‘First Target Is Pakistan’ Because Pakistan Is Behind Everything in Afghanistan: ISIS Khorasan
New
Age Islam News Bureau
01
November 2021
ISIS-K
said that it has the ability to wreak havoc on the state of Afghanistan despite
being outnumbered by the Taliban. (Representational Image / AFP)
------
• Bangladeshi
Islamic Party Wants To Peacefully Co-Exist With His Indian Neighbours;
Concerned About Attacks on Muslims in India
• Breaking
the Language Barrier Ten Hindu Candidates Selected As Urdu Teacher, Two Muslims
to Teach Sanskrit In UP Govt Schools
• Left
Behind After US Withdrawal, Some Former Afghan Spies and Soldiers Turn To
Islamic State
• Explain
Difference between Halal and Pork-Free Eateries, Says PAS Man
Pakistan
• Saudi
Arabia’s uplift plan offers opportunities to Pakistan: PM
• Pak
economy hit by Rs 35 billion loss due to TLP protests
• Trust
factor evaporates between Imran Khan, Pakistan Army
• Mufti
Muneeb terms govt-TLP agreement victory of Islam, Pakistan
• ‘Media
continues to face attacks, curbs on free expression’
• Two
killed in blast targeting FC troops in Panjgur
--------
South Asia
• Starving
Families in Afghanistan Hindu Kush Province Sell Their Children to Survive
• Former
Afghan security members joining ISIS-K to fight Taliban
• Taliban’s
top leader Akhundzada makes rare public appearance in Kandahar
• India
warns of airstrike if Taliban move towards them
--------
India
• NIA
arrests two more accused in militant conspiracy case
• Territorial
ambitions of China and Pakistan require India's armed forces to remain alert
round the year: CDS
-----
North America
• Ghani
pledged to fight till death but fled, says Blinken
• US
in talks with allies on getting Iran to agree to nuclear deal: Blinken
• Erdogan,
Biden to meet in Rome on Sunday: US official
--------
Southeast Asia
• Too
Much Money For Religious Authorities, Say Critics
--------
Arab World
• World
Muslim Communities Council Announces International Conference 'Islamic Unity: Concept,
Opportunities, and Challenges’
• Why
Virginia's Upcoming Election Is Important For Arabs and Muslims
• Saudi
Arabia deposits $3 billion in Egypt's central bank
• Saudi
FM: No crisis with Lebanon, but rather crisis in Lebanon due to Iran's proxies
• UAE
instructs citizens in Lebanon to return home amid ongoing crisis
• Lebanon’s
Maronite Christian Patriarch urges Aoun, Mikati to defuse crisis with Gulf
• First-ever
Jewish ‘dating app’ launches in Gulf
• US
urges diplomatic channels to remain open after Lebanon-Gulf crisis
• Allies
in the air: Saudi jets escort US bomber
--------
Mideast
• Iran
Urges Full Elimination of N. Weapons in World
• Israel’s
army launches week-long simulation of full-scale war with Hezbollah
• Israel
closes Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslims but allows settlers
• Iran:
Removal of Sanctions Prerequisite to Negotiations
• Iranian
Civil Defence Chief Blames US, Israel for Recent Cyber attack on Fuel Delivery
System
• Iran
Commutes Death Sentences of 100 Convicts to Long-Term Imprisonment
• US
flies B-1B bomber over Middle East amid Iran tensions
• Coalition
says 218 Houthis killed in airstrikes around Marib city
--------
Africa
• Molassan
Still Parading Self As Mufti Of Yorubaland Despite Court Injunction – League Of
Imams
• UN
representative to Sudan discusses options for mediation with ousted PM Hamdok
--------
Europe
• 2nd
round of interfaith dialogue between Iran-Serbian Orthodox Church in 2022
• Turkish
president meets European leaders on sidelines of G20 summit
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/pakistan-khorasan-isis-afghanistan-/d/125690
--------
‘First
Target Is Pakistan’ Because Pakistan Is Behind Everything in Afghanistan: ISIS
Khorasan
Oct
31, 2021
ISIS-K
said that it has the ability to wreak havoc on the state of Afghanistan despite
being outnumbered by the Taliban. (Representational Image / AFP)
------
Afghanistan's
ISIS Khorasan (ISIS-K) also known as Daesh, has said that its hard-line goal
remains the implementation of Sharia law and warned that whoever in the world
went against Islam and the Quran will have to face the terror group's wrath.
"Our
first target is to destroy Pakistan because the main reason for everything in
Afghanistan is Pakistan. When the Taliban were here (even as the previous
government still reigned), they were saying that we control 80 per cent of the
country, but they were not implementing Islamic rulings. That's why we stood up
in we started (ISIS-K) over here in this area," knewz quoted Nazifullah, a
member of ISIS-K as saying.
According
to him, Afghanistan has gone from bad to worse since the Taliban - who he
accuses of "destroying the country" took the helm some two-and-a-half
months ago.
"We
want to implement Shariah Law. We want to implement the way our Prophet was
living, the way he was clothed, the dressing hijab was there. Currently, we
don't have much to fight. But if you give me anything, I am going to fight
Pakistan now," knewz quoted Nazifullah as saying.
Knewz
notes that Nazifullah is wanted by everyone from US troops and the now-defunct
Afghan Security Forces and the Taliban.
Since
August 15, ISIS-K has waged a deadly spate of suicide attacks and targeted
bombings across multiple provinces and claimed dozens of lives. While some
assaults have targeted the Taliban, the vast majority have been inflicted upon
innocent civilians, particularly the minority Shia population.
Most
of the recruits of the ISIS-K "are believed to have defected from the
Taliban branches in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, seeking an even more
extreme interpretation of Islam with more international rather than
domestic-centered goals of 'caliphate' control."
Like
others who have joined ISIS-K, Nazifullah said he too joined as he was tired of
the lack of truthfulness of the Taliban.
"We
kept asking the Taliban to show us a video of Mullah Omar, but we couldn't get
any. That is why Daesh here was created. They seemed truthful and said they
were going to implement Shariah Law, so that is why I joined them," knewz
quoted Nazifullah as saying.
Notably,
the founder of the Taliban had died in 2013 which was kept a secret for nearly
two years. The supreme leader of the Taliban, Haibatullah Akhundzada is being
kept under the veil as well.
Nazifullah,
24, further said that ISIS-K has the ability to wreak havoc on the state of
Afghanistan despite being outnumbered by the Taliban, according to knewz. The
number of Taliban operatives on Afghan soil is estimated to be nearly around
seventy thousand whereas the ISIS terrorists are believed by the US
intelligence to be around two thousand mark.
To
establish this point, ISIS has started the targeted attacks not only on the
Taliban but also on the civilians after the Taliban takeover on August 15. The
biggest such instance was the suicide attack on the Hamid Karzai International
Airport in Kabul.
However,
the ISIS member said that he was unclear about the number of ISIS terrorists in
Afghanistan as he was locked in the Bagram prison, arrested by the Afghan
government until he was freed by the Taliban after sweeping into power.
The
terrorist further revealed that he had pledged his allegiance to Abu Bakr
Baghdadi who is now reportedly dead.
Upon
becoming a Daesh, members are sent for training to eastern Nangahar province
and Nazifullah revealed that the group has been joined by an international
cadre of jihadists coming from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran,
and Russia.
The
Taliban, however, has been denying the presence of ISIS on Afghan soil and
claims that they have been defeated.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Bangladeshi
Islamic Party Wants To Peacefully Co-Exist With His Indian Neighbours;
Concerned About Attacks On Muslims In India
(Photo
courtesy: aa.com.tr/)
-----
Md.
Kamruzzaman
31.10.2021
DHAKA,
Bangladesh
A
top-ranked Islamic political party leader in Bangladesh expressed concerns
about attacks on Muslims and said he wants to peacefully co-exist with his
Indian neighbours.
Citizens
from both countries also expressed similar views to Anadolu Agency,
“Muslims
in different states in India are now scared and helpless. In this circumstance,
the Indian government must arrest the extreme Hindu terrorists who attacked the
Muslims and bring the miscreants to justice,” the head of the Islami Andolan
Bangladesh, Mufti Syed Rezaul Karim, said in a statement late Saturday.
Citing
media reports, he alleged that extremists have launched at least 27 attacks on
16 mosques and members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindu Council,
an infamous Hindu extremist organization, set fire to three mosques and put the
organization’s flag over several mosques after storming Muslims’ places of
worship.
“While
extremist Hindus of India are threatening to occupy Bangladesh after attacks on
some Hindu temples, the Indian government has failed to take any initiative
after damaging houses, shops and mosques of Muslims in Tripura and Assam
states,” he alleged.
He
also urged Indian authorities to immediately intensify vigilance to protect
Muslims’ property, including mosques, to ensure peace and tranquility.
“Otherwise, it may flare up protests across the world.”
Karim
urged the international media to play a due role in case of any human rights
violations of Muslims or any community in India as reporters were very active
during recent sectarian violence in Bangladesh following a social media post
demeaning the Holy Quran at a Hindu temple in the east-central district of
Comilla on Oct. 13.
Peaceful
co-existence
Citizens
of the two neighboring states, however, told Anadolu Agency that Hindus and
Muslims, as well as people from other communities in the region, have been
living peacefully for centuries.
“Sometimes
we face some unexpected incidents of communal violence in India and Bangladesh
that make us shocked. But most of us believe in peace and love and always wish
to live together for each other’s faiths and religions,” said Arman Mahin, a
secondary level student in Bangladesh’s southern district of Barguna.
Waliur
Rahman, a resident in the capital of Dhaka’s Paltan area, however, added that
after the communal violence in Bangladesh, the government and individuals have
come forward to help Hindus and constructed houses that were damaged and
temples of the victims, provided handsome cash payments and arrested hundreds
of suspects who perpetrated the offenses.
“We
expect that in case of attacks on Muslims in India, the response from the
concerned government and people will be the same and we see a tranquil and
peaceful co-existence,” added Rahman.
Echoing
those remarks, Rohit Ghosh, a writer living in the northern Indian city of
Kanpur, said \ the majority of people in India want to live peacefully with
people from other religions.
“There
are few people who are creating an atmosphere of hate against minority
communities. They have got their vested interest,” he said before adding that
they will not succeed in their intention as people now have realized that our
country has made progress by efforts of every citizen.
Avinash
Sharma, who resides in the southern city of Chennai said some close friends are
Muslims and he would not think of harming them in any manner.
Stray
incidents do not affect peace
“We
have lived with Muslims and never felt that they are different from us. We will
continue to share the same bond and closeness with them. These stray incidents
would not affect our relationship with other communities, including Muslims,”
Avinash told Anadolu Agency.
Md.
Abdullah Al Mahmud, assistant professor at the world religions and culture
department at Dhaka University, said Islam never supports violence.
He
said as the closest neighbor of India, the Bangladeshi government should
communicate through diplomatic channels with Indian authorities and request
they beef up safety and security measures for the protection of minority
Muslims.
“India
is a secular and democratic country and so all people have rights to freely
practice their religions and enjoy the freedom of expression,” he told Anadolu
Agency.
“At
the same time, the government of Bangladesh and the majority Muslims of the
South Asian country must remember that Islam is very serious about the rights
of minorities and never allows harassment of one for any crime of another,” he
added.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Breaking
The Language Barrier Ten Hindu Candidates Selected As Urdu Teacher, Two Muslims
To Teach Sanskrit In UP Govt Schools
Details
of these candidates are available on the official website of UP Secondary
Education Services Selection Board. (Photo for representation)
----
By
K Sandeep Kumar
Oct
30, 2021
PRAYAGRAJ:
Breaking the language barrier and in an indication of changing times, 10 Hindu
candidates have been selected as Urdu teacher while two Muslim candidates have
been declared successful to teach Sanskrit, in government-aided secondary
schools of the state, according to the final results of TGT and PGT
Recruitment-2021 (including the waiting list) declared recently by UP Secondary
Education Services Selection Board (UPSESSB).
Deputy
secretary of UPSESSB Naval Kishore informed that the final results of TGT
Recruitment-2021 (all 16 subjects) and PGT Recruitment-2021 (20 out of total 23
subjects) have been declared and made available on the official website of
UPSESSB— https://upsessb.pariksha.nic.in/.
“The
process of institution allotment of these selected candidates is now underway,”
he said.
In
the merit list, Neeraj Kumar at the 54th position, Bharat Lal at 56th place,
Hari Lal at 57th position, besides Ajay Kumar, Vicky Kumar, Rajveer Sagar,
Vinod Kumar and Santosh Kumar, have all been selected as Urdu teacher for boys’
wing of the schools, the official stated. Likewise, Ranjana Devi at 11th
position and Rekha Pushkar at 12th position, in TGT Recrtiment-2021, have been
selected to teach Urdu subject in girls’ schools, he added.
According
to Kishore, all these Hindu candidates are from Scheduled Caste (SC) category.
Names of Neeraj Kumar, Santosh Kumar and Vimal Kumar Sharma are included in the
waiting list of TGT Urdu for boy wing of the schools. Interestingly, Zahara
Gul, a woman candidate belonging to the Muslim community, has been selected as
a post graduate teacher for Sanskrit subject.
Out
of the 34 posts of PGT Sanskrit for Girls wing of the schools, Zahara of OBC
category, has bagged 16th position. There is no Muslim candidate in the main
list of 232 posts of PGT for Sanskrit. However, another Muslim candidate Ekhlaq
Uddin Khan has figured at the 268th position in the waiting list of PGT for
Sanskrit subject.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Left
Behind After US Withdrawal, Some Former Afghan Spies And Soldiers Turn To Islamic
State
Nov
1, 2021
The
Taliban have been trying to project an image of safety and normalcy since
retaking power. But as WSJ’s Sune Rasmussen reports from Kabul, harsh
punishments, violence, and a crackdown on basic freedoms are becoming the
reality. Photo: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
-----
Some
former members of Afghanistan’s U.S.-trained intelligence service and elite
military units—now abandoned by their American patrons and hunted by the
Taliban—have enlisted in the only force currently challenging the country’s new
rulers: Islamic State.
The
number of defectors joining the terrorist group is relatively small, but
growing, according to Taliban leaders, former Afghan republic security
officials and people who know the defectors. Importantly, these new recruits
bring to Islamic State critical expertise in intelligence-gathering and warfare
techniques, potentially strengthening the extremist organization’s ability to
contest Taliban supremacy.
An
Afghan national army officer who commanded the military’s weapons and
ammunition depot in Gardez, the capital of southeastern Paktia province, joined
the extremist group’s regional affiliate, Islamic State-Khorasan Province, and
was killed a week ago in a clash with Taliban fighters, according to a former
Afghan official who knew him.
The
former official said several other men he knew, all members of the former
Afghan republic’s intelligence and military, also joined Islamic State after
the Taliban searched their homes and demanded that they present themselves to
the country’s new authorities.
A
resident of Qarabagh district just north of Kabul said his cousin, a former
senior member of Afghanistan’s special forces, disappeared in September and was
now part of an Islamic State cell. Four other members of the Afghan national
army that the man knew have enlisted in the group, also known as ISIS-K, in
recent weeks, he said.
"In
some areas, ISIS has become very attractive" to former members of Afghan
security and defense forces "who have been left behind," said
Rahmatullah Nabil, a former head of Afghanistan’s spy agency, the National
Directorate of Security, who left the country shortly before the Taliban
takeover. "If there were a resistance, they would have joined the
resistance." But, he said: "For the time being, ISIS is the only
other armed group."
Taliban
forces in early September stamped out a nascent resistance movement in the
Panjshir valley led by Ahmad Massoud, a son of anti-Taliban commander Ahmad
Shah Massoud who was assassinated by al Qaeda in 2001. Resistance leaders then
fled abroad.
The
Taliban have long alleged that Islamic State-Khorasan Province was a creation
of Afghanistan’s intelligence service and the U.S. that aimed to sow division
within the Islamist insurgency, a claim denied by Washington and by Kabul’s
former government.
Hundreds
of thousands of former Afghan republic intelligence officers, soldiers and
police personnel are unemployed and afraid for their lives despite pledges of
amnesty from the Taliban. Only a fraction of them, mostly in the National
Directorate of Security, have returned to work under Taliban supervision. Like
nearly all other Afghan government employees, they haven’t been paid for
months.
"It’s
exactly how it started in Iraq—with disenchanted Saddam Hussein generals,"
a senior Western official warned. "You have to be careful." The U.S.
disbanded Iraq’s security forces after the 2003 invasion of the country. Often
with weapons stashed at home and with years of combat expertise, they provided
a ready pool of recruits for militant groups, including al Qaeda and the
precursor of Islamic State.
In
addition to protection from the Taliban, Islamic State is offering significant
amounts of cash to its new members in Afghanistan, security officials say. In
recent Senate testimony, Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy,
warned that Islamic State in Afghanistan could generate the capacity to attack
the West and allies within six to 12 months.
While
the Taliban are highly motivated to go after Islamic State, he added,
"Their ability to do so, I think, is to be determined."
Though
the Taliban and Islamic State both say they want to impose a strict Islamic
order in Afghanistan, the two groups have deep religious, ideological and
political differences. The Taliban mostly follow the Hanafi school of Sunni
Islam, believe in an Afghan nation-state and say they seek good relations with
all countries, including the U.S. They view the country’s Shiite Hazara
minority as fellow Muslims.
Islamic
State follows the more rigid Salafi Islamic tradition, considers Shiites to be
apostates who should be physically exterminated, and seeks to establish a
world-wide Islamic caliphate through military conquest.
While
influenced by Islamic State’s original leaders in Syria and Iraq, Islamic
State-Khorasan Province was established in 2014 by Afghan and Pakistani Taliban
militants who felt the Taliban leadership, by then seeking peace talks with the
U.S., wasn’t radical enough. The group controlled several districts of eastern Afghanistan
until a Taliban offensive in 2015 dramatically weakened the group.
Islamic
State-Khorasan Province, however, has rebounded this year, taking advantage of
the collapse of the Afghan republic and the withdrawal of the U.S.
counterterrorism presence.
The
group killed 200 Afghans and 13 members of the U.S. armed forces at Kabul
airport in August, and has since then carried out a spate of attacks on the
Taliban, mostly in the eastern province of Nangarhar, but now increasingly
often in Kabul. The group also claimed responsibility for bombing Shiite
mosques in the cities of Kunduz and Kandahar in October. Those attacks killed
well over 100 worshipers.
While
the U.S. has begun providing some intelligence on Islamic State to the Taliban,
Taliban officials are loath to admit that cooperation and generally dismiss the
severity of Islamic State’s challenge.
"We
are not faced with a threat nor are we worried about them," said Mawlawi
Zubair, a senior Taliban commander whose 750 men oversee southwestern Kabul and
who operates out of the capital’s third police district headquarters.
"There is no need, not even a tiny need, for us to seek assistance from
anyone against ISIS."
The
area under his supervision includes the Kabul zoo, where a man believed to be
an Islamic State militant recently threw a hand grenade into a crowd of Taliban
foot soldiers. Former members of the Afghan security forces are
"100%" involved in such Islamic State attacks, Mr. Zubair said.
He
said Islamic State is also feeding on growing resentment over the country’s
economic meltdown that followed the Taliban’s Aug. 15 takeover.
"In
the current situation, we are not dealing with a few difficulties, we are
facing many," Mr. Zubair said. "If we get rid of all our economic and
administrative problems, ISIS will disappear in 15 days in all of
Afghanistan."
Source:
Fox Business
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/left-behind-us-withdrawal-afghan-spies-soldiers-islamic-state
--------
Explain the difference between halal and pork-free eateries, says PAS man
Sean
Augustin
October
28, 2021
An
eatery displaying a sign saying it’s food is “pork-free”. Hassan Mohd Ramli
said that being “halal” meant more than just being “pork free” or serving no
pork. (Bernama pic)
------
KUALA
LUMPUR: A PAS MP is asking the government if it had plans to conduct an
awareness campaign to educate Muslims on the difference between halal-certified
eateries and those that advertise to be “pork-free”.
Hassan
Mohd Ramli said this was to avoid confusion over the matter.
“I
also call on the government to step up enforcement against business owners who
are confusing Muslims (with such tactics),” the Dungun MP said when debating
amendments to the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 in Dewan Rakyat today.
Hassan
said that being “halal” meant more than just being “pork free” or serving no
pork, adding that such outlets have become a trend.
“They
are two different issues,” he said, adding there was a need for this matter to
be explained properly.
In
2016, the then director-general of the Department of Islamic Development
Malaysia (Jakim), Othman Mustapha said that the use of such signage by outlets
that have yet to obtain the halal certificate risked confusing Muslims.
The
then domestic trade, co-operatives and consumerism minister Hamzah Zainudin said
the ministry would select a specific definition to avoid any confusion.
He
had said this after the ministry’s enforcement chief had said that action could
be taken against restaurants under the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 for
attempting to confuse Muslim by displaying such signs.
Source:
Free Malaysia
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia’s uplift plan offers opportunities to Pakistan: PM
November
1, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 provides
opportunities to Pakistan to engage with the Gulf country in realising Naya
Pakistan’s ambitious plan owing to their complementarities in the socioeconomic
fundamentals.
“I
must say that there are significant complementarities in the socio-economic
fundamentals of the Naya Pakistan and the Saudi Vision 2030. Both lay emphasis
on economic opportunity and diversity, domestic growth, modernisation and
development, and trade linkages and connectivity,” PM Khan said in an interview
with Saudi Arabia’s Al Riyadh newspaper published on Sunday.
The
prime minister said Pakistan could contribute manpower — both skilled and
semi-skilled — besides sharing its expertise in other sectors such as information
technology, infrastructure development and agriculture. He said Pakistan and
Saudi Arabia had historically enjoyed long-standing fraternal ties, rooted deep
in common faith, shared history and mutual support. Both countries had stood by
each other, through thick and thin, regardless of the change in leadership, he
added.
Says
the kingdom’s latest generosity reaffirms its time-tested friendship with
Pakistan
“We
never had the reason to reposition our relations with Saudi Arabia in the wake
of regional or international developments in the past as well as in
contemporary times. Relations between the two countries have withstood the test
of time,” he remarked.
The
prime minister said both the countries had a special bond for seven decades.
“It is now our earnest desire to transform this relationship into a deep,
diverse and mutually beneficial strategic partnership. We are now working to
consolidate historical gains by exploring new and non-conventional areas of
cooperation. We want our trade relations and investment cooperation to
commensurate with excellent political relations,” he said.
He
said in his address to the Saudi-Pakistan Investment Forum during his recent
visit to Saudi Arabia he highlighted the importance of engaging the private and
corporate sectors of both countries to realize the untapped potential in the
fields of trade, business and investment. “I am confident that the investment
forum would usher in a new dynamism in our investment cooperation,” he said.
In
reply to a question, the prime minister commended the Saudi leadership for
introducing reforms in various sectors under Vision 2030.
He
said during his recent visit the two countries had discussed ways to strengthen
and enhance economic and trade relations by exploring areas of investment and
opportunities available under Vision 2030 and Pakistan’s development priorities
emanating from a shift from geopolitics to geo-economics.
About
the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit on Climate Change, Mr Khan said
it clearly demonstrated Saudi leadership’s commitment to tackle climate change.
He
said the threat that climate change posed to this planet was real and it was
high time for concerted actions in the right direction. Pakistan had also been
working on similar projects including Clean and Green Pakistan and 10 Billion
Tree Tsunami, he added.
“We
believe that our priorities and goals converge in this regard and we can
therefore learn from each other and extend our mutual support to mitigate the
impacts of climate change,” he commented.
PM
Khan also expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for announcement
of depositing $3 billion and financing $1.2 billion refined petroleum products
during the year. He said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had longstanding and
historic fraternal relations, and the latter had always extended generous
support to the former in its difficult times.
The
latest generous gesture by the kingdom reaffirmed the all-weather friendship
between the two states, he said.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1655197/saudi-arabias-uplift-plan-offers-opportunities-to-pakistan-pm
--------
Pak
economy hit by Rs 35 billion loss due to TLP protests
Oct
31, 2021
LAHORE:
Special assistant to chief minister on information, Hasaan Khawar admitted that
Pakistan has been hit drastically due to the agitation by Tehreek-i-Labbaik
Pakistan (TLP) since 2017 and has borne the loss of Rs 35 billion to the
economy, reported a local media.
Khawar
has further admitted that the ongoing protest and blockade of roads by TLP has
already caused the country a loss of Rs 4 billion, according to Dawn.
The
agitation of the group since 2017 has cost Pakistan Rs 35 billion owing to the
damage pertaining to the properties and the suspension of business activities,
according to Dawn.
The
supply of fruits and vegetables to the markets were suspended and the food items
were rotting in the trucks.
Meanwhile,
four policemen have been killed and nearly 250 have been sustained injuries in
firing by the TLP protestors, the newspaper reported.
Earlier,
amid rising protests by TLP, national security adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf said
that proscribed TLP has crossed the red line, reported Geo News.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Trust
factor evaporates between Imran Khan, Pakistan Army
Oct
31, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani politics is at a very crucial juncture at the moment as the trust
factor between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistani Army has evaporated.
Sergio
Restelli, an Italian political advisor, author and geopolitical expert, writing
in The Times of Israel said that the stand-off over the appointment of the
intelligence agency's - ISI chief has finally sounded the death knell for the
bonhomie between Khan and Army.
After
days of political slugfest in Pakistan, Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmad Anjum
was appointed as the Director-General of the country's Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI). Pakistan witnessed uncertainty over the past few days
regarding the appointment of the new ISI chief.
In
Pakistan, the relationship of every civilian government has been tenuous with
the military establishment. History has demonstrated that civilian interference
in army affairs, attempts to politicise the army, the picking of favourites
from among army ranks has met with a severe reprisal in the past.
There
has been growing discomfort and restiveness within the military ranks over the
disarray in affairs of state. The military which propped up the current regime
of Imran Khan has had to shoulder the blame for the multiple economic,
political-administrative and diplomatic blunders, wrote Restelli.
Imran
Khan has forced his hand by interfering in the internal process and workings of
the Army for his political interests and survival. For the Pakistani army, this
is an unforgivable transgression.
Nawaz
Sharif is a testament to the fact that this scenario ends in the individual
paying a very heavy personal and political price and it is unlikely that it
will be any different with Imran Khan, reported The Times of Israel.
Khan
resisting the selection of the new ISI chief who hasn't been expressly chosen
by him has forced the Army into a corner, obliged to ignore the lack of
political alternatives.
With
Imran Khan's refusal to be a mere rubber stamp authority, the fear remains that
he will exercise his considerable powers as prime minister, said Restelli.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mufti
Muneeb terms govt-TLP agreement victory of Islam, Pakistan
By Ayaz
Akbar Yousafzai & Azaz Syed
October
31, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Religious scholar and former chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb
Sunday announced that talks with the banned TLP have been
"successful" and that an "agreement" had been reached.
Officials
from the PTI government's negotiating team held a press conference today to
update the public about their talks with the proscribed Tehreek-e-Labbaik
Pakistan (TLP).
Addressing
a joint press conference, flanked by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi,
National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and others, Mufti Muneeb termed the
agreement between the government and the proscribed organisation a victory of
Islam and Pakistan.
Details
of the agreement, however, he said will be revealed at a "suitable
time". He added that the positive outcomes of the agreement will be seen
in the coming days.
He
said that the agreement reached with the government was not a victory or defeat
of any individual, but a victory of Islam and Pakistan.
Rehman
shared that a steering committee has been constituted under the agreement which
will be headed by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad
Khan, while Mufti Ghulam Ghous Baghdadi from TLP will join the committee. He
said the committee will become active from today and start its work.
"The
government of Pakistan and the TLP had a detailed discussion under the
environment of mutual trust, and an agreement has been reached between the two
sides," Rehman announced, clarifying that the talks did not take place
under any duress or in an atmosphere of tension.
He
said that rationality had prevailed over sentimentalism and a consensus had
been reached between the government and the banned TLP movement.
'NSC
meeting decided that talks with TLP should be given priority'
Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi briefly spoke after Rehman, saying that it was
decided in a meeting of the National Security Committee that the talks with TLP
should be given priority and that the problem should be dealt with wisely.
Speaking
about the agreement, Qureshi said that a path of peace and improvement had been
found. He said damage to property and loss of life was seen in just a few days,
referring to the banned outfit's protests.
He
said Pakistan did not benefit from the chaos.
Qureshi
ended his brief address with a statement that there would be no question and
answer session with media personnel.
The
government was scheduled to address the press conference earlier in the day at
11:15am initially, according to a handout by the Press Information Department
(PID). The news conference was, however, delayed and after being rescheduled
twice, was finally held at 2:45pm.
Earlier,
sources privy to the development had said that the activists of the banned
organization will first end their sit-in from the Grand Trunk Road (GT Road),
under the agreement. Meanwhile, the government will complete the legal
formalities to release the arrested workers of TLP.
The
well-placed sources had said that the successful round of talks was held last
night between the high-powered government team and the top leadership of the
TLP.
Too
early to call talks with govt ‘successful’: TLP
Before
the press conference, earlier in the day, a TLP spokesperson had rejected media
reports on the talks between the federal government and TLP being successful.
He had said that it will be "too early to say anything about the
negotiation".
He
had urged people to "refrain from spreading rumors" and clarified
that negotiations with the government were still underway.
“There
is no truth in the reports being aired on TV channels about the successful
dialogue,” he had added.
The
TLP spokesperson said that the success or failure of the talks with the
government will be announced by his party leadership.
A
day earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that it would be appreciated if
religious scholars played the role of a bridge between the government and TLP,
as he did not want bloodshed but insisted there could be no compromise on the
country’s security and the government writ.
Meanwhile,
roads had remained blocked and traffic suspended in Wazirabad on Saturday as
TLP protesters remained encamped near the city for the second straight day.
The
prime minister observed this during an interaction with a delegation of
religious scholars and leaders on Saturday. The premier emphasised that peace
and security is in everyone’s interest. The religious scholars called for
negotiations to wriggle out of the present situation.
In
the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that expulsion of the French
ambassador is not the solution to any problem and he cannot be expelled. He
contended that fighting with France will isolate Pakistan internationally.
The
prime minister also said that the cases of banned TLP supremo Saad Rizvi are
pending in the courts. If the court releases Saad Rizvi, they will have no
objection. “No one can blackmail me, nor will I be blackmailed,” he remarked
and pointed out that while the police were strictly forbidden to shoot, but
shots were fired from the other side.
Imran
told the Ulema that they must convince the (TLP) people to refrain from
bloodshed and not to resort to violence. He said neither should they (TLP)
resort to violence nor should they force the state to use force, and assured
the Ulema government will have no hesitation in accepting TLP’s legitimate
demands.
Source:
The News Pakistan
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/904741-negotiations-between-tlp-government-successful-sources
--------
‘Media
continues to face attacks, curbs on free expression’
Ikram
Junaidi
November
1, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Media in Pakistan works within an increasingly repressive environment with
attacks on press freedom coming from all fronts and space for free expression
continuously shrinking.
This
abysmal situation was highlighted in three reports released in connection with
the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’ which is
observed on Nov 2.
In
the first report prepared by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), titled
‘Online harassment of the media in Pakistan’, it was stated that journalists
were often on the receiving end of hate, threats and abuse from a range of
individuals.
“Certain
journalists have suffered the repercussions of their active presence online
with abductions and registration of cases,” it said, adding that while online
harassment continued, the push for legislation to control social media and the
criminalisation of content online had become a tool to harass media.
In
August 2020, women journalists had issued a joint statement against the
“vicious attacks through social media” they endured.
In
September, senior journalist and NewsOne anchorperson Gharidah Farooqi as well
as Benazir Shah were victims of an online campaign, while in October, senior
journalist Asma Shirazi, who had written a column for BBC Urdu, was met with
scorn from both PTI supporters and ministers.
“The
past year has seen the continuation of trends to threaten and intimidate
journalists online. While both private individuals online and members of the
government continue to participate and initiate trends against certain media
professionals and organisations, there is also an increased focus on setting up
rules for social media platforms,” the report said.
The
other report prepared by the PPF, titled ‘Attacks on Media in Pakistan
January-October 2021’, deplored the shrinking space for free expression in
Pakistan.
The
PPF observed an alarming trend during 2021 when not only physical attacks
against media continued with impunity but the state level push to restrict free
expression also grew.
The
PPF recorded at least 27 incidents where media personnel were physically assaulted
in connection with their work, including both armed attacks and beating of
journalists.
However,
in a positive development, on June 28, the Sindh Assembly passed the landmark
‘Sindh Protection of Journalists and Other Media Practitioners Bill 2021’.
Another bill was presented in the National Assembly but it has yet to be
passed.
The
third report, a research study titled ‘Criminalising Online Dissent through
Legal Victimisation: Impunity against Journalists Prosecuted under the
Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA)’ by media rights watchdog Freedom
Network, stated that a chilling pattern had emerged in the use of the criminal
defamation section of Pakistan’s anti-cybercrimes law, PECA.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1655270/media-continues-to-face-attacks-curbs-on-free-expression
--------
Two
killed in blast targeting FC troops in Panjgur
Bahram
Baloch
November
1, 2021
GWADAR:
Two passers-by were killed and three security personnel injured in a bomb blast
in Panjgur town of Makran division on Sunday.
Police
said unidentified people parked an explosive-laden motorbike in the Cheetkan
Bazaar area which was detonated by remote control when a Frontier Corps vehicle
reached there. Two people were killed and three FC soldiers travelling in the
vehicle suffered injuries.
Security
personnel rushed to the area and cordoned it off. They shifted bodies and the
injured to the district hospital.
“We
have received two bodies and three injured FC personnel,” hospital officials
told Dawn, adding they had received splinters and parts of the exploded
motorbike.
Police
identified the deceased as Abdul Quyyam and Noorullah.
A
police officer said around 3kg of explosives were used in the blast.
Balochistan
Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo condemned the blast and termed it a
cowardly act. He said the purpose of the terrorist act was to fulfil the agenda
of anti-national elements by creating unrest and instability.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1655199/two-killed-in-blast-targeting-fc-troops-in-panjgur
--------
South Asia
Starving
Families In Afghanistan Hindu Kush Province Sell Their Children To Survive
November
1, 2021
A
woman in the mountainous Hindu Kush province in central Afghanistan is forced
to sell her two granddaughters for the sake of her family's survival and her
son's treatment.
Ruhsana
Samimi, 56, has contacted her village elders in Dara-i-Kazim, Tolak district of
Ghor province, and expressed her intention to sell her two granddaughters –
six-year-old Zenet and four-year-old Ziba.
She
has put Zenet up for sale for 200,000 Afghanis (approximately $2,200) and Ziba
for 100,000 Afghanis (approximately $1,100) to meet the family's daily food
requirements and pay for her son Sibghatullah's treatment, who was the family's
sole breadwinner.
She
put them up for sale two weeks ago, Samimi said on Sunday, adding that no buyer
has come forward, Anadolu reported.
"We
are starving and have received no help, not even from our relatives. If someone
had helped us, I would not have put my granddaughter up for sale," she
argued.
The
Taliban's takeover of the country in August and the subsequent halt of
international aid exacerbated the country's already-existing poverty and
starvation and is one of the major causes of this state of affairs.
The
cash-strapped country, which has been ravaged by 20 years of war, is now in a
catastrophic economic crisis, with people selling assets and begging for bread
to stay alive.
On
Aug. 17, two days after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, the US government
froze about $9.5 billion of Afghanistan's central bank assets. Many donors and
international organizations, including the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund, have stopped making payments to the interim Taliban regime.
The
UN forecasts that around 22.8 million people or over half of Afghanistan's
population, will face severe food problems.
According
to information from various places, some families want to sell their children
to relatives, while others intend to sell to anyone who might be interested in
buying ahead of the harsh winter, which is set to begin in the coming weeks.
Source:
ABNA24
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Former
Afghan security members joining ISIS-K to fight Taliban
01
Nov 2021
Wall
Street Journal in its latest report indicated that members of the intelligence
body of the previous government in Afghanistan are now affiliating with the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Khorasan branch (ISIS-K) in order to survive
and resist the Taliban.
The
former personnel is mostly US-trained Afghan spies who have been joining the
terror group in northern Afghanistan.
After
the Taliban takeover, northern resistance was the only resisting group that was
co-led by Ahmad Masoud and former first VP Amrullah Saleh in the north of
Afghanistan namely in Panjshri province.
The
group is though defeated, some members claim that they are regrouping and are
waging attacks on the Taliban fighters.
The
report further reads that the former Afghan spies are joining ISIS-K to resume
their income as they have been left broke after the government collapse and
also to fight the Taliban fighters.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/former-afghan-security-members-joining-isis-k-to-fight-taliban-568568/
--------
Taliban’s
top leader Akhundzada makes rare public appearance in Kandahar
November
1, 2021
Haibatullah
Akhundzada, the Taliban’s reclusive leader, made a rare public appearance in
the southern city of Kandahar, the group’s officials announced on Sunday,
contradicting widespread rumors of his death.
Akhundzada
had not been seen in public even after the Taliban’s August takeover of the
country, giving rise to the speculation.
A
senior Taliban leader who was present with Akhundzada said the leader visited
Jamia Darul Aloom Hakimia, a religious school in Kandahar on Saturday.
There
was tight security at the event and no photographs or video have emerged, but a
10-minute audio recording was shared by Taliban social media accounts.
As
the Taliban announced its interim government in September after US-led forces
withdrew, Akhundzada retained the role he has held since 2016 of top leader,
the ultimate authority over the group’s political, religious and military
affairs.
Though
some officials say Akhundzada has made unpublicized appearances before, this
was the first official appearance of a man who has long kept a low profile.
This shadowy existence has led to constant speculation about his whereabouts
and health.
Previously,
the Taliban did not confirm the death of their founder and original top leader,
Mullah Omar, for years.
Akhundzada
rose from a low-profile religious figure to leader of the Taliban in a swift
transition of power after a 2016 drone strike killed his predecessor, Mullah
Akhtar Mansour.
After
being appointed leader, Akhundzada secured the backing of the al-Qaeda chief,
Ayman al-Zawahiri, who showered the cleric with praise, calling him “the emir
of the faithful”.
This
endorsement by Osama bin Laden’s heir helped seal his credentials with the
Taliban’s longtime allies.
Akhundzada
was tasked with unifying a Taliban that briefly fractured during the bitter
power struggle after Akhtar’s assassination, and the revelation that the
leadership had hidden the death of Omar for years.
His
public profile has largely been limited to the release of messages during
Islamic holidays, and Akhundzada is believed to spend most of his time in
Kandahar, the main city in the Taliban’s southern Afghan heartland.
His
last message was on September 7, when he told the newly appointed Taliban
government in Kabul to uphold sharia law as they govern Afghanistan.
Last
week, Mullah Yussef Wafa, the Taliban governor of Kandahar and a close ally of
Akhundzada, told Agence France-Presse he was in regular contact with his
leader.
Source:
ABNA24
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
India
warns of airstrike if Taliban move towards them
01
Nov 2021
Chief
Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, warned that the Taliban-de facto
leaders in Afghanistan- know that if they move towards India, airstrikes are
ready to suppress them.
Yogi
Adityanath said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are feeling disturbed by the
Taliban.
He
also said that India is much powerful today and no country dares to raise its
eyes towards India.
It
is unknown why this Indian senior official and member of the ruling BJP is
worried and warned the Taliban.
It
is worth mentioning that India’s special representative to Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Iran met with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban in Moscow
on October 20 and the latter assured India not to be threatened from their
soil.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/india-warns-of-airstrike-if-taliban-move-towards-them-6585685/
--------
India
NIA
arrests two more accused in militant conspiracy case
M
Saleem Pandit
Nov
1, 2021
SRINAGAR:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested two more accused
persons involved in militant acts in the erstwhile state.
According
to an official spokesperson, Ishfaq Ahmed Wani, a resident of Srinagar and Umar
Bhat, a resident of Sopore were arrested in connection with a conspiracy case
related to militant acts.
“The
case relates to conspiracy for undertaking violent militant acts in J&K and
other major cities by cadres of Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM),
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al Badr and their affiliates such as the Resistance
Front (TRF), and People Against Fascist Forces (PAFF),” an official statement
of NIA read.
NIA
had registered the case on October 10 and initiated the investigation. “Till
now 25 accused persons have been arrested in this case by NIA,” it said.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Territorial
ambitions of China and Pakistan require India's armed forces to remain alert
round the year: CDS
Oct
31, 2021
NEW
DELHI: The territorial ambitions of China and Pakistan require the Indian armed
forces to remain alert and deployed along disputed borders and coastal areas
round the year, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat said on Sunday.
The
CDS stated this while delivering the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture at All India
Radio.
"The
quintessential visionary that Sardar Patel was, he had assertively voiced the
need of an independent Tibet as a buffer state between India and China, as can
be found in his correspondence with the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru," he said.
Rawat
said history is witness to the fact that whenever a country neglects its armed
forces, the external powers are quick to exploit it.
In
the 1950s, India overlooked this important lesson of history and allowed the
security apparatus to drift and the Chinese shook the country up in 1962, Rawat
said.
"We
had to relearn this lesson through an ignominious experience. Post-1962, we
have had several skirmishes against the Chinese - at Nathu La in Sikkim in
1967, at Wangdung in 1986, at Doklam in 2017 and the recent skirmishes in the
eastern Ladakh," he noted.
The
outcomes have made it clear that the Indian armed forces are alert and
determined to defend national territory, he said.
This,
he said, has helped the Chinese and our leaders to pursue agreements for
maintaining peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and
several other confidence-building measures to improve relations.
"Territorial
ambitions of China and Pakistan require India's armed forces to remain alert
and deployed along disputed borders and also along the coastal regions round
the year," he asserted.
The
current border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted in
May last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas of eastern
Ladakh and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of
thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.
As
a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, India and China
completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August and in the
north and south banks of the Pangong lake in February.
Each
side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the
sensitive sector.
Source:
Times of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North America
Ghani
pledged to fight till death but fled, says Blinken
Anwar
Iqbal
November
1, 2021
WASHINGTON:
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that former Afghan
President Ashraf Ghani promised to fight till death but fled Kabul when the
Taliban came.
Also,
this weekend a conservative US think-tank, Hudson Institute, rated the reported
US-Pakistan talks on a formal agreement for using Pakistani airspace for
operations in Afghanistan as a major development.
In
a recent interview to “CBS Face The Nation” talk-show, former US special envoy
for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad said that the Biden administration could have
done more to prevent the collapse of the government in Kabul.
At
Sunday’s show, the interviewer asked Secretary Blinken if he had personally
tried to persuade Mr. Ghani to stay in Kabul.
Mr
Blinken said he was on the phone with Mr Ghani on Saturday (Aug 14) night,
pressing him to accept a plan for transferring power to a new government in
Kabul, This government would have been “led by the Taliban but (would have)
included all aspects of the Afghan society,” he said.
Mr
Ghani told him that “he was prepared to do that, but if the Taliban wouldn’t go
along, he was ready to fight to the death,” Mr Blinken said. “And the very next
day, he fled Afghanistan.” The Taliban captured Kabul on Aug 15 as Mr Ghani
flew out of Afghanistan.
“So,
I was engaged with President Ghani over many weeks, many months,” Mr Blinken
added.
Asked
if he did everything he could, the top US diplomat said the State Department
was reviewing everything that the US did, starting from 2020 when the Trump
administration made an agreement with the Taliban for withdrawing American
troops from Afghanistan.
The
review would include “the actions we took during our administration, because we
have to learn every possible lesson from the last couple of years” and also
from the last 20 years, he said.
Pointing
out that this was America’s longest war, Secretary Blinken said President Biden
ended the longest war to ensure that another generation of Americans would not
have to fight and die in Afghanistan.
“And
I think when all of this settles, that’s profoundly what the American people
want and is in our interest,” he said. “Meanwhile, we are doing everything we
can to make good on our ongoing commitments.”
The
Hudson review on a possible US-Pakistan agreement on air access claimed that
Pakistan would “portray the counter-terrorism agreement as a sign of close
US-Pakistan cooperation.”
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1655209/ghani-pledged-to-fight-till-death-but-fled-says-blinken
--------
US
in talks with allies on getting Iran to agree to nuclear deal: Blinken
31
October ,2021
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the US was “absolutely in
lock step” with Britain, Germany and France on getting Iran back into a nuclear
deal, but added it was unclear if Tehran was willing to rejoin the talks in a
“meaningful way.”
Blinken's
remarks in an interview with CNN on Sunday come a day after the US, Germany,
France and Britain urged Iran to resume compliance with a 2015 nuclear deal in
order to “avoid a dangerous escalation.”
The
accord, under which Iran curtailed nuclear work seen as a risk of developing
nuclear weapons in exchange for a lifting of global sanctions, unraveled in
2018 after then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US, prompting Tehran to
breach limits on uranium enrichment set by the pact.
“It
really depends on whether Iran is serious about doing that,” Blinken said on
Iran rejoining the nuclear talks. “All of our countries, working by the way
with Russia and China, believe strongly that that would be the best path
forward”, he added.
Leaders
of the four countries hoping to persuade Tehran to stop enriching uranium to
near-weapons-grade levels, said on Saturday they wanted a negotiated solution.
“But
we do not yet know whether Iran is willing to come back to engage in a
meaningful way,” Blinken said on Sunday. “But if it isn't, if it won't, then we
are looking together at all of the options necessary to deal with this
problem.”
Iran's
foreign minister said separately on Sunday that if the US was serious about
rejoining Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, President Joe Biden
could just issue an “executive order,” the state-owned Iran newspaper reported.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Erdogan,
Biden to meet in Rome on Sunday: US official
Servet
Gunerigok
30.10.2021
WASHINGTON
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Joe Biden will meet in Rome on
Sunday, said a senior US official on Saturday.
Both
leaders are currently in Italy's capital for the two-day G20 leaders' summit
that started on Saturday.
On
Thursday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said he expected a meeting
between the two leaders in Glasgow, Scotland, but it has not been confirmed.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/erdogan-biden-to-meet-in-rome-on-sunday-us-official/2407467
--------
Southeast Asia
Too
much money for religious authorities, say critics
Imran
Ariff
October
29, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: The provision of an extra RM100 million in a RM1.5 billion budget
allocation for the management and development of Islam in next year’s budget
has raised eyebrows, with critics commenting that it is far too much given
religious authorities’ lack of a track record.
“That’s
too much money for them” said former Umno MP Tawfik Ismail in response to the
budget speech, adding that just like previous years it remained unclear where
all the money would end up being spent and what impact the government intended
to have.
“Will
the money benefit just those in Jakim (the federal department of Islamic
development), or will it filter out to the benefit of the whole country?” he
asked.
Finance
minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, in presenting the 2022 budget today, said there
would be a focus on promoting Islamic teachings, with the religious affairs
department of the Prime Minister’s Department getting RM100 million more than
it did in 2021.
Tawfik
said that in the last year in particular, religious authorities had not
effectively promoted Islam’s more positive values, like compassion, mercy and
tolerance.
“In
fact, we’ve seen the opposite, in that things have been more oppressive and
have negatively impacted national unity.”
“Look
at the lack of action against (controversial preacher) Syakir Nasoha, or the
unnecessary attention given to Nur Sajat and Timah whisky. It doesn’t instil much
confidence that Islamic authorities have promoted Islam’s more positive
aspects,” he said.
With
religious matters largely under state purview, Tawfik also questioned why the
federal authorities need such a large, and growing budget.
Johan
Ariffin Samad, an analyst and member of the G25 group of former senior civil
servants, said that it remained unclear exactly what religious authorities such
as Jakim actually do to promote harmony.
“We
are seeing as large a religious divide in this country as ever before, because
the authorities are not doing enough to foster tolerance in this country, or
improve the relationship among faiths.”
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Arab World
World
Muslim Communities Council Announces International Conference 'Islamic Unity:
Concept, Opportunities, and Challenges’
31-10-2021
ABU
DHABI, 31st October, 2021 (WAM) -- The World Muslim Communities Council held a
press conference at the Council’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi, with the
participation of Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of The Council, and Dr.
Mohamed Bechari, the Secretary-General, to announce the schedule of the
International Conference, entitled, "Islamic Unity: Concept,
Opportunities, Challenges", to be held from 12 to 14 December in Abu
Dhabi.
Dr.
Al Nuaimi announced the holding of the conference, under the patronage of
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
The
importance of the conference stems from the need to present an intellectual and
legal discourse that fills the void that exists among Muslim communities around
the world, to address the challenge of belonging to contemporary Muslim
society, which confirms the pioneering role of scholars and thinkers in leading
the nation, and to present an intellectual and legitimate proposal commensurate
with the requirements of the age.
Al
Nuaimi said that one of the objectives of the conference is to direct a
discourse that stems from the values of coexistence pursued by the UAE, in
terms of being partners with others. "We truly believe in this positive
partnership of the joint work in building nations and facing challenges that
impose on humanity everywhere, such as climate change, pandemics, poverty or
unemployment, and creating opportunities for youth", he added.
The
Chairman of the Council stressed the importance of the pioneering role of the
nation’s scholars and thinkers in presenting a discourse based on legitimate
foundations, taking into account the peculiarities of this age, respecting its
regulations and laws, and establishing a better future for Muslims and
non-Muslims, especially with the existence of some discourses that divide
humanity and serves agendas that harm Muslims wherever they are. He noted that
the Council will be keen to host the largest number of Muslim scholars,
thinkers and academic leaders, so that a vision from Abu Dhabi is presented to
the world that serves Muslims and non-Muslims, with regard to the concept of
Islamic unity and opens up horizons for opportunities that must be invested in
the present and the future, to develop strategies to deal with the challenges
that Muslims face wherever they are.
Source:
Emirates News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302987239
--------
Why
Virginia's upcoming election is important for Arabs and Muslims
31
October, 2021
Anyone
who thought America could relax for a while after the latest presidential
election should take a look at Virginia. The streets and airwaves filled with
adverts leave no doubt that a close and important vote is around the corner.
On
2 November, Virginians will decide who becomes their next governor – Terry
McAuliffe, an establishment Democrat or Glenn Youngkin, a pro-business
Republican. On the surface, the choice might not look stark, with both
candidates appearing to campaign as centrists. But scratch the surface and the
differences between the two become obvious.
McAuliffe,
who was elected as governor in 2013, is a long-time Virginia Democratic insider
whose re-election would likely mean the continuation of the state’s Democratic
policies. Youngkin, a businessman who is new to politics, has the potential –
if elected – to shake up the state’s decade-long steady shift from a Republican
stronghold to one that’s solidly Democratic.
"The
reason I believe there are so many eyes on Virginia at the moment is that it
was the first state to get the ball rolling after 2016. What happens here, win
or lose, will determine the momentum of the next four years," says Mohamed
Gula, Virginia executive director and national organising director for Emgage
Action, which has endorsed McAuliffe as well as Hala Ayala (whose parents both
have Arab backgrounds), who is running for lieutenant governor. They have also
made endorsements for state delegates.
"The
game has really changed because of the momentum we were able to gain in
2017," Gula tells The New Arab. "Virginia can determine the direction
for the rest of the country. That's why we're seeing Obama, Trump, Biden and
Abrams. Everyone is making an appearance here."
So
far, Gula and his team have knocked on more than 20,000 doors, made 200,000
calls and sent out 250,000 text messages. Thanks, in part, to their work,
Muslim voter turnout in Virginia has increased by 28 percent over the past four
years.
Meanwhile,
James Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute, has done
robocalls with former Republican state legislator David Ramadan in support of
McAuliffe, whom he has known for many years and describes as a friend to the
Arab community.
"He
doesn't come from the party that has used nativism and xenophobia against
recent immigrants," Zogby tells TNA, referring to anti-immigrant rhetoric
from the Republican party, particularly the last administration.
America's
eyes on Virginia
Virginia's
position of holding the first gubernatorial race after the presidential
election makes it something of a bellwether for the rest of the country. Since
the 1960s, the party that loses the presidency wins the governor’s race (with
the exception of McAuliffe’s win in 2013), a pattern that can feel fatalistic
with its long consistency, but is by no means the only predictor.
This
recurrence was seen with the 2017 Democratic win of Ralph Northam, as well as
the party's state delegate races, prior to the 2018 "blue wave" that
brought back the Democratic congressional majority and ushered in the now
notorious squad.
Among
those who took part in flipping Virginia's statehouses blue was a transgender
woman, Latina women, and the first African American since the post-civil war
reconstruction era. Ghazala Hashmi added to the contingency when she became the
first Muslim woman elected to the state senate in 2020, representing a
relatively rural part of Virginia.
With
these new policymakers have come new legislation - the elimination of the death
penalty, an increase in the minimum wage, and an expansion of access to voting.
Virginia's
steady political shift comes alongside its demographic shift. Over the past 15
years, the state has seen an increase in immigrants, particularly in
Washington, DC’s southern suburbs. Rural areas have also seen an increase in
diversity, as can be seen in the varieties of restaurants, the different
languages spoken on the streets, and even the diversity in political candidates
(the state now has nine Muslim elected officials, whereas five years ago there
was just one) – all of which point to a new era.
This
new era has meant a revisiting of the state’s history dating back to the end of
reconstruction after the civil war, with so-called Jim Crow laws that were used
to prevent minority representation in the state. This legacy was confronted
with last summer’s wave of Black Lives Matter demonstrations, when it was
decided to remove statues of pro-slavery leaders, change the names of schools,
eliminate an annual state holiday commemorating the confederate side of the
civil war, and offer a more inclusive school curriculum.
Virginia's
growing pains
But
these changes haven't come without backlash. The past year has seen a series of
school board meetings focused on critical race theory, graduate-level material
that examines the intersection of race and US law. Though it is not taught in
grade school, movements have sprung up across the country to argue against its
instruction.
A
school board meeting in Loudoun County in northern Virginia made international
news in June, when a father in attendance was arrested while confronting school
officials, highlighting the intensity of this nationwide debate.
For
Abrar Omeish, these school board meetings, however absurd they may appear, are
no laughing matter. As a member of the Fairfax County School Board in northern
Virginia, she says she regularly receives death threats. But she refuses to be
silent in the face of these attacks.
"I
usually like to steer clear of being partisan, but this election is
different," she tells TNA. She sees the debate over critical race theory
as a tactic to funnel money out of public education by portraying it as chaotic
by using slogans like "parents’ choice" to mischaracterise the
debate.
Source:
The New Arab
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/analysis/why-virginias-election-important-arabs-and-muslims
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Saudi
Arabia deposits $3 billion in Egypt's central bank
31
October ,2021
Saudi
Arabia’s finance ministry said on Sunday the Kingdom deposited $3 billion at
Egypt’s central bank and extended the term of another $2.3 billion in previous
deposits.
The
Kingdom also deposited $3 billion at the Central Bank of Pakistan and extended
$1.2 billion of trade finance to support Pakistan’s balance of payment, the
ministry said in its statement.
“Saudi
Arabia is one of the main countries that support foreign reserves for countries
in need during the [COVID-19] crisis,” the ministry added.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Saudi
FM: No crisis with Lebanon, but rather crisis in Lebanon due to Iran's proxies
31
October ,2021
Prince
Faisal bin Farhan said there is no crisis with Lebanon but rather a crisis in
the country due to the hegemony of Iran’s proxies, the Kingdom’s foreign
minister told Al Arabiya on the sidelines of the G20 summit.
“The
problem is even bigger. The problem in Lebanon is the continued Hezbollah
dominance of the political system, and the continued inability of governments,
political officials and political leaders in Lebanon to take a way out of this
crisis and from this tunneled crisis,” he told Al Arabiya.
“The
crisis there is not a crisis between us and Lebanon to some extent. There is a
crisis in Lebanon with the dominance of Iran's proxies over the scene, and this
is what concerns us, and this is what makes it useless to deal with Lebanon,
and I do not think for the Gulf states and the task now is that the leaders in
Lebanon wake up and seek a way out to bring Lebanon back to its place in the
Arab world and this is available and they are able if God wills it,” Prince
Faisal added.
Saudi
Arabia and other Gulf countries expelled Lebanese envoys in a diplomatic spat
that risks adding to Lebanon’s economic crisis, following critical comments
about the Arab Coalition military intervention in Yemen by Lebanon’s
Information Minister George Kordahi.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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UAE
instructs citizens in Lebanon to return home amid ongoing crisis
31
October ,2021
The
UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed its citizens in Lebanon to return
home amid the ongoing Gulf-Lebanese crisis.
“In
light of current events and based on the decision to ban UAE citizens from
traveling to Lebanon and the decision to recall UAE diplomats from Lebanon, the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on all citizens present in Lebanon to return
to the UAE as soon as possible,” the ministry said in a statement.
Lebanon’s
Information Minister George Kordahi sparked a diplomatic crisis with Gulf
countries because of his comments on Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s involvement in
the Yemen war.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Lebanon’s
Maronite Christian Patriarch urges Aoun, Mikati to defuse crisis with Gulf
31
October ,2021
Lebanese
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai called on the authorities on Sunday
to take a “decisive step” to defuse a crisis with Gulf Arab states over
critical comments made by Information Minister George Kordahi about the Arab
Coalition in Yemen.
Rai,
who made the plea to President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati in his
Sunday sermon, did not suggest any specific measure.
Kordahi
says he made his comments about the war in Yemen before becoming a minister and
so far resisted calls to resign.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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First-ever
Jewish ‘dating app’ launches in Gulf
31
October ,2021
The
first-ever Jewish dating website has been launched in the Gulf with the aim of
pairing up local Jewish singles.
The
platform JSG, which stands for “Jewish Singles in the Gulf,” debuted with a
website where participants are encouraged to fill out a questionnaire and then
a group of matchmakers recommend matches, the Association of Gulf Jewish
Communities (AGJC), told Al Arabiya English.
It
comes a year after the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
“As
our communities throughout the GCC experienced unprecedented growth over the
past few years, we have seen more and more singles move here with an interest
in establishing more permanent roots in the region,” said AGJC President
Ebrahim Dawood Nonoo. “By helping these singles find their spouses in the GCC,
they are more likely to get married here and establish their families here,
which in turn grows Jewish communal life and the need for more Jewish
institutions like schools, kosher food, etc.”
Bahrain
and Gulf neighbor United Arab Emirates normalized relations with Israel last
year in the Abraham Accords that built on shared business interests and worries
about Iran. Sudan and Morocco followed suit.
AGJC
Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie said many single Jewish people in the Gulf have already
registered interest in the site.
“The
buzz around JSG has reverberated around the world and in the weeks leading up
to the launch of the platform, we received interest from dozens of singles in
the region,” said he said.
“We
are starting with a website and hope to grow this into singles events and
programs very soon. It is so important for us to work with singles living in
our region to help them find relationships with other Jews.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://english.alarabiya.net/life-style/2021/10/31/First-ever-Jewish-dating-app-launches-in-Gulf
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US
urges diplomatic channels to remain open after Lebanon-Gulf crisis
30
October ,2021
The
US on Saturday urged all diplomatic channels remain open between Beirut and the
Gulf after several countries expelled Lebanese diplomats due to critical
comments about Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates by Lebanon’s
Information Minister George Kordahi.
“We
urge that all diplomatic channels remain open between the parties to ensure
meaningful dialogue on the pressing issues facing Lebanon,” a State Department
spokesperson told Al Arabiya English in the first public US response on the
matter.
The
State Department official noted that Washington’s charge d’affaires in Beirut
met with Lebanon’s foreign minister on Saturday to discuss the recent
developments. The number two US diplomat in Beirut also took part in a crisis
group meeting, which was made up of Lebanese officials.
On
Friday, Riyadh ordered the immediate halt to all Lebanese imports.
The
decision followed “the insulting statements” made during an interview given by
Lebanon’s Information Minister George Kordahi before he became a minister.
The
row over critical comments made by Lebanese Information Minister Kordahi about
the Arab Coalition military intervention in Yemen threw the government into a
new crisis amid calls for Kordahi’s resignation.
Bahrain,
Kuwait and the UAE followed suit by asking the top Lebanese diplomats in their
countries to leave.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Allies
in the air: Saudi jets escort US bomber
October
31, 2021
JEDDAH:
Saudi fighter jets escorted a US Air Force strategic bomber in a “show of
strength” over key waterways in the Middle East, US military chiefs said on
Sunday.
The
B-1B Lancer passed over the Arabian Gulf, the Bab Al-Mandeb strait, the Suez
Canal, the Gulf of Omanand the Strait of Hormuz. It was also accompanied by
military aircraft from Egypt, Bahrain and Israel.
“The
bomber task force mission ... was intended to deliver a clear message of
reassurance,” said Centcom commander Gen. Frank McKenzie, the head of US forces
in the Middle East. “Military readiness for any contingency or mission, from
crisis response to multilateral exercises to one-day presence patrols like
this, depends on reliable partnerships.”
The
B-1B is a supersonic bomber that can carry the heaviest conventional payload of
all the US military’s planes. A US B-52 bomber, also capable of carrying
nuclear weapons, flew over the Middle East in January.
Since
February, Iran and Israel have engaged in what analysts have called a “shadow
war,” in which vessels linked to each nation have come under attack in waters
around the Gulf in tit-for-tat exchanges.
Source:
Arab News
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1958786/saudi-arabia
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Mideast
Iran
Urges Full Elimination of N. Weapons in World
2021-October-31
Global
nuclear disarmament would be done if there was political will to do so, Takht
Ravanchi said on Sunday.
Iran’s
biennial draft resolution entitled 'Follow-up to nuclear disarmament obligations
agreed to at the 1995, 2000 and 2010 Review Conferences of the Parties to the
NPT' was approved in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on Thursday
October 28.
The
draft resolution would be introduced to the General Assembly next month to be
put on a final vote.
In
part of the resolution proposed by Iran the implementation of the decision of
the NPT Review Conference in 1995 to establish a nuclear-weapon-free Middle
East is emphasized.
The
decision calls on Israeli regime to join the NPT and accept the International
Atomic Energy Agency's monitoring of its nuclear facilities.
Elaborating
on the potential timing and mechanisms provisioned in the draft resolution,
Takht Ravanchi said that it was a subject that should be decided on in Review
Conferences of the NPT and among nuclear states themselves.
When
the NPT was implemented in 1970, he said, the nuclear weapons states party to
the treaty committed to eliminate their nuclear weapons, but they have refused
to accept any timing on political grounds.
Takht
Ravanchi noted that the quality and conditions for possible use of nuclear
weapons have changed in contrast to the commitments of nuclear weapons states,
although the number of such weapons has decreased.
Asked
about security assurances provisioned in Iran’s draft resolution, the diplomat
said that there were generally two types of assurances.
Positive
security assurance refers to a condition that a nuclear weapons state would
help a non-nuclear country when attacked by another nuclear weapons state,
Takht Ravanchi explained.
He
went on to add that negative security assurance, on the other hand, refers to
the condition that a nuclear weapons state wouldn’t attack a non-nuclear
country by nuclear weapons.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14000809000320/Iran-Urges-Fll-Eliminain-f-N-Weapns-in-Wrld
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Israel’s
army launches week-long simulation of full-scale war with Hezbollah
31
October ,2021
Israel’s
Defense Forces (IDF) and the defense ministry’s National Emergency Management
Authority launched on Sunday a week-long exercise simulating a full-scale war
with Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, Israeli media reported.
The
military drill will simulate a conflict in which Hezbollah may utilize “100,000
rockets and missiles of different ranges, as well as a smaller but still
significant quantity of precision-guided missiles, which have emerged as a
potentially major issue for Israel,” the Times of Israel reported.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Israeli
military officials assessed that Hezbollah’s military capabilities are the
“second most serious threat” facing Israel, after an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Israel
has long viewed the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon as an enemy. Lebanon and
Israel are still in a formal state of war and have long contested their land
and maritime borders. Israel has also carried out hundreds of air strikes in
neighboring Syria in recent years against suspected Iranian military
deployments or arms transfers to Hezbollah.
“What
concerns me as the chief of staff of the Home Front Command: One is the issue
of precision-guided munitions and the effect that they will have on our ability
to function and on things in the world of incoming fire alerts,” said Brig.
Gen. Itzik Bar, chief of staff of the IDF Home Front Command.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Israel
closes Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslims but allows settlers
31
October, 2021
The
Israeli army closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, a city south of the West
Bank, on Saturday to all Muslims, Andalou Agency reported.
The
mosque director, Sheikh Hafthi Abu Sneineh told the Turkish state-run news
agency that the Israeli army only allowed Jewish settlers to visit the site for
the Chayei Sarah occasion.
"The
mosque has been closed since 3 pm. on Friday and will remain closed until 10
pm. Saturday," said Abu Sneineh.
The
Israeli army closes off the Mosque for Muslims during Jewish holidays, which
also prevents them from accessing the courtyards.
In
September, the Ibrahimi Mosque was closed by Israeli authorities during the
Jewish New Year, where the decision was condemned by Palestinian officials, who
judged the move to be an attack on basic human rights.
"A
flagrant affront to the feelings of Arabs and Muslims, a grave breach of the
freedom of worship and a blatant violation of international human rights
charters and conventions," Ahmad Tamimi, head of the Executive Committee
of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's human rights department said.
Source:
The New Arab
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/israel-closes-ibrahimi-mosque-muslims-allows-settlers
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Iran:
Removal of Sanctions Prerequisite to Negotiations
2021-October-31
"Returning
to the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
(JCPOA), needs serious determination among US officials and President Joe Biden
can issue an executive order to return to the point that his predecessor Donald
Trump withdrew from the international agreement," Amir Abdollahian said.
He,
meantime, reiterated that the diplomatic apparatus of the Islamic Republic will
not tie the fate of the country and the Iranian people to the 2015 nuclear deal
or any foreign state, because common interests are considered as criteria of
interactions.
In
2018, the US left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a historic
nuclear accord that had been clinched between the Islamic Republic and world
powers three years earlier.
Upon
leaving the deal, the US also reimposed the inhumane sanctions that the
agreement had lifted.
Washington’s
allies in the accord—the UK, France, and Germany—have bowed under the US
pressure, toeing the sanction line closely.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14000809000597/Iran-Remval-f-Sancins-Prereisie-Negiains
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Iranian
Civil Defence Chief Blames US, Israel for Recent Cyber attack on Fuel Delivery
System
2021-October-31
"From
our point of view, this attack has definitely been carried out by the Americans
and the Zionists," General Jalali said on Saturday.
The
attack targeted "the middleware" in the fuel delivery systems, he
said, describing the type of attack as very complicated and difficult to fend
off.
"If
the attack had taken place in the hardware layer, there would have been a need
for infiltration", meaning either the company that has manufactured the
software would have been responsible or a disrupting piece of equipment would
have to be installed to make the attack possible, the official noted.
The
brief outage was caused last Tuesday by a cyberattack.
Three
hours following the attack, 30 percent of the gas stationed resumed their
offline services, while 12 hours after the attack, 60 percent returned to the
normal status, General Jalali said.
"Continued
operation of the [country's] infrastructures is the Passive Defense
Organization's redline because it affects the people's lives," he noted,
adding, "Serious infrastructural cyber warfare has started. We should take
it seriously and rectify our areas of weakness."
Last
year, as many as 1,400 drills were held to reinforce the country's cyber
defense prowess, he noted, adding that so far this year 66 such maneuvers have
gone underway.
Iranian
Oil Ministry authorities said on Saturday that a system used to supply rationed
fuel to motorists in the country has been restored at more than half of gas
stations days after the system came under a cyberattack.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Iran
Commutes Death Sentences of 100 Convicts to Long-Term Imprisonment
2021-October-31
These
individuals were mainly sentenced to death for drug offenses, Attorney General
of the Supreme Court and Director-General of Clemency and Pardon Department of
the Judiciary Hossein Najafi said.
He
added that after being considered as eligible for clemency, these 100 convicts
were subject to a degree of commutation under Article 19 of the Islamic Penal
Code and they were sentenced to 30 years in prison and a fine of 2bln rials.
Najafi
said that convicts were among those who were pardoned or their prison terms
were commuted by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali
Khamenei earlier this month.
Ayatollah
Khamenei agreed with granting clemency to 3,458 convicts of different Iranian
courts.
He
issued the approval on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet
Mohammad (PBUH) and Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS) the sixth Imam of Shiites.
The
pardon was made at the request of the country's Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein
Mohseni Ejeyee.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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US
flies B-1B bomber over Middle East amid Iran tensions
31 October
,2021
The
US Air Force said it flew the B-1B Lancer bomber over key waterways in the
Middle East, escorted by fighter jets from American allies in the region amid
heightened tensions with Iran.
The
B-1B, a supersonic bomber capable of carrying the heaviest conventional payload
of any US military plane, flew over the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s
busiest shipping routes, Bab al-Mandeb strait, one of the world’s most
important tanker routes, Red Sea, Suez Canal, one of the world's busiest
waterways, the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil-shipping
channel, and the Gulf of Oman.
Those
key maritime chokepoints in the Middle East have witnessed a slew of attacks on
shipping blamed on Iran in recent years, as well as assaults which are part of
a shadow war between Iran and Israel. Tehran has denied involvement in those
attacks but vowed to take revenge on Tel Aviv for a series of attacks that
targeted its nuclear program.
US
Central Command said the bomber’s mission was intended to deliver a clear
message of reassurance.
“We
are stronger together,” said General Frank McKenzie, commander of US Central
Command. “Military readiness for any contingency or mission – from crisis
response to multilateral exercises to one-day presence patrols like this –
depend on reliable partnerships.”
Fighter
jets from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Israel escorted the B-1B Lancer over
their respective airspaces.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Coalition
says 218 Houthis killed in airstrikes around Marib city
November
01, 2021
ADEN:
The Arab military coalition in Yemen said on Sunday that more than 218 Houthis
were killed in airstrikes around Marib city, the internationally recognized
government’s last northern bastion.
“Twenty-four
military vehicles were destroyed” and more than 218 Houthis were killed in
strikes in the past 72 hours in two districts, according to the coalition.
In
recent weeks, fighting has intensified around the city of Marib in the province
of the same name.
The
coalition has said it has killed some 2,000 Houthis around the city in almost
daily strikes since Oct. 11.
The
latest bombing was carried out in Al-Jawba, about 50 km south of Marib, and
Al-Kassara, 30 km to the northwest.
The
Houthis began a major push to seize Marib in February and, after a lull,
renewed their offensive since September.
The
airstrikes took place as at least 12 civilians, including children, were killed
in a car bomb blast near the airport of Aden on Saturday.
“Twelve
civilians were killed in an explosion” in the vicinity of Aden airport and
“there are also serious injuries,” said an official.
Another
security official confirmed the toll.
A
spokesman from the Southern Transitional Council — part of Yemen’s government —
said the blast was caused by a car bomb explosion.
“A
car bomb was detonated, killing a number of our peaceful citizens, including
children, and wounding a number of other civilians,” STC spokesman Ali
Al-Kathiri said in a statement.
The
explosion comes almost three weeks after six people were killed in a car-bomb
attack that targeted Aden’s governor, who survived.
AFP
footage on Saturday showed people pulling out a body from a vehicle that had
been completely destroyed, as firefighters put out flames nearby.
No
one has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday’s blast, which is the deadliest
in the area since December last year, when an attack targeting Cabinet members
ripped through Aden’s airport.
At
least 26 people, including three members of the International Committee of the
Red Cross, were killed and scores were wounded when explosions rocked the
airport at the time, as ministers disembarked from an aircraft.
All
Cabinet members were reported to be unharmed, in what some ministers charged
was a Houthi attack.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1958871/middle-east
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Africa
Molassan
Still Parading Self As Mufti Of Yorubaland Despite Court Injunction – League Of
Imams
October
31, 2021
By
Sikiru Obarayese
The
League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland has scolded one Daood Molassan for
parading himself as the Mufty of Yorubaland after a court order that stalled
his installation on Saturday.
Recall
that Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Aburasheed Akanbi announced intention to install
Molassan as the Musfy of Yorubaland, a move which has been causing rumble among
Muslims leaders in Southwest Nigeria.
The
President of the umbrella body for all Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Sheik
Jamiu Kewulere had visited Governor Gboyega Oyetola last week on the issue and
also warned Oluwo to stop the installation of the title.
On
Friday, the clerics also sought court injunction from Osun State High Court of
Justice, restraining Oluwo from appointing or installing the aforementioned
person or any other person as Grand Mufty of Yorubaland.
In
a statement on Saturday, the president of the umbrella body for all Imams and
Alfas in Yorubaland, Sheik Kewulere alleged that the Molassan went ahead and
paraded himself in a manner that “effectively rendered nugatory the said court
order on 30th October, 2021 around 10 am or thereabout in Iwo, Osun State.
“This
is very unfortunate and a solid confirmation of the palpable fear of the League
of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba Land that such a sacred office is best reserved
for people of high integrity and scholarship.
Meanwhile,
the League has urged all its teeming members, stakeholders and peace-loving
people of the region to remain calm and promised that the law would take its
course in due time.
Source:
Daily Post
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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UN
representative to Sudan discusses options for mediation with ousted PM Hamdok
31
October ,2021
The
UN Special Representative to Sudan, Volker Perthes, discussed the options for
mediation and the way forward for Sudan with ousted Prime Minister Abdalla
Hamdok on Sunday.
Perthes
said in a tweet that Hamdok was “at his residence where he remains well but
under house arrest.”
The
UN secretary general urged Sudan’s generals on Sunday to reverse their takeover
of the country, a day after tens of thousands of people took to the streets in
the largest pro-democracy protest since last week’s coup.
Antonio
Guterres said the generals should “take heed” of Saturday’s protests. “Time to
go back to the legitimate constitutional arrangements,” he said in a tweet.
He
was referring to a power-sharing deal that established joint military-civilian
rule following the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist
government in April 2019.
The
UN envoy for Sudan, Volker Perthes, said meanwhile that he met Sunday with
Abdalla
Hamdok,
the deposed prime minister who remained under house arrest in the capital
Khartoum.
“We
discussed options for mediation and the way forward for Sudan. I will continue
these efforts with other Sudanese stakeholders,” he said.
Guterres
expressed concern about violence against protesters on Saturday, calling for
perpetrators to be held accountable.
At
least three people were shot dead when security forces opened fire on
protesters in Omdurman, a city adjacent to the capital of Khartoum. A doctors’
union also said more than 110 people were injured by live rounds, tear gas and
beatings in Omdurman and elsewhere in the country.
With
Saturday’s deaths, the overall number of people killed since Monday’s coup rose
to 12, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Committee and activists. More than 280
others were injured over the past week.
The
coup came after weeks of growing tensions between the military and civilians,
and the generals had repeatedly called for dissolving the transitional
government.
Gen.
Abdel-Fattah Buhran, who led the coup, has claimed that the takeover was
necessary to prevent a civil war, citing what he said were growing divisions
among political groups.
However,
the takeover came less than a month before he was to have handed some power to
a civilian.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Europe
2nd
round of interfaith dialogue between Iran-Serbian Orthodox Church in 2022
November
1, 2021
During
the meeting between the Iranian Ambassador and Cultural Attaché in Serbia and
Archbishop of Serbia Archbishop Porphyry said that relations with Iran is of
fundamental importance to the Serbian Orthodox Church because Iran has a unique
position in building and creating human civilization due to its ancient
history.
According
to the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Culture and Relation
Organization, the meeting was attended by Mohammad Taghi Bakhtiari, head of the
Iranian Cultural Mission in Belgrade and Saeed Khalilovich, director of the Qom
Research Institute, as well as three deputies and assistants to the archbishop.
Rashid
Hassanpour, Iranian ambassador to Belgrade in his opening comments said the
government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to promote all out
cooperation with the Republic of Serbia, and in this regard, the role of
cultural cooperation between the two countries is very effective, decisive and
prominent.
Religions
play a key role in establishing peace and understanding in the world, and the escalation
of violence and numerous military conflicts in the world today reflects the
fact that the only way to save human society is to return to
spirituality," he said. The second round of Islam and Christianity dialog
with the Serbian Orthodox Church will be held in Tehran next year.
Following
the meeting, Iran"s Cultural Attaché , Mohammad Taghi Bakhtiari, while
introducing the "International Center for Inter-religion and
inter-cultural Organization of ICRO as the only entity of our country
responsible for holding interfaith dialogue meetings, explained more details of
the proposal to the participants in the meeting and said following the first
round of talks with the Orthodox Church at the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade
in 2016, we welcome the second round of talks in Tehran.
"
The proposed topic for the second round of talks is "Religions and
Community Health in the Post-Corona World".
Source:
ABNA24
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Turkish
president meets European leaders on sidelines of G20 summit
Zafer
Fatih Beyaz and Baris Seckin
31.10.2021
ROME
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday met with leaders of France, Germany,
and the European Council on the sidelines of the G20 Rome summit.
Erdogan
and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held a 50-minute closed-door meeting
at the La Nuvola Convention Center, which hosts the 2021 summit in Italy, the
first in-person summit since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Separately,
the Turkish president hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel for 30
minutes behind closed doors.
The
meeting was also attended by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu,
Treasury and Finance Minister Lutfi Elvan, Communications Director Fahrettin
Altun, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, and Justice and Development (AK) Party
spokesman Omer Celik.
Meanwhile,
Olaf Scholz, the likely successor of Merkel, also joined her in the meeting
with Erdogan.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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