Afghanistan: People raise concern over humanitarian crisis as winter approaches
New
Age Islam News Bureau
08
November 2022
Representative
Image
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•
Palestine calls on international community to stop Israeli criminal acts,
settlers’ terrorism
•
Use of terror group's name 'al-Shabaab' banned in Somalia
•
Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan tells 2 TV channels to ‘get out’
•
In Pakistan’s Sindh province, Hindu culture fights the odds
•
US Sanctions Members of Islamic State Cell Operating in South Africa
•
Australian white supremacist who killed 51 in New Zealand mosques appeals life
sentence
•
Situation of Uighurs and Other Ethnic Turkic Muslims
•
‘Cooperate or perish’ UN chief Antonio Guterres tells world leaders at COP27
South Asia
•
Taliban is reaching your living rooms, and YouTubers are helping
•
Karzai criticizes Pakistan for mistreating Afghan refugees
•
Kyrgyz Envoy Meets Top Islamic Emirate Officials
•
Haqqani Asks Taliban Forces to Observe Personal Hygiene and Wear Fragrances
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Mideast
•
In Geneva, UN panel holds hearings on Israeli rights violations in Palestinian
territories
•
Iran Captures All Perpetrators Behind Shah Cheragh Terror Attack
•
Top Commander: Advanced Air Defense System Capable of Confronting
5th-Generation Fighters
•
IRGC Busts 3 MKO-Linked Terror Networks in Separate Operations
•
Judiciary Chief: US, UK, Israel Waging Hybrid War Against Iran
•
Iranian Border Guards Seize 600 Weapons in Less Than 2 Months
•
Iranian Deputy FM Blames US for Abusing Int'l Bodies
•
Iran, Russia Discuss Regional, International Developments
•
UK-based news channel says journalists threatened by Iran’s IRGC
•
‘Like an execution:’ Palestinian NGOs detail Israeli crackdown
•
Iran summons Norway’s envoy over ‘interventionist’ comments in support of
protests
•
‘I’ve grown up,’ far-rightist tells Israelis worried about his rise
•
Jordan warns Israeli PM of diplomatic pitfalls if al-Aqsa status quo changed
•
Israeli settlers spray Palestinian-owned olive trees with toxins
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Africa
•
South Africa: Probe into Anti-Apartheid Activist Imam Haron's Death Reopens
•
Ethiopian government, Tigray officials meet in Nairobi to continue peace talks
•
Nigerian Air Force says it killed 2 top Daesh/ISIS terrorists
•
10 dead as Al-Shabab attack Somali military base
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India
•
UP Court To Pronounce Verdict On Plea Seeking To Worship 'Shivling' Inside
Gyanvapi Mosque
•
Congress in Kerala hails Supreme Court verdict upholding EWS quota; Muslim
League expresses anxiety
•
Day after AAP yatra, Ahmedabad Muslim-majority areas ‘in no hurry to shift from
Cong to party we don’t know’
•
Experts at AMU discuss subtitling, pragmatics of audio-visual translation
•
Muslim intellectuals plan to discuss burning community issues with Prime
Minister Modi
•
Dehradun: Muslim man seeks DM nod to embrace Hinduism
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Pakistan
•
Police finally register FIR over attack on PTI chief following SC intervention
•
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan rejects Pakistan police report into shooting
•
Pakistan PM's China trip: More words, little action
•
China says done 'utmost' and will continue to do so to stabilise Pakistan's
weak economy
•
'Act now' to stop 'abuse' of power: Imran Khan in a letter to Pakistan
President Alvi
•
Pakistan's former foreign minister Qureshi to lead march until Imran Khan
recovers
•
Imran claims ‘malcontent’ agency insiders feeding him information
•
PTI not behind slogans against army: Asad Qaiser
•
Militant commander killed in Khyber raid
•
‘Hakeem’ Sanaullah prepared effective remedy to deal with PTI marchers: Fazl
--------
North America
•
Mehmet Oz could be the first Muslim US Senator, but some Muslim Americans are
ambivalent
•
Biden congratulates Netanyahu on Israel elections, reaffirms US support
•
Armenia, Azerbaijan leaders hold talks in US with Blinken hours after new
shootout
--------
Europe
•
UK Conservatives face fresh pressure over Islamophobia allegations
•
UN chief proposes debt relief for Pakistan
•
Pro-Imran graffiti appears outside Sharifs’ office in London
•
Zelenskyy congratulates Netanyahu on Israel election win
•
UK PM Sunak congratulates Netanyahu on Israel election win
•
Sweden reiterates bid to join NATO ahead of Turkey Talks
•
Greece, Türkiye should resolve differences through diplomacy: US envoy in
Athens
•
Germany condemns rocket attacks in Syria’s Idlib
•
Australian engineer jailed in Iraq facing ‘death sentence’ amid health fears
•
Palestinian tycoon shot by British forces as boy launches bid to redress
colonial-era abuses
•
Qatar hits back at Germany over criticism of World Cup host’s rights record
--------
Southeast Asia
•
Seven deadly sins of Malaysia’s approach to education
•
Domestic politics or international relations: Malaysia’s 15th general election
•
DAP man out to prove that Kedah Malays can accept the party
•
Exploring Islamic influences in Niujie, a small district near Beijing
•
In what could be his last Malaysia election, can Muhyiddin help Bersatu weather
a tough challenge?
•
Police probing Perak PAS chief over allegedly defamatory remarks
•
Not in manifesto, but BN still pledging 3 DPMs, says Zahid
•
Lodge report with MACC, Rafizi told on RM2bil project claim
•
Indonesian president receives UAE international peace award
--------
Arab World
•
Assad regime's property rights violations complicate return of displaced
Syrians
•
Muslim Council of Elders congratulates King of Bahrain for success of Bahrain
Dialogue Forum
•
Ancient pre-Islamic Christian monastery uncovered in UAE
•
Saudi Arabia commits $2.5 billion to Middle East green initiative: Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman
•
UAE fights Covid-19: Muslims pray mask-free for first time in 28 months
•
US citizen killed in central Baghdad: Police sources
•
Saudi Minister of Defense makes phone call to Iraqi counterpart
•
Saudi court sentences teenager to death over preparing iftar meal for political
opponent: Rights group
•
Children living in ‘open air prison’ at Syria’s al-Hol camp: MSF
•
Syria cholera outbreak worsened by Assad regime, Turkey: HRW
•
World leaders at COP27 gather for a family photograph
•
Saudi crown prince to attend Mideast Green Summit in Egypt
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
--------
Afghanistan:
People raise concern over humanitarian crisis as winter approaches
7
November, 2022
Representative
Image
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Kabul
[Afghanistan], November 7 (ANI): As the winter season is coming closer,
Afghanis’ concern for humanitarian crisis has grown, Khaama Press reported.
In
the most recent report, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) stated that in 3 years, the poverty rate in the country has grown from
47 per cent to 97 per cent.
According
to the report by OCHA, in 2020, the poverty rate was 47 per cent, which grew to
70 per cent in 2021 and then to 97 per cent in 2022. This data depicts that 97
per cent of Afghanistan’s population lives under the poverty line as
Afghanistan faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The
report’s rate of poverty in Afghanistan has been linked to factors such as the
decline in income, a rise in food costs and inflation, drought, unemployment,
and natural catastrophes, reported Khaama Press.
Due
to loss of economic prospects and the exodus of significant numbers of human
resources, poverty and unemployment in Afghanistan have intensified since the
Taliban took back power in August 2021.
There
are hundreds of young people who are left with no job. Afghanistan is struggling
with poverty and unemployment despite their extensive experience and
educational credentials in various political, cultural, and social fields,
according to Khaama Press.
Earlier,
according to the World Bank’s (WB) new Afghanistan Development Update, the
country’s economy contracted by about 20 per cent in 2021.
The
World Bank report released, in October, points to a sharp decline in public
spending, lower household incomes, and reduced consumption caused aggregate
demand to fall. It also highlights disruptions in the payment system and
supplies constraints further hampered private sector activities, initially
forcing many businesses to close or scale down their operations.
“Preliminary
statistics on the gross domestic product (GDP) show that the economy contracted
by about 20 per cent in 2021. Over the past year, the resumption of off-budget
international support for humanitarian needs and basic services helped mitigate
some of the negative impacts,” the World Bank report said.
The
report concludes that Afghanistan is a much smaller economy now. “While there
are signs of economic stabilization and resilience of Afghan businesses, the
country continues to face enormous social and economic challenges that are
impacting heavily on the welfare of the Afghan people, especially women, girls,
and minorities,” said Melinda Good, World Bank Country Director for
Afghanistan.
“Living
conditions showed slight improvements in the past few months, but deprivation
remains very high across the country, and persistent inflation might further
erode any welfare gains.”
“The
report projects that the real GDP in 2022 will contract further, with an
accumulated contraction of close to 30-35 per cent between 2021 and 2022,
before moving to a low-growth path (2.0 to 2.4 per cent) for the next two
years, with no improvement in per-capita income,” the World Bank said.
The
report says that poverty is expected to remain widespread, with over two-thirds
of households in the country struggling to cover basic expenses. (ANI)
Source:ThePrint
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Palestine
calls on international community to stop Israeli criminal acts, settlers’
terrorism
07
November 2022
In
this file picture, Palestinian olive farmers check damage to their olive trees
that were cut down by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. (Photo via
Twitter)
------------
The
Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has called on the
international community to take on its responsibilities, and stop the Israeli
regime’s criminal acts as well as continued acts of vandalism and violence by
settlers, known as price tag attacks, across the occupied territories.
“These
crimes are an integral part of the bloody and systematic Israeli escalation
against our people with the aim of breaking their resilience and adherence to
their just and legitimate national rights and land,” the ministry said in a
statement released on Monday.
The
statement added that the Tel Aviv regime is making attempts “to force our
people to surrender, coexist with occupation and [illegal] settlements, and
accept them as a fait accompli that is difficult to change.”
It
described the organized attacks by armed settlers on Palestinian civilians and
their land and property as tantamount to the actions of Israeli military
forces, stressing that they are Israel's official denial of the just and
legitimate rights of Palestinians which have been officially endorsed by the
United Nations.
The
Palestinian foreign ministry then held the Israeli regime responsible for the
escalating tensions across the occupied territories, stating that the current
situation threatens an explosion that would plunge the entire Middle East region
into a spiral of violence.
The
ministry then warned the international community that the ongoing hostilities
would have adverse effects on the so-called two-state solution, as well as
efforts to ensure calm, resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and achieve
security and stability in the region.
Earlier
in the day, Israeli settlers vandalized and sprayed hundreds of
Palestinian-owned olive trees in the West Bank with chemicals.
Israeli
authorities also demolished four Palestinian-owned buildings in occupied East
al-Quds and the West Bank under the pretext of construction without a permit.
Incidents
of sabotage and violence by settlers against Palestinians and their property
have become a daily occurrence throughout the occupied territories, particularly
in the West Bank.
However,
Israeli authorities rarely prosecute settlers, and the vast majority of the
files are closed due to deliberate police failure to investigate them properly.
Settler
violence includes property and mosque arson attacks, stone-throwing, uprooting
of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes.
Israeli
settlers have noticeably escalated attacks against Palestinians in the occupied
West Bank in recent months.
The
United Nations has already warned of a surge in Israeli settler violence
against Palestinians, mostly in the areas of al-Khalil, al-Quds, Nablus and
Ramallah.
More
than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli
occupation of Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds.
All
the settlements are illegal under international law. The UN Security Council
has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied territories in
several resolutions.
Israel
routinely demolishes Palestinian houses in the West Bank and East al-Quds,
claiming the structures have been built without the so-called permits, which
are almost impossible to obtain. They also sometimes order Palestinian owners
to demolish their own houses or pay the demolition costs.
Israel
has occupied thousands of dunums of Palestinian agricultural land to construct
and expand settlements in various areas of the West Bank.
The
regime also plans to force out Palestinian families from neighborhoods in East
al-Quds in an attempt to replace them with settlers.
Palestinians
want the West Bank as part of a future independent state with East al-Quds as
its capital.
Source:
Press TV
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Use
of terror group's name 'al-Shabaab' banned in Somalia
Mohammed
Dhaysane
07.11.2022
MOGADISHU,
Somalia
The
Somali government on Monday banned the use of the name "al-Shabaab,"
referring to the al Qaeda-linked terror group that the majority-Muslim nation
said is a deviant sect.
In
a statement, Somalia's Ministry of Religious Affairs also barred scholars from
having dealings with the armed terror group, which it said should rather be
referred to as "Khawarij," a term describing a deviant sect.
"By
executing the orders of the nation's leaders and recommendations from the
religious scholars, the Ministry has banned the use of term al-Shabaab and only
should be called them as Khawarij," said the statement, forbidding the
group's ideology, as well.
The
new order came after President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud announced a "total
war" against the group.
Somalia
has been grappling with security threats for years, with al-Shabaab being one
of its main concerns.
Since
2007, the terror group has fought the Somali government and international forces
in a deadly campaign that has claimed thousands of lives.
The
UN has warned of growing instability in the country, with its periodic reports
on Somalia this year detailing attacks by al-Shabaab and groups aligned with
the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization.
At
least 1,242 civilians were killed in terrorist attacks in Somalia in 2018-2019,
while 1,735 were injured, according to UN figures.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/use-of-terror-groups-name-al-shabaab-banned-in-somalia/2731999
--------
Kerala
governor Arif Mohammed Khan tells 2 TV channels to ‘get out’
Nov
8, 2022
Governor
Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday alleged that a system of “oligarchy” was
prevailing in the state under the CPM rule, as evident in incidents of party
cadres being appointed in government jobs
------------
KOCHI:
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan who never tires of reminding everyone of chief
minister Pinarayi Vijayan's notorious ''kadakku purathu' (go out) remarks to
the media did one better on Monday by singling out two news channels and
telling them to "get out" and making it clear that "I don't want
to talk to you".
The
unprecedented behaviour of the governor came after he ratcheted up the
political rhetoric, alleging that the CPM was turning the state into an
oligarchy and had initiated the "collapse of constitutional machinery''.
The
governor refused to speak to reporters of Kairali and MediaOne news channels at
a news conference he convened, alleging that they were "party cadres
masquerading as journalists" and "they have campaigned against
me". "I hope there is no Kairali or MediaOne here.
I
don't want to talk to you. Get out. I won't talk to you. Please go away...You
are settling scores with me in Shah Bano. You are carrying out a campaign
against me. I will not talk to Kairali and MediaOne. Please, if there is
anyone, please get out from here," Khan said.
He
also alleged that a system of "oligarchy" was prevailing in the state
under the CPM rule as evident in incidents of party cadres being appointed in
government jobs, referring to recent developments in Thiruvananthapuram
corporation after a letter purportedly written by mayor Arya Rajendran asking
party district secretary for a "priority list" of applicants for
temporary posts came out in public.
On
the letter row, he said it was not the first of its kind. "I am informed
that many other such letters exist with people and they will come to light
soon. They [CPM] have become like the oligarchy of Kerala.
The
young men and women of Kerala go to different states and foreign countries
looking for jobs, but relatives of the CPM leadership are accommodated in
universities and other temporary and permanent jobs," Khan said.
Reacting
to the government challenging the appointment of Ciza Thomas as
vice-chancellor-in-charge of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU),
Khan said what they were doing had 'initiated the process of collapse of
constitutional machinery'.
"I
would ask them to create more problems. Barge into Raj Bhavan if they have the
guts. Attack me on the road. The chief minister says he doesn't know who I am.
But I know who he is," he said. The reporters of CPMcontrolled Kairali and
MediaOne channels were among those who took prior permission from Raj Bhavan
via email to cover Khan's interaction with the media at the government guest house
here
.
"I have always responded to the media. But I am not able to persuade
myself now to respond to those who masquerade as media. There are actually
members of the party here. I don’t want to talk to them. I would walk away if
there are correspondents from Kairali and MediaOne," he said.
Both
the CPM and Congress criticised his outburst. CPM state secretary M V Govindan
said the governor was trying to provoke everyone with his undemocratic attitude
while KPCC president K Sudhakaran said the governor cannot take a stand that he
will not speak to media who criticize him.
The
Kerala Union of Working Journalists will take out a protest march to Raj Bhavan
on Tuesday. On the government decision to seek legal opinion from senior
Supreme Court advocate paying Rs 45 lakh, Khan said it was proof of
incompetence of the state’s law department.
He
also said the CPM decided to conduct a house-to-house campaign against him
after people started asking questions about their actions. “People are now
asking questions: Are all the jobs under Kerala government and universities
reserved for CPM cadres and powerful people in Thiruvananthapuram? They [CPM]
are going to campaign to clarify their position because these questions are
asked in every home now,” Khan said.
Khan
also said the government could go to the President if he was guilty of
breaching any propriety and approach the court if he violated any law. He also
‘welcomed’ the CPM plan to conduct rallies and dharna against him and
challenged them to hold a public debate with him.
He
said the CPM central leadership has refused to side with the state leadership
on finance minister KN Balagopal’s earlier remarks that those accustomed to the
practices in places like Uttar Pradesh might not be able to understand the
democratic nature in which universities function in Kerala.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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In
Pakistan’s Sindh province, Hindu culture fights the odds
November
7, 2022
A
teenager from Pakistani Hindu community takes selfie with his phone while he
with others visit at the Sadhu Bela temple, located in an island on the Indus
River, in Sukkur, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
-----------
On
the sandy banks of the Indus River, which flows top to toe through Pakistan and
into its southern Sindh province, Hindus waited for brightly coloured boats to
ferry them to a peaceful island that has housed a temple for almost 200 years.
Cheers
rang out across the water as the marble and sandalwood Sadhu Bela temple
complex heaved into view. “Long live Sadhu Bela!” the boat’s passengers cried.
The
temple attracts tens of thousands of Hindus from within Muslim-majority
Pakistan every year for festivals and rituals, including the recent
celebrations of Diwali.
The
island was gifted to the Hindu community by wealthy Muslim landlords in Sindh
two centuries ago. It would have been an unthinkable act in modern-day
Pakistan, where Hindus are often marginalised, persecuted, and even killed.
Around
4 million Hindus live in Pakistan, or about 1.9 per cent of the country’s
population, and 1.4 million are in Sindh.
There
is no ban on Hindu worship in Pakistan, but Hindus say openly practicing the
faith is not a matter of routine. Decades of political hostility between India
and Pakistan present a challenge for the minority community, as many in
Pakistan equate Hindus with India. The reverse exists in India where Muslims
complain of discrimination.
But
the landscape of Pakistan, and Sindh in particular, retains their imprint. It
has temples, although their numbers have plummeted. There are Hindu-run
businesses as well as education and healthcare institutions, many established
before the country was created in 1947. They are part of Pakistan’s heritage,
even as Hindus are forced into the shadows.
As
Sadhu Bela came alive with the delight of devotees exploring the courtyards and
gardens, Dewan Chand Chawla, a local politician and general secretary of the
Pakistan Hindu Temple Management Committee, spoke proudly of the temple’s
origins and features. The shrine, which celebrates its bicentennial in 2023,
was built by craftsmen from the Indian city of Jodhpur and reflects the
architectural style of the Taj Mahal.
“A
large part of the Hindu population migrated to India after Pakistan came into
being, but those who stayed here are happy and prosperous,” Chawla said, keen
to stress the harmonious relationship between the Muslim majority and Hindu
minority. “I am thankful to the Muslim community of Pakistan, which fully
supports us on all occasions. We follow the law and we are supported by the
government.” His assertion about a happy and prosperous Hindu community is not
the majority view, however. Rights groups have long alleged that Pakistan is
not doing enough to protect Hindus’ freedom of religion and belief. They cite
temple desecrations, attacks on businesses, homes, and individuals and the abduction,
forced conversion, and forced marriage of young Hindu women.
Chawla
is not the only politician to emphasise an image of religious coexistence in
Pakistan. “Most of the Hindu population of the country live in Sindh province
satisfactorily, peacefully and without any fear or threat,” said Waqar Mahdi, a
senior advisor to Sindh’s chief minister.
Mahdi
said provincial officials have prioritized protecting the rights of minorities
like Hindus and Christians.
But
Zahida Rehman Jatt, a University of Sindh lecturer in anthropology and social
sciences, said there has been a surge in discrimination and marginalization of
Hindus because of rising extremism and fundamentalism in the country. This
intolerance risks undermining Pakistan’s ties to its Hindu heritage, she said.
“It’s
sad because their (Hindus’) contribution is huge to Pakistan,” she said. “Most
Pakistanis are not aware of the importance of Hindu heritage or the
contribution that Hindus — and Sikhs — made for the betterment of Pakistani
society.” Some Hindu-founded institutions had their names changed after
Pakistan was created, she said, citing Hyderabad’s Kundan Mal Girls’ School as
an example. It was founded in 1914 by Hindu philanthropist Saith Kundan Mal,
but is now known as Jamia Arabia Girls School. Such changes are one reason why
Pakistanis don’t know about the contribution of minority faiths, she said.
Other
institutions still bear the names of their Hindu benefactors, including a red
brick college and two hospitals in the city Shikarpur, around 35 kilometers
from Sukkur.
On
the first night of Diwali, one of the most important festivals in Hinduism,
clay lamps subtly illuminated doorways and windowsills in Shikarpur. But there
were no elaborate light displays or street festivities, and traditional Diwali
firecracker fun took place away from the public gaze.
The
city of about 200,000 people has a rich Hindu history and traditions, now
gradually fading.
One
of the keepers of that history can be found in a vast courtyard off a side
road. On a recent day in late October, sweet shop owner Dewan Narain Das, 67,
enjoyed the cool air. Vats of food bubbled away, children ran and played
outdoors, and people gathered to exchange Diwali gifts and good wishes on the
holy occasion.
His
family has owned a business in Shikarpur since the late 19th century. It
started as a soft drink store and, after partition, became a sweet shop. It is
famous in the city for falooda, an ice-cream-based dessert with noodles. Das is
so well-known in the city that it is easy to find him just by asking for “Dewan
Sahib, who owns the falooda shop.” “People who have lived here for a long time
say that the taste they enjoyed 20 years ago is still there in our products,”
said Das.
He
said Shikarpur once had a sizeable Hindu community and scores of temples, a
number that has since dwindled. “Rich people used to organize picnics at the
Indus River,” he said. “They used to live here, but their businesses spread to
Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai.” Many Hindus left after partition, and their
properties were taken over by a government trust. Today, Pakistan has a
population of some 225 million people.
Jatt,
the scholar, said that the properties were allotted to refugees coming into
newly created Pakistan from India. Most of the tenants paid minimal rent and
were often unable to take care of the properties. “They (the residents) are
very poor and these properties are grand, previously owned by wealthy Hindus,”
Jatt said.
After
partition, politicians trying to forge a Pakistani narrative emphasised the
Muslim heritage, downplaying the contributions of other communities, Jatt said.
“I
don’t think we will see this kind of legacy or contribution again from Hindus,
the opportunities are on the decline,” she said. “There may be individual cases
of philanthropy, but the scale of building and philanthropy will decrease.”
Source:
IndianExpress
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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US
Sanctions Members of Islamic State Cell Operating in South Africa
NOVEMBER
07, 2022
The
Treasury Department said the aim is to choke off support for the network and
stem the expansion in the region. (Shutterstock)
------------
Washington
on Monday announced sanctions targeting members of an Islamic State cell
operating in South Africa as well as companies they control, in retaliation for
their support of the terrorist group.
The
Treasury Department said the aim is to choke off support for the network and
stem the expansion in the region.
“Today,
Treasury is targeting key individuals in ISIS’s network in South Africa, as
well as their business assets, who have played pivotal roles in enabling
terrorism and other criminal activities in the region," said Brian E.
Nelson, Treasury’s top terrorist finance watchdog.
The
move blacklists four individuals and eight companies, freezing any US assets
and denying them the ability to use the US financial system.
“The
United States, as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, will continue to
partner with South Africa to deny ISIS the ability to exploit the country’s
economy to raise and move funds to support the growth of ISIS affiliates and
networks," Nelson said in a statement.
The
sanctions target members of the Durban, South Africa-based ISIS cell led by
Farhad Hoomer, who was previously targeted by sanctions. They are brothers
Nufael Akbar and Yunus Mohamad Akbar, as well as Mohamad Akbar and Umar Akbar.
The
companies hit with sanctions are MA Gold Traders (PTY) LTD, Bailey Holdings
(PTY) LTD, Flexoseal Waterproofing Solutions (PTY) LTD, HJ Bannister
Construction CC, Sultans Construction CC, Ashiq Jewellers CC, Ineos Trading
(PTY) LTD, and Shaahista Shoes CC.
Source:News18
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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Australian
white supremacist who killed 51 in New Zealand mosques appeals life sentence
November
8, 2022
WELLINGTON
- The Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 people at two New Zealand
mosques in 2019 will appeal his conviction and life sentence, a court officer
told AFP Tuesday.
Armed
with an arsenal of semi-automatic weapons, Brenton Tarrant had attacked Friday
worshippers at two mosques in March 2019, livestreaming the killings as he
went. His victims were all Muslim and included children, women, and the
elderly.
Tarrant
pleaded guilty in 2020 to 51 charges of murder and 40 counts of attempted
murder, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole –
the first time a whole-life term has been handed down in New Zealand.
“An
appeal against convictions and sentence has been filed,” Ms Liz Kennedy, a
spokesman in the Office of the Chief Justice, said Tuesday.
During
the sentence in August 2020, Judge Cameron Mander said he was imposing the
harshest possible term for Tarrant’s “inhuman” actions.
“Your
crimes are so wicked, that even if you are detained until you die it will not
exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation,” Judge Mander said at
the time.
Tarrant’s
lawyer, Mr Tony Ellis, had said that his client said his pleas were entered
under duress and “decided that the simplest way out was to plead guilty”.
After
Tarrant’s 17-minute livestream of his mosque attacks, Facebook said it removed
a staggering 1.5 million videos that proliferated within the first 24 hours
showing the harrowing viral footage. AFP
Source:StraitsTimes
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Situation
of Uighurs and Other Ethnic Turkic Muslims
November
07, 2022
The
United States will continue to shine a light on the PRC’s genocide and crimes
against humanity, against Uighurs and members of other religious and ethnic
minority groups in Xinjiang.
In
2017, reports emerged of severe restrictions on the freedoms of religion or
belief, movement, association and expression in Xinjiang, China, according to
the United Nations. These reports were later corroborated by numerous
open-source reports, including testimony from victims and their families. The
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights conducted its
own investigation and issued a report in late August, which concluded that “The
extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of the Uighur and
predominantly Muslim groups... may constitute international crimes, in
particular crimes against humanity” and notes that “serious human rights
violations have been committed” in Xinjiang through the use of “severe and
undue restrictions.” Other predominantly Muslim groups in Xinjiang include Hui,
and ethnic Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Mongol, and Tajik peoples.
On
October 26, a side event at the United Nations discussed the current human
rights situation of these minority groups in Xinjiang.
“The
long-awaited United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
report on Xinjiang laid out the [People’s Republic of China’s] human rights
violations in horrifying detail,” said U.S. Representative to the United
Nations Linda Thomas Greenfield.
“Forced
confessions and stringent sentences for baseless charges; discriminatory
detainment based on ethnic, religious, cultural identity and expression; cruel,
inhumane, degrading punishment.”
“These
and other findings leave no room for doubt,” said Ambassador Thomas Greenfield.
“The PRC has committed gross violations of human rights. Their actions are,
without question, crimes against humanity. The question before us is how will
we respond?
“The
United States will continue to shine a light on the PRC’s genocide and crimes
against humanity, against Uighurs and members of other religious and ethnic
minority groups in Xinjiang. We will continue to push the PRC to fully
implement the UN High Commissioner’s recommendations. And we will continue to
stand with Uighurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups,
and hold perpetrators accountable."
On
October 31, 50 countries signed a joint statement at the UN General Assembly
expressing grave concern about the human rights situation in the People’s
Republic of China, especially the ongoing human violations of Uighurs and other
predominantly Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang and urged the PRC to promptly
release those arbitrarily detained and clarify the fate and whereabouts of
those missing.
No
country is immune from scrutiny of its abuses against its own citizens.
Source:VOA
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://editorials.voa.gov/a/situation-of-uighurs-and-other-ethnic-turkic-muslims/6824202.html
--------
‘Cooperate
or perish’ UN chief Antonio Guterres tells world leaders at COP27
07
November, 2022
Humanity
must “cooperate or perish” in the face of accelerating climate change impacts,
UN chief Antonio Guterres told world leaders Monday at talks in Egypt on
curbing global warming.
In
the midst of a barrage of international crises – from the COVID-19 pandemic and
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to weather extremes battering economies and
shaking international relations – Guterres said the world is in “the fight of
our lives.”
“Humanity
has a choice: cooperate or perish,” he told the UN COP27 summit in the Red Sea
resort of Sharm el-Sheik. “It is either a Climate Solidarity Pact, or a
Collective Suicide Pact.”
Guterres
called for a “historic” deal between rich countries and emerging economies that
would aim to reduce emissions and keep the temperature rise to the more
ambitions Paris Agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the
pre-industrial era.
He
warned that, on the current trajectory, “we are on a highway to climate hell
with our foot still on the accelerator.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
South Asia
Taliban
is reaching your living rooms, and YouTubers are helping
KABIR
TANEJA
8
November, 2022
YouTube
content creators, including from India, have started to land in Afghanistan, a
year after a botched US-withdrawal and overnight collapse of the government of
Ashraf Ghani gave the keys to Kabul back to the Taliban. The videos shot by
Youtubers, watched by millions, show the Taliban in an opaque light, now
controlling over 40 million people once again since their first reign in the
1990s. In this era of social media and hyper-information, it is much easier,
and cheaper, for non-state militant groups to make themselves known in living
rooms across the world, and piggyback on this democratisation of information
for their own agendas. And they have got great success so far.
Media
has always been an integral part of propaganda for militant groups. From the
1990s, visuals of western press interviewing Osama bin Laden in the backdrop of
caves in rural Afghanistan are re-played even today. That was the era of cable
news, a sure shot way of getting your message across not just in the West, but
the entire world. The Taliban, much like others, used a variety of strategies
to get their opinions across, from ‘night letters’ or shabnamah, which were
on-paper diktats physically delivered to individuals or villages in the dead of
night, to running its website Alemara in the 2000s and finally taking on social
media in the 2010s.
Twitter
and Taliban
In
October this year, the Taliban ran a hashtag promotion on Twitter called
#UnitedAfghanistan. At one point, Twitter showed that over 1,25,000 tweets on
the platform were using the hashtag with many pro-Taliban social media accounts
also participating in making sure the message finds its legs online. The
hashtag in all probability was magnified further by using bots. The idea behind
this campaign by the Taliban was to promote the message, largely to the global
audience, that the Pashtun-led Taliban now in power sought a ‘united’
Afghanistan, made up of all ethnicities. It showed Taliban leaders with other
ethnic leaders in the country. And to dispel rumours of internal strife between
the prevailing power blocks of the Kandaharis and the Haqqanis, it showed
photos of Mullah Yaqoob, Taliban founder Mullah Omar’s son and acting defence
minister along with Sirajuddin Haqqani, of the notorious Haqqani Network who is
also the acting interior minister. Twitter has been a boon for the Taliban,
which as of today, has a very well devised, understood, and designed media
strategy. The Taliban know what kind of narrative the West wants to hear, and
approaches its interactions with foreign media with that in mind.
The
rise of so-called Islamic State (ISIS, or Daesh in Arabic) in Syria and Iraq
between 2014 and 2017, in a way revolutionised how non-state actors use social
media and the internet for well-imagined and executed propaganda. That
propaganda can also be used to influence newspaper and television news
programmes despite their editorial scrutiny.
The
ISIS ecosystem, fuelled by young and tech-savvy recruits, specifically from
Europe, developed robust information creation and distribution ecosystems that
prevail and are replicated even today. Many pro-ISIS cases in India during this
period were also radicalisation by the online materials and propaganda released
by ISIS and its affiliates. These included well-produced and high-definition
videos shot in Hollywood style action movies, online magazines with
infographics and data visualisation, and even podcasts. A lot of these
publications, at the peak of the Islamist group’s reign over territories that
at the time were as large in geography as the United Kingdom, continue to be
released despite the territorial defeat of the caliphate. Today, the Islamic
State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has its own propaganda outlets targeting India,
Pakistan, the Taliban in Afghanistan, Maldives, and South Asia in general. It
is imperative to remember here that two of the most destructive attacks
attributed to Islamic State took place in South Asia in Bangladesh in 2016 and Sri
Lanka in 2019.
Pro-IS
Sawt al Hind (or ‘Voice of Hind’ in English) magazine was first released in
February 2020 in the backdrop of communal riots in India’s capital New Delhi.
It sought to piggy-back on societal tensions to get its ideological message across,
targeting the Muslim population of the country at a time when the Indian
government is powered by the Hindu-nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
However, over the past three months, Sawt al Hind abruptly stopped publishing,
raising questions on how IS’ central leadership, ISKP and return of the Taliban
are having an impact in South Asia operations of these groups. Their propaganda
strategies now overwhelmingly rely on digital ecosystems, and they reach over a
billion people across the region through smartphones.
Content
at a cost
While
social media platforms and online services alike went after ISIS related
content, with mixed results, the Taliban has largely been able to maintain its
presence on services such as Twitter. In the run up to the fall of Kabul, the
Taliban, then in negotiations with the US, used Twitter to maximise its online
reach that arguably helped it soften its positioning within some quarters of
power. Even from the perspective of diplomacy, months into the talks some
Western diplomats had started to conform with some of the Taliban’s positions
and ‘grievances.’ While this cannot be attributed by any means solely to public
posturing, but the group’s dramatic increase in its online activities, aping
those done by any other state, have taken place in a planned manner. The
Taliban’s main spokesperson, who remained faceless up until August 2021,
Zabihullah Mujahid, had nearly 300,000 followers on Twitter then. Today, the
number tops over 700,000 followers.
The
question of whether tech platforms should take a decision to ban certain groups
or not has gained prominence over the years. Many platforms, including Twitter
and Telegram, have come under flack for serving as a site for groups such as
the Taliban and IS. These groups have co-opted smaller platforms with limited
resources when bigger platforms ban their content. The Taliban had already
found acceptance from Twitter when they were banned by Facebook. In August last
year, the group, including many of its members on terrorism lists of both the
US and UN, took over official social media handles of the erstwhile government
of Afghanistan. This was another conundrum for tech companies. Are the Taliban
seen as an extremist group, or as the de-facto state now operating official
government’s social media accounts? No official recognition was conferred by
the international community or the UN alike.
Source: ThePrint
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://theprint.in/opinion/taliban-is-reaching-your-living-rooms-and-youtubers-are-helping/1202687/
--------
Karzai
criticizes Pakistan for mistreating Afghan refugees
November
8, 2022
Former
Afghan President, Hamid Karzai has criticized Pakistan for mistreating Afghan
refugees who had to cross the border for safety following the collapse of
Afghan government last year.
Based
on the media reports, over 1,100 Afghan refugees including women and children
have been arrested and imprisoned in Sindh state of Pakistan, Hamid Karzai
tweeted on Monday.
The
former Afghan President, Hamid Karzai has expressed his concerns about the
mistreating of Pakistan’s government with the Afghan refugees and has called on
Pakistan’s administration to take health approaches towards the Afghan
immigrants in Pakistan and treat them based on the international laws and human
rights values.
Karzai
has also asked the United Nations and human rights organizations to monitor the
situation with the efforts of providing better living conditions for the Afghan
refugees in Pakistan and defend their basic rights.
This
comes as millions of Afghan refugees have been housed in different states of
Pakistan for multiple years, however, this number has tremendously increased
following the collapse of Afghanistan’s republic administration last year.
According
to Khaama Press’s monitoring desk, thousands of Afghans cross Turkham and Spin
Boldak borders on a daily basis, most of whom do not hold valid entry permit
and visas.
One
of the main motive behind the increasing number of Afghan immigrants in
Pakistan is the political instability and economic crisis in Afghanistan.
Thousands of Afghans have lost jobs after the international agencies and aid
organizations left Afghanistan last year.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/karzai-criticizes-pakistan-for-mistreating-afghan-refugees-97965/
--------
Kyrgyz
Envoy Meets Top Islamic Emirate Officials
November
8, 2022
In
a visit to Afghanistan, the special representative of the Kyrgyz president,
Talat Beg Mossadaqaf, met with the senior members of the Islamic Emirate in
Kabul.
Mossadaqaf
met with the first deputy of the prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar,
and second deputy of the prime minister, Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, as well as
deputy of the Foreign Ministry, Shir Mohammad Abas Stanekzai, and they
discussed political and economic issues as well as security threats from the
Afghan soil.
In
the meetings, the Kyrgyz envoy pledged to provide assistance to Afghanistan in
various sectors.
The
deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said that the Afghan
borders have been secured now more than ever.
“Our
borders are more secure than at any other time. The stance of the Islamic
Emirate is to prevent threats to any country because the Islamic Emirate
doesn't allow any threat to come from Afghan soil toward other countries,"
he said.
The
delegation of the Kyrgyz representative included officials from the Kyrgyz
embassy and security departments.
"Refering
to the recent clashes on the Kyrgyzstan border, Mr. Stanekzai stressed the need
to find solutions through talks. He also pledged the Islamic Emirate’s
cooperation in extending political and economic relations with Kyrgyzstan,”
said Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The
political analysts believe that the Islamic Emirate needs to strengthen its
security on the borders to eliminate the concerns of neighboring countries,
particularly the Central Asian countries.
“Kabul
doesn't intend to destabilize the region but it should bring reforms inside the
country to gain recognition by the regional countries," said Torek
Farhadi, a political analyst.
Source:
ToloNews
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-180649
--------
Haqqani
Asks Taliban Forces to Observe Personal Hygiene and Wear Fragrances
By
Saqalain Eqbal
November
7, 2022
Sirajuddin
Haqqani, the Taliban government’s Acting Minister of Interior Affairs, asked
the forces under his charge to practice good hygiene stay clean and wear
fragrances.
In
his presentation to the Taliban forces on Monday, the 7th of November, the
Taliban Acting Interior Minister, Haqqani, raised the matter of hygiene and urged
them to maintain it.
Online
social networks are rife with short tapes of Sirajuddin Haqqani’s speeches. In
the video, he can be heard laughing with the Taliban soldiers asking them to
observe personal hygiene as cleanness is pure and a sign of faith.
The
Afghan people, particularly those in Kabul, the Afghan capital, challenged the
Taliban’s practices of attire in the first year of the group in power and
mockingly urged them to take a bath on time.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
In
Geneva, UN panel holds hearings on Israeli rights violations in Palestinian
territories
07
November 2022
A
three-member rights panel at the United Nations has opened a series of public
hearings on Israeli human rights violations committed across the occupied
Palestinian territories.
The
five-day trials were initiated by the UN Independent International Commission
of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory in the Swiss city of Geneva on
Monday.
The
focus of the public hearings was reportedly on the closure orders of a number
of Palestinian organizations by Israel in August and the brutal assassination
of veteran Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the occupying regime in
May.
Rolando
Gomez, the UN Human Rights Council spokesman, said at a news briefing with
reporters that the hearings were being held to clarify contentious issues, with
both Israeli and Palestinian witnesses being allowed to testify.
Stressing
that Israel had not cooperated with the commission's work, Gomez said members
of the Israeli cabinet refused to participate in the investigation after they
dismissed the trials on the regime’s rights violations as “sham” and “biased.”
“This
current commission of inquiry is unique in that it is looking into human rights
abuse and violations, alleged human rights abuse and violations in both the
occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel. … And they are, of course,
impartial, independent investigators. So, any allegations of bias are
absolutely false. They are independent and impartial and will be looking at
both sides,” he said.
He
said that the commission of inquiry has called on Israel for its comments,
cooperation and access, but “they have not responded.”
Gomez
underlined that information is collected from victims and witnesses privately,
and that public testimony mitigates speculation and misinformation regarding
the work of the commission.
The
commission was established by the UN Human Rights Council after the 11-day
Israeli war on the besieged Gaza Strip in May last year, during which 250
Gazans, including women and children, lost their lives.
Abu
Akleh was shot in the head and killed by the Israeli army forces on May 11
while she was covering their raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied
West Bank. At the time of her killing, the 51-year-old journalist was wearing
easily-recognizable press attire. Multiple investigations by independent
organizations and media outlets have already concluded that Abu Akleh was
deliberately shot by Israeli forces.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
Captures All Perpetrators Behind Shah Cheragh Terror Attack
2022-November-7
The
Iranian Intelligence Ministry said in a statement its forces have conducted
uninterrupted intelligence and security activities following the terror attack
on the key religious site.
"The
investigations and operations have resulted in the identification and arrest of
all elements that have masterminded, perpetrated and supported the terrorist
attack," the statement read, noting that "a total of 26 Takfiri
terrorists have been captured".
Moreover,
a number of other elements that had entered Iran for a similar operation have
been detained, it added.
"All
of the arrestees are non-Iranian and are from the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Tajikistan and Afghanistan," the ministry declared.
"The
main element that guided and coordinated the attack in Iran was a citizen of
the Republic of Azerbaijan that had flown from Baku’s Heydar Aliyev
International Airport to Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran,"
it said.
The
statement added that the person had informed the coordinator element in the
Republic of Azerbaijan immediately after arriving in Tehran and had also
contacted the main operation coordinator of Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS)
inside Afghanistan and communicated with the network of foreign nationals of
Daesh as well to notify them of his presence in Tehran.
The
intelligence ministry said the element that had provided support for the bloody
attack in Shiraz was an Afghan man, named ‘Mohammad Ramez Rashidi’, operating
under the alias ‘Abu Basir’, while the man that fired shots at the holy shrine
was a Tajik citizen named ‘Sobhan Komruni’, operating under the alias ‘Abu
Ayesha’.
The
terrorists have been arrested in the provinces of Fars, Tehran, Alborz, Kerman,
Qom and Khorasan Razavi, the statement added, noting that a number of others
have been caught as they were trying to flee the country from the Eastern
borders.
The
ministry also noted that a number of those terrorists were planning another
terrorist attack in the Southeastern city of Zahedan.
At
least 15 people, including a woman and two children, were martyred and 19
others wounded in the terrorist attack on the famous shrine.
Daesh
terror group has claimed responsibility for the assault in a statement on their
telegram channel.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Top
Commander: Advanced Air Defense System Capable of Confronting 5th-Generation
Fighters
2022-November-7
New
edition of Iran’s domestically-designed and manufactured missile defense
system, Bavar-373, with an extended engagement range of 300 kilometers, called
Sayyad 4B was unveiled on Sunday.
Brig.
Gen. Sabahifard stated on Sunday that Bavar-373 is capable of countering the
fifth-generation fighter jets which have a low-observable Radar Cross Section
(RCS).
The
senior commander noted that Iranian technicians have managed to extend the
range of the homegrown air defense missile system to over 300 kilometers in
less than two years.
Bavar-373
is beyond the level of today’s threats in the world, he continued, stressing
that Tehran continues to upgrade the system.
“Today
everybody knows that our equipment is at the cutting edge of the modern world’s
technology,” the military official stated.
Addressing
the unveiling ceremony, Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza
Ashtiani announced that Bavar-373 defense system has the capability of
confronting ballistic missiles.
He
said this missile defense can deal with stationary aerial targets, ballistic
missiles and all kinds of fighter and bomber planes.
The
defense minister added that his ministry has the mission of providing the armed
forces with weapons and equipment to confront the threats to the country.
Brig.
Gen. Ashtiani reiterated that the defense system can destroy 6 targets, and
many countries with technology in the world are keen on having such a system.
He
pointed out that this system will definitely play a significant role in
improving the combat capability of Iran's armed forces.
According
to a report in the long-range test of the Bavar-373 system, a stationary target
was detected at a range of more than 450 kilometers by the optimized radar of
the Bavar 373 system, and it was tracked at a range of about 405 kilometers and
was hit and destroyed at a range of more than 300 kilometers.
The
Bavar-373 system detection radar was said to have increased from 350 to 450
kilometers, and the range of its engagement range has risen from 260 to 400
kilometers, the report added.
It
also noted that the missile range has gone from 200 to 300 kilometers, and its
engagement altitude has increased from 27 to 32 kilometers.
The
report also announced the launching of the Sayad B4 missile’s production line,
saying the long-range missile, running on solid propellant, was operationally
evaluated for the first time.
Air
Defense Commander: Iran Monitoring Enemies' Trans-Border Movementshttps://t.co/rD9qvPPX6P
pic.twitter.com/oKtFUlK0uI
—
Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) September 3, 2022
Iran
unveiled the state-of-the-art surface-to-air Bavar 373 missile defense system,
designed and manufactured by the country's experts, in August 2019.
It
is a mobile missile defense system designed to intercept and destroy incoming
hostile targets. The system employs missiles that have a maximum range of 300
kilometers. The system is capable of simultaneously detecting up to 300
targets, tracking 60 targets at once and engaging six targets at a time.
Iranina
military officials say the Bavar 373 missile defense system is one of the most
important defense achievements of the country after the victory of the Islamic
Revolution.
Military
officials say the military power of Iran is strong, extraordinary and deterrent
despite enemy sanctions and pressures, and hail the country's defense sector
for its remarkable developments in the recent decades. They stress the Iranian
Armed Forces’ deterrent power dissuades the United States and Israel from
implementing its threats against the country.
The
Islamic Republic’s military doctrine holds that the country’s armed capability
solely serves defensive purposes.
Iranian
military experts and technicians have in recent years made substantial headway
in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces
self-sufficient in the weaponry sphere.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
IRGC
Busts 3 MKO-Linked Terror Networks in Separate Operations
2022-November-7
The
members of the three terrorist teams, detained in the provinces of Khuzestan,
Fars and Isfahan, had plans to carry out acts of sabotage and terrorist
attacks, the IRGC announced in a statement.
The
teams had absorbed rioters and made connections among them, and had hatched
plots to attack administrative, security and law enforcement centers, vandalize
public properties, and assassinate citizens, it added.
The
ringleaders of the groups had given their operational elements a series of
instructions in the past recent weeks, the statement read.
Iran
has in recent months dismantled several terrorist cells working for the MKO
terror group. The militants were involved in making explosives and hand-made
bombs and linked to foreigners and planned to carry out counter-security acts
and set up operational groups to direct the riots in Iran.
In
late October, Iranian security forces defused a bomb in Shiraz that was set to
detonate concurrent with a deadly terrorist attack in the Southwestern Iranian
city.
The
bomb attempt comes as 15 pilgrims, including a woman and two children, lost
their lives and at least 19 others were wounded after a heavily-armed terrorist
opened indiscriminate fire at Shah Cheragh, a highly revered Shia shrine in
Shiraz. Shortly after the attack, the Daesh (also known as ISIL or ISIS) terror
group claimed responsibility.
After
the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the MKO terrorist group began its enmity
against Iran by killing thousands of Iranians and terrorist activities. Several
members of the terrorist group and its leaders are living in European countries
now, freely conducting terrorist activities.
The
MKO terrorist group has martyred 17,161 Iranian citizens and officials,
including late president Mohammad Ali Rajayee, former Prime Minister Mohammad
Javad Bahonar, late Head of Supreme Judicial Council Ayatollah Mohammad
Beheshti, late Deputy Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff Ali
Sayyad Shirazi, and 27 legislators, as well as four nuclear scientists, some on
itself and some others through collusion with Israeli Mossad and other
notorious spy agencies like CIA.
The
MKO terrorist group has publicly specified targets as martyred Lieutenant
General Qassem Soleimani, who commanded the Quds Force of the IRGC, and Iranian
President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi.
The
terrorist organization said it would “welcome” their assassination, adding that
it desired for the ranking officials to “join” Asadollah Lajevardi, Tehran’s
former chief prosecutor, and Ali Sayyad-Shirazi, a former commander of the
Iranian Army’s Ground Forces during Iraq’s 1980-88 war against Iran, who have
both been assassinated by the terror outfit.
The
MKO is currently based in Albania, where it enjoys freedom of activity after
being delisted by the European Union and the United States in 2009 and 2012,
respectively.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Judiciary
Chief: US, UK, Israel Waging Hybrid War Against Iran
2022-November-7
"The
recent unrest in Iran were instigated by the enemies, who made every effort to
stop Tehran's progress after sanctions policy failed," Eje’i noted Monday.
The
judiciary chief described "the riots as part of the hybrid war against
Iran" waged by the foes, namely the United States, the United Kingdom and
the Zionist regime, but failed.
"Their
cohorts inside Iran helped them to undermine the country's security and stop
the country's progress," he stressed.
"The
enemies were angered by the fact the country was making progress and expanding
economic and trade relations with the regional and neighboring countries
despite the sanctions and sought to stop the trend," Eje’i pointed out.
He
was echoing comments Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf who noted
the US and its network of spies had devised a “complex and special plan” for
recent riots in the country but failed again.
“America
and their spying network and sabotage agents had devised a complex and special
plan in recent incidents, but like in the past, they again made a mistake in
the face of the alert Iranian nation,” he stated.
Iran’s
Intelligence Ministry and the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic
Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) have recently issued an explanatory joint
statement, describing various aspects of the recent riots in the country.
The
two top intelligence bodies pointed to the major role of foreign intelligence
agencies, especially the CIA, in orchestrating the riots in Iran in the past
weeks.
“Intelligence
evidence shows that the CIA had devised an extensive plan with the cooperation
of allied spy services and reactionary proxies before the start of the unrest
to initiate a nationwide chaos with the aim of committing crimes against the
great Iranian nation and the country’s territorial integrity as well as paving
the ground for increasing foreign pressures,” it revealed.
According
to available information, the statement maintained, “the CIA played the main
role” while closely cooperating with the spy services of the UK, the Israeli
regime, and Saudi Arabia.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a
22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police station in mid-September and
days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The demonstrations soon turned
violent.
An
official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization announced that Amini’s
controversial death was caused by an illness rather than alleged blows to the
head or other vital body organs.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
Supreme
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured
the deadly riots, saying they were orchestrated in advance by the United States
and the Israeli regime.
“I
state it clearly that these developments were planned by America, the Zionist
regime and their acolytes. Their main problem is with a strong and independent
Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian nation proved to be fairly strong
during recent events and will bravely come onto the scene wherever necessary in
the future,” he added.
In
recent days, Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the European
Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal affairs over
the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
Border Guards Seize 600 Weapons in Less Than 2 Months
2022-November-7
"In
the last 45 days, Iranian border guards have annihilated several arms and
ammunition smuggling gangs and discovered about 600 weapons," Brig. Gen.
Goudarzi noted.
Seizure
of arms grew 26 percent while being compared with the preceding year, he added.
The
senior commander stressed that the recent unrest resulted from "the US and
the children-killer regime of Israel and their agents" inside the country
created problems for the security of “our dear citizens".
The
border guards seriously stand against any move to break the law, he underlined.
“Our
border guards are the strong fortress of the holy system of the Islamic
Republic of Iran,” the border guards commander underscored.
Iranian
security forces have identified and dismantled several anti-security groups
across the country in recent months. Hundreds of weapons, including US-made
arms, were seized in the operations.
The
raid on the arms smuggling groups comes as terrorist groups have in recent
weeks ramped up their activities to undermine the security of the country by
hijacking rallies over the death of a 22-year-old Iranian woman to foment
unrest and chaos.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini who fainted
at a police station in mid-September and days later was pronounced dead at a
hospital. The demonstrations soon turned violent.
An
official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization announced that Amini’s
controversial death was caused by an illness rather than alleged blows to the
head or other vital body organs.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
Supreme
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured
the deadly riots, saying they were orchestrated in advance by the United States
and the Israeli regime.
“I
state it clearly that these developments were planned by America, the Zionist
regime and their acolytes. Their main problem is with a strong and independent
Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian nation proved to be fairly strong
during recent events and will bravely come onto the scene wherever necessary in
the future,” he added.
In
recent days, Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the European
Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal affairs over
the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Tehran
reminded that the countries, which, themselves, towed a "long history of
warmongering and violence" throughout the world, lacked the legitimacy
that could authorize them to "moralize others" concerning the human
rights.
Iran’s
Intelligence Ministry has announced that the United States and the United
Kingdom were “directly” involved in the recent riots across the country.
Dozens
of terrorists affiliated with the Zionist regime and anti-revolution groups
have been detained during the recent days of unrest, the ministry said in a
Friday statement.
The
Iranian Intelligence Ministry underlined that 49 MKO terrorists had been
arrested for actively propagating fake news, inciting the rioters to organize
acts of terror and destruction, directing slogans and being present on the
streets to damage public property.
The
ministry added 77 members of anti-Iran terrorist groups had also been arrested
in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
The
statement pointed to the detention of five members of Takfiri terrorist outfits
with 36 kilograms of explosives that were to be used to carry out bombings in
gatherings.
The
ministry further underscored 92 people affiliated with the former US-backed
Pahlavi regime had been identified and arrested in the riots. It added that
nine nationals from Germany, Poland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and
Sweden, among others, were arrested during the riots.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
Deputy FM Blames US for Abusing Int'l Bodies
2022-November-7
Deputy
foreign ministers of Russia, Venezuela and Cuba, who are in Tehran to attend
the 1st Meeting of Coordinators of National Group of Friends to Support UN
Charter, had separate meetings with Baqeri Kani on Sunday.
The
Iranian diplomat referred in the meetings to the miscellaneous and numerous
capacities in any of the member countries of the Coordinators of National Group
of Friends to Support UN Charter, and reiterated, "Combining the
political, economic, legal, and media capacities of the independent countries
versus the totalitarian approach of the Americans and their western allies,
will decrease the imposed pressure."
"The
US take advantage of the international organizations and foundations faultily
against the independent countries to secure its own illegitimate
interests," he stated.
The
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vreshnin criticized the US policies in
taking instrumental advantage of the human rights issue, emphasizing that the
UN Secretariat Office must heed its responsibilities and Tehran-Moscow
cooperation to counter the west's political and economic pressure is of extreme
importance.
The
Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Julio Martinez, and the Cuban Deputy
Foreign Minister Elio Rodríguez Perdomo, too, in separate meetings with Baqeri
Kani stressed the need for increased economic cooperation and resistance
against the US totalitarian approach in various fields, and noted that
safeguarding the independent countries' interests is a dire necessity.
The
US launched the so-called maximum pressure campaign of sanctions against Iran
in May 2018, after unilaterally exiting the 2015 nuclear deal.
Tehran
has repeatedly denounced the sanctions as an act of “economic war”, “economic
terrorism”, and “medical terrorism”.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010816000146/Iranian-Depy-FM-Blames-US-fr-Absing-In'l-Bdies
--------
Iran,
Russia Discuss Regional, International Developments
2022-November-7
Referring
to the improved stability and security in Syria, the senior Iranian diplomat
urged the need for economic reconstruction in the country and alleviating the
suffering of the Syrian people.
Khaji
also underlined the significance of extending a ceasefire deal in Yemen to help
proceed with political dialogue to bring about peace and stability in the
country.
Khaji,
meanime, stressed the need for the expansion of mutual cooperation between Iran
and Russia, as well as increased support by the international community to help
with the reconstruction process in Syria.
The
Iranian and Russian diplomats also discussed the developments in Libya and
Yemen, and called for preserving solidarity and territorial integrity in the
country without the intervention of the foreigners.
In
a relevant development in early September, Khaji asked for continued ceasefire
in Yemen and complete lift of the siege on the poor war-torn country.
Khaji
made the remarks in a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General’s Special
Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg.
During
the meeting, Khaji called for the rapid removal of obstacles to the transfer of
humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, particularly the lifting of the
country's economic blockade.
Grundberg,
for his part, outlined the steps taken by the United Nations to advance peace
talks in Yemen, stressing the need for continued political dialogue aimed at
building more confidence between the parties.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010816000572/Iran-Rssia-Discss-Reginal-Inernainal-Develpmens
--------
UK-based
news channel says journalists threatened by Iran’s IRGC
07
November, 2022
A
UK-based news channel aimed at Iranian viewers said on Monday it was “shocked
and deeply concerned” by threats from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
(IRGC) against its journalists in London.
“Two
of our British-Iranian journalists have, in recent days, been notified of an
increase in the threats to them. The Metropolitan Police have now formally
notified both journalists that these threats represent an imminent, credible
and significant risk to their lives and those of their families,” Iran
International said in a statement.
“Other
members of our staff have also been informed directly by the Metropolitan
Police of separate threats,” it added.
The
Persian-language channel said the threats against its UK-based journalists mark
a “significant and dangerous escalation of a state-sponsored campaign to
intimidate Iranian journalists working abroad.”
Iran
International was launched in 2017 and is owned by Volant Media.
The
reported threats against Iran International journalists come amid anti-regime
protests that have rocked Iran since the death in police custody of 22-year-old
Mahsa Amini on September 16.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
‘Like
an execution:’ Palestinian NGOs detail Israeli crackdown
07
November, 2022
Israel’s
decision to outlaw several Palestinian rights groups as terrorist organizations
was “like an execution” designed to stop them from probing abuses, the head of
one of the bodies told UN investigators on Monday.
Israel
last year designated six Palestinian civil society groups as “terrorist” bodies
and ordered them shuttered, sparking widespread international outrage.
It
was the focus of a first series of public hearings hosted by a high-level team
of investigators appointed last year by the United Nations Human Rights Council
to probe the underlying causes in the decades-long Middle East conflict.
The
first week of hearings, which have been harshly criticized by Israel, will also
address the killing in May of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu
Akleh.
“In
these proceedings, we are not drawing any conclusions or making any
judgements,” lead investigator Navi Pillay, a former UN rights chief from South
Africa, told the gathering via video link.
Shawan
Jabarin, the head of legal-aid human rights group al-Haq, was the first to take
the floor.
He
charged that the “terrorist” designation in October had come after a years-long
smear campaign against his organization, including efforts to get backers to
drop their support, as well as death threats against him and other colleagues.
The
designation, which he said was justified with “a secret file,” was “like an
execution,” aimed at halting his organization from examining a vast array of
rights abuses.
“We
will not stop. Yes, they can they can detain us, they can arrest us, they can
put us in prisons, they can kill us... but they can’t change our beliefs... We
will continue fighting against the culture and the policy of impunity.”
Although
not unprecedented, it is unusual for UN investigative teams to hold public
hearings with witnesses.
But
in this case, the investigators had determined it was important to be as
transparent as possible as they conduct their work to mitigate accusations of
bias.
Israel,
which has refused to cooperate, was meanwhile not convinced.
“Over
the upcoming five days, the UN Commission of Inquiry targeting Israel intends
to simultaneously play judge, jury, and executioner by holding so-called public
hearings,” the Israeli mission in Geneva said in a statement.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
summons Norway’s envoy over ‘interventionist’ comments in support of protests
07
November, 2022
Iran
summoned on Monday Norway’s ambassador to Tehran over “interventionist”
comments by the president of the Norwegian parliament in support of Iranian
protesters, state media reported.
Masud
Gharakhani, an Iranian-born Norwegian politician and president of the country’s
parliament, expressed support on Friday for the ongoing anti-regime protests in
Iran in an interview with London-based television channel Iran International.
“You’ve
been in power for 44 years, enough is enough,” Gharakhani said in a message to
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the interview.
Iran
had also summoned Norway’s ambassador in September over “interfering and
unconstructive comments about the internal affairs of Iran” made by Gharakhani
regarding the protests.
Protests
sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini have rocked
Iran since September 16. Demonstrators have been chanting against Khamenei and
calling for regime change.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
‘I’ve
grown up,’ far-rightist tells Israelis worried about his rise
07
November, 2022
A
far-rightist lined up for a senior post in the next Israeli government sought
on Monday to reassure the country’s minorities that he would safeguard them,
but he made no mention of Palestinians who feel especially threatened by his
rise.
Having
won an election last week, conservative former prime minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s most powerful likely coalition ally is Religious Zionism, a party
led by ultranationalist Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.
One
of them, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has received intense scrutiny in Israel and abroad
due to past actions including membership in the outlawed militant group Kach, a
criminal conviction for anti-Arab incitement, and the heckling of Gay Pride
parades.
“I’ve
grown up, I’ve moderated and I’ve come to understand that life is more
complicated,” Ben-Gvir, 46, said in a front-page article in the
biggest-circulation Israel Hayom newspaper.
The
overture came a day after the Religious Zionism co-head drew center-left ire by
suggesting the state had a hand in the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin by a Jewish zealot bent on stopping territorial handovers to
Palestinians.
Rightists
were correct to protest Rabin’s policies, Bezalel Smotrich said at a memorial ceremony
in parliament. He said security services had “used irresponsible manipulation,
which to this day has not been fully exposed, to encourage the murderer.”
He
appeared to be alluding to the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency’s running
of an agent provocateur among far-rightists in the run-up to the assassination
- a matter addressed by a state commission of inquiry and court trials.
In
his article, titled “A Letter to My Brethren on the Left,” Ben-Gvir said
nothing about US-sponsored Israeli talks on Palestinian statehood, which
stalled in 1994 and which the Biden administration said on Saturday that it
wants to revive.
Religious
Zionism, like other Israeli parties on the right, opposes Palestinian
statehood. Ben-Gvir has further called for dismantling the interim Palestinian
Authority which governs in parts of the West Bank, a move that would
effectively return Palestinians to open-ended Israeli rule without national
rights.
Focusing
on internal issues, Ben-Gvir, who wants to become police minister, wrote that
he would tackle crime racking Israel’s Arabs - a minority whose expulsion he
once advocated.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Jordan
warns Israeli PM of diplomatic pitfalls if al-Aqsa status quo changed
08
November 2022
Jordan
has warned that bilateral ties with Israel will suffer if the incoming ruling
coalition tries to change al-Aqsa Mosque status quo.
The
warning, reported by an Israeli public broadcaster, underlined the potential
diplomatic pitfalls awaiting Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu who plans to form
a cabinet with far-right hardliners.
“Any
attempt to change the status quo on the Temple Mount will definitely harm ties
between Jordan and Israel,” the broadcaster quoted an unnamed Jordanian source,
referring to al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
The
source took specific aim at Itamar Ben Gvir, head of the extremist Otzma
Yehudit party and a crucial partner in the ruling coalition, who has made a
point of touring the site during times of increased tensions.
Gvir
and others in his party are longtime and well-known advocates of unlawful
Jewish prayer rights at al-Aqsa Mosque. The Jordanian source warned that visits
by Gvir and his other “provocations” would be a whole different story if he
does so as a minister.
Jordan's
ruling Hashemite family has been the sole custodian of the Muslim and Christian
holy sites in East al-Quds, including al-Aqsa Mosque, since 1924.
Under
the mosque status quo, only Muslims are allowed to worship within the compound
while non-Muslims may visit the site, but are not allowed to pray there.
Al-Quds-based
Islamic Waqf has repeatedly denounced the tours of Israeli settlers to al-Aqsa
Mosque as "provocative", claiming that Palestinian worshipers and
guards at the mosque feel insecure in the presence of trigger-happy Israeli
troops and settlers.
Last
May, frequent acts of violence against Palestinian worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque
led to an 11-day war between Palestinian resistance groups in the besieged Gaza
Strip and Israel, during which the regime killed at least 260 Palestinians,
including 66 children.
Netanyahu
who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2021, has won elections despite
standing charges of corruption and political dysfunction. Netanyahu and his
right-wing allies are about to form the most extremist regime in the history of
Israel.
During
Netanyahu's term as prime minister, ties with Amman hit a low point.
Source:
Press TV
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--------
Israeli
settlers spray Palestinian-owned olive trees with toxins
07
November 2022
Israeli
settlers have attacked Palestinian-owned farming land in the occupied West
Bank, and sprayed olive trees with chemicals at the peak of the harvest season.
Ghassan
Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors settler activities, said the
incident took place in the town of Jaloud, near the southern city of Nablus,
Palestine's official Wafa news agency reported on Monday.
The
settlers sneaked into the land and sprayed 60 trees, ruining all of them.
Settlers
escorted by Israeli soldiers have ramped up raids into the Palestinian land of
olive trees in the recent past.
Every
year during the olive harvest season, violent settlers disrupt Palestinian
farmers’ movement toward their fields and often damage or steal their crops.
They also often set the trees on fire or cut them down.
Olives
are a primary source of income for Palestinian farmers. The harvest season,
which runs between October and November, is a lifeline for 80,000 to 100,000
Palestinian families in the West Bank.
According
to United Nations data, virtually half of the Palestinian agricultural land is
planted with an estimated 10 million olive trees in the West Bank and the besieged
Gaza Strip.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/11/07/692332/Palestinian-olive-trees-Israeli-settlers
--------
Africa
South
Africa: Probe into Anti-Apartheid Activist Imam Haron's Death Reopens
7
NOVEMBER 2022
Cape
Town — The inquest into the death of Imam Abdullah Haron was reopened today,
and the case is now under way at the High Court in Cape Town, EWN reports.
In
his opening remarks, Judge Daniel Thulare said that during the two weeks
dedicated to the inquest he hoped to "engage, in public ... in a thorough,
proper, full and fair investigation of the cause or likely cause of death of
Imam Abdullah Haron and that we are in truth able to determine whether the
death was brought about by any act or omission prima facie involving or
amounting to an offence on the part of any person".
According
to IOL, Thulare then called on the public to come forward and provide relevant
evidence that may assist the investigation to determine what happened to Haron.
The
apartheid activist was arrested and incarcerated under under section 6 of the
Terrorism Act between May 28 and September 27, 1969. Haron died during his
detention at the age of 45. The inquest comes more than 53 years after the
fact.
Source:
AllAfrica
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://allafrica.com/stories/202211070543.html
--------
Ethiopian
government, Tigray officials meet in Nairobi to continue peace talks
07.11.2022
NAIROBI,
Kenya
Officials
from the Ethiopian government and Tigray forces on Monday met for a second
round of peace talks in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The
Africa Union organized the talks on “implementation of the cessation of
hostilities agreement” between Ethiopia and the Tigray Peoples' Liberation
Front (TPLF).
Former
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who hosted the talks, told the media on the
sidelines of the talks that he is very optimistic that Ethiopia will finally
find a long-term solution to the civil strife that led to a recently ended
two-year war.
“We
are here as facilitators convinced that these brothers who know each other very
well will be able to work and formulate together the best way to bring a
permanent cessation and resolution to the problem,” Kenyatta said.
“I
am certain that at the conclusion of this process, they are colleagues that
will be working together for the betterment of Ethiopia, for the benefit of our
region and ultimately join us all in our struggle to make Africa a better place
and to end and silence the guns permanently,” he told representatives from the
Ethiopian government and the TPLF.
Former
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the African Union’s high representative
for the Horn of Africa, told a news conference that with the talks, both
parties are inching closer to a permanent solution.
“The
first sign for me of the progress after the signing of the agreement is the
fact that between them they have exchanged a hotline,” he said.
The
hotline will coordinate disengagements in the event of any reported combat
between forces, address any escalation in hostilities, and facilitate
communication between senior commanders of both sides.
According
to the African Union, the meeting should also provide a roadmap for immediate
humanitarian access and restoration of services in the northern Tigray region.
The expected outcomes of the conference include modalities for silencing guns,
humanitarian access, and restoring services in the region.
The
meeting is facilitated by Obasanjo together with Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo
Ngcuka, former deputy president of South Africa.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Nigerian
Air Force says it killed 2 top Daesh/ISIS terrorists
Ibrahim
Garba Shuaibu
07.11.2022
KANO,
Nigeria
The
Nigerian Air Force said on Monday that it had killed top members of the
terrorist group ISWAP during airstrikes in the northeast.
Edward
Gabkwet, an air force spokesperson, said in a statement that ISWAP commanders
Ali Kwaya and Bukar Mainoka were neutralized during an operation near Lake
Chad. They were members of the group's so-called consultation council.
The
group, associated with the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group, is primarily active in
the Chad Basin, and fights an extensive insurgency against the states of
Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
Gabkwet
said: “Our path to victory in the northeast remains on course and we won’t
relent until all locations are free of terrorists and insurgents."
He
said the operation came in light of intelligence that some ISWAP leaders and
fighters from surrounding areas were headed to a meeting to plan more attacks.
Nigerian
Air Force fighter aircraft sent to the location of the terrorists’ meeting at
Belowa engaged the ISWAP elements with rockets and bombs in multiple passes,
according an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
10
dead as Al-Shabab attack Somali military base
November
07, 2022
MOGADISHU:
At least 10 soldiers were killed when Somalia’s Al-Shabab militants assaulted a
military base in the central Galgaduud region on Monday, a military officer
said, days after government forces said they had regained control of the area.
The
army eventually pushed the militants out of the base in Qayib, a village
captured from Al-Shabab last week, Defense Ministry spokesperson Abdullahi Ali
Anod told the state news agency SONNA.
Major
Mohamed Farah, a military officer in the nearby town of Bahdo, said 10 soldiers
and 20 Al-Shabab fighters were killed.
“Our
forces are now pursuing the Al-Shabab fighters in the jungles. There is
sporadic gunfire as we chase them,” he said.
Ahmed
Hassan, another military officer in Bahdo, told Reuters the attack began with
two suicide car bombs, followed by hours of heavy fighting.
“Al-Shabab
torched the telecommunication station of the town, and so it is off the air
now,” Hassan said.
One
car bomb hit a military truck guarding the base entrance, while the other was
blown up outside, he said.
In
a statement, Al-Shabab spokesperson Abdiasis Abu Musab said the group launched
the assault in Qayib using suicide car bombs before its fighters attacked from
different directions.
The
fighters killed 37 soldiers and stole weapons and military vehicles, he added.
The
government’s and Al-Shabab’s casualty numbers often differ.
Government
forces, supported by clan militias, have made a number of battlefield gains
against Al-Shabab in the last three months, regaining territory long held by
the group.
In
response, Al-Shabab killed at least 120 people in twin car bombs at the
Education Ministry in the capital Mogadishu on Oct. 29, the deadliest blasts in
five years.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2195036/world
--------
India
UP
Court To Pronounce Verdict On Plea Seeking To Worship 'Shivling' Inside
Gyanvapi Mosque
08
NOV 2022
A
fast-track court in Uttar Pradesh today will deliver its verdict today on a
plea seeking worship of the 'Shivling' that was allegedly found inside the
Gyanvapi Mosque premises as claimed by the Hindu side.
The
Civil Judge Senior Division Fast Track court will deliver its verdict on the
three main demands by the litgant which include the permission for the
immediate beginning of prayer of Swayambhu Jyotirlinga Bhagwan Vishweshwar, the
handing over of the entire Gyanvapi complex to the Hindus, and banning the
entry of Muslims inside the premises of the Gyanvapi complex, according to a
report by ANI.
Currently,
the Muslim side is allowed to offer prayers.
Earlier,
advocate Anupam Dwivedi, appearing for the Hindu side, said that the fast-track
court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Mahendra Pandey heard the arguments of
both sides and reserved its order on the suit till November 8.
In
an earlier hearing in October, the Varanasi court had refused to allow a
'scientific investigation' of the purported 'Shivling'.
The
Court ruled that the plea for 'scientific investigation' cannot be allowed
since the Supreme Court has ordered the sealing of the place where the
'Shivling' was found, according to legal news website Lawbeat.
When
the Muslim side demanded that the structure found was a 'fountain', the Hindu
side, on September 22, had filed a plea demanding carbon dating of the
structure they claimed to be a 'Shivling' found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque's
wazukhana.
Carbon
dating is a scientific process used commonly in archaeology to understand the
age of an object.
The
Hindu petitioners seeking carbon dating have said they would go to higher
courts to pursue their cause.
"We
will move to Supreme Court against this order and challenge it there. I cannot
announce the date as of now, but we will soon challenge this order in Supreme
Court," said Advocate Vishnu Jain, appearing for the petitioners.
On
September 29, in another hearing, the Hindu side demanded a scientific
investigation of the 'Shivling' by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
However, the Varanashi Court had rejected the plea by stating, "It would
not be proper to order the survey of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and
by giving such order the age, nature, and structure of the said Shivling is
known, even this does not imply the possibility of a just solution."
Further,
referring to the order of May 17, the Varanasi Court earlier said that if the
Shivling is damaged during the process of investigation, then that would stand
in direct violation of the Supreme Court order.
Source:OutlookIndia
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--------
Congress
in Kerala hails Supreme Court verdict upholding EWS quota; Muslim League
expresses anxiety
November
8, 2022
The
Congress in Kerala welcomed Monday’s Supreme Court verdict upholding the
validity of the 103rd Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees 10 per
cent reservation for economically weaker sections in admissions to educational
institutions and government jobs. But its ally Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML), the largest party representing the Muslims in Kerala, expressed anxiety
over the verdict.
Meanwhile,
Nair Service Society (NSS), the outfit of upper caste Hindu Nair community in
Kerala, welcomed the verdict. Traditionally pro-Congress, the NSS has been at
the forefront of the fight seeking reservation for economically weaker sections
in the forward communities.
Congress
state president K Sudhakaran stated that the reservation for the weaker
sections in the forward communities has been a long standing demand of the
party. “But the 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker sections should
not affect the existing reservation system. Their (backward communities)
reservation should not be hurt in any manner. At the same time, reservation
should be given for the economically backward sections in the forward
communities,” he said.
Senior
IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty said the verdict causes anxiety. “The verdict
would dilute the Constitutional provisions for the reservation for the weaker
sections. The social and economic backwardness due to caste factors had
happened over centuries. It is still prevailing and it is not over within half
a century. This verdict would deny social justice to the backward
communities,’’ he said.
Source:IndianExpress
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--------
Day
after AAP yatra, Ahmedabad Muslim-majority areas ‘in no hurry to shift from
Cong to party we don’t know’
by
Rashi Mishra
November
8, 2022
ON
Saturday evening, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that has been noticeably silent on
Muslim issues in its Gujarat campaign, particularly related to the 2002 riots,
took out a Tiranga Yatra through the predominantly Muslim areas of Ahmedabad.
The first such yatra by AAP through these constituencies was led by the party’s
star campaigner and Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann.
AAP
might be seen as a threat essentially to the Congress in the state, but here in
seats currently represented by Congress MLAs, the day after AAP’s yatra, most
people say they are not going to change their political loyalty.
Sarfaraz
Seth owns Bismillah Hotel in Shah-e-Alam area, located just three shops away
from the AAP local office. A banner at the entrance displays the party’s symbol
broom, and photos of AAP supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Mann, party’s
state president Gopal Italia, and its CM face Isudan Gadhvi.
The
areas that AAP covered during its Saturday yatra are lined with similar
restaurants as Seth’s, apart from smaller eateries, automobile service centres,
cycle repair shops, and Shah-e-Alam Roza, a 15th-Century shrine.
Seth,
34, says the Congress will win again from the Dani Limda seat, which fell in
the AAP yatra route. A Scheduled Caste reserved constituency, it is currently
represented by Shailesh Parmar of the Congress. “The Aam Aadmi Party is a new
party, and has never worked anywhere in Gujarat. We do not know how it works.
He (Arvind Kejriwal) keeps repeating his guarantees of free electricity, good
education, medical treatment, employment and so on, but it is Team B of the
BJP,” Seth says, repeating an apprehension that many have and the Congress has
been stressing upon.
Seth,
who was born and brought up in the area and has been running the hotel for at
least a decade, also says that they are happy with the Congress MLA. “They even
got this road repaired a few months back… MLA Parmar is approachable and we are
familiar with the Congress office here. Corporator (ward Dani Limda of the
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) Shehzad Khan Pathan (of the Congress) is also
accessible, and solves our problems… We vote for the Congress because of them.”
In
contrast, voters point out, the AAP office in the area opened just three-four
days back. “Inka kya bharosa… aaj hain, kal nahi hain (They can’t be trusted,
they are here today, may be gone tomorrow).”
Kesar
Khan, 45, who owns a battery store across the Shah-e-Alam shrine, says they
have no doubt that the BJP will return to power in the state. “People can vote
for whoever they want, but it is the BJP which will anyhow form the government.
So, we will make sure that the Congress wins from our constituency… It will
always be the BJP in the state and the Congress in Dani Limda.”
The
AIMIM, which won seven seats in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in its
debut election in February 2021, did not win any of the four wards of Dani
Limda, though it scored wins in the neighbouring Jamalpur.
The
voters say AAP is also at a disadvantage as the candidate it has fielded from
Dani Limda – retired mamlatdar Dinesh Kapadia – is an “outsider”. Kapadia’s
name was announced early in September, and his photo features in AAP posters
now.
At
the AAP office, caretaker Hanif Noor Pawan, 60, says that while the Shah-e-Alam
office opened only now, “the main office for the constituency was inaugurated
two months back”.
Towards
the Shah-e-Alam Darwaza stands Khala Medical Stores of Anwar Khan, 41. He did
not join the AAP march, Khan says, and will vote for the Congress again, “like
always”. “Anyone can hold a rally… AAP is a new party, it must be performing
well in Delhi and Punjab, but their promises do not sync with our mentality.
Maybe it fits well with the mindset of those states. Here, all these guarantees
will not work,” says Khan, repeating that they vote for the Congress because of
corporator Pathan.
Khan
also says that they are determined to ensure that their vote does not get
divided. “In the 2007 Assembly elections, the NCP had also contested and the
fight had become the Congress versus NCP. The votes got divided, and the BJP
won. We do not want to take the risk, for a party which has never worked in
Gujarat.”
The
Shah-e-Alam area also has a 50-year-old settlement of Bangladeshi immigrants
called Chandola Talav Basti, or Bangladeshi Basti. Minarul Sheikh, 35, whose
father came from Bangladesh and who was born here, says, “None of us went for
the rally by Mann. There is no point. It is just Shehzad Khan Pathan who
listens to us. So we vote for the Congress.”
Sheikh
adds: “In all these years, not a single party has come to our basti, to woo us
with their promises, or enquire about our demands. So, why should we go to any
such rallies, when they do not even bother?”
All
the residents here have voter identity cards. Sheikh says that, against their
better judgment, they once went for a rally (protest) against the NRC and
Citizenship (Amendment) Act, before the pandemic. “But people were beaten up.
They did not have any proof against us… but they simply picked up a few people…
So we avoid going for any sort of rally,” he says.
Ramesh
Vohra, part of AAP candidate Kapadia’s team, says that the party will continue
to focus on its issues of development. “We will stick to our manifesto, of
reopening closed schools, improving the school infrastructure in the area,
providing free electricity etc. The Congress has been winning, but it has not
fulfilled anything in its manifesto, except an Ambedkar Hall. There is a severe
problem of water, drainage, and roads in many chawls of Dani Limda.”
Vohra
adds that they had identified two major communities in the area – “Dalits and
minorities (Muslims)”. “We will work first for them.”
Source:IndianExpress
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Experts
at AMU discuss subtitling, pragmatics of audio-visual translation
Nov
08, 2022
Participants
from across the country learnt essentials for creating new audio-visual content
and skills required for translation and subtitling technique in the second
online ministry of education funded ‘Global Initiative of Academic Networks’
(GIAN) course on ‘Subtitling screen dialogues: The pragmatics of audio-visual
translation’ of the department of English, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Scholar
of media studies and foreign faculty, Dr Mara Logaldo (IULM, Milan, Italy)
delivered lectures and practicums and engaged in interactive sessions on
semiotics, multilingualism, aspects of audio-visual translation and other
topics.
Dr
Mara also delivered the valedictory speech.
Prof
M Rizwan Khan, course coordinator and faculty member, department of English,
discussed how topics like artificial intelligence and audio-visual translation
have been included in pedagogy and research at the department of English in
AMU.
He
also conducted lectures and practical sessions on employability, prospects of professional
interest in audio-visual translation and artificial intelligence as vocations
besides providing hands-on-training to the participants.
Attending
the programme as the national faculty, Prof Mohammed Asaduddin, translation
scholar and faculty member, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, shared expertise
in the field of translation and provided the participants with the
understanding of the Indian perspective of translation.
He
was also the chief guest of the inaugural session.
Ilaria
Valerioti, expert subtitler from Rome and the guest of honour at the
valedictory session trained the participants in various subtitling and dubbing
techniques including the use of open-source software to create subtitles and
dubbing scripts, creation of localized video content and applying the learned
skills to fragments of movies and documentaries.
AMU
faculty members, Prof Wasim Ahmad, department of zoology, and Prof Umar Farooq,
department of electronic engineering, also attended the programme as the chief
guests in different sessions.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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Muslim
intellectuals plan to discuss burning community issues with Prime Minister Modi
8th
November 2022
By
Syed Khaled Shahbaaz
Hyderabad:
A panel of Muslim intellectuals may soon meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Modi to discuss the current situation of thei community in the country.
“Muslims are living in fear due to recent communal events and the way out of
this is through dialogue,” the panel observed.
The
top-drawer intellectuals like former Member of Parliament Shahid Siddiqui,
former Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, educationists Sayeed Sherwani recently met RSS
supremo Mohan Bhagwat in an attempt to bridge the gaps between Hindus and
Muslims. “We want to dispel the tension between the communities,” said India’s former
Chief election commissioner S. Y. Qureshi.
Speaking
at Masjid al Hassan, during an interaction with Muslim educationists,
intellectuals, and academicians in Hyderabad organized by Alliance for
Education and Economic Empowerment of the Underprivileged (AEEDU) in
collaboration with Shaheen Group of Institutions and Shining Stars Education
Foundation, Qureshi said, “this is the first step. We had an hour-long
discussion with Mr. Mohan Bhagwat on issues like Hindu Rashtra, cow slaughter,
and the myth of Muslim population explosion.”
He
said, “Mr. Bhagwat assured that Hindu Rashtra cannot be imagined without
Muslims, and an amicable solution concerning cow slaughter in states where it
is not banned by law can be reached”.
The
same panel, under the aegis of AEEDU, is currently visiting different States in
South India to understand the gaps and study the model. They are currently
meeting academicians and educationists from different states with the intent to
replicate the best.
‘The
organization’s focus is on modernization of madrassas’, said Shahid Siddiqui.
As part of this learning drive, the panel visited Masjid al Hassan at Shadnagar
town located about 50 km from Hyderabad where Madrassa students showcased their
‘modern schooling’ skills. Several students who had no prior schooling
demonstrated excellent oratory skills in English, Urdu, and Arabic which they
had learned during a year and a half of the COVID-19 lockdown at the mosque.
They are learning mathematics, science, computer skills, and even sports like
cricket, and football.
Khair
ull Nissa Sheikh, Executive Director of World Trade Center Services (India)
said ‘amplification of exemplary works is the need of the hour. Such composite
education must also focus on not just educating boys and must also focus on
girl education in equal measure.
Secretary
TMREIS B Shafiullah presented the Telangana model of education for empowerment
through which the government has established 204 schools in a span of 18 months
where 1.25 lakh students are receiving quality education.
Maulana
Azad Educational Trust Director Farhat Jamaal warned that without education,
the next 10 years will be very difficult. The biggest challenge for any
community is an irrelevance. We must identify, leverage, and capture the
creative talent of the community to help it stay relevant to the changing
times.
Source:Siasat
Daily
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Dehradun:
Muslim man seeks DM nod to embrace Hinduism
Nov
8, 2022
DEHRADUN:
A 36-year-old Muslim man has approached the Dehradun district administration
seeking permission to embrace Hinduism after leaving Islam to "fulfil his
own wish". After Saeed Arshad approached the district administration a few
days ago, district magistrate Sonika instructed the additional district
magistrate to take legal advice in the matter from the government counsel.
Arshad
first approached the district court seeking permission to change his religion,
but there he was advised to contact the district magistrate. Arshad tried to
meet the DM, but he sent an email to her after having failed to meet her in
person to express his wish. "We have forwarded his application to the
district government counsel as the appropriate action could be initiated in the
light of the Constitution," ADM SK Barnval said. District government
counsel GP Raturi told TOI, "In such a case of conversion, one has to
apply before the DM 30 days before coming out from the current religion
submitting an affidavit of his intent to adopt the religion of her/his
choice."
Source:
Times Of India
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Pakistan
Police
finally register FIR over attack on PTI chief following SC intervention
Nasir
Iqbal | Asif Chaudhry
November
8, 2022
LAHORE
/ ISLAMABAD: After the Supreme Court warned that it would initiate suo motu
proceedings if the Punjab police failed to register an FIR regarding the
assassination attempt on former prime minister Imran Khan, the provincial
police finally registered the case under terrorism charges, with detained
suspect Naveed being nominated as the prime accused.
The
FIR lodged on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Amir Shahzad at 11:10pm on Monday
under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, and Section 302, 324, and 440 of the
Pakistan Penal Code was registered after a delay of three days.
Even
though the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief accused Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a senior intelligence officer
Major General Faisal Naseer of the alleged conspiracy to kill him, the FIR did
not mention any of these names.
The
senior government and military men were nominated in an application filed by a
PTI leader, Zubair Khan Niazi, for the registration of the case.
According
to events that transpired before the registration of the case, the applicant
and the police staff locked horns over the generation of an e-tag for the
application. A police official who shared the details with Dawn said the staff
refused to issue the e-tag without receiving the copy of the application and
the contents it was carrying.
The
applicant was hesitating to drop it at the front desk of the police station
saying that his political party leadership wanted to keep the contents of the
application secret due to the sensitivity of the matter, the official added.
The issue remained unresolved until the police registered the FIR on the
complaint of a sub-inspector, he added.
The
FIR came after IGP Faisal Shahkar in line with the directives of the apex court
ordered the Gujrat district police officer (DPO) to lodge the case so a copy of
the FIR could be submitted to the SC today. He also conveyed to the DPO the
decision of Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial who had ordered him to register the
case within 24 hours. “The DPO had been conveyed to act as per law as per
directions of the SC,” Mr Shahkar said.
‘Register
in 24 hours’
Earlier
in the day, the Supreme Court took exception to the delay in the registration
of the FIR and directed the IGP to register the case within 24 hours if he did
not want to face suo motu proceedings over the matter.
The
apex court made these remarks during a contempt case against the PTI chairman
over the May 25 violence and the alleged violation of an undertaking given to
the court by the PTI. However, the proceedings ended up with the court issuing
directions over multiple issues, including the assassination bid on Imran Khan,
alleged political interference in the Punjab police, the Azam Swati case, and
Arshad Sharif’s murder probe.
“Can’t
you see this is an assassination attempt against a national leader,” observed
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial with a direction that the provincial police will
report to the Supreme Court in writing about the registration of the FIR and
subsequent measures taken regarding the investigation.
At
the outset of the hearing, the court asked PTI’s counsel Salman Akram Raja to
approach the rostrum and acknowledged that he had a valid reason for seeking
time for furnishing a detailed reply on behalf of Imran Khan.
The
CJ said the assassination attempt on Mr Khan was “very distressing” but also
noted that the PTI chairman had been discharged from the hospital. The case
will be taken up next week. The counsel expressed the hope that he may sit with
his client on Thursday to seek fresh instructions and finalise the reply.
‘FIR
delay’
In
response to an observation by the CJ about the delay in the FIR registration,
Mr Raja said that he had been told that the concerned police station was
reluctant. “No FIR means no investigation,” CJP said, adding even the evidence
could be altered due to the delay.
Giving
reasons for the delay, Punjab IG Shahkar who joined the proceedings via video
link from Lahore said that as per the concerned district police officer (DPO),
no formal complaint has been received by the police. The IG claimed that he had
also discussed the matter with Chief Minister Parvez Elahi but the CM had “some
reservations over the content of the FIR”.
The
provincial government has certain views on the matter but such views cannot
override the views of the police, the CJP said, adding whatever the case may
be, the investigation must move forward. “We will take interest and see that
this is done,” CJ Bandial said, adding the court will support the police in all
lawful actions.
The
government acts on its own but no one will be allowed to interfere in the
police work either, the CJP observed. He told the IG that this “court will
interfere in their work if someone interferes in his work”. Also, look at the
medical reports, Justice Bandial told the police chief while postponing further
proceedings for a week.
Moonis
hits back
The
son of Punjab CM, Moonis Elahi, reacted strongly to the claims made by the
Punjab IG and said the police chief was stopping from registering the case by
“unknown persons” — a euphemism for establishment.
Source:
Dawn
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Former
Pakistan PM Imran Khan rejects Pakistan police report into shooting
08
November, 2022
Former
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has rejected a police report on the shooting
at a public rally last week that left him wounded in the leg because it doesn’t
name those in government and the military that he blames for the attack.
Police
in the Punjab province, where the attack took place Thursday, registered a
complaint, known as First Information Report.
Khan’s
party rejected it since it doesn’t name current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, and a general in the country’s powerful spy
agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, whom Khan has blamed, according to
Ejaz Chaudhry, a leader in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.
The
former cricket star has described the shooting as an “assassination attempt.”
The
current police document names only the person arrested at the rally seen firing
at Khan in televised footage of the incident and who confessed to operating
alone.
Khan
is recuperating at his residence in Lahore after being treated for his
injuries. He has called on his supporters to restart walking toward Islamabad
later this week to pressure Sharif’s government to call early elections.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Pakistan
PM's China trip: More words, little action
Nov
7, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded his visit to China this week
where the two sides signed several MoUs but without discussing the rescheduling
of the debt his country owes to Beijing which makes this trip more of words
than a little action.
In
the two-day meeting, there was hardly any discussion on the debt crisis that
Pakistan is confronting, especially Shehbaz Sharif, given the fact it could become
a serious liability for his party in the election year, according to Islam
Khabar.
Pakistan
is scheduled to pay the debt by next June and a significant amount of debt of
over $20 billion is committed to paying in the next financial year, according
to Islam Khabar.
This
was the first trip of Pakistan's PM to China since Sharif replaced Imran Khan.
He was seeking support to help his falling economy as the government is dealing
with a spiralling economic crisis and shrinking foreign currency reserves.
During
his visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China will continue to
support Pakistan as the country tries to stabilize its financial situation.
Even to help Pakistan, China pledged a 15 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) loan
facility for Pakistan, but no further concrete support plans were revealed,
according to Nikkei Asia.
The
joint statement, which was released after Sharif's visit to China, said that
Pakistan's PM had reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to further strengthen and
deepen the Pakistan-China All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and
enhance practical cooperation in all areas."
In
the joint statement, there was an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral
relations as well as the regional situation and international political
landscape but again, the statement did not mention any concrete financing
pledges.
Looking
at the visit, the senior research scientist at AidData, a research lab at the
American university William & Mary, Ammar Malik said, "This trip was
more words and little action, and mostly about reaffirming Pakistan and China's
all-weather strategic partnership," according to Nikkei Asia.
"Despite
more than 40 attacks on Chinese nationals and interests between 2000 and 2020,
the pace of engagement has largely continued unabated," said Malik. He
added that this is likely because CPEC is the flagship project of Belt and
Road, and the size of the engagement makes it too big to fail.
Pakistan's
government was also expecting new financial commitments from Beijing under the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the $50 billion Pakistan component of
the Belt and Road Initiative.
Before
visiting China, Sharif had created a 50 billion rupee ($225 million) escrow
account for automatic partial payments to Chinese independent power producers
operating in Pakistan, hoping to pacify them as well as Beijing after tensions
over the bills, reported Nikkei Asia.
Nevertheless,
experts believe China did not make any major financial commitments due to
Pakistan's unprecedented political and economic crises, which make it difficult
for Chinese official creditors to commit. Thursday's shooting of Khan, who
suffered injuries reported to be not life-threatening, did nothing to dispel
fears of instability.
Source:
Times Of India
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China
says done 'utmost' and will continue to do so to stabilise Pakistan's weak
economy
Nov
7, 2022
BEIJING:
China, which has offered a $9 billion bailout package to Pakistan, on Monday
pledged more support for the cash-strapped nation, saying that it has done its
“utmost” to stabilise the financial situation of its all-weather ally and will
continue to do so.
Pakistan
had been engaging with China and Saudi Arabia for financial support, including
rolling over maturing loans as part of arrangements for about $35 billion
putouts against debt and liabilities during the current fiscal year.
Pakistan's
finance minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday last said that Islamabad would be
getting about $9 billion from China and $4 billion from Saudi as the government
tries to steady the nation's weak economy.
Quoting
Xi Jinping, Dar said the Chinese President in his meeting with Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif during his recent visit to Beijing on November 3 had assured
him, “don't worry, we will not let you down”.
Replying
to a query on his reactions to Dar's assertions, Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here, “China has done its utmost to
help Pakistan stabilise its financial situation. We have been doing so, and we
will continue to do so.”
Zhao
declined to comment on the current political crisis in Pakistan following the
failed assassination attempt on former prime minister Imran Khan, saying,
"China has noted relevant reports. We express our sympathies to Imran Khan
and wish him a speedy recovery.”
Khan,
70, suffered bullet injuries in the right leg when two gunmen fired a volley of
bullets at him and others mounting on a container-mounted truck in the
Wazirabad area of Pakistan's Punjab province where he was leading a long march
against the Shehbaz-led government. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party
chairman underwent surgery for bullet injuries at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital
in Lahore and was discharged on Sunday.
Pakistan
owes Paris Club countries a combined sum of around $10.7 billion. The Paris
Club is a group of officials from major creditor nations whose role is to find
coordinated and sustainable solutions to the payment difficulties experienced
by debtor countries.
According
to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan's total non-Paris Club
bilateral debt currently stands at about $27 billion, of which Chinese debt is
about $23 billion.
During
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz's visit to Beijing, the Chinese leadership
promised to roll over $4 billion in sovereign loans, refinance $3.3 billion
commercial bank loans and increase currency swap by about $1.45 billion.
Sharif
was among the first foreign leaders to visit China following the
recently-concluded historic 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of
China in which President Xi won an unprecedented third five-year term in power.
Source:
Times Of India
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--------
'Act
now' to stop 'abuse' of power: Imran Khan in a letter to Pakistan President
Alvi
Nov
7, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has called on President Arif Alvi
to "act now" and stop the massive "abuse" of citizens at
the hands of "rogue elements" in the government.
In
a letter to the president on Sunday, Khan stated that since the removal of the
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the country has been “confronted
with an ever-increasing scale of false allegations, harassment, arrests, and
custodial torture”.
Khan,
70, has alleged that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has “repeatedly issued
death threats” to him and that he was informed of an assassination plot “hatched
by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah” and a
senior military official, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.
“The
plot was operationalised earlier this week during our long march, but Allah
saved me and the assassination attempt failed,” he said.
Imran
requested that as the head of the State of Pakistan and “also as the Supreme
Commander of the Armed Forces” of the Constitution, President Alvi take note of
the “following serious wrongdoings that undermine Pakistan's national
security”.
He
further asked Alvi, who also hails from Khan's PTI, to lead an inquiry to
identify the guilty “and hold them accountable”.
The
deposed premier reiterated that the country was observing a “massive abuse of
citizens at the hands of rogue elements within state organisations, including
custodial torture and abductions”, all of which he claimed was “carried out
with impunity”.
“You
hold the highest Office of State and I am requesting you to act now to stop the
abuse of power and violations of our laws and of the Constitution, which
ensures the fundamental rights of every citizen,” he further added.
During
his long march on Thursday, Khan nearly escaped an assassination attempt after
being shot. He sustained bullet injuries in the right leg and underwent a
surgery. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday and has been moved to a
private residence in Lahore.
On
Saturday President Alvi and first lady Begum Samina Arif Alvi visited the
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore to
inquire about the health of Khan and thereafter stayed with him for almost
three hours.
The
president and the first lady expressed their best wishes and prayed for his
(Khan's) speedy recovery.
Source:
Times Of India
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Pakistan's
former foreign minister Qureshi to lead march until Imran Khan recovers
Nov
7, 2022
LAHORE:
Pakistan's former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that he will
lead the march to Islamabad until Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party's chief
Imran Khan fully recovers from the injuries sustained during an assassination
attempt.
Khan,
who suffered bullet injuries in the right leg on Thursday, on Sunday said that
his party will resume the march from Tuesday to Islamabad from the same spot
where he survived an assassination attempt.
He
has been discharged from the hospital on Sunday after undergoing successful surgery.
He has now been moved to a private residence in Lahore.
Qureshi
told a large public gathering at Clock Tower Chowk in Faisalabad on Sunday that
Khan had asked him to lead the march in his place. He said that even if he is
not totally recovered, Khan will participate in the long march in Rawalpindi,
the Dawn newspaper reported.
He
said that the people of Faisalabad and the entire country demand that prime
minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal interior minister Rana Sanaullah Khan quit
since they are the real planners of attack on Khan in Wazirabad.
Khan
suffered bullet injuries in the right leg when two gunmen fired a volley of
bullets at him and others mounting on a container-mounted truck in the
Wazirabad area, where he was leading the march.
The
70-year-old former prime minister and chairman of PTI party, who underwent
surgery for bullet injuries on Thursday was addressing a press conference from
the Shaukat Khanum Hospital owned by his charitable organisation.
Source:
Times Of India
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--------
Imran
claims ‘malcontent’ agency insiders feeding him information
Syed
Talal Ahsan
November
8, 2022
KARACHI:
PTI Chairman Imran Khan claimed on Monday that his advance knowledge of the
attempt on his life came from “connections with intelligence agencies that
operate”, adding that most people who were doing so were appalled by what is
going on in this country.
In
an interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson on Monday, Mr Khan said three bullets
were removed from his right leg while some shrapnel was left inside his left
leg and that it would take him “four to six weeks” to resume his activities
after the Wazirabad assassination attempt.
Talking
about the incident, Imran Khan claimed that there were two shooters and “maybe
another one”. “There was this guy who fired the first volley ... then there was
another volley [that] came in over our heads because we were falling,” he added,
terming the attack a “planned assassination attempt”.
He
also alleged that a cover-up of the incident was under way, saying that is why
he had called for an independent investigation and for three people to resign —
who Mr Khan claims are responsible for the attack: Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a senior intelligence official who
he identified as Major General Faisal Naseer.
“If
my allegations are wrong then an inquiry would prove them wrong,” Mr Khan said.
He questioned that could he, as the person who the assassination attempt was
tried against, “can’t name the people I’m suspicious of who planned this
attempt on me”.
When
asked about the source of his pre-emptive information about the attack, Mr Khan
referred to his term in power and said he had “connections with intelligence
agencies that operate”.
“How
did I get the information? From within the intelligence agencies. Why? Because
most people are appalled by what is going on in this country. What is happening
in Pakistan is unprecedented.”
Mr
Khan also alleged that an “unprecedented” media clampdown was under way in
Pakistan, referring to the details surrounding and leading up to journalist
Arshad Sharif’s killing in Kenya. He also mentioned the treatment meted out to
his aides Shahbaz Gill and Senator Azam Swati, alleging that they were stripped
and tortured.
“Both
blamed a senior intelligence officer who was responsible for their torture,” Mr
Khan added. The PTI chief also claimed that “all efforts” were under way to
somehow disqualify and exclude him from the political arena, adding that the
failure of those attempts led to the Wazirabad attack.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1719629/imran-claims-malcontent-agency-insiders-feeding-him-information
--------
PTI
not behind slogans against army: Asad Qaiser
November
8, 2022
PESHAWAR:
Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser on Monday claimed Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf was not encouraging anti-army slogans.
Speaking
at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, he said preparations for the
long march on Islamabad were underway and caravans from across Khyber
Pakthunkhwa would reach Islamabad.
“We
will never defame the Pak Army,” Mr Qaiser said. He insisted slogans against
the institutions could be an act of individuals.
He
was flanked by leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, including Maulana Gul Naseeb
and Maulana Shujaul Mulk.
As
part of preparations for the long march, Mr Qaiser said PTI’s leadership at the
provincial level would arrange political gatherings in Peshawar, Charsadda,
Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi.
He
expressed the hope that FIR would be registered in the assassination attempt on
PTI chief Imran Khan in light of the Supreme Court directives.
Speaking
at the presser, Shujaul Mulk alleged the assassination attempt on Imran Khan
was planned in consultation with Pakistan Democratic Movement.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1719684/pti-not-behind-slogans-against-army-asad-qaiser
--------
Militant
commander killed in Khyber raid
November
8, 2022
KHYBER:
The counter-terrorism department (CTD) claimed on Monday to have killed a
militant commander during an intelligence-based operation in Jamrud tehsil of
Khyber district.
In
a statement, the CTD said militant commander, Liaquat Ali alias Shaheen, was
holed up in a house in Gharreeza locality. A raid was conducted on the house on
a tip-off, it added.
The
statement said Shaheen was killed and three armed men were arrested while
trying to flee in injured condition. The exchange of fire continued for nearly
three hours.
The
entire Gharreeza locality was cordoned off during the operation. Army
helicopters were spotted overhead, supposedly to monitor the situation on the
ground.
The
statement said the group was involved in a number of terrorist attacks in
Peshawar and Khyber in recent past. The CTD said the killed commander was
affiliated with self-styled Islamic State group, and also remained part of proscribed
Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
The
statement said Shaheen and his group were involved in a recent grenade attack
on Regi Model Town police station, firing on an FC checkpost in Gudar area of
Jamrud, in which an FC official was martyred; firing on a police mobile vehicle
in Nowshera, in which ASI Fayyaz Khan was martyred and two policemen were
injured.
The
militant was also allegedly involved in attacks on a police team in Mathra
locality of Peshawar, which was providing security to a polio vaccination team.
A constable, Mohib, had lost his life in the attack. The militant and his
accomplices had also killed a constable, Asifullah in Khazana area; a
constable, namely Bin Yamin, in a grenade attack on a police mobile near
Karkhano market in the recent past.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1719699/militant-commander-killed-in-khyber-raid
--------
‘Hakeem’
Sanaullah prepared effective remedy to deal with PTI marchers: Fazl
November
7, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) head who also chairman of Jamiat
Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman said Sunday that the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) marchers would never be allowed reach the federal
capital.
“Hakeem
Sanaullah has prepared an effective tonic for the marchers and they would be
treated accordingly”, JUI-F Chief Fazlur Rehman while addressing a presser here
on Sunday. He termed the PTI long march a complete flop show and made it clear
that nobody would be allowed to play with Pakistan at all costs.
He
said Pakistan was being pushed towards difficulties, which made it lag behind
in the comity of nations economically.
Taking
jibe at the PTI chief, Fazl said that a joint investigation team (JIT) should
be constituted against Imran Khan, saying the PTI chairman’s bullet injuries in
the Wazirabad firing incident was a ‘drama’.
The
JUI-F chief equated Imran Khan with Indian top stars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh
Khan, saying the PTI chief had surpassed the Bollywood’s actors in the field of
acting.
He,
expressing his astonishment, said the PTI chief’s bullet injuries were being
treated in a cancer hospital, adding that there were contradictions in his
medical reports. “We have heard bomb fragments but heard of bullet fragments
for the first time.”
He
urged the federal government not to show leniency to Imran Khan as he was
trying to create chaos in the country under the guise of firing accident and
making false accusations against the most important personalities, including
the prime minister, interior minister and an officer of the national security
institution that was not acceptable at all.
He
asked the quarters concerned to launch a thorough probe on the matter so that
Imran’s heinous face could be unmasked before the public.
Condemning
Azam Swati’s incident, he said, “We wanted peace and harmony in the country and
the citizens should lead their lives as per law and the Constitution with
respect and dignity.”
The
JUI-F chief said in case of Arshad Sharif, the commission should also
investigate the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government that issued life threat alert to
the senior journalist.
He
said during the PTI government, restrictions were imposed on media.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North America
Mehmet
Oz could be the first Muslim US Senator, but some Muslim Americans are
ambivalent
November
6, 2022
In
just a few days, Pennsylvania could elect Dr. Mehmet Oz to the Senate, which
would make him the nation’s first Muslim senator.
With
an eye on that history, Muslims in the state have invited him to events at
mosques. They have waited for him to talk about how his life has been
influenced by his faith, which he once told an interviewer hewed to the
mystical Sufi Islam of the whirling dervishes. They have wondered if he would
note the significance of the election of a Muslim to such a high national
office.
But
he has not done any of those things.
As
Oz clashes with Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate, in a close
race that could decide control of the Senate, he is approaching his Muslim
background with what appears to be great ambivalence — and some Muslim
Americans have similarly conflicted feelings.
Oz’s
personal and political identities make him an unlikely fit for the role of a
history-making, barrier-breaking Muslim public figure.
He
identifies himself as a secular Muslim, raised his four children in his wife’s
Christian faith and rarely discusses his religious beliefs in public. Unlike
most American Muslims, he is a Republican. And some of his rare comments about
Islam — including a warning about Shariah law in the United States, which no
group has ever proposed — have been viewed by fellow Muslims as Islamophobic
signaling.
Above
all, though, the alienation many Muslims feel from Oz stems from his vocal
backing from former President Donald Trump, who once said he would “strongly
consider” closing mosques in the United States, told an interviewer that “I
think Islam hates us” and, as president, banned travel to the United States
from several predominantly Muslim countries.
In
other words, the first Muslim senator might be a man who owes his political
rise to a figure who spread Islamophobia more widely than any other recent
American leader.
“It’s
going to be very difficult to wrap my head around that one,” said Abdul Maghees
Chaudhri, the vice president of the Islamic Society of Chester County, a mosque
in suburban Philadelphia.
Oz,
who for years was best known as a television self-help personality, has
described a spiritual life shaped by the conflicting views of his pious father
and his secular mother, who reflected divisions within their native Turkey. His
campaign did not respond to requests for an interview.
“I
have struggled a lot with my Muslim identity, in part because, within my
family, there were two very different perspectives on it,” he said in a 2009
interview with Henry Louis Gates Jr. on the PBS television show “Faces of
America.”
In
the end, he told Gates, he embraced his mother’s secularism and felt drawn to
Sufism, a movement found in both Sunni and Shiite Islam that emphasizes each
person’s individual search for the divine over dogma or rigidity.
When
one is caught up in the “legal aspects of religion,” he said, “it frustrates me
to no end.”
Muslims
around the world interpret their faith in a wide variety of ways, and Oz’s
approach is one shared by many others. For many American Muslims, their concern
is not over theological differences with Oz or his religious observance, but
over his unwillingness to publicly embrace them while at the same time aligning
with politicians who have been hostile toward their community.
Dalia
Mogahed, the director of research for the Institute for Social Policy and
Understanding, said it felt as if Oz had “disowned” his background.
“I
think it’s something, for the most part, that he has de-emphasized and walked
away from,” she said. “For the community to claim him or take any pride in his
accomplishments, I don’t think makes sense.”
Nagi
Latefa, an immigrant from the Gaza Strip and a volunteer at the Islamic
Education Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, said he had been open to Oz, whom
he viewed as a “poster child” for the sort of success immigrants want their
children to have.
Latefa
voted for President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush and was a
longtime supporter of Rep. Charlie Dent, a Republican who represented the area
until 2018. Latefa said he had been trying since July to organize a
meet-the-candidate event for Oz at his mosque. But his efforts have gone
nowhere, he said.
“I
have called, I have emails I sent to them, and nothing,” Latefa said. The
experience soured him. When other Muslims ask him about Oz, he does not know
how to recommend voting for him.
“How
can I justify this?” he said. “It’s like, ‘Hey, guys, we want to go vote for
this guy, he’s good, but he doesn’t want to be seen with us.’”
Only
10% of American Muslims identify as Republicans, according to a study by the
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding this year. Forty-six percent of
Muslims identify as Democrats and 40% as independent, the highest percentage of
independents of any faith group. Oz is believed to be the first Muslim nominee
for Senate from a major party.
Mogahed
said that American Muslims were likely to be independents because many did not
feel they fit into either political party.
Many
oppose Democratic positions on issues like same-sex marriage and taxation, she
said. But a survey of American Muslims by the institute in 2022 also showed
that a majority supported abortion rights and gun-control laws and said they
agreed with the principles of critical race theory.
American
Muslims have also been deeply alienated from the Republican Party since the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which led to years of racial profiling and
government surveillance, enabled by the Patriot Act, signed into law by
President George W. Bush, a Republican. That estrangement became profound
during the Trump administration.
There
has been no excitement in the community over Oz the way there was when Keith
Ellison, a Democrat, became the first Muslim elected to Congress in 2007,
Mogahed said. Ellison visited mosques across the country, was sworn into office
on the Quran and served as an eloquent spokesperson for American Muslims,
Mogahed said.
Oz
addressed his religious background at the start of the campaign, writing in The
Washington Examiner in January that he had been “raised as a secular Muslim.”
His four children are Christians, and he wrote that he had “beamed with joy
watching them and our four grandchildren become baptized.”
He
went further in an interview in May with Real America’s Voice, a right-wing
online media company, when asked if Islam was incompatible with the
Constitution.
“We
don’t want Shariah law in America,” he said. “I’m a secular Muslim. I don’t
want any of these religious fanatics playing a role in American society.”
Many
American Muslims view statements like that as a signal to non-Muslim voters
that Oz is different from whatever scary image of Islam they may have in their
minds, said Ahmet Tekelioglu, the executive director of CAIR-Philadelphia, a
Muslim civil rights group. The specter of Shariah in the United States has been
a frequent topic in the conservative media since the mid-2000s.
Oz’s
most substantive public remarks about his religious background appear to have
come from his 2009 interview with Gates.
In
the interview, Oz described growing up in a divided home, with “one parent on
one side of the religious wall, one parent on the other.”
His
mother’s family was aligned with the secular teachings of Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk, who founded modern Turkey after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire
in 1922. Oz said those in his mother’s family “are religious people, but in
privacy.”
“They
never flaunt it; they never talk about it,” he said. “It’s frankly none of your
business, in their opinion, that they happen to be Muslim.”
But
for his father’s side of the family, Islam was “their core essence — it is what
defined who they were; it is what gave them their morality,” he said.
“They
would never feel comfortable separating away their view towards the law from
the view towards religion,” he said. “They just seemed so obviously and
beautifully and elegantly integrated. Why would you try to carve them apart?”
As
an adult, Oz said, he was drawn to Sufism, which emphasizes a personal
connection with God.
“It’s
much more mystical, much more interested in taking away the 99% of reality that
we think is there and looking at the real, important 1% that’s beneath that
veneer,” he said, “the true connection with God.”
He
told Gates he had also found spiritual fulfillment in other traditions,
including his wife’s religion, Swedenborgian Christianity, a Protestant
denomination based on the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, an 18th-century
Swedish mystic.
Oz’s
background has not come up during the general election campaign, but it was a
bitter part of the Republican primary in May.
Oz’s
opponent, David McCormick, accused him of having “dual loyalties” because he
holds Turkish citizenship, which Oz said he would renounce if elected to the
Senate.
Behind
the scenes, McCormick tried to dissuade Trump from endorsing Oz at a meeting
where his wife, former Trump White House official Dina Powell McCormick, showed
the former president pictures of Oz alongside others wearing Muslim head
coverings. They argued that Oz was too Muslim to win an election in
Pennsylvania.
The
idea that Oz may be too Muslim is not one shared by many Muslim Pennsylvanians.
Chris
Caras, the imam of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, was a fan of Oz’s
television show and followed him on Facebook for years, turning to him for
weight loss tips and advice about alternative medicine.
But
Caras said Oz’s embrace of Trump had left him “profoundly” disappointed.
Source:IndianExpress
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/oz-first-muslim-u-s-senator-muslim-americans-8252449/
--------
Biden
congratulates Netanyahu on Israel elections, reaffirms US support
08
November, 2022
US
President Joe Biden congratulated Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday on his
party’s return to power, the White House said.
During
the call, Biden commended Israel’s “free and fair” elections, the fifth
elections in less than four years.
Netanyahu
still has to be tasked with forming a new government, which is expected to take
some time.
Biden
also reaffirmed US-Israeli ties “based on a bedrock of shared democratic values
and mutual interests.
Underscored
his “unwavering support” for Israel’s security, Biden agreed with Netanyahu to
speak again once a new Israeli government is formed.
Reports
have suggested that Netanyahu will tap Jewish supremacist Itamar Ben-Gvir as a
minister in the next government.
Ben-Gvir
was previously convicted by an Israeli court of incitement to racism and
supporting a terrorist organization.
The
Jewish militant Kach he is a part of was designated as a terror group in 1997
before the Biden administration revoked its Foreign Terrorist Organization
(FTO) listing in May.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Armenia,
Azerbaijan leaders hold talks in US with Blinken hours after new shootout
08
November, 2022
Armenia
and Azerbaijan held peace talks on Monday, mediated by the United States, just
hours after a fresh shootout along their troubled border in a conflict which
has left hundreds dead in recent months.
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the foreign ministers of the rival
nations.
“The
United States is committed to the peace negotiations between Armenia and
Azerbaijan,” Blinken said before the meeting. “Direct dialogue is the best way
to a truly durable peace, and we are very pleased to support that.”
An
American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting was
less about peace negotiations in the full sense of the term, and more about
providing an opportunity for the warring parties to meet and talk.
A
week ago, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev “agreed not to use force” to resolve their dispute over the
Nagorno-Karabakh territory, during a summit in Russia hosted by President
Vladimir Putin.
However,
in the early hours of Monday, Azerbaijani forces opened fire on Armenian
positions in the eastern sector of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, the defense
ministry in Yerevan said in a statement, adding there had been no casualties.
Meanwhile,
Azerbaijan’s defense ministry accused Armenian forces of shooting at the
positions of Azerbaijani troops stationed at several locations on the frontier.
Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday called on both parties to “refrain from the
actions and steps that could lead to an escalation of tensions.”
Yerevan
and Baku fought two wars over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh -- in
autumn of 2020 and in the 1990s.
Six
weeks of fighting in 2020 claimed more than 6,500 lives before a
Russian-brokered truce ended the hostilities.
Under
the 2020 deal, Armenia ceded swathes of territory it had controlled for decades,
and Russia stationed peacekeepers to oversee the fragile ceasefire.
There
have been frequent exchanges of fire at the Caucasus neighbors’ border since
the 2020 war.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Europe
UK
Conservatives face fresh pressure over Islamophobia allegations
November
07, 2022
LONDON:
The UK’s governing Conservative Party has been accused of ignoring rising
Islamophobia in Britain and within its ranks as new figures show a surge in
anti-Muslim hate crimes nationwide, The Independent reported on Monday.
Government
figures show that hate crimes targeting Muslims in the UK rose by 28 percent in
the last year, accounting for 42 percent of all recorded religious hate crimes
in 2021/22.
For
the past five years, Muslims have accounted for the highest proportion of
religious hate crime victims, figures show.
Within
the Conservative Party, questions remain over the result of a probe into MP
Mark Spencer, who was accused of Islamophobia by a fellow MP.
Cabinet
Secretary Simon Case last month said the investigation into Spencer’s actions
remains “outstanding.”
In
a letter to Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi, Labour chair Anneliese
Dodds questioned the government’s alleged inaction on Islamophobia.
“It
is deeply concerning that I must again raise the issue of Islamophobia directly
with the chair of the Conservative Party,” she said.
“As
Islamophobic hate crime is on the rise, the Conservatives need to show they are
serious about tackling this insidious hatred, both in society and within their
party. Denial of the issue simply isn’t good enough.”
Zahawi
previously rejected criticism that the Conservatives are suffering from an
Islamophobia problem, saying he “did not recognize institutional racism in the
party.”
Dodds,
in her letter, raised the issue of definitional arguments over Islamophobia
within the Conservative Party.
In
2018, a cross-party parliamentary group encouraged the use of the term Islamophobia
within government communications, but the Conservatives rejected the
findings.
Dodds
asked Zahawi whether his party would end the “bizarre practice of refusing to
use the term.”
The
Independent reported last week that the government had ended discussions over
the use of the term more than three years after the findings of the cross-party
group were released.
Imam
Qari Asim, a senior British Muslim figure who took part in consultations with
the parliamentary group, warned earlier this year that the government “had not
engaged with him at all.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2195331/world
--------
UN
chief proposes debt relief for Pakistan
Sheharyar
Rizwan
November
8, 2022
LAHORE:
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday appealed to the international
financial institutions and to the G20 nations to create mechanisms of debt
relief for middle-income countries impacted by natural disasters, including
Pakistan, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted how some countries
will be more exposed and vulnerable to climate change than those in cooler
regions.
Addressing
a joint press conference with PM Sharif following a bilateral meeting on the
sidelines of the COP27 climate summit here, the UN chief said being a
middle-income country, Pakistan hadn’t benefited from debt relief at the level
that should be necessary for the country.
“One
of the proposals that I’ve been making is that for countries like Pakistan,
there should be a way to swap the payment of their debt for investments in
rehabilitation and recovery and reconstruction from a natural disaster like the
one that just occurred,” a UN press release quoted him as saying.
Mr
Guterres also believed the way the international financial system worked needed
to be reviewed in order for Pakistan to access effective debt relief and
concessional funding that was necessary for the “huge” levels of reconstruction
and rehabilitation.
PM
says recovery from floods held back by rising public debt, energy prices and
lack of adaptation funds
Speaking
on the occasion, PM Sharif said: “We are poised on the threshold of a new green
deal or a trajectory to a three-degree world where returning to the Earth as we
know today will be impossible. Some countries, like Pakistan, will be more
exposed and more deeply vulnerable than others.”
Addressing
the UN secretary general, he said: “Our journey to recovery will be held back
by increasing public debt, rising international energy prices and no real
access to adaptation funds. At the broader level, we seek to add loss and
damage to the climate agenda.”
The
PM remarked that his goals and those of the UN chief were the same: to “not let
helplessness become a death sentence in this race against time”, adding: “What
goes on in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan.”
Mr
Guterres also recalled his visit to Pakistan where he saw an “area flooded that
is three times the size of my country, Portugal”. He also lauded the courage,
resilience, and generosity of the people who “decided to leave their property
and leave their assets to go and rescue other people’s assets and property
instead of protecting their own”, a UN press release quoted him as saying.
He
said it was the international community’s duty to massively support Pakistan in
this moment, adding though more needed to be done. The UN chief said the COP
summit needed to recognize the loss and damage and define a clear roadmap to
deal with it, which he said should include the creation of an institutional
framework and financing.
PM
seeks international support
Earlier,
during their bilateral meeting, the premier said the enormous task of
rehabilitation and reconstruction following the recent devastating floods in
the country would require substantial international support to build back
greener, based on the model of sustainable development.
He
quoted the government’s Post-Disaster Needs Assessment that the total estimated
damage caused by the floods was over $32 billion -- around 10 per cent of the
country’s gross domestic product. The prime minister highlighted this during
his meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the
COP27 Summit being held here, APP quoted a press release issued by the PM Media
Wing as saying.
The
premier also reiterated that the unprecedented disaster was a clear
manifestation of the challenge posed by climate change, and endorsed the
secretary general’s call for climate justice and climate solidarity.
He
said Pakistan was looking forward to convening an international ‘pledging
conference’ bringing together all development partners. He also appreciated the
creation of a UN inter-agency team, led by the deputy secretary general, to
help Pakistan prepare a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction plan to
be presented at the conference.
With
reference to COP27, the PM said the conference was a timely opportunity for the
international community to catalyse concerted international action to mitigate
the impact of climate change, and promote climate justice based on the
principles of equity, but differentiated responsibilities and respective
capabilities.
He
emphasised that addressing “loss and damage” would be a key “deliverable” at
the event.
‘Common
charter for planet’
Earlier
on Monday, PM Sharif said the international community must come together to
create a common charter for the survival of the planet. In his meeting with
United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of
the COP27 Summit, the PM welcomed the international community’s commitment,
especially the Islamic world, to the goals and objectives of the conference.
Dealing
with the effects of climate change was not for the developing countries alone,
he added.
Meanwhile,
the heads of state and governments in their interaction with PM Sharif on the
sidelines of the summit termed his passion extraordinary, featuring efforts for
urgent steps to save the country from the natural disaster, according to the PM
Office.
The
prime minister in his meetings with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Indonesian
Vice President Maroof Amin, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, and Lebanese
Prime Minister Najib Mikati drew the attention of the international community
to help Pakistan overcome the risks of climate change.
He
highlighted the damage suffered by Pakistan in the wake of the recent flash
floods and emphasized transforming the key climate-related decisions into
concrete actions and credible plans.
Environmental
lawyer Ahmed Rafay Alam told Dawn over the phone from Sharm el-Sheikh that the
recognition and inclusion of loss and damage on the agenda gets the ball
rolling.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1719635/un-chief-proposes-debt-relief-for-pakistan
--------
Pro-Imran
graffiti appears outside Sharifs’ office in London
November
8, 2022
LONDON:
A pro-Imran slogan was spray painted on the wall of Stanhope House, the
building where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain has an office,
on Monday, in an act that constitutes ‘criminal vandalism’ under UK law.
On
Monday evening, a ‘die-hard’ supporter of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, British
Pakistani Shayan Ali posted a photo on social media where he could be seen
stood against the boundary wall, which was spray painted with the words: “You
can’t kill IK chor”.
The
phrase is being construed by many on social media as being targeted to the
Sharifs, whom Mr Ali has for months been heckling and confronting outside their
home, office and public places.
The
slogan appeared just days after Mr Khan was shot and injured by a gun wielding
critic at his rally in Wazirabad.
Mr
Ali was briefly detained by Met Police officers last month when a PTI protest
outside Avenfield House, where Nawaz Sharif resides, went out of control. Mr
Ali is routinely seen outside Avenfield House and Stanhope House, shouting anti-Nawaz
slogans.
In
one recent video circulating on social media, residents of Dunraven Street who
live nearby Avenfield House are seen pleading with Mr Ali and his peers,
begging them to stop using bad language on their doorstep and that they have
children at home. “It’s not fair,” the woman pleaded with the pro-Imran
supporters, looking tearful. “We pay so much money to live in a good
neighbourhood.”
Below
Mr Ali’s tweet about the graffiti outside Stanhope House, some Twitter users
praised him, however, others pointed out that his action falls under criminal
vandalism in the UK.
Under
the Criminal Damage Act 1971, a person caught doing graffiti can face a prison
sentence of up to ten years or fined if the damage costs more than £5,000.
If
the damage caused is less than £5,000, an offender could face three months in
prison or a fine of £2,500. Offenders can also be prosecuted under the
Anti-Social Behaviour Act, 2003.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1719639/pro-imran-graffiti-appears-outside-sharifs-office-in-london
--------
Zelenskyy
congratulates Netanyahu on Israel election win
07
November, 2022
Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called Benjamin Netanyahu to
congratulate him on his victory in last week's election that secured the former
Israeli prime minister's dramatic comeback.
In
the “warm and personal conversation,” Netanyahu thanked Zelenskyy and “repeated
what he said during the election campaign, that after assuming the position (of
prime minister) he would give serious consideration to the Ukrainian issue,” a
statement from Netanyahu's office read.
Zelenskyy
said he congratulated Netanyahu and “wished him a successful formation of the
new government.”
“I
expressed hope that the level of (Ukrainian-Israeli) interaction will
correspond to the security challenges facing our countries,” Zelenskyy wrote on
Twitter.
Ukraine
has since late February been under assault from a Russian invasion.
The
call between the two took place via encrypted messaging app Signal, according
to Netanyahu's office.
Israel
has been reluctant to get involved in a US-led alliance helping pro-Western
Ukraine to repel Russia's invasion.
But
Israel has been increasingly concerned over the growing role of arch-foe Iran
in the conflict, with Tehran accused of supplying fleets of deadly drones used
by Russia against Ukrainian civilian targets.
Zelenskyy,
who had criticized Israel over its neutrality in the war, had late October
noted a “positive trend” in relations after the two countries began sharing
intelligence about Russia's use Iranian drones.
Israel
has not been willing to provide Ukraine with its state-of-the-art aerial
defense systems, walking a delicate diplomatic line in light of its need to
maintain cooperation with Russia, which has an active military role in Israel’s
neighbor Syria.
Netanyahu,
along with his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies, secured a clear win in
Tuesday's election, setting him up to form what may be the most right-wing
government in Israeli history with 64 members of the 120-seat parliament.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UK
PM Sunak congratulates Netanyahu on Israel election win
07
November, 2022
Britain
on Monday congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his return to power in Israel,
although it is also urging moderation from his hard-right partners.
“On
behalf of the UK, I would like to congratulate @netanyahu on his victory in the
Israeli elections,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted while on a visit to
Egypt for the COP27 climate summit.
“Across
areas like trade, security and technology there is a huge amount our countries
do together and I look forward to working with the returning Prime Minister.”
Netanyahu,
backed by ultra-Orthodox and far-right allies, secured a clear win in last
Tuesday's vote, putting the veteran leader on course for a dramatic comeback.
Sunak’s
spokeswoman on Thursday urged all parties in Israel to “refrain from
inflammatory language and demonstrate tolerance and respect for minority
groups.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Sweden
reiterates bid to join NATO ahead of Turkey Talks
08
November, 2022
Sweden’s
new leader is making progress toward convincing Turkey he’s serious about
meeting Ankara’s demands in exchange for being let into NATO, according to two
Turkish officials familiar with the matter.
Stockholm
made fresh concessions just days before a key meeting between Prime Minister
Ulf Kristersson and Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan scheduled for Ankara
on Tuesday.
Kristersson
will seek to persuade his opposite number to lift objections to Sweden’s entry
to the alliance, and ratify the application made alongside neighboring Finland
following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The
Swedish government on Saturday agreed to distance itself from Kurdish groups
viewed as terrorists by Turkey – one of two countries yet to back membership –
after earlier approving arms exports to the nation. The steps need to remain in
place after joining the alliance, said the officials, who asked not to be named
while speaking about a confidential matter.
Turkey
has been objecting to the two Nordic countries joining NATO, but an agreement
hammered out in Madrid in June allowed the process to move forward, and 28 of
30 allies have since ratified their entry. Still, the cooperation between Sweden
and Kurdish groups has remained a sticking point for Turkey. Hungary’s approval
is also pending.
Erdogan
is facing elections next year and is keen to consolidate nationalist support by
pressuring the Nordic nations to crack down not only on supporters of the
Kurdish PKK militant group – already designated a terrorist organization by the
European Union and the US – but also on affiliates such as the YPG militia in
Syria.
While
the YPG, backed by Western nations, played a significant role in defeating ISIS
in Syria, Turkey accuses the group of attacking its soldiers near the
countries’ border.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Greece,
Türkiye should resolve differences through diplomacy: US envoy in Athens
Ahmet
Gencturk
07.11.2022
It
is essential that Greece and Türkiye resolve their differences through
diplomacy, the US ambassador to Athens said on Sunday.
"The
only thing that will work is to discuss and resolve the differences
diplomatically and according to international law," George Tsunis said in
an interview with private broadcaster ANT1, emphasizing that both neighboring
countries are important and respected members of NATO.
"There
are differences in many relationships. But peace is the primary principle in
this case and can only be achieved diplomatically," Tsunis added.
Arguing
that inflammatory rhetoric would not serve the interests of Athens, Ankara, or
NATO, he drew attention to repeated US calls on both allies to engage in
dialogue to overcome differences between them.
"These
differences are not unique and can be resolved," he said, expressing hope
that the disputes between the two countries would be settled through diplomatic
channels "in the near future."
When
asked how Washington would react in the face of an attack on Greece, Tsunis was
careful in his wording. "The Greek army is capable of protecting the
homeland but the US would tirelessly work to ensure the peace," he said.
The
New York-born son of a Greek immigrant family, Tsunis has served as the US
ambassador to Greece since May.
On
Nov. 2, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticized Europe and the US
over their approach to Türkiye-Greece relations, accusing Europe of double
standards in Athens' favor.
Expressing
Ankara's readiness to resolve outstanding disputes, Cavusoglu said this was not
possible due to Greece's disregard of exploratory talks.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Germany
condemns rocket attacks in Syria’s Idlib
Ayhan
Simsek
07.11.2022
BERLIN
Germany
on Monday condemned the Syrian regime’s rocket attacks on a refugee camp in the
northern city of Idlib.
“We
have seen the reports of military attacks by the Syrian regime, as well as the
Russian forces in the region,” the Foreign Ministry’s deputy spokeswoman,
Andrea Sasse, told a news conference in Berlin.
“We
condemn the use of cluster bombs, which are internationally banned. We also
condemn military attacks that target civilian and humanitarian infrastructure,
particularly refugee camps,” she added.
Sunday’s
rocket attack on the refugee camp left at least 10 civilians dead, including
children, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR). More than 77
civilians were wounded and 12 of them were in serious condition.
Idlib
falls within a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression are expressly
prohibited under a 2018 deal between Türkiye and Russia. Despite multiple
cease-fire understandings, the Assad regime and its allies carried out frequent
attacks within the zone.
Syria
has been embroiled in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad
regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germany-condemns-rocket-attacks-in-syria-s-idlib/2731959
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Australian
engineer jailed in Iraq facing ‘death sentence’ amid health fears
November
07, 2022
LONDON:
An Australian engineer jailed in Iraq has sent a letter to his family from
prison warning that he is facing a “death sentence” over potential untreated
skin cancer, The Guardian reported on Monday.
Robert
Pether, who was detained in Iraq last year after a contract dispute surrounding
the work of his architecture business on a new Central Bank building in the
country, warned that he “will not be coming home.”
The
47-year-old previously survived skin cancer in 2005, and before his arrest had
attended regular screenings to monitor his health status.
But
Pether warned in the letter that prison authorities, including a dermatologist
brought in for consultations, have ignored the growth of a new lesion on his
ear — the same location of a previous melanoma.
In
June, he started to notice rapid changes in the lesion and alerted prison
officials. But a dermatologist only prescribed Pether topical cream, which failed
to arrive.
“The
clock is ticking and I have a narrow window of opportunity — certainly less
time than I am due to be imprisoned for,” he wrote.
“How
do you tell a little girl who loves unicorns and cats that her daddy will not
be coming home?
“How
do you tell your children that you are proud of them, but will not be sharing
the accolades (and pitfalls) of their lives with them?
“And
toughest of all, how do you tell your wife, who is very much the other half of
you, that you will not be keeping the promise you made to grow old together?
“These
are the questions that I am currently grappling with every day — from the
moment I wake up and sit on the cell floor for the first head count of the day,
until the last thing at night, when I look at the photos of my family on the
wall next to my bed.
“Hope
is not forsaken, miracles can (and do) occur. However, the reality at the
moment is looking bleak for myself and my family.”
Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this year appealed to his Iraqi counterpart
Mustafa Al-Kadhimi over Pether’s situation.
A
spokesperson for the Australian Foreign Ministry said: “The Australian
government continues to advocate for Mr. Pether in the strongest possible terms
and at the highest levels.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2195336/world
--------
Palestinian
tycoon shot by British forces as boy launches bid to redress colonial-era
abuses
November
07, 2022
LONDON:
The world’s richest Palestinian, who was shot by British forces as a boy, has
launched an attempt to win redress for alleged crimes committed during colonial
rule.
Munib
Al-Masri, 88, who was shot by British forces in 1944, earlier this year drafted
a 300-page document on the alleged crimes and abuses committed by colonial
forces in Palestine between 1917 and 1948.
“I
was walking with a march and the soldier shot me in my leg, even now my leg
hurts from the injury,” Al-Masri told The Times. “I (barely) survived death
seven times, and it is a miracle that I’m still alive to file this lawsuit,” he
added.
Al-Masri
told the BBC earlier this year that British rule and the division of the
Palestinian mandate in 1948 between Israel and the Arab territories under the
Balfour Declaration affected him deeply in his adult life.
“I
saw how people were harassed…We had no protection whatsoever and nobody to
defend us,” he said.
Al-Masri
also wants to collect 100,000 signatures for a petition demanding that Britain
reviews the declaration, due to claims it was never ratified by parliament, The
Times reported.
He
wants at least an apology for the way the British government crushed protests
during the mandate period, including the deaths of scores of villagers in a
1938 massacre in Al-Bassa and the killing of 11 people in Halhul.
Ben
Emmerson, a British lawyer, and Luis Moreno Ocampo, a former chief prosecutor
at the International Criminal Court, are working with Al-Masri.
Emmerson
told the BBC earlier this year that “shocking crimes committed by certain
elements of the British mandatory forces” were carried out “systematically on
the Palestinian population,” adding that even during the time the crimes were
carried out, they would have been seen as breaches of international law.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2195326/world
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Qatar
hits back at Germany over criticism of World Cup host’s rights record
08
November 2022
Qatar's
foreign minister has decried Germany’s "double standards" over its
criticism of the World Cup host's human rights record, saying the European
country doesn’t raise the issue when it comes to energy partnerships or
investments.
Sheikh
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani defended the summoning of the German
ambassador that followed the remarks of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in which
she said a country’s compliance with human rights should be factored into the
selection of World Cup host.
Qatar
has been criticized over its treatment of migrant workers building World Cup
facilities.
Earlier
this month, the UN labor agency said Qatar has carried out "significant"
reforms that have "improved the working and living conditions for hundreds
of thousands of workers", adding that the measures were having an impact
across the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf region.
"On
the one side, the German population is misinformed by government politicians;
on the other, the government has no problem with us when it comes to energy
partnerships or investments," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani
told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper in an interview on Monday.
"We
are annoyed by the double standards," he said, noting that Doha had faced
a systematic campaign against it since being selected to host the World Cup in
2010 that he said no other country had faced.
"It
is ironic when this tone is struck in countries in Europe that call themselves
liberal democracies. It sounds very arrogant, frankly, and very racist,"
Al-Thani said.
Al-Thani
described calls for security guarantees for minorities - which Faeser had
requested as a prerequisite before agreeing to attend the World Cup - as
superfluous.
He
added that the German politicians should focus more on hate crimes occurring on
their own soil.
Qatar’s
rights record has come under scrutiny since 2014 when international unions made
an official complaint about the country.
The
International Labor Organization (ILO) established a temporary office in Doha
since then, but it is expected to become permanent as the agency said Qatar has
made such a request.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/11/08/692348/Qatar-hits-back-Germany-World-Cup-
--------
Southeast Asia
Seven
deadly sins of Malaysia’s approach to education
Sharifah
Munirah Alatas
November
8, 2022
We
have known for decades that universities in Malaysia are in trouble. In fact,
the country’s public higher education sector is in crisis because education has
become collateral damage of a widespread systemic crisis facing the country.
A
key aspect of this crisis concerns how education and development are
conceptualised. Since the 1980s, education has been packaged as a “tool” for
economic growth. This is wrong and retrogressive.
“Systemic”
refers to the component parts of our society, namely, the people, culture,
material products, political and economic institutions and social
organisations. The systemic crisis referred to above, emerges when all these
components fail to integrate in an organised and productive dynamic.
It
is wrong to link education solely to economic development because society needs
more than just economic activity to thrive. A human being is more than the sum
of their economic activities.
What
does development mean?
The
problems in Malaysia’s education sector are due to the absence of a broader
conception of development. This error can be addressed, depending on how
committed the country’s leadership is, and how genuine our politicians are in
mobilising the nation’s resources.
A
corrupt and uncaring government will insist on the status quo. An efficient,
people-centred, and ethical government would mobilise for reform.
In
any national system, there is typically a “hierarchy of goods”, delivered by
the government to its people, with the goal of maintaining a happy and
contented population, nurtured by national stability.
An
honest and selfless government also maintains a healthy consultation with the
private sector and civil society, as part of its holistic strategy to modernise
the nation, and keep up with global developments.
Additionally,
an education system that reassures the meaning of life, or condemns the
imbalances of science and technology, and the destruction of our ecology, must
be placed high on this list of “goods” for the people.
Greed
and corruption
If
our leaders focus only on the economic dimension, greed and corruption are
likely to set in. When there is tunnel vision of what a good life is, human
relations become impersonal through this process of unhealthy competition and
spiritual “alienation”.
An
added tragedy in Malaysia is that politicians regularly invoke race and
religion to reinforce this tunnel vision.
Thankfully
though, Malaysia is not (yet) a failed state, because the country’s security, law
enforcement structures, legal institutions, and economic fundamentals are still
functioning.
To
a large extent the public still has confidence in the governance of the
country, although this, too, is being challenged ever since a former prime
minister was incarcerated.
Seven
sins
The
crisis in Malaysia’s public higher education can be summed up as follows:
A
neglect of critical thinking, i.e. there is a declining number of scholars who
theorise about the purpose of life and society, and relate this to the reality
on the ground. Most of these so-called scholars cannot link theory to reality.
The
vision of higher education is too narrow, i.e. obsessing over the link between
education and economic growth.
There
is a vulgar politicisation of our top university management and university
boards.
Universities
are obsessed with policy-relevant research, often for political legitimation,
which reinforces the absence of critical thinking.
There
is a shameless obsession with global university rankings.
Academic
dishonesty and plagiarism thrive.
There
is a profound misconception that education is for “livelihood” rather than “for
life”. This indicates a misunderstanding between development and modernity.
These
seven issues collectively highlight the fundamental problems in our society.
These
are a culmination of how society has conceptualised development and what it
means to be successful in life. This conceptualisation was started as a
“top-down” idea in the early 1980s and 1990s, under Malaysia’s longest serving
prime minister.
The
focus on ‘growth’
Since
then, Malaysia’s leaders embarked on massive growth-centric and market-driven
policies, to resolve economic and racial disparities in society. This also
included robust state intervention policies involving government-business
compacts which focused on expediting industrialisation, cultivating more
Bumiputera entrepreneurs and reducing poverty.
Over
the decades, education policy has been transformed to reflect the gradual
obsession with wealth, among certain ministries and civil service departments,
through intricate relations of government-business patronage.
Are
Malaysia’s ethical and philosophical fundamentals able to reverse these
developments?
Ancient
Greek philosophy goes back as far as the 7th century BCE. Up to the beginning
of the Roman Empire, there were five great philosophical traditions: the
Platonist, the Aristotelian, the Stoic, the Epicurean, and the Skeptic.
Greek
philosopher Plato wrote that education is a means to achieve justice. Attaining
justice means achieving excellence in one’s political, social and spiritual
being.
Education
and Islam
The
message of the Quran has always been part of education in Islam.
Ever
since the Quran was revealed, Muslims have had to read, recite, and understand
it as part of being a Muslim. Muslims therefore define education as the
reading, teaching, learning, and assimilation of knowledge.
Inherent
in the idea of “being” a Muslim is the need to read, debate, and be
knowledgeable. Knowledge is part of faith, and is obligatory. (Alatas S. F.,
2006).
Therefore,
an understanding of the philosophy of education in Islam is linked to how
Muslims conceptualise knowledge. The Islamic philosophical view is to acquire
knowledge, in order to live within a social and cultural system. Human beings
need education to understand both human and non-human life forms, because the
two are integrated and in perpetual interaction. In Islam, to be knowledgeable
about this interaction means to be knowledgeable of the universe.
Therefore,
the Islamic worldview of education is holistic. It ensures the spiritual,
moral, psychological and intellectual development of personality, by
integrating civic consciousness, social solidarity, justice, and excellence, to
be part of our overall personality and physical being. All this is prescribed
within a consciousness of a larger cosmic order.
Malaysia’s
inadequate philosophy
Malaysia’s
national philosophy of education embodies aspects of both the Greek and the
Islamic ideas, and is stated in the Ministry of Education’s portal. It
comprises two very long sentences. (in both English and Bahasa Melayu). It
reads:
“Education
in Malaysia is a continuous effort towards further developing individual
potential in a comprehensive and integrated way to create a balanced and
harmonious person intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically,
based on faith and obedience to God. This effort is to produce Malaysian
citizens with knowledge, skills, noble character, responsibility and the
ability to achieve personal well-being, as well as contribute to the harmony
and prosperity of the family, society and country”.
However,
despite its length, the above is inadequate. The conceptualisation of any
guiding principle such as a nation’s education philosophy, is not meant to be a
superficial statement for society to parrot. It is meant to remind us of a goal
to achieve, to improve the lives of a nation’s citizens.
If
we look at Malaysia’s education philosophy, it is supposed to nurture the best
minds and voices in our society, and to reflect the diverse views and concerns
of all segments of the population. The aim is to problem-solve, to improve the
living conditions of society, and to provide hope for the future.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Domestic
politics or international relations: Malaysia’s 15th general election
Nov
07, 2022
The
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 sent a wave of triumph across the western
world, as it signalled the end of the ideological conflict between the United
States and the erstwhile Soviet Union. It was assumed that the ideals of a
western style capitalist, and democratic system have won. Since 1991, the
concept of democracy itself has undergone several changes. Democracy continues
to evolve as it continues facing challenges ranging from corruption to
defection to foreign interference in elections, to influence operations to
bureaucratic paralysis. The case of Malaysia’s 15th general election (GE)
becomes an interesting case in this context.
On
November 19 this year, Malaysia is set for its 15th GE. In four years since
2018, Malaysia has seen three different administrations and three prime
ministers (PMs), which is a record in Malaysia’s political history since 1957.
Since 2018, the country has been plagued by protracted instability, which saw
the Pakatan Harappan (PH) coalition government collapse in 2020, while the
defeated United Malays National Organization (UNMO) vaulted back to power with
an unsteady coalition government. The PH government lost its majority in the
parliament in 2020 when 11 members of parliament withdrew from the coalition.
The PH government had replaced the UNMO in 2018. Malaysia’s 14th GE in 2018 had
ended the then world’s longest one-party rule with regular elections. After
ruling for 61 years, the UNMO finally fell at the ballot box in 2018. Public
anger over the multibillion-dollar corruption scandal, the Malaysian
Development Berhad Scandal, referred to as the 1MDB scandal was the reason for
UNMO’s fall.
The
1MDB scandal was a corruption, bribery and money laundering conspiracy in which
the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was
thoroughly embezzled, with assets diverted globally. The scandal had
international contours as it implicated actors worldwide and led to criminal
investigations in several countries. In fact, the 1MDB scandal is one of the
world’s greatest financial scandals and the United States department of justice
had even labelled it as the largest kleptocracy case, back in 2016.
In
2019, power echelons in Malaysia shook again as evidence surfaced regarding
China’s efforts to strike a deal with the former Malaysian government in 2016
to bail out the IMDB state fund, allegedly implicating former Premier Najib
Rajak in exchange for deals tied to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In
the same year, Malaysia also banned the controversial book Belt and Road
Initiative for Win-Winism, which, as stated by the home ministry, promotes
communism and socialism and the contents could lead to confusion in the
country. Controversial parts of the book include descriptions of Malays
sympathising with Uyghur Muslims in China. About 60% of the population in
Malaysia is ethnic Malay Muslim and there are sizeable minorities of people of
Chinese and Indian origin, as well as indigenous communities. Clearly, domestic
politics in Malaysia are deeply intertwined with international politics.
The
PH, which took over the reins of power, in 2018 was headed by Mahathir Muhammad
and Anwar Ibrahim, who both are former leaders of the UNMO. In 2019, then PM
Mahathir Muhammad had stated while China is a friend, it is not for Malaysia to
promote Beijing’s ideology to Malaysian children. Beyond the intricate
relationship between corruption, domestic politics and international relations,
it also becomes pertinent to note the political fissures in Malaysia to
understand how important the 15th GE is.
Fragmentation
in Malaysia’s democratic system has become constant and is visible from not
just the frequent changes in the government, but also the very loosely formed
coalitions and regular defections. Five Malaysian states have gone through
administration changes caused by defections since 2020. The 15th GE remains an
important event to watch out for due to a number of reasons. For one, the 15th
GE is going to see the unprecedented involvement of first-time voters after the
Malaysian parliament voted to reduce the voting age from 21 to 18 years and
enabled automatic voter registration. Because of the change in the voting age,
an unknown variable in the form of 1.4 million first time voters gets added to
the complexity of Malaysian politics as it is not known how many of this group
will vote or who they will vote for. All 222 parliamentary seats in the country
will be available during the 15th GE, along with the state legislative seats of
Pahang, Perlis and Perak. The state seat in Sabah- Bugaya will also have a
mid-term election on the same day.
The
polls are being held close to the annual monsoon season which generally begins
in mid-November and brings in massive rain and flooding. This raises the
concern over how many people will actually come out and vote. Parts of Malaysia
have already been affected by flooding this year. Beyond the timing of the GE
and the changed voting age, the profiles of the contesting leaders also remain
interesting. Voters will have to choose largely between three broad coalitions
-- Barisan Nasional (BN), which is dominated by the UNMO but includes parties
for ethnic Chinese and ethnic Indians, the multiracial PH under former deputy
PM Anwar Ibrahim and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) which includes Parti Islam
Se-Malaysia (PAS), Malaysia’s Islamic Party. The states of Sabah and Sarawak
have their own parties as well, like Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), which had
previously backed the BN.
Anwar
Ibrahim has been named the PH coalition’s prime ministerial candidate. In 2018,
Mahathir Muhammad was to hand over power to Anwar, after the two joined
together in the PH coalition and won the elections. However, repeated delays in
the handing over of power led to divisions within the ruling bloc eventually
leading to its downfall in 2020. Anwar also was seen as Mahathir’s successor in
the 1990s before he was fired in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, after
which he spent six years in prison on charges of abuse of power and sodomy. He
was released from prison in 2018 after Malaysia’s king, Sultan Muhammad V
granted him a pardon post PH’s electoral victory.
Two-time
former PM Mahathir Muhammad also submitted his nomination papers at his
constituency; 97-year-old Mahathir had stated in October that he would defend
his seat in the GE, but had not confirmed whether he would be the Prime
Minister the third time if his political alliance wins. Mahathir warned that a
win by UMNO could see imprisoned ex-PM Najib Razak pardoned and let off the
hook. UMNO’s president is Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has been on trial over
corruption related to a family charitable foundation. Najib currently remains
jailed for convictions in a series of cases on 1MDB. PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob,
registered to defend his seat in central Pahang state. PM Yakoob dissolved the
parliament on October 10, nine months ahead of schedule at the behest of UMNO
leaders, who encouraged by several state victories believe that the party has
an upper hand over fragmented opposition. UMNO was an important part of the
coalition that helmed the BN party in power till before it was dissolved.
Another
interesting facet about the 15th GE is the cost of holding the elections, which
as stated by the election commission of the country, will be double that of the
last general election. Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh stated that the
2018 polls cost RM500 million, while this election needs an allocation of
RM1.01 billion, which is about $ 302 million.
Adding
to the conundrum caused by defections, dissolutions, and corruption in Malaysia
is the issue of external influence. US-based watchdog, Freedom House, in its
Beijing Global Media Influence 2022 report stated that the Malaysian
government, journalists and civil societies should watch out for a shift to
Beijing friendly coverage from UMNO aligned news outlets. The report adds that
UMNO and by extension the BN have been pro-China since the emergence of the
1MDB scandal in 2015.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
DAP
man out to prove that Kedah Malays can accept the party
Dineskumar
Ragu
November
8, 2022
KUALA
MUDA: Zulhazmi Shariff of DAP is on a mission to prove a former ally is wrong
to claim that Kedah Malays will never accept the party.
Zulhazmi,
who is DAP’s sole Malay candidate in Kedah, said he wants to prove that the
people of Jerai are open-minded and appreciate a party’s values and not just
its logos.
“It
is our responsibility to prove that Phahrolrazi Zawawi is wrong to say DAP is
unacceptable to the Malays,” he told FMT in an interview.
Phahrolrazi’,
the former Kedah Amanah chief, made his comment following Pakatan Harapan’s
decision to field a DAP candidate to contest the Jerai seat.
Phahrolrazi
said an Amanah candidate should have been chosen and he called on Amanah
members to boycott the general election, resulting in his sacking by the party.
Zulhazmi,
who was previously with PAS, said he had joined DAP because he sees the party
as being principled. He left PAS in 2015 due to his discontent with the Islamic
party cosying up to Umno.
The
perception that DAP was anti-Malay or anti-Islam was untrue.“I am no less Malay
nor less Muslim by joining DAP,” he said.
However,
some Malays remained sceptical about PH, though this had nothing to do with DAP
but rather perceptions surrounding the coalition’s 22 months in government.
On
the ground, Zulhazmi said non-Malays have responded positively to him, while
there were encouraging signs from PAS supporters.
“We
are unsure whether they are going to vote (for us), but they (PAS supporters)
have never chased us (campaigners) out or ignored us when we approached them,”
he added.
He
said there are even Umno supporters who have praised him for taking the bold
decision to join DAP and offer himself as a candidate.
Zulhazmi
said he intended to help Jerai realise its potential as an agriculture and
tourism hub.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Exploring
Islamic influences in Niujie, a small district near Beijing
08
Nov 2022
Finding
halal food in foreign countries is one of the challenges Muslim travellers
usually face.
However
in China, it is not so difficult to find a Muslim restaurant in major tourist
cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guilin and Guangzhou.
Halal
food was one of my main concerns when I first came to Beijing for the China
Asia Pacific Press Centre 2022 programme, at the invitation of the China Public
Diplomacy Association. I had doubts over the accessibility of Muslim
restaurants in the city especially when Muslims only comprise up to 2% of
China’s population of 1.4 billion.
(Organised
by the China International Press Communication Centre, the programme saw the
participation of over 70 international media practitioners from various
nations.)
Many
questions had been playing on my mind when I first arrived in China in
mid-July: Where do they get their halal food supply? How do they perform their
religious obligations?
All
these questions were answered when I visited the Niujie Mosque, the oldest and
largest mosque in Beijing, and one of the world’s most famous mosques, located
in the sub-district of Guang’anmen in Xicheng.
Niujie
is in the city’s largest Muslim district, home to more than 300,000 Muslims of
the Hui ethnic group.
Using
a map app to guide me, I picked up the courage to travel alone to Niujie from
where I live in Jianguomen (located in the heart of Beijing city), using the
subway for the first time.
After
a 40-minute ride, I arrived at Nujie. However, I had a rude shock when I got to
the mosque as all the doors were closed, with a signboard notifying visitors
that it was under construction.
Instead
of going back to the city centre, I stayed on, waiting for a “door of
opportunity” to enter the mosque and perform the Zohor prayer.
I
patiently waited ... and luckily, a man in a white kopiah (cap) soon emerged
from the mosque.
“Malaysia,”
I said as I introduced myself to the man in his 70s. His name was Wang and
thankfully, he allowed me to enter the mosque.
There
was a sense of calm when I stepped into the premises of Niujie Mosque. Several
men, mostly senior citizens either wearing a kopiah or white robe (jubah), were
having a chat while waiting for prayer time – a sight that is no different than
in mosques back home.
“Assalamualaikum,”
said the imam.
The
greeting was indeed heart-warming as it reflects Muslim solidarity that
transcends racial boundaries.
But
due to language barrier, I could only return the imam’s greeting with a smile.
Tourist
attraction
The
Niujie Mosque, the largest of all the mosques in Beijing, was first built in
1996. It is a functioning mosque, as well as a major tourist attraction now,
but it has not been fully opened to the public since the start of the pandemic.
From
the outside, its architecture shows traditional Chinese influences, while the
inside has a blend of Islamic calligraphy and Chinese designs.
The
main prayer hall is 600sq m, and can hold more than 1,000 worshippers. The
blank white tiles and fixtures look “Muslim”, but the richly-coloured Chinese
roofs and designs give it a more Oriental feel.
Many
fences, walls and doors are also painted in bright red.
Outside
the mosque is a minaret, a lecture room for religious classes and a two-storey
tower structure that is called the “tower for watching the moon”. It looks like
a two-storey pagoda.
There
is also a souvenir shop, as well as an office for the imam within the premises.
According
to history, the mosque was first built during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and
made out of timber. It was named “Liasi” by the emperor in 1474. It covers an
area of 10,000sq m, blending both classic Arabic mosque with Chinese royal
palace designs.
The
mosque has transcended six eras starting from Liao Dynasty, Song Dynasty, Yuan
Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, before entering modern-day China.
Within
the period, it has gone through several renovations such as in 1955 and 1979,
in addition to a major reconstruction in 1996. This was done in conjunction
with its 1,000th anniversary.
Based
on information displayed at the mosque, the Niujie Mosque is reserved as a “Key
Point of Cultural Heritage & Relic” and has been under state-level
protection by the State Council since Jan 13, 1988.
“This
is my first visit to Niujie Mosque and it is indeed magnificent, with its
original nuances, especially from the architectural and design aspects, which
reflect Islamic influence in China,” said Marshalina Gitafadilla Munir, a
journalist from Indonesia.
As
I was taking pictures of the place, a woman in her 60s greeted me. Without a
word, she used hand gestures and body language as a means of communication.
It
was clear that she wanted to know where the women’s section for prayers and for
“wuduk” (a room designated for ritual washing before daily prayer) was.
Halal
food heaven
After
prayers, I managed to catch up with Wang. Using a translation app, I expressed
my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to pray at the mosque and hoped to
return with some friends.
Wang
only nodded, smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.
Needless
to say, travel is incomplete without exploring the neighbourhood and in this
case, the streets of Niujie near the mosque and its halal food.
So,
without wasting time, I decided to hunt for a place to eat after prayers. Based
on some valuable tips shared by local residents, if a building and premise is
green in colour, it shows that it is serving halal food. I was glad that the
buildings in Niujie were mostly painted green in addition to signboards
displaying the word “halal” in Chinese.
Nearly
all shops and stalls were selling halal snacks, such as lamb and beef bao, bean
soup, Baiji rice cake and various types of bread with halal meat fillings.
A
takeaway food outlet was drawing customers who were making a beeline for its
popular lamb and beef bao, hot from the oven. I decided to join the line.
Thanks
to its efficient staff and the cashless system in place, I did not have to wait
long.
“Niujie”
literally translates to “ox street” in Mandarin. This area is actually a key
market for halal beef and lamb, where the animals are slaughtered in accordance
with Islamic laws. In fact meat that is sold in Niujie is said to be among the
best in Beijing.
Several
restaurants managed by the ethnic Uyghur group from Xinjiang here serve various
types of their traditional food, for example the popular lamb kebap.
“During
Ramadan, the Niujie area would be packed with Muslims buying halal meat and
breaking their fast at Niujie Mosque,” said a local resident.
I
couldn’t help but try the lamb kebap. The meat was marinated well and the whole
thing was very tasty. Its exquisite taste was similar to the ones sold in
Xinjiang, one of the most popular cuisines in the region.
Muslim
community in China
The
Hui ethnic group is the largest group of Muslims in China, followed by the
Uyghur. Both ethnic groups form about 90% of the Muslim population in the
country.
The
Muslim community there also comprises Kazak, Kirgiz, Uzbek, Tatar, Tajik,
Dongxiang, Salad and Bao’an ethnic groups.
An
estimated 25 million Muslims are found across country, with Islam being widely
spread and focused on small groups. Islam is one of the four main religions
officially recognised in China, with Muslims largely found in Xinjiang, Gansu,
Qinghai and Yunnan.
The
Xinjiang region has the largest Muslim population (over 50%).
Source:
TheStar
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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In
what could be his last Malaysia election, can Muhyiddin help Bersatu weather a
tough challenge?
Amir
Yusof
08
Nov 2022
PAGOH,
Johor: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin stood up to speak to a
group of around 30 Chinese residents in the small town of Bukit Pasir Selatan.
Pointing
to his own chest, the 75-year old said: “If Perikatan wins, Muhyiddin will be
prime minister. I will ensure Pagoh gets better development.”
“I
know this Bukit Pasir area is tough for me (to get support), but this time will
be my last. So will you please vote for me?” he asked, concluding his speech
which was delivered in Bahasa Melayu mixed with Cantonese phrases.
There
was applause and loud cheers. “Muhyiddin for PM again!” exclaimed one resident.
It
was a warm reception on the first day of Mr Muhyiddin’s campaign in the federal
constituency of Pagoh in northern Johor for Malaysia’s 15th General Election
(GE15). This will also likely be the last time the veteran politician contests
in the national polls.
In
a Facebook post a few hours after he was confirmed as a candidate for Pagoh on
Saturday (Nov 5), Mr Muhyiddin wrote: “God willing, this General Election
contest will be the last in my political journey and I’ve decided to fight only
because of my determination to complete our struggle.
“I
chose to lead PN for this GE because I am not willing to see this country fall
into the hands of kleptocrats. I also do not want this country to be governed
again by a political coalition that fails to fulfill its promises to the people
and does not respect racial and religious sensitivities of multi-ethnic
communities in our country,” he added.
PN
comprises Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia
(PAS), Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan) as well as Sabah-based parties
Parti Progresif Sabah and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku. Mr Muhyiddin is the
president of Bersatu.
PN
is contesting in 171 out of 222 federal seats in the polls, and Mr Muhyiddin
has said that the coalition is aiming to form a new government on its own by
garnering a simple majority of at least 121 seats on polling night.
In
northern Johor, encompassing Pagoh, Muar and Bukit Bakri federal seats, Mr
Muhyiddin’s popularity and support remains strong.
Yet,
some voters have raised doubts about whether his party Bersatu can weather the
tough challenge in the upcoming polls and garner sufficient seats to remain
relevant in the formation of a new government.
MUHYIDDIN
REMAINS FAVOURITE FOR PAGOH SEAT
For
the Nov 19 polls, Mr Muhyiddin will be defending his Pagoh seat against Barisan
Nasional (BN) veteran Razali Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Iskandar Shah
Abd Rahman.
Mr
Muhyiddin has won in Pagoh in the last six General Elections, five of which he
contested under BN. He has held the seat since 1995.
In
2018, Mr Muhyiddin contested as a Bersatu candidate under the PH banner. He
clinched the seat with around a 7,000 vote majority.
His
popularity in Pagoh is clear.
Almost
every street within the constituency is lined with PN flags and his posters.
Many residents fondly refer to Mr Muhyiddin as “abah”, or father, a moniker
that first became popular during his 17-month stint as prime minister.
Mdm
Sharrifa Ariqa Syed Salleh, who has converted her home into a PN grassroots
centre, told CNA that Mr Muhyiddin’s family has deep roots in the area and is
able to connect better with the voter base than other candidates.
“I
heard that he is looking to step down and this will be his last General
Election. Let’s hope this is not true, we don’t want him to retire yet,” said
the 48-year-old who lives in Kampung Sungai Terap.
“We
all knew him and his family since he was young. His family opened an Islamic
(religious) school nearby and I still meet his family members around town. In
spite of what he has achieved, they have all continued to live humbly,” she
added.
Mr
Muhyiddin’s main opponent for the seat is Mr Razali, who is a United Malays
National Organisation (UMNO) supreme council member. Mr Razali was previously a
three-term member of parliament for Muar, Johor.
Speaking
to CNA on the sidelines of the candidate nomination, Mr Razali acknowledged
that he is “the underdog” in the contest.
“We
are not nervous to contest here because I am not the incumbent in this area. We
are the underdogs and we do not come with the expectation that we will win.
This gives us encouragement to work hard,” said the former deputy minister for
youth and sports and deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
However,
Mr Razali feels he still has a chance to win because he believes that some
residents would prefer a candidate who is part of the coalition that eventually
forms the government. He is confident that BN would attain enough seats to
return to power.
“There
are voters who believe in the importance of having an MP that is part of the
federal government. This is what we offer to the voters. If voters pick other
candidates, they will have an opposition MP in Pagoh,” he said.
POTENTIAL
TRUST DEFICIT AFTER SHERATON MOVE
While
his legacy in Johor is evident, some voters have expressed doubt over Mr
Muhyiddin’s party Bersatu, particularly whether it is a party that can
represent their interests for the long term.
A
Bukit Pasir Selatan resident who only wanted to be known as Mr Yap told CNA
that he was proud that a local like Mr Muhyiddin rose through the ranks to be
prime minister.
However,
he remembers the role Mr Muhyiddin and Bersatu played in the fall of the
Pakatan Harapan government in 2020.
“I
voted for him as a Pakatan Harapan candidate in 2018. But he betrayed that
trust after the Sheraton Move by helping to topple the government,” said the
54-year-old who works in the furniture industry.
Mr
Mohd Burhan Hameed, an electrician who will cast his vote in Muar, said that he
feels “uneasy” supporting PN because Bersatu had “robbed Malaysians” and
“betrayed the mandate” given in the 2018 General Election.
In
the so-called Sheraton Move in February 2020, Bersatu withdrew from PH and then
prime minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned, creating a power vacuum.
Subsequently,
the king determined that Mr Muhyiddin, the Bersatu leader, likely commanded the
support of the majority of lawmakers in the Lower House. Mr Muhyiddin was sworn
in as prime minister, leading the PN coalition.
However,
his tenure only lasted until August 2021 when some MPs from BN’s main component
party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) pulled their support for
him and put forth party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob to replace Mr
Muhyiddin as prime minister.
At
the start of his GE15 campaign, Mr Muhyiddin rejected PH’s label that he and
Bersatu politicians were “traitors”.
Speaking
during a campaign walkabout in Sungai Raya, Pagoh on Nov 5, Mr Muhyiddin
stated: “We (Bersatu) made a decision to leave PH because we felt our coalition
partners no longer cared for the interests of the Malays and the sovereignty of
Islam. Is that wrong?
“You
can call me a traitor but I cannot betray my race, religion and country.”
Mr
Hafidzi Razali, a senior analyst with strategic advisory firm Bower Group Asia
told CNA that it was highly likely that Mr Muhyiddin will retain his seat as he
“remains a popular figure” in Pagoh.
However,
he outlined that some other Bersatu members who are contesting in more
ethnic-mixed or urban constituencies may be in for a difficult campaign.
“While
Muhyiddin himself might not be a casualty of the Sheraton Move, other Bersatu
incumbents will face an uphill task to defend their seats - especially those
contesting in mixed seats,” said Mr Hafidzi.
“Non-Malay
voters, especially, would hesitate to give Bersatu a second chance,” he added.
Mr
Hafidzi also pointed out that having Islamic-based party PAS as its main ally in
PN might discourage non-Muslims from supporting Bersatu.
Some
Bersatu members who are contesting in fierce fights in mixed-race urban seats
include PN information chief Azmin Ali, who will have to fend off the challenge
of Selangor chief minister Amiruding Shari in the federal seat of Gombak,
Selangor.
Another
is Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu who is facing PH prime minister
candidate Anwar Ibrahim in the Tambun federal seat.
Pagoh
resident Nurul Normah Puteh, who is also a Muhyiddin supporter, told CNA that
she acknowledged that Bersatu may not garner enough seats to form a new
government.
However,
she still believes that Mr Muhyiddin will continue to play a big part in Malaysia
politics, even as an opposition MP.
Source:ChannelNewsAsia
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Police
probing Perak PAS chief over allegedly defamatory remarks
November
8, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: Police have opened an investigation paper into allegations that Perak PAS
chief and candidate for the Gunung Semanggol state seat, Razman Zakaria, had
made defamatory and malicious remarks about Pakatan Harapan during a recent
speech.
According
to Bernama, Perak police chief Yusri Hassan Basri said a 32-year-old man had
lodged a report after a video recording of the alleged event went viral on
Sunday.
Razman
is being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of
the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, he said in a statement.
He
also advised party supporters to comply with all laws and regulations and give
their full cooperation to the authorities during the general election,
especially during the campaign.
Meanwhile,
Yusri also said police received five reports regarding the election yesterday,
with only one investigation paper opened so far.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Not
in manifesto, but BN still pledging 3 DPMs, says Zahid
Yasmin
Abdul Latif
November
8, 2022
BAGAN
DATUK: Although the pledge to appoint three deputy prime ministers was not in
Barisan Nasional’s manifesto, coalition chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says BN
will still offer this if it wins handsomely at the polls.
At
a press conference, Zahid said this pledge was not listed in the BN manifesto,
which was launched last night, simply because he had announced this two weeks
ago.
On
Oct 23, he pledged to appoint three deputy prime ministers from Sabah, Sarawak
and Peninsular Malaysia respectively if the coalition won the general election
(GE15).
However,
a day later, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob brushed off questions about the
proposal, saying it would be implemented if included in BN’s manifesto and if
the coalition wins GE15.
It
was noticeably absent from BN’s manifesto, prompting Warisan deputy president
Darell Leiking to question its omission.
Leiking
said the exclusion had reduced Sabah and Sarawak to a “side dish” and was a
“reflection of what they think of us”.
BN’s
manifesto contained 99 pledges, including promises to develop Sabah and Sarawak
in line “with the spirit of the Federal Constitution” and uphold equitable
development between East and West Malaysia.
Sabah
and Sarawak would be made the new security hub and be developed as new economic
giants.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Lodge
report with MACC, Rafizi told on RM2bil project claim
November
8, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has challenged his PKR
counterpart Rafizi Ramli to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) over claims the environment and water minister had approved a
RM2 billion project after Parliament was dissolved.
“He
(Rafizi) hides behind (phrases such as) ‘I am made to understand’, ‘I was
informed’, ‘someone told me’… These are words against which, from a legal
standpoint, no action can be taken,” Tuan Ibrahim was quoted as saying by
Berita Harian.
“There
may be other aspects that we have to look at, but I want to emphasise that this
is slander. That’s why I am asking (him) to lodge a report if he has any
evidence,” he said in a speech in Cheka, Pahang, last night.
Tuan
Ibrahim explained that the government, which is currently operating on a
caretaker basis, could not approve any financial allocation as it was against a
Treasury circular.
He
also noted that Chief Secretary Zuki Ali had clearly stated that the Cabinet
did not have the right to make any policy decision as Parliament had been
dissolved.
“I
want to stress that I never approved allocations for any project after
Parliament was dissolved,” he said.
Yesterday,
Rafizi claimed he had received information that Tuan Ibrahim was in the process
of awarding a RM2 billion flood mitigation project to an Umno-linked company.
He
claimed that the project, which is related to a flood barrier at Sungai Langat,
was the second contract awarded to the same company in the past six months.
Referring
to a circular from the finance ministry dated Oct 18, Rafizi pointed out that
the caretaker government and its agencies should not be involved in any
contractual commitments or undertakings until after the general election.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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Indonesian
president receives UAE international peace award
SHEANY
YASUKO LAI
November
07, 2022
JAKARTA:
Indonesian President Joko Widodo received on Monday an award from the Abu Dhabi
Forum for Peace in recognition of his contributions to global peace efforts.
The
annual Imam Al-Hassan bin Ali Award, launched in 2015, is aimed at honoring
those who created “a culture of peace and consolidating its value in Muslim
societies.”
Widodo
received the award from ADFP Secretary-General Al-Mahfouz bin Bayyah at the
Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday morning.
“This
award from Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace is a form of appreciation toward
Indonesia’s contribution to international peace,” the Indonesian president
tweeted after the meeting.
The
award is a “huge honor” not only for the Indonesian government but also for its
people, State Secretary Pratikno told reporters.
“President
Joko Widodo has been trusted as a leader who spreads message and culture of
peace for the world,” he said.
“Mr.
President expressed gratitude for the award and (expects it to) strengthen
relations between Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, and at the same time
give us zest to make the G20 a success for global peace and prosperity.”
Indonesia,
the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, this year holds the rotating
presidency of the Group of 20 largest economies. Next week it will host the G20
summit in Bali, where the heads of the group’s member states will convene.
Al-Mahfouz
told reporters that the ADFP has “great hope” that Indonesia, under Widodo’s
leadership, will “lead a global initiative (to end) fear” and foster a culture
of harmony.
Source:
Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2195381/world
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Arab World
Assad
regime's property rights violations complicate return of displaced Syrians
Ethem
Emre Özcan, Mehmet Burak Karacaoğlu
07.11.2022
ANKARA
(AA) - The Bashar al-Assad regime’s practice of leasing out crop fields in Hama
and Idlib through so-called auctions without the consent of displaced
landowners is "illegal and unacceptable" and hinders the voluntary
return of Syrian refugees, according to experts.
Millions
of Syrians have been displaced during the civil war due to violent attacks on
opposition-controlled areas by Assad regime forces and Iranian-backed militia
groups with the support of Russia.
An
Assad regime law required that all citizens submit their property ownership
claims in person within a month, otherwise unclaimed properties could be
confiscated.
The
regime started to implement the practice in rural areas of Idlib and Hama.
Using
regime security forces and Baath Party executives, committees have been
transferring the use of the lands identified since June 2020 to regime
supporters through “auctions.”
Property
owners’ requests to transfer the use of the properties to people they want or
give power of attorney are mainly rejected.
In
a recent report, the Syrian Network for Human Rights underlined that the regime
aims to seize 570,000 acres of lands in the suburbs of Idlib and Hama through
three separate public auctions.
“The
Syrian regime tries to steal land and property through procedures that appear
to be legal, such as through auctions, but in reality they further violate the
rights of the forcibly displaced, which are guaranteed by international
humanitarian law and international human rights law,” said Fadel Abdul Ghany,
the group’s director.
Abdul
Ghany said that the regime resorted to this practice to reap additional
revenue, while it wants to reward Shabiha militias and Assad supporters while
punishing his opponents.
He
said that it is impossible for them to consider returning refugees in these
circumstances, adding that the regime does not want displaced Syrians or
refugees to return either.
-
Assad moves discourage refugees from returning
Ayman
Al Dassouky, a researcher at Istanbul-based Omran Center for Strategic Studies,
said: “These laws passed by the regime are contrary to the articles of its own
Constitution.”
Al
Dassouky said that the regime’s call to displaced civilians to return and the
exclusionary and vengeful steps it has taken on the ground do not match.
“It
seems that the regime only allows the return of those who don’t oppose it,” he
said, adding that it wants to create a demographic structure that supports it
and doesn’t pose a threat to its future existence.
According
to the UNHCR refugee agency, during the decade-plus civil war, 6.6 million
Syrians had to leave the country, which before 2011 had a population of around
22-23 million.
Syrian
Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad argued that the doors are open to those who want
to return to Syria, and that the regime’s repentance laws facilitated this.
Many
international organizations and non-governmental organizations, particularly
the UN and EU, call for the Assad regime to provide the necessary conditions
for the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Syrians, but the regime's
violation of many rights, particularly in return attempts from Lebanon, was
reflected in the reports.
The
Assad regime announced that hundreds of people from camps in Lebanon had
returned to Syria on Oct. 26 and Nov. 5, but gave no details about their
situation.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Muslim
Council of Elders congratulates King of Bahrain for success of Bahrain Dialogue
Forum
08
Nov 2022
Manama,
Nov.7 (BNA): The Muslim Council of Elders extends its congratulations to His
Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain for the success
of the recently concluded ‘Bahrain Dialogue Forum’ as well as the positive
reception of the historic co-visit by His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders and His
Holiness Pope Francis, Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
The
Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam
said, "The Kingdom of Bahrain is a symbol of how to achieve dialogue and
coexistence between people of different religious and sectarian backgrounds.
From here, the Grand Imam’s invitation for an inter-Islamic dialogue was issued
for the purpose of achieving Islamic unity. This goes with the continued
Islamic-Christian dialogue through the ‘Dialogue between East and West’
initiative, which aims to spread coexistence between all of humanity."
Judge
Abdelsalam praised the efforts of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,
King of the Kingdom of Bahrain in supporting and promoting coexistence and His
Majesty’s willingness to provide the necessary resources to make the Bahrain
Dialogue Forum a resounding success.
Source:
BNA
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https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2bDnBp23plDpByP9gKmfj2N8Q%3d
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Ancient
pre-Islamic Christian monastery uncovered in UAE
NOVEMBER
7, 2022
A
rare, possibly pre-Islamic era Christian monastery was uncovered last week by
archaeologists on an island off the coast of the UAE, Emirati state media
reported.
The
monastery was discovered on Siniyah Island in the Umm Al-Qaiwain emirate.
According to Emirati media, the complex found by archaeologists includes
cisterns, a church, a refectory and residences for the monks.
Christian
monasteries in the UAE?
While
the Arabian peninsula is traditionally known for being the cradle of Islam,
there was a time before when Christianity was more widespread in the region.
According
to pottery assessment and radiocarbon data, the site seems to imply it was used
between the late sixth to mid-eighth centuries, which would put it before or
during the rise of Islam.
This
would make sense because there have been many historic churches and monasteries
found throughout the Persian Gulf area, and plenty of others have been found in
the surrounding countries. A Christian monastery was even found in the early
1990s on the UAE's Sir Bani Yas Island.
In
fact, this discovery is only the second ever pre-Islamic Christian monastery
found in the UAE.
"It
is an extremely rare discovery," said UAE University Prof. Tim Power, who
was one of the archaeologists that excavated the monastery, according to UAE
media.
"It
is an important reminder of a lost chapter of Arab history."
The
fact that an ancient Christian monastery was found on Siniyah Island, however,
isn't too surprising either, considering it is one of the UAE's most important
archaeological sites.
Evidence
has long shown that the area has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years, so
the fact that people lived here isn't too surprising either.
This
means it wasn't built by foreigners, but by native Arab Christians in the area.
According
to Power, as cited by UAE media, the monastery wasn't lost to conquest at the
hands of Muslims. Rather, "The place was slowly abandoned. There was no
sign of devastation or violence or burning. There was incremental cultural and
social change as Christianity faded out and Islam became dominant. It is a
monument to tolerance and multi-faith society."
Source:JPost
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https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-721697
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Saudi
Arabia commits $2.5 billion to Middle East green initiative: Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman
Nov
7, 2022
SHARM
EL SHEIKH: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Monday the
kingdom would contribute $2.5 billion to a green initiative in the Middle East
over the next 10 years, and host its headquarters.
The
Middle East Green Initiative was launched by the crown prince last year as part
of efforts to reduce regional carbon emissions.
Saudi
Arabia had said last year it aimed to contribute 15% of the $10.4 billion
required for the fund's clean energy projects.
The
crown prince, known as MbS, also said the kingdom's Public Investment Fund,
would aim for net-zero emissions by 2050.
The
Middle East Green Initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions from regional
hydrocarbon production by more than 60%.
It
also plans to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle EAst and restore an area
equivalent to 200 million hectares of degraded land. The initiative will help
reduce global carbon levels by 2.5%.
Source:
Times Of India
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UAE
fights Covid-19: Muslims pray mask-free for first time in 28 months
By
Ehaab Qadeer
7
Nov 2022
On
March 16, 2020, as the UAE took stringent measures to keep its residents safe
from the pandemic, mosques across the country were closed for worshippers. Now,
for the first time in 28 months, Muslims in the country can pray mask-free as
authorities announced the lifting almost all Covid-19 restrictions.
"Today,
we announced lifting all Covid-19 restrictions and wearing a mask at all open
and closed facilities, including places of worship and mosques," said Dr
Saif Al Dhaheri of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management
Authority.
The
Imam of Jumeirah Mosque, while speaking to Khaleej Times, said, "It is a
very welcoming step; the mosque is now open as it was during the pre-pandemic
days. The UAE Government took all the necessary measures to ensure public
safety."
Praying
on personal mats will be optional at mosques and praying facilities. Imran, a
worshipper in the mosque, said, "Praying freely in the mosque without
adhering to strict precautionary guidelines is a relief."
He
added, "Also, if we miss jamaat (congregational prayer), we can go to the
mosque and offer prayer, whereas earlier, the time slots of opening and closing
of the mosque was a hassle", Imran added.
Mosque
caretakers and the Imams did a commendable job ensuring that Covid protocols
were followed and adhered to by all the worshippers. Abdul, a mosque caretaker,
said, "For us, the safety of the sacred place was the utmost priority; we
had to make sure everyone comes in with their own personal praying mats and
face masks; if not, we had to provide them with it".
The
ease of restriction has brought smiles across worshippers of all faith. In
gurudwaras, the offerings were given as takeaways when the restrictions were in
place. Now worshippers can devour the holy offerings within the vicinity of the
gurudwara.
Ann
Melvin, a resident of Dubai, told Khaleej Times that the time slots of visiting
church were hindering her daily routine. Now that the Covid restrictions are
lifted, she is delighted that she can visit church anytime she wants.
Source:
KhaleejTimes
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US
citizen killed in central Baghdad: Police sources
07
November, 2022
A
US citizen was killed on Monday in central Baghdad after a failed attempt to
kidnap him, Iraqi police sources said.
The
body was taken to a hospital in the capital's Karrada district and an initial
hospital report indicated that the death was caused by a bullet, the sources
added.
A
police source said the victim was carrying an identity card showing his job was
an English teacher.
Another
police source said armed men in a vehicle opened fire at an SUV carrying the
victim and shot him dead.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
Minister of Defense makes phone call to Iraqi counterpart
November
08, 2022
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz made
a phone call to his Iraqi counterpart Thabet Muhammad Al-Absi, the Saudi Press
Agency (SPA) reported.
Prince
Khalid congratulated Al-Absi on his recent appointment as minister of defense
in the new government formed in Iraq last month.
During
the phone call, both officials discussed bilateral ties on Sunday and ways of
enhancing cooperation in the field of defense in a manner that serves the
interest of both countries.
They
also discussed several issues of common interest.
Source:
Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2195556/saudi-arabia
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Saudi
court sentences teenager to death over preparing iftar meal for political
opponent: Rights group
07
November 2022
An
international human rights organization says a Saudi court has handed down a
death sentence to a teenager on charges of providing Iftar, a meal served at
the end of the day during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, to a
political opponent wanted by the kingdom’s security apparatus.
The
European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), in a post published on
its Twitter page on Sunday, identified the teenager as Ahmed Al Daghaam.
The
report comes as human rights activists have warned that Saudi authorities plan
to execute eight teenagers from the kingdom’s Shia-populated Qatif region in
Eastern Province.
The
activists have mounted a campaign under the Arabic hashtag “Stop the Slaughter”
to demand abolition of death penalties handed down to the minors.
They
named the teenagers as Abdullah al-Howaiti, Abdullah al-Derazi, Ali al-Sabiti,
Hasan Zaki al-Faraj, Jalal Al Labad, Mahdi al-Mohsen, Javad Qariris and Yousef
al-Manasif.
The
activists pointed out that the General Prosecutor's Office has sentenced
Manasif, and at least five others, including a teenager named as Sajjad Al
Yassin, to death for apostasy – abandoning their Muslim faith, according to
trial documents.
They
went on to note that these six people have been under trial in Saudi Arabia's
Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) since September 2019.
Senior
Saudi Shia scholar’s fate remains unknown
Meanwhile,
activities have warned that the fate of an imprisoned prominent Shia scholar
from Saudi Arabia’s remains unknown, as the House of Saud is adamantly pressing
ahead with a heavy-handed crackdown against members of the Shia community in
the kingdom.
They
said they had "no information" about the whereabouts of Hashim
Muhammad al-Shakhs.
Back
in December 2020, members of the General Intelligence Presidency cordoned off
the area around the house of Shakhs in the city of al-Ahsa, before breaking in
and arresting the cleric.
The
sources added that the Saudi regime forces ransacked the house, terrorizing the
entire family.
Since
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader in 2017,
the kingdom has arrested hundreds of activists, bloggers, intellectuals and
others for their political activism, showing almost zero tolerance for dissent
even in the face of international condemnation of the crackdown.
Source:
Press TV
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Children
living in ‘open air prison’ at Syria’s al-Hol camp: MSF
07
November, 2022
Doctors
Without Borders (MSF) on Monday deplored the fate of thousands of children
living in “a giant open air prison” at Syria’s notorious al-Hol camp.
Al-Hol
is the largest camp for displaced people who fled after Kurdish-led forces
backed by a US-led coalition dislodged ISIS fighters from their last scrap of
territory in Syria in 2019.
In
the country’s northeast near Iraq, al-Hol is overpopulated with more than
50,000 residents including relatives of suspected extremists, displaced
Syrians, and Iraqi refugees.
Children
make up 64 percent of the Kurdish-run camp’s population, and half are younger
than 12, according to MSF.
“We
have seen and heard many tragic stories”, the aid agency’s Syria operations
manager, Martine Flokstra, said.
In
a report, MSF cited al-Hol’s lack of health care and incidents of violence,
warning of the dangerous situation facing children.
Some
died “as a result of prolonged delays in accessing urgent medical care,” and
there are stories of “young boys reportedly forcibly removed from their mothers
once they reach around 11 years old, never to be seen again,” Flokstra said.
Many
of the camp’s child detainees were born there and are “robbed of their
childhoods, and condemned to a life exposed to violence and exploitation, with
no education, limited medical support and no hope in sight,” she added.
The
report mentions the case of a five-year-old boy hit by a truck and who died
after waiting several hours for hospitalization.
In
2021, 79 children lost their lives, MSF said.
Some
were killed in violence, including shootings inside the camp where attacks on
guards or aid workers are common. The majority of camp deaths are crime
related.
Among
al-Hol’s detainees are more than 10,000 foreigners from dozens of countries.
Housed
in a separate part of the camp called “the Annex,” MSF considers these foreign
nationals the responsibility of their home countries which it said have failed
in their obligations to repatriate them.
“Insufficient
progress is being made to close the camp,” Flokstra said.
Kurdish
authorities have repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their citizens
from crowded camps.
But
nations have mostly received them only sporadically, fearing security threats
and a domestic political backlash.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Syria
cholera outbreak worsened by Assad regime, Turkey: HRW
07
November, 2022
Human
Rights Watch Monday accused the government in Damascus and Turkey of
exacerbating Syria's deadly cholera outbreak by restricting aid and water-flow
to the country's Kurdish-held northeast.
Syria
has recorded 81 deaths and more than 24,000 suspected cases of the extremely
virulent disease since September, according to the World Health Organization,
in the country's first outbreak for more than a decade.
Ankara
has “failed to ensure” adequate water flow down the Euphrates river and supply
from the strategic Turkish-controlled Alouk water station, HRW said.
The
rights group also slammed the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for
its “discriminatory diversion of aid and essential services” away from
Kurdish-held areas in the northeast.
Residents
of this area are facing waning river flow from the Euphrates, where water
testing in September proved the presence of bacteria responsible for cholera, a
Kurdish health official told reporters at the time.
Syrian
Kurdish authorities have also accused neighbor and archfoe Turkey of
weaponizing water by tightening the tap upstream -- claims Ankara has denied.
“Turkey
can and should immediately stop aggravating Syria's water crisis,” said Adam
Coogle, deputy Middle East director at HRW.
“This
devastating cholera outbreak will not be the last waterborne disease to impact
Syrians if the country's severe water problems are not immediately addressed.”
Cholera
is generally contracted from contaminated food or water and spreads in
residential areas that lack proper sewerage networks or mains drinking water.
“Longstanding
restrictions on aid reaching Kurdish-held areas... have left healthcare facilities
and humanitarian groups operating in northeast Syria scrambling to respond to a
disease that can spread rapidly,” HRW said, elaborating on the Syrian
government's alleged culpability.
Inside
Syria, the Euphrates flows mostly along territory controlled by semi-autonomous
Kurdish authorities, whose US-backed fighters dislodged the ISIS group from the
extremists’ last scrap of Syrian territory in 2019.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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World
leaders at COP27 gather for a family photograph
07
November, 2022
World
leaders gathered in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday for a
family photograph at this year’s annual UN climate conference.
Discussions
at COP27 will be held on how to deal with a worsening problem that scientists’
call Earth’s biggest challenge.
Much
of the focus will be on national leaders telling their stories of being
devastated by climate disasters, culminating on Tuesday with a speech by
Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Sharif, whose country’s summer floods caused
at least $40 billion in damage and displaced millions of people.
Most
of the leaders are meeting on Monday and Tuesday, just as the US has a
potentially policy-shifting midterm election.
Leaders
of two of the three biggest carbon polluting nations - China and India - appear
to be skipping the climate talks, although underlings were in the resort town
negotiating.
The
leader of the other top polluting country - US President Joe Biden - is coming
days later than most of the other presidents and prime ministers on his way to
Bali.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
crown prince to attend Mideast Green Summit in Egypt
Ibrahim
El-Khazen
07.11.2022
SHARM
EL-SHEIKH, Egypt
Saudi
Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman is set to arrive in Egypt’s Red Sea city of
Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday to participate in the 2nd Green Middle East summit.
The
summit is held in tandem with UN climate conference COP27, which opened in
Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday.
A
statement by the Saudi Royal Court said bin Salman had left for Sharm el-Sheikh
to take part in the summit, which will be attended by Egyptian President
Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, along with a host of world leaders.
The
summit is intended to lay out a roadmap for regional climate action, assessing
the consequences of climate change and presenting solutions.
The
first edition of the Green Middle East summit was held in the Saudi capital,
Riyadh, in October 2021.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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