Germany Trains Its Own Imams to Cut Risk Of Extremism; New Imam Has Started To Preach In German
New
Age Islam News Bureau
04
January 2021
Forty-three-year-old imam Murat Gül is president
of the Islamic Federation of Berlin and teaches Islam at the local Rosa Parks
primary school.
-----
•
Bill Introduced In US House to Terminate Designation of Pakistan as Major
Non-NATO Ally
•
Asaduddin Owaisi Visits at Furfura Sharif, A Place of Religious Significance
for Bengali Muslims, Says Will Fight Bengal Polls
•
Terrorists Abduct, Execute Eleven Coal Miners from Shia Hazara Community in
Balochistan; Terror Outfits ISIS and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Claimed Responsibility
•
Iran Executes Three Jaish al-Adl Men for ‘Terrorist’ Acts and Murder
•
At Least 70 Civilians Killed In Suspected Militant Attacks in Niger: Report
•
Security Forces Discover Taliban Safe House, Seize IEDs
•
Indonesian Minister Pledges to Safeguard Religious Minorities
•
Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi Rolls Out Saliva COVID-19 Testing For Children in More
Schools
Europe
•
Germany Trains Its Own Imams to Cut Risk Of Extremism; New Imam Has Started To
Preach In German
•
EU announces additional aid but urges Bosnia to rebuild migrant camp
•
France says two French soldiers killed in Mali in a second attack in less than
a week
•
Report: German govt. approved $1.4bn arms sales to countries involved in Yemen,
Libya wars in 2020
--------
North
America
•
Bill Introduced In US House to Terminate Designation of Pakistan as Major
Non-NATO Ally
•
US aircraft carrier to stay in Arabian Gulf due to Iran threats: Pentagon
•
US-Iran tensions building up to some sort of crescendo: Expert
--------
India
•
Asaduddin Owaisi Visits at Furfura Sharif, A Place of Religious Significance for
Bengali Muslims, Says Will Fight Bengal Polls
•
Anti-Conversion Law: Cops Say Allegations against Three Muslim Youths False,
Probe On
•
After 'love jihad' ordinance, Madhya Pradesh to introduce law against stone
pelters
•
As security forces tighten noose, Pak-based terror groups resort to cyber
recruitment in J&K: Officials
•
Malegaon blast case: Pragya Thakur appears before special NIA court
•
In 3-month trip to India, Christchurch attacker visited Goa, Mumbai and Jaipur
--------
Pakistan
•
Terrorists Abduct, Execute Eleven Coal Miners from Shia Hazara Community in
Balochistan; Terror Outfits ISIS and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Claimed Responsibility
•
Bilawal Bhutto says national dialogue possible only after resignation of
'illegitimate' PM
•
Pakistan exposed India thru’ dossier, says Qureshi
•
TLP warns of protest if French envoy not expelled
•
Outlawed TTP continued to regroup in ex-Fata in 2020: report
--------
Mideast
•
Iran Executes Three Jaish al-Adl Men for ‘Terrorist’ Acts and Murder
•
International Union of Muslim Scholars Urge Economic Boycott of Israel over Its
Occupation of Arab Territories
•
IRGC: Iran will not distinguish between US bases, Arab host countries in case
of war
•
Israel seizes more land in West Bank, razes Palestinian house
•
EU urges probe into Israeli army fire that left Palestinian man quadriplegic
•
Security Official: Iran Untouched by US Hype over Return to N. Deal, Lifting
Sanctions Should Happen in Action
--------
Africa
•
At Least 70 Civilians Killed In Suspected Militant Attacks in Niger: Report
•
Al-Qaeda-linked group says it was behind killing of three French soldiers in
Mali
•
Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan resume negotiations over disputed Blue Nile dam
•
Algeria army says 2 extremists, 1 soldier dead in second clash within 24 hours
--------
South
Asia
•
Security Forces Discover Taliban Safe House, Seize IEDs
•
38 Taliban Insurgents Killed In Kandahar: MoD
•
Magnetic IED Claims 5, Injures Provincial Ulema Head in Kapisa
•
Afghan gov’t, Taliban to resume talks as clashes undermine efforts to end war
•
Bangladesh says photographer’s arrest not related to controversial transfer of
Rohingyas
•
Taliban Accuses America of Violating Doha Agreement, US Army Responded
--------
Southeast
Asia
•
Indonesian Minister Pledges to Safeguard Religious Minorities
•
10 Chinese Spies Caught In Kabul Get A Quiet Pardon, Fly Home In Chartered
Aircraft
•
Agong: Malaysia to intensify Covid-19 vaccine development with UAE
•
Say you are Malaysian first to restore racial ties, Kit Siang tells PM
•
Jakim welcomes proposal for QR code to detect non-halal meat
•
Go ahead, fire me, I only want the best for Umno, says Annuar
•
Vaccine hesitancy rises in Indonesia amid COVID-19 pandemic
--------
Arab
World
•
Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi Rolls Out Saliva COVID-19 Testing For Children in More Schools
•
Iraq wants US, Iran to respect its sovereignty a year after Soleimani’s killing
•
Lebanese decry Hezbollah’s erection of Soleimani posters, monuments in Beirut
suburbs
•
Syria blasts US for sanctions, following UN expert's remarks
•
Daesh attack in Syria kills several soldiers, civilians
•
Iraqi lawmaker says expulsion of US forces from Arab country ‘national
decision’
•
Syria: UN expert’s remarks necessitate removal of cruel US sanctions
•
Blackwater guard pardoned by Trump says ‘acted correctly’ in Baghdad shooting
•
Israel’s Netanyahu hints at trip to Saudi Arabia in party meeting
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/germany-trains-its-own-imams/d/123974
--------
Germany
Trains Its Own Imams To Cut Risk Of Extremism; New Imam Has Started To Preach
In German
Justin
Huggler
January
04 2021
Forty-three-year-old imam Murat Gül is president
of the Islamic Federation of Berlin and teaches Islam at the local Rosa Parks
primary school.
-----
At
Friday prayers, the area around Berlin’s Sehitlik mosque can seem like a
forgotten corner of Istanbul.
It’s
not just the traditional Ottoman mosque, complete with dome, twin minarets and
pierced screens, or the fact that many of the older faithful greet each other
in Turkish.
Even
the sermon, as it crackles over the loudspeakers, is in Turkish. But in recent
months, the new imam has also started to preach in German.
It
is the first time the Sehitlik, one of Berlin’s biggest mosques, has had an
imam who speaks German. But he still comes from Turkey. He had to be recruited
from another country because there is no way to train as an imam in Germany.
Things
are about to change. Next April, Osnabruck University is set to open Germany’s
first imam training course – a move Prof Rauf Ceylan, a leading Islamic scholar
and one of the founders of the project, says is a vital step in combating
extremism.
“Ninety
percent of imams still come from abroad. They don’t speak German and the German
culture is alien to them. Young Muslims want German-speaking imams,” says Prof
Ceylan.
“The
old type of imam was geared to the needs of first-generation Muslims,
immigrants who came to Germany in the Sixties. Most third-generation Muslims no
longer speak their grandparents’ mother tongue that well. The danger is that
they turn to other German-speaking authorities such as Salafists [extremist
preachers].
“These
Salafists are usually German-speaking and understand how to cast Islam into a
popular form. They speak the language of the young , while the imams from
abroad are unable to understand the young people’s world.”
When
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, called for a European
institute to train imams as a way of fighting extremism in November, he was
widely ridiculed. But the idea has been gaining currency in European countries.
In
Germany, the move to train imams has been led by the Muslim community rather
than the government, although the state has agreed to provide funding.
The
largest single employer of imams in Germany is Ditib, a Turkish government
agency that trains them, pays their salary and decides when they leave Germany.
In recent years, German politicians and commentators have begun to raise
concerns at the influence this gives Turkey over Germany’s Muslim community.
The
new course will not be confined to offering traditional imam training in
German. While the students will be taught how to conduct prayers, funerals and
the like, they will also attend classes on social plurality and be taught about
extremism so they can protect young Muslims from it. The course will be open to
both men and women. (© Daily Telegraph, London)
https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/germany-trains-its-own-imams-to-cut-risk-of-extremism-39927995.html
--------
Bill
Introduced In US House To Terminate Designation Of Pakistan As Major Non-NATO Ally
Jan
4, 2021
The bill also asks the president to certify that
Pakistan has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior
leaders and mid-level operatives.(Bloomberg)
------
WASHINGTON:
On the first day of the 117th Congress, a lawmaker has introduced a bill in the
US House of Representatives to terminate the designation of Pakistan as a Major
non-NATO Ally.
Introduced
by Republican Congressman Andy Biggs, the bill removes Pakistan's designation
as a major non-NATO ally, a status that allows for various benefits such as
access to excess US defense supplies and participation in cooperative defense
research and development projects.
The
bill also notes that the US President cannot issue a separate designation of
Pakistan as a Major NATO ally, unless a presidential certification that
Pakistan continues to conduct military operations that are contributing to
significantly disrupting the safe haven and freedom of movement of the Haqqani
Network in Pakistan.
It
also seeks a presidential certification that Pakistan has taken steps to
demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any
Pakistani territory as a safe haven and that the Pak government actively
coordinates with Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, such as the
Haqqani Network, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
The
bill also asks the president to certify that Pakistan has shown progress in
arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level
operatives.
Pakistan
was named a Major non-NATO ally during the Bush Administration in 2004.
Currently, there are 17 Major non-NATO ally. Brazil was the last country to
given this designation by President Donald Trump in 2019.
The
designation gives the countries to entry into cooperative research and
development projects with the Department of Defense (DoD) on a shared-cost
basis, participation in certain counter-terrorism initiatives, purchase of
depleted uranium anti-tank rounds, priority delivery of military surplus
(ranging from rations to ships).
It
also gives them access to War Reserve Stocks of DoD-owned equipment that are kept
outside of American military bases, offers them loans of equipment and material
for cooperative research and development projects and evaluations and
permission to use American financing for the purchase or lease of certain
defense equipment.
The
designation among other things expedites export processing of space technology
and permission for the country's corporations to bid on certain DoD contracts
for the repair and maintenance of military equipment outside the United States.
However,
President Trump in January 2018 suspended all financial and security assistance
to Pakistan. The outgoing Trump Administration even considered terminating the
designation of Pakistan as a Major non-NATO ally.
Under
the Obama Administration, US designated India as a Major Defense Partner.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/bill-introduced-in-us-house-to-terminate-designation-of-pakistan-as-major-non-nato-ally/articleshow/80089824.cms
--------
Asaduddin
Owaisi Visits at Furfura Sharif, A Place Of Religious Significance For Bengali
Muslims, Says Will Fight Bengal Polls
By
Saurabh Gupta
January
04, 2021
Kolkata:
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi's hush-hush visit to Bengal's Hooghly district has
triggered more speculation over his political plans for a state due to hold
Assembly elections in April-May.
During
his visit Mr Owaisi met Abbas Siddiqui at Furfura Sharif, a place of religious
significance for Bengali Muslims, and asked him to be the face of his party's
campaign in the state. Mr Siddiqui, who has been openly critical of Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee, had earlier claimed the ruling Trinamool exploited
the Muslim population for votes.
Abbas
Siddiqui is the nephew of the main preacher at Furfura Sharif - Toha Siddiqui,
who has been supported by the Trinamool and whom Mr Owaisi did not meet. The
younger Siddiqui, who is in his late 30s, has reportedly been identified by the
AIMIM chief as someone who can help the party win votes in Hooghly and other
districts, like Malda, Murshidabad and Dinajpur.
Toha
Siddiqui has made it clear Muslims in Bengal will vote against "communal
forces"; the Trinamool, which views Abbas Siddiqui as being in cahoots
with the BJP, claims Mr Owaisi has been paid by the opposition party to divide
minority votes.
A
few days ago Ms Banerjee said: "... to divide the minority vote, they (the
BJP) have brought in a party from Hyderabad. They (this party) takes money from
the BJP. Their strategy is they will take a hardline stance to get Muslim votes
so that Hindus vote for BJP."
In
an interview to NDTV Mr Owaisi hit back, saying: "My request to the media
is - why don't you ask about the Hindu vote... the upper caste Brahmin vote...
the backward class vote? Why is the media fixated on the Muslim vote? Who was
responsible when the BJP had 18 parliamentary seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha
election? These are tough questions which the media must ask."
"As
far as this question is concerned, we have proven that wherever MIM has
contested it has benefited only MIM. My effort is to make my party and my
candidates win," he said.
"If
Mamata Banerjee makes such wild allegations it does not befit her office but it
shows her clear frustration that she is losing ground," Mr Owaisi added.
He
also told NDTV that his party would contest the Assembly election and would
back Abbas Siddiqui in all matters. "We will go along with him... we will
contest the elections. What number, in which places we will decide in the
coming months," he said.
The
Trinamool is confident that Asaduddin Owaisi will not cut into its votes. The
party is also confident that Ms Banerjee has the support of Hindu and Muslim
voters alike.
The
BJP meanwhile, which has rolled out some of its biggest guns - Home Minister
Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda - to back its campaign, has scoffed at Mr
Owaisi's visit and called it an attempt to regain ground after a few of his
leaders crossed over to the Trinamool.
Off
the record BJP leaders also say they expect Mr Owaisi's presence in Bengal to
hurt Mamata Banerjee more, given she counts on Muslim votes.
Thirty
per cent of Bengal voters are Muslim and analysts say they vote for Ms Banerjee
en masse, making her almost invincible. To counter this, the BJP has accused
her of "Muslim appeasement". Mr Owaisi's presence - an alternative
for that Muslim vote - could be a red flag for the Trinamool.
Mr
Owaisi has also ruled out an alliance with any of the other political
formations but there is chatter about him joining hands with one of the
anti-BJP blocs.
Reacting
to criticism his play in Bengal might help the BJP, he declared: "I am the
'Laila' of Indian politics and have a lot of 'Majnus'... but it doesn't make
any difference to me."
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bengal-assembly-elections-asaduddin-owaisi-meets-popular-muslim-cleric-says-will-fight-polls-2347212
--------
Terrorists
Abduct, Execute Eleven Coal Miners from Shia Hazara Community in Balochistan;
Terror Outfits ISIS and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Claimed Responsibility
January
4, 2021
In
the latest attack on minority communities in Pakistan, 11 coal miners were
abducted and shot dead by terrorists in Balochistan province on Sunday.
Pakistani officials believe that the miners, all of whom hailed from the Shia
Hazara community, were targeted because of their faith.
The
coal miners were abducted by armed terrorists in Balochistan's Machh area while
on their way to work. Soon after, they were shot dead from close range. While
six of the miners died on the spot, the other five succumbed on their way to a
nearby hospital.
The
victims were paraded before they were executed, news agency PTI quoted an
official of the Balochistan Levies as saying.
Condemning
the killings, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he has directed the
country's Frontier Corps (FC) to apprehend the killers. "The families of
the victims will not be left abandoned by the govt," he said in a tweet.
This
is not the first time members of the Shia Hazara community have been targeted
by Sunni militants in Quetta or other parts of Balochistan. In 2019, a suicide
bomb attack in a marketplace in a Hazara housing society killed at least 21
people. Terror outfits ISIS and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi later claimed responsibility
for the attack.
Responding
to questions, Quetta Deputy Commissioner Murad Kaas said on Sunday that no
outfit has claimed responsibility for the execution of the 11 coal miners from
the Shia Hazara community as of yet. "Those who targeted these innocent
coal miners do not deserve any concessions," Balochistan Chief Minister
Jam Kamal Khan said.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/terrorists-abduct-execute-11-coal-miners-from-shia-hazara-community-in-balochistan-1755546-2021-01-04
--------
Iran
Executes Three Jaish al-Adl Men for ‘Terrorist’ Acts and Murder
03
January 2021
Iran
hanged two men on Sunday for “terrorist acts” and another for murder and armed
robbery, the judiciary's official Mizan Online news agency said.
The
three were executed early Sunday morning in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan
province.
Two
were named as Hassan Dehvari and Elias Qalandarzehi, arrested in April 2014
after being found with “a large amount of explosives” and weapons.
The
pair were convicted of the abduction, bombing, murder of security forces and
civilians, and of working with the extremist Jaish al-Adl (“Army of Justice”)
group, Mizan said.
Dehvari
and Qalandarzehi were also arrested in possession of documents from Jaish
al-Adl on “how to make bombs” as well as “takfiri fatwas” terms used by Iran's
Shiite authorities to refer to decrees issued by Sunni extremists.
Jaish
al-Adl has carried out several high-profile bombings and abductions in Iran in
recent years.
In
February last year, 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed in a
suicide attack claimed by the group.
Jaish
al-Adl was formed in 2012 as a successor to Sunni extremist group Jundallah
(“Soldiers of God”), which waged a deadly insurgency for a decade before it was
severely weakened by the capture and execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi in
2010.
The
third man executed was named as Omid Mahmoudzehi. He was convicted of armed robbery
and the murder of civilians, Mizan said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2021/01/03/Iran-executes-three-men-for-terrorist-acts-and-murder
--------
At
Least 70 Civilians Killed In Suspected Militant Attacks in Niger: Report
03
January 2021
At
least 70 civilians were killed in simultaneous attacks on two villages by
suspected Islamist militants in Niger, near the border zone with Mali, security
sources said on Saturday.
About
49 villagers were killed and 17 people wounded in the village of Tchombangou,
said one of the security sources, who requested anonymity.
A
second source, a senior official in Niger's interior ministry who also spoke on
condition of anonymity, said that around 30 other villagers had been killed in
the village of Zaroumdareye.
Niger's
government was not immediately available to comment.
The
West African nation has previously suffered attacks by Islamist militants
linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Attacks near the western border with Mali and
Burkina Faso, and the southeastern border with Nigeria, killed hundreds of
people last year.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/africa/2021/01/03/At-least-70-civilians-killed-in-suspected-militant-attacks-in-Niger-Report
--------
Security
Forces Discover Taliban Safe House, Seize IEDs
By
Mohammad Haroon Alim
04
Jan 2021
First
Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Monday, at the 6:30 am meeting, that
Kabul police had found a safe house in PD8 of Kabul city.
The
safe house reportedly belonged to the Taliban militants, in which the group
have stored different types of IEDs and Magnetic Bombs.
Saleh
added, that Kabul police detained four individuals in relation to this case,
and have seized explosive devices and mines.
“A
terrorist attack in which a magnetic IED targeted an ANA vehicle this morning
occurred in the same area, the incident left no severe casualties”, First Vice
President indicated.
Suicide
attacks and magnetic mine explosions have increased in Kabul and other
provinces over the past two months.
Earlier,
this morning a police officer was wounded, following a magnetic IED explosion
PD8 of Kabul’s Kart-e-Naw, market area.
The
IED Targeted an Afghan National Army Vehicle in the area.
https://www.khaama.com/security-forces-discover-taliban-safe-house-seize-ieds-223355/
--------
Indonesian
Minister Pledges to Safeguard Religious Minorities
By
Sebastian Strangio
January
04, 2021
Last
week, Indonesia’s newly appointed religious affairs minister promised to uphold
the rights of the religious minority groups like the Shia and Ahmadiyah and to
work to prevent their persecution.
“I
don’t want members of Shia and Ahmadiyah displaced from their homes because of
their beliefs. They are citizens [whose rights] must be protected,” Yaqut
Cholil Qoumas reportedly said on December 28.
Yaqut,
who heads GP Anshor, the youth wing of Indonesia’s largest Islamic
organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, was appointed in a reshuffle late last month
that saw a raft of changes to the cabinet of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
His
remarks came in response to Azyumardi Azra, a professor from the Jakarta State
Islamic University and a noted Muslim scholar, who called on the government to
safeguard the full diversity of Islamic belief.
In
recent years, minority Islamic sects like Shia and Ahmadiyah have been subject
to increasing pressure from hardline Sunni Islamic demagogues who view their
beliefs as “heretical.” According to the Jakarta-based Setara Institute for
Democracy and Peace, which monitors religious freedom in Indonesia, there were
a total of 546 violent incidents against Ahmadi Muslims between 2007 and 2017.
The
minister’s comments came a day after Indonesia’s chief security minister Mahfud
MD announced that the government had banned the Islamic Defenders Front (Front
Pembela Islam, FPI), an influential fundamentalist pressure group that has done
much to contribute to the atmosphere of hostility toward religious minority
groups.
“The
government has banned FPI activities and will stop any activities carried out
by FPI,” Mahfud said. “The FPI no longer has legal standing as an
organization.”
Founded
in 1998, FPI has evolved into a potent force in Indonesian street politics. It
was particularly prominent in the campaign to bring down Jakarta’s Chinese
Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (also know as Ahok), who was
railroaded by Islamist protesters and jailed on a bogus blasphemy charge in
2017.
The
group was thrust back into the headlines in November, when its leader Habib
Rizieq Shihab returned from exile in Saudi Arabia to a hero’s welcome, after
leaving the country in 2017 amid allegations of involvement in a pornography
case.
After
leading a number of large comeback rallies in which he promised to lead a
“moral revolution,” the wispy-bearded cleric was arrested last month and
charged with violating COVID-19 protocols and remains in custody. Meanwhile,
last month Rizieq’s supporters clashed with police during a protest in Jakarta
demanding his release. This came after six of his bodyguards were shot dead by
police on a highway outside the Indonesian capital.
Edward
Omar Sharif Hiariej, Indonesia’s deputy justice minister, said that the FPI was
outlawed because nearly 30 of its leaders, members, and former members have so
far been convicted on terrorism charges. He also said that the group’s aims
conflicted with the nation’s state ideology, Pancasila, and its nation motto
Bhinekka Tunggal Ika – “unity in diversity.”
The
banning of FPI represents a welcome stiffening of the Indonesian government’s
stance against religious intolerance and demagoguery, after a decade in which
these forces have gained an alarming amount of ground.
However,
it might be harder than it sounds. FPI is politically influential, and its
banning is likely to inflame conservative Sunni sentiment against Jokowi’s
government. The government also needs to address the deeper social and economic
factors that have underpinned the rise of Islamist politics in Indonesia over
the past decade.
Chief
among these are the economic grievances that have delegitimized traditional
politicians and driven many people to embrace hardline, Saudi-inflected
readings of Islam. As I have argued previously, the campaign against Ahok drew
a considerable portion of its support from Jakarta residents that had been
displaced by slum clearance projects and real estate developments approved by
Ahok’s government.
Similarly,
Islamist pressure groups including FPI have come out strongly against the
Jokowi government’s recent Omnibus Bill on job creation, which is feared will
undermine job security in the drive to attract foreign investment. While formal
Islamist political forces remain fragmented at the national political level,
increasing levels of Islamic observance makes the religious card an
increasingly tempting play for politicians on the up.
All
this suggests that the fight to realize Indonesia’s national motto Bhinekka
Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) will be a long one.
https://thediplomat.com/2021/01/indonesian-minister-pledges-to-safeguard-religious-minorities/
--------
Coronavirus:
Abu Dhabi Rolls Out Saliva COVID-19 Testing For Children in More Schools
Tala
Michel Issa
04
January 2021
The
Government of Abu Dhabi has rolled out saliva COVID-19 testing for children,
with plans to introduce it in a second phase to schools across the emirate of
Abu Dhabi, the official WAM news agency reported on Monday.
The
UAE’s Department of Health and Abu Dhabi’s Public Health Center’s worked
together to find a more child-friendly solution for COVID-19 testing.
Visit
our dedicated coronavirus site here for all the latest updates.
The
saliva Polymerase-Chain-Reaction (SPCR) test is a reliable test that is
accurate and able to produce results very quickly, ranging from six to twelve
hours from the time of sample collection.
The
collaboration between the Department of Education and Knowledge, Biogenix Labs
and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, ensured that phase one of the saliva
tests were completed in October 2020.
The
first phase of the SPCR tests was conducted in a number of schools across the
UAE's capital for students between the ages of four and twelve. A total of 447
saliva samples were collected during this phase and the results of the
collection were verified for accuracy, according WAM.
In
December 2020, phase two was launched across 25 schools. As of yet, over 2,000
students have been examined.
Authorities
plan to continue the collection of samples from students in private and charter
schools as per the epidemiological needs of the investigation, based on the
health authority and the Department of Education and Knowledge’s recommendations.
“In
line with the continued efforts of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and the
Department of Health to research and apply the latest scientific developments
with regard to COVID-19 examinations and responding to the pandemic, and in the
interest of providing easy, comfortable and reliable services, we have been
using a new method for collecting testing samples since the beginning of
October, which is done through saliva collection instead of a nasal swab,” Dr.
Omniyat al-Hajiri, Director of the Community Health Department, Abu Dhabi
Public Health Center, was quoted as saying.
Al-Hajiri
added that her experience has shown that saliva collection was a much easier
and more comfortable method of testing for this age group, compared to the
nasal swab.
Biogenix
Labs is well-prepared for the second phase of testing operations, with the
capacity to test and process 30,000 SPCR tests per day.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2021/01/04/Coronavirus-Saliva-COVID-19-testing-rolled-out-in-more-Abu-Dhabi-schools-
--------
Europe
EU
announces additional aid but urges Bosnia to rebuild migrant camp
03
January 2021
The
European Union announced additional funding Sunday to help vulnerable migrants
in Bosnia, but urged the government there to rebuild a camp that burned down.
Brussels
has denounced condition for migrants in Bosnia, a candidate for EU membership,
as “completely unacceptable,” and warned that lives are at risk.
Fire
engulfed the Lipa migrant center in northwestern Bosnia on December 23. There
were no casualties from the blaze but much of the infrastructure was destroyed.
The
incident deepened a crisis over where to house thousands of migrants, as
Bosnian authorities have failed to find new accommodation for the newly
homeless.
In
a statement, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Brussel was ready to
add another 3.5 million euros to its humanitarian support for Bosnia.
But
he warned that 900 people were still exposed on the grounds of the destroyed
camp, and that 800 more were without shelter in the region.
“The
situation in Una Sana canton is unacceptable. Winter-proof accommodations are a
pre-requisite for humane living conditions, which need to be ensured at all
times,” he said.
“Local
authorities need to make existing facilities available and provide a temporary
solution until Lipa camp is rebuilt into a permanent facility.”
Police
believe the blaze was started by migrants to protest the withdrawal of the UN’s
International Organization for Migration (IOM), which had been running the
camp.
The
IOM had left, complaining that the accommodation – opened in April but without
power or running water – was not fit to house people during the winter.
Bosnia
lies on the so-called Balkans route used by migrants heading towards Western Europe
as they flee war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and in Africa.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2021/01/03/EU-announces-additional-aid-but-urges-Bosnia-to-rebuild-migrant-camp
--------
France
says two French soldiers killed in Mali in a second attack in less than a week
03
January 2021
Two
French soldiers died in an operation in Mali on Saturday and a third was
injured when an improvised explosive device hit their armoured vehicle, the
French presidency said.
The
soldiers were on a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering mission in the
eastern region of Menaka when the blast occurred late Saturday morning, the
joint chiefs of staff said in a statement.
The
injured soldier's life was not in danger, the presidency said.
Less
than a week ago three French soldiers were killed in Mali also by an improvised
explosive device during a mission in the southern region of Hombori.
Al-Qaeda's
North Africa wing has said it was responsible for that attack, monitoring
organisation SITE Intel reported on Saturday.
The
soldiers in both cases were part of France’s Barkhane military operations in
Mali against Islamist fighters.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2021/01/03/France-says-two-French-soldiers-killed-in-Mali-in-a-second-attack-in-less-than-a-week
--------
Report:
German govt. approved $1.4bn arms sales to countries involved in Yemen, Libya
wars in 2020
03
January 202
The
German government approved export of weapons and military equipment worth
around $1.4 billion in 2020 to countries involved in the deadly conflicts in
war-torn Yemen and Libya, a report says.
In
a report on Sunday, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa), citing Germany’s Economics
Ministry, said that the German government approved exports of arms worth 752
million euros ($913 million) to Egypt alone as of December 17.
Egypt
is part of a military coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, which waged an ongoing
brutal war against impoverished Yemen since March 2015 in declared objectives,
not fulfilled yet, of bringing a former Riyadh-backed regime back to power and
crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement.
The
imposed war has claimed the lives of some 233,000 people so far, according to a
recent report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA). The appalling figure includes 131,000 from indirect causes, such as
lack of food, health services, and infrastructure.
The
military intervention has also razed to the ground much of Yemen’s
infrastructure.
The
Egyptian government also supports Libya’s rebel commander Khalifa Haftar, who
has launched a persisting military campaign to unseat the
internationally-recognized government in the capital Tripoli.
Haftar’s
so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), composed of various militia factions, has
killed thousands of people so far in the oil-rich North African country, which
has two rival seats of power since 2014, namely the UN-recognized government in
Tripoli, and another camp based in the eastern city of Tobruk, backed by the
LNA.
According
to the dpa’s report, the German government has also granted permission to
supply arms licenses to Qatar for 305.1 million euros, the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) for 51.3 million euros, Kuwait for 23.4 million euros, and Turkey for
22.9 million euros.
Berlin
also approved arms exports worth about 1.7 million euros to Jordan and Bahrain
worth around 1.5 million euros, it added.
All
of the said countries have played a role in either one or both of the
years-long conflicts in Yemen and Libya. The UAE and Jordan support Haftar in
Libya. Abu Dhabi is also a significant part of the Saudi war on Yemen.
Turkey
and Qatar support the Tripoli-based government in Libya, while Bahrain, Kuwait,
and Jordan are fighting for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
According
to figures provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
(SIPRI), Germany is among the top five arms exporters of the world, along with
the US, Russia, France, and China.
The
institute says these countries accounted for 76 percent of all arms exports in
2015-19.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642195/Germany-arms-sale-Egypt-Yemen-Libya-Turkey-UAE-Jordan-Saudi-Arabia
--------
North
America
US
aircraft carrier to stay in Arabian Gulf due to Iran threats: Pentagon
04
January 2021
The
US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will remain in the Gulf due to “recent threats”
by Iran, the Pentagon said Sunday, following reports the ship was returning
home in what some read as a sign of de-escalation.
The
Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November, but American media
said this week that the acting US defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, had
ordered the vessel to return home.
The
New York Times, quoting US officials, said this move was part of a
“de-escalatory” signal to Tehran to avoid a conflict in President Donald Trump's
last days in office.
However,
Miller issued a statement to the contrary late Sunday.
“Due
to the recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and
other US government officials, I have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its
routine redeployment,” he said.
“The
USS Nimitz will now remain on station in the US Central Command area of
operations. No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”
His
statement came one year after a US drone strike in Baghdad killed Iran's revered
commander Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandes.
Thousands
of Iraqi mourners chanted “revenge” and “no to America” on Sunday.
The
anniversary of the Baghdad drone strike was also marked in recent days across
Iran and by supporters in Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere.
Trump
unilaterally withdrew the US from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran and world
powers in 2018 and launched a “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran,
reimposing and reinforcing crippling sanctions.
The
two countries have twice come to the brink of war since June 2019, especially
following the killing of Soleimani.
Days
after the Soleimani assassination, Iran launched a volley of missiles at Iraqi
bases housing US and other coalition troops, with Trump refraining from any
further military response.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2021/01/04/US-aircraft-carrier-to-stay-in-Arabian-Gulf-as-de-escalation-sign-to-Iran-Pentagon
--------
US-Iran
tensions building up to some sort of crescendo: Expert
02
January 2021
A
former American Senate foreign policy analyst says that US-Iran tensions are
“building up to some sort of crescendo,” but he hopes that the Trump
administration will not make any stupid move.
James
Jatras, a former Senate foreign policy adviser in Washington, made the remarks
in an interview with Press TV on Saturday while commenting on the Pentagon’s
deployment of a pair of B-52 bombers to the Persian Gulf, just weeks before US
President Donald Trump is due to leave office.
The
nuclear-capable bombers flew nonstop from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota
and headed home after a show of force over the western side of the Persian Gulf
on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
Announcing
the deployment, the head of US Central Command said Wednesday that it was to
show that “we are ready and able to respond to any aggression directed at
Americans or our interests.”
“It
looks now almost certain that Donald Trump will have to leave office in about
three weeks. And there is a real concern in a number of quarters that there may
be some kind of push for him to do something militarily against Iran before he
leaves office,” Jatras told Press TV.
“It
is hard to see what possible benefit that can be to him, much less to the
United States when we look for example these demonstrative flights of B-52s
towards Iran, the threats against Iran that ‘any action against American forces
in Iraq, we will hold Iran responsible for those and then we will see an attack
on American forces there,’” he added.
“Now
this is extremely worrisome that this is building up to some sort of crescendo.
I hope that is not the case, and this is not designed for some petty political
move against the incoming Biden administration, which frankly I don’t expect
much good from either,” he stated.
“I
really don’t know if the US is going to attack Iran in the coming days or not.
I hope not but it certainly cannot be excluded. My thought is probably not. I
cannot believe that even these people are reckless and stupid but one really
does not know what this crowd wants,” the analyst concluded.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/02/642100/US-Iran-tensions-building-up-to-some-sort-of-crescendo
--------
India
Anti-Conversion
Law: Cops Say Allegations against Three Muslim Youths False, Probe On
By
Manish Sahu
January
4, 2021
Two
days after three Muslim youths, including a 24-year-old taxi driver Abrar Khan,
were booked for molestation and under new anti-conversion law on a complaint
filed by a 24-year-old Hindu woman, Bareilly police on Sunday said that in the
preliminary inquiry they found the allegations levelled by the woman to be
false.
The
24-year-old woman, who is now married to a Hindu man, filed a complaint on
January 1 alleging that on December 1, before she got married, Abrar had
stopped her at a crossing in Fareedpur area while she was returning home on her
scooty and molested her while trying to pull her down from two-wheeler. She had
also alleged that Abrar was forcing her to marry him after converting her to
Islam, and when the residents of the area intervened, he escaped with the help
of two others. Police had filed the FIR against Abrar, his brother Maisur and
friend Israr.
The
woman, who also accused Abrar of stalking her, had said that she took a month’s
time to report the incident to the police as Abrar had threatened her.
The
woman, who has lost her parents, stays with her maternal uncle, and Abrar lives
in the same neighbourhood.
However,
during inquiry, the police found that on December 1, the three – Abrar, Maisur
and Israr – were not in Fareedpur area.
“During
our investigation, we found that the accused were not present at the spot on
that day when the alleged the incident took place. As per the evidence
collected by the police, the allegations levelled against the three men by the
woman were wrong. However, police are looking into other allegations against
Abrar and two others including that of stalking,” Senior Superintendent of
Police (Bareilly) Rohit Singh Sajwan said.
Police
also found that the woman had gone “missing” last September and an FIR was
filed against Abrar by her maternal uncle, who had accused him of kidnapping
her. Abrar was then booked under IPC section 366 (kidnapping, abducting or
inducing woman to compel her marriage etc ).
“However,
two weeks later, the woman returned home and told police that she had gone to
Delhi on her own. The woman had stayed with Abrar in Delhi for around 15 days
and then returned. After the woman gave her statement to the police, no action
was taken against Abrar,” the SSP added.
Police
also found that on December 11, the maternal uncle of the woman got her
married.
“It
has been found that Abrar had gone to the woman’s in-laws’ place,” the SSP
added.
No
one has been arrested in the case so far.
“Investigation
in the case is still on,” Station House Officer (Fareedpur) Surendra Singh
Pachauri said, adding the FIR against the three was filed under IPC section 354
(assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506
(criminal intimidation) and Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of
Religion Ordinance, 2020.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/anti-conversion-law-cops-say-allegations-against-3-muslim-youths-false-probe-on-7131602/
--------
After
'love jihad' ordinance, Madhya Pradesh to introduce law against stone pelters
Ravish
Pal Singh
January
3, 2021
After
ordinance against 'love jihad', the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led Madhya Pradesh
government is now planning to introduce a law against stone pelters.
Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday gave a hint about the same while
speaking to media in Bhopal.
CM
Chouhan said that people who throw stones are "enemies of society".
"Stone
pelting is not an ordinary crime. It can also kill people, it creates an
atmosphere of fear and terror, causing panic and chaos. Such criminals are not
ordinary criminals, they will not be left out. Until now, we were taking minor
action but now we are making a law for severe punishment to stone
pelters," Chouhan said.
He
further said that not only stones, many times the public property, as well as
private properties, are damaged and even set on fire.
"Setting
shops on fire and damaging properties is an unforgivable crime. Democracy
allows protests in peaceful manner but setting private or public properties on
fire and sabotaging it is not allowed. Therefore, our government has decided
not only to take strict action against those who damage public and private
property, but also to recover the losses by attaching properties of accused,"
the chief minister said.
The
statement of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has come at a time when there
have been incidents of stone-pelting in three different cities back to back in
Madhya Pradesh.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/madhya-pradesh-law-against-stone-pelters-1755532-2021-01-03
--------
As
security forces tighten noose, Pak-based terror groups resort to cyber
recruitment in J&K: Officials
Jan
3, 2021
SRINAGAR:
Pakistan's intelligence agency and terror groups are now carrying out recruitment
in Jammu and Kashmir using applications in cyber and mobile space as direct
physical interactions have become difficult due to the security forces'
hawk-eyed vigil, officials said on Sunday.
Fake
videos of alleged atrocities committed by the security forces and building a
false narrative are now often used by the ISI handlers from Pakistan to whip up
emotions among the new recruits, they said, citing intelligence reports and
technical surveillance.
Earlier,
terrorist sympathisers used to establish physical contact with the prospective
recruits to bring them into a terror group's rank and files. However, after
security agencies cracked down on such sympathisers, they changed their modus
operandi.
In
2020, over two dozen terror modules were busted by security agencies leading to
the arrest of over 40 such sympathisers.
Two
surrendered terrorists, Tawar Waghey and Amir Ahmed Mir, who laid down their
arms before 34 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army late last month, had given an
insight into their joining of terror modules that showed that cyber recruitment
was being carried out on a large scale.
Both
the terrorists had come in contact with a Pakistan-based handler via Facebook
who indoctrinated them before handing them over to a recruiter code-named
Khalid and Mohammed Abbas Sheikh.
The
two terrorists were provided training online using various links available on
public platforms like YouTube and both of them had met their local contact only
once in Shopian in south Kashmir, the officials said.
This,
according to the officials, is done to avoid exposure of sleeper cells created
by Pakistan's ISI within the valley. Security agencies have busted several
modules following intelligence inputs provided by local residents.
The
two terrorists, after being recruited into The Resistance Front (TRF), which is
believed to be a shadow outfit of banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, were
receiving orders as well as religious teachings from Pakistan-based Burhan
Hamza.
The
officials said there were around 40 such cases where the recruitment was done
and indoctrination carried out through social media, especially in south
Kashmir. The new recruits were awaiting orders from across the border.
Terror
groups are definitely facing a shortage of arms and that is one of the reasons
why Pakistan-based terror outfits are more focused on sending more arms and
less manpower, the officials said.
They
gave an example of last month's encounter on the outskirts of Jammu city where
a valley-bound group of four terrorists was carrying 11 assault rifles and a
huge quantity of ammunition.
The
death of a 22-year-old local terrorist Amir Siraj in north Kashmir late last
month was yet another case of cyber recruitment, the officials said.
A
final year graduation student from Khawaja Gilgat in Sopore, Siraj was staying
with his maternal uncle in Adipora in north Kashmir and would spend most of his
afternoons playing football in the local ground.
He
went missing on the afternoon of June 24, 2020. Later, it was found that he had
been recruited by terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed from across the border via
social media, the officials said.
The
local terrorist had expressed his desire to surrender but was threatened by his
accomplice that he and his family would be killed if he were to act on it, they
said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/as-security-forces-tighten-noose-pak-based-terror-groups-resort-to-cyber-recruitment-in-jk-officials/articleshow/80084443.cms
--------
Malegaon
blast case: Pragya Thakur appears before special NIA court
Edited
by Prashasti Singh
Jan
04, 2021
Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Pragya Singh Thakur, one of the seven accused in
the 2008 Malegaon blast case, on Monday appeared before the special court of
the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Mumbai.
Thakur’s
lawyer, advocate JP Mishra, had confirmed that she will be appearing in the NIA
court on Monday. Mishra had said on December 19 last year that probe agency was
delaying the trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and not them.
The
special court had asked all the accused to remain present before it on that
day. However, only Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni,
Ajay Rahikar and Sudhakar Dwiwedi appeared before the court. The remaining
accused — Pragya Singh Thakur, Ramesh Upadhayay, Sudhakar Diwedi and Sudhakar
Chaturvedi — could not appear before the court.
Six
people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a
motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town in north Maharashtra, on
September 29, 2008. The court had framed terror charges against Purohit, Thakur
and five other accused in October 2018. They have been charged under Sections
16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of
the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
They
have also been charged under sections 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302
(murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153 (a)
(promoting enmity between two religious groups), of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
and relevant provisions of the Explosive Substances Act.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pragya-thakur-appears-before-special-nia-court-in-connection-with-malegaon-blast-case/story-VqsXzWLmLO8DbBCs7h98EO.html
--------
In
3-month trip to India, Christchurch attacker visited Goa, Mumbai and Jaipur
by
Deeptiman Tiwary
January
4, 2021
Brenton
Tarrant, the lone gunman who killed 51 people, including five Indians, in two
mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15, 2019, had stayed in Goa,
Mumbai and Jaipur, among the seven-eight places he visited in India, in
2015-16.
Following
inputs from their counterparts in New Zealand, Indian intelligence agencies
launched an investigation into Tarrant’s three-month visit to India. They found
that Tarrant, an Australian, travelled extensively in India between November
21, 2015, and February 18, 2016.
Sources
said Tarrant largely travelled and stayed in southern states, spending
considerable time in Goa. He spent a few days in Mumbai too; the only north
Indian state he visited was Rajasthan.
“We
have verified the information provided by New Zealand authorities about his
travel details. As yet, we have not found anything that suggests that any of
his activities here, or connections made thereof, had any link with the attack.
There is nothing to suggest that his travels in India could have prompted him
to carry out that ghastly attack,” said a senior intelligence official.
“He
stayed in cheap accommodations, largely popular with backpackers, and visited
spots popular with tourists from the West. His itinerary shows that he largely
stayed in South India, barring one visit to Jaipur. He stayed for quite a few
days in Goa, largely putting up in accommodations near the beaches,” the
official added.
Sources
said his interactions were limited to fellow travellers and local people
involved in the business of travel, hotels or adventure activities. “All this
points to the fact that his interests in India were limited to travel. The
probe by New Zealand authorities has found that Tarrant travelled extensively
across the world before carrying out the attack. He had even visited Muslim
countries like the UAE and Pakistan. In any case, in his own admission, he has
said that he was inspired to carry out the attack after visiting Europe in
2017,” said another official.
Between
April 15, 2014, and August 17, 2017, Tarrant travelled extensively — always
alone, except for his visit to North Korea as part of a tour group. The
countries that he visited for periods of about a month or more included China,
Japan, Russia and South Korea among others.
Before
the attack in March 2019, Tarrant had put up online posts that contained
anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim and Right Wing extremist views. He had mounted a
camera on his head, and live-streamed the attack. He received a life sentence
in August 2020.
According
to agency reports, in December 2020, the Royal Commission of Inquiry in New
Zealand released a 792-page report on the attack that claimed Tarrant, 30,
worked as a personal trainer at a local gym until 2012 when he suffered an
injury.
“He
never again worked in paid employment. Instead, he lived off the money that he
had received from his father and income from investments made with it. With the
money from his father, the individual travelled extensively. First, in 2013, he
explored New Zealand and Australia and then between 2014 and 2017 he travelled
extensively around the world,” PTI quoted the report as having said.
According
to the probe, Tarrant moved to New Zealand in 2017
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/christchurch-attacker-visited-india-new-zealand-mosques-gunman-7131639/
--------
Pakistan
Bilawal
Bhutto says national dialogue possible only after resignation of 'illegitimate'
PM
Jan
4, 2021
THATTA:
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday asserted
that the option of dialogue at the national level will only be possible after
the incumbent premier Imran Khan steps down from his post.
"Once
the incumbent anti-people and illegitimate puppet prime minister steps down, this
will pave the way for such a dialogue," he told a press conference,
reported Dawn.
Bhutto-Zardari
was on a visit to Thatta to offer his condolences to the family of the late
Aijaz Ali Shah Sheerazi, a former adviser to the Sindh chief minister.
He
said the only platform for a national dialogue would be the parliament, but
before any such dialogue, the Prime Minister has to resign so that a political
solution on issues faced by the people can be chalked out.
Lambasting
the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for its poor performance, the PPP
chairman said every segment of society, including farmers, labourers and small
traders were fed up of it.
"People
are unable to send their children to schools and buy them essentially required
commodities, medicines etc due to inflation and unemployment," he said.
Bhutto-Zardari
further argued that Imran Khan could not even provide relief to workers by
increasing their salaries nor could it raise the pension of retired people,
while tariffs on electricity and gas continued to build up. He also said the
premier has pushed Pakistan's economy in shambles with its growth rate fallen
below those of Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
He
also accused the government of pleasing 'mafias' by extending bailout packages
worth billions of rupees to them.
Furthermore,
Bilawal strongly condemned the killing of over 10 coal miners in Balochistan
and asked the government to ensure the safety and security of the workers,
while demanding the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), reported
Dawn.
"Ever
since the current government has come to power, we have been witnessing escape
of terrorists from the custody of law enforcement agencies," he claimed.
He
also slammed Imran Khan and Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed for not fulfilling
their responsibilities and victimising the opposition and threatening the
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders instead.
He
also reaffirmed PPP's key role in the struggle against the federal government's
move to occupy provinces' islands.
Bilawal's
statement comes after the PDM held a political rally against the government in
Bahawalpur.
The
11-party opposition alliance has demanded the resignation of Imran Khan till
January 31.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/bilawal-bhutto-says-national-dialogue-possible-only-after-resignation-of-illegitimate-pm/articleshow/80093371.cms
--------
Pakistan
exposed India thru’ dossier, says Qureshi
04
Jan 2021
MULTAN:
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
government has laid the foundation stone of South Punjab province by
establishing a secretariat and in future no one would be able to stepback from
it.
Addressing
a ceremony after laying down the foundation stone of the construction of a
bridge over the metro route at Madni Chowk, the foreign minister said
appointments for the [south Punjab] secretariat had been made and rules of
business amended.
“This
[all] has happened because of the leadership of Imran Khan and Multan would
have its own secretariat. One day the dream of a separate province will come
true,” he said.
Qureshi
said Islamabad had exposed New Delhi across the globe through a dossier on how
India wanted to destabilise Pakistan.
“India
wants to destabilise Pakistan and create unrest. EU DisinfoLab exposed [New
Delhi] by disclosing that India was propagating against Pakistan through 750
fake websites and hundreds of NGOs.
The
government wants to stabilise the country economically. Two years back, the
powerlooms machinery was being sold as scrap but today not only all powerlooms
are functional but there are such a large number of orders that new orders for
purchase of machinery have been placed and Faisalabad is short of labour,” he
said.
Terming
the attack on coal miners in Balochistan an act to destabilise the country, the
foreign minister said the elements who want stability in Pakistan are the
friends of Pakistan while the forces that want to destabilise the country are
its enemies.
“We
not only have to identify and expose them but also defeat them,” he said.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1599494/pakistan-exposed-india-thru-dossier-says-qureshi
--------
TLP
warns of protest if French envoy not expelled
04
Jan 2021
LAHORE:
The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) has threatened to relaunch its protest if
the government does not fulfill its promise of expelling the French ambassador
by Feb 17 on the issue of blasphemy of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
“We’re
bound to honour the agreement till Feb 17. A war for (protecting) the honour of
the Prophet (SAW) has been waged. If someone has some misunderstanding, it must
be removed as we pledge that there shall be no delay in taking a decision after
February 17,” the newly-appointed leader of the TLP, Maulana Saad Rizvi, said
at the chehlum of his father and founder of the outfit, Allama Khadim Hussain
Rizvi.
Khadim
Rizvi died on Nov 19, 2020, two days after the TLP signed an agreement with the
government for ending its protest in Islamabad on the publications of
caricatures of the Prophet of Islam (SAW) in France.
The
agreement read the government would get a decision made by the Parliament
regarding expulsion of the French ambassador within three months and it would
not appoint its ambassador to France and release all the arrested workers of
the TLP. The government will not register any case against the TLP leaders or
workers even after it calls off the sit-in.
The
last two demands were met immediately but a decision on the first two is still
pending.
“If
you have forgotten the promise, see our history. Now we’re even more ready to
die (for the honour of the Prophet (SAW)). You’ve got time until Feb 17 to
expel the French ambassador,” Saad warned the government while addressing
thousands of the TLP workers attending the chehlum.
He
said he had become a leader from among the party workers and thus fully
understood the aspirations of the workers and added that earlier the workers
would come for financial donations for the cause but they were now coming to
offer their lives.
He
said the TLP was bound to honour the commitment made with the government for
waiting for three months to let the rulers enact laws through the Parliament on
severing diplomatic ties with France but it would not keep quiet after the
deadline.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1599497/tlp-warns-of-protest-if-french-envoy-not-expelled
--------
Outlawed
TTP continued to regroup in ex-Fata in 2020: report
Kalbe
Ali
04
Jan 2021
ISLAMABAD:
A security report for 2020 released by Pakistan institute for Peace Studies
(PIPS) has said while the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and
affiliates continued to regroup in erstwhile Fata, Sindhi and Baloch insurgent
groups also intensified attacks.
The
report launched here on Sunday stated that though terrorism was no longer an
epidemic in Pakistan, the country faced a more severe challenge of religious
extremism.
“There
is also little evidence to suggest that National Action Plan has been
successful in countering these and the related challenges,” the report added.
The
TTP and its affiliates remained the major actors of instability in Pakistan in
the year 2020 which perpetrated a combined total of 67 terrorist attacks or
about 46 per cent of the total reported attacks in 2020, mainly in erstwhile
Fata.
Terrorism
no longer an epidemic but Pakistan still facing challenge of religious extremism
“The
TTP also successfully brought its few breakaway factions and some other
militant groups and commanders into its fold. Another religiously-inspired
militant group, the Islamic State, perpetrated two major attacks in 2020 in
Quetta and Peshawar.”
While
six Baloch insurgent groups were found active in Balochistan, the Balochistan
Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) were the two major
groups which carried out 24 attacks out of the total 34 perpetrated by the
Baloch insurgents.
Meanwhile,
Sindhi nationalist groups perpetrated 10 terrorist attacks in Sindh, including
eight by Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army.
The
report added that different militant, nationalist, insurgent and violent
sectarian groups perpetrated 146 attacks across Pakistan, including three
suicide blasts, which is a decline of over 36pc from the previous year.
However,
these attacks claimed 220 lives but it was a decline of 38pc from those killed
in such attacks in 2019.
At
the same time, the alarming part was that out of the total 146 attacks 95 were
perpetrated by religiously-inspired militant groups, another 44 by Baloch and
Sindhi insurgents, and seven attacks were sectarian-related.
Amir
Rana, the director for PIPS, said despite the statistical decline in the incidents
of terrorism, the severe challenge of religious extremism continued to manifest
in 2020.
The
report referred to the enormous gathering at Allama Khadim Rizvi’s funeral in
Lahore, growing individual and mob attacks on minority communities and their worship
places, persisting narratives of hatred and hate speech, offline and online and
continuing activities of banned religious organisations were witnessed during
the year.
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa witnessed the highest number of terrorist attacks for any one
region of Pakistan, where 79 recorded terrorist attacks with 31 in North
Waziristan alone claimed 100 lives and inflicted injuries on another 206
people.
In
Balochistan, 95 people were killed and 216 others were injured in 42 reported
attacks. Different Baloch insurgent groups perpetrated 32 attacks and
religiously inspired militant groups such as the TTP, Hizbul Ahrar and
ISIS-affiliates were reportedly involved in 10 attacks in Balochistan.
As
many as 18 terrorist attacks happened in Sindh province - 15 in Karachi and
three in interior Sindh - killing 20 people and injured 66 others.
Seven
terrorist attacks took place in Punjab that claimed five lives and injured 59
people.
Compared
to 28 in the year before, security forces and law enforcement agencies conducted
47 anti-militant operational strikes in 2020 in 22 districts and regions of
Pakistan.
These
actions killed 129 militants while 17 Pakistan Army soldiers were also
martyred.
Security
and law enforcement agencies also entered into 15 armed clashes and encounters
with militants that claimed 38 lives, including 29 militants, seven security
personnel and two civilians.
A
total of 125 attacks took place from across Pakistan’s borders with 11 attacks
Afghanistan and 114 from India. As many as 62 people lost their lives in these
attacks, a decrease of about 34pc from the year before. The 62 Pakistani
citizens killed in cross-border attacks included 42 civilians, 18 army
officials and two FC personnel.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1599504/outlawed-ttp-continued-to-regroup-in-ex-fata-in-2020-report
--------
Mideast
International
Union of Muslim Scholars Urge Economic Boycott of Israel over Its Occupation of
Arab Territories
04
January 2021
The
International Union of Muslim Scholars has called for a mass boycott of Israel
over its occupation of Arab territories, and attacks on Muslims in Palestine
and Syria’s Golan Heights.
"We
call for boycotting the Israeli regime, which is currently occupying the
Al-Aqsa Mosque, attacking our brothers and sisters in Golan Heights in Syria,
and in Palestine and destroying their lands and homes," it said in a
statement published on the body's official Facebook page on Sunday.
The
statement, signed by President Ahmed er-Raysuni and General Secretary Ali
al-Qaradaghi, stressed that resisting occupation by legitimate means and
ousting the occupiers is a moral obligation according to Islam, and is
recognized by international law as well as United Nations resolutions.
Noting
that occupation is a temporary situation, and hence does not allow the seizure
of private property, the organization said, "Those who purchase or market
the goods of occupiers are recognized as sinners who abetted in this
crime."
"We,
therefore, call upon all Muslims for a mass economic boycott of Israel until it
withdraws from the all occupied territories."
The
call comes as four new countries, namely the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco normalized ties with the Israeli regime in 2020,
joining Egypt and Jordan as the only other Arab nations to do so.
The
normalization deals have been condemned by all Palestinian factions as a
betrayal of their cause.
Meanwhile,
boycotting of Israeli products around the world has been growing rapidly in
recent years and caused heavy losses to Israeli companies.
Last
November, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the State Department’s
decision to list the humanitarian anti-Israeli regime movement Boycott,
Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) as an anti-Semitic organization.
The
BDS movement started over 15 years ago in protest against Israel’s occupation
of Palestinian lands. The movement has been campaigning for a boycott of all
Israeli goods, and academic and cultural activities.
Israel
and its allies in Washington have long rallied against the BDS, which was inspired
by the South African anti-apartheid movement. The Boycott, Divestment, and
Sanctions (BDS) movement seeks to raise awareness about the decades-long
Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/04/642217/Muslim-organization-boycott-Israel
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IRGC:
Iran will not distinguish between US bases, Arab host countries in case of war
Tuqa
Khalid
02
January 2021
Iran
will not differentiate between US military bases in the region and the Arab
countries hosting American troops if a war broke out, commander of the IRGC
aerospace divison said on Saturday.
“If
something happens here and a war breaks out, we will not distinguish between US
bases and the host countries. Naturally, the very same Arab countries in the
region will bear the brunt,” the semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted
General Amir Ali Hajizadeh as saying.
The
US has bases and personnel in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman,
and Iraq.
Hajizadeh’s
comments coincided with the first anniversary of top Iranian general Qassem
Soleimani's assassination in US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3.
Tensions
between Washington and Tehran, which have been increasing since 2018 when US
President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, reached historic
heights in January when the US killed Soleimani, the former commander of the
Quds Force, the overseas arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Hajizadeh
also said Iran has been supporting the missile capabilities of their allies in
Gaza and Lebanon.
Iran
has a long history of arming and financially supporting its network of proxies
– Shia militias across the Middle East – to further its influence in the
region. Most notably, Tehran backs Hezbollah, a Shia militia in Lebanon which
has a powerful grip on the Lebanese government.
Iran
also backs the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, and militias in Iraq, Syria
and Yemen.
“Instead
of giving a fish or teaching to catch a fish, we taught our allies and friends
how to make a hook,” Hajizadeh said, adding that Iran’s allies in the region
are now in possession of advanced missile technologies.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2021/01/02/IRGC-Iran-will-not-distinguish-between-US-bases-Arab-host-countries-in-case-of-war
--------
Israel
seizes more land in West Bank, razes Palestinian house
03
January 2021
Israeli
forces have seized vast swathes of land and demolished a Palestinian home in
the occupied West Bank, displacing its occupants.
The
Palestinian Information Center, citing local sources reported that the Israeli
troops bulldozed and demolished a house of a farmer in Biddya town, west of
Salfit in the occupied West Bank on Sunday morning.
Local
Palestinian officials said the demolitions led to displacement of several
Palestinians.
The
municipality’s order to raze the building was issued under the pretext of
lacking the necessary construction license, which is almost impossible for
Palestinians to obtain.
Israeli
authorities usually demolish Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank,
claiming that the structures have been built without permits.
They
also sometimes order the Palestinian owners to demolish their own homes or pay
the demolition costs to the municipality if they do not.
In
different areas of Bethlehem and other parts of the occupied territories, the
Israeli authorities also confiscated a vast tract of private Palestinian land
as the Tel Aviv regime presses ahead with expansionism land expropriation
policies in violation of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
Israeli
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he would start plans for
annexing more areas in the occupied West Bank, in accordance with US President
Donald Trump’s "deal of the century" scheme, further infuriating
Palestinians.
Trump
officially unveiled his scheme last January at the White House with Netanyahu
on his side, while Palestinian representatives were not invited.
The
proposal gives in to Israel’s demands while creating a Palestinian state with
limited control over its own security and borders, enshrining the occupied
Jerusalem al-Quds as “Israel’s undivided capital” and allowing the Tel Aviv
regime to annex settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
Trump's
highly provocative scheme, which further denies the right of return to
Palestinian refugees, is also in complete disregard of UN Security Council
resolutions and rejected by the vast majority of the international community.
Israel’s
unlawful annexation push has drawn widespread criticism from the entire
international community, including the regime’s closest allies.
More
than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli
occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem
al-Quds.
All
Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. The UN Security
Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied
territories in several resolutions.
Palestinians
want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642162/Israel-Palestine-West-Bank-Benjamin-Netanyahu-Jerusalem-al-Quds--
--------
EU
urges probe into Israeli army fire that left Palestinian man quadriplegic
03
January 2021
The
European Union has called for an investigation into the shooting of a
Palestinian man by Israeli military forces, which left him paralyzed from the
neck down after an altercation over a portable electric generator in the
occupied West Bank earlier in the week.
“The
EU opposes such excessive and disproportionate use of force and calls on the
Israeli authorities to swiftly and fully investigate this serious incident in
order to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the European Union Delegation to
the Palestinians wrote in a post published on its official Twitter page on
Saturday.
The
injuries he sustained left Haroun paralyzed from the neck down. The EU opposes
such excessive and disproportionate use of force and calls on the Israeli
authorities to swiftly and fully investigate this serious incident in order to
bring the perpetrators to justice.
—
EU and Palestinians (@EUpalestinians) January 2, 2021
The
Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that 24-year-old Haroun Rasmi
Abu Aram was shot through the neck in the village of Tuwanah, south of
al-Khalil, on Friday.
The
official Palestinian WAFA news agency reported that the young man had been
attempting to prevent Israeli troops from “stealing an electric generator” that
belonged to him.
Israeli
rights group B’Tselem said Abu Aram was helping a neighbor to build a house at
the time of the shooting.
Witnesses
confirmed the incident was triggered when Israeli forces tried to stop
Palestinians building a house in the village, and seized an electricity
generator belonging to Abu Aram.
Moreover,
the Joint List, which is a political alliance of the main Arab-majority
political parties in the Israeli Knesset (parliament), condemned the shooting,
and its leader MK Ayman Odeh said the incident was part of an attempt by the
Israeli army to rid Area C of the West Bank, which is under Israeli military’s
control, of Palestinians.
Abu
Aram “is another victim of the attempt to push the [Palestinian] villagers in
Area C into cities [in Area C], and to seize as much territory as possible
[there] with as few Palestinians as possible,” Odeh said.
“The
only solution is an independent Palestinian state alongside the State of
Israel,” he added.
Israel
occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip – besieged
since 2007 – during the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967.
Shortly
after capturing East Jerusalem al-Quds, the Tel Aviv regime expanded the
municipal boundaries of the city to take in large areas of land on which it
later constructed settlements.
At
the same time, it sharply limited the expansion of Palestinian neighborhoods,
forcing many in the increasingly crowded areas to build illegally.
More
than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967
Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East
Jerusalem al-Quds.
The
UN Security Council has condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the
occupied territories in several resolutions.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642156/EU-probe-Israeli-army-fire-Palestinian
--------
Security
Official: Iran Untouched by US Hype over Return to N. Deal, Lifting Sanctions
Should Happen in Action
2021-January-3
"The
complete and definitive lifting of all sanctions is Washington's sole option to
correct Trump's failed strategy of maximum pressure", Shamkhani wrote on
his Twitter account on Sunday.
He
added that the American endeavor to magnify a petty issue like returning to the
nuclear deal will lead nowhere.
America's
perceptual war to magnify a trivial issue such as its return to #JCPOA will not
be successful.
The
complete and definitive lifting of all sanctions is Washington's sole option to
correct Trump's failed strategy of maximum pressure.#ActiveResistance
—
علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) January 3, 2021
In
relevant remarks on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed
Khatibzadeh said the new US president could remove the sanctions on Iran by
signing three executive orders, yet what matters to Tehran is not his signature
on the paper, but his practical measures.
“This is the last chance for the
nuclear deal; Biden can call off all of Trump's executive orders on his first
day in office, but even that signature is not a criterion to us because the US
has shown that it is unreliable; we need to see the effect of that signature,”
Khatibzadeh said in an exclusive interview with FNA.
He
noted that Iran has heard contradictory messages from US President-elect Joe
Biden during his election campaign, and added, “What we are constantly hearing
today is the unconditional return to the nuclear deal. We believe that the US
should fully comply with its obligations under the resolution 2231. We also
stated that if the other party effectively - that is, we do not mean just
signing of a sheet - returns to the nuclear deal, we will revise all our
actions carried out within the nuclear deal framework. But this will only
happen the day when the effective implementation of the nuclear deal takes place.”
“These are quite clear. All US
undertakings are clear and in black and white, and the nuclear deal has not
postponed any paragraph to the future. If the nuclear deal has so many pages
and clauses, it is because there has been no trust between us. The nuclear deal
was written on the basis of absolute distrust. We have a lack of trust in the
US, and in recent months and years this lack of trust has increased and the
wall of distrust has risen, and the US should gain our trust, not on paper, but
in practice. Our situation is quite clear. Full implementation (of the nuclear
deal by Iran) for full implementation (by the other side),” Khatibzadeh said.
He
added that implementation of the nuclear deal by the other side will be proved
to Iran when the country will be able to sell its oil and get its money back,
easily export and import and start banking transactions.
The
senior diplomat also referred to the European states’ lagging in implementation
of their nuclear deal undertakings, and said, “Europe should fulfill its
undertakings effectively. Europe is a US partner in violating the
undertakings.”
He
described the nuclear deal as a signed and sealed agreement (which cannot be
renegotiated), and said Iran does not care about the time span between Biden’s
possible signature to return to the nuclear deal and implementation of the US
undertakings as Tehran's action comes just in return for US actions, and not
words.
“It does not matter if it lasts
20 days or 30 days. The day we see that the other side’s undertakings have been
fully fulfilled, we will implement our undertakings as well.”
Khatibzadeh
also referred to a recent bill approved by the Iranian parliament to take
strategic measures to remove sanctions, and said, “Of course, the parliament
approval is a new responsibility for everyone. The law passed by the parliament
is quite clear and we are required to implement it.”
Asked
about media claims in the past few weeks on exchange of messages between
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Biden, he said, “There was
absolutely no exchange of messages between Mr. Zarif and Biden.”
“The next few weeks are
critical, either the other side returns to the path of fulfilling its
undertakings or it really loses the chance of diplomacy that once happened with
the nuclear deal,” Khatibzadeh said.
Outgoing
US President Donald Trump, a stern critic of the historic deal, unilaterally
pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018, and unleashed the “toughest
ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism in
an attempt to strangle the Iranian oil trade, but to no avail since its
"so-called maximum pressure policy" has failed to push Tehran to the
negotiating table.
In
response to the US’ unilateral move, Tehran has so far rowed back on its
nuclear commitments four times in compliance with Articles 26 and 36 of the
JCPOA, but stressed that its retaliatory measures will be reversible as soon as
Europe finds practical ways to shield the mutual trade from the US sanctions.
Tehran
has particularly been disappointed with failure of the three European
signatories to the JCPOA -- Britain, France and Germany -- to protect its
business interests under the deal after the United States' withdrawal.
On
January 5, Iran took a final step in reducing its commitments, and said it
would no longer observe any operational limitations on its nuclear industry,
whether concerning the capacity and level of uranium enrichment, the volume of
stockpiled uranium or research and development.
Meantime,
Biden has recently said in a CNN article that he wants a renegotiation of the
contents of the deal before he agrees to rejoin the agreement.
“I will offer Tehran a credible
path back to diplomacy. If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear
deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for
follow-on negotiations. With our allies, we will work to strengthen and extend
the nuclear deal's provisions, while also addressing other issues of concern,”
he wrote, mentioning that he wants changes to the contents of the nuclear deal
and guarantees from Tehran that it would be open for compromise to strike
multiple deals over its missile and regional powers as well as a number of
other issues that have been the bones of contention between the two sides in
the last four decades.
In
response, Zarif had stressed that the US has violated the nuclear deal and is
in no position to ask for any conditions for its return to the JCPOA, adding
that it's Tehran that has its own terms to allow the US back into the internationally
endorsed agreement.
The
foreign minister has reiterated time and again that Tehran would not change
even a single word of the agreement, and cautioned the US that it needs to pay
reparations for the damage it has inflicted on Iran through its retreat from
the nuclear agreement and give enough insurances that it would not go for
initiating the trigger mechanism again before it could get back to the deal.
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13991014000866/Secriy-Official-Iran-Unched-by-US-Hype-ver-Rern-N-Deal-Lifing
--------
Africa
Al-Qaeda-linked
group says it was behind killing of three French soldiers in Mali
03
January 2021
Al-Qaeda’s
North Africa wing has said it was responsible for the killing of three French
soldiers in Mali, extremist monitoring organization SITE Intel reported on
Saturday.
The
soldiers, who were taking part in France’s Barkhane military operations in Mali
against extremist fighters, were killed on Monday when an improvised explosive
device hit their armored vehicle, the French Presidency said in a statement.
SITE
Intel said on Twitter that Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which
has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighboring Burkina
Faso, had said it was responsible for the attack.
France’s
military command was not immediately available for comment.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2021/01/03/Al-Qaeda-linked-group-says-it-was-behind-killing-of-three-French-soldiers-in-Mali
--------
Egypt,
Ethiopia, Sudan resume negotiations over disputed Blue Nile dam
03
January 2021
Egypt,
Ethiopia and Sudan resumed their years-long negotiations Sunday over the
controversial dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, officials said.
The
resumption came six weeks after Khartoum boycotted talks in November, urging
the African Union to play a greater role in reaching a deal over the disputed
Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam.
The
negotiations have centered on the filling and operation of the giant dam. Key
questions remain about how much water Ethiopia will release downstream if a
multi-year drought occurs and how the three countries will resolve any future
disputes. Ethiopia has rejected binding arbitration at the final stage of the
project.
The
foreign and irrigation ministers of the three Nile Valley countries met online
Sunday, said Ahmed Hafez, the spokesman of Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. Sudan also
confirmed the meeting.
Ethiopia’s
Water and Energy Minister Seleshi Bekele said earlier the meeting was called by
South Africa, the current head of the African Union, and that U.S. observers
and AU experts would attend.
In
November, Sudan did not attend a round of talks called by South Africa, arguing
that the current approach to reaching a tripartite agreement on the filling and
operation of Ethiopia’s dam had not yielded results.
Sudanese
Irrigation Minister Yasser Abbas said at the time that the AU should do more to
“facilitate the negotiation and bridge the gap between the three parties.”
Africa’s
largest hydroelectric dam has caused severe tensions between the three nations.
Egypt
has called it an existential threat and worries that it will reduce the
country’s share of Nile waters.
The
Arab’s world most populous country relies almost entirely on the Nile to supply
water for agriculture and its more than 100 million people. About 85 percent of
the river’s flow originates from Ethiopia.
Ethiopia
says the $4.6 billion dam will be an engine of development that will pull
millions of people out of poverty. Sudan, in the middle, worries about the
effects on its own dams, although it stands to benefit from access to cheap
electricity.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2021/01/03/Egypt-Ethiopia-Sudan-resume-negotiations-over-disputed-Blue-Nile-dam
--------
Algeria
army says 2 extremists, 1 soldier dead in second clash within 24 hours
03
January 2021
Another
soldier and two more extremists were killed Sunday afternoon during an
“anti-terror” operation in the Tipaza region of Western Algeria, the defense
ministry said.
The
second clash in the region within 24 hours takes the number of “terrorists”
killed there to six, along with three Algerian soldiers, according to the
ministry.
“During...
(a) combing operation, still underway... a detachment of the national army
killed... two more dangerous terrorists and recovered two Kalashnikov machine
guns and ammunition,” a statement by the ministry said.
It
named the latest dead Algerian soldier as Rachedi Mohamed Rabah.
Algerian
authorities use the term “terrorist” to describe armed extremists who have been
active in the country since the early 1990s.
Between
1992 and 2002, a civil war pitting the army against multiple extremist groups
killed an estimated 200,000 people.
Over
the course of last year, 21 militants were killed, nine were captured and seven
surrendered during Algerian army operations, the military said in a tally
published on Saturday.
State
media reported late last year that the army thwarted a plan by al-Qaeda in the
Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to redeploy.
AQIM’s
leader Abdelmalek Droukdel was killed in June by French forces in northern
Mali, but was replaced in November by Abu Obaida Yusuf al-Annabi, a well-known
AQIM veteran and Algerian national.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2021/01/03/Algeria-army-says-2-extremists-1-soldier-dead-in-second-clash-within-24-hours
--------
South
Asia
38
Taliban Insurgents Killed In Kandahar: MoD
By
Mohammad Haroon Alim
04
Jan 2021
At
least 38 Taliban insurgents were killed in Arghandab and Zherai districts of
southern Kandahar province on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said.
MoD
said in a released statement, that 38 Taliban insurgents were killed in
Arghandab and Zhari districts of Kandahar province,
According
to the statement these militants were attacked, while they were planning assaults
on the national defense and security forces.
During
the skirmish, 3 of the Taliban militant’s strongholds were wrecked, a “large
amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed.
Ministry
of defense confirms this operation on Twitter, saying “38 Taliban were killed
in Zheria and Arghandab district of Kandahar province, yesterday. They were
planning to attack ANDSF positions when they were targeted by ANA and AAF.
Additionally, 3 strongholds and a large amount of their weapons and ammunitions
were destroyed”.
https://www.khaama.com/many-taliban-killed-in-kandahar-mod-445566/
--------
Magnetic
IED Claims 5, Injures Provincial Ulema Head in Kapisa
By
Mohammad Haroon Alim
03
Jan 2021
In
an explosion in Kapisa, five people were killed and two were injured on Sunday
afternoon, local officials said.
According
to provincial police, the magnetic IED targeted Kapisa Ulema Council Head’s
vehicle.
Some
media outlets reported, that 9 people including provincial Ulema council head,
Mirwais Karimi were injured.
The
blast occurred in the Sayyad market in Kapisa province.
No
group or individual has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
https://www.khaama.com/magnetic-ied-claims-5-injures-provincial-ulema-head-in-kapisa-443322/
--------
Afghan
gov’t, Taliban to resume talks as clashes undermine efforts to end war
04
January 2021
Afghan
government representatives and Taliban officials are due to resume their
power-sharing talks, officials said on Monday, although battlefield clashes and
targeted killings risk undermining efforts to end the war.
The
talks began in Qatar in September months after the Taliban reached an agreement
with the United States allowing it to pull its troops out of Afghanistan and
end its longest war in exchange for Taliban security guarantees.
The
two Afghan sides got bogged down on procedures for weeks but in December they
reached an agreement on the process, clearing the way for them to get down to
the issues when they resume their negotiations on Tuesday.
“Talks
are a complicated process but the Afghan government and the negotiating team,
with regard to the interest of the people of Afghanistan, are determined to
take the process forwards,” said Najia Anwari, a spokeswoman for the Ministry
for Peace Affairs.
But
Afghan government officials have in recent weeks accused the Taliban of a
string of high-profile murders, including of bureaucrats and journalists, and
bomb attacks.
The
Taliban have rejected some of the accusations but at the same time, the
insurgents have made gains against government forces in fighting in various
parts of the country.
US
and European officials said they have urged both sides to reduce hostilities
and move quickly towards a negotiated settlement.
The
United States has been scaling back its presence in Afghanistan nearly 20 years
after it intervened with its allies to overthrow the Taliban in the weeks after
the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on US cities.
Afghan
security officials expect the size of the US force to dwindle to about 2,500
troops early this year.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2021/01/04/Afghan-gov-t-Taliban-to-resume-talks-as-clashes-undermine-efforts-to-end-war
--------
Bangladesh
says photographer’s arrest not related to controversial transfer of Rohingyas
January
04, 2021
DHAKA:
Bangladeshi authorities on Sunday denied accusations that a Rohingya
photographer in judicial custody was arrested for documenting the relocation of
refugees from Cox’s Bazar to a controversial island camp in the Bay of Bengal.
Rights
activists, including Bianca Jagger and Bangladeshi filmmaker Shaifur Rahman, on
Friday called for the release of Abul Kalam, who they said was taking
photographs of buses with Rohingya refugees on their way to the Bhasan Char
island.
A
second group of more that 1,804 Rohingya refugees — members of an ethnic and
religious minority group who have fled violence and persecution in Myanmar —
were on Tuesday taken to Bhasan Char, despite UN concerns for their safety and
welfare as the island is prone to flooding and severe weather conditions. They followed
a first group of 1,642 relocated to the island, 30 km from the mainland, in
early December.
“Kalam
was handed over to Ukhia subdistrict police station on Wednesday in connection
with a case filed in June 2020. We produced him before the court on Thursday
and currently he is being kept in judicial custody,” Cox’s Bazar Additional
Superintendent of Police Rafikul Islam told Arab News.
Kalam,
35, has been living in Bangladesh for the past 28 years. He has been charged
with obstructing government work and assaulting officials while discharging
duties.
Rights
activists say he was apprehended on Monday and handed over to a police station
on Wednesday.
“They
produced him as an ‘unnamed fugitive’ from a case going back to May 28. Not for
anything that happened on Dec. 28, the day of the Bhasan Char relocation, but
an incident which allegedly happened seven months earlier,” Rahman, who has
been documenting Rohingya refugees and is the initiator of the campaign to
release Kalam, told Arab News.
He
said it was an attempt to shift the focus from Bhasan Char.
“The
removal of focus from what Abul Kalam was doing on Dec. 28 — photographing
Bhasan Char buses — is also conveniently handled by involving him in an
unrelated case going back months,” Rahman said.
According
to activists involved in the campaign to release Kalam, he came to Bangladesh
from Maungdaw in Rakhine State, in the western part of Myanmar, and is a
prolific photographer who has documented refugee life in recent years, and
recently won two prizes in the Rohingya Photography Competition.
Mohammad
Sazzad Hossain, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesman in Dhaka, told Arab
News that UNHCR has been engaged with authorities since Kalam’s arrest and is
providing legal aid to ensure he receives a fair hearing of any charge against
him.
“UNHCR
has assigned one of its partner lawyers to represent him during the
investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings,” he said.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1786816/world
--------
Taliban
Accuses America of Violating Doha Agreement, US Army Responded
By
Mohammad Haroon Alim
04
Jan 2021
A
U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon pilot maneuvers to refuel from a KC-135
Stratotanker over Afghanistan on March 11, 2018. AIR FORCE / TECH. SGT. GREGORY
BROOK
Taliban
on Monday accused the US government of violating the US-Taliban agreement
signed in February in Doha.
The
group claimed that the US has carried out airstrikes in Nangarhar, Helmand, and
Kandahar provinces.
Taliban
stated, the airstrikes were conducted in support of the Afghan infantry
missions in these regions.
The
statement indicates these strikes were carried out in non-combat areas, adding
that “Such repeated violations by the Americans occurred two days ago when the
US Secretary of State announced that (after the signing of the Doha Agreement,
they were not attacked by the Mujahideen). This confession shows the commitment
and commitment of the Islamic Emirate to the Treaty of Doha.”
Taliban
said in the statement, “The Islamic Emirate warns once again that if the bombings
and the Kandahar operation are not stopped as soon as possible and the bombings
and operations against the Mujahideen continue contrary to the provisions of
the treaty, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate will be forced to react
seriously and the responsibility will be on the shoulders of the US
government,”.
The
statement was released hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted,
that no US soldier was killed in almost a year by the Taliban, since the Doha
peace deal.
US
Forces to Afghanistan spokesman Col Sonny Leggett reacted to the Taliban’s
claim in a tweet, “the Taliban’s accusations the US violated the US-TB
agreement are false. US Forces have been clear & consistent: We will defend
Afghan forces against TB attacks. We renew our call for all sides to reduce
violence”.
He
added, “the Taliban’s campaign of unclaimed attacks & targeted killings of
government officials, civil society leaders & journalists must also cease
for peace to succeed”.
This
comes as US President-elect JOE Biden’s national security advisor, Jack
Sullivan said Taliban commitment to cut ties with Al-Qaeda should not only be
spoken but needs to be proved practically.
In
an interview with CNN Sullivan said, Taliban have pledged to sever ties with
Al-Qaeda but this comment needed to be not a matter of words but of action.
He
stressed that the Taliban must reduce violence and with good faith enter into
the peace negotiations, he believes that a political solution can only be
reached through peace negotiations in Afghanistan.
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-accuses-us-of-violating-doha-agreement-us-army-responded-223344/
--------
Southeast
Asia
10
Chinese spies caught in Kabul get a quiet pardon, fly home in chartered
aircraft
Shishir
Gupta
Jan
04, 2021
Afghanistan
has let off the 10 Chinese nationals caught on 10 December for operating a
terror cell in the capital city of Kabul and allowed them to leave the country,
people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The 10 members of the module
were flown out of the country in a plane arranged by the Chinese government.
Hindustan
Times had reported the detention of the 10 Chinese nationals by Afghanistan’s
National Directorate of Security (NDS) for being part of an espionage module on
25 December. Afghanistan had offered to pardon the 10 Chinese nationals on the
condition that Beijing apologise for deploying the 10 persons including at
least one woman, believed to be linked to China’s spy agency, Ministry of State
Security.
The
terms of the release of the 10 Chinese spies is not known.
Diplomats
and security officials in Kabul, however, confirmed to Hindustan Times that the
10 had been allowed to board a chartered aircraft that flew them out of the
country on Saturday after clearance from President Ashraf Ghani. The 10-member
module, evacuated after 23 days in detention, had not been formally charged.
President
Ghani, who had been briefed about the detentions when Afghanistan’s
intelligence agency made the arrests beginning 10 December, had tasked First
Vice President Amrullah Saleh, a former NDS chief who is credited with
resurrecting the Afghan intelligence agency, to handle the case.
As
expected, Amrullah Saleh who releases pointers from his security briefings on
his Facebook page, had put out what appeared to be a cryptic denial of the
arrest of the Chinese nationals on 27 December.
“No
foreign citizen has been arrested in an effort operation in the Khairkhaneh
area. The arrested are the palmadis that are under the scope. A number of them
have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in kidnapping and
assassination…,” Afghanistan’s First Vice President said.
Amrullah
Saleh had earlier conveyed Kabul’s offer to release the 10 spies to China’s
envoy Wang Yu if Beijing submits a formal apology that admits to the violation
of international norms and a betrayal of Kabul’s trust. Ambassador Wang Yu is
learnt to have insisted at this meeting that Kabul does not declare the
detentions. An investigative report by an Australian newspaper in mid-December
had already spotlighted how Chinese communist party members had infiltrated
some of the world’s powerful and influential agencies, including the consulates
of Western nations and security agencies.
There
has been no statement by the Chinese foreign ministry on the espionage module
busted in Kabul.
A
senior diplomat in Kabul had earlier told Hindustan Times that at least two of
the 10 Chinese nationals - Li Yangyang and Sha Hung - were in contact with the
Haqqani Network, the terrorist group that doubles as the sword arm of the
Taliban. Sha Hung used to run a restaurant in Kabul’s Shirpur while Li Yangyang
was learnt to have been operating for the Chinese Intelligence since
July-August.
The
NDS team had seized arms, ammunition and Ketamine powder, a recreational drug ,
from Li Yangyang’s house in the western Kabul neighbourhood of Kart-e-Char when
the first round of raids were carried out on 10 December.
The
Afghan security establishment believes the 10 detainees were creating a fake
East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) module in Afghanistan to entrap ETIM
operatives in Afghanistan.
ETIM
is a small Islamic separatist group alleged to be active in Xinjiang province,
home to China’s ethnic minority Uighur Muslims. Its founder Hasan Mahsum, an
Uyghur from Xinjiang’s Kashgar region, was shot dead in 2003 by Pakistani
soldiers. Islamabad has been playing along with China that has been accused of
running camps in Xinjiang region, where more than 1 million people are held in
camps.
Rights
groups say China uses the ETIM threat as an excuse to impose restrictions on
Uyghurs and discredit human rights activists outside China. The United States
last month revoked the terror tag slapped on ETIM although the group continues
to be designated by the UN Security Council.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/10-chinese-spies-caught-in-kabul-get-a-quiet-pardon-fly-home-in-chartered-aircraft/story-YhNI0zjmClMcj6T7TCCwVM.html
--------
Agong:
Malaysia to intensify Covid-19 vaccine development with UAE
30
Dec 2020
KUALA
LUMPUR, Dec 30 ― To overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia is looking forward
to intensifying efforts on vaccine development with the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin
Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
In
an exclusive interview with Emirates News Agency (WAM), Sultan Abdullah said
UAE has demonstrated itself as a friend of Malaysia during this difficult
period.
“Both
countries could explore and intensify relations in the field of Covid-19
vaccine development and strengthen post-pandemic collaboration in the fields of
health, education, food security, agriculture, future technology, renewable and
clean energy, halal industry and tourism, just to name a few,” he was quoted as
saying in WAM’s report yesterday.
Sultan
Abdullah was on a five-day special visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE, where he also met
with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan who is also
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and other senior officials.
Meanwhile,
Sultan Abdullah also commented on the common values between the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) states, saying that Malaysia, as a trading nation,
has placed a strong emphasis on the relation with GCC countries, especially the
UAE.
He
said, Malaysia’s Islamic identity for decades has been factored into the ties
with GCC countries where issues of importance to the Muslim Ummah have been
closely engaged.
“Malaysia
also shares many similar and common values with GCC countries. With its
strategic geographical location, UAE in particular, has been the main trading
hub not only in this region but also in the world for decades,” said Sultan
Abdullah. ― Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/12/30/agong-malaysia-to-intensify-covid-19-vaccine-development-with-uae/1935925
--------
Say
you are Malaysian first to restore racial ties, Kit Siang tells PM
January
2, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: The five priorities listed out by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in his
New Year message for national recovery were hardly inspiring, says DAP stalwart
Lim Kit Siang.
Citing
the fifth thrust — to strengthen racial and religious ties among the people —
he said Malaysia had never been more polarised since the “backdoor Sheraton
Move” takeover 10 months ago which was openly based on the formation of a
Malay-Muslim government.
Lim
said if he was genuine in this pronouncement, Muhyiddin should now declare
himself to be “Malaysian first, Malay second” so that the rakyat could join him
in his efforts to build a more united nation to face the challenging
post-pandemic period.
He
said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government created after the Sheraton Move was
the most unstable government in the history of Malaysia – riven not only by
dissension in the ruling coalition but also the narrow majority in Parliament.
In
his statement, Lim said there were no signs over the last 10 months of the PN
government that stern action would be taken against any “misinformation
campaigns” by certain parties to polarise the races and religions in Malaysia.
On
the prime minister’s strategy of ensuring good governance, Lim said this was a
mockery unless he was prepared to replace the numerous politician-led
government-linked companies (GLCs) and agencies with professionals to ensure
they were operated professionally and with integrity.
“I
am sure all Malaysians, including the Cabinet, will be dreading the release of
the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2020 later this
month as it will be the latest global report card on the performance of the PN
government.”
On
Muhyiddin’s plan to uphold sovereignty and strengthen the country’s position on
the world stage, Lim said the latest report that Vietnam would surpass Malaysia
to become the 4th largest economy in Southeast Asia was not encouraging.
“The
PN government’s way of controlling the spread of Covid-19, rising unemployment
rate and the contraction of industrial production are signs of tough times
ahead, with no signs of long-term plans to handle the post-pandemic situation,”
he added.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/02/say-you-are-malaysian-first-to-restore-racial-ties-kit-siang-tells-pm/
--------
Jakim
welcomes proposal for QR code to detect non-halal meat
02
Jan 2021
KOTA
BHARU, Jan 2 — The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) welcomes
the proposal from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP)
to utilise the the Quick Response (QR) Code system on imported products at all
entry points to detect non-halal meat.
Deputy
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Ahmad Marzuk
Shaary said that the entry of imported meat from abroad is under the
jurisdiction of KPDNHEP and even the standard operating procedures (SOPs) come
under the ministry.
He
said Jakim only provided approval for halal certification (to meat importing
companies) and it was in the midst of drafting improvements of the SOPs as well
as the QR code which have been listed for discussion.
He
said this to reporters after presenting aid to 20 Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam
(Pasti) in the Pengkalan Chepa parliamentary constituency here today.
Two
days ago, KPDNHEP Deputy Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid proposed the use of the QR
Code system on imported products to address leakages at the country’s entry
points and prevent recurrences of problems such as illegal meat syndicates.
Rosol
said that the proposal was to make it easier for officers involved to detect
meat or any other imported goods that entered the country without following the
stipulated procedures, such as at airports and seaports.
He
also added that the system will be able to reduce the workload of the country’s
entry points’ enforcement agencies in the event of any misconduct regarding the
entry of imported products.
In
another development, Ahmad Marzuk refuted allegations by some quarters that PAS
was rather ‘quiet’ on special lottery draws which have been increased from
eight times in 2020 to 22 this year.
“What
I want to say is that PAS does not remain quiet on this matter as alleged by
viral posting. We are actually making internal protests that are deemed more
appropriate and effective,” he said.
Earlier,
Senator Liew Chin Tong was reported to have said that the Perikatan Nasional
government had increased the frequency of special lottery draws from eight
times in 2020 to 22 in 2021. — Bernama
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/01/02/jakim-welcomes-proposal-for-qr-code-to-detect-non-halal-meat/1936757
--------
Go
ahead, fire me, I only want the best for Umno, says Annuar
January
4, 2021
PETALING
JAYA: Barisan Nasional secretary-general Annuar Musa says he is willing to be
fired in order to maintain the cooperation among Malay parties and the
Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
In
a Facebook post, Annuar said he stood by the Umno Supreme Council’s decision
against cooperating with DAP and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
“I
want Umno to lead the cooperation among Malay and Islamist parties, while
rejecting any division among the ummah. If you want to fire me because of that,
please go ahead,” he said.
Annuar’s
comments come in the wake of the call by Pasir Puteh Umno Youth chief Muhammad
Saifullah Ali for the Umno leadership to dismiss Annuar from the party.
Saifullah
said the party should take strict action against Annuar, as he was seen to be a
spokesman for PPBM.
Annuar
noted that during his 40 years in Umno, meetings with the party’s division
representatives often discussed issues involving Malays, Islam and the people.
However,
he said, the past year had only been about calls for rejection and disunity
among the Malays, adding that “we are fighting among ourselves. DAP can begin
to smile”.
He
also claimed that the Umno divisions and MPs in Kelantan were slowly turning
over to parties in the opposition.
“Hopefully,
it won’t be the same at national level,” he said.
Earlier,
Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub announced he was ready to resign as the
chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) if PN did not dissolve
Parliament by the end of this month.
The
Machang MP had said he would do so as a sign of his unwillingness to work with
the PN government, should Putrajaya fail to request the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
to dissolve Parliament.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/01/04/go-ahead-fire-me-i-only-want-the-best-for-umno-says-annuar/
--------
Vaccine
hesitancy rises in Indonesia amid COVID-19 pandemic
4
Jan 2021
Jakarta,
Indonesia – Questions about the potential use of pork products in vaccines is
compounding vaccine hesitancy in Indonesia, experts have warned, urging
officials and Muslim leaders in the Southeast Asian nation to speed up efforts
to gain public trust ahead of a mass immunisation campaign against COVID-19.
Pork-derived
gelatin is used as a stabiliser in some vaccines. But the consumption of pork
is strictly forbidden or “haram” to Muslims, who comprise 87 percent of
Indonesian’s 273 million people, raising concern this may hamper vaccination in
the Southeast Asian nation worst-affected by COVID-19.
Dr
Dicky Budiman, an epidemiologist who has helped formulate the Indonesian
Ministry of Health’s pandemic management strategy for 20 years, said a halal
certification for COVID-19 vaccines was essential.
“Halal
is about more than just food – it incorporates more every aspect of lifestyle
for observant Muslims,” said Budiman.
“If
you are doing business, you must do it in a halal way and not cheat people.
With regards to vaccines, halal certification is virtually mandatory in
Indonesia because it ensures the production process from beginning to end is in
line with Islamic teaching.”
Indonesia’s
government has been commended by health experts for not pinning its hopes on
just one COVID-19 vaccine. It has entered binding orders for 100 million doses
from AstraZeneca, 50 million does from Novavax, 50 million from Pfizer, 53
million from COVAX/GAVI – a world body working to ensure poor countries have
access to COVID-19 vaccines, and another 125 million from China’s Sinovac.
The
government is yet to approve a single vaccine candidate, however.
AstraZeneca,
Novavax and Pfizer have all said there are no pork products in their vaccines.
But Sinovac has refused to disclose the ingredients of its COVID-19 vaccine or
specifically say if it has pork gelatin.
The
MUI, Indonesian’s top Muslim clerical body that makes decisions over halal
certification, also appears to be asleep at the wheel. It completed its study
of Sinovac’s vaccine a month ago but has not yet announced its decision.
“Many
people in Indonesia believe in conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and one of
the reasons for that is the government has had no clear, strategic communication
campaign,” Budiman said. “Sinovac also needs to be very clear about the
ingredients of its vaccine and the MUI should announce its decision about the
halal certification without further delay.”
‘It’s
been a mess’
Indonesia,
which has reported more than 758,000 COVID-19 infections and more than 22,500
deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, has already received three million
doses of the Sinovac vaccine and expects to receive doses from AstraZeneca and
Pfizer in the coming weeks.
But
with authorisation and halal certifications for the vaccines still pending, it
is not clear when the country may roll out its inoculation programme.
Ahmad
Utomo, a molecular biological consultant in Jakarta specialising in the
diagnosis of lung infections, said the government’s failure to quell concerns
about pork products in vaccines is a textbook example of its failure to
communicate with the public throughout the pandemic.
“The
issue is one of public trust. There is a deep distrust against the government
when it comes to COVID-19 that was exacerbated by poor scientific communication
by Purwanto in the early stages of the pandemic,” he said, referring the former
Indonesian health minister who infamously said the country was immune from
COVID-19 because of prayer.
“Aggressive
gestures of the certain government officials for vaccinations to start in
November when there were no signs of vaccine efficacy nor BPOM [Indonesia’s
agency for drug and food control] approval were also unproductive,” he said.
“Scientists have been caught in the middle. It’s been a mess.”
Vaccine
hesitancy has been on the rise in Indonesia for many years and has been further
exacerbated during the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization
(WHO).
A
survey it conducted in August with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health found that 27
per cent of respondents were hesitant to take a COVID-19 vaccine – a group the
survey said was “crucial for a successful vaccination programme”.
Their
reasons ranged from religious beliefs, fear of side effects from vaccines and
uncertainty about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
“I
am not sure I will take it because my aunt told me it had pork,” Vita, an
observant Muslim in West Kalimantan province who like many Indonesians goes by
only one name, told Al Jazeera. “Maybe it’s OK for Muslims to have it if there
is a specific purpose. But I would have to study the Quran to find the answer.”
But
Sadiyah said halal certification does not worry her. “I’m more worried about
the other ingredients. Will it make me healthy or sick? Because right now I am
healthy.”
Yasmin
Libbing, a product specialist who supplies German medical tools to hospitals in
Central Java, said virus hesitancy was rife in her hometown Semarang.
“Many
people are contra- and many are pro-vaccines. There is no agreement,” she said.
“But the doctors I talk to every day, they tell me they won’t trust them until
they have passed all the clinical trials.”
Obstacles
ahead
The
joint WHO-health ministry survey also found one-third of Indonesians who want
to be immunised for COVID-19 were unwilling or unable to pay for it. Before he
was replaced in a cabinet shuffle in December, former Health Minister Terawan
Agus Putranto said the government plans to cover the cost for only 30 percent
of the 107 million people marked out to receive COVID-19 vaccines by 2022.
“But
the government should have a clear strategic communication policy to address
the ‘info-demic’ and provide the public with accurate data about the
effectiveness and risks of every vaccine to stop rumours from growing,” he
said. “That way it can be left up to the individuals to decide if they want to
be vaccinated or not.”
The
MUI is expected to approve COVID-19 vaccines that contain pork gelatin, citing
the greater good. But if the Indonesian public’s past reaction to other
vaccination programmes is anything to go by, accepting the coronavirus scheme
could prove difficult.
Between
2017 and 2018, Indonesia undertook the world’s largest vaccination campaign
against measles and rubella. More than 67 million children were jabbed with a
new combined measles-rubella (MR) vaccine from India.
The
first phase in 2017 was a success, with more than 35 million children
vaccinated on the main island of Java. Measles and rubella cases dropped by
more than 90 percent.
But
things turned south in 2018 when the MUI on the Riau Islands, an archipelago
scattered between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, alleged that the MR vaccine
contained pork gelatin and was therefore forbidden.
The
MUI in Jakarta issued a statement backing that assessment and subsequently, in
Sumatra, the second-most densely populated island in Indonesia, the MR
immunisation uptake dropped to 68 percent. In Aceh, an ultra-conservative
Muslim province on Sumatra’s northwest tip, participation dropped to just 8
percent, according the Ministry of Health.
The
MUI tried to backtrack with a follow-up statement saying the MR vaccine
permitted for use by Muslims. But by then, measles cases had spiked. By 2019,
Indonesia had gone back to where it was before the campaign with the
third-highest rate of measles in the world.
Seminal
British medical journal The Lancet said vaccine hesitancy was on the rise
globally and Indonesia’s experience with the MR vaccine was cautionary.
“Political
leaders and health ministries must continue dialogue with religious scholars
and communities to generate both a common understanding and unambiguous
messaging regarding the benefits of immunisation,” the journal said. “The
health and survival of Indonesia’s children depend on it.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/4/vaccine-hesitancy-rises-in-indonesia-amid-covid-19-pandemic
--------
Arab
World
Iraq
wants US, Iran to respect its sovereignty a year after Soleimani’s killing
Ismaeel
Naar
03
January 2021
Iraq
has warned both the United States and Iran to respect its sovereignty,
according to a statement from an Iraqi army official, as Baghdad marks the
one-year anniversary of the US killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and
an Iraqi militia commander.
“We
do not want Iraq to be a starting point for striking neighboring countries.
America and Iran must respect the sovereignty of Iraq,” the Iraqi News Agency
quoted the spokesman for Iraq’s Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces as
saying.
“The
capabilities of the Iraqi army are very good, but it needs to strengthen the
air defense capabilities. We are communicating with Syria to secure the
borders. The sovereignty of Iraq is a red line for the armed forces. Any strike
between America and Iran will be disastrous,” the statement from the
spokesperson added.
The
statement from the Iraqi army comes as tens of thousands of supporters of
Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary groups chanted anti-American slogans in
central Baghdad on Sunday to mark the one year since Soleimani was killed along
with Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes on Jan. 3, 2020, in a US drone
strike on his convoy at Baghdad airport.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2021/01/03/Iraqi-militias-Iraq-wants-US-Iran-to-respect-its-sovereignty-a-year-after-Soleimani-s-killing
--------
Lebanese
decry Hezbollah’s erection of Soleimani posters, monuments in Beirut suburbs
Rawad
Taha
03
January 2021
The
installation of many billboards showing slain Iranian commander Qassem
Soleimani in the predominantly Iran-backed Hezbollah-controlled areas of
Lebanon has sparked criticism by Lebanese who took to social media to protest
Iran’s influence in the country.
This
week marks the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s top general
and a senior Iraqi militia leader in a US drone strike in Iraq. Iran heavily
backs and supports the Hezbollah Shia militant group in Lebanon.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Former
Minister of Administrative Reform May Chidiac asked those who posted the
pictures of Soleimani to “stop distorting the identity of Lebanon.”
“What
happened to the statues of Assad following the withdrawal of the Syrian
occupation? The lesson is for those who consider Lebanon an Iranian province.
Stop distorting the identity of the country and stop its involvement in wars.
Statues and pictures of Soleimani and al-Mohandes, and naming the suburb roads,
the airport road, and the southern roads with the name of Khomeini will turn
against you,” Chidiac said.
Activist
Lea Dagher tweeted: “Only in my car, I don’t see a picture of Qassem Soleimani,
[is this] Lebanon or Iran?”
On
the eve of Soleimani’s assassination anniversary, the southern Lebanese village
of Arabsalim erected a model depicting the moment a US drone missile struck
Soleimani’s SUV on its way out of Baghdad’s airport.
“Tehran
is 1,789 km away from Arabsalim,” Middle East political researcher Bachar
al-Halabi added.
Dima
Sadek, a Lebanese journalist, posted a picture of a Soleimani statue that was
set to be mounted in the suburbs of Beirut in the next several days.
Sadek
said the day would come when “we will destroy this idol with our own hands as
the idols of tyrants have been destroyed before it.”
Another
Twitter user said that it would have been more “appropriate and honorable” to
post photos of the Lebanese victims of the Beirut Port explosion, who died as a
result of corruption instead of uploading pictures of the “child killer” Qassem
Soleimani.
Luna
Safwan tweeted pictures from Lebanon’s Airport highway with new Soleimani
pictures on “every possible corner.”
“To
some, he was a great leader. To others, he was a mass murderer, so how do you
compromise and make a country livable and bearable, to both sides?” Safwan
wrote.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2021/01/03/Lebanese-decry-Hezbollah-s-erection-of-Soleimani-posters-monuments-in-Beirut-suburbs
--------
Syria
blasts US for sanctions, following UN expert's remarks
02
January 2021
Syria
on Saturday lambasted the U.S. government for sanctions it has imposed on
Damascus, following a U.N. special rapporteur's statement that called on
Washington to remove unilateral sanctions against the war-torn country.
The
Syrian Foreign Ministry described U.S. sanctions against the country as equal
to “crimes against humanity” that impact the life of normal citizens as the
country looks to rebuild after 10 years of civil war.
The
U.S. has imposed sanctions for years on Syrian President Bashar Assad and a
number of his top officials. Measures that went into effect in June will also
allow U.S. authorities to target foreign companies that do business with some
Syrian state institutions.
On
Tuesday, U.N. human rights expert Alena Douhan called on the United States to
lift its unilateral sanctions “which may inhibit rebuilding of Syria’s civilian
infrastructure” destroyed by the conflict that has killed about half a million
people.
Douhan,
who is the U.N. special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral
coercive measures on human rights, said American sanctions “violate the human
rights of the Syrian people.”
Speaking
on Wednesday, the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn rejected Douhan’s
statement as “misguided and false.”
He
said that the blame for Syria’s economic situation and humanitarian crisis
falls on “Assad’s brutal war against the Syrian people, not on U.S. sanctions.”
Areas
under government control in Syria have been suffering from a severe shortage of
bread and fuel that Damascus blames on Washington. In some areas, people have
to stand in line for hours outside bakeries to get bread, the main staple in
the country.
Alongside
being hit hard by sanctions, the Syrian economy has suffered for many years
because of widespread corruption and recently as a result of a severe economic
and financial crisis in neighboring Lebanon.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2021/01/02/Syria-blasts-US-for-sanctions-following-UN-expert-s-remarks
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Daesh
attack in Syria kills several soldiers, civilians
04
January 2021
Terrorists
affiliated with Daesh have ambushed several cars and a bus on Syria’s
Damascus-Raqqa highway in the central Syrian desert, killing nine people and
injuring nearly two dozen others, according to several sources.
Sources
told Reuters that the Sunday attack killed at least nine Syrian army soldiers;
however, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) quotes its own sources
as saying that seven soldiers, a little girl, and a civilian were killed in the
ambush.
The
SOHR also says 16 others including four civilians were injured in the attack;
however, Reuters claims 22 soldiers have been wounded in the attack. Both
sources reported that some of those injured are in critical conditions.
The
bus was targeted while on the road near Wadi al-Azeeb in the western part of
the Syrian desert known as the Badia, east of the city of Hama.
Russian
jets flying from a major air base in the area at high altitudes bombed its
vicinity in the surprise attack, according to two military sources in touch
with their coordinates on the ground.
This
is the second such incident in less than a week by Daesh militants. State media
said last Wednesday twenty-eight people were killed in a similar terrorist
attack on a bus along a main highway in Dayr al-Zawr province that borders
Iraq.
Daesh’s
Amaq news agency a day later claimed responsibility for the ambush, saying it
had killed 40 Syrian army soldiers and badly wounded six others.
Western
intelligence sources say there has been a rise in recent months of ambushes and
hit-and-run attacks by remnants of Daesh militants who take shelter in caves in
the mainly rugged sparsely Syrian Badia.
Syria
has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian
government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are
aiding Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.
Syrian
government forces have taken back many areas once controlled by the terrorist
groups.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/04/642211/Syria-daesh-attack-soldiers-killed
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Iraqi
lawmaker says expulsion of US forces from Arab country ‘national decision’
03
January 2021
An
Iraqi lawmaker says the expulsion of American troops from Iraq is a national
decision, stressing that everyone understands the danger of their presence in
the Arab country.
Speaking
to Iraq’s Arabic-language al-Maloumah news agency on Sunday, Mehdi Taqi, member
of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi parliament, stated that the
decision to expel foreign troops, particularly US troops, from Iraq is not a
mere political decision, but rather a national decision made by representatives
of all Iraqis in the Council of Representatives of Iraq.
On
January 3 last year, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, Commander of the Quds
Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and deputy head of
Iraq’s anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,
were assassinated along with their companions in a US terror drone strike
authorized by President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport.
Both
popular commanders played key role in eliminating the Daesh Takfiri terrorist
group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.
Two
days after Washington’s assassination operation, Iraqi legislators approved a
bill, calling for the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the US
from the Arab country, which is currently home to some 3,000 American
servicemen.
“Our
country does not need the presence of any foreign force whatsoever on its soil
while our national forces are capable of warding off the dangers of terrorism
and any external threat to the security and stability of Iraq,” Taqi further
said.
The
lawmaker added that the presence of foreign forces, including those of the US,
is causing numerous crises and problems in Iraq, noting that the landmark
decision made by the Iraqi parliament demonstrated farsightedness in order to
avoid major problems in the Arab country.
Taqi
also pointed out that “all Iraqis are aware of the danger that these forces
will cause on the Iraqi soil, so everyone has agreed to expel them from the
country in accordance with the decision by the parliament, which represents the
voice of all Iraqis.”
Last
year’s US assassination of General Soleimani and Iraqi PMU commander Muhandis
significantly raised the already present anti-US sentiment in Iraq and led to
numerous popular protests across the Arab country against the presence of
American troops.
Iraqis
chant anti-US slogans, mourn revered commanders
Separately
on Sunday, tens of thousands of Iraqis, while condemning the “American
occupiers”, took to streets of Baghdad and converged on the iconic Tahrir
Square to mark the anniversary of the US killing of General Soleimani and
Lieutenant Muhandis.
Demonstrators
waved the Iraqi flag and chanted anti-American slogans, including “America is
the Great Satan.”
On
Saturday evening, thousands of black-clad mourners also gathered on the highway
that leads to Baghdad International Airport, where both commanders were
assassinated, in a mock funeral procession staged in tribute to the two
“martyrs” and eight of their companions.
“We
tell America and the enemies of Islam that they can inflict the greatest
sacrifices on us, but we will continue to resist despite the bloodshed,” said a
mourner.
In
November 2017, Soleimani declared the end of Daesh in a letter addressed to
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Last
year, the Leader awarded Soleimani with Iran’s highest military order, the
Order of Zulfaqar.
US
media reports revealed details of the assassination, saying the terrorist
operation used Israeli intelligence and was run from the US Central Command
(CENTCOM) headquarters in Qatar.
Hailed
both by friends and foes as a major military tactician, General Soleimani
topped Foreign Policy (FP)’s 2019 list of Global Thinkers in defense and
security. It placed General Soleimani on top of the list of the most
influential people in the defense and security sector.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642167/Iraq-parliament-US-troops-Taqi-Soleimani-assassination-Trump-demonstration
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Syria:
UN expert’s remarks necessitate removal of cruel US sanctions
03
January 2021
Syria
has slammed the United States for imposing unilateral sanctions on Damascus,
after a UN special rapporteur called on Washington to remove restrictive
measures against the war-torn country.
In
a statement on Saturday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry described US sanctions as
“crimes against humanity” that impact the life of normal citizens amid efforts
to rebuild the Arab country as a result of almost ten years of conflict,
Syria's official news agency SANA reported.
The
Syrian ministry's statement came days after Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur
on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights, voiced
concerns that sanctions imposed under the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act
risk exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Syria, especially
following the outbreak of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
“When
it announced the first sanctions under the Caesar Act in June 2020, the United
States said it did not intend for them to harm the Syrian population,” Douhan
said.
She
added that the enforcement of the Act may worsen the existing humanitarian
crisis and deprive the Syrian people of the chance to rebuild their basic
infrastructure.
UN
expert @AlenaDouhan calls on the #UnitedStates to remove unilateral sanctions
which may inhibit rebuilding of #Syria’s civilian infrastructure destroyed by
almost 10 years of ongoing conflict. Learn more: https://t.co/CI20oDo177
pic.twitter.com/qEBtyaxP8y
—
UN Special Procedures (@UN_SPExperts) December 29, 2020
In
response, the US Special Envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn rejected Douhan's
statement as "misguided and false," adding that the blame for Syria's
economic situation and humanitarian crisis falls on the government of President
Bashar Assad, "not on U.S. sanctions."
In
its Saturday statement, the Syrian foreign ministry slammed US envoy's remarks,
saying that it included lies in response to Douhan’s appeal to Washington to
lift the sanctions on Syria, and proves US adherence to the policy of hegemony,
arrogance and unipolarity.
“It
is time for the US administration to assume full responsibility for the
suffering of Syrians through its support for terrorism and the unilateral
coercive measures, which violate international laws and deprive Syrians of a
decent life,” the Syrian ministry stated.
It
added that the lies and misleading information included in the US statement
would no longer deceive anyone, and that hypocrisy and lying have become the
feature of the US administration and its allies.
In
late December, Syria’s Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad denounced unilateral
sanctions imposed by the US against the war-stricken country as “crimes against
humanity," saying the Western sponsors of terrorism must pay the price for
their atrocities against the Syrian nation.
Speaking
in an interview with SANA news agency in Moscow, at the end of his official
visit to Russia, Mekdad added, “Unilateral coercive measures against Syria are
inhumane and can be classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
Over
the past years, the US has been maintaining an illegal military presence on
Syrian soil, collaborating with anti-Damascus militants and stealing the
country’s crude oil resources.
It
has slapped rounds of crippling sanctions on Syria, which has been gripped by
foreign-backed militancy since March 2011.
Parts
of the restrictive measures have been imposed under the so-called Caesar Act,
an American piece of legislation that alleges to support the Syrian people by
protecting them against the Syrian administration’s way of governance.
The
bans target almost all Syrian economic and trade activities, as well as the
country’s government officials.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642161/Syrian-Foreign-Ministry-slams-cruel-US-sanctions-
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Blackwater
guard pardoned by Trump says ‘acted correctly’ in Baghdad shooting
03
January 2021
One
of the four Blackwater security contractors, pardoned by US President Donald
Trump in a controversial move last month, says he “acted correctly” in a 2007
massacre of Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.
Evan
Shawn Liberty had been convicted along with three other Blackwater guards for a
shooting rampage that killed 14 civilians in Baghdad, but they were pardoned by
the US president in a move which shocked everyone, including Americans.
In
his first interview since his release, Liberty showed no sign of remorse,
saying instead he felt like he “acted correctly.”
“I
regret any innocent loss of life, but I’m just confident in how I acted and I
can basically feel peace with that,” he told the Associated Press.
Liberty
and the three other guards had been convicted for their role in the massacre,
in a US court in 2015, after seven years.
Th
court had found one of them, Nicholas Slatten, guilty of first-degree murder,
while Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Liberty had been convicted of voluntary and
attempted manslaughter.
After
an appeal, they were each given between 12 and 15 years in prison.
They
have already defended themselves, saying that they acted in self-defense.
An
FBI agent, who led the investigation into the Baghdad incident, denounced the
pardon in a letter to New York Times published Saturday, saying that he was
“embarrassed for our country.”
“I
believe we will pay a heavy price in our relationships with other countries as
a result of these pardons,” he wrote.
Patarini
wrote that he led the investigation into Baghdad’s Nisour Square massacre,
initially thinking the shooting was some form of innocent civilians caught in
the crossfire between the Blackwater guards and militants at the time.
After
only one week, however, he discovered that the incident was not as what
Blackwater, now renamed Academi, and State Department officials had described.
It
was actually a carnage similar to the My Lai massacre where between 347 and 504
unarmed civilians were killed by US Army soldiers during the Vietnam War, he
wrote.
Trump’s
order which came in the waning days of his administration sparked anger among
human rights groups and the United Nations, who described the move as a
violation of US obligations under international law.
Presidential
pardons have historically been reserved for nonviolent crimes, but Trump has
recently used his power in pardoning his allies, who were charged in
high-profile cases.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642148/US-Iraq-2007-massacre-Blackwater-pardon-Evan-Shawn-Liberty
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Israel’s
Netanyahu hints at trip to Saudi Arabia in party meeting
03
January 2021
Israeli
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has implicitly mentioned that he recently
visited Saudi Arabia, in what is his first known confirmation of a trip to
several Arab countries in November last year.
Netanyahu
made the comment in a closed-door meeting of his Likud party on Saturday night
when he was asked about a possible deal between Tel Aviv and Iraqi Kurds.
"I
recently visited other Arab states, and just like I couldn't tell about the
Emirates, I cannot say now," he told officials from the ruling party,
according to leaks from the meeting.
Netanyahu
is reported to have met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Red Sea
city of Neom on November 22, along with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Israeli
sources confirmed at the time the visit which lasted several hours, but no
public statements have so far been made. Moreover, the Saudi Foreign Ministry
denied reported details of the meeting, but not that Netanyahu and Salman had
held a meeting.
Netanyahu’s
comments came two weeks after he claimed that “many, many more countries” would
be signing normalization agreements with Israel “a lot sooner than people
expect.”
Since
September, the Israeli regime has struck normalization agreements with the
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, with US officials saying a
deal with Saudi Arabia is “inevitable.”
Washington
has tried to coax Riyadh into following the lead of other Arab countries of the
Persian Gulf to normalize relations with Israel.
Saudi
officials have said Riyadh supports full normalization with Israel, but have
shied away from announcing an abrupt deal similar to the UAE and Bahrain,
stating that a permanent and complete peace agreement has to be reached first
between Israelis and Palestinians.
The
normalization deals between some Arab states and the Tel Aviv regime have
already been condemned by all Palestinian factions as a treacherous "stab
in the back" of their cause against the Israeli occupation.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642144/Isreal-Benjamin-Netanyahu-visist-Saudi-Arabia-Crown-Prince-Mohammed-bin-Salman
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