Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un are among the world leaders who will attend a military parade with President Xi Jinping in Beijing next week, in a show of collective defiance amid western pressure.
No western leaders will be among the 26 foreign heads of state and government attending the parade next week – with the exception of Robert Fico, prime minister of Slovakia, a member of the European Union – according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
Against the backdrop of China’s growing military might during the Victory Day parade on 3 September, the three leaders will project a major show of solidarity.
Russia, which Beijing counts as a strategic partner, has been battered by multiple rounds of western sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with its economy on the brink of slipping into recession. Putin, wanted by the international criminal court, last travelled in China in 2024.
North Korea, a formal treaty ally of China’s, has been under UN security council sanctions since 2006 over its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Kim last visited China in January 2019.
Those attending the parade marking the formal surrender of Japan during the second world war will include Belarus president Aleksandr Lukashenko, Iran’s president Masoud Pezashkian, Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto and South Korea’s National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik, said Chinese assistant foreign minister Hong Lei at a news conference.
Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vucic will also attend the parade.
The United Nations will be represented by under secretary general Li Junhua, who previously served in various capacities at the Chinese foreign ministry, including time as the Chinese ambassador to Italy, San Marino and Myanmar.
On the day, President Xi Jinping will survey tens of thousands of troops at Tiananmen Square alongside the foreign dignitaries and senior Chinese leaders.
The highly choreographed parade, to be one of China’s largest in years, will showcase cutting-edge equipment like fighter jets, missile defence systems and hypersonic weapons.
Millions of Chinese people were killed during a prolonged war with imperial Japan in the 1930s and 40s, which became part of a global conflict following Tokyo’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Beijing’s Communist Party has held a series of blockbuster events in recent years to commemorate its wartime resistance, vowing that China will never be brought to its knees in such a way again.
WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on imports from India to as much as 50 percent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, delivering a serious blow to ties between two powerful democracies that had in recent decades become strategic partners.
A punitive 25 percent tariff, imposed due to India’s purchases of Russian oil, was added to Trump’s prior 25 percent tariff on many imports from the South Asian nation. It takes total duties as high as 50 percent for goods as varied as garments, gems and jewelry, footwear, sporting goods, furniture and chemicals — among the highest imposed by the US and roughly on par with Brazil and China.
The new tariffs threaten thousands of small exporters and jobs in India, including in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, and are expected to hurt growth in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
There was no indication of renewed talks between Washington and New Delhi on Wednesday, after five rounds of talks failed to yield a trade deal to cut US tariff rates to around 15 percent — like the deals agreed by Japan, South Korea and the European Union. The discussions were marked by miscalculations and missed signals, officials on both sides say.
India’s trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But an Indian government source said New Delhi hoped the US would review the extra 25 percent tariff, adding that the government plans steps to help cushion its impact.
There was no Indian market reaction to the move on Wednesday as bourses were closed for a Hindu festival, but on Tuesday equity benchmarks logged their worst session in three months after a Washington notification confirmed the additional tariff.
The Indian rupee also continued its losing streak for a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday, ending at its lowest level in three weeks.
While the tariff disruption would be bruising, it may not be all gloom and doom for the world’s fifth-largest economy if New Delhi can further reform its economy and become less protectionist as it seeks to resolve the crisis with Washington, analysts said.
A US Customs and Border Protection notice to shippers provides a three-week exemption for Indian goods that were loaded onto a vessel and in transit to the US before the midnight deadline.
Also exempted are steel, aluminum and derivative products, passenger vehicles, copper and other goods subject to separate tariffs of up to 50 percent under the Section 232 national security trade law.
Indian trade ministry officials say the average tariff on US imports is around 7.5 percent, while the US Trade Representative’s office has highlighted rates of up to 100 percent on autos and an average applied tariff rate of 39 percent on US farm goods.
FAILED TALKS
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India must simply stop buying Russian oil to reduce US import taxes.
“It’s real easy, that India can get 25 percent off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil and helping to feed (Russia’s) war machine,” Navarro told Bloomberg Television.
Washington says India’s purchase of Russian oil helps fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine and that New Delhi also profits from it. India has rejected the accusation as a double standard, pointing to US and European trade links with Russia.
China remains a top buyer of Russian oil, but Trump has said he does not immediately need to consider similar extra tariffs on Chinese goods amid a delicate US-China trade truce.
Commenting on the punishing levy, India’s junior foreign minister Kirti Vardhan Singh told reporters: “We are taking appropriate steps so that it does not harm our economy, and let me assure you that the strength of our economy will carry us through these times.”
“Our concern is our energy security, and we will continue to purchase energy sources from whichever country benefits us.”
EXPORTERS LOSE COMPETITIVE EDGE
US-India two-way goods trade totaled $129 billion in 2024, with a $45.8 billion US trade deficit, according to US Census Bureau data.
Exporter groups estimate the tariffs could affect nearly 55 percent of India’s $87 billion in merchandise exports to the US, while benefiting competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and China.
Rajeswari Sengupta, an economics professor at Mumbai’s Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research, said allowing the rupee to “depreciate is one way to provide indirect support to exporters” and regain lost competitiveness.
“The government should adopt a more trade-oriented, less protectionist strategy to boost demand, which is already slackening,” she said.
Sustained tariffs at this rate could dent India’s growing appeal as an alternative manufacturing hub to China for goods such as smartphones and electronics.
“Up to 2 million jobs are at risk in the near term,” said Sujan Hajjra, chief economist at the Anand Rathi Group. But he noted that robust domestic demand will help to cushion the blow, and that India has a diversified export base and a solid earnings and inflation outlook.
The US-India standoff has raised questions about the broader relationship between India and the US, important security partners who share concerns about China.
However, on Tuesday the two issued identical statements saying senior foreign and defense department officials of the two countries met virtually on Monday and expressed “eagerness to continue enhancing the breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship.”
(Page created: August 8, 2025, last updated: August 28, 2025, 12:44 AM EDT, Departure photos and Didar video)
Anchor Links: His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Kenya
Please visit this page frequently for updates on His Highness the Aga Khan’s first visit to Kenya as the 50th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. For quick access to our updates posted on this page, please click on the following anchor links:
August 27, 2025: His Highness the Aga Khan departs Kenya after a joyous encounter with his Ismaili followers
August 27, 2025: Ismaili Update 3 – highlights of His Highness the Aga Khan’s third day visit (Didar in Nairobi)
August 27, 2025: His Highness the Aga Khan brings joy to his Ismaili followers as he blesses them with a Didar in Nairobi
August 26, 2025: Ismaili Update 2 — highlights of His Highness the Aga Khan’s second day visit (State House Visit)
August 26, 2025: His Highness the Aga Khan is Honoured by President Ruto at the State House
August 26, 2025: Press Release – Visit to Kenya by His Highness the Aga Khan
August 25, 2025: Ismaili Update 1 — highlights of His Highness the Aga Khan’s first day visit (Arrival)
August 25, 2025: His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Kenya
August 25 – 27, 2025: A selection of links to external media coverage
August 25, 2025: (Pre-arrival report) His Highness the Aga Khan visits Kenya to deepen partnership
August 8, 2025: Intezar Poem
July 18: Announcement of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit and preparations
A Perennial Supplication (Ginanic verses)
August 27, 2025: (1) His Highness the Aga Khan departs Kenya
Posts on ‘X’ and Facebook by Aden Duale, Health Cabinet Secretary
Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health, has posted on ‘X’ as well as on his Facebook page that he was at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as Mawlana Hazar Imam departed after his three-day visit at the invitation of President Ruto.
He writes on ‘X’: “Saw off His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after his three-day official visit to Kenya, undertaken at the invitation of H.E. President William Ruto.” See his ‘X’ and Facebook posts below.
Saw off His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after his three-day official visit to Kenya, undertaken at the invitation of H.E. President @WilliamsRuto.
On his first visit since assuming leadership in February, the 50th hereditary Imam of… pic.twitter.com/4JmqU1QhYe
Post on Facebook by Aden Duale, Health Cabinet Secretary
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August 27, 2025: (2) His Highness the Aga Khan blesses his Ismaili followers with a Didar in Nairobi
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, walks through the Didar hall in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 27, 2025, a moment that united the Jamats from Kenya and the countries under its jurisdiction: Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Namibia, Rwanda, and South Africa. The Jamats had been eagerly anticipating this historic opportunity for weeks since his visit was first announced June 18. It marked the first time they had met their 50th beloved Imam since February 4, 2025, when he inherited the Throne of Imamat. Photograph: IPL / Zafarani Mansur.
The Nairobi Ismaili Darkhana Jamatkhana was the historic setting for a unique occasion on August 27, 2025. Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, granted a Didar (lit. a glimpse) to the Jamat of Kenya, Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Namibia, Rwanda, and South Africa. He personally connected with them for the first time since becoming the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims on February 4, 2025.
Mawlana Hazar Imam conveyed guidance and blessings to the worldwide Ismaili community and expressed gratitude to the volunteers for their efforts in organizing the visit. He showered blessings on the Jamat and, in a touching moment, reminded the Jamat of his immense love and affection, making his spiritual children feel cherished and cared for. Hazar Imam also granted a separate mulaqat to young members of the Jamat, further strengthening the personal bond with the community’s youth.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, stands on a simple but elegantly designed stage as he addresses his Jamat at the Kenya Didar in Nairobi. The wall behind his chair, where the Mukhi, Kamadia, Mukhiani and Kamadiani (all congregational leaders) are seated, is adorned with the Crest of the Ismaili Imamat, August 27, 2025, Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, smiles as he addresses the Kenya jurisdiction Jamat in Nairobi, August 27, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim
Mukhi Saheb (congregational leader) of Nairobi Darkhana submitted bayʿa (oath of allegiance) to the Imam on behalf of the Jamat, and Shamira Dostmohamed, President of the Ismaili Council for Kenya, delivered a welcome address. A significant moment unfolded as a gift was presented to Hazar Imam on behalf of the Jamat: a manuscript of the Qur’an from East Africa dating back to 1854 CE. This historical artifact, believed to be from Ethiopia, reflects the rich heritage of East African Muslim communities, their devotion, artistry, and openness to the world.
The students Mukhi, Kamadia, Mukhiani, and Kamadiani welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, to the youth Didar in Nairobi, August 27, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Zafarani Mansur.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, meets medalists from the Kenya jurisdiction at the Jubilee Games, held earlier this summer at the Global Encounters Festival in Dubai. Accompanying him are Shamira Dostmohamed, President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Kenya, and the venerable Ismaili leader, Diwan Shafik Sachedina, August 27, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Hussein Jiwa.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, meets members of the Kenyan Ismaili Band, August 27, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Hussein Jiwa.
In celebration of this very special occasion, the Jamat prepared an art installation entitled Bustan-e-Noor, or Garden of Light. The artwork is made up of flowers and leaves, each inspired by the national flowers and plants of the countries within the Kenya jurisdiction: Botswana’s Grapple Plant, Eswatini’s Edelweiss, Rwanda’s Robusta Coffee leaf, South Africa’s King protea, Namibia’s Welwitschia mirabilis, Burundi’s African protea, and Kenya’s Orchid. The fruits and leaves were inscribed with hundreds of handwritten messages by members of the Jamat and multi-faith families of all ages, expressing their commitment to caring for the environment and serving the Imam and his Jamat.
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THE ISMAILI UPDATE (PART 3): HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN GRANTS DIDAR TO HIS JAMAT
On Wednesday August 27, the last day of his visit to Kenya, Mawlana Hazar Imam graciously granted a Didar to the Kenya jurisdiction Jamat at the Nairobi Darkhana. Watch the following special edition of The Ismaili Update 3 to learn more about the gift presented to Hazar Imam and see all the highlights from this joyous day.
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August 26, 2025: (1) His Highness the Aga Khan is honoured at the State HOUSE with Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart. Signs aGREEMENTS with Kenya
President William Ruto of Kenya welcomes Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, to State House in Nairobi, August 26, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, was received at State House in Nairobi on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, where President Ruto formally conferred upon him Kenya’s highest civilian honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (CGH). This rare Award, typically reserved for Heads of State and exceptional global leaders, recognizes distinguished and outstanding services to the nation. Officially granted on February 28, 2025, the Award was first mentioned in the official Presidential notice in The Kenya Gazette dated March 7, 2025. Mawlana Hazar Imam’s sister, Princess Zahra, received the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH) for her outstanding service to Kenya.
In response to the honour, Hazar Imam said, “I accept this decoration as a recognition of the past, but also as a pledge for the future. A pledge to continue walking side by side with the people of Kenya in the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable and hopeful tomorrow.”
Mawlana Hazar Imam also noted in his address that his father, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, had been conferred with the same Honour by President Kibaki during his Golden Jubilee visit to Kenya in 2007 (see inset photo, top left, in the collage below).
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, addresses guests gathered at State House in Nairobi after receiving the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart from President William Ruto, August 26, 2025. President Kibaki had bestowed the same order on Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, on August 13, 2007, during his Golden Jubilee visit to Kenya. See inset photo, top left. Photograph: AKDN / Akbar Hakim, inset photograph: Gary Otte.
Two agreements were signed at the State House: an agreement to reaffirm the deep-rooted partnership between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Kenya; and a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen cooperation on issues such as environmental conservation, climate change, urban rehabilitation and cultural heritage.
“This moment is both historic and symbolic,” said President Ruto. “It affirms Kenya’s deep appreciation of the enduring legacy of the Ismaili Imamat, whose service to humanity has long been a pillar of our national journey.”
“For decades, the Aga Khan Development Network has been a trusted ally in Kenya’s development: establishing hospitals and schools that save lives and nurture talent; investing in hospitality, media and insurance to spur growth and create jobs; and advancing cultural and environmental initiatives that safeguard our heritage and strengthen communities.”
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Left: Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and President William Ruto of Kenya sign an agreement of cooperation between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Kenya; right: Shafik Sachedina, Senior Official of the Ismaili Imamat and Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary, sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Kenya as Mawlana Hazar Imam and President Ruto look on. Photographs: AKDN / Akbar Hakim.
Mawlana Hazar Imam spoke of Kenya’s special importance to his family and committed the Ismaili Imamat’s continuing support for the country’s progress.
“Our goal is to work alongside the Government as you tackle the emerging challenges of climate change, urban regeneration and delivery of public services,” he said. “As in the past, we will continue to mobilise not only our own institutional capacity and resources, but also those of our international partners and investors, for Kenya’s benefit.”
For over 100 years, the Ismaili Imamat and AKDN have been trusted partners in Kenya’s progress. Together, they have strengthened institutions, transformed lives, and contributed to the country’s social and economic development across generations. Today, AKDN agencies reach 27 million people across all parts of Kenya.
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Posts on ‘X’ by President Willam Ruto
We deeply value our close ties with the Ismaili Imamat, which have fostered strong collaboration in critical areas such as healthcare, education, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.
Read the full speech of President William Ruto HERE (PDF)
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DAILY NATION / NTV Coverage: President William Ruto meets His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan
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THE ISMAILI UPDATE (PART 2): HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN WAS BESTOWED WITH THE CHIEF OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN HEART
On Tuesday, August 26, the second day of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Kenya, agreements were signed between the Ismaili Imamat and Kenya, and President William Ruto formally presented the 50th Ismaili Imam with the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart. Watch the following video, posted by the Ismaili on YouTube, for all the highlights!
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August 26, 2025: (2) Press Release Visit to Kenya by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan
During the occasion [State House visit], there will be the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Kenya and the Ismailia Imamat for provision of the framework for recognition of the Ismaili Imamat as the legal entity, representing the Office of the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims established in accordance with the applicable customary law of hereditary succession of the Shia Ismaili Imams, with the capacity in international relations to engage with the Government of the Republic of Kenya — from Press Release, August 26, 2025.
The following is the full text of a press release issued in PDF format on August 26, 2025, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs (please read the statement at the source by clicking HERE)
“On 25th August 2025 High Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V made an official visit to Kenya at the invitation of H.E. Dr. William Ruto, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya. This is the first official visit to Kenya by HH Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, since he assumed the position as the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims on 4th February 2025, and also as the Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network.
“The purpose of the official visit is the investiture of the Kenya’s highest Presidential civil honour of Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart (C.G.H) on His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V by the H.E. the President of Kenya at the State House on 26th August 2025. There will also be bilateral discussions on deepening of cooperation between the Government of Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat. This will further strengthen the work of the Aga Khan Development Network which has numerous investments and charity institutions in Kenya ranging from education institutions to healthcare facilities, financial institutions, and hospitality sector.
“During the occasion, there will be the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Kenya and the Ismailia Imamat for provision of the framework for recognition of the Ismaili Imamat as the legal entity, representing the Office of the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims established in accordance with the applicable customary law of hereditary succession of the Shia Ismaili Imams, with the capacity in international relations to engage with the Government of the Republic of Kenya.
“There will also the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Kenya and the Ismaili Imamat on General Cooperation which will provide the framework for bilateral cooperation in environmental conservation, urban rehabilitation and cultural heritage preservation.
“His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V is accompanied by his sister Princess Zahra Aga Khan, a member of the AKDN Board of Directors.”
END OF STATEMENT (Please read the press release statement at the source in PDF format HERE.)
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August 25, 2025: His Highness the Aga Khan officially welcomed to Kenya
At the invitation of President William Ruto, His Highness has embarked on this maiden visit since assuming his role as the 50th hereditary spiritual leader of the Shis Ismaili Muslims. The Ismaili Imamat is a hereditary office in succession from the first Imam, Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad — Musalia Mudavadi, quoted in the Daily Nation
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is welcomed to Kenya by Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya (centre) and Aden Bare Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health (right), as he arrives at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, August 25, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Zafarani Mansurali.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the invitation of His Excellency William Ruto, President of Kenya. He was received at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Honourable Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Honourable Aden Bare Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health. Amin Mawji, AKDN Representative to Kenya, and Shamira Dostmohamed, President of His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Kenya, were also present, along with a delegation of Ismaili leaders from Botswana, Burundi, Eswatini, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Kenya, representing the Jamats under the Kenya jurisdiction.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is presented with a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Government of Kenya upon his arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, in Nairobi, Kenya, August 25, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Zafarani Mansurali.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, accepts a bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Kenya jurisdiction Jamat from Gulnar Mawji upon his arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, August 25, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Zafarani Mansurali.
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Mukhi Saheb, Kamadia Saheb, Mukhiani Saheba, and Kamadiani Saheba, congregational leaders of the Nairobi Darkhana Jamatkhana, welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, to Kenya, August 25, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Zafarani Mansurali.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, signs a guest book at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, as representatives and leaders of Kenya, the AKDN, and the Ismaili community look on. From left to right: Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of the Aga Khan University, Sultan Ali Allana, Director of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), Aden Bare Duale, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN, Amin Mawji, the AKDN representative to Kenya, and Shamira Dostmohamed, President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Kenya, January 25, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Zafarani Mansurali.
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The Jamat and well-wishers lined the streets in front of the Ismaili Darkhana Jamatkhana in Nairobi to await Hazar Imam’s motorcade, waving the Ismaili and Kenyan flags with happy faces. The Jamat’s role in the extensive preparations, alongside the dedicated volunteers, has been instrumental in ensuring a smooth and meaningful experience for all, with Ismailis from seven African countries awaiting the profound experience of the first Didar (lit. glimpse) with their beloved 50th Imam. During his visit, His Highness will meet with President William Ruto and senior officials of the Kenyan government.
Members of the Ismaili community and well-wishers line along Limuru Road to catch a glimpse of Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s motorcade, August 25, 2025. Photograph AKDN / Rayan Kanani.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, waves to the Jamat and well-wishers in front of Darkhana Jamatkhana in Nairobi, August 25, 2025. Photograph: AKDN / Rahim Kara.
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X Posts and Videos: Prince Rahim Aga Khan welcomed to Kenya
Honourable Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary of Kenya and Cabinet Secretary in the Foreign Ministry and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, received Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, upon his arrival in Nairobi on Monday, August 25, to begin an official visit at the invitation of President William Ruto. Writing on X, the Minister said: “The visit reaffirms the long-standing bonds between Kenya and the Aga Khan family, and opens a new chapter of collaboration for the prosperity of our people. I was accompanied by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. @HonAdenDuale. ” Please see more below.
Kenya today welcomed a historic visit as I received His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, who is in the country for his first official engagement since succeeding his late father, His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV, who passed away in February 2025 at the age of… pic.twitter.com/uZzlEWzC5U
Joined Prime Cabinet Secretary Hon. @MusaliaMudavadi at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V on his first official visit to Kenya since becoming the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims in February.
THE ISMAILI UPDATE (PART 1): ARRIVAL OF HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN
The following video, posted by the Ismaili on YouTube, gives highlights of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s arrival in Nairobi on August 25, 2025, for a 3-day visit and the tremendous spirit of volunteerism in the Jamat to prepare for the historic visit.
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MEDIA COVERAGE
External links: Please click on the following link(s) for media reports of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Kenya:
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August 25, 2025: A deepening relationship with Kenya as His Highness the Aga Khan IS set to arrive in Kenya
In a brief dispatch, The Daily Nation has reported that Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, will make his first official state visit to Kenya from August 25-27, 2025, at the invitation of President William Ruto. Mawlana Hazar Imam had informed the Jamat about the visit in a Talika read out in Jamatkhanas worldwide on or around July 18. Barakah is committed to keeping its readers worldwide connected and involved in Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit through regular updates. Please visit this page dedicated to his Kenya visit frequently.
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August 8, 2025: Intezar — a poem in anticipation of the Didar of Mawlana Shah Rahim Al HussainI Hazar Imam
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, seated on stage at the Didar hall during his historic visit to France, Paris, July 12, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
Later in August, the Jamat in Kenya and countries under its jurisdiction, namely South Africa, Rwanda, Burundi, Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), will come together in unity for the profound experience of the Didar of Mawlana Hazar Imam, Shah Rahim Al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan. Nairobi’s Shariffa Keshavjee has submitted the following poem in anticipation of his forthcoming visit to Kenya from August 25-27, 2025.
By SHARIFFA KESHAVJEE (KENYA)
An inner anticipation Only Intezar can explain A pulse, a momentum Is building up in the heart In our minds, our spirit Is agog with a longing
What is the Intezar A two way silence
The premises once plain Now glittering in splendour Our love exuding from every pore Embedded in the very earth And in the hearts of murids
This Intezar A silent prayer
So many countries, towns The old and babes in arms Preparation is in motion A movement a silent notion A fertile spirit in Zikr all day Meeting to enforce our love
This Intezar A silent tribute
Our Murshid approaches Steady footsteps unheard Magnetic field felt unseen Words subside tears well up Salwats rise to the dome To the sky to the universe
This Intezar One universe
Then the world stands still The very silence is pregnant The ocean of grace opens up A sacred space contains all The murid and Murshid unite In one universal symphony
The intezar Now Didar manifest
No diamond can glitter thus Blinding thoughts of dunya Only the inner world of Din In now manifest in the heart Murids now in supplication To receive gems of wisdom
The Intezar Completes its circle At last In supplication of gratitude
Correction (August 25, 2025): In our original version of this anchor link, Intezar, dated August 8, we had mentioned that Mawlana Hazar Imam’s children, Prince Irfan and Prince Sinan, would accompany him on his visit to Kenya. However, we are currently unable to confirm whether the Princes will be with him on this visit, as was the case when he visited France from July 10-13,2025. We are committed to providing accurate information and regret this oversight on our part. We apologize to readers for the misleading information and assure you of our dedication to accuracy.
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July 18, 2025: Announcement of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to KenyA and preparations
Map of Africa. Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, will visit Kenya in August 2025, at the invitation of President Ruto and meet with his Ismaili followers living in Kenya and under the jurisdiction of the Aga Khan Council for Kenya. The countries (circled in the map) are Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Namibia, Eswatini (Swaziland in the map) and South Africa. Click on the map for enlargement. Photograph: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas Library.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, announced his visit to Kenya in a Talika read out in Jamatkhanas on or around Friday, July 18, 2025 (in Canada). Please see our special post on the announcement. The visit to Kenya will be his second with the Ismailis, following his first-ever meeting with his spiritual children, which took place in France, from July 10-13, 2025. His Highness shared his thoughts, expressing his satisfaction, saying, “I could not have had a first official trip better than this one.” This positive feedback from the Imam fills us with optimism for the upcoming visit to Kenya.
Following the announcement, the Ismaili Institutions in Kenya published the eligibility for individuals to attend the Didar in Kenya, noting that it is for residents of Kenya and the Jamats that fall under its jurisdiction, which are: Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Burundi, Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini. The institutions also offered special travel and accomodation rates to make everyone’s visit to Kenya smooth and enjoyable through its Hospitality & Logistics page.
The Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board for Kenya (ITREB, Kenya), an institution which looks after the religious education of the community across all ages, informed members of the Jamat about the Local Auditions for recitation of Ginan, Qasida, Zikr, Tilawat-e-Quran and Translation of Tilawat-e-Quran for the Didar and Intezari Programme for Kenya Jurisdiction. The Intezari period leading up to the day of the Didar is a time when the entire Ismaili community comes together to learn and prepare for the Didar of their beloved Imam. It is an inspirational period and a time for each individual to reflect on their lives and commit to living an ethical life to gain the maximum benefit from the guidance and Didar of their Imam.
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Ginan: A perennial supplication to the Imam-of-the-Time and from all his spiritual children worldwide
Transliteration
Eji, Aash Karine Ya Ali hun tere dar ubhi, Kar jodine em mangu Ya Shah; Dejo didar tusi mahavar datar Shah, Hama tere charane lagu.
Translation
With hope I stand at Thy door, O Ali! And sincerely beg of Thee; Bless me with Thy Holy Didar, O Great Lord and Benefactor! At Thy Feet I fall to prostrate
and
O Exalted Islam Shah [Imam-of-the-Time] Our Lord and Master of the Age, To you our hearts devoutly supplicate, O the Eternal King and Lord of our souls! Grace us with your visit to the Indian Subcontinent [The Imam’s base at the time was in Iran.] O Ali! You are Eternal, You are the Lord of Eternity. You alone are the Knower of the End, Of the End that has no End
(Verses from Venti Ginan and Anant Akhado composed by Pir Hasan Kabirdin)
Date posted: August 8, 2025. Last updated: August 28, 2025.
Please also read: Didar of the Imam-of-the-Time: Life’s ultimate by Mawlana Mustansir bi’llah, 15th Century
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FEEDBACK AND Table of Contents
Before you leave, remember that Barakah’s editor, Malik, is here to assist yo u. If you have any questions or feedback, please scroll down to leave a comment or send an email to mmerchant@barakah.com. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the diverse and extensive content on Barakah’s Home Page or Table of Contents, with over 350 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. And don’t forget to visit our sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos. You can stay updated by following Malik on @Facebook, @X and @LinkedIn.
MINNEAPOLIS: An assailant armed with three guns fired through stained-glass windows into a Catholic church where parish school students were attending Mass on Wednesday, killing two children and wounding 17 other people, officials said.
The shooting ended when the lone suspect, identified as Robin Westman, 23, “took his own life” at the rear of the church, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who declined to offer a possible motive for the attack.
A videotaped message by the suspect showed Westman struggled with depression and was fascinated by the perpetrators of past mass shootings.
FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency was investigating the attack as an “act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics.”
Two victims, aged 8 and 10, were slain where they sat as the gunfire turned the morning Mass into pandemonium. It sent worshipers diving behind pews for cover while older children scrambled to shield younger ones, officials said.
At least two of the church exits were blocked by wooden planks barricaded outside the doors, O’Hara said.
The violence struck at the start of an all-school Mass held annually on the first Wednesday of the academic year at Annunciation Catholic School.
“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshiping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” O’Hara said.
In addition to the two children killed, 17 other people were struck by gunfire – 14 of them students ages 6 to 18 and three parishioners in their 80s, O’Hara said. All the injured were expected to recover, according to the chief.
A 2017 yearbook from the school showed that Westman, who went by the first name Robert at the time, had been a student there, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
“I have no information to share on a motive, other than to say there was some kind of manifesto timed to come out on YouTube,” O’Hara said, adding that it had been taken down by authorities.
Suicide message
Online videos reviewed by Reuters showed the text of a suicide note in which the shooter expressed feeling depressed and wanting to carry out a mass shooting.
Names of previous school shooters were scrawled on a rifle magazine, along with erratic and wide-ranging political grievances.
In a statement on X, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristie Noem said the suspect was “claiming to be transgender.” She continued: “This deranged monster targeted our most vulnerable: young children praying in their first morning Mass of the school year.”
Shooting reported at church in Minneapolis; suspect ‘contained’
Court records showed Westman’s name was changed from Robert in 2020 because Westman identified as female.
Appearing with the police chief and other officials at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey cautioned against bringing gender politics into the tragedy.
“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community, or any other community out there, has lost their sense of common humanity,” he said.
Frey also cited the easy availability of firearms as a root cause of the mass shootings that are commonplace in the United States.
The shooting at Annunciation, a parochial school with about 395 students, marked the 146th incident of gun violence at a place of primary or secondary education since January, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database.
But Wednesday’s carnage differed in one notable respect from most school shootings: The assailant fired from outside into the building.
Westman fired dozens of rounds with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, all legally and recently purchased, O’Hara said. Authorities said more weapons were recovered at other locations associated with the suspect.
Fifth-grader Weston Halsne told CBS News his friend was wounded while trying to protect him.
“The shots were like, right next to me,” Halsne said. “I think I got like gunpowder on my neck.”
Public records showed Westman’s mother, Mary Westman, had worked as an administrative assistant at Annunciation Church. Relatives contacted by Reuters declined to comment.
Officials said Westman did not have a criminal record and appeared to have acted alone. The suspect was employed for several months this year at a Minnesota cannabis dispensary, but was no longer working there, the company, RISE, said.
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide as a sign of mourning.
Authorities said the attack did not appear to be related to three other shootings over the past 24 hours in Minneapolis, including one at a Jesuit high school.
Homicides have risen in Minneapolis since the 2020 police killing there of George Floyd, which prompted nationwide civil disturbances and staff shortages in the city’s police department.
Minnesota experienced political violence in May. A gunman posing as a police officer killed the Democratic state House speaker and her husband and wounded a Democratic state senator and his wife, in what authorities said were targeted assassinations. The suspect has pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among more than two dozen foreign leaders to attend China’s massive military parade next week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced Thursday.
The parade, to be held in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on September 3, is part of China’s commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II following Japan’s formal surrender.
The announcement, which places Putin and Kim at the top of Xi’s guest list,sets the stage for an extraordinary photo-op with the three autocratic leaders standing side by side atop the Gate of Heavenly Peace in Beijing, in an unequivocal show of unity.
North Korean state news agency KCNA confirmed Kim’s attendance, in what would be the North Korean leader’s first trip to China since 2019. Kim, who has only embarked on 10 foreign trips since assuming power in 2011, last left his isolated country in 2023 to meet Putin at a remote spaceport in Russia’s far east.
The parade offers the reclusive head of the world’s most heavily sanctioned regime a rare opportunity to appear alongside other world leaders who are gravitating toward an alternative world order Xi and Putin have pushed to create.
Confirmation of Kim’s attendance at the parade comes just days after US President Donald Trump said he would like to meet the North Korean leader this year.
Hardware and pageantry
Beijing is projecting military strength at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty as Trump upends American alliances and partnerships. It also comes amid China’s increasingly assertive posture toward Taiwan and its territorial disputes with neighboring countries.
A total of 26 foreign heads of state and government will attend the parade, including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei told a news conference in Beijing.
Narendra Modi, the prime minister of Pakistan’s arch-rival India, who will be in the Chinese city of Tianjin for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this weekend, is not among the list of leaders attending the parade.
Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who is serving as that country’s acting president after a military coup toppled an elected government in 2021 and plunged the country into a devastating civil war, will also attend.
Other guests include Russia-friendly European leaders Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia and Slovakia’s Robert Fico.
Notably absent are leaders from major Western capitals, even though China was a crucial partner of the Allied powers in the Pacific Theater of World War II. The country’s fight against Japan’s full-scale invasion became a major front of the war in Asia, ending only in 1945 with Japan’s surrender.
Conflict continued in China between communist and nationalist forces until the former eventually came out on top in 1949 leading to the creation of the People’s Republic of China that Xi now helms.
Wednesday’s 70-minute parade will feature more than 10,000 troops, over 100 aircraft and hundreds of pieces of ground equipment, showcasing China’s growing military power under Xi, who has made the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) a central mission of his rule.
The tightly choreographed spectacle will offer a rare glimpse into China’s fast-advancing military technology. Officials have said all equipment on display are domestically produced and currently in service, with many making their debut – ranging from cutting-edge drones, electronic jamming systems, hypersonic weapons, air-defense and missile-defense technologies to strategic missiles.
Beijing has been the main political and economic patron for North Korea for decades, providing a crucial lifeline for its heavily sanctioned economy. North Korea is also China’s only formal ally, with a mutual defense treaty signed in 1961.
In recent years, North Korea has forged closer ties with Russia amid Moscow’s grinding war against Ukraine, complicating East Asia’s geopolitical balance and China’s efforts to maintain regional stability.
Xi, Putin’s most powerful backer, has watched warily as the Russian leader and Kim forged a new alliance that saw North Korea sending troops to join Russia’s war on Ukraine. Last year, Putin and Kim signed a landmark defense pact in Pyongyang and pledged to provide immediate military assistance in the event the other is attacked – a move that has rattled the US and its Asian allies.
Hong, the Chinese assistant foreign minister, hailed China and North Korea’s “traditional friendship” in the press conference Thursday, noting the two countries supported each other in the fight against Japan’s invasion eight decades ago.
“China is willing to continue to work hand in hand with North Korea to strengthen exchanges and cooperation, advance socialist construction, and closely collaborate in promoting regional peace and stability as well as safeguarding international fairness and justice” Hong said.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
NABLUS (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday, witnesses and Palestinian officials said, with the Red Crescent reporting at least seven people wounded in the raid.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military confirmed that its forces were conducting an operation in the northern West Bank city, without specifying its purpose.
The raid began at around 3:00 am (0000 GMT), residents said, with soldiers in armoured vehicles storming several neighbourhoods of Nablus’s old city, which has a population of around 30,000 people.
It came a day after Israeli forces carried out a relatively rare raid on Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, targeting a currency exchange in the city centre and leaving dozens of Palestinians wounded, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
Nablus Governor Ghassan Daghlas told AFP that Wednesday’s “assault… is merely a show of force with no justification”.
One witness, who declined to give his name, reported that soldiers had expelled an elderly couple from their home.
Israeli troops “are storming and searching houses and shops inside the old city, while some houses have been turned into military posts”, said Ghassan Hamdan, head of the Palestinian Medical Relief organisation in Nablus.
AFP footage showed Israeli forces and military vehicles deployed on the streets, with some troops taking position on a rooftop.
Daghlas said the army had informed Palestinian authorities that the raid would last until 4:00 pm.
Local sources said clashes broke out at the eastern entrance to the old city, where young people threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who responded with tear gas and live ammunition.
‘ESCALATION’
The Red Crescent said its teams treated five people wounded by rubber bullets, one person hit by live bullet shrapnel and another following “physical assault”.
One more person was injured in a “fall” during the raid, the medical organisation added, and at least 27 others suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, in a statement carried by official news agency Wafa, slammed “the Israeli escalation in cities and refugee camps”, calling a recent uptick in raids “dangerous, condemned and unacceptable”.
The old city of Nablus has been the focus of several major Israeli raids, including in 2022 and 2023 during large-scale operations targeting a local grouping of armed fighters, as well as in 2002 during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising.
In early June 2025, an Israeli military operation there resulted in two Palestinians killed.
Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, violence has surged in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967.
Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank have killed at least 972 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, since the beginning of the Gaza war, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian Authority figures.
In the same period, at least 36 Israelis, both civilians and security forces, have been killed in attacks or during military operations in the territory, according to Israeli figures.
Israeli ground forces conducted a raid on a Syrian location near Kisweh, outside Damascus, which had already been targeted in airstrikes on the two preceding days, according to Syrian state media. The initial strike took place on Tuesday (Aug 26), reportedly killing six Syrian soldiers, as confirmed by Syria’s Foreign Ministry. State-run SANA news agency reported a follow-up bombing on Wednesday (Aug 27). SANA cited a government source revealing that soldiers found “surveillance and eavesdropping devices” at the site before the Tuesday strikes. An anonymous defence official told AFP the location was a former Syrian military base in Tal Maneh, near Kisweh. Following the second attack, SANA stated that Israeli troops were airlifted to the area to conduct a raid, though the specifics remain unclear amidst ongoing reconnaissance flights. Israel has launched numerous airstrikes in Syria since the regime’s fall and has taken control of much of a UN-monitored demilitarised zone along the Syria-Israel armistice line.
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Hezbollah weaponry reported on site
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors conflict zones through local contacts, indicated that the site housed weapons linked to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese militia and key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Observatory described the raid as the first Israeli ground operation of its kind since Assad’s fall during a rebel offensive in December. Meanwhile, Syria’s Foreign Ministry condemned the drone strikes in the Kisweh suburb, stating the attack resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers. The ministry labelled the strikes as “a grave violation of international law” and a “clear breach of (Syria’s) sovereignty and territorial integrity.” It accused Israel of pursuing repeated aggressive policies aimed at destabilising the region.
Israel’s involvement in Syria after fall of Assad
The recent violence in Syria’s Sweida province began when members of a Bedouin tribe set up a checkpoint and allegedly robbed a Druze man. This incident sparked a cycle of retaliatory kidnappings and attacks between Bedouin tribes and Druze armed groups. Government forces attempted to intervene but were perceived as siding with the Bedouins, leading to tensions with Druze factions. The Syrian military’s entry into Druze areas raised fears of targeting minorities, especially given past traumas like the 2018 ISIS attack on the Druze community, which killed and abducted many. Israel intervened primarily to prevent militant groups from operating near its northern border and to protect the Druze population in Syria due to strong ties with Israel’s own Druze community. Citing security concerns, Israel enforced a self-declared demilitarised zone in southern Syria and launched multiple airstrikes. Despite USattempts to broker peace through the Abraham Accords and engage with the Syrian government, Israel remains wary of the new leadership under al-Sharaa and has expanded its presence in Syrian territory since the fall of Assad.
A central Japanese town wants to limit smartphone use for all its 69,000 residents to two hours a day, in a move that has sparked intense debate on device addiction.
The proposal, believed to be the first of its kind in Japan, is currently being debated by lawmakers after being submitted by Toyoake municipal government in Aichi earlier this week.
Toyoake’s mayor said the proposal – which only applies outside of work and study – would not be strictly enforced, but rather was meant to “encourage” residents to better manage their screen time.
There will be no penalties for breaking the rule, which will be passed in October if approved by lawmakers.
“The two hour limit… is merely a guideline… to encourage citizens,” Toyoake Mayor Masafumi Koki said in a statement.
“This does not mean the city will limit its residents’ rights or impose duties,” he said,
“Rather, I hope this serves as an opportunity for each family to think about and discuss the time spent on smartphones as well as the time of day the devices are used.”
Smartphone use during non-leisure activities, such as watching videos while cooking or exercising, online learning and practicing for an e-sports tournament, will not count towards the two hours, he added.
Koki said he recognised smartphones were “useful and indispensable in daily life” but pointed out that some students were missing school because they refused to leave home without their phone.
Adults were also sacrificing sleep or time with families so they could keep scrolling on their phones and tablets, the mayor said.
More than 120 residents called and emailed local city authorities during a consultation period, according to Japanese news outlet Mainichi, with the majority (80%) not happy about the proposal. Some, however, showed support for the bill.
The proposal suggests that primary school students should stop using devices by 21:00 while older students and adults should stop by 22:00.
Many took to social media to air their grievances about the proposal, with one user saying you “cannot even read a book or watch a movie” in two hours, according to the Japan Times.
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday gave his “full support” to France’s embattled prime minister, who has called a confidence vote that could see his government collapse next month.
Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said he would request the confidence vote in a bitterly divided parliament on September 8, as he tries to garner enough support for his plan to slash spending.
But the main opposition parties said they would not back the prime minister’s plan, with the far right urging Macron to call new parliamentary elections and the hard left saying the president himself must go.
Macron, now on his sixth prime minister since taking office in 2017, chaired a meeting of his cabinet on Wednesday.
The president has given his “full support” to Bayrou’s initiative, spokeswoman Sophie Primas said after the meeting.
Macron also called on France’s political parties “to act responsibly”, Primas added.
“The French president said — and I’ll use his exact words — that there is neither denial of reality nor exaggeration of France’s financial situation,” the spokeswoman said.
“France is a solid country, with economic resilience and significant financial capacity.”
Bayrou has vowed to “fight like a dog” to stay in power and is expected to discuss the vote of confidence on television on Wednesday evening.
Macron is weighing his options as he seeks to contain the looming political crisis.
If the government falls, he could appoint a new prime minister, dissolve parliament again or resign.
Macron gambled on snap polls last summer in a bid to head off the far-right and bolster his authority, but the move backfired and left a deadlocked parliament.
Emmanuel Macron has given his “full support” to France’s beleaguered prime minister, François Bayrou, who is expected to lose a confidence vote next month, which would be likely to cause the government to collapse.
Macron chaired a cabinet meeting on Wednesday as France faces a fresh political crisis. The government spokesperson, Sophie Primas, said after the meeting that Macron fully supported Bayrou and the government was in a “fighting spirit”.
Bayrou, a centrist and Macron ally, announced this week he would call a confidence vote for 8 September, seeking parliament’s support for his austerity measures to cut public spending and reduce public debt.
Opposition parties have said they will vote to oust Bayrou, who polls show is the least popular prime minister since 1958. Bayrou’s proposals for a €44bn budget squeeze, which include scrapping two public holidays and freezing most welfare spending, are widely unpopular.
Primas said Macron believed there should be neither “denial nor catastrophising” about the state of France’s public finances and that opposition parties must show “responsibility”.
She said the government’s budget proposals were necessary. “France is a solid country with solid economics … but we must take the reins of our destiny,” Primas said. Describing Macron’s remarks to cabinet, she said: “It’s a strong signal that we are sending to the financial markets that we want to have a France that is even more solid.”
Macron is still dealing with the fallout from a political crisis that began last summer when he called a surprise snap election that resulted in a deadlocked parliament with no absolute majority. Since then, the national assembly has been split between the left, the far right and the centre.
Michel Barnier, the rightwing prime minister chosen by Macron last September to try to bring together the fragmented parliament, was ousted after only three months in office when his budget plans were rejected and the government was toppled.
Bayrou followed Barnier and he will have been in office for only nine months if the government is toppled once again. Even if Macron replaces him swiftly, it is not certain that a new appointee would be able to secure consensus on a budget for next year in the bitterly divided parliament.
Calls were growing on Wednesday for Macron to call another snap parliamentary election less than 18 months after the last. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally favours a new election as it hopes it can gain seats.
A large majority of French people want parliament dissolved for another election, according to polls by Ifop, Elabe and Toluna Harris Interactive. Macron said earlier this month that he wanted to avoid dissolving parliament again but he has also suggested he could not rule out the option.
Macron’s former prime minister Édouard Philippe, who now heads the centre-right Horizons party, said that if a stalemate persisted and no other government could come up with a budget, an election seemed inevitable.
Gabriel Attal, another former prime minister and the head of Macron’s centrist Renaissance party, said he did not think a new election would necessarily bring stability or clarity.
Bayrou warned that France’s debt is unsustainable, particularly as interest rate rises push up the cost of borrowing. After years of overspending, France is on notice to control its public deficit and cut its debt, as required under EU rules. All political parties agree that public debt is an issue but they disagree on how to tackle it.
