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Islamic World News ( 28 May 2023, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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KSA Agrees To Extend Pakistani Passports To Thousands Of ‘Burmese’ Muslims For A Legal Status In Saudi Arabia

New Age Islam News Bureau

28 May 2023

 

On the request of Saudi government in the past, Pakistani passports were issued to Burmese Muslims

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• KSA Agrees To Extend Pakistani Passports To Thousands Of ‘Burmese’ Muslims For A Legal Status In Saudi Arabia

• Case Of Quran Burning In Russia Called A 'Cynical Provocation'

• Saudi Astronaut Shares Breath-taking Glimpse Of Mecca From Space, Captivating Global Audience

• Boko Haram: I Still Grieve For Our Children In Captivity – Buhari

• European Team In Bangladesh Probes Genocide By Pakistan Army In 1971

 

Pakistan

• PML-N adamant no talks with those who attacked state institutions

• Ex-Sindh governor among latest line of PTI deserters

• Govt cancels diplomatic passports of nine PTI leaders, AML chief

• PPP will think twice about accepting ex-PTI members

• Another guarantor leaves Lahore court sans submitting Imran’s bail bonds

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North America

• Muslim, civil liberties groups challenge Quebec school prayer room ban in court

• Negotiators 'closer to an agreement' on US debt crisis, but no deal in sight

• Four Nasa volunteers to spend 1 year in Houston Mars simulator

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Arab world

• Saudi technical team arrives in Syria to discuss reopening of embassy in Damascus

• Saudi Arabia, US urge Sudan’s warring parties to discuss truce extension

• The humanitarian at the helm of Philippine migrant workers’ affairs

• KSrelief inaugurates medical projects in Africa

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Africa

• Two Killed, Dozens Injured In Police Crackdown Against Protest By Muslims In Addis Ababa; More Than 100 People Detained

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South Asia

• Afghanistan Regains Non-Stop China Flights After 3 Year Pause

• 3 killed in clash on Iran-Afghanistan border

• Bangladeshi pilgrims grateful for hassle-free journey under Makkah Route

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India

• ‘Noise Pollution’ By Mosque: Bombay HC To Hear On May 29 Interim Plea Claiming Inaction By Police In Complying With Norms

• Following 13 Raids In Madhya Pradesh, NIA Nets 3 Islamic State Operatives

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Mideast

• Incumbent President Erdogan Pays Homage To Islamist Predecessor At Istanbul's Adnan Menderes Mausoleum

• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church head meets Sunni leader

• Islamic Jihad: Enemy's heinous crimes against Palestinian people will raise cost of account with this entity

• New Anti-Israel Axis Pushes Netanyahu to ‘Brink’ of War

• Iran exchanges heavy gunfire with Taliban on Afghan border, escalating tensions over water rights

• Iran dismisses Ukrainian Prez's 'drone supply' claims as 'baseless'

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Southeast Asia

• Kuala Lumpur Proposes Bill To Increase Powers Of Islamic Courts

• Fahmi: Malaysia Needs Independent, Brave Media

• Discard culture of favouring merely the govt and ignoring the opposition, PM tells local media

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Europe

• Russia: Only 10 Percent Of Population Actively Religious Divided Equally Among Orthodox

• Hate Crime Probe Urged In North Carolina Mosque Threat

• Major Shia mosque shuts down after Charity Commission appoints non-Muslim manager

• Humza Yousaf accuses UK Government of trying to ‘scupper’ deposit return scheme

• British premier to urge supermarkets to place price limits on basic foods

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:  https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ksa-pakistani-passports-burmese-/d/129871

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KSA Agrees To Extend Pakistani Passports To Thousands Of ‘Burmese’ Muslims For A Legal Status In Saudi Arabia

 

On the request of Saudi government in the past, Pakistani passports were issued to Burmese Muslims

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Mushtaq Ghumman

May 27, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia is said to have agreed to extend Pakistani passports to thousands of Burmese Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia on the request of Islamabad made during the recent visit of Saudi Deputy Interior Minister, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

On May 19, 2023, during the federal cabinet meeting, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan conveyed the profound thanks of the Deputy Interior Minister, on behalf of the Saudi Government, to the Prime Minister and the Government of Pakistan for agreeing to renew the passports of Burmese Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia.

It was informed that on the request of Saudi government in the past, Pakistani passports were issued to Burmese Muslims to give them a legal status in Saudi Arabia but these were not renewed after 2012, which created difficulties for them in the Kingdom.

Endorsing the goodwill gesture, a member cautioned the Interior Division to ensure that these Burmese Muslims and their children were not deported to Pakistan in future.

Prime Minister also noted that he and the Iranian president co-inaugurated a joint border market and an electricity transmission line adding that the Mand-Pashin Border sustenance Marketplace would bolster cross-border trade between the two neighbouring counties and provide opportunities for local businesses to flourish.

The 100-MW transmission line to Gwadar would supplement the electricity already purchased from Iran and help offset energy needs of Balochistan’s border regions.

The Prime Minister lamented the delay caused by the previous government, which had kept the project on the backburner. He said now it had been completed on a fast-track basis and would be the harbinger of tremendous socioeconomic benefits to the people of the area.

Referring to his meeting on the sidelines of the event with the Iranian President, the Prime Minister shared the resolve of the two leaders to enhance bilateral trade and multi-sectoral cooperation commensurate with the close fraternal ties between the two neighbouring countries.

It was also agreed that the peace and security at the Pak-Iran border would be jointly ensured. In this regard a Pakistani delegation, led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, would visit Iran soon to finalize an action plan.

A member drew attention to the difficulties being faced by Zaireen intending to visit Iran and Iraq, in matters related to visas, which needed to be taken up at the bilateral level. The Minister for Interior apprised that the Iraqi Interior Minister would be visiting Pakistan soon to sign a MoU in this regard.

He further apprised that the Saudi Deputy Interior Minister recently visited Pakistan and signed an agreement on execution of the Road to Makkah, a project aimed at simplifying the immigration process at the embarkation stage for pilgrims intending to perform Hajj and Umrah.

As per the accord, in the first phase, the services would be available at Islamabad airport and will be extended to Karachi and Lahore airports by next year. The members desired a detailed presentation on the Road to Makkah project in the next Cabinet meeting.

The members also discussed the recent wide circulation of controversial audios, which had been witnessed on national electronic, print and social media, allegedly regarding the Judiciary and former chief Justices/ certain Judges, whereby alleged conversations raised serious apprehensions about the conduct of a few belonging to the higher judiciary pertaining to the administration of justice.

The members opined that such audio leaks had eroded public trust and serious concerns had been raised by the general public regarding independence, impartiality and uprightness of the chief justices/ some judges of the superior courts.

It was observed that under the constitution of Pakistan, the independence, integrity and character of chief justices/ judges is of utmost importance for keeping the public trust and confidence in the administration of justice.

Source: Brecorder

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40244497/ksa-agrees-to-extend-pakistani-passports-to-thousands-of-burmese-muslims

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Case Of Quran Burning In Russia Called A 'Cynical Provocation'

 

A woman holds a portrait of Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov during a rally staged in Grozny on May 23 after a citizen of Volgograd burned the Koran in front of a mosque.

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By Andrei Besedin

May 27, 2023

On May 19, a short video was posted on Telegram purportedly showing an unidentified person silently burning a Quran outside a mosque in the southern Russian city of Volgograd. The post was accompanied by the words: "Volgograd! May Allah break your back, country of Islamophobes."

That 11-second clip, however, has set off a chain of events that has seen the Russian authorities taking the unusual step of transferring the investigation to the nearby Muslim-majority North Caucasus region of Chechnya, where thousands of people gathered on May 23 in a demonstration of outrage organized by the government of Kremlin-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov.

"There are no grounds for moving the case to Chechnya," said AbubakarYangulbayev, a Chechen human rights advocate who fled abroad citing harassment from the regional government over his online criticism of Kadyrov. "The political context is clear: Kadyrov is continuing to build his reputation as 'the defender of Muslims,' of the Quran and Sunnis. He has said as much himself."

The original video appeared on the Morning In Daghestan Telegram channel, which is tied to Ilya Ponomaryov, a former Russian parliament deputy who is now based in Kyiv and is an active opponent of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In comments to the opposition Telegram channel Sota on May 21, Ponomaryov expressed no regret about posting the video while also condemning the act of burning the Islamic holy text. He speculated that the video had been produced and sent to Morning In Daghestan by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) "in order to create a scandal and earn awards for ‘solving' the case."

In a post on his Telegram channel on May 23, Kadyrov claimed without evidence that the Quran burning was "one of the crimes against Islam that are organized by henchmen of the satanic West and Europe."

"The West wanted to divide us inside Russia," Kadyrov continued. "But it turned out the other way around: We hate the West even more, and Western mercenaries will feel our anger."

Kadyrov's remarks echo wording in a September 2022 speech by Russian President Vladimir Putin that has since been repeated by other Kremlin-connected sources. In that speech, Putin accused the West of "the total negation of the human, the overthrow of religion and traditional values" and said that "the crushing of freedom comes to look like the opposite of religion -- open satanism."

Source: Rferl.Org

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-Quran-burning-provocation-chechnya/32430581.html

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Saudi Astronaut Shares Breath-taking Glimpse Of Mecca From Space, Captivating Global Audience

 

Two Saudi astronauts, including the first Saudi woman, head off from Florida on May 21 on a private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)

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May 27, 2023

Dubai: Saudi Astronaut Rayana Barnawi has offered her global followers an awe-inspiring view of Mecca from the International Space Station (ISS).

On Friday, she shared a captivating video on Twitter showcasing the night view of Mecca with the Grand Mosque brightly illuminated.

“After I concluded my experiments for the day, we happened to pass over Mecca,” Barnawi commented in her post, amplifying the beauty and sanctity of the holy city seen from space.

Barnawi’s video of Mecca has garnered significant attention, sparking widespread admiration and reminding the world that despite the vast distances, the view from space can bring a new perspective to places of significance on Earth.

Saudi Astronauts RayanaBarnawi and Ali Al Qarni were launched into space on May 21st from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Accompanied by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson and American entrepreneur John Shofner, the launch was organised by Axiom Space.

Approximately 15 hours after liftoff, the crew arrived at the ISS where they are set to conduct 14 cutting-edge scientific research experiments in the unique microgravity environment.

On Thursday, Barnawi took to Twitter to share an update: “The first steps in starting scientific experiments is to test the response of immune cells to infections using the live experiments box.”

Source: Gulf News

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/watch-video-saudi-astronaut-shares-breathtaking-glimpse-of-mecca-from-space-captivating-global-audience-1.96037666

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Boko Haram: I Still Grieve For Our Children In Captivity – Buhari

 

A file photo of President Muhammadu Buhari

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By Soonest Nathaniel

May 28, 2023

In his short farewell broadcast on Sunday, the president who will be handing over on May 29, said the fight to rescue the children (mostly girls), is still on, adding that the plan remains to rescue them unscathed.

“Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage.

“For all those under unlawful captivity, our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed,” the president assured.

He further stated that his government’s battle to ensure all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results.

“As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably,” he emphasized.

In a bid to sustain the gains made so far on security, the president called on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that “our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions”.

My fellow Nigerian brothers, sisters and friends of Nigeria.

2. I address you today, in my last assignment as a democratically elected President of our great and well endowed nation, with a deep sense of gratitude to God, a great deal of appreciation to the Nigerian people and a modest sense of fulfilment.

3. Today we mark and celebrate another peaceful transition of power from one elected government to another in our steady march to improve and sustain Nigeria’s democracy.

4. This year we witnessed the most keenly contested Presidential Elections since the first Republic and this demonstrates that our democracy is getting better and more entrenched with each election.

5. We must as a nation improve and sustain gains we make in the electoral process, on an incremental basis for Nigeria to take its rightful place among Nations.

6. Our democracy provides for, allows and encourages seeking redress for any perceived injustices, enabling some candidates and political parties that did not agree with the results to go to court.

7. Irrespective of the outcome of the various cases, I urge all parties involved to accept the decision of our courts and join hands to build a better Nigeria.

8. I salute the doggedness and resilience of all the Presidential Candidates and their political parties for believing in our judicial system by taking their grievances with the election results to court.

9. In the course of the campaigns, we had argued and disagreed on how to make Nigeria better but we never disagreed or had any doubts that Nigeria has to be better.

10. As your President, I call on all of us to bring to bear the strength of our individualism, the power of our unity, the convictions of our beliefs to make Nigeria work better and together with one spirit and one purpose.

11. To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world.

12. You have indeed worked for this day and God has crowned your efforts. I have no doubt that your passion for excellence, reliance on competence, fairness in relationships, commitment to equity, loyalty to the country and desire for Nigeria to be globally relevant would come through for you, under God’s guidance, as you lead our country to levels higher that I am leaving.

13. You are the best candidate among all the contestants and Nigerians have chosen well.

14. The last eight years have been an exciting experience in my desire and commitment to see a Nigeria in which public goods and services are available, and accessible within a united, peaceful and secure nation.

15. Fellow Nigerians, on the strength of your over-whelming support for me and my political party, I started this journey with a great deal of promise and expectation from you. I never intended to be just politically correct but to do the correct things that will make meaningful impact on the lives of the common Nigerian.

16. This high expectation was not misplaced because, like the ordinary Nigerian, I had grown tired of watching the country progressively moving away from the path of correctness.

17. To ensure that our democracy remains resilient and our elected representatives remain accountable to the people, I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum. And Nigerians can elect leaders of their choice.

18. We are already seeing the outcome of this process as it provided an even playing field where persons without any political God-Father or access to money defeated other well-resourced candidates.

19. The Nigerian economy has become more resilient due to the various strategies put in place to ensure that our economy remained afloat during cases of global economic downturns.

20. You would all recall the supply chain disruptions and economic downturn that the world witnessed between 2020 and 2022 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deftness of our response to the pandemic still remains a global best practice.

21. Furthermore, we increased the ability of the poor and rural Nigerians to earn a living, provided more food for millions in our villages and gave our women opportunities to earn a living.

22. Young men and women in urban centres were also supported to put their skills into productive use. Our administration also provided an enabling environment for the private sector to engage in businesses for which their return on investments is guaranteed.

23. The private sector proved a strong partner in our drive to build a resilient and sustainable economy as evidenced by the growing number of turn-key projects in various sectors of the economy.

24. In the course of revamping the economy, we made some difficult choices, most of which yielded the desired results. Some of the measures led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologised to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the over-all good of the country.

25. Mindful of the need to ensure adequate infrastructure to drive economic growth, we completed age-long projects and processes notably amongst which are the Petroleum Industry Act, completion of some power projects, completion of the second Niger bridge and various important roads linking cities and states.

26. Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably.

27. To sustain the gains made so far, I call on all Nigerians to be more vigilant and support the security agencies by ensuring that our values defined by being your brothers’ keeper govern our actions.

28. Up-till now, I still grieve for our children still in captivity, mourn with parents, friends and relatives of all those that lost loved ones in the days of the senseless brigandage and carnage. For all those under unlawful captivity, our Security Agencies are working round the clock to secure their release unharmed.

29. Fellow Nigerians, you know how dear the desire in my heart to rid the country of corrupt practices that had consistently diminished our efforts to be a great country.

30. I did pursue this commitment relentlessly, in spite of the expected pushback. I am happy that considerable progress had been made in repatriating huge sums of money back to the country and also taking over properties illegally acquired from our commonwealth.

31. To improve service delivery, we began the implementation of a number of reforms aimed at producing an Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-oriented (EPIC) Federal Civil Service and the results are beginning to show.

32. On the international scene, Nigeria’s influence continues to grow as exemplified by notable Nigerians occupying headship and leadership positions in renowned global bodies.

33. Our democracy is built on and continues to thrive on the principles of separation of powers. The leadership and members of the National Assembly deserve my appreciation for their patriotism which did not detract from their roles as a check to the executive arm.

34. I also want to use this opportunity to express my appreciation to a good number of Nigerians who provided their support and encouragement to help me navigate the exciting journey in moving Nigeria forward.

35. I can not and will not forget the millions who prayed for me during my illness in my first term of office. I am constantly praying for you and for Nigeria to thrive in peace.

36. As I retire home to Daura, Katsina State, I feel fulfilled that we have started the Nigeria Re-Birth by taking the initial critical steps and I am convinced the in-coming administration will quicken the pace of this walk to see a Nigeria that fulfills its destiny to be a great nation.

37. I am confident that I am leaving office with Nigeria better in 2023 than in 2015.

38. I thank you all. And may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Source: Channels Tv

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/05/28/boko-haram-i-still-grieve-for-our-children-in-captivity-buhari/

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European Team In Bangladesh Probes Genocide By Pakistan Army In 1971

 

A Bangladeshi man in Dhaka sells national flags on the annual "Black Day" celebration commemorating the victims of the 1971 genocide by the Pakistani army. AFP - FARJANA K. GODHULY

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28/05/2023

Campaigners hailed the 20-26 May Dutch-led mission as a recognition of efforts to bring to justice those responsible for 3 million deaths, 200,000 rapes and exodus of 10 million Bangladeshis to India.

The team – which includes British security expert Chris Blackburn, Dutch genocide scientist Anthonie Holslag and several others – will report to the Netherland government and parliament in The Hague.

Team leader and former MP Harry Van Bommel accused Washington of turning a blind eye to the slaughter because of its support to Cold War ally Pakistan.

Dutch politician and former MP Harry van Bommel, along with a European delegation is on a visit to #Bangladesh from May 20-26, where the delegation will investigate the genocide committed by Pakistan in 1971https://t.co/rifZpfB67W

"West's friendship with Pakistan is the reason for this dilemma," he said on the sidelines of a conference on the atrocity that began in March 1971 and ended nine months later when India sent its military into what was then East Pakistan.

"Even if it takes a hundred years to get global recognition of the Armenian Genocide, I hope it will not take that long in the case of Bangladeshi genocide.

Bommel was speaking in the capital Dhaka, which saw the worst violence after troops on 25 March, 1971, began exterminating university students, professors and critics of the regime in Islamabad.

In October 2022, two US Congressmen tabled legislation that declared the atrocities against ethnic Bengalis as "crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide”.

We Bengali Hindus work to make ourselves forget the near-genocide we suffered in E Pakistan & Bangladesh at the hands of Bengali and other Muslims - from Noakhali (1946) till today! pic.twitter.com/AS0fhNjzEI

The British parliament has condemned the action in East Pakistan, while France has encouraged Dhaka to research and document the atrocities.

Bilateral ties bloomed ever since the Netherlands became one of the first European nations to recognise Bangladesh as a sovereign state a year after it was carved out from Pakistan’s eastern rump in 1971.

The Bangladesh event is counted as India’s most successful military campaign against rival Pakistan, which capitulated after 93,000 of its soldiers surrendered 17 days after a full-scale war erupted on 3 December 1971.

“The time has come to bring them to book and we, not only as Indians but the whole of humanity, should spit on them for their dirty affairs,” said retired Indian army colonel VK Sahni.

While Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has acted swiftly against war criminals, many of those who plotted the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a former Bangladesh president and her father, have fled to the West.

Three-star general GG Dwivedi said he saw signs of the atrocities, including Bangladeshi women held as “sex slaves” in battle bunkers, while in Dhaka as a young lieutenant.

In an interview with NewsX TV, Dwivedi compared the genocide to the Holocaust, adding the "Pakistani army got away with it”.

“The people tried in Bangladesh were mere collaborators but the real perpetrators got away scot free and so it comes as a great relief that now the investigation has been opened up again.”

Source: Rfi.Fr

Please click the following URL to read the text of the original story:

https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20230528-european-team-in-bangladesh-probes-genocide-by-pakistan-army-in-1971

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Pakistan

PML-N adamant no talks with those who attacked state institutions

May 28, 2023

KARACHI: Ruling out talks with Imran Khan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday said that negotiations cannot be held with those who attacked the state, rather they are awarded punishment.

In a statement, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PTI chief was not appealing for negotiations but, in fact, was seeking an “NRO”. She ruled out talks with those who attacked sensitive installations which were symbols of national pride, including GHQ, and ambulances, hospitals and schools.

In a separate tweet, PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif stated that negotiations could not be held with terrorists and saboteurs, but with politicians.

Source: Dawn

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1756326/pml-n-adamant-no-talks-with-those-who-attacked-state-institutions?preview

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Ex-Sindh governor among latest line of PTI deserters

May 28, 2023

KARACHI: Embattled PTI leaders continued to leave the party in droves, with some even quitting politics, as the noose around those involved in the violent protests of May 9 tightened.

Some of the big names who parted ways with the PTI on Saturday included former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, its Sindh’s president Ali Zaidi, MNA Shaukat Ali, and former federal minister Khusro Bakhtiar.

In their press conferences after being freed, party leaders have followed a similar line: condemn the violence and, as Mr Khan has complained, say the magic words, “We are no longer in PTI”.

However, one prominent member of the party, Senate Opposition leader Dr Shahzad Waseem, bucked the trend by announcing he was still very much a part of PTI. Although he criticised the incidents of May 9 and 10, terming them unacceptable, he dispelled rumours that he quit the party.

In Karachi, the party suffered a major blow when Mr Ismail, one of its founding members and a close aide of the PTI chief, Mr Zaidi announced quitting the party over a “difference of opinion”.

Shortly after being released from jail on an anti-terrorism court order, Mr Ismail drove to the Karachi Press Club, where he held his “last political press conference” and announced parting ways with PTI and its founder.

In his presser, Mr Ismail even criticised Mr Khan for building an anti-establishment narrative right after his ouster from power which led the party and the country to a crisis.

Source: Dawn

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1756329/ex-sindh-governor-among-latest-line-of-pti-deserters

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Govt cancels diplomatic passports of nine PTI leaders, AML chief

Iftikhar A. Khan

May 28, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The government on Saturday cancelled the diplomatic passports of nine PTI leaders and the Awami Muslim League (AML) chief, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The PTI leaders whose passports have been revoked include Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Pervez Khattak, Azam Swati, Ali Amin Gandapur, Ali Muhammad Khan, Zartaj Gul, Farrukh Habib and Aon Abbas Bappi.

Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid and the nine PTI leaders are among those who are still standing with embattled PTI chief Imran Khan and have not left the party.

The list does not include the names of Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and Ali Zaidi — the former members of Imran Khan’s cabinet who have said their goodbyes. It was not immediately clear if they also held diplomatic passports or not.

Source: Dawn

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1756325/govt-cancels-diplomatic-passports-of-nine-pti-leaders-aml-chief

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PPP will think twice about accepting ex-PTI members

May 28, 2023

LAHORE: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has said it will be careful in inducting leaders who were leaving the Pakistan Tehreek i-Insaf (PTI) into its fold.

This was announced by PPP central Punjab general secretary Hasan Murtaza at a presser here on Saturday. He claimed that most ex-PTI members had already contacted PPP, and the party was planning on conducting proper scrutiny to be sure if the interests of the person align with PPP’s ideology .

He further said, “PPP is hopeful to see favorable results by grabbing most seats in Punjab in upcoming elections. It will also appear as a future ruling party.”

Source: Dawn

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1756327/ppp-will-think-twice-about-accepting-ex-pti-members

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Another guarantor leaves Lahore court sans submitting Imran’s bail bonds

May 28, 2023

LAHORE: The bail bonds on behalf of former prime minister Imran Khan in three cases relating to the May 9 riots could not be submitted on Saturday as another guarantor left an anti-terrorism court without completing the process.

Advocate Muhammad Habib, the guarantor, appeared before the court to submit papers of three vehicles as surety bonds in as many as cases.

The other day, the judge also rejected the bail bonds of Imran Khan in the cases as the guarantor showed reluctance to take responsibility for the appearance of the PTI chairman in the trial proceedings.

However, the judge turned down the request and asked the guarantor whether he could give an undertaking about the appearance of the ex-premier in future hearings.

Source: Dawn

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1756305/another-guarantor-leaves-court-sans-submitting-imrans-bail-bonds

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North America

Muslim, civil liberties groups challenge Quebec school prayer room ban in court

By Sidhartha Banerjee

May 26, 2023

MONTREAL - A civil rights organization and a national Muslim advocacy group are the latest to launch a legal challenge of Quebec’s decree banning prayer rooms in public schools, the second one in recent weeks.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association filed a motion Friday seeking a judicial review of the government decree on behalf of a plaintiff whose teenage son had sought a space to pray along with some other Muslim students at a Montreal-area high school last October.

According to the filing, the teen had become more devout over the summer and began praying five times a day in accordance with his Muslim faith, including once a day at school during the lunch hour. Sometimes it was with a small group of students, both indoors and outdoors.

Source: the star

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

https://www.thestar.com/politics/2023/05/26/muslim-civil-liberties-groups-challenge-quebec-school-prayer-room-ban-in-court.html

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Negotiators 'closer to an agreement' on US debt crisis, but no deal in sight

May 28, 2023

WASHINGTON: US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Saturday that Republican negotiators were "closer to an agreement" that would resolve the looming debt crisis, but had not reached a deal with President Joe Biden.

He said there was no firm timeline for a final compromise that would raise the nation's borrowing limit and avoid a catastrophic default while also making spending cuts that House Republicans are demanding. House negotiators left the Capitol after 2 am and returned hours later.

"We'll get it when it gets right," McCarthy said as he arrived on Capitol Hill. McCarthy's comments echoed the latest assessment from Biden, who said Friday evening that bargainers were "very close."

Their optimism came as treasury secretary Janet Yellen told Congress that the United States could default on its debt obligations by June 5 - four days later than previously estimated - if lawmakers do not act in time to raise the federal debt ceiling. The extended "X-date" gives the two sides a bit of extra time as they scramble for a deal.

Source: Times Of India

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

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/negotiators-closer-to-an-agreement-on-us-debt-crisis-but-no-deal-in-sight/articleshowprint/100559902.cms

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Four Nasa volunteers to spend 1 year in Houston Mars simulator

May 28, 2023

WASHINGTON: Living on Mars wasn't exactly a childhood dream for Canadian biologist Kelly Haston, though she'll soon spend a year preparing for just that. "We are just going to pretend that we're there," the 52-year-old told AFP, summing up her participation in an exercise simulating a long stay on the Red Planet.

At the end of June, she will be one of the four volunteers stepping into a Martian habitat in Houston, Texas that will be their home for the next 12 months. "It still sometimes seems a bit unreal to me," she laughs.

For Nasa, which has carefully selected the participants, these long-term experiments make it possible to evaluate the behaviour of a crew in an isolated and confined environment, ahead of a real mission in future.

Source: Times Of India

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/four-nasa-volunteers-to-spend-1-year-in-houston-mars-simulator/articleshowprint/100560004.cms?val=3728

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Arab world

Saudi technical team arrives in Syria to discuss reopening of embassy in Damascus

ARAB NEWS

May 28, 2023

RIYADH: A Saudi technical team arrived on Saturday in Syria, to discuss the reopening of Saudi Arabia's embassy in Damascus, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The reopening the Saudi embassy in Damascus comes after the Kingdom’s foreign ministry announced in April the decision of resuming diplomatic mission work in Syria.

The Saudi technical team, headed by Minister of Plenipotentiary, Ghazi bin Rafi Al-Anzi met with assistant foreign and expatriates Minister Ayman Sousan at the Syrian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Damascus.

Source: Arab News

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2311591/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia, US urge Sudan’s warring parties to discuss truce extension

ARAB NEWS

May 28, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and the US are urging Sudan’s warring sides to work to work on extending a short-term truce currently in force in the country.

“Saudi Arabia and the US call on the Sudanese Armed Forces & the Rapid Support Forces to continue discussions to reach an agreement on extending the ceasefire that is set to expire on May 29,” the Saudi foreign affairs ministry said in a statement early on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia and the US, who brokered the current ceasefire, urged the sides to continue to adhere to their obligations even if an extension deal isn’t reach before May 29. The parties signed a Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan agreement in Jeddah, safeguarding humanitarian assistance and access.

Source: Arab News

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2311521/saudi-arabia

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The humanitarian at the helm of Philippine migrant workers’ affairs

SHAHRUKH JAMSHED

May 27, 2023

JEDDAH: Last week, Susan V. Ople, secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers of the Philippines, visited Arab News headquarters in Riyadh.

Commenting on her visit, she tweeted: “Once upon a time, I was (a) columnist of @arabnews. Visiting its office in Riyadh was (a) homecoming of sorts.”

Yes, you read it correctly. Ople was once an important part of Arab News. Her visit to Arab News brought back so many memories of the time I dealt with her as an editor.

Source: Arab News

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2311401/saudi-arabia

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KSrelief inaugurates medical projects in Africa

ARAB NEWS

May 27, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) inaugurated two volunteer medical programs in Kenya and Cameroon.

In Kenya, 13 volunteer doctors from the aid agency’s medical team performed cardiac catheterization surgeries for patients in Nairobi. The program, operational from May 22 to May 26, was rolled out in cooperation with the Al-Balsam International Organization, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

“The project comes as an extension of the voluntary medical programs implemented by KSrelief in various specialties to help individuals and families with limited income in countries in need,” read the SPA statement.

Source: Arab News

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2311171/saudi-arabia

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Africa

Two Killed, Dozens Injured In Police Crackdown Against Protest By Muslims In Addis Ababa; More Than 100 People Detained

MAY 27, 2023

Addis Ababa – At least two civilians were killed yesterday and more than 40 people, including police officers and different police backup forces, suffered minor and serious injuries during police crackdown against Muslim protesters in and around the Grand Anuwar Mosque in the capital Addis Ababa on Friday afternoon.

The protests broke out Friday after prayer hours by the Muslim community in the city against the demolition of Mosques in the newly formed Shaggar city, which was formerly known as Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne. The protesters demanded an end to the demolition of mosques in the Shaggar city.

On 23 May the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of the Oromia Regional State said 19 Mosques were illegally demolished in Shaggar city alone & urged the regional government to immediately stop the demolitions and return to resolving the problem through dialogue. earlier, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Ethiopia has sent a letter to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seeking an end to the demolitions and a solution to the problem.

According to a statement released by the Addis Abeba Police last night, the two victims died after “being sent to the hospital for treatment.” The statement didn’t mention if the two victims were killed by the police. The victims are identified by Jeilu TV as Siraj Mohammed and Abubeker Elias, both residents of the city.

Source: Addis Standard

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https://addisstandard.com/news-two-killed-dozens-injured-in-police-crackdown-against-protest-by-muslims-in-addis-abeba-more-than-100-people-detained/

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South Asia

Afghanistan Regains Non-Stop China Flights After 3 Year Pause

BY SU WU

28-05-2023

Afghanistan announced the resumption of direct flights between Afghanistan and China earlier this week. The Afghan national flag carrier Ariana Afghan Airlines began the first weekly passenger flight from Kabul to Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

This is the first time China has resumed direct flights to the Taliban-ruled country since the end of 2019, which at the time was disrupted due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The resumption of the air service is expected to help strengthen economic and political relations between the two countries.

Imamuddin Ahmadi, the spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, stated that current daily flights from Afghanistan were mainly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Turkey.

Source: Simpleflying.Com

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https://simpleflying.com/afghanistan-china-non-stop-flights-resume/

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3 killed in clash on Iran-Afghanistan border

28-May-2023

Two Iranian border guards and one Taliban fighter were killed during armed clashes near a border police station between Iran and Afghanistan, according to Iran's official IRNA news agency and the Taliban's Interior Ministry on Saturday.

The two sides accused each other of opening fire first on Saturday morning near the police station on the border of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province, and the Afghan province of Nimroz.

The reason for the skirmish is not known yet, and the Iranian Embassy in Kabul and Afghanistan's Taliban-run acting Ministry of National Defense have started correspondence and phone calls to investigate the cause of the tension.

Source: Cgtn.Com

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https://news.cgtn.com/news/2023-05-28/3-killed-in-clash-on-Iran-Afghanistan-border-1kafkLZBGta/index.html

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Bangladeshi pilgrims grateful for hassle-free journey under Makkah Route

SHEBAB SUMON

May 27, 2023

DHAKA: Bangladeshi pilgrims departing for Hajj are grateful for Makkah Route facilities, which they say streamline the immigration process and remove the burdens of traveling abroad.

More than 125,000 Bangladeshis are traveling to Saudi Arabia this year for the pilgrimage that is one of the five pillars of Islam. Most are departing from the capital, Dhaka, and are assisted by Saudi authorities, who have been working round-the-clock since last week, when the special Hajj flights started under the Makkah Route initiative.

The flagship pre-travel program was launched by the Kingdom in 2019 to help pilgrims fulfill all the visa, customs and health requirements at their airport of origin, saving them long hours of waiting before and on arrival in Saudi Arabia.

“All the pilgrims are boarding their planes with comfort and smiles. This initiative is being highly praised by the people at home and abroad,” Saiful Islam, director of the Hajj Office Dhaka, told Arab News.

Source: Arab News

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2311246/saudi-arabia

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India

‘Noise Pollution’ By Mosque: Bombay HC To Hear On May 29 Interim Plea Claiming Inaction By Police In Complying With Norms

By: Express News Service

May 27, 2023

The vacation bench of the Bombay High Court will hear on May 29 an interim application by a lawyer, a resident of Thakur Village, Kandivali (East), who made several complaints to Samta Nagar Police station and had posted live videos on Twitter to show that a mosque is using loudspeakers during early morning hours, despite there being restrictions on the use of loudspeaker between 10 pm and 6 am and the area in question being a silence zone.

Source: Indian Express

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/noise-pollution-by-mosque-bombay-hc-to-hear-on-may-29-8632408/

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Following 13 Raids In Madhya Pradesh, NIA Nets 3 Islamic State Operatives

By Vicky Nanjappa

May 28, 2023

The operation was led by the NIA in assistance with the Intelligence Bureau and Madhya Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad. During the raid, the agencies recovered sharp-edged weapons, ammunition, incriminating documents and digital devices.

Three arrests took place during the operation, which included raids at 13 locations in Jabalpur on May 26 and 27. The three persons arrested include, Syed Mamoor Ali, Mohammad Adil Khan and Mohammad Shahid. They will be produced before a special NIA court in Bhopal.

On May 24, the NIA had registered a case during its probe Into the alleged pro-Islamic State activities of Mohammad Adil Khan, who had come under the radar in August last year. He and his associates are accused of being involved in propagating the ideology of the Islamic State through social media platforms. They also undertook the 'Dawah' programme, the agency has also learnt.

Source: One India

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https://www.oneindia.com/india/following-13-raids-in-madhya-pradesh-nia-nets-3-islamic-state-operatives-3565534.html

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Mideast

Incumbent President Erdogan Pays Homage To Islamist Predecessor At Istanbul's Adnan Menderes Mausoleum

27 May, 2023

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid homage to his executed Islamist predecessor on Saturday in a last-gasp attempt to rally his conservative base on the eve of a historic runoff election.

Erdogan's visit to Istanbul's Adnan Menderes mausoleum took him back to the man he cited when he called early polls for May 14 in a bid to ease his way to an unprecedented third decade of rule.

Erdogan told his followers in January that he wanted to continue Menderes's fight for religious rights and nationalist causes in the officially secular but overwhelmingly Muslim republic of 85 million people.

Source: New Arab

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https://www.newarab.com/news/erdogan-pays-tribute-islamist-predecessor-eve-vote

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Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church head meets Sunni leader

May 27, 2023

Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India, on Saturday called on Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar for a cordial discussion on fostering communal harmony among minority communities and the need to fight against elements that constantly try to create communal tensions. Prominent religious leaders who offered cooperation in sectors covering educational, spiritual and developmental needs of society, asserted that they would come up with initiatives to foster social and communal harmony with the support of parishes and mahallu committees. Both of them expressed concern over increasing attempts to challenge the secular values of the country by circulating unhealthy content on social media. Drug trafficking and drug abuse among youngsters also figured in the discussions. Sunni YuvajanaSanghom State secretary A.P. Abdul HakkimAzhari was also present at the meeting held at Karanthur.

Source: The Hindu

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/malankara-orthodox-syrian-church-head-meets-sunni-leader/article66901461.ece

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Islamic Jihad: Enemy's heinous crimes against Palestinian people will raise cost of account with this entity

26/May/2023

GAZA May 26. 2023 (Saba) - The Palestinian Islamic Jihad has confirmed that the heinous crimes of the Zionist enemy against the Palestinian people will raise the cost of the account with the enemy's entity, soldiers and settlers, and increase the heyday of prolonged resistance to making inevitable victory dates in the courtyards of the holy Al-Aqsa mosque.

In a press release carried by Palestine Today news agency on Friday, the movement called on the Palestinian people and martyred nation Alaa Khalil Qaysiya (28) from the town of Dahiriyah, who was shot by enemy soldiers near the settlement of "TanaUmrim" south of al-Khalil this morning.

In its statement, the movement extended condolences to the martyr's family and the entire population of Khalil al-Rahman.

Source: Saba.Ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3242745.htm

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New Anti-Israel Axis Pushes Netanyahu to ‘Brink’ of War

Mel Frykberg

May 28, 2023

Israel fears that a growing anti-Israel alliance in the Middle East is now strong enough to spark an outbreak of war in the region.

Recent months have seen strengthening alliances and unprecedented coordination between Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Iran and Syria while Benjamin Netanyahu’s chaotic right-wing coalition struggles to maintain its authority in Israel.

The possibility of a localized war has been exacerbated by recent cross-border clashes between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian military groups in Gaza and in Lebanon as well as clashes with Hezbollah and Iranian proxies across multiple borders.

The Israeli military believes that a surge in low-level attacks in response to Israel’s treatment of Muslims and their holy sites demonstrates increasing unity between a range of militant groups. Last month’s rocket attacks launched at Israel by Hamas from southern Lebanon reportedly took place while the commander of Iran’s Quds Force hosted senior officials from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah at Iran’s embassy in Beirut.

Source: News.Yahoo.

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https://news.yahoo.com/anti-israel-axis-pushes-netanyahu-035909395.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEEgZw8AdFL1RHuo80i9blARhntkd2RdmRC-tArz8oE12JhPIw5hyKjodQSao_8JNgqBV0GxVma6I6IkdlOT_n9UyXF4vWDpD2zDoxJlsmJspGFmXma0gay8zr_jLGDqZtZhVo85yQX0PoQRpw4N6iO1boa6aCFkGeyyCCPEQUMZ

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Iran exchanges heavy gunfire with Taliban on Afghan border, escalating tensions over water rights

By JON GAMBRELL

27-05-2023

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Taliban and Iran exchanged heavy gunfire Saturday on the Islamic Republic’s border with Afghanistan, killing and wounding troops while sharply escalating rising tensions between the two countries amid a dispute over water rights.

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted the country’s deputy police chief, Gen. Qassem Rezaei, accusing the Taliban of opening fire first Saturday morning on the border of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province and the Afghan province of Nimroz. IRNA said Iran inflicted “heavy casualties and serious damage.”

From the Taliban’s view, Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul NafiTakor accused Iran of shooting first. Takor said the firefight killed two people, one from each country, and wounded others. He described the situation as now being under control.

Source: Apnews.Com

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https://apnews.com/article/iran-afghanistan-clash-water-rights-48324a0cdc9158713a39edae7460cd5e

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Iran dismisses Ukrainian Prez's 'drone supply' claims as 'baseless'

2023-05-28

Tehran, May 28 (IANS) The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected as "baseless" the Ukrainian President's claims about Iran supplying Russia with drones for use against Ukraine.

Nasser Kanaani made the remarks in a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website, in response to a recent call by Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky on Tehran to stop "its supply of combat drones to Russia", Xinhua news agency reported.

Kanaani reiterated Iran's opposition to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and is very sorry about the Ukrainian people's pain and suffering, adding Iran stays ready to provide assistance to the finding of a political solution to end the crisis at the earliest possible time.

Source: In.Investing

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https://in.investing.com/news/iran-dismisses-ukrainian-prezs-drone-supply-claims-as-baseless-3662342

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Southeast Asia

Kuala Lumpur proposes bill to increase powers of Islamic courts

05/27/2023

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) - A recent proposal by Malaysia's prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, regarding an amendment that would increase the powers of Islamic courts has generated several criticisms. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), part of the ruling coalition, has raised concerns that even non-Muslims could be tried by shari'a courts, also known as the syariah court system, using the Malaysian spelling.

Commentators say this is an attempt by the executive to move closer to the PerikatanNasional (PN) opposition dominated by the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) party ahead of local elections scheduled for July. The bill proposes to increase the maximum sentencing limits for criminal offenses tried by syariah courts to 30 years in prison, a fine of 100 thousand rupees (1,130 euros) and 100 strokes of the cane. The current limits are three years in prison, a fine of 5 thousand rupees (57 euros) and six strokes.

The current Minister for Religious Affairs announced on May 25 that the amendment known in Malaysia as RUU355 would be submitted to Parliament once the government's approval was obtained, but he did not specify the timeline for it, while the following day PAS Vice President Idris Ahmad, Minister for Religious Affairs from August 2021 to November last year, said the previous cabinet had already given the go-ahead for the bill to be submitted to Parliament.

Source: Asia News

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https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Kuala-Lumpur-proposes-bill-to-increase-powers-of-Islamic-courts-58472.html

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Fahmi: Malaysia needs independent, brave media

28 May 2023

IPOH, May 28 — Malaysia not only needs an independent media but one that is also brave enough to speak without fear and favour, said Communications and Digital Minister FahmiFadzil.

Fahmi said such media is needed not only in terms of checks and balances but also to make sure that the voices heard will be recorded and reported.

"Malaysia is ranked 73rd in the World Press Freedom Index 2023, as released by Reporters Without Borders, the highest Malaysia achieved in many years. But this position should not be taken for granted; there’s a lot of work to be done.

“So, I hope these few days, friends of media will be able to think, through conversations, discussions that not only will help broaden our horizons but also carry on with investigation on what we need to do for the sake and future of this industry,” Fahmi said in his opening remarks at the Hawana 2023 Media Forum here today.

Source: Malay Mail

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/28/fahmi-malaysia-needs-independent-brave-media/71324

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Discard culture of favouring merely the govt and ignoring the opposition, PM tells local media

By John Bunyan

28 May 2023

IPOH, May 28 — At the summit of National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2023, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminded media practitioners to get rid of their culture of writing in favour of the government of the day and neglecting the Opposition’s view.

“Due to the changes of time and political climate, the government have made a clear stand that the media in the country will have total freedom when it comes to writing, which also includes the Opposition’s view.

“Criticism against the government, which includes the prime minister and other ministers, should be allowed without fear. And if there is weakness among the ministers, they should be ready to apologies and rectify it,” he said in his speech at the Casuarina Convention Centre here.

Source: Malay Mail

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/05/28/discard-culture-of-favouring-merely-the-govt-and-ignoring-the-opposition-pm-tells-local-media/71362

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Europe

Russia: Only 10 Percent Of Population Actively Religious Divided Equally Among Orthodox Christians, Muslims, And Protestants – OpEd

Paul Goble

May 28, 2023 

Only 10 percent of the population of Russia today is actively religious, with that small fraction divided equally among Orthodox Christians, Muslims and Protestants, Nikolay Mitrokhin says. The remainder are indifferent or even increasingly hostile to religion, a trend that will increasingly set the weather in that country.

“Today,” the specialist on religion in Russia who teaches at the University of Bremen says, “there is a decline in institutional religiosity on all fronts. That is the number of people involved is not growing but rapidly falling,” a pattern that will only accelerate as urbanization proceeds (polit.ru/article/2023/05/23/mitrohin/).

That trend, Mitrokhin continues, is somewhat hidden by polls showing the same high levels of attachment to Orthodoxy as in the past. But those polls reflect the fact that people give the answers they think the authorities want; and the Putin regime wants people to identify as Orthodox because that means for it that they are attached to the traditional values it favors.

Source: Eurasiare View

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https://www.eurasiareview.com/28052023-russia-only-10-percent-of-population-actively-religious-divided-equally-among-orthodox-christians-muslims-and-protestants-oped/

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Hate crime probe urged in North Carolina mosque threat

27 May, 2023

Brooke Anderson

Rights advocates are urging for a hate crime probe following a threatening phone call to a US mosque this week.

On Tuesday, a mosque in North Carolina received a phone call in which the caller promised a 9/11-style attack.

“I’ll blow you worse than 9/11,” said the caller in part of the recorded call that was shared with local media. The rest of the call is filled with anti-Muslim and anti-Arab remarks.

Source: New Arab

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

https://www.newarab.com/news/hate-crime-probe-urged-north-carolina-mosque-threat

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Major Shia mosque shuts down after Charity Commission appoints non-Muslim manager

By 5Pillars (RMS)

26th May 2023

The Islamic Centre of England in London, one of Britain’s biggest Shia mosques, has shut its doors after the Charity Commission appointed a non-Muslim interim manager. 

The Maida Vale centre – which is affiliated to Iran – has been under investigation by the Charity Commission since a vigil for assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was held there in 2020.

On Wednesday a banner on the door of the centre read: “After receiving the concerns of the community and for their safety, we are saddened to inform you that all upcoming programs, including prayers, have been suspended until further notice.”

Source: 5pillarsuk

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https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/05/26/major-shia-mosque-shuts-down-after-charity-commission-appoints-non-muslim-manager/

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Humza Yousaf accuses UK Government of trying to ‘scupper’ deposit return scheme

By Katrine Bussey

28-05-2023

Scotland’s First Minister has accused the UK Government of trying to “scupper” the deposit return scheme, as the war of words between Westminster and Holyrood about the environmental initiative intensifies.

Lorna Slater, the Scottish Government minister responsible for implementing the scheme, told the UK Government on Saturday the move to allow it only if glass bottles were removed from its remit will “present a severe challenge to the viability” of the scheme north of the border.

And First Minister Humza Yousaf said the UK Government was “not just trying to scupper the deposit return scheme (DRS), which is clearly what they are trying to do, they’re trying to undermine devolution time and time again”.

He and Scottish Green government minister Ms Slater both hit out after the UK Government declared that in order for it to allow DRS in Scotland to proceed, the scheme – which now has a start date of March 2024 – could only include PET plastic bottles and aluminium and steel cans.

Source: Standard.Co.Uk

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https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/uk-government-scottish-government-humza-yousaf-drs-westminster-b1084167.html

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British premier to urge supermarkets to place price limits on basic foods

AysuBicer

28.05.2023

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is planning to request retailers to implement price caps on essential food items, such as bread and milk, aiming to address the mounting cost of living.

According to the Telegraph, Downing Street is currently developing strategies to tackle inflation, with a team of aides working under Sunak initiating negotiations with supermarkets, drawing inspiration from a similar arrangement observed in France.

"Food inflation is much more resilient and difficult to get rid of than we anticipated," said the newspaper, citing a Treasury source.

Source: Www.Aa.Com.Tr

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

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/british-premier-to-urge-supermarkets-to-place-price-limits-on-basic-foods/2907504

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