U.S. formally demands transfer of Apollo Quiboloy

  India’s Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the country’s education system, describing it as deeply flawed, expensive, and plagued by irregularities. His remarks came while expressing solidarity with students who have been protesting over issues related to entrance examinations and alleged paper leaks. Speaking on the growing concerns surrounding India’s education sector, Rahul Gandhi said he fully supports the feelings, frustrations, and struggles of students. He stated that the anger displayed by young people is understandable, considering the hardships they have been facing in recent years. According to him, the treatment meted out to students has naturally led to widespread dissatisfaction and protests. Rahul Gandhi argued that India’s education system is not only affected by corruption and alleged manipulation but has also become financially unbearable for ordinary families. He said that the cost of appearing in entrance examinations has increased significantly, placing an enormous financial burden on parents and students. He criticized what he described as an education system that forces families to spend huge amounts of money merely to compete for admission to educational institutions. The Congress leader claimed that charging such high fees for entrance examinations amounts to exploiting families who are already making financial sacrifices to secure a better future for their children. He said many parents invest their savings and borrow money in the hope that their children will receive quality education and fair opportunities. However, according to him, the current system fails to reward those sacrifices. Rahul Gandhi further alleged that after collecting large sums of money from students and their families, authorities often announce that examination papers have been leaked or compromised. He said such incidents destroy the trust of students who spend months, and in many cases years, preparing for highly competitive entrance examinations. The cancellation of exams or questions surrounding their credibility not only wastes students’ time but also causes severe emotional stress and uncertainty about their future. He maintained that repeated incidents of paper leaks and examination irregularities have created frustration among young people across the country. In his view, students have every right to raise their voices and demand accountability from the authorities responsible for conducting these examinations. Gandhi said the protests taking place on the streets reflect the genuine concerns of India’s youth rather than being acts of unnecessary agitation. According to Rahul Gandhi, the government should focus on creating a transparent, affordable, and reliable education system that ensures equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial background. He emphasized that education should empower young people instead of becoming a source of anxiety, financial hardship, and disappointment. His comments come at a time when debates over examination management, paper leak allegations, and the rising cost of education continue to dominate public discussion in India. Student groups and opposition parties have repeatedly demanded stronger safeguards to prevent examination irregularities and greater accountability from the authorities. Rahul Gandhi concluded by reiterating his support for students, saying their concerns are legitimate and deserve immediate attention. He stressed that the future of the country depends on its youth and that protecting the integrity of the education system should be a national priority.

  TEHRAN/BAGHDAD: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday that Tehran had received messages from neighbouring countries expressing interest in developing new regional security arrangements and expanding economic cooperation. In a statement on X, Ghalibaf argued that US policies had placed the security of its regional allies at serious risk, particularly because of Washington’s support for Israel. He said the situation had prompted countries in the region to reconsider their security arrangements. Ghalibaf said a “homegrown, independent” regional security order would be the most effective way to establish lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. His comments came amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel and growing concerns over regional security. Meanwhile, the Iranian army said its military doctrine was gradually shifting from a defensive posture toward a more offensive strategy. Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia told state news agency IRNA that the change had developed during what he described as the recent 12-day and 40-day wars. According to Akraminia, the shift was reflected in Iran’s faster and broader responses to attacks, including pre-emptive military operations. He also said the Iranian army had prepared a reward plan in case US forces launched a ground invasion of Iran. Under the plan, members of the armed forces or civilians legally possessing hunting weapons would receive 5 billion tomans, estimated at around $26,000, for killing or capturing US troops entering Iranian territory. The reward would reportedly rise to 10 billion tomans, or approximately $53,000, if a woman carried out the action. Akraminia further claimed that the weapon used in such an operation would be purchased by the army for twice its value and preserved in a military museum under the owner’s name, with a replacement weapon provided to the individual. He also pointed to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as evidence of what he described as declining US influence in the region, calling it a regional security mechanism established without US participation. In Iraq, President Nizar Amidi said some vessels carrying Iraqi oil had been permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following requests from Baghdad. Speaking at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue conference, he stressed that developments in the strategic waterway had consequences not only for Iraq but for the global economy. Amidi said Iraq faced difficulties transporting its oil because it lacked a national tanker fleet. He added that Baghdad was determined to remain outside the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, despite being among the countries most affected by regional instability. The Iraqi president also said Baghdad would not allow its territory to be used to attack another country and reiterated that weapons should remain under state control. Separately, US President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran was not yet prepared to reach what he considered the “right deal” with Washington. He said the United States was closely monitoring developments in the conflict while maintaining pressure on Tehran. The tensions have also disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, with concerns over the security of the waterway affecting international energy markets. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to announce what Washington has described as its toughest-ever sanctions on Iran, while urging China to cooperate. China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil and has called for diplomacy to resolve the crisis.