Bahrain jails nine defendants for life for ‘cooperating’ with Iran’s IRGC
Convictions handed down amid an intensified crackdown by Bahraini authorities on individuals accused of having ties to Tehran. Published On 24 May 202624 May 2026 Bahrain has sentenced nine people to life in prison for carrying out what authorities describe as “hostile and terrorist acts” in cooperation with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Two other defendants were also jailed for three years each after being convicted of collaborating with the IRGC in what prosecutors described as “terrorist and espionage” activities, state media reported on Sunday. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The convictions were handed down during an intensified crackdown by Bahraini authorities on individuals accused of ties to Tehran. The crackdown followed a wave of Iranian strikes on Bahrain after the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in late February. Iran began striking all of its Gulf neighbours in response, saying it was targeting American interests, including military bases. Prosecutors said some of the defendants photographed vital and strategic sites in Bahrain on behalf of the IRGC. Others were accused of facilitating the transfer of funds from Iran to Bahrain, including through cryptocurrency transactions, to finance the operations. Authorities also alleged that individuals inside the country were recruited to support some of the plans. Bahrain began arresting individuals allegedly linked to Iran in March, shortly after the conflict began. Earlier this month, authorities detained a further 41 people. Less than two weeks later, more than 60 people were stripped of their citizenship for allegedly supporting Iranian attacks on Bahrain and “colluding with foreign entities”. Advertisement The London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy described the move as “dangerous” and said it constituted a clear violation of international law. Other Gulf states have also arrested individuals accused of cooperating with Iran. Last month, the United Arab Emirates said it had dismantled a group allegedly planning to carry out what officials described as “terrorist acts”. Bahrain is home to a large Shia population. Many of its members have long accused the authorities of political and economic marginalisation. The government denies discriminating against Shia citizens, accusing Iran of fuelling unrest in the country. Adblock test (Why?)
China sends aid to Cuba amid a harsh US blockade
NewsFeed Cuba has received 15,000 tonnes of rice from China via the port of Havana. This is part of a 60,000-tonne aid package as a harsh US blockade fuels the island’s worst economic crisis in decades. Published On 24 May 202624 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
‘A paper city’: New York ‘library’ hosts 3.5 million pages of Epstein files
A mile from the Manhattan jail where convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in 2019, an unassuming Tribeca gallery at 101 Reade Street has been transformed into a physical archive of the disgraced financier’s many cases. More than 3.5 million pages of law enforcement documents published by the United States Department of Justice have been printed, bound and stacked across 3,437 volumes to line the walls of a room from floor to ceiling. The exhibition, titled “The Donald J Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room”, was organised by the Institute for Primary Facts, a nonprofit that says it focuses on transparency and anti-corruption initiatives. Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in July 2017 before hanging himself in his New York jail cell a month later, denying victims a chance at justice. The “reading room” is an attempt to shed light on the many cases connected to Epstein that never went to trial. The shelves hold documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, alongside timelines, handwritten visitor notes, and a memorial space dedicated to survivors and victims. Since opening two weeks ago, the gallery has drawn a steady stream of visitors, including survivors of a string of offences linked to Epstein. Lara Blume McGee, who was only 17 when she was abused by Epstein, visited the reading room last week. “I found something brutally human in the Trump-Epstein reading room,” Blume McGee told Al Jazeera. “Proof that our lives mattered enough to be gathered, cataloged, and finally seen.” Advertisement She described entering the room as walking into a “paper city”, with three and a half million pages on display, a sight that hit her “like a physical blow”. What she remembers most vividly is the silence. “The silence was thick with memory,” she said. “Row after row, each bound volume a life, a name, a day that should never have happened if the US government had acted when he was reported to the FBI in 1996.” The overwhelming scale of the archive is intentional. Organisers say the physicality of the documents forces visitors to confront not only the extent of Epstein’s crimes, but also the number of lives affected by them. Thousands of victims have been identified in connection with Epstein’s abuse network. One of the most prominent survivors, Virginia Giuffre, died by suicide in April 2025. David Garrett, a co-founder of the exhibition, said the project was built around survivors from the outset. “We are centred around the victims and survivors more than anything,” Garrett said. “The biggest thing is transparency and accountability.” Garrett described the exhibition as part of a broader effort to create “real-life pop-up museums” aimed at generating public pressure around corruption and institutional failure. “Our goal is how can we drive public outrage in order to put pressure on Congress and the Department of Justice to get full and real transparency and hopefully eventually accountability,” he said. The process of assembling the archive was itself chaotic. Garrett said organisers downloaded the files from the Department of Justice in March, believing they had received properly redacted documents. Only after printing the collection did they discover that many survivors’ names remained visible in the files. “What seems to have happened is the Department of Justice modified its search function instead of actually redacting the names,” Garrett said. “The names of survivors were left unredacted while the names of witnesses and co-conspirators were hidden. They brazenly broke the law.” Finding a venue also proved difficult. Garrett said several locations backed out after initially agreeing to host the exhibit, fearing controversy or retaliation. The Tribeca gallery ultimately became the fifth venue that organisers approached. Despite these challenges, survivors and advocates quickly embraced the project. On Tuesday, the gallery became the site of a 24-hour livestream reading of the files led by survivors, advocates and supporters. Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor, opened the broadcast Monday afternoon, standing at a podium inside the dimly lit gallery with one of the thick white volumes in her hands. Advertisement Her reading marked the beginning of a continuous public recitation of excerpts from the files – an attempt, organisers said, to ensure the documents are not quietly buried again. Throughout the gallery, visitors have left flowers, handwritten notes, and messages of grief and anger. Garrett recalled one woman who spent hours walking silently through the space before telling organisers she was herself a survivor of sexual abuse. “She said this helped her realise that she felt seen,” Garrett said. “That meant a lot to us.” For Blume McGee, that feeling of visibility carries both relief and frustration. “For years we were told to be quiet, to accept settlements, to move on,” she told Al Jazeera. “Seeing our truths preserved in a public archive felt like a long-overdue acknowledgment of our pain, our abuse and our reality.” But she warned that documentation alone is not justice. “This exhibition gives real hope because the record is now undeniable,” Blume McGee said. “Finally, there is action: documentation, visibility, proof. But those same files map systemic failure — how many doors stayed shut, how many people escaped scrutiny.” “Visibility without consequence only prolongs the wound,” she added. “We need both: the files on the table and the government to act — investigate, prosecute, reform — so that being ‘finally seen’ becomes finally safe.” Adblock test (Why?)
Funerals for medics killed in Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon
NewsFeed Funerals were held for paramedics killed by two Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday. The Israeli military has repeatedly attacked health facilities and medical teams in Lebanon, accusing Hezbollah of using them to conceal weapons and fighters. Published On 23 May 202623 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
US Secret Service fatally shoots gunman who fired at White House checkpoint
Officers returned fire after suspect pulled weapon from bag, with a bystander also wounded. A man has been shot dead by US Secret Service officers after opening fire on a security checkpoint near the White House, with a bystander wounded in the gunfire. Shortly after 6pm on Saturday (22:00 GMT), the suspect approached a Secret Service checkpoint at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, pulled a weapon from his bag, and began shooting at officers posted there. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The Secret Service, the federal agency responsible for protecting the president, confirmed the sequence of events in an official statement, saying a preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect had concealed his weapon in a bag before drawing it at the checkpoint. The agents returned fire, striking the man, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. A bystander was also hit during the shooting, though authorities said it remained unclear whether they were struck by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the exchange that followed. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time and was not harmed. The White House was immediately placed under lockdown. No Secret Service personnel were injured. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin said he was closely monitoring the situation and would issue a statement soon. “Tonight’s shooting is a reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face every day,” Mullin said on X. Republicans in the House of Representatives posted on X to confirm Trump was safe, while the White House itself issued no immediate statement on the president’s condition. Advertisement Steve Scalise, the Republican House Majority Leader, posted on X, expressing his thoughts for the president and adding, “We live in dangerous times.” More than 30 shots were heard from the White House North Lawn, according to Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from the scene. Journalists on the lawn were ordered to run and take shelter inside the press briefing room. Police cordoned off access to the surrounding area, and National Guard troops blocked reporters from approaching. Halkett said the suspect had recently been issued a stay-away order, which he had ignored. He approached the area and started shooting, at which point the Secret Service officers returned fire. The suspect was later transferred to George Washington Hospital, Halkett said. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that his agency was on the scene supporting the Secret Service, saying on social media that he would “update the public as we’re able”. White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung sought to project calm, posting on X that Trump was “working at 8pm. Can’t stop, won’t stop.” Saturday’s shooting comes less than a month after what law enforcement authorities described as an attempted assassination of Trump on April 25, when a suspect was arrested at the Washington hotel hosting the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, a gathering of journalists and public figures. “These incidents are happening with increasing frequency,” Halkett said. That incident raised new questions about the security arrangements around the president. The identity of the suspect and his motive have not been publicly released. The Secret Service said the investigation is ongoing. Adblock test (Why?)
Iranian sources lay out Iran-US deal details
NewsFeed Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem reveals details of Iran’s position on the potential peace agreement with the US. US President Donald Trump earlier revealed the two countries were close to an Memorandum of Understanding. Published On 24 May 202624 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Five police officers, 13 year-old boy killed in Israeli attack on Gaza
Attack on a police post in northern Gaza comes as dozens of people were wounded in Israeli attacks in the past 48 hours. By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters Published On 23 May 202623 May 2026 An Israeli air strike has killed at least five police officers and a 13-year-old boy, Gaza police say, as Israel continues its attacks across the Gaza Strip despite the “ceasefire” in place. Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City on Saturday, said that the police officers were killed on the spot, and according to sources at al-Shifa Hospital, at least one civilian on a nearby street was also killed. At least 10 others were wounded. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list In a statement, the Gaza police directorate said two missiles had hit a police post in the at-Twam area in northern Gaza. “This is not an isolated incident, it’s part of the pattern that the Israeli military, not only since the ceasefire started, but also before that, we see in a pattern of deliberate targeting of police, local security personnel and law enforcement structures across Gaza,” Mahmoud said. The missile strike on a police post comes as the 10,000-strong police force in Gaza has emerged as a sticking point in talks to advance United States President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza. The war that Israel launched following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas was halted by a ceasefire on October 10, 2025, but the Israeli military has carried out almost daily attacks on Gaza since then and maintains a strict security regime. Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave has now killed at least 72,775 Palestinians, with 883 people killed since the ceasefire came into effect. The bodies of eight Palestinians, along with 29 wounded people, arrived at hospitals across Gaza in the past 48 hours, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. A ‘power vacuum’ The attacks on Gaza’s police force further threaten the distribution of aid while the Palestinian enclave continues to struggle with a humanitarian crisis. Advertisement Israel has placed severe restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza even as the ceasefire was supposed to ramp up the amount of supplies entering the Palestinian enclave. “This is part of an effort to further plunge the Gaza Strip into further chaos, as well as dismantle whatever is left of the civilian order,” Mahmoud said, adding that it was worsening a power vacuum. The strikes make it even more difficult to secure aid convoys to the areas most in need and “increase the possibility of hijacking and looting”, he said. Meanwhile, in recent days, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has reported that Palestinian children in Gaza are suffering from an increase in skin infections due to the surge in pests, including rats, lice, fleas and mites. UNRWA said that health teams are able to treat about 40 percent of the thousands of cases, adding that “usually this would be easily managed with simple remedies, but they are not available”. “In Gaza, basic medicines are in short supply and many children are left without the treatment they need,” the UNRWA said. Adblock test (Why?)
More than 500 children killed in measles outbreak in Bangladesh
Most cases recorded in the country have been among children aged between six months and five years. By AFP and Anadolu Published On 23 May 202623 May 2026 A measles outbreak in Bangladesh has killed more than 500 children in the deadliest surge there in decades. The death toll continued to rise on Saturday, with 13 children passing away in the past 24 hours alone, increasing the total to 512, according to a health department tally that began on March 15. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Hospitals in the capital Dhaka, which have been overwhelmed with cases, have set up dedicated wards but lack sufficient numbers of intensive care beds. Measles, which has no specific treatment once caught, is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through coughs and sneezes. The disease primarily affects children and can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and death, particularly among malnourished or unvaccinated children. It remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable child deaths worldwide. The South Asian nation of 175 million people has rolled out a mass vaccination drive to combat the outbreak. United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) country chief Rana Flowers said this week that the campaign has reached 18 million children. But the health department said the full impact of the vaccinations would take months to be felt. UNICEF said on Wednesday that gaps in immunisation worsened during and after the chaos of the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled the government, leaving large numbers of children unprotected. The health department’s death toll comes after the government said the outbreak was now contained, noting a decline in cases in several previously hard-hit areas. Advertisement Most cases recorded during the current outbreak have been among children aged between six months and five years. Doctors say many of the children arriving at hospitals were already critically ill. “Though measles is highly contagious, a healthy baby with no complications can survive with minimal medication,” Ainul Islam Khan, a paediatrician at Dhaka’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, told the AFP news agency. “Here, most children came to the hospital with respiratory distress and infections in the eyes, throat and lungs.” UNICEF stressed the need to boost vaccination programmes and increase funding for health facilities, surveillance and data systems in the future. A policy brief published on Thursday by the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership warned that vaccination gaps could worsen antimicrobial resistance in Bangladesh. Adblock test (Why?)
Israeli forces arrest two children in occupied West Bank village
NewsFeed Video shows Israeli soldiers forcing two siblings to sit on the ground with their hands behind their heads beside a military jeep, before blindfolding one of them and arresting both children during a raid on al-Mughayyir village in the occupied West Bank. The village has become a flashpoint for Israeli raids, deadly settler attacks and displacement. Published On 23 May 202623 May 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
WHO raises Ebola public health risk to ‘very high’ in DR Congo
Provincial gov’t in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, has banned public gatherings to stop the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has upgraded the public health risk of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from high to “very high” as the deadly outbreak continues to spread. WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Friday that they were revising their risk assessment for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, to “very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at global level.” Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Tedros also said on X that the situation in the DRC was “deeply worrisome”. “So far, 82 cases have been confirmed, with seven confirmed deaths. But we know the epidemic in the DRC is much larger. There are now almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths,” he wrote. He added that additional WHO personnel had been deployed to the epicentre of the DRC’s outbreak in Ituri province, to support affected communities. The new strain of the virus currently has no approved vaccine or treatment, and the WHO declared it an emergency of international concern on Sunday. Ebola is an often-fatal virus that causes fever, body aches, vomiting and diarrhoea. It spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Friday that volunteers are going door-to-door in the area at the centre of the outbreak, to combat misinformation about Ebola and explain how people can protect themselves and seek care. “Community reactions remain mixed. For some people the outbreak is very real and they are taking information on how to protect themselves,” Gabriela Arenas, the Regional Operations Coordinator for the IFRC Africa Region, told reporters via video link from Nairobi. “For others, there’s still suspicion and misinformation claiming that Ebola is fabricated.” Advertisement Public health measures Reporting from the eastern Congolese city of Goma, in neighbouring North Kivu province, Al Jazeera’s Alain Uaykani said authorities are taking “serious measures” against the outbreak as the situation escalates. In an official order on Friday, Ituri’s provincial government restricted funerals, saying burials must now be conducted only by specialised teams and prohibited the transport of dead bodies by non-medical vehicles. It also limited public gatherings to a maximum of 50 people and suspended the local football league. This came a day after residents in Ituri province’s Rwampara town torched an Ebola treatment centre and clashed with police while trying to recover the body of a victim on Thursday. “The way things are going in Ituri, they are fearing that more cases are spreading because the majority of the cases reported across the region are still coming from Ituri,” Uaykani said. The world should not underestimate the risk posed by this Ebola outbreak, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, the WHO regional director for Africa, told the Reuters news agency on Friday. “It would be a big mistake to underestimate it, especially with a virus with this strain, Bundibugyo, [for] which we don’t have the vaccine,” Janabi said, adding that the outbreak in DRC has had relatively little global attention compared with this month’s hantavirus outbreak, which affected cruise ship passengers from 23 countries, including wealthy Western nations. “You just need one contact case to put all of us at risk, so my wish and prayer is that we should give [Ebola] the attention it deserves,” he said. Moreover, the WHO director of health emergency alert and response operations, Abdirahman Mahamud, also said on Friday that the potential for this virus to spread rapidly was “high, very high, and that changed the whole dynamic”. The strain of Ebola was also documented in Uganda, but Tedros said that the situation there was “currently stable”, after one death linked to a case from DRC was reported. Tedros added that a United States national who was working in the DRC has tested positive for Ebola and was transferred to Germany for care, and there was “another American national, who is a high-risk contact, who has been transferred to the Czech Republic”. Adblock test (Why?)