12,000 People in Afghanistan Afflicted with AIDS
New Age Islam News Bureau
05 December 2023
·
12,000 People in Afghanistan afflicted with AIDS
· Almost 1.9M Palestinian displaced across Gaza Strip since Oct. 7: UN
· After False Hate-Crime Story, President Biden Apologizes to Muslim-American Advocates
· Mumbai: Sunni Ijtema concludes with prayers for peace and prosperity of country
· Three children among 7 injured in Peshawar explosion targeting police
· UNHCR Urges Immediate Action As 400 Rohingya Muslims Stranded On Adrift Boats Face Looming Threat
· 366 B’Haram terrorists convicted, four financiers jailed – AGF
· Saudi Arabia gears up to deliver world-class services to Hajj and Umrah performers
· France calls at UN for ‘a truce leading to a ceasefire’ in Gaza
-----
South Asia
· 2013 political violence: 38 including BNP, Jamaat activists acquitted
· Japan provides $58.4 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
· EU to aid in building and repairing 400 schools in Afghanistan
· A Human Rights Organization reports execution of three Afghan citizens in Iran
· Religious Clerics of Various Countries Visited Afghanistan in Last 2 Years
· Despite No Formalized Constitution, Law Exists: Mujahid
· Deputy PM Asks Muslim Scholars to Promote Islamic Emirate’s Achievements
· Palestine envoy calls on info minister
· Over 1,800 Afghan immigrants return home from Iran
-----
Mideast
· US, UN urge civilian protections, but Israel intensifies southern Gaza offensive
· Palestinian human rights organizations warn of 'second Nakba' in Gaza
· Iran says it is not involved in any actions against US military forces -Tasnim
· Israel, Palestinians accuse each other of ‘genocide’ at UN
· Israeli army admits to two civilian deaths for every Hamas fighter killed in Gaza Strip; death toll crosses 15,500
· WHO to hold emergency meeting on Gaza health situation on December 10
· Netanyahu graft trial resumes in Israel in midst of Gaza war
· Workers across the world urged to block Israeli ships over genocide in Gaza
· Israel bars preacher of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque from travel
· CNN producer Ibrahim Dahman loses nine relatives in Israeli strike on Gaza
· Israel considers flooding Gaza tunnels with seawater – WSJ
· Gaza ‘hellish scenario’: UN says aid delivery grinds to halt as Israeli war rages
------
North America
· CAIR Condemns ‘Israeli War Crime of the Day’ After Slaughter of 50 Civilians at UN-Run Schools in Gaza
· US is running out of money for Ukraine and that could hinder fight against Russia, White House warns
· More than $950,000 raised for Palestinian student paralyzed after being shot in Vermont
· Man arrested for driving vehicle toward pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Canada
· US special envoy for Yemen to visit Gulf for talks
· US says Iran ultimately responsible for attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea
· CAIR Welcomes Johns Hopkins Editorial Calling on University to Hold Doctor who Endorsed Genocide of Palestinians to Account
------
India
· Modi will become PM for third time: Badruddin Ajmal
· Delhi: Hundreds of CPM members gather at Jantar Mantar to demand Dalit rights
· Indian mapping company gets Saudi contract for 3D digital twin mapping of Mecca
· Hindu young women will lose rights if they marry Muslims: Karnataka BJP leader
· ‘This is not Karachi’: Rajasthan MLA orders closure of non-veg stalls
· Calcutta HC shields BJP legislators from arrest in National Anthem insult case
· Key 26/11 plotter Sajid Mir in Pakistan hospital after 'poisoning'
· Himachal: Six Kashmiri labourers die in road accident near Sunni, CM expresses grief
------
Pakistan
· Verdict reserved on plea challenging Imran Khan's eligibility for PTI chairman post
· Imran to be indicted in cipher case on Dec 12
· Afghan tragedy unfolds in Pakistan
· Imran claims seeing Bushra’s face only after Nikah
-----
Southeast Asia
· Thailand bus crash kills 14, over 30 injured
· Heart-wrenching question from Gaza: "Why didn't baba bring me back to Malaysia?"
· Number of men lodging sexual harassment complaints on the rise, says deputy minister
· Two dead, 10 missing after Indonesia floods and landslide
-----
Africa
· Mali: the army claims to have repelled 4 jihadist attacks
· Nigerian army drone strike error kills civilians
· Tunisia: Maghreb farmers embrace drones to fight climate change
· Tunisia: At least 20 wounded Gazans received in Tunis for treatment
· Kaduna bombing: Civilians death during operations needless tragedy, says DHQ
· Villagers flee five Borno communities over B’Haram threat
· A decade after Mandela’s death, his pro-Palestinian legacy lives on
· South Africa intercepts buses carrying more than 400 unaccompanied children from Zimbabwe
· African countries defend large delegations at COP28
-----
Arab World
· Yemen’s government warns of massive Houthi strikes in Shabwa, Marib
· Saudi Arabia, Qatar discuss ways to develop relations
· Saudi, Malaysian firms sign strategic partnership at Halal Expo London
· Saudi camping: exploring the untamed beauty surrounding Riyadh
· Saudi KSrelief signs agreement to improve living conditions of residents in Somalia
------
Europe
· UK condemns attacks on commercial shipping in Red Sea
· Attack on NCRI Representation Office in Berlin by the Mullahs’ Regime’s Terrorists and Mercenaries
· Russian aircraft brings 120 Russians home from Gaza
· £13,100 raised for Gaza appeal by Blackburn mosque
· Rights organisations sue Netherlands over F-35 parts to Israel
· UK ignores own destabilizing role in West Asia, pins blame on Iran: Envoy
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
------------
12,000 People in Afghanistan Afflicted with AIDS
Fidel
Rahmati
December
5, 2023
According
to statistics provided by the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan,
currently, approximately 12,000 people in the country are afflicted with the
“HIV” disease.
On
Monday, the Ministry stated during a session in observance of World AIDS Day
that, based on World Health Organization statistics, 1.0 per cent of the
population in Afghanistan is affected by HIV/AIDS.
In a
statement released by the Ministry of Public Health in commemoration of this
day, it was mentioned that by the end of 2022, the number of AIDS cases in
Afghanistan had reached 12,000.
After
being registered, the Ministry of Health has clarified that 3,492 individuals
have been addressed through the Ministry of Health’s Infectious Control
Program.
This
comes as this year, on World AIDS Day, the interim government’s Ministry of
Public Health marked the occasion with the slogan “For better health, get
tested for HIV.”
AIDS is
transmitted through sexual intercourse, shared needles, and contaminated
blood-related equipment from an infected person to others. Since 1998, it has
been commemorated yearly on December 1st as World AIDS Day for awareness and
combating this significant disease.
It
should be noted that AIDS, also known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, is
caused by a virus that is transmitted to a person’s body. Its symptoms can be
distinguished in three stages.
The
affected individual may experience severe or superficial infections in the
initial stage. The disease generally leads to weakness and severe inflammation
in the subsequent two stages.
AIDS is
not only a severe challenge in Afghanistan but also globally, posing a threat
to thousands of lives annually.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/12000-people-in-afghanistan-afflicted-with-aids/
-----
Almost
1.9M Palestinian displaced across Gaza Strip since Oct. 7: UN
Dec 05,
2023
ISTANBUL
: Almost 1.9 million people, or over 80% of the population, have been displaced
across the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the UN Agency for Palestinian refugees or
UNRWA said Monday in a statement.
As of
Dec. 2, 111 UNRWA staffers have been killed since the beginning of the war, it
added.
The
Israeli army resumed bombing the Gaza Strip early Friday after declaring an end
to a weeklong humanitarian pause.
The
death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has surged to 15,899 since
the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the besieged
Palestinian enclave announced Sunday.
The
number of wounded through the same period has risen to 41,316.
The
official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.
Many
were displaced early in the war, when Israel ordered Palestinians in northern
Gaza to move to the southern strip, implying that they would be safer there,
despite warnings that such a huge displacement would be a humanitarian
catastrophe.
In the
days and weeks since, however, Israel has also targeted the southern strip,
leading many observers to say that nowhere in the strip is safe. — AA
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/eng/almost-1-9m-palestinian-displaced-across-gaza-strip-since-oct-7-un/
-----
AFTER
FALSE HATE-CRIME STORY, PRESIDENT BIDEN APOLOGIZES TO MUSLIM-AMERICAN ADVOCATES
DECEMBER
4, 2023
During a
meeting at the White House with Muslim Americans, President Biden was told by an
attendee that three of her relatives in Chapel Hill, NC had been murdered in an
anti-Muslim hate crime. According to press reports this had a deep effect on
the President, triggering him to apologize for doubting Hamas casualty claims.
As
reported by ABC:
In a
moment that multiple people in the room on Oct. 26 corroborated, [Dr. Suzanne]
Barakat emotionally told the president that “they both shared the loss of loved
ones — in her case, to horrific hateful violence.”
Barakat’s
brother, his wife and her sister were all murdered in Chapel Hill, North
Carolina, eight years ago. Barakat described it as a hate crime.
…
Barakat related her experience to Biden’s, listing off the names of the
president’s first wife, eldest son and baby daughter — Neilia, Beau and Naomi —
all of whom have died.
Biden
grew quiet and appeared “deeply affected,” according to two of the meeting
participants.
A
horrific crime, no doubt, but the facts do not support Barakat’s apparently
politically motivated claim that the murders were a hate crime. Both the FBI
and local authorities found that Craig Hicks, the murderer, was obsessed with
neighbors in the condominium complex allegedly making too much noise or taking
up more parking spots than authorized. He had regularly complained about this
to Deah Barakat, but also to other non-Muslim neighbors in the complex.
On the
day of the murders, when Hicks knocked on the apartment door, Barakat answered
with his cellphone recording video, apparently to document the harassment. That
video was finally publicly played at the sentencing, four years after the
murders, and according to an NBC report:
The
video rolls as Barakat approaches the door to record the exchange with his
often-seething neighbor. He hoped it could be evidence for a legal restraining
order to keep him away …
With the
victims’ parents and siblings watching, the video showed Hicks complaining
Barakat and the Abu-Salha sisters were using three parking spaces. Prosecutors
said that wasn’t true. When Barakat responded they were using no more spaces
than condo rules allow, Hicks responded, “You’re going to be disrespectful
towards me, I’m going to be disrespectful …” Hicks pulled a gun from his waist
and fired several times.
The
phone dropped. The sounds of women screaming can be heard, followed by several
more shots. Then silence.
In
addition to the video evidence and the gunman’s own statement to police that
the murders stemmed from a parking dispute, his estranged wife Karen Hicks told
a news conference that:
This
incident had nothing to do with religion or the victims’ faith, but in fact was
related to the longstanding parking disputes that my husband had with the
neighbors.
Furthermore,
as detailed in a Salon article, on his Facebook page Hicks criticized all
religions, not just Islam, and wrote that he would be fine with another Muslim
president:
Postings
from Craig Hicks’ Facebook page would seem to corroborate her words: “I hate
Islam just as much as christianity, but they” – Muslims – “have the right to
worship in this country just as much as any others do.” Hicks wrote this in
support of American Muslims who wanted to build the once notorious (but
never-built and now forgotten) “Ground Zero Mosque” in Manhattan – not exactly
something one would expect from an Islamophobe. On the same page he also opined
that “It’s OK if we have a Muslim president.”
These
were horrible and senseless murders, carried out by a clearly deranged man, but
with no evidence it was a hate crime, and the Obama administration’s Justice
Department apparently agreed and did not file hate crime charges.
It was
wrong to deceive President Biden by claiming the North Carolina murders were an
anti-Muslim hate crime, and it was a cruel manipulation to tie the murders to
the tragic car accident that claimed Biden’s first wife and their young
daughter.
It says
something if this is how you have to make your case.
Source: camera.org
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.camera.org/article/after-false-hate-crime-story-president-biden-apologizes-to-muslim-american-advocates/
----
Mumbai:
Sunni Ijtema concludes with prayers for peace and prosperity of country
Dec 4, 2023
A huge
crowd had turned out on the last day of ijtema on Sunday.
-----------
MUMBAI:
The three-day (December 1-4) 31ST annual International Sunni Ijtema or
congregation of the Sunni Muslims at Azad Maidan, organised by the Sunni Dawat
e Islami (SDI), a worldwide body of Sunni Muslims, concluded with a
congregational prayer for peace and prosperity of the country. A huge crowd had
turned out on the last day on Sunday.
It saw
speakers focussing on the need to acquire higher education and empowerment of
the youths. On the third day team “SDI Umeed” at its Career Guidance and Higher
Education Counselling Session, conducted by professionals from various
faculties such as engineering, medical, commerce and arts, guided the students
and parents on how to pursue a great career and overcome the barriers.
“Every
Muslim should attain the highest level of professionalism and ethical behavior
in whatever field they are,”. Said senior scholar Allama Arshad Misbahi.
“Knowledge is mentioned in the Quran over 800 times. The first Quranic command
from the almighty was Iqra or read. Knowledge and pen have been mentioned five
times in the first five revelation of the Quran,”
Renowned
scholar AllamaQamruzzaman stressed that Muslims’ wealth should be spent on
education. He emphasised that a Muslim has to walk the right path and to
acquire knowledge at all levels. “It is the duty of every Muslim to pursue
knowledge at the level of the higher reason. The acquisition of knowledge is
the centre of human concern,” he observed. He also said that education is the
solution to all the problems of the community.
In his
presidential address, SDI president Allama Shakir Ali Noorie said that youth
can play a big role in making India a global power. He called upon Muslim
youths to get themselves empowered with education and contribute to making
India a strong country. He regretted that a number of youngsters today waste
their time on useless activities and warned against wasting their time. He
appreciated the girls who are educationally excelling and performing better
than boys in different branches of education.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-sunni-ijtema-concludes-with-prayers-for-peace-and-prosperity-of-country/articleshow/105732661.cms
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Three
children among 7 injured in Peshawar explosion targeting police
December
05, 2023
Abubakar
Saddiq& Rasool Dawar&Sheeba Haider
PESHAWAR:
A roadside blast targeting police personnel Tuesday injured seven people
including three children near a school and a bank on Tuesday, Geo News
reported.
According
to the police, the blast took place around 9:10am at the Warsak Road in
Peshawar. The police said the blast took place due to an explosion of
explosives.
At least
two children among the injured, shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital, are in
critical condition, the hospital’s spokesperson told Geo News.
The ages
of the children, they added, are between 7 to 10 years.
Speaking
with Geo News, Superintendent Police Arshad Khan — who was present at the
incident — said the blast took place around 9:10am and the explosives were
planted at the roadside.
The
explosives used in the blast weighed 4kg and were hidden in a cement block on
the roadside, he said.
Khan
added that the police have started a search operation in the surrounding areas.
“The element of extortion is also being considered in the blast.”
“It
would be premature to say who was the target,” SP Arshad Khan said speaking
with journalists.
Following
the explosion, police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the site of the incident
in the BabuGarhi area in Peshawar.
Rescue
officials told Geo News that the glass of two vehicles and nearby buildings was
broken due to the intensity of the explosion.
Mayor
Metropolitan Zubair Ali told journalists that the explosion near a school was
an attempt to disturb peace and order.
“The
explosion near educational institutions is unfortunate.”
Surge in
militant activities
Pakistan
has been grappling with a surge in terrorism for the last one year, as terror
attacks on security personnel and civilians intensified, particularly in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In the
last month alone, the country saw a notable surge in militant activities, as
the attacks rose by 34% following a two-month decline, The News reported last
week citing a report.
According
to data from the ‘Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies’
(PICSS), a total of 63 attacks took place which resulted in 83 fatalities,
including 37 security forces personnel and 33 civilians.
Additionally,
89 individuals sustained injuries, comprising 53 civilians and 36 security
personnel.
Pakistani
security forces responded with precision, eliminating at least 59 militants,
while 18 suspected militants were apprehended. Analysis of October 2023 data
underscores a 34% surge in militant attacks, a 63% rise in fatalities, and an
89% increase in the number of wounded during November 2023.
According
to the PICSS data, the cumulative toll for the first 11 months of 2023 reflects
599 militant attacks, resulting in 897 fatalities and 1,241 injuries. This
signifies an 81% escalation in militant attacks, an 86% surge in deaths, and a
64% rise in injuries compared to the corresponding period in 2022.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1135325-2-kids-injured-in-peshawar-blast
-----
UNHCR
Urges Immediate Action As 400 Rohingya Muslims Stranded On Adrift Boats Face
Looming Threat
04 DEC
2023
The UN
refugee agency (UNHCR) raised concerns on Monday about the plight of
approximately 400 Rohingya Muslims stranded on two boats in the Andaman Sea,
reportedly running out of supplies. Babar Baloch, the regional spokesperson for
UNHCR based in Bangkok, emphasized the urgent need for rescue efforts,
expressing fears that without assistance, those on board could face a dire
fate, as reported by AP.
According
to reports, the boats set sail from Bangladesh around two weeks ago, with the
captain of one vessel, MaanNokim, revealing to the Associated Press on Saturday
that they were now without food and water, and the engine was damaged. Nokim,
deeply concerned about the well-being of the 180 to 190 people on board,
conveyed their collective fear of impending tragedy.
As of
Sunday, one boat was approximately 320 kilometers from Thailand's west coast, though
Thai navy officials had not received any information about the distressed
vessels as of Monday. The proximity to Indonesia's Aceh province, where another
boat recently landed with 139 people on board, adds to the urgency of the
situation.
Baloch
highlighted the familiar pattern of Rohingya seasonal migration, often stemming
from overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh. Since August 2017, around 740,000
Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar due to a brutal counterinsurgency campaign,
seeking refuge in camps in Bangladesh. Allegations of mass rapes, killings, and
the destruction of Rohingya homes by Myanmar security forces have led to
international scrutiny and legal considerations of genocide.
The
refugees attempting sea journeys typically aim to reach Muslim-majority
Malaysia for work, with some boats heading towards Thailand. However, these
countries often turn away or detain Rohingya refugees. Baloch warned that
without prompt assistance to the two adrift boats, the world could witness a
tragedy similar to the December 2022 incident when a boat with 180 people went
missing, marking one of the darkest episodes in the region.
Source: outlookindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.outlookindia.com/international/unhcr-urges-immediate-action-as-400-rohingya-muslims-stranded-on-adrift-boats-face-looming-threat-news-334589
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366
B’Haram terrorists convicted, four financiers jailed – AGF
5th
December 2023
Solomon
Odeniyi
The
Federal High Court sitting in Dawaki, Abuja, on Monday, convicted four Boko
Haram financiers.
They are
ModuAisami, Zana Zarama, Umar Mohammed, and Bunu Kame.
The
office of the Attorney General of the Federation disclosed this in a statement
on Monday.
The
AGF’s Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity,
KamarudeenOgundele, said the prosecution
team led by the AGF, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), secured the convictions in
separate cases before Justice BintaNyako and Justice Emeka Nwite.
He said
the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges and begged the court for leniency.
“The
defence counsel was led by the Director, Criminal Justice in Legal Aid Council,
F. A. Bakre.
“According
to the charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation,
M. B. Abubakar, Aisami provided funds for the terrorist group by buying food
products from the group, having reasonable grounds to believe that the proceeds
would be used to commit a terrorist act, thereby committing an offence contrary
to Section 13(1)(a)(ii) of the Terrorism Provision Amendment Act, 2013,” the
statement said.
Ogundele
said Justice Nyako convicted the defendant having pleaded guilty to counts 2
and 3.
“I
hereby sentence the convict to 20 years imprisonment for each of the offences.
They are to run concurrently,” Nyako was quoted to have ruled.
He said
the judge also convicted Zarama and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for
concealing the identity of a Boko Haram member, ModuSulum.
Ogundele
said Justice Nyako added that the jail terms should run from the day the convicts
had been in custody.
Justice
Nwite, in another trial, convicted the duo of Umar Mohammed and Bunu Kame and
sentenced them to 10 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile,
the AGF, also on Monday in Niger State, disclosed that the Federal Government
secured a total of 366 convictions in the trial of Boko Haram terrorists that
was conducted in 2017.
He added
that 896 suspects were discharged for lack of evidence while 61 other cases
were subsequently adjourned for further hearing.
The AGF
spoke on Monday at the commencement of the trial for the fourth phase of the
arrested suspected terrorists in Niger.
He
said, “It gives me great pleasure to
welcome you all to this special event marking the resumption of the prosecution
of terrorism suspects. This day is special for many reasons. First, the day
marks yet another step forward in the journey of ensuring the security and
safety of Nigeria and Nigerians, a duty that is of utmost importance to all of
us gathered here, as it is the primary duty of government to ensure the
security and welfare of its citizens.
“I must
acknowledge the fact that we have come a long way in this initiative. The first
phase of the Kainji Prosecution Project commenced in October 2017 with
remarkable achievements where we recorded a total of 366 convictions, 896
others were discharged for want of sufficient evidence and 61 other cases
adjourned for further hearing.
“There
have been three phases of the exercise so far, spanning between October 2017
and July 2018. I must, at this point, challenge all stakeholders to ensure that
the momentum is sustained, seeing how important this assignment is to the
well-being of our beloved country and her people. “
Emphasising
the importance of the trial, the AGF
warned that if mismanaged, the situation could fuel insecurity and plunge the
country into existential crises.
He
said, “Terrorism has cost us a lot as a
nation. From the communities directly affected, to the staggering losses in
human and material resources, displacements, political and economic instability,
and the general atmosphere of fear it has created, all point to how crucial
this exercise is to our progress and prosperity as a nation.
“Conversely,
if the process is mismanaged and, as a result, the insecurity situation is
allowed to fester, it may lead to existential crises in the very long run. I,
therefore, pledge my total support to the cause as I urge the stakeholders once
again to continue in a good job.”
Fagbemi
said the trial would be open and compliant with the constitution, adding that the
Ministry of Justice would continue to deploy the right resources to improve its
prosecutorial capabilities.
“The ministry is also continuing to support
efforts towards deradicalisation and reintegration of deserving terrorists,”
the AGF added.
Source: punchng.com
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the full text of the original
https://punchng.com/366-bharam-terrorists-convicted-four-financiers-jailed-agf/
------
Saudi
Arabia gears up to deliver world-class services to Hajj and Umrah performers
Dec 05,
2023
Tareq
Wahab
In
recognition of its historical obligation and with a deep sense of honor, the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques government has prioritized providing
exceptional services to worshippers in Makkah and Madinah. In its unwavering
commitment to fulfilling the spiritual needs of the pilgrims and Umrah
performers, Saudi Arabia has undertaken significant investments to establish an
outstanding infrastructure that will welcome the anticipated influx of faithful
visitors in the years to come.
As part
of the ambitious Vision 2030, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has set forth a
dedicated mission to ensure that pilgrims and Umrah performers experience
world-class services throughout their spiritual journeys. With an emphasis on
peaceful and hassle-free religious obligations, the government aims to expand
the Hajj and Umrah apparatus, reflecting its historical role in supporting
Islam and Muslims worldwide.
At the
forefront of this mission lies the Pilgrims Experience Program, introduced by
the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in 2019. This groundbreaking initiative,
a crucial component of Saudi Vision 2030, seeks to enhance the spiritual
experience of all pilgrims visiting the Kingdom while eliminating obstacles
hindering their concentration on their sacred journeys.
To
facilitate transformative faith experiences for pilgrims, the government has
implemented several strategic megaprojects:
1. The
awe-inspiring expansion of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the most expensive
construction project in history, surpasses a cost of over 200 billion Saudi
Riyals.
2. The
introduction of the Haramain Train, a remarkable feat of engineering that has
reduced travel time between Makkah and Madinah from three hours and thirty
minutes to just over two hours, ensuring an enhanced travel experience for
pilgrims.
3. The
completion of King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, a crucial hub in the Muslim
world, designed with a capacity to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims
and visitors, representing an investment of 64 billion Saudi Riyals.
4.
Efforts to restore historical mosques and cultural sites in Makkah and Madinah
have been initiated, aiming to revive their Islamic grandeur and provide
visitors with an opportunity to immerse themselves in a rewarding cultural
journey.
5. The
launch of “Nusuk Hajj,” an innovative online platform offering over 120
services in nine languages, enabled pilgrims from the Americas, Europe, and
Australia to conveniently book flights, accommodations, transportation,
catering, and other services.
This
government-sponsored portal responds to previous measures that fell short of
ensuring a fulfilling pilgrimage experience for the millions who travel to
Makkah and Madinah. Its primary objectives include:
• The
elimination of fraud.
• The
promotion of transparency.
• The
implementation of fair mechanisms for pilgrim selection.
Moreover,
the government has implemented a range of measures and protocols to make the
pilgrimage and Umrah more affordable and spiritually fulfilling for a growing
number of Muslims worldwide:
1. Early
Hajj registration has been introduced, allowing B2C stakeholders ample time to
plan their once-in-a-lifetime journey.
2.
Encouraging competition among well-qualified Hajj and Umrah service providers
is a key strategy, as it will help lower costs and enhance service quality.
3. The
government has substantially reduced the insurance cost for Hajj and Umrah by
63% and 73%, respectively, without compromising the highest standards of
medical care.
4.
Efforts to expedite visa issuance to less than 24 hours, extend the 30-day
Umrah visa to 90 days, and introduce the four-day transit visa have been
implemented, further facilitating pilgrims’ travel.
These
unprecedented reforms aim to attract and welcome more Umrah performers to
Makkah and Madinah, allowing them to experience the breathtaking natural beauty
and remarkable cultural diversity that Saudi Arabia offers.
Under
the remarkable leadership and directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques and His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the Ministry of Hajj
and Umrah, in close collaboration with its partners, is committed to going
above and beyond to provide top-quality services and state-of-the-art
solutions. The supreme goal is to ensure that the guests of Allah have a
profound, blissful journey and return home with cherished and lasting memories.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 promises to revolutionize the pilgrimage experience,
leaving a deep-rooted mark on the hearts of pilgrims worldwide.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/saudi-arabia-gears-up-to-world-class-services-to-hajj-and-umrah-performers/
------
France
calls at UN for ‘a truce leading to a ceasefire’ in Gaza
December
05, 2023
EPHREM
KOSSAIFY
NEW YORK
CITY: France on Monday urged the UN Security Council to do more to address the
conflict in Gaza, stressing that pauses in the fighting are not enough and what
is needed is a truce that can pave the way for a ceasefire.
Nicolas
de Riviere, France’s permanent representative to the UN, said that in the short
term “we need more than a humanitarian pause. We need a truce leading to a
ceasefire, full humanitarian access, full respect of international humanitarian
law. Of course, we need the release of hostages.”
He also
reiterated that his country respects “Israel’s right to defend itself and go
after the terrorists who committed crimes on Oct. 7.”
De
Riviere was speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York ahead of a
closed meeting of the Security Council. It was called by the UAE, which cited
the “deeply concerning resumption of hostilities” at the weekend and the dire
humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
More
than 700 Palestinians have been killed since Israel resumed its military
operations in Gaza on Dec. 1 after a week-long humanitarian pause in the
fighting. Another 15,500 were killed before the temporary truce.
Israel
this week expanded its operations into southern Gaza, forcing tens of thousands
of already displaced Gazans into “increasingly compressed spaces, desperate to
find food, water, shelter and safety,” according to Lynn Hastings, the UN’s
resident and humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Warning
that “an even more hellish scenario is about to unfold,” she added: “Nowhere is
safe in Gaza and there is nowhere left to go. The conditions required to
deliver aid to the people of Gaza do not exist.”
De
Riviere meanwhile, also called for the resumption of a political process to
address the wider Palestinian issue, saying: “I don’t think we can continue to
refuse to address the aspirations of the Palestinians to statehood. It is a
necessity. It should not be under the carpet like has been the case for the
past seven years.”
Council
members have been discussing a draft resolution, proposed by the UAE, for the
scaling up and monitoring of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
However,
speaking before the closed-doors meeting on Monday, US Ambassador Robert Wood
told reporters there is no need at the moment for additional resolutions or
statements from the council.
He said
it already adopted an “important” resolution on Nov. 15, which calls for urgent
and extended humanitarian pauses and aid corridors to be established throughout
the Gaza Strip. Resolution 2712, the first one that council members have agreed
on since the beginning of the conflict, also calls for the release of all
hostages and for all sides to refrain from depriving Gazan civilians of access
to the basic goods and services that are critical to their survival.
Wood
said what is needed now is a “focus on how we can actually bring relief to the
people on the ground, improve the situation, and try to get the negotiations
back on again, with regard to the hostages. We’re seeing more aid getting in,
although clearly not enough. So that’s where we need to focus our efforts.”
Asked to
comment on the latest death toll, and whether or not Israel is doing enough to
avoid civilian casualties, Wood said: “Israel is doing more and we have been
saying to Israel for quite some time now, ‘You need to do more to protect
civilians.’
“It’s a
difficult operation when you’re trying to root out Hamas and protect civilians,
because Hamas is hiding among the civilians. But they’re listening to us and I
think that’s important, and they’re taking steps and we’ll continue to
encourage them. Because, obviously, no one is happy with the situation on the
ground and it needs to improve and they need to do it.
“The
Israelis want to do a better job protecting civilians and we’re going to
continue to work with them on that.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420306/world
----
South Asia
2013
political violence: 38 including BNP, Jamaat activists acquitted
Dec 4,
2023
A Dhaka
court today acquitted 38 leaders and activists of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the
parties' front organisations in a case filed over political violence in the
capital in 2013.
The
court, however, sentenced Md Zahirul Islam, a BNP activist, to three years'
rigorous imprisonment in the same case.
Additional
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Tofazzal Hossain handed down the sentence at
the courtroom in absence of Zahirul Islam.
Before
pronouncement of the judgment, the magistrate cancelled his bail and issued
conviction warrant against him.
In the
judgment, the magistrate said the prosecution failed to prove the charges
brought against 38 others and they were acquitted of the charges.
Earlier,
the prosecution and defence completed their arguments and the court recorded
statements of 10 prosecution witnesses, including the complainant of the case.
According
to the case statement, a group of leaders and activists of BNP and
Jamaat-e-Islami and its front organisations, gathered in front of Ananda Bridge
in the city's Mugda area around 8:45pm on November 17, 2013.
They
vandalised vehicles, torched a vehicle and prevented law enforcers from
discharging their duties.
Following
the incident, police filed a case against 46 people including Jamaat leader
Ahmed Hossain Faruqui, with Mugda Police Station.
After an
investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against 39 people, including
Faruqui, on April 22 of 2015.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/8-vehicles-set-fire-24-hours-fire-service-3485671
-----
Japan
provides $58.4 million in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan
Fidel
Rahmati
December
4, 2023
The
Japanese Embassy in Kabul has announced that it has provided $58.4 million in
humanitarian aid and essential assistance to those in need in Afghanistan.
On
Monday, the embassy said on its social media platform X that the country
intends to provide additional assistance packages to Afghanistan.
According
to the Japanese Embassy in Kabul, “We hope this assistance will contribute to
the preservation and improvement of the dignified and self-reliant lives of the
Afghan people.”
Furthermore,
the embassy emphasized that it is providing $58.4 million in humanitarian aid
and essential assistance to ensure the well-being of the people of Afghanistan.
It’s
worth noting that Japan has provided humanitarian assistance to those in need
in Afghanistan before.
Meanwhile,
reports indicate that Japan’s total contributions over the past two years have
reached $447 million.
The
Japanese Embassy in Kabul added that this aid would be channelled through
international relief organizations and non-governmental institutions in the
necessary sectors.
This comes
as several international organizations have warned of budget shortages and an
increase in the humanitarian needs of the people in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/japan-provides-58-4-million-in-humanitarian-aid-to-afghanistan/
------
EU to
aid in building and repairing 400 schools in Afghanistan
Fidel
Rahmati
December
4, 2023
The
European Union, in its ongoing efforts to aid Afghanistan, will be supporting
the reconstruction of 400 schools, as confirmed by EU Charge d’Affaires Rafaela
Judicé.
On
Monday, Rafaela Judicé, the Charge d’Affaires of the European Union, announced
during a meeting with Habibullah Agha, the Taliban acting Minister of
Education, that the European Union will fund the reconstruction of 400 schools
in Afghanistan.
According
to the European Union Charge d’Affaires, this union will fund the
reconstruction of 400 schools across Afghanistan, including central and
provincial areas.
During
this meeting, Ms. Rafaela added that the European Union has contributed
approximately 143 million euros to Afghanistan, including support for the
Ministry of Education.
Two days
ago, the European Union announced an additional 142 million euros in aid to the
Afghan people.
It’s
noteworthy that the European Union’s announcement of reconstructing 400 schools
comes at a time when the doors of schools for girls above the sixth grade have
been closed since the Taliban control in August 2021. So far, no decision has
been made by the group regarding this matter.
Furthermore,
it has been over a year since women have been denied access to higher
education. Despite calls from the global and international community to reopen
schools and universities, the group has not responded positively.
Source: khaama.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/eu-to-aid-in-building-and-repairing-400-schools-in-afghanistan/
-----
A Human
Rights Organization reports execution of three Afghan citizens in Iran
Fidel
Rahmati
December
4, 2023
The
human rights organization known as “Hengaw” has said that Iran has carried out
the execution of at least 12 prisoners in its prisons over the past month,
including three Afghan citizens.
This
organization, on Sunday, released a report stating that in the past month,
executions of nine prisoners in Iran have been carried out every other day.
According
to “Hengaw,” those executed include at least 11 political and religious
prisoners, while other executions are related to intentional homicide, sexual
assault, and drug-related crimes.
According
to the organization’s report, “During November, at least 23 Baluch prisoners,
equivalent to 19% of the total executed prisoners, and 19 Kurdish prisoners,
equivalent to 15.5%, were executed. Additionally, at least eight Turk
prisoners, five Lur and Bakhtiari prisoners, five Gilaki prisoners, and three
Afghan citizens were also executed in Iran last month.”
The
report by the Hengaw organization also highlights that 39 cases were registered
in Alborz prison, 13 in Sistan and Baluchistan, 12 in Fars province, and five
in Isfahan province.
It is
worth noting that the report does not specify the charges for which the three
Afghan citizens were executed.
Meanwhile,
the increase in executions in Iran has triggered severe reactions from the
United Nations and human rights organizations. According to the European
Union’s report, at least 600 individuals have been executed in Iran since the
beginning of the current calendar year.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/a-human-rights-organization-reports-execution-of-three-afghan-citizens-in-iran/
-----
Religious
Clerics of Various Countries Visited Afghanistan in Last 2 Years
December
4, 2023
The
religious clerics of various countries have visited Afghanistan over the last
two years and met with officials of the Islamic Emirate to discuss various
issues, including girls' education and women’s access to work.
The Islamic
Emirate came to power on August 15, 2021. In July 2022, a number of religious
clerics came from Pakistan and in
October 2022, a religious clerics' delegation from Turkey arrived in
Afghanistan. In July 2023, a delegation of clerics from the UK and clerics of
various Islamic countries visited Kabul.
“The
Islamic Emirate may observe the recommendations of this delegation, which is a
symbol of a major Islamic world organization. Their [delegation's] views
regarding the improvement of the situation of Afghanistan and its relations
with the world will be beneficial,” said Fazal HadiWazin, a university
lecturer.
“The
clerics know the value of Sharia. They know better what is the stance of Islam
regarding education and women's work,” said Hassan Haqyar, political analyst.
The
Islamic countries delegation on Sunday met with the Deputy Prime Minister for
Administrative Affairs, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the office of the deputy PM said.
Hanafi
in the meeting stressed unity among the Islamic countries toward international
issues.
“Their
consultations were in various areas. It also included the education sector as
well. We indicated that the Ulema [clerics] have come to Afghanistan time after
time,” said Zabiullah Mujahid, Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.
The
delegation also met with the acting Defense Minister, Mawlawi Mohammad Yaqoob
Mujahid.
Mawlawi
Yaqoob appreciated the cooperation of Islamic countries with the Afghan people
and said that these kinds of meetings would affect bilateral relations among
countries, a statement of the Defense Ministry said, adding that he also
mentioned Palestine and said that Palestine will win the war.
Sheikh
Ali Al-Qaradaghi, head of the religious scholars, said in the meeting that
Islamic countries will continue to support the Afghan people.
Source: tolonews.com
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the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186340
------
Despite
No Formalized Constitution, Law Exists: Mujahid
Metra
Majeedi
December
5, 2023
Although
the national constitution is not yet in place, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman
stressed that Afghanistan currently holds a "law, and that the government
is going towards increased legality."
Zabiullah
Mujahid, despite stressing the importance of law in the country, said that the
constitution is a small part of legality.
"It
is not like our country lacks a law. Law exists and also enforcement. The
Sharia laws are being enforced all over the country. Of course, a small part which is the
constitution, which explains the formation and types of the government-- that
is underway," Mujahid said.
This
comes as legal analysts said that the formal confirmation of the constitution
is the basic responsibility of the Islamic Emirate.
"The
first responsibility is to have the law and enforcement of law. They should
specify their responsibilities and authorities within the circle of law. I ask
them, based on which law do your intelligence departments do the
punishing?" said Abdul ShokorDadras, a legal analyst.
"The
constitution ... is part of the national rule and it is defined in
principles," said Mohammad Asif Faqiri, a legal analyst.
The
Islamic Emirate came to power on August 15, 2021, since then Afghanistan has
yet to have a constitution.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186343
------
Deputy
PM Asks Muslim Scholars to Promote Islamic Emirate’s Achievements
2023-12-04
KABUL
(BNA): Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Deputy Prime Minister in Administrative
Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, met with some scholars and
leaders of the Muslim Scholars Association in Kabul. He asked them to convey
the positive aspects of the Islamic Emirate to the world.
The
Islamic Emirate has restored stability and order in the country after decades
of war and violence, implemented the Sharia law as the basis of governance and
justice, respecting the rights and duties of Muslims, has taken measures to
eliminate corruption, drug cultivation, trafficking, and addiction, which have
harmed the society and economy.
The
Islamic Emirate has also initiated projects to improve the living conditions of
the people, especially the poor and the displaced, and to promote education,
health, and infrastructure.
Mawlavi
Hanafi also mentioned the challenges faced by the Islamic Emirate, such as the
expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, and called for international
cooperation to provide support on this regard.
The
scholars expressed their support and appreciation for the Islamic Emirate and
stressed the need for unity and solidarity among the Muslim countries.
They
also praised the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to rebuild and develop Afghanistan.
The
Muslim Scholars Association is a group of prominent Islamic scholars from
various countries, who have visited Afghanistan to meet with the officials and
the people of the Islamic Emirate.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/deputy-pm-asks-muslim-scholars-to-promote-islamic-emirates-achievements/
-----
Palestine
envoy calls on info minister
Dec 4,
2023
Information
and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary Dr
Hasan Mahmud today said the people who are silent seeing the Palestinians
getting killed have lost ethical rights of talking about the human rights
issue.
"I
think that the people who are taking side of Israeli forces instead of
Palestinians and remain silent over the killing of innocent people including
women and children, have lost their ethical rights," he told reporters at
his office at secretariat in Dhaka after a meeting with Palestine Ambassador in
Dhaka Yousef S Y Ramadan.
The
minister hoped that all including the Americans and the Europeans would hear
the screams of Palestinians and a complete ceasefire will come into force
immediately to prevail peace.
Dr Hasan
said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was in favour of Palestinians and will be in
favour of them in future also. She talked in favour of Palestine in the UN
General Assembly and called for a special discussion in the JatiyaSangsad in
protest against the killings in Gaza, he said.
Hasan
said, in the meeting with Palestine envoy, he reiterated Bangladesh's pledge to
stand beside the Palestinians and against the killing by the Israeli forces.
"We
think that the problem can only be solved through the establishment of an
independent sovereign Palestinian state," he said.
Hasan
Mahmud said the ambassador extended thanks for the continued support of the
Bangladeshi premier and her government to Palestinians.
Ambassador Ramadan urged the journalists to publish real reports on Gaza instead of copying full reports from Western media.
Source: thedailystar.net
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the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/produce-18-crore-witnesses-prove-last-polls-irregularities-3485776
------
Over
1,800 Afghan immigrants return home from Iran
December
4, 2023
The
Ministry of Immigrants and Returnees has announced that more than 1,800 Afghan
immigrants have returned to the country from Iran.
The
ministry said in a post on X that the total number of immigrants is about 1,860
individuals.
The
ministry added that these migrants returned to the country through Herat’s
Islam Qala Port.
The
Border Authority of Islam Qala has said this includes families and single
people.
Two days
ago, the ministry also announced that more than 1,800 migrants from Iran were
forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
Source: ariananews.af
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https://www.ariananews.af/over-1800-afghan-immigrants-return-home-from-iran/
-----
Mideast
US, UN
urge civilian protections, but Israel intensifies southern Gaza offensive
December 5, 2023
GAZA:
Israeli forces pressed ahead with their air and ground bombardment of southern
Gaza Strip, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, even as the United
States and the United Nations repeatedly urged them to protect civilians.
Asked on
Monday about the mounting death toll since a truce collapsed between Israel and
Hamas on Friday, Israel’s closest ally the United States said it was too soon
to say whether Israel was doing enough to protect civilians and that it
expected Israel not to strike zones it has identified as safe.
Residents
and journalists on the ground said the intense Israeli air strikes in the south
of the densely populated coastal enclave included areas where Israel had told
people to seek shelter.
At the
United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Israel to avoid
further action that would make the already dire humanitarian situation in
Hamas-run Gaza worse, and to spare civilians from more suffering.
“The
Secretary-General is extremely alarmed by the resumption of hostilities between
Israel and Hamas… For people ordered to evacuate, there is nowhere safe to go
and very little to survive on,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
Israel
largely captured the northern half of Gaza in November, and since a week-long
truce collapsed on Friday they have swiftly pushed deep into the southern half.
US asks
Israel to let more fuel into Gaza
Hamas
ally Islamic Jihad said its fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli
soldiers north and east of Khan Younis, Gaza’s main southern city. Israeli
tanks have driven into Gaza across the border and cut off the main north-south
route, residents said.
The
Israeli military said the central road out of Khan Younis to the north
“constitutes a battlefield” and was now shut.
Israel on
Tuesday said three of its soldiers had died in combat in Gaza on Monday, in
what Army Radio described as a day of fierce battles with Hamas fighters.
Seventy-eight
soldiers have died in Gaza since the start of the military’s ground invasion.
Israel
launched its assault to wipe out Hamas in retaliation for an Oct. 7
cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen on border towns, kibbutzim and a music
festival.
The
Hamas killed 1,200 people and seized 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies
- the deadliest single day in Israel’s 75-year history.
Philippe
Lazzarini, who heads the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza (UNRWA),
said the resumption of Israel’s military operation was repeating “horrors from
past weeks” by displacing people who had been previously displaced,
overcrowding hospitals and further strangling the humanitarian operation due to
limited supplies.
“We have
said it repeatedly. We are saying it again. No place is safe in Gaza, whether
in the south, or the southwest, whether in Rafah or in any unilaterally
so-called ‘safe zone’,” he said.
The
Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), TedrosAdhanom
Ghebreyesus, reiterated calls for Israel to protect civilians and civilian
infrastructure including hospitals.
Netanyahu
graft trial resumes in Israel in midst of Gaza war
“WHO
received notification from the Israel Defence Forces that we should remove our
supplies from our medical warehouse in southern Gaza within 24 hours, as ground
operations will put it beyond use,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter,
on Monday.
Displaced
in a wasteland
As many
as 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have already fled their homes in the eight
weeks of war that has turned the overcrowded enclave into a wasteland.
On
Monday, Israel ordered Palestinians to leave parts of Khan Younis, indicating
they should move towards the Mediterranean coast and towards Rafah, a town near
the Egyptian border. Desperate Gazans in Khan Younis packed their belongings
and headed towards Rafah. Most were on foot, walking past ruined buildings in a
solemn and silent procession.
In
Washington, a State Department spokesperson said it was an “improvement” that
Israel was seeking evacuations in targeted areas as opposed to entire cities.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington expected Israel to
avoid attacking areas identified as “no-strike” zones in Gaza.
He said
the US had discussed with Israel how long the war with Hamas should continue,
but he declined to share that timeline.
A senior
Israeli official said it was taking the time to order more precise evacuations
in order to limit civilian casualties, but that Israel could not rule them out
altogether.
“We did
not start this war. We regret civilian casualties but when you want to face
evil, you have to operate,” the official said. Over 100 of the hostages seized
by Iran-backed Hamas were freed during a seven-day truce last month.
WHO
board to hold emergency session on Gaza health situation
Israeli
authorities say seven civilians and an army colonel died in captivity, while
137 hostages remain in Gaza.
In the
eight weeks of warfare, the Gazan health ministry said at least 15,899
Palestinians, 70% of them women or under 18s, have been killed.
They say
thousands more are missing and feared buried in rubble, with about 900 killed
since the truce ended on Friday. Israel accuses Hamas of putting civilians in
danger by operating from civilian areas, including in tunnels which can only be
destroyed by large bombs.
Hamas
denies it does so.
The Wall
Street Journal reported on Monday, citing US officials, that Israel had
assembled a system of pumps that could be used to flood Hamas tunnels.
It was
not clear whether Israel would consider using the pumps before all hostages
were released, according to the story.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40276813/us-un-urge-civilian-protections-but-israel-intensifies-southern-gaza-offensive
-----
Palestinian
human rights organizations warn of 'second Nakba' in Gaza
04
December 2023
Three
Palestinian human rights organizations have issued a stern warning regarding
the Israeli regime's forced displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,
saying it could lead to another Nakba (Catastrophe) in the besieged territory.
According
to the Palestinian Information Center, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights,
Al Mezan Center, and Al-Haq Foundation for Human Rights raised the alarm on
Monday, warning about repetition of the historical occasion, which witnessed
ethnic cleansing of Palestinian natives by the apartheid regime in 1948.
"Israel
persists in implementing its plan to displace the residents of the Gaza Strip
out of its borders in the midst of the war it has been waging against the Strip
since October 7," the rights bodies said in a statement.
Hamas
official says Israel is after causing another Nakba (Catastrophe), referring to
the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian natives by the apartheid regime in 1948.
Israel
began the current war on Gaza after the territory's resistance movements
launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the regime on October 7. Since then
nearly 16,000 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 1.9 million
others displaced as a result of Israel's devastating onslaught.
The
regime has been dropping leaflets across the blockaded territory, ordering its
residents to leave their homes and head for the south at short notice. Despite
its earlier claims that the southern part of Gaza is a safe zone, the most
recent leaflets dropped by Israel announced the southern city of Khan Yunis
"a dangerous combat zone," telling the people there to move to the
border city of Rafah or a coastal area in the southwest.
Reiterating
that “there is no safe place across the Gaza Strip,” the three rights organizations
stressed that Israel's evacuation orders, which seek "to forcibly push
hundreds of thousands of Palestinians towards Rafah and later to places close
to the border with Egypt, have raised concerns over a new Nakba for the
Palestinians.”
Residents
said the military dropped leaflets reading Khan Younis was “a dangerous combat
zone.”
The
regime has also circulated an interactive map dividing the coastal territory
into various areas each bearing a specific number to supposedly notify the
people of Gaza about where they are supposed to go amid Israel's incessant
bombardment.
The
human rights organizations emphasized that the Israeli map is aimed at
misleading the world with the idea that the regime has been notifying people in
Gaza before shelling their homes and civilian structures.
"However,
amid cutting off of electricity and the communication blackout, people in Gaza
cannot access the map to get informed about the zones they are located
within," they added.
Melanie
Ward, the chief executive of the humanitarian organization Medical Aid for
Palestinians, has said, “I cannot overstate the fear, panic and confusion that
these Israeli maps are causing civilians in Gaza, including my own staff.
People cannot run from place to place to try to escape Israel’s bombs, nor does
international law expect them to.”
“No
place is safe, not there and not anywhere in Gaza. A brutal war continues,
unabated,” the UN agency said on X.
According
to UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),
virtually 1.9 million people -- more than 80 percent of Gaza's population --
have been displaced since October 7 due to Israel’s unrelenting bombardment.
In a
statement released earlier on Monday, UNRWA said Israeli airstrikes were
ongoing even where people are being forced to flee, including the border city
of Rafah.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/12/04/715819/Palestine-Israel-Gaza-war-human-rights-organizations-warning-Nakba
-----
Iran
says it is not involved in any actions against US military forces -Tasnim
December
05, 2023
DUBAI:
Iran’s UN envoy, Amir SaeidIravani, said his country has not been involved in
any actions or attacks against US military forces, the semi-official Tasnim
news agency reported on Tuesday.
The
United States has blamed Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi group for a series of
attacks in Middle Eastern waters since war broke out between Israel and the
Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7.
In a briefing
with reporters on Monday, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan
said
Washington
has “every reason to believe that these attacks, while they were launched by
the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.”
In the
latest incidents, three commercial vessels came under attack in international
waters in the southern Red Sea on Sunday. The Houthis acknowledged launching
drone and missile attacks against what they said were two Israeli vessels in
the area.
The
Carney, a US Navy destroyer, shot down three drones on Sunday as it answered
distress calls from the commercial vessels. The US military says the three
vessels were connected to 14 separate nations.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420441/middle-east
----
Israel,
Palestinians accuse each other of ‘genocide’ at UN
December 5, 2023
GENEVA:
Israeli and Palestinian representatives at the United Nations on Monday traded
accusations of “genocide” over the unrest raging in Gaza, with both sides
demanding an international response.
Israeli
aggression against Palestinians was repeatedly mentioned during an event at the
UN Human Rights Council in Geneva ahead of the 75th anniversary of the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The
Palestinian Authority (PA) representative, Dima Asfour, insisted to the council
that the “man-made catastrophe” resulting from Israel’s massive bombing
campaign and ground offensive was “a textbook case of genocide”.
Meanwhile,
YeelaCytrin, a legal adviser at the Israeli mission in Geneva, said that the
raid by Hamas on Oct 7 was motivated by a “genocidal ideology”. The genocide
convention, signed on Dec 9, 1948, was the first human rights treaty in the
history of the UN, adopted even before the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.
PA envoy
denounces campaign to suppress voices on digital platforms
It was
adopted after World War II, highlighting the horrors of the Holocaust and
emphasising humanity’s obligation to prevent and punish all such genocidal
acts.
‘Shadow-banning’
Asfour
stressed that under the genocide convention, “early warning to genocide must
compel us to act”.
She told
the council, “for the past eight weeks, and after issuing genocidal calls
publicly, Israel proceeded to drop tonnes of explosives on Gaza, which have
huge destructive power”.
She
echoed a group of independent UN experts who last month voiced concern at “the
failure of the international system to mobilise to prevent genocide”.
And she denounced
“a wide campaign of digital repression, including disinformation, censorship,
online harassment and shadow-banning” aimed as suppressing Palestinian voices.
“We urge
tech companies and social media platforms to immediately take strict measures
to protect their users from harm in light of the genocide unfolding in
Palestine,” she said.
While,
Cytin said that Jewish people are still feeling of anti-Semitism after 75
years. “Have we learnt anything in the past 75 years?”, she questioned. Iran’s
representative meanwhile said it was Israel which was carrying out a
“horrifying genocide” against Palestinians, while other Muslim countries
accused Israeli officials of “incitement” to genocide.
Source: dawn.com
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------
Israeli
army admits to two civilian deaths for every Hamas fighter killed in Gaza
Strip; death toll crosses 15,500
Dec 05,
2023
As the death
toll in Gaza has crossed 15,500 on Monday, the Israeli military had admitted
that two civilians died for each Hamas fighter killed in war.
Around
two civilians have been killed for every dead Hamas fighter in the Gaza Strip,
senior Israeli military officials admitted Monday, and said the army was
deploying high-tech mapping software to try to reduce non-combatant deaths.
The
Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says Israel's military campaign, in the wake
of Hamas attacks on October 7, has killed around 15,900 people so far, most of
them women and children.
Asked
about media reports that 5,000 Hamas fighters had been killed, one of the
senior officials told reporters at a briefing: "The numbers are more or
less right.
"I'm
not saying it's not bad that we have a ratio of two to one," one of the
officials said, adding that the use of human shields was part of Hamas's
"core strategy".
"Hopefully
it (the ratio) will be much lower" in the coming phase of the war, they
added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The
rising death toll and unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza have sparked
outrage in much of the world.
Israel
began bombarding targets in the Gaza Strip, alongside a ground invasion, with
the aim of eradicating Hamas after its fighters carried out the worst attack in
Israel's history on October 7.
Hamas
militants killed around 1,200 people and kidnapped about 240 others, according
to Israeli officials.
‘Consequences
of war’
Key ally
the United States has cautioned Israel to do more to avert civilian casualties
as operations shift to the south, where many Gazans are seeking refuge after
fleeing the devastated north.
To that
end, the officials said, the army is using high-tech mapping software to track
population movements inside the Gaza Strip and issue evacuation orders.
The
system incorporates mobile phone and other signals, aerial surveillance and
word from local sources, as well as AI, to maintain a constantly updating map
showing population concentrations across the territory.
Each of
the map's 623 cells are colour-coded, with green designating areas where at
least 75 percent of the population has evacuated.
"In
the south, because we have basically doubled the population, operations are
much more precise," the official said.
"We
are taking much more time to make sure our efforts (at warning civilians) are
effective."
The map
-- which the military says is the product of eight years of research and
development -- is available to commanders and units on the ground.
The map
is used to coordinate efforts to warn civilians to leave certain areas ahead of
impending strikes via SMS, phone calls, leaflet drops and other announcements,
and to track the effectiveness of such messaging in real time.
It is
similar to one made available online that the military says is intended to
enable Gazans to "evacuate from specific places for their safety if
required".
But the
United Nations humanitarian office OCHA has questioned the usefulness of such a
tool in an area where access to telecommunications and electricity is sporadic.
On
Monday night the main telecom company in the Gaza Strip said mobile telephone
and internet service had been cut across the territory.
"I
can assure you that we're doing everything in our power to reduce civilian
casualties," the official said. "But this is part of the consequences
of war."
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/israeli-army-admits-to-two-civilian-deaths-for-every-hamas-fighter-killed-in-gaza-strip-death-toll-crosses-15500-101701735737594.html
------
WHO to
hold emergency meeting on Gaza health situation on December 10
Dec 04,
2023
The WHO
confirmed on Monday it had received a request from 15 countries to hold the
session.
The
World Health Organization's executive board will hold a rare emergency session
on Dec. 10 to discuss the health crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, with the
Palestinian envoy seeking more medical aid and access for foreign healthcare
workers.
The WHO
confirmed on Monday it had received a request from 15 countries to hold the
session, which will be convened by Director-General TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus
in consultation with the Qatari chair.
The
Palestinian ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, said the meeting
would focus mostly on Gaza, engulfed by war between its Hamas rulers and
Israel, but also cover attacks on the health sector in the Israeli-occupied
West Bank.
"We
want to empower the WHO and call for the Israeli side not to target the medical
sector. We want to allow for fresh medical supplies," he told Reuters,
adding that his diplomatic mission was drafting a motion to be reviewed by the
board.
"One
idea is to send more doctors in from around the world," he added, saying
many countries had offered. The "Occupied Palestinian Territory" is a
WHO observer rather than a member state but has influence in the organisation
through supporters.
Israel
said the session was an example of the "double standards and
disproportionate attention towards Israel in the multilateral arena".
Only a
fraction of Gaza's hospitals remain operational due to Israeli bombings and a
lack of fuel, and those that are still functioning are increasingly overwhelmed
by a new wave of wounded arriving.
A WHO
database shows there have been 427 attacks on healthcare facilities in
Palestinian territories since the Oct. 7 cross-border Hamas attack on Israel,
and the latter's retaliatory aerial blitz and invasion of Gaza. The database
does not touch on who is seen as responsible for the attacks.
Israel
has accused Hamas of using ordinary Gazans as human shields by placing command
centres and weapons inside hospitals and other civilian buildings.
A senior
adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday Israel would
facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilians as fighting
there resumed after a week-long truce collapsed.
The WHO
has also warned of spreading disease which it has said could kill more people
than bombardments in Gaza, with diarrhoea cases among children rising to about
100 times normal levels.
As many
as 80% of Gaza's 2.3 million people have fled their homes, the U.N.
humanitarian agency OCHA says.
The
WHO's governing board is made up of 34 members and typically meets every
January to fix the agenda for its annual assembly. Membership is split among
regional groups and the United States, Qatar, Senegal, Australia and China are
among seat holders.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/who-to-hold-emergency-meeting-on-gaza-health-situation-on-december-10-101701709818915.html
-----
Netanyahu
graft trial resumes in Israel in midst of Gaza war
2023-12-05
JERUSALEM:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial resumed on Monday,
despite the country’s continuing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The
trial was suspended after the Palestinian militant group’s bloody October 7
attack on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 more
kidnapped according to Israeli officials.
Netanyahu,
leader of Israel’s right-wing Likud party, is accused of bribery, fraud and
breach of trust, allegations he denies.
Minister
David Amsalem of Likud called the resumption of proceedings during the war “a
disgrace”.
“War?
Captives? ... No, no. The most important thing now is to renew Netanyahu’s
trial,” said Amsalem on Sunday on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Netanyahu
and his allies have argued the accusations against him are politically motivated
and had proposed a judicial overhaul that would have curbed some powers held by
the courts.
The
high-profile trial is expected to last several more months. An appeal process,
if necessary, could take years.
Source: brecorder.com
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-----
Workers
across the world urged to block Israeli ships over genocide in Gaza
05
December 2023
The Palestinian
Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement (MasarBadil) has urged all labor
activists, trade unionists, and workers’ organizations to block Israeli ships
over the genocide committed by the occupying regime against Palestinians in the
Gaza Strip.
MasarBadil
called on the international global working class to “block and reject the
appearance or docking of any Israeli ship in any global port; to refuse to load
or unload any Israeli ship” and to refuse to transport weapons of war to the
Israeli entity.
“The
hands of the workers should not be sullied with the cargo of genocide,” it
added.
According
to MasarBadil, the action is “a material means of besieging the occupation and
supporting the colonized, occupied people of Palestine.”
The
group also hailed Yemen for “blocking the use of Yemeni seas for the
transportation and passage of Zionist ships and cargo.”
“All
states should follow the Yemeni example and prohibit the use of their ports and
seas to arm this genocidal regime!”
Last
month, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed
Forces, announced that the military units would target all ships owned or
operated by Israeli companies or carrying the Israeli flag.
MasarBadil
also said that Israel is not alone in carrying out its genocide and warned that
every port and company that allows Israeli ships to dock at its port is “a full
partner in war crimes and genocide.”
“[Israel]
is backed, armed, and funded by the imperialist powers – first and foremost,
the United States, together with its partners in Canada, France, Germany, and
Britain,” it said.
“Every
port and company that allows Israeli ships of any kind to dock at its port is a
full partner in war crimes and genocide with the blood of the Palestinian
people on their hands and must be held accountable,” it added.
Israel
launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement
Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity
in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long campaign of bloodletting and
devastation against Palestinians.
Tel Aviv
also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip
into a humanitarian crisis.
Nearly
16,000 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 1.9 million others have
been internally displaced as a result of Israel’s onslaught in Gaza.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/12/05/715828/Workers-urged-block-Israeli-ships-genocide-Gaza
-----
Israel
bars preacher of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque from travel
Abdul
Raouf Arnaout
04.12.2023
Israeli
intelligence agents raided the home of Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, the preacher of
Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, and slapped him with a travel ban, according
to his lawyer on Monday.
“Sabri
was handed an order to bar him from travel,” Khaled Zabarka told Anadolu.
He said
the Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher is facing an incitement campaign by right-wing
Israelis.
“His
home was raided on Sunday to hand him a demolition order for the building where
he lives and today he was barred from travel,” the lawyer said.
“The
violations against the preacher are an attempt to silence his voice, which
boldly proclaims the truth,” Zabarka said.
The
84-year-old preacher was detained multiple times by Israel and was banned from
entering Al-Aqsa Mosque for several months.
Sabri is
a staunch critic of the decades-long Israeli occupation of the Palestinian
territories. He had previously held the position of mufti of Jerusalem and the
Palestinian territories from 1994 to 2006.
Al-Aqsa
Mosque is the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the
"Temple Mount," claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in
ancient times.
Israel
occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli
War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, a move never recognized by the
international community. Source: aa.com.tr
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----
CNN
producer Ibrahim Dahman loses nine relatives in Israeli strike on Gaza
December
05, 2023
DUBAI:
CNN producer Ibrahim Dahman lost nine relatives in an Israeli air strike in northern
Gaza, CNN reported.
Dahman
had escaped to Egypt with his family, but on Sunday heard news that at least
nine family members were killed when the building they were living in Beit
Lahia took a direct hit by an Israeli strike.
His
uncle, and the uncle’s wife, daughter and two grandchildren, as well as his
aunt, her husband and two children perished, while at least two other relatives
are in critical condition and others are still buried under the rubble.
Dahman’s
childhood home in Gaza City was also destroyed in a separate strike on an
adjacent building the same day, CNN reported.
“I will
never be able to forget every stone and corner of the house in which I was born
and raised and in which my children were born,” Dahman said in the CNN report.
“They were
extremely peaceful and simple people, and their entire lives were devoted
solely to work and raising their sons and daughters. They have no affiliation
with any organization or group… Pray to God to have mercy on them all.”
Dahman’s
brother had earlier called to tell him that his home in Gaza City, where he was
born and grew up, has been reduced to ruins by the Israeli bombardment.
He had
just finished renovating the apartment months before the Hamas attack, and told
CNN he had fond memories living there, including celebrating his sons’
birthdays with cake and candles surrounded by family.
“Unfortunately,
I left all my memories, my belongings, and the gifts that my bosses sent me at
work in this house, all of which were lost under the rubble now.”
Israel’s
military resumed combat operations against Hamas in Gaza last week after
accusing Hamas of violating a seven-day temporary truce by firing toward
Israeli territory.
The
seven-day pause, which began on Nov. 24 and was extended twice, had allowed for
the exchange of dozens of hostages held in Gaza for hundreds of Palestinian
prisoners and facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the shattered
coastal strip.
Israel
has sworn to annihilate the Palestinian militant group, which rules Gaza, in
response to the Oct. 7 rampage when Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people and took
240 hostages.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420436/media
-----
Israel
considers flooding Gaza tunnels with seawater – WSJ
December
05, 2023
WASHINGTON:
Israel has assembled a large system of pumps that may be used to flood tunnels
used by militant group Hamas under the Gaza strip in a bid to drive out
fighters, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing US officials.
Around
the middle of November, Israel’s army completed the set-up of at least five
pumps about a mile north of the Al-Shati refugee camp that could move thousands
of cubic meters of water per hour, flooding the tunnels within weeks, the
report said.
It was
not clear whether Israel would consider using the pumps before all hostages
were released, according to the story. Hamas has previously said it has hidden
captives in “safe places and tunnels.”
Reuters
could not verify the details of Monday’s report.
When
asked about the story, a US official said it made sense for Israel to render
the tunnels inoperable and that the country was exploring a range of ways to do
that.
Israel’s
defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Wall
Street Journal said an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official declined to comment
on the flooding plan but was quoted as saying: “The IDF is operating to
dismantle Hamas’s terror capabilities in various ways, using different military
and technological tools.”
Israel
first informed the United States of the option last month, the Wall Street
Journal said, reporting that officials did not know how close Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s government was to carrying out the plan.
Israel
has not made a final decision to go ahead or rule it out, the officials were
cited as saying.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420361/middle-east
-----
Gaza
‘hellish scenario’: UN says aid delivery grinds to halt as Israeli war rages
05 December 2023
UN
Humanitarian Coordinator has warned of a “hellish scenario” unfolding as the
flow of aid in Gaza has come to a grinding halt, as a humanitarian crisis is
unfolding in the besieged territory.
Lynn
Hastings, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said
on Monday that conditions for aid delivery to the Strip are nonexistent.
“The
conditions required to deliver aid to the people of Gaza do not exist,” she
said, adding that the aid devilry is also complicated as two major roads in
Gaza have been declared off-limits to UN teams and trucks.
According
to Hastings, since the 7-day truce ended on Friday, the Israeli military has
forced “tens of thousands... into increasingly compressed spaces, desperate to
find food, water, shelter, and safety,” in southern Gaza.
Since
the onset of the war nearly two months ago, the Israeli regime has ordered the
forced evacuation of Palestinians to the south claiming that the southern part
of Gaza is safe.
However,
after the breach of the truce, Israel called the southern city of Khan Yunis “a
dangerous combat zone,” telling the people there to move to the border city of
Rafah or a coastal area in the southwest.
“If
possible, an even more hellish scenario is about to unfold, one in which
humanitarian operations may not be able to respond,” Hastings added.
She
slammed the idea of “safe zones” urged upon Israel by the US government, where
people are still unable to move about freely.
“Nowhere
is safe in Gaza and there is nowhere left to go.”
According
to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA) 1.9 million people, more than 80 percent of the population, have been
internally displaced in Gaza since October 7 due to Israel’s unrelenting
bombardment.
In a
statement released on Monday, UNRWA said Israeli airstrikes were ongoing even
where people are being forced to flee such as the border city of Rafah.
Hasting
warned that today Gaza is a “textbook formula for epidemics and a public health
disaster.”
“What we
see today are shelters with no capacity, a health system on its knees, a lack
of clean drinking water, no proper sanitation, and poor nutrition for people
already mentally and physically exhausted.”
The
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says Israeli forces have directly bombed
14 hospitals. A few of the medical facilities in the Palestinian territory are
now functional and they are inundated with thousands of the wounded.
According
to the UN, only 5 percent of Gazans have access to drinking water. Aid agencies
have warned that lack of access to clean and sanitary water would increase the
risks of outbreaks such as cholera.
Hastings
is currently stationed in al-Quds, though Israel recently notified the UN that
her visa will not be extended accusing her of lacking impartiality.
Israel
unleashed the war on Gaza after Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Storm against
the regime on October 7. Since then nearly 16,000 Palestinians have been
killed, most of them women and children.
Nearly
two months into Israel’s bloody onslaught on Gaza, the regime is wreaking havoc
across every corner of the territory, leaving a trail of death and destruction
also cutting off one of the most densely-populated places in the world from
basic supplies such as water, electricity, medicines, and fuel leaving millions
of Palestinians at risk of starvation.
Source: presstv.ir
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-----
North America
CAIR
Condemns ‘Israeli War Crime of the Day’ After Slaughter of 50 Civilians at
UN-Run Schools in Gaza
Ismail
Allison
December
4, 2023
(WASHINGTON,
DC – 12/4/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned
Israel’s “war crime of the day” – the slaughter of at least 50 civilians in
airstrikes on two UN-run schools sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli
jets and artillery targeted the Salah Ad-Din school and Martyr Assad Safwati
school in al-Darraj neighborhood.
Israel
has killed almost 16,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children in Gaza in
recent weeks. Many more have been killed by Israeli occupation forces and
illegal settlers in the West Bank.
“Once
again, the far-right Israeli government slaughters Palestinian civilians and
the Western world stands silent, or even justifies the genocide,” said CAIR
National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “In a particularly cruel
action, Israel ordered Gazan families to flee their homes or temporary
residences to another area, and then bombed that area.”
He noted
that the Israeli government’s extremist leaders have declared that there are no
innocent civilians in Gaza, justified cutting off water, electricity and other
basic necessities because Palestinians are ‘human animals,’ embraced an ancient
biblical verse about the mass slaughter of an entire city from animals to
infants, demanded a million residents of northern Gaza leave their homes or
face death, and announced that the aim of the bombing in Gaza was destruction
rather than accuracy.
Earlier
today, CAIR said a new report by Heritage for Peace detailing Israel’s ongoing
destruction of Palestinian cultural sites shows its desire to entirely
“eliminate Palestinian existence.”
Yesterday,
CAIR questioned whether Western leaders even regard Palestinians as “human”
after more than 700 women, children and men were massacred by Israel within
just the last 24 hours.
Previously,
CAIR condemned the latest “Israeli war crime of the day” after more than 100
men, women and children were killed in the bombing of residential buildings
hosting displaced families in Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp.
CAIR
also condemned the Biden administration for giving the Israeli government the
“green light” to resume bombing Gaza and called on the United States to join
other governments in demanding the resumption of the ceasefire and negotiations
to secure a just, lasting peace.
[NOTE:
More than 100,000 Americans have used CAIR’s action alert to contact their
members of Congress and call for an end to the violence and the renewal of
U.S.-led efforts to end the occupation. SEE: Urge Your Members of Congress to
Address Root Cause of Mideast Violence]
CAIR’s
mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote
justice, and empower American Muslims.
La
misión de CAIR es proteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanesen los Estados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-israeli-war-crime-of-the-day-after-slaughter-of-50-civilians-at-un-run-schools-in-gaza/
-----
US is
running out of money for Ukraine and that could hinder fight against Russia,
White House warns
December
05, 2023
WASHINGTON:
The Biden administration on Monday sent Congress an urgent warning about the
need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance
to Ukraine, saying Kyiv’s war effort to defend itself from Russia’s invasion
may grind to a halt without it.
In a
letter to House and Senate leaders and released publicly, Office of Management
and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the US will run out of funding to
send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, saying that
would “kneecap” Ukraine on the battlefield.
She
added that the US already has run out of money that it has used to prop up
Ukraine’s economy, and “if Ukraine’s economy collapses, they will not be able
to keep fighting, full stop.”
“We are
out of money — and nearly out of time,” she wrote.
President
Joe Biden has sought a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and
other needs, but it has faced a difficult reception on Capitol Hill. There is
growing skepticism about the magnitude of assistance for Ukraine and even
Republicans supportive of the funding are insisting on US-Mexico border policy
changes to halt the flow of migrants as a condition for the assistance.
“Congress
has to decide whether to continue to support the fight for freedom in Ukraine
as part of the 50-nation coalition that President Biden has built, or whether
Congress will ignore the lessons we’ve learned from history and let (Russian
President Vladimir) Putin prevail,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan
said Monday. “It is that simple. It is that stark choice, and we hope that
Congress on a bipartisan basis will make the right choice.”
But
negotiations over the border security package broke down over the weekend as
Republicans insisted on provisions Democrats said are draconian, aides said.
Talks are expected to resume this week.
Senate
Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that his party is “still at the
table.”
Congress
already has allocated $111 billion to assist Ukraine, including $67 billion in
military procurement funding, $27 billion for economic and civil assistance and
$10 billion for humanitarian aid. Young wrote that all of it, other than about
3 percent of the military funding, had been depleted by mid-November.
Meanwhile,
the GOP-controlled House has passed a standalone assistance package for Israel
as it fights the war with Hamas in Gaza, but the White House has maintained
that all of the priorities must be met.
The
Biden administration has said it has slowed the pace of some military
assistance to Kyiv in recent weeks to try to stretch supplies until Congress
approves more funding.
“We are
out of money to support Ukraine in this fight,” Young wrote. “This isn’t a next
year problem. The time to help a democratic Ukraine fight against Russian
aggression is right now. It is time for Congress to act.”
House
Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated in a statement Monday that House Republicans
will insist on border policy changes as part of a Ukraine assistance bill, and
he argued Biden has “failed to substantively address any of my conference’s
legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to
resolving the conflict, or a plan for adequately ensuring accountability for
aid provided by American taxpayers.”
The
letter followed a classified Capitol Hill briefing on Nov. 29 for the top House
and Senate leaders on the need for the assistance. Defense and other national
security officials briefed the “big four” congressional leaders.
“They
were clear that Ukraine needs the aid soon — and so does our military need the
aid soon,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told The Associated Press in an
interview at the time.
Schumer
said Monday that both Republicans and Democrats in his chamber agree on funding
for Ukraine, as well as Israel, but that the funding has been halted for weeks
by GOP demands that border security policy be included in a final package.
Schumer,
a New York Democrat, said Republicans have pressed for “indefinite detention”
of asylum seekers and granting the executive branch power to “shut down” the
asylum system, measures that Democrats say go too far.
He is
expected to push forward Biden’s supplemental funding package this week, but
Republicans are threatening to block its passage with a filibuster as they
insist on border security provisions.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420366/world
-----
More
than $950,000 raised for Palestinian student paralyzed after being shot in
Vermont
December
05, 2023
NEW
YORK: More than $950,000 has been raised for the recovery of one of the three
college students of Palestinian descent who was shot in Vermont and is
currently paralyzed from the chest down, according to a GoFundMe page set up by
his family.
One of
the bullets that hit Hisham Awartani on Nov. 25 is lodged in his spine, his
family said.
“Hisham’s
first thoughts were for his friends, then for his parents who were thousands of
miles away. He has demonstrated remarkable courage, resilience and fortitude —
even a sense of humor — even as the reality of his paralysis sets in,” the
fundraising page, which was set up on Saturday, states.
Awartani,
KinnanAbdalhamid and Tahseen Ali Ahmad are childhood friends who graduated from
a private Quaker school in the West Bank and now attend colleges in the eastern
US The 20-year-olds were visiting Awartani’s relatives in Burlington for the
Thanksgiving break. They were walking to the house of Hisham’s grandmother for
dinner when they were shot in an unprovoked attack, the family said.
The
young men were speaking in a mix of English and Arabic and two of them were
also wearing the black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves when they were
shot, Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said. Authorities are investigating the
shooting as a possible hate crime.
“In a
cruelly ironic twist, Hisham’s parents had recommended he not return home over
winter break, suggesting he would be safer in the US with his grandmother,” the
fundraising page states. “Burlington is a second home to Hisham, who has spent
summers and happy holidays with his family there. It breaks our hearts that
these young men did not find safety in his home away from home.”
All
three were seriously injured. Abdalhamid was released from the hospital last
week.
The
suspected gunman, Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested the following day at his
Burlington apartment, where he answered the door with his hands raised and told
federal agents he had been waiting for them. Eaton has pleaded not guilty to
three counts of attempted murder and is currently being held without bail.
The
shooting came as threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities have
increased across the US in the weeks since the the Israel-Hamas war erupted in
early October.
Awartani,
who speaks seven languages, is pursuing a dual degree in math and archaeology
at Brown University, where he is also a teaching assistant, the fundraising
page said. He told his college professors that he is determined to start the
next semester on time, according to the fundraiser.
“We, his
family, believe that Hisham will change the world,” the fundraising page
states. “He’ll change the world through his spirit, his mind and his compassion
for those much more vulnerable than himself, especially the thousands of dead
in Gaza and many more struggling to survive the devastating humanitarian crisis
unfolding there.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420346/world
------
Man
arrested for driving vehicle toward pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Canada
Barry
Ellsworth
05.12.2023
A man
was arrested in the Canadian province of British Columbia after he narrowly
missed hitting a pro-Palestinian demonstrator with his vehicle, according to
news reports Monday.
In a video
posted on social media Sunday, a man can be seen driving his car onto the
sidewalk as the demonstrator, who held a Palestinian flag, scrambled to get out
of the way.
Someone
can be heard repeatedly shouting “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa” as the vehicle drove
toward the protester. The driver had to stop because of barriers across the
sidewalk area.
The man
then exited the car and got into an argument with another protester before
being separated by law enforcement.
“He just
basically hit the gas and literally almost hit somebody,” Donald Smith, who
filmed the video and posted it on social media, told CTV News. “If those
barriers weren't there, that would have been a different ballgame.”
The man
was later arrested by police and charged with assault with a weapon and
dangerous driving.
The
incident occurred as hundreds of people marched Sunday during the “United for
Peace: March for Palestine” rally in downtown Victoria, the capital of British
Columbia.
Dock
Currie, a member of the Vancouver Island Peace Council, told CHEK News that the
incident was an act of violence fomented because people mistakenly think that
pro-Palestinian protesters are supporters of the Palestinian group Hamas.
The
National Council of Canadian Muslims said Canadian leaders must do more to tackle
Islamophobia.
“This is
the kind of apparent violence we have seen increase across this country…Our
leaders must step up to stem this tide of hate,” the council said in a
statement issued Monday.’
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/man-arrested-for-driving-vehicle-toward-pro-palestinian-demonstrator-in-canada/3073238
-----
US
special envoy for Yemen to visit Gulf for talks
Diyar
Gundogan
05.12.2023
The US
special envoy for Yemen will set out on a Gulf tour this week amid Iranian and
Houthi attacks on international shipping.
"US
Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking is traveling to the Gulf this week to
continue intensive US diplomacy and regional coordination to safeguard maritime
security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in the midst of Iranian and Houthi
attacks on international shipping threatening almost two years of joint
progress to end the war in Yemen,” the US State Department said Monday.
"The
United States is working with key maritime partners to secure safe passage for
global shipping," it added.
Lenderking
will meet with regional, international and UN partners in the Gulf to discuss
the necessary steps to secure a durable cease-fire and launch an inclusive,
UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni political dialogue, it said, adding the envoy is working
with the UN, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other
international partners to support a resolution to the Yemen conflict as soon as
possible.
"The
Special Envoy will emphasize the need to contain the Israel-Hamas conflict
while pursuing the United States’ priority of Yemeni-Yemeni political dialogue
to end the war and set Yemen on a firm course for peace and stability,"
the statement said.
A wider
conflict in the Middle East does not serve US interests nor those of its
regional partners, who support a lasting peace in Yemen, it added.
The
maritime attacks coincide with Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on
the Gaza Strip, which have been ongoing since the Palestinian group Hamas
launched a cross-border attack against Israel on Oct. 7.
At least
15,899 Palestinians have been killed and more than 42,000 others injured in the
attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7.
The Israeli death toll stands at 1,200, according to official figures.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-special-envoy-for-yemen-to-visit-gulf-for-talks/3073235
------
US says
Iran ultimately responsible for attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea
Michael
Gabriel Hernandez
05.12.2023
Iran is
the "ultimate party responsible" for recent attacks on commercial
vessels in the Red Sea, the White House said Monday after a series of ships
came under attack over the weekend.
The US
is currently in discussion with other countries about the formation of
"maritime task forces" aimed at preventing additional attacks,
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House. That
would include ships from the US, as well as partners, whom Sullivan did not
identify.
"What
we are doing now is engaging in intensive consultations with partners and
allies to determine the appropriate next steps," he said.
"We
have made clear that the entire world needs to step up together, not the US
alone, but all of us working together to deal with this emerging challenge that
the Houthi present, backed by Iran. We're going to take appropriate action in
consultation with others, and we will do so at a time in place of our choosing,"
he added.
The
Pentagon, however, said three ships – the M/V Unity Explorer, the M/V Number 9
and the M/V Sophie II – had come under anti-ship ballistic missile attacks in
the Red Sea on Sunday.
The
Arleigh-Burke Class destroyer USS Carney responded to distress calls from the
ships, destroying a total of three inbound drones as it approached the vessels
Sunday afternoon, US Central Command said in a statement.
Sullivan
said the US has not determined whether the Carney was deliberately targeted by
the drone, but said it "took prudent action in taking down those three
UAVs."
"We
will continue, as we go forward, to consult very closely with allies and
partners to determine and take all appropriate responses," he said.
The
maritime attacks coincide with Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on
the Gaza Strip, which have been ongoing since Palestinian group Hamas launched
a cross-border attack against Israel on Oct. 7. Over 1,200 people were killed
in the attack, according to official figures.
Meanwhile,
in Gaza, nearly 16,000 people have been killed, roughly 70% of them women and
children, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave. Roughly 1.8 million
Palestinians have been displaced, representing about 80% of Gaza's population,
according to the UN.
Roughly
one in every two homes has been damaged or destroyed.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/us-says-iran-ultimately-responsible-for-attacks-on-commercial-ships-in-red-sea/3073181
------
CAIR
Welcomes Johns Hopkins Editorial Calling on University to Hold Doctor who
Endorsed Genocide of Palestinians to Account
Ismail
Allison
December
4, 2023
(BALTIMORE,
MD, 12/4/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s
largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed an
editorial published in the Johns Hopkins Newsletter calling on the university
to hold a doctor who made social media posts endorsing the genocide of
Palestinians to account.
Dr.
Darren Klugman, Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Director at the Johns Hopkins
Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center and an associate professor at Johns
Hopkins University School of Medicine, posted tweets referring to Palestinians
as “barbaric animals.” He also expressed his support for their “large scale
slaughter” and forced displacement and labeled them as “people who rape and
murder civilians.”
The
editorial board of the Johns Hopkins Newsletter published an op-ed calling on
the university to be transparent in their investigation into Dr. Klugman’s
tweets and to hold him accountable.
In a
statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“We
thank the editorial staff of the Johns Hopkins Newsletter for taking a stand
and seeking transparency and accountability from the university in its
investigation into Dr. Klugman’s troubling comments. Medical professionals are
tasked with saving lives and take an oath to do no harm. Dr. Klugman’s
positions contradicted this spirit and have irreparably harmed trust within the
community and among his colleagues.”
She
noted that last month, CAIR called for Dr. Klugman’s termination and the
revocation of his medical license.
SEE:
CAIR Calls for Hopkins Doctor’s Immediate Termination, Revoking of Medical License
After Doctor Reportedly Admits “Racist, Genocidal” Messages
CAIR’s
mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote
justice, and empower American Muslims.
La
misión de CAIR es proteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanesen los Estados
Unidos.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-johns-hopkins-editorial-calling-on-university-to-hold-doctor-who-endorsed-genocide-of-palestinians-to-account/
-----
India
Modi
will become PM for third time: Badruddin Ajmal
Dec 5, 2023
Guwahati
: All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief, Badruddin Ajmal said that
the BJP’s victory in the three state Assembly elections have proved that
Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister for a third time.
Reacting
to the results, Ajmal told reporters here on Monday that he “did not expect
that the BJP will do well in the state polls”.
“I
thought that Congress would win in at least three states. If we look into the
results, it is clear that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister of the
country for the third time,” he added.
Ajmal
also criticised the Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah, saying that the
latter “has no capability” of leading the party in Assam.
“He
should immediately resign from his post.”
Ajmal
accused the state leaders of the Congress party for working on the behest of
the BJP.
“The
Congress party in Assam has become BJP’s A team. The leaders have been sold to
Chief Minister HimantaBiswaSarma.”
Ajmal
wanted to ally with the Congress for the next general election.
But due
to the strong resistance from the Assam Congress leadership, AIUDF was not
included in the opposition INDIA bloc. – IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/modi-will-become-pm-for-third-time-badruddin-ajmal/
-----
Delhi:
Hundreds of CPM members gather at Jantar Mantar to demand Dalit rights
05.12.23
Pheroze
L. Vincent
A public
meeting to press longstanding demands of the Dalit community became a show of
strength for the CPM with hundreds of members of its mass organisations turning
up at Jantar Mantar on Monday.
The
impressive turnout, especially from south Indian states, came just a day after
the BJP swept to power in three Hindi-belt states.
The
Coordination Committee for Dalit Rights, which called the meeting, is a
non-partisan forum that has collected more than 60 lakh signatures in support
of a charter adopted at a national Dalit summit in Hyderabad in August.
The
demands include the strict implementation of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled
Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Act 1976; distribution of land among the landless and the ensuring
of access to land deeds distributed earlier; an end to privatisation of the
public sector and education and health services; revocation of the New
Education Policy; increased outlay for the MGNREGA, an assured daily wage of Rs
600 and 300 days of work a year; and stringent punishment for those guilty of
assaulting Dalit women and girls.
Most
participants at the rally held flags and banners of the CPM-backed All India
Agricultural Workers Union.
Its
general secretary Vikram Singh told The Telegraph that the organisers had
sought an appointment with President DroupadiMurmu to present a memorandum with
these demands, which also include a call for a caste census to be carried out
along with the population census, pending since 2021.
“The
marginalised have to take forward the struggle to defeat the BJP, which is
dictated by Manuvadi (casteist and misogynistic) policies,” Singh, the first
Dalit general secretary of CPM student wing SFI, said.
“Today’s
turnout shows the importance of people’s struggles. The Opposition may have
just been defeated politically, but the masses are ready to face the challenge
of the BJP.”
Speaking
at the rally, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha said: “In elections, your
issues get lost. We have to bring those issues back…. The country is in crisis.
That is too important an issue to be left to political parties alone.”
He
added: “As MPs we can stand with you but this struggle is getting harder every
day. Those in power know how to win elections without work. They win despite
atrocities on Dalits and land grabs from Adivasis. What is this magic? It is
the magic of capitalists.
“If you
want to change your destiny, then this anger should be seen on the streets.
Anger comes from hunger. One cannot understand (the attempt to dismiss) this
anger just with 5kg of grains (free rations given by the Centre). We need to
ask why there is hunger in the first place.”
CPM
parliamentarian John Brittas told the gathering: “Everyone should get at least
five acres of land…. We have to agitate to win. We are with you in Parliament
and outside for the rights of Dalits and agricultural workers.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/delhi-hundreds-of-cpm-members-gather-at-jantar-mantar-to-demand-dalit-rights/cid/1984617
----
Indian
mapping company gets Saudi contract for 3D digital twin mapping of Mecca
Dec 5,
2023
NEW
DELHI: In a big boost for the Indian mapping industry, desi company Genesys
International’s subsidiary in Saudi Arabia has been awarded a contract for the
3D digital twin mapping of the holy city of Mecca by Saudi Arabia.
The
pioneering project awarded to Genesys subsidiary, Genesys Middle East Ltd, is
valued at Rs 26 crore and marks a historic venture into using digital twin
mapping technology for urban planning, modelling and monitoring, a company
statement said. “The contract stipulates the completion of the project within
six months from the Letter of Award (LoA), aligning with the goal to use
cutting-edge technology. This is a large validation of Genesys’ proprietary
platform, Oyster 3D Maps, for the high-precision mapping endeavour. The scope includes
crucial aspects such as crowd management, disaster management and planning for
one of the most visited spots in the world,” the statement said.
Sajid
Malik, CMD of Genesys International, said, “The digital twin of the holy shrine
of Mecca is a great responsibility, and our team's expertise and dedication aim
to make it a great testament to our technology platform. We look forward to
contributing significantly to Saudi Arabia's growing infrastructure landscape
and continuing to provide exceptional value to the government and our clients.”
In
addition to the Mecca project, Genesys has successfully completed the 3D indoor
mapping of 27 airports for the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of
Saudi Arabia. The company is actively engaged in ongoing projects with GeoSa,
the national mapping authority of Saudi Arabia, and NEOM.
Om
Hemrajani, principal at Genesys International, said, “This is a great progress
for our Saudi Arabia practice. We are increasingly being trusted with important
landmark projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which we hope to scale in the
coming quarters.”
In
India, Genesys has already launched the new India map stack, targeting advanced
platforms in consumer, logistics, automotive and infrastructure areas.
Recently, Genesys had announced a strategic tie-up with Survey of India (SoI)
for a three-dimensional (3D) digital twin-mapping programme in the country.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-mapping-company-gets-saudi-contract-for-3d-digital-twin-mapping-of-mecca/articleshow/105739589.cms
-----
Hindu
young women will lose rights if they marry Muslims: Karnataka BJP leader
Dec 4, 2023
DakshinaKannada
: BJP leader Malavika Avinash asserted that Hindu young women who marry a
Muslim would lose their rights.
She also
raised questions about the condition of converting to Islam, stating, “If such
a condition is imposed, what kind of love is that?”
BJP
leader Malavika Avinash made these remarks while speaking at ‘Nari Shakti
Sangama,’ a district-level women’s convention in Tenkila on Sunday, Puttur
town.
She
expressed concern about Hindu women leaving their religion due to various
factors and urged them to consider their future before abandoning their faith.
Highlighting
the differences between Hindu and Muslim traditions, she emphasised that
Hinduism follows monogamy with equal rights for husband and wife, while Islam
allows polygamy.
According
to her, a Hindu woman marrying a person of another faith would lose her rights
and become one of the wives under polygamy.
Malavika
Avinash urged young girls to understand the true meaning of love and cautioned
them to think about the consequences of converting to Islam for the sake of
love.
She also
pointed out the age restrictions for women at Sabarimala temple and questioned
the entry restrictions for women in mosques.
She
argued that, legally, the framework of marriage and divorce is designed to
protect women’s interests, whereas Sharia law permits four wives.
Malavika
Avinashemphasised the equal property rights enjoyed by Hindu women, which they
would lose upon conversion. These statements are likely to spark a debate in
the state. — IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/hindu-young-women-will-lose-rights-if-they-marry-muslims-karnataka-bjp-leader/
-----
‘This is
not Karachi’: Rajasthan MLA orders closure of non-veg stalls
4th
December 2023Shortly after BJP emerged victorious in Rajasthan, one of its MLAs
ordered the closing of all meat stalls run by minority community in his
constituency.
A video
recently surfaced on the internet where Balmukund Acharya, BJP MLA from Hawa
Mahal constituency, is seen ordering police to shut down all non-veg stalls and
restaurants in the Chandi Ki Taksal area.
“Can
meat be sold in the open on the road? Answer in yes or no. Are you endorsing
them? I will take a report from you in the evening,” he is purportedly heard
telling a police officer on the phone.
Later,
the video shows him speaking to one of the restaurant owners in the presence of
police officials. “Do you have licenses? Show me! Do you want to convert this
area into Karachi? This is not Karachi, this is Kashi,” he says among chants of
Jai Shri Ram.
Source: siasat.com
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https://www.siasat.com/this-is-not-karachi-rajasthan-mla-orders-closure-of-non-veg-stalls-2927676/
----
Calcutta
HC shields BJP legislators from arrest in National Anthem insult case
4th
December 2023
Kolkata:
A single-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Monday granted protection
against any coercive action, including arrest, to BJP legislators against whom
Kolkata Police have registered an FIR on charges of insulting the National
Anthem.
Justice
Jay Sengupta questioned the complaint by three Trinamool Congress legislators
on the basis of which the FIR was filed against the BJP legislators.
According
to the FIR, the BJP legislators started shouting “thieves”, “thieves” at a time
when the Trinamool Congress legislators were singing the National Anthem at the
end of their protest within the Assembly premises against non-payment of
central dues.
Justice
Sengupta questioned the justification of singing the National Anthem while the
protest was on. “What will happen if anyone starts singing the National Anthem
within this court now?” Justice Sengupta asked.
The
incident occurred on November 29 when Trinamool Congress legislators sporting
black shirts and led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, were protesting near
the statue of BR Ambedkar within the Assembly premises.
Towards
the end of the protest, a group of BJP MLAs led by the Leader of Opposition
(LoP) arrived at the Assembly premises. The legislators, including the LoP,
were seen shouting “thieves”, “thieves” while pointing at the protesting
demonstrations.
Later the Chief Minister complained to the Speaker that the BJP legislators were raising derogatory slogans while the ruling party MLAs, were singing the National Anthem, deeming it an insult.
Source: siasat.com
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https://www.siasat.com/calcutta-hc-shields-bjp-legislators-from-arrest-in-national-anthem-insult-case-2927492/
-----
Key
26/11 plotter Sajid Mir in Pakistan hospital after 'poisoning'
Dec 5, 2023
NEW
DELHI: Amid persisting mystery about killings of Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives, a
cascading buzz about the well-being of global terrorist and LeT commander Sajid
Mir, one of the key plotters of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, appears to have
further deepened the uncertainty in Pakistan's jihadi circles.
Mir, who
is being held in a KotLakhpat jail since his sentencing by an anti-terrorism
court in June last year, was suddenly admitted to hospital. Reports suggest
that he was poisoned and has since been on ventilator support. This comes in
the wake of reports that threat inputs had prompted his transfer to a Dera Gazi
Khan prison.
Sources
here, however, appeared to be wary of the reports suspecting that these could
very well be a ruse by Pakistan's military-intelligence complex to dodge
foreign insistence to take tough action against the Lashkar commander.
Mir was
sentenced to eight years on charges of terror financing and a fine of Rs 4.2
lakh had also been imposed on him only after the pressure on Pak became
unbearable and the risk of being further penalised by the FATF loomed large.
The LeT
commander was detained last April in a hush-hush affair while the prison term
was awarded in June 2022 just before a meeting of the FATF, an
intergovernmental organisation which tracks terror financing and money
laundering.
Sources
in the Indian intelligence also said that staging his death could also be an
eyewash in order to stop his extradition to the US. Mir, who has a five million
dollar bounty on his head announced by the FBI, is wanted by the US government.
According
to FBI, Mir (45) had changed his appearance through plastic surgery after the
Mumbai attacks. He was LeT's foreign recruiter at one time and the main handler
for American terrorist David Coleman Headley alias Dawood Gilani.
A US
justice department document mentions how the 26/11 attackers were in real-time
telephonic contact with Mir and his associates- Abu Qahafa and Mazhar Iqbal
-during the attack.
On Mir's
advice, Headley had changed his given name of "Dawood Gilani" to
"David Coleman Headley" in order to facilitate his activities on
behalf of Lashkar by enabling him to present himself in India as an American
who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani. Mir further advised Headley to open an
immigration office in Mumbai as a cover for his surveillance activities and was
given 25,000 dollars for the set-up.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/key-26/11-plotter-sajid-mir-in-pakistan-hospital-after-poisoning/articleshow/105736330.cms
-----
Himachal:
Six Kashmiri labourers die in road accident near Sunni, CM expresses grief
Dec 05,
2023
21-year-old
driver of pick-up vehicle also killed as it rolls down gorge on
Kadharghat-Jologh road in Shimla district
Six
labourers from Kashmir were killed in a road accident when a pickup van fell
into a gorge on the Kadharghat-Jologh road in the Sunni sub-division of Shimla
district on Monday, police said.
The
vehicle with 12 occupants was on its way from Sunni to Mandi when the accident
occurred.
Stay
tuned with breaking news on HT Channel on Facebook. Join Now
Four
labourers and the driver died on the spot, while two passengers succumbed to
injuries on the way to the hospital.
The
deceased were identified as Ghulam AsanGorsi, 43, Shabir Ahmed, 19, Farid
Didar, 24, Talib, 23, Gulzar, 30, and Mustaq, 30. They belonged to villages in
Kulgam district of neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir.
The
driver was identified as Ranjit Kanwar, 21, from Shethvi village in Shimla
district.
The
other occupants, Aslam Chanchi, 18, from Anantnag, Talib Hussain, 21, from
Kulgam, Akash Kumar, 16, from Dehradun, Ajay Thakur, 26, from Mandi, and
Manjoor Ahmed from Kulgam were undergoing treatment at Indira Gandhi Medical
College and Hospital, Shimla.
Shimla
superintendent of police Sanjeev Gandhi said the initial investigation showed
the accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
Sukhu
expresses grief
Chief
minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed grief over the deaths and directed
the district authorities to provide immediate relief to the next of kin of the
deceased, and the best possible treatment to the injured, a statement issued
here said.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/himachal-six-kashmiri-labourers-die-in-road-accident-near-sunni-cm-expresses-grief-101701717903871.html
-----
Pakistan
Verdict
reserved on plea challenging Imran Khan's eligibility for PTI chairman post
December
05, 2023
Nausheen
Yusuf
The
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a
petition that was filed to remove Imran Khan as the head of Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and declare the party ineligible for obtaining electoral
symbol.
Although
the petition was filed on October 3, Imran decided against contesting the
ECP-mandated intra-party polls for the post of party chairman and handpicked
Gohar Ali Khan to lead the party due to his disqualification in Toshakhana case
and other legal challenges earlier this month.
Barrister
Gohar was officially elected as the PTI chief unopposed in the intra-party
polls held on December 2.
During
the hearing today, PTI lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said the petition had become
infructuous as the party has elected its new chairman.
He said
they have submitted a record of the intra-party polls to the ECP and the matter
should now come to an end.
Advocate
Shaheen also said that if the ECP wanted to hear this matter then it should
club it with a petition being filed by PTI founding member Akbar S Babar
against the party’s intra-party polls.
To this,
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja said: “You are giving
Khalid Mahmood [petitioner’s lawyer] a chance to file a petition against the
new chairman.”
Advocate
Mahmood also pleaded with the CEC to mention in the order that Imran Khan
cannot hold any position in the party due to his conviction.
The CEC
said that they cannot comment on the matter as the former PTI chief did not
contest intra-party polls.
The ECP
also directed Khan’s lawyer to submit record of the PTI’s intra-party polls.
Several
political parties including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan
Peoples Party (PPP) and others have dubbed the PTI intra-party polls as fake,
while PTI founding member raised objections to the process and announced
challenging the internal party elections in the ECP.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1135339-ecp-reserves-verdict-on-plea-challenging-imran-khan-eligibility-for-pti-chairman-post
-----
Imran to
be indicted in cipher case on Dec 12
December
5, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
A special court seized with the cipher trial of former prime minister Imran
Khan has decided to indict him and his aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Dec 12 for
alleged breach of the official secrets law, whereas the PTI leader has
requested the judge to summon the former army chief and a US diplomat to record
their statements in connection with the case.
This was
also confirmed by Mr Khan’s lawyer Babar Awan in a conversation with reporters
outside the Adiala Jail. “Imran Khan has said that a US embassy representative
should also be summoned [by the court] and he also took the name of a former
general,” Mr Awan said. Though no names were mentioned, Imran Khan was
ostensibly referring to retired general Qamar JavedBajwa and US State
Department official Donald Lu — whom the PTI leader blames for his ouster.
During
the proceedings on Monday at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, only six reporters were
present to cover the trial.
As the
trial resumed, Judge Abul HasnatZulqarnain directed the prosecution to
distribute copies of the challan and other relevant records to the defence
counsels and adjourned the hearing till December 12. The court will indict
Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi for “revealing the contents of classified
diplomatic cable” to the general public.
Imran
Khan’s spouse Bushra Bibi, his sisters, and the son and daughter of Shah
Mehmood Qureshi witnessed the proceedings. Special prosecutors of the Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi and Raja Rizwan Abbasi, and
Mr Khan’s counsel Babar Awan and others were also present.
Talking
to media persons in the court, the PTI leader reiterated his stance that the
cipher proved that a conspiracy was hatched to topple his regime.
Speaking
to reporters outside the prison, Mr Khan’s counsel Babar Awan said the former
prime minister wanted the court to summon the former COAS and a US diplomat. He
said that PTI would contest polls on every seat and claimed that other political
parties were not ready to contest the elections.
He
further said that foreign media, international observers and vloggers should be
allowed to attend the cipher trial as the case had an international dimension
to it.
‘LHC
bench not available’
On the
other hand, the hearing of petitions lodged by Imran Khan challenging the
dismissal of his pre-arrest bail in seven cases regarding the May 9 riots could
not be held due to the unavailability of a two-judge bench of the Lahore High
Court. The petitions were fixed before the bench comprising Justice AaliaNeelum
and Justice Muhammad Waheed Khan. However, the cause list of the bench was
cancelled due to the unavailability of the judges.
Last
week, the bench had allowed an application by Imran Khan for an early hearing
and directed the registrar’s office to fix the hearing of the petitions. An
anti-terrorism court on August 11 dismissed the pre-arrest bail of the former
PTI chairman in these cases over non-appearance.
The
former prime minister pleaded in the petitions that the trial court dismissed
the bail on technical grounds based on the circumstances not in his control as
he had been imprisoned in the Toshakhana case. He asked the court to set aside
the trial court’s order and direct it to decide the bail petition on merits
The
cases include attacks on the Lahore corps commander’s residence, Askari Tower
in Gulberg, Shadman police station, the party office of PML-N in Model Town and
the torching of a container at Kalma Chowk.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1795119/imran-to-be-indicted-in-cipher-case-on-dec-12
------
Afghan
tragedy unfolds in Pakistan
Dec 05,
2023
Asad
Mirza
For the
last two months the international attention has been focussed on the continuing
Gaza crisis, yet in its background another human tragedy has been unfolding in
Pakistan, noticed by few except the humanitarian agencies.
Reportedly,
more than 370,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan since 1 October, after Pakistan
vowed to expel more than a million undocumented refugees, mostly Afghans.
However,
in a significant ruling the Supreme Court of Pakistan observed on 2 December
2023, that Pakistan is a signatory to United Nations’ conventions safeguarding
the rights of refugees and these agreements bind Pakistan.
Earlier,
an apex committee, chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, on
3 October 2023 had issued a deadline for foreign nationals to depart
voluntarily or risk deportation by Pakistan by 31 October.
Reportedly,
this was to affect some 1.7 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan but also
members of other persecuted communities including China’s Uyghurs and Myanmar’s
Rohingyas.
While
the majority of the over 4 million Afghans living in Pakistan has been in the
country since the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, between 600,000 and 800,000
Afghans are believed to have arrived in Pakistan after the Taliban 2.0 took
over power in 2021.
Pakistani
Crackdown
As per
media reports, Police and other officials have carried out mass detentions,
night raids, and beatings against Afghans. They’ve seized property and
livestock, and bulldozed homes. They’ve also demanded bribes, confiscated
jewellery, and destroyed identity documents. Pakistani police have sometimes sexually
harassed Afghan women and girls and threatened them with sexual assault.
Among
those being deported or coerced to leave are people who would be at a greater
risk of persecution in Afghanistan, including women and girls, human rights
defenders, journalists, and former government employees who fled Afghanistan
after the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
Some of
those at risk had previously been promised resettlement in the US, UK, Germany,
and Canada, but resettlement processes are not proceeding quickly enough.
The UN
High Commissioner for Refugees has said that the arrival of hundreds of
thousands of people into Afghanistan “couldn’t have come at a worse time,” as
the country faces a prolonged economic crisis that has left two thirds of the
population in need of humanitarian assistance, and now, winter is setting in.
The new
arrivals often come with almost nothing, because Pakistani authorities have
prohibited Afghans from taking out more than 50,000 Pakistani rupees (US$ 175)
each. Humanitarian agencies have described shortages of tents and other basic
services for those arriving.
The area
of Torkham – the crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan -, lies just
outside the city of Jalalabad. The Taliban government has converted this area
into a massive tent city, bereft of civic amenities, to accommodate the influx
from Pakistan.
Souring
of Pak-Afghan Relations
Since
2021, Islamabad has attempted to close its border with Afghanistan with little
success. Apparently, as expected the bilateral relationship between the two
countries after the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan didn’t worked
out on expected lines.
The
Taliban 2.0 were not the same lot as the earlier Taliban. This time around they
were surer of themselves and instead of following Pakistani diktats through
ISI, the Taliban charted a new course of their own.
The
relationship even soured more, once the new Taliban government started fencing
along the border on the Durand Line. Added to that was the issue of free trade
between the two countries, which stopped flow of goods into Afghanistan via
Pakistan twice over the last two years. Pakistan has also implemented several
measures to tighten the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA),
which critics say has been misused, for smuggling goods back into Pakistan.
Additionally,
over the past year, there has been a surge of militant attacks inside Pakistan,
with most claimed by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a close ally of the
Afghan Taliban. Pakistani authorities have blamed Afghan migrants in part for
the rise in attacks.
Only
last week, an air force base was attacked in Mianwali, the capital of the
Punjab province, though most attacks take place near the long border with
Afghanistan, where Islamabad says the TTP has safe-havens.
When the
decision to deport refugees was announced, Interim Minister Sarfraz Bugti had
stated that out of the 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year, Afghan
nationals carried out 14.
The
Taliban government in Kabul has denied involvement and has done little to allay
Islamabad’s security concerns. Refusing to take back any refugees, Kabul also
disapproves of Islamabad’s repatriation plan.
As
tempers rise, the Afghan interim Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund
has criticised Pakistan’s decision to expel refugees, saying that Islamabad had
violated international laws, while his deputy Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai has
warned Pakistan “not to force their hand to react over the move”.
Hostility
is so deeply entrenched against Afghans that Jan Achakzai, caretaker minister
in Balochistan province, has said that the expulsion of refugees would
continue, “no matter which political government comes to power after the
elections.” The tenure of the current caretaker government ends in February
2024.
Perhaps
the Pakistan government can take lessons from the practice of the Prophet with
regard to immigrants from the early history of Islam. The teaching of Islam has
very important foundations for providing mutual help among immigrants and
citizens. The Holy Qur’an and the sayings of the Prophet contain many examples
of peaceful societies made of immigrants as well as regular citizens. The
Prophet says, “You cannot be a real believer unless you want for your brother
what you want for yourself.” If indeed they take lessons from the Prophets
tradition, then they could adopt a more humane approach to the issue.
Though
the current situation may have arisen due to Pakistan’s own economic woes, in
addition to its souring relationship with the Taliban 2.0, yet, the major
sufferer in this case is the common Afghan. In this backdrop it becomes the
duty of international humanitarian agencies and western governments to take
cognisance of the issue and start a slew of measures to ensure care of Afghan
citizens and also try to get relations patched up between the two neighbouring
countries.
Source: muslimmirror.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://muslimmirror.com/eng/afghan-tragedy-unfolds-in-pakistan/
-----
Imran
claims seeing Bushra’s face only after Nikah
December
05, 2023
Khalid
Iqbal
ISLAMABAD:
Defending him against a barrage of accusations doing the rounds in the media
concerning his marriage, PTI former chairman Imran Khan Monday claimed that he
never met Bushra Bibi before their marriage and saw her face only after Nikah.
He was
talking informally to journalists at the Adiala Jail, where the Special Court
decided to indict him and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the
cypher case on December 12.
However,
Imran’s former confidante Aun Chaudhry contested his assertion stating, “When a
leader, who claims himself to be anational leader tells such a blatant lie, it
becomes my duty to reveal the truth”.
Chaudhry
claimed that if he disclosed the ‘secrets’ of the PTI former chief, he would
find no place to hide his face.He asserted that even before their marriage,
Bushra Bibi had met and seen Imran on several occasions.
He
challenged Bushra Bibi to swear on the Holy Quran that she had not shown her
face to Khan before their marriage.Chaudhry claimed that he personally arranged
meetings between Khan and Bushra before their marriage.
Imran
also claimed that Bushra’s sons were being pressurised to give a statement
against their mother.The former premier said he will include former army chief
General (retd) Qamar JavedBajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses in his
defence.
“Will
include General Bajwa and US embassy officials as witnesses in the case.
General Bajwa did everything on Donald Lu’s directives”, he said.Imran predicted
that his party would win the February 8 polls adding that he was arrested under
a plan.
The
ex-premier said he was thankful to those leaders who had jumped off the PTI
ship. He also rejected reports that he had held negotiations in jail. Imran
claimed the PTI would sweep the elections. He said his rivals, sensing defeat,
might escape elections. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won 162 seats despite all odds,
Imran Khan added.
Meanwhile,
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the co-accused in the cipher case, said the PTI was in his
heart and no one could take it out.“I do not need any post in PTI anymore,”
said Qureshi while talking to journalists.
On the
directions of Judge Abul HasnatZulqarnain, copies of the investigation report
were shared with the accused.Imran told the court that he had ordered an
inquiry into the cipher being the prime minister. He claimed that efforts were
being made to save some powerful people who were involved in the case.
“We have
been locked up like goats, while Nawaz Sharif has been brought here from
abroad”, Khan added.The Special Court, established under the Official Secrets
Act 2023, held an open court hearing in the jail where Imran Khan and Shah
Mahmood Qureshi are incarcerated.
The court is conducting the trial afresh after the Islamabad High Court nullified the jail trial on November 21. Both of them were indicted on October 23 but the indictment stood cancelled after the IHC order.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1135283-imran-claims-seeing-bushra-s-face-only-after-nikah
-----
Southeast Asia
Thailand
bus crash kills 14, over 30 injured
December
05, 2023
A bus
crashed in western Thailand early Tuesday, killing 14 people and injuring more
than 30 others, officials said.
The
accident occurred in Prachuap Khiri Khan province as the bus was traveling from
the capital, Bangkok, to Songkhla province in the deep south. It was carrying
49 people when it ran off the road and hit a tree near Hat Wanakorn National
Park, a local police official said. Prachuap Khiri Khan province is located on
a coastal stretch between the Gulf of Thailand and Myanmar.
“We
presume the driver might have fallen asleep,” said Pol. Col. WeerapatKetesa,
the superintendent of the Huay Yang Police Station, adding that officials were
waiting for the result of a blood test on the driver, who survived the
accident.
Police
were still investigating what caused the crash, he added.
Most
victims were Thai and a few were Burmese, Weerapat said.
Some 35
people were being treated for injuries at local hospitals, according to the
SawangRungrueang Rescue Foundation.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bus-crashes-in-western-thailand-deaths/article67606716.ece
------
Heart-wrenching
question from Gaza: "Why didn't baba bring me back to Malaysia?"
MAHAIZURA
ABD MALIK
December 5, 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: "Why didn't Baba bring me back to Malaysia?" asked Haura', to
her father Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri Kamaruzaman.
The
question left him emotional and lost for words.
Haura'
asked the question when the Cinta Gaza Malaysia (CGM) chief executive officer
had a brief opportunity to connect with his wife and daughter through a video
call just minutes before they were instructed to evacuate the heavily bombarded
Khan Younis area in southern Gaza yesterday.
Nadir
said that he could only console his daughter as it was impossible to evacuate
his family from Gaza in the current emergency with the borders closed due to
continuous Israeli attacks.
"Yesterday,
she (Haura') was upset and angry, questioning why I didn't bring her to
Malaysia. She ran to the corner of the room, searched for something in the
emergency bag, and pulled out her passport.
"She
showed it to me, saying her passport was ready, and asked when I could take her
out of Gaza.
"I
remained silent and reassured her that, God willing, she would be brought out
soon.
"For
those wondering, the border is currently closed, and the exit is extremely
challenging, aside from the special permission required for my stepchildren to
leave the land (Gaza)," he shared in an Instagram post last night.
He said
as the head of the family, he is undoubtedly troubled by the safety of his wife
and daughter in the tumultuous country, but he entrusts everything to Allah for
their protection.
"After
our conversation was cut off yesterday, a few hours later, I was informed that
they had to move to another area, seeking shelter and mercy wherever Allah
permits.
"Pray
that they are given patience, strength, and resilience to live in these
challenging and difficult circumstances.
"For
now, God willing, they will endure there, and with your prayers, they will
always be protected by Allah," he said.
For the
record, Nadir left Gaza for several matters in Malaysia before the conflict
erupted on Oct 7.
Since
then, he has been separated from his wife and daughter, only managing to
connect with them a few times as the internet and telecommunication networks
faced disruptions.
Despite
facing challenges, including difficulties in sending aid through the Rafah
border and restricted movement throughout the conflict, the CGM team remains
unwavering in their efforts to ensure that every donation from the Malaysian
people reaches the residents of Gaza.
"Even
in this wartime phase, the CGM team continues to be on the ground, assisting
the people of Gaza.
They are
making every effort to bring joy to the children taking refuge in Gaza shelters
to alleviate their trauma.
"As
of Nov 10, the CGM team has successfully delivered RM5,482,748.11 worth of
immediate aid, including food boxes, hot meals, medical supplies, financial
assistance, fuel supplies, and rescue equipment in Gaza.
"So
far, the total collection has reached approximately RM49.29 million, but the
required amount is still far from enough as the targets change according to the
current needs of the population now severely attacked by Israel on the 59th day
of the war," he added.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/12/986717/heart-wrenching-question-gaza-why-didnt-baba-bring-me-back-malaysia
-------
Number
of men lodging sexual harassment complaints on the rise, says deputy minister
05 Dec
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, Dec 5 — There has been an increase in the number of sexual harassment
complaints lodged by men through Social Support Centres (PSSS), said Deputy
Women, Family and Community Development Minister AimanAthirah Sabu.
She said
her ministry received a total of 1,486 complaints of sexual harassment via PSSS
throughout the 14 series of the KPWKM@Advocacy Anti-Sexual Harassment Roadshow.
“Of the
total, 411 cases (27.7 per cent) involved male victims,” she said in reply to
Senator Datuk Husain Awang’s question about the KPWKM@Advocacy Anti-Sexual
Harassment programme’s effectiveness during the question and answer session at
Dewan Negara today.
According
to AimanAthirah, based on feedback, 97.6 per cent of participants showed an
increase in sexual harassment knowledge and understanding.
“The
Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has implemented 14 series of
the KPWKM@Advocacy Anti-Sexual Harassment Roadshow involving 19,423
participants from various walks of life,” she said.
In
addition, AimanAthirah said a number of advocacy programmes were held with
private companies and non-governmental organisations to raise awareness of
sexual harassment at their respective premises.
“A total
of 54 advocacy programmes involving 9,354 participants were implemented in
collaboration with various parties, including the Congress of Unions of
Employees in Public and Civil Services and the National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health,” she said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/12/05/number-of-men-lodging-sexual-harassment-complaints-on-the-rise-says-deputy-minister/105917
------
Two
dead, 10 missing after Indonesia floods and landslide
DEC 4,
2023
JAKARTA
– Two people are dead and at least 10 are missing after flash floods and a
landslide swept away dozens of houses and destroyed a hotel in an Indonesian
village last week, a rescue official said on Dec 4.
The
landslide and floods caused by torrential rain hit residential areas near Lake
Toba on the western island of Sumatra late on Dec 1, killing a 78-year-old
woman and forcing the evacuation of scores of residents.
A total
of 11 people were initially declared missing, but rescuers found another body
on Dec 4, said MrBudiono, the head of Medan search and rescue agency, in a
statement.
Children
aged six and eight years old are among the missing, said MrBudiono, who, like
many Indonesians, goes by one name.
The
search is split between the water and land, with several boats and divers
scouring for the missing while excavations and scouting on shore around Lake
Toba are also under way, he said.
Searchers
were also using sonar detection, fearing bodies may have been dragged into the
world’s biggest volcanic lake, MrBudiono said. Around 140 people were evacuated
from the village, according to national search and rescue agency Basarnas.
Indonesia
is prone to landslides during its rainy season and the problem has been
aggravated in some places by deforestation, with prolonged torrential rain
causing flooding in some areas of the archipelago nation.
Source: straitstimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/two-dead-10-missing-after-indonesia-floods-and-landslide
-----
Africa
Mali:
the army claims to have repelled 4 jihadist attacks
DEC 4,
2023
The
Malian army claimed on Sunday to have repelled four "terrorist"
attacks in four localities in the north of the country, including one in the
town of Ménaka, surrounded by Islamic State jihadists.
“The
Malian Armed Forces (Fama) successively repelled terrorist attacks against four
(military) posts in the localities of Labbezagan, Gossi, Tessalit and Ménaka,”
said a press release published Sunday evening.
In
Ménaka, an important town in the north-east of Mali close to the Nigerien
border, "despite a significant concentration of terrorist fighters
determined to do battle with our forces, the Fama inflicted a bloody defeat on
them with the neutralization of several dozen terrorists and the arrest of
around twenty", assured the Malian army.
The
relay antenna of the Orange-Mali telephone operator in the city was damaged
during the attack, according to a governorate official, making communications
there very difficult.
The
collection and verification of information is complicated by the difficulty of
accessing remote sites and independent sources in a generally degraded context.
Since
2012, Mali has been plagued by the actions of groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda
and the Islamic State organization, violence by proclaimed self-defence groups
and banditry. The security crisis is coupled with a profound humanitarian and
political crisis.
The
north in particular has been plagued by an intensification of military
confrontations since August. The withdrawal of the UN mission, pushed out by
the ruling junta, triggered a race for control of the territory between the
army, jihadists and separatists who have taken up arms against the central state.
The
security crisis in this country led by a junta since 2020 has spread to the
center as well as to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, two countries also in
the hands of military regimes since coups in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/12/04/mali-the-army-claims-to-have-repelled-4-jihadist-attacks/
-----
Nigerian
army drone strike error kills civilians
Dec 05,
2023
Singh
Rahul Sunilkumar
Nigeria:
Army drone strike during Muslim festival kills and injures civilians
An army
drone strike accidentally hit a village in northwestern Nigeria, killing and
wounding civilians celebrating a Muslim festival, local authorities, the
military and a resident said on Monday.
Nigeria's
armed forces often rely on air strikes in their battle against so-called bandit
militias in the northwest and northeast of the country, where jihadists have
been waging a 14-year conflict.
The army
did not provide details or a deathtoll for the strike late Sunday in TudunBiri
village in Kaduna State, but other officials reported fatalities and one
villager said 30 people were killed.
"Muslim
faithful observing Maulud were mistakenly killed and many others injured
following a military drone attack targeting terrorists and bandits,"
Kaduna State governor Uba Sani said. He said he has called for an
investigation.
Many of
the victims were women and children, resident Hassan Ma'aruf told AFP by
telephone, sharing images he said showed the bodies.
AFP
could not immediately confirm the authenticity of the images.
Dozens
of wounded were taken to a teaching hospital in the state capital Kaduna, local
state security commissioner Samuel Aruwan said following a closed-door meeting
with army officials and community leaders.
He said
the attack left "several citizens dead and others injured" but did
not provide a toll.
According
to the army, it was a routine mission against militants that
"inadvertently affected members of the community," he said.
"The
Maulud celebration was taking place in the village last night when the
gathering was bombed at around 9:00 pm," said Ma'aruf, the resident.
"We
have so far identified 30 dead victims, mostly women and children."
Militia
gangs, known locally as bandits, have long terrorised parts of northwest
Nigeria, operating from bases deep in forests and raiding villages to loot and
kidnap residents for ransom.
In the
northeast, jihadists have been pushed back from the territory they held at the
height of the conflict, though they continie to fight on.
More
than 40,000 people have been killed and two million displaced since 2009.
President
Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made tackling insecurity a priority since coming to
office in May, as he seeks to encourage foreign investment in Africa's most
populous country.
Nigerian
military bombing raids have caused civilian casualties in the past.
At least
20 fishermen were killed and several injured in a September 2021 attack in
KwatarDabanMasara on Lake Chad in the northeast, when the military mistook them
for militants.
In
January 2017, at least 112 people were killed when a fighter jet struck a camp
housing 40,000 people displaced by jihadist violence in the town of Rann near
the border with Cameroon.
The
Nigerian military blamed "lack of appropriate marking of the area" in
a report issued six months later.
In July
2019, at least 13 civilians were killed when a fighter jet struck Gajiganna
village in Borno state, as it tried to hit jihadists who were fleeing following
an attack on a nearby base.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/nigerian-army-drone-strike-error-kills-civilians-101701715464895.html
-----
Tunisia:
Maghreb farmers embrace drones to fight climate change
DEC 4,
2023
A drone
buzzed back and forth above rows of verdant orange trees planted near Nabeul,
eastern Tunisia.
The
black unmanned aircraft, equipped with a multi-lens camera and sensors, has
been enlisted by Tunisian farmers to help adapt to years of drought and erratic
weather patterns caused by climate change.
"The
seasons are not like they were before where we knew exactly what to do,"
said farmer Yassine Gargouri, noting temperatures now can begin to climb as
early as May while in August there have been unusual summer rains.
He hired
start-up RoboCare to scan the trees from the air and assess their hydration
levels, soil quality and overall health -- to prevent irreversible damage.
The
technology "provides us with information on how much water each plant
needs, no more, no less", he said.
The use
of modern technologies in agriculture is globally on the rise, including in
North Africa where countries rank among the world's 33 most water-stressed,
according to the World Resources Institute.
RoboCare,
employing about 10 people, is the only company in Tunisia, according to its
35-year-old founder ImenHbiri, to use drones to help farmers combat the impacts
of climate change and reduce costs, crop losses and water consumption.
"Resorting
to modern technologies in the sector of agriculture has become
inevitable," Hbiri told AFP while monitoring the drone's path on her
computer screen.
-'Challenge
of tomorrow'-
The
daughter of farmers, the entrepreneur knows well the limits of existing farming
methods.
Now, in
just a few clicks, she can access scans that detect signs of illness or
malnourishment before they are visible to the naked eye.
On the
screen, fields appear in RGB (red, green, blue) imagery -- the greener the plants,
the healthier.
Farmers
can then use medicine-filled sprinklers mounted to the drones to target the
sickly plants with more precision and consequently less expense.
"By
relying on this technology, we can save water consumption by up to 30 percent
and reduce about 20 percent of the cost of fertilisers and medicine, while
raising crop production by 30 percent", Hbiri explained.
Gargouri,
who spends about 80 percent of his budget on fertilisers and other remedies,
says this technology is the future.
"We
must adapt to these upheavals," Gargouri added. "It's the challenge
of tomorrow".
Tunisia
is currently experiencing its eighth year of drought (four of which were
consecutive) in recent years, according to its agriculture ministry.
The
country's dams, which are the primary source for drinking water and irrigating
crops, are currently only filled to about 22 percent capacity.
And
about 20 dams -- mostly located in the south -- have gone completely out of
service.
In
neighbouring countries, water scarcity is also a major issue.
-
Licensing hurdles -
Morocco
-- where agriculture accounts for 13 percent of the gross domestic product, 14
percent of exports and 33 percent of jobs -- also suffered its worst drought in
four decades in 2022.
Only
about three percent of nearly two million Moroccan farmers use new technologies
in their fields, Loubna El Mansouri, director of the digital centre at
Morocco's agriculture ministry, told AFP.
A study
they conducted found that using drones to water crops could use "less than
20 litres of water to irrigate one hectare compared to nearly 300 litres"
used with traditional methods, Mansouri added.
Similarly,
Algeria's agriculture ministry said it was using drones and satellite imagery
for mapping "to optimise the use of agricultural land by evaluating its
characteristics and suitability for production", local media reported.
For the
use of these technologies to become widespread, however, Hbiri says the law
needs to be changed in Tunisia and awareness raised.
Algeria,
Morocco, and Tunisia ban the use of unmanned drones without a permit, which in
the case of commercial uses can take months to be issued.
Hbiri
hopes authorities will help start-ups reach more farmers as she estimates
"only 10 percent of farmers in Tunisia depend on this type of
technology".
"We
want to focus our work on the use of technology and not spend time and effort
on administrative issues and moving between departments and banks, which is
slowing our progress," she said.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/12/04/tunisia-maghreb-farmers-embrace-drones-to-fight-climate-change/
----
Tunisia:
At least 20 wounded Gazans received in Tunis for treatment
DEC 4,
2023
**Tunisia
says it has received and treated some of the wounded from Gaza where fighting
between Hamas and Israeli defence forces resumed after a 7 day pause.**The
wounded Palestinians, along with 21 family members, boarded a Tunisian military
plane and arrived at the international airport of Tunis Sunday evening,
RidhaDhaoui, the president of Tunisian National Council of the Order of
Physicians.
It comes
as international concern deepened over mounting civilian deaths and injuries on
the third day of fighting after the truce ended.
Mustapha
Ferjani, advisor to President Kais Saied confirmed at least 20 injured persons
including a one year old baby would be treated in Tunisia.
"The
number of wounded is 20. They have 19 people accompanying them and even among
these there are some slightly wounded. The re are complicated cases of shrapnel
wounds, burns and broken limbs. We hope that they will be treated and return in
the best possible health."
With the
resumption of hostilities and fighting, hospitals in southern Gaza are overflowed
with dead and wounded, with some crying out in pain according to UNICEF.
Docteur
Khalil Boukhris, Member of Tunisia's Medical Association said he has had to
treat a child and an elderly patient amongst the wounded. "In terms of
age, there's a one-year-old baby and then there's a 65-year-old. The majority
are young people. There are men and women. We have divided them between the
public and private sectors in the Tunisian health system and the military
hospital. Assistance and support for them will be provided by doctors and
psychologists."
Another
plane carrying 150 wounded Palestinians was expected to arrive in Tunis on Dec
5.
More
than 15,500 people have been killed in the besieged Palestinian territory,
according to the Hamas-run health ministry, in more than eight weeks of combat
and heavy bombardment
Source: africanews.com
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-----
Kaduna
bombing: Civilians death during operations needless tragedy, says DHQ
5th
December 2023
OlaniyiApanpa
The
Defence Headquarters on Tuesday said it viewed civilian deaths during troops’
operations as needless tragedy.
The
Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen.
Edward Buba said this in a statement made available to journalists in
reaction to the bombing that occurred in
TudunBiri in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.
The
PUNCH reported that no fewer than 85 villagers were killed in an accidental
bombing that occurred in the area.
While
detailing what led to the tragedy, Buba said personnel observed untoward
activities and movement of terrorists around the area which prompted the usage
of drones.
He
explained that the gathering of the terrorists observed in the community posed
a danger to key infrastructure and residents in the area, adding that the
threat was eliminated.
The
statement read, “On December 3, 2023, at about 2200hrs and based
on untoward activities of terrorists. The NA UAV detachment observed the
movement of terrorists at Ligarma, a terrorist-infested area of Kaduna State.
“Aerial
surveillance captured the movement of groups of persons synonymous with the
terrorist tactics and modus operandi.
“The
observed advance of the terrorists that were gathered posed a threat to key
infrastructure within reach of the untoward activities. Accordingly, the threat
was eliminated to prevent the terrorists from unleashing terror on innocent
civilians. ”
He
explained that terrorists sometimes mix with citizens to ensure they are among
the casualties.
Buba
noted that the military takes the death of civilians as a tragedy, adding that
the military always tries to avoid such incidents.
He said,
” It should be noted that terrorists often deliberately embed themselves within
civilian population centres for the civilian population to bear the
consequences of their atrocities. Nevertheless, the Nigerian military does its
best at all times to distinguish between civilians and terrorists.
“The
military views every civilian death in the cause of operations as a tragedy.
Such tragedies are needless and unwanted, that cause the armed forces to take
extensive measures to avoid them.”
He said
to prevent civilian casualties during operations, the military had encouraged residents to
always alert troops of their activities to be able to differentiate between
them and terrorists.
Buba
said, “One such measure taken by the military is to continually give precise
instructions to communities. For instance, communities are to always alert
troops of their activities particularly when such a community is known to be
infested with terrorists and their sympathisers.
“These
instructions are intended to enable the military to distinguish between
friendly and untoward activities. ”
Buba
promised that the military would continue to conduct its operations in tandem
with international laws.
He also
said the military is determined and would be cautious in the ongoing operations
against terrorists.
“The
armed forces will continue to operate consistent with international law as it
always has done. It will also continue its determined and cautious progress in
eradicating terrorists from our land.
“These
terrorists as part of their tactics, disguise themselves as civilians to
perpetrate terror. Accordingly, we will
continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of
operations,” he said.
Source: punchng.com
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------
Villagers
flee five Borno communities over B’Haram threat
5th
December 2023
Uthman
Abubakar
About
2,000 residents in eight communities of the Kaga Local Government Area of Borno
State have so far fled to Benishek, the headquarters of the LGA, following a
quit notice served to them by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
The
PUNCH dependably gathered that the terrorists, about 10 days ago, warned
residents of the eight villages to leave in three days or face total
extermination.
At the
expiration of the three-day ultimatum, The PUNCH further gathered that the
terrorists stormed the villages about a week ago, chasing out the residents and
killing several.
While
fleeing, the villagers left behind their farm produce, on the stern warning of
the terrorists. They, therefore, arrive at Benishek without any food.
The
terrorists had accused the communities of betraying them by refusing to report
to them about the recent operations of troops in which several of their
combatants were killed.
“It is
over one week now since the terrorists warned the villagers to vacate and while
leaving, they should leave all their farm produce behind,” a resident of Benishek, Baba Goni, told The
PUNCH in Maiduguri on Monday.
He
identified some of the affected villages as Bololo, Ganga and Shuwari.
“The
villagers have since been trooping to Benishek as IDPs with their families, and
on their way to Benishek, they have to be manoeuvering through bush paths to
avoid coming across the terrorists, who have already killed some of them.”
The
Chairman of Sector 6 of the Borno State quasi-military vigilantes, Umar Harka, who also confirmed to attack to The
PUNCH, said, “About 2,000 have so far fled to Benishek.”
“Quite sure, they have been trooping to Benishek. “Right now a combined force of troops and members of the CJTF have been deployed to the area to comb the bush and trace the locations of the insurgents,” he added.
Source: punchng.com
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https://punchng.com/villagers-flee-five-borno-communities-over-bharam-threat/
-----
A decade
after Mandela’s death, his pro-Palestinian legacy lives on
Dec 05,
2023
JOHANNESBURG:
Days after his release from 27 years in prison in February 1990, anti-apartheid
icon Nelson Mandela gave Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a bear hug,
symbolising his embrace of a cause his country’s governing ANC party continues
to champion.
It was a
gesture as controversial then as South Africa’s support for the Palestinian
cause is today, but Mandela brushed off criticism.
Arafat’s
Palestine Liberation Organisation had been an unwavering supporter of Mandela’s
struggle against white minority rule and many South Africans saw parallels
between it and the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation.
“We were
fortunate that with their support, we were able to achieve our freedom … My
grandfather … said our freedom is incomplete without the Palestinian struggle,”
his grandson Mandla Mandela recalled in an interview ahead of the 10th
commemoration of Mandela’s death.
From
Dec. 3 to 5 Mandla Mandela, who is also an ANC lawmaker, hosted a solidarity
conference in Johannesburg for the Palestinians.
It was
attended by members of Hamas, an organisation Israel has vowed to annihilate in
retaliation for its Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people
and saw around 240 taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Israeli
bombing of Gaza since then has killed more than 15,500 people, according to
Gaza’s Hamas-run government, and displaced more than three-quarters of the
Strip’s 2.3 million population. Last month, the ruling ANC backed a motion in
South Africa’s parliament to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel until it
agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Land
annexed”
“Palestinians
still do not enjoy fully their freedom on their land. And instead their land
has been annexed more and more, something that we also faced in South Africa,”
said the ANC’s deputy chair of international relations, Obed Bapela.
Israel
has disputed the comparison with apartheid as a lie motivated by antisemitism,
but many South Africans follow Mandela’s lead.
“That’s
something that he (Mandela) never compromised on and nor should we,” poet and
author Lebogang Mashile told Reuters.
US, UN
urge civilian protections, but Israel intensifies southern Gaza offensive
Some in
South Africa’s Jewish community criticise the ANC’s stance, pointing out that
Mandela himself eventually tried to build bridges with Israel.
Historian
and author of “Jewish Memories of Mandela”, David Saks, noted that Mandela was
the only South African president to have visited Israel since 1994 - albeit
only after he left office - and that “he received a rapturous welcome from the
Israeli public,” addressing then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak and then-President
Ezer Weisman as “my friends”.
“He
pointed the way which things should have gone (diplomatically with Israel), but
(they) didn’t go that way,” Saks said.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40276815/a-decade-after-mandelas-death-his-pro-palestinian-legacy-lives-on
------
South
Africa intercepts buses carrying more than 400 unaccompanied children from
Zimbabwe
DEC 4,
2023
Border
officials in South Africa say they have intercepted dozens of buses carrying
more than 400 young children from Zimbabwe without parents or legal guardians
in an anti-trafficking operation.
The
officials say the children were being "trafficked" into South Africa,
although an organization representing foreign nationals living in South Africa
says it's likely the children were being sent to visit their parents, who are
working in South Africa, for the end of year holidays. The buses were sent back
to Zimbabwe.
More
than 1 million Zimbabweans live in South Africa, many of them illegally, having
moved to their southern neighbour over the past 15 years to escape Zimbabwe's
economic turmoil.
South
African Border Management Agency commissioner Mike Masiapato said Sunday that
South African police stopped and searched 42 buses entering from Zimbabwe on
Saturday night and found 443 children under the age of 8 travelling
unaccompanied.
"We
denied them entry and activated the Zimbabwean officials to process them back
into Zimbabwe," Masiapato said.
The
buses were allowed through on the Zimbabwean side of the Beitbridge border
post, South African border officials said.
NgqabuthoMabhena,
chairperson of the Africa Diaspora Forum, which represents foreign nationals
living in South Africa, said his organization believed the buses were carrying
Zimbabwean children coming to South Africa to visit their parents, which is a
regular phenomenon near the end of the year.
He said
it is common that children are sent over the border without proper
documentation allowing them to travel as unaccompanied minors.
"We
always tell Zimbabwean parents living in South Africa that if they arrange for
their children to come to South Africa, they must ... arrange all necessary
documentation," Mabhena said. "It is irresponsible for parents to let
children travel without passports and to travel with strangers. We have
addressed this with parents."
Around
178,000 Zimbabweans live and work in South Africa legally under an exemption
permit, but a 2022 South African census said there were more than a million
Zimbabweans in the country. Some estimates say there may be as many as 3
million.
South Africa, which is Africa's most advanced economy, launched a new border force in October to clamp down on illegal immigration from Zimbabwe and other countries.
Source: africanews.com
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-------
African
countries defend large delegations at COP28
DEC 4,
2023
Multiple
African governments have justified their decision to send substantial
delegations to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, despite facing widespread
criticism.
According
to the UN's attendance list, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and
Uganda were among the nations with the largest teams.
Nigeria
topped the list with 1,411 delegates, followed by Morocco with 823 and Kenya
with 765. Responding to the criticism, representatives from Nigeria and Kenya
clarified that a significant portion of their delegations comprised individuals
representing the media, civil society organizations, and private institutions,
who were not publicly funded. Both countries also emphasized that some listed
delegates were participating remotely.
A
statement from an adviser to Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu highlighted
Nigeria's role as the continent's largest country and economy, underscoring its
substantial stake in climate action due to its extensive extractive economy.
According to the statement, the size of the Nigerian delegation reflects the
country's pivotal position.
Kenya's
State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohammed, addressed concerns about the
delegate numbers, describing them as "exaggerated." He clarified that
the figures represented those who had registered for the event, not the actual
attendees.
Mohammed
further stated that the national government had approved only 51 essential
delegates, with the remainder sponsored by various groups.
Meanwhile,
the Tanzanian government released a statement asserting that over 90% of the
country's delegation was sponsored by the private sector, offering insight into
the funding dynamics behind their participation.
As the debate
surrounding delegation sizes continues, African nations defend their choices,
emphasizing the diverse representation and private sector support within their
respective teams.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/12/04/african-countries-defend-large-delegations-at-cop28/
----
Arab World
Yemen’s
government warns of massive Houthi strikes in Shabwa, Marib
December
04, 2023
AL-MUKALLA:
Yemen’s internationally recognized government has warned that the Houthis are
planning major offensives in two Yemeni regions, action that may derail peace
talks and plunge the country back into turmoil.
Muammar
Al-Eryani, Yemen’s information minister, accused the Iran-backed Houthis of mobilizing
major military forces in the southern province of Shabwa and the central
province of Marib in recent weeks.
And he
noted that the militia group planned to attack Marib from the south, east, and
north, as well as launch another simultaneous attack on government-controlled
Bayan, Ain, Ouslen, and other areas in Shabwa.
Al-Eryani
pointed out that such an attack would “undermine peace efforts, re-emerge the
country in conflict, and exacerbate the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.”
Fighting
has mostly stopped on all fronts throughout the nation after a UN-brokered
truce came into force in April 2022.
But
Yemeni authorities fear the situation may be about to deteriorate as the
Houthis gathered militants and military equipment in Marib, Shabwa, and Taiz.
The
Houthis have used popular outrage over continued Israeli attacks on Gaza to
begin military training and collect soldiers outside government-controlled
cities under the guise of preparing to battle the Israelis.
Al-Eryani
urged the international community to label the Houthis as terrorists, impose
penalties on their leaders, freeze their assets, bar them from traveling, and
limit the militia’s income sources.
In a
post on X, the minister said: “The international community, the United Nations,
and its special envoy are called upon to issue a clear condemnation of these
escalatory steps that confirm the Houthi militia’s disregard for de-escalation
efforts.”
The
warning came after the Yemeni army revealed on Sunday that its forces had
killed and wounded several Houthis after foiling raids on government-controlled
territory south of Marib.
The
Houthis also organized a funeral procession in Sanaa on Sunday for 15 officers
of various military grades killed in combat with government troops near the
country’s western coastline on the Red Sea and elsewhere.
Meanwhile,
the Houthis threatened to target American naval ships in the Red Sea only a day
after launching drone and missile assaults on commercial vessels in the waters.
On a US
vow to respond to strikes, Supreme Political Council member, Mohammed Ali
Al-Houthi, said that America had “no right” to deploy ships in the Red Sea.
In a
post on X, Al-Houthi said: “The Americans do not have a right in the Red Sea
that allows them to say that they retain the right to respond.”
Washington
said on Monday it would consult with its partners and allies on how to react to
Houthi attacks on ships after the group fired four missiles and drones at
commercial vessels operating in international waters in the Red Sea.
In a
post on X, the US Central Command said: “These attacks represent a direct
threat to international commerce and maritime security.
“They
have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple
countries around the world,” it added.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420126/middle-east
------
Saudi
Arabia, Qatar discuss ways to develop relations
Ibrahim
Al-Khazen
04.12.2023
Saudi
Arabia and Qatar’s foreign ministers held talks Sunday in Doha on developing
bilateral relations.
The
discussions were part of the 158th preparatory meeting of the Ministerial
Council for the 44th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC).
“Today
we held the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Qatari-Saudi
Coordination Council in Doha, where we discussed ways to develop bilateral
relations within the framework of the Executive Committee,” Qatari Foreign
Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is also the country’s
prime minister, said in a statement.
The two
ministers discussed ways “to deepen cooperation through initiatives that would
advance relations in ways that meet the aspirations of the leadership of our
countries and achieves the interests of our two brotherly people,” said Qatar’s
Foreign Ministry.
The
Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Minister of Foreign Affairs
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah participated in the meeting.
Prince
Faisal and Al-Thani discussed “a number of reports on the follow-up to the
implementation of the decisions of the GCC Supreme Council issued by the 43rd
summit in Riyadh.”
They
also discussed “memoranda and reports submitted by the ministerial and
technical committees and the Secretariat General.”
Source: aa.com.tr
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-----
Saudi,
Malaysian firms sign strategic partnership at Halal Expo London
December
04, 2023
LONDON:
Saudi Arabia’s Halal Products Development Company (HPDC) concluded on Monday
its participation in the Halal Expo London 2023, one of the most prominent
global halal events.
HPDC, a
wholly owned Public Investment Fund (PIF) entity, signed a strategic
partnership with Malaysia’s Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), to
stimulate the growth of the halal industry in Saudi Arabia and globally.
According
to the terms of the agreement, the two companies will exchange information on
industry-leading practices and successful models of halal ecosystems.
“Through
our partnerships and strategic agreements, we at HPDC strive to connect
vendors, distributors, and businesses operating in the halal industry across
the world,” HPDC CEO Fahad S. AlNuhait said.
“We are
excited to enter into this landmark agreement which allows us to leverage
shared resources to make a significant contribution to the expansion of the
industry.
“With
this agreement, our aim is to establish a dynamic ecosystem in Saudi Arabia
that enhances the local economy, invites international investors, and increases
halal trade worldwide,” he added.
The two
organizations will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders in the global
halal industry, and jointly work toward shaping the halal ecosystem, ensuring
transparency and efficiency all the way.
“This
collaboration transcends mere business alignment; it embodies a shared vision
to propel the halal industry to new heights globally,” HDC CEO HairolAriffeinSahari
said.
“With
HDC’s vast experience in building a comprehensive halal ecosystem, we will
provide specialized advisory, investment strategies, innovation collaboration,
technology transfer and Industry Thought Leader sharing.
“We
believe HDC can provide a proven effective operational model, along with a
sustainable halal ecosystem that not only brings substantial benefits to Saudi
Arabia but also extends its positive impact to a global scale and beyond,” he
added.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420236/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi
camping: exploring the untamed beauty surrounding Riyadh
December
04, 2023
HAIFA
ALSHAMMARI
RIYADH:
Camping in Saudi Arabia provides an opportunity to immerse oneself in the
beauty of the vast wilderness. The desert, with its mesmerizing dunes
stretching as far as the eye can see, offers a serene setting for those seeking
solace away from the bustle of city life.
Camping
offers an unforgettable experience for adventurers and nature enthusiasts. With
the Kingdom’s diverse landscapes and warm hospitality, the country welcomes
visitors to connect with nature and forge lasting memories in the heart of the
Arabian Peninsula.
From
late October to early February, the rainy season in Riyadh announces with it
winter and the start of the camping season.
During
this time of the year, people flock to the desert, spending time with family,
friends and loved ones, enjoying the beautiful warm weather away from city life
and hectic schedules.
For
those interested in camping, it is recommended to start with a visit to Reef
Shaqra.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420266/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi
KSrelief signs agreement to improve living conditions of residents in Somalia
December
04, 2023
RIYADH —
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed
a joint cooperation agreement with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to
improve the living conditions of residents affected by drought and humanitarian
crises in Somalia.
The two
sides were represented, during the signing of the agreement in Riyadh, by the
Assistant General Supervisor of the KSrelief for Operations and Programs Eng.
Ahmed Al-Baiz, and the Country Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council in
Somalia Mohammed Abdi.
The
director of the KSrelief's health and environmental aid department Dr. Abdullah
Al-Muallem explained that according to the agreement, 20 artesian wells will be
drilled, electric pumps will be constructed, and a solar energy system will be
installed for each well.
He also
indicated that a high tank will be constructed for each well with all its
accessories according to the specifications approved by KSrelief.
Six
water stations will also be rehabilitated by providing them with solar energy
systems, as well as the installation and operation of electric pumps.
This
will be implemented in several areas, which are Mudug, Nugal, Bari, Sool and
Sanaag in the state of Puntland in Somalia.
Al-Muallem
said that 130,000 individuals will benefit from these works, which are
estimated at a total value of 3 million and 588 thousand US dollars.
This
comes within the efforts made by Saudi Arabia, represented by kSrelief, to
improve the living conditions of the affected people in Somalia.
The
Kingdom makes its efforts through sustainable interventions in the water and
environmental sanitation sector and the provision of potable water.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/638362/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-KSrelief-nbspsigns-agreement-to-improve-living-conditions-of-residents-in-Somalia
------
Europe
UK
condemns attacks on commercial shipping in Red Sea
2023-12-05
LONDON:
Britain condemned the attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea on Monday,
blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthi behind them, and stating
that it was committed to ensuring safe shipping in the region.
Three
commercial vessels came under attack in international waters in the southern
Red Sea on Sunday, in attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi group. It said it had
launched drone and missile attacks against two Israeli ships.
“The UK
is committed to ensuring the safety of shipping in the region,” the British
government statement said, adding that the waters were vital for trade and the
incidents showed the importance of the Royal Navy’s presence there.
The
United States said the attacks were “fully enabled by Iran”, sentiments echoed
by Britain on Monday.
“Iran
has long provided military and political support to Houthi and it bears
responsibility for the actions of its proxies and partners,” Britain said.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40276724/uk-condemns-attacks-on-commercial-shipping-in-red-sea
-----
Attack
on NCRI Representation Office in Berlin by the Mullahs’ Regime’s Terrorists and
Mercenaries
4th
December 2023
On the
morning of December 4, 2023, at 2:15 am, the representation office of the
National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in Berlin was attacked by
terrorists and mercenaries of the mullahs’ regime. The assailants, affiliated
with the mullahs’ Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS), initiated the attack by
throwing incendiary materials towards the building. This led to a fire on the
exterior walls of the structure, which was subsequently extinguished by the
office personnel. Firefighters and the police arrived at the scene, launching
an investigation.
It is
worth noting that this incident follows two previous attacks on May 31, 2023,
and June 11, 2023, when a building belonging to the NCRI supporters in northern
Paris was targeted by terrorists and mercenaries associated with the IRGC Quds
Force and the MOIS. Six gunshots and incendiary materials were used in that
attack.
As the
Iranian Resistance has repeatedly stated, appeasement with the mullahs’ regime
and actions such as the release of AssadollahAssadi, a terrorist diplomat
responsible for organizing a bomb attack at the Iranian Resistance gathering in
Villepinte, Paris in June 2018, have more emboldened this regime in terrorist
crimes.
The
Iranian Resistance calls upon the German government, police, and judiciary to
arrest the perpetrators and masterminds behind this terrorist act, to bring
them to trial, and to disclose all details and documents for public awareness.
Source: ncr-iran.org
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https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/statement-iran-resistance/attack-on-ncri-representation-office-in-berlin-by-the-mullahs-regimes-terrorists-and-mercenaries/
-----
Russian
aircraft brings 120 Russians home from Gaza
December
05, 2023
MOSCOW:
A chartered aircraft flew 120 Russian nationals evacuated from the Gaza Strip
home to Moscow on Monday, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry said.
A
ministry statement on the Telegram messaging app said 30 children were among
those on board the Ilyushin-76 aircraft that landed in Moscow.
The
Emergencies Ministry has so far flown more than 880 Russian nationals home
aboard nine flights.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2420351/middle-east
-----
£13,100
raised for Gaza appeal by Blackburn mosque
December
05, 2023
Shuiab
Khan
Volunteers
braved sub-zero temperatures to wash dozens of cars in aid of the Gaza
emergency appeal.
The
charity event was organised by the team at the Jamia Ghosia Mosque in Chester
Street, Blackburn.
Queues
of cars could be seen lining up in the car park on throughout Sunday.
Families
and friends of the volunteers provided hot drinks and snacks throughout the
day.
The car
wash was one of a number of events and activities taking place at the mosque
over the weekend.
On
Friday, the teams from Whalley Range joined forces with Audley Range to sell
two hundred boxes of biryani at £5 a portion.
Lancashire
Telegraph:
The
eventual fundraising total reached more than £13,100 with £6,748 collected from
the car wash and £6,409.24 collected from the food sales, said organisers.
The
money will be donated to support humanitarian efforts in the Gaza strip, where
thousands of citizens have been displaced due to the conflict between Israel
and Hamas.
A mosque
spokesperson said: “Thank you to all who donated generously and to all the
volunteers who participated in this appeal. They worked tirelessly throughout,
what was a very cold day.
“It was
a wonderful to see so many people come out to support the cause.
“We have
got some bigger events planned over the coming year as part of our #vision2025
initiative."
Source: lancashiretelegraph.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23965841.13-100-raised-gaza-appeal-blackburn-mosque/
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Rights
organisations sue Netherlands over F-35 parts to Israel
December
05, 2023
THE
HAGUE: A group of human rights organisations took the Dutch government to court
on Monday, arguing its supply of parts for F-35 fighters contributes to
violations of international law in Gaza.
The case
concerns US-owned F-35 parts stored at a warehouse in the Netherlands and then
shipped to several partners, including Israel, via existing export agreements.
Oxfam Novib, one of the groups filing suit, said the export “made the
Netherlands complicit in violations of the laws of war and the collective
punishment of the civilian population of Gaza”.
“By
supplying weapons parts, the Netherlands runs the risk of becoming complicit in
violations of international humanitarian law,” said Dagmar Oudshoorn, director
of Amnesty International. International law experts have told AFP that human
rights violations are likely being carried out by both parties to the conflict.
“It is
almost unbelievable that these bombs are dropped thanks to Dutch military
support. This has to stop,” added MichielServaes, director of Oxfam Novib.
Dutch authorities said last month it was not clear whether it even had the
power to intervene in the deliveries, part of a US-run operation that supplies
parts to all F-35 partners.
“On the
basis of current information on the deployment of Israeli F-35, it cannot be
established that the F-35 are involved in serious violations of humanitarian
law of war,” the government said in a letter to parliament. A verdict in the
case is expected in roughly two weeks.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1135306-rights-organisations-sue-netherlands-over-f-35-parts-to-israel
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UK
ignores own destabilizing role in West Asia, pins blame on Iran: Envoy
05
December 2023
Iran’s
permanent representative to the United Nations has strongly condemned the
“baseless” accusations leveled at Tehran by a British minister concerning the
West Asia crisis, saying the UK’s 1917 Balfour Declaration caused the suffering
of the Palestinian nation.
In
letters sent to the UN chief and the Security Council’s president on Tuesday,
Amir SaeidIravani firmly rejected “baseless” anti-Iran claims by British
Minister of State for the Middle East Tariq Ahmad at the United Nations
Security Council’s Wednesday meeting on “The situation in the Middle East,
including the Palestinian Question.”
The
Iranian envoy said that during the meeting, the UK minister overlooked “his own
country’s responsibility in the current situation in the Middle East and the
UK’s destabilizing policies, attempted to shift blame onto the Islamic Republic
of Iran.”
“Undoubtedly,
the United Kingdom has certainly played a pivotal role in the prolonged
suffering and distress endured by the Palestinian people. The ominous roots of
this plight can be traced back to the Balfour Declaration, signaling the
commencement of nearly a century of hardship for the Palestinians,” he stated,
referring to the document that set the stage for the occupation of Palestine.
Iravani
also noted that the UK’s “consistent and unwavering support for Israeli
atrocities and genocidal aggression against the Palestinian people and regional
countries markedly diminishes its moral authority to license judgment on the
intentions and policies of others.”
In his
address to the Security Council, Ahmad alleged that Iran “poses an unacceptable
threat to the region through its destabilizing activity and long-term support
for its proxies and partners.”
The
Balfour Declaration came in the form of a letter from Britain’s then-foreign
secretary, Arthur Balfour, addressed to Lionel Walter Rothschild, a figurehead
of the British Jewish community. It was published on November 2, 1917.
The
declaration was made during World War I (1914-1918), and was included in the
terms of the British Mandate for Palestine after the dissolution of the Ottoman
Empire.
It is widely
seen as the precursor to the 1948 Palestinian Nakba, when Zionist armed
paramilitary groups, who were trained and created to fight side by side with
the British in World War II, forcibly expelled more than 750,000 Palestinians
from their homeland.
Source: presstv.ir
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the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/12/05/715825/UK-ignores-own-destabilizing-role-West-Asia-pins-blame-Iran-Envoy
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/afghanistan-afflicted-aids-people/d/131260