Hate Speech Cases Of All Sides To Be Dealt With As Per Law, Says Supreme Court
New Age Islam News Bureau
19 August 2023
Source:
IANS
-----
India
·
Caught In The Manipur Crossfire: A Look At The
Muslim Meitei Pangals
·
No pick-and-choose policy behind Nuh
demolitions: Haryana
------
Africa
·
Angola's
President has called on the member states of the Southern African Development
·
Burkina
Faso: ex-minister sentenced to 7 years in prison for "misappropriation of
public funds
·
Mali
receives UN chief for Peace Operations, discuss withdrawal of MINUSMA troops
·
More than
300, 000 Sudanese refugees seek sanctuary in Chad
-------
Mideast
·
Vehicle
speeds towards Israeli Police while they investigate death in Shuafat
·
Suspect in
bloody attack in Syria dies in Beirut – Lebanese media
·
Iran’s foreign
minister meets with Saudi crown prince
·
Fears for
displaced as Sudan war spreads in Darfur
·
Kuwait
hails ‘successful’ Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Riyadh
·
No plans
for foreign naval base, Libyan regime says
·
UN says
forced to cut Yemen rations, compounding food crisis
·
Russian
drone team was stuck in Iranian hotel during alleged Israeli strike - report
·
Turkish
Cypriot forces assault Cyprus peacekeepers: UN
------
Pakistan
·
Friday Sermons To Focus On Minority Rights: Punjab
Caretaker CM Naqvi
·
Caretaker
PM vows to ensure protection of minorities in Pakistan
·
ECP
defends move to delay polls beyond 90-day limit
·
SC moved
for action against Jaranwala church attackers
·
PM rebukes
elements behind mob violence
·
Imran
won’t be tried under Army Act in cipher case
·
Sole
burden of poll conduct ‘lies on ECP’
·
Justice
Mansoor proposes full court for NAB amendment case
------
South Asia
·
Hanafi:
Islamic Emirate Established Policy of 'Neutrality'
·
Last Round
of Kankor Exam Helds Without Girls’ Participation
·
Afghan, Pakistani
officials hold talk in Islamabad to address bilateral trade issues
·
India has
sent record 47,500 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan since Taliban takeover
-------
North America
·
Shereé Whitfield Praises Ex Bob Whitfield's
Involvement with Granddaughter Mecca at Sip & See
·
US denies
building ‘Pacific NATO’ against China
·
US
prepares to evacuate Niger
·
Lavrov to
travel to US for key UN assembly
·
US plans
to punish NATO ally over Russia – WSJ
------
Arab World
·
Saudi
Arabia, India Sign Cooperation Agreement On Digital Economy
·
Jeddah’s
100-year-old bakeries still appeal to modern tastes
·
Saudi
health minister meets WHO chief in India
------
Europe
·
Britain
Warns Denmark ‘Terror Attacks Likely’ After Koran Burnings
·
Man who
travelled from Yorkshire to London to attack Jewish people sentenced
·
Ukrainian
parliament poised to legalize porn production
·
Ukrainian Neo-Nazi Apologizes For Attacking
Transgender Woman
·
EU
country’s food inflation tops 30% – El Mundo
------
Southeast Asia
·
Motac
Targets 3.2 Million Muslim Tourist Arrivals This Year, Says Deputy Minister
·
Safeguarding
Malaysia's multicultural fabric: Embracing progress with respect and dialogue ―
Siti Kasim
·
Drop
charges against Najib and Irwan if allegations are true, urges Umno Youth
·
Sweden
raises its terror threat level to high, Msian embassy issues travel warning
·
Bow out
already: Dr Mahathir joins calls for Zahid’s resignation
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hate-speech-supreme-court/d/130481
-----
Hate Speech
Cases Of All Sides To Be Dealt With As Per Law, Says Supreme Court
Source:
IANS
-----
19.08.23
R.
Balaji
The
Supreme Court on Friday assured that it would deal appropriately with all those
persons indulging in hate speeches, irrespective of the communities to which
they belong, as the law of the land on combating the menace has to be complied
with by all.
“We are
very clear. Whether it be one side or the other side, they have to be treated
alike. If anyone indulges in anything which we know as ‘hate speech’, they will
be dealt with as per the law. We have already expressed our opinion on the
issue. I don’t think we have to repeat it again,” Justice Sanjiv Khanna heading
a bench told advocates appearing for Hindu and Muslim groups in the matter
relating to action against those indulging in hate speeches.
The
court was dealing with a batch of petitions filed by members of both Hindu and
Muslim communities seeking action against those indulging in hate speeches. One
of the petitioners Shaheen Abdullah had also filed an urgent application to
take action against those openly seeking an economic and social boycott of
Muslims in Haryana’s Nuh district which had recently witnessed communal riots.
The
bench which included Justice S.V. N. Bhatti made the oral observation after
counsel for one of the Hindu petitioners complained that hate speeches
allegedly being delivered by the Muslim community is not being brought to the
notice of the court. Instead, selectively only those allegedly made by Hindu
speakers
are
being highlighted in the court.
The
counsel alleged that at a recent rally organised on July 26 by the Indian Union
Muslim League in Kerala, a call was made for “death to Hindus”.
However,
advocate Nizam Pasha appearing for Shaheen Abdullah, one of the petitioners
from the Muslim side, said there was no question of taking sides on the issue.
The
counsel countered the argument saying that Pasha was not bringing all facts
before the court and was selectively making allegations against one community.
Justice
Khanna said since the court was to hear detailed arguments on the Bihar caste
census row, the present matter can be adjourned to next Friday which was
acceded to by all the counsels.
“I also
went through the Tehseen Poonawalla guidelines. I hope they are being complied
with. Then we will take it up on Friday,” Justice Khanna said.
The
bench referred to an earlier judgment passed by the apex court in the Tehseen
Poonawala case wherein it had passed a slew of directions to the authorities to
take
suo motu
action against all those involved in hate speeches on caste and communal
grounds.
Accordingly,
the matter will now be heard on August 25.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/hate-speech-cases-of-all-sides-to-be-dealt-with-as-per-law-says-supreme-court/cid/1959924
------
Advisory
Council To Prime Minister Steers Clear Of Bibek Debroy's 'New Constitution'
View
File Photo: Bibek Debroy
-----
19.08.23
Pheroze
L. Vincent
On the
eve of this Independence Day, Bibek Debroy, the chairman of the Prime
Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, called for a new Constitution, breathing
fresh life into a pet theme of the RSS and the BJP.
In an
article in the Mint daily, Debroy wrote: “A few amendments won’t do. We should
go back to the drawing board and start from first principles, asking what these
words in the Preamble mean now: socialist, secular, democratic, justice,
liberty and equality.”
On
Thursday evening, after condemnation by Opposition leaders and others, the
Economic Advisory Council (EAC) posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The recent
article by Dr Bibek Debroy was in his personal capacity. In no way do they
reflect the views of EAC-PM or the Government of India.”
Soon,
Debroy told a news agency that these were his personal views and not that of
the EAC or the government. The Mint’s website removed his designation from the
online version of the article and added a disclaimer iterating what the EAC and
Debroy had clarified.
Writing
in The New Indian Express newspaper last June, Debroy had called for
“substantial changes to be made to the Indian Constitution”. The Kesavananda
Bharati judgment of 1973 had defined the basic structure (which cannot be
amended) of the Constitution. Debroy had written: “But who will decide whether
an amendment leads to a change in the basic structure?”
Debroy
is not the first person from the ruling establishment to test such waters.
In 2017,
the then junior Union minister, Anantkumar Hegde, made controversial remarks on
those who “call themselves secular” in a speech in Karnataka. He added: “...We
are here to change the Constitution and we’ll change it.” Hegde apologised
after Parliament proceedings were stalled on the issue.
The Atal
Bihari Vajpayee government had formed a national commission in 2000 to review
the working of the Constitution. The panel, led by former Chief Justice of
India M.N. Venkatachaliah, submitted its report in 2002. Its recommendations,
which included amendments to the Fundamental Rights, were not accepted by
consecutive governments.
Bunch of
Thoughts is a collection of the works of the RSS’s second chief M. S. Golwalkar
and one of the ideological reference books of the Sangh parivar.It says in
Chapter 19: “Our Constitution too is just a cumbersome and heterogeneous
piecing together of various articles from various Constitutions of Western
countries. It has absolutely nothing, which can be called our own. Is there a
single word of reference in its guiding principles as to what our national
mission is and what our keynote in life is? No! Some lame principles from the
United Nations Charter or from the Charter of the now defunct League of Nations
and some features from the American and British Constitutions have been just
brought together in a mere hotchpotch.”
This
discomfort with the current Constitution is expressed in J. Sai Deepak’s book,
India, That is Bharat, published in 2021. Publisher Bloomsbury’s description of
the book says that it “…traces the origins of seemingly universal constructs
such as ‘toleration’, ‘secularism’ and ‘humanism’ to Christian political
theology. Their subsequent role in subverting the indigenous Indic
consciousness through a secularised and universalised Reformation, that is,
constitutionalism, is examined. It also puts forth the concept of Middle
Eastern coloniality, which preceded its European variant and allies with it in
the context of Bharat to advance their shared antipathy towards the Indic
worldview.”
A
popular Right-wing lawyer, Deepak’s lectures and debates are shared extensively
on social media by the pro-RSS online ecosystem.
The
Opposition was scathing towards Debroy. Congress general secretary in charge of
communications Jairam Ramesh tweeted: “On this 77th Independence Day, the
Chairman of Economic Advisory Council to the PM has sounded the bugle for
junking the Constitution — of which Dr Ambedkar was a prime architect. He wants
the country to embrace a brand new one. This has always been the agenda of the
Sangh parivar. Be warned, India!”
BSP
leader Mayawati tweeted: “Advocating a new Constitution in the country by Bibek
Debroy, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council, in his article is an open
violation of his jurisdiction, which the central government must take immediate
cognizance of and take action so that no one dares to talk like this again.
“The
Constitution of the country is a guarantee of being humanistic and egalitarian
for its 140 crore poor, backward and neglected people, who do not like the
selfish, narrow-minded, casteist elements and they talk about turning it into
anti-people and pro-capitalist. Opposing this (call for change) is everyone’s
responsibility.”
CPM MP
John Brittas tweeted: “Bibek Debroy wants a new Constitution; his main problem
is with the basic structure with words like socialist, secular, democratic etc.
In effect, he bats for HINDU RASHTRA. If he has written in personal capacity,
what was the decoration for?” The initial article in the Mint had identified
Debroy as “chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/advisory-council-to-prime-minister-steers-clear-of-bibek-debroys-new-constitution-view/cid/1959956
------
Kenya:
Ban On Five Churches Accused Of Murdering Starving Worshippers; Including That
Of A Pastor Accused Of Inciting More Than 400 Followers To Fast To Death
Self-proclaimed pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie (L), who set up the Good
News
Copyright © africanews
SIMON MAINA/AFP or licensors
-------
18 Aug
2023
Kenyan
authorities have banned five churches, including that of a pastor accused of
inciting more than 400 followers to fast to death, according to a government
document made public on Friday.
The
Associations Registration Office said the license of self-proclaimed pastor
Paul Nthenge Mackenzie's Good News International Church had been cancelled on
May 19.
The
self-proclaimed pastor had urged followers of his movement to fast until death
in order to "meet Jesus", a case which shocked Kenyans after the
discovery of corpses in the Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi.
To date,
425 bodies have been found in this forest.
Although
most of the victims died of starvation, autopsies have also revealed that some,
including children, were strangled, beaten or suffocated.
The
authorities have also banned four other churches, including the New Life Prayer
Centre and Church run by Mackenzie-linked televangelist Ezekiel Odero.
Odero is
under investigation on charges of murder, aiding suicide, radicalization and
money laundering.
His
arrest in April followed the discovery of human remains in the Shakahola
forest.
Prosecutors
linked the two preachers, but Odero was released on bail in May, while last
week a court extended Mackenzie's detention by 47 days pending further
investigation.
A
predominantly Christian country, Kenya is faced with the uncontrolled
proliferation of churches and sects whose unscrupulous leaders border on
criminality.
Previous
attempts by the government to control these movements have met with fierce
opposition, with critics denouncing a breach of constitutional guarantees
concerning the separation of church and state.
There
are 4,000 registered churches in Kenya, a country of 53 million inhabitants,
according to government figures.
Many,
led by charismatic pastors, preach the so-called prosperity gospel, calling on
the faithful to make substantial donations to their church in return for the
promise of an improvement in their own financial situation.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/18/kenya-ban-on-churches-accused-of-murdering-starving-worshippers/
------
US Must
Reduce Aid Given To Israel, Says Republican Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at the
Republican Party of Iowa's Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., July
28, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/SCOTT MORGAN)
-----
By GABE
FRIEDMAN/JTA, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AUGUST
18, 2023
Vivek
Ramaswamy, a long-shot contender for the Republican presidential nomination,
said in an interview that the United States should reduce its aid to Israel.
In an
interview on Rumble, a platform popular with far-right viewers, Ramaswamy said
Israel should not get more aid than its Middle Eastern neighbors after 2028,
the year that the current US aid package of $38 billion expires.
Later on
Friday, he was referred to as a "promising candidate" by Elon Musk,
the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk reacted to a post shared by
former FOX News presenter Tucker Carlson showing a clip from an interview
conducted with Ramaswamy.
"Vivek
Ramaswamy is the youngest Republican presidential candidate ever. He's worth
listening to," Carlson wrote on X.
He said
that he would expand the Abraham Accords, the normalization deals between
Israel and Arab countries. After Israel is “more integrated” with its
neighboring countries, Ramaswamy said, Israel should be able to stand “on its
own two feet” financially.
“Come
2028, that additional aid won’t be necessary in order to still have the kind of
stability that we’d actually have in the Middle East by having Israel more
integrated in with its partners,” he said.
The
policy point separates Ramaswamy from his two main rivals vying for the
nomination — Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, who are staunch supporters of
Israel and its military. But it puts him in line with a growing number of
voices from across the ideological spectrum who say Israel should no longer get
as much from the United States as it has.
Ramaswamy,
a 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur, and investor, appeared on
comedian-turned-podcaster Russell Brand’s video show on Rumble. The comments on
aid to Israel were a response to a viewer's question.
He
argued that Israel should not receive preferential treatment from the United
States, even though “our relationship with Israel has advanced American
interests” over time. “There’s no North Star commitment to any one country,
other than the United States of America,” Ramaswamy said.
Ramaswamy’s
popularity is on the rise and he is now close behind DeSantis in national
polls. A Fox News survey published Wednesday found 11% of respondents support
him, compared to 16% for DeSantis and 53% for Trump.
Wider
Abraham Accords aid?
Ramaswamy
mentioned Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Indonesia as countries he would target
as Abraham Accords partners; while Saudi Arabia is deep in negotiations with
Israel and the United States about a possible Israel treaty, Oman recently
criminalized relations of any kind with Israel. Indonesia is also noted for its
high levels of antisemitism — FIFA, the world soccer body, this year moved its
under-20 World Cup from Indonesia to Argentina after the Southeast Asian nation
protested Israel’s inclusion in the event.
US aid
to Israel has become more of a campaign issue over the past two presidential
contests. In the lead-up to the 2020 election, prominent Democrats such as Sen.
Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought up the idea of
conditioning at least some aid over Israel’s policies, particularly those
involving the Palestinians.
In May,
Rep. Betsy McCollum, a longtime critic of Israel policy, re-introduced a bill
that would condition US aid to Israel. Sixteen progressive House
representatives co-sponsored the bill, including other prominent Israel critics
such as Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Pramila Jayapal.
More
recently, centrists and people on the right have joined in openly considering
reducing aid to Israel, though for different reasons. Last month, New York
Times columnist Nick Kristof floated ending aid to Israel entirely.
Ramaswamy
— who had before his campaign been a leading defender of Donald Trump in his
ongoing indictment crises — has also indicated he would pull back funding and
military support for other allies, including Ukraine and Taiwan.
He told
Jewish Insider in June that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had allowed
Jews and other minorities to be mistreated during the country’s war with
Russia. Zelensky himself is Jewish.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-755250
-------
Islamic Ideology
Council Of Pakistan Denounces Jaranwala Church Burning Incident
Protesters reportedly burned Bibles during the riot
-----
AUGUST
18, 2023
Council
of Islamic Ideology Chairman, Dr. Qibla Ayaz, Thursday vehemently denounced the
recent incidents that unfolded in Jaranwala, highlighting the disconnect
between such actions and the core principles of religion, national laws, and
societal norms.
He, in a
statement, asserted that the occurrences in Jaranwala stood in stark
contradiction to the teachings of Islam, which espoused reverence for places of
worship and religious symbols across all faiths. “Our religion and our nation’s
laws are rooted in respect, tolerance, and coexistence,” stated Dr. Ayaz
adding, “Acts of violence, targeting individuals based on their beliefs, or
attempting to take matters into one’s own hands due to alleged acts of
religious blasphemy find no endorsement within Islam,” he added.
The
chairman emphasized that legal recourse should be pursued without bias or
discrimination against any individuals involved in fomenting animosity and
hatred. “No matter the motivations, we are bound by our faith and our
Constitution to ensure that justice prevails. Those responsible for promoting
discord and hatred must be held accountable under the full extent of the law,”
he added.
Furthermore,
Dr. Ayaz urged the government to take immediate and comprehensive measures to
rehabilitate the affected homes and places of worship.
He
stressed that compensation should be extended to individuals who had suffered
losses to their private properties as a result of these distressing incidents.
In a
noteworthy development, the Council of Islamic Ideology, during its special
session (Session Number 226) convened on December 20, 2021, addressed the
Sialkot incident and presented a set of recommendations to the government.
The
council asserted that to deter the occurrence of such heinous events, stringent
punitive measures need to be implemented against the perpetrators involved. The
council’s recommendations included the establishment of specialized courts
dedicated to expeditiously handling cases related to such incidents.
These
courts, as proposed, would operate around the clock, ensuring prompt and fair
trials. The objective is to deliver tangible and appropriate penalties to those
responsible for inciting criminal activities, orchestrating such actions, and
utilizing places of worship to propagate divisive ideologies. Meanwhile, former
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman denounced the
Jaranwala incident in the strongest terms and called for a thorough and
impartial investigation to ensure accountability and justice into the matter.
Speaking
out against biased or one-sided positions, he, in a statement, emphasized the
importance of upholding the law without favoritism.
“The
responsibility of safeguarding the lives, property, and honor of every citizen,
regardless of their background, rests with the state,” the Mufti said who is
also the president of Tanzeem-ul-Madaris and Darul Uloom Naeemia, Karachi.
He
reiterated that the Constitution of Pakistan guaranteed the protection of all
citizens, including minorities such as Christians, and their places of worship.
He
further said, “Although we unequivocally denounce the harm inflicted upon the
churches and residences of Christians, we also assert the necessity to
elucidate that the motives behind this occurrence must be revealed, including
the identities of those who defiled the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Peace
Be Upon Him. Furthermore, it is imperative to ascertain the instigator behind
these actions and determine whether a distinct plan and conspiracy were
orchestrated.”
He
asserted that the demand for accountability required swift and decisive action
against individuals involved in incidents of sacrilege. He stressed the
importance of preventing public sentiment from escalating by promptly
addressing such matters within the framework of the law.
Source: dailytimes.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://dailytimes.com.pk/1123863/islamic-ideology-council-denounces-jaranwala-incident/
-----
India
Caught
In The Manipur Crossfire: A Look At The Muslim Meitei Pangals
By
Anjishnu Das
New
Delhi: August 12, 2023
On
August 6, three Meiteis were killed in Bishnupur district’s Kwakta town, where
a Muslim community called the Meitei Pangals make up more than 90% of the
population, according to Census 2011. Though they are not directly involved in
the conflict between the Meiteis and Kukis, they have been caught in the
crossfire.
Kwakta
town itself – given its location in Meitei-dominated Bishnupur district’s
border with Kuki-Zomi-dominated Churachandpur district – has been at the
crosshairs of the conflict for the past three months, leaving at least 12
injured.
But who
are the Meitei Pangals, and where do they stand in the context of Manipur’s
history and its current conflict?
The
Meitei Pangals
The
Meiteis are the largest ethnic group in Manipur, making up 53% of the state’s
population. More than 80% of the Meiteis are Hindu and just under 10% follow
Islam, as per Census 2011.
The
first Muslims are believed to have settled in Manipur around the early 17th
century. Though some scholars believe there was a small Muslim population in
Manipur before the 1600s, the first major wave of Muslim settlement began after
a failed invasion of the Manipuri kingdom, then known as Kangleipak.
An army
of Muslim soldiers from Sylhet (in present-day Bangladesh) was defeated and
captured by King Khagemba, the Manipuri ruler between 1597 and 1652. Khagemba
is said to have allowed the soldiers to settle in Manipur, where they
eventually assimilated into the local communities, marrying into Meitei
families and adopting the Meitei language as their mother tongue.
Muslim
migration from Bengal and other regions continued under Khagemba’s reign and
continued until the mid-19th century. The Manipuri kingdom employed many
Muslims in its military and administration. Muslim soldiers helped repel
invasions from Burma in the 18th century and by the British in the 19th
century.
The
descendents of the early Muslim migrants came to be known as Meitei Pangals.
Academics disagree on the origins of the term – some claim it is derived from
‘Mangal’, a local variation of the word ‘Mughal’, while others say it is
derived from ‘Bangal’, from where they had migrated in several waves.
Meitei-Pangal
riots of 1993
Though
they have belonged to the same ethnic group for centuries, the Hindu Meiteis
and Pangals have clashed in the past, most notably in the 1993 riots.
There
are conflicting reports on what sparked off the violence, with most accounts
attributing it to actions by Meitei rebels. On May 3, 1993, Meitei mobs
attacked Muslim settlements and businesses in the Muslim-dominated area of
Lilong in Thoubal district.
Ground
Report | ‘I’ve left it to God’: Imphal out of reach for many, Manipur’s
healthcare system is faltering
The
government put the death toll at around 100, though Pangal groups say it was
closer to 140.
Following
the riots, in September 1994, the Manipur government granted Other Backward
Classes (OBC) status to Meitei Pangals and introduced 4% reservation for them
in government jobs and higher education.
Muslims
in present-day Manipur
Data
from Census 2011 shows that Hindus and Christians make up about the same
proportion of Manipur’s population, at 41.4% and 41.3%, respectively. Muslims,
including Meitei Pangals, account for 8.4% of the population.
There
are four districts with sizeable Muslim populations – Thoubal, Imphal East,
Imphal West and Bishnupur. All four of these districts, however, have a Hindu
majority.
Nearly
half the state’s Muslim population lives in Thoubal, while accounting for only
a quarter of the district’s total population.
In
Kwakta, where three Meiteis were killed on Sunday, Muslims account for 91.5% of
the population, followed by Hindus at 5.7% and Christians at 0.3%. Kwakta is
close to the border between Bishnupur and Churachandpur, where 93% of the
population is Christian.
Manipur
has 60 Assembly seats, of which there are about 18 with large enough Muslim
populations to swing the vote. In the 2022 Assembly polls, parties fielded a
total of 16 Muslim candidates in just four of these seats, of whom only three
won.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/manipur-crossfire-meitei-pangals-8889093/
------
No
pick-and-choose policy behind Nuh demolitions: Haryana
August
19, 2023
Jagpreet
Singh Sandhu
DENYING
ANY “pick-and-choose policy” and maintaining that due procedure was followed,
the district administration has said that a total of 354 people were affected
by the recent demolition drive in Haryana’s Nuh, of which 283 were Muslims and
71 were Hindus.
Seeking
to put the numbers in perspective, it has cited the 2011 Census data to point
out that Muslims account for over 79 per cent of the total population in Nuh.
On
August 7, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had raised questions on the
demolition drive, asking whether properties of a “particular community” were
targeted “under the guise of a law and order problem”, and an “exercise of
ethnic cleansing” was being conducted. It had asked the state government to
file an affidavit on how many buildings had been demolished, and if any notice
was issued before demolition.
“The
total structures demolished were 443 of which 162 were permanent and 281 were
temporary. Similarly, the number of persons affected from the demolition drive were
354, of which 71 were Hindus and 283 were Muslims,” the Nuh Deputy
Commissioner, Dhirendra Khadgata, has said in a 400-page affidavit.
While
Additional Advocate General of Haryana, Deepak Sabherwal, sought to submit the
affidavit on Friday, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and
Justice Arun Palli directed him to file it in the court registry. The affidavit
is set to be filed on Saturday.
Citing
the 2011 Census, the affidavit said the district’s total population was
10,89,263, of which 79.20 per cent were Muslims and 20.37 per cent were Hindus.
“The Census of 2011 clearly shows that Nuh is a Muslim-dominated district.
Further, the projected population of Nuh in 2023 is 14,21,933. It is pertinent
to mention that in Punhana tehsil of Nuh district, Muslims make up 87 per cent
of the population and 85 per cent in Ferozepur Jhirka,” the affidavit said.
It said
that due procedure of law was followed before the demolitions. “The government,
while removing encroachments/ unauthorised constructions, never adopted
pick-and-choose policy and that too on caste, creed or religion,” it said.
“The
apex court and the high court have time and again directed the state
governments and local authorities to demolish/ remove unauthorised
encroachments by way of permanent /temporary constructions on government/
panchayat/ local bodies’ lands. The demolitions in question were routine
measures taken by independent local authorities against the owners/ occupiers
or illegal structures and that too after following the due procedure of law,”
it said.
In a
similar reply, Nishant Kumar Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon, which
also saw a demolition drive, has submitted that action was taken to remove
unauthorised structures in compliance with the court’s directions.
“Due
procedure of law has been followed before demolition of these constructions. No
demolition was carried out without following the procedure of law. It is also
pertinent to mention that the government while removing encroachments/
unauthorised constructions never adopted pick-and-chose policy and that too on
the basis of caste, creed or religion,” the Gurgaon district administration has
said.
In
Political Pulse | Nuh communal flare-up: What is the yatra during which
violence began?
“The
state government while collecting such information on encroachment does not
collect any information with regard to caste, creed and religion, and all the
encroachers are dealt with in the same manner,” it has said.
Speaking
to reporters outside the court, Additional Advocate General of Haryana, Deepak
Sabherwal, said all the structures that were demolished in Gurgaon belonged to
Hindus.
The
demolition drive in Nuh began on August 3, days after the district saw communal
violence during a yatra organised by the VHP and Bajrang Dal on July 31. Six
persons, including two home guards, were killed in the clashes. Many of those
affected by the demolition drive had alleged that they did not receive prior
notice.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/most-properties-razed-in-nuh-muslims-80-of-population-haryana-tells-hc-8898548/
-------
Africa
Angola's
President has called on the member states of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) to speed up the ratification of the operationalisation of the
Development Fund, a "key tool" for raising finance for the regional
industrialisation programme.
19 Aug
2023
João
Lourenço said this Thursday when he accepted the one-year rotating presidency
of SADC, pledged to work on diversifying the sources of funding for projects
and programmes at member state and regional level, with a view to reducing
"the level of dependence on the always helpful and remarkable solidarity
of our international cooperation partners".
"We
will pay particular attention to the need to operationalise the Regional
Development Fund and other existing investment attraction mechanisms,"
said Lourenço.
The
Angolan President called on member states "to speed up the approval and
rectification of the agreement on the operationalisation of the SADC Regional
Development Fund, a key tool for attracting essential financial
resources," in pursuit of the "regional industrialisation programme
and consequently the fulfilment of the SADC regional integration agenda."
During
his term in office, João Lourenço stressed that, in addition to investing in
human capital, in order for the member states and the region to industrialise,
there needs to be a serious investment in electrification, a considerable
increase in the production of ethanol and in the production of food.
During
his mandate, João Lourenço stressed that, in addition to investing in human
capital, in order to industrialise the member states and the region, there
needs to be a serious commitment to electrification, a considerable increase in
energy production and sharing by interconnecting their transmission network
systems.
"But
we also need to expand and interconnect our road and rail networks, to
guarantee greater maritime and air links between our countries so that there is
a greater flow of trade and movement of people and goods, so that there is real
regional integration," he stressed.
The
Angolan head of state emphasised that the Portuguese-speaking country "is
making a great effort to recover and build infrastructure, such as the Lobito
corridor, which will facilitate the interconnection and movement of people and
goods between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans," and to place export
products on international markets under more advantageous conditions.
"We
are also investing seriously in increasing energy production from non-polluting
sources and in transmission networks. In the field of telecommunications,
Angola has invested in a fibre optic cable that already connects us to the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, with the prospect of expanding to the
SADC region and East African states," he said, also highlighting
investments in the construction of a satellite and oil refineries.
According
to João Lourenço, during his presidency there will be "a strong focus on
human capital", with the main challenge being the training and
technical-vocational qualification of young people, with a view to obtaining
skills that facilitate access to employment, to ensure that they are prepared
to face the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution and the
digitalisation of the region's economies.
Among
the challenges, João Lourenço emphasised the issue of security in the region,
such as the situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRCongo), where he has been "developing joint efforts between the ICGLR
[International Conference on the Great Lakes Region], CEAAC [Economic Community
of Central African States], SADC and the African Union to resolve the intractable
conflict in this region of the brother country".
"At
SADC level, we must applaud the decision to approve the deployment of a
regional force within the framework of the SADC Standby Force, as a regional
response to efforts to restore peace and security in the territory of the
Democratic Republic of Congo," he emphasised.
Regarding
the situation in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, João Lourenço welcomed the progress
made, despite the fact that the challenge of combating terrorism and violent
extremism still prevails in that Mozambican province, and welcomed the decision
to maintain the SADC mission in the Lusophone country for another 12 months.
During
Angola's mandate, the SADC region will see elections in DRCongo, the kingdom of
Eswatini, Madagascar and Zimbabwe, which the regional organisation will monitor
in order to guarantee "peaceful, free and fair elections, in harmony with
the principles and guidelines that govern the holding of elections in the
region," noted João Lourenço.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/18/angola-takes-up-one-year-rotating-presidency-of-regional-bloc-sadc/
------
Burkina
Faso: ex-minister sentenced to 7 years in prison for "misappropriation of
public funds
18 Aug
2023
Vincent
Dabilgou, Burkina Faso's former Minister of Transport, was sentenced on
Thursday to eleven years in prison, seven of them firm, for "embezzlement
of public funds", "illicit enrichment" and "money
laundering", AFP has learned from judicial sources.
Mr.
Dabilgou was a minister from 2018 to 2022, under the presidency of Roch Marc
Christian Kaboré, overthrown by a putsch in January 2022.
The
Ouagadougou High Court found Mr. Dabilgou "guilty" of
"embezzlement of public funds", involving 1.12 billion FCFA (around
1.7 million euros), "illicit enrichment", "money
laundering" and "concealed financing of a political party",
notably the New Time for Democracy (NTD), the party he chairs.
He will
also have to pay a fine of 3.3 billion FCFA (4.7 million euros) and the
activities of his party have been suspended.
Four
other people, including two of Mr. Dabilgou's former colleagues at the Ministry
of Transport, also received prison sentences ranging from six to eleven years
and heavy fines.
The
court also ordered the confiscation of the former minister's assets, in the
amount of the sums embezzled to the Treasury, and declared him ineligible for
five years.
The NTD,
a former presidential party, took 13 deputy seats in the 2020 legislative
elections, up from 3 in 2015.
On
September 30, 2022, a coup d'état brought Captain Ibrahim Traoré to power in
Ouagadougou, overthrowing Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba, who had led the
first putsch toppling President Kaboré a few months earlier.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/18/burkina-faso-ex-minister-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison-for-misappropriation-of-public-fun/
-------
Mali
receives UN chief for Peace Operations, discuss withdrawal of MINUSMA troops
19 Aug
2023
Mali has
welcomed Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for
Peace Operations, for a two-day working visit. The purpose of his visit was to
meet with national authorities in preparation for the planned withdrawal of the
UN mission by December 31.
The
first part of his visit took him to the city of Mopti, where he was accompanied
by the head of MINUSMA, El-Ghassim Wane. In Mopti, they were received by the
city's governor, Colonel Major Abass Dembele.
“We
discussed the importance of preserving the gains from MINUSMA's presence as
much as possible and, naturally, the significance of ensuring all conditions
are met for MINUSMA's withdrawal to take place under the best possible
circumstances" says La Croix.
The
United Nations Security Council in July unaminously voted to end its
decade-long peacekeeping mission in Mali after a request from its military
government to withdraw the troops.
The UN
Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA) was established by
the Security Council in 2013 to deal with the uprising by armed groups linked
to al-Qaeda in northern Mali.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/18/mali-receives-un-chief-for-peace-operations-discuss-withdrawal-of-minusma-troops/
-------
More
than 300, 000 Sudanese refugees seek sanctuary in Chad
18 Aug
2023
Over
300,000 refugees have fled Sudan's conflict seeking safety and refuge in Chad,
joining the 580,000 already there.
“Chad
has been generously welcoming in Sudanese refugees, but Chad itself is a
low-income, crisis-affected country,” says IRC president and CEO, David
Miliband.
According
to the UNHCR, 90 percent of those arriving from Sudan are women and children.
One-fifth of young children who have arrived in Chad are experiencing acute
malnourishment, which is potentially life-threatening.
“The
fact that women and children make up such a large proportion of the new
arrivals in Chad is particularly worrying because they are often the most
vulnerable groups in conflict situations,” explains Aleksandra Roulet-Cimpric,
the IRC’s country director in Chad. “Women and children are at greater risk of
violence, exploitation, and abuse, and they may also face difficulties
accessing basic necessities such as food, water and healthcare.”
Despite
the urgent need to support Sudanese refugees arriving in Chad, international
donors have fallen short of funding the humanitarian response in the country.
“Out of
the requested $226 million USD to respond to this crisis, only a mere 11
percent of the required funding has been raised,” explains Mwiti Mungania, the
IRC’s emergency country director in Chad. “Urgent action is needed to bridge
this funding gap and ensure that the necessary resources reach those in
desperate need.”
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/18/more-than-300-000-sudanese-refugees-seek-sanctuary-in-chad/
------
Mideast
Vehicle
speeds towards Israeli Police while they investigate death in Shuafat
By
JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AUGUST
19, 2023
Jerusalem
District police officers and Border Police officers opened fire on a vehicle
that sped towards them and tried to hit them at the Shuafat refugee camp on
Friday night.
A young
man from the village of Hizma, in his 20s, was seriously injured and was taken
to receive medical treatment, as a result of the shooting.
Another
passenger sitting in the suspect vehicle was arrested by the forces, after he
attempted to harm the police officers at the scene, according to a police
spokesperson.
An
inspection of the vehicle used in the attack revealed that it had falsified
license plates, police are currently investigating the situation.
During
the arrest, stones were thrown at Israeli police operating there. As a result,
they were forced to use measures intended to disperse the rioters.
Police
had been called to the neighborhood after a 3-year-old girl fell from a balcony
in her house in the neighborhood. The girl was taken to hospital but was
pronounced dead on arrival.
The girl
named, Norsin al-Kharob, fell from her balcony earlier in the night with
residents saying "She was playing on the balcony before she fell to her
death," Ynet quoted them as saying. Police have opened an investigation
into her death.
The link
between the two events is not yet known, however, it is not uncommon for police
to be attacked by residents of the neighborhood during operations in the area.
Border Police
Officer Asil Suaed was killed in February when a 13-year-old Palestinian
stabbed him to death while police were conducting routine security checks on a
bus at a checkpoint in Shuafat.
During
the operation to arrest the terrorist's family, officers were also attacked by
a driver who attempted to run them over, officers responded in a similar manner
shooting at the driver, before arresting him.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-755327
------
Suspect
in bloody attack in Syria dies in Beirut – Lebanese media
REUTERS
August
19, 2023
BEIRUT:
A Syrian youth suspected of carrying out an attack that killed at least six
people in Damascus in July died after he threw himself from a building during a
raid in Beirut, Lebanese media and a security source said on Saturday.
The
23-year-old from Syria’s Al-Tal region entered Lebanon illegally and settled
with his relatives in Al-Salam, a southern suburb of Beirut, the security
source said.
“Members
of Hezbollah group raided the site, and when he learned that his whereabouts
had been discovered, he threw himself from the seventh floor and was taken to
St. George Hospital, where he died,” the source said.
The
source added that two of his relatives were detained.
Syrian
state media said on July 27 that a bomb planted in a vehicle exploded outside
the Sayeda Zeinab shrine city south of the capital Damascus, killing several
people and wounding others.
On the
following day, the Daesh claimed responsibility for the attack.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357611/middle-east
----
Iran’s
foreign minister meets with Saudi crown prince
ARAB
NEWS
August
18, 2023
RIYADH:
Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with Saudi Arabia’s Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The
meeting came as part of the Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Riyadh on his
first trip to Saudi Arabia since a landmark rapprochement deal in March.
Both
officials reviewed bilateral ties and explored future opportunities for
cooperation between both countries. They also discussed latest international
and regional developments.
Amir-Abdollahian
conveyed the greetings of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Saudi King Salman
and the crown prince.
Amir-Abdollahian
said the 90-minute meeting with the crown prince was ‘a frank, frank,
beneficial and productive conversation based on neighborhood policy.’
“With
the will of the heads of the two countries, stable bilateral relations were
emphasized in all fields. We agree on ‘security and development for all’ in the
region, the Iran top envoy posted on Twitter.
Saudi
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was present at the meeting, along
with an Iranian delegation that accompanied Amir-Abdollahian.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357326/saudi-arabia
------
Fears
for displaced as Sudan war spreads in Darfur
18
August 2023
AFP
August
18, 2023
WAD
MADANI: Fighting between two rival generals has spread to cities in war-ravaged
Sudan’s south, witnesses said Friday, raising concerns for hundreds of thousands
who have fled violence in the Darfur region.
The vast
western region as well as the capital Khartoum have seen some of the worst
bloodshed since fighting erupted on April 15 between Sudan’s army and the
paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Battles
resumed late Thursday in the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher, witnesses
said, disrupting nearly two months of calm in the densely populated city that
has become a shelter from the shelling, looting, rapes and summary executions
reported in other parts of Darfur.
“This is
the biggest gathering of civilians displaced in Darfur, with 600,000 people in
El Fasher,” said Nathaniel Raymond of the Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale
School of Public Health.
One
resident told AFP: “As night fell, we heard battles with heavy weapons from the
city’s east.”
Witnesses
also reported fighting in Al-Fulah, the capital of West Kordofan state which
border Darfur.
The
conflict had already expanded to North Kordofan state, a commercial and
transportation hub between Khartoum and parts of Sudan’s south and west.
Numerous
rights groups and witnesses who fled Darfur have reported the massacre of
civilians and ethnically driven attacks and killings, largely by paramilitary
forces and their allied Arab tribal militias.
Many
have fled across the western border to neighboring Chad, while others have
sought refuge in other parts of Darfur, where the International Criminal Court
is looking into allegations of war crimes.
The
region has long been the site of deadly fighting since a war that erupted in
2003 and saw the feared Janjaweed -precursors of the RSF- unleashed on ethnic
minority rebels.
Fighting
in the latest conflict has concentrated on El Geneina, the capital of West
Darfur state, where the United Nations suspects crimes against humanity have
been committed.
Nyala,
Sudan’s second city and capital of South Darfur state, has been in the throes
of recent fighting, with reports of thousands of residents fleeing.
The
United States on Thursday urged the warring sides “to cease renewed fighting in
Nyala... and other populated areas, which has caused death and destruction”.
“We are
particularly alarmed by reports of indiscriminate shelling carried out by both”
parties, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
“Every
day this senseless conflict continues, more innocent civilians are killed,
wounded, and left without homes, food or livelihoods.”
Further
east, a resident of Al-Fulah said “the RSF are confronting the army and the
police, and public buildings have been set on fire during their fire
exchanges”.
“Shops
were looted and there are dead on both sides, but no one can get to the bodies
in this chaos,” said another witness in Al-Fulah.
The
conflict has killed at least 3,900 people nationwide, according to a
conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
The
actual toll is believed to be much higher, as the fighting restricts access to
many areas.
The
heads of 20 global humanitarian organizations said in a joint statement on
Tuesday the international community has “no excuse” to stall on helping
civilians.
It noted
that two appeals for aid to support some 19 million Sudanese “are just over
27-percent funded. Please change that”.
The
signatories pointed out that more than 14 million children need humanitarian
aid and over four million people have fled the fighting, either within Sudan or
as refugees to neighboring states.
With the
arrival of the rainy season in June, epidemic risks have multiplied and damage
to crops risks exacerbating food insecurity.
The
United Nations voiced particular concern for women and girls caught up in the
conflict, amid “shocking incidence of sexual violence, including rape”.
Leila
Baker of the United Nations Population Fund said this week that “we’ve seen an
increase of more than 900 percent in the conflict areas of gender-based
violence”.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357276/middle-east
-----
Kuwait hails
‘successful’ Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Riyadh
ARAB
NEWS
August
18, 2023
KUWAIT:
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah praised his
Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
In a
statement released by Kuwait’s foreign ministry, Al-Sabah voiced hope that the
visit would be “the start of a bright chapter in the history of Gulf-Iranian
relations built on the principles of good neighborliness ties, non-interference
in the internal affairs of other countries, cooperation and dialogue.”
He noted
that the Saudi-Iranian ties would contribute to achieving peace, stability and
prosperity in the region and would be a factor in empowering countries to face
future challenges.
Amir-Abdollahian
arrived Thursday in Riyadh on his first trip to Saudi Arabia since a landmark
rapprochement deal in March.
The
Kuwaiti foreign minister said the visit reflected the keenness of both
countries to restore bilateral ties and preserve regional security and
stability.
He also
hailed China’s mediation in the rapprochement of relations and the efforts of
Iraq and Oman in facilitating talks.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357261/middle-east
-------
No plans
for foreign naval base, Libyan regime says
AFP
August
18, 2023
TRIPOLI:
Libya’s UN-recognized unity government has dismissed accusations it had
promised part of Al-Khoms to its ally Turkiye as a naval base after days of
protests in the port city.
“What is
being said about the state ceding or authorizing the use of the maritime port
of Al-Khoms as a foreign naval base is incorrect and without foundation,”
government spokesman Mohamed Hamuda said in a dockside visit, accompanied by
top naval and port officials.
His
comments followed days of protests in the city 120 km east of Tripoli, during
which access roads to the docks have been blocked with burning tires.
Calling
on residents to exercise restraint, Hamuda warned that anyone who harmed the
public interest would face prosecution.
Prime
Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah “attaches great importance” to the port, one of
the busiest in Libya, and has plans to expand it to boost foreign trade, the
spokesman said.
Libya
has seen more than a decade of stop-start conflict since a NATO-backed revolt
toppled longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, with a myriad of militias
forming opposing alliances backed by foreign powers.
Turkiye
has been the key supporter of Dbeibah’s Tripoli-based regime which vies for
authority with another in the east backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357506/middle-east
------
UN says
forced to cut Yemen rations, compounding food crisis
AFP
August
18, 2023
DUBAI:
More than four million Yemenis will receive less food assistance as a result of
funding shortages, compounding one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises,
the UN’s food agency warned Friday.
The
World Food Programme said “a deeper funding crisis for its Yemen operations
from the end of September onward... will force WFP to make difficult decisions
about further cuts to our food assistance programs across the country in the
coming months.”
Without
new funding, it expects more than four million people will receive less food
assistance, many of them women and children already suffering from some of the
highest malnutrition rates in the world.
With
major cuts announced across different programs, the actual number of people
affected could be higher.
“We are
confronted with the incredibly tough reality of making decisions to take food
from the hungry to feed the starving,” said Richard Ragan, WFP’s Yemen
representative.
The UN
agency was “fully cognizant of the suffering these cuts will cause,” he said in
a statement.
Yemen,
the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, is already in the grips of one of the
planet’s worst humanitarian crises after eight years of war, according to the
United Nations.
The conflict
broke out in 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa,
prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year to prop up the
internationally recognized government.
Although
fighting has remained largely on hold since a six-month truce expired in
October, the United Nations says current hunger levels are unprecedented.
Seventeen
million Yemenis are experiencing food insecurity, and one million women and 2.2
million children under five require treatment for acute malnutrition, the UN
says.
For the
next six months, WFP said it requires $1.05 billion in funding, only 28 percent
of which has been secured.
“Yemen
will remain one of WFP’s largest food assistance operations, but these cuts
represent a significant reduction to the agency’s programs in the country,” it
said.
“The
funding shortages are happening at a time of more people becoming severely
malnourished.”
The
World Food Programme was forced to slash food aid for 13 million Yemenis by
more than 50 percent in June last year because of a funding squeeze.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357321/middle-east
------
Russian
drone team was stuck in Iranian hotel during alleged Israeli strike - report
By
JERUSALEM POST STAFF
AUGUST
17, 2023
A
Russian team visiting Iran to gain expertise on drone manufacturing had to
shelter in their hotel after an Israeli strike targeted a weapons factory in
Isfahan in January, the Washington Post reported on Friday.
The team
was part of efforts to establish a drone production facility in Russia which
the help of Iran, which would produce a variant of the Iranian Shahed-136 drone
known as the Geran 2.
The new
facility, located in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the Republic of
Tatarstan about 900 km east of Moscow, is intended to produce drones on a
larger scale than Iran, but so far is at least a month behind schedule and is
seemingly still unable to produce full drones.
The
Washington Post obtained documents revealing information about the Alabuga
facility from an individual involved in the efforts at the site who is opposed
to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
“This
was the only thing I could do to at least stop and maybe create some obstacles
to the implementation of this project,” said the individual to the Washington
Post, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “It has gone too far.”
Russia
making progress in domestically producing variants of Iranian drones
The
Conflict Armament Research weapons-tracking group reported that after examining
two drones downed in Ukraine in July, the design and key components of the
drones appear to show that Russia has begun producing and using its own
domestically-produced version of the Shahed-136.
The
documents obtained by the Washington Post were reviewed by the Institute for
Science and International Security at the request of the newspaper. According
to the Institute, the documents show that Alabuga has been "highly
dependent" on Iran for designs, manufacturing, and quality control.
According
to the report, hundreds of Russian employees and students have been sent to
Iran to receive relevant training.
Alleged
Israeli strike in Isfahan disrupted Russian training visit
While
one of those groups was visiting Isfahan in January, a drone strike which Iran
blamed on Israel targeted a weapons factory in the city. While Iran's Defense
Ministry claimed the strike was unsuccessful, video from the scene showed a
large explosion hitting the roof of the facility, which is believed to have
been linked to the production of drones and missiles.
According
to the report, the Alabuga team was forbidden from leaving their hotel after
the strike as Iranian officials were concerned further strikes might target
facilities the group was set to tour.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-755230
------
Turkish
Cypriot forces assault Cyprus peacekeepers: UN
AFP
August
18, 202
NICOSIA:
Turkish Cypriot forces were accused of assaulting UN peacekeepers on Friday as
they attempted to block the construction of a controversial road in the buffer
zone dividing Cyprus, drawing international condemnation.
The
confrontation occurred in Pyla, an ethnically mixed village in the UN-patrolled
area between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus in the south and
a breakaway Turkish Cypriot statelet in the north.
Video
widely shared on social media showed bulldozers pushing away UN-marked SUVs,
cement barriers and razor wire as well as a posse of Turkish Cypriot police
forcing back peacekeepers in blue berets. AFP could not immediately
independently verify the footage.
The UN
mission said its peacekeepers were assaulted as they tried to block the
"unauthorised construction work" near Pyla, the only village where
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live side by side.
"The
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus condemns the assaults against UN
peacekeepers and damage to UN vehicles by personnel from the Turkish Cypriot
side this morning," UNFICYP said.
Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres said the UN chief "stresses that threats to the safety of
UN peacekeepers and damage to UN property are unacceptable and may constitute
serious crimes under international law," said Stephane Dujarric.
European
Union member Cyprus denounced what it called "organised incidents caused
by the Turkish occupying forces... and the unacceptable attack against British
and Slovak members of the UN peacekeeping force".
The EU
also condemned the incident, as well as Britain, France and the United States,
who in a joint statement expressed "serious concern at the launch of
unauthorised construction" of the road.
The
authorities in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who say
the road project is aimed at easing the plight of its people, dismissed the UN
mission's allegations as "baseless".
"Our
expectation from UNFICYP... is to review its biased stance, put an immediate
end to its physical interferences and blockage efforts" of the roadworks,
the TRNC said in a statement.
An
official said Turkish Cypriot police and military in plain clothes had punched
a peacekeeper and assaulted a dozen others by "pushing them back
violently".
A
tractor was used to drag a UN vehicle out of the way and major damage had been
caused to three vehicles, said the official who spoke to AFP on condition of
anonymity.
In its
statement, the UN mission urged the Turkish Cypriot side to "respect the
mission's mandated authority inside the UN buffer zone, refrain from any
actions that could escalate tensions further, and withdraw all personnel and
machinery from the UN buffer zone immediately".
UNFICYP
said it was determined to block any construction work and would remain in the
area.
"The
mission is monitoring the situation closely and remains committed to ensuring
calm and stability are maintained in the area," it said.
Cyprus
government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis accused the Turkish side of
trying to create new "faits accomplis" at Pyla by constructing a road
connecting the "occupied village of Arsos with a forward illegal military
outpost".
The
spokesman described the Turkish road project as "an attempt at a very
serious violation of the status quo".
The
Turkish Cypriot authorities said the road project had a "humanitarian
objective" that was "aimed at providing ease of access to TRNC
territory for our citizens living in the village of Pile".
They
said that despite this, the UN peacekeepers had "physically assaulted...
our road construction teams as well as our police, who are present in the area
only to provide safety. This stance displayed by UNFICYP is unacceptable."
Cyprus
has been divided since 1974 when Turkish forces occupied its northern third in
response to a military coup sponsored by the junta then in power in Greece.
The
statehood of the republic Turkish Cypriot leaders proclaimed in 1983 is
recognised only by Ankara.
Efforts
to reunify Cyprus have been at a standstill since the last round of UN-backed
talks collapsed in 2017.
Turkish
Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, a protege of Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, has urged the international community to "acknowledge the
existence" of two states in Cyprus.
His
calls for a two-state solution have been rejected by the Greek Cypriot
leadership of the Republic of Cyprus who say they still want a bi-zonal,
bi-communal federation in line with successive UN peace plans.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357266/middle-east
-----
Pakistan
Friday
Sermons To Focus On Minority Rights: Punjab Caretaker CM Naqvi
August
18, 2023
Punjab
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Friday sermons across the
province today will focus on minority rights as mentioned in the Holy Quran.
The
minister's statement comes two days after the Christian community in
Faisalabad's Jaranwala was attacked over blasphemy allegations.
Multiple
churches in a Christian neighbourhood of Jaranwala tehsil were attacked on
Wednesday by an enraged mob over an act of alleged desecration of the Holy
Quran.
Read
Targeted Christians found shelter with Muslims during Jaranwala rampage
The
attack had continued for more than 10 hours without any intervention by police
who were at the scene, residents and community leaders had said. Police had
denied the accusation, saying security forces had prevented an even worse
situation.
Taking
to the social media platform X, Naqvi said, "Today Friday's sermons across
Punjab will focus on the Rights of Minorities, teaching from the Holy Quran and
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)."
"Amid
challenging times, let's emphasise that such incidents should not be coloured
by religion. Interfaith, [and] harmony is among the basic teachings of Islam,"
he added.
A day
earlier, the interim CM said that the provincial government would
"restore" all the churches and the homes of the Christian community
which were attacked and torched during the mob violence.
FIR
lodged
After
outrage and calls for justice from all sections of society, the police
reportedly lodged two FIRs booking hundreds of unidentified men and a handful
of named suspects, who allegedly led the mob.
The
district administration also imposed Section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC)
banning all kinds of assembly, except for government events, in the area for
seven days.
Pakistan
affirms minority rights
Foreign
Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch on Thursday said Pakistan was fully
determined to protect and promote the constitutionally guaranteed rights and
freedoms of the individuals belonging to religious minorities.
In a
statement, she said as a country of law and constitution, Pakistan could not
accept the intolerant and violent acts in yesterday's incident in Faisalabad.
The
statement came as the United States on Wednesday had urged Pakistan to
investigate mob attacks against churches and Christian homes that broke out in
Punjab.
Source: tribune.com.pk/
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431309/cm-naqvi-says-friday-sermons-to-focus-on-minority-rights
------
Caretaker
PM vows to ensure protection of minorities in Pakistan
August
18, 2023
Caretaker
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has expressed firm resolve to ensure that
minorities in Pakistan stay protected and rule of law is established at any
cost.
He was
speaking during first meeting of the caretaker federal cabinet in Islamabad on
Friday.
Strongly
deploring the Jaranwala incident, the Prime Minister said Pakistan is owned and
shared by multiple ethnicities and religions and any extreme attitude like the
one exhibited in Jaranwala will be unwelcomed and dealt with iron hands.
He said
we strongly discourage rigidity either in the garb of religion or secularism
and no one will be allowed to create anarchy or chaos in the country.
Highlighting
the key priorities of the caretaker government, the Prime Minister said in the
current polarized environment, we will try to differentiate between politics
and law and lay a solid foundation for continuity of the country's national and
international commitments. He added that
in the same spirit of continuity we will move forward to work with the support
of all state institutions on different development initiatives especially the
Special Investment Facilitation Council which aims at realizing the full
potential of country's natural resources.
Alluding
to the incidents of May 9, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar strongly condemned the way state
buildings, national symbols and memorials of war heroes were attacked.
He vowed
that justice will be done and those involved in these attacks will be dealt
with in accordance with law.
Talking
about Kashmir issue, the Prime Minister said Kashmir is a core problem, which
cannot be ignored as it lies in our souls and for us Kashmir is eternal.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/18-08-2023/caretaker-pm-vows-to-ensure-protection-of-minorities-in-pakistan
------
ECP
defends move to delay polls beyond 90-day limit
August
19, 2023
Iftikhar
A. Khan
•
Asserts fresh electoral rolls, delimitation are constitutional requirements,
foregoing them would deprive voters of ‘true representation’
• Says
substantial changes have occurred in population of provinces, constituencies
ISLAMABAD:
Just a day after announcing a delimitation schedule that all but confirmed that
polls would be delayed for longer than the stipulated 90-day period, the
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) defended its move, saying the exercise
was a constitutional requirement for holding polls, and that without fresh
delimitation of constituencies and updated electoral rolls, voters will not
have true representation in parliament.
The ECP
expects to complete the process of fresh delimitation of national and
provincial assembly constituencies by December 14 — over a month beyond the
constitutionally-mandated deadline for conducting general elections in the
country.
The
commission has held that carrying out fresh delimitation of constituencies
prior to ensuing general polls on the basis of the last preceding census
officially published in 2023 was a mandatory requirement of law.
In a
written order on the question of delimitation after official notification of
the census results, it said that fresh delimitation of constituencies was
essential to ensure the fulfilment of duty under Article 218(3) of the
Constitution, and for the true representation to the electorate, political
parties and contesting candidates to protect their fundamental rights as
guaranteed under Article 17(2) of the Constitution so that elections are
conducted “honestly, justly and fairly”.
The
order, a copy of which is available with Dawn, says that Section 17(2) of the
Elections Act, 2017, provides that the commission shall delimit constituencies
after every census officially published.
It says
in order to resolve the issue of fresh delimitation before ensuing general
elections, the commission considered the provisions of the articles 17, 218(3),
219, 222(b), 224(2), 254 of the Constitution and Section 17(2) of the Elections
Act, 2017, and the judgements of the Supreme Court including the one in Federation
of Pakistan versus Haji Muhammad Saifullah Khan case reported in PLD 1989,
SC-166.
The
order says the arrangements mentioned in Article 218(3) were not limited to the
appointment of DROs, ROs, AROs, printing of ballot papers, but also include
preparation of updated electoral rolls in terms of Article 2l9(a) and
delimitation of constituencies.
It says
as a consequence of population census officially published, substantial changes
in the population in the provinces and constituencies at district level have occurred.
The commission states that Clause (a) of Article 219 of the Constitution casts
duty upon the commission to prepare electoral rolls for election to the
National Assembly, provincial assembly and local governments and to revise such
rolls periodically to keep them up-to-date.
It
further says that after the publication of seventh population census,
approximately 20,805 census blocks have increased, some have been merged while
others have split, for which revision/update of the electoral rolls was necessary
to adjust the registered voters in accordance with census charges, circles and
blocks according to census 2023.
Provision
of true representation to the electorate is one of constitutional duties of the
Commission in terms of Article 218(3) and bedrock of the parliamentary
democracy and apart from being the fundamental right of the contesting
candidates, political parties and electorate in terms of Article 7(2) of the
Constitution.
It says
the Supreme Court in the cases of Benazir Bhutto versus Federation of Pakistan
and Ch. Nasir Iqbal versus Federation of Pakistan held that right to vote,
right to contest election and right to form a political party were fundamental
rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
“Without
fresh delimitation of constituencies, and updated electoral rolls, none of the
voters of constituencies, contesting candidates and political parties will have
true representation in the parliament and provincial assemblies which is the
fundamental principle of constitutional democracy as envisaged by the
Constitution,” it says.
The
order says different provisions of the Constitution were to be read together,
reconciled and harmonised to give a meaningful interpretation of the
Constitution. It adds the delimitation of constituencies and updated and
error-free electoral rolls after each population census officially published
were prerequisites for elections.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1770933/ecp-defends-move-to-delay-polls-beyond-90-day-limit
------
SC moved
for action against Jaranwala church attackers
August
19, 2023
Nasir
Iqbal
ISLAMABAD:
As Voice of Christians International (VCI) on Friday urged the Supreme Court to
take action against the tragic Jaranwala incident in which 20 churches and
dozens of homes were damaged, prominent Islamic scholars also made a similar
request to the government.
In a
single-page application moved under Order 33 Rule 6 of the Supreme Court Rules
1980, VCI Director for Human Rights Samuel Makson asked the apex court to take
action to meet the ends of justice.
The
applicant said he wanted to bring on record the Aug 16 brutal incident which
resulted in the burning of a number of churches, Holy Bibles and the houses of
the residents of the Christian community in the area.
He
recalled that the top court was already seized with a case relating to the
implementation of a 2014 judgement on minorities’ rights for promoting a
culture of religious and social tolerance.
Against teachings
of Islam
Mr
Makson’s move to approach the apex court coincided with clerics declaring the
Jaranwala rampage against the teachings of Islam. They called on the government
to take strict action against the perpetrators of the attacks.
Addressing
a press conference in Lahore, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana
Abul Khabir Azad said a high-level commission should be constituted to probe
the tragedy.
Maulana
Azad said that neither Islam nor Shariah allowed the burning of anyone’s house
or place of worship. He said that burning a settlement after cases had been
registered against those allegedly involved in the desecration of the Holy
Quran is intolerable.
The
Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman said it was the responsibility of the Islamic
state to ensure the protection of minorities, as the Constitution also says
that the protection of minorities should be ensured.
He said
they strongly condemned the Jaranwala tragedy as Pakistan is facing many
challenges at the moment and “the enemy is plotting to make us fight against
each other”.
He
called upon the state to take action against the person involved in blasphemy,
adding that individuals cannot be allowed to try any suspects by holding courts
on roads.
Taking
to X (formerly Twitter), prominent religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani called
the Jaranwala incident “shameful” and “highly condemnable”.
“If
someone has committed an unlawful act, no one is authorised to take law in his
hand and burn the church or assault any peaceful Christian citizen,” he stressed.
Mufti
Taqi further stated that the incident was “totally against the basic and
classic Islamic teachings” and “is tantamount to defacing Islam and Muslims”.
He called on the government to take action against it.
Pakistan,
Maulana Azad said, belongs to everyone. “Whether it is the Holy Quran, Torah or
Zabur … their respect and honour is a part of our faith.”
The SC
verdict
In 2014,
the SC had decreed the law enforcement agencies to promptly register criminal
cases for desecrating the places of worships of minorities or violation of any
of their rights guaranteed under the law.
The
verdict had also asked the federal government to ensure that hate speeches on
social media are discouraged and delinquents are brought to justice.
The
verdict had come on suo motu proceedings initiated upon the Sept 22, 2013,
Peshawar church bomb attack which claimed 81 lives.
The
32-page judgement had also asked for the constitution of a national council for
minority rights.
Amjad
Mahmood in Lahore also contributed to this report
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1770939/sc-moved-for-action-against-jaranwala-church-attackers
-----
PM
rebukes elements behind mob violence
August 19, 2023
ISLAMABAD
/ LAHORE: Caretaker prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Friday delivered a
forceful rebuke to elements involved in the ransacking and burning of churches
in Jaranwala earlier this week, even as senior officials cast doubts on the
veracity of the blasphemy allegations that prompted the melee.
“The
Pakistani state and society does not align and identify with such elements.
They may be from us but they are divorced from us,” PM Kakar was quoted as
saying in an official press release issued by the Prime Minister Office.
Separately,
Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Friday that all damaged
churches in Jaranwala will be restored by next week.
“Assessments
are being made to gauge the extent of damage to destroyed homes, and financial
assistance will be provided to affected families accordingly,” Mr Naqvi said.
Vowing
to protect minorities in the country, PM Kakar said his government would take
stern action against those involved in the ransacking and gutting of churches
and homes of the Christian community in Jaranwala.
“Minorities
will stay protected. It might be an attempt to harm minorities in the country
by marginalised and peripheral groups but the state and society will respond to
this “sternly and strictly,” the PM was quoted as saying.
The
prime minister claimed that the interim government would try to differentiate
between politics and law. “There is a rule of law and there is a rule of order.
We will ensure that rule of order is not compromised in any way. Rule of order
would ensure and lead us to rule of law,” he added.
“There
is no room for chaos or anarchy in any governance system, secular system or
religious theocratic system. So we know the sanctity of the order. That would
be kept at any cost. Pakistan is shared by all ethnicities, creed and religious
backgrounds,” he said.
“We
would strongly discourage rigidity in any form in this society. We do not stand
for the forces of darkness. Rigidity may come in the garb of religion or
secularism or any other form. These extreme attitudes, they are not just
unwelcome, they will be discouraged,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Mr Naqvi told a delegation of Christian leaders at the Chief Minister’s Office
that the destroyed churches would be restored, latest by Tuesday, and
compensation paid to those whose homes have been damaged.
“Assessments
are being made to gauge the extent of damage to destroyed homes, and financial
assistance will be provided to affected families accordingly,” Mr Naqvi said.
He said more arrests were being made and those involved in this heinous crime
would not escape punishment. “We have video footages and other evidence to
apprehend and bring the culprits of the tragedy to justice,” he said.
The
delegation of minority leaders — comprising Senator Kamran Michael, Bishop Azad
Marshall, former MPA Shakeel Marcus Khokhar, Shahzad Gull, Pastor Jameel Nasir,
Colonel McDonald Chandy, Pastor Anwar Fazal, Pastor Waseemullah Khokhar, Bishop
Sebastian Shah — underscored the need to take swift action against the culprits
to prevent such incidents in the future.
Doubts
over blasphemy allegations
Also on
Friday, two key officials cast doubt on the allegations of desecration of the
Holy Quran, which became the basis for the mob’s rampage in Jaranwala.
In an
interview with Reuters, Punjab police chief Usman Anwar said that pages of the
Holy Quran were found in a street with derogatory comments written on them in
red.
One
attached extra page also carried the names, addresses and national identity
card numbers of the accused. Police were investigating all angles as to why the
names and addresses would be attached, he told Reuters.
These
concerns were echoed by caretaker Punjab information minister Amir Mir.
Speaking
to Geo News anchorperson Shahzad Iqbal on Friday night, he said: “Initial
investigation indicates that this was a conspiracy to provoke religious
sentiments among the Muslim population and create a riot-like situation. The
investigation is ongoing, and once completed, all findings will be made
public”.
He
claimed there were currently two theories: “One suggests foreign involvement,
while the other points to local religious elements. When a foreign force plans
an activity, they employ their agents in the country to incite unrest. Then,
sometimes, when individuals of different faiths, such as Christians and
Muslims, are engaged in a dispute, a situation is fabricated to exploit
religious sentiments for personal gain.”
“Consider
how it all began — just after the Fajr prayers, when some individuals exiting
the mosque found pages of the Holy Quran with inappropriate words written on
them. Interestingly, the names of a Christian man… and his two sons were
written on the pages in red ink, along with their telephone numbers and
addresses, and their photos were also attached,” he said.
Later,
the men were held responsible for desecrating the holy book, he said, asking:
“Do you think anyone planning blasphemy would write their own name, address,
and telephone number and leave the pages in front of a mosque?”
Syed
Irfan Raza in Islamabad, Zulqernain Tahir in Lahore and Riaz Usman in Karachi
also contributed to this report
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1770929/pm-rebukes-elements-behind-mob-violence
-----
Imran
won’t be tried under Army Act in cipher case
By Ansar
Abbasi
August
19, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan will not be tried under Army
Act 1952 in the cipher case. According to a government source, certain offences
under the Official Secrets Act 1923 are though tried under Army Act of 1952, in
the case of Imran Khan’s offence he will be tried in a criminal court under
normal judicial system.
The FIA
has recently booked Imran Khan under Official Secrets Act for mishandling the
cipher issue but has not shared with the media. It is being kept secret for
unexplained reasons.
Presently,
FIA is in the final stages of its investigations on the matter. Some senior
lawyers have also been engaged to prepare the prosecution’s case for the court.
The case will be filed on behalf of the FIA, the source said, adding that it
may not take much time to take up the matter before the court for trial.
The
source said that certain offences under the Official Secrets Act are tried
under the Army Act by military authorities. However, in the case of Imran Khan,
the source assured, he will be tried in a criminal court.
About
the nature of the case against the chairman PTI, the source said that
apparently it will be a strong case for the prosecution as Imran Khan not only
himself had admitted to have retained and then lost the cipher but also played
with it publicly. Additionally, it is said that former premier’s principal
secretary Azam Khan’s statement before the FIA and the magistrate also made it
a serious case against Imran Khan.
Imran
Khan, who after his conviction in Toshakhana case by the trial court is
presently imprisoned in Attock Jail, has already been questioned twice by the
FIA’s Joint Investigation Team probing the cipher issue. Khan was initially
questioned before his conviction and later interrogated in Attock Jail a few
days back.
It was
disclosed early this week that the FIA has registered a FIR against Imran Khan
in the cipher case. Later, it was reported by this newspaper that the case
against Khan has been registered under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act
1923.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1101679-imran-won-t-be-tried-under-army-act-in-cipher-case
------
Sole
burden of poll conduct ‘lies on ECP’
August
18, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
The
caretaker federal government conveyed to the Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) its commitment to assist it in holding free and fair elections in the
country, Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said on Friday.
Briefing
the media about the maiden cabinet meeting, the minister said that the Chief
Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja had been assured that the
ECP’s recommendations regarding necessary postings of officials would be
implemented.
Solangi
said that holding elections was the responsibility of the ECP and the
government would fulfil its duty of assisting it in this regard, and discharge
its responsibilities in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
“The
first cabinet meeting was held today under the chairmanship of caretaker Prime
Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar,” the minister told reporters. “The prime minister
received briefings from the ministers about their respective ministries.”
The
minister said that the prime minister established a committee comprising
representatives of the finance, trade, and energy ministries as well as other
pertinent ministries and departments to oversee the economic revival process.
He told
reporters that he held a meeting with the CEC, apprising him of the
government’s commitment to assist the ECP in holding free and fair elections
and implement its recommendations on the postings of officials.
Solangi
said that the ECP was “solely” responsible for holding the elections, and not
the interim government.
“Whether
they (ECP) choose to conduct them in 90 days or in February, we will not
prolong our stay even by a single minute.”
The
cabinet meeting decided that “on the election day, the first vote would be cast
by the caretaker prime minister and then by the ministers”, the caretaker
minister announced.
“The
country will ultimately be run by the elected representatives of the people as
envisaged in the Constitution of Pakistan. The caretaker government will only
look after the affairs till the elections,” Solangi said.
To a
question, Solangi said poverty and inflation were a reality and nobody could
deny it. “It was also a fact that the hike in the petroleum products' prices
also caused inflation,” he added.
“But the
government's hands were tied because of the IMF's (International Monetary Fund)
stand-by arrangement,” he said. “We cannot afford to buy petroleum products at
high prices and sell them at low rates.”
The
minister explained that as per the IMF agreement, the government could not
subsidise the prices of commodities. However, he stressed that the government
would cut its expenditure to reduce the burden on the national exchequer.
“The
cabinet decided to reduce the government's spending in view of the prevailing
economic conditions, and it is also the government's responsibility not to
waste the taxpayers' money,” he continued.
“It is
the responsibility of every government, including the caretaker set-up, to take
steps for strengthening the economy, and for improving the law and order
situation in the country.”
Jaranwala
incident
Solangi
said that everyone expressed grief and sorrow over the Jaranwala incident,
stressing that steps were being taken to ensure protection of the minorities.
“The state with its power stands with the minorities,” he added.
“No one
will be allowed to victimise them in the name of religion, colour or caste.
Islam granted special rights to the minorities and those who are responsible
for the Jaranwala incident will be brought to justice,” he pledged.
The
minister revealed that the cabinet stressed the need for promoting Sufism in
the country to counter extremism, narrow-mindedness, and intolerance prevailing
in the society.
The
minister urged the media and the educational institutions to play an important
role in promoting tolerance and harmony in the society to prevent any repeat of
the Jaranwala incident in the future.
When
asked about the legal cases against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leadership, he
said the matter was sub judice.
“The
government is not a party to these cases. The relevant institutions are
performing their duties as per law.”
He
emphasised that the government remained impartial and would refrain from
engaging in any partisan activities. “We will neither expedite these cases nor
impede their progress,” he said.
About
the composition of the caretaker cabinet, Solangi said that there were only 16
members, besides over half-a-dozen advisers and special assistants. “Most of
the cabinet members represent their respective fields,” he added.
Solangi
expressed the hope that the caretaker federal ministers would prove their worth
with their performance.
During
the cabinet meeting, he said, Prime Minister Kakar emphasised the need for
building infrastructure in the country.
The
information minister reiterated that the caretaker government did not believe
in any gag on the media and would take steps to ensure freedom of expression in
the country.
He said
that the prime minister affirmed that the matter of Kashmir was “intrinsic to
our identity, and we cannot afford to overlook it, nor do we intend to do so”.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431328/sole-burden-of-poll-conduct-lies-on-ecp
------
Justice
Mansoor proposes full court for NAB amendment case
August
18, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Justice
Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court on Friday suggested that Chief Justice of
Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial constitute a full court to hear the Pakistan
Tekreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) petition against the amendments made in the National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) law.
A
three-member bench comprising CJP Bandial, Justice Mansoor, and Justice Ijazul
Ahsan took up Imran’s plea, which was filed last year in June.
The PTI
chief had challenged the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022
passed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government.
Later, a
report submitted by the graft buster to the apex court revealed that the NAB
ordinance had ended up solving over 90 per cent of the cases, including
high-profile ones, that it was dealing with.
However,
the PTI heavily criticised the PDM's decision to approve the amendments,
denouncing it as an attempt to limit the graft buster’s authority.
Further,
in July of last year, the federal cabinet passed the National Accountability
(Third Amendment) Bill for 2022. This bill further restricted NAB’s role in
corruption cases involving amounts exceeding Rs500 million. Additionally, it
rescinded the president's ability to appoint judges for the accountability
court.
During
the 48th hearing of the matter, Justice Mansoor threw his weight behind the
forming of a full court to decide the matter, emphasising the need for the apex
court to decide the SC (Practice and Procedure) Act.
Referring
to his note written in the military trial case where he had made the same
suggestion, he said that the NAB amendments case should be heard by the full
court.
"If
the Practice and Procedure Act case had been already decided, things would have
been very different," he said, regretting that the apex court had yet to
decide on petitions challenging the law.
"I
would still request the CJ today that the NAB amendments matter should be heard
by a full court," he added.
CJ
Bandial asked the federal government lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan as to why he was
shying away from presenting arguments “on merit”.
The
lawyer replied that he was not shying away but raising the inadmissibility of
the plea was his responsibility.
“Why are
you trying to leave the hearing,” CJ Bandial asked.
The
lawyer said that the court had the right to either accept or reject his
argument.
The PTI
chief’s lawyer Khawaja Haris did not appear for the hearing. His assistant,
Yasir Aman, appeared on his behalf.
The
latter apprised the court that detailed responses from their side had been
submitted.
CJ
Bandial, however, remarked that the parties should give final arguments at the
next hearing.
"This
case is pending since 2022, it is not necessary to give a decision on the
merits of the case," he said, adding that no one had challenged the
amendments made in the NAB law before them.
"My
retirement is fast-approaching and this is a very important case. I will have
to give a decision come what may," he said. "It will be a shame if I
fail to give a judgment on the matter."
Later,
the apex court postponed the hearing until Aug 28.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431318/justice-mansoor-proposes-full-court-for-nab-amendment-case
------
South Asia
Hanafi:
Islamic Emirate Established Policy of 'Neutrality'
By
Naweed Samadi,
18
August 2023
Speaking
at a gathering held by the Shia Ulema in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul,
Hanafi asked the world to interact positively in relations with the current
Afghan government.
“Friendship
should be mutual. We interact with them and expect the same interaction and
relations with all neighbors and countries in the region and beyond the
region,” he said.
The
official said that none of the attacks on educational institutions, madrasas,
and public areas during the last 20 years were carried out by the Islamic
Emirate.
Hanafi
called for the maintaining of national unity among different ethnic groups of
the country.
“In
Ashura ceremonies, our educational centers, our mosques, our Takia-Khana
(places of mourning), and other places of worship for Afghans, none of them
were secured. Thousands of innocent people in Afghanistan were being martyred
every day. And they were saying that the Taliban did this. This is not in the
culture of the Taliban,” The 2nd Deputy Prime Minister said.
“If
there are differences and problems among Afghans, the ground will be open to
occupation,” said Najib Mujahid, Deputy Director General of Intelligence.
The
governor of Kabul, Qasim Khalid, said in the gathering that there had been no
kidnapping incidents in Kabul in the past five months
“Abduction
has been reduced to zero in the past five months, we do not have any abduction
cases at all,” Khalid added.
Meanwhile,
a number of Shiite clerics welcomed that security had been provided over the
last two years and demanded that the Jafari sect be recognized in the nation.
“Since
both Shia sides adhere to the Jafari sect, there is no reason that another than
sect should be applied to resolve the issues,” said Abdul Qadir Alami, a Shiite
cleric.
The
Islamic Emirate's officials reiterated that they will not permit any group to
sow discord in the nation, saying that there is no difference between the
nation's residents who are Sunni and Shia.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184695
------
Last
Round of Kankor Exam Helds Without Girls’ Participation
By Asma
Saayin ,
18
August 2023
The
National Examination Authority (NEXA) said that the entrance exam was held in
Kabul for one day and fifteen thousand graduates of the twelfth grade
participated in the exam.
"The
exam successfully ended and no problems occurred. This year, many facilities
were provided unlike previous years,” said Abdul Baqi Haqqani, head of NEXA.
"The
benefit is that a student's specialty is determined when he graduates from
school, before arriving at the university,” said Husama Aziz, chancellor of Kabul
University.
According
to Abdul Baqi Haqqani, this year's university entrance exam was arranged for
convenience, and 100,000 students took it in four rounds.
"In
the Kabul exam that started today, we have fifteen thousand participants, and
this process is going on for one day,” he said.
The
exam's takers expressed their sadness that girls were not permitted to take the
test this year.
"Education
is the right of men and women. Girls should also be educated. We want schools
and universities to be opened for girls,” Mohammad Ismail, a participant, told
a TOLOnews reporter.
The
National Examination Authority (NEXA) officials have stressed that they will
classify the entrance test into three sections -- medical, social, and
scientific --in the coming years.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184692
------
Afghan,
Pakistani officials hold talk in Islamabad to address bilateral trade issues
By Fidel
Rahmati- August 18, 2023071
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar
Ahmad Shakib, met with Pakistan’s Deputy Commerce Minister, Mohammad Saleh
Ahmad Farooqi, to discuss trade issues and emphasized the importance of finding
solutions.
The
Afghanistan Embassy in Pakistan tweeted that the meeting addressed the
challenges faced by Afghan businessmen and drivers at Torkham and Kharlachi
ports and the concerns related to Afghan business operations at Karachi ports.
It was communicated that these issues were
causing trade and business activities hindrances. The importance of finding a
solution to these problems was emphasized in the meeting.
Meanwhile,
Pakistani deputy commerce minister Mohammad Saleh Farooqi comprehensively
elucidates the prevailing challenges. He underscored the urgency of expedited
resolution for these issues, emphasizing the imperative for prompt
problem-solving.
The
embassy said that the meeting stressed resolving existing issues, the creation
of facilities for business people, and further enhancing bilateral trade and
economic ties between the two nations.
Most
Afghan nationals needing medical care initially travel to Pakistan for
treatment. Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have pledged to permit Afghan
patients to enter without visas. However, these officials have not committed to
allowing the movement of patients without valid travel documents for medical
treatment.
In the
wake of the Taliban assuming control of Afghanistan, a significant portion of
the Afghan population sought refuge across the border in Pakistan, driven by
the compelling factors of persecution, heightened security concerns, and the
pressing weight of economic turmoil.
These
individuals hoped to escape the tumultuous environment in their home country
and find solace in Pakistan. Paradoxically, even with valid documentation,
these Afghan refugees encountered a harsh reality as they crossed into
Pakistan.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/afghan-pakistani-officials-hold-talk-in-islamabad-to-address-bilateral-trade-issues/
------
India
has sent record 47,500 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan since Taliban
takeover
By Fidel
Rahmati
August
18, 2023
Amid a
deepening humanitarian crisis, India has taken a significant step by sending an
unprecedented 47,500 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan over the past two
years.
Besides
sending wheat, India has consistently provided medical and food assistance
using land routes bordering Pakistan and the Chabahar Port in Iran.
As
stated by official sources, India remains committed to providing humanitarian
assistance in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP)
due to the worsening humanitarian situation and urgent appeals from UN
agencies.
“For the
first half of this year, 16 million people in Afghanistan received life-saving
food from WFP. We are grateful for generous donors like India who make that
happen,” WFP twisted.
Since
August 2021, Afghanistan has received 200 metric tons of medical assistance.
This aid comprises vital medications, COVID vaccines, anti-TB drugs, and
medical and surgical supplies.
The
authorities at the Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Kabul received the
items above. Additionally, India has extended its ongoing support to the
Habibia School in Kabul by dispatching winter clothing and stationery items
intended explicitly for primary students.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/india-has-sent-record-47500-metric-tons-of-wheat-to-afghanistan-since-taliban-takeover/
------
North America
Shereé
Whitfield Praises Ex Bob Whitfield's Involvement with Granddaughter Mecca at
Sip & See
August 18, 2023
Angela Andaloro
Shereé
Whitfield got the whole family and some special friends together to celebrate
her glam-baby.
In a
teaser from Sunday's episode of Real Housewives of Atlanta, the glam-ma, 53, is
complimented by ex-husband Bob Whitfield about the decor at the Sip & See
event she hosted to introduce the world to Mecca Joie Whitfield, who was born
last July to Whitfield's son Kairo, 27, and his girlfriend, Alina Baber.
"Back
in the day, I felt like I was a single mom because my ex-husband was busy. He
was a top professional football player," she explains in a confessional.
As Bob
takes in the decor, Shereé asks, "Isn't this beautiful, Paw Paw?"
"You
did good," he confirms.
Never
miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on
the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling
human interest stories.
Shereé
Whitfield gets together with family for Sip & See
'RHOA' 's Shereé Whitfield Raves About Being a
'Glam-Ma' to Baby Mecca: 'She Has Completely Won My Heart'
In her
confessional, Shereé says she's happy about the changes she's seen in Bob.
"Bob
is involved in Mecca's life. This is his first grandbaby and I'm so, so happy
about that."
Bob
flirtatiously poses with Shereé as they take photos, asking her, "Can I touch
you?" Just a few minutes later, her boyfriend Martell arrives.
Sheree
Whitfield Praises Ex Bob Whitfield's Involvement with Granddaughter Mecca at
Sip & See
ANDRE
BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
"Bob
and I are good. This is the first time he's meeting Martell and it's important
to have my kids see us all together.
In an
episode of RHOA that aired this spring, Shereé spoke to castmate Sanya
Richards-Ross, 38, about Mecca, adding, "When I tell you I am so enjoying
being a glam-ma. It's a difference with when you're, of course, raising your
kids."
She
added, "But being a grandmother — I mean being a glam-ma — is such an
amazing experience."
Speaking
with PEOPLE in May, Shereé shared that the baby's name has a special
significance. "Kairo came up with the name, it means the center of his
world," she said.
Sheree
Whitfield Praises Ex Bob Whitfield's Involvement with Granddaughter Mecca at
Sip & See
ANDRE
BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
"He
wanted something unique and something that had a meaning and meant something to
him! So he picked Mecca because Mecca is the center of the world and his
daughter is the center of his world."
Joie,
meanwhile, is a French for joy. "Not only is Mecca the center of his
world, but she's the center of his joy," Shereé noted. "It's even
more awesome."
The Real
Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. You can catch the
episode the next day on Peacock.
Source: people.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://people.com/sheree-whitfield-sip-n-see-watch-exclusive-7644801
-----
US
denies building ‘Pacific NATO’ against China
19 Aug,
2023
Washington
insists that growing military ties with Seoul and Tokyo has nothing to do with
Beijing
The US
is not working to create a “NATO for the Pacific” as a way to target China, the
White House has claimed, after President Joe Biden declared a “new era” of
security cooperation with South Korea and Japan.
Biden
hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon
Suk-yeol at Camp David on Friday for the first summit of its kind, where the
heads of state agreed on several new initiatives in the military, economic, and
technological spheres.
“This is
the first summit I’ve hosted at Camp David, and I can think of no more fitting
location to symbolize our new era of cooperation,” Biden said at a joint press
conference, adding that Washington’s commitment to Seoul and Tokyo remains
“ironclad.”
US
admits ‘concern’ over Russia-China relationshipREAD MORE: US admits ‘concern’
over Russia-China relationship
The US
president went on to state that the three allies would enhance their
“trilateral defense collaboration” in the Indo-Pacific region, including with
“annual multi-domain military exercises.” The drills would build on periodic
wargames already staged in the area, which have triggered the ire of both
Chinese and North Korean officials.
During a
separate media briefing earlier on Friday, National Security Advisor Jake
Sullivan was asked whether the three-way partnership would be “the beginning of
some kind of mini-NATO for the Pacific,” but replied in the negative.
“It’s
explicitly not a NATO for the Pacific. We’ve said that. We will continue to
underscore that and so will both Japan and Korea,” Sullivan said, adding that
Friday’s summit was “not against anyone.”
Russian
and Chinese Navies run joint-support drills (VIDEO)READ MORE: Russian and
Chinese Navies run joint-support drills (VIDEO)
Though
Biden also claimed the meeting was “not about China,” the president and his
allied counterparts referred to the People’s Republic repeatedly in comments to
reporters. During a one-on-one meeting with Kishida earlier in the day, Biden
said the two leaders would work together to combat Beijing’s “dangerous
behavior in the South China Sea,” and stressed the need for “peace and
stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
Asked
whether Tokyo’s stepped-up military ties with Washington might trigger an
“economic cold war” with Beijing, Kishida said Japan would continue to
cooperate with China on “common challenges” and “strongly request responsible
conduct.”
President
Yoon also outlined what this new defense cooperation would entail, stating that
the three allies would create a framework to respond to attacks on any of their
countries, as well as sharing information about North Korean ballistic missile
launches in “real time.” He also announced plans for “systematic training and
drills” to be carried out on a regular basis.
Source: www.rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/581492-us-japan-korea-military-china/
------
US
prepares to evacuate Niger
Washington
has refrained from calling the change in government a ‘coup’, which would
require it to cut military ties
The US
is set to evacuate two drone bases in Niger as a precaution under the new
military government, Air Force Gen. James Hecker told reporters on Friday in
Washington.
The
Pentagon is scouting northern Africa’s Sahel and Saharan regions for allies
“that we could maybe partner up with, and then move our assets there,” Hecker
revealed, while declining to name specific countries. “[We] know where we would
like the base to be, but more of that’s going to be diplomatic,” he said.
Hecker
clarified that Washington had not made a final decision on whether to classify
the Nigerien palace guard’s overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum last month as
a coup - a decision that would require it to sever most of the military and
security ties the two nations share.
Making
that decision could take “weeks or much longer,” Hecker explained,
acknowledging that leaving Niger “obviously will have an effect” on US
intelligence and counterterrorism work, regardless of whether the exit happened
because the Biden administration had rejected cooperation with the US-trained
Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani’s military government or because that government had
kicked them out.
The
military’s evacuation planning involved scenarios in which the Americans had to
leave in a hurry, taking only what they could not afford to leave behind, and
more leisurely versions - “but of course what we hope for is that we have a
peaceful diplomatic solution to this and we don’t have to leave,” the American
general concluded.
Before
the takeover, the US and France had 1,000 and 1,500 troops stationed in Niger,
respectively, with several military bases in Niamey and the southern city of
Agadez, among other places. The US is likely hoping to avoid a repeat of its
disastrous departure from Afghanistan, which left millions of dollars’ worth of
military equipment and hundreds of Afghan collaborators in the hands of the
Taliban.
Niger’s
neighbors in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced
on Wednesday they were calling up a “Standby Force” to restore Bazoum to power,
following through on their threat to intervene militarily if Bazoum was not
restored by a deadline that has come and gone. ECOWAS members Burkina Faso and
Mali have already warned they would view any military move on Niger as a
declaration of war against themselves.
Niger’s
military government, which has begun recruiting volunteers to resist any
potential invasion, has allegedly warned that Bazoum will be killed in the
event of an invasion, according to Western
officials. The African Union has refused to endorse ECOWAS’ plans,
though France backs the invasion of its former colonial property and the US has
refused to rule out supporting it.
Source: www.rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/581480-us-plans-evacuation-niger-bases/
-----
Lavrov
to travel to US for key UN assembly
The
foreign minister will lead Russia’s delegation at the upcoming UN General
Assembly high-level week
Russian
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is set to head the country’s delegation at the
United Nations General Assembly high-level week 2023. A decree naming the
members of the delegation was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on
Friday.
Apart
from Lavrov, the Russian team will include Deputy FM Sergey Vershinin,
permanent envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia, the heads of Russia’s upper and
lower chamber foreign affairs committee, Grigory Karasin and Leonid Slutsky,
respectively, as well as other senior diplomats, the decree reads.
High-level
week at the UNGA is set to take place in late September. In late July, Kremlin
spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had no plans to participate in the event
personally.
Russia’s
representation at the UN has been riddled with various issues lately, as ties
between Moscow and the UN’s host nation, the US, have deteriorated even further
over the Ukraine conflict. Earlier this year, Russia held the rotating
presidency at the UN Security Council, but the US failed to grant visas to
journalists from the media pool traveling with Lavrov.
Russia
lists obstacles to moving UN from New YorkREAD MORE: Russia lists obstacles to
moving UN from New York
At the
time, the foreign minister condemned Washington’s decision to withhold visas as
“stupid,” noting this had only exposed the true worth of Washington’s “oaths
about protecting freedom of speech, about access to information, and so on.”
“Of
course, I understood how notorious our American colleagues are for such things
but I was sure that, this time, given the attention that was drawn to their
ugly behavior, everything would be different. But I was wrong,” Lavrov stated.
The
Russian foreign minister and several other senior officials were subjected to
US sanctions last year shortly after the Ukraine conflict broke out. However,
the US, as the nation hosting the UN headquarters, remains obliged not to
hinder the work of foreign dignitaries or their staff, including accredited
journalists.
Source: www.rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/581478-lavrov-us-unga-delegation/
------
US plans
to punish NATO ally over Russia – WSJ
Washington
has threatened Ankara over an alleged ‘shadow fleet’ created to ship Russian
oil, according to the newspaper
The US
has warned Türkiye that it could face penalties if it is proven to be helping
Russia bypass Western sanctions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday,
citing anonymous American officials.
According
to the outlet, Washington is concerned that Türkiye is becoming a hub for
sanctions violations, involving an alleged ghost fleet created to ship Russian
oil, as well as port calls by sanctioned Russian cargo ships carrying weapons
and Western-made electronics.
“We have
an ongoing dialogue with the Turkish government on these issues,” one diplomat
told the newspaper. “Our sincere hope is to avoid a scenario in which a Turkish
company is sanctioned, and we’ve worked with both the government and private
sector to inform them of the very real risks.”
The
outlet further noted growing concerns that the impact of Western sanctions on
Russia is beginning to diminish, and stated that the US and its allies are
actively working to tighten the enforcement of restrictions.
Despite
being a NATO member, Türkiye has chosen not to cut ties with Russia over the
conflict in Ukraine, and has instead deepened economic cooperation and
bilateral trade.
In June,
official data compiled by the Turkish Institute of Statistics found that trade
between Moscow and Ankara had seen steady growth. The volume of goods exported
by Russia amounted to $4.17 billion in April, making it Türkiye’s leading
supplier and accounting for nearly 15% of its total imports.
In May,
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that Ankara had no plans to
support the West’s economic restrictions on Moscow, arguing that “our own
benefit and prosperity come first.”
Source: www.rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/581464-us-turkiye-russia-sanctions/
-----
Arab
World
Saudi
Arabia, India Sign Cooperation Agreement On Digital Economy
August
18, 2023
Saudi
Arabia will look to bolster its role as a regional hub for technology and innovation
and an attractive destination for investment.
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on Friday
signed a cooperation agreement on digitization and electronic manufacturing
with India, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The
agreement was signed by minister Abdullah Al-Swaha and India’s Minister for
Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini
Vaishnaw.
The
agreement seeks to enhance Saudi-Indian cooperation in the fields of digital
infrastructure, e-health, and e-learning and to strengthen the two countries’
partnership in digital research and innovation and the use of emerging
technologies.
Through
the agreement, Saudi Arabia will look to bolster its role as a regional hub for
technology and innovation and an attractive destination for investment.
The
agreement will also aim to build strategic partnerships that promote innovation
and the growth of the digital economy and support the Kingdom's aspirations in
this regard.
These
efforts contribute to achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, SPA added.
During
his visit to India, Al-Swaha also met with his Japanese counterpart Kono Taro
and discussed cooperation in the digital economy, innovation and investment
opportunities.
Digital
Government Authority Governor Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwayan also held separate
meeting with officials from the European Commission to discuss ways to bolster
Saudi-European Union (EU) cooperation in the digital economy.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357511/saudi-arabia
------
Jeddah’s
100-year-old bakeries still appeal to modern tastes
August
18, 2023
Still in
demand are famous baked goods with age-old flavors including shareek, fatoot,
khubz el-hab, and round bread
RIYADH:
Historic Jeddah is renowned for its many markets and businesses which are over
100 years old, including several bakeries that are still operating.
Still in
demand are famous baked goods with age-old flavors including shareek, fatoot,
khubz el-hab, round bread and modern rusk.
Several
owners of these bakeries, despite being quite elderly, are still involved in
the running of their businesses, and keen to preserve traditional ways of
production.
Residents
and tourists often visit these establishments to taste the baked offerings and
learn about the region’s rich culture.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357396/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi
health minister meets WHO chief in India
August
18, 2023
The two
officials met on the sidelines of a G20 health ministers meeting held in
Gujarat, India
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel met with the Director-General
of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday.
The two
officials met on the sidelines of a G20 health ministers meeting held in
Gujarat, India.
They
discussed health conditions and the outputs of the Kingdom’s G20 presidency
regarding digital health, patient safety, preparedness, and response to health
emergencies.
Tedros
said he had a “great discussion about digital health, antimicrobial resistance,
pandemic preparedness and response” with Al-Jalajel.
He also
thanked Al-Jalajel for his leadership, partnership, and support.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357526/saudi-arabia
-----
Europe
Britain
warns Denmark ‘terror attacks likely’ after Koran burnings
19
August 2023
Britain
on Friday asked its citizens to be vigilant when travelling to Denmark due to
possible attacks following Koran burnings by anti-Islam activists in Denmark
and Sweden that have outraged Muslims.
Britain
and the US government have previously warned of possible attacks in
neighbouring Sweden, which raised its terrorism alert to the second highest
level on Thursday.
“Terrorists
are likely to try to carry out attacks in Denmark. Attacks could be
indiscriminate, including in places frequented by foreigners,” the Foreign
Office warned as it updated its travel advice.
The
authorities in Denmark have successfully disrupted a number of planned attacks
and made a number of arrests, it added.
Sweden
has also said it thwarted attacks after Koran burnings and other acts against
Islam’s holiest text outraged Muslims and triggered threats from jihadists.
Earlier
on Friday, Sweden’s government said it had tightened security at embassies and
other missions due to an increase in threats against Swedish interests abroad.
Both
Danish and Swedish governments have condemned the burnings and are considering
amending laws that could stop them, but critics at home say such moves need to
preserve freedom of speech that is protected in their constitutions.
Source: yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/britain-warns-denmark-terror-attacks-185149585.html
-----
Man who
travelled from Yorkshire to London to attack Jewish people sentenced
19
August 2023
31-year-old
man who travelled almost 200 miles to attack Jewish people has been banned from
contacting his victims for 10 years.
Abdullah
Qureshi, 31, travelled from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire to Stamford Hill in east
London, which has a large Jewish population, before assaulting three passers-by
he believed were Jews because of the clothes they were wearing. .
He was
sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to a hospital order under the Mental Health
Act as well as being banned from contacting his victims and entering the London
borough of Hackney, where the attacks took place, for a decade.
He hit a
teacher on the head with a bottle, attacked a 14-year-old boy on his way to
school and punched a 64-year-old man on his way to a synagogue over a two-hour
period on August 18 2021.
His
third victim said the attack has left him with post-traumatic stress disorder.
His
trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court heard the defendant was playing Arabic
music on his mobile phone before he hit teacher Chaine Greenfeld in the head
with a bottle as he stood in the street at around 6.40pm.
“I felt
shocked,” Mr Greenfield said while giving evidence from behind a screen.
He
added: “When I came home, I was quite traumatised and it traumatised my kids
that their father was slapped like that in the road.”
Asked
why he thought he was attacked, Mr Greenfeld said: “He wanted to attack me
about I’m another religion – that I’m Jewish.”
Qureshi
slapped the 14-year-old, who cannot legally be named because of his age, as he
walked to an orthodox Jewish school at about 7.45pm.
The
teenager said in a statement read to the court: “The man said nothing to me and
just slapped me and walked away.
“That’s
not good for me or anyone who is Jewish or anyone else. That must not happen to
anyone.”
Jacob
Lipschitz, then 64, was walking to the synagogue at about 8.30pm when he was
punched on the ear with “tremendous power” by the defendant.
He hit
his head on the wall of a building with “such force” it left him unconscious.
He was
left with broken glasses, facial bruising, a sprained ankle and four breaks in
his foot, which twisted as he collapsed.
Mr
Lipschitz said he was “traumatised” by the attack and left with post-traumatic
stress disorder.
He
added: “I used to be walking the street tall and strong and confident and now
I’m just a cowardly wreck. Any noise, I jump.”
Asked
why he believes he was targeted, Mr Lipschitz told the judge: “I imagine he
didn’t like me, I will be honest with you, sir, because I’m Jewish.”
Qureshi
told his trial “it was just a coincidence” his three victims were all wearing
traditional orthodox Jewish clothing.
He was
found guilty in November of inflicting religiously aggravated grievous bodily
harm and two counts of religiously aggravated assault by beating.
District
Judge John Law said he was drawn to the “inescapable conclusion” that the
defendant picked out his victims because of their faith.
Qureshi
had pleaded guilty to two of the assaults without the religiously aggravated
element, which was initially acceptable to the prosecution.
However,
prosecutors were allowed to reinstate the original charges following complaints
from campaigners.
Varinder
Hayre, District Crown Prosecutor, and London North’s hate crime lead, said:
“Qureshi, who travelled from West Yorkshire, carried out a series of
antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community.
“The
only thing which connected his victims was their Jewish faith.
“Hatred
of any kind has no place in society. This sentence should serve as a strong
deterrent to those thinking of committing similar crimes.
“I would
like to thank the three victims for coming forward and supporting the
prosecution.
“I am
very pleased that we have achieved justice for the victims who were badly
affected by this unprovoked, antisemitic, religiously aggravated hate crime.
“Indeed,
no one in our society should be targeted because of who they are or what they
do.
“Hate
crimes – including antisemitism – have a corrosive effect on society. We will
always prosecute where there is sufficient evidence to do so.”
Source: standard.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/stamford-hill-dewsbury-jewish-london-wood-green-crown-court-b1101689.html
-----
Ukrainian
parliament poised to legalize porn production
19 Aug,
2023
Lawmakers
argue that OnlyFans profits could help fund the military
Lawmakers
in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine announced on Friday that they have collected
enough signatures for a bill that would decriminalize the production of
pornography. Its lead sponsor, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, argued that the current
laws encourage corruption and that legalizing porn could help raise funds for
the military.
Measure
9623 would amend Article 301 of Ukraine’s criminal code, which Zheleznyak
called “nothing short of stupidity.” It does not change anything pertaining to
child pornography, human trafficking, or prostitution.
“We are
not even talking about OnlyFans, but about consuming this content in general,”
he told the Kiev Post, adding that sending someone to prison for up to eight
years for sending or receiving nudes is a Soviet legacy.
Thousands
of Ukrainians are actively employed in the production of pornography. According
to Zheleznyak, the state received over 34 million hryvnia ($920,000) in taxes
in the first half of 2023 from sites such as OnlyFans, whose majority owner is
Ukrainian-American businessman Leonid Radvinsky.
A
charity using nudes to raise funds for the Ukrainian military has also helped
with the initiative. Called ‘Teronlyfans’, the group rewards those who donate
to the armed forces or refugees with spicy photos.
US
influencer becomes ‘emotional support stripper’ in UkraineREAD MORE: US
influencer becomes ‘emotional support stripper’ in Ukraine
“This is
a good representation of the role of the body in war. As citizens of Ukraine,
our primary responsibility is to provide our soldiers with everything they
need,” Teronlyfans executive Anastasia Kuchmenko told the Kiev Post. Though the
group deals in “erotic and not pornographic content,” Kuchmenko concedes that
they could face prosecution if the government did not turn a blind eye to their
activities.
Zheleznyak
has also argued that Ukrainian police have better things to do than hunt down
cam girls, citing statistics that show 85,500 man-hours were dedicated to porn
cases in 2021, which he said amounted to a year of daily work, without
holidays, for 41 investigators. His amendments note that over 700,000 people
received court summons in 2022 for charges under Article 301.
Russian
porn star added to Ukrainian ‘kill list’READ MORE: Russian porn star added to
Ukrainian ‘kill list’
Though
the proposal already has the necessary co-sponsorships to move to a vote, some
Ukrainians are not thrilled about it. One comment on Zheleznyak’s Telegram
channel said pornography is worse than alcoholism, while another claimed that
“the same people that are for the legalization of LGBTs are for the
legalization of porn,” and that this will “lead to great problems and the
degradation of the nation.”
Zheleznyak’s
party, Golos, proposed legalizing same-sex civil partnerships in March. It has
20 seats in the 450-member legislature, whose mandate expires in October but
will likely be extended as President Vladimir Zelensky’s martial law prevents a
new election from being called.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/581488-ukraine-bill-legalize-porn/
------
Ukrainian
Neo-Nazi Apologizes For Attacking Transgender Woman
18 Aug,
2023
The
far-right assailant admitted he is the grandson of an SS soldier, and promised
to be more ‘tolerant’ in the future
A
Ukrainian neo-Nazi who attacked a transgender woman serving in the country’s
armed forces has apologized to his victim, promising to be more “tolerant” in
the future.
The
apology video was shared online by the victim of the assault, identified only
as ‘Helen’. The attacker and the transgender woman appeared together in the
video, with the latter instructing the neo-Nazi on how precisely he should
apologize.
The attacker
began by proclaiming his “right-wing orientation,” apparently referring to his
political, rather than sexual, preferences.
“I’m the
grandson of a scout with SS division Galicia,” he said, referring to the 14th
Waffen SS Grenadier Division – a WWII-era Nazi German unit, composed primarily
of ethnic Ukrainian collaborators.
The
attacker explained his assault on Helen by the fact that he was “uncomfortable”
with her demeanor, which he deemed to be “unnatural.”
“Still,
anyway, I apologize for my behavior. And I will be more tolerant of transgender
women and men,” he declared.
Helen
then demanded the attacker proclaim that “transgender women are women.” He
showed some hesitation, saying he was not aware what the “correct” thing to say
is.
The
assault on Helen occurred in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv earlier this
week, while the transsexual person was on leave to attend her mother’s funeral.
She was harassed by the attacker on the street. He asked whether Helen is a
“f*g” and then beat her up.
Videos
of the assault went viral, with Ukrainian pro-LGBTQ activists urging the
authorities to “provide decent protection for our defender,” revealing that
Helen has actually served in the military for three years.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/581481-ukrainian-neo-nazi-transgender/
------
EU
country’s food inflation tops 30% – El Mundo
19 Aug,
2023
Prices
of essential products in Spain have risen sharply since 2019, the outlet says
Food
prices in Spain soared by 30.8% in July compared to the same month in 2019
before the outbreak of Covid-19, El Mundo reported on Friday, citing the latest
data from analytics firm Funcas.
Overall
prices more than doubled in the EU’s fourth largest economy, surging by 54.4%
over the past two decades, figures show. Food prices alone surged by 79.3% over
the same period.
Among
the products that saw the steepest price rises over the past year were sugar
(44.2%), potatoes (38.8%), rice (22%), canned fruits (19.4%) and confectionery
(18.2%). Milk rose by 17.6%, pork by 15.8%, eggs by 12.8%, and fresh fruits by
11.6% in the same period, according to the data.
Olive
oil jumped by 115% year-on-year, marking the highest price increase ever,
according to data from Mintec.
Spanish
food inflation was driven by a number of factors, such as soaring energy, fuel,
and fertilizer prices, as well as a shrinking supply of certain commodities on
the global market, Funcas said.
A
prolonged drought, which Spain has been experiencing since last summer, also
contributed to the rising food prices. Severe weather conditions are now
threatening the global olive oil supply, with prices spiking around the world.
In the
coming months the price surge will continue in Spain, according to El Mundo,
with overall inflation expected to reach 5% in December.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/business/581470-spain-food-prices-soaring/
------
Southeast
Asia
Motac
targets 3.2 million Muslim tourist arrivals this year, says deputy minister
18 Aug
2023
IPOH,
Aug 18 — The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) is targeting 3.2
million Muslim tourist arrivals in the country this year compared to 2.1
million last year.
Deputy
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the
number is 20 per cent of the 16.1 million foreign tourists targeted this year
with total tourism income amounting to RM49.2 billion from RM5.37 billion the
previous year.
He said
the ambition could be achieved if players in the Muslim tourism industry played
their roles collectively and holistically to complement the role of the Islamic
Tourism Centre (ITC).
“Although
this year we are targeting 16 million foreign tourist arrivals, we are
confident that it will exceed that and Muslim tourists will also increase
because our advantage is being a pioneer in Muslim Friendly Tourism and
Hospitality (MFTH) in addition to the majority of the population being Muslims.
“Muslim
tourists are a growing market in the tourism industry and that is why we
emphasise on MFTH so that local players can further expand their offering as
one of the added values of the Islamic tourism industry in the country,” he
said at a media conference after the launch of the 2023 Islamic Tourism Month
(ITM) here today.
Perak
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad officiated the programme which was
also attended by State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development
Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee and ITC director-general Nizran Noordin.
Khairul
Firdaus said the country is indeed famous as a Muslim tourist destination, but
the government sees facilities and services that need to be improved to attract
more foreign tourists.
“We need
to understand the needs and preferences of Muslim tourists and how to adapt
them and harmonise products other than services to meet those needs and the
effort still hasn’t reached its maximum level yet but we will try again through
ITC.
“Similarly,
we often overlook promoting Muslim tourism in Muslim-minority countries because
these segment actually also wants to experience what MFTH’s approach is and we
will work towards that in due time,” he said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/18/motac-targets-32-million-muslim-tourist-arrivals-this-year-says-deputy-minister/85936
------
Safeguarding
Malaysia's multicultural fabric: Embracing progress with respect and dialogue ?
Siti Kasim
19 Aug
2023
AUGUST
19 ? In the heart of Southeast Asia, Malaysia has long been hailed as a nation
where diversity is not just a buzzword, but a living reality that has shaped
our identity. We have prided ourselves on being a beacon of multiculturalism,
where people of various faiths, backgrounds, and ideologies coexist in harmony.
Yet, in recent times, a cloud of conservatism has cast its shadow over our
nation's trajectory, threatening the very essence of what makes Malaysia
unique. As a concerned citizen, I believe it is imperative that we embark on a
bold journey forward, guided by the principles of respectful discussion and the
liberating tenets of Islam, which encourage exploration and understanding.
Islam,
at its core, is a faith that champions the pursuit of knowledge and the open
exchange of ideas. Throughout history, Islamic civilizations have flourished
when they embraced intellectual discourse and celebrated diversity. The Quran
itself extols the virtue of knowledge and encourages believers to reflect on
the world around them. It is within this spirit that we must address the recent
surge of conservatism in Malaysia. To remain true to the principles of Islam,
we must recognise that respectful dialogue is not only permissible but
encouraged.
Our
nation's rich multicultural tapestry is a testament to the strength of our
unity in diversity. Our forefathers, regardless of their origins, worked
tirelessly to build a nation where mutual respect and understanding formed the
bedrock of our society. Yet, recent attempts to impose strict regulations on
personal choices and curtail freedoms threaten to unravel this tapestry that
generations have woven together. To safeguard our multiculturalism, we must
confront these trends head-on.
Take,
for instance, the ill-informed and negative public reactions to the recent
constitutional challenge against the Kelantan Syariah law. This is despite the
fact that the Federal Court has allowed lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul
Rashid, a lawyer born in Kelantan, and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Natasha
Tengku Abdul Rahman to challenge the various provision in the state's Shariah
law.
At the
heart of any thriving democracy is the freedom of expression. It is a
fundamental right that empowers individuals to express themselves, challenge
prevailing norms, and contribute to the evolution of society. Islam, in its
profound wisdom, does not shy away from discourse. It encourages us to engage
in thoughtful conversations, to question and seek answers, and to respect one
another's viewpoints. By stifling freedom of expression, we are distancing
ourselves from the principles of Islam and the very essence of our nation.
It is
vital that we remember the teachings of our faith and the ideals upon which our
nation was founded. Embracing progress does not equate to forsaking our values;
rather, it is a testament to our commitment to justice, equality, and human
dignity. In this pursuit, it is incumbent upon us to engage in open,
respectful, and inclusive discussions that allow us to explore new avenues
while preserving our core values.
As we
tread the path towards our collective future, let us reclaim the spirit of
Islam that thrives on diversity and dialogue. Let us reject the notion that
conservatism is the only path to righteousness. Instead, let us be guided by
the true teachings of our faith, which encourage empathy, understanding, and
unity among all Malaysians, regardless of their beliefs.
In
conclusion, the journey ahead demands that we stand unwavering in our
commitment to Malaysia's multicultural identity. Embracing progress does not
mean turning our backs on our heritage; rather, it is a testament to our
dedication to the principles of Islam that have fostered coexistence and
harmony for centuries. As an activist, I implore all Malaysians to rise above
the divisive rhetoric and engage in open discussions that honour our diverse
perspectives and help us forge a brighter, more inclusive future for our
beloved nation.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2023/08/19/safeguarding-malaysias-multicultural-fabric-embracing-progress-with-respect-and-dialogue-siti-kasim/86033
-----
Drop
charges against Najib and Irwan if allegations are true, urges Umno Youth
19 Aug
2023
PETALING
JAYA: A thorough investigation must be conducted to determine the authenticity
of a document related to charges against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib
Abdul Razak and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar
Abdullah, says Umno Youth.
Its
chief Dr Akmal Saleh said if the document is legitimate, the Attorney General's
Chambers (AGC) must take immediate action by dropping the six corruption
charges against the duo.
"If
the contents of the document are real, Umno Youth urges an investigation to see
if there are elements of power abuse by certain individuals to ensure the cases
proceeded against Najib.
"Elements
of political prosecution like this create a negative image and cause undue
losses," he said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 19).
He added
that the Umno Youth takes the issue seriously given the nature of the
allegations.
"Umno
Youth urges Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun to investigate the
authenticity of the said document along with its contents," he said.
On
Friday (Aug 18) Nooryana Najwa Najib urged the AGC to drop the six corruption
charges against her father Najib and Irwan.
On Aug
17, Idrus told The Star that the AGC was investigating the matter.
"We
are investigating the leak of the documents," Idrus said.
In the
letter, said to be an internal memo from the AGC which went viral, the
International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) prosecution team said it was
concerned that a strong prima facie case could not be built for the six charges
against the duo.
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/19/drop-charges-against-najib-and-irwan-if-allegations-are-true-urges-umno-youth
-----
Sweden
raises its terror threat level to high, Msian embassy issues travel warning
19 Aug
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: The Malaysian embassy in Sweden has issued a travel advisory for
Malaysians residing in or travelling to the country in response to Sweden's
recent elevation of its terror alert to the second-highest level.
This
decision follows a string of public desecrations of the Quran, which had
sparked protests across various Muslim nations and threats from militant
groups.
The
embassy through the advisory made available in its X account, advised
Malaysians to exercise caution and maintain vigilance at all times.
In the
event of an emergency, individuals are urged to dial 112 for help.
"Malaysian
nationals are also advised to register with the Embassy of Malaysia in
Stockholm to facilitate communication and consular services," it added.
The
Embassy of Malaysia in Stockholm can be contacted at the following: Address:
Karlavagen 37, 114 31 Stockholm, Sweden, Telephone: +46 8440 8400/+46 73 536
9152 or Email: mwstockholm@kln.gov.my.
The
international media has reported that the Swedish Security Service, known as
SÄPO, raised the "terror threat level” one notch to "high", the
fourth of five levels, for the first time since 2016.
The move
reflects Swedish concerns that repeated Quran-burnings this year by a handful
of anti-Islam activists had made the Scandinavian country a prime target for
Islamic extremists. – Bernama
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/19/sweden-raises-its-terror-threat-level-to-high-msian-embassy-issues-travel-warning
------
Bow out
already: Dr Mahathir joins calls for Zahid’s resignation
18 Aug
2023
PETALING
JAYA – With 47 court charges looming over Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s
shoulders like a sword of Damocles, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad has called into question the former’s credibility as Umno president.
In a
press conference at the Albukhary Foundation today, Dr Mahathir joined a
growing chorus of calls asking Zahid to step down, following the party’s poor
showing at the recently concluded six-state elections.
The
longest-serving former Umno president was asked if he had any advice for Zahid
to which he replied, “Resign lah”.
“He is
not qualified at all. He has 47 charges against him,” Dr Mahathir said,
expressing hope that there would be no outside influences that will attempt to
save him.
When he
touched on Umno, Dr Mahathir said Umno is now a far cry from the once-unassailable
party that it used to be.
“When
there are leaders that do not prioritise Umno's struggles, instead prioritising
what leaders can get, ‘cash is king’...it spoils Umno. From then, we can see
Umno deteriorating,” he said.
Umno,
said Dr Mahathir, is now mocked even by its own members.
“Those
who don’t agree with the leaders are removed…this isn’t the Umno that was built
back then; this is an Umno that has been hijacked.”
Press
freedom stifled?
Dr
Mahathir also lamented that there is no press freedom in Malaysia right now and
that everything is being controlled.
He
claimed that a “press officer” who wrote reports that did not side with the
government was asked to resign, removed from their position and “instructed to
no longer be in the press”.
Dr Mahathir,
however, did not provide the name of this “press officer” or which organisation
they were from.
“...There
is no press freedom in Malaysia today. And everything is controlled by the
government.
“I am of
the opinion that the world needs to know the kind of government we have in
Malaysia today, because we talk about democracy, but as usual, what is said and
what is done are different,”he claimed.
‘It’s
constitutional’
In the
early part of his press conference, Dr Mahathir talked about police calling him
up to give a statement on a Facebook post he made in July.
He
claimed there were “double standards” in the investigation, and alleged that
the government is inconsistent in implementing the country’s laws.
Dr
Mahathir said the Facebook post in question was based on the federal
constitution, which he claimed states that Malaysia is “Tanah Melayu” (Malay
soil).
“So when
I talk about ‘Tanah Melayu’, apparently this is racist, (and that) I cannot
talk about the (federal) constitution,” he said.
Dr
Mahathir added that police had asked him why he said so, to which he replied
that he would answer in court if charged.
The
Facebook post in question was made on July 27, titled Malaysia is a Malay
country. – The Vibes, August 18, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/97926/bow-out-already-dr-mahathir-joins-calls-for-zahids-resignation
------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hate-speech-supreme-court/d/130481