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Largest Mosque in Europe Inaugurated in Chechen Republic

The Chechen Republic inaugurates Europe's largest mosque. (SPA)
The Chechen Republic inaugurates Europe's largest mosque. (SPA)
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Largest Mosque in Europe Inaugurated in Chechen Republic

The Chechen Republic inaugurates Europe's largest mosque. (SPA)
The Chechen Republic inaugurates Europe's largest mosque. (SPA)

The largest mosque in Europe was inaugurated in the Chechen Republic on Friday during an event that was attended by numerous representatives of heads of Muslim countries and senior scholars.

Chechen President Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov hailed Saudi Arabia for taking part in the ceremony, saying it reflects the keenness of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on participating in all international religious events.

This stems from the Kingdom’s noble role of serving Islam and Muslims, he added.

He also congratulated Saudi Arabia on its successful organization of the Hajj pilgrimage this year.

The ceremony was attended by Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdul Latif Al Al-Sheikh, Secretary General of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen and Muslim World League chief Mahammad al-Issa.

Al-Sheikh said the new mosque will become a landmark in Europe and beacon for spreading the correct moderate teachings of Islam.

Othaimeen hoped that all mosques would always be beacons of moderation and platforms to combat extremism and terrorism.

At Kadyrov’s request, Issa delivered the first ever Friday sermon at the mosque.

Dubbed “the pride of Muslims,” the mosque was built in the Islamic architectural style. It is composed of two floors and can accommodate 20,000 worshippers inside the building and 100,000 in its external yard.

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Trump Says Coca-Cola to Switch to Cane Sugar in US

Partial view of the Coca-Cola Company's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on June 29, 2025. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP/File
Partial view of the Coca-Cola Company's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on June 29, 2025. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP/File
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Trump Says Coca-Cola to Switch to Cane Sugar in US

Partial view of the Coca-Cola Company's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on June 29, 2025. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP/File
Partial view of the Coca-Cola Company's world headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia on June 29, 2025. JUAN MABROMATA / AFP/File

Beverage giant Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in its US production, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday on social media.

The company currently uses high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its domestic beverages -- a sweetener that has long drawn criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement, AFP said.

"I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them -- You'll see. It's just better!"

The US president did not explain what motivated his push for the change, which would not impact his well-known favorite beverage, Diet Coke.

Since his return to the White House, Trump has re-installed a special button in the Oval Office which summons a helping of the sugar-free carbonated drink.

Coca-Cola did not immediately confirm the ingredient shift.

"We appreciate President Trump's enthusiasm for our iconic Coca‑Cola brand. More details on new innovative offerings within our Coca‑Cola product range will be shared soon," the company said in a short statement.

HFCS became popular in the 1970s, with its use skyrocketing thanks to government subsidies for corn growers and high import tariffs on cane sugar.

Any shift away from corn is likely to draw backlash in the Corn Belt, a Midwestern region that has been a stronghold of support for Trump.

Both HFCS and sucrose (cane sugar) are composed of fructose and glucose. However, they differ structurally: HFCS contains free (unbonded) fructose and glucose in varying ratios -- 55/45 in soft drinks -- while sucrose consists of the two sugars chemically bonded together.

These structural differences, however, don't appear to significantly affect health outcomes.

A 2022 review of clinical studies found no meaningful differences between HFCS and sucrose in terms of weight gain or heart health.

The only notable distinction was an increase in a marker of inflammation in people consuming HFCS. Overall, both sweeteners appear similarly impactful when consumed at equal calorie levels.

Despite this, Mexican Coke -- which is made with cane sugar -- is often sold at a premium in US stores and prized for its more "natural" flavor.

Trump's prized Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame -- a compound classified as a "possible carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).