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Saudi Supreme Court Calls on Muslims to Sight Ramadan Crescent Moon on Tuesday Evening
Saudi Supreme Court Calls on Muslims to Sight Ramadan Crescent Moon on Tuesday Evening
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has urged Muslims across the Kingdom to look for the Ramadan crescent moon on the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026, to determine the official start of Ramadan 1447 AH. The court emphasized that community participation in moon sighting is vital for confirming the beginning of the holy month.
In an official statement relayed by the Saudi Press Agency, the Supreme Court instructed anyone who spots the new moon crescent — either with the naked eye or using binoculars — to report their observation to the nearest court and ensure their testimony is recorded. Local centres have also been set up to assist observers in reaching judicial offices.
The Kingdom has established moon sighting committees across regions to coordinate observations and support public involvement. Authorities encouraged citizens to actively participate, noting that their contributions are essential to help Muslims across Saudi Arabia begin Ramadan in unity.
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Tuesday corresponds to 29 Sha’ban 1447 AH in the Islamic lunar calendar. If the crescent moon is sighted, Ramadan 1447 AH will commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. If the moon is not visible, Sha’ban will be completed as 30 days, and Ramadan will begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026. This aligns with centuries-old Islamic tradition of lunar observation.
Muslims worldwide, including in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, are preparing for Ramadan, a sacred month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charity. Astronomical forecasts suggest visibility may vary across regions, making local observations and testimonies crucial. Similar calls for crescent moon sightings have also been issued by authorities in countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The Supreme Court’s announcement underscores the importance of lunar observation in Islamic practice and encourages public engagement to ensure a synchronized start of Ramadan across the Kingdom.
Saudi Supreme Court Calls on Muslims to Sight Ramadan Crescent Moon on Tuesday Evening
News
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
The United States Justice Department has released additional FBI documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including interview records from a woman who alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her after being introduced to him by Epstein.
The newly disclosed documents were made public on Thursday as part of the ongoing release of records related to the Epstein investigation. According to the Justice Department, the materials were not included in earlier congressionally mandated disclosures because they had been incorrectly labelled as “duplicative” records during the document review process.
The files include summaries of several 2019 interviews conducted by the FBI with the woman, who claimed she was between 13 and 15 years old when she was sexually assaulted by Epstein in the 1980s.
According to the interview summaries, the woman told investigators that Epstein once took her to either New York or New Jersey and introduced her to Trump in what she described as a tall building.
She alleged that during the encounter, Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she resisted and bit him, causing the alleged assault attempt to stop.
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The woman further told investigators that Epstein had abused her repeatedly over several years and had sometimes arranged encounters with other men.
During the interviews, she also said that she and people close to her had received threatening phone calls over the years warning her to remain silent, which she suspected were connected to Epstein.
Despite the allegations, the FBI did not bring charges related to the claims, and records indicate that investigators eventually stopped communicating with the woman later in 2019.
Justice Department officials have cautioned that the allegations contained in the newly released documents are uncorroborated and noted that some materials submitted during the Epstein investigation included “untrue and sensationalist claims” involving President Trump.
President Trump has repeatedly denied any misconduct linked to Epstein or the allegations contained in the documents.
The release of the additional files has sparked renewed political scrutiny in Washington, with Democrats questioning how the administration handled the disclosure of the Epstein records.
Lawmakers argue that key materials may have been withheld or mishandled during the earlier releases.
In response, a House committee has voted to summon Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and explain why some documents were not initially disclosed.
The Justice Department maintains that the omission resulted from administrative errors in the massive document review process, which involves millions of pages of records tied to the Epstein investigation.
The disclosures are part of a broader transparency effort following congressional legislation requiring the government to release large volumes of records connected to Epstein, whose high-profile criminal case exposed an extensive network of abuse involving underage victims.
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
News
US Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over ‘Convert or Die’ Threat Against Christians in Nigeria
US Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over ‘Convert or Die’ Threat Against Christians in Nigeria
A United States lawmaker has raised fresh concerns over the killing of Christians by terrorists linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in northeastern Nigeria, warning that extremist threats against religious minorities in the region are worsening.
The lawmaker, Riley M. Moore, reacted after reports emerged that ISWAP fighters carried out a deadly attack in Adamawa State in February that reportedly left at least 27 Christians dead and several homes destroyed.
Security analyst Brant Philip had earlier shared details of the incident online, noting that the terrorists later admitted responsibility for the assault and issued a chilling ultimatum to Christian communities in the area.
According to a message circulating on social media platform X, the militants allegedly warned that Christians must “either pay the jizyah tax, convert to Islam, or be killed.” The statement described the ultimatum as a “fair deal,” sparking outrage among international observers.
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Reacting in a post on X, Moore condemned the threat and described the development as a clear case of religious persecution in Nigeria.
“Christians continue to be explicitly targeted for their faith in Nigeria,” Moore said.
“ISIS-West Africa is slaughtering Christians and telling other Christians they must convert or die. In our report to the White House, we made it clear that increased American support is contingent on the Nigerian government doing more to defend Christians. Now is the time for Abuja to step up.”
The comments highlight growing international concern about terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s northeast, where insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have continued to target communities, places of worship and security forces.
Nigeria has been battling a prolonged insurgency for more than a decade, particularly in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, where thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced by extremist violence.
Human rights organisations and religious freedom advocates have repeatedly warned that Christian minorities in rural communities remain vulnerable to targeted attacks, especially in remote areas with limited security presence.
Although the Nigerian military has intensified operations against insurgent groups in recent years, attacks, kidnappings and raids by militants still occur across several parts of the northeast.
Moore’s latest remarks add to increasing international calls for stronger efforts to protect vulnerable communities and improve security in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
US Lawmaker Raises Alarm Over ‘Convert or Die’ Threat Against Christians in Nigeria
News
Google Expands AI Search to Include Yorùbá, Hausa Languages in Nigeria
Google Expands AI Search to Include Yorùbá, Hausa Languages in Nigeria
Google has expanded its AI‑powered Search features to support Nigeria’s Yorùbá and Hausa languages, enabling millions of users to interact with AI Search in their mother tongues. The update allows Nigerians to ask complex questions, either by typing or using voice input, and receive AI-generated summaries, insights, and conversational responses in their preferred language.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, said the rollout is part of the company’s broader effort to make AI more inclusive across Africa. He explained that the system goes beyond simple translation, using advanced language understanding to provide contextually relevant and culturally grounded answers.
“This development ensures Nigerians can converse with search in their local languages, making information more useful and accessible to everyone,” Kola-Ogunlade said. He highlighted that a student in Kano can ask questions in Hausa, while a trader in Ibadan can seek business insights in Yorùbá, demonstrating the practical impact of the update.
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The expansion brings the total number of African languages supported by Google’s AI Search features to 13, including Kiswahili, Wolof, Amharic, isiZulu, and Afrikaans, among others. Users can access the feature via the Google app on Android or iOS or through the web version of Search by selecting AI Mode and entering queries in Yorùbá or Hausa.
Experts say the update addresses the digital language divide in Nigeria and across Africa, helping users who are more comfortable in their native languages access AI tools for learning, research, business, and daily problem-solving. It also supports digital inclusion, empowering more people to participate in the AI-driven online economy.
The initiative aligns with Google’s global mission to make information universally accessible and useful, reflecting a growing emphasis on local language AI technologies in Africa.
Google Expands AI Search to Include Yorùbá, Hausa Languages in Nigeria
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