Maulana Arshad Madani Urges Muslims To Reach Out To People Of Other Faiths, Promote Harmony
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 July 2026
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani
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• Maulana Arshad Madani urges Muslims to reach out to people of other faiths, promote harmony
• Balochistan 'Declares Independence' From Pakistan: What It Means For China's $60-Billion CPEC Project
• Iran’s culture minister: Iranians will not be brought to standstill by missiles and bombardment
• Security forces foil suspected suicide bombing near Afghan border, says state media
• ‘Do not forget’: Anwar urges Malaysian youth to remember struggle for independence
• Saudi Arabia condemns continued Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan
• Islamophobia is harmful: Muslims call for more funding, new action to fight hate
• The toll of hate: Muslim community responds to violent attack
• Tinubu’s scorecard is 139 million Nigerians in poverty; he should resign, not seek re-election: ADC
India
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar accuses CPI(M), IUML of spreading fear over Waqf Act
• Security stepped up outside Aamir Khan’s home after alleged Bishnoi gang threat
• BJP Starts Outreach Campaign In Muslim-Dominated Assembly Seat Of Manipur
• ‘The Once and Future Riot’: On Joe Sacco’s new book (and a conversation with him) on Muzaffarnagar
• Sham-e-Ghariban: A global Muharram tradition with roots in Lucknow
• Kerala may reconstitute Waqf Board after High Court verdict, says minister
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Pakistan
• Is Pakistan Reverting to Its Old Terror Playbook?
• Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade plunges to USD 367 million
• Pakistan reviews diplomatic initiatives as US-Iran war intensifies
• 1st LoC firing since Operation Sindoor as Pakistan targets Rajouri posts
• Pakistan's search for a past beyond Hinduism
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Mideast
• US aggression against Iran ‘gross violation of UN Charter’
• Iranian Army continues drone strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait
• Leader issues statement on recent internal developments, Iran-US clashes
• Pezeshkian: Leader’s wise message foremost pillar of national interests
• Maj. Gen. Abdollahi: We will respond to any act of enemy brutality
• Leader hails Iraqis for attending Ayt. Khamenei funeral rites
• Turkish migrant invokes Sharia Law, assaults flight attendant after being assigned to sit next to a woman on German flight
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South Asia
• Chinese roots, Muslim siblings, Catholic in-laws: One Singaporean's multicultural story
• Samsung supplies HVAC to Saudi mosques in B2B push
• New health center inaugurated in eastern Afghanistan
• UN warns of acute food insecurity in Afghanistan
• Afghan athlete wins bronze at Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships
• July Charter implementation debate should end: Mirza Fakhrul
• From Maradona to Messi: Bangladesh’s enduring love for Argentina
• Why Adani power remains Bangladesh's costliest electricity import
• Afroza launches ‘One Child, One Tree’ programme
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Southeast Asia
• ‘No excuses’: Anwar to explain KWAP’s RM200m eFishery investment loss in Dewan Negara tomorrow
• Zizie Izette to learn verdict tomorrow in RM2.8m corruption abetment case
• ‘Win, but not by breaking the law’: Loke urges road safety during Negeri Sembilan campaign
• Putrajaya to Muar: Syed Saddiq says RM650,000 raised after completing 170km charity run
• ‘Thanks for the help’: Loke says MCA’s retreat boosts DAP in three Negeri Sembilan seats
• Ministry: Nearly 173,000 companies register for subsidised diesel scheme nationwide, covering 465,000 vehicles
• Azalina: Over US$1.37b in 1MDB-linked assets returned by US, more still tied up overseas
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Arab world
• MWL Secretary General Meets Leaders of Islamic Organizations in New Zealand
• Qatar supports Quran recitation, memorisation in Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Awqaf publishes book on biography of Abu Bakr Al Siddiq
• Mohamed Imam resumes filming “Shams Al-Zanati 2” at the end of this week.
• Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Algerian president over orphanage fire
• Saudi envoy joins GCC, Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with US Undersecretary of State
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Europe
• Courts are the last defence against tyranny
• Sheffield could run out of Muslim burial plots within just two years
• Video depicting Italy's Meloni as speaking out against sharia law is AI-generated
• UK founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism challenges coreligionists to fight rising hate
• 13th arrest after terror threat against Barham Islamic event
• Suffolk Islamic event threat probe continues as eight men released
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North America
• ‘Sharia Is Already Here,’ Speaker Tells Plano Mosque Open House
• Government recognises pondok, religious schools as strategic partners
• Leader: MoU violation once again proved worthlessness and unreliability of U.S. president’s signature
• US forces warned not to waste a single second before fleeing
• Fantastic Studios Announces Sunni Lee Documentary
• Bronx street renamed for NYPD detective killed in Midtown office shooting
Choosing humanity in divided times
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Africa
• Kwara reaffirms commitment to reducing teenage pregnancy
• POWA reaffirms commitment to members’ welfare
• Flooding: Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu place emergency response agencies on alert
• 2027: Group asks ADC, Atiku to drop Amaechi as vice-presidential candidate
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Maulana Arshad Madani urges Muslims to reach out to people of other faiths, promote harmony
By: Nitish K Singh
Jul 19, 2026
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani
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Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani on Saturday appealed to Muslims to help dispel misconceptions about their community and counter communalism by easing the hardships of their non-Muslim neighbours. Addressing the Hindu-Muslim Ittehad Conference, he urged Muslims to reach out to people of other faiths and convey Islam's message of love, affection and tolerance.
Madani called on the Muslim community to invite their non-Muslim brethren to local madrassas at least once a year to counter what he described as propaganda against Muslims. He said they should explain what is taught in madrassas and share the Muslim way of life, principles and beliefs so that misunderstandings can be removed.
Alleging a rise in communalism in the country, Madani said that while Muslims had suffered harm during the tenures of the Congress and other governments, Islam itself was never targeted then. “However, in the current time, not only are Muslims being targeted, but their religion, beliefs and principles are also coming under attack,” he said.
He asked Muslims to reflect the true spirit of Islam by standing with their non-Muslim brethren in both joy and sorrow and by trying, to the best of their ability, to resolve their difficulties. “The fire of hatred cannot be extinguished with more hatred,” he said, adding that it can only be “doused by the waters of love, affection and brotherhood”.
Madani also called upon every true Indian to foster an atmosphere of love and harmony to counter sectarianism. According to him, the atmosphere in the country can improve only if Muslims embrace the true spirit of Islam and convey a message of brotherhood through their character, lifestyle and actions. He added that if Islam had preached killing and oppression, it would not be the fastest-growing religion in the world.
Speaking to reporters later, Madani also commented on several current issues. Referring to the protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the paper leak, he said the matter should be resolved with a sympathetic approach as it concerns the future of lakhs of young people.
On the Rampur Development Authority’s order to demolish Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, he said the action was completely wrong. “I believe that Jauhar University should continue to exist; demolishing it is wrong,” he said. He added that if any formalities were missed or there were flaws in the university’s construction, the government could impose a fine, but the institution should not be razed because thousands of students study there and their futures are at stake.
On the Supreme Court’s proposal for mediation between Hindu and Muslim parties in the Varanasi Gyanvapi case, Madani said nothing can be done if both sides are unwilling to engage in dialogue.
The event was also addressed by Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, mahant of Varanasi’s Sankat Mochan Temple and a professor at IIT Varanasi, senior advocate Indira Jaising, and representatives of the Christian, Buddhist and Sikh communities. Madani’s remarks largely centred on promoting communal harmony, clearing misconceptions about Muslims, and highlighting issues affecting both community relations and the future of young people.
Source: www.indiatoday.in
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Balochistan 'Declares Independence' From Pakistan: What It Means For China's $60-Billion CPEC Project
By: Shuddhanta Patra
July 18, 2026
Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area, covering nearly 44% of the country's landmass. Despite its size, it remains one of Pakistan's least populated and least developed regions. (Photo: AFP File)
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Balochistan has declared independence from Pakistan. Although it remains unrecognised internationally, it has raised fresh questions over the future of China’s China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), one of the flagship projects under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a project worth around $65 billion and stretches nearly 3,000 kilometres. It connects the deep-sea Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province to China’s Xinjiang region through highways, railways and pipelines.
At the centre of the debate is Gwadar Port, the most strategic asset in the corridor, and whether an independent Balochistan would continue to honour agreements signed between Pakistan and China.
International law draws a distinction between ownership and operation. Gwadar Port is physically located in Balochistan. If the region were to become an internationally recognised sovereign state, the port would become part of its territory under the principle of territorial sovereignty.
China currently operates Gwadar through the China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC) under a long-term concession agreement with the Government of Pakistan. The concession grants China operational rights but does not transfer sovereignty over the port.
An independent Balochistan would not be legally required to accept every commercial agreement signed by Pakistan. A recognised successor government could choose to honour existing contracts, renegotiate them or cancel them, subject to domestic law and international arbitration obligations.
Similarly, an independent Balochistan could legally renegotiate port concessions, mining contracts, energy projects and infrastructure agreements inherited from Pakistan. Such reviews have taken place in several newly independent countries, particularly in relation to strategic assets and natural resources.
Gwadar serves as the southern gateway of CPEC, linking western China to the Arabian Sea through roads, railways, pipelines and industrial projects.
If Pakistan no longer controlled Gwadar, the existing CPEC framework would effectively cease to operate in its current form. China would likely need to negotiate a fresh agreement with an independent Balochistan to keep the corridor functioning.
Ownership of highways, power plants and other infrastructure would also depend on financing agreements. Many CPEC projects were funded through sovereign loans to Pakistan, meaning Pakistan remains the legal owner while repaying the loans. Infrastructure inside Balochistan could become part of wider negotiations over state succession, debt sharing and international recognition.
Chinese engineers, technicians and managers currently working on CPEC projects operate under visas, work permits and bilateral agreements with Pakistan.
If Balochistan became independent, those arrangements would no longer automatically apply. A new government could issue fresh permits, allow existing workers to stay, reduce the Chinese presence or introduce new labour and security rules.
CPEC’s roads, energy projects and Gwadar Port are located in areas where separatist activity has long posed risks to Chinese personnel and infrastructure. Increased separatist momentum could lead to higher security costs, greater military protection around projects, slower construction, operational delays, higher insurance costs and additional diplomatic pressure on Beijing if Pakistan struggles to stabilise the region.
However, Pakistan’s Gwadar Port Authority has informed the Balochistan government that the province receives no share of the revenue generated by the port, despite operational control resting with the China Overseas Ports Holding Company.
Many Baloch groups cite this as a major grievance, arguing that the province’s resources and strategic location have benefited Islamabad and foreign investors more than local communities. Concerns over employment, infrastructure and local development have also been raised.
A declaration of independence alone does not end CPEC, stop Chinese investment or alter international borders. But if separatist violence increases or Pakistan’s control weakens further, the corridor could become more expensive, more difficult and less secure to maintain.
Source: www.news18.com
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Iran’s culture minister: Iranians will not be brought to standstill by missiles and bombardment
Jul 19, 2026
Seyyed Abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance
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Pars Today – Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance reacted to the destruction of the Bandar Abbas–Rudan bridge by American aggressors, saying that the Iranian people will not be brought to a standstill by missiles and bombardment.
According to Pars Today, citing Mehr News Agency, Seyyed Abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, wrote on his social media account on Saturday evening (July 18, 2026), alongside an image of the destruction: “This is Bandar Abbas–Rudan today.”
Salehi added: “The American aggressors have destroyed the bridge along the route, but the people of Iran will not be immobilized by missiles and bombardment. They will turn their determination and their hearts into bridges, build new paths, and move forward.”
Source: tatsatchronicle.com
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Security forces foil suspected suicide bombing near Afghan border, says state media
July 18, 2026
Pakistani army soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Miran Shah, a town in North Waziristan, near the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, on January 27, 2019. (AFP/File)
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces foiled a suspected suicide bombing plot in the northwestern district of South Waziristan, state media reported on Saturday, killing one suspected militant and wounding five others during an intelligence-based operation.
The operation took place in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, a district bordering Afghanistan that has long been a hotspot for militant violence.
Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has seen a surge in militant violence in recent years, with Islamabad blaming the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Suicide bombings remain a persistent threat in the region, including an attack on a police station in nearby Bannu earlier this week that wounded five police officers.
“Security forces foiled a major terrorist plot in Wana through a timely intelligence-based operation, destroying an explosive-laden vehicle intended for a suicide attack,” Pakistan TV reported, citing security sources.
“The operation prevented a potential catastrophe in Wana and surrounding areas, with one terrorist killed and five others injured,” it added. “The successful action averted significant civilian casualties and ensured the safety of the local population.”
The report did not specify whether the militants exchanged fire with security forces, how the explosives-laden vehicle was intercepted or whether any members of the security forces were injured.
Pakistan has intensified intelligence-based operations against TTP militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in districts bordering Afghanistan.
Islamabad says the TTP operates from sanctuaries in neighboring Afghanistan and has accused the Taliban-led government in Kabul of allowing militants to launch cross-border attacks into Pakistan, allegations Kabul denies.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651407/pakistan
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‘Do not forget’: Anwar urges Malaysian youth to remember struggle for independence
19 Jul 2026
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) waves the Jalur Gemilang at the launch of the 2026 National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Campaign at ILKKM Sultan Azlan Shah in Tanjung Rambutan, Ipoh, July 19, 2026. — Bernama pic
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IPOH, July 19 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today urged the current generation to appreciate the country’s history of struggle and understand the meaning of independence that has been achieved through the sacrifices of previous generations.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 National Month and Fly the Jalur Gemilang Campaign (MPBKKJG 2026) here, Anwar said the struggle that demanded the blood, sweat and tears of past independence fighters should teach Malaysians to appreciate the comforts they enjoy today.
Today, we are able to begin a tradition that is not merely about instilling pride but also understanding the meaning of independence. We begin by revisiting the pages of history, then enliven it by flying the flag as a symbol of our unity, and subsequently moving forward to ensure a brighter and more glorious future.
“The bitter and difficult struggle came with blood, sweat and tears. It was the combination of all three that resulted in independence. So, children, do not forget this,” he said.
Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
Anwar also reminded Malaysians of various races not to allow any attempts to undermine the unity that has long been the cornerstone of the country’s strength.
He said Malaysia’s strength lies in the people’s ability to respect the differences and diversity among the country’s various ethnic groups.
“The strength of Malays together with the Chinese, Indians, Dayaks and Kadazans must also remain. Do not allow anyone to manipulate and divide us because this country gained independence through the collective strength of all Malaysians,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister also urged Malaysians to once again embrace the independence motto “Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu”, which he said remains relevant as the foundation for building a united nation.
“Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj, the first Prime Minister of independent Malaya and Malaysia, chose the motto ‘Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu’. We are united because we are all different — different races, religions, cultures and regions. But if we work together and unite, we can enhance our quality. That is a logic that has long been recognised,” he said.
At the event, Anwar handed over a 6-by-12-foot Jalur Gemilang flag to a nine-member Royal Malaysian Navy team for the flag-raising ceremony as a symbolic launch of the campaign.
The event, attended by about 3,000 guests, continued with the singing of the national anthem, Negaraku, the recitation of the Rukun Negara pledge, and a medley of patriotic songs.
Also launched at the event was the 2026 National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM 2026) theme song, titled “Aku Berjanji”, written and performed by Faizal Tahir.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Saudi Arabia condemns continued Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan
July 18, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday strongly condemned Iranian attacks against Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Kingdom reiterated its complete rejection Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure and vital facilities, including a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait, SPA added.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the full support of the Kingdom for the three countries in all measures they take in response to the Iranian attacks, saying the strikes violate international law and the principles of good neighborliness.
The Kingdom also stressed the need for an immediate halt to all forms of military escalation in order to safeguard the security and stability of countries across the region and protect their people.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651417/saudi-arabia
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Islamophobia is harmful: Muslims call for more funding, new action to fight hate
By Andrew Stafford
July 19 2026
Muslim advocates have called for meaningful new spending on programs to combat Islamophobia after Labor adopted only some of an envoy's plan to address the problem.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils said the federal government's commitment to take action on 35 of 54 recommendations outlined in special envoy Aftab Malik's report recognised anti-Muslim hate as a serious national problem.
But the group, the nation's peak body for Muslims, said the response fell short in key areas and called for further detail on how leaders planned to respond to all of the special envoy to combat Islamophobia's recommendations.
The response amounted to a limited number of new commitments alongside a grab-bag of expansions to existing programs and work already being undertaken by the envoy's office, the federation said.
"The community is entitled to know what is genuinely new, what was already under way and what additional resources the government has committed as a direct result of the special envoy's report."
The measure of success would not be the number of existing programs assembled under the banner of a response, Dr Jneid said, but the extent of new action and investment and whether Muslim Australians felt safer.
Measures promoting social cohesion in education, including a review to strengthen religious and racial tolerance, along with workplace training for politicians and public servants, were among a series of measures adopted by the government.
The Alliance of Australian Muslims and the Australian National Imams Council labelled the response "an unprecedented and important step in the right direction" towards addressing Islamophobia, while calling for more to be done.
"Australian Muslims must be able to see and experience real improvements in their safety, protection, inclusion and ability to participate fully in Australian society without fear of discrimination or hostility," the groups said in a joint statement.
"Unfortunately, inside a multicultural society, you do sometimes see instances of wrongdoing against small parts of the community," he told the ABC's Insiders program.
"I make the point that the only Australians that have to live in cages are Jewish Australians, and that's why there's a royal commission on the back of a massacre against Jewish Australians who were commemorating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach."
The government has committed to reviewing the Australian school curriculum to identify opportunities to strengthen understanding of all forms of hatred.
There will also be targeted funding to bolster the security of Muslim institutions, including $41.9 million for initiatives to improve security at faith-based places.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said the response was a milestone moment, adding her government was the first in Australian history to recognise Islamophobia as an immediate threat to the community.
''(The government recognises) it is dangerously close to becoming normalised and that it has traumatising, detrimental, and long-lasting effects on a significant number of Australians,'' she said.
"Islamophobia is harmful and causes lasting damage to individuals, communities and to the social fabric of our country."
Source: www.northweststar.com.au
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The toll of hate: Muslim community responds to violent attack
By Mariya Manzhos
July 18, 2026
Mariya is a staff writer based in Boston who writes at the intersection of religion and culture. She is the author of the weekly State of Faith newsletter.
On Friday afternoon, members of the Utah Islamic Center filtered into the mosque’s prayer hall for weekly communal prayers. Outside, a security guard stood watch, now a routine presence on Fridays in Utah at the West Jordan-based mosque.
Several men arrived with their young sons, who fidgeted as they folded their arms, bowed and knelt on the mosque’s turquoise carpet. Behind a glass partition, elderly women sat on chairs in a separate section, while others were surrounded by children on the floor.
Standing in front of the community, Imam Shuaib Din told the worshippers they should not expect life to be easy. Muslims will face tests of their wealth and encounter hurtful words, and they should meet these trials with patience, the imam said, taking the “higher ground.”
He then turned attention to one of the mosque’s congregants, Syed Sohail Uddin, who was stabbed nearly 15 times on Monday afternoon at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City, Utah, allegedly because he was Muslim. The suspect, 48-year-old Peter Michael Larsen from Taylorsville, Utah, was charged on Friday with two counts of attempted aggravated murder, which is a first-degree felony, and one count of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, a third-degree felony.
“This is the worst incident that has happened in our state, but … there are many others that don’t rise to the level of criminal behavior,” Imam Din told the community on Friday. Hate crimes tend to be the most underreported crimes, researchers found.
Last year, during Ramadan, Imam Din himself was the target of an alleged attack. As he pulled away from his home to go to the mosque, another driver pulled up alongside him and allegedly fired eight shots at the car. Prosecutors later said the crime was not an anti-Muslim hate crime, but stemmed from prior interactions between Imam Din and the suspect.
This week, however, Larsen explicitly expressed anti-Muslim sentiments to police. According to the charging document, he allegedly told investigators that he intended to “make an exhibition of Muslims” and “hopefully be a catalyst so people would rid the country of Muslims.”
Junaidullah Khan, left, and Sikandar Sial, right, embrace after praying at the Utah Islamic Center in West Jordan on Thursday, July 16, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News
Before repeatedly stabbing Uddin, Larsen also allegedly said, “Everything is like Jesus Christ.” Uddin has been hospitalized and has undergone hand surgery, his manager said in a video, and faces at least six months of recovery.
Source: www.deseret.com
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https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/07/18/stabbing-utah-mall-muslim-man/
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Tinubu’s scorecard is 139 million Nigerians in poverty; he should resign, not seek re-election: ADC
Oyindamola Olubajo
July 18, 2026
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Saturday asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign rather than seek re-election, asserting that the World Bank’s recent report showing that 139 million Nigerians live below the poverty line is his scorecard.
The ADC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the World Bank’s report, which also estimated that 17 million Nigerians are at risk of starvation, was “disturbing.”
“The evidence of 139 million people living in poverty and 17 million at risk of starvation is President Tinubu’s scorecard,” the party said. “On account of this catastrophic failure alone, President Tinubu should be contemplating resigning from office rather than seeking re-election.”
It decried that the “catastrophic” situation was occasioned by the Tinubu administration’s policies, which it said, “have favoured money over people and statistics over survival.”
The opposition party maintained that the economic growth Mr Tinubu’s government has repeatedly boasted of as a result of its economic reforms is “meaningless” if the livelihoods of people at the grassroots have yet to improve since 2023, when he assumed office.
“Instead of changing course, the government has stubbornly stuck with its ruinous economic policies and even continues to market recklessness as courage and wickedness as ‘necessary pains.’
According to the party, Nigeria desperately needs a leader who truly cares about citizens’ well-being and understands that economic reforms should improve citizens’ lives, not worsen their misery.
“A president whose government is not openly feasting while asking the people to continue fasting. A government that does not wallow in profligacy while handing the people palliatives,” it added.
The party condemned the ruling APC’s social intervention programmes aimed at cushioning the effects of its economic policies, adding, “Poverty cannot be defeated through palliatives.”
The ADC pledged that if elected in 2027, it would tackle the root causes of hunger by reducing energy costs, enhancing food production, and ensuring that farmers returned to their farmlands.
It also vowed to rehabilitate the 264 abandoned dams, improve access to fertilisers and quality seeds, and invest in storage facilities.
“Hunger cannot be separated from poverty, education, or healthcare. That is why an ADC government will prioritise nutrition, primary healthcare, quality basic education, and skills development because no nation can build a prosperous economy while millions of its children are hungry, out of school, or cannot read simple texts,” the party said.
Source: gazettengr.com
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India
Rajeev Chandrasekhar accuses CPI(M), IUML of spreading fear over Waqf Act
Jul 19, 2026
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has accused the opposition CPI(M) and the IUML of "spreading fear and misinformation" over the amended Waqf law, saying the issue concerns the rule of law and not religion.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Chandrasekhar said Parliament had passed a law mandating the inclusion of two non-Muslim members in State Waqf Boards and that the legislation was applicable across the country, including Kerala.
"The Waqf issue is not related to religion. It is related to the rule of law. Instead of telling people the truth, the CPI(M) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are once again spreading fear," he said.
He alleged that the two parties were deliberately circulating misinformation and attempting to communalise the issue for "political gains" rather than respecting a law passed by Parliament.
Drawing parallels with past controversies, the BJP leader claimed that similar campaigns had been carried out against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the abolition of instant triple talaq.
"They claimed the CAA would strip Indian Muslims of their citizenship. Nothing of that sort happened. They also termed the abolition of triple talaq as anti-Muslim, but it instead protected the dignity, rights and security of Muslim women. The same fear-mongering tactic is now being repeated over the Waqf law," he said.
Source: economictimes.com
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Security stepped up outside Aamir Khan’s home after alleged Bishnoi gang threat
By Vinay Dalvi
Jul 19, 2026
Around a fortnight after actor Aamir Khan married Bengaluru-born entrepreneur, fashion stylist and salon professional Gauri Spratt, Mumbai Police have launched an inquiry into a purported threat issued in the name of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang through a viral voice note and social media post accusing the actor of promoting what the speakers described as “Love Jihad”.
As the clip began circulating widely online on Saturday, police stepped up security outside Khan’s residence in Pali Hill, Bandra West, even though the actor is currently out of the country.
Police officials said they are yet to establish the origin or authenticity of either the voice clip or the accompanying social media post. “We are examining the veracity of the social media post and the voice clip,” Mumbai police commissioner Deven Bharti said.
The voice note was issued by a man identifying himself as Arzoo Bishnoi, who claims to be associated with Lawrence Bishnoi. In the recording, he alleges that Khan was promoting what he called “Love Jihad” through his marriages to Hindu women and warned of consequences.
The 61-year-old actor married Gauri Spratt on July 5. This was his third marriage. The audio begins with the speaker identifying himself as Arzoo Bishnoi and greeting “all brothers and sisters” before claiming that “people like Aamir Khan are promoting Love Jihad in our country” and warning that such acts would not be tolerated.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
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BJP Starts Outreach Campaign In Muslim-Dominated Assembly Seat Of Manipur
by: Ratnadip Choudhury
Jul 19, 2026
In violence-hit Manipur, the BJP has started its Muslim outreach campaign by kicking off a one-day mandal-level political workers' conference in Lilong, the state's lone Muslim-majority seat.
At the event, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday said that his main aim is to try to unite the people of Manipur after the three-year-long ethnic violence.
He further remarked that such ill-intentioned individuals cannot continue to disrupt the lives of the common people indefinitely, expressing confidence that honesty and sincerity would ultimately prevail over them.
Source: www.ndtv.com
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‘The Once and Future Riot’: On Joe Sacco’s new book (and a conversation with him) on Muzaffarnagar
Amitava Kumar
19-07-2026
Joe Sacco’s excellent report from India, The Once and Future Riot, was published by Metropolitan Books in the US last year, but its publication in India has run into trouble. The book was to be distributed by Penguin India and in recent weeks, we have learned that the publishers have decided to withdraw it. Penguin India reportedly sent Sacco a several-page response seeking changes; Sacco has said that these changes included a demand for the removal of a line about the rise of “Hindu hegemony” in the country. (What is Penguin India thinking, if it is thinking at all? To remove a line about the growth and consolidation of “Hindu hegemony” in contemporary India is akin to removing the Himalayas from the subcontinent. After that, there is no there there.)
Sacco is a graphic artist and a journalist of a very high calibre, justly celebrated as a pioneer in the form of comics journalism. His book on Palestine is hailed as a classic. His latest, The Once and Future Riot, is a report on a 2013 riot in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh that led to tens of thousands of people, mostly Muslims, being turned into refugees. Sixty people, again, mostly Muslims, were killed. Despite the savagery on display, it still needs to be noted that the riot in Muzaffarnagar was a small-scale affair (or, to use Sacco’s terminology, it was a “puny riot”).
The Varshney-Wilkinson dataset on communal violence in India presents evidence of over 1100 religious riots during the period 1950-1995. It is possible that because the riot in Muzaffarnagar district was primarily rural, it didn’t receive the live coverage that was readily available when the large-scale violence took place in Gujarat more than a decade earlier. Sacco visited Muzaffarnagar a year after the riot; it took about ten years to make the detailed, dramatic drawings that are a part of this remarkable book. A drawing, more than a photograph, slows down time: the moment is extended, no longer remaining a mere occurrence, and becomes an encounter to ponder or engage with more fully. It is a form that brings people and events close, and yet frames them and makes them distant in ingenious and critically important ways.
In his arresting drawings, Sacco also puts himself in the frame. He is present at the edges as an observer. In his self-portraits, Sacco distorts his features, his face acquires a rougher, more awkward, even flustered, look. He draws his mouth as if he is hiding a goldfish or two behind his exaggeratedly fleshy lips. (Interestingly, his glasses are always opaque, a doubling of the effect visible in this Cartier-Bresson photo.) With his witty, and sometimes troubled, commentary Sacco makes himself a part of the scene. Unlike those who fight fiercely for their protective versions of reality, the artist is in the middle parsing the narratives on offer. Sacco is often aware that people are telling him lies. In that scenario he appears as a cheerful partisan of the truth. Early in the book, here are his thoughts as his car races into the hinterland, past the women kneading cow dung by the roadside:
Source: scroll.in
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Sham-e-Ghariban: A global Muharram tradition with roots in Lucknow
Jul 19, 2026
Lucknow: “A tradition of Sham-e-Ghariban, as it is observed in many parts of the world, has its roots in Lucknow and is truly a gift from the city to the world,” said Siraj Jafri, a resident of Lucknow now settled in Dublin, Ireland, highlighting how migrants from the city carried the practice across continents and helped transform it into a global expression of remembrance during Muharram.
He said the observance continues to draw participation from people of different faiths and communities, reflecting the universal message of peace, sacrifice and humanity associated with the tragedy of Karbala.
On organising the gathering, he said, “Owing to local weather conditions, our programmes are conducted indoors in a large hall rather than in open spaces, but the spirit and atmosphere remain the same.”
Another Lucknowite, 65-year-old Syed Zia Haider Zaidi, a retired bank official now settled in London, said that when he arrived in the city 40 years ago, there was no organised Sham-e-Ghariban gathering. “I started the practice, which gradually spread to most imambaras in London,” he said.
What began in Lucknow in 1926 as a local mourning observance, Majlis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban, has evolved into a global tradition observed by Shia communities worldwide.
Faizi Hussain, a marketing manager settled in Toronto, said, “Majlis are held in several languages, including Urdu, English, Arabic, Persian and Punjabi. For Urdu-speaking communities, Lucknow is regarded as the centre of Azadari, and the same traditions are followed in the Greater Toronto Area.
The atmosphere of Sham-e-Ghariban is preserved by dimming the lights and following the traditional sequence of salam, marsiya, majlis and masaib. “The format established in Lucknow, particularly at Imambara Ghufran Ma’ab, continues to serve as the benchmark for observances across the world,” he expressed.
Mourning gathering held on the night between the 10th and 11th of Muharram, it marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed along with 72 companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Over a century, the observance has grown from a local expression of grief into a deeply emotional global ritual.
Through the efforts of Maharaj Kumar Mohammad Hasan Khan of Mahmudabad and poet Fazl Naqvi in the 1930s, All India Radio began broadcasting recordings of the majlis at 10.30pm on Ashura. People across the subcontinent would remain glued to their radio sets to listen to the bayan of Maulana Kalbe Hussain.
Gradually, Shia communities began holding similar majalis under the same name in different cities across India. After Partition, the tradition spread to Pakistan and later to other parts of the world.
The term Sham-e-Ghariban means “Evening of the Strangers” or “Night of the Homeless”, symbolising the suffering, displacement and loss endured by Imam Hussain’s family after Karbala. One of the most poignant moments of the Muharram mourning cycle, it is marked by solemn gatherings, recitations and quiet remembrance.
The tradition of Majlis-e-Sham-e-Ghariban began at Lucknow’s Imambara Ghufran-e-Ma’ab in 1926. After returning from Ashura observances, a group of mourners gathered to remember the suffering of Imam Hussain’s family following the Battle of Karbala. Senior cleric Syed Sibte Mohammad Hadi, popularly known as Kallan Sahab, delivered an emotional narration that left the audience in tears.
Source: www.indiatoday.in
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Kerala may reconstitute Waqf Board after High Court verdict, says minister
Jul 18, 2026
Kerala General Education Minister N Samsudheen on Saturday said the new UDF government has the right to reconstitute the State Waqf Board appointed by the previous LDF administration, and that it will do so in due course in line with the law. He also said the government would act after the Kerala High Court gives its decision on petitions challenging the Board's constitution.
Amid questions over the state's stand in court and whether non-Muslims would be included in the Board, the minister said the government had not told the High Court anything about such an inclusion. He added that if religious leaders, scholars or organisations had concerns, the government's position would be conveyed to them.
Speaking to reporters, Samsudheen claimed there were "irregularities" in the appointments made to the State Waqf Board by the previous Left government. Referring to the state's stand in the Kerala High Court, he said the Advocate General had sought dismissal of the four petitions challenging the constitution of the Board on various grounds.
Samsudheen, a senior Indian Union Muslim League leader, said the government's stand had been that it would make changes to the Board if the court directed it to do so. "Once the court's decision comes, the government will act accordingly," he said.
Source: www.indiatoday.in
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Pakistan
Is Pakistan Reverting to Its Old Terror Playbook?
Dr. Bhashyam Kasturi
July 19, 2026
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on 8 May 2026, that its board had cleared the way for Pakistan, to access about US$ 1.32 billion in fresh funding immediately. The IMF said, “Pakistan would be able to draw around US$ 1.1 billion under the Extended Fund Facility and about US$ 220 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility”, making the total disbursements available to Islamabad to about US$ 4.8 billion. SouthAsians & Diaspora
It is no coincidence, as money pours into Pakistan, it has begun preparations for an attack on India. In the first six months of this year, police have apprehended several operatives working in tandem with ISI handlers, with the objective of creating unrest in India.
Tatsat Chronicle in its article ‘Is IMF Funding Terror?’, dated May 24, 2025, has previously highlighted the recurring link between Pakistan’s IMF bailouts and the timing of terrorist attacks on Indian soil. Thus, with Islamabad launching a covert campaign and diplomatic blitzkrieg against India, it becomes obvious preparations for another strike are underway.
It is not only IMF which continues to give funds to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia just handed over US$ 3 billion in two tranches to Islamabad, in April this year. Additionally, the Saudi’s rolled over a US$ 5 billion loan to help stabilise Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves. With Pakistan forging ahead on the diplomatic front, its leaders have begun making threats against India. This is the first time after Operation Sindoor, Islamabad has found its voice. Irrespective of whether these threats have any relevance, the fact remains that such rhetoric is backed by the ability to wage covert war against India using non-state actors.
Recent developments come amidst intense diplomatic activity by Islamabad, primarily by a failed mediation between Iran and the US in the Gulf war. That the ceasefire agreement has little to do with Pakistan, is evident by the role played by Qatar and the UAE, but Pak PM Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir have managed to gain the spotlight. SouthAsians & Diaspora
At the same time, Pakistan appears to be undertaking a broader effort to reshape its image in Washington. In May, Islamabad signed a $1.2 million lobbying contract with a US-based firm, according to filings made under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The agreement, which took effect on 1st May, appoints Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC., to advance Pakistan’s interests within US policymaking circles. Under the contract, the firm will engage members of Congress and their staff, particularly those serving on committees responsible for foreign affairs, defence, trade and appropriations. The FARA filings indicate that a central objective of the engagement is to present Pakistan as a dependable partner in counterterrorism and regional stability—a message aimed at reinforcing Islamabad’s standing in Washington, at a time of shifting geopolitical alignments.
Intelligence sources inform that Pakistan has been simultaneously planning to execute attacks on Indian soil, with the objective of creating communal unrest. Evidence of this comes from multiple sources, as arrests galore have occurred in the past two-three months. The arrest of a woman agent in Rajasthan, several ISI agents in Kerala and West Bengal indicate that something is afoot. These are illustrative examples of the larger ISI gameplan to destabilise India. The warning signs are there; it is now a question of not when but why, meaning will the future attack have a purpose?
The arrest on 22nd June, in Jaipur, of Babita Dhakad, with alleged links to the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), by Rajasthan Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad, is of grave concern. Reports indicate that she was radicalised online and planning to go to Pakistan to marry JeM Commander Abu Ubaidah. That Military Intelligence tipped off the ATS on Dhakad, indicating the possibility of a wider sleeper cell under creation by the ISI. The fact that contact with handlers in Pakistan was through social media indicates that Babita was one of several individuals contacted by the JeM in India. Investigations are underway to ascertain the possible larger network that the JeM is building in Rajasthan. SouthAsians & Diaspora
Source: tatsatchronicle.com
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Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade plunges to USD 367 million
Jul 19, 2026
Islamabad: Afghanistan-Pakistan transit trade plunges to USD 367 million in the outgoing fiscal year from USD 5 billion in 2021, according to a media report.
The transit trade between the two countries has suffered one of its steepest declines, plunging to just 11,592 containers worth USD 367 million in FY-26, the Dawn reported on Sunday.
The trade plummeted from nearly 89,000 containers valued at USD 5 billion before the Taliban returned to power in 2021, as Kabul's growing reliance on Iranian routes increased in recent years, the report said.
Source: economictimes.com
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Pakistan reviews diplomatic initiatives as US-Iran war intensifies
Shahjahan Khurram
July 19, 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar this week chaired a meeting of foreign ministry officials to review the country’s diplomatic priorities and preparations for upcoming engagements, the foreign office said as the US-Iran war intensifies with both sides exchanging fresh attacks in the Middle East.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Washington completed another round of strikes against Iran on Saturday night, saying that its forces hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, missile and drone storage sites.
The development followed the eighth consecutive night of US-Iran fighting. Tehran threatened on Saturday to launch a “full-scale offensive” if US strikes continued, saying it had targeted American military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. The conflict originally began on Feb. 28 before spreading across the Gulf and disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz artery, sending global oil prices higher.
Dar, who is also Pakistan’s foreign minister, chaired a meeting with Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch and senior officials of the foreign ministry on Saturday to discuss Islamabad’s recent diplomatic engagements, the foreign office said.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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1st LoC firing since Operation Sindoor as Pakistan targets Rajouri posts
By Mohit Kandhari
July 19, 2026
Shattering peace along the Line of Control (LoC), for the first time after ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Pakistan Army late Friday night resorted to ‘unprovoked’ firing on the forward Indian posts in the Tarkundi sector of Rajouri district. History
Unconfirmed reports claimed that some of the forward Pakistani posts provided cover fire to a heavily armed group of infiltrators sneaking inside the Indian territory. However, alert Indian troops responded swiftly and retaliated after noticing the suspicious movement in the forward areas.
According to local reports, the small arms firing, which started around 10.00 pm, continued in the forward areas for over one hour. No injuries were reported during the firing.
Source: dailypioneer.com
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Pakistan's search for a past beyond Hinduism
Saquib Salim
19-07-2026
The Indian media, in the last few weeks, is discussing Pakistan’s claims on Harappan, or Indus Valley Civilisation. Contrary to popular notion, this flirtation with pre-Islamic history is part of its perennial confusion with history since its formation 79 years ago. At times Pakistanis own their pre-Islamic past while on other occasions they claim Muhammad Bin Qasim was the first Pakistani. However, whatever they believe, their dislike (read hate) for Vedic Hindu civilisation has remained constant.
A nation state has to draw its legitimacy from an imagined shared history and culture on the basis of which they can claim a separate identity and hence polity, a point further reiterated by Iranian exploits in the recent war.
Pakistan also needed a ‘shared history’ or civilisation which could act as glue for its nationhood. For Pakistan, this task was difficult. The history its people shared was also a history of India, which in turn was a history of Hindus. The whole idea of Pakistan as advocated by the Muslim League was based on an opposition of Hindu culture and a fear of ‘Hindu Raj’. So, any shared history with Hindus de-legitimises the very foundation of Pakistan.
Despite all this, Pakistan took its first shot at claiming a civilizational legitimacy which, according to them, was not shared with the history of Hindus of India, soon after coming into existence.
Soon after India relieved Mortimer Wheeler from the post of Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 1948, Pakistan offered him a post of Archaeological Adviser to the Government of Pakistan. One of the tasks given to him was to claim the Indus Valley civilisation for Pakistan and separate it from Hindu culture. Wheeler came out with a book, Five Thousand Years of Pakistan: An Archaeological Outline in 1950.
Source: dailypioneer.com
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https://www.awazthevoice.in/opinion-news/pakistan-s-search-for-a-past-beyond-hinduism-64023.html
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Mideast
US aggression against Iran ‘gross violation of UN Charter’
Jul 19, 2026
TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) – The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran has condemned US military strikes on multiple areas of Iran, describing them as “grave violations” of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law.
The High Council for Human Rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns in the strongest terms the US military attacks on various regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 8 and 13, 2026, which, according to official reports, resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of Iranian citizens and extensive damage to public infrastructure and civilian property.
These attacks took place at a time when the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America had reached an understanding on establishing a ceasefire and starting a dialogue process with the aim of reducing tensions, preventing escalation of conflicts, and paving the way for a return to the path of diplomacy. The recent military actions, which, according to US officials, were taken in violation of the ceasefire, not only contradict the spirit and purpose of such an understanding but also seriously undermine the mutual trust necessary to advance peaceful solutions and adhere to the principle of good faith in implementing international commitments.
According to the information announced, more than 250 locations in the country, mainly in the southern regions, were targeted in these attacks. It has also been reported that as a result of these actions, 20 compatriots, including an Iranian woman, were martyred, 150 people were injured, two of whom were women, 14 surgeries were performed on the injured, and 102 people were discharged after receiving medical care. These statistics are not just numbers; each of them represents human suffering, irreparable loss, and the damage that has been inflicted on Iranian families and society.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/246334/US-aggression-against-Iran-gross-violation-of-UN-Charter
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Iranian Army continues drone strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait
Jul 19, 2026
Pars Today – In a new wave of drone attacks carried out by the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran as part of the seventeenth phase of Operation Thunderbolt, ammunition depots and facilities housing equipment and personnel of the U.S. military in Kuwait were targeted for a second time.
According to Pars Today, citing IRIB News, following violations of international treaties and the enemy’s attacks on civilian areas, the Iranian Army launched a new round of drone strikes beginning early Sunday morning. As part of the seventeenth phase of Operation Thunderbolt, the operation once again targeted the U.S. military’s ammunition depot at Camp Al-Adairi, as well as hangars containing equipment and personnel at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
The Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasized: “Our war is a defense of Iran’s authentic identity, its thousands of years of history, and a people who, in the light of Islamic teachings, neither oppress others nor submit to oppression. Based on this principle, the Army’s fighters, with deep faith in this divine teaching, stand firm and resolute in defending the noble people of Iran in the face of the enemies of Iran and humanity.”
Source: parstoday.ir
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Leader issues statement on recent internal developments, Iran-US clashes
18 July 2026
In a statement on Saturday, the Leader emphasized that US actions have exposed that “bullying, hegemony, and savagery” are inseparable components of American behavior and conduct.
“Today, the Great Satan has once again revealed its true and unmasked face,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, accoridng to Press TV's report of the Leader's message.
“This dark experience of crime and broken promises serves as yet another solid document of America’s dishonesty, irrationality, untrustworthiness, and vileness.”
Source: www.tabnak.ir
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Pezeshkian: Leader’s wise message foremost pillar of national interests
Jul 19, 2026
Pars Today – Iran’s president described the wise and unifying message of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution as the country’s most important source of support and asset in safeguarding national interests and advancing the dignity of the Islamic Republic.
According to Pars Today, citing IRIB News, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Saturday night: “The wise and unifying message of the esteemed Leader of the Islamic Revolution, along with his support for the heads of the three branches of government and the country’s officials, constitutes the foremost pillar and asset for protecting national interests and ensuring the honor and pride of Islamic Iran.”
Pezeshkian added: “Commitment to the requirements of this sacred unity and avoiding discord and division are the keys to victory at this historic juncture.”
Source: parstoday.ir
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Maj. Gen. Abdollahi: We will respond to any act of enemy brutality
Jul 19, 2026
Pars Today – The commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran warned the deceitful American enemy that Iran’s armed forces will deliver a devastating response to any act of greed, coercion, or brutality.
According to Pars Today, citing IRIB News, the full text of the message by Major General and pilot Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reads as follows:
In continuation of the luminous path of the martyred Leader of the nation and the esteemed martyrs of Islamic Iran and the Resistance Front, we once again pledge allegiance to the wise and sagacious Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.
We pledge to uphold His Eminence’s clear and enlightening message on safeguarding the ideals of the Revolution, as well as the sacred unity and national cohesion, as our guiding principle within the armed forces. We will devote all our capabilities and resources to further strengthening solidarity, unity, and cohesion among the armed forces, the people, and the dedicated officials of the three branches of government, in order to guarantee the interests of the Iranian nation and defend the people’s rights and national security.”
Source: parstoday.ir
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Leader hails Iraqis for attending Ayt. Khamenei funeral rites
Jul 19, 2026
TEHRAN, Jul. 19 (MNA) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei appreciated the Iraqi nation for their massive presence in the funeral rites held in the Arab country for the martyred Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
We extend our greetings, salutations, highest regards, and deepest appreciation to the esteemed maraji' (Religious Authorities), revered scholars, professors, and distinguished faculty of the Islamic seminaries and universities, as well as to the invaluable intellectuals and elites, the commanders, tribal leaders, sheikhs, and heads of clans, along with the noble, compassionate citizens and the zealous, honorable youth of the oppressed country of Iraq.
The pious people of Iraq are blessed with the immense privilege of living near and hosting the Ahl al-Bayt (peace and blessings of God be upon them all) in the Holy Shrines. They have a brilliant cultural heritage; possess a spiritual, guiding foundation such as the luminous, ancient Islamic seminary of Najaf al-Ashraf; and have shown steadfast effort in the Resistance Front. Like the people of Iran, in their welcoming of the magnanimous martyred Leader (may God exalt his noble station), they’ve created a monumental, deeply meaningful epic filled with profound grief and heartfelt devotion.
Iraq became a blessed land from the moment the sacred feet of our Master, the Commander of the Faithful (Imam Ali (PBUH)), touched its soil. Soon after that, its people proudly adorned themselves with the mantle of love and wilayah to Imam Ali and his pure descendants (may God’s peace and blessings be upon them all).
Source: en.mehrnews.com
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Turkish migrant invokes Sharia Law, assaults flight attendant after being assigned to sit next to a woman on German flight
by: Human Events Media Group
07/18/2026
A 29-year-old Turkish migrant living in Germany was arrested after allegedly refusing to sit next to a woman on a flight to Dusseldorf, invoking Sharia law before assaulting a female flight attendant who confronted him.
The incident occurred on June 1 aboard a flight to Germany. After the aircraft landed in Dusseldorf at approximately 6:59 am, German federal police arrested the man, who struck a flight attendant in the face after she addressed his refusal to sit next to a female passenger, according to a report from the German newspaper Bild. The criminal complaint was forwarded to Dusseldorf police, who are continuing the investigation.
"According to initial witness statements, the man invoked Sharia law and refused to sit next to a woman,” a police spokesperson told the outlet.
Source: humanevents.com
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South Asia
Chinese roots, Muslim siblings, Catholic in-laws: One Singaporean's multicultural story
BY Laili Abdeen
July 19, 2026
She can switch effortlessly between Hokkien, English, Tamil, Malay and even conversational Mandarin.
The multilingualism of 73-year-old S Sarojini reflects a life shaped by Singapore's multicultural fabric, from growing up in a kampung to being part of a family that spans different races, religions and traditions.
From a young age, Sarojini was constantly exposed to a medley of languages in the kampung. As she listened to her elders chat with neighbours and friends of other races, she gradually picked up the various languages herself.
"My mother spoke to us in Malay and my father spoke to us in Tamil," she said, explaining that her father hailed from Pudukkottai, India, while her mother was from Malacca, Malaysia.
Watching her mother persevere in speaking Tamil despite her struggles helped Sarojini appreciate the language from a young age. She later learnt to read and write Tamil to honour a promise made to her late uncle.
Source: www.asiaone.com
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https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/racial-harmony-indian-speaks-hokkien-chinese-roots-muslim-siblings
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Samsung supplies HVAC to Saudi mosques in B2B push
July 19, 2026
Samsung Electronics said Sunday it is supplying more than 1,000 ceiling-mounted air conditioners to about 100 mosques across eight Saudi cities, including Riyadh, as part of the company's push into commercial HVAC projects in the Middle East.
The units are Samsung's "360 Cassette" system, which the company says is the first ceiling cassette to use a circular rather than square design. According to Samsung, the outdoor units are engineered to maintain cooling performance in ambient temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius, and the interior panels feature custom designs inspired by Islamic patterns.
The rollout follows a memorandum of understanding Samsung signed in June with Ghoroos Charity, a Saudi partner running mosque renovation projects. Samsung said it plans to expand cooperation on further supply deals in the kingdom.
Source: www.koreaherald.com
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https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10812626
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New health center inaugurated in eastern Afghanistan
2026-07-19
KABUL, July 19 (Xinhua) -- A new health center has been completed and put into operation in the Shultan district in eastern Kunar province, Bakhtar News Agency reported on Sunday.
The facility is expected to improve access to primary healthcare services for residents of the remote district and strengthen the delivery of basic medical care in the area, the report said.
Local officials said the health center has officially been handed over for public use.
Source: english.news.cn
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https://english.news.cn/20260719/1945de4bb8c1439b94cad18362a7007a/c.html
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UN warns of acute food insecurity in Afghanistan
Jul 18, 2026
Kabul, July 18 (IANS) The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is worsening as aid agencies are scaling back food assistance due to severe international funding shortfalls, local media reported citing the United Nations and Human Rights Watch (HRW).
"The United Nations estimates that more than 17 million people in Afghanistan will face acute food insecurity this year, while about 22 million people require humanitarian assistance, including food, healthcare and protection services. Women, children, internally displaced people and returning refugees remain among the hardest hit," Khama Press reported.
Source: www.thehawk.in
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https://www.thehawk.in/news/world/un-warns-of-acute-food-insecurity-in-afghanistan
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Afghan athlete wins bronze at Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships
By Hijratullah Kakar
Jul 19, 2026
KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan athlete Mustafa Wakili has won a bronze medal in the under-69kg category at the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships.
In a post on its Facebook page, the Afghanistan Ju-Jitsu Federation said Wakili secured the bronze medal in the men’s under-69kg event.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports said in a statement that Wakili won his opening bout by walkover after his opponent failed to appear.News
Source: pajhwok.com
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July Charter implementation debate should end: Mirza Fakhrul
19 Jul 2026
DHAKA, July 19, 2026 (BSS) – LGRD and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the debate on the implementation of the July Charter should end.
Mirza Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at the ‘July Martyr Journalist Honouring Ceremony’ organised by the National Editors Council at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) here this morning.
Calling upon the opposition party to join the Constitution Amendment Committee, he said the debate should be resolved through talks. The opportunity created by the July Movement to form a new state must be implemented, he added.
Source: www.bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/news-flash/406956
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From Maradona to Messi: Bangladesh’s enduring love for Argentina
July 18, 2026
DHAKA: There are rooftops draped in blue and white and murals of Lionel Messi everywhere — but this is not Argentina, it is Bangladesh where football-crazy fans are again celebrating their unique bond with the South American giants.
The craze for Argentina has endured for decades in a country of 170 million people who have never qualified for the World Cup, but embrace the global showpiece with unmatched passion.
While fans in Buenos Aires prepare for what they hope will be another night of celebration, the mood more than 10,000 miles away in Dhaka is also reaching fever pitch.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651418/sport
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Why Adani power remains Bangladesh's costliest electricity import
19 July, 2026
Electricity imported from India's Adani Power remained significantly more expensive than power sourced from Bangladesh's other cross-border suppliers in FY2024-25, primarily because of the pricing structure in its power purchase agreement rather than transmission costs.
An analysis of the Bangladesh Power Development Board's (BPDB) annual report and the Power Division's financial statements shows Bangladesh paid an average of Tk14.86 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity imported from Adani's Jharkhand power plant during the fiscal year.
In contrast, the combined weighted average tariff of electricity imported from three other Indian suppliers stood at Tk9.33 per unit.
Source: www.tbsnews.net
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Afroza launches ‘One Child, One Tree’ programme
19 Jul 2026
DHAKA, July 19, 2026 (BSS) – Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam today inaugurated the “One Child, One Tree” programme here, calling for collective efforts to build a greener and better liveable Bangladesh for future generations.
The programme was inaugurated at Nabagram Government Primary School in Manikganj Sadar with the objective of encouraging environmental awareness among children and promoting tree plantation as a shared responsibility towards protecting nature.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest, Afroza said the initiative was not merely about planting trees but about instilling environmental responsibility among the younger generation.
“We have not gathered here merely to inaugurate a programme. We have gathered to pledge our commitment to building a greener Bangladesh for future generations—to place a tree in the hands of a child and to sow the seeds of a beautiful tomorrow through a tree,” she said.
Source: www.bssnews.net
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https://www.bssnews.net/news/406959
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Southeast Asia
‘No excuses’: Anwar to explain KWAP’s RM200m eFishery investment loss in Dewan Negara tomorrow
19 Jul 2026
IPOH, July 19 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will explain in the Dewan Negara tomorrow the reported RM200 million loss involving Retirement Fund Incorporated’s (KWAP) investment in Indonesian company eFishery.
According to Sinar Harian reported that Anwar, who is also finance minister, said he would set out the facts surrounding the investment and would not offer excuses over the matter.
Anwar said KWAP had its own investment panel and board and did not report directly to the government, but insisted he would not use that as an excuse.
Aquaculture technology eFishery developed smart automatic feeding systems that used sensors to distribute feed and monitor consumption at fish and shrimp farms.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Zizie Izette to learn verdict tomorrow in RM2.8m corruption abetment case
19 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad will learn her fate tomorrow when the Sessions Court delivers its verdict on three charges of abetting in a corruption case involving RM2.8 million linked to a RM150 million investment in Public Mutual Berhad unit trusts.
Zizie Izette, 47, the wife of the late Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, is facing three charges of abetting her husband in obtaining cash bribes amounting to RM2.8 million.
The defence closed its case after Zizie Izette completed her testimony on March 5. Bung Moktar had testified on September 2, 2025, after the couple failed to overturn the Court of Appeal’s decision ordering them to enter their defence.
On November 18, 2024, the Court of Appeal allowed the prosecution’s appeal against the September 7, 2023, High Court’s decision, acquitting the couple.
The High Court had overturned the Sessions Court’s September 2, 2022 ruling, which had found that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and ordered Bung Moktar and Zizie Izette to enter their defence.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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‘Win, but not by breaking the law’: Loke urges road safety during Negeri Sembilan campaign
19 Jul 2026
SEREMBAN, July 19 — Road safety and traffic compliance must be strictly observed throughout the ongoing 16th Negeri Sembilan state election campaign, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
The DAP secretary-general said he has personally instructed his party’s campaign teams to wear helmets at all times when riding motorcycles during the campaign period.
“We want to ensure this campaign stays accident-free. Every party wants to win, but not at the cost of flouting traffic laws. The bare minimum is wearing a helmet.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Putrajaya to Muar: Syed Saddiq says RM650,000 raised after completing 170km charity run
19 Jul 2026
MUAR, July 19 — Muar Member of Parliament (MP) Syed Saddiq Syed Abd Rahman today succesfully completed his 170-kilometre “Larian Kesyukuran” (Gratitude Run) at Laman Maharani here, marking the culmination of a charity mission that began on July 16.
Syed Saddiq began the final 17km leg of the run today from Simpang Sungai Rambai in Melaka before reaching the finishing point, accompanied by members of the ‘Muo Runner’ group across the Sultan Ismail Bridge.
The run, which started from the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, aimed to raise funds for the welfare of residents in the Muar parliamentary constituency, including the provision of food baskets and tablet devices for students in need.
Syed Saddiq said the four-day charity run raised RM650,959.2, exceeding the initial target of RM200,000, and pledged that 100 per cent of the funds would be channelled towards welfare assistance for Muar constituents.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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‘Thanks for the help’: Loke says MCA’s retreat boosts DAP in three Negeri Sembilan seats
19 Jul 2026 2:24 PM MYT
SEREMBAN, July 19 — DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke today described MCA’s decision not to contest three of its traditional seats in the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election as a move that indirectly benefits DAP by improving its chances of retaining those constituencies.
“Even if we (DAP) were to lose, we would still put up a fight, but MCA has been very generous. It is now up to MCA members to assess that decision,” he told reporters after a walkabout with six Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidates at the Seremban Central Market here today.
The candidates are Ho Weng Wah (Temiang), Lee Kai Yet (Mambau), Siau Meow Kong (Rahang), Nicole Tan (Bukit Kepayang), S. Mugunthan (Seremban Jaya), and Chew Seh Yong (Lobak).
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Ministry: Nearly 173,000 companies register for subsidised diesel scheme nationwide, covering 465,000 vehicles
19 Jul 2026 1:13 PM MYT
LABUAN, July 19 — A total of 172,955 companies involving 464,797 vehicles have registered under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) nationwide as of July 18, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
He said 28,127 companies involving 68,669 vehicles were registered in Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan following the expansion of the targeted diesel subsidy mechanism to the three regions on July 1.
Of the total, 18,770 companies with 51,679 vehicles were registered under the land transport sector for consumer goods, while 7,241 companies involving 13,557 vehicles were registered under the company-owned land transport sector covering jeeps and pickup trucks.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Azalina: Over US$1.37b in 1MDB-linked assets returned by US, more still tied up overseas
19 Jul 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — More than US$1.37 billion in assets linked to the misappropriation of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds have been returned by the United States to Malaysia to date, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the figure was based on information provided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“In addition to the assets that have been returned, a substantial amount of funds and assets linked to 1MDB remain detained, frozen or subject to forfeiture proceedings in the United States and several other foreign jurisdictions,” she said in a written parliamentary reply.
Source: www.malaymail.com
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Arab world
MWL Secretary General Meets Leaders of Islamic Organizations in New Zealand
18 Jul, 2026
Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa met in Auckland, New Zealand, with leaders of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Scholars.
During the meeting, they discussed a number of issues related to the Muslim community in New Zealand.
Source: www.alriyadhdaily.com
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https://www.alriyadhdaily.com/article/35bbc7ce590a415eaebb3670eee73460
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Qatar supports Quran recitation, memorisation in Bosnia & Herzegovina
19/07/2026
A delegation of members and representatives of the Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani (may God have mercy on him) Quran Recitation and Memorisation Competition affiliated with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs participated in the opening of the 18th Quran Recitation and Memorisation Competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The competition, organised by the Department of Religious Affairs of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, opened in the main hall of the historic Gazi Husrev-beg Madrasa in Sarajevo, with a large official and religious leaders’ presence from within Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad.
The Qatari participation comes as part of the ongoing support provided by the Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani Holy Quran Competition to the Quranic competition in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the third consecutive year. This support underscores Qatar’s commitment to serving the Holy Quran, strengthening cooperation with Islamic institutions worldwide, and solidifying its presence in supporting Quranic initiatives that contribute to raising generations committed to the Holy Quran and its tolerant values.
Source: www.qatar-tribune.com
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Awqaf publishes book on biography of Abu Bakr Al Siddiq
19/07/2026
The Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs has published a book on the biography of Abu Bakr Al Siddiq: between wise leadership and following the Prophet’s example, with the support of the Scientific and Cultural Development Endowment Fund, under the General Directorate of Endowments.
The book “The Stance on the Characteristics and Caliphate of Abu Bakr Al Siddiq (may God be pleased with him)” by Dr. Hamed Muhammad Al Khalifa is a scholarly study that addresses one of the pivotal issues in Islamic history through a well-documented reading of the biography of the first caliph and his position within the Muslim community.
The book combines evidence from Islamic texts with historical examples to demonstrate the foundations upon which Abu Bakr’s caliphate was built and his role in consolidating the pillars of the Islamic state after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Scientific and Cultural Development Endowment Fund undertook the printing in fulfilment of the wishes of the generous donors, who stipulated in their endowment deeds the printing of beneficial books, in addition to the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, and the dissemination of knowledge and the revival of heritage in general. This underscores the distinguished and qualitative role of endowments in supporting and guiding the scientific, cultural, and religious life of the Muslim community.
The Department of Islamic Affairs — the entity responsible for implementing the endowment deeds and for selecting and printing the books — is keen on carefully choosing titles from among the most important works in various fields of Islamic scholarship and ensuring their printing to the highest standards. This allows students, researchers, and the general public to benefit from these publications.The department prints dozens of volumes of seminal works annually.
The author explores various aspects of the personality of Abu Bakr Al Siddiq (may God be pleased with him), beginning with his lineage, titles, attributes, and virtues.
He then delves into his unique characteristics among the Companions, his stances in supporting the Islamic call, and expands upon the issues of leadership, caliphate, and allegiance, as well as the Companions’ positions on these matters.
Source: www.qatar-tribune.com
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Mohamed Imam resumes filming “Shams Al-Zanati 2” at the end of this week.
Sayed KhalafAlla
18/07/2026
Cairo, Egypt – Actor Mohamed Imam resumes filming the movie “Shams El-Zanati 2” this weekend following a hiatus, as he prepares to shoot the remaining scenes and move the project into post-production.
The film is set prior to the events of *Shams Al-Zanati*—starring Adel Emam and released in 1991—taking the story back some 15 years to reveal the origins of the “Shams Al-Zanati” squad in a fresh take inspired by the famous original.
The film features an all-star cast, most notably Mohamed Imam, Hannah El Zahed, Yasmin Raeis, Bassem Samra, Mohamed Tharwat, Mahmoud Abdel-Moghny, Khaled Anwar, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, and Ahmed Abdel-Hamid. It is written by Mohamed El-Dabbah and directed by Ahmed Khaled Moussa, marking a new cinematic collaboration between the director and Mohamed Imam.
Source: www.voiceofemirates.com
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Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Algerian president over orphanage fire
July 19, 2026
JEDDAH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have sent cables of condolences to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune after 11 people died due to a fire at an assisted childhood institution in Algiers, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.
The fire broke out at the childcare facility in Mohammadia, a town in Mascara Province, before dawn on Thursday. Algerian police said it was caused by an electrical spark from an air-conditioning unit which had been in continuous operation during a heatwave, according to Agence France-Presse.
Eleven people died, including a 52-year-old caregiver, and 19 others injured, Algeria’s civil defense has said. The authorities have not said how many children are among the dead.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651459/saudi-arabia
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Saudi envoy joins GCC, Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with US Undersecretary of State
Arab News
July 18, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar joined fellow Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordanian ambassadors in a meeting with Allison Hooker, US under-secretary of state for political affairs, on Friday.
During the meeting, they reaffirmed the importance of close coordination to advance regional security, stability, and prosperity, the Saudi Embassy said in a statement on X.
The Saudi and GCC ambassadors recently also met with the US House Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss matters of mutual interest and developments in the region including Iran and Yemen, the embassy’s statement said.
Source: www.arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651439/saudi-arabia
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Europe
Courts are the last defence against tyranny
19 July 2026
India and the United States are the world’s two biggest democracies, and both of them seem to be in danger. In each of them populist federal governments are deliberately polarising the population, radicalising the politics, and seeking to undermine the impartial rule of law. In other places, such an approach has often ended in tyranny or civil war.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a classic populist leader, although he prefers an austere and religious style to the more florid approach favoured by Donald Trump. Both men control their political parties with an iron hand, both flaunt their religions in public (although only Modi really has one), and both try to eliminate or coopt all rival centres of power.
Both men also have a complete disregard for the truth. Their rhetoric about helping the poor while actually serving the purposes of the rich is the same. Above all, their scapegoating of minorities is the same. For Modi it’s Muslims, for Trump it’s practically anybody non-white. Yet neither man is really preparing to stage a violent takeover.
Muslims, Modi’s target minority in India, account for about one-seventh of Indian’s 1.4 billion people. They are not immigrants. For the most part they are the locally born descendants of families who converted from Hinduism to Islam during the long centuries when most Indian states had Muslim rulers. But Modi treats them as alien and even hostile.
Source: cyprus-mail.com
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https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/07/19/courts-are-the-last-defence-against-tyranny
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Sheffield could run out of Muslim burial plots within just two years
Julia Armstrong
19 Jul 2026
Plans to expand burial capacity throughout Sheffield will see hundreds of additional plots created across four municipal cemeteries.
The council's strategy and resources committee heard yesterday (July 16) that Tinsley Park Cemetery could accommodate 100 additional plots, City Road between 30 and 60, an unspecified number at Stocksbridge, and 200 at Shiregreen.
Ellie Fraser, head of bereavement and coronial services, stated: "Burial capacity in the city is extremely limited, with particular pressure on Muslim burial provision."
The city is projected to exhaust available space by winter 2033 at the latest. The circumstances surrounding Muslim burials are considerably more pressing, due to elevated demand and restricted designated areas.
Source: www.examinerlive.co.uk
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https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/sheffield-could-run-out-muslim-34311596
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Video depicting Italy's Meloni as speaking out against sharia law is AI-generated
July 19, 2026
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has previously spoken about certain interpretations of Islamic culture and European rights and values, but a video circulating online, purportedly showing her saying in English that she will not allow Italy to implement sharia law, is an AI fabrication. The clip appears to have been created using a photo taken during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. A review of footage from that press conference reveals several errors in the AI-generated video, including that Meloni did not speak English at the event.
"We won't allow sharia law to be implemented in Italy. I am Giorgia Meloni. I am a Christian. I am the daughter of Italy," says the Hindi-language caption of an X video shared on July 9, 2026.
The 10-second-long video appears to show the Italian prime minister making the remarks in English, while standing at a podium bearing the German and Italian flags.
While Meloni has previously spoken of there being a "problem of compatibility" between certain interpretations of Islamic culture and the values and rights of European civilisation, the circulating video is an AI fabrication (archived here and here).
Source: factcheck.afp.com
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https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.C2CT664
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UK founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism challenges coreligionists to fight rising hate
By Robert Philpot
19-07-2026
LONDON — When thousands gathered in central London in late spring to protest against antisemitism, Fiyaz Mughal was among their number.
The founder of Muslims Against Antisemitism, Mughal was one of what he readily accepts as only a “handful” of British Muslims at the protest — and the only one to join politicians and community leaders in addressing attendees.
Mughal betrays no doubts about his decision to speak at the demonstration, nor his willingness to call out some fellow Muslims for their apparent public silence in the face of rising antisemitism in the UK.
In April, two Jews were stabbed in a terror attack in the heavily Jewish north London neighborhood of Golders Green — one of more than a dozen antisemitic attacks on synagogues and community centers in recent months, which follow the murder of two Jews at the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester last October.
“I decided to attend and speak at that rally because I have been quite downcast about the way that some within my community have made no attempt to deeply empathize or stand with Jewish communities publicly when it is needed,” Mughal tells The Times of Israel.
Source: www.timesofisrael.com
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13th arrest after terror threat against Barham Islamic event
By Cerys Baker
19-07-2026
Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) launched the investigation following a potential threat linked to a gathering in Suffolk, with all police action focused on the UK Ijtima event, an Islamic congregation held at Shrubland Hall.
A total of 12 people were initially arrested on July 12 and 13, as officers moved swiftly to contain what was believed to be a credible risk to the public.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, said: "This has been a fast-moving investigation after we became aware of information to indicate there was a potential threat towards the Islamic event over the course of last weekend.
Source: www.ipswichstar.co.uk
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https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/26292354.13th-arrest-terror-threat-barham-islamic-event/
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Suffolk Islamic event threat probe continues as eight men released
By Samuel Turner
19-07-2026
Eight men have been released without charge as police continue to investigate an alleged extreme right-wing threat targeting an Islamic event in Suffolk.
The reported threat was directed at the UK Ijtima event, a major religious gathering attended by thousands of people at Shrubland Hall near Ipswich.
The Metropolitan Police arrested 12 people in connection with the investigation on Sunday and Monday, and a 13th individual was arrested on Thursday.
Eight more people have been freed from custody as police investigate an alleged extreme right-wing threat to an Islamic event in Suffolk (Image: PA)
Source: www.london-now.co.uk
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North America
‘Sharia Is Already Here,’ Speaker Tells Plano Mosque Open House
Carlos Turcios
Jul 19, 2026
A Muslim outreach leader told visitors at a Plano mosque Saturday that Sharia is “already here,” describing it as a religious framework Muslims follow through charity, family obligations and personal conduct.
Outside the Islamic Association of Collin County, an Iran-born Christian who said he lived under Sharia offered a starkly different warning. He argued that Islamic law becomes dangerous when it gains political power and is enforced by the state.
The competing messages unfolded during an open house billed as “Understanding Islam & Shariah: Myths vs Facts.” About 100 people attended the event at the mosque.
The free event ran from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Islamic Association of Collin County, also known as Plano Masjid. The Eventbrite listing described it as an opportunity to learn about Islam, ask questions and engage in “respectful, meaningful conversations.”
Source: dallasexpress.com
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https://dallasexpress.com/metroplex/sharia-is-already-here-speaker-tells-plano-mosque-open-house/
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Government recognises pondok, religious schools as strategic partners
19 Jul 2026
Zulkifli says pondok institutions, madrasahs and religious schools are key partners in building a nation that balances physical development with human values.
IPOH: The federal government, particularly the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), continues to recognise pondok institutions, madrasahs and religious schools as key strategic partners in building a nation that balances physical development with human values.
Minister Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the government firmly believes that a nation’s progress should not be measured solely by economic strength or infrastructure, but by the quality of its people, with development guided by human values.
“The government, through its religious agencies, remains committed to working closely with state governments, State Islamic Religious Departments, State Islamic Religious Councils, religious authorities and Islamic educational institutions nationwide.
Source: thesun.my
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Leader: MoU violation once again proved worthlessness and unreliability of U.S. president’s signature
Jul 19, 2026
Pars Today – The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated: “Alongside the epic farewell procession for the Martyr Leader of Iran, the Great Satan’s repeated breaches of the agreement signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States once again demonstrated to everyone how worthless and unreliable the signature of the U.S. president is, and that bullying, hegemonic ambition, and brutality are inseparable elements of the American creed and conduct.”
According to Pars Today, citing IRNA, the full text of the message issued by Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, reads as follows:
Greetings, salutations, and thanks to you. Through your unparalleled, historic epic, which was manifested in your unprecedented rising up to bid farewell to Iran’s martyred Leader, you’ve established a new benchmark in the manifestation of bi’tha and the resolute will of our Islamic-Iranian identity. You have demonstrated this through your magnificent appreciation, loyalty, insight, and extraordinary devotion to the Leader of the Islamic Ummah and the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution.
The warmth of your ardent hearts, your tearful eyes, and the steadfast determination of the tens of millions of people who stretched across tens of kilometers in Tehran, Qom, Mashhad, and other cities and villages, have filled the friends of the Iranian nation and the free people of the world with admiration, while throwing the arrogant enemies of Iran into astonishment, bewilderment, rage, and fright.
Source: parstoday.ir
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US forces warned not to waste a single second before fleeing
Jul 19, 2026
In a post on his X account on Sunday, the lawmaker, in reaction to the latest message of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, wrote, “if American soldiers knew what the wise and resolute Leader meant by "unforgettable lessons," they wouldn't waste a single second before fleeing.”
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution in his message emphasized that now that the US enemy is seeking to incite war and bear heavier costs and greater dishonor, it should know that the noble nation of Iran and the Resistance Front have unforgettable lessons for them, examples of which have been shown in the bravery of the warriors and fighters of Islam and zeal of the brave people of the southern region in these days, Azizi underlined.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/246338/US-forces-warned-not-to-waste-a-single-second-before-fleeing
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Bronx street renamed for NYPD detective killed in Midtown office shooting
By Kristie Keleshian
July 18, 2026
A street renaming was held Saturday in the Bronx to honor Det. Didarul Islam, the New York City Police officer who was killed in a Midtown office shooting last year.
The 36-year-old Bangladeshi immigrant and father of three was working a private security job at 345 Park Ave. on July 28, 2025, when a gunman walked into the lobby with a high-powered rifle and opened fire.
Islam and three others were killed, and the gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Islam was posthumously promoted from officer to detective first grade.
"He was a police officer every command officer hopes for. The one who mentored the new guy, who stayed late to help the neighbor, who never had to be asked twice," said Islam's commanding officer, Muhammad Ashraf. "For Didar, this job was never just a job. It was a calling."
Source: www.cbsnews.com
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https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/detective-didarul-islam-way-the-bronx/
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Choosing humanity in divided times
07/18/26
As antisemitism and Islamophobia rise, and conversations about both are increasingly fraught, Jewish and Muslim leaders took the stage at the AFT convention with a shared message: Silence will not keep communities safe. Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and Debbie Almontaser, founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group, joined AFT President Randi Weingarten for a candid discussion about hate, solidarity and how educators can create space for disagreement that builds empathy instead of deepening division.
“What we wanted to do today with this panel is to model a conversation across difference and even disagreement,” Weingarten said. “In the absence of these kinds of conversations—conversations around race, around political views, around religion, around geography—two things happen: We lose our skills to build connections. And … writ large, we become unable to see the humanity of others. And when this happens, the bonds—even bonds of people that used to be friends—just get destroyed.”
For Spitalnick and Almontaser, the work of building connection is personal. They each spoke about family experiences with prejudice, migration and unexpected solidarity shaping their commitment to fighting hate.
Almontaser recalled that in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, a rabbi invited her to his synagogue to help congregants identify concrete ways to support their Muslim neighbors. That visit led to an escort program in which Jewish congregants accompanied Muslim families to school, medical appointments and other destinations across New York City, offering protection and solidarity at a time when many were afraid to leave their homes.
Source: www.aft.org
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https://www.aft.org/news/choosing-humanity-divided-times
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Africa
Kwara reaffirms commitment to reducing teenage pregnancy
July 19, 2026
The Kwara government has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing teenage pregnancies and improving health outcomes across the state.
The state Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, stated this on Saturday during a two-day programme on the finalisation of the 2026 Joint Annual Review (JAR) of the health sector in Ilorin.
Ms El-Imam said the government, in collaboration with development partners, had implemented programmes to reduce teenage pregnancy and child marriage.
Source: gazettengr.com
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https://gazettengr.com/kwara-reaffirms-commitment-to-reducing-teenage-pregnancy/
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POWA reaffirms commitment to members’ welfare
July 19, 2026
The president of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mutiat Disu, has reaffirmed the association’s commitment to uplifting the lives of its members.
She said the association’s leadership would continue to do so by helping the needy, exploring new opportunities for economic empowerment, prioritising mental health and emotional wellbeing, as well as skills acquisition.
Drs Disu, who gave the reassurance at the grand finale/gala night of the three-day annual POWA convention held in Abuja on Saturday night, also reaffirmed the association’s commitment to supporting widows and vulnerable families in society.
“So we will continue to strengthen their commitment by helping the needy, exploring new opportunities for economic empowerment, and prioritising their mental and emotional well-being.
Source: gazettengr.com
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https://gazettengr.com/powa-reaffirms-commitment-to-members-welfare/
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Flooding: Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu place emergency response agencies on alert
July 19, 2026
The Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu governments say they have intensified measures to mitigate flooding through improved preparedness, evacuation plans and public sensitisation campaigns.
They said the measures were part of the proactive response to the annual flood predictions and their commitment to safeguarding lives, property and critical infrastructure across the states.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Environment, Sylvester Nwite, said the state’s emergency response agencies had been placed on alert, while vulnerable communities identified through risk assessments had been earmarked for possible evacuation should floodwaters exceed safe levels.
“Temporary shelters have been designated in strategic locations to accommodate displaced persons, with relevant ministries, departments and agencies directed to coordinate emergency response efforts,” Mr Nwite stated.
He urged residents living in flood-prone areas to heed early warning messages and cooperate with emergency management officials whenever evacuation became necessary.
Source: gazettengr.com
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https://gazettengr.com/flooding-anambra-ebonyi-enugu-place-emergency-response-agencies-on-alert/
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2027: Group asks ADC, Atiku to drop Amaechi as vice-presidential candidate
Ambali Abdulkabeer
July 18, 2026
The Southern Political Progressives Amalgamation Forum has asked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to drop former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 election.
In a statement jointly signed by Anga Fidelis, Eniafe Ayomide, and Johnson Iheanacho on Sunday, the group accused Mr Amaechi of desperation, saying that he lacked the grassroots electoral strength required to win the election.
“If the ADC is serious and does not intend to shatter the hopes of millions of Nigerians who see the party as a breath of fresh air and hope for a new and better beginning, it has to select a credible candidate from the Southern part of the country, one who is not a political liability, but who can galvanise the votes required to win elections,” the group said.
Source: gazettengr.com
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