Muslim Women Are Being Used As Sexual Objects To Spread The Power Of Islam, Says Yati Narsinghanand
New
Age Islam News Bureau
04
January 2022
Yati
Narasinghanand Saraswati (Photo-Twitter)
----
• ‘Saffron’
Pressure Forces Hijab Curb In Karnataka College; Asks Muslim Girls Wearing
Headscarves To Take Them Off Once They Enter The Classroom
• Pakistan
Bar Councils Threaten Blanket Boycott If Judicial Commission Considers Woman
Judge’s Elevation
• Sections
Of Blast Walls Being Used To Bolster The Taliban's Narrative Of Toppling US-Led
Forces After 20 Years Of Fighting
• Netherlands
Foundation Condemns Sending Of Islamophobic Letters To Mosques
India
• Breakthrough
in Bulli Bai case? Bengaluru student taken to Mumbai for questioning
• Muslim
women’s photos morphed: Centre steps in, police file FIR
• Javed
Akhtar, Shabana Azmi Defend His Ancestor Fazl-e-Haq Against Trolls: 'A Freedom
Fighter Who Died In Kala Pani'
--------
Pakistan
• Jamaat-i-Islami
challenges new local govt law in Sindh High Court
• IHC
issues notice to PM Imran in Khawaja Asif defamation case
• Pakistan
saw upsurge in violence-related fatalities in 2021: report
• Pakistan
won’t stop erecting fences on Durand Line: Qureshi
--------
South Asia
• We
didn’t plan to assassinate Ashraf Ghani: Baradar
• Taliban
to include suicide bombers in their army
• Afghanistan’s
blue mountain lakes deserted as tourists stay away
• Taliban
say only technical jobs at Afghanistan's airports will be contracted out
• Taliban
say Russian investors expressed willingness to extract Afghanistan's petroleum
• IEA
providing uniform for Taliban affiliates in Kabul
• Uzbek-Afghan
border guards engage in armed conflict
--------
Europe
• Spanish
expert: Fight for religion freedom, independence Soleimani's legacy
• Our
culture in London was Turkish: British consul general
--------
Africa
• I
Don’t Care If Nigeria’s Next President Is Christian Or Muslim – Bishop Okonkwo
• Somalia
aims to overcome political crisis with clan-based electoral system
• Kenya
deports Dutch national wanted for human trafficking
• Detained
Ennahda politician stages hunger strike in Tunisia
--------
Arab World
• Saudi
Arabia Says Hands Extended To Iran To Address Regional Security
• Syrian
soldiers killed in deadly Islamic State ambush in Deir Ezzor
• Two
drones shot down targeting Iraq base: Anti-ISIS coalition
• In
rare instance, Lebanese government rebukes Hezbollah and its leader
• ISIS
attack near Syria oil wells kills nine fighters: Monitor
• Saudi
Arabia’s defences destroy a hostile Houthi target launched towards Taif
• Houthi
militia hijacks UAE-flagged cargo ship carrying medical supplies: Report
--------
Mideast
• Israeli
Attack On Iran To Be ‘Catastrophic’ For Mideast: Arab MK
• Iran
resumes Muslim Shia pilgrim tours to Syria
• President:
Iran Supports Armenia’s Sovereignty
• FM:
Israel’s Ill Wishes against Iranian Nation Never Come True
• Iranian
President Asks for Trial of Trump, Pompeo
• Daughter:
Reprisal for General Soleimani’s Blood Not to Take Long
• Source:
No Deadline for Vienna Talks
• EU
'seriously concerned' about Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike
• Palestinians
rally to demand release of hunger-striking detainee
--------
North America
• US
Calls For Civilian Rule In Sudan After Hamdok Quits As Premier
• Canadian
court awards $83.9 million to families of Ukraine airliner downed by Iran
• Iran
threatens revenge for Soleimani killing if former US President Trump not tried
--------
Southeast Asia
• Religious
Affairs Minister: Decision To Suspend Umrah Travel Permission Prioritises
Public Interest
• Closed
borders won’t curb Omicron wave, says MMA
• Man
who believed girlfriend was cheating on him gets six months’ jail for setting
fire to Kuching convenience store
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
--------
Muslim
Women Are Being Used As Sexual Objects To Spread The Power Of Islam, Says Yati
Narsinghanand
Yati
Narasinghanand Saraswati (Photo-Twitter)
----
3rd
January 2022
A
couple of days after the notorious Bulli Bai auction caused a lot of Muslim
women deep anguish and pain, head priest and hate-spewing Hindutva leader Yati
Narsinghanad has once again sparked controversy by making highly objectionable
and distasteful remarks against Muslim women.
In a
video doing the rounds on Twitter, Yati is seen saying that aside from the
Hindi film industry, Muslims have occupied all sectors including the Bharatiya
Janata Party and the Hindu(tva) group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Discussing
Muslim women, he says that they were the major strength of the community as
they are being used as sexual objects to spread the power of Islam.
“Muslim
community encourages their women to sleep with other men in the service of
Islam,” says Yati.
“This
is why I advise the young priests in the Hindu fold. If an ordinary Hindu
marries once, a religious Hindu priest should marry at least twice. They should
then give birth to as many children as possible so that the Vishudha DNA (Most
pure DNA) can spread far and wide,” he adds.
He
goes on to say that Muslim women are made to sleep with journalists, politicians,
and higher-up officials to turn them against the majority.
“Islam
is dirty disease, a gang. Until you understand the religion, it is hard to
understand why I am saying all this. The day people understand Islam, they will
agree with me,” he further says.
Yati
Narsinghanand also went so far as to say that the men in Bharatiya Janata Party
are kamine (perverted rascals) who only want to see every woman on their bed.
This
is not the first time Yati Narsinghanand has made derogatory comments against Islam,
women from the Muslim community, and otherwise. He had in the past shown female
politicians from the BJP in an offensive light.
The
continual hate speeches made by him especially at the recent Haridwar hate
conclave, caused an uproar as he advocated for the genocide of Muslims in
India.
During
his speech in Haridwar, Narsinghanand targeted Muslims and urged Hindus to take
up weapons against them. “Swords look good on stage only. This battle will be
won by those with better weapons,” the spiteful Yati had said.
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/yati-narsinghanand-makes-distasteful-remarks-against-muslim-women-2252204/
--------
‘Saffron’
Pressure Forces Hijab Curb In Karnataka College; Asks Muslim Girls Wearing
Headscarves To Take Them Off Once They Enter The Classroom
A
delegation of the Girls Islamic Organisation of India (GIO) met Udupi district
collector Kurma Rao. (India Today)
-----
Jan
4, 2022
CHIKKAMAGALURU:
A state-run college in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district on Monday asked
Muslim girls wearing headscarves to take them off once they enter the
classroom, apparently under pressure from another group of students that came
to campus wearing saffron scarves to demand enforcement of the stipulated dress
code.
Barring
classrooms, girl students can wear their hijab anywhere else on the college
premises, the degree college at Balagadi in Koppa taluk clarified.
It
was the second time in two years that a section of students had protested
against Muslim girl students being allowed to attend classes in headscarves.
Last year, these students had asked the college authorities to initiate
disciplinary action against students who violated the dress code.
Trouble
started on Monday when the protesters turned up in saffron shawls and veils.
Some staff members complained to principal Ananth S about it, but the group
wouldn’t budge until headscarf-wearing girl students were told to do likewise.
Principal
Anant told TOI that wearing a scarf didn’t amount to violation of the college
dress code. “It (the scarf issue) was discussed during a parents’ meeting and
we advised the students accordingly,” he said.
The
principal said the issue that cropped up again would be resolved soon. The
police didn’t file a case regarding the incident on campus, saying the onus was
on the college management to appropriately handle it.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Bar Councils Threaten Blanket Boycott If Judicial Commission Considers Woman
Judge’s Elevation
A
file photo of Justice Ayesha Malik. — Photo courtesy Punjab Judicial Academy
website
----
January
4, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The legal fraternity has called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Gulzar Ahmed to
postpone Thursday’s meeting of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP),
scheduled to be held on January 6 to consider the elevation of Justice Ayesha
A. Malik of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to the apex court.
In
case the meeting is not called off, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and all bar
associations would boycott all court proceedings, from the superior judiciary
to the lower courts.
This
was announced by PBC Vice Chairman Khushdil Khan and PBC Executive Committee
Chairman Muhammad Masood Chishti and others after a representative meeting on
Monday.
The
Jan 6 session of the JCP was summoned after the CJP once again proposed the
name of Justice Ayesha A Malik for elevation. The last time this question came
before the JCP on Sept 9, a lack of consensus during an extended meeting forced
the commission to defer the appointment of Justice Malik — who is fourth in the
seniority order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) — to enter the Supreme Court as
the first-ever woman judge in the country’s judicial history.
PBC
maintains Justice Ayesha’s proposed elevation violates seniority; calls for
reforms in appointment rules
Mr
Khan insisted PBC or any bar association was not targeting Justice Ayesha Malik
for her gender, adding that they respected all and harboured no ill-will
against any individual. “Our emphasis is only to the extent of respecting the
seniority principle. We believe parliament should amend the Constitution and
enhance the present strength of 17 judges in the Supreme Court by adding two or
more women judges at the top.:
He
also questioned why Justice Mussarat Hillali of the Peshawar High Court was not
being considered for elevation, when she was senior to Justice Malik.
The
representative meeting was of the view that the nomination of Justice Ayesha
Malik for appointment in the Supreme Court violated the seniority principle. It
superseded three judges of the Lahore High Court, including the chief justice
of the concerned high court, who were not only senior to her in service but
also terms of their legal practice before their elevation to the high court.
Monday’s
meeting also resolved to approach parliament as well as political parties to
lobby for amendments in articles 175A and 209 of the Constitution that deal
with the appointment of the judges in the superior judiciary and their removal.
Article
175-A deals with the appointment procedure of the judges in the superior courts
while Article 209 provides a forum for the removal of a superior court judge.
The
meeting recalled the CJP’s own principle that no chief justice should initiate
the process of elevation or the appointment of judges in the superior judiciary
when he was nearing the end of his tenure.
The
incumbent CJP has less than a month remaining as he is scheduled for
superannuation on Feb 1, Mr Khan recalled.
Khushdil
Khan said that Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon had
also been consulted over the decision to boycott. When asked whether the PBC
would host its traditional send-off dinner in honour of the outgoing CJP if
their demand was not met, he said the council would consider this at the
appropriate time.
He
also said that representatives of bar councils in the JCP had been calling for
amendments to the Judicial Commission Rules 1980 for the last three years since
these rules were sketchy and consisted of only ten lines regarding the
procedure of appointment the judges in the superior judiciary.
Mr
Khan said that since the legal fraternity’s “valid and genuine demands” were
not being heeded, they would ask that no appointments should be made to the
Supreme Court until a detailed criteria or guidelines regarding the
consideration of the seniority principle were included and amendments made to
the JCP rules.
He
said the bar stands by the seniority principle for the purposes of elevation
and appointments of judges to the Supreme Court, as also laid down in the 1996
Al-Jehad Trust case.
Mr
Khan said he believed that this violation would create divisions, not just
between bar and bench, but will also foster further dissent and frustration
within the judiciary. This view is further fortified by the prevailing
situation in the Sindh High Court, he said.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Sections
Of Blast Walls Being Used To Bolster The Taliban's Narrative Of Toppling US-Led
Forces After 20 Years Of Fighting
Taliban
provincial culture chief Mullah Habibullah Mujahid (R) stands with Taliban
members next to a section of a wall of a former US military base with the names
of US soldiers in Ghazni.(AFP)
-----
Jan
4, 2022
GHAZNI,
Afghanistan: In the governor's compound of Afghanistan's Ghazni province, a new
historical exhibit is unveiled before a rapt audience of Taliban fighters --
sections of blast walls from a former US military base.
One
concrete slab is inscribed with the names and regiments of US troops who served
in the province during America's longest war.
Like
soldiers throughout history, US troops regularly daubed their names on the
walls of bases and fixed positions they occupied.
But
now the towering block is on public display -- being used to bolster the
Taliban's narrative of toppling US-led forces after 20 years of fighting.
"We
have to show this so that Afghans, the world, and future generations know that
we beat the Americans," Taliban provincial culture chief Mullah Habibullah
Mujahid told AFP.
"Even
if they called themselves the greatest power in the world."
Taliban
forces took the city of Ghazni -- 150 kilometres (95 miles) south of Kabul --
three days before the capital fell on August 15.
The
region has 3,500 years of rich recorded history, and the Taliban are now busy
writing the latest chapter with proof of their military triumph.
The
propaganda push comes as Afghanistan's new rulers struggle to evolve from an
insurgency to a governing power in a country on the brink of economic collapse,
with the UN estimating more than half the population is facing acute hunger.
On
roads outside the city of nearly 200,000, another informal exhibition to the
Taliban victory has been erected.
Rusting
hulks of destroyed American armoured vehicles are on display, their weapons
removed, their tyres flat and frayed.
Children
clamber around and over the wreckage, which also features skeletons of
abandoned Soviet tanks from the decade-long occupation of Afghanistan.
That
invasion ended in humiliation for the Soviets, and -- alongside the defeat of
British troops in the 19th century -- Afghans are quick to remind visitors that
the country has now triumphed over three foreign empires.
"We
are proud of our achievement when we see this," said 18-year-old Taliban
fighter Ozair, who like many in the country goes by only one name.
"We
showed that Afghans born here could beat America, a powerful country," he
added, surveying the crumpled humvees and charred personnel carriers.
Reminders
and relics of two decades of the US-led occupation of Afghanistan are scattered
across the nation -- some of them usable.
Much
military hardware gifted to Afghan police and armed forces fell into the hands
of the Taliban in the last chaotic days of the US-backed government.
The
windfall of weapons, vehicles and uniforms has given the new rulers of Kabul
tangible spoils of victory.
But
curating those trophies into a credible homage to the Taliban's return to power
remains a challenge.
Standing
at the blast walls, Mullah Habibullah Mujahid boasted that the 20 or so names
inscribed included "important commanders and generals" killed in
combat.
The
ranks listed, however, were all junior -- and none of the names feature on databases
of Americans killed in the war.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Netherlands
Foundation Condemns Sending Of Islamophobic Letters To Mosques
Abdullah
Aşıran
04.01.2022
ROTTERDAM,
Netherlands
The
Dutch Religious Foundation issued a statement Monday condemning the sending of
letters to several mosques in the Netherlands with Islamophobic content.
The
mosques, which are affiliated with the foundation, also known as Hollanda
Diyanet Vakfı (HDV), received the letters last week, which included cartoons
insulting the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.
The
foundation said in its statement that similar incidents in the past turned into
assaults, noting "we strongly condemn any attack on temples and
sanctuaries."
"We
expect the authorities to identify the perpetrators of such attacks that
disturb our community and bring them to justice," it added.
The
foundation said it has been operating in the Netherlands for over 40 years,
offering opportunities for Muslims in the country to fulfill their religious
obligations.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
Breakthrough
in Bulli Bai case? Bengaluru student taken to Mumbai for questioning
V
Narayan
Jan
4, 2022
NEW
DELHI: A 21-year-old Bengaluru student was detained and taken to Mumbai on
Monday for questioning, two days after the cyber cell of Mumbai Police
registered an FIR against those who created the app Bulli Bai and used it to
upload doctored photographs of at least 100 prominent Muslim women that were
put for auction online on January 1. The hosting platform, GitHub, has blocked
the site.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Muslim
women’s photos morphed: Centre steps in, police file FIR
Jan
03, 2022
Union
minister for electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw Sunday
said government had already asked for a ban on the account of a user on the
online portal GitHub — posting photos of Muslim women with derogatory messages
— months after a similar application led to an outcry.
“GitHub
confirmed blocking the user this morning itself. Computer Emergency Response
Team (CERT) and Police authorities are coordinating further action,” Vaishnaw
tweeted.
Meanwhile,
the Delhi Police Sunday said they had registered a first information report
(FIR) at the cyber cell police station of south east district against
unidentified persons.
The
incident comes nearly six months (July 2021) after unidentified persons created
an app and uploaded photographs of Muslim women with derogatory messages. No
arrests were made in the case.
One
of the woman journalists whose doctored image was also uploaded on the app took
to Twitter to express her anguish. She also posted a copy of the complaint she
filed over the matter with the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police. Acknowledging
the complaint, the Delhi Police tweeted: “The matter has been taken cognizance
of. Concerned officials have been directed to take appropriate action.” Another
complaint was filed in Mumbai regarding the matter.
“The
case was registered under the Indian Penal Code. It is likely to be transferred
to the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit of Delhi Police,” said
a senior cyber cell officer pleading anonymity.
Meanwhile,
a GitHub spokesperson said, “GitHub has longstanding policies against content
and conduct involving harassment, discrimination, and inciting violence. We
suspended a user account following the investigation of reports of such
activity, all of which violate our policies.”
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Javed
Akhtar, Shabana Azmi defend his ancestor Fazl-e-Haq against trolls: 'A freedom
fighter who died in Kala Pani'
Jan
04, 2022
Lyricist
Javed Akhtar and his actor wife Shabana Azmi recently gave it back to trolls
who questioned the honour of his great great grandfather Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi.
Javed had raised his voice against a controversial website ‘auctioning’ Muslim
women, following which some Twitter users distastefully dragged his ancestors
into the conversation.
Slamming
those who spoke against late Fazl-e-Haq, Javed wrote on Twitter, “The moment I
raised my voice against the online auction of women and those glorifying Godse
and preaching genocide to the army, police and people, some bigots have started
abusing my great great grandfather, a freedom fighter who died in Kala Pani in
1864. What do you say to such idiots.”
The
moment I raised my voice against the online auction of women n those glorifying
Godse n preaching genocide to the army police n people some bigots have started
abusing my great great grand father a freedom fighter who died in kala pani in
1864 What do you say to such idiots
—
Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 4, 2022
The
lyricist took to Twitter in the early hours of Tuesday to express his angst
against the online ‘auction’ of hundred women on the ‘Bulli Bai’ app. He said
he was “appalled with every one's silence” on the issue.
Javed
also replied to a Twitter user who accused him of not speaking for people who
were not from his ‘cadre’. The lyricist
wrote, “I have been deadly against all the Muslim fanatics and fundos, so go
bark some where else. This whataboutry will not work with me. You are not
talking to any Muslim right winger but a proud Indian . So shut up.”
Javed
Akhtar replied to a troll.
Shabana
Azmi also replied to a tweet accusing Fazl-e-Haq of trying to bring down a
temple during the British rule. She said, “This is pure lies. Fazle Haq was a
freedom fighter who was sentenced to Kala Pani by the British . He died in the
Andamans and his grave is still there where he is revered as a hero. If you
want to know more about him read Baghi Hindustan."
This
is pure lies . Fazle Haq was a freedom fighter who was sentenced to Kala Pani
by the British . He died in the Andamans and his grave is still there where he
is revered as a hero .If you want to know more about him read “ Baghi Hindustan
“ https://t.co/7P5szOfhMO
—
Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) January 3, 2022
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Jamaat-i-Islami
challenges new local govt law in Sindh High Court
Ishaq
Tanoli
January
4, 2022
KARACHI:
The Jamaat-i-Islami on Monday approached the Sindh High Court against the
recently passed Sindh Local Government Act (SLGA) 2021.
JI-Karachi
chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, through his lawyer, filed a petition stating that
the new law was in violation of various provisions of the Constitution.
Citing
the Sindh chief secretary and local government secretary as respondents, the
petitioner while submitting that the SLGA 2021 was passed on Dec 11 sought a
permanent restraining order for respondents from giving any effect or acting in
pursuance of the impugned amendments.
Women
workers join protest sit-in outside PA
The
petitioner stated that the impugned amendments were made only to seize the
authority of local government regarding health, education, control of land
owned by municipal bodies and other fundamental functions.
The
crucial powers of revenue generation had also been withheld from the local
governments resulting in the weakening of its institutions, he further argued.
The
JI leader maintained that any purported concern about lack of capacity of local
governments must be evaluated in the light of provincial government’s own
deliberate role in undermining such capacities and therefore, the obligation
lied with the Sindh government to restore and replenish local governments by
empowering them instead of further reducing their financial autonomy.
The
petitioner pleaded to declare the impugned amendments to several sub-sections
of Sections 14 and 17 of the SLGA as unconstitutional and void as the same had
unlawfully abridged vital local government functions in violation, inter alia,
of Article 140-A of the Constitution.
He
also asked the court to further restrain the respondents and all persons acting
on their behalf or authority from withholding any financial provisions or
administrative support from local government authorities concerned in pursuance
of the impugned amendments.
While
talking to media persons after filing the petition, Hafiz Naeem said that the
impugned legislation was in conflict with the Constitution.
He
said that once building control authority, educational institutions, Karachi
Development Authority and medical facilities were under the administrative
control of the Karachi city government, but the provincial government of
Pakistan Peoples Party had taken control of all these institutions “due to
ethnic reasons”.
He
also lashed out at the PPP government for not constituting the provincial
finance commission and encroaching upon the financial resources of the
metropolis.
While
referring to a sit-in being staged by his party outside the provincial assembly
for the past three days, he said that holding demonstrations and approaching
courts were their constitutional and democratic rights.
Before
the JI petition, the Pak Sarzameen Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan had also filed petitions in the SHC against
the new law.
Women
workers join JI sit-in
Hundreds
of women workers and supporters on Monday joined the JI’s sit-in outside the
Sindh Assembly, where a large number of people continued their protest for the
fourth consecutive day against the LG law.
The
women workers arrived the place of sit-in while carrying placards and posters
and chanting slogans. They were led by JI women wing chief Asma Safeer.
Hafiz
Naeem said that he had been approached by the Sindh government for talks on the
issue.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1667492/jamaat-i-islami-challenges-new-local-govt-law-in-sindh-high-court
--------
IHC
issues notice to PM Imran in Khawaja Asif defamation case
Tahir
Naseer
January
4, 2022
The
Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday set aside an order of Additional District
and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Mohammad Adnan and issued a notice to Prime Minister
Imran Khan seeking his response in a defamation case against Khawaja Asif over
the PML-N leader's allegations about misappropriation of funds of Shaukat
Khanam Memorial Trust (SKMT).
The
premier had filed the defamation suit against Asif in 2012 for recovery of Rs10
billion as the latter had at a press conference levelled allegations about
misappropriation of and money laundering through the SKMT funds.
In
Dec 2021, the prime minister, while recording his statement before the
digitally connected court, which was presided over by the ADSJ, said he was the
biggest individual donor of the SKMT from 1991 to 2009 and the investments,
against which allegations had been made, were fully recovered by the SKMT
without any loss.
The
legality of the statement was challenged by the PML-N leader in the IHC on
Monday, arguing that the ADSJ had unilaterally closed his right of the prime
minister's cross-examination. The petition stated that on December 17 of 2021,
before the commencement of proceedings, the court was informed that Asif’s
counsel was unable to appear because of sickness, but the ADSJ recorded the
premier's statement in the absence of the defence counsel. The petition had
requested the IHC to set aside the ADSJ’s order.
IHC
Chief Justice Athar Minallah presided over the hearing for the petition today.
He questioned that since when the case was pending.
Asif's
counsel replied that the defamation suit was filed in 2012 and questions were
formulated in 2021, to which the judge asked who was responsible for the delay
when the court had ordered that defamation cases be disposed of quickly.
"Are
you saying that the delay was caused by Imran Khan? The case is being delayed
since 2012. It should have been decided in two months," the judge said.
The
counsel responded that both parties had taken adjournments. He said the prime
minister had not pursued the case initially and only started doing so later. He
added that Asif was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau for
six months — from December 2020 to June 2021 — when the issues were framed.
He
added that during that time Asif was unable to consult his lawyer and the ADSJ
decided to proceed ex parte on account of the counsel's absence.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1667593/ihc-issues-notice-to-pm-imran-in-khawaja-asif-defamation-case
--------
Pakistan
saw upsurge in violence-related fatalities in 2021: report
January
4, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Though violence-related casualties in Pakistan declined at a steady rate since
2015, remained somewhat unchanged in 2020 but seemed to have accelerated
dramatically last year.
With
an increase of roughly 42pc in 2021, Pakistan suffered 853 fatalities (up from
600 last year) and 1,690 injuries directly linked to violence-related
incidents.
Nearly
75pc of all violence-related fatalities were recorded in KP including erstwhile
Fata and Balochistan. Of the total fatalities, Punjab accounted for 8pc
followed by Sindh.
Compared
to the fatalities in 2020, all regions except Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan
suffered an exponential surge in violence with Balochistan accounting for a net
80pc increase.
These
are the crux of the annual security report (2021) released by the Centre for
Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
According
to the report, commensurately, both security operations and terror attacks
increased last year. A total of 146 security operations were carried out during
the year leaving 298 outlaws dead, a rise of more than 40pc, against the
figures of 2020.
In
contrast, there were 403 terror attacks compared to 2020. Four suicide attacks
took place last year that left 20 people dead compared to two suicide attacks
in 2020.
An
alarming upsurge of over 41pc was observed in 2021 in the fatalities of
security personnel. In 2020, there was a decline of 18pc in security
personnel’s fatalities. Outlaws (including militants, insurgents and criminals)
suffered a 26.5pc increase in fatalities while the civilians accounted for the
largest number of the victims of violence. As a whole, the combined losses of
civilian and security personnel’s lives were 74pc of the total fatalities while
the outlaws, the main perpetrators of violence, had suffered one fourth of the
fatalities.
Afghan
militants and even a member of the Afghan Taliban were reported to have been
involved in violence in Pakistan that left 15 persons dead.
Also
read: Supporting Afghan Taliban may be counterproductive, seminar told
Mob
violence brought about by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) protests resulted in
the deaths of 13 people with another 1,056 people wounded, mostly policemen.
Inspired
by the TLP protests, some teenagers also took the law into their hands and
carried out violent attacks in the name of religion.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1667464/pakistan-saw-upsurge-in-violence-related-fatalities-in-2021-report
--------
Pakistan
won’t stop erecting fences on Durand Line: Qureshi
04
Jan 2022
Despite
the recent destruction of Pakistan’s barbed-wire on the Durand line by the
Taliban in three different provinces, Pakistan’s foreign minister Mahmood
Qureshi has acknowledged that they will continue erecting fences on the line.
Mahmood
Qureshi said that misunderstanding and recent conflicts on the Durand Line will
be resolved with Kabul through the diplomatic channel.
“We
will not quit, erecting barbed-wire on “border” has begun and will be continued
until it gets completed. Afghanistan is our friend and brother country but some
opportunists provoke issues that are not in Pakistan’s interests.” Said
Qureshi.
Taliban
border guards recently destroyed fences of Pakistan in Nangarhar and Nimroz
provinces as the Pakistani army reportedly wanted to erect fences and new
outposts on Afghan soil.
Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan has not officially reacted to Qureshi’s remarks,
spokesperson of the IEA Zabiullah Mujahid said that there is no need to erect
fences on Durand Line as the issue of the line is yet to be fully resolved.
Spokesperson
of Taliban’s defense ministry Enayatullah Khwarazmi had also called the
erection in opposition with the law and that Pakistan has no right to divide
border.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-wont-stop-erecting-fences-on-durand-line-qureshi-5373734/
--------
South Asia
We
didn’t plan to assassinate Ashraf Ghani: Baradar
04
Jan 2022
Deputy
Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar
said that they (Taliban affiliates) did not plan to assassinate former Afghan
president Ashraf Ghani after they took over Kabul.
Speaking
in an exclusive interview with Afghanistan’s state-run TV (RTA) Baradar said
that a number of former officials and politicians still live in Kabul
peacefully and no harm has been done to them.
Baradar
added that the supreme leader-Mullah Hebtullah Akhundzada- has announced a
general amnesty and that is applicable to all including the former president.
Ashraf
Ghani in a video clip after his escape from Kabul said, he left Afghanistan to
prevent bloodshed, destruction of Kabul, and the assassination of yet another
president of Afghanistan.
He
meant former president Najibullah who was assassinated by the Taliban in the
late 90s.
In
the interview, Baradar accused the former officials of corruption, bribery,
robbery, and looting and that they could not help doing misdemeanors.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/we-didnt-plan-to-assassinate-ashraf-ghani-baradar-7657656/
--------
Taliban
to include suicide bombers in their army
04
Jan 2022
Officials
of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that they will create a special
battalion of suicide attackers to be part of their future army.
Deputy
Minister of information and culture and spokesperson of the Taliban Zabiullah
Mujahid said that the battalion will be part of their special forces and will
be active under Defense Ministry.
Zabiullah
Mujahid said that the battalion will be used during special operations.
About
women and former officers in the Taliban’s army, Mujahid acknowledged that
women will be recruited based on need, and specialists of the previous Afghan
army will also be given a part in the future army.
Earlier,
the defense ministry of IEA had said that they are working on building a
100,000-member army that will be fully equipped.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-to-include-suicide-bombers-in-their-army-876876/
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Afghanistan’s
blue mountain lakes deserted as tourists stay away
04
January ,2022
The
winter landscape around the deep, blue mountain lakes of Band-e-Amir in the
central Afghan province of Bamiyan presents an arresting spectacle empty of
people - but the absence of visitors is costing locals dearly.
After
two decades of war and facing its worst economic crisis, the collapse of
Afghanistan’s vestigial tourism industry might almost go unnoticed.
But Band-e-Amir,
about 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) above sea level and a couple of hours’ drive
from the Buddhist sites of Bamiyan, usually attracts thousands of visitors a
year seeking respite from the conflict.
All
that changed last year as the Taliban swept through one province after another,
culminating in the shock overthrow of the Western-backed government in Kabul in
August and plunging the economy into crisis as foreign aid dried up.
“It
used to be very good, there were skiing programs and competitions in the
winter,” said Sayed Reza, a tourist guide who also rents out rooms to visitors.
“There
used to be so many tourists in the winter and spring, but since Taliban came,
in the last four months we have not seen any tourist in Band-e-Amir,” he said.
Bamiyan
province was one of the rare places that remained sheltered from the conflict
that ripped much of Afghanistan apart over the past 20 years. It developed a
relatively liberal culture in which mountain sports played a significant role.
The
skiers and cyclists on the slopes and roads, as well as the thousands of
picnickers and sightseers enjoying the natural beauty offered a vision of
carefree peace in stark contrast to the violence elsewhere.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Taliban
say only technical jobs at Afghanistan's airports will be contracted out
Jan
3, 2022
KABUL:
The Taliban have said that only the management of the technical operations at
Afghan airports will be contracted out while the general management will be led
by the Afghan government, reported local media.
Afghanistan's
Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (MoTCA) has said that negotiations
over the management of technical issues of Afghan airports are ongoing between
the Afghan team and the delegations from Qatar and Turkey, reported TOLOnews.
The
officials of the ministry also stated that the final decision will be made
within the next two weeks.
Imamuddin
Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the ministry, said that the interim government
will not give the complete management of the country's airport to anyone rather
a contract will be made over the technical affairs of the international
airports with standard and international companies, according to TOLOnews.
Source:
Times of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Taliban
say Russian investors expressed willingness to extract Afghanistan's petroleum
Jan
3, 2022
KABUL:
The Taliban have said that Russian investors have expressed their willingness
to extract Afghanistan's petroleum and gas while meeting with a top leader of
the country, reported local media.
Russian
investors met the Taliban's Deputy Prime Minister in the interim government
Abdul Salaam Hanafi on Sunday and discussed a number of economic projects
including refinement and excavation of gas and petroleum, reported Khaama Press
citing the Taliban's spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid as saying.
The
spokesperson also said that Hanafi accompanied by Afghan traders and investors
called on Russian investors in his office and discussed founding a cement
factory, separate plants of LNG beside refinement and extraction of oil and gas
in the country.
Mujahid
further informed that Hanafi appreciated and welcomes the willingness of the
Russian investors to extract the country's gas and oil, according to Khaama
Press.
The
Taliban leader also assured the investors of providing a conducive environment
for further investment in the country.
Source:
Times of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
IEA
providing uniform for Taliban affiliates in Kabul
04
Jan 2022
Interior
ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said that the process of
providing a specific uniform for police (Taliban affiliates) in Kabul has begun
and will soon get completed.
Deputy
spokesperson of the ministry Engineer Izam in a video clips said that the
process has begun simultaneously with Taliban affiliates in the Afghan capital
Kabul.
People
across Afghanistan have been asking the IEA to provide their rank and file with
a specific uniform in order to be differentiated with those who impersonate the
Taliban and rob people.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/iea-providing-uniform-for-taliban-affiliates-in-kabul/
--------
Uzbek-Afghan
border guards engage in armed conflict
03
Jan 2022
Taliban’s
local officials in northern Jawzjan province said that Afghanistan’s border
guards engaged in armed conflict with Uzbekistani in the Khumab district of the
province.
Head
of the directorate of information and culture of Jawzjan province Hilal Balkhi
has said that the conflict occurred on Monday, January 3, 2022 afternoon.
The
armed conflict reportedly happened ten days after an Afghan who mistakenly
crossed the border into Uzbekistan was shot dead by the country’s border
police.
Meanwhile,
another Afghan who intended to cross the border into Uzbekistan was arrested
and was then buried alive.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/uzbek-afghan-border-guards-engage-in-armed-conflict-436346/
--------
Europe
Spanish
expert: Fight for religion freedom, independence Soleimani's legacy
January
3, 2022
Yusuf
Fernandez, a Spanish analyst, said that the legacy of the late General Qasem
Soleimani was fight for freedom and independence of the West Asian people.
In an
interview with Islamic Republic News Agency correspondent in Madrid on Monday,
Fernandez said that former IRGC Qods Force commander General Soleimani's
assassination was widely condemned throughout the world and that's why it
undermined US position in the region to a large extent.
Fernandez
mentioned US withdrawal from Afghanistan as a scandalous failure for Washington
after twenty years of war in which the US failed to defeat Taliban in one of
the longest wars in US history.
The
US has pulled out a significant number of its forces from Iraq, but thousands
of American forces have still remained in the country although rejected by
Iraqi people, the Spanish analyst said.
The
secretary of Spain's Muslim Federation said that the people of Lebanon, Syria,
and Palestine owe General Soleimani a lot because he helped them stand against
extremist movements and destroyed the untouchability of the Zionist regime.
He
also touched on the talks held in Vienna between Iran and the P4+1, saying that
the US failed to impose its will on Iranians through sanctions and now it is
Tehran that has specified what is acceptable in these negotiations and what is
not.
Source:
ABNA24
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Our
culture in London was Turkish: British consul general
Mehmet
Kara
04.01.2022
Calling
the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul his “dream city,” Kenan Poleo said he
admires the multicultural life here from all perspectives.
Poleo
was appointed the British consul general in Istanbul just three months ago,
even though his love for the city and Turkish culture is much deeper.
"My
parents were very young when they came to London, and they were broke. Life was
difficult at that time in England. There was also racism,” he said, describing
how his family emigrated from Cyprus in the 1950s.
“Cypriot,
Turkish families, families from Africa began to arrive. For me, London and
Istanbul are like a mosaic because where I grew up in London, there were people
from all over the world.”
Sharing
that his childhood years were spent in a cultural richness even though it was
difficult financially, Poleo noted that while working at his father’s shops
when he was a child, he gained “diplomatic talent” as he often spoke to the customers.
He
also noted that his family tried to preserve their Turkish Cypriot culture and
that they went to Cyprus from time to time, saying that they have a mixed
British, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot culture.
Poleo
said he came to Istanbul for the first time at the age of 18 and that his
"head exploded" due to the crowds and noise in the city.
"My
head exploded because Cyprus was so small. It's very big and crowded when we
came here,” he said.
“The
people were hospitable, and so was Cyprus, but here it is much different than
there.
“I
loved it so much. So I did my second education on Turkish studies,” he added.
He
emphasized that he had been following Turkish cinema and music with interest
since a young age, adding "our culture in London was Turkish culture.”
Giving
examples of Turkish artists and actresses that he loved at that time, Poleo
said it was not just the movies or movie stars that he loved but also Turkish
music.
“We
supported Turkish artists at Eurovision. We loved (famous Turkish singer) Ajda Pekkan's
song Petrol. We used to listen to it and play it at our house.”
“Ajda
Pekkan was like a star. The song was very beautiful, but it was the 15th in the
contest.
“I
was 10 years old at the time, and I realized there was discrimination,” he
said.
“Music,
art and literature all came from Turkiye. I read (famous Turkish author) Yakup
Kadri Karaosmanoglu's book Yaban with a dictionary in one year. That's why we
are so close to this culture."
-‘Istanbul
was my dream destination’
After
his assignments in Slovenia and Germany, Poleo said he chose Istanbul, noting
it “was my dream destination.”
“I
was supposed to stay in Berlin for another two years, but I came here, like a
dream. I'm very lucky. This dream continues. It's a colorful dream. I really
like this task,” he said.
“I
talk to people every day. I learn new things. People are enterprising,
innovative. They communicate very well,” he added.
“It's
like my neighborhood here, I'm very comfortable in Istanbul. Unfortunately, I
can only stay for four years. I don't want to go.”
He
mentioned that he is always thinking about what to do after leaving the city.
Stating
that the German capital, which was his previous post, is like a
"village" compared to the Turkish metropolis, Poleo said that London
is more like Istanbul in terms of mobility.
He
said he loves the energy of big cities.
"There
is another view everywhere, on every corner. It's an incredibly beautiful
city,” he said.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/culture/our-culture-in-london-was-turkish-british-consul-general/2464581
--------
Africa
I
Don’t Care If Nigeria’s Next President Is Christian Or Muslim – Bishop Okonkwo
January
3, 2022
By
Seun Opejobi
Bishop
Mike Okonkwo of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM, has cautioned Nigerians
against banking on religion and tribe in deciding Nigeria’s next president.
Okonkwo
has, however, claimed he does not care if Nigeria’s next president is a
Christian or Muslim.
Featuring
on Arise tv, the founding member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN,
said Nigerians should pick a president who can deliver on the dividends of
democracy.
He
said: “We must rid ourselves of party politics, religious politics and personal
interests as long as the politics of this nation is concerned and focus on who
can deliver to us the dividends of democracy.
“I
don’t care whether he is a Christian or a Muslim, but who actually is
interested in this country and has a multitude of them across the length and
breadth of Nigeria.
Source:
Daily Post Nigeria
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Somalia
aims to overcome political crisis with clan-based electoral system
Gokhan
Kavak
03.01.2022
Somalia
aims to overcome the ongoing political crisis in the country with its
clan-based electoral system, called the “4.5 system.”
Somalia,
which is struggling with drought, terrorism, and economic issues, has been
unable to complete the electoral process due to political disputes between the
central government and the state governments, as well as between the president
and the prime minister.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, Abdinor Dahir, a Somali political scientist, said:
"There are two forces contributing to the election stalemate; The first is
President (Mohamed Abdullahi) Farmajo, whose term ended in early 2021, and the
second is the heads of federal states who apparently support Farmajo and
jeopardize the process in favor of the president."
Noting
that the country's clan-based social structure affects the electoral system,
Dahir said that the country’s political stalemate deepens security problems in
Somalia.
He
called on the international community, including Turkiye, to help resolve the
political crisis in Somalia.
Dahir
said that in order to resolve the political standoff, Prime Minister Mohamed
Hussein Roble should be allowed to lead the process. "The heads of federal
states should speed up the election process and ensure transparency," he
added.
"Political
actors, including opposition and civil society groups, should support Prime
Minister Roble's efforts to ensure that the election takes place without further
delay," he said.
Electoral
system in Somalia
Parliamentary
and presidential elections are held consecutively in Somalia.
Elections
are held in line with a clan-based electoral system, called the 4.5 system,
which gives four major clans an equal share in parliament and half a share to
minority groups.
The
275 members of the lower house, also known as the House of People, are elected
for four years by 14,000 delegates representing different tribes in Somalia.
The 54 members of the upper house are chosen by state councils.
The
elected members of the upper house elect both the speaker of the assembly and
the president.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Kenya
deports Dutch national wanted for human trafficking
Andrew
Wasike
03.01.2022
NAIROBI,
Kenya
Kenyan
authorities on Monday said that a Dutch national of Eritrean descent wanted for
human trafficking with Interpol red notice had been deported to the
Netherlands.
John
Habeta, 53, had been on the run for four years and was believed to be running
an underground international human smuggling network for the trafficking of
people from Africa to Europe, according to a statement by the Directorate of
Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Kenya.
He
was arrested in Nairobi following a covert operation by DCI detectives.
“He
is linked to at least four different operations where groups of Eritrean
nationals were smuggled into Europe through Asia. Immediately after his arrest,
he was extradited to the Netherlands on orders from the Ministry of Interior,”
the statement read.
Authorities
in Kenya warned criminals that the East African country is not “a haven for
international fugitives.”
According
to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), the human
trafficking in East Africa has been a reported problem.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/kenya-deports-dutch-national-wanted-for-human-trafficking/2464266
--------
Detained
Ennahda politician stages hunger strike in Tunisia
Adel
al-Thabti
03.01.2022
TUNIS,
Tunisia
The
detained deputy leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda party has been refusing food and
medication in hospital, a local human rights group said on Monday.
Fathi
al-Jari, head of the Association for the Prevention of Torture, said he met
late Sunday with Noureddine El-Beheiry at a hospital in Bizerte alongside with
a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"El-Beheiry,
63, has staged a brutal hunger strike and refuses to take medicine,"
al-Jari told Anadolu Agency.
He
pointed out that "El-Beheiry told the delegation that he was transferred
from the capital, Tunis [following his arrest] to the National Guard Center in
the city of Menzel Jamil [in Bizerte province], then to the Agricultural
Vocational Training Center in Bizerte, where he was under house arrest, and
later to Bizerte Hospital."
Al-Jari
stated that Ennahda’s deputy leader "considers himself in a case of
abduction, and he has a single request, which is to hold his abductors
accountable."
Regarding
his health condition, he said El-Beheiry is "conscious, but his health
condition is fragile", adding that he suffers from complications of a
heart surgery he underwent earlier.
Meanwhile,
the attorneys of El-Beheiry filed on Monday a complaint with the Public
Prosecution against President Kais Saied and Interior Minister Tawfiq Sharaf
el-Din over the Ennahda deputy leader’s detention.
On
Sunday evening, an Ennahda member said el-Beheiry was hospitalized in a
"very dangerous condition" and he was "facing death,"
adding that "for three days he has been without food, water and
medicine."
On
Friday, Ennahda Movement said that El-Beheiry was abducted and taken to an
unknown destination, and held the president and the interior minister
responsible for his disappearance.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Arab World
Saudi
Arabia says hands extended to Iran to address regional security
Laith
Juneidi
03.01.2022
Jordan
and Saudi Arabia held talks on Monday to discuss regional developments,
particularly the Iranian issue.
Speaking
at a press conference in Jordanian capital Amman, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Faisal bin Farhan said the talks dwelt on the Iranian support to militias.
“We
affirmed that our hands as Arabs are extended to Iran if they respond to Arab
concerns regarding regional security and stability,” he said.
The
top diplomat said that discussions also took up the need to intensify efforts
to “prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and rendering the Middle East
free of weapons of mass destruction.”
Jordanian
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, for his part, reiterated his country’s support
to any Saudi step to protect its security.
Last
month, Jordan hosted a security dialogue session between Riyadh and Tehran to
discuss a range of security and technical issues and the promotion of regional
stability.
The
Amman talks came as diplomatic efforts to break the ice between Iran and Saudi
Arabia gain pace in recent months, with officials on both sides citing progress
in talks brokered by Iraq.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Syrian
soldiers killed in deadly Islamic State ambush in Deir Ezzor
January
4, 2022
Syrian
state-run media said five soldiers were killed in an Islamic State missile
attack on a transport convoy in the country’s eastern desert on Sunday evening.
Twenty
others were wounded, state-run SANA news agency reported. The outlet operates
under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
The
attack occurred in the Badia desert between Palmyra and Deir Ezzor, according
to SANA. The remote area remains a hotbed of IS insurgent activity even after
nearly all of the country was recaptured from the jihadist group by the Syrian
regime and Kurdish forces two years ago.
Two
years ago, a Russian major general was killed in a roadside bomb attack in the
desert outside Deir Ezzor city. Russia militarily backs the Assad regime.
The
UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a grassroots monitoring network
following the Syrian civil war, claimed nine Syrian soldiers and affiliated
militiamen were killed in the attack. SOHR said 15 pro-government fighters were
wounded.
On
Dec. 2, IS fighters ambushed a bus of Syrian oilfield workers in Deir Ezzor
province, killing ten and injuring one.
On
Dec. 15, fighters infiltrated the Subaihan oilfield under the control of
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Deir Ezzor and demanded extortion money
over oil production.
The
jihadist group used to rely heavily on Syria’s oilfields to fund its
proto-state, but lost control of the oil trade amid the US-led bombing campaign
and ground fighting in 2017-18.
A
Syrian brigadier general was reportedly killed along with four soldiers and 13
civilians in the Badia desert in IS attacks in November, according to SOHR.
IS
retains underground cells across eastern Syria. Last month US forces
accompanied SDF fighters on a raid near Shadadi that left four men dead. The
Pentagon said those killed were armed IS fighters.
Source:
Al Monitor
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Two
drones shot down targeting Iraq base: Anti-ISIS coalition
04
January ,2022
Two
armed drones targeting an air base in western Iraq were shot down on Tuesday,
an official of the US-led coalition fighting ISIS revealed.
“Two
fixed-wing drones rigged with explosives were engaged and destroyed by
defensive capabilities at the Iraqi Al-Asad Air Base early this morning,” the
official detailed.
“The
attempted attack was unsuccessful. All forces are accounted for.”
It is
the second such attack in 24 hours aimed for the coalition in Iraq. On Monday,
the coalition shot down two armed drones targeting its compound at Baghdad
airport.
The
attacks come as Tehran and its allies across the Middle East held emotional
commemorations marking Monday's second anniversary of the assassination of
Iranian commander General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant in a US
drone strike at Baghdad airport.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
In
rare instance, Lebanese government rebukes Hezbollah and its leader
03
January ,2022
Lebanon’s
government hit out at Hezbollah on Monday, shortly after the group’s leader
made disparaging comments about Saudi Arabia.
With
the rare condemnation of the Iran-backed group by the Lebanese state, Prime
Minister Najib Mikati implored for a halt to the fueling of “political and
sectarian hatred.”
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“For
God’s sake, have mercy on Lebanon and the Lebanese people and stop [fueling]
political and sectarian hatred,” Mikati said in a series of tweets.
Hezbollah’s
Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah accused Saudi Arabia and its leadership of
supporting terrorists and trying to make Lebanon a “Gulf emirate.”
He
also claimed that Saudi Arabia sent suicide bombers to Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
Nasrallah
was speaking on the second anniversary of the slaying of Iranian general Qassem
Soleimani, who was assassinated in a US drone strike after he arrived in
Baghdad. He was killed alongside the deputy leader of Iran-backed militias in
Iraq.
Mikati
voiced opposition to Hezbollah’s “trend of positions” that hurt the Lebanese
population “first” and Lebanon’s ties with its “brothers, second.”
“We
have called for adopting the policy of dissociation from Arab disputes and
refraining from harming Lebanon’s ties with Arab countries, including Saudi
Arabia,” Mikati said.
“What
the secretary-general of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, said about the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia tonight does not represent the stance of the Lebanese
government or the broader Lebanese population. And it is not in the interest of
Lebanon to harm any Arab country, especially Gulf countries,” he added.
Iran
has formed proxies or armed militias in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
ISIS
attack near Syria oil wells kills nine fighters: Monitor
03
January ,2022
Extremist
fighters killed nine Syrian soldiers and allied militiamen in an ambush near
oil installations in eastern Syria, a war monitor reported Monday.
“Nine
army soldiers and allied militia fighters were killed in an ambush” by ISIS
near oil wells, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The
attack was carried out late Sunday in a remote region on the edge of the
eastern province of Deir Ezzor where extremist units have their hideouts, the
monitor stated.
The
rocket attack on a convoy also left 15 pro-government fighters wounded, the
UK-based organization said.
The
Syrian state news agency SANA reported five dead in an ISIS ambush on a
military convoy.
The
extremist organisation, which once reigned over a sprawling proto-state
straddling swathes of Iraq and Syria, lost its last fixed positions in March
2019, but its remnants have kept up deadly guerrilla-style attacks.
Since
the defeat of its self-proclaimed “caliphate”, ISIS attacks have killed close
to 1,800 government and allied forces in Syria.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Saudi
Arabia’s defences destroy a hostile Houthi target launched towards Taif
03
January ,2022
Saudi
Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said on Monday its defenses intercepted and
destroyed a hostile aerial target that was launched towards Taif city in the
Kingdom.
The
ministry added that the Houthi attack was launched from inside Yemen, stressing
that it took all operational defensive measures to contain the threat and
protect civilians.
The
Arab Coalition had shared on Monday videos of the destruction of three
explosive laden drones launched by the Iran-backed militias towards the
Kingdom’s southern region, Sunday night.
The
Coalition affirmed it took all necessary operational measures to preserve the
security of Saudi Arabia, and its citizens and residents.
Sunday
evening, the Coalition announces that Saudi defenses shot down and destroyed
three drones launched towards Najran.
It
also added in a statement that Coalition forces monitored the launch of the
drones from the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, and how the Houthis used human shields.
The
Coalition continued to stress that it takes all the operational measures
necessary to deal with the sources of threat and to respond immediately.
Yemen’s
Houthis have launched dozens of cross-border aerial attacks on Saudi Arabia
during 2021. The Iran-backed militia targeted civilian areas and energy
facilities in the Kingdom with explosive-laden drones and ballistic missiles.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Houthi
militia hijacks UAE-flagged cargo ship carrying medical supplies: Report
03
January ,2022
The
Iran-backed Houthi militia has hijacked the United Arab Emirates-flagged cargo
ship Rawabi off the city of Hodeidah, according to an Arab Coalition
spokesperson quoted in a statement from SPA.
The
ship was carrying medical equipment for a Saudi field hospital on Socotra
Island, and was heading towards the port of Jazan, the statement said.
The
coalition called on the Houthis to immediately surrender the ship, adding that it
will take all necessary measures to deal with the “piracy”.
Fighting
between the coalition and the Houthi militia has intensified in recent months.
On
Sunday, coalition forces carried out air strikes on four targets on Yemen’s
capital Sanaa that it said were storage facilities for drones and launch pads.
On
Saturday, December 25, a coalition strike killed three members of the
Iran-backed Houthi militia traveling in a military vehicle northwest of the
city.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
Israeli
attack on Iran to be ‘catastrophic’ for Mideast: Arab MK
Abdel
Raouf Arnaout
03.01.2022
JERUSALEM
An
Arab member of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) has warned of “catastrophic”
consequences for the Middle East region in case of any Israeli military action
against Iran.
“The
idea of launching an attack against Iran does not enjoy consensus in Israel,”
Ahmed Tibi told Anadolu Agency on Monday.
His
remarks come amid rising calls inside Israel for attacking Iran over its
controversial nuclear program.
Several
Israeli officials have hinted at the possibility of carrying out a military
action against Tehran to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
However,
Tibi said there are Israeli voices that oppose any military strike against Iran
and prefer to see Iran abide by the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Former
US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the agreement
in 2018 and reimposed sanctions in a move aimed to bring Iran back to
negotiations for what Trump hoped would be a "better" deal.
Iran
and world powers resumed their talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, in late
November in an effort to revive the nuclear agreement.
Israel
says it will not be bound by any agreement reached with Iran.
Tibi
considers the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal a “big mistake” and is unsure
whether Washington will "allow the adventurers in Israel to drag the
region into a devastating war."
Bennett-Netanyahu
While
Naftali Bennett replaced Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli prime minister last
year, Tibi argues that the change in leadership did not result in an actual
policy shift in Israel.
"What
happened is a change of people without a change in policies,” the Arab MK said.
"Bennett
and his government are still perpetuating the occupation, expanding illegal
settlements, incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque have increased, and settlers are
allowed to conduct silent prayers inside the flashpoint site,” he said.
“As
for Arabs living inside Israel,” Tibi said, “incitement against Arab leaders
still exists, and nothing has changed regarding the issues of planning and
construction."
Unlike
the United Arab List which supported Bennett’s formation of government in
Israel, Tibi’s Joint Arab List did not.
Tibi
considers the United Arab List's support for the Bennett government as a
"very big political mistake."
“Despite
the fact that an Arab party joined the government of the former secretary of
the Settlements Council (Bennett), this did not lead to a change in the
government's policies. Rather, it dealt with a number of issues worse than its
predecessors."
Tibi
deplored what he said attempt by the United Arab List to block bills in the
Knesset for the benefit of the Arab public in Israel, which were presented by
the Joint Arab List.
“I
did not expect that we would reach this degree,” he said.
The
United Arab List argues that it acted within the "coalition
discipline".
"Damn
the coalition discipline that makes you vote against the issues of your
people,” Tibi said.
American
support
Tibi
said the administration of US President Joe Biden has no positive impact on the
course of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians for a two-state
solution.
"Unfortunately,
he (Biden) did not fulfill his promise to reopen the US Consulate in (East)
Jerusalem, due to Bennett and (Israeli Foreign Minister Yair) Lapid's
objections," Tibi said.
The
Trump administration closed the consulate in 2019 and made it a section of the
US Embassy after moving it from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Recently,
the US State Department confirmed more than once that it would move forward
with reopening the consulate, which is tasked with coordinating the
relationship with the Palestinians.
Tibi
said the Biden administration did not do much with regard to the Palestinian
issue, and was unable to influence Israeli policies towards the Palestinians
over fears of Netanyahu’s return to power again.
Tibi
said he does not expect Netanyahu to return to power in Israel.
"Although
polls suggest that the right-wing bloc (which supports Netanyahu) will win by
56 or 57 votes in the upcoming elections, this is not enough to form a single
government," he said, noting that the Joint Arab List “will never
negotiate with the Likud and the right-wing."
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
resumes Muslim Shia pilgrim tours to Syria
03
January, 2022
Iran
resumed religious pilgrim trips to Syria on Sunday, enabling its nationals to
visit Muslim Shia shrines in Damascus, according to state-run Fars news agency.
Two
weekly flights from Tehran International Airport to Damascus resumed, allowing
Iranians to visit the shrines of Sayyida Zainab and Sayyida Ruqayya - the head
of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation Ali-Reza Rashidian said.
"The
Hajj and Pilgramage Organisation has allocated two weekly flights to Damascus
from Tehran International Airport to visit the shrines of Sayyida Zainab and
Sayyida Ruqayya," Rashidian told Fars news agency.
The
first batch of 25 tourists headed from Shia-majority Iran to Syria's historic
capital on Sunday as part of an "implementation of agreements previously
concluded" with the Syrian regime, according to the agency.
Iran
has backed Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in the country's decade-long
conflict where over 500,000 civilians were killed, mostly civilians from regime
attacks.
Iran
and Syria agreed to resume religious pilgrim tours last November when it was
agreed that Tehran would send 100,000 Iranian tourists to the war-torn country
in the first phase of the deal.
At
the time, Syrian Minister of Tourism Muhammad Rami Martini expressed his desire
to "conduct the trips quickly" as his ministry encourages
"Syrian tourism offices to receive Iranian tourists".
Source:
The New Arab
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/iran-resumes-muslim-shia-pilgrim-tours-syria
--------
President:
Iran Supports Armenia’s Sovereignty
2022-January-4
During
the phone talks on Monday, the two sides discussed development of economic
exchanges and cooperation between Tehran and Yerevan.
“The
principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to protect the territorial
integrity and sovereignty of countries,” Rayeesi said.
“In
doing so, Tehran supports the sovereignty of Armenia over all its territories
and means of transportation passing through the country.”
He
extended his congratulations on the birthday anniversary of Jesus Christ (PBUH)
and the beginning of the Christian New Year, and stressed the necessity of
constant interaction and dialogue between the two countries at different levels
and among neighbors.
“The
sensitivity of the situation in the Caucasus region requires the countries of
the region to discuss regional and bilateral issues on a regular basis,”
Rayeesi added.
He
underscored that Tehran welcomes progress in the process of talks between the
Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and said, “We hope that other issues
between the two countries will be resolved peacefully within the framework of
international principles and law, and that we will see more peace, stability
and security in the region.”
Pashinyan,
for his part, reaffirmed his country’s resolve to expand multilateral relations
with Iran and said, “We are determined to increase economic relations and
interactions with Iran in all fields and to make the Iran-Armenia joint
economic cooperation commission more active than before.”
The
Armenian premier described regional cooperation between the two countries as
important, and said, “We are confident that by boosting the level of
cooperation and bilateral coordination, we can take important steps towards
establishment of peace and security in the region.”
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001014000319/Presiden-Iran-Spprs-Armenia%E2%80%99s-Svereigny
--------
FM:
Israel’s Ill Wishes against Iranian Nation Never Come True
2022-January-4
Amir
Abdollahian’s comments came in response to recent claims by Lapid that the
Zionist regime “could attack Iran if necessary without informing the Biden
administration”.
Lapid
claimed on Friday that “Israel has capabilities, some of which the world, and
even some experts in the field, cannot even imagine”.
In
response, Amir Abdollahian wrote on his twitter page that the senseless remarks
made by the “fake Israeli regime against the great Iranian nation” are a dream,
which will never come true.
“We
will defend the nation’s rights, interests and progress with power and wisdom,”
Iran’s foreign minister said.
“Zionism
has no place in the future world,” he underlined.
The
Israeli regime has never stopped advertising the threat of “military action”
against Iran and falsely accusing the Islamic Republic of seeking to acquire
non-conventional military capability.
Iranian
generals, for their part, have decisively warned the Tel Aviv regime on
multiple occasions against any adventurism against the country, pledging a
crushing response to any attack.
Last
Tuesday, Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Headquarters Major General Gholam Ali
Rashid underlined Iran’s plan to stage several military drills, warning enemies
of his country’s crushing response to any aggression.
“A
sum of 25 massive army, IRGC andd joint drills have been scheduled for the current
year and so far 15 massive wargames have been staged by the Army and the
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and of course, some of them will not be
publicized,” General Rashid said, addressing the Armed Forces’ commanders.
“We
want the enemy not to be after testing our will and power because it will not
be able to bear the costs of a massive and all-out confrontation. Therefore,
believing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s power will certainly have lower costs
for the enemy,” he added.
Chief
of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said
last week that the IRGC’s recent Great Prophet 17 military drills were held in
response to the threats of the Israeli regime.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
President Asks for Trial of Trump, Pompeo
2022-January-4
The
Ex-president of the United States and also former Secretary of State must stand
trial for the crime of assassinating General Soleimani, Rayeesi said, addressing
a massive gathering of people at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla (congregational prayers
site) held to commemorate the second anniversary of martyrdom of General
Soleimani on Monday afternoon.
He
addressed the Americans, saying that General Soleimani was officially invited
by the Iraqi prime minister before he was assassinated, noting that the
Americans violated Iraq’s sovereignty.
“You
(the Americans) not only violated Iraq’s sovereignty, but also assassinated a
nation, not just an individual,” Rayeesi said.
“The
aggressor, murderer, and the key criminal, namely the former US president must
be tried for the heinous crime of assassinating General Soleimani,” he added.
The
president went on to address the American statesmen that if the perpetrators
behind the heinous crime do not stand trial, the Islamic Ummah will avenge his
martyrdom.
The
president said that the top Iranian commander General Soelimani was a school of
thought that was in continuation of the school of late Imam Khomeini and
current Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Soleimani
was not a man of compromise but was a man of resistance, he noted, adding that
Martyr Soleimani should not be seen only as a top military commander.
Rayeesi
went on to say that General Soleimani had the expertise in winning hearts and
left behind a culture of resistance.
He
said that the former IRGC Qods Force commander could conquer hearts better than
lands.
Former
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force Lieutenant
General Qassem Soleimani, his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the
second-in-command of Iraq’s PMU, and ten of their deputies were martyred by an
armed drone strike as their convoy left Baghdad International Airport on
January 3, 2020. The attack was ordered by then US President Donald Trump.
To
date, Iran’s chief civilian prosecutor has indicted tens of individuals in
connection with the assassination, among them former president Trump, the head
of US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie Jr., and former US Secretaries
of State and Defense Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper.
The
file remains open to the further addition of individuals that Tehran determines
to have played a role in the killing.
Both
commanders were highly popular because of their key role in fighting against
the ISIL terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
Back
in January 2020, two days after the assassination, the Iraqi parliament passed
a law requiring the Iraqi government to end the presence of the US-led foreign
forces in the Arab country.
Last
year, Baghdad and Washington reached an agreement on ending the presence of all
US combat troops in Iraq by the end of 2021.
The
US military declared the end of its combat mission in Iraq this month, but
resistance forces remain bent on expelling all American forces, including those
who have stayed in the country on the pretext of training Iraqi forces or
playing an advisory role.
Since
the assassination, Iraqi resistance forces have ramped up pressure on the US
military to leave their country, targeting American bases and forces on
numerous occasions, at one point pushing the Americans to ask them to “just
leave us alone”.
Iran
and Iraq in a joint statement earlier this month underlined their determination
to identify, prosecute and punish the culprits behind the assassination of
General Soleimani and al-Muhandis.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001013000525/Iranian-Presiden-Asks-fr-Trial-f-Trmp-Pmpe
--------
Daughter:
Reprisal for General Soleimani’s Blood Not to Take Long
2022-January-4
"It
will not be long before we will take revenge on the blood of our martyred
commanders and we will remain faithful to our covenant with the martyred
commanders", Zeinab Soleimani said, addressing a large gathering of Iraqis
near Baghdad airport, where General Soleimani was assassinated by the US drones
on January 3, 2020.
She
also added that with the liberation of Iraq and the withdrawal of US forces,
people's sorrow will turn into joy.
Iran’s
anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, his Iraqi trenchmate
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s PMU, and ten of their
deputies were martyred by an armed drone strike as their convoy left Baghdad
International Airport on January 3, 2020. The attack was ordered by then US
President Donald Trump.
To
date, Iran’s chief civilian prosecutor has indicted tens of individuals in
connection with the assassination, among them former president Trump, the head
of US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie Jr., and former US Secretaries
of State and Defense Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper.
The
file remains open to the further addition of individuals that Tehran determines
to have played a role in the killing.
Both
commanders were highly popular because of their key role in fighting against
the ISIL terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
Back
in January 2020, two days after the assassination, the Iraqi parliament passed
a law requiring the Iraqi government to end the presence of the US-led foreign
forces in the Arab country.
Last
year, Baghdad and Washington reached an agreement on ending the presence of all
US combat troops in Iraq by the end of 2021.
The
US military declared the end of its combat mission in Iraq this month, but
resistance forces remain bent on expelling all American forces, including those
who have stayed in the country on the pretext of training Iraqi forces or
playing an advisory role.
Since
the assassination, Iraqi resistance forces have ramped up pressure on the US
military to leave their country, targeting American bases and forces on
numerous occasions, at one point pushing the Americans to ask them to “just
leave us alone”.
Iran
and Iraq in a joint statement earlier this month underlined their determination
to identify, prosecute and punish the culprits behind the assassination of
General Soleimani and al-Muhandis.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Source:
No Deadline for Vienna Talks
2022-January-4
No
deadline has been set for the ongoing talks, and the main issue for Iran's
negotiating team is to realize the rights of the Iranian people within the
framework of previous agreements, a source close to the Iranian negotiating
team said on Monday.
Such
media claims, which have no real basis and are aimed solely at straining the
negotiations atmosphere, will not change the strategy of the Iranian
negotiating team to reach a "good agreement", the source added.
As
the representatives of Iran and Group 4+1 (Russia, China, Britain and France
plus Germany) arrived in Vienna on Monday to attend the eighth round of talks,
certain western media outlets, citing US diplomats, claimed that a deadline had
been set to avoid the talks being prolonged.
Iran’s
chief negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani arrived in Vienna on Monday to continue talks
with the world powers on removal of sanctions.
He
had left Vienna for Tehran last Thursday after meeting with the representatives
of E3 (the UK, France and Germany) and EU Foreign Policy Chief Enrique Mora.
Baqeri
Kani departed Vienna for Tehran on Thursday after holding talks with EU Deputy
Foreign Policy Chief Enrique Mora and representatives of the three European
states of Britain, France and Germany.
The
Vienna talks aimed at lifting sanctions will continue on Monday after a short
recess due to the New Year's holidays.
Before
leaving, Baqeri Kani told reporters in front of the Coburg Hotel that he would
return to Vienna on Monday to resume talks.
He
had earlier on Thursday met and held talks with Mora and the European troika
(representatives of the three European members of the JCPOA) in Vienna.
The
Vienna talks between Iran and the G4+1 (Russia, China, Britain and France plus
Germany) will continue but teams will go to a three-day New Year break as of
Thursday and will resume talks on January 3.
Delegations
from Iran and the G4+1 had returned to Vienna, Austria, on Monday after a
Christmas recess.
Mora
who co-chaired the JCPOA Joint Commission meeting on Monday evening told
reporters that the upcoming break was only due to Palais Coburg's suspension of
services.
Baqeri
Kani had also on Wednesday held separate talks with the Mora and the E3
representatives in Vienna.
The
ongoing round of talks – the eighth round – was originally set to be held after
the New Year holiday, but the teams decided to reconvene between the two
holidays as an indication of seriousness.
Iran
and the five remaining parties to the JCPOA -- Britain, Germany, France, Russia
and China -- resumed talks in Vienna on November 29 after a five-month hiatus,
marking the first round of negotiations under President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi’s
administration and the seventh overall.
During
the seventh round of the Vienna talks, Iran presented two draft texts which
address, separately, the removal of US sanctions and Iran’s return to its
nuclear commitments under the JCPOA. Tehran also said it was preparing a third
draft text on the verification of the sanctions removal.
Iran
and the G4+1 group of countries resumed the talks in the Austrian capital on
December 9 after being paused on December 3, when the participants returned to
their capitals for additional consultations on the two draft proposals that
Tehran had put forward.
As
the seventh round of discussions in Vienna concluded, Baqeri Kani said the
three European parties to the JCPOA, also known as the E3, intimately agreed to
accept Tehran’s viewpoint as a basis for “serious, result-oriented” talks.
The
eighth round of talks for lifting anti-Iran sanctions kicked off on Monday
evening local time, when Iranian top negotiator and the European Union’s
representative in Vienna talks Enrique Mora co-chaired the Joint Commission
meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001014000294/Srce-N-Deadline-fr-Vienna-Talks
--------
EU
'seriously concerned' about Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike
Dilan
Pamuk
04.01.2022
The
European Union Delegation to the Palestinians (DPAL) expressed grave concern
Monday over the health of a Palestinian prisoner who has been on a hunger
strike for over four months in protest against his detention without trial by
Israel.
DPAL
said it is "seriously concerned" about Hisham Abu Hawash, whose life
is reportedly in “immediate danger,” according to a report by Physicians for
Human Rights and is in critical condition on the 140th day of the hunger
strike.
Reminding
that Hawash aimed to protest his administrative detention in an Israeli prison
since October 2020 through the strike, the delegation said on Twitter that
"the use of administrative detention without formal charge remains a
longstanding concern.”
"Detainees
have the right to be informed about charges underlying any detention, must be
given a fair trial within a reasonable time or be released," they added,
calling for an urgent solution from Israeli authorities.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Palestinians
rally to demand release of hunger-striking detainee
Qais
Abu Samra
03.01.2022
RAMALLAH,
Palestine
Palestinians
staged several rallies in the occupied West Bank on Monday in support of a
hunger-striking detainee in Israeli prison.
Hisham
Abu Hawwash has been on hunger strike for 140 days in protest of his arrest
without charge or trial under Israel’s policy of administrative detention.
Dozens
of Palestinians marched in the city of Ramallah to call for the international
community to intervene to free Abu Hawwash from prison.
Two
rallies were also staged in the city of Bethlehem and at Birzeit University in
Ramallah to show support for the striking detainee.
Meanwhile,
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said his government is closely
following up the health conditions of the striking detainee.
Speaking
at a cabinet meeting on Monday, Shtayyeh said he sent letters to international
institutions to seek their help to secure Abu Hawwash’s release.
Abu
Hawwash, from the town of Dura in southern West Bank, was detained by Israeli forces
on October 27, 2020 and placed under administrative detention, a policy that
allows Israeli authorities to detain anyone for six months without charge or
trial, which can be extended indefinitely.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North America
US
calls for civilian rule in Sudan after Hamdok quits as premier
03
January ,2022
The
United States has urged Sudanese leaders to ensure civilian rule and end
violence against protesters after Abdalla Hamdok resigned as prime minister,
throwing a transition towards elections deeper into uncertainty.
“After
PM Hamdok’s resignation, Sudanese leaders should set aside differences, find
consensus and ensure continued civilian rule,” the US State Department’s Bureau
of African Affairs said in a tweet.
Hamdok,
an economist and former United Nations official widely respected by the
international community, had served as prime minister under a military-civilian
power sharing deal that followed the overthrow of former leader Omar al-Bashir
in 2019.
The
military dissolved his government in a coup in October, but he returned a month
later under a deal that tasked him with forming a government of technocrats
ahead of elections in 2023.
Hamdok
announced on Sunday that he was resigning after being unable to forge a
consensus to bring the transition forward. He called for dialogue to reach a
new agreement for the transition.
Reaction
on social media in Sudan was divided, with some saddened by the loss of a
leader who they said stood out for his wisdom. Others, still angry with Hamdok
for returning after the coup, expressed their resolve to end military rule.
Jibril
Ibrahim, a former rebel leader who served as finance minister under Hamdok but
expressed support for the military before the coup, called his resignation
“regrettable”.
“Our
nation needs political compromise today more than ever to navigate safely
through these turbulent times. There is a room to accommodate everyone.”
Hamdok’s
resignation came hours after the latest round of mass rallies against the
military. At least 57 civilians have been killed as security forces have moved
to contain or disperse demonstrations since the Oct. 25 coup, according to
medics aligned with the protest movement. Further protests are planned for
Tuesday.
Hamdok
had been a key partner for the international community as Sudan sought to
emerge from decades of isolation and sanctions under Bashir and to end an
economic crisis, with Western backing.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Canadian
court awards $83.9 million to families of Ukraine airliner downed by Iran
04
January ,2022
A
court in Ontario, Canada, has awarded C$107 million ($83.94 million), plus
interest, to the families of six people who died when the Iranian Revolutionary
Guards downed a Ukraine International Airlines plane near Tehran two years ago.
Iran
shot down the airliner in January 2020. All 176 people onboard were killed,
including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents.
The
six family members awarded compensation by the Ontario court lost spouses,
siblings, children, nieces and nephews aboard Flight 752, their lawyer, Mark
Arnold, said in a statement on Monday. They had filed a civil lawsuit against
Iran and other officials they believe were to blame for the incident.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The
lawyer said his team will look to seize Iranian assets in Canada and abroad. He
said Iran has oil tankers in other countries and his team will be looking to
seize whatever it can to pay what the families are owed.
The
decision by Justice Edward Belobaba of Ontario's Superior Court of Justice was
dated Dec. 31 and announced by Arnold on Monday.
The
case was filed by Shahin Moghaddam, Mehrzad Zarei and Ali Gorji. Fearing
reprisals from Iran, some of the other plaintiffs withheld their names, CBC
News reported earlier.
A
special Canadian forensic team had produced a report in mid-2021 that accused Iran
of incompetence and recklessness over the downing of the Ukrainian passenger
plane. Iran criticized the report as being “highly politicized”.
The
report found that while the shooting down of Ukrainian International Airlines
flight 752 had not been premeditated, it did not absolve Iranian officials of
responsibility for the incident.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
threatens revenge for Soleimani killing if former US President Trump not tried
03
January ,2022
Iran’s
President Ebrahim Raisi vowed revenge on Monday for the US assassination of
Iranian General Qassem Soleimani two years ago unless former US President
Donald Trump was put on trial.
“If
Trump and [former secretary of state Mike] Pompeo are not tried in a fair court
of law for the criminal act of assassinating General Soleimani, Muslims will
take their martyr’s revenge,” Raisi said, according to state news agency IRNA.
Iran
and allied groups in Iraq have been holding vigils to honor Soleimani, the
former commander of the Quds Force, the overseas arm of the IRGC, who was
killed in a drone strike in Iraq on January 3, 2020, along with Iraqi militia
commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Iran’s
permanent representative to the United Nations also called on the UN Security
Council to hold the US and Israel responsible for assassinating Soleimani.
“Given
the dire implications of this terrorist act on international peace and
security, the Security Council must live up to its Charter-based
responsibilities and hold the US and the Israeli regime to account for
planning, supporting and committing that terrorist act,” Takht Ravanchi said in
his letter to the UNSC.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast Asia
Religious
affairs minister: Decision to suspend umrah travel permission prioritises
public interest
03
Jan 2022
SEGAMAT,
Jan 3 — The decision to temporarily suspend umrah trips has been a difficult
one to make but it is done in the public interest following the threat of the
new Covid-19 Omicron variant, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department
(Religious Affairs) Senator Idris Ahmad.
He
said there was no discrimination against Muslims as alleged by some parties.
The
decision was made following careful deliberation between the relevant agencies
taking into account the recommendations from the Health Ministry regarding the
latest threat of the deadly virus, he said.
He
said it was a national issue involving members of the public therefore such
allegations were highly inconsiderate.
“Don’t
slander us, claiming that we want to oppress Muslims. MoH provided data facts
of how the disease is being transmitted from all these countries,” he told
reporters after visiting flood victims housed at Sekolah Agama Kuala Paya, near
here, today.
Idris
said the proposal to make it compulsory for the umrah pilgrims to undergo
quarantine at designated hotels or venues instead of at their respective homes
could not be implemented due to a shortage of logistics.
“We
need at least 1,000 beds a day. In the end, the authorities had to make the
decision (to suspend umrah trips). We don’t want the disease to spread, which
could cause even more problems (in the future),” he said, adding that he hoped
the people could accept the government’s decision as it was made in their
interest.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Closed
borders won’t curb Omicron wave, says MMA
Dineskumar
Ragu
January
4, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: The country’s main medical association has spoken against closing
international borders as a way to stop the spread of Covid-19 after a high
number of cases involving the Omicron virus variant were discovered among
returning Muslim pilgrims.
Malaysian
Medical Association president Dr Koh Kar Chai said only immunisation would
bring long-term benefits against the Omicron variant, which had shown that it
could spread easily, and help end the pandemic.
The
government had recently announced that umrah trips would be suspended from Jan
8 following the discovery of a high number of Covid-19 Omicron variant cases
among umrah returnees.
This
led to calls on social media for the government to ban Malaysian tourists from
going for holidays overseas to reduce the risk of them bringing the Omicron variant
back to the country.
Koh
said the temporary suspension of umrah trips was introduced because umrah
returnees did not follow SOPs while in quarantine.
“All
travellers will need to adhere strictly to the mandates issued by the
authorities to prevent the import of Omicron cases. In fact, following SOPs is
the only proven way to prevent the virus from spreading easily,” he said.
“We
will just have to adapt to a different way of life, at least till we have other
means of keeping Omicron at bay.”
He
also called on the government to conduct research not only on the vaccines but
also possible therapeutic drugs that could assist in the management of Covid
cases.
Antiviral
drugs
Gopeng
MP Dr Lee Boon Chye suggested that the health ministry increase the number of
hospital beds, create more isolation centres for patients with Omircron
infections, and speed up the booster vaccination programme.
The
government should also speed up the approval of antiviral drugs Paxlovid and
Molnupiravir which had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, he
said.
He
urged the health ministry to increase its manpower and other resources.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Man
who believed girlfriend was cheating on him gets six months’ jail for setting
fire to Kuching convenience store
04
Jan 2022
KUCHING,
Jan 4 — A man was sentenced to six months’ jail by the Sessions Court here
yesterday for starting a fire at a convenience store last month.
Shamsuri
Masranini, in his 20s, pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him by a
court interpreter before Judge Maris Agan, who ordered the sentence to take
effect from yesterday.
The
accused was charged under Section 435 of the Penal Code which provides for
imprisonment of up to 14 years and a fine, if convicted.
He
was charged with using flammable liquid to set fire to the floor of a
convenience store at Jalan Petanak here on Dec 28, 2021 at about 10.40pm,
resulting in a loss of RM500.
It
was informed the accused was intoxicated at the material time and acted in such
manner after suspecting his girlfriend of cheating on him.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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