow has said it plans to pause offensive military operations on Friday and Saturday, similar to a temporary truce announced during Orthodox Easter in mid-April. Zelensky, however, demanded a longer ceasefire beginning on Wednesday and repeated warnings regarding Victory Day events after Russia ignored the proposal.
Russian officials maintain that previous long ceasefires were used by Kiev to regroup, rearm, and reinforce frontline positions rather than pursue genuine peace negotiations.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/639559-latvia-ukrainian-drone-incident/
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Islamic Development Bank Group expresses readiness to finance AI initiatives in Azerbaijan
07.05.2026
“The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group is ready to provide financial support to Azerbaijan for artificial intelligence projects,” Yasser Alaki, Director of the Business Development Department at the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), told AZERTAC.
Yasser Alaki noted that artificial intelligence is of global importance, not only for Azerbaijan, adding that the IsDB is ready to financially support relevant initiatives if Azerbaijani companies develop such projects.
He also stated that the group aims to support Azerbaijani companies in expanding exports, attracting investment, and strengthening financial and banking activities, offering services ranging from credit insurance to trade and project financing.
Source: azertag.az
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https://azertag.az/en/xeber/islamic_development_bank_group_expresses_readiness_to_finance_ai_initiatives_in_azerbaijan-4174583
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ICD strikes numerous agreements with Azerbaijan - official
7 May 2026
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 7. The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) has signed 21 agreements as part of its cooperation with Azerbaijan, Ulan Abylgaziev, the Division Manager of the Line of Finance Division within the Banking Department of the ICD, said, Trend reports.
He made the announcement at a presentation dedicated to preparations for the Annual Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank Group.
Abylgaziev noted that Europe and Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, account for the largest share of the organization’s development portfolio, with a significant portion of operations focused on trade finance.
“As part of our cooperation with Azerbaijan, 21 agreements have been signed with nine local financial institutions, primarily commercial banks. The ICD also offers alternative sources of financing, including instruments compliant with Islamic finance principles, which is becoming particularly relevant for Azerbaijan amid the adoption of new business approaches," Abylgaziev added.
He emphasized that the organization’s activities are focused on achieving measurable results: targets are set before projects begin, their impact is monitored throughout the implementation period, and a final evaluation is conducted upon completion: “All work is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ICD collaborates with both commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions, including leasing companies, development banks, and investment and financial organizations.”
Source: trend.az
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https://www.trend.az/azerbaijan/business/4183549.html
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Council centre of ombudsman complaint over 'pro-mosque' bias in Abergavenny
8th May 2026
Three Monmouthshire councillors have submitted a complaint alleging bias and a breach of the council’s statutory duty over a decision to use a former library building as a mosque.
Cllrs Rachel Buckler, Dr Louise Brown and Simon Howarth are being supported by the Christian Legal Centre in their challenge against Monmouthshire County Council over its decision to lease the Carnegie Library building to the Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association (MMCA).
In 2025, councillors and local residents sent a pre-action letter to the council, informing them of their intent to pursue legal action over the decision. The lease was also ‘called in’ to the Labour-led Cabinet of Monmouthshire Council by the Place Scrutiny Committee, but the decision was upheld.
Now, the formal complaint to the ombudsman has been made as a result of the council’s refusal to consider the lease further.
“This is not about opposing a faith community. It is about whether Monmouthshire County Council followed the law and acted fairly with public property.,” said Cllr Rachel Buckler.
“The evidence shows that it didn’t. Public assets appear to have been disposed of at a serious undervalue, without proper marketing, independent valuation, or transparency.”
“When residents are denied access to basic financial information, scrutiny becomes impossible. That should concern anyone who believes in good governance.”
“This decision affects every council taxpayer in Monmouthshire. If valuable assets are effectively given away, the public pays the price. That is why independent scrutiny is now essential.”
All the councillors, none of whom represent wards in Abergavenny, say they are now acting in their capacity as residents and not in a council capacity,
The MMCA was awarded the lease for just £6,000 per year for 30 years, despite the property being valued at between £20,000 and £25,000 per year. Documents seen by the Chronicle also show another bidder could have paid over £30,000 per year.
Advisers from the Christian legal Centre have suggested the lease violated the Local Government Act 1972, which states the undervaluation of council assets is a breach of the legislation.
However, it should be stressed that the MMCA scored the highest out of any of the applicants for the lease on Monmouthshire Council’s matrix system, which considers other elements like the benefit the intended purpose of the building brings to the community.
But the lack of requirement to consult nearby residents on the proposal has also caused concern within the community, according to to the complainants. There is no requirement to seek planning permission or launch a public consultation to change the purpose of the building to a place of worship.
They argue that this should have made it paramount to ask residents who “would be directly affected by daily religious activities, increased footfall, noise, lighting and smells from regular communal meals” what they thought of the proposals.
“These are elderly residents living just metres from the building. Many are frail and depend on peace, routine and privacy. Yet they were never consulted, never warned, and never given the chance to express their concerns,” said Dr Louise Brown.
“That is not community cohesion. It is a top‑down imposition which fails to treat vulnerable residents with dignity or care.”
Meanwhile, a resident of a nearby Rachel Herbert almshouse has also instructed solicitors to complain to the ombudsman on the grounds of disturbance and loss of privacy.
Source: abergavennychronicle.com
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https://www.abergavennychronicle.com/news/council-centre-of-ombudsman-complaint-over-pro-mosque-bias-in-abergavenny-904607
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Long vacant Gosport shop could become Islamic prayer centre
8 May 2026
By George Ratcliffe
A long vacant shop could be turned into a place of worship and education centre.
Plans have been submitted to convert a vacant shop into a new community facility in Forton Road, Gosport.
The two-storey property, which has been unoccupied for five years, is proposed to become a meeting hall for the Gosport Islamic Society.
The society, a registered charity, currently rents space at the Nimrod Community Centre on Falcon Meadows Way.
Plans suggest the new facility would be used by 50 to 60 people for Friday afternoon prayers and significant religious festivals.
At other times, the number of users is expected to be lower, the application states.
The plans state that the community would "benefit significantly" from the change of use.
The proposal, lodged by the building's new owners, highlights the long-standing vacancy of the property, with business rates last issued or paid in March 2022, before being sold at auction.
According to the plans the site would be open for around five hours a day at sunrise, noon, late afternoon, sunset and night.
The plans can be seen on the Gosport Borough Council planning portal using reference 26/00131/FULL.
Source: dailyecho.co.uk
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https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/26086134.long-vacant-gosport-shop-become-islamic-prayer-centre/
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Europeans want to break free from US – survey
7 May, 2026
Around 70% of people living in the EU and UK want more independence from the US and believe it’s time for Europe to “go its own way,” a new study compiled by the Germany-based research foundation Bertelsmann Stiftung indicates.
According to the survey, some 73% of respondents across the EU believe that it is time for the continent to drift away from Washington. UK respondents expressed a similar level of desire to free themselves from the clutches of the US, measuring at 67%.
The sentiment has been steadily growing across the bloc over the past few years, measuring some 63% back in 2024, the foundation noted. The level of mistrust towards the US has been growing as well, with only 42% deeming it a trustworthy partner against 46% last year, according to the researcher.
The survey, which was released on Thursday, is based on a sampling opinions of some 18,000 respondents across all 27 EU member states and some 2,000 in the UK. The polls were conducted in March this year among people aged between 18 and 69 years, with the sample meant to reflect current population distributions in terms of age, gender, and population density.
Over the past few years, EU politicians have repeatedly called for gaining more independence from Washington, primarily in terms of foreign policy and security. Such rhetoric escalated after US President Donald Trump took office early last year for the second time.
In just over a year, the US has had repeated run-ins with its European allies, engaging in a brief trade war, sparring over taking a different approach to the Ukraine conflict, Washington’s threats to seize Greenland from Denmark, and other issues.
The situation further deteriorated in the wake of the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which has not been supported by Washington’s European allies. Moreover, the hostilities in the Middle East caused worldwide disruptions in oil and gas supply, with the issue heavily affecting many European nations.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639590-european-want-us-independence/
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Germany mulls fines amid faltering army recruitment drive – Spiegel
7 May, 2026
Germany is considering imposing fines on young men who fail to complete mandatory military questionnaires as part of a new army recruitment drive, according to a report by Der Spiegel.
Berlin has been seeking to rapidly expand the Bundeswehr as part of a broader EU military buildup, aiming to increase the number of active troops from the current 186,000 to over 260,000 by the mid-2030s. German officials have repeatedly cited an alleged Russian threat to justify the plans, something that Moscow has dismissed as “nonsense.”
Around 10,000 men who failed to complete the government’s online survey despite receiving reminder notices are now reportedly facing penalties of €250 ($294), the outlet wrote on Thursday. Officials previously warned that fines of up to €1,000 could be imposed.
The questionnaire, which asks recipients about their physical fitness, health condition and willingness to serve, was introduced earlier this year as part of a new voluntary military service program promoted by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Under the Military Service Modernization Act, all 18-year-old German men are required to register for potential service by completing the form and undergoing a medical checkup.
The legislation also stipulates that recruits could potentially be called up via lottery should the armed forces face manpower shortages. In March, several thousand high school students took to the streets of Berlin to protest measures that could pave the way for the return of compulsory military service.
Germany abolished conscription in 2011. However, senior officials, including Pistorius, have recently suggested it could be reinstated. Last year, Pistorius claimed that Russia could attack a NATO member “as early as 2028,” insisting on the need for a costly military buildup. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has similarly stated that he aimed to turn the country’s military into the strongest conventional armed force in the EU.
Moscow has consistently denied harboring aggressive intentions towards its Western neighbors. Commenting on Germany’s continued military buildup, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that it could lead to another tragedy on a global scale, referring to World War II.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639586-germany-fines-faltering-recruitment/
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North America
Trump promises ‘one big glow’ in Iran if ceasefire collapses
7 May, 2026
The US military has launched a wave of strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran accused Washington of violating the ceasefire and retaliated against American warships in the area.
US President Donald Trump downplayed the latest strikes as “just a love tap,” after Tehran “trifled” with Washington, while warning that the US would strike Iran “a lot harder, and a lot more violently” unless Tehran signs a deal “fast.”
“I’ll let you know when there’s no ceasefire… You’re just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran,” the US leader stated.
US Central Command claimed it targeted Iranian launch sites, command-and-control locations, and surveillance nodes in “self-defense.”
The US Department of War accused Iran of an “unprovoked” missile, drone, and small-boat attack on the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason – all of which are involved in imposing the blockade of Iranian ports.
Tehran, however, accused Washington of violating the ceasefire first by attacking an oil tanker inside Iranian territorial waters and coordinating with “some regional countries” to strike civilian areas along the coasts of Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island.
The IRGC Navy claimed that three US warships fled the strategic waterway after suffering “significant damage.” Both CENTCOM and Trump, however, insisted that no US assets were hit.
Here are the latest developments:
Ahead of the latest escalation, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait reportedly lifted restrictions on US military access to bases and airspace, which had previously forced Trump to halt his much-hyped Project Freedom military escort operation in Hormuz.
The US Department of War did not specify which areas of Iran were hit, but a senior American official told Fox News that US forces struck the port in Qeshm, Iran and Bandar Abbas, as well as the Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab.
RT’s crew filmed flashes in the sky over Tehran after Iranian media reported that air defenses had also been activated in western Tehran to counter “hostile targets.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/639591-us-iran-port-strikes/
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CAIR OP-ED: OK Muslims have religious rights despite efforts to erase them | Opinion – The Oklahoman
May 7, 2026
The Constitution has not changed. What has changed is that some self-appointed religious police now believe the political climate gives them permission to try again to claim they are empowered to place their personal conditions on American freedom. They are wrong, legally, historically and ethically.
Oklahoma taxpayers already footed the bill for a politician’s misadventure into banning the world’s second-largest religion in the state.
They should not have to pay the price for such unconstitutional folly a second time.
Corey Saylor
Veronica Laizure-Henry
Corey Saylor is the Research and Advocacy Director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. Veronica Laizure-Henry is the statewide staff attorney for Oklahoma at the CAIR Legal Defense Fund.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-op-ed-ok-muslims-have-religious-rights-despite-efforts-to-erase-them-opinion-the-oklahoman/
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CAIR-WA Welcomes Hate Crime Charges in Racist Attack
May 7, 2026
The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the filing of hate crime charges against a Seattle man accused of targeting a Black grocery store employee in Ballard with racist slurs, violent threats, and the use of a vehicle as a weapon.
Prosecutors allege that 27-year-old Jack Vafi shouted racial slurs at a Black employee at a Ballard QFC before attempting to strike the worker with his vehicle in the store parking garage. Authorities say the suspect returned the following day and threatened to come back with a gun.
“Allegedly targeting someone because of their race is an attack on the safety and dignity of the entire community,” said Imraan Siddiqi, Executive Director of CAIR-WA. “We commend prosecutors for pursuing hate crime charges in this disturbing case and urge continued vigilance against the rising normalization of hate-driven rhetoric and violence in our state and nationwide. Hate crimes leave lasting trauma not only for victims, but for entire communities.”
He said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-wa-welcomes-hate-crime-charges-in-racist-attack/
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CAIR-CT Urges Travelers to Know Their Rights Ahead of Hajj and Summer Travel Season
May 7, 2026
As thousands of Muslims across the United States prepare to travel for Hajj, family visits, business trips, and summer vacations, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) is reminding community members to understand their constitutional rights while traveling through U.S. airports.
In light of ongoing concerns regarding immigration enforcement encounters, airport screenings, and incidents of anti-Muslim profiling, CAIR-CT has launched a community awareness initiative aimed at educating travelers about their legal protections and available resources.
“Many travelers, particularly those from Muslim and immigrant communities, continue to experience heightened scrutiny at airports,” said Farhan Memon, CAIR-CT Chairman. “Knowing your rights can help travelers navigate these situations calmly, confidently, and safely. Over the years, many Muslims have been delayed, extensively questioned, and in some cases had their phones seized without clear justification simply because they were Muslim. Last year alone, CAIR-CT assisted a Muslim traveler from Connecticut’s 2nd Congressional District whose phone was seized, and another individual from the 5th District who was delayed and subjected to extensive questioning. Many other cases go unreported. This kind of profiling and discriminatory treatment must come to an end.”
CAIR-CT emphasized that travelers interacting with officers from the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection still retain important constitutional protections. Travelers have the right to remain silent, ask whether they are being detained, request an attorney, and be treated with dignity and without discrimination.
The organization also reminded travelers that:
U.S. citizens cannot be denied entry into the United States;
Green card holders should not sign documents or surrender their status without speaking to an attorney; and
Visa holders should answer basic questions truthfully while avoiding unnecessary disclosures.
CAIR-CT also highlighted growing concerns regarding digital privacy at airports. Officers may ask to search electronic devices, including phones and laptops. Travelers are encouraged to minimize sensitive data on devices, back up important information, and understand that while refusing to provide passwords may lead to delays or device seizure, individuals should never provide false information to law enforcement officers.
For Muslims traveling to or returning from Saudi Arabia for Hajj, CAIR-CT advised travelers to expect possible additional screening and to carry travel itineraries, hotel information, and group details. The organization also reminded travelers to comply with airline regulations regarding Zamzam water and religious items.
CAIR-CT encouraged all travelers who experience harassment, discrimination, or rights violations at airports to document the incident, request officers’ names and badge numbers, and contact the organization for assistance.
The organization is also offering Know Your Rights presentations for mosques, community centers, and organizations throughout Connecticut.
Read and download CAIR-CT’s Know Your Rights as an airline passenger guide here:
CAIR-CT Know Your Rights Guide
Watch CAIR’s Know Your Rights travel video here:
CAIR-CT Know Your Rights Video
Access multilingual Know Your Rights materials in English, Arabic, Bengali, Bosnian, Farsi, Somali, Urdu, Dari, and Pashto here:
Multilingual Know Your Rights Resources
Request a Know Your Rights session for your mosque or organization here:
Request a CAIR-CT Know Your Rights Session
Community members seeking assistance may contact CAIR-CT at:
Phone: (203) 290-1727
Email: info@cair-ct.com
CAIR-CT is the Connecticut chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ct-urges-travelers-to-know-their-rights-ahead-of-hajj-and-summer-travel-season/
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St. Albert man charged after Muslim man attacked, allegedly called racial slurs
May 7, 2026
Police say a St. Albert man has been charged after a man was assaulted and allegedly called racial slurs last week.
Civil liberties groups have described the May 1 assault on Ali Wahad Noor as “violent Islamophobia,” though St. Albert RCMP are not saying if hate was a factor in their submission to an Alberta Justice Crown Prosecutor.
Ryan Richard Lacasse, 40, has been charged with aggravated assault and uttering threats. He’s also facing two Traffic Safety Act offences.
Mounties say multiple calls came in from witnesses about the daytime assault on Poirier Avenue and Parkwood Drive. Witnesses reported that racial slurs and anti-immigrant comments were made by the suspect during the assault.
Lacasse was arrested shortly after; Noor was injured and treated in hospital.
“Your local RCMP is taking this incident extremely seriously, and we are investigating fully, including the indication of racial slurs being uttered,” said Insp. Aaron White, the officer in charge of the St. Albert RCMP, on Wednesday.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) says Noor and his wife were driving back home from the Muslim Association of St. Albert when the alleged “brutal” assault occurred.
“The man was allegedly slammed to the ground, and was accosted with racial obscenities, the attacker called him a ‘(expletive) immigrant,’ insulted Islam, used the N-word and threatened to kill him. He suffered a laceration to his right eye and pavement burns,” according to the NCCM.
Friends of Noor’s have shared with CityNews pictures of injuries to his face and arm.
Lacasse is scheduled to appear in court on June 8. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
Source: edmonton.citynews.ca
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2026/05/07/st-albert-man-attack-charges/
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US diplomats warned against wagering on Iran talks – media
7 May, 2026
US diplomats have been warned against using confidential government information to place wagers tied to the Iran talks, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The warning comes amid growing scrutiny over suspiciously timed bets and trades linked to the war in the Middle East.
The US State Department has issued a memorandum reminding employees worldwide that using undisclosed official information for financial gain is a “very serious offense” that “will not be tolerated,” the WSJ wrote on Thursday. The directive reportedly referenced online prediction platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket, where users can speculate on global events.
According to the report, the memo came a week after the arrest of a US special forces soldier accused of using classified information to profit from wagers tied to the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Prosecutors allege the suspect – who has since pleaded not guilty – earned more than $400,000 through bets placed ahead of a US military raid in January.
Polymarket has faced mounting scrutiny over the Iran-related wagers, with media outlets reporting that a group of accounts earned more than $1 million through bets predicting the US-Israeli bombardment of Iran.
The problem of insider trading has also spread to traditional financial markets.
A massive short position on crude oil was placed on Wednesday one hour before a report of a possible US-Iran peace deal sent prices crashing. Energy-market analysts told MarketWatch the activity appeared suspicious, describing it as part of a broader pattern that has emerged since the start of the conflict in late February.
The Justice Department and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission are also reportedly examining at least four oil trades worth more than $2.6 billion that were placed shortly before market-moving statements by US and Iranian officials.
The scrutiny over geopolitical wagering has also drawn attention to the Trump family’s links to the industry over potential conflicts of interest. The New York Times reported in January that Donald Trump Jr. had advisory ties to both Polymarket and Kalshi, and had an investment in the former through his venture firm, 1789 Capital.
Trump himself downplayed the insider trading controversy, telling reporters he was “not happy with any of that stuff,” while adding that “the whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino.”
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/business/639567-us-diplomats-betting-iran-war/
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US could drill for oil under military bases – Bloomberg
7 May, 2026
The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering extracting oil from beneath military bases to refill the depleted Strategic Petroleum Reserve, according to Bloomberg.
Created in the mid-1970s, the SPR is an emergency stockpile meant to alleviate oil price spikes in times of supply disruptions.
Global oil prices have soared above $100 a barrel in the wake of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran that began in late February, as Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz to “enemy ships.” Before the war broke out, the strategically important waterway accounted for roughly 20% of global crude trade.
While Trump has downplayed the impact of the Strait of Hormuz blockade on the US economy, gasoline prices topped $4.50 a gallon this week on average for the first time since 2022.
On Thursday, Bloomberg, citing an anonymous source, claimed that the Trump administration is looking into “innovative” ways to replenish the national emergency reserves, including the use of Department of Defense sites.
Speaking at a forum hosted by the Wall Street Journal in mid-April, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that “we are going to do pragmatic things [regarding] energy resources” on federally owned lands.
“We have military bases or facilities that are in the middle of oil fields, but there’s no development under those resources. That’s crazy. It’s right there,” he said.
“We need creative ways to fill the strategic petroleum reserve all the way up,” Wright added.
According to Bloomberg, drilling under military bases is unlikely to have any immediate impact on energy prices, but it could allow the US government to directly own the extracted oil instead of purchasing crude from private producers to replenish reserves.
It was not immediately clear which sites were under consideration, Bloomberg noted, adding that last September, the Trump administration sold drilling rights for oil and gas beneath nearly 2,000 acres at Louisiana’s Barksdale Air Force Base, which hosts B-52 strategic bombers.
In March, Trump authorized the Department of Energy to release 172 million barrels from the SPR throughout this year and into 2027, in a bid to mitigate soaring energy prices.
Under the scheme, crude is being loaned to energy companies, which are to return the “borrowed oil to the DOE with additional barrels as a premium” at a later date.
The administration of ex-President Joe Biden, too, tapped into the SPR following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022 when oil prices skyrocketed.
According to DOE estimates, the national emergency reserves currently hold approximately 415 million barrels, the lowest level since the mid-1980s.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/639588-trump-admin-mulls-drilling-for-oil-military-bases-bloomberg/
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Africa
UN rights chief says Tunisia must end repression of civil society, media
May 8, 2026
The United Nations rights chief demanded Thursday that Tunisia end widening repression targeting civil society organizations, journalists, rights defenders and opposition figures.
"The continued repression and restrictions on civic space by the Tunisian authorities undermine the rights of people protected under the country's constitution and its international human rights obligations," UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk said in a statement.
His comment came after Tunisian authorities this week temporarily banned the local branch of international NGO Avocats Sans Frontières, days after another leading group, the Tunisian League for Human Rights, was targeted by a similar measure.
Avocats Sans Frontieres told AFP they received a 30-day suspension but did not provide details on the reasons.
The UN rights office said that Tunisian authorities often cite funding and audit irregularities as the basis for suspensions.
"We are observing a growing trend in which Tunisian authorities are resorting to the use of judicially imposed sanctions to curb the exercise of the right to freedom of association with barest consideration for the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality required for such limitations to be permissible," Türk said.
He also highlighted that the Tunisian government in parallel was imposing intensifying restrictions on the media.
Journalists arrested
Late last month, Tunisian journalist Zied el-Heni, who had criticised court decisions against media colleagues and the judges involved, was arrested for causing "harm to others" and their reputations, his lawyer told AFP.
A Tunisian court sentenced el-Heni to one year in prison on Thursday. In a statement announcing the verdict, Heni's support committee quoted him as saying the trial was "illegitimate" and that he would "not recognise it nor any outcomes resulting from it, and I will not appeal the verdict."
Twenty-eight other journalists were arrested last year and had been sentenced to various prison terms for conduct linked to their professional activities, the UN rights office said.
Those arrests, it said, had been based on, among other legislation, provisions of a 2022 decree-law entitled "combating crimes related to information and communication systems."
"I urge the Tunisian authorities to release immediately and unconditionally all those detained or imprisoned for having expressed their views, protected under international human rights law, and to lift all arbitrary restrictions on the freedoms of expression and association," Türk said.
"Restrictions on fundamental freedoms must remain exceptional, grounded in clear law, be necessary and proportionate to pursue a legitimate objective, non-discriminatory and accompanied by due process and effective judicial oversight," he said.
"Upholding the rule of law in Tunisia requires stronger institutional safeguards, the protection of civic space, and inclusive, rights‑based legislative reform, in line with the country’s international human rights commitments."
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/07/un-rights-chief-says-tunisia-must-end-repression-of-civil-society-media/
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Twin jihadist-claimed attacks kill more than 30 in central Mali
May 8, 2026
Two attacks in central Mali claimed by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists have killed more than 30 people, local, security and administrative sources told AFP on Thursday.
The two strikes came less than a fortnight after a large-scale, coordinated offensive by jihadists and separatists on junta positions, which plunged the west African country into a fresh security crisis.
"At least 35 people were killed on Wednesday in near simultaneous attacks" on the villages of Korikori and Gomossogou, a youth official said.
A security and an administrative source both reported more than 30 dead in the assaults, claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).
WAMAPS, a group of west African journalists specialising in Sahel security, said the provisional toll was more than 50 villagers killed and several still missing.
"Villages have been looted and some properties set on fire," the group added.
The security source said Thursday's assaults were in retaliation for acts committed by the Dan Nan Ambassagou militia, the best-known of the self-defence groups set up by local communities in response to the assaults plaguing central Mali.
"The victims are mostly militiamen. But there are also teenagers and children," the source told AFP.
Made up mainly of traditional ethnic Dogon hunters, Dan Nan Ambassagou has refused an order to disband by the authorities, who accused the militia of a massacre in the central village of Ogossagou that left 160 dead.
The Malian army said on Thursday it had carried out "a targeted operation against terrorist armed groups" in the area and around a dozen fighters were "neutralised."
It did not give further details.
Central Mali violence
The devastating assaults on 25 and 26 April by the JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), an ethnic Tuareg separatist movement, targeted strategic towns including Kidal in the desert north, and Kati, a garrison town near the capital Bamako.
Defence Minister Sadio Camara, the 47-year-old architect of Mali's military alliance with Russia, was killed by a car bomb at his residence.
Kidal and other towns and villages in the north were captured and are now under the control of the FLA and the jihadists, who have since imposed a blockade on Bamako.
In recent years, central Mali has also been the theatre of deadly violence.
After the 2019 killings, Ogossagou was the scene of a February 2020 raid that killed some 30 Fulanis, a nomadic people often accused across the Sahel of aiding jihadists.
In March 2022, around 300 civilians were massacred in the town of Moura, with Human Rights Watch pointing the finger at the Malian army and its foreign allies -- likely Russian mercenaries from the Wagner paramilitary group.
And in June of that year, more than 130 civilians were killed in the town of Diallassagou in attacks attributed to JNIM jihadists.
Wave of arrests, abductions
On Wednesday, security, legal and family sources told AFP that several opposition figures and military personnel had been detained or abducted following the large-scale attacks on the junta.
The military prosecutor's office said last week it had "solid evidence" of the "complicity" of certain members of the military, accusing them of helping with the "planning, coordination and execution" of the attacks.
But a political official said the wave of arrests and abductions smacked of a witch hunt.
"Everything suggests that these events are being used as an opportunity to carry out a purge within the political opposition and the army," the official told AFP, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
Since 2012, Mali has faced a deep security crisis fuelled in particular by violence from fighters affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as local criminal gangs and pro-independence groups.
On 30 April, the JNIM called for a "common front" to "put an end to the junta" and usher in a peaceful and inclusive transition.
The country has been under military rule since back-to-back coups in 2020.
Source: africanews.com
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2027: Muslims should produce next Oyo governor – ICC
May 8, 2026
By Sunday Dennis
The Islamic Coordination Council, ICC, has declared that Muslims should produce the next governor of Oyo State in the 2027 governorship election, disagreeing with remarks recently attributed to Governor Seyi Makinde.
In a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Sulaiman Abanise, and secretary, Mas’ud Akintola, the council said its position was based on what it described as an established, though unofficial, tradition of balancing religious representation in the state’s leadership.
According to the group, the arrangement became more evident during the 2019 political transition when a former chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the state publicly stated that it was the turn of Christians to govern after the administration of former governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The ICC was reacting to comments reportedly made by Governor Makinde during a farewell event organised for 2026 Hajj pilgrims.
The council criticised the governor’s comparison between executive and legislative representation in the state, particularly his reference to previous Muslim senators, arguing that such comparisons overlooked the unique influence and powers attached to the office of governor.
“We are aware that the governor is sufficiently educated to understand the difference between executive and legislative roles,” the statement read.
The group further described the remarks as “misleading,” adding that they amounted to “an insult to the intelligence of the citizenry.”
The council pointed out that only six of the 18 individuals who have occupied the Agodi Government House since 1976 were Muslims, insisting that this justified the emergence of a Muslim governor after Makinde’s tenure.
The ICC also questioned the consistency of the governor’s position by referencing his 2021 decision to appoint a Muslim deputy governor after the impeachment of his former deputy.
According to the council, the development suggested that religious considerations had previously played a role in political appointments within the state.
The statement further alleged that CAN was involved in consultations with Muslim leaders during Governor Makinde’s re-election campaign.
The group warned that any attempt to ignore religious balancing in the 2027 succession process could carry political consequences, including the possibility of strengthening opposition parties during the election.
Source: dailypost.ng
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Miyetti Allah Leader Backs Tinubu’s Re-election, Joins Senatorial Race
May 8, 2026
The National President of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Socio-cultural Association, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, has distanced himself from the consensus arrangement proposed by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State.
Naija News reports that Bodejo made his position known during a visit to the APC secretariat in Jalingo, where he also declared his intention to contest for the Taraba Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the party.
The Miyetti Allah leader said he would not withdraw from the race in favour of any aspirant under any consensus arrangement.
His position comes amid efforts by the APC leadership in the state to adopt consensus candidates ahead of future party primaries.
Bodejo also disclosed that members of the association had begun mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu across Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
According to him, the mobilisation drive is based on what he described as Tinubu’s achievements in the region.
Speaking during the visit, the APC State Chairman, Abubakar Bawa, assured party members that future primaries would be free, fair and credible.
He, however, stated that the process would be conducted through a consensus arrangement.
Meanwhile, political observers believe disagreement over the consensus plan could trigger internal crisis within the APC chapter in Taraba State.
There are reports that the State Working Committee may be acting on alleged directives linked to Governor Agbu Kefas, suggesting that party candidates should emerge through consensus rather than competitive primaries.
Source: naijanews.com
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Oloyede, Alaro, LEMU emphasise Imams’ roles in politics
by Tajudeen Adebanjo
May 7, 2026
The Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Professor of Law at the University of Ilorin, AbdulRazzaq AbdulMajeed Alaro, and Chief Imam of Lekki Central Mosque, Dr Ridwanullah Jamiu, have called on Islamic leaders to take active roles in politics.
The trio and others spoke during the annual Imams Conference on Politics and Leadership organised by Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU) in Lekki.
The conference deepened discussions on the evolving role of religious leaders in shaping political consciousness and ethical leadership within society.
LEMU President, Dr AbdulGaniy Labinjo, said the objectives of the conference were not just about the election, but meant to provide a forum for Imams to interact, discuss issues, and be guided by those knowledgeable in the Qur’an and contemporary matters.
“For more than seven years, we have organised various conferences, and different groups have benefitted immensely. This one is for Imams, and that is why we always see an increase in participants. That shows they are benefiting. Today, we have more than 400 Imams in attendance, along with eminent scholars,” he stated.
Prof. Oloyede, who is the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said religious leaders can contribute meaningfully to political development while maintaining spiritual integrity.
Imams, he said, should educate their congregation and not be outwardly partisan.
He stated that any Imam who wishes to contest an elective position should first resign as Imam to avoid polarising the mosque.
He added that it is not out of place to make demands for supporting any candidate.
“We can also say this is our minimum requirement to vote for you. We want A, B, C, D and the politician will consider it. It should not be about voting in expectation of gratification that will not last, or monetising your vote. This will help us take informed positions aligned with the interests of the Muslim community,” he said.
Prof Alaro, while offering insights into Islamic jurisprudence on civic participation and electoral processes, warned of an existential threat.
He noted that some scholars agreed that democracy is against Islamic teachings, while voting as a concept is acceptable in Islam.
He said: “Be that as it may, the issue of elections, according to the perspective of the majority of scholars worldwide, is that you weigh the two evils: participating or not participating in democracy. Clearly, there is danger in both. Participating means engaging in something not fully in line with Islamic teachings; not participating isolates you as a people and as a community, which constitutes an existential threat.
“Without existence, you cannot practice your religion. That is the perspective we try to analyse. As Muslims, we do not support democracy as practised to the extent that people are free to choose anything irrespective of Sharia or Allah’s dictates. At the same time, we must not isolate ourselves from the process of selecting leaders, because the danger of isolation is far greater than the risk we seek to avoid by not participating. This is the position of many scholars, not just in Nigeria but worldwide.”
Dr Jamiu stated that Islam is a complete way of life just as politics affects the lives of every Muslim in society.
He said: “Our religion is comprehensive; it touches on everything that matters to human beings. As Muslims, our religion is not limited to the masjid alone—Islam is a way of life. It guides what a Muslim should eat and avoid, how he should dress, and how he should relate with others in business, family, and society. Islam is a complete way of life.
“One of the issues that also affects Muslims is politics and how we choose our leaders. Imams are the closest to the people because they lead prayers five times a day. They need proper guidance so they can guide their congregation. Elections are coming, and Muslims must participate. If you fail to participate because politics is “dirty,” you leave it to the dirty people, and they will mess up everything. That will affect us one way or another.”
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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Pray for Nigeria’s prosperity, Sanwo-Olu urges 2026 Hajj pilgrims
May 7, 2026
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj exercise to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pray for the peace, unity, and prosperity of Lagos State and Nigeria during the holy pilgrimage.
According to a post on Lagos State’s X handle on Thursday, the governor made the appeal during a one-day seminar organised by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board at the Lagos Television Blue Roof, Ikeja, where preparations for the 2026 Hajj exercise were reviewed.
He was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Layode, who also serves as the Amir-ul-Hajj for the state.
Sanwo-Olu congratulated the intending pilgrims, describing their selection as a spiritual privilege.
“You are among the few that Allah has chosen this year to answer His call to the Holy Land. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and it is a journey of faith, humility, and total submission to Allah,” he said.
He reminded the pilgrims that Hajj is not a leisure trip but a deeply spiritual exercise that demands patience, discipline, and devotion.
“It is not a vacation. It is an act of worship that tests your patience, your endurance, and your brotherliness,” he added.
The governor specifically encouraged the pilgrims to remember Nigeria and Lagos State in their supplications, particularly during key spiritual moments such as standing at Arafah.
“As you stand on the plains of Arafah and make your supplications, I ask you to remember Lagos State and our dear country, Nigeria. Pray for peace in our communities, security across our land, and economic prosperity for our people,” he said.
He also called on the pilgrims to pray for national leaders, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that they may be granted wisdom and strength to govern effectively.
Sanwo-Olu further charged the pilgrims to uphold discipline and serve as good ambassadors of Lagos State while in Saudi Arabia.
“The way you conduct yourselves will speak for all of us. Be law-abiding, disciplined, and respectful of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s culture and laws,” he cautioned.
He advised them to avoid political discussions, arguments, or any activities that could distract from the spiritual purpose of the pilgrimage.
“Avoid unnecessary arguments, political debates, or any form of protest. Hajj is not a platform for anything other than worship,” he stressed.
The governor also emphasised unity and mutual care among pilgrims, urging them to support one another, especially the elderly and vulnerable.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Layode, disclosed that about 1,600 intending pilgrims are expected to participate in the 2026 Hajj exercise from Lagos State.
He said the state government has made provisions to enhance their comfort and welfare, including support measures such as sacrificial rams (hadiyah), guided visits to historical sites in Makkah and Madinah (ziyarah), and financial assistance for Ihram clothing.
“The state government remains committed to the safety, comfort, and spiritual fulfilment of all our intending pilgrims,” Layode said.
He added that the administration would continue to improve on welfare arrangements to ensure a smooth pilgrimage experience.
Earlier, the Chairman of the 2026 Hajj ad-hoc committee and Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe, expressed appreciation to the state government for its support.
“We thank His Excellency and the Deputy Governor for their continuous commitment to the welfare of pilgrims. We assure you that all arrangements will be implemented effectively,” he said.
He also introduced the various sub-committee heads responsible for coordinating the exercise, assuring pilgrims of a well-organised and comfortable Hajj operation.
Source: punchng.com
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Chad declares state of emergency in Lake Chad region after Boko Haram attacks
May 8, 2026
Chad has declared a 20-day state of emergency in the violence-hit Lake Chad region on Thursday following a wave of deadly attacks blamed on jihadist group Boko Haram.
The decision comes after at least 26 army personnel, including two senior generals, were killed in ambushes this week, triggering nationwide mourning and intensified military operations.
Government spokesman Gassim Cherif said authorities reviewed the worsening security and humanitarian situation in the region, citing renewed Boko Haram attacks, civilian displacement, and growing threats to people and property.
The latest violence followed a deadly raid on the Barka Tolorom military base along Lake Chad, where at least 24 Chadian soldiers were killed and several others wounded, according to military sources.
Cherif also said President Mahamat Idriss Deby thanked the government of Nigeria for its support and coordination in ongoing counterterrorism operations.
Bordering Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and Niger, Lake Chad’s remote islands have long served as strongholds for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, as attacks on regional forces continue to intensify
Source: africanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Ex-Armed Forces chief’s RM3m graft case: 23 documents submitted to defence
08 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — The defence in former chief of Defence Force Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar’s case has received 23 documents, including recorded statements, in relation to four charges involving abuse of power and criminal breach of trust amounting to RM3 million.
Lawyer Abdul Aziz Hamzah, representing Mohd Nizam, 59, said the additional documents were handed over by the prosecution during case mention proceedings before Sessions Court judge Rosli Ahmad today.
“Today, the prosecution submitted documents related to the charges as requested by the defence under Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“We were informed that three sets of documents would be handed over, but so far only two sets have been received. Among the documents submitted are recorded statements and meeting minutes,” he told reporters after the proceedings.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Elyza Amira Habeeb Rahman informed the court that two sets of documents had been handed over to the defence and requested another mention date for the submission of the remaining documents.
The court then fixed June 19 for further mention of the case.
For the first charge, Mohd Nizam was accused of abusing his position as assistant chief of staff for personnel services of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and chairman of the Armed Forces Welfare Fund (TKAT) executive committee to obtain gratification for himself.
He allegedly appointed Sinar Bakti Global to supply sarongs for 2025 Hari Raya aid packages worth RM468,000 despite having an interest in the company, resulting in gratification amounting to RM267,481.90.
He was also accused of appointing Sinar Raudhah Global to supply batik fabric worth RM52,000 and Zahra Jaya Global to supply multifunctional folding pliers worth RM750,000 for TKAT, despite allegedly having interests in the companies involved.
For the second charge, Mohd Nizam was accused of using his position to obtain RM285,000 in gratification for himself through the appointment of QMZ Resources to supply bath towels worth RM600,000 and Helmee Resources to supply backpacks worth RM1.725 million to TKAT.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Ministry of Defence in Jalan Padang Tembak, Kementah, on June 24, 2024 under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act.
The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the third charge, Mohd Nizam was accused of committing criminal breach of trust involving RM3 million belonging to TKAT by using the funds to make additional investments in Precious Amber International Berhad without approval from the TKAT Investment Committee.
The offence was allegedly committed at the same location on October 4, 2024 under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Under the fourth charge, he was accused of receiving RM200,000 without consideration from a director of Aspen Red Sdn Bhd, who had links to matters handled by him in his official capacity.
The offence was allegedly committed at Wisma Transit Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Buku Lima, Kementah, in March 2025 under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to two years or a fine or both upon conviction. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Let court decide on compensation for Jalan Masjid India sinkhole victim, says Hannah Yeoh
08 May 2026
PUTRAJAYA, May 8 — Claims for compensation involving an Indian woman tourist who died after falling into a sinkhole at Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur, will be left to the court to decide, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh.
She said the victim’s family could submit their claim through the courts as Kuala Lumpur had never faced such a case before.
“What I can say here is, firstly, we sympathise with the family over the incident, and I am sure they are relieved now that the death certificate has been issued.
“For compensation claims, I believe they need to settle the matter through court proceedings and for this, their lawyers can file a claim in court and we leave it to the court to decide the amount of compensation required. We have never had a case like this in Kuala Lumpur,” she told reporters here today.
She said discussions had been held with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud on the matter and it was understood that the victim’s family would first return to India before meeting her.
The media previously reported that the family of the woman tourist, G Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, was seeking appropriate compensation and planning to meet Hannah and Fadlun within two weeks to one month after Vijaya’s death certificate was issued yesterday.
On August 23, 2024, Vijaya fell into a sinkhole that suddenly formed while she was walking along Jalan Masjid India.
Although a large-scale search and rescue operation involving various agencies was carried out, the victim was never found.
On February 27 this year, the victim’s family urged the government to issue a death certificate to enable compensation claims to proceed.
Previously, Vijaya had still been classified as a missing person and for that reason, a death certificate could not be issued. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Jalan Bukit Bintang closed from midnight for Quranic Madani event at Pavilion KL
08 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Jalan Bukit Bintang will be closed from midnight tonight until 5am tomorrow to make way for the Quranic Madani “Night Reset: Bersatu Dalam Saf @ Bukit Bintang” programme in front of Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, aimed at ensuring the smooth running of the event and public safety.
Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said the programme is scheduled to take place from 8.30pm to 11pm tonight.
“To ensure the smooth running of the programme and the safety of road users, several road closures and diversions will be carried out in stages according to current requirements throughout the event,” he said in a statement today.
He said the affected roads would be reopened in stages after the programme ends, subject to traffic conditions and the current situation at the location.
“In this regard, the public is advised to avoid using the affected routes and to plan their journeys in advance by using suitable alternative routes,” he said.
He said motorists are also encouraged to use public transportation such as the LRT, MRT, Monorail or e-hailing services to help reduce traffic congestion in the city centre.
He also reminded the public to comply with instructions issued by traffic police personnel on duty at the location and to practise courteous driving and remain patient throughout the road closure period.
Any enquiries or further information regarding the programme and the affected routes can be obtained by contacting the Tun H.S. Lee Traffic Police Station at 03-2071 9999 or any nearby police station. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Saifuddin Nasution: Malaysia, Singapore to share CIQ facilities when RTS Link begins 2027
08 May 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, May 8 — Malaysia and Singapore will implement jointly co-located customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) operations once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins service next year, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.
He said the arrangement will see Malaysian agencies and border security forces under the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency stationed at the Woodlands Customs Complex in Singapore.
“Related agencies from Singapore will also be housed at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar CIQ in Johor Bahru.
He said Malaysia and Singapore are coordinating procedures for the RTS Link’s shared CIQ facility to ensure smoother immigration checks, security operations and emergency response.
Saifuddin Nasution said both countries will also need dedicated domestic laws to support the co-located border control system once it is implemented.
“This is to enable Singapore agencies to operate in Malaysia and for our enforcement agencies to operate in the republic,” he said.
He said the proposed Malaysian border control law has already received approval and is awaiting gazettement, while Singapore is also expected to introduce a similar law for the arrangement to work.
He also said the Home Ministry has approved 794 positions for the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency, including 640 enforcement personnel, 47 customs officers and 107 police personnel.
He said 478 newly recruited officers will undergo training in Segamat from June 22 to September 27 before operational training at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Sultan Abu Bakar complexes ahead of deployment to the Bukit Chagar Station ICQS from October 1.
Source: malaymail.com
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Home minister tells Malaysians to ‘take your time’ in switching to new MyKad
08 May 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, May 8 — Malaysians do not have to rush to change their MyKads when the National Registration Department (NRD) rolls out the new identification documents next month.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Malaysia has over 20 million citizens with the MyKad, adding that there is no requirement for an immediate exchange.
“So, I ask that you don't rush to the National Registration Department on June 1 to exchange them.
“Take your time,” he told reporters after reviewing the progress of the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project at the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex at the Bukit Chagar Station here.
Saifuddin Nasution said Malaysians are still required by law to possess a MyKad, but are not obliged to immediately replace it with the newly issued version.
He said there is no legal requirement for holders to rush to switch to the new identity card once it is rolled out next month.
“What we are trying to explain is that starting June 1, the new MyKad that comes with improved security features is available,” he said.
The upgraded MyKad will carry 53 security features, more than double the 23 found in the current version.
NRD director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias said yesterday that the enhancements include laser engraving, ultraviolet elements, holograms, guilloche patterns, microtext, QR codes for enforcement use, and a chip with stronger encryption, adding that the card will no longer include the Touch ’n Go function.
The government had previously announced plans to redesign both the MyKad and Malaysian passport within six months as part of efforts to strengthen document security.
The upgrade is part of wider efforts to enhance the credibility of Malaysia’s identity and travel documents, with the Malaysian passport already ranked among the world’s most trusted.
Source: malaymail.com
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Targeted assistance ready for businesses hit by Middle East crisis, says BNM
08 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Help is readily available for businesses affected by the conflict in West Asia, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour.
He said the current challenges differ significantly from the Covid-19 crisis, when nearly all sectors of the economy were severely impacted.
“This is not like Covid, where there was a nationwide lockdown that affected everyone. The impact this time is more concentrated on certain sectors, especially those that rely heavily on oil, crude-based products and diesel,” he told Bernama in an interview.
Among the measures available are special funds aimed at helping to provide working capital for businesses facing disruptions to operations and cash flow challenges. Loan repayment assistance such as restructuring and rescheduling options are also available for affected borrowers.
Abdul Rasheed also said businesses experiencing repayment difficulties are encouraged to engage their banks early to explore available relief options, including to pause instalments temporarily and revise repayment schedules.
In April, BNM introduced the SME Stabilisation Relief Facility (SME SRF), a RM5 billion financing initiative aimed at assisting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) impacted by the ongoing West Asia conflict.
The facility is intended to complement ongoing assistance provided by the banking industry, as MSMEs continue to navigate heightened global uncertainties.
Applications for the SME SRF will open on May 15, 2026, through participating banks.
MSMEs can refer to BNM’s website for a list of participating financial institutions or contact their respective banks directly.
The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM), and the Association of Development Finance Institutions of Malaysia (ADFIM) have welcomed the move.
The banking industry has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting customers and ensuring that viable businesses maintain access to financing and assistance. In addition, efforts are underway to engage customers and raise awareness of available support measures proactively.
In a statement issued in April, the associations urged MSMEs affected by the conflict to engage with their banks early to explore suitable solutions. These include repayment assistance, restructuring options, and working capital support. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia’s oldest union MTUC hit with temporary dissolution order over missing financial documents
08 May 2026
PUTRAJAYA, May 8 — The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has received a temporary dissolution order from the Registrar of Societies (ROS), effective yesterday, following its failure to submit several requested documents and financial records.
According to the notice, dated May 7, 2026, and issued under Section 14(5) of the Societies Act 1966, the organisation was ordered to be temporarily dissolved after it was found to have failed to provide information requested by the Registrar of Societies.
The notice stated that MTUC had not complied with a written directive dated April 6, which required the submission of copies of statements of receipts and payments, audited balance sheets for the years 2020 to 2025, as well as a list of financial contributions, assets, funds or benefits received from foreign parties during the same period.
The notice also stated that the organisation has 30 days to submit an appeal to the Home Ministry under Section 18 of the Societies Act 1966.
The document was signed by Selangor ROS Nurul Azhar Husin and addressed to the MTUC secretary, with copies also sent to MTUC president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor and treasurer Bindu Girdharlal Patel.
The ROS further stated that if no appeal is submitted within the 30-day period, or if the appeal is rejected, the temporary dissolution order would become final, and MTUC would then be deemed an unlawful association.
Under Section 42 of the Societies Act 1966, any office-bearer or individual found managing or assisting in the management of an unlawful association may face imprisonment of up to five years, a fine not exceeding RM15,000, or both upon conviction.
However, MTUC retains the right to appeal to the Home Minister within 30 days from the date the order was issued.
MTUC is Malaysia’s oldest national union representing Malaysian workers. It was established in 1949 and registered under the Societies Act 1955.
Meanwhile, ROS, in a statement, said the decision to issue the Temporary Dissolution Order against the MTUC was made in accordance with Section 14(5) of the Societies Act 1966 following the organisation’s continued failure to comply with the department’s written directives.
“ROS emphasises that every regulatory action taken against registered organisations is carried out professionally, transparently and in accordance with the law in force.
“This department is not influenced by the interests of any party, and every decision is made based on the examination of documents, facts and compliance with prescribed procedures,” the statement said.
ROS also reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out its regulatory responsibilities firmly, fairly and with integrity to ensure that all registered organisations operate in an orderly, transparent and law-compliant manner. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/05/08/malaysias-oldest-union-mtuc-hit-with-temporary-dissolution-order-over-missing-financial-documents/219129
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South Asia
Seven-day holiday for Eid-ul-Azha
8 May 2026
The government yesterday announced a seven-day holiday for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
The decision was made at a cabinet meeting last night, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, according to a press release from the Cabinet Division.
People will enjoy the holiday from May 25 to 31. However, the weekly holiday on Saturday, May 23, has been cancelled. Offices will remain open on Sunday, May 24, as usual.
Meeting sources said the government fixed a longer holiday than usual this time to ensure that people across the country can travel to and from their expected destinations comfortably and without disruption during Eid.
According to the tentative date in the government calendar, the festival is scheduled to be celebrated on May 28, although the final date will depend on the moon sighting.
The cabinet also approved the draft of National Public Toilet Policy 2026, which proposes separate public toilets for women and men at suitable places along roads and highways.
The draft policy, prepared on the initiative of the Local Government Division, aims to ensure hygienic, standard, and user-friendly public toilet facilities across the country.
It gives special importance to toilet facilities for women, children, persons with disabilities, elderly people, and marginalised communities.
It says an effective management model and funding system must be ensured to keep public toilets functional and sustainable in the long term.
The draft also calls for proper monitoring and evaluation of its implementation, and adds that it should be updated when necessary.
It also makes septic tanks mandatory for storing public toilet waste, which must not be allowed to flow into rivers, canals, beels or other water bodies, as this could pollute water.
The health ministry will take steps to raise public awareness about toilet use and hygiene rules.
The draft also says ministries and divisions must prepare time-bound action plans to implement the policy.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/seven-day-holiday-eid-ul-azha-4170516
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Ward quota returns to CU following court ruling
8 May 2026
Although Chittagong University (CU) had administratively decided to abolish the ward quota for the 2025–26 academic session, admissions under the quota have ultimately been allowed following a court ruling.
The university admitted one student under the quota in each department, despite no mention of the ward quota in the admission circular or the published merit lists.
According to university sources, the decision to scrap the ward quota was taken at the second meeting of the university’s admission test committee for the 2025–26 session. However, following subsequent court directives, admissions under the quota were reinstated.
A section of CU teachers, officers, and staff later filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking to retain the quota.
Following a preliminary hearing on December 15, 2025, a High Court bench comprising Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Raziuddin Ahmed issued a rule asking the university vice-chancellor and the relevant admission committee to explain their decision.
After the final hearing, another bench comprising Justice Shashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Umme Rahman delivered its verdict on February 25, 2026.
The court ordered the university to implement the previously issued rule.
The rule stated that the ward quota for children and spouses of university employees had long been recognised as an established benefit for first-year undergraduate admissions, which the court considered with due importance.
In a letter signed by 18 teachers and 84 officers and staff members on behalf of the Chittagong University Employees’ Unity Council, it was stated that the quota should be implemented “in the same way it has continued for generations,” noting that the High Court had also directed its continuation.
The letter further said that at the seventh meeting of the admission committee held on March 31, 2026, the university decided to implement the ward quota in compliance with the court order. It also demanded the reinstatement of the previous 166 seats allocated under the quota.
CU Registrar Prof Dr Saiful Islam said admissions had been conducted in line with the High Court’s directive. “The court asked us to maintain the long-standing practice. Although there was scope to admit 166 students under the quota, we limited it to 54, equivalent to the number admitted in the previous academic year,” he said.
CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Al-Forkan acknowledged that the admission circular did not mention the ward quota, despite admissions being conducted under it. “Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Shamim Uddin will be able to explain the matter in detail,” he said.
Prof Shamim Uddin said the university administration had initially abolished the quota, but the court later directed the university to revert to the previous system following petitions filed by a section of teachers, officers, and staff.
“As all admission-related activities had already been completed before the verdict was delivered, it was not possible to include the quota in the admission circular. Later, an academic meeting decided to admit one student from each department under the quota,” he said.
Regarding the publication of the list of admitted students, he said the process was still underway and the list would be published after all admissions were completed.
Students at CU had launched protests demanding the abolition of the ward quota on December 29, 2024. Their programmes included human chains, discussion meetings, sit-ins, and locking the university’s main gate. In response to the protests, the university formed a seven-member committee to review the quota system.
For the 2024–25 academic session, the university decided to admit one student per department under the quota, with plans to abolish it entirely from the 2025–26 session. However, the latest court ruling has effectively reversed that decision.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ward-quota-returns-cu-following-court-ruling-4170401
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Ensure workplace safety, protect labour rights
8 May 2026
The government should establish a mechanism to ensure safer working environments at multinational companies so that workers’ rights are protected and companies are held accountable for negligence, speakers said at a programme yesterday.
They also stressed the need for labour-friendly policies, fair wages, skill development, and stronger protection for workers in both formal and informal sectors.
Rights activists, political leaders, and expatriates made the remarks at a discussion titled “Labour Environment, Evaluation, Rights, and the Future of Work”, organised by The Bangladesh Dialogue (TBD) at The Daily Star Centre.
At the event, SM Saif Kader Rubab, director of TBD, said, “Tragedies such as the Rana Plaza collapse led to the introduction of labour laws, minimum wage structures, maternity leave, and labour courts. But the state must still play a more effective and ethical role to ensure workers’ rights.”
Presenting the keynote paper, TBD Chief Operations Officer Kazi Rakib Hossain said workers in Bangladesh are still deprived of fair wages, workplace safety, and basic labour rights, even 140 years after the beginning of the labour movement.
He said workers in the garment, transport, domestic work, and migrant labour sectors continue to face discrimination, insecurity, and workplace risks.
Kazi Rakib also said women, third-gender people, and members of the Hijra community still do not fully enjoy equal wages, safe workplaces, or protection from harassment.
He added that the rights of workers in the informal and gig economies remain unclear, leaving many outside legal and institutional protection.
Speakers highlighted several issues, including the gap between minimum wages and inflation, fair compensation, workplace safety, and the independence of trade unions.
They said job insecurity remains a major concern, as nearly 84 percent of workers are employed in the informal sector.
Speakers also stressed the need for skill development, digital labour registration, and new employment opportunities to prepare workers for the future labour market.
They said political and institutional weaknesses often hinder labour welfare initiatives and delay meaningful reforms.
The speakers also pointed to the lack of recognition for domestic workers and others in the informal labour sector.
They said workers from marginalised communities often do not receive proper dignity, social protection, or fair value for their labour.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Saiyed Abdullah; lawmaker Mansura Akter; Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati President Taslima Akhter; Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network Executive Director Shafiqur Rahman; Network for People’s Action member Anik Roy; and student leader Abdul Kader, among others, attended the event.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ensure-workplace-safety-protect-labour-rights-4170411
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Hanafi Chairs Meeting on Groundwater Protection, Water Resource Management
May 7, 2026
KABUL: A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, focusing on strengthening groundwater reserves and ensuring effective use of the country’s water resources.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the ministers of finance, rural rehabilitation and development, agriculture, irrigation and livestock, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Water and the General Directorate of Administrative Affairs, Arg said in a statement on Wednesday.
Discussions centered on preventing water wastage, improving water supply for agricultural lands, and continuing the construction of check dams and water reservoirs aimed at protecting and replenishing groundwater resources.
The meeting also emphasised the importance of expanding agricultural irrigation canals, promoting drip irrigation systems, and ensuring efficient management of national water resources to support sustainable agriculture and long-term water security.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/hanafi-chairs-meeting-on-groundwater-protection-water-resource-management/
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IEA Calls for Immediate Resolution of Problems Facing Returning Migrants at Torkham Crossing
May 7, 2026
KABUL: The High Commission for Addressing Migrants’ Problems has expressed concern over the continued delays faced by Afghan returnees at the Torkham crossing, stating that migrants are being stranded for days on the Pakistani side due to various restrictions and procedures.
“Many of the stranded individuals include women, children, and elderly people who are forced to wait in difficult conditions along the roads while facing additional humanitarian challenges,” the commission said in a statement on Wednesday.
The commission emphasized that Afghanistan has sufficient capacity and facilities to receive, manage, and assist returning migrants, adding that the country is prepared to accommodate large numbers of returnees daily.
The commission also called on international organizations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to engage with Pakistani authorities to ensure that Afghan migrants are not subjected to mistreatment or unnecessary delays and are allowed to return to their country as quickly as possible.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/iea-calls-for-immediate-resolution-of-problems-facing-returning-migrants-at-torkham-crossing/
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Investment Applications of Returning Traders, Industrialists Assessed, Ministry
May 7, 2026
KABUL: A meeting has been held under the chairmanship of Shahbuddin Saqib, Deputy Minister for Finance and Administration of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, to assess investment applications of returning traders and industrialists.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce said in a statement on Wednesday that business documents and investment records of seven returning Afghan traders and industrialists from Iran and Pakistan who are active in sectors including perfume production, construction paint manufacturing, plastic and PVC water storage products, and poultry farming have been assessed in the meeting.
Following a detailed assessment, six applicants were officially recognized as eligible traders and industrialists under the committee’s regulations, the statement said, adding that their combined investment value exceeds $29.6 million.
The statement added that the approved investors will benefit from special incentives and facilities provided under the committee’s framework, aimed at encouraging investment, supporting domestic production, and strengthening Afghanistan’s industrial sector.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/investment-applications-of-returning-traders-industrialists-assessed-ministry/
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MoIC Launches Strict Market Monitoring to Ban Fireworks Sales in Kabul
May 7, 2026
KABUL: The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has launched intensified inspections across Kabul markets to prevent the sale of fireworks.
The inspection teams visited markets in Kabul’s sixth and seventh districts in line with directives issued by the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, shopkeepers were officially prohibited from selling firecrackers, and vendors found possessing such items were instructed to stop sales immediately and return the goods to traders.
The move was initiated following public complaints and aims to maintain public order and prevent disturbances caused by the use of firecrackers.
Source: thekabultimes.com
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https://www.thekabultimes.com/moic-launches-strict-market-monitoring-to-ban-fireworks-sales-in-kabul/
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