Citing the Example of Indonesia Delhi CM Kejriwal Appeals PM Modi to ‘Put Lakshmi-Ganesha Photo on Currency Notes'
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 October 2022
Delhi CM appealed to PM Modi to have photos of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes. Image Source: PTI
-----
• As Rishi Sunak Becomes the Prime Minister of the UK,
Shashi Tharoor Stirs Up a Debate about Diversity and Representation in India
• First Climate-Related Fatwa Prohibiting
Environmentally Harmful Practices Issued by Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta
• Taliban Bans Hookahs Issuing a Fatwa, Or Islamic
Decree; Calls It Intoxicant, Which Is Banned Under Islam
• Report Shows 'Islamophobia Industry' In Canada Has
Become Transnational
India
• ‘Only In India Can A Muslim Rise To Top…’ IAS Officer
Shah Faesal’s Dig at Pakistan
• Museum on Migrant Muslims in Assam Sealed, Owner
Detained For Suspected Terror Links
• 'India Has Had 3 Muslim Presidents': BJP Hits Back
At Mehbooba Mufti over 'Minority' Jibe As Sunak Becomes UK PM
• India, Pakistan share pride as Sunak becomes first
British PM of Asian heritage
• 63-year-old heart patient from Iraq dies in Gurugram
after conmen snatch $15K cash
--------
Arab
World
• Dozens of Al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorists of Jabhat
Al-Nusra Redeployed to Ukraine from Syria: Report
• Saudi officials embark on mass home demolitions in
Shia-populated Qatif: Rights group
• Mosques around Saudi Arabia Perform Solar Eclipse
Prayer on Tuesday
• Syrian man sentenced in Turkey for burning two alive
under Islamic State
• Iraqi sentenced to death for anti-regime activist's
killing
• Reviewing US-Saudi ties a ‘positive thing,’ Princess
Reema says
• UAE, UK Foreign Affairs officials discuss
Russia-Ukraine war in call
• Saudi Arabia donates $27 million to UN agency
supporting Palestinians
• Qatar emir rubbishes ‘unprecedented campaign’ of
criticism as host of FIFA World Cup
• Saudi Arabia says it will overcome spat with US
• 9/11 families campaign against Saudi Arabia's
'sports washing' push
• Syria renews call for new intl. order to stop
Israeli criminal practices in occupied Arab lands
--------
South
Asia
• Islamic Emirate Denies UN Special Rapporteur’s
Claims of Violation of Human Rights in Panjshir
• Taliban claims killing four ISIS militants including
2 commanders in Afghanistan
• Taliban claims killing ISIS commanders in northeastern
Afghanistan
--------
North
America
• PKK/YPG not fighting Daesh but attacking Syrians,
Turkish borders: UN envoy
• US ‘not going anywhere,’ vows to remain engaged in
Middle East
• Saudi Arabia decides to be 'mature guys' in spat
with US, says minister
• Kanye West's racist, anti-Semitic rants put Adidas
in hot seat to cut ties
• US designates 3 Syrian military officials over
Eastern Ghouta chemical attack
--------
Mideast
• Tensions Mount in Iran Ahead of Commemoration
Marking 40 Days since Mahsa Amini’s Death
• ‘We Don’t Want Regime Change’: Iran’s Reformists
Reaffirm Allegiance To Regime
• Judiciary Spokesman: Iran Earning Strategic Intel
from French Spies
• Iranian President Calls on US Not to Waste Time in
N. Talks
• Civil Defence Chief: 120 Cyber-attacks Thwarted on
Iran's Infrastructure in 3 Weeks
• N. Chief: Iran on Track toward Indigenizing Reactors
• Iran Offers Ukraine Joint Investigation into Weapons
Sales Allegations
• Iran releases detained New Zealand influencers
• Gunmen kill two IRGC members in Iran’s southeast:
State media
• Iran urges global action against Israeli crimes amid
West Bank tensions
--------
Europe
• UK Broke Own Rules by Funding Bahrain despite
Unjustified Death Penalties: Rights Groups
• Ukraine's president lashes Israel, warns of
Russia-Iran nuclear linkup
• ‘Strategic information’ obtained in French spies
case: Iran Judiciary
--------
Pakistan
• PM Shehbaz, Saudi Crown Prince Agree To Enhance
Bilateral Ties to 'New Heights'
• Imran starts ‘long march’ from Lahore on Friday
• ECP asks SC to set aside orders ‘favouring’ Imran
• Policeman killed in gun attack on polio team in
Balochistan’s Pishin
• COAS Bajwa, German envoy discuss bilateral ties,
regional security
--------
Southeast
Asia
• UN Terms Malaysia’s Deportation of Rohingya DPs
Violation of Law
• With ex-Cambodian refugee parents and siblings all
Malaysians now, Pahang-born woman wins chance to continue bid for citizenship
• Ismail says ‘no’ to debate with Anwar, Muhyiddin
• PAS was fine working with DAP before, so when did we
turn pro-communist? Kit Siang asks Hadi
--------
Africa
• APC: Give Us Muslim, Christian Ticket or Forget Our
Votes – Northern Christian Clerics
• Tens of thousands of Sudanese protest on coup
anniversary, protester killed
• Sudan blocks internet services ahead of coup
anniversary demonstrations
• Nigerians panic over US, UK terror attack alerts in
capital
• Turkish charity distributes aid to Somalis
struggling with famine
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/indonesia-delhi-cm-kejriwal-modi-ganesha-lakshmi/d/128274
--------
Citing the Example of Indonesia Delhi CM Kejriwal
Appeals PM Modi to ‘Put Lakshmi-Ganesha Photo on Currency Notes'
Delhi CM appealed to PM
Modi to have photos of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes.
Image Source: PTI
-----
Oct 26, 2022
By Kunal Gaurav
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday
urged the Centre to put up the photo of Lord Ganesha and goddess Lakshmi on
fresh currency notes in a bid to "get the economy back on track”.
Lamenting the fact that the Indian economy was not in
a good shape, Kejriwal told a press briefing that "we need a lot of
efforts to get our economy back on track, but along with that we also need
blessings of our gods and goddesses."
"On Indian currency notes...on one side there is
the picture of Gandhi Ji...it should remain as it is...if we put a photo of
Ganesha Ji and Lakshmi Ji on the other side, the entire country will get their
blessings."
Citing the example of Indonesia, he appealed to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to take similar steps in India.
“Indonesia is a Muslim country. There are 85% Muslims
and only 2% Hindus but there is a picture of Shri Ganesh Ji on the currency,”
he said.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister that the pictures of
Mata Lakshmi and Shri Ganesh Ji should be put on the newly printed notes also.”
While Lord Ganesha is widely regarded as remover of
obstacles and thought to bring good luck, Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth,
fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity.
“I will write to the Centre tomorrow or the day after
tomorrow to appeal for it... we need the almighty's blessings apart from the
efforts to settle the economic condition of the country,” the Aam Aadmi Party
chief said.
He also said the AAP was fully prepared for the
Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls and stressed that the people of the
national capital would reject the BJP.
Echoing Kejriwal's demand, Sisodia tweeted, "Maa
Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha are symbols of prosperity. With their blessings, the
country will prosper and move forward and become Number 1. Putting a picture of
Mahatma Gandhi as well as Mother Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha on Indian currency
will prove to be auspicious for the whole country."
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
As
Rishi Sunak Becomes the Prime Minister of the UK, Shashi Tharoor Stirs Up a
Debate about Diversity and Representation in India
October 26, 2022
New
Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor today said Indian-origin Hindu Rishi
Sunak's becoming the Prime Minister of Britain has lessons for India. Can
someone who is not Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist or Jain become PM of India, he asked,
building on — and refining — his argument about need to empower “visible
minorities”.
He
was earlier trolled over the “visible minority” argument on Twitter as people
cited his fellow Congress leader Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, having been PM for 10
years. He was also told that Muslims and Sikhs have been President, the
Constitutional Head of State, though that's a largely ceremonial role in India.
“Dr
Manmohan Singh absolutely does belong to a visible minority. But most Hindus
don't see Sikhs as different from themselves,” the former international
diplomat argued, speaking to NDTV.
“Can
we still imagine a day — in our increasingly majoritarian polity that the BJP
is very much behind — when someone who is not a Hindu, Jain or Sikh or Buddhist
can head our national government (as PM)?” he added, stressing that the
Hindutva ideology sees all religions
born in the Indian subcontinent as similar, "Indic" religions. “But
they (Hindutva followers) don't see others the same way.”
Stressing
that Rishi Sunak has been an overt practitioner of Hinduism, Mr Tharoor
recalled how former UK PM Winston Churchill had called Hindus “a beastly people
with a beastly religion”.
“Can
you imagine an overt Christian or an overt Muslim, public about their faith,
being embraced by the BJP as a fit Prime Minister for India?” he said.
India's
ruling BJP, which espouses Hindutva or "Hindu nationalism" as its
ideology, does not have any Muslim MP.
He
recalled “public fulminations” about Sonia Gandhi's Italian and Christian original
after she led a Congress alliance to victory and was tipped to be PM. She
stepped aside for Manmohan Singh. “One prominent politician threatened to shave
her head if she became PM,” he recalled, about BJP's Sushma Swaraj, who went on
to become India's foreign minister.
“I
believe we need to acknowledge — and I've been a critic of British racism —
that they've chosen to anoint as their leader a brown-skinned Hindu after a
history of overt racism… They've outgrown their worst attributes,” he said.
Rishi
Sunak is “from an ethnicity that Brits in the past would have considered
inferior”, Mr Tharoor further added, on the day Mr Sunak was appointed
successor to Liz Truss, who had to quit after just six weeks as the UK faces a
price-rise crisis.
“I
am glad we are celebrating this because I am hoping this will make us reflect
on our own country,” Mr Tharoor said, “What we can learn from Rishi Sunak's
triumph is that race is certainly a factor but not the only one."
“The
BJP is being disingenuous when they claim we've already got to where the
British have got to," he added.
"Rishi
Sunak's age is also something that the BJP will not talk about. In this I blame
not just the BJP but all parties,” he said.
At
42, Rishi Sunak is the youngest UK PM in two centuries.
Noting
that Rishi Sunak became finance minister of the UK in 2020, just five years
after first becoming MP. “In India he'd still be sporting, at best, a Minister
of State tag.”
Mr
Tharoor, 66 now, was around 53 years old when he became Minister of State,
essentially a junior minister, in Manmohan Singh's cabinet in 2009, serving up
to 2014.
Source:
ND TV
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
First
Climate-Related Fatwa Prohibiting Environmentally Harmful Practices Issued by
Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta
An
egret wades in a rice field close to a pile of burning hay near the Nile delta
town of Zagazig, north of Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 23, 2009. - Cris Bouroncle/AFP via
Getty Images
------
Ayah
Aman
October
26, 2022
CAIRO
— Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, which is responsible for issuing religious edicts
(fatwas), recently approved the first fatwa charter for the fight against
climate change based on Islamic law (Sharia) principles.
The
move came as part of Dar al-Ifta’s contribution to the implementation of
sustainable development goals, resolution of climate change problems and
raising awareness of the danger of climate change from a religious perspective.
The
charter was launched Oct. 8 during Dar al-Ifta’s seventh international
conference titled “Fatwa and Sustainable Development Goals,” ahead of the
United Nations climate change conference (COP27) that will be held in Sharm
el-Sheikh in November.
The
charter includes several fatwas to be implemented in accordance with Islamic
law, including prohibiting the use of hazardous materials and waste, excessive
energy consumption, encroachment on agricultural land, the use of pesticides
and compound chemicals without respecting the terms of use and dumping waste
into the oceans.
The
charter also defined some environmentally harmful actions that are banned based
on religious principles, including the hunt and killing of birds, wild animals
and marine creatures, as well as cutting or destroying plants and open waste
burning.
Speaking
to Al-Monitor on the issuance of climate-related fatwas, Khaled Omran,
secretary of fatwa affairs at Dar al-Ifta, said that Dar al-Ifta issued several
fatwas prohibiting environmentally harmful practices, including the slaughter
of sacrificial animals in barns, burning rice straws and encroachment on
agricultural land.
He
explained that the charter is tantamount to an agreement among the world’s top
muftis to prohibit what has been proven harmful to the environment and to
strive to confront the repercussions of climate change and take part in helping
those affected.
Omran
noted that it is necessary for Dar al-Ifta to participate in the resolution of
human problems, which is part of the Islamic religious discourse. The
international organizations focusing on the climate are aware of the importance
of developing a rational religious discourse to get rid of bad behavior, he
added.
Commenting
on the issuance of fatwas focusing on sustainable development goals and
protection of the environment, Grand Mufti of Egypt Shawki Allam said in a
televised interview Oct. 23, “The fatwas are not only limited to the worship,
but are also concerned with building communities and other [common] issues. Also,
the UN sustainable development goals are in line with the religious texts when
it comes to supporting these development goals.”
The
UN Environment Program states, “Spiritual leaders at all levels are critical to
the success of the global solidarity for an ethical, moral and spiritual
commitment to protect the environment and God’s creation.”
It
seems Egypt’s Al-Azhar has also adopted the UN vision, as it has launched
several programs and initiatives designed to protect the environment, most
recently the "Our Climate is Our Lives" initiative announced in
August that defines Al-Azhar’s vision in facing climate change.
Mostafa
Zahran, researcher in religious affairs, told Al-Monitor, “Climate change and
the recent environmental crises require reviewing the fatwas.”
He
said, “It is necessary to continue to discuss the development and modernization
of Dar al-Ifta’s tools to keep pace with societal and climatic development and
the evolution of people’s lives, particularly since Islamic jurisprudence is
flexible.”
Dar
al-Ifta’s fatwa charter is important because it is the first international
document that promotes the criminalization and prohibition of environmentally
harmful practices based on Islamic law, particularly those that are very common
in Egyptian society such as encroachment on agricultural lands, pollution of
water sources and waste burning. Societal awareness may be boosted with the
adoption of a religious discourse that prohibits these practices.
Source:
Al Monitor
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Taliban Bans Hookahs Issuing a Fatwa, Or Islamic Decree; Calls It Intoxicant,
Which Is Banned Under Islam
The
Taliban issued a fatwa, or Islamic decree, against hookah smoking, calling it
"un-Islamic." (File photo)
-----
October
25, 2022
Young
men inhaling fruit-flavoured tobacco from hookahs had become a common site in
Afghanistan in recent years.
But
the Taliban recently issued a fatwa, or Islamic decree, banning the popular
pastime. The militant Islamist group considers hookahs, also known as shisha,
as an intoxicant, which is banned under Islam.
The
ban on hookahs was announced in the western province of Herat earlier this
month. It is unclear if the fatwa extends to the entire country.
The
move has had a severe impact on businesses in Herat, where scores of shisha
cafes have been forced to close. Restaurants that offer shisha, meanwhile, have
been forced to lay off staff as the number of customers fall.
The
ban on hookahs is the latest attempt by the Taliban to impose its extremist
interpretation of Islamic Shari’a law in Afghanistan, where the militant group
forcibly seized power in August 2021.
'No
Customers'
Omid,
a young entrepreneur, owned a shisha cafe in Herat city, the provincial
capital. But last week he was forced to shut down his business and dismiss his
seven staff members.
"How
can I run a cafe when I have no income?" Omid, who did not want to reveal
his full name for security reasons, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "How can I
pay workers when we have no customers?"
Mohammad
Qasim was a waiter in a shisha cafe in Herat, earning around $100 per month.
After recently losing his job, he has been unable to provide for his family of
five.
"I
will be forced to go to [neighboring] Iran to look for work," the
23-year-old told Radio Azadi.
The
Cafe Owners Association in Herat said that around 2,500 people had lost their
jobs following the ban, aggravating an already dire economic situation for many
residents.
The
Taliban takeover triggered an economic collapse and worsened a major
humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where hunger and poverty are widespread.
'Against
Shari'a'
Not
everyone in the religious and conservative country is against the ban on
hookahs.
"This
ban will prevent the youth from wasting their money and damaging their
health," Nazir Ahmad, a resident of Herat, told Radio Azadi. "It will
also protect them from more dangerous addictions."
Azizul
Rahman Mohajer, the provincial head of the Taliban's feared Ministry for the
Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said hookahs are “against Shari’a.”
“It
harms our bodies and causes tobacco addiction, which can spread widely in
society," he said.
The
Taliban, however, has not imposed any restrictions on naswar, a mild narcotic
made from tobacco. It is popular among Afghan men, particularly in rural areas,
including among Taliban fighters.
In
April, the Taliban declared a blanket ban on illicit narcotics, although Afghan
farmers say they continue to plant crops, including opium.
Imposing
Islamic Law
The
ban on hookahs is the newest effort by the Taliban to implement its version of
Islamic law in the country.
Since
seizing power, the Taliban has policed the appearances of women and men. The
militants have also imposed strict gender segregation in public spaces. Couples
who eat out in restaurants are often questioned and harassed by the Taliban's
notorious morality police.
In
September, Finance Ministry employees were subjected to a test that gauged
their knowledge of Islam. Employees who failed the test were fired.
Women
have borne the brunt of the Taliban's attempts to police Afghans' appearances.
The Taliban has enforced strict dress and behavioral codes that require women
to cover their faces and restrict their right to move freely, work, or receive
an education.
Many
of the Taliban's orders and restrictions are reminiscent of the group's first
stint in power from 1996-2001, when its regime deprived Afghans of their most
basic rights.
Source:
Gandhara
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-ban-hookah-shisha-unislamic-vice/32100023.html
--------
Report
Shows 'Islamophobia Industry' In Canada Has Become Transnational
Photo:
aa.com
-----
Seyit
Aydogan
25.10.2022
TORONTO
A
study conducted in Canada revealed the networks that influenced and funded
Islamophobia, as it "has become a transnational sector."
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, Jasmin Zine, a professor of Sociology, Religion and Culture,
and the Muslim Studies Option at Wilfrid Laurier University, said the
Islamophobia industry has a market of $1.5 billion In the US only.
Saying
that the market is coordinated by 39 US-based organizations, Zine and her team
concluded the 127-page report in four years.
"Islamophobia
networks are transnational. They're not just in Canada or the United States. A
lot of funding for this industry comes from the US, and some of the studies
there show it's a $1.5 billion market in total. Some of this support is
promoting anti-Islamic propaganda," Zine said, adding that it has also
infiltrated Canada.
Noting
that they were unable to do the same research done in the US to Canada because
they were not allowed to have access to the types of documents needed, Zine
said support to the "Islamophobia industry" has also found its
support in Canada.
She
further noted the transnational ties among actors influencing Islamophobia in
Europe and elsewhere, adding that such ties also "strengthen the power of
these networks and allow them to spread their disinformation and misinformation
far more widely."
Citing
her report, Zine affirmed that "media outlets" are one of the major
actors in the "Islamophobia industry."
She
said the "media outlets and Islamophobia influencers" in Canada
contribute to "far-right media forums and use social media platforms to
professionalize and monetize their propaganda and bigotry."
Zine
continued by explaining that the "foot soldiers" are another major
actor of the "Islamophobia industry," saying they are
"far-right, white nationalist, and neo-Nazi groups and the agitators
behind them who are active in promoting anti-Muslim hate online and through
public protests and demonstrations."
"Soft-power
groups ... leverage influence by promoting anti-Muslim campaigns to achieve
specific political, ideological, and religious goals that drive Islamophobic
subcultures," she said, adding that they also "engage in coercive
tactics such as bullying, harassment, and intimidation to silence those who
oppose them."
There
are also "native informers," who are "Muslim dissidents and
ex-Muslims who play the role of authoritative interlocutors, creating and
validating Islamophobic narratives and conspiracy theories."
"They
provide the 'political cover' for Islamophobic campaigns," she added.
The
two other major actors are "think tanks and designated security
experts" as well as "political figures and influencers."
Think
tanks and designated security experts "create a 'cult of expertise' to
promote Islamophobic conspiracy theories that brand Muslims as potential radicals
and national-security threats," according to the report.
On
"political figures and influencers," the report said, "the
players in the Islamophobia industry are strengthened and enabled by
politicians who authorize Islamophobic narratives and policies that promote
anti-Muslim sentiments as part of the wider ecosystem that primes the ground
for Islamophobic racism to take root and spread."
Zine
stressed that "the industry is a term that's been used to represent the
orchestrated organized nature of Islamophobia groups that have come together
and are working in concert to orchestrate controversies to create propaganda to
organize campaigns that promote Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism."
Noting
that the Canadian Islamophobia industry has taken root in the country, Zine
said that such industry has resonance in Canada such as some policies
"that promote Islamophobia like Bill 21 in Quebec, which, you know,
prohibits religious attire in the public sphere that has specifically targeted
Muslim women security policies that through which Muslims have been considered
potential radicals and terrorists."
"These
policies and practices lead to an environment where Islamophobia can take root.
We've seen in Canada the deadly consequences of this when we look at January
29, 2017 attack on a mosque in Quebec City, and then last year 2021 on June 6,
the attack in London, Ontario, that killed four members of the Pakistani
Canadian Muslim family who were out for a walk when evening and were mowed down
by a truck and both of these attacks took place at the hands of white
nationalists," she added.
According
to her research, there are nearly 300 far-right and white supremacist groups
active in Islamophobic incidents. The report can be found at
"https://iphobiacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Canada-Report-2022-1.pdf".
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
‘Only
In India Can A Muslim Rise To Top…’ IAS Officer Shah Faesal’s Dig at Pakistan
Oct
26, 2022
IAS
officer Shah Faesal took a dig at Pakistan on Tuesday after Rishi Sunak was
appointed as the UK’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister. He cited his own
journey as a civil services officer in India and said that nowhere else on
earth do Muslims enjoy such freedom
“It's
possible only in India that a Muslim youngster from Kashmir can go on to top
the Indian Civil Service exam, rise to top echelons of the government, then
fall apart with the government and still be rescued and taken back by the same
government,” he tweeted in a thread.
Shah
Faesal, a 2009 Kashmiri IAS topper, had resigned from service in January 2019
and announced his decision to join active politics. He said that he resigned to
protest the "unabated killings in Kashmir, the marginalisation of Muslims
and subversion of public institutions" by the government at the Centre.
Faesal,
who floated the Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM) party after
resigning as a public servant, had earlier been detained under the stringent
Public Safety Act immediately after the abrogation of the special status of the
erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Before
that, the doctor-turned-bureaucrat received flak for calling the country
'rapistan' while referring to the increase in the number of rapes.
“Rishi
Saunak's appointment might be a surprise for our neighbours where the
Constitution bars non-Muslims from top posts in the Government, but Indian
democracy has never discriminated ethnic and religious minorities from the
rest,” Faesal tweeted on Tuesday.
“As
equal citizens, Indian Muslims enjoy freedoms that are unthinkable in any other
so called Islamic country.
Citing
the ups and downs in his career as an IAS officer, Faesal said: “My own
life-story is about a journey, shoulder to shoulder, with each fellow citizen
of this nation of 1.3 Billion people, where I have felt owned, respected,
encouraged and at times pampered at every step of the way. That's India.”
Source:
India Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Museum
on migrant Muslims in Assam sealed, owner detained for suspected terror links
Oct
26, 2022
By
Utpal Parashar
A
museum in Assam’s Goalpara district showcasing the culture of Muslims who
migrated to the state from present-day Bangladesh was sealed on Tuesday and the
owner of the premises was detained on suspicion of terror links.
The
museum, which opened on Sunday, was made by suspended government school teacher
Mohar Ali in his house in Dapkarbhita locality of Lakhipur town. The house was
allotted to him under the Centre’s flagship housing scheme Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana (PMAY).
Early
on Tuesday, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit out at the museum saying
most of the items on display were used by the state’s indigenous communities.
Later
in the day, district authorities sealed the museum stating that it was a
violation of PMAY provisions. Late on Tuesday, the state police detained Ali
for suspected links to Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah
Bangla Team (ABT), a Bangladesh-based terror outfit.
“Mohar
Ali of Goalpara and Abdul Baten of Dhubri have been detained in connection with
Ghograpar PS Case no.163/22, U/S- 120(B)/121/121(A)/122 IPC , R/W-Sec -10/13
UA(P) Act. Further investigation and interrogation would be carried out about
their association with AQIS/ABT,” Special DGP (Law and Order) GP Singh tweeted.
A police officer familiar with the matter said Ali is suspected of having links
with Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a
Bangladesh-based terror outfit.
“The
house had been allotted in 2018 to a person called Mohar Ali under PMAY. But
instead of using it as a residence, it was converted to a museum. Since that
violates provisions of PMAY, we have sealed the house,” said Goalpara deputy
commissioner Khanindra Choudhury.
“Houses
under PMAY are allotted to homeless persons for residential purpose. Apart from
sealing the house, the rural development department has issued a show cause
notice to Ali asking him to explain why the house was converted to a museum,”
he added.
Ali
said the state government’s move had left him without a home. “I had been
allotted the house as per rules. If the government had some issues with the
items on display, they could have seized them. But why have they sealed my
residence. Where will I stay now?” he asked.
“I
demand the state government to allot 11 bighas of land in Guwahati to set up a
Miya museum. I will start an indefinite protest until that demand is met,” he
told journalists after the museum was sealed.
The
term ‘Miyas’ refers to the Bengali Muslim community with origins in present-day
Bangladesh. They were brought to the country by the British in late 19th
century and subsequently, they settled and took up farming. Members of the
community, including those who entered Assam prior to creation of Bangladesh in
1971, are Indian citizens.
“All
items except the lungi (a men’s garment) belong to Assamese people. If they are
not able to prove that items on display are used only by Miya people, a case
will be registered. There is also the question of source of funding for the
museum,” Sarma had told reporters.
State
BJP spokesperson Rupam Goswami said there was no specific community called
Miyas in the state and that the museum was an attempt to appropriate items
indigenous to Assam.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
'India
has had 3 Muslim presidents': BJP hits back at Mehbooba Mufti over 'minority'
jibe as Sunak becomes UK PM
October
25, 2022
New
Delhi: The BJP has slammed former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba
Mufti for her tweet on UK’s new prime minister Rishi Sunak.
In
a tweet on Sunak, Mufti took a jibe at the Centre over CAA and NRC.
“Proud
moment that UK will have its first Indian origin PM. While all of India rightly
celebrates, it would serve us well to remember that while UK has accepted an
ethnic minority member as its PM, we are still shackled by divisive &
discriminatory laws like NRC & CAA,” she tweeted.
Hitting
back at Mufti, BJP’s Amit Malviya said, “India, which has had three Muslim and
one Sikh President, a Sikh PM for 10 years, minorities in top judicial
positions and even the armed forces, need not learn about diversity and
inclusivity from any other country.”
“But
Mehbooba must walk the talk and back a Hindu for J&K’s CM,” he added.
Source:
Firstpost
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India,
Pakistan share pride as Sunak becomes first British PM of Asian heritage
Oct
25, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
With Rishi Sunak's elevation as Britain's first Prime Minister of Asian
heritage, arch-rivals India and Pakistan became part of the historical event,
though none of them played a role in it.
The
42-year-old investment banker-turned politician on Tuesday took charge as
Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, a day after he was elected the leader
of the Conservative Party in a historic leadership run. Sunak, a devout Hindu,
is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years.
Sunak's
grandparents originated from British India but their birthplace Gujranwala lies
in modern day Pakistan's Punjab province. Thus, in an odd way, the new British
leader is both an Indian and a Pakistani.
Prime
Ministers of both countries congratulated Sunak and said they looked forward to
working closely with him.
"Warmest
congratulations @RishiSunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working
closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special
Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our
historic ties into a modern partnership," Modi tweeted.
Soon
after, his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif took to Twitter to congratulate
Sunak.
"Congratulations
to @RishiSunak on his nomination as leader of the Conservative Party and next
Prime Minister of the UK. I look forward to working with him to advance shared
interests and further deepen the abiding Pakistan-UK partnership," Sharif
tweeted.
So
far, the scanty details about his ancestry are available only on social media
and that is where both Indian and Pakistanis are expressing their views about
his rise to power amidst bitter political wrangling in the UK.
"The
Sunaks are a Punjabi Khatri family from Gujranwala, now in Pakistan,"
tweeted one Queen Lioness 86, adding: "Ramdas Sunak, Rishi's paternal
grandfather, left Gujranwala to work as a clerk in Nairobi in 1935."
Ramdas'
wife, Suhag Rani Sunak, moved to Delhi first from Gujranwala, along with her
mother-in-law, before travelling to Kenya in 1937, according to Queen Lioness
86, who has provided all details about the family, including the migration of
UL and the birth of Rishi in 1980 in Southampton.
Though
officially nothing has been said in Pakistan about Sunak, some on social media
have suggested the government to lay its claim on him.
"I
think Pakistan should also lay claim on Rishi Sunak because his paternal
grandparents were from Gujranwala who from there migrated to Kenya and then to
Britain," one Shafat Shah tweeted.
Someone
with a Twitter handle as Grand Finale wrote: "Wow! What a tremendous
achievement. A Pakistani has now ascended to the highest office in England.
Anything is possible if you believe."
But
others suggested that both Pakistan and India should be proud of the new
British leader.
"Going
to bed in the US with hopes that a #Punjabi from #Gujranwala will be the
#PrimeMinister of the #UK in the morning! Both #Pakistan and #India should be
jointly proud of this moment!" tweeted Yaqoob Bangash.
There
are also fears that the two countries may live up to their reputation of
animosity and even try to cross lines while laying claim that Sunak is the son
of their respective lands, said 35-year-old Zulfiqar Jatt.
"Since
Gujranwala is in Pakistan, anyone who belonged to this city even a 100 years
ago is a Pakistani today," Jatt told PTI.
Others
like Akhtar Saleem are more down to earth and want Sunak to address the longstanding
issue of the Kohinoor diamond.
Source:
Times Of India
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63-year-old
heart patient from Iraq dies in Gurugram after conmen snatch $15K cash
Oct
26, 2022
By
Debashish Karmakar
A
63-year-old Iraqi man visiting Gurugram for a cardiac surgery died while
allegedly chasing the con men who drove away with $15,000 ( ₹12.4 lakh), which
he had set aside for his treatment, police said on Tuesday, adding they are yet
to verify the cause of death.
According
to investigators, one of the two suspects impersonated a police officer in
civilian clothes and forced the Iraqi national to gibe him the envelope with
the money on the pretext of checking it for drugs and then snatched it.
The
incident took place at about 3.30pm in front a hotel in Sector 39 on Sunday
where the victim Faris Muslim Abbasand his wife, Nada Ali Salman (54), were
staying. Police said that the couple hails from Baghdad and landed at the
Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on the morning of October 21 and
consulted a cardiac surgeon at a private hospital in Sector 38 on October 22.
Abbas was to be admitted on October 24 and undergo the surgery on October 25.
Jai
Pahwa, a private firm executive who assisted the family in Gurugram with the
medical treatment and helped get the FIR registered, alleged that two men in a
car stopped the couple to frisk them for drugs while they were returning to
their hotel with groceries.
“Abbas’
wife and hotel staff told me that a suspect with a black cap and a face mask
flashed an identity card while introducing himself as a police officer. A
driver waited inside the car with the engine running,” he said.
Pahwa
alleged that the suspect forcibly took Salman’s handbag and returned after
searching it.
“He
then turned towards Abbas and asked him to hand over his belongings for
checking. Abbas resisted but he finally handed over an envelope containing
$15,000,” he said.
Pahwa
alleged that the suspect sniffed the envelope and replied that it was not money
but drugs and immediately boarded the car to escape.
“The
couple chased the car for 20 metres, but fell and got injured. Then Abbas
started shivering. He was taken into the hotel and given a glass of water.
Hotel staff arranged a cab and rushed Abbas to the hospital where he was
undergoing treatment but he died--we suspect probably from cardiac arrest,” he
alleged.
Based
on Salman’s complaint, police registered an FIR under sections 34 (common
intention), 379 (theft) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code at Gurugram
Sadar police station on Sunday night.
Salman
alleged in the FIR that she lost her husband just because of the crime. Police
said that Salman refused an autopsy and her son is scheduled to fly to Delhi to
take the body back to Baghdad.
A
senior police officer said that a brown Honda City was used in Sunday’s crime.
“The same car was allegedly used to snatch money from another Iraqi couple and
a Sudanese national on March 10 and September 3 this year,” he said. The
incidents took place in Sector 39 and Sector 38, he said, adding no suspect has
been identified in either of the cases yet.
Inspector
Ved Parkash, station house officer of Gurugram Sadar police station, said that
police suspect the same gang is involved in most of these incidents. “We are
trying to identify and arrest them,” he said.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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Arab
World
Dozens
of Al-Qaeda-Linked Terrorists of Jabhat Al-Nusra Redeployed to Ukraine from
Syria: Report
2022-October-25
The
initiative to redeploy terrorists came from the Al-Qaeda-loyal group Jabhat
Al-Nusra, the channel said.
According
to the sources, in early October Jabhat Al-Nusra’s Chief Abu Mohammad
Al-Jawlani met with field commanders in the West of the Idlib Province. The aim
was to convince militants to move to Ukraine.
They
said that Al-Jawlani had promised financial rewards to those willing to join
the Ukrainian army. Addressing the audience, he also stressed that all
terrorist organizations had "one common enemy - Russia", adding that
for many units in Idlib the redeployment to Ukraine would be the only
opportunity to escape persecution and death.
According
to the sources, over 70 terrorists have moved from Idlib to Ukraine in the past
two weeks, including the commander of Ajnad Al-Kavkaz, known as Abdulhakim
Shishani. The sources say terrorists reach Ukraine via Turkey.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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Saudi
officials embark on mass home demolitions in Shia-populated Qatif: Rights group
25
October 2022
A
non-governmental organization (NGO) says Saudi authorities have started
large-scale demolition of homes and neighborhoods in the old quarters of Qatif
region in the kingdom’s oil-rich and Shia-populated Eastern Province.
The
Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in the Arabian Peninsula (CDHRAP)
said in a statement that dozens of families and hundreds of people have been
forcibly displaced after Saudi authorities destroyed their homes and shops.
The
Beirut-based human rights organization noted that the demolitions also include
mosques, endowed buildings as well as many archaeological sites that exhibit
the heritage and history of Qatif, located more than 420 kilometers (260 miles)
east of the capital, Riyadh.
Local
sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Qataif demolitions are part
of a multi-billion dollar "development" plan, and have targeted those
living in areas that cover a substantial slice of the older parts of Dammam
city, especially around King Abdulaziz Street.
The
street, which was reportedly razed on October 2, is said to be the birthplace
of popular pro-democracy rallies in Qatif region and protests in condemnation
of the Riyadh regime’s repressive measures.
Back
in 2018, Qatif Municipality announced the beginning of the demolition of around
600 apartments and buildings in different parts of the district, and asked
residents to provide legal and official documents to prove their ownership.
Sources
revealed at the time that some families were forced to sign expropriation
notices, with more than 1,200 properties confiscated.
CDHRAP
stated that Saudi authorities are trying to deceive residents of districts
razed to the ground, and locals have complained that they did not receive
adequate warning or compensation when their homes and neighborhoods were
demolished.
The
human rights group went on to point to the bitter experience of residents of
al-Shuwaikah neighborhood in the center of Qatif region, saying, “Local
residents have been desperately trying since 2017 to receive compensations from
Saudi authorities for their destroyed houses.”
While
Saudi officials claim that the purpose of such demolitions is the development
of Qatif region, documents and evidence show that the operations are merely
aimed at taking revenge on local people and erasing their identity, CDHRAP
noted.
Last
March, Saudi Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Majid bin
Abdullah al-Hogail, issued a decree to confiscate 236 properties in the city of
Safawi.
Ever
since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader in
2017, the kingdom has ramped up arrests of activists, bloggers, intellectuals,
and others perceived as political opponents, showing almost zero tolerance for
dissent even in the face of international condemnations.
Muslim
scholars have been executed and women’s rights campaigners have been put behind
bars and tortured as freedoms of expression, association, and belief continue
to be denied.
The
kingdom’s crackdown on peaceful dissent has particularly targeted writers and
human rights campaigners in Eastern Province.
Source:
Press TV
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Mosques
around Saudi Arabia perform solar eclipse prayer on Tuesday
October
25, 2022
RIYADH
— Mosques across the regions of Saudi Arabia held the solar eclipse prayers
(Salat Al-Kusuf) in the afternoon, coinciding with the sighting of the eclipse.
Mosques
performed the eclipse prayer in implementation of the directives of the
Ministry of Islamic Affairs, as on Monday it called on imams of mosques in all
regions of the Kingdom to perform the prayer.
The
ministry had set the afternoon prayer time, which coincided with the partial
eclipse, during a period starting from 1:30 p.m. until 3:50 p.m.
The
Astronomical Observatory of Majmaah University in Hawtat Sudair published
pictures of the partial solar eclipse Tuesday in the sky of Saudi Arabia.
The
eclipse was photographed with a CCD camera, with part of the sun being covered
by the moon.
Source:
Saudi Gazette
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Syrian
man sentenced in Turkey for burning two alive under Islamic State
Gokcer
Tahincioglu
October
25, 2022
The
first conviction over the 2016 burning execution of two Turkish nationals by
the Islamic State (IS) in Syria has brought some solace to the victims’
families, but many aspects of the gruesome killing remain in the dark as
critics say authorities are reluctant to dig deep into IS-related probes.
On
Oct. 18, a court in Gaziantep, near the Syrian border, found Jamal Abdul Rahman
Alwi, a Syrian national, guilty of ordering the execution. The sexagenarian was
handed three life sentences without the possibility of parole, including two
for the burning executions. Alwi — the sole defendant in the case — rejected
the charges. According to the prosecution, he was an IS member from 2013 to
2016 and served as a qadi, or a judge in a Sharia court. Alwi’s lawyers say
they will appeal the sentence, citing insufficient evidence for the conviction.
Ankara
has yet to break its silence on the execution since a video posted on social
media in December 2016 showed two young Turkish-speaking men clad in military
camouflage being set afire. One of the victims — Sefter Tas, a soldier abducted
from a border area the year before — was quietly confirmed dead in 2017 when
officials informed his family the video was authentic and their son was
martyred, according to Tas’ father. The authorities have kept mum on the other
victim, Fethi Sahin, who remains alive in official records amid claims that he
had joined IS or worked for Turkish intelligence.
Alwi
was arrested in September 2021 following an explosive media report that he was
living as a free man and running a bird shop in Gaziantep despite earlier
detention and indictment on charges of IS membership.
Speaking
to Al-Monitor after the court’s ruling, Tas’ father, Aydin Tas, said that
“justice has been served, but belatedly,” noting that Alwi was able to “walk
about freely” for a long while in Turkey.
Sahin’s
father, Mehmet Sahin, said the verdict brought the family “some relief” but
stressed he was still awaiting an official word about the fate of his son.
An
array of other questions remains unanswered about the execution. The media have
previously reported that Turkish intelligence identified three Turkish IS
members as the executioners, but there is no publicly known probe or court case
against other suspects involved in the killing.
Court
documents in Alwi’s trial include a 2017 police intelligence report that names
him as the qadi who ordered the execution, though it mentions no other
suspects. Why Alwi was released nine months after his initial arrest in June
2020 remains unclear. His connections and accomplices have yet to come to light
as well.
Another
judicial move last week rekindled criticism that authorities stop short of
fully uncovering the networks behind IS crimes. The chief prosecutor’s office
of the Appeals Court recommended that the tribunal uphold the conviction of a
single defendant in a lawsuit over an IS suicide bombing in July 2015 and
reject requests for the expansion of the case. The suicide bomber killed 34
people in the border town of Suruc, blowing himself up in the midst of young
activists planning to take aid to Kobani, the mainly Kurdish Syrian city across
the border that was just rescued from an IS siege.
The
Suruc attack followed two bomb explosions at the election rally of a
pro-Kurdish party in Diyarbakir in June 2015 that claimed five lives. In
October the same year, 103 people were killed in twin suicide bombings at a
peace rally in Ankara. Close links have emerged between the three attacks and
the burning execution. Most notably, the IS suspects implicated in those crimes
are all connected to Ilhami Bali, a Turkish national who was allegedly an IS
emir in charge of the Turkish-Syrian border and remains on Ankara’s most wanted
list.
Even
before the Syrian war, Bali was on the radar of the police for links to
al-Qaeda. He was eventually detained but remained only briefly behind bars. By
the time he was handed a jail sentence in 2015, he had already vanished and
joined IS in Syria. Court documents show his mobile phone remained under
surveillance and his conversations exposed clues about IS attacks and movements
across the border. And though his phone occasionally emitted signals from
Turkish territory, authorities failed to capture him and the tapping was later
discontinued.
Source: Al Monitor
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Iraqi
sentenced to death for anti-regime activist's killing
25 October,
2022
An
Iraqi court has sentenced a man to death over the 2019 killing of an activist
who had taken part in anti-government protests that year, the judiciary said
Tuesday.
A
wave of nationwide protests against endemic corruption and rampant unemployment
in late 2019 raged for months before winding down under the shadow of
coronavirus restrictions and a harsh crackdown.
A
bomb attached to Thaer al-Tayeb's car exploded as he returned from a rally in
the capital Baghdad, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement. He
succumbed to his wounds on December 25, 2019.
The
criminal court in the southern Qadissiya province sentenced Kifah al-Guraiti to
“the death penalty” for Tayeb's murder, the judiciary said.
The
order has to be signed by Iraq's president before Guraiti may be executed, and
he has 30 days to appeal.
More
than 600 Iraqi protesters were killed and tens of thousands wounded during the
demonstrations.
Some
activists died in targeted assassinations, including former government adviser
Hisham al-Hashemi who was shot near his home in July 2020.
Outgoing
prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi has repeatedly vowed to bring the
perpetrators to justice.
In
November last year, two people were sentenced to death over the killing of a
teenager who joined the protests.
Several
hundred demonstrators gathered Tuesday in Baghdad and the southern city of
Nassiriya to mark three years since the protests, weeks after rallies across
Iraq on the anniversary of the demonstrations drew thousands.
In
June, the United Nations mission in Iraq denounced an “environment of fear and
intimidation” that has stifled freedom of expression.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Reviewing
US-Saudi ties a ‘positive thing,’ Princess Reema says
25 October,
2022
Saudi
Arabia’s ambassador to the US has said that reviewing bilateral relations
between Riyadh and Washington was a “positive thing,” responding to recent comments
by the Biden administration that it wanted to reevaluate the relationship in
the aftermath of the OPEC+ decision to cut oil output.
“This
Kingdom is not the Kingdom it was five years ago or the Kingdom of 10 years
ago; so every piece of analysis that existed is no longer relevant,” Princess
Reema bint Bandar said in an interview aired Tuesday.
“We
are a young population; we have a young leadership, and we have an aspiration
and a goal to engage with the world in a way we never did before,” Princess Reema
said during the interview with CNN.
Ties
between the US and Saudi Arabia have been unstable since the Biden
administration took office in 2021 and made several foreign policy moves. These
included the immediate freeze on US arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE,
removing the Iran-backed Houthis from the terror blacklist and trying to revive
the now-defunct Iran nuclear deal.
After
the relationship seemed to be on a path of normalization, the US administration
criticized this month’s decision by OPEC+ to cut oil production in the coming
months.
US
officials accused Saudi Arabia of being behind this “political move,” and
saying Riyadh was siding with Russia.
In
her interview, Princess Reema said it was clear that the two countries were at
“a point of disagreement.”
And
she said it was just fine to disagree. “We have disagreed in the past, and we
have agreed in the past. But the important this is to recognize the value of
this relationship,” the Saudi diplomat said.
Princess
Reema said she was in regular contact with the Biden administration, “and
frankly it is an administration that I have profound respect for.”
Rejecting
the US accusations of the OPEC+ decision, Princess Reema said many people tried
to politicize the move. “But you are hearing it from the horse’s mouth: This is
not political; this is purely economic, based on the expertise of 40 and 50
years of mapping.”
As
for Saudi Arabia being accused of siding with Russia, she pointed to the
humanitarian support of over $400 million for Ukraine and another $10 million
to Poland as it grappled with Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war. “The Kingdom
has a policy of engaging with everybody across the board, those who we agree
with and those who we disagree with,” she said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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UAE,
UK Foreign Affairs officials discuss Russia-Ukraine war in call
26 October,
2022
UAE
Foreign Affairs Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed has discussed the conflict
in Ukraine in a call with his UK counterpart James Cleverly.
“The
two sides reviewed… the crisis in Ukraine, and the significance of reaching a
political settlement and enhancing the response to its humanitarian
repercussions,” the Emirates News Agency WAM reported on Tuesday.
The
diplomats also discussed existing bilateral relations between the UAE and the
UK and ways to develop them further, WAM reported.
Cleverly,
UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in a
tweet following the call said: “We discussed Russia’s latest baseless
accusations about Ukraine and agreed the importance of close coordination to
prevent escalation. Britain and the UAE will keep working together to address
the global challenges we face.”
The
UAE minister also affirmed the importance of “consolidating positive and
constructive international cooperation to address the challenges facing
international peace and security,” stressing that the UAE will support all
efforts to better regional and international peace and stability.
UAE
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the provision of $100
million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine to help civilians affected by the
ongoing crisis, state news agency WAM reported on October 19.
The
aid announcement followed a phone call between Sheikh Mohamed and Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy October 17, where the two leaders discussed the
latest developments of the Russia-Ukraine war in a call.
WAM
said that the two leaders discussed areas of cooperation and stressed the
importance of de-escalating the current conflict.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
Arabia donates $27 million to UN agency supporting Palestinians
26 October,
2022
Saudi
Arabia has contributed $27 million to a UN agency that supports Palestinian
refugees.
The
Saudi Ambassador to Jordan Nayef al-Sudairi handed over the amount to the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“This
renewed commitment to the work of UNRWA is in line with the Kingdom’s
long-standing generosity towards Palestine refugees and in solidarity with
them” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner General during a ceremony
held at the Saudi Embassy in Amman, according to the SPA report.
The
programs run by UNRWA include support with health and education for Palestinian
refugees in West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Praising
the work that the UN-backed agency does, al-Sudairi said that UNRWA’s work “has
become especially critical in light of the unprecedented financial challenges
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges of the repeated Israeli
aggression against the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian people across the
Palestinian territories,” according to the SPA report.
Al-Sudairi
added: “The Kingdom affirms its commitment to peace as a strategic choice.”
“Security
and stability of the Middle East require speeding up efforts to reach a just
and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian question, in line with
international resolutions, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of
an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its
capital.”
“The
Kingdom condemns all unilateral measures that undermine the two-state solution
and calls for their immediate cessation.”
Saudi
Arabia has given over $5.2 billion to support Palestinians since 1999 in areas
including infrastructure, health, education, food and agriculture security,
Palestinian government and civil society, water, and environmental reform.
“The
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been one of the largest donors to UNRWA. Saudi
Arabia has contributed nearly $1 billion to UNRWA only in the past decade. This
recent contribution comes following a pledge of $50 million the Kingdom made in
2019,” a report from the UNRWA said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Qatar
emir rubbishes ‘unprecedented campaign’ of criticism as host of FIFA World Cup
25 October,
2022
Qatar’s
ruling emir on Tuesday lashed out at criticism of the country over its hosting
of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, complaining of an “unprecedented campaign”
targeting the first Arab nation to hold the tournament.
Since
winning hosting rights for the World Cup over a decade ago, Qatar has faced
scrutiny and criticism for its treatment of migrant workers, among other
issues.
The
alleged abuses affecting a large number of laborers who power Qatar’s economy
and built its gleaming World Cup stadiums have become a lightning rod for
protest around the world, especially in Europe.
Qatar
has repeatedly pushed back on the complaints, insisting that it has improved
protections for migrant workers and that the criticism is outdated.
In
a televised speech before Qatar’s legislative body on Tuesday, Sheikh Tamim bin
Hamad Al Thani said Qatar “has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that
no host country has ever faced.”
“The
campaign tends to continue and expand to include fabrications and double
standards that were so ferocious that it has unfortunately prompted many people
to question the real reasons and motives behind this campaign,” he said.
Rights
groups have credited Qatar with improving its labor laws, such as by adopting a
minimum monthly wage of around $275 a month in 2020, and for dismantling the
“kafala” system that had prevented workers from changing jobs or leaving the
country without the consent of their employers.
However,
activists call for more to be done.
In
recent months pressure has also mounted on Qatar over its laws surrounding
non-traditional relationships.
In
his speech, Sheikh Tamim promised the glaring spotlight of the world’s biggest
sporting event would benefit Qatar, too.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
Arabia says it will overcome spat with US
25.10.2022
Saudi
Arabia on Tuesday called the United States a “major ally” to the kingdom,
saying the two countries will overcome their recent tension.
“In
the long term we’re solid allies,” Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih
told an economic conference in Riyadh.
“We’re
close and we’re going to get over this recent spat that I think was unwarranted
and it was a misunderstanding, hopefully,” he added.
On
Oct. 5, Saudi Arabia, which chairs the OPEC+ organization, voted to reduce oil
output by about 2 million barrels per day.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/saudi-arabia-says-it-will-overcome-spat-with-us/2720626
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9/11
families campaign against Saudi Arabia's 'sports washing' push
26
October 2022
Family
members of those who were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the
United States have launched a fresh campaign against Saudi Arabia's ongoing
efforts at laundering its blood-stained history.
The
families' 9/11 Justice advocacy group aired an advertisement in Florida on
Tuesday, denouncing LIV Golf, a professional golf tour that is financed by the
Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia.
Former
US president Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, hosted a LIV
Golf tournament in July.
The
9/11 Justice broadcast the ad in the run-up to LIV Golf's plans to hold another
tournament at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, which is set to begin on
Friday.
The
9/11 families dismiss the golf tour as Riyadh's bid at
"sportswashing" its role in the attacks as well as numerous other
atrocities that the kingdom has unleashed on both its own citizens and people
living elsewhere across the world.
The
advertisement also made mention of Jamal Khashoggi, a dual US-Saudi citizen and
Riyadh critic, who was killed and dismembered at the Saudi Consulate in
Istanbul in 2018.
"The
Saudis are using oil profits to fund exhibition golf, hoping to distract you
from their policies of oppressing women, murdering journalists, and supporting
the 9/11 terrorists,” the ad said.
"This
is the second LIV tournament hosted by Donald Trump at his golf courses this
year, and that is painful and really disappointing," 9/11 Justice's
President Brett Eagleson, whose father, Bruce Eagleson, died in the terrorist
attacks, said in a statement. "We continue to urge Mr. Trump to meet with
us to hear our views."
"The
evidence of Saudi government officials' participation in this attack on America
could not be clearer."
Fifteen
of the 19 hijackers that staged the 9/11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia. The
kingdom has, however, long denied any role in the attacks, which killed nearly
3,000 people.
Source:
Press TV
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/10/26/691598/United-States-Saudi-Arabia-9-11
--------
Syria
renews call for new intl. order to stop Israeli criminal practices in occupied
Arab lands
25
October 2022
Syria
has renewed its call for the establishment of a new international order that
would pay great respect to the Charter of the United Nations, and would
effectively put an end to the arbitrary measures and criminal practices of the
Israeli regime in the occupied Arab territories.
Syrian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, in a statement released on
Tuesday, commemorated the United Nations Day, which is observed on 24 October
annually, noting that the Arab country was among the first countries that
contributed to the drafting of the foundational treaty of the UN, which was
signed on June 26, 1945, and came into force on October 24 that year.
It
added that the international community, beset with the atrocities committed by
Germany’s Nazi regime and fascist forces during the World War II, drew up the
UN Charter to prevent wars and military aggression, and to endorse the
inadmissibility of interference in the domestic affairs of countries.
The
measure was aimed at the establishment of a world based on the principles of
justice and equality for all, the Syrian foreign ministry pointed out.
“Unfortunately,
Western countries' unfaithfulness to the principles and objectives of the UN
Charter, their aggressive and colonial policies as well as double standards,
along with their looting of developing countries’ natural wealth has undermined
the basic role of the intergovernmental organization,” the statement read.
“Syria
repeats its calls for the establishment of a new international order that
respects the Charter of the United Nations, ends the policies of colonial and
hegemonic powers, puts an end to the practices and crimes committed by Israel
in the occupied Arab lands, and paves the way for a new world in which nations
enjoy their rights,” the Syrian ministry concluded.
Israel
carried out an airstrike on military posts in the suburbs of the Syrian capital
Damascus on Monday, wounding a soldier and damaging property.
According
to a Syrian military source, the barrage of rockets was fired from the northern
part of the occupied Palestinian territories at about 2:00 p.m. local time.
The
source told Syria’s official news agency SANA that “the army air defenses
intercepted the missiles and downed most of them.”
The
afternoon attack came three days after a similar strike on Damascus suburbs
caused property damage.
On
Friday night, Syria said Israel carried out an airstrike on the Syrian capital
of Damascus and its southern suburbs.
It
was the first such attack since September 17, when an Israeli attack on
Damascus International Airport and nearby military posts south of the Syrian
capital killed five soldiers.
Israel
frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the
resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian
army in its fight against the foreign-backed terrorists.
Source:
Press TV
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--------
South
Asia
Islamic
Emirate Denies UN Special Rapporteur’s Claims of Violation of Human Rights in
Panjshir
October
26, 2022
KABUL:
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has denied the UN Special Rapporteur’s
claims of violation of human rights in Panjshir province.
“The
court will investigate if there was any question about violation of human
rights in the province,” the deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate Belal
Karimi said.
The
deputy spokesman called on Richard Bennett to form its report based on the
realities in Afghanistan.
“The
rights of all people of Afghanistan are protected under the Islamic Emirate If
any violation occurred somewhere and someone was treated mistakenly, it will be
investigated by the Islamic Emirate,” said the deputy spokesman.
Source:
The Kabul Times
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https://thekabultimes.gov.af/islamic-emirate-denies-un-special-rapporteurs-claims-in-panjshir/
--------
Taliban
claims killing four ISIS militants including 2 commanders in Afghanistan
Oct
25, 2022
Taliban
have claimed the killing of four ISIS militants which includes 2 senior
commanders in the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar, media reports said
citing a Taliban-controlled news agency. Qari Aminullah Tayeb, a Talibani
commander said they found an ISIS hideout in Takhar during a joint operation on
Saturday, reported Khaama Press citing the Bakhtar news agency.
The
ISIS militants allegedly died in a village in Takhar province's Dashti Qala
district, Aminullah added. Similarly, in a separate statement on Saturday, the
Taliban government claimed to have killed six ISIS members on Friday night in
Kabul.
According
to the Taliban, the killed militants were behind the deadly attack on the Kaaj
education centre and the explosion near Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan mosque in
Kabul, reported Khaama Press. However, it is noteworthy that the Taliban's
claims cannot be ascertained. ISIS-K (the k stands for Khorasan, the name of a
historical region that covered parts of modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) has
been operating in Afghanistan for the last few years.
It
is a branch of ISIS -- the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Since its formation
in 2015, the terrorist outfit has carried out numerous attacks on Afghan
civilians and is held responsible for thousands of deaths, CNN reported citing
the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum.
The
Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, which was widely celebrated in Pakistan in
August last year, has worsened the terror situation in the country. In 2021,
militants, mainly belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, killed 48 policemen and
injured 44 others in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the violent
incidents took place in the last few months of the year (after the Taliban
takeover).
Source:
Hindustan Times
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--------
Taliban
claims killing ISIS commanders in northeastern Afghanistan
25
October, 2022
Kabul
[Afghanistan], October 25 (ANI): Taliban have claimed the killing of four ISIS
militants which includes 2 senior commanders in the northeastern Afghan
province of Takhar, media reports said citing a Taliban-controlled news agency.
Qari
Aminullah Tayeb, a Talibani commander said they found an ISIS hideout in Takhar
during a joint operation on Saturday, reported Khaama Press citing the Bakhtar
news agency.
The
ISIS militants allegedly died in a village in Takhar province’s Dashti Qala
district, Aminullah added. Similarly, in a separate statement on Saturday, the
Taliban government claimed to have killed six ISIS members on Friday night in
Kabul.
According
to the Taliban, the killed militants were behind the deadly attack on the Kaaj
education centre and the explosion near Wazir Muhammad Akbar Khan mosque in
Kabul, reported Khaama Press.
However,
it is noteworthy that the Taliban’s claims cannot be ascertained. ISIS-K (the k
stands for Khorasan, the name of a historical region that covered parts of
modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) has been operating in Afghanistan for the last
few years.
It
is a branch of ISIS — the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Since its formation
in 2015, the terrorist outfit has carried out numerous attacks on Afghan
civilians and is held responsible for thousands of deaths, CNN reported citing
the Wilson Center, a non-partisan policy forum.
The
Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, which was widely celebrated in Pakistan in
August last year, has worsened the terror situation in the country.
In
2021, militants, mainly belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, killed 48 policemen
and injured 44 others in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the
violent incidents took place in the last few months of the year (after the
Taliban takeover).
Source:
The Print
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--------
North
America
PKK/YPG
not fighting Daesh but attacking Syrians, Turkish borders: UN envoy
Servet
Gunerigok
25.10.2022
WASHINGTON
Türkiye's
UN envoy said Tuesday that the PKK/YPG terror group is not fighting Daesh/ISIS
but attacking Syrians and Turkish borders.
"The
PKK/YPG and the so-called 'SDF' are misguidedly supported by some with the
claim that they are fighting Daesh," Feridun Sinirlioglu said at a UN
Security Council session on Syria. "In reality, however, PKK/YPG/SDF
continues to attack Syrian civilians and target Türkiye’s borders with the very
weapons provided to them to fight Daesh.”
Sinirlioglu
said the SDF, which the US calls a partner, carries out 100 terror attacks
every month in northern Syria.
"The
terrorist organization does not even bother to cover up its crimes, but rather
openly claims responsibility for these attacks, publishing them on its social
media accounts," he said.
"To
those who still support this terrorist organization or express 'concern' with
regard to Türkiye’s determination to eliminate this terrorist/separatist
threat, I ask: how long will you continue to ignore these crimes?"
Sinirlioglu asked rhetorically.
Fight
against terrorism
Sinirlioglu
also touched on anti-terror operations by Türkiye, saying they are
"carried out to combat all terrorist organizations that threaten our
national security."
"We
are determined to continue this fight," he said. "As has been the
case in the past, Türkiye is taking all measures and steps toward that
objective and to prevent harm to Syrian civilians in the region."
Ankara
has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations since 2016 across its
border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and
enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive
Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
US
‘not going anywhere,’ vows to remain engaged in Middle East
25 October,
2022
A
senior US diplomat said Tuesday that Washington was not disengaging from the
Middle East, refusing to leave a vacuum for Beijing, Moscow or Tehran to
exploit.
“We
will not walk away from the Middle East and leave a vacuum to be filled by
China, Russia or Iran. America’s interests are interwoven with the successes of
the Middle East,” said Jen Gavito, the State Department’s Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Iraq, Iran, and Public Diplomacy.
Speaking
at an event on Iraq at the Atlantic Council, Gavito said the US understands
that Iran is “a very important partner” for Baghdad.
“But
they should be positive in both directions. Persistent threats and attacks from
Iran-aligned militia groups undermine Iraqi sovereignty and erode public trust
in the government,” she added.
Pro-Iran
militias can’t claim to be part of the security apparatuses in Iraq and be
unfettered by the state’s authority and chain of command, Gavito said. “They’re
either in, or they’re out.”
Iran
has promised to expel US forces and diplomats from Iraq and the region. They
have also, directly and indirectly, attacked American troops in Iraq and
elsewhere.
But
Gavito doubled down on previous commitments by US President Joe Biden to deter
and counter Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region.
She
also touched on the ongoing anti-government protests across Iran, which were
sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
“We
will always stand with the Iranian people striving for the basic rights and
dignity long denied them by the regime in Tehran,” Gavito said.
Iran-Russia
alliance, China
Turning
to the Russian war on Ukraine, Gavito lamented Tehran’s military support for
Moscow and commended Iraq’s vote at the United Nations to condemn Russia’s
illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.
“We’re
concerned with the deepening Russia-Iran alliance, as evidenced by recent
deliveries of Iranian UAVs that Russia has used to destroy civilian
infrastructure in Ukraine,” the US diplomat said.
As
for China and its bid to exert influence in the Middle East, Gavito warned that
Beijing was seeking to remake the international order and its “profoundly
illiberal” image.
Nevertheless,
the US understands that Iraq could look to advance its development goals with
China. “However, we encourage Iraq to do so with its eyes wide open,” she said,
pointing to economic arrangements with China that only benefit Beijing.
Another
reason Iraq should be cautious, according to Gavito, is that China has made
little to no contributions to the fight against ISIS as the terrorist group
continues to try to revive itself.
As
Russia, China and Iran seek to exploit Iraq's political, religious and ethnic
divisions, Washington remains committed to Baghdad.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
Saudi
Arabia decides to be 'mature guys' in spat with US, says minister
Tareq
Khaled
26.10.2022
Saudi
Arabia decided to be the “mature guys” during the recent spat with the US over
oil production, according to the kingdom’s Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin
Salman.
Riyadh
has recently drawn Washington’s ire over the decision by the OPEC+ oil producer
group to slash its output.
US
President Joe Biden has been vocal in his criticism, warning Saudi Arabia,
which leads the group, of consequences.
“We,
as Saudi Arabia, decided to be the mature guys,” Salman said at the Future
Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Saudi
Arabia’s Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih also brushed off fears of a
breakdown in ties with the US, asserting that relations between the traditional
allies are “historical and solid.”
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Kanye
West's racist, anti-Semitic rants put Adidas in hot seat to cut ties
Darren
Lyn
25.10.2022
HOUSTON,
US
Sportswear
giant Adidas is coming under pressure from high-profile critics to cut ties
with musician Kanye West -- now known as Ye -- because of his recent racist and
anti-Semitic rants.
"While
anti-Jewish acts are at historic levels, Ye is fanning the flames of
#antisemitism, & aiding white supremacists & other extremists who see
his remarks as a window to spread hate," Anti-Defamation League CEO
Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted Monday night.
"Thousands
of signatures, and still no word, @adidas? Your silence is a danger to
Jews," Greenblatt tweeted earlier in the day. "We can't let Ye's
#antisemitism become normalized - we all need to demand Adidas #RunAwayFromHate
by condemning his racist rhetoric & re-evaluating their partnership."
Human
rights campaigners have called out the German sportswear company for its
continued silence over West's recent hate speech that has led other businesses,
brands and sponsors to distance themselves from the controversial rapper.
Adidas
earlier this month said it was reviewing its relationship with West after he
appeared at a fashion show in Paris wearing a "White Lives Matter"
T-shirt, which is seen as a right-wing phrase that takes a swipe at the Black
Lives Matter movement.
Days
later, on Oct. 8, Ye posted a tweet saying he was "going to go death con 3
(sic) on JEWISH PEOPLE" and was subsequently locked out of Twitter and
Instagram.
After
going on a tirade against Jews during the Drink Champs Podcast earlier this
month, West said: “I can say anti-Semitic things, and Adidas can’t drop
me."
The
sportswear company has not made any public decisions regarding Ye, but others
have, including West's talent agency CAA -- one of Hollywood's biggest agencies
-- who dropped West on Monday.
Fashion
company Balenciaga and Vogue magazine publicly cut ties with Ye last week and
production company MRC said it is shelving a documentary on West.
"We
cannot support any content that amplifies his platform," MRC said in a
statement.
Endeavor
Entertainment also called on all companies to cut ties with West.
"Those
who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an
audience," wrote Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel in the Financial Times.
"There should be no tolerance anywhere for West's anti-Semitism."
West's
ex-wife Kim Kardashian posted: "Hate speech is never OK or
excusable," on her Twitter and Instagram pages Monday, but did not mention
West by name.
"I
stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and
hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end," Kardashian
continued.
Former
NBA basketball star Detlef Schrempf, who used to be sponsored by Adidas, also
chimed in on West, who has spoken openly about his struggles with mental
illness.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
US
designates 3 Syrian military officials over Eastern Ghouta chemical attack
Servet
Günerigök
25.10.2022
WASHINGTON
The
US on Monday designated three Syrian regime military officials involved in a
chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, in 2013.
"Of
the atrocities committed by the Assad regime, some of which rise to the level
of war crimes and crimes against humanity, few are as inhumane and abhorrent as
the repeated use of chemical weapons against civilians...Today, we are taking
additional action to promote accountability," said Secretary of State
Antony Blinken in a statement.
Those
sanctioned are Brigadier General Adnan Aboud Hilweh, Major General Ghassan
Ahmed Ghannam and Major General Jawdat Saleebi Mawas, who Blinken said were
involved in gross violations of human rights, “namely the flagrant denial of
the right to life of at least 1,400 people in Ghouta.”
"As
a result of today’s action, Hilweh, Ghannam and Mawas as well as their immediate
family members are ineligible for entry into the United States," said the
top diplomat.
In
August 2013, the Syrian army launched rockets carrying the nerve agent sarin, a
deadly chemical, on Eastern Ghouta.
"We
condemn in the strongest possible terms any use of chemical weapons anywhere,
by anyone, under any circumstances," said Blinken, adding the US calls on
the Assad regime to fully declare and destroy its chemical
weapons program.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
Tensions
Mount in Iran Ahead of Commemoration Marking 40 Days since Mahsa Amini’s Death
October
26, 2022
PARIS:
Iranian students protested at multiple universities, on Tuesday, defying a
crackdown as tensions mount on the eve of planned ceremonies marking 40 days
since Mahsa Amini’s death.
“A
student may die but will not accept humiliation,” they chanted at Shahid
Chamran University of Ahvaz, in the south-western province of Khuzestan, in an
online video.
Young
women and schoolgirls have been at the forefront of protests sparked by Amini’s
death last month, after her arrest for an alleged breach of Iran’s strict dress
code for women.
Amini,
a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, died three days after being taken into
custody by morality police on Sept 13 while visiting Tehran with her younger
brother.
Activists
said the security services had warned Amini’s family against holding a ceremony
and not to ask people to visit her grave in Kurdistan province on Wednesday,
otherwise “they should worry for their son’s life”.
Wednesday
marks 40 days since Amini’s death and the end of the traditional mourning
period in Iran.
Online
videos showed students protesting at Beheshti University and the Khaje Nasir
Toosi University of Technology, both in Tehran, as well as Shahid Chamran
University of Ahvaz, in Khuzestan province.
‘Attacked,
strip-searched, beaten’
The
fresh demonstrations came after security forces were accused by activists of
beating schoolgirls at the Shahid Sadr girls vocational school in Tehran on
Monday.
“Students
of the Sadr high school in Tehran have been attacked, strip-searched and beaten
up,” said the 1500tasvir social media channel.
At
least one student, 16-year-old Sana Soleimani, had been hospitalised, said
1500tasvir, which chronicles rights violations by Iran’s security forces.
“Parents later protested in front of the school. Security forces attacked the
neighbourhood and shot at people’s houses,” it added.
Iran’s
education ministry said a dispute erupted between schoolgirls and their parents
and school staff after the principal demanded they comply with rules over the
use of mobile phones.
“The
death of a student in this confrontation is strongly denied,” a ministry
spokesman said. Families were seen clamouring for information outside the
school in the Tehran neighbourhood of Salsabil, in an online video.
Such
reports have fuelled further anger among the Iranian public over the crackdown
that the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights said, in an updated toll on
Tuesday, had cost the lives of at least 141 protesters, up from 122 previously.
Top
official heckled
Deadly
unrest has rocked Amini’s western home province of Kurdistan -- but also
Zahedan on Iran’s far southeast, where IHR said 93 people were killed in
demonstrations that erupted on Sept 30 over the alleged rape of a teenage girl
by a police commander.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1716935/tensions-mount-in-iran-ahead-of-amini-commemoration
--------
‘We
don’t want regime change’: Iran’s reformists reaffirm allegiance to regime
25 October,
2022
Iran’s
reformists reject calls for regime change in the country’s ongoing protests, a
leading reformist figure said on Monday.
“We
cannot align with the protesters on the street who chant for regime change; we
reject their slogans,” Behzad Nabavi, head of Iran’s Reform Front, told Iranian
newspaper Hammihan.
Nabavi
likened the regime to a building, saying: “We don’t want to blow up the
building. Rather, we want to fix the same building and fix its defects, which
we know is a very difficult and expensive task.”
The
Reform Front headed by Nabavi is Iran’s leading reformist coalition, made up of
27 reformist groups.
Iran’s
reformists are opposed to the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and insist that
gradual reforms from within the system are the best way forward.
Anti-government
protests sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini have
rocked Iran for the past five weeks.
The
protests quickly escalated and turned political with demonstrations taking place
country-wide. Protesters have been chanting against Supreme Leader Ali 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:
--------
Judiciary
Spokesman: Iran Earning Strategic Intel from French Spies
2022-October-25
In
his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Setayeshi noted that "the case is
very significant with intensive dimensions".
“Various
precious and strategic information” has been extracted from the defendants,
Iran's Judiciary Spokesperson stated.
"The
French nationals and the people connected with them are facing charges of
espionage as well as assembly and collusion to act against national
security," he added.
In
mid-May, Iran announced detention of two French nationals who practiced
espionage operations and sought to foment chaos in the country.
The
Iranian Intelligence Ministry said that its forces have arrested Cécile Kohler,
37, and Jacqeus Paris, 69, for attempting to stoke chaos and social disorder in
Iran during protests by teachers.
The
two French nationals traveled to Iran in late April as tourists but turned out
to be spies for the Western agencies.
The
duo attempted to foment instability and social disorder in late May when some
teachers took to the streets in peaceful demonstrations to demand fair wages
and better working conditions, according to the intelligence ministry.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
President Calls on US Not to Waste Time in N. Talks
2022-October-25
In
a meeting held in Tehran with senior directors of media and news agencies which
are members of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA), President
Rayeesi stated that the United States should decide on the negotiations to
remove sanctions on Iran, but it delays and wastes time.
"There
is no deviation in Iran’s nuclear activities as the issue has already been
confirmed 15 times by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he
noted.
"During
the talks, the Islamic Republic has spoken with reason and logic," the
president underlined.
“We’re
determined to follow the nation’s rights,” Rayeesi underscored, adding that
removing the sanctions and foiling them are both on the agenda simultaneously.
"What
was proposed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was violated by
the Americans, and Europe did not fulfill its obligations either. Only the
Islamic Republic fulfilled its obligations," Iran's president stressed.
Rayeesi
said that the enemies are after making the world and regional countries give up
their independence.
"The
sanctions assassinate the economy of the countries," he continued, adding
that this sanctions are the same as a military war.
"The
United States has already understood that sanctions do not work. Therefore, it
began to use other methods ... Information terrorism is the main problem,"
Iran's president clarified.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Rayeesi pointed out that Iran's influence in the world and the
region will grow with cooperation with friends, stating, "We are serious
about developing relations with Russia and other countries."
“Despite
all sanctions and threats, we are stronger than ever and we are in a position
of power,” the president said, stressing no equation in the region will be
viable without Iran's decisive role.
He
maintained that the era of unilateralism has come to an end, adding, “After the
era of unilateralism, a new chapter is emerging now and new powers are being
established in the world.”
“Today,
the power of the Americans in the region is declining,” Rayeesi asserted.
He
stressed that many nations sought freedom from the United States, noting that
"Iran will continue to support freedom-loving peoples".
Iran
Blasts US Hypocritical Approach towards Unrest, N. Talkshttps://t.co/OB91oFoq0Q
pic.twitter.com/ojdvkJdsfx
—
Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) October 24, 2022
Foreign
Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Saturday that Iran will not give in
to the US pressures in the nuclear talks, and said that Washington is in a
hurry to strike an agreement and has recently sent a message to Tehran
regarding the negotiations.
"Iran
will not make any concessions to the US side," Amir Abdollahian stated.
The
foreign minister noted that the country will take actions based on the logic
and within the framework of the agreement considering the red lines of Iran.
“We
will never leave the negotiating table,” the top diplomat stressed.
"A
message has been received from the US three days ago," he declared, adding
that the Americans are in hurry to reach the agreement point with Iran.
While
Americans continue to exchange their messages with Iran, they are seeking to
"fan the flames" of the issues that have taken place inside Iran, the
foreign minister stated.
"The
US was after piling political and psychological pressure on Iran to force
Tehran to make concessions in the talks," Amir Abdollahian continued.
Iran
stresses it has not quit the negotiating table with the world powers, but will
not put all its eggs in the negotiation basket and will not wait for the United
States to return to its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. Iranian
officials stress that Tehran has not left the negotiating table with the world
powers, but arriving at a deal requires the US pragmatic attitude.
The
United States and Iran have traded responses via the EU to a proposal put
forward by the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell. Tehran submitted its initial
answer in mid-August and Washington replied to it about a week later.
Washington
claims that Tehran has taken "a step backward" with its latest
response to a European Union proposal, calling a near-term agreement
"unlikely".
Tehran
says its response to Washington's view regarding the EU's proposed draft text
was constructive and transparent. Officials stress that receiving guarantees
from the Western side is the most important issue in the talks and Iran wants
stronger guarantees from the US to clinch an agreement.
Tehran
says it will not be able to trust Washington as long as President Joe Biden
continues the wrong policy of maximum pressure and sanctions practiced by
Donald Trump against Iran. Iranian officials say the Biden administration has
yet done nothing but hollow promises to lift sanctions against Tehran. They
blast the US addiction to sanctions, and slammed the POTUS for continuing his
predecessor's policy on Iran.
Tehran
and the five remaining parties to the nuclear deal have held several rounds of
negotiations since April last year to restore the agreement, which was
unilaterally abandoned by Trump in May 2018.
In
quitting the agreement, Trump restored sanctions on Iran as part of what he
called the “maximum pressure” campaign against the country. Those sanctions are
being enforced to this day by the Biden administration, even though it has
repeatedly acknowledged that the policy has been a mistake and a failure.
Iranian
officials say the ball is in the US' court, and the Biden administration should
assure Tehran that it will not repeat Trump's past mistakes.
Diplomats
have also criticized Washington for raising excessive demands from Tehran
during the nuclear talks, and blocking efforts to reach an agreement on the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). They emphasized the Tehran's will
to reach a good, strong and lasting agreement, and stressed that the US should
lift unilateral sanctions, and assure Iran that it will not repeat its past
mistakes.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010803000538/Iranian-Presiden-Calls-n-US-N-Wase-Time-in-N-Talks
--------
Civil
Defence Chief: 120 Cyber-attacks Thwarted on Iran's Infrastructure in 3 Weeks
2022-October-25
Brigadier
General Jalali pointed to an increase in the number of cyberattacks against
Iran, and noted, “120 heavy DDoS cyberattacks on the infrastructures have been
foiled in the past 20 days.”
He
added that homegrown systems have been utilized to thwart the cyberattacks,
lauding the quality of the Iranian systems.
“Such
an extent of cyber threats has not been posed against any country so far.
Ninety percent of them (the attacks on Iran) have been countered,” the official
stated, pointing to the enemy’s attempts to spread false information about the
attacks.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Brig. Gen. Jalali said that two or three cyberattacks have been
launched recently against Iran’s fuel delivery infrastructures like the one in
October 2021, noting that the hostile attacks have been repelled.
“We
are witnessing the heaviest media, cyber and cognitive attacks against Iran,”
he continued, adding that any other country coming under such massive attacks
would have been destroyed.
Iranian
officials underline Tehran’s opposition to inference in the internal affairs of
the states using ICTs, and stress Tehran has been a victim of cyberattacks by
the United States and Israel.
The
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has reported its
cyber-security division has detected and foiled hundreds of cyberattacks every
year.
Back
in November 2021, Brigadier General Jalali said that Washington has resorted to
non-military hostile actions, including cyberattacks, after it found itself
incapable of military confrontation against Iran.
“The
Americans have no option in the military sector and they pursue the approach of
avoiding war with us,” he underscored.
“That
is why we are witnessing a new hybrid model of war from them, in which war
occurs at the level of infrastructures, some of which rely on modern
technologies that we use,” Brigadier General Jalali added.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
N.
Chief: Iran on Track Toward Indigenizing Reactors
2022-October-25
Visiting
the Nuclear Technology Department of Iran’s prestigious Shiraz University on
Monday, Eslami stated Iran is determined to “wipe off the nuclear hype” created
by the West, adding the adversaries intend to hinder Iran’s progress in the
nuclear field by raising accusations.
“By
expanding our activities on the surface and depth, we intend to become the hub
of constructing nuclear power plants in the world,” the AEOI chief continued,
Eslami
also pointed out that Iran is still in contact with the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) and talks are underway to set out an outline to resume
negotiations over the nuclear standoff between Tehran and major powers in the
world.
Eslami
has recently said that the pace of progress in the Iranian nuclear industry is
increasing, and added that the development of the nuclear industry is an urgent
need of the country.
He
stated that the development of peaceful nuclear industry had been put on the
agenda of the AEOI and there was increasing progress in the usage of
nuclear-related technologies.
Eslami
has blasted the Western countries' efforts to impede Iran's acquisition and
development of new technologies.
The
onuclear chief said that there is a firm determination to prevent Tehran from
gaining access to new technologies, criticizing big powers for their opposition
in this regard.
"Efforts
have been underway by certain countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution to
halt Iran’s technological progress, especially nuclear industry, by leveling
baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic," the official noted.
“No
matter what language or school of thought you use in talks with the other
sides, you can tell from their intentions and from what they write and say that
they are firmly resolved to prevent us from developing advanced technologies,”
the AEOI head added.
“If
you be pioneer in science and technology, you will surely be among the powerful
countries and this is something that the foes don’t tolerate the powerfulness
of Iran,” the nuclear head remarked.
Eslami
said the opponents “constantly beat the drums of sanctions and pressure” on
Iran.
He
added, “Today power is not having natural reserves, rather power emanates from
advanced science and technology and this a determining factor… and pioneering
in these fields are a symbol of power.”
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010803000375/N-Chief-Iran-n-Track-Tward-Indigenizing-Reacrs
--------
Iran
Offers Ukraine Joint Investigation into Weapons Sales Allegations
2022-October-25
“We
have not sold and will not sell any weapons and drones to be used in the war
against Ukraine, and cooperation between Iran and Russia will continue without
having anything to do with the Ukraine war," Amir Abdollahian noted on
Monday in response to Western countries’ claims about Iran selling drones and
other military equipment to Russia to be used against Ukraine.
He
noted Tehran and Moscow engage in various kinds of cooperation, including in
the defense field, adding, “We have both received weapons from Russia and
supplied weapons to Russia in the past, but not in the course of the Ukraine
war.”
Referring
to his latest talks with the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Josep
Borrell, Iran’s diplomat stated, “I told Borrell that we are ready for a team
of Iranian and Ukrainian military experts to see into allegations about the use
of Iranian drones in the Ukraine war.”
Both
Iran and Russia have vehemently denied baseless accusations that Tehran
provided Moscow with drones and missiles.
Iranian
officials have emphasized that Tehran takes no sides in the bloody conflict and
avoids any steps that may result in an escalation of the crisis. They
reiterated their opposition to war between the two countries.
Tehran
has also asked Kiev to submit evidence for the use of Iranian drones by Russia
in the war, and cautioned that arming Moscow or Kyiv will prolong the conflict
between the two neighbors.
In
Late February, President Vladimir Putin stated in response to a request by the
heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special
military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of
occupying Ukrainian territories.
The
US, the EU, the UK and a number of other states have imposed sanctions against
Russian legal entities and individuals. They also increased supplies of weapons
to the Ukrainian authorities. Russia has officially become the most sanctioned
country in the world, surpassing Iran, Syria and North Korea, after launching a
military operation against Ukraine.
Back
in September, Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi cautioned that the
expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a serious threat
to the stability and security of nations.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
releases detained New Zealand influencers
26
October, 2022
Two
New Zealanders detained in Iran for the last few months have recently been
allowed to leave the country, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade said on Wednesday.
New
Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had earlier on Tuesday said in a video
broadcast live on Facebook that the New Zealand government had for the last few
months been working very hard to allow them to leave Iran.
“It’s
fair to say there’s been an incredibly difficult situation over the last few
months,” Ardern said.
Both
Ardern and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade would not release any
details on the detained couple or where they had been held.
The
New Zealand Herald has reported the two are social media influencers Topher
Richwhite and Bridget Thackwray, who post under the name Expedition Earth.
The
couple’s last post was 16 weeks ago from the Tas Yol passage in Turkey.
The
New Zealand government also on Wednesday updated its travel warnings for Iran and
urged New Zealanders currently there to leave.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Gunmen
kill two IRGC members in Iran’s southeast: State media
25
October, 2022
Unknown
gunmen shot dead two members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in
southeastern Iran on Tuesday, state media reported.
The
two IRGC members, one of whom was a colonel, were shot dead in public in the
city of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province, the
semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
Security
forces killed at least 66 people, including children, and injured hundreds of
others in a crackdown after Friday prayers in Zahedan on September 30, Amnesty
International said earlier this month.
Iran’s
military has in the past clashed with Sunni militants in Sistan-Baluchestan,
which is mostly populated by Sunni ethnic Baluchis, a minority in predominantly
Shia Iran.
Molawi
Abdulhamid, Iran’s top Sunni cleric and Zahedan’s Friday prayer leader, said
last week that officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, were
“responsible before God” for the September 30 killings.
The
IRGC issued a statement in response to Abdulhamid, warning: “Mr. Abdulhamid,
encouraging and agitating youths against the sacred Islamic Republic of Iran
may cost you dearly! This is the last warning!”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
urges global action against Israeli crimes amid West Bank tensions
25
October 2022
The
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned the Israeli aggression against
Palestinians in the West Bank city of Nablus, calling for international action
to stop the regime's crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In
a statement issued on Tuesday, Nasser Kan’ani criticized the “hypocritical and
duplicitous” positions of the United States and some Western countries on human
rights issues across the world.
“Their
unconditional support for the usurping Zionist regime and its daily crimes
against the oppressed Palestinian nation is the biggest example of human rights
violations which have been going on for consecutive decades,” he added.
Pointing
to the continuation of Israeli crimes and terrorist acts in the occupied West
Bank, including the siege and attack on Nablus, Kan’ani called on the
international community to take action to condemn and stop the Zionist regime’s
genocide in Palestine.
He
hailed the courageous resistance of Palestinian people, especially the youths,
in al-Quds, Jenin and Nablus, urging international support for the Palestinian
struggle against the Zionist regime until the full liberation of Palestine from
the Israeli occupation.
The
Israeli military has imposed a strict siege on Nablus since October 11,
blocking the city’s entrances with military checkpoints and earth mounds, while
Israeli drones constantly hover over the northern West Bank city.
The
siege came in the wake of a shooting attack carried out by the Palestinian
resistance group Lion’s Den near Nablus in which an Israeli soldier was killed.
The
siege, which Israeli officials said will continue until further notice, has had
economic repercussions on a city that has a particular industrial and
commercial importance for the West Bank.
Israeli
forces have also recently been conducting overnight raids and killings in the
northern occupied West Bank, mainly in the cities of Jenin and Nablus, where
new groups of Palestinian resistance fighters have been formed.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Europe
UK
broke own rules by funding Bahrain despite unjustified death penalties: Rights
groups
26
October 2022
The
UK government appears to have breached its own guidelines by providing millions
in funding to Bahrain despite a report finding that eight men were sentenced to
death in the kingdom without any physical evidence, according to human rights
groups.
A
report released on October 10 documented the case of eight men currently on
death row in the kingdom solely or in large part on confessions that Bahraini
authorities forced them to make through torture and ill-treatment.
The
report, from the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (Bird) and Human
Rights Watch, found that Bahraini prosecutors and courts failed to “genuinely
investigate” the men’s allegations of torture and ill-treatment or take
independent medical evidence seriously before they were sentenced to death.
“Do
I think the government has breached its own rules? All the evidence would
suggest yes,” said Lord Scriven, vice-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary
Group on Democracy and Human Rights in the Gulf, during a panel discussion in
parliament on Tuesday, according to Middle East Eye.
The
report implicates three Bahraini institutions which receive funding from the
UK’s Gulf Strategy Fund, namely Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of
Interior Ombudsman and the Special Investigation Unit.
Critics
say the UK government, with its support to Bahrain, has violated its own
Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidelines, which say the government
should seek written assurances that “anyone found guilty would not face the
death penalty” before agreeing to provide support.
The
guidelines also say that “the case should automatically be deemed ‘High Risk’
and FCO Ministers should be consulted.”
Meanwhile,
Joshua Colangelo-Bryan, a lawyer with the New York-based law firm Dorsey and
Whitney and an HRW consultant, argued that the charges brought against the
eight men were solely based on statements given by people in custody and lacked
any physical evidence.
“We
don’t see fingerprints. We don’t see DNA linking a defendant to a crime scene.
There are no CCTV videos showing a defendant doing something in particular. We
don’t have independent eyewitness accounts,” he said.
Colangelo-Bryan
said all of the men claim that officers beat them using fists, while seven said
their genitals were specifically targeted with punches, kicks or electric
shocks.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Ukraine's
president lashes Israel, warns of Russia-Iran nuclear linkup
Burc
Eruygur
25.10.2022
President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized Israel for its neutrality in the Ukraine war
and refusal to give Kyiv weapons, warning that Tel Aviv’s stance has encouraged
Russia’s growing military ties and potential nuclear cooperation with Iran.
In
a video address at a conference organized by Israel’s Haaretz newspaper on
Monday, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s request for Israel’s anti-missile Iron
Dome technology.
He
said Ukrainian forces have defeated Russia “in a real confrontation on the
battlefield” and forced it “to withdraw its contingents even from other regions
that it tried to destabilize.”
“But,
unfortunately, we do not have our own ‘Iron Dome.’ We still do not have a
modern and effective air defense and missile defense system that could secure
our skies,” he said.
Since
the war began in February, Israel has limited its support for Ukraine to
humanitarian assistance, refusing repeated appeals for advanced weaponry.
Tel
Aviv’s latest snub came just hours before Zelenskyy’s address in a phone call
between Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and his Israeli counterpart
Benny Gantz.
According
to an Israeli Defense Ministry statement, Gantz told Reznikov that Israel
cannot supply weapons to Kyiv due to “operational restrictions,” but offered to
provide an “early warning system that will save civilian lives.”
Zelenskyy
said Israel’s reluctance stems from its decision “not to annoy” Russia.
Without
elaborating on how exactly, he said Israel’s stance has enabled Moscow and
Tehran to forge a closer military partnership.
The
alliance between Russia and Iran “simply would not have happened if your
politicians had made only one decision at the time,” he added.
“It
seems that it was adopted a long time ago - in 2014, when Russia began its
aggression against Ukraine,” said Zelenskyy.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
‘Strategic
information’ obtained in French spies case: Iran Judiciary
25
October 2022
Iran’s
Judiciary spokesman Massoud Setayeshi says Iranian authorities made more
arrests in the case of detained French spies and managed to obtain valuable
“strategic information” from them.
Speaking
at his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Setayeshi said the newly detained
individuals are accused of “conspiracy and collusion” to harm national
security.
He
said the case has different dimensions and is under a thorough, fast-paced
investigation.
However,
the spokesman did not clarify how many more arrests had been made nor give
their nationalities or any other details.
In
a video aired on Iran’s Arabic-language television news network al-Alam TV
earlier this month, the two French spies arrested in Iran some four months ago
admitted to their attempts to provoke anti-government protests and riots with
the ultimate goal of putting pressure on the country’s Islamic establishment.
Cécile
Kohler, 37, and Jacqeus Paris, 69, traveled to Iran on April 28 as tourists. They
were later arrested and charged with espionage activities for Western spy
agencies.
Iran’s
Intelligence Ministry announced in May that the duo attempted to foment
instability and social disorder when some teachers took to the streets in
peaceful protests to demand fair wages and better working conditions.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
PM
Shehbaz, Saudi crown prince agree to enhance bilateral ties to 'new heights'
October
26, 2022
Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin
Abdulaziz Al-Saud have agreed to upgrade and enhance bilateral ties and
fraternal bonds between the two countries to “new heights”.
The
two held a bilateral meeting in Riyadh during which they reviewed the entire
gamut of bilateral relations, Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.
Taking
to Twitter, PM Shehbaz described the meeting as “excellent”.
“We
agreed to upgrade and enhance bilateral ties and fraternal bonds between
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to new heights in line with the requirements of [the]
changing world. I told [the crown prince] people of Pakistan are eagerly
looking forward to his visit,” he said.
According
to Radio Pakistan, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further
strengthen the fraternal bond between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The
premier thanked the Saudi leadership for extending assistance to Pakistan
during the recent devastating floods, particularly for establishing the air
bridge between Riyadh and Islamabad to provide relief goods in flood-affected
areas, the report said.
For
his part, the Saudi crown prince termed the fraternal ties between Pakistan and
Saudi Arabia very important for the two countries as well as for the region and
the world, the report added.
Later,
the premier and his accompanying delegation performed Umrah at Makkah’s Grand
Mosque. PM Shehbaz “prayed for the peace and prosperity of Pakistan as well as
Muslim ummah,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said.
PM
Shehbaz landed in Riyadh on Monday where he was received by Riyadh Governor
Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud at the airport. The premier is
accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif,
Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and other officials.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Imran
starts ‘long march’ from Lahore on Friday
Ahmad
Fraz Khan
October
26, 2022
LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan finally announced on Tuesday
that his long march on Islamabad would start from Lahore on Oct 28.
“We
will gather at Liberty Chowk at 11am on Friday, and set off for Islamabad,” he
told a hurriedly called press conference.
With
the party’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi by his side, Mr Khan, bemoaning
being called “irresponsible” for holding the long march when Pakistan is in
deep economic trouble and struggling to recover, reminded his audience how four
‘long marches’ were held during his tenure as PM when the country was suffering
from multiple crises.
Since
ouster of his government in April, Mr Khan has been demanding holding of early
elections in the country.
However,
while indicating his options are open, Mr Khan said that (political) parties do
not slam doors on talks nor would the PTI do so. “I am also open to backchannel
contacts.”
His
words came in the backdrop of media reports — confirmed by Imran Khan himself —
that he was negotiating his demands with the establishment. But, the PTI chief
said, he had decided to call the long march after failing to achieve the
desired results. Political pundits read much in the sentence, which they think
is an attempt to keep the “establishment engaged and the government guessing”
till the last moment as to what these contacts mean and how should it behave.
Recalling
the financial woes when he took over, the former PM said: “We got a country
which was economically broke. The current account deficit was peaking. Foreign
reserves were down to three-week imports’ requirement. Exports were stagnant
and so were remittances. As soon as we started the recovery journey, Covid-19
arrived and crippled even the best performing economies. Still four marches
(two by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, one by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and another by
Maryam Nawaz Sharif) were held. We did not accuse anybody of destabilising the
country or hampering economic recovery. Why us now?” Imran Khan wondered.
“Our
recovery was much robust (than what is being claimed now) with increasing
exports, record tax collection, social security plans like Ehsaas programme,
handling of Covid-19 and billion tree tsunami to take care of climate change.
Pakistan was riding robust recovery route when regime change conspiracy was
hatched and the country was pushed back into an economic abyss,” he insisted.
The
PTI leader, explaining the rationale of the long march at this time, said that
after May 25, the day he held his maiden march after exiting power, “we avoided
calling the next phase of march immediately to avoid bloodshed; it would have
turned bloody for sure given the kind of repression the government had resorted
to. But now, the Friday march is meant for freedom and to decide who is
entitled to rule the country”.
He
claimed that it [the march] was not politics but an attempt to set the
direction of the country. “We will go to Islamabad treading GT (Grand Trunk)
Road and go to the point already allowed by the courts. We will stay peaceful.
If any disruption comes, it would be from the other side, not ours. We are aiming
for soft revolution. We are not going to Islamabad to create any mischief,” he
assured, saying that despite all his peaceful intentions he was ready for
arrest as well. “My bag is ready,” he said.
Imran
Khan plans to stay in Lahore for the next three days. He would go to Sialkot in
the morning and return in the evening to preside over his parliamentary party
in the run up to the long march. Detractors, however, claimed that his stay in
the Punjab is aimed at two things: avoid arrest by the “hostile” federal
government and push CM Parvez Elahi for maximum cooperation to have a
numerically better start from Lahore.
Address
at Oxford Union
Later,
in an address to the Oxford Union, a prestigious debating society which
features prominent speakers from across the globe, Mr Khan accused the
establishment of controlling the National Accountability Bureau.
In
response to a question about the establishment’s role in politics, he said that
Pakistan became a security state soon after independence and that the 1948
conflict with India over Kashmir “framed the mindset” of the country and gave
importance to the military.
“The
balance between the military establishment and civilian government has never
really been there. When you have a democratic government, the responsibility to
deliver lies with them. But the democratic government does not always have all
the authority. That makes it very difficult for any management system to work.”
The
former premier said though he enjoyed a “very good relationship with the
establishment and that there “were no problems” between the two, the subject of
accountability was a sticking point.
“I
had been campaigning that the powerful must be brought under the law. They were
openly laundering money and stealing to build palaces overseas with no money
trail or source of income. My aim was to bring these two corrupt families to
justice. But NAB was not in my hands, unfortunately.”
Mr
Khan added that the bureau was “controlled by the establishment”.
“For
some reason, the establishment’s views on corruption were completely different
to mine — they didn’t take me seriously. They didn’t have any idea…they didn’t
understand that countries fail due to a failure to uphold the rule of law.”
“For
them [establishment], the corruption was no big deal.”
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1716911/imran-starts-long-march-from-lahore-on-friday?preview
--------
ECP
asks SC to set aside orders ‘favouring’ Imran
Nasir
Iqbal
October
26, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) once again approached the Supreme
Court on Tuesday, seeking to set aside different high courts’ orders in favour
of PTI leaders, including Chairman Imran Khan, who had challenged contempt
notices issued by the commission.
Moved
through Advocate Sajeel Sheryar Swati, a set of six ECP petitions pleaded
before the court that ever since the high courts granted interim relief to PTI
leaders by allowing the ECP to continue hearing the matter but not pass any
final order till the outcome of the petitions, PTI leaders were avoiding
appearance before the ECP.
Besides,
the high courts’ orders which restrained the ECP from taking adverse action
against PTI leaders had effectively brought the commission at a standstill.
Earlier
on Oct 13, the ECP had approached the Supreme Court seeking to consolidate and
transfer all six challenges pending before different high courts to its
contempt notice against PTI leaders instead of defending the commission’s
stance for the issuance of the contempt charges against PTI leaders in
different high courts.
The
petition recalled that during Aug and Sept, 2022, the ECP had issued notices in
exercise of its powers of contempt against Imran Khan, Asad Umar, Chaudhry
Fawad Ahmed, Mian Shabbir Ismail, Danial Khalid Khokhar. Consequently, the ECP
had asked the PTI leaders to appear in person or through their counsel before the
commission to explain their positions.
Instead,
the recipients, who were served notices for allegedly using ‘intemperate’
language against Chief Election Commissioner and ECP, challenged them before
different high courts.
PTI
leaders invoked the jurisdiction of different high courts including the Lahore
High Court (LHC), Sindh High Court, Islamabad High Court and LHC-Rawalpindi
Bench, to challenge the notices and contempt proceedings on the grounds that
Section 10 of the Elections Act, 2017 —- the statutory provision regarding
commission’s power to punish for contempt — was against the Constitution.
The
PTI leaders had also sought relief in the cases from the high courts.
The
petition also recalled that LHC’s single bench on Sept 7, 2022, also ordered
constitution of a larger bench to hear the PTI petitions.
All
the six petitions pertain to the same subject matter raising common questions
of law i.e. challenges to the vires of Section 10 of the Election Act, 2017.
Now
in the fresh set of petitions, the ECP argued that the high court orders were
illegal and unlawful having effectively suspended Section 10 of the Elections
Act, 2017, by restraining the ECP from taking ‘adverse action’ against the PTI
leader.
The
petitions contended that high courts’ orders did not explicitly suspend any
provision of the Election Act and it did not change the fact that the order was
illegal and unlawful.
By
nullifying the powers of the ECP under section 10 of the Election Act, 2017, by
virtue of the restraining order, the high courts have effectively granted a
final relief to PTI leaders.
It
is a settled law that no final relief can be granted at the interim stage when
the court has not provided opportunity of hearing to all relevant parties to
make their submissions and address the legal controversies.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1716917/ecp-asks-sc-to-set-aside-orders-favouring-imran
--------
Policeman
killed in gun attack on polio team in Balochistan’s Pishin
Ghalib
Nihad
October
25, 2022
A
policeman guarding a polio vaccination team in Pishin, Balochistan was shot
dead by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday, an official said.
Pishin
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Yasir, told Dawn.com that the assailants attacked
the vaccination team in the Trat area of Pishin, killing the policeman who was
deployed to guard the vaccinators.
Yasir
said the polio team workers remained unhurt in the attack.
The
deceased was identified as constable Muhammad Hashim. His body was shifted to
Quetta for medico-legal formalities.
According
to the DC, the police have started a search operation in the area to arrest the
attackers.
Attacks
on polio vaccination teams are not an uncommon occurrence in the country. In
August this year, two policemen guarding a polio vaccination team were shot
dead by unknown assailants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district.
The
incident comes as a five-day anti-polio campaign is underway in 426 union
councils of 19 districts of Balochistan.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
COAS
Bajwa, German envoy discuss bilateral ties, regional security
October
25, 2022
RAWALPINDI:
German Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas called on Chief of Army Staff
(COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The
military’s media wing said in a statement that COAS Bajwa and German envoy
Alfred Grannas discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields, overall
regional situation and matters of mutual interest during the meeting.
The
army chief said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with
Germany.
He
congratulated the dignitary on assuming the office of ambassador and expressed
hope that relations between the two countries will further prosper, according
to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The
visiting dignitary expressed his grief over the devastation caused by floods in
Pakistan and offered sincere condolence to the families of the victims.
Source:
Pakistan Today
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--------
Southeast
Asia
UN
terms Malaysia’s deportation of Rohingya DPs violation of law
October
26, 2022
GENEVA:
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) urged Malaysia on Tuesday to stop deporting
refugees back to Myanmar, saying it had received reports of hundreds of such
cases over the past two months.
The
deportations, which included former navy officers seeking asylum, expose those
sent away to danger and are a violation of the international law on
non-refoulement, according to UNHCR, referring to a law that protects refugees
or asylum seekers from being deported.
“In
the last two months alone, hundreds of Myanmar nationals are reported to have
been sent back against their will by the authorities,” UNHCR spokesperson
Shabia Mantoo told a Geneva press briefing.
“People
cannot be returned to places where they face threats to their life and liberty
and face harm and danger.”
UNHCR,
the UN’s refugee agency, said it had received “multiple disturbing reports” of
refoulement — the forcible return of refugees and asylum seekers — since April.
The
latest incident involving an asylum seeker being sent back to conflict-torn
Myanmar occurred on Oct 21, Mantoo added, despite intervention by the UNHCR
with authorities.
She
had no further information on what happened to the deportees upon arrival.
Myanmar’s
junta spokesman and Malaysia’s home and foreign ministries did not immediately
respond to requests for comment.
Myanmar’s
embassy in Malaysia previously said in a post on Facebook that 150 Myanmar
nationals were deported by plane on Oct 6 in cooperation with Malaysian immigration
authorities. It did not mention that the group included former navy officers.
Myanmar
has been gripped by fighting since the army overthrew an elected government
early last year. Resistance movements, some armed, have emerged across the
country, which the military has countered with lethal force.
The
junta has arrested thousands of people, including Nobel laureate and deposed
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, along with many bureaucrats, students, journalists and
others in an attempt to smother dissent.
So
far, more than 150,000 refugees and asylum seekers, including many ethnic
Rohingya Muslims, have fled to neighbouring Malaysia.
In
the last two months, hundreds of Myanmar nationals are reported to have been
sent back against their will by the authorities, UNHCR said.
“UNHCR
continues to call on Malaysia to immediately stop the forced returns of Myanmar
nationals seeking safety from serious harm. Sending them back to Myanmar
exposes them to harm and danger,” the spokeswoman said.
Myanmar
has been in turmoil since a military coup last year, with swathes of the
southeast Asian nation engulfed by fighting.
More
than 2,300 people have been killed in the military’s crackdown on dissent since
the coup, which rights groups say includes razing villages, mass extrajudicial
killings and air strikes on civilians. The junta blames anti-coup fighters for
the deaths of almost 3,900 civilians.
“The
situation in Myanmar is forcing people to flee to seek safety within the
country and across borders. UNHCR appeals to the Malaysian authorities to abide
by their international legal obligations and ensure the full respect for the
rights of people in need of international protection,” said Mantoo.
Source:
Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1716921/un-terms-malaysias-deportation-of-rohingya-dps-violation-of-law
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With
ex-Cambodian refugee parents and siblings all Malaysians now, Pahang-born woman
wins chance to continue bid for citizenship
By
Ida Lim
26
Oct 2022
PUTRAJAYA,
Oct 26 — A 36-year-old woman, who was born in a refugee camp in Pahang, will be
able to continue her bid in court to be recognised as a Malaysian, following
the Federal Court’s decision today.
Azimah
Hamzah is the only one in her family who is yet to be a Malaysian, as her
Muslim parents who were originally Cambodian refugees became Malaysians just
months after her birth.
Azimah’s
elder sister who came to Malaysia as a refugee has also become a Malaysian,
while all her four younger Malaysia-born siblings are Malaysians.
Having
previously failed at both the High Court and Court of Appeal, Azimah had sought
to appeal to the Federal Court. She had to first obtain the Federal Court’s
leave or permission for her appeal to be heard.
Chief
Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, who headed the
Federal Court panel hearing the leave application, today said Azimah can
proceed to have her appeal heard.
“Having
considered the submissions by both learned counsels and upon due consideration
of the cause papers concerned with this decision, we are unanimous in our view
that leave be granted for one question only, which is question two. There shall
be no costs,” he said, also confirming that there will be no costs for the
actual appeal to be heard by the Federal Court.
The
other two Federal Court judges on the panel today were Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang
and Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.
With
the Federal Court’s decision today, it means Azimah will be able to pursue her
bid to be called a Malaysian, just like all her other family members.
She
had proposed two legal questions for the Federal Court to decide in her appeal,
with the question that was accepted by the Federal Court today being: “Whether
a child born of refugee parents who have acquired citizenship of Malaysia and
all the siblings of which child are Malaysian citizens is upon a true
construction of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution
entitled to be registered as a citizen of Malaysia.”
Source:
Malay Mail
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Ismail
says ‘no’ to debate with Anwar, Muhyiddin
Anne
Muhammad
October
25, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has rejected Anwar Ibrahim’s
proposal for a debate among the prime minister candidates from Barisan Nasional
(BN), Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) ahead of the 15th
general election (GE15).
Ismail
said debates were not a part of Malaysia’s political culture.
“If
we debate, he (Anwar) will talk about his promises, (he will promise) the moon
and the stars, so there is no need (to debate),” he told a press conference
after a briefing at Bukit Aman.
He
was responding to a question on Anwar’s proposal for a debate among Ismail, PN
chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and himself.
Anwar,
who is PH’s prime minister candidate, previously said the debate should focus
on policy matters.
Ismail,
an Umno vice-president, also said finding time for a debate would be
challenging.
“I
don’t think we need to have a debate, we’re all busy in our respective areas,
campaigning in our constituencies,” he said.
On
BN’s election preparations, he said the coalition’s top leadership has received
a shortlist of candidates from each state BN secretary.
He
said the coalition will further scrutinise the shortlisted candidates.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
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PAS
was fine working with DAP before, so when did we turn pro-communist? Kit Siang
asks Hadi
By
Shahrin Aizat Noorshahrizam
26
Oct 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Lim Kit Siang today accused PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul
Hadi Awang of giving Islam a bad name by accusing DAP of being pro-communist.
Pointing
to the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat coalition, Lim said Hadi had no problem then
when DAP, PAS and PKR all worked together in 2008, but changed his tune after
they became political rivals.
"When
did Hadi discover the DAP is communist or pro-communist? Hadi, Anwar and I
signed a communiqué on the formation of Pakatan Rakyat forming a coalition PAS,
PKR and DAP in 2008, but Pakatan Rakyat ended following the June 2015 PAS
Muktamar when PAS leaders under Hadi cut ties with DAP," Lim said,
referring to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"When
did DAP become communist or pro-communist? Was it before 2008 and after 2015,
or was DAP communist or pro-communist all along in the Pakatan Rakyat between
2008 to 2015?"
Lim
also said that DAP had worked with PAS luminaries such as the late Datuk Nik
Abdul Aziz Nik Mat and Datuk Fadzil Noor.
"Hadi
is giving Islam a bad name by telling lies and untruths, acting like a
chameleon and going against the mainstream of Islamic development," he
said.
Lim
further mocked Hadi by saying that the latter seems to know more than the
police's Special Branch, which monitors communist movement in the country.
"I
was detained twice under the Internal Security Act but neither the DAP
leadership nor I was ever accused of being ’communist’ or ’pro-communist’.
"Has
Hadi information about the DAP being ‘communist’ or ‘pro-communist’ that the
Special Branch of Malaysia does not possess,” he added.
Yesterday,
Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chided Hadi for spewing
defamatory remarks against his coalition, especially component party DAP.
Apart
from the pro-communist allegation, Hadi also claimed that Anwar is a member of
the Freemasons movement.
Source:
Malay Mail
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Africa
APC:
Give us Muslim, Christian ticket or forget our votes – Northern Christian
clerics
October
25, 2022
By
John Owen Nwachukwu
No
fewer than 500 prominent Christian clerics from the north and heads of
different support groups within the All Progressives Congress have rejected the
party’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.
The
groups, which met on Tuesday to review the participation of Christians in the
APC presidential campaign council, warned that it will withdraw the support of
millions of its followers across the country should the ruling party proceed
with Kassim Shettima as Bola Tinubu’s running mate.
The
Christian leaders and heads of the APC coalition made their displeasure known
in a communique issued at the end of the meeting in Abuja.
The
communique was jointly signed by Lucas Bako, Pst. Dauda Yakubu, Pst. Yiguda
Augustine, Diconess Jessica Nuhu, Elder Williams Unogwu, Dr. Theodore Uji, Pst.
Ambas Kelvin, Mr. Haruna Vincent and Bish Emeka.
Lamenting
the neglect of Christians, they said fielding the same faith ticket in an
election is, by all standards, a national threat and one that must not be
allowed to stand.
They
said, “Nigeria has already had enough insecurity and challenges, and
contributing to further insecurity and challenges in the country should bother
every well-meaning and concerned Nigerian”.
“We
understand that the argument against substituting the Muslim Vice Presidential
candidate of the APC with a Northern Christian is based on its proponents
because it is no longer possible. Still, we beg to differ by stating
categorically that it is possible, adding that the APC can make the change if
they have the interest of Nigeria at heart.
“To
address this, a few steps must be taken, which in isolation or collectively
will bring about the APC not fielding a Muslim-Muslim ticket but a
Muslim-Christian ticket which, of course, should be the standard.
“The
leadership of the APC should ensure the Vice Presidential candidate nominee
resigns with immediate effect. As clearly stated in the new electoral amendment
law, he should be made to officially write to INEC to notify them of his
withdrawal from the race.
“Upon
the APC vice Presidential candidate’s withdrawal from the race, the party’s
leadership should notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
by writing officially to the Commission about the development. This will allow
a hitch-free substitution of the party’s Vice Presidential candidate.
“The
new electoral Act states that a candidate elected in the primary election of a
party platform as its flag bearer for any position can resign his interest and
withdraw from the contest by notifying INEC no later than 90 days before the
election. If this window period is permissible for elected party candidates,
how much more its surrogates
“If
the APC can find a competent northern Christian to lead its 2023 general
election campaign, finding a replacement for Kashim Shetima should not be a
problem. APC should look through the many capable northern Christian members of
the party who have contributed to its success since its formation and since its
takeover of Nigeria’s national leadership.
“Neglecting
these grievances around the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 election
could breed further resentment, costing the party its expected victory in the
forthcoming election.
Source:
Daily Post Nigeria
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Tens
of thousands of Sudanese protest on coup anniversary, protester killed
25 October,
2022
Tens
of thousands of Sudanese protesters on Tuesday marked the first anniversary of
a coup that halted the country's transition towards democracy in the largest
demonstrations since mass marches in January.
The
protesters faced heavy tear gas and stun grenades as they marched towards the
presidential palace in Khartoum and in Omdurman across the Nile, Reuters
reporters said.
They
dispersed before sundown, reaching around 1 km from the palace, following a
similar pattern to the series of anti-coup protests over the past 12 months.
Internet services were blocked until after 6 p.m., monitoring group Netblocks
said.
One
person was killed in Omdurman when they were run over by a truck belonging to
security forces, the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, aligned with the
protest movement, said, becoming the 119th person to be killed in the
demonstrations.
The
military takeover halted Sudan's transition to democracy following the
overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and plunged an economy already in crisis
further into turmoil. Foreign donors quickly suspended funding and the currency
tumbled, and the government hiked taxes spurring numerous strikes.
A
year on, Sudan's military leaders have not appointed a prime minister, while
those loyal to Bashir who were purged from the civil service have returned.
Bashir remains in jail pending trial on charges he denies related to the coup
that brought him to power in 1989 and the early 2000s war in Darfur.
Tribal
violence has broken out across the country, including in Blue Nile state over
the past week, where up to 250 were killed, according to the United Nations.
The
generals, who say they will give up power when a government is in place, are
engaged in negotiations with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition
that had been sharing power before the coup. Many protesters reject the talks.
On
Tuesday, they burnt tyres on main roads, chanting “power belongs to the people,
the military belongs in the barracks”, Reuters reporters said.
There
was no immediate response to requests for comment on the protests from
government officials. Sudanese police said they had fired tear gas and water
cannon at people they said were “armed, trained forces in military formations”
and requested special dispensation to deal with them.
“Even
though they blocked the internet and closed the bridges, we will keep putting
pressure on the military until they step aside,” said Salah Abdallah, a
21-year-old university student, who said he was against the deal.
Footage
circulated on social media from other protests in cities including Bahri,
Atbara, El Fasher, Port Sudan and Madani. Reuters could not immediately verify
the images.
Negotiations
The
resistance committees that have sustained the anti-military movement with
regular protests have mostly rejected negotiations with the military,
criticising them as dealings of the elite, and demand that its leaders be
brought to justice over the killings of protesters and other violations.
The
FFC last week presented its vision for a civilian-led authority to lead a
transition to an election.
A
leader of the group told Reuters, on condition of anonymity, the negotiations
were going well. He said differences that remained, on issues of transitional
justice and security sector reform, “could be overcome”.
“The
biggest roadblock is the Islamists who are trying to create crises and an
atmosphere that is not conductive to finding a solution,” he said, particularly
those who remain a significant presence in the military and security services.
Leaders
loyal to Bashir, who are not involved in the negotiations, have rejected the
possibility of a deal with the FFC as exclusionary and say it does not
represent the majority of the country.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Sudan
blocks internet services ahead of coup anniversary demonstrations
25
October, 2022
Sudan
on Tuesday blocked internet access across the country as pro-democracy
activists marked the first anniversary of a coup that derailed the transition
to civilian rule, a web monitor said.
Reports
show a “nation-scale internet disruption,” online monitor NetBlocks reported,
with AFP correspondents confirming the network shutdown, as security forces
mobilized throughout the capital Khartoum blocking roads and bridges.
The
military takeover halted Sudan’s transition to democracy following the
overthrow of Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and threw an economy already in crisis
further into turmoil. Foreign donors quickly suspended relations and the
currency tumbled as the government hiked taxes spurring numerous strikes.
A
year on, Sudan’s military leaders have not appointed a prime minister, while
those loyal to Bashir purged from the civil service have returned.
Generals
are now engaged in negotiations with the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC)
coalition that had been sharing power prior to the coup. The talks are
facilitated by the United Nations and African Union, as well as the “Quad” of
the United States, the UK, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
The
FFC last week presented its vision for a fully civilian-led authority to lead a
transition to elections.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Nigerians
panic over US, UK terror attack alerts in capital
Olanrewaju
Kola
26.10.2022
MAIDUGURI,
Nigeria
Nigerians
expressed worry Tuesday over security alerts recently issued by the US and British
embassies warning of a heightened risk of terrorist attacks, especially in the
capital Abuja.
Nureni
Amodu, an Abuja-based journalist, told Anadolu Agency that most residents are
in a panic.
"I
avoid traffic like most residents now. It is really frightening. There is panic
now in Abuja," he said.
Additional
security personnel have been assigned to guard offices of political parties in
the capital, said a security source.
Some
elementary and secondary private schools have also shut down operations in fear,
despite assurances by the authorities, the former head of the National
Association of Proprietors of Private Schools disclosed.
The
police said in a statement that they have activated a counter-terrorism special
operations squad for the nation's capital and will hold a counter-terrorism
exercise on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"The
extra security measures followed recent alerts by some foreign missions in
Nigeria about possible terrorist attacks," said spokesman Olumuyiwa
Adejobi.
He
said the police will collaborate with other security agencies to ensure the
safety of the people in the capital and other parts of the country.
He
did not provide further details, however.
The
US and British embassies issued the security alerts on Sunday, warning their
nationals in the capital to be vigilant.
"You
should avoid places where crowds gather, including political meetings,
religious gatherings and places of worship, markets, shopping malls, hotels,
bars, restaurants, transport hubs (including train networks) and camps for
displaced people,” said the UK embassy’s advisory.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/nigerians-panic-over-us-uk-terror-attack-alerts-in-capital/2720831
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Turkish
charity distributes aid to Somalis struggling with famine
Ali
Ebubekir Tokcan
25.10.2022
A
Turkish humanitarian group distributed food to those struggling with famine and
hunger in Somalia.
The
Hak Humanitarian Relief Association distributed food to 50,000 people in five
regions and 10 camps as part of aid efforts in the region, according to a
statement by the group.
It
noted that the group also supplied medical supplies to children who were
treated at a hospital because of famine and relief efforts continue in Baidoa,
where residents most affected by famine and hunger migrated.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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