Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Trump hosts Iftar dinner but does not invite major American Muslim groups

Surprising many, US president Donald Trump hosted his first Iftar dinner at the White House and sought co-operations from Muslims world over.

Wednesday's Iftar dinner came as a shock to many considering Trump -- who frequently engages in anti-Muslim rhetoric -- skipped hosting such a party last year.


During the event Trump wished Muslims around the world a "Ramadan Mubarak" and said "only by working together can we achieve a future of security and prosperity for all."

"For this reason, I was proud to make my first foreign trip as President to the heart of the Muslim world, where I addressed an assembly of more than 50 leaders of Muslim-majority countries. That was something," he said. "The partnership and solidarity that we established over the past year has only deepened with time.  So many friendships.  So many meetings, even in the Oval Office. And we've made a lot of progress, I think, a lot of tremendous progress," Trump said.

Envoys from several Muslim countries such as the UAE, Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar, Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Algeria, Libya, Kuwait, Gambia, Ethiopia, Iraq, and Bosnia were invited.

No invitation

However, several cultural and advocacy groups that attended the Ramadan event under past administrations were not issued invitations this year. The Islamic Society of North America told Huffington Post that they were not invited for Trump's Iftar party.

Colin Christopher, the group’s interfaith director, said: “If the White House is interested in inviting foreign government leaders from largely corrupt, Muslim-majority countries that exhibit inequitable and unjust policies upon their own populations, that seems to be in line with the tenor of the current U.S. Administration. We are confident that they will enjoy their time together, ignoring the basic needs and human rights of their respective peoples.”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations was also not invited.

Protests

Meanwhile, members of several Muslim organisations held their own Iftar outside the White House to protest Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric during his campaign, where he called for a "complete and total shutdown" of Muslims entering the US.

Trump had also issued a travel ban on people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen -- countries with a majority Muslim population.

More For You

Chemmani Sri Lanka

The gravesite is one of dozens unearthed across the country. (Photo: X)

x

Child’s remains found in Sri Lanka’s Chemmani mass grave

THE skeletal remains of a girl aged between four and five have been identified among 65 sets of human remains exhumed from a mass grave in Sri Lanka’s Jaffna district. The site first came into focus during the LTTE conflict in the mid-1990s.

“The findings of the excavation at the Chemmani mass grave were reported to the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court on on Tuesday (15) by Raj Somadeva, a forensic archaeologist overseeing the exhumation,” Jeganathan Tathparan, a lawyer, said on Thursday (17).

Keep ReadingShow less
Aakash Odedra Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist

Aakash Odedra recently won Best Male Dancer and Outstanding Male Classical Performance at the National Dance Awards.

getty images

Aakash Odedra named Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist

AAKASH ODEDRA has been appointed a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, the organisation has announced.

Born in Birmingham and based in Leicester, Odedra is known for combining classical and contemporary dance to reflect British Asian experiences.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump’s administration has been working on trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline, when duties on most US imports are scheduled to rise again. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Trump says trade deal with India ‘very close’

THE US is very close to finalising a trade agreement with India, while a deal with the European Union is also possible, president Donald Trump said in an interview aired on Real America's Voice on Wednesday. However, he said it was too soon to tell if an agreement could be reached with Canada.

Trump’s administration has been working on trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline, when duties on most US imports are scheduled to rise again. The push is part of efforts to secure what Trump considers better trade terms and reduce the large US trade deficit.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bengaluru stampede

The incident occurred when hundreds of thousands gathered to celebrate with the RCB team after their IPL final win against Punjab Kings. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

State govt report blames RCB, DNA Networks and KSCA for Bengaluru stampede

A STATUS report submitted to the Karnataka High Court on the stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, which left 11 people dead, has blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), their event management partner DNA Networks Pvt Ltd, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for organising the June 4 victory parade and celebration without permission or providing mandatory details to city authorities.

Government sources confirmed to PTI that the report has been submitted to the court.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK to lower voting age to 16

Voters go to the polls as local elections are held in England on May 01, 2025 in Hull, England.

Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

UK to lower voting age to 16 in electoral shake-up

THE government said on Thursday (17) it planned to give 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections in a major overhaul of the country's democratic system.

The government said the proposed changes were part of an effort to boost public trust in democracy and would align voting rights across Britain, where younger voters already participate in devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.

Keep ReadingShow less