McConnell out of hospital but not yet cleared to r…

Russia has raised concerns over reports that the United States and Türkiye may facilitate the transfer of a large stockpile of American-made weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently released documents from the US Congress indicate that the proposed shipment could include a substantial quantity of offensive weapons. According to her, the documents refer to 12 multiple rocket launch systems, more than 2,500 unguided cluster munitions for those systems, around 47,000 203mm cluster artillery shells and 70 ATACMS short-range missiles. Zakharova said Moscow was particularly concerned about what she described as unanswered questions surrounding the reported re-export arrangement. She questioned who initiated the proposal, how the weapons would be transported and when the reported shipment could reach Ukraine. The Russian spokeswoman also criticised Washington and Ankara for their alleged involvement, arguing that both countries have previously presented themselves as potential contributors to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. According to Zakharova, supplying additional weapons to Ukraine would not fundamentally alter the military situation but could increase the scale of destruction and casualties. She warned that further arms deliveries could also have broader consequences for Russia’s relations with both the United States and Türkiye. Moscow also questioned Türkiye’s position because Turkish authorities have previously made assurances about limiting the supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine. Zakharova said that adopting peace-oriented rhetoric while simultaneously facilitating military support for Kyiv could damage mutual trust between the countries involved. The Russian Foreign Ministry has reportedly sought explanations from both Washington and Ankara following the information contained in the US congressional documents. Zakharova urged the parties involved to reconsider the situation before any reported transfer moves forward. She said there was still an opportunity for the countries concerned to assess the potential consequences of the proposed arms shipment. The allegations come as international efforts to address the Ukraine conflict continue alongside ongoing military operations

A controversy has erupted in Bangladesh after a member of parliament from Jamaat-e-Islami, Ghazi Nazrul Islam, became the center of public debate over his alleged second marriage following the circulation of a viral video on social media. According to Bangladeshi media reports, the video showed Ghazi Nazrul Islam with a young woman whom he later identified as his second wife. The footage quickly spread online, prompting widespread discussion and speculation. A fact-checking organization examined the video and stated that it found no evidence suggesting it had been generated using artificial intelligence or digitally manipulated. Following that assessment, public attention shifted from the authenticity of the video to the identity of the woman and the nature of her relationship with the lawmaker. In a statement, Ghazi Nazrul Islam confirmed that the woman is his second wife. He said the marriage took place on June 17 with the consent of both families and the approval of his first wife. The lawmaker alleged that the viral video had been secretly recorded and later released as part of an extortion attempt and a politically motivated campaign to damage his reputation. His first wife also released a video supporting his account. She confirmed that her husband had married Maryam Begum as his second wife and said the marriage had taken place with her knowledge and consent. Maryam Begum also appeared in a separate video, identifying herself as Ghazi Nazrul Islam’s wife. She said the marriage ceremony was held on June 17 in the presence of both families and the lawmaker’s first wife. Despite these public statements, Bangladeshi media reported that documents related to Maryam Begum later surfaced on social media. The authenticity of those documents has not been independently verified, and neither the lawmaker nor Maryam Begum or her family has publicly addressed the apparent inconsistencies contained in them. According to the documents, Maryam Begum’s marital status was listed as “unmarried.” The papers also reportedly included a recommendation signed by Ghazi Nazrul Islam on June 22—five days after the claimed marriage—in support of her application for a government job. Reports said Maryam Begum had applied for public sector employment and that the MP had endorsed her application. Ghazi Nazrul Islam rejected all allegations arising from the documents. He claimed that on July 13 he visited an office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar area, where both of his wives were present. He alleged that his driver, his second wife’s uncle and several unidentified individuals held him captive, extorted 100,000 taka, demanded additional money and secretly recorded a private video, which was later circulated on social media. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh said it is gathering information about the incident and will decide on any organizational action once all facts have been established. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Haque Mahbub Zubair said the party is reviewing media reports as well as statements from the member of parliament, his two wives and the woman’s father before reaching any conclusion.