‘Arrow towards Mosque’ Gesture Lands BJP’s Candidate Madhavi Latha In Hot Water
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 April 2024
BJP
candidate Kompella Madhavi Latha | Photo: X
------
·
‘Arrow
towards Mosque’ Gesture Lands BJP’s Candidate Madhavi Latha In Hot Water
·
US Vetoes
Widely Backed Palestinian Bid For Full UN Membership
·
Saudi
Arabia Expresses Regret Over Failure On Palestine’s Bid For UN Membership
·
Israeli
Knesset Member Of The Extremist UTJ Party Calls For Building ‘3rd Temple’ At
Al-Aqsa Mosque
·
No
Statement on Indian Target Killing Does Not Mean We Are Sleeping: Foreign
Minister
----
India
·
Udhampur
In Jammu And Kashmir: In Hindutva Crucible, 'Smaller Enemy' Is Rallying Force
·
Ranchi Cops
Refute Claims That Muslims Planned To Attack Ram Navami Procession
·
Loud
Music In Front Of Surat Minara Masjid During Ram Navami Sparks Row
·
Not Love
Jihad: Karnataka Government Amid Outrage Over Woman's Murder In College
·
India
should condemn Israel operations in Gaza; can play important role in region:
Iranian Envoy
·
Indian
shares set to drop on reports of escalating Middle East tensions
---
North
America
·
US Muslim
Group Calls For Hate Crime Probe Into Pro-Israel Leader After Alleged Attack On
Protestors
·
Biden’s
New Title IX Rules Protect LGBTQ+ Students, But Transgender Sports Rule Still
On Hold
·
United
States Had Advance Warning Of Israel Attack On Iran: US Media
·
US
officials confirm Israel carried out strike inside Iran: Reports
·
Blinken
ignoring calls to cut US aid to Israeli forces over right abuse: Report
·
US and
Britain announce new sanctions against Iran after attack on Israel
·
CAIR
Calls on Sec. Blinken to Act on State Dept. Recommendation to Suspend Weapons
Transfers to Israel Over Human Rights Violations
----
Arab
World
·
Centuries-Old
Defensive Moat And Fortification Wall Unearthed In Historic Jeddah
·
Iran
Retaliation Against Israel Ensured No Aggression Would Go Unanswered: Houthi
·
Saudi
authorities thwart attempt to smuggle Captagon pills
·
Saudi
Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority begins
archaeological survey
·
Saudi
king receives letter from Bahraini counterpart about relations between their
nations
----
Mideast
·
Hamas
Slams US Veto Of Palestinian UN Membership Bid
·
Israeli
fighter jets bomb positions in southwestern Syria, neighbouring Iraq: Report
·
Iran
fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near
Isfahan
·
Arab
League chief voices Gaza fears in talks with UN official
·
Situation
normal after air defences fire at 'suspicious objects' in Iran
·
Iran
sufficed to strike only part of Israel’s military positions: FM to UN chief
·
No damage
to Iranian nuclear sites after Israeli airstrikes, says UN nuclear watchdog
·
Israel launches
wide-scale military operation in West Bank refugee camp amid clashes
·
IRGC
threatens ‘tit-for-tat’ retaliation if Israel targets Iranian nuclear sites
----
Pakistan
·
JI chief
announces nationwide anti-govt protest movement
·
JUIF’s
doors are closed for Asad Qaiser: Maulana Haideri
·
IHCBA
petitions SC over alleged meddling in judicial affairs
·
SHC
orders fool proof security for Imran
·
Police
kill bomber, militant to thwart attack on Japanese nationals in Karachi
·
Pakistan,
Saudi Arabia agree to solidify efforts in defence collaboration
----
Southeast
Asia
·
Korean
Muslim YouTuber's Plan To Build Mosque Already In Trouble
·
In
Indonesia, Chinese foreign minister says US is preventing ceasefire in Gaza
·
ASEAN
says ‘deeply concerned’ over escalating Myanmar violence
·
Kelantan
to give full cooperation to ensure Aidilfitri Madani a success
·
PM Anwar:
Claims of Opposition MPs needing to support me for allocations baseless
·
PM Anwar
to discuss situation in Iran with Foreign Ministry
----
Africa
·
‘We Will
Kill You All’ – COAS Sends Warning To Criminals In Nigeria
·
Burkina
Faso expels three French diplomats and gives them 48 to leave the country
·
We will
continue to support Israel' Malawi FM during embassy inauguration ceremony
·
Zimbabwe Frees
Prisoners, Including Those Sentenced To Death, In An Independence Day
----
Europe
·
German Authorities
Arrest Jewish Activist Over Pro-Palestinian Demos
·
France
intercepted Iranian drones, missiles over Jordan at Amman's request: Ministry
·
Ireland
'disappointed' after Security Council fails to pass draft resolution demanding
Palestine's full membership at UN
·
Poland
expresses 'grave' concerns over planned Israeli offensive in Rafah
·
UK, US
sanction leading Iranian military figures after attack on Israel
·
France
urges Israel to respect international humanitarian law, allow aid delivery
·
EU
foreign policy chief, Saudi foreign minister discuss tension in Middle East
·
Each US
veto on Gaza costs thousands of lives: Russia
---
South
Asia
·
Deputy PM
Hanafi Meets Kabul Governor, Praised Works and Activities of Officials
·
Doctors
without Borders Express Concern over new wave of Afghan Migrant Expulsion from
Pakistan
·
2023
marred by ‘tremendous challenges’ for Afghanistan
·
Turkish
coast guard detains 40 Afghan refugees
·
Afghan
Representatives in Europe Meet Two Acting Ministers in Kabul
·
Afghan
Consul in Karachi Urges Resolution to Afghan Milli Bank Property Seizure Issue
·
250,000
Afghan children need education, food and homes after returning from Pakistan,
says NGO
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/arrow-mosque-bjp-latha/d/132166
-----
‘Arrow Towards Mosque’ Gesture Lands BJP’s Candidate
Madhavi Latha In Hot Water
BJP candidate Kompella
Madhavi Latha | Photo: X
------
Rahul V
Pisharody , SreenivasJanyala
April 19, 2024
The BJP candidate from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha
constituency, Kompella Madhavi Latha, has courted controversy after a video of
her gesturing to shoot an arrow, purportedly in the direction of a mosque, came
to light.
Latha was participating in a Ram Navmi procession near
Siddiamber Bazaar Junction in old Hyderabad, and riding an open-top vehicle.
The rally had been organised by BJP MLA T Raja Singh.
During the festivities, the mosque had been covered in
white cloth to avoid communal tensions. The BJP candidate, who has in the past
spoken about her work for Pasmanda Muslims and who has been picked to take on
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi from the seat, took to X to issue an explanation.
“It has come to my notice that one video of mine is
being circulated in media to create negativity. I would like to clarify that
it’s an incomplete video and even because of such video if any one’s sentiments
are hurt then I would like to apologise as I respect all individuals,” she
wrote.
Speaking to reporters, Owaisi called Latha’s gesture
provocative, objectionable and vulgar, and appealed to the electorate to vote
for peace and prosperity of Hyderabad. He also questioned the Election
Commission, the Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, the District Election Officer
and the Chief Electoral Officer for not taking suomotu action against the BJP
candidate.
An AIMIM official said they would write to the
Election Commission of India and lodge a police complaint against her.
An EC spokesperson did not respond to request for a
comment on whether the EC had received a complaint on the incident and taken
any action.
The 49-year-old describes herself as a “daughter of
RSS”, a “typical traditional Indian woman”, an entrepreneur, hospital
administrator, and a trained Bharatanatyam dancer.
A political novice, she shot to the limelight after
the BJP picked as a challenger to Owaisi, whose party has held on to the
Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat since 1984. Earlier this month, she had earned praise
from the PM for her appearance on a TV show.
In an interview to The Indian Express earlier, she
said the BJP ticket to contest was an acknowledgment of 18 years of charity
work done by her, and another example of the party’s ability to recognise the
potential of people.
“The BJP would not have picked me at all if
Hindu-Muslim was my poll issue. The party knows I work with a lot of Muslims
and I am compassionate towards them. I have been a fierce critic of triple
Talaq. If I can go on a hunger strike for a temple, I will do the same for a
Muslim woman,” she had said.
Source:
indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/arrow-mosque-bjp-hyderabad-candidate-owaisi-lok-sabha-9277899/
-----
US Vetoes Widely Backed Palestinian Bid For Full UN Membership
US Deputy Ambassador to the
UN Robert Wood votes against a resolution allowing Palestinian UN membership
during a Security Council meeting in New York on April 18, 2024. © Angela
Weiss, AFP
------
April 18, 2024
NEW YORK CITY: The US on Thursday vetoed a draft
resolution, drawn up by Algeria, that proposed the State of Palestine be
granted full membership of the UN, thereby effectively blocking the Security
Council from recognizing Palestine as a state.
Twelve members of the 15-member council voted in favor
of the resolution, with the UK and Switzerland abstaining and the US voting
against it. To pass, a council resolution requires at least nine votes in favor
and no use of the power of veto by any of the five permanent council members:
the US, the UK, France, Russia and China.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said on
Thursday: “Premature actions in New York, even with the best intentions, will
not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people.
“There are unresolved questions as to whether the
applicant can meet the criteria to be considered as a state. We have long
called on the Palestinian Authority to undertake necessary reforms to establish
the attributes of readiness for statehood.
“Hamas, which is (a) terrorist organization currently
exerting power and influence in Gaza, would be an integral part of the
envisioned state, in this resolution. And for that reason, the United States is
voting no on this proposed Security Council resolution.”
Robert Wood, the deputy representative of the US to
the UN, had also reiterated that under his nation’s laws, full recognition by
the UN of a Palestinian state would require that “funding would be cut off to
the UN system, so we’re bound by US law.”
Prior to a previous meeting of the Security Council
this month, Wood restated Washington’s long-held position that full Palestinian
membership of the UN “is a decision that should be negotiated between Israel
and the Palestinians … They need to work out an agreement and that’s how full
membership should come about.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an
application for UN membership in 2011. It was not considered by the Security
Council but the following year the General Assembly granted the “State of Palestine”
the more limited status of non-member observer state.
Algeria’s concise draft resolution text adhered to the
typical format for Security Council resolutions suggesting a state be granted
UN membership. It proposed that the Security Council, having examined the
application by the State of Palestine for admission to the UN, recommend to the
General Assembly that the State of Palestine be admitted as a full member.
The vote on Thursday followed a long day of high-level
debate in the council chamber about the issue. UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres opened the meeting by warning that the Middle East was “on a
precipice,” and calling for “maximum restraint.”
He added that it is “high time to end the bloody cycle
of retaliation. It is time to stop.”
He reiterated his condemnation of Iran’s attack on
Israel this week, and of the latter’s attack on the Iranian consulate in
Damascus this month.
“In Gaza, seven months of Israeli military operations
have created a humanitarian hellscape,” said Guterres.
“Tens of thousands of people have been killed. Two
million Palestinians have endured death, destruction and the denial of
lifesaving humanitarian aid. They are now staring down starvation.
“An Israeli operation in Rafah would compound this
humanitarian catastrophe,” he added, referring to threats by Israeli
authorities of a ground offensive in the city in southern Gaza, which has
become the last refuge for more than a million Palestinians displaced by
fighting in other parts of the territory.
Ending the hostilities in Gaza would significantly
help to defuse rising tensions across the region, Guterres said as he repeated
his calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all
hostages being held in the territory.
Ziad Abu Amr, the representative of the Palestinian
president, said his people long to practice their right to self-determination
and to live in freedom, security and peace “in an independent state similar to
other countries around the world.”
Addressing the US directly, he added: “To those who
say that recognizing the Palestinian state must happen through negotiations and
not through a UN resolution, we wonder once again, how was the State of Israel
established? How was it recognized? Wasn’t that through a UN resolution, which
is Resolution 181?
“It is high time for the Security Council to shoulder
its historic responsibility and give justice to the Palestinian people by
adopting a resolution to accept Palestine as a full member of the United
Nations.”
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, called on the
Security Council to “accept the state of Palestine as a full-fledged member of
the United Nations.”
He added: “Do so to uphold justice, to make peace
triumphant, to reject injustice, to cry out against falsehood. Do not leave the
future of the region in the hands of the most extremist elements of the Israeli
government.”
Russia’s permanent representative to the UN,
VasilyNebenzia, said: “The minimum we’re compelled to do, based on all moral
imperatives, is to satisfy Palestine’s aspiration for UN membership.
“We’re convinced that recognition of Palestine, on a
status on a par with Israel, will help the long-term settlement of the
Palestine-Israeli conflict.”
Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares Bueno,
said his country has joined the 139 others that have already officially
recognized the State of Palestine, and supports its admission to the UN.
“Spain will recognize the State of Palestine because
the people of Palestine cannot be condemned to be a people of refugees,” he
said. “Also because this is the way to peace in the Middle East, and because
this is good for the security of Israel.
“Spain will recognize a Palestinian state because they
have a right to a future with hope, just as the Israeli people have a right to
a future in peace and security, and following so many decades of pain.”
Brazil’s foreign minister, Mauro Vieira, told council
members that the “time has come for the international community to finally
welcome the fully sovereign and independent state of Palestine as a new member
of the United Nations.”
China’s ambassador to the UN, Fu Cong, called on
members of the council “to take a responsible attitude in light of history and
cast a favorable vote to support Palestine joining the UN family as a full
member.”
Algeria’s foreign minister, Ahmad Attaf, said that
full membership of the UN for Palestine is a “historical right,” and failure to
grant it will guarantee the Arab-Israeli conflict is prolonged.
The UK’s representative to the UN, Barbara Woodward,
said that recognition of a Palestinian state “cannot come at the start of the
process but it does not have to be the very end of the process.”
She added: “Our long-standing position has been that
we will recognize a Palestinian state at a time that is most conducive to the peace
process. That pathway will start with fixing the immediate crisis in Gaza.”
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2495371/world
------
Saudi Arabia Expresses Regret Over Failure On Palestine’s
Bid For UN Membership
The ministry renewed the
Kingdom’s call for the international community assume its responsibility
towards stopping the Israeli occupation’s attacks on civilians in Gaza. (AP)
-----
April 19, 2024
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia expressed its regret for at the
failure of United Nations Security Council adopting a resolution accepting full
membership of Palestine in the UN.
In an official statement by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on social media platform X, the Kingdom said the ‘failure to adopt the
resolution allows for the Israeli occupation to continue its violations if
international law without deterrence and will not bring the desired peace
closer.”
The ministry renewed the Kingdom’s call for the
international community assume its responsibility towards stopping the Israeli
occupation’s attacks on civilians in Gaza.
The Kingdom also reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian
people’s right to self-determination and establishing their Palestinian state
on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the
Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.
Jordan also expressed its ‘sincere sorrow’ on the
Security Council’s inability to approve a resolution that would have admitted
Palestine as a full member of the UN due to the US veto power.
In a statement, the country’s foreign affairs ministry
reaffirmed “that the international community is in favor of the two-state
solution, which Israel is undermining.
“The Security Council must recognize the Palestinian
state in order to stop Israel from depriving the Palestinian people of their
right to freedom and their own state,” state news agency Petra reported.
“Recognizing the Palestinian state and its full
membership is a necessary step to impose a just peace that ends the occupation,
ends the conflict, and fulfills the right of all the peoples of the region to
live in security and stability,” ministry spokesperson SufianQudah said.
“Jordan demands that all nations acknowledge the State
of Palestine on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital,
as a prerequisite to achieving regional peace and security.”
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2495601/saudi-arabia
----
Israeli Knesset Member Of The Extremist UTJ Party
Calls For Building ‘3rd Temple’ At Al-Aqsa Mosque
An aerial view of thousands
of Palestinian worshipers gather to break their fast on the last Friday prayer
of the holy month of Ramadan and perform prayer on the night of Laylat al-Qadr
at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, despite Israeli restrictions on April 5, 2024
[Mostafa Alkharouf – Anadolu Agency]
------
Ahmed Asmar
18.04.2024
A far-right member of the Knesset (Israel’s
parliament) has called for building what he called a “third temple” in the
place of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.
“I really hope that all of the Jewish people will have
to come next week on Monday to offer their Passover sacrifice in Jerusalem,”
Yitzhak Pindrus, a member of the extremist United Torah Judaism Party, said in
a TV interview.
“We are hoping that soon the Third Temple will be
built there, and we’ll be able to eat there from the Passover sacrifices.”
Passover, which commemorates the Israelites’ exodus
from Egypt during the time of Prophet Moses, is considered one of the most
important holidays on the Jewish religious calendar.
It begins this year on the evening of April 22 till
April 30.
Al-Aqsa is one of the world's holiest sites for
Muslims. Jews, for their part, call the area as the Temple Mount, saying it was
the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
The Knesset member’s call is the latest in provocative
statements and moves made by Israeli officials on the flashpoint site.
According to Israeli media on Wednesday, far-right
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir included changes to the status quo
at the site in his ministry's formal action plans.
Ben-Gvir’s plan seeks to change the status quo at the
mosque by allowing Israeli control over the site and opening it to Jewish
worshipers, the Israeli public broadcaster KAN said.
Under an Ottoman-era status quo agreement, non-Muslims
are allowed to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, but cannot worship or pray
there.
Israeli police, however, have allowed settler
incursions into the mosque complex since 2003, despite repeated condemnations
from Palestinians.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where al-Aqsa is
located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It annexed the entire city in 1980,
in a move never recognized by the international community.
Source:
aa.com.tr
Please
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-knesset-member-calls-for-building-3rd-temple-at-al-aqsa-mosque/3195730
---
No Statement On Indian Target Killing Does Not Mean We
Are Sleeping: Foreign Minister
US Ambassador Donald Blome
met Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on April 18, 2024. — PID
------
April 19, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar said on
Thursday that no statement on Indian target killing does not mean that we are
sleeping.
In an informal conversation with the media at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar said that a special meeting of the World
Economic Forum would be held in Saudi Arabia on April 28 and 29. Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif and Dar will attend the special meeting.
After the World Economic Forum meeting, the
Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) will have a meeting in Gambia. On May 2
and 3, there will be a meeting of OIC Foreign Ministers and he will represent
Pakistan. He said the OIC summit will be held on May 4 and 5 and Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif will attend the summit and will raise the issue of Palestine and
Kashmir.
He said on Wednesday there was a meeting with the
partners in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when the Afghan foreign minister
phoned to congratulate him. Dar invited him to visit Pakistan and he would go
to Afghanistan when the time comes.
On the question of India’s target killings in
Pakistan, the foreign minister said if there is no statement on Indian target
killings, it does not mean that we are sleeping.
Dar said that the visit of Saudi delegation to
Pakistan was welcome but some political parties were playing politics on the
visit which was sad.
The steps taken by the government for foreign
investment have been appreciated by the Saudi delegation. “Our foreign affairs
policy guideline is peace and we want peaceful solutions to problems. We are
leading towards economic diplomacy,” he asserted.
Talking about the visit of Iranian president to
Pakistan, the foreign minister said that the visits of the head of state are
not planned immediately. The visit of the president of Iran to Pakistan was
pre-arranged while the situation between Iran and Israel has just arisen and
this visit has nothing to do with it. The Iranian president’s visit will take
place on April 22, 23 and 24. He said Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman has
been invited to visit Pakistan. There is hope that the visit will take place.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador Donald Blome met Foreign
Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss recent events in the region. The US ambassador
conveyed the United States’ commitment to working with the government and
people of Pakistan, underscoring that prosperity and security for Pakistan
remain a top priority for the United States.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1180007-no-statement-on-indian-target-killing-does-not-mean-we-are-sleeping-dar
------
India
Udhampur In Jammu And Kashmir: In Hindutva Crucible,
'Smaller Enemy' Is Rallying Force
19.04.24
Muzaffar Raina
Tricolour-waving Dogra crowds had sent shudders
through the minority Gujjar and Bakerwal communities in 2018 in Kathua after
they rallied in thousands in support of the men accused of raping and murdering
an eight-year-old Bakerwal girl.
Leading the protest that day under the Hindu Ekta
Manch was Choudhary Lal Singh, a BJP minister who had earlier ruffled Gujjar
feathers by reminding a delegation seeking firewood whether they had forgotten
“47,” seen as a reference to 1947 when thousands of Muslims were butchered in
Jammu.
Many members of the minority tribal community today
see a saviour in him, their common dislike for the BJP uniting them.
Choudhary, 65, a two-time Congress MP who joined the
BJP in 2014 after he was refused a ticket, is spearheading the campaign for the
revival of the Congress in Jammu. A Hindu Rajput, he is the party’s candidate
for the Udhampur-Doda parliamentary seat.
The 2018 incident had caused outrage far and wide,
leading to his resignation from the BJP.
He was hounded, even arrested, by the Enforcement
Directorate in a money-laundering case, but his supporters claim he was
targeted for opposing the BJP and advocating special status for J&K under
Article 371, securing land and job rights over locals who feel outsiders were
encroaching on their rights.
His rallies, comprising mostly Dogras but including
several Muslims, including Gujjars and Bakerwals, now resonate with calls for
unity against hate.
Doda resident Mohammad OvaisChavdhary, 25, a Muslim
Gujjar with the same surname spelt differently, was on the opposite side of the
Kathua controversy,
but will queue up outside a booth on April 19 to vote
for Choudhary.
“I was only 19 then and was among the first men to
pick up the body of the girl after she went missing for days (she was confined
to a temple, raped by the temple priest and others for three days and then bludgeoned
to death to push Bakerwals out of area). We stopped an ambulance that was
carrying her body, brought it down
and staged a protest on the road,” Chavdhary, a law
graduate turned PDP youth leader, said.
Chavdhary is still unwilling to forgive Choudhary or
share a stage with him but will nevertheless vote for him.
“For me, the choice is between a smaller enemy and a
bigger enemy. I choose the former. What happened that day was tragic but lakhs
of our girls feel unsafe
under their (BJP) rule,” he said, a refrain shared by
many Muslims.
Choudhary is fighting Jitendra Singh, a key minister
in the Narendra Modi government looking for a third term. His entry has
reinvigorated the Congress and the jitters in the BJP camp are palpable.
The BJP has launched all its top guns, including Prime
Minister Modi, home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, to bolster Jitendra Singh’s poll
campaign.
Fighting the BJP is no mean task. Jammu’s Hindu
heartland has emerged as
a crucible of Hindutva politics. In 2019, Jitendra
Singh trounced Congress’s Vikramaditya Singh, a scion of Dogra rulers, by a
massive 3.5 lakh votes.
None of the Congress top leaders have joined
Choudhary’s campaign and he has to contend with second-rung leaders such as
Sachin Pilot and Raj Babbar.
But the crowds at his rallies match those of the BJP.
Gujjars and Bakerwals are 10 per cent of the
population in the constituency that spreads over 16,773 sq km in Udhampur,
Kathua, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of Jammu. Muslims overall are a
third of its 16.24 lakh electorate.
National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party
are supporting him, with former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar
Abdullah holding rallies but have so far not shared a stage with him.
Choudhary’s worry is the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Progressive Azad
Party, which has fielded former minister GM Saroori. He is unlikely to win but
could split the anti-BJP vote.
There is also a strong undercurrent among Dogras
against the BJP, particularly against Jitendra Singh, many calling him an
“absentee MP”. Singh himself focuses more on Modi’s report card than his own
but that alone is unlikely to work with a section of Dogras.
In the din of elections, this correspondent caught up
with the shepherd father of the little girl, around 25km from his Kathua home
in Samba, on his way to the Valley with his herd of sheep. He is indifferent to
elections.
“I am not voting for anybody, not in the least for him
(Choudhary). But yes, if Mehbooba Mufti or her party were contesting, I would
have voted for her. She is the one who raised her voice against the killing,”
he said.
Source:
telegraphindia.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/elections/lok-sabha-election-2024/jammu-and-kashmirs-udhampur-in-hindutva-crucible-smaller-enemy-is-rallying-force/cid/2014232
---
Ranchi Cops Refute Claims That Muslims Planned To
Attack Ram Navami Procession
18th April 2024
In the wake of Ram Navami, the Ranchi Police conducted
a drone surveillance operation to ensure that the city was prepared for the
festivities and that all necessary safety measures were in place.
During the surveillance, it was observed that at least
10 buildings that were under construction had large quantities of bricks and
stones stored on their terraces.
In response to this observation, the Ranchi Police
issued notices to the owners of these buildings, instructing them to remove the
bricks and stones from their terraces. This was done as a precautionary measure
to prevent any untoward incidents that could potentially occur during the Ram
Navami processions.
However, soon after this news was reported, several
right-wing Hindu accounts began to communalise the issue, claiming stones were
found on the rooftops of the houses belonging to Muslims. They went peddling
the theory that Muslims were preparing to attack Shobha Yatra which was
scheduled to commence on Thursday.
Ranchi Police warned
Shortly after right-wing trolls began spreading
conspiracy theories about Muslims, the Ranchi Police responded to the
hatemongers on X and refuted the claims.
“This is a baseless and irresponsible allegation, the
actions were simply a routine practice of conducting checks before festivals
that involve processions,” Police clarified.
“Linking the drone’s picture with a particular
community is a malicious action. Ranchi Police has already clarified the matter
through its Twitter handle, hence it is requested not to spread misleading
news. Security is being provided to all the processions by the district
administration,” police further mentioned.
The Ranchi police issued warnings to people spreading
false information and pushing divisive ideas.
“Legal action will be taken against those who post
misleading messages, Ranchi police said.”
Reports of Muslims planning attack were circulated on
social media platforms. While debunking the allegations, Ranchi Police said
that conducting checks and issuing notices to building owners is a standard
procedure. It is carried out before any festival — Hindu, Muslim, or Christian
— that involves processions, police said
Source:
siasat.com
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https://www.siasat.com/ranchi-cops-refute-claims-that-muslims-planned-to-attack-ram-navami-procession-3010389/
---
Loud Music In Front Of SuratMinaraMasjid During Ram
Navami Sparks Row
18th April 2024
Sayima Ahmad
In Bardoli town of Surat, Gujarat, the celebration of
Ram Navami in front of the Minara Masjid has become a customary affair, often
accompanied by hateful numbers playing on loudspeakers.
This year, the tradition persisted, drawing both
criticism and support. Some question the appropriateness of celebrating Ram
Navami in proximity to a mosque when there are ample temples in Gujarat, while
others view it as a valid expression of religious fervour.
However, recent years have seen the Ram Navami
festivities at the Minara Masjid turn turbulent, marked by communal clashes and
outbreaks of violence. Law enforcement has had to intervene to maintain order
amidst escalating tensions.
During these celebrations, there have been reports of
Hindutva groups deliberately prolonging their processions in front of the
Masjid, sometimes brandishing swords and playing provocative tracks like “Jab
MulleKattjayee gee toh Ram Ramchailyege” inciting reactions from the crowds.
Despite the tensions and violence, the Ram Navami
celebration in front of the Minara Masjid in Bardoli has continued year after
year. The situation has become a source of concern for many in the community,
who fear that the tensions could escalate further and lead to more serious
consequences.
Source:
siasat.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.siasat.com/loud-music-in-front-of-surat-masjid-during-ram-navami-sparks-row-3010541/
---
Not love jihad: Karnataka government amid outrage over
woman's murder in college
Apr 19, 2024
The murder of a Karnataka Congress corporator's
daughter inside a college campus has ignited a political firestorm in the
state, with the opposition BJP and the Congress government sparring over 'love
jihad' charges.
Neha, a 23-year-old Masters of Computer Applications
(MCA) student, was attacked by Fayaz on the campus of BVB College in Hubballi
on Thursday. CCTV footage showed Fayaz stabbing Neha multiple times before
fleeing. Police said the woman died of multiple stab wounds inflicted by Fayaz,
who was later arrested.
WHAT VICTIM’S FATHER SAID
The victim’s father, NiranjanHiremath, said the
accused, Fayaz, was known to the family, and they had even tried to dissuade
him from pursuing Neha.
"He was an old student, and he had proposed to my
daughter, but she rejected his proposal," Hiremath said. She did not like
him, and she usually stayed away from all this... She refused his proposal,
saying they both belonged to different castes and that she did not wish to have
any relationship with him. Out of anger, he stabbed my daughter."
He further stated, "The motive of the murder is
that the victim rejected the accused's love proposal... We had a conversation
with the accused before the incident took place where we explained to him that
we are Hindu and you are Muslim, so we cannot allow you to get married."
WAR OF WORDS OVER ‘LOVE JIHAD’
The BJP hit out at the Siddaramaiah-led Congress
government, accusing it of playing politics of appeasement at the expense of
law and order.
"This is an unfortunate incident and I believe
there is an angle of 'love jihad' in this. When the girl refused (the guy’s)
advances, she was murdered. Under the Congress government, law and order is not
there," Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
The Karnataka government firmly rejected those allegations.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara claimed that Neha and Fayaz were in a
relationship before it soured.
“Maybe he stabbed her because she was to marry someone
else, but I don't know the details yet. But since it was a mutual relationship,
it doesn't seem to be a case of love jihad,” Parameshwara said.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar accused the BJP of
trying to create fear and panic. "BJP is trying to threaten by showing
that there is no law and order in Karnataka. Karnataka has the best law and
order. They are just trying to tell the voters that they are going to put
Governor's Rule in the state. They cannot do it. The law will take its own
course for everyone," Shivakumar said.
'Love jihad' is a phrase popularised by Hindutva
organisations to denote the relationship between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim
woman where the Muslim partner wishes to convert the non-Muslim.
BJP YOUTH WING PROTESTS
The campus murder sparked outrage with BJP's student
wing, ABVP, demanding justice for Neha's death. Thousands of students
participated in the demonstrations, blocking roads and calling for a college
bandh in Hubballi.
Appealing for calm, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
assured the public of a thorough investigation. "An accused has already
been arrested in connection with the incident, and I have instructed the
Director General of Police to conduct a strict investigation and take action so
that the accused receives the maximum punishment," he said.
Source:
indiatoday.in
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/congress-corporator-daughter-neha-hiremath-murder-accused-fayaz-love-jihad-bjp-versus-congress-political-row-2529225-2024-04-19
---
India should condemn Israel operations in Gaza; can
play important role in region: Iranian Envoy
April 18, 2024 0
Suhasini Haidar
India can play an important role in stopping Israel’s
operations in Gaza, said Iran’s Ambassador to India Iraj Elahi, adding that
Iran would also “welcome” any mediatory role by India to bring peace and
stability to the region.
Mr. Elahi said Iran has kept India fully briefed about
last week’s air attack on Israel, and said its main objectives, to “deter
Israel” and demonstrate the “possible costs of transgressing red lines”, had
been achieved. The U.S. White House has described Iran’s attack, sending about
350 drones and missiles on Israeli targets on April 13, a “spectacular and
embarrassing failure”, as more than 90% were intercepted by the US, Israel and
Jordan.
Israel reserves
'right to protect itself' after Iran attack: Netanyahu
“This is what Israel and Western countries say. But
the reality is something else, and the Israeli regime understood what Iran’s
missile capability is. Every operation has its own objective. The main
objective of this operation was to deter Israel and to warn them of the
dangerous consequences of their reckless deeds,” Mr. Elahi told The Hindu in a
written response to a question about the US statement. He said the operations
had “proven” that all the “vital military bases” of the Israeli Defence Forces
would be “easily accessible” if Iran decided to use “more developed weapons”.
Iran has said its attacks were a “legitimate” response
to Israel’s bombing of the Iranian Embassy building in Damascus on April 1 that
killed seven military advisors including a senior Iranian general, which Mr.
Elahi said was a violation of the Vienna Convention and other conventions on
the protection for diplomats. The Ministry of External Affairs’ response to
both Israel’s attack and Iran’s counterattack has been seen as neutral, with no
direct condemnation of either country but expressing serious concerns about the
escalation of tensions in the region.
Timeline: Iran
and Israel's open warfare after decades of shadow war
“I cannot speak for the Indian government. Each
country has its own position in such situations. But what is certain is that
attacking diplomatic places is prohibited according to international
conventions,” Mr. Elahi said. He said India should condemn Israeli operations
in Gaza in retaliation for the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, that left
more than 1,200 Israelis dead, and dozens taken hostage. More than 35,000
Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations since then, mostly women
and children.
“We believe that India can play a very important role
in stopping” Israel operations in Gaza, Mr. Elahi said, adding that “the Indian
government can play an active role in condemning these actions of Israel.” When
asked whether India could play mediator in the region given its strong
strategic ties with both Iran and Israel, the Iranian Ambassador said his
government would “welcome any action to reduce tension and establish peace and
stability in the region”.
Will Iran’s
retaliatory attack on Israel trigger a wider regional war? | In Focus podcast
Israel’s Ambassador NaorGilon has said Iran’s attacks
“cannot go unanswered”. “We have to make it clear to Iran that these are
unacceptable, and our capabilities to retaliate are reasonable,” he told
various news channels this week.
The Iranian Ambassador also said bilateral cooperation
with India over the Chabahar port project, where India operates a terminal, is
“going well”, and promised that there would be “good news in this regard in the
coming days”. When asked about India’s 2018 decision to cancel import of
Iranian oil due to U.S. sanctions, Mr. Elahi said that as an oil exporter, Iran
was ready to sell to any country. “If there is a request from the Indian
government to buy oil, Iran will definitely welcome it,” he added.
Source:
thehindu.com
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-should-condemn-israel-operations-in-gaza-can-play-important-role-in-region-iranian-envoy/article68080069.ece
----
Indian shares set to drop on reports of escalating
Middle East tensions
19 April, 2024
BENGALURU (Reuters) – Indian shares are set to open
lower on Friday, tracking Asian peers, on reports of an escalation in
geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
India’s GIFT Nifty was trading at 21,670 as of 8:02
a.m. IST, indicating that the Nifty 50 will open below its Thursday’s close of
21,995.85.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares slipped
more than 2% and U.S. stock futures also pointed 1.3% lower following media
reports that Israeli missiles had hit a site in Iran. [MKTS/GLOB]
Indian markets fell for a fourth straight session on
Thursday, their longest daily losing streak in six months. The benchmark Nifty
50 and S&P BSE Sensex have lost about 3.3% each in the last four sessions.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold a net 42.60
billion rupees (about $509 million) worth of Indian stocks on Thursday. They
offloaded 157.63 billion rupees of shares in the previous three sessions.
Domestic institutional investors have been net buyers
for seven sessions in a row.
Volatility in domestic equities rose to a one-month
high on Thursday. Analysts expect volatility to remain elevated ahead of
national elections, starting on Friday. The results of the elections will be
announced on June 4.
Source:
theprint.in
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https://theprint.in/india/indian-shares-set-to-drop-on-reports-of-escalating-middle-east-tensions/2047331/
---
North
America
US Muslim group calls for hate crime probe into
pro-Israel leader after alleged attack on protestors
ServetGunerigok
19.04.2024
US Muslim civil rights and advocacy group the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called Thursday for a hate crime
investigation into a pro-Israel leader over an alleged attack against
protestors outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Ezra Weinblatt, a board member of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of Greater Washington, was arrested after allegedly attacking
anti-war protestors and destroying their property outside the embassy on
Tuesday.
CAIR also called for law enforcement to prosecute
Weinblatt to the full extent of the law.
According to a statement by the group, Weinblatt
allegedly got out of his vehicle, approached a group of Palestinian
demonstrators, threw their audio equipment into the street and struck a female
demonstrator in the face.
He has been charged with destruction of property and
simple assault.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward
Ahmed Mitchell said the level violence by some pro-Israel extremists against
advocates for Palestinian human rights is "completely unacceptable."
"We welcome the arrest of Ezra Weinblatt, and we
call on law enforcement to consider hate crime charges against him," said
Mitchell.
Over the past six months, protests have been raging
nationwide against the Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza.
Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the
Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group
Hamas, in which nearly 1,200 people were killed.
Nearly 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children,
have since been killed in Gaza, and over 76,800 others have been injured amid
mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population
into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and
medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or
destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International
Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop
genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is
provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-muslim-group-calls-for-hate-crime-probe-into-pro-israel-leader-after-alleged-attack-on-protestors/3195993
---
Biden’s new Title IX rules protect LGBTQ+ students,
but transgender sports rule still on hold
Apr 19, 2024
The rights of LGBTQ+ students will be protected by
federal law and victims of campus sexual assault will gain new safeguards under
rules finalized Friday by the Biden administration.
The new provisions are part of a revised Title IX
regulation issued by the Education Department, fulfilling a campaign pledge by
President Joe Biden. He had promised to dismantle rules created by former
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who added new protections for students accused
of sexual misconduct.
Notably absent from Biden’s policy, however, is any
mention of transgender athletes.
The administration originally planned to include a new
policy forbidding schools from enacting outright bans on transgender athletes,
but that provision was put on hold. The delay is widely seen as a political
maneuver during an election year in which Republicans have rallied around bans
on transgender athletes in girls' sports.
Instead, Biden is officially undoing sexual assault
rules put in place by his predecessor and current election-year opponent,
former President Donald Trump. The final policy drew praise from victims'
advocates, while Republicans said it erodes the rights of accused students.
The new rule makes “crystal clear that everyone can
access schools that are safe, welcoming and that respect their rights,"
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said.
“No one should face bullying or discrimination just
because of who they are, who they love,” Cardona told reporters. “Sadly, this
happens all too often.”
Biden's regulation is meant to clarify schools’
obligations under Title IX, the 1972 women’s rights law that outlaws
discrimination based on sex in education. It applies to colleges and elementary
and high schools that receive federal money. The update is to take effect in
August.
Among the biggest changes is new recognition that
Title IX protects LGBTQ+ students — a source of deep conflict with Republicans.
The 1972 law doesn’t directly address the issue, but
the new rules clarify that Title IX also forbids discrimination based on sexual
orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ+ students who face discrimination will be
entitled to a response from their school under Title IX, and those failed by
their schools can seek recourse from the federal government.
Many Republicans say Congress never intended such
protections under Title IX. A federal judge previously blocked Biden
administration guidance to the same effect after 20 Republican-led states
challenged the policy.
Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina
and chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, said the new
regulation threatens decades of advancement for women and girls.
“This final rule dumps kerosene on the already raging
fire that is Democrats’ contemptuous culture war that aims to radically
redefine sex and gender,” Foxx said in a statement.
The revision was proposed nearly two years ago but has
been slowed by a comment period that drew 240,000 responses, a record for the
Education Department.
Many of the changes are meant to ensure that schools
and colleges respond to complaints of sexual misconduct. In general, the rules
widen the type of misconduct that institutions are required to address, and it
grants more protections to students who bring accusations.
Chief among the changes is a wider definition of
sexual harassment. Schools now must address any unwelcome sex-based conduct
that is so “severe or pervasive” that it limits a student's equal access to an
education.
Under the DeVos rules, conduct had to be “severe,
pervasive and objectively offensive," a higher bar that pushed some types
of misconduct outside the purview of Title IX.
Colleges will no longer be required to hold live
hearings to allow students to cross-examine one another through representatives
— a signature provision from the DeVos rules.
Live hearings are allowed under the Biden rules, but
they're optional and carry new limits. Students must be able to participate
from hearings remotely, for example, and schools must bar questions that are
“unclear or harassing.”
As an alternative to live hearings, college officials
can interview students separately, allowing each student to suggest questions
and get a recording of the responses.
Those hearings were a major point of contention with
victims' advocates, who said it forced sexual assault survivors to face their
attackers and discouraged people from reporting assaults. Supporters said it
gave accused students a fair process to question their accusers, arguing that
universities had become too quick to rule against accused students.
Victims' advocates applauded the changes and urged
colleges to implement them quickly.
“After years of pressure from students and survivors
of sexual violence, the Biden Administration’s Title IX update will make
schools safer and more accessible for young people, many of whom experienced
irreparable harm while they fought for protection and support,” said Emma
Grasso Levine, a senior manager at the group Know Your IX.
Despite the focus on safeguards for victims, the new
rules preserve certain protections for accused students.
All students must have equal access to present
evidence and witnesses under the new policy, and all students must have equal
access to evidence. All students will be allowed to bring an advisor to campus
hearings, and colleges must have an appeals process.
In general, accused students won't be able to be
disciplined until after they're found responsible for misconduct, although the
regulation allows for “emergency” removals if it's deemed a matter of campus
safety.
The latest overhaul continues a back-and-forth
political battle as presidential administrations repeatedly rewrite the rules
around campus sexual misconduct.
The DeVos rules were themselves an overhaul of an
Obama-era policy that was intended to force colleges to take accusations of
campus sexual assault more seriously. Now, after years of nearly constant
changes, some colleges have been pushing for a political middle ground to end
the whiplash.
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/bidens-new-title-ix-rules-protect-lgbtq-students-but-transgender-sports-rule-still-on-hold/articleshow/109430117.cms
-----
United States had advance warning of Israel attack on
Iran: US media
April 19, 2024
DUBAI/WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: The United States received
advance notice of Israel’s reported strike on Iran but did not endorse the
operation or play any part in its execution, US media quoted officials as
saying.
NBC and CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter
and a US official, respectively, said Israel had provided Washington with
pre-notification of the strike.
Various networks cited officials confirming a strike
had taken place inside Iran, with CNN quoting one official as stating the
target was not a nuclear facility.
Israel told the United States on Thursday it would be
retaliating against Iran in the coming days, a senior US official told CNN.
“We didn’t endorse the response,” the official said,
according to CNN.
There was no immediate comment from the White House
about the Israeli strike.
In response to a query from AFP, the Pentagon duty
desk said: “We do not have anything to offer at this time.”
Iran activated its air defense system over several
cities, state media reported, after the country’s official broadcaster said
explosions were heard near the central city of Isfahan.
Israel warned it would hit back after Iran fired
hundreds of missiles and drones at its arch-foe over the weekend. Most of them
were intercepted.
That weekend barrage came in the wake of an attack on
Iran’s consulate in Damascus widely blamed on Israel.
Tehran’s two major airports resumed flights on Friday,
state media reported, following a brief suspension after explosions were heard
in central Iran.
“Flights through Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports
have resumed,” the official IRNA news agency reported.
Commercial flights began diverting their routes early
Friday morning over western Iran without explanation as one semiofficial news
agency in the Islamic Republic claimed there had been “explosions” heard over
the city of Isfahan.
Some Emirates and Flydubai flights that were flying
over Iran early on Friday made sudden sharp turns away from the airspace,
according to flight paths shown on tracking website Flightradar24.
“Flights over Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran cities have
been suspended,” state media reported.
Iranian officials said its air defenses did shot down
several drones but there had been “no missile attack for now” on the country.
The state-run IRNA news agency reported that Iran
fired air defense batteries early Friday morning across several provinces after
reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan.
Several drones “have been successfully shot down by
the country’s air defense, there are no reports of a missile attack for now,”
Iran’s space agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian says on X.
The Fars news agency said “three explosions” were
heard near the Shekari army airbase near Isfahan.
Iran’s local media also reported that nuclear
facilities in Isfahan were “completely secure” after explosions were heard near
the area.
“Nuclear facilities in Isfahan province are completely
secure,” Tasnim news agency reports, quoting “reliable sources.”
Israel had said it would retaliate against Iran’s
weekend attack, which involved hundreds of drones and missiles in retaliation
for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria. Most of the
Iranian drones and missiles were downed before reaching Israeli territory.
Several Iranian nuclear sites are located in Isfahan
province, including Natanz, centerpiece of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Isfahan, Isome 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Iran’s capital, Tehran, is
also home to a major air base for the Iranian military.
Meanwhile in Iraq where a number of Iranian-backed
militias are based, residents in Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions,
but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.
In Syria, a local activist group said strikes hit an
army position in the south of the country Friday.
“There were strikes on a Syrian army radar position,”
said Rayan Maarouf, who runs the Suwayda24 anti-government website that covers
news from Sweida province in the south.
Iranian military positions in Syria had been
frequently targetted by Israeli air strikes over the past years. Early this
month, an Israeli strike demolished a consular building annex of the Iranian
Embassy in Sydia's capital Damascus, killing 13 people, including two generals
of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, triggering the Iranian missiles and drones
attack on Israel on April 13.
At the United Nations Security Council on Thursday,
Iran urged member nations that Israel “must be compelled to stop any further
military adventurism against our interests” as the UN secretary-general warned
that the Middle East was in a “moment of maximum peril.”
Israel had said it was going to retaliate against
Iran’s April 13 missile and drone attack.
Analysts and observers have been raising concerns
about the risks of the Israel-Gaza war spreading into the rest of the region.
Oil prices and jumped on the reports of the Israeli
strike. Brent crude futures rose 2 percent to $88.86 a barrel, the dollar
gained broadly, gold rose 1 percent and S&P 500 futures dropped 1 percent.
Israel’s assault on Gaza began after Palestinian
Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200, according to
Israeli tallies.
Israel’s military offensive has killed over 33,000
Palestinians in Gaza, according to the local health ministry.
Iran-backed groups have declared support for
Palestinians, launching attacks from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.
Source:
arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2495541/middle-east
---
US officials confirm Israel carried out strike inside
Iran: Reports
Michael Hernandez
19.04.2024
Israel has carried out a strike inside of Iran,
multiple American media outlets reported Thursday citing anonymous US
officials, in a move that threatens to further push the region towards war.
None of the reports identified the targets, but the
attack comes in response to Iran's unprecedented drone and missile attack on
Israel over the weekend. Nearly all of Iran's missiles and drones were
intercepted by Israel, the US and its regional allies.
Anonymous US officials told CBS News and ABC News that
Israel used ballistic missiles to hit Iran.
Iran's official state TV confirmed "massive
explosions" in central Isfahan province, and said no nuclear facilities
were affected or targeted in the central Iranian city. The semi-official Mehr
News Agency reported that three drones were destroyed in the skies above
Isfahan Province.
The Israeli military has not commented on the reported
attack yet, but it said a security meeting is currently underway at Israel's
Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.
A US official who spoke to CNN said Washington did not
"green light" Israel's attack.
"We didn't endorse the response," an official
said. The official acknowledged that Israel had informed the US on Thursday
that it would be carrying out a strike against Iran in the coming days.
It is unclear if that message was relayed during a
virtual meeting between American and Israeli delegations that was held earlier
on Thursday, but the White House said in its readout of the session that senior
officials consulted "on a series of issues in the wake of Iran’s
unprecedented missile and drone attack against Israel."
Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to
the April 1 bombing of its consulate in Damascus, Syria that killed seven
Iranian military officers, including two top-ranking Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps commanders for Syria and Lebanon.
Israel has not formally taken responsibility for the
strike but has carried out attacks on Iranian targets across Syria in recent
months. The US has denied having any role in it.
Israel had vowed to retaliate for the Iranian
reprisal.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-officials-confirm-israel-carried-out-strike-inside-iran-reports/3196073
---
Blinken ignoring calls to cut US aid to Israeli forces
over right abuse: Report
19 April 2024
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly
been failing to act on a proposal from a special panel at his department to
suspend assistance to Israeli forces over human rights violations against
Palestinians.
Citing several current and former American officials,
the New York-based ProPublica news site reported on Wednesday that a special
committee of the State Department - known as the Israel Leahy Vetting Forum –
had recommended in December that Blinken disqualify Israeli military and police
units from receiving US aid.
However, it added, “They’ve been sitting in his
[Blinken’s] briefcase since then.”
The panel, made up of West Asia and human rights
experts, reviewed incidents, including extrajudicial killings of Palestinians
by the Israeli police, as well as the gagging and handcuffing of an elderly
Palestinian-American man who later died, and the torturing and raping of a
teenager.
Most of the cases of rights violations took place in
the occupied West Bank before Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip more than six months
ago.
Israel waged a genocidal war on Gaza on October 7
after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out a historic operation
against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime’s intensified
atrocities against the Palestinian people.
Israel has killed at least 33,970 Palestinians, mostly
women and children, and injured 76,770 others.
Since the start of the Gaza onslaught, the US,
Israel's most dedicated ally, has fast-tracked arms shipments to the occupying
regime.
Washington has also vetoed all the UN Security Council
resolutions that called for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian
territory.
Human rights organizations tracking the aggression
against Gaza have collected eyewitness testimony and videos showing Israeli war
crimes.
“If we had been applying Leahy effectively in Israel …
maybe you wouldn’t have” the occupation forces filming “their war crimes now
because we have contributed to a culture of impunity,” said Josh Paul, a former
director in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and a
member of the vetting forum.
Earlier this week, more than two dozen Democratic
lawmakers sent a letter to the administration of US President Joe Biden calling
for a thorough investigation into its claims that Israel was not using American
weapons in violation of international law.
Source:
presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/19/723954/US-Blinken-aid-Israel-rights-abuse
----
US and Britain announce new sanctions against Iran
after attack on Israel
18 April 2024
JACOB MAGID
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced a
series of sweeping sanctions Thursday targeting leaders and entities tied to
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Tehran’s defense ministry and its
missile and drone program following last weekend’s missile and drone attack
against Israel.
The United States Treasury Department imposed
sanctions on 16 individuals and two entities that it said enable Iran’s UAV
production and testing as well as proliferation to actors that work on behalf
of the IRGC.
The Treasury Department also sanctioned five companies
that provide or purchase steel production materials to Iran’s Khuzestan Steel
Company, a US-designated entity.
It also sanctioned Iranian automaker Bahman Group and
three of its subsidiaries, “which have continued to materially support the IRGC
and other designated entities,” the State Department said.
The US Commerce Department simultaneously imposed new
controls to restrict Iran’s access to technologies, the State Department added.
The United Kingdom is concurrently imposing sanctions
targeting several Iranian military organizations, individuals and entities
involved in Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile industries, the Treasury
Department added.
The sanctions come after Iran launched more than 300
missiles, drones and rockets at Israel over the weekend, in retaliation for an
alleged Israeli strike on April 1 on a site in Damascus that Iran said was a
consular building, which killed two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps generals
and several other officers.
Israel and its allies shot down the vast majority of
the drones and missiles and the attack caused only one injury, but concerns
about a potential Israeli reprisal have nevertheless stoked fears of all-out
regional war.
“Let it be clear to all those who enable or support
Iran’s attacks: The United States is committed to Israel’s security. We are
committed to the security of our personnel and partners in the region, and we
will not hesitate to take all necessary action to hold you accountable,” US
President Joe Biden said in a statement announcing the sanctions.
“As I discussed with my fellow G7 leaders the morning
after the attack, we are committed to acting collectively to increase economic
pressure on Iran. And our allies and partners have or will issue additional
sanctions and measures to restrict Iran’s destabilizing military programs,” he
said, pointing out that his administration has already sanctioned over 600
individuals and entities tied to Iran.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz thanked Biden for his
“ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.”
“President Biden has called on all G7 partners to take
the same path,” the foreign minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “This is our
opportunity to form a global front and a regional coalition against Iran,
together with the US, the EU, and moderate Arab states, to stop the serpent’s
head that threatens global stability. We must stop Iran now before it’s too
late.”
European Union foreign policy chief JosepBorrell also
said Thursday there needed to be a review to improve the sanctions system in
the wake of Iran’s attack on Israel.
“We will have to review the system” of sanctions “in
order to enlarge it and make it more efficient,” Borrell told reporters on the
island of Capri, where the G7 is holding a meeting.
He said that since July 2023 there have been limits on
exports to Iran by European firms of “the components that allow the production
of these kind of arms.”
“So we will increase it,” he said. “The important
thing is the implementation of our decision.”
He also called for restraint from Israel, saying the
region was “on the edge” of war.
IDF Chief of Staff HerziHalevi has vowed a response to
the Iranian aerial attack, which was mostly intercepted, while world leaders
have urged de-escalation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel reserves
“the right to protect itself” following the Iranian attack. Israeli officials
have not said when or where the country would retaliate.
At the United Nations on Thursday, Iranian Foreign
Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that Tehran would make Israel “regret”
any attack on his country.
“Iran’s legitimate defense and counter measures have
been concluded. Therefore, the terrorist Israeli regime must be compelled to
stop any further military adventurism against our interests,” the minister told
the UN Security Council during a meeting on the Middle East.
Source:
timesofisrael.com
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----
CAIR Calls on Sec. Blinken to Act on State Dept.
Recommendation to Suspend Weapons Transfers to Israel Over Human Rights
Violations
Ismail Allison
April 18, 2024
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on
Secretary of State Antony Blinken to enforce the recommendations made by a
State Department special panel to suspend U.S. weapons transfers to Israeli
military and police units due to its human rights violations.
According to documents from the State Department
obtained by ProPublica since 2020, the panel has reviewed reports of multiple
cases of rape and extrajudicial killings. Cases included several incidents in
which teenagers were reportedly beaten in custody before being released without
charges. Among the allegations was the arrest of a 15-year-old boy by Israeli
Border Police. The teen was allegedly subjected to both physical and sexual
torture, including rape by an object.
Human rights organizations tracking Israel’s war on
Gaza have collected eyewitness testimony and videos posted by Israeli soldiers
that display the widespread abuses in Gaza and the West Bank. The situation
caused Josh Paul, the former director of the State Department’s Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs, resigned in response.
In a statement, CAIR Director of Government Affairs
Department Robert S. McCaw said:
“Despite these internal report State Department
reports detailing egregious human rights abuses by the Israeli government,
including allegations of rape and torturing children in the West Bank,
Secretary Blinken has ignored his own staff and continued to greenlight weapon
shipments to the responsible Israeli military and police units. The glaring
disconnect between the gravity of the accusations and his refusal to act on
them is deeply disturbing. Secretary Blinken must halt any further weapons
transfers that the Israeli government will use to commit more human rights
violations.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ mission is
to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and
empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR esproteger las libertadesciviles,
mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a
losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source:
cair.com
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---
Arab
World
Centuries-old defensive moat and fortification wall
unearthed in Historic Jeddah
April 18, 2024
JEDDAH — Remains of a centuries-old defensive moat and
fortification wall, which once encircled the city, were unearthed in the
northern part of Historic Jeddah near Allegiance Square and east of Al-Kidwah
Square.
This was announced by the Jeddah Historic District
Program, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The program released the results of the archaeological
excavations carried out recently in Historic Jeddah as part of the first phase
of the archaeology project. According to historical sources, Jeddah was a
fortified city as early as the late 10th and early 11th century AD. However,
laboratory analysis indicates that the mentioned discoveries belong to a later
phase of the fortification system, as they were likely constructed around the
18th and 19th century.
By the middle of the 19th century AD, the moat had
fallen out of use and was soon filled with sand. However, the fortification
wall survived until 1947. Some parts of the moat’s retaining wall have remained
intact up to three meters in height.
Archaeological excavations also unearthed 19th-century
European imported ceramics, demonstrating Jeddah’s far-reaching trade
connections. Moreover, a fragment of 9th-century pottery was discovered at
Al-Qidwah Square, the latest archeological findings showed.
Source:
saudigazette.com.sa
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----
Iran retaliation against Israel ensured no aggression
would go unanswered: Houthi
19 April 2024
The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah popular resistance
movement praises Iran’s recent retaliatory strikes against the Israeli regime.
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi made the remarks during an
address on Thursday.
He said the retaliation “was strong in terms of its
intensity and effectiveness” and "established rules of engagement,
ensuring that any aggression would not go unanswered."
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched
the operation late on Saturday in response to a deadly attack by the regime
against the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital
Damascus on April 1.
The Israeli attack had resulted in the martyrdom of
Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force,
his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, and five of their accompanying
officers.
During the retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True
Promise, the IRGC targeted the occupied territories with a barrage of drones
and missiles. The strikes inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the
occupied territories.
Houthi said prior to the operation, the United States
as well as some European and Arab countries launched some efforts to prevent Iran
from undertaking the retaliation.
"Enticements were offered to dissuade Tehran from
responding," he said.
Without naming names, the Yemeni official also said
some Arab states partook in efforts aimed at intercepting the Iranian missiles
and drones.
The Ansarullah leader, meanwhile, warned that any
further Israeli act of military mischief against Iran was sure to be met with a
stronger response on the part of the Islamic Republic.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Yemeni official noted
that his country would continue its pro-Palestinian operations, which have seen
Yemeni forces striking Israeli vessels or those belonging to the regime’s
supporters.
The operations, he concluded, would last as long as
the Israeli regime sustained its October-present war on Gaza and a simultaneous
siege that it has been enforcing against the Palestinian territory.
Source:
presstv.ir
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----
Saudi authorities thwart attempt to smuggle Captagon
pills
April 19, 2024
RIYADH: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has
thwarted an attempt to smuggle 1,006,518 Captagon pills at Duba Port, northwest
of the Kingdom.
The pills were found hidden in a shipment labeled
“pepper and guava” coming into the Kingdom through the port. After the seizure
was completed, coordination was made with the General Directorate of Narcotics
Control to ensure the arrest of the expected recipient of the seized items inside
the Kingdom, and he was arrested.
Authorities said they are committed to tightening
Customs control of the Kingdom’s imports and exports, stressing that they will
stay vigilant to fight smuggling attempts to ensure the security of the
society.
Saudi authorities have recently made several
drug-related arrests and confiscations in operations across the Kingdom. Border
Guard land patrols in the Jazan region thwarted an attempt to smuggle 120 kg of
qat. The patrols also foiled an attempt to smuggle 170 kg of qat in Al-Ardah
governorate of the same region.
Source:
arabnews.com
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----
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve
Development Authority begins archaeological survey
April 18, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve
Development Authority on Thursday announced it had launched a comprehensive
preliminary archaeological survey.
The study — which was announced on April 18, World
Heritage Day — will look at the reserve in depth and conduct archaeological
studies to help it achieve its strategic objectives, while working toward
targets for the year 2030 for the Kingdom’s royal reserves.
The study is being done in partnership with King Saud
University and in cooperation with the Heritage Commission. It is being led by
a team of experts and specialized national competencies, the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
It will be conducted using two methods: the first via
satellite, and the second, based on what is known as the “comprehensive
archaeological survey,” by visiting the discovered sites, while preparing a
detailed report for each site visited.
The survey involves producing studies on the old
environment; work on rehabilitating archaeological and historic sites; and an
attempt to label suitable sites as tourist attractions. It will also include
developing a plan to preserve existing and discovered sites.
The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve is one of the seven
reserves established by royal decree. It holds governmental membership in the
International Union for Conservation of Nature, and is managed by an
independent body headed by the Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud
bin Naif.
Source:
arabnews.com
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----
Saudi king receives letter from Bahraini counterpart
about relations between their nations
April 18, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Thursday
received a letter from King Hamad of Bahrain concerning relations between their
countries.
The missive was delivered to the king by Abdulrahman
Al-Rassi, the deputy minister for international multilateral affairs at the
Saudi Foreign Ministry and general supervisor of its Public Diplomacy Agency,
who was acting on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
The letter from King Hamad had been presented to
Al-Rassi by Bahrain’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Sheikh Ali bin Abdulrahman
Al-Khalifa, during a reception at the ministry’s offices in Riyadh.
During their meeting, the minister and the envoy also
discussed relations between their countries, ways in which they might be
developed in all fields, and other topics of mutual interest.
Source:
arabnews.com
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----
Mideast
Hamas slams US veto of Palestinian UN membership bid
April 19, 2024
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Palestinian militant group
Hamas condemned on Friday the US veto that ended a long-shot Palestinian bid
for full United Nations membership.
“Hamas condemns the American veto at the Security
Council of the draft resolution granting Palestine full membership in the
United Nations,” the Gaza Strip rulers said in a statement, which comes amid
growing international concern over the toll inflicted by the war in the
besieged Palestinian territory.
The veto by Israel’s main ally and military backer had
been expected ahead of the vote, which took place more than six months into
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, in retaliation for the deadly October 7 attack by
Hamas militants.
Twelve countries voted in favor of the draft
resolution, which was introduced by Algeria and “recommends to the General
Assembly that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership of the United
Nations.” Britain and Switzerland abstained.
Source:
arabnews.com
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----
Israeli fighter jets bomb positions in southwestern
Syria, neighboring Iraq: Report
19 April 2024
Israeli military aircraft have reportedly carried out
a string of airstrikes against positions in Syria’s southwestern provinces of
Daraa and As-Suwayda as well as neighboring Iraq.
Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with
Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), reported that the warplanes
targeted a radar site, which lies between the town of Izra’ and Qarfa village,
early on Friday.
There were no immediate reports about the extent of
damage caused and possible casualties.
Israeli fighter jets also bombed al-Thalaa Airport in
Syria’s southwestern province of As-Suwayda.
Additionally, the sound of three explosions was heard
close to Bismayah, situated about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) southeast of the
Iraqi capital city of Baghdad, with no reports of casualties immediately
available.
Several blasts also rattled through the northern part
of Iraq’s central province of Babylon.
Drone alert sirens go off in northern occupied lands
Meanwhile, aircraft intrusion sirens were sounded in
several towns on the border between the northern side of the 1948
Israeli-occupied territories and Lebanon, warning of incoming rocket fire.
Israeli media outlets reported that sirens went off in
the towns of Eilon, Hanita, Zarit, Even Menachem, GornotHaGalil, Adamit,
Shtula, Ya’ara, Goren, Arab al-Aramshe and Shomera.
A number of missiles fired from southern Lebanon also
landed in Ramim area of the Upper Galilee region.
Sirens were also sounded in Margaliotmoshav and
KiryatShmona city.
Additionally, Israeli media reported that a fire broke
out inside Yir'on kibbutz in the Galilee Panhandle region as Hezbollah rockets
hit the area.
Hezbollah fighters also pounded a building used by
Israeli soldiers in al-Manara settlement, striking the designated target
precisely.
The Lebanese resistance fighters targeted Ruwaisat
al-Alam and Zibdin sites in the occupied Lebanese KfarShuba Hills with salvos
of rockets and artillery shells.
The Israeli regime has repeatedly attacked southern
Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has
killed at least 33,970 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched near-daily
rocket attacks on Israeli positions.
At least 349 people have been killed on the Lebanese
border, including 68 civilians.
The fighting has forced the evacuation of tens of
thousands from the northern part of the occupied territories, amid rocket fire
and shelling carried out by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian groups.
Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars
against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The resistance forced the regime to retreat
in both conflicts.
20 Syrian soldiers in two Daesh terrorist attacks
Separately, at least 20 Syrian soldiers and affiliated
pro-government forces were killed in two attacks by Takfiri Daesh terrorists.
The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
reported that a total of “16 regime forces and pro-government gunmen were
killed in a Daesh attack on a military bus in the eastern countryside of Homs
province.”
The Britain-based war monitor noted that the dead
included at least nine members of the Quds Brigade, a group comprising
Palestinian fighters.
Four Syrian soldiers were killed in another Daesh
attack on a military site in the Albukamal countryside in eastern Syria.
Source:
presstv.ir
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----
Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound
of explosions heard near Isfahan
19.04.24
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning
after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news
agency reported.
It remained unclear if the country was under attack.
However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran's
unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.
IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces.
It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across
the area reported hearing the sounds.
The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported
the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged
“loud noise" in the area.
Commercial flights began diverting their routes over
western Iran without explanation early Friday as one semiofficial news agency
in the Islamic Republic reported “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan.
State television acknowledged “loud noise.”
The incident comes as tensions remain high in the
wider Middle East after Iran's unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on
Israel.
Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began
diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no
explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have
been closed.
The semiofficial Fars news agency reported on
explosions being heard over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered
no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian
military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.
Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen
alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately
elaborating.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
Source:
telegraphindia.com
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---
Arab League chief voices Gaza fears in talks with UN
official
April 18, 2024
CAIRO: Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed AboulGheit
has told a senior UN official that he fears the conflict in Gaza could spiral
out control and threaten regional security.
In a meeting in Cairo with Maj. Gen. Patrick Gauchat,
head of mission and chief of staff of the UN Truce Supervision Organization,
AboulGheit highlighted the need to implement the UN Security Council’s
ceasefire resolution, and provide urgent humanitarian aid to the
famine-stricken population in Gaza.
Gamal Roshdy, a spokesperson for the Arab League
chief, said that the meeting discussed the regional situation, with AboulGheit
saying that Israel’s war on Gaza violated international law and humanitarian
principles.
The UNTSO chief briefed the secretary-general on
conflicts in several areas monitored by the UN, including the Blue Line, which
delineates the truce between Lebanon and Israel.
AboulGheit said that political resolutions remain the
most effective means to ensure security for all parties.
However, achieving such resolutions remains
challenging while Israel pursue its objectives through military force and by
targeting civilians, he said.
According to the UNTSO website, the Security Council,
in Resolution 50 (1948), called for a cessation of hostilities in Palestine on
May 29, 1948, and decided that the UN Mediator should supervise the truce with
the assistance of a group of military observers.
The first group of military observers, established in
1949 to supervise the implementation of the Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements,
became known as the UN Truce Supervision Organization.
UNTSO observers in the Middle East to monitor
ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from
escalating, and assist other UN peacekeeping operations in the region.
Source:
arabnews.com
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----
Situation normal after air defenses fire at
'suspicious objects' in Iran
19 April 2024
The sound of explosions have been heard near the
central Iranian city of Isfahan and Tabriz in the country's northwest after air
defense systems fired at "suspicious objects" early Friday.
Officials said important facilities in the Isfahan
province, especially nuclear facilities, are completely safe and no incidents
have been reported.
"The sound was related to Isfahan's air defense
systems firing at suspicious objects and we have not had any damage or
accident," Brigadier SiavashMihandoust, senior Army commander in Isfahan
province, said Friday.
Airports resume flights
The Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company said
normal operations have resumed for flights at Iranian airports including Imam
Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran
after temporary delays.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
announced in a Friday post on X that Iran's nuclear facilities were safe.
"No foreign aerial attack has been carried out so
far against Isfahan or other areas of the country," Spokesman for the
Iranian Space Agency Hossein Dalirian wrote in a post on his account on X on
Friday morning.
There were just "failed and humiliated"
efforts to fly quadcopters which were downed, he said, noting that the reports
by American media outlets are not true.
Source:
presstv.ir
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---
Iran sufficed to strike only part of Israel’s military
positions: FM to UN chief
18 April 2024
Iran’s foreign minister says the country could have
conducted its recent retaliatory strikes against the Israeli regime in a wider
scope, but sufficed to hit only part of the regime’s military positions.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks to the
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday in New York,
where the former addressed the UN Security Council earlier.
“Although, Iran was capable of conducting the
operation across a wider radius, only a part of the Zionist regime’s military
positions were targeted, from which the attack on our country’s Embassy in
Damascus had taken place,” the top diplomat said.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched
the operation late on Saturday in response to a deadly attack by the regime
against the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital on
April 1.
The Israeli attack had resulted in the martyrdom of
Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force,
his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, and five of their accompanying
officers.
During the retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True
Promise, the IRGC targeted the occupied territories with a barrage of drones
and missiles. The strikes inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the
occupied territories.
Amir-Abdollahian said the UN Security Council’s
“inefficacy” and its refusal to condemn the Israeli attack left Iran with no
option other than to engage in “legitimate defense” and punish the Zionist
regime.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the foreign minister pointed
to the Israeli regime and its allies, including the United States’ ongoing
genocide against the defenseless Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
He was referring to Tel Aviv’s October 7-present war
on the coastal sliver that has so far killed upwards of 34,000 Palestinians,
mostly women and children.
Amir-Abdollahian appreciated the UN chief’s efforts at
cessation of the warfare and transfer of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.
For his part, Guterres noted Iran’s recent retaliation
against the Israeli regime, urging self-restraint on the parties to regional
conflicts.
He condemned whatever instance of violation against
diplomatic missions, saying the facilities had to enjoy immunity, and warning
against the consequences of expansion of tensions across the region.
The United Nations calls for de-escalation of tensions
in the region and invests all within its power towards establishment of
regional peace and security, Guterres said, adding, “Currently, the
international community’s focus rests on establishment of immediate ceasefire
in Gaza and immediate cessation of the war there.”
Source:
presstv.ir
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---
No damage to Iranian nuclear sites after Israeli
airstrikes, says UN nuclear watchdog
Gozde Bayar
19.04.2024
There is no damage to Iranian nuclear sites after
overnight Israeli airstrikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
confirmed on Friday.
“IAEA can confirm that there is no damage to #Iran’s
nuclear sites,” the agency said on X.
Director-General Rafael Grossi continues to call for
extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should
never be a target in military conflicts, it added.
The agency said they are monitoring the situation very
closely.
Israel carried out a strike inside Iran, according to
US and Iranian media, but none of the reports identified the targets.
The strike came in response to Iran's unprecedented
attack on Israel over the weekend.
Anonymous US officials told CBS News and ABC News that
Israel used ballistic missiles to hit Iran.
Iran's official state TV confirmed "massive
explosions" in the central Isfahan province but noted that no nuclear
facilities were affected or targeted. The semi-official Mehr News Agency
reported that three drones were destroyed in the sky above Isfahan province.
The Israeli military has not commented on the reported
attack yet but said a security meeting is currently underway at Israel's
Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv.
Iran on Saturday launched an airborne attack on Israel
in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic compound in the
Syrian capital. It reportedly fired more than 300 drones and missiles, with
almost all intercepted by the air defense systems of Israel and its allies –
the US, France, and the UK.
Israel has not formally taken responsibility for the
strike but has carried out attacks on Iranian targets across Syria in recent
months. The US has denied having any role.
Israel had vowed to retaliate for the Iranian
reprisal.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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----
Israel launches wide-scale military operation in West
Bank refugee camp amid clashes
Qais Abu Samra and Said Amouri
18.04.2024
Israel launched a wide-scale military operation
Thursday against the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm in the northern occupied
West Bank, amid clashes with Palestinian fighters, witnesses told Anadolu.
Witnesses said military bulldozers accompanied the
Israeli force and destroyed the infrastructure in the camp.
Palestine's official news agency, WAFA, reported that
Israeli forces imposed a tight siege on the camp, deploying military vehicles
on all axes leading to the camp and closing the main street amid the flying of
reconnaissance aircraft in the area.
Israeli Army Radio said the army launched a wide-scale
operation in the refugee camp without providing details on the objectives or
duration.
????Tensions have been high across the occupied West
Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip,
which has killed more than 33,900 victims following a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
At least 468 Palestinians have since been killed and
more than 4,800 injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory,
according to the Health Ministry.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International
Court of Justice, which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to
stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance
is provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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-----
IRGC threatens ‘tit-for-tat’ retaliation if Israel
targets Iranian nuclear sites
April 19, 2024
TEHRAN - An IRGC official in charge of nuclear
protection and security threatened on Thursday that if Israel launches attack
on Iran's nuclear facilities, the Zionist regime will surely face
"tit-for-tat" retaliation with “advanced weapons” by the Islamic
Republic.
"If the Zionist regime decides to take action
against our nuclear facilities and centers, it will definitely face our
reaction," Nuclear Protection and Security Corps chief General Ahmad
Haqtalab asserted.
Haqtalab issued the stern warning after Israeli
officials have made suggestions about a possible attack on Iran's nuclear sites
following Iran’s Operation True Promise to in response to Israel which
assassinated seven Iranian military advisors in Iran’s consulate in Damascus on
April 1.
Attack on diplomatic premises is considered attack on
a country’s territory based on the Charter 51 of the United Nations.
"If the fake Zionist regime decides to use the
threat of attacking our country's nuclear centers as a tool to put pressure on
Iran, it is possible and conceivable to revise the nuclear doctrine and
policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran and digress from the previously
declared considerations," the IRGC official stated, Press TV reported.
General Haqtalab added, "The nuclear centers of
the Zionist enemy have been identified and the necessary information about all
the targets is at our disposal, and in order to respond to their possible
actions, the hands are on the trigger, so to speak, for firing powerful missiles
to destroy the identified targets."
"Thanks to ... our highly advanced facilities and
equipment, as well as due to the dispersion of our country's nuclear facilities
and complexes in the vast land of Iran, we are ready to deal with any threat
from the Zionist regime," he said.
The senior military officer said Israel's threats are
not new and "the fake Zionist regime, in addition to threats, has engaged
in sabotage and terrorist acts" against Iran's nuclear industry before.
"Although, based on international protocols and
standards and the rules and regulations of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, all countries have been prevented from attacking nuclear facilities,
the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been prepared to deal with these
threats from the very beginning," he noted.
The general went on to assure the Iranian citizens
that country’s nuclear facilities are in complete security.
Source:
tehrantimes.com
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---
Pakistan
JI chief announces nationwide anti-govt protest
movement
2024-04-19
LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman
has declared a nationwide protest movement against the government formed on
fraudulent grounds and on the basis of Form 47, asking workers to get ready for
it.
He invited political parties who share the belief that
the people's mandate has been compromised in recent elections to unite with JI
in this endeavour.
In his inaugural address upon assuming office and
taking oath as JI chief Pakistan at Mansoorah on Thursday, he emphasized the
imperative for institutions to remain apolitical, asserting that the
responsibility to govern lies solely with duly elected representatives.
JI, he reiterated, upholds the sanctity of the
constitution and advocates for peaceful political dissent.
Rehman attributed the nation's woes, spanning over 76
years, to systemic corruption and inefficiency, calling on those in power to
acknowledge their failures. He rallied JI members to mobilize for a mass
movement against the entrenched corrupt practices.
The swearing-in ceremony was graced by former JI Emir
Sirajul Haq and other dignitaries, with a significant turnout of JI supporters
and members of diverse backgrounds. The session was moderated by the JI
secretary-general Amirul Azim, who announced an upcoming protest, the Gaza
March, scheduled in front of the US Consulate in Lahore on April 20th, led by
Hafiz Naeem himself.
Paying homage to the esteemed legacy of former JI
Emirs Syed Maududi, Mian Tufail, Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Syed Munawar Hassan and
Sirajul Haq, Rehman underscored the party's commitment to continue its struggle
under the guidelines they established. He reiterated JI's global vision,
transcending sectarian divides and regional biases in pursuit of an inclusive
Islamic movement.
Rehman outlined JI's multifaceted agenda, including
the "Banu Qabil Program" aimed at providing education to one million
children, addressing concerns over the prevailing biased educational system,
advocating for the rights of women, and prioritizing youth empowerment as
pivotal for the nation's future. He said the JI would continue raising the
issue of missing persons. He extended an invitation to all citizens to join JI
in their fight against corrupt system. He said the country was like a mosque for
the JI, vowing to continue struggle for its protection and safety.
Regarding foreign policy, Rehman expressed opposition
to any trade agreements with India at the expense of Kashmiri lives and pledged
unwavering support for the people of Palestine. He lamented the stalled
progress on the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, attributing it to external
pressures. He also criticized the inflated electricity tariffs from Independent
Power Producers (IPPs).
Rehman affirmed JI's willingness to engage in dialogue
to fortify democracy, albeit within principled parameters. He reiterated JI's
stance on CPEC, saying the people of Pakistan sought answer why the work on
CPEC was not in progress. He reaffirmed the significance of Pakistan's
friendship with China.
Source:
brecorder.com
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----
JUIF’s doors are closed for Asad Qaiser: Maulana
Haideri
April 19, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Secretary General Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl
(JUIF) Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has said his party’s doors are closed for
Asad Qaiser, the former speaker of the National Assembly and leader of the
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
He asked Qaiser to apologise for associating himself
with an “anti-country party” and for destroying the interests of Pakistan,
saying that only then the JUIF’s doors would be open for him.
Haideri made it clear that this was his message for
every member who wanted to switch from Tehreek-e-Insaf to the JUIF.
Talking to a group of journalists at the Parliament
House, he said Qaiser had recently contacted Maulana Fazlur Rehman and had
discussed with him the political scene, especially the protest against rigged
elections.
hen asked to comment on reports of Qaiser joining the
JUIF, he said the former speaker of the National Assembly had not contacted him
about it.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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---
IHCBA petitions SC over alleged meddling in judicial
affairs
April 19, 2024
Sohail KhanISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court Bar
Association has approached the Supreme Court regarding alleged interference by
administration and intelligence agencies in judicial affairs, as reported by
six judges of the Islamabad High Court.
The IHCBA filed a petition through Advocate Syed Ahmed
Hassan Shah under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, naming the Federation of
Pakistan as the respondent. It prayed the apex court to pass orders for a probe
to ascertain the matters highlighted in, and arising out of the letter dated
March 25, 2024, written by six judges of the Islamabad High Court in such
manner as the apex court deems fit, and upon completion of such a probe, pass
appropriate orders to affix liability for those who undermined the independence
of the judiciary by resorting to all manner of interference in the judicial
work of the judges concerned.
It further prayed that if the matter is related to the
Supreme Judicial Council, then the Supreme Court should send recommendations to
the Supreme Judicial Council for due consideration. The IHCBA submitted that
the letter of Islamabad High Court judges raises grave issues which, if not
comprehensively addressed by the apex court, will erode confidence in the
judicial system of the country. Therefore, in the exercise of its original jurisdiction
under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, this court may intervene to secure
the independence of the judiciary, among others.
The IHCBA urged that there is no room for any kind of
interference (overt or covert) in the discharge of judicial functions by any
court of law by any external element, including but not limited to the
executive branch of the state or by any or all of its instrumentalities and/or
agencies. “Intimidation or harassment of a judge of a high court, a judge of
the court subordinate to it, or those discharging quasi-judicial functions and
responsibilities at a tribunal established by law is not fair game,” the IHCBA
contended, adding that it is an affront to constitutionalism and a brazen
attack on the independence of the judiciary.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1180000-ihcba-petitions-sc-over-alleged-meddling-in-judicial-affairs
---
SHC orders foolproof security for Imran
April 19, 2024
KARACHI:The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday issued
a directive instructing the federal government to ensure comprehensive security
measures for the PTI founder at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The court emphasized its impartial stance, asserting
that it adjudicates matters strictly in accordance with the law, irrespective
of the individual involved, whether it be Imran Khan or PML-N leader Nawaz
Sharif.
A division bench of the SHC, presided over by Chief
Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice MobeenLakho, deliberated on an
application seeking heightened security for the PTI founder.
Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Khaleeq Ahmed while
filing comments on behalf of the federal government adopted the stance that the
Centre had issued directives to the Punjab government to increase the security
at Adiala Jail and provide foolproof security to Imran Khan.
He said the federal government had not only issued the
orders but was also monitoring the entire situation.
He added that the PTI’s plea did not fall within the
ambit of SHC and that the applicant should approach the Lahore High Court (LHC)
Rawalpindi Bench.
Applicant Wahab Baloch’s counsel Ghuma Mohiyuddin
Advocate argued that sensitive state institutions had expressed their concern
about the security at Adiala Jail, adding that terrorists along with weapons
were also apprehended outside the prison.
He stated that the federation bore the responsibility
of guaranteeing the security of PTI founder.
He further noted that the federal government in its
reply had backed PTI’s stance and admitted that Imran Khan’s life was in danger
in the prison.
Addressing the DAG, the SHC chief justice remarked
that the security of Imran Khan was the federal government’s “major
responsibility” as he was in prison and “could not flee anywhere”.
He said the federal government “could not get rid of
the matter”, noting that the Centre would look into it if there was a threat
from outside.
He said the court had sought a reply from the federal
government keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter.
The SHC chief justice directed the DAG that the
federal government should constantly monitor the jail security and if
necessary, the authorities concerned should increase the security inside and
outside the prison.
Addressing the applicant, the chief justice remarked
that their legal team should approach the relevant forum for filing the plea.
He further noted that SHC was not the appropriate platform, but the court had
summoned a reply from the government keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter.
The chief justice said the federal government was
fulfilling its responsibility, adding that if the applicant had further
apprehensions, they could approach the LHC or the Rawalpindi Bench.
The PTI lawyers requested the chief justice to pass an
order to provide foolproof security to the PTI founder.
The chief justice replied that the court had to see
matters according to law and was not concerned whether it was Imran Khan or
Nawaz Sharif.
The SHC while making the federal government’s reply
part of the court record ordered the federal government to provide foolproof
security to the PTI founder and disposed of the plea.
Source:
tribune.com.pk
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---
Police kill bomber, militant to thwart attack on
Japanese nationals in Karachi
April 19, 2024
KARACHI:Police in Karachi shot down a suicide bomber
and a militant on Friday as they attacked a vehicle carrying five Japanese
nationals, all of whom remained unhurt, a police spokesperson said.
The attacked occurred in the Mansehra Colony area of
the port city.
The Japanese survivors have been moved to a safe place
in police custody, the police spokesperson, Abrar Hussain Baloch, said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the
attack from any militant group.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the
inspector general of the province to submit a report on the attack. The chief
minister also directed that 'immediate arrangements' be made for the security
of foreign nationals in the province.
He added that no anti-national element would be
allowed to disrupt law and order "at any cost". Murad also praised
the timely action of law enforcers for thwarting the attack.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the suicide
attack in Karachi and commended the police for averting any major loss of life.
The premier prayed for the recovery of the injured and
directed authorities to provide all possible aid to the injured.
"We will thwart any nefarious act of disturbing
law and order," said the prime minister.
Earlier, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeted a
convoy of Chinese engineers in the remote Besham area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on
Tuesday, killing six people.
The Chinese engineers were en route from Islamabad to
their camp in Dasu – the district headquarters of the Upper Kohistan district
of K-P. Their vehicle was hit by an explosive-laden vehicle, coming from the
opposite direction, near Lahore Nala on the Karakoram Highway.
The Chinese engineers’ vehicle was thrown off the
mountainous road into a deep ravine by the impact of the blast, killing all six
on board, including five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver. The
security forces reached the spot, shut the strategic highway for traffic on
both sides and launched an investigation.
Source:
tribune.com.pk
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---
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia agree to solidify efforts in
defence collaboration
April 19, 2024
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Friday agreed to solidify
efforts in regards to defence collaboration, according to a statement issued by
the military’s media affairs wing.
In a statement, the Inter Services Public Relations
(ISPR) said that Saudi Assistant Defence Minister Talal Bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi called
on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in
Rawalpindi.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest and
measures to further enhance bilateral defence collaboration including defence
production and military training were discussed. COAS affirmed Pakistan Army’s
continuing support towards capacity building of Royal Saudi Land Forces,” it
said.
“The visiting dignitary acknowledged Pakistan Army’s
achievements and sacrifices in war against terrorism and army’s valuable
contributions towards regional peace and stability,” the ISPR said.
It further said that the Saudi minister also
participated in the fifth meeting of the Pakistan-KSA Defence Collaboration at
GHQ, which he co-chaired along with the chief of general staff.
“The forum discussed challenges to global and regional
security and their implications on defence forces. Forum noted that rapid
advancements in modern technologies necessitated defence industrial cooperation
in critical capabilities between the two brotherly countries,” the ISPR said.
“Both sides reiterated their resolve to solidify the
efforts in defence collaboration with [a] focused approach to target specific
capabilities in land, air and sea domains. In this context, concrete proposals
were deliberated by the forum to meet tangible objectives within specific
timelines,” it added.
The development comes days after a high-powered Saudi
delegation, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud,
visited Pakistan.
According to the Saudi foreign minister, his visit to
Pakistan would deliver “significant benefits” in the upcoming months by
realising the potential of untapped economic development.
The visit by the delegation followed Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Makkah, where
the two sides agreed to expedite the first tranche of a $5 billion Saudi
investment package for Pakistan.
Source:
dawn.com
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---
Southeast
Asia
Korean Muslim YouTuber's plan to build mosque already
in trouble
April 19, 2024
South Korean Muslim YouTuber Daud Kim, who announced
his plan to build a mosque on land he purchased in Incheon, faces myriad
challenges, including a request to terminate the land contract, difficulties in
obtaining permission due to road conditions, and resistance from the local
neighborhood.
Kim, a content creator in his 30s with more than 5.52
million YouTube subscribers, uploaded a post on his Instagram on April 11 announcing
his plans to build a mosque, a Muslim place of worship, on land that he had
bought recently.
The property purchase contract he uploaded showed that
he had agreed to buy 284.4 square meters of land in Unbuk-dong, Yeongjong-do,
Jung-gu, Incheon, for 189.2 million won ($136,600). Kim said that he hoped to
fill his homeland with places of worship for Muslims, asking for financial
assistance from his fans.
However, the previous owner of the land has requested
a termination of the land contract, according to local reports.
The previous owner told the Yonhap News TV “I told the
real estate agent to terminate the contract.”
The exact reasons for the previous owner's request are
not known. However, some have suggested that opposition from neighboring
residents may be a contributing factor.
Kim is facing strong opposition from non-Muslim Korean
residents nearby. Objections to the plan have been posted in one online forum
for Yeongjong residents. Some comments read the plan to build a mosque
"will lower housing prices in the area.”
Furthermore, Kim may face administrative hurdles as
well. To build the mosque, he needs to register the ownership and obtain a
building permit for the mosque as a religious meeting place. However, as things
stand, it would be difficult to obtain this permit, an official at Incheon’s
Jung District Office said.
The surrounding environment is considered when
granting building permits, and due to the conditions of the roads nearby, it
may be difficult to obtain a building permit for a religious meeting place, the
official added.
Similarly, the construction of a mosque in Daegu has
faced persistent challenges since its initiation in September 2020. Some
neighbors filed complaints opposing the mosque's construction, leading to the
suspension of the project in 2021 and prompting Muslims to file a lawsuit
against the district office.
Additionally, some non-Muslim neighbors gathered
signatures to oppose the mosque and staged protests against its construction.
While they initially cited concerns about noise and dust from construction
activities, their objections expanded to include grievances about the aromas of
foreign cuisine emanating from the mosque and the sounds of worshippers.
The protesters have faced accusations that their
objections are rooted in prejudice. Islamophobic incidents have occurred at the
building site, such as pig's heads being left outside.
Out of South Korea's 51.7 million people, the Korea
Muslim Federation estimates the Muslim population to be 150,000, of which
approximately 120,000 are workers, mainly from Uzbekistan, Bangladesh,
Indonesia and Pakistan, and 30,000 are students and businesspeople.
Source:
koreaherald.com
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https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20240419050559
---
In Indonesia, Chinese foreign minister says US is
preventing ceasefire in Gaza
18 April 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi,
after a meeting with his counterpart in Indonesia, attacked the United States
Thursday for blocking United Nations resolutions calling for a ceasefire in
Gaza.
The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers
reiterated their countries’ calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in
Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta, condemning the humanitarian costs of Israel’s
ongoing war against Hamas.
The US, together with Egypt and Qatar, brokered a
brief ceasefire earlier in the war that included some swaps of hostages taken
by Hamas and other terror groups in return for Palestinian prisoners held by
Israel, and has sought to bring about a new deal.
The US vetoed a number of proposed UN Security Council
ceasefire resolutions because they didn’t tie the calls directly to the release
of Israeli hostages or condemn Hamas’s attack that prompted the war. It
eventually allowed a resolution to a pass with an abstention in late March,
sparking Israeli anger.
The meeting took place on the second day of a six-day
tour during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Papua New
Guinea and Cambodia.
Indonesian Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi told
reporters that the two countries share the same view about the importance of a
ceasefire and of resolving the Palestinian problem through a two-state
solution.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority
country, has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians and does not
recognize Israel (though recent reports have indicated this may soon change as
part of the country’s efforts to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development, of which Israel is a member).
“I am sure that China would use its influence to
prevent escalation,” Marsudi said, adding that China and Indonesia “would also
fully support Palestine’s membership in the UN.”
Wang blamed the United States for holding up ceasefire
resolutions at the UN.
“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for half a year and
caused a rare humanitarian tragedy in the 21st century. The United Nations
Security Council responded to the call of the international community and
continued to review the resolution draft on the ceasefire in Gaza, but it was
repeatedly vetoed by the United States,” Wang told reporters.
American officials have argued that the ceasefire and
hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members
favor unconditional calls for a ceasefire. China and Russia also vetoed one
US-backed ceasefire resolution, saying it was not strong enough.
Referring to the resolution that was eventually
approved by the Security Council in March, Wang said: “This time, the US did
not dare to stand in opposition to international morality and chose to abstain.
However, the US claimed that this resolution was not binding,” Wang said. “In
the eyes of the United States, international law seems to be a tool that can be
used whenever it finds useful and discarded if it does not want to use it.”
The two ministers also discussed their countries’
economic relationship and the South China Sea.
China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with the
trade volume reaching more than $127 billion. China is also one of Indonesia’s
largest foreign investors, with investment flows of more than $7.4 billion in
2023.
Later Thursday, Wang also met Indonesian President
Joko Widodo and president-elect PrabowoSubianto, who is currently defense
minister.
The war between Israel and Hamas broke out following
Hamas’s October 7 attack on the country, in which terrorists killed nearly
1,200 people and kidnapped 253.
The ensuing Israeli offensive against Hamas has killed
over 33,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. This
figure cannot be independently verified and includes some 13,000 Hamas gunmen
Israel says it has killed in battle. Israel also says it killed some 1,000
terrorists inside Israel on October 7. Meanwhile, 260 Israel soldiers have been
killed in the offensive.
Source:
timesofisrael.com
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---
ASEAN says ‘deeply concerned’ over escalating Myanmar
violence
April 19, 2024
BANGKOK: Regional bloc ASEAN said it is “deeply
concerned” about a recent upsurge in fighting in Myanmar, after fierce clashes
over a key trading hub near the Thai border.
The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations urged “all parties for an immediate cessation of violence” in
Myanmar, which has been roiled by conflict since the military seized power in a
February 2021 coup.
The ministers’ statement issued late Thursday said
ASEAN was “deeply concerned over the recent escalation of conflicts, including
in the area of Myawaddy.”
The military was last week forced to pull its troops
out of positions in the valuable trading post after days of battling with the
Karen National Union (KNU) — a long-established ethnic minority armed group —
and other anti-junta fighters.
It was the latest blow suffered by the junta, which
has suffered a string of battlefield losses in recent months, with some
analysts warning it is its most significant threat to date.
Myawaddy is Myanmar’s main trade link to Thailand, and
usually sees over a billion dollars worth of trade annually.
The clashes saw people flee across the border into
Thailand — from where gunfire and the boom of artillery barrages could be
heard.
Thailand has said it is ready to receive people from
Myanmar, though the kingdom’s foreign minister warned it would not tolerate any
violation of its sovereignty.
Source:
arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2495581/world
-----
Kelantan to give full cooperation to ensure Aidilfitri
Madani a success
18-04- 2024
KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan government will give full
cooperation to the Federal government on the organisation of the Aidilfitri
Madani 2024 celebration, scheduled to be held on May 2.
Kelantan MenteriBesar Datuk MohdNassuruddin Daud (pix)
said that a joint meeting would be held soon, to determine the course of action
and the location of the programme.
He said that there is indeed cooperation with the
state government, but it has not been coordinated and finalised yet.
“We will give full cooperation to support the
organisation of this programme. A meeting will be held soon to discuss all
aspects, including those relating to certain requirements other than location
selection,” he said.
He said this to reporters at the Pas Aidilfitri Open
Day, at DataranWarisan Stadium Sultan Muhammad IV, here, today.
He added that the state government is confident that
the organisation of the Aidilfitri MADANI 2024 celebration in the state will be
well received by all the Kelantanese.
Meanwhile, he said that a total of RM3 million has
been collected through the Palestine Fund, launched by the state government
during Ramadan.
“The collection of donations will continue from time
to time, especially during this Aidilfitri to add to the existing donations, as
a sign of solidarity with the Palestinian people,“ he said.
Source:
thesun.my
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----
PM Anwar: Claims of Opposition MPs needing to support
me for allocations baseless
19 Apr 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim has denied Opposition claims that its members of parliament will
only be given allocations if they pledged support for his leadership.
Instead, the prime minister said discussions on the
matter were more focused on ensuring government stability and economic growth.
“There are no conditions to support the PM as alleged
by the Opposition. We have given the mandate to (Deputy Prime Minister Datuk
Seri) Fadillah (Yusof) and the committee (to handle discussions).
“Talks are focused on ensuring government stability
and on economic growth that guarantees peace and stability,” he said after
performing Friday prayers at the Bandar Teknologi mosque in Kajang today.
Yesterday, Fadillah said the Unity Government
Secretariat Supreme Leadership Council has agreed in principle to consider
extending allocations to elected representatives from the opposition.
Fadillah said a draft memorandum of understanding
(MoU) will be prepared and conveyed to the opposition for further discussion. —
Bernama
Source:
malaymail.com
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----
PM Anwar to discuss situation in Iran with Foreign
Ministry
19 Apr 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — The government will hold a
special meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest situation in Iran,
including the possibility of repatriating Malaysians, following Israel’s attack
on that country, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The prime minister said the meeting would be held with
the Foreign Ministry.
He reiterated Malaysia’s stand of condemning Israel’s
bombing of the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital early this month, which
provoked Iran into launching a retaliatory strike against Israel.
“The Zionist Israel has cruelly attacked the Iranian
consulate (in Damascus), so this violated all international laws. But if you
look at the narratives and statements from Western countries, almost none
condemned or protested,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at
Masjid Bandar TeknologiKajang here today.
He said Iran had retaliated with a controlled attack
on Israel and now Israel was using this as an excuse to strike back at Iran.
“Our stand is first, we must condemn the attack on the
embassy. Second, we want peace.
“The people affected are not only those in the Middle
East, the Arab world, Iran but the whole world because this will cause oil
prices to shoot up, transport (cost) to surge,” he said.
He said Malaysia was pushing for peace guarantees and
a forceful stop to the atrocities committed by Israel, as the big Western
powers were reluctant to take action to check Israel’s aggression.
International news agencies reported that Israel
launched an attack on Iranian soil today in response to Iran’s strike last
weekend which saw about 300 missiles and drones fired towards Israel.
However, most of the drones and missiles aimed at
Israel were intercepted. — Bernama
Source:
malaymail.com
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---
Africa
‘We Will Kill You All’ – COAS Sends Warning To
Criminals In Nigeria
18 April 2024
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TaoreedLagbaja, has
sent a fresh warning to criminals in the country, warning them to desist from
their evil ways or be killed.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the closing of the
2024 Chief of Army Staff Conference, Lagbaja reiterated the resolve of the army
to eliminate all criminals and keep the country safe and secure.
The Army Chief also called for the support of
Nigerians in the efforts by the military to keep the country safe.
He said, “I wish to warn criminal elements in our
society that the Nigerian Army will stop at nothing to neutralise them.
“I enjoin law-abiding Nigerians to continue to support
the Nigerian Army in our efforts to make our territory inviolable, safeguard
the lives and properties of loyal citizens, and create the enabling atmosphere
for good governance and economic prosperity.”
On the part of the troops, the Chief of Army Staff
urged them not to rest on their oars despite the successes recorded so far in
the fight against criminals in the country.
He noted that total victory is the goal, and unless
that is achieved, it is not yet time to celebrate.
Lagbaja said, “I suppose this gathering has again
awakened us to the reality that it is not yet time to celebrate total victory.
I am not in doubt that the Nigerian Army is blessed with competent and
committed personnel at all levels to ensure a substantial level of success that
can help create the enabling environment necessary for good governance and
economic prosperity.”
He urged the troops to always be courageous in the
fight against insecurity, adding that a little fear on their part would
embolden the criminals.
Lagbaja said, “I must, however, remind you all of the
need to always be ingenious and courageous because the adversaries we fight are
emboldened by weakness; thus, we cannot afford to show a jot of it. As reminded
by the CMI(A) in his brief, fear is a major currency with which our adversaries
trade, and we must turn the tide against them and out-trade them in their
currency.”
Source:
naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/04/18/we-will-kill-you-all-coas-sends-warning-to-criminals-in-nigeria/
---
Burkina Faso expels three French diplomats and gives
them 48 to leave the country
[18/April/2024]
OUAGADOUGOU April 18. 2024 (Saba) - Burkina Faso has
given three French diplomats, including two advisers at the French embassy in
Ouagadougou, 48 hours to leave the country, accusing them of involvement in
"subversive activities".
Burkina Faso's foreign ministry sent a warrant to
expel three French diplomats, including two political advisers at the French
embassy in Ouagadougou, after declaring them "persona non grata" for
"subversive activities" and asking them to leave the country,
according to AFP.
In a note to the French embassy in Ouagadougou dated
Tuesday and obtained by Agence France-Presse on Thursday, the ministry wrote
that the three diplomats "classified persona non grata on the territory of
Burkina Faso for carrying out subversive activities". "They are being
asked to leave" Burkina Faso "within the next 48 hours."
The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on
Thursday that it regretted Burkina Faso's decision to expel French diplomats
and staff.
On December 1, four French government employees who
authorities said were intelligence agents and a French diplomatic source in
Ouagadougou said were computer maintenance technicians, were arrested, charged
and then imprisoned, according to the French source. They are now under house
arrest, according to Burkina Faso security sources.
In December 2022, the Burkina Faso government deported
two French workers for a local company after authorities suspected them of
being spies.
Source:
saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3322166.htm
----
We will continue to support Israel' Malawi FM during
embassy inauguration ceremony
APRIL 18, 2024
Malawi Foreign Minister Nancy Tembo and Israeli
Foreign Minister Israel Katz celebrated the opening of Malawi's embassy in
Israel, Maariv reported on Thursday.
In 2020, Malawi's Foreign Minister, Eisenhower Mkaka,
came on a diplomatic mission to Israel. During his visit, he met with Prime
Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, who emphasized Malawi's
president Lazarus Chakwera's intention to establish a permanent embassy in
Israel.
On Thursday (18 April), the current Malawai Foreign
Minister, Nancy Tembo, fulfilled her predecessor's promise to Israel in a
ceremony in Tel Aviv with Katz and Minister of Interior Moshe Arbel.
During the ceremony, Tembo, Katz, and Arbel signed an
agreement to pilot a program to bring approximately 3,000 agricultural workers
to Israel.
Just before the ceremony, Katz and Tembo met with the
families of the hostages Carmel Gat, Or Levy, and Daniel Peretz.
"195 days have passed since October 7. We must
return all of the 133 hostages held by Hamas, and we are working in every
possible way to bring them back home." Katz said. He then added, "We
are at a critical time after Hamas' refusal to the proposal brought by the
mediators." the Israeli foreign minister then stressed the importance of
pressuring Hamas to return the hostages without being pressured into a
ceasefire first.
Meeting with family members of the hostages
Tembo listened to stories told by the family members
of the hostages and saw pictures of them. She then promised to assist in the
efforts to return the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, agreeing to Katz's
request to push for their release on international discussions, conditioning a
ceasefire on their release.
"We will continue to support Israel even when all
the others don't" said Tembo during the ceremony. She further added that
all of the hostages must be returned, saying she "has never seen such
inhumane acts as there were on October 7. Malawi prays for the hostages."
Michael, hostage Or Levy's brother, said that Or was
kidnapped from the Supernova music festival party, "his wife Einav was
murdered, and their two-year-old son Almog was left alone."
Carmel Gat's cousin Gil said to Tembo that Carmel was
kidnapped from Be'eri after a two-month-long trip to India. "Hostages that
returned told us that she is still alive," said Gil, "but we are
running out of time. They must return as soon as possible since time is killing
them in captivity."
Doron, Daniel's father, shared that his son's body is
still in Gaza, held by Hamas. "He saved many in Nir Oz and was kidnapped
from inside his tank by terrorists. The soldiers cannot be left behind. They
must be a part of any deal."
Source:
jpost.com
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-797765
---
Zimbabwe frees prisoners, including those sentenced to
death, in an independence day
APRIL 18, 2024
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted clemency
to more than 4,000 prisoners, including some who were on death row, in an
independence day amnesty on Thursday.
Zimbabwe marked 44 years of independence from white
minority rule, which ended in 1980 after a bloody bush war. The country’s name
was changed from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe.
The presidential amnesty, the second in less than a
year, benefits female, older and juvenile inmates, the terminally ill and some
who were originally sentenced to death.
Those once on death row but who had their sentences
commuted to life terms in previous clemency orders or through court appeals are
to be freed provided they have been in prison for at least 20 years, according
to the clemency order, which was announced Wednesday and due to take effect on
Thursday.
All female prisoners who had served at least a third
of their sentence by independence day are being freed, as are juvenile inmates
who have served the same period.
Prisoners age 60 and older who have served one tenth
of their sentences will also be released. Mnangagwa also pardoned the blind and
others with disabilities who have served a third of their sentence.
The prisoners are being released in batches across the
country.
However, those jailed for “specified” offences that
include sexual offences, robbery, public violence, unlawful possession of
firearms, human trafficking and theft or vandalism of electricity and
telecommunications infrastructure won't benefit from the amnesty.
All death row prisoners who have been in jail for at
least 10 years had their sentences commuted to life in prison under the
amnesty.
Zimbabwe has more than 60 inmates on death row. It
wasn't immediately clear how many of those had their sentences commuted to life
under the amnesty.
Zimbabwe is one of more than a dozen countries in
Africa and more than 50 across the world that have the death penalty, although
the country's last hanging was in 2005. Mnangagwa says he supports abolishing
the death penalty, a move which was backed by the Cabinet in February and is
now awaiting approval from Parliament.
Mnangagwa freed more than 4,000 prisoners in another
clemency order last May aimed at decongesting the southern African nation's
overcrowded prisons, where conditions are usually harsh. At the time, Zimbabwe
had about 22,000 prisoners crammed into prisons with a capacity of 17,000.
Source:
africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/19/zimbabwe-frees-prisoners-including-those-sentenced-to-death-in-an-independence-day/
---
Europe
German authorities arrest Jewish activist over
pro-Palestinian demos
18 April 2024
German authorities have arrested Jewish activist Udi
Raz for organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the country.
The Berlin resident lost his job after he was labeled
an antisemitic by German authorities for calling Israel an "apartheid
state."
“I migrated here with a promise that I can live my
life in a progressive, democratic, liberal state. Since the 7th of October all
the masks have fallen. It is clear when we talk about Germany, we cannot
anymore talk about democracy," said Udi Raz, a 34-year-old anti-Zionism
Israel-born activist in an online video.
Raz was fired from his position as a tour guide at the
Jewish Museum in Berlin when he referred to Israel’s occupation of the West
Bank as “apartheid”.
Raz who grew up in Haifa felt a severe apartheid setup
knitted around him. The inferior treatment given to Palestinians made him
uneasy forcing him to migrate to Germany.
He thought Germany was a free country that believed in
equality but as time passed his beliefs came crashing down.
“Germany is promoting only those Jews who are willing
to produce anti-Muslim discourse. Jews who do not perceive Muslims as such are
being marked as a threat not just to the German nation but to Jews themselves,”
the Middle East Eye quoted saying Raz.
Raz has been a leading Jewish peace activist in
Berlin. His group Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East which speaks
against various forms of injustice including the Zionist regime's suppression
of the Palestinians has been labeled anti-Semitic by the German government.
“Our bank account was suspended by our bank.
Sparkasse. This comes after a long history of sanctions, divestments against
us, one of the largest Jewish organizations in Germany,” Raz said.
“Demonstrations we have registered were banned, our
members were detained and interrogated by the German police. Unlike the
leadership of Hamas, the government of Germany does not differentiate between
Zionism and Judaism.”
German authorities arrested Raz last week after canceling
and banning the group’s three-day conference on Palestine.
The conference was set to host leading
British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah. The Berlin police canceled it
within its first two hours on Friday.
The German government detained and deported Abu Sittah
who was to speak about his work and post-October 7 experience in war-torn Gaza.
Abu Sittah took to X on Friday, saying that he was
being held at a Berlin airport and would not be able to attend the conference,
to which he was invited to speak “about my work in Gaza hospitals.”
Abu Sittah who was interrogated by the German police
at the airport for more than three hours was told that if he tried to attend
the conference virtually or send a video message to be played for the audience
he could face up to a year in prison.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, German
authorities have been clamping down on the Palestine solidarity movements
across the country. The conference was the latest instance of Germany making it
explicitly clear that it stands on the side of genocide perpetrated by Tel
Aviv.
Raz said that the Berlin Senate was trying for several
weeks to stop the Palestinian Congress from conducting its program and one of
the measures used was freezing the organization's bank accounts.
“We want everyone to be treated equally, we want human
rights and international law to be respected. That makes the German state very
uncomfortable, they are OK with the apartheid regime and its genocidal crimes,”
the Jewish activist said.
Questioning the authority of Israel, Raz said, “Israel
speaks in the name of Zionist Jews, in the name of racist Jews. Israel is not
Judaism. When we talk about free Palestine from Zionism, we also talk about
free Judaism from Zionism.”
Raz’s organization has been campaigning against the
occupying regime's crimes, calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza and
demanding that the German government suspend diplomatic, economic and military
support to Israel.
However, Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle
East is not the only group that has been targeted by the German government in
its relentless support for the Israeli regime.
Since Israel launched its deadly assault on Gaza, people speaking for Palestine have been
deemed anti-Semitic by Germany.
Yuval Abraham, an Israeli was called an anti-Semite –
for criticizing Germany in suppressing any criticism of Israel's war in Gaza.
Last week Germany canceled Jewish American
philosopher, Nancy Fraser’s planned visiting professorship after learning she
signed a pro-Palestine letter.
“I think of this as a fever that’s gripping Germany
and to a lesser extent, Austria. It is a very harmful thing. I also think that
it’s so important that Germans understand something of the complexity and
breadth of Judaism, its history, its perspective. They are sort of signing on
with this idea of an unconditional pledge of allegiance to Israel, that that’s
the German responsibility — unqualified support for the state of Israel, Fraser
said in an interview with Jacobin.
“Given what Israel is currently up to, this is a
betrayal of what I would call the most important and weighty aspects of Judaism
as a history, a perspective, and a body of thought,” the academic added.
Source:
presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/18/723927/Jewish-activist-latest-victim-to-Germany-s-crackdown-on-Palestinian-voices
---
France intercepted Iranian drones, missiles over
Jordan at Amman's request: Ministry
Salim Boussaïd
19.04.2024
France intercepted Iranian drones and missiles in
Jordanian airspace during Iran’s attack on Israel at Amman’s request, a deputy
spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
Christophe Lemoine was responding to questions during
a weekly press briefing.
"France intercepted Iranian missiles and drones
originally targeting Israel during the night from Saturday to Sunday at the
request of Jordan," Lemoine said.
"We have an air base in Jordan, and Jordanian
airspace was violated by these shots. This is what the president of the
republic stated, so I am using his words," he noted.
"We are committed to Israel's security. However,
in this case, these interceptions of missiles and drones were carried out at
the request of Jordan, whose airspace was violated," he added.
Iran on Saturday launched an airborne attack on Israel
in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic compound in the
Syrian capital. It reportedly fired more than 300 drones and missiles, with
almost all intercepted by the air defense systems of Israel and its allies –
the US, France and the UK
Israel said allied forces had assisted it in
countering the offensive, expressing its intention to respond to Iran's
airstrikes, leading to an escalation of tensions in the region.
In a televised interview Monday, French President
Emmanuel Macron said that France had intervened "in strict protection and
defense" after "Iran violated the airspace of several countries,”
stressing that Paris wanted to "avoid a conflagration" in the region.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/france-intercepted-iranian-drones-missiles-over-jordan-at-ammans-request-ministry/3195951
----
Ireland 'disappointed' after Security Council fails to
pass draft resolution demanding Palestine's full membership at UN
BurakBir
19.04.2024
Ireland is "disappointed" at failure of
Security Council vote demanding Palestine's full membership at UN, the
country's foreign minister said Thursday.
"Disappointed at outcome of UN Security Council
vote on Palestinian UN membership. It is past time for Palestine to take its
rightful place amongst the nations of the world," Micheal Martin wrote on
X.
His reaction came just after the US vetoes UN Security
Council draft resolution that demanding Palestine's full membership at the UN.
The membership was blocked with a vote of 12 in favor
and two abstentions, including the UK and Switzerland.
"Ireland fully supports UN membership and will
vote in favour of any UNGA resolution to that end," he added.
Ireland is among a few European nations, including
Spain that already committed to recognizing the Palestinian state.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/ireland-disappointed-after-security-council-fails-to-pass-draft-resolution-demanding-palestines-full-membership-at-un/3196171
---
Poland expresses 'grave' concerns over planned Israeli
offensive in Rafah
BurakBir
19.04.2024
Poland on Thursday expressed "grave"
concerns over Israeli intention to launch a ground operation in Rafah, a
southern Gaza Strip city packed with nearly 1.5 million displaced Palestinians.
"We express our grave concerns regarding Israeli
military activities in the vicinity of Rafah where the civilian population has
taken shelter. These civilians are at the risk of being forced towards Egypt,
the only direction available," Andrzej Szejna, Poland’s deputy foreign
minister, told a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle
East, including the Palestinian question.
The Israeli army has unveiled plans to invade Rafah,
where more than 1.5 million people have taken refuge from Israel’s ongoing war
on the Palestinian enclave, despite opposition from several countries,
including the US.
Israel's intended plans for the Rafah offensive have
sounded international alarm bells, with many urging restraint or cancelation of
the operation.
Touching on the current humanitarian crisis, Szejna
noted: "Poland will remain committed to supporting the United Nations
broad-based efforts to stabilize the Middle East and deliver humanitarian
assistance to the region."
Szejna also slammed Israeli strikes on the World
Central Kitchen convoy on April 1, which killed seven aid workers, including
Damian Sobol, a Polish citizen and welcomed worldwide calls for an
investigation and accountability.
Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the
Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group
Hamas.
Nearly 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children,
have since been killed in Gaza, and over 76,800 others injured amid mass
destruction and shortages of necessities.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population
into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and
medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or
destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International
Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop
genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is
provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/poland-expresses-grave-concerns-over-planned-israeli-offensive-in-rafah/3196097
---
UK, US sanction leading Iranian military figures after
attack on Israel
BurakBir
18.04.2024
The UK and US have imposed fresh sanctions on top
Iranian military officials, including Armed Forces General Staff, the British
Foreign Office announced on Thursday.
"In a coordinated package with the US, leading
Iranian military figures have been sanctioned in response to Iran’s dangerous
direct attack on Israel on 14 April," the British government said in a
statement.
It came after Tehran carried out an overnight attack
on Israel on Saturday in response to an April 1 strike on its consulate in
Syria that killed seven Iranian military officers, including two top-ranking
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commanders for Syria and Lebanon.
Israel has not formally taken responsibility for the
strike but has carried out attacks on Iranian targets across Syria in recent
months. The US has denied having any role in it.
"The UK and US have also announced a range of
sanctions to tighten the net on key actors within Iran’s unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) and missile industries and further limit Iran’s ability to
destabilize the region," added the statement.
The sanctions were announced by UK's Foreign Secretary
David Cameron during his attendance at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in
Capri, Italy.
"These sanctions – announced with the US – show
we unequivocally condemn this behavior, and they will further limit Iran’s
ability to destabilize the region," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in the
statement.
Cameron said: "The MSC Aries and its crew should
be released immediately, and Iran should halt its reckless and unlawful
behavior. Further escalation is in no one’s interest."
The individuals sanctioned are subject to a travel ban
and asset freeze while the entities are subject to an asset freeze, according
to the statement.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/uk-us-sanction-leading-iranian-military-figures-after-attack-on-israel/3195593
----
France urges Israel to respect international
humanitarian law, allow aid delivery
UmitDonmez
18.04.2024
France urged Israel on Thursday to respect
international humanitarian law and ensure aid delivery.
“France, like the International Court of Justice,
calls on Israel to lift all obstacles and to allow the safe and unhindered
distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip,” said a Foreign Ministry
spokesperson.
The ministry also urged Israel to ensure the
protection of the civilian population and humanitarian workers.
“Hindering rescue delivery under the provisions of the
Geneva Conventions can represent a crime that falls within the jurisdiction of
the International Criminal Court,” added the spokesperson.
Israel has waged a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip
since Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group,
Hamas, which killed less than 1,200 people.
Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the
Palestinian enclave, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern
Gaza, on the verge of starvation.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population
into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and
medicine, while over 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or
destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International
Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop
genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is
provided to civilians in Gaza.
Source:
aa.com.tr
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/france-urges-israel-to-respect-international-humanitarian-law-allow-aid-delivery/3195502
---
EU foreign policy chief, Saudi foreign minister
discuss tension in Middle East
BeyzaBinnurDonmez
18.04.2024
The EU foreign policy chief and the Saudi foreign
minister on Thursday spoke over the phone to discuss the latest developments in
the Middle East.
"Timely call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on latest developments in the Middle East. Shared
sense of urgency to work together on de-escalation and find a sustainable way
out of the crisis," JosepBorrell, High Representative of the EU for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said on X.
Borrell stressed that the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council
Security Forum in Luxemburg is a "good occasion" to take this
forward.
The tension is running high in the Middle East as Iran
on Saturday launched an airborne attack on Israel in retaliation for an April 1
airstrike on its diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital.?
It reportedly fired more than 300 drones and missiles,
with almost all intercepted by the air defense systems of Israel and its allies
– the US, France and the UK.
Iran claimed that some targets were hit. Israel, in
turn, said it would respond to Iran's attack.
Source:
aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/eu-foreign-policy-chief-saudi-foreign-minister-discuss-tension-in-middle-east/3195157
---
Each US veto on Gaza costs thousands of lives: Russia
APR 18, 2024
Russia criticized the U.S. for vetoing the U.N.
Security Council resolutions on Gaza, saying that each veto costs thousands of
lives in the blockaded Palestinian enclave amid Israel's ongoing attacks.
"Every American veto on Gaza is not just a voting
statistic in the U.N. Security Council. We must not forget that it also had a
specific terrible price – the lives of thousands of civilians in Gaza,”
Russia's Permanent Representative to the U.N. VasilyNebenzya said in a Security
Council session on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian
question.
Expressing that the current situation in the Middle
East is escalating every day and drawing in new countries in the region,
Nebenzya said humanitarian resolutions by the U.N. on Gaza cannot be
implemented without a cease-fire.
Nebenzya said the U.S. does not hide that it perceives
the Security Council "as a hindrance that should not get in the way"
of its diplomacy.
Russia calls for a vote for the resolution to accept
Palestine as a full member of the U.N., he added.?
Source:
dailysabah.com
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https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/each-us-veto-on-gaza-costs-thousands-of-lives-russia
---
South
Asia
Deputy PM Hanafi Meets Kabul Governor, Praised Works
and Activities of Officials
2024-04-18
KABUL (BNA): Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime
Minister for Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, met with Mullah
AminullahObaid, the governor of Kabul.
According to a statement from Arg, during this
meeting, Mullah AminullahObaid provided information about the activities of the
local administration of Kabul province to the Deputy Prime Minister.
He said that the officials of Kabul province have
always been striving to ensure securiprovideding services, creating necessary
facilitiesfor the residents of Kabul province, and they spare no effort in
addressing the problems faced by the people.
Referring to the serious attention of the Islamic
Emirate in all fields, the Governor of Kabul also requested that special
attention be paid to the expansion of the coordination of the second units of
the administrations.
The Deputy Prime Minister also praised the activities
and functions of the Kabul province officials in this meeting.
Mr. Hanafi while expressing appreciation for the
measures taken during the Eid holidays by the officials of the Islamic Emirate,
also stated that officials must make more efforts regarding security provision,
creating social welfare, and providing necessary facilities for citizens.
Source:
bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/deputy-pm-hanafi-meets-kabul-governor-praised-works-and-activities-of-officials/
---
Doctors without Borders Express Concern over new wave
of Afghan Migrant Expulsion from Pakistan
2024-04-18
KABUL (BNA): The Doctors without Borders Organization
has expressed concern in a statement regarding the initiation of the second
phase of Afghan migrants’ expulsion from Pakistan.
This organization emphasizes that the majority of these
individuals were residing in that country for decades. In this phase,
approximately 800,000 holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), issued by
Pakistan, are also at risk of expulsion.
Doctors without Borders has urged Pakistan not to
forget its international commitments and to adhere to humanitarian principles
in dealing with migrants.
It is worth mentioning that the second phase of Afghan
migrants’ expulsion from Pakistan commenced three days ago, on 15th of April.
Source:
bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/doctors-without-borders-express-concern-over-new-wave-of-afghan-migrant-expulsion-from-pakistan/
---
2023 marred by ‘tremendous challenges’ for Afghanistan
April 18, 2024'
Last year, 2023, was a year of “tremendous challenges”
for the people of Afghanistan, but it was also a year marked by resilience and
determination, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General,
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, IndrikaRatwatte, said in the UN’s annual
report on Afghanistan that was published this week.
Ratwatte said: “In the face of adversity and multiple
concurrent shocks, the people of Afghanistan have demonstrated remarkable
courage and strength.”
Afghans now mention access to food as their most
pressing need, he said adding that “unable to pay for or produce basic
sustenance, millions face hunger and malnutrition.”
In 2024, an estimated 15.8 million people will
experience crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity.
The majority of the population is unable to procure
basic needs such as healthcare, food, livelihoods, and housing, the report
stated.
The UN found that the country also remains vulnerable
to climate change.
Following the worst drought in three decades, emerging
El Niño conditions now threaten a new cycle of flooding and crop pests. In this
context, lifesaving humanitarian aid has been crucial in preventing the
collapse of the social fabric. It has also served to underpin the stability of
the economy. Despite growing humanitarian needs, relevant funding cuts have
forced humanitarian actors to prioritize the most vulnerable further, the
report stated.
A Gallup poll found that 95 percent of the population
consider themselves to be suffering. In addition to living in poverty, the
average life expectancy in Afghanistan has been falling for the past five
years.
The Herat earthquakes and unprecedented large-scale
returns of refugees from neighbouring countries, including Pakistan and Iran,
have shown the disruptive impact of recurrent shocks and underscored the need
for sustained international engagement and support, the UN stated.
“As we embark on the next chapter, in 2024, it is
imperative that we remain steadfast in our commitment to the principles of
human rights, gender equality, and women’s Empowerment,” Ratwatte said.
“We will continue to include women as key partners in
our work, to provide assistance ‘by women, for women’, and to tirelessly work
for equal access to education in line with the demands we hear from Afghans in
all areas of the country,” he said.
However, from an economic point of view, Afghanistan’s
economy appears to be stabilizing at a low equilibrium level following a period
of significant contraction since 2021.
The UN said in the report that growth barriers include
severely restricted operations in the banking sector (including microfinance
institutions), trade disruptions, and institutional issues hindering service
delivery, including in the private sector.
“The sudden cessation of a significant amount of
international aid and grants, which had accounted for 40 percent of the
country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), along with a freeze on international
reserves amounting to about US$9 billion and the imposition of international
sanctions, caused a severe balance of payments, banking and payment systems
crisis.
“Notably, financial restrictions have removed liquidity
from the banking system,” the report stated.
Despite the crisis and a period of devaluation towards
the end of the year, the AFN is 20 percent stronger than it was in 2021 due to
currency export controls, UN cash shipments of US dollars into Afghanistan, and
personalremittances.
Imports continued to surpass exports through 2023 and
increased as the economy contracted.
“This appears to be a paradox: the currency
appreciated while the trade deficit widened, suggesting that there might be
other unidentified sources of financing besides US dollar cash shipments and
remittances to support the account deficits,” the report read.
The UN also said that with its partners, it will work
to initiate a dialogue with the Islamic Emirate on adjustments to regulatory frameworks
and sustained public service delivery with the aim of creating a long-term and
sustainable pathway to reduce aid dependency and put Afghanistan back on a path
towards development
“In this regard, we reiterate our offer to the DFA for
a dialogue and will work jointly with international partners, donors, and
Afghans on how such engagement can be structured in a most productive way.”
Source:
ariananews.af
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https://www.ariananews.af/2023-marred-by-tremendous-challenges-for-afghanistan/
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Turkish coast guard detains 40 Afghan refugees
Fidel Rahmati
April 18, 2024
Turkish Coast Guard recently announced the detention
of 40 Afghan refugees by coastal guards on the shores of Ayvalik city.
Turkish media reported on Thursday, April 18th that
these refugees, who were on board a boat, have been transferred to the
Foreigners’ Repatriation Center in Ayvalik after being detained by the Turkish
coast guard.
Previously, the Turkish Coast Guard has reported the
detention of Afghan citizens on the shores of the country.
However, Turkish Coast Guard officials cite the lack
of legal documents and illegal border crossing as the reasons for detaining
these refugees.
Turkey serves as a primary route for refugees seeking
to reach Europe, with individuals from various countries, including
Afghanistan, paying thousands of dollars and accepting the risks of death to
travel to the country.
Many Afghan refugees choose Turkey as a gateway to
European countries, driven by persecution, security threats, limited job
prospects, and a dire humanitarian crisis back home.
Once these refugees arrive in neighboring countries,
they encounter significant challenges, especially due to their lack of legal
documentation.
The migration from Afghanistan is not just a matter of
reaching neighboring countries but also grappling with the harsh realities and
uncertainties that come with the journey.
Source:
khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/turkish-coast-guard-detains-40-afghan-refugees/
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Afghan Representatives in Europe Meet Two Acting
Ministers in Kabul
April 18, 2024
Acting Minister of Vice and Virtue Mohammad Khalid
Hanafi, in a meeting with Afghan figures residing in Europe who were visiting
Kabul, said that women's rights are secured within the framework of Islamic law
in the country.
During the meeting, the acting minister also said that
no one will be allowed to violate women's rights in the country.
HekmatullahHekmat, the head of the Union of Afghans in
Sweden, told TOLOnews: "It is important to discuss issues with the leader,
including women's rights, the issue of girls' schools, the establishment of a
government acceptable to all Afghans, and other issues."
"Our main goal of coming to the country is to
open the gates of education to girls and also to establish a system that is
acceptable to all Afghans," said Malek Afghan, one of the Afghans residing
in Europe who came to Kabul.
Meanwhile, the acting Minister of Hajj and Religious
Affairs, who had a separate meeting with the representatives and elders of the
Union of Afghans residing in Europe, has asked all Afghans living abroad to
return to Afghanistan and participate in the country's reconstruction and
progress.
"Undoubtedly, Afghans who are abroad play an
important and fundamental role when they come to Kabul and take a message away
from here, but those who want to come to Afghanistan worry about where their
children will study," Salim Peigir, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.
"Their difference in viewpoint is that the
Islamic Emirate wants them to come to Afghanistan and assures them of their
personal and financial security; however, those who have studied up to master's
and doctorate levels and have a lifetime of governance experience also expect
the government to create conducive conditions for them to serve in the
government," said Jannat Fahim Chakari, a university scholar.
Earlier, the political deputy of the Prime Minister's
office told these representatives and elders of the Union of Afghans residing
in Europe that after the Islamic Emirate came to power in Afghanistan, efforts
to divide the country have failed. The Deputy Prime Minister for Political
Affairs, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, also asked the delegates from Europe to show the
current realities of the country to the world.
Source:
tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188365
---
Afghan Consul in Karachi Urges Resolution to Afghan
Milli Bank Property Seizure Issue
2024-04-18
KABUL (BNA): Mawlawi Sayed Abdul Jabbar Takhari,
Acting Consul General of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Karachi, met
with ErfanSoomro, a representative of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Karachi, to address the ongoing issue of property seizure involving the Afghan
Milli Bank.
During the meeting, Mawlawi Sayed Abdul Jabbar Takhari
expressed concerns about the seizure of two properties owned by the Afghan
Milli Bank in key areas of Karachi. Despite efforts to resolve the matter and
evacuate the properties, no concrete actions have been taken by security
authorities in Sindh province.
In response to these concerns, ErfanSoomro extended
apologies for the lack of attention from Karachi’s security officials and
pledged cooperation in facilitating the evacuation of the bank’s properties to
the Afghan Consulate General.
Source:
bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/afghan-consul-in-karachi-urges-resolution-to-afghan-milli-bank-property-seizure-issue/
---
250,000 Afghan children need education, food and homes
after returning from Pakistan, says NGO
18 April, 2024
A quarter of a million Afghan children need education,
food, and homes after being forcibly returned from Pakistan, a non-governmental
organisation said on Thursday.
Pakistan is cracking down on foreigners it alleges are
in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans.
It insists the campaign is not directed against
Afghans specifically, but they make up most of the foreigners in the country.
More than 520,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since
last October.
Save the Children said families are entering
Afghanistan with "virtually nothing" and that nearly half of all
returnees are children.
A survey of families by the NGO said nearly all of
them lacked enough food for the next one to two months.
Some returnees and host families had to borrow money
for food or rely on friends and relatives for food.
Almost two-thirds of children who have returned to
Afghanistan have not been enrolled in school, according to Save the Children.
The majority told the organisation they don't have the
necessary documents to register and enroll in school.
In Pakistan, more than two-thirds of these children
had been attending school, it said.
An additional obstacle facing child returnees is the
ban on girls attending school beyond sixth grade in Afghanistan.
Arshad Malik, Save the Children country director for
Afghanistan, said the return of so many people was creating an additional
strain on already overstretched resources.
"Many undocumented Afghan children were born in
Pakistan," he said.
"Afghanistan is not the place they call home. In
addition to the returns from Pakistan, 600,000 Afghans arrived from Iran last
year."
A spokesman for the refugee ministry, Abdul Mutalib
Haqqani, said education was available for any child who was missing out on
classes.
"They can register in any class and continue to
learn, whether they have documents or not," said Haqqani.
"This problem has been solved by us."
Pakistan's decision to deport Afghans who entered
illegally struck hard.
Many Afghans have lived for decades in Pakistan,
driven there by successive wars at home.
When the order was announced, hundreds of thousands
feared arrest and fled back to Afghanistan.
Source:
newarab.com
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https://www.newarab.com/news/250000-afghan-children-need-education-food-and-homes-after-returning-pakistan-says-ngo
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/arrow-mosque-bjp-latha/d/132166