Assam CM Blames Meghalaya University, Founded by a Muslim, For ‘Flood Jihad’ In Guwahati
New
Age Islam News Bureau
11
August 2024
Assam chief minister Himanta
Biswa Sarma. (File photo: PTI)
------------
• Assam CM Blames Meghalaya University, Founded by a
Muslim, For ‘Flood Jihad’ In Guwahati
• Sheikh Hasina Hints At US Role In Ouster From
Bangladesh: “I Resigned To Avoid Witnessing Further Violence”
• Interfaith Umbrella Group Chides Terengganu Mufti,
Says Constitution Doesn’t Provide For Preaching Islam In Non-Muslim Places Of
Worship
• The Role Of Islamic State Affiliated Groups On
Foiled Attacks In Vienna
• Islamic Centre Hamburg Took Direct Orders From
Tehran, Aided Hezbollah Before Close - Report
India
• Hindu Right Wing , Hindu Raksha Dal, Attacks
Shanty-Dweller Muslims In UP Calling Them Bangladeshi Infiltrators, 2 Held
• Muslim Community Protests Over Uddhav Sena MPs’
Absence During Waqf Bill Debate
-----
South
Asia
• Bangladesh Chief Justice Resigns After Fresh
Protests Hit Country
• Congress calls for protection of religious
minorities in Bangladesh
• Protecting Afghanistan's UNESCO Heritage Minaret Of
Jam Following Floods Threat
• Afghanistan begins new Polio Vaccination campaign
• Bangladesh Hindus Protest Against Violence, Muhammad
Yunus Responds
-----
Southeast
Asia
• Malaysia strongly condemns Israel’s inhumane attack
on Gaza’s al-Tabin school
• In interest of nation’s children, PM Anwar committed
to ensuring school environments are well-maintained
• Prisons Dept working with Science Ministry to
counter drone smuggling after delivery to Tapah Prison
• For some in Ipoh, Muslim-friendly Chinese
restaurants trend decades in the making
• ‘Always the nation’s gem’: PM Anwar consoles
Azizulhasni after keirin disqualification led to early Paris 2024 exit
• King visits Johor royal mausoleum to mark Hari Hol
-----
North
America
• US President’s Terse Warning To Iran About Possible
Israel Attack: 'Don't'
• US election: Did Trump freeze for over 21-second at
Montana rally? Speech video sparks debate
• US elections: New poll shows Kamala Harris leading
Donald Trump in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
• 'I don't want to die': Fourth-grader’s chilling 911
call from Uvalde school during mass shooting
-----
Mideast
• Islamic States Must Take Joint Stance Against
Zionist Regime
• Trump campaign says its internal messages hacked by
Iran
• Iran condemns ‘barbaric’ Israeli strike on Gaza
school
• Amid Iran Attack Fear, Biden’s Shameless Israel
Move? U.S. Drops Abuse Charges On Notorious IDF Unit
• Jordan Informs Iran, Israel It “Will Shoot Down Any
Target” In Its Airspace
-----
Europe
• Examples Of Anti-Muslim And Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric
In Right-Wing Press That Led To Reprimand
• Horror moment yob spits and racially abuses Muslim
bus driver in broad daylight
• ‘NI is my home too,’ says founder of Newtownards
mosque previously targeted by ‘KKK’ as latest attack caught on CCTV
• Meet the men promising to protect English mosques
facing threats
• TikTok Jihad: Online Radicalization Threat Looms Over
Europe
• Mosque Petrol Bombed In Night Of Violence As Cars
Torched And Racial Slurs Yelled
-----
Pakistan
• LoP in the Pakistan NA Asks Institutions To Operate
Within Constitutional Limits
• May 9 Blown Out Of Proportion, Says
Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Aain
• UN panel hails accolade for Pakistan’s human rights
body
• Stakeholders reaffirm resolve to make Pakistan
polio-free
• Islamabad High Court struggling to cope with backlog
• Punjab’s climate change policy ready for cabinet
approval
• Gold Medallist Olympian Arshad Nadeem Lands In
Lahore To Rousing Welcome
-----
Arab World
• Arab League, Muslim Council Of Elders Strongly
Condemn Gaza School Massacre
• Cultural event in Jahana district commemorating
arrival of Imam Hadi to Yemen
• Edtech platform sharpens Saudi children’s language
portfolio
• Saudi sports minister meets chairman of LA28
Olympics to discuss participation
• SDAIA concludes training programs for datathon
winners in US, UK
• Saudi Artist Breathing New Life Into Metal Waste
With Innovative Sculptures
• Zionist settlers renew storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
-----
Africa
• Protesters Take To The Streets Of Lagos To Honour
Those Killed In Recent Unrest
• UNICEF says Sudan's future depends on a ceasefire
• Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali returns to Rabat to a
warm welcome
• Algerian boxer ImaneKhelif wins gold to cap an
Olympics amid scrutiny
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
-----
Assam CM Blames Meghalaya University, Founded by a
Muslim, For ‘Flood Jihad’ In Guwahati
By: Shobhit Gupta
August 11, 2024
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (File photo:
PTI)
------------
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused a
private university, located in the outskirts of Guwahati in neighbouring state
of Meghalaya, of waging “flood jihad” by demolishing hills on its campus to
build new structures.
Sarma placed the blame on the University of Science
and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) and claimed that the construction has led to
large-scale waterlogging in Guwahati.
USTM is located in 9th Mile area in Ri-Bhoi district
of Meghalaya on the outskirts of Guwahati.
This is the district where the hills of Meghalaya descend into Guwahati
in Jorabat.
While addressing a press conference on Friday, Sarma
claimed the university is demolishing all the hills on its campus to construct
new buildings to start a medical college and that is “one of the reasons” for
waterlogging in Guwahati.
“I feel that the USTM owner has started a flood jihad.
No nature-loving people cut forests and hills ruthlessly in this way. Nowadays,
buildings can be constructed on the hills with proper architectural design,” he
added.
After the recent flash floods in Guwahati, we have
gone through satellite images of Meghalaya’s Greater Jorabat Hills, located 6-7
kms from the city. The deforestation where USTM University is located is self
explanatory.
He further called for a boycott saying that the “only
solution” was for students and staff from Assam to stop studying and working
there.
“The USTM is located in Meghalaya, but 90 per cent of
its students and teachers are from Assam. If our students and teachers stop
going there, it will automatically stop destroying the hills,” Sarma said.
He said that a letter has been sent to Meghalaya Chief
Minister Conrad K Sangma on the issue and both the chief ministers would meet
to discuss the problem.
Meanwhile, the institution defied the chief minister’s
allegations and said that it contributes a “miniscule portion” of the water
that flows into Guwahati.
“USTM campus area is a small part of the Baridua area
till Jorabat in Ri-Bhoi district which has largely developed on both sides of
the GS Road. USTM campus contributes maybe a miniscule portion of the total
water that flows down the Kiling Road through the various drains to the GS Road
(Guwahati-Shillong Road) on both sides,” the university said in a statement.
The university further said that the campus
constructions were carried out with requisite permission from the Meghalaya
government.
“USTM is a NAAC ‘A’ accredited University… and is a
recognised Green Campus, which is one of the priorities of NAAC being a body of
the Ministry of Education,” it added.
It further claimed that various initiatives for
implementing green technologies and installations like water harvesting,
groundwater recharging and solar power generation have been undertaken.
USTM, a private university established in 2008, is
promoted by the Education Research and Development Foundation, which was
founded by MahbubulHoque. Hoque is also the Chancellor of the University. He is
a Muslim of Bengali-origin from Assam’s Karimganj district in the Barak Valley.
Almost 6,000 students study and 1,500 faculty and
employees work at USTM from across the North East states with a considerable
share from Assam, being the largest of NE states.
The Gauhati High Court on Wednesday said that time has
come to deal with the problem of waterlogging in the city and the government is
required to take steps to resolve this problem permanently, asking to submit a
plan to mitigate the crisis by August 19.
Source: News18
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-----
Sheikh Hasina Hints At US Role In Ouster From
Bangladesh: “I Resigned To Avoid Witnessing Further Violence”
Aug 11, 2024
Sheikh Hasina (C) weeps while she visits a metro
station in Mirpur vandalized by students during the anti-quota protests. (AFP
file photo)
--------------
Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in her
first public statement since ouster, cites distorted statements and foreign
pressures in her resignation.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has
spoken out for the first time since her dramatic resignation and departure to
India a week ago, hinting at the United States' role in her unceremonious
ouster.
“I resigned to avoid witnessing further violence. They
aimed to seize power over the dead bodies of students, but I prevented that by
resigning,” Hasina said, The Economic Times reported.
Bangladesh is currently in a state of political flux.
Hasina resigned on August 5 amid escalating protests by students demanding an
end to the controversial quota system for government jobs.
Last week, fearing for safety amid widespread
violence, Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka in a military aircraft. She is currently in
a secure location in India.
An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad
Yunus has been established to oversee the transition and prepare for early
elections.
The violence that followed Hasina’s resignation has
resulted in over 230 deaths, bringing the total number of casualties since the
protests began in mid-July to 560.
"My words were distorted to incite you. Watch the
full video of that day to understand how conspirators have exploited your
innocence to destabilise the nation,” the Awami League leader said.
The term "Razakars" is often used to refer
to people who were believed to be collaborators of the Pakistani military
during the 1971 Liberation War.
Sheikh Hasina also claimed that she could have
remained in power “if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island
and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal”.
In May, Hasina had alleged a conspiracy to create a
Christian state similar to East Timor by partitioning parts of Bangladesh and
Myanmar. She claimed she was offered an easy re-election if she allowed a
foreign nation to establish an airbase in Bangladesh, without naming the
country involved.
Source: Hindustan Times.Com
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Interfaith umbrella group chides Terengganu mufti,
says constitution doesn’t provide for preaching Islam in non-Muslim places of
worship
By Syed JaymalZahiid
11 Aug 2024
Hindus are seen offering prayers in conjunction with
Ponggal at the Sri Subramaniar Temple at Gunung Cheroh in Ipoh, Perak on
January 15, 2024. The MCCBCHST said all houses of worship are places of
sanctity and should be respected. — Picture by Farhan Najib
--------------
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — The Malaysian Consultative
Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST)
today criticised the Terengganu Mufti over news reports that quoted him
asserting that Muslims are allowed to preach at places of worship of other
faiths.
The country’s umbrella body representing non-Muslim
religions said such an assertion may affect the sanctity of the non-Muslim
places of worship, and could lead to a hostile atmosphere.
“Terengganu Mufti's claims that Muslims are permitted
to enter places of worship of other religions to preach Islam may affect
SANCTITY of the non-Muslim places of worship and thus creates a hostile
atmosphere which may lead to disturbance of peace,” MCCBCHST said in a
statement.
“The Terengganu Mufti's suggestion can further lead to
feelings of ill-will, disharmony, hatred, enmity etc amongst the different
religions.”
Local news outlet Focus Malaysia on August 4 reported
Terengganu Mufti Datuk Mohamad Sabri Haron as saying that Muslims are permitted
to enter places of worship of other religions for the purpose of spreading
Islamic teachings and principles, following a viral video showing a guided
harmony visit by the Perak Islamic Religious Department to a Hindu temple that
raised concern after its representative reportedly noted similarities between
Islam and Hinduism.
“We can’t go (houses of worship of other religions)
without a purpose. Come to introduce Islam and to preach, allowed. It is not
the purpose of stating that Islam is the same as other religions,” the
Terengganu mufti was quoted as saying in a separate news report by SinarAhad,
the Sunday edition of Malay daily SinarHarian.
MCCBHST cited Article 11 of the Federal Constitution,
and noted that while the provision enshrines the right to every religious group
to profess and practice religion and subject to clause (4) to propagate it, it
cannot be interpreted to mean that Muslims are free to propagate Islam to
followers of other faiths in their own houses of worship.
“Clause (4) allows State law and Federal Law to control
and restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons
professing the religion of Islam. Thus, Clause (4) provides legal shield to
Muslims in that propagation of other faiths to them may be controlled or
restricted,” it said.
“This clause (4) cannot be interpreted to mean that
Muslims are free to propagate their faith to non-Muslims as there is no such
provision in the constitution,” the group added.
“Clause (4) talks about protection of ‘persons
professing the religion of Islam’. It does not talk about preaching in
non-Muslim places of worship.”
MCCBHST then said the Terengganu Mufti must respect
the rights of all persons and adhere to the “correct interpretation of the
Federal Constitution and Malaysian Laws”.
“All places of worship are places of sanctity. Each
religion has the right to regulate their own affairs. If the purpose of entry
to a place of worship is with a view to fostering unity and promote interfaith
relations and understanding then it should be welcome,” the group said.
Source: Malay Mail.Com
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original story:
-----
The role of Islamic State affiliated groups on foiled
attacks in Vienna
August 10, 2024
Pien Huang
Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium as part of
her Eras Tour on Friday, June 21, 2024 in London | Photo Credit: Scott A
Garfitt
-------------
NPR's Pien Huang speaks to Ashley Jackson, co-director
of the Center on Armed Groups, about the role of Islamic State affiliate groups
on the recent foiled attacks on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.
Three Taylor Swift concerts were canceled in Austria
this week after authorities foiled planned attacks on the venue. Three
teenagers are now in custody, and at least two of them recently pledged
allegiance to the Islamic State and to one affiliate in particular, ISIS-K.
Islamic State-related groups have been tied to this and other similar attacks
in Europe. More than 140 people were killed in an attack on a Moscow concert
hall earlier this year, and an explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017
killed 22 people and injured more than a thousand.
Ashley Jackson is the co-director of the Center on
Armed Groups. That's a nonprofit that researches armed conflict. She and her
colleagues have done extensive research on ISIS-K. When we spoke, she told me
that the Islamic State of today is a shadow of what it once was, when it once
held huge swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria. Now it exists as a loose
network, largely online. That's tough to track, and that's a big part of its
danger.
ASHLEY JACKSON: What it lacks in territory - because
it has almost none right now - it's invested in these online networks and kind
of what they call inspiring these kinds of attacks. And that's an important
distinction to make. It's this kind of nebulous, shadowy propaganda-based idea
that still has the potential to do a lot of damage.
HUANG: So among this shadowy network of groups related
to the Islamic State that have kind of come up recently, there's one that
stands out in particular, ISIS-K, and it's been related to, you know, this
recent planned attack in Europe and a few others. I'm wondering, can you
explain the difference between ISIS-K and maybe the ISIS that we might be more
familiar with from news events in the Middle East? What makes this group
distinct?
JACKSON: I can try. But short answer is really no one
knows, and there's a lot of confusion. Islamic State Khorasan Province sort of
refers to this group in Afghanistan which came to sort of the zenith of its
power in 2016. It captured a swathe of Eastern Afghanistan. U.S. forces and the
Taliban at the same time fought back the Islamic State.
Now, since the Taliban takeover in 2021 in
Afghanistan, Islamic State Khorasan Province really has degraded its capacity
to hold territories nonexistent in Afghanistan. But again, it lives online. Its
online propaganda, its online presence is much more powerful, and it kind of
magnifies this presence.
On top of that, there's concerns that there's a branch
of Islamic State Khorasan Province that's active, you know, in Central Asia and
in the region or that there are somehow linkages. But to be honest, this is, I
think, one of the scarier things - is we don't really understand these
linkages.
What's really important to do in the situation is to
be humble and to really say that we don't know very much, and we don't know as
much as we should about how these operations are orchestrated and where they're
coming from. But we do know that they're probably not coming from Afghanistan
at this point.
HUANG: So a lot of it exists online. You know, but on
either end, there are real people involved, and through your work, you've
actually interviewed many members of ISIS-K. I'm wondering what they tell you
about their ambitions and what they want.
JACKSON: So my Afghan colleagues are really to credit
here. They're the brave and brilliant ones who've done the work of interviewing
Islamic State fighters inside Afghanistan. And inside Afghanistan, it's a
similar story as to where you'd find Islamic State fighters and recruits
elsewhere. It's individuals who are disillusioned with the ruling party - in
this case, the Taliban. They want a more extreme version of Islam. The heyday
of the Islamic State and Syria and Iraq represents something to them. It
represents this dream of a pure, radically violent Islamic State that I think
attracts people both inside Afghanistan and indeed abroad.
HUANG: And so that's what they want in the region.
Then why are they attacking European countries and big public events like
concerts?
JACKSON: So I think what we see when groups like
Islamic State lose capacity, territory power - they grab for headlines. They
grab for attention, right? Targets in Europe is what will make them relevant.
So how do you strike, you know, fear into the hearts of your enemy, which, in
their eyes, is Europe and the kind of countries of the West? Well, you attack
the symbols of what they hold dear. And in that case - you know, in this case,
it is a Taylor Swift concert. What could possibly grab more headlines than
that?
HUANG: So Austrian authorities say that the main
suspect was radicalized online. This was someone who was born and raised in
Austria. What do we know about the group's recruitment methods and how they're
reaching out to people, you know, in other countries and other parts of the
world?
JACKSON: So the Islamic State has always from, you
know, its early days, had a really sophisticated propaganda machine of online
outreach. And it's what they call kind of inspiration, right? It's inspiring
these individuals to come together and to orchestrate and plan attacks.
And a lot of the attacks we see are so scary because
they don't require a lot of technical know-how, right? They are these sort of
self-started, small groups of people who are receiving some sort of instruction
- I don't know in this case, but I think it's probably very likely - and then
going and attempting to do something themselves, right? It's a very
do-it-yourself kind of model of doing things because they don't have the
resources. They don't have what they once had. But it's incredibly, incredibly
effective.
HUANG: Where do you see ISIS and affiliate groups like
ISIS-K, you know, going in the near future? I mean, you've described this
evolution from, you know, this big organization to sort of this shadowy
network. And I'm wondering, you know, how is it trending now? Is their
influence and power increasing or decreasing at the moment? What do you see?
JACKSON: I think, you know, the Islamic State is very
weak. I mean, there are U.N. reports suggesting it's getting stronger. We need
to get better at understanding how the group works, to be perfectly frank, and
understanding which part of the groups have more capacity, more money.
And I think what we're seeing is, you know, this
coalition that really defeated the Islamic state in Syria and Iraq - it doesn't
really exist in the same way anymore. We don't have a grip on the Islamic
State's reach. And because we don't have that grip, we don't have, you know,
the same robust international coalition who's taking the problem seriously and
coming up with a coordinated set of measures at the global and national level.
And, you know, I think there are people working on
this and addressing it. But it's that kind of multilayered approach which is
really required at this point to ensure that it doesn't see this resurgence
that a lot of people fear.
Source: Www.Npr.Org
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-----
Islamic Centre Hamburg took direct orders from Tehran,
aided Hezbollah before close - report
AUGUST 11, 2024
Police secures the area at the "Zentrum der
islamischen Kultur Frankfurt e.V." after Germany's interior ministry has
banned the Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH) association and its subsidiary
organizations, saying it pursues radical Islamist goals in Frankfurt, Germany,
July 24, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/MAXIMILIAN SCHWARZ)
------------
The Islamic Centre Hamburg (IZH), which was recently
shut down by Gemany’s Interior and Homeland Affairs Federal Ministry, had taken
direct orders from the Islamic Republic of Iran and aided Hezbollah, according
to documents seen by German news Der Spiegel, the site published on Thursday.
Security officials raided the Islamic Centre earlier
this year, seizing documents and data, leading to the Centre’s closure in July
and the confiscation of Hamburg’s Blue Mosque.
In addition to the Hamburg-based Centre, subsidiaries
in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin were also banned, with four Shi'ite mosques to
be closed, said the ministry.
"Unfortunately, what happened in Germany is an
example of Islamophobia and is in opposition to the teachings of the Abrahamic
faiths," the Iranian ministry said on X, formerly Twitter, referencing
Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The ministry said the ban violated freedom of
expression and promoted violence and extremism.
Der Spiegel reviewed a 220-page ban order issued by
the Interior Ministry, which was said to reveal how closely the Centre was
working with the Islamic regime and the ties it had with the Lebanon-based
Hezbollah terror group.
The documents reportedly revealed that the Centre’s
head, Mohammad Mofatteh, communicated closely and regularly with the office of
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The communication between Mofatteh and the regime
extended to WhatsApp messaging, where Mofatteh would reportedly text with the
Revolutionary Bureau’s Deputy Head of International Affairs, Mehdi Mostafavi.
The pair exchanged over 650 messages from late 2021 until late 2023.
The Iranian officials also allegedly sent messages on
how to sell Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks on southern Israel, which involved
sexual violence and the murder of over 1200 people. Mofatteh was advised to say
how the “Islamic Resistance” had “no other means” to stop Israel’s “crimes.”
In addition to direct communications with the regime,
Khamenei’s personal seal and stamp were found on certificates for donations
allegedly sent to Yemen.
Investigators also reportedly found connections
between the Centre and Hezbollah, allegedly finding documents showing a sheikh
connected to the terror group had traveled through Germany thanks to the
“financial, moral and advisory support” of the Centre’s former director.
Mofatteh had asserted in previous statements that
there was no reason for the mosque’s closure and that “the Islam we preach here
is the Islam of reason, the Islam of peace, friendship and peaceful coexistence
between people.”
Source: Jpost.com
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original story:
https://www.jpost.com/international/islamic-terrorism/article-814210
-----
India
Hindu Right Wing , Hindu Raksha Dal, Attacks
Shanty-Dweller Muslims In UP Calling Them Bangladeshi Infiltrators, 2 Held
Aug 10, 2024
Fringe group attacks shanty-dweller Muslims in UP
calling them Bangladeshi infiltrators, 2 held
Ghaziabad, Members of a Hindu right wing outfit
assaulted a group of people living near a railway station here and destroyed
their shanties, claiming that they were Bangladeshi infiltrators, police said
on Saturday.
BhupendraChowdhary, the president of the Hindu Raksha
Dal, and Badal alias Hariom Singh were arrested in connection with the case
late Saturday, they said.
Officials said that those attacked are not
Bangladeshis and an FIR had been lodged against Chowdhary, also known as
'Pinky,' and 20 others for rioting, hurting religious feelings and other
offences.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Muslim community protests over Uddhav Sena MPs'
absence during Waqf bill debate
Saurabh Vaktania
Aug 10, 2024
A group of people from the Muslim community staged a
protest on Saturday outside the residence of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray
in Mumbai after the party’s MPs were absent during the introduction of the Waqf
(Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.
The Bill, which seeks to amend the Waqf Act to reduce
the powers of Waqf boards and councils, has been opposed by Muslim leaders and
opposition parties, who allege it is an “attempt to snatch” land from the
community.
The government introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in
the Lok Sabha on Thursday. It was referred to a joint parliamentary panel after
a heated debate.
Source: Indiatoday.In
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South
Asia
Bangladesh Chief Justice Resigns After Fresh Protests
Hit Country
August 11, 2024
Bangladesh’s Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan on Saturday
resigned, five days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime amid massive
street protests and students marching towards the apex court demanding a revamp
of the judiciary.
Earlier in the day, a report by the daily had stated
that at least 232 people were killed following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation as
the prime minister in violence across the country. According to news agency
Reuters, the total number of deaths over the past 23 days stands at 560.
Meanwhile, Indo-Bangla bilateral ties are not
dependent on the Awami League and it is “natural to evoke adverse reactions” in
Bangladesh over India giving refuge to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,
senior leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Friday. During the
day, Union Minister Amit Shah said the government has constituted a committee
to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in a post
on X. He said, “The committee will maintain communication channels with their
counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of
Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there.”
Source: Indian Express.Com
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of the original story:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bangladesh-crisis-live-updates-interim-govt-hasina-9499556/
-----
Congress calls for protection of religious minorities
in Bangladesh
KallolBhattacherjee
August 11, 2024
In the backdrop of the ongoing violence against Awami
League activists, professional journalists, and vulnerable religious and ethnic
communities in Bangladesh, the Indian National Congress has called upon the
interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to take “forceful steps” to deal with
the situation. The party’s communications chief Jairam Ramesh’s call for
upholding law and order in Bangladesh came at a time when the reported attacks
on minority communities have continued despite the swearing-in of the interim
administration.
“While noting that there have been influential voices
within Bangladesh calling for the preservation of the country’s multi-religious
heritage, the Indian National Congress expresses its concern at reports of
targeted attacks on minorities there and their properties and places of
worship,” Mr. Ramesh said in a post on social media platform X, adding, “The
Indian National Congress hopes that the interim Government in Bangladesh will
take forceful steps to instill confidence in minority communities to lead their
lives in an atmosphere of security, dignity and harmony.”
Source: The Hindu.Com
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Protecting Afghanistan's UNESCO Heritage Minaret Of
Jam Following Floods Threat
2024-08-11
As a reminder of the nation's rich cultural history,
the Minaret of Jam not only serves as a significant cultural site but also
contributes to the local economy.
SHAHRAK, Afghanistan, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- In the wake
of the destruction of the world-renowned Great Buddhas in central Afghanistan's
Bamiyan province, concerns are mounting over the fate of Afghanistan's other
UNESCO-listed heritage, the Minaret of Jam. It is now facing severe threats
from natural disasters, particularly the torrential floods this year.
The Minaret of Jam, along with its archaeological
remains, was inscribed on the World Heritage List by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2002. According
to the organization, at 1,900 meters above sea level and far from any town, the
65m-tall minaret dates back to the 12th century.
"The flooding has damaged the minaret, with two
meters of the monument being submerged under water (when the flood came),"
Israel Haidari, the director of cultural affairs at Ghor's information and
culture department, told Xinhua.
Haidari said that following a recent communication
with the Ministry of Information and Culture in Kabul, a UNESCO team visited
the site and has commenced efforts to clear the debris around the minaret.
Source: English.News.Cn
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https://english.news.cn/20240811/de6c0447dce9441e964204d58195539e/c.html
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Afghanistan begins new Polio Vaccination campaign
By Fidel Rahmati
August 10, 2024
The Afghanistan Polio-Free Organization has announced
that a polio vaccination campaign has commenced today, August 10, in several
regions of the country.
Previously, the head of the Polio Eradication
Operations Center at the Ministry of Public Health mentioned that during this
campaign, 4.2 million children under the age of five in the provinces of Herat,
Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul, and Nimroz would be vaccinated.
The ongoing efforts to eradicate polio in Afghanistan
face significant challenges, including access to remote areas, ongoing
conflict, and public awareness. These factors make it imperative for both local
communities and international organizations to collaborate closely to ensure
the success of vaccination campaigns.
Source: Khaama.Com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistan-begins-new-polio-vaccination-campaign/
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Bangladesh Hindus Protest Against Violence, Muhammad
Yunus Responds
August 11, 2024
New Delhi: Lakhs of Hindus have taken to the streets
in Bangladesh to protest against the ongoing attacks on the community after
Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India.
Bangladesh's capital Dhaka and Chittagong, the
second-largest city in the country, witnessed lakhs of people attending the
massive rallies on Saturday.
Members of minority communities in violence-hit
Bangladesh have faced more than 205 incidents of attacks across 52 districts
since the fall of the Ms Hasina-led government on August 5.
Several Hindu temples have also been vandalised and at
least two Hindu leaders affiliated with Ms Hasina's Awami League party have so
far been killed in the violence.
Source: Ndtv.Com
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Southeast
Asia
Malaysia strongly condemns Israel’s inhumane attack on
Gaza’s al-Tabin school
11 Aug 2024
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 11 — Malaysia has condemned in the
strongest terms the inhumane attack by Israel on the al-Tabin School in Gaza
City yesterday, which killed more than 100 Palestinians who were sheltering
there.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement today,
said deliberate targeting of a school used by displaced Palestinians for refuge
is not only a flagrant violation of international law, international
humanitarian law and human rights law, but is also a grievous crime against
humanity.
Many of the victims were children, and the attack also
critically wounded countless others who may lose their lives due to shortages
of much-needed medical supplies, it said.
“It is unconscionable for the international community
to just stand by when the Israeli occupying force continues killing women,
children and the elderly, without consequences. The international community
should no longer tolerate and accept the belligerence of Israel,” the statement
read.
Source: Malay Mail.Com
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Prisons Dept working with Science Ministry to counter
drone smuggling after delivery to Tapah Prison
11 Aug 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — The Prisons Department has
forged a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation (Mosti) to address the growing threat of drone intrusions aimed at
smuggling prohibited items into prisons.
In a statement today, Prisons Department
Commissioner-General Datuk Seri Nordin Muhamad said an Anti-Drone System and
locally developed interception equipment have been deployed and are being
expanded across all prison institutions.
“The Malaysian Prisons Department is fully aware of
the threat posed by drone intrusions aimed at smuggling prohibited items into
prisons by the public.
“The department remains vigilant, and high-risk prison
institutions, including Tapah Prison, have been equipped with Anti-Drone
Systems and interception equipment to prevent such incidents,” the statement
read.
Source: Malay Mail.Com
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For some in Ipoh, Muslim-friendly Chinese restaurants
trend decades in the making
By Sylvia Looi
11 Aug 2024
IPOH, Aug 11 — The popularity of pork-free Chinese
restaurants catering Muslim tourists here may seem recent, but some of these
establishments go back decades.
And while the trend now is to capture some of the
Muslim-friendly tourism pie, those such as Restoran Vegas in Canning Garden
here first embraced the concept out of necessity.
According to its founders, the husband-and-wife team
of Yoong Ong Swai and Maggie Yee, Restoran Vegas had started out as a sundry
shop in the 1980s but struggled to compete as shopping centres began growing in
popularity.
Yoong said they then noticed that most of their
customers were Malay, as there was an army camp, Federal Reserve Unit base, and
a police station in the area.
Source: Malay Mail.Com
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‘Always the nation’s gem’: PM Anwar consoles
Azizulhasni after keirin disqualification led to early Paris 2024 exit
11 Aug 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim has expressed his appreciation to national track cycling ace Datuk
AzizulhasniAwang, who competed in the men’s keirin race at the 2024 Paris
Olympics Games yesterday.
“You will always be the nation’s gem, thank you,” said
the Prime Minister in a post uploaded on his Facebook Story, accompanied by a
background image of the athlete.
Source: Malay Mail.Com
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King visits Johor royal mausoleum to mark Hari Hol
11 Aug 2024
JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 11 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King
of Malaysia today visited the Bukit Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in conjunction
with Hari Hol for Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
Also in attendance were the Regent of Johor,
TunkuMahkota Ismail, and the Raja Muda Johor, Tunku Iskandar Abdul Jalil Abu
Bakar Ibrahim Tunku Ismail, according to a post on the King’s official Facebook
page.
TunkuPanglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Al-Haj Sultan
Ibrahim and TunkuPutera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Al-Haj Sultan Ibrahim were also
in attendance.
Source: Malay Mail.Com
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North
America
US president’s terse warning to Iran about possible
Israel attack: 'Don't'
DiyarGuldogan
11.08.2024
US President Joe Biden again warned Iran on Saturday
about a possible retaliatory attack against Israel amid rising tensions in the
Middle East.
Biden issued the same warning in April, before Iran
carried out a rocket and drone attack against Israel in retaliation for the
April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic facility in the Syrian capital of Damascus,
killing at least seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,
including two top generals.
Tensions are running high in the Middle East following
the July 31 assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in the
Iranian capital of Tehran and Israel's assassination of senior Hezbollah
commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
Source: Bbc.Com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge30ze4dpo
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US election: Did Trump freeze for over 21-second at
Montana rally? Speech video sparks debate
Aug 11, 2024
A video from former President Donald Trump’s rally in
Bozeman, Montana, on Friday has gone viral, with social media users debating
whether Trump experienced a 21-second freeze during his speech. The Trump-Vance
campaign has yet to comment on the incident.
The video, posted on X (formerly known as Twitter)
shortly after the rally, shows Trump pausing for an extended period while
speaking. The moment has sparked speculation online, with some viewers
suggesting it might indicate a “glitch” or “brain freeze.”
One user tweeted, “I feel like everyone needs to see
Trump glitching for a full 21 seconds at his Bozeman rally last night. Nobody
even tried to check on him. This is elder abuse. He’s way too old to be up that
late.”
Another critic added, “Trump had a brain freeze for 21
sec and the press are not screaming for him to step down. This tells you all
you need to know on how corrupt our US press are right now.”
Source: Times Of India
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US elections: New poll shows Kamala Harris leading
Donald Trump in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
Aug 11, 2024
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has
gained a significant edge over Republican rival Donald Trump in three critical
battleground states, according to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll
released on Saturday. The survey indicates that Harris commands 50 percent
support among voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, compared to
Trump's 46 percent in each state.
This boost for Harris comes on the heels of her
campaign launch, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 race
last month due to concerns about his age and ability to serve another term.
Since officially entering the race, Harris has secured strong backing from key
Democratic voter segments, including young people and people of color, as well
as significant support from donors and top party lawmakers.
Harris's recent selection of Minnesota Governor Tim
Walz as her vice-presidential running mate has further energized the Democratic
ticket. However, Harris's stance on the Gaza conflict has sparked controversy.
During a rally in Detroit this week, she faced protests demanding an end to the
war. In response, Harris told demonstrators, "You know what, if you want
Donald Trump to win, then say that. Otherwise, I’m speaking,” which drew
criticism from Palestinian rights advocates.
Source: Times Of India
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/112436790.cms
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'I don't want to die': Fourth-grader’s chilling 911
call from Uvalde school during mass shooting
Aug 11, 2024
Khloie Torres, a fourth-grade student at Robb
Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, made a series of heart-wrenching 911 calls
from inside her classroom during the shooting on May 24, 2022.
When asked by the dispatcher if there were many people
in the room with her, Khloie responded, "No, it's just me and a couple of
friends. A lot of people are," she says, pausing briefly,
"gone."
The release of the 911 calls, along with body camera
footage and surveillance videos, came after a legal battle between Uvalde city
officials and news organizations.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/112436717.cms
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Mideast
Islamic states must take joint stance against Zionist
regime
Aug 11, 2024
TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (MNA) – Iran's Acting Foreign Minister
in a phone talk with his Indonesian counterpart urged Islamic countries to take
a united stance against the Israeli regime's criminal actions.
During a telephone conversation with RetnoMarsudi on
Sunday, BagheriKani stated that the West Asia region is currently in a critical
situation due to the crimes committed by the Zionist regime.
He emphasized that Islamic countries must support the
oppressed people of Palestine in their confrontation with the Zionist regime.
Referring to the recent assassination of Martyr Ismail
Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, in Tehran, the top Iranian
diplomat emphasized that this crime of the Zionists violated Iran's national
security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, stressing that taking
countermeasures against the Zionist regime is Iran's inherent and legitimate
right and is in accordance with international law, international procedures,
and the UN Charter.
Source: En.Mehrnews.Com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/219313/Islamic-states-must-take-joint-stance-against-Zionist-regime
-----
Trump campaign says its internal messages hacked by
Iran
Mike Wendling
Donald Trump’s campaign has said some of its internal
communications have been hacked and suggested it was targeted by Iranian
operatives.
US news website Politico reported on Saturday that it
had been emailed campaign documents including internal research carried out on
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
“These documents were obtained illegally from foreign
sources hostile to the United States, intended to interfere with the 2024
election,” a campaign spokesman told the BBC.
The campaign did not give any further details or any
evidence linking the document leak to Iranian hackers or the Iranian
government.
Source: En.Mehrnews.Com
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4ge30ze4dpo
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Iran condemns ‘barbaric’ Israeli strike on Gaza school
August 11, 2024
TEHRAN, Iran: Iran condemned a “barbaric” Israeli air
strike on a school in Gaza housing displaced Palestinians that left dozens dead
on Saturday, calling it a “war crime.”
The attack showed once again that Israel “does not
respect any of the rules and regulations of international law and moral and
human principles,” foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a
statement.
He said the strike was “a clear example of the
simultaneous perpetration of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity”
by Israel.
Source: Arabnews.Com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2566466/middle-east
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Amid Iran Attack Fear, Biden’s Shameless Israel Move?
U.S. Drops Abuse Charges On Notorious IDF Unit
Aug 10, 2024
The United States will not impose sanctions on the
Israeli military’s Netzah Yehuda battalion, according to the Axios report. The
US has decided to end an investigation into alleged human rights violations by
the unit in the occupied West Bank. Axios reported, citing two US and Israeli
officials, that Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Defence Minister Yoav
Gallant of the move in a conversation on August 9.
Source: Hindustan Times.Com
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Jordan informs Iran, Israel it “will shoot down any
target” in its airspace
Rania Abu Shamala
10.08.2024
Jordan informed Iran and Israel on Saturday that it
will “shoot down any target” in its airspace in case the confrontation
escalates between the two nations.
Israel anticipates attacks by the Lebanese group,
Hezbollah, and Iran, in response to the assassinations of Hezbollah leader
Fouad Shukr in Beirut last week, and Hamas political bureau chief Ismail
Haniyeh in the Iranian capital of Tehran on July 31. Iran and Hamas have blamed
Tel Aviv for the killings and vowed to retaliate.
Source: Hindustan Times.Com
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Europe
Examples of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric in
right-wing press that led to reprimand
11-08-2024
The wave of far-right violence across the UK has
dominated the headlines all week. On August 5, the Daily Mail featured a photo
of Tommy Robinson on holiday in Cyprus, with a headline accusing him of
“stoking riots from his sunbed,” referencing over a hundred posts Robinson
allegedly made online over the weekend.
This type of coverage has been criticised, deemed
hypocritical given these newspapers’ history of sowing division and hatred.
Online, images of past anti-migrant frontpages have resurfaced, including
inflammatory claims by the Daily Express such as“Migrants rob young people of
jobs” and “Every 4 Minutes a Migrant is Arrested in Britain.”
Hasan Patel, a strategic communications expert and
former journalist, criticised the Daily Mail’s “Summer of Discontent”
frontpage. He argued that the paper has significantly contributed to the
climate of hate that fuelled the recent riots. “You have the @DailyMailUK
acting like the #FarRight #FarageRiots was due to the Labour government, yet
they as a media under Dacre have a lot to answer for in the way they have
whipped up hate,” Patel wrote on X.
Others shared similar sentiments, suggesting that the
Daily Mail and other right-wing media outlets bear significant responsibility
for the current unrest. Comments ranged from accusing the media of spreading
hatred and racism to asserting that these newspapers are among the primary
culprits for the violence and fatalities.
Here are some of the worst examples of hostile Muslim
and immigrant rhetoric promoted by the right-wing press that faced reprimand at
the time, yet, unfortunately, did little to eradicate such derogatory and
divisive headlines permanently.
In 2013, the Daily Mail led with a story headlined
“4,000 foreign criminals including murdered and rapists we can’t throw out…
and, yes, you can blame human rights again.’ The article claimed that nearly
4,000 foreign murderers, rapists, and other criminals were roaming the streets,
free to commit new crimes.
Source: Leftfootforward.Org
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‘NI is my home too,’ says founder of Newtownards
mosque previously targeted by ‘KKK’ as latest attack caught on CCTV
11-08-2024
The founder of a mosque in Co Down which was
previously targeted by loyalists dressed as the Ku Klux Klan says his community
is “very scared” following the latest attack which has been strongly condemned.
Politicians and the Muslim Council of NI have spoken
out against Islamophobia after a petrol bomb was thrown at the Bangladesh
Islamic Centre in Newtownards in the early hours of Saturday morning – Cars were
also torched and abuse shouted at restaurant staff in separate incidents in
Belfast.
Abdul Rob, who attends the faith centre on Greenwell
Street along with four generations of his family, said his community is on edge
but insisted they will not be leaving.
"This is our country – Northern Ireland is our
home just the same way it is your home,” the restaurant owner told the Belfast
Telegraph.
Source: Www.Belfasttelegraph.Co.Uk
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Meet the men promising to protect English mosques
facing threats
Aleem Maqbool
11-08-2024
Mosques in at least four English cities were targeted
in the recent far-right disorder - one was pelted with bricks, bottles and
rocks.
Several community groups sprang up in response. One of
them is “Protect”, which deploys people to places of worship that are
potentially under threat.
Protect put out a call in Accrington on Wednesday,
after a mosque asked for help - a viral video later showed pubgoers hugging
some of the young men who had come to defend the building.
Though the mood has become much calmer in recent days,
those running the group say it will continue as a means of remaining vigilant.
Source: www.Bbc.Com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1k3npmm7n8o
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TikTok jihad: Online radicalization threat looms over
Europe
ZeevAvrahami
11-08-2024
This phenomenon, dubbed "TikTok Jihad," has
fueled a resurgence of jihadist activities targeting Europe. In the past ten
months, the continent has witnessed six terrorist attacks, mostly small but
some deadly, with over 20 planned attacks foiled by security and intelligence
services.
Source: www.ynetnews Com
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https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjgiduh9c
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Mosque petrol bombed in night of violence as cars
torched and racial slurs yelled
By Susie Beever
10 Aug 2024
A mosque had a petrol bomb thrown at it and racist
graffiti daubed on its walls in a vile overnight attack.
Detectives are probing the horrifying attack in
Newtownards, County Down, after the building was targeted in the early hours of
Saturday morning. It came as cars were also torched 10km away in Belfast, in
what police said they were treating as "racially motivated hate
crimes". A third incident also occurred where a restaurant had its rear
door kicked in with racial slurs yelled at staff inside, PSNI said.
Thankfully the petrol bomb failed to ignite in the 1am
attack. The founder of the Islamic centre said the attack had left the
community "worried" and "nervous", but vowed they would not
be intimidated. Abdul Rob told BBC Northern Ireland: "This is our country,
we’re going to stay there, why are we going to go."
A police spokesperson said: "A number of protests
in Belfast city centre yesterday passed off largely without incident, however
police are investigating a number of overnight reports of damage to property
and vehicles. A mosque on Greenwell Street in Newtownards was attacked at
around 1am. A petrol bomb was thrown but failed to ignite and racist graffiti was
daubed on the building."
Source: Www.Mirror.Co.Uk
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mosque-petrol-bombed-night-violence-33438475
-----
Pakistan
LoP in the Pakistan NA Asks Institutions To Operate
Within Constitutional Limits
Wajih Ahmad Sheikh
August 11, 2024
LAHORE: Leader of the Opposition in the National
Assembly Omar Ayub said on Saturday every institution, including the military,
should operate within their constitutional limits.
Talking to the media outside an Anti-Terrorism Court
here, he said the military, Frontier Corps, and intelligence agencies were
institutions of the state while politicians are responsible for politics
according to the Constitution.
Mr Ayub also conveyed a message from the incarcerated
PTI founder, Imran Khan, who blamed PML-N and PPP for “creating a divide
between people and the army”.
He added that the PTI founder would seek the courts’
intervention to release the footage and rejected rumours of a deal with anyone.
Source: Dawn.Com
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May 9 Blown Out Of Proportion, Says
Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Aain
Ahmad Fraz Khan
August 11, 2024
LAHORE: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mehmood
Khan Achakzai, who also heads Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Aain, believes that what
happened on May 9 last year is being blown out of proportion.
Mr Achakzai suggested that the current government
should resign and a national government, to be led by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi,
formed to take the country forward and conduct fresh elections.
“Pakistan’s history is replete with tragedies like the
one occurred on May 9. Hanging of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one, murder of
Benazir Bhutto, preceded by the killing of Murtaza Bhutto, was yet another one.
What happened on May 12 (2007) is yet another example.”
“If we cannot take all of those involved in these
cases to task, why single out one person? It’s time to stop singling out Imran
Khan, stop witch-hunting of him and move forward,” said Mr Achazkai in a press
talk here. He was flanked by Asad Qaiser, the PTI leader and former speaker of
the National Assembly.
“All major parties sit together, acknowledge and remove
each other’s grudges, build a consensus on how to run the country, find a
suitable person (possibly someone like Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) to lead the
interim set-up and let the winner of the election run the country,” he said
while talking to Dawn.com in an interview.
Source: Dawn.Com
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1851528/may-9-blown-out-of-proportion-says-mehmood-khan-achakzai
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UN panel hails accolade for Pakistan’s human rights
body
Amin Ahmed
August 11, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The UN Committee on Elimination of Racial
Discrimination has praised Pakistan for the upgraded “A” status of its flagship
human rights body.
The remarks were made by Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik
Yuen, the country rapporteur for Pakistan, on Friday during a meeting of the UN
committee, which concluded its periodic review of the human rights situation in
Pakistan.
Mr Yuen said the committee had received a report from
the National Commission for Human Rights, informing that earlier this year it
had been accredited with an “A” status by the Global Alliance of National Human
Rights Institutions.
Source: Dawn.Com
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1851520/un-panel-hails-accolade-for-pakistans-human-rights-body
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Stakeholders reaffirm resolve to make Pakistan
polio-free
Ikram Junaidi
August 11, 2024
ISLAMABAD: In a renewed effort to eradicate polio,
stakeholders have reaffirmed their commitment to intensify immunisation efforts
and ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, reinforcing their collective
resolve to make Pakistan a polio-free nation.
This commitment was made during a meeting of the
national polio management team, convened by the National Emergency Operations
Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication, whilst 14 cases of the crippling disease
have been reported this year so far.
The session, chaired by Prime Minister’s Focal Person
on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq, brought together key stakeholders
including national and provincial coordinators, the core team, Dr Zafar Iqbal
Channa, FDI director technicaI, Trustee Rotary Foundation and Pakistan National
Polio Plus Committee Chairman Aziz Memon, and representatives from various
donor agencies.
Source: Dawn.Com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1851513/stakeholders-reaffirm-resolve-to-make-pakistan-polio-free
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Islamabad High Court struggling to cope with backlog
Malik Asad
August 11, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has been
struggling to end backlog as over 16,000 cases are still pending before it,
despite managing to dispose of over 8,000 cases in seven months.
According to the statistics available at the court’s
website, 7,839 cases were filed and 8,295 cases were disposed of from January
to July 2024.
With a pendency of 16,400 cases, this disposal means the
backlog is not going to be abridged. Legal experts expressed apprehension about
piling up of the pendency.
Source: Dawn.Com
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1851477/islamabad-high-court-struggling-to-cope-with-backlog
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Punjab’s climate change policy ready for cabinet
approval
August 11, 2024
LAHORE: Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb says
the ‘Punjab Climate Change Policy & Action Plan 2024’ has been given a
final shape and submitted to the cabinet for approval.
Presiding over a meeting on Saturday, Ms Aurangzeb
said the policy, aimed at eliminating smog and the hazardous impacts of climate
change, was being sent to all the relevant stakeholders. She said the ‘Plant
for Pakistan’ campaign would be expanded.
The proposal to conserve and utilise rainwater in the
government buildings along with launching these experimental programmes in
various districts was reviewed in the meeting.
A proposal to establish a `Water Quality Monitoring
System’ to assess the quality of water, along with introducing laws to control
underground water, was also reviewed.
Source: Dawn.Com
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1851460/punjabs-climate-change-policy-ready-for-cabinet-approval
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Gold Medallist Olympian Arshad Nadeem Lands In Lahore
To Rousing Welcome
Mohammad Yaqoob
August 11, 2024
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: After striking gold at the Paris
Olympics, ace javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem landed at the Lahore airport in the
small hours of Sunday morning to a rousing welcome by an ecstatic crowd that
had gathered there to welcome the champion, who had ended Pakista’s
decades-long drought at the Games.
His arrival was preceded by an announcement from the
presidency that the gold medallist would be awarded one of the highest state
honours Hilal-i-Imtiaz for his record-breaking performance in Paris where he
hurled a monstrous throw of 92.97 metres in men’s javelin throw.
Speaking to media persons, the Olympic winner said he
was thankful to the entire nation for the support and to his coach for the
preparations which made him able to break the record at the Olympics.
Source: Dawn.Com
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of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1851530/triumphant-arshad-nadeem-lands-in-lahore-to-rousing-welcome
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Arab
World
Arab League, Muslim Council of Elders strongly condemn
Gaza school massacre
11-08-2024
Ahmed AboulGheit, Secretary General of the Arab
League, strongly condemned the massacre committed by Israeli occupation forces
at dawn today at the Al-Tabin school in the Al-Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza
City. The school, which housed displaced people, was attacked, resulting in the
death of over 100 Palestinians and injuries to hundreds more.
In a statement today, AboulGheit described the
massacre as "a cowardly act that stains the reputation of the Israeli
occupation army." He emphasised that killing displaced civilians during
dawn prayers is a crime that surpasses even the usual brutality of the Israeli
army, showcasing a profound lack of conscience. He further condemned the ongoing
genocidal war against Palestinians.
AboulGheit warned that the continuation of this war of
extermination against Palestinians in Gaza essentially grants Israel a license
to kill with impunity. He called on the international community to apply real
pressure on Israel to engage in serious negotiations, mediated for an immediate
ceasefire in Gaza, in exchange for a prisoner swap deal.
The Muslim Council of Elders, under the leadership of
His Eminence Prof. Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, expresses
its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli occupation forces'
shelling of the Al-Tabin school, which was providing shelter to displaced
persons in the Al-Daraj neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, during their dawn
prayers.
Source: Gulftoday.Ae
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Cultural event in Jahana district commemorating
arrival of Imam Hadi to Yemen
10 Aug 2024
SANA'A August 10. 2024 (Saba) - A cultural event was
organized in the Jahana district, in Sana'a governorate on Saturday, on the
anniversary of the arrival of Imam Al-Hadi to the right Yahya bin Al-Hussein -
peace be upon him - to Yemen.
In the event, which was organized at the School of
Sharia Sciences in Bait Al-Rowaishan, the Director of Guidance in the province,
Ibrahim Hamid Al-Din, and the official of the Holy Quran schools in the
governorate, Abdul Karim Al-Khabat, touched on aspects of Imam Al-Hadi's life,
his entry into Yemen, his virtues and courage, his jihad, his command of good
and forbidding from vice, and his struggle to return the nation to the truth
and right and save it from deviations.
They pointed out that Imam al-Hadi came at a stage
when Yemen and the nation were in dire need of him, because of the diaspora,
division and great deviation it was experiencing.
Hamid al-Din and al-Khabat pointed out that Imam
al-Hadi sought to change the reality of the nation and return it to the true
religion and the Muhammadan approach.
Source: Www.Saba.Ye
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Edtech platform sharpens Saudi children’s language
portfolio
Nada Alturki
August 10, 2024
RIYADH: An online teaching platform is strengthening
Saudi children’s educational journeys while also unleashing the potential of
local and international educators.
Cindy Mi, an English teacher for 25 years who founded
VIPKid a decade ago and brought the company to Saudi Arabia about two years
ago, told Arab News: “I’ve always been a student and a teacher myself. The goal
is to build a global classroom to allow more children to get access to best
quality language learning educational experiences … so they can be ready for
their more globalized future.”
Since its founding in 2013, VIPKid has helped more
than 1 million children worldwide learn English and delivered over 280 million
live online classes in English and Mandarin.
Reflecting on her discussion with Princess Reema, Mi
said: “Her vision of empowering women and especially the youth of the Kingdom
for the future was truly an inspiration.”
I can totally see so many women in the Kingdom, in the
region, teach children around the globe and share the wonderful culture with
the world.
“We are very happy and honored to support the
initiative by providing the children of the Kingdom with the highest quality
language tutors from the US or from China, learning Mandarin Chinese and
English, so that the children can be well prepared for the future.”
Over the years, VIPKid has built more than 10 core
language-learning modules. It also offers over 1,800 supplemental elective
classes for learning English and Mandarin.
Source: Www.Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2566351/saudi-arabia
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Saudi sports minister meets chairman of LA28 Olympics
to discuss participation
Arab News
August 10, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Sport and Saudi Olympic and
Paralympic Committee President Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki recently held talks
with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee
Chairman Casey Wasserman at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The two sides discussed strengthening bilateral sports
cooperation and the Kingdom's participation in the next Olympic games, Saudi
Press Agency reported.
Source: Www.Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2566346/saudi-arabia
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SDAIA concludes training programs for datathon winners
in US, UK
Arab News
August 10, 2024
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence
Authority said on Saturday that it had successfully concluded specialized
training programs in the US and UK for the top-two-ranked teams of the Open
Data Datathon.
The initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and
skills of those excelling in data and artificial intelligence, equipping them
with expertise from leading international institutions, the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
The first-place team, Traffix AI, received a grant of
SR250,000 ($66,600) for participating in the Hero Training Program at Draper
University in California.
Source: Www.Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2566236/saudi-arabia
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Saudi artist breathing new life into metal waste with
innovative sculptures
Arab News
August 10, 2024
RIYADH: Majed Al-Zahrani, a visionary artist from
Baha, has breathed new life into discarded metal, transforming it into
captivating sculptures and paintings.
With a keen eye for detail and a passion for
creativity, Al-Zahrani has carved a unique niche for himself in the world of
art, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Using nothing more than simple tools, the young artist
has crafted intricate metal sculptures that defy their humble origins.
Al-Zahrani’s creations, from towering trees to delicate deer, are a testament
to his skill and imagination.
Source: Www.Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2566131/saudi-arabia
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Zionist settlers renew storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
11 Aug 2024
Al-QUDS August 11. 2024 (Saba) -Today, Sunday, the
herds of Zionist settlers renewed their storming of the courtyards of the
blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied city of Jerusalem, under the protection
of the Zionist enemy forces.
The Palestinian "Wafa" reported that
settlers stormed Al-Aqsa in groups under the protection of the enemy forces, and
performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards.
The agency added that the Zionist enemy forces turned
the old city of the occupied city of Jerusalem into a military barracks, and
deployed hundreds of its elements at close distances.
Source: Www.Saba.Ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3357869.htm
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Africa
Protesters take to the streets of Lagos to honour
those killed in recent unrest
11-08-2024
Protesters took to the streets of Lagos on Friday for
a candlelit procession in honour of those killed during recent demonstrations.
The protests, using the hashtag #Endbadgovernance,
have focused on Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis and accusations of
mismanagement of resources and corruption in Africa’s most populous country.
Amnesty International says 22 protesters have been
killed across six states during the demonstrations, citing witness and family
accounts as well as the group’s own verification.
Source: Africa News
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UNICEF says Sudan's future depends on a ceasefire
11-08-2024
UNICEF Representative to Sudan Sheldon Yett today (8
Aug) said the country is experiencing a “child protection emergency,” and
stressed that “the future of Sudan depends on a ceasefire.”
In an interview with UN News from Port Sudan, Yett
said the famine declaration in Camp Zamzam in northern Darfur by the Famine
Review Committee (FRC) “is no small thing.”
He said, “this is only the third time in some 20 years
that this level of acute food insecurity has been declared. It means that
children are desperate. It means that inhabitants are desperate. It means that
we have an extremely alarming situation on the ground.”
The UNICEF official said Zamzam Camp is just “a canary
in a coal mine,” and “the indication of terrible things that are happening
there, terrible food insecurity.”
Source: Africa News
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https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/10/unicef-says-sudans-future-depends-on-a-ceasefire/
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Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali returns to Rabat to a
warm welcome
11-08-2024
Morocco's Soufiane El Bakkali returned to Rabat after
winning at the Paris 2024 Olympics 3000 meters steeplechase.
Upon his return to Morocco, El Bakkali received a
grand welcome at Rabat-Salé Airport, where his fans and supporters gathered to
greet him.
"Praise be to God, I have won the gold medal,
which I would like to dedicate to the Moroccan people and His Majesty the King.
I feel immense happiness, especially when I received a telegram from the King
upon my arrival here. This made me extremely happy because it is the fourth
telegram I have received from His Majesty, and this motivates me a lot,"
said El Bakkali.
Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco defended his title in
the men’s steeplechase with a .36-second win over American rival Kenneth Rooks.
Source: Africa News
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Algerian boxer ImaneKhelif wins gold to cap an
Olympics amid scrutiny
11-08-2024
Algerian boxer ImaneKhelif has won a gold medal Friday
at the Paris Olympics, emerging a champion from a tumultuous run at the Games
where she endured intense scrutiny in the ring and online abuse from around the
world over misconceptions about her womanhood.
Khelif beat Yang Liu of China 5:0 in the final of the
women’s welterweight division, wrapping up the best series of fights of her
boxing career with a victory at Roland Garros, where crowds chanted her name,
waved Algerian flags and roared every time she landed a punch.
After her unanimous win, Khelif jumped into her
coaches' arms, one of them putting her on his shoulders and carrying her in a
victory lap as she pumped her fists and grabbed an Algerian flag from the
crowd.
“For eight years, this has been my dream, and I’m now
the Olympic champion and gold medalist,” Khelif said through an interpreter.
Asked about the scrutiny, she told reporters: “That also gives my success a
special taste because of those attacks.”
Source: Africa News
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