Terrorism Watch

US blocks Pakistan-China bid to blacklist BLA, Majeed Brigade at UNSC

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0000

US Opposition: The United States, along with France and the UK, blocked Pakistan and China's joint request to list the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade as terrorist organisations under the UN's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

Terrorist Threats: Pakistan highlighted that groups like ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, BLA, and Majeed Brigade operate from Afghan sanctuaries, using over 60 camps for cross-border attacks.
US Designations: The BLA and Majeed Brigade are already designated by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, responsible for attacks including suicide bombings in Karachi and Gwadar and the 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking, killing 31 civilians.

The United States has opposed a joint move by Pakistan and China at the UN Security Council to list the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade as a terrorist organisations.

Islamabad and Beijing had in September last year submitted their joint bid to the Security Council to blacklist the BLA and the Majeed Brigade under the Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee.

It is learnt that the US, France and UK - all permanent veto-wielding members of the Security Council - blocked the bid this month.

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed had said that terrorist entities, including ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, BLA and the Majeed Brigade operate from Afghan sanctuaries, with more than 60 such terrorist camps serving as hubs for enabling cross-border infiltration and attacks.

"Pakistan and China have jointly submitted to the 1267 Sanctions Committee a request to designate the BLA and Majeed Brigade. We hope the Council will act swiftly on this listing to curb their terrorist activities," Ahmed had said at a UN Security Council meeting

Source: US blocks Pakistan-China bid to blacklist BLA, Majeed Brigade at UNSC

Pakistan carries out new deadly strikes on Afghanistan: Govt officials

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 04:29:00 +0000

Casualties: At least 12 people killed, including 11 children, 1 woman, and 1 elderly man, due to Pakistani airstrikes in Kunar, Khost, and Paktika provinces.
Recent Attacks: Strikes hit civilian homes, with one house in Spera district killing 9 people and wounding 10 others.
Context: These are the deadliest attacks in weeks, following a period of relative calm after border conflicts earlier this year; a UN report noted 372 Afghan civilians killed in the first three months of the conflict.

Pakistani strikes killed at least 12 people in Afghanistan near the border between the two countries, Afghan government officials and local sources said on Wednesday.

"Last night, the Pakistani military once again violated Afghanistan's airspace and bombed civilian homes in the provinces of Kunar, Khost, and Paktika. As a result of these attacks, 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man were killed," Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on X.

An official in Khost province who requested anonymity told AFP a strike hit a house in Spera district, killing nine people and wounding 10 others.

In neighbouring Paktika province, a resident said a separate attack killed three people.

Pakistan's military did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

The strikes are the deadliest in weeks and follow a period of relative calm at the border, after a war between the two countries erupted in late February.

A UN report published last month found that at least 372 Afghan civilians were killed and 397 others wounded in that conflict in the first three months of this year.

Source: Pakistan carries out new deadly strikes on Afghanistan: Govt officials

Uganda got off the FATF’s greylist. What now?

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:54:41 +0000

This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community.

Uganda’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s greylist is a case study in the importance of national anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks, and of the economic exile that ensues if they’re faulty.

But Uganda is just one country of many that has been penalised and subsequently exonerated by the FATF in recent years. In this instalment of Finextra’s Explainer series, we consider what it means to be blacklisted by the FATF, how countries get delisted, and what hopes previous offenders have of rebuilding their reputation in the global economy.

What is the FATF?

The FATF is an independent intergovernmental body that leads global action to tackle money laundering, terrorist, and proliferation financing – much of which is now conducted throughcryptocurrencies. Part of the FATF’s work is to identify offending jurisdictions and set down plans for them to combat these issues.

The FATF’s public listings of countries with weak anti-money laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regimes is sometimes referred to as the grey and blacklists. The gradations reflect the extent to which the offending country is a concern to international security.

Thus far the FATF’s name-and-shame strategy seems to be working. As of February 2025, the FATF has reviewed 139 countries and publicly identified 114 of them as of concern. Of these, 86 have since made the necessary reforms to address their AML/CFT weaknesses and have been removed from the list.

Uganda, a low-income, landlocked agricultural country in East Africa, is an exemplar of this trajectory. So, how did Uganda get into the FATF’s bad books? And, more importantly, how did it find a way out?

The grey and black lists

With a fast-growing (albeit small) economy worth around $73 billion, Uganda has been off the FATF’s greylist for over two years. Also known as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda was set loose in February 2024, having wound up on the financial naughty step in February 2020 for deficiencies in its national AML framework, including inadequate measures to tackle terrorist financing.

Uganda is among a number of countries to have been branded a risk by the FATF. In Africa, the likes of Angola, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and South Sudan sit on the greylist at the time of writing. This essentially means that these countries are actively working with the FATF to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.

The FATF says that when it places a jurisdiction on the greylist, “it means the country has committed to resolve swiftly the identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes and is subject to increased monitoring.”

A far more serious indictment is landing on the blacklist, where three jurisdictions sit today:Iran, Myanmar, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This list comprises countries with seriously deficient AML and CFT measures. For all those identified as high-risk, the FATF calls on all members and urges all jurisdictions “to apply enhanced due diligence, and in the most serious cases, countries are called upon to apply countermeasures to protect the international financial system…”

These countries will likely remain on the blacklist until willingness to cooperate with the FATF is demonstrated.

The Pearl of Africa: Economy, money laundering and terrorism

Uganda, for its part, is a classic case of penalisation and amelioration by the FATF. In early 2020 the Pearl of Africa got into hot water for leaning on inadequate regulatory and enforcement measures to track, prevent, and prosecute the financing of terrorist organisations.

Also alleged by the FATF was a severe lack of rules to identify and disclose the true "beneficial owners" of corporate entities, making it difficult to trace illicit money and combat corporate money laundering. And, even if illicit money could be traced, the FATF argued that the capacity within regulatory institutions to monitor, identify, and penalise financial institutions failing to adhere to international AML/CFT compliance standards, was too weak.

In landing on the greylist, Uganda's financial system was opened to increased international scrutiny, which raised transaction costs and caused delays for its businesses and financial institutions.

However, after four years of significant regulatory reform — including enhancing beneficial ownership transparency, strengthening legal frameworks, and improving financial surveillance — Uganda was jettisoned from the FATF’s greylist in February 2024. This act recognised the country’s concerted efforts to satisfy the FATF’s proposed action plan.

The African Century

Having been off the greylist for over two years, Uganda’s economy is now in from the cold. Though it is still small, it is growing rapidly — having been ranked the second fastest-growing economy in Sub-Saharan Africa by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

In 2026, the Uganda Investment Authority estimates that Uganda’s economy will expand by up to 7%, buoyed by ramped-up oil production, greater political stability, and the normalisation of supply chains. This is a level of growth Western countries could only dream of today. Other prospects for Uganda include its powerful agricultural industry; rising tourism volumes; and a growing telecommunications sector.

What’s more, unlike Europe, demography is on Africa’s side. The United Nations (UN) projects that by 2050, Africa's population will reach close to 2.5 billion — more than 25% of the world’s population. This will give the continent, and Uganda, long-term momentum for economic scale, workforce expansion, innovation, and cultural vitality.

Where there’s contrition there’s forgiveness

The journey of Uganda from 2020 to 2024 is not unique. Many countries have gone through a similar process.

Having greylisted then delisted Uganda in the space of four years, the FATF not only underlined its own effectiveness in leading global action against money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing — it proved the entire process can be conducive to a country’s long-term economic prosperity.

As the FATF continues to work with an arm-long list of greylisters, those ejected from it work to rebuild.

Source https://www.finextra.com/the-long-read/1663/uganda-got-off-the-fatfs-greylist-what-now

Belfast protest live: Houses torched and vehicles set aflame as masked protesters terrorise city

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 02:21:00 +0000

Protesters have set fire to homes, vehicles and a bus in east Belfast during an anti-immigration demonstration

Masked protesters set fire to homes and vehicles on Tuesday night as violent disorder erupts across north Belfast following a stabbing in the city.

Footage captured flames tearing through streets and thick smoke billowing into the sky as police clash with crowds amid the chaos.

Earlier in the day, a 30-year-old man was charged with attempted murder, possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill after footage circulated showing a man being stabbed in the head and back on Monday.

The accused, who is Sudanese, is set to appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court today when he is expected to be named.

The victim of the attack, a man in his 40s, remains in a serious condition in hospital, receiving treatment for serious eye, face and back wounds.

Key Events

The suspect is set to appear in court.

The 30-year-old accused, who is Sudanese, has been charged with attempted murder over the stabbing attack, possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill.

He will appear in the Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

In Northern Ireland, the authorities do not release the name of accused persons before they appear in court.

Police and political leaders in Northern Ireland have appealed for calm after 'sporadic pockets of disorder' erupted across Belfast.

A senior officer said police in the region are currently dealing with “sporadic pockets of disorder” in a number of locations.

Northern Ireland's first minister has condemned the action on social media. Michelle O'Neill says that "groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice".

"This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery," she adds.

A family were left 'really, really scared' as protestors attempted to get into their house and threw fireworks, a resident who helped them told Sky News.

The woman, who did not want to give her name, said people were trying to kick a man, his wife and their teenage daughter out of their house in the Shankill Road area.

"I could just see them all going into the house," she said. "I don't know how I did it but I stopped every one of them from going into the bedroom."

The woman added taht the family seemed "really, really scared".

She continued: "I just said, come out with me, I'll help you, just come with me... I walked out with them and I could see people looking at me."

She then shouted at demonstrators that the family were not involved in Monday night's attack.

Police in Northern Ireland have ruled out a terror-related motivate for the attack at this point but detectives have stressed that the investigation is at a very early stage and they are keeping an open mind.

The attack took place at about 10.30pm on Monday, June 8 in Kinnaird Avenue, a residential street close to the Antrim Road in north Belfast.

Footage captured of the attack appears to show a man repeatedly stabbing at the head and neck of another man who is lying on the ground.

The clip shows people, including one with a hurling stick, intervening to stop the assault continuing.

Police arrived on the scene within minutes and a man was arrested.

A kitchen knife was also recovered from the scene.

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long said some people had ignored calls for calm.

"They are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect," Long said.

"They are weaponising the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes."

"There is no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage – it is simply disingenuous to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland."

Long said she would again appeal to communities "not to allow themselves to be used and abused in this manner."

"Disorder on the streets, such as we are seeing tonight, is diverting valuable police resources away from those who genuinely need them," she said.

"These are not the actions of people who genuinely care about their communities."

"While I recognise and understand the concerns following on from the attack in north Belfast, hate cannot be allowed to win."

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Tuesday evening: "Sporadic pockets of disorder have broken out in a number of locations across Northern Ireland this evening, including incidents in which a number of vehicles have been set on fire."

"We are urging everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk."

"Officers are on the ground, working alongside partner agencies, responding to incidents as they arise and helping to keep people safe."

"We are again appealing for calm and ask all voices of influence within local communities to encourage peaceful protest and discourage any involvement in violence or disorder."

A 30-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after a male suffered "significant injuries" to his face, neck and back on Monday night.

The suspect is a Sudanese national. He will appear at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

He is believed to have entered Northern Ireland via the Irish border in February 2023 after flying to Dublin from Paris.

The suspect claimed asylum upon arrival and in September 2023 was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.

He has also been charged with possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place and making threats to kill.

The victim of Monday's horrific knife attack in Belfast has been named as Stephen Ogilvie.

The victim in his 40s remained in a serious condition in hospital on Tuesday receiving treatment for serious eye, face and back wounds, the PSNI said.

Read the full story here.

Multiple homes are on fire across the city and fire fighters are working to get the blazes under control.

Watercannnons have been utilised in Newtownabbey, with images showing firefighters tackling a house fire on Ligoniel Road with hoses.

A group of men broke down the front door of a home while a woman from an ethnic minority background looked down from an upstairs window, reports the Guardian.

The men attacked the downstairs windows with bricks while a woman in the crowd said to her friend: "There's wee girls inside".

Northern Ireland's first minister says the attacks happening during protests in Belfast is "nothing less than disgusting cowardice".

Posting to X, Michelle O'Neill wrote: "Groups of masked men burning families out of their homes is nothing less than disgusting cowardice. This has nothing to do with community. This is outright thuggery."

She added there was "no justification" for the "attacks", and that: "Racism, intimidation and violence are wrong."

Fire crews in Belfast have been called to multiple residential streets across the city where properties are on fire.

A number of homes just off the Crumlin Road are ablaze as well as properties on Lendrick Street in east Belfast.

North Belfast MP, Sinn Féin's John Finucane, has called today's disorder "shameful and disgraceful".

"There is understandable disgust and revulsion at the horrific attempted murder that took place last night. I share that revulsion," he says.

"But the scenes we are witnessing tonight, family homes attacked, cars burnt, damaged infrastructure and parts of our community in flames, are shameful and disgraceful.

"No one has the right to spread fear, terrorise innocent families or unleash lawless disorder on our streets." He says the focus "must remain on supporting the victim".

"The actions of those who are destroying their own communities are totally unacceptable. It is clear that the horrendous attack last night is being used to whip up fear, division and hatred. That must be called out."

Images show police and fire crews on Lendrick Street in Belfast, where vehicles and a number of properties are seen on fire.

Fire crews have arrived at the scene of a house fire on Lendrick Street in east Belfast. The home belongs to a man in his 30s, who says he's lived there for 10 years, reports the BBC.

"Cars were set alight on the road, which caught fire to my house but masked men were bashing down doors," he said.

Multiple buildings in Belfast have been set ablaze this evening. Locals have said one includes a Middle Eastern supermarket, according to Sky News.

Roads are blocked in a number of locations in Belfast and in other parts of Northern Ireland.

Several cars have been set on fire in Lendrick Street and in the Ligoniel Road area, and a police car was set alight in Portadown.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has urged protesters to "act in an entirely peaceful way".

"I know all are horrified about what has happened. I know so many are angry and there are those who want to register a protest," she adds.

But violence does not "advance any cause, it damages it," the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister says.

"Destroying things within your own community benefits no one. Taking frustration at the evil actions of a person out on those who had no part in it is utterly wrong".

Police are dealing with "sporadic pockets of disorder" in a number of locations in Northern Ireland, according to a senior police officer.

Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable of the PSNI, said incidents include a number of vehicles being set on fire.

"We are urging everyone to remain calm, act responsibly, and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk," he said.

"Officers are on the ground, working alongside partner agencies, responding to incidents as they arise and helping to keep people safe."

Firefighters have arrived to tackle to the burning bus on lower Newtownards Roads.

A crowd of around 100 masked men were seen kicking in doors and breaking windows at McMaster Street in Lower Newtownards Road in east Belfast, reports the BBC.

The group said they were "getting the foreigners out".

Hundreds appear to have gathered in Belfast tonight following yesterday's attack. Footage shows busy streets and two fires burning in various parts of the city as crowds watch on.

Disorder has continued across north Belfast, where a bus, car and bins have been set ablaze while thick black smoke rises above the city.

Protesters who have engaged in standoffs with the police have been seen throwing objects, including traffic cones, at police vans.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has called for calm as "sporadic pockets of disorder" have broken out in locations across Northern Ireland tonight.

He urged members of the public act responsibly and avoid any activity that could place themselves or others at risk.

"Officers are on the ground, working alongside partner agencies, responding to incidents as they arise and helping to keep people safe."

Henderson asked "all voices of influence within local communities to encourage peaceful protest and discourage any involvement in violence or disorder".

A large plume of smoke is seen pouring from the scene of a bus fire in Belfast. Crowds have gathered in the city to protest a stabbing that occurred on Monday night.

Peter McReynolds, Alliance party assembly member for East Belfast, says he is "disgusted" at the "destruction and violence" on the Newtownards Road after a Gilder bus was set on fire.

Posting to Facebook, McReynolds says: "This serves no one, changes nothing and damages our community.

"Thoughts with the Glider staff, our community in fear this evening during this destruction and our under pressure PSNI officers facing down this violence this evening."

A fire crew has reportedly been forced to leave an area of Belfast after they were approached by a masked man.

Crews reportedly left an incident close to Lanyon Place after a masked man approached the fire appliance with a weapon, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

Two cars have been set on fire in Cloughfern, according to a photographer at the Belfast Telegraph.

Roughly three hundred people are understood to have gathered on the Shankhill Road by 8pm.

One woman was heard saying: "Can we all say the Lord’s Prayer for the victim of this crime?" through a megaphone. The crowd joined in to recite the prayer.

Soon after, groups of men balaclavas were seen rushing into a house, attacking the windows with bricks, and setting a car alight.

Source: Belfast protest live: Houses torched and vehicles set aflame as masked protesters terrorise city - The Mirror

People were celebrating as my business burned down: Indian entrepreneur in Belfast says he didn't expect this much hatred

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Business Destroyed: An Indian businessman’s dream grocery store in Belfast was intentionally set on fire, leaving him with no insurance coverage and total loss of his life savings.
Racist Attack: The incident is described as a hate crime, with locals reportedly celebrating the destruction, causing emotional and mental distress to the owner and his family.
Personal Impact: The entrepreneur is emotionally and financially drained, struggling to care for his two children, and fears for his safety in the community

An Indian businessman who dreamed of opening his grocery store in an abandoned building in Belfast that he purchased has been left with nothing after some people intentionally set the building on fire. The arson at a former Gospel Hall on the Shankill Road began in the early hours of Saturday. The owner who bought it last year and was preparing to open an Indian supermarket said he did not expect to face this kind of racism in Ireland, where he had been living for 18 years.

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"My whole life investment is just gone on this and we had no insurance on it because the electrician work was going on," he said.

"Everything is just gone and burnt out," he added.

Police confirmed that it was arson, a deliberate ignition to the roof.

The Indian-origin business owner did not want to reveal his name as he spoke to the BBC. He said people were celebrating that the building was gutted. "My whole life investment is just gone on this and we had no insurance on it because the electrician work was going on," he said.

“There was no sympathy. This is the world I didn’t expect when we moved here. It’s a racist hate crime. I started feeling the people’s reaction a few weeks ago. People’s reactions standing from the other roads. They were not welcoming. I have found them very aggressive.

“There was premises for sale, and that was good enough for our business. There was no particular reason for the Shankill area, it was just a building for sale in the city. That is my life savings. I am totally drained emotionally, financially and mentally. I didn’t sleep last night, and I am not in mental condition to even speak.

“You can’t understand what I am going through. I have two children. A small family here, we are on our own. We have nothing now, everything is drained. I have to think about how to feed my kids… I don’t know who is going to come out to help us, to protect us.

“I was just trying to open a business. Now I don’t feel safe to even stand there. We came to Northern Ireland to make it our home… now I have no idea what I am going to do. My brain is not working… I am too scared.”

Source: People were celebrating as my business burned down: Indian entrepreneur in Belfast says he didn't expect this much hatred

Billions in UK foreign aid and Covid loans 'handed to terrorists': Britain handed more than £28bn in taxpayer cash to its enemies over six years, leaked dossier reveals

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:00:00 +0000

Britain gave more than £28billion in taxpayer cash to its enemies over six years, a leaked government dossier revealed last night.

Terrorists such as the Islamic State in Syria group, hostile states including Russia and criminal gangs received the vast sum from foreign aid, Covid relief loans and the benefits system, which an expert said was an 'ATM for terrorists'.

Cabinet Office security officials commissioned the report in 2023 after it emerged that Covid loan schemes had been subject to widespread fraud.

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But it highlighted problems with government grants and due diligence processes more broadly, and officials decided not to disclose it.

The report, which has been leaked to The Telegraph, revealed that Britain helped companies linked to the Chinese military pursue their own research between 2015 and 2021.

Much of the misappropriated funds went to criminal gangs, including human traffickers claiming housing benefits and disability allowances.

£28billion of UK taxpayer money has gone to enemies of the country. Vast sums have ended up in the hands of the Islamic State in Syria (IS fighters pitured) after it emerged Covid loans, foreign aid and benefits schemes were subjecte to widespread fraud

Terrorists such as the Islamic State in Syria group, hostile states including Russia and criminal gangs received the vast sum from foreign aid , Covid relief loans and the benefits system, which an expert said was an 'ATM for terrorists'

Source: Billions in UK foreign aid and Covid loans 'handed to terrorists': Britain handed more than £28bn in taxpayer cash to its enemies over six years, leaked dossier reveals | Daily Mail Online

FIA establishes FATF desks across all zones to improve implementation of international investigation standards

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:27:00 +0000

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has established Financial Action Task Force (FATF) desks across all its wings and zones by expanding the existing FATF secretariat at the Anti-Money Laundering Directorate, as part of the country’s upcoming evaluation by the global anti-money laundering watchdog next year.

The move is intended to improve the effective implementation of international standards with regard to investigations into money laundering, terrorism financing and predicate offences.

“This significant step will also improve the quality of investigations and prosecutions, data maintenance, timely generation of international cooperation requests, prompt inter-agency coordination and effective feedback mechanisms,” a senior FIA official told Dawn on Tuesday.

According to the official, FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar has instructed all zones and specialised wings to set up FATF desks within seven days, to ensure full compliance with international standards and avoid any deficiencies during the country’s assessment, expected in the last quarter of 2027.

The FIA chief has also directed that each desk be headed by an officer of at least Assistant Director rank.

Pakistan was put on the enhanced monitoring list (grey list) in August 2018 by FATF. After demonstrating significant improvement against a 27-point action plan regarding technical compliance and effectiveness, it was removed from the grey list in October 2022.

The country’s exit from the grey list helped improve its standing with international financial watchdogs and investor confidence. It also supported broader economic engagements, including negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“Domestically, it also improved the effectiveness of regulations, law enforcement and capacity of regulators and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in CFT and money laundering,” the official said.

The official said in 2021, the FATF secretariat was established at the Anti-Money Laundering Directorate of FIA headquarters to implement FATF standards effectively and to remove major shortcomings highlighted in the 27-point action plan.

“With the passage of time and owing to an increase in volume and emerging trends in investigations of predicate offences, anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (CFT), it was inevitable to expand the existing framework,” he said.

The newly established desks include seven units — the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the Investigation Monitoring Unit (IMU), the International Cooperation Unit (ICU), the Inter-Agency Coordination Unit (IACU), the Risk Assessment Unit (RAU), the Seizure and Confiscation Unit (SCU) and the Forensics and Virtual Assets Unit (FVAU).

Each zonal desk will be reporting to a desk at the concerned wing of the FIA headquarters.

The FIU plays a particularly important role as it receives financial intelligence from the FMU, disseminates it to concerned zones for investigation, and provides feedback to the FMU.

The ICU facilitates the sending and receiving of international cooperation requests through formal and informal channels for assistance from foreign jurisdictions in cases involving money laundering, terrorism financing and predicate offences. Assistance includes the collection of evidence, seizure and confiscation of foreign proceeds, and the arrest of absconding accused persons.

The IMU monitors the effectiveness and quality of ongoing investigations by providing guidance to investigators and prosecutors, while the IACU ensures prompt assistance to investigators by providing information and evidence from other LEAs, regulators and authorities such as NADRA, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, excise departments, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) (Income Tax).

The RAU is mandated to conduct periodic risk assessments of various sectors, geographical regions and offences under its domain. This exercise will ultimately feed into Pakistan’s National Risk Assessment, according to the official.

The SCU will ensure seizure and confiscation during money laundering and terrorism financing investigations, while also maintaining a database of seizures and confiscations carried out by the FIA.

Meanwhile, the FVAU has been established as a proactive approach to meet the needs of investigations, including digital equipment, the use of cyberspace in the commission of conventional crimes, and virtual assets as a channel for the movement of illegal proceeds and as a placement, layering and integration platform.

“Each zone will also maintain an official digital wallet for the safe custody of seizure and confiscation of virtual assets,” the official said.

He added that since Pakistan’s removal from the grey list, key institutions — including designated LEAs, the FIA, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs), the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA), FBR Customs and FBR Inland Revenue, regulators of the financial sector, and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) — had continued efforts to ensure compliance with FATF standards on an ongoing basis.

He further said the authorities had sustained measures against cross-border cash smuggling, improved Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) processes for financial transactions, and tightened oversight of DNFBPs such as real estate agents, dealers in precious metals and stones, accountants and lawyers.

During the period of grey-listing, Pakistan also showed significant progress in the counter-terror financing regime by taking action against proscribed individuals and organisations and their associated networks, seizing properties, freezing bank accounts, and prosecuting individuals involved in terror-financing activities.

“The National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta), CTDs, the FIA, provincial home departments, district intelligence committees, police, intelligence agencies and other authorities played a pivotal role through synergised efforts in removing major shortcomings and developing a sustainable and effective countering and monitoring regime for the financing of terrorism,” another official said.

He added that the expansion of FATF desks and specialised units reflected FIA’s continued efforts to maintain compliance ahead of the next mutual evaluation and avoid any risk of renewed scrutiny by the global watchdog

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2006381

'I'm going to kill him, Wallahi. He's dead.': Hero bystander reveals what Sudanese knifeman said before he tackled him with a hurley stick in Belfast 'beheading'

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:55:46 +0000

Hero Matt McKiernan told today how he battered the Belfast knifeman with his son's hurling stick fearing he was about to witness a Lee Rigby-style beheading.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail Mr McKiernan, 32, told how the Sudanese attacker shouted: 'I'm going to kill him, Wallahi, he's dead.'

He and his friend, who only gave his name as Andre but who is trained in Brazilian jujitsu, jumped out of their car to rescue the bloodied victim on the floor.

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The pair had stumbled across the horrifying incident by chance as they took a short-cut to a petrol station last night.

Matt, from West Belfast had been driving, and said: 'I turned into Kinnaird Avenue and I could see another car stopped in the middle of the road a little further up.

'The woman driving then began reversing at speed as though she was trying to get away from something.

'She stopped as I approached and I drove round her and as I did so we could see what looked to be two men fighting in the street, with one on top of the other.

'This was late at night and so we thought we better go and break it up. Andre was in the front passenger seat and he jumped out first.

Hero Matt McKiernan was armed only with a wooden stick when he led a trio of members of the public to rescue the attacker's victim from death

The young father (R) had grabbed a hurley stick - used for the Irish sport of hurling - when he arrived home after a night out to find the horror unfolding on his doorstep

Maitiu Mág Tighearnán (L) was armed only with a wooden stick when he led a trio of members of the public who tried to rescue the attacker's victim from certain death

Source: 'I'm going to kill him, Wallahi. He's dead.': Hero bystander reveals what Sudanese knifeman said before he tackled him with a hurley stick in Belfast 'beheading' | Daily Mail Online

Former Navy Sailor Among Three Arrested for Supporting ISIS Plot to Attack U.S. Troops

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:22:20 +0000

The FBI arrested three men Friday, including a former U.S. Navy sailor, for allegedly conspiring to support ISIS, including providing money they believed would be used in a plot to kill U.S. service members overseas, according to a Department of Justice statement.

The suspects, arrested in operations conducted in Kansas City, Kansas; San Diego; and Sacramento, California, were identified as Bereen Dzayee, 25; Bisaam Ghafoor, 21; and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21. According to NBC 7, Dzayee served in the U.S. Navy until 2024.

The three are accused of collectively providing more than $2,000 to a person they believed to be affiliated with ISIS and discussing plans to support the group through personnel, services and money.

Prosecutors allege that from February 2025 to about June 2026, the men communicated through Discord chats, voice calls and other messaging platforms with someone they believed to be an ISIS member.

During those communications, they allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader and participated in online groups promoting extremist violence.

As detailed in the complaint, in various messaging exchanges, Ghafoor exclaimed it would be “sick” if his name could be written on the drone used in an attack on Americans. Dzayee suggested that targets of drones should include U.S. Special Forces.

In other exchanges, Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to stab and injure a U.S. servicemember. Ghafoor said he has always wanted to kill a female soldier by beheading, and added, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.”

Investigators say the conversations also included discussion of traveling abroad to join ISIS.

The FBI has not released additional details about the investigation, but said the arrests were the result of a multi-state counterterrorism operation involving field offices in Kansas City, San Diego, Sacramento, Newark and Richmond.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the arrests disrupted what he described as an active terror plot.

“This FBI stopped them cold,” Patel said. “The success of this op shows once again this FBI’s continued record of stopping terrorist attacks before they happen, simply the best way to defend the homeland — and shows we’ll stop at nothing to defend Americans from those who seek to do us harm.”

Source Former Navy Sailor Among Three Arrested for Supporting ISIS Plot to Attack U.S. Troops – SOFX

'PoK is Jallianwala Bagh, Asim Munir is General Dwyer': Ex J&K top cop

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:41:37 +0000

Likening the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, former Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police SP Vaid accused Field Marshal General Asim Munir of acting like General Dyer by ordering action against innocent, unarmed protesters demanding basic amenities.

SP Vaid alleged that Pakistan was using brutal force against unarmed civilians in PoK. "Pakistan can never be a well-wisher of Kashmiris," he said. "First, they killed innocent people in Jammu and Kashmir by pushing armed terrorists into the region, and now they are killing Kashmiris in PoK through brute force."

Slamming Pakistan's decision to ban the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), Vaid said, "Nothing can be a bigger joke than this. JAAC, which comprises student, social and political organisations, has been declared a terror outfit, while globally designated terrorists Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar continue to sit in the lap of the Army and ISI, enjoying all benefits."

The former DGP also questioned the silence of Kashmir-centric leaders over the crackdown. "Kuchh toh bolo (say something). Why are your lips sealed?" he asked.

Vaid criticised what he called the selective outrage of some Kashmir-centric leaders. He said they are quick to speak out on issues such as Gaza and Palestine but remain silent on the situation in PoK. "They beat their chests for Gaza, but are mute spectators here," he said.

Source: 'PoK is Jallianwala Bagh, Asim Munir is General Dwyer': Ex J&K top cop

The ISIS handbook that gave men a green light to capture and RAPE slaves is revealed in court - as Aussie ISIS bride makes her bid for freedom

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:53:00 +0000

Zeinab Ahmad, 31, is facing two counts of crimes against humanity
ISIS followers were provided with a rape handbook
READ: Uncle of ISIS bride who lashed out at photographers wants her home

When Islamic State took power it opened the floodgates for rape and chaos. An Australian woman was among those who chose to be part of it, a court has been told.

But next week Melbourne Magistrates' Court could allow ISIS bride Zeinab Ahmad to walk free on bail until her trial.

Ahmad, 31, is facing two counts of crimes against humanity, including enslavement and using a slave, which was allegedly authorised by an ISIS 'slave-rape handbook'.

00:21

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If released, she will live with her uncle Abraham Abbas, who lashed out at media in last month's Melbourne Airport melee when some of the brides returned to Australia.

Mr Abbas is the brother of Ahmad's mother and alleged slaver Kawsar Abbas, who was also arrested and charged but also hopes to win bail in the coming weeks.

The Daily Mail is not suggesting Mr Abbas is in any way affiliated with the terror group, and last week told a court he was fully aware of what they stood for.

'I hate those b****rds,' he said.

'They're evil and they don’t represent anything we believe in Islam at all.'

Zeinab Ahmad wants to be released back into the community

Source: The ISIS handbook that gave men a green light to capture and RAPE slaves is revealed in court - as Aussie ISIS bride makes her bid for freedom | Daily Mail Online

PoK On Boil As Military Imposes ‘Siege’: Protesters Question Arrests, Firing & Blackout

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:25:16 +0000

Over 450 people have reportedly been arrested, with multiple activists said to be missing during an unrelenting 6-day military crackdown

Massive long marches and a region-wide shutter-down strike paralysed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Monday, as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) led nationwide protests against what it calls an “imposed siege" by the Pakistani military.

Protesters reported severe shortages of essentials and a 6-day-long communication blackout across Rawalakot and other parts of PoK, with many locals likening the situation to “Karbala" as they accused Army Chief General Asim Munir of escalating atrocities in the region.

Human rights concerns deepened amid claims that security forces have registered fake FIRs and bogus cases against protesters. Over 450 people have reportedly been arrested, with multiple activists said to be missing during an unrelenting 6-day military crackdown.

In Pallandari, Pakistan security forces allegedly opened fire on unarmed civilians, while tear gas was reportedly used to disperse demonstrators at Maqbool Butt Shaheed Chowk. Activists also accused security personnel of raiding homes and violating civilian dignity across the valley.

The crackdown has triggered a global outcry, with the Kashmiri diaspora staging protests in multiple countries against what they describe as ongoing atrocities under Pakistan’s “hybrid regime". Some Kashmiri activists have drawn parallels between the current military actions in PoK and the events of 1971 in Bangladesh.

On the ground, protesters are demanding answers from General Asim Munir and the military establishment over the reported civilian shootings and heavy-handed tactics in PoK.

“The Assembly will be at our feet," declared JAAC core member Sardar Aman, calling for a disciplined yet massive convergence of demonstrators to sustain pressure on the authorities.

International watchdogs and the U.S. Embassy are closely monitoring the fast-deepening human rights crisis in PoK, as concerns mount over the scale of the clampdown and the fate of those detained or missing.

Source https://www.news18.com/world/pok-on-boil-as-military-imposes-siege-protesters-question-atrocities-arrests-shortage-of-essentials-blackout-exclusive-ws-l-10138788.html#google_vignette

Council of Europe anti-racism body calls on Monaco to strengthen hate speech and discrimination laws

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:42:00 +0000

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has called on Monaco to strengthen its criminal legislation on hate speech and hate crime, tackle racist and LGBTI-phobic bullying in schools, and examine the situation of foreign nationals in undeclared work — while acknowledging significant progress since its last report in 2022.

The report, published on Thursday 9th June, is ECRI’s latest assessment of Monaco’s record on combating racism and intolerance as part of the Council of Europe’s monitoring process.

Progress acknowledged

ECRI noted a number of improvements since its previous evaluation. These include advances in preventing and combating hate speech and hate crime, greater equality of treatment and inclusion in education, and improved access to healthcare for foreign nationals, including those present irregularly. The report also recognises that medical costs for a partner in a same-sex couple married abroad can now be reimbursed, that the principle of non-discrimination between civil servants has been enshrined in legislation, and that vocational integration support is available for displaced Ukrainians holding a temporary residence permit.

Areas of concern

Despite the progress, ECRI identified several areas requiring further action. On criminal law, the commission found shortcomings in provisions punishing hate speech and hate crime, as well as in the capacity of judicial authorities to order the removal of hateful content online or block sites carrying such content. Training of criminal justice professionals was also flagged.

ECRI expressed concern about racist and LGBTI-phobic bullying in schools, the absence of legislation prohibiting non-therapeutic and medically unnecessary surgery on intersex children, and the continued vulnerability of foreign nationals employed in undeclared domestic work. The report also noted that foreign nationals in Monaco can still be dismissed without prior and valid reason.

Key recommendations

ECRI’s recommendations cover several areas. On hate speech and hate crime, it calls on Monaco to explicitly incorporate the grounds of colour, language, gender identity and sex characteristics into all relevant criminal law provisions, to allow hate elements to be retained for all criminal offences, and to amend the civil and administrative legal framework to provide protection against hate speech in cases that fall below the threshold for criminal liability.

On education, ECRI recommends the systematic and uniform implementation across schools of human rights education and teaching on tolerance and diversity, including topics related to sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.

More broadly, the commission recommends the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, the development of a legal framework explicitly regulating legal gender recognition, and the commissioning of an in-depth study — in cooperation with affected foreign communities — into undeclared work and the discriminatory treatment those workers may face

Source: Council of Europe anti-racism body calls on Monaco to strengthen hate speech and discrimination laws - Monaco Life

‘No Food, Hundreds Detained’: PoK Activists Allege Massive Crackdown By Pakistan

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Activists & local groups have claimed that internet services & mobile networks have remained disrupted across PoK, including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Mirpur & Neelum Valley

Authorities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are facing mounting criticism from activists, opposition voices and members of the Kashmiri diaspora as tensions continue to escalate across the region following days of unrest centered around Rawalakot and other major towns.

activists have drawn parallels with past chapters of Pakistan's history, including the events preceding the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has been at the forefront of the protests, announced a region-wide demonstration on June 9, even as it alleged that security forces have intensified a crackdown on activists and supporters over the past six days.

According to claims made by JAAC leaders, more than 450 people have been detained or arrested since the unrest began. The organisation has also alleged that several protesters and workers remain missing following demonstrations outside the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalakot.

Activists and local groups have further claimed that internet services, mobile networks and other communication channels have remained disrupted in several parts of PoK, including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Mirpur and Neelum Valley.

The situation has sparked criticism from overseas Kashmiri groups, with demonstrations reported in the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries. Diaspora organisations have accused Pakistan’s civil-military establishment of suppressing dissent and have called for greater international attention to developments in the region.

Human rights concerns have also emerged as activists allege raids on homes and detentions of protesters. International observers and journalists have raised questions about the deteriorating security situation, while rights advocates have called for transparency and accountability.

The Awami Action Committee has further alleged that the death toll from Sunday’s violence in Rawalakot has risen to 35, with several others injured. These figures could not be independently verified.

Source https://www.news18.com/world/no-food-hundreds-detained-pok-activists-allege-massive-crackdown-by-pakistan-exclusive-ws-l-10137851.html

UK: Teacher, 2 students injured in stabbing at Manchester school; 14-year-old girl arrested

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:51:00 +0000

Injuries Reported: Two students (14-year-old boy and girl) and a 27-year-old staff member were stabbed, but injuries are not believed to be serious.
Suspect Arrested: A 14-year-old schoolgirl was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault; authorities confirmed no wider threat.
Emergency Response: The school was placed on lockdown, students remained in classrooms, and emergency services secured the premises quickly

A schoolgirl has been arrested after two students and a staff member were injured in a stabbing incident at a school in Manchester, prompting a lockdown and a major emergency response, according to The Guardian.

Emergency services were called to the Co-op Academy in Blackley on Tuesday morning, where students were instructed to remain inside their classrooms while officers secured the premises.

Two students and staff member injured

According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP) cited in the report, the injured include a 14-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and a 27-year-old male staff member.

Police said the injuries were consistent with stab wounds but were not believed to be serious.

“Officers are currently responding to an incident at a school in Blackley where a schoolgirl has been arrested. Three people have been injured. However, injuries aren’t believed to be serious at this time. Emergency services remain on scene and we are supporting the school,” a GMP spokesperson said.

Suspect arrested, no wider threat

Police later confirmed that the student had been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and remains in custody for questioning.

Authorities said they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.

Chief Inspector Jon Shilvock said the situation had been brought under control quickly and there was no wider threat to the public.

“The incident was swiftly dealt with by staff before officers attended to arrest the girl. There is believed to be no wider threat at this time,” he said

Source UK: Teacher, 2 students injured in stabbing at Manchester school; 14-year-old girl arrested

Club Eco Monaco: Navigating the path off the FATF grey list

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:39:00 +0000

As the Principality continues its journey to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, the stakes remain high, but the outlook is increasingly positive. On Friday 22nd May, a Club Eco Monaco conference, organised jointly by the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) and the Nice-Matin Group, provided a frank and pedagogical exploration of Monaco’s current ‘enhanced monitoring’ status.

The event sought to move beyond the speculation surrounding this sensitive topic, instead offering a clear-eyed view of the risks, prospects, and strategic opportunities facing the Principality.

A panel of key decision-makers was convened to demystify the process, including Frédéric Cottalorda, Government Counsellor and Minister for Finance and the Economy; Frédéric Chartier, Executive Co-ordinator of the Steering and Monitoring Committee for the national strategy to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and corruption; and Olivier Pagès, Chief Operating Officer of CMB Monaco.

A record of compliance

Frédéric Chartier opened the discussion by framing the Principality’s compliance efforts as a long-term strategic commitment rather than a temporary hurdle. He noted that Monaco is already seeing the fruits of this intense labour.

“Today, out of 40 technical compliance criteria, Monaco has achieved a score of 39 out of 40,” Mr Chartier reported.

These results are the culmination of a rigorous overhaul of the Principality’s financial security framework, requiring increased human and technical resources and deepened international cooperation. Of the 10 primary improvement measures mandated under the FATF timetable, the majority are complete, with administrative and criminal sanctions currently being finalised to align with the compliance process.

Legal and banking sector transformation

For the Government and the National Council, the strategy has been one of intensive legislative collaboration. Cottalorda confirmed that the Principality has tangible progress to report, particularly regarding the rise in convictions for financial crimes—a development that serves as clear evidence of the new legal framework in action.

This systemic upgrade has required a profound transformation within the banking sector. Olivier Pagès of CMB Monaco acknowledged the difficulties of this transition, noting that clients accustomed to high levels of fluidity have faced an increase in requests for justification.

However, the banker emphasised that these constraints have driven necessary innovation. By deploying substantial human and technological investment—including the use of artificial intelligence—the sector has modernised its processes to meet demanding European standards.

“The upgrade has also allowed us to identify projects or needs that would not have been recognised without it,” Pagès said, highlighting that the rigorous new standards have inadvertently sharpened the sector’s operational capabilities.

An asset for the future

Despite the challenges, the overarching sentiment from the panel was one of measured optimism. Cottalorda suggested that once the Principality successfully exits the grey list, the ordeal will have left Monaco with a renewed competitive advantage.

“Compliance has become one of the factors that financiers and international organisations consider when investing in a country,” he explained. “We will ultimately be able to add an extra asset to our toolkit to promote the Principality more effectively abroad.”

Source Club Eco Monaco: Navigating the path off the FATF grey list - Monaco Life

Lebanon between war and statehood: Shrinking the space for Hezbollah

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:30:00 +0000

This piece is part of the “Blowback: How the Iran war may change the world” series, which features original analyses and policy recommendations by experts on the immediate and prospective long-term fallout from the 2026 Iran war.

As Iran insists that Lebanon be part of ceasefire negotiations with the United States and Israel, the Israel Defense Forces’ May 31 seizure of Beaufort Castle resurrects unsettled memories of the 1982-2000 occupation that fueled Hezbollah’s ascent. As Israel pounds Lebanon, Washington and Tehran wait for the other to blink in negotiations, and Lebanon shatters the taboo against direct talks with Israel, an uncomfortable truth remains: there is no short-term solution to Hezbollah’s arms. American, Israeli, and Lebanese leaders all want Hezbollah defanged. But Israel’s expanding occupation is failing to defeat Hezbollah, which adapts by shifting to asymmetric tactics. Nor are today’s Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) up to the task of disarming Hezbollah. The Lebanese state is far too weak and underdeveloped to replace the jobs, social services, and patronage networks that Hezbollah provides to a once-neglected Shia population. In talks with Washington, Iran is more likely to double down on, rather than negotiate away, its most successful surrogate.

Neutralizing Hezbollah’s military threat and stranglehold on Lebanon hinges on several difficult factors. First, patience and planning for the longer term. Second, sustained U.S. leadership, focused on capacity-building and monitoring and enforcing what emerges from U.S.-Iran and Israel-Lebanon talks. Third, tangible programs to persuade Lebanon’s Shia that, without Hezbollah’s arms, they will not be left vulnerable to Israel (or a Sunni-dominated Syria) and that a bankrupt and dysfunctional state can evolve to revive the economy and deliver services. If the LAF is to disarm Hezbollah without collapsing along sectarian lines, a credible civilian government presence must accompany it, demonstrating that “anti-Hezbollah” does not mean “anti-Shia.” Finally, even while maintaining the fiction that the Lebanese and Iranian tracks are separate, Washington must factor Lebanon into its negotiations with Tehran. Iran may use any sanctions relief, Strait of Hormuz “tolls,” or access to frozen funds to give Hezbollah what it lacks: money for relief and reconstruction that could rebuild its tattered political base and undercut government efforts. While Shia fury over Israel’s “scorched earth” tactics boils high, growing resentment at Hezbollah for dragging them again into war opens space for the state to step in.

“Pax Syriana” and Hezbollah dominance

Unique among Lebanon’s militias, Hezbollah was not compelled to disarm under the 1990 Taif agreement that ended the country’s 15-year civil war, an exceptionalism linked to fighting Israel’s occupation. Hezbollah claims, not entirely without merit, that Hezbollah’s “resistance” forced Israel to withdraw its troops in 2000, ending an 18-year occupation. (The Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army defied Taif’s disarmament requirements, dissolving when Israel’s occupation ended.)

Hezbollah has also positioned itself as a defender and advocate of Lebanon’s Shia community. Sunni and Christian elites historically neglected and politically sidelined the Shia. While foundationally and fundamentally a tool of Iran’s revolutionary ambitions, Hezbollah gave many once-marginalized Lebanese dignity and purpose through social services, employment, and greater political influence. If Hezbollah would evolve into a purely political force—a fantasy, as long as Iran is pulling the strings—it would be Lebanon’s largest, most disciplined movement. That it hasn’t done so speaks volumes about Iran’s intentions.

Despite Hezbollah’s deepening roots and terrorism, Washington initially let postwar Lebanon languish under Syrian occupation. In 2004, the United States began supporting Lebanese sovereignty as a means of weakening Syria’s and Iran’s destabilizing influence in the region. After the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri forced Syria to withdraw, Hezbollah emerged even stronger, fighting Israel to a draw in 2006, increasing the size and sophistication of its arsenals aimed at Israel, and using threats and political leverage to hold the government hostage to its preferences.

U.S. training, equipment, and even salary support to the Lebanese Armed Forces has improved its capabilities, resulting in successful campaigns against ISIS. But the LAF’s effectiveness remains constrained by low wages, fears of sectarian splits, and American reluctance—given Israeli objections—to provide the lethal weapons necessary to offset Hezbollah’s military edge. While LAF recruits took second jobs to feed their families, Hezbollah fighters, alongside Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces, became combat-tested in Syria’s civil war.

A transformed landscape after October 7

The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, overturned the status quo. The following day—without regard to Lebanon’s government, parliament, or interests—Hezbollah fired guided missiles, rockets, and mortars into Israel. Massive Israeli retaliation followed.

In the aftermath, the context in which Hezbollah dominated Lebanon was upended. Israel decapitated Hezbollah’s leadership and later killed its primary sponsor, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Its military degraded under Israeli attacks, Hezbollah could not save its other patron, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad; the Sunni jihadist figures that replaced him in Damascus retain bitter memories of Hezbollah’s role in Syria’s civil war. Although Hezbollah now produces drones locally, replenishing its strategic arsenals absent a Syrian “land bridge” is exceedingly difficult.

Inside Lebanon, for the first time since 1992, a president and government came to office in 2024 without implicit approval of Hezbollah, Tehran, and Damascus. President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam immediately dropped the tiresome “Army, People, Resistance” rhetoric that for decades had politically legitimized Hezbollah’s role in national security. Instead, the government outlawed Hezbollah’s arms (so far without enforcement) and wrested control of key institutions, including Beirut’s airport, from Hezbollah’s control. In a series of unprecedented diplomatic steps, Beirut complained to the United Nations that Iran violated the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and ordered Iran’s ambassador to leave Lebanon. Aoun accused Hezbollah of “treason” for dragging Lebanon into war on behalf of Iran and criticized Tehran for using Lebanon as a “bargaining chip” in talks with Washington. Even while condemning Israeli actions, both Aoun and Salam have supported the U.S.-brokered, direct Israeli-Lebanese talks, breaking a long-standing taboo. (Having essentially burned their bridges to Hezbollah, Aoun and Salam are forced to depend on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as their intermediary with Hezbollah, elevating that wily veteran of Lebanese wars and politics to just where he prefers, in a pivotal position.)

Significantly, while enraged at Israel, a growing number of Shia also express anger that Hezbollah provoked a war resulting in the largest destruction and displacement of Lebanon’s Shia in modern history. Residents of both Tyre and Nabatieh, two major Shia cities in southern Lebanon, publicly called for the end of armed groups and denounced “wars of others.” Unlike in 2006, with a wasteland of shattered villages in the Shia heartland, Hezbollah will struggle to peddle a credible victory narrative. It is increasingly obvious even to the Shia that Hezbollah’s arms create the very dangers that they are purported to deter.

Yet Hezbollah’s threats persist. Assassinated Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah’s diminished successor, Naim Qassim, threatened Lebanon’s cabinet in May, prompting memories of Hezbollah’s complicity in assassinations and its May 2008 takeover of Beirut. Emboldened by Iran’s claims of victory in its war with the United States and Israel, Hezbollah triumphantly posts images of drone attacks on Israeli soldiers.

For all the courageous talk and changed context, the Lebanese government and the LAF still lack the will and capacity for direct confrontation with Hezbollah. Forcing them to do so now would break the state and the army. Anger and despair over Israel’s devastation of an expanding swath of Lebanese territory further complicates the task. Even Lebanese who may be relieved that, at last, Lebanon is at the table with Israel—rather than on the menu—must fret that the U.S.-brokered direct negotiations and performative ceasefire announcements can appear as a green light for Israel’s ongoing assaults.

Policy recommendations

Many people (including this author) have spent decades pushing initiatives intended to weaken Hezbollah. The results were mostly unimpressive. Now, changed conditions present an opportunity to neutralize Hezbollah’s security threat, if one can think longer term and acknowledge that an exclusively military approach will not succeed.

The key to loosening Hezbollah’s grip is to erode its Shia political base by filling the vacuum left by the state—providing the services a functional government should, which Hezbollah has long supplied. Effective service delivery undermines the narrative that sidelining Hezbollah aims to marginalize the Shia once again. Lebanon’s ability to disarm Hezbollah, without plunging Lebanon back into sectarian chaos, therefore requires steps that both reinforce growing Shia disillusionment with Hezbollah and more generally persuade Lebanese that a state that currently lacks credibility can actually deliver. Multiple lines of work need to be pursued simultaneously.

1. Security and military transition

Hezbollah’s hardcore, Iran-aligned nucleus will not suddenly change course, and the LAF will eventually need to confront it. It will therefore be essential to continue building up the LAF’s capacity. In parallel, U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks can build on existing work to develop detailed relief-in-place plans for the LAF to replace Israeli occupying troops. Washington, the United Nations, and others can dust off frequently discussed confidence-building steps; disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration; security sector reform; and LAF capacity-building plans. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has responded to the Security Council’s request for options for U.N. monitoring and observations, following the end of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon’s mandate in December. Options need to be developed for enforcement, which was a notable gap in previous approaches.

2. Diplomatic efforts and a ceasefire

Washington should use both the Israel-Lebanon and U.S.-Iran channels to secure a genuine ceasefire. Despite American denials, Tehran has effectively linked Lebanon to any exit strategy from the Iran war. President Donald Trump, for now, is paying attention, which is important since U.S. leadership remains relevant in Israel and Lebanon. Only the Americans, if sufficient U.S. diplomatic machinery remains in working condition, can assemble the funding, coalitions, and understandings needed to permanently transform Israeli-Lebanese dynamics.

With elections looming and Israelis displaced by Hezbollah’s drones and missiles, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may calculate that escalating the war in Lebanon, supported by 80% of Israeli Jews, may distract voters from his failure to achieve his war aims in Iran. Yet Netanyahu is unlikely to risk incurring Trump’s wrath ahead of Israel’s October elections, should Trump demand Israel temper its belligerency in Lebanon to help end the Iran war—giving Washington a meaningful source of leverage. While Netanyahu may not be troubled by provoking state collapse in Lebanon—even though the earlier combination of state collapse and occupation led to Hezbollah’s rise—such an outcome would work against the Trump administration’s aim of a more stable Syria.

U.S. efforts in Syria will also be important for Lebanon. U.S. support for Ahmad al-Sharaa’s interim government can reinforce the emerging mutually constructive Lebanese-Syrianrelations. It can also reassure Lebanon’s Shia that Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-dominated government is not a threat to them.

3. Economic relief and state legitimacy

After the 2006 war, Hezbollah was perceived as moving faster and more generously than the government in providing compensation and reconstruction assistance. Today’s devastation is far greater, and Hezbollah’s resources are considerably less, giving the state an opportunity to act. To counter Hezbollah, the bankrupt Lebanese government needs resources to be visibly in charge of providing immediate relief to those displaced and lead the eventual reconstruction. Washington, working with the U.N., France, and others, can initiate efforts to both attract financial support and establish supervision mechanisms to prevent the diversion of funds to notoriously corrupt Lebanese institutions, such as the Council for the South. Although the Gulf states will prioritize repairing their own war damages, they can be motivated to prevent either a renewed Iranian hegemony in Lebanon or its replacement by Israel. Donor funds and international financial institution support could help the Lebanese state reassert control and provide services across progressively larger areas of the country.

4. Constraining Iran

Throughout this process, Washington must watch Iran closely. Tehran will not trade away Hezbollah at the negotiating table: If Iran gains access to frozen funds or sanctions relief, it may race to transfer resources to Hezbollah to outperform and undermine the government. Iran will remain quite focused on preserving its Lebanese surrogate, and any diplomatic progress must account for this reality.

Conclusion

The aftermath of October 7 and the Iran war have changed Hezbollah’s operating environment considerably. While the window is only as wide as Washington’s attention span, there is an opportunity, after decades of failed efforts, to eliminate the Hezbollah threat against Lebanon and Israel. It requires providing resources and support to help the government put into practice Aoun and Salam’s commitment to a strong state, with a monopoly over arms, that is able to deliver security, services, and economic revival, while posing no threat to its neighbors. Unfortunately, this plan needs more time than Netanyahu is likely to grant it, and more focus than the Trump administration, with its diplomatic and foreign assistance mechanisms dismantled, seems able to maintain.

Source https://www.brookings.edu/articles/lebanon-between-war-and-statehood-shrinking-the-space-for-hezbollah/

Defying Trump, Israel strikes Iranian military, fuel targets; Iran, Houthis fire missiles at Israel

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:26:50 +0000

No injuries; settlement homes damaged by missile fragment; strike targets include Iranian air defenses; report: Netanyahu ‘pseudo-agreed’ to Trump’s demand not to retaliate to initial fire

Israel launched strikes on Iranian military targets and a petrochemical plant on Monday morning in response to the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile attacks on northern Israel hours earlier, defying public calls from US President Donald Trump not to retaliate.

After threatening continued barrages if Israel retaliated to its initial attack on Sunday evening, Iran launched more ballistic missile attacks on Monday morning after Israel’s airstrikes on military targets overnight, and was joined by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who also fired a missile at Tel Aviv.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, Iran has launched 24 ballistic missiles at Israel since Sunday night. The missiles were all intercepted or struck open areas, the military said.

In addition, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen fired two ballistic missiles at Israel on Monday morning. According to the IDF, one of the missiles was intercepted while the second failed to reach the country.

The Monday morning missile fire came after Israel Defense Forces carried out strikes in Iran overnight, saying it was hitting military targets in the center and west of the country.

Source https://www.timesofisrael.com/defying-trump-israel-strikes-iranian-military-fuel-targets-iran-houthis-fire-missiles-at-israel/

Israeli man killed, five hurt in central Israel terror shooting spree by Arab Israeli

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Victim ID'd as Haim Kalomiti, member of civil defense squad; PMO says he engaged the terrorist, who rampaged in communities bordering West Bank; two men in serious condition

An Arab Israeli terrorist opened fire in several locations in a shooting spree in central Israel on Sunday, killing an IDF reservist who served as a civil defense squad member, and wounding five other people, before he was shot dead by security forces, first responders said. Police later arrested a second man accused of involvement in the attack.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service said it treated two men in their 30s shot at a gas station near Kochav Ya’ir, one of whom was in serious condition; a 31-year-old man and 61-year-old woman shot in the entrance to Tzur Yitzhak, both of them in moderate condition; and two men shot outside Tzur Natan — one who succumbed to his wounds and another man who was in serious condition.

The slain man was identified by the military as Master Sgt. (res.) Haim Kalomiti, 55, a reservist soldier from Tzur Natan who was a member of the community’s civil defense squad.

Kalomiti, a married father of three, served in the IDF’s Ephraim Regional Brigade as a “regional defense soldier” — a reservist recruited by the military to defend their community in the West Bank or along the border. Tzur Natan is located adjacent to the West Bank security barrier.

Source https://www.timesofisrael.com/terrorist-kills-one-wounds-five-in-central-israel-shooting-spree/amp/

Naga Villager Killed In Attack By Suspected Insurgents In Manipur

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:25:24 +0000

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killing of the civilian, and said the security forces are carrying out operations to bring the attackers to justice

Imphal:

A 58-year-old villager was killed in a suspected insurgent attack after they opened fire on a group of people who were collecting firewood in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Monday.

The villager has been identified as Chungjanglung Panmei, 58, a member of the Rongmei Naga tribe.

The Manipur Police launched a search and rescue operation in the area. Panmei's body was recovered at 1.30 pm from the forest.

Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the killing of the civilian, and said the security forces are carrying out operations to bring the attackers to justice.

He also assured all support and assistance from the state government for the family of the villager who was shot dead. Khemchand appealed to communities to maintain peace and harmony and not fall prey to provocations intended to create tension.

Source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rongmei-naga-villager-killed-in-attack-by-suspected-insurgents-in-manipur-11609205?pfrom=home-ndtvworld_world_icymi

"In Pakistan, They Stood Outside Room With Guns": Bangladesh Cricket Captain Litton Das's 'Dangerous' Comparison

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 18:17:49 +0000

The build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a drama involving the refusal of Bangladesh to travel to India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) main accusation was a lack of safety in India. Despite repeated assurances from the ICC and the BCCI, Bangladesh did not relent. They ultimately did not play. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament. Litton Das, Bangladesh T20 captain, said that as players they wanted to play the tournament, but the BCB leadership took the decision for them. Das hinted that they played in 'dangerous' conditions in Pakistan; hence, playing in India would not have been a problem

We went there to participate (in a meeting with top BCB officials), to have tea. Our mindset was to have tea in an AC room. We were asked what we wanted. As players, what would we want? We don't want to fight. We would obviously want to play. They told us there was no safety in that country (India). We told them, we have played in Pakistan too. They used to stand outside the room with guns. What can be more dangerous than that? If we can play in Pakistan, why not India," Litton Das told Prothom Alo.

Earlier, in January, when the whole row erupted, Das had remained non-committal over revealing his opinion on the issue

Source https://sports.ndtv.com/t20-world-cup-2026/in-pakistan-they-stood-outside-room-with-guns-bangladesh-cricket-captain-littons-dangerous-accusation-11608736?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

FATF developments and relevance to the AfCFTA's financial crime risk landscape

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:47:00 +0000

Many African Continental Free Trade Area ("AfCFTA") Member States have modelled their legislative anti-corruption and anti-money laundering ("AML") frameworks on international instruments such as the Financial Action Task Force ("FATF") Recommendations. As AfCFTA implementation accelerates and intra-African trade volumes grow, recent FATF developments highlight both the urgency and complexity of integrating financial integrity mechanisms within the continental trade framework.

At the FATF Ministerial Declaration of April 2026, ministers reiterated their commitment to tackling illicit finance through multilateral action, with particular focus on fraud and risk-based implementation of the FATF Standards. Fraud prevention is directly relevant to the AfCFTA context as the reduction of trade barriers and increase in cross-border transactions create fertile conditions for fraudulent activity unless preventive measures keep pace. As Member States progressively eliminate tariffs on up to 97% of tariff lines, the surge in goods declarations creates opportunities for trade-based money laundering through over- and under-invoicing, techniques that become harder to detect when customs authorities lack capacity to analyse a larger pool of transactions.

Several African jurisdictions remain under increased FATF monitoring. As of May 2026, these include Angola, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Namibia, and South Sudan, all identified as having strategic AML/CFT deficiencies. The implications extend beyond reputation as jurisdictions under monitoring face heightened scrutiny. This can hinder the trade facilitation objectives the AfCFTA seeks to advance. For the AfCFTA to deliver seamless cross-border commerce, Member States must address these deficiencies as a strategic priority, not a compliance exercise.

In October 2025, the FATF updated its Recommendations and revised its mutual evaluation procedures. African jurisdictions awaiting review or follow-up assessments should expect more demanding benchmarks. Proactive alignment with evolving FATF standards, rather than reactive remediation, is the prudent approach. As we have written about previously (see here), a useful step would be for Member States to conduct coordinated national risk assessments that specifically account for new AfCFTA-related trade flows and financial channels, ensuring these inform mutual evaluation preparations rather than treating regional integration and AML compliance as separate workstreams.

FATF's updated Guidance on Financial Inclusion and Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Measures requires attention in this context. It emphasises that financial inclusion and the fight against financial crime are mutually supportive because greater transparency in the financial sector extends the reach and effectiveness of AML measures. This matters for AfCFTA Member States seeking to integrate informal traders and SMEs into formal trade channels. Proportionate, risk-based AML controls can facilitate, rather than hinder, financial inclusion, provided Member States invest in the institutional frameworks to implement them. For example, a small-scale West African agricultural trader using the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (“PAPSS”) could be subject to simplified due diligence calibrated to low-value, high-frequency transactions, rather than full KYC requirements designed for large corporates, maintaining AML safeguards without creating prohibitive barriers to market entry.

Of further relevance is FATF's recent paper on cyber-enabled fraud. Cyber-enabled fraud is one of the most widespread profit-motivated crimes globally, generating large volumes of illicit proceeds. As the AfCFTA's Digital Trade Protocol takes effect and platforms such as the PAPSS expand, the risk of cyber-enabled financial crime will increase. Member States and private sector participants must ensure digital trade infrastructure incorporates fraud detection and AML capabilities from the outset, not as an afterthought. The risk is concrete: as customs declarations and certificates of origin are digitised, fraudulent actors could exploit weaknesses in digital identity verification to submit falsified documentation across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously, scaling schemes that would have been far harder under paper-based systems.

Recent FATF developments confirm that global standards for financial integrity are rising. African jurisdictions participating in the AfCFTA cannot afford to lag behind. Harmonising AML standards across Member States is no longer merely desirable, it is essential. Failure to align with evolving FATF expectations risks undermining the AfCFTA framework’s integrity and marginalising jurisdictions unable to meet the threshold for participation in the global financial system.

Source FATF developments and relevance to the AfCFTA's financial crime risk landscape - Lexology

After Years Of Naxal Warfare, Elite CoBRA Commandos' New Challenge: Manipur

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:22:00 +0000

The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is the CRPF's specialised jungle warfare unit and has played a major role in anti-Naxal operations across central India.

Guwahati:

Amid renewed tensions in Manipur's hill districts and sporadic incidents reported over the past two months, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to deploy elite CoBRA commandos of the CRPF in the state.

The move comes after a recent flare-up between Kuki and Naga groups in parts of the hill areas, which has raised concerns within the security establishment.

Sources said Director General of the CRPF, GP Singh, who recently visited Manipur, is personally overseeing preparations for the deployment. The CoBRA battalions, known for their extensive experience in anti-Naxal operations, are being inducted into the state following directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"Adaptability is the essential trait of any high-quality commando unit. They would also undergo familiarisation and pre-induction training. Besides, they would sharpen their skills as they spend time in Manipur," GP Singh told NDTV.

During his visit, Singh toured several parts of the state, interacted with officers and personnel, and reviewed the security situation. Sources said he stressed the need for firm action against wrongdoers to restore law and order.

Source https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-years-of-naxal-warfare-elite-cobra-commandos-new-challenge-manipur-11609070?pfrom=home-ndtvworld_world_icymi

Police called after pro-Khalistan activists barge into consular event in London shouting slogans

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:42:12 +0000

TOI correspondent from London: Police had to be called after pro-Khalistan activists disrupted an Indian high commission outreach consular event in Sutton, south London, last weekend inside a primary school building.

Pro-Khalistan activists barged into the building holding “Khalistan flags”, fought with organisers and said the Indian high commission had no right to hold the event there as “this was the UK and we are UK taxpayers”. They shouted “Khalistan Zindabad” through a megaphone and demanded to see the Indian officials.

The purpose of the all-day event, organised by Indian Friends of Sutton, was for Indian high commission staff to deal with queries over passport renewals, OCI cards and visas. They hold such events in different locations regularly; 500 people attended the Sutton event.

A Tamil language class for children was taking place on one of the floors of the building as the disruption unfolded.

One of the organisers told TOI: “We told them to go outside as they were scaring the kids. I told them the high commission staff here are clerks. Yet they kept demanding they wanted to meet HCI officials.”
The organisers then called the police who sent four police officers. One pro-Khalistan activist told the police: “If they want to do any of their operations, they should run from their embassy as they have killed our people. We are here to hold them accountable.”

The police made the activists go outside. “They then protested outside the school where they tore the tricolour and played football with it and stood on it. They were provoking us continually, threatening and calling us cowards. This event was for any religion, not just Hindus, and PIOs of all religions came,” the organiser added.

The Indian mission is now taking up the matter with the UK govt via the appropriate channels.

Source https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/police-called-after-pro-khalistan-activists-barge-into-consular-event-in-london-shouting-slogans/amp_articleshow/131514940.cms

Russia says hundreds of Ukrainian drones downed as economic forum ends

vee4ru@gmail.com (explorer) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Russia’s defence ministry said the drones were downed over 16 areas and regions, including St Petersburg, Crimea and over the Azov and Black seas.

Police officers stand in front of a banner and flags with the logo of the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) as heavy smoke billows in the background after Ukrainian drones hit infrastructure, in St Petersburg, Russia, on June 3, 2026 [Reuters]

Residents of Saint Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russia’s second-largest city at the end of a three-day international economic forum.

Russia said air defences shot down 376 Ukrainian drones overnight as attacks intensify on both sides with no clear end in sight, after Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was no point meeting his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy for face-to-face talks.

Russia’s defence ministry said on Saturday that the drones were downed over 16 areas and regions, including St Petersburg, Crimea and over the Azov and Black seas.

According to Aleksandr Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, whose major city is St Petersburg and also includes key Baltic ports, 86 drones were shot down.

“Combat operations continue,” he said.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv’s drones covered a distance of “about 1,000 kilometers to the St Petersburg region – to the enemy navy’s arsenals and a base in Kronstadt”.

“Our long-range sanctions also reached about 500 kilometers into the Krasnodar region – and hit an oil depot,” he said in a post on X.

“Russia must end its war and stop its attacks on life. Any manifestation of injustice against Ukraine will receive a just response,” Zelenskyy said. “It is time to end this war.”

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), with some 20,000 guests from more than 130 countries, ends on Saturday. On the first day of the summit on Wednesday, Ukrainian drones hit an oil complex and naval base in the city.

Russian attacks

In Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia regional governor Ivan Fedorov said on Saturday that the bodies of two men who had been unaccounted for after a Russian attack were found.

One person was also killed, and three others were wounded in Russian drone and artillery attacks in Dnipropetrovsk, regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha wrote on Telegram.

Late on Saturday, Ukraine’s Deputy ⁠Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Russian forces ⁠had ⁠attacked two civilian search and rescue vessels in ⁠Ukrainian waters, causing injuries.

“The enemy launched strikes on ‌two boats of the maritime search and rescue service which were carrying out a humanitarian mission within ⁠the Ukrainian sea ⁠corridor,” he wrote on Telegram, referring to a Black ⁠Sea route used ⁠to take vessels ⁠to Romanian ports.

“Unfortunately, there are injured. Evacuation by boats ‌of the Ukrainian navy is currently underway.”

On Thursday, Zelenskyy, in a rare move, appealed to Putin and said: “Ukraine proposes ending this war through direct engagement between us – and you. I am proposing a meeting”.

But speaking at the economic forum on Friday, Putin said there was “no point”.

“It only makes sense for the Ukrainian side to stop the advance of our armed forces. That’s it. And we need agreements,” Putin said.

“Let the experts work, develop some solutions, and then we can meet.”

The two sides’ stances remain poles apart. Moscow has said it will agree to end the war as long as it keeps the territory it took from Ukraine, while Kyiv will only accept a deal once its territory is returned.

Source https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/6/6/russia-says-hundreds-of-ukrainian-drones-downed-as-economic-forum-ends