Hong Kong police draw guns, arrest 36 in latest protest
Hong Kong: Hong Kong police drew their guns and fired a warning shot Sunday night after protesters attacked officers with sticks and rods, and brought out water cannon trucks for the first time, an escalation in the summerlong protests that have shaken the city's government and residents.
The day's main showdown took place on a major drag in the outlying Tsuen Wan district following a protest march that ended in a nearby park.
While a large crowd rallied in the park, a group of hard-line protesters took over a main street, strewing bamboo poles on the pavement and lining up orange and white traffic barriers and cones to obstruct police.
After hoisting warning flags, police used tear gas to try to disperse the crowd. Protesters responded by throwing bricks and gasoline bombs toward the police. The result was a surreal scene of small fires and scattered paving bricks on the street between the two sides, rising clouds of tear gas and green and blue laser lights pointed by the protesters at the police.
The protesters eventually decided to abandon their position. Two water cannon trucks and a phalanx of police vehicles with flashing lights joined riot police on foot as they advanced up the street. They met little resistance. Tel
Television footage showed a water cannon being fired once, but perhaps more as a test, as it didn't appear to reach the retreating protesters.
Officers pulled their guns after a group of remaining protesters chased them down a street with sticks and rods, calling them "gangsters." The officers held up their shields to defend themselves as they retreated. Police said that one officer fell to the ground and six drew their pistols after they were surrounded, with one firing the warning shot.
Some protesters said they're resorting to violence because the government has not responded to their peaceful demonstrations.
"The escalation you're seeing now is just a product of our government's indifference toward the people of Hong Kong," said Rory Wong, who was at the showdown after the march.
One neighbourhood resident, Dong Wong, complained about the tear gas.
"I live on the 15th floor and I can even smell it at home," he said. "I have four dogs, sneezing, sneezing all day. ... The protesters didn't do anything, they just blocked the road to protect themselves."
Police said they arrested 36 people, including a 12-year-old, for offenses such as unlawful assembly, possession of an offensive weapon and assaulting police officers.
Earlier Sunday, tens of thousands of umbrella-carrying protesters marched in the rain. Many filled Tsuen Wan Park, the endpoint of the rally, chanting, "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong," the South China Morning Post newspaper reported.
The march in Hong Kong's New Territories started near the Kwai Fong train station, which has become a focal point for protesters after police used tear gas there earlier this month. Police with riot gear could be seen moving into position along the march route.
Protesters have taken to the semiautonomous Chinese territory's streets for more than two months. Their demands include democratic elections and an investigation into police use of force to quell the protests.
A large group clashed with police on Saturday after a march in the Kowloon Bay neighbourhood, building barricades and setting fires in the streets. Police said they arrested 29 people for various offenses, including unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons and assaulting police officers.
The clashes, while not as prolonged or violent as some earlier ones, ended a brief lull in the violence. The protests, which began in early June, had turned largely peaceful the previous weekend, after weeks of escalating violence.
In nearby Macao, another Chinese territory, a pro-Beijing committee chose a businessman as the gambling hub's next leader with little of the controversy surrounding the government in Hong Kong.
Ho Iat-seng, running unopposed, will succeed current leader Chui Sai-on in December. Asked about the protests in Hong Kong, the 62-year-old Ho said they would end eventually, like a major typhoon.
Protesters in Hong Kong have demanded that the city's leader, Carrie Lam, also chosen by a pro-Beijing committee, step down, though that demand has evolved into a broader call for fully democratic elections.
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Visionary leader, scholar Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam passes away at 80
New Delhi: Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam, a noted scholar, educationist, and social thinker, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 13, 2026. He was 80. His death has left a deep void in academic, social, and religious circles in India and abroad, where he was widely respected for his lifelong work in education, minority empowerment, and ethical scholarship.
Dr. Alam was born on October 9, 1945, in Bihar, to the late M. Abdul Jaleel. From an early age, he showed a strong inclination towards learning and social issues. He pursued higher studies in economics and earned his PhD from Aligarh Muslim University. During his academic years, he developed a keen interest in Islamic social sciences, economic reform, and the role of knowledge in bringing positive change in society.
Dr. Alam had a long and distinguished professional career that took him across several countries. Over the years, he held key academic and advisory positions, including serving as an Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance in Saudi Arabia. He was also an Associate Professor of Islamic Economics at Imam Muhammad bin Saud University in Riyadh, where he taught and guided students from different parts of the world.
He played an important role in religious and scholarly work as the Chief Coordinator for the translation of the Quran at the King Fahd Printing Complex in Madinah. He also served as the Chief Representative of India at the International Islamic University in Malaysia and was an active member of the Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Programme Committee.
Dr. Alam was associated with several national and international bodies in leadership and advisory roles. These included the Institute of Objective Studies, the All India Milli Council, the Muslim Social Sciences Association, the Fiqh Academy, the Indian Association of Muslim Social Scientists, the Indo-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum, and other international advisory boards.
In 1986, Dr. Alam founded the Institute of Objective Studies in New Delhi. The institute was set up with the aim of building a strong research-based platform to address issues related to Indian Muslims and other marginalized communities. Under his leadership, IOS emerged as an important centre for academic research, policy studies, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for minority rights.
Dr. Alam stressed the need for ethical scholarship, serious research, and practical solutions to real-life problems. During his tenure, the institute published several research works, organised national and international seminars, and supported young scholars and researchers. Many academics who worked with IOS credit Dr. Alam for shaping their intellectual and professional journeys.
Dr. Alam was closely connected with leading Muslim scholars and thinkers across the world. He worked and exchanged ideas with well-known intellectuals such as Prof. Ismail Raji Faruqi, Dr. Abdul Hamid AbuSulayman, and other scholars engaged in Islamic thought, economics, and social reform. His work helped strengthen global networks focused on education, research, and dialogue.
His areas of interest included Islamic economics, minority rights, interfaith understanding, education policy, and the broader project of linking knowledge with ethical and social responsibility. His contributions in these fields continue to be studied and discussed by scholars in India and abroad.
Dr. Alam wrote extensively on issues affecting Indian Muslims, global politics, media, education, and social justice. One of his notable works, The Final Wakeup Call, focused on media freedom, global narratives, and the need to amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Through his writings, he consistently argued for informed debate, intellectual honesty, and independent platforms for underrepresented groups.
Beyond his formal roles, Dr. Alam was known as a mentor to hundreds of students, researchers, and social activists. Those who worked closely with him often spoke about his calm approach, clarity of thought, and ability to connect ideas with action. He encouraged young scholars to think independently, work collaboratively, and remain grounded in ethical values.
Dr. Alam was widely admired for his leadership skills, organisational ability, and deep concern for the poor and the marginalized. He was known for his humility, discipline, and unwavering commitment to public service. Colleagues recall him as someone who combined strong principles with a practical understanding of social realities.
Dr. Muhammad Manzoor Alam leaves behind a rich legacy of scholarship, institution-building, and social engagement. The institutions he helped build and the people he mentored continue to carry forward his vision of knowledge-driven social change and justice.
He is survived by his family, students, and a wide circle of admirers across the world.
Condolence prayers have been offered, seeking Allah’s forgiveness for him, elevation of his status in Jannah, and the continuation of his work through future generations.
