Aleena Zara Malik

People have a lot of questions about Eid, and Google definitely has answers. This episode of Debunkistan takes on the most searched queries from non-Muslims and breaks them down with humour, context, and a much-needed reality check.

Debunkistan

This episode of Debunkistan takes on the most searched queries from non-Muslims and breaks them down with humour, context, and a much-needed reality check.

Most searched questions about Eid | Debunkistan

GENEVA: World Health Organization member states gather for their annual meeting in Geneva on Monday amid concern over deadly hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks and uncertainty over announced US and Argentinian withdrawals. While the rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that has gripped global attention is not officially on the agenda, it is expected to feature prominently in the discussions, as is the fresh Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A diplomatic source, who asked not to be identified, said it would be interesting to see how such outbreaks are used by the WHO &quot;to promote other things&quot;, including &quot;to pressure (the United States and Argentina) not to go&quot;. The meeting of the WHO&#39;s annual decision-making assembly, which runs through Saturday, comes after a difficult year for the organization. It has been weakened by the announced US withdrawal and by funding cuts that have forced it to slash its budget and staff numbers. &quot;We are stable now and moving forward,&quot; WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted at the end of April. Diplomats and observers agreed. The situation is &quot;still fragile, but they&#39;ve been successful in mobilizing most of the funds&quot; required for the next two years, Surie Moon, co-director of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told AFP. And the hantavirus crisis provided &quot;a clear illustration of why the world needs an effective, trusted, impartial, reliably-funded WHO&quot;, she added. UN, Argentina withdrawalsBut significant divisions persist. Continued disagreement between wealthy and developing nations has, for instance, blocked progress on the key missing piece of the WHO&#39;s landmark 2025 pandemic treaty, with negotiations now expected to be extended for another year. It also remains unclear what, if anything, would be decided on the US and Argentine announced withdrawals. US President Donald Trump, on his first day back in office in January 2025, handed the WHO his country&#39;s one-year withdrawal notice, with Argentina soon following suit. The WHO, whose constitution does not include a withdrawal clause, has not confirmed either withdrawal. The United States reserved the right to withdraw when it joined the WHO in 1948 -- on condition of giving one year&#39;s notice and meeting its financial obligations in full for that fiscal year. While the notice period has expired, Washington has still not paid its 2024 or 2025 dues, owing around $260 million. When the WHO&#39;s executive board met in January, Israel submitted a resolution to approve Argentina&#39;s withdrawal -- something countries are expected to discuss during the assembly -- but not a word was said about the US leaving. Diplomats and observers indicated there was broad agreement that it would be better to maintain a grey zone around whether the US was effectively out. &quot;We hope that it will go past quietly on the US,&quot; a European diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Election campaign&nbsp;The assembly will take place as the process towards next year&#39;s election of a new WHO chief heats up. No one has yet declared their candidacy, but announcements are possible this week ahead of the nomination deadline of September 24. A number of sensitive resolutions are also on the table, including on Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, and Iran, which could spark heated debate. Much of this week&#39;s discussions will centre on whether to launch a formal reform process for the so-called &quot;global health architecture&quot; -- a mishmash of organizations that do not always work together and often overlap. &quot;Among the issues to be explored are what is best done at the global and regional levels... and what is a national responsibility?&quot; Helen Clark, co-chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response and a former New Zealand prime minister, told AFP. Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel told AFP that &quot;this current crisis, with the departure of key players, also allows ... the WHO to re-examine its strategy with its members&quot;. A key focus will be to ensure the process does not see &quot;controversial&quot; issues, such as climate and sexual and reproductive health rights, sacrificed in the context of dwindling international aid funding. &quot;The objective is to ensure better coordination among health actors, so that no activities or populations are left behind,&quot; said a diplomatic source, who asked not to be named. But Thiru Balasubramaniam of the Knowledge Ecology International NGO, told AFP the WHO had already &quot;scaled down some of their activities, including in terms of sexual and reproductive health&quot;.

Germany's Health Minister Nina Warken speaks to a journalist after a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General ahead of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, on May 17, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Americas

Europe

WHO member states meet in Geneva amid global concern over hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks, funding strains following announced US and Argentine withdrawals, and renewed debate over reforming the global health system, pandemic preparedness, and coordination among international health actors.

WHO kicks off annual assembly amid hantavirus, Ebola crises

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Protests and demonstrations have been lingering on in the Indian state of Bhopal, since a mob of Hindutva extremists beat a Muslim man accused of &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; so mercilessly that he was left half dead. The concept of &quot;Love Jihad&quot; is an unproven conspiracy theory alleging a systemic plot by Muslim men to convert non-Muslim women through marriage. India&#39;s Supreme Court views it as a politically motivated narrative that targets consenting interfaith couples. Bhopal police said on Monday that men accused of the torture had no formal links to the Hindutva group Bajrang Dal, further fuelling communal tensions and protests that have gripped parts of the city following the assault, despite widespread allegations and social media claims, Indian media reported. The controversy erupted after videos circulated online allegedly showing a Muslim man being brutally beaten inside a hotel in Bhopal. According to reports by Maktoob Media and Muslim Mirror, the attackers accused the youth of &ldquo;love jihad,&rdquo; a term frequently used by Hindu nationalist groups against Muslim men allegedly involved with Hindu women. The videos allegedly showed the victim being assaulted, abused and forced to chant religious slogans while surrounded by a mob. Reports also alleged that blasphemous remarks were made during the attack, deepening outrage within the Muslim community. The incident triggered large protests across Bhopal, with demonstrators demanding arrests, action against Hindutva groups and protection from mob violence.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2054528955462336782&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e5f66d26aeb0fed0cf72edf57f29b4bc69704ff4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Community members accused police of initially failing to take swift action despite videos of the assault spreading widely online. According to Muslim Mirror, tensions escalated after police allegedly used force against Muslim protesters, including baton charges and firing in some areas. Several protesters claimed authorities focused more on controlling demonstrations than addressing the alleged anti-Muslim violence that triggered the unrest.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2054528386643771672&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e5f66d26aeb0fed0cf72edf57f29b4bc69704ff4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Police denied allegations of bias and said action had been taken against those involved in violence and disturbance. On Monday, The Indian Express reported that investigators said the accused individuals were not officially connected to Bajrang Dal or any right-wing organisation. The clarification drew criticism from activists and sections of the Muslim community, who alleged that extremist groups often operate informally without official membership records. Rights advocates said the assault reflected a broader pattern of anti-Muslim vigilantism and communal intimidation in parts of India. They also alleged that accusations linked to &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; are increasingly used to justify harassment, public humiliation and violence against Muslims. Security remained tight in parts of Bhopal as authorities attempted to prevent further unrest amid continuing anger over the assault and the handling of protests.

India

Protesters say police played silent spectator as Bajrang Dal men beat up the man; police say the group accused of violence has no links to the beating.

'Blasphemy', Muslim youth assault spark protests in India’s Bhopal

ISLAMABAD: Suspected insider trading linked to Iran war-related bets on the prediction market platform Polymarket generated nearly $2.4 million in profits with a 98%-win rate, according to a report by CBS News. The report raised concerns over the growing use of prediction markets for wagering on military conflicts and geopolitical events, with analysts warning that insiders with access to sensitive information may be exploiting the platforms for financial gain. Prediction markets such as Polymarket allow users to place bets on the outcome of world events using cryptocurrency. While all trades on the blockchain are publicly visible, users generally remain anonymous. In a statement to CBS News&rsquo; &ldquo;60 Minutes,&rdquo; Polymarket said it has built a &ldquo;comprehensive market integrity infrastructure&rdquo; using artificial intelligence-powered surveillance and blockchain forensics to detect suspicious activity. &ldquo;When our systems identify suspicious activity, we act &mdash; including through referrals to law enforcement and cooperation with investigations,&rdquo; the company said, adding that insider trading &ldquo;is not welcome on Polymarket.&rdquo; The report highlighted the case of US Army Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who allegedly used the platform to place bets related to a special operations mission targeting former Venezuelan leader Nicol&aacute;s Maduro. According to the US Justice Department, Van Dyke wagered roughly $34,000 on the operation, including several bets placed one day before the raid. Prosecutors allege he earned more than $400,000 before attempting to withdraw the funds and delete his account. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Investigators and analysts say military-related betting markets are particularly vulnerable to insider activity because many individuals involved in operations &mdash; including planners, intelligence officials and even family members &mdash; may gain access to sensitive information before it becomes public. A separate study by the Anti-Corruption Data Collective examined large &ldquo;long-shot&rdquo; wagers on military events placed on Polymarket and found evidence of &ldquo;systemic insider trading&rdquo; in conflict-related betting markets. The report also pointed to suspicious trading activity in traditional commodities markets linked to the Iran conflict. New York lawyer and former commodities trader David Kovel told &ldquo;60 Minutes&rdquo; that more than $800 million was suddenly placed on a decline in oil prices on March 23, shortly before US President Donald Trump announced &ldquo;productive&rdquo; talks with Iran on social media. Oil prices reportedly dropped more than 10% following the announcement, potentially generating tens of millions of dollars in profits for traders involved. Federal investigators are reportedly examining the trades, although no charges have been filed so far. The report also described threats against journalists whose reporting affected prediction market outcomes.

Business

The report highlights the case of US Army Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who allegedly used the platform to place bets related to a special operations mission targeting former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Suspected insider accounts win $2.4M on Polymarket Iran war bets: Report

HONG KONG: Most Asian shares were lower in morning trade on Monday, extending slides in global markets, as the impasse in the Middle East drove oil prices more than two percent higher. Washington and Tehran agreed to a truce in April, but negotiations on ending the conflict have stalled and sporadic attacks in the region have continued. US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran on Sunday, saying it had to move quickly towards a peace deal or &quot;there won&#39;t be anything left of them&quot;. The war has led to an effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil exports pass in peacetime. The strait &quot;remains meaningfully closed now approaching eleven weeks after the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing concluded without a breakthrough on reopening the waterway&quot;, MUFG&#39;s Michael Wan said Monday. Tokyo shares lost 1.0% and Hong Kong was down 1.4%, while Shanghai was flat. Sydney, Bangkok, Taipei, Singapore and Wellington also fell, with Jakarta tumbling 2.7%. Seoul, which has renewed record highs in recent days thanks to the artificial intelligence stock boom, was trading up 1.2%. &quot;Global government yields rose sharply heading into the start of this week, as three forces collided: surging oil prices, fading hopes for a Strait of Hormuz resolution, and mounting fiscal concerns especially in the UK and US,&quot; Wan said. However, last week&#39;s talks on trade between China and the United States have offered &quot;a degree of relief for Asian markets&quot;, he added. &#39;Wave&#39; of AI demandData showed Monday that China&#39;s consumer spending in April grew at the slowest pace in more than three years a stark sign of the challenges Beijing faces to reignite domestic activity. In Tokyo, shares in memory chip maker Kioxia were not yet trading after a reported rush of buy orders following stellar quarterly results on Friday. Kioxia, the world&#39;s third-largest producer of NAND flash memory chips used as storage in AI data centers has seen its stock soar nearly 300% over the past year. The firm has forecast an eye-watering 1.3 trillion yen ($8.2 billion) in operating profit for April-June, saying it is &quot;riding the large wave of AI demand, which has led to record high revenue and profits&quot;. In South Korea, Samsung Electronics which has also profited massively from the AI memory chip boom resumed union talks in a bid to avoid a strike over bonus payments, due to start Thursday. Later Monday, traders will have their eye on a meeting of G7 finance ministers and central bank chiefs that kicks off in Paris, with bond selloffs in the spotlight, analysts said. Then all eyes will be on quarterly results from US chip titan Nvidia, set for Wednesday, which will be scrutinized as tech investors question whether huge spending on AI data centers is justified by potential returns. Key figures at around 0215 GMT&nbsp; West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.5% at $108.00 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.1% at $111.52 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0% at 60,797.08 Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.4% at 25,593.23 Shanghai - Composite: FLAT at 4133.75 Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3311 from $1.3316 on Friday Euro/pound: UP at 87.27 pence from 87.25 pence Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1617 from $1.1620 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.92 yen from 158.78 yen New York - DOW: DOWN 1.1% at 49,526.17 points (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 1.7% at 10,195.37 (close)

Pedestrians walk past an electronic quotation board displaying the Nikkei Stock Average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in Tokyo on May 18, 2026. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) Related content

Asian markets fell as Middle East tensions pushed oil prices higher, with Strait of Hormuz disruption fears, weak China data, and upcoming US tech earnings weighing on sentiment.

Asian stocks sink, oil rises on US-Iran deadlock

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have introduced a new family law regulation that recognizes child marriage as legally valid under certain circumstances, drawing renewed condemnation from rights advocates who say the measure further erodes the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan, according to an Afghanistan&#39;s Amu TV report published on Sunday.&nbsp; The relevant 31-article decree, titled, &ldquo;Principles of Separation Between Spouses&quot;, was approved by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, according NDTV World.&nbsp;The decree allows relatives other than a child&rsquo;s father or grandfather to arrange the marriage of a minor boy or girl. Under Article 5 of the decree, such marriages are considered legally valid if the prospective spouse is deemed socially compatible and the dowry is considered appropriate. The Taliban have recognized underage marriages in&nbsp;under the article. Although the law permits a child to seek annulment after reaching puberty, it requires a court order, placing the burden on minors to challenge marriages arranged without their informed consent. The provision effectively legitimizes child marriage and strips children, particularly girls, of the ability to make decisions about their own lives. Coercion and fear&nbsp;Article 7 of the decree states that the &quot;silence of a virgin girl&quot; after reaching puberty may be interpreted as consent to marriage, according to the Afghan media report.&nbsp; Human rights advocates argue that equating silence with consent ignores the realities of coercion, social pressure and fear, especially in a society where girls and women have little freedom to express opposition. The Article 9 of the decree, in case of a girl seeking annulment of marriage, places the burden of proof on the girl and gives credence to the husband&#39;s oath in cases of dispute.&nbsp; This, rights advocates argue makes the process of accessing justice difficult for the girl, Hasht-e-Subh Daily reported.&nbsp; Restrictions on women&nbsp;The new regulation comes as the Taliban continue to impose sweeping restrictions on women and girls since reclaiming power in August 2021. Girls have been barred from attending school beyond sixth grade, women have been excluded from universities, and severe limits have been placed on their employment, movement and participation in public life. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned the Taliban&rsquo;s policies, describing them as systematic violations of fundamental rights and warning that Afghanistan is becoming one of the most repressive countries in the world for women and girls. Rights groups say the latest family law codifies discrimination and institutionalizes practices that endanger children&rsquo;s physical and mental well-being. Activists say the regulation reflects the Taliban&rsquo;s broader effort to entrench a legal system that treats women and girls as subjects of male control rather than equal members of society.

Child marriage in Afghanistan - (Photo: Wikimedia commons)

Afghanistan

The Taliban’s new family law has sparked condemnation for effectively legitimizing child marriage and expanding restrictions on women’s and girls’ rights by allowing arranged minor marriages and treating silence as consent. 

Afghan Taliban's legalization of child marriage, another assault on women's rights

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Sunday reaffirmed &ldquo;shared commitment to peace, dialogue and regional stability.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan and Qatar will continue to work closely together for peace and stability in the region and beyond,&rdquo; PM Sharif said in a post on X.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2056053546706178554&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1b855a91e40b1b5899d3481d9d693d9813488c90&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan has remained diplomatically engaged with regional and international partners in recent weeks as efforts continue to preserve the ceasefire and support broader dialogue aimed at reducing tensions across the Middle East. Similarly, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran during an official visit that also included meetings with senior Iranian officials. According to the post, the premier received a telephone call from his counterpart, where they &ldquo;exchanged views on the evolving regional and international situation and reaffirmed our shared commitment to peace, dialogue and regional stability.&rdquo; PM Sharif deeply appreciated Qatar&rsquo;s constructive diplomatic role and conveyed his gratitude to Qatar for their strong support for Pakistan-led peace efforts aimed at de-escalation.

Foreign Affairs

PM Sharif receives telephone call from his counterpart where they exchange views on “evolving regional and international situation,” reaffirm shared commitment to “peace, dialogue and regional stability.”

Pakistan, Qatar to work together for regional stability

Muhammad Usman Amin

Built in 1634-1635 by Wazir Khan, the physician-turned-governor of Lahore, Masjid Wazir Khan was commissioned to be an ornament of perfection in an imperfect world.&nbsp; Nearly 400 years later, it still is. Step inside and the chaos of old Lahore vanishes, replaced by intricate frescoes, Persian calligraphy, and geometry that has absorbed the prayers of the faithful for centuries.

Culture

Nearly 400 years later, it still is. Step inside and the chaos of old Lahore vanishes, replaced by intricate frescoes, Persian calligraphy, and geometry that has absorbed the prayers of the faithful for centuries.



Frescoes, calligraphy, and four centuries of faith: Masjid Wazir Khan can be called the soul of Lahore

Ayesha Mir

In this episode of Dossier with Ayesha, we trace how Nixon&#39;s 1972 handshake with Mao Zedong ended 25 years of isolation and set off a chain reaction that has never really stopped, through decades of deepening trade, a bruising tariff war, COVID, a spy balloon, and now Trump and Xi in Beijing.&nbsp; The Strait of Hormuz is closed, Xi is warning that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict, and both leaders have agreed that the strait must remain open.

Dossier with Ayesha

The Strait of Hormuz is closed, Xi is warning that mishandling Taiwan could lead to conflict, and both leaders have agreed that the strait must remain open.

From Nixon to Trump: Why US-China is the most consequential relationship

The internet has a lot to say about who lives in Pakistan, most of it wildly inaccurate.&nbsp; From the idea that non-Muslims can&#39;t even step foot in the country to the belief that Pakistan is one giant monolith, this episode of Debunkistan puts the biggest myths about religious minorities on trial with satire, sarcasm, and a little reality check.

From the idea that non-Muslims can't even step foot in the country to the belief that Pakistan is one giant monolith, this episode of Debunkistan puts the biggest myths about religious minorities on trial with satire, sarcasm, and a little reality check.

Do non-Muslims live in Pakistan?

Asfandyar Yahya

In this episode of Tell Me Why, we uncover the shocking story behind that metal bar on the back of every truck around the world.&nbsp; How a deadly 1967 crash killed Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield, created a safety device that now bears her name, and left behind a three-year-old survivor who grew up to become a Hollywood star herself.