Muslim Bodies Welcome Kerala Government Move to Drop Gender-Neutral Uniform
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 August 2022
Photo: The News Minurte
-----
• Zakir Naik’s Speech on Chinese, Indians Received
‘Stinging Reception’, Court Told
• Saudi Cinema Revenue Rose by 2,605 percent since Theatres
Opened: Report
• Taliban Say Body of Al-Qaeda Leader, Ayman
Al-Zawahiri, Not Found
• Libya's representative to the UN Discusses With His
Chinese Counterpart Libyan Political Developments
India
• Voices From Within Gujarat: Group Of Artists And Writers
Describe The Remission Of The Sentences By The Gujarat Government As An
“Outright Act Of Bad Faith”
• Bilkis Bano Case: SC Issues Notice to Gujarat Govt,
Centre
• Prophet Remarks: Three Non-Muslim Protestors
Detained In Old City
• Prophet Row: Hyderabad Cops Arrest Youth from Homes after
Protests Intensify
• Temple Purified in Bihar’s Gaya after Muslim
Minister Entered into It with CM Nitish Kumar
• Complaint Filed In Bihar Court against Muslim Minister
for Visiting Temple
• Gyanvapi was never a mosque, stands on temple ruins:
Plaintiffs
• Family Court Can’t Restrain a Muslim Man from
Pronouncing Talaq: Kerala HC
• Court reserves Gyanvapi mosque order till September
12
--------
Southeast
Asia
• Cancel International Concerts They Encourage
Hedonism and Are Incompatible with Values of Muslim Life in Malaysia Or We Will
Protest, Says PAS Youth
• Sharia financial products can reduce MSME investment
risk: minister
• Non-Muslims the root of corruption? Is this
‘Keluarga’ Malaysia?
• Singapore’s LGBTQ buyers face a higher housing
hurdle
• Indonesia Considers Objection to Bali Bomber’s Early
Release
--------
Arab
World
• Back to School: Saudi Arabia Allows Children of
Undocumented Residents to Enrol
• Iraq Forces Bomb Islamic State Hideouts in Anbar
Province
• US service member wounded in new Syria attack:
Military
• Lebanon investigates recorded death threats against
Saudi embassy
• Saudi Arabia to approve visas for World Cup Qatar
ticketholders: Ministry
• Saudi King grants order of merit to recognize 200 organ
donor citizens
• Three American forces injured in rocket attack on
US-occupied bases in Syria
• Defence ministry: Russian jets bomb terrorist
positions in Syria’s militant-held Idlib region
--------
South
Asia
• Taliban Kills Two Robbers in Northern Afghanistan
• Bloodshed, Curbs on Civil Rights Show Taliban's
Afghanistan Will Remain Unstable
--------
Africa
• First US envoy to Sudan in 25 years arrives in
Khartoum
• Over 2,000 Tunisian minors reach Italy in 2022:
Rights group
• Visiting Macron may find Algeria's leaders hard to
woo
• UN chief calls for immediate cessation of
hostilities in Ethiopia
• Tunisia says committed by Arab boycott of Israel
--------
Mideast
• Hezbollah Leader Nasrallah Meets With Palestinian
Islamic Jihad
• Hamas Rages at Spanish Tourist Who Posed In
‘Immodest’ Clothes at Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Islamic Jihad holds Gaza rocket parade in defiant
display after recent flare-up
• Iran tests drones amid US concern of possible supply
to Russia
• Palestinian hunger striker held by Israel could die
at any moment: Lawyer
• Israel’s former PM Netanyahu criticizes US, Biden
administration over Iran deal
• Iran says it will only allow inspections agreed in
2015 nuclear deal
• Israeli forces arrest 13 Palestinians during raids
in West Bank, al-Quds
--------
North
America
• Biden Orders Strikes against ‘Iran-Backed Militias’
In Syria
• US has responded to Iran comments on nuclear deal
proposal: State Department
• US promises expanded visa services in Turkey after
Ankara criticism
• US urges permanent end to conflict in Ethiopia amid
renewed violence
• US threatens NATO member Turkey with sanctions over
ties with Russia
--------
Europe
• Ukraine War Chance For Faster Green Transition But
Need Saudi Arabia: Albania PM
• NATO important platform to boost ties with Türkiye:
North Macedonia's top diplomat
• Türkiye says 2 more grain ships leave Ukraine
• US warns of sanctions against Turkey over Russia
ties
--------
Pakistan
• Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Challenges PEMRA Decision
to Ban Live Speeches Of Former PM Imran Khan
• Pakistan Urges World to Take Cognisance of Growing
Islamophobia In India
• Pakistan condemns sacrilegious remarks by another
BJP official
• Supreme Court sets aside objections to PTI pleas on
voting rights
• Doha declares intent to invest $3bn in Pakistan
• Pakistan rejects India's closure of missile firing
incident into its territory
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/muslim-bodies-kerala-gender-neutral-uniform/d/127797
--------
Muslim Bodies Welcome Kerala Government Move to Drop
Gender-Neutral Uniform
Photo: The News Minurte
-----
AUGUST 24, 2022
Samastha to go ahead with sensitisation drive
The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the biggest
Muslim organisation in Kerala, on Wednesday welcomed the State government’s
decision to withdraw from the move to impose ‘gender neutrality’ in classrooms.
Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama State president Syed
Jifri Muthukoya Thangal said it was good that the government would not impose
gender-neutral uniform and seating positions on school campuses.
The Samastha had planned to launch an awareness
campaign through Juma masjids under it against the government’s gender-neutral
uniform move. Mr. Thangal said the Samastha would go ahead with its
sensitisation programme. “We do not want the community to deviate from a value
system it follows,” he said.
The Kerala Muslim Jamaath (KMJ) headed by Kanthapuram
A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar too welcomed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s
statement that the government would not impose gender-neutral uniform in
schools.
“Gender-neutral ideology is unacceptable. What we want
is gender justice,” said Mr. Musliyar, appreciating the government for heeding
the concerns raised by the Muslim community.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) reiterated here
on Wednesday that the gender-neutrality controversy was created “deliberately”
by the government to divert attention from some major issues facing the State.
IUML State general secretary P.M.A. Salam said the
government should first ensure that there are facilities for the students to
pursue higher education before talking about where they should sit.
“Thousands of children who passed SSLC are facing a
bleak future because of a severe seat shortage for higher secondary studies in
Malabar, particularly Malappuram district. Let the government first provide
enough seats for our students, we can later talk about where they should sit
and what they should wear,” said Mr. Salam.
He said the government had tried to unnecessarily
create a controversy by trying to portray itself as “too liberal”. “Most people
in our country are religious and they have a value system. By trying to impose
a westernised culture in the name of gender neutrality, the government was
offending a lot of people. It was a ploy to divert people’s attention from some
serious issues,” he said.
Source: The Hindu
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
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Zakir
Naik’s Speech On Chinese, Indians Received ‘Stinging Reception’, Court Told
In
October and December 2019, Islamic preacher Zakir Naik filed two separate suits
alleging that Penang deputy chief minister II, P Ramasamy, had issued five
statements against him.
-----
V
Anbalagan
August
24, 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik received a stinging reception
following a speech he gave in Kota Bharu three years ago, the High Court heard
today.
Penang
deputy chief minister II, P Ramasamy, said Naik’s comments provoked a strong
and critical response from a large section of Malaysians.
“They
continue to call for his deportation from Malaysia and to be banned from
speaking publicly,” Ramasamy said in response to defamation suits filed by
Naik, who is now a permanent resident here.
He
said Naik’s comments on the Malaysian Chinese were widely covered and condemned
by many quarters, including the media.
“The
Star ran an article on Aug 14, 2019 with the headline ‘Zakir Naik plays
pendatang card, says Chinese should go back before he does’,” Ramasamy added.
He
said in labelling the Malaysian Chinese as “guests” and calling on them to “go
back”, Naik considered them a “pendatang” community, a term which carried an
underlying derogatory tone.
“Labelling
another race in Malaysia, whether it be the Malays, Chinese or Indians, as
‘pendatang’ is taboo and is destructive and divisive.
“It
also unfairly questions another rightful Malaysian citizen’s citizenship and
loyalty,” he added.
Naik
is also alleged to have said that Malaysian Hindus “support the prime minister
of India but not the prime minister of Malaysia” and that they were “more
Indian than Malaysian themselves”.
Ramasamy,
in his defence, said such remarks by Naik had denigrated Malaysian Hindus and
given the impression that they were disloyal Malaysian citizens, and that they
were more loyal to the Indian national flag than the Jalur Gemilang.
Ramasamy
said FMT, on Aug 11, 2019, had published his article “Naik should not question
loyalty of Hindus in Malaysia” in response to the Kota Bharu speech.
“In
this article, I said, among others, that Naik was wanted by the Indian
authorities for money laundering and terrorism-related charges in India.
“I
also expressed my disapproval of Naik’s concept of comparative religion as it
involves belittling faiths other than Islam, and rebuked Naik’s comment on
Malaysian Hindus and Indians,” he said.
Ramasamy
is relying on the defence of justification, fair comment and qualified
privilege to defeat Naik’s suits.
In
October and December 2019, Naik filed two separate suits alleging that Ramasamy
had issued five statements against him.
One
of these is that Ramasamy had “manipulated” the Kota Bharu speech he had made
at an event organised by the Kelantan government, which was also published by
FMT.
Hearing
before judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz continues.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
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Saudi
Cinema Revenue Rose by 2,605 percent since Theatres Opened: Report
The
first edition of the Red Sea Film Festival marked a major turning point in
Saudi cinema, drawing local talent and film stars from around the world. (Red
Sea Film Festival)
-----
24 August,
2022
Annual
cinema ticket sales in Saudi Arabia have risen 2,605 percent since the first
year that theaters were opened in the country, a report from the Ministry of
Culture said.
Moviegoers
spent $54.8 million (206.2 million riyals) at the cinema in 2021, compared to
$2 million (7.6 million riyals) in 2018, according to the recent ‘Report on the
State of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2021.’
Public
movie screenings were traditionally banned in the Kingdom due to pressure from
religious conservatives.
The
first public film screening in decades was held in April 2018 when Marvel’s
Black Panther was shown at a new AMC theater in Riyadh.
It
was one of many social reforms brought about under the Vision 2030 plan
initiated in 2017.
New
cinemas are now popping up across the Kingdom. Eleven new theaters were built
between 2020 and 2021, bringing the estimated total to 54, the ministry said.
A
number of government initiatives have been introduced in order to encourage the
growth of the industry locally.
One
example is the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, launched in 2019, which
highlights the work of Saudi filmmakers alongside international artists.
The
festival also runs programs designed to encourage local talent – namely Cinema
al-Hara – which involves masterclasses and outdoor screenings open to the
public.
On
the fourth anniversary of the cinema ban being lifted, the Saudi Press Agency
(SPA) announced that more than 30 million tickets had been sold.
Cinemas
also provide jobs for more than 4,400 young Saudis, SPA said.
Saudi
Arabia, along with China, is one of the few countries around the world that is
seeing positive growth in cinema revenue, as consumers continue to shift away
from the theaters towards streaming services.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Taliban
Say Body of Al-Qaeda Leader, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Not Found
Al
Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri.(AFP file photo)
----
Reuters,
Aug 25, 2022
Kabul:
The Taliban have not found the body of Ayman al-Zawahiri and are continuing
investigations, group spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday, after
the United States said they killed the al Qaeda leader in an airstrike in Kabul
last month. Also read | Top Taliban leaders meet to deliberate on US claims of
killing Al Qaeda chief
The
United States killed Zawahiri with a missile fired from a drone while he stood
on a balcony at his hideout in July, US officials said, in the biggest blow to
al Qaeda since US Navy SEALS shot dead Osama bin Laden more than a decade ago.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Libya's
representative to the UN Discusses With His Chinese Counterpart Libyan
Political Developments
Libya's
representative to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, has met with his Chinese
counterpart, Zhang Jun
----
August
24, 2022
Libya's
representative to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, has met with his Chinese
counterpart, Zhang Jun, to exchange views on the developments of the situation
in Libya and the challenges facing the political process.
“I
shared our support to China role during its presidency of the Security Council
this month. China reassured it’s position in support of a Libyan led owned
solution”, Al-Sunni tweeted.
Earlier,
Al-Sunni indicated that Libya objected to the nomination of Bathily for the
position of the UN envoy, not because of his person, but because Libya deserves
a person with more capacity.
Source:
Libya Observer
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
India
Voices
From Within Gujarat: Group Of Artists And Writers Describe The Remission Of The
Sentences By The Gujarat Government As An “Outright Act Of Bad Faith”
Gujarat
voices slam remission of Bilkis convicts
25.08.22
Voices
have risen from within Gujarat, too, against the state government’s decision to
release the convicted rapists and murderers in the Bilkis Bano case.
A
group of artists and writers on Wednesday described the remission of the
sentences by the Gujarat government as an “outright act of bad faith” and
questioned the authorities’ silence.
In
an appeal, they urged the State and its structures to “immediately take all
such measures as are required to not only restore the citizens’ faith in
democratic justice but in humanity, truth and civilisation”.
The
122 signatories include several from Gujarat and Maharashtra. Among them are
poet and artist Prabodh Parikh, poet and filmmaker Mehul Devkala, artist Atul
Dodiya, poet and editor Kamal Vora, author Himanshi Shelat, theatre director
and actor Manoj Shah, screenwriter Naushil Mehta and poet and novelist Kanji
Patel.
Poet
K. Satchidanandan, poet and writer Rukhmini Bhaya Nayar, poet and novelist Jeet
Thayil and writer and filmmaker Ruchir Joshi have also signed the appeal.
The
signatories to the joint appeal added: “If the visuals of public feting of the
released convicts and litany of Brahminical sanskars by a member of the
committee which recommended the remission are not gross enough, the silence of
the state, administrative structures and public institutions which should swing
into action for revoking and reviewing this decision certainly is.”
A
BJP lawmaker, C.K. Raulji, who had been on the government panel that
recommended the convicts’ release, had been quoted as saying the 11 were
“Brahmins and Brahmins are known to have good sanskar”. He later said his
statement had been misconstrued and that “rapists have nothing to do with
castes”.
The
letter underscored the irony in Gujarat’s BJP government releasing the 11
convicts under the state’s remission policy on a day Prime Minister Narendra
Modi underscored the importance of safeguarding women’s rights and dignity in
his Independence Day speech.
“In
fact, it impresses the pitfalls of and problems in the discriminatory and
arbitrary use of executive power on the popular psyche,” the letter said.
Referring
to the question whether due process had been followed in releasing the
convicts, the letter underlined that “forgiveness can be granted only by the
victim of oppression and violence”.
It
added that Bilkis Bano had been kept in the dark by the institutions and
structures involved in considering the possibility of remission.
“The
release of the convicts doesn’t appear to be an act of mercy or an opportunity
accorded for reformation, but an outright act of bad faith,” it said.
Source:
Telegraph India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Bilkis
Bano Case: SC Issues Notice To Gujarat Govt, Centre
Aug
25, 2022
NEW
DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Gujarat government
and Centre on grant of remission of sentence to 11 lifers who were convicted
for multiple murders and gang-raping pregnant Bilkis Bano during the 2002
post-Godhra riots.
Eleven
convicts, sentenced to life imprisonment, were released from Godhra sub-jail on
August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its
remission policy. The convicts had completed more than 15 years in jail.
A
special CBI court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 to life
imprisonment on charges of gangrape and murder. Their conviction was later
upheld by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court
Bilkis
Bano was gangraped in Gujarat's Randhikpur village and seven members of her
family, including her three-year-old daughter, killed on March 3, 2002 in the
Gujarat riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning. She was 21 year
old and five months pregnant at the time.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Prophet
remarks: Three Non-Muslim protestors detained in old city
SM
Bilal
25th
August 2022
Hyderabad:
The detention of three non-Muslims protestors by the police in Shalibanda area
has raised a suspicion about the alleged involvement of the non-elements in the
ongoing protests against the offensive remarks against Prophet.
The
police in the old city on Wednesday night resorted to randomly picking off many
youths allegedly involved in the flash protests and also in the stone pelting
incidents. During the crackdown on the youths, the police incidentally caught
three non-Muslim youths from the spot upon which they were whisked away to
another location.
The
suspects have been identified as A Lingam,N Shekar and G Siddu all residents of
Shamshabad.
According
to the sources, late Wednesday night there were fresh incidents of protests
along with the stone pelting,meanwhile few Muslim youths have identifed the
non-Muslims allegedly indulging in the violence upon which they were caught and
immediately handed over to the police.
“We
are trying to extract details from three persons who were detained on the point
of suspicion from the protest site, the police are interrogating them to
ascertain their involvement in the stone pelting incidents” said an police
official posted at Shahalibanda.
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/prophet-remarks-three-non-muslim-protestors-detained-in-old-city-2397655/
--------
Prophet
Row: Hyderabad Cops Arrest Youth from Homes after Protests Intensify
Mir
Alamgir
25th
August 2022
Hyderabad:
The city police on Wednesday night barged into several homes and dragged out
Muslim youth in and around Shalibanda on as protests against suspended BJP MLA
swelled over his derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad. The peaceful
atmosphere that prevailed earlier in the day came to an end as over 50 people
protesting against Raja Singh were taken into custody.
Heavy
stone pelting was also reported near Asha Talkies at Shalibanda in the night
around 9 pm by protestors, who came out in large numbers at Shalibanda which
has become the hub of protests. The protestors, who were unwilling to listen to
the police, tried to reach Shalibanda from anywhere they could. The police also
resorted to lathi charge on protestors at Charminar as well.
The
angry youth at Shalibanda were demanding the arrest of Raja Singh after he passed
derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad in a video released on August 22.
Some of the Muslim youth who were arrested also said that the police barged
into their home and picked them up in spite of them not being a part of the
protests. Local AIMIM corporate Muzaffar rushed to the spot soon after this was
reported.
On
Wednesday night, the Hyderabad police first detained a few dozen protestors
first around 7:30 – 8 pm. Following that, a few hundred then turned up to
protest demanding the release of those who were picked up. Soon, the police
also was losing patience as the protest grew, and the cops resorted to lathi
charge. It was then followed by heavy stone pelting by protestors.
In
spite of several warnings by the Hyderabad police to stay indoors, angry Muslim
youth have been out on the streets protesting against Raja Singh. The suspended
BJP MLA was arrested on August 23 after his remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
However, he received bail the same day, which enraged many.
On
Wednesday, the Hyderabad police shut all shops and establishments in the Old
City before 8 pm. Owners of establishments have been told that the process to
down shutters will begin from 7 pm for the next few days at least. Protests
against remarks on Prophet Muhammad are likely to continue till Raja Singh is
arrested.
All
shows shut by 8 pm in Old City
A
day after violent protests broke out on Tuesday (August 23) following the
arrest and subsequent release of T Raja Singh, the police on Wednesday night
shut all shops and establishments in the Old City. Owners of establishments
have been told that the process to down shutters will begin from 7 pm for the
next few days at least.
The
Hyderabad police’s move in anticipation of protests taking an ugly turn in the
Muslim-dominated areas after Raja Singh made controversial remarks against the
Prophet Muhammad. Further, patrolling at petrol bunks in the Old City will take
place. Fuel stations were also made to shut down on Tuesday as well.
Raja
Singh has been booked under sections like 153-A, 188, 295-A, 298, 505(1)(B)(C),
505(2), 506, 504, etc of the IPC in eight different cases. His statements on
Prophet Muhammad were similar to what suspended BJP spokesperson also said.
Sequence
of events
Raja
Singh’s derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad were posted in a Youtube
video on the night of August 22. It has been taken down since. Raja Singh
posted it in retaliation to the Telangana government allowing comedia Munawar
Faruqui perform in Hyderabad on August 20. He had threatened to disrupt the
show, but was prevented from doing so by the police.
Raja
Singh then took to Youtube, and posted his own video made derogatory statements
on Prophet Muhammad , which he called a “comedy”. Protests erupted the same day
around midnight and continued on August 23 following which the BJP MLA was
arrested. The situation got worse in the night when scores of protestors
remained on the roads. The remained tense on Wednesday as well.
What
Raja Singh said
The
suspended BJP MLA passed several derogatory comments against Muslims and
Prophet Muhammad in a Youtube video. He was essentially unwilling to let go of
the fact that standup comic Munawar Faruqui was allowed to hold a show in the
city last week.
Protests
began on the night of August 22 itself, with angry youth demanding his arrest
outside city police commissioner CV Anand’s office. It continued on Tuesday and
intensified after he was released on bail. BJP chief spokesperson for Telangana
Krishna Saagar Rao told Siasat.com that his party respects all religions and
faiths. “We are a national party and we don’t support the statements of Raja
Singh or hate speech,” he stated clarifying that the BJP does not support
Singh’s remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
Source:
Siasat Daily
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Temple
purified in Bihar’s Gaya after Muslim Minister entered into it with CM Nitish
Kumar
Amarnath
Tewary
AUGUST
25, 2022
The
temple committee also demanded Minister Mohd. Israil Mansuri’s removal from
Bihar Cabinet for entering into garbh-grih (sanctum sanctorum) of the famous
Vishnupad temple along with CM Nitish Kumar
Purification
prayer of the famous Vishnupad temple of Gaya in Bihar was done with all
prayers and rituals on August 24 after Minister from the minority community
entered into its sanctum sanctorum along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on
August 22 to offer prayers.
The
temple committee washed the temple premises and also demanded removal of the
Minister from Mr. Kumar’s Cabinet. The State BJP leaders, earlier, had demanded
‘public apology’ from the Chief Minister for taking a non-Hindu inside the
temple garbh-grih (sanctum sanctorum).
Entry
of non-Hindus is strictly prohibited inside the world famous Vishnupad temple
where people visit for prayer after offering pind dan of their ancestors on the
bank of river Falgu. The code is written in bold fonts on the wall of the
temple.
“There
was lot of resentment among panda samaj (priest community) here after visit of
a Minister from non-Hindu community along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The
purification of the temple has been done with all rituals and prayers, while
washing of the premises with water”, said chairman of the temple management
committee Shambhulal Vitthal. He also demanded dismissal of the Minister from
his post.
As
many as 20-21 pandas (priests) were present and participated in the
purification prayer, he added.
Earlier
on August 22, Bihar’s Information and Technology Minister Mohd. Israil Mansuri
had entered into sanctum sanctorum of famous Vishnupad temple along with Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar, who was on a visit to Gaya to see preparation of annual
pitrapaksha mela (fair for ancestral well-being).
The
Minister who was recently made as party’s (JD-U) in-charge of the district,
accompanied Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple
and offered prayer.
“It
was just a coincidence that I got opportunity to enter into the Vishnupad
temple along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but I’m honoured to get inside
the temple”, said the Minister after his visit to the temple.
“Since
Mr. Mansuri had become the Minister for the first time, no one recognised him
when he entered into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple”, said Mr. Vitthal,
adding, “it has happened for the first time that a non-Hindu entered into the
temple”.
Later,
State BJP leaders sparked row over the Minister’s visit to the Vishnupad temple
and demanded “public apology” from the Chief Minister.
“We
demand a public apology from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for taking Mohd.
Israil Mansuri into the Vishnupad temple where entry of non-Hindus is
prohibited. Can he (Mr. Kumar) think of setting his foot inside Mecca? If the
Chief Minister refuses to apologise, he should be ready for protests from BJP
workers everywhere, including the State Aassembly”, said State BJP president
Sanjay Jaiswal.
Other
BJP leader and party MLA Haribhushan Thakur too questioned Minister Mohd.
Israil Mansuri’s entry into the Vishnupad temple of Gaya. “When it is written
on the wall of the temple that entry of non-Hindus is prohibited how the Chief
Minister could take his Minister from other religious community there? It has
hurt the sentiments of Hindus”, said Mr. Thakur.
Source:
The Hindu
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Complaint
filed in Bihar court against Muslim minister for visiting temple
25th
August 2022
MUZAFFARPUR:
A complaint petition was filed in a court in Bihar's Muzaffarpur against
Information Technology Minister Mohammad Israel Mansuri for visiting the
Vishnupad temple in Gaya.
Muzaffarpur-based
social activist Chandra Kishore Parashar filed the petition seeking the
registration of an FIR against the minister for "hurting religious
sentiment of Hindus".
"My
client, in his complaint, said that the minister, being a Muslim, should not
have visited the Vishnupad temple as only those who follow the Sanatana Dharma
are allowed to visit it.
The
court will hear the matter on September 2," Parashar's lawyer Ravindra
Kumar Singh said here on Wednesday.
Mansuri,
a Pasmanda Muslim, had accompanied Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his tour of
Gaya earlier this week during which they offered prayers at the Vishnupad
temple.
BJP
leaders had fulminated, citing a notice board on the temple premises that says
"only followers of Sanatana Dharma" are allowed to enter.
Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar expressed dismay over the controversy around Mansuri's
visit to the temple and blamed the controversy on the "divisive"
politics of the BJP, his former ally.
"What
is their grouse? Have their ministers not visited temples along with me?"
asked the de facto JD(U) leader while talking to reporters on Wednesday.
Source:
New Indian Express
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Gyanvapi
was never a mosque, stands on temple ruins: Plaintiffs
Aug
25, 2022
VARANASI:
Challenging the claim of the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid that Gyanvapi Mosque was
a waqf property, the lawyers of five women plaintiffs claimed that Gyanvapi was
never a mosque and was standing on the ruins of a temple. Hearing on
maintainability of the plea filed by five women plaintiffs seeking right to
worship Shringar Gauri and other deities in Gyanvapi Mosque compound concluded
at the court of district judge here on Wednesday. District judge Ajay Krishna
Vishvesha has fixed September 12 as the date for delivering his verdict on the
maintainability of the case.
'AIM's
claim is a fraud & a bid to mislead court'
Giving
this information, district government counsel (civil) Mahendra Prasad Pandey
told TOI that the arguments and counter-arguments by the plaintiffs and AIM on
the issue of maintainability of the case came to an end at 3.15 pm on
Wednesday.
Shamim
Ahmed, senior lawyer of AIM - the Gyanvapi mosque management committee -
started the final round of arguments at the district judge's court at 11.30.
A
member of the AIM advocates' panel, Rayees Ahmed, said, "Today (Wednesday)
we presented our submission on the issues of applicability of the Places of
Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 and contents of the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple Act, 1983."
"We
explained that the KV Temple Act, 1983, contains only the name of Kashi
Vishwanath Temple and not 'old or new' temple. Also, only the property endowed
to KV Temple is mentioned in it and there is no reference to the mosque,"
he said.
Regarding
applicability of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, Rayees
Ahmed said, "We mentioned that in our previous arguments we had proved
that the Gyanvapi mosque, which is also known as the Alamgir mosque, is a waqf
property as per the decision in Deen Mohammad Vs secretary of state case 1936,
high court order of 1945 and gazetting by the then district magistrate in 1944.
We proved that on August 15, 1947 it was a mosque and a waqf property, hence
the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991 applies to it."
After
AIM concluded its submissions, veteran Supreme Court advocate Hari Shankar
Jain, who is contesting the case on behalf of four women plaintiffs - Laxmi
Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak - started the counter- arguments.
"We mentioned that the AIM's claim that Gyanvapi and Alamgir mosques are the
same is a fraud and a bid to mislead the court. Alamgir mosque is separate and
exists at Madhav Bindu, Panchganga Ghat. Gyanvapi has never been a
mosque," he told TOI.
Jain
said, "We submitted in the court that even after the demolition of the
temple by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the Hindus continued worshipping at
Shringar Gauri and other deities in the ruins of Gyanvapi. In fact, Hindus had
been worshipping there on August 15, 1947, and continued the practice till
Gyanvapi was isolated with steel barricading in the name of security by the
Mulayam Singh Yadav government in 1993. Thus, Gyanvapi is not barred under
sections of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991."
Maan
Bahadur Singh, advocate of plaintiff number one, Rakhi Singh, said: "I informed
the court that any property is dedicated for waqf by its owner with pious
purpose and Aurangzeb was not the owner of the property. Gyanvapi is a disputed
structure as it stands over a temple's ruins. Hence, it is not barred under the
Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991."
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Family
court can’t restrain a Muslim man from pronouncing talaq: Kerala HC
25th
August 2022
KOCHI:
The Kerala High Court has observed that family courts cannot restrain a Muslim
man from performing talaq or marrying more than one person in accordance with
the personal law. “The court has no role to restrain or regulate one’s
behaviour or decision in accordance with the personal law guaranteed,” observed
the court.
It
issued an order on a petition filed by a native of Kollam challenging the
decision of the Family Court, Chavara, restraining him from undertaking talaq.
The petitioner has initiated steps to pronounce talaq and pronounced first and
second talaqs.
Before
pronouncing the irrevocable talaq, he has been restrained by an order of
temporary injunction by the family court. The wife also filed an application
restraining him from a second marriage. That also has been allowed. These
decisions were challenged by the petitioner in HC.
Justice
A Muhamed Mustaque observed that if any orders were passed restraining one from
acting in accordance with personal belief and practice, that would amount to
encroaching on his constitutionally protected rights.
It
added that the jurisdiction of the court was limited in these kinds of
processes.The court observed that the aggrieved person could challenge any
action arising out of the exercise of faith and practice if it was not done in
accordance with the personal law, belief, and practice but that stage would
arise only after the performance of the act.
Source:
New Indian Express
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Court
reserves Gyanvapi mosque order till September 12
Aug
25, 2022
The
Varanasi district court on Wednesday reserved its judgment till September 12 on
the plea by Anzuman Intezamia Committee (AIMC) challenging the maintainability
of the Gyanvapi mosque case as both Hindu and Muslim side completed their
arguments in the case.
The
lawyers for AIMC presented their counter- arguments before the court of
district judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha, stating that the mosque in Varanasi is
registered as a Waqf and, therefore, the civil court has no jurisdiction to
hear the case. It is the waqf tribunal alone that has the jurisdiction to hear
the matter, the lawyers said.
Hari
Shanker Jain, another lawyer for the Hindu side, said the Muslim side showed
waqf documents of Alamgir masjid (mosque) and not of Gyanvapi mosque. “The
lawyer for the Muslim side repeated old statements before the court,” Jain
said.
The
advocate representing the Muslim side also told the court that in 1992, after
an agreement between the Uttar Pradesh government and the Waqf Board, a part of
the Gyanvapi complex was converted into a police control room. At the time of
the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, the state government took
some land of the Gyanvapi mosque and provided land at another place in lieu of
it, he said.
“This
proves that the Gyanvapi mosque is a Waqf property,” he told the court.
Yadav
had claimed that the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee told the court that in
1669, Aurangzeb demolished the temple and built a mosque at the site. “Today in
India, when there is the rule of ‘sanatani’ people, the mosques that were built
after demolishing temples should be handed over to the ‘sanatani’ people,” he
said.
Earlier
during the hearing on August 23, the AIMC counsel had also submitted proof of
the Gyanvapi mosque being a Waqf Board registered as number 100 property, in
the court. They also cited orders issued in the years 1944 and 1936 stating
that the site was property of the Waqf Board.
The
case is being heard by the district court following a Supreme Court order.
Earlier, a lower court had ordered a video survey of the complex. The survey
work was completed on May 16 and the report was presented in the court on May
19. The Hindu side claimed in the lower court that a Shivling was found during
the survey in complex, which was contested by the Muslim side.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast
Asia
Cancel
International Concerts They Encourage Hedonism And Are Incompatible With Values
Of Muslim Life In Malaysia Or We Will Protest, Says PAS Youth
August
25, 2022
Petaling
Jaya: PAS Youth has warned of nationwide protests unless scheduled concerts
featuring international artists are cancelled.
Youth
chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari called on the government to cancel such events as he
said they encourage hedonism and were incompatible with the norms and values of
Muslim life in Malaysia.
“I
hope that the government, through the relevant ministers, will consider
cancelling and rescinding the approvals given to such concerts,” he said in a
Facebook post.
“We
will not hesitate to mobilise resistance throughout the country if (this call)
is ignored.
“We
urge NGOs and individuals concerned with this issue to rise together to prevent
the culture of hedonism from creeping and spreading in society.”
Fadhli,
who is also the Pasir Mas MP, made a similar call last Friday, when he warned
against continuously organising concerts and called on Muslims to oppose such
events, which he said would only invite the “wrath of Allah”.
His
posting on Facebook was made in the wake of a concert held by American
singer-songwriter Billie Eilish the night before.
The
Islamic party had previously condemned concerts held in the country by various
international performers.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Sharia
financial products can reduce MSME investment risk: minister
25
August, 2022
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Digital-based Islamic financial products could help reduce the risks
involved in investing in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which
often deter investors, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.
"The
portfolio of Islamic financial products available for MSMEs, including
financing, guarantees, savings, money transfers, and cash management services,
combined with digital technology, has the potential to be a solution for MSME
financing," the minister noted at the 6th Annual Islamic Finance
Conference here on Wednesday.
MSMEs
seeking to obtain sharia financing usually provide all information related to
their business to potential investors so that they can reduce the risk for the
investors in the future.
"Sharia
financing can also be designed not through leverage or loan schemes, but
through equity-based financing, so that risks can be truly structured,"
Finance Minister said.
Furthermore,
large Islamic financial institutions can also provide funds that are much
cheaper, while Islamic microfinance institutions can provide funds directly to
MSMEs through asset-based financing on the basis of takaful (Islamic substitute
to insurance).
"With
this model, Islamic microfinance institutions can have an (important) role not
only in providing financial services, but also in providing technical
(guidance) and coaching as well as overcoming risk problems experienced by
MSMEs and investors," Indrawati informed.
Islamic
social finance that provides cheaper financing to MSMEs could increase the
resilience of MSME actors during a financial crisis.
"With
this digital-based Islamic finance, we can also track the behavior of MSMEs,
the characteristics of their owners, and the development of their assets. This
is all very valuable information so that the high-risk financing model for
MSMEs can be significantly reduced," the minister explained.
The
difficulty MSMEs face in accessing financial services must be resolved because
they contribute up to 60 percent to Indonesia's total gross domestic product
(GDP) and employ as much as 97 percent of the workforce.
Source:
Antara News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Non-Muslims
the root of corruption? Is this ‘Keluarga’ Malaysia?
Shankar
R. Santhiram
August
25, 2022
How
many police reports would have been made nationwide, by all the ultra-patriotic
Bumiputera groups, if a non-Muslim minister, politician or observer made a
public statement that ‘Malay-Muslim-Bumiputeras’ are at the root of all
corruption in Malaysia?
It
is quite plausible that by now, investigations would have been started on the
people making such remarks. And, rightly so.
But
this is exactly what a senior politician and party leader said about
non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras. Yet, there seems to be no investigations
whatsoever.
On
Aug, 20, it was reported in the mass media that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang
wrote on his Facebook page that “…groups who chase illicit gains are the ones
who eventually control the economy. They then damage our politics as they are
the roots for corruption and the majority of them are non-Muslims and
non-Bumiputeras”.
While
there is no doubt that Malaysians of all races have been implicated in
corruption scandals, to single out ‘non-Muslim and non-Bumiputeras’ as the
majority of the culprits, without providing any evidence, is atrocious and more
than damaging to our national unity.
Where
are the investigations on this matter?
With
this statement, the PAS president, who is a senior cog in our current coalition
government, is claiming that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras are not capable of
acting with integrity and therefore cannot be entrusted with leading Malaysia
as a corrupt-free nation.
I
haven’t heard such hogwash and claptrap in a long-time. And, I am not going to
waste my time dissecting his claims or rebutting his nonsensical declaration.
I
am, however, going to say that this is the fundamental problem with present-day
Malaysia.
Shouldn’t
the prime minister or the national unity minister come out immediately and
admonish this senior politician for making such an absurd claim, which is
damaging to Malaysia’s already fragile race relations?
But
to date, it is only civil society movements like Transparency
International-Malaysia and opposition leaders, who have come out to rebuke the
PAS president’s ludicrously racist comment.
Absolutely
nothing has come from our ‘esteemed’ government leaders.
So,
what ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ are we talking about?
It
seems like I have gotten the answer to a question I posed a few weeks ago in
this very column. I asked: “…are all Malaysians equal, or are some Malaysians
more ‘equal’ than others”?
Many
people took umbrage at my column titled ‘Can us ‘pendatang’ be part of
‘Keluarga Malaysia’?’, which was published on July 7 in FMT. Some academic even
wrote a long-winded and convoluted riposte on why my argument was flawed.
But
the fact remains that in our country, for government projects worth millions
and billions, there is a practice of direct negotiations, as seen in the latest
LCS fiasco. Without a transparent tender process, we now witness what has
happened.
Public
funds worth billions have vanished and not a single combat ship is in sight
after a decade.
Is
there any doubt that some members of our ‘keluarga’ get more benefits than
others?
Government-linked
companies or GLCs capture nearly all of our infrastructure and growth-based
projects. We keep appointing politicians to become their chairpersons, and on
top of that, we mainly select politicians of a certain race.
So,
non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras are to blame for this?
The
biggest revelation about the sorry state that we find our blessed Malaysia in,
presents itself when a widely followed and revered politician like the PAS
president makes a claim that non-Muslims are at the root of corruption in
Malaysia, yet the authorities’ clam-up and take ‘no further action’.
Not
a pip-squeak from the government benches.
What
does this mean? Does the government agree that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras
are the root cause of the corruption endemic that has befallen our nation?
Are
they tacitly supportive of this racist and polarising suggestion?
When
the government practices double-standards or ‘dua-darjat’ like this, and then
have the gall to tell all Malaysians that we are part of a family, it really
sounds absurd to us common folks.
Sloganeering
alone doesn’t repair the damage that opportunistic politicians cause when pandering
to their specific audiences and focusing only on their agenda. Real actions
that show that our administration is serious about racial unity is vital for a
real ‘family’.
If
the authorities decide to charge a stand-up comedian in court for uploading
jokes online, alleging he insulted people, shouldn’t politicians also be
charged in court for making remarks that insult ‘all’ non-Muslims and
non-Bumiputeras?
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Singapore’s
LGBTQ buyers face a higher housing hurdle
August
25, 2022
SINGAPORE:
Singapore’s move to bolster rules preventing same-sex marriages could be a
serious blow to the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
community in one of the city-state’s most important wealth and lifestyle areas:
housing.
Around
80% of Singaporeans live in state-subsidised public housing that serves as
their primary asset. Access to new flats is largely set aside for young,
married couples, with grants of as much as S$80,000 (US$57,000).
LGBTQ
applicants – categorized as single buyers – can only enter the market when they
turn 35, with a limited pool of smaller apartments to choose from and lower
government subsidies.
“At
a time when my peers were settling down and building homes, it was very clear
that was out of reach for me,” said Adrianna Tan, a 36-year-old Singaporean
professional now living in San Francisco with her wife. “There’s the assumption
that queer Singaporeans will simply rent or buy private property because
there’s the perception that we are rich.”
In
a speech on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government would
repeal Section 377A of the penal code that criminalises sex between men, but
would also amend the Constitution to protect the legal definition of marriage –
a union between a man and a woman – from being challenged in the courts.
The
move was seen as a compromise between LGBTQ-rights advocates and more
conservative members of Singaporean society, but it frustrated people who had
hoped to see the government go further since Section 377A has gone unenforced
for years.
With
rental and private property prices climbing to records, the move to change the
Constitution could make it even harder for LGBTQ citizens to get equal access
to more affordable homes built by the Housing and Development Board.
Lee
said many national policies rely upon Singapore’s legal definition of marriage,
including public housing, education, adoption rules, advertising standards and
film classification. The government has “no intention” of changing the
definition of marriage or the policies based on it, he said on Sunday.
“Even
though the government repealed Section 377A, it still upholds family-centric
policies,” said Tien Foo Sing, a real estate professor at the National
University of Singapore.
Singapore
is one of Asia’s most expensive property markets, making the availability of
state-subsidized homes the only way to enter the market for most citizens.
Under
its Build-to-Order programme, the HDB assesses applications for ballots of
newly constructed properties to citizens, giving first-time married applicants
with children preferential treatment. The median waiting time for a flat is
between four and five years.
Around
31% of Singapore’s population above the age of 15 were classified as single in
2021, government data show. There are no official numbers on the LGBTQ
community in the city-state.
With
the government offering parenthood incentives to address the nation’s falling birth
rate and housing stock closely aligned with population planning, it’s unlikely
to relax restrictions for single buyers.
Almost
all new HDB flats are on a 99-year lease and buyers are forbidden from
reselling for five years. Larger HDB units in the best neighbourhoods can
resell for more than S$1 million.
By
contrast, private two-bedroom condos in the central part of the city go for
around S$2.5 million, according to listings on property portal 99.co. Singapore
residents earn a median gross monthly income of S$4,680, according to data from
the Ministry of Manpower.
“The
option of private housing is a luxury for most,” said William Tan, a realtor
who specialises in serving LGBTQ clients. “Only those with at least a S$6,000
monthly income can even consider buying a condo and not many people under 35
are there yet.”
Singaporean
Andee Chua, 32, purchased a one-bedroom private condo when he was 29 after
several years of renting with his partner. “The down-payment was difficult. I
used up almost all my savings and my parents had to step in to help.”
The
cost of his apartment was comparable to the five-room HDB resale unit that his
sister, a mother of two, had bought. Chua is considering selling his condo to
purchase a larger HDB flat when he turns 35.
Tan
said few LGBTQ couples bid for BTO flats, given the small size of the units
they can get and the long wait time.
“You
will be 40 when you get your home and 45 if you want to sell it after the
minimum occupancy period,” Tan said. “Profits from the sale will not be enough
to upgrade to something more substantial.”
Married
couples with a head start can typically resell their larger, more valuable HDB
flats for a decent profit in their thirties, he said.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Indonesia
Considers Objection to Bali Bomber’s Early Release
By
Niniek Karmini
August
24, 2022
Indonesia’s
top justice official said Tuesday that authorities were considering an early
release for the bombmaker in the 2002 Bali attack that killed 202 people,
despite upsetting Australia’s leader who described him as “abhorrent.”
Hisyam
bin Alizein, 55, is better known under his alias Umar Patek as a leading member
of the al Qaida-linked Southeast Asian Islamic radical group Jemaah Islamiyah.
Indonesian authorities said Patek was an example of successful efforts to
reform convicted terrorists and they will use him to influence others to not
carry out terrorism.
Indonesia’s
Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly said Patek has fulfilled all
requirements for parole as recommended by Indonesia’s counterterrorism agency
known as BNPT. But his ministry received an objection, though he did not
specify who raised it.
“In
terms of his participation in the deradicalization program, he has been loyal
to the Republic of Indonesia for a long time, but we are still considering
inputs from many elements,” Laoly said. “We still need one more letter, apart
from BNPT.”
Patek
received a total of 33 months of sentence reductions, which are often granted
to prisoners on major holidays, such as his five-month reduction granted in
August for Indonesian Independence Day.
Patek
was found guilty by the West Jakarta District Court of helping build the
massive car bomb used in the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub attacks that killed 202
people — mostly foreign tourists — including 88 Australians, leaving a deep
scar in that country.
Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Patek as “abhorrent” and said his
early release will cause further distress to Australians who were directly
affected by the Bali bombings.
“His
actions were the actions of a terrorist,” Albanese told Channel 9 on Friday.
“We lost 88 Australian lives in those bombings.”
Albanese
said he would continue making “diplomatic representations” to Indonesia about
Patek’s sentence and a range of other issues, including Australians currently
jailed in Indonesia.
Patek
was sentenced to 20 years in prison a decade after the bombing. He left Bali
just before the attacks and spent nine years on the run and was considered one
of Asia’s most wanted terror suspects.
Some
felt the sentence was too light, but were encouraged by the remorse Patek
expressed during the trial. Patek admitted he helped make the bombs, but said
he did not know they would be used. He has apologized to the victims’ families,
Christians and the government.
Patek
told reporters earlier this month that he was committed to helping the
government with deradicalization programs “so that they can fully understand
the dangers of terrorism and the dangers of radicalism.”
Indonesia,
the world’s most populous Muslim nation and third-biggest democracy has
imprisoned hundreds of Islamic militants since the Bali bombings.
Director
of Prevention at BNPT Ahmad Nurwahid said their aim is not only to jail them,
but to change their platform to be law-abiding citizens. He said that many
convicts, including Patek, have changed and are drawing on their experience to
prevent others from taking up violence.
“We
hope that Umar Patek’s early release will provide more significant results and
massive gains in the deradicalization program,” Nurwahid said.
Source:
The Diplomat
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://thediplomat.com/2022/08/indonesia-considers-objection-to-bali-bombers-early-release/
--------
Arab
World
Back
to school: Saudi Arabia allows children of undocumented residents to enroll
24
August, 2022
Saudi
Arabia’s Ministry of Education announced that children of undocumented
residents will be permitted to enroll in schools in the new academic year.
Al
Arabiya reported on Tuesday that schools must provide admission forms to the
parents of illegally residing students.
Procedures
will be completed at the education ministry’s offices in the guardians’ region
of residence.
A
monthly statistical report of this category of students must be provided to the
General Administration of Evaluation and Admission.
In
addition to the student’s information, the enrollment form must also include
the details of both parents, including passport, residency permit (iqama),
visit visa, permanent residence address and contact information.
During
the enrollment process, the guardian must submit a letter of undertaking that
the status of the residency will be corrected during the academic year.
The
move is expected to encourage undocumented residents to fix their status
without compromising on education for their young dependents.
Back
to school
The
Saudi Press Agency reported an increase in demand for stationery and books
ahead of the academic year in the Kingdom’s Qassim region.
Similar
demand was reported in the Arar and Tabuk regions as schools prepare to reopen
on August 28.
Meanwhile,
an education official in the northern border regions confirmed that more than
500 educational institutions underwent maintenance and routine rehabilitation
to prepare for the return of over 100,000 students.
As
for school uniforms, the Consumer Protection Association iterated that parents
cannot be forced to purchase clothing from a specific store.
In
a Saudi Gazette report on Monday, the CPA reportedly indicated that “the school
has the right only to provide the parents with the design and color of the
school uniform for each stage, stressing that parents have the right and choice
to purchase the uniform from any store that suits them.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iraq
forces bomb Islamic State hideouts in Anbar province
24
August, 2022
Iraq
announced its forces carried out airstrikes and airdrops targeting Islamic
State (IS) group hideouts in the west of Anbar province on Wednesday.
Iraqi
special forces carried out airdrops from helicopters at dawn after warplanes
performed six air strikes on five targets in Al-Rutba District, according to an
Iraqi Security Media Cell statement reported by The New Arab's Arabic-language
sister service, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
"The
joint operation, in which the air force, army units, special forces and
internal intelligence operatives participated, is one of the important joint
qualitative operations carried out by the security forces against the remnants
[of IS]," it said, without providing further details.
It
comes after Iraq carried out two air strikes on Tuesday night in Anbar against
a "hideout for terrorists near Wadi Abu Muqanir", the media cell
said.
"Two
air strikes destroyed the targeted hideout and killed those who were
inside," it added.
A
few hours earlier, two IS members were killed in a Kirkuk province airstrike in
Iraq's north.
Iraqi
intelligence monitors IS' movements in the country while the air force carries
out rapid strikes.
The
army continually conducts combing operations to search out extremists. These
operations take place in provinces including Anbar, Kirkuk, Nineveh and others
which were previously liberated from IS control, since remnants of the group
remain there.
Despite
IS' self-declared caliphate having been territorially defeated in 2019, the
extremists continue to pose a threat in Iraq – particularly in the liberated
provinces – as they wage a low-level insurgency.
Source:
The New Arab
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/iraq-forces-bomb-islamic-state-hideouts-anbar-province
--------
US
service member wounded in new Syria attack: Military
25
August, 2022
At
least one US military service member in Syria suffered a minor injury and up to
three suspected Iran-backed extremists were killed on Wednesday, the US military
said, in the second consecutive day of violence.
The
latest exchange of fire underscored soaring military tensions even amid
diplomatic efforts between Tehran and the West to try to save Iran's 2015
nuclear deal with major powers.
It
came a day after President Joe Biden authorized US airstrikes in Syria on an
ammunition depot and other facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's
elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
The
US military said the suspected Iran-backed extremists launched two separate
attacks starting at approximately 7:20 p.m. local time in Syria (1720 GMT).
Several
rockets landed inside the perimeter of Mission Support Site Conoco in northeast
Syria and were quickly followed by rocket fire near Mission Support Site Green
Village, it said in a statement.
That
triggered a US response from helicopters that, according to initial
assessments, killed two or three militants conducting one of the attacks, it
said.
Central
Command said the wounded US service member had been at Mission Support Site
Conoco and returned to duty after treatment. Two other service members were
under evaluation for minor injuries, it said.
Some
injuries, including brain trauma, can manifest after an incident.
“We
are closely monitoring the situation,” General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, who
leads Central Command, said in a statement.
The
latest attacks by the suspected Iran-backed groups could be retaliation for
Biden's airstrikes on Tuesday.
Earlier
on Wednesday, Iran denied having any link to sites targeted on Tuesday by the
United States. The Biden-authorized airstrikes involved eight US fighter jets
-- four F-16 and four F-15Es -- and hit nine targets in Syria, the military
said.
US
forces first deployed into Syria during the Obama administration's campaign against
ISIS, partnering with a Kurdish-led group called the Syrian Democratic Forces.
There are about 900 US troops in Syria, most of them in the east.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Lebanon
investigates recorded death threats against Saudi embassy
24
August, 2022
Lebanon's
interior minister on Wednesday asked security forces to investigate death
threats against the Saudi embassy in Lebanon after Saudi Arabia's ambassador to
Lebanon shared a recording containing such threats on his Twitter account.
Interior
Minister Bassam Mawlawi said his order was based on his “concern for Lebanon's
interest and security and good relations with brotherly nations, especially the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” a ministry statement said.
Saudi
Ambassador Walid al-Bukhari earlier shared a tweet from a pro-Saudi account
containing a recording by a man, who the interior ministry believes to be a
Saudi national living in Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Iran-backed
Hezbollah.
The
interior ministry statement said he was “wanted by Saudi authorities for
terrorist crimes.”
The
man says that if anything happens to any member of his family, “no employee at
the Saudi embassy will remain alive... I will annihilate everyone in the Saudi
embassy, everyone who is related to the Saudi embassy.”
The
Saudi Embassy in Lebanon was not immediately available for comment and the
Saudi government's media centre did not respond to a request for comment.
Some
Lebanese officials have tried to improve ties with Saudi Arabia, once a major
donor, after years of decline over the growing influence in Lebanon of
Hezbollah, a group classified by both Riyadh and the US as a terrorist group.
Relations
hit a low last year when Saudi Arabia banned imports of Lebanese goods over
drug smuggling concerns and then recalled its ambassador after critical
comments by a pro-Hezbollah minister.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Saudi
Arabia to approve visas for World Cup Qatar ticketholders: Ministry
25
August, 2022
Saudi
Arabia will approve visas for World Cup Qatar 2022 ticketholders, the country’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
Spectators
with the Hayya fan ID will be granted a visa allowing them to enter the Kingdom
ten days before the start of the tournament, allowing them to stay for 60 days,
according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The
visa will allow them to exit and re-enter the country during that period.
Anyone applying for a visa must also obtain medical insurance before traveling
to Saudi Arabia.
Football’s
biggest tournament kicks off on November 20 with a match between Qatar and
Ecuador at Doha’s al-Bayt Arena.
Qatar
is bracing for a massive strain on its infrastructure due to the coming influx
of visitors.
FIFA
reported this month that more than 2.45 million tickets had been sold. This
would mean that the country’s population of around 2.7 million will nearly
double for the duration of the tournament.
It
has been widely reported that the Gulf state is expected to struggle with
housing the spectators, turning to neighboring countries to help provide hotel
rooms.
Hoteliers
in Dubai told Al Arabiya English last month that they were seeing a spike in
bookings, with many expected to be at full capacity during the tournament.
Authorities
reportedly struck deals with Iran in order to host some spectators on the
Islamic Republic’s resort island Kish.
Fans
will be able to hop on ‘shuttle flights’ between their hotels on the island and
the stadiums in Qatar.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Saudi
King grants order of merit to recognize 200 organ donor citizens
24
August, 2022
Saudi
Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has granted the King Abdulaziz Medal of
Third Class to 200 Saudi organ donors.
The
Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday that the 200 male and female donors also
included those who are in a coma.
A
list was made available online recognizing all 200 of those who made a decision
to become donors.
In
a 2021 study published in the peer-reviewed ‘International Journal of Medicine
in Developing Countries,’ 87.4 percent of Saudi residents support organ
donation, with 53.5 percent saying they are ready to donate.
The
study that was conducted among 1,508 participants also showed that most of the
test subjects did not know the organ donation policy. The study called for
greater awareness on the matter.
In
Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Organ Transplantation Center, previously known as the
National Kidney Foundation, is responsible for coordinating end stage organ
disease medical faculties and promoting national health education.
It
was established in 1993.
Saudi
Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have registered in
the organ donation program of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation
(SCOT), SPA reported in 2021.
In
March 2021, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approved the human organ donation regulation
during a virtual meeting chaired by King Salman.
The
regulation, which was approved by the Shoura Council in September 2019,
allowing for the transfer, cultivation, preservation, and development of organs
to preserve human life, protect the rights of those from or to whom human organs
are transferred, license health facilities, define their responsibilities in
relation to organ donation and transplantation, and prevent exploitation of the
patient or donor’s need or trafficking in human organs.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Three
American forces injured in rocket attack on US-occupied bases in Syria
25
August 2022
Rocket
strikes have hit US-occupied military bases in eastern Syria, injuring at least
three American service members, reports say.
The
official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said several rockets targeted bases
that are run by US occupation force at the al-Omar and Koniko oilfields in the
countryside of the city of Dayr al-Zawr.
"One
US military service member suffered a minor injury and two others are being
evaluated for minor injuries following [the] rocket attacks," Reuters
reported, citing the US military.
A
plume of smoke was seen rising out of the area, SANA added. The occupying
American forces have "closed the area," the civilian sources noted,
saying American aircraft had started staging extensive flights over the area.
The
rocket attacks came after American warplanes carried out a fresh airstrike in
Dayr al-Zawr in the wee hours of the day.
The
US military's Central Command, which oversees the American forces in the West
Asia region, said in a statement that the aerial assault had been aimed at
"protecting US forces from attacks." It said the strike had targeted
military infrastructure facilities run by Syrian government forces and their
allies.
Reporting
earlier in the day, The Washington Post cited the US military as claiming that
it had "targeted infrastructure used by groups with ties to Iran’s"
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Iran's
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani dismissed the claim, describing the
strike as a "terrorist" act against the people of Syria and the
popular anti-terror groups in the country, and denying any link between the
groups and the Islamic Republic.
The
US military said the airstrike were in response to an August 15 attack, when
armed drones hit the vicinity of the al-Tanf base in southeastern Syria near
the borders with Jordan and Iraq, where US-led occupation forces were deployed
in large numbers.
The
Pentagon claims that the American forces' deployment to the area is aimed at
preventing the oilfields from falling into the hands of the Daesh terrorists.
Source:
Press TV
Please
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/08/25/687985/Syria-United-States-forces-injured-rocket-strikes
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Defence
ministry: Russian jets bomb terrorist positions in Syria’s militant-held Idlib
region
24
August 2022
The
Russian Defense Ministry says the country’s fighter jets have carried out a
series of airstrikes on positions of the Takfiri Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
terrorist outfit in Syria’s northwestern province f Idlib, after the extremists
shelled residential neighborhoods in the area.
Deputy
head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria Major General Oleg Yegorov
said the air attacks destroyed a camp of the terrorists involved in the recent
rocket attacks against Khan Shaykhun town and the city of Saraqib.
He
added that the communications center, operations room and an ammunition depot
of the militants were destroyed as a result.
The
development came less than a week after the center announced that it had
received information that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorists together with
representatives of the pseudo-humanitarian organization White Helmets were
preparing to record a staged video in Ariha town and Jisr ash-Shughur city of
Idlib province to accuse the Russian Aerospace Forces and Syrian government
troops of indiscriminate strikes on civilian infrastructure and residential
areas.
Yegorov
said last Friday that the Takfiri terrorist group, previously known as Jabhat
al-Nusra, had carried out five counts of shelling in the past 24 hours, of
which one was recorded in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Areas in the same
Syrian province as well as the western coastal province of Latakia were also
shelled on four different occasions.
Russia
has been providing Syrian forces with crucial military assistance in the
ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued Arab country.
The
Russian assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of
the Syrian government, has proved effective as Syrians continue to recapture
key areas from remnants of the Daesh terrorist group and other foreign-backed
terrorist factions.
The
White Helmets group, which claims to be a humanitarian NGO, is known for its
coordination with terror outfits in Syria to carry out staged chemical attacks
in order to falsely incriminate Syrian government forces and fabricate pretexts
for military strikes by a US-led military coalition present in Syria since
2014.
On
April 14, 2018, the United States, Britain, and France carried out a string of
airstrikes against Syria over a suspected chemical weapons attack on the city
of Douma, located about 10 kilometers northeast of the capital Damascus.
That
alleged attack was reported by the White Helmets group, which published videos
showing its members purportedly treating survivors.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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South
Asia
Taliban
Kills Two Robbers in Northern Afghanistan
By
Saqalain Eqbal
24
Aug 2022
Two
robbers were shot by the Taliban forces during a robbery in Mazar-e-Sharif
city, the provincial capital, according to the Taliban government’s security
officials in Balkh province in northern Afghanistan.
According
to Mohammad Asif Waziri, the Taliban’s spokesman for the chief of police in
Balkh province, these robbers were killed on Tuesday, August 23, while
attempting to rob in the province’s center, Mazar-e-Sharif city.
A
motorcycle and a rifle were reportedly discovered among the robbers’ belongings
by the security forces of the Taliban government, according to the Taliban
official, Waziri.
Recently,
the Taliban government’s security officers in the province of Balkh killed two
men on accusations of theft in a similar incident.
Earlier
this week, an elderly taxi driver was shot and killed in the provincial capital
of Balkh province, Mazar-e-Sharif, according to Taliban security officials.
The
Taliban spokesman said that Yar Mohammad, 64, was found dead the next morning
in Mazar-e-Sharif’s police district 10 after being first abducted by armed men
on Friday while driving his taxi.
The
armed robbers who stole the old man’s taxi are still free because Taliban
security personnel have not made any arrests concerning the robbery, and
murder.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
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https://www.khaama.com/taliban-kills-two-robbers-in-northern-afghanistan-89650/
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Bloodshed,
curbs on civil rights show Taliban's Afghanistan will remain unstable
Aug
25, 2022
By
Shishir Gupta
On
August 15 last year, the Taliban stormed Kabul and overtook entire Afghanistan
without anyone batting an eyelid. It's been more than a year but peace and
normalcy is yet to return to the landlocked country under Taliban 2.0
Afghanistan
remains largely unstable with the regime's efforts to curb civilian rights and
an anti-women stand imply that the chances of international recognition in the
future are slim.
Taliban
& al Qaeda bonhomie
On
August 1, al Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri was shredded to pieces by a ninja
missile fired from a US reaper drone in the house of Taliban interior minister
Sirajuddin Haqqani. His killing in Kabul highlighted the close collaboration
between the al Qaeda and Taliban, triggering concerns that terrorist groups
would operate freely as the Taliban are back in control.
Resistance
Forces refuse to budge
The
Resistance Forces have been vociferously taking on the Taliban regime ever
since the latter took control of Pakistan. According to reports, at least 110
Taliban fighters have been killed in the clashes in July. Bagram, Herat,
Panjshir, Kunduz and other areas have witnessed heavy fighting between the two
forces. On July 13, the Taliban forces carried out house searches and
reportedly warned to kill all the locals above the age of ten if found any
links with the National Resistance Front.
Da'esh
blood terror
Not
just the Resistance Force, the Taliban also faces challenge from the Islamic
State Khorasan Province (Da'esh') terrorists. In July, Da'esh killed 25
civilians and three Taliban fighters. On July 26, the Sharia Council of Da'esh
issued a fatwa to target places of worship of non-Muslims and Shias.
A
day later, a bomb exploded near the Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul. However, no
casualty was reported in the attack. The attack took place a month after ISKP
attacked the same gurdwara which claimed the lives of Sikhs and Taliban
members.
The
Da'esh has already slammed Taliban for establishing relations with India and
Pakistan and Iran. On July 28, Russia's special envoy to Afghanistan Zamir
Kabulov said that the number of Da'esh terrorists has risen three-fold since
the Taliban came to power. According to him, at least 6,000 Da'esh terrorists
are present in the country.
With
the Da'esh and Resistance Forces going unchecked, the violence in the Islamic
country is likely to persist in days to come.
Inter-Taliban
rivalry
The
differences within the Taliban have also resulted in a lot of violence. On July
7, 18 Taliban fighters were killed in an intra-Taliban firefight in the
Presidential Palace in Kabul. Four days later, two Pashtun fighters were killed
and four were injured in clashes with Uzbek fighters of Taliban in Takhar
province. On July 15, the meeting chaired by head of Afghan army Qari
Fasihuddin in Panjshir witnessed tensions as a number of Badakhshani Taliban
objected to continuance of war in Panjshir and Baghlan.
Curbs
on civilian and women rights
Ever
since the Taliban returned to power, there have been reports of excesses
committed against civilians including women. On July 27, Amnesty International
released a report titled 'Death in Slow Motion: Women and Girls under Taliban
Rule,' chronicling the 'suffocating crackdown' experienced by women and girls
in Afghanistan. The findings included an increase in early and forced child
marriages, the detainment, forced disappearances, and torture of women
protestors; and women being arrested and detained for “moral corruption”.
The
Taliban had defended the policies, calling them to be in line with Afghan
culture and the Sharia.
While
responding to a UN Human Rights Council resolution of July 8, urging the
Taliban to reverse practices that curtail fundamental rights of Afghan women,
Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Hassan Akhund defended rules for women and girls
in Afghanistan, insisting that his government was practicing human rights as
“ordained by God” and it cannot dare amend them.
On
July 20, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan released a report
titled Human rights in Afghanistan: 15 August 2021 – 15 June 2022, outlining
the human rights situation in Afghanistan over 10 months since the Taliban
takeover.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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Africa
First
US envoy to Sudan in 25 years arrives in Khartoum
24
August, 2022
The
first US ambassador to Sudan in 25 years took up his post Wednesday in the
latest easing of ties since Washington removed Khartoum from its state sponsors
of terrorism list.
Ties
between the United States and Sudan were severely strained under the
three-decade rule of ousted president Omar al-Bashir, with Washington slapping
crippling economic sanctions on Khartoum.
In
1993, the US blacklisted Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism as Bashir’s
regime hosted aAl-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, who resided in the country
between 1992-1996.
“Ambassador
John Godfrey arrived today in Khartoum, the first US Ambassador to Sudan in
nearly 25 years,” the US embassy said in a statement.
The
ambassador’s arrival comes as Sudan reels from deepening unrest and a spiraling
economy since last year’s military coup led by army chief Abdel Fattah
al-Burhan.
The
military power grab, Sudan’s latest, upended a fragile transition installed
following the 2019 toppling of Bashir.
“Godfrey
will work to strengthen relations between the American and Sudanese people and
to support their aspirations to freedom, peace, justice, and a transition to
democracy,” it added.
“He
also looks forward to advancing priorities related to peace and security,
economic development, and food security.”
Relations
with Washington eased under Sudan’s now-ousted transitional government led by
former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, who took office following Bashir’s 2019
ouster on the back of mass protests against his rule.
In
December 2019, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States
would appoint an ambassador to Khartoum.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Over
2,000 Tunisian minors reach Italy in 2022: Rights group
24
August, 2022
More
than 2,000 Tunisian youngsters this year have made the perilous Mediterranean
crossing from the North African country to Italy to seek a better life, a
rights group said Wednesday.
The
Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) said the minors were
among a total of 10,139 Tunisian migrants to have made it to Italy since the
start of 2022.
More
than 14,700 migrants, including many from sub-Saharan African nations, have
been intercepted and turned back over the same period, FTDES said.
Deprivation
driven by a deep socioeconomic crisis “make the dangers of the sea a secondary
factor for those migrants who dream of a better life for themselves and their
children,” FTDES said.
It
also deplored “the inhumane politics of the European Union, which constrains
the freedom of movement” of migrants.
Earlier
this month, an unemployed Tunisian teacher and her four-year-old son drowned
off the coast of Monastir, prompting an outpouring of national grief.
More
than 650 would-be migrants, including hundreds of Tunisians, were intercepted
in just one weekend earlier this month, according to the interior ministry.
Some
four million people live below the poverty line in Tunisia.
Divisions
have been sharpened by a power grab by President Kais Saied, who last year
suspended a fractious parliament and has since ruled by decree.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Visiting
Macron may find Algeria's leaders hard to woo
24 August,
2022
French
President Emmanuel Macron hopes his three-day trip to Algeria from Thursday
will end a diplomatic row and allow him to develop his relationship with young
Algerians, but the North African country's leaders may prove hard to win over.
President
Abdelmadjid Tebboune wants solid investment commitments - which seem unlikely
to be announced this week - and for Macron to atone for comments he made last
year about Algeria's history and its ruling elite.
For
France, better relations with its former colony are growing more important
because an energy shortage due to Russia's war in Ukraine has raised demand for
North African gas, and because of growing migration across the Mediterranean.
Algeria
meanwhile wants to take advantage of high energy prices to secure big contracts
and investment projects, as it has already done with Italy and Turkey, locking
in revenues that will help it ride out any lean years in future.
“Algeria
wants strong economic relations and a serious partnership,” said an Algerian
official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Macron's
delegation will include the heads of hydrocarbons company Engie and tech
company Free, but there will be no big business contracts, the Elysee said.
When
Macron last visited Algeria in 2017 he was warmly greeted by young Algerians
eager to contrast his youth with the old age of their own leaders and pleased
he had described French colonial rule there as a “crime against humanity”.
“We
will not forget what he said when he was asked about the war in Algeria,” said
Nourreddine Ayoub on an Algiers street on Wednesday.
Macron
seems keen to build on that goodwill this week, with a planned visit to
commemorate Algerian “martyrs” of independence from France, and to a breakdance
show and a shop famed for its role in North African “Rai” pop music.
“The
president has chosen to focus on the future during this visit,” said an adviser
to Macron.
Criticism
But
Macron's long-stated desire to move on from the ugly legacy of French colonial
rule in Algeria, and his frustration at what he sees as the Algerian
authorities' obsession with it, caused a big breach last year that may
overshadow his trip.
In
comments on the election trail, he suggested Algeria's national identity was
forged under French rule and that the country's leadership had rewritten the
history of the independence struggle based on a hatred of France.
That
led Algeria's leaders to withdraw their ambassador for consultations and to
close their airspace to French aircraft - complicating transport routes for
France's military mission in the Sahel.
Mood
music in Algiers suggests Tebboune and his military allies may still be
annoyed. State media - whose tone often reflects official thinking - has
published stories critical of France in the run-up to Macron's visit.
A
state news agency report this week quoted Algerian organizations demanding that
Macron stop hosting groups in France that they see as being hostile to Algeria
and backed by its main regional rival Morocco.
Meanwhile,
conservative politicians have voiced annoyance at Macron's decision to bring
the bishop of Algiers and France's chief rabbi to visit a colonial-era cemetery
for non-Muslims.
Abderazak
Makri, an opposition leader, said the move appeared aimed at encouraging
Algeria to normalize ties with Israel.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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UN
chief calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia
Addis
Getachew
24.08.2022
ADDIS
ABABA, Ethiopia
UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said he was "deeply
shocked and saddened" over the resumption of hostilities in Ethiopia.
His
remarks came hours after both the Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels
confirmed a humanitarian truce had been broken following military escalation.
The
Ethiopian army and the forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)
traded blame as to which side violated the cease-fire that was reached in
March, in areas along the administrative border between Amhara and Tigray
regional states.
“My
strong appeal is for the immediate cessation of hostilities and for the
resumption of peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF with at
the same time the full guarantee of humanitarian access and to people in need
and the reestablishment of public services,” he said.
The
government has expressed readiness to engage in talks with the rebels in the
past several months without any pre-conditions as long as they are held under
the sole mediation of the African Union.
But
the Tigray rebels rejected the African Union as a mediator, recommending that
talks be held with Kenyan outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta as mediator.
Thousands,
mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict
began in November 2020.
The
UN has warned that Tigray “stands on the edge of a humanitarian disaster,” with
more than 40% of the region’s estimated 6 million people in need of emergency
assistance.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Tunisia
says committed by Arab boycott of Israel
Adel
Thabeti
24.08.2022
TUNIS,
Tunisia
Tunisia
said it is committed by the Arab boycott of Israel.
Last
week, activists circulated media reports on social media about trade exchange
between Tunis and Tel Aviv, a claim dismissed by the Tunisian Ministry of
Trade.
“Tunisia
is committed by the rules and principles of the Arab boycott within relevant
agreements at the level of the Arab League,” the ministry said in a statement.
The
ministry said Tunisia has refused to apply the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT), which covers international trade in goods, regarding Israel since
the North African nation joined it in 1990.
The
ministry said it bans foreign companies and transport firms “that violate the
principles and rules of the boycott to Israel.”
In
1954, the Cairo-based Arab League endorsed a resolution to boycott Israel
following its creation in historical Palestine.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/tunisia-says-committed-by-arab-boycott-of-israel/2668286
--------
Mideast
Hezbollah
leader Nasrallah meets with Palestinian Islamic Jihad
Adam
Lucente
August
24, 2022
Hezbollah
leader Hassan Nasrallah met with Ziyad al-Nakhalah of Palestinian Islamic Jihad
in Lebanon today. The two discussed the recent war between the Gaza-based
Palestinian armed group and Israel.
“Sayyed
Nasrallah and Nakhale tackled the latest developments in Gaza and West Bank,
and assessed the battle which took place with the Israeli enemy on all levels:
military, politics and media,” Hezbollah said in a statement, according to its
media channel Al-Manar.
The
two also discussed unspecified regional issues, as well as the “expected roles”
by different members of the “resistance,” according to the outlet.
Though
Palestinian Islamic Jihad primarily operates in the Gaza Strip, Nakhalah is
reportedly based in Beirut.
Why
it matters: Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fought briefly earlier this
month before agreeing to a ceasefire. Hamas, which is the largest political and
armed group in Gaza, notably did not participate in the fighting.
Friendly
relations between Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are not new. The two
have been allies since the 1990s, in part due to their shared support from the
Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the DC-based Wilson Center. Palestinian
Islamic Jihad is more directly aligned with Iran than the main Gaza-based armed
group — Hamas.
The
meeting between Nasrallah and Nakhalah came as Iran is assessing the recent
Israel-Palestinian Islamic Jihad conflict. This month, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami
of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), called for “unity” among
all Palestinian movements. He also suggested more frequent attacks on Israel.
“The
struggle is changing from an intermittent to a continuous movement, this is the
first characteristic,” he said, according to Tehran Times. “In the past, you
witnessed conflicts and battles with long time intervals, and you did not see
that continuity in today's struggle.”
Relatedly,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad dubbed the recent conflict “Unity of Battlefields.”
One
analyst for the Boston-based Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting
and Analysis said the timing of the meeting after the recent violence is
notable.
"I
expect that Hezbollah and Iran are looking to reassure Palestinian Islamic
Jihad after Breaking Dawn,” Sean Durns told Al-Monitor, referencing the Israeli
name for the recent operation in Gaza. “Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Iran
itself are looking to continue to expand their influence in the West Bank and
to enhance cooperation, including with other Iranian proxies.”
Nakhalah
notably visited Tehran at the start of the recent Gaza conflict.
Hezbollah
has advised Palestinian Islamic Jihad on strategy before. In the early 2000s,
Hezbollah encouraged the group to focus its attacks on Israel on more strategic
locations, according to the RAND Corporation.
Source:
Al Monitor
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Hamas
rages at Spanish tourist who posed in ‘immodest’ clothes at Al-Aqsa Mosque
25
August 2022
The
Hamas terror group that rules the Gaza Strip launched a campaign Wednesday
against a Spanish tourist who posted pictures in what the group called
“immodest” clothes while visiting the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple
Mount in Jerusalem.
The
young woman was pictured wearing a flowing green dress with a low neckline. In
one picture she reveals a leg through a slit in the dress as she sits in front
of the Dome of the Rock shrine.
Several
media outlets associated with the terror group ran items on the woman, with
Hamas spokesman Hazem Kassam calling her a “Zionist extremist.”
“A
Zionist extremist desecrated the blessed Al-Aqsa compound and published
revealing photos on it — something that constitutes an unprecedented
provocation against the feelings of the Palestinian people and a continuation
of the defilement of the purity of Al-Aqsa, as well as Zionist contempt for the
entire Arab people,” Kassam said.
Israel’s
Kan public broadcaster said the unidentified woman was a Christian tourist from
Spain.
The
Temple Mount is the holiest place for Jews, as the site of the biblical
temples, and Al-Aqsa is the third-holiest shrine in Islam, turning the area
into a major flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In
2017, a Belgian model caused outrage when she posed nude on a roof overlooking
the Western Wall.
Marisa
Papen told the Times of Israel that she and her photographer had tried to find
a location from which both the Western Wall and the Temple Mount would be
visible and had even taken pictures with the Dome of the Rock in the
background.
Source:
Times Of Israel
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Islamic
Jihad holds Gaza rocket parade in defiant display after recent flare-up
24
August 2022
RAFAH,
Gaza Strip — Dozens of Islamic Jihad members displayed life-sized replicas of
their rockets during a parade in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, in a show of
defiance after three days of heavy fighting with Israel earlier this month.
The
flare-up left 49 Palestinians dead, including the terror group’s top two
commanders and 10 other fighters, before an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire took
effect. Israel has said as many as 16 people might have been killed by rockets
misfired by Palestinian terrorists that landed short inside Gaza.
During
the fighting, Islamic Jihad fired some 1,100 rockets at towns across southern
and central Israel. Israel’s sophisticated Iron Dome missile defense system
knocked down many of the rockets.
The
fighting disrupted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Israelis and none were
killed or suffered severe wounds as a direct result of the rocket fire, though
numerous people were moderately hurt while seeking shelter or were treated for
shock brought on by the barrages. One man died of a heart attack while running
to a shelter.
Israel
targeted Islamic Jihad infrastructure with intensive air strikes in what was
dubbed Operation Breaking Dawn.
It
was the deadliest exchange of fire since last year’s war between Israel and
Hamas, the terror group that has ruled Gaza for the last 15 years — and which
did not take part in the latest fighting.
Islamic
Jihad members drove pick-up trucks with different sizes of rocket replicas and
posters of their slain commanders. People lined the streets, throwing flowers.
Israel
and Western countries consider both Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be terrorist
groups because they have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years
targeting Israeli civilians.
Source:
Times Of Israel
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
tests drones amid US concern of possible supply to Russia
August
25, 2022
DUBAI:
Iran on Wednesday launched exercises to test its combat and reconnaissance
drones, state media reported, amid US concerns over the possible supply of
Iranian-made unmanned aircraft to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.
The
two-day war-games will involve 150 drones and will cover Iran’s Gulf coast and
most of its territory, state television reported. The country’s air-defences
and “electronic warfare” capabilities will also be tested against mock enemy
drones.
Iran
and the regional forces it backs have increasingly relied in recent years on
drones in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf.
The
United States said earlier this month that Russian officials were being trained
in Iran as part of an agreement on the transfer of drones between the two
countries, and accused Tehran of planning to supply hundreds of unmanned
aircraft to Moscow for use in Ukraine. Iran’s foreign minister denied the claim
last month, including in a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Iran
has developed a large domestic arms industry in the face of international
sanctions and embargoes that bar it from importing many weapons.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1706678/iran-tests-drones-amid-us-concern-of-possible-supply-to-russia
--------
Palestinian
hunger striker held by Israel could die at any moment: Lawyer
24 August,
2022
A
Palestinian prisoner who has been on hunger strike for over 160 days in protest
over his detention by Israel could die at any moment, his lawyer said on
Wednesday.
Israeli
forces arrested Khalil Awawdeh, 40, in December 2021 and have since held him
without charge or trial, a practice known as administrative detention.
Israel
has provided few details about the accusations facing Awawdeh. An Israeli
military spokesperson said on Wednesday his detention had been confirmed
several times by military courts “and it was determined that the confidential
material in his case indicates that his release will threaten the security of
the area.”
In
March, Awawdeh launched a hunger strike demanding his freedom. He has subsisted
only on water since, said his lawyer, Ahlam Haddad.
Egyptian
mediators recently pushed for Awawdeh’s release under a ceasefire agreement to
end three days of fighting in Gaza between Israel and the militant Islamic
Jihad group.
With
Israeli forces conducting near-daily operations against suspected militants in
the West Bank, Awawdeh’s death could further inflame a crisis that has
escalated for months.
“I
feel that my body is consuming itself internally,” Awawdeh told Reuters from
his hospital bed, his eyes widening and his voice fluctuating as he spoke.
“God’s support, steadfastness and patience are what enable me to continue.”
Awawdeh
was recently transferred from Ramle Prison to the Asaf Harofeh hospital in Israel
due to his failing health.
Last
Friday, the Israeli military temporarily suspended the administrative detention
order against Awawdeh because his condition was deteriorating. However, he is
not allowed to leave the hospital, a military spokesperson said.
Awawdeh
has managed to survive this long without food likely because of a two-week
break a couple of months ago, during which he received vitamin supplements,
said Naji Abbas, the case manager for prisoners at Physicians for Human Rights
- Israel.
At the
time, Awawdeh, who now weighs 40 kilograms after having lost about 45
kilograms, agreed to end his hunger strike, thinking he was about to be
released, said Abbas.
Awawdeh’s
family, which lives near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, has so far been
refused permission to visit him by Israel but have supported his decision to
continue his hunger strike.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Israel’s
former PM Netanyahu criticizes US, Biden administration over Iran deal
24 August,
2022
Former
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit out at the Biden administration
for being close to a “very, very bad” nuclear deal with Iran, dubbing a
potential agreement as a “highway paved with gold to a nuclear arsenal.
“They’re
going to get hundreds of billions of dollars in short order, and that’s going
to help them finance their various proxies,” Netanyahu said in an interview
with Al Arabiya on Wednesday.
The
former Israeli premier said there was “no sense” in the deal on the table.
“It’s against peace and security; it’s against our future. It’s a mess,” he
said.
Going
further to criticize the Biden administration and the US, Netanyahu said: “Can
a country as important as the United States make such a big mistake? The answer
is yes. Unfortunately, it’s happened in the past.”
He
was referring to the 2015 nuclear deal, which was brokered and signed under the
Obama administration.
Netanyahu
suggested that there was “a good chance” he would become Israel’s next prime
minister again. “I will return to the policy of actively blocking Iran’s
nuclear weapons program,” he said.
Former
and current Israeli officials have come out in recent days to criticize the
potential nuclear deal.
Last
week, the State Department said countries, including Israel and in the GCC,
that were “not wild about the JCPOA in 2015 and 2016 have over the years
changed their tune on the JCPOA.”
But
former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett quickly called on the Biden
administration not to sign a deal with Iran, “even now at this last minute.
Bennett
took to Twitter on Tuesday to voice Israel’s opposition to the deal, claiming
the agreement would send “approximately a quarter of a trillion dollars to the
Iranian terror administration’s pocket and to its regional proxies.”
And
Israel’s caretaker prime minister said the US should not strike “a bad deal”
with Iran, calling on Washington to walk away from the table.
After
more than a year of indirect talks and stalling mechanisms by Iran, the EU
proposed a final text to Iran and the US at the start of this month, asking for
a response within a few weeks.
Despite
the EU saying there was no more room for negotiations, Tehran made several
remarks and sent its response to the EU, which in turn passed along the
comments to the US.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
says it will only allow inspections agreed in 2015 nuclear deal
24 August,
2022
Iran
will not allow inspections beyond what is in a 2015 nuclear deal, the country’s
nuclear chief said on Wednesday, as the United States prepares to respond to a
proposal to revive Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
“We
are committed to inspections in the framework of the nuclear deal that are
linked to nuclear restrictions which we have accepted in the past... Not one
word more, not one word less,” said Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic
Energy Organization, according to a video carried by state media.
A
senior US official told Reuters on Monday that Iran has dropped some of its
main demands on resurrecting the deal to rein in Tehran's nuclear program,
including its insistence that international inspectors close some probes of its
atomic program, bringing the possibility of an agreement closer.
But
Eslami appeared to contradict that, saying the probes should be closed “before
the implementation day” if the 2015 nuclear deal is revived, the state news
agency IRNA reported.
Washington
aims to respond soon to a draft agreement proposed by the European Union that
would bring back the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that former President Donald
Trump abandoned and current President Joe Biden has sought to revive.
Iran
has insisted the nuclear pact can only be salvaged if the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) drops its claims about Tehran’s nuclear work. Washington
and other Western powers view Tehran’s demand as outside the scope of reviving
the deal.
In
June, the UN nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors overwhelmingly
passed a resolution, drafted by the United States, France, Britain and Germany,
which criticized Iran for failing to explain uranium traces found at three
undeclared sites.
On
Wednesday, Eslami repeated Iran’s assertion that claims of unexplained uranium
traces were perpetrated by exiled Iranian dissidents and Iran's arch-enemy
Israel, IRNA reported.
In
response to the resolution, Iran expanded further its underground uranium
enrichment by installing cascades of more efficient advanced centrifuges and
also by removing essentially all the IAEA’s monitoring equipment installed
under the 2015 deal.
Meanwhile,
Nour News, a website affiliated with Tehran’s top national security body,
rejected Washington’s assertion that Iran had dropped some of its main demands.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Israeli
forces arrest 13 Palestinians during raids in West Bank, al-Quds
25
August 2022
Israeli
forces have rounded up 13 Palestinians during large-scale raids in the occupied
West Bank and al-Quds, as the Tel Aviv regime continues its campaign of abuse
and arrest against Palestinians.
Palestinian
media, citing local sources, reported that Israeli troops launched an arrest
campaign with raids and attacks in various parts of the occupied territories
overnight and at dawn on Wednesday.
Montaser
Samour, director of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club (PPC) in Jenin, said the
regime’s forces raided the Jenin camp located in the north of the West Bank
early on Wednesday, arresting three Palestinian youths, including two
ex-prisoners, al-Araby al-Jadeed website reported.
In
the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians
after breaking into several local homes. Two more arrests were made in the city
of Bethlehem, while three Palestinians were rounded up in Ramallah, including
two ex-prisoners. Another ex-prisoner was also taken into custody in al-Bireh.
Two
other Palestinians were also arrested in Jenin, but were released later.
The
latest arrests took place as clashes broke out between Israeli forces and
Palestinian resistance forces in the flashpoint Jenin refugee camp after
Israeli forces stormed several Palestinians houses.
Dozens
of Palestinians suffered suffocation due to inhaling tear gas during the
conflict.
Israeli
soldiers brought approximately 70 army vehicles and a bulldozer with them to
the camp, pan-Arab news website Arabi 21 said. Israeli snipers set up on the
roofs of local Palestinians' homes as the military, which also employed sound
grenades, denied ambulances access.
The
Israeli regime’s military has stepped up its deadly raids on the local
population in and around the flashpoint West Bank town of Jenin.
Dozens
of Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the year during attacks
by Israeli forces in that area. This has turned Jenin into a focal point of
Palestinians’ protests in favor of their cause of liberation from Israeli
occupation and aggression.
Meanwhile,
several Palestinians have suffered suffocation as a result of inhaling tear gas
used by Israeli forces in al-Arub camp on the outskirts of the West Bank town
of al-Khalil (Hebron).
Dozens
of Israeli settlers also attacked the al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards in al-Quds.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North
America
Biden
orders strikes against ‘Iran-backed militias’ in Syria
August
25, 2022
WASHINGTON:
President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered air strikes in eastern Syria targeting
“facilities used by Iranian-backed militias”, a US military spokesman said.
The
strikes in oil-rich Deir Ezzor province “targeted infrastructure facilities
used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”,
Central Command (Centcom) spokesman Colonel Joe Buccino claimed in a statement.
Buccino
said the “precision strikes are intended to defend and protect US forces from
attacks like the ones on August 15 against US personnel by Iran-backed groups”,
when a number of drones targeted an outpost of US-led anti-jihadist forces
without causing any casualties.
Tuesday’s
air strikes hit nine bunkers in a complex used for ammunition storage and
logistics, the colonel told CNN separately.
Tehran
says it has deployed forces in Syria at the invitation of Damascus and only as
advisers
The
US military had originally intended to hit 11 of 13 bunkers in the complex but
called off strikes on two after groups of people were seen near them, he said,
adding an initial assessment indicated no one had been killed.
US
forces “took proportionate, deliberate action intended to limit the risk of
escalation and minimise the risk of casualties”, the Centcom statement said.
“The
United States does not seek conflict, but will continue to take necessary
measures to protect and defend our people.” Hundreds of American troops are
deployed in Syria’s northeast as part of a coalition focused on fighting
remnants of the militant Islamic State group.
There
was no immediate confirmation of the US strikes from Syrian state media.
Earlier,
Iranian state media said a Revolutionary Guard general “who was on a mission in
Syria as a military adviser” had been killed on Sunday.
The
reports did not say how the general was killed, only describing him as a
“defender of the sanctuary”, a term used for those who work on behalf of Iran
in Syria or Iraq.
Iran
says it has deployed its forces in Syria at the invitation of Damascus and only
as advisers.
The
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is the ideological arm of the Iranian
military and is blacklisted as a “terrorist” group by the United States.
The
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Wednesday said the strikes
killed six fighters that were guarding the targeted facilities.
The
monitor, which relies on a wide network of sources in Syria, said it could not
immediately determine the nationalities of those killed.
It
said that Iran-backed Afghan Shia fighters are among the groups operating in
the region.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1706692/biden-orders-strikes-against-iran-backed-militias-in-syria
--------
US
has responded to Iran comments on nuclear deal proposal: State Department
24
August, 2022
The
US has responded to Iran’s comments on the nuclear deal proposal put forth by
the European Union, State Department officials said Wednesday.
“As
you know, we received Iran’s comments on the EU’s proposed final text through
the EU. Our review of those comments has now concluded. We have responded to
the EU today,” State Department Spokesman Ned Price said in an e-mailed
statement.
The
US said that it has responded after Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman revealed
Tehran received Washington’s response earlier in the day.
“Iran
will share its view with the EU, as the coordinator of the nuclear talks, upon
completion of Tehran’s review,” Nasser Kanaani said.
Asked
about the nature of the US response, a senior White House official gave away
few details.
“The
President is committed to achieving a diplomatic outcome here to prevent Iran from
achieving nuclear weapons capability. We want to do our homework; we want to do
it right. And that’s what we’re focused on,” National Security Council
spokesman John Kirby said.
Speaking
to reporters on a phone call, Kirby reiterated that “gaps remain” between the
US and Iran on their demands for a mutual return to the 2015 deal.
The
White House official pushed a narrative used by the Biden administration in
recent days that it was, in fact, Tehran that had made concessions.
Iranian
officials leaked concessions last week reportedly made by the Biden
administration as both sides say they’re inching closer to a deal.
But
Kirby said the parties were “closer now than we were even just a couple of
weeks ago because Iran made the decision to make some concessions.”
“So
that’s a positive step forward,” he added.
The
2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France,
Germany, Russia and the United States -- gave the Islamic republic sanctions
relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
The
deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, was
designed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon -- something it has
always denied wanting to do.
Iran’s
announcement comes as its arch-nemesis Israel has piled on pressure on Western
countries to halt talks on reviving the agreement, warning against the
consequences of returning to the accord.
“On
the table right now is a bad deal. It would give Iran $100 billion a year,”
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told journalists Wednesday.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
promises expanded visa services in Turkey after Ankara criticism
24
August, 2022
The
US promised on Wednesday to expand its visa processing capacity in Turkey,
moving to defuse a dispute that has threatened to further strain already
difficult relations between the NATO allies.
US
visa applicants in Turkey have been facing enormous delays, with wait times for
an appointment extending up to 15 months. It is part of a global bottleneck in
US visa services after Washington halted almost all visa processing worldwide
in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday accused the US and also
some European nations of intentionally drawing out their visa application
process, calling it an effort to embarrass President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
ruling AK Party ahead of elections in Turkey next year.
The
US State Department indicated that Washington did not want the issue to
escalate.
“We
have no desire for this to be an irritant in our bilateral relationship,” a
State Department official said in an emailed response to Reuters’ questions.
With
the opening of a new US embassy compound in Ankara, Washington will be resuming
routine non-immigrant visa appointments there, the official added.
“Mission
Turkey has been working very hard to overcome delays, and we are very pleased
that the newly completed US Embassy compound in Ankara will enable us to expand
our visa processing capacity,” the official said.
Testy
ties
Bilateral
relations have been strained in recent years over a range of issues including
Turkey’s decision to buy Russian missile defense systems. With the war in
Ukraine, Washington has grown more concerned about Ankara’s ties with Moscow
and has warned of Turkish firms becoming embroiled in Western sanctions against
Russia.
In
his comments on Tuesday, Cavusoglu suggested the delays in issuing visas to
Turks were politically motivated.
“We
see that they are doing it deliberately. This is how our people see it too. We
consider these as the steps taken to put the AK Party government in a difficult
situation before the election,” he told Turkish broadcaster Haber Global.
“I
don’t believe in COVID-19, personnel excuses....If they wanted to, they could
solve it very easily,” Cavusoglu said.
Asked
about the comments, the State Department official said: “We accept FM
Cavusoglu’s expression of concern that this is an issue of frustration for
Turkey.”
Cavusoglu
threatened to impose counter-measures against Western countries soon if the
visa issue remains unresolved.
“At
the beginning of September, our colleagues will call the ambassadors of these
Western countries to the ministry, and they will make the necessary warnings.
If it does not improve after that, we will also take counter, restrictive
measures,” he said.
Cavusoglu
raised the visa issue with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in May in New
York. They discussed the matter again by phone this month.
Before
the pandemic in 2019, the US issued more than 85,000 non-immigrant visas in
Turkey but that figure had dropped to below 20,000 in 2021.
The
US official said wait times might decrease with the planned addition of new
processing capacity.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
urges permanent end to conflict in Ethiopia amid renewed violence
Vakkas
Dogantekin
25.08.2022
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged the opposing sides involved in the
conflict in Ethiopia late Wednesday to work towards a permanent cease-fire amid
renewed clashes in the East African country.
"Five
months ago, a truce was declared in northern Ethiopia, which reduced violence
and saved lives. We are concerned that renewed fighting puts that at risk. We
call on the Ethiopian Government and TPLF to redouble efforts for peace to
bring a permanent end to the conflict," Blinken said on Twitter, referring
to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the party that controls Ethiopia’s
northern Tigray region.
Earlier
in the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply
shocked and saddened" over the resumption of hostilities in Ethiopia.
His
remarks came hours after both the Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels
confirmed that a humanitarian truce had been broken following a military
escalation.
The
Ethiopian army and the forces of the TPLF traded blame as to which side
violated the cease-fire that was reached in March in areas along the
administrative border between Amhara and Tigray states.
The
government has expressed readiness to engage in talks with the rebels in the
past several months without any preconditions as long as they are held under
the sole mediation of the African Union.
But
the Tigray rebels rejected the African Union as a mediator, recommending that
talks be held with Kenya’s outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta in that role.
Thousands
of people, most of them civilians, have been killed and millions displaced
since the conflict began in November 2020.
The
UN has warned that Tigray “stands on the edge of a humanitarian disaster,” with
more than 40% of the region’s estimated 6 million people in need of emergency
assistance.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
threatens NATO member Turkey with sanctions over ties with Russia
24
August 2022
The
United States has threatened fellow NATO member Turkey with sanctions over its
growing ties with Russia, as Moscow's military operation in Ukraine enters its
seventh month.
The
Turkish Industry and Business Association (Tusiad), Turkey’s leading business
association, said on Tuesday that it had received a letter from US Deputy
Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, warning of possible sanctions risks if firms
continue doing business with sanctioned Russian entities and individuals.
In
its press release, Tusiad added that it had shared the letter with the Turkish
foreign ministry, finance ministry and trade ministry.
“Any
individuals or entities providing material support to US-designated persons are
themselves at risk of US sanctions,” Adeyemo wrote in his letter, as its
contents were first reported by The Wall Street Journal this week.
“Turkish
banks cannot expect to establish corresponding relationships with sanctioned
Russian banks and retain their corresponding relationships with major global
banks as well as access to the US dollar and other major currencies,” he added.
Since
Russia began an ongoing military operation in neighboring Ukraine on February
24, the US and its European allies imposed rafts of sanctions against Moscow,
warning other countries against doing business with Russia’s sanctioned
companies and individuals.
Turkey,
despite being a member to the US-led NATO, maintains good relations with Russia
even after the onset of the operation. This has angered the US, which is
becoming growingly alarmed that Moscow and Russian businesses are allegedly
using Turkey to evade Western financial and trading restrictions against the
Kremlin.
Earlier
this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin reached an agreement to boost economic cooperation at a summit
in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
According
to official figures, the value of Turkish exports to Russia between May and
July growing by almost 50 percent from last year’s figure.
Turkey
has doubled its imports of Russian oil this year as Russia pivots away from
Europe. Ankara and Moscow have also agreed to transition to ruble payments for
the natural gas exported by the Kremlin-tied giant Gazprom.
The
post-operation developments prompted Adeyemo to pay a rare visit to Ankara and
Istanbul in June in a bid to express Washington’s concerns that Russia’s big
businesses were allegedly using Turkish entities to avoid Western sanctions
against Moscow.
However,
Turkey, which has also good relations with Ukraine, has so far tried to stay
neutral in the conflict and refused to join the international sanctions regime
against Russia.
Turkish
officials have not yet formally responded to Adeyemo’s letter.
However,
Erdogan’s foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin said back in June that Turkey’s
“economy is such that imposing sanctions on Russia would harm Turkey the most.”
“We
have taken a clear approach. Right now, the Westerners have accepted this,”
Kalin said at the time.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Europe
Ukraine
war chance for faster green transition but need Saudi Arabia: Albania PM
24 August,
2022
The
war in Ukraine provides a unique opportunity to initiate a faster green energy
transition, but Saudi Arabia is needed for the shift, the Prime Minister of
Albania Edi Rama said.
The
official made the comments in reference to the widespread disruption which was
caused by sanctions imposed on Russia by Western powers following its invasion
of Ukraine on February 24.
“This
war has come also with an incredibly interesting… chance to make a faster green
transition. Because not anymore by the goodwill but by the necessity, we could
move much faster towards changing the whole nature of our energy production.
But for this, we need Saudi Arabia,” Rama said during a panel discussion at the
European Forum Alpbach in Austria, which began on Sunday and is expected to run
until September 2.
He
said he mentioning Saudi Arabia because of the “huge potential to create a
corporation based on the vision 2030.”
Rama
continued, “[Saudi Arabia] is sitting on oil, and they want to become
self-sufficient in green energy and also net exporter of green energy. So,
there are many issues that come together.”
The
price of oil is largely driven by supply and demand and historically, extremely
high oil prices were usually directly influenced by conflict or geopolitical
tensions, especially when an oil-producing country, like Russia, is involved.
“I
think this war comes with a lot of risks, but also with a big potential,” Rama
added.
The
war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on global markets and energy
supplies, causing widescale disruption to oil shipping routes.
Saudi
Arabia launched the Saudi Green Initiative in 2021 in an effort to combat the
global climate crisis and join the world’s fight against climate change.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
NATO
important platform to boost ties with Türkiye: North Macedonia's top diplomat
Abdula
Berisha
24.08.2022
SKOPJE,
North Macedonia
Praising
ties with Türkiye, North Macedonia’s foreign minister said their partnership as
part of the NATO alliance is a very important platform to enhance relations
between the two countries.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency as the 30th anniversary of the establishment of North
Macedonia-Turkish ties on Aug. 26 draws near, Bujar Osmani pointed to the
countries’ traditional partnership and stable relations.
"Relations
between North Macedonia and Türkiye have always been stable in these 30 years,
and I would like to remind you that it has become even stronger. It is a unique
situation," he noted.
Osmani
stated that the Turkish community in North Macedonia and the people with origin
from North Macedonia living in Türkiye serve as a bridge between the two
countries.
Telling
how Türkiye is among the first countries that recognized his country's
independence, he said Türkiye was also the first country to open an embassy in
North Macedonia.
"There
has never been any doubt on the future of the country and the support that this
country will receive from Ankara. Türkiye has always supported our efforts to
join international organizations," Osmani underlined.
He
said Türkiye’s supportive attitude encouraged the nation’s political elite and
the public during the period of state-building and involvement in international
organizations.
€1B
trade target
On
various strategic partnership agreements reached with Türkey since 2008, Osmani
said they add a different dimension to cooperation and help make it a much
stronger and multidimensional one between people, institutions, and states.
Osmani
said when he visited Türkiye twice this year, the countries agreed to set a new
target for commercial cooperation between the two countries to exceed €1
billion ($993,000).
"In
2020, Türkiye was North Macedonia’s eighth-largest partner country in terms of
trade volume, and seventh last year, and sixth in the first half of 2022. This
shows that there is a positive trend in the rising trade volume."
Stressing
his satisfaction with the positive trend in ties with Türkiye, he underlined
that the partnership gained momentum with his country joining NATO in 2020,
"We
are NATO partners, which is very important. Türkiye supported North Macedonia
during its NATO membership bid, and this partnership definitely increases
mutual trust and joint efforts," he noted.
Osmani
went on to say that he thinks the NATO partnership gives a new quality to ties
and worldviews of developments in the region and the world, adding that they
see this partnership as a very important platform for developing cooperation
between the two countries.
On
North Macedonia’s EU accession, he said after 17 years of candidate status,
they finally started membership negotiations with the EU.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Türkiye
says 2 more grain ships leave Ukraine
Diyar
Guldogan
24.08.2022
Two
more ships have left a Ukrainian port under the Istanbul grain export deal, the
Turkish National Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.
The
ships departed from the port of Chornomorsk, the ministry said in a statement,
adding shipments from Ukrainian ports are continuing as planned.
Türkiye,
the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to
resume grain exports from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Yuzhny, Chornomorsk
and Odesa, which were halted due to the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its seventh
month.
A
Joint Coordination Center with officials from the three countries and the UN
has been set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/turkiye-says-2-more-grain-ships-leave-ukraine/2668365
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US
warns of sanctions against Turkey over Russia ties
August
25, 2022
ISTANBUL:
Turkey’s top business association has confirmed receiving a letter from the US
Treasury warning of possible sanctions if it continues doing business with
Russia.
Washington
is growing increasingly alarmed that the Russian government and businesses are
using Turkey to evade Western financial and trading restrictions imposed in
response to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine six months ago.
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to
step up economic cooperation at a summit in the Black Sea resort of Sochi
earlier this month.
Official
data show the value of Turkish exports to Russia between May and July growing
by nearly 50 percent from last year’s figure.
Turkey’s
imports of Russian oil are ballooning and the two sides have agreed to
transition to ruble payments for the natural gas exported by the Kremlin-tied
giant Gazprom.
US
Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo paid a rare visit to Ankara and
Istanbul in June to express Washington’s worries that Russian oligarchs and big
businesses were using Turkish entities to avoid Western sanctions.
NATO
member Turkey — on good terms with both Moscow and Kyiv — has tried to stay
neutral in the conflict and refused to join the international sanctions regime.
Adeyemo
followed that up with a letter to Turkey’s TUSIAD business association and the
American Chamber of Commerce in Turkey warning that companies and banks were in
danger of being sanctioned themselves.
TUSIAD
said in a statement on Tuesday that is has passed on the letter to Turkey’s
foreign and finance ministries.
The
letter’s contents were first reported by The Wall Street Journal this week.
“Any
individuals or entities providing material support to US-designated persons are
themselves at risk of US sanctions,” Adeyemo wrote.
“Turkish
banks cannot expect to establish corresponding relationships with sanctioned
Russian banks and retain their corresponding relationships with major global
banks as well as access to the US dollar and other major currencies.”
The
economic cooperation agreement sealed by Erdogan and Putin includes a deal for
more Turkish banks to start processing Russia’s Mir payments system.
Turkish
officials have not formally responded to Adeyemo’s letter.
Broader
cooperation with Russia could help support Turkey’s ailing economy in the runup
to next-year’s general election.
Erdogan
has previously argued that Ankara cannot join Western sanctions on Moscow
because of Turkey’s heavy dependence on Russian oil and natural gas imports.
Source:
Arab News
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2149781/middle-east
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Pakistan
Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf challenges PEMRA decision to ban live speeches of former PM
Imran Khan
Aug
24, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) challenged the ban imposed by Pakistan
Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Chairman and former Prime
Minister Imran Khan's live speeches.
Terming
the ban, a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution,
petitioner PTI Sindh President Ali Zaidi said, "The PEMRA notification
should be quashed as it is against the basic fundamental rights."
On
August 21, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) slapped a
ban on broadcasting live speeches of former prime minister and Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan on all TV channels with immediate effect,
ARY News reported.
PEMRA
in its press release said: "It has been observed that Imran Khan, Chairman
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, in his speeches/statements is continuously alleging
state institutions by levelling baseless allegations and spreading hate speech
through his provocative statements against state institutions and officers
which is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order and is likely to
disturb public peace and tranquillity."
The
media watchdog, however, said that the recorded speeches of the former PM would
only be permitted to be aired after an effective delay mechanism was put in
place in order to ensure effective monitoring and editorial control in
conformity with the PEMRA laws, the Frontier Post reported.
"Furthermore,
all satellite TV channels are directed to ensure that an impartial and
independent Editorial Board be constituted as required under Clause 17 of
Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisement) Code of Conduct 2015 in order
to ensure that their platform is not used by anyone for uttering remarks in any
manner which are contemptuous and against any state institution and hateful,
prejudicial to law and order situation in the country (in any manner even
repeatedly in programs, talk shows, news bulletins)," the statement read.
It
warned of legal action as per PEMRA laws in case of any violation of the
directives.
Earlier,
the PEMRA had issued the prohibition order on the telecast of live speeches of
Imran Khan under section 27 of the PEMRA Ordinance 2002 as amended by PEMRA (
Amendment) Act 2007.
The
media regulatory authority said that after analyzing the content of Imran's
speech, it has been observed that the content was aired live by the license
holder channels without an effective time delay mechanism which was a violation
of provisions of PEMRA laws and in disobedience of judgments passed by the
honourable courts.
Source:
Times Of India
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Pakistan
urges world to take cognisance of growing Islamophobia in India
Ali
Hussain
Aug
25, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan strongly condemned the sacrilegious remarks against the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) made by another official of the ruling BJP in India and urged
the international community to take urgent cognisance of the aggravating
situation of Islamophobia in India.
“Pakistan
condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the highly provocative and
sacrilegious remarks made against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), by Raja Singh, a BJP
official and a member of the state legislative assembly of the Indian state of
Telangana,” Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said.
This
is the second time in the last three months that a senior BJP leader has made
disrespectful comments against our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
“These
highly derogatory remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of the people of
Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world. The token and perfunctory
disciplinary action taken by the BJP against the said official cannot assuage
the pain and anguish caused to the Muslims of India and around the world,” he said.
He
added that it is highly reprehensible that Singh was released on bail within
hours of arrest and was welcomed by BJP zealots.
Despite
global outrage and denunciation of an earlier similar and equally pernicious
act, the spokesperson added that the current incident once again highlights the
present Indian regime’s obsessively spiteful demeanour towards Muslims and the
worrying trajectory of Islamophobia in India.
“The
fact is that India is nothing more than an undeclared ‘Hindu Rashtra’ where
Muslims are routinely denigrated, dispossessed and marginalized and their
religious beliefs are trampled under majoritarian hegemonism,” he added.
He
said that the deafening silence of the top BJP leadership on the abhorrent
incident manifestly reflects their approval and full support to the radical
Hindu zealots within and beyond the BJP.
Moreover,
he added that the extension of full state protection to the former BJP
spokesperson, despite her highly condemnable remarks against the dignity of the
Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is reflective of the impunity being enjoyed by
those attacking Islam in India.
“Pakistan
demands the Indian government to take immediate and decisive action against the
BJP members habitually involved in attacking Islam and targeting the dignity of
beloved Prophet (PBUH),” he said.
He
further stated that Pakistan also calls on the international community to take
urgent cognisance of the aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India and
hold the current BJP government to account for its overt espousal of an
anti-Muslim and anti-Islam agenda.
Source:
Brecorder
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--------
Pakistan
condemns sacrilegious remarks by another BJP official
Aug
24 2022
Pakistan
has strongly condemned the blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
by another official of India's ruling BJP.
This
is the second time in the last three months that a BJP leader has made
derogatory remarks against the holy prophet (PBUH) as the first time was when
Nupur Sharma committed blasphemy in June.
"Pakistan
condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the highly provocative and
sacrilegious remarks made against the Holy Prophet [Muhammad] (PBUH), by Raja
Singh, a BJP official and a member of the state legislative assembly of the
Indian state of Telangana," a statement issued by the Foreign Office read.
It
stated that these highly derogatory remarks have gravely hurt the feelings of
the people of Pakistan and billions of Muslims around the world, including
India and the token and perfunctory disciplinary action taken by the BJP
against the said official cannot assuage the pain and anguish caused to the
Muslims.
The
FO berated the Indian authorities for what it called "highly
reprehensible" that Singh was released on bail within hours of arrest and
was welcomed by BJP zealots.
"Despite
global outrage and denunciation of an earlier similar and equally pernicious
act, the current incident once again highlights the present Indian regime’s
obsessively spiteful demeanour towards the Muslims and the worrying trajectory
of Islamophobia in India. The fact is that India is nothing more than an
undeclared ‘Hindu Rashtra’ where Muslims are routinely denigrated, dispossessed
and marginalised and their religious beliefs are trampled under majoritarian
hegemonism."
The
statement further condemned the BJP's top leadership saying that its deafening
silence on the abhorrent incident is a manifest reflection of their approval
and full support to the radical Hindu zealots within and beyond the party.
Referring
to Sharma, the FO stated that the extension of full state protection to the
former BJP spokesperson, despite her highly condemnable remarks against the
dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is reflective of the impunity
being enjoyed by those attacking Islam in India.
It
demanded the Indian government on Pakistan's behalf to take immediate and
decisive action against the BJP members who are habitually involved in
attacking Islam and targeting the dignity of our beloved prophet (PBUH).
Source:
Geo TV
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Supreme
Court sets aside objections to PTI pleas on voting rights
Nasir
Iqbal
August
25, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the court office to remove objections
and place before an appropriate bench a set of petitions, separately moved by
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed,
challenging recent amendments to the Elections Act 2017.
A
two-judge SC bench comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sayyed Mazahar
Ali Akbar Naqvi set aside the objections raised by the registrar office with an
observation that the Pakistani expatriates should be extended facilities on a
priority basis as they remit around $30 billion to the country every year.
Prima
facie, the matter relating to the voting rights of the overseas Pakistanis
falls within the category of public importance and basic fundamental rights,
the court observed. The Constitution treated them as citizens of Pakistan yet
they had no say in the election arena, the court noted, while recalling a
number of decisions have been announced by the court to grant rights of vote to
the overseas Pakistanis.
But
on the flip side, the court would also need to consider whether in view of the
trichotomy of powers it could interfere in the legislative domain or not.
Moved
through Advocate Uzair Karamat Bhandari on behalf of the PTI and its chairman,
the petition sought a direction for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)
to provide effective right to vote to Overseas Pakistanis in the upcoming
general elections besides necessary approvals and funds be granted to the
National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for developing new
i-voting system within a strict time frame so that it could be place for its
use in the upcoming general elections.
Also,
on behalf of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, Advocate Sajeel Sheryar
Swati pleaded before the apex court to declare Amendment to Section 94 of the
Elections Act, 2017 ‘unconstitutional’ and order the government to allow the
overseas Pakistanis to cast vote before the next general elections. The
petition also argued that the vote was a constitutional right and was more
fundamental than any other right as existence of a democratic society was
dependent upon exercise of adult franchise.
Referring
to the arguments that the right of vote to the overseas was not being granted
due to the fear of rigging, the court observed, “We have proper laws to check
the exercise of fake votes in rigging, also wondering if we should stop holding
elections because of the fear of rigging in the elections.”
The
PTI’s petition argued that questions of public importance in the petition had
been raised with reference to the enforcement of fundamental rights conferred
under Articles 17 (right to form association) and 25 (equality of citizens) of
the Constitution. In fact the Supreme Court entertained similar petitions in
its original constitutional jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the
Constitution and passed 2014 and the 2018 judgments and therefore the present
petition under Article 184(3) of the Constitution was competent, the petition
argued.
The
petition named the secretaries of parliamentary affairs, law and justice,
overseas Pakistanis and human resources development and the foreign affairs,
Election Commission of Pakistan and Nadra as respondents in the case.
The
petitioner challenged the amendments to Section 94(1) of the Elections Act
2017, which was notified on June 22.
The
PTI chairman believed that the amendments violated the fundamental rights to
vote of over 10 million overseas Pakistanis as enshrined in the Constitution
and as recognized by different judgments of the Supreme Court.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1706675/supreme-court-sets-aside-objections-to-pti-pleas-on-voting-rights
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Doha
declares intent to invest $3bn in Pakistan
Kazim
Alam
August
25, 2022
KARACHI:
The state-owned investment fund of Qatar is going to invest $3 billion in
Pakistan, an official statement from the office of the energy-rich country’s
ruler said on Wednesday.
The
Emiri Diwan, the administrative office of the emir, released the statement as
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held official talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim
bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha following a meeting with the sovereign fund
officials a day ago.
The
$450bn Qatar Investment Authority announced its “aspiration to invest $3bn in
various commercial and investment sectors in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”,
it said.
The
investment from the Gulf nation is expected to help Pakistan bridge the
widening gap between the inflows and outflows of dollars that’s resulting in a
persistent balance-of-payments crisis. The dollar shortage has weakened the
local currency and caused a drawdown on the central bank-held foreign exchange
reserves, which dropped to $7.9bn at the last count.
Speaking
to Dawn, Arif Habib Ltd Head of Research Tahir Abbas said the information about
the nature of the pledged investment is sketchy at the moment. “I think $2bn
will be in the form of safe deposits with the central bank while $1bn will
constitute the investment part,” he said.
Earlier
this week, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Acting Governor Murtaza Syed told
analysts in a post-monetary policy briefing that the country would receive $2bn
from Qatar in the next 12 months. Although the Qatari statement didn’t mention
if the pledged investment was in addition to $2bn indicated by the SBP’s acting
chief, analysts believe the two amounts will likely overlap.
International
news agency Bloomberg reported Qatar is evaluating strategic investments in
Islamabad and Karachi airports in addition to stakes in renewable energy, power
and hospitality sectors.
Wire
service Reuters said Doha has shown interest in airport management partnership
and the Roosevelt Hotel in New York’s Manhattan, which is owned by Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA). It quoted officials as saying that Pakistan has
offered a 25pc stake in the hotel, which shut down in 2020 because of a
coronavirus-related slump in international travel.
However,
Mr Abbas said any substantial progress in the matter of investments in PIA and
its hotel is unlikely given the mounting political challenges the government
faces on the domestic front.
“We
were expecting some update on LNG, but there’s been no word on that so far. We
get eight cargoes from Qatar every month. We’re looking for two to three
additional cargoes on the long-term basis,” he said.
Qatar
is a major supplier of LNG to Pakistan on a long-term contract basis. It’s also
sponsoring one of the two upcoming LNG terminals in Karachi.
Topline
Securities Associate Director of Research Umair Naseer told Dawn it’ll be
futile to expect Qatar to provide Pakistan with additional LNG cargoes on a
long-term basis.
“Supplies
are already constrained. Europe is desperate for energy as the winter is
approaching. Even if Qatar offered to sell us LNG on a long-term basis, it’d
make little sense for Pakistan to sign up for long-term supplies given the
prevailing high prices,” he said.
Meanwhile,
a statement from the prime minister’s office on Wednesday said Mr Sharif and
Qatar’s emir agreed to increase the bilateral trade, deepen collaboration in
agriculture and food sectors and boost cooperation in energy, renewable energy,
tourism and hospitality segments. They also agreed to expand cooperation in
defence, aviation and maritime sectors.
Recalling
Pakistan’s long-term partnership with Qatar in the LNG sector, the prime
minister thanked the emir for his support in meeting Pakistan’s energy needs.
The two sides also explored new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation in
the energy sector.
Sheikh
Tamim reassured Mr Sharif of Qatar’s commitment to forging a stronger economic
partnership with Pakistan. The premier thanked the emir for Qatar Investment
Authority’s readiness to invest $3bn in various commercial and investment
sectors in Pakistan.
Mr
Sharif’s visit to Qatar comes ahead of an International Monetary Fund meeting
next week that is expected to approve more than $1bn in financing that has been
stalled since the beginning of the year. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also
indicated to provide $1bn each in oil purchase financing.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1706697/doha-declares-intent-to-invest-3bn-in-pakistan
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Pakistan
rejects India's closure of missile firing incident into its territory
25 August,
2022
Pakistan
rejected India's closure of the incident of the firing of a supersonic missile
into Pakistani territory on March 9, and reiterated demand for joint probe,
said a statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Wednesday night.
The
Indian Air Force on Tuesday said at the end of its inquiry that the government
had sacked three officers for accidentally firing a missile into Pakistan in
March, an incident that the two nuclear-armed rivals handled calmly as there
were no casualties.
The
BrahMos missile – a nuclear-capable, land-attack cruise missile jointly
developed by Russia and India - was fired on March 9, prompting Pakistan to
seek answers from New Delhi on the safety mechanisms in place to prevent
accidental launches.
“Pakistan
categorically rejects India's purported closure of the highly irresponsible
incident and reiterates its demand for a joint probe,” a foreign office
statement said.
The
measures taken by India in the aftermath of the incident and the subsequent
findings and punishments handed by the so-called internal court of inquiry are
totally unsatisfactory, deficient and inadequate, it added.
The
Indian Air Force said in a statement on Tuesday: “A Court of Inquiry, set up to
establish the facts of the case, including fixing responsibility for the
incident, found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures by three
officers led to the accidental firing of the missile.”
It
added the government had dismissed the three officers with immediate effect on
Tuesday.
“India
has not only failed to respond to Pakistan's demand for a joint inquiry but has
also evaded the questions raised by Pakistan regarding the command-and-control
system in place in India, the safety and security protocols and the reason for
India's delayed admission of the Missile launch,” statement went on to add.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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