'Great Day Of Celebration': How Iran, US, Bangladesh, France, Other Countries Greeted India On Republic Day
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 January 2026
President Droupadi Murmu leaves with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa from the Rashtrapati Bhavan for Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Parade, at Kartavya Path, in New Delhi. (@NarendraModi)
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• 'Great day of celebration': How Iran, US, Bangladesh, France, other countries greeted India on Republic Day
• Bhiwandi mayor will be Muslim, deputy mayor Hindu under pact of ‘secular front’: Cong
• Imam Forced to Resign After Exposing Man Watching Porn in Mosquein Melaka, Malaysia
• Republic Day 2026 Special: Did India Ever Invite Pakistan to Its Republic Day Parade?
• Iran at the Brink: Power, Protest, and a Reckoning with the Future
• Malaysia opens country’s first commercial SAF plant in Johor, marking major step in aviation decarbonisation
• Saudi Launches Smart Engineering Control Centre at Prophet’s Mosque
• US to step up coordination with Nigeria to pursue Islamic State group militants
• Mali's army conducts airstrikes on militant groups in southwest region
South Asia
• From the Bangladesh War to the Babri demolition—it wasn’t news until Mark Tully aired it
• No excuse for Ramadan price hikes: Bashir says
• As Muslim tourism grows, Japan rethinks where visitors can pray
• Higher imports raise hopes of stable food prices in Ramadan
• EU, Belgium Reach Deal with Islamic Emirate on Migrant Identification
• UK politicians welcome Trump’s retreat over British troops’ role in Afghanistan
• Heavy snow and rain kill more than 60 in Afghanistan
• 9 NTPC Officials, Engineers Leave Bangladesh Amid Attacks On Hindus
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India
• Kashmir’s Press Under Siege — and the Silence Is Deafening
• Only Bengali migrant Muslims being evicted from Assam: Himanta
• From corporator with least assets to AIMIM’s surprise leader in BMC
• ISF, TMC clash in Bhangar, one held
• Halal hustle: Muslim ventures target minority consumers
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Europe
• French lawmakers back EU terror listing for Muslim Brotherhood despite heated debate
• Concern as hate crimes at Scotland's mosques continue to rise
• Rochdale mosque is urged to rethink upgrade plans
• School to hold Ramadan awareness event for staff
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Pakistan
• Pakistan bolsters defense infra with purchases from China, Turkiye
• Pakistan struggling to afford food and education: Report
• Operation Sindoor: India's air dominance forced Pakistan to seek truce, says Swiss study
• Pakistan keeps inflicting wounds on J&K, attempted to destroy tourism: Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary
• Pakistan Players Called And Told T20 World Cup Plans On Hold. Their Reply
• UAE Drops Islamabad Airport Proposal After President’s Delhi Visit, Dealing Setback to Pakistan
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Mideast
• Israel agrees to 'limited reopening' of Rafah crossing as deadly attacks continue in Gaza
• Israel launches 'large-scale operation' to locate last hostage in Gaza
• Israeli fire kills three in Gaza, medics say, as US pushes deal
• Important developments in Palestinian society in ’48 Israel
• Palestinian man killed, child injured by Israeli fire in Gaza despite ceasefire
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Southeast Asia
• Details Of Malaysian Syariah Prosecution Department Being Finalised - Zulkifli
• Trust, Clear Roles Key To Success Of Mosque Youth Committees
• Sarawak’s investment-friendly environment draws US interest, says outgoing envoy
• MAINPP Denies Allegations Over Asnaf Aid, Land Acquisitions
• Ex-Army chief files police reports over leaked bank records and ‘Patek Philippe watch’ claims
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Arab world
• Sunni Endowments Council sign MoU for mosque construction in Muharraq
• Awqaf, MoEHE honour contestants in school calligraphy competition
• Awqaf Ministry to offer 360,000 iftar meals
• Sana’a officials visit shrine of Martyr of Qur’an in Sa'ada
• Capital holds meeting to prepare Ramadan program in al-Safiyah district
• Commerce minister meets Australian minister for trade and tourism in Riyadh
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North America
• After Trump strikes Islamist terrorists, US general travels to Nigeria with militants 'on the run'
• Victim in stable condition after shooting at Moncks Corner mosque, police say
• US military working with Nigeria as part of wider Islamic State pivot
• Winnipeg Muslim community comes together to support those in need
• CAIR-MN, Community Leaders to Demand State and Local Probes of Deadly Shooting of Alex • Pretti by Federal Officers in Minneapolis
• Police investigate shooting at Moncks Corner mosque, 1 injured
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Africa
• Minister warns APC against altering Muslim Muslim ticket
• It’s a concern – Ex-Speaker Dogara on Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027
• The legacy of Imam Abubakar Abdullahi (1936-2026)
• ADC calls for postponement of FCT Area Council polls, cites Ramadan period
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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'Great day of celebration': How Iran, US, Bangladesh, France, other countries greeted India on Republic Day
Jan 26, 2026
President Droupadi Murmu leaves with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa from the Rashtrapati Bhavan for Kartavya Path during the 77th Republic Parade, at Kartavya Path, in New Delhi. (@NarendraModi)
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Greetings from across the world poured in as India marked the 77th Republic Day on Monday. The day Several countries, including Russia, Bangladesh, Iran, China and Japan extended wishes to India as it commemorated the adoption of the Constitution, which came into force on January 26, 1950.
While Chinese President Xi Jinping reinforced diplomatic ties with its "good friend and partner" India, US President Donald Trump said that India and the US shared a “historic bond”. Meanwhile, Russian diplomats extended wishes in several languages such as Oriya, Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Assamese, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi.
Iran's foreign ministry extended wishes to the “friendly nation” of India on the 77th Republic Day. “The Islamic Republic of #Iran extends its warmest congratulations to the friendly nation and government of the Republic of #India on their Republic Day,” the ministry said in a tweet.
Iran, which has been witnessing widespread protests for nearly a month now, said that its government was determined to promote bilateral cooperation with India.
“We are determined to promote bilateral relations and cooperation in all areas that the two countries deem beneficial to our nations based on mutual respect and our common interests,” the tweet read.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Riaz Hamidullah, extended greetings on India marking the 77th Republic Day. “Bangladesh felicitates every woman-man-child in India on 77th Republic Day,” Hamidullah wrote in several Indian languages in a post on X.
The high commissioner's wishes to India come amid a strain in ties between India and Bangladesh over ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's ongoing exile in India, and protests led by several Hindu groups outside Bangladesh missions in India seen last month.
US President Donald Trump's message for India was shared by the American embassy on Monday. “On behalf of the people of the United States, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of India as you celebrate your 77th Republic Day. The United States and India share a historic bond as the world’s oldest and largest democracies,” Trump said in the message.
Newly-appointed US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, also extended wishes on Republic Day, saying he was honoured to attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. “Thrilled to see the U.S.-made aircraft soaring in the Indian sky, a powerful symbol of the strength of the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” Gor said in a tweet.
French President Emmanuel Macron also extended greetings, sharing a picture of himself with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from Republic Day celebrations in 2024.
"What a beautiful memory of #RepublicDay by your side in 2024! My dear friend @NarendraModi, dear Indian friends, all my best wishes on this great day of celebration. See you in February to continue building together!," Macron wrote on X.
Chinese President Xi Jinping heaped praise on the country's ties with India as he extended greetings on Republic Day. Jinping described India and China as “good neighbours, friends and partners”, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
He reportedly referred to China and India as the "dragon and the elephant dancing together," a phrase he has often used to describe the relations between the two countries.
Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, shared a video on Monday, with Republic Day greetings from several Russian diplomats in Indian languages - Oriya, Marathi, Malayalam, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Assamese, Sanskrit, Gujarati, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was one of the chief guests at the grand Republic Day parade at Delhi's Kartavya Path, shared a clip from the ceremony on X and said it was an “honor of a lifetime” to be a guest there.
Keiichi Ono, Japanese Ambassador to India, also extended warm greetings on the occassion. “Warm wishes on the 77th Republic Day of India. Looking forward to joining the celebrations, with the At-Home invitation received from the Hon'ble President of India -- a reminder of India's rich and diverse culture,” the official wrote on X.
Source: www.theguardian.com
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Bhiwandi mayor will be Muslim, deputy mayor Hindu under pact of ‘secular front’: Cong
Jan 26, 2026
Bhiwandi: Bhiwandi-Nizampur's mayor will be a Muslim and the deputy mayor a Hindu as part of a power sharing pact proposed by the newly formed Bhiwandi Secular Front, Congress has asserted.
The alliance, comprising Congress (which won 30 seats in the civic polls), NCP (SP) (12 seats) and SP (six seats), has claimed a clear majority in the 90-member Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation. BJP secured 22 seats, Shiv Sena 12, and Konark Vikas Aghadi and Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi four each.
Abdul Tahir Momin, Congress's district president and chairman of the front, said since his party has the most corporators, the mayor will be chosen from it. He said discussions will be held among alliance partners to decide the distribution of other key posts. He dismissed speculation that some winners were in touch with rival parties.
Leaders of the alliance said the parties' strong electoral performance was the result of coordinated efforts at the grassroots level. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh played a key role in mobilising support and ensuring the election of a maximum number of corporators from his party, Congress and NCP (SP). According to Shaikh, the objective behind forming the front was to ensure that a civic administration guided by secular values takes charge of the municipal corporation.
Meanwhile, BJP claimed it will muster the numbers required for majority. Its Bhiwandi president, Ravikant Sawant, said the party is working on forming an alliance with Sena's 12 corporators and one Independent —taking their tally to 35—and hopes to secure additional support from others.
Source: timesofindia.com
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Imam Forced to Resign After Exposing Man Watching Porn in Mosquein Melaka, Malaysia
By Simon Hamalienko
25 JAN 2026
A man was allegedly caught watching adult content in a mosque (Image: FACEBOOK)
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The footage was reportedly taken by an Imam at the mosque, Muhammad Adhan Adnan, who then confronted the man on December 27. Adnan was reportedly preparing to oversee a marriage when he noticed the man's actions.
However, the Iman claims he was later told to resign from his position after allegedly being told his actions and the footage being leaked online had tarnished the mosque's reputation.
The footage, which lasts for around two minutes, shows the man being caught in an office viewing the explicit content before a knock on the door sent him into a panic.
The rumbled man quickly switches to another site and proceeds to exit the room to confront Adnan, who allegedly the one who was filming at the time.
He was only aware of being recorded after Adnan knocked on the room's window, after which he hurriedly switched the screen's browser to another site.
He quickly denied any wrongdoing after being asked about the racy scenes on his screen. According to Malaysian media Berita Harian, the incident occurred at a mosque in Melaka.
Posted on an update on January 22, Adnan posted to his followers on Facebook that he has now resigned over the incident and lack of action towards the man.
He said: "There was no defence from the mosque for me as an Imam when other parties accused me, twisted the facts, and even cursed me for attempting to expose the misconduct taking place in the mosque."
According to Mothership, Melaka's State's Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Rahmad Mariman said the incident with the man would now be discussed next week after public outrage.
Source: www.dailystar.co.uk
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https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-man-found-watching-adult-36612340
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Republic Day 2026 Special: Did India Ever Invite Pakistan to Its Republic Day Parade?
By: Nisha Srivastava
January 26, 2026
Former Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru seen with Pakistan’s Former Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad (Source: Facbook)
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Republic Day 2026: Today, India is celebrating Republic Day with great enthusiasm. It is a very important day for the nation, as India adopted its own Constitution and became a sovereign republic. Its history is also closely connected with India–Pakistan relations, as both nations share a difficult and mostly hostile relationship these days.
This tension goes back to the Partition of British India in August 1947. Since then, the two countries have experienced deep mistrust, wars, disputes over Kashmir, and repeated instances of cross-border terrorism.
Relations worsened further after the 2019 Pulwama attack and India’s decision to remove the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Trade between the two nations is largely suspended, and diplomatic ties remain strained. However, a 2021 ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) is still holding.
There may be few questions in people’s mind that India ever invited Pakistan as guest on its Republic day or India ever had good relation with Pakistan.
Surprisingly, India once invited Pakistani leaders as chief guests at its Republic Day parade and this happened twice, in 1955 and 1965.
These invitations came at a time when Partition wounds and the first Kashmir war (1947–48) were still fresh. Yet, India’s then Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and later then Lal Bahadur Shastri chose symbolic diplomacy, hoping public gestures could help improve relations.
In January 1955, Sir Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Pakistan’s then Governor-General, attended Republic Day celebrations. That year, the parade shifted to Rajpath (now Kartavya Path).
He was an important early leader of Pakistan. A former ICS officer, he had been knighted by the British in 1946. After independence, he served as Pakistan’s Finance Minister and later as Governor-General.
However, his rule remains controversial. He dismissed Pakistan’s then Prime Minister in 1953 and dissolved the Constituent Assembly. Historians say these actions weakened democracy and strengthened executive and military control in Pakistan.
At the time, his presence on the dais carried symbolic value. Indian leaders believed such gestures could help “soften hardened attitudes.” Pakistan’s acceptance of the invitation also suggested a willingness to talk despite tensions.
Ten years later, in January 1965, Rana Abdul Hamid, Pakistan’s then Minister for Food and Agriculture, was the chief guest. He came from a powerful Punjabi landowning family with roots linked to Sindh and Rajasthan.
His visit was seen as an effort to stabilize ties through diplomacy. Both countries were quietly reassessing each other’s military strength.
But peace efforts collapsed quickly. By April 1965, Pakistan launched Operation Desert Hawk in the Rann of Kutch, leading to fighting. Soon after, Operation Gibraltar in August 1965 aimed to infiltrate Kashmir and start an uprising. This failed and triggered the 1965 India–Pakistan war.
These diplomatic gestures were debated inside India. Some leaders supported them. B.G. Kher believed ceremonial diplomacy could serve as a “soft bridge” for dialogue.
Others were cautious. C. Rajagopalachari warned India should not appear weak or compromise sovereignty. Diplomat K.R. Narayanan stressed that “ceremonial hospitality” should not lead to policy concessions.
The Times of India described such invitations as “measured gestures of civility,” but also noted public concern over border tensions.
Decades later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made bold gestures. In 2014, he invited Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to his swearing-in. In 2015, Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore and attended Sharif’s granddaughter’s wedding. These moves were symbolic but short-lived, as terrorism and tensions soon returned.
Some in Pakistan claim India never accepted Pakistan as a sovereign state. However, the Republic Day invitations of 1955 and 1965 show otherwise. These were public acts of diplomatic recognition.
India also granted Pakistan Most Favoured Nation (MFN) trade status in 1996, though Pakistan never returned the gesture. India withdrew MFN status in 2019 after Pulwama.
Recently terror attack in May 2026 follwed by Operation Sindoor was a major Indian military response launched in May 2025 after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that targeted tourists. India linked the attack to Pakistan-based terror groups and carried out precision strikes on infrastructure associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The operation reportedly targeted launchpads and camps across the Line of Control (LoC) and at select locations deeper inside Pakistan-linked territory.
Using advanced platforms such as Rafale fighter jets and SCALP cruise missiles, India followed what officials described as a calibrated and technology-driven approach. The action reflected a shift toward a “non-contact” warfare model, aiming to hit terror networks without large-scale troop mobilization. Indian authorities presented the operation as a message of strategic resolve signaling that cross-border terror attacks would invite direct and precise retaliation while trying to limit broader military escalation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Despite symbolic efforts, Pakistan’s security policies and support for cross-border terrorism repeatedly damaged peace efforts. The two nuclear-armed neighbours have often come close to serious conflict.
Today, those Republic Day invitations belong to a different time when leaders hoped ceremony and symbolism could reduce hostility, even though mistrust remained strong.
India invited Pakistani leaders to Republic Day in the past as peace gestures. But history shows that symbolic diplomacy alone could not overcome deep political, military, and ideological conflicts and the continuous terrorism activity across border streched the hostility between two nations.
Source: sundayguardianlive.com
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Iran at the Brink: Power, Protest, and a Reckoning with the Future
Kabir Taneja
Jan 26, 2026
Image Source: Getty Images
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The June 2025 strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran were a pivotal moment in the geopolitics of the Middle East, the undercurrents of which are still reverberating through the region. Recent protests in various parts of the country have brought to the forefront not just the deepening of political crevasses within the state, but the fallout of economic ones as well.
Many analysts, such as Ashkan Hashemipour, accurately trace the ongoing discontent to factors rooted in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which brought the then-exiled Ayatollah Khomeini back to power as the West-backed monarchy of Shah Reza Pahlavi was deposed. The current theological leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who has been in power since 1989, now faces an inflection point on both the identity and sustainability of that Revolution-led definition of the state. While the current protests may have been successfully suppressed, for Tehran to proceed with a sense of business as usual may no longer be viable.
The delivery of essential infrastructure — electricity, water, employment, healthcare, and education — remains fundamental to the relationship between power and people. Hence, it was no surprise that while Iran has been on edge for months, the push off the precipice came from two fronts: a water crisis and a currency collapse.
Managing public grievances while maintaining political power within the construct of sanctions — and the associated isolationism that comes with them — is a delicate balance. In November, reports of the Iranian capital, Tehran, running out of water spread rapidly. Iran’s blueprint, economic as well as political, is built around self-sufficiency, largely as a consequence of years under sanctions. However, Iran is also a country of over 90 million people, making sustainability — and the very politics of self-sufficiency — challenging. Political systems, at the end of the day, are not that different from one another when it comes to basic structures, such as cultivating a relationship between the public and the state. The delivery of essential infrastructure — electricity, water, employment, healthcare, and education — remains fundamental to the relationship between power and people. Hence, it was no surprise that while Iran has been on edge for months, the push off the precipice came from two fronts: a water crisis and a currency collapse.
Iran’s internal politics has always been an amalgamation of structures that often circle back to influence zones operating under the tutelage of the Revolution — meaning the complete power of the Ayatollah and the systems he and his predecessor, Khomeini, institutionalised since 1979. This was on display as Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, found himself between a rock and a hard place. Pezeshkian was elected as the only moderate candidate in the 2024 polls, which were held following the untimely passing of incumbent president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash the same year. During the protests, Pezeshkian sided with the regime’s narrative that the unrest was fuelled by external interventions by the US and Israel, while simultaneously suggesting that the state must accept that mistakes were made. This exposed the limits of the Republic’s electoral structure, especially given that Iran often highlights itself as the region’s only Islamic state that regularly conducts elections.
Today, the proverbial ‘moderatism’ itself appears as a severely bruised institution. This was not Pezeshkian’s first tryst with the uniquely translucent powers of his office. Last year, in the aftermath of US and Israeli bombing of Iranian nuclear installations — along with Israel eliminating many of Iran’s top military and intelligence leaders — Iran launched missiles towards the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military facility in the Middle East. Qatar, which enjoys good relations with Tehran and hosts a communication channel between the US and Iran, became an example of Arab Gulf powers caught in the regional crosshairs of the conflict. The attack on the base crossed a rubicon that Arab capitals have feared for a long time. Pezeshkian then found himself in an awkward posture, delivering a message of “regret” to the Emir of Qatar over Tehran’s missile strike on the US base, an attack carried out by his own state’s military.
Pezeshkian then found himself in an awkward posture, delivering a message of “regret” to the Emir of Qatar over Tehran’s missile strike on the US base, an attack carried out by his own state’s military.
Moving forward, things may not become easier for the Iranian establishment. Well before the current cycle of upheaval, Iran was already going through intense internal debates on the succession of Ayatollah Khamenei, who is now over 86 years old. While many of these deliberations were kept close to the chest by those populating the various circles of power that make up the Iranian system, two names surfaced in public discourse. First, the now-late Ebrahim Raisi, and second, Ayatollah Khamenei’s second-eldest child, Mojtaba Khamenei. The latter possibility has raised concerns of rankling the rank-and-file support of the Revolution, as it would make the transition appear as a hereditary, monarchical handover — something the Revolutionary ideology would not want association with, particularly at a time when pro-monarchists took to the streets following a call by Reza Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Iran, whom the Ayatollah had replaced.
Amid these calculations, the interests of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will also have to be factored in. The IRGC, operating exclusively under the Ayatollah’s authority, has proven to be both resilient and loyal to the system that created and nurtured it. Over the past few years, the IRGC has played a critical role in developing mechanisms to circumvent sanctions, enabling traders — a critically important constituency — to continue functioning. With deep interests in Iran’s political economy, the military unit has maintained its role and ensured that no collapse, particularly under its own weight, takes place.
The IRGC, operating exclusively under the Ayatollah’s authority, has proven to be both resilient and loyal to the system that created and nurtured it. Over the past few years, the IRGC has played a critical role in developing mechanisms to circumvent sanctions, enabling traders — a critically important constituency — to continue functioning.
Finally, an emotive push for the collapse of Iran would be deeply chaotic for both regional and international security, at a time when the global order itself has lost its bearings. The post-World War II order, anchored in several Western-led multilateral structures, is disintegrating at a rapid pace. While further strikes against Iran by the US cannot yet be taken off the table, how Iran manages its internal complexities will have a far greater impact on the future trajectory of this conflict than is currently being envisaged.
Source: www.orfonline.org
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https://www.orfonline.org/research/iran-s-tryst-with-its-future
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Malaysia opens country’s first commercial SAF plant in Johor, marking major step in aviation decarbonisation
26 Jan 2026
PASIR GUDANG, Jan 26 — Malaysia is cementing its leadership in sustainable aviation and energy transition with the launch of the country’s first commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant at Tanjung Langsat today.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad said the launch aligns with the Malaysia Aviation Decarbonisation Blueprint (MADB), which lays out a step-by-step roadmap to reduce carbon emissions from the aviation sector.
“The blueprint focuses on improving efficiency, enhancing sustainability practices, and promoting SAF as a future aviation fuel. Under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), the initial SAF blending target of one percent is important to create demand and support market growth,” she said in her opening speech during the inauguration ceremony of EcoCeres’ first SAF plant in Malaysia here today.
She highlighted that the SAF plant by EcoCeres Renewable Fuel Sdn Bhd reflects Malaysia’s strategy to position its commodity sector as a responsible national player, converting certified, waste-based biomass into high-value products.
“This initiative strengthens local supply chains, enhances downstream activities, promotes sustainability and transparency, and reinforces the long-term competitiveness of our plantation and commodities sector,” she said.
The facility has an annual licensed capacity of 350,000 tonnes and will produce SAF, renewable diesel, and other advanced bio-based products for domestic use and export.
Noraini said the project will create opportunities for Malaysian small and medium enterprises in biomass supply, logistics, and industrial services, supporting inclusive national growth. She added that the plant strengthens Malaysia’s position as a leading SAF producer in Asean while unlocking the full potential of local biomass resources.
The minister highlighted that the initiative demonstrates how Malaysia is aligning national policy, economic development, and environmental goals to build a sustainable, competitive, and low-carbon economy for the future.
EcoCeres began construction of its second biofuels production plant in Johor, Malaysia, in June 2023, and commenced operations in October 2025.
This state-of-the-art facility spans 105,830 square metres with a total production capacity of 420,000 tonnes per year for SAF, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), and renewable naphtha.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Saudi Launches Smart Engineering Control Centre At Prophet’s Mosque
26/01/2026
MADINAH, Jan 26 (Bernama-SPA) -- The Smart Engineering Command and Control Centre at the Prophet’s Mosque was inaugurated on Sunday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The launch by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah and
Chairman of the B ard of Directors of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Tawfig Al-Rabiah, coincides with the approaching holy month of Ramadan.
The inauguration marks a significant step in developing the service ecosystem for visitors to the holy mosques, enhancing operational efficiency and improving the experience of worshippers through the use of advanced technological and smart solutions.
The initiative aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in operational excellence and innovation. The authority stated that the smart engineering centre represents a transformative approach to monitoring the operational performance of services at the Prophet’s Mosque. It relies on interactive screens linked to digital operational data, covering assets, services, visitor feedback and compliance, thereby improving monitoring efficiency and accelerating responses
Source: www.bernama.com
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https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2516742
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US to step up coordination with Nigeria to pursue Islamic State group militants
26/01/2026
The US military is increasing materiel deliveries and intelligence sharing with Nigeria, Africom's deputy commander said, as part of a broader American push to work with African militaries to go after Islamic State group-linked militants.
The Pentagon has also kept open lines of communication with militaries in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, Lieutenant General John Brennan said.
The increased cooperation with Abuja follows Washington's diplomatic pressure on Nigeria over jihadist violence in the country, but also as the US military is becoming "more aggressive" in pursuing IS group-linked targets on the continent.
Under the Trump administration, "we've gotten a lot more aggressive and (are) working with partners to target, kinetically, the threats, mainly ISIS," Brennan said in an interview on the sidelines of a US-Nigeria security meeting in the Nigerian capital last week.
"From Somalia to Nigeria, the problem set is connected. So we're trying to take it apart and then provide partners with the information they need," he added.
"It's been about more enabling partners and then providing them equipment and capabilities with less restrictions so that they can be more successful."
Last week's inaugural US-Nigeria Joint Working Group meeting came roughly a month after the US announced surprise Christmas Day strikes on IS group-linked targets in northwest Nigeria.
Though both militaries seem keen on increased cooperation after the joint strikes, hanging over it all is diplomatic pressure by Washington over what Trump claims is the mass killing of Christians in Nigeria.
Abuja and independent analysts reject that framing of Nigeria's myriad, overlapping conflicts, which has long been used by the US religious right.
Charged politics were on display at the Joint Working Group meeting in Abuja, where Allison Hooker, the number three at the State Department, pushed the Nigerian government "to protect Christians" in a speech that did not mention Muslim victims of armed groups.
Africa's most populous country is roughly evenly split between a mostly Muslim north and mostly Christian south. Though millions live peacefully side by side, religious and ethnic identity remains a sensitive topic in a country that has seen sectarian violence throughout its history.
He also said that following the US strikes in northwestern Sokoto state, American support going forward would focus on intelligence sharing to aid Nigerian air strikes there, as well as the northeast, where a jihadist insurgency by Boko Haram and rival breakaway ISWAP has raged since 2009.
Analysts have been tracking US intelligence flights over the country in recent months, though some have questioned whether air support alone can push back armed groups that thrive amid widespread poverty and state collapse in rural areas.
US-Nigerian cooperation going forward will involve "the whole gamut of intel sharing, sharing... tactics, techniques, and procedures, as well as enabling them to procure more equipment," Brennan said.
The initial strikes targeted militants linked to the Islamic State Sahel Province group, typically active in neighbouring Niger, Brennan said.
The impact of those strikes so far has been unclear, however, with local and international journalists unable to confirm militant casualties.
In the Sahel more widely, Brennan said "we still collaborate" with the junta-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, which have broken away from their west African neighbours and largely shunned the West.
"We have actually shared information with some of them to attack key terrorist targets," he said. "We still talk to our military partners across the Sahelian states, even though it's not official."
"We are much more focused on getting capability to the right place at the right time and then leaving. We don't seek long-term basing in any of the western African countries."
Source: www.france24.com
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Mali's army conducts airstrikes on militant groups in southwest region
26/01/2026
The Malian Armed Forces have launched airstrikes against terrorist groups in the country's southwest, targeting a "significant movement" of militants near Mourdiah. The operation is part of an ongoing military campaign against insurgent groups that have plagued Mali since 2012.
The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) announced on Sunday that they have carried out a series of airstrikes targeting militant groups in the southwestern part of the country. The military action is the latest in a prolonged campaign against an array of insurgent factions that have destabilized Mali for over a decade.
In an official statement, the army said the airstrikes were conducted as part of a reconnaissance mission on Saturday. The operation focused on armed groups located southeast of the Mourdiah military camp, with the army reporting it successfully hit a "significant movement" of militants. The statement did not specify which particular terrorist organizations were targeted in the strikes, a common practice in the complex conflict landscape.
Mali has been embroiled in a severe security crisis since 2012, initially driven by separatist rebellions in the north that later evolved into a broader Islamist insurgency. The militant landscape is fragmented. In December 2024, five major armed separatist groups formed an alliance known as the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), seeking independence for northern regions. Simultaneously, the government is fighting al-Qaeda-affiliated groups like JNIM (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims) and the Macina Liberation Front (FLM), which it designates as terrorist organizations. The Malian state regards all these armed factions as threats to its sovereignty.
The conflict has seen evolving tactics. JNIM has recently retaliated against government policies aimed at cutting its supply chains, including a ban on fuel sales outside official stations in rural areas. The group besieged the capital, Bamako, in September and has conducted attacks on fuel tankers in an apparent bid to paralyze the city and pressure the military-led government. This government, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has dramatically shifted its foreign policy. It severed long-standing security ties with France, its former colonial power, and has sought closer military and political cooperation with Russia, reflecting a broader realignment in the Sahel region that is closely watched by international partners, including Türkiye.
Source: en.yenisafak.com
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South Asia
From the Bangladesh War to the Babri demolition—it wasn’t news until Mark Tully aired it
Shailaja Bajpai
25 January, 2026
For 20 years of the crucial history of the last century, Mark Tully was famously known as the ‘Voice of India’.
What is not often said is that he was the voice of India for Indians. As the BBC World Service Radio’s man in New Delhi from the 1970s into the 1990s, Tully told us what was happening in our country and the neighbourhood when All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan’s news bulletins only gave us the government version of events.
Be it the Bangladesh War in 1971, the 1975 Emergency before then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared him persona non grata, Operation Bluestar in June 1984 and Indira Gandhi’s assassination on 31 October 1984, we learnt about them from Tully on BBC World Service.
He reported for more than 20 years on events in India and the subcontinent from the 1970s to the 1990s. And we listened to him. Millions huddled around the radio set or transistor radios for the BBC World Service news bulletin at least once in the morning and once in the evening—just to learn what was happening in the world, and our world.
Although he reported on news and developments in India ranging from politics to agriculture, education to elections, Tully will be most remembered as the messenger of bad news. When things went wrong, when the going got tough, Tully got onto the radio and told us about it, in a grim, sombre voice.
What’s critical here is that we did not believe the news until ‘Tully sahib’ had confirmed it. Rumours abounded on the morning of Indira Gandhi’s death, but we waited until Mark Tully had announced it on the air before we accepted it.
Source: theprint.in
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No excuse for Ramadan price hikes: Bashir says
26 January 2026
Prices of essential commodities are expected to remain stable this Ramadan, and could even be lower than last year, thanks to higher supply and stability in domestic markets, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said yesterday.
Imports of essential commodities this year were on average 40 percent higher than last year, the adviser said at a press conference, citing Bangladesh Bank data on imports of widely consumed goods such as rice, wheat, edible oil, sugar, lentils, onion, garlic, grams, and dates.
He also mentioned government efforts to diversify the supply of edible oil, including the provision of 500,000 tonnes of rice bran oil sourced domestically, which is expected to positively affect local prices.
Other factors supporting price stability include improved gas supply for manufacturing units, a stable exchange rate, and healthy availability of US dollars in banking channels, he added. “Traders will have no excuse to increase commodity prices.”
The adviser said on top of these, the commerce ministry will continue to monitor the market alongside the Directorate of National Consumers’ Right Protection during Ramadan to prevent price manipulation.
Source: www.thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/news/no-excuse-ramadan-price-hikes-bashir-says-4090421
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As Muslim tourism grows, Japan rethinks where visitors can pray
26-01-2026
As Japan welcomes a growing number of Muslim visitors, a quieter but increasingly visible question is unfolding across airports, shopping malls and sightseeing hubs: Where can these travelers pray?
The number of foreign visitors to Japan hit a record last year, including those from Muslim-majority regions, drawn by the country's food, pop culture and seasonal scenery.
Between January and November last year alone, about 560,000 travelers came from Indonesia, 540,000 from Malaysia and 240,000 from the Middle East, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. For many, however, navigating daily prayer obligations in a country where dedicated facilities remain unevenly available detracts from an otherwise rich travel experience.
The issue it seems is less about building grand mosques than about flexibility. The Japan Tourism Agency has issued a guide for serving Muslim travelers, encouraging hotels, transport hubs and commercial facilities to designate quiet, clean spaces for prayer where possible.
In places where purpose-built rooms are not feasible, experts say that simple accommodations -- temporary partitions, clear signage or staff awareness -- can make a significant difference, helping Japan project an image of hospitality that extends beyond culture.
Source: japantoday.com
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Higher imports raise hopes of stable food prices in Ramadan
26 January 2026
Traders imported more food items during the July-December period last year than in the same period a year earlier, raising expectations of a stable market during Ramadan, which begins in the third week of February.
During the fasting month, demand for several food items, such as lentils, edible oil, chickpeas, onions, ginger, dates and sugar, usually rises.
Imports of these items totalled 26.64 lakh tonnes in the first six months of the current fiscal year (FY) 2025-26, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). This was up by 1.04 lakh tonnes, or 4.1 percent, from 25.6 lakh tonnes in the same period last fiscal year.
Source: www.thedailystar.net
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EU, Belgium Reach Deal with Islamic Emirate on Migrant Identification
26-01-2026
Belgium's state media has reported that representatives from Belgium and 20 other European countries, during a visit to Kabul, reached an agreement with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to cooperate in identifying the identities of migrants in Europe who are accused of crimes.
The media added that for the purpose of these discussions, the head of Belgium’s immigration office traveled to Afghanistan last week along with representatives from 20 other EU member states.
According to the report, during the talks, the Islamic Emirate agreed to cooperate in identifying individuals who are considered criminals by these countries.
Moeen Gul Samkani, a political analyst, said: “Previously, other European countries, including Germany, have done this. In my opinion, both countries, Afghanistan and Belgium, need such coordination and relations to resolve issues like this.”
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-197657
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UK politicians welcome Trump’s retreat over British troops’ role in Afghanistan
Matthew Weaver
Sun 25 Jan 2026
Donald Trump’s climbdown over his claim that UK troops avoided the frontline in Afghanistan has been greeted with cross-party relief in Westminster despite his failure to apologise for remarks widely condemned as offensive and false.
In a rare clarification, the US president praised British troops as being “among the greatest of all warriors” and acknowledged that 457 had died in Afghanistan.
“The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA). We love you all, and always will!” he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
His post came two days after he told Fox News that the US had “never needed” its allies in Afghanistan and that Nato troops had “stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines”.
Trump stopped short of apologising for his remarks, however, and did not clarify his comments about the role of other Nato troops in Afghanistan.
Source: www.theguardian.com
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Heavy snow and rain kill more than 60 in Afghanistan
January 25, 2026
SYDNEY — Australian authorities have issued heatwave warnings for most of the country as millions celebrate Australia Day on Monday, which also saw"Invasion Day" rallies in support of Indigenous Australians.
Temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, reaching the "high forties" Celsius in the southern states of Victoria and South Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
On Sunday, South Australia recorded temperatures as high as 48.5C, according to the bureau, which is warning of fire danger in parts of the country.
"While this is deeply disappointing for the community, performers and partners, community safety and wellbeing must come first," organisers said.
Aside from Victoria and South Australia, heatwave warnings have also been issued in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
"We haven't seen heatwave conditions like this in Victoria for almost 20 years," Tim Wiebusch, Victoria's emergency management commissioner, told ABC.
Source: www.theguardian.com
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9 NTPC Officials, Engineers Leave Bangladesh Amid Attacks On Hindus
By : Manoj Gupta
January 25, 2026
Reports from human rights organisations and government agencies indicate a sharp rise in targeted violence against minorities since the interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, took power in August 2024.
The internal instability has triggered sharp reactions from the exiled leadership. In her first address to a gathering in India since she came to the country in the wake of violent protests in August 2024, former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina blasted the Interim Government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
Source: www.news18.com
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India
Kashmir’s Press Under Siege — and the Silence Is Deafening
Sevanti Ninan
26.01.26
From one January to another, Kashmir remains one of the most thankless places in the world to be a journalist. However, up against the might of the Central government represented by the lieutenant-governor, who controls the police in Jammu and Kashmir, and intimidated by it in Delhi, where major newspapers are headquartered, both Kashmir’s elected chief minister and India’s mainstream press have fallen short of standing up or speaking up.
In January last year, while quashing the latest preventive detention order targeting journalists, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court described it as “malice-inducing and unlawful”. The owner of two newspapers in Jammu, Tarun Behl, was arrested in three criminal cases and served one preventive detention order in two months. The preventive detention order under the Public Safety Act was passed on the same day that he was granted bail in the third case in September 2024. The judge said that the sequence of events showed that the petitioner “was somehow being eyed upon to be a witch-hunt by the authorities”.
And this month, there has been a flurry of excited commentary after an Indian Express journalist in Srinagar, Bashaarat Masood, was summoned to a cyber police station for his reporting and asked to sign a bond in Urdu which said that he would not do anything that would disturb peace. The paper had published a story by him on January 13, billed as an exclusive, which said that in Kashmir police were seeking granular information on mosques and those who run them. It was described as a large-scale exercise to collect information on mosques and their imams, muezzins, the members of their management committees and their charity wings.
He was summoned to the police station the day after publication and three times thereafter, during which period the paper published a follow-up on January 16. Masood told the magistrate he did not know the reason for which he was being asked to sign the bond, following which the police took him back to the station. His last visit was January 19. His paper in Delhi reported it on January 21, saying that Masood had not signed the bond as asked by the police, and that The Indian Express was “committed to doing what is necessary to uphold and protect the rights and dignity of its journalists”.
Before The Indian Express’ statement was published, the story had been flagged on X and picked up and published by The Wire. In the interim, the police summoned a journalist of The Hindustan Times as well. The paper criticised the move in an editorial on January 22. The Hindu’s correspondent in Kashmir was apparently also summoned by the police, but was not in town. One does not know whether these newspapers will mount a further pushback against the government.
Source: www.telegraphindia.com
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Only Bengali migrant Muslims being evicted from Assam: Himanta
January 25, 2026
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday (January 25, 2026) said only ‘Miyas’ (a pejorative for Bengali-speaking Muslims) are being evicted from the State.
“Only ‘Miyas’ are evicted in Assam. How can Assamese people be evicted,” Mr. Sarma told reporters here, dismissing reports that anti-encroachment drives will be undertaken in the hills surrounding Guwahati.
Source: timesofindia.com
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From corporator with least assets to AIMIM’s surprise leader in BMC
by Manish Kumar Pathak
January 25, 2026
When the newly elected Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) convenes after a gap of four years, the eight corporators of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) will be led by 33-year-old Vijay Ubale — an unlikely leader for a party widely perceived as drawing its support primarily from Muslim voters and championing minority rights.
Ubale’s rise is as striking as his association with AIMIM. From a humble background and with limited financial resources, he won from Ward 140 — one of Mumbai’s poorest localities in the Mankhurd–eastern Chembur belt — largely on the goodwill he built over the years by teaching children and offering home tuitions in the area.
Ward 140, located in Govandi’s M-East ward, is among Mumbai’s most densely populated pockets. It includes Gautam Nagar, Niloni Nagar, Tata Nagar, the Deonar slaughterhouse area and parts of Shivaji Nagar. Nearly 70 per cent of the ward comprises informal housing and slum clusters near the Deonar dumping ground.
The 2026 municipal elections saw the Owaisi-led AIMIM make major gains across Maharashtra, winning 126 seats statewide, of which six were non-Muslim corporators. In Mumbai, the party’s tally rose sharply to eight seats from just two in 2017. Of AIMIM’s eight Mumbai corporators, seven are Muslim; Ubale, a Buddhist, is the lone exception.
Ubale declared total assets of Rs 1.5 lakh and an annual family income of around Rs 2.5 lakh. His affidavit lists six bank accounts — three with zero balance and the others with Rs 4, Rs 464 and Rs 2,265 respectively. Party workers said his campaign was sustained largely through support from friends, former students and local AIMIM cadres.
The contest in Ward 140 was closely watched. Prajyoti Handore, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Chandrakant Handore, was considered a strong contender but finished fifth. Candidates from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and Shiv Sena (UBT) came second and third respectively, while the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) candidate also failed to make the top five. Ubale emerged the winner, polling 4,945 votes and defeating the runner-up by 1,523 votes.
Source: indianexpress.com
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ISF, TMC clash in Bhangar, one held
Jan 26, 2026
Kolkata: Tension broke out at Kantadanga in Bhangar on Sunday morning, with ISF accusing TMC workers vandalising and hurling bombs at the home of an ISF neta. Trinamool, however, denied all allegations. Police said no complaint has been filed yet.
On Sunday morning TMC workers allegedly went to homes of ISF members in Kantadanga and threatened them. When ISF neta Wahidul Islam's parents and locals protested, an argument broke out. Allegedly, four bombs were hurled at Islam's house, and his parents were assaulted. TMC neta Khairul Islam said: "ISF is making false accusations."
Source: timesofindia.com
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Halal hustle: Muslim ventures target minority consumers
Jan 26, 2026
NEW DELHI: On most evenings in New York, or Delhi-NCR, Ruha Shadab sits across a laptop screen, explaining professional etiquette to a roomful of Muslim women. Some wear hijabs. Some don’t. What unites them is not appearance. They are learning how to enter professional spaces that were never designed with them in mind. The session is about LinkedIn summaries, interview posture and how to talk about ambition. Many are the first in their families preparing for formal work.
Far away in Jharkhand’s Garhwa, Nadim Iqbal Khan scans stock-market data on his phone. He’s checking which listed companies pass a religious test: No alcohol. No gambling. Limited debt. No interest-heavy income (Riba). Mohd Sufyan’s AzanGuru in Delhi beams Quran tutors into iPads — a technology-led learning app for modern learners.
And in Mumbai, Nidah Merchant devises “modest” outfits, empowering women to enter public pools or gyms without constant self-surveillance, even as Mohammad Saif Nadeem in Pune manages Qurbani bookings over WhatsApp.
None describe what they are building as “political” or as “resistance”. They’re solving ordinary problems — how to work, invest, dress, marry and practise faith in an urban, app-mediated life.
Muslim aspiration in India is usually framed through “lack” — less education, fewer jobs, lower incomes. That’s slowly changing. According to Periodic Labour Force Survey, India’s female labour force participation stood at about 31.7% in 2023–24. For Muslim women, it was around 21%, up from about 15% in 2021–22, according to ministry of minority affairs. These numbers shape decisions.
Source: timesofindia.com
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Europe
French lawmakers back EU terror listing for Muslim Brotherhood despite heated debate
By MATHILDA HELLER
JANUARY 25, 2026
France’s National Assembly has adopted the resolution to “place the Muslim Brotherhood movement on the European list of terrorist organizations,” despite accusations of Islamophobia from left-wing parties. The motion passed by a majority of 157 to 101 after a near-five-hour debate, the entirety of which was filled with heated arguments and across-the-board accusations of racism and bigotry.
However, from the outset, the Republican politician Éric Pauget, who is also rapporteur of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, stressed that the motion is focused on fighting radicalization and does not target Islam or Muslims.
“The Republic is not fighting a religion. It is fighting a movement; it fights the political Islamism of the Muslim Brotherhood, which serves as a bridge to radicalization and prepares the ground for terrorism,” he said. “From now on, the risk – recently documented by the report ‘Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islamism in France,’ presented to the National Defence and Security Council in May 2025 – can no longer be ignored,” he added.
Pauget explained that the Muslim Brotherhood movement is not a simple religious organization but a political movement aimed at making Sharia law triumph over the law of the French Republic (or any other democracy). He added that designating the Muslim Brotherhood is necessary for preventing the risks posed by its activities.
“Even if it is not directly visible, the danger it represents is very real,” he told the National Assembly. “It is therefore necessary to take operational measures to define, at the European level, a legal framework that will make it possible to fight implacably against the Brotherhood’s ideology by taking on a fight that is now urgently needed.
“Of course, this is in no way a question of targeting Islam or Muslims; we are exclusively targeting a political movement that instrumentalized religion for the purpose of conquering power and whose action is incompatible with the fundamental values of the European Union and France.”
Source: www.jpost.com
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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-884495
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Concern as hate crimes at Scotland's mosques continue to rise
By Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco
26-01-2026
A Muslim group has claimed that “little is being done” to curb rising numbers of incidents at Scottish mosques.
Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) told STV that the Scottish Government must do more to combat the spread of extremist content.
The comments by the UK-wide organisation come after Edinburgh Central Mosque was graffitied with the words ‘leave Scot’ and ‘get out of Scotland’ earlier this month.
The incident, which is being treated as a hate crime, is one of a number to have taken place outside mosques and Islamic centres in Scotland over the last year.
At the end of October, Glasgow Central Mosque said it was "deeply upset" to discover the words "Scots First" had been painted on the centre's external wall.
Source: www.heraldscotland.com
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https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25794997.concern-hate-crimes-scotlands-mosques-continue-rise/
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Rochdale mosque is urged to rethink upgrade plans
26-01-2026
Plans to upgrade a mosque in Rochdale should be redrawn to incorporate its history and the surrounding area, according to a building design expert.
Rochdale Council is currently considering an application from The Jamia Masjid Chashtiah Mosque, at 49-53 Milkstone Road, to redesign the front of the 154-year-old building, including replacement windows, the installation of solar panels, a canopy, and a minaret. It has also applied to render the front and rear of the site in white.
While the application is being considered for the former Co-operative building, which was build in 1872, Rochdale Council’s design officer has recommended that the plans are withdrawn and the mosque works with the council to incorporate a design in keeping with the current regeneration of Milkstone Road.
The report said: “Due to the errors within the submission and the weak, pastiche design approach that would result in a discordant addition to the street scene, I would advise the applicant to withdraw the scheme.
“It would be far more beneficial for any façade improvements to be developed in tandem with the planned regeneration works for the street, and in particular the emerging programme associated with the Milkstone Road / The Curtain Theatre.”
Work to improve the 100-year-old theatre includes painting the outside in its signature red colour, and new signs and lighting to improve its appearance.
Source: www.rochdaletimes.co.uk
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https://www.rochdaletimes.co.uk/rochdale-mosque-is-urged-to-rethink-upgrade-plans/
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School to hold Ramadan awareness event for staff
Shariqua Ahmed
26-01-2026
A secondary school is to host a Ramadan awareness development session to help a city's teachers better support pupils who observe the Islamic month of fasting.
The event on 5 February is being organised in partnership with the Muslim Council of Peterborough and Gladstone Community District Association (Gladca).
About 30 people attended last year's session to learn how schools could respond sensitively to the needs of pupils during the holy period, and organisers said demand for the event remained high.
Jon Hebblethwaite, head teacher at Jack Hunt Academy, said it supported its aim "to create a respectful environment where all pupils feel able to succeed".
Source: www.bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c394wll1ngmo
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Pakistan
Pakistan bolsters defence infra with purchases from China, Turkiye
By Shishir Gupta
Jan 26, 2026
New Delhi : Pakistan has acquired a large number of unmanned combat air systems, loitering munitions, kamikaze drones, anti-drone systems, long-range missiles, tanks, attack helicopters, main battle tanks, hovercrafts, corvettes and submarines from its key allies China and Turkiye, after India destroyed nine terror camps, radar sites and damaged 11 air bases during Operation Sindoor, according to people briefed on an assessment by Indian intelligence.
The acquisition, running into billions of dollars, is largely from China and Turkiye, even though Pakistan professes to be a key ally of US President Donald Trump and has articulated its intent to fight Hamas in Gaza. While Pakistan totally relies on all-weather ally China for its heavy weaponry and hardware, it has sought to cosy up to the US with private crypto deals and port projects. But unlike other US major non-NATO defence allies, Islamabad does not get penalized by Washington for arms purchases from US adversaries.
Citing intelligence inputs and assessment, the people mentioned in the first instance said Pakistan’s defence acquisition has accelerated post-Op.Sindoor with Rawalpindi GHQ purchasing 31 unmanned combat air systems (UCAVS) including one High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Akinci from Turkiye and 30 HALE Caihong CH-4 and CH-5 (modelled on the US Predator MQ-9B drone) from China. All 31 UCAVs, which have a claimed operational range of above 6,000km, are capable of firing air-to-air missiles and have laser-guided bombs and a flight ceiling over eight kilometres.
To be sure, while Pakistan is adding muscle to its armed forces, India has moved to the next level by adding teeth to its three services in the form of 200km range air-to-air missiles, long-range loitering ammunition, 280 more long-range (120 pieces) and short-range (160 pieces) missiles for S-400 air defence systems, 150-130km range rockets, conventional ballistic and cruise missiles, ship-based extended-range surface-to-air missiles and will soon introduce 800km range BrahMos missiles, which created havoc in Pakistan during Op Sindoor.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
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Pakistan struggling to afford food and education: Report
25 Jan 2026
Pakistan is struggling to afford food and education. A 20-year comparison of household consumption in Pakistan showcases a structural reallocation of funds towards fixing living costs instead of spending it on food, according to a new poll released by Gallup Pakistan, a report has stated.
Data from the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) reveals that the share of money spent by households on food reduced from 43 per cent to 37 per cent between 2005 and 2025. During the same period, housing and utilities have increased from 15 per cent to a quarter of household budgets, according to an editorial in Pakistan's leading daily The News International. Premium Content Subscription
An editorial in The News International stated, "Gallup analysis finds that, when viewed alongside weaker real incomes and evidence of declining food quantities, this trend likely reflects households cutting back on food consumption to cope with rising fixed expenses, like housing and utilities, rather than food becoming more affordable. This is also not the only analysis to find that Pakistanis are cutting back on food."
Source: www.thehansindia.com
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Operation Sindoor: India's air dominance forced Pakistan to seek truce, says Swiss study
January 26, 2026
The Indian Air Force (IAF) secured decisive air superiority over much of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, carrying out deep-penetration strikes that severely degraded Pakistan’s air combat capability and pushed Islamabad to seek a ceasefire within days, according to a detailed assessment by a Switzerland-based military think tank.
The 47-page report, Operation Sindoor: The India-Pakistan Air War (7-10 May 2025), authored by military analyst Adrien Fontanellaz, was published last week by the Centre d’Histoire et de Prospective Militaires (CHPM), an independent military history and strategic studies institution based in Pully, Switzerland.
The study concludes that Pakistan was effectively “coerced” into agreeing to a ceasefire after losing the ability to meaningfully contest Indian air operations during the four-day conflict from May 7 to May 10, 2025.
By the final phase of the engagement, the IAF had gained near-total freedom of action, enabling long-range precision strikes deep inside Pakistani territory. In contrast, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had lost the capacity to mount effective counter-attacks, the report says.
By the morning of May 10, Indian forces were striking targets well inside Pakistan using long-range munitions, including BrahMos and SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Pakistani air operations, meanwhile, were increasingly constrained by the degradation of forward surveillance radars and the threat posed by India’s S-400 air defence systems, particularly to PAF airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
According to the report, the conflict began on the night of May 7, when the IAF launched two coordinated strike packages involving Rafale and Mirage-2000 fighter jets. The targets included the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed in Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke.
Source: www.moneycontrol.com
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Pakistan keeps inflicting wounds on J&K, attempted to destroy tourism: Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary
January 26, 2026
Peerzada Ashiq
J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, while speaking at the Republic Day function in Srinagar on Monday (January 26, 2026), paid tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam attack and accused Pakistan of attempting to dent the tourism industry of the Union Territory (UT). He also expressed hope that the Centre will restore Statehood to J&K soon.
“I pay heartfelt tributes to the Pahalgam attack victims, who had come from different parts of the country. Pakistan has inflicted wounds on us. Pakistan’s actions resulted in loss of innocent lives and hit the economy of J&K. Pakistan also dented the tourism industry of J&K,” Mr. Choudhary said, while referring to the Pahalgam attack.
Source: www.thehansindia.com
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Pakistan Players Called And Told T20 World Cup Plans On Hold. Their Reply
by Rica Roy
January 26, 2026
The Pakistan Cricket Board has made it clear that naming a T20 World Cup squad does not equal a final commitment to play the tournament. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Pakistan players and head coach Mike Hesson in Lahore on Sunday, shortly after the 15-member squad was announced. The message from the top was consistent: Pakistan's participation in next month's T20 World Cup remains subject to the government's advice. According to a PCB release, Naqvi briefed the players on the broader context surrounding the ICC's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the BCB refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns.
Naqvi reiterated that Pakistan's stance is closely tied to developments at the government level, especially with matches scheduled across India and Sri Lanka. During the meeting, players threw their weight behind the board's position.
"We stand with you on whatever decision you and the government take," the players told Naqvi, backing the possibility of a boycott if advised by Islamabad.
Source: sports.ndtv.com
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UAE Drops Islamabad Airport Proposal After President’s Delhi Visit, Dealing Setback to Pakistan
by Ananya Pattnaik
January 26, 2026
In a significant setback for Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly abandoned its proposal to operate Islamabad International Airport, a plan that had been under discussion since August 2025, according to Pakistani media reports.
The development comes shortly after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s three-hour stopover in New Delhi, a visit that has drawn attention for its possible ripple effects on South Asia’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
Pakistan’s daily The Express Tribune, citing official sources, reported that the UAE has stepped back from the proposal after failing to identify a suitable local partner to whom airport operations could be outsourced, despite earlier expressions of interest.
Source: pragativadi.com
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Mideast
Israel agrees to 'limited reopening' of Rafah crossing as deadly attacks continue in Gaza
26 January, 2026
Israel said Monday it would allow a "limited reopening" of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt once it had recovered the remains of the last captive in the Palestinian territory.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Monday that Israel had agreed to a reopening for Gazans only, amid a continued blockade on the territory.
Gaza has suffered dire shortages of essentials such as food, shelter and medicine following Israel's siege on the territory in October 2023.
Source: www.newarab.com
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Israel launches 'large-scale operation' to locate last hostage in Gaza
January 26, 2026
NAHARIYA, Israel — Israel said Sunday its military was conducting a "large-scale operation" to locate the last hostage in Gaza, as Washington and other mediators pressure Israel and Hamas to move into the next phase of their ceasefire.
President Trump holds up his signature on the founding charter during a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland. The final makeup of the board has not been confirmed. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The statement came as Israel's Cabinet met to discuss the possibility of opening Gaza's key Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and a day after top U.S. envoys met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about next steps.
The return of the remaining hostage, Ran Gvili, has been widely seen as removing the remaining obstacle to moving ahead with opening the Rafah crossing and proceeding with the U.S.-brokered ceasefire's second phase.
Late Sunday, Netanyahu's office in a statement said: "Upon completion of this operations, and in accordance with what has been agreed upon with the United States, Israel will open the Rafah crossing." It gave no details on how long that would be, but Israeli military officials were quoted in local media as saying the operation could take days to complete.
Source: www.npr.org
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Israeli fire kills three in Gaza, medics say, as US pushes deal
26-01-2026
CAIRO: Israeli fire killed three Palestinians in two separate incidents in the Gaza Strip on Sunday (Jan 25), while an Israeli drone wounded four others in Gaza City, the territory's health ministry said on Sunday.
Medics said Israeli fire killed at least two people east of Tuffah neighbourhood in the northern Gaza Strip, and a 41-year-old man was killed by Israeli forces in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave.
Earlier, medical workers said an Israeli drone exploded on the rooftop of a multi-floor building in Gaza City, wounding four civilians in the street nearby.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/israel-fire-kill-gaza-us-pushes-deal-5881771
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Important developments in Palestinian society in ’48 Israel
January 26, 2026
By Paul Seligman
Palestinians are divided by Israel into many different spaces and regimes – Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank Areas A, B and C, and the descendants of those who managed to stay in what became Israel in 1948. That’s how the apartheid state works.
In the Palestine solidarity movement, we often overlook the situation of those in ’48 Israel. And they are regarded with suspicion by some of the Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza (in particular) and the West Bank.
On Thursday, Palestinian citizens of Israel, with a small number of Jewish supporters, demonstrated in the town of Sakhnin, in Northern Israel. The town itself held a rapidly organised General Strike.
Awad Abdulfatah, the former general secretary of the radical Balad party, said shortly afterwards that this was the largest Arab demonstration in the history of the State, exceeding 100,000 participants. Ha’aretz quoted “tens of thousands”, and said it was the largest such demonstration since 2019. The Times of Israel, which has the best English report, hedges its bets.
Whatever the size, it was certainly significant. A parallel, smaller protest was held in the southern city of Rahat, the centre of the Bedouin community in the Naqab/Negev.
Source: labourhub.org.uk
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https://labourhub.org.uk/2026/01/26/important-developments-in-palestinian-society-in-48-israel/
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Palestinian man killed, child injured by Israeli fire in Gaza despite ceasefire
Ramzi Mahmud
26.01.2026
A Palestinian man was killed on Monday by Israeli gunfire in the al-Tuffah neighborhood east of Gaza City, in an area from which Israeli forces had previously withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement, medical sources said.
In a related incident, sources said Israeli gunfire wounded a young girl, Badria Issam Saqr, in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Palestinians have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal, which halted Tel Aviv’s two-year war that has killed more than 71,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 171,400 others since October 2023.
Source: www.aa.com.tr
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Southeast Asia
Details Of Malaysian Syariah Prosecution Department Being Finalised - Zulkifli
26/01/2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Details on the establishment of the Malaysian Syariah Prosecution Department (JPSM) at the federal level are currently being finalised and will be submitted to the Cabinet for policy approval in the near future. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said that once policy approval is obtained, the proposal will be tabled at the National Council for Islamic Religious
Affairs (MKI), before being presented to the Conference of Rulers for royal consent.“The establishment of the JPSM is intended to serve as a specialised entity and reference centre for syariah crime prosecutions at the federal level, in addition to coordinating and standardising the implementation of syariah prosecutions nationwide, without affecting the autonomy and powers of the states, as provided under the Federal Constitution,” he said. He was responding to a question from Dr Ahmad Fakhruddin
Source: www.bernama.com
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https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2516762
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Trust, Clear Roles Key To Success Of Mosque Youth Committees
26/01/2026
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Jan (Bernama) -- The establishment of special youth committees at mosques is a strategic move to restore the mosque’s role as a centre for religious education, ummah (Muslims') development and the moral formation of the younger generation, said Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin.
He said the success of the initiative depends greatly on clear mandates, trust in young people and the courage to implement it meaningfully, so that it does not end up as a mere administrative structure that fails to instil a sense of ownership among youths.
In this regard, he said ABIM proposes that Mosque Youth Committees be given real roles in the planning and implementation of mosque programmes, rather than serving as symbolic appointments, and that mosques be shaped into youthfriendly spaces that educate and engage through wisdom, dialogue and continuous guidance.
“Additionally, youths should be empowered as drivers of dakwah (propagation) based on wisdom and community engagement, including through approaches such as the Mosque Tour Guide programme, which has proven effective in fostering understanding and harmony in a plural society,” he said in a statement heretoday. He said ABIM welcomes the government’s commitment to strengthening the role of youths in mosques through the proposed
Source: www.bernama.com
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https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2516847
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Sarawak’s investment-friendly environment draws US interest, says outgoing envoy
26 Jan 2026
KUCHING, Jan 26 — Sarawak has emerged as a strong regional player in renewable energy and a promising destination for long-term investment, said United States Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan.
He said the state is well positioned to play a leading role in the renewable energy and hydrogen economy, and that through collaboration with US companies, supported by advanced technology and expertise, this could further accelerate the state’s development ambitions.
According to him, American companies possess the skills and technologies that could potentially contribute to Sarawak’s long-term vision, although investment decisions ultimately rest with the companies themselves without government intervention.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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MAINPP Denies Allegations Over Asnaf Aid, Land Acquisitions
26/01/2026
GEORGE TOWN, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- The Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) has denied claims circulating on social media alleging misuse of special aid and land acquisitions by Zakat Pulau Pinang (ZPP). In a statement today, MAINPP secretary Datuk Rosidi Hussain said the council will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone spreading defamatory claims against MAINPP or its president, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, to protect Islamic institutions and the interests of the Muslim community in Penang. He said RM178,368 in special assistance was approved to settle the housing loan of a poor asnaf recipient facing critical health issues and heavy family dependents, in line with maqasid syariah principles. Payments were made directly to the housing account under the name of the deceased’s wife to secure the family’s residence
Source: www.bernama.com
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https://www.bernama.com/en/general/news.php?id=2516971
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Ex-Army chief files police reports over leaked bank records and ‘Patek Philippe watch’ claims
26 Jan 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — Former Army chief Gen Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan today lodged two police reports over the leakage of his banking documents and defamatory statements circulated by an activist on social media.
His lawyer, Aizul Rohan Anuar, said the first report concerned the disclosure of confidential documents, including banking accounts and Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) documents classified as secret.
He said bank statements were protected documents under Section 133 of the Financial Services Act (FSA) and should not be disclosed to the public.
“We do not know whether they were leaked by the banking institution, which is why Tan Sri lodged a report for the police to investigate who leaked them.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Arab world
Sunni Endowments Council sign MoU for mosque construction in Muharraq
26 Jan 2026
Manama, Jan. 26 (BNA): Shaikh Dr. Rashid bin Mohammed bin Futtais Al Hajri, Chairman of the Sunni Endowments Council, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the Aisha Ahmed Saqr Al Marri Mosque in Muharraq Governorate.
Shaikh Dr. Al Hajri said mosques play a key role in shaping balanced and responsible individuals through their social, educational, and community contributions. He commended the support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in facilitating mosque construction and addressing challenges facing such charitable projects.
He also emphasised the importance of joint efforts by individuals and institutions in supporting places of worship projects, reflecting the spirit of community partnership and charitable giving for which the Kingdom is known.
Source: www.bna.bh
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https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2bDmBiQJic0MK0PPG3Zq%2fjc44%3d
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Awqaf, MoEHE honour contestants in school calligraphy competition
January 26, 2026
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), honoured students who participated in the second school Arabic calligraphy competition, ‘Al-Raqeem’, for the year 2025, in recognition of their efforts and distinguished participation.
The competition targeted male and female students from both public and private schools.
The honouring ceremony was attended by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanim al-Thani and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuaimi along with a number of educators and members of the ‘Al-Raqeem’ competition committee.
The Undersecretary of Awqaf praised the integrative partnership between the two ministries, affirming that the ‘Al-Raqeem’ competition represents a successful model of institutional co-operation aimed at instilling aesthetic and educational values among students. He noted that the initiative strengthens students’ connection to the Holy Qur’an and Arab-Islamic identity through an authentic visual art Arabic calligraphy.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education commended the efforts of the organising committee, emphasising that integrating traditional arts into the educational process contributes to the development of students’ aesthetic sensibilities and the reinforcement of moral and human values. He added that the wide participation witnessed in the competition reflects its success and the strong engagement of the educational field.
The second edition of the school Arabic calligraphy competition, which launched in October and continued through December 2025, saw the participation of 479 male and female students from 24 public and private schools at the preparatory and secondary levels. This included four schools for students with disabilities, for both boys and girls – an important step reflecting the inclusivity of the competition and the breadth of its educational impact.
Source: www.gulf-times.com
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Awqaf Ministry to offer 360,000 iftar meals
26 Jan 2026
Sanaullah Ataullah
Doha, Qatar: The General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced the launch of the Iftar Al-Sa’im (Iftar for the Fasting) project for the holy month of Ramadan 2026 at a press conference held yesterday at its headquarters.
The project has expanded to nine iftar tent sites in densely populated and labour areas, serving more than 360,000 fasting individuals throughout the holy month.
The Iftar Al-Sa’im project is one of the most prominent endowment-based and community initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs during Ramadan, under the Endowment Fund for Righteousness and Piety.
The project aims to reinforce the values of social solidarity and compassion, fulfil the conditions set by endowers, provide humanitarian support to workers and individuals in need, and help fasting individuals observe Ramadan in a dignified, well-organised environment.
Addressing the press conference, Assistant Director-General of General Directorate of Endowments and Chairman of the Iftar Al-Sa’im Project Committee Eng Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Mir, affirmed that the project represents one of the ministry’s most important annual community initiatives due to its religious, humanitarian, and social dimensions.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/26/01/2026/awqaf-ministry-to-offer-360000-iftar-meals
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Sana’a officials visit shrine of Martyr of Qur’an in Sa'ada
25 Jan 2026
Sa'ada – Saba: Officials from education and youth sectors in Sana’a governorate visited on Sunday the shrine of the Martyr of the Qur’an, Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi, in Marran district of Sa'ada governorate, to mark the anniversary of his martyrdom.
The delegation recited Qur’anic verses and offered prayers, reaffirming commitment to the Qur’anic path and the values upheld by the Martyr of the Qur’an. The visit also included Jarf Salman, where he was martyred, and several shrines and cemeteries of martyrs in Saada and neighboring governorates, emphasizing lessons of sacrifice, steadfastness, and resistance.
Source: www.saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3634792.htm
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Capital holds meeting to prepare Ramadan program in al-Safiyah district
25 Jan 2026
Sana’a – Saba:A broad meeting was held in al-Safiyah district of Capital Sana'a to mobilize and prepare for the implementation of Ramadan program activities.
The meeting stressed the importance of early preparation, community participation, and maximizing the spiritual and social values of Ramadan through charitable activities, awareness programs, and Qur’anic culture.
Participants reviewed guidance for implementation, roles of mobilization committees, and coordination between official and community bodies to ensure the success of the Ramadan program across neighborhoods in the district.
Source: www.saba.ye
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Commerce minister meets Australian minister for trade and tourism in Riyadh
January 25, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi said he met with Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell on Sunday, during the latter’s first visit to the Kingdom since assuming office.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed “ways to enhance trade relations and enable the private sector to benefit from promising opportunities available in both countries across various sectors,” Al-Kassabi said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Prince Albert II of Monaco was seen off at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airpor by Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and several other officials.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2630601/saudi-arabia
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North America
After Trump strikes Islamist terrorists, US general travels to Nigeria with militants 'on the run'
By Paul Tilsley
January 25, 2026
FIRST ON FOX: In Nigeria, Fox News Digital has been told terrorists are ‘on the run’ following U.S. strikes last month aimed at stopping the killing of Christians in Africa’s most populous country, this as a senior official from U.S. Africa Command visited Nigeria this week.
According to the recently released persecution watchdog Open Doors World Watch List, three out of every four Christians killed for their religion worldwide have been murdered in Nigeria. It is said to average out that one Christian is killed there every two and a half hours.
Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump confirmed, "In Nigeria we’re annihilating terrorists who are killing Christians. We’ve hit them very hard. They’ve killed thousands and thousands of Christians."
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John W. Brennan, deputy commander, U.S. Africa Command, arriving in Nigeria this week for talks with the Nigerians on advancing coordinated efforts to improve security conditions and protect vulnerable communities across Nigeria. (U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Tucceri)
Source: www.foxnews.com
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Victim in stable condition after shooting at Moncks Corner mosque, police say
by Perrin Moore
January 25, 2026
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — A person was shot and injured at a mosque in Moncks Corner Sunday afternoon, according to local police.
Moncks Corner Police Chief Antwan Richardson said that around 12 p.m. on Sunday, MCPD responded to a report of a shooting at the Muhajirun Wal Ansar Mosque. The person who called it in reported that they had been shot, he added.
Officers arrived to find the victim, a male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Richardson. They were transported by EMS to Trident Hospital and are currently in stable condition, according to the chief.
Source: abcnews4.com
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US military working with Nigeria as part of wider Islamic State pivot
26/01/2026
The Pentagon has also kept open lines of communication with militaries in the junta-led Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali, Lieutenant General John Brennan said.
The increased cooperation with Abuja follows Washington's diplomatic pressure on Nigeria over jihadist violence in the country, but also as the US military is becoming "more aggressive" in pursuing IS-linked targets on the continent.
Under the Trump administration, "we've gotten a lot more aggressive and (are) working with partners to target, kinetically, the threats, mainly ISIS," Brennan said in an interview on the sidelines of a US-Nigeria security meeting in the Nigerian capital last week.
"From Somalia to Nigeria, the problem set is connected. So we're trying to take it apart and then provide partners with the information they need," he added.
"It's been about more enabling partners and then providing them equipment and capabilities with less restrictions so that they can be more successful."
Source: www.france24.com
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Winnipeg Muslim community comes together to support those in need
By Sofia Frolova
January 25, 2026
Members of Winnipeg’s Muslim community gathered Sunday afternoon to prepare meals and collect donations aimed at helping people cope with the cold and food insecurity.
The event took place at a building operated by the Manitoba Islamic Association, where volunteers prepared food and gathered clothing and non-perishable items for people in need.
Donations from the event will be provided to the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute and Main Street Project, while some non-perishable food items will be donated to Harvest Manitoba. Local restaurants and businesses also contributed to the initiative.
Source: winnipeg.citynews.ca
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https://winnipeg.citynews.ca/2026/01/25/winnipeg-muslim-community/
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CAIR-MN, Community Leaders to Demand State and Local Probes of Deadly Shooting of Alex Pretti by Federal Officers in Minneapolis
January 25, 2026
On Monday, January 26, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), along with community organizations and leaders, will hold a news conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis to demand that state and local law enforcement authorities investigate the killing of Alex Pretti by federal officers.
Video shows Pretti being shot yesterday after he tried to defend a woman who had been shoved to the ground by the federal officers. Many angles of video show that he never touched his weapon, which he was reportedly carrying legally, and which was shown being removed by an officer from a holster in his back belt moments before he was shot repeatedly while motionless on the ground.
CONTACT: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Executive Director, CAIR-MN — 612-408-7183, sadan@cair.com
Source: www.cair.com
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Police investigate shooting at Moncks Corner mosque, 1 injured
By Zachary Bordner
Jan. 25, 2026
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) — The Moncks Corner Police Department, with help from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating a shooting at a mosque in Moncks Corner on Sunday.
Moncks Corner Police responded to the report of a shooting at 12 p.m. at the Muhajirun Wal Ansar Mosque in Moncks Corner. The caller had indicated they had been shot, according to Chief Antwan Richardson.
Officers arrived at 12:02 p.m. and located the victim with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital by EMS and is currently in stable condition.
Source: www.wistv.com
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https://www.wistv.com/2026/01/25/police-investigate-shooting-moncks-corner-mosque/
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Africa
Minister warns APC against altering Muslim Muslim ticket
January 26, 2026
Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has said any move to drop Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ahead of the presidential election in 2027, could negatively affect the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In an interview on MIC ON, a podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, Musawa, who spoke against the backdrop of speculations that the ruling party was considering replacing Shettima with a Christian running mate for President Bola Tinubu in 2027, warned that altering the religious and regional balance of the current ticket could pose electoral risks for the APC.
She said such discussions reflected a poor understanding of northern political dynamics, describing politics in the region as deeply rooted in identity and civic participation.
Musawa said the north played a decisive role in Nigeria’s political calculations, particularly due to what she described as its long-standing political awareness and engagement.
Source: www.vanguardngr.com
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https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/minister-warns-apc-against-altering-muslim-muslim-ticket/
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It’s a concern – Ex-Speaker Dogara on Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2027
By Francis Ugwu
January 25, 2026
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has suggested that the issue of a possible Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2027 should be approached with caution in the interest of national unity and inclusiveness.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Sunday, Dogara stressed the need for balance in governance, saying Nigeria must be run in a way that accommodates people of different religious backgrounds.
Dogara stated that if Nigerians are discussing rotational presidency, there should also be room to discuss religious balance, describing it as a matter of justice.
The former Speaker acknowledged that conversations on the 2027 presidential ticket are already ongoing, noting that sitting presidents usually secure their party’s nomination.
Source: dailypost.ng
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https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/25/its-a-concern-ex-speaker-dogara-on-muslim-muslim-ticket-in-2027/
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The legacy of Imam Abubakar Abdullahi (1936-2026)
by Peter Anayo
January 26, 2026
As Nigeria continues to grapple with existential security challenges and the elusive search for lasting peace, harmony and stability, the recent death of prominent cleric, the Imam of Gindin Akwati community in the Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau state, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi at a ripe age of 90 years, is not only a monumental loss to his immediate family, community, and Plateau State but the nation at large.
But rather than remain in deep grief, we believe that the passing of the Islamic spiritual leader should serve as a wake up to community, religious and political leaders to emulate the cleric’s remarkable service to his people and all those who encountered him as well as his steadfast commitment to peace, unity, and the protection of the vulnerable in the society, including women and children notwithstanding their tribe or creed.
It would be recalled that the late Imam Abubakar shot into national and global limelight in 2018 when he singlehandedly sheltered over 262 Christians in his mosque and residence from the rampaging Fulani bandits during the communal strife that engulfed several villages in Barkin Ladi council, thereby demonstrating exceptional bravery even at great risk to his life, until the killing was brought under control by security forces. Sadly, however, no fewer than 80 innocent lives were wasted in that massacre.
In other words, but for the courageous and timely intervention of the extraordinary cleric, those he hid under his roof would have suffered the same fate that befell the Birom victims, who were hunted by blood thirsty Islamic zealots. His action was certainly in line with his ardent belief in the sanctity of human life.
Regrettably, however, his shining example is the direct opposite of the violent attitude of Islamic fanatics and jihadists in Boko Haram and Islamic State West African Province, ISWAP, who have been waging a religious war against their fatherland since 2009, a conflict that has claimed hundreds of lives and property worth billions of naira in northern Nigeria.
It is our strong view, therefore, that the late Imam’s exemplary leadership and legacy of promoting interfaith harmony, peaceful co-existence, safeguarding lives as well as building bridges of forgiveness, compassion, and empathy among diverse communities across Plateau state and beyond that earned him both national and international recognition.
This should be emulated by all Nigerians for the nation to achieve the much-needed enduring peace, unity and stability which are essential for any meaningful socio-economic and technological development.
However, we note with serious concern that over 65 years after attaining independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, the most populous black nation on earth continues to be plagued by such divisive tendencies as tribalism, religion and nepotism despite embracing the federal character principle in federal appointments and admission of students into national secondary and tertiary institutions.
Source: championnews.com.ng
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https://championnews.com.ng/2026/01/26/the-legacy-of-imam-abubakar-abdullahi-1936-2026/
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ADC calls for postponement of FCT Area Council polls, cites Ramadan period
by Peter Anayo
January 25, 2026
Barely three weeks to the polls, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, citing the coincidence of the scheduled election date with the holy month of Ramadan.
In a letter dated January 22, 2026, signed by the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the ADC emphasised that the election date falls within a period of significant cultural and religious importance, which may impact voter participation.
The party stated that the Ramadan period is likely to be observed by a substantial portion of the electorate in the FCT, and as such, it is necessary to reconsider the election date to ensure active participation by all eligible voters.
The ADC’s request is aimed at promoting inclusivity in the electoral process, allowing all eligible citizens, regardless of faith, to exercise their constitutional rights without disadvantage or constraint.
The party’s letter to INEC highlighted the importance of respecting the social and religious realities of the electorate, emphasising that electoral legitimacy is enhanced when processes encourage broad participation.
Source: championnews.com.ng
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/iran-bangladesh-france-us-etc-greet-india-republic-day/d/138595