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Saudi Arabia Denies Plans to Lift 73-Year-Old Alcohol Ban

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Riyadh, May 27, 2025: The Saudi government has denied recent media reports claiming that the Kingdom plans to lift its 73-year-old ban on alcohol sales by 2026. A senior Saudi official clarified that alcohol remains strictly prohibited for Muslims in the country and that the Kingdom continues to uphold Islamic principles.

Speculation arose following reports suggesting that Saudi Arabia, as part of its Vision 2030 reforms and in preparation for Riyadh Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, was planning to allow regulated alcohol sales in luxury hotels, resorts, and diplomatic zones—potentially at around 600 locations nationwide.

However, the official rejected these claims, stating that the ban on alcohol, in place since 1952, applies to both citizens and foreign nationals. He reaffirmed that there are no plans to lift the ban and emphasized the country’s commitment to preserving its religious and cultural traditions while moving forward with economic and tourism-related reforms.

In January 2024, a shop in Riyadh was granted permission to sell alcohol exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats under strict regulations. This move was seen as a measure to curb the black market and illegal importation of alcohol, rather than a step toward general legalization.

In February 2025, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud, confirmed that alcohol would not be allowed during the 2034 FIFA World Cup. He emphasized that while the Kingdom welcomes visitors, it will do so within the framework of its cultural values and will not compromise them.

While a few exceptions have been made under controlled conditions, the long-standing ban on alcohol remains firmly in place, with no official plans to reverse it. Saudi Arabia continues to pursue its economic diversification goals under Vision 2030 while maintaining its religious and cultural identity.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Airport Receives Bomb Threat, Police Arrest 35-Year-Old Man

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have arrested a 35-year-old man who made a bomb threat call claiming that the Mumbai International Airport would be blown up by 2 PM today. The arrest was made by MIDC Police shortly after the threatening call was received by the Mumbai police control room.

The accused, identified as Manjeet Kumar Gautam, originally hails from Uttar Pradesh but currently resides in the Sakinaka area of Mumbai.

According to officials, Gautam called the police control room and warned, “I will blow up the Mumbai airport by 2 PM today.” The threat triggered immediate security protocols, with bomb detection squads and other security agencies placed on high alert at the airport.

The MIDC police acted swiftly to trace and apprehend the caller. Gautam is currently in custody, and police are investigating the motive behind the call. Initial findings suggest he acted alone.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai police crackdown on drug dealers in Govandi, 6 accused arrested in drug clean campaign, factory exposed

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police had launched a special campaign through the Drug-Free Govandi campaign in the Muslim-majority suburb of Mumbai, in line with which the Mumbai Police has arrested five drug peddlers and seized drugs worth over Rs 18 crore so far, as well as busting a drug factory. This claim was made by Mumbai Police Additional Commissioner Mahesh Patil in a press conference here today. He said that on March 19, RCF police arrested a drug peddler during a patrol and seized 45 grams of MD from his possession and he was arrested under the NDPS Act. During the investigation of this case, the team has succeeded in arresting five drug peddlers. These arrests have been made from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Along with this, 3 kg of MD has been recovered from the possession of the accused. During the investigation of the accused, it was revealed that there is a drug workshop in Karjat-Raigarh, Mumbai and drugs are manufactured here. During the raid, the police have seized more than 5 kg of MD and equipment used to manufacture drugs. So far, 6 accused have been arrested in the case of drug peddlers and drugs worth crores of rupees have also been seized. This operation was carried out by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner (Administration) Satyanarayan Chaudhary and Govandi has been declared drug-free. This campaign was carried out through the campaign. DCP Navnath Dhole and Additional Commissioner Mahesh Patil have also intensified the anti-drug operation in the city for a drug-free Govandi.

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Maharashtra

Jaiswal, accused of killing Muslim youth over minor dispute at Mumbai Ghatkopar, arrested

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Crime Branch has claimed to have solved the case of the murder of a Muslim youth over a dispute over driving on the Ghatkopar Service Road on the outskirts of Mumbai. The complainant and the deceased were passing through the Service Road Ghatkopar in their Wagoner car, within the limits of Pantnagar Police Station, when suddenly a motorcycle came in between. Zeeshan Rafique Sheikh asked the motorcyclist to drive properly, which led to the dispute and after an exchange of abuse, the motorcyclist stabbed Zeeshan in the chest with a knife. He had kept this knife in the trunk of his motorcycle. The police have registered a case of murder in this case. The Crime Branch team tracked down the accused on technical grounds and caught him, after which he confessed to the crime during the investigation. In this case, the police have arrested 22-year-old Suraj Jaiswal, DCP Vishal Thakur has informed.

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