Chhattisgarh Waqf Board to review Friday sermons to prevent political speeches in mosques
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 Nov 2024
Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Salim Raj. | Dr Salim Raj, @drsalim_raj/X
----------
· Chhattisgarh Waqf Board to review Friday sermons to prevent political speeches in mosques
· Karachi admin imposes Section 144 for 7 days as IDEAS-24 opens today
· Food shortages bring hunger pains to displaced families in central Gaza
· Saudi Arabia FM calls for peace, addresses global challenges at G20 Summit opening
· Russia vows 'tangible' response if US missiles used against its territory
· Judge rejects First Amendment claim over anti-Muslim talk in the workplace
· ‘Even If You’re A Minority Govt, Serve Nigerians Well’ – Onaiyekan Tells Tinubu
· PM Anwar: UN Security Council veto power needs reform, be more inclusive
· Sports flourish in Afghanistan despite challenges
------
India
· Karnataka: Allocation of 2,750 acres of govt land for Muslim burial grounds stirs row
· Allahabad High Court grants bail to Muslim man accused of kidnapping, raping Hindu girl
· To keep waqf land row from spiralling, Muslim delegation calls on bishops in Kerala
· Meet Uddhav's Muslim Mavalas
· Hindu family alleges harassment by Muslims
· How BJP made a dispute between an Adivasi and a Muslim family an election issue in Jharkhand
· MVA will bring consolidated reservation bill for Marathas, Muslims and VJNTs: Supriya Sule
· Muslim Traders Claim They Were Evicted From Madhya Pradesh Fair
-------
Pakistan
· PTI announces surprise for govt as Islamabad braces for Nov 24 protest
· Armed men abduct seven cops from KP's Bannu
· Imran flays move to ban VPNs, asks people to join protest on 24th
· Street criminal gets death for killing watchman during robbery in Karachi
· Sharif family reacts to Hasan Nawaz company bankruptcy ruling
· Hajj 2025: Banks start receiving applications for annual pilgrimage
· PTI marchers will ‘stay in capital until Imran’s release’
· PM Shehbaz wants action against tax evaders expedited
· Rs10m looted from telecom firm’s cashier in Sukkur
· CII chief clarifies 'contentious' VPN fatwa
------
Mideast
· Even with Lebanon truce deal, Israel will operate against Hezbollah: Netanyahu
· Defiant Lebanese harvest olives in the shadow of war
· Palestinian Waqf condemns Zionist statements towards Ibrahimi Mosque
· Iraqis face tough homecoming a decade after Daesh rampage
· Members of UN Security Council call for surge in assistance to Gaza
· Yemen’s Houthi militants linked to ship attacks in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
· UNESCO ‘enhanced protection’ for 34 Lebanon heritage sites
· 5 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut Lebanon’s health ministry says
------
Arab World
· KSrelief provides shelter, winter clothing in Lebanon, Somalia
· Steve Wozniak urges Saudi youth to dream, innovate, and conquer the future of AI
· Young voices at heart of Misk forum
· New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
· Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
· Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
------
Europe
· Ex-soldier jailed for anti-Islam Facebook posts
· Northumberland TikToker jailed for threatening to burn down Mosques during summer riots
· Itoje calls playing for England ‘Mecca’ amid LIV-style breakaway plans
· How long-range missiles striking Russia could affect Ukraine war
· Seven-year-old gets job offer from Russian IT firm
· Dozens of medics tried in Turkey over baby deaths
· Abkhazia: Leader of Georgia breakaway region resigns
· Undersea cable between Germany and Finland severed
· Germany to deliver AI-controlled drones to Ukraine
------
North America
· Biden's move on missiles for Ukraine angers Trump allies
· Trump and Xi Jinping’s ‘loving’ relationship has soured - can they rebuild it?
· Ex-Canadian minister says he was alleged target of Iran assassination plot
· Trump vows to use US military for mass deportations
· Biden condemns 'sickening' neo-Nazi march in Ohio
· Diddy called witnesses from prison, prosecutors say
· Trump picks ex-congressman and Fox host as transport secretary
· What to know about the Matt Gaetz allegations
------
Africa
· Why Greedy Politicians Choose Certain Churches, Preachers – Cardinal Onaiyekan
· Democracy Suffered Mortal Wounds Under You – Presidency To Obasanjo
· Russia vetoes UN resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Sudan
· Jurisdiction of Sharia Courts Under Section 277 of the Constitution
· I Am 100% Loyal To President Tinubu As I Was Loyal To Atiku – Bwala
· Rivers Assembly Declares October 29 As Commemoration Day For ‘Unprovoked Attacks
· U.S. Officials Arrest Anas Said Over Links To Terrorist Attacks In Nigeria, Syria
· Obasanjo’s Call For INEC Chairman’s Removal Ill-Advice And Politically Motivated – Ohanaeze
· Tanzania building collapse: Rescue efforts continue as govt vows stern action
· Southwest Muslim leaders visit Olubadan
· US envoy has first meeting in Sudan with army chief
------
Southeast Asia
· Domestic Trade Ministry says will take action against non-Muslim business owners using Islamic symbols to deceive customers, Muslim traders will also be penalised for using fake halal logos
· Government aims to cut NRW to 31 pct by 2025 - DPM Fadillah
· Justice Leong recuses himself from hearing 1MDB’s US$346 million suit against Rosmah
· Retired teacher loses over RM500,000 in gold investment scam
· Education Ministry to probe reports of Thais crossing without permits over Sungai Golok to study in Malaysia
· Masidi: Sabah, Putrajaya not on same page over income for special grant
------
South Asia
· Minor differences in any system; malicious groups’ propaganda in vain
· Chinese Businessman Converts to Islam
· 13 big shots produced at ICT
· Minister Nadeem inaugurates development projects in Maidan Wardak University
· Higher Education Minister Inaugurates Development Projects Worth 70 Million AFN in Maidan Wardak
· Professional Skills Training Enhances Women’s Livelihoods in Sar-e Pol
· DB arrests AL leader Kamrul Islam
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-political-mosques/d/133757
-----
Chhattisgarh Waqf Board to review Friday sermons to prevent political speeches in mosques
Scroll Staff
Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Salim Raj. | Dr Salim Raj, @drsalim_raj/X
-------------
The Chhattisgarh Waqf Board has made it compulsory for all Friday sermons delivered at mosques in the state to be vetted beforehand, to prevent political speeches being made under the guise of worship, reported The Indian Express reported on Monday.
Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Salim Raj said that mosque sermons should focus solely on Islamic teachings and avoid political content.
The decision came after the board received reports of “anti-government” speeches being made in some mosques in the state, the newspaper reported quoting unidentified persons.
Chhattisgarh is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Raj, who is also the head of the Hindutva party’s minority affairs wing in the state, told The Indian Express that a mosque “shouldn’t be turned into a political adda [place]”.
“It’s unfortunate that the place is used to issue fatwas [Islamic rulings] and decide who to vote and whom not to vote…They must talk about Islam, what it says and the message of Allah,” he said. “Politics must be left for politicians.”
Raj announced that the board would send letters detailing the new rules to the state’s 3,800 mosques. “The order will be effective this Friday,” he said.
The directive has faced criticism from Opposition parties, including the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Congress.
“The waqf board of the BJP government of Chhattisgarh wants that before giving the Jummah [Friday] sermon, the khatib [person who delivers religious sermons] should get his sermon checked by the Waqf Board and should not give the sermon without the permission of the board,” All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi wrote in a post on social media. “Now BJP people will tell us what is religion? Do I have to take permission from them to follow my religion? The Waqf Board has no such legal power, and even if it had, it would have been against Article 25 of the Constitution.”
Article 25 guarantees citizens the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion.
“The Waqf Board has the authority to assess its properties but does not have the power to give instructions on what a maulana or mutawalli can say in their speeches inside mosques,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla to The Indian Express. “This is unconstitutional and the Congress party condemns this.”
The BJP argued that the move was needed to prevent mosques “from being misused for political ends”.
“We have seen in Kashmir, where they kept issuing fatwas and it led to Kashmiri Pandits facing violence and fleeing the place,” BJP state spokesperson Tauqir Raza was quoted as saying.
“Here too, if any controversial comments are made against the nation or state or anti-national elements try to participate in such things, the government will act on them,” Raza added. “An eye is being kept on all mosques so they are not misused.”
Source:scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://scroll.in/latest/1075779/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-to-review-friday-sermons-to-prevent-political-speeches-in-mosques
---------
Karachi admin imposes Section 144 for 7 days as IDEAS-24 opens today
By Suleman Saadat
November 19, 2024
The image shows a view of a wall decorated with the name of the IDEAS-2024 at the Expo Centre in Karachi. — X@TeamPakFouj313
----------------
Karachi's city administration announced a seven-day ban on protests and rallies in the mega city ahead of the 12th edition of the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS-24) getting underway at the Expo Centre today.
The exhibition will last until November 22, 2024.
The notification, issued late Monday by Karachi Commissioner Syed Hasan Naqvi under Section 144 over a request from the Additional Inspector General of Police, Karachi Range, prohibits all political gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, protests and similar activities.
A notification issued in this regard states that public gatherings of more than five people will not be allowed during the given period. Similar restrictions have also been imposed in Islamabad in a notification issued by the additional deputy commissioner.
The defence exhibition will open today after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates it. The exhibition will be organised by the Defence Export Promotion Organisation (DEPO), under the aegis of the Ministry of Defence and Defence Production, aiming to promote Pakistan's defence industry internationally.
The event as per its traditions will showcase splendid activities encompassing world’s advanced defence technology demonstrations, international seminar, IDEAS Tri-Services Karachi Show, networking, and business expansions through B2B and B2G engagements.
The IDEAS-24 will bring together defence industries from across the globe to showcase their latest technological innovations.
The Defence Industry of Pakistan (public as well as private) will also showcase its defence-related products of international standards.
One of the new additions to the IDEAS-2024 will be the Startups Pavilion which is being established under the auspices of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), the Pakistan Navy Maritime Science and Technology Park (PNMSTP) and the National Aerospace and Technology Park (NASTP) in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the defence sector, with a view to giving international exposure to young entrepreneurs, who are expected to display highly innovative projects and technologies.
Senior civil and military delegations and trade visitors in large numbers will also be witnessing the IDEAS-24, according to the Defence Export Promotion Organization (DEPO).
The previous edition of the defence exhibition was attended by 350 delegates from 57 countries, as well as high-level delegations headed by defence ministers, defence secretaries and heads of the armed forces.
Source:thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252605-karachi-admin-imposes-section-144-for-7-days-as-ideas-24-opens-today
----------
Food shortages bring hunger pains to displaced families in central Gaza
November 19, 2024
FILE PHOTO: A Palestinian man transports a bag of flour on his bicycle as others struggle to receive their portion of aid, amid a widespread hunger, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues, in Gaza City. (REUTERS)
-------------
DEIR AL-BALAH: A shortage in flour and the closure of a main bakery in central Gaza have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation, as Palestinian families struggle to obtain enough food.
A crowd of people waited dejectedly in the cold outside the shuttered Zadna Bakery in Deir Al-Balah on Monday.
Among them was Umm Shadi, a displaced woman from Gaza City, who told The Associated Press that there was no bread left due to the lack of flour — a bag of which costs as much as 400 shekels ($107) in the market, she said, if any can be found.
“Who can buy a bag of flour for 400 shekels?” she asked.
Nora Muhanna, another woman displaced from Gaza City, said she was leaving empty-handed after waiting five or six hours for a bag of bread for her kids.
“From the beginning, there are no goods, and even if they are available, there is no money,” she said.
Almost all of Gaza’s roughly 2.3 million people now rely on international aid for survival, and doctors and aid groups say malnutrition is rampant. Food security experts say famine may already be underway in hard-hit north Gaza. Aid groups accuse the Israeli military of hindering and even blocking shipments in Gaza.
Meanwhile, dozens lined up in Deir Al-Balah to get their share of lentil soup and some bread at a makeshift charity kitchen.
Refat Abed, a displaced man from Gaza City, no longer knows how he can afford food.
“Where can I get money?” he asked. “Do I beg? If it were not for God and charity, my children and I would go hungry,”
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579864/middle-east
---------
Saudi Arabia FM calls for peace, addresses global challenges at G20 Summit opening
November 18, 2024
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the Kingdom’s delegation at the first session of the Group of 20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which opened on Monday. (SPA)
-------------
RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the Kingdom’s delegation at the first session of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which opened on Monday.
Prince Faisal, who is leading the delegation on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spoke at the summit’s opening session which was called “Social Inclusion and Combating Hunger and Poverty.”
Prince Faisal highlighted pressing global challenges, noting that increasing tensions, military conflicts, and humanitarian crises were significant obstacles to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, adding: “Development and prosperity cannot be achieved on the ruins of death and destruction.”
Moving on to the ongoing crises in the Middle East, Prince Faisal pointed to Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, describing them as sources of severe human suffering and catalysts which were pushing the region toward broader conflict.
He said: “The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon has caused unprecedented levels of human suffering; is pushing the region to the brink of a wider war … and is undermining the credibility of international law and institutions.”
Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to peace, stating the Kingdom’s unwavering stance on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance; the release of hostages; and a serious commitment to lasting peace based on the two-state solution according to the 1967 borders, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The minister also addressed the situation in Sudan, expressing concern over the severe human toll due to the conflict, and obstacles preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities.
In addition to political challenges, Prince Faisal commended Brazil’s initiative in launching the International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s development and humanitarian objectives. He announced the Kingdom’s participation in the alliance, which resonates with its long-standing global efforts.
He said: “The Kingdom is pleased to be part of this alliance that is in line with its development goals and its global role in this regard, which is expressed by the programs of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (and) the Saudi Fund for Development, in addition to its global contributions to the programs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support developing countries.”
The Kingdom’s delegation included Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Deputy Minister of Finance (Saudi Sherpa for the G20) Abdul Mohsen bin Saad Al-Khalaf, and Ambassador to Brazil Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam.
The G20 Summit in Brazil serves as a platform for the world’s leading economies to address global challenges and promote collective solutions aimed at fostering sustainable development and social equity.
On the sidelines of the summit, Prince Faisal met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During their meeting they discussed US-Saudi relations, as well as regional developments and the efforts made in this regard.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579832/saudi-arabia
---------
Russia vows 'tangible' response if US missiles used against its territoryPaulin Kola
19th Nov 2024,
The US has approved the use of ATACMS missiles against targets inside Russia (file photo)
-------------
Russia says the use of US long-range missiles by Ukraine will lead to "an appropriate and tangible" response.
Such an attack inside Russian territory "would represent the direct involvement of the United States and its satellites in hostilities against Russia", a foreign ministry statement said.
President Joe Biden approved the use of the missiles on targets in Russia in a major change of US policy - two months before he is due to leave the White House.
It is not clear if his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, was consulted or whether he will stick by the decision, having promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ukraine has had US ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) with a range of 300km (190 miles) - as well as French and British Storm Shadow missiles of a similar range - but the Western allies had barred Kyiv from hitting Russia with them.
Biden's decision to lift that condition is a significant moment in the war, which marks its 1,000th day on Tuesday.
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Moscow has now intensified attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure as the sides appear to have reached a stalemate on the battlefield.
The US decision also follows the arrival in Russia's western Kursk region - where Ukrainian forces captured and are holding onto a small piece of territory - of more than 10,000 troops from North Korea to help President Vladimir Putin's forces.
Unconfirmed reports say North Korea may send as many as 100,000 soldiers, in addition to artillery and other weapons to its ally.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has indicated there may be no formal announcement of the US deal - "the missiles will speak for themselves," he said on Sunday.
Ukraine may use the ATACMS in Kursk first - in fact some reports suggest the US may have restricted their use there as a signal to North Korea to stop sending aid to Russia and to Moscow itself.
Biden's approval of the long-range missiles - which may be followed by similar authorisations by the UK and France - is being seen in the West as a way of signalling to the Russian leader that he cannot win the Ukraine war militarily.
Putin has not commented on the latest move.
In September, the Russian leader said the use of such missiles by Ukraine would represent the "direct participation" of Nato countries in the war.
On Monday, Putin's spokesman said the US was "adding oil to the fire".
But Jon Finer, US deputy national security adviser, said Washington had made it "clear to the Russians that we would respond" - both to the presence of North Korean forces and the "major escalation" in Russian aerial attacks on infrastructure across Ukraine.
The weekend saw intense Russian attacks against Ukraine's power grid, causing large-scale blackouts. Several people were killed or injured.
On Monday, a Russian strike on Odesa killed another 10 people and injured nearly 50.
Donald Trump has not reacted to Biden's decision so far.
He swept to victory on 5 November and will return to the White House on 20 January.
Trump has promised to end US involvement in foreign wars and use the taxpayers' money to improve the lives of Americans.
He has also said he will end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but has not given details how.
Zelensky recently said he expected Trump to exert pressure on Ukraine and Russia to agree a peace deal within the next year.
Biden's decision was hailed by French President Emmanuel Macron as a "totally good" step.
The US authorisation could potentially enable France and the UK to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia. Storm Shadow is a Franco-British long-range cruise missile with similar capabilities to the ATACMS.
So far, neither Macron nor UK Prime Minister Sir Keir have publicly said whether they will allow Kyiv to use their missiles in the same way.
Meanwhile, China's Xi Jinping urged world leaders to “cool the Ukraine crisis” and seek a political solution, according to Chinese state media.
China has become a vital partner for Russia, as it seeks to soften the impact of US and European sanctions imposed over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Beijing has repeatedly denied allegations that it supplies Moscow with weapons.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr91nn9n79o
---------
Judge rejects First Amendment claim over anti-Muslim talk in the workplace
BY: CLARK KAUFFMAN -
NOVEMBER 18, 2024
An Iowa judge has ruled against a Fort Dodge man who said the First Amendment shielded him from being fired over anti-Muslim rhetoric.
According to state records, Gregory L. Benfield worked for American Packaging in Story City from July 2022 through July 24, 2024, when he was fired for allegedly violating policies related to harassment and discrimination. He later filed a claim for unemployment benefits, which resulted in a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Carly Smith.
According to Smith’s recent, written findings, on July 18, 2024, two employees of American Packaging were having a workplace conversation about a Muslim friend when Benfield expressed the opinion “that Muslims were bad people.”
The two employees disagreed with Benfield, arguing that while every religion has followers who are bad, Muslims as a whole are not bad people. According to Smith’s findings, Benfield disagreed, cited the events of Sept. 11, 2001, as evidence, and argued that Muslims should be vetted before they enter the country, and that all Muslims now in the United States should be deported.
State records indicate one of Benfield’s colleagues complained to human resources about Benfield’s comments, which led to an internal investigation that, according to the company, uncovered other offensive statements.
Smith’s written findings state that Benfield admitted making comments about “illegal immigrants” and suggesting they all should be deported.
In ruling that Benfield was not entitled to collect unemployment benefits, Smith noted that while Benfield is married to a Hispanic woman, he had also made “discriminatory comments about all Muslims being bad people and needing to be deported from the country. (Benfield) argues that it is his personal opinion, and it should be protected by the First Amendment. However, the employer is a private entity that is entitled to establish reasonable work rules and expect employees to abide by them.”
Smith ruled that Benfield’s “discriminatory comments about Muslims was a deliberate disregard of the standard of behavior that the employer had a right to expect” of employees.
Source:iowacapitaldispatch.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/judge-rejects-first-amendment-claim-over-anti-muslim-talk-in-the-workplace/
---------
‘Even If You’re A Minority Govt, Serve Nigerians Well’ – Onaiyekan Tells Tinubu
18 November 2024
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju
The Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has described the administration of President Bola Tinubu as a ‘minority government’, stating that more Nigerians voted against him in the 2023 election.
Naija News reports that the cleric while featuring on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme on Channels Television, said Tinubu, the then-candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should switch from campaign mode to governance mode and serve Nigerians well.
Onaiyekan warned Tinubu against running a polarised government where his political cronies are rewarded with appointments, noting that it was not the best way to move the country forward.
He urged the President to do his best to move the nation forward as he would give account of his stewardship to God.
He said, “There are Nigerians who did not vote for APC. Granted that APC got the highest number of votes and that is why they have the right to rule us. But they also forget that there are millions of Nigerians who did not (vote for the APC).
“Whatever the rules say, the reality is that more people vote against Mr President than those who voted for him.
“Even if you are a minority government, which is what I call what we have now, you still have a duty to serve the people and to do all you can to give everybody what is their right, and to rule well.
“Mr President, it’s about time you switched from campaign mode to governance mode. Elections are over. Campaigns are over. You now have to govern and govern the whole of Nigeria and every Nigerian.
“And therefore, the whole system whereby high political offices are given as a reward for those who were political activists, I don’t believe that that is the best way to move the nation forward.
“I would say, now that you (Tinubu) have been declared the President of Nigeria, sit down comfortably on that chair. As a religious leader, I would say God has allowed you on that chair. If God puts you there, you must then know that he is watching you and that He will be asking you what you did on that chair.”
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/18/even-if-youre-a-minority-govt-serve-nigerians-well-onaiyekan-tells-tinubu/
---------
PM Anwar: UN Security Council veto power needs reform, be more inclusive
19 Nov 2024
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 19 — The veto power held by the P5 (Permanent Five) countries in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should be more inclusive, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The current setting is grossly unfair. There needs to be representatives from Latin America and Africa,” he said, adding that reforms of the United Nations (UN) have been in discussion for over five decades.
“We are talking about reform of the institution of the United Nations. We’re talking about ideals, humanity, (and) humanitarian values.
“We’re talking about representatives. There’s no representation from Africa, no representation for Latin America, who cares?
“Hence, they must consider adequate democratic representation from (the) regions (of) Latin America and Africa. It’s grossly unfair to continue UNSC by excluding them,” he said at the second session of the ‘Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance’ at the G20 Summit here on Monday.
The five permanent members of the UNSC, also known as the Big Five or P5, are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Anwar said the call for the reform of the UN must include principles of representation. — Bernama
Source:malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/19/pm-anwar-un-security-council-veto-power-needs-reform-be-more-inclusive/157319
---------
Sports flourish in Afghanistan despite challenges
November 19, 2024
Mawlavi Ahmadul lah Wasiq, the head of Afghanistan’s National Olympic and Sports Committee, highlighted the remarkable achievements of Afghan athletes during a ceremony honoring Hamidullah Omari, a bodybuilding champion and medalist in recent global competitions. Speaking in the ceremony, Wasiq emphasized the signifi cant progress made by Afghan athletes compared to the previous year. He revealed that Afghan athletes have collectively secured 115 medals in various international competitions, showcasing their dedication and talent despite challenging circumstances. Hamidullah Omari, a standout athlete in the bodybuilding category, has been a source of pride for Afghanistan, earning accolades on the global stage. His achievements symbolize the resilience and determination of Afghan athletes who continue to bring recognition to the country through sports. Wasiq expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the athletes and reiterated the National Olympic Committee’s commitment to supporting sports development in Afghanistan. He also called for greater resources and facilities to help Afghan athletes achieve even greater success on the international stage. The achievements of Afghan athletes reflect not only their hard work and perseverance but also the collective spirit of a nation striving to shine despite adversity. With 115 medals already secured this year, Afghanistan’s sporting future looks promising The Kabul Times
Source:thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/sports-flourish-in-afghanistan-despite-challenges/
---------
India
Karnataka: Allocation of 2,750 acres of govt land for Muslim burial grounds stirs row
November 18, 2024
By Prathima Nandakumar
The ruling Congress in Karnataka is accused of appeasement politics over its decision to allot 2,750 acres of government land for Muslim burial grounds. The Siddaramaiah government which is already facing the heat over the state Wakf Board issuing notices allegedly to reclaim the lands belonging to farmers, temples, schools, legislators and private individuals in the state, finds itself in a tight spot as pro-Hindu groups have dubbed the move as “unfair” and “minority appeasement”.
Last April, then deputy chief secretary had directed the revenue secretary to examine the 328 proposals seeking land for ‘khabrastan’ and allocate 2,750 acres of government land or private land (after acquisition) across the districts of Bengaluru, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan and Udupi.
During the review meeting of the state level task force on Wakf properties, the revenue department was directed to modify the khata (land record) of 21,767 properties to “wakf” and update the same in the “Bhoomi” app.
Meanwhile, the pro-Hindu activists have demanded to know why the long pending demand to regularise the Hindu temple lands has fallen on deaf ears. Over 34,000 temples (C-category) built on government land have sought transfer of ownership rights of the land to the temple administration.
“The Congress government is giving preferential treatment to minorities for the sake of votes. Why can’t the Wakf board which owns more than 1.2 lakh acres provide land for the Muslim burial grounds?,” said Sharan Pumpwell, a pro-Hindu activist.
According to Wakf minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, the state Wakf board owns 1.20 lakh acres of land, but only 23,000 acres are free of encroachment. The minister who conducted Wakf adalats and directed the officials to issue notices to ”reclaim” the encroached Wakf lands, earned the wrath of not only the aggrieved landowners and the opposition parties, but also his partymen as the Wakf Board has issued notices to farmers, temples, schools, government buildings, lands owned by politicians and also historical monuments.
The farmers in north Karnataka districts have set the November 25 deadline to rectify the land records that have been modified as “Wakf properties”. The BJP and the JDS are preparing to launch a massive agitation across the state, and plan to raise the issue in the winter session of the Legislature that begins on December 9 at Belagavi.
Source:theweek.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2024/11/18/karnataka-allocation-of-2750-acres-of-govt-land-for-muslim-burial-grounds-stirs-row.html
---------
Allahabad High Court grants bail to Muslim man accused of kidnapping, raping Hindu girl
11/19/24
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to a Muslim man accused of kidnapping and raping a Hindu girl.that she had crossed the age of 17 when the FIR was lodged and that she went with him and married him willingly. During the course of hearing, the counsel appearing for the girl said she did not have any objection if the applicant was released on bail. The two had a dispute during a train journey and a Bajrang Dal member lodged a police complaint against Alam, alleging that he kidnapped the girl, a student of class 10According to the complaint, Alam also made the girl change her religionThe FIR in the case was lodged under sections 363 (kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping to compel marriage), 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The accused was also booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
Source:deccanherald.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/allahabad-high-court-grants-bail-to-muslim-man-accused-of-kidnapping-raping-hindu-girl-3282249\
----------
To keep waqf land row from spiralling, Muslim delegation calls on bishops in Kerala
by Shaju Philip
November 19, 2024
IUMLKozhikode Bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal, one of the bishops who took part in the discussion, said, “IUML has declared their solidarity with the people of Munambam.
A delegation of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Monday held discussions with bishops of Latin Catholic Church in Kerala to ensure that the waqf land controversy at Munambam in Ernakulam does not snowball into a communal issue.
IUML leadership led by state president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal met 16 bishops of the Latin Catholic Church in Kerala at the headquarters of Varapuzha archdiocese in Kochi to find an amicable solution for the vexed land issue.
After the meeting, Thangal told the media that there are legal issues on which the government should take decision without delay. “All stakeholders in the issue should be convened to find a solution. The issue can be solved. The Government should intervene in the issue at the earliest,’’ he said.
Kozhikode Bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal, one of the bishops who took part in the discussion, said, “IUML has declared their solidarity with the people of Munambam. They are confident that the issue can be solved. We also have the same view,’’ he said.
Earlier, Thangal had convened a meeting of all leading Muslim organisations, where it was decided that occupants of the waqf land should not be evicted. IUML also could convince other Muslim organisations about the fallout of adopting a hardline approach on the issue.
The Chief Minister has convened a meeting on November 22 to discuss the matter. The Left government’s delay in solving the issue had come under criticism from the Opposition Congress after BJP stepped into the issue in a bid to get closer to the Christian community in Kerala. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje had visited Munambam last week and alleged that the Waqf Board was waging a land jihad. BJP has also extensively used the Waqf land row in the by-poll campaigning.
Source:indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/to-keep-waqf-land-row-from-spiralling-muslim-delegation-calls-on-bishops-in-kerala-9676840/
----------
Meet Uddhav's Muslim Mavalas
November 19, 2024
Ajiz Yakub Mommin and three others travelled from Sangamner in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district to Worli to accompany Aaditya Thackeray on his campaign.
"I am a Muslim Mavala (trusted soldiers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) of Aaditya Thackeray," Mommin said, showing a locket around his neck on which is inscribed 'Muslim Mavala'.
As the BJP runs a 'Vote Jihad' and 'Batenge Toh Katenge' narrative in the Maharashtra elections, Mommin says Hindus and Muslims of Maharashtra know that those who are dividing the people on the basis of religion want to set their houses on fire.
"I am an Indian first. I am proud that I am born in Maharashtra," he says while appealing to Muslims to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi and make Uddhav Thackeray CM again.
Watch what the firebrand Shiv Sena supporter says
Atharva Walvekar, a resident of the Lower Parel area which falls under Aaditya Thackeray's Worli constituency, questions the Eknath Shinde government's Laadki Bahin scheme.
"You are giving Rs 1,500, but increasing the prices of other essential items. What can we do with Rs 1,500," Atharva asks, adding that the Maha Vikas Aghadi will offer Rs 3,000 per month which will be good for the people.
"In school and college we learn that we all are brothers, but when it comes to politics we are identifying people as Hindu or Muslim," says Atharva, who is doing his diploma in engineering.
"Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is the slogan of the BJP, but where is Sabka Saath? If there is Sabka Saath, then why are you only talking about Hindu-Muslim?" Atharva asks.
'We are Indians first, only then we are Hindus and Muslims'
Pooja Sanjay Ghadigaonkar, a Shiv Sena-UBT worker, who is getting ready for Aaditya Thackeray's rally, reveals that she has received Rs 1,500 per month under the Maharashtra's government's Laadki Bahin scheme.
"Aamache paisiech amhala dile. Kay mehrbani keli ka? (they didn't favour us by giving us our money back to us). They didn't give the money for free," Pooja says.
"We have Ganga-Jamuna tehzeeb in Worli. Hum na batenge, na katenge," declares Sayed Salim who welcomes Aaditya Thackeray in Worli's Jijamata Nagar with a shawl.
Salim thinks the state government will end the Laadki Bahin scheme after the elections and there will be no change in the common man's life.
"They are giving our money back to us. They are not doing any favour to us. An auto driver will remain an auto driver only," he says.
"Today gas prices have gone up, inflation is too high," says Congress worker N S Pandian, adding, "The BJP used to create an uproar when gas prices used to go up to Rs 400 (during the Manmohan Singh era), but now gas prices have gone up till Rs 1,200."
Source:rediff.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rediff.com/news/special/meet-uddhavs-muslim-mavalas/20241119.htm
---------
Hindu family alleges harassment by Muslims
November 18, 2024
Alleging harassment by Muslim neighbours, a Hindu family in Indore city wrote on the main door of its house that their house is for sale.
A photo of the house went viral and police and members of Hindu outfits reached the Hindu family’s house.
According to the police, the complainant Rajesh Kalmoia lives in Prakash Ka Bageecha locality in Raoji Bazaar area of the city.
Rajesh told the police that he had an altercation some days ago with his neighbours Shadab, Shanu and some others.
Rajesh had lodged a police complaint against Shadab and Shanu in the matter. Since then Shadab and Shanu have been reportedly pressurizing Rajesh to reach a mutual agreement in the matter.
Rajesh alleged that some unidentified persons threw a firecracker on his house in the wee hours of Sunday. He said that he and his entire family members have been very scared after the incident and fear for their lives.
Rajesh suspects that Shanu, Shadab and some others threw the firecracker on his house.
Consequently, Rajesh wrote outside his main door, ‘yah makaan bikaau hai. Muslim prataadna se pareshaan’. (This house is for sale. Stressed due to persecution by Muslims).
The police have registered an FIR against 11 persons including Shadab, Raees, Irfan, Shanu, Salim, Jallu, Rizwan and others in the matter. Further investigations are on.
Source:thestatesman.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thestatesman.com/india/hindu-family-alleges-harassment-by-muslims-1503366106.html
---------
How BJP made a dispute between an Adivasi and a Muslim family an election issue in Jharkhand
Nolina Minj
November 19, 2024
Gaibathan is a tranquil village of about 1,400 people in Jharkhand’s Pakur district. Since July, it has been ground zero of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s infiltration narrative, which is the mainstay of its election campaign in the ongoing state Assembly polls.
The party, which is seeking to dislodge the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government, has claimed that unchecked Muslim infiltration from Bangladesh under the JMM has put Adivasi land and identity at risk.
The BJP campaign, which took shape earlier this year, received a boost in July when an old land dispute between an Adivasi and a Muslim family living in Gaibathan flared up again. The party’s leaders projected the clash as evidence that the Hemant Soren-led government was allowing Muslims to forcibly take over Adivasi land in the Santal Pargana, the northeastern region of the state, which has six districts including Pakur.
Months later, with elections underway, Scroll travelled to Gaibathan, which is part of the Maheshpur constituency, to gauge the electoral impact of the events of July.
An old dispute
Gaibathan village has a mixed population, with Adivasis outnumbering non-Adivasi Hindus and Muslims, according to a report by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a coalition of progressive organisations in the state.
However, in one of the four tolas or hamlets in the village, there are about 100 Muslim families and four Adivasi families.
It is in this hamlet that a land dispute broke out more than 25 years ago. A villager named Safaruddin Ansari claimed that his father had purchased a plot of land from another resident, Parmeshwar Hembrom. However, Hembrom denied that any such sale had taken place. The two fought the matter in court, which ruled in Hembrom’s favour in 2015.
This year, when Hembrom’s family began to construct a new structure on the plot adjacent to the mud house where they lived, Ansari’s family took objection and broke down a scaffold on July 18. This led to a violent fight between the two families.
Although both sides sustained injuries, the Adivasi family took a greater knock, according to the fact-finding report by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha.
BJP leader Babulal Marandi was quick to share a video about the incident on social media, claiming that Bangladeshi infiltrators had seized the land from Adivasis. Marandi also tweeted a video from his visit to the village on July 31, in which he said that the district administration had failed to hold up the land rights of the Adivasis, either because the Hemant Soren government was weak or because it was seeking to appease the Muslim vote bank.
On August 1, Assam’s chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, one of BJP’s campaign managers in Jharkhand, also visited the site. He reiterated the claim that JMM was sheltering Bangladeshi infiltrators, and asked whether Hemant Soren was an Adivasi only when it came to asking for votes and not for protecting Adivasi rights.
But the dispute in Gaibathan had no connection to Bangladeshi infiltration, the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, pointed out. During its fact-finding visit to the village in August, it found that both the families – the Ansaris and the Hembroms – held khatian, or land records, from 1932, which proved they are both native to the region.
“BJP leaders tried to give a communal shade to a local land dispute by linking it to Bangladeshi infiltration,” said their report on the matter.
The student protest
Even though the BJP’s central claim was unfounded, the matter gained considerable attention. In the town of Pakur, 30 km away, Adivasi students at KKM college announced plans to hold a demonstration in support of the aggrieved Adivasi family on July 27.
On the night of July 26, however, around 150 policemen entered the college’s student hostel, stating that they were doing so in connection with a different case of kidnapping. Violence broke out between the students and policemen, in which students were beaten and many were hospitalised, while some policemen were also injured.
“The police came into the hostel to stop us from protesting over what happened at Gaibathan,” said student leader Jivan Baskey from KKM college. After the incident, local BJP leaders Lobin Hembrom and Sita Soren, as well Assam CM Himanta Sarma, visited the students.
Some activists, however, alleged that the planned protest was politically motivated. “There are so many cases of land conflict that occur throughout Jharkhand,” activist Emiliya Hansda said. “The students have never protested against these cases before. They seem to have been manipulated in this particular case.”
Baskey confirmed to Scroll that the students had not held demonstrations against cases of land grabbing before this instance. He explained that Kamal Murmu, a student leader of the Adivasi Chhatra Sangh, had alerted the students to the Gaibathan case. While Murmu denied having any linkages to a political party, local activist Priyasheela Besra said that the Adivasi Chhatra Sangh has had a longstanding relationship with BJP leader Lobin Hembrom.
Although the BJP had portrayed the Gaibathan conflict as one pertaining to infiltration by Bangladeshis, Baskey told Scroll that the students were simply seeking to protest against an Adivasi family’s land being grabbed.
He added that he had not seen any evidence of infiltration in the region.
A village decides
When Scroll visited Gaibathaan on November 14, we found that the BJP had successfully won the Adivasi family’s support by offering it financial assistance in the dispute.
Hopni Murmu, Parmeshwar’s wife, said that Marandi’s team had given them Rs 1 lakh for medical treatment after the assault and Rs 25,000 as funds towards the construction of the house.
“We used to vote for the JMM before this but they did nothing to help us out in the matter, so we will vote for those who helped us this time – the BJP,” Hopni said.
A few weeks after the incident, on August 18, Chief Minister Hemant Soren launched the Maiya Samman Yojana from Gaibathan village. The JMM is hopeful that the scheme, which provides Rs 1,000 per month to women between the ages of 21 to 50 year, will help it win over women voters.
The choice of Gaibathan as the launch village was not a coincidence. “After that incident [in July], we felt it was necessary for the Chief Minister’s presence to be felt there,” said a consultant working with the JMM.
A JMM party spokesperson, however, refuted such a strategy. “The BJP’s infiltrator narrative has been proven false on the ground. We had to launch the scheme from somewhere and we happened to choose Pakur,” said Dr Tanuj Khatri.
Nonetheless, the attempt did not work – Parmeshwar’s family was specially invited to attend the event, but they chose not to attend. “Even when he arrived, we saw that the Chief Minister was surrounded by Muslim supporters. We did not feel like going,” said Hopni.
As of now, the family has put up the scaffolding again – Hopni explained that they are building a mud house since the family does not have enough money to build a cement house.
Their moment in the media limelight has left the family’s life largely unchanged – they continue to rely on a mud stove for cooking, and members have to walk thrice a day to the nearest tank to fill up water for their daily use.
In the same hamlet, Muslim residents said they were happy with the JMM-led government. “Soren was set back by the pandemic and imprisonment, even then he did good work for the poor by waiving off electricity bills and implementing the Maiya Samman Yojana,” said local farmer Kamaluddin Ansari.
Muslim women said the fight between the two families had not caused any disharmony in the village. “There is brotherhood between the Muslims and Adivasis here,” said Hameeda Biwi. “What happened between those families was a one-off incident.”
Kamaluddin Ansari said, “It was a small matter but the BJP inflated it to make it a big election issue. There are no Bangladeshis here. We all have khatiani documents to show that we are natives.”
In the Adivasi tola of the village, Adivasi voters also said they had not been particularly influenced by the dispute. “The land grab incident didn’t have anything to do with us,” said Vimal Tudu, an Adivasi farmer.
But he had a less favourable view of the government – while it had provided some schemes to the village, his own observations suggested that the Muslim tola received them faster.
“We previously voted for the JMM,” Tudu said. “This time Daud Marandi, who is standing from the Samajwadi Party, had come to visit us recently. We are yet to decide whom to vote for.”
The wider impact
The Samajwadi Party is not seen as a major player in the Maheshpur constituency, which is reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Tribes. The contest here is largely between the JMM’s incumbent MLA Stephen Marandi and the BJP’s Navneet Hembrom.
However, in the neighbouring Pakur constituency, the fight is triangular – Nishat Alam of the Indian National Congress, an ally of the JMM, is pitted against Azhar Islam of the All Jharkhand Students Union Party, an ally of the BJP, and Aquil Akhtar from the Samajwadi Party. Nishat Alam is the wife of former MLA and minister Alamgir Alam who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in June this year in a money laundering case.
The JMM-Congress alliance has been traditionally strong in the Santal Pargana, which elects 18 representatives to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. The BJP’s infiltration narrative, political observers say, is aimed at driving a wedge between the alliance’s Adivasi and Muslim supporters.
On the campus of KKM college in Pakur, Baskey said students supported different political parties. A first time voter, he himself had decided to vote for the BJP ally – but not for reasons linked to its infiltration narrative.
“They were the first to show us support, the state government did nothing for us,” he said.
Then, pointing to the decrepit condition of the college buildings, he said, “Look at the state of the college, there is no night guard, we have to cook our own meals and so many posts for teachers are vacant. Things might improve if the BJP comes to power,” he said.
Source:scroll.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://scroll.in/article/1075791/how-bjp-made-a-dispute-between-an-adivasi-and-a-muslim-family-an-election-issue-in-jharkhand
---------
MVA will bring consolidated reservation bill for Marathas, Muslims and VJNTs: Supriya Sule
Nov 19, 2024
Indapur: NCP (Sharad Pawar) working president Supriya Sule, who has been addressing around five rallies a day, said that if they come to power a comprehensive bill giving reservation to Marathas, Dhangars, Lingayats, Muslims and VJNT (Vimukh Jati Nomadic Tribes) would be brought out. She says unemployment and farm distress were the main issues this time adding that they would ensure jobs and a better price to farmers if voted to power. On the contentious issue of Maratha reservation, Sule doesn't hesitate to say that their alliance is sensitive about it and so also the need for quota for other segments of society. Sule packs punches on her rivals and maintains that the fight with her estranged cousin Ajit Pawar is an "ideological" fight not a "family fight". Wearing a white saree with the NCP(SP) symbol of a man blowing the trumpet printed on the saree blouse, the Baramati MP starts her speech by chanting her party slogan, 'Ram Krishna Hari, Vajava Tutari'. While the second part of the slogan refers to the NC P(SP), the first part refers to thegreeting of the Warkari sect, which worships the Vitthal deity, and has a huge following across the state. "If MVA comes to power we will bring a comprehensive legislation ensuring appropriate reservation for Maratha, Dhangar, Muslim, Lingayat and VJNT," she said. Taking a dig at the ruling Mahayuti over its popular Ladki Behin scheme, Sule says she "is the Ladki Behin of Maharashtra and people have blessed her". When asked about how her party is doing after the break-up with the Ajit Pawar faction, she says: "The Lok Sabha results are a testimony to that. We will do well in the upcoming assembly polls as well."On the 'Ladki Behna scheme' impact, Sule says: "I don't know but we will continue this scheme by further improving it to Rs 3,000 per month to women
Source:indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/maharashtra/mva-will-bring-consolidated-reservation-bill-for-marathas-muslims-and-vjnts-supriya-sule/articleshow/115427276.cms\
---------
Muslim Traders Claim They Were Evicted From Madhya Pradesh Fair
November 18, 2024
Bhopal: A fair which was meant to encourage self-employment and promote local products has sparked a massive controversy in Madhya Pradesh instead. Muslim traders have alleged that they were evicted from 'Swadeshi Mela' organised at the Tehsil Ground in Damoh district and were allegedly told by the organisers that "Muslims are not allowed".
They claimed they were asked to leave on Sunday after they booked stalls and paid participation fees. The fair began on October 14 and will continue till November 24.
The posters of the fair, which has been organised by Swadeshi Jagran Manch, highlighted ideals like equality, harmony, and national unity, emphasising living together without discrimination. The ground reality, however, seems to contradict these lofty messages.
Mohammad Rashid, a businessman from Agra, claimed, "They asked my name and shut down my shop. We had 10 shops here. The organisers told us Muslims are not allowed entry. All our rent and travel expenses are wasted."
"They refused to let us set up shops and told us to leave," said Shabbir, a shopkeeper from Lucknow.
Vakil Ahmed, a trader from Bhadohi, said, "They are removing Muslims. Around 15-20 of us were told to close our shops."
Damoh collector Sudhir Kochar has assured an inquiry into the matter. He, however, insisted that the Swadeshi Jagran Manch "have the right to decide participation" since they organised the event.
"I have instructed my officers to thoroughly study this case. This is not a government program but an event by Swadeshi Jagran Manch, and it is their right to decide participation. However, we will gather all information and take appropriate action if required," Mr Kochar added.
Post a comment
The fair has witnessed participation from traders from various states. While the posters advocated equality and national unity, the eviction of Muslim traders has raised concerns about discrimination. The traders now hope for a refund, which, they said, might restore some credibility to the fair's claims.
Source:ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/damoh-swadeshi-fair-muslim-traders-claim-they-were-evicted-from-madhya-pradesh-fair-7048636
---------
Pakistan
PTI announces surprise for govt as Islamabad braces for Nov 24 protest
November 19, 2024
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said it will surprise the government during the upcoming "do-or-die protest" in Islamabad on November 24.
Speaking on the Geo News show “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath”, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s spokesperson and PTI leader Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said: “We will give them [federal government] a surprise, InShaAllah.”
Incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been behind bars since August last year, gave a “final call” for a nationwide protest against the alleged rigging in the February 8 elections, arrests of party workers, and the passage of the 26th Amendment. He called on his supporters to march to federal capital on the upcoming Sunday.
Barrister Saif accused the CM Maryam Nawaz-led government in Punjab of launching a crackdown against the party’s supporters and leaders ahead of the countrywide protests.
“105 leaders and supporters of the PTI have been arrested by the Punjab police.”
Referring to the alleged crackdown against his party workers in Punjab, the PTI leader said that they were sure that the government would use all "unconstitutional and illegal tactics" to frustrate their protest.
“PTI supporters’ families are being harassed during raids at their houses in Punjab,” he alleged.
In addition to this, the Islamabad administration has imposed Section 144 for two months ahead of the upcoming protest of the PTI in the capital, citing security concerns.
When asked how they will reach Islamabad amid the imposition of Section 144 and obstacles on the roads leading to the federal capital, the PTI leader said: “We have planned to counter these tactics. We will reach Islamabad and record our protest even if the government uses force.”
He further said that the party was mobilising people and workers in an organised manner and “will adopt every strategy to reach Islamabad and record protest.”
Barrister Saif slammed the federal government for adopting discriminatory behaviour towards the former ruling party, urging the people to support his party.
Responding to another question about tasks assigned to PTI lawmakers to bring thousands of workers to the federal capital, Barrister Saif termed it an “evaluation of performance” of the party leaders.
According to reports, the former premier's wife, Bushra, instructed each PTI MNA and MPA to bring at least 10,000 and 5,000 workers, respectively, to Islamabad for the protest.
They were also directed to share the videos of their caravans with the PTI leadership.
Reacting to the PTI’s announcement of bringing thousands of party supporters from each district, PML-N Senator Talal Chaudhry said there is no public transport in Faisalabad to bring 20,000 people.
He said the PTI’s nationwide protest call was not a political move like its past decisions.
Chaudhry said the PTI protest call would not succeed due to the decisions taken by Imran’s wife Bushra Bibi.
He said the target set for PTI leaders to bring thousands of workers to the federal capital was not achievable.
'Drop scene ahead of Nov 24’
Speaking on the Geo News programme “Capital Talk”, PTI leader and senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa claimed: “Imran Khan will be released from jail 100% in November.”
“They [the rulers] will get another shock of their life,” he said, adding that the government would forget February 8, the day when general elections were held in the country and what the PTI claimed they won 180 seats, on November 24.
Khosa said the “sea of people would sweep the government away”.
“Don’t ever underestimate the power of the people anywhere and don’t underestimate the power of the people of Pakistan”.
Responding to a question about Khan’s release from prison, the PTI leader said that the “drop scene” would happen ahead of November 24.
“If the establishment becomes neutral, this government cannot last even a single day,” claimed the PTI leader.
Source:thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252453-pti-announces-surprise-for-govt-as-islamabad-braces-for-nov-24-protest
---------
Armed men abduct seven cops from KP's Bannu
By Manzoor uddin
November 18, 2024
BANNU: Unidentified armed men abducted seven cops from the Ahmedzai sub-division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) Bannu district, Geo News reported Monday citing District Police Officer (DPO) Ziauddin.
According to the DPO, the armed men seized the control of the Rocha checkpost and kidnapped the police personnel.
Ziauddin added that a search operation has been launched to catch the kidnappers after cordoning off the area.
The incident took place after maghrib prayer when a group of armed men took the policemen hostage at a checkpost, DPO Ziauddin said, adding that the cops were shifted to an undisclosed location along with their weapons.
The abducted policemen are Saleem, Aqal Rehman, Mewah Jan, Roshan, Abdul Malik, Neematullah and Shad Muhammad.
There has been an increase in incidents of abduction of police personnel and attacks on law enforcement agencies in the northwestern region of the country.
In the latest incident earlier this month, unidentified gunmen kidnapped a police constable from his home in the jurisdiction of Bakakhel Police Station of the Bannu district.
Pakistan continues to battle militancy as terrorist activities grow across the country, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the Taliban takeover of bordering Afghanistan.
As per a report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter (July-September) of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90% surge in violence.
A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review.
Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan — marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces’ operations were recorded in the same provinces.
Source:thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252372-armed-men-abduct-seven-cops-from-kps-bannu
---------
Imran flays move to ban VPNs, asks people to join protest on 24th
Malik Asad
November 19, 2024
• Reiterates call for judicial probe into May 9 riots
• Verdict acquitting ex-PM, others in Section 144 case issued
• Court seeks to conclude £190m case
ISLAMABAD: Perturbed by the government’s move to ban Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Imran Khan made a strong appeal on Monday to people, urging them to join the protest his party is holding in the federal capital on Nov 24.
Speaking to journalists, the former prime minister described the coming demonstration as a critical national movement.
“Today, I am calling on the entire nation to take to the streets on November 24. This is not just PTI’s issue, [rather] this is the issue of every Pakistani,” he asserted, emphasising the broader significance of protest in the face of what he called a concerted effort to silence political opposition.
The incarcerated leader condemned ongoing efforts by the government to block access to social media platforms and restrict the use of VPNs, claiming that these measures were part of an attempt to suppress free speech and limit communication.
“X [formerly Twitter] was blocked, and now even VPN access is being restricted. People are being denied the right to access information, and Pakistan has lost billions due to these internet shutdowns. It’s a direct assault on the rights of people,” he deplored.
The PTI founder accused the authorities of targeting his supporters through illegal detentions. “Earlier, they kidnapped people in the name of terrorism. Now, they do it under the guise of national security, picking up political workers instead of terrorists,” he lamented.
“Instead of negotiations, we see arrests of our workers. The PML-N’s refusal to hold elections [to the Punjab Assembly] until [then-CJP Umar Ata] Bandial leaves is a violation of the Constitution,” he argued, accusing the government of disregarding the country’s laws.
Mr Khan emphasised the role of foreign powers in Pakistan’s internal affairs, asserting that statements from foreign governments were not an interference but a reflection of their policies.
£190m graft case
An accountability court directed Mr Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to submit statements under Section 342 of CrPC to conclude proceedings in the £190 million corruption reference against them.
The judge approved Bushra Bibi’s request for a one-day exemption due to illness and adjourned the hearing till Tuesday (today).
Besides, Judicial Magistrate Yasir Mehmood Chaudhry issued a decision acquitting Mr Khan, Faisal Vawda, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Sadaqat Abbasi in the case registered for violation of Section 144 of CrPC and Amplifier Act.
The written verdict found that there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.
Source:dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1873350/imran-flays-move-to-ban-vpns-asks-people-to-join-protest-on-24th
----------
Street criminal gets death for killing watchman during robbery in Karachi
Sumair Abdullah
November 19, 2024
KARACHI: A sessions court on Monday sentenced a street criminal to death for murdering a watchman over resistance four years ago.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Ameeruddin, who is also the presiding officer of the Model Criminal Trial Court (West), found accused Farooq Ahmed guilty of murdering Tameer Khan near Taiser Town on November 11, 2020.
The court also sentenced his co-accused, Malik Mukhtiar Ahmed, to life imprisonment.
“The principle that the accused is the favourite child of the law becomes increasingly challenging to uphold in a system plagued by persistent lawlessness and the prevalence of heinous organised crimes that wreak havoc on society,” the judge stated in the verdict in an apparent reference to the phrase ‘innocent until proven guilty’.
The court noted that inefficiencies within the criminal justice system obstructed justice for both victims and the accused.
“Instead of favouring one party, the system often reflects dysfunction, allowing the accused to exploit procedural gaps, minor inconsistencies, and enforcement lapses to evade accountability.
“[The] victims are subjected to protracted legal battles that erode their rights and dignity. This imbalance undermines public confidence in the judiciary and calls for a paradigm shift toward prioritising the substantive truth of each case.
“It is high time that courts now must move beyond traditional approaches and place greater emphasis on scientific & corroborative evidence alongside direct evidence, such as forensic science laboratory (FSL) reports and identification parade reports etc, rather than fixating on minor contradictions in witness testimonies,” the judge remarked.
“Such inconsistencies are often inevitable due to the imperfections of human memory, particularly in complex or traumatic situations. By focusing on the core truths substantiated by reliable evidence, the judiciary can restore balance and uphold justice more effectively,” the court noted.
Regarding the present case, the judge stated that the convicts along with absconding accomplices committed a heinous act with brutality.
Noting about co-accused Mukhtiar, the court stated that his direct involvement in the murder was not proved him, but he shared a common intention in the murder of the deceased. The court also ordered the convicts to pay Rs300,000 each compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased. On default, they would serve additional imprisonment for one year.
The court also sentenced both the accused persons to 10-year imprisonment for the offence committed under Section 395 (punishment for dacoity) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 each.
It said that the case against the absconding co-accused — Shah Nawaz alias Shaukat and Pervaiz Iqbal — would be kept on dormant file with instructions for the office to issue perpetual warrants for his arrest until he was apprehended.
According to state prosecutor Muhammad Tahir Khan, watchman Mustafa Khan testified before the court that on the day of the incident, he and his uncle, Tameer Khan, were on duty. He said he was on way to get some breakfast when around eight to 10 persons on four motorbikes intercepted him, snatched his mobile phone, cash, motorbike and fled the scene.
He said he immediately informed his uncle about the robbery. Armed with his licensed pistol, Tameer arrived at the scene and chased the robbers and found them near Al-Murtaza Chowk when they were looting passers-by. As he challenged the robbers, the accused opened fire and a bullet hit Tameer in the chest. He later died during treatment.
A case was registered at the Surjani Town police station under Sections 395 (punishment for dacoity), 396 (dacoity with murder), 302 (premeditated murder) and 34 (common intention) of the PPC.
Source:dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1873330/street-criminal-gets-death-for-killing-watchman-during-robbery-in-karachi
---------
Sharif family reacts to Hasan Nawaz company bankruptcy ruling
By Usman Bhatti
November 19, 2024
LONDON: The Sharif family has stated that companies facing bankruptcy are exempt from paying taxes, a stance supported by the British court in the case involving Hasan Nawaz.
This clarification came through a statement from the family’s spokesperson in response to the recent UK court decision declaring Hasan Nawaz’s company bankrupt.
Hasan, the son of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, has been declared bankrupt by the London High Court in a tax and liability case, according to the court papers.
According to UK laws, a bankruptcy order is part of the personal insolvency process. It is issued to an individual from the court, making them bankrupt. Bankruptcy orders are only published in the London Gazette when received from The Insolvency Service.
A bankrupt cannot act as a director or be involved in any way in the management of a company until discharged from bankruptcy unless he has obtained permission from the court to continue as a director. He continues to be a director of a number of companies in the UK.
Tracing the history of financial challenges faced by the family, the spokesperson highlighted that the bankruptcy process affecting their businesses dates back to 1972, when industrial nationalisation took place under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto impacted the Sharif family’s enterprises.
The spokesperson further recalled that during General Pervez Musharraf’s tenure, the family endured the confiscation of their homes and the sealing of their factories.
This cycle of setbacks continued with the alleged injustices under former chief justice Saqib Nisar’s tenure, during which the family’s industries were reportedly targeted and destroyed.
The spokesperson claimed that the Sharif family has been deliberately pushed into financial crises four times solely to penalise them, suggesting that such turbulent periods have become a recurring reality for the family.
The Sharif family also reiterated their commitment to the nation, stating that they have consistently prioritised the country and its principles, enduring years of personal financial losses for the greater good.
In response, PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan criticised the Sharif family for mentioning the Bhutto era in their response to the bankruptcy declaration of Hasan in the UK.
In a statement, Chan said: "You are declaring bankruptcy today, and that too in the UK. How is the Bhutto era relevant here?"
Chan urged the Sharif family to be honest with the public, alleging that they declared bankruptcy to avoid paying taxes in the UK.
"The same practices you follow here, you carry out there. Have some shame," he remarked.
The PPP leader further asserted that, if not for the restraint imposed by the PPP leadership, he could reveal the complete truth behind the matter.
In response, PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan criticised the Sharif family for mentioning the Bhutto era in their response to the bankruptcy declaration of Hasan in the UK.
In a statement, Chan said: "You are declaring bankruptcy today, and that too in the UK. How is the Bhutto era relevant here?"
Chan urged the Sharif family to be honest with the public, alleging that they declared bankruptcy to avoid paying taxes in the UK.
"The same practices you follow here, you carry out there. Have some shame," he remarked.
The PPP leader further asserted that, if not for the restraint imposed by the PPP leadership, he could reveal the complete truth behind the matter.
Source:thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252616-sharif-family-reacts-to-hasan-nawaz-company-bankruptcy-ruling
---------
Hajj 2025: Banks start receiving applications for annual pilgrimage
November 18, 2024
Banks across the country on Monday started receiving Hajj 2025 applications by those wishing to leave for Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage next year.
A Ministry of Religious Affairs spokesperson has said that people will need to deposit an instalment of Rs200,000 with their applications being received by a total of 15 designated banks.
The quota for the government Hajj scheme is 89,605 with 5,000 seats allocated for overseas Pakistanis under the sponsorship scheme.
The government Hajj package includes airfare, meals, training, accommodation and vaccination.
Individuals with severe and complex medical conditions and children under the age of twelve will not be allowed to travel for Hajj, said the spokesperson.
Last week, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain, while announcing the Hajj policy, said that a total of 179,210 Pakistanis will perform the annual pilgrimage next year.
A total of 1,000 seats would be allocated for hardship cases and 300 for labourers and low-income employees registered under the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution (EOBI) or Workers Welfare Fund.
Detailing the expected expenditures of a pilgrim to visit the holiest sites in Saudi Arabia, the minister announced that it would vary between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000.
Apart from the Rs200,000 instalment mentioned above, Hajj applicants will have to deposit Rs400,000 after being selected via balloting, whereas, the remaining payments will be paid by February 10, 2025.
In case of cancellation, the refund of the first instalment will be made after a deduction of Rs50,000, whereas, Rs200,000 will be deducted in case of failure to pay the third instalment and no refunds will be made after February 10, 2025.
Under the policy, the compensation for the heirs of the deceased has been increased from Rs1 million to Rs2 million.
Source:thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252294-hajj-2025-banks-start-receiving-applications-for-next-years-annual-pilgrimage
---------
PTI marchers will ‘stay in capital until Imran’s release’
Mansoor Malik
November 19, 2024
ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: Days before its ‘decisive’ power show in Islamabad, the PTI on Monday announced that it would not call off the sit-in until its “stolen” mandate is returned, the Constitution restored and party founder Imran Khan set free.
At a press conference, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar warned the provincial government to exercise restraint and let PTI workers march on the federal capital in a peaceful manner.
Separately, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram in a statement said that a ‘day of deliverance’ would be observed on Nov 24, as a tsunami of people was all set to sweep away the “imposed” rulers.
He said protesters would not leave Islamabad until their demands were accepted. Commenting on a British court’s decision declaring Hasan Nawaz bankrupt in a tax case, he alleged that the Sharif family was a consistent source of shame for Pakistan.
He said PTI had finalised preparations for the Nov 24 protest aimed at reclaiming the party’s “stolen” mandate, securing the release Imran Khan along with party’s other detained leaders and workers, and restoring the constitution to its pre-26th amendment status.
Mr Akram cautioned the government against using strong-arm tactics to thwart the PTI’s march, emphasising that peaceful assembly is an inalienable right enshrined in the constitution and no authority could deny it.
He accused the Punjab government of picking up PTI leaders and workers, adding that rulers will not be able to stop people from marching on the federal capital.
Condemning the measures aimed suppressing the movement, he said such steps would inevitably backfire as the oppressive tactics would only fuel discord and hatred in society, rather than achieving the intended goals of the government.
Mr Akram claimed that people were eagerly awaiting Nov 24 to commemorate the ‘day of deliverance’ and secure Mr Khan’s release.
Commenting on the British court’s decision, the PTI leader said the Sharifs could get a clean chit in graft cases in Pakistan because they had allegedly got handpicked people posted to key positions. However, he added, they cannot evade accountability in the UK.
He called on people to reach Islamabad on Nov 24 to bid farewell to the “Form-47” government for good.
Bhachar’s warning
The opposition leader in the Punjab assembly said, “The PTI has no plans to clash, but in case of fascism unleashed by the police, the public may retaliate and pelt stones.”
He assured that people could not carry weapons in peaceful demonstrations.
Mr Bhachar claimed that PTI would give a “big surprise” on Nov 24.
He alleged that Punjab police had already started raiding the houses of party legislators, leaders, office-bearers and workers and misbehaving with their families besides ransacking their household items.
He urged the party leaders, workers and supporters to come “prepared” as the protest might turn into a days-long sit-in.
The opposition leader did not give answers to some questions, saying, “These are policy decisions and cannot be disclosed beforehand.”
In reply to a question, he said the government’s May 9 narrative propaganda was buried by people on Feb 8. “The PTI is continuously demanding the formation of a judicial commission to probe the May 9 incidents,” he pointed out.
Asked about the role of PTI Punjab president Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Mr Bhachar said the party was taking instructions from him.
The opposition leader chided Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Environment Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for going abroad while leaving the people of Punjab under heavy smog. He sought details of Rs10 billion allocated for smog mitigation.
Mr Bhachar lamented that the ruling PML-N had bulldozed the agriculture tax law imposing Rs90,000 fixed tax on all farmers having three acres of agricultural land, adding that they did not earn so much to pay such tax. “The government should impose heavy taxes on big landlords who also have factories to earn a lot of wealth,” he said.
Source:dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1873354/pti-marchers-will-stay-in-capital-until-imrans-release
--------
PM Shehbaz wants action against tax evaders expedited
Syed Irfan Raza
November 19, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the authorities concerned to expedite action against tax defaulters and evaders as well as their facilitators.
“Accelerate actions against tax defaulters and bring the tax evaders and their facilitators to book,” the prime minister said while receiving a briefing from the finance ministry regarding the country’s economy and the recent meeting with the IMF delegation, according to a press release issued by the PM Office media wing.
“The country’s economy can progress well when all the stakeholders meet their responsibilities. All sectors should pay taxes to play their role in the national progress,” he added.
He said economy was on the path to stability and stock market was showing brisk business due to the steps taken in this regard.
The premier said foreign investment was a reflection of confidence in government’s policies.
He was earlier briefed on the economic indicators and the current situation of inflation.
At the meeting, the finance ministry also apprised the prime minister of the steps being taken against tax evasion and those facilitating such theft.
The prime minister stressed that public relief should be given top priority, highlighting that all possible measures were being taken to fulfil public promises.
He also expressed satisfaction over the sliding down of the inflation rate from 38 per cent to 7pc and said the interest rate was lowered from 22pc to 15pc which would spur business activities and create jobs opportunities in the country.
The meeting was attended by ministers including Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ahad Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Dr Mussadik Malik, Ali Pervaiz Malik, PM’s coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal and other senior officials.
PM Shehbaz observed that foreign reserves had increased due to a surge in exports and record remittances. He also praised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the provincial government for reforms in the agriculture sector.
Dengue in Bangladesh
Separately, PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the loss of lives due to dengue outbreak in Bangladesh.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives due to the dengue outbreak in Bangladesh,” the prime minister wrote on X.
He stated, “Pakistan stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh at this difficult time and we stand ready to assist in whatever way we can.”
Source:dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1873355/pm-shehbaz-wants-action-against-tax-evaders-expedited
---------
Rs10m looted from telecom firm’s cashier in Sukkur
November 19, 2024
SUKKUR: Armed robbers riding motorcycles intercepted a car near Dua Chowk on Bandar Road and looted a big amount of money, laptop and mobile phone from its occupants, Mr Fahad, the cashier of a telecom firm, and his driver on Monday.
According to onlookers, some policemen present near the crime site tried to rescue the victims and fired many shots at the fleeing robbers but the latter managed to speed away with the booty.
Mr Fahad told the B-Section police that he was taking the money to a bank branch in Sukkur city after collecting it from the SITE area when the robbers intercepted the car and looted the cash and valuables from him at gunpoint.
He said the robbers also took away keys of his car.
The police said they had cordoned off the area and mounted a search to arrest the culprits.
Source:dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1873320/rs10m-looted-from-telecom-firms-cashier-in-sukkur
---------
CII chief clarifies 'contentious' VPN fatwa
November 18, 2024
Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, the chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII), clarified the body's fatwa (Islamic edict) on VPNs, or encrypted internet networks, stating that whether a VPN was Islamic or not primarily depended on its use.
Speaking on Geo News morning show, "Geo Pakistan", on Monday, Naeemi said: "Using a VPN, whether registered or unregistered, for immoral content and false propaganda is un-Islamic."
Stressing the need to block access to immoral or blasphemous content on the internet, the CII on November 15 declared the use of VPN as un-Islamic.
In a statement, CII Chairman Naeemi had said the government had the right to curb evil and prevent access to it. He had stated that taking measures to prevent or restrict the access to immoral and offensive content was in accordance with the Sharia.
Explaining the backdrop against which the fatwa was issued, he said on Geo News' programme that since most of the VPN usage was to access indecent websites, therefore, the CII declared it un-Islamic.
The CII chief said, according to the reports shared with him, there were 15 million hits on indecent sites daily.
"If you register the VPN and do positive criticism, then there is no harm," he said, emphasising on registration of VPN.
On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah said he was not aware of the government’s opinion on blocking VPN.
Speaking on "Naya Pakistan" programme, the PM’s special assistant on political affairs said the matter of VPN was not for the CII or Naeemi to take up.
“The CII gave an unwarranted opinion on the VPN,” he said, adding that it had nothing to do with the shariat.
He further clarified that the government imposed restriction for misuse of social media platform X.
Source:thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1252281-cii-chief-explains-contentious-vpn-fatwa
----------
Mideast
Even with Lebanon truce deal, Israel will operate against Hezbollah: Netanyahu
November 18, 2024
JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel will continue to operate militarily against the Iran-backed Lebanese armed movement Hezbollah even if a ceasefire deal is reached in Lebanon.
“The most important thing is not (the deal that) will be laid on paper,” Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament.
“We will be forced to ensure our security in the north (of Israel) and to systematically carry out operations against Hezbollah’s attacks... even after a ceasefire,” to keep the group from rebuilding, he said.
Netanyahu also said there was no evidence that Hezbollah would respect any ceasefire reached.
“We will not allow Hezbollah to return to the state it was in on October 6” 2023, the eve of the strike by its Palestinian ally Hamas into southern Israel, he said.
Hezbollah then began firing into northern Israel in support of Hamas, triggering exchanges with Israel that escalated into full-on war in late September this year.
Lebanon’s government has largely endorsed a US truce proposal to end the Israel-Hezbollah war and was preparing final comments before responding to Washington, a Lebanese official told AFP on Monday.
Israel insists that any truce deal must guarantee no further Hezbollah presence in the area bordering Israel.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579836/middle-east
--------
Defiant Lebanese harvest olives in the shadow of war
November 19, 2024
KFEIR: On a mountain slope in south Lebanon, agricultural worker Assaad Al-Taqi is busy picking olives, undeterred by the roar of Israeli warplanes overhead.
This year, he is collecting the harvest against the backdrop of the raging Israel-Hezbollah war.
He works in the village of Kfeir, just a few kilometers (miles) from where Israeli bombardment has devastated much of south Lebanon since Israel escalated its campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in September.
“But I’m not afraid of the shelling,” Taqi said, as he and other workers hit the tree branches with sticks, sending showers of olives tumbling down into jute bags.
“Our presence here is an act of defiance,” the 51-year-old said, but also noting that the olive “is the tree of peace.”
Kfeir is nine kilometers (six miles) from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, in the mixed Christian and Druze district of Hasbaya, which has largely been spared the violence that has wracked nearby Hezbollah strongholds.
But even Hasbaya’s relative tranquillity was shattered last month when three journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on a complex where they were sleeping.
Israel and Hezbollah had previously exchanged cross-border fire for almost a year over the Gaza conflict.
The workers in Kfeir rest in the shade of the olive trees, some 900 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level on the slopes of Mount Hermon, which overlooks an area where Lebanese, Syrian and Israeli-held territory meet.
They have been toiling in relative peace since dawn, interrupted only by sonic booms from Israeli jets breaking the sound barrier and the sight of smoke rising on the horizon from strikes on a south Lebanon border village.
Hassna Hammad, 48, who was among those picking olives, said the agricultural work was her livelihood.
“We aren’t afraid, we’re used to it,” she said of the war.
But “we are afraid for our brothers impacted by the conflict,” she added, referring to the hundreds of thousands of Lebanese displaced by the fighting.
Elsewhere in south Lebanon, olive trees are bulging with fruit that nobody will pick, after villagers fled Israeli bombardment and the subsequent ground operation that began on September 30.
A World Bank report this month said that “the disruption of the olive harvest caused by bombing and displacement is expected to lead to $58 million in losses” in Lebanon.
It said 12 percent of olive groves in the conflict-affected areas it assessed had been destroyed.
Normally, the olive-picking season is highly anticipated in Lebanon, and some people return each year to their native villages and fields just for the harvest.
“Not everyone has the courage to come” this time, said Salim Kassab, who owns a traditional press where villagers bring their olives to extract the oil.
“Many people are absent... They sent workers to replace them,” said Kassab, 50.
“There is fear of the war of course,” he said, adding that he had come alone this year, without his wife and children.
Kassab said that before the conflict, he used to travel to the southern cities of Nabatiyeh and Sidon if he needed to fix his machines, but such trips are near impossible now because of the danger.
The World Bank report estimated that 12 months of agriculture sector losses have cost Lebanon $1.1 billion, in a country already going through a gruelling five-year economic crisis before the fighting erupted.
Areas near the southern border have sustained “the most significant damage and losses,” the report said.
It cited “the burning and abandonment of large areas of agricultural land” in both south and east Lebanon, “along with lost harvests due to the displacement of farmers.”
Elsewhere in Kfeir, Inaam Abu Rizk, 77, and her husband were busy washing olives they plan to either press for oil or jar to be served throughout the winter.
Abu Rizk has taken part in the olive harvest for decades, part of a tradition handed down the generations, and said that despite the war, this year was no different.
“Of course we’re afraid... there is the sound of planes and bombing,” she said.
But “we love the olive month — we are farmers and the land is our work.”
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579857/middle-east
---------
Palestinian Waqf condemns Zionist statements towards Ibrahimi Mosque
18 Nov 2024
The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf condemned, on Sunday, the dangerous statements of a member of the so-called Knesset for the Likud party in the Zionist enemy entity, Avichai Povaron, who demanded the nationalization of the Ibrahimi Mosque, control it and put it fully under Zionist sovereignty.
According to Palestinian media, the ministry confirmed in a statement that these statements come within the dangerous systematic policy of the enemy government, which is working seriously to seize this Islamic holy place, which is internationally recognized as an Islamic endowment owned by the Palestinian people.
It called on international human rights and UN institutions concerned with world heritage, such as UNESCO, which considers the Ibrahimi Mosque among the World Heritage Lists, and the Palestinian people in Hebron governorate to stand firmly against the implementation of these plans that threaten the identity of the sanctuary.
Source:saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3398171.htm
---------
Iraqis face tough homecoming a decade after Daesh rampage
November 19, 2024
HASSAN SHAMI: A decade after Daesh group extremists rampaged through northern Iraq, Moaz Fadhil and his eight children finally returned to their village after languishing for years in a displacement camp.
Their home, Hassan Shami, is just a stone’s throw from the tent city where they had been living, and it still bears the scars of the fight against Daesh.
The jihadists seized a third of Iraq, ruling their self-declared “caliphate” with an iron fist, before an international coalition wrestled control from them in 2017.
Seven years on, many of the village’s homes are still in ruins and lacking essential services, but Fadhil said he felt an “indescribable joy” upon moving back in August.
Iraq — marred by decades of war and turmoil even before the rise of Daesh — is home to more than a million internally displaced people.
Baghdad has been pushing for the closure of the displacement camps, with the country having attained a degree of comparative stability in recent years.
Most of the camps in federal Iraq have now been closed, but around 20 remain in the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, which according to the United Nations house more than 115,000 displaced people.
But for many, actually returning home can be a difficult task.
After getting the green light from Kurdish security forces to leave the camp, Fadhil moved his family into a friend’s damaged house because his own is a complete ruin.
“Water arrives by tanker trucks and there is no electricity,” said the 53-year-old.
Although the rubble has been cleared from the structure he now lives in, the cinder block walls and rough concrete floors remain bare.
Across Hassan Shami, half-collapsed houses sit next to concrete buildings under construction by those residents who can afford to rebuild.
Some have installed solar panels to power their new lives.
A small new mosque stands, starkly white, beside an asphalt road.
“I was born here, and before me my father and mother,” said Fadhil, an unemployed farmer.
“I have beautiful memories with my children, my parents.”
The family survives mainly on the modest income brought in by his eldest son, who works as a day laborer on building sites.
“Every four or five days he works a day” for about $8, said Fadhil.
In an effort to close the camps and facilitate returns, Iraqi authorities are offering families around $3,000 to go back to their places of origin.
To do so, displaced people must also get security clearance — to ensure they are not wanted for jihadist crimes — and have their identity papers or property rights in order.
But of the 11,000 displaced people still living in six displacement camps near Hassan Shami, 600 are former prisoners, according to the UN.
They were released after serving up to five years for crimes related to membership of IS.
For them, going home can mean further complications.
There’s the risk of ostracism by neighbors or tribes for their perceived affiliation with Daesh atrocities, potential arrest at a checkpoint by federal forces or even a second trial.
Among them is 32-year-old Rashid, who asked that we use a pseudonym because of his previous imprisonment in Kurdistan for belonging to the jihadist group.
He said he hopes the camp next to Hassan Shami does not close.
“I have a certificate of release (from prison), everything is in order... But I can’t go back there,” he said of federal Iraq.
“If I go back it’s 20 years” in jail, he added, worried that he would be tried again in an Iraqi court.
Ali Abbas, spokesperson for Iraq’s migration ministry, said that those who committed crimes may indeed face trial after they leave the camps.
“No one can prevent justice from doing its job,” he said, claiming that their families would not face repercussions.
The government is working to ensure that families who return have access to basic services, Abbas added.
In recent months, Baghdad has repeatedly tried to set deadlines for Kurdistan to close the camps, even suing leaders of the autonomous region before finally opting for cooperation over coercion.
Imrul Islam of the Norwegian Refugee Council said displacement camps by definition are supposed to be temporary, but warned against their hasty closure.
When people return, “you need schools. You need hospitals. You need roads. And you need working markets that provide opportunities for livelihoods,” he said.
Without these, he said, many families who try to resettle in their home towns would end up returning to the camps.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579856/middle-east
---------
Members of UN Security Council call for surge in assistance to Gaza
November 18, 2024
NEW YORK: Members of the United Nations Security Council called on Monday for a surge in assistance to reach people in need in Israeli-basieged Gaza, warning that the situation in the Palestinian enclave was getting worse.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there needs to be a “huge, huge rise in aid” to Gaza, where most of the population of 2.3 million people has been displaced and health officials in the coastal enclave say that more than 43,922 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s 13-month-old offensive against Hamas.
“The situation is devastating, and frankly, beyond comprehension, and it’s getting worse, not better,” Lammy said. “Winter’s here. Famine is imminent, and 400 days into this war, it is totally unacceptable that it’s harder than ever to get aid into Gaza.”
The war erupted after Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel in October last year, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council that Washington was closely watching Israel’s actions to improve the situation for Palestinians and engaging with the Israeli government every day.
“Israel must also urgently take additional steps to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza,” she said.
President Joe Biden’s administration concluded this month that Israel was not currently impeding assistance to Gaza and therefore not violating US law, even as Washington acknowledged the humanitarian situation remained dire in the Palestinian enclave.
The assessment came after the US in an Oct. 13 letter gave Israel a list of steps to take within 30 days to address the deteriorating situation in Gaza, warning that failure to do so might have possible consequences on US military aid to Israel.
Thomas-Greenfield said Israel was working to implement 12 of the 15 steps.
“We need to see all steps fully implemented and sustained, and we need to see concrete improvement in the humanitarian situation on the ground,” she said, including Israel allowing commercial trucks to move into Gaza alongside humanitarian assistance, addressing persistent lawlessness and implementing pauses in fighting in large areas of Gaza to allow assistance to reach those in need.
Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the US, said Israel had facilitated the entrance of hundreds of aid trucks a week but there had been a failure of aid agencies to collect that aid and Hamas had looted trucks. Hamas has denied the accusation.
“Not only must the UN step up its aid distribution obligations, but the focus must also shift to Hamas’ constant hijacking of humanitarian aid to feed the machine of terror and misery,” Danon said.
Two UN aid agencies told Reuters on Monday that nearly 100 trucks carrying food for Palestinians were violently looted on Nov. 16 after entering Gaza in one of the worst losses of aid during the war.
Tor Wennesland, the UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, said humanitarian agencies face a challenging and dangerous operational environment in Gaza and access restrictions that hinder their work.
“The humanitarian situation in Gaza, as winter begins, is catastrophic, particularly developments in the north of Gaza with a large-scale and near-total displacement of the population and widespread destruction and clearing of land, amidst what looks like a disturbing disregard for international humanitarian law,” Wennesland said.
“The current conditions are among the worst we’ve seen during the entire war and are not set to improve.”
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579835/middle-east
---------
Yemen’s Houthi militants linked to ship attacks in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
November 18, 2024
DUBAI: Suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants targeted a Panama-flagged bulk carrier traveling through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, though no damage or injuries were reported, authorities said Monday.
The attacks come as the the militant group continue their months long assault targeting shipping through a waterway that typically sees $1 trillion in goods pass through it a year over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon.
The bulk carrier Anadolu S first had been contacted over VHF radio by someone claiming to be authorities in Yemen, demanding the ship turn around, said the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational task force overseen by the US
“The vessel did not comply with the order and continued its transit,” the center said.
The ship’s captain later saw that “a missile splashed in close proximity to the vessel” as it traveled in the southern Red Sea near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting to the Gulf of Aden in the first attack late Sunday night, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said in an alert. The attack happened some 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Yemen port city of Mocha.
On Monday, another attack some 70 miles (112 kilometers) southeast of Aden in the Gulf of Aden similarly saw a missile splash down close to the vessel, the UKMTO said.
“The vessel and crew are safe and proceeding to its next port of call,” the UKMTO added.
The Houthis did not immediately claim the attacks. However, it can take the group hours or even days to acknowledge their assaults.
The Houthis have targeted more than 90 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October 2023. They seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign, which also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels as well.
The Houthis maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK to force an end to Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. The Joint Maritime Information Center said the Anadolu S had an “indirect association to Israel.” However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.
The Houthis have shot down multiple American MQ-9 Reaper drones as well.
In their last attack on Nov. 11, two US Navy warships targeted with multiple drones and missiles as they were traveling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but the attacks were not successful.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579829/middle-east
---------
UNESCO ‘enhanced protection’ for 34 Lebanon heritage sites
November 18, 2024
PARIS: Dozens of heritage sites in Lebanon were granted “provisional enhanced protection” by UNESCO on Monday, offering a higher level of legal shielding as fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah militants.
The 34 cultural properties affected “now benefit from the highest level of immunity against attack and use for military purposes,” the United Nations cultural body said in a statement.
Several Israeli strikes in recent weeks on Baalbek in the east and Tyre in the south — both strongholds of Iran-backed Hezbollah — hit close to ancient Roman ruins designated as World Heritage sites.
UNESCO said the decision “helps send a signal to the entire international community of the urgent need to protect these sites.”
“Non-compliance with these clauses would constitute ‘serious violations’ of the 1954 Hague Convention and... potential grounds for prosecution,” it added.
Hezbollah and Israel have been at war since late September, when Israel broadened its focus from fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip to securing its northern border, even as the Gaza war plows on.
UNESCO’s move followed an appeal Sunday by hundreds of cultural professionals, including archaeologists and academics, to activate the enhanced protection.
Baalbek and Tyre “will receive technical and financial assistance from UNESCO to reinforce their legal protections, improve risk anticipation and management measures, and provide further training for site managers,” the body said.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579820/middle-east
--------
5 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut Lebanon’s health ministry says
November 18, 2024
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s health ministry said Israel struck a densely packed Beirut neighborhood on Monday, killing five people, in the third attack in two days on the city’s central districts.
“The Israeli enemy strike on Zuqaq Al-Blat in Beirut killed five people and injured 24,” a ministry statement said, giving an updated death toll.
The official National News Agency (NNA) said an apartment near a Shiite Muslim place of worship had been targeted.
“A hostile drone targeted a residential apartment behind the Husseiniya of Zuqaq Al-Blat in the capital Beirut, causing great damage,” the NNA said.
The air strike was not preceded by a warning from the Israeli military to evacuate.
An AFP correspondent in the area heard two blasts, and said the raid badly damaged the ground floor of a building.
Reporters elsewhere in the city heard ambulance sirens.
The densely populated working class district of Zuqaq Al-Blat has welcomed many displaced people who fled Israeli strikes on south and east Lebanon, as well as south Beirut — areas where the Iran-backed Hezbollah holds sway.
The strike hit near a building housing many displaced Lebanese, the AFP correspondent said.
It was cordoned off by security forces as residents rushed to help in the rescue efforts, he added.
Several hundred meters (yards) away was the site of a similar strike on Sunday, in the Mar Elias neighborhood, which the health ministry said killed three people including a woman.
Israel has not commented on the strikes in central Beirut, but has confirmed that one air raid in the area the killed Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif.
That strike, also on Sunday, hit the Lebanese office of the Syrian Baath party, killing Afif and four other members of his media team, Hezbollah said. The health ministry said seven people were killed in the attack.
Since September 23, Israel has ramped up its air campaign in Lebanon, later sending in ground troops after almost a year of cross-border exchanges begun by Hezbollah over the Gaza war.
Lebanese authorities say more than 3,510 people have been killed since Hezbollah-Israel clashes began in October last year, with most casualties recorded since September.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579807/middle-east
---------
Arab World
KSrelief provides shelter, winter clothing in Lebanon, Somalia
November 19, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed shelter and winter clothing to displaced people in Lebanon and Somalia, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Orphans and those with special needs in Lebanon’s Akkar Governorate received vouchers to purchase winter clothes from approved stores.
The beneficiaries also included Syrian refugees and vulnerable members of the host community.
In Somalia, 920 shelter kits, 80 tents and 1,000 clothing kits benefited 6,000 displaced people in several camps in the Banaadir region as part of a project aiming to provide 7,600 shelter and clothing kits and 215 tents in the area.
Both initiatives are part of the ongoing humanitarian assistance provided by KSrelief to countries and people in need around the world.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579872/saudi-arabia
--------
Steve Wozniak urges Saudi youth to dream, innovate, and conquer the future of AI
WAAD HUSSAIN
November 18, 2024
RIYADH: Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple and a pioneer of the modern computing era, delivered an inspiring talk titled “Me, Myself, and AI” at the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh.
Speaking to a packed audience of young Saudis and global tech enthusiasts, Wozniak shared his insights on artificial intelligence, creativity, and the importance of ethics in technology, emphasizing the unique potential of Saudi youth to lead the next wave of innovation.
The session, part of a larger series focused on innovation, opened with Wozniak reflecting on his journey in shaping the personal computing revolution. He encouraged the audience to embrace risks and challenges as integral to success.
“The greatest things happen when you take risks,” he said. “Even if they fail, we always hear that you learn from your failures. But I think step after step after step, the total number of hours that you have put into doing things, even the risks that don’t come through, they lead up to your own abilities.”
This emphasis on resilience and perseverance resonates with Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to become a global leader in technology and entrepreneurship under Vision 2030.
Addressing the rise of AI and its transformative power, Wozniak highlighted the need for ethical considerations in its development. He explained that while AI can serve as a valuable tool, human oversight remains crucial.
“AI should be like a reporter bringing the information and a human being should be the editor (who) looks at it and decides which of it is important,” he said.
Wozniak also warned about the dangers of misinformation and manipulation in the digital age, calling for greater transparency in AI systems.
He advocated for clear guidelines to ensure that AI-generated content is accurate and trustworthy. “When AI generates information, users should be able to click and see where it came from. Attribution and accuracy are critical for building trust,” he explained.
This call for transparency aligns with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to integrate cutting-edge technologies while ensuring they serve the public good.
Wozniak urged the young audience to approach AI not just as a tool for progress but as a responsibility to humanity, emphasizing the need to create systems that reflect ethical values.
Throughout the session, Wozniak’s advice to Saudi youth centered on embracing creativity and taking ownership of their ideas. He encouraged them to focus on meaningful projects and hands-on learning, which he believes are essential for fostering innovation. “Whether it’s robotics, AI, or another area of technology, young people should focus on building something meaningful,” he said.
Drawing from his experience as a fifth-grade teacher, Wozniak shared how empowering students through project-based learning can unlock their potential. “When students take ownership of a project, they learn skills that go beyond the classroom. They develop critical thinking and creativity, which are key to driving innovation,” he said.
Wozniak also emphasized the importance of creating an environment where students can experiment and explore without fear of failure.
He ended his session on a personal note, sharing his philosophy on life and success. For him, happiness and positivity take precedence over material accomplishments. “My formula for life is not about accomplishment. It’s about happiness,” he said. “Focus on the positive, that’s the optimistic side. Don’t argue with people … always look for constructive solutions.”
As the session ended, he urged young innovators to collaborate across disciplines and respect diverse perspectives. He emphasized the importance of teamwork in creating impactful solutions. “Engineering, marketing, and business must work together to create meaningful solutions. No single discipline can succeed alone,” he added.
As Saudi Arabia continues its journey toward becoming a global innovation leader, Wozniak’s message to its youth is clear: take risks, stay ethical, and build with purpose.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579799/saudi-arabia
---------
Young voices at heart of Misk forum
GHADI JOUDAH
November 18, 2024
RIYADH: Misk City is poised to be a transformative hub for young people, blending creativity with opportunity, according to the CEO of the Misk Foundation.
“Misk City is not just a place filled with buildings and roads, it is an exceptional place for an exceptional city,” Badr Al-Bader said on the first day of the Misk Global Forum 2024.
The purpose-built destination was committed to fostering talent and innovation, he said.
The eighth Misk Global Forum is showcasing the foundation’s dedication to engaging young minds.
“With over 150,000 visitors and more than 1,000 speakers from 130 countries, this edition was notable for its youthful demographic,” Al-Bader said.
“This is the largest and smallest in terms of average age. We are proud to see so many young voices contributing to the dialogue.”
This year, Misk City welcomed students from Misk Schools and plans to extend its reach to schools across Riyadh and beyond.
“The city mirrors the youth growing alongside them, day by day. Misk has been empowering and investing in youth, making their support its highest priority,” Al-Bader said.
With the “unwavering support” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, more than 7 million young men and women had benefited from Misk programs, he said.
Kadi Al-Khathaam, the Saudi winner of the 2024 Arab Reading Challenge, was part of the “Leadership in a Future-Led Generation” panel at the forum.
“Reading is a transformation phase and it’s an enlightenment process where I can expand the horizon of my knowledge,” she said.
“Reading for me is the light out of any darkness or hesitance.”
Al-Khathaam said that the ability to communicate effectively allowed individuals to share their insights and experiences with others.
“I read, I discuss, I give the outcome to the world with the best of what I have.”
The crown prince’s advocacy for the education of all Saudi children was a source of inspiration for her, she said.
Saudi Minister of Communication, Information and Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha shared insights on youth-driven leadership and innovation, in line with the forum’s theme of “By Youth For Youth” and commented on Shawn Achor’s book “The Happiness Advantage.”
“We often link happiness with external factors, but we must realize that happiness and ambition are the main drivers of hard work,” he said.
“Let us take it the other way around: If we work with happiness in our hearts, success will follow.”
Al-Swaha shared the story of Dr. Firas Khalil, the first Saudi surgeon to perform heart surgery using AI and robotics.
“This procedure not only reduces recovery times but also saves lives,” he said.
He also spoke about Rayyanah Barnawi, the Kingdom’s first female astronaut.
“Her love and ambition to serve humanity made her the perfect candidate,” he said.
“Nothing is impossible from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the greatest country in the world.”
The forum ends on Tuesday.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579796/saudi-arabia
---------
New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
November 18, 2024
RIYADH: The Museums Commission launched the “Telling Tomorrow’s Story” campaign on Monday to raise awareness of museums’ role in preserving history, strengthening national identity, and promoting creative expression.
The campaign reflects the commission’s vision, which focuses on innovation, the preservation of cultural treasures, and fostering creativity for future generations.
It features digital content highlighting the commission’s museums and cultural centers, including the National Museum, Al-Masmak Palace Museum, Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah.
It also introduces future museums, such as the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh and the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah, which will enrich the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.
To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions: Qassim, Jouf, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Najran, Arar, Dammam, Makkah, Jazan, and Baha.
The regional museums, under the motto “Our Saudi Story,” will celebrate Saudi history, heritage, and identity, weaving a collective narrative of the Kingdom’s diverse cultural tapestry and rich history.
These museums will offer permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events, becoming inclusive spaces for knowledge, creativity, and community.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579773/saudi-arabia
---------
Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
November 18, 2024
RIYADH: The International Dates Conference and Exhibition is set to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center from Nov. 19 to 28 under the theme “World of Dates.”
The event aims to solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in the production and export of dates, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, the exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities.
It will showcase innovative date products and serve as a global platform for knowledge exchange and market expansion, promoting Saudi dates in international markets.
The event seeks to support innovation in the dates industry, enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, and position the palm and dates sector as a key contributor to economic development, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
The exhibition will also include a scientific conference in collaboration with King Faisal University, SPA reported.
The conference will focus on local and international efforts to advance the palm and dates sector in Saudi Arabia by adopting smart solutions to improve agricultural practices, highlighting the health benefits of dates, and encouraging the use of e-commerce.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579768/saudi-arabia
---------
Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
November 18, 2024
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.
The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.
The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Saudi Arabia. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.
Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.
The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.
The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.
The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.
CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Saudi Arabia.”
Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”
The collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579762/saudi-arabia
---------
Europe
Ex-soldier jailed for anti-Islam Facebook posts
18th Nov 2024,
Colette Hume
A former soldier who posted a series of anti-Islamic messages on Facebook has been jailed.
Daffron Williams, 41, of Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, wrote: "Civil war is here. The only thing missing is bullets, that's the next step."
Cardiff Crown Court was told the Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, who has PTSD, sent the messages before and after three girls were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport in July, sparking riots.
Williams, who pleaded guilty to stirring up racial hatred, was sentenced to two years, half of which will be spent in prison, with the other half on licence.
Alex Orndal prosecuting said South Wales Police began an investigation after two separate reports from members of the public about the contents of his Facebook page.
"These were open Facebook posts meaning any member of the public could view his comments."
In one post Williams wrote, he is only racist "to those who suck the life out of our culture. As a culture we are too nice and soft.
"They want us to be Islamic, that's why they are here."
In another post he wrote, "Come on guys, it's time to stand up. Everything our ancestors, our grandparents and parents fought for is gone, don't be scared."
Two days after the stabbings in Southport, Williams posted a series of AI images, one showed a child dressed as a medieval knight carrying sword next to lion. The caption with it read "Time to wake up the lion to save our children's future".
Another AI image depicted a man wearing what was described in court as "traditional Islamic clothing" with a large knife being held over his head.
A third image depicted a group of men in traditional Islamic dress chasing a crying child in a Union flag t-shirt in front of the Houses of Parliament.
Defending, John Allchurch said Williams continues to suffer from PTSD because of his military service in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was referred to NHS Veterans Wales but was unable to complete a 16-week course because of the Covid outbreak.
Mr Allchurch said his client had experienced multiple traumatic events between 2004 and 2011, including close combat during his military service.
The court was told Williams has spent time on remand at HMP Swansea taking courses including modules on diversity.
He was commended in a letter from a prison tutor for his "positive attitude and high degree of integrity".
He was praised for his interaction with other inmates on courses for his "excellent communication skills and his great ability to interact with team mates".
He was described as "a positive role model".
Williams has four previous convictions for seven offences including three for drink driving and one conviction by a Military Court for drunkenness.
Sentencing him, Judge Lloyd-Clarke acknowledged the references and his military background, telling him: "People speak very well of you, you have served your country and community."
Judge Lloyd-Clarke also said she noted his mental ill health, but said his actions were serious and had crossed the custody threshold.
"Your references to war and bullets indicates your intention to incite serious violence. You knew exactly what you were doing, your posts were intentional."
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89v5e15wd1o
---------
Northumberland TikToker jailed for threatening to burn down Mosques during summer riots
By Karon Kelly
18th Nov 2024,
A TikTok user who threatened to burn down mosques in a four-minute video rant during the summer riots has been put behind bars.
James Aspin said people who practice Islam were responsible for "all the crimes in this country" and raged about asylum seekers in the social media post on August 8.
The video was made just days after three children were stabbed to death at a dance class in Southport and at a time when unprecedented violence and disorder was engulfing city and town centres across the UK.
Prosecutor Claire Anderson told the court Aspin, who had 921 followers and 8,039 likes on TikTok account, uploaded the post at a time of "high emotion in society" and it received 14 views, 18 comments, five shares and was saved three times.
Miss Anderson said Aspin's profile was unrestricted and his posts were visible to anyone. The court heard the hate video, which lasted three minutes and 58 seconds, was made in response to a comment Aspin had received on an earlier post.
During the recording, Aspin spoke of his intention to attend a planned march in Newcastle and that he would "burn down every f******* mosque" in that city.
He also said: "If Churchill was still alive he would have a f****** fit".
Aspin was arrested after another TikTok user reported the video and he told police during questioning he had been drunk when he made the recording and "couldn't believe" what he had said.
Miss Anderson said: "He said he had no intention of damaging mosques but accepted others would feel afraid, upset, frightened."
He also moaned "no-one can say anything these days", told police he had planned to attend the march in Newcastle, where he intended to hold an England flag and said: "They shouldn't come to the UK as they cause problems for the country."
Aspin, 34, of Briardale Road, Blyth, Northumberland, who has two unrelated offences on his record, admitted distributing a recording intending to stir up racial hatred.
Judge Carolyn Scott sentenced him to 20 months behind bars and said: "There was an intention to incite serious violence with your words."
NewcastleWorld: Essential is our weekly newsletter, delivering the city’s headline highlights to your inbox - sign up
The judge added: "The wording used by you on that Tik tok post was hugely offensive and dangerous.
"You referenced people who practice Islam as largely responsible for all the crimes in this country, spoke about asylum seekers in a despicable way and said you and others had planned a march and you would burn down every mosque in Newcastle."
Tony Cornberg, defending, accepted Aspin's words were "highly unpleasant, dangerous" but added he is also vulnerable with complex issues. Mr Cornberg said: "His eyes have been opened in a big way."
Source:newcastleworld.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.newcastleworld.com/news/northumberland-tiktoker-jailed-for-threatening-to-burn-down-mosques-during-summer-riots-4871255
---------
Itoje calls playing for England ‘Mecca’ amid LIV-style breakaway plans
18 November 2024
England international Maro Itoje has said that playing for his country is the “Mecca” amid reports that a LIV Golf-style breakaway league could draw players away from representing the Red Rose.
The plan is said to be backed by US investors and could recruit 200 of rugby’s top players for a 2026 launch.
The Rugby Football Union, which controls who can and cannot play for Steve Borthwick’s side, have said only players in England’s top flight – the Gallagher Premiership – can be considered for international duty.
But Itoje, part of England’s 29-20 defeat to South Africa at the weekend, said playing for his country is the pinnacle.
“Playing for England is the Mecca,” said Itoje.
“I don’t really know any of the details of it as yet, but wearing this rose is extremely important to me and my team-mates.”
England have introduced Elite Player Squad contracts, which gives coach Borthwick more control over his players.
Thus far, as England are three losses from three matches this month, Borthwick has handed out 17 contracts with another eight remaining.
There are reports that the coach could use the outstanding deals to lure players back to England.
England suffered a third loss of the autumn at the weekend against South Africa having been defeated by both New Zealand and Australia.
Borthwick’s team now face Japan looking for their first win since the two teams met earlier in the year.
Source:cityam.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cityam.com/itoje-calls-playing-for-england-mecca-amid-liv-style-breakaway-plans/
---------
How long-range missiles striking Russia could affect Ukraine war
Ido Vock
18th Nov 2024
US officials say President Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to use long range missiles supplied by Washington to strike deep inside Russia.
Washington had previously refused to allow such strikes with US-made ATACMS missiles because it feared they would escalate the war.
The major policy reversal comes two months before President Joe Biden hands over power to Donald Trump, whose election has raised fears over the future of US support for Kyiv.
Why has the US allowed Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia?
Ukraine has been using ATACMS on Russian targets in occupied Ukrainian territory for more than a year.
American munitions and hardware are already being used inside Russia – in the Kursk border region, according to local reports.
But the US has never allowed Kyiv to use the ATACMS inside Russia – until now.
Ukraine had argued that not being allowed to use such weapons inside Russia was like being asked to fight with one hand tied behind its back.
The change in policy reportedly comes in response to the recent arrival of North Korean troops to support Russia in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has occupied territory since August.
Also, Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House is raising fears over the future of US support for Ukraine, and President Biden is apparently keen to do all he can to help in the little time he has left in office.
Strengthening Ukraine's hand militarily – so the thinking goes - could grant Ukraine leverage in any peace talks that may lie ahead.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet confirmed the move. But he said on Sunday: "Strikes are not made with words ... The missiles will speak for themselves."
What is ATACMS?
The Army Tactical Missile System is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of hitting targets at up to 300km (186 miles) and it is their range that makes them particularly important for Ukraine.
Built by the defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin, they’re fired from either the tracked M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or the wheeled M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Each missile costs around $1.5m (£1.2m).
ATACMS (pronounced “attack-‘ems”) are fuelled by solid rocket propellant and follow a ballistic path into the atmosphere before coming back down at a high speed and high angle, making them difficult to intercept.
They can be configured to carry two different types of warhead. The first is a cluster fitted with hundreds of bomblets designed to destroy lighter-armoured units over a wide area. These might include parked aircraft, air defences and concentrations of troops. Cluster warheads, while useful, risk leaving behind unexploded bomblets which pose a risk long after the fighting has stopped.
The second type is a single warhead, a 225kg high explosive variant of which is designed to destroy hardened facilities and larger structures.
ATACMS have been around for decades. They were first used in the Gulf War of 1991.
The US Army is replacing it with the next-generation Precision Strike Missile, a faster, slimmer weapon that can go out to 500km. There is no suggestion Ukraine will be getting these.
What effect will the missiles have on the battlefield?
Ukraine will now be able to strike targets inside Russia, most likely at first around the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces hold over 1,000 sq km of territory.
Ukrainian and US officials expect a counter-offensive by Russian and North Korean troops to regain territory in Kursk.
Ukraine may use ATACMS to defend against the assault, targeting Russian positions including military bases, infrastructure and ammunition storage.
The supply of the missiles will probably not be enough to turn the tide of the war. Russian military equipment, such as jets, has already been moved to airfields further inside Russia in anticipation of such a decision. However, moving equipment further back from the front lines may make life difficult for Russian troops as supply lines are stretched and air support takes longer to arrive.
And the weapons may grant Ukraine some advantage at a time when Russian troops have been gaining ground in the country's east and morale is low.
"I don't think it will be decisive," a Western diplomat in Kyiv told the BBC, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
"However, it’s an overdue symbolic decision to raise the stakes and demonstrate military support to Ukraine.
"It can raise the war cost for Russia."
There are also questions over how much ammunition will be provided, said Evelyn Farkas, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defence in the Obama administration.
"The question is, of course, how many missiles do they have? We have heard that the Pentagon has warned there aren’t that many of these missiles that they can make available to Ukraine."
Farkas added that the ATACMS could have a "positive psychological impact" in Ukraine if they are used to strike targets such as the Kerch Bridge, which links Crimea to mainland Russia.
The US authorisation will also have a further knock-on effect: potentially enabling the UK and France to grant Ukraine permission to use Storm Shadow missiles inside Russia. Storm Shadow is a Franco-British long-range cruise missile with similar capabilities to the American ATACMS.
Could it lead to escalation of the war?
The Biden administration had for months refused to authorise Ukraine to hit Russia with long-range missiles, fearing escalation of the conflict.
Vladimir Putin has warned against allowing Western weapons to be used to hit Russia, saying Moscow would view that as the “direct participation” of Nato countries in the war in Ukraine.
“It would substantially change the very essence, the nature of the conflict,” Putin said in September. “This will mean that Nato countries, the USA and European states, are fighting with Russia.”
Russia has set out “red lines” before. Some, including providing modern battle tanks and fighter jets to Ukraine, have since been crossed without triggering a direct war between Russia and Nato.
Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to Nato, said: “By restricting the range of Ukraine’s use of American weapons, the US was unjustifiably imposing unilateral restrictions on Ukraine’s self-defence."
He added that the decision to limit the use of ATACMS was "completely arbitrary and done out of fear of ‘provoking’ Russia."
“However, it is a mistake to make such a change public, as it gives Russia advance notice of potential Ukrainian strikes.”
How will Donald Trump react?
The move comes just two months before Donald Trump returns to the White House.
He has already said he intends to bring the war in Ukraine to a swift end – without specifying how he plans to do it – and he could cancel the use of the missiles once he takes office.
President-elect Trump has not yet said whether he would continue the policy, but some of his closest allies have already criticised it.
Donald Trump Jr, Trump's son, wrote on social media: "The military industrial complex seems to want to make sure they get World War Three going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives."
Many of Trump's top officials, such as Vice President-elect JD Vance, say the US should not provide any more military aid to Ukraine.
But others in the next Trump administration hold a different view. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz has argued that the US could accelerate weapons deliveries to Ukraine to force Russia to negotiate.
Which way the president-elect will go is unclear. But many in Ukraine fear that he will cut off weapons deliveries, including ATACMS.
"We are worried. We hope that [Trump] will not reverse [the decision]," Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian MP, told the BBC.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nrlq1840o
---------
Seven-year-old gets job offer from Russian IT firm
18th Nov 2024
A Russian software company has invited a seven-year-old coding prodigy to join its management team, as soon as he is old enough to take up paid employment.
Sergey from the Russian city of St Petersburg has built a name for himself, uploading videos that explain how to write software since he was five.
On the strength of those videos, the information security firm Pro32 sent him a written job offer, for the post of head of corporate training.
Under Russian law, Sergey would not be able to take up any paid role until he is 14.
But Pro32's chief executive Igor Mandik told the BBC World Service he had spoken to Sergey's parents about finding ways to collaborate in the meantime.
"His father, Kirill, was surprised and said that [they were] really happy and looking forward [to when] Sergey would be able to join the company," Mr Mandik said.
'A coding Mozart'
On his videos, Sergey appears fresh-faced and smiling enthusiastically. Speaking in Russian and sometimes in slightly broken English, he goes through coding challenges step-by-step.
His YouTube channel has more than 3,500 subscribers, interested in learning programming languages Python and Unity, or who want to hear more about neural networks, which underlie many artificial intelligence tools.
Mr Mandik said Sergey showed not only remarkable developer skills but also "equally unique" skills in teaching.
"For me, he is kind of a Mozart."
"I'm absolutely sure that when he reaches 14, he'll be a guru of teaching and a guru of developing, and that is why we're really looking forward to this time," he said.
Not just coders, but salesmen, accountants and others at Moscow-based Pro32 could learn from Sergey, Mr Mandik said.
No promises have been made over pay, as yet, given that the going rate is likely to change significantly.
"We have to wait for seven years," Mr Mandik said. "Then we will definitely start a conversation about his salary."
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr91exlwd8o
--------
Dozens of medics tried in Turkey over baby deaths
18th Nov 2024
Forty-seven people have gone on trial in Turkey in connection with an alleged scam in which newborns were transferred between hospitals for profit.
Prosecutors say doctors, nurses and ambulance drivers are responsible for the deaths of at least 10 children.
The defendants are accused of making false diagnoses to transfer babies to 19 private hospitals, where they were allegedly kept in intensive care in neonatal units for lengthy, sometimes unnecessary treatments.
According to the 1,400-page indictment, those involved shared the social security payments earned for each day a baby stayed in the unit. The defendants deny wrongdoing.
They say they made the decisions in good faith and gave the babies the best possible care.
One of the accused, Dr Firat Sari, told prosecutors that everything had been done "in accordance with procedures", the Associated Press new agency reports.
As the trial opened, dozens of people took part in a protest outside the courthouse near Istanbul, chanting "baby killers will be held accountable” and "private hospitals should be shut down", AP adds.
Police launched an inquiry following an anonymous tip-off in March 2023.
Ten hospitals have had their licences revoked as a result of the investigation.
If found guilty the defendants face lengthy prison sentences for "homicide through negligence", fraud and forgery.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62j595g0z0o
---------
Abkhazia: Leader of Georgia breakaway region resigns
19th Nov 2024
Jaroslav Lukiv
The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia is resigning after days of mass protests over a controversial pro-Russia bill.
Aslan Bzhania's press office said he was quitting "to maintain stability and constitutional order" and that the two sides had agreed protesters who had stormed the parliament in Sukhumi must disperse on Tuesday.
The bill, which would have legalised Russian investment and land ownership, has been withdrawn.
Abkhazia declared its independence in 1999, and Russia recognised it as an independent state after the Georgian-Russian war in 2008. Georgia says Abkhazia is "occupied" by Moscow.
Most countries regard the area on the Black Sea coast as part of Georgia.
In a statement posted on Telegram late on Monday, Bzhania's press office said Abkhazia's parliament would consider his resignation on Tuesday.
It said Bzhania's deputy would become Abkhazia's acting leader, who would then dismiss the current prime minister.
The statement warned that Bzhania would withdraw his resignation offer if protesters refused to leave the government buildings.
Bzhania describes himself as Abkhazia's president - Georgia and most of the world do not recognise his authority.
Abkhazia's opposition has not commented on Bzhania's resignation offer.
Located along the Black Sea and Caucasus mountains, Abkhazia is known for its natural beauty and coastline, and was one of the favoured holiday destinations for the Soviet elite until the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
Locals feared that the proposed bill would trigger an influx of Russian investment, pricing them out of the property market and further strengthening Moscow's grip on the region.
Backed by Russia, Abkhazia fought a war of secession with Georgia in 1992-93, before unilaterally declaring independence.
Abkhazia's economy depends overwhelmingly on tourism from Russia.
In 2009, Moscow signed a five-year agreement with Abkhazia to take formal control of its frontiers with the rest of Georgia, while in 2014 Moscow and Sukhumi signed a "strategic partnership" agreement.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr91px4nlqo
---------
Undersea cable between Germany and Finland severed
19th Nov 2024
Henri Astier
Germany and Finland say they are "deeply concerned" after an undersea cable linking the countries was severed.
The rupture of the 1,170km (730-mile) telecommunications cable - which is being investigated - comes at a time of heightened tension with Russia.
The two countries' foreign ministers said in a joint statement: "Our European security is not only under threat from Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, but also from hybrid warfare by malicious actors."
Damage to pipelines in the Baltic Sea has raised fears of sabotage in recent years.
Separately, a 218km (135-mile) internet link between Lithuania and Sweden's Gotland Island also lost service on Sunday morning, a Swedish telecommunications company said.
In October 2023 a natural gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia was severely damaged. Finnish officials later said the incident had been caused by a Chinese container ship dragging its anchor.
And German prosecutors are still investigating the explosion of Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany in 2022.
There have been conspiracy theories around that attack, with unconfirmed rumours that either the Ukrainian, Russian or US government was behind it.
The latest incident involves a C-Lion1 fibreoptic cable linking the Finnish capital, Helsinki and the German city of Rostock, which stopped working around 02:00 GMT on Monday.
Finnish network operator Cinia said all fibre connections in it had been cut.
"These kinds of breaks don't happen in these waters without an outside impact," a Cinia spokesperson told local media.
Samuli Bergstrom, a Finnish government cybersecurity expert, said the failure had not affected internet traffic between the two countries as other cable routes were available.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dl4vxw501o
---------
Germany to deliver AI-controlled drones to Ukraine
18 Nov, 2024
Germany is set to deliver 4,000 AI-controlled kamikaze drones to Ukraine, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced. The drones, dubbed ‘mini-Taurus’ in a reference to Berlin’s long-range cruise missiles, are reportedly immune to jamming and other disabling measures.
Speaking at an event in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, Pistorius said the weapons can “put the enemy’s electronic drone defense out of action” and simply “fly around it,” as quoted by Die Welt. The drones can reach 30 or 40 kilometers “into the hinterland and then attack command posts, logistical hubs and other things,” he added, calling them “an important additional asset” for Ukraine’s forces.
Bild newspaper reported earlier on Monday that the software company Helsing had signed a contract for the delivery of the HX-2 Karma drones with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in September, with the project to be financed by Germany’s federal government.
Pistorius had previously announced in June that thousands of combat drones would be delivered to Ukraine, but did not provide further details at the time.
The HX-2 Karma drone has been nicknamed the ‘mini-Taurus’ – a reference to the German-made air-launched Taurus cruise missile. It has a range up to four times greater than that of the conventional kamikaze drones used by Ukraine’s military, Bild said. It can also fly into a target if the radio connection is disrupted, meaning that it has a significantly higher hit rate than a conventional manually-controlled drone, the outlet added.
Starting in December, hundreds of units will be delivered each month, the report said.
Ukraine has made repeated requests for Germany’s Taurus air-launched, long-range cruise missiles. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has continued to refuse them, despite opposition from some members of the country’s now-collapsed ruling coalition, as well as some senior opposition figures.
Scholz has justified his refusal to give Taurus missiles to the Ukrainian military by saying that the move would make Germany a direct party to the conflict.
Asked on Monday if the chancellor would lift the ban following reports that the US will allow Ukraine to conduct long-range strikes into Russian territory with its missiles, Pistorius said such a decision “doesn’t change our assessment at the moment.” He added that the long-range missiles would “not be a game changer” for Ukraine on the battlefield.
Source:rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/news/607843-germany-kamikaze-drones-ukraine/
----------
North America
Biden's move on missiles for Ukraine angers Trump allies
Paulin Kola and Phil McCausland
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
President Joe Biden's apparent green light for Ukraine to strike Russia with US-made long-range missiles has caused consternation among some of Donald Trump's allies.
Trump himself has not commented, but he won the election after promising to end the war - and several people close to him have condemned the move as dangerous escalation.
Biden has committed tens of billions of dollars to Kyiv's war effort, and at the weekend he reportedly ditched a long-standing red line on Ukraine's use of American weaponry to launch attacks deep into Russia.
Donald Trump Jr tweeted that the president was trying to "get World War Three going" before his father took office.
Biden's decision has not been formally confirmed and it may never be.
When asked about how typical it would be for a presidential administration to take such a significant policy decision in its final months, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that Biden was "elected to a four year-term, not a term of three years and 10 months."
"We will use every day of our term to pursue policy interests that we believe are in the interests of the American people," he said. "If the incoming administration wants to take a different view, that is, of course, their right to do so."
"There's one president at a time," he added. "When the next president takes office, he can make his own decisions."
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said no such announcement was forthcoming - "missiles will speak for themselves".
Trump's camp is not pleased
Trump swept to victory on 5 November and is due to be back in the White House for a second term from 20 January next year.
Trump has campaigned on a promise to end the US involvement in wars and instead use taxpayers' money to improve Americans' lives.
He has said he will bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end within 24 hours, without saying how.
One thing is certain, though: Trump has always seen himself as a dealmaker and will not want Biden to take any such credit.
His son, Donald Trump Jr, was among the first Republicans to respond.
"The military industrial complex seems to want to make sure they get World War Three going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives," he said.
Another vocal Trump supporter, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, condemned Biden, too.
"The American people gave a mandate on Nov 5th against these exact America last decisions and do NOT want to fund or fight foreign wars. We want to fix our own problems," she wrote on X.
Not all of Trump's allies, including some who advised him on national security affairs during his first term, shared this view - though they were critical of the Biden administration's approach.
James Gilmore, who served as Trump's ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, told the BBC that the main issue with Biden's decision to provide Ukraine this new capability is that it came so late in the war.
"My criticism of Biden is the same as every other conservative and supporter of Trump - which is that the Biden administration slow walked this," he said.
Gilmore said he did not know what the president-elect would choose to do regarding Ukraine once he entered office. "I don't believe that he's a man that usually walks away," he said.
Polls suggest a large number of Republicans want US support for Ukraine to stop - 62% told a poll by Pew Research the US had no responsibility to support the country against Russia.
Senator JD Vance, who will be Trump's vice-president, has regularly objected to providing arms to Ukraine. He argued that the US lacks the manufacturing capacity to continue providing weapons like the missile systems that Kyiv will use to strike within Russia.
Gilmore, however, said the US was able to backfill and upgrade its weapon systems through this process, but he said the US's European allies would need to take on a bigger role.
"President Trump is exactly right about this - the alliance is stronger when Western European countries step up to the plate," he said. "The United States cannot continue to act alone. The taxpayer won't permit it, the next administration won't permit it, and I wouldn't, either."
Putin is also silent
Since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia's president has been railing against the US-led Nato alliance - and described every pledge of military support by the Western allies for Ukraine as a direct involvement and warned of retribution.
His spokesman said on Monday that the US was "adding fuel to the fire".
At times, Putin has mooted the possibility of using nuclear weapons, too.
Few believe this may come to pass as, under the mutual-destruction doctrine established during the Cold War when nuclear arsenals were built up, Putin knows their use would bring untold suffering to all, including Russians.
But the Russian leader will be fully aware of the magnitude of the threat of Western-supplied long-range missiles.
The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank, has published a map of 225 Russian military installations within range of ATACMS.
Former US envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, said Biden's decision would enable Ukraine "to go after airfields, the ammunition depots and the fuels supplies, logistics that Russia has, which right now are in a sanctuary zone in Russia".
Biden's decision will cause Russia to be more cautious, Volker told the BBC.
Dismissing Putin's threats, he said the Russian leader "should have anticipated that there would be efforts by Ukraine to fire back".
Ukraine has had ATACMS as well as UK and French Storm Shadow missiles of similar range for some time, though the numbers are not known. But it has not been allowed to use them inside Russia.
France and the UK are expected to follow the US lead and issue the same authorisation to Ukraine. So far, they have not commented.
White House officials are emphasising to US media that Biden's change of heart is in response to Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops - a signal to Pyongyang not to send any more.
Gilmore, Trump's OSCE ambassador, told the BBC that he believes it is "Putin who has escalated the war" by deploying North Korean soldiers, and the US cannot "just stand aside and let this dictator go ahead and conquer Ukraine".
"I don't like it and I take it all very seriously, but the decision is not ours. The decision is being forced upon us by Putin - by the dictator," he said.
The move also follows a barrage of Russian attacks on Ukraine in recent days.
One strike on Odesa on Monday killed 10 people, including seven policemen, and injured 47 others.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrdmkxy7xmo
---------
Trump and Xi Jinping’s ‘loving’ relationship has soured - can they rebuild it?
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
Laura Bicker
In a sports park next to the red walls and glossy blue tiles which surround Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, a group of pensioners are working out.
“I’m 74 and I hope this helps me live a long time,” one man says after he finishes his pull-ups, just as a cold wind blows leaves from cypress trees across the park, disrupting another man who is mid-headstand. Women reach for gloves and sweaters as they take turns hanging from an overhead assault course.
Chinese emperors once came to this Ming dynasty holy site to pray for a good harvest. Now the park is used by locals to enjoy their retirement after spending decades contributing to China’s spectacular growth.
They’ve watched their country open up to the world and their factories propel its economy, which nips at the heels of the United States as the world’s largest.
But some fear what the promises of US president-elect Donald Trump – who has vowed steep tariffs on goods made in China - means for the country’s export-driven economy.
The view of Trump on the ground
For many in China, Trump is a figure of fun and memes of him dancing to the YMCA are shared widely on social media. Others worry that he’s too unpredictable.
“I like Trump, but he’s unstable. Who knows what he might do?” says the 74-year-old pensioner, whose name has been withheld.
Some of Trump’s cabinet choices – announced since his election victory – will no doubt make people even more wary.
Marco Rubio, his pick for Secretary of State, has called Beijing “the threat that will define this century”. He is also sanctioned by Beijing. Trump’s choice for National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, wrote earlier this month that the US should “urgently” bring the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to an end so it can “finally focus strategy attention where it should be: countering the greater threat from the Chinese Communist Party”.
But China has been in training for a second Trump presidency, says Jie Yue, a Senior Research Fellow on China at Chatham House, a London-based think tank.
Despite concern on the street, she says his return comes as “no surprise” to Beijing, although she warns that the world should still “expect a roller-coaster type of relationship to unfold” when Trump takes office in January.
Beijing’s “cold war” warning to Washington
The competition between the two nations has been ramping up for some time, long before Trump won the election. It turned especially tense during the Biden administration because of tariffs and geopolitical disagreements ranging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the future of Taiwan.
Yet there was dialogue, with several senior US officials making trips to Beijing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to work with the incoming Trump administration, but he also used his last meeting with President Joe Biden to warn Washington that a “new cold war should not be fought and cannot be won”.
He added that “containing China is unwise, unacceptable and bound to fail”.
Beijing has long accused the US and its allies of trying to contain China – they see tariffs targeting Chinese-made imports, laws restricting the country’s access to advanced AI chips and military alliances in the South China Sea and beyond as part of this approach.
And Trump’s decision to pick Rubio and Waltz suggests his administration will “take a much harsher, muscular approach with China,” says Lyle Morris from the Asia Society’s Centre for China Analysis.
“While Trump views his personal relationship with Xi Jinping as an avenue for negotiation, he will likely lean on Waltz and Rubio in fashioning a more aggressive, uncompromising policy towards China.”
They are far from the only voices in Washington that see China as a threat to US security and its economy – a view that surprises the average person in Beijing.
“You’re much better off here than in the US right now,” says the 74-year-old in the park before heading off to stretch.
From Covid blame to nuclear competition
Just north of the Temple of Heaven is the Forbidden City, where Chinese emperors lived for almost 500 years. It was here, in 2017, that Xi hosted Trump, bestowing on his guest an honour not granted to any US president since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
Xi shut down the area and took Trump on a tour of the imperial quarters, every moment broadcast live on state TV. He was served kung pao chicken for dinner, and in turn brought a video of his granddaughter, Arabella Kushner, singing a Chinese song which went viral on social media.
It was billed by both as a high point in US-China relations, but that quickly soured after the Covid pandemic broke out in Wuhan in 2019 and spread globally in 2020. Trump repeatedly called it the “Chinese virus” and blamed the outbreak on Beijing. He also kicked off a tit-for-tat trade war, with tariffs still in place on more than $300bn (£238bn) of goods.
When Trump starts his second term, he will be encountering a stronger Xi, who has cemented his position at China’s helm with a historic third term – and the possibility of remaining in power for life.
Given it has the world’s largest army and navy, Washington is now concerned that the country is building a bigger nuclear arsenal.
Even as Trump was unveiling his new cabinet, Chinese state media published videos from the country’s biggest airshow of a new stealth fighter jet – the J35-A – flying vertically and upside-down. China is only the second country to boast two stealth fighters in its inventory. The other is the US. The world’s first two-seat stealth fighter, the J20-S, was also on display.
Last week, researchers at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California found satellite images that indicate China is working on nuclear propulsion for a new aircraft carrier.
The studies have “sparked serious concerns over Beijing’s potential adoption of a first-use strategy and increased nuclear threats, fuelling strong support to significantly boost US nuclear capabilities in response,” says Tong Zhao from think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“Unless Trump personally intervenes, which seems unlikely, it appears the two nations are on the brink of a much more intense nuclear competition with far-reaching implications for international stability.”
The Taiwan question
Under Xi’s leadership in recent years, China has also become more assertive in its territorial claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
One worry is that Beijing is ramping up militarily to invade Taiwan, which it sees as a breakaway province that will eventually be under its control. Under Trump and his cabinet, would the US be willing to defend Taiwan?
It’s a question asked of every US president. Trump has dodged it, saying he wouldn’t have to use military force because Xi knew he was “crazy”, and he would impose paralysing tariffs on Chinese imports if that happened.
Despite Trump’s unwillingness to participate in foreign wars, most experts expect Washington to continue providing military assistance to Taipei. For one, it is bound by law to sell defensive weapons to the island. Two, the Trump administration sold more arms to Taiwan than any other.
“There is strong bipartisan support for continuing military aid to Taiwan. I don’t expect Trump to significantly change course on arms sales to Taiwan,” Mr Morris says.
What Trump really thinks of Xi
These glaring differences aside, Trump does seem to admire Xi’s strongman image.
In 2020 he declared that he and Xi Jinping “love each other”, even in the midst of a bitter trade war with China.
“I had a very strong relationship with him,” he confirmed in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal.
It’s hard to know what Xi thinks – he has said very little about their relationship and barely mentions Trump by name.
In 2018, Chinese state media CGTN took direct aim at the American leader, and released an unflattering video with the sarcastic title: “Thanks Mr Trump, you are great!” It was later taken down by censors.
But what we do know is both leaders project a type of muscular nationalism. Xi’s dream is the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation" and Trump believes only he can “make America great again”. Both promise that they are working towards a new golden age for their countries.
Trump’s “golden age” for America incudes 60% tariffs on Chinese-made goods.
But Beijing is in no mood for a second trade war. It has troubles of its own.
A sluggish economy vs the Musk factor
President Xi’s dream of prosperity is in jeopardy. China’s economy is sluggish, its property sector is sinking, nearly 20% of its young people are struggling to find jobs and it has one of the world’s fastest growing ageing populations.
Some of this economic pain is clear at the Temple of Heaven. We join the throngs of Chinese tour groups walking through white marble gates. It has become fashionable for young people to dress up in Qing dynasty costumes although their long silk robes often fail to hide the other big trend – chunky white trainers.
Dozens of school groups are listening attentively to guides about their city’s colourful history while a queue forms around the altar to make a wish. I watch as a middle-aged woman dressed in black takes her turn. She turns three times, clasps her hands, closes her eyes and looks toward the sky. Later we ask what she hoped for. She says many people come here and ask for their children to get jobs or to get into a good school.
“We wish for better lives and prospects,” she says. While China claims to have eradicated extreme poverty, millions of labourers and factory workers across the country, those who contributed to China’s rise, will worry what about what’s to come.
Her future and the future of China’s economy may partly depend on just how serious Trump is about his tariffs. This time, Beijing is prepared, according to Yu Jie.
“China has already begun to diversify its sources of agricultural imports (notably from Brazil, Argentina and Russia) and increased the volumes of its exports in non-US allied countries. At a domestic level, the recent local government debt recapitalisation is also paving the way to offset the negative impacts on the likely trade war with the Trump Administration.”
Beijing may also have another hope. Billionaire Elon Musk now appears to have Trump’s ear. His company, Tesla, depends on China for production - about half of all its EVs are made in the country. Chinese leaders may ask if Musk can temper Trump’s trade impulses.
But the great power struggle of the 21st century is not just over trade. Xi’s dream also involves making China the world’s dominant power.
Some experts believe this is where another Trump presidency may offer Beijing an opportunity.
China’s place on the world stage
“Chinese leaders will reinforce the narrative that the US is the single and most disruptive source of global instability, while portraying China as a responsible and confident world power,” says Yu Jie.
Biden spent four years building up friendships across Asia with the likes of South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam - all in an effort to contain China.
In the past, Trump’s “America-first” doctrine isolated and weakened these US alliances. He opted for deals over delicate diplomacy and often put a price tag on America’s friendships. In 2018, for instance, he demanded more money from South Korea to continue keeping US troops in the country.
Beijing has already built up alliances with emerging economies. It is also trying to repair its relationship with the UK and Europe, while mending historical grievances with Asian neighbours, South Korea and Japan.
If Washington’s influence does wane around the world, it could be a win for President Xi.
Back at the park, as we discuss the results of the US election, one man holds up four fingers. “He’s only got four years,” he says. “The US is always changing leaders. In China, we have more time.”
Time is indeed on Beijing’s side. Xi could be president for life – and so can afford to make slow but steady progress towards his goals.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxvdqg8214o
----------
Ex-Canadian minister says he was alleged target of Iran assassination plot
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
Nadine Yousif
Canada’s former justice minister has confirmed to the BBC he was the target of a recent Iranian assassination attempt that was foiled.
Irwin Cotler's office said he had been informed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) of an Iranian-backed attempt on his life in late October.
Mr Cotler, 84, is a long-time critic of Iran, and previously called for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be classified as a terrorist organisation.
The BBC has reached out to the Iranian foreign ministry for comment.
The alleged plot against Mr Cotler comes after the US laid charges against a man who is accused of trying to assassinate President elect-Donald Trump on behalf of Iran.
The Globe and Mail newspaper in Canada first reported the alleged plot against Mr Cotler on Monday morning, citing an unnamed source. Mr Cotler’s office then confirmed the report to the BBC.
The RCMP told the BBC it does not disclose details about its protective measures, or confirm who the individuals are who may receive protection.
According to the Globe and Mail, Mr Cotler was informed by the RCMP on 26 October that he faced an imminent threat of assassination within 48 hours from Iranian agents.
Authorities had knowledge of two suspects in relation to the plot, the newspaper reported, but it is not known if they were arrested or fled the country. Mr Cotler was advised on Thursday that the threat against him had lowered, the paper reported.
Mr Cotler, who is Jewish, is said to have been under 24/7 protection by the RCMP for more than a year since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack against Israel.
He had been flagged by Canadian intelligence as a high-profile target of Iran, who is a backer of Hamas. Mr Cotler was provided with bulletproof vehicles, heavily armed officers and other security measures for protection.
Mr Cotler, who is now retired, was a member of parliament in Canada from 1999 to 2015. He served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General under the Liberal government of former Prime Minister Paul Martin from 2003 until 2006.
He is an outspoken critic of the regime in Tehran, and had previously tabled a motion in Canadian parliament in 2013 asking that the IRGC be sanctioned and designated as a terrorist entity. Canada officially listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity in June of this year.
Mr Cotler has represented Iranian political prisoners and has strong ties to Israel.
His daughter, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, is an Israeli politician and diplomat and served as a member of the Israeli parliament.
Earlier this month, US authorities had arrested an Afghan national in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate incoming president Trump before he was elected.
Farhad Shakeri, 51, is alleged to have been tasked with “providing a plan” to kill Trump, according to an indictment against him by the US Department of Justice.
Mr Shakeri has not been arrested and is believed to be in Iran.
Two others were arrested in the US over an alleged plot to kill an American journalist who was an outspoken critic of Iran.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has responded to the allegations, saying they are “completely baseless.”
In a statement, Mr Baghaei said similar accusations of attempts to assassinate US presidents had been made in the past, which Iran denied and went on to be false. He added that repeating such claims risked "further complicating the issues between the US and Iran".
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7nj0gw2y1o
---------
Trump vows to use US military for mass deportations
Max Matza
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed on his social media network that he plans to use the US military to carry out a mass deportation of undocumented migrants.
On Monday, he posted "TRUE!!!" in response to a conservative commentator who wrote that Trump would declare a national emergency and use military assets to lead “a mass deportation program”.
At campaign events, Trump repeatedly pledged to mobilise the National Guard to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency tasked with carrying out deportations.
Trump's latest comment comes as questions grow about how he would fulfil his pledge to execute the largest mass deportation in US history.
He has repeatedly said he would begin deportations on his first day in office, which will be 20 January 2025.
But even if a US administration was able to legally move ahead with these plans, authorities would still have to contend with enormous logistical challenges.
For example, experts are doubtful that ICE's 20,000 agents and support personnel would be enough to find and track down millions of undocumented migrants.
There would also be a major financial cost, but Trump recently told NBC News that this would not deter his administration's efforts.
Trump's post was made on his Truth Social network early on Monday as he continues to announce his nominations for key posts in his administration.
Trump has already chosen several loyal allies for top roles overseeing immigration and deportation policy, including Kristi Noem who has been nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security, and former ICE chief Tom Homan who Trump has named his "border tsar".
Trump's team have so far released few details about how the plan will be executed.
He has previously said that he plans to declare a national emergency, which would authorise him to deploy troops on US soil.
Homan told Fox News on Monday that he will visit Trump's Florida home this week "to put the final touches on the plan", including deciding what role the US Department of Defense (DOD) will have.
"Can DOD assist? Because DOD can take a lot off our plate," he said, saying that the pace of deportations will depend on the resources agencies are given.
On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued ICE for more details on how the deportation plan will work. The group plans to continue to file legal challenges in an effort to block the mass deportation.
Under the four years of the previous Trump administration, around 1.5 million people were deported, both from the border and the US interior.
The Biden administration - which had deported about 1.1 million people up to February 2024 - is on track to match that, statistics show.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nrg4deyjo
---------
Biden condemns 'sickening' neo-Nazi march in Ohio
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
Brandon Drenon
The White House has condemned a neo-Nazi march in Ohio which took place over the weekend, after videos of masked men shouting racial slurs and carrying swastika flags were shared online.
"President Biden abhors the hateful poison of Nazism, antisemitism, and racism - which are hostile to everything the United States stands for," a spokesman said on Monday, adding that the march was a "sickening display".
The videos showed roughly a dozen people, dressed in black and wearing face coverings, marching through the streets of Columbus carrying flags with red swastikas on them.
Police briefly detained some of the group on Saturday but released them after determining no laws had been broken.
“Neo-Nazis... roamed streets in Columbus today, carrying Nazi flags and spewing vile and racist speech,” Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a statement.
“There is no place in this state for hate, bigotry, antisemitism or violence, and we must denounce it wherever we see it.”
Police received multiple calls at around 13:30 on Saturday about the march, public safety dispatchers told the local CBS affiliate WBNS.
In some videos, members of the group can be heard shouting racial slurs into a bullhorn at people nearby.
Officers were also advised that the group may have been in a physical altercation with people in the area that involved the use of pepper spray.
No arrests were made during the incident on Saturday.
"The Constitution protects First Amendment activity, no matter how hateful," Police Chief Elaine R Bryant said.
"We are bound by the law in enforcement of such activity," she added. "No one in our community should experience intimidation or harassment."
As no one was charged, the identities of those in the group have not been released.
The scene in Ohio's capital city occurred one week after a similar incident in Michigan.
On 9 November, several masked men were seen waving Nazi flags and shouting slurs outside a theatre performance of The Diary of Anne Frank.
Oren Segal, vice-president of the Anti Defamation League's Center on Extremism, told the BBC that there are "more and more groups that are marching with swastika flags" and they are doing so increasingly in smaller "more focused" groups.
"These relatively small and quick protests are designed to signal back to their online community... for this to be an example of these groups bringing their hatred on the ground," Mr Segal said.
The ADL, which monitors white supremacist events around the country, said hundreds had taken place over the past two years.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxvdz7nd1jo
----------
Diddy called witnesses from prison, prosecutors say
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
Mark Savage
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been breaking prison rules by contacting potential witnesses in his upcoming sex trafficking trial, prosecutors have alleged.
The music mogul is accused of making "relentless efforts" to "corruptly influence witness testimony", by using other inmates' telephone accounts, and using three-way calls to speak to people who are not on his approved contacts list.
Prosecutors said a review of recorded calls also found that Mr Combs instructed his family to contact potential witnesses in his case, they said in a court filing.
Mr Combs, 55, is currently in custody in Manhattan. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Best known for 1990s hits such as I'll Be Missing You and Mo' Money, Mo' Problems, the musician has been denied bail since his arrest, with multiple judges citing a risk that he might tamper with witnesses.
His lawyers made a renewed bid for bail last week, proposing a $50m (£39.6m) package that would see Mr Combs be monitored around the clock by security personnel, while under house arrest.
Lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued it was impossible for the musician to prepare for trial from behind bars because of the "incredibly voluminous" amount of material to review, especially without a laptop computer.
She also said his preparation has been hampered by conditions at the jail, including frequent lockdowns and officers taking away the pens he uses to take notes.
Detention is stripping Mr Combs of "any real opportunity" to be ready for trial, violating his rights under the US Constitution, Shapiro said.
In response, prosecutors argued that the request for bail should be denied, alleging that Mr Combs "poses serious risks of danger and obstruction of these proceedings".
In court documents, they accused the star of orchestrating social media posts in order to "influence a potential jury pool" at his trial.
Amongst those efforts, they cited an Instagram statement posted by a woman known only as "witness two", countering allegations made by singer Dawn Richard in a civil lawsuit against Mr Combs.
Prosecutors alleged that her statement was drafted with Mr Combs during "multiple texts" and "multiple calls" from prison.
They further alleged there was a "strong inference" that Mr Combs "paid witness two, after she posted her statement".
A video posted by the star's seven children on 5 November was also cited as evidence of a "public relations strategy to influence this case".
The video, which was reported by multiple media outlets, showed the family wishing Mr Combs a happy birthday during a prison phone call.
"The defendant then monitored the analytics - ie audience engagement - and explicitly discussed with his family how to ensure that the video had his desired effect on potential jury members in this case," prosecutors said.
Mr Combs was also accused of using the phone accounts of at least eight other inmates to make calls, which is against prison regulations; and of "directing others" to orchestrate payment for this access.
Prosecutors characterised Mr Combs as running a "relentless" scheme to "contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him".
'Uncanny ability'
Urging the judge to deny Mr Combs' request for bail, the prosecutors wrote that "no set of conditions" could eliminate the potential risks to the trial.
"The defendant has demonstrated an uncanny ability to get others to do his bidding - employees, family members, and [prison] inmates alike," they claimed.
"There is no reason to believe that private security personnel would be immune."
Prosecutors also rejected criticism of the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, citing an interview from the star's lawyer Marc Agnifilo, who said "food’s probably the roughest part" of Mr Combs' adjustment to life behind bars.
The musician's lawyers have yet to react to the court motion. The BBC has contacted his legal team for a response.
Mr Combs' legal troubles began last November, when his ex-partner Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura filed a civil lawsuit, alleging incidents of rape and physical assault between 2007 and 2018.
Although the case was quickly settled out of court, it led to a flurry of similar accusations and an investigation by the US Government.
The star's properties were raided by federal agents in March, and he was arrested in New York in September.
Mr Combs was charged with three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering, in a federal indictment that described allegations of drug-fuelled, days-long sexual performances dubbed as "Freak Offs".
The musician is simultaneously facing more than two dozen civil cases by men and women accusing him of sexual assault, rape and sexual exploitation.
The star has vehemently denied all of the charges against him, and the claims in the civil suits, arguing that the sexual encounters at the heart of his criminal case were all consensual.
New lawsuit filed against lawyer
In a separate development on Monday, a lawsuit was filed against one of the lawyers known for spearheading more than 120 lawsuits against Mr Combs.
The lawsuit, filed by an unnamed "high-profile individual" against Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, alleged that Mr Buzbee attempted to extort him by threatening to make public “entirely fabricated and malicious allegations of sexual assault".
In court documents obtained by the BBC, the plaintiff identified himself as a former associate of Diddy and acknowledged attending events with the embattled music mogul.
The lawsuit against Mr Buzbee claims the Houston attorney follows a "clear playbook" for extorting celebrities involving fabricating allegations and demanding letters seeking payment.
The lawsuit alleges that if the demands are not met, he turns to the media to apply public pressure.
Mr Buzbee, who denies wrongdoing, described the filing as a “last-ditch attempt” to stop him from naming the individual.
“It is obvious that the frivolous lawsuit filed against my firm is an aggressive attempt to intimidate or silence me and ultimately my clients,” he said in a statement sent to the BBC.
"No amount of money was included in the demand letters," he wrote. "No threats were made. The demand letters sent are no different than the ones routinely sent by lawyers across the country in all types of cases.”
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80lmpn4kk9o
---------
Trump picks ex-congressman and Fox host as transport secretary
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former congressman and Fox Business host Sean Duffy to lead the Department of Transportation.
Duffy, who was one of Trump's most vocal defenders on cable news, is the second Fox commentator to be picked for the incoming cabinet.
If confirmed, he will take charge of aviation, automotive, rail, transit and other transportation policies at the transport department, with a roughly $110bn (£86bn) annual budget.
"Sean has been a tremendous and well-liked public servant," Trump wrote in an announcement on Truth Social, adding Duffy was "admired across the aisle".
Trump said Duffy would use his experience in Congress “to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfil our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation".
"The husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox News, and the father of nine incredible children, Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind," the president-elect said.
Before beginning his career in public service, Duffy was a prosecutor and a reality TV star, appearing on several shows including The Real World: Boston, and Road Rules: All Stars.
In 2011, he was elected as a Republican to represent Wisconsin in the US House of Representatives, where he served until 2019.
If confirmed, he will succeed Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021.
The Department of Transportation has nearly 55,000 workers and leads the country’s safety, sustainability and efficiency efforts with regard to travel and transport.
The incoming secretary will continue to face a number of safety-related aviation issues, including the continued problems at Boeing, as the troubled manufacturer addresses a series of safety and quality issues.
The threat of labour action also looms, as well as potential upheaval if Trump delivers on his campaign promise to reverse the Biden administration's new rules on vehicle emissions.
Since his resounding election win earlier this month, Trump has steadily named those he wants to fill high-ranking positions in his administration, seeming to choose close allies over those with related policy experience.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c14l552p28go
---------
What to know about the Matt Gaetz allegations
NOVEMBER 19, 2024
The man picked to be America's next top law enforcement officer, Matt Gaetz, is at the centre of a number of allegations which could prevent him from getting the job. Here's all you need to know about them.
The Florida lawmaker is the subject of a long-running investigation by a congressional ethics panel into a number of claims involving drugs, bribes and sex.
A woman who attended a 2017 party with him has testified to the House committee that she saw the then-congressman having sex with a minor, her lawyer has said. He has denied any wrongdoing and called the investigation into him a "smear campaign".
The Justice Department - which Gaetz would lead in the post - also investigated the claim but ultimately did not file any criminal charges against him.
When he learned of his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump, he resigned from Congress, putting him out of reach of the investigation by the ethics panel.
Pressure is building for it to publish its findings and the level of cross-party concern risks derailing his nomination, which requires Senate approval.
Here are the allegations broken down.
What are the allegations?
Gaetz, 42, represented Florida's first congressional district in the US House of Representatives from 2017 until his resignation on Thursday.
A fierce Trump defender, he has long upset Democrats but also many Republicans with his bombastic public conduct and alleged hard-partying lifestyle.
On and off since 2021, the secretive House Ethics Committee has investigated Gaetz over various allegations, including a claim that he had sex with an underage girl, used illicit drugs, accepted bribes, misused campaign funds and shared inappropriate images on the House floor.
The Floridian has repeatedly and vehemently denied wrongdoing, casting the probe as an attempt to smear his name by powerful enemies he has made in politics.
He has also raised in his defence the fact that the Justice Department ended a separate three-year federal sex-trafficking investigation last year by deciding not to bring charges against him.
"Lies were Weaponized to try to destroy me," Gaetz posted on X on Friday.
"These lies resulted in prosecution, conviction, and prison. For the liars, not me."
Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's one-time friend, was the lone person charged in the Justice Department sex trafficking's investigation. He cooperated with investigators and reportedly told prosecutors information about multiple others, including Gaetz.
Greenberg is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence after agreeing to plead guilty to multiple federal charges, including under-age sex trafficking, wire fraud, stalking, identity theft, producing a fake ID card, and conspiring to defraud the US government.
Is there a case against Gaetz?
As part of his cooperation with federal prosecutors, Greenberg - a local tax collector in the Orlando, Florida area - admitted he had repeatedly paid young women to attend parties with him and his friends, where they used drugs and had sex.
At least one of the girls he paid for sex was 17 years old at the time - and Greenberg alleged that Gaetz had also had sex with her - a claim federal authorities investigated but were unable to verify.
No charges were filed against Gaetz, who has fiercely denied these allegations, and the probe was later closed.
But now, the explosive claim sits at the core of the House ethics probe and is endangering his nomination.
The committee inquiry had been paused to allow the Justice Department to do its work. Gaetz claimed it was only revived because then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy considered him a nagging thorn in the side of Republican leadership.
Last year, Gaetz spearheaded an unprecedented internal revolt to oust McCarthy from the speakership - the top job in the US House of Representatives. The California Republican, who resigned from Congress less than three months later, has claimed Gaetz only wanted him removed because of the ethics investigation.
Gaetz's nomination as Attorney General this past Thursday was followed hours later with his resignation from the House.
His resignation halted the release - which was reportedly planned just days later - of the ethics probe's findings. His departure from Congress means he is no longer under congressional jurisdiction.
An attorney who represents the then-minor has called for the report's release, saying that she had testified to the committee that she had sex with Gaetz while "she was a high school student, and there were witnesses".
Will it affect Gaetz's chances of confirmation?
Sitting House Speaker Mike Johnson argued against the report's release in a Sunday appearance on Fox News, saying it could "open Pandora's box" if the panel started issuing reports about those who are not members of the body.
"We don't issue investigations and ethics reports on people who are not members of Congress," he said. "I think this would be a breach of protocol that could be dangerous for us going forward in the future."
He also told reporters that he would "strongly request" the report isn't made public because the rules outline that "a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the ethics committee".
Members of the committee initially planned to meet behind closed doors on Friday and hold a vote on whether to release the report.
But the meeting never happened, with Chairman Michael Guest saying it was postponed and would be re-scheduled. Guest has previously indicated he is inclined to "maintain [the] confidentiality" of the panel's work.
The panel is now expected to meet this Wednesday and may hold a vote then, according to US media. A spokesperson declined to comment when reached by the BBC.
Public pressure is mounting and even some Senate Republicans, who will be tasked with vetting Gaetz's nomination and voting on whether to confirm him to the attorney general post, have indicated they would like to see the report.
Many in Washington expect that, even if the report is not formally released, it may yet be leaked to the press.
Last week, Joel Leppard - a lawyer who represents two women who have testified in the ethics probe - said one of his clients said she had witnessed Gaetz having sex with the then-17-year-old.
"What if sworn testimony detailed conduct that would disqualify anyone from serving as our nation’s chief law enforcement officer?" he said in a Friday statement.
"Democracy demands transparency. Release the Gaetz Ethics report."
CBS News, the BBC's US partner, has learned that the committee has heard from at least four women who say they were paid to attend parties with drugs and sex where Gaetz was allegedly present.
Mr Leppard told CBS on Monday that the panel had seen evidence of transactions on the Venmo mobile app between Gaetz and the women, which they alleged was used to pay for sex.
Mr Leppard also said that two of the women testified in the ethics probe that Gaetz had asked in text messages about "party favours" and "vitamins" at upcoming parties, which was understood to be code for drugs. However, Mr Leppard's clients told the House panel they could not specifically recall whether they had seen Gaetz use any drugs.
On Monday, Trump's team said the allegations against Gaetz were "baseless" and "intended to derail the second Trump administration".
"Matt Gaetz will be the next attorney general. He’s the right man for the job and will end the weaponization of our justice system," Trump transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer told CBS.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cew2z48rp70o
---------
Africa
Why Greedy Politicians Choose Certain Churches, Preachers – Cardinal Onaiyekan
18 November 2024
By Ikenna Ngere
The Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has pointed out that politicians driven by greed often select churches and preachers that do not challenge their corrupt practices.
The respected cleric emphasized that it is the duty of religious leaders to speak truthfully to their congregations to foster meaningful societal change.
Naija News reports that Onaiyekan made these remarks during his appearance on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political show on Channels Television.
“I have noticed in Nigeria that greedy people have a way of choosing the kind of churches they go to and which preachers they listen to. If they go to a church where they are constantly being challenged and made uncomfortable, they won’t come back next Sunday but we need more of that,” the Cardinal explained.
He argued that building grand cathedrals filled with worshippers is not enough, adding that there must be a deeper, transformative impact on society.
“The official religious institutions we have in Nigeria have a task to do self-evaluation. They should ask themselves: have we been projecting the right message of our faiths? If we have been doing it, we will not have this kind of outcome.
“The kind of corrupt and godly outcomes have shown that the kind of religiousness that we have is not leading anywhere,” he stated.
Cardinal Onaiyekan cautioned against the complacency of religious institutions in Nigeria, urging them to reflect on their role.
“We cannot just be rejoicing that our churches are full, that we are building big churches. Very good but we still want to see where is godliness in all of these. And if religion does not lead to godliness, it is even worse than none at all,” he added.
The Archbishop lamented the growing corruption among the country’s leaders, whose mismanagement has deepened the nation’s poverty.
“There is so much impunity. People take a lot of things that don’t belong to them and nobody asks them. Whereas if a poor man steals a piece of yam in the village, they throw him in jail for six months or more. So, there is something wrong with the justice system,” he said.
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/18/why-greedy-politicians-choose-certain-churches-preachers-cardinal-onaiyekan/
---------
Democracy Suffered Mortal Wounds Under You – Presidency To Obasanjo
18 November 2024
The Presidency has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of failing to set a strong foundation for Nigeria as the first president of the fourth republic.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, described former President Obasanjo as a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief.
Dare stated this on Monday while reacting to the former President’s criticism of President Tinubu’s leadership style.
“Former President Obasanjo is a man with a tremendous capacity for mischief and Nigerians know it. His journey along the path of hallucinations has never been in doubt. So is his descent into muddling facts, forgetting that he ran a Presidency on record as the most corrupt. His recent diatribe at Yale University lacks sincerity,” he said.
Dare argued that under the administration of Obasanjo, $16 billion was diverted from its intended intention of ensuring stable electricity in the country. He dismissed Obasanjo‘s moral right to criticize any government in Nigeria.
“It is actually laughable that Obasanjo’s pretentiousness about fighting corruption is not cutting any ice in “the eyes of the general public. We all know what happened under his watch and how, up till the present moment, there has been no explanation as to how he wasted a whopping $16bn in generating megawatts of darkness across the nation. But that is not even the issue.
“Democracy suffered mortal wounds under his watch only capped by his murderous rage for an ill-fated 3rd term. Successive administrations struggled to clean up the mess Obasanjo left behind, which President Tinubu is now making progress with. Obasanjo has lost any moral right to condemn any government. He should apologize to Nigerians for not laying the foundational infrastructure Nigeria needed to advance,” Dare stated.
Tinubu’s aide added that his principal has been making efforts to put Nigeria back on the track of development.
“The point here is that Obasanjo should take time off this habit of pulling down leaders, especially his successors and try to interrogate himself on how he has contributed to the parlous state of the Nigerian nation which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is now spiritedly battling to put back on the track of development,” he added.
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/18/democracy-suffered-mortal-wounds-under-you-presidency-to-obasanjo/
---------
Russia vetoes UN resolution calling for immediate cease-fire in Sudan
18 November 2024
Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution Monday calling for an immediate cease-fire in the war between Sudan's military and paramilitary forces and delivery of humanitarian aid to millions in desperate need.
Russia’s ally China supported the resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone, along with all other U.N. Security Council members, but Moscow’s veto doomed the measure.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy, who chaired the meeting, told the council afterward: “This Russian veto is a disgrace. … While Britain works with our African partners, Russia vetoes their will.”
Sudan plunged into conflict in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders erupted in the capital, Khartoum, and spread to other regions, including western Darfur, which was wracked by bloodshed and atrocities in 2003. The U.N. recently warned that Sudan has been pushed to the brink of famine.
Last week, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo accused allies of Sudan’s warring forces of “enabling the slaughter” that has killed more than 24,000 people and created the world’s worst displacement crisis.
U.S. President Joe Biden echoed those concerns Monday at the G20 meeting in Brazil.
“On Sudan, we’re seeing one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises — eight million people on the brink of famine," he said. “This deserves our collective outrage and our collective attention. External actors must stop arming” the parties.
Biden urged “one voice” to tell the rival forces: ’Stop tearing your country apart. Stop blocking aid to the Sudanese people. Stop the violence.”
Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky told the Security Council that Moscow vetoed the resolution because “it should be solely the government of Sudan” that should be responsible for what happens in the country.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield retorted: “It is shocking that Russia has vetoed an effort to save lives, though perhaps it shouldn’t be.”
She added that "for months, Russia has obstructed and obfuscated, standing in the way of council action to address the catastrophic situation in Sudan and playing ... both sides of the conflict, to advance its own political objectives at the expense of Sudanese lives.”
Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF, which the UAE denies. The RSF has also reportedly received support from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group. And U.N. experts said in a report earlier this year that the RSF received support from Arab-allied communities and new military supply lines running through Chad, Libya and South Sudan.
As for the government, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, who led a military takeover of Sudan in 2021, has received Russian support and is a close ally of neighboring Egypt and its president, former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. In February, Sudan’s foreign minister held talks in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart amid unconfirmed reports of drone purchases for government forces.
Source:africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/11/18/russia-vetoes-un-resolution-calling-for-immediate-cease-fire-in-sudan/
----------
Jurisdiction of Sharia Courts Under Section 277 of the Constitution
19 November 2024
On 31st January, 2011, the Respondent as Plaintiff filed an action before the Waje No.1 Shariah Court (“trial court”) in Suit No. CV/19/11 seeking to compel the 1st Appellant to release a portion of the Respondent’s father’s estate (Bashir Ali Bin Alua, who passed away in 1972), which the 1st Appellant allegedly held, so that it could be properly distributed among his heirs. The estate consisted of three plots of land on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, numbered G5, G6, and G7, inherited from the Respondent’s father. Counsel for the Respondent clarified that only plot G6, currently known as 50 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, was in dispute, as plots G5 and G7 were not contested. Counsel stated further that Bashir Ali, the Respondent’s father, inherited G6 with his three sisters—Aisha, Fatima, and Fauziyya (the Defendants at the trial court)—and divided the property equally among them. He stated that the Respondent’s father had left his share with Fauziyya, but the portion had never been returned to the Respondent, leading to the court action.
The trial court heard two witnesses and accepted their testimonies with regard to the Respondent’s relationship to Bashir Ali Bin Alua, his father, and the fact of his demise.
Counsel for the Appellant admitted the narration of Counsel for the Respondent, but stated that, when the distribution took place, Bashir gave his portion of House No. 50 to Fauziyya. When he said he left it for her, the Grand Alkali who conducted the distribution of the estate said Bashir had forfeited his portion of the share, which means Fauziyya has two portions.
On 16th May, 2011 the trial court ruled inter alia that the 1st Appellant who claimed that the Respondent’s father had made a gift of his portion of the distributed estate to her, should adduce evidence to establish the said gift. The Respondent, being dissatisfied with the said ruling, appealed to the Upper Sharia Court, Rijiyar Lemo. The Upper Sharia Court, Rijiyar Lemo, delivered its judgement on 4th July, 2011 where it directed the Sharia Court Waje No. 1 to cause a one page document titled ‘Allocation of The Estate of The Deceased IBN ALUA’ (which the 1st Appellant relied upon as proof of the distribution of the estate by a court, as well as proof for gift) to be translated into Hausa, so that if the document indicated that there was a gift, it would be a case that can be entertained by the State High Court and Waje Sharia Court No.1 would cease to have jurisdiction to entertain the matter. The Respondent also appealed this decision to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State.
Before the appeal filed by the Appellant at the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State, against the judgement of Upper Sharia Court Rijiyar Lemo could be heard and determined, Sharia Court Waje No.1 concluded the matter before it and found that the document indicated gift and declined jurisdiction. The Respondent appealed to Upper Sharia Court, Goron Dutse which affirmed the findings of Sharia Court Waje No.1 and the Respondent further appealed to the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State. The appeals against the judgements of Upper Sharia Court, Rijiyar Lemo and Upper Sharia Court, Goron Dutse were consolidated for hearing before the Sharia Court of Appeal. The Sharia Court of Appeal in its judgement delivered on 20th June, 2012, faulted the judgements of the two Upper Sharia Courts and that of Sharia Court Waje No.1. It reversed the judgements and ordered the 1st Appellant to give her nephew, the Respondent, his father’s property.
The Appellants were dissatisfied with the judgement of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State, and they appealed to the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division. The Court of Appeal affirmed the judgement of the Sharia Court of Appeal, leading to the further appeal by the Appellants to the Supreme Court.
Issues for Determination
The Apex Court adopted two issues for determination of the appeal, to wit:
1. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the lower courts had jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
2. Whether the Court of Appeal was right in holding that the order made by the Khadis on the return of unspecified portion claimed by the Respondent from the estate, is not vague and ambiguous.
Arguments
Arguing issue one, Counsel for the Appellants reiterated the fundamental principles of jurisdiction, and urged the court to hold that the trial court had no jurisdiction over the subject-matter of the suit, being title to land. Counsel referred to the directive given by the Upper Shariah Court, Rijiyar Lemo to the trial court, with regard to the translation of the document tendered before the trial court into Hausa, with the aim of determining if the word ‘surrender’ used therein means ‘gift’. The trial court caused the translation to be made, and it found that the word used meant gift. It thereby, struck out the matter for lack of jurisdiction, since the dispute relates to title and pertained to land which is situate in an urban area. In furtherance of his arguments, Counsel referred to Section 39 of the Land Use Act and contended that title was in dispute, and the land, which is situate in an urban area, is covered by statutory right of occupancy granted by the Governor of the State, and that the High Court is the only court with original jurisdiction in respect of proceedings concerning it. Counsel submitted that, consequently, the Area Court had no jurisdiction in respect of the disputed landed property.
The Respondent countered the submissions. He argued that it is the Plaintiff’s claim that determines court’s jurisdiction to entertain a particular matter, and the Respondent’s claim before the trial court was for distribution of inheritance in House No. 50 lbrahim Taiwo Road. Hence, the contention that the Respondent’s claim qualifies as a case of inheritance/succession under Islamic Law, and it falls within the provision of Section 277 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
On issue two, Counsel for the Appellant contended that courts are enjoined to refrain from making orders, which either by their nebulous or opaque nature are likely to be misunderstood and become vain. Counsel contended that both the judgement of the Shariah Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal did not describe the property, and as such, the Appellants were in the dark as to what portion of the property the 1st Appellant is expected to return to the Respondent. He submitted further that the Khadis as well as the Justices of the lower court did not understand the issues involved between the parties, and that under Islamic law, it is unlawful for a Judge to give judgement without understanding and appreciating the facts of the case before him. He referred to page 15 of Ikhkamul Ahkaam where the author stated that; it is not lawful for a Judge to pronounce judgement where he does not understand the issues involved therein. Conclusively, the court was urged to resolve this issue in favour of the Appellants.
Reacting to the submissions, Counsel for the Respondent posited that since the Respondent’s claim was specific, that is, the order for the return of the property being the portion in House No. 50 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kano which the 1st Appellant emphatically claimed had been given to her as a gift by the Respondent’s father, the Order made by the Khadis directing the 1st Appellant to return a portion claimed by the Respondent could not be vague or ambiguous.
Court’s Judgement and Rationale
Determining the first issue, the Apex Court emphasised the importance of jurisdiction and held that without it, every step taken in the case amounts to a nullity, no matter how well conducted and no matter how erudite the decision emanating therefrom. Their Lordships held that the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court of Appeal (and by implication/extension, the Sharia Courts) under Section 277 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), pertains to all questions of what is termed ‘Islamic personal law’. The court cited the case of GWABRO v GWABRO (1998) 4 NWLR (PT. 544) 60 at 68 — 69, which outlines the types of disputes that can be subject to succession proceedings under Section 277 of the 1999 Constitution, which included “a dispute over any heritable estate which any person withholds away from the heirs”.
Consequently, the court held that since the Respondent’s claim relates to a share of inheritance which was allegedly withheld from the Respondent by the 1st Appellant, it was clear that the Respondent’s claim comes within the meaning of “a dispute over any heritable estate which any person withholds away from the heirs”, and within the ambit of Section 277 (2) (c) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The Supreme Court therefore, held that the lower courts had jurisdiction to entertain and determine the matter, and resolved issue one in favour of the Respondent.
On the second issue, the Apex Court noted that on 29th April, 2011 the trial Judge visited the locus in quo — House G6 — 50, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kano which was the subject-matter of the case and made a report of the visit being that “The house from the West is facing the East and has its boundary with the West Road, South Road, Road North. The portions of Fatima and Aisha has been demolished and 40 shops were built small and big facing one another. In Southern and Northern part from the back there are some 4 flats upstairs and downstairs.” The court also noted that on 11th May, 2011, the trial court asked parties if the inspected property was what the parties were claiming, and both parties answered in the affirmative.
From the foregoing, the court noted parties were ad idem on the point that Bashir Bin Alua, the Respondent’s father, was apportioned ¼ (one quarter) of the estate described as G6 which is now known as 50, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kano. Their Lordships held that, although under Islamic law the statement of parties made in court are not regarded as evidence, however, the story is different in the instant case, because facts were admitted.
The court proceeded to explain that in Islamic law, Iqrar ‘admission’ is regarded as one of the means of proving a claim; it is duly recognised under Islamic law as judicial proof. Also, in Bidayatul Mujtahid Vol. II page 352, it is stated that: ‘Where an admission (its wording and context) is clear, it is binding on the court to act upon it.’
The court then held that since parties agreed on the point that ¼ (one quarter) of G6 — 50, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Kano was apportioned to Bashir Ibn Alua and which said apportionment transformed into heritable estate in favour of the Respondent and the deceased mother of Bashir, the order on the portion to be delineated was specific enough and properly identifiable; the order was neither vague nor ambiguous.
On the totality of the foregoing, the Supreme Court affirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, which confirmed the decision of the Shariah Court of Appeal, Kano State.
Source:thisdaylive.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/11/19/jurisdiction-of-sharia-courts-under-section-277-of-the-constitution/
---------
I Am 100% Loyal To President Tinubu As I Was Loyal To Atiku – Bwala
19 November 2024
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala has pledged his unwavering loyalty to President Bola Tinubu following his appointment as Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Monday, Bwala emphasized his commitment to serving Tinubu with the same dedication he showed to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
Bwala, while expressing his commitment, said, “A lot of people don’t know politics and they don’t know how politics is being played. When you are for the opposition, what are you supposed to do? To oppose. Isn’t it? To oppose.
“If you have the training and discipline where you get engaged in debate, for example, (1:28) where you say debate for and against. So what we know from my discipline of law is you emphasize your strength and deemphasize the strength of the other person. You allow him to make a case.
“And all of these references that people were making were activities that played out when I was in the PDP. It is understandable. The reason why I said I will not talk further on that is because when I met the president in January, you were the first person to interview me after I had met him.
“It was the hottest interview we’ve ever had. First of all, all of the years I know you in interview, you hardly interview and make reference and play out something. But that day it was like Larry King interviewing somebody.
“And after that, I went to other TV stations and ensured that, because I don’t run away from interviews. I’ve gone to all the places and answered the question. Now, so the president has given us privilege and there are so much that the president, imagine the visit of the prime minister of India.
“A lot of solid issues to talk about. People are not looking at that. You’re looking at Bala.
“He said this before against the president. Now, let’s assume that it is malaria. Is it not the president that should take the medicine? Why are you taking the medicine for him? When I met him, I told you here on your show in January, when I was explaining why I took positions that I took, but I told him I never went personal.
“I guess you don’t even have to worry. I understand this is politics. The only thing the president then was worried was that when I left, I didn’t meet with him before leaving.
“That’s the only thing, not what I said. And he told me something. He said, if you look around me now, most of the people that I would meet today were once against me and even, you know, very deep against me.
“But in life, my mother, this is her word, my mother taught me that the king is going to be fighting with people. You will not become a lonely king without people. And so I have learned that in life and I don’t hold it against me.”
When asked if he is 100 percent loyal to Tinubu he said, “When I was with Atiku, I was 100.
“So I’m like a pit bull, right? When you are committed to someone, you give 100. So I cannot say when I was working for Atiku, I was 90% for Atikua and 10% for Asuwaju.
“But then, what it means that I can’t be trusted by both Atikua and Asuwaju? Well, I’m attending with the president.”
When questioned that his loyalty shifted as soon as his perception of things shifted, Bwala said, “As soon as the president took, won. No, even when he won, I was in PDP actually, up to the judgment of the Supreme Court.
“So that question of who won, who didn’t won was settled. The next thing that everybody was confronted with after that time was governance. And if you recall, I want to refresh your memory.
“On the first, I think, of January, the president gave a speech. And in that speech, he called on all Nigerians from all divide to come together and let us build on governance. So when I got the privilege of being invited by the president to meet him, which many people have sought for and never had, and I count it as a privilege of a lifetime.
“He’s a father. I’ve been with him before. And he said, I want you to join this idea of governance and the rest.
“I saw it as a rare opportunity. And I grabbed it with joy. And from then, I gave him my 100% commitment.
And Seun, you have been around from that January, when I made that decision for the president till today. Was there any moment in which I was quiet, silent, redundant? It has always been 100. That’s my life.”
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/19/i-am-100-loyal-to-president-tinubu-as-i-was-loyal-to-atiku-bwala/
---------
Rivers Assembly Declares October 29 As Commemoration Day For ‘Unprovoked Attacks
19 November 2024
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, has resolved to designate October 29 as a Commemoration Day to remember what it described as “unprovoked attacks on the legislature.”
The resolution was made during a plenary session held yesterday at the Assembly Quarters on Aba Road. Lawmakers said the day would serve as a solemn reminder of the events of October 29, 2023, when the Assembly’s hallowed Chamber was burned down, along with other attacks on the legislature.
House Leader, Major Jack, while presenting the motion, highlighted the arson that led to the destruction of the Chamber, accusing arsonists of executing the attack.
Speaker Amaewhule, in his remarks, lamented the lack of accountability for the incidents, noting that no convictions had been made since the attack.
“It has been 386 days since the heartless burning down of the hallowed Chamber of the House, yet no conviction has been made,” he said.
The Speaker also criticized Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of orchestrating the demolition of the Assembly Complex on December 13, 2023, without the House’s approval.
“It is a sad reminder of the brutal attacks on the legislature, the bastion of democracy,” Amaewhule stated in a release issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Martins Wachukwu.
The House resolved that every October 29 would be observed to commemorate all the attacks on the legislature, calling the actions “iniquitous, scandalous, and malicious.”
In a separate resolution, the House directed Julius Berger Plc to carry out repairs on collapsed sections of the alternative routes to the Port Harcourt Ring Road.
This followed a debate on the report of the House Committee on Works, during which lawmakers commended the committee for its detailed explanations.
The Assembly urged the committee to maintain synergy with the contracting firm to ensure that the repairs and the overall execution of the Ring Road project remain on track.
The session ended with calls for justice and accountability for the attacks on the legislature while reaffirming the Assembly’s commitment to developmental projects in Rivers State.
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/19/rivers-assembly-declares-october-29-as-commemoration-day-for-unprovoked-attacks/
----------
U.S. Officials Arrest Anas Said Over Links To Terrorist Attacks In Nigeria, Syria
19 November 2024
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
Federal law enforcement officials in the United States have announced the arrest of Anas Said, who has been linked to a terrorist attack on Nigerian soldiers at a checkpoint in Borno State last year.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disclosed on Thursday that Said was apprehended in Houston, Texas, while attempting to carry out a potential terrorist attack.
An indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Texas revealed that the 28-year-old was charged last month with attempting to provide material support to the terrorist group ISIS.
Court documents allege that Said has been posting pro-ISIS content on social media platforms since 2017.
In July 2023, Said reportedly uploaded videos of an attack on Nigerian soldiers manning a checkpoint in Borno to Islamic State-affiliated websites.
While details about the number of casualties in the attack remain unclear, Said’s activities were flagged as part of a broader investigation into global terrorism.
The indictment also linked Said to terrorist activities in Damascus and Homs in Syria, underscoring the extent of his alleged involvement in international terrorism.
If convicted, Said faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
The Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, did not respond to requests for comments on Said’s arrest.
However, the development highlights international cooperation in countering terrorism and underscores the ongoing threat posed by extremist groups.
Said’s arrest is seen as a critical step in disrupting global terrorist networks, with U.S. officials reiterating their commitment to holding individuals accountable for supporting terrorism.
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/19/u-s-officials-arrest-anas-said-over-links-to-terrorist-attacks-in-nigeria-syria/
---------
Obasanjo’s Call For INEC Chairman’s Removal Ill-Advice And Politically Motivated – Ohanaeze
19 November 2024
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, has criticized former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent call for the removal of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Obasanjo made the controversial statement during his speech at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University, USA.
In a press release issued on Monday, Ohanaeze described Obasanjo’s demand as “ill-advised” and “politically motivated,” arguing that it lacks both merit and ethical grounding.
The organisation pointed out Obasanjo’s own troubled legacy in overseeing Nigeria’s electoral processes, particularly during the 2003 and 2007 elections, which were widely condemned as the worst in the country’s history.
The organization emphasized that Yakubu’s tenure, set to end in 2025, should not be cut short. Instead, it called for the completion of ongoing electoral reforms before any discussions about future INEC leadership.
The group commended INEC’s achievements under Yakubu, particularly the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing portal (IREV), which it said have enhanced public confidence in the electoral process.
Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, reiterated the organization’s commitment to advancing electoral reforms that strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
He said, “It is fundamentally premature and ill-timed for anyone to call for the sack of Professor Mahmood Yakubu while he is still in office, especially in light of the fact that his tenure is set to conclude in 2025.
“We advocate for a period of stability and completion of ongoing reforms, suggesting that discussions around the future leadership and structure of INEC should commence only after Yakubu’s term has expired.”
Source:naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/19/obasanjos-call-for-inec-chairmans-removal-ill-advice-and-politically-motivated-ohanaeze/
----------
Tanzania building collapse: Rescue efforts continue as govt vows stern action
18 November 2024
Rescue efforts at the site of a building collapse that killed at least 16 people in Tanzania’s commercial capital entered a third day on Monday.
The number of people trapped was unclear, but several people have told local media that they have lost contact with relatives who they believe were inside the building.
Some of those who died were being buried on Monday.
Tanzania's Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, attended some of the funerals after visiting the site of the building collapse and said rescue efforts would go on "non-stop day and night until we are sure the last person is out."
More than 80 people have so far been rescued from the four-storey building in Dar es Salaam, which housed dozens of shops and collapsed on Saturday morning.
Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu, has ordered an audit of all buildings in Dar Es Salaam's Kariakoo area, which is popular among traders, and asked police to obtain the ownership and construction permits for the collapsed building.
It is currently the rainy season in Tanzania, when building collapses are common in the east African country.
Source:africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/11/18/tanzania-building-collapse-rescue-efforts-continue-as-govt-vows-stern-action/
----------
Southwest Muslim leaders visit Olubadan
November 18, 2024
The leaders of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) have paid a visit to Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin.
The delegation, led by MUSWEN President Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, was welcomed at the Olubadan’s palace in Oke Aremo on Saturday.
It included Deputy President I Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, Executive Secretary Prof. Muslih Tayo Yahya, Prof. Wole Abbas, and various Presidents and Chairmen of State Muslim Communities and Councils from the South West region. Notable attendees were Alhaji Dr. Hammed Bakare from Ekiti, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi from Osun, Alhaji Kamaldeen Olatunde, Secretary-General of Ogun State Muslim Council, Alhaji (Chief) Bayo Oyero, Chairman of the Ibadan Muslim Community, immediate past chairman of NASFAT Alhaji Bayo Azeez, Dr. Mrs. Lateefat Dairo, State Amirah of FOMWAN, and Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade, Secretary-General of the Muslim Community of Oyo and Chairman of the 2024 General Assembly Planning Committee. Alhaji Siyanbade introduced the delegation to Kabiyesi Olubadan, alongside other Muslim leaders from across the South West States.
Members of the Olubadan-in-Council in attendance included Oba Kolawole Adegbola, Otun Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Eddy Oyewole, Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba John Olubunmi Isioye-Dada, Osi Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Abiodun Kola Daisi, Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Salaudeen Hamidu Ajibade, Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland; Oba Muritala Adebayo Akande, Ekaarun Olubadan of Ibadanland; High Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin, Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland; and High Chief (Senator) Sarafadeen Abiodun Ali, Ekaarun Balogun of Ibadanland.
In his address, Oladejo emphasised that MUSWEN serves as the umbrella body for all Muslim organizations and communities in the South West region.
He noted that since its establishment, MUSWEN has been committed to championing the interests of Muslims in the area.
The Olubadan who spoke through the Ekaarun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief (Senator) Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli said he was happy to receive the delegation.
He advised the organisation to continue to preach religious harmony among the people of the South West region.
“Olubadan is happy to receive this declaration. The Olubadan said that he want you to continue to preach religious harmony in the South West.
“We know that there is religious tolerance here and we want you to continue to do that.
“Olubadan said that he is in support of anything that will bring development to Ibadan and Oyo state in general.”
Source:thenationonlineng.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thenationonlineng.net/southwest-muslim-leaders-visit-olubadan/
----------
US envoy has first meeting in Sudan with army chief
November 18, 2024
PORT SUDAN, Sudan: A US special envoy on Monday made his first visit to Sudan for talks with the country’s army chief and de facto leader to discuss aid and how to stop the war.
Tom Perriello met Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in the Red Sea city for what Burhan’s ruling Sovereignty Council called “long, comprehensive and frank” talks.
It said Burhan and Perriello discussed “the roadmap for how to stop the war and deliver humanitarian aid.”
The envoy’s visit came as Russia on Monday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Sudan.
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 between the regular army led by Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
It has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the displacement of 11 million, according to the United Nations.
The conflict has also resulted in what has been described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in recent history.
A US State Department release said Perriello “engaged in frank dialogue with Sudanese officials.”
It said these centered “on the need to cease fighting, enable unhindered humanitarian access, including through localized pauses in the fighting to allow for the delivery of emergency relief supplies, and commit to a civilian government.”
Monday’s visit was the special envoy’s first to Port Sudan, the Red Sea city where government offices and the UN have relocated since fleeing the war-torn capital Khartoum.
It is also the first diplomatic overture in months, since Sudan’s military opted out of US-brokered negotiations in Switzerland.
Experts say both sides have stonewalled peace efforts as they vie to gain a decisive military advantage, which neither has managed to hold for long.
Perriello’s trip comes after repeated failed efforts at mediation.
The statement from Burhan’s office said Perriello expressed the “shared ambition for an end to the war to put a stop to the atrocities and violations we have witnessed recently.”
Writing on social media platform X, the US envoy welcomed “recent progress to expand humanitarian access.”
“As the largest aid donor to Sudan, we will work around the clock to ensure that food, water and medicine can reach people in all 18 states plus refugees,” Perriello posted.
Peace efforts, including by the United States, Saudi Arabia and the African Union, have only succeeded in marginally increasing access to humanitarian aid, which both the military and the RSF are accused of blocking.
International pressure has managed to secure government authorization for aid to be delivered through Adre, a key border crossing with Chad and the only access point to famine-stricken Darfur in western Sudan.
However, on Monday Burhan told Perriello his government rejects “the exploitation of the Adre crossing to deliver weapons to the rebels,” a reference to the RSF’s reported use of the border as a weapons supply route.
Monday’s Russian veto at the UN came with the Security Council largely paralyzed in its ability to deal with conflicts because of splits between permanent members, notably Russia and the United States.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579831/middle-east
---------
Southeast Asia
Domestic Trade Ministry says will take action against non-Muslim business owners using Islamic symbols to deceive customers, Muslim traders will also be penalised for using fake halal logos
19 Nov 2024
By Zaf Seraj
KUALA LUMPUR, November 19 — The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living warned non-Muslim business owners that stern action would be taken for using Islamic symbols to deceive Muslim consumers.
In a written reply to parliament, the ministry cited that such traders may be caught under the Trade Description (Definition of Halal) Order 2011 which carries a maximum fine of RM1 million or imprisonment for three years or both, if found guilty.
“For premises owned by non-Muslim traders, the use of symbols such as mosques, Kaaba, crescent moon, stars, symbols or writings that can be associated with Islam, including the act of hanging verses of the Holy Quran if used for the purpose of deceiving or confusing Muslim consumers is an offence under the Trade Description (Definition of Halal) Order 2011,” the Ministry said in the reply, yesterday.
Nonetheless, the ministry underscored that both Muslim and non-Muslim traders will face stern action if halal language was used to deceive consumers.
Business owners must possess a halal certificate before they are authorised to use language that indicates that a product is Halal as per the Trade Description (Halal Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011.
A violation of the order will result in a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment not more than 3 years or both, the ministry said in response to Maran MP Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib’s question.
Source:malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/19/domestic-trade-ministry-says-will-take-action-against-non-muslim-business-owners-using-islamic-symbols-to-deceive-customers-muslim-traders-will-also-be-penalised-for-using-fake-halal-logos/157312
----------
Government aims to cut NRW to 31 pct by 2025 - DPM Fadillah
BERNAMA
19-11- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: The government aims to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) to 31 per cent by next year, down from the current 37.1 per cent, which translates to a daily loss of 7,195 million litres of treated water worth over RM2 billion annually.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that key initiatives, under the NRW programme to address this persistent issue in Malaysia, include the replacement of ageing pipes and introduction of improved reimbursement frameworks.
Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), said that under the Pipe Replacement Programme, 1,844 kilometres (km) of ageing and critical pipes across Malaysia will be replaced.
“Additionally, a Proportional Reimbursement Rate will be introduced to encourage the active participation of water operators in Selangor, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Terengganu, Perak, Penang, and Kedah,“ he said during his opening speech at the Water Loss Asia 2024 conference here today.
Fadillah also highlighted that the government plans to implement comprehensive NRW reduction solutions in Pahang, Kelantan, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
He emphasised the importance of using resources more efficiently, minimising waste and maximising the value of every drop of water, as the government aims to achieve 98 per cent coverage of clean water and sewerage services in rural areas by the end of next year.
“This initiative aligns with the Malaysia MADANI vision of improving the well-being of the people while supporting the sixth goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6), which focuses on ensuring access to sustainable water management and sanitation for all,“ he said.
As of 2023 he said, access to water supply in urban and rural areas stands at 97.1 per cent, while connected sewerage services cover 86.9 per cent of major cities.
In his speech, he also underscored the need for stronger partnerships among government agencies, private sector stakeholders, civil society organisations, and academic institutions to drive collective action and mobilise resources for effective water management.
“By leveraging on the collective expertise, creativity and resources of diverse stakeholders, Malaysia can make significant strides in reducing the loss of clean, treated water during distribution from water treatment plants to consumers,“ added Fadillah. Source:thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/government-aims-to-cut-nrw-to-31-pct-by-2025-dpm-fadillah-JA13310944
--------
Justice Leong recuses himself from hearing 1MDB’s US$346 million suit against Rosmah
BERNAMA
19-11- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: High Court judge Justice Leong Wai Hong has recused himself from presiding the lawsuit against Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor over the purchase of luxury items amounting to over US$346 million, alleged to have been obtained from misappropriated 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
Leong made the decision after allowing Rosmah’s application to recuse himself from hearing this suit.
“After considering the application, I agree to recuse myself from hearing this suit on the principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. On this premise, I allow this application and this suit will be heard before another High Court judge,“ he said when delivering today’s decision via Zoom.
The judge said in Rosmah’s supporting affidavit, she stated he (Leong) was a partner and head of litigation and arbitration in practice at law firm Messrs Skrine from 2011 to 2021.
He said the former prime minister’s wife in her supporting affidavit also stated that at the material time at Messrs Skrine, which acted for the plaintiff (1MDB) in the present case, the law firm had relations to lawsuit including investigation into 1MDB and her husband, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who was the prime minister at that time.
On Sept 9, High Court judge Justice Adlin Abdul Majid dismissed Rosmah’s recusal application, stating that Rosmah failed to prove any real danger of bias if she continues to preside over the civil suit.
Adlin was later transferred to the High Court (Intellectual Property division) and Leong took over the case.
On May 9, 1MDB and 10 other companies filed a lawsuit against Rosmah over the purchase of luxury items amounting to over US$346 million, alleged to have been obtained through the misappropriation of 1MDB funds.
Five of the companies were its subsidiaries, namely 1MDB Energy Holdings Limited; 1MDB Energy Limited; 1MDB Energy (Langat) Limited; Global Diversified Investment Company Limited; and SRC International Sdn Bhd. The other five companies are Affinity Equity International Partners Limited; Alsen Chance Holdings Limited; Blackrock Commodities (Global) Limited; Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners Limited; and Brightstone Jewellery Limited.
All the plaintiffs named Rosmah, the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, and a woman named Shabnam Naraindas Daswani (also known as Natasha Mirpuri) as the first and second defendants.
All the companies are demanding that Rosmah pay US$346,010,489 or such other amount as the court may deem appropriate and they also seek court declarations, including one asserting that the first to sixth plaintiffs hold rightful ownership of the luxury items, currently purported to be in Rosmah’s possession.
At today’s proceeding, Rosmah was represented by Datuk Seri Rajan Navaratnam, while all the plaintiffs were represented by Datuk Lim Chee Wee.
Source:thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/justice-leong-recuses-himself-from-hearing-1mdb-s-us-346-million-suit-against-rosmah-MA13310783
---------
Retired teacher loses over RM500,000 in gold investment scam
BERNAMA
19-11- 2024
KUALA TERENGGANU: A retired female teacher lost RM570,000 of her personal savings and pension to a gold trading investment company.
Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said that on Dec 29, 2021, the 59-year-old victim registered as a member of a well-known cooperative in the country due to its active involvement in charitable work and sponsorship of religious programmes.
He said that as a member, the victim was offered participation in high-return gold trading investments managed by the cooperative’s subsidiary.
The victim was encouraged to make a capital payment for the purpose of buying gold and was promised high profits from the sale.
“Between December 2021 and July 2022, the victim made 17 money transfers totalling RM620,000 into two different accounts under the name of the cooperative’s subsidiary,“ he said in a statement today.
Azli said that during that period, the victim from Kuala Nerus only received an investment profit of RM50,000.
Realising she had been deceived, the victim lodged a police report and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code.
“We also received another report involving the same company in Chendering. Therefore, we advise the public to be more cautious and vigilant with any investment that promises high returns,“ he added.
Source:thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/retired-teacher-loses-over-rm500000-in-gold-investment-scam-CA13310471
---------
Education Ministry to probe reports of Thais crossing without permits over Sungai Golok to study in Malaysia
19 Nov 2024
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 19 — The Ministry of Education (MOE) will conduct further investigation into reports that students from Thailand who cross Sungai Golok daily to attend school in Malaysia, said its Minister, Fadhlina Sidek.
She said that if they are Malaysians, this should not happen because the government has provided various access and facilities to education for its people.
“If these children are Malaysians, they should attend school in Malaysia and there should be no safety concerns regarding crossing the river.
“But we will investigate and take note of this matter because the reported number (of pupils crossing the river) is extremely high,” she told reporters after attending the opening of the MPH Bookstores outlet at the Alamanda shopping mall here today.
A local daily today reported that nearly 500 students from Thailand used illegal bases to cross Sungai Golok daily to attend school in Malaysia.
A survey found that, as early as 6.30 am, the students were already waiting for boats to cross over to Malaysia, at a fee of RM1 per student, with five illegal bases popular with the students, including the Jambu, Ibrahim Pencen and Paun bases.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat was yesterday reported as saying that police will arrest any Malaysian using illegal routes to cross the Malaysia-Thailand border, especially along Sungai Golok from December 1.
Mohd Yusoff said police will take action under Section 5 (2) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 to arrest Malaysians going to Thailand using ungazetted routes.
Asked about students from Thailand and Malaysia going to and coming from the routes to study in both countries, Mohd Yusoff said they too need to enter legally through the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex.
He said the matter had been discussed in the state planning committee meeting regarding the national border. — Bernama
Source:malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/19/education-ministry-to-probe-reports-of-thais-crossing-without-permits-over-sungai-golok-to-study-in-malaysia/157354
---------
Masidi: Sabah, Putrajaya not on same page over income for special grant
19 Nov 2024
By Julia Chan
KOTA KINABALU, Nov 19 — The federal and Sabah governments are in disagreement over what should be included in deriving the special grant for the state, said Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
The Sabah finance minister said the issue was a point of contention in negotiations for payment, as the state government wanted to include income of public listed companies with significant operations here.
“The state has to depend on federal government data and without it we can only make estimations based on what we can obtain. For instance, the income based on dividends we get from Petronas’s oil revenue,” he said.
He was answering a supplementary question from Sekong assemblyman Alias Sani during the question and answer session at the state assembly sitting today.
Alias asked him whether the state agreed with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the total income derived from the state was RM10.2 billion.
Masidi said Sabah was also seeking information regarding profits generated by firms operating in the state.
“These companies whose accounts is like they are operating in KL but their business is in Sabah.
“We submitted data and the federal government made their announcement based on their own data. So we have exchanged data and will hopefully come to a conclusion,” he said.
The 40 per cent special grant is a contentious issue, stemming from the state government’s promise to fight for Sabah rights.
The special grant is enshrined in the Federal Constitution under Article 112C and Part IV, Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which stipulated that two-fifths of the federal government’s net revenue in Sabah should be returned to the state.
Masidi said that the matter was of national importance, and both the state and federal government would benefit from a resolution.
“We have to be practical and see how. Its not just a Sabah issue but it involved the whole Malaysia. We are not just trying to solve our problem but everyone’s problem and we all hope to get to the end of this problem,” he said.
Anwar has promised a solution to the issue and in the meantime, doubled the interim payment to RM600 million while negotiations continue.
Source:malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/11/19/masidi-sabah-putrajaya-not-on-same-page-over-income-for-special-grant/157340
---------
South Asia
Minor differences in any system; malicious groups’ propaganda in vain
November 19, 2024
The literati and people of culture describe rhetorical criticism as a central pillar of writing and research and the rhetoric and strong reasoning skills and ability can function as a critical force within philosophy. So, not only blaming, criticizing, condemning, or disapproving of an individual, a system, organization, or institution, but also appreciating, approving, and admiring them, needs the power of rhetoric and reasoning skills and the ability to prove that they deserve blaming and condemning, or vice versa, they are appreciable, commendable and praiseworthy or the way of the system’s governance is wrong or right. A real approach to criticizing a system comes when we want to have it reformed, become more operational, provide service for the people further than before and ultimately perform good governance. But, when it comes to enmity against certain people, a group, or a system, then we unrealistically try to defame them even if they are dignified, honest, and a just-based righteous system. Anyway, nowadays, certain individuals and groups who have lost the power of reason, try to launch propaganda against the ruling Islamic system. But, when they face severe shortages of topics and lose the power of reasoning in their vicious attempts to discredit the system, they resort to lying and accusations and libeling them wrong and unfairly that the members are involved in difference and division. Some elusive individuals who have lost all their interests are once again launching propaganda against the Islamic Emirate and spreading rumors that the system’s members are divided or facing differences, which is untrue and inaccurate in the base. They just want to create concerns in the people’s minds to distance them from the system. They just want to disturb the public minds at the national and international levels and exaggerate a small issue, but never reach their goals and all their efforts are in vain. There are no differences or divisions among the members and leaders of the Islamic Emirate. All authorities of the ruling system have the same vision of how to run the government and how to make plans to better provide service for the people. The issue of women’s hijab is something relating to the Islamic sharia law and no one can deny it. At the beginning of the Islamic Emirate’s resumption to power, the country’s leadership announced its policy allowing no one to interfere in the internal affairs of the country, particularly issues relating to Islamic sharia. If the Islamic Emirate, like the former government leaders, had disagreements among its members, then it would never last long. It would collapse from the beginning and the country would once again fall to the enemy or would face another uncontrollable civil war.
Source:thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/minor-differences-in-any-system-malicious-groups-propaganda-in-vain/
---------
Chinese Businessman Converts to Islam
2024-11-18
MAZAR-E-SHARIF (BNA): A Chinese trader converted to Islam after reciting the blessed words in the presence of the leader of the Balkh province.
Haji Zaid, the spokesperson for the Balkh provincial government, told Bakhtar News Agency that the trader’s name was Wang Fiki, and his Islamic name has now been changed to Abdullah Mohammad.
The spokesperson further added that Abdullah Mohammad, who had cooperated with the Islamic Emirate in the construction of several manufacturing factories, recited the blessed words during a meeting in the Balkh provincial office and embraced the noble religion of Islam.
Source:bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/chinese-businessman-converts-to-islam/
---------
13 big shots produced at ICT
Nov 19, 2024
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), which has the special mandate to adjudicate crimes against humanity, experienced its first big day yesterday with 13 high-profile members of the ousted government, including nine former ministers, being produced before it.
It asked the prosecution to complete the probe against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others in two genocide cases by December 17. The arrestees are to be kept in detention until then.
The tribunal also ordered the prosecution to submit a report on the execution of Hasina's arrest warrant within the same time.
The prosecution informed the court they will place a formal extradition request to bring Sheikh Hasina back from India.
On October 17, the ICT issued an arrest warrant for Hasina in connection with her alleged role in crimes against humanity and genocide during the July uprising.
Those produced before the tribunal yesterday included former law minister Anisul Huq; ex-civil aviation and tourism minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan; former state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak; ex-social welfare minister Dipu Moni; former shipping minister Shajahan Khan; former state minister of industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder; and former jute and textiles minister Golam Dastagir Gazi.
The other high-profile accused brought to the tribunal were Workers Party President and former civil aviation minister Rashed Khan Menon; Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President and former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu; former prime minister's power, energy and mineral resources adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury; Hasina's adviser and businessman Salman F Rahman; retired justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik; and former home secretary Jahangir Alam.
Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzaq was also supposed to be produced at court yesterday, but he was on remand in Tangail's Mirzapur Police Station.
All of them were shown arrested in a case filed over crimes against humanity and genocide during the July uprising and are accused of having "superior responsibility" for the July-August massacre, "even though they had a duty to protect the citizens".
At the same time, those directly involved in decision-making are being charged with having "individual responsibility" in the massacre.
The bench, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, said, "The accused committed the offences of killing, genocide, and crimes against humanity by their active participation or by instigation. Accordingly, an order was given to issue arrest warrants against them."
The ICT was established in 2009 by the Hasina-led government to prosecute suspects for the genocide committed in 1971 by the Pakistan army and their local collaborators during the Liberation War.
This tribunal yesterday convened to prosecute her and her government.
The accused were brought to the court premises at 9:45am amid tight security. The main gates were locked and nobody, including journalists and lawyers, were being allowed inside without vetting.
The dock was prepared with chairs and all were seated. Dipu Moni was given a chair outside the dock. None of the accused were in handcuffs or any other restrictive apparatus.
While waiting for the court proceedings to start, several of the accused men got up and went over to the edge of the dock to greet Dipu Moni, who had been in the Kashimpur Women's Central Jail since her arrest on August 19, 2024.
Salman F Rahman, who had allegedly been arrested from Sadarghat with his long white beard shaved and hair dyed black, was seen to have reverted to his signature look.
Meanwhile, Faruk Khan leaned on a cane to walk, and when the court rose for the judges, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury had to grip the wooden fence of the dock to stand up.
Inu waved at reporters when entering the premises, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak motioned to the journalists present to pray for him on his way out.
The accused were given time to speak to their lawyers and meet their families in private after the proceedings. They were also free to converse with each other in the dock.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam read out the details of the accusations against them to the court.
"The seeds of the July-August massacre were sown long ago during her 15-year-old tenure. She has perpetrated many crimes across her tenure. Those present here did everything in their power to consolidate her position."
Multiple "sham elections", where the people's right to vote was not respected, established a regime that perpetuated widespread, targeted persecution of the general public, and those produced at court were complicit in that, said Tajul, adding, "By destroying the electoral system, a fascist regime took shape."
He said the regime was characterised by illegal and arbitrary arrests and detention, custodial torture and deaths, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, judicial harassment, politicisation of institutions and non-existent freedom of expression.
"All dissenting voices were relegated to being called razakars as a tactic to divide and rule the nation."
When the students against discriminations platform brought forth protests based on legitimate demands, they characterised these students as razakars to legitimise attacking and killing them, said the prosecution.
"Anisul Huq had termed the protesters 'spirits of those against the Liberation War'. Manik had gone live on television and called them 'children of razakars'," mentioned Tajul, adding that lethal weapons were used against the protesters.
"The government of Sheikh Hasina ordered the law enforcers to shoot at sight. The reaction of the law enforcers and the semi-military forces to the peaceful protesters had been unnecessary, disproportionate, extreme, unjust, brutal and widespread.
"The Rapid Action Battalion had been spotted attacking protesters from helicopters, while semi-military forces like the Border Guard Bangladesh used assault weapons to tackle protesters."
The prosecution also said witnesses have seen members of Chhatra League, Jubo League and Awami League join forces with the law enforcers and attack the protesters.
He mentioned that Zunaid Ahmed Palak had blacked out the internet to suppress information and hide the scale of the brutality.
"At least 1,500 people, including 200 children, were killed in attacks between July and August 5. The children include those living in the streets, underage workers and even those located in the safety of their homes.
"They not only killed the protesters but they've also been involved in heinous acts like setting dead bodies on fire in Ashulia, killing a student named Ashabul Yamin and then throwing his body off an armoured personnel carrier, shooting at close-range in cold blood and causing permanent loss of limbs and organs. All these will go down in history as significant instances of savage brutality."
Tajul also mentioned that the Hasina-government had killed many innocent people during the 2013 attack on Hefazat-e-Islam's Shapla Square protests. "They had switched off the street lamps and attacked innocent protesters," he said, adding, "They had also persecuted human rights organisation 'Odhikar' for trying to demand justice for the killings."
The prosecution also mentioned the BDR mutiny and said the government had completely covered up the issue.
The bench, which included Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge M Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury, then asked the prosecution if they wanted to separate the charges concerning the Shapla Chattar attacks from that of the July-August massacre. The prosecution said it will take "all of it into consideration".
Briefing reporters after the hearing, Tajul said, "This day serves as an important lesson for anyone who aspires to become a fascist or autocrat in the future of this country. It has been demonstrated in this court that no one can remain in power for long by committing crimes against humanity. Those who suppress and oppress the people, or engage in mass killings, will eventually have to stand trial."
Source:thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/13-big-shots-produced-ict-3756041
----------
Minister Nadeem inaugurates development projects in Maidan Wardak University
November 19, 2024
KABUL: The acting Minister of Higher Education Shaikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem, during his visit to Maidan Wardak, inaugurated a number of development projects worth 70 million Afghani at the province’s university, the ministry said in a statement the other day. According to the statement, the projects included the construction of 1.2 kilometers of internal roads within the university, an irrigation canal, an agricultural research farm, and the construction of a dormitory building for the university. Addressing a ceremony on this occasion, Shaikh Nadeem said that his-led ministry was committed to providing facilities for students at public universities across the country. He added that the ministry has implemented hundreds of projects in universities in Kabul and other provinces of the country within the past three years. The Kabul Times
Source:thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/minister-nadeem-inaugurates-development-projects-in-maidan-wardak-university/
---------
Higher Education Minister Inaugurates Development Projects Worth 70 Million AFN in Maidan Wardak
2024-11-18
KABUL(BNA): The Ministry of Higher Education announced the inauguration and commissioning of several development projects worth 70 million AFN at the Wardak Higher Education Institute in Maidan Wardak Province.
According to a statement from the ministry, Acting Minister Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadim inaugurated these projects during an official visit to Maidan Wardak Province. The initiatives include the fundamental renovation of 1.2 kilometers of internal roads, a water canal project, and the handover of an agricultural faculty farm for practical use.
Additionally, the acting minister approved the construction of a dormitory for the Wardak Higher Education Institute during his visit.
The inauguration and approval ceremonies were attended by the Governor of Maidan Wardak, the Chairman of the Scholars’ Council, the head of the Jihadi Madrasa, faculty members, and senior officials of the educational institute.
Source:bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/higher-education-minister-inaugurates-development-projects-worth-70-million-afn-in-maidan-wardak/
---------
Professional Skills Training Enhances Women’s Livelihoods in Sar-e Pol
2024-11-18
KABUL(BNA): The Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Sar-e Pol, in collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), has launched a six-month professional training program aimed at empowering women and improving their economic conditions. The program focuses on shoemaking, sandal crafting, and bag sewing in the province.
According to Bakhtar News Agency, Mikail Taşdemir, TIKA’s representative for the northern region, stated that six women are being trained under the supervision of an expert instructor. Upon completing the program, the participants will gain the skills needed to generate income and meet their families’ needs. TIKA has also provided all necessary equipment, including tools and raw materials, to support their work.
DaMullah Mohammad Nader Haqjo, the Deputy Governor of Sar-e Pol, emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship in society. He expressed gratitude to TIKA for initiating the training program and creating job opportunities, urging the agency to expand its activities in the province.
Mufti Abdul Shakir Shahab and Mawlawi Ghulam Haider Haidari, heads of the provincial Industry, Commerce, and Economy departments, welcomed the initiative. They expressed optimism that the participating women would utilize this opportunity effectively to contribute to family and community economic development.
Meanwhile, the management of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and the participants of the training program expressed their satisfaction with the initiative. They affirmed that the skills gained through this training would significantly enhance their families’ economic well-being.
Source:bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/professional-skills-training-enhances-womens-livelihoods-in-sar-e-pol/
---------
DB arrests AL leader Kamrul Islam
19 Nov 2024
DHAKA, Nov 18, 2024 (BSS)- Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested Awami League (AL) presidium member and former minister Advocate Kamrul Islam.
Media and Public Relations Wing of DMP said Kamrul Islam has been arrested from city’s Uttara area tonight.
Source:bssnews.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bssnews.net/news/224570
---------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/chhattisgarh-waqf-board-political-mosques/d/133757