Bengali Hindus And Muslims Must Work Together, Not Just Tolerate Each Other: Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
New Age Islam News Bureau
13 January 2024
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
-----
·
Bengali Hindus And Muslims Must Work Together,
Not Just Tolerate Each Other: Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
·
Sana'a Witnesses Crowd Of Millions In “Promised
Conquest And Holy Jihad” March
·
African
Catholic Bishops Reject Vatican's Same-Sex Blessings
·
US, UK
Trying To Turn Red Sea Into 'Sea Of Blood', Says Erdogan
·
All Cases Against Me Will End If I Obey Powers
That Be, Says Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Founder Imran Khan
------
India
·
Supreme
Court Pulls Up Yogi Adityanath Government In Muslim Student Slap Case
·
EAM
Jaishankar, Blinken discuss Red Sea attacks, Gaza
-----
Arab World
·
Radar Site
In Sana’a Targeted In Fresh US Strike Against Houthi Militia
·
US-UK
Naval Fleet ‘Legitimate’ Target For Yemenis, Warns Ansarullah
·
S Arabia
Moves To Divide Grand Mosque In Makkah Into Coded Zones
·
Minister
of Defence: We are ready to deter and respond, and Yemen has the upper hand in
Red and Arab Seas
·
Yemeni FM
holds America & Britain responsible for threatening international
navigation & trade after their aggression against Yemen
·
Hajj,
Umrah conference attracts 100,000 visitors
----
Africa
·
Human
Right Violation: ‘Military, Police Making Mockery Of Anti-Torture Law’
·
Protests
sweep across 56 Moroccan cities against ongoing Israeli attacks against Gaza
·
‘I Offer All Praises To Allah For Our Victory’
– Governor Bala Reacts After S’Court Judgment
·
Zamfara:
We will not negotiate with bandits – GovLawal insists
----
Mideast
·
Hamas
condemns American-British aggression against Yemen
·
Arab
countries demand de-escalation amid western airstrikes in Yemen
·
Israel
Blocks Worshipers from Reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque for 14th Consecutive Week
·
Death toll
from Israeli attacks in Gaza since Oct. 7 rises to 23,708
·
Israel
pounds Gaza on 99th day of war
·
UN Decries
‘Systematic’ Blocking Of Aid To North Gaza Hospitals
·
Four young
Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces across occupied West Bank
·
Iran:
Instead of attacking Yemen, US should stop backing Israeli war on Gaza
·
People
protest outside UK embassy in Tehran on Yemen attack
·
Gaza
crisis through eyes of children: Istanbul exhibition makes global impact
------
Pakistan
·
JUI-F’s
Fazl Says Held ‘Comprehensive And Inclusive’ Talks With Taliban Supreme Leader
·
Two
suicide bombers planning to target Fazl and Aimal arrested
·
Afghan
child killed over garbage collection in Karachi’s Surjani Town
·
Toshakhana
case against IK, wife: hearing adjourned
·
Pakistan
closes key crossing into Afghanistan for trucks. Now, documents needed
----
Europe
·
Danish
Police Link Foiled Terror Plot To Hamas
·
Daesh
under pressure after Hamas attack on Israel
·
UK PM
Sunak announces $3.2 billion aid for Ukraine in Kyiv
·
Pope
Francis suffers ‘a touch of bronchitis’, fails to complete his speech
----
South Asia
·
Afghans in
Pakistan Should Be Given Chance to Return Voluntarily: Minister
·
Iran
Offers Plan to Solve Afghanistan's Issues
·
Nearly 300
Afghan refugees arrive in Canada
·
Two ISIS Members
Trained In Afghanistan Arrested In Pakistan
·
No promise
of visa, residence permits for Afghan migrants: Turkish FM
·
Afghan Banker
to Invest $10 Billion in Afghanistan Soon
----
Southeast Asia
·
Global
Uproar: Malaysia Joins 38 Nations In Unprecedented Action For Gaza
·
Indonesians
must show firm rejection of Israeli occupation: Wahid
·
Rohingya
Repatriation: Dhaka seeks proactive role of ASEAN
·
China: US,
UK attack on Yemen will definitely exacerbate regional tensions
·
KL city
centre resounds with anti-Netanyahu chants from over 1000-strong 'Stop war on
Gaza' rally
·
PM conveys
to Germany Malaysia's firm stance, condemnation of Israeli regime
------
North America
·
March on
Washington for Gaza Supporters Send Letter with Demands to President Biden
·
United
States Military Strikes Another Houthi-Controlled Site After Warning Ships To
Avoid Parts Of Red Sea
·
White
House defends Yemen strikes amid congressional pushback
·
Cornel
West courts Muslim and Arab-American voters in quest for presidency
·
Florida
hotel cancels Muslim conference, citing security concerns
·
American
aggression on Yemen aims to divert attention of Palestine
·
Yemen’s
Houthis fired an anti-ship missile after strikes: US
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindus-muslims-tolerate-amartya/d/131513
-----
Bengali
Hindus And Muslims Must Work Together, Not Just Tolerate Each Other: Nobel
Laureate Amartya Sen
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
-----
January
13, 2024
Bishwanath
Ghosh
Nobel
laureate Amartya Sen has said that the people of Bengal should stand up for
secularism and not make the mistake of letting the State lose the force of
religion-neutral politics.
“The
major issue in Bengal today is to stand up for secularism, which needs strong
defence, that sometimes it does not get, despite the long secular tradition of
this region. Bengal needs a politics that is independent of religious
sectarianism,” the celebrated economist said in an email to Sudipta
Bhattacharyya, professor of economics and politics at Visva-Bharati.
Prof.
Bhattacharyya is also the president of Visva-Bharati University Faculty
Association, and had strongly supported the Nobel laureate last year when the
university administration came up with the claim that a part of Prof. Sen’s
ancestral property in Santiniketan stood on university land. The matter went to
court and is still pending there.
“It
would be a mistake to let the force of religion-neutral politics be lost, and,
most importantly, we must not lose the united identity of Bengal. I was thinking
of my grandfather, Kshiti Mohan Sen, explaining that the importance of
Hindu-Muslim unity is not primarily about tolerating each other [much more is
needed than that], but rather about Hindus and Muslims working together, as
they have historically done, to build rich literature, major architecture,
exceptional artistry, and so many other products of joint work,” Prof. Sen said
in his email to the Visva-Bharati professor.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/hindus-and-muslims-must-work-together-not-just-tolerate-each-other-amartya-sen-on-bengal/article67734479.ece
------
Sana'a
Witnesses Crowd Of Millions In “Promised Conquest And Holy Jihad” March
Sana'a
Witnesses Crowd Of Millions
-----
12 January/2024]
SANA'A
January 12. 2024(Saba) - The capital, Sana'a witnessed a massive crowd of
millions in the “Promised Conquest and Holy Jihad” march, emphasizing the alert
and readiness to confront the American-Zionist and British aggression against
Yemen.
The
crowds chanted slogans emphasizing the continuation of alert and mobilization
to confront the American and British aggression and support the Palestinian
people and their valiant resistance.
The
gathered masses raised the Yemeni and Palestinian flags, banners and slogans
supporting and blessing the heroic military operations carried out by the armed
forces.
The
participants in the Great March announced a general mobilization and full
readiness for jihad and direct confrontation with the American, British and
Zionist enemy, on land, sea and air.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3295699.htm
----
African
Catholic Bishops Reject Vatican's Same-Sex Blessings
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu of Kinshasa, Congo, expressed
resistance from the Catholic bishops of Africa toward Pope Francis’
conciliatory stance on homosexuality. Photo: Patrick Meinhardt/Agence
France-Presse/Getty Images
------
January
12, 2024
With the
Pope's approval, African Catholic bishops will not carry out the
extra-liturgical blessings proposed for same sex-couples in a declaration
issued by the Vatican on what it calls irregular couples.
The
president of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and
Madagascar (SECAM) cited "confusion" and a "risk of
scandal" in a letter released Thursday (Jan. 11).
The
Catechism of the Catholic Church defines scandal as “an attitude or behaviour
which leads another to do evil."
Beforehand,
SECAM president, Congolese Cardinal FridolinAmbongo, met with Pope Francis to
discuss the matter.
The
Declaration Fiduciasupplicans, published on December 18, opens the possibility
of blessing couples whose relationship is not "valid" in the Catholic
church, including unmarried couple, divorced-and-remarried couples and same-sex
couples.
However,
the document issued by the Christian Catholic Church's doctrine bureau and
signed by the Pope stirred a controversy among Catholics, some Africans.
In
Zambia, Catholic bishops said that the declaration should be tacken for further
reflection and not for implementation citing the law “ in the country which
forbids same-sex unions and activities”.
In a
document issued to clarify the original declaration and address concerns on
January 4, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said for example that:
when "there are laws that condemn the mere act of declaring oneself as a
homosexual with prison and in some cases with torture and even death,"
"a blessing would be imprudent."
In
communion with the Pope, the African church “reaffirmed its commitment to
continuing pastoral assistance to all its members.”
Speaking
to the faithful, Cardinal Ambongo pointed out that Fiduciasupplicans emphasizes
that “the Church’s doctrine on Christian marriage and sexuality remains unchanged.”
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.africanews.com/2024/01/12/african-catholic-bishops-reject-vaticans-same-sex-blessings/
----
US, UK Trying
To Turn Red Sea Into 'Sea Of Blood', Says Erdogan
US,
UK Houthi strikes: Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan is seen. (Reuters)
-----
12
January 2024
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the United States and Britain for
launching military strikes against targets in Yemen, stating that the two
countries are trying to turn the Red Sea into a “sea of blood”.
“All of
these actions involve the use of disproportionate force. Israel is also using
disproportionate force in Palestine,” Erdogan told reporters on Friday in
Istanbul.
He added
that the US and the UK try to turn the Red Sea into a “sea of blood.”
Erdogan
also noted that Yemeni air defenses have intercepted and shot down most of the
incoming missiles.
“We
receive information from various sources that the Houthis have made a very
successful defense, provided a successful response, against both the US and the
UK,” the Turkish leader said.
Resistance
groups across the West Asia region strongly condemned the US and UK strikes
against targets in Yemen, saying the attacks confirm the countries’ allegiance
with Israel in the war on Gaza.
Early on
Friday, US and British forces launched air, ship and submarine strikes against
targets across Yemen.
“American-Zionist-British
aggression against Yemen launches several raids on the capital Sana’a, Hudaydah
governorate, Sa’ada, and Dhamar,” Houthi official Abdul Qader al-Mortada wrote
on X, formerly known as Twitter.
US
President Joe Biden confirmed the assaults, saying they were conducted by the
United States and Britain, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and
the Netherlands.
Yemeni
protesters condemn joint US, UK aggression
Meanwhile,
tens of thousands of people staged massive rallies in Yemen, where participants
denounced the joint military aggression against their country.
Angered
Yemeni people took to the streets in large demonstrations across the country,
expressing their condemnation of the joint aggression on their soil.
Yemenis
have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli
occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7
after the territory’s Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise
retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying
entity.
The
relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has killed at least 23,708
people, most of them women and children. Another 60,005 individuals have been
wounded.
Reports
revealed that Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their
vessels in fear of attacks by Yemeni forces.
Yemeni
forces have also launched missile and drone attacks on targets in the
Israeli-occupied territories after the regime’s aggression on Gaza.
Brigadier
General Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, stressed on Friday
that “the brutal aggression will not deter Yemen from supporting the oppressed
Palestinian nation.”
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/12/718098/US,-UK-try-to-turn-Red-Sea-into--sea-of-blood-,-says-Turkish-President-Erdogan
-----
All
Cases Against Me Will End If I Obey Powers That Be, Says Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf Founder Imran Khan
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Founder Imran Khan
-------
January
13, 2024
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan has said a message is being given
that if he obeys the powers that be, all cases pending against him will end.
He said
he was also conveyed the message how he dared to expose the conspiracy and this
is what the cipher case is. He said the caretaker government was not neutral,
while the Election Commission of Pakistan was practically ineffective.
Talking
to journalists after the hearing of the case at the Adiala Jail on Friday, Khan
said the Toshakhana cases of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari had been ended,
while Maryam Nawaz had got a BMW from Toshakhana and had not declared it but
her case had also been disposed of.
He said
Maryam Nawaz had also four flats according to the Panama case, but NAB had
withdrawn from that case too. He remarked that cases of those persons who
conduct press conferences are closed, while Amjad Khan, Sadaqat Abbasi and
other candidates were caught and were not allowed to submit their nomination
papers.
The PTI
founder said he had been booked in over 200 criminal cases, and such a large
number of cases had not been registered against any other person in the history
of the country. He said that when he gets bail in one case, he is booked in
another case.
He said
there is no rule of law in the country and that is why it is not making
progress.
He said
that PTI’s struggle was a movement for real independence, and providing rights
to the weak segments of the society and bringing the powerful under the law was
real democracy. He said that there was a law of jungle in the country and he
was victimized on May 9 and arrested illegally.
Khan
said that no political party was ever as brutally victimized as his party. He
said that Palestinian people were facing a genocide and there was no example in
world of the atrocities being committed on the Palestinian people.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1147428-all-cases-against-me-will-end-if-i-obey-powers-that-be-says-imran
----
India
Supreme
Court Pulls Up Yogi Adityanath Government In Muslim Student Slap Case
13.01.24
R.
Balaji
The
Supreme Court on Friday said the slapping of a Muslim child by his fellow
students at the alleged instigation of the school principal in Uttar Pradesh’s
Muzaffarnagar district last year would not have occurred had the state
government taken steps to prevent such incidents.
The
court was dealing with a PIL filed by Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of
Mahatma Gandhi, seeking action against those responsible for the incident
including registration of criminal cases.
“All
this happened because the state did not do what was expected to do. The state
should be very concerned about the manner in which the whole thing happened,”
Justice Abhay S. Oka, who was heading the bench, told Uttar Pradesh’s
additional advocate-general Garima Prashad.
The
bench, which included Justice UjjalBhuyan, made the observation after Prashad
informed the court that the parents of the victim child had shifted him to a
school 28km away from their residence and the school where the incident had
occurred.
She
submitted that it was against the mandate of the RTE Act, which stipulates that
a student from classes I to V has to reside within a 1km radius.
However,
the bench said the incident would not have happened if the state government had
taken sufficient steps. Prashad, however, maintained that the state government
could not be blamed as the incident took place at a private school.
After
taking on record the Uttar Pradesh government’s affidavit on the
recommendations made by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) regarding
the counselling of the victim and his fellow students, the bench asked counsel
Shadan Farasat to file a response to the affidavit on behalf of Gandhi.
The
bench also said it would go through the TISS’s recommendations and examine
whether the court needed to pass any further orders on the same and listed the
matter for further hearing on February 9.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-pulls-up-yogi-adityanath-government-in-muslim-student-slap-case/cid/1993385
-------
EAM
Jaishankar, Blinken discuss Red Sea attacks, Gaza
12th
January 2024
Sakina
Fatima
New
York: The United States has welcomed the “increased cooperation” with India in
defending freedom of navigation in the Red Sea as the two countries discussed
“shared concerns” over the reckless Houthi attacks in the region.
External
Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke
Thursday and “discussed the United States and India’s shared concerns over the
reckless Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which
threaten the free flow of commerce, endanger innocent mariners, and violate
international law”.
State
Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that Blinken
emphasised the Red Sea is a major commercial corridor that facilitates
international trade and “welcomed increased cooperation with India in defending
freedom of navigation in the region”.
Mr.
Jaishankar and Mr. Blinken also discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, efforts to
prevent the escalation and increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to
civilians in Gaza. Mr. Blinken also discussed Russia’s war of aggression
against Ukraine, the statement said.
In a
post on X, Mr. Jaishankar said he had a “good discussion” with “my friend” Mr.
Blinken.
“Our
conversation focused on maritime security challenges, especially the Red Sea
region. Appreciated his insights on the ongoing situation in West Asia,
including Gaza,” Mr. Jaishankar said.
The
Indian leader added that they exchanged perspectives on developments in the
Ukraine conflict. “Looking forward to realizing our extensive cooperation agenda
for 2024,” Mr. Jaishankar said.
In a
post on X, Mr. Miller said Mr. Blinken had a “productive call” with Mr.
Jaishankar, “discussing U.S.-India partnership for protecting freedom of
navigation in critical waterways”.
Source: siasat.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.siasat.com/eam-jaishankar-blinken-discuss-red-sea-attacks-gaza-2954860/
------
Arab World
Radar
site in Sana’a targeted in fresh US strike against Houthi militia
January
13, 2024
RIYADH:
US forces conducted a fresh strike against a Houthi radar site in Yemen, the
American military and the Iran-backed militia's official media both announced
on Saturday.
In a
statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strike targeted the radar
site to degrade the militia’s ability to attack maritime vessels.
“This
strike was conducted by the USS Carney (DDG 64) using Tomahawk Land Attack
Missiles and was a follow-on action on a specific military target associated
with strikes taken on Jan. 12 designed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to
attack maritime vessels, including commercial vessels,” the CENTCOM said in a
statement on X, formerly Twitter.
The
latest strike occurred early on Saturday local time in Yemen.
The
Houthi movement’s television channel Al-Masirah also reported that the strike
targeted the Al-Dailami base in Sana'a, Yemen's rebel-held capital.
"The
American-British enemy is targeting the capital, Sana'a, with a number of
raids," Al-Masirah TV posted on X, formerly Twitter, citing its correspondent
in Sanaa.
“The
American-British aggression targeted the Al-Dailami base in the capital,
Sanaa,” it added.
An
official of Yemen’s Houthi group Ansarullah said on Saturday that there were no
injuries in US latest strike against Houthi forces in Sanaa, and vowed a
“strong and effective” response.
“There
were no injuries, no material nor human losses,” NasruldeenAmer told Al
Jazeera.
The
fresh strike came a day after US and British warplanes, ships and submarines
launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen overnight in retaliation against
Houthi forces for months of attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Even as
Houthi leaders swore retaliation, US President Joe Biden warned earlier on
Friday that he could order more strikes if they do not stop their attacks on
merchant and military vessels in one of the world’s most economically vital
waterways.
“We will
make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous
behavior,” Biden told reporters during a stop in Pennsylvania on Friday.
Witnesses
confirmed explosions early on Friday, Yemen time, at military bases near
airports in the capital Sanaa and Yemen’s third city Taiz, a naval base at
Yemen’s main Red Sea port Hodeidah and military sites in the coastal Hajjah
governorate.
White
House spokesperson John Kirby said the strikes had targeted the Houthis’
ability to store, launch and guide missiles or drones, which the group has used
in recent months to threaten Red Sea shipping.
The
Pentagon said the US-British assault reduced the Houthis’ capacity to launch
fresh attacks. The US military said 60 targets in 28 sites were hit.
The
Houthis, who have controlled most of Yemen for nearly a decade, said five
fighters were killed, but they vowed to continue their attacks on regional
shipping.
The UK
Maritime Trade Operations information hub said it had received reports of a
missile landing in the sea around 500 meters (1,600 feet) from a ship about 90
nautical miles southeast of the Yemeni port of Aden.
The
shipping security firm Ambrey identified it as a Panama-flagged tanker carrying
Russian oil.
Drone
footage on the Houthis’ Al-Masirah TV showed hundreds of thousands of people in
Sanaa chanting slogans denouncing Israel and the United States.
“Your
strikes on Yemen are terrorism,” said Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the
Houthi Supreme Political Council. “The United States is the Devil.”
Biden,
whose administration removed the Houthis from a State Department list of
“foreign terrorist organizations” in 2021, was asked by reporters if he felt
the term “terrorist” described the movement now. “I think they are,” he said.
Spillover
The Red
Sea crisis is part of the violent regional spillover of Israel’s war with
Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist group, in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
Hamas
militants rampaged through southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and
seizing 240 hostages. Israel has responded by laying waste to large sections of
Gaza in an effort to annihilate Hamas. More than 23,000 Palestinians have been
killed.
Tobias
Borck, a Middle East security expert at Britain’s Royal United Services
Institute, said the Houthis wanted to portray themselves as champions of the
Palestinian cause but were mainly concerned about retaining power.
At the
United Nations Security Council, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield defended
the Yemen strikes, saying they were intended to “to disrupt and degrade the
Houthis’ ability to continue the reckless attacks against vessels and
commercial shipping.”
Russia’s
UN Ambassador VassilyNebenzia said earlier that the US and Britain
“single-handedly triggered a spillover of the conflict (in Gaza) to the entire
region.”
In
Washington, Kirby said, “We’re not interested in ... a war with Yemen.”
In a
poor country only just emerging from nearly a decade of war that brought
millions to the brink of famine, people fearing an extended new conflict queued
at gas stations.
Oil
price jumps
The
price of Brent crude oil rose more than $2 on Friday on concern that supplies
could be disrupted, but later gave up half its gain.
Biden
said on Friday he was “very concerned” about the impact of war in the Middle
East on oil prices.
Commercial
ship-tracking data showed at least nine oil tankers stopping or diverting from
the Red Sea.
The
attacks have forced commercial ships to take a longer, costlier route around
Africa, creating fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption.
Container shipping rates for key global routes have soared this week
The
strikes follow months of raids by Houthi fighters, who have boarded ships they
claimed were Israeli or heading for Israel. Many of the vessels had no known
connection to Israel.
The
United States and some allies sent a naval task force in December, and recent
days saw increasing escalation. On Tuesday, the United States and Britain shot
down 21 missiles and drones.
However,
not all major US allies chose to back the strikes inside Yemen.
The Netherlands,
Australia, Canada and Bahrain provided logistical and intelligence support,
while Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and South Korea signed a joint statement
defending the attacks and warning of further action.
But
Italy, Spain and France chose not to sign or participate, fearing a wider
escalation.
A senior
US official accused Tehran of providing the Yemeni group with military
capabilities and intelligence to carry out their attacks.Iran condemned the
strikes but there has been no sign so far that Iran is seeking direct conflict.
Iranian
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the White House could “restore
security across the region” by stopping its “all-out military and security
cooperation” with Israel.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440781/middle-east
-----
US-UK
naval fleet ‘legitimate’ target for Yemenis, warns Ansarullah
13
January 2024
A senior
official of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement has warned that the American
and British naval fleet will be a “legitimate” target for the country's armed
forces following a wave of attack on Yemen in response to anti-Israeli strikes.
Mohammad
al-Bakhiti, a member of Ansarullah’s politburo, made the warning in an interview
with Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Manar television channel following deadly
strikes by the American and British warplanes on several Yemeni provinces.
He
stressed that Yemen has entered a new stage of direct confrontation with the
United States and Britain.
“The
American and British naval fleet will be the legitimate target of the Yemeni
forces after changing their strategic approach. The US, along with the Zionist
enemy, is involved in the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the battle
is now between truth and falsehood.”
The
Ansarullah official said, "Yemen and Lebanon's support for Palestine
caused fears to be shattered and the US’s claims to fall flat. We are facing
major changes in the region and the Arab governments must prepare themselves for
popular changes in the future.”
Bakhiti
also warned Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against any involvement
in the US-led escalation in the strategic Red Sea.
“If
Saudi Arabia and the UAE directly involve in aggression against Yemen, we will target
their vital centers. The apparent neutrality of Saudi Arabia towards aggression
against Yemen is the result of the fear from Yemen's reaction,” he underlined.
Early on
Friday, the American and British warplanes targeted with 73 missiles five
regions of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Hudaydah,
Ta’izz, Hajjah, and Sa’ada, killing at least five people and wounding six
others.
On
Saturday morning, the US military claimed to have conducted a new attack
against a radar site that belonged to Ansarullah resistance movement in the
capital Sana'a.
The US
military conducts a new missile strike on Yemen, targeting a radar site in the
capital Sana’a.
‘Enemies
lined up in crosshairs’
Mohammad
Nasser al-Atefi, the Yemeni National Salvation Government's Defense Minister,
underscored Sana’a’s readiness to deter and respond to any Western aggression
and said Yemen has the “upper hand” in the Red and Arabian Sea.
“As long
as the war against the people of Gaza continues, we have surprises and they
will happen at the appropriate time specified by our leader,” Atefi said,
adding, “We advise you to leave the region and do not make false excuses and
justifications. Our hands are on the trigger and our spirit is harder than
steel.”
Underlining
that the Red Sea is “forbidden” for the Zionist regime, the defense minister
said, “We only target Israeli ships or ships supporting it or bound for this
regime. We assure international ships crossing the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and
Arabian Sea that they will not be harmed.”
The
Yemeni Armed Forces have vowed that the any "criminal aggression" by
the US and UK against their country will not go “unanswered and unpunished.”
Yemenis
have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli
occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7
after the territory’s Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise
retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying
entity.
The
relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has killed at least 23,357
people, most of them women and children. Another 59,410 individuals have been
wounded.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/13/718118/Yemen-Ansarallah-resistance-movement-US-UK-naval-fleet-legitimate-legitimate-target
----
S Arabia
moves to divide Grand Mosque in Makkah into coded zones
January
13, 2024
CAIRO: A
Saudi state agency in charge of Islam’s two holiest sites has signed an
agreement to look into dividing the Grand Mosque into coded zones to facilitate
worshippers’ access to the sprawling place, international media reported.
The
General Authority for Care of the Two Holy Mosques signed the pact with the
Saudi Postal and Logistics Company on the sidelines of a conference on services
related to Islamic Hajj pilgrimage.
The
accord aims to study the division of the Grand Mosque, Islam’s most sacred
site, and its outer yards into coded zones to help specify exactly geographical
locations and give easy guidance to worshippers and workers across the place.
The
agreement will, moreover, help gauge performance, and distribution of working
personnel based on the accommodation and operational capacity, thus ensuring
the highest standards of services provided across the mosque.
The
Grand Mosque in Makkah is home to the Holy Ka’aba, drawing millions of Muslims
annually from around the world to offer prayers and perform Umrah.
The
numbers of Umrah pilgrims reached a record 13.5 million last year, Saudi
Minister of Haj and Umrah Tawfiq Al Rabiah said earlier this week.
Saudi
Arabia, Islam’s birthplace, has in recent months unveiled a host of facilities
for Muslims wishing to come to the country for Umrah.
Visa
holders are allowed to enter the kingdom via all land, air and sea outlets.
In yet a
new facilitating step, Saudi Arabia has allowed its citizens to apply for
inviting their friends abroad to visit the kingdom and undertake Umrah.
Women
pilgrims are no longer required to be escorted by male guardians. The kingdom
has also said that expatriates residing in the Gulf Cooperation Council
countries are eligible to apply for a tourist visa, regardless of their
profession, and be able to perform Umrah.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1147433-s-arabia-moves-to-divide-grand-mosque-in-makkah-into-coded-zones
----
Minister
of Defense: We are ready to deter and respond, and Yemen has the upper hand in
Red and Arab Seas
[12/January/2024]
HODEIDAH
Jan 12. 2024 (Saba)- The Caretaker Minister of Defense, Major General Muhammad
Nasser Al-Atifi, said, “The longer the war on our people in Gaza lasts, the
more we will have many, many surprises, and they will appear at the appropriate
time and the time chosen by the leader of the nation, who has been delegated by
the Yemeni people to make decisions to support Palestine and the resistance in
Gaza.”
This
came during his field visit to the commanders of brigades, companies,
battalions, operations formations, and logistical support for the reserve
brigades in the Fifth Military Region.
He
added, "What we witnessed today in the fields of pride and holy jihad is
an honorable coronation for all of Yemen that embodies on the ground the fruit
of the sincere efforts of the leadership of the Fifth Military District and the
Yemeni army and reflects the extent to which our forces have reached in terms
of human capabilities, high readiness, organization, development, training,
qualification and manufacturing. Overall, they are qualitative successes and
achievements."
Major
General Al-Atefi confirmed that this path continues with the will and
determination of the free people of the proud Yemeni people and with the full
support and care of the revolutionary leadership represented by Commander
Abdul-Malik Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi.
He
added, "We find here an opportunity to tell those in our seas, islands,
and all of Yemen's geography that the stages of guardianship, hegemony, and
subordination have been buried in the depths of oblivion and are gone forever,
and a new, healthy Yemen has emerged, with full sovereignty and the will to
possess its national decision."
He
continued, "All they have to do is understand well this fact that is
troubling them. We also urge them to leave the region and not resort to
fabricating pretexts, flimsy justifications, methods of threats, enticement,
arrogance, mediations, and offers, unless our hands are on the trigger and our
morale is stronger and harder than steel."
He went
on to say, "We are ready to deter and respond, and the upper hand in the
Red and Arab Bahrain is Yemen. We realize that this disturbs America, the
Zionists, and those who surround them, and we want them to remain disturbed
until they stop the holocausts and massacres against the people of Palestine,
and deal with the Republic of Yemen as a free, unified, independent state that
has full sovereignty over the entire geography." Yemen by land, sea and
air.
The
Minister of Defense stated that America is bringing fleets of aircraft
carriers, battleships, frigates, destroyers and submarines to the Arab seas for
the purpose of restoring its prestige and influence, controlling the region and
reducing the presence of East and North Asian countries in the region.
He went
on to say, "You are treating mistake with mistake, or with a more serious
and horrific mistake. Therefore, your prestige will diminish more and more, and
in doing so you threaten the world's economy. You must stop being drawn into
the Zionist lobby and curb the defeated entity that takes revenge on the people
of Palestine and burns them with your internationally banned weapons."
The
emotional general pointed out that America and the West must change the style
of arrogance and hegemony in the region unless what is coming is greater and
the beginning is darker.
He said,
"We warned repeatedly that the Red Sea has become forbidden to the Zionist
entity and we only target the ships of the Zionist entity and those supporting
it or ships heading to the entity, while the rest of the world's ships that
pass through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea are safe and
secure and will not be harmed."
He
stated that the Yemeni people were besieged for nine years, and Gaza was also
besieged for decades, and when the ports of the disappearing Zionist entity
were besieged for months, resurrection came upon the descendants of apes and
pigs, the killers of the prophets, those who break covenants and kill women and
children.
The
Minister of Defense reiterated that all of this did not and will not deter
Yemen’s faith in the leadership of Commander Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi
from standing in support of Gaza and the people of Palestine, regardless of the
sacrifices.
He
added, "There is advice from many quarters to America that continuing the
racist extermination of the Palestinian people is not in their interest.
Rather, it is against them. But instead of putting pressure on the entity to
stop the massacres and holocausts, they sought to put pressure on the entity
with a quick decision in Gaza, which means killing, destroying, burning and
genocide of the Palestinian people." .
He
continued, "The Americans were surprised that the leadership and army of
the entity cannot decide and are only good at destruction and killing women,
children and journalists, despite the full and absolute support and support of
the American and Western leadership for this defeated entity."
Major
General Al-Atefi also stressed that there are global changes and America and
the West must believe in that, otherwise they will pay a heavy price.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3295821.htm
----
Yemeni
FM holds America & Britain responsible for threatening international
navigation & trade after their aggression against Yemen
[12/January/2024]
SANA'A
January 12. 2024(Saba)-The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the
American-British aggression against the capital, Sana'a, and Hodeida, Hajjah,
Sa'ada, and Taiz provinces is illegal and contrary to international law and the
purposes of the United Nations Charter.
The
Ministry explained in a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba)
that the American-British aggression, which resulted in the death of five and
the injury of six others, represents a stark picture of the failure of the
Security Council to carry out its responsibilities in maintaining international
peace , security and preserving the lives of civilians, in light of the current
structure of its membership.
Security
Council, which threatens the complete collapse of the United Nations system.
FM
statement stated that this aggression came after the failure of Washington,
London, Paris, Berlin, and a number of Western capitals that support the
Zionist enemy militarily, politically, financially, and logistically, to
pressure Sana’a with enticement and intimidation to stop its support for the
Palestinians in Gaza Strip.
It
pointed out that the aggression came after the American enemy targeted boats
belonging to the Yemeni naval forces and the death of 10 Yemeni martyrs, and
carried out misleading media campaigns in order to prepare world public opinion
that Sana'a threatens the international shipping line in the Red Sea,the Strait
of Bab, Washington, London and Paris took advantage of its permanent membership
in the Security Council
To adopt
Resolution 2722, which is a precedent that establishes legal chaos on the
international scene and the emergence of conflicts in various parts of the
world.
It
reiterated its emphasis that the Republic of Yemen, which has been steadfast
for nine years in the military aggression's face and a siege that created the
worst man-made humanitarian disaster, will not be deterred by the
American-British aggression from continuing its humanitarian and moral duty
towards the Palestinians.
The
statement held America and Britain responsible for the safety of maritime
navigation and international trade in the Red Sea region, Bab al-Mandab Strait,
and the Arabian Sea, as the presence of their forces is illegal and considered
a form of occupation that must be fought by all countries overlooking the Red
and Arabian Seas.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3295784.htm
-----
Hajj,
Umrah conference attracts 100,000 visitors
January
12, 2024
JEDDAH:
The third edition of the Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition
attracted nearly 100,000 visitors from around 100 countries.
Organized
by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience
Program — one of the initiatives of Vision 2030 —the event was held at the
Jeddah Superdome.
During
the closing ceremony on Thursday, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Abdul
Fattah bin Suleiman Mashat highlighted the launch of a platform for training
and licensing workers and creating a competitive environment.
Separately,
Dr. Awwad bin Sabti Al-Anzi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Call, and Guidance, met with a 15th batch of guests hosted by the Custodian of
the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Umrah. The 250 visitors came from 14
Asian countries and were received in Makkah.
Al-Anzi
said: “The program confirms the Kingdom’s leading role when it comes to serving
Islam and Muslims and providing Muslims with the opportunity of performing
Umrah and visiting the Prophet’s Mosque to help bring them together.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440641/saudi-arabia
----
Africa
Human
Right Violation: ‘Military, Police Making Mockery Of Anti-Torture Law’
13
January 2024
AyomideEmeka
Joseph
Rights
group Amnesty International has accused the Nigeria Police and the military of
making mockery of anti-torture law.
Making
this allegation in a statement made available on its official X handle, the
right organisation called on the President Bola Tinubu led government to give a
directive to security forces to stop subjecting people to torture and other
cruel treatment.
The
rights group revealed that it has been documenting reports of police and
military beating citizens with whips, gun butts, batons and other items.
The
tweet read, “The Nigerian authorities must give a clear directive to security
forces to stop subjecting people to torture and other cruel, inhuman and
degrading treatment. Almost daily reports of torture by the military and police
are making mockery of the Anti-Torture law.
“Amnesty
International has been documenting almost daily cases — across Nigeria — in
which the military and police routinely engage in beating people with whips,
gun butts, batons, sticks, rods and cables.”
Amnesty
International Faults Nigerian Government For Failing To Take Concrete Measures Against
Rapists
Meanwhile,
the right group, had earlier faulted the
President Bola Tinubu led government for failing to bring justice to rape
victims.
Faulting
the government in a statement made available on its official website, the right
group lamented that the despite declaring state of emergency on rape, the
Nigerian government had failed to ensure that victims of rape get justice.
Naija
News reports that the group lamented that a wanton of rape cases remain
unreported as a result of corruption, stigma and victim blaming.
“Despite
the Nigerian authorities’ declaration of a “state of emergency” on sexual and
gender-based violence, rape persists at crisis levels with most survivors
denied justice, rapists avoiding prosecution, and hundreds of cases of rape
going unreported due to pervasive corruption, stigma and victim blaming,”
Amnesty International said in a report.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/01/13/human-right-violation-military-police-making-mockery-of-anti-torture-law/
-----
Protests
sweep across 56 Moroccan cities against ongoing Israeli attacks against Gaza
Khalid
Mejdoup
13.01.2024
Protests
against Israel's attacks in Gaza, which have been ongoing for more than three months,
took place in 56 cities in Morocco.
According
to a statement from the Foundation for Supporting the Issues of the Ummah civil
society organization, demonstrations were organized at 113 locations under the
slogan: "No to the displacement of Palestinians."
Protesters,
condemning the war in Gaza and the international community's silence,
congratulated South Africa for filing a "genocide" case against
Israel at the International Court of Justice.
They
urged the Moroccan government to reconsider its normalization agreement with
Israel.
Morocco
and Israel signed a normalization deal Dec. 10, 2020, where Morocco resumed
diplomatic relations with Israel in exchange for recognizing Morocco's
sovereignty in Western Sahara.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/protests-sweep-across-56-moroccan-cities-against-ongoing-israeli-attacks-against-gaza/3107751
-----
‘I Offer
All Praises To Allah For Our Victory’ – Governor Bala Reacts After S’CourtJudgment
David
Adenuga, Bauchi
January
12, 2024
Bauchi
State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for
his Supreme Court victory.
Nation
reports that Bala Mohammed was declared as duly elected governor of Bauchi
State by a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court on Friday.
The
judgment was delivered by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa.
Following
the court’s affirmation of his election, the governor acknowledged the support
of the people of Bauchi State and @OfficialPDPNig.
The
governor also extended thanks to stakeholders, including religious leaders and
political associates, emphasising the commitment to continue the positive work
in Bauchi State. #GreaterBauchi
Mohammed
wrote on his verified Facebook page: “In the Name of Allah, the Most
Beneficent, the Most Merciful, I offer all praises to Allah for our victory.
“This
triumph belongs to the people of Bauchi State and our esteemed party, the
@OfficialPDPNig.
“On
behalf of my family and myself, I express deep gratitude to all our
stakeholders who joined us in this journey, particularly our religious and
faith leaders, political associates, friends, and well-wishers.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://thenationonlineng.net/i-offer-all-praises-to-allah-for-our-victory-governor-bala-reacts-after-scourt-judgment/
----
Zamfara:
We will not negotiate with bandits – GovLawal insists
January
13, 2024
IfeanyiNwannah
Governor
DaudaLawal of Zamfara State has restated the vow of his administration never to
negotiate with the ravaging bandits for the purpose of peacemaking.
The
Governor who spoke through his Deputy, Malam Mani Mumuni said his
administration was ready to welcome any opposition party in the struggle to end
insecurity in the state, noting he is not for the PDP alone but the entire
state.
“I am
not only the Governor of PDP alone but I am the Governor of Zamfara as a whole,
so let everyone remove segregation from my government”, he added
He said
the Supreme Court verdict on his election was a victory for democracy and the
development of the country in general.
“It does
not matter who is APC or PDP, I am the Governor of Zamfara State irrespective
of political party or tribe”
DaudaLawal
was represented by the State’s Deputy Governor, Malam Mani Mummuni at a press
conference held at his office, in Gusau, the state capital.
He said
the judiciary has proven its integrity to be the last hope for the common man
and commended them for their foresight.
The
Deputy Governor said the present administration was very much ready to end
insecurity in the state, stressing that any act of betrayal would not be
tolerated.
Source: dailypost.ng
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://dailypost.ng/2024/01/13/zamfara-we-will-not-negotiate-with-bandits-gov-lawal-insists/
------
Mideast
Hamas
condemns American-British aggression against Yemen
[12/January/2024]
GAZA
January 12. 2024 (Saba) - The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas condemned the
American-British aggression against Yemen, on Friday.
“The
American-British aggression against the Yemeni army’s areas because it stood by
Gaza is an aggression and a provocation to the entire nation," Hamas
leader Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement reported by the Palestinian
Information Center.
He
pointed out that the aggression indicates a decision to expand the area of
conflict outside Gaza by the countries that launched attacks against Yemen, and
this will lead to repercussions.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3295789.htm
-----
Arab
countries demand de-escalation amid western airstrikes in Yemen
Rania
R.a.Abushamala
13.01.2024
Official
Arab positions called for a de-escalation in the region Friday after US and UK
airstrikes targeted what they claimed were Houthi group sites in Yemen.
Oman
condemned the airstrikes, while Iraq denounced the offensive, along with similar
condemnations from the Palestinian movements Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well
as Lebanon's Hezbollah group.
“In
response to continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi attacks
against vessels, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea, the
armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from the
Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted joint strikes in
accordance with the inherent right of individual and collective self-defense,
consistent with the UN Charter, against a number of targets in
Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” the White House said in a statement on
behalf of the US, the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, the
Netherlands, New Zealand and South Korea.
Arab
concerns and calls for de-escalation
The
Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern about the military
operations taking place in the Red Sea region and the airstrikes hitting
several locations in Yemen.”
It
emphasized "the importance of maintaining the security and stability of
the Red Sea region, whose navigation freedom is an international demand,
jeopardizing it affects the interests of the entire world,” and urged
“restraint and avoiding escalation given the events in the region.”
Kuwait
said it had “grave concern and keen interest in the developments in the Red Sea
region following the attacks that targeted sites in Yemen.”
It
stressed, “the importance of preserving security and stability in the Red Sea
region and securing the freedom of navigation in all vital waterways,” and
emphasized, “the importance of de-escalation immediately and prioritizing the
voice of reason to prevent any dangers that may threaten the freedom of
navigation in the region, relied upon by most countries worldwide.”
Jordanian
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told the official Jordanian news agency that
“Jordan is closely monitoring the developments in the Red Sea region, and their
repercussions on regional security in general,” adding that it “underscores the
interdependence of the region's stability and security, with the Israeli
aggression on Gaza and its brutality, and its violations of the rights of the
Palestinians, being the greatest threat.”
Omani
disapproval and Iraqi condemnation
Oman is
“closely and with great concern following the developments of the
American-British bombardment that targeted several cities in the brotherly
Yemen,” it said in a statement that added it “cannot but condemn the resort to
this military action by friendly countries, while Israel persists in its brutal
bombardment and war on Gaza without accountability or punishment.”
Muscat
reiterated that it has repeatedly warned of the expansion of the conflict and
confrontation in the region due to Israel's ongoing aggression against the
occupied Palestinian territories, as it urged “all parties to stop the
escalation and military operations.”
Foreign
Minister Badr Al-Busaidi wrote on X: “We feel great concern about the attack
launched by the United States and the United Kingdom on targets in Yemen. This
contradicts our recommendations and increases the danger of the
situation."
He
added: “I urge all parties to exercise restraint and focus on an immediate
ceasefire in Gaza.”
Iraq
said in a statement: “We affirm the need to preserve the freedom of navigation
in international waters, condemn the aggression on Yemen and its sovereignty,
and believe that expanding the targets does not represent a solution to the
problem but will only widen the scope of the war.”
It
stressed that “the solution lies in the United Nations Security Council
exercising its responsibilities and issuing a resolution to stop the aggressive
and brutal war against the Palestinians in Gaza.”
Arab
movements' condemnations
Palestinian
movement, Hamas, said: "We strongly condemn the blatant American-British
aggression on Yemen, and hold them responsible for its repercussions on the
region's security.”
It
affirmed that "the brutal aggression on Yemen is an uncalculated act under
the influence of the will of the Zionist occupation and its extremist Nazi
leadership, and it will only ignite and tense the region. Washington and London
bear responsibility for its consequences.”
The
Islamic Jihad said: “This aggression comes within the framework of the military
umbrella provided by Western colonial countries to their military base in
Palestine (referring to Israel).”
The
group urged Arab and Islamic nations to “act against the aggression on Yemen,
which rose to defend Gaza and the sanctities of Muslims in Palestine.”
Lebanon's
Hezbollah, in a statement, said: “We strongly condemn the blatant
American-British aggression on Yemen and its security and sovereignty and on
its noble free people, who stood with all their might, courage, and
responsibility alongside the Palestinian people and their brave resistance.”
It
emphasized that “this aggression will not weaken Yemen but will only increase
its strength, determination, and courage to confront it and continue on the
path of supporting the Palestinian people and winning their just and fair
cause.”
In
addition, the military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, announced that
five Houthi fighters were killed in 73 airstrikes conducted by US and British
forces in five provinces in Yemen.
Maritime
trade constitutes 70% of Israel's imports, with 98% of its foreign trade
passing through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Trade through the Red Sea
contributes 34.6% to Israel's economy, according to its Finance Ministry.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/arab-countries-demand-de-escalation-amid-western-airstrikes-in-yemen/3107699
-------
Israel
Blocks Worshipers from Reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque for 14th Consecutive Week
13
January 2024
Israel
maintained its repressive practices in the West Bank banning worshippers from
reaching al-Aqsa Mosque for the 14th consecutive week, especially on Fridays.
Israel
deployed massive police forces and established military barriers, provoking and
suppressing visitors and threatening and forcing them to return.
On
Friday, the al-Aqsa Mosque was almost empty of worshipers, and the Old City was
empty of visitors.
The
Israeli forces prevented thousands of worshipers and only allowed a small
number of elderly people and women to enter the Mosque.
According
to the Islamic Endowments Department, the number of worshipers on Friday was at
most 12,000, which is only a quarter of the usual number on regular days.
The
worshipers performed prayers in the streets of Jerusalem despite the
persecution, oppression, and rainy weather.
In the
Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, Israeli forces attacked a group of worshipers with
gas bombs while they were praying. Also, the 1948 Palestinians, who are
considered Israeli citizens, were denied entry to al-Aqsa.
Cities
and villages in the West Bank witnessed a series of major attacks and Israel
continued to destroy the infrastructure in refugee camps.
On
Friday, Israeli forces attacked Nourshams camp adjacent to Tulkarm, destroying
the infrastructure.
The head
of the emergency department in Tulkarm, Hakim Abu Safiya, said that the camp
was under a broader attack than the recent attacks, causing severe destruction
to infrastructure.
Camp
residents said the occupation bulldozers closed many street entrances and
closed their alleys with dirt berms and asphalt, preventing them from leaving
their homes.
Meanwhile,
on Friday afternoon, the army stormed the town of Arraba, southwest of Jenin,
and arrested freed prisoner IssamNawafLahlouh, 62, before abducting him, in
addition to invading the homes of his two sons.
Security
and local sources reported that the occupation forces arrested another freed
prisoner, Ali Jamal Abu Salah, 29, at the Shafi Shamron roadblock near Nablus
while he was traveling back to his home.
On
Friday morning, Israeli forces also stormed several areas in Nablus.
Security
sources reported to WAFA news agency that Israeli forces stormed the old and
new Askar camps and searched several homes, but no arrests were reported.
They
also stormed Azmut village and Beit Furik town, east of Nablus. Confrontations
erupted, but no injuries were reported.
Israeli
forces also stormed and raided a house in Sinjil, north of Ramallah.
The
mayor of Sinjil, MoatazTawafsheh, reported that the occupation soldiers raided
the home of HussamAwashra, an expat in the US, smashed and removed the doors,
and turned it into a military barracks.
Tawafsheh
pointed out that this is the second time that Awashra’s house has been raided
within five days.
Source: aawsat.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/478
----
Death
toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza since Oct. 7 rises to 23,708
Anadolu
staff
13.01.2024
At least
23,708 Palestinians have been killed and 60,050 others injured in Israeli
attacks in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the territory’s Health Ministry said
Friday.
In a
statement, the ministry said 151 more people were killed and 248 others injured
over the past 24 hours.
A number
of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil
defense crews cannot reach them, the ministry added.
Israel
launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a
cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Authorities
claim the Hamas attacks have killed around 1,200 Israelis.
The
Israeli onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave’s
infrastructure damaged or destroyed and nearly 2 million residents displaced
amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicines.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/death-toll-from-israeli-attacks-in-gaza-since-oct-7-rises-to-23-708/3107229
----
Israel
pounds Gaza on 99th day of war
January
13, 2024
GAZA:
Israel pounded Gaza on Saturday as the Palestinian territory suffered under a
dire humanitarian situation and grappled with a telecommunications blackout on
the 99th day of the war.
Fears of
the conflict widening have grown after US and British forces struck pro-Hamas
Houthi rebels in Yemen following attacks on Red Sea shipping, with a fresh US
air strike confirmed Saturday.
Witnesses
reported Israeli bombardment of Gaza in the early morning, and an AFP
journalist said Friday that strikes and shelling had hit areas between Gaza’s
southern cities of Khan Yunis and Rafah, crowded with people who have fled from
the north.
All
Internet and telecommunications services in Gaza were cut Friday as a result of
Israeli bombardment, the main operator Paltel said.
“Gaza is
blacked out again,” it said in a post on social media platform X.
The
Palestinian Red Crescent posted that the disruption was increasing the
challenges in “reaching the wounded and injured promptly.”
Israel’s
relentless bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 23,708 people, mostly women
and children, according to the latest health ministry figures.
The war
began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, which resulted
in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally
based on official figures. The militant group also seized about 250 hostages.
Aid
prevention
UN aid
agency OCHA’s head for the occupied Palestinian territories told AFP on Friday
that Israel was constantly blocking humanitarian aid convoys into northern
Gaza.
“They
have been very systematic in not allowing us to support hospitals, which is
something that is reaching a point of a level of inhumanity that for me is
beyond comprehension,” Andrea De Domenico said.
In
central Gaza, a lack of fuel forced the shutdown of the main generator of Al
Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, the health ministry said.
“Does
anyone care about us? Why is everyone silent?” asked one mourner at a hospital
where a group of Palestinians had gathered beside white body bags holding the
latest casualties.
But the
war didn’t stop Afnan and Moustapha from getting married in Rafah, near the
border with Egypt.
“The
house where the groom was supposed to live was destroyed, and as the war
persisted, we thought it best for them to get married,” Ayman Shamlakh, the
groom’s uncle, told AFP.
“We are
all living through the same tragedy. However, we must continue to live, and
life should go on.”
Mohamed
Gebreel, father of the bride, said he had no doubts about going ahead with the
ceremony.
“We are
a people that love life despite death, murders and destruction,” he said.
Medicine
for hostages
Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Friday a deal had been negotiated
with Qatar to get medicine to hostages still being held in Gaza.
The deal
“will allow the entry of medicines for the hostages held by the Hamas terrorist
organization in Gaza,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Israeli
campaign group Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a report this week
saying the captives were in poor health, some with complex illnesses, others
with injuries.
A
diplomat familiar with the negotiations told AFP that both sides had expressed
a willingness to allow the delivery of medicines.
“The
mediators are now in the process of finalizing the details” of the type and
quantities of medicines required, as well as the conditions for their delivery,
the source said.
A source
close to Hamas confirmed to AFP that talks had been held on allowing the entry
of medicines, but that discussions were ongoing.
Israel
criticized the UN human rights office for not reiterating its calls for the
release of the hostages in a statement marking the looming 100th day of the
conflict.
“A call
for a cease-fire, without demanding the release of our hostages and the
disarming of Hamas, is a call for terrorism to win,” its office in Geneva said.
The UN
high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, has called repeatedly for the
hostages to be freed.
In the
occupied West Bank, Israeli troops killed three militants after they attacked a
Jewish settlement, the army said.
It said
there had been a “terrorist infiltration” in the Adora settlement, some 20
kilometers (12 miles) west of Hebron, and soldiers had come under fire.
The
soldiers searched the area and “three assailants were identified and
neutralized by the security forces.”
When
questioned by AFP, the Israeli army confirmed the death of the three
assailants, while the Palestinian agency Wafa identified them as a 19-year-old
and two 16-year-olds.
Since
the war in Gaza broke out, violence in the occupied West Bank has also surged,
with at least 337 people killed by Israeli troops or settlers, according to the
health ministry in Ramallah.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440846/middle-east
------
UN
decries ‘systematic’ blocking of aid to north Gaza hospitals
January
12, 2024
GENEVA:
Israel is consistently blocking humanitarian convoys into northern Gaza, making
it increasingly challenging to bring desperately needed fuel and other aid to
hospitals there, the UN said.
After
planning aid missions to the north, UN agencies said their convoys were
subjected to slow and unpredictable inspections and then a near-systematic
refusal from the Israeli side to proceed.
“Operations
in the north (are) increasingly more complicated,” Andrea De Domenico, head of
the UN aid agency OCHA’s office in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Speaking
from Jerusalem at a virtual press briefing, he described how detailed
coordination was required with a network of checkpoints, and “the Israelis have
systematically, or quasi-systematically, refused” to let them through.
In
recent days, he said the agency had had three missions partially approved out
of 21 requested.
Lucia
Elmi, special representative for the UN children’s agency UNICEF in the
Palestinian territories, also lamented that “we can’t get sufficient aid in.”
“The
inspection process remains slow and unpredictable, and some of the materials we
desperately need remain restricted, with no clear justification,” she said.
De
Domenico said the Israeli military was particularly wary about allowing fuel
into the north, especially to hospitals.
“They
have been very systematic not to allow us to support hospitals, which is
reaching a level of inhumanity that, for me, is beyond comprehension,” he said.
The UN’s
World Health Organization, meanwhile, said that it had finally on Thursday
managed to reach Al-Shifa Hospital in the north for the first time in over two
weeks, after seven failed attempts.
WHO
chief TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus said on X, formerly Twitter, that the mission
allowed the delivery of desperately needed aid, including 9,300 liters of fuel.
He said
“the team reported that Al-Shifa, previously Gaza’s premier hospital, has
(partially) re-established services.”
The
hospital, which WHO described as “a death zone” after it largely ceased
operations following raids and occupation by Israeli troops in November, now
has 60 medical staff, Tedros said.
It also
has “a surgical and medical ward with 40 beds, an emergency department, four
operating theaters, basic emergency obstetric and gynecologic services.”
Hospitals,
protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by
alleged Israeli strikes in Gaza since the war erupted.
The
Israeli military accuses Hamas of having tunnels under hospitals and using the
medical facilities as command centers, a charge denied by the Islamist group.
Only 15
of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially functioning, most in the south.
The UN
has long described desperate scenes in the few barely functioning northern
hospitals, facing severe shortages of food, clean water, medicines, and fuel.
While
the partial resumption of services at Al-Shifa was good news, Tedros emphasized
that “fuel consumption is much higher, and the need for medical supplies is
increasing.”
Elmi
meanwhile stressed the urgency of allowing more aid through, especially for
Gaza’s children.
“Children
in Gaza are running out of time, while most of the lifesaving humanitarian aid
they desperately need remains stranded between insufficient access corridors
and protracted layers of inspections,” she said.
“Mounting
needs and a constrained response is a formula for a disaster of epic
proportions.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440676/middle-east
------
Four
young Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces across occupied West Bank
13
January 2024
At least
four young Palestinian men have been shot dead by Israeli forces in two
separate incidents in the West Bank, as violence escalates in the occupied
territory concurrent with the Tel Aviv regime’s relentless bombardment of the
Gaza Strip.
The
official Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, said Israeli
forces opened fire on three teenagers near the illegal Adora settlement, west
of al-Khalil, on Friday evening.
The
three victims were identified as 19-year-old Ismail Ahmed Yousef Abu Jahisha
and his cousin Mahmoud Arafat Yousef Abu Jahisha, 16, as well as OdaiIsmaeil
Yousef, also 16.
Local
sources, requesting anonymity, said Israeli troops sealed off entrances to the
towns of Idhna and Tarqumiyah in the aftermath of the shooting, and deployed
their forces heavily in the vicinity of the settlement.
Flares
were also fired in the area by the Israeli troops.
WAFA
report appears to dismiss Israeli media narratives that the three had
“infiltrated” the settlement.
Israeli
forces assassinate three Palestinian youths in a raid on a suburb of the
occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm.
The
Israeli military alleged in a statement that the three Palestinians opened fire
at troops conducting a patrol in Adora.
It
further claimed that a 34-year-old settler was shot in the leg during the
purported attack, and was in good-to-moderate condition. He was reportedly
conscious when taken to hospital.
The
military said troops were continuing to search the settlement.
Separately,
a Palestinian university student was killed and two others suffered gunshot
wounds in their lower extremities during an Israeli military raid into the town
of Zeita, located 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) northeast of Tulkarm.
Confrontations
broke out following the Israeli military incursion into the town, during which
Israeli forces attacked residents and injured three youths.
Local
sources said Israeli troops opened live fire and tear gas canisters heavily
toward locals, and prevented ambulances from reaching the scene.
The
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its crews dealt with very serious
injuries as a result of the attack, which caused a 19-year-old teenager to
suffer a cardiopulmonary arrest. He was transferred to a nearby hospital, where
he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
WAFA
identified the teenager as Khalid Ahmed Zubeid, a sophomore student
specializing in communications engineering at Palestine Technical University -
Kadoorie (PTUK).
Dr. Amin
Khader, the head of ThabetThabet Government Hospital in Tulkarm, said bruises
were widespread across the teenager’s body, suggesting that he had been
severely beaten by Israeli troops.
An
Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip kills Hani al-Masdar, who coached
Palestine’s Olympic football team.
Israel
has ramped up its aggression in the West Bank since its bombardment of Gaza
began in early October.
At least
344 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank
since October 7 when Israel waged the genocidal war on Gaza after Hamas carried
out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its
intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.
The
Israeli aggression has so far killed at least 23,708 Palestinians, most of them
women and children, and wounded more than 60,000 others.
The Tel
Aviv regime has imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel,
electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living
there.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/13/718114/Four-young-Palestinians-shot-dead-by-Israeli-forces-across-occupied-West-Bank
------
Iran:
Instead of attacking Yemen, US should stop backing Israeli war on Gaza
12
January 2024
Iran
strongly denounces the US's earlier attacks on Yemen, which came in response to
the Arab Peninsula nation's strikes in support of the Gaza Strip that has come
under a genocidal and Washington-backed Israeli war.
Foreign
Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a post on X, former
Twitter, on Friday, shortly after the United States and Britain attacked
targets belonging to Yemen's Ansarullah popular resistance movement.
The US
and UK attack Ansarullah targets across Yemen in response to the Yemeni popular
resistance movement
Several
American media outlets reported the attacks on Thursday, saying they involved
warplanes and Tomahawk missiles.
During
recent months, Ansarullah and the Yemeni Armed Forces have been staging missile
and drone strikes against vessels linked to the Israeli regime or those heading
to Israeli ports in support of war-hit Palestinians in Gaza.
Since
its onset on October 7, the Israeli war has killed more than 23,500
Palestinians, mostly women and children.
The
United States has been providing Israel with unbridled military and political
support in its onslaught against Gaza, arming Tel Aviv with more than 10,000
tons of military hardware. The US has also cast its veto against all United
Nations Security Council resolutions that have called for a permanent ceasefire
in Gaza.
Referring
to the pro-Palestinian Yemeni strikes, Amir-Abdollahian wrote, "Yemen's
measure in support of Gaza's women and children and confrontation against the
Israeli regime's genocide is commendable."
He also
reminded that Yemeni officials, including those from Ansarullah, have vowed not
to target any vessel other than Israeli and Israeli-lined ones. "Sana'a is
completely committed to [observing] naval and maritime security," read the
post by the top diplomat.
"Instead
of [staging] military attack on Yemen, the White House should immediately cease
its all-out military and security cooperation with Tel Aviv against the people
of Gaza and the West Bank, so security would return to the entire region,"
Amir-Abdollahian concluded.
The
US-backed Israeli regime has also escalated its attacks against the West Bank
since the onset of the Gaza war, killing hundreds of Palestinians throughout
the occupied territory.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/12/718104/Iran-United-States-attack-Yemen-Gaza-war-Israel
-----
People protest
outside UK embassy in Tehran on Yemen attack
Jan 13,
2024
TEHRAN,
Jan. 13 (MNA) – University students and people in the Iranian capital Tehran
held a demonstration in front of the British embassy late on Friday to condemn
the attacks by the US and UK against Yemen.
Protesters
reiterated their support for Yemen’s Ansarullah movement and the country’s
army, saying they have the right to take reciprocal action against the US and
the UK for overnight airstrikes against several Yemeni cities.
People
also expressed their support for the brave Yemeni nation and their struggle to
help people in Palestine.
The
spokesperson of Yemen’s Armed Forces Yahya Saree issued a statement on Friday
saying the US and the UK had carried out 73 direct attacks against Yemen in the
early hours of January 12, killing five and injuring six Yemeni forces.
Saree
noted that the armed forces in Yemen will not hesitate to hit any party which
threatens Yemen.
This
aggression will never make us withdraw from our stance to support the
Palestinian nation in their fights against oppression, he said.
The US
and UK along with other eight countries struck the bases of Yemen’s Ansarullah
following the United Nations Security Council ratified a resolution to condemn
attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The
resolution had been drafted by the United States and Japan a day earlier.
In
response to the US and the UK attacks against Yemeni, the Iranian Foreign
Ministry spokesman said such aggressive acts are a clear violation of the
territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Yemen and go against
international laws.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/210716/People-protest-outside-UK-embassy-in-Tehran-on-Yemen-attack
------
Gaza
crisis through eyes of children: Istanbul exhibition makes global impact
FatihTürkyılmaz
13.01.2024
An
exhibition in Istanbul to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
from the perspective of children has garnered international acclaim, attracting
not only locals but foreign guests and members of the international press.
Bulletproof
Dreams: Exhibition of Gazan Child Artists, was hosted by the Turkish
Communications Directorate and opened in late December in Taksim Square.
Renowned
Lebanese-Swedish iconic Muslim singer Maher Zain, along with Tunisian singer
and songwriter EmelMathlouthi, visited the exhibition and expressed support.
The
exhibition features specially composed songs for Palestine by the artists and
addresses the hardships faced by Palestinians.
Zain
praised the effect of the exhibition. "Now we are here in this exhibition,
beautiful artwork. And we can see it is very expressive, extremely expressive,
and this is like through the minds and the eyes of the children of Palestine
and Gaza," he told Anadolu.
Calling
for an end to the violence, he said: "We have been witnessing this now for
more than 90 days and it is terrible. I mean, it is devastating to watch and it
is still going on. It is even more devastating and we do not know when it is
going to stop. We just hope that is going to stop as soon as possible. We want
a ceasefire now of course."
He
emphasized the need for everyone to take a stand against the ongoing atrocities
and said he hopes his music and art could contribute to the cause.
EmelMathlouthi
was emotionally moved by witnessing the images of violence and war imprinted on
the memories of children.
"As
a person, I feel a little bit weak, because I am just an artist. But I hope
that art and especially from this exhibition can reach more hearts can reach
more eyes. I wish that this amazing collection could travel in the world, could
go to Paris to Berlin to New York, to London, because it is very important that
we show Gaza, not only through the lens of reporters, but through the lens of
its children," she said.
The
exhibition showcases the artwork of Gazan children, conveying their emotions,
traumas and the challenging conditions they endure through art. The artworks
are complemented by special sections dedicated to journalists and doctors
killed during Israel's recent attacks.
Türkiye's
Communications Director FahrettinAltun, stressed the significance of the
children's artwork as evidence of Israel's atrocities.
"This
exhibition and our other efforts are aimed at confronting the world with the
harsh realities they choose to ignore. We will continue to expose the truths
that the world refuses to see, both domestically and internationally,"
said Altun.
The
exhibition is open to the public until Jan. 29. It has already been seen by
200,000 visitors.
The
exhibition features 266 artworks, some of which were drawn by Gazan children
who were killed in subsequent attacks.
It aims
to raise awareness in the international community by conveying the feelings,
traumas, pain, and difficult conditions of children who witnessed the war in
Gaza.
The
exhibition includes physical installations of paintings by Gazan children and
digital screenings.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/gaza-crisis-through-eyes-of-children-istanbul-exhibition-makes-global-impact/3107690
----
Pakistan
JUI-F’s
Fazl says held ‘comprehensive and inclusive’ talks with Taliban supreme leader
January
12, 2024
Tahir
Khan
Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday confirmed he
met Taliban supreme leader HaibatullahAkhunzada and held “comprehensive and
inclusive talks” on all issues.
The
JUI-F chief has become the second prominent figure to meet the Taliban chief
following the Qatari prime minister’s meeting with him in Kandahar last year.
Fazl had
travelled to Kabul on Sunday along with an 11-member delegation on the Afghan
interim government’s invitation after the JUI-F chief conveyed his desire to
visit Afghanistan to discuss issues that had been souring ties between the two
countries.
During
his visit, Fazl, who undertook the trip in the middle of a hectic election
campaign, met key Taliban leaders, including the Afghan prime minister. It was
his first trip to Afghanistan since the Taliban’s assumption of control
following the US withdrawal in 2021.
In an
interview with Afghan National Radio and Television today, which will be aired
on Saturday, Fazl confirmed meeting the Taliban chief. The interview was
conducted in Kabul hours before the JUI-F chief wrapped up his six-day trip to
Afghanistan, which the JUI-F has described as “highly successful”.
When
asked about his earlier remarks that he would travel to Kandahar to meet
Akhunzada, Fazl said, “We were in contact with them for this purpose. They
positively responded to us. We received their full support and I am thankful to
him.”
To
another question regarding his meeting with the Taliban chief, he said: “Of
course. I am not making hollow claims.”
“We
discussed all issues between the two countries,” Fazl said. “The purpose of my
visit was that we do not confine ourselves to only one issue. We held
comprehensive and inclusive talks. We covered all issues and exchanged
suggestions for cooperation in all fields. They endorsed our stance in a very
proper way,” the JUI-F chief added.
Separately,
in a statement on social media platform X today, the JUI-F media cell said Fazl
held meeting meetings with Afghan Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Ghani Baradar,
Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob Mujahid, Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani
and Refugee Minister Khalil ur Rehman Haqqani.
Sirajuddin
Haqqani also made similar comments and said his government wants cordial
relations with Pakistan. “Talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan on border
affairs should move forward with consensus,” the JUI-F quoted Haqqani as
saying.
It also
quoted Mullah Yaqoob as saying that Fazl’s visit would help in reducing
tensions between the two countries. “I hope that situation will change after
the visit,” said Mullah Yaqoob, who has been very critical of Pakistan on
several occasions.
Meanwhile,
Afghan Refugee Minister Rehman, who also met the JUI delegation, expressed
serious concerns over Pakistan’s policy towards Afghan refugees and called for
an end to the “unfair” treatment, the JUI-F said.
The
minister also urged Pakistan to give time to Afghans for the volunteer
repatriation.
The
meetings between the JUI-F chief and Afghan leaders come at a time when
relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have suffered due to a spike in
terrorist attacks, mostly claimed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban.
Islamabad
has stated that the TTP and other groups use Afghan soil against Pakistan.
While the Afghan Taliban have denied the charge, authorities remain unconvinced
and have demanded action against the TTP, its sanctuaries, and the handover of its
leaders.
The ties
between the two neighbours took a further hit when Pakistan started deporting
illegal Afghans. Nearly half a million undocumented Afghans have so far left
Pakistan since November 1, last year.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.dawn.com/news/1805309/jui-fs-fazl-says-held-comprehensive-and-inclusive-talks-with-taliban-supreme-leader
-----
Two
suicide bombers planning to target Fazl and Aimal arrested
January
12, 2024
The
Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on Friday apprehended two suicide bombers
trained in Afghanistan by the global terrorist organisationDa’ish who were
planning attacks on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur
Rehman and Awami National Party (ANP) leader Aimal Wali Khan, Express News
reported.
Addressing
a press conference in Peshawar, SSP CTD Najamul Hasnain Liaquat said that a
suicide bomber and his facilitator were arrested during an intelligence-based
operation in Peshawar. Upon their identification, he added, two suicide
jackets, three hand grenades, and a pistol were recovered.
Liaquat
said that the recovered explosives were rendered harmless by the bomb disposal
unit. He said that the arrested terrorists confessed during preliminary
investigations to planning suicide attacks on Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Aimal
Wali Khan.
The CTD
official said that the arrested terrorists confessed to surveilling Mufti
Mehmood Markaz, the JUI-F’s provincial headquarters.
He
confirmed that the arrested terrorists are affiliated with Dai’sh Khorasan and
received training for suicide attacks in Paktia, Afghanistan.
In
recent months, the country has experienced a rise in terrorist activities,
particularly in K-P and Balochistan, following the termination of the ceasefire
between the government and the proscribed militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan in November 2022.
n
December 31, the convoy of Maulana Fazlur Rehman was targeted in a brazen
attack at the Yarik Interchange in Dera Ismail Khan. The assailants opened fire
on the convoy, aiming from two sides, according to preliminary information.
Fortunately,
all individuals, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman, emerged unharmed from the
attack.
As per
CTD, 560 acts of terrorism were reported in the tribal areas of K-P in 2023.
Data
obtained from the CTD showed that there have been 209 attacks on security
personnel in 2023 compared to 124 in 2022; 243 attacks on police compared to
118 in 2022; 167 policemen and officers have attained martyrdom in terrorist
attacks in 2023, compared to 83 in 2022; and 101 soldiers and officers have
attained martyrdom last year, compared to 96 in the year before last.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2453040/two-suicide-bombers-planning-to-target-fazl-and-aimal-arrested
-----
Afghan
child killed over garbage collection in Karachi’s Surjani Town
January
13, 2024
KARACHI:
An Afghan child was murdered in what police described as a dispute over garbage
collection between two groups in Surjani Town on Friday.
The
Surjani Town police said five-year-old Shehzad Gul was bludgeoned to death in
Sector-4B.
They
said the dispute erupted between two Afghans over the collection of garbage,
which led to the murder. The suspect(s) had been identified and police were
waiting for the family to lodge an FIR to formally initiate legal proceedings,
the police added.
Victim’s
father Gul Mohammed told reporters that he had been collecting garbage from
houses for the last one month. On Friday, his son and a daughter accompanied
him to collect the garbage, he said.
During
the work, he left his both children for a while and went to another street and
when he returned, he learnt that his son had been injured by hitting with a
hard and blunt instrument.
He
rushed the son to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where the doctors confirmed his
death.
The
grief-stricken father said that he had been receiving ‘threats’ from a man who
had got the contract of garbage collection prior to him. He suspected that his
son was killed over that dispute.
“I am a
poor labourer who earns Rs13,000 on a monthly basis through garbage
collection,” said the father. Gul, a resident of Rozi Goth in Surjani, was the
only brother of two sisters. Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.dawn.com/news/1805410/afghan-child-killed-over-garbage-collection-in-karachis-surjani-town
-----
Toshakhana
case against IK, wife: hearing adjourned
2024-01-13
RAWALPINDI:
The Accountability Court, on Friday, adjourned Toshakhana case against Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife
Bushra Bibi without proceedings till Saturday (today).
Accountability
Court Judge Muhammad Bashir while hearing at Adiala jail adjourned the hearing
of the case and did not record statements of the prosecution witnesses due to
the absence of defence counsel Sardar Latif Khosa.
PTI
founder Khan attended the hearing. The PTI founder and his wife’s lead
counsel’s associate and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Deputy
Prosecutor General, Sardar Muzaffar Abbasi, and prosecutor Amjad Pervez
appeared before the court.
The prosecution
witnesses whose statements are to be recorded include Zahid Sarfraz Azam,
assistant protocol Prime Minister’s Office, Shohaib Abbasi, private
appraiser/approver, Brig Muhammad Ahmed, Ex-MS to the Prime Minister, Colonel
Rehan Mehmood, Ex-DMS to the premier, Azeem Manzoor, principal appraiser, Rabia
Samad, appraiser, Nida Rehman, former SO Toshakhana, Rahim Ullah, Dy consulate
General Dubai, Mohsin Habib, admin assistant Consulate General Dubai, Irfan
Rafaqat, counsellor attaché, Imran Bashir, expert rainbow impex FZE, Muhammad
Faheem, assistant director, Syed InamUllah Shah, former PS to Imran Khan,
Muhammad Abdullah, magistrate ICT, Muhammad Mohsin Haroon, Investigation
Officer (IO), Mustansar Imran Shah, assistant director NAB, and Hasnain Mustafa.
At the
start of the hearing, the defence counsel requested the court to adjourn the
hearing as his lead counsel Latif Khosa is not available today (Friday).
The
court after hearing the argument adjourned the hearing till Saturday (today).
Taking
informally to reporters inside the courtroom, Khan said that they closed the
cases against those PTI leaders who addressed the press conference.
They
have arrested Amjad Khan Niazi, Sadaqat Abbasi, and other PTI leaders to
prevent them from filing nomination papers, he said.
Meanwhile,
the special court hearing the cypher case against former Prime Minister Imran
Khan and PTI’s Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi summoned again witnesses
following the decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The
special court judge, AbualHasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, hearing the case at
Adiala jail summoned five prosecution witnesses including Aqra Ashraf, Imran
Sajid, ShamghoonQaider, Farukh Abbas, and Haseeb bin Aziz to record their
statements during the next hearing to be held on January 15.
Defence
counsel Ali Bukhari, Tamur Malik, and the prosecutor appeared before the court.
Bukhari submitted a copy of IHC’s verdict before the court.
The
court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 15.
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40283479/toshakhana-case-against-ik-wife-hearing-adjourned
----
Pakistan
closes key crossing into Afghanistan for trucks. Now, documents needed
Jan 13,
2024
Truckers
have for years been able to pass the border without documents so they generally
do not have them.
Pakistan
effectively closed a key northwestern border crossing with Afghanistan to truck
drivers on Saturday, Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said.
Noor
Mohammad Hanif, director of Information and Culture department in Afghanistan's
eastern Nangarhar province said that officials at the Torkham began asking for
passports and visas from Afghan drivers.
Truckers
have for years been able to pass the border without documents so they generally
do not have them.
Hanif
said that, in response, Afghanistan is now asking Pakistani drivers for
passports and visas.
In a
separate statement, the Nangarhar governor’s office said that officials from
both sides are in talks to solve the problem, and a “decision will be made
soon,” it added.
The
Torkham border crossing has been closed a number of times in recent months,
including in September when it was shut for nine days due to clashes between
border forces.
On
Saturday, dozens of trucks carrying perishable items, including vegetables and
fruits, waited on each side of the border for the reopening of the crossing,
which is a vital commercial artery and a trade route to Central Asian countries
for Pakistan.
Pakistan
is concerned about the presence in Afghanistan of the Pakistani Taliban, which
is a close ally of the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has said many Pakistani Taliban
leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan and have been
emboldened to carry out more attacks on security forces in Pakistan.
The
Afghan Taliban government insists it does not allow the Pakistani Taliban to
use its soil to launch attacks in Pakistan.
This
comes just days after one of Pakistan’s most senior politicians, Fazlur Rehman,
whose Jamiat Ulema Islam party is known for backing the Afghan Taliban, visited
Kabul in an attempt to reduce lingering tensions between the two countries.
Rehman
was the first senior Pakistani politician to visit Kabul since the Taliban
seized power in neighboring Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO troops
withdrew from the country after 20 years of war.
Tensions
also exist around Pakistan’s ongoing expulsion of Afghans.
Pakistan
has deported more than half a million Afghans without valid papers in recent
months. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled
during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation. More than half a million fled
Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-closes-key-crossing-into-afghanistan-for-trucks-now-documents-needed-101705139943146.html
----
Europe
Danish
police link foiled terror plot to Hamas
January
13, 2024
COPENHAGEN:
A terror plot foiled last December by police and intelligences services in
Denmark had links to the Hamas movement, Danish police said on Friday.
Danish
prosecutor Anders Larsson has confirmed that the case “has links to Hamas,”
Danish police told AFP in an email.
The prosecutor
was speaking in Denmark’s Eastern High Court on Friday. But the case was heard
behind closed doors and the statement gave no other details.
Police
said on December 14 that they had arrested three people in Denmark suspected of
planning a “terror” attack but provided no other details.
A total
of seven are now suspected of involvement.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on December 14 that Denmark’s security
forces had “thwarted an attack, the goal of which was to kill innocent
civilians on European soil.”
“The
Hamas terrorist organization has been working relentlessly and exhaustively to
expand its lethal operations to Europe, and thereby constitute a threat to the
domestic security of these countries,” Netanyahu said.
Danish
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said Friday that the alleged connection to
Hamas “confirms that the threat against Denmark is serious, but luckily we have
a strong police and intelligence service doing their best to protect us every
day.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440771/world
-----
Daesh
under pressure after Hamas attack on Israel
January
13, 2024
PARIS:
The deadly Hamas attack on Israel may have taken the limelight from Daesh, but
the terrorists are seeking to capitalize on anger over the bombardment of Gaza
to rally followers, analysts say.
Israel
has vowed to defeat Hamas after an attack on its soil by the Palestinian group
on Oct. 7 that killed around 1,140 people, according to an AFP tally based on
official figures.
Militants
also took around 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza,
including at least 25 believed to have been killed.
The war
has put the spotlight on Hamas. “Without the Gaza war, Daesh would get the headlines,”
said Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter Extremism Project think
tank.
“It puts
considerable pressure on IS to remain relevant.”
Both
groups are described as “terrorists” by Israel and the West, but they have very
different agendas.
Hamas
presents itself as defending the Palestinian people against the Israeli
occupation since 1948.
Daesh is
against Iran and is focused on trying to revive its project of a global Islamic
caliphate after losing the territory it held in Syria and Iraq between 2014 and
2019.
But its
supporters are also against Israel and any “global Jewish project,” said
Laurence Bindner, co-founder of the JOS Project, which analyzes extremist
propaganda.
“In the
Middle East, the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend,” she said.
Daesh
“has positioned itself simultaneously on several fronts: one against Jews and
those who support Israel and another against Iran and their allies.”
Earlier
this month, Daesh claimed an attack in Iran that killed 89 people gathered to
commemorate the fourth anniversary of the killing of storied Revolutionary
Guards general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike.
Since
the start of the war in Gaza, Daesh has sought to tap into sympathy for
Palestinians.
In late
October, Daesh, in its Al-Naba propaganda magazine, published a text on
“Practical Ways to Support Muslims in Palestine,” urging followers to attack
Israel, its Western backers, and all Jews worldwide.
Earlier
this month, the terrorist group’s spokesperson, Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari, posted
a recording titled “And kill them wherever you find them.”
Daesh
has “identified an opportunity to leverage the hostile anti-Israel sentiments
throughout the Muslim world over the aerial bombardment and military invasion
of Gaza,” said Lucas Webber, co-founder of the Militant Wire website.
“It’s an
opening for increased relevance and success,” he said.
“Even as
Daesh continues to have a particular disdain for Hamas, it does not mean that
the extremists will forgo taking advantage of the fighting for their purpose —
pushing supporters to strike in the West, nudging fence-sitters toward action,
and aiming to radicalize a growing pool of angry individuals.”
There
has been some Daesh-related activity in Europe in recent months, although only
at a low level.
In
France, a French national born to Iranian parents who had sworn allegiance to
Daesh stabbed a German-Filipino tourist to death in Paris in early December.
Italian
police said in November they had arrested an Algerian man in the Milan subway,
later discovering he was wanted by Algeria since 2015 for alleged ties to
Daesh.
A more
extensive operation “would be necessary” for the terrorist group in Europe for
more people to talk about them, said Schindler.
“They
have put networks in place for a long time already. Now they need to do
something to put themselves back on the agenda.”
Eva
Koulouriotis, an independent Middle East expert, said Daesh focused on building
support in the Middle East and Central Africa.
They
want to “achieve greater popularity within Islamic societies and, consequently,
attract more members,” she said.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440706/middle-east
------
UK PM
Sunak announces $3.2 billion aid for Ukraine in Kyiv
Jan 12,
2024
The aid
includes a wide range of arms and ammunition like artillery shells and drones
-- nearly two years into the grinding war.
British
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Friday a new multibillion-dollar aid
package for Ukraine during a surprise visit to Kyiv, where he vowed British
support for a decade.
The
pledge came at a crucial time for Ukraine as its allies in Brussels and
Washington struggle to secure funding while Russia bolsters its weapon
stockpiles and the ranks of its armed forces.
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the "unprecedented" 10-year
security cooperation agreement as well as the £2.5 billion ($3.2 billion) in
new military aid earmarked for 2024.
"Today
marks a watershed moment in European history," Zelensky told reporters at
a joint appearance with Sunak in Kyiv.
The aid
includes a wide range of arms and ammunition that are running in short supply
in Ukraine -- like artillery shells and drones -- nearly two years into the
grinding war.
Sunak
urged other Western countries to double-down on their Ukraine support.
"If
Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there, and our opponents around the
world believe that we have neither the patience nor resources for long wars --
so waver now and we embolden not just Putin but his allies in North Korea, Iran
and elsewhere," he said.
'Embolden'
Putin
The UK
package will include "more air defence equipment, more anti-tank weapons,
more long-range missiles, thousands of rounds more of ammunition and artillery
shells," Sunak added.
London
will also train "thousands more Ukrainian servicemen," he said, and
allocate £200 million to build thousands more drones -- "the single
largest package of drones given to Ukraine by any nation."
The aid
came as Ukraine has warned it is in dire need of air defence capabilities to
fend off increased aerial attacks.
Sunak
said the security package would "form the core" of London's alliance
with Ukraine for "100 years or more".
He also
said the UK believed that Ukraine should be in NATO at a time when Kyiv has
expressed frustration that it has not received sufficient security guarantees
from the US-led defence alliance.
"You
belong in NATO and NATO will be stronger with you," Sunak said.
Zelensky
said that if Ukraine had been given security guarantees -- like the 10-year
pledge of support -- after the breakup of the Soviet Union, "there would
have been no Russian aggression at all".
Sunak
had earlier said his trip was intended to "send a strong signal of support
to the Ukrainian people", adding that Putin "needs to recognise we're
not going anywhere".
'Great
courage'
The
British leader's visit came as Ukraine authorities said Russian shelling killed
two people in the southern city of Kherson.
"A
woman died on the spot," said Kherson's regional head OleksandrProkudin,
adding that a "burnt body was also found in a car".
Sunak
met with emergency service workers in Kyiv responding to the aftermath of
Russian air strikes, which have intensified since late December, and praised
Ukrainian "courage."
The
latest commitment takes the UK's overall support for Ukraine's war efforts to
nearly £12 billion.
British
equipment already supplied to Kyiv includes Storm Shadow cruise missiles and a
squadron of Challenger 2 tanks.
UK
Foreign Secretary David Cameron had also vowed to maintain military support for
Ukraine, during an unannounced visit to Kyiv in November.
Zelensky
said at the time that the flow of artillery ammunition from Western allies had
dropped since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.
A top
Ukrainian commander recently described the war as a stalemate, with no clear
sign of a breakthrough on the front lines.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/uk-pm-sunak-announces-3-2-billion-aid-for-ukraine-in-kyiv-101705079010071.html
-----
Pope
Francis suffers ‘a touch of bronchitis’, fails to complete his speech
Jan 12,
2024
Notably,
Francis is 87 years old and a part of one of his lungs was removed when he was
a young man in his native country Argentina.
Pope
Francis' health issues continue to affect his religious duties. On Friday, the
religious leader complained of "a touch of bronchitis" and couldn't
complete his address to a group of French religious communications experts at
the Vatican, reported news agency Reuters.
Francis
interrupted his welcome message while meeting the participants of the symposium
"Université des Communicants enÉglise" organised by the French
Bishops' Conference.
"I
would like to read all the speech, but there is a problem, I have a touch of
bronchitis," said the pope.
However,
before his voice issue, he had delivered speeches while meeting other people.
He addressed meetings with young professionals and a committee promoting
relations between the Catholic, Orthodox and Oriental churches.
Pope's
health issues in recent times
In
November last year, the pope suffered a lung infection due to which he had to
cancel a planned trip to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai. In the leading
weeks in the Vatican, his speeches were read by his aides.
Francis
recovered after receiving treatment including antibiotic therapy. Due to
inflammation of his lungs, he had suffered breathing difficulties.
In June,
the pope spent nine days in hospital after having surgery on an abdominal
hernia. Notably, Francis is 87 years old and a part of one of his lungs was
removed when he was a young man in his native country Argentina.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pope-francis-suffers-a-touch-of-bronchitis-fails-to-complete-his-speech-101705066199848.html
----
South Asia
Afghans
in Pakistan Should Be Given Chance to Return Voluntarily: Minister
January
12, 2024
Maulana
Fazl-ur-Rehman, the leader of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, met with
the acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Rahman Haqqani, where
the two sides discussed the challenges ahead of the Afghan refugees, the
ministry said in a statement.
Based on
the statement, the officials of the Refugees Ministry urged Pakistan to end the
mistreatment of Afghan refugees and provide them with the opportunity to return
to Afghanistan of their own free will.
According
to the statement, Fazl-ur-Rehman raised his voice against the deportation of
the Afghan refugees as it violates human rights.
"We
say to the Pakistani government that we cannot be separated from each other, so
please sit at a table and solve your political dispute," said Malik
Shinwari, an Afghan refugee.
This
comes as refugee rights activists called on the Islamic Emirate to take actions
to alleviate the challenges the Afghan refugees face abroad.
"The
officials of the countries should consider the issue of Afghan refugees in
Pakistan as a long-term process and support the Refugees,” said Muslim
Stanikzai, a refugee rights activist.
This
comes as Pakistan last November started deportations of over 1.73 million
undocumented Afghan refugees from its soil.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186941
-----
Iran
Offers Plan to Solve Afghanistan's Issues
HadiaZiaei
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran has proposed a four-point plan for the
purpose of solving the Afghanistan issue and trying to accelerate the country's
participation in the international mechanism, and has called Afghanistan's
regional environment and its neighborhood the gateway to the world community.
This
four-point plan includes efforts to accelerate the country's participation in
the international mechanism, strengthen consultation with neighboring
countries, the formation and success of a specific government from different
sections of the Afghan society, and the gateway of Afghanistan to the
international community of neighboring countries and the region.
Iran's
four-point plan to solve the Afghanistan issue is as follows:
The need
to resolve the issue of Afghanistan and the effort to speed up the
participation of this country in the international charter mechanism with
neighboring countries should be strengthened.
Failure
to succeed in the upcoming test will have devastating effects on international
peace and security.
Afghanistan's
gateway to the world community is its regional environment and neighborhood.
Opening
of new cases without organizing the rooted issues of the past and the formation
and success of a certain government from the different strata of the Afghan
society, and the role of all strata in interacting with the world
constructively.
"The
issue of governance and the creation of the government is related to the nation
of Afghanistan. The countries that have plans should manage the inequalities in
their own country first, then provide a solution for Afghanistan,” said
NajuburrahmanShamal, an international relations analyst.
"We
should be equal in our interaction with other countries of the world and have
bilateral relations," said Maeen Gul Samkanai, a political analyst.
The head
of the Islamic Emirate's Qatar-based Political Office welcomed offered help,
but asked that existing issues not be complicated.
Suhail
Shaheen, the head of the Islamic Emirate's Qatar-based Political Office, said:
"Any country that acts and helps according to demand of our people, we
welcome it, but it must be said that new issues should not be added under the
Afghan issues because it is against the demand of the Afghan people."
The
statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, referring to this
four-point plan to resolve the issue of Afghanistan, said a certain government
consisting of various sections of the Afghan society has been called the most
constructive step for this country in the direction of interaction, convergence
and constructive cooperation with the countries of the region and the world.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-186937
-------
Nearly
300 Afghan refugees arrive in Canada
Fidel
Rahmati
January
13, 2024
The
Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Department has announced that they have
recently transferred 295 Afghan refugees from Pakistan to the city of Toronto,
Canada.
The department
announced on Thursday, January 11, through a statement on its official social
media network, stating that these refugees arrived in Toronto on a charter
flight.
According
to the Canadian Immigration Department, these refugees will be resettled in
approximately 34 cities across Canada, including Calgary, Vancouver, and
Winnipeg.
Previously,
Canada had also reported the transfer of 339 Afghan refugees from Pakistan to
40 locations in various regions of Canada, notably Windsor, Calgary, and St.
John’s.
According
to statistics from the Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Department, from
2021 to the end of December 2023, Canada relocated and resettled a total of
44,174 Afghan refugees.
Canada
had committed to resettling nearly 40,000 Afghan refugees by the end of 2023,
making it one of the world’s largest resettlement programs.
It’s
worth mentioning that after the rise of the Taliban administration, more than
120,000 Afghan citizens sought refuge in various European countries, the United
States, and some other countries.
Prior to
this, Afghan migrants had arrived in Canada from countries such as Pakistan,
Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Albania via charter flights.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.khaama.com/nearly-300-afghan-refugees-arrive-in-canada/
----
Two ISIS
members trained in Afghanistan arrested in Pakistan
Fidel
Rahmati
January
13, 2024
Pakistani
media, citing the country’s counter-terrorism agency, has reported the arrest
of two ISIS members who were planning suicide attacks in Peshawar.
According
to Express Tribune, the two suicide bombers, both affiliated with the ISIS
Khorasan branch and trained in Afghanistan, were apprehended on Friday, January
12.
Reports
indicate that these two suicide bombers were planning to target Maulana Fazlur
Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, and Asfandyar Wali Khan,
the leader of the Awami National Party in Pakistan.
Express
Tribune, citing Jamal Hussain Laiqat, a senior official in Pakistan’s
counter-terrorism agency, has reported that these two suicide bombers were
arrested in Peshawar, and explosives including two suicide vests, three hand
grenades, and a quantity of explosive material were seized from them.
According
to his statement, these two ISIS members had received training in the Paktia
province of Afghanistan and were preparing for suicide attacks.
So far,
the Taliban officials have not commented on the matter.
It is
worth mentioning that according to findings from the Pakistan Institute for
Peace Studies, following the rise of the Taliban regime, the rate of suicide
attacks in Pakistan has increased by 93 per cent.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.khaama.com/two-isis-members-trained-in-afghanistan-arrested-in-pakistan/
------
No
promise of visa, residence permits for Afghan migrants: Turkish FM
Fidel
Rahmati
January
12, 2024
Turkish
Foreign Minister HakanFidan clarified that no promises were made regarding
granting visas and residence permits to Afghan migrants.
Fidan’s
statement came as a response to a parliamentary question raised by DenizDemir,
an Ankara deputy from Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s
Party (CHP), Anadolu Agency reported.
The
question centered around allegations that discussions took place regarding the
legalization of Afghan migrants and the issuance of work visas for Afghans
during a meeting between Afghan Refugee Minister Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani and
CenkUnal, Chargé d’Affaires and Head of Mission of the Turkish Embassy in
Kabul.
Minister
Fidan characterized the meeting as a routine encounter between Unal and members
of the Taliban administration.
He
further clarified that the primary topics of discussion during this meeting
were focused on addressing the issue of irregular migration originating from
Afghanistan and facilitating the return of irregular Afghan migrants from
Turkey.
Fidan
emphasized that Turkish missions and embassies do not typically announce their
meetings with foreign authorities.
The
statement underscores the Turkish government’s stance on handling migration and
visa-related matters by its existing policies and procedures.
The
response by the Turkish Foreign Minister aims to provide clarity on the nature
of discussions held during the meeting and dispel any misconceptions regarding
promises made to Afghan migrants.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.khaama.com/no-promise-of-visa-residence-permits-for-afghan-migrants-turkish-fm/
------
Afghan
Banker to Invest $10 Billion in Afghanistan Soon
Fidel
Rahmati
January
13, 2024
Mirwais
Azizi, an Afghan banker and entrepreneur, has announced the opening of a relief
settlement for earthquake victims in Herat province’s Zinda Jan district. He
also mentioned his intention to invest roughly 10 billion dollars in
Afghanistan soon.
This
Afghan merchant made these remarks during the inauguration ceremony of a relief
settlement in the village of Siah Ab, Zinda Jan district, Herat, on Friday,
January 12th. The newly constructed relief settlement comprises 220 residential
units and was completed by the Azizi Foundation, later handed over to the
earthquake victims of Herat.
It’s
worth mentioning that this settlement, named “Azizi Town,” was built in Herat
province for 200 million Afghanis.
Furthermore,
during the opening of this settlement, the Afghan merchant mentioned his
intention to invest approximately 10 billion dollars shortly in the development
of railways and electrical energy.
It is
noteworthy that Azizi Relief Settlement is the largest in earthquake-affected
areas of Herat, equipped with a school, clinic, playground, and water well for
the recent earthquake victims.
Mr.
Azizi’s announcement of the opening of this settlement and his investment of 10
billion dollars in Afghanistan comes at a time when Farhad Darya, a renowned
Afghan singer, also reported the completion of a project to build 37 emergency shelters
for Herat earthquake victims with nearly 70,000 dollars in “public donations
and artist solidarity.” However, the construction of these homes was met with
widespread criticism.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-banker-to-invest-10-billion-in-afghanistan-soon/
-----
Southeast Asia
Global
uproar: Malaysia joins 38 nations in unprecedented action for Gaza
hahrinAizatNoorshahrizam
January
13, 2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: In a united effort for peace, Malaysia joined 38 nations today for the
Global Action Day for Gaza, said Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement
Malaysia chairman Professor Dr Nazari Ismail.
He said
33 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had participated in the gathering of
more than 1,000 people near the United States Embassy here.
Held in
74 cities worldwide, Nazari said the assembly was held to express solidarity
with the Palestinian people, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
"Today,
we gather to urge and demand Israel to stop its bloody attacks and genocidal
actions against the Gaza Strip.
"Today
also marks the 100th day of bloody attacks in Gaza, claiming about 24,000
lives," he said, adding that BDS aimed to get 3,000 people for today's
gathering.
Earlier,
28 people spoke at the assembly, demanding and urging Israel to stop the
genocide attacks.
Also
present were Education Minister FadhlinaSidek and Ledang member of Parliament
Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Grateful
for the successful assembly, Nazari expressed the movement's commitment to
continue pressing for change and aligning with the global call for action.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/1000825/global-uproar-malaysia-joins-38-nations-unprecedented-action-gaza
-----
Indonesians
must show firm rejection of Israeli occupation: Wahid
January 13, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Deputy Speaker Hidayat Nur
Wahid appealed to all Indonesians to show their firm rejection of the Israeli
occupation on the Palestinian people's land.
Wahid
echoed his call during a peaceful rally that several thousand pro-Palestinian
protesters staged in front of the United States embassy building in Central
Jakarta on Saturday.
"Indonesian
people need to keep standing with other nations across the world to show their
firm rejection of Israel's acts of crime against humanity to the People of Gaza
and Palestine as a whole," he affirmed.
Wahid
said he lauded and thanked the Indonesian Government for its ongoing support
for the Palestinians' struggle for independence.
The
rally was staged to commemorate the 100th day of what Wahid calls as the
Israeli genocide on the innocent people of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Wahid
said he thanked the Council of Islamic Organizations (MOI), the Indonesian
Coalition for Defending Baitul Maqdis (KIBBM), and Muslim figures for their
support and participation in the rally.
ANTARA
reported earlier that Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin affirmed that
Israel's ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip is not an act of self-defense
but a genocidal campaign against Palestinians.
"The
world regards what Israel has been doing (to Palestinians in Gaza since October
7, 2023) has gone beyond an act of self-defense. Instead, it has been a
genocide," he stated recently.
Fresh
armed conflict erupted between Israel and Palestine following a surprise attack
by Hamas on Israel early in the morning on October 7, 2023.
Prior to
the assaults by Palestinian liberation fighters, Israel had continued its
closure of Gaza crossings.
Palestine's
news agency WAFA reported on September 25, 2023, that the Israeli closure of
Gaza crossings had worsened the living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza.
According
to WAFA, the Palestinians had already suffered from the severe impact of
"more than 17 years of tight Israeli land, sea, and air blockades."
Al
Jazeera quoted Hamas, which governs Gaza, as saying that its assault on Israel
was "a response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased
settler violence."
In
response to the unprecedented surprise attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and, according to Al Jazeera, pledged that the
Israeli forces would "turn all Hamas hideouts into rubble."
Since
then, the Israeli occupation forces continue their bombardment and ground
operations in Gaza that have led to the deaths of more than 23 thousand
civilians, many of whom are women and children.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://en.antaranews.com/news/302952/indonesians-must-show-firm-rejection-of-israeli-occupation-
wahid?utm_source=antaranews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_campaign=editor_picks
----
Rohingya
Repatriation: Dhaka seeks proactive role of ASEAN
Jan 13,
2024
Bangladesh
Ambassador to Myanmar MdMonwar Hossain has expressed his hope that the ASEAN
Chair will continue to play a further positive role to facilitate repatriation
of more than 1 million displaced Rohingyas to their homeland.
The
Rohingyas fled from Rakhine state to Bangladesh in 2017 to escape a Myanmar
crackdown on them.
Special
Envoy of the ASEAN Chairman AlounkeoKittikhoun met with Ambassador Monwar
Hossain at the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon yesterday and discussed the areas
of cooperation.
Kittikhoun
was appointed as special envoy to Myanmar as Lao PDR assumes Chairmanship of
ASEAN from January 1.
This is
the first visit of the special envoy to Myanmar.
The
special envoy, during the meeting, briefed the Ambassador of his meetings with
the SAC Chairman, government officials and other stakeholders in Myanmar.
Alounkeo
shared the ASEAN Chairman's views on the implementation of the five-point
consensus, the issues related to the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar
from Bangladesh.
The
ambassador and the special envoy have agreed to closely working on the issue
throughout 2024.
Kittikhoun
is a Laotian diplomat who served as minister to the Prime Minister's Office
during 2016-2020 and as Lao Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the
United Nations in New York during 1993-2007.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.thedailystar.net/rohingya-influx/news/blaze-leaves-7000-rohingyas-homeless-un-3513471
------
China:
US, UK attack on Yemen will definitely exacerbate regional tensions
13
January 2024
China's
envoy to the United Nations warns about the pending regional consequences of
the United States and Britain's recent military attack against Yemen.
Zhang
Jun made the remarks at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, a day after
the Western allies attacked the Arab Peninsula nation with warplanes and
Tomahawk missiles. The attack came in response to Yemen's strikes in support of
the Gaza Strip that has come under a genocidal and Washington-backed Israeli
war.
The US
and UK attack Ansarullah targets across Yemen in response to the Yemeni popular
resistance movement
"The
military action launched by the US and the UK against Yemen will undoubtedly
exacerbate regional tensions," Zhang said.
"We
call on all parties to effectively abide by the UN Charter and international
law. And to make joint efforts to maintain peace and security in the Red Sea
and the Middle East," he added.
The
Chinese official also took aim at the Israeli regime's hypocritical accusations
against the UN of not being able to provide humanitarian assistance for Gaza
amid the incessant Israeli war.
"It
is Israel that has continued its indiscriminate bombardment against Gaza, and
has placed numerous obstacles blocking access to humanitarian supplies. But it
is also Israel that has accused the United Nations of not having the ability to
provide humanitarian assistance. This is totally unacceptable," Zhang
pointed out.
Officials
in the Gaza Strip slam the Israeli regime
Also
addressing the meeting, Palestine's UN ambassador Riyad Mansour called for
immediate cessation of the Israeli war.
"If
you want to send humanitarian assistance up to scale, if you want to prevent
the forced displacement, if you want an army of humanitarian officers from the
United Nations to be able to deliver humanitarian assistance to every corner in
the Gaza Strip, you cannot do it without a ceasefire," Mansour said.
More
than 23,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have died so far
during the military campaign that the Israeli regime began on October 7
following an operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/13/718106/China-warning-United-States-Britain-attack-Yemen-Gaza-war-Israel
-----
KL city
centre resounds with anti-Netanyahu chants from over 1000-strong 'Stop war on
Gaza' rally
ShahrinAizatNoorshahrizam
January 13, 2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: Chants of "Netanyahu you can hide, we can charge you for
genocide" echoed throughout the city centre as more than 1,000 Malaysians
joined the 'Global Day of Action, Ceasefire Now, Stop the War on Gaza' rally
near the US Embassy, here today.
The
gathering that saw Malaysians pooled together with foreign nationals in
sweltering heat was part of a united front of global voices calling for an
unconditional, immediate and permanent ceasefire.
Approximately
100 police personnel and patrol cars were sighted to safeguard the protesters
around the perimeters.
More
than 20 speakers including Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Movement
Malaysia chairman Professor Dr Nazari Ismail and PKR vice President Nurul Izzah
Anwar are expected to address the crowd that is scheduled to gather until 3pm
today.
Speaking
to reporters, Ledang federal lawmaker who also attended the gathering said that
its a collective voice regardless of racial or political background calling for
the halt of Israel's genocidal acts, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"This
is proof that the fight for the Palestinian freedom crosses any political
border as it is actually a humanitarian cause rather than anything else,"
he said.
Apart
from speeches, the event will feature a few flashmobs organised by
non-governmental organisations (NGO).
Two days
ago, it was reported that The Malaysian Youth Council called on all Malaysians
to participate in the "Global Day of Action for Gaza: Ceasefire Now, Stop
the War on Gaza" gathering on Saturday to show support and solidarity to
Gazans.
Its
information chief Mohamad FazrilMohd Saleh said this was a call for a lasting
ceasefire to stop the genocide and end Israel's occupation as well as its apartheid
policies.
Mohamad
Fazril said the rising death toll of Palestinians has now exceeded 20,000
people, including women, children, the elderly, journalists, and United Nations
(UN) personnel, with many more still missing or presumed dead.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/01/1000808/kl-city-centre-resounds-anti-netanyahu-chants-over-1000-strong-stop-war
----
PM
conveys to Germany Malaysia's firm stance, condemnation of Israeli regime
12-01-
2024
PUTRAJAYA:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today conveyed to Germany Malaysia's
stance of not recognising Israel and its condemnation of the Zionist regime's
brutality in the killing of innocent Palestinians, especially women and
children.
Foreign
Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia's firm position was conveyed by
Anwar to German Foreign Minister AnnalenaBaerbock, who paid a courtesy call on
the prime minister at Perdana Putra today.
“On the
issue in Gaza, the Prime Minister strongly condemned the killing of innocent
Palestinians, especially women and children, by the Zionist regime,” he told
the media after the meeting.
Anwar
also urged Germany, as a close ally of Israel, to exert pressure for an
immediate ceasefire and to stop the bombings and violence against the
Palestinian people, Mohamad said.
He said
Anwar had also conveyed his wish for more intellectual discourse sessions
between Malaysia and Germany, given the differing perceptions between the East
and Western nations.
“Many
thinkers from Germany, although not Muslims, produce many articles related to
Islam. This can be enhanced to address the clash of ignorance due to a lack of
understanding that leads to high levels of suspicion,” he said. –Bernama
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://thesun.my/local_news/pm-conveys-to-germany-malaysia-s-firm-stance-condemnation-of-israeli-regime-BB11980526
-----
North America
March on
Washington for Gaza Supporters Send Letter with Demands to President Biden
Ismail
Allison
January
12, 2024
The
letter endorsed by dozens of Muslim, Arab and Palestinian-American groups says
President Biden has “severely” damaged his relationship with their communities
The
organizers of the March on Washington for Gaza and 80 Muslim American,
Arab-American, and Palestinian-American organizations today sent a letter to
President Biden that urges him to stop supporting the Israeli government’s war
crimes in Gaza and warns that his policy on Gaza has “severely” damaged his
relationship with their communities.
The
letter sent by the American Muslim Task Force on Palestine communicates the
demands of the January 13th March on Washington for Gaza, which is organized in
partnership with the ANSWER Coalition, endorsed by over 300 groups, and
expected to be the largest pro-ceasefire protest of the past three months.
Watch a
livestream of the march
The
American Muslim Task Force on Palestine includes American Muslims for Palestine
(AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North
America (ICNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Student
Association-National (MSA), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah
of North America (MUNA), and Young Muslims (YM).
Additional
signatories to the letter include some of the nation’s most prominent Muslim,
Arab and Palestinian American groups, including the Islamic Society of North
America (ISNA), the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, Emgage, the
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), The Mosque Cares: The Ministry of Imam
W.D. Muhammad, MPower Change, Indian American Muslim Council, and the US
Council of Muslim Organizations.
Sent
today to the White House, their letter calls for the President to secure a
complete and verifiable ceasefire, the release of all hostages in Gaza and
political prisoners in Israel, the termination of unconditional U.S. financial
and diplomatic support for the Israeli government, holding Israeli officials
accountable for the Gaza genocide, and the initiation of credible negotiations
for a just and enduring peace by ending the Israeli occupation of
Palestine.
The
letter highlights concern over recent decisions by the Biden administration,
including the approval of new shipments of weaponry to Israel without
congressional review and the dismissal of legal filings against the Israeli
government. It also condemns the war crimes committed by the Israeli government,
citing attacks on refugee camps, hospitals, schools, and other civilian
facilities.
The
letter emphasizes the need for a change in the administration’s handling of the
crisis, citing its impact on the relationship with Muslim and Arab communities.
Letter
endorsers are calling on President Biden to honor his pledge to prioritize
human rights in foreign policy, stating, “For the sake of justice, peace, your
legacy, and your relationship with our communities and the broader American
public, please end our nation’s support for this violence today.”
Source: .cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/march-on-washington-for-gaza-supporters-send-letter-with-demands-to-president-biden/
-----
United
States military strikes another Houthi-controlled site after warning ships to
avoid parts of Red Sea
13.01.24
The US
military early Saturday struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen that it
had determined was putting commercial vessels in the Red Sea at risk, two US
officials said.
Associated
Press journalists in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, heard one loud explosion.
The
first day of strikes Friday hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets.
However, the US determined the additional location, a radar site, still
presented a threat to maritime traffic, one official said.
The
officials spoke anonymously to the AP to discuss an operation that hadn't yet
been publicly announced.
President
Joe Biden had warned Friday that the Houthis could face further strikes.
The
latest strike came after the U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged
vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of
Aden for the next 72 hours after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple
airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels.
The
warning came as Yemen's Houthis vowed fierce retaliation for the U.S.-led
strikes, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already
beset by Israel's war in Gaza.
U.S.
military and White House officials said they expected the Houthis to try to
strike back.
The
U.S.-led bombardment — launched in response to a recent campaign of drone and
missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea — killed at least five
people and wounded six, the Houthis said. The U.S. said the strikes, in two
waves, took aim at targets in 28 different locations across Houthi-controlled
areas of Yemen.
“We will
make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous
behavior along with our allies," Biden told reporters during a stop in
Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
Asked if
he believes the Houthis are a terrorist group, Biden responded, “I think they
are.” The president in a later exchange with reporters during a stop in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, said whether the Houthis are redesignated as such was
“irrelevant.”
Biden
also pushed back against some lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, who
said he should have sought congressional authorization before carrying out the
strikes.
“They're
wrong, and I sent up this morning when the strikes occurred exactly what
happened," Biden said.
The
Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military action from
the hospital where he is recovering from complications following prostate
cancer surgery.
The
White House said in November that it was considering redesignating the Houthis
as a terrorist organization after they began their targeting of civilian
vessels. The administration formally delisted the Houthis as a “foreign
terrorist organization” and “specially designated global terrorists” in 2021,
undoing a move by President Donald Trump
Lt. Gen.
Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Friday's U.S.
strikes were largely in low-populated areas, and the number of those killed
would not be high. He said the strikes hit weapons, radar and targeting sites,
including in remote mountain areas.
As the
bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the Iranian-backed
rebels, it forced the world to again focus on Yemen's yearslong war, which
began when the Houthis seized the country's capital.
Since
November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they
were avenging Israel's offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have
frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel,
imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade and energy shipments.
The
Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a recorded address
that the U.S. strikes would “not go unanswered or unpunished.”
Rep.
Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat and former U.S. intelligence official,
welcomed the U.S. strikes but expressed concern Iran was aiming to draw the
U.S. deeper into conflict.
“We
should be worried about regional escalation,” Slotkin wrote on X. “Iran uses
groups like the Houthis to fight their battles, maintain plausible deniability
and prevent a direct conflict with the U.S. or others. ... It needs to stop,
and my hope is they've gotten the message.”
Biden
told reporters that Iran has received a clear message. “I already delivered the
message to Iran. They know not to do anything," he said.
Though
the Biden administration and its allies have tried to calm tensions in the
Middle East for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes threatened to
ignite one.
Saudi
Arabia — which supports the government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting —
quickly sought to distance itself from the attacks as it seeks to maintain a
delicate détente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led,
U.S.-backed war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including
fighters and civilians, and created one of the world's worst humanitarian
disasters, killing tens of thousands more.
It
remained unclear how extensive the damage was from Friday's strikes, though the
Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. The
White House said the U.S. military was still assessing the extent the
militants' capabilities might have been degraded.
U.S. Air
Forces Central Command said the strikes focused on the Houthi's command and
control nodes, munition depots, launching systems, production facilities and
air defense radar systems. The strikes involved more than 150 precision-guided
munitions including air-launched missiles by F/A-18 Super Hornets based on the
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Tomahawk missiles from the Navy destroyers USS
Gravely and USS Mason, the Navy cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and a U.S.
submarine.
The
United Kingdom said strikes hit a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to
launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and
drones.
Meanwhile,
the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday announced it imposed sanctions on two
firms in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates for allegedly shipping Iranian
commodities on behalf of Iran-based Houthi financial facilitator Sa'id
al-Jamal. Four vessels owned by the firms were also identified as blocked
property.
In a
separate development, Iran released footage of its seizure of an oil tanker in
the Gulf of Oman that once had been at the center of a dispute between Tehran
and Washington.
In the
footage, a helicopter hovers over the deck of the St. Nikolas. Iran's navy
seized the vessel Thursday. The vessel had been known earlier as the Suez
Rajan. The U.S. seized 1 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil off the
vessel last year.
In
Yemen, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said that
“America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and
bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression.”
The Red
Sea route is a crucial waterway, and attacks there have caused severe
disruptions to global trade. Benchmark Brent crude oil traded up some 4% Friday
at over $80 a barrel. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most
production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea.
In
Saada, the Houthis' stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a
rally Friday, denouncing the U.S. and Israel. Another drew thousands in Sanaa,
the capital.
Houthis
now control territory that is home to some two-thirds of Yemen's population of
34 million. War and misgovernment have made Yemen one of the poorest countries
in the Arab world, and the World Food Program considers the vast majority of
Yemen's people as food-insecure.
Yemen
has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American
presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush
to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under
the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other
military operations amid the ongoing war in Yemen.
That war
began when the Houthis swept into Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition
including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemen's exiled
government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation
as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support.
The
conflict, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the
territory they hold. In March, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal to
restart relations with Iran in hopes of ultimately withdrawing from the war.
Iran
condemned Friday's attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Nasser Kanaani.
“Arbitrary
attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in
the region," he said.
In
Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on nations not to
escalate tensions in the Red Sea. And Russia on Friday condemned the strikes as
“illegitimate from the point of view of international law.”
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/united-states-military-strikes-another-houthi-controlled-site-after-warning-ships-to-avoid-parts-of-red-sea/cid/1993450
------
White
House defends Yemen strikes amid congressional pushback
13.01.2024
Michael
Gabriel Hernandez
The
White House sought Friday to stave off mounting bipartisan criticism from
lawmakers on Capitol Hill following overnight strikes that targeted Yemen's
Houthi rebels.
Lawmakers
from both parties have questioned the legal basis for the strikes, but National
Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the White House remains
"very comfortable and confident in the legal authorities" used to
conduct the strikes.
"The
president has been doing, has been trying to prevent any escalation of
conflict, including the strikes last night," he said.
Both
Republicans and US President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats have questioned the
legal standing of the American strikes, saying they are being conducted without
the approval of Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to
declare war.
Progressive
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna slammed the strikes, saying Biden needed
"to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in
Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict."
"That
is Article I of the Constitution. I will stand up for that regardless of
whether a Democrat or Republican is in the White House," he said on X.
"If
you had told me on Jan 20, 2021 that Biden would be ordering military strikes
on the Houthis without Congressional approval while the Saudis would be calling
for restraint and de-escalation in Yemen, I would never have believed it,"
he added.
The
sentiments were echoed by prominent Republicans as well, including firebrand
Representative Matt Gaetz, who said Khanna is "absolutely correct" in
his criticism of the president.
The
Biden administration has said the strikes were "defensive" in nature,
and were intended to erode the Houthis' ability to strike vessels in the Red
Sea after over two dozen attacks took place there since mid-November.
Some
Republicans and Democrats have welcomed the administration's actions, including
the top Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Senate.
"This
action by U.S. and British forces is long overdue, and we must hope these
operations indicate a true shift in the Biden Administration’s approach to Iran
and its proxies that are engaging in such evil and wreaking such havoc. They
must understand there is a serious price to pay for their global acts of
terror," House Speaker Mike Johnson said.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/white-house-defends-yemen-strikes-amid-congressional-pushback/3107627
-----
Cornel
West courts Muslim and Arab-American voters in quest for presidency
January
13, 2024
Gabriella
Abdul-Hakim and Abby Cruz
Independent
presidential candidate Cornel West has been courting a group President Joe
Biden may struggle to attract in the upcoming 2024 election: Muslim and
Arab-American voters.
Muslim
and Arab community leaders rallied around the prominent activist, author and
philosopher by recently hosting fundraisers for him in Michigan -- a key
battleground state -- and California.
"We
got to do something," West said at a rally in Dearborn, Michigan, in
December. "That's why I'm here to tell the world and especially straight
to Gaza, where they're dealing with a genocidal assault. We believe that a
Palestinian baby has the same value as any baby in the world."
Biden
has faced mounting criticism over the way his administration has handled the
Israel-Hamas war. According to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll, 57%
of Americans disapprove of how Biden is handling the conflict with an even
deeper divide among young voters. Three quarters of young voters between 18 and
29 say they disapprove of the administration's handling of the war.
Although
there's less reliable polling on the extent of their feelings, some Muslim
voters tell ABC News that they are struggling to support President Biden as he
seeks a second term. While the president has stated he is campaigning to save
"democracy and freedom," West is hoping to seize on that feeling by
highlighting his own commitment to Muslims.
XenaShawarev,
a Muslim from Pittsburgh, told ABC News that the 2024 election feels like it
could force her to choose the candidate who is the lesser of two evils: former
President Donald Trump or Biden.
"It
just seems that campaigning that the other side is more evil doesn't represent
who's good. It just represents who's less evil. And if we're gonna keep running
on who's less evil. I think we're just moving step by step closer to just
evil," Shawarev said.
In a
statement to ABC News, West said Muslim and Arab communities "hold a
special place in my heart."
"Their
rich history, deep faith, and resilient spirit are sources of profound
inspiration. My roots may be on the chocolate side of town, but we share a
struggle for truth and justice," West said. "The goal of my
presidential campaign is to represent the voices in all communities who feel
disenfranchised within the corrupt two-party system."
West has
not broken through any national polls, according to 538's national polling
average, but he is getting some financial support. He raised $100,000 at a
fundraiser in California last weekend, the event co-sponsor confirmed to ABC
News. It's the largest amount he has raised at a fundraiser since he launched
his campaign in June 2023.
West's
history of support
West's
support of the Muslim and Arab communities predates the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist
attacks in Israel.
In the
Gaza Strip, more than 23,300 people have been killed by Israeli forces since
Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health. In Israel, at least
1,200 people have been killed by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since
Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials.
In 2014,
West called then-President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
"war criminals" over the ongoing conflict between Israelis and
Palestinians.
In
December, he called on the International Criminal Court to launch an immediate
investigation into likely war crimes committed by Netanyahu and the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF).
"Dr.
Cornel West has for the last 40 years been consistent in his values and his
beliefs. And we're just saying to everybody that enough is enough," Dr.
Arbazz Muhammad, a co-founder of Muslim Visionaries, the group that hosted
West's recent California fundraiser, told ABC News.
"This
year for many Muslims, it's about voting our conscience," Muhammad added.
"We believe that we're planting the seeds for a long-term vision, where
people deal with our community with respect, honor, with dignity, and a commitment
to truth and justice."
The
Muslim and Arab communities have large concentrations in Michigan, a key swing
state. Michigan has one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States
with roughly 206,000 registered Muslim voters -- a 22% jump from 2016,
according to Emgage, a Muslim political advocacy group. Biden won the state in
2020 by only about 155,000 votes.
Dawud
Walid, executive director of Michigan's chapter of The Council on
American-Islamic Relations, told ABC News that although a true politician
"always seizes his moment," West has been "consistent" in
his support for the community.
Will
West be on the ballot?
Third-party
candidates have a nearly impossible path to the White House. The constitution
makes no mention of political parties, but America's traditional two party
system has left little room for other candidates to get a substantial
following, according to Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the
University of Virginia's Miller Center.
"There
is no path for a third-party or minor-party candidate to become president of
the United States," Perry said. "But you might get the ruling party,
right now the Biden White House, to begin to have second thoughts about their
views."
To get
on a state's ballot, West would have to accumulate enough signatures to satisfy
each state's threshold. With a relatively small campaign staff, that is a
nearly impossible goal.
The last
time America had a new major party was during the Civil War when the Republican
Party was created as the anti-slavery party and led by Abraham Lincoln. As the
country becomes more polarized, maybe this is the moment another
"splinter" party can become a major party, Perry said.
Although
West's chances of becoming president are likely nonexistent as a third-party candidate,
he could pose an obstacle for Biden, who already has low approval ratings, by
siphoning away votes that could ultimately cost him the election.
West,
according to Perry, has been able to "see" and "seize" this
moment. She said that one benefit of third-party candidates is they can take
what's of "concern to people who already may be likely constituents for
them, get a megaphone" and have a stage for their message even more than
usual.
West is
set to speak at rally on D.C.'s National Mall this weekend. Walid, the
executive director of CAIR'S Michigan branch, told ABC News that a vote for the
independent candidate would be a "mixture" of simply voting for West
and against Biden.
But
AmerZahr, a Palestinian American from Michigan, said he feels it's "too
early in the process for our community to throw their support behind one person
yet."
Right
now, he said his main interest is in "punishing" Biden and the
Democrats so that they know his voice is not "worthless."
"Now,
who knows what things will look like in six months from now. But right now,
people are hurt and devastated," Zahr said. "I would vote for anybody
over Biden, including Trump. Biden is currently on the bottom of my list of
choices."
Source: abcnews.go.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cornel-west-courts-muslim-arab-american-voters-quest/story?id=106109608
-----
Florida
hotel cancels Muslim conference, citing security concerns
Jan. 12,
2024
FORT
LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A South Florida Marriott Hotel canceled a Muslim group’s
conference at the last minute after a protest group claimed the coalition was
promoting Hamas, terrorism and antisemitism.
The
South Florida Muslim Federation, a coalition of about 30 mosques and Islamic
groups, said Friday it was told by the Marriott Coral Springs Hotel and
Convention Center that its conference was being canceled because of security
concerns after it received 100 calls demanding it bars the group. This
weekend’s second annual conference was expected to draw more than a thousand
people.
Hotels
in Arizona and Virginia also have canceled Muslim conferences since the Oct. 7
attack by Hamas in Israel, which sparked Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip
and the ongoing war. Florida also has barred a pro-Palestinian student group
from public universities.
Marriott’s
decision “came out of nowhere and was a shock to the entire South Florida
Muslim community,” federation President Samir Kakli said. He said numerous
Muslim groups and families have held large conferences, weddings and other
events at the Coral Springs Marriott without incident.
Kakli
said, even before Marriott raised security concerns, his group hired Coral
Springs police officers and private guards for protection. He said he told
Marriott the federation would hire more but was rebuffed.
The
hotel is just west of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and Kakli said
hotel management raised the specter of the shooting at the Parkland campus that
killed 17 six years ago.
“They
said it just takes one person like what happened in Parkland,” Kakli said. He
said the group is looking to have the conference soon at an alternate venue.
“We are
going to stand up and keep doing the work we have been doing, which is to
practice our right to freedom of religion and gather as a community with our
peaceful, family events,” he said.
Neither
the Coral Springs Marriott nor the hotel chain’s corporate offices returned
phone and email messages Friday seeking comment. The Coral Springs Police
Department also did not respond to an email request for comment.
Joe
Kaufman, who organized the protest against the conference, accused Kakli and
groups that are part of his coalition of supporting terrorism, including the Hamas
attack. He said some of the conference’s planned speakers have made antisemitic
comments and called for the destruction of Israel.
Kaufman,
a longtime protester against some Islamic groups, insisted he has nothing
against Muslims, just anyone he believes promotes antisemitism.
“Our
concern is not just with the speakers. Our concern with the organization itself
and its leadership,” Kaufman said Friday.
Kakli
denied he or his group supports terrorism or antisemitism. He said those
accusations are often made against Muslims who criticize Israel, Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its treatment of Gaza to strip
them and their arguments of legitimacy.
“These
are words that have been used by (Kaufman) for 15 years. They are anti-Muslim
tropes that are no different than tropes that are used against other
communities of color. They are shamelessly used to label our entire community
as terrorists,” Kakli said.
Wilfredo
Ruiz, spokesperson for the Council of American-Islamic Relations-Florida, said
such attacks and Marriott’s decision to cancel the conference are part of a
“holistic effort” in the state both by Gov. Ron DeSantis and private businesses
to shut down criticism of Israel.
He
pointed to the state’s recent barring of the group Students for Justice in
Palestine from public university campuses and Florida hospitals firing Muslim
doctors who expressed support for Palestinians.
“This is
not the way we are supposed to live, where our speech is protected by our
Constitution here in America. It’s like we are in a different country,” Ruiz
said.
Source: triblive.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://triblive.com/news/world/florida-hotel-cancels-muslim-conference-citing-security-concerns/
-----
American
aggression on Yemen aims to divert attention of Palestine
[13/January/2024]
SANA'A
January 13. 2024 (Saba) - In the context of the American continuation of
supporting the Zionist enemy entity to strike occupied Palestine, providing
cover for it to commit more crimes, and diverting the world’s attention from
the massacres committing against the people of Gaza... the American and British
enemy launched many raids on Yemen, at dawn yesterday on Friday.
The
American-British aggression comes in response to Yemen's continued support of
the Palestinian resistance and the imposition of a naval blockade on Zionist
shipping from the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
According
to the statement of the Yemeni Armed Forces yesterday, the American-British
enemy launched a brutal aggression against Yemen with 73 raids targeting the
capital, Sanaa, and the governorates of Hodeidah, Taiz, Hajjah, and Saada,
which led to the martyrdom of five and the injury of six others from the armed
forces.
In its
statement, the Armed Forces held the American and British enemy fully
responsible for its criminal aggression, stressing that it would not go
unanswered or punished.
The
statement stressed that the armed forces will not hesitate to target sources of
threat and all hostile targets in defense of Yemen, its sovereignty and
independence, and this brutal aggression will not dissuade on Yemen from its
position in support of Palestine.
Whoever
thinks that America is solely responsible for wars and conflicts in the world
is wrong. Britain is America's main partner in this.
Yemen
considered one of the most important and prominent countries in which Britain
has always sought to find bases, due to its geo-strategic location of global
importance.
Anyone
who follows Yemeni affairs knows well that America, since the beginning of the
aggression against Yemen, has been and continues to be involved in the war
against this country.
But the
truth is crystal clear that America is a key partner in the aggression against
Yemen.
In
recent years, media reports have been published that clearly revealed the
American role in the war on Yemen, as there is a lot of information indicating
America’s participation in the aggression against Yemen by providing all types
of military and logistical support.
It is
noteworthy that dozens of American newspapers and websites, in addition to
officials and diplomats, confirmed that the United States is directly
participating in military operations against Yemen.
The
truth is becoming clearer today with the launch of its direct aggression
against the Yemeni people.
Most of
the American aid to the usurping entity goes to the military sector, and the
volume of American military aid to this entity between 1946 and 2023, according
to official American estimates, amounted to about 114.4 billion dollars, in
addition to about 9.9 billion dollars.
Today's
barbaric American-British aggression has been widely condemned and denounced.
On the
Arab level, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned this barbaric
aggression.
The
Iraqi Martyrs' Brigades also confirmed that yesterday's aggression against
Yemen doubled the solidarity of the peoples with the Axis of Resistance and the
validity of its sacred cause.
Meanwhile,
the Secretary-General of the Iraqi Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement, Sheikh Qais
al-Khazali, announced on Friday his condemnation of this brutal aggression
carried out by America and Britain against Yemen... expressing his full
solidarity with the Yemeni people.
In
Lebanon, Hezbollah, in a statement, strongly condemned the blatant American-British
aggression against Yemen, its security and sovereignty.
Hezbollah's
statement pointed out that the American aggression confirms once again that
America is a partner in the tragedies and massacres committed by the Zionist
enemy in Gaza and in the region.
Hezbollah
saluted dear Yemen, its national army, its proud people, and its honorable
leadership... stressing that this aggression will not weaken its strength, but
rather will increase its strength, determination, and courage.
The
official spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, also
confirmed that the American strikes against Yemen are considered a complete
disregard for international law.
It is
noteworthy that Russia requested an emergency session in the UN Security
Council, against the backdrop of the joint US and British aggression against
Yemen.
For its
part, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement through its
official spokesman Nasser Kanaani, strongly condemned the military attacks
launched by America and Britain on several Yemeni cities, considering it a
reckless act and a clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty.
In turn,
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the American and British
strikes on Yemen, describing them as a “disproportionate use of force.”
Erdogan
stressed that the Zionist enemy turned Gaza into a large prison and a bath of
blood, and States supported him in his aggression against Gaza, indicating that
Britain contributes in one way or another to supporting the occupying entity.
In turn,
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said in a press statement reported by the
Palestinian Information Center: “The American-British aggression against the
Yemeni army’s areas because it stood by Gaza is an aggression and a provocation
to the entire nation.”
The
Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine also condemned in the strongest terms the
American-British aggression against Yemen, which targeted the capital, Sanaa,
and a number of governorates.
The
statement added: "We salute the honorable and courageous Yemeni position,
condemn all positions of Arab disappointment, and affirm that it is the
resistance of the peoples of our nation that will triumph in the end."
For its
part, the Resistance Committees in Palestine considered the American-British
aggression that targeted Yemen at dawn on Friday, an aggression against all
components of the nation and its peoples.
The
Palestinian Mujahideen Movement also strongly condemned the American-British
aggression against Yemen, which is considered an attack on the entire Arab and
Islamic nation.
It said
in a statement: “Yemen is paying the price for its honorable position, which is
consistent with Sharia and morals, which won the victory for Gaza.”
In
Bahrain, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Bahraini Al-Wefaq Movement, Sheikh
Hussein Al-Daihi, confirmed that the recent attacks on Yemen represent “grave
transgressions that express the hostile dimensions of the Zionist project in
the region.”
Al-Daihi
said in an exclusive interview with Al-Mayadeen: The Bahraini regime’s
participation in the aggression against Yemen “sheds light on its hostile
approach and its increasing isolation from the Bahraini people and the Arab and
Islamic nations.”
Bloomberg
reported that US President Joe Biden is facing accusations from some members of
the Democratic Party due to the aggression launched by the United States and
Britain, with the participation of other countries, against Yemen, at dawn on
Friday.
US
Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib accused Biden of violating Article 1 of
the US Constitution, “by launching air strikes on Yemen without obtaining
approval from Congress.”
Meanwhile,
Representative Mark Pocan, also from the Democratic Party, stressed that the
United States of America “cannot risk involvement in another conflict that will
last for decades, without the permission of Congress.”
Democratic
Party Representative Pramila Jaipal also described Biden's move as an
"unacceptable violation of the Constitution."
She
added: "Americans do not want their tax dollars to fund these endless
wars."
A number
of anti-war demonstrators gathered in Times Square in New York City on Friday,
with the aim of condemning the American bombing of Yemen, and demanding the
United States’ exit from the Middle East, chanting: “From Palestine to Yemen,
imperialism is a crime.”
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3295851.htm
-----
Yemen’s
Houthis fired an anti-ship missile after strikes: US
January
13, 2024
WASHINGTON:
Yemen’s Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile on Friday in
retaliation for overnight American and British strikes targeting the
Iran-backed rebels, a US general said.
“We know
that they have fired at least one missile in retaliation” but it did not hit a
vessel, Director of the Joint Staff Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims told journalists.
“Their
rhetoric has been pretty strong and pretty high. I would expect that they will
attempt to some sort of retaliation,” he said of the Houthis.
The
assessment of damage from the strikes by the United States and Britain — which
targeted nearly 30 locations using more than 150 munitions — is still ongoing,
Sims said, noting however that the number of casualties is not expected to be
high.
“Every
target we struck last night was associated with a capability that has been
employed in denying freedom of navigation in the Red Sea,” he said.
The
Houthis have carried out a growing number of drone and missile strikes on the
key international shipping route through the Red Sea since the Gaza war erupted
with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel.
The
rebels — who say they are acting in response to Israel’s military assault on
Gaza — have controlled a major part of Yemen since civil war erupted there in
2014, and are part of the Iran-backed so-called “axis of resistance” arrayed
against Israel.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2440756/middle-east
----
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hindus-muslims-tolerate-amartya/d/131513