Serbia and Russia have come to an agreement to jointly investigate allegations that Serbian-made weapons were given to Ukraine after Belgrade was accused of lying about reports that Serbian-made ammunition had reached Kyiv.
Serbia’s defense sector is accused of passing weapons to Ukraine through NATO-linked nations like the Czech Republic, Poland, and Bulgaria, as well as unnamed African states, according to Russian foreign intelligence agency SVR, which described the alleged transfers as “stab in the back.”
In a statement released on Thursday, SVR stated that “they have one clear goal: to kill and maim Russian military personnel and the civilian population.”
According to the Russian statement, “It seems that the employees of the Serbian defense industry and their patrons have completely forgotten who their real friends are and who their enemies are because of the desire of fraternal Slavic peoples,” the statement said.
Joint investigation
Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, confirmed that a working group with Russian officials had been established to verify the allegations, but he refuted some of them.
Vucic told the state broadcaster RTS that “some of the things that have been said are untrue,” adding that he had spoken with Vladimir Putin about the situation during a trip to Moscow earlier this month.
Belgrade’s tradition of cooperating with Russia and its desire to acclimate to the European Union continues to be a tiger’s foot. Serbia has resisted joining Western sanctions despite condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the UN.
Serbia agreed to provide arms to Ukraine, despite the country’s official declaration of military neutrality, according to a Pentagon document that was leaked in 2023.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Serbia has exported at least $908 million worth of ammunition to Ukraine, according to The Financial Times in 2024.
Serbia’s weapons sector produces weapons that are both compatible with those used by Ukrainian and Russian forces and is heavily influenced by Soviet designs.
Robert Fico, the prime minister of Slovakia, has criticised the judge who found the governor of the country’s central bank guilty of corruption.
The combative premier reacted on Friday to Petr Kazimir’s conviction as his former finance minister, suggesting that the verdict was motivated by politics and that Specialised Criminal Court judge Milan Cisarik should face criminal charges.
Since regaining control in 2023, Fico has dissolved the police and prosecutor branches that were established to investigate corruption between 2012 and 2020.
Kazimir was found guilty and fined $200, 000 ($226,500) on Thursday for bribing a tax official while Fico’s previous government was in power. He denied any wrongdoing and said he plans to file an appeal, claiming that the long-standing allegations were made up.
Peter Kazimir was a member of Fico’s previous government when he was accused of bribery.
Even a law school student must see fatal nonsense in the verdict, the Slovak leader said on Thursday, “sooner question whether the judge’s decision should have served the opposition’s political objectives to harm the ruling parties.”
“I can’t help but feel that the judge’s inquiry into the possibility of a number of criminal acts and the intended purpose of the ruling is justified.”
Fico’s remarks were not addressed by the court. The For Open Justice (ZOJ) NGO warned that “direct political pressure on the judiciary can also be felt when members of the government make public statements.”
Revenge
In the wake of the controversies surrounding Jan Kuciak’s assassination in 2018, Fico resigned from power. The former prime minister and his inner circle are suspected of having a network of corruption, according to the new government’s investigation.
Fico frequently argued that the measures were motivated by politics. He immediately began tearing up the units and changing the criminal code to lower corruption penalties when he came back to power in late 2023.
He has been accused of committing retaliation against those who are being investigated by his circle by critics.
Kazimir was the first former Fico minister to face legal action when he was first accused of paying the country’s tax office’s chief a bribe of 48, 000 euros ($54, 360) in 2017-18 in connection with an audit of a number of private companies in April of that year.
The New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers 111-94 in Game 5 to cap off their second NBA title defense in franchise history.
Tyrese Haliburton recorded single digits everywhere in a historic triple-double.
When the Pacers try again at home on Saturday, the team will need Haliburton to be much closer to the player who dominated Game 4 than the one who only managed two baskets in Game 5. Following that passive performance from their playmaker on Thursday night.
Haliburton remarked, “It’s a rough night for me.”
In Game 4, Haliburton scored 32 points, 15 rebounds, and no turnovers for the first 30-15-10 postseason since 1977-78 when turnovers were first identified as a result.
But on Thursday, he only had eight points, six assists, and two rebounds. The Pacers had just two more points in the first half, but the All-NBA point guard had no basket in the first half.
“I need to be better setting the tone and going downhill. Although I don’t think I did a good job of that, Haliburton said. “Some of their defensive strategies were different, but for the most part, they had the same fundamentals.” As the game progressed, they tried to apply more pressure and increased the pressure. However, in Game 6, I must be better and will be better.
Tyrese Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers’ guard, and Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks’ guard, fight in Game 5 [Frank Franklin II/AP].
Some of the errors that Haliburton and the Pacers made in Game 4 were eliminated, which allowed the Knicks to start their transition game. And they rarely let him enter the lane to create opportunities for himself or his teammates, making him much sharper in the halfcourt.
According to Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, “I thought our guys were tied together and trying to make him work for everything,” but he probably missed some shots that he normally makes.
The Pacers shot just 40.5% from the field, which was their postseason low point total. Aaron Nesmith went just 1 for 8 on the same court where he had a postseason career-high 30 points, causing Indiana to come back in Game 1. Aliburton was not the only one who struggled.
Pascal Siakam, who set a postseason career high of 39 in Game 2, was the only one in double figures for Indiana.
Haliburton remarked, “We weren’t great as a group.”
Political opponents and US ethics organizations have criticized US President Donald Trump’s decision to relax regulations governing the cryptocurrency market while promoting his own coins. His relationship with crypto is examined in this image.
Unless the Israeli government responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that his country may “apply sanctions” against Israelis.
Macron said that the international community could not continue to be passive as Gaza’s Palestinians struggle to solve their hunger crisis during a visit to Singapore on Friday. The comments underscore the growing international pressure on Israel, which has imposed a three-month blockade of the Palestinian enclave with aid agencies’ warnings of famine.
At a joint press conference with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Macron said, “The humanitarian blockade is creating a situation that is untenable on the ground.”
We will have to “harden our collective position” if there is no action in the upcoming hours and days in accordance with the humanitarian situation, he continued, suggesting that France might consider imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers.
On May 30, 2025, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, meets with Lawrence Wong, prime minister of Singapore, for a press conference in Singapore. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP) (AFP)
Israel recently stated that it would allow “minimal” supplies of food and medicine into Gaza, where it continues to launch a fierce military assault, under international pressure.
Looting and violence have been accompanied by the trickle of aid entering the strip, which is now under the control of a new NGO supported by Israel and the United States.
Macron urged people to reject the notion that Israel upholds human rights in his remarks.
However, he continued, “I still hope that Israel’s government will change its mind and that we will finally receive a humanitarian response.”
The French leader added that establishment of a Palestinian state would have to be conditioned on a number of factors, including the fact that it was “not only a moral duty, but also a political necessity.”
His remarks came after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Israeli President Subianto publicly denounced any Israeli plans to annex Gaza or expel its population.
Paris is attempting to spread the idea of a conditional recognition of Palestinian statehood, which would, among other things, necessitate Hamas’ demilitarization.
Prior to a UN conference that France and Saudi Arabia are hosting between June 17 and 20, French officials are considering whether to lay out the conditions for a Palestinian state while protecting Israel’s security.
Some diplomats and experts contend that this would irritate Israel and cause deeper divisions in the West.
imminent starvation
The humanitarian crisis persists despite the Israeli blockade, which has allowed some aid to flow into Gaza. One in five people is reportedly facing starvation, according to experts.
On Thursday, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private initiative with the support of the US and Israel, expanded its relief efforts. However, the organization’s efforts have been widely denounced by the UN and other organizations as being insufficient, poorly managed, and not upholding humanitarian standards.
As a result of the overwhelming hunger of the population and the overreach of security forces at distribution points, GHF centers have turned into places of chaos, violence, and desperation.
A Palestinian man was shot at a facility in Khan Younis, the southern Gaza Strip, on May 29, 2025. [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP]
As they attempted to reach a GHF-established aid distribution point, an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza reported on Friday that several people were hurt by Israeli army gunfire in the city’s center.
If permitted access, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, announced on Friday that it was prepared to deliver supplies from its Amman warehouses, which are only a few hours’ drive from Gaza, including food parcels, hygiene kits, and medical supplies.
The US has proposed a new plan, and negotiations over a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian-armed group Hamas are ongoing.
Hamas claims that the proposal is “still being discussed,” but in its current form it would only lead to “the continuation of killing and famine” in Gaza.
Beginning on June 4, an estimated 1.8 million Muslims will prepare to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Hajj is the largest annual gathering of Muslims from all over the world and a once-in-a-lifetime journey for many.
We provide answers to 10 frequently asked questions about the Hajj in this visual explanation, along with explanations for its significance, rituals, and preparations.
1. What is the Hajj?
The fifth and final pillar of Islam, along with the Shahada, five daily prayers, mandatory charity (zakat), and fasting during Ramadan, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The word “h-j-j,” which means “entrancing a journey” or “setting out for a certain purpose,” is the Arabic equivalent of “h-j-j.”
It is obligatory once in a lifetime for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.
(Al Jazeera)
2. When is the Hajj performed?
The eighth and thirteenth month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul-Hijjah, or the 12th and final month, perform the Hajj. The Ramadan ends about 70 days later, but the timing may change depending on the lunar cycle.
In 2025, the Hajj will take place from June 4 to June 9, but many start arriving in the days and weeks ahead to prepare for the journey.
The Hajj falls 10 to 12 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar each year because the Islamic calendar has a 29 or 30 day lunar cycle. Notable is that this year marks the last time the Hajj will fall during Mecca’s hottest summertime temperatures for 16 years.
3. The Hajj is performed by Muslims for what reason?
According to the Muslim holy book, the Quran, the Hajj is a direct commandment from Allah (God).
It was affirmed during Prophet Muhammad’s “farewell pilgrimage” in 632 AD, in the 10th year of the Islamic calendar.
According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his son Ishmaeel (Ismaeel) built the Kaaba, a stone structure with black silk at the center of Mecca’s Grand Mosque, under God’s direction. The Hajj, which was first instituted as a divine ritual, was founded in this context.
Prospective pilgrims perform prayer at the Masjid al-Haram during their Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on June 23, 2023]Ashraf Amra/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images]
The journey is spiritual, and it is thought that Muslims can ask for forgiveness, purify their souls, and demonstrate their obedience to God. The Quran contains the word “Hajj” 12 times, with one chapter having its own name.
Hajj also serves as a reminder of the Day of Judgement, and by performing it, Muslims follow the example of Prophet Abraham and his family, whose actions are commemorated during the pilgrimage rituals. In the end, it serves as a means of renforcing one’s faith while fulfilling a fundamental religious obligation.
4. How long does the Hajj last?
Depending on how it is performed, the Hajj lasts five to six days. Many pilgrims travel to Mina, a desert valley located 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Mecca, where they spend the night to prepare for the rituals of the day’s festivities, which start on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah, known as Tarwiyah.
It ends with Tashreeq days, where pilgrims return to Mina for the symbolic stoning of the Devil at a site called Jamarat, after which they perform final rituals to symbolise the end of the Hajj. Some people may end their rites on the 12th, while others will continue until the 13th.
Muslim pilgrims observe the annual Hajj in Mecca on September 27, 2014, around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque.
5. What distinguishes the Hajj from the Umrah?
Umrah is a suggested shorter and simpler pilgrimage that Muslims can take any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj, which is only required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lives.
The graphic below shows some of the key differences between the Hajj and Umrah:
6. What significant rituals are observed by Muslims during the Hajj?
Muslims perform many rites and rituals during the days of the Hajj, which can be explained in the following steps.
DAY 1
Ihram – Embracing the niyah or intention to perform the Hajj, wearing particular clothing (two unstitched clothes for men and modest attire for women), and adhering to prescribed conduct is both a physical and spiritual condition. This ritual must occur before entering Mecca, either in the pilgrim’s home country or at one of the designated locations on Mecca’s outskirts.
Arrival Tawaf: Many pilgrims circumnavigate the Kaaba seven times in the counterclockwise direction after arriving in Mecca in Ihram. This represents the One God’s worship in unity. Pilgrims can then perform the sa’i, a ritual of walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, located within the Masjid al-Haram.
Mina – Pilgrims travel to Mina, which is located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of the Kaaba, where they will spend the night in reflection and prayer. Due to the enormous number of white tents that shelter the millions of pilgrims, Mina is renowned as the “city of tents.”
DAY 2
Day of the Hajj – Pilgrims arrive early on the Arafah plains, which are located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) away from Mina, on the second day of the Hajj. From noon until sunset, they spend the afternoon praying and repenting in wuquf (standing). Arafah is the most important ritual of Hajj. On this day, Muslims around the world are urged to fast.
After sunset, pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah, which is located 9 kilometers (5 miles) away, where they perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers before gathering pebbles for the ritual the following day. There they spend the night under the open sky.
DAY 3
Muslims from all over the world observe the Eid al-Adha, or sacrifice celebration, on this day.
Rami al-Jamarah al-Kubra (stoning the largest pillar) – Pilgrims return to Mina where they throw seven pebbles at the largest of three stone pillars. This ritual represents the devil’s rejection of Satan’s demons and symbolizes his stoning.
Qurbani (animal sacrifice): Pilgrims or their representatives offer an animal sacrifice in honor of Abraham’s willingness to give his son to God in service of his sacrifice.
Halq or Taqsir (shaving or trimming hair) – Men shave or trim their heads and women cut a small portion of hair. This represents the renewal of the soul.
Sa’i and Tawaf al-Ifadah (main Tawaf): Pilgrims make their way back to Mecca to perform Tawaf, followed by Sa’i.
DAYS 4 and 5
Mina – Pilgrims visit Mina and perform Rami (stoning) of each of the three stone pillars daily.
DAY 6 (optional)
Mina – Pilgrims who remain for an extra day repeat the stoning ritual at all three pillars.
Tawaf’s farewells
A final Tawaf, or “farewell tawaf,” is performed by pilgrims around the Kaaba before leaving Mecca, evoking a spiritual farewell.
Pilgrims leave after offering prayers outside the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on June 14, 2024]Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo]
7. What varieties of the Hajj are there?
There are three types of Hajj to facilitate the pilgrimage for Muslims from different locations and abilities:
The most prevalent type of Hajj is Hajj al-Tamattu (the “eased”) Hajj, particularly for foreign pilgrims or those who reside outside Mecca. In this type of Hajj, pilgrims first perform Umrah, leave Ihram, and then enter Ihram again to perform the holy oath. For those performing Hajj al-Tamattu, sacrificing an animal is obligatory, unless one is unable to afford it, in which case fasting is required instead.
Similar to Tamattu, pilgrims combine Umrah and Hajj in Hajj al-Qiran without leaving Ihram. Both rites keep pilgrims in Ihram. Sacrificing an animal is also required for those who can afford it.
Hajj al-Ifrad (Hajj alone) – It is intended for pilgrims who do the Hajj alone without combining it with Umrah. Residents of Mecca typically perform this style. This form of Hajj does not require the sacrifice of an animal, though it can be performed voluntarily.
On June 15, 2024, Muslim pilgrims gather at the top of the rocky mountain known as the Mountain of Mercy on the Plain of Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
8. What is not permitted during the Hajj?
The Hajj’s etiquette forbids a number of other things that are permitted in Islam, including cursing, arguing, hunting, shaving, or cutting hair and nails, organizing or getting married, wearing sewn clothing (for men), covering the head (for women), and covering the face (for women).
There are typically specific steps and steps to take in order to rectify a pilgrim’s situation if they unintentionally or unintentionally violate anything during the Hajj. This often involves repentance, as well as making up for the mistake by offering charity or an animal sacrifice.
9. What should a Hajj pack?
Packing for the Hajj requires careful planning to ensure you have everything you need without overloading. A practical list of items to pack before traveling is provided in the image below.
10. How do Muslims mark the end of the Hajj?
Eid al-Adha, which is observed on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah and lasts for three days in many nations, marks the conclusion of the Hajj.
On August 21, 2018, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Muslim pilgrims observe the Tawaf, a Muslim circumambulating the Kaaba, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
The day begins with a special prayer shortly after sunrise, as Muslims gather in mosques or open areas wearing their finest clothes. Sharing meals, exchanging gifts, and making visits to family and friends is the order of the day. Commonly exchanged is the greeting “Eid Mubarak,” which means “Blessed Eid.”
Eid al-Adha also involves the ritual of animal sacrifice, known as Qurbani. The meat is divided into three categories: one for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for those in need, according to Muslims who are able to do so. It is sacrificed for a sheep, goat, cow, or camel.