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KUALA LUMPUR – Umnos general assembly this week will be a closely watched affair following its worst-ever general election performance in November, with its leadership seeking to close ranks.

Besides pushing for a constitutional amendment to deter party hopping by elected representatives, Umno president Zahid Hamidi is likely to call for party unity and rally support for his controversial decision to back nemesis Anwar Ibrahim as premier.

But the question for the more than three million members of Malaysias largest and oldest party is not so much whether they should restore unity after more than four years of damaging internal conflict, but under whose leadership and which direction.

The partys annual congress from Wednesday to Saturday, held after a delay since 2022, comes ahead of leadership polls that must be held by May.

In approval surveys during the 2022 election campaign, Zahid who is facing dozens of graft charges was often the least popular of several prime ministerial candidates that included Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who was then prime minister.

The initial chorus for Zahid to step down and take the blame for Umno winning just 26 out of Parliaments 222 seats went silent after the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition it leads joined the so-called unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwars Pakatan Harapan (PH).

The move confounded many political observers, as Umno has vilified Mr Anwar and his allies for the past 15 years as being anti-Malay and anti-Islam the majority ethnic group and religion the party claims to represent.

But the move allowed Umno to stay relevant as a governing power and Zahid to become deputy prime minister, despite BNs decimation at the polls. The Umno meeting this week will offer the first glimpse of whether the top 5,000 delegates nationwide believe this comity with PH is able to stem Umnos decline.

We have been thrashed in the last election, Zahid said on Monday in a televised interview. Now we must have self-criticism, not just pointing fingers at one person. Many are responsible. What happened was the heavy cost from the lack of collective unity in spirit and thinking.

Whether the grassroots agree that the party president is not solely to blame will be crucial for the fortunes of Zahids camp which was the key proponent for joining PH and other parties from East Malaysia in government and, by extension, the fate of the Anwar administration. Another faction had preferred the more Malay Muslim-based coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) whose 74 MPs are the only ones now left in the opposition that Umno had worked with in government since 2020.

BowerGroupAsia political analyst Adib Zalkapli told The Straits Times: Umno is at the stage of managing the biggest change in the partys history. It could even be the start of a permanent relationship with PH, which would be credited to Zahid, whether or not it arrests the partys long, slow decline.

Zahid has been party president since taking over in 2018 from Najib Razak after Umno lost power for the first time in Malaysias six-decade history. The party returned to government in 2020 under Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after his Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia defected from the PH administration.

At a time of heightened infighting between Zahids camp, which wanted to call early national elections, and those who wanted to remain in power until the end of the five-year parliamentary term, Umno in May 2022 amended its Constitution to allow triennial leadership polls to be postponed by up to six months after a general election.

This ensured that Zahid would not be ousted until after a reconfiguration of Malaysias political landscape, which critics alleged was a cunning move to influence court cases faced by Zahid and others in his faction. Since the election, two former Umno MPs have been acquitted of corruption. More On This Topic Umno will still support Malaysias unity government if Im president: Khairy Umno seeks to curb infighting before party polls Talk of a no-contest motion for the top two party positions appears to have fizzled out, with information chief Isham Jalil pointing out that only an amendment to the party Constitution can prevent a challenge to Zahid and his deputy, Mr Mohamad Hasan. No such resolution is on the agenda for the general assembly.

I feel the power to decide the leadership lies in the hands of our nearly 160,000 representatives nationwide, Zahid said last Thursday, referring to the number of delegates from branches that will be able to vote for both divisional and national leaders.

Some Umno veterans, such as Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed, have warned that all four presidential contests in the partys 70-year history have led to worsening rifts in the party.

Datuk Nur Jazlan said last week: Umno cannot afford to suffer another big split because that would hasten its demise.

But analysts believe the question of unity is only one half of the equation, and if there is no change of guard, then the existing leadership must articulate how the party will reverse its fortunes.

Mr Tan Seng Keat, research manager at opinion pollster Merdeka Center, told ST: Umno is in need of soul-searching and reforms after its worst-ever election result. It also needs a new internal narrative now that it has joined hands with PH.

It needs to showcase its leaderships ability to be nation builders to regain the faith of both the public and its core base, or see the Malay majority continue to slide towards PN. More On This Topic Four years after shock loss, Umno has been battered like never before Interactive: How a divided Malaysia gave rise to Perikatan Nasionals teal tsunami

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Entertainment

BAFTA TV Awards red carpet: Celebs arrive in style ahead of ceremony

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BAFTA TV Awards red carpet: Celebs arrive in style ahead of ceremony

Stars of the small screen have hit the red carpet in the sunshine ahead of today’s BAFTA TV Awards.

Baby Reindeer, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Rivals, and Slow Horses are among the shows in the running for big prizes.

This year’s ceremony is hosted by Alan Cumming.

But before the BAFTA prizes are dished out, the stars are making their way down the red carpet at London’s Festival Hall.

Here’s a look at all the outfits.

BAFTA TV Awards – live updates
The full list of nominated stars and shows

Maura Higgins attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Love Island and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Maura Higgins

L-R: Danny Dyer (centre) and daughters Sunnie Jo (left) and Dani at the BAFTA TV Awards 2025
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The Dyers: Rivals and Mr Bigstuff star Danny Dyer (centre) and daughters Sunnie Jo (left) and Dani

Katherine Parkinson attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Rivals star Katherine Parkinson

Emily Atack attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Rivals actress Emily Atack

Alan Cumming attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Your host for the evening – Alan Cumming

Ella Morgan attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Trans star Ella Morgan, who starred in Married At First Sight

Tasha Ghouri attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Love Island and Strictly Come Dancing star Tasha Ghouri

Laura Whitmore attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
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TV presenter Laura Whitmore

Leanne Quigley attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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The Traitors star Leanne Quigley

Jessie J attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Singer Jessie J

JB Gill attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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JLS singer and TV presenter JB Gill

Kimberley Walsh attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Girls Aloud singer and TV presenter Kimberley Walsh

Faye Tozer attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Steps singer Faye Tozer

Lenny Rush attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
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Am I Being Unreasonable? star Lenny Rush

Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Kimberly Wyatt attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Pussycat Dolls star and TV presenter Kimberly Wyatt

Ashley James attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Broadcaster Ashley James

Gabby Allen attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
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Love Island winner Gabby Allen

Joseph Fiennes attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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The Handmaid’s Tale and Dear England star Joseph Fiennes

Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson

YouTube star Adeola Patronne attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
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YouTube personality Adeola Patronne

La Voix attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Britain’s Got Talent and Ru Paul’s Drag Race star La Voix

Ekin-Su Culculoglu attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Love Island star Ekin-Su Culculoglu

Christopher Chung attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Slow Horses actor Christopher Chung

Chloe Kelly attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
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England football star Chloe Kelly

Mr Bates Vs The Post Office star Monica Dolan attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Bafta. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
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Mr Bates Vs The Post Office star Monica Dolan

Ekin-Su Culculoglu attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Love Island star Ekin-Su Culculoglu

Jonathan Pryce attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Slow Horses actor Jonathan Pryce

Clara Amfo attending the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall, London. Picture date: Sunday May 11, 2025.
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Broadcaster Clara Amfo

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World

Terror group supporters posted on TikTok, YouTube and Google from site targeted in Indian airstrikes

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Terror group supporters posted on TikTok, YouTube and Google from site targeted in Indian airstrikes

Social media accounts expressing support for a Pakistan-based terror group linked to al Qaeda appear to have posted recent videos from a Pakistan mosque targeted by Indian airstrikes.

Sky News has found videos posted on TikTok, YouTube and Google that appear to be filmed at the Markaz Taiba Mosque in Muridke. The captions and usernames contain expressions of support for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a group called ‘313’.

Sky News has found and geolocated multiple videos that appear to be filmed in the area where the captions include either or both ‘313’ and LeT.

Some of the videos show men in the streets with guns. Another post captioned a video of children doing martial arts training inside the targeted mosque, “we are little soldiers, and we fight the non-believers”.

The caption of the video reads "we are little soldiers, and we fight the non-believers". It uses the hashtag '313' and uses the word 'mujahid' which means 'who does jihad'.
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The caption of the video reads ‘we are little soldiers, and we fight the non-believers’. It uses the hashtag ‘313’.

The caption uses the hashtag #جہاد313, which translates to ‘313’ jihad.

‘313’ appears to refer to the 313 Brigade, a proscribed terror organisation in Pakistan.

In a TikTok video posted to the Google page for Markaz Taiba Mosque in Muridke, a man can be seen walking along the street with a gun.

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The account that posted that video wrote in their description, “Lashkar Taiba, Mujahid Force, ‘313’ and Markaz Taiba Muridke”, self-proclaiming their support for the groups.

This screenshot from a Google user labels Lashkar-e-Taiba and ‘313’ and claims to be from Muridke.
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This screenshot from the Google user labels Lashkar-e-Taiba and ‘313’ and includes the location name Muridke

India’s retaliatory strikes on Pakistani-adminstered Kashmir and Pakistan on 7 May came after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month.

Gunmen opened fire on tourists, killing 26 people and injuring dozens in a popular holiday spot near Pahalgam, Kashmir, on 22 April.

LeT were accused by India of involvement in the Pahalgam attack through their proxy the Resistance Front, which claimed responsibility for the attack.

LeT, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN Security Council and the UK, focuses on fighting Indian control in Kashmir and is based in the Punjab region of Pakistan.

Pakistan denies allegations of terror camps operating in the country. This region has been in the control of the Punjabi government since 2010. The Punjab government condemned the Indian strikes, and declared a state of emergency across Punjab.

Muskan Sangwan, senior intelligence analyst at TRAC, a terrorism research and analysis consortium, told Sky News: “Brigade 313 is al Qaeda in Pakistan. It’s an umbrella organisation for members of several groups like Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Haqqat ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Jaish-e Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jundullah.”

Ms Sangwan explained that ‘313’ refers to the number of companions said to have fought with the Prophet Mohammed in the Battle of Badr.

TRAC have seen a recent uptick in TikTok videos and other social media posts that refer to ‘313’.

Many of the accounts are linked to each other.

Ms Sangwan said: “They [the TikTok users] mostly use ‘313’ as a hashtag… trying to push that hashtag to as many people it can reach on social media.”

Sky News sought to verify the location by comparing before and after videos from the strike location, and using the video released by the Indian army conducting the strike.

One video showing damage at the strike location was posted by a user with 313 in their TikTok username.

The TikTok account that posted video footage of the destruction of the mosque has 313 in their caption.
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The TikTok account that posted video footage of the destruction in Muridke has 313 in the username

Below is satellite imagery that shows the destruction of the site.

Satellite imagery shows Markaz Taiba Mosque after the strike on May 7th. Credit: Maxar.
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Satellite imagery shows Markaz Taiba Mosque after the strike on 7 May. Credit: Maxar

In one TikTok, the video is captioned “bring your arms and ammunition and go to war”. The text on the screen of the TikTok is ‘313’ and he is carrying a gun.

The group are comfortable with having an online presence. On the Google tag for Markaz Taiba Mosque in Muridke, men pose for a group photo. Almost all the people in the photo have used ‘313’ on TikTok.

Ms Sangwan explained: “With these people from Muridke, pushing this propaganda on social media would generate a lot of significance in terms of recruitment and in terms of gaining support from local people and from other people.”

Sky News’ Asia correspondent Cordelia Lynch has reported on the ground in Muridke.

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Anger in Pakistan after India strikes

India says it struck Markaz Taiba, a site in Muridke about 15 miles (25km) from the border, which has long been claimed to be a terrorist training site associated with LeT.

MEMRI, a US-based research group that monitors terrorist threats, told Sky News: “It has been known for decades that Lashkar-e-Taiba has its headquarters in Muridke.”

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Sky News contacted the Pakistan Ministry of Defence for comment. Khawaja Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister, told Sky News: “This appears to be a random video with background music added later – consistent with how TikTok trends often function. If this is to be considered credible evidence, we could produce millions of similar clips ourselves.”

Mr Asif also said that any suggestion that the mosque was used as a base by terrorists was a “completely false, social media made up hoax”.

On 7 May, after the strikes in Pakistan, the Indian subcontinent branch of al Qaeda issued a statement condemning India’s actions and encouraging its supporters to wage jihad against India.

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

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US

Bodycam footage shows ICE agents arrest Newark mayor Ras Baraka

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Bodycam footage shows ICE agents arrest Newark mayor Ras Baraka

Bodycam footage has captured the arrest of a US city mayor during a protest at a federal immigration detention centre.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was released from custody hours after he was detained on Friday, has denied trespassing during a confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

He was at the facility, which opened in the New Jersey city last week, with three members of Congress and witnesses said his arrest came after he tried to join them in entering the centre.

Ras Baraka has been released from custody. Pic: REuters
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Ras Baraka (centre) has been released from custody. Pic: Reuters

In bodycam footage released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an agent can be heard telling him: “Listen, congressmen are different, congresswomen are different.

“Mr Mayor, anyone that is not a congresswoman or man, step back… It’s your last warning. You will be placed under arrest.”

A heated argument broke out after Mr Baraka’s entry was blocked and he left the secure area to rejoin protesters on the other side of the gate.

Minutes later, several ICE agents, some wearing face coverings, surrounded him and others on the public side.

Mr Baraka was dragged back through the gate in handcuffs, as protesters shouted: “Shame.”

Protesters shout 'let him out' after mayor's arrest. Pic: AP
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Protesters shout ‘let him out’ after mayor’s arrest. Pic: AP

Alina Habba, interim US attorney for New Jersey, said on X that Mr Baraka trespassed at the detention facility, which is run by private prison operator Geo Group, adding he had “chosen to disregard the law”.

The DHS said in a statement that the politicians had not asked for a tour of the Delaney Hall centre, which the agency said it would have facilitated.

The department said that as a bus carrying detainees was entering in the afternoon “a group of protestors, including two members of the US House of Representatives, stormed the gate and broke into the detention facility”.

After his release on Friday night, the mayor told waiting supporters: “The reality is this: I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Mr Baraka, a Democrat running to succeed term-limited Governor Phil Murphy, has embraced the fight with Donald Trump‘s administration over illegal immigration.

Read more from Sky News:
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He has been a vocal critic against the construction and opening of the 1,000-bed detention centre, arguing that it should not be allowed to open because of building permit issues.

DHS said in its statement that the facility has the proper permits and inspections have been cleared.

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