MOSCOW: Ukrainian military drones attacked the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant but caused no damage to its critical infrastructure, Russian state-run RIA news agency quoted the press service of the Russian-controlled facility as saying. Reuters could not independently verify the alleged incident. In the past, both sides in the two-year-old conflict have accused each other of … Read more
Muslim leaders reject chance to break bread with Biden as anger over Gaza festers WASHINGTON: Last year, President Joe Biden hadn’t even spoken a word at the White House celebration of Ramadan before someone shouted out “we love you.” Hundreds of Muslims were there to mark the end of the holy month that requires fasting … Read more
MOGADISHU: Somalia’s parliament has unanimously approved proposals to overhaul the country’s electoral system to reintroduce universal suffrage, a plan that has been criticized by some leading politicians. Last March, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledged to end the complex clan-based indirect voting system in place for more than half a century in the troubled Horn of Africa … Read more
SAO PAULO: Throughout Latin America, Muslim communities are observing Ramadan this year without the atmosphere of festivity that is common during the iftar meal owing to the suffering in Gaza, where more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began on Oct. 7. “This will be one of the worst Ramadan celebrations for … Read more
WASHINGTON: The United States has taken a public distance from Israel as never before over the Gaza war but the decisive test will be Rafah and whether Israel heeds US warnings against an offensive in the packed city. The United States on Monday abstained at the Security Council, allowing a resolution to pass for the … Read more
KABUL/PESHAWAR: Afghans say access to international markets through Pakistan is still the most viable option for their landlocked country, as bilateral trade talks took place in Kabul this week to resolve obstructions amid heightened border tensions. The neighboring countries have traded blame in recent months over who was responsible for a recent spate of militant attacks … Read more
MOSCOW: Russian officials persisted Tuesday in saying Ukraine and the West had a role in last week’s deadly Moscow concert hall attack despite vehement denials of involvement by Kyiv and a claim of responsibility by an affiliate of the Daesh group. Without offering any evidence, Alexander Bortnikov, head of the Federal Security Service, or FSB, … Read more
NEW DELHI: Muslim teachers said on Tuesday they would appeal a verdict by a court in Uttar Pradesh, which has effectively banned Islamic schools in India’s most populous state. Last week’s ruling scraped a 2004 law governing madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, with the Allahabad High Court saying it violated India’s constitutional secularism and ordered that … Read more
Netanyahu cancels diplomats’ visit to Washington in protest over UN ceasefire vote TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled a planned visit to Washington by a high-level delegation to protest Monday’s UN Security Council decision calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.The resolution passed 14-0 on Monday after the US decided not to … Read more
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed to punish those behind the “barbaric terrorist attack” on a Moscow concert hall that killed more than 130, saying four gunmen trying to flee to Ukraine had been arrested. Kyiv has strongly denied any connection, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Putin of trying to shift the … Read more