Assam: Over 1,200 Bengali Muslim homes demolished as state continues eviction drive

New Age Islam News Bureau

08 January 2026

The homes of about 1,200 Bengali-speaking Muslims were demolished during an eviction drive in Assam on January 5 and 6. | Screenshot via Himanta Biswa Sarma/Facebook

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·         Assam: Over 1,200 Bengali Muslim homes demolished as state continues eviction drive

·         UN warns of intensifying racial discrimination by Israel against Palestinians in occupied West Bank

·         OIC calls emergency meeting after Israel recognizes Somaliland

·         Police lie in UK to cover up enforcing Islamic demands

·         The Texas Chapter Of The Council On American-Islamic Relations Welcomes Scrapping Of Keller Council’s Anti-Muslim ‘Sharia’ Resolution

·         Christian Genocide: God Is Working Through Trump – Dachomo, The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

·         Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia urges civil servants to uphold integrity, reject corruption

·         Seminar Held on Implementation of Amir al-Momineen’s Decrees in Bamyan, Afghanistan

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India

·         Delhi demolition drive: ‘Why action only against Muslims, or is it because it’s a mosque?’ asks Maulana Sajid Rashidi

·         Owaisi claims portion of Delhi mosque razed, blames 'black Waqf Act', vows to move SC

·         ‘They went to buy medicine…’, ‘he was asleep’: Families of five men arrested for violence during demolition in Old Delhi

·         Verify claims of encroachments near Jama Masjid, HC directs MCD

·         BMC polls: Several Muslims in Mumbai slam AIMIM leader Waris Pathan’s ‘burqa-clad mayor’ remark, say it only results in polarising votes

·         J-K CM slams Hindu groups, BJP after they celebrate closure of Vaishno Devi medical college

·         30-35 people threw stones, snatched police loud hailer: FIR on violence over demolition drive near Delhi masjid

·         Growth of the Muslim League in Odisha

·         Shiv Sena candidate Salim Qureshi attacked in Bandra ahead of BMC polls

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Mideast

·         Jihad warns against UNRWA decisions, deeming them prelude to ending agency's operations

·         Iraq now largely at peace, UN says, with stronger security and a development drive underway

·         Lebanese army says it has achieved goal of state monopoly on arms in the south in ‘effective and tangible way’

·         Yemen’s Aidarous Al-Zubaidi fled to Abu Dhabi, says Joint Forces Command of the Coalition

·         Iran unrest persists, top judge warns protesters

·         Israeli airstrike kills two in Gaza, Israel says targeted Hamas militant

·         Syrian government vows to protect Kurds in Aleppo, accuses SDF of planting explosives

·         Syrian authorities arrest 3 members of pro-Assad armed group in Hama

·         Israel issues over 3,000 tenders for E1 settlement in Jerusalem

·         Transport, parks authority holds event marking Rajab Friday, anniversary of Martyr of Qur’an

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Arab World

·         Saudi minister discusses peace efforts with Sudan leader

·         Yemen Airways launches direct flights between Socotra and Jeddah

·         300,000 Saudis quit smoking in 2025 as health push gains momentum

·         Minzal brings Saudi traditions to life in Diriyah

·         Jazan festival transforms waterfront into art gallery

·         KSrelief distributes winter clothes, food in Yemen, Gaza

·         Playing to win: Qiddiya City begins to welcome the world

·         Literary festival brings writers, readers to Taif

·         Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Singapore presents credentials to president

·         Riyadh hospital receives rare certification placing it among top hospitals worldwide in stroke care

·         Umm Al-Qura University invents smart road barrier

·         Visitors to explore craft, innovation, trade at Jeddah Gold Exhibition

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Europe

·         Zelensky asks US to kidnap Chechen leader

·         Azerbaijan and Palestine: diplomacy without illusions or sentiment

·         Reform UK picks Muslim ex-lawyer Laila Cunningham to run for London mayor

·         Zelensky says he does not have clear security pledge from allies

·         Russian attacks leave two regions with widespread blackouts, Ukraine says

·         UK says it provided ‘support’ to US seizure of Russian tanker

·         Dunfermline's Ahmadiyya Muslims distribute food to homeless

·         London Muslim youth group busy with New Year's Day clean-up

·         Trump actively discussing potentially buying Greenland, White House says

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North America

·         CAIR-MN, Community Leaders to Respond to ICE-Involved Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

·         Trump withdraws US from key climate treaty and dozens of other groups

·         ‘Dream Military’: Trump proposes $1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, up from $1 trillion; links increase to tariff income

·         Mehdi Hasan calls for Elon Musk's 'prosecution'; Tesla boss fires back

·         How could Donald Trump 'take' Greenland?

·         US will ‘fix’ Cuba and Nicaragua – Republican senator

·         Trump speaks with Colombian president amid diplomatic tensions

·         CIA officer-turned-Soviet spy dies in US prison

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Africa

·         False, Reckless and Misleading – Malami Denies Attempt to Influence Judge

·         Retired Army Chief Files Legal Action Over Terror Financing Claims

·         Family raises the alarm over disappearance of Zaria Islamic scholar

·         Christianity and my dialogue with complex religious questions (2)

·         Lagos Muslim Community to Reclaim Great Nigeria Insurance Land

·         Gov. Makinde Confirms 5 Dead During Bandit Attack On National Park

·         Peter Obi: Datti Baba-Ahmed Describes LP Defector as Political Travellers

·         DSS Monitoring Kuje Prison, Plotting To Rearrest Me – Malami

·         Burkina Faso Foils Fresh Assassination Plot Against Traoré

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Southeast Asia

·         Anwar receives Turkey’s highest state honour for strengthening bilateral ties

·         PM Anwar hails SETA-ISIS Malaysia pact to strengthen bilateral ties

·         Indonesia Prepares Two Development Schemes for Hajj Village in Mecca

·         Aceh recovery to be sped up as Ramadan approaches: Ministry

·         DPM Zahid tells youth leaders to accept criticism, avoid ‘shortcuts’ over disagreements

·         Yet another 36 pilgrims stranded: Motac makes bank guarantee compulsory for umrah agencies

·         DPM Zahid calls for powerful new disaster council to fix outdated crisis response

·         New Malaysian passport and MyKad with stronger security coming mid-2026, says home minister

·         Anwar thanks Erdogan for warm hospitality during official Turkey visit

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South Asia

·         Minister Stresses Urgent Need for Structured Nutrition Services in Country

·         ‘July fighters abandoned by NCP during crisis’

·         Seat-sharing knot tightens for Jamaat, IAB

·         Jamal Calls for Maintaining Professional Conduct

·         Chinese Researchers Visit National Museum to Boost Scientific Cultural Cooperation

·         Shaheen, Al Jisr Company Head Discuss Labor Cooperation

·         Thirteen Health Centres Renovated in Ghor Province

·         MoU Signed to Support Returnees, Host Communities

·         EC opens law and order coordination cell ahead of polls, referendum

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/assam-1200-bengali-muslim-homes-demolished/d/138357            

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Assam: Over 1,200 Bengali Muslim homes demolished as state continues eviction drive

Scroll Staff

January 8, 2026

The homes of about 1,200 Bengali-speaking Muslims were demolished during an eviction drive in Assam on January 5 and 6. | Screenshot via Himanta Biswa Sarma/Facebook

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Around 1,200 homes of Bengali Muslim families in Assam’s Sonitpur district were demolished in an eviction drive carried out earlier this week.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the evictions, carried out on January 5 and 6, were aimed at clearing alleged encroachments from around 650 hectares of land inside the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary.

The evictions were conducted in areas under the Tezpur Sadar and Dhekiajuli revenue circles, including Jamuktol, Arimari, Siyalichar, Baghetapu, Galatidubi, Lathimari, Kundulichar, Purba Dubramari and Batulichar, PTI reported.

The alleged encroachers had constructed houses and cultivated crops inside the wildlife sanctuary, the news agency quoted an unidentified official as saying.

Ahead of the eviction, most residents had demolished their homes and left the area themselves. However, many had stayed back due to the severe cold, requesting the authorities to give them time to harvest their crops.

“Despite the encroachers’ request not to evict them in the ongoing winter season, they will not be excused by administration from the ongoing eviction drive as they were illegally staying in the forest areas,” PTI quoted Sonitpur District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das as saying.

In February as well, the administration had cleared 2,099 hectares of land in the wildlife sanctuary and nearby villages in one of the state’s largest eviction drive.

Since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in Assam in 2016, multiple demolition drives have been conducted across districts, mostly targeting areas populated by Bengali-speaking Muslims.

Sarma claimed on Monday that the government has reclaimed close to 1.5 lakh bighas of land in the course of the eviction drives, Northeast Now reported.

Many of those displaced have claimed that their families had been living in the areas for decades, and that their ancestors had settled in the areas after their lands in riverine areas were washed away because of erosion by the Brahmaputra river.

In July, one person was killed and several others injured after the police opened fire at protesters amid clashes at the site of an eviction drive in the Betbari area of Goalpara district.

Source: scroll.in

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UN warns of intensifying racial discrimination by Israel against Palestinians in occupied West Bank

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

January 07, 2026

Israeli employees in high-vis jackets look on as pre-fabricated structures used as shops by Palestinian merchants are removed and confiscated from the entrance of occupied Palestinian West Bank village of Al-Samu. (File/AFP)

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NEW YORK CITY: A report by the UN Human Rights Office published on Wednesday details the “asphyxiating impact” of Israeli laws, policies and practices on nearly every aspect of Palestinian life in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

It warns that Israel is violating obligations under international law that require states to prohibit and eradicate racial segregation and apartheid.

The report describes systemic discrimination against Palestinians in the territory as a “long-standing concern,” but notes that the conditions have sharply deteriorated since at least December 2022. It presents extensive examples showing how the daily lives of Palestinians have become increasingly constrained and insecure.

“Israeli authorities treat Israeli settlers and Palestinians residing in the West Bank under two distinct bodies of law and policies, resulting in unequal treatment on a range of critical issues, including movement and access to resources such as land and water,” it states.

“Palestinians continue to be subjected to large-scale confiscation of land and deprivation of access to resources. This has had the effect of dispossessing them of their lands and homes, alongside other forms of systemic discrimination, including criminal prosecution in military courts during which their due process and fair trial rights are systematically violated.”

The report concludes there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Israeli policies of separation, segregation and subordination are designed to maintain the oppression and domination of Palestinians, and intended to be permanent.

“Acts committed with the intention to maintain such a policy amount to a violation of Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which prohibits racial segregation and apartheid,” it warns.

“Since Oct. 7, 2023, the government of Israel further expanded the use of unlawful force, arbitrary detention and torture, repression of civil society and undue restrictions on media freedoms, severe movement restrictions, settlement expansion and related violations in the occupied West Bank, which has marked an unprecedented deterioration of the human rights situation there.”

The report adds that this deterioration is compounded by the continuation and escalation of settler violence, which is often carried out with the “acquiescence, support and participation” of Israeli security forces.

The system of military justice applied to Palestinians provides little or no human rights protections, in stark contrast to Israeli civil law, which affords far greater protections to settlers.

“The military legal system is a significant tool in controlling Palestinians in the occupied West Bank,” according to the report.

It documents patterns of “unlawful killings” and other forms of “state and setter violence,” citing numerous cases in which lethal force was deliberately used when unwarranted, in a discriminatory manner and with apparent intent to kill.

On Jan. 28, 2025, security forces shot 10-year-old Saddam Hussein Rajab in the abdomen. He died from his injuries on Feb. 7. Video footage showed the boy standing empty-handed at the entrance of a building in Tulkarem when he was shot. Israeli forces initially claimed the boy “was messing with the ground” in a suspicious manner, before announcing an investigation.

On Feb. 9, 2025, security forces killed 23-year-old Sondos Shalabi, who was eight months pregnant. They said she had been shot because she was “looking suspiciously at the ground” but acknowledged she was unarmed and no explosive devices were found nearby.

The UN report adds that “discriminatory movement restrictions” severely undermine the human rights of Palestinians by infringing on the right to work, blocking access to land, and causing widespread financial hardship.

It also notes that roads built exclusively for Israeli settlers, connecting settlements, have resulted in the fragmentation of Palestinian communities.

In addition, thousands of Palestinians have been evicted from their homes across the West Bank. The report said this might amount to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime.

Palestinians are further deprived of their natural resources. The report describes how Israeli authorities confiscate and demolish Palestinian water infrastructure while diverting flows to settlements. This forces the Palestinian Authority to purchase large quantities of water from an Israeli government company that extracts water from the occupied West Bank.

“There is a systematic asphyxiation of the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank,” said the UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk.

“Whether accessing water, school, rushing to hospital, visiting family or friends, or harvesting olives, every aspect of life for Palestinians in the West Bank is controlled and curtailed by Israel’s discriminatory laws, policies and practices.

“This is a particularly severe form of racial discrimination and segregation that resembles the kind of apartheid system we have seen before.

“Every negative trend documented in the report has not only continued but accelerated. And every day this is allowed to continue, the consequences worsen for Palestinians.”

Impunity for violations remains widespread, the report found, including violence committed by Israeli security forces and settlers. Of more than 1,500 killings of Palestinians recorded between Jan. 1, 2017, and Sep. 30, 2025, Israeli authorities opened just 112 investigations, resulting in only one conviction.

Meanwhile thousands of Palestinians remain arbitrarily detained by Israeli authorities, most of them under “administrative detention” without charge or trial.

Illegal settlement expansions continue unabated; Israeli authorities and settlers have appropriated tens of thousands of hectares of Palestinian land, largely for settlements and outposts that are deemed illegal under international law.

The report cites the recent approval by Israel’s Security Cabinet of 19 new settlements, a move that Israeli officials have said is intended to block the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.

“The Israeli authorities must repeal all laws, policies and practices that perpetuate systemic discrimination against Palestinians based on race, religion or ethnic origin,” Turk said.

He called on Israel to end its unlawful presence in occupied Palestinian territory, dismantle all settlements, evacuate settlers, and respect the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628576/middle-east

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OIC calls emergency meeting after Israel recognizes Somaliland

January 07, 2026

Diplomats attend an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. (File/AFP)

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JEDDAH: The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation announced that an extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers would take place in order to discuss the rapidly escalating developments in Somalia.

The meeting will be held at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah on Saturday.

It will discuss Israel’s recognition of the so-called Somaliland region as an independent state, a move the organization described as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The emergency meeting aims to coordinate a unified Islamic position on the issue and to reaffirm full support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with international law and relevant OIC resolutions.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628542/saudi-arabia

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Police lie in UK to cover up enforcing Islamic demands

7 January 2026

Tim Dieppe responds after leaked minutes from a safety advisory group meeting show that the police procured false evidence to justify banning Israeli fans from coming to support their football team

The Sunday Times reported this week that leaked minutes from a safety advisory group meeting show that the police procured false evidence to justify banning Israeli fans from coming to support their team against Aston Villa in November.

It was only after the decision was challenged that evidence to support the decision to ban Israeli fans was sought. In fact, as we now know, it was threats from militant Muslims that the police were concerned about. This sorry story shows once again that Islam is growing in influence in the UK. This time to the extent that the police will lie rather than confront Islamic demands.

False claims about Israeli fans

West Midlands Police made claims about the behaviour of Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters at a game in Amsterdam in November 2024. However, police in the Netherlands dismissed these claims as untrue or misleading. West Midlands police exaggerated the police response to disorder in Amsterdam, increasing the claimed officers deployed from 1,200 officers to 5,000 officers.

However, a report from Amsterdam Ministry of Justice makes clear that the violence was targeting Israeli supporters rather than from Israeli supporters, and says that “Amsterdam police deployed more than 800 officers.”

Threat ratings altered

Police threat ratings were changed to upgrade the threat to Muslim Communities from ‘Medium’ to ‘High’, and to downgrade the risk to Israeli fans from ‘High’ to ‘Medium’ in the month before the match took place. The Jewish Community initially had a ‘Medium’ threat rating, but were not rated in the final analysis. There was absolutely no justification for these changes.

Local Muslim campaign

It was leaders in the Muslim community who campaigned for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to be banned from attending the match in Birmingham. The local MP, Ayoub Khan, went so far as to demand the match be cancelled, launching a petition to this effect. Khan was elected to Parliament in the general election in 2024 as an independent candidate backed by The Muslim Vote. Part of the rationale for cancelling the match cited in the petition text was that Aston in Birmingham, is a “predominantly Muslim community” and that therefore allowing Israeli fans to attend “poses a real risk of tensions within the community and disorder.” Police have confirmed that they had discussions with Khan, but have denied that there was any political pressure on the force.

Threats to Israeli fans – not from them

It was only when West Midlands Police’s chief constable, Craig Guildford appeared before the home affairs select committee this week that he admitted that he was aware that “vigilante groups” from the local community were planning to attack Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. He refused to apologise for not mentioning this before.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike O’Hara said: “We got a lot of information or intelligence to suggest that people were going to actively seek out Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and would seek violence towards them.” What were they doing with this intelligence? They knew people were planning to commit violent crimes. Did they arrest anyone or take any other action? It seems not. Rather they made up reasons not to allow Israeli fans to attend the match.

So, the decision to ban the Israeli fans was not due to the threat posed by them, which is the case the police made in public. It was actually due to the threat to the Israeli fans from the local community. This was a case of deliberately seeking to blame the victims rather than admit the awful truth that they could not contemplate trying to protect Israeli fans from the local militant Muslims.

Police chief should resign or be sacked

The pressure on Craig Guildford to resign is mounting. His position is clearly untenable. He has deliberately misled the public and acted to avoid upsetting the militant Muslim community that he is supposed to be policing. If he doesn’t resign, the Home Secretary has the power to dismiss him. Pressure on her to do so is also mounting. I will be surprised if he remains in place for another week.

Islam is the problem

Meanwhile, few people are prepared to name Islam as the real problem here. The BBC managed to put out a 976-word report on this story without a single mention of ‘Islam’ or ‘Muslim’. The BBC headline reads “No conspiracy over Israeli football fans ban, West Midlands Police say”. It reads like an attempt to defend the police decision.

But let’s be honest here. Islam is the real problem. We have a Muslim MP, Muslim councillors, and local militant Muslims who wanted Israeli fans banned. Some of these local militant Muslims, we now know, and the police knew beforehand, were planning acts of violence towards Israeli fans. Aston according to the latest data is 78% Muslim. According to the last census, some areas are over 90% Muslim.

But we have seen the facts on the ground and they are deeply connected to Islam’s teachings. Islam, as I have argued before, is not a religion of peace. While there are many peaceful Muslims, the religion itself, as judged by its texts and the example of its founder, is not peaceful. Furthermore, as I have also argued before, Islam is antisemitic. This explains the hatred of Jews and plans to commit violence towards Jewish fans. It also explains attempts by Muslims, including Ayoub Khan MP, to downplay the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023.

The police consulted various mosques in Birmingham with a documented history of antisemitism. When questioned about this in Parliament the police chief denied that he was aware of this antisemitism. This denial is untenable. The police cannot claim to be unaware of the antisemitic teaching in these mosques.

Who runs Birmingham?

The question now is who runs Birmingham. It is clearly not the police. The police, as it stands, will do anything to avoid having to confront the local militant Muslim community. They will even fabricate evidence and lie about the threats to avoid this. The fact is, then, that it is the militant Muslims who run Birmingham. When they raise a threat, the authorities capitulate.

Here, then, is the truth that gives the lie to that well-worn phrase that “diversity is our strength”. Diversity of this kind is our downfall. The police capitulating to local Muslims is the fruit of multiculturalism.

Will there be change?

The hope has to be that this whole sorry story provokes some change. First is the resignation or removal of Craig Guildford from West Midlands Police. This has to serve as an example to police both in West Midlands and beyond. Second, we need some frank and honest conversations. Are politicians prepared to back up the police to enforce the law without fear or favour? If not then we will see more stories like this in the coming years. Perhaps more resignations, but no real change.

Change will only come when mainstream politicians decide to get serious about enforcing the law fairly. No more arresting street preachers for offending Muslims because that is easier than arresting the Muslims who are actually committing crimes. No more two-tier policing. No more capitulating to militant Muslim threats.

At present, though, the government is intent on adopting an official definition of ‘anti-Muslim hatred.’ Imagine how much worse policing will be if a definition like this starts to guide their thinking? Already they dare not name Islam! Already they avoid policing militant Muslims. An official definition will only embolden militant Muslims further and exacerbate these problems.

Sadly, therefore, I am not optimistic that this will provoke the change we need. Very few politicians are even prepared to name Islam as the problem at present. Until this changes, militant Muslims will only get bolder and increase in influence, and the police will continue to avoid confronting them and will continue arrest or blame others to justify their actions.

Source: christianconcern.com

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The Texas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Welcomes Scrapping of Keller Council’s Anti-Muslim ‘Sharia’ Resolution

January 7, 2026

The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today proposed anti-Muslim resolution targeting “sharia,” the religious principles followed by Muslims.

Manufactured anti-sharia hysteria has long been promoted by anti-Muslim extremists to stoke fear and division.

In a statement, CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll said:

“We welcome the Keller City Council’s decision to abandon the original version of this discriminatory, unnecessary and divisive proposal. These anti-Muslim publicity stunts have nothing to do with real governance and everything to do with political posturing. They exist solely to marginalize American Muslim communities and legitimize anti-Muslim bigotry. Local officials should be focused on serving all residents, not promoting debunked conspiracy theories.

“Like canon law for Catholics and halacha for Orthodox Jews, sharia refers to the rules that Muslims follow, including praying five times a day, fasting in Ramadan, giving in charity, and following the laws of the land in which they live. Keller’s Muslim residents and the broader American Muslim community will continue to do so, God willing.”

He noted that last year, CAIR-Texas called Governor Greg Abbott “increasingly deranged” after he bizarrely demanded that state district attorneys investigate “sharia courts,” a longstanding anti-Muslim conspiracy theory.

Also last year, CAIR’s national office distributed a formal congressional briefing memo “Weaponized Islamophobia: The Return of the Anti-Sharia Hoax,” to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, along with a companion educational document titled “Sharia in American Life.”

Carroll said CAIR-Texas is urging community members who experience or witness anti-Muslim harassment to report incidents to law enforcement and to contact CAIR for legal assistance.

Last year, CAIR released its 2025 Civil Rights Report, Unconstitutional Crackdowns, which reveals that Islamophobia remains at record-high levels nationwide.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.  

Source: cair.com

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Christian Genocide: God Is Working Through Trump – Dachomo, The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)

January 7, 2026

By Justina Otio

The Regional Chairman of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State, Rev Ezekiel Dachomo, has stated that he has reported the case of Christian genocide to the International Criminal Court in heaven.

Speaking in a video shared by a conflict journalist on Wednesday, Dachomo claimed that angels are gradually dealing with the matter using the United States President Donald Trump.

Naija News reports that the cleric had earlier threatened to drag the Nigerian government to the ICC over the killing of Christians in the state and other parts of the Middle Belt region of the country.

Dachomo had disclosed that he had already compiled a comprehensive list of the number of Christians murdered by Islamic extremists and Fulani bandits, as well as churches destroyed since 2010, and would present them to the ICC and the United States government to take action.

Speaking in the video, Dachomo said since he had already reported the matter to the heavenly courts, the angels would soon descend and do the needful, while the earthly ICC also has his petitions and will act accordingly.

He said, “I have already reported the case to the court in heaven, and very soon, all those who have a hand in genocide will never know peace in their lives. God is working through Trump through the International Court of Justice and justice is being released to the nation today. With the coming of Trump, things are taking shape and we thank him for what he is doing in Nigeria.”

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/07/christian-genocide-god-is-working-through-trump-dachomo/

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Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia urges civil servants to uphold integrity, reject corruption

08 Jan 2026

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today advised all civil servants to uphold integrity and trust in carrying out their duties for the benefit of the people and the nation.

In a Facebook post shared on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s official page, His Majesty stated that civil servants are the backbone of national administration and play a vital role in ensuring that government policies and plans are implemented effectively.

The King emphasised the importance of a work culture rooted in honesty, transparency, and efficiency, while rejecting any form of abuse of power, corruption, or misconduct that could erode public trust in state institutions.

The advice was conveyed when His Majesty granted an audience to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar at Istana Bukit Tunku here today.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today advised all civil servants to uphold integrity and trust in carrying out their duties for the benefit of the people and the nation.

In a Facebook post shared on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s official page, His Majesty stated that civil servants are the backbone of national administration and play a vital role in ensuring that government policies and plans are implemented effectively.

The King emphasised the importance of a work culture rooted in honesty, transparency, and efficiency, while rejecting any form of abuse of power, corruption, or misconduct that could erode public trust in state institutions.

The advice was conveyed when His Majesty granted an audience to Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar at Istana Bukit Tunku here today.

During the meeting, Sultan Ibrahim was briefed on current public service issues, including efforts to strengthen governance and institutional accountability.

In a separate engagement at the same venue, His Majesty also granted an audience to Royal Malaysia Police Special Branch director Datuk Ibrahim Darus. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/08/king-urges-civil-servants-to-uphold-integrity-reject-corruption/204682

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Seminar Held on Implementation of Amir al-Momineen’s Decrees in Bamyan, Afghanistan

January 8, 2026

KABUL: An educational seminar titled “The Responsibility of Poets, Writers, and Artists in Preventing Harmful Customs and Implementing Decree No. 17 of the Amir al-Momineen and the Poetry Regulation Law” was held by the Bamyan Directorate of Information and Culture.

The seminar was attended by poets, cultural figures, artists, and representatives of various government departments, the Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement on Wednesday.

Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of implementing Decree No. 17 of the Amir al-Momineen, reducing harmful and undesirable customs, and strengthening the role of cultural figures in social reform.

Participants were briefed in detail on the Poetry Regulation Law and the contents of Decree No. 17, highlighting their objectives and practical application.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/seminar-held-on-implementation-of-amir-al-momineens-decrees-in-bamyan/

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India

 

Delhi demolition drive: ‘Why action only against Muslims, or is it because it’s a mosque?’ asks Maulana Sajid Rashidi

Jan 7, 2026

Delhi demolition drive: ‘Why action only against Muslims, or is it because it’s a mosque?’ asks Maulana Sajid RashidiDelhi demolition drive: ‘Why action only against Muslims, or is it because it’s a mosque?’ asks Maulana Sajid Rashidi

NEW DELHI: On the anti-encroachment demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, Turkman Gate on Wednesday, All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi raised concerns over the selective targeting of the mosque.Maulana said, “When such encroachments are removed, these things are bound to happen. The biggest question is how our judiciary finds the time to pass judgments on these matters and entertain such cases when we have 3.5 crore cases pending.”

He highlighted similar encroachments elsewhere, noting, “Near this mosque, in the Ramlila Maidan, there is also a temple. There is encroachment there, too. No action is taken against it. If you go a little further from Delhi Gate, near Maulana Azad Medical College, there is a temple built on the road. A temple is built right on the road. No action is taken against it. You will find these encroachments in many places. Why was action taken here? Because it was a mosque. That's why action was taken against it. If it had been a temple, perhaps no action would have been taken. Many temples are built on the road.”

He added that his questions were based on facts, urging both the judiciary and the police to consider why such action appears to target only Muslims or mosques.

Rashidi also condemned the stone-pelting that occurred during the drive, saying, “I condemn the stone-pelting that happened; it shouldn't have happened because the order is, after all, from the judiciary, from the court, so such things shouldn't happen in light of the court's order. They should understand why the action is being taken. But the questions I have raised are also based on facts. The judiciary should also think about this, and the police should also think about why this action is taken only against Muslims or because it's a mosque?.”

Delhi Police have arrested five people in connection with a stone-pelting incident that occurred near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, Turkman Gate, during an anti-encroachment demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Sources said Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi was present in the area when the incident took place.

The operation began soon after midnight, with around 17 bulldozers, excavators, and other heavy machinery deployed at the site. Authorities said the drive was meticulously planned, with the area divided into several zones under the supervision of senior officials. Rapid Action Force personnel were stationed at strategic locations, and additional police units were deployed to maintain law and order.

Traffic advisories were issued in advance, warning commuters of possible congestion around Ramlila Maidan and nearby roads. Diversions were also put in place to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

Source: indiatimes.com

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Owaisi claims portion of Delhi mosque razed, blames 'black Waqf Act', vows to move SC

08 Jan 2026

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has alleged that a portion of a Waqf-owned property of a mosque in Delhi was demolished and blamed the "black" Waqf (amendment) Act.

An anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi mosque in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan area on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday triggered violence as many people hurled stones at police personnel amid a social media post claiming that the mosque, opposite the Turkman Gate, was being demolished.

Five police personnel were injured in stone pelting, prompting the police to lob tear gas shells.

"At 1:30 AM, the property of a mosque near Turkaman Gate was razed. It is a Waqf property as per a gazette notification of 1970. The demolition drive is just the beginning after passing the Waqf Act in Parliament. People should understand the happenings in the country and give a strong message to the ruling parties through their votes," Owaisi said addressing a rally on Wednesday for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar civic polls.

He alleged that the Delhi High Court had passed an incorrect order despite a Gazette notification issued in 1970 declaring the property as Waqf land.

"The High Court decided the title of the mosque when it had no right to do so. The Delhi Waqf Board also failed to take appropriate legal action by not filing a review petition," he said, adding that the matter would now be taken to the Supreme Court.

Owaisi further alleged that the Waqf Act, which he termed a "black law," was being used to seize Muslim religious properties.

"This law was made by PM Narendra Modi with the support of Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and Chandrababu Naidu. It is being used to snatch our mosques and graveyards. What happened in Delhi is only the beginning," he said.

He appealed to voters in Maharashtra to oppose Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, DeputyCMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar in the upcoming civic body elections on January 15.

"People must vote against those responsible for this Act and stand with AIMIM if they want to protect their religious places," he said.

Speaking about constitutional values, Owaisi said the Preamble of the Constitution begins with “We, the people” and not “Bharat Mata.”

Referring to the celebration of 150 years of Vande Mataram in Parliament, he said no one spoke about Dr B R Ambedkar’s emphasis on freedom of thought, faith, expression, and religion.

"Ambedkar wrote that this country belongs to everyone, but nobody stood up to say that," Owaisi said.

He also said that the Constitution permits Muslims to worship Allah.

"No Muslim MP said this in Parliament, but I did. I said we will say only ‘La ilaha illallah’. Others bowed their heads, but I did not compromise with the fundamentals of my religion or the Constitution," he added.

Maharashtra AIMIM president and former MP Imtiaz Jaleel, who also addressed the rally, said the party lost the previous Lok Sabha elections due to internal divisions.

"The same group is active again in the municipal elections. This time, we are fighting on two fronts — against our political opponents and against people from our own side," he said.

Referring to the recent attack on his car, Jaleel said the AIMIM would not be intimidated.

"Those involved in illegal businesses think they can scare us, but we completed the rally. The police must take action, and we are closely watching the case. We will not be afraid of those who have illegal businesses," he said.

Owaisi also commented on the incident, demanding strict action against those involved.

"I will visit that area in the next few days. I am not afraid. I always go where people challenge me,” he said.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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‘They went to buy medicine…’, ‘he was asleep’: Families of five men arrested for violence during demolition in Old Delhi

by Sakshi Chand , Upasika Singhal

January 8, 2026

Mohammad Areeb’s sister was searching for her brother in the early hours of Wednesday when she learnt that he had been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out during the demolition drive near Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque at Turkman Gate in Central Delhi.

Speaking to The Indian Express, she said Areeb runs a café near Jama Masjid and had been returning home around 2.30 am after closing it for the night. “He was supposed to pick up some milk and groceries on his way back,” she said.

She said Areeb had called her twice — once at 2.45 am and again around 2.50 am — telling her he would be home in a few minutes.

On Wednesday evening, the family waited outside Turkman Gate police station, hoping for news. Areeb’s elder brother said: “We run the café together. He was with me till 2.30 am. We left at the same time — I went straight home, while he stayed back to buy groceries.”

Post midnight Tuesday, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi moved in with bulldozers to raze encroachments next to the mosque after the Delhi High Court declined a plea for an interim stay on its proposed action. Violence erupted about half an hour after bulldozers started razing the illegal structures on public land around the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque. Some 30-35 people who had gathered there raised slogans and threw stones. Five men were arrested.

In Chandni Mahal, the younger sister of one of the arrested men, Sameer, alleged: “He had attended a wedding near Mahila Haat and returned around 11.30 pm… He went to bed. Around 2.30 am, police came, pulled him out of bed, and took him away.”

His “only mistake”, she claimed, was “sharing a video asking people to gather near the mosque”. Sameer works in a photo framing shop in Daryaganj.

Nearby, in Gali Gariyan, two brothers — Mohammad Kashif and Mohammad Kaif — were picked up by the police from near their home, said their family. “The brothers had gone out to get medicine for their mother because she was coughing. They were picked up by the police then…,” a member of the family, who gave his name as Aadib, said.

“Both boys are well educated and employed. They have been running the family since their father died 13 years ago,” he added.

Police officers said Kaif is preparing for chartered accountancy exams, and his elder brother Kashif works at Safdarjung Hospital.

Source: indianexpress.com

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Verify claims of encroachments near Jama Masjid, HC directs MCD

Jan 8, 2026

New Delhi: The high court on Wednesday directed Municipal Corporation of Delhi to conduct within two months a survey of parks and public places near Jama Masjid to identify encroachments, if any, and act against offenders.

A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia disposed of a PIL that raised the matter, asking the corporation to verify the claims and take action after the survey.

"Certain photos depict apparent encroachments and illegal constructions, but no definite opinion can be formed. We (direct) MCD to... verify the same. In case any encroachment or illegal use is found, appropriate action warranted under law shall be taken," the court said, disposing of the plea of one Farhat Hasan and others that sought the removal of illegal parking, hawkers and commercial activities near Gates 3, 5, and 7 of the mosque.

The PIL, which wanted action against alleged encroachments on public parks that belong to the corporation and other illegal constructions around the mosque, claimed that the mosque's shahi imam and his kin encroached on these spaces and set up commercial units there.

"The imam, his family and close associates appear to be using the mosque as a source of private income, which is a grave violation of religious sanctity, ASI heritage protection norms and Delhi Municipal Act," the petition claimed.

The court, however, declined to enter into the claims and counter claims, and directed the civic agency to undertake a survey and verify them.

Source: indiatimes.com

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BMC polls: Several Muslims in Mumbai slam AIMIM leader Waris Pathan’s ‘burqa-clad mayor’ remark, say it only results in polarising votes

Jan 7, 2026

Mumbai: A section of Muslim leaders have slammed AIMIM leader and former MLA Waris Pathan for his remark that a burqa-clad practising Muslim can become Mumbai Mayor. They said that such utterances only result in polarising votes and he should have avoided making such a comment.

"Mumbai needs a mayor who is secular, honest, accessible, and fully focused on development — strengthening civic infrastructure, housing, healthcare, employment and disaster management. He or she doesn't indulge in polarising politics and use us to divert from our real issues," said Asif Farooqui, Mumbai Congress general secretary, and court member of AMU & Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Businessman Nasir Jamal said this wishful thinking about a Muslim becoming Mumbai Mayor is to distract from the real issues. "Muslims, like others, need clean air, good roads and health infrastructure. This polarising politics of looking for a mayor based on religious identity is dangerous. All communities should first elect competent corporators," said Jamal.

Farooqui added that he has appealed to the city Muslims to stay united, vigilant, and become politically mature so that they can identify and isolate divisive elements, including those from within.

Source: indiatimes.com

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J-K CM slams Hindu groups, BJP after they celebrate closure of Vaishno Devi medical college

Fayaz Wani

08 Jan 2026

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday hit out at Hindu groups and the BJP after they celebrated the closure of the Vaishno Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence (SMVDIME) in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir.

"In other parts of the country, people fight to bring medical college to the place but here they fought to close the medical college," he said. His remarks came after the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdrew recognition of the institute amid a row over the admission of Muslim students.

Hindu groups, including the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti (SMVDSS), along with the BJP, celebrated the closure of the medical college.

"You have played with the future of J&K youth. If you feel happy about destroying the future of J&K youth, then celebrate and burst crackers,” Omar told reporters in Samba.

On Tuesday evening, NMC cancelled the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to SMVDIME to run a 50-seat MBBS course for the academic year 2025–26, citing significant deficiencies in infrastructure, faculty and clinical facilities.

It also directed that students admitted for 2025–26 session should be accommodated as supernumerary seats in other government medical colleges in J&K.

The withdrawal of recognition to the medical college was celebrated in Jammu by Hindu groups such as Rashtriya Bajrang Dal, Yuva Rajput Sabha and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti (SMVDSS). The BJP also welcomed the closure of the medical college.

The selection of 42 Muslims and one Sikh student in the first batch of 50 students in the SMVDIME had created controversy. The BJP and other Hindu groups opposed the selection of non-Hindus in the medical college, saying the Shrine board is being run by donations of Hindus and only Hindu students should be admitted there.

About 60 Hindu groups formed Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti (SMVDSS) to spearhead agitation initially for cancelling the admission of Muslim students and later for the closure of the medical college.

“This year out of 50 seats, 40 students were from the Valley. In the next few years, these 50 seats would have increased to 400 seats. There is a possibility that 200-250 of those students would have been from Jammu. Now they won’t get medical seats because you have closed the entire medical college in the name of the religion,” Omar said.

“For this reason, I had said yesterday to close the medical college. It is better they have closed it. Now the selected candidates can be adjusted to other medical colleges of J&K. I have told the Health Minister to get them adjusted in medical colleges close to their homes so that they can become doctors and serve people here,” he said.

According to the CM, those students who won’t get medical seats in future because of the closure of the medical college, should always remember the Sangarsh Samiti people for it.

The ruling NC expressed outrage over withdrawal of permission granted to SMVDIME, terming it a cruel betrayal by BJP with the youth of J&K.

“The move exposes BJP’s reckless and insensitive approach towards education,” NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said.

He said BJP is playing dangerous politics with the careers of young people. “This is perhaps the first instance in independent India where a communally divisive party is celebrating the derecognition of a medical college. This is a dystopia in practice and a tragic moment for the people of Jammu," he said.

Imran said the decision is neither accidental nor technical but a direct outcome of criminal negligence and a deeply flawed administrative and communal mindset.

“Despite having complete control at the Centre and in the Union Territory, BJP failed to ensure even basic compliance with mandatory Medical Council norms. The sudden emergence of such discrepancies raises serious questions and exposes this move as a smokescreen to hide the BJP’s divisive agenda,” he added.

J&K Apni Party senior vice president Ghulam Hassan Mir expressed serious concern over the NMC decision to withdraw the Letter of Permission (LoP) granted to SMVDIME for running an MBBS course for the 2025–26 academic session.

"The NMC must answer an important question—why was SMVDIME earlier declared eligible to function as a medical college, and why has it now been found ineligible, in a year's time? Who will take responsibility for the suffering of the students who are now facing uncertainty?," he asked.

He said the authorities of SMVDIME must also be held accountable for the situation.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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30-35 people threw stones, snatched police loud hailer: FIR on violence over demolition drive near Delhi masjid

by Alok Singh

January 8, 2026

Around 30-35 people allegedly raised slogans and pelted stones during the anti-encroachment drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) around the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Central Delhi’s Turkman Gate, in the early hours of Wednesday, stated the FIR registered by the Delhi Police in the incident.

The FIR, lodged on a complaint by a constable, stated: “At 12.40 am, I, along with the… SHO and other staff members were carrying out police barricading near Badi Masjid, Turkman Gate, when a crowd of about 30-35 people, raising slogans against the police administration, moved towards the barricades.”

“I, along with the SHO, made announcements through a loud-hailer, informing them that BNSS Section 163 was in force in the area and directing them to disperse immediately. However, they did not comply and continued raising slogans. They broke the barricades and started pelting stones. One person from the crowd snatched the government loud-hailer from my hand and damaged it,” he claimed, as per the FIR.

They obstructed government duty, damaged government property (loud-hailer and barricades), and caused injuries to police staff by pelting stones, he added.

Police have arrested five people — Sameer, Mohammad Arib, Mohammad Kasif, Mohammad Adnan and Mohammad Kaif — who were allegedly involved in the stone pelting.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Central) Madhur Verma said five alleged stone-pelters have been arrested so far. “We also have images of the others, and they will be arrested soon,” he said.

On whether there was any conspiracy behind the incident, Verma said they cannot rule out any possibility. “We were fully prepared with a plan, and that is the reason we managed to contain the stone-pelting within two to three minutes,” he said.

“We had meetings with peace committee members before the demolition drive. The operation was supposed to be executed peacefully. But there were a few mischievous elements who tried to hinder the operation,” Verma said.

The FIR was registered under BNS sections 221 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 121 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 191 (rioting), 223 (A) (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 3(5) (joint liability) and provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, at Chandni Mahal police station.

The demolition of structures — including a baraat ghar and a dispensary — surrounding a 0.195-acre land tract housing a dargah and the mosque came after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused any interim stay on the action.

The mosque, which its managing committee claimed is “more than 100 years old”, is a Waqf property and remained untouched.

Sequence of events

-Jan 6, 7 pm: Police start putting up barricades near Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque.

-8 pm: Locals start gathering

-10 pm: Delhi Traffic Police issue an advisory about the demolition drive near Ramlila Maidan.

-11 pm: 30 bulldozers arrive at the site.

-12 am: Demolition drive begins

-12:40 am: Stone pelting starts

-12.50 am: Police use mild force and lob tear gas shells to disperse the crowd

-1:30 am: More police force called in; personnel enter inside lanes to control people. Some are detained.

-3 am: Combing operation and foot patrolling carried out, situation brought under control.

Source: indianexpress.com

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Growth of the Muslim League in Odisha

NISHANT KUMAR HOTA

January 8, 2026

As the Muslim League solidified its base in the coastal districts, a parallel and significant expansion was occurring in Western Odisha, specifically in Sambalpur. The growth of the League in this region was distinct due to its unique demographic composition, which included a mix of indigenous Odia-speaking Muslims and an influential migrant merchant class from neighbouring provinces. The Sambalpur branch became an operational stronghold in the early 1940s, serving as a gateway for the League’s ideology to penetrate the interior highlands.

Local leadership in Sambalpur capitalised on the linguistic anxieties of the community, framing the Congress government’s promotion of Odia as a direct threat to the Urdu-based cultural identity of Western Odisha’s Muslims. The organisational strength in Sambalpur was such that the League managed to bridge the geographical gap between the coastal plains and the western plateaus. By the time of the 1946 elections, Sambalpur was grouped into the Balasore-Sambalpur Muslim Constituency, a strategic move that allowed the League to mobilise a vast, diverse electorate.

The campaign in Sambalpur was characterised by massive street processions and the fervent display of the League’s green flags, signalling that the demand for Pakistan had successfully transcended the coastal heartland. A definitive escalation in separatist rhetoric occurred on 15 May 1942, when Nawab Ismail Khan and Muhammad Isa Khan arrived in Cuttack. Their tour of the northern districts was not merely an administrative visit but a mission to strengthen the ideological foundations of the Pakistan demand. Muhammad Isa Khan, a leader known for his oratorical skills, addressed massive gatherings in Balasore and Bhadrak.

His speeches were characterised by an uncompromising adherence to the Two-Nation Theory. He asserted that Muslims were not a minority within a nation, but a separate nation altogether, possessing a unique philosophy, distinct social customs, and a literary heritage that was incompatible with Hindu civilisation. He explicitly warned the Muslims of Odisha to stay away from the Congress-led “Quit India” movement, framing it as a “Hindu struggle” for total dominance. To enforce this new ideological discipline, the Muslim League National Guards were organised. In the Bhadrak region, these uniformed cadres were famously known as the Azrail Bahini (The Angel of Death Force).

The National Guard served as a paramilitary wing, conducting drills and marches that served as a psychological deterrent to political opponents and a source of pride for local Muslims. They were the primary organisers of communal mobilisation, ensuring that the League’s message reached the rural hinterlands. The term Azrail Bahini itself reflected the militant and uncompromising posture that the League had adopted in the 1940s. Nilamani Routray, the former Chief Minister of Odisha, who was an active political figure in Balasore and Bhadrak, in his memoir “Smruti O Anubhuti,” describes how the atmosphere turned dangerously electric as the “Pakistan Movement” gathered steam.

He recounts the pervasive presence of the Muslim League National Guards and the frequent chanting of provocative slogans like “Ladke Lenge Pakistan” (We will take Pakistan by force). According to Routray, these slogans were not merely political rallying cries but acted as a psychological declaration of war against the local socio-political order. Routray details the extreme tension in Bhadrak and Balasore, noting that the towns became divided into communal enclaves. He describes how common public spaces, like markets and schools, became sites of daily friction. He specifically mentions the atmosphere of fear among the Hindu population in response to the aggressive posturing of the Azrail Bahini.

Routray’s account emphasises that the provincial government and local leaders were constantly on edge, attempting to manage a situation where even a minor dispute, such as a religious procession or a market disagreement, could trigger a massive clash. His observations confirm that the ideological divide had reached such a depth that communal peace was maintained only through heavy police presence and a fragile, high-stakes political balancing act. The culmination of nearly five decades of communal politics was the 1946 Provincial Election.

In Odisha, the League contested this election almost exclusively on the ideological ground of the Two-Nation Theory. The campaign was a masterclass in religious and political mobilisation. In Puri and Bhadrak, the League utilised religious platforms, where Ulema and local leaders declared that voting for the Muslim League was a religious obligation, a Farz. They successfully framed the election as a “plebiscite for Pakistan,” telling the voters that every vote for the League was a brick in the foundation of the new Islamic state. The result was a total consolidation of the Muslim vote. The Muslim League won all four seats reserved for Muslims in the Odisha Assembly. The victors became the vocal representatives of the “separate nation” within the Odisha legislature.

Muhammed Abdus Sobhan Khan, serving as the leader of the League bloc, used the assembly floor to argue that the Congress’s “Muslim Mass Contact” programme was an attack on Muslim solidarity. He insisted that the “clean sweep” of the reserved seats was the ultimate proof that the Muslims of Odisha rejected a unified India. As the political temperature reached its zenith in the mid-1940s, the district of Bhadrak, already a stronghold of the Muslim League and the Azrail Bahini, witnessed a critical turning point in its communal relations. The atmosphere in Bhadrak had become increasingly volatile due to the League’s “Direct Action” rhetoric and the corresponding mobilisation of Hindu groups. A significant firing incident occurred during this period when a religious procession led to a violent confrontation between the two communities.

Historical accounts suggest that during a dispute over a Hindu procession passing near a mosque, tensions spiralled out of control. The local police, struggling to maintain order amidst the partisan atmosphere, eventually opened fire. While the casualty figures remained a point of contention between the League and the Congress government, the incident served as a powerful tool for the League’s narrative of victimhood. They argued that the police action was biased and targeted, using it as “blood evidence” that Muslims could never expect justice under a Hindu-majority administration. This incident effectively ended any remaining chance of communal reconciliation in the district and ensured that Bhadrak would remain the ideological epicentre of the Pakistan movement in Odisha until the very moment of Partition.

The declaration of Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946, saw a massive demonstration of League strength in Odisha. In a historic meeting at the Qadam-e-Rasool in Cuttack, Muhammed Abdus Sobhan Khan read the Lahore Resolution to a charged crowd, reaffirming that the Muslims of Odisha stood with Jinnah. Large processions were held in Sambalpur and Balasore, where the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad” resonated, and portraits of Jinnah were displayed as symbols of the new sovereignty. By 1947, the Odisha Muslim League had reached its organisational peak. The party decided to collect Rs 20,000 to establish its own press and created a ‘Pakistan Fund’, demonstrating that even in a region that would not physically become part of Pakistan, the community was emotionally and financially committed to the separatist cause.

The period from 1900 to 1947 in Odisha thus showcases a remarkable transition. What began as a petition by the local elite for Urdu and job quotas evolved into a mass movement for a separate nation. For the Muslims of Odisha during this era, the Odia identity was synonymous with Hindu identity, and their struggle was defined by the rejection of that identity in favour of a pan-Islamic nationalism that eventually led to the Partition.

Source: thestatesman.com

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https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/growth-of-the-muslim-league-in-odisha-1503537270.html

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Shiv Sena candidate Salim Qureshi attacked in Bandra ahead of BMC polls

07.01.26

A Shiv Sena candidate from ward 92 of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation was attacked with a knife in Bandra on Wednesday evening, police said.

An unidentified man attacked Salim Qureshi at around 5 pm in Sant Dnyaneshwar Nagar while he was standing with his supporters. The assailant immediately fled from the spot, a senior police official said.

Qureshi was rushed to hospital. He suffered some cuts on his stomach and was out of danger, the official added. Elections to the BMC are scheduled for January 15.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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Mideast

 

Jihad warns against UNRWA decisions, deeming them prelude to ending agency's operations

07 Jan 2026

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement stated on Wednesday that the recent decisions by the administration of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) constitute a dangerous approach aimed at curtailing the agency's operations as a prelude to its eventual closure.

In a statement, the movement explained that these decisions included terminating the employment of approximately 622 staff members due to their inability to perform their duties because they were outside the Gaza Strip during the genocidal war, in addition to the arbitrary dismissal of 20 employees at the agency's headquarters in Amman. Furthermore, the movement cited other measures that infringe upon the rights of refugees, particularly in the health and education sectors, and the continued reduction of social services.

The statement added that the financial pressures exerted on the agency stem from political projects and agendas aimed at liquidating the Palestinian refugee issue and ending UNRWA's operations. It considered the agency's administration's response to these pressures by yielding to external conditions to be an extremely dangerous course of action.

The Islamic Jihad Movement called on UNRWA to reverse its decisions in all its areas of operation and to seek alternative ways to address the pressures without burdening the refugees.

It also called on the Palestinian people to peacefully express their rejection of the current policies, to insist on the continuation of the agency's work, and to reject its replacement or the termination of its role, while emphasizing the need to protect its property, the security of its staff, and its institutions.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3622687.htm

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Iraq now largely at peace, UN says, with stronger security and a development drive underway

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

January 07, 2026

NEW YORK CITY: The UN’s role in Iraq is shifting from a political mission to a development-focused partnership, the organization’s top official in the country said on Wednesday.

The move reflects what it sees as major improvements in security, governance and economic conditions in the nation after two decades of international engagement.

Ghulam Isaczai, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that Iraq was now “a country at peace, with increased security and a clear determination to win the battle of development.” This echoed remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a recent visit to the country.

Isaczai said Iraq had undergone a “remarkable transformation” over the past 20 years, with growing confidence in state institutions, improved standing in the region, and steady movement toward stability.

Poverty declined from about 20.5 percent in 2018 to lower levels in 2024 (17.5 percent) and 2025, he added, and Iraq’s Human Development Index might have reached a level that qualifies as high human development for the first time in four decades.

A nationwide census conducted last year put Iraq’s population at 46 million, about 60 percent of whom are under the age of 25. The collected data also revealed an increasing trend toward urbanization, which Isaczai said was putting greater pressure on city services but would allow the UN and other partners to better target development assistance.

Improved security conditions have enabled about 5 million internally displaced people to return to their homes, he added. However, about 100,000 remain displaced, most of them in camps in the Kurdistan Region, primarily as a result of housing shortages.

About 90,000 of those remaining in camps are Yazidis, largely from the Sinjar area, where unresolved security, administrative and political issues continue to hamper returns.

Isaczai told Arab News that progress depends in part on the full implementation of the Sinjar agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as greater financial support for housing and compensation.

He also highlighted Iraq’s role in the repatriation of its citizens from northeastern Syria, describing it as a difficult but commendable decision. About 23,000 Iraqis, mostly women and the children of former Daesh fighters, have been returned so far, with UN support, mainly from Al-Hol camp. Most of the returnees are now undergoing reintegration processes, he said, and an estimated 3,000 Iraqis remain in Syria

On the political front, Isaczai noted that Iraq successfully held the first stage of its sixth parliamentary elections in November last year, with voter turnout rising to 36 percent, up 12 percentage points from the previous election in 2021. About a third of the candidates were women and they secured 97 of the 329 parliamentary seats, he said.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq formally concluded its mandate on Dec. 31, 2025, marking the end of a mission-led phase that began after the 2003 US-led invasion. Isaczai said the UN was not leaving the country but instead shifting the focus of its presence toward developmental support through 25 UN agencies that operate under the resident coordinator system.

The UN and the Iraqi government recently signed a five-year cooperation framework, costed at more than $1 billion, that will focus on four priority areas: economic reform; social protection and service delivery; the environment and climate change; and governance, human rights and the rule of law.

Despite operating within a constrained global funding environment, Iraq has indicated it will contribute financially to the implementation of the framework, Isaczai said, signaling a growing sense of national ownership and a shift from being a long-term recipient of aid to becoming a partner in development. The UN plans to establish a joint partnership fund with the Iraqi government to support the framework.

Asked by Arab News about the challenges that remain, Isaczai identified climate change and water scarcity as among the most critical, particularly in southern Iraq. He said some projections suggest temperatures in the country could rise by around 3 degrees Celsius, underscoring the need for adaptation, mitigation and more efficient water management.

Economic diversification is another major challenge, he added, noting that about 90 percent of Iraq’s state revenue comes from oil. Transitioning to a non-oil economy will take time, he said, but the government’s “Vision 2050” aims to boost agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. Infrastructure projects linking Iraq with Europe, along with incentives for non-oil exports, could also help create jobs and diversify trade.

Reform of the public sector remains difficult, Isaczai said, because a large share of the population depends on the government wages, pensions and subsidies that consume much of the national budget.

Regarding security concerns, Isaczai said the Iraqi government had taken positive steps to bring all weapons under state control through dialogue with armed groups, though progress could slow during the formation of a new government.

He acknowledged that Daesh cells continue to pose a threat but said Iraqi security forces and their partners had become increasingly capable and confident in carrying out counterterrorism operations.

Reflecting on the legacy of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, Isaczai said one of its key achievements was the support it had provided for the country’s democratic institutions, including elections that Iraqi officials said could not have been conducted independently a decade ago.

The UN will continue to advocate for the voluntary, dignified return of all displaced Iraqis, he added, while acknowledging that bureaucratic and compensation-related hurdles still need to be addressed.

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Lebanese army says it has achieved goal of state monopoly on arms in the south in ‘effective and tangible way’

January 08, 2026

BEIRUT: The Lebanese army said on Thursday that it had achieved the goal of a state monopoly on arms in the country’s south in an “effective and tangible way,” but said there was more work to ⁠be done to clear unexploded ordnance and tunnels in the area.

The army had set a year-end deadline to clear non-state weaponry from ⁠southern Lebanon, which borders Israel, before moving on to other areas of the country.

It said it had extended operational control over the south, except for areas still occupied by Israeli troops.

The statement did ⁠not mention Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which fought a year-long war with Israel that ended in a 2024 ceasefire that stipulated that only Lebanon’s state security forces were allowed to carry arms.

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Yemen’s Aidarous Al-Zubaidi fled to Abu Dhabi, says Joint Forces Command of the Coalition

January 08, 2026

DUBAI: Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council leader Aidarous Al-Zubaidi fled to Abu Dhabi via a plane from Mogadishu, Somalia, according to Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.

In a statement on Thursday, Al-Malki said that Al-Zubaidi fled on Tuesday night and headed to Somaliland on a vessel named BAMEDHAF that departed from the Port of Aden.

The vessel turned off its identification systems while headed to the Port of Berbera in Somaliland, the statement added.

Al-Malki said Al-Zubaidi was in contact with UAE Maj. Gen. Awad Al-Ahbabi, commander of the joint operations in the UAE Armed Forces, and informed him of the arrival.

According to the statement, Al-Zubaidi then departed on a flight accompanied by UAE officers headed to Mogadishu airport.

After landing in Mogadishu airport, the plane then headed to the Arabian Gulf without setting an arrival location, and identification systems were turned off over the Gulf of Oman.

Ten minutes prior to its arrival at Al-Reef military airport in Abu Dhabi, the plane turned on its identification systems again.

The initial ship which departed from Yemen to Somaliland, BAMEDHAF, was sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

This was the same flag used aboard the GREENLAND vessel that had previously transported combat vehicles and weapons from Fujairah to the port of Mukalla, said the coalition’s spokesperson.

Al-Malki said coalition forces are analyzing the information of people who were the last to meet Al-Zubaidi before he fled from Aden.

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Iran unrest persists, top judge warns protesters

January 08, 2026

DUBAI: Iran’s top judge warned protesters on Wednesday there would be “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic,” while accusing Israel and the US of pursuing hybrid methods to disrupt the country.

The current protests, the biggest wave of dissent in three years, began last month in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar by shopkeepers condemning the currency’s free fall.

Unrest has since spread nationwide amid deepening distress over economic hardships, including rocketing inflation driven by mismanagement and Western sanctions, and curbs on political and social freedoms.

“Following announcements by Israel and the US president, there is no excuse for those coming to the streets for riots and unrest, chief justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of Iran’s judiciary, was quoted as saying by state media.

“From now on, there will be no leniency for whoever helps the enemy against the Islamic Republic and the calm of the people,” Ejei said.

Iranian authorities have not given a death toll for protesters, but have said at least two members of the security services have died and more than a dozen have been injured.

Iran’s western provinces have witnessed the most violent protests.

“During the funeral of two people in Malekshahi on Tuesday, a number of attendees began chanting harsh, anti-system slogans,” said Iran’s Fars, news agency.

After the funeral, Fars said, “about 100 mourners went into the city and trashed three banks ... Some started shooting at the police trying to disperse them.”

The semi-official Mehr news agency said protesters stormed a food store and emptied bags of rice, which has been affected by galloping inflation that has made ordinary staples increasingly unaffordable for many Iranians.

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Israeli airstrike kills two in Gaza, Israel says targeted Hamas militant

January 07, 2026

CAIRO/JERUSALEM: An Israeli airstrike killed at least two Palestinians in Gaza on Wednesday, local health authorities said, in what the military said was a retaliatory attack on a Hamas militant that was launched after its troops had come under fire.

Medical officials did not immediately identify the people killed. They said several people were also wounded in the airstrike, which struck a house in Gaza City. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

The Israeli military said that Hamas militants had shot ⁠at soldiers earlier on Wednesday and that the airstrike targeted a senior Hamas militant who had directed attacks on its troops. The military did not say whether it had suffered any casualties.

Separately on Wednesday, in the southern Gaza area of Rafah, an Israeli-backed Palestinian militia said ⁠that it had killed two Hamas men, marking a renewed challenge to the militant group.

Hamas has been reestablishing its grip in the enclave, where it continues to command thousands of men despite suffering heavy blows during the war.

Israel occupies over half of Gaza — areas where Hamas’ foes operate beyond its reach. With US ⁠President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza moving slowly, there is no immediate prospect of further Israeli withdrawals.

Fighting has greatly abated since Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October after two years of war, but it has not stopped entirely. Both sides have accused each other of violations of the ceasefire.

More than 400 Palestinians, most of them civilians according to Gaza health officials, have been killed since the truce began, as well as three Israeli soldiers.

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Syrian government vows to protect Kurds in Aleppo, accuses SDF of planting explosives

January 07, 2026

LONDON: The Syrian government on Wednesday affirmed its commitment to protect all citizens, including Kurds, as armed tensions in Aleppo between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces continued for a fourth day.

The Ministry of Defense accused the SDF of planting explosives on roads and setting booby traps in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, and bombarding them with mortar shells and heavy machine gun fire.

The army designated the two neighborhoods a “closed military zone” after the Syrian Arab Red Crescent evacuated 850 civilians from the area.

The government said in a statement that the SDF played no role in the city’s security and military affairs.

“This confirms that the exclusive responsibility for maintaining security and protecting residents falls upon the Syrian state and its legitimate institutions, in accordance with the constitution and applicable laws,” it said.

Protecting all citizens, including Kurds, was a non-negotiable responsibility upheld without discrimination based on ethnicity or affiliation, it said.

It also rejected any portrayal of its security measures as targeting a specific community, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

“The authorities concerned stress that those displaced from areas of tension are exclusively civilians, all of them Kurdish citizens who left their neighborhoods out of fear of escalation,” the statement said.

“They sought refuge in areas under the control of the state and its official institutions, which clearly demonstrates the trust of Kurdish citizens in the Syrian state and its ability to provide them with protection and security and refutes claims alleging that they face threats or targeted actions.”

The government called for the withdrawal of armed groups from Aleppo.

At least three civilians and a Syrian soldier have been killed and dozens more injured in Aleppo since Tuesday. Authorities have accused the SDF of targeting medical and educational facilities.

The escalation in violence has dealt a blow to an agreement between the two sides that was meant to be implemented by the end of last year.

The Syrian government reached an agreement with the SDF in March that included plans to integrate the group’s military, territory and natural resources, including oil fields, into the new government in Damascus.

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Syrian authorities arrest 3 members of pro-Assad armed group in Hama

January 07, 2026

LONDON: Syrian authorities in Hama have arrested three people accused of involvement in an armed group linked to remnants of the deposed regime of the former president, Bashar Assad.

The Internal Security Command in Al-Ghab, central Syria, said on Wednesday that the group had engaged in incitement against the state with the aim of undermining security and stability.

Brig. Gen. Mulham Al-Shantout, commander of internal security in Hama, said the operation that led to the arrests was carried out in coordination with counterterrorism authorities.

About 30 people were targeted as part of a separate operation in Tartus, the Internal Security Command said, including what it described as remnants of the Assad regime, instigators and outlaws. One individual was killed during armed clashes with members of the security forces, three of whom were injured, and a cache of weapons and ammunition was seized in the coastal city.

Authorities said they remain strongly committed to protecting citizens, maintaining civil peace and enforcing the law against anyone who jeopardizes the security and stability of the country, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

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Israel issues over 3,000 tenders for E1 settlement in Jerusalem

January 07, 2026

LONDON: Israeli authorities have issued tenders for the construction of 3,401 settlement units in the area known as E1, east of Jerusalem.

Muayyad Shaban, head of the Commission against the Wall and Settlements, said Israeli authorities had transitioned from planning and approval to implementation of the E1 plan.

The settlement, if developed, would divide the occupied West Bank, hindering the establishment of a viable and territorially contiguous Palestinian state.

After nearly 30 years of delay under intense international opposition to the plan, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich approved plans for 3,400 homes in E1 last August.

Shaban said E1 constituted “a highly dangerous escalation in the repercussions of the accelerated assault on Palestinian lands through colonial settlement plans.”

The plan would separate Jerusalem from surrounding Palestinian areas and connect the Maale Adumim settlement to the city, undermining the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state, he added.

In 2025, Israeli authorities issued plans for 10,098 new settlement units, marking an unprecedented increase in settlement tenders.

Over 7,000 units were allocated to Maale Adumim, along with 900 units for Efrat in Bethlehem and 700 for Ariel in Salfit, reflecting a push to deepen colonial control over Palestinian land, the Commission against the Wall and Settlements reported.

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Transport, parks authority holds event marking Rajab Friday, anniversary of Martyr of Qur’an

07 Jan 2026

The Transport Authority Branch and the General Department of Parks and Gardens in Sana’a Municipality organized a speech event on Wednesday to mark Rajab Friday and the annual anniversary of the Martyr of the Qur’an, Sayyed Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthi.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of embodying Yemen’s faith-based identity in daily life, highlighting the role of the Martyr of the Qur’an in strengthening religious and cultural awareness among Yemenis.

The event underscored the historical significance of Rajab Friday as a milestone in Yemen’s embrace of Islam and reaffirmed the need to preserve this identity and pass it on to future generations.

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Saudi minister discusses peace efforts with Sudan leader

January 07, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is committed to Sudan’s “security and stability,” the Kingdom’s deputy foreign minister told the chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council on Wednesday.

During the meeting in Port Sudan, Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji and Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan discussed efforts to achieve peace in the country and preserve its unity, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Khuraiji said Saudi Arabia was committed to restoring security and stability in Sudan and preserving its territorial integrity.

The minister conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Al-Burhan.

Al-Burhan expressed his wishes for further progress and prosperity in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has been leading efforts to end the war in Sudan which erupted in April 2023.

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Yemen Airways launches direct flights between Socotra and Jeddah

January 07, 2026

DUBAI: Yemen Airways announced the launch of direct flights between Yemen’s Socotra archipelago and Jeddah, with weekly services set to begin on Wednesday.

Mohsen Haidara, deputy general manager for commercial affairs at Yemen Airways, told the Yemeni News Agency that the inaugural flight scheduled for Wednesday will facilitate the evacuation of foreign tourists stranded on Socotra due to recent operational challenges.

Haidara said the airline will subsequently operate regular weekly flights on the Socotra-Jeddah route, aiming to boost tourism and strengthen the island’s status as a global destination.

He added that the new route contributes to the local economy, in line with Yemen Airways’ efforts to expand links with key regional destinations and support tourism development on the island.

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300,000 Saudis quit smoking in 2025 as health push gains momentum

WAAD HUSSAIN

January 07, 2026

ALKHOBAR: New research shows that 300,000 people in Saudi Arabia quit smoking last year, reflecting growing support for the nation’s Vision 2030 goals to improve quality of life and reduce preventable health risks.

According to nicotine alternatives company Badael, the number of people known to have quit rose from 400,000 in January 2025 to 700,000 by the year’s end.

Of the total, 200,000 people went on to cut out nicotine entirely, including the use of pouches, the company said.

International studies support this trend. The WHO’s Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use notes that many smokers quit in stages, often using alternatives before fully ending their nicotine dependence. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control similarly highlights harm reduction as a pathway to complete cessation when used responsibly.

For many Saudis, the decision to quit was driven by personal health concerns.

Ahmed Al-Omari, 32, said he gave up after smoking for more than a decade.

“I started noticing how much smoking was affecting my energy and breathing,” he said.

“Once cigarettes were no longer part of my daily routine, I didn’t want to rely on nicotine either.”

Research published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews shows that cessation is more successful when driven by internal motivation and lifestyle goals rather than fear-based messaging alone, a trend health specialists say is increasingly visible among Saudis.

Mariam Al-Dossary, 27, said she stopped smoking as part of a broader effort to improve her health.

“It reached a point where smoking didn’t fit the life I wanted anymore,” she said.

“Once I made that decision, sticking to it became easier.”

Studies from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have found that health behavior changes linked to improved sleep, fitness and energy levels are more likely to be sustained over time, reinforcing the importance of quality of life motivations in smoking cessation.

Young Saudis are also quitting earlier than in previous generations.

Mohammed Al-Shahri, 22, said he decided to give up smoking while he was at university.

“I didn’t want smoking to be something I carried into my future,” he said.

“A lot of people my age are thinking differently about it now.”

Badael, which develops and manufactures the nicotine pouch product DZRT, said its focus was on providing alternatives for adult smokers seeking to move away from combustible tobacco. It said its products were intended for harm reduction, not long-term dependence.

The fact 200,000 former smokers later quit nicotine entirely highlighted the importance of supporting sustained behavioral change beyond stubbing out cigarettes, the company said.

It said it wanted to help 1 million people in Saudi Arabia quit smoking by 2028.

By combining public awareness, regulatory measures and accessible cessation pathways, the Kingdom appears to be moving toward a future where smoking is no longer the norm.

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Minzal brings Saudi traditions to life in Diriyah

HAIFA ALSHAMMARI

January 07, 2026

RIYADH: This season of Minzal places social norms and traditional etiquette at its center, with tents set up to teach what is locally known as “Sloum Al-Arab” alongside gatherings for coffee, dinner and stargazing around campfires.“Sloum Al-Arab” refers to the unwritten customers and values that have shaped Arab and Bedouin society for centuries, including generosity, coffee preparation, courage and archery.

In Saudi Arabia, these traditions are closely ties to cultural identity and religious belief.

Leather products and the making of leather goods is one of the crafts featured at Minzal this year and is one of the oldest crafts still practiced in the kingdom.

“The most difficult thing I faced to work on was camel leather because it is a little tough,” Nada Samman, a leather trainer and craftsman at Minzal, told Arab News.

“The work on leather is wonderful whether it is goat leather, cow leather, Sawakni sheep, and of course, camel leather. At Minzal, we are offering multiple handicraft workshops, most specifically the leather handicrafts. We want visitors to spend time at something useful and fun."

Samman explained the workshops allowed participants to preserve heritage while engaging in meaning, hands on activities.

Faisal Al-Khaled, a visual artist and craftsman specializing in Saudi designs at Minzal, shared a similar goal: “I want people to have, by the end of this experience, a unique and traditional art piece created by them, and that I know I helped them to preserve this craft.”

Minzal, which has been organized for several years now, continues to evolve with each season, offering activities that highlight Bedouin values, traditional skills and sports. Archery is a key feature, reflecting its deep roots in Arab and Islamic history.

Mohammed Al-Sharif, a certified archery player and coach with the Saudi Archery Federation since 2028, said the sport was closely connected to Saudi culture. It was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad, which led people to learn and teach it through generations.

“Our traditional bow is considered one of the most important and widely used bows in Arab culture,” Al-Sharif said. “We have several styles, and professional archers specializing in traditional bow shooting … There are various types of archery, such as horseback archery and standing archery, where bow sizes vary according to specific needs, such as types used for hunting and others used during warfare.”

He explained that archery was historically part of daily life, used for protection and hunting.

Saudi coffee also plays a significant role in the Minzal experience, with live demonstrations. One of the most frequently consumed beverages in the Kingdom, it is a symbol of hospitality and generosity.

Ahmed Al-Shuaibi explained how it was prepared at the Sloum tent, first by roasting the beans and then allowing them to cool. The beans are ground with spices in a Nigr.

“Coffee is passed from our grandparents,” he added. “In significant majlis, you see them offering our local coffee and not other types of coffee. We organized this corner so that young generations can visit and learn this.”

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Jazan festival transforms waterfront into art gallery

RAHAF JAMBI

January 07, 2026

RIYADH: Visitors to Jazan Festival 2026 can enjoy a closer look at the region’s growing art scene with the transformation of the “This is Jazan” waterfront area into a cultural gallery and heritage hub.

The festival, which launched on Dec. 25 last year, runs until Feb. 15 with the theme “Jazan: Treasures of Nature.” It highlights the region’s rich cultural and natural identity while boosting its appeal as a tourist destination.

“This is Jazan” features the area’s diverse landscapes, from coasts and plains to mountains, and explores how geography has shaped local life and heritage over generations.

All 16 of the region’s governorates have dedicated pavilions and themed corners where visitors can explore traditional crafts, folk arts, live performances and displays of local products such as honey, ghee and handicrafts.

Interactive sections including craft workshops, henna art, pottery, and cultural demonstrations offer hands-on experiences that connect visitors with Jazan’s traditions and everyday life. Children in traditional attire and demonstrations of coffee roasting also enhance the ambience.

There are painting and mixed media exhibits from the region’s artists, their works inspired by nature, heritage and scenes of everyday life. The initiative supports local talent and encourages direct engagement between artists and audiences.

Visitors say the displays offer a simple, colorful way to learn more about the region, while cultural observers say bringing artists together fosters collaboration and strengthens community ties.

Among the participants is Suad Al-Asiri whose painting, “Jazan: A Nation and a Prince,” was inspired by the festival slogan. It features Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz and Prince Nasser bin Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, governor and deputy governor of Jazan respectively, with the region shown at the center.

Speaking to Arab News, Al-Asiri said she wanted the artwork to feel close to people’s everyday lives.

“I used natural materials such as coffee beans, sesame and khudair,” she said. “They are part of Jazan’s products, and I wanted visitors to recognize them easily.”

She added the piece encouraged conversations about nature, identity and leadership. Al-Asiri, who is also a novelist and academic media professional, also presented separate portraits of the two princes.

The festival provides artists with exposure and the chance to connect with locals and tourists outside traditional gallery spaces. It is fast emerging as a key cultural platform for nurturing creativity and discovering new talent.

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KSrelief distributes winter clothes, food in Yemen, Gaza

January 07, 2026

LONDON: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed winter clothing to families in Yemen and provided food parcels to displaced Palestinians living in tents in the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian effort comes amid a cold snap and heavy rain in the two regions.

In Yemen, mostly in the Hadramout valley area, the agency handed out more than 2,000 items of winter clothing.

Since the start of the war in late 2023, KSrelief has dispatched 78 planes and eight ships carrying almost 7,700 tonnes of food, medical supplies and shelter materials to Gaza. More than 900 Saudi trucks have also delivered food and medical equipment to the region.

The agency has delivered 20 ambulances to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and signed agreements totaling $90 million for relief projects in Gaza. It has also carried out airdrops in partnership with the Jordanian Armed Forces.

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Playing to win: Qiddiya City begins to welcome the world

January 07, 2026

RIYADH: Qiddiya City, the massive entertainment, sports and cultural destination under construction near Riyadh, is scaling up quickly as it aims to add SR44 billion ($11.7 billion) to gross domestic product and create 85,000 jobs by 2030.

The Qiddiya Investment Company’s ambitious inaugural project, a global destination built from the ground up focused on the concept of “play,” is starting to roll out its entertainment attractions, sports venues and the infrastructure to support them. The hype really began to build when the Six Flags Qiddiya City theme park, the first of 70 major attractions, opened on New Year’s Eve.

Spanning an area of more than 360 sq. km, Qiddiya City is located at the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains, about 40 minutes from the Saudi capital. The development’s economic model is rooted in experiential tourism, a growing segment in this market.

Its goal is to support Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and development; this year alone, as its attractions begin to open, the project is expected to contribute SR2.5 billion to national GDP and provide 7,000 jobs. But the vision and the dream are bigger and wider than that.

Abdullah Nasser Al-Dawood, the managing director of Qiddiya Investment Company, set out the strategic importance of the development and its aggressive growth trajectory during a recent appearance on the “Fi Al Soura” television program. He described Qiddiya City as a long-term national development initiative driven by extensive market research and directives from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the chairman of its board of directors.

“Qiddiya was created in response to people’s needs,” Al-Dawood said. “His Royal Highness further directed us to not merely meet these needs but to import the best global practices, infuse them with a unique Saudi touch and create a Saudi landmark for the world.”

The Qiddiya team talked to more than 20,000 people to better understand their needs, he added, discussions that revealed an overwhelming desire for high-quality recreational options and family activities.

The integrated design of Qiddiya City means that its entertainment, hospitality, sports, culture and infrastructure will work together in a synergistic fashion, its designers say, to help elevate the competitive global standing of the Kingdom.

The opening of Six Flags Qiddiya City will soon be followed by Aquarabia, a Saudi-designed water park featuring record-breaking rides. It will have women-only days with strict privacy protocols, reflecting a culturally sensitive approach to local needs.

Qiddiya City will also have the only theme park in the world based entirely around the Japanese media franchise Dragon Ball, targeting more than 2 billion anime and manga fans locally and worldwide.

Two out of three people in Saudi Arabia identify as gamers, and Qiddiya City will cater to them with dedicated esports arenas. In addition it will host regional headquarters for gaming companies, and accommodation tailored to the international gaming community, with the aim of capturing a significant share of the $250 billion global gaming market.

A multi-faceted motor sports center, in partnership with Mercedes-AMG, will include a globally unique “Speed Park Track” that includes a 70-meter climb to an elevated a first corner, and can host more than 16 established international events, including Formula One and Formula E.

In addition to providing venues for numerous international sporting events, Qiddiya City is also developing world-class headquarters for Saudi Pro League football teams Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, which developers say will rival top international facilities and be backed by strategic 20-year sponsorship deals.

Other sports facilities will include a National Tennis Center, an Equestrian Zone that will host the Saudi Cup, and the innovative Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, expected to open in 2029.

Qiddiya City also aims to become a premier golf destination through a global partnership with the Faldo Series, described as the leading development pathway for young golfers, and by hosting international events. British golfer Nick Faldo has designed an 18-hole championship course that is set to open this year, and a state-of-the-art clubhouse, golf academy and practice facilities will follow in 2028.

Qiddiya City’s “Park of Parks” zone will feature 10 public parks and 29 hotels as part of a largely car-free environment offering a diverse range of public-transportation options, including monorails and even gondolas.

The city has been designed to accommodate 500,000 residents in 150,000 residential units to support the 300,000 people expected to work at Qiddiya City upon completion.

The development of the city has been structured in three main waves, with new attractions opening every three months until it is fully operational in 2034, when the Kingdom will host the FIFA World Cup.

Acknowledging the importance of seamless access to the city and its attractions, Al-Dawood highlighted the ongoing infrastructure enhancements that are being carried out by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, including road expansions, a new Metro line serving eight stations in Qiddiya City, and proposals for a high-speed train link, which he said will significantly improve connectivity.

Developers say they are also committed to social responsibility, and have pledged to donate 1 percent of revenues to community and charitable organizations to “open the door to play for everyone.”

Safety and security are described as a “red line” for the development; Six Flags underwent rigorous certification by specialized German companies and its rides completed 4,500 test runs prior to opening.

“It is an immense privilege to serve my country and its leadership, contributing to Vision 2030 through a magnificent project like Qiddiya,” said Al-Dawood.

“We are not just building a city; we are creating a national landmark that will inspire and uplift for generations to come, fostering opportunities and experiences unparalleled anywhere in the world.”

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Literary festival brings writers, readers to Taif

January 07, 2026

TAIF: The Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission will host the third Writers and Readers Festival at Arruddaf Park in Taif from Jan. 9 to 15.

Taif’s selection as host highlights its rich literary heritage and vibrant cultural scene, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Taif is the first city in the Kingdom to be recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City of Literature, the SPA added.

The festival celebrates local and international writers through poetry readings, musical performances, performing arts, exhibitions, and interactive displays.

It also offers a diverse program of meetings and literary dialogues, and educational activities for children and adolescents, to foster a love for reading.

Live performances will provide a comprehensive cultural experience combining education and entertainment, the SPA reported.

The festival will be open daily from 4 p.m. to midnight.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Singapore presents credentials to president

January 07, 2026

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new ambassador to Singapore Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Ghamdi presented his credentials to the country’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday.

During the ceremony, Al-Ghamdi conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the president and their wishes for continued progress and prosperity in Singapore, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Shanmugaratnam passed on his appreciation to the Kingdom’s leadership and expressed pride in Saudi-Singaporean relations. He said his country looked forward to further joint cooperation in various fields.

Source: arabnews.com

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Riyadh hospital receives rare certification placing it among top hospitals worldwide in stroke care

January 07, 2026

RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has been awarded the Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification by the American Heart Association and the Middle East and North Africa Stroke Organization, placing it among a select group of leading hospitals worldwide to achieve the highest level of recognition in stroke care.

This certification reflects KFSHRC’s ability to provide fully integrated stroke services, including rapid diagnosis, advanced interventional treatments, and comprehensive round-the-clock rehabilitation programs, all contributing to improved survival rates and reduced complications, according to a press release issued by KFSHRC.

KFSHRC has strengthened its emergency response capabilities through the launch of the region’s first Mobile Stroke Unit, equipped with a CT scanner and a specialized medical team capable of initiating diagnosis and treatment at the patient’s location within minutes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The unit has saved numerous lives through rapid intervention and played a significant role during the Hajj season.

The release added that this achievement contributes to the hospital’s growing record of international accomplishments and underscores its commitment to enhancing healthcare quality, developing national expertise, and advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in positioning the Kingdom as a regional leader in specialized healthcare.

KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally among the top 250 academic medical centers worldwide in 2025.

It also holds the highest-valued healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East according to Brand Finance 2025 and was listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.

Source: arabnews.com

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Umm Al-Qura University invents smart road barrier

January 07, 2026

JEDDAH: Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah has registered an invention that supports sustainability and enhances road infrastructure, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Developed by its intellectual property department, the innovation is a concrete road barrier that generates electricity from air currents created by traffic.

The project was led by Raed Abdulrahman Shalwala and Fadi Zaher Al-Marghalani from the College of Engineering and Islamic Architecture.

The barrier harnesses wind and airflow from moving vehicles to produce renewable electricity, which can power road safety equipment, contributing to both renewable energy and smart infrastructure.

Earlier, on Jan. 2, the university achieved a national milestone by winning innovation awards in e-learning and digital training, presented by the Saudi National Center for E-Learning.

The awards recognize the university’s efforts to develop innovative digital learning environments and enhance e-learning quality.

Officials said the achievement reflects strong support from the university leadership and a commitment to advancing digital education, improving learning practices, promoting higher education digital transformation, and creating sustainable educational impact.

Source: arabnews.com

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Visitors to explore craft, innovation, trade at Jeddah Gold Exhibition

January 07, 2026

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Gold Exhibition opens in the Red Sea port city on Thursday as part of Jeddah Season.

Taking place at the Jeddah Superdome, the five-day event aims to raise awareness of the gold industry by highlighting the value, quality, and craftsmanship of gold while highlighting the latest designs.

It also seeks to stimulate investment and trade in the sector, reinforcing Jeddah’s long-standing reputation as a center of gold-making, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The world’s largest connected dome has been covered in a gleaming golden layer to symbolize the theme of the event. More than 130 exhibitors, including four Saudi factories, will take part, bringing together leading exhibitors and top brand designers.

Visitors will be able to view distinctive, one-of-a-kind gold pieces reflecting high levels of craftsmanship and creativity, presented through an interactive journey that tells the story of gold from a contemporary perspective.

A dedicated zone will be allocated to Saudi factories, highlighting local and regional manufacturing capabilities and presenting the stages of gold production. The area is designed to connect visitors directly with traders, supporting the sector’s industrial and commercial aspects.

The exhibition will also feature panel discussions and workshops, attracting visitors and specialists from around the world.

The venue’s design draws inspiration from the architectural identity of historic Jeddah, with pavilions, art installations, seating areas and cafes arranged around the “Golden Ring” at the heart of the event.

Source: arabnews.com

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Europe

 

Zelensky asks US to kidnap Chechen leader

7 Jan, 2026

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky has asked the US to kidnap the head of Russia’s Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, claiming the move would send a strong message to President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky made the remarks on Wednesday, demanding that his Western backers put more “pressure” on Russia and arguing that it would help end the Ukraine conflict.

The Ukrainian leader suggested that the US could kidnap Kadyrov to supposedly speed up the negotiations process. Zelensky praised Trump’s action against Venezuela and the kidnapping of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro.

“The whole world can see the result. They did it quickly. Well, let them carry out some kind of operation against Kadyrov… Maybe then Putin will see this and think about it,” Zelensky asserted.

The Chechen leader was quick to shoot back, accusing Zelensky of trying to disrupt the negotiation process rather than streamline it, while urging him to “man up” and take action on his own instead of hiding behind the Americans’ backs.

“The buffoon suggests the US authorities kidnap me. Mind you, he didn’t even threaten to do it himself, like a man would. He didn’t even attempt to entertain the thought. [Zelensky] cowardly hinted that he wouldn’t mind standing aside and watching from a safe distance,” Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel.

The US launched a surprise attack on Venezuela over the weekend, bombing the capital city Caracas and staging a special forces raid to capture Maduro and his wife.

The couple was then transferred to New York to face assorted criminal charges, including drug trafficking. Maduro has vehemently denied all the accusations, describing himself as a “prisoner of war.”

US President Donald Trump has openly asserted that Washington will “run” Venezuela until an “orderly transition” is achieved while threatening the interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, with an even “bigger price” to pay if she resists Washington’s demands.

The US has pledged to take control of Venezuelan oil exports, with Trump claiming the country’s interim authorities will “turn over” 30 to 50 million barrels of “high-quality, sanctioned oil” to Washington.

While Rodriguez has vowed that her country “will never return to being the colony of another empire,” she also signaled openness to “cooperation” with Washington.

Source: rt.com

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Azerbaijan and Palestine: diplomacy without illusions or sentiment

08 January 2026

Azerbaijani society is ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse. For the Azerbaijani people, this diversity has always been and remains a source of special pride. After all, only in states whose social framework is built on multiculturalism and tolerance can the communities living within them feel secure and enjoy every opportunity to develop their languages, cultures, and traditions.

Since the 8th century, Islam has been the dominant faith in the territory of Azerbaijan. However, this never prevented communities that practised Christianity and Judaism at the time from preserving their faith and freely performing their religious rituals. Had it been otherwise—or had Islam been a “religion of intolerance, fire, and sword,” as foreign Islamophobic forces are eager to portray—it is unlikely that non-Muslim populations would have survived here for more than a millennium, especially under medieval conditions. The very fact that, since the 8th century, different peoples in the territory of today’s Republic of Azerbaijan were able to freely visit churches, synagogues, and even Zoroastrian sacred sites, despite the rise and fall of various empires, utterly destroys these false narratives.

Today, Azerbaijan is a free, democratic state that safeguards the rights of every citizen, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. Yes, the majority of Azerbaijanis are Muslims. But in the country, within the broader family of fraternal peoples, there also live Ashkenazi Jews, Mountain Jews, as well as members of the Karaim, Georgian, and Bukharan Jewish communities. Therefore, no matter what is happening in the Middle East today, there is and will never be any place in Azerbaijan for even the slightest manifestation of anti-Semitism.

Speaking of the Middle East: on January 5, during an interview with local TV channels, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, responding to a journalist’s question, touched on the topic of Gaza, specifically the possible participation of Azerbaijani servicemen in a peacekeeping mission in that part of the world—essentially voicing what most Azerbaijanis think. The Azerbaijani people feel deep sympathy for the Palestinians. Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani state have always supported the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Azerbaijani delegations have consistently voted in favour of the Palestinian people’s right to independence, including during discussions and the adoption of documents within the framework of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Non-Aligned Movement. Last October, the Azerbaijani President also took part in the “Middle East Peace Summit” held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

It is worth noting, with due delicacy, that the Embassy of Palestine in Azerbaijan operates using Azerbaijani taxpayers’ funds—resources that could otherwise have supported other pressing social priorities. This is an important point to acknowledge and consider.

At the same time, it should not be forgotten that Israel is also our friend. Azerbaijan recognised the State of Israel with its capital in Tel Aviv and opened an embassy there, despite criticism and hostility from various quarters. Some Islamic radicals questioned why we established an embassy in Israel, while some Orthodox Jews wondered why our mission in Israel was in Tel Aviv rather than Jerusalem, even as we maintained a diplomatic presence in Ramallah.

Our position, however, has always been and remains clear: we will not choose between friends—whether Israel or the Palestinian people, whose right to statehood Azerbaijan has consistently supported.

Moreover, the role of military-technical cooperation with Israel in liberating our territories from Armenian occupation will always be remembered and valued. That is the kind of people we are.

Our state is ready to continue providing humanitarian assistance to the population of Gaza, as well as to send non-dual-use technical equipment.

However, when it comes to the possible participation of Azerbaijani servicemen in a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, it is necessary first to clarify certain points. First, one must understand the difference between a peacekeeping mission and a peace-enforcement mission. The latter involves the use of force, and Baku does not consider taking part in such operations. We value the lives of our citizens too highly and have no desire to put them at risk beyond our own borders.

Second, the question arises: who would issue the mandate? Which institution? There are many other questions that foreign diplomats must answer before speaking on behalf of Azerbaijan and claiming that we are ready to participate in a peacekeeping mission in the Gaza Strip. Azerbaijan has not given such consent, as President Aliyev made clear during the interview.

As noted earlier, the overwhelming majority of Azerbaijan’s population adheres to the Muslim faith. However, this factor cannot be the determining one in shaping our state’s political course regarding the Middle East conflict. Yes, we are Muslims—but we are not Arabs—while there are 22 members of the Arab League in the world, including financially and demographically affluent Gulf countries, Egypt, Algeria, and others. As President Aliyev eloquently put it, we cannot get “ahead of ourselves,” especially considering that while we have consistently supported the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state, during the years of occupation, we did not see even a tiny fraction of such support directed toward us.

On the contrary, ASALA terrorists openly trained at the bases of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. For example, Monte Melkonian. Later, they went on to kill Azerbaijanis—Muslims just like the Palestinians. We clearly remember how the PLO leader Yasser Arafat, as the saying goes, “kissed up” to Armenian political and religious figures, embraced the President of Armenia, and today the Palestinian Foreign Minister is herself of Armenian ethnicity, hardly likely to feel warmly toward the Azerbaijani people.

Finally, let us not forget that Palestine has even issued postage stamps commemorating the so-called “Armenian genocide.” So, what does that mean—Türkiye and Azerbaijan are expected to support a state that, before even fully coming into being, is already insulting Turks and distorting the proud history of Turkic peoples? And on top of that, risk the lives of their servicemen in the Gaza Strip?

No, that is not how we understand mutual respect, friends. Solidarity must be reciprocal. And no one in the world should expect us to choose between our friends.

Source: caliber.az/

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Reform UK picks Muslim ex-lawyer Laila Cunningham to run for London mayor

JANUARY 07, 2026

The anti-immigration Reform UK party Wednesday named Muslim businesswoman Laila Cunningham as its candidate to run in London's 2028 mayoral elections.

Reform leader Nigel Farage announced Cunningham, a former lawyer, as the party's pick to contest the post held since 2016 by current mayor Sadiq Khan.

Khan, a Labour party politician who became the UK capital's first Muslim mayor, has been fiercely criticised by the far-right over his policies, which often celebrate London's diversity and large immigrant population. He has not announced if he intends to run for a fourth term in office.

Born to Egyptian immigrant parents, 48-year-old Cunningham is Reform's first local councillor in London.

Cunningham would lead the party in an ambitious bid to win big in local elections in London in May, Farage said.

Reform could struggle to win over voters in the diverse, busy UK metropolis, despite growing popularity across other parts of the country.

At a press conference Wednesday, Farage described Cunningham as "articulate... passionate" and "a mother".

Elected in the central borough of Westminster in 2022 as a Conservative, Laila Cunningham defected to Reform last year.

Born in the capital to parents of Egyptian origin who arrived in the UK in the 1960s, she called London the "greatest city in the world".

"But I am not blind to what it has become," she added, vowing there would be a "new sheriff in town".

Cunningham worked as a lawyer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but had to resign last year after making comments considered too politically partisan.

"People that come to London have to embrace British culture. You don't come to London expecting London to change for you," she said Wednesday.

She announced her priority would be to fight crime, arguing that London "is no longer safe" particularly for women, and attacking Khan's policies.

Source: gulf-times.com

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Zelensky says he does not have clear security pledge from allies

08 Jan 2026

Paulin Kola

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the case of a new Russian aggression.

"I am asking this very question to all our partners and I have not received a clear, unambiguous answer yet," he told reporters on Wednesday.

His comments come a day after the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal to end the war with Russia is agreed.

But full security guarantees have not been agreed. The US, which has been leading efforts to end the invasion, reportedly did not sign such a pledge at talks in Paris on Tuesday.

After the Paris talks, which included some 30 countries that form the so-called Coalition of the Willing, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK and France would "establish military hubs across Ukraine" to deter future invasion, while French President Emmanuel Macron later said thousands of troops may be deployed.

Allies proposed that the US would take the lead in monitoring a truce. But the key issue of territorial concessions that Ukraine is being asked to grant to Russia as part of the peace proposals are still being discussed.

Moscow has not yet commented on the announcement made in the French capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

Sir Keir described the joint statement as "a vital part of our commitment to stand with Ukraine for the long-term".

He added: "It paves the way for the legal framework under which British, French and partner forces could operate on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's skies and seas, and regenerating Ukraine's armed forces for the future."

Zelensky hailed that agreement as a "huge step forward".

A day later, however, he appeared less optimistic.

"I see the will, the political will, and that the partners are ready, and the partners are ready to give us strong sanctions, strong security guarantees," he said when asked if European countries would defend Ukraine.

"But as long as we don't have such security guarantees - legally binding, supported by parliaments, supported by the United States Congress - this question cannot be answered. And even if they do, you still have to rely primarily on your own strength."

The Paris talks were also notable owing to the presence of US President Donald Trump's peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Witkoff said the allies "largely finished" their work on agreeing security protocols.

Last week, Zelensky said a peace deal was "90% ready".

Territorial concessions and security guarantees have been at the forefront of unresolved issues for negotiators.

Putin has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war.

Zelensky has so far ruled out ceding any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could withdraw its troops to an agreed point - but only if Russia did the same.

Moscow currently controls about 75% of the Donetsk region, and some 99% of the neighbouring Luhansk. The two regions form the industrial Donbas region.

It has been intensifying attacks against Ukrainian cities - particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Russia has also made slow progress in capturing more Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine has hit back at Russian targets with drones, albeit with more limited success.

Source: bbc.com

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Russian attacks leave two regions with widespread blackouts, Ukraine says

08 Jan 2026

Chris Graham

Russian attacks left Ukraine's southeastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia almost entirely without power, the country's energy ministry said on Wednesday night.

Critical infrastructure was "operating on reserve power", it said in a statement on Telegram, while officials said water supplies and the internet were also disrupted.

Russia has recently intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, aimed at paralysing power supplies during a harsh winter.

"Ukraine's energy system is under enemy attacks every day, and energy workers are operating in extremely difficult conditions to provide people with light and heat," Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram.

"Deteriorating weather conditions put additional strain on critical infrastructure," she said.

The disruptions to power and heating have come as temperatures plunge.

"Emergency restoration work in the regions affected by the attack will begin immediately as soon as the security situation allows," state energy company Ukrenergo said on Telegram.

It added: "The primary task of energy workers is to restore critical infrastructure."

Dnipro city Mayor Borys Filatov said on Telegram all city hospitals had been completely switched to generators.

"There are the necessary water supplies, the treatment process does not stop. Water drainage in houses is also supported by alternative power sources," Filatov said.

School holidays had been extended until 9 January because of the power cuts, he added.

The head of the Zaporizhzhia regional administration, Ivan Fedorov, said everything possible was being done to restore power.

"At this time, water utility workers have almost restored water to our homes, despite the fact that there is a complete blackout in the region," Fedorov said in a video message published on Telegram.

DTEK, Ukraine's biggest private energy provider, is living in permanent crisis mode because of Russian attacks on the grid, its chief executive told the BBC last month, with most of Ukraine suffering from lengthy power cuts during winter.

Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, which provides power for 5.6 million Ukrainians, said the intensity of strikes had been so frequent "we just don't have time to recover".

As the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches, Timchenko said Russia had repeatedly targeted DTEK's energy grid with "waves of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles" and his company had found it difficult to cope.

The attacks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said European allies have not given him sound guarantees that they will protect his country in the event of new Russian aggression.

Following talks in Paris on Tuesday, the UK and France signed a declaration of intent on deploying troops in Ukraine if a peace deal is made with Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that any foreign troops in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target".

Source: bbc.com

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UK says it provided ‘support’ to US seizure of Russian tanker

7 Jan, 2026

The UK provided “enabling support” to the US military in seizing the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera, the British Defence Ministry has said.

The oil tanker was interdicted on Wednesday in international waters to the northwest of Scotland. The Pentagon claimed the vessel, formerly known as ‘Bella 1’, had been involved in alleged “violations of US sanctions.” 

The UK assisted the US during the operation at Washington’s request, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

“Our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful U.S. interception of the vessel Bella 1 while on its way to Russia. This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” it said.

Britain claimed the interdicted vessel has a “nefarious history” and allegedly acted as a “part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion.” The US, meanwhile, said the seizure of the tanker was related to the “blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil.”

Moscow has acknowledged the capture of the vessel. The country’s Transport Ministry stated that the Marinera had received a temporary permit to fly the national flag on December 24. The ministry accused the US of violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which ensures freedom of navigation in international waters.

The tanker made international headlines late last year when it was first targeted by the US military after allegedly approaching Venezuela. At the time, the ship’s crew refused to allow the US Coast Guard servicemen on board, heading to the Atlantic instead with US forces in pursuit. During the chase, the vessel changed its name and flag.

Shortly after the capture of the Marinera, the US said it seized another tanker in the Caribbean Sea, the ´Sophia´. The US military described the vessel as “a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker.” 

“The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The US Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the US for final disposition,” the US Southern Command has said.

Source: rt.com

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Dunfermline's Ahmadiyya Muslims distribute food to homeless

6TH JANUARY

By Rory Fell

Dunfermline’s Ahmadiyya Muslim community distributed 80 hot meals to homeless people over the course of Christmas and New Year’s Day.

A group of those who follow the movement purchased the city’s James Allan Centre back in December, and they’ve been using it as a base for religious activities.

Members also delivered gift baskets to local shelters during the festive period and offered support to some of area’s most vulnerable.

The community’s youth leader for Edinburgh and Fife, Jameel Khan said: “The New Year is an opportunity to reflect on our responsibilities towards others.

“Through simple acts such as feeding those in need and reaching out to our neighbours, we aim to demonstrate the values of compassion, service, and social responsibility that our faith teaches.”

The centre in Headwell came into their hands through a community asset transfer, as councillors agreed it would promote “equality of opportunity and inclusion through interfaith dialogue, educational programmes and community service and volunteer-led clean-up initiatives.”

On January 1, members took part in one such clean-up events, gathering litter in the area they are based in.

Source: dunfermlinepress.com

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London Muslim youth group busy with New Year's Day clean-up

7TH JANUARY

By Elizabeth Birt

Young people from a Muslim youth group took to the streets of London for a New Year's Day clean-up.

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) in Epsom, Ewell, Worcester Park, Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden, Tolworth, and Malden Manor collected litter in Kingston, Epsom, and New Malden on Thursday, January 1.

Their efforts were part of a wider UK clean-up campaign that saw more than 2,000 AMYA members volunteer in more than 75 towns and cities.

Talha Niazi, head of community service in AMYA, said: "Islam places great emphasis on loyalty to one’s country and responsibility towards society.

"Our young volunteers are not seeking recognition.

"They are here to serve their communities and show, through action, that caring for our shared spaces is a duty we all hold."

Equipped with litter pickers and bin bags, teams of volunteers began their work after pre-dawn prayers.

The clean-up is rooted in Islamic teachings that emphasise cleanliness and service to society, and is seen by AMYA members as a practical expression of faith.

AMYA is the UK’s largest Muslim youth organisation, regularly taking part in charitable and community work.

The group operates under its motto of Love for All, Hatred for None.

Source: wimbledonguardian.co.uk

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Trump actively discussing potentially buying Greenland, White House says

08 Jan 2026

Patrick Jackson

US President Donald Trump and his officials are "actively" discussing a potential offer to buy the Danish territory of Greenland, the White House has confirmed.

It is "something that's currently being actively discussed by the president and his national security team", White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday.

Both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly stressed the island was not for sale.

Asked why the Trump administration had previously said it was not ruling out using military force to acquire Greenland, Leavitt replied that all options were always on the table but Trump's "first option always has been diplomacy".

Concerns over the future of the territory resurfaced after Trump's unilateral use of military force against Venezuela on Saturday to seize its President Nicolás Maduro. Denmark, a fellow Nato ally, says an attack on its territory would end the military alliance.

The Trump administration says Greenland is vital to US security.

Despite being the most sparsely populated territory, its location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks, and for monitoring vessels in the region.

Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base, has been operated by the US since World War 2.

In recent years, there has also been increased interest in Greenland's natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium and iron that are becoming easier to access as its ice melts due to climate change. Scientists think it could also have significant oil and gas reserves.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that he will hold talks with Denmark next week.

Trump previously made an offer to buy the island in 2019, during his first presidential term, only to be told it was not for sale.

"The acquisition of Greenland by the United States is not a new idea," Leavitt said.

"The president has been very open and clear with all of you and with the world, that he views it in the best interest of the United States to deter Russian and Chinese aggression in the Arctic region, and so that's why his team is currently talking about what a potential purchase would look like."

The White House said earlier this week that Trump had been discussing a range of options to acquire Greenland, including using military force.

"All options are always on the table for President Trump as he examines what's in the best interests of the United States," Leavitt said.

Earlier in the day, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Rubio had "ruled out the possibility of an invasion" of Greenland in a phone call with him.

Barrot is due to discuss the Arctic island with his German and Polish counterparts later on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, European leaders issued a joint statement rallying behind Denmark.

"Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations," the leaders of France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Denmark said in a joint statement.

Stressing they were as keen as the US on Arctic security, the European signatories said this must be achieved by Nato allies, including the US, "collectively".

They also called for "upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders".

A day after the US military action in Venezuela, Katie Miller, the wife of one of Trump's senior aides, posted a map on social media of Greenland in the colours of the US flag, alongside the word "SOON".

On Monday, her husband, Stephen Miller, said it was "the formal position of the US government that Greenland should be part of the US".

Aaja Chemnitz, one of two MPs in the Danish parliament representing Greenland, told the BBC that the comments from the Trump administration were "a clear threat".

"It's completely disrespectful from the US side to not rule out annexing our country and to annex another Nato ally," she said.

But Chemnitz said she saw this as unlikely - instead, "what we are going to see is that they will put pressure on us in order to make sure that they will take over Greenland over time".

Aleqatsiaq Peary, a 42-year-old Inuit hunter living in Greenland's remote northerly town of Qaanaaq, appeared indifferent to the potential of US ownership.

"It would be switching from one master to another, from one occupier to another," he told the BBC. "We are a colony under Denmark. We are already losing a lot from being under the Danish government."

Saying that he did not have "time for Trump", he added that people were "in need". Hunters like him, he explained, hunted with dogs on the sea ice and fish "but the sea ice is melting and hunters cannot make a living anymore".

Source: bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly39pgmvrzo

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North America

 

CAIR-MN, Community Leaders to Respond to ICE-Involved Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

January 7, 2026

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will hold a noon news conference with community leaders to respond to an ICE-involved fatal shooting in Minneapolis.

WHEN: Today, January 7, 12 p.m.

WHERE: Near the scene of the shooting at 34th Street and Portland Avenue, Minneapolis

CONTACTS: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Executive Director, CAIR-MN, 612-408-7183, sadan@cair.com

Earlier this week, CAIR-MN called on law enforcement authorities and public officials to take concrete actions to protect Somali-American day care centers and businesses that have been targeted with threats and harassment as children return to these centers in the wake of the holiday season ending.

CAIR-MN is the state’s leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mn-community-leaders-to-respond-to-ice-involved-fatal-shooting-in-minneapolis/

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Trump withdraws US from key climate treaty and dozens of other groups

Danny Aeberhard

Jan 8, 2026

US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from dozens of international organisations, including many that work to combat climate change.

Among the 66 groups, nearly half of them are bodies of the United Nations, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - a treaty that underpins all international efforts to combat global warming.

The White House said the decision was taken because those entities "no longer serve American interests" and promote "ineffective or hostile agendas".

Trump has already stripped many multilateral organisations he dislikes of funds and previously rejected the scientific consensus of man-made climate change as a "hoax".

The memorandum was signed on Wednesday after a review into causes that the White House said were "a waste of taxpayer dollars".

"These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities," it said in a statement.

It added that many of the organisations promoted "radical climate policies, global governance and ideological programs that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength".

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an expert body that assesses climate science worldwide, was also included on the list.

Other UN organisations affected included those working on peace and democracy, family planning, maternal and child health, and sexual violence in conflict.

While the US Constitution allows presidents to join treaties "provided two thirds of Senators present concur", it does not specify what happens if they were to withdraw, which means Trump's move could face legal challenges.

A member of a US-based non-profit advocacy group, the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the step as a "new low".

Senior policy director Rachel Cleetus told AFP news agency it was another sign that the administration, which she described as "authoritarian" and "anti- science", was determined to sacrifice people's wellbeing and destabilise global cooperation.

Last year, Trump once again withdrew the US from the Paris climate agreement - the world's most important effort to tackle rising temperatures - and declined to send a delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.

Source: bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp80ln97py5o

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‘Dream Military’: Trump proposes $1.5 trillion defence budget for 2027, up from $1 trillion; links increase to tariff income

Jan 8, 2026

US President Donald Trump said the United States should set its military budget for 2027 at $1.5 trillion instead of $1 trillion, arguing that the higher allocation is necessary to build what he called a “Dream Military” capable of deterring any adversary and keeping the country safe.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social, saying the decision followed discussions with lawmakers and senior officials. He said the expanded budget would strengthen national security at a time he described as “very troubled and dangerous”.

“After long and difficult negotiations with Senators, Congressmen, Secretaries, and other Political Representatives, I have determined that, for the Good of our Country, especially in these very troubled and dangerous times, our Military Budget for the year 2027 should not be $1 Trillion Dollars, but rather $1.5 Trillion Dollars,” Trump wrote.

He said the increased spending would allow the US to build a military force that would keep the country “SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe”.

Trump also linked the proposed increase to revenues generated from tariffs, claiming they had created financial room for higher defence spending. “If it weren’t for the tremendous numbers being produced by Tariffs from other Countries, many of which, in the past, have ‘ripped off’ the United States at levels never seen before, I would stay at the $1 Trillion Dollar number,” he said.

MAGA chief added that tariff income now made it possible to fund a larger military while also reducing debt and providing financial benefits to Americans. He contrasted the situation with the previous administration, saying the revenues being generated were “unthinkable in the past”.

Source: indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/dream-military-trump-proposes-1-5-trillion-defence-outlay-for-2027-up-from-1-trillion-links-increase-to-tariff-income/articleshowprint/126402391.cms

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Mehdi Hasan calls for Elon Musk's 'prosecution'; Tesla boss fires back

Jan 7, 2026

After his short time away from the American political arena, billionaire Elon Musk recently made a grand return to the base with a viral dinner with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Ever since Trump's second term began in 2025, Musk has had a major involvement in the political policies of the states, even becoming the de facto leader of Trump's newly created Department of Government Efficiency.

However, it seems some want the tech giant to stick to his expertise and are making their thoughts about his political participation known. Recently, during a conversation on his own news platform, Zeteo news, British-American journalist Mehdi Hasan shared how the 'ideal' Democratic presidential candidate for the 2028 elections should be. During the conversation he also blamed Musk for 'engineering' the Somali fraud case and called for his 'prosecution'.

"I think the next Democratic President has to be ruthless. Not just President, the 2028 Democratic primaries have to showcase a group of politicians who are running for office to not just fix things, not just offer a bright future, not just running on a change platform, but are running on a platform to prosecute and punish the people who broke the law and destroyed the country," he said.

He also went on to allege that the Somali fraud crisis had been "engineered by people like Elon Musk." "What we saw over Christmas, with the Somali fraud nonsense, was the video from this right-wing YouTuber that went viral. All these people jumping on, attacking the Somali community. That is all engineered by people like Elon Musk."

Hasan referenced his conversation with actor Jon Favreau on X, saying, "I'm only half joking when I say this, which is the next Democratic president should run on a plan to prosecute Elon Musk. They would easily go to the top of the pack."

Hasan's remark quickly reached Musk himself, who replied to the 46-year-old journalist with a stark warning. "Game over for that pathetic weasel," commented Musk under an X post that shared the video of the interview.

Right-wing YouTuber Nick Shirley created a viral video covering nine child care facilities in Minnesota, where he visited several Somali-owned centres in an attempt to expose widespread fraud. The video prompted calls for investigation and even led to Minnesota governor Tim Walz backing out of the reelection race.

Source: indiatimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/mehdi-hasan-calls-for-elon-musks-prosecution-tesla-boss-fires-back/articleshowprint/126398154.cms

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How could Donald Trump 'take' Greenland?

Jan 8, 2026

Bernd Debusmann Jr

Donald Trump wants to take Greenland - and the White House has confirmed that all options are on the table, including the use of force.

While a military operation is just one of a range of economic and political options being considered, since it would be an attack by one Nato member on another, such a move would represent a nightmare scenario for the Nato alliance, and likely an existential one.

The US president has repeatedly said that Greenland was vital to US national security, claiming without evidence that it was "covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place".

With the expertise of US, British and Danish experts, we consider the various options the president may be looking at, and the possible justification for each one.

Military action

Defence analysts say that a lightning operation to take Greenland could be done relatively easily, but the fallout would be monumental.

While geographically massive, Greenland's population is only around 58,000, about a third of which is concentrated in Nuuk, the capital, with the bulk of the rest living on its western coast.

The territory does not have its own military and Denmark is responsible for its defence, but it has limited air and naval assets in place to cover such a huge territory.

Large swathes of it are policed only by Sirius Patrol, a Danish special operations unit that relies primarily on dog sleds.

Denmark has, however, significantly upped defence spending in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions, including Greenland, in the past year.

Its vast size, small population and lack of military would make it a ripe target for the US, which already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at the Pituffik facility in Greenland's north-western tip.

That facility could in theory serve as a logistical base for future operations.

The base has existed since World War Two, when US troops deployed to the island to establish military and radio stations after the Nazis occupied Denmark during the conflict.

Hans Tino Hansen, a Danish security expert and CEO of Risk Intelligence, outlined how a US operation to take Greenland could take place.

According to Mr Hansen, the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division - which includes two Arctic brigades capable of parachute or helicopter-borne missions - would be the "primary capability" in any invasion, "supported by air force and naval assets".

His assessment was echoed by Justin Crump, a British Army reserve officer who heads the risk and intelligence company Sibylline.

"The US has overwhelming naval power and it has the ability to lift pretty large numbers of troops," he said. "You could easily fly in enough troops to have one for every few members of the population in a single lift."

Mr Crump added this option would be ruthless, but also potentially bloodless with little resistance likely to be offered.

In the US, however, several former officials and defence analysts said a military operation was extremely unlikely, given its far-reaching implications for US-European alliances.

"That would clearly be against all international law," said Mick Mulroy, a former marine, CIA paramilitary officer and deputy assistant secretary of defence. "Not only are they no threat to the US, they are a treaty ally."

If the White House began moving towards a military option, Mr Mulroy said he believed it would meet resistance from lawmakers who could use the War Powers Act - which is designed to limit the president's ability to make war without Congressional approval - to pre-empt it.

"I don't think there would be any support in Congress to destroy the Nato alliance," he said.

Buying Greenland

The US has deep pockets, but Greenland is not for sale, according to both Nuuk and Copenhagen.

Citing a lawmaker and a source familiar with the discussions, CBS - the BBC's US news partner - has reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told members of Congress that a purchase was the administration's preferred option.

But even if Greenland wanted to be sold, such a transaction would be highly complicated.

Any funds would have to be appropriated by Congress, and acquiring Greenland by treaty would require support from two-thirds of the Senate - which experts say would be difficult to secure.

The European Union would also have to sign off on the deal.

While Trump could theoretically try to strike a deal unilaterally without involving Greenland or Congress, experts believe that is extremely unlikely.

Prof Monica Hakimi, an international law expert at Columbia University, said that "one could imagine a situation" in which Denmark, the US and Greenland agree to terms for the transfer of the territory.

"[But] for it to be completely consistent with international law, such a treaty would probably also have to involve Greenlandic participation for their own self-determination," she added.

It is unclear how much purchasing the island could cost. This could complicate things for Trump, who campaigned on an "America First" platform.

The prospect of billions or even trillions of US tax dollars being spent on an ice-capped island could land very badly with his Make America Great Again (Maga) base.

Mr Crump believes that a failure to successfully purchase the island, however, could make a military option more attractive to Trump - particularly as his administration may be buoyed by the recent successful operation to arrest Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

"He'll say, 'well, we're just going to take it'."

Rubio, who will meet Danish officials next week to discuss Greenland, has said Trump was "not the first US president that has examined or looked at how could we acquire" the territory.

He has referred to former President Harry Truman, who in 1946 floated the idea of paying Denmark $100m (£74m) in gold to buy Greenland.

A campaign to win over Greenlanders

Opinion polls suggest a majority of Greenlanders want independence from Denmark.

But the polls also indicate they do not want to become part of the US.

Nonetheless, the US could ratchet up efforts to win the favour of islanders by short-term financial incentives or the prospect of future economic benefits.

Already, US media reports have suggested that US intelligence agencies have stepped up surveillance on Greenland's independence movement, making efforts to identify figures who would back the administration's goals.

Imran Bayoumi, a geostrategy expert with the Atlantic Council in Washington DC and former policy adviser to the defence department, told the BBC that an "influence campaign" is much more likely than any military action.

This campaign, he explained, could help nudge Greenland towards independence.

"Then, after Greenland declares independence, you could have the US government to be a partner," he said. "The cost of military action is way too high."

These kinds of partnerships are not without precedent.

The US, for example, has struck a similar deal with the Pacific nations of Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands - all independent countries that give the US access to defence rights.

In return, citizens of these three nations get the opportunity to live and work in the US.

But this may not satisfy Trump, who already has the power to bring as many troops as he wants to Greenland under existing agreements.

And an arrangement of that nature would not offer the US ownership rights to Greenland's vast mineral reserves that are buried deep beneath the Arctic ice.

Mr Hansen, the Danish analyst, argued that any campaign to "have" Greenland - short of military action - would be unsuccessful as long as the population of Greenland opposes the idea.

For now, no political parties in the island are campaigning to become part of the US.

"It is more likely that Greenland again becomes a member of the European Union," he said.

"Also, the current US administration has three years left, while the people of Greenland perhaps have a horizon of 1,000 years."

Source: bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q4w1xnv35o

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US will ‘fix’ Cuba and Nicaragua – Republican senator

7 Jan, 2026

Republican US Senator Rick Scott has said that Washington would install a new president in Colombia, as well as “fix” Cuba and Nicaragua.

He made the remarks in an interview with Fox Business, just days after US commandos abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, during a raid in Caracas.

US President Donald Trump described the operation as his enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine, designed to ensure Washington’s domination in the Western Hemisphere and said American companies must gain access to Venezuela’s rich oil reserves.

Trump’s actions would “change Latin America,” Scott told Fox on Wednesday. “We’re gonna fix Cuba, Nicaragua will be fixed. Next year, we’ll get a new president in Colombia,” the senator added, declaring that “democracy is coming back to this hemisphere.”

The US first imposed a trade blockade and sanctions on socialist-run Cuba and Nicaragua during the Cold War. Last year, Washington imposed restrictions on Colombia’s left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, whom Trump accused of aiding drug cartels. Petro denied the allegations and has heavily criticized Trump for ordering strikes on alleged narcotics smuggling boats in the Caribbean.

Asked by journalists aboard Air Force One on Sunday whether he was planning to attack Colombia, Trump replied, “It sounds good to me.”

Petro, a former member of a communist guerrilla group, denounced Trump’s threats. “I swore after the 1989 peace agreement never to touch a weapon again, but for the sake of the homeland, I will take up arms once more, even though I do not want to,” he wrote on X earlier this week.

The US Department of Justice indicted Maduro and Flores on drug-trafficking and weapons charges, to which they pleaded not guilty when they were brought before a New York judge on Monday. Venezuela condemned the US operation as a violation of its sovereignty, with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez denying that the country would be ruled by foreign powers.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/630708-us-senator-cuba-colombia-nicaragua-to-be-fixed/

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Trump speaks with Colombian president amid diplomatic tensions

8 Jan, 2026

US President Donald Trump has spoken by phone with his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro, whom he had earlier accused of drug trafficking and threatened with invasion.

The two struck a conciliatory tone after a war of words that reignited following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US commandos during a raid on Caracas over the weekend.

“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.

“I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” Trump wrote. He added that the sides were working to arrange the left-wing Colombian leader’s visit to the White House.

Petro told a rally in Bogota that he and Trump had spoken for the first time since he was elected president in 2022. “I requested that direct communication be reestablished between the foreign ministers and the presidents. If there is no dialogue, there is war,” Petro said.

The Colombian president later wrote on X that he and Trump had “disagreements regarding his vision of the US relationship with Latin America.” He said he had proposed that the US invest in clean energy projects in the region rather than seek access to oil reserves.

“Using Latin America solely for oil would lead to the destruction of international law and, ultimately, to barbarism and World War III,” Petro wrote, adding that his proposal was based on “peace, life, and global democracy.”

Trump imposed sanctions on Petro last year and revoked his visa after the Colombian leader denounced what he called “barbaric” US strikes on alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean. Petro argued that the Pentagon was targeting ordinary fishermen, to which Trump responded by labeling Petro an “illegal drug leader.”

In a lengthy post on X earlier this week, Petro wrote that fighting cartels was his top priority and that, as president, he had “ordered the largest seizure of cocaine in world history.” He vowed to defend his country, saying Colombian soldiers would “fire at invaders.”

Petro has described the US raid to capture Maduro as an “abhorrent” violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty. The operation has been condemned by several other South American countries, as well as Russia and China. Maduro and Flores were brought before a US court in New York on Monday, where they pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/630716-trump-petro-phone-call/

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CIA officer-turned-Soviet spy dies in US prison

7 Jan, 2026

Former CIA officer Aldrich Ames, whose espionage for the Soviet Union and later Russia had far-reaching consequences for US intelligence, has died aged 84 while serving a life sentence in an American jail.

According to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) records, Ames passed away on January 5.

Ames was Russia’s “most valuable agent” in the late 20th century, whose actions resulted in significant operational successes for the Soviet and Russian state security, journalist and secret services historian Nikolay Dolgopolov wrote in a piece published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on Wednesday.

Ames was recruited by the Soviet Union in 1985 after he voluntarily approached the Soviet embassy in Washington. At the time, he held the critical position of head of the Soviet branch within the CIA’s Counterintelligence Division. He is credited with exposing between 12 and 25 CIA assets operating within the USSR and Russia, leading to arrests and executions of some of them.

The motives behind his betrayal are contested. While Western narratives have long portrayed Ames as financially motivated – the lavish lifestyle he and his new wife led ultimately drew FBI scrutiny – Russian sources present a different view.

According to former Soviet diplomat Sergey Divilkovsky, who knew Ames personally, the spy’s decision was rooted in deep-seated disillusionment with the anti-Soviet policies of President Ronald Reagan’s administration. Divilkovsky, in a 2001 interview, characterized Ames as a “highly moral agent” and an intellectual who had grown to hate the CIA.

The Soviet and later Russian intelligence services took extensive measures to protect and shield Ames, diverting suspicion away from him. After he was eventually arrested and pleaded guilty to espionage in 1994, the then director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Evgeny Primakov, expressed hope for a potential future prisoner exchange.

Ames’ case exposed profound failures within the CIA’s internal security, sparking widespread reforms in US counterintelligence.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/630702-aldrich-ames-cia-soviet-spy-dies/

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Africa

 

False, Reckless And Misleading – Malami Denies Attempt To Influence Judge

January 7, 2026

By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has denied claims that anyone connected to him attempted to bribe or improperly influence the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, in his ongoing trial.

Malami described the allegation as “mischievous, false and deliberately misleading.”

Naija News reports that the denial followed a ruling on Wednesday by the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, which granted bail to Malami, his wife and son.

In the aftermath of the ruling, Malami said reports circulated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suggested that Justice Nwite had raised concerns over attempts to compromise the court, claims he said were wrongly framed to tarnish his reputation.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, the former minister dismissed the allegation, insisting that neither he nor anyone acting on his behalf attempted to influence the judge.

“We are compelled to respond and categorically state that no one from Abubakar Malami’s legal team, family, council, or office ever approached, attempted to approach, or contemplated approaching the Honourable Court or the presiding judge for any favour whatsoever.

“Any insinuation to the contrary is false, reckless, and deliberately misleading,” the statement read.

Malami stressed that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former chief law officer of the federation, he fully understands and respects the sanctity of the judiciary, adding that Justice Nwite’s reputation for integrity is well known.

According to him, the comments attributed to the judge during proceedings were not directed at him or any of the defendants but were routine judicial warnings issued to all counsel and litigants.

“For clarity, the statement attributed to Justice Nwite during proceedings at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, was a general caution routinely issued by the judge to all counsel and litigants appearing before him.

“Justice Nwite is known for consistently warning parties in his court against attempting to approach him outside judicial proceedings, as part of his long-standing judicial culture and commitment to probity. This warning was not specific to Abubakar Malami or any of the defendants in this case, and any attempt to single him out is dishonest,” he said.

The former AGF accused the EFCC of weaponising a standard judicial admonition and spinning it into a sensational narrative aimed at damaging his public image.

“It is therefore disturbing that the EFCC chose to weaponise a routine judicial admonition and spin it into a sensational narrative aimed at tarnishing Malami’s image in the court of public opinion.

“This approach further reinforces our long-held position that the EFCC is persisting in a media trial, rather than allowing the case to be determined strictly on the basis of evidence and due process before the court,” the statement added.

Malami maintained that he and his co-defendants have submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court and complied with all lawful orders.

“We wish to emphasise that Malami and his co-defendants have submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the court, have complied with all lawful orders made so far, and remain confident that the judicial process will ultimately vindicate them,” he said.

He also urged the EFCC to stop misleading the public through what he described as sensational press releases.

“The proper place to prove allegations is in the courtroom, not in the media,” he said, adding, “No bribe was offered, no judge was approached, and no attempt was made to compromise the court.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Justice Nwite warned lawyers and litigants involved in the case against attempting to approach him for any form of favour.

“I want to admonish and warn counsels and litigants that they should know the type of court they are appearing before. All judges are not the same. Irrespective of my familiarity with you, when I am dealing with any case, do not approach me,” the judge said.

Justice Nwite stressed that lawyers could only serve their clients through diligent legal representation, not through backdoor contacts or personal appeals.

The EFCC is prosecuting Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and their son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged money laundering involving billions of naira.

Source: naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/07/breaking-false-reckless-and-misleading-malami-denies-attempt-to-influence-judge/

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Retired Army Chief Files Legal Action Over Terror Financing Claims

January 7, 2026

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

Former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has kicked off legal proceedings to defend his reputation against allegations linking him to terrorism financing, a close associate has disclosed.

The development was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by retired Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, a former Army spokesman.

Usman said the controversial claims were made by retired Maj.-Gen. Danjuma Ali-Keffi, during a broadcast interview, prompted Yahaya to take immediate legal steps to clear his name.

According to the statement, Yahaya, through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mohammed Ndayako, served formal demand notices on the individuals and media outlets involved.

The notices, dated December 17, 2025, granted the parties 72 hours to retract the allegations, issue unreserved public apologies, and cease further publication or discussion of the claims.

sman quoted the demand notices, which underscored the seriousness of the issue, “Non‑compliance, the notice warns, will trigger legal proceedings.”

He added that the notice emphasised the danger of spreading unfounded claims.

“False and malicious allegations of this nature are dangerous and capable of undermining public trust in our national institutions and those who have served the nation with distinction,” the statement read.

Usman said the legal action is intended not just to protect Yahaya’s personal honour, but also to reinforce principles of professionalism, truth, and accountability.

“Gen. Yahaya said his legal action was not only to protect his personal honour but also to uphold professionalism, truth, and accountability, emphasising that malicious falsehoods would not go unchallenged,” he said.

Source: naijanews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/07/retired-army-chief-files-legal-action-over-terror-financing-claims/

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Family raises the alarm over disappearance of Zaria Islamic scholar

by AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

January 7, 2026

The wife and children of a Zaria-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, have raised the alarm over his disappearance 25 days after he travelled to Abuja following the alleged blockage of his bank account.

Sheikh Abdulkadir is a respected leader of Fityanul Islam, a Tijaniyya sect, with a wide following in Zaria and other parts of Kaduna State.

Speaking in an interview with RFI International, monitored in Kaduna, the scholar’s wife, Hajiya Ramatu Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, said her husband left home early in the morning, informing her that he was travelling to Abuja to resolve issues linked to his bank account.

She said he gave her money for household expenses and assured he would return the same day.

“From that day till now, I have not heard his voice again. Whenever I call his line, it is switched off. Today makes it 25 days since I last heard from him,” she said.

Hajiya Ramatu said she has been left alone with the children and under intense emotional distress, struggling to sleep as anxiety mounts over her husband’s whereabouts.

She added that the family was later informed that the issue involved a transaction of about N2 million, which allegedly led to the blockage of the scholar’s account.

The scholar’s son, Sunusi Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, who accompanied his father to Abuja, said they were told the account was blocked on the instruction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to him, officials explained that the blockage was linked to an investigation involving N2 million paid into his father’s account.

He said his father explained that the money came from someone who requested prayers after being linked to him by another individual.

Sunusi added that the matter was later described by officials as a “military case,” after which soldiers were reportedly invited to question his father.

“They said my father agreed to return the money. The soldiers said they would come and question him, and since that day, we have not seen him,” he said.

He disclosed that during the period, his father was only able to make a brief call to the family, assuring them that he was fine but without disclosing his location or the reason for his continued detention.

Reacting to reports circulating on social media that the scholar was arrested for allegedly receiving money to pray for people plotting a coup, Sunusi said the family was unaware of such claims.

“Nobody informed us of anything like that. The authorities have not said anything of that nature to us,” he said.

Source: thenationonlineng.net

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://thenationonlineng.net/family-raises-the-alarm-over-disappearance-of-zaria-islamic-scholar/

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Christianity and my dialogue with complex religious questions (2)

Tunji Olaopa

8 January 2026

The third point is even more fundamental. And it has to do with religion’s role in nation-building. We all are familiar with how religion has contributed immensely to the fragmentation of the Nigerian polity. The constant conflict and theological and political opposition, especially between Islam and Christianity, has continued to be the source of tension in the continuing attempt by successive governments to facilitate the project of achieving One Nigeria devoid of ethnic and religious animosity.

Here, the spectre of theological absolutism rears its ugly head! In summary, this is the belief that one religion holds the key to the understanding of God’s plan for humans and the eternity. One immediately sees how and why such an absolutist claim (ostensibly canonised to foreclose regression of the faiths into syncretism), held by Islam and Christianity, could be the source of practices that undermine any ecumenical or inter-faith relations in Nigeria. Theological absolutism excludes other religions and their perspectives on the relationship between God and humans.

I have always been deeply suspicious of theological absolutism, especially when it concerns my quest for an understanding of how God and humans interact. If God is all we have been saying about Him—the eternal and the divine that is unknowable sufficiently by the human mind—how then can one religion capture the entire essence of that God?

My worry is even more aggravated within the complicity of Christianity, Islam and other faiths in Nigeria’s underdevelopment. The fundamental question is simple enough: How can Nigeria achieve a civic national space of mutual relations if religions eschew open-minded and ecumenical relationship with one another? Or, how can they step into the breach as a collective spiritual panacea to Nigeria’s myriad postcolonial predicaments if they attempt to exclude and cancel out one another as “false”?

Indeed, for me, the combination of the caricaturing of the Christian faith mentioned earlier, as well as the refusal by many clerics to engage in ecumenical conversation, serves as the basis for my conviction that Christianity has arrived at a reformation point that explores its complexity and significance in a context like Nigeria.

But then, I still have to content with my own attachment to Christianity and its construction of itself as the only religion that guarantees eternal life through the work of salvation done by Christ. How do I navigate Christianity’s theological absolutism without falling into the trap of excluding other faith from their attachment to their convictions? How am I not part of the refusal of inter-faith relations that I am suspicious about? These are crucial and fair questions for any Christian or even Muslim.

Indeed, I had the conviction very early in my spiritual trajectory that the believer’s pilgrim journey is strictly personal and self-validating. And this validation is achieved through personal experience of faith and theological conviction, and the guidance of spiritual mentors and masters in the faith.

And here, I return to role of reason in my spiritual discernment. While I hold firmly to the limitation of reason in grasping spiritual enlightenment, I equally put a lot of weight on how limited human understanding of the vast stretch of mysteries not only behind the Christian faith but also in the universe as a whole.

When the Bible, in I Corinthians 2:14, therefore insists that the natural understanding cannot grasp spiritual matters, I read this not only as the extension of the domain of faith beyond that of logic and reason. It is also the strategy for trusting my Christian faith to assist me in navigating my existential predicament without limiting others’ right to their own spiritual paths.

More precisely, acknowledging, for instance, Christianity’s insistence on the role of Christ in God’s plan of reconciliation and redemption, does not necessarily imply invalidating other religions’ existence and spiritual understanding.

This is the firm implication of saying that the spiritual journey is deeply personal and self-validating. When I accept Christ’s injunction in John 14:6—“I am the way, the truth, and the life”—I accept it for myself as a pathway to spiritual meaning. And yet that injunction does not stand alone. It is wrapped in a complex relationship with other injunctions that insists that I must love my neighbours, give unto Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar, and pray for those in government.

Concluded.

Olaopa is chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission and Professor of Public Administration, Abuja.

Source: guardian.ng

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https://guardian.ng/opinion/christianity-and-my-dialogue-with-complex-religious-questions-2/

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Lagos Muslim Community to Reclaim Great Nigeria Insurance Land

8 January 2026

Confusion has continued to trail the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building, which was recently gutted by fire, where over eight persons died, as the Muslim Community of Lagos State (MCLS) has expressed the preparedness of the Shitta Bey family to recover and redevelop the land on Lagos Island.

The MCLS, in a statement signed by its President, Alhaji Mohammed Oyinlomo Danmole, said that rising from an emergency meeting organised by the Shitta Bey family, the President of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, Alhaji Mohammed Oyinlomo Danmole, said that the family, after long hours of deliberations, resolved their readiness to redevelop the land within a short period.

“You will recall that the 25-storey building was ravaged by fire in the build-up to the Christmas celebrations, which left the building badly damaged.

“This prompted the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s assessment of the site of the fire, declaring that the massive building will be pulled down through a controlled demolition after suffering partial collapse.

“The fire, before it was brought under control, also spread to adjoining structures, including the Shitta Bey Mosque and Oluwole Plaza.”

Danmole pointed out that the Shitta Bey family is worried over the possibility of the government taking possession of the land after the controlled demolition, stressing thatremains forfeited for the family since the government already took over large portions of their land in the area.

He explained that the Shitta Bey family is open to a meeting with the Lagos State Government to further showcase their capacity to redevelop the land.

On behalf of the group, Alhaji Danmole sympathised with business owners who lost their loved ones and their wares in the unfortunate fire incident.

Source: thisdaylive.com

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https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/01/07/lagos-muslim-community-to-reclaim-great-nigeria-insurance-land/

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Gov. Makinde Confirms 5 Dead During Bandit Attack On National Park

January 8, 2026

By Oladipo Abiola

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has condemned the attack on some National Park Service Forest Guard officers at the National Park Office in Oyo State.

Governor Makinde, in a post via his Facebook page, confirmed that five forest guards lost their lives during the attack.

The Governor however assured that no stone will be left unturned in bringing those behind the attack to justice and appealed to residents to remain calm.

“Earlier today, there was a criminal attack by bandits at the National Park Office, Oloka Village, which resulted in the death of five National Park Service Forest Guard officers.

“This is a devastating loss of the lives of personnel in the course of carrying out their lawful duties. May their souls rest in peace,” he said.

The governor further disclosed that preliminary investigations by the security agencies indicated that the incident was a “cross-border attack carried out by bandits.”

He assured that security agencies are working to arrest the culprits and bring them to justice.

“The security agencies are already working together to address this incident and seek the support of residents in the area to cooperate with them in their intelligence gathering,” he added.

The Governor appealed residents, particularly those in the affected local government areas to remain calm and allow the security agencies do their job.

He further appealed to residents of Oyo State, especially “those in Oriire LGA and other LGAs along our borders,” to remain calm as the security agencies had restored normalcy and deployed more personnel to the area.

“Our administration will leave no stone unturned to respond decisively to prevent a recurrence of such attacks,” Makinde stated.

Source: naijanews.com

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Peter Obi: Datti Baba-Ahmed Describes LP Defector As Political Travellers

January 8, 2026

By Enioluwa Adeniyi

The vice‑presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Yusuf Datti Baba‑Ahmed, has described former members of the party who have defected to other political platforms as political travellers, even as he hinted at a possible presidential ambition on the LP’s platform ahead of the 2027 elections.

Naija News reports that Baba‑Ahmed spoke on Wednesday while addressing party faithful at a rally held at the LP national headquarters in Abuja.

His remarks followed the recent defection of the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the coalition‑backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Obi officially joined the ADC after months of consultations with members of the opposition coalition, which includes former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whom he served as running mate in the 2019 presidential election under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Before his defection, Obi had urged his supporters, popularly known as Obidients, to align with the ADC.

At the Abuja rally, Baba‑Ahmed appeared to take a swipe at some former party members who, he said, were welcomed into the LP with its presidential ticket in 2022 but later chose to leave.

He said, “I had earlier engaged all party members to reconcile, and while some heeded my calls, others took offence and proceeded to defect.

“No regrets to me for this role, however, as a leader in this party. In this defection case, neither my humble self nor the Labour Party are the aggressors.”

Describing the defectors as transients in politics, he added, “A group of political travellers welcomed in 2022 with a presidential ticket continue with their journey. Simple.”

LP Proud Of Its Electoral Performance

Baba‑Ahmed said the Labour Party remains proud of its achievements despite facing significant challenges, including financial constraints and what he described as widespread electoral fraud.

“With all humility, Labour Party can flaunt its success. In the presence of financial difficulties, in an era of perfected electoral fraud, the Labour Party produced a state governor, eight senators, about 40 House of Representatives members and about 50 state House of Assembly members,” he said.

He acknowledged that many of those elected on the party’s platform have since defected, but stressed that he remains proud to be associated with real members of the LP.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/08/peter-obi-datti-baba-ahmed-describes-lp-defector-as-political-travellers/

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DSS Monitoring Kuje Prison, Plotting To Rearrest Me – Malami

January 7, 2026

By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

The Office of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has raised concerns over an alleged plan by government security agencies to rearrest him immediately after his release on bail.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, the office said it had been reliably informed that fresh arrangements were underway to rearrest Malami despite a subsisting bail order granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

According to the statement, the development “raises grave concerns about due process, the rule of law and personal safety.”

The statement further alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services had mounted surveillance at the Kuje Correctional Service facility and were on standby to effect the rearrest on what were described as “trumped-up and unrelated charges.”

It claimed that intelligence available to Malami’s office indicated that the move was aimed at ensuring his continued detention despite compliance with bail conditions.

The statement recalled that weeks earlier, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory had granted bail to Malami, but the order was allegedly not honoured by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which reportedly declined to effect his release.

“This pattern of granting bail on paper while preparing fresh arrests to ensure continued detention represents a grave assault on constitutional safeguards and an abuse of state power,” the statement said.

Malami’s office warned that the safety of the former minister, his family and staff was under serious threat, adding that any act of intimidation, unlawful detention or harm would have to be accounted for by those responsible.

“We therefore place it clearly on record that the safety of Abubakar Malami, SAN, his family and his staff is under serious threat,” the statement read.

The former AGF’s office stressed that Malami had consistently demonstrated respect for the rule of law and remained willing to submit himself to all lawful judicial processes.

It called on relevant authorities, the legal community, civil society organisations and the international community to monitor the situation and prevail on security agencies to act strictly within the confines of the law.

“What is being demanded is nothing more than obedience to court orders, fairness and constitutional protection, as guaranteed to every citizen,” the statement added.

The office said further updates would be communicated as developments unfold.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/01/07/breaking-dss-monitoring-kuje-prison-plotting-to-rearrest-me-malami/

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Burkina Faso Foils Fresh Assassination Plot Against Traoré

January 7, 2026

By George Oshogwe Ogbolu

Burkina Faso’s security services have foiled a fresh plot to assassinate the country’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, authorities have said.

The country’s Security Minister, Mahamadou Sana, disclosed this on Tuesday, alleging that the plot was masterminded by the former leader, Paul Henri Damiba, who was ousted in September 2022.

“Our intelligence services intercepted this operation in its final stages. The plan was to assassinate the head of state and then carry out attacks on other strategic targets, including key institutions and civilian figures,” Sana said.

The minister further claimed that the operation was financed from neighbouring Ivory Coast.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Damiba nor Ivorian authorities had responded to the allegations.

Following the discovery of the alleged plot, Burkina Faso’s authorities have tightened security around government installations and stepped up border surveillance, particularly along the frontier with Ivory Coast.

The government said investigations are ongoing to identify all those involved.

Since assuming power, Captain Traoré, 37, has survived multiple alleged coup attempts amid persistent jihadist violence that has displaced millions of people across the country.

In April 2025, authorities said they had thwarted another coup plot involving both serving and former soldiers who were allegedly planning coordinated attacks on the presidential palace and other strategic locations.

Traoré came to power after overthrowing Damiba, who had himself ruled Burkina Faso for only a few months after seizing power in a January 2022 coup.

The latest development comes amid continued jihadist insurgency and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso.

Despite the security challenges, Traoré has retained support among sections of the population and gained recognition across parts of Africa, largely due to his outspoken criticism of Western influence and promotion of pan-Africanist ideals.

Source: naijanews.com

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Southeast Asia

 

Anwar receives Turkey’s highest state honour for strengthening bilateral ties

 8 Jan 2026

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim conferred with Turkey’s Order of the Republic by President Erdogan during his official visit to Ankara

ANKARA: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was today conferred the Order of the Republic, Turkiye’s highest state honour, in recognition of his role in strengthening bilateral ties between Malaysia and the republic.

The decoration was presented by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a ceremony held at the Presidential Complex here, in conjunction with Anwar’s three-day official visit to the republic, which began on Tuesday (Jan 6).

Also present at the conferment ceremony were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Yesterday, Malaysian Ambassador to Turkiye Sazali Mustafa Kamal said the award was the republic’s highest form of recognition bestowed on a foreign leader who had played a significant role in strengthening bilateral relations with Turkiye.

Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, is undertaking an official visit to Turkiye at the invitation of Erdogan as part of Malaysia’s efforts to further enhance the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Malaysia’s total trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 amounted to RM21.2 billion (USD4.92 billion), with the republic continuing to be an important economic partner for Malaysia.

In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, largest export destination, and fourth-largest source of imports among West Asia countries, with total trade valued at RM24.15 billion (USD5.28 billion).

Meanwhile, Anwar said in a statement that he accepted the conferment with deep gratitude and humility, not in a personal capacity, but on behalf of all Malaysians.

“This conferment also symbolises the close friendship that has long been forged between the two countries, founded on trust, mutual respect and shared aspirations for global peace and prosperity,” he said.

Anwar also expressed hope that the recognition would continue to serve as a catalyst to strengthen Malaysia-Turkiye cooperation across various strategic fields, for the benefit of the people of both countries.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/anwar-receives-turkeys-highest-state-honour-for-strengthening-bilateral-ties/

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PM Anwar hails SETA-ISIS Malaysia pact to strengthen bilateral ties

7 Jan 2026

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim lauds the formal cooperation between Turkish think tank SETA and ISIS Malaysia, aimed at fortifying bilateral ties and shaping policy.

ANKARA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim praised a new formal cooperation between Turkish think tank SETA and Malaysia’s ISIS Malaysia.

He said the pact would help fortify bilateral ties and shape policy discourse amid global complexity.

“I am encouraged that SETA and ISIS Malaysia will formalise their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed later today,” Anwar said in a public lecture in Ankara.

He stated the move recognised that sustained exchange between policymakers and scholars matters greatly for future outcomes.

Anwar is in Turkey on a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/news/malaysia-news/pm-anwar-hails-seta-isis-malaysia-pact-to-strengthen-bilateral-ties/

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Indonesia Prepares Two Development Schemes for Hajj Village in Mecca

Nandito Putra

January 8, 2026

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Investment Management Agency Danantara is preparing two strategic development schemes for Indonesian Hajj Village (Kampung Haji Indonesia) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as part of a long-term plan to build an integrated and sustainable Hajj complex.

Danantara Indonesia Chief Investment Officer Pandu Sjahrir said the two schemes are being pursued in parallel.

The first focuses on strengthening the project’s foundation in the Thakher area, while the second involves participation in auction processes for strategic sites managed by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC).

“We are developing the Hajj Complex through a phased approach,” Pandu said in a written statement on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

“The Thakher area serves as the initial foundation because its assets are already available and ready for development. At the same time, we are participating in RCMC auctions for opportunities closer to the center of Hajj and Umrah activities.”

Pandu said the phased strategy was chosen to ensure the project progresses in a measured and sustainable manner.

The Thakher area currently includes the Novotel Thakher Makkah, which is already operational and offers about 1,461 rooms across three towers.

The site also comprises around 14 development plots covering a total area of 4.4 hectares, located within a strategic corridor approximately two to three kilometers from the Grand Mosque (Masjidil Haram).

Danantara plans to gradually expand the area to include around 6,000 rooms, which could accommodate roughly 22,000 pilgrims—about 10 percent of Indonesia’s annual Hajj quota.

Beyond accommodation, the project is designed as an integrated ecosystem for Indonesian pilgrims. Pandu said the development will include retail facilities, logistics support, and other essential services.

“We want to build an ecosystem, not just hotels,” Pandu said. “The Thakher area is being prepared as a base for integrated and sustainable services for Indonesian pilgrims.”

Alongside the Thakher development, Danantara is also closely monitoring RCMC-led auctions for other strategic locations near Masjidil Haram. As Mecca’s development authority, RCMC sets policy direction and master plans for areas surrounding the holy site.

Pandu said the commission offers multiple plots with varying characteristics and designations, with investor selection conducted through technical and financial evaluations to ensure alignment with Mecca’s broader development plans.

“We are engaging in this process as a long-term exploration for the Hajj Complex, using a highly selective and well-researched approach,” he said.

Investment in the Thakher area will be carried out in stages, covering both asset consolidation and capital expenditure for further development. Danantara is targeting a groundbreaking ceremony in 2026, with additional hotels expected to begin operations from 2029.

“Our priority is to ensure every step is taken prudently and carefully,” Pandu said. “This Hajj Complex is a strategic, cross-generational project.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said the Indonesian Hajj Village will not be operational for the 2026 Hajj season. He estimated that the first hotel towers could be completed within one to two years.

“We hope that by 2028 at the latest, some towers can be used,” he said on Thursday while visiting the Hajj Dormitory in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta.

Previously, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said the Indonesian government had secured ownership of hotel and land assets in Saudi Arabia through an auction process, which will serve as the future site of the Indonesian Hajj Village.

He confirmed the development after Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani reported the auction result during a cabinet retreat held at the Garuda Yaksa Pavilion in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday, January 6, 2025.

“Mr. Rosan reported that we have won the bidding and now have our own hotel in Mecca, thanks to the President’s extraordinary diplomacy,” Prasetyo said at a press conference following the meeting.

Source: tempo.co

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https://en.tempo.co/read/2078962/indonesia-prepares-two-development-schemes-for-hajj-village-in-mecca

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Aceh recovery to be sped up as Ramadan approaches: Ministry

 January 7, 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Home Affairs has emphasized that the post-disaster recovery phase in Aceh requires speed and precision, particularly ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

“Post-disaster recovery is not merely about completing tasks, but about ensuring that all basic needs of the community are met swiftly,” the ministry’s Director General of Regional Administration Development, Safrizal Zakaria Ali, said on Wednesday.

Ali added that the government is working to ensure smooth food distribution, the availability of clean water for drinking and ritual cleansing, the provision of clothing assistance, and the acceleration of relocating evacuees from tents to temporary shelters.

“All recovery efforts must be carried out in parallel, ranging from roads and bridges to river normalization, embankments, electricity, and communication networks,” he said.

President Prabowo Subianto has established a National Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force, chaired by Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian.

All ministries and government agencies have agreed to strengthen coordination to ensure that the recovery process moves quickly and in an integrated manner, allowing affected communities to directly experience the government’s presence.

Several achievements have been reported. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has cleaned 2,756 disaster-affected schools and resumed learning activities in 2,468 of them.

In addition, 18 learning tents have been set up in several locations, with 80 additional learning tents will be distributed, alongside the distribution of 15,500 school kit packages and special allowances for affected teachers. The assistance, totaling Rp15.7 billion or around U$953 thousand, has been transferred directly to recipients’ bank accounts.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has deployed around 3,300 health workers and reactivated health service facilities across the affected areas. However, three community health centers still need to be relocated.

The government has also accelerated the construction and repair of bridges, restored access to village and inter-regional connecting roads, and sped up the development of temporary shelters as well as permanent housing.

Source: antaranews.com

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DPM Zahid tells youth leaders to accept criticism, avoid ‘shortcuts’ over disagreements

08 Jan 2026

PUCHONG, Jan 8 — Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today called on youth wing leaders in political parties to embrace differences of opinion and be open to accepting criticism.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that he and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously held leadership positions in Umno Youth, and therefore understood that youth leaders often possess differing ideals and perspectives.

“Youth naturally have different ideals, and when they express differing views or opinions, these should be accepted as part of a healthy exchange of ideas.

“Young people often offer critical comments, but when criticism is directed at them, it must also be accepted. We should not label others as undemocratic or unwilling to accept the truth,” he told reporters after delivering the 2026 New Year’s message to National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) staff here today.

Ahmad Zahid was commenting on a media report quoting Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh as hinting at the possibility of resigning, after saying that he may have reached a point where he needed to step down.

Ahmad Zahid said that Dr Akmal, or any youth member in a political party, should not resort to shortcuts or inappropriate actions, simply because of differences of opinion on certain issues.

“If people do not agree with us, we should not look for shortcuts. This is a political struggle. We must accept that, in politics, not everyone will agree with us. When there is disagreement, it should be addressed through explanation and dialogue, not through other actions,” he said.

“I am not addressing him (Dr Akmal) specifically, but speaking in general. Youth leaders in political parties must have idealism. Whether or not their views are accepted, that idealism should continue to be pursued, and there are proper ways to reconcile differences and address various issues,” he said.

When asked whether Umno was open to accepting Dr Akmal’s resignation, Ahmad Zahid said that the matter had never crossed his mind.

“I have never thought about it,” he said briefly. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/08/dpm-zahid-tells-youth-leaders-to-accept-criticism-avoid-shortcuts-over-disagreements/204684

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Yet another 36 pilgrims stranded: Motac makes bank guarantee compulsory for umrah agencies

08 Jan 2026

BINTULU, Jan 8 — It is now a mandatory requirement for all travel agencies offering umrah packages to have a bank guarantee, said Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture said he has directed the immediate implementation of the requirement following the latest incident where 36 umrah pilgrims were left stranded in Madinah after their travel agency allegedly failed to provide accommodation and return flight tickets as promised.

According to Tiong, the pilgrims, including elderly individuals and children, had each paid RM7,600 in full to the company.

However, he said they were left with financial and emotional distress when the agency failed to fulfil its basic obligations, forcing the group to seek public donations to fund their return journey.

Tiong said the incident once again highlighted the urgent need to enforce the bank guarantee requirement as a mandatory licensing condition for travel agencies offering umrah packages under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482).

He said the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) had since last year announced its intention to enforce the measure to better protect pilgrims and consumers from irresponsible operators, while strengthening public confidence in the umrah and tourism industry.

“This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In fact, similar cases have happened repeatedly, causing public anger and leaving victims feeling helpless.

“Many pilgrims have suffered heavy losses and were forced to find their own way home without any support from the operators who should have been held accountable,” he pointed out.

Tiong said the bank guarantee would ensure pilgrims’ funds are always protected and that compensation could be channelled promptly in cases of fraud, negligence, or agency failure.

“This is not a burden on honest operators. Instead, it is a firm measure to build a safe and trustworthy tourism ecosystem and to restore public confidence,” he stressed.

Tiong shared that all 36 pilgrims arrived safely at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 on Tuesday, following assistance coordinated through the Malaysian Embassy in Riyadh.

He said preliminary investigations found that the company’s office was no longer operating and that there were several serious violations of the Tourism Industry Regulations 1992.

The ministry has conducted searches, recorded statements from the company, and affected pilgrims, as well as opened an investigation paper.

He added a recommendation to revoke the company’s licence is currently being finalised for consideration by the ministry’s top management.

From 2023 to October 2025, the ministry carried out 64 enforcement operations, resulting in four licence suspensions and two revocations.

Tiong added the recurrence of such cases shows that existing measures must be further strengthened.

He also urged the public to verify the licence status of travel agencies before making any payments and to immediately report any irregularities.

“Motac will not compromise with any operator who deceives pilgrims, neglects their welfare, or damages the country’s reputation. Firm and decisive action will continue to be taken,” he added. — The Borneo Post

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/08/yet-another-36-pilgrims-stranded-motac-makes-bank-guarantee-compulsory-for-umrah-agencies/204691

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DPM Zahid calls for powerful new disaster council to fix outdated crisis response

08 Jan 2026

PUCHONG, Jan 8 — A National Disaster Management Council is proposed to be established as the highest body responsible for coordinating disaster management and disaster risk reduction, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, said he had instructed the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to prepare a Cabinet Paper to be circulated to all ministries for feedback.

“Within a month, it will be circulated to all ministries for review, and I will personally present it (at a Cabinet meeting).

“Upgrading the Central Disaster Management Committee to the National Disaster Management Council. We want disaster management to be significantly enhanced,” he said while delivering the 2026 New Year message to Nadma staff here today.

Also present was Nadma director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim.

Ahmad Zahid said that the current national disaster management mechanism through the Central Disaster Management Committee at the highest level needs to be further strengthened.

“At present, the existing committee does not yet involve the direct participation of Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers, even though state governments hold key authority over development, land use, and water resource management — critical factors that strongly influence disaster risk and impact.

“There is also a need for the full involvement of federal ministers who have the mandate and capacity to coordinate all aspects in an integrated manner across ministries and agencies, allowing strategic decisions to be made more quickly, decisively, and effectively,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said a new approach to disaster management must be introduced, and the country should adopt a whole-of-government approach to build resilience in facing crises and disasters.

“We must accept reality. Disasters today are no longer isolated or seasonal. They are also driven by climate change, rapid development and urbanisation, population density, and global uncertainties that cut across sectors.

“If we observe, disasters today go beyond environmental concerns. They also encompass public health, humanitarian crises, and disruptions to technology and critical infrastructure. That is why the old approach is no longer sufficient,” he said.

He added that the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2030, which is being drafted, represents a long-term national commitment to raising public awareness and preparedness for disasters through comprehensive and holistic risk management. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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New Malaysian passport and MyKad with stronger security coming mid-2026, says home minister

By Anis Zalani

08 Jan 2026

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 8 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Immigration Department and the National Registration Department will introduce a new Malaysian passport and a new MyKad by the second quarter or early third quarter of this year.

He said the new versions will be enhanced with more advanced security features to further strengthen their reliability and integrity.

“This replacement is not done arbitrarily. It is a security responsibility that must be carried out after a certain period of use,” he told reporters at a press conference after his New Year’s address here today.

Saifuddin Nasution added that existing passports and MyKad will remain valid until their expiry.

“Continue using your current documents until they reach their expiry. Replacements will only be necessary at that time.

“Details on the implementation schedule, updated features, and additional announcements will be provided in due course,” he said

He said the ministry would inform the public early — about six months in advance — to prevent people from rushing or panicking when applying for new passports or MyKad.

He added that user specifications for the new passport and MyKad have already been developed and certified, involving processes between the Immigration Department and the NRD.

As part of this year’s Visit Malaysia Year initiatives, Saifuddin Nasution said the government is strengthening border control and immigration measures nationwide, with the Border Control and Protection Agency and Immigration Department serving as the frontline at entry points.

He said their responsibilities include facilitating smooth traveller movement without compromising security, enhancing revenue collection with the Customs Department, and addressing integrity-related issues.

“Priority will be given to major entry points, including KLIA 1, KLIA 2, the Sultan Iskandar Building, Sultan Abu Bakar Complex, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, and Sarawak.

“Autogate systems will be installed at all these locations to improve efficiency and streamline operations,” he added.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/08/new-malaysian-passport-and-mykad-with-stronger-security-coming-mid-2026-says-home-minister/204656

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Anwar thanks Erdogan for warm hospitality during official Turkey visit

 8 Jan 2026

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality from President Erdogan during his official visit to Turkey

ANKARA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the exceptionally warm, sincere and friendly hospitality accorded to him during his official visit to the republic.

In a statement, Anwar also prayed that Erdogan, Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan and their family would continue to be blessed with good health, strength and wisdom in leading the republic towards lasting peace, prosperity and justice, for the well-being of the people and the wider Muslim world.

Anwar said he and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, together with the Malaysian delegation, were also honoured to be hosted by Erdogan and Emine at an official dinner held in an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie at the Presidential Complex here.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, is on a three-day official visit to Turkiye at the invitation of Erdogan, which began last Tuesday, as part of efforts to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Malaysia’s total trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 reached RM21.2 billion (USD4.92 billion), with the republic remaining an important economic partner for Malaysia.

In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, largest export destination and fourth-largest source of imports among West Asian countries, with total trade valued at RM24.15 billion (USD5.28 billion).

Source: thesun.my

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South Asia

 

Minister Stresses Urgent Need for Structured Nutrition Services in Country

January 8, 2026

KABUL: The country’s Minister of Public Health, Mawlavi Noor Jalal Jalali, met with John Eliff, Director General of the World Food Program (WFP), emphasized the urgent need for organized, sustained, and needs-based nutrition services across the country.

The two sides reviewed ongoing WFP activities and assistance programs, focusing on improving the effectiveness and reach of nutrition services for vulnerable populations, the ministry said in a statement the other day.

The minister highlighted that well-coordinated nutrition initiatives are critical to addressing the health needs of communities, particularly children, pregnant women, and returning refugee families.

Mawlavi Jalali reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working closely with international partners to ensure high-quality, impactful healthcare services throughout Afghanistan.

He emphasized that nutrition programs must be structured, consistent, and aligned with the real needs of the population to achieve lasting results.

The WFP delegation provided updates on ongoing projects, including support for earthquake-affected communities in Kunar province and initiatives aimed at returning families.

John Eliff assured the ministry of continued and expanded cooperation in nutrition programs, underlining WFP’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan’s public health priorities.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/minister-stresses-urgent-need-for-structured-nutrition-services-in-country/

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‘July fighters abandoned by NCP during crisis’

Jan 8, 2026

Students Against Discrimination (SAD) president Rifat Rashid yesterday alleged that the leaders of National Citizen Party (NCP), who had emerged through the July uprising, did not stand beside the July fighters in times of crisis.

Questioning NCP's role in the recent arrests of SAD's Habiganj unit member secretary Mahdi Hasan and "July fighter" Tahrima Jannat Surovi, Rifat said the party issued statements only after their release.

"Those NCP leaders who rose through the July uprising --every single one of them -- remained silent when they [Mahdi and Surovi] were in danger," he added.

Addressing a press conference at Madhur Canteen on Dhaka University campus, Rashid warned that abandoning the July fighters for electoral politics would be a grave mistake.

Rashid announced a set of demands, including: unconditional release of Mahdi and Surovi; forming a probe body for punishing Omar Faruk and other police and administrative officials; issuance of an ordinance by the president within next 24 hours granting immunity for all activities carried out by July fighters between July 1 and August 8, 2024; and documentation of significant contributions of armed and paramilitary forces personnel and civil administration officials during the uprising;  immediate promotions and appointments to sensitive and important posts for armed forces officers who were deprived and repressed after February 25, 2009.

He also announced a set of programmes, including: preparing a list of police personnel under whose jurisdictions protesters were killed during the uprising; submitting the list to the International Crimes Tribunal and file cases accordingly and holding discussions with the law and home advisers to ensure the issuance of an "indemnity ordinance" by the president.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/july-fighters-abandoned-ncp-during-crisis-4075711

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Seat-sharing knot tightens for Jamaat, IAB

Jan 8, 2026

The daunting task of striking a seat-sharing deal has grown increasingly complicated for Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolan Bangladesh with the two parties fielding candidates in more than 240 overlapping constituencies.

Jamaat and IAB -- two of the largest Islamist groups in the country -- had been in talks for over three months to consolidate Islamist votes under an alliance of eight mostly Islamist parties.

Despite prolonged discussions, the talks collapsed just short of the December 29 nomination deadline, leading both parties to submit nominations in hundreds of seats and deepening uncertainty within the newly announced alliance.

Election Commission data show that Jamaat filed nominations in 276 constituencies on the final day, while Islami Andolan submitted papers in 268 seats.

An analysis of the nominations reveals that Jamaat and IAB candidates are set to compete directly in at least 240 constituencies across the country, often in seats where senior leaders themselves are contesting.

The overlap is most pronounced in the Chattogram region, with 49 constituencies hosting rival candidates from the two parties.

Dhaka follows with 40 seats, Khulna with 34, Rajshahi and Mymensingh with 33 each, Rangpur with 30, and Barishal with 17. Sylhet records the least overlap, with eight constituencies.

Tensions escalated further after the alliance was expanded into 11 parties a day before the nomination deadline to include the National Citizen Party and others.

Islami Andolan leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with Jamaat's seat-sharing proposal, demanding a larger allocation and objecting strongly to what they see as undue importance given to the newly formed NCP, including the promise of as many as 30 seats.

Another partner Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, led by Mamunul Haque, has taken a similar position.

Islami Andolan Secretary General Maulana Yunus Ahmad acknowledged the strain.

"We were together," he said, adding that last-minute decisions had unsettled several parties.

He said the original members of the alliance were not consulted before the inclusion of new parties and assurances of sharing seats with them.

"It's not just Islami Andolan; Other parties were also displeased," he said.

Yet, the IAB secretary general insisted the raptures in the alliance were not beyond repair.

"Everyone still has the mindset to move together, and I hope this mindset won't change," he said, adding that fresh talks between Jamaat and IAB were expected soon.

From Jamaat's side, Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher struck a more optimistic note, saying progress had been made. He expressed hope that a deal would be finalised shortly.

Asked about reports of a crisis with Islami Andolan, he dismissed them outright, saying there was "no truth" to such claims.

The fractures are most visible in constituencies where top leaders are pitted against one another.

In Cumilla-11, Jamaat's Taher faces IAB's Md Mohiuddin. Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam is contesting Rangpur-2, where IAB has nominated Ashraf Ali.

Khulna-5 features Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, while Islami Andolan's Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had his nomination rejected; Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis candidate Md Abdul Qayyum Jamaddar remains in the race there.

In Sirajganj-4, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan is up against Islami Andolan's Abdur Rahman. Cox's Bazar-2 has become a three-way contest, with Jamaat's former MP and Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad appealing after rejection, IAB's Ziaul Haq in the race, and Khilafat Majlis nominee Obaidul Qader Nadvi also contesting.

Similar rivalries unfold elsewhere: former MP Shahjahan Chowdhury in Chattogram-15 faces IAB's Shariful Alam Chowdhury; Jamaat Dhaka South city Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul contests Chapainawabganj-3 against IAB's Md Monirul Islam. In Khulna-4, IAB Secretary General Yunus Ahmad is running against Jamaat's Md Kabirul Islam.

Barishal has emerged as another flashpoint. Jamaat candidates Muazzam Hossain Helal and Md Mahamudunnabi are contesting Barishal-5 and Barishal-6 respectively, seats where IAB Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim is also an aspirant. IAB leaders Syed Eshak Md Abul Khayer and Syed Md Mosaddeq Billah are contesting Barishal-4 and Dhaka-4, where Jamaat candidates Mohammad Abdul Jabbar and Syed Zainul Abedin have also filed nominations.

There are, however, rare pockets of unity. No alliance partner has fielded a candidate against Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman in Dhaka-15.

Beyond these high-profile contests, numerous constituencies across the country feature aspirants from three or more alliance partners, underscoring the depth of the coordination challenge facing the bloc.

Despite the turbulence, the alliance itself is historic. This marks the first time in nearly four decades that Jamaat and Islami Andolan Bangladesh have entered into a formal electoral alliance.

Jamaat was banned along with other religion-based parties after Bangladesh's independence in 1972.

With the prohibition lifted later, the party returned to national elections under its original name in 1986, achieving its best result in 1991 with 18 seats and 12.13 percent of the popular vote.

Jamaat boycotted the 2014 and 2024 polls and contested the 2018 election using the BNP's paddy sheaf symbol as part of the BNP-led alliance. Its registration was cancelled in 2013 following a High Court verdict, but restored along with its symbol in June 2025.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh traces its roots to Islami Shashontantra Andolan, founded in 1987 by Syed Fazlul Karim, the then Pir of Charmonai. After his death in 2006, leadership passed onto his son Syed Rezaul Karim.

The party adopted its current name to comply with Election Commission registration rules ahead of the 2008 polls.

EC data show the party secured 11,159 votes in June 1996, and more than 12 lakh votes in the 2018 election -- the third-highest tally after the Awami League and the BNP-led alliance, although the polls were marred by allegations of widespread ballot stuffing the night before voting. In 2014 and 2024, IAB also boycotted the polls.

Political analysts say the growing prominence of Islamist parties in recent years, particularly following the recent student-led mass uprising, has lent new urgency and higher stakes to efforts at unity.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/seat-sharing-knot-tightens-jamaat-iab-4075901

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Jamal Calls for Maintaining Professional Conduct

January 8, 2026

KABUL: Mawlavi Qudratullah Jamal, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture for Tourism, Finance and Administration, has emphasized the importance of improving work performance, upholding professional integrity, and ensuring respectful engagement with the public during a visit to the Information and Culture Department in Kandahar.

During the visit, Jamal met with department officials and staff, where he provided guidance and practical recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness and service delivery, according to a statement from the ministry on Wednesday.

He stressed that dedication to duty, sincerity in work, and ethical conduct are essential for building public trust and enhancing the quality of services provided to citizens.

Meanwhile, the head of the Kandahar Information and Culture Department briefed the deputy minister on the department’s ongoing activities and achievements, reaffirming the commitment of staff to implementing the ministry’s directives and further improving performance.

According to a separate statement from the ministry, Mawlavi Jamal also inaugurated the major restoration project of the arch and well at the historical Bust Fort during his visit to Helmand province.

During the opening ceremony, Jamal highlighted the historical significance of Bust Fort, describing it as a globally recognized heritage site that attracts numerous tourists from around the world.

He emphasized the fort’s important role in promoting the tourism industry and boosting local economic opportunities.

Jamal also expressed gratitude to the people of Helmand for their efforts in protecting the fort and called on them to continue cooperating with the Information and Culture Department in its preservation.

Addressing the public, Jamal remarked that Afghans should be thankful to Allah for the blessings bestowed upon the nation, noting that the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has worked tirelessly day and night tirelessly in the service of the Afghan people.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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Chinese Researchers Visit National Museum to Boost Scientific Cultural Cooperation

January 8, 2026

KABUL: A delegation of Chinese researchers and scholars visiting Afghanistan toured the National Museum of Afghanistan as part of efforts to enhance mutual understanding and expand scientific and research cooperation between Afghan and Chinese institutions.

The Ministry of Information and Culture said in a statement on Wednesday that the delegation explored museum exhibitions and closely observed Afghanistan’s historical, cultural, and artistic artifacts.

They praised the efforts of museum officials in preserving and protecting the country’s cultural heritage.

Members of the delegation expressed strong interest in Afghanistan’s ancient history and rich cultural legacy.

At the conclusion of the visit, several books and informational catalogs on Afghanistan’s historical and cultural artifacts were presented to the delegation to support future academic and cultural cooperation.

Officials described the visit as an important step toward strengthening cultural and scientific ties between Afghanistan and China at national and international levels.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/chinese-researchers-visit-national-museum-to-boost-scientific-cultural-cooperation/

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Shaheen, Al Jisr Company Head Discuss Labor Cooperation

January 8, 2026

DOHA: Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to Qatar, Mohammad Sohail Shaheen, met with Engineer Abdul Hadi Bakhit Barqan, Head of Al Jisr Company under Qatar’s Ministry of Labor, to discuss labor cooperation.

The two officials reviewed the implementation and follow-up of the existing agreement between the country’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and Al Jisr Company, the Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said that the meeting focused on the process of recruiting Afghan workers and skilled professionals for employment opportunities in Qatar.

Both sides emphasized the importance of facilitating transparent and organized recruitment mechanisms to ensure lawful employment and protect workers’ rights, while strengthening bilateral labor cooperation.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/shaheen-al-jisr-company-head-discuss-labor-cooperation/

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Thirteen Health Centers Renovated in Ghor Province

January 8, 2026

KABUL: The Ministry of Public Health of the Islamic Emirate said that 13 health centers worth 23.8 million Afghanis have been renovated in Ghor province.

The reconstruction included the refurbishment of outpatient, maternity, and vaccination sections, water supply systems, medical equipment, and other essential facilities, the statement said.

Additionally, 22 water sources have been renovated by the charity organization ActionAid, while two more health centers were completed by World Vision.

The upgrades are expected to significantly improve access to quality healthcare and provide a safe, functional environment for residents.

Mawlavi Abdul Wahid Hamas, Head of Public Health in Ghor, described the completion of these projects as an important step in enhancing healthcare services, particularly in remote areas, and expressed gratitude to the supporting organizations.

He further emphasized the need for continued monitoring and technical support to maintain and improve service quality.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/thirteen-health-centers-renovated-in-ghor-province/

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MoU Signed to Support Returnees, Host Communities

January 8, 2026

KABUL: The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs has signed a cooperation agreement worth $ 849,645 with the international organisation Welthungerhilfe (WHH) to support returnees and host communities.

Under the agreement, the funds will be used to provide cash assistance and improve access to drinking water for 2,078 returnee families and host communities in Kabul and Balkh provinces, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The project aims to ease the humanitarian challenges faced by returnees and strengthen community resilience through targeted financial and water-support initiatives.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has so far signed dozens of cooperation agreements with international and local organisations to deliver humanitarian aid, cash support, and essential services to families returning to the country, ensuring their safe reintegration and improved living conditions.

Source: thekabultimes.com

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https://thekabultimes.com/mou-signed-to-support-returnees-host-communities/

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EC opens law and order coordination cell ahead of polls, referendum

Jan 8, 2026

The Election Commission (EC) has opened a law and order coordination cell at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka's Agargaon, ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum scheduled for February 12.

The coordination cell became operational today and will remain active until February 13, the day after the polls, according to an EC press release issued this afternoon.

Citizens can report violations of the electoral code of conduct, election-related irregularities, or incidents of propaganda by contacting the cell, the release said.

The coordination cell can be reached at 0255007470, 0255007471, 0255007472, 0255007474 and 0255007506.

The press release was signed by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, director (public relations) of the Election Commission.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/ec-opens-law-and-order-coordination-cell-ahead-polls-referendum-4076146

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