Yogi Face Behind Hate Mask: Adityanath Backs Judge, Who Allegedly Referred to Muslims As "Kathmullahs"

New Age Islam News Bureau

17 December 2024

Yogi Adityanath.

File photo.

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India

·         Jaunpur Court in UP Refuses to Order Survey of 14- Atala Mosque in Jaunpur, Cites SC Directive

·         Isn’t It True Sambhal Violence Was Result of Tensions Between ‘Desi & Foreign Muslims,’ Asks Yogi

·         Why Changed Approach Towards Partners After Becoming CM: Congress MPManickam Tagore Asks Omar Abdullah On EVMs

·         'Excellent, Damn Good': J&K CM Omar Abdullah On BJP Edifices

·         After backing Hakim, TMC slams him for his ‘Muslim majority’ talk

·         BJP did mosque survey to hide its anomalies in bypolls: SP MLA

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Australia

·         Muslim Leaders Say More Needs to Be Done to Counter Islamophobia in Australia

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North America

·         Adeel Mangi, Biden's Muslim Court Pick, Rips 'Senatorial Swamp' That Sunk Him

·         Muslim Judicial Nominee Decries ‘Smear Campaign’

·         New York judge rejects Trump's bid to dismiss hush money conviction

·         'I don't buy it': Americans want answers on possible drone sightings

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Arab World

·         From COP16 to FIFA 2034, A New Era of Events Begins in Saudi Arabia

·         Saudi Heritage Commission Registers 13,040 New Sites of Historical Importance

·         Experts call for urgent fire-safety measures at historic Saudi sites

·         UN chief opens Riyadh tech conference with virtual speech

·         Jeddah Book Fair explores the power of music

·         Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz University earns global accreditation in healthcare program

·         Saudi students showcase innovative projects at Design Expo in Dhahran

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Mideast

·         Negotiators Say Israel and Hamas Are Inching Toward A Ceasefire Deal. This Is What It May Look Like

·         Syria’s Golani Says Rebel Factions to Be ‘Disbanded’, Calls For Lifting Sanctions

·         UN chief welcomes aid commitments by new Syrian authorities

·         US strikes Houthi command and control facility in Yemen

·         US-brokered ceasefire fails between Kurdish and Turkiye-backed forces in Syria

·         Restoring damaged crusader castle may be possible in new Syria: director

·         Conditions in north Gaza hospital ‘appalling’: WHO chief

·         Golan Heights: strategic Israeli-occupied plateau on Syria border

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South Asia

·         Bangladesh Polls Announcement: BNP Seeks Specifics, Jamaat Okay To Wait

·         Dec 17: Freedom came a day later in Khulna

·         Half a dozen injured in BNP factional clash in Ctg

·         Acting Health Minister and UNICEF Discuss Strengthening Afghanistan’s Healthcare System

·         EU nearly allocates €20 million aid to support Afghanistan’s development

·         Taliban and Turkmenistan discuss progress on TAPI Pipeline project in Herat

·         At least 16 Afghan citizens executed in Iran over the past month

·         Fire near Kandahar mosque causes financial losses

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Europe

·         Muslim Man Sues UK Pub Over Sign Showing Beheaded Arab Figure

·         Video shows land where Issa brothers planning huge Muslim cemetery

·         Britain holds talks with proscribed Syrian Islamist group HTS that toppled Assad

·         Community fridge at JTI Southfield Square Masjid, Bradford

·         Bomb that killed general reportedly hidden in electric scooter

·         Germany’s Scholz loses confidence vote

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Pakistan

·         Talks with PTI Can't Be Initiated Sans Imran's 'Clear Message': Defence Minister

·         Churchgoers worry road closures in Rawalpindi will dampen Christmas spirit

·         ITMD says madrassa bill became law, asks govt to issue gazette notification

·         Some wounds never heal: Survivors, families recall APS tragedy

·         Early SC hearing into APS report case demanded

·         Top huddle vows ‘no leniency’ for violent protesters

·         IHC lifts stay on execution of five navy officers

·         Government orders inquiry into trolling of journalists

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Southeast Asia

·         Court Rejects Prosecution Bid Against 2 Muslim PreachersWho Purportedly Insulted Non-Islamic Religions

·         Explanation of ‘grossly offensive’ in Act 588 amendment not definitive but a guide - Fahmi

·         KL police arrest five after Jalan Yap Kwan Seng brawl, knife attack leaves three injured

·         2024 in review: From helicopter crash to UiTM deaths, Malaysia mourns a series of tragedies

·         Pahang deforestation aided by RM52m financing from Bank Islam

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Africa

·         MAAUN president donates $100,000 to Islamic University in Uganda

·         We Lied To Nigerians, Deceived Them – Buhari’s Former Minister Makes Startling Confession

·         Why The Cabal In Tinubu’s Govt Is More Dangerous – Ex-minister, Dalung

·         I Severally Assured Nigerians Of Massive Investment Under Tinubu – Lokpobiri

·         Yuletide: FG To Give Nigerians Free Train Services

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/kathmullahs-yogi-adityanath-judge-muslims/d/134052

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Yogi Face Behind Hate Mask: Adityanath Backs Judge, Who Allegedly Referred to Muslims As "Kathmullas"

Piyush Srivastava

17.12.24

Yogi Adityanath.

File photo.

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Yogi Adityanath has lambasted the Samajwadi Party and the Congress over the impeachment notice submitted in the Rajya Sabha against Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav of Allahabad High Court for his alleged anti-Muslim comments at a VHP event.

Some 55 Opposition and Independent MPs submitted the notice on Friday. Justice Yadav had at the December 8 event allegedly referred to Muslims as “kathmullahs”, asserted that India would run according to the majority’s wishes, and “pledged” that a uniform civil code would become reality.

“The Opposition should learn to strengthen constitutional institutions…. India will follow the culture of Ram and Krishna and never that of Babur and Aurangzeb,” the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in the Assembly on Monday, the opening day of a five-day winter session.

The VHP is a wing of the RSS, which works in coordination with sadhus. As mahant of the Gorakhnath temple, Adityanath is a sadhu.

The Supreme Court collegium has summoned Justice Yadav to a meeting and sought a report from Allahabad High Court on his purported comments following complaints from legal watchdogs and lawyers’ bodies. Adityanath was silent on this.

“India is the only country where the majority doesn’t demand more rights, it only asks for equal rights. And the Supreme Court has said there should be the same law for every citizen,” he said, appearing to support a uniform civil code.

“But the Samajwadis and the Congress gave the notice of impeachment…. They want to shut the mouth of those who speak the truth.”

A video purportedly shows Justice Yadav saying at the VHP event: “We teach our children about God and the Vedas from childhood, we teach them non-violence. But you (Muslims) kill animals in front of your children. Then how do you expect them to be tolerant and liberal?... So I don’t have any hesitation in saying that this is India and it will run according to the majority community of this country....”

At another point, he purportedly says: “It’s not that all of them, about whom I am talking, are bad…. The malpractices are because of kathmullahs (fanatics).”

On the uniform civil code (UCC), he appears to say: “You cannot say that I have the right to have four wives, that I have the right to say triple talaq and I have the right not to give maintenance to women…. I assure you that you will see this bill (UCC) very soon…. I pledge here that this country will bring one law very soon.”

Adityanath claimed in the House that a mosque in Sambhal was stealing power from the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited and supplying it to other mosques in the city.

“The Opposition claims there are thieves in the government but when you catch the thieves, you say we are harassing them,” Adityanath said.

Adityanath did not identify the mosque. At least four people had been killed in clashes in Sambhal on November 24 during a court-ordered survey of the town’s Shahi Jama Masjid to ascertain whether it stood on the ruins of a temple.

The chief minister also referred to a Shiva temple in Sambhal that was locked 46 years ago during a riot and opened by the local administration a few days ago.

“We discovered idols of Hindu gods and goddesses in the wells there. Where did they come from?” he said.

He suggested that “some people” (non-Hindus) had thrown the idols into the well. He added that the Baburnama — the memoirs of the first Mughal emperor, Babur — said that temples had been pulled down to build mosques.

Sambhal district magistrate Rajendra Pensiya has said he has written to the Archaeological Survey of India to ascertain the age of the Sambhal Shiva temple.

Source:telegraphindia.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/yogi-face-behind-hate-mask-adityanath-backs-judge-pits-ram-against-babur/cid/2071159

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Islamophobia Register Australia Has Recorded A 530 Per Cent SurgeIn Anti-Muslim Hate

December 17 2024

Islamophobic graffiti was painted over at an underpass in Sydney. Photo: Aap Image/AAP PHOTOS

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Horrific stories of Australian Muslims being attacked, assaulted and abused with expletive-ridden tirades reveal the personal stories behind a rise in acts of religious-based hate.

Islamophobia Register Australia has recorded a 530 per cent surge in incidents since Hamas' attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.

The organisation has received almost 1000 incident reports of abuse, physical intimidation and violence, an average of 16 reports a week compared to between two and three prior to October 7.

NSW Police are investigating the latest incident with anti-Islam graffiti found in a western Sydney suburb, where the words "f*** Islam" were spray painted onto an overpass and "cancel Islam" was scrawled on a nearby advertising board.

The graffiti has since been painted over.

Six friends, including three Muslims, wearing keffiyehs were punched and abused in a hotel lobby in Adelaide in an unprovoked attack, with the man yelling they were terrorists in an expletive-ridden tirade, according to one report to the register.

"He continued to punch us in the face and back until we finally were able to restrain him until the police arrived, he kept telling us that he wanted to kill us," one of the victims reported.

Several threats referenced the Christchurch mosque terrorist who murdered 51 people and injured 89 others in mass shootings.

A 23-year-old Muslim engineering student at a Melbourne university found the words "I kill all Muslim scum" written in permanent marker on a toilet stall door, according to another report.

Muslim senator Fatima Payman received a number of Islamophobic and violent letters she shared with the register, including sexually violent threats and extremely degrading language.

Women had hijabs removed and graffiti with words like "kill all Muslims" were commonplace while individuals, businesses and organisations received threatening and hate-filled letters.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg as many incidents don't get reported to us at the register," executive director Nora Amath said.

The vandalism was a symptom of a deeper issue, Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik said, reflecting a rise of anti-Muslim sentiment.

The Sydney graffiti was appalling and unacceptable, he said.

"It crosses a line from free speech to hate speech," he told ABC radio.

"That graffiti has no place in a multicultural, multi-faith Australia."

Throughout a five-week nationwide tour, Muslim Australians spoke to him about public humiliation and death threats.

"Islamophobia is one of those hidden cancers that eats away at social cohesion," Mr Malik said.

"It is well known among Muslim communities but it really hasn't warranted or received a public outcry and coverage that many of us believe it should."

The special envoy stressed the need for government action, including countering stereotypes, holding perpetrators accountable and improving safety for Muslims.

Women were particularly vulnerable to Islamophobia, with multiple people he spoke to telling stories of women being asked if they were carrying a bomb under their clothing or having their hijabs ripped off their heads.

Source:northweststar.com.au

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/8849712/anti-islam-hate-spikes-with-shocking-details-revealed/

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Islamophobia Concerns of Biden-Harris Administration Are Attempts to Silence Critics of Muslim Antisemitism

Dec.17, 2024

Students pray at the Gaza solidarity encampment at George Washington University, in its 12th day, Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2024. Photo by Allison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images.

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It’s possible to argue that anything the Biden-Harris administration does in its final weeks in office is irrelevant and may soon be overturned by President-elect Donald Trump once he is sworn in next month. That may well apply to the announcement last week of a “National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate,” issued by the White House. It is nonetheless noteworthy because it reinforces the myth about an American epidemic of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate that is routinely published and broadcast by the mainstream media. Equally important, it gives the imprimatur of government approval to a false analogy to the very real problem of antisemitism about which Biden and Harris also issued a “National Strategy” paper last year.

Any discussion of Islamophobia in America must be prefaced by an acknowledgment that hatred directed against racial, ethnic and religious minorities exists. And like any form of prejudice that leads to discrimination or violence, it is deplorable.

Even as we condemn any act in which an Arab or Muslim-American is targeted because of their ethnicity or faith, it is essential to understand that the attention given to Islamophobia is not being driven by anything that could accurately be described as a crisis. Rather, it is part of a false narrative that seeks to divert us from an unpleasant but vital fact about the subject. Most of what those who promote this issue consider Islamophobia is not anti-Muslim or anti-Arab hatred but merely criticism of Muslim and Arab hatred of Jews.

A fake problem

So, while the lame duck administration’s report may be considered a pious affirmation of opposition to prejudice, it doesn’t deserve even the tepid applause it has received. On the contrary, it is a conscious effort to balance a genuine problem with one that is bogus. And in doing so, it undermines the minimal and largely ineffective efforts undertaken by the government to address the very real surge in Jew-hatred that has been building in recent years and then exploded after the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The notion of an Islamophobia crisis in the United States dates back to the aftermath of the terror attacks carried out by Islamists on Sept. 11, 2001. Seeking to build a broad international alliance against Muslim extremists, President George W. Bush took pains to differentiate what he described as a “war on terror” from a war against Islam. At every possible opportunity, he always described Islam as a “religion of peace,” emphasizing that the efforts to destroy Al-Qaeda and the subsequent military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq were not a civilizational clash between the West and Islam. This was technically accurate about the nation’s post-9/11 foreign policy and security goals as well as a reflection of the basic decency of both Bush personally and America’s modern political culture that opposes religious prejudice.

But the harping on the “religion of peace” line tended to obscure the fact that Islamist terrorism was not just the bad behavior of a tiny minority. It was rooted in a widely popular, though not universally supported, version of that faith that had mainstream support in much of the Arab and Muslim world.

There were real-world consequences of this effort. After 9/11, American corporate media and the nation’s cultural institutions prioritized a message that seemed to treat American Muslims as victims. That meant Hollywood largely avoided showing Muslims or Arabs as the bad guys in films or television shows—the opposite of what usually happened in the past when America was at war. It also buttressed the claim that there had been a post-9/11 backlash against them in the United States, despite the complete absence of any objective study or statistics that might have backed up that assertion.

Indeed, when plans (that eventually fell through) for the building of a Muslim community center and mosque in the footprint of the fallen World Trade Center towers were announced in 2010, any objections about the insensitivity and bad taste of the idea were deplored as a form of vile prejudice.

At the time, it was pointed out that the FBI’s statistics about religious hate crimes debunked the idea of such a backlash. Throughout the decade after 9/11, attacks on Muslims were dwarfed by those against Jews. Though the numbers have moved up and down to some extent in the nearly 15 years since then, antisemitic crimes continue to vastly outnumber those that can be connected to Islamophobia. Nevertheless, this fact has consistently been condemned by much of mainstream liberal opinion as wrongheaded, if not prejudicial. Groups that continued to promote the idea of a backlash, like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), continued to gain influence rather than being dismissed for being the source of misleading propaganda that aimed to silence critics of Islamic Jew-haters.

False moral equivalence

That became obvious when CAIR was tapped as an official consultant to the Biden-Harris effort against antisemitism, though no Jewish groups were asked to give similar input to the Islamophobia strategy. That this happened despite the group’s origins as a political front for fundraisers for Hamas terrorists and its embrace of antisemitic positions was shocking. But to an administration seeking re-election that regarded Muslims and Arabs as part of the Democratic Party’s base, it was simply good politics. Like Bush’s “religion of peace” mantra, Biden and Harris never seemed able to mention the explosion of antisemitism that happened on their watch without reflexively including a mention of Islamophobia.

After the barbaric atrocities that occurred when Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists infiltrated Israel on Oct. 7, the administration’s obsession with Islamophobia could no longer be dismissed as either meaningless or routine partisan politics.

As the report on Islamophobia that is part of the new national strategy makes clear, Biden and Harris bought the CAIR line that treated the situation on American campuses after Oct. 7 as one in which both Jews and Muslims were at risk. But there is no moral equivalence between the rights of Muslims to advocate for the genocide of Jews with the rights of Jewish students to be able to get to classes and other areas on campus without being blocked, harassed or even subjected to violence.

The situation of Jews and Muslims during the last 14 months is not one of two groups experiencing discrimination or threats. It’s the exact opposite, where the Jews have become the victims of religious and ethnic harassment and assaults. And it is Muslims—along with non-Muslim students, faculty and school employees who subscribe to the toxic beliefs of intersectionality and critical race theory that label Jews and Israelis as “white oppressors”—who are attacking them.

Despite the seemingly innocuous claims of opposition to religious prejudice in the Biden-Harris strategy paper and those who applaud it, the whole point of the exercise is not what it seems. It’s about silencing criticism of Muslim and Arab antisemitism, and treating support for the destruction of the one Jewish state on the planet and the genocide of its population as a reasonable point of view rather than an expression of deplorable hatred that deserves condemnation.

A new backlash myth

Groups like CAIR that purport to represent Muslims and the Biden-Harris strategy paper both seem to be putting forward a new myth about a post-Oct. 7 backlash against Muslims that is even more shameless than the one about 9/11. Whereas the previous myth merely promoted a false claim about Americans targeting Muslims, this new one is actively seeking to deny the reality of a surge in Jew-hatred among Muslims and Arabs while implicitly minimizing or even denying the reality of a surge in antisemitism.

America is not yet like the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe where anyone, even government officials, who point out that Jew-hatred is mainstream opinion in the Arab and Muslim world can be subjected to prosecution for committing a hate crime. But that is the ultimate goal of the discussion about Islamophobia. The notion that Muslims are under siege when, in fact, they are the ones engaging in hate speech and hate crimes, is problematic. It inevitably leads to efforts to censor or sanction those who point out that those who cry the most about Islamophobia are generally the same people who defend or rationalize antisemitism.

Indeed, in addition to propping up the myth—unsupported by any real data—of Muslims and Arabs facing widespread prejudice, the Biden-Harris document also sounds an ominous note about silencing critics of Islamism. It specifically calls for social-media platforms to “de-rank and stop recommending” content that Muslim groups oppose. In most cases, that references efforts by Jews and others to highlight the way Muslims and Arabs have been promoting antisemitism. That’s a throwback to the way this same administration colluded with Silicon Valley oligarchs to de-platform critics of their repressive and largely useless COVID-19 pandemic policies.

At this point, the clamor about Islamophobia is no longer a politically correct, harmless talking point. It is now part of a general effort to shut down discussion of the engine of the all-too-real uptick in antisemitism.

President-elect Trump has a strong record of support for Israel and opposition to antisemitism on college campuses, as well as Islamist terrorists, and has been falsely branded as a hate-monger by the left for doing so. But like any president, his second administration will be eager to win over critics and voters of all kinds and might be vulnerable to pressure to kowtow to the Islamophobia myth in order to demonstrate that he wants to protect all Americans. That would not only be wrong but would undermine his plans to root out the woke diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) catechism that is at the heart of the left’s war on American history and Western civilization.

The Islamophobia myth needs to be rejected not only by the federal government but by all institutions and persons that claim to oppose the Jew-hatred that it seeks to cover up. There is no moral equivalence between antisemitism and Islamophobia. Anyone or any group that is truly willing to fight against anti-Jewish prejudice must understand that such a stand is incompatible with efforts to promote a false narrative about Muslims being the true victims of 9/11 or 10/7.

Source:jns.org

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https://www.jns.org/islamophobia-concerns-are-attempts-to-silence-critics-of-muslim-antisemitism/

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Saudi Arabia Ranks Third in Global Artificial Intelligence Policy Review, Behind US, UK

December 16, 2024

Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, Dec. 16 (SPA)

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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been ranked third globally in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Policy Observatory, behind the US and the UK.

Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, president of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, referenced the Kingdom’s advances during a panel discussion at the Internet Governance Forum on Monday at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

Al-Ghamdi said that Saudi Arabia’s third-place global ranking highlighted the Kingdom’s substantial efforts at AI regulation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He credited the country’s recognition to its placing ethics at the heart of AI initiatives since the establishment of SDAIA in 2019, highlighting the international significance of this focus, the SPA added.

Al-Ghamdi added that the Kingdom’s AI Ethics Early Adopters initiative and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics were vital in enhancing trust in AI products and establishing ethical standards for AI practices and services.

He said that ICAIRE, which is based in Riyadh and sponsored by UNESCO, had been selected as a regional and global partner for advancing the AI ethics agenda.

Al-Ghamdi added that UNESCO had praised Saudi Arabia’s advances in the AI sector as part of a recent report evaluating countries’ readiness to adopt AI in accordance with ethical values and international standards.

He said that the Kingdom was prepared to share its expertise with other countries and had significantly contributed to establishing a UN-affiliated AI advisory body in 2023.

He added that Saudi Arabia had collaborated with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to organize workshops on raising awareness about ethical evaluation tools for AI.

Al-Ghamdi said several initiatives had been launched during the Global AI Summit in Riyadh in September, including the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence, in partnership with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

He stressed that trust, transparency, clear guidelines, and proactive risk management were priorities that had positioned Saudi Arabia as a global leader in harnessing AI for the benefit of humanity.

Source:arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2583337/saudi-arabia

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At least 100,000 bodies in Syrian mass grave, US advocacy group head says

December 17, 2024

A fighter of the ruling Syrian body walks, as people inspect the site of a mass grave from the rule of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, according to residents, after the ousting of al-Assad, in Najha, Syria, December 15, 2024. (REUTERS)

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WASHINGTON: The head of a US-based Syrian advocacy organization on Monday said that a mass grave outside of Damascus contained the bodies of at least 100,000 people killed by the former government of ousted President Bashar Assad.

Mouaz Moustafa, speaking to Reuters in a telephone interview from Damascus, said the site at al Qutayfah, 25 miles (40 km) north of the Syrian capital, was one of five mass graves that he had identified over the years.

“One hundred thousand is the most conservative estimate” of the number of bodies buried at the site, said Moustafa, head of the Syrian Emergency Task Force. “It’s a very, very extremely almost unfairly conservative estimate.”

Moustafa said that he is sure there are more mass graves than the five sites, and that along with Syrians victims included US and British citizens and other foreigners.

Reuters was unable to confirm Moustafa’s allegations.

Hundreds of thousands of Syrians are estimated to have been killed since 2011, when Assad’s crackdown on protests against his rule grew into a full-scale civil war.

Assad and his father Hafez, who preceded him as president and died in 2000, are accused by Syrians, rights groups and other governments of widespread extrajudicial killings, including mass executions within the country’s notorious prison system.

Assad repeatedly denied that his government committed human rights violations and painted his detractors as extremists.

Syria’s UN Ambassador Koussay Aldahhak did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He assumed the role in January — while Assad was still in power — but told reporters last week that he was awaiting instructions from the new authorities and would “keep defending and working for the Syrian people.”

Moustafa arrived in Syria after Assad flew to Russia and his government collapsed in the face of a lightning offensive by rebels that ended his family’s more than 50 years of iron-fisted rule.

He spoke to Reuters after he was interviewed at the site in al Qutayfah by Britain’s Channel 4 News for a report on the alleged mass grave there.

He said the intelligence branch of the Syrian air force was “in charge of bodies going from military hospitals, where bodies were collected after they’d been tortured to death, to different intelligence branches, and then they would be sent to a mass grave location.”

Corpses also were transported to sites by the Damascus municipal funeral office whose personnel helped unload them from refrigerated tractor-trailers, he said.

“We were able to talk to the people who worked on these mass graves that had on their own escaped Syria or that we helped to escape,” said Moustafa.

His group has spoken to bulldozer drivers compelled to dig graves and “many times on orders, squished the bodies down to fit them in and then cover them with dirt,” he said.

Moustafa expressed concern that graves sites were unsecured and said they needed to be preserved to safeguard evidence for investigations.

Source:arabnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2583361/middle-east

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India

 

Jaunpur Court in UP Refuses to Order Survey Of 14- Atala Mosque In Jaunpur, Cites SC Directive

Dec 17, 2024

A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district on Monday refused to order a survey of a 14th-century mosque, citing the Supreme Court’s interim directive that barred courts from passing orders in pending cases about the religious character of places of worship, Live Law reported.

A Hindu organisation called the Swaraj Vahini Association has filed a lawsuit before the court claiming that the Atala Mosque in Jaunpur was originally a temple. The suit claimed that the temple was demolished after 14th-century ruler Firuz Shah Tughlaq invaded India.

The Swaraj Vahini Association demanded that Hindus be given the right to worship at the site, and that non-Hindus be barred from entering the premises.

The Jaunpur court, however, declined to pass any orders with respect to the plea, referring to a Supreme Court order from December 12 in response to a clutch of petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the 1991 Places of Worship Special Provisions Act.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court on December 12 directed courts not to pass any interim or final orders, including survey directions, in pending lawsuits concerning the religious character of places of worship.

In view of the directive, the Jaunpur court on Monday scheduled the case about the Atala Mosque for further hearing on March 2 next year – 12 days after the Supreme Court is set to hear the petitions again.

The Places of Worship Act does not allow any changes to the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.

There are presently at least 18 suits pending in courts across the country concerning 10 mosques and shrines, including the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, the Shahi Eidgah mosque in Mathura and the Ajmer Sharif dargah in Rajasthan. Hindu litigants in these cases have claimed that these structures were built after demolishing ancient Hindu temples.

VCK chief files plea in support of 1991 Act

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief and Chidambaram MP Thol Thirumavalavan has filed an intervention application before the Supreme Court in support of the Places of Worship Act.

He contended that “inaccurate and biased sources” could not be used to determine whether places of worship were destroyed by “invaders” in medieval times. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief also contended that narratives about the identities of “invaders” have also changed from time to time.

“Even if we assume that certain mosques have been constructed after demolishing Hindu temples by invaders, then such claims have no end, as many Hindu temples have been erected on the ruins of Buddhist stupas,” Thirumavalavan’s intervention application contended.

The Chidambaram MP argued that in this backdrop, it would be unwise to lift the bar on hearing such petitions under the Places of Worship Act.

Source:scroll.in

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://scroll.in/latest/1076881/up-jaunpur-court-refuses-to-order-survey-of-14-century-mosque-cites-sc-directive

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Isn’t it true Sambhal violence was result of tensions between ‘desi & foreign Muslims,’ asks Yogi

SHIKHA SALARIA

16 December, 2024

Lucknow: “Is it not true that this [violence in Sambhal] happened because of the internal fight between desi and foreign Muslims,” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Monday, responding to a blistering attack by the Opposition which targeted his government over communal tensions that erupted in Bahraich in October and in Sambhal last month.

Speaking on the first day of the Winter Session of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Yogi claimed 209 Hindus were killed in communal riots in Sambhal since 1947, but the Opposition never condoled with their families. He also spoke at length about reopening of a temple in Sambhal, insertion of the words ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ in the Preamble of the Constitution and charges by Samajwadi Party of irregularities in the Kundarki bypoll.

On the deaths of four youngsters during a protest against a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal on 24 November, the chief minister dismissed the allegation that those accompanying the survey team chanted the slogan ‘Jai Shree Ram’ to provoke the Muslim community. “We say ‘Ram Ram’ when we meet someone, and at the time of death we say ‘Ram Naam Satya’ … and if someone says ‘Jai Shree Ram’, what is the objection to it? The intention is not to tease,” he said.

He remarked, “Is it not true that in the time of digital media, the Pathans and Sikhs are saying that our ancestors were Hindus? and even yours … is it not true that this [Sambhal violence] happened because of the internal fight between the desi and foreign Muslims?”

Responding to remarks made by Mata Prasad Pandey, the Leader of the Opposition, he said, “You were born in Brahmin lineage and believe in the Puranas. Puranas say Vishnu’s 10th incarnation will happen in Sambhal.”

The chief minister went on to say that the violence in Sambhal was a result of statements made ‘from the masjid during the jumma namaaz [Friday prayers]’.

Claiming 209 Hindus were killed in communal violence in Sambhal since 1947, Yogi spoke about the death of a moneylender from the Vaishya community whose hands, he said, were cut off during a riot in 1978. “They said that it was because he could ask for his money, so they cut his hands, cut his legs and then his neck … these people talk about harmony, don’t they feel ashamed to talk about communal harmony?”

On the reopening of an “ancient temple” in Sambhal, which the district administration claims to have stumbled upon during a drive to curb power theft, Yogi alleged the temple could not be opened since 1978 owing to pressure from the local Muslim community.

He then reiterated that “not a single person” who was part of the mob that pelted stones at police personnel during the survey on 24 November would be spared.

Adityanath also urged the Opposition to read the original version of the Preamble to the Constitution, which did not carry the words ‘socialist’ or ‘secular’.

Both were inserted through the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976.

Stating that the original copy of the Constitution carried images of the Hindu deities Ram and Krishna, he added, “… but that basic Constitution does not mention the words ‘dharma-nirpeksh,’ ‘panth-nirpeksh’ or ‘samajwad’. And this should open your eyes. You are talking about changes in the Constitution even as you have been following those who changed the Constitution … you want to grab power and throw dust into the public’s eyes?”

“… we believe only in Ram and Krishna and have faith in Buddha. We consider him an ideal and work accordingly,” said the chief minister.

Sambhal admin at fault: Oppn

Leading the Opposition’s charge, Sambhal MLA Iqbal Mehmood of the Samajwadi Party alleged the violence was orchestrated by BJP to cause a distraction following the “loot of votes” during Kundarki and other bypolls.

Mehmood said that Zia Ur Rehman Barq, the Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal booked in connection with the violence, was in Bengaluru on 24 November. He also claimed that his son, also named in an FIR, was also “not present at the spot”.

“As many as 2,700 people were named and harassed. Police pulled out people from their houses and beat them up badly. Several were named later on. This happened because officials in Sambhal are new and this is their first posting and they have no experience and because everything was controlled from Lucknow headquarters,” he said.

“We [Muslims] are being targeted, slogans are raised to provoke us, but we won’t be provoked. We will continue to work for the nation’s development. It has been our duty, but we are being looked at with suspicion,” he added.

The violence, he said, was not a “Hindu vs Muslim” fight, but was a result of the actions of the local administration. Mehmood also spoke about the “ancient temple”.

“When it was opened, the idols were found lying the same way, no idol was found broken. Those who stay there said only 25-30 people [Hindus] are there while the rest are Muslims who did not trouble them, but they left the area because they were nervous. They did not leave Sambhal, they remained in Sambhal, they have given a statement to the DM and the public that nobody drove them out,” the Samajwadi Party legislator said.

Source:theprint.in

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://theprint.in/politics/isnt-it-true-sambhal-violence-was-result-of-tensions-between-desi-foreign-muslims-asks-yogi/2406002/

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Why Changed Approach Towards Partners After Becoming CM: Congress MPManickam Tagore Asks Omar Abdullah On EVMs

16.12.24

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday hit out at Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his remarks on EVMs, asking why he had changed his approach towards INDIA bloc partners after becoming the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.

He said parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) have also spoken against electronic voting machines (EVMs).

In an exclusive interview with PTI, the NC leader dismissed the objections to EVMs, saying it cannot be that the Congress celebrates its win in polls held through the machines and then raises questions on their reliability when it loses.

Reacting to his remarks, Tagore said, "It's the Samajwadi Party, NCP and Shiv Sena (UBT0 that have spoken against EVMs. Please check your facts, CM Omar Abdullah." "The Congress CWC resolution clearly addresses the ECI only. Why this approach to our partners after being CM?" he said.

Abdullah had said, "When you get hundred-plus members of Parliament using the same EVMs and you celebrate that as sort of a victory for your party, you can't then a few months later turn around and say... we don't like these EVMs because now the election results aren't going the way we would like them to."

Source:telegraphindia.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/why-changed-approach-towards-partners-after-becoming-cm-cong-mp-asks-omar-abdullah-on-evms/cid/2071122

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'Excellent, damn good': J&K CM Omar Abdullah on BJP edifices

Muzaffar Raina

17.12.24

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has been facing accusations of cosying up to the BJP after he rebuffed the Congress stand against electronic voting machines and lavished praise on the Union government’s Central Vista and new Parliament complex projects.

Omar had on Sunday criticised the INDIA parties for opposing the use of EVMs only when election results go against their expectations. He had gone on to ask why they contested elections if they did not trust the machines.

While the BJP and its Right-wing ecosystem have used these remarks to attack Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has suggested that Omar has changed after the recent Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Omar's National Conference and the Congress had fought the polls in an alliance.

“Why this approach to our partners after being CM?” Congress MP Manickam Tagore posted on X, sharing a video of Omar’s interview with PTI.

“It’s the Samajwadi Party, NCP, and Shiv Sena UBT that have spoken against EVMs. Please check your facts, CM @OmarAbdullah. The Congress CWC resolution clearly addresses the ECI only.”

Tagore posted a copy of a recent Congress Working Committee resolution that said the integrity of the entire electoral process was being compromised.

“Free and fair election is a constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission,” said the resolution, passed after the INDIA bloc’s debacle in the Maharashtra polls.

In the interview with PTI, Omar appeared to target the Congress exclusively.

“I have no problem with you making an issue out of EVMs as long as you do it also when you win. The EVMs can’t only be a problem when you lose an election because they are the same EVMs,” Omar said.

“So when you get 100-plus MPs in Parliament using the same EVMs, you celebrate it as sort of a victory for your party. You can’t then, a few months later, turn around and say, ‘Hang on, actually we don’t like these EVMs’.”

He added: “How will you have a problem and continue fighting elections? If you don’t trust the machines, then you should not be fighting.”

Told that he sounded like a BJP spokesman, Omar denied he was one but went on to declare that what was happening with the Central Vista project was a “damn good thing” and that building a new Parliament building was an “excellent idea”. These projects have earned the BJP criticism from the Opposition.

BJP leader Sambit Patra used Omar’s remarks to target Rahul, saying that if he did not know how to fight elections, he should not contest polls.

In Kashmir, People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone said Omar was trying to please Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said this should be embarrassing for the voters who had elected him, seeing in him an anti-BJP symbol.

The National Conference won the Assembly elections this year on a pro-special-status and anti-BJP plank. Omar has since toned down his criticism of the BJP lest it hamper his party’s goal of the restoration of statehood.

National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabidefended Omar and said he had said the same things in the past too. Although Omar had defended EVMs in the past, he had occasionally expressed doubts about them, too.

“I’ve been extremely sceptical of EVM-related conspiracy theories but I’m beginning to question my unwavering faith in the machines & their infallibility,” he wrote on X in 2017, reacting to reports about some EVMs malfunctioning during the first phase of voting in that year’s Gujarat Assembly elections.

Omar had asked the Election Commission to clear the air over the controversy to restore the people’s trust in the voting machines.

Source:telegraphindia.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/excellent-damn-good-jk-cm-omar-abdullah-on-bjp-edifices/cid/2071158

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After backing Hakim, TMC slams him for his ‘Muslim majority’ talk

 December 17, 2024

In less than 24 hours of backing its senior party leader Firhad Hakim, the TMC on Monday distanced itself from his remarks on “majority Muslims” and said that such statements will be met with ‘strict measures’.

In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress said: “The All India Trinamool Congress firmly disassociates itself from and strongly condemns the statement made by Firhad Hakim, Minister Independent Charge, at an event.”

“These comments do not reflect the party’s position or ideology. Our commitment to peace, unity, and communal harmony remains unwavering. Any remarks that threaten the social fabric of West Bengal will be met with strict measures,” the post read.

On Saturday, a video went viral on social media in which the senior TMC leader is allegedly heard speaking: “We are from a community that accounts for 33 per cent of West Bengal’s population. In India, however, we account for 17 per cent (of the total population) and are called a minority community. But we don’t think of ourselves as a minority. We believe that if Allah’s grace is with us, we can become a bigger majority than the majority one day.”

“It will be Allah’s grace and we will achieve this with our strength. Whenever something happens, our community holds a candlelight march, saying, ‘we want justice’. Holding marches for justice won’t help, raise your stature to the point where you can deliver justice instead of demanding it,” the four-time MLA and KMC Mayor said at an event organised by “Firhad 30” that prepares students for competitive exams.

Hakim’s remarks led to wide scale criticisms, especially from the BJP. Opposition BJP leaders termed Hakim’s remarks “dangerous” and a bid to convert West Bengal into Bangladesh.

Soon after, Hakim, while speaking to mediapersons, asserted that he has a strong belief in strong and patriotic values.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Kolkata, Hakim said: “I am a diehard secular and patriotic Indian. No one can question my secular values and love for my country. Period.”

Defending Hakim, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the minister’s comments were deliberately misinterpreted and twisted.

“What he meant was the uplift of a large number of minority community members so they can join mainstream society and contribute to nation-building. Certain elements are trying to give a different spin to his views,” Ghosh said.

He further asserted that Hakim’s secular and liberal values are well-known and actively participates in various religious festivals while promoting communal harmony.

Source:indianexpress.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/after-backing-hakim-tmc-slams-him-for-his-muslim-majority-talk-9728763/

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BJP did mosque survey to hide its anomalies in bypolls: SP MLA

Dec 17, 2024

Lucknow: SP's Sambhal MLA Iqbal Mehmood on Monday claimed that UP govt deliberately carried out the survey of Jama Masjid in his constituency on Nov 24 to cover up its anomalies in the Muslim-dominated Kundarki assembly bypoll. The results of the bypolls on nine seats, including Kundarki, were announced on Nov 23.

Speaking in the Assembly, Mehmood said BJP snatched the voting rights of Muslims in Kundarki to wrest the seat. "Police were deliberately deployed to prevent a section of the electorate, primarily Muslims, from voting," he charged.

He said BJP talks about unity and yet it tried to drive a wedge among the Muslim sects. "We are not going to get divided," said Mehmood, who spoke on behalf of Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey on the Sambhal issue.

Mehmood said attempts were made to target the Jama Masjid in Badaun and recalled how the Imam of the masjid was murdered in 1976. He said tensions were being stoked in the district again for political gains. Accusing the BJP of muzzling the voice of the opposition, Mehmood urged the state govt to form a committee of 10 MLAs (3 from opposition and 7 from BJP) to investigate the incident.

He said BJP workers are raising slogans in Sambhal to incite Muslims. "But we will not react, we will continue to work for the country. Still, we are looked at with suspicion," he said, adding that the Sambhal violence should not be termed a "Hindu-Muslim" riot as its real cause was "the district administration."

Mehmood said the Shiva-Hanuman temple, which was re-opened after decades in Sambhal last week, had remained untouched. "Not a single brick was laid in or over the temple. No idol was touched," he said. He said Hindus living in the locality have said they were never disturbed by the Muslims and devotees offered puja in the temple until 2006.

Interestingly, Mehmood's remarks were countered by Jansatta Dal Loktantrik chief and Kunda MLA Raja Bhaiya. "A Hindu winning from a Muslim-dominated seat should not be termed as "looting" votes," he said in reference to the newly elected BJP's Kundarki MLA Ramveer Singh

Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra said that communal violence like the one in Bahraich and Sambhal has affected the state and said such incidents need to be investigated and facts be brought before the people.

Source:indiatimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/bjp-did-mosque-survey-to-hide-its-anomalies-in-bypolls-sp-mla/articleshow/116379579.cms

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Australia

 

Muslim Leaders Say More Needs to Be Done to Counter Islamophobia in Australia

December 17 2024

Muslim leaders say Islamophobia has become normalised in Australia, describing recent vandalism targeted at predominantly Muslim communities in Western Sydney as unsurprising.

Images published by The Guardian show the words "F**K ISLAM" and "CANCEL ISLAM" scrawled on a railway underpass in Chester Hill,.

The graffiti was later covered by white paint.

The Islamic Council of NSW chief executive Elias Attia told ABC Radio Sydney on Tuesday that the Chester Hill graffiti was disappointing but not surprising.

He said it was far from the worst incidents he had heard about.

"It's like many instances of Islamophobia, they're designed to intimidate the Muslim community, to exclude them from public spaces and make them feel unwelcome in their own neighbourhoods," Mr Attia said.

"There's always been low levels of racism in south-west Sydney itself and that's the places where there are Muslims."

Mr Attia said his friend sent him a photo of offensive graffiti on his garbage bin about two months ago.

"He says 'I'm a victim of a hate crime' … and then he says 'too busy to make a complaint' [with a] laughing emoji.

"My question is how did we get here? It's become so normalised that communities are deciding to seek safety and comfort within their own communities, and they draw resilience and strength from the structures that they already know of."

NSW Premier Chris Minns condemned the Islamophobic graffiti on Sunday, saying it was "designed to incite hatred and completely abhorrent".

Blaxland MP Jason Clare said the graffiti was a "gutless attack" and all racism needed to be condemned.

"There is no place in Australia for Islamophobia," Mr Clare said.

Public display of hate

In his first media interview, the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, told RN Breakfast words like those graffitied in Chester Hill had no place in a multicultural and multi-faith Australia.

"Islamophobia is one of those hidden cancers that eats away at social cohesion that is well known among Muslims in the communities, but it really hasn't warranted or received the public outcry and coverage that many of us believe it should," he said.

He said comments from NSW Liberal Senator Dave Sharma that Islamophobia was "fictitious" were regrettable.

Mr Malik has been travelling around Australia listening to the experiences of Muslims since his appointment at the end of September.

"What you saw is a very public display of hate, and all I can say is that is really reflective of the many private, abhorrent hate messages and sometimes death threats that Muslims and their institutions receive on so many instances," he said.

He said women copped the brunt of the racism, especially if they were wearing a hijab.

"They're in shopping malls, walking around and people will say to them, 'Is that a bomb that you have strapped underneath your shirt' and they will respond humorously, 'No, it's just belly fat'."

Solidarity with Jewish community

The vandalism in Chester Hill was spotted a few days after houses in Sydney's eastern suburbs were tagged with what was described as anti-Semitic slogans.

The Islamic Council of NSW was one of the signatories to a statement in October calling for community members to be mindful of how they exercised their freedom of speech.

"We totally sympathise and show solidarity with the Jewish community," Mr Attia said.

"Anti-Semitism is not acceptable, we will not see it rise or become normalised the way Islamophobia has become normalised.

"We think we're better off when we support one another."

Mr Malik said he had met with his counterpart on anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, several times.

"We discussed how we are approaching some very different challenges that we face for our respective communities … but we ultimately realised that each one of us is here to ensure the safety of our respective communities," Mr Malik said.

He said he would provide advice and recommendations to the federal government to tackle Islamophobia.

He said the priorities were to counter stereotypes about Australian Muslims and Islam and to work with authorities to hold perpetrators of Islamophobia to account.

Mr Attia said there needed to be more education on diversity in schools and universities should include Islamic studies in social science courses.

Source:abc.net.au

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-17/islamophobia-special-envoy-offensive-graffiti-western-sydney/104737262

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North America

 

Adeel Mangi, Biden's Muslim Court Pick, Rips 'Senatorial Swamp' That Sunk Him

Dec 16, 2024

WASHINGTON — In the entirety of Joe Biden’s presidency, there is perhaps no judicial nominee who endured more partisan ugliness and unwarranted hostility than Adeel Mangi, the president’s pick for a U.S. appeals court seat.

Biden tapped Mangi, a veteran civil litigator in New Jersey, for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in June 2023.

Mangi checks all the boxes for a solid judicial candidate. He was unanimously rated “well qualified” by the American Bar Association. He was hailed for his legal and pro bono work by groups including the AFL-CIO and the Coalition of the Underrepresented Law Enforcement Associations, as well as more than a dozen Jewish groups.

Mangi also happens to be Muslim. If he had been confirmed, he would have been the first-ever Muslim U.S. appeals court judge in the country. He also would have tipped the ideological balance of this appeals court, giving it an even mix of Democrat- and GOP-appointed judges.

But from the start of Mangi’s process, Republican senators and dark money groups subjected him to a monthslong, disgusting smear campaign. They baselessly tried to cast him as an antisemitic terrorist sympathizer. When that didn’t seem to stick — which was partly because Jewish groups lined up in strong defense of Mangi — the GOP pivoted to a new line of attack: baselessly trying to cast him as someone who supports cop killers.

Their attacks on Mangi got so intense they scared off a handful of Democratic senators from supporting him as they eyed their reelection campaigns. Mangi’s nomination limped along in the Senate until last month, when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) cut a deal with Republicans to expedite votes on nine of Biden’s district court nominees in exchange for not voting on any of Biden’s four appeals court nominees.

After everything he’s endured, Mangi’s nomination is over. He never even got a Senate vote.

In a Monday letter to Biden, Mangi offered a rare and sobering take on why his federal judicial nomination process went the way it did — and why he never got a fair shot.

“This unfortunate fact remains: We have a fundamentally broken process for choosing federal judges,” Mangi wrote. “This is no longer a system for evaluating fitness for judicial office. It is now a channel for the raising of money based on performative McCarthyism before video cameras, and for the dissemination of dark-money-funded attacks that especially target minorities. Nominees pay the price — and so too does our nation.”

He warned that the brutal process he went through will likely cause other qualified people to think twice about giving up lucrative jobs to take a chance at becoming a federal judge.

“Who will give up the rewards of private sector success for public service, if the added price is character assassination and wading though a Senatorial swamp like this one?” Mangi asked. “This process must be reinvented to protect nominees from threats both reputational and physical in an era of Congressional dishonor where disinformation reigns and all decency has been abandoned.”

He added, “I set forth this record of my experience and my opinions so that this playbook will be recognized the next time a Muslim is nominated to a prominent position of service.”

A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Below is a copy of Mangi’s letter to Biden.

Source:huffpost.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/adeel-mangi-joe-biden-muslim-judicial-nominee_n_676097bde4b007ff17a49bc5

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Muslim Judicial Nominee Decries ‘Smear Campaign’

December 16, 2024

“The first Muslim American to be nominated for a federal appellate court judgeship formally withdrew his name and lashed out at senators and the judicial confirmation process in a letter to President Biden on Monday, saying he had been the victim of a bigoted smear campaign,” the New York Times reports.

“Adeel Mangi, a New York lawyer picked for a spot on the Philadelphia-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, wrote the letter after Democratic senators cut a deal that in effect left him and other Biden appeals court nominees with no path to confirmation.”

Source:politicalwire.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://politicalwire.com/2024/12/16/muslim-judicial-nominee-decries-smear-campaign/

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New York judge rejects Trump's bid to dismiss hush money conviction

Dec.17, 2024

Holly Honderich

A New York judge has ruled Donald Trump's hush money conviction is valid, rejecting the president-elect's argument that it should be dismissed in the wake of a landmark immunity ruling from the US Supreme Court.

In July, the country's top court ruled that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for "official actions" they take while in office.

But on Monday, Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan - who presided over Trump's trial this past spring - sided with prosecutors, saying the convictions on 34 felony counts centred on "unofficial conduct".

The decision preserves Trump's historic conviction which, if upheld, would make Trump the first felon to serve in the White House.

In his 41-page ruling, Justice Merchan pushed back on Trump's argument that the government's case relied on evidence related to his official work as president, which would be covered by immunity.

The evidence shown at trial pertained "entirely to unofficial conduct", he wrote. And the judge noted that in its own ruling the Supreme Court had found that "not everything the president does is official", even if done from the Oval Office.

In a statement to US media, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung criticised the ruling, calling it "a direct violation of the Supreme Court's decision on immunity".

"This lawless case should have never been brought, and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed," Mr Cheung said.

In May, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records.

The conviction stemmed from Trump's attempt to cover up reimbursements to his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who in 2016 paid off an adult film star to remain silent about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

Trump has denied all wrongdoing.

Justice Merchan had been scheduled to rule on the conviction on 12 November, but he postponed the decision, saying he wanted to hear from prosecutors on how to move forward with the case following Trump's re-election.

In the days since, Trump filed another motion to dismiss the case, arguing that his forthcoming return to the White House required the case to be tossed.

Now, following Justice Merchan's ruling, Trump's team is almost certain to seek further delays and appeals.

And the judge is still yet to decide whether to issue a sentence before Trump assumes office in January, after his term ends in 2029 or not at all.

Source:.bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2nx0d8eg3o

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'I don't buy it': Americans want answers on possible drone sightings

Dec.17, 2024

Nada Tawfik

A police officer looking off the coast of New Jersey late in the evening of 8 December witnessed a scene so striking that she called emergency services.

She said she saw 50 drones "the size of cars" flying in abnormal patterns over the ocean - and they were rapidly approaching the coastline.

Sheriff Michael Mastronardy was one of the first to arrive at the scene 15 minutes later. He and three other officers watched as the drones continued to move in the distance, heading in different directions and taking with them answers that have eluded local officials in several states.

"We're just looking for some sound, reasonable answers so that people could go about their life and not live in this hysteria that we have going," Sheriff Mastronardy told BBC News about a series of alleged drone sightings that is gripping the US East Coast

Since mid-November, residents and local authorities there have regularly reported that drones are flying by the coastline, near major points of US infrastructure, or close to American military bases.

US authorities have stressed, however, that they do not believe what they are spotting poses any danger to the public or to US national security.

Officials from several US agencies said in a call with reporters that many of the drone sightings are a result of "a slight overreaction" - much to the frustration of Sheriff Mastronardy and residents who say they have seen drones flying over their towns.

"I was actually more frustrated when they said our eyesight was going or it was a figment of our imagination. That was an insult to many people," the sheriff told the BBC.

That is why the federal government needs to be more transparent about what they know, he and several other local witnesses told BBC News, even if they cannot share specific details.

'Something I've never seen before'

Noel Thomas was driving to buy a cup of coffee before dawn in his hometown of Edison, New Jersey, when he noticed a glowing red object out of the corner of his eye.

Soon, he said, he realised it was a triangle-shaped drone with three flashing lights of different colours hovering over a nearby power plant. He immediately called the police, who told them they had received similar reports overnight, and took a video.

More than 30 miles (48km) south, on his drive home to Montclair, New Jersey, Evan Cutler spotted an object so big he thought it was the moon at first.

It was the size of a school bus and rectangular with blinking lights, he said, and he believed it was much too low to be a plane or a helicopter.

"I've seen hundreds and hundreds of drones over the course of my life," Mr Cutler said. "It was definitely something I've never seen."

He reported it to the FBI, which says it has received more than 5,000 tips about alleged drone sightings over the past month. Only around 100 tips were worth following up, based on the FBI's analysis.

Officials maintain this is nothing new. The United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has reported more than 600 similar incursions on restricted airspace since 2022, and has said that there are probably other instances that they did not know about.

And White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby stressed on Monday that there are more than 1 million drones registered with the Federal Aviation Administration and that thousands of them are flown each day legally.

Officials have also noted a change to federal law last year that allows more drones to be flown at night.

Stacie Pettyjohn, the director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, suspects most of the large drones being spotted are in fact small airplanes - an assessment supported by publicly available flight-tracking data.

"It is hard to identify an object in the sky, especially at night with a camera or optical device," she told the BBC over email. "You need to be able to detect radio signals used to remotely fly the drone or radar that is optimized to track these small slow flying objects."

Still, the phenomenon has captured the imagination of Americans across the US and the lack of specific answers has led to an information vacuum that is, in turn, feeding speculation and conspiracy theories.

Olivia DeMattio, who owns a coffee shop in Mendham, New Jersey, said that her customers are constantly sharing their latest theories with the staff.

"We still have zero answers at all at this point, so we're definitely on the more concerned side," she said. "They can't say they don't know what it is and then there's no threat. That's like an oxymoron."

'How does that make my residents feel'

Local leaders have started to push for answers on behalf of their residents.

A collective of 21 mayors from New Jersey wrote to the state's governor on 8 December demanding a full investigation. The drone reports - and lack of satisfactory answers - had significantly alarmed half a million residents, they said.

One of those mayors was Ryan Herd of Pequannock Township, who said he was driven by the concerned calls he began receiving from residents at the end of November. Some asked whether the drones were spreading chemicals or if they had "the same capabilities to drop things on us as the ones in Ukraine".

Mr Herd and nearly 200 other local leaders received a briefing at the New Jersey state police headquarters three days after they sent their letter, he said.

They heard from Homeland Security and Defense Department officals, who said the military or tech companies were not responsible for the objects in the night sky. They claimed to have no idea who was behind it, Mr Herd said.

"I blew my top," he said. "This is America 2024 and you're telling me drones are flying over our houses and you have no idea who's flying them or where they're from?"

Mayor Michael Melham of Belleville, New Jersey, also attended the briefing. He said they were told these drones of unknown origin were flying over critical infrastructure, but they posed no credible threat and would not be shot down.

"I don't buy it," he said.

His views seemed to be shared by President-elect Donald Trump, who has said "the government knows what is happening" - though he declined to say whether that declaration was based on a government briefing.

Trump has also said mystery drones "happen to be over Bedminster", the home he owns in New Jersey. He said he had decided to cancel a weekend trip there as a result.

"How does that make my residents feel when the president-elect, who has a residence in New Jersey, is telling people that he's not coming here that weekend?" Mayor Melham said.

With the demand for answers growing, federal authorities have provided advanced radar systems to some states, even as they repeat that the lingering drone mystery is no mystery at all.

"But I want to stress again," Kirby said on Monday, "our assessment at this stage is that the activity represents commercial, hobbyist, (and) law enforcement drones - all operating legally and lawful - and/or civilian aviation aircraft."

Source:.bbc.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0r9v3xekno

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Arab World

 

From COP16 to FIFA 2034, a new era of events begins in Saudi Arabia

NADA ALTURKI

December 16, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has not just stepped onto the world stage; it is commanding it, securing the rights to host monumental global events like COP16, the Future Investment Initiative and the Misk Global Forum, and most recent crowning achievements of winning the bids for the FIFA World Cup 2034 and the World Expo 2030.

Fresh off these triumphs, the three-day International Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions Summit, held until Dec. 17 in Riyadh, is seeing global experts and tourism leaders converge to delve into the implications of the fast-growing events sector on Saudi Arabia’s evolving landscape.

Anita Mendiratta, special adviser to the secretary general of UN Tourism, told Arab News: “The importance of this event, and any event, is that it’s not only about the event being hosted and destination, IMS being hosted in Riyadh; it’s the fact that the world is interested to be here.”

She added: “They want to be a part of it. They want to understand what is happening in the Kingdom that’s creating so much excitement. So, to be part of this community is special … it’s a privilege to see how we can build business together from the Kingdom to the world and from the world to the Kingdom itself.”

Under the ambitious Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is not just enhancing its entertainment and tourism sectors, but is also aggressively transforming into a global nexus for international events.

This shift is being fueled by substantial investments in infrastructure, a welcoming stance toward global tourism and an evolving changing cultural landscape that positions the Kingdom as a magnet for diverse events.

The events sector stands out for its contribution to the tourism industry, as it is the only sector that ensures a steady stream of visitors throughout the year, encouraging repeat visits, extended stays and spreading economic benefits across various regions.

Mendiratta highlighted this advantage, saying: “So, for an economy, especially a developing economy, trying to build through tourism, which is a fantastic way of building economies, societies, cultures and protecting the environment, MICE is fantastic because it allows for year-round visitation, not only during traditional tourism seasons.”

According to the adviser, Riyadh is at the forefront as being a global entry point for events and tourism due to mobility, allowing for destination connectivity domestically, regionally and internationally, while also offering accessible visa acquisition.

“It is a magnificent front door because it amplifies the invitation of the Kingdom to the world,” she said. “Through Vision 2030, you have outstanding projects being put in place to make sure that you have the rail connectivity, the sea connectivity and the roads, and then you add on the mega events on top of that, and it absolutely amplifies the ability for the destination to really blossom.”

While the events taking place, including the summit, create tangible change on a smaller scale, they all sit within a greater, ambitious master plan to position Saudi Arabia as a leader globally in innovation, environment, tourism, economy and entertainment.

“The beauty about the Kingdom is that you not only have leadership coming behind Vision 2030, but every single mega-project, city, and person in Saudi understands the role that they have to play. That’s where longevity comes from and, importantly, legacy, so that we’re building Saudi for Saudis for generations to come,” Mendiratta added.

This ambitious vision includes the execution of numerous giga-projects that promise to not only enhance the job opportunities and quality of life for Saudi residents, but also cement the Kingdom’s position as a top tourist destination.

Qiddiya has recently made headlines for its plans to propel Saudi Arabia’s entertainment sector through partnerships with local and international entities that will bring groundbreaking ventures into the country like Dragon Ball and Six Flags theme parks and Speed Park Track, which comes as the popularity of Formula 1 in the region grows.

Turki Al-Rasheed, representative of Qiddiya Investment Co., told Arab News that Qiddiya City will be located in the heart of Tuwaiq Mountains, which is 1400 km long and will immerse visitors in the heritage and the identity of Qiddiya.

“The city is the first city built on the Power of Play philosophy,” he said, adding that the company conducted multiple research studies that proved play was not only meant for leisure entertainment, but has a significant effect on lifestyle, well-being and health.

“That’s why we’re not only going to live life, we’re going to play life. Qiddiya will be the capital of sports, entertainment and our culture,” he added, “Qiddiya City will be built in phases. So, phase one consists of the Speed Park, Aquarabia, and Six Flags, these three assets that were announced.”

Al-Rasheed said that 8 percent of the Six Flags theme park has already been built, with the promise of announcing the progress of the rest of the assets soon.

The summit may very well be the perfect example of how the engineering of events has changed; normally there would be an event hosted by a company or destination, and the event’s organizers are brought on. In this unique case, it was pulled together, from concept to vision, by the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority.

“In a time marked by profound transformation, the MICE industry has emerged as an essential catalyst of progress. As the premier global leader in the industry, the International MICE Summit is expanding the horizons of what can be done when people meet, connect and are entertained,” Fahd Al-Rasheed, chairman of the authority, told the Saudi Press Agency.

Richard Attias & Associates — a top partner in the Kingdom for events like the Future Investment Initiative and Hegra Noble Summit, was then brought in to bring the summit to life.

Attias, a veteran of the events industry and founder, chairman and CEO of FII Institute, told Arab News: “When you look at all these portfolio of conferences, we are not events just to be an event. We are events who had, all of them, an impact on our humanity — by doing what? By attracting investors.

“When you do an investment conference and change the landscape of the host city as a host country and also the global conversation … you transform cities, you create amazing infrastructure and you create jobs.”

He added that the GCC region, specifically the Kingdom, has become a top destination for the events industry for several reasons, including the quality of infrastructure, such as travel and digitization, and vibrant and full economic ecosystem.

As Mendiratta said, location is a significant aspect as well.

Attias highlighted the role of policy in destination appeal, saying: “On top of that, when you have an amazing policy on e-visas, on making business friendly and easy, attractive transport, and easy hospitality, you become a great destination.”

The seasoned expert in events and conferences also underscored the pivotal role of technology in advancing the industry. He shared a stark warning to peers and staff alike: “The message I give to my colleagues and to the staff in this industry is that you are still underestimating the impact that technology would create in our industry.”

Even though the MICE sector has traditionally been about face-to-face interactions, Attias foresees a seismic shift: “I see technologies, not just AI, that will very soon will disrupt our industry like a tsunami,” he said. “Now we see another revolution, which would totally change our day-to-day life, which would change the way we travel, the way we attend conferences, the way we visit exhibitions, the way we meet, the way we even incentivize people.

“So, the whole MICE industry and far beyond will be totally transformed with technology.”

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Saudi Heritage Commission registers 13,040 new sites of historical importance

December 16, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Heritage Commission has registered 13,040 new urban sites, increasing the total number of documented sites with cultural and historical importance to 17,495 in various regions.

The commission's National Urban Heritage Register includes a list of urban sites that manifest a "lasting testament to the Kingdom's historical narratives for future generations," the Saudi Press Agency reported.

According to SPA, the most recent registered sites are 1,950 in Riyadh, 3,273 in Madinah, 1,531 in Al-Baha, 1,525 in Hail, 1,400 in Qassim, 972 in Aseer, 571 in Makkah, 363 in Al-Jouf, 351 in Jazan, 200 in Najran, 107 in Tabuk, 35 in the Northern Borders, and 762 in the Eastern Region.

The Heritage Commission is dedicated to preserving and managing Saudi Arabia's urban heritage for future generations and raising public awareness about its cultural importance, SPA added.

The commission conducts research to identify new heritage sites using technologies and modern practices to preserve, document, and create a comprehensive database of these sites.

The commission said the community is vital in preserving heritage sites. It encourages Saudi citizens to report any sites and buildings of cultural or historical importance for documentation on its online service portal, https://contactcenter.moc.gov.sa.

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Experts call for urgent fire-safety measures at historic Saudi sites

December 16, 2024

RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and its strategic partner, the Saudi International Council on Monuments and Sites, have issued recommendations for protecting people and preserving the nation’s cultural heritage sites.

These recommendations were made during the AlUla Symposium on Fire Risk Management at Historic and Heritage Sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Recently hosted in AlUla, the symposium had 80 national and international experts in fire management and heritage conservation participating. It provided a platform for discussions on fire prevention, mitigation, and response strategies for historic and cultural sites.

These discussions will help guide the development of policies and procedures for AlUla’s cultural landmarks, the SPA reported.

The experts shared best practices, case studies, and technologies, emphasizing an approach that prioritizes the safety of occupants, visitors, surrounding communities, and the sites.

Discussions covered the implementation of fire codes, such as the Saudi Historical Building Code, while respecting the unique character of old buildings and maintaining their structural integrity.

Case studies presented at the event included the 2019 Notre Dame fire, which emphasized the need for comprehensive safety planning and collaboration.

Experts shared practical strategies, including fire risk assessments, community training, and tailored roadmaps for specific locations.

Princess Nouf bint Mohammed bin Fahad, president of the Saudi International Council on Monuments and Sites, emphasized the need for preventative measures.

“Fires pose a serious threat to priceless historical and heritage sites, endangering their authenticity, integrity and the values they represent. The negative effects of fires on these sites remind us of the need to prevent such disasters.”

The recommendations from the symposium will guide the commission’s ongoing efforts to improve fire safety at AlUla’s heritage sites. This supports the broader goals of Vision 2030, and establishing AlUla as a global leader in heritage conservation, the SPA reported.

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UN chief opens Riyadh tech conference with virtual speech

RAHAF JAMBI

December 16, 2024

RIYADH: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered the opening remarks in a virtual speech at the 19th edition of the organization’s Internet Governance Forum, held in Riyadh on Sunday.

Over 10,000 people from 160 countries are expected to attend the conference, which runs from Dec. 15 to 19, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The forum covers a range of topics from cybersecurity and data privacy to artificial intelligence in more than 300 sessions and workshops.

Other notable speakers included Saudi Communication Minister Abdullah Alswaha and UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua.

Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, moderator of the forum, told Arab News: “Definitely, IGF 2024 came at a very critical time in the global digital world.”

He went on to say: “This year is the first year that we dedicate a full track for businesses. So, IGF has a history of being developed in different countries with tracks for government, academia, and parliaments, but for business; it was missing.

“We know now that the private sector and technology play a major role in the governance of IT and AI. This is the first time that we invite many private sector players to IGF, and we hope this plan will continue in the upcoming IGFs.”

Discussing the different offerings at the forum, Al-Mutairi said: “For this year, we expanded IGF Village to provide a lot of exhibitions and active workshops.

“Many organizations are presenting their work in IGF, allowing the community to collaborate and interact. This is a tradition of IGF, but this year it has expanded, making it more interactive for all participants in Riyadh.”

One of the participating organizations is the Digital Cooperation Organization, which offered a session on the ethical uses of AI as part of a series of roundtables.

Alaa Abdulaal, chief of digital economy foresight at DCO, told Arab News: “We have something we call the digital space accelerator. It is a working group we created to focus on specific topics, one of which is the ethical use of AI.

“We have conducted many roundtables globally, including one in Singapore and another during GAIN (Global AI Summit). Today, during IGF, the aim is to gather perspectives from different AI experts on the policy tools we are creating regarding the ethical use of AI.”

The forum also saw awards distributed to prominent individuals, celebrating their achievements in the field. Arwa Al-Duwaish, winner of the IGF award for the Most Promising Employee at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, told Arab News that she received an award recognizing her contributions to digital transformation in the Kingdom.

The conference is being held at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh until Thursday.

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Jeddah Book Fair explores the power of music

December 16, 2024

JEDDAH: The Jeddah Book Fair buzzed with energy recently as Iraqi musician and renowned oud player Naseer Shamma captivated attendees with a lecture on echoic memory.

The discussion titled “Music Stylistically” was led by moderator Bader Al-Hamoud.

Shamma explored how climate and environment influence musical expression, noting differences between coastal and mountainous music.

He explained how geography, architecture, and economic factors shape a community’s musical identity and heritage.

Shamma said: “Just as our senses possess memory and require care to maintain their function, music demands a period of maturation, much like the cycle of life.”

Some of his compositions have taken years to perfect before being shared. He believes music that resonates for two decades achieves a lasting impact.

Shamma also announced a project to train instructors to teach at schools.

The seminar highlighted the therapeutic power of music. Shamma said that music can accelerate wound healing by up to 30 percent.

Music therapy has become a recognized academic field, he added.

Focusing on children, Shamma emphasized music’s role in intellectual growth and counteracting the effects of excessive screen time.

He said music has become a cornerstone of early childhood education in many parts of the world.

Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the fair runs until Dec. 21 and features over 450 pavilions, with the participation of over 1,000 publishing houses and agencies from 22 countries.

Entry to the fair is free daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, except on Fridays when it opens from 2 p.m. until midnight.

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Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz University earns global accreditation in healthcare program

December 16, 2024

RIYADH: King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah has become the first institution outside North America to receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education.

The university’s executive master’s program in healthcare administration was accredited by the commission.

It highlights the university’s commitment to high academic standards in healthcare management and enhances Saudi Arabia’s global standing in healthcare administration, according to a press release.

The executive master’s program prepares graduates for leadership roles in the healthcare sector, addressing the growing needs of the Saudi healthcare industry.

Aligned with Vision 2030, the program focuses on decision-making, problem-solving and innovation in healthcare management. It also equips students with skills in applied research and professional communication within healthcare settings.

The university thanked the commission’s evaluation team, including Zachary Pruitt, Attila Hertelendy and Elizabeth McCament, for their role in the accreditation process.

The academic team, including Fahad Al-Hazmi, Mohammed Al-Qurashi, Mohammed Al-Hanawi, Waleed Qattan, Ameera Qattan and Noor Al-Sharif, were also acknowledged for their contributions.

The program is also accredited by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. It is a two-year, full-time program open to both male and female students.

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Saudi students showcase innovative projects at Design Expo in Dhahran

JASMINE BAGER

December 16, 2024

Dhahran: The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran recently held its 11th Design Expo, featuring 93 senior student projects addressing real-world challenges.

The event emphasized interdisciplinary teamwork, with awards given to standout projects showcasing innovative solutions to industry problems.

Khaled Al-Athel, dean of the College of Engineering and Physics, told Arab News: “Two years ago, the university launched a capstone senior design project where students from various disciplines collaborate. So you find a civil engineer working with mechanical and computer engineers to solve a certain problem.”

He added that real-life challenges are multidisciplinary, requiring diverse expertise, and that this approach has matured, with all projects now involving students from at least three disciplines tackling real-life problems.

The university's president, Muhammad Al-Saggaf, presented awards to the top projects across several categories.

The Most Humanitarian Project Award was won by the team behind the “Glove for the Deaf to Understand and Convert to Audible Speech,” while the Most Innovative Project Award went to the creators of the “Heat-Based Feedback Suit,” and the Best Elevator Pitch Award was presented to the team behind the “Hybrid Buried Anti-Personnel Landmines Detection System.”

The Most Entrepreneurial Project Award went to the “Smart Blind Guider,” the Best Prototype Award was earned by “Space Debris Tracking,” the Best Project Award was given to “Improving Plant Sustainability Footprint by Optimizing Fuel Management Using Methane and Recycled Hydrogen from Carbon Emissions,” and the Public Voted Project Award went to the “Waste to Methanol Project.”

Among other notable projects was a portable solar-powered desalination system developed to address water scarcity. The team behind the project told Arab News: “Access to clean and safe drinking water is a critical challenge in remote and resource-constrained regions. The portable desalination system offers a sustainable, efficient solution for clean water access in these areas.”

Another group focused on extracting valuable minerals from brine. The team said: “Our innovative mineral extraction process offers a sustainable, cost-effective solution for producing high-quality minerals.

“By addressing the rising costs and environmental challenges faced by manufacturers, our approach minimizes ecological impact while ensuring efficiency and reliability in mineral sourcing.”

In 2025, the expo will welcome its first cohort of senior women engineers, marking a historic milestone for the university. Previously an all-male institution since its founding in 1963, the university began admitting women in the 2021-2022 academic year.

The university also began allowing the general public to attend the expo days.

Al-Athel emphasized that everyone should come and see these projects. His 10-year-old daughter also attended the expo, listening as each team discussed their projects while standing by her father.

“There is a lot of innovation here, a lot of things that can help real-life situations,” she said.

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Mideast

 

Negotiators say Israel and Hamas are inching toward a ceasefire deal. This is what it may look like

December 17, 2024

DOHA, Qatar: After months of deadlock, Israel and Hamas appear to be moving closer toward a ceasefire to end their 14-month war.

Top officials from the US, Qatar and Egypt have resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to wrap up a deal. In a key concession, Hamas officials say they are prepared to show more “flexibility” on the timing of an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, said Monday that a deal is closer than ever.

Officials on all sides have cautioned that key details must still be worked out. But there is a general sense of optimism that has been lacking for many months.

The changing sentiment appears to be the result of several factors. Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hamas over the course of the war. The group is more isolated after Hezbollah’s ceasefire with Israel, and Iran, a key backer of both militant groups, has suffered a number of setbacks, highlighted by the downfall of its close ally, Syria’s Bashar Assad.

In the US, both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump have signaled they want a deal completed before the Jan. 20 inauguration.

According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, the agreement would take place in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel says Hamas is holding 100 hostages — over one-third of whom are believed to be dead.

Here is a closer look at the emerging deal, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing closed negotiations.

Preliminary ceasefire

The first phase would last from six to eight weeks. During that time, Hamas would release some 30 hostages – roughly half of those believed alive. They include three or four dual US-Israeli citizens.

Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including as many as 100 who are serving long sentences for alleged involvement in bloody attacks.

Increased aid

The deal calls for a massive increase in aid to Gaza, which has plunged into a humanitarian crisis during the 14-month war. An estimated 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, in many cases multiple times, and aid workers report severe hunger across the territory.

This is expected to include a reopening of the territory’s Rafah crossing with Egypt, which has been closed since Israeli ground troops invaded the southern border town in May. The crossing is especially important because it is the primary exit point for Palestinians in Gaza who want to travel abroad, and the only one not controlled by Israel.

Mediators say they are considering a return to a 2005 agreement that allowed the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority to operate the crossing with European Union observers. That agreement collapsed when Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 and expelled the Palestinian Authority forces.

Israeli troop withdrawals

During the first phase, Israeli troops would withdraw from some Palestinian population centers, allowing many Palestinians to begin returning home. But Israeli troops wouldn’t leave Gaza altogether at this stage. They would remain along the Philadelphi corridor – a strategic strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Ending the war

During the initial ceasefire, the sides would continue negotiations on a permanent agreement, to include an end to the war, full withdrawal of Israeli troops, and release of remaining hostages and bodies held by Hamas.

Talks would begin on final arrangements for Gaza, including who would govern the territory and plans for rebuilding the destruction.

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Syria’s Golani says rebel factions to be ‘disbanded’, calls for lifting sanctions

December 17, 2024

DAMASCUS: The leader of the Islamist group that toppled Bashar Assad said Monday that armed factions in war-torn Syria would be “disbanded” and their fighters placed under the defense ministry, and called for sanctions to be lifted so refugees can return.

Syrian president Assad was toppled by a lightning 11-day rebel offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group (HTS), whose fighters and allies swept down from northwest Syria and entered the capital on December 8.

HTS leader Abu Mohammed Al-Golani said Monday on the group’s Telegram channel that all the rebel factions “would “be disbanded and the fighters trained to join the ranks of the defense ministry.”

“All will be subject to the law,” said Golani, who now uses his real name, Ahmed Al-Sharaa.

He also emphasized the need for unity in a country home to different ethnic minority groups and religions, while speaking to members of the Druze community — a branch of Shiite Islam making up about 3 percent of Syria’s pre-war population.

“Syria must remain united,” he said. “There must be a social contract between the state and all religions to guarantee social justice.”

Several countries and organizations have welcomed Assad’s fall but said they were waiting to see how the new authorities would treat minorities in the country.

During a second meeting with a delegation of British diplomats, the HTS leader also spoke “of the importance of restoring relations” with London.

He stressed the need to end “all sanctions imposed on Syria so that Syrian refugees can return to their country,” according to remarks reported on his group’s Telegram channel.

HTS is rooted in Syria’s branch of Al-Qaeda and proscribed as a terrorist organization by many Western governments, though it has sought to moderate its rhetoric.

Since the toppling of Assad, it has insisted that the rights of all Syrians will be protected.

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UN chief welcomes aid commitments by new Syrian authorities

December 17, 2024

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher met with the commander of Syria’s new administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, and newly appointed Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir on Monday to discuss scaling up humanitarian assistance in the country.

Following Fletcher’s meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he welcomed the caretaker government’s commitment to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers.

“I also welcome their agreement to grant full humanitarian access through all border crossings; cut through bureaucracy over permits and visas for humanitarian workers; ensure the continuity of essential government services, including health and education; and engage in genuine and practical dialogue with the wider humanitarian community,” Guterres said.

Syria’s Bashar Assad was ousted after insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham swept through Syria in a lightning offensive, ending more than 50 years of iron-fisted rule by his family.

Guterres called on the international community to rally behind the Syrian people as they “seize the opportunity to build a better future.” The United Nations says seven in 10 people in Syria continue to need humanitarian aid.

Fletcher also plans to visit Lebanon, Turkiye and Jordan, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols Editing by Bill Berkrot)

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US strikes Houthi command and control facility in Yemen

December 17, 2024

WASHINGTON: American forces carried out an air strike on Monday against a Houthi command and control facility that was used by the Yemeni rebels to coordinate attacks, the US military said.

The Houthis began striking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023, part of the region-wide fallout from Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, which militant groups in multiple countries have cited as justification for attacks.

“The targeted facility was a hub for coordinating Houthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

“The strike reflects CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment to protect US and coalition personnel, regional partners, and international shipping,” it added.

The Yemeni rebels say their attacks — a significant international security challenge that threatens a major shipping lane — are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Anger over Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the small coastal territory, which began after an unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has stoked violence involving Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

The United States and other countries have deployed military vessels to help shield shipping from the Houthi strikes, and the rebels have periodically launched attacks targeting American military ships.

Washington’s forces have also carried out frequent air strikes on the Houthis in a bid to degrade their ability to target shipping and have sought to seize weapons before they reach the rebels, but their attacks have persisted.

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US-brokered ceasefire fails between Kurdish and Turkiye-backed forces in Syria

December 17, 2024'

CAIRO: Syrian US-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) said U.S-brokered mediation efforts failed to reach a permanent ceasefire with Syria’s Turkiye-backed rebels in the northern cities of Manbij and Kobani, according to head of the SDF’s media center Farhad Shami on Monday.

Shami blamed the collapse of the mediation on “Turkiye’s approach in dealing with the mediation efforts and its evasion to accept key points.”

The Turks are not happy about the ceasefire deal and Turkiye prefers to keep maximum pressure on SDF, a Syrian opposition source told Reuters.

Last week, the SDF said they reached a ceasefire agreement with the Turkiye-backed rebels in Manbij through US mediation “to ensure the safety and security of civilians.”

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Restoring damaged crusader castle may be possible in new Syria: director

December 17, 2024

KRAK DES CHEVALIERS, Syria: Fully restoring Syria’s war-damaged Krak des Chevaliers fortress, one of the world’s most famous Crusader castles, may finally be within reach if the new authorities allocate the necessary resources, according to its director.

Sitting atop a high ridge in what is now the Homs province of modern-day Syria, the UNESCO-listed fortress was built by a medieval Catholic military order, the Knights of St. John, who held it from 1142 to 1271, when it was captured by a Mamluk sultan.

Many centuries later, after civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, the castle again became a battleground, sustaining damage this time between government forces and rebels vying for its strategic location.

Since long-time president Bashar Assad was ousted over a week ago after an 11-day offensive by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) and its allies, the fortress’s director Hazem Hanna has regained hope that Krak des Chevaliers can come back to life.

“We are now in a period of recovery and we hope that we will receive the necessary resources to restore what was damaged in the castle,” he told AFP.

The castle, which could once accommodate a garrison of 2,000 men, sustained damage at the height of the war, most notably to its Gothic reception hall and chapel.

In 2013, two years into the devastating civil war, the Krak des Chevaliers was put on UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger list, alongside the ruins of Palmyra and the old city of Aleppo.

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Conditions in north Gaza hospital ‘appalling’: WHO chief

December 16, 2024

GENEVA: A World Health Organization official said Monday a humanitarian team finally reached one of northern Gaza’s only functioning hospitals at the weekend to deliver fuel, food and medicines, and found “appalling” conditions.

Kamal Adwan Hospital is located in Beit Lahia, a city at the center of an intense Israeli military operation aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping in northern Gaza.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that after multiple attempts, the United Nations health agency and partners reached the facility “two days ago, amid hostilities and explosions in the vicinity of the hospital during the mission.”

The team, he said, had “delivered 5,000 liters of fuel, food and medicines, and transferred three patients and six companions to Al-Shifa,” the Palestinian territory’s main hospital.

Kamal Adwan is one of the last operational medical facilities in the north of the war-ravaged territory, with the WHO warning earlier this month that it was operating at a “minimum” level.

The agency said efforts to deliver desperately needed supplies have been repeatedly hampered.

Earlier this month, it said a mission reached the hospital on November 30 after weeks of unsuccessful attempts, bringing aid and an international emergency team, including surgeons and other specialists.

But days later, that team was among large numbers who fled the hospital amid heavy hostilities around the facility.

“This has left the hospital without specialized personnel for surgical and maternal care,” Tedros warned, adding that the attacks have resulted in further damage to the facility and its oxygen and electricity supplies.

“The conditions in the hospital are simply appalling,” he said.

“We urge for the protection of health care and for this hell to stop! Ceasefire!“

The war was sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Since then, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 45,000 people in Gaza, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.

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Golan Heights: strategic Israeli-occupied plateau on Syria border

December 17, 2024

JERUSALEM: Since the toppling of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad more than a week ago, Israel has sparked international condemnation with its moves in the Golan Heights, a strategic territory on the border with Syria.

Israel has occupied most of the Golan since 1967 and in 1981 annexed the area, in a move recognised only by the United States during President Donald Trump's first term.

Here is a look at the territory, its history, and significance:

The Golan Heights are a popular nature spot for Israelis. The plateau overlooks Lebanon and Jordan and offers sweeping views of Israel to the west and deep into Syria to the northeast.

The area is bordered by Mount Hermon, whose snowy peak rises to more than 2,800 metres, popular with skiers.

Israel conquered around two-thirds of the Golan during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and one month later established its first civilian settlement there, Merom Golan. Twelve additional communities were created by 1970.

Further fighting erupted during the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, with clashes continuing into the following year until Israel and Syria reached an agreement on an armistice line that for most of the past 50 years has remained peaceful.

As part of the deal, an 80 kilometre-long (50 mile) United Nations-patrolled buffer zone was created on the east of Israeli-occupied territory, separating it from the Syrian side and watched over by the multinational UN Disengagement and Observer Force. UNDOF's positions include a post atop Mount Hermon.

Syria retains control of the rest of the Golan east of the buffer zone.

In December 1981, Israel annexed the Golan territory it had occupied.

Today the Golan Heights are still sparsely settled but are home to an estimated 30,000 Jewish residents who live in more than 30 settlements, along with about 23,000 Druze.

The Druze, whose presence predates the Israeli occupation, are an Arab ethno-religious minority who also live in Lebanon, Jordan and Israel as well as Syria and the occupied Golan.

Many have not accepted Israeli nationality, and still identify as Syrian.

The Golan is also home to multiple Israeli military bases.

In 2019, during his first term in office, then-US president Donald Trump formally recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan, making the United States the only country to do so.

The move prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in June of 2019 to announce the creation of a new settlement, Trump Heights, named after the US leader.

On Sunday, a week after Islamist-led rebels toppled Assad in a lightning offensive, the Israeli government approved a 40 million shekel ($11 million) plan to double the population of the Golan.

Netanyahu's office said the plan comes "in light of the war and the new front in Syria and the desire to double the population."

He said that strengthening the Golan was key to strengthening Israel, after declaring a week earlier that the Golan would remain in Israel's hands "for eternity".

"We have no interest in confronting Syria. Israel's policy toward Syria will be determined by the evolving reality on the ground," Netanyahu said in a separate video statement.

Israel has previously announced plans to increase the number of settlers in the Golan, with the government of then-premier Naftali Bennett approving a $317 million, five-year programme to double the settler population in December 2021.

At the time, the Israeli population in the occupied Golan Heights was around 25,000.

Germany was among those opposing the new plan.

A foreign ministry spokesman in Berlin said "it is perfectly clear under international law that this area controlled by Israel belongs to Syria and that Israel is therefore an occupying power".

Riyadh's foreign ministry expressed "condemnation and denunciation" of the plan, which it called part of "continued sabotage of opportunities to restore security and stability in Syria" after Assad's overthrow.

Days earlier, while Assad's rule was collapsing in Syria, Netanyahu ordered troops into the buffer zone, saying it was a temporary and defensive measure in light of the "vacuum on Israel's border and in the buffer zone".

On Friday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered troops to "prepare to remain" in the buffer for the winter.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and an Israeli government spokesman both confirmed that Israeli troops had also moved beyond the demarcated buffer zone.

Israel's move into the buffer zone was also widely condemned.

A UN spokesman called it a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement.

A Turkish foreign ministry statement said Israel had moved into the buffer zone at a sensitive time for Syria.

"When the possibility of achieving the peace and stability the Syrian people have desired for many years has emerged, Israel is once again displaying its occupying mentality," the statement said.

Source:arabnews.com

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South Asia

 

Bangladesh Polls Announcement: BNP Seeks Specifics, Jamaat Okay To Wait

Dec 17, 2024

BNP leaders welcomed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's announcement on the timeline of national elections but urged a clear and actionable roadmap.

While acknowledging the statement as a step forward, they said that vague ideas cannot replace a structured plan to ensure credible and participatory polls.

Speaking to The Daily Star, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "What the chief adviser said about the timing of the election cannot be described as a roadmap. He [Yunus] has merely provided an idea of when the election might take place."

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, in reaction, expressed conditional support for the timeline.

Jamaat's Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, "Despite our initial reluctance regarding the delay, we will remain patient as long as the chief adviser honours his commitment to hold the elections.

"In that case, we are ready to cooperate with him," he told The Daily Star.

Salahuddin Ahmed, another BNP standing committee member, urged the interim government to unveil a specific roadmap, including the date.

The party's Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf said the sooner the election is held, the better it will be for the interim government and the people of the country.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, Prof Yunus delivered a total of five speeches, which BNP leaders criticised for lacking a clear election roadmap.

Some BNP leaders warned that delays could invite conspiracies and harm the election process.

"The country's economy is in a dire state and soaring commodity prices are suffocating people. Until an elected government is in place, these issues cannot be resolved," party's Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas told reporters after paying tribute to Ziaur Rahman on the occasion of Victory Day.

Attending a programme, BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Emran Saleh Prince said, "Wasting time in the name of reforms will only create opportunities for domestic and foreign conspirators."

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Standing Committee member said, "Following Tarique Rahman's speech on Sunday, we are waiting for the government's response. Today, the chief adviser's speech provided an idea about the timing of the polls but did not specify a date or outline the process. Once our secretary general is fit, we will announce the party's stance."

Besides, in reaction to the chief adviser's speech, leaders of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, Communist Party of Bangladesh and Ganosamhati Andolon also said the announcement is an indication of progress, but it lacks clarity and details.

Rashed Khan, general secretary of the Gono Odhikar Parishad, said, "This is not a formal roadmap; it's merely a verbal timeframe addressed to the nation by the chief adviser today. It lacks a specific plan for the national election.

"In my opinion, this announcement seems more like a consolation statement for the political parties that have been demanding an election date or a concrete roadmap."

Ruhin Hossain Prince, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, said, "In my view, it is a positive step. However, in his speech, he used terms like 'if,' 'but,' and 'maybe,' which failed to address the confusion surrounding the timing of the elections. At the very least, he could have announced a specific timeframe, such as a month, which was the expectation of the citizens. This expectation remained unfulfilled."

He further said, "...currently, we need only minimal reforms to conduct a national election. If they engage in discussions with political parties, it should be possible to hold a free and fair election by 2025, even after implementing necessary reforms."

The chief adviser and his advisory panel should take this route to eliminate all uncertainties, Ruhin added.

Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon, said, "Primarily, we welcome the indication given by the chief adviser. We expect them to hold discussions with stakeholders and present a more specific roadmap."

"Such discussions with political stakeholders could help finalise the election dates, outline required reforms, and establish a detailed plan. It would also contribute to achieving political stability.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Dec 17: Freedom came a day later in Khulna

Dec 17, 2024

While Bangladesh officially emerged as an independent nation on December 16, 1971, the people of Khulna tasted freedom on December 17, when freedom fighters finally took control of the city after fierce battles.

Despite the Pakistani forces' surrender in Dhaka, Khulna remained under siege, with Pakistani troops and their collaborators, including Razakar, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams, holding a firm grip on the city.

"Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf, who led the Peace Committee in Khulna, established the Razakar force at an Ansar camp on Khan Jahan Ali Road in the city," said Alamgir Kabir, a freedom fighter. This gave the occupying forces a stranglehold on Khulna, leading to mass killings, destruction, and relentless repression.

In response, the Mukti Bahini launched guerrilla attacks to weaken enemy forces and disrupt their supply chains. Between December 11 and 16, freedom fighters captured several camps of the Pakistani army and their collaborators, including those in Gallamari, Badamtala, and Chuknagar. However, major camps in Khulna city, such as those in Shiromoni, Khulna Shipyard, and PMG Colony, remained under enemy control.

On December 17, freedom fighters entered Khulna city through multiple routes, including Gallamari, Rupsha Ghat, and Crescent Jute Mill, targeting remaining strongholds.

"This day evokes mixed emotions for the people of Khulna," said SM Babar Ali, 75, a freedom fighter and former lawmaker. "There was joy over Bangladesh's independence but despair knowing Khulna was still not free."

Freedom fighters, led by Major Joynul Abedin, launched attacks in Gallamari on the night of December 16 and early December 17, dispersing enemy forces.

"Two significant battles in Shiromoni and Khulna Shipyard ensured the city's liberation," added Babar Ali.

Alamgir Kabir recalled the intense battle in Shiromoni, where Pakistani forces had deployed several regiments supported by six tanks.

"Local support was crucial in this tank battle, which has since become a case study at military academies like Dehradun and Sandhurst," said Kabir. Eventually, 200 Pakistani soldiers surrendered with their weapons, while collaborators fled.

In another battle at Khulna Shipyard, freedom fighters overcame an ambush by the Pakistani forces. One fighter was martyred, and 16 others were injured.

After seizing control of Khulna, the freedom fighters hoisted the flag of independent Bangladesh at Khulna Circuit House and Shaheed Hadis Park. Major (retd) Joynul Abedin and Gazi Rahmatulla Dadu raised the flag at the Circuit House at around 10:30am.

Later, Sector-9 commander MA Jalil handed over several hundred prisoners of war, including Pakistani commander Brig Hayat Ali Khan, to General Dalbir Singh of the Indian forces in Khalishpur.

Khulna's liberation stands as a testament to the resilience and bravery of the freedom fighters and the local people who refused to surrender their dream of independence.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Half a dozen injured in BNP factional clash in Ctg

Dec 16, 2024

At least five to six people were injured after two factions of BNP locked into a scuffle at Hathazari of Chattogram during a programme celebrating the Victory Day today.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the clash happened inside Kanak Community Centre between supporters of BNP's central assistant organising secretary Mir Helal and Chattogram north BNP's convener committee member Shalika Farzana.

The names of the injured could not be known immediately. However, they were given primary treatment from the local hospital, police said.

Md Kaisar, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Model Police Station, said that BNP organised a programme to celebrate the Victory Day. Five to six persons received injuries during the incident, he added.

Later, police brought the situation under control.

Source:thedailystar.net

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Acting Health Minister and UNICEF Discuss Strengthening Afghanistan’s Healthcare System

2024-12-17

KABUL(BNA): The Acting Minister of Public Health, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, met with Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, and his delegation.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Public Health, the meeting, attended by several provincial directors, discussed the evaluation of services provided by implementing organizations, improving the quality of healthcare services, timely delivery of medicines to hospitals, and strengthening Afghanistan’s healthcare system.

Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali stressed the importance of joint standardized monitoring, evaluation, and transparency in services provided by implementing organizations across the provinces. He urged UNICEF officials to ensure the timely delivery of essential medical equipment and medicines to hospitals and to pay greater attention to enhancing the quality of healthcare services.

Source:bakhtarnews.af

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EU nearly allocates €20 million aid to support Afghanistan’s development

By Fidel Rahmati

December 17, 2024

The European Union has announced the allocation of approximately €19.8 million to Afghanistan to promote economic growth, strengthen sustainable development, empower communities, and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid.

In a statement released on Monday, December 16, the EU emphasized that its aid in Afghanistan will focus on supporting the most vulnerable populations, including women, girls, minorities, internally displaced persons, and refugees.

“Millions in Afghanistan remain trapped in poverty, with women disproportionately bearing the burden,” stated Veronika Boskovic Pohar, EU Chargée d’Affaires, EU Delegation to Afghanistan. “This initiative supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth, helping communities build self-reliance. By enhancing employment, income generation, and productivity.

She expressed hope that this initiative would support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Afghanistan and help many people, especially women, returnees, and farmers, achieve self-sufficiency.

The statement further mentioned that $22 million of the EU’s assistance will be allocated to addressing the urgent needs of Afghan communities, strengthening long-term economic stability, inclusivity, and resilience through the Aga Khan Foundation and its cultural services.

Najmuddin Najm, the Executive Director of the Aga Khan Foundation, remarked that “This partnership represents the shared commitment of the EU and AKDN to support Afghanistan, focusing on creating economic welfare and livelihood opportunities for some of the most vulnerable populations, including women and youth.”

He stressed that “This project aims to strengthen local economies, enhance agricultural production, and improve livelihoods.”

The EU’s commitment to supporting Afghanistan through the allocation of €19.8 million demonstrates a strong dedication to fostering sustainable development, economic growth, and empowerment, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups such as women and youth. Through partnerships with organizations like the Aga Khan Foundation, this aid will contribute to long-term resilience, self-sufficiency, and improved livelihoods across Afghanistan.

Source:khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/eu-allocates-e20-million-aid-to-support-afghanistans-development/

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Taliban and Turkmenistan discuss progress on TAPI Pipeline project in Herat

By Fidel Rahmati

December 16, 2024

Local officials in Herat have reported that Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of Taliban, and Rashid Meredov, the foreign minister of Turkmenistan, visited the construction site of the TAPI project in Herat.

The Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday, December 16, that during this visit, discussions focused on facilitating visas, extending the railway, fiber optic transmission, and improving transportation between the two countries.

Both sides emphasized the importance of accelerating these processes and agreed to increase the frequency of working group meetings in Kabul and Ashgabat to expedite progress.

A few months ago, the Taliban and Turkmenistan had launched the practical work of the TAPI project within Afghanistan’s borders.

The TAPI pipeline is a major infrastructure project, stretching 1,814 kilometers in total, with 207 kilometers crossing Turkmenistan, 774 kilometers through Afghanistan, and 826 kilometers across Pakistan to the India border.

TAPI is considered one of the region’s largest economic projects, as Afghanistan will not only receive substantial amounts of gas but also earn around $400 million annually in gas transit fees.

This project is seen as a key driver of regional economic cooperation and energy security, with the potential to boost Afghanistan’s economy and its position in regional energy transit networks. As work progresses, it will be crucial to ensure that security, infrastructure, and diplomatic ties continue to align for its successful completion.

Source:khaama.com

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At least 16 Afghan citizens executed in Iran over the past month

By Fidel Rahmati

December 16, 2024

Following an increase in executions in Iran, a human rights organization in the country reported that at least 16 Afghan citizens were executed in Iranian prisons over the past month.

On Sunday, December 15, the organization released a report stating that the execution of Afghan nationals in Iran has risen in recent years. According to the report, most of these individuals were convicted of drug-related crimes and murder.

The Iranian Human Rights Organization further stated that in the past week alone, four Afghan citizens were executed. In a recent case, the organization reported on Saturday, December 14, that 10 individuals, including one Afghan citizen, were executed in the Qezel Hesar prison in Iran.

The rising number of executions in Iran has drawn strong condemnation from international human rights organizations, which have called for an immediate halt to these executions by the Iranian government.

According to human rights statistics, the Iranian government has executed at least 471 people in 2023, mostly for drug-related offenses. Additionally, the Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has reported that between 5,000 and 6,000 Afghan citizens are currently imprisoned in Iran.

Human rights organizations have also highlighted that several Iranian prisons, including the central prisons in Qezel Hesar, Isfahan, Mashhad, Zahedan, Shiraz, Yazd, and Bandar Abbas, have been the sites of these executions of Afghan citizens. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for international pressure to protect the rights of foreign detainees in Iran and end the cycle of executions.

As the number of Afghan prisoners continues to rise, there is growing concern over their treatment and the fairness of trials in the Islamic Republic. These issues require immediate attention and action from both the Iranian government and the global community to ensure justice and prevent further human rights abuses.

Source:khaama.com

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IF holds prayers at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Victory Day

16 Dec 2024

DHAKA, Dec 16, 2024 (BSS) – The Islamic Foundation (IF) arranged a Quran recitation and special prayers at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque today on the occasion of the great Victory Day-2024.

Baitul Mukarram National Mosque Pesh Imam Hafez Maulana Md Muhibullahil Baki conducted the special prayers seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the martyrs in the great Liberation War in 1971, a press release said.

Prayers were also offered seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and the martyrs of the 2024 mass uprising, the release added.

Special prayers were also offered wishing peace, prosperity and welfare of Bangladesh and the whole world.

Islamic Foundation Directors Mohammad Touhidul Anwar, Md Mohiuddin and Dr Mohammad Harunur Rashid and Deputy Directors, officials and employees were present at the event.

Source:bssnews.net

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Europe

 

Muslim man sues UK pub over sign showing beheaded Arab figure

16 December, 2024

A local Muslim resident of a town in England is taking a pub to court over what he considers to be the establishment's "racist" sign, according to various reports in the UK media.

Khalid Baqa is suing the Saracen's Head Inn in Chesham, Buckinghamshire for compensation due to the "racist" depiction of "a bearded Arab/Turk" on the pub's sign, which Baqa claimed was "xenophobic" and "incites violence", according to UK tabloid The Daily Mail.

Baqa has asked for £1,850 (around $2,300) in what was known as a 'claim of money' form against pub owner Robbie Hayes.

In his submission explaining the basis of his claim, Baqa stated that the sign - depicting a brown-skinned man of Arab or Turkish descent - "instilled worry and fear in me as it was clearly xenophobic, racist, and incited violence against certain people".

"While walking through the area I was shocked and deeply offended by what I saw," Baqa said.

"I saw pub signage depicting a brown-skinned bearded Arab/Turk male with a turban and captioned ‘The Saracen’s Head’," he added.

Baqa pledged to take on more than 30 other establishments with similar names and signs if his case should prove to be successful.

Hayes claimed that Baqa was simply "chancing his arm" and had denied that the name of the pub or its sign was racist, claiming it had been called that for over 500 years.

"It's a complete joke. This pub has been called The Saracen’s Head for 500 years," Hayes said as reported by LBC.

"He's just chancing his hand. Of course, it worries me — you never know with people like this."

Baqa previously served jailed time for the alleged dissemination of "Jihadi propaganda", several UK media outlets reported, for which he served four years in prison beginning in 2017.

However, the Barking man strongly denies any association with terrorism now.

The Saracen's Head is the second most popular pub name in England behind The Red Lion, and while it might contain no racist intent within a modern context, the name and associated symbolism is rooted in the medieval persecution of and war against Muslims during the Crusades and Reconquista.

Brutal history

The symbol, of the head of a dark-skinned or black man in so-called Islamic garb, is known as the "Moor’s Head" or the "Maure". In the High Middle Ages, crusaders and Christian Europeans referred to all Muslims as "Moors" or "Saracens", both of which are now considered derogatory in personal use.

The depiction of disembodied "Moorish" or "Saracen" men was seen as a sign of the conquest of Islamic lands and the supremacy of Christian states and armies over them. Beheading, at the time, was considered the ultimate act of conquest over an enemy; hence its use in heraldry during the Crusader and Reconquista era.

The symbol has caused controversy in recent history, due to its continued inclusion on the flags of former Islamic areas of Europe, such as Corsica and Sardinia.

It is now a regular heraldic symbol, used in everything from the flags of provinces of Belgium and the crests of Scottish clans, all of which are connected to historic participation in the Crusades or Reconquista, the term used for the often brutal conquest of Islamic Spain and other former Muslim lands in Europe by Christian forces that spanned over 800 years from the early to late middle ages.

In Spain, far-right activists associated with the Vox party have occasionally used the symbols on flags or flown pre-existing Spanish provincial flags that had the symbol on them.

The symbol has often strongly been associated with the brewing industry and public houses, for reasons that historians don’t fully understand, though England played a prominent role in numerous Crusades, most notably The Third Crusade, led unsuccessfully by Richard the Lionheart to conquer Jerusalem in 1189.

In 2012, the Austrian Mohrenbrauerei Vertriebs KG brewery came under fire from anti-racist activists due to its use of the Moor’s head logo on its beer bottles.

Source:newarab.com

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Video shows land where Issa brothers planning huge Muslim cemetery

December 17, 2024

Aerial images show the site earmarked for Britain's biggest-ever Muslim cemetery - which has sparked huge opposition from residents.

The photos show the huge scale of the proposed 45-acre Memorial Garden site which would contain 12,250 burial plots, a funeral parlour and prayer halls.

The cemetery plan has been submitted by the billionaire Issa brothers on land near Oswaldtwistle, west of Blackburn, which has a population of just 10,815.

It would be bigger than Britain's current biggest Muslim cemetery, the Gardens of Peace in east London which has 10,000 plots on 21.5 acres.

Thousands of residents have objected to the new cemetery which would be funded by siblings Zuber and Mohsin Issa, who own Asda, Cooplands and Leon.

They cite concerns over congestion and wildlife on greenland where the cemetery would be built.

An earlier application to build an 85 acre cemetery on the site was fiercely opposed by residents and withdrawn earlier this year and replaced with a smaller one.

Local Conservative councillor Steve Smithson, 39, said: "The community is urging decision-makers to reject the application to protect Oswaldtwistle’s Green Belt, environment, and public safety.

"We are deeply concerned about traffic safety on Blackburn Road, described as “the most dangerous road in Oswaldtwistle.

"Increased traffic from daily funerals, with numbers exceeding 400 during large events, would strain the road network, heightening the risk of accidents and an increase to carbon emissions”

"The site poses a significant risk of groundwater contamination due to its geology and high water table, raising concerns that burial activity could lead to contamination of nearby allotments, gardens, and local waterways.

"Seasonal flooding further exacerbates these risks, with the lower fields frequently underwater for months."

The brothers originally proposed to build 35,000 burial plots, prayer pavilions and caretaker accommodation and 752 car parking spaces on 84 acres of land.

They scaled back plans after a backlash to 12,250 burial plots, a single pavilion complex of funeral parlour, prayer halls, condolence rooms and ablutions facilities, and 356 parking spaces.

The application has been registered and is due to go to the planning committee in the new year.

But Cllr Smithson says he thinks that the increase in cars visiting the area will "affect the environment."

He said: "There will be parking issues - which will affect the environment.

"We are quite proud in Oswaldtwistle because we are surrounded by green belt land.

"We are quite proud of our green land."

Cllr Smithson is part of a group called 'Say no to the Cemetery' - who are hoping that the Issa brothers will withdraw their application.

He says that 300 residents have been to an in-person meeting about the plans but over 3,000 people have subscribed to the campaign's website.

Cllr Smithson, of Oswaldtwistle, said: "The community is very much behind stopping the cemetery.

"We've got a Go Fund Me page which is raising funds to hire professionals needed to effectively challenge this unwanted and unnecessary application”.

"We've issued leaflets to residents and placed banners around the town to raise awareness of the application."

An Issa Foundation spokesperson said: "Our charity is committed to supporting the communities we serve.

"We are proud to be part of the development of a cemetery in Oswaldtwistle - a vital community asset that meets an essential need and significantly enhances the current space.

"We respect and value the feedback received from all stakeholders throughout this process.

"In line with our commitment to transparency and thoroughness, professional advisers have carefully undertaken the necessary development considerations.

"Also, based on our public consultation early this year, we have significantly reduced and revised the scheme to appease the concerns of residents.

"The proposed cemetery design and development, along with the necessary reports have been incorporated into a revised planning application, which has now been submitted for council review and approval.

"We look forward to Hyndburn Borough Council’s consideration of this important project and remain committed to working collaboratively to address the needs of the local community."

Source:lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

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Britain holds talks with proscribed Syrian Islamist group HTS that toppled Assad

16 December 2024

Photographs showed senior officials, including the UK's special representative for Syria, Ann Snow, meeting HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Mohammed al-Golani, in Damascus on Monday.

The meeting followed confirmation by Foreign Secretary David Lammy that a delegation had been sent for talks with interim Syrian authorities and civil society groups after the fall of Mr Assad's regime earlier this month.

Mr Lammy told a press conference in London on Monday that the delegation "underlines our commitment to Syria", adding the UK would support an "inclusive transitional political process that is Syrian-led and Syrian owned".

HTS is currently proscribed in the UK as a terrorist organisation.

But Mr al-Sharaa has sought to distance the group from al Qaida and present a more moderate face to the world, leading some to call for the proscription to be removed.

Over the weekend, Mr Lammy said the proscription was no bar to diplomatic contact, after confirmation by US secretary of state Antony Blinken that Washington officials had spoken to the group despite its designation by the state department as a foreign terrorist organisation.

In an interview with international media on Monday, Mr al-Sharaa called for the designation of HTS as a terrorist group to be rescinded, along with sanctions imposed on Syria during the Assad years.

He said: "Syria is very important geostrategically. They should lift all restrictions, which were imposed on the flogger and the victim - the flogger is gone now. This issue is not up for negotiation."

He also sought to ease fears about the new Syria's relationship with Israel, saying he did not want any conflict with Tel Aviv and would not allow the country to be used as a base for attacks.

Meanwhile, Mr Assad said he had not planned to flee Syria as the rebels advanced, but was evacuated by Russian forces after their base came under attack.

In his first public comments since being ousted, Mr Assad said: "At no point during these events did I consider stepping down or seeking refuge, nor was such proposal made by any individual or party."

Source:lbc.co.uk

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https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/britain-hts-syria-talks/

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Community fridge at JTI Southfield Square Masjid, Bradford

16th December

A NEW community fridge has launched at a Bradford mosque to help the needy.

The community fridge - which is essentially a food bank - has opened at JTI Southfield Square Masjid in the Manningham area of the city.

It includes a range of items such as milk, bread, butter, cereals, biscuits, fruit, vegetables and tinned produce.

The community fridge is open at the mosque between 11am and 1pm every Sunday.

Volunteers helped transform space in the basement of the mosque into the community fridge.

Syed Ahsan Shah, a director at the mosque, said: "At JTI, we strive to serve the community at large as the message of our founder and pioneer, Pir Syed Maroof, who recently passed away in the summer, was to unify all communities.

"Having a food bank in the centre of Manningham will be a life-saver during turbulent times."

Mohammed Wasim, who is overseeing the project, added: "The JTI community fridge is open to all, regardless of background.

"We hope the community fridge will serve as a lifeline for many and we aim to ensure nobody in the area sleeps hungry."

Source:thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

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https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/24798053.community-fridge-jti-southfield-square-masjid-bradford/

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Bomb that killed general reportedly hidden in electric scooter

17 December, 2024

A high-ranking general in the Russian armed forces and his assistant have been killed in an explosion in Moscow.

Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, head of the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence Forces (NBC), was leaving a residential block early on Tuesday when a device hidden in a scooter was detonated, Russia's Investigative Committee said.

Pictures from the scene showed the entrance to a building badly damaged, with scorch marks on the walls and a number of windows blown out. Two body bags could also be seen on the street.

In October, the UK placed sanctions on Kirillov, saying he had overseen the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine and acted as a "significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation".

On Monday, Ukraine's secret service, the SBU, charged him in absentia, saying on Telegram he was "responsible for the mass use of banned chemical weapons".

The Investigative Committee, Russia's main investigative authority, said it had "opened a criminal case into the murder of two servicemen".

"Investigators, forensic experts and operational services are working at the scene," it said.

"Investigative actions and operational search activities are being carried out aimed at establishing all the circumstances of the crime."

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2ek388yxzo

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz loses confidence vote

17 December, 2024

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost a vote of confidence in parliament, paving the way for early elections on 23 February.

Scholz called Monday's vote and had expected to lose it, but calculated that triggering an early election was his best chance of reviving his party's political fortunes.

It comes around two months after the collapse of Scholz's three-party coalition government, which left the embattled chancellor leading a minority administration.

Ahead of Monday's vote, Scholz said it would now be up to voters to "determine the political course of our country", teeing up what is likely to be a fiercely fought election campaign.

Losing Monday's no-confidence vote was the outcome Scholz had wanted.

Thanks to the loss, elections can now happen in February, rather than in September as originally scheduled.

There were 207 MPs, mainly from his own party, who voted for Scholz, while 394 voted against him and 116 abstained.

Since Scholz's argumentative three-party governing coalition collapsed in November, he had been reliant on support from the opposition conservatives to pass any new laws, effectively rendering his administration a lame-duck government.

Given Germany's stalled economy and the global crises facing the West, staggering on until the scheduled election date of September 2025 risked being seen as irresponsible by the electorate.

Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SDP) is trailing heavily in opinion polls, while the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Friedrich Merz appears to be on course for a return to government.

Opening the debate ahead of Monday's vote, Scholz said the snap election was an opportunity to set a new course for the country and called for "massive" investment, particularly in defence, while Merz said more debt would be a burden for younger generations and promised tax cuts.

'Kamikaze' move

Scholz's decision to stage a vote he expected to lose in order to dissolve his own government was described as a "kamikaze" move by the German tabloid Bild - but it is generally the only way a German government can dissolve parliament and spark early elections.

The process was designed specifically by the post-war founders of modern Germany to avoid the political instability of the Weimar era.

This vote of confidence is not a political crisis in itself: it is a standard constitutional mechanism that has been used by modern German chancellors five times to overcome political stalemate - and one Gerhard Schröder deployed on two occasions.

However, there is a deeper problem within German politics.

On the surface, the collapse of the coalition was sparked by a row over money. Scholz's centre-left SDP and his Green partners wanted to ease Germany's strict debt rules to finance support for Ukraine and key infrastructure projects.

That was blocked by Scholz's own finance minister, Christian Lindner, who is the leader of the business-friendly liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), which prioritised driving down the debt.

Lindner was sacked and the coalition collapsed. After years of unedifying bickering, you could almost hear the sigh of relief in Berlin's corridors of power - but the underlying cause is more difficult to resolve and more worrying.

Germany's party political system has become more fragmented, with more parties than ever in parliament. The new upstart political forces are also more radical.

In 2017, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the Bundestag for the first time, winning 12.6%.

In 2021, it slipped to 10.4%, but is now polling at almost 20%.

The AfD will not get into government because no-one will work with it to form a coalition. But the far-right is eating into the share of the vote that goes to the two centrist big-tent parties which have always put forward modern German chancellors.

The bigger the AfD share is, the more difficult it becomes for mainstream parties to form a stable governing coalition.

That was arguably the underlying problem that pulled apart Scholz's fractious coalition: big-spending left-leaning Social Democrats and Greens trying to work with free-market small-state liberals.

Rather than going away after the next election in February, that problem is likely to get worse. If the far-right wins a fifth of seats in parliament, it could be even more difficult after February to form a stable coalition between like-minded parties.

Another new populist political party could also get into parliament for the first time, the anti-migrant nativist far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance BSW, which is named after its firebrand Marxist leader.

The conservatives are leading in the polls, but as things stand their options for coalition partners are limited.

They refuse to work with the far-right and it is hard to imagine they would like to work with the radical left either. The free-market liberals may not even get into parliament, and some conservatives refuse to consider the Greens.

That leaves Scholz's SDP as a possible partner - even though Scholz is likely to be ousted from power after his stint in power saw his popularity plummet.

Whatever the next government looks like, the era of cosy consensual coalitions in Germany seems to be over.

Source:bbc.com

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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg36pp6dpyo

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Pakistan

 

Talks with PTI can't be initiated sans Imran's 'clear message': defence minister

By Web Desk

December 16, 2024

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday clarified the government would initiate negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) only after a “clear message” from the former ruling party’s incarcerated founder Imran Khan.    

Talking to Geo News, the defence minister said: “Current PTI leadership has nothing in their hands [to take decisions].”

The PTI founder, earlier this month, warned the government of launching a "civil disobedience" movement if his demands, including the judicial probe into the crackdown on party supporters, are not met. He also formed a negotiation committee to hold talks with the government.

Raising questions over the viability of talks with PTI, the minister said that the embattled party’s present leadership was not on the same page, adding that there were differences within the ranks of the embattled party. “They all are giving statements against each other.”

Stressing the need for a “clear message” from the jailed PTI founder to allow the party members to hold talks with the government, the minister said: “They all [PTI leaders] receive instruction from the PTI founder.”

The PTI founder should ask the incumbent government that he wanted to hold negotiations with the government.

Speaking about other matters, the minister said that Pakistan is a sovereign country and has good ties with the US.

“US extends support to many of our financial institutions from time to time,” he added.

The minister asked: “If the US were angry with us, could we have secured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme?

In September, the IMF Executive Board approved a $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Pakistan, with the first tranche of $1.1 billion.

To another question, Asif said: “We have just one issue with Afghanistan — the soil should not be used by [banned] Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

According to reports, the TTP has been using Afghan soil for cross-border attacks inside Pakistan since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August 2021.

Pakistan witnessed a spike in terror attacks on security forces and civilians — especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces.

As per a report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the third quarter (July-September) of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90% surge in violence.

A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1262212-talks-with-pti-cant-be-initiated-sans-imrans-clear-message-defence-minister

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Churchgoers worry road closures in Rawalpindi will dampen Christmas spirit

Aamir Yasin

December 17, 2024

RAWALPINDI: A national cricket tournament organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and the associated closure of roads has caused anxiety in the Christian community in the area who cannot access their church in Shamsabad due to strict security measures.

The tournament is expected to end on December 25, the same day as Christmas. According to the community members, they were not allowed to visit St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Double Road for service on Sunday because the traffic police had cut off all the routes leading to the area due to the cricket match. Now, they fear the same thing will happen on Christmas.

The church is located near Allama Iqbal Park (formerly Nawaz Sharif Park) in Shamsabad and is frequented by churchgoers from Sadiqabad, Dhoke Kala Khan, Iqbal Town, and adjoining areas every Sunday for weekly prayers. It usually hosts three services every Sunday – at 9am, 11am, and 1pm – since it has the capacity to accommodate only 2,000 people at a time, but on Christmas, it issues a separate schedule for three services to accommodate the community.

On Sunday, the churchgoers were disappointed to learn about road blockades, saying there was no alternate route to access the worship place. The tournament final on Dec 25 only aggravates their anxieties, with many wondering how will they go to the church to celebrate the festival.

Saleem Bhatti, a resident of Dhoke Kala Khan, said that his family wanted to go to the church on December 15 but it was difficult for them to get there. Other churches, for example St. Joseph Church in Lal Kurti were far away, he said. George Sindhu, a resident of Dhoke Paracha, said all community members were registered at the Shamsabad church, asking how they would get there on Christmas due to the road closures.

He said that performing their religious rituals without any hurdle was their fundamental right, demanding easy access to the church. It was difficult for the families to start their Christmas celebrations in their houses without offering prayers in the church, he added.

When contacted, St. Mary’s Catholic Church administration said that their priest had written a letter to the administration urging them to open roads on Sunday as well as on Christmas but received no response. However, the New Town police station invited the church administration on Tuesday (today) to listen to their issue. He said it was difficult for people to get to the church even on foot.

On the other hand, traders of the double road expressed their resentment over the closure of roads due to matches. “For Pakistan’s teams, the administration adopted security measures which are beyond our understanding as there is no security threat to the players,” said Muhammad Kamran, a shopkeeper working at Double Road.

Rawalpindi Traders Association President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said that the cricket stadium should be shifted outside the commercial and residential areas as security measures created problems for the residents and the traders on Double Road and Murree Road.

He said that roads should not be closed in the name of security for the matches. “If there is a problem, then the matches should be played outside the city so people will not be disturbed,” he said.

Source:dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1879177/churchgoers-worry-road-closures-in-rawalpindi-will-dampen-christmas-spirit

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ITMD says madrassa bill became law, asks govt to issue gazette notification

By Web Desk

December 17, 2024

In a major development, the Ittehad Tanzimat Madaris Deenia (ITMD)) — a federation of the main madrassa oversight bodies — has said that the objections raised to the Societies Registration (Amend­ment) Act 2024 became ineffective after the lapse of the designated time expired.

Addressing the press conference following a meeting of the ITMD supreme council on Monday, the ITMD's top leadership demanded the government to issue a gazette notification for the madrassa bill.

The controversy arose two days ago when President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concerns that if the madrassa bill turns into a law, seminaries will be registered under the Societies Act, which may lead to the imposition of Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), and other sanctions on the country.

The disputed madrassa bill, which has already been passed by both houses of parliament, has become a bone of contention between the JUI-F and the government. Its enactment was part of an agreement between the government and the religio-political party for supporting the 26th Amendment.

Following its approval from parliament, the bill now requires the president’s assent to become law but President Asif Ali Zardari had returned the bill earlier this month, citing legal objections. According to the Constitution, the bill must be tabled before a joint sitting after the president refuses to sign.

To meet this condition, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent a advice to President Asif Ali Zardari for holding a joint session of parliament on December 17, parliamentary sources told Geo News.

In a crowded presser earlier today, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman noted that the bill was sent to the President's House on the same day it was approved. He mentioned that the president identified a mistake in it on October 28, 2024, which the National Assembly speaker referred to as a "typo." After making the correction, the speaker resubmitted the bill to the president, who raised additional objections, he added.

Muneeb said that the madaris bill has become a law. He explained, "The bill has acquired legal status because the president did not raise any objections to it within ten days. The objections the president did raise were ineffective."

He demanded the government immediately issue a gazette notification in accordance with the law.

Mufti Muneeb asserted the first objection was addressed by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who confirmed the madaris bill has now become an act.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman remarked that the bill was not controversial since it has been approved by parliament. He reiterated that the supreme council believes the government should endorse its resolution.

If a decision is made to the contrary, the ITMD will reconvene, Mufti Muneeb stated, issuing a subtle warning: "It benefits no one to escalate the situation. We aim to deliver a positive and constructive message."

The government initially proposed the draft of the bill and the JUI-F revisited it during discussions for the 26th Amendment, noted Fazl.

"The draft of the bill first came from the government. We accepted it. We brought it again to the table of discussion on the occasion of the 26th Amendment," Fazl noted.

He asserted, "It was the government that made changes to the draft of the bill. For us, there is no controversy regarding this bill now."

After the bill was approved, government ministers congratulated us, Fazl said, adding that now they have many objections after one and a half months.

Among eight objections, President Zardari highlighted a potential conflict of interest arising from the registration process and expressed concerns about potential negative consequences for Pakistan’s international standing and internal stability.

According to the objections, the registration of religious seminaries under the law would lead to the spread of sectarianism and the establishment of many seminaries in the same society would lead to the deterioration of the law and order situation.

The bill

The much-discussed legislation is an amended version of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which emphasised the registration of madrassas (Islamic seminaries) in existence "within six months" from its enactment.

It also stated that a Deeni Madrassa established after the commencement of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024, shall get itself registered "within one year of its establishment".

A seminary having more than one campus shall need only one registration, it read.

Subsequently, each madrassa would be bound to submit its annual report of its educational activities and audit report to a registrar.

Under the law, a Deeni Madrassa was defined as a religious institution established or operated primarily to impart religious education, which provides boarding and lodging facilities.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1262348-itmd-says-madrassa-bill-became-law-asks-govt-to-issue-gazette-notification

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Some wounds never heal: Survivors, families recall APS tragedy

By Sabz Ali Tareen & Web Desk

December 16, 2024

Even after passage of 10 years, the horror of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar terrorist attack is still ingrained in the memory of survivors and the relatives of the dead.

Six terrorists assaulted the APS on December 16, 2014, killing about 150 innocent students and teachers.

The first-hand witnesses and their families are still suffering from the fear of that atrocity. Some have used it as motivation to work harder in life, while others are still having trouble recovering fully from it.

The story of Ahmed Khattak, who survived the attack that claimed his brother’s life, is the epitome of resilience.

Khattak’s father said that, despite enduring a great tragedy and excruciating pain, his son had managed to recover and complete his graduation in BS Political Science, proving that fear and terrorism can be defeated through education.

Speaking to Geo News, Khattak said he was determined to move forward and serve the country.

On the other hand, Tariq Jan, a father from Charsadda, still struggles to cope with his grief. He lost two children in the horrific incident.

“The morning of December 16 is always agonising as I avoid making eye contact with family members and try not to recall the martyred children,” he said.

"We are caught between a rock and a hard place, as we cannot cry openly — neither at home nor outside."

Jan revealed that five of his children were studying at APS when the tragedy struck. The surviving three brothers of the two victims were so traumatised that two of them could not continue their studies, although their parents managed to support one in resuming his education.

While the anguish of their loss torments him, Jan said the thought of their martyrdom brings him some solace.

Source:thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1262142-some-wounds-never-heal-survivors-families-recall-aps-tragedy

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Early SC hearing into APS report case demanded

December 17, 2024

PESHAWAR: Tenth anniversary of the Army Public School Peshawar massacre was observed here on Monday, with parents of martyrs demanding early Supreme Court hearing into a case about a long delay in action on the APS judicial commission’s report.

The Dec 16, 2014, terrorist attack on APS martyred 147 students and staff members, and injured many.

Talking to Dawn, president APS Shuhada Forum Ajoon Khan said Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi should ensure speedy hearing into the APS report case.

A function was held on APS campus to mark the attack anniversary, with parents and relatives of martyrs in attendance. They placed wreaths at the Shuhada Memorial on the premises.

Also, prayers were offered for martyred students during the assemblies of public and private schools and other educational institutions across the province. Parents of the 2014 carnage’s victims and students of the University of Peshawar also arranged a candlelit vigil at Town Chowk on the University Road.

Similarly, students of the Islamia College University also held a similar event on their campus.

President of the APS Shuhadda Forum Ajoon Khan came down hard on the provincial government for “not observing” the 10 anniversary of the APS attack and complained that not a single large programme was officially hosted on the day. He said that a public holiday was declared in different parts of Punjab and Islamabad regarding the APS attack anniversary but unfortunately, the PTI government in KP failed to do so.

He said the judicial commission submitted a report about the APS attack probe to the Supreme Court many years ago, but no action had so far been taken on it.

“Neither the judicial commission’s report has been shared with the parents of the martyred students nor is speedy proceedings in the case seen in the apex court. We demand quick action on the report,” he said.

Meanwhile, participants of a function here remembered APS martyrs and declared Dec 16, 2014, a black day in the country’s history.

During an event at a local school and college, students, faculty members and alumni remembered the APS martyrs and said youth should focus their attention on their education and take care of their movement and safety on the campus and outside.

A speech contest, titled “APS, your blood is candle” was held in which students delivered speeches to pay tribute to APS martyrs. The event also featured Quran Khawani and poetic homage.

In Charsadda, Awami National Party central president Aimal Wali Khan said Dec 16, 2014, was a dark day in the country’s history as on that day, innocent schoolchildren were massacred.

In a statement, he alleged that due to the state’s indifference and double policies, the province was again suffering from violence.

Mr Aimal said the last PTI government in the centre resettled 40,000 terrorists, who had again caused violence in the province.

“Resettlement of terrorists is a conspiracy against Pakhtun nation and betrayal with martyrs,” he said.

The ANP leader alleged that the central and provincial governments had kept a complete silence on terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He complained that the main character of the APS carnage was freed along with other terrorists.

He also resented the non-implementation of the National Action Plan to eradicate terrorism, saying indiscriminate action should be taken against terrorists and their supporters to ensure that APS tragedy doesn’t happen again.

Mr Aimal said the ANP had taken a clear and principled stand against terrorism and extremism and would continue to stand with the families of APS martyrs until justice was dispensed.

Meanwhile, a special ceremony was held in Swabi to pray for the APS martyrs on Monday.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the Agriculture University arranged special functions to pay tribute to the APS martyrs.

Students, faculty and other staff members prayed for martyrs and their families, and the nation.

Participants reflected on the APS tragedy as a crucial lesson in national history and reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that the sacrifices of martyrs won’t be forgotten.

In Lakki Marwat, the district education office with support of the boy scouts association held a function at the Government Shaheed Mohammad Ghassan Khan Centennial Model High School No 1 to mark the APS massacre’s anniversary.

The school displayed banners and held Qurani Khawni and special prayers to pay tribute to the martyred APS students and teachers, while its students, in speeches, the APS carnage was the most sorrowful incident in the country’s history.

Source:dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.dawn.com/news/1879160/early-sc-hearing-into-aps-report-case-demanded

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Early SC hearing into APS report case demanded

December 17, 2024

PESHAWAR: Tenth anniversary of the Army Public School Peshawar massacre was observed here on Monday, with parents of martyrs demanding early Supreme Court hearing into a case about a long delay in action on the APS judicial commission’s report.

The Dec 16, 2014, terrorist attack on APS martyred 147 students and staff members, and injured many.

Talking to Dawn, president APS Shuhada Forum Ajoon Khan said Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi should ensure speedy hearing into the APS report case.

A function was held on APS campus to mark the attack anniversary, with parents and relatives of martyrs in attendance. They placed wreaths at the Shuhada Memorial on the premises.

Also, prayers were offered for martyred students during the assemblies of public and private schools and other educational institutions across the province. Parents of the 2014 carnage’s victims and students of the University of Peshawar also arranged a candlelit vigil at Town Chowk on the University Road.

Similarly, students of the Islamia College University also held a similar event on their campus.

President of the APS Shuhadda Forum Ajoon Khan came down hard on the provincial government for “not observing” the 10 anniversary of the APS attack and complained that not a single large programme was officially hosted on the day. He said that a public holiday was declared in different parts of Punjab and Islamabad regarding the APS attack anniversary but unfortunately, the PTI government in KP failed to do so.

He said the judicial commission submitted a report about the APS attack probe to the Supreme Court many years ago, but no action had so far been taken on it.

“Neither the judicial commission’s report has been shared with the parents of the martyred students nor is speedy proceedings in the case seen in the apex court. We demand quick action on the report,” he said.

Meanwhile, participants of a function here remembered APS martyrs and declared Dec 16, 2014, a black day in the country’s history.

During an event at a local school and college, students, faculty members and alumni remembered the APS martyrs and said youth should focus their attention on their education and take care of their movement and safety on the campus and outside.

A speech contest, titled “APS, your blood is candle” was held in which students delivered speeches to pay tribute to APS martyrs. The event also featured Quran Khawani and poetic homage.

In Charsadda, Awami National Party central president Aimal Wali Khan said Dec 16, 2014, was a dark day in the country’s history as on that day, innocent schoolchildren were massacred.

In a statement, he alleged that due to the state’s indifference and double policies, the province was again suffering from violence.

Mr Aimal said the last PTI government in the centre resettled 40,000 terrorists, who had again caused violence in the province.

“Resettlement of terrorists is a conspiracy against Pakhtun nation and betrayal with martyrs,” he said.

The ANP leader alleged that the central and provincial governments had kept a complete silence on terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He complained that the main character of the APS carnage was freed along with other terrorists.

He also resented the non-implementation of the National Action Plan to eradicate terrorism, saying indiscriminate action should be taken against terrorists and their supporters to ensure that APS tragedy doesn’t happen again.

Mr Aimal said the ANP had taken a clear and principled stand against terrorism and extremism and would continue to stand with the families of APS martyrs until justice was dispensed.

Meanwhile, a special ceremony was held in Swabi to pray for the APS martyrs on Monday.

In Dera Ismail Khan, the Agriculture University arranged special functions to pay tribute to the APS martyrs.

Students, faculty and other staff members prayed for martyrs and their families, and the nation.

Participants reflected on the APS tragedy as a crucial lesson in national history and reaffirmed their commitment to ensure that the sacrifices of martyrs won’t be forgotten.

In Lakki Marwat, the district education office with support of the boy scouts association held a function at the Government Shaheed Mohammad Ghassan Khan Centennial Model High School No 1 to mark the APS massacre’s anniversary.

The school displayed banners and held Qurani Khawni and special prayers to pay tribute to the martyred APS students and teachers, while its students, in speeches, the APS carnage was the most sorrowful incident in the country’s history.

Source:dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.dawn.com/news/1879160/early-sc-hearing-into-aps-report-case-demanded

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IHC lifts stay on execution of five navy officers

Malik Asad

December 17, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday disposed of petitions filed by five former navy officers sentenced to death in the dockyard attack case and lifted the stay order on their execution imposed by a Field General Court Martial.

Justice Babar Sattar presided over the hearing involving former navy officers Arsalan Nazir Satti, Mohammad Hammad, Mohammad Tahir Rashid, Hammad Ahmed and Irfanullah.

Defence counsel retired Col Inamur Rahim argued that access to the inquiry report and the judgement was provided in compliance with court orders, but only in the presence of the official lawyer.

He stated that while a copy of the report was not handed over, the petitioners were allowed to view it and make notes.

In their response, navy officials contended before the court that the Board of Inquiry report could not be shared in full due to concerns over national security.

However, the court ruled that the accused could access records relevant to their case “to the extent possible.”

The five former navy officers were convicted and sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial for their alleged involvement in the 2014 dockyard attack. The execution of their sentences had been temporarily stayed by the IHC in June this year.

After reviewing the arguments and the partial access granted to the records, the IHC announced the disposal of the petitions and lifted the stay order on their execution.

Source:dawn.com

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story

https://www.dawn.com/news/1879180/ihc-lifts-stay-on-execution-of-five-navy-officers

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Government orders inquiry into trolling of journalists

Iftikhar A. Khan

December 17, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The government has ordered inquiry into the targeting and social media trolling of some journalists and anchorpersons by a group on the basis of their political ideology.

This was disclosed by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar during the Senate proceedings.

“The law will take its course,” he remarked.

After the issue of the campaign, being run against senior journalists Syed Talat Hussain, Hassan Ayub, Muneeb Farooq and Muzamil Hussain Shah through anonymous social media accounts involving several followers of a political party was raised in the Upper House by Senator Saifullah Khan Dharejo of the PPP, the law minister said when the rights of a citizen were breached to an extent that it constituted a crime, it became the responsibility of the government to take action against the culprits.

Mr Tarar said it was highlighted during a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as well as several ministers, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, how journalists were being targeted as their political ideology was not liked by a group.

He said the names of their children and details of their schools were being shared on social media under the campaign.

Parliamentary leader of PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui regretted that in the last few years, a new trend of suppressing the voice of dissent in total disregard to democratic norms had been set.

Without naming PTI, he said when the party was in government, it rendered these journalists jobless in a very systematic way by putting pressure on their respective organisations.

“Such tactics no matter whosoever employs do not work and the voice of truth cannot be choked,” he added.

Irfan Siddiqui said this kind of suppression, whether from a political party or from somewhere else, would not work.

Regretting the propaganda by some elements that oppression in Pakistan was more than that in the Indian-occupied Kashmir and Palestine, Senator Siddiqui said they defamed state institutions in the world by resorting to such tactics and they could not be considered Pakistan’s friends.

He stressed that the culture of silencing voices of dissent and resorting to violence in the name of peaceful protest must be brought to an end.

PTI Senator Saifullah Abro, in his speech, proposed a house committee sans representation of PTI into the killing of a relative of a Senate employee on November 26.

Brandishing a death certificate purportedly issued by Polyclinic, he said gunshot had been mentioned as cause of death in the certificate, adding that the death took place at 5:12pm when Article 245 had not been invoked.

Irfan Siddiqui, who at that time was presiding over the session, said the PTI had taken the matter to the court and should present evidence there.

Senator Abro said the proposed panel should also ascertain as to who was behind putting Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Nawaz Sharif and his spouse as well as other prominent political leaders in jail.

He also said it should also be probed as to why money laundering case involving billion of rupees was registered against Shehbaz Sharif during the PTI’s days in power.

“I will condemn if the case is found to be concocted. Otherwise those who played a role in his acquittal should be condemned,” he added.

PML-N’s Khalil Tahir Sindhu, while referring to the PTI’s recent protest in Islamabad, said it were their own party workers, who had asked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur not to flee and had thrown shoes at him and beat him with sticks but still he managed to flee on a punctured vehicle from the protest.

At the outset, the house offered fateha for the departed souls of the martyrs of Army Public School Peshawar tragedy and senior politician and PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq.

The house referred ‘The International Institute of Technology, Culture and Health Bill 2024’ bill to the joint sitting of the parliament for consideration.

Source:dawn.com

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Southeast Asia

 

Court Rejects Prosecution Bid Against 2 Muslim PreachersWho Purportedly Insulted Non-Islamic Religions

Dec 17, 2024

The Court of Appeal today ruled against an activist’s application to commence private prosecution against two Muslim preachers who purportedly insulted non-Islamic religions and practices.

A three-person bench chaired by judge Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim delivered the decision this morning, in the appeal by S Shashi Kumar over the lower court’s refusal to proceed with the private prosecution bid under Section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code against Muhammad Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong...

Source:malaysiakini.com

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Explanation of ‘grossly offensive’ in Act 588 amendment not definitive but a guide - Fahmi

BERNAMA

17-12- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Elaboration of elements in the amendment to Section 233 of Act 588 (Communications and Multimedia Act 1998) including ‘grossly offensive’ is not definitive, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said the explanation serves as a guide for investigating officers, prosecutors, and the courts in determining whether a particular content is deemed grossly offensive.

“The scope of offensive content has been amended to cover only ‘grossly offensive’ and not merely ‘offensive’ to differentiate content based on legal proportionality, imposing penalties or punishments appropriate to the offence’s severity.

“In this regard, ‘grossly offensive’ sets a higher threshold for offences under Section 233, taking into account expressions or actions that surpass considerations of morality, norms, and the cultural decorum of Malaysia’s harmonious society with respect to online content,“ he said while tabling the Communications and Multimedia (Amendment) Bill 2024 for its second reading in the Dewan Negara today.

The bill was then approved with more in favour after being debated by 21 Senators. The bill aims to address online harm, particularly on social media, by improving existing provisions, including Sections 211 and 233 of Act 588, and introducing new provisions, among other things.

Sending unsolicited commercial electronic messages such as spam, mainly related to scams, is banned under the new provision.

On calls to increase penalties, such as offences under Section 53, Fahmi said the amendment was made as a deterrent and to send a strong signal to licence holders that the government is serious about enforcing provisions regulating the communications and multimedia sector.

He said similar offences under other laws, such as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, the Financial Services Act 2013, and the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013, carry fines between RM1 million and RM50 million and imprisonment of up to five or 10 years.

“All the details and content codes were developed without involving the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Instead, it was developed by the industry itself. This means that the definition, which was previously referred to as ‘offensive,‘ will now be ‘grossly offensive,‘ and the industry itself will also be involved in efforts to enforce this definition,“ he said.

Today’s session also approved the Online Safety Bill 2024, aimed at enhancing and promoting online safety in Malaysia, after being debated by 17 Senators.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, while winding up the debate on the bill, said the government drafted the bill after studying best practices from several other countries, such as the Digital Services Act 2022 of the European Union, Online Safety Act 2022 (Singapore), Youth Protection Act (Germany), Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022 (Ireland), Online Harms Act (Canada) dan Kids Online Safety Act (the United States of America).

According to the Online Safety Bill 2024, licensed application service providers and licensed content application service providers are responsible for implementing measures to reduce the risk of users being exposed to harmful content. They must also issue user guidelines, including terms of use, as a reference while using the service.

Source:thesun.my

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KL police arrest five after Jalan Yap Kwan Seng brawl, knife attack leaves three injured

17 Dec 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Police today arrested five men believed to be involved in a brawl outside a building on Jalan Yap Kwan Seng two days ago, which resulted in three victims sustaining injuries from knife slashes.

Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman said police received a report regarding the incident at 4.03 am Sunday, allegedly triggered by a misunderstanding between five local men before one of them pulled out a folding knife and attacked the victims.

“As a result, the first victim suffered a slash wound and cut to his left arm. The second victim sustained a slash wound on his left cheek, extending from his eyebrow to his lips, while the third victim had a head injury that required 10 stitches.

“All three victims have received treatment at a private hospital,” he said in a statement today.

Following the incident, police arrested five men aged between 22 and 30 around Puchong early this morning to assist with the investigation under Section 326 of the Penal Code.

Sulizmie Affendy urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the Kuala Lumpur Police Hotline at 03-2115 9999, the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters at 03-2600 2222 or any nearby police station. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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2024 in review: From helicopter crash to UiTM deaths, Malaysia mourns a series of tragedies

17 Dec 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — The nation mourned a series of tragic events in 2024. These incidents left communities in shock and sorrow, as people came to terms with the loss of lives and the lasting impact on loved ones.

A devastating loss was experienced on April 23, when 10 young national heroes perished in a tragic collision between two helicopters during an aerial manoeuvre as part of a fly-past rehearsal for the 90th Navy Day Parade, at the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut, Perak.

The tragedy involved seven crew members of the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three RMN Fennec helicopters’ crew, who were all pronounced dead at the scene after the crash near the base’s swimming pool and stadium field.

The crew from the HOM-AW139 were identified as Commander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli, 44; Lt Commander Wan Rezaudeen Kamal Wan Zainal Abidin, 37; Lt Commander Mohammad Amirulfaris Mohamad Marzukhi, 35; PW II TLR (AQM) Muhammad Faisol Tamadun, 36; PW II TNL Noorfarahimi Mohd Saedy, 41; BM TNL Noor Rahiza Anuar, 39, dan LK I JJM Joanna Felicia Rohna, 26.

The Fennec helicopter crew members were Commander Muhamad Amir Mohamad, 44; Lt T. Sivasutan, 31; and PW II TMK Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Termizi, 41.

They were laid to rest in their respective hometowns, according to their religious rites, following an official RMN ceremony held on April 24 at Camp 23 of the Royal Malay Regiment in Ipoh.

The final report from the helicopter crash investigation board, released at the end of May, concluded that the accident occurred when the Fennec helicopter was not at its prescribed altitude and course, and had entered the flight path of the HOM-AW139 helicopter.

The report also confirmed that both helicopters were airworthy and that all the crew members were in optimal health and fit to fly.

The autopsy reports showed no signs of hypoglycaemia or fatigue, and no illicit substances were found in any of their systems.

Another shocking incident this year that gripped the nation was the disappearance of an Indian national who fell into an eight-metre-deep sinkhole while walking on the sidewalk of Jalan Masjid India, in the heart of the capital, at 8.20 am on Aug 23.

Tragically, to date, the body of G Vijaya Lakshmi, 48, from Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, has not been found. The gruelling search and rescue (SAR) operation, which employed numerous techniques such as jetting, and flushing had to be called off after nine days.

A total of 194 personnel, from the Fire and Rescue Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Civil Defence Force, Indah Water Konsortium, the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, the police, the K9 Unit, and other agencies participated in the operation, which was conducted at the primary site at Jalan Masjid India and the IWK sewage treatment plant in Pantai Dalam.

The decision to halt the SAR was made after careful consideration, taking into account expert opinions and safety concerns, such as strong currents in the sewage tunnel and hazardous gases, including hydrogen sulphide and methane, which posed a serious risk to the rescue teams.

Oct 18 marked another tragic day for the nation, particularly for the people of Sarawak, when five staff members from the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit, Sarawak Premier’s Department drowned after their longboat capsized on the Sarawak River, struck by waves generated by a fishing vessel coming from the opposite direction.

The victims — Mohamad Ikhmal Sama’ail, 34; Majurie Maharuf, 32; Mohd Afiq Isyamudin Asaari, 26; Muhammad Khairul Hisyam Kasturi, 23; and Mohamad Khairul Bidin, 26 — were part of 16 participants undergoing boat racing training in preparation for the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2024, scheduled for November.

The bodies of the five victims were found floating at the mouth of the river two days later, retrieved progressively from 6.16 am to 7.09 am, about 2.5 kilometres from the capsize site.

On July 7, the country was shaken by the heartbreaking episode of two siblings, Muhammad Akil Syauqi Nur Sufyan, three, and Muhammad Luth Syauqi, two, who died after consuming crackers allegedly laced with rat poison meant to trap wild monkeys.

The boys, from Kampung Padang Ubi, Labu Besar, Kulim in Kedah, fell into a coma and were hospitalised at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Penang General Hospital.

Sadly, Muhammad Akil Syauqi passed away on July 10, followed by Muhammad Luth Syauqi two days later.

Another tragedy struck at 7.35 pm on Oct 9, when three students from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Dungun campus, Terengganu, were killed and one other injured after being struck by a Honda CRV SUV in front of the university.

One of the motorcycles was dragged nearly 60 metres, resulting in the deaths of Muhammad Akmal Md Tukirin, 25; Ku Adib Aizad Ku Azmi, 20; and Khairil Anuar Jamaluddin, 20, at the scene.

The injured student was Muhammad Ammar Danish Mohamad Ridhuan, 20.

The students, riding a Yamaha LC135 and a Yamaha Y15, were on their way back to campus after dinner.

On Oct 15, the driver of the SUV, Norizan Ismail, 49, a housewife living near the campus, who was believed to be mentally unstable, was charged with murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code at the Dungun Magistrates’ Court.

The offence carries the death penalty, imprisonment for up to 40 years, and a minimum of 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction. — Bernama

Source:malaymail.com

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Pahang deforestation aided by RM52m financing from Bank Islam

Dec 17, 2024

In April, Malaysiakini reported on an oil palm project near the Pahang National Park. The plantation is over 8,000ha, rife with problems caused by poor management and deforestation by the government-linked company Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang (PKNP).

Malaysiakini’s site visit discovered that the plantation was not developed following environmental impact assessment (EIA) recommendations. As elephant herds grazed away on the oil palm saplings, the resulting harvest was severely reduced...

Source:malaysiakini.com

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Africa

 

MAAUN president donates $100,000 to Islamic University in Uganda

December 16, 2024

by Kola Oyelere

The President of the MAAUN Group of Universities, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, in a generous act of philanthropy, has donated $100,000 (N160 million) to the Islamic University in Uganda.

It is worth noting that Professor Gwarzo, the founder of Maryam Abacha American University in Niger, Nigeria, Franco-British International University in Kaduna, and the Canadian University of Nigeria in Abuja, led a 17-man delegation to attend the convocation in Uganda, where he served as a special guest of honour at the second university, established in 1988.Nigerian travel packages

This announcement was made in a statement signed by the Executive Assistant to Professor Gwarzo, Alhaji Adnan Mukhtar, which was made available to the press in Kano on Monday.

According to the statement, Professor Gwarzo made the donation during the 33rd convocation ceremony of the university, held at its main campus in Mbale. The university also presented an award of excellence to Professor Gwarzo in recognition of his selfless service toward its development.

While presenting the award, the Council Chairman of the University, H.E. Prof. Dr. Muhammad A.S.E.A. Altabtabaei from the State of Kuwait, commended Professor Gwarzo for his contributions to the university, stating, “I was informed by the university management of your contributions. On behalf of the council, I wish to extend our appreciation to you.”

In his acceptance speech, Professor Gwarzo thanked the university for the recognition and announced the donation of $100,000 to support its continued development.

The Rector of the university in Kampala, Prof. Dr. Ismail Simbwa Gyagenda, expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the donation, praying for God’s blessings on Professor Gwarzo’s wealth. He described him as a philanthropist who consistently keeps his word. “This donation is huge. On behalf of the students and staff of the Islamic University in Uganda, we wish to express our sincere appreciation and pray to Almighty Allah to bless your wealth,” he said.

Source:tribuneonlineng.com

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We Lied To Nigerians, Deceived Them – Buhari’s Former Minister Makes Startling Confession

17 December 2024

By Justina Otio

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has admitted that the immediate-past Muhammadu Buhari-led administration deceived Nigerians during its eight-year tenure.

He made the revelation during an interview on the ‘Mic On Podcast’ with popular TV achor, Seun Okinboloye.

Dalung, a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during Buhari’s first term in office between 2015 and 2019, stated that the administration lied to Nigerians.

According to him, “I am completely disappointed because what we told Nigerians was not what happened. We lied; we deceived Nigerians. Even though we used ‘people deceive people,’ referring to the PDP, for our campaign, we were a replica of what we accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of.”

Dalung recounted how he confronted Buhari about the worsening state of insecurity and hardship in the country at the time.

“When we came in, it was just the North-East that had security issues. By 2020, it was not even possible to travel from Abuja to Kaduna. I told the president, ‘If you don’t believe me, roll out a brigade of guards now, and I’ll join you. We’ll drive from Abuja to Daura. If bandits don’t attack us, I’ll go and die in exile.

“To be fair to the president, he expressed surprise, meaning that some of the things I told him, he was hearing for the very first time,” Dalung added.

The former minister also revealed that Buhari was often unaware of significant incidents occurring under his administration.

Dalung narrated an incident where the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clashed in Asokoro District of Abuja, holding the community hostage for three days, without the president’s knowledge.

“It was me, during a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, who informed him about the incident. I expected it to be on the agenda, but it wasn’t. I had to introduce it through AOB (Any Other Business), and the president was completely confused listening to what I was saying.

“At the end of the meeting, we even left without any closing prayer because he was visibly angry. On my way to the office, I saw those two agencies, directly under his office, holding a community hostage for three days over whatever interest they had, and the president didn’t know,” he recalled.

Source:naijanews.com

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Why The Cabal In Tinubu’s Govt Is More Dangerous – Ex-minister, Dalung

16 December 2024

Former Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s cabal is more dangerous than that of his predecessor, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

Naija News reports that Dalung made this known while featuring on Seun Okinbaloye’s ‘Mic On’ podcast.

According to the ex-minister, the cabal around Tinubu consists of a more sophisticated group of people who have been in power for a long time.

Dalung said the cabal shields Tinubu from Nigeria’s present reality and cited a scenario in which someone attempted to see the president but was not allowed to.

He said, “Tinubu’s cabal is a more sophisticated group of people who have been in power for a long time. They know power, they are informed, and so they are more dangerous than any other cabal I have ever known or seen.

“There is a cabal in Tinubu’s government, and they are more dangerous because they are more sophisticated.

“Well, they are the gatekeepers of the president. They are found very close within the circumference of power, and usually, they don’t allow governance to flow.

“They shield the president from the obvious reality and don’t allow any information to reach him. I’ll correlate this with what happened during Buhari tenure.

“There was a time someone went to see the president to brief him about the situation in the country, and one of the officers asked, ‘What will you be telling the president?’ He hesitated, and then he told him, ‘Look, my friend, we can’t allow you to tell the president that. What if he collapses?’ So the man was prevented from telling the president.”

Source:naijanews.com

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I Severally Assured Nigerians Of Massive Investment Under Tinubu – Lokpobiri

16 December 2024

By Udeze Ekene

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpoboro, has said the Bonga North project was an affirmation of his promise to citizens of massive investments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Naija News reported that Shell and partners invested $5 billion in Nigeria’s deepwater development.

In a statement, on Monday evening, Senator Lokpobiri said the deep-water development, located off the coast of Nigeria, would generate an additional 110,000 barrels per day into the country’s production capacity.

“I have severally assured Nigerians that we would witness significant investment decisions by major companies, running into billions of dollars. I am pleased to highlight the impressive strides we have made toward fulfilling that promise.

“Following the board’s decision last year, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), a subsidiary of Shell plc, has announced a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Bonga North project. This deep-water development, located off the coast of Nigeria, will generate additional 110,000 bpd to our production capacity.

“Bonga North will serve as a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility, where Shell holds a 55% interest. This decision reaffirms investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic potential and aligns with our commitment to ramping up production,” Lokpobiri stated.

The Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) commended President Tinubu for providing the needed environment for investment to thrive.

He assured Shell and its partners of his ministry’s support and commitment to ensure the project’s success.

“This would not have been possible without the leadership and backing provided by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, creating an enabling environment for investment to thrive. I assure SNEPCo of our commitment and support to ensure the project’s success,” he added.

Source:naijanews.com

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Yuletide: FG To Give Nigerians Free Train Services

16 December 2024

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has announced a free train service for Nigerians wishing to travel during the Christmas and New Year festive period.

Naija News reports that the Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed, announced this on Monday following the conclusion of the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to the Minister, the free train service will operate from December 20, 2024, until January 5, 2025.

He stated that the initiative aims to alleviate transportation expenses during the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Recall that last year the federal government also initiated similar initiatives, including arrangements for luxury buses.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madina, Saudi Arabia

The Vice President was received on arrival by the Deputy Governor of Madina Abdulmohsen Bin Nayef Bin Hamed and Consule General of Jeddah, Ambassador Mu’azzam Nayaya and other Diplomatic officials in Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Shettima is in Madina to visit the Holy Mosque of the Prophet Muhammad and other Holy sites. The Vice President will also proceed to Makkah where he is expected to perform the Lesser Hajj.

Source:naijanews.com

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