Communal Harmony Gets Richer In Kerala Village; Masjid and Temple Share A Long History Of Mutual Respect And Brotherhood
New
Age Islam News Bureau
30
July 2023
The
twin offering boxes installed by the committees of a mosque and a temple at
Elavaramkuzhi in Kerala. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
-----
• Communal Harmony Gets Richer In Kerala Village;
Masjid and Temple Share A Long History Of Mutual Respect And Brotherhood
• U.S. Taxpayers Donated $391K to Terrorist-Defending
Imam's Two Organizations
• Hezbollah Chief Slams Gay Relations, Says Muslims
Should 'Punish' Quran Desecrators
• Bangladesh On Boil: Violent Clashes In Dhaka During
Protests Against Hasina Govt.
• Islamic State Says It Bombed Shiite Shrine in Syria
which Killed 6, Injured 20
-------
India
• Who is Tariq Mansoor? Aligarh Muslim University
ex-vice chancellor named BJP vice-president
• Gyanvapi mosque: Twists & turns in complex legal
battle
• CBI files FIR in Manipur viral video case, to seek
custody of 7 accused
• Can't rule out foreign agencies' role in Manipur:
Former Army chief Naravane
-----
North
America
• US Surrendered Unconditionally To Taliban In
Afghanistan: Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
• Biden Sends Ashura Greetings To Muslim World
• Fear Grips Christian Villages After Suspected
Islamists Assassinate Mayor, Slaughter Christians
• How Sinead O'Connor found peace in Islam after a
lifelong struggle with religion
-----
Africa
• Senegal's opposition politician Ousmane Sonko faces
new charges
• Bandits Kill Muslim Cleric, Farmers, Kidnap 50 in
Kaduna
• Avoid choosing Muslim party secretary, group tells
Tinubu
• MURIC Knocks Sanwo-Olu Over 8 Muslims On 39-Man
Commissioner List
-----
South
Asia
• PM Opens 50 More Model Mosques And Islamic Cultural
Centres Across The Country
• US envoys for Afghanistan stress urgency of
inclusive governance in Kabul
• ‘Pushed to brink’: Nearly 30 million people in Afghanistan
need humanitarian help, says UNICEF
-----
Arab
World
• Kuwait Mosque in Egypt’s Giza opens
• Saudi musical talent shines at Jordan’s Jerash
Festival
• Saudi foreign minister urges calm during call with
Sudan’s army chief
• Saudi Arabia implements comprehensive measures to
combat human trafficking
• Al-Sudais launches ‘The Rituals of Umrah’ in Makkah
• Saudi authorities make multiple arrests in crackdown
on drug traffickers
-----
Mideast
• Iran Official In Charge Of Promoting Islamic Values
Suspended Over Alleged Gay Sex Video
• Strengthening Iran-Turkey relations benefits Muslim
world: minister
• Turkey urges Denmark to take urgent action to
prevent Koran burnings
• We will remain on path of Imam Hussein: Nasrallah
• Iran sex tape scandal: Government says no prior
knowledge of alleged behaviour
• Reading ‘Lolita’? Not in Tehran.
• Iran news editor suspended over protest coverage:
media
• Iran to try 104 MKO members in absentia
-----
Pakistan
• PTI To Probe Party Senators’ Role In Passing Of Army
Act Amendment Bill
• Scenes from mourning processions as Muslims observe
Yaum-i-Ashura
• Opposition leader Raja Riaz confident of consensus
on caretaker PM
• Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to arrive in Pakistan
today to celebrate decade of CPEC
• People increasingly turning to courts for climate
rights
• Lahore receives heavy showers as Met Office warns of
urban, flash floods
• Asad Qaiser calls for end to ‘propaganda’ against
PTI, demands free and fair elections
-----
Southeast
Asia
• Muda Questions MACC’s Impartiality After Azam Baki
Clears Zahid Over Grant Offer
• Zahid’s promise of additional grant for Terengganu
youths not an offence, says MACC chief
• Taman Tun Dr Ismail: From humble rubber estate to
affluent neighbourhood
• State polls: BN candidate for Bandar seat in
Terengganu describes his selection as creating history
• Fahmi: ‘ZiarahKasih’ to become permanent programme
to reach out to people
-----
Europe
• Rishi Sunak Orders Review Of Low Traffic
Neighbourhoods
• Back on track: Europe's night trains make bumpy
comeback
• Three Ukrainian drones downed over Moscow: Russia
defence ministry
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/communal-harmony-kerala-masjid-temple/d/130332
-----
Communal Harmony Gets Richer in In Kerala Village;
Masjid and Temple Share A Long History Of Mutual Respect And Brotherhood
The
twin offering boxes installed by the committees of a mosque and a temple at
Elavaramkuzhi in Kerala. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
-----
July 30, 2023
Navamy Sudhish
Taking communal harmony to an all-new level, two
vaults in Elavaramkuzhi, a village in Kollam, about 70 km from
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, stand cheek by jowl on the same platform bearing
the features of different religions. The Juma Masjid and Mahadeva Temple, 250
metres apart, share a long history of mutual respect and brotherhood, a bond
that no propaganda breaks. The decision to install the vaults side by side was
taken unanimously, and they came into being six months ago.
“Both the mosque and temple had separate vaults and we
demolished them both to construct the new ones to set an example. We
constituted a common committee for the construction and Shaji Shanmukham, a
resident, donated the land for the purpose. As per the property deeds, the land
now belongs jointly, to the mosque and temple,” says M. Ashraf, secretary of
the mosque committee. Now devotees make contributions to both the boxes.
This is not the first time the two religious places
collaborated. About two years ago, they had constructed a common arch on the
main road that leads to both the places of worship. Called
‘mathasauhardakavadam’ (harmony gateway), the structure displays verses and
scriptures belonging to both religions. “Elavaramkuzhi is an interior area, but
it has a very strong secular character. It’s the temple committee who first
serves us sweets during the Eid procession,” he adds.
When the annual temple festival takes place towards
the beginning of the year, members of the mosque form a part of the festival
committee. “A spiritual lecture series is part of the festivities and literary
critic M.M. Basheer has been our main speaker for several years. The masjid
committee also offers ‘annadanam’ (free food) in the temple during the
festival,” says Sudhakara Panicker, a patron who is part of the temple
committee.
“The need for peaceful coexistence and communal
harmony has become all the more important in current times. We are planning to
launch more such initiatives in the future,” adds Mr. Panicker.
“Most of us are born and brought up here and we don’t
believe in communal barriers,” says Ayub Khan, a resident of Elavaramkuzhi.
Though a few people came forward to sponsor the construction, it was decided
that money would be raised from the public. “It was also a way of knowing
public opinion. Not a single person was against it and all the residents
contributed,” he adds.
A sculptor from Kottarakara, the home of Kathakali,
was hired to ensure the presence of architectural elements from both the
communities, while the design and colour scheme were fixed in consultation with
devotees.
“We don’t think it’s a big deal. I go to the temple
every morning. The only difference these days is that I carry two coins
whenever I make an offering,” says N. Rajamani, a resident.
Source: The Hindu
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
-----
U.S. Taxpayers Donated $391K to Terrorist-Defending
Imam's Two Organizations
Imam Abdullah Faaruuq of the
Mosque for Praising Allah in Roxbury, Mass. Behind Faaruuq stand storage
containers for the food pantry run by his mosque. (Photo: Dexter Van Zile)
------
by Dexter Van Zile
July 28, 2023
American taxpayers have, over the past two years,
given almost $400,000 to two non-profits led by a radical imam in Boston. Imam
Abdullah Faaruuq has lionized a terrorist convicted of trying to kill FBI
agents and U.S. soldiers.
Faaruuq also handed out Islamist tracts to
incarcerated Muslims while serving as a chaplain in Massachusetts prisons. He
once described the United States as "the land of the coward and the home
of the slave."
Faaruuq is a long-time advocate for Aafia Siddiqui, a
U.S. trained neuroscientist who was convicted of multiple counts of attempted
murder in 2010 and is currently serving an 86-year prison sentence for her
crimes. After Siddiqui's arrest in 2008, Faaruuq downplayed the threat she
posed to U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, telling interviewers from National
Public Radio in New York City, "The government, I think has little to fear
from a girl about five foot one and about 90 pounds." Fifteen years later,
Faaruuq offered nearly the same description of Siddiqui when speaking with Focus
on Western Islamism (FWI). "She's about five foot one, 105 pounds,"
he said. "They had half a dozen military men with guns ... and they
couldn't control a little girl."
It's an odd thing to say about a woman found with two
pounds of sodium cyanide and plans for a mass-casualty attack on American soil
in her possession when she was detained by Afghan police in 2008. Prior to her
interrogation by American officials, Siddiqui grabbed an M4 rifle and began
firing it at her questioners while shouting anti-American slogans.
In a 2010 speech about her case, the imam called upon
his listeners to "grab onto this rope, grab onto the typewriter, grab onto
the shovel, grab onto the gun and the sword, don't be afraid to step out into
this world and do your job." This rhetoric prompted Americans for Peace
and Tolerance to ask if Faaruuq was "urging Boston-area Muslims to respond
violently to the arrests of Islamic extremists."
The following year, Faaruuq emphasized how
"brave" Siddiqui was at a fundraiser in Worcester, Mass. In audio
obtained by the Investigative Project on Terrorism, Faaruuq is heard to say,
"They say she took up a machine gun while they held her captive ... and
was ready to attack her captors. What a brave woman she is and what a brave
woman she continues to be." Faaruuq also said that Siddiqui was "only
guilty of trying to defend herself and if my mother was in the same place, she
would have [taken] her West Indian machete and cut her way through those kafirs
(non-believers)."
Faaruuq's connection to Siddiqui dates back to when he
served as a Muslim chaplain in Massachusetts prisons. According to Deborah
Scroggins, author of Wanted Women: Faith, Lies & The War on Terror: The
Lives of Ayaan Hirsi Ali & Aafia Siddiqui, "Aafia ordered hundreds of
Islamic books in English, usually from Saudi Arabia, and Faaruuq distributed
them to the prisoners he visited. Faaruuq said the books included works by the
famous Egyptian Islamist [and Muslim Brotherhood ideologue] Sayyid Qutb."
Faaruuq's extremism hasn't prevented nonprofits he
leads from applying for — and receiving — substantial sums from American
taxpayers. In June, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and
Security gave $100,000 to the Society for the Islamic Brotherhood, which
operates the Praise Allah Mosque where Faaruuq serves as imam. The money came
from a federal fund administered by the Department of Homeland Security.
"They say she took up a machine gun while they
held her captive ... and was ready to attack her captors. What a brave woman
she is and what a brave woman she continues to be." - Abdullah Faaruuq
In 2022, the state's Executive Office of Environmental
Affairs gave the Faaruuq-led Islamic-Multi Service Organization (ISMO) $290,600
to equip a food pantry that operates out of the mosque. Neither agency has
responded to FWI requests for information about the grants, which are listed in
a publicly searchable database maintained by the state's comptroller.
"It's very surprising that taxpayers are
subsidizing organizations whose leader speaks in such hateful terms about
America," said Charles Jacobs, president of Americans for Peace and
Tolerance. "It's less surprising that he would be happy to take money from
a government that, as his comments seem to suggest, he wants to undermine."
Faaruuq complained that his comments about Siddiqui —
which he said had "nothing to do with picking up a gun against
America" — were taken out of context by his critics intent on portraying
him as anti-American.
"I cannot be against this country," Faaruuq
told FWI earlier this month. "It's the country of my birth. I love this
country." In 2022, Faaruuq told an audience in Cambridge, Mass., that
America "is a terrible place" where "perversity is normalized
and gay marriage is tolerated."
"Giving public funds to organizations led by
Faaruuq legitimizes his defense of a convicted terrorist as well as his own
extremist agenda." - Boston College Prof. Dennis Hale
"The same funding that the Jews get for their
synagogue or the churches get for their places of worship, we've gotten as
well," he said in reference to the Homeland Security grant that was used
to install security cameras at his mosque. "What am I supposed to do? Not
take advantage of it?" Faaruuq told FWI.
"We got the same money everybody else got,"
he said regarding the money for the food pantry. "It was because of
COVID." The mosque used the food security funds to purchase refrigeration
equipment and buy a vehicle used to deliver food to people who cannot visit the
food pantry in person, Faaruuq said.
Dennis Hale, a Boston College professor of political
science, expressed dismay that state officials would distribute funds to
nonprofits led by someone who espoused such explicit anti-Americanism in a city
that was the scene of the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013.
""Why are officials handing out money to
institutions led by radicals — in Boston, no less?" he asked. "Giving
public funds to organizations led by Faaruuq legitimizes his defense of a
convicted terrorist as well as his own extremist agenda."
Source: Meforum.Org
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
https://www.meforum.org/64643/us-taxpayers-donated-391k-to-terrorist-defending
-----
Hezbollah Chief Slams Gay Relations, Says Muslims
Should 'Punish' Quran Desecrators
A child carries a bottle of
water as Lebanon’s Hezbollah supporters take part in a religious ceremony to
mark Ashura in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon on July 29, 2023. | Photo
Credit: Reuters
------
30-07-2023
Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has stepped up
his attacks against the LGBTQ communities in Lebanon and the region.
"We are not making up battles, nor are we making
up dangers. This is a real danger that is imminent and has begun,"
Nasrallah said in a televised speech for the annual Ashura commemoration. Last
week, Nasrallah had said gay people, "even if they do it once... are to be
killed," in line with Islamic teachings.
In his latest comments Nasrallah said that, "In
Lebanon, this danger started with some educational institutions, and
NGOs," which he accused of "promoting" same-sex relations to
children. He called on the ministry of education to intervene. The ministry
later denied the presence of such books or classes in Lebanon.
Religiously diverse Lebanon is one of the Middle
East's more liberal countries, and the LGBTQ community has long been visible
and outspoken, defying crackdowns on its bars, nightclubs and community
centers. But it has continued to face systematic social, economic and legal
discrimination -- which an expert has warned could only be worsened by
Nasrallah's rhetoric.
"Hate speech functions as a tool of diversion,
wielded by Nasrallah and political elites to divert public attention from
profound economic disparities and governance failures," Hussein Cheaito,
an economist who focuses on queer political economy, wrote on Twitter, which is
being rebranded as "X".
"This calculated tactic perpetuates their grip on
power," he said, while adding to "a vicious cycle of discrimination,
fear, and exclusion, entwined with Lebanon's socio-economic fabric."
Lebanon's LGBTQ community in 2018 scored a success
when a court ruled that same-sex conduct is not unlawful, but since then it has
seen more setbacks than victories.
Last summer, the community was targeted by a crackdown
that saw activists harassed and Pride gatherings canceled after the interior
ministry instructed security forces to clamp down on events "promoting
sexual perversion."
The ministry argued that LGBTQ events violate customs,
traditions and "principles of religion" in Lebanon, where political
power is split along faith lines between Shiite and Sunni Muslim, Christian,
Druze and other groups.
Separately, Nasrallah said that if governments of
Muslim-majority nations do not act against countries that allow the desecration
of the Quran, Muslims should "punish" those who facilitate attacks on
Islam's holy book.
He said Muslims should watch for the outcome of an
emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, scheduled to take
place in Baghdad on Monday to discuss the organization's response to the Quran
burnings.
The organization and its member states should
"send a firm, decisive and unequivocal message to these governments that
any repeat of the attacks will be met with a boycott," Nasrallah said. If
they do not, he said, Muslim youth should "punish the desecrators."
Members of the crowd, who carried banners with
religious slogans alongside the flags of Hezbollah, Lebanon and Palestine,
chanted, "Oh, Quran, we are at your service; Oh, Hussein, we are at your
service."
Source: Nahar Net
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original story:
-----
Bangladesh On Boil: Violent Clashes In Dhaka During
Protests Against Hasina Govt
Bangladesh Nationalist Party
(BNP) activists blocking a highway entering Bangladesh’s capital disperse after
police fired tear gas shells during a protest demanding the resignation of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a general election under a neutral caretaker
government, in Dhaka on July 29, 2023. | Photo Credit: AFP
------
Jul 29, 2023
Police in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday clashed
with supporters of the country’s main opposition party, which said scores of
its activists were injured during anti-government protests in parts of the
city. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda
Zia demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the transfer
of power to a non-party caretaker government until the next general election,
which is expected to be held by early January.
Source: Hindustan Times
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original story:
-----
Islamic State Says It Bombed Shiite Shrine in Syria
which Killed 6, Injured 20
People and internal security
members inspect the site of a bomb blast, outside the Sayeda Zeinab shrine
city, south of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. (Image: Reuters)
------
By: Shankhyaneel Sarkar
JULY 29, 2023
The Islamic State group (IS) said Friday it was behind
a bombing south of the Syrian capital Damascus the day before that killed at
least six people and wounded 20.
Thursday’s explosion was near the Sayeda Zeinab
mausoleum in Damascus, Syria’s most visited Shiite pilgrimage site, and came on
the eve of the annual Shiite Ashura commemoration.
In a statement on the Telegram messaging app, the
jihadist group said some of its fighters breached tight security imposed by the
Syrian regime and militias guarding the mausoleum area.
The authorities had tightened security measures around
the mausoleum for the 10-day Ashura commemoration, among the most important in
Shiite Islam.
In the same message on Friday, IS claimed “another
bomb attack" it said had targeted “a bus transporting Shiite pilgrims in
the same area, wounding at least two and destroying the vehicle".
On Tuesday, an explosion in a car in the same area of
the Syrian capital had wounded two civilians, official media cited a security
official as saying.
Shiite shrines are a frequent target of attacks by
Sunni Muslim extremists of the IS group, not only in Syria but also in
neighbouring Iraq.
Source: News18
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original story:
-----
India
Who is Tariq Mansoor? Aligarh Muslim University
ex-vice chancellor named BJP vice-president
Jul 30, 2023
In one of the most prominent central office-bearers
shuffles prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
selected MLC, ex-vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, and Pasmanda
Muslim Tariq Mansoor as its new vice-president.
As the saffron party campaigns for re-election in the
next elections, the selection of Tariq Mansoor is perceived as an essential
part of the party's outreach to Pasmanda (backward) Muslims. On May 17, 2017,
Tariq Mansoor began his five-year tenure as vice chancellor of AMU. His term
was meant to last through 2022, but due to the coronavirus epidemic, it was
postponed under unusual conditions for an additional year.
When he was chosen as one of six candidates for the UP
legislative council, Tariq Mansoor resigned from his position as vice
chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University. He is the first vice chancellor of AMU
to be named as a nominee for the legislative council while he is still serving
in that position.
Source: Dna India
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Gyanvapi mosque: Twists & turns in complex legal
battle
30th July 2023
By Namita Bajpai
LUCKNOW: The Gyanvapi Masjid that stands adjacent the
Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi is caught in a multi-pronged legal battle
as Hindus claim the original Lingam of the erstwhile Vishweshwar temple was
hidden by the priests inside the Gyanvapi well during Mughal Emperor
Aurangzeb’s raid in the late 1660s. Hindu petitioners want to reclaim it for
worship at the sacred place where the mosque now stands. But Muslims have been
offering regular namaz on the mosque premises and claim it to be a
1,000-year-old shrine.
The Gyanvapi Masjid was built on the banks of the
Ganga by Aurangzeb in 1669. Several historians have claimed that it was
constructed after demolishing the AdiVishweshwara (Lord Shiva) temple and its
debris were used for the construction of the mosque. It is said that the mosque
was named after a nearby well and literally means the 'well of knowledge'
(Gyanvapi).
As for the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, it was constructed
adjacent the Gyanvapi Masjid by AhilyabaiHolkar, queen of the Maratha Malwa
kingdom. The temple was built almost 100 years after the mosque came up.
Ahilyabai is known for constructing several other temples and ghats in Varanasi
as well. An earlier attempt to build the Kashi Vishwanath temple by her
father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar, couldn't materialise. This temple has now
become one of the most revered seats of Lord Shiva. It's part of the grand
Kashi Vishwanath Corridor inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in
December 2021.
Source: New Indian Express
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CBI files FIR in Manipur viral video case, to seek
custody of 7 accused
Jul 30, 2023
NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI: CBI on Saturday formally took over
the investigation into the alleged sexual assault on two women by a mob in
Manipur's Kangpokpi district on May 4, a video clip of which went viral on
social media platforms earlier this month triggering a nationwide outrage.
The central agency, which is already probing six other
cases regarding the unrest in the state, has registered the seventh FIR
relating to the viral video and a special probe team, led by a DIG-rank
officer, has been stationed in Imphal. The FIR has been filed under sections of
abduction, gang rape, murder and use of criminal force on a woman with intent
to outrage her modesty.
Earlier, Home minister Amit Shah had said that the
Centre had requested the Supreme Court to shift the trial of these cases
outside the state. Shah also said that the man who filmed the assault of the
two women had been arrested and that security forces had established a 35,000
personnel-strong buffer zone to prevent ethnic clashes.
Source: Times Of India
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of the original story:
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Can't rule out foreign agencies' role in Manipur:
Former Army chief Naravane
Jul 30, 2023
NEW DELHI: Involvement of foreign agencies in the
ongoing violence in Manipur "cannot be ruled out", former Army chief
General MM Naravane (retd) has said, while flagging China's aid to various
insurgent groups in the northeast over the decades.
"If there is instability in not only a
neighbouring country (Myanmar), but also in a border state (Manipur), then it
is bad for our overall national security. Internal security is very important
for us," Gen Naravane said.
Responding to questions on the situation in
strife-torn Manipur at an event on Friday evening, he said, "I am sure
that those who are in the chair and responsible for taking whatever actions are
due to be taken are doing their best. We should avoid trying to second-guess
them. The person on the ground knows best what is to be done."
Source: Times Of India
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North
America
US Surrendered Unconditionally To Taliban In
Afghanistan: Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman
By: Mukul Sharma
Jul 29, 2023
US House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael
McCaul repeated the specifics of colossal failure of US-led invasion of
Afghanistan that started in 2001 and ended with abrupt withdrawal of the
American forces in August 2021. At a hearing about Biden administration’s
planning for the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, McCaul said that the
idea of lowering the number of troops to 650 was "insane,” that
"12,000 prisoners" including "suicide bombers" and
"ISIS-K" were released from Bagram prison.
While confirming Pentagon's earlier reports of the US
forces leaving "$7 billion of equipment" in Afghanistan, McCaul added
that this left out equipment is being sold to the US adversaries and terrorist
nations.
According to a Pentagon report, the United States gave
a total of $18.6 billion of equipment to the Afghan National Defense and
Security Forces (ANDSF) — that quickly collapsed as the US edged closer to its
withdrawal from Afghanistan — between 2005 and August 2021.
Source: Wio News
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of the original story:
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Biden Sends Ashura Greetings To Muslim World
30/07/2023
US President Joe Biden on Saturday sent greetings to
the Muslim world in honour of the day of Ashura.
In a tweet, he said he and first lady Jill Biden
“recognize our Muslim friends and neighbours around the world observing Ashura
and honouring the values of sacrifice, justice, and equality for all."
The 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, also
known as Ashura, marks the anniversary of the passing of the Prophet Mohammad’s
grandson Imam al-Hussein on the desert plains of Karbala, some 113 kilometers
(70 miles) away from where Iraq's capital Baghdad now stands.
Source: Yenisafak.Com
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of the original story:
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/biden-sends-ashura-greetings-to-muslim-world-3667873
-----
Fear Grips Christian Villages After Suspected
Islamists Assassinate Mayor, Slaughter Christians
July 29, 2023
Amos Akila, the mayor of the Mazat community, is among
seven recent victims of land-grabbing terrorists laying waste to dozens of villages
in Plateau State in North Central Nigeria, according to lawmakers speaking to
Truth Nigeria.
Akila was murdered shortly before midday June 27 while
handling farming chores on his farm in BarkinLadi County in Plateau State,
according to his son, MabwehAkila,who witnessed the incident.
“They all had guns,” Akila said. “They passed many
people on their farms and left without hurting me or anyone else after firing
several bullets to his chest,” he said in a distraught voice.
Senator Simon Mwadkwon, who represents Plateau North
at the Nigerian Senate, told Truth Nigeria in a text message that
“[Communities] are more [vulnerable] when the leader is killed.”
Source: Ijr.Com
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How Sinead O'Connor found peace in Islam after a
lifelong struggle with religion
July 29, 2023
The world lost Sinead O'Connor this week. The
Grammy-winning singer and songwriter was a powerful musician, also an activist
known for pushing the envelope. Her most controversial public moment came in
1992. In a live performance on "Saturday Night Live," O'Connor closed
her set by tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II. It was a protest, she said,
against the Catholic Church's silence on child sex abuse.
DETROW: O'Connor's fraught relationship with the
church started early on, tracing back to her Catholic upbringing in Ireland.
Here she is on RTE One's "The Late Late Show."
O'CONNOR: I grew up in a very different Ireland to the
one that exists now. And it was a very oppressed country, religiously speaking,
and everybody was miserable. Nobody was getting any joy in God.
DETROW: O'Connor's difficult and sometimes tumultuous
spiritual journey often played out in public. But fewer people know where that
journey ultimately led her. In 2018, O'Connor announced that she was, quote,
"reverting to Islam."
Source: Www.Kmuw.Org
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Africa
Senegal's opposition politician OusmaneSonko faces new
charges
By Africa news
30-07-2023
Senegal's public prosecutor announced on Saturday
seven new charges against opposition politician OusmaneSonko.
The public prosecutor added that the new charges are
unrelated to the outcome of a moral corruption case that sparked deadly
protests last month.
"He will be prosecuted for calling for
insurrection, criminal conspiracy, undermining state security, plotting against
state authority, acts and manoeuvres to compromise public security, to create
serious political unrest, criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist
enterprise, but also theft", said Senegal's public prosecutor, Abdoul
Karim Diop.
Source: Africa News
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Bandits Kill Muslim Cleric, Farmers, Kidnap 50 in
Kaduna
John Shiklam
The Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union (BEPU) in
Kaduna State has disclosed the death of the Vice-Chairman of
Jama’atulIzalatulBid’ahWaIqamatus-Sunnah (JIBWIS), Birnin-Gwari Branch, Mal.
Yakubu Muhammad Bugai and three other farmers who were killed by rampaging
bandits who also kidnapped over 50 persons in July alone.
The JIBWIS leader was shot at his farm located around
the Rema area and was later taken to Jibril Mai-Gwari General Hospital after
sustaining gunshot wounds on his abdomen and arm but passed on by 7:30am on
Thursday.
Until his murder, Bugai was a strong pillar, pioneer
member and also the Vice-Chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Orphans Foundation, which
is an organisation devoted to taking care of thousands of Orphans left behind
by mostly victims of banditry in the security ravaged local government.
A statement issued by the BEPU Chairman, Ishaq Usman
Kasai further disclosed that in another sad development, around Sabon-Layi,
Kurgi, Yelwa, Tashan-Keji, Shiwaka, UnguwanDanfulani and many more rural
communities in western part of Birnin-Gwari who are sharing boundaries with
Kamuku and Kuyambana Forests, which are serving as hideouts of the Bandits,
large number of locals were also kidnapped on their farms.
Source: This Day Live
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Avoid choosing Muslim party secretary, group tells
Tinubu
30th July 2023
Victor Ayeni
A group within the All Progressives Congress has urged
President Bola Tinubu and all leaders of the party to avoid having a Muslim as
its secretary at the national level.
The group, under the aegis of Campaign for United
Nigeria, Religious and Political Tolerance, in a statement made available to
Sunday PUNCH, expressed disaffection with the story making the rounds that
Senator AjibolaBasiru had been anointed to assume the office of the party
secretary.
Recall that the immediate APC Chairman, Senator
AdamuAbdullahi, and Secretary, Senator IyiolaOmisore, had recently resigned
under unclear circumstances.
Source: Punchng.Com
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MURIC Knocks Sanwo-Olu Over 8 Muslims On 39-Man
Commissioner List
By Abbas Jimoh
29 Jul 2023
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised
Governor BabajideSanwo-Olu of Lagos State for “unjustifiably denigrating
Muslims” in his 39-man list of commissioner nominees.
In a statement on Saturday, Executive Director, MURIC,
Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said with only eight Muslims on the list, Sanwo-Olu it
failed inclusivity and integrity tests.
“The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. BabajideSanwo-Olu,
yesterday unveiled the list of commissioners for the state. The list contained
39 names. But to our surprise, only 8 of the nominees are verifiable Muslims.
We find it difficult to understand why cabinet composition should be weaponised
by the Lagos State Government (LASG) against Muslims. Ratio 31:8 fails
inclusivity test. It also fails integrity test. What percentage is 8 out of 39?
What is the rationale for coming out with this atrocious ratio?”
“This is exactly what we have been saying about the
political marginalisation of Muslims in the South West. It is a disease of the
eyes, not of the nose. It needs no smelling. We can all see and read the list.
It is all over the internet. Muslims groups all over the South West are
expressing dissatisfaction with the development.
Source: Daily Trust.Com
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South
Asia
PM Opens 50 More Model MosquesAnd Islamic Cultural
Centres Across The Country
30 Jul 2023,
DHAKA, July 30, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina today inaugurated 50 more model mosques and Islamic cultural centres
across the country as part of the government move to reach the true message of
the Islam to the society.
She opened the mosques in 34 districts in eight
divisions in the fifth phase joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban
residence here.
With the fresh ones, the premier has so far
inaugurated 250 mosques out of 564 being built at a cost of Taka 9435 crore
across the country.
She earlier opened 50 mosques each in the first,
second, third and fourth phases on June 10, 2021, January 16, 2023, March 16,
2023, and April 17, 2023.
Source: Bssnews.Net
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US envoys for Afghanistan stress urgency of inclusive
governance in Kabul
30 Jul 2023
US envoys for Afghanistan Thomas West and Rina Amri
have once again called for an inclusive government in Kabul which, at present
is under Taliban rule, TOLOnews reported. Since the Taliban seized power, it
has curtailed women's rights in the nation.
Thomas West, a US special envoy, and Rina Amiri, a US
special envoy for Afghan women, girls, and human rights, met with
representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and
Uzbekistan in Astana two days prior to the Doha summit to discuss Afghanistan.
"For two years, Afghan women have been far away
from the public affairs of the society, and even if they made personal efforts
to provide for their lives, they were not allowed. Afghan women are a part of
Afghan society. The government has the responsibility to provide ways for their
participation in public issues, in education and work, and their presence in
the society," said Surya Paykan, a women's rights activist, according to
TOLOnews.
Source: Livemint.Com
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‘Pushed to brink’: Nearly 30 million people in
Afghanistan need humanitarian help, says UNICEF
Jul 29, 2023
Since the Taliban took control, the situation of
people in Afghanistan has only deteriorated as the country is under a massive
grip of a humanitarian crisis.
In a recent report on Afghanistan, UNICEF said that
over 15 million people are expected to experience food insecurity till October
2023, with 29.2 million people expected to require humanitarian assistance,
TOLOnews reported.
“The economic crisis is expected to continue, with 64
per cent of households unable to meet their basic needs as vulnerable
populations are pushed to the brink," TOLOnews reported citing the UNICEF
report.
Source: Hindustan Times
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Arab
World
Kuwait Mosque in Egypt’s Giza opens
30-07-2023
CAIRO: Kuwait Office for Charity Projects inaugurated
the “Kuwait Mosque” Friday at the “October 6th” city in Egypt in the presence
of Egyptian Awqaf Minister Mukhtar Jumaah, Mufti Dr Shawqi Allam and Director
General of Kuwait Zakat House Dr Majid Al-Azmi. Azmi said the mosque is one of the
projects the office has built in Egypt at the wishes of Kuwaiti donors. He said
the project is considered a building block for Kuwaiti charity projects in the
country.
Azmi added that such projects will always be carried
out by Kuwait in friendly and neighboring states. Head of Kuwait office for
Charity projects Sarah Al-Mutairi said Kuwait Mosque is an extension of
Kuwaitis charity march in many Egyptian governorates. She said the KD 82,000
mosque project, which was financed in full by Kuwait Zakat House, serves the
residents of the north of October 6th city which is part of Giza governorate.
CAIRO: Director General of Kuwait Zakat House Dr Majid
Al-Azmi, Head of Kuwait office for Charity projects Sarah Al-Mutairi and
Advisor at Kuwait Embassy in Egypt Nayef Al-Tayyar are seen at the opening of
the mosque.
Source: Kuwait Times
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Saudi musical talent shines at Jordan’s Jerash
Festival
ARAB NEWS
July 30, 2023
RIYADH: The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir
performed in a musical evening to remember on Amman’s Abdali Boulevard as part
of the 37th Jerash Festival in Jordan.
Saudi actors, musicians, photographers, and heritage
experts will represent Kingdom and showcase its artistic cultural traditions at
the festival, which runs from July 26 to Aug. 5, the Saudi Press Agency
reported on Saturday.
The Kingdom’s ambassador to Jordan, Naif bin Bandar
Al-Sudairi, attended the performances, which included a selection of folk songs
and captivating solo performances by Saudi singers.
Source: Arab News
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Saudi foreign minister urges calm during call with
Sudan’s army chief
ARAB NEWS
July 29, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with Chairman of the Sudanese
Sovereignty Council Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry
said on Saturday.
During the call, they discussed developments in Sudan
and Prince Faisal stressed the importance of the commitment of all Sudanese
parties to resume humanitarian efforts.
He also urged the army and the paramilitary Rapid
Support Forces to protect civilians and relief workers, and ensure the arrival of
basic aid through safe humanitarian corridors.
Source: Arab News
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Saudi Arabia implements comprehensive measures to
combat human trafficking
ARAB NEWS
July 29, 2023
RIYADH: Dr. Hala Al-Tuwaijri, president of Saudi
Arabia’s Human Rights Commission and the National Committee to Combat Human
Trafficking, on Saturday praised the Kingdom’s commitment to eliminating human
trafficking.
Speaking ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in
Persons, which is observed annually on July 30, Al-Tuwaijri commended Saudi
Arabia’s “significant progress” in this area and its implementation of
necessary measures to combat human traffickers and to provide care for — and
ensure the protection of — their victims. As a result, the Kingdom has improved
its global ranking in relevant international reports, she said.
Al-Tuwaijri praised the government’s efforts to combat
human trafficking under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman.
Source: Arab News
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Al-Sudais launches ‘The Rituals of Umrah’ in Makkah
ARAB NEWS
July 29, 2023
MAKKAH: Head of the Presidency for the Two Holy
Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais on Saturday launched the film “The Rituals
of Umrah,” translated into five languages: English, French, Urdu, Persian, and
Malay.
The educational film aims to shed light on the rituals
of Umrah according to Islamic Shariah, following in the footsteps of Prophet
Muhammad, Al-Sudais explained.
Source: Arab News
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Saudi authorities make multiple arrests in crackdown
on drug traffickers
ARAB NEWS
July 29, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have announced the arrest of
several suspects and seizure of large quantities of illegal drugs in operations
carried out across the Kingdom.
On Saturday, the General Directorate of Narcotics
Control arrested a Saudi citizen in Jeddah for trafficking 15.8 kg of hashish,
while Jeddah police detained two Yemeni nationals for trafficking amphetamines.
In the Al-Harth governorate of Jazan region, border
patrol units arrested two Yemeni nationals for attempting to smuggle 97 kg of
the stimulant drug qat.
Source: Arab News
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Mideast
Iran official in charge of promoting Islamic values
suspended over alleged gay sex video
JULY 29, 2023
The Iranian government is denying any previous
knowledge of a gay sex scandal that has led to the suspension of an official in
the ultra-conservative Islamic nation. Reza Tsaghati, the head of Culture and
Islamic Guidance in Gilan Province, was suspended last week after a video
allegedly showed him having sex with another man. Iran officials had initially
stayed silent over the growing scandal, but on Saturday, the country’s culture
minister, Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, said he had no previous knowledge of
Tsaghati’s alleged homosexual relations. The video, which has not yet been
verified, was shared on Radio Gilan’s Telegram channel, the BBC reported. And
even though the identities of the men in the video have also not yet been
positively verified, the scandal led to Tsaghati’s suspension from his post.
The video could pose a major problem for the conservative official beyond
suspension. Consensual same-sex relations can be punished by death under the
Islamic Penal Code, which is based on Sharia law. Tsaghati was elected
director-general of the Culture and Islamic Guidance of Gilan Province in 2021.
He was also involved with the creation of a Chastity and Hijab Workshop and
with the launch of a hijab hypermarket, according to Iran Wire, a progressive
news site run by Iranian journalists. Get unlimited digital access Try 1 month
for $1 CLAIM OFFER Last week, the Cultural and Islamic Guidance Department of
Gilan referred to the episode as a “suspected misstep of the director of
Islamic guidance in Gilan.” A “thorough investigation with the involvement of
security and judicial authorities” was also ordered, Iran Wire reported. Last
month, when emphasizing “concerns about hijab and chastity in society,”
Tsaghati said that the “promotion and support of a chaste environment should be
led and managed by the people.”
Source: Kansas City
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Strengthening Iran-Turkey relations benefits Muslim
world: minister
July 29, 2023
TEHRAN – Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has
met with the newly-appointed Turkish ambassador to Iran, HicabiKirlangic in a
bid to underline the need to boost Tehran-Ankara relations.
In this meeting, which was also attended by Mohammad
SadeqMotamedian, the governor of West Azerbaijan Province, Vahidi underlined
the need to improve Iran-Turkey relations in many areas of cooperation.
The Interior minister expressed hope that during the
tenure of the new Turkish ambassador, relations between Iran and Turkey will be
further strengthened, according to IRIB News.
Source: Tehran Times
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Turkey urges Denmark to take urgent action to prevent
Koran burnings
July 29, 2023
ANKARA, July 29 (Reuters) - Turkey's Foreign Minister
HakanFidan on Saturday urged Denmark to take urgent action to prevent burnings
of the Koran, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
In a phone call with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke
Rasmussen, Fidan condemned the "continuous vile attacks against the
Koran". He told Rasmussen it was unacceptable to allow such actions under
the guise of freedom of expression, the source said.
Rasmussen on Saturday wrote on messaging platform X,
formerly known as Twitter: "Turkey and Denmark are close allies. Important
to not let these acts succeed in creating division." He also reiterated
Denmark's "strong condemnation of these provocative acts by few
individuals."
Source: Reuters
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We will remain on path of Imam Hussein: Nasrallah
2023/07/29
“We pledge that we will remain on the path of Imam
Hussein and that we will carry his objectives and confront all the tyrants of
the Earth,” Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech on the day of
Ashura on Friday.
Ashura marks the 10th day of the first month of the
Islamic year Muharram on which Hussein (AS) and his 72 companions were martyred
in a battle against enemies in Karbala, in today's Iraq, in 680 CE.
Nasrallah said Hezbollah has always sought to defend
Lebanon and its resources against the Zionist regime.
“When the Zionists or any enemy put us before two
choices, we will always reject humiliation,” he said.
Source: Ilna.Ir
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Iran sex tape scandal: Government says no prior
knowledge of alleged behaviour
By Sebastian Usher
30-07-2023
A sex tape in Iran has led to the suspension of an
official in charge of promoting Islamic values - and prompted authorities to
deny any prior knowledge of his alleged behaviour.
A video posted online allegedly shows the head of
culture and Islamic guidance in Gilan province, Reza Tsaghati, having sex with
another man.
The video - which has been widely shared on social
media - has caused furore online. Mr Tsaghati is the founder of a cultural
centre focused on piety and the hijab.
Source: Bbc.Com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66349073
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Reading ‘Lolita’? Not in Tehran.
By KouroshZiabari
JULY 29, 2023
Scores of books go into print in Iran every year. Data
from 2018 puts the number of published titles at 102,691, positioning Iran as one
of the top 10 nations with the most books released annually. The figures have
slightly fluctuated ever since, but Iran has remained loyal to its publishing
bonanza.
A tradition of translating literature from English, as
well as other European languages, into Persian has long animated Iran’s
cultural scene, accounting for the lion’s share of Iranians’ reading
preferences. Some of the country’s most celebrated intellectuals rose to fame
courtesy of their translation work, which the middle-class treasures as a
bridge to the rest of the world, facilitated by elites who understand the
nuances of exotic cultures and interpret them for the inhabitants of a hermit
kingdom.
As different realms of artistic practice continue to
be constrained by the hard-line conservative administration of President
Ebrahim Raisi and independent artists find themselves hard-pressed to subsist
under heightened levels of fear and inhibition, Iran’s vibrant tradition of
literature translation is becoming the collateral damage of a retrograde
cultural agenda. For a government that is overtly opposed to anything that
resembles the relics of the modern world, clamping down on translated books
that showcase the best of Western literature appears entirely justified.
Source: Foreign Policy
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Iran news editor suspended over protest coverage:
media
July 29, 2023
TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have banned the
editor-in-chief of reformist daily Etemad “from any press activity for a year”
over coverage of last year’s nationwide protests, the newspaper reported on
Saturday.
The journalist, BehroozBehzadi, was “accused of
publishing false content,” Etemad said, citing a decision by the prosecutor’s
office following a complaint by a Tehran branch of the Iranian Revolutionary
Guards Corps.
The complaint, according to Etemad, was in relation to
reports it had published which detailed the October “kidnapping” of a scientist
and “bans and arrests” of artists who backed the protest movement triggered by
Mahsa Amini’s death.
Source: Arab News
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Iran to try 104 MKO members in absentia
2023-07-29
Tehran, July 30 (IANS) A Iranian criminal court said
it plans to bring 104 members of the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organisation (MKO) to
trial, media reported.The trial of the 104 MKO members, including the group's
leader Maryam Rajavi, will go in absentia, according to a public announcement
issued by the Branch 1 of Tehran's Criminal Court in major Iranian newspapers
reported on Saturday.
Iran designates MKO as a terrorist organisation,
accusing it of having assassinated tens of thousands of Iranian citizens. The
group is currently based in Albania, Xinhua news agency reported.
Source: In.Investing
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Pakistan
PTI to probe party senators’ role in passing of Army
Act amendment bill
Imtiaz Ali
July 29, 2023
The PTI has decided to initiate a probe into the role
of its senators in the passing of amendments to the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, by
the upper house of Parliament earlier this week.
The amendments propose up to five years in jail for
those who disclose sensitive information pertaining to the security of the
country or the military and accord more powers to the chief of army staff,
among other changes.
The PTI said in a statement on Saturday that party
chief Imran Khan presided over a core committee meeting, during which the role
of PTI senators in the passing of the amendments was discussed.
Source: Dawn.Com
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Scenes from mourning processions as Muslims observe
Yaum-i-Ashura
July 29, 2023
Shia communities across the Muslim world observed
Yaum-i-Ashura on Saturday, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in the
battle of Karbala.
Yaum-i-Ashura is observed every year on Muharram 10
with solemnity to pay homage to Imam Hussain and other martyrs of the Battle of
Karbala that took place in 61 A.H. in modern-day Southern Iraq.
Processions were taken out across Pakistan and in
several other Muslim countries on the occasion, with participants clad in black
clothes to signify mourning.
Source: Dawn.Com
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Opposition leader Raja Riaz confident of consensus on
caretaker PM
Nadir Guramani
July 30, 2023
Opposition leader in the National Assembly (NA) Raja
Riaz appears confident that he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will reach a
consensus on selecting a name for the caretaker prime minister.
The tenure of the NA is set to expire on August 12 and
meetings are under way between the members of the government on the details of
an interim set-up.
If the government is dissolved before the NA completes
its term on August 12, elections would be held within the next 90 days. If the
assembly completes its tenure, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is
bound to hold polls within the next 60 days.
However, the legally required consultations that must
take place between the prime minister and opposition leader over candidates for
the caretaker government have yet to begin. Earlier this month, Riaz said that
a meeting between him and PM Shehbaz was expected around August 1.
Source: Dawn.Com
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Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to arrive in Pakistan
today to celebrate decade of CPEC
Abdullah Momand
July 30, 2023
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will arrive in Pakistan
today on a three-day visit during which he will attend a ceremony planned to
mark 10 years of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
A statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on
Saturday said that the Chinese vice premier will be in Pakistan from July 30
(today) to August 1 (Tuesday) at the federal government’s invitation to attend
a ceremony celebrating a decade of CPEC as the chief guest.
The FO acknowledged Lifeng’s “prominent role” in
China’s international economic relations and implementation of the Belt and
Road Initiative, of which CPEC is a flagship project.
Source: Dawn.Com
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People increasingly turning to courts for climate
rights
Amin Ahmed
July 29, 2023
ISLAMABAD: As the impacts of climate change are
getting more intense, people are increasingly turning to courts to combat the
crisis, according to a new report.
The “Global Climate Litigation Report, 2023 Status
Review”, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said
2,180 climate-related cases have been filed in a year — reflecting a steady
increase from 884 cases in 2017 and from 1,550 cases in 2020,
The cases have been filed in 65 jurisdictions,
including international and regional courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies,
or other adjudicatory bodies such as Special Procedures at the United Nations
and arbitration tribunals.
Source: Dawn.Com
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Lahore receives heavy showers as Met Office warns of urban,
flash floods
Ali Waqar
July 29, 2023
Lahore continued to receive heavy rainfall on Saturday
while the Met Office warned of urban and flash floods in Punjab’s provincial
capital and other areas.
According to rainfall figures shared by Lahore’s Water
and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) late in the morning, maximum rainfall in the city
on the day was recorded in Gulshan-i-Ravi’s at 155mm, followed by 146mm in Pani
Wala Talab, 109mm in Qurtaba Chowk, 104mm in Nishtar Town Director’s Office,
101mm in Lakshmi Chowk, 96mm in Johar Town SDO office, 80mm in Tajpura SDO
office, 52mm in Iqbal Town SDO office, 44mm in Samanabad SDO office, 40mm in
Upper Mall and Mughalpura SDO office, 35mm in Gulberg, 30mm at Jail Road, 27mm
in Farrukhabad, 24mm at Nakhuda Chowk and 16.55mm in the airport area.
Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa said despite
the rain, Muharram procession routes were clear and security, rescue and
municipal staff were deployed as well.
“Heavy rains may cause urban flooding in low-lying
areas and flash flooding in local nullahs of Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad,
Mansehra, Kurram, LakiMarwat, Karak, Waziristan, Kohat, Tank, Bannu, Dera
Ismail Khan, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad,
Gujranwala, Gujrat, Narowal, Sialkot, Lahore, Kasur, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba
Tek Singh and Sahiwal on July 29,” the forecast said.
Source: Dawn.Com
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Asad Qaiser calls for end to ‘propaganda’ against PTI,
demands free and fair elections
Nadir Guramani
July 29, 2023
PTI leader Asad Qaiser on Saturday called for an end
to what he called was ongoing “propaganda” against his party, and urged for
“powerful quarters” to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
In a video statement, Qaiser, who unlike many of his
peers did not leave the PTI in the aftermath of the May 9 violence, said: “The
one-sided propaganda under way against the party and Imran Khan at this time,
what do those in power and the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) group think? Do
they think they can eliminate the PTI through such propaganda?
“It is their misunderstanding. The more negative
propaganda they are doing, the more the PTI is becoming popular,” he said as he
criticised the incumbent government’s performance and questioned whether it had
managed to tackle inflation and improved governance during its tenure.
Source: Dawn.Com
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Southeast
Asia
Muda questions MACC’s impartiality after Azam Baki
clears Zahid over grant offer
By Kenneth Tee
30 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — The Malaysian United
Democratic Alliance (Muda) today questioned the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission’s (MACC) independence after its chief commissioner defended the
deputy prime minister’s seemingly conditional promise of a grant.
Muda secretary-general Amir Abd Hadi said Tan Sri Azam
Baki has cast doubt on his agency’s neutrality by portraying Deputy Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s pledge as an ordinary government
initiative.
Amir said it was general knowledge that a protest
against Azam was organised by those who are now part of the government over the
latter’s purported involvement in a share trading controversy in January 2022.
Source: Malay Mail.com
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Zahid’s promise of additional grant for Terengganu
youths not an offence, says MACC chief
By Kenneth Tee
30 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) said today it was not an offence for Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid
Hamidi to promise an additional grant for youths in Terengganu recently.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the
announcement was above board as the allocations promised to Terengganu were
federal-level initiatives, following backlash from quarters over the
announcement which constituted ‘bribery’ to voters in the ongoing state
elections.
“In my view, there is no issue with regards to these
grants as they are government initiatives. If the allocations were approved by
the (federal) government, there is no element of bribery,” he was quoted as
saying by SinarHarian.
Source: Malay Mail.com
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Taman Tun Dr Ismail: From humble rubber estate to
affluent neighbourhood
30 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — From its humble rubber estate
origins, the residential area of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), better known as
Taman Tun, is now a source of pride for residents living in the neighbourhood
for the past 40 years.
Understandably, the residents described the place as
very close to their hearts, as they witnessed various types of development
taking place in the neighbourhood, starting in the 1970s.
Abdul Latif Yahaya, 75, one of the earliest Taman Tun
residents, said that he once intended to move to another residential area, but
later changed his mind after realising the neighbourhood’s strategic location,
which is within reasonable distance to the city centre, in addition to being
equipped with various types of infrastructure to meet the needs of the local
population.
“This is my first home, and I have been living here
since 1983. I did plan to move to a bigger house once, but changed my mind as I
realised that all amenities such as school, mosque, police station... all here.
Source: Malay Mail.com
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State polls: BN candidate for Bandar seat in
Terengganu describes his selection as creating history
30 Jul 2023
KUALA TERENGGANU, July 30 — Kuala Terengganu Umno
division deputy chief, ArmiIrzanMohd described his selection as the
BarisanNasional (BN) candidate for the Bandar seat in the Terengannu state
election as creating history.
This is because the seat he is contesting in the
election traditionally belonged to MCA in the spirit of the BN coalition, of
which Umno is the lynchpin, for the past 60 years.
“History is created... the Bandar seat was given to
Umno after 60 years it was shared with MCA. I am confident that Umno will be
well received by the voters, especially the Chinese community in Bandar due to
the spirit of unity and the relationship that has been established for so
long,” he told Bernama here.
Source: Malay Mail.com
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Fahmi: ‘ZiarahKasih’ to become permanent programme to
reach out to people
30 Jul 2023
KUALA SELANGOR, July 30 — The Communications and
Digital Ministry (KKD) will make the “ZiarahKasih” programme a permanent
feature of the ministry to reach out to the rakyat, including solving their
internet problems.
Minister FahmiFadzil said the programme enabled aid to
be channelled in a more comprehensive manner because it involved related parties.
“We see that it is appropriate for the programme under
this ministry to be continued. While solving the internet issue, we also give
some attention to welfare matters.
Source: Malay Mail.com
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Europe
Rishi Sunak orders review of low traffic
neighbourhoods
Joe Roberts
30 Jul 2023
Under such plans, traffic is limited in towns and city
centres – with drivers often barred from using residential roads as cut-throughs.
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Sunak
said: ‘The vast majority of people in the country use their cars to get around
and are dependent on their cars. When I’m lucky enough to get home to North
Yorkshire it’s more representative of how most of the country is living, where
cars are important.
The pitch to motorists and car owners comes after the
Conservatives’ narrow victory in the Uxbridge and Ruislip by-election earlier
this month, which saw the Tory candidate tap into concerns about the expansion
of London’s ultra-low emissions zone (Ulez).
Source: Metro.Co.Uk
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https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/30/rishi-sunak-orders-review-of-low-traffic-neighbourhoods-19215854/
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Back on track: Europe's night trains make bumpy
comeback
Jul 30, 2023
VIENNA: Night trains have made a comeback in Europe
thanks to their low-carbon footprint, but after years of neglect, the
renaissance has had a bumpy ride.
Operators admit that the trains are outdated -- with
passengers facing the occasional delays, technical problems or malfunctioning
toilets -- while companies compete in an overloaded network.
Despite the challenges, national rail operators are
giving night trains another chance while startups are jumping on the bandwagon
as climate concerns are making travellers ditch kerosene-burning planes for
cleaner modes of transportation.
Source: Times Of India
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Three Ukrainian drones downed over Moscow: Russia
defence ministry
Jul 30, 2023
MOSCOW: Three Ukrainian drones were downed over Moscow
early Sunday, Russia's defence ministry said, in an attack that briefly shut an
international airport.
While one of the drones was shot down on the city's
outskirts, two others were "suppressed by electronic warfare" and
smashed into an office complex. No one was injured.
Moscow and its environs, lying about 500 kilometres
(310 miles) from the Ukrainian border, had been rarely targeted during the
conflict in Ukraine until several drone attacks this year.
Source: Times Of India
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