Indian Government Set To Bring Bill To Curb Waqf Board Powers On AssetsRunning Into Lakhs Of Crores Of Rupees Across The Country
New
Age Islam News Bureau
04
August 2024
The
bill to amend Waqf Act is likely to be tabled in Parliament next week.
------------
• Indian Government Set To Bring Bill To Curb Waqf
Board Powers On AssetsRunning Into Lakhs Of Crores Of Rupees Across The Country
• As Iran Strike Looms, Israel Hopes For "Abraham
Alliance" With US, UK
• Muslims Face Prayer Restrictions Under Israeli
Occupation — Al Aqsa Mosque Imam
• Madinah’s Historic Islamic Landmarks Open to
Visitors
• Islamic Extremist Group Al-Shabab Kills 32 People In
Attack On Beachfront In Somalia's Capital
-----
India
• Amit Shah Political Heir Of Ahmad Shah Abdali, BJP
Doing ‘Power Jihad’: Sena (UBT) Chief
• Muslim Organization, Sunni YuvajanaSangham, Comes To
Hindu Family’s Aid - Wayanad Landslides
• Dalit Congress Leader Who Threatened To Convert To Islam
Over Son’s Assault Booked Under State Terror Act
-----
Mideast
• Iran Vows 'Severe' Revenge Against Israel Amid
Middle East Tensions
• How might the ‘axis of resistance’ respond to
Israel’s escalation?
• Iran says short-range projectile killed Hamas'
Haniyeh, vows retaliation
• Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago
Killed Hamas Leader
-----
Europe
• Liverpool Imam Defuses Far-Right Protests – With Food,
Drinks, And Hugs
• Huge crowds of protesters clash with riot police
outside mosque as violence erupts in Midlands town
• Muslim World League Condemns Terrorist Attack in
Somali Capital Mogadishu
• Venezuela opposition declares 'we have never been so
strong'
• Who are the far-right groups behind the UK riots?
• Journalist or spy? Mystery around Pablo González's
alleged double life
-----
Arab
World
• Flash Flood Kills One In Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
• Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Indian
president after Kerala landslides
• Saudi makeup artist, influencer wants to inspire
• Monsha’at launches E-commerce Week to support
entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia
• Saudi Arabia arrests 21,049 illegals in one week
• KSrelief aids families across Yemen, Jordan, Sudan
-----
Africa
• ProtestAgainst The Country’s Economic Situation
Unites Christians, Muslims In Jos
• Hardship: Abuja protesters invite Christian, Islamic
leaders for talks
• Ga Mantse marks 53rd birthday with Christian, Muslim
prayers - Chief Imam calls for peaceful elections
• Nigerians protest high cost of living as police
arrest nearly 700
-----
Pakistan
• Imran Puts Onus Of Apology On Army For His Detention
• Pakistan To Observe Youm-i-IstehsalOn Monday In Show
Of Solidarity With Kashmir
• PTA confirms whitelisting VPNs for ‘smooth and
secure functioning’ of IT services, businesses
• Reserved seats judgement beyond jurisdiction: judges
• Financial compensation for missing persons alone
does not address issue: DHR
• JI sit-in demands review of contracts with IPPs
-----
South
Asia
• Human Rights Group Calls For Global Attention To
Afghanistan’s Cultural Crisis
• Call For A Nationwide Civil Disobedience Campaign:
Students Renew Bangladesh Protests, Call For PM Hasina’s Resignation
• Bangladesh PM calls emergency meeting with varsity
heads as student leaders refuse call for dialogue
• Bangladesh on the boil as rival activists hold
marches
• 2 killed, 100 injured as Bangladesh protests
intensify seeking Hasina's ouster
• Paris Olympics 2024: Afghan judoka denies doping
after failing test
• Extraction of three salt mines begins in Afghanistan
• Efforts accelerate to kickstart CASA-1000 power
project in Afghanistan
-----
Southeast
Asia
• Social Media Firms Must Set Up Shop In Malaysia For
Licensing, Deputy Minister Says
• Christian umbrella group backs calls to probe ‘free
bible course’ offer outside Melaka surau
• Dr Malaysia: Country closing in on goal to be major
global healthcare destination by 2025
• Trade Minister Armizan clarifies: Foreign vehicles
restricted to 20-litre diesel cap in Sabah, Sarawak
-----
North
America
• Artificial Intelligence Lawsuits Create New Music
Copyright Puzzle For US Courts
• Should Kamala Harris talk much about her racial
identity? Many voters say no.
• Trump’s federal election interference case resumes
after long pause
• Jimmy Carter eyes 100th birthday with a purpose:
Voting for Kamala Harris
• Boeing might get embarrassed after all as SpaceX's
emergency ride is more likely than ever
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
-----
Indian Government Set To Bring Bill To Curb Waqf Board
Powers On AssetsRunning Into Lakhs Of Crores Of Rupees Across The Country
Aug 4, 2024
The bill to amend Waqf Act is likely to be tabled in
Parliament next week.
-------------
NEW DELHI: In a major step, government wants to curb
the "unfettered" powers of Waqf Boards to declare any property a
'Waqf asset' and take control of it.
Sources said the Cabinet on Friday evening discussed
40-odd amendments in the Waqf Act (known as Waqf Act before 2013), including
ones to check the jurisdiction, considered arbitrary in many quarters, of Waqf
Boards which now control assets running into lakhs of crores of rupees across
the country.
Under the proposed amendments, Waqf Boards' claims,
which were previously unrestricted, will be subject to mandatory verification.
A similar mechanism of mandatory verification has been proposed also for
properties for which Waqf Boards and individual owners have made claims and
counter-claims.
Though an official briefing on Friday evening on
Cabinet decisions did not mention this move, sources indicated that a Bill to
amend the Waqf Act is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week.
Sources also said that the two provisions of mandatory
verification of properties, which would check arbitrary powers of Waqf Boards,
are the major amendments proposed to the Act. At present, these entities have
powers to tag any property as waqf asset. More than 8.7 lakh properties across
the country, totalling around 9.4 lakh acres, are under the jurisdiction of
Waqf Boards.
The need for such legislation arose as there were
several representations from Muslim intellectuals, women and different sects
such as Shia and Bohras, among others, seeking changes in the existing law,
sources said, underlining that the preparation to bring amendments had started
much before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. They also added that preliminary
perusal of the laws across Islamic nations such as Oman, Saudi Arabia and
others show that none of these countries have given such sweeping powers to one
entity.
More sweeping powers were conferred on Waqf Boards by
bringing amendments to the original Act during the UPA govt in 2013, which have
been a major bone of contention among Waqf authorities, individual property
owners, and several state entities, including the Archaeological Survey of
India.
TOI has learned that the Bill also proposes changes in
the composition of Waqf Boards and also seeks to repeal some provisions of the
current law.
The Waqf Act, 1995 was enacted to regulate ‘auqaf’
(assets donated and notified as waqf) by a wakif — the person who dedicates a
property for any purpose recognised by the Muslim law as pious, religious or
charitable.
Earlier, govt had taken note of sweeping powers of
state Waqf Boards to stake claim on any property and also delay in conducting a
survey of such property in most states. Government had also considered the
possibility of involving district magistrates in monitoring of waqf properties
to prevent misuse of the assets. Sources said the flaws in the appeal process
were also under scrutiny.
Source: Times Of India
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As Iran Strike Looms, Israel Hopes For "Abraham
Alliance" With US, UK
August 04, 2024
Fear has risen of a spillover from the nearly 10-month
Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
------------
Israeli defence officials say they are coordinating
with the US and UK ahead of an expected strike by Iran, setting the stage for a
repeat of a similar attack by Tehran in April that was repelled by allies.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement
Friday that he spoke with his American and British counterparts, Lloyd Austin
and John Healey, and provided "a situational assessment in light of recent
security developments."
Fear has risen of a spillover from the nearly 10-month
Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as Iran threatened retaliation for the assassination
in Tehran this week of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Iran-backed
group.
A similar spike in tensions about four months ago saw
Iran and Israel trade direct fire for the first time. Almost 300 Iranian drones
and missiles were fired but most were destroyed by air defences from Israel,
the US and several allies. Israel's drone strike in response was contained and
appeared symbolic to avoid escalation.
This time, Iran's response may be more fierce, given
the embarrassment of having a foreign dignitary and top ally assassinated in
the heart of its capital. Among its options are another direct assault on
Israel, stepped-up attacks by its proxies in the region or hitting Israeli
targets elsewhere in the world.
Austin, who earlier this week reiterated that the US
"certainly will help defend Israel" if attacked, spoke with Gallant
and is weighing moves to reinforce America's presence in the region, the
Pentagon said Friday. White House spokesman John Kirby said earlier in a CNN
interview that the Pentagon is ensuring it has "the right resources and
capabilities" in the region, including both equipment and personnel.
Israel has stopped short of confirming it was behind
killing Haniyeh, but it hasn't pushed back against the claim either. His death
also came hours after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut, Fuad
Shukr.
President Joe Biden on Thursday assured Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "new defensive US military deployments,"
the White House said in a statement. Biden later told reporters he also pressed
the Israeli leader in a "very direct" call to agree to a cease-fire
in Gaza with Hamas.
Biden is trying to use his last months in office to
end the war, which has caused huge political divisions in the US. He's
struggled to influence Netanyahu's war strategy, seeking to pressure him
publicly and privately but declining to use as leverage the billions of dollars
in US military aid.
"Meeting with senior leaders across the region,
including today in Israel, we urged all sides to show restraint and dial down
the tension at this critical moment," UK's Healey said in a statement.
"We also need to see an immediate cease-fire, hostages released and aid
getting in in sufficient quantity to alleviate the suffering in Gaza."
While the destruction and death count among
Palestinians in Gaza has drawn international criticism of Israel, Netanyahu has
focused on the existential threat to his country and the region from Iran and
its proxies in the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes Hamas in Gaza
and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both designated terrorist organizations by the US, as
well as the Houthis in Yemen.
Netanyahu referred to the coordinated April defence in
a controversial speech last week to a joint meeting of the US Congress, calling
it a possible template for a NATO-accord he termed the "Abraham
Alliance."
Gallant in his statement Friday said he
"emphasized the importance of establishing a coalition in Israel's defence
against Iran's proxies."
Source: Www.Ndtv.Com
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-----
Muslims Face Prayer Restrictions Under Israeli
Occupation — Al Aqsa Mosque Imam
04-08-2024
Detention of Sheikh Sabri from Al-Aqsa Mosque reveal
the challenges faced by Muslims in practicing their faith freely amidst ongoing
occupation. / Photo: Reuters
--------------
Al Aqsa Mosque Imam or prayer leader Sheikh Ekrima
Sabri has said that Muslims are unable to freely offer prayers under Israeli
occupation.
Sabri was released by Israeli authorities on Friday
after being detained for several hours and ordered to be deported from the
mosque.
Earlier on Friday, he was arrested by the Israeli police
for mourning and eulogizing slain Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.
“Muslims are unable to freely offer prayers under the
Israeli occupation, and people are subjected to arbitrary pressures regarding
the expression of their opinions,” Sheikh Sabri told Anadolu on Saturday.
Sheikh Sabri said he informed Israeli authorities that
he has not broken the law and that the slogans raised by the Muslim faithful
were simply expressions of their religious sentiment.
He revealed that the Israeli police have decided to
prohibit him from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque for one week, with the
possibility of extending the ban for up to six months.
Earlier, his lawyer Khaled Zabarka told Anadolu on
Friday that the Israeli authorities released Sheikh Ekrima and ordered his
deportation from the mosque until Aug. 8, with a possibility to extend his
deportation for six months.
"The people of Jerusalem and the environs of
Jerusalem from the pulpit of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque mourn the martyr Ismail
Haniyeh," he said while giving a sermon.
The 85-year-old preacher had previously been detained
by Israeli forces and was barred from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied
East Jerusalem for months.
Sabri is a staunch critic of the decades-long Israeli
occupation of the Palestinian territories. He had previously held the position
of mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories from 1994 to 2006.
Source: Www.Trtworld.Com
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Madinah’s Historic Islamic Landmarks Open to Visitors
4 August 2024
The historic Islamic landmarks of Saudi Arabia’s city
of Madinah are now open to visitors. (SPA)
---------------
The historic Islamic landmarks of Saudi Arabia’s city
of Madinah are now open to visitors.
The locations, castles and fortresses that Muslims had
long read about in the history books can now be visited and admired up-close.
Authorities have sought to preserve these locations in
the hopes of attracting visitors.
Over a hundred historic Islamic landmarks have been
preserved and renovated in the Madinah and Makkah regions to consolidate their
religious and cultural standing and offer a unique tourist experience to
visitors.
Expert on modern history Dr. Abdulrahman al-Waqisi
said: “Every corner and every aspect of Madinah is history and tells a story.”
It covers the history that predates Islam, post-Hijra
and aspects of the Prophet Mohammed life, he added.
The city still boasts undiscovered historic sites
despite the great efforts carried out by Saudi authorities to unearth them, he
remarks.
The regions of Saudi Arabia are still rife with
heritage treasures, he stressed.
In Madinah, he highlighted the Atban bin Malik Mosque
where the Prophet Mohammed once prayed.
New discoveries were recently made at the mosque,
demonstrating the city’s rich history, al-Waqisi said.
He acknowledged that some historic ruins had once been
neglected and sometimes destroyed due to some conservative views and various
other excuses.
Some important landmarks have indeed been razed to the
ground for unjustified reasons, he lamented.
Others, however, have been salvaged thanks to the
intervention of the authorities.
Source: English.Aawsat.Com
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Islamic Extremist Group Al-Shabab Kills 32 People In
Attack On Beachfront In Somalia's Capital
AUGUST 3, 2024
Juliana Kim
An ambulance is seen on the beach following an attack
in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday.
Farah Abdi Warsameh/AP
--------------
At least 32 people were killed and 63 others were
wounded in an attack that included a suicide bombing and gunfire in Somalia's
capital, Mogadishu, according to police.
The assault, which began late Friday, took place near
a hotel on Lido Beach, a popular hangout spot for Mogadishu residents. A police
spokesperson said one soldier died and the rest of the deceased and injured
were civilians.
Islamic extremist group al-Shabab claimed
responsibility for the Friday attack. Three insurgents died in a gunfight with
law enforcement while one was captured alive, according to police.
The country has been inundated with attacks by
al-Shabab for several years. Just last month, al-Shabab militants attempted to
overrun three army bases in southern Somalia, leading to a bloody clash between
the group and Somali forces, Reuters reported.
On Saturday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
and other federal authorities gathered to discuss strategies for improving the
capital's security, according to state media.
According to the National Counterterrorism Center, the
goal of al-Shabab is to overthrow the Somali federal government and drive out
foreign forces in the country. Another objective for the group, which is linked
to al-Qaida, is to establish a fundamentalist Islamic state, the center said.
Al-Shabab emerged in response to two decades of
turmoil in Somalia following the overthrow of the country's military
dictatorship. The group attempted to take over southern Somalia in 2006 but was
later defeated by Somali and Ethiopian forces.
Al-Shabab remained a dangerous presence in large parts
of the country over the years, carrying out a number of deadly bombings in
Somalia and neighboring Kenya. Hotels, restaurants and military bases, as well
as Somalia's capital have all been a common target.
Last year, president Mohamud pledged a "total
war" against the militants, the Associated Press reported. The Global
Terrorism Index ranked al-Shabab as the fourth deadliest terrorist group in
2023 after tallying 227 attacks and 499 deaths attributed to the militants.
Source: Www.Npr.Org
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https://www.npr.org/2024/08/03/nx-s1-5062433/mogadishu-beach-suicide-bombing-al-shabab-beach
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Amit Shah Political Heir Of Ahmad Shah Abdali, BJP
Doing ‘Power Jihad’: Sena (UBT) Chief
Aug 04, 2024
Earlier on July 21, Shah during his Pune visit had
attacked the Sena (UBT) chief, saying, “Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of
Aurangzeb Fan Club”
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav
Thackeray on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in
“power jihad” by destabilising political parties to remain in power. Thackeray
was speaking in Pune as a part of the party’s meet ahead of the crucial
assembly polls likely to be held in October this year.
Responding to Union minister Amit Shah’s remark
labelling him as the head of the “Aurangzeb Fan Club”, Thackeray claimed that
Shah is a “political heir” of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler who defeated
the Marathas in the battle of Panipat.
Earlier on July 21, Shah during his Pune visit had
attacked the Sena (UBT) chief, saying, “Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of
Aurangzeb Fan Club.”
Source: Hindustan Times
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Muslim Organization, Sunni YuvajanaSangham, Comes To
Hindu Family’s Aid - Wayanad Landslides
Aug 4, 2024
In a heart-warming instance of tragedies uniting
people cutting across religious faiths, a Bihar-native plantation worker, who
lost his mother in the Mundakkai landslide, was provided with air tickets by a
Muslim organization to fulfil the family’s wish that her ashes be taken to her
homeland for immersion as per their religious beliefs.
Ravi Rosan Kumar, a resident of Bhagwanpur in Vaishali
district of Bihar who was working at Harrisons Malayalam Plantations at
Mundakkai, lost his mother Phulkumaree Devi in the landslide that also left
three other family members missing.
Devi’s body was recovered, and the cremation was done
at the burial grounds of MeppadiMariyappan Temple on Friday. Devi, who also
worked at Harissons Estate, wished to return to her native place in her sunset
years. Though it could not be fulfilled, Kumar and his family desired that at
least her ashes be taken to Bhagwanpur for immersion.
Source: Times Of India
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Dalit Congress leader who threatened to convert to
Islam over son’s assault booked under state terror act
by Gopal Kateshiya
August 4, 2024
Three weeks after Congress Dalit leader Rajesh alias
Raju Solanki threatened to convert to Islam if the state government didn’t take
action against Gondal BJP MLA GeetabaJadeja and her husband in connection with
the alleged assault on his son, Raju and four of his family members were booked
under the stringent Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GUJCTOC)
Act, for allegedly running a crime syndicate since 2014, said police on
Saturday.
Based on a complaint filed by inspector JJ Patel,
in-charge of Local Crime Branch (LCB), Junagadh district, an FIR under GUJCTOC
Act Sections 3(1)(2), 3(4) — related to organised crime — and the Arms Act was
registered at A Division Police Station in Junagadh Saturday morning.
In his complaint, Patel named Raju, his brother Jayesh
alias Javo alias Savan Solanki, his sons Sanjay and Dev and nephew Yogesh Bagda
as accused.
Later in the day, police arrested Raju, his two sons
and nephew. Jayesh is in judicial custody in an attempt to murder case
involving a doctor. According to the complaint, the five were allegedly
involved in crimes like attempted murder, assaulting policemen, theft, robbery,
rioting, extortion, kidnapping, criminal intimidation etc for the past 10
years.
Source: Indianexpress.Com
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Mideast
Iran vows 'severe' revenge against Israel amid Middle
East tensions
By: Ajmal Abbas
Aug 3, 2024
Days after the killing of Hamas Political Bureau Chief
Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli strike in Iran, fears of a full-blown war between
Israel and Iran are growing as Iran and Tehran-backed groups vow revenge.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Saturday vowed a "severe" revenge for
Haniyeh's killing and blamed the "terrorist Zionist regime" of Israel
for his death.
The possibility of an Israel-Lebanon war also looms as
tensions soar following the killing of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr
by Israel. The recent killing of 12 children and teenagers in an alleged
Hezbollah rocket attack on a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan
Heights had already worsened the situation.
Countries, including India, the US, the UK, France,
Poland and others, have issued warnings to their citizens in Israel and the
Middle East in the wake of these latest developments. Israel and its allies
have reportedly started strengthening their military arsenal in the region.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which released more
details of Haniyeh's killing on Saturday, vowed "severe revenge".
Their statement said the retaliation against the "terrorist Zionist
regime" of Israel will be "severe and at an appropriate time, place,
and manner".
The Revolutionary Guards on Saturday stated that
Haniyeh was killed by a "short-range projectile" fired "from
outside the accommodation area" where he was staying. “The action was
designed and carried out by the Zionist regime and supported by the US,” the
statement added.
Source: Www.Indiatoday.In
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How might the ‘axis of resistance’ respond to Israel’s
escalation?
By Mat Nashed
3 Aug 2024
Iran and regional armed groups aligned with the
country are preparing to respond to Israel over the assassination of Hamas
political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr earlier this
week.
Self-styled as the “axis-of-resistance” for being at
odds with United States-Israeli hegemony in the region, Iran and its allies
will seek to restore deterrence against Israel without provoking a full-blown
regional war, analysts told Al Jazeera, while warning that the space for miscalculation
is razor-thin.
“One of the lines of argument in Iran right now is
that they need to show a firm response and show their readiness to enter into a
war in order to de-escalate,” said Hamidreza Azizi, an expert on Iran and a
non-resident fellow with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs think tank
in Doha, Qatar.
“[Iran’s leaders think] that if they don’t do that,
then Israel is not going to stop and after some time there might be Iranian
officials being targeted openly by Israel in the country,” he added.
Source: Www.Aljazeera.Com
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Iran says short-range projectile killed Hamas'
Haniyeh, vows retaliation
Aug 04 2024
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have said that
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by Israel using a short-range projectile
with a warhead and plans to take revenge "at the appropriate time.
The statement by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on
Saturday also accuses the "criminal government" of the United States
of supporting the attack, which Iran blames on Israel.
"This terrorist attack was designed and
implemented by the Zionist regime (Israel) and supported by the criminal
government of America," the IRNA news agency quoted the statement as saying.
The statement by IRGC which was televised on the
country's state media, came, three days after Haniyeh was killed at his
accommodation in northern Tehran following his attendance at the inaugural
ceremony of Iran's new president Masoud Pezeshkian.
Source: Www.Business-Standard.Com
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Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed
Hamas Leader
By Ronen Bergman
Aug. 3, 2024
Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas, was
assassinated on Wednesday by an explosive device covertly smuggled into the
Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to seven Middle Eastern
officials, including two Iranians, and an American official.
The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago
in the guesthouse, according to five of the Middle Eastern officials. The
guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and
is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighborhood of
northern Tehran.
Mr. Haniyeh was in Iran’s capital for the presidential
inauguration. The bomb was detonated remotely, the five officials said, once it
was confirmed that he was inside his room at the guesthouse. The blast also
killed a bodyguard.
The explosion shook the building, shattered some
windows and caused the partial collapse of an exterior wall, according to the
two Iranian officials, members of the Revolutionary Guards briefed on the
incident. Such damage was also evident in a photograph of the building shared
with The New York Times.
Source: Www.Nytimes.Com
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https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/world/middleeast/how-hamas-leader-haniyeh-killed-iran-bomb.html
-----
Europe
Liverpool Imam defuses far-right protests – with food,
drinks, and hugs
by Tom Head
2024-08-03
Liverpool’s counter-protesters outnumbered those who
were following in the footsteps of Southport, Hartlepool, and Sunderland over
the last 72 hours. Large-scale disorder has been reported across a number of
cities, in response to the tragic stabbing of three young girls on Monday.
Disinformation has flooded social media platforms,
leading many people to believe that the attacker was a Muslim immigrant. The
truth is, the Cardiff-born killer was neither of these things. However,
right-leaning hooligans have used this event to harass Islamic communities.
Mosques have been targeted by agitators – with one
place of worship in Southport baring the brunt of public anger. Locals rushed
to rebuild walls the day after, but these faith-based institutions remain in
the cross-hairs. However, the people of Liverpool were having none of it.
Source: Www.Thelondon Economic.Com
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https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/far-right-protests-uk-liverpool-imam-adam-kelwick-380296/
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Huge crowds of protesters clash with riot police
outside mosque as violence erupts in Midlands town
By Jamie Brassington
3 AUG 2024
Protesters and counter-protesters have been seen
clashing near a mosque in Hanley. Videos shared on various social media platforms
show the planned protests in Stoke-on-Trent turning violent.
A large number of riot police have been dispatched to
the scene, with Staffordshire Police confirming they are dealing with
'disorder'. The unrest appears to be centred around the Darul Falah mosque on
Town Road, which was previously a protestant church.
This follows a planned march that began in the town
centre earlier today at around 11.30am, organised by groups labelled as
'far-right' by MPs. The protests have been scheduled nationwide and included
shocking scenes in Sunderland on Friday night where a police building was set
ablaze.
Source: Www.Birminghammail.Co.Uk
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https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/huge-crowds-protesters-clash-riot-29672059
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Muslim World League Condemns Terrorist Attack in
Somali Capital Mogadishu
4 August 2024
The Muslim World League (MWL) condemned the terrorist
attack that occurred in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
The MW's General Secretariat denounced in a statement
the heinous terrorist crime that claimed lives of dozens, reiterating its
position, which strongly condemns all violence and terrorism.
The MWL, on behalf of its assemblies, bodies, and
global councils, expressed full solidarity with Republic of Somalia and its
people in confronting anything that threats the country's security and
stability.
It also extended its heartfelt condolences to the
victims' families and wished a swift recovery to those injured.
Source: English.Aawsat.Com
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-----
Venezuela opposition declares 'we have never been so
strong'
Aug 4, 2024
CARACAS: Venezuela's opposition leader emerged from
hiding on Saturday, declaring "We have never been so strong," as
President Nicolas Maduro slammed what he called attempts to "usurp the
presidency" following last week's disputed election.
Thousands gathered peacefully across Venezuela,
including in the capital Caracas where Maria Corina Machado thrilled supporters
with a surprise appearance in a truck bearing a banner reading "Venezuela
has won!"
Machado, who spent much of the week in hiding after
Maduro threatened her with arrest following deadly post-election protests, had
backed the candidacy of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia after she herself was banned
from running.
Supporters say he won 67 percent of the July 28 vote,
and several Latin American countries and the United States have recognized him
as president-elect.
Venezuela's CNE election authority, loyal to Maduro,
on Friday proclaimed him the winner with 52 percent of the vote to 43 percent
for Gonzalez Urrutia, a result that defied pre-election polls.
Thousands of Maduro supporters responded to his call
for "the mother of all marches" Saturday afternoon, gathering in
central Caracas to march to the presidential palace in the name of
"national peace."
Source: Times Of India
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Who are the far-right groups behind the UK riots?
Aug 4, 2024
Violent unrest has erupted in several towns and cities
in Britain in recent days, and further disorder broke out Saturday as far-right
agitators gathered in demonstrations around the country.
The violence has been driven by online disinformation
and extremist right-wing groups intent on creating disorder after a deadly
knife attack on a children’s event in northwestern England, experts said.
A range of far-right factions and individuals,
including neo-Nazis, violent soccer fans and anti-Muslim campaigners, have
promoted and taken part in the unrest, which has also been stoked by online
influencers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to deploy
additional police officers to crack down on the disorder. “This is not a
protest that has got out of hand,” he said Thursday. “It is a group of
individuals who are absolutely bent on violence.”
The first riot took place Tuesday evening in
Southport, a town in northwestern England, after a deadly stabbing attack the
previous day at a children’s dance and yoga class. Three girls died of their
injuries, and eight other children and two adults were wounded.
Source: Times Of India
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Journalist or spy? Mystery around Pablo González's
alleged double life
Aug 4, 2024
When Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February
2022, Pablo González, a Spanish journalist known for his work with outlets like
EFE and Voice of America, found himself at the Polish-Ukrainian border,
documenting the refugee crisis. But within a week, his journalistic career took
a dramatic turn. Polish authorities arrested him on charges of being a Russian
agent, and he has been at the center of an international intrigue ever since.
González, a 42-year-old freelance reporter with a
reputation for lively evenings in Warsaw, was accused of being an operative for
the GRU, Russia's military intelligence. The charges, which included
"participating in foreign intelligence activities against Poland,"
came as a shock to many who knew him as an affable, karaoke-loving journalist.
As part of a high-profile prisoner swap, González was
released and flown to Moscow on Thursday, leaving behind a trail of unanswered
questions. His release, part of the largest prisoner exchange since the Soviet
era, has sparked speculation that he was indeed involved in espionage under the
guise of journalism.
Born Pavel Rubtsov in Soviet Moscow, González moved to
Spain with his mother at age 9, adopting the name Pablo González Yagüe. He
built a career in journalism, contributing to Spanish outlets like Público and
La Sexta, and later worked in Poland, where he gained a reputation as a
well-equipped freelancer.
Source: Times Of India
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Arab
World
Flash flood kills one in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
ARAB NEWS
August 03, 2024
RIYADH: A flash flood from the mountains of
southwestern Saudi Arabia swept away part of a bridge in Jazan province,
killing one person on Saturday, Al-Ekhbariya reported.
The news channel aired images of two vehicles caught
up in the floodwaters, one of them crushed by a collapsed bridge support.
It said several people were also injured in the bridge
collapse at an important crossroads inland from the city of Jazan.
The National Center for Meteorology warned Saturday
that more heavy rainfall was still to come in Jazan province, with
thunderstorms forecast in the mountains.
Source: Www.Arab News.Com
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Saudi king, crown prince offer condolences to Indian
president after Kerala landslides
ARAB NEWS
August 03, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince offered
their condolences on Saturday to Indian President Droupadi Murmu after
landslides set off by torrential rains killed over 300 people in Kerala.
In separate cables of condolences to Murmu, King
Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said they hoped that the missing
would return safely and wished the injured a swift recovery.
Heavy rain in the southern coastal state, one of
India’s most popular tourist destinations, caused landslides in the hills of
Wayanad district early on Tuesday, sending torrents of mud, water and tumbling
boulders downhill and burying or sweeping people to their deaths as they slept.
The disaster, the worst in Kerala since deadly floods
in 2018, has led to the death of over 300 people with nearly 200 still missing,
authorities have said.
Source: Www.Arab News.Com
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Saudi makeup artist, influencer wants to inspire
RAHAF JAMBI
August 03, 2024
RIYADH: A Saudi makeup artist with a gift for glamour
is hoping to use his growing social media presence to inspire men and women
across the region.
“Even when I didn’t quite realize it fully, because I
was so young, I knew there was something about this world of creativity and
glamour that was calling out to me.”
“My brand came about as a result of my constant
contemplation of how I could support other aspiring beauty enthusiasts, not
just in the region, but globally.
Majed is one of a number of Saudi men who are making
waves in the beauty industry. He said his interest was piqued by the boom in
social media coverage that started around seven or eight years ago.
Source: Www.Arab News.Com
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Monsha’at launches E-commerce Week to support
entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia
ARAB NEWS
August 03, 2024
RIYADH: The Small and Medium Enterprises General
Authority (Monsha’at) will launch its E-commerce Week on Sunday, with more than
40 public and private entities participating.
The five-day event aims to “introduce entrepreneurs to
the importance of e-commerce and its impact on small and medium enterprises,”
the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It also aims to “provide a platform for communication
and exchange of experiences between entrepreneurs, experts, and relevant
government and private entities.”
The week’s activities will include meetings, panel
discussions, and exhibition booths where companies can present their services
and initiatives.
Source: Www.Arab News.Com
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Saudi Arabia arrests 21,049 illegals in one week
ARAB NEWS
August 03, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,049 people in
one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the
Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
According to an official report, a total of 13,209
people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 5,177 were held
over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 2,663 for labor-related
issues.
The report showed that among the 1,540 people arrested
for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 56 percent were Ethiopian, 43
percent Yemeni, and 1 percent were of other nationalities.
Source: Www.Arab News.Com
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KSrelief aids families across Yemen, Jordan, Sudan
ARAB NEWS
August 03, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief continues to assist
vulnerable individuals and families in Yemen, Jordan and Sudan by distributing
food, shelter and medical supplies.
In Yemen, KSrelief provided shelter bags and tents to
21 families in the Al-Abr district of Hadramout governorate, the Saudi Press
Agency reported on Saturday.
Additionally, 1,411 food baskets were distributed in
Hadibu and Qalansiyah districts of Socotra governorate, benefiting 8,466
people, and 2,123 food baskets were given in Al-Khokha and Hays districts of
Hodeidah governorate, benefiting 14,861 individuals.
Source: Www.Arab News.Com
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Africa
ProtestAgainst The Country’s Economic Situation Unites
Christians, Muslims In Jos
August 4, 2024
by KoladeAdeyemi
As the nationwide protests against the country’s
economic situation continue, a significant moment occurred in Jos, Plateau
State, as Muslims and Christians prayed together during Friday’s Juma’at
prayers at 1:30pm.
With the crowd of protesters gathered at the Old
Airport Roundabout, the Christians formed a ring of protection to serve as a
praying ground for the Muslims to observe their usual Friday prayers.
“From what I observed, Jos is one of the most peaceful
protests we have ever had in Nigeria. You can see a mixture of Muslims and
Christians united to protest against the hardship, hunger, and insecurity that
we are facing in Nigeria.”
Source: The Nation Onlineng.Net
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Hardship: Abuja protesters invite Christian, Islamic
leaders for talks
August 3, 2024
By Matthew Atungwu
Abuja youths protesting against hardship and bad
governance in Nigeria have invited leaders of the Christian Association of
Nigeria, CAN, and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria for a “heart-to-heart” talks
at the protest venue.
While addressing the protesters, Sydney Usman, of the
Take It Back Movement, appreciated the leaders for their various interventions
but asked them to show up at the venue on Monday, August 5, to discuss with the
protesters.
Usman, who decried attacks on protesters by the Police
since the first day of the protests, described the leaders as their fathers,
adding that they were protesting the bad governance in the country.
Source: Dailypost.Ng
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Ga Mantse marks 53rd birthday with Christian, Muslim
prayers - Chief Imam calls for peaceful elections
Vincent Amenuveve
Aug - 03 - 2024
The Ga Mantse, King NiiTackieTeikoTsuru II, and the
National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman NuhuSharubutu, have called on Ghanaians and
other stakeholders to ensure that the December 7 election is peaceful.
They explained that a peaceful election, apart from
consolidating the nation's democracy, would ultimately accelerate the
development of the country.
The two leaders made the call at the National Mosque
at Kanda (Kawukudi) in Accra after which special (Jummah) Muslim prayers were
offered for the Ga Mantse to mark his 53rd birthday yesterday (Friday, August
2, 2024).
Sheikh Sharubutu recalled that the hosting of the
Asantehene, OtumfuoOsei Tutu II, by the Ga Mantse in June this year was
historic, exemplary and would ultimately help promote peace in a culturally
diverse nation like Ghana, particularly in the run-up to the December polls.
He prayed to Allah to continue to strengthen the Ga
Mantse to continue with his good works to take the Ga State to another level in
its developmental agenda.
Source: Www.Graphic.Com.Gh
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Nigerians protest high cost of living as police arrest
nearly 700
04-08-2024
Nigerian security forces on Saturday fired bullets and
teargas at several journalists and protesters during demonstrations against the
country’s economic crisis in the capital city, Abuja, according to journalists
at the scene.
It was not immediately confirmed whether the
projectiles fired at journalists were rubber or live rounds. But the AP
witnessed the aftermath of the attack, including bullet holes in a car
belonging to one of the journalists as well as live bullets at the scene of the
protests.
At least 50 protesters were arrested on Saturday
during the protests in Abuja, Amnesty International's Nigeria office said.
Nearly 700 protesters have so far been arrested across the country while nine
officers have been injured during the protests, now in their third day, the
Nigerian police said.
The ongoing demonstrations are mainly against
Nigeria’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation and accusations of
misgovernment and corruption in Africa’s most populous country. Nigeria’s
public officials are among the best-paid in Africa, a stark contrast in a
country that has some of the world’s poorest and hungriest people despite being
one of the continent’s top oil producers.
Source: Africanews.Com
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Pakistan
Imran puts onus of apology on army for his detention
Malik Asad
August 4, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan has
claimed that the army owes an apology to him since he was “abducted” by the
Rangers on May 9, 2023.
The PTI leader’s remarks came during a media talk at
Adiala Jail where he was asked that the army wants those behind violent
protests of May 9 to apologise and whether he would tender an apology.
Mr Khan further said he was arrested by the Rangers,
which is headed by a serving major general, from the premises of the Islamabad
High Court.
Since May 7, when ISPR Director General Maj Gen Ahmed
Sharif said any dialogue with the PTI could happen if the party apologised for
its ‘politics of anarchy’, Mr Khan has repeatedly said he had no reason to
apologise.
He reiterated the same position on Saturday when he
said he would only hold talks with the “real authority” as negotiations with
the government is “a futile exercise”.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Pakistan to observe Youm-i-Istehsal on Monday in show
of solidarity with Kashmir
August 4, 2024
The federal government has announced that Pakistan
will observe Youm-i-Istehsal (Exploitation Day) on Monday, to mark the fifth
anniversary of India revoking Kashmir’s special autonomy and to show solidarity
with Kashmiris, the state-owned PTV News reported on Sunday.
On August 5, 2019, India’s Narendra Modi-led
government stripped the Muslim-majority territory of its special status by
repealing Article 370 of the constitution, splitting the former state into two
territories directly ruled by New Delhi.
Through the revocation of the said article, people
from the rest of India gained the right to acquire property in Indian-held
Kashmir and settle there permanently. Kashmiris, as well as critics of India’s
Hindu nationalist-led government, saw the move as an attempt to dilute the
demographics of Muslim-majority Kashmir with Hindu settlers.
In response to the controversial move, the Government
of Pakistan designated 5 August as Youm-e-Istehsal, starting in 2020. This day
is now observed annually in Pakistan as a reaction to the status change.
This year, discussions related to the commemoration of
the day were held at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on
Saturday. According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting was attended by federal
ministers and senior government officials who briefed the PM about
preparations.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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PTA confirms whitelisting VPNs for ‘smooth and secure
functioning’ of IT services, businesses
August 4, 2024
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) this
week followed up on its plan to regulate the use of Virtual Private Networks
(VPNs) in the country with a clarification that it was whitelisting VPNs
through an “automated process” to ensure the “smooth and secure functioning of
the IT services and online businesses.”
On Thursday, the authority’s head told a parliamentary
committee that plans were in the works to regulate the use of VPNs in the
country by whitelisting some proxy networks and blocking others.
While attending a meeting of the Standing Committee on
Cabinet Secretariat, PTA Chairman retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman said
once the policy was implemented, only whitelisted VPNs would function in
Pakistan and the others would be blocked. In response to a query by the
committee’s chairman, Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hasan, the PTA chief, said VPNs could
be blocked in the country, but it would “lead to the collapse of several IT
businesses that operate on VPNs.”
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Reserved seats judgement beyond jurisdiction: judges
Nasir Iqbal
August 4, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Naeem
Akhtar Afghan, in their dissenting verdict in the reserved seats case, have
regretted that the “superstructure” created by the July 12 majority judgement
does not in any way come within the ambit of the jurisdiction vested in the
Supreme Court or the Constitution.
“The issue was simply the matter of post-general
elections directly related to the reserved seats for both women and non-Muslims
on the basis of proportional representation system of political parties’ lists
of candidates under Article 51 and 106 of the Constitution,” the dissenting
note explained. “In the process of general elections all events are scheduled
and time-bound and cannot be reversed,” said the 29-page order.
Both judges were part of the 13-member bench which in
a July 12 majority judgement held that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was
eligible for the reserved seats in the national and the provincial assemblies.
The dissenting judgement observed that the majority’s
short order in effect had created a new parliamentary party in the National
Assembly as well as the three provincial assemblies, which clearly and
unequivocally was not an issue before the apex court.
Unless Article 51 (National Assembly), Article 106
(provincial assemblies) and Article 63 (disqualification) of the Constitution
are suspended and new articles in consonance with the relief granted through
the majority order are inserted in the Constitution, the relief given to PTI
cannot be granted, the minority judgement explained. The note said that the
detailed majority judgement has yet to come despite the expiry of 15 days
mentioned in the decision, adding that this delay may render the review
petitions filed against the July 12 short order infructuous.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Financial compensation for missing persons alone does
not address issue: DHR
Kalbe Ali
August 4, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Chairperson of Defense of Human Rights
(DHR) Amna Masood Janjua has urged the government to prioritise the safe return
of missing persons instead of offering financial compensation.
In a press conference at the National Press Club on
Saturday, Ms Janjua responded to the government’s recent announcement of
financial assistance packages for the families of missing persons.
She criticised the recent governmental measures as
insufficient, arguing that financial aid alone did not address the underlying
issue of enforced disappearances.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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JI sit-in demands review of contracts with IPPs
August 4, 2024
KARACHI: The city chapter of the Jamaat-i-Islami
staged a sit-in outside the Sindh Governor House on Saturday, aiming to
continue it “for an indefinite period” and demanded the cancellation of
agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) and revision of the tax
regime mainly on the salaried class.
The JI also took the opportunity to raise
Karachi-specific issues, seeking cancellation of the agreement with K-Electric,
devolution of power in local government system and transparency in the spending
of billions of rupees “in the name of development” that has “failed to improve
the city’s infrastructure and fix the decades-old problems of water supply and
drainage system.”
A large number of people attended the protest.
Carrying placards and banners, they chanted slogans against the government, the
IPPs and all others contributing to the rise of inflation. Addressing the sit-in,
JI Karachi chief Munem Zafar said that the protest is a continuation and
expression of solidarity with the larger protest being held in Rawalpindi.
“The Jamaat-i-Islami demands withdrawal of excessive
taxes, slab system from electricity bills, and unjust agreements with IPPs. The
JI also demands rationalisation of the tax regime, withdrawal of unjust taxes,
particularly imposed upon the salaried class and traders in the last budget.”
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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South
Asia
Human Rights Group calls for global attention to
Afghanistan’s cultural crisis
By Fidel Rahmati
August 3, 2024
The Human Rights Defenders Assembly has raised an
alarm regarding the Taliban’s systematic erasure of Afghanistan’s cultural
heritage.
They have urged the international community to address
what they describe as a “cultural catastrophe” in the country.
In a statement released on Friday, August 2, the
assembly highlighted that the Taliban’s actions have led to deep depression and
mental suffering among artists. They are also concerned about the adverse
economic and psychological conditions of displaced cultural workers in
neighboring countries.
Source: Www.Khaama.Com
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Call For A Nationwide Civil Disobedience
Campaign:Students Renew Bangladesh Protests, Call For PM Hasina’s Resignation
3 Aug 2024
Protesters in Bangladesh have taken to the streets to
demand justice for the more than 200 people killed in last month’s student-led
demonstrations over quotas in government jobs.
The large protests on Saturday came as student leaders
called for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign until Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina’s government resigns.
Students Against Discrimination, the group responsible
for organising the initial protests, rebuffed an offer of talks with Hasina
earlier in the day.
“She must resign and she must face trial,” Nahid
Islam, the group’s leader, told a crowd of thousands at a monument to national
heroes in the capital Dhaka to roars of approval.
Source: Www.Aljazeera.Com
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Bangladesh PM calls emergency meeting with varsity
heads as student leaders refuse call for dialogue
August 04, 2024
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called an
emergency meeting with university vice-chancellors and college principals on
Saturday night amid heightened tensions as student movement leaders refused
here invitation for talks and demanded her resignation, days after over 200
people died in anti-quota protests.
Bangladesh recently witnessed violent clashes between
the police and mostly student protesters demanding an end to a controversial
quota system that reserved 30% of government jobs for relatives of veterans who
fought in Bangladesh's War of Independence in 1971.
The Prime Minister held a "view-exchange meeting
with the vice-chancellors of public and private universities, senior teachers
and college principals at Ganobhaban (PM’s official residence),” a PMO
spokesman said.
Without giving any detail, he said the meeting
discussed the “overall situation created over the students’ campaign and the
way out to overcome it”, while the teachers vowed to work in unison to “save
the students from the clutches of the evil forces”.
Source: Www.The Hindu.Com
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Bangladesh on the boil as rival activists hold marches
AnbarasanEthirajan
04-08-2024
Bangladesh is tense as both anti-government protesters
and the governing Awami League are set to hold rallies across the country on
Sunday.
The demonstrations are happening in the aftermath of
deadly violence during protests last month over quotas in civil service jobs,
in which more than 200 people were killed.
Around 10,000 people have been reportedly detained in
a major crackdown by security forces in the past two weeks. Those arrested
included opposition supporters and students.
Source: Www.Bbc.Com
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2 killed, 100 injured as Bangladesh protests intensify
seeking Hasina's ouster
Aug 03, 2024
Bangladesh protests: Tension flared up on Saturday as
student leaders declined Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s invitation to discuss
the ongoing protests.
New “anti-quota protests” erupted in Bangladesh on
Friday, leaving two people dead and more than 100 injured, the Associated Press
reported. Thousands protested in Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh, demanding
prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation.
More than 2,000 protesters assembled in various parts
of Dhaka to demonstrate against Sheikh Hasina’s government, with some chanting
“down with the autocrat” and demanding justice for the victims. In the Uttara
neighbourhood, clashes erupted between police and students, with security
forces deploying tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd, which was
throwing stones.
Source: Www.Hindustan Times.Com
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Paris Olympics 2024: Afghan judoka denies doping after
failing test
Aug 04, 2024
Mohammad SamimFaizad, one of only six Afghans at the
Paris Olympics, denied intentionally doping on Saturday after he was provisionally
suspended having failed a test for a banned steroid.
The 21-year-old judoka, who was beaten 11-0 in the
French capital on Tuesday in the men’s -81kg category, had told AFP on the eve
of the Games that competing at the Olympics was a dream come true.
He was provisionally suspended on Friday after a test
“returned an adverse analytical finding for the non-specified substance
stanozolol metabolites”, the International Testing Agency said.
He said he was injured four months ago while at a
training camp in Uzbekistan and was under treatment, suggesting that was why
his test was positive.
Source: Www.The Hindu.Com
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Extraction of three salt mines begins in Afghanistan
Aug 03 2024
Maimana (Afghanistan), Aug 3 (IANS): The extraction of
three salt mines in Qaramqul district, north Afghanistan's Faryab province,
formally commenced on Saturday, said Hamayon Afghan, spokesperson for the
Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
The project, led by a local private company, involves
an investment of 24 million US dollars. The company has leased the
14-square-kilometre territory for 15 years and aims to produce tonnes of salt
per day, according to the official.
The project is expected to generate employment
opportunities for 500 people, providing a significant boost to the local
economy, Xinhua news agency reported.
Source: Www.Daijiworld.Com
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Efforts accelerate to kickstart CASA-1000 power project
in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
August 3, 2024
The Taliban administration has intensified efforts to
begin the implementation of the CASA-1000 project in Afghanistan.
Engineer Farhad Mahmoudi, head of the Energy and Water
Ministry’s programs, announced today, Saturday, August 3rd, that they are
nearing an agreement with the World Bank to commence the project’s practical
work.
The CASA-1000 project involves the transmission of
electricity from Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan. The high-voltage
transmission line will traverse seven provinces and 35 districts in Afghanistan
before reaching Pakistan.
Source: Www.Khaama.Com
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Southeast
Asia
Social media firms must set up shop in Malaysia for
licensing, deputy minister says
By Justin Ong
04 Aug 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Social media and messaging
platforms must incorporate in Malaysia to apply for the class licence that will
be imposed on them next year, said Deputy Communications Minister TeoNieChing.
She said this local presence must be in place by the
time the requirement starts on January 1 for platforms serving eight million or
more Malaysians.
On July 27, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil
announced that major social media platforms would be required to apply for the
licence to keep operating in Malaysia, with the Malaysian Communications and
Multimedia Commission (MCMC) releasing guidelines five days later.
The government previously said the move was to improve
online safety and address cybercrime that was accelerating to worrisome levels,
but this was not enough to allay suspicions of censorship and control.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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Christian umbrella group backs calls to probe ‘free
bible course’ offer outside Melaka surau
By Justin Ong
04 Aug 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — The Christian Federation of
Malaysia has disavowed any involvement with a group seen putting up a standee
with promotional material for a “free Bible course” outside a Muslim prayer
hall in Melaka.
The CFM’s remarks also came after the Malaysian
Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism
(MCCBCHST) said it was unlikely any official Christian group or organisation
would have done so.
“To the best of our information and belief, no
individual or group within or associated with our component bodies, namely, the
Roman Catholic Church, the Council of Churches in Malaysia, and the National
Evangelical Christian Fellowship, were involved in that incident.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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Dr Malaysia: Country closing in on goal to be major
global healthcare destination by 2025
04 Aug 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Malaysia is advancing steadily
to emerge as a leading global healthcare destination in 2025, with the success
of the healthcare tourism sector chalking up a RM2.25 billion revenue in 2023.
In just a year before the completion of the Malaysia
Healthcare Travel Industry Blueprint 2021-2025, the aspiration to fulfil the
“Best Malaysia Healthcare Travel Experience” by 2025 can be achieved following
a growing number of health tourists making their way to Malaysia.
Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), an agency
under the Ministry of Health (MOH), told Bernama that the country recorded
584,468 health tourist arrivals for the first half of 2024 (1H 2024).
The agency said, in comparison, Malaysia recorded more
than one million health tourist arrivals in 2023, up by a significant 15 per
cent from 850,000 in 2022, firmly entrenching the country as a fast-growing
medical destination.
MHTC said Indonesia was the highest contributor of
health tourists to Malaysia, comprising 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the total
number last year.
As a background, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel
Industry Blueprint 2021-2025, which, among others, touches on the role of
public and private sector stakeholders within the healthcare travel ecosystem,
has managed to provide a framework of cohesive end-to-end experience to the
health tourists with a high emphasis on the Malaysia healthcare brand.
Among the key touchpoints of the blueprint are medical
services, teleconsultation, access to information, insurance, accommodation and
immigration, which will drive the industry forward and make Malaysia a focal
point to showcase the “Best Malaysia Healthcare Travel Experience” by 2025.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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Trade Minister Armizan clarifies: Foreign vehicles
restricted to 20-litre diesel cap in Sabah, Sarawak
04 Aug 2024
PAPAR, Aug 4 — Foreign vehicles are allowed to fill up
with a maximum of 20 litres of diesel at petrol stations in Sabah and Sarawak
located within a 30-kilometre radius of the Brunei or Indonesia border, says
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk ArmizanMohd Ali.
He said that beyond this 30-kilometre radius,
foreigners could purchase the required quantity of diesel, provided it was only
filled into their vehicle’s tank.
This policy, he said, was based on the Supply Control
Order under Regulation 12A of the Supply Control Regulations 1974, which
prohibited the sale of diesel and RON95 petrol to foreign-registered vehicles,
adding that the order had been in effect since June 17, 2022.
“There has been confusion at certain petrol stations
on the ban on diesel sales to foreign vehicles as seen in the viral post
recently, they (petrol station operators) are concerned and confused by the
existing regulations that were actually issued in June 2022.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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North
America
Artificial Intelligence Lawsuits Create New Music
Copyright Puzzle For US Courts
Aug 4, 2024
Country musician Tift Merritt's most popular song on
Spotify, "Traveling Alone," is a ballad with lyrics evoking solitude
and the open road. When prompted to make "an Americana song in the style
of Tift Merritt," the artificial intelligence (AI) music website Udio
instantly generated "Holy Grounds," a ballad with lyrics about
"driving old back roads" while "watching the fields and skies
shift and sway."
Merritt, a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter,
says the "imitation" Udio created "doesn't make the cut for any
album of mine." "This is a great demonstration of the extent to which
this technology is not transformative at all," Merritt said. "It's
stealing."
Merritt, who is a long time artists' rights advocate,
isn't the only musician sounding alarms. In April, she joined Billie Eilish,
Nicki Minaj, Stevie Wonder and dozens of other artists in an open letter
warning that AI-generated music trained on their recordings could
"sabotage creativity" and sideline human artists. The big record
labels are worried too. Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music sued
Udio and another music AI company called Suno in June, marking the music
industry's entrance into high-stakes copyright battles over AI-generated
content that are just starting to make their way through the courts.
The labels' claims echo allegations by novelists, news
outlets, music publishers and others in high-profile copyright lawsuits over
chatbots like OpenAI'sChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude that use generative AI to
create text. Those lawsuits are in their early stages. Both sets of cases pose
novel questions for the courts, including whether the law should make
exceptions for AI's use of copyrighted material to create something new.
Source: Times Of India.Com
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Should Kamala Harris talk much about her racial
identity? Many voters say no.
Aug 4, 2024
That was the somewhat jaded response by Larhonda
Marshall, a 42-year-old health care worker from Chicago, about all the
attention being paid to Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity.
As a Black woman herself, Marshall said that the
symbolism of a Harris victory would surely be on her mind as she considers her
vote for president. But it was not the most important factor at all, she said.
And she wishes the Harris supporters who keep mentioning it would drop it.
This week, after former President Donald Trump claimed
falsely that Harris “happened to turn Black” only recently, the vice president
did not attempt to clarify the obvious: that she has, in fact, been Black all
her life.
She did not mention race at all. Rather, she denounced
Trump’s “divisiveness and disrespect” in a previously planned speech to a
historically Black sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho.
Harris, whose father was from Jamaica and whose mother
was from India, has long resisted attempts by others to categorize her
identity. “I am who I am,” she once said. “I’m good with it. You might need to
figure it out, but I’m fine with it.”
In interviews, dozens of voters across the country —
Black, white, Hispanic, Asian — echoed her unburdened attitude toward
discussing her race, even as she sits on the cusp of making history as the
first woman of color to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.
When describing the barriers a possible Harris presidency could break, people
called that a “cherry on top” and “a bonus” compared with their most pressing
concerns.
Likely voters said — and recent polling appears to
confirm — that their first priority is not to make history with their ballots.
Instead, they want to hear more about what kind of person Harris is and what
kind of president she would be.
Source: Times Of India.Com
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Boeing might get embarrassed after all as SpaceX's
emergency ride is more likely than ever
Martin Hodás
Aug 3, 2024
The fate of two NASA astronauts “stuck” onboard the
International Space Station (ISS) should be decided sooner rather than later,
and the outcome might be surprising.
For a long time, the space agency downplayed the
issues that Boeing’s crewed Starliner capsule encountered on the way toward the
ISS. It didn’t appreciate press questions about the hypothetical emergency
mission carried by Boeing’s competitor SpaceX and its Crew Dragon capsule.
However, insider information now indeed points toward
this possibility which, according to ArsTechnica’s sources, is “significantly
higher” than a successful Starliner return mission.
The flight with two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni
Williams, is Starliner’s final, long-delayed test before it becomes officially
certified for full-fledged NASA missions. However, the capsule faced issues along
the way. Specifically, it faced helium leaks and several thrusters
malfunctions.
Source: Neowin.net
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