TIR World

07/02/2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken decisive action to limit the access of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to city-run properties, including schools, hospitals, shelters and other public facilities, in response to an escalating federal immigration enforcement push under President Donald Trump’s administration. Mamdani signed an executive order on February 6, 2026, requiring federal agents to obtain judicial warrants before entering such locations, reinforcing the city’s long-standing sanctuary policies and aiming to protect immigrant communities.

The executive order — announced during an interfaith breakfast — is part of Mamdani’s broader efforts to safeguard the rights of New Yorkers, particularly immigrants, amid heightened deportation actions and increasing ICE operations in major U.S. cities. The order also calls for audits of city agency interactions with ICE, privacy safeguards for residents’ personal data, and measures to ensure compliance with sanctuary laws across city departments.

Mamdani has been an outspoken critic of federal immigration tactics and has previously described ICE as a “rogue agency,” alleging that its enforcement actions can lead to undue hardship and fear in immigrant communities. His administration’s move reflects growing tension between local jurisdictions seeking to protect residents and federal authorities pushing more aggressive immigration crackdowns nationwide.

The mayor’s stance comes amid broader national debates over immigration enforcement, with opponents of stricter policies warning of civil rights concerns and supporters of federal action arguing that ICE must be allowed to enforce immigration laws without local impediments. Discussions over warrant requirements and legal limitations continue as jurisdictions like New York push back against federal priorities.

31/01/2026

An Iraqi calligrapher, Ali Zaman, has completed a monumental handwritten manuscript of the Quran after six years of dedicated work, showcasing extraordinary craftsmanship and devotion to the traditional art of Islamic calligraphy. The project was finalised at the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, where the finished scrolls are now stored and preserved.

Zaman, 54, began his journey with a deep passion for the craft that started in childhood. Born in Ranya, a town in Iraq’s Sulaymaniyah governorate, he moved to Istanbul in 2017 to focus fully on completing the manuscript and refining his calligraphy, a revered art form in Islamic culture known locally as “hat”.

The completed work is made up of 302 double-sided scrolls, each measuring about 4 metres (13 feet) long and 1.5 metres wide, and entirely handwritten using traditional materials custom-made for the project — including ingredients such as eggs, corn starch and alum — giving each sheet the look of heavy parchment.

For six years, Zaman worked from dawn to dusk in a dedicated workspace at the mosque, meticulously inscribing every sheet by hand. Although the manuscript is widely acclaimed and described as possibly the largest handwritten Quran in existence, it has not yet received official recognition from bodies like Guinness World Records.

Zaman says the completion of his work fills him with pride and gratitude, viewing the artistic process as both a spiritual practice and a means of drawing closer to God. His hope is that the manuscript will one day be placed on public display in a museum or cultural institution where its artistic and religious significance can be fully appreciated by a wider audience.

31/01/2026

The Apache helicopters, which will be equipped with rocket launchers and advanced targeting gear, are the biggest part of the total package, coming to USD 3.8 billion, according to the department.

29/01/2026

and the ( ) have concluded negotiations on a landmark ( ) after nearly two decades of talks, a pact expected to significantly reduce import duties on a wide range of European goods — including luxury cars, jewellery and chocolates — making them more affordable for Indian consumers over time.

Under the agreement announced on January 27, 2026, India will progressively cut or eliminate tariffs on most EU-made products, while the EU will open its markets to a majority of Indian exports. Duties on and and many other consumer items will be lowered to zero or gradually phased out, reducing costs at the point of sale.

For vehicles, import taxes on European-made — previously among the highest in the world — will be slashed. Tariffs on cars imported from the EU are scheduled to fall from over 100 per cent toward 10 per cent over the implementation period, with quota limits applying annually, making premium and luxury models from brands such as , and more accessible for Indian buyers.

Similarly, tariffs on chocolates, processed foods and confectionery will be reduced or removed, which is expected to bring noticeable price relief in those categories for Indian shoppers. Import duties on , and other European consumer goods will also decline, broadening affordable choices.

The FTA could potentially double bilateral trade between India and the EU over the next several years and deepen economic ties between the two regions.

28/01/2026

The Manpower Ministry is also stepping up surveillance of newly arrived migrant workers from South Asia as part of the country's initial response to the Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal.

28/01/2026

Trump warns Iraq against return of ex-PM Nouri al-Maliki

10/10/2025

10/10/2025

has just launched air strikes on for the first time

02/10/2025

Well-known Pal*stinian freelance photojournalist, Yahia Barzak, famous for his striking newborn portraits before October 7, 2023, was killed in an Is**eli airstrike on September 30, in Deir al-Balah, Central G*za.

20/09/2025

The Taliban have released British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds after more than seven months in custody.

The 80- and 75-year-olds, who had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years running an educational institution in Bamiyan, were detained on undisclosed charges.

Family members have alleged mistreatment, which the Taliban denied.

UK officials welcomed their release, saying Britain had worked intensively on the case with vital support from Qatar.

The couple were handed over to the UK's envoy in Kabul. Their release is seen as part of the Taliban's broader push for international recognition amid ongoing concerns over its rule.

20/09/2025

Israeli min Smotrich calls Gaza a ‘real estate bonanza’

Smotrich says discussions with the U.S. are underway, including how land will be shared (percentages), and what rebuilding will look like. He also emphasized the cost already borne by Israel during military operations.