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Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Unidentified gunmen kill 3 under-custody bank robbers in Pak's Peshawar

Peshawar, May 21 (PTI): Three under-custody suspected bank robbers have been shot dead after unidentified armed men opened fire on a police team escorting them in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar, police said.The incident occurred within the limits of Machni Gate Police Station when unknown assailants attacked an investigation team escorting the suspects during the course of interrogation and identification of crime scenes, a police official said late on Wednesday. According to police, the deceased suspects were identified as Muhammad Shoaib, Muhammad Umar alias Wajahat and Muhammad Imad and were allegedly involved in bank robberies and the killing of a police personnel.Police said the suspects had been taken to Allied Bank in the Pir Bala area on Warsak Road to complete legal formalities and identify the scene of a previous robbery.During the operation, three pistols allegedly used in the bank robbery were recovered from a nearby location after being identified by the suspects.Officials said the police team was later transporting the suspects to another alleged planning site when unidentified motorcyclists opened indiscriminate fire near Northern Bypass in an apparent attempt to free their accomplices.The station house officer (SHO) and another policeman survived after bullets struck their bulletproof jackets and helmets, while the official police vehicle sustained damage in the attack.Police said the three under-custody suspects were fatally hit during the exchange of fire, while the attackers managed to flee the scene.Following the incident, SP Warsak Division Muhammad Arshad Khan reached the site along with a heavy police contingent, and investigators collected evidence from the area.Authorities said a search operation has been launched across the Warsak Division to arrest the fleeing attackers, while security and snap-checking at entry and exit points have been intensified.According to police, the deceased suspects were wanted in multiple cases, including the killing of a security guard during a bank robbery on Kohat Road on January 20, 2026, and the killing of Additional SHO Bahar Ali during an attempted bank robbery in Pir Bala on Warsak Road on March 6, 2026. PTI AYZ RD RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/unidentified-gunmen-kill-3-under-custody-bank-robbers-in-pak-s-peshawar-1845032

Iran: Internet Access Becoming A Costly Privilege Reserved For Few

Iran's National Security Council recently approved a plan to grant certain groups paid internet access, albeit with a daily usage limit on foreign websites and international data traffic. The internet in Iran has been shut down since the US and Israel launched attacks on February 28. The so-called "Internet Pro" does not refer to a technical upgrade but allows users standard internet access that bypasses the block. According to journalist and internet researcher Solmaz Eikder, major platforms like Instagram, X, and YouTube—which have long been blocked in Iran—still cannot be used even by many Internet Pro users without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Eikder has been living in exile in Europe for five years. She works for "Filterban," a research initiative focusing on internet censorship, digital repression and surveillance in Iran. The initiative is frequently used by journalists, activists and researchers who study digital repression in Iran. <h2>Iran's longest internet shutdown in history</h2> The internet in Iran has been shut down since the US-Israeli attacks on February 28. The shutdown, which has now lasted for more than 80 days, is thelongest yet in Iran, but not the first of its kind. For years, the Iranian security apparatus has used this method primarily to disrupt communication between Iranians while cutting off the outside world. This most recently occurred during the nationwide protests in January, which the regime brutally suppressed. Millions of people are now once again cut off from the digital economy and communication. According to government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohadscherani, Internet Pro is intended to "prevent disruptions to economic activity and ensure business communication in times of crisis." <h2>What is 'Internet Pro'?</h2> The plan is offered to certain professional groups, such as members of the Chamber of Commerce, startups, technology companies and retailers. They receive an initial package of 50 gigabytes of data, which costs about $11. "That's a lot of money in Iran," said Eikder. Since the war began, many households have been under growing economic pressure. Inflation has risen to over 50%, while the rial has lost significant value against the dollar, which has sharply increased prices for basic necessities. Destroyed industrial facilities and massive production losses have hit the economy hard. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost. But not captured in the statistics are millions of small income opportunities that have been wiped out by internet blocks. "Many women from small towns and villages had been selling products such as dried fruit, handmade clothing or food online," said Eikder. "This income played an important role for their families, but this opportunity has now been taken away from them." <h2>Internet access becomes a luxury in Iran</h2> Within Iran, there has been widespread criticism of the new system. The newspaper Shargh and other media outlets have criticized the introduction of Internet Pro, which transforms access to communication and information from a public and civil right into a privilege. Women who serve as their families' primary breadwinners and who previously earned income online, along with students, are not included among the groups who can access Internet Pro. One 19-year-old engineering student told DW under condition of anonymity that she isn't sure she would accept any offer to access Internet Pro. In the system, every user is identified via their national ID number and registered mobile number. The student continues to buy a VPN configuration on the black market that allows her to access the internet. However, many of her friends and acquaintances can no longer afford VPNs. "It has become extremely difficult for people in Iran to access independent news and reliable information," said Oliver Linow, an internet freedom specialist at DW, which has been blocked online in Iran since 2009. "Since then, we have provided people in the country with censorship circumvention tools that allow access to independent journalism. However, these tools are often no longer effective during a near-total internet shutdown," Linow said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised in recent weeks that internet service will soon be restored. In Iran, a number of agencies — ranging from the National Security Council to the Supreme Council for Cyberspace — are involved in decisions regarding the state's approach to digital control. A new crisis management team led by Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has been established to put an end to the "multiplicity of voices" and overlapping jurisdictions in Iran's internet policy. No one knows what the new crisis management team actually is. According to information from the newspaper Sharq, government officials have been expressly prohibited from publicly explaining the details or responsibilities of the new body or discussing it with the media. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/in-iran-internet-access-becomes-a-luxury-for-the-few-1845006

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Iran could trigger ‘nuclear arms race’ in Gulf: Vance

Washington, May 20 (PTI): US Vice President J D Vance has said Iran having an atomic weapon would trigger a “nuclear arms race” worldwide and asserted that the US was “locked and loaded” to restart military operations if Tehran failed to reach a peace deal.Vance’s remarks at a press conference at the White House on Tuesday came a day after President Donald Trump put off the decision to resume strikes on Iran at the request of Arab nations, including Qatar and the UAE, who said that Tehran was being “reasonable” in peace talks."We think the Iranians want to make a deal. The president of the United States has asked us to negotiate in good faith. And that’s exactly what we’ve done," the vice president said.But Vance warned that diplomacy will not come at the cost of Trump’s key demand that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon."So as the president just told me, we're locked and loaded," Vance said, adding that he had a meeting with Trump before coming to the press briefing. "We don't want to go down that pathway. But the president is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to," the vice president said. Vance said the US has a “simple proposition” and there are “two paths to go down”.“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that if Tehran acquired one, it would send other nations “scrambling” to get their own, setting off a “nuclear arms race”.“Iran would really be the first domino in what would set off a nuclear arms race all over the world,” he said.“If the Iranians did get a nuclear weapon, we know that a lot of nations all across the Gulf would then want their own nuclear weapon, and then a lot of nations all across the world,” Vance said.“As the father of three young kids, I don't want them to inherit a world where 20 additional regimes—half of them very dangerous and very sympathetic to terrorists—have nuclear weapons,” Vance said.“We want to keep the number of countries that have nuclear weapons small, and that's why Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. On top of all the other things that we might be worried about, that they themselves could use it, that they could use it as leverage in economic control or economic negotiations. We just don't want them to have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said."There’s an option B, and the option B is that we could restart the military campaign to continue to prosecute the case, to continue to try to achieve America’s objectives," Vance said. "But that’s not what the president wants. And I don’t think it’s what the Iranians want either," he said.He says there’s an opportunity to reset the Washington-Tehran relationship, “but it takes two to tango”. PTI SKU RD RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-could-trigger-nuclear-arms-race-in-gulf-vance-1844791

New permanent members in reformed UNSC should have same responsibilities, obligations as current ones: G4

United Nations, May 20 (PTI): Offering a “realistic” way forward on UN Security Council reforms, the G4 nations of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan have proposed that new permanent members in an expanded Council would not exercise veto pending decision during a review period.“The world has waited far too long for real reform of the UNSC, and we witness the consequences thereof,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni said, as he delivered a statement on behalf of the G4 nations Tuesday on the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) meeting on Security Council reforms.He highlighted that the discussion is a good platform for a comprehensive stock-taking of the IGN process, including an objective assessment of progress achieved, if any, and charting a realistic way forward to implement meaningful reforms of the UN Security Council.Reiterating the G4’s flexibility with regard to the Question of Veto, he said the grouping "emphasizes that there cannot be a sub-category within the permanent category." “For this reason, G4 takes the position that new permanent members should, as a principle, have the same responsibilities and obligations as current ones,” Parvathaneni said.He emphasised that in order to show “openness and flexibility” on this issue to foster constructive negotiations, “the G4 proposes that new permanent members would not exercise veto until a decision on the matter is reached during a 15-year review.” India has maintained that the existing UNSC architecture hails from a different era and does not reflect current geopolitical realities.The broad contours of the G4 model for UNSC reform propose increasing the Security Council membership from the current 15 to 25 or 26, with a reformed Council comprising 11 permanent members and 14 or 15 non-permanent members. Currently, the powerful UN organ consists of five veto-wielding permanent members- China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. The remaining 10 members are elected to sit at the horseshoe table for two-year terms as non-permanent members. India last sat in the Council as a non-permanent member in 2021-22. Parvathaneni further said that the G4 has “clearly articulated” that a consolidated model must lead to text-based negotiations on UNSC reforms. “Such a model must be drawn up in an objective manner and solely in accordance with the views expressed by various groups and member states in IGN discussions. A consolidated model is a starting point for discussion, not an end point designed for consensus or the lowest common denominator,” he said.The G4 strongly emphasised that the IGN runs the “obvious risk” of not achieving any real progress till the commencement of text-based negotiations. “As a reform-centric group, G4 once again underscores that the IGN must start negotiations on the basis of a text without any further delay,” he said.The grouping underscored the imperative to avoid procedural hurdles, saying there is a long-standing practice on UN negotiations, as well as a clear mandate before the membership. “We cannot stress enough that possible bridging proposals and hybrid ideas must evolve from discussions among groups and member states on the basis of text negotiation," he said "Efforts to consider such proposals and ideas before the formulation of, and discussion on, a text would be an instance of placing the cart before the horse. Furthermore, it would mean discarding views and proposals even before the start of a negotiation process,” he added.The G4 also stressed that it is "positively disposed” towards adequate and continuing representation of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Aspects such as the treatment of member states with membership in cross-regional groups, in addition to their respective regional groups, need to be fleshed out."Representation, on the basis of faith, runs counter to time-tested UN practices,” the group said. PTI YAS RD RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/there-cannot-be-a-sub-category-within-the-permanent-category-g4-nations-on-veto-in-reformed-unsc-1844790

Lahore Restores Pre-Partition Names: Islampura Becomes Krishnanagar Again

Several prominent localities and landmarks in Lahore have reportedly had their old pre-Partition names restored, triggering a fresh debate in Pakistan over history, identity and cultural heritage. The move has drawn widespread attention after names linked to Lahore’s Hindu and Sikh past began reappearing in official and public usage. Supporters say the changes are aimed at reviving the city’s original historical identity, while critics view them as politically sensitive in a country where place names have long reflected ideological and religious shifts. Many of the names being restored were changed after Partition, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s. <h2>Old Names Return</h2> Authorities and local reports suggest that several well-known roads, neighbourhoods and intersections in Lahore are now reverting to their historical names. The reported changes include: <ul> <li>Islampura → Krishnanagar</li> <li>Sunnatnagar → Santnagar</li> <li>Maulana Zafar Chowk → Lakshmi Chowk</li> <li>Babri Masjid Chowk → Jain Mandir Chowk</li> <li>Mustafaabad → Dharampura</li> <li>Sir Aga Khan Chowk → Davis Road</li> <li>Allama Iqbal Road → Jail Road</li> <li>Fatima Jinnah Road → Queens Road</li> <li>Bagh-e-Jinnah → Lawrence Road</li> </ul> <h2>Debate Over Heritage</h2> The restoration of these names has sparked intense discussions online and in political circles. Supporters argue that Lahore’s multicultural and pre-Partition heritage should be preserved and recognised rather than erased. According to them, the original names represent the city’s layered historical identity and architectural legacy. Critics, however, believe the changes may reignite debates around religion, nationalism and Partition-era memory. Some questioned why authorities chose to revive only select historical names, while others accused officials of politicising cultural heritage. The controversy highlights how names of roads, chowks and neighbourhoods in South Asia continue to carry strong emotional and political significance. In cities like Lahore, where history is deeply intertwined with Partition and shifting national identities, even symbolic changes to public spaces often become part of a larger cultural and political conversation.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/lahore-restores-pre-partition-names-islampura-becomes-krishnanagar-again-1844776

Monday, May 18, 2026

3 Killed In Shooting At San Diego Mosque; 2 Teen Suspects Found Dead, FBI Probes Hate Crime

Three men were killed in a shooting at a mosque in San Diego on Monday, while two teenage suspects were also found dead, as investigators launched a hate crime probe into the attack. Among those killed was a security guard at the Islamic Center of San Diego, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said during a press briefing held at a neighborhood park across from the mosque, Associated Press reported. Police have not yet disclosed further details regarding the motive behind the attack, but Wahl said the case is being treated as a hate crime investigation. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R1PVE44xJog?si=sKg3o6bQg9NeHYha" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/turkey-shooting-gunman-kills-4-injures-8-in-mersin-province-1844496">Turkey Shooting: Gunman Kills 4, Injures 8 In Mersin Province</a> <h3>Children Evacuated From Mosque Premises</h3> Television aerial footage showed more than a dozen children being escorted out of the mosque parking lot while holding hands, as a heavy police presence surrounded the area. The Islamic Center of San Diego, regarded as the largest mosque in San Diego County, also houses the Al Rashid School, which offers classes in Arabic, Islamic studies and the Quran for children aged five and above, according to information on the institution’s website. The white-colored mosque is situated in a residential neighborhood lined with apartments, homes and strip malls, including several Middle Eastern restaurants and markets.  ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/india/us-extends-sanction-waiver-on-russian-oil-by-30-days-to-aid-vulnerable-nations-1844495">US Extends Sanction Waiver On Russian Oil By 30 Days To Aid Vulnerable Nations</a> <h3>Mosque Known For Interfaith Outreach</h3> Standing alongside the police chief during the briefing, Imam Taha Hassane said the mosque had long focused on interfaith engagement and community outreach efforts. He noted that a group of non-Muslim visitors had toured the mosque earlier on Monday to learn more about Islam, AP reported. According to the Islamic Center’s website, its mission extends beyond serving the Muslim community and includes efforts to “work with the larger community to serve the less fortunate, to educate, and to better our nation.” The mosque hosts five daily prayers and frequently collaborates with people and organizations from different faiths on social causes.  ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-news-live-update-us-ready-to-release-25-of-iran-s-frozen-funds-trump-softens-stand-on-oil-sanctions-1844492">US Ready To Release 25% Of Iran’s Frozen Funds, Trump Softens Stand On Oil Sanctions: Report</a> <h3>Governor Briefed On Incident</h3> California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed on the shooting, his office said. “We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities,” the governor’s office said in a post on X.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/3-killed-in-shooting-at-us-san-diego-mosque-2-teen-suspects-found-dead-fbi-hate-crime-probe-1844512

Trump holds off strikes on Iran planned for Tuesday at Arab leaders' request

Washington, May 19 (PTI): US President Donald Trump has said he was holding up fresh strikes at Iran at the request of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.Trump made the announcement on Truth Social on Monday late afternoon, without any reference to Pakistan, the mediator in the US-Iran war.“I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday),” Trump said.The President said that serious negotiations are now taking place, and that, in their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States of America, as well as all countries in the West Asia and beyond. “This Deal will include, importantly, NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN! Based on my respect for the above mentioned Leaders, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, The Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Daniel Caine, and The United States Military, that we will NOT be doing the scheduled attack of Iran tomorrow, but have further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice, in the event that an acceptable Deal is not reached,” Trump said.Trump was expected to convene his top national security team in the Situation Room on Tuesday to discuss military options, two US officials told Axios.Before his announcement, Trump spoke on the phone with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, two sources with knowledge said, according to Axios. PTI SKU RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-holds-off-strikes-on-iran-planned-for-tuesday-at-arab-leaders-request-1844510