Jharkhand: Muslim Auto-Rickshaw Driver Assaulted And Forced To Chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ In Ranchi

New Age Islam News Bureau

30 September 2023

 

 Photo: Muslim Mirror

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India

·         Danish Ali Seeks PM Modi’s Intervention In Ensuring Punishment For Ramesh Bidhuri

·         Eid-i-Milad Celebrated With Religious Fervour In Kashmir Despite Confusion Over Government’s Declaration Of Public Holiday

·         Afghan embassy in India decides to ‘permanently wind up its operations’

·         Two militants killed as army foils infiltration bid along LoC in J&K's Kupwara: Police

·         ISKCON sends Rs 100 crore defamation notice to Maneka Gandhi over 'selling cow to butchers' remark

·         Communal tension erupts in Jaipur after death of biker due to thrashing

·         Karnataka: 3 arrested for tearing up banner during Eid Milad procession

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Pakistan

·         Imran Khan May Be Legally Barred From Contesting Polls: PM Kakar

·         Soldier martyred, terrorist ringleader killed in 2 KP military engagements: ISPR

·         Sindh CM orders inquiry into killing of 4 villagers during law enforcers’ raid in Sakrand

·         PM reiterates Govt's resolve to eliminate terrorism

·         World countries condemn terrorist attacks in Pakistan

·         Security forces kill 'terrorist ring leader' during Mardan IBO

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South Asia

·         Afghanistan’s Peace Requires Full Ethnic Representation in the Government: Russia

·         Afghanistan’s Embassy in India to remain operational, sources confirm

·         Sirajuddin Haqqani in Panjshir Stresses Trust-Building

·         10 Religious Figures Appointed to Monitor Gold Mines

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Europe

·         Putin meets Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar

·         Indian Envoy to UK Prevented From Entering UK Gurudwara By Khalistani Extremists

·         Brussels accused of handing cash to Islamist-linked NGO – again

·         PhD Student Guilty Of 3D-Printing 'Kamikaze' Drone For Islamic State Terrorists

·         ‘Ukrainian terrorists’ attack another power substation in Russia – governor

·         Suspected scammers preying on EU citizens arrested in Ukraine

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Mideast

·         Türkiye condemns terrorist attack against mosque in Pakistan

·         Modern world owes too much to Islamic civilization: Raeisi

·         Zionist forces kill Hamas member during West Bank ambush

·         Palestinian Young Man Succumbed to Injuries Sustained by Israeli Forces

·         Israeli Occupation Forces Open Fire on Palestinian Vehicle, Injuring Two

·         UN Security Council condemns Houthi attack on Bahraini troops, demands end to terrorism

·         Iran’s president condemns twin bombings in Pakistan

·         UAE condemns terrorist bombings in Pakistan

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North America

·         Saudi Arabia, Israel Moving Towards ‘Framework’ For Deal: US

·         US, Syrian Kurdish Fighters Say They Captured Key Member of Islamic State

·         Recent lawsuits in US highlight anti-Muslim police bias

·         CAIR-Kansas Welcomes EEOC Suit Against Chipotle on Behalf of Muslim Employee Subjected to Assault, Harassment

·         New York deluge triggers flash floods, brings chaos to subways

·         US special forces to be tested for drugs after death of recruit

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Africa

·         Muslims Offer Special Prayers To Mark Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary

·         Islamist leaders urge al-Burhan to continue fighting, pledge support

·         Niger: 7 soldiers killed in a suspected jihadists attack

·         Libya's coast guard rams into a dingy with some 50 migrants. Many onboard get thrown into the sea

·         Four more officials held after Libya flood disaster

·         Jailed Tunisian opposition leader Ghannouchi starts hunger strike

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Arab World

·         Qatar Calls For Israeli Nuclear Facilities To Be Subjected To IAEA Safeguards

·         Saudi Arabia, Gulf states condemn ‘treacherous’ attacks against worshippers in Pakistan

·         UNESCO listing of Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve puts Saudi conservation efforts in the limelight

·         GCC and Pakistan sign preliminary free trade agreement

·         Global Wellness Summit to discuss Arabic, Islamic medicine

·         Royal Commission for Riyadh City hosts Riyadh Expo 2030 seminar in Paris

·         Haj 1445: Saudi Arabia to increase licensed companies for overseas pilgrims

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Southeast Asia

·         LGBTQ-Themed Arts Performances In Public Spaces In Line With The Times, Says Singapore's National Arts Council Chief

·         Number of flood evacuees in Kedah down to 1,383 as of 8am

·         Crypto fund co-founder arrested, jailed in Singapore, says company liquidator

·         Occupational injuries up 58.9pc in 2022, says Stats Dept

·         Kudat police dispose of more than 40 unclaimed firearms

·         Time for M’sia to use better drug screening methods, says concerned doctor

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/jharkhand-muslim-rickshaw-jai-shri-ram/d/130797

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Jharkhand: Muslim auto-rickshaw driver assaulted and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in Ranchi

 

Photo: Muslim Mirror

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By Muslim Mirror Staff

September 29, 2023

A 40-year-old Muslim auto-rickshaw driver, Mahmud Alam, was assaulted, verbally abused, and coerced into chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by a mob of around 20 individuals with alleged Hindutva affiliations. The incident occurred in the capital city of Ranchi on Tuesday.

Alam, in his formal complaint filed at the Lalpur police station, described the terrifying ordeal, stating, “When I was taking passengers, a group of 15-20 people assaulted me and broke my mobile. They also robbed Rs 1500 which I had. I escaped to protect my life. Else, they would have killed me.”

Alam said that the assailants accosted him while he was transporting passengers. One of them forcibly occupied his vehicle while others demanded money. As he began to comply with their demands, the situation escalated rapidly, leading to a violent assault. Despite his attempt to flee, he was apprehended and subjected to severe physical abuse.

“They plucked my beard. They were hitting me with whatever they could find. One person struck me with a bat, while another used a pipe. I sustained a deep injury to my head,” explained Alam, who has been working as an auto-rickshaw driver for 15 years but had never experienced such a traumatic attack before.

Dr. Tariq Hussain, secretary of Anjuman Islamia, Ranchi, expressed concern upon learning about the assault on Mahmud Alam. After visiting Alam’s residence, he said, “He was brutally assaulted with multiple injuries to his head and other parts of his body. Blood also oozed out from his mouth.” Dr. Hussain highlighted an issue with the medical report from Sadar Hospital, stating that it merely described the injuries as “reddish” without providing adequate details. He urged for a more comprehensive and accurate report to ensure justice for the victim.

Calling for justice, Dr. Hussain said, “The culprits should be punished so that such incidents should not be repeated.”

State leaders of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) also visited Mahmud Alam and demanded swift action against the perpetrators. They urged “secular leaders” to take notice of the incident.

Samir Ali, the state secretary of AIMIM, condemned the incident and attributed such occurrences to the promotion of certain elements by a particular political party. He said, “Such incidents continue unabated because a particular party promotes such elements by garlanding them and using other methods when they come out of jail. A ban should be imposed on such groups.” Ali pointed out that in 2018, former Union Minister and BJP leader Jayant Sinha had greeted and garlanded eight cow vigilantes who were convicted in the Ramgarh lynching case and were subsequently released on bail.

Source: muslimmirror.com

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60 Killed In Twin Suicide Blasts In Pakistan As People Gather At Two Separate Balochistan Mosques To Celebrate Prophet’s Birthday

 

Volunteers prepare to place a blast victim into an ambulance following a suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Quetta, Pakistan on Friday. (Photo: AFP)

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Sep 30, 2023

ISLAMABAD: At least 60 people were killed and more than 100 injured in two separate suicide blasts in Pakistan’s volatile provinces of Balochistan in the southwest and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the northwest on Friday. The attackers targeted two mosques as the country celebrated the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, known as Eid Miladun Nabi.

The first blast struck a mosque in Mastung in Balochistan, where people had gathered to celebrate the Prophet’s birthday, killing at least 55 people, including senior police official Nawaz Gishkori.

Balochistan’s police chief Abdul Khaliq Shaikh confirmed that it was a suicide attack.

Footage on TV channels showed an open area near the mosque strewn with the shoes of the dead and wounded after the powerful explosion. “We were preparing for the Prophet’s birthday procession when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the stage where our chief guests were sitting,” said an eyewitness.

Some of the bodies were covered with shawls and bedsheets, while locals and rescuers were seen rushing the wounded to hospitals, where a state of emergency was declared and appeals were being issued for blood donations.

The Mastung blast was followed by an explosion at a mosque in Hangu, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least five people and wounding more than 10. Fazal Akbar Khan, deputy commissioner of Hangu, said that two attackers tried to target the Doaba police station, which is situated a few metres away from the mosque.

A spokesman for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police said that two suicide bombers and a vehicle full of explosives were intercepted. One of the bombers was neutralised at the gate when he tried to enter the mosque in Hangu while another detonated his explosives.

The roof of the mosque collapsed due to the blast impact. Rescue officials said they had to use heavy machinery to remove the debris.

The outlawed terrorist group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) distanced itself from the two suicide attacks. “The goals of TTP are clear. Mosques, seminaries, schools and public gatherings are not among our targets.

We have nothing to do with today’s two blasts and we strongly condemn them,” TTP spokesperson Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement.

The surge in violence across Pakistan shows that the armed groups have increased their operational capability challenging the writ of the state at will.

Pakistan’s interior minister Sarfraz Bugti said the two terrorist attacks were heinous acts.

Meanwhile, Pakistan army’s media affairs wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement that four Pakistan army soldiers were killed during an operation in Zhob district in Balochistan, which is a five-hour drive from Mastung.

“On September 28, at 1745 hours, our own security forces thwarted an attempt of TTP terrorists to infiltrate from Afghanistan into Pakistan near Sambaza in district Zhob close to the Pak-Afghan border,” ISPR said. Three terrorists were killed in this operation.

Bordering Afghanistan and Iran, Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province and has frequently been hit by armed fighters, including TTP and the Islamic State.

Over the past decade, Baloch rebels have carried out a number of attacks against Pakistani security forces as well as Chinese officials working in the province.

Last month, authorities said they had thwarted an attack on Chinese engineers. Balochistan has also seen an increasing presence of transnational groups such as Islamic State in Khorasan Province and Islamic State Pakistan Province.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Taliban Rulers Urged To Prevent Afghanistan From 'Being Terror, Instability Hotspot'

 

Participants pose for a group photo after the conclusion of the fifth meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan in the Russian city of Kazan. — Twitter/@HafizZiaAhmad1

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September 30, 2023

KAZAN: The Taliban rulers, in a consultative meeting of Afghanistan's neighbouring countries, has been asked to ensure that their soil doesn't become “a terrorism and instability hotspot” — backing the concerns repeatedly voiced by Pakistan.

The call was included in a declaration of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, which ended a day earlier after the conclusion of its fifth meeting in Russia's Kazan city with participation by special representatives and senior officials from China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi represented the Taliban government in the meeting, while Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye's representatives arrived in the consultations as guests of honour.

In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the parties noted with concern the difficult security situation in Afghanistan due to the intensification of the activities of terrorist groups, primarily Daesh.

While appreciating the current Afghan authorities for their "serious" fight against Daesh, the participants urged them to do the same against all terrorist groups.

They also called on the current Afghan authorities to take effective measures to dismantle, eliminate and prevent the placement of all sorts of terrorist groups based in Afghanistan and to prevent the country from being a terrorism and instability hotspot and spreading to the regional states.

The meeting stressed the Taliban rulers to step up cooperation with the regional countries in the fight against the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking emanating from the Afghan territory — a demand Pakistan has been making amid a sharp rise in militancy carried out by banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

“Most participants stressed their opposition to the support for terrorism in Afghanistan by external forces,” the statement said.

Responsible Afghan govt

The countries regretted that there had been no progress in forming a truly inclusive government in Afghanistan, reflecting the interests of all ethno-political groups of the country.

Despite the appointment of some individual representatives of various Afghan ethnicities to the Kabul administration, the parties observed no political pluralism in it.

They urged the Kabul authorities to establish a practical, outcome-oriented dialogue with the representatives of alternative ethno-political groups to complete the process of peaceful settlement and forge a balanced, more broad-based, inclusive, accountable and responsible government in Afghanistan.

In order to improve the welfare of the Afghan people, prevent their further migration and provide conditions for the return of the refugees, the Taliban set-up was urged to provide the necessary conditions.

Need for women's education highlighted

The participants also spoke out for respect of fundamental rights and freedoms in Afghanistan, including equal rights to work, education and justice, without distinction as to gender, ethnicity or religion.

While expressing concern about restrictions imposed on women's employment and girls' education, the meeting urged Afghanistan rulers to promote modern education in the schools conforming to international standards.

Parties urge humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan

The Moscow Format urged the Western nations, which it held responsible for the current crisis in the war-torn country, to recognise and shoulder their responsibility for post-conflict reconstruction of the country, unfreeze Afghan assets and lift unilateral sanctions, immediately.

The parties also advocated for Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state.

They underscored the unacceptability of the deployment of military infrastructure facilities of third countries in Afghanistan and its neighbouring states under any pretext.

Without directly mentioning the US, the parties reaffirmed the opposition to attempts at politicising humanitarian assistance and highlighted the importance of continuing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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Sweden’s Police Chief Warns Of Kids Joining “Ruthless” Gangs Controlling The Underworld Gangs

 

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has called in the military to put down an unprecedented wave of violent crime

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29 Sep, 2023

Children in Sweden are now looking for work from gangs as hit-men, the country's police chief, Anders Thornberg, told reporters on Friday. He made the comments following a wave of deadly violence not seen in four years.

Explosions and gunfire have become commonplace even in upscale communities, Thornberg lamented, revealing that there had been 12 killings just this month and three in the 24 hours immediately prior to his press conference.

Last year saw 60 people shot to death in Sweden –a record likely to be broken this year.

Children who end up in gangs receive weapons and even the desired address for the murder to take place from the “ruthless” gangs controlling the underworld. As a result, the number of children under age 18 held in custody by Swedish authorities nearly quintupled between August 2021 and last month.

Senior police officer Mats Lindstrom confirmed Thornberg’s claims about young people writing to their favourite gangs looking for contract-killer jobs. Often, the victims of such child-perpetrated murders are very young as well.

While the gangs have plagued Sweden for years, their violent acts –against one another, the innocent bystanders, and the children they manipulate– only appear to be accelerating. In just one week in September, six people were shot and another narrowly escaped that fate – all just in the Uppsala and Stockholm areas.

Thornberg described the metastasizing violence in the country as “unprecedented,” insisting it has no equivalent anywhere else in Europe – or in Swedish history.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took the unusual (for Sweden) step of calling in the military to help overwhelmed police forces “hunt down” and defeat the gangs, in a televised speech earlier this week. “Sweden has never seen anything like this. No other country in Europe is seeing anything like this,” he said, echoing the police chief’s words.

The government will address those shortcomings by giving police more powers, slapping criminals with longer sentences, and better protecting witnesses who give evidence against them, the PM promised.

While Kristersson’s government entered power with a mandate to squelch runaway crime, his policies have so far done little to decrease the level of violence, while he has blamed it on the “irresponsible migration polices and failed integration” of those who came before – policies which have since been swapped out for stricter entry criteria.

Source: rt.com

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Iran Marks National Day Of Rumi, Greatest Mystical Poet

 

Reflecting on Rumi: Iran's National Day of Rumi

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Sep 30, 2023

TEHRAN, Sep. 30 (MNA) – Mehr 8 in the Iranian calendar corresponding with September 30 is considered a significant cultural event for Iranians to commemorate the prominent Iranian poet Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi who is known to everyone.

The land of Iran is the cradle of countless famous people and poets; one of the most famous Iranian poets is Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, who is known as Mawlānā, Mawlawī and more popularly simply as Rumi.

He is widely known by the sobriquet Mawlānā/Molānā in Iran and popularly known as Mevlânâ in Turkey. Mawlānā is a term of Arabic origin, meaning "our master”, is also frequently used for him.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

Rumi was born to native Persian-speaking parents on the Eastern shores of the then Persian Empire on September 30, 1207, in the city of Balkh which is now part of Afghanistan and finally settled in the town of Konya, in what is now Turkey.

Rumi's life story is full of intrigue and high drama mixed with intense creative outbursts. Rumi was a charming, wealthy nobleman, a genius theologian, law professor and a brilliant but sober scholar, who in his late thirties met a wandering and holy man by the name of Shams on November 30, 1244, in the streets of Konya.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

For months the two mystics lived closely together, and Rumi neglected his disciples and family so that his scandalized entourage forced Shams to leave the town in February 1246. Rumi was heartbroken, and his eldest son, SulṭanWalad, eventually brought Shams back from Syria. The family, however, could not tolerate the close relationship of Rumi with Shams, and one night in 1247 Shams disappeared forever. In the 20th century, it was established that Shams was indeed murdered, not without the knowledge of Rumi’s sons, who hurriedly buried him close to a well that is still extant in Konya.

After Shams was extinguished, Rumi fell into a deep state of grief and gradually out of that pain outpoured nearly 70,000 verses of poetry almost all in Persian that are collected in two epic books. These thousands of poems, which include about 2,000 in quatrains, are collected in two epic books. The first collection is devoted to his mentor Shams named, Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi. It took him 15 years to complete this collection.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

After the first collection, he devoted the last ten years of his life to creating Masnavi Ma’navi. A work filled with anecdotes, life lessons, moral stories, stories from all three Abrahamic religions, and popular topics of the day.

Rumi and Shams stayed together for a short time, about 2 years in total, but the impact of their meeting left an everlasting impression on Rumi and his work. In Rumi's own words, after meeting Shams he was transformed from a bookish, sober scholar to an impassioned seeker of universal truth and love. Rumi was totally his own man. He was an utterly brilliant artist and a true genius who after the death of his mentor Shams became unstoppable.

Due to the fact that Rumi recited poetry for about 25 years and 70,000 verses, he has covered every morsel of emotion, thought, idea and topic. Therefore, he can't be pinned in one statement. His work has an all-embracing universality. A call from an independent soul yearning for true freedom from dogma and hypocrisy.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

Rumi also had three prose works. The prose works are divided into The Discourses, The Letters, and the Seven Sermons.

Fihi Ma Fihi provides a record of seventy-one talks and lectures given by Rumi on various occasions to his disciples. It was compiled from the notes of his various disciples, so Rumi did not author the work directly.

Majāles-e Sab'a contains seven Persian sermons (as the name implies) or lectures given in seven different assemblies. The sermons themselves give a commentary on the deeper meaning of the Qur'an and Hadith. The sermons also include quotations from poems of Sana'i, 'Attar, and other poets, including Rumi himself.

Makatib is a collection of letters written in Persian by Rumi to his disciples, family members, and men of state and influence. The letters testify that Rumi kept very busy helping family members and administering a community of disciples that had grown up around them.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry and dance as a path for reaching God. For Rumi, music helped devotees to focus their whole being on the divine and to do this so intensely that the soul was both destroyed and resurrected. Rumi encouraged Sama, listening to music and turning or doing the sacred dance. In the Mevlevi tradition, Sama represents a mystical journey of spiritual ascent through mind and love to the Perfect One. In this journey, the seeker symbolically turns towards the truth, grows through love, abandons the ego, finds the truth and arrives at the Perfect. The seeker then returns from this spiritual journey, with greater maturity, to love and to be of service to the whole of creation without discrimination with regard to beliefs, races, classes and nations.

He died on 17 December 1273 in Konya. His death was mourned by the diverse community of Konya. Rumi's body was interred beside that of his father, and a splendid shrine, the Green Tomb was erected over his place of burial. Upon his death, his followers and his son Sultan Walad founded the Mevlevi Order, also known as the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, famous for the Sufi dance known as the Sama ceremony.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

Georgian Queen GürcüHatun was a close friend of Rumi. She was the one who sponsored the construction of his tomb in Konya. The 13th century Mevlâna Mausoleum, with its mosque, schools and living quarters for dervishes, remains a destination of pilgrimage to this day.

Rumi is also timeless and placeless. The world has embraced Rumi not because of where he was born or where he grew up or what religion he belonged to but because of what he represents.

By the end of the 20th century, his popularity had become a global phenomenon, with his poetry achieving wide circulation in Western Europe and the United States.

Iran marks National Day of Rumi, greatest mystical poet

December 17 is the day of Rumi's death. In Konya, a special commemoration ceremony for Rumi is held every year from December 7th to 17th.

In a ceremony known as Sama, dancers wear long white robes with full skirts. On the dancers’ heads sit tall conical felt hats. The dancers, who fast for many hours before the ceremony, start to turn in rhythmic patterns, using the left foot to propel their bodies around the right foot with their eyes open, but unfocused. This is sought through abandoning one's nafs, ego or personal desires, by listening to music, focusing on God, and spinning one's body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun.

In Iran, the 7th day of Mehr and the 8th day of Mehr – the eighth month on the Iranian calendar, which fell on September 28 and 29 this year – have been designated as the National Day of Shams Tabrizi and National Day of Rumi respectively to commemorate these two great poets and figures of Iran and the world.

Here are some lines from his poem 'Listen to the reed', translated by Reynold A. Nicholson, 1926:

"Listen to the reed how it tells a tale,

complaining of separations.

Saying, "Ever since I was parted from the reed-bed,

my lament hath caused man and woman to moan.

I want a bosom torn by severance,

that I may unfold (to such a one) the pain of love-desire.

Everyone who is left far from his source

wishes back to the time when he was united with it.

In every company, I uttered my wailful notes,

I consorted with the unhappy and with them that rejoice.

Everyone became my friend from his own opinion;

none sought out my secrets from within me.

My secret is not far from my plaint,

but ear and eye lack the light (whereby it should be apprehended).

The body is not veiled from soul, nor soul from the body,

yet none is permitted to see the soul.

This noise of the reed is fire, it is not wind:

whoso hath not this fire, may he be nought!

'Tis the fire of Love that is in the reed,

'tis the fervour of Love that is in the wine."

Source: mehrnews.com

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India

Danish Ali seeks PM Modi’s intervention in ensuring punishment for Ramesh Bidhuri

30.09.23

Anita Joshua

Lok Sabha member Danish Ali, who was the target of unparalleled communal invectives by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri during Parliament proceedings last week, on Friday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention as leader of the House in ensuring punishment for his party colleague for the attack on the “very essence of democracy”.

“I request that accountability should be fixed at the earliest on the reprehensible conduct of Shri Bidhuri and he should be suitably punished so that no one can repeat such an act ever in the House,” Ali said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

The BSP MP urged the Prime Minister to make a public statement condemning Bidhuri. He also sought security for himself in the wake of threat calls and messages following the profanities poured on him by the BJP MP in the Lok Sabha.

In the letter, Ali narrated what transpired in the Lok Sabha on September 21, including the fact that apart from heaping community-specific slurs on him, Bidhuri “also in the same breath verbally threatened me, stated his intention to confront me outside the House”.

Placing on record the fact that the incident was condemned by most members of the House, including some from the BJP, Ali pointed out that there has been a continuous effort to damage his reputation.

Ali also referred to attempts to perpetuate false claims since September 21, naming BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in particular and accusing him of disseminating “absolute falsehoods” against him.

“In your capacity as the Leader of the House and the Prime Minister of our great nation, I trust that you would find it deeply concerning that MP Ramesh Bidhuri resorted to using unparliamentary and abusive language,” Ali told Modi. The incident during the special session of Parliament was not just an attack on him as an individual but an attack on the “very essence of democracy”, Ali said. “As you must be aware, the situation has significantly worsened since September 21, 2023, and it has cast a shadow over the parliamentary decorum and democratic functioning of our esteemed House of which I am privileged to be a member,” Ali wrote.

About the incident, Ali said: “Shri Bidhuri used inappropriate language when referring to you during his address. I raised an objection to the use of such language in relation to the Prime Minister, even if it was a quotation. It is evident from the House proceedings that none of the members from the ruling party objected to my stance against the use of unparliamentary language directed at you. However, when I rose and pointed out to Shri Bidhuri’s use of unparliamentary language towards you, he got rattled and reacted strongly, possibly realising his mistake. He began making highly offensive attacks against me on the floor of the House to divert the attention of the House….”

As for the reason for seeking enhanced security, Ali said: “The threat issued by Shri Bidhuri and the subsequent spread of inaccurate information about my conduct have raised substantial apprehensions regarding my personal safety and security. In addition to Shri Bidhuri’s threats to confront me outside Parliament, in a manner more akin to a street altercation than a parliamentary setting, certain unknown individuals are persistently sending me threatening and menacing messages. These messages, which I suspect are orchestrated, employ not only harsh language but also explicitly threaten my life and physical well-being. Copies of these messages are attached to this letter.”

“I urge you to remind all Members of Parliament of the importance of upholding the highest standards of decorum and conduct within the House as the whole world looks upon us as a torchbearer of parliamentary democracy. Such indecent incidents should have no place in our democracy,” Ali said.

Acting on the complaints submitted by several Opposition MPs, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has referred them to the Privileges Committee headed by BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi. Though defence minister Rajnath Singh had expressed regret on the floor of the House on September 21 itself, Bidhuri himself has not apologised till date.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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Eid-i-Milad celebrated with religious fervour in Kashmir despite confusion over government’s declaration of public holiday

30.09.23

Muzaffar Raina

The Valley on Friday celebrated Eid-i-Milad, marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, with fervour despite confusion over the government’s declaration of the related public holiday a day before it was to be observed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tens of thousands of people thronged major shrines, including Hazratbal, ignoring the purported design of the Jammu and Kashmir government to make people celebrate the festival on Thursday along with many other parts of the country.

Eid-I-Milad festivities at Hazratbal and some other shrines in the Valley continue for weeks. There is traditionally a public holiday on two days during the festival — the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awal, a month of the Islamic calendar, and the Friday following the Milad.

On Tuesday, the government stirred a row by declaring a public holiday on Thursday (11th of Rabi-ul-Awal which coincides with September 28), although it was to fall on Friday (12th of Rabi-ul-Awal). Several other state governments had also declared the public holiday on Thursday as the Rabi-ul-Awal moon was sighted there a day earlier, but not in Jammu and Kashmir.

The government stuck to the Thursday holiday and brought forward by a week the Friday holiday that was to fall on October 6 had the Jammu and Kashmir schedule been followed. As a result, there were two successive public holidays in Jammu and Kashmir. It is not clear whether there will be any public holiday next Friday in keeping with the Jammu and Kashmir schedule of celebrating Milad on September 29.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who offered Friday prayers at Hazratbal, threw down the gauntlet to the government, asking it to change the festival dates of other communities.

“The festival is today but they announced the holiday yesterday. Why? We all knew in advance the festival was on Friday. What was the purpose of bringing the holiday forward? Let them do it with other festivals. Let the Diwali holiday this year be a day ahead of the festival, let’s see,” the National Conference leader told reporters at Hazratbal. “These things show they don’t respect our sentiments even a bit.”

The issue has also brought the focus back on media freedom, with the National Conference complaining that the government forced news portals to pull down videos in which they had criticised the Jammu and Kashmir dispensation over the festival dates.

“Instead of making amends, the videos were removed forcibly from these channels (portals),” Omar claimed.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/eid-i-milad-celebrated-with-religious-fervour-in-kashmir-despite-confusion-over-governments-declaration-of-public-holiday/cid/1969943

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Afghan embassy in India decides to ‘permanently wind up its operations’

30.09.23

Anita Joshua

The Afghan embassy in India, headed by an appointee of the pre-Taliban Ashraf Ghani government, seems to have decided to “permanently” wind up its operations, citing lack of funds and absence of support from the Indian government.

The decision was apparently communicated to the external affairs ministry by the mission earlier this week, according to a note verbale (NV) that is circulating online. The ministry has not officially commented on the development till Friday night. A source said: “The authenticity of the communication and its contents are being examined.”

Also, it was pointed out that ambassador Farid Mamundzay has been out of the country for the “past many months” and the mission has seen the “steady departure of diplomats to third countries reportedly after receiving asylum, as well as reports of infighting amongst embassy personnel”.

Since the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in mid-August 2021, India — like much of the rest of the world — has cut off diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, maintaining only a technical office at the mission there.

In May, there was a tussle in the mission in Delhi between Mamundzay and his deputy Qurban Shah, who was appointed charge d’ affaires by the Taliban dispensation. Mamundzay, who was in London then, stepped in to assert control, maintaining that he was the one recognised as Afghan ambassador by India.

Subsequently, his absence from the mission since June set off speculation about his fate in August. But Mamundzay issued a statement clarifying that he was out of the country for personal reasons and would return. This time, 24 hours after the NV has been in circulation, he has remained silent.

In the NV, the mission — largely peopled by appointees of the Ghani government — expressed disappointment with the Indian government. “This decision (to close operations) stems from our inability to maintaining normal functioning due to absence of diplomatic consideration and systemic support,” the mission said, listing at least 10 NVs which drew no response from the ministry.

“Neither the Strategic Partnership Agreement nor other bilateral agreements have been given due consideration since the tragic collapse of the Afghan republic.”

Also, according to the NV, the mission’s significance “has been systematically diminished”.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/afghan-embassy-in-india-decides-to-permanently-wind-up-its-operations/cid/1969948

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Two militants killed as army foils infiltration bid along LoC in J&K's Kupwara: Police

30th September 2023

By PTI

SRINAGAR: Two militants were killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday, police said.

The infiltration attempt took place in the Kumkadi area of the Machil sector in the north Kashmir district.

"Based on an intelligence input provided by Kupwara Police, in a joint operation carried by Army and police in Kumkadi area of Machal sector, two infiltrating terrorists have been killed so far," Kupwara Police said in a post on X.

The operation is still underway, the police said.

So far, two AK rifles, four AK magazines, 90 rounds, a Pakistani pistol, a pouch and Rs 2,100 in Pakistani currency have been recovered from the encounter site, they said.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/sep/30/two-militants-killed-as-army-foils-infiltration-bid-along-loc-in-jkskupwara-police-2619684.html

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ISKCON sends Rs 100 crore defamation notice to Maneka Gandhi over 'selling cow to butchers' remark

30th September 2023

By Rajesh Kumar ThakurExpress News Service

NEW DELHI: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Friday said it has served Rs 100 crore defamation notice on BJP MP from Sultanpur and noted animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi for questioning the care given to cows in its ‘gaushala’ after the animals stop yielding milk.

The ISKCON notice came after an undated video went viral in which Gandhi could be heard making the allegation. ISKCON vice-president Radharamn Das said the allegation was unfounded. “Today, we have sent a Rs 100 crore defamation notice to her,” Das said, adding that the worldwide community of ISKCON devotees and all those associated with the organisation were deeply hurt by the allegations.

He also termed Gandhi’s statement a “malicious accusation” far from the truth. Gandhi is heard in the video that the chain of temples is the “biggest cheat in the country, which sells cows from its gaushalas (cowsheds) to butchers.” “ISKCON establishes gaushalas and earns unlimited benefits from the government in the form of land,” she had said. The video created a flutter among the ISKCON devotees.

Refuting the allegations, ISKCON called them “unsubstantiated and false.”

“How can an MP, once a Union minister, lie without any evidence against such a big society?” the ISKCON notice asked, adding that the organisation runs more than 60 cowsheds protecting hundreds of sacred cows and bulls, and providing personalised care for the animals for their entire lifetime. “Many cows currently in ISKCON’s gaushalas were brought to us after being found abandoned, injured or rescued from being slaughtered.” No official statement was available from Gandhi.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/sep/30/iskcon-sends-rs-100-crore-defamation-notice-to-maneka-gandhi-over-selling-cow-to-butchers-remark-2619580.html

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Communal tension erupts in Jaipur after death of biker due to thrashing

 Press Trust of India: 30th September 2023

Jaipur: Communal tension erupted in Ramganj and nearby areas here on Saturday after a man died allegedly due to thrashing by a group of men over an accident between two motorcycles, police said.

Two motorbikes collided in Subhash Chowk after which a group of men with one of the two riders thrashed the other rider, Iqbal, late Friday night, police said. He was rushed to SMS hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, they said.

Several shops in the Muslim-dominated areas were shut down, and family members of the deceased and locals gathered there are demanding action against the other side.

Additional forces have been deployed around the area and efforts were being made to diffuse the tension, police said. Shops in Ramganj, Subhash chowk and nearby areas have been closed in view of the tension.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/communal-tension-erupts-in-jaipur-after-death-of-biker-due-to-thrashing-2709422/

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Karnataka: 3 arrested for tearing up banner during Eid Milad procession

Indo-Asian News Service by Sayima Ahmad : 30th September 2023

Vijayapura: Karnataka Police on Saturday arrested three persons regarding the tearing up of a banner during the Eid Milad procession in Vijayapura district.

The arrested persons are identified as Yaseen, Mohammad and Sohail.

The accused had torn the banner containing the picture of BJP local MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal. It was put up to wish about the Ganesh festival. The banner also had pictures of lord Ganesh and Shivaji Maharaj.

Later, the video of the tearing of the banner went viral on social media. Raaghu, a supporter of MLA Yatnal had registered a complaint with Gandhi Chowka police station in Vijayapura in this connection.

The BJP party leaders had also staged a protest in this regard demanding the arrest of the accused persons near the office of the Deputy Commissioner. They claimed that this was an attempt to spoil communal harmony in the city.

The protestors claimed that the Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated without giving room for any untoward incident and the group of youths during the celebration of Eid had intentionally torn the banner containing the photos of Hindu gods and insulted them.

The police have taken up further investigation.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/karnataka-3-arrested-for-tearing-up-banner-during-eid-milad-procession-2709477/

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Pakistan

 

Imran Khan may be legally barred from contesting polls: PM Kakar

September 29, 2023

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has clarified that it would not be in the interim government’s control if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan was legally barred from contesting the upcoming polls — expected to be held in end-January 2024 — by the courts.

In an interview with BBC during his visit to London, the premier said, “The fate of Imran Khan is not final (as yet). There are judicial remedies available to him… And if all the options are utilised judicially, then yes, there is a possibility that he may legally be barred from that process which is beyond the control of the caretaker government.”

Responding to another question regarding Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif, he reiterated that if any individual was barred from the elections, it would not be due to executive decision as that could only be through judicial outcome.

PM Kakar said that being the caretaker prime minister, he could not undo the judicial outcomes. Asked whether Nawaz would be arrested on his return from London, he said the law enforcement agencies would have to deliberate whether he had protective bail or any other legal remedies available.

In another interview with BBC Urdu, the prime minister said in the case of Nawaz, the law should take its course as he went abroad on a court order.

However, he said he did not foresee any agitative behaviour on Nawaz’s arrest as instead of indulging in agitative politics, the PML-N leadership would prefer to take part in the elections.

He further said that the PTI as a political party was not barred from participating in the elections.

“If an individual is charged with riots, vandalism, arson and instigating people for violence, the laws of the land are there to counter this behaviour,” he commented.

On a similar question, he assured that there would absolutely be no harshness against PTI.

However, those found involved in violence would be dealt with as per law. Such a people could be just 1500-2000 in numbers, out of 250 million population.

The prime minister reiterated his government’s resolve to steer the country out of prevailing challenging and difficult times and hold free and fair elections.

“I am pretty much confident that upcoming elections will be free and fair. I am confident that we will achieve all indicators of transparent elections,” he remarked.

Rubbishing Imran Khan’s allegations against the military, he said the same military worked hand in glove with the PTI chief during his government and that he used to famously take credit for hybrid arrangements.

To a question, the prime minister said Pakistan had lost over 90,000 lives in the war against terrorism as the country had to take the mess on its own after all including the NATO and ISF left the region.

He said Pakistan’s military and paramilitary forces were doing a “fantastic” task of dealing with terrorism.

About the challenge of renewed attacks, he said those were due to the added gadgetry left by US and UK after the drawdown.

He said the Afghan army of 300,000 was armed with the latest equipment and after the withdrawal, those arms and equipment were sold in the black market.

The premier said Pakistan was dealing with the TTP on its soil but their asylum in Afghanistan was part of the problem.

About his government’s economic priorities, PM Kakar said they had cracked down on illegal trade of currency and hoarding. The government will also go for the privatization of state-owned entities like Steel Mill, PIA and Power Discos.

The premier said that holding the elections within 90 days was the Election Commission’s mandate; however, he cited Article 254 of the Constitution saying that anything not done within the prescribed period was not tantamount to being unconstitutional or illegal.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1114611-imran-khan-may-be-legally-barred-from-contesting-polls-pm-kakar

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Soldier martyred, terrorist ringleader killed in 2 KP military engagements: ISPR

September 29, 2023

Iftikhar Shirazi

A soldier was martyred while a wanted terrorist was killed in separate military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram and Mardan districts, according to a press release from the military’s media wing on Friday.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said two engagements took place between security forces and terrorists in the province on the night between Thursday and Friday.

An intelligence-based operation was conducted in Mardan district’s general area of Katlang, resulting in the killing of a “high-value target, terrorist ringleader Faisal”.

The ISPR added he was actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and was “highly wanted by law enforcement agencies”. It said weapons and ammunition were also recovered from him.

Separately, 33-year-old Lance Naik Ghairat Khan, resident of Kurram district, was martyred in an encounter with terrorists in the district’s general area Parachinar.

“Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said.

Earlier in the day, terrorist attacks in Balochistan’s Mastung district and KP’s Hangu collectively claimed the lives of at least 58 people.

Separately, four Pakistan Army soldiers were also martyred during an operation in Zhob — which is located at a five-hour distance from Mastung — as security forces thwarted an infiltration attempt of banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists from Afghanistan.

Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.

A report released in July by the think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said the first half of the current year witnessed a steady and alarming rise in terror and suicide attacks, claiming the lives of 389 people across the country.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1778548/soldier-martyred-terrorist-ringleader-killed-in-2-kp-military-engagements-ispr

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Sindh CM orders inquiry into killing of 4 villagers during law enforcers’ raid in Sakrand

 September 29, 2023

Imtiaz Ali | Mohammad Hussain Khan

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar on Friday said he has ordered an inquiry into the killing of four villagers in Sakrand a day earlier and summoned a report on the incident within four days.

On Thursday, four people were killed and nine others, including four Rangers personnel, were wounded in an operation carried out by law enforcement agencies in a Sakrand village to nab militants belonging to the outlawed Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army.

Without providing details, a Rangers spokesman had said in a statement that an intelligence-based operation was launch­­ed against high-value targets.

Meanwhile, Sindh United Party (SUP) Secretary General Roshan Burriro had said that those killed were supporters. He had stated that a scuffle broke out between security forces and villagers and the situation escalated when law enforcers fired shots, leading to the death of four villagers and as many injuries.

Subsequently, villagers took to the streets and staged a sit-in on a section of the National Highway. They were carrying coffins of the deceased persons.

In a post on social media platform X (erstwhile Twitter) today, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) called for an independent investigation into the incident.

“While the government should take all possible steps to improve law and order in the province, this in no way excuses extrajudicial killings, which HRCP has always opposed,” it said, adding that the protesting families deserved justice.

Addressing the matter in a media talk after attending a Rabiul Awwal procession at New Memon Mosque in the evening, the interim chief minister expressed his sorrow and regret over the incident.

He said he had held a meeting with interim Sindh Home Minister retired Brigadier Haris Nawaz and sought the incident’s details. “Such kind of incidents are painful and shouldn’t take place,” CM Baqar added.

The CM said he had formed a three-member committee to conduct an inquiry into the incident and directed them to report their findings within four days.

An order issued by the Sindh Home Department, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, said the inquiry committee would be headed by Hyderabad Commissioner Khalid Hyder Shah and included the Shaheed Benazirabad deputy inspector general of police (DIG) and Karachi DIG Special Branch.

The committee would investigate the matter to “determine the reasons of this clash resulting in loss of precious lives and injuries to law enforcement personnel”.

Protest ends as FIR lodged

The protest by the heirs and relatives of the four villagers ended today after the order for the judicial inquiry and the registration of a first information report (FIR).

The FIR was lodged today under Sections 302 (intentional murder) and 324 (murder attempt) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of RahibJalbani, the brother of one of the deceased.

The complainant said that he, his brother SujawalJalbani and other relatives were present in the house of Ali Nawaz Jalbani on Thursday when around 4.45pm, five police mobiles and one Vigo of law enforcers arrived.

The FIR said around 40 to 45 uniformed personnel and 10 in plain clothes disembarked from the vehicles and told those present in the house that they were terrorists and the officers would let the residents go and kill the rest.

The FIR said the security officials began firing on the villagers, adding that the complainant’s brother and Nizamuddin Jalbani died instantly while Imam BuxJalbani, Mehar Jalbani, ImamuddinJalbani, AllahdadJalbani, SarangJalbani, Ali Nawaz Jalbani and Liaquat Jalbani were injured.

The complainant said villagers gathered after hearing the gunshots and the injured were moved to Taluka Hospital Sakrand, adding that Imam Bux and Mehar lost their lives on the way.

He said that the villagers took their bodies to the National Highway and staged a sit-in there.

Meanwhile, SUP President Syed Zain Shah told Dawn.com that the bodies would be laid to rest at a funeral on Friday night by the heirs in the village.

He said the deceased were his constituency’s voters but they were not politically affiliated. Shah said the heirs had agreed to call off the protest after the Shaheed Benazirabad deputy commissioner wrote a letter to the additional chief secretary for a judicial inquiry into the matter, adding that it was a big “stigma” for the villagers if they were dubbed as terrorists by the home minister.

The SUP president informed that the postmortem of the deceased was also conducted.

SUP secretary general Burriro said that the heirs also insisted that if Rangers personnel were injured then the villagers would visit them to enquire about their health. He said that law enforcers had claimed that they had reached the village following some information about miscreants.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1778543/sindh-cm-orders-inquiry-into-killing-of-4-villagers-during-law-enforcers-raid-in-sakrand

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PM reiterates Govt's resolve to eliminate terrorism

September 30, 2023

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has reiterated government's firm resolve to wipe out the menace of terrorism.

He stated this during a telephone call received from Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of United Kingdom James Cleverly on Saturday.

During the call, the Prime Minster condemned terrorist attacks in Mastung and Hangu and expressed condolence over the loss of innocent lives.

He further expressed solidarity with families of victims and hoped for speedy recovery of those injured.

The Prime Minister thanked him and United Kingdom for their expression of solidarity and reiterated his government's firm resolve to bring those responsible to justice.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/30-09-2023/pm-reiterates-govts-resolve-to-wipe-out-menace-of-terrorism

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World countries condemn terrorist attacks in Pakistan

September 30, 2023

Various countries of the world have strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mastung and Hangu and expressed solidarity with Pakistan.

In separate statements by the respective ministries, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Iran, Iraq and France conveyed their sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its statement, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s firm position calling for rejection of violence and terrorism wherever it occurs.

Iranian President Syed Ebrahim Raisi in his message said this blind act has once again shown that the terrorists, with their ignorance and distance from the merciful teachings of Islam, have no other goal than to create division among Muslims.

He urged international community, especially the Islamic countries, to seriously react to this criminal act and prevent the repetition of such tragic events.

Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement expressed solidarity with Pakistan in the face of all attempts by extremist and terrorist groups to tamper with its security and stability.

Turkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its statement said Ankara would continue to support Pakistan with determination in its fight against terrorism.

The government of France in a statement condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks perpetrated during religious processions in Pakistan.

The UAE while strongly condemning these criminal acts, reiterated its rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles.

Algeria also condemned the terrorist attacks and expressed its support for the measures taken by Pakistan to stop such criminal acts and ensure its security and stability.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/30-09-2023/world-capitals-condemn-terrorist-attacks-in-mastung-hangu-conveyed-solidarity-with-pakistan

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Security forces kill 'terrorist ring leader' during Mardan IBO

September 30, 2023

A terrorist "ring leader" was gunned down during an intelligence based operation (IBO) led by the security forces in the general area of Katalang in District Mardan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.

The military's wing said that two separate encounters took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the night between September 28 and 28.

"An intelligence based operation was conducted in general area Katalang, Mardan District, which resulted in the killing of a high value target, terrorist ring leader Faisal," the ISPR stated.

It said that the slain militant was actively involved in numerous terrorist activities and was "highly wanted" by law enforcement agencies.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from his possession, it added.

Separately, a soldier was martyred in another encounter with the militants in the general area of Parachinar in District Kurram.

"Own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. However, Lance Naik Ghairat Khan (age 33 years, resident of Kurram District), having fought gallantly, embraced shahadat [martyrdom]," the ISPR stated.

The military's media wing reiterated the resolve of the security forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country with the sacrifices of brave soldiers, which further strengthen the determination.

For the past year now, Pakistan has been gripped by a spate of terror attacks, with Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly being under the radar of militants targeting security forces and civilians to deteriorate peace.

Today, two separate suicide bombings near mosques in Balochistan's Mastung and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Hangu left several people dead and many others injured.

Earlier this month, a report compiled by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) stated a sharp increase recorded in militant attacks across the country in the month of August with 99 terror incidents reported.

This, according to the report, was the highest number recorded in any single month since November 2014. These attacks have resulted in 112 deaths and 87 injuries, mostly targeting security forces personnel and civilians.

Security forces, however, continue to conduct operations against terrorists to eliminate militancy from the country in its resolve to strengthen the sacrifices of its soldiers.

Last month, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir said that Pakistan was acting as a bulwark against terrorism and the international community must realise the immense sacrifices rendered by the country.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1114638-security-forces-kill-terrorist-ring-leader-during-mardan-ibo

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South Asia

 

Afghanistan’s Peace Requires Full Ethnic Representation in the Government: Russia

Fidel Rahmati

September 29, 2023

 During the Moscow Format meeting, the Special Representative of Russia for Afghanistan, quoting his country’s Foreign Minister, stated that without the involvement of ethnic groups in the government, peace in Afghanistan is not possible.

In another part of his remarks, Mr. Kabulov noted that the Taliban has been ineffective in countering terrorist groups, notably ISIS.

Mr. Kabulov expressed concern about the Taliban’s performance against ISIS in the region.

Russia’s representative in Afghan affairs emphasized that the Taliban has also failed to find a solution to Afghanistan’s “severe economic problems.”

Mr. Kabulov also mentioned that Moscow is striving to create the conditions for dialogue and peace in Afghanistan, highlighting the need for a comprehensive government, as quoted by Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister.

Kabulov emphasized that regional countries are responsible for finding a fundamental solution for Afghanistan’s future.

The Moscow Format meeting began on Friday in Kazan, Russia.

The Moscow Format comprises ten countries: Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Afghanistan’s neighbouring Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, even though the latter two do not share a border with Afghanistan.

The Russian representative stated that observers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey attended the Moscow Format meeting.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, has visited Russia to attend the Moscow Format meeting.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-peace-requires-full-ethnic-representation-in-the-government-russia/

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Afghanistan’s Embassy in India to remain operational, sources confirm

Fidel Rahmati

September 29, 2023

 Sources have assured Khaama Press News Agency on Friday that Afghanistan’s Embassy in New Delhi will continue its operations beyond September 2023.

This commitment aims to support Afghan citizens and students residing in India. The sources, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the Embassy’s determination to serve the Afghan community in India.

On the other hand, most Afghan citizens rushed to Afghanistan’s Embassy in New Delhi to extend their passports and documents.

Khaama Press asked several Afghan citizens residing in India, who said that they have submitted their documents and passport for extension, and they have asked to receive their documents on October 3rd since Monday is a Holiday across India.

Ahmad Sabour, an Afghan resident in New Delhi, informed Khaama Press that “he visited the Embassy to renew his passport. He paid the required fees and was instructed to return on October 3rd to collect it. However, he noted that the Embassy is currently operating with just two to three employees handling services for the public.”

Additionally, Sayed Mohammad EbrahimKhil, the Consul General of Afghanistan in Hyderabad, assured Afghan students in a WhatsApp group that “The Afghan consulate in Hyderabad and Mumbai continues to serve its mission earnestly, striving to support its fellow citizens and esteemed students sincerely.”

The Embassy had previously decided to suspend operations due to unprecedented circumstances. In a statement, the Embassy cited a lack of support from the Indian government for this compelled decision.

The Afghan Embassy in New Delhi clarified that the suspension of its operations resulted from the Indian government’s lack of diplomatic engagement. The Embassy’s statement noted that despite sending numerous diplomatic notes to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs over the past six months, including requests related to the Strategic Partnership,

Agreement and other bilateral agreements, none of these crucial matters received any attention.

The statement emphasized that despite making numerous requests regarding critical matters such as the diplomatic mission’s status, educational programs, consular services, humanitarian aid coordination, and support for Afghan traders, the relevant authorities either failed to take necessary actions or provided minimal support.

The Embassy is under Ambassador Farid Mamundzay’s leadership, currently based in London. Notably, Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and has continued to serve as the Afghan envoy, even following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Reports of the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi closing down its operations have prompted sources within the Indian government to claim that the Embassy has issued a communication addressing this matter.

“We are currently verifying the authenticity of the communication and its contents,” stated a source. They added, “This situation arises in light of the ambassador’s prolonged absence from India, diplomats leaving for third countries with reported asylum, and internal disputes among embassy personnel.”

The Embassy has reportedly communicated its intention to shut down operations within the next few days to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). There has been no immediate response from the Embassy regarding this matter.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-embassy-in-india-to-remain-operational-sources-confirm/

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Sirajuddin Haqqani in Panjshir Stresses Trust-Building

ShamsurrahmanKhpalwak,

September 29, 2023

The acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, called for trust-building between the people and the interim government.

His visit to Panjshir was the first since the Islamic Emirate came to power.

“Such meetings will be normal among us so I will feel he is my brother. Then the challenges and problems which exist among us, will solve themselves,” he said.

Haqqani in a visit to Panjshir told the gathering that the doors for the leader of Panjshir are opened based on a “guarantee by the people of Panjshir."

Haqqani said that the people of Panjshir should not consider themselves strangers and that they will be provided with all Sharia rights.

"You have remained very loyal to your leaders. For your people's sake (people of Panjshir) and because of your people's guarantee, all doors have been opened for them (out-of-country leaders of Panjshir)," he said.

Some of the participants talked about the negative impacts of the 20-year presence of western countries in Afghanistan.

“We have sustained severe damages from our politicians who made us victims. They have ignited fighting among us,” said Qiamuddin Hanif, head of the Ulema council for Panjshir.

“In more than 20 years, malicious propagandashas been injected into the minds of people by the enemies of the Islamic government,” said RohullahRohani, a religious cleric.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185319

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10 Religious Figures Appointed to Monitor Gold Mines

By Habib Rahman Qooyash

September 29, 2023

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum said that it has appointed 10 Ulema and Hafiz (Quran memorizers) to monitor the extraction of gold mines in Baghlan province.

The MoMP said in a statement that the appointed people are tasked with monitoring and to prevent "arbitrary" extraction from mines, and to prevent corruption in the QaraZaghan gold mine in Baghlan.

Every individual will be paid a 15,000 Afs salary per month.

“All technical work at the QaraZaghan gold mine will be conducted by experienced experts and engineers and these individuals will not interfere with the technical work of the mine,” the statement reads.

Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that efforts are underway to alleviate poverty in the country.

“Serious work is underway to alleviate the poverty and unemployment crisis. The ministries are making serious efforts to provide job opportunities for the people. In this regard, a big process is under development in the mine sector, so the people can find jobs,” he said.

The Afghanistan Chamber of Industry and Mines meanwhile said it welcomed the decision as there have always been concerns over corruption in the mines sector.

“The decision was made to monitor the gold mine, we welcome any honest Afghan, whether they are Hafiz or Ulema,” said Sakhi Ahmad Paiman, head of the ACIM.

Economists gave various opinions regarding the appointment of Hafiz (Quran memorizers) and Ulema members to monitor the process of mine extraction.

“When we appoint other people to monitor the work of the experts it costs us heavy and may even cause the project to be not practically implemented. The option is to appoint expert people through a process,” said Abdul Zahor, an economist.

“They have appointed these people within a Sharia format. They thus will not engage in corruption and will not take bribes because they are Ulema and Hafiz,” said Shams Rahman Ahmadzai, an economist.

Earlier, the MoMP said that complete transparency exists in the extraction of mines in Afghanistan.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185309

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Europe

 

Putin meets Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar

29 Sep, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a meeting in Moscow with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

“We confirm this meeting. Indeed, it took place today in the Kremlin. The situation in Libya and in the region as a whole was discussed,” said Peskov.

LNA officials said Haftar discussed “bilateral relations between the two countries, ways of their strengthening and development, as well as issues of mutual interest” during his meeting with the Russian leader.

The Libyan commander arrived in Russia for an official visit on Tuesday, when he was greeted by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Yunus-BekYevkurov.

A Russian Defense Ministry delegation visited Libya for the first time on August 22. According to the department’s press service, Yevkurov and Haftar planned to discuss the potential for collaboration in the fight against international terrorism and other issues of mutual interest.

On September 17, Yevkurovtraveled to Benghazi and met with Haftar, visiting Derna, a city that had been devastated by intense floods.

Meanwhile, US Africa Command Leader Michael Langley met with the head of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, in Tripoli. He then traveled to Benghazi to meet with Khalifa Haftar, and this happened just six days after Yevkurov had visited Benghazi and Derna. The Wall Street Journal reported that Langley had intended to discuss Russia’s growing presence in the region.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/africa/583754-putin-met-haftar-libya/

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Indian Envoy to UK Prevented From Entering UK Gurudwara By Khalistani Extremists

30th September 2023

Masrath Fatima

London: Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) Vikram Doraiswami was on Friday prevented from entering a Gurdwara in Glasgow, Scotland.

According to a purported video posted on the Instagram channel of ‘Sikh Youth UK,’ a man reportedly a pro-Khalistani activist was seen blocking Doraiswami from entering the Glasgow Gurdwara on Albert Drive.

This comes amid a diplomatic row between India and Canada over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

“…They are hurting Sikhs in Canada and other places, every Sikh should protest against any Indian Ambassador like we did here in Glasgow,” the man is heard saying in the video.

The ‘Sikh Youth UK’ claims that there is an ongoing ban on Indian officials visiting the gurdwara in their official capacities.

The video shows two men near the High Commissioner’s car in the parking area. One of them is seen attempting to open the car door, which has been locked from the inside. The purported video then shows the high commissioner’s car leaving the gurdwara premises.

The video then shows another man speaking to the camera that this is how any Indian ambassador or any Indian government official who visits the Gurdwara will be treated.

“We know what games they are playing, what’s happening in Canada. The Canadian PM has openly condemned India and expelled Indian diplomats,” he said.

The incident was first reported by the Times of India (TOI).

A pro-Khalistan activist told TOI that the Indian High Commissioner was supposed to hold a meeting with the gurdwara committee of the Glasgow Gurdwara, UK on Albert Drive.

The activist said: “A few people turned up and told him he is not welcome and he left. There was a slight confrontation. I don’t think the gurdwara committee is too happy about what happened. But Indian officials are not welcome in any gurdwara in the UK.”

“We are fed up with the UK-India collusion. The recent tensions since the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing have led to British Sikhs being targeted. This is to do with Avtar Singh Khanda and Jagtar Singh Johal too,” he further said.

Meanwhile, a formal reaction from the Indian High Commission in London and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the incident is awaited.

The UK incident comes amid a growing strain in India-Canada ties following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations regarding the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it “absurd” and “motivated.”

Notably, Canada has yet to provide any public evidence to support the claim about the killing of Nijjar.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has highlighted incidents of threats, violence, and intimidation against Indian diplomats and missions in Canada. He has questioned whether the reaction would have been the same if a similar situation had occurred in any other country.

He further emphasized that the situation in Ottawa should not be normalized.

Addressing a press conference in Washington DC on Friday, S Jaishankar said, “…Our point is that there is today a climate of violence, an atmosphere of intimidation…Just think about it. We have had smoke bombs thrown at the mission.

We have had our consulates…violence in front of them. Individuals have been targeted and intimidated. There are posters put up about people”.

The UK has meanwhile said it is in “close touch” with its Canadian partners about serious allegations made by PM Trudeau on India’s link in the alleged assassination of Nijjar.

“We are in close touch with our Canadian partners about these serious allegations,” a UK government spokesperson told ANI.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further during the ongoing investigation by the Canadian authorities,” the official said.

Recently, the United Kingdom’s Security Minister Tom Tugendhat announced new funding to enhance the UK’s capability to tackle ‘pro-Khalistan extremism.’

Tugendhat made the announcement after a meeting with Jaishankar in the national capital on August 10, the British High Commission in India said.

The 95,000-pound investment will enhance the government’s understanding of the threat posed by pro-Khalistan extremism, complementing the joint work already underway between the UK and India through the Joint-Extremism Task Force, the British High Commission said in a statement.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/amid-india-canada-row-indian-envoy-to-uk-prevented-from-entering-scotland-gurdwara-2709139/

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Brussels accused of handing cash to Islamist-linked NGO – again

29 September 2023

The European Union has again been accused of handing cash to an NGO linked to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood.

Jean-Paul Garraud, an MEP for Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National, lashed out at the European Commission for pulling funds from Hungarian organisations over alleged rule-of-law breeches while allegedly handing out grants to Islamist organisations.

“At a time when the Commission has cut off more than 30 higher education and cultural establishments in Hungary … it has no hesitation in giving €60,000 to the Erasmus+ project ‘Young Muslims for a Europe with a future: inclusive, digital and sustainable’, sponsored by three NGOs belonging to [the Forum Of European Muslim Youth And Student Organisations – FEMYSO],” he said.

The MEP went on to cite claims that FEMYSO “is the youth section of an organisation thought to be close to the Muslim Brotherhood called the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe [FIOE], which represents Islamic fundamentalism in Europe”.

Such links have also been claimed in a report by the European Conservatives and Reformist (ECR) group on the EU funding of Islamism, which was published in 2021.

French interior minister GéraldDarmanin has also previously written to the EC asking it to distance the EU from FEMYSO over its alleged Islamist ties.

Garraud asked: “Does the Commission consider that the FIOE and the Muslim Brotherhood respect EU values?”

Responding to the politician, EC Vice-President MargaritisSchinas said that the executive “attaches great importance to ensuring that beneficiaries of EU funds respect the EU values”.

He added that the EC was considering reforms on how EU funding is handed out.

“A number of recent cases have highlighted the risk of both national and/or EU funding falling into the wrong hands,” Schinas said.

“The Commission has thus proposed to reinforce the financial regulation by adding a new rule for exclusion of potential beneficiaries of EU funds in case of ‘incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence’, and strengthening the EU values section of the annotated grant agreement.”

This is not the first time the EC has been accused of handing cash to organisations tied to Islamism that operate within the bloc.

Earlier this year, Eurocrats suspended funding for a Turkish organisation also working within the Erasmus+ programme.

Said to be focused on fighting “Islamophobia”, the Yavuz Sultan Selim group had its funding cut off over its views on women, which include claims that every woman and girl “needs to obey her master”.

It is also accused of having close ties to the Taliban.

Source: brusselssignal.eu

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https://brusselssignal.eu/2023/09/eu-again-accused-of-handing-cash-to-islamist-linked-ngo/

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PhD student guilty of 3D-printing 'kamikaze' drone for Islamic State terrorists

29 Sep 2023

A PhD student has been found guilty of building a potentially deadly drone for Islamic State terrorists, in part using his home 3D printer.

Mohamad Al Bared, 26, a mechanical engineering graduate who was studying at Birmingham University in England, was convicted on Thursday of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts to benefit a proscribed terrorist organization, and faces possible life in prison when he is sentenced next month. He remains behind bars.

During the five-week trial, the prosecution said Al Bared had designed a single-use, video-transmitting "kamikaze" drone "somewhat inspired by the design of the Tomahawk missile," and used a 3D printer to build the wings.

Al Bared was said to have sent weekly updates to IS, so that the terrorist group could copy his designs, and this earned his chunky-looking drone a starring role in a propaganda video that the fanatics shared on Telegram. One wonders if it could have actually flown, but that's perhaps by the by.

Police arrested Al Bared on January 31 after finding the drone, which prosecutors say was potentially capable of delivering a bomb or chemical weapon, at the home he shared with his parents in Kare Road, Coventry. The cops also reportedly discovered at the home an IS application form, and other information indicating his support for the terrorist organization.

During a raid, officers seized the drone, the 3D printer, and electronic devices including phones and laptops. The plod also found hand-written notebooks containing recipes for chemical weapons, it's reported.

Mugshot of Mohamad Al-Bared with a drone he designed and built ... Source: Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands

After analyzing the phones and laptops, detectives uncovered "a series of conversations … clearly demonstrating his support for ISIS as well as extremist material and violent propaganda videos," according to Britain's anti-terrorism police.

Other messages on the equipment included conversations about Al Bared's research, and details on how to smuggle the drone into a war zone without being detained. The cops say he also set up a spoof company to make it look like he was traveling for business purposes and evade suspicion.

During Al Bared's trial, the lead prosecutor told the jury the PhD student was inspired by Russian drone strikes in Ukraine, and had designed the single-use drone to fly into a crowd or building to cause mass casualties.

"It was a prototype being developed, something that could easily be built in the field, by the 'brothers,' each drone being sent on its way to kill innocent people," prosecutor Michelle Heeley told the court.

Prosecutors, citing encrypted online messages and other digital communications, also said Al Bared had researched chemicals including sarin, ricin, and mustard gas, as well as looking for details on mechanical detonators and how to build an "explosive" head for the drone.

"What drone for legitimate use needs an explosive head?" Heeley asked the court.

In his defense, according to his barrister, Al Bared, who denied being an Islamic State supporter, was described as "mild mannered" by his friends, and claimed to have made the drone and studied IS materials — including videos of beheadings — for his own research purposes. It was said he looked into IS to help him argue against the terror org at his mosque. That all just didn't fly with the court. ®

Source: theregister.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/29/3d_drone_student/

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‘Ukrainian terrorists’ attack another power substation in Russia – governor

29 Sep, 2023

An electrical substation in Russia’s Bryansk Region came under attack on Saturday morning, causing a blackout in a village some 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, according to local governor AleksandrBogomaz.

“As a result of the attack of Ukrainian terrorists in the village of Pogar, the power supply was disrupted,” Bogomaz wrote on Telegram at 1:00am local time, adding that there were no casualties and that emergency services were already working at the scene.

The Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the alleged new terrorist attack against civilian infrastructure. Several Russian Telegram news channels published footage purportedly showing the power facility on fire, but officials shared no further details about the incident or whether it was caused by a drone.

Several hours later, the governor of Belgorod Region said that air defense units had intercepted several hostile targets. The Defense Ministry later added that Ukraine had fired nine rockets from the BM-27 Uragan system, all of which were destroyed mid-air.

Ukrainian drone strike causes blackout in Russia – governorREAD MORE: Ukrainian drone strike causes blackout in Russia – governor

On Friday, the Russian military shot down ten drones over the neighboring Kursk Region, but according to its governor, one of the UAVs managed to hit an electrical substation, causing a local blackout.

The Russian border regions of Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod, as well as Crimea and Moscow, have been frequently targeted by drones since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. Russian officials have also accused Kiev of plotting acts of sabotage targeting the country’s major infrastructure sites, including nuclear power plants.

Kiev has further stepped up assaults on Russian territory in recent months, as Ukraine’s ground counteroffensive launched in early June has failed to yield any significant victories.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/russia/583804-ukrainian-terrorists-attack-bryansk/

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Suspected scammers preying on EU citizens arrested in Ukraine

29 Sep, 2023

Ukrainian police along with their Czech counterparts have apprehended several suspected scammers in a large-scale operation across Ukraine. The criminal group is believed to have set up a number of phishing ‘call centers,’ which they allegedly used to defraud dozens of Czech citizens.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, a total of 29 searches were conducted in Kiev as well as Dnepropetrovsk (the city now known as Dnepr), Kirovograd, Ternopol, Poltava, and Chernigov regions. Three ringleaders and five members of the group were detained as a result, with officials looking into the roles of more than 40 other individuals.

The suspects are believed to have sought potential victims in Czech online marketplaces, with ‘call center’ operators contacting them and luring into opening phishing links. The customers were asked to share their bank-card details to buy goods. Having gained access to the victims’ money, the suspected scammers would then allegedly withdraw it and convert it into cryptocurrency.

Nearly 10 million Ukrainians have fled to EU – commissionerREAD MORE: Nearly 10 million Ukrainians have fled to EU – commissioner

The group is believed to have conned nearly 2 million Czech korunas ($87,000) out of citizens in the Central European nation, a police statement revealed.

If found guilty, the suspects could face up to 12 years behind bars in Ukraine.

In a separate case, Ukrainian authorities handed over five suspected members of a transnational criminal group to the Czech Republic on Monday, with one more individual awaiting extradition.

According to the Ukrainian police, the criminal group was dismantled in April as a result of a joint operation by Ukrainian and Czech officers. The suspected ringleader is a Ukrainian national, who had a number of Czech and at least one Belarusian citizen allegedly working for him.

The suspects are understood to have operated several ‘call centers’ in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr between March 2021 and November 2022. The alleged scam involved call center operators contacting clients of Czech banks and posing as security officers from those financial institutions. The suspected con artists would then strongly recommend that their victim transfer their money to a safe account to prevent it from being stolen. Shortly thereafter, another call center operator would call the victim, this time posing as a police officer and advising the person to follow the instructions of the “bank security officer.”

Czech and Ukrainian authorities believe that at least 665 Czech citizens have fallen victim to the scam, parting with more than 186 million Czech korunas ($8.1 million).

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/583761-czech-police-ukrainian-scammers/

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Mideast

 

Türkiye condemns terrorist attack against mosque in Pakistan

SEP 29, 2023

The Foreign Ministry condemned the recent terrorist attack targeting worshippers in a mosque in Pakistan's Baluchistan province on Friday.

In a statement, the ministry said it is with deep sorrow that it learned about the attack, which took place in a mosque in the Mastung region, where over 50 people lost their lives and more than 100 others were injured.

The ministry noted that Türkiye shares the pain of the Pakistani government and the people and strongly condemns the treacherous attack, which targeted a place of worship on a blessed day.

It also pledged to stand in solidarity with Pakistan against terrorists and will support its anti-terror struggle.

Around 500 people had gathered for a procession from the mosque to celebrate the birth of the prophet, also known as Mawlid an-Nabi, an occasion marked by rallies and the distribution of free meals.

Source: dailysabah.com

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https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/turkiye-condemns-terrorist-attack-against-mosque-in-pakistan

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Modern world owes too much to Islamic civilization: Raeisi

Sep 29, 2023

TEHRAN, Sep. 29 (MNA) – President Ebrahim Raeisi has hailed the achievements of Muslim scientists, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven to the world that Muslims can have a lot to say in the scientific world.

President Ebrahim Raeisi made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 5th edition of the Mustafa Prize held in the central Iranian city of Isfahan on Friday with the participation of 150 religious scholars from 40 countries.

President Raeisi congratulated the birth anniversary of Holy Prophet Muhammad on the Islamic nations and said that the Prophet attached great importance to observing ethical issues in pursuing science.

Raeisi went through terrible events such as the wars that the non-fruthful science has created for the world, noting that "Scientists who use science to destroy humans have non-divine science."

He stressed that science and knowledge have to serve mankind, adding "If science is for making a fortune, colonization and exploitation, it will destroy the human being."

"In the history of Islam, we witness that after the beginning of the mission of the Prophet, Islamic civilization started to form... The Islamic civilization reached its apex in the third and fourth centuries.... it changed the conditions and created a civilization...the world owes too much to the Islamic civilization," President Raeisi further asserted.

"In Islamic Iran, it was proved that Muslims can progress a lot in the scientific field," Raeisi concluded.

Source: mehrnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206568/Modern-world-owes-too-much-to-Islamic-civilization-Raeisi

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Zionist forces kill Hamas member during West Bank ambush

Sep 30, 2023

TEHRAN, Sep. 30 (MNA) – The Israeli regime's forces have fatally wounded a member of the Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas during an ambush in the central part of the occupied West Bank.

The incident took place on Friday near the illegal settlement of Pesagot, which is located to the east of the city of al-Bireh.

The West Bank-based Palestinian health ministry named the victim as Mohammad JibrilRoummaneh, saying he had succumbed to serious injuries he had suffered in the abdomen.

Hamas, which is headquartered in the nearby Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, issued a statement, describing Roummaneh as a "heroic martyr," who had died while "defending the freedom of [his] people."

Another Palestinian was "lightly" injured during the incident, the Palestinian Wafa news agency reported.

The Israeli regime's army alleged that the victims had been targeted after "assailants hurled Molotov cocktails at a military post adjacent to the [settlement] of Psagot."

"Soldiers...identified the suspects and responded with live fire," claimed a statement by the army.

Violence waged by the regime's forces and its illegal settlers has claimed the lives of at least 242 Palestinians so far this year.

Also on Friday, dozens of Palestinians sustained injuries when the Israeli regime's forces used tear gas and gunfire to disperse weekly anti-settlement rallies in the northern part of the West Bank.

According to Palestinian media outlets, the rallies were staged in the Beit Dajan village and the town of KafrQaddum, which are located near the city of Nablus.

Ahmad Jibril, head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Emergency and Ambulance Department in Nablus, said the Israeli regime's troops had attacked protesters in Beit Dajan with rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas bombs, and stun grenades.

Source: mehrnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206570/Zionist-forces-kill-Hamas-member-during-West-Bank-ambush

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Palestinian Young Man Succumbed to Injuries Sustained by Israeli Forces

September 30, 2023

A young Palestinian man named Mohammed JibrilRamana lost his life on Friday evening, succumbing to injuries sustained from Israeli occupation forces’ gunfire in the vicinity of Jabal al-Taweel in the city of Beit El.

The incident unfolded when Israeli forces fired upon a Palestinian vehicle near the settlement of “Psagot,” which is situated on the lands of Jabal al-Taweel in Beit El.

This indiscriminate gunfire left two Palestinian young men injured before they were subsequently arrested by Israeli soldiers.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health issued a concise statement confirming the death of Mohammed Ramana due to severe gunshot wounds inflicted by Israeli forces.

Another individual suffered minor injuries to the lower extremities in the same attack.

Local sources reported that Israeli soldiers had set up an ambush for the vehicle at the entrance of the settlement.

Upon identifying the two young men inside, they opened fire before proceeding to apprehend them.

It was reported that Israeli occupation forces prevented a Red Crescent team from providing medical assistance to the injured Palestinians, as stated in an official statement by the humanitarian organization.

Source: daysofpalestine.ps

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https://daysofpalestine.ps/palestinian-succumbed-to-injuries-sustained-by-israeli-forces-near-beit-el/

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Israeli Occupation Forces Open Fire on Palestinian Vehicle, Injuring Two

September 29, 2023 i

In a harrowing attack on Friday evening, two Palestinians sustained injuries when Israeli occupation forces opened fire on their vehicle near the “Psagot” settlement in Al-Bireh, located in the central West Bank. The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported one Palestinian in serious condition and another lightly wounded as a result of the Israeli gunfire.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, tensions in the area escalated when Israeli occupation forces not only opened fire but also prevented medical teams from promptly reaching the injured individuals. Shockingly, the occupation forces later arrested the medical teams and transported them into the Psagot settlement.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian organization providing healthcare services in the region, has condemned the attack and expressed its deep concern. They revealed that they received a report indicating that the Israeli occupation forces had opened fire on civilians in the Jabal Al-Taweel area in Al-Bireh, leading to injuries. The Red Crescent further confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces obstructed their convoys from offering vital ambulance services to the injured.

The situation in Al-Bireh has been marked by ongoing raids by the Israeli occupation forces. Local residents have expressed frustration and outrage at the continued Israeli violence and restrictions on their movements.

This incident is expected to further strain relations in the region and intensify international calls for a resolution to the Palestinian issue. The injured Palestinians are currently receiving medical treatment, but their condition remains a cause for concern. The Israeli attack underscores the need for immediate efforts to stop Israeli violations in Palestine.

Source: daysofpalestine.ps

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https://daysofpalestine.ps/israeli-occupation-forces-open-fire-on-palestinian-vehicle-injuring-two/

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UN Security Council condemns Houthi attack on Bahraini troops, demands end to terrorism

September 29, 2023

EPHREM KOSSAIFY

NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned what it described as an “egregious and escalatory drone attack,” by the Houthis on Bahraini soldiers serving in the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, in which three servicemen were killed and several injured.

It constituted a “serious threat to the peace process and regional stability,” the council added.

The attack, which took place on Monday as the soldiers patrolled Saudi Arabia’s southern border with Yemen, represented a major escalation after more than a year of relative calm, at a time when momentum has been building in the peace process. The US envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, had described the current situation as “the best chance for peace in Yemen since the war broke out.”

The council called on the Houthis to end “all terrorist attacks” and expressed great concern about the group’s targeting of civilian infrastructure in cities near the border. The 15-member body also called called on all sides to respect their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.

Members said any escalation of hostilities would only increase the suffering of the Yemeni people. They reiterated the need for “decisive steps” to be taken to reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, as they underscored their continuing strong support for all efforts to reach a political settlement that ends a war that has been raging for more than eight years.

They also reiterated their support for the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and his efforts to help reach a “Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political settlement based on the agreed references and consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2382911/middle-east

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Iran’s president condemns twin bombings in Pakistan

29 September 2023

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi has condemned terrorist bombings at two mosques in Pakistan, saying Tehran is firmly ready to counter extremism in all its forms.

At least 57 people were killed and more than 60 injured in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan on Friday.

At least 52 people have been killed and more than 80 people injured in an explosion in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, according to local officials.

The bombings were carried out near a mosque in Mastung city as people were gathering to celebrate the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

There has been no claim of responsibility for the blasts.

In a message to Pakistani President Arif Alvi on Friday, Raeisi said the "blind" action once again showed the terrorists, who have no understanding of the merciful teachings of Islam, pursue "no goal but to sow discord among Muslims."

"However, this time they will also fail to achieve their illegitimate and inhumane objectives."

The Iranian president condemned the "terrorist, anti-religious and anti-human" move and expressed his sympathy and condolences to his Pakistani counterpart and the Muslim nation of the country.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolutely ready to cooperate with Pakistan in the fight against any form of terrorism and extremism," Raeisi said.

He urged the international community, especially the Muslim countries, to "seriously react to this criminal act and prevent the recurrence of such bitter events."

The Iranian president expressed hope the perpetrators would be identified and punished as soon as possible.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani also condemned the acts of terrorism and said the attacks are “a clear example of terrorists' aloofness from the merciful teachings of the Prophet of Islam”.

Over the past few months, Mastung has been the scene of frequent acts of violence linked to nationalists and separatists.

Earlier this month, at least 11 people, including religious leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast in the same district. Before that, a tax official was gunned down at a bus stand by unidentified men who also wounded two bystanders.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/09/29/711734/Iran-Pakistan-Balochistan-bombing

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UAE condemns terrorist bombings in Pakistan

30th September 2023

Sakina Fatima

Abu Dhabi: The UAE has strongly condemned the two terrorist bombings that took place in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts, and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles.

The Ministry also expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government of Pakistan and its people, and to the families of the victims of this heinous crime, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/uae-condemns-terrorist-bombings-in-pakistan-2709031/

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North America

 

Saudi Arabia, Israel moving towards ‘framework’ for deal: US

September 30, 2023

Israel and Saudi Arabia are moving towards the outline of a historic US-brokered deal to normalise relations after decades of hostility, the White House said on Friday.

President Joe Biden is hoping to transform the Middle East — and score an election-year diplomatic victory — by securing recognition of the Jewish state by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islam’s two holiest sites.

“All sides have hammered out, I think, a basic framework for what, you know, what we might be able to drive at,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“But, as in any complex arrangement, as this will inevitably be, everybody is going to have to do something. And everybody is going to have to compromise on some things.”

The United States has urged its Middle East allies Israel and Saudi Arabia to normalise diplomatic relations, following on from similar deals involving the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, recently said that the two sides were getting closer, as did Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Saudi Arabia has been seeking security guarantees, including reportedly a treaty, with the United States in return for normalising with Israel.

But the Palestinians have warned that they must be taken into account in any deal, saying there can be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1778553/saudi-arabia-israel-moving-towards-framework-for-deal-us

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US, Syrian Kurdish Fighters Say They Captured Key Member of Islamic State

September 29, 2023

BEIRUT — Syrian Kurdish fighters and American forces have captured a senior member of the Islamic State group, a militant described as one of its "key facilitators," the force said Friday.

Mahmdouh Ibrahim al-Haji, also known as Abu Youssef, was taken into custody on Thursday in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, according to the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, just days after the U.S. military said it had captured another IS operator in northern Syria.

According to a statement from the Syrian Kurdish fighters, al-Haji "was actively involved in enabling ... terrorist cells in the region." It added that the joint force raided his hideout west of Raqqa, "and successfully apprehended him."

Despite their defeat in Syria in March 2019, IS sleeper cells are still able to carry out deadly attacks that have killed scores of people over the past year.

The U.S. has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering the remnants of IS, which had held a wide swath of the country until 2019.

IS declared a self-styled caliphate across the territory in Syria and Iraq that it seized in 2014. It was declared defeated in Iraq in 2017, following a three-year battle that left tens of thousands of people dead and cities in ruins.

United Nations experts said last month that IS still commands between 5,000 and 7,000 members across its former stronghold in Syria and Iraq and that its fighters pose the most serious threat in Afghanistan today.

Source: voanews.com

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https://www.voanews.com/a/us-syrian-kurdish-fighters-say-they-captured-key-member-of-islamic-state-/7290885.html

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Recent lawsuits in US highlight anti-Muslim police bias

29 September, 2023

In two separate legal cases, the Muslim civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, announced this week settlements in lawsuits alleging anti-Muslim discrimination by members of US law enforcement.

The cases occurred in San Jose, California and Detroit, Michigan. Though different, they both raise concerns over the treatment of Muslims by law enforcement.

In San Jose, in a case that was supported by but not represented by CAIR, Nabil Haidar, a Muslim Lebanese-American police officer, was taunted for around 15 years following the 9/11 attacks, with fellow officers often asking him, "How many infidels are you going to kill today?", "You aren't gonna fly an aeroplane, are you?" and "Have you lost your way to the White House?" They would routinely call him "Taliban" and "Bin Laden". 

The lawsuit referred to a 2017 briefing where the briefing sergeant and captain recognised all present veterans on Veteran's Day. The briefing sergeant reportedly said, "Captain, you forgot to mention Nabil. He is an ISIS veteran. He was with ISIS for two years."

The following year, Haidar captured racist comments on his body camera when he was at the scene of a burglary and a fellow officer approached him, imitating an explosion with a hand gesture and sound. He then asked Haidar if the knife on his belt was a "f***ing Lebanese throat cutter."

Haidar retired early in 2022 and sued the city and police department for economic and severe post-traumatic stress-related damages. The lawsuit was settled for US$400,000.

"This is a sector where you'd expect people to have each other's backs. We want to make sure the police are holding each other to the highest standards, Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area, told The New Arab.

"The broader question that this case raises is what the police departments are doing to earn the trust of their communities," she said. "If, on the one hand, they're urging communities to trust them and urging young people to join their forces. If their duty is to serve and protect, when we learn about cases like this, their actions do not match their words."

The 2021 suit in Detroit, filed by CAIR, follows a 2020 incident in which three African American and Hispanic Muslims were arrested after they called the police to assist a woman they saw experiencing a mental health crisis.

Instead of assisting the woman and bringing her to a crisis centre, as they'd expected, the three men were arrested. The men then filed a Freedom of Information Act request to access body camera footage of the arresting officers.

The footage revealed an officer making derogatory comments about Muslims, saying that "Muslims lie a lot," that "Muslim men are paedophiles," and saying that Muslim men were controlling of women. He then said he would arrest the men and allow someone else to follow up. 

"We litigated that lawsuit for the better part of two years. It was approved by the council this week. The city never apologised," Amy Doukoure, CAIR-Michigan staff attorney, told TNA.

"It's not as uncommon as people think. We've seen bias against Muslims with them not being given the benefit of the doubt," she said.

"This settlement signals some kind of healing for our clients. They got justice a little bit, but their complaints were ignored for so long."

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/news/fourth-bahraini-serviceman-dies-after-houthi-drone-attack

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CAIR-Kansas Welcomes EEOC Suit Against Chipotle on Behalf of Muslim Employee Subjected to Assault, Harassment

Ismail Allison

September 29, 2023

(KANSAS CITY, KS, 9/29/2023) – The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today welcomed the filing of a lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Chipotle on behalf of a female Muslim former employee who was reportedly subjected to assault and harassment by her manager.

In 2021, a female Muslim employee at a Chipotle in Lenexa, Kansas, was reportedly harassed and assaulted by her manager. The manager reportedly demanded to see her hair and attempted to pull her hijab off. Over the course of a month in the summer of 2021, the manager asked the employee to let him see her hair “approximately 10 to 15 times.” The lawsuit alleges that despite the employee’s repeated complaints about her manager’s actions, she was ignored. She eventually quit. 

SEE: EEOC sues Chipotle on behalf of Muslim teen who endured harassment in Lenexa 

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/eeoc-sues-chipotle-on-behalf-of-muslim-teen-who-endured-harassment-in-lenexa

“We welcome the filing of this lawsuit by the EEOC,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy. “What this employee was subjected to is egregious, and the fact that her company essentially did nothing to protect her from assault and harassment must be addressed through the appropriate legal channels.”

He noted that since 2021, CAIR-Kansas has supported the employee in her effort to hold the employee and Chipotle accountable through the EEOC process.

Source: cair.com

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New York deluge triggers flash floods, brings chaos to subways

 30 Sep 2023

NEW YORK, Sept 30 ― Torrential downpours after a week of mostly steady rainfall brought flash flooding to New York City yesterday, disrupting subway service, inundating ground-level apartments and turning some streets into small lakes.

Almost eight inches (20cm) of rain fell in some parts of the most populous city in the US, enough to enable a sea lion at Central Park Zoo to swim briefly out of the confines of her pool enclosure. Another few inches could fall in the region before the storm system pushed out to sea later yesterday, forecasters said.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned of “life-threatening” floods and declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Some National Guard troops were deployed to assist in the response.

In Mamaroneck, a Westchester County suburb north of the city, emergency officials used inflatable rafts to rescue people trapped in buildings by floods.

Flooding caused major disruptions to New York's subway system and the Metro North commuter rail service, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Agency, which operates both. Some subway lines were suspended entirely, and many stations were closed. Some bus routes slowed to a crawl, trapping riders for hours. Officials warned some New Yorkers to avoid traveling unless they were fleeing a flooded area.

Systems producing intense rainfalls such as Friday's have become more common in many parts of the US, including the New York City area.

Global warming has produced more extreme weather patterns in much of the world, according to climate scientists.

The rain capped one of New York's wettest Septembers on record, with 13.74 inches (34.9cm) of rain falling during the month as of 11am yesterday, and more on the way, said Dominic Ramunni, a National Weather Service forecaster. The all-time high was set in 1882 when 16.82 inches (42.72cm) fell in September.

“I don't know if we'll beat the record, but we'll come close,” Ramunni said.

It was the rainiest day at the city's John F. Kennedy International Airport since records began in 1948, the New York office of the National Weather Service said, citing preliminary data.

Despite the warnings, the city's public schools were open for the day. Some buildings experienced flooding but no operations were affected, a district spokesperson said.

At least one suburban district, Bronxville just north of New York, dismissed students early because of the worsening flooding.

Patti Zhang, 43, a social worker from New Hyde Park, near the border of New York City and Long Island's Nassau County, lives around the corner from the elementary school attended by her three children. The family braved the weather and walked to school on Friday morning.

In some spots the water pooling on the street was 5 inches (13cm) deep, she said, spilling over the tops of her children's rain boots. Zhang said she had to make a second trip to school to deliver dry shoes and socks for them.

“This is crazy,” she said. “When will this stop?”

Floodwaters marooned vehicles on streets and poured into subway stations, disrupting the journeys of millions of commuters.

Mohammed Doha, a 52-year-old construction worker who lives in a ground-level, two-bedroom apartment in The Hole, a low-lying wedge of blocks on the border between Brooklyn and Queens, splashed through his kitchen in sandals.

“If they would have a proper drainage system like the other areas of the city, then we wouldn't have this problem,” he said. “We are really, really suffering.”

Yasiel Ogando, a 38-year-old hospital worker who lives in The Hole with her family, complained that the city gave residents no warning about the flooding, a complaint echoed by some elected officials. Some compared it to a lack of warnings in June ahead of the arrival of toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting south.

“Nothing gets done,” Ogando said, after a morning trying to bail water mixed with sewage out of the basement of the family home. “It's really bad. It's terrible.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose office issued a “travel advisory” late on Thursday night, defended his administration's response at a press conference on Friday saying that “all of the necessary precautions were taken.”

In neighbouring New Jersey, low-lying Hoboken, a city directly across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan, declared a state of emergency, with all but one of the southern routes into town under water.

Hoboken's newly installed floodgates, designed to close automatically when water pooled on roadways, were down, blocking many streets to vehicular traffic.

Friday's deluge followed a bout of heavy downpours and strong winds last weekend from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia. That storm soaked New York City and caused widespread power outages in North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In New York, intermittent rain this week further saturated the ground, setting up conditions conducive to flash flooding. ― Reuters

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/09/30/new-york-deluge-triggers-flash-floods-brings-chaos-to-subways/93597

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US special forces to be tested for drugs after death of recruit

30 Sep, 2023

US Navy SEALs and the boat crews who support them will be subject to random testing for steroids, human growth hormones and other performance-enhancing drugs under a new program adopted in the wake of last year’s death of a recruit who was believed to be using such substances during “Hell Week” training.

The Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command announced the new testing mandate on Friday, saying the additional drug screening will begin on November 1. The program will expand upon the urinalysis testing that is already done for such illicit drugs as opiates and methamphetamines.

“My intent is to ensure every NSW teammate operates at their innate best while preserving the distinguished standards of excellence that define NSW,” Rear Admiral Keith Davids said in a statement. At least 15% of service members in each unit will have to be tested each month, and commanders will be allowed to impose unannounced testing sweeps for all of their troops at the same time.

Taliban achieves what US couldn’t do with opium – mediaREAD MORE: Taliban achieves what US couldn’t do with opium – media

Those who are found to be using PEDs may be discharged from the Navy. The NSW Command encompasses about 9,000 service members, including all Navy SEALs.

The announcement marks the latest reform enacted by naval special forces since the February 2022 death of recruit Kyle Mullen, who went into cardiac arrest hours after completing the most grueling portion of the SEAL qualifying course. The investigation into his death revealed that he and other recruits had been using such PEDs as testosterone and human growth hormones. Mullen’s heart was found to be double the weight of an average male heart.

Confidence in US military at two-decade low – pollREAD MORE: Confidence in US military at two-decade low – poll

Davids, the NSW commander, called the new testing initiative a “steadfast commitment to the health, safety and operational readiness of every member of the NSW community.” He added that without proper medical supervision, illicit PED use can lead to injury, long-term health problems or death.

Testing will be required not only for SEALs and candidates in training, but for all members of naval special forces. Service members told the New York Times that many sailors have used PEDs to gain an edge in the intensely demanding SEAL selection course, and doping remains widespread even after successful candidates join their SEAL teams.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/583806-navy-seals-drug-tests/

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Africa

 

Muslims offer special prayers to mark Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary

September 29, 2023

Muslim faithful converged on the Abuja National Mosque on Friday and offered special prayers for peace and sustainable development as Nigeria marks her 63rd Independence anniversary on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Imam Dr Muhammad Kabir, who led the special prayers, after observing two congregational Raka’at prayers, said today’s sermon is calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast in unity and peaceful coexistence.

”They should remain united and hardworking so that life will be better and better for us to respect the government of the day to ensure success of this administration.

”Nigerians have to show their gratitude to Allah for remaining as one independent nation.

In the sermon, Kabir also called on the Labour Unions, who are planning to go on an indefinite strike next week, to consider and reconsider their strike option and instead engage government to continued dialogue.

”Definitely, strike will jeopardise the lives of the common man in the country and this is our appeal to them,” Imam said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the special prayer session was organised by the National Mosque as part of activities to mark the independence anniversary.

Kabir prayed to God to guide the country’s leaders in making decisions that would affect the lives of many Nigerians and to assist the country overcome some of the challenges, especially in the areas of insecurity, corruption and economy.

The prayer season was attended by the President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, Vice-President KashimShettima, Deputy Senate President, BarauJibrin, and former Vice-President, Namadi Sambo.

Others include the EtsuNupe, AlhajiYahayaAbubakar, Representatives of Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps. (NAN)

Source: vanguardngr.com

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Islamist leaders urge al-Burhan to continue fighting, pledge support

September 29, 2023

September 29, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – Islamist leaders, led by the Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement, Ali Karti, held a lengthy meeting with the Commander in Chief of the Sudanese Army and Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Port Sudan to discuss options for dealing with the ongoing war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to sources who spoke to Sudan Tribune, the Islamist leaders urged al-Burhan to avoid any negotiated settlement to end the conflict. They pledged to supply the army with thousands of mobilized fighters, given that the organization has thrown all its weight into the war against the RSF.

The Islamist leaders also reassured al-Burhan that Ahmed Haroun, the leader of the banned National Congress Party, who is indicted by the International Criminal Court, is working hard to mobilize young people to join the army in its battles in Khartoum. They urged al-Burhan to continue fighting, saying that patience was required.

Dozens of camps have been opened to train volunteers in several states after al-Burhan’s earlier appeal. Video clips have shown leaders affiliated with the Islamic movement addressing the mobilized, urging them to join the fight.

During the war, some figures of the former regime were released from prisons in Khartoum. Reports have indicated that this group has been active in the eastern Sudan states, inciting the continuation of the war. However, the official authorities in several states in the east have denied that these activities were carried out with their knowledge.

Regarding al-Burhan’s reaction to the Islamist leaders’ calls to continue fighting, the sources said he pledged to fight until victory without speaking about a clear rejection of the negotiation path.

Karti and the Islamist leaders are allegedly behind the coup led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on October 25, 2021, in addition to opposing the framework agreement signed by civilian forces, the army leadership, and the RSF before the outbreak of war last April.

The Sovereignty Council’s media office denied that Abdel Fattah al-Burhan met with Islamic leaders in Port Sudan. They said the news Sudan Tribune reported was “completely false” and accused it of spreading misinformation about the Council Chairman’s activities and programmes.

On Thursday, the U.S. administration imposed sanctions on Ali Karti and two companies affiliated with the RSF. The U.S. Treasury Department said that Karti had taken steps to undermine Sudan’s efforts to establish civilian and democratic rule and the efforts made to reach a ceasefire to end the conflict between the army and the RSF.

Both the Islamic Movement and the dissolved National Congress Party have challenged the U.S. Treasury Department’s decision to impose sanctions on Karti. The dissolved National Congress Party said in a statement that the American sanctions are a reason for their pride, while the Islamic Movement said these sanctions are like a necklace of honour on a man’s chest.

It is noteworthy that Karti held the position of Sudanese Foreign Minister during the deposed President Omer al-Bashir era. He was also one of the founders of the Popular Defence Forces. After the fall of al-Bashir, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Islamic Movement.

Source: sudantribune.com

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https://sudantribune.com/article277802/

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Niger: 7 soldiers killed in a suspected jihadists attack

September 29, 2023

Seven soldiers were killed on Thursday in western Niger in an attack by suspected jihadists, and five others died in a traffic accident during an intervention in response to the attack, at a time when the country is seeking new military partners.

On Thursday, in the Tillabéri region (west), "an Almahaou (anti-jihadist) operation unit on a security mission in Kandadji was violently attacked by several hundred terrorists", announced Defense Minister and General SalifouMody, appointed by the military regime that emerged from a coup, in a statement.

Seven soldiers died "in combat", he added. During the intervention" in response to this attack, "a tragic traffic accident resulted in the loss of five of our valiant soldiers", the statement said.

According to the document, seven people were injured and evacuated to hospital.

The attackers' motorcycles and weapons "were destroyed in the Tijiane area", 20 km northeast of Ayorou, in the same region, the minister said. "A combing operation is underway to track down the enemy", he added.

The ruling generals are the result of a coup d'état on July 26. They overthrew the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, justifying their action by the "deterioration of the security situation".

Niger, in its south-east, is confronted with jihadist violence from Boko Haram and its splinter group Iswap (Islamic State in West Africa).

In the west, where the Tillabéri region is located, the country is plagued by the same type of violence in the so-called "three borders" zone between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali. It is a haven for Sahelian jihadists affiliated to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

In mid-August, at least 17 Nigerien soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in an attack by suspected jihadists near the border between Niger and Burkina Faso. The attack was the deadliest since the coup.

According to the NGO Acled, the number of deaths in jihadist attacks in Niger have risen since the coup.

Niger's military regime has called for the departure of some 1,500 French soldiers present on its soil as part of the fight against jihadism, who are due to leave this Sahelian country by the end of the year, according to Emmanuel Macron.

The French president announced their departure last week, following a tug-of-war between Paris and Niamey. Their withdrawal "must be established within a negotiated framework", responded the Niger regime to this decision.

The French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, whose expulsion had been ordered by the military regime and initially refused by France, finally returned to Paris on Wednesday.

The United States, which has 1,100 troops in Niger, said it was evaluating its options regarding a possible withdrawal.

Niger's generals are therefore looking for allies, as are neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, also led by soldiers who came to power in a coup. The three countries have created the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a defense cooperation.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/09/29/niger-7-soldiers-killed-in-a-suspected-jihadists-attack/

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Libya's coast guard rams into a dingy with some 50 migrants. Many onboard get thrown into the sea

30 September, 2023

A Libyan coast guard boat rammed into a dingy carrying some 50 migrants just off Libya's coast on Friday, partially sinking the vessel. Many of those onboard were thrown into the Mediterranean Sea and had to swim to another Libyan ship nearby for safety, a rescue group said.

It appeared to be the latest reckless sea interception of migrants by the Libyan coast guard, which is trained and financed by the European Union to stem the influx of migrants to Europe. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.

The German sea rescue group Sea-Watch released a video appearing to show the Libyan coast guard boat nearing the dinghy, after which most of those on the vessel fall into the water. Sea-Watch said the Libyan coast guard then took the migrants aboard another ship, a coast guard frigate.

There were no immediate reports of any fatalities or of anyone missing.

Sea-Watch, which carries out rescue operations in the central Mediterranean, said the coast guard was chasing the rubber dingy since early Friday morning before slamming into its side.

From their twin-engine Seabird, Sea-Watch rescuers had repeatedly called on the Libyan coast guard to stop chasing the dingy, they said.

The Sea-Watch video, filmed from the Seabird, shows the migrants who were plunged into the sea swimming towards the nearby frigate and sailors throwing buoyance vests to them.

Those who remained on the sinking dingy were pulled towards the frigate and were also taken on board. A spokesmen from Libyan coast guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Sea-Watch spokesperson Felix Wiess told The Associated Press by phone that the incident took place roughly 30 miles (48 kilometres) north of Libya's western city of Zuwara.

A civilian rescue ship Louise Michel arrived at the scene shortly afterward and asked to take the migrants, which the coast guard denied.

Since 2015, the EU has been funding the Libyan coast guard as part of efforts to stem the flow of migrants from the North African country towards Italian shores.

Another rescue group, SOS Mediterranee, said in March that the Libyan coast guard fired warning shots at it as it attempted to rescue migrants from a packed ship. In October 2022, Sea-Watch said the coast guard threatened to shoot down its plane used to monitor the sea for smugglers and migrant vessels .

Oil-rich Libya plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Human traffickers have benefited from the chaos in the North African country, smuggling migrants across Libya's vast borders, bringing them to the coast and packing them into ill-equipped rubber boats and other vessels that then set off on risky sea voyages.

Over recent months, rescue groups say Italy's hard-line government headed by Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni has made it harder for humanitarian vessels to operate. They say the government often assigns their ships to ports further north after a single rescue, which the groups say limits their ability to save lives.

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/news/libyas-coast-guard-rams-dingy-some-50-migrants

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Four more officials held after Libya flood disaster

September 29, 2023

BENGHAZI: Libya’s prosecutor general has ordered the arrest of four more officials, bringing to 12 the number held as part of an inquiry into this month’s flood that killed thousands.

Flooding caused by hurricane-strength Storm Daniel tore through eastern Libya on Sept. 10, leaving at least 3,893 people dead and thousands more missing.

The seaside city of Derna was the worst-hit in the flash flood, which witnesses likened to a tsunami. It burst through two dams and washed entire neighborhoods into the Mediterranean.

The four additional suspects, including two members of the Derna municipal council, were arrested for suspected “bad management of the administrative and financial missions which were incumbent upon them,” said a statement issued by the prosecutor general’s office in Tripoli, western Libya.

On Monday, the office ordered the arrest of eight officials, including Derna’s mayor who was sacked after the flood.

Libya’s prosecutor general Al-Seddik Al-Sour belongs to the internationally recognized regime in the country’s west.

A rival administration in the flood-stricken east, is backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar.

The eastern government has said it plans to host an international donors’ conference in Benghazi on Oct. 10 to focus on the reconstruction of flood-ravaged areas, but its failure to involve the Tripoli government has drawn mounting criticism from donors.

The US called on Libyans to set aside their political differences and agree on a framework to channel aid to eastern towns.

“We urge Libyan authorities now to form such unified structures — rather than launching separate efforts — that represent the Libyan people without delay,” US special envoy Richard Norland said in a statement on Friday.

“A proposal to hold a reconstruction conference in Benghazi on October 10 would be much more effective if it were conducted jointly and inclusively.”

Norland echoed concerns already expressed by the UN that mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure that foreign aid is spent accountably.

“Libyans need to be assured public funds are used transparently, accountably, and that assistance goes to those in need,” the US envoy said.

On Thursday during talks with the European Commission, UN envoy Abdoulaye Bathily said he had called for funds to be monitored.

“I ... emphasized the need for a joint assessment of reconstruction needs of storm-affected areas to ensure the utmost accountability in the management of reconstruction resources,” he said.

On Friday, the eastern authorities said they would begin paying compensation to people affected by the disaster, which a UN agency has said uprooted more than 43,000 people.

“Checks have been handed over to the mayors” after a relief committee received records of damage caused by the flooding, the government based in Libya’s east said in a statement.

People whose homes were destroyed would receive 100,000 dinars ($20,500) in compensation, FarajKaeem, the eastern administration’s deputy interior minister, said separately.

Those with partially destroyed homes would get 50,000 dinars, while those who lost furniture or household appliances would be given 20,000 dinars, he said.

The eastern administration announced on Wednesday the creation of a fund for the reconstruction of Derna.

The authorities have yet to specify how the new fund will be financed, but the eastern-based parliament has already allocated 10 billion dinars to reconstruction projects.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2382901/middle-east

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Jailed Tunisian opposition leader Ghannouchi starts hunger strike

30 September, 2023

The jailed leader of Tunisian opposition party Ennahdha, Rached Ghannouchi, 82, began a hunger strike on Friday (Sep. 28) to protest his detention and express support for other "political prisoners", his party said.

A court in the North African country sentenced Ghannouchi to one year in prison on terrorism-related charges in May following his arrest the month before, in what his party condemned as an "unjust political verdict".

He is the most prominent of roughly two dozen opponents of President Kais Saied arrested since February, including former ministers and business figures.

Ghannouchi "decided to begin a three-day hunger strike to denounce the arbitrary and unfounded prosecution of the opposition", said ImedKhemiri, spokesman for the Islamist-inspired Ennahdha party.

"It is also in support of the hunger strike started by Jawhar Ben Mbarek," he said, referring to the left-wing opposition figure and leading member of the National Salvation Front (FSN) opposition alliance.

Ben Mbarek, a critic of Saied who has been under arrest since February 24, has been on a hunger strike for four days to denounce his "unjust" detention, according to his sister, the lawyer DalilaMasaddek.

FSN leader Ahmed NejibChebbi told a news conference on Friday that Ben Mbarek had started "an indefinite hunger strike until this injustice" is corrected.

"Faced with the government's determination to dismiss opponents through baseless legal cases, the only option left to political prisoners is to go on hunger strike," said Khemiri.

Fighting for the release of political prisoners

Ghannouchi, a former speaker of parliament, took the action "to defend the demand for the release of all political prisoners and to put an end to this injustice against them", Ennahdha said in a statement.

Chebbi expressed concern over Ghannouchi, who was arrested in April after warning that eradicating different viewpoints such as the left or political Islam may lead to a "civil war".

The Ennahdha leader was "over 80 years old" and had "found himself in the harsh conditions of incarceration", said Chebbi.

"Today, any political or national figure with independent thought risks prison for any reason whatsoever," added the NSF head.

He lamented the "collapse" of freedoms in Tunisia "because institutions have been shattered, the constitution torn up, the power monopolised by a single person".

Chebbi called for mobilisation against the "threat" he said may affect politicians, organised labour, bloggers, businesspeople and civil servants.

Ennahdha was the largest party in the Tunisian parliament until Saied dissolved the legislature in July 2021 as part of a power grab.

Saied has since ruled by decree in the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings that swept the region more than a decade ago.

In March, the European Parliament in a non-binding resolution condemned Tunisia's "authoritarian drift" under Saied's leadership.

Source: africanews.com

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Arab World

 

Qatar calls for Israeli nuclear facilities to be subjected to IAEA safeguards

29 September 2023

Qatar has called for the Israeli regime's nuclear facilities to be subjected to the International Atomic Energy Agency's safeguards amid Tel Aviv's ongoing snub of international nuclear regulations.

The demand was put forward by the Chairman of Qatar's National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons, Abdulaziz Salmeen al-Jabri at the annual general conference of the IAEA, which is currently underway in Vienna, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported on Friday.

Jabri further called for Israel to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The Qatari official explained that these were legitimate demands that had been confirmed by "international legitimacy resolutions [that were passed] half a century ago," the QNA report noted.

He named some of those resolutions as "resolutions of the UN General Assembly [that have been passed] since 1974, [United Nations] Security Council Resolutions 487 of 1981 and 687 of 1991, numerous IAEA resolutions, and the resolution of the Review Conference of the Middle East Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1995."

The official reminded that Israel's subjecting all of its nuclear facilities to the IAEA's comprehensive safeguards regime and its accession to the NPT "is a prerequisite for establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East."

He "stressed that confronting nuclear proliferation in the Middle East is at the core of the tasks assigned to the IAEA..."

Iran calls on the international community to stand up to "nuclear rhetoric" by the Israeli regime.

Israel, which pursues a policy of deliberate ambiguity about its nuclear weapons, is estimated to harbor 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, making it the sole possessor of non-conventional arms in West Asia.

The regime has, nevertheless, refused to either allow inspections of its military nuclear facilities or sign the NPT.

Source: presstv.ir

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Saudi Arabia, Gulf states condemn ‘treacherous’ attacks against worshippers in Pakistan

September 29, 2023

RIYADH: A number of Arab states condemned “treacherous” terror attacks in Pakistan that killed as many as 57 people so far and shook the country on Friday.

The attack in Mastung was the deadliest with over 50 people at a mosque where worshippers were commemorating the birthday of Prophet Muhammed. The second attack, at a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed five and trapped scores under rubble after the roof collapsed.

The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the bombings as “cowardly terrorist attacks,” and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s firm position in the renunciation of “violence and terrorism,” and expressed solidarity with Pakistanis. The ministry statement offered Saudi Arabia’s sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Similarly, the UAE condemned the criminal acts, and reiterated its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism “aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles”.

Kuwait also denounced the treacherous and deadly attacks on religious gatherings in the country and expressed its solidarity with the Pakistani nation in the measures it takes to preserve its internal security.

Bahrain issued a similar statement affirming its solidarity with Pakistan, sending condolences to the families of the deceased, and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Condemning the bombings, GCC Secretary General JassemAlbudaiwi stressed, that the “Council stands firmly against these actions, as they aim to destabilize security and stability and are inconsistent with humanitarian values and principles.”

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation strongly condemns the terror attacks. Its Secretary-General HisseinBrahim Taha renewed the “principled position of the OIC against all forms and manifestations of terrorism and expressed full support for Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism.”

Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League and the chairman of the organization of Muslim scholars, denounced the acts “whose perpetrators were stripped of the values of religion and humanity”.

Al-Issa reiterated the stance of the MWL and Islamic world, rejecting and condemning, violence and terrorism in all its forms, a statement from the organization said.

No group has as yet claimed responsibility for the attack but the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) denied it was involved.

The Daesh group is known for attacks in Pakistan and beyond on religious gatherings and on minorities.

Source: arabnews.com

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UNESCO listing of Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve puts Saudi conservation efforts in the limelight

September 29, 2023

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) humanitarian efforts in Yemen continue with the provision of needed medical services in areas of the war-torn country.

KSrelief mobile medical and nutritional clinics provided services to 16,050 people in Al-Khokha, Yemen throughout August and September.

The internal medicine department examined 3,034 individuals, while the emergency clinic served 2,808 people.

Other clinics included epidemiology, pediatric and obstetrics.

Laboratory services were provided to 3,485 individuals, and medications were dispensed to 11,029 people.

Additionally, the Kidney Dialysis Center at Al-Ghaydah continued to provide medical services to residents in collaboration with KSrelief.

About 50 patients underwent 407 scheduled kidney dialysis sessions and five emergency sessions, while 88 individuals received medical examinations at the kidney disease clinic.

Al-Ja’dah Health Center clinics in Hajjah meanwhile provided treatment services to 8,106 people in August, with the support of KSrelief.

The emergency clinic received 3,728 individuals who underwent procedures such as blood transfusions and waste disposals.

These initiatives are part of the relief projects the Kingdom provides through its humanitarian arm.

Source: arabnews.com

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GCC and Pakistan sign preliminary free trade agreement

RIYADH — In a significant move toward bolstering economic ties, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Pakistan signed a preliminary free trade agreement (FTA) on Thursday.

JasemAlBudaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, announced the signing of the preliminary FTA. He underscored GCC's commitment to strengthening trade relations not only with Pakistan but also with other nations and international blocs.

The signing ceremony took place at the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh. On behalf of the GCC, AlBudaiwi signed the agreement while Commerce Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz represented Pakistan.

This crucial agreement demonstrates the dedication of both parties to fostering economic collaboration.

AlBudaiwi, in his statement, emphasized the historic significance of the economic agreement, considering it a pivotal moment in cooperation. He expressed confidence that the FTA would pave the way for growth and prosperity, aligning with the common interests of both the GCC and Pakistan.

Highlighting the forward-looking approach of GCC nations, AlBudaiwi confirmed ongoing free-trade negotiations with various countries. The overarching goal is to unlock new opportunities and strengthen economic cooperation, benefiting the member states of the council on both regional and global fronts.

Saudi Commerce Minister and Chairman of the General Authority for Foreign Trade Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi affirmed that the preliminary free trade agreement would contribute to enhancing bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the Gulf countries and Pakistan. The agreement aims to eliminate obstacles and facilitate the flow of goods and services, he added.

Al-Qasabi stressed that the signing of the agreement was part of the close historical relations and would further advance economic ties with Pakistan.

The agreement seeks to facilitate the flow of goods and services between the GCC countries and Pakistan by eliminating and reducing customs duties on goods, opening the market for service access, and encouraging and protecting investments.

The agreement comprises 14 chapters, including Goods, Services, Investment, E-commerce, Customs Procedures, Dispute Settlement, Competition, Trade Remedies, Intellectual Property, and Small and Medium Enterprises.

The Saudi negotiating team, led by the General Authority for Foreign Trade, is actively supervising and monitoring the progress of trade negotiations to ensure their alignment with the Kingdom's trade objectives. The team participated in trade negotiations to incorporate the Kingdom's negotiating positions, coordinating with countries with similar or comparable trade interests in the international arena.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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Global Wellness Summit to discuss Arabic, Islamic medicine

 30 Sep 2023

Doha, Qatar: The 17th Global Wellness Summit, scheduled to take place from November 6 to 9 at Msheireb Downtown Doha, will delve into the topic of Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM).

Among the esteemed speakers at this summit is Dr. Bibi Ayesha Lockhat, a TAIM specialist from Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som.

Dr. Lockhat shed light on the essence of TAIM, describing it as a traditional holistic healing system practiced under the guidance of TAIM specialists and their medical team.

She stressed the historical significance of holistic healing, tracing its roots to ancient times and its prevalence across the Middle East. In particular, she highlighted the use of the Canon of Medicine, an ancient medical text that serves as a cornerstone of TAIM practices.

“TAIM is a holistic healing system recorded in The Canon of Medicine, a medical encyclopedia written in 1025 by the Persian physician-philosopher Ibn Sina, whose writings influenced schools of medicine for centuries. It includes the use of medicinal herbs, and therapies such as Hijama cupping. The revival of this knowledge, reinterpreted for the 21st century, is a pioneering approach to reclaiming cultural heritage and redefining wellness.”

Dr. Lockhat explained their approach, begins with a personalised consultation to determine an individual’s unique constitution. Based on this assessment, a tailored lifestyle recommendation programme is crafted, considering six crucial lifestyle factors. This programme serves as a roadmap for guests on their journey toward enhanced health and wellbeing.

“We’re reviving that holistic healing system in Zulal and what we do is we do a consultation whereby we find out your unique constitution, and from that, we plan what we called the lifestyle recommendation programme for you, and that is based on six lifestyles factors and we guide you through this journey and it’s really much a unique approach to your health and wellbeing,” she told The Peninsula. These factors include fitness, physiotherapy, spa treatments, holistic health, aesthetic beauty, and nutrition.

Meanwhile, she also talked about the Zulal Discovery, a section of the resort welcoming guests of all ages, places a strong emphasis on family wellness.

The resort offers interactive experiences designed to foster family bonding and encourage exploration of healthy living. Children engage in age-appropriate activities, ranging from outdoor adventures to arts, crafts, sports, and games. Meanwhile, parents have the opportunity to indulge in rejuvenating massages and relaxation within the resort’s hydrothermal facilities.

Moreover, Dr. Lockhat revealed that the minimum duration for the wellness packages at Zulal ranges from three nights to longer stays of five, seven, or even 14 nights. Extensive research suggests that a minimum of 14 nights is required to yield effective results from their holistic approach to wellness, she said.

One of the central tenets of TAIM is the lifestyle factor of mental movement and rest. Dr. Lockhat emphasised that their approach takes into account not only physical health but also mental wellbeing and emotional balance. The holistic philosophy encompasses mind, body, soul, and spirit, ensuring a comprehensive focus on all facets of an individual’s life. “When we say that it’s really much a holistic approach, you just don’t come to Zulal for a physical checkup.”

“We really focus on mind, body, soul and spirit, so you’ll get that full emphasis on all aspects of your life especially on the TAIM aspect.”

Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com

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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/30/09/2023/global-wellness-summit-to-discuss-arabic-islamic-medicine

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Royal Commission for Riyadh City hosts Riyadh Expo 2030 seminar in Paris

September 29, 2023

PARUS: The Royal Commission for Riyadh City and the Riyadh Expo 2030 team co-organized a seminar focusing on the expo’s sub-theme “Prosperity for All” on Thursday in Paris.

Representatives from member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions and global experts attended the seminar that was hosted by RCRC, the body responsible for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030, according to a media statement.

The Kingdom’s Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar said her country is becoming the fastest-growing economy among the G20 members, with non-oil government revenues having more than doubled.

“The Kingdom achieved the highest employment rate in its history, increased participation of women in the workforce, and registered a significant growth of small and medium enterprises, with nearly 40 percent of startup businesses owned by women,” she said.

Meanwhile, Fahad Al-Ruwaily, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to France, highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to finding common solutions, stating: “As we seek to find shared solutions, today I want to pledge to you that Saudi Arabia is committed to working together as a partner with all nations to achieve our common aspirations. We are committed to utilizing Riyadh Expo 2030 to further catalyze (the) collaboration necessary to achieve our shared goals.

“We are committed to sharing the opportunities of building the expo with the whole world, and our vision of Riyadh Expo 2030 is as an expo ‘built by the world, for the world.’”

Al-Ruwaily highlighted the strength of cooperation and partnership between Saudi Arabia and France and the broad development it has witnessed in recent years.

The seminar was part of a series organized by the RCRC in Paris under the theme “Prosperity for All.”

It discussed ways to address inequalities in the world, with every nation contributing through the prism of its culture, context, and aspirations, ultimately working toward a more inclusive world that meets the needs of humanity. 

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2382816/saudi-arabia

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Haj 1445: Saudi Arabia to increase licensed companies for overseas pilgrims

29th September 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) plans to increase the number of companies licensed to provide services to overseas pilgrims for the 1445 Haj season, local media reported.

The license period is five years and the estimated fee for obtaining and renewing licenses is 100,000 Saudi riyals.

“The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is looking into a mechanism to publish findings of an evaluation of the licensed companies on an annual basis, using media that it sees appropriate to ensure transparency for pilgrims or their representatives,” Arabic daily Okaz quoted a source.

It is worth noting that the licensing draft that grants the ministry the power to suspend licenses, and reduce or increase the number of licensed pilgrims.

The company must have a valid trade register and a Saudi capital of at least 500,000 Saudi riyals to accommodate up to 10,000 pilgrims.

The company’s director-general must be a Saudi national, 25 years old, with a secondary school degree, and have prior experience in pilgrim service.

The director, board chairman, and board members should not have been penalized by revocation of a service license by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The Kingdom recently announced early preparations for the upcoming Haj season, stating that no specific places will be allotted for countries at Saudi holy sites.

The Haj pilgrimage to Makkah is a mandatory religious duty for those Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it at least once in a lifetime.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/haj-1445-saudi-arabia-to-increase-licensed-companies-for-overseas-pilgrims-2708884/

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Southeast Asia

 

LGBTQ-themed arts performances in public spaces in line with the times, says Singapore's National Arts Council chief

30 Sep 2023

SINGAPORE, Sept 30 — While heartland “getai” shows typically showcase live performances of Mandarin and Hokkien music, a crowd at Gillman Barracks last night (September 29) was treated to a different version of it.

With a set list of Malay, English and even Japanese songs, perhaps the highlight of the half-hour show was a drag queen playing trombone to the tune of evergreen National Day theme song Home, which moved its spectators to sing along.

Entitled Queer-tai, the show was among a series of arts performances commissioned to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Nanyang Technological University Centre for Contemporary Art (NTU CCA) Singapore.

In line with the times, the public can expect arts performances in the public and education space that touch on themes relating to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community.

This is because artists naturally explore a wide range of topics and will always produce work that “speaks to our times”, said National Arts Council (NAC) chief executive officer Low EngTeong.

As part of NTU CCA's anniversary celebrations, a series of collaborative performances by the centre’s past contributing artists and artist-in-residence alumni members were commissioned.

Two of such shows were staged yesterday, including Queer-tai — a half-hour karaoke segment led by a few people, including some dressed in drag, followed by a DJ setlist.

Asked about the significance of having arts performances with LGBTQ themes in public spaces and educational institutions, Low said: “Artists explore all types of topics and themes and issues in their work, so I think that is something that is to be expected, in (that) artists will always want to make work that speaks to our times.

“It is for artists to be interested in issues like climate change, environmental, social issues, the different kinds of events, world events happening around the world and how it affects our lives, so I think this is part and parcel of the natural process of art.”

Intervention, the group that staged Queer-tai, describes itself as “a queer party collective”.

It has organised three parties since it was formed in November and was commissioned to perform at an exhibition opening at the Singapore Art Museum.

One of its members, residence alumnus Daniel Hui, feels that NTU CCA has a “very strong connection” with its artists and shows support for them during and after residency.

“So I feel like it's very natural for them to call us back to be part of the anniversary celebration,” he said, adding that the aesthetics of Intervention’s events may be what makes them attractive to the art spaces.

The centre’s current artist-in-residence Irfan Kasban said that part of Intervention’s mission is also to provide a safe and inclusive space for diverse individuals, not just in terms of gender identity but also ethnicity, among others.

For instance, the cross-disciplinary artist said that a lot of his music has roots in indigenous traditions, adding that he aims to let people dance to “other voices that are not primarily English”.

“Different kinds of beats, different kinds of sounds, that's something that we also are trying to advocate for,” said Irfan.

Asked to weigh in on how conversations around LGBTQ issues have evolved in Singapore, Professor Ute Meta Bauer, founding director of NTU CCA, noted that while the public has been relatively more “outspoken” about it in recent times, “it is not that it didn't exist before”.

“I think as educators, we always have this role as mediators (in having such discussions),” she said.

Looking back at NTU CCA's progress, Prof Bauer said that the themes tackled by the centre’s artists have evolved tremendously since the centre was born.

While many works 10 years ago explored themes like cultural identity, they have been “surpassed by much more global issues” today, such as climate change and geopolitical events.

“Today, the key issue and the fear is climate change. People hear about wildfires, sea level rise, and we see it in the news every day,” she said.

She envisions NTU CCA to also continue evolving to tackle issues that are relevant in the future.

“As an educator, I really do care about my students, their lives, their anxieties, and I think it's very important to be there and that they feel a university is a place for thinking,” she said. ― TODAY

Source: malaymail.com

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Number of flood evacuees in Kedah down to 1,383 as of 8am

30 Sep 2023

ALOR SETAR, Sept 30 — The number of flood evacuees in Kedah dropped to 1,383 people from 420 families as of 8am today, compared with 1,550 people from 468 families at 8pm yesterday.

Kedah Civil Defence Force disaster management secretariat chief Major (PA) Muhammad SuhaimiMohd Zain said all the victims were placed at 12 relief centres in four affected districts, namely KubangPasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena and Baling.

According to him, Kota Setar recorded the highest number of evacuees, with 671 victims from 236 families at five centres, followed by Baling, where 458 victims from 127 families were housed at four centres.

“In KubangPasu, 53 victims from nine families are still being housed at one relief centre, while in Pokok Sena, 201 victims from 48 families are seeking shelter at two centres,” he said in a statement here today.

Muhammad Suhaimi said as the weather improved, floodwaters receded in several areas, allowing some residents to return home.

Meanwhile, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Info Banjir portal said that only one river in the state, namely Sungai Anak Bukit in Taman Aman, here, was reported to be at the danger level with a reading of 2.93 metres. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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Crypto fund co-founder arrested, jailed in Singapore, says company liquidator

30 Sep 2023

SINGAPORE, Sept 30 ― One of the co-founders of collapsed cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital has been apprehended in Singapore and jailed for four months, according to the company's liquidator.

The Singapore-based company filed for bankruptcy last year when its fortunes suffered a sharp decline after a massive sell-off of assets it had bet on as prices nosedived in crypto markets.

Su Zhu was detained at Singapore's Changi airport while trying to leave the city-state, Three Arrows' liquidator Teneo said in a statement late yesterday.

His arrest came after Teneo said it obtained a committal order this week against Zhu for failing to comply with its investigation into the company's failure.

“The committal order granted by the Singapore Courts sentenced Mr Zhu to 4 months' imprisonment,” Teneo said.

His co-founder Kyle Davies was also committed to four months in prison but “his whereabouts remain unknown at this point in time”, it said.

Singapore's monetary authority had banned the pair “from conducting regulated investment activity for nine years each”, Teneo said.

The liquidator, ordered to preside over the bankruptcy by a court in the British Virgin Islands, is attempting to recover the assets of Three Arrows and bring returns to its creditors after the company failed.

However it has accused Zhu and Davies of not cooperating with the effort to return funds and failing to voluntarily provide information.

In a profile in The New York Times in June, the pair said they had been travelling since the hedge fund's collapse, including to the Indonesian resort island of Bali where they had been surfing and meditating.

Singapore police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ― AFP

Source: malaymail.com

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Occupational injuries up 58.9pc in 2022, says Stats Dept

30 Sep 2023

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of occupational injuries increased by 58.9 per cent to record 34,216 cases in 2022 compared to 21,534 cases in the previous year, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).

Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr MohdUzirMahidin, in a statement on the National Occupational Accident and Disease Statistics 2022, said this resulted in the rate of occupational injuries per 1,000 workers in 2022 went up to 2.22 as compared to 1.43 in 2021.

"As for non-fatal occupational injuries, the number of cases was 33,899, which recorded a notable increase of 59.7 per cent as against 21,233 cases in 2021. Thus, the rate of non-fatal occupational injuries per 1,000 workers consequently rose to 2.20 in 2022 from 1.41 in 2021.

"Meanwhile, the number of fatal occupational injuries was 317 cases in 2022, an increase of 16 cases from 301 fatalities in the preceding year. This translated to a higher rate of fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers at 2.06 in 2022, compared to 2.00 in 2021,” he said.

According to MohdUzir, more than two-thirds (84.2 per cent) of the occupational injury cases involved male workers, whereas female workers make up only 15.8 per cent of the cases.

As for fatal occupational injuries, he said that the male category accounted for 98.1 per cent (311 cases), while the female category was 1.9 per cent (six cases).

"From the perspective of occupational injuries by nationality, Malaysian citizens accounted for 88.6 per cent or 30,325 cases, whereas non-Malaysian citizens comprised 11.4 per cent or 3,891 cases,” he said.

In the meantime, MohdUzir said all states posted an increase in occupational injuries except for Perlis, while eight states surpassed the national rate of 2.22.

Johor ranked the highest with 3.59, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (3.53), Penang (3.35) and Perak (3.24).

He said Selangor recorded 6,563 occupational injuries or 19.2 per cent of the total cases, the highest increase with 2,368 cases, while the highest rate of fatal occupational injuries was in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (3.69), resulting in 33 deaths.

With regard to comparison with other countries, MohdUzir said in Singapore, the workplace injury rate per 100,000 workers decreased from 673 in 2021 to 614 in 2022. However, the fatal injury rate increased by 1.3 per 100,000 workers from 1.1 in the previous year.

He also mentioned that the occupational accident rate per 1,000 workers in Japan remained at 2.3, while the rate of fatal occupational injuries for every 100,000 workers decreased to 1.42 from 1.60 in 2021.

"The situation of occupational injuries statistics worldwide demonstrated ongoing challenges in workplace safety. Many countries have implemented safety regulations and initiatives to reduce workplace accidents, including safety training, inspections and penalties for non-compliance,” he said.- Bernama

Source: thestar.com.my

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Kudat police dispose of more than 40 unclaimed firearms

DURIE RAINER FONG

30 Sep 2023

KOTA KINABALU: More than 40 unclaimed firearms were disposed of by the police in Sabah’s northern Kudat district on Saturday (Sept 30).

Kudat OCPD Supt Mohd Haris Ibrahim said the firearms consisted of shotguns and rifles.

The items had been kept at the Kudat police’s weapon storage for some time.

The firearms were supposed to be claimed by the next-of-kin of the owners but none came forward to do so, he said.

"We disposed of a total of 42 various types of firearms.

"We believe many did not come to claim them because they had lost interest in taking over possession of the firearms," Supt Mohd Haris said.

He said they had issued notices to claim the firearms during a dialogue with firearm owners in the district in July.

He added the authorities had the right to dispose of the firearms under Section 27(2) of the Firearms Act 1950 if the items were not claimed within six months.

"The exercise today is the proactive effort by the firearm licensing and logistics division of the Kudat police to ensure our weapons’ storage is not overfull with firearms," he said.

Earlier this year in July, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk JautehDikun said they were clamping down on the rampant poaching taking place in Sabah's northernmost island of Banggi which was off Kudat.

He said police had observed a spike in illegal hunting of wild boar, mouse-deer and pangolins, among others.

CommJauteh said they have been receiving reports of hunters coming to the island without reporting their entry or seeking approval for hunting from either the Wildlife Department or the police.

Source: thestar.com.my

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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/30/kudat-police-dispose-of-more-than-40-unclaimed-firearms

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Time for M’sia to use better drug screening methods, says concerned doctor

30 Sep 2023

KUALA LUMPUR – Amid growing concerns over foreign drug traffickers entering Malaysia posing as students and the limitations in the current drug screening methods, there is an urgent need for a more effective entry point screening.

A doctor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said it is time advanced screening methods are used to identify foreign drug traffickers who disguise themselves as students.

He said the current method of urine testing has many shortcomings. For example, such so-called foreign students can avoid detection by abstaining from drugs five days prior to their urine screening appointment. Their urine samples will then yield negative results.

These “students” can also beat the system by bringing along a non-drug user’s urine to switch the samples inside the clinic’s toilet.

“It is, therefore, timely to implement advanced screening methods such as those used in developed countries. These methods would be a better alternative to urine testing, which is more suited for random checks, such as those conducted in nightclubs or on drivers,” he said.

There are now new screening methods that test the hair and nails, as traces of drugs in such samples can remain for up to 90 days.

This doctor, who owns a chain of clinics, is concerned that drug syndicates have exploited Malaysia’s welcoming stance towards foreign students.

He said such syndicates entered the country legally on student visas and they profited by peddling their drugs to local students and expanding their market beyond the campus.

Their entry has introduced new drugs to Malaysia, such as fentanyl – a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin.

“With xylazine, a veterinary drug, fentanyl’s potency increases, offering an extended state of euphoria (a feeling of intense excitement and happiness) to its user.

“These dangerous adulterations, coupled with the cheap xylazine from China that goes by the street name tranq, have found their way into the hands of foreign drug pushers, thus increasing their profit margins.”

Prior to this, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his capacity as the Cabinet Committee on the Eradication of Drugs chairman, had made fresh calls for the drug menace to be tackled.

He had given the National Anti-Drugs Agency (Nada) a three-month period to come up with effective strategies to address the problem.

Highlighting the urgency, the doctor urged collaboration between the Higher Education Ministry, police and Nada to curb the entry of foreign drug traffickers.

He believed that through advanced screening methods and an enhanced cooperation between these three parties would safeguard Malaysia’s reputation as a desirable destination for education and protect the well-being of its students.

“As the nation grapples with this crisis, fortifying the entry point screening has never been more critical.” – Bernama, September 30, 2023

Source: thevibes.com

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