Muslim Student in Australia Forced To Watch an “Explicit and Blasphemous” Cartoon of Prophet Muhammad
New Age Islam News Bureau
11 November 2022
Mount Ridley College is completing its investigation
of the incident. (Mount Ridley College website)
------
• Afghanistan: Social Media Campaign Calls Out Taliban
to Open Secondary Schools for Girls
• US Slams Far-Right Israeli Official for Paying
Tribute to Terrorist Organization Founder
• Chinese Spyware Using Tech to Spy On Uyghur Muslims,
Claim Cybersecurity Researchers
• Pakistani Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif Brutally
Tortured Before Being Shot Dead in Kenya: Report
Europe
• Erdogan awarded High-ranking Imam al Bukhari Order
in Uzbekistan
• Italian travel blogger arrested in Iran released, to
return home
• Ambassadors of UK, France, and US condemn Houthi
attack on Yemeni port
--------
South
Asia
• UN: Taliban Has Plunged Afghanistan into 'Dire'
Conditions
• Around 350 Afghan Refugees Reach Canada’s Toronto
• Taliban Initiates Security Camera Installation
Campaign in Afghan Capital
• Residents in Kabul call out Taliban, demands to
resume issuing of passports
--------
North
America
• New Jersey Teen Charged After Islamist Manifesto
Threatened Synagogue Attack
• US lauds Israel’s ‘historic’ flight agreement with
Qatar for FIFA World Cup 2022
• US Slams Israel’s Netanyahu Extremist Ally over
Controversial Memorial
• Two US B-52 bombers fly across Middle East, CENTCOM
announces
• US slams Israeli ultranationalist Ben-Gvir's
'abhorrent' memorial visit
--------
Southeast
Asia
• GTA’s manifesto pledges placing chief justice, IGP,
MACC chief under Parliament’s purview
• Being an Ulama Doesn’t Necessarily Make You a Good
Manager, Says Fuziah
• Tuan Ibrahim threatens to sue Rafizi over RM2bil
project claim
• Mocking Malays will only drive them towards Umno,
Rafizi warns Pakatan supporters
--------
Pakistan
• Pakistan to Withdraw Appeals against Islamic Court’s
Verdict Seeking Interest-Free Banking System
• Pak Army dismisses speculation about another
extension for Army chief Gen Bajwa
• Elimination of interest-based system to boost
economic activities in country: Ashrafi
• Gen Bajwa bids adieu to more formations on farewell
tour
• Imran asks CJP to probe army officer’s role in
attack
• Pakistan Govt Issues Diplomatic Passport to Nawaz
Sharif, Paves Way For Return: Report
--------
India
• NIA Searches 43 Places Suspected To Be Linked To Muslim
Outfits in TN
• Coimbatore Blast: NIA Searches across TN and In Kerala
• JeM terrorist killed in encounter in J&K's
Shopian
• Supreme Court to Hear Today Plea on Extended Cover
for Gyanvapi ‘Shivling’
• Terrorist hiring module busted, banned Jamaat
properties sealed in J&K
• NIA Files Chargesheet against TRF Terrorist from Baramulla
in Delhi Court
--------
Arab
World
• Western Sanctions Have Made Debilitating Impacts on
Syrians’ Lives: UN Human Rights Expert
• Syrian refugee and supporter of Islamic State
sentenced to 17 years for plot to bomb Pittsburgh church
• Saudi Arabia considers public offering to fund Mecca
megaproject
• Al Azhar Grand Imam hails SCIA Chairman's efforts to
hold Bahrain Dialogue Forum
• Saudi Regime Forces Re-Arrest Distinguished Cleric
from Shia-Populated Eastern Province
• Hezbollah to punish Israel for any foolishness on
maritime deal: Official
• Lebanese MPs fail for fifth time to elect president
• UAE president invites Israel's Netanyahu to visit
Abu Dhabi
--------
Mideast
• Stories of Trauma, Resilience Spotlighted At
Palestinian Film Festival
• Iran Criticizes G-7 Members for Classifying
Terrorism as Good, Bad
• Thousands of Palestinians Perform Friday Dawn
Prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque After Israeli Settlers' Attack
• Iran Develops Hypersonic Ballistic Missile Able to
Overcome All Air Defence Shields
• Iran Warns of Appropriate, Decisive Response to
Germany's Meddling
• Iranian President: Cooperation among Independent
States Response to US Destabilisation Strategy
• Military Chief: Using Iranian Drones in
Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan Dispute Unacceptable to Tehran
• President Underlines Enemies' Failure in Pushing
Iran into Chaos
• Iranian Envoy Calls on IAEA to Stay Away from Powers'
Grip
• Iran
Stresses Necessity for Political Settlement of Russia-Ukraine Crisis
• Israel waging ‘war’ on Palestinian media workers,
journalists tell UN investigators
• Iran warns of ‘firm’ response to threatened EU
sanctions
• ‘Negligence’ to blame for state-run Turkey mine
blast that killed 42: Police
• Iran sets up IAEA visit this month to give answers
on probe
• Freedom Flotilla coalition prepares to break illegal
Gaza siege again
--------
Africa
• Tunisia guard swipes 180,000 Euros as banker visit
plumber
• US pushes for elections and stability in Libya
• Ethiopia says it controls 70% of Tigray region in
wake of peace deal
• Kenyan court drops $60M corruption case of deputy
president
Compiled by New
Age Islam News Bureau
--------
Muslim Student in Australia Forced To Watch an
“Explicit and Blasphemous” Cartoon of Prophet Muhammad
Mount Ridley College is completing its investigation
of the incident. (Mount Ridley College website)
------
11 November 2022
A Muslim student has been left traumatised after an
Australian teacher forced her to look at a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad at a
school in Australia's city of Melbourne.
During a media studies class at a Melbourne college,
the teacher played an “explicit and blasphemous” cartoon to the class that
depicted the Prophet Muhammad, the student’s father said.
According to the Herald Sun, the offensive cartoon is
believed to be a Charlie Hebdo front page from 2015, which sparked massive
protests across the Muslim world.
The Muslim student raised objections to the material
but did not leave the class and the teacher continued, according to
news.com.au.
“My daughter also tried to express her discomfort at
the video but unfortunately the teacher didn’t care and continued to play the
video, forcing my child to view the content." the father explained.
"Forcing a child to view content is illegal and
against the law. This has aggravated my child and my family’s sentiments in a
painful manner and has put us in a painful psychological and mental trauma.”
Public apology demanded
The father has demanded a formal apology and
explanation, and an assurance that “such kind of events should not take place
in any institutions” in future.
According to the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV),
the Department of Education (DET) confirmed that the offensive material taught
in the year 11 media studies class is not part of the standard curriculum.
Mount Ridley College is completing its investigation
of the incident, and DET will be updated on the outcomes.
ICV said that it has made it clear that, as a minimum,
the school should issue a public apology acknowledging the seriously offensive
nature of the material presented, and the harm caused to students and the wider
school community.
The council also demanded that the school should also
outline what steps are being taken to ensure that this type of incident will
not happen again.
Source: TRT World
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Afghanistan: Social Media Campaign Calls Out Taliban To
Open Secondary Schools For Girls
Representative image
-----
10 November, 2022
Kabul [Afghanistan], November 10 (ANI): While the
Taliban continues to deprive Afghan women and girls of basic rights, a social
media campaign called “Let Afghan Girls Learn” is doing the rounds in the
country to call out the Islamic outfit to immediately open the gates of
secondary and high schools for girls, TOLO news reported.
The campaign, according to the host, Obaidullah Bahir
is a non-political move to call out the Taliban to open secondary schools for
girls so they can gain entrance for the upcoming Kankor exam which is a
university-level entrance and the girls in Kabul can no more attend it due to
closure of schools.
“This is a non-political campaign. The goal is to
invite different guests for a week, both Afghans and foreigners, knowledgeable
professors and any people who will discuss the opening of schools,” TOLO news
quoted the host of the campaign, Obaidullah Bahir as saying.
Describing the goal as to get the schools open for
Afghan girls as soon as possible, the organizers of the event said the young
girls and women have been compromising with their aspirations since the Taliban
took control of the country.
According to some students, as girls’ schools were
shut down, they were unable to take the Kankor exam, leaving their future
uncertain. These students petitioned the Islamic Emirate to create secondary
schools for girls so they can get admission for the next Kankor exam since they
said this year “thousands of girls were banned from taking the Kankor Exam.”
Nazanin is a 12th-grade student and due to the closing
of the schools for girls she could not participate in the Kankor exam.
“We just want the school to be opened, we are worried
about our future, we want the schools to be opened so that we can study,” said
Nazanin, a student.
“The 11th grader who went to 12th is without a future,
the 12th grader who is studying to prepare for Kankor is also unlucky,” said
Lima, another student as she described her plight, according to TOLO news.
Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on the
rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and movement for women
and girls.
The Taliban’s decision to ban female students above
grade six from going to school has drawn widespread criticism at the national
and international levels. Further, the Taliban regime which took over Kabul in
August last year has curtailed women’s rights and freedoms, with women largely
excluded from the workforce due to the economic crisis and restrictions.
As a result of this, women and girls in Afghanistan
are facing a human rights crisis, deprived of the fundamental rights to
non-discrimination, education, work, public participation, and health. Afghan
women are staring at a bleak future due to a number of restrictions imposed by
the Taliban governing aspects of their lives since taking over.
According to Human Rights Watch, women and girls are
blocked from accessing health care as well. Reports suggest that women and
girls facing violence have no escape route. Allowing girls into schools and
other educational institutes has been one of the main demands of the international
community. (ANI)
Source: The Print
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
US Slams Far-Right Israeli Official for Paying Tribute
to Terrorist Organization Founder
The United States has slammed far-right Israeli
politician, Itamar Ben-Gvir, for attending a memorial service for Meir Kahuna.
/ Photo: Pars Today
------
11 November 2022
The United States has slammed far-right Israeli
politician, Itamar Ben-Gvir, for attending a memorial service for Meir Kahane.
Kahane, a US-born Israeli who was killed in Manhattan
32 years ago this week, founded the Kach terrorist organization.
In the first public rebuke from the Biden
administration of the leader of Otzma Yehudit party, who is aiming to become
the Israeli regime's next public security minister, the US State Department
said on Thursday that "celebrating the legacy of a terrorist organization
is abhorrent."
"It is abhorrent. And we remain concerned, as
we’ve said before, by the legacy of Kahane Chai (which means "Kahane
Lives", an offshoot of Kach founded by Meir Kahane’s son Binyamin after
the Rabbi was killed), and the continued use of rhetoric among violent
right-wing extremists," Price said, adding, "We’ve condemned
incitement, violence and racism in all of its forms."
Till now, the Biden administration has avoided
commenting directly on the rise of Ben Gvir’s anti-Arab Otzma Yehudit [Jewish
Strength] party, which is expected to play a prominent role in Likud chairman
Benjamin Netanyahu’s next coalition government.
The 46-year-old Ben Gvir, and his faction have long
described themselves as disciples of Kahane.
However, the right-wing politician claims he has
moderated his political views.
At the ceremony honoring Kahane in Jerusalem on
Thursday, Ben-Gvir, who was himself a former member of Kahane's outlawed Kach
organization, was booed for disavowing the late terrorist leader's call for the
mass expulsion of Arabs by announcing, "I do not support the expulsion of
all Arabs."
"It's no secret that today I am not Rabbi Kahane,
and don't support expulsion of all the Arabs and will not pass laws for
separate beaches for Arabs and Jews," he said, drawing boos from members
of the audience, several of whom wore Kach T-shirts. However, there were cheers
from the audience when he repeated his election promise to deport
"terrorists", a term he has used for Palestinian stone-throwers and
representatives of Israel's Arab population.
Also, speaking at the event was a former political
partner of Ben Gvir, right-winger Baruch Marzel. He demanded the expulsion of
over 300,000 Arab Israelis who voted for the Balad and Ra’am parties in last
week’s election. “Nothing will stop unless we drain the swamp.”
Members and supporters of the Kach terrorist group,
and its offshoot Kahane Chai, killed, attacked and threatened or harassed,
Arabs, Palestinians and some Israeli regime officials.
Source: Press TV
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Chinese Spyware Using Tech to Spy On Uyghur Muslims,
Claim Cybersecurity Researchers
For years, China has
engaged in mass monitoring of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
-----
Nov 11, 2022
Cybersecurity researchers said they have found
evidence of Chinese spyware in Uyghur-language apps that can track the location
and harvest the data of Uyghurs living in China and abroad.
Uyghurs are a Turkic Muslim minority predominantly in
China's north-western region of Xinjiang, where a recent UN report said Beijing
may have committed crimes against humanity.
The United States and lawmakers in other Western
countries say China's treatment of the Uyghurs amounts to genocide.
A Thursday report by San Francisco-based cybersecurity
firm Lookout claims that since 2018, multiple Uyghur-language Android apps have
been found to be infected with two strains of spyware linked to Chinese
state-backed hacker groups.
They include dictionaries, religious apps, maps and
even pirated versions of WhatsApp available on third-party stores or shared on
Uyghur-language channels on Telegram.
They were not available on the official Google Play
store, which is blocked in China, leading Chinese users to use third-party app
stores.
The spyware enabled hackers to collect sensitive data
including a user's location, contacts, call logs, text messages and files, the
report said, and could also take photos and record calls.
Researchers said the apps could have been used to
detect evidence of religious extremism or separatism, for which Uyghurs have
been imprisoned, some for decades, as part of a sweeping anti-terrorism
crackdown in Xinjiang which observers say amounts to a mass detention campaign.
Large Uyghur diaspora populations also live in central
Asia and Turkey.
"The campaign appears to primarily target Uyghurs
in China. However, we found evidence of broader targeting of Muslims and
Uyghurs outside of Xinjiang," the report said.
"Several of the samples we analyzed masqueraded
as mapping apps for other countries with significant Muslim populations, like
Turkey or Afghanistan."
Surveillance state
For years, China has engaged in mass monitoring of
Uyghurs in Xinjiang, creating a province-wide surveillance platform that
vacuums Uyghurs' personal data from their phones and tracks their movements
through facial recognition.
Several Chinese surveillance and camera firms have
been sanctioned by the US for alleged complicity in human rights violations.
Uyghurs living abroad have spoken of attempts at cross-border
surveillance and coercion from Chinese police back in Xinjiang.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in
Washington, told Bloomberg News "we oppose wild guesses and malicious
slurs against China", adding the country opposes "all forms of cyber
attacks".
Samples of the infected apps were dated from 2018
onwards, and the vast majority of apps infected with one strain of spyware were
discovered in the second half of this year, the report said.
"Despite growing international pressure, Chinese
threat actors operating on behalf of the Chinese state are likely to continue
to distribute surveillance ware targeting Uyghur and Muslim mobile device users
through Uyghur-language communications platforms," Lookout researchers
wrote.
Source: Hindustan Times
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Pakistani Slain Journalist Arshad Sharif Brutally
Tortured Before Being Shot Dead in Kenya: Report
Earlier, Interior Minister
Rana Sanaullah said evidence suggested Arshad Sharif was the victim of a
targeted killing in Kenya.(AFP)
-----
Nov 10, 2022
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, who was
killed in Kenya, was brutally tortured for hours before being shot dead, a
media report said on Thursday citing post-mortem reports.
Sharif, 49, a former reporter and TV anchor with ARY
TV, and known for his proximity to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, had fled
to Kenya after he was booked on charges of sedition and peddling an
"anti-state" narrative by Pakistan's security agencies earlier this
year.
He was shot dead at a police checkpoint at an hour's
distance from Nairobi on October 23, creating a storm in the country.
Sharif was killed last month in Kenya and the local
police claimed that it was a case of mistaken identity.
The Express Tribune reported that Dunya TV host Kamran
Shahid in his talk show on Wednesday night claimed that Sharif was shot at
close range and that this was not a case of mistaken identity but a 'planned
murder'.
Citing his post-post-mortem reports, Shahid claimed
that Sharif was brutally tortured for hours before being shot dead, the paper
said.
He further claimed that the slain journalist's
fingernails were pulled out and his fingers and ribs were broken during
torture.
The senior journalist, on his show, further stated
that around '10 American instructors and trainers' were present at the shooting
range on the day of Sharif's murder.
According to Shahid, Sharif's contact in Kenya decided
to take a longer route back to the city on the day of the murder instead of the
oft-used Magadi Highway route.
The private TV programme further claimed that the
Kenyan authorities did not cooperate with the investigation either, adding that
they also avoided giving information about the persons present at the range.
Earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said
evidence suggested Sharif was the victim of a targeted killing in Kenya, not an
accidental shooting, though he still needed more information on the incident.
Kenyan police spokesman Bruno Shioso declined to
respond to the minister's comments on the death of the TV journalist.
A police report a day after the shooting said police
officers hunting car thieves opened fire on the vehicle that Sharif was
traveling in as it drove through their roadblock without stopping.
Shioso said the case was now being investigated by the
police watchdog, the state Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). A
spokesperson at the IPOA did not immediately respond to calls and a message
seeking comment.
The Pakistan government has formed an investigation
team to look into the matter while the interior minister said the Kenyan police
had not yet given Pakistani investigators all of Sharif's recovered belongings.
Source: Times Of India
Please click the following URL to read the text of the
original story:
--------
Europe
Erdogan
awarded High-ranking Imam al Bukhari Order in Uzbekistan
NOV
10, 2022
Uzbekistan's
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday conferred the country's High-ranking
Imam al Bukhari Order on his Turkish counterpart President Recep Tayyip
Erdoğan.
Erdoğan
is in Samarkand to participate in a summit of Turkic states.
In
his address, Mirziyoyev said the award was being given to Erdoğan for
protecting and contributing to the welfare and prosperity of Muslims globally.
He
added that Erdoğan has "a great reputation and influence" not only in
Türkiye, but in the entire Muslim world.
"This
is a great honor that this precious order is given to me on the behalf of Imam
Bukhari," Erdoğan said after receiving the award.
The
president underlined that he is accepting the order as a symbol of
"eternal and strong brotherhood' between Türkiye and Uzbekistan.
Thanking
Mirziyoyev and the people of Uzbekistan, Erdoğan said: "I fully believe
that we will take our relationship, which we have raised to the level of a
comprehensive strategic partnership, to even higher levels."
Uzbekistan
awards scientists, researchers, writers, as well as leaders of foreign
countries and governments for their special services with the High-ranking Imam
al Bukhari Order.
Erdoğan
on Thursday arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to attend the Ninth Summit of
Turkish State Organizations.
Erdoğan
was welcomed at Samarkand International Airport by Uzbekistan's Prime Minister
Abdulla Aripov, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, and Deputy Foreign
Minister Gayrat Fazilov as well as Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu,
Türkiye's Ambassador to Tashkent Olgan Bekar, and Uzbekistan's Ambassador to
Ankara Alisher Agzamhodjayev.
The
president was accompanied by first lady Emine Erdoğan, Youth and Sports
Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri
Ersoy, National Education Minister Mahmut Özer, National Defense Minister
Hulusi Akar, Trade Minister Mehmet Muş, Transport and Infrastructure Minister
Adil Karaismailoğlu, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, and Presidential
Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın.
The
theme of the summit will be "New Era for Turkish Civilization: Towards
Common Development and Prosperity."
At
the summit, important decisions that will form the first five-year
implementation guide of the vision document, which constitutes the 20-year
roadmap of the organization, will be taken, and the term presidency will be
transferred from Türkiye to Uzbekistan.
Decisions
will also be taken on several important issues as well as "finalizing
various agreements and official documents of the organization's projects in the
fields of economy, trade, transport, and customs."
Ahead
of the group's ninth summit, Türkiye's foreign minister on Thursday urged close
cooperation among members of the Organization of Turkic States.
"We
are going through a difficult time. We must maintain close consultations and
develop medium- and long-term strategies that will make us resilient in the
face of shocks," Çavuşoğlu said during a meeting of the group's foreign
ministers in Samarkand.
The
Turkic World Vision 2040 document, which was approved by the organization's
heads of state at its eighth summit in Istanbul last November, was an
"important step for the long term," Çavuşoğlu said.
Finalizing
the strategy document, which is the first five-year implementation guide of the
bloc's vision document, was one of the priorities of Türkiye's term presidency
of the bloc, Çavuşoğlu noted, adding: "It is our common duty to ensure
that these decisions are implemented."
Çavuşoğlu
underlined that recent developments also present opportunities for the member
states.
"We
have to develop connections and transport corridors between member countries.
This target is an important element of both the vision document and the
strategy document," he added.
Çavuşoğlu
also welcomed three agreements to be adopted by member countries on Friday,
including the trade facilitation strategy document, simplified customs
corridor, and international combined freight transportation.
"Türkiye
attaches importance to its trilateral processes with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
and Uzbekistan," Çavuşoğlu said, adding that the country is determined to
maintain these mechanisms.
"The
institutional transformation of the Turkic Council into the Organization of
Turkic States requires us to take visionary steps," Çavuşoğlu noted,
saying significant works were carried out in accordance with this purpose
during Türkiye's term presidency.
With
the group's ninth summit, member countries will carry the efforts in this
direction to a further point, Çavuşoğlu noted.
Also,
the decision to establish a Turkish investment fund was one of the important
steps of Türkiye's term presidency, Çavuşoğlu said. "The asset management
company model will be the best choice in terms of both more efficient
management of funding resources and international funding."
Source:
Daily Sabah
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Italian
travel blogger arrested in Iran released, to return home
10 November,
2022
A
young Italian woman arrested in Iran during nationwide protests in late
September has been released, the government in Rome said Thursday.
“After
intense diplomatic efforts, today Alessia Piperno was released by Iranian
authorities and is preparing to return to Italy,” a statement from Prime
Minister Giorgia Meloni’s office said.
Meloni
called her parents to tell them their daughter had been released and was
returning home, her office said.
Piperno,
30, was arrested and jailed in Tehran days after authorities there said nine
foreigners had been held over nationwide protests.
Street
violence flared across Iran after the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa
Amini following her arrest by the morality police for allegedly flouting the
Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.
Iran
has accused outside forces of stoking the nationwide protests, which have led
to dozens of deaths, mostly among demonstrators but also among the security
forces.
Piperno’s
parents said at the time that they had lost contact with her after speaking to
her on September 28, her birthday.
They
then received a phone call on October 2 to say she was in jail.
“They
arrested me. I am in a prison in Tehran. Please help me,” Piperno told them,
according to Il Messaggero, Rome’s daily newspaper.
She
added: “I’m fine but there are people here who say they have been inside for
months and for no reason. I fear I won’t be let out again. Help me.”
Her
father, Alberto, said that she had been planning a birthday picnic with friends
from France, Poland and Iran.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Ambassadors of UK, France, and US condemn Houthi attack on Yemeni port
November
10, 2022
LONDON:
The British, French, and American ambassadors to Yemen strongly condemned a
Houthi attack targeting an oil tanker in Qena port, Shabwa on Thursday.
Yemen’s
foreign ministry said in a statement that the Houthis launched a drone attack
on the southern Qena port in Shabwa on Wednesday.
“By
launching yet another assault on international shipping and the flow of
fundamental necessities, the Houthis have once again demonstrated their abject
failure to prioritize the Yemeni people,” Richard Oppenheim, Jean-Marie Safa,
and Steven Fagin said.
“Attempting
to deprive millions of Yemenis from accessing basic goods through economic
warfare will only exacerbate the conflict and humanitarian crisis,” the
ambassadors said.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2197356/middle-east
--------
South
Asia
UN:
Taliban Has Plunged Afghanistan Into 'Dire' Conditions
Nov
11, 2022
UNITED
NATIONS: The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution Thursday accusing the
Taliban of violating the human rights of Afghan women and girls, failing to
establish a representative government, and plunging the country into “dire
economic, humanitarian and social conditions.”
The
resolution also pointed to persistent violence in the country since the Taliban
takeover 15 months ago and the presence of terrorist groups such as al-Qaida
and the Islamic State and their affiliates as well as the presence of “foreign
terrorist fighters.”
Germany's
UN ambassador, Antje Leendertse, had hoped the 193-member General Assembly
would approve the German-facilitated resolution by consensus.
But
a vote was requested and it was adopted 116-0, with 10 countries abstaining —
Russia, China, Belarus, Burundi, North Korea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Nicaragua,
Pakistan and Zimbabwe. Sixty-seven countries did not vote.
General
Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, unlike Security Council
resolutions, but they do reflect world opinion.
The
adoption came the same day that the Taliban, which already banned girls from
middle school and high school, prohibited women from using gyms and parks.
Before
the vote, Leendertse told the assembly that since the Taliban came to power in
August 2021 Afghanistan has seen “a massive economic contraction and
humanitarian crisis” which has left half the population facing “critical levels
of food insecurity.”
“We
expect a harsh winter and levels of needs that we have not seen in the last decades
with little prospect for economic recovery and reduction of poverty,” she
warned.
Introducing
the resolution, Leendertse told the assembly that the Taliban control the
country but aren't living up to their responsibility toward meeting the needs
of the Afghan people.
“The
resolution is a clear call to respect, protect and fulfill human rights,
develop inclusive governance and fight terrorism,” she said. “It contains a
clear message that without that, there cannot be business as usual and no
pathway toward recognition.”
The
resolution pledges continued UN support for the Afghan people “in order to
rebuild a stable, secure and economically self-sufficient state, free of
terrorism, narcotics, transnational organized crime, including trafficking in
persons, and corruption, and to strengthen the foundations of a constitutional
democracy as a responsible member of the international community.”
It
calls for improved access for aid workers and recognizes the need to help
address Afghanistan's economic challenges, including efforts to restore the
banking and financial systems and enabling Central Bank assets -- held mainly
in the United States -- to be used to help the Afghan people.
The
resolution expresses deep concern at human rights abuses against women and
girls, including sexual violence, and calls on the Taliban to promote “full,
equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in all aspects of Afghan
society.”
It
condemns all attacks, reprisals and violence against journalists and media
workers and calls for their perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Around
350 Afghan Refugees Reach Canada’s Toronto
By
Saqalain Eqbal
November
10, 2022
The
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department of Canada announced that 347
Afghan refugees from Tajikistan had reached Toronto, the provincial capital of
Canada’s Ontario.
On
Thursday, November 10, the Canadian government announced that it had flown a
large number of Afghan refugees from Tajikistan to Toronto on a chartered
flight.
According
to the statement of the Canadian Department of Immigration, Refugees, and
Citizenship, the newly relocated Afghan refugees are going to be settled in 39
communities across Canada.
Some
of these Afghan refugees will stay in Toronto, while others will settle in
Calgary in Alberta, Montreal in Quebec, and Richmond Hill in Ontario provinces
of Canada.
The
Canadian government previously announced that 2 chartered flights carrying
Afghan nationals landed safely in their new “home”, Canada.
Sean
Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, reported
that, excluding the flight on November 10, which transported about 350 Afghan
nationals to Canada, the Canadian government had relocated 23,500 Afghan
refugees.
“We’ll
continue to work hard to safely resettle at least 40,000 individuals by the end
of 2023,” Fraser previously said.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/around-350-afghan-refugees-reach-canadas-toronto-34753/
--------
Taliban
Initiates Security Camera Installation Campaign in Afghan Capital
By
Saqalain Eqbal
November
10, 2022
As
the Taliban has put CCTV cameras at crossroads in an attempt to improve
security, the group has asked Kabul residents to install security cameras in
their houses.
The
Taliban-controlled Afghanistan National Television broadcasted an interview
with the spokesperson of the Taliban Kabul Police Chief Office, Khalid Zadran,
on Thursday, November 10.
In
the interview, Khalid Zadran stated that the Taliban has begun a campaign to
install security cameras around Kabul city and that about 2,000 CCTV cameras
have already been set up in several areas of the city’s police district 15.
According
to Khalid Zadran, the Taliban security officials have initiated this campaign
as an attempt and effort to improve the security situation, starting from the
capital of Afghanistan, Kabul.
In
the interview with National TV, Khaled Zadran asked Kabul citizens to install
security cameras in their houses as a sign of their participation in providing
and preserving security.
He
emphasized that as the campaign is not mandatory, only households with the
necessary financial resources could participate to install security cameras and
that those without the resources were not obligated to do the installation.
Source:
Khaama Press
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Residents
in Kabul call out Taliban, demands to resume issuing of passports
10
November, 2022
Kabul
[Afghanistan], November 10 (ANI): Residents of Kabul called on the Taliban to
resume issuing passports as the General Department of Passports in Afghanistan
halted the distribution temporarily one month ago, reported TOLO news.
“The
frequent closing of the passport department, its reopening and closing many
times–which we don’t know the reason for–will pave the way for fraud,” said a
passport applicant, Zabiullah highlighting the plight of Afghans.
“We
call on the Islamic Emirate officials to resume passport distribution through
transparent ways,” said Massihullah, another passport applicant.
Since
the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August last year, the distribution
of passports has been halted more than five times, reported TOLO news.
However,
refuting the claims regarding the halt on the distribution of passports, a
spokesman for the General Department of Passports, Noorullah Patman said that
the process of passport distribution has been halted due to technical reasons.
“The
process of passport distribution has been halted based on the order of the
general head of the passport department due to technical problems, and the
technical teams are working on it,” said Noorullah, TOLO news reported.
Since
the Taliban seized power in Kabul last year, the human rights situation has
been exacerbated by a nationwide economic, financial and humanitarian crisis of
unprecedented scale.
The
Taliban dismantled the system to respond to gender-based violence, created new
barriers to women accessing health care, blocked women’s aid workers from doing
their jobs, and attacked women’s rights protesters.
With
the US troops’ withdrawal from the country, large-scale violence has been
unleashed creating political uncertainty in different parts of the country.
Source:
The Print
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
North
America
New
Jersey teen charged after Islamist manifesto threatened synagogue attack
By
ASAF ELIA-SHALEV
11
November 2022
JTA
— Federal prosecutors have arrested and charged a New Jersey teenager with
extremist Islamist views with making the threat that led to a sweeping FBI
warning for the state’s synagogues last week.
Omar
Alkattoul, 18, of Sayreville, New Jersey, is charged with one count of
transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce for an extremist
manifesto he shared on Nov. 1 on an undisclosed social media network. He faces
up to five years in prison.
Alkattoul
had pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State and researched how to
obtain firearms and past mass shootings, according to the criminal complaint
against him filed Thursday by the US Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. The
complaint alleges that Alkattoul published a manifesto online that had been
written as though he had already carried out an attack.
The
detection of his manifesto caused the FBI to warn the Jewish community in New
Jersey, which immediately activated security protocols at communal
institutions. A day later, the FBI said the threat had been eliminated.
“No
one should be targeted for violence or with acts of hate because of how they
worship,” US Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a statement. “There is nothing
the US Attorney’s Office takes more seriously than threats to our communities
of faith and places of worship.”
Titled,
“When Swords Collide,” Alkattoul’s manifesto was written as if he had already
attacked a synagogue, according to prosecutors. Multiple extremists have
published manifestos immediately prior to committing violent attacks, including
against Jews.
“I
am the attacker and I would like to introduce myself,” the manifesto reads. “I
am a Muslim with so many regrets but I can assure you this attack is not one of
them and Insha’Allah many more attacks like these against the enemy of Allah
and the pigs and monkeys will come.”
The
manifesto continues, “I did target a synagogue for a really good reason
according to myself and a lot of Muslims who have a brain. Let’s be aware of
the fact that the Jews promote the biggest hatred against Muslimeen even in the
west.” The manifesto included a section on “why hatred towards Jews is a good
thing even if they’re not Zionists.”
Federal
investigators probed Alkattoul’s devices and interrogated him several times to
understand his views and help determine his level of commitment to carrying out
attacks against Jews.
He
told investigators his radicalization had happened over a year on social media
following his encounter with a video showing followers of the late Israeli
extremist Meir Kahane “laughing and sharing photos of dead Arab children and
praising the people who killed them,” according to the criminal complaint against
Alkattoul.
Alkattoul
was also found to have praised Dylann Roof, the white supremacist who murdered
nine Black worshippers at a South Carolina church in 2015.
Source:
Times Of Israel
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
lauds Israel’s ‘historic’ flight agreement with Qatar for FIFA World Cup 2022
11
November, 2022
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken called an agreement allowing Israelis to
travel to Qatar to attend the World Cup a “historic step” that promises “to
bolster people-to-people ties and economic integration.”
FIFA
made the announcement on Thursday, saying Palestinians and Israelis can travel
on the charter jets to the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East.
Direct
charter flights will operate between Tel Aviv and Doha during the World Cup,
allowing Israelis and Palestinians holding match tickets and a valid Hayya fan
ID to board flights that will operate direct from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport
to Doha’s Hamad International Airport by an airline with pre-existing landing
rights in Qatar.
The
announcement drew praise from US senior officials.
In
a tweet, Blinken said: “I welcome FIFA’s announcement of direct flights between
Qatar and Israel for the World Cup. This step bolsters people to people ties
and economic integration, while encouraging freedom of travel for all, both
Israeli and Palestinians.”
US
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also welcomed the announcement.
“Excited
about this important step to further build people to people ties and integrate
Israel into the region. We will be cheering on Team USA!”
Thursday’s
announcement was confirmed by Israel’s premier Yair Lapid and world football’s
governing body, FIFA.
“Today’s
historic announcement provides a platform to improve relations across the
Middle East,” said Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, at the time.
“Direct
charter flights will be temporarily operated between Ben Gurion Airport in Tel
Aviv and Hamad International Airport in Doha by an airline with existing
landing rights in Qatar for the duration of the FIFA World Cup, subject to
Israel’s security requirements and operational capabilities,” the FIFA press
statement said.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
US
Slams Israel’s Netanyahu Extremist Ally over Controversial Memorial
11 November,
2022
The
United States on Thursday criticized as “repugnant” the appearance of Israel’s
hardline firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir, a likely member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s new
coalition government, at a memorial to a Jewish extremist.
“Celebrating
the legacy of a terrorist organization is abhorrent. There is no other word for
it,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said when asked about the issue at
his press briefing.
Washington
remains “concerned, as we’ve said before, by the legacy of Kahane Chai (the
political party founded by Orthodox Rabbi Meir Kahane who was assassinated in
1990) and the continued use of rhetoric among violent right-wing extremists,”
Price added as he urged Israeli groups to “maintain calm” and not exacerbate
tensions.
Known
for his anti-Arab diatribes, Ben-Gvir is in prime position to demand a coveted
cabinet seat in a prospective government led by former premier Netanyahu and
may well secure a portfolio relating to the simmering Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
At
the ceremony held Thursday in Jerusalem, according to the Israeli press
Ben-Gvir said he believed Kahane’s “main characteristic was love... love of
Israel without compromises or any other considerations.”
He
was reportedly jeered at the event after saying “I do not support the expulsion
of all Arabs.”
Ben-Gvir
draws his ideology from that of American-born extremist Meir Kahane, a former
Israeli MP whose Kach party was banned in Israel after the 1994 murder of 29
Palestinians praying in Hebron by one of his supporters.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Two US B-52 bombers fly across Middle East, CENTCOM announces
11
November, 2022
The
US military announced Thursday that two B-52H bombers flew over the Middle East
and carried out a Bomber Task Force mission, signaling its readiness to “meet
any challenge decisively.”
Two
B-52H Stratofortress aircraft from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB,
Louisiana, integrated with 13 partner nation air forces, conducted the mission.
“This
Bomber Task Force mission demonstrates our commitment to regional security and
the collective capabilities of our military partners in the region,” US Central
Command chief General Erik Kurilla said in a statement.
Kurilla
said CENTCOM could “very quickly” put a significant amount of combat power in
the air alongside its partners. “We can do the same on the ground and at sea to
meet any challenge decisively.”
Despite
not mentioning Iran, the exercise was seen as sending a signal to Iran as it
continues to send weapons to Russia, increase uranium enrichment for a
potential nuclear weapon, and support militias in the Middle East.
Iran-backed
militias have also attacked US forces in the region on several occasions.
The
Israeli military said two of its F-35 fighter jets escorted the B-52 bombers
during the exercise on Thursday. “As part of the increasing cooperation with
the U.S. Armed Forces, this flight is part of a series of joint exercises to
strengthen our readiness toward all scenarios,” the Israeli army said in a
tweet.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
US
slams Israeli ultranationalist Ben-Gvir's 'abhorrent' memorial visit
Michael
Hernandez
11.11.2022
WASHINGTON
The
US sharply rebuked an incoming far-right Israeli minister Thursday, saying
Itamar Ben-Gvir's visit to a commemoration event for a late terrorist leader is
"abhorrent."
"Celebrating
the legacy of a terrorist organization is abhorrent. There is no other word for
it. It is abhorrent," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.
"We remain concerned, as we said before, by the legacy of Kahane Chai."
Kahane
Chai, or Kach, is an ultranationalist racist Israeli terrorist organization
founded by Israeli-American orthodox rabbi Meir Kahane, who died in 1988.
Kahane espoused a violent anti-Arab ideology that has grown among the Israeli
right in recent years.
While
the US removed Kahane Chai from its Foreign Terrorist Organizations list, it
has been deemed a Specially-Designated Global Terrorist organization under US
law since 2001.
Ben-Gvir
attended a commemoration event for Kahane on Thursday, expressing admiration
for the terrorist leader and receiving cheers for supporting the deportation of
"terrorists" from Israel.
Ben-Gvir
leads the far-right Jewish Power party in Israel and is slated to receive a
ministry following Israel's Nov. 1 elections.
The
ultranationalist lawmaker's support was key to propelling incoming Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to electoral success. The Jewish Power party
is the second-largest in Netanyahu's coalition and the third largest in Israel.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast
Asia
GTA’s
manifesto pledges placing chief justice, IGP, MACC chief under Parliament’s
purview
By
Rex Tan
10
Nov 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) has today launched its 15th general
election (GE15) manifesto, which pledged among others to put the country’s top
officials under the purview of the Parliament.
Its
chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the coalition listed these posts as those
under Parliament: the chief justice, inspector-general of police, attorney
general, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief, chief of the Armed Forces,
chief secretary to the government, Treasury secretary-general, auditor-general,
and Bank Negara Malaysia governor.
“GTA
is committed to cleaning Malaysia from wrong elements such as abuse of power,
corruption, administrative fraud, and untrustworthiness.
“And
we are committed to strengthening the concept of separation of powers and
integrity in MACC, the police, the judiciary, the Attorney General, the Council
of Malay Rulers and establishing a royal commission for integrity and
anti-corruption,” said Dr Mahathir at its launch event tonight.
The
manifesto had among others said that the leadership of the country and the
Malay community must fall with a Malay leader that is trustworthy, while at the
same time giving a chance for upcoming young Malay leaders.
It
had also listed the coalition’s pledge to ensure that the position of Islam and
the Malay community be the foundation of the country.
Dr
Mahathir also claimed that its manifesto is realistic and achievable, unlike
other coalitions that have given big promises that cannot be achieved or will
burden the country’s administration.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Being
an ulama doesn’t necessarily make you a good manager, says Fuziah
Reshna
Reem Ganesan
November
10, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: Being well versed in Islamic jurisprudence and Islam does not
automatically translate to being adept at governance or management, a former
deputy minister said.
Fuziah
Salleh said that when it comes to the issue of governance and management, a
certain level of understanding was required.
“Good
people don’t necessarily make good managers. (Being) an ulama or lawyer won’t
automatically make you understand good governance,” she told FMT.
Fuziah,
a former deputy religious affairs minister, was elaborating on her recent
TikTok video where she said that a combination of Islam and good governance
would help in improving Islamic agencies.
She
said that without a proper understanding of what constituted good governance,
it would be “hard to make things happen”.
“You
can preach, but it doesn’t mean you can manage agencies to rectify what’s
wrong,” she said.
Elaborating
on this, Fuziah cited environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as
an example.
She
described him as a “nice gentleman and friend”.
“But
that doesn’t make him someone who will understand best practices and what they
mean.
“He
may be easily misled into thinking it is okay to carry out direct negotiations
when he is a caretaker minister, for example.”
Fuziah
said it was important that all government agencies practiced good governance,
including Islamic agencies.
She
then referred to the mismanagement of Tabung Haji (TH) under the Barisan
Nasional administration.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Tuan
Ibrahim threatens to sue Rafizi over RM2bil project claim
November
10, 2022
PETALING
JAYA: Environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has demanded Rafizi
Ramli apologise over his claim that the PAS deputy president had approved a RM2
billion project after Parliament was dissolved.
According
to PAS mouthpiece HarakahDaily, the letter of demand had been sent to Rafizi
through the legal firm Yusfarizal Aziz & Zaid.
Tuan
Ibrahim demanded that Rafizi, within seven days, issue a public apology in a
media statement and a letter of undertaking that he would not repeat the
allegation on any platform.
He
also wanted the PKR deputy president to propose a reasonable amount to pay in
damages over his allegation.
“If
you fail to comply with these demands, our firm has strict instructions from
our client to take further action, which includes initiating legal action
against you.”
This
involves Rafizi’s claim that Tuan Ibrahim was in the process of awarding a RM2
billion flood mitigation project to an Umno-linked company.
The
Pandan candidate claimed that the project, which is related to a flood barrier
at Sungai Langat, was the second contract awarded to the same company in the
past six months.
Tuan
Ibrahim denied Rafizi’s allegation and challenged the former MP to lodge a
report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). He added that the
caretaker government could not approve any financial allocation as it was
against a Treasury circular.
In
his suit, Tuan Ibrahim contended that Rafizi’s allegation was slanderous,
malicious, and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
Source:
Free Malaysia Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mocking
Malays will only drive them towards Umno, Rafizi warns Pakatan supporters
By
Justin Ong
11
Nov 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Nov 11 — A small but undeniable section of Pakatan Harapan supporters
were doing Umno a favour by ridiculing the Malay community for supporting the
latter, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said.
The
PH candidate for Pandan said this included blanket statements claiming Malays
did not care about corruption or were easily bought off, sometimes for just
RM50.
While
insisting they were few, he said it was undeniable that this group was making
it hard for Malay voters to approach PH and vice versa.
“Avoid
racial topics. It would be best if non-Malays not launch personal attacks
against rival Malay leaders, especially those with religious backgrounds. The
sensitivity can be twisted to portray non-Muslims mocking Islam. Let us Muslims
take the lead and expose,” he said in a video today.
“Also
avoid commenting on Malay institutions, including the constitutional monarchy,
national language, and the position of Islam.”
Rafizi
urged supporters to understand that the Malay leaders and members of PH will
expose and challenge their counterparts in Umno, PAS, and Bersatu on these
matters, and could do so openly without exposing PH to misleading
counterattacks.
He
acknowledged that his remarks today would not be universally welcome in PH, but
insisted that he needed to say this as a Malay son from a village in
Terengganu.
“I
emphathise with the sensitivities of these Malay voters,” he said.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Pakistan
Pakistan
to withdraw appeals against Islamic court’s verdict seeking interest-free
banking system
10
Nov, 2022
ISLAMABAD
– Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the government will withdraw the
appeals filed against a verdict of Pakistan’s top Islamic court regarding
interest free banking system in the country.
Taking
to Twitter, the financial minister said that the decision has been taken under
the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in consultation with the
Governor State Bank.
They
also decided to promote interest-free banking system in the country on fast
track basis.
In
April this year, the Federal Shariat Court issued a landmark ruling, declaring
the Interest Act 1839 of Pakistan un-Islamic, directing the government to
replace the Riba-based financial system with Islamic system in five years.
The
full bench of the top Islamic court headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Noor
Meskanzai, and comprising Justice Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwar and Mr. Justice
Khadim Hussain M. Shaikh had announced the judgment.
Justice
Syed Muhammad Anwar announced the verdict, stating introducing interest-free
banking system in Pakistan is possible as it is being practiced by some
institutions in the country.
The
court ruled that elimination of Riba is base of the Islamic system, adding that
interest taken on any type of loan falls within the category of Riba, which is
prohibited in Islam.
Source:
Daily Pakistan
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pak
Army dismisses speculation about another extension for Army chief Gen Bajwa
Nov
10, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Army on Thursday put to rest speculation about its chief General
Qamar Javed Bajwa getting another extension, saying the Chief of Army Staff is
paying farewell visits to various garrisons as part of the tradition.
Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif is poised to pick the new Army chief after Gen. Bajwa's
term is scheduled to end on November 29.
Gen.
Bajwa, 61, is to retire after serving two successive three-year terms as the
Army chief, but speculation is rife that he may get a brief extension to
oversee the next elections as demanded by former premier Imran Khan.
However,
the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army's media wing, said in a
statement that Gen. Bajwa was already paying farewell visits to various
garrisons as part of the tradition.
"General
Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited Sialkot and Mangla
garrisons as part of his farewell visits to various formations," read the
statement, adding that he met officers and men at two garrisons and addressed
the troops.
The
Army chief appreciated formations for their excellent performance during
various operations, training and natural calamities. He also advised troops to
keep serving the nation with the same zeal and commitment no matter what the
circumstances.
The
Army spokesperson had already confirmed more than once that General Bajwa would
retire at the end of his tenure on November 29.
Even
Bajwa has also made it clear he would not be seeking another extension in his
tenure.
However,
after the latest statement, it is expected that uncertainty regarding the new
Army chief would end and the process of appointing his successor would pick up
pace.
Constitutionally,
the incumbent prime minister is authorised to nominate the Army chief and send
the summary for the signature of the president who cannot reject the
nomination.
In
a related development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in London to meet his
elder brother and former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif to consult on the key
appointment among other issues.
The
Geo TV reported that he had two back-to-back meetings with the elder Sharif who
had been living in London since 2019 on the pretext of medical treatment.
The
Express Tribune newspaper reported that a summary carrying the names of
potential candidates for the top job will likely be moved about a week before
General Bajwa's retirement.
However,
given past practice, the formal announcement of the new chief will likely be
made closer to his retirement date.
Nevertheless,
some officials claim that there was a possibility of the new chief being
announced sooner rather than later, according to the newspaper.
Bajwa
was initially appointed in 2016, but after three years of tenure, the
then-government of Imran Khan in 2019 extended his service for another three
years.
In
September, former prime minister Khan said that Gen Bajwa should be given
another extension until the new government is elected while reiterating calls
for early elections.
When
Khan was in power, the Opposition accused him of trying to bring an Army chief
of his choice who could support his alleged agenda of victimising opposition
leaders.
Since
he lost power in April this year, the equation has changed and now Khan is
saying that the coalition government wants to install an Army head of its
choice to protect looted wealth and steal general elections.
Whatever
the political meaning of the rival rhetoric, the fact is that an Army chief is
seldom a silent spectator of the political games in the country.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Elimination
of interest-based system to boost economic activities in country: Ashrafi
10
November,2022
ISLAMABAD
(Dunya News) - Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony
and Middle East Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Thursday said the
elimination of interest-based system would help boost economic activities in
the country.
Addressing
a presser, Ashrafi who is also the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council, thanked
the government, particularly Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief Maulana
Fazl-ur-Rehman who is also the head of ruling collation, Pakistan Democratic
Movement and Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani ’s unflinching efforts to get rid of
this anti-Islam system from our financial institutions.
The
withdrawal of appeal of national and state banks against the Federal Shariat
Court’s decision on Riba (interest) had infused a wave of happiness not only in
the country but in the Islamic world. This bold step had raised the prestige of
Pakistan in the Muslim Ummah all around the world, he added.
“It
was a longstanding demand of the people to make our society free from this
interest-based economic system,” he added.
In
the light of Quran and Sunnah, Maulana Ashrafi said the interest-based system
was in contradiction to Islam and its adaptation was considered as an open war
with Allah Almighty and His last Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him.
He,
on behalf of the Ulema and Mashaykh, assured the government’s team to provide
all-out support to transform the economic system in accordance with Islamic
laws and divine commands.
Regarding
the visit of Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman
to Pakistan which is expected on November 21, this month, he said the Saudi
Leadership was not only a state guest but he was a distinguished guest of the
entire nation. “He must be given an overwhelming welcome on his arrival to Pakistan,”
he urged.
Shedding
light on the significance of this highly valued visit, Ashrafi said Prime
Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had three meetings with the Saudi Crown Prince
in a couple of months in which they had discussed wide-range of economic cooperation
including establishment of oil refinery and investment.
He
informed that to highlight the importance of Pak-Saudi relations which are
based on faith and belief, the Pakistan Ulema Council was organizing the fifth
‘International Conference on Message of Islam, Pak-Saudi and Islamic World
Relations’ on November 16, here in the federal capital in which the most
renowned religious scholars and leaders of the Muslim Ummah would participate
as keynote speakers.
Terming
senior journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif as martyr of the entire
nation, Ashrafi said the culprits of his murder should be brought to justice
and facts, behind his murder, should be disclosed to the nation.
He
hinted that India and its intelligence agency’s influence were not hidden to
anyone in Kenya. The enemy’s negative propaganda of creating anarchy and
maligning the national security institutions was properly countered by the
government as it has appealed to the Supreme Court to form a judicial
commission on the matter.
He
said nobody should be allowed to do politics on the blood of Arshad Sharif to
meet his personal gains. As per reports, Arshad Sharif’s murder was a part of
gigantic conspiracy and it should be investigated thoroughly, he added.
He
said the sad incident of firing on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s convoy in
Wazirabad was condemned by the government apparatus in its strongest terms but
the way, government, Pakistan Army and national security institutions being
targeted, was not acceptable at all.
He
said if someone had evidences, he should present in the apex court instead of
fueling the anti-state agenda of maligning the national defense institutions.
Source:
Dunya News
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Gen
Bajwa bids adieu to more formations on farewell tour
Baqir
Sajjad Syed
November
11, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The army on Thursday once again tried to put to rest any speculation that Army
Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa had plans to stay on, by stating that he was already on
his farewell tour.
“General
Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), visited Sialkot and Mangla
garrisons as part of his farewell visits to various formations,” ISPR said in a
statement.
On
Thursday, the army chief met officers and men at both locations and addressed the
troops. He appreciated formations for their excellent performance during
various operations, training and natural calamities. The COAS advised troops to
keep serving the nation with same zeal and commitment no matter what the
circumstances.
Earlier,
upon his arrival at Sialkot, the COAS was received by Lieutenant General
Muhammad Aamer, while Lieutenant General Ayman Bilal Safdar greeted him at the
Mangla garrison.
Gen
Bajwa is retiring on Nov 29 at the end of his extended tenure. He had several
months ago indicated that he planned to retire this year.
His
retirement plan was later confirmed by ISPR on at least a couple of occasions
and the general had himself in last few months twice made it clear that he had
no intentions to carry on — once during his visit to the United States and then
again, while speaking at the National Security Workshop at National Defense
University.
But
no one was ready to believe it, mostly because of the prevailing uncertainty in
the political domain. Doubts have been so strong that even former prime
minister Imran Khan, when faced with vote of no confidence, suspected that the
political move against him was linked to Gen Bajwa’s impending retirement. He
had, therefore, offered indefinite extension to Gen Bajwa in a bid to pre-empt
the then opposition’s vote against him, as per a recent presser by senior
military officials.
Also
read: Army chief visits Peshawar Corps headquarters
Gen
Bajwa finally started his farewell visits to formations on Nov 1 with a visit
to the Army Air Defence Command and followed up the next day with a visit to
Armed Forces Strategic Forces Command. Since then, he has quietly toured a
number of formations.
His
visit to Peshawar Corps on Wednesday came close on the heels of the last corps
commanders conference (on Tuesday), which was being closely watched by
political observers.
The
Peshawar trip, many believe, was strategically timed to signal that the
succession process was about to start after the meeting of the top brass, which
in all likelihood would be the last one with formal agenda to have been chaired
by Gen Bajwa.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1720248/gen-bajwa-bids-adieu-to-more-formations-on-farewell-tour
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Imran
asks CJP to probe army officer’s role in attack
Mansoor
Malik
November
11, 2022
LAHORE:
As Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) long march resumed after a week from
Wazirabad on Thursday, party Chairman Imran Khan addressed the participants
from his Zaman Park residence here through a video link, reiterating his
accusation that a senior army officer was behind his attempted assassination.
He
said “army officer Maj Gen Faisal Naseer masterminded and monitored my
assassination plan”, and demanded the chief justice of Pakistan investigate and
uphold justice to ensure that the country did not become a banana republic.
Mr
Khan urged the country’s top judge to investigate how a former prime minister
could not get a first information report (FIR) registered wherein he had
accused an army officer among the three suspects behind the plot to kill him.
Asking
whether Maj Gen Naseer was above the law, he said the chief of the military’s
media wing had termed his claims an insult to the institution of the armed
forces.
“This
institution will be insulted when it will not take action against a suspect, or
consider itself above the law of the land,” he remarked.
“If
an ex-PM is not able to get an FIR registered as per his information then one
can imagine what will happen to a common man in Pakistan.”
He
further alleged that since Maj Gen Naseer and Inter-Services Intelligence
Islamabad Sector Commander Brig Faheem were posted in Islamabad, “they
unleashed torture on us as if we were terrorists”.
“If
such people will remain here, terrorism will not be controlled, but will
grow.”
The
former premier also urged the Supreme Court chief justice to investigate the
humiliation of Senator Azam Swati and the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif
in Kenya.
Referring
to the purported videos showing the torture on Mr Sharif, Mr Khan asked how
those videos got to a TV anchor when the post-mortem report had yet to reach
the mother of the slain journalist. He questioned who was upset with the
investigative reporting of Arshad Sharif and nurturing hatred against him that
led to his torture before killing.
“Only
the Supreme Court can investigate, as the nation has lost faith in the credibility
of investigating agencies,” he claimed, and wondered that the PTI was a
coalition partner in the Punjab government, but its police were being
“controlled from somewhere else”.
Asking
when the justice system will protect the common people, Mr Khan stressed this
was a matter of the country’s future that now rested in the hands of the
Supreme Court.
Earlier,
he once again explained his allegations that the plan for his assassination,
which was executed in Wazirabad, had been hatched in September and that he had
exposed it in two public meetings.
He
claimed the forensic report of the container that was fired upon in Wazirabad
suggested there were two shooters instead of the one captured from the crime
scene. Certain army officers, besides the prime minister and interior minister,
had planned to give his murder attempt the colour of religious fanaticism, but,
he said: “Man proposes, God disposes.”
Now,
the PTI chief said, the party’s long march would not stop and continue getting
aggressive to ensure rule of law and that every powerful person was held
accountable for their wrongdoings.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1720242/imran-asks-cjp-to-probe-army-officers-role-in-attack
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Pakistan
govt issues diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif, paves way for return: Report
Nov
11, 2022
The
Pakistan government has issued a diplomatic passport to former prime minister
Nawaz Sharif, who has been living in self-imposed exile in London since 2019.
According
to reports in Pakistani media, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
has issued a diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif for a period of five years,
sources in his family said. This will enable him to return to his country.
Interestingly,
Nawaz Sharif is the elder brother of current prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, and
also the supreme leader of the ruling party, PML-N. The two brothers met in
London on Thursday, flanked by a coterie of top ministers.
Pakistan's
interior ministry had issued an ordinary passport to the three-time premier
earlier this year. On the other hand, Nawaz claims that he had already acquired
a diplomatic passport after his own had expired in February 2021, and was not
renewed by the Imran Khan-led regime.
Several
corruption cases had been launched by the government of ex-prime minister Imran
Khan against the 72-year-old supremo of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz since
his ouster from office by the Supreme Court in July 2017 in the Panama Papers
case.
In
November 2019, Nawaz Sharif left for London after the Lahore High Court granted
him a four-week permission allowing him to go abroad for his treatment.
He
had given an undertaking to the Lahore High Court to return to Pakistan, citing
his record to face the process of law and justice within four weeks or as soon
as he is declared healthy and fit to travel by doctors.
Source:
India Today
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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India
NIA
searches 43 places suspected to be linked to Muslim outfits in TN
11th
November 2022
COIMBATORE/CHENNAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA),
which is probing into the car explosion in front of a temple in Coimbatore on
October 23, conducted searches at 43 places suspected to be linked to various
Muslim outfits in eight districts across Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
According
to a press release issued by the NIA on Thursday, Jamesha Mubeen, who killed
himself in the blast, had taken bayyat or pledge with the ISIS, and was
planning suicide attacks to cause extensive damage to symbols and monuments of
a particular religious faith with the intention to strike terror among a
particular section of the community. A case initially registered at the Ukkadam
police station in Coimbatore was referred to NIA and the central agency
re-registered the case on October 27, the release said.
Several
materials, including digital devices, were seized during searches carried out
at 33 places in Coimbatore by a team of around 100 NIA officials, which arrived
from Chennai and Kochi, with the support of the city police. Searches were also
conducted in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruppur, Nilgiris, Chengalpattu,
Kancheepuram and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and at one location in Kerala’s
Palakkad district, sources said.
In
Coimbatore city, NIA officials searched properties of suspects linked to Mubeen
and six others held in the case at Kottaimedu, Ukkadam, Ponvizhanagar,
Rathinapuri Al-Ameen Colony, GM Nagar, Karumbukadai, HMPR Street, Rose Garden,
Podanur, Kuniyamuthur, Kurichi and Selvapuram. The search operation which started
at 4.30am ended at most places in Coimbatore within two hours. At a few places,
the search continued till afternoon.
In
Tiruppur, a house belonging to Mohammed Yousuf, brother-in-law of Mubeen,
located on Venkateswara Nagar Sixth Street along Kangeyam Road, was searched by
officials. The officials later took Yusuf to Tiruppur South Police station and
released him after several hours of questioning. A mobile phone and some
documents were seized from him, sources said.
“The
six suspects arrested in the case had conspired with Jamesha Mubeen to procure
different chemicals and other substances for the fabrication of improvised
explosive devices, including a vehicle-borne IED, from online shopping
platforms to commit sensational terrorist acts. Further investigation is on,”
the NIA press release said. NIA officials have also planned to move court to
take all the six suspects lodged at Coimbatore Central Prison into custody for
a detailed inquiry, sources said.
In
Chennai, NIA sleuths searched houses and shops in Otteri, Thiruvottiyur,
Mannady and seized some mobile phones and laptops. Two houses could not be
searched as they were locked, sources said. The suspects whose premises were
searched had been in touch with the accused, sources said.
The
Chennai police, meanwhile, carried out separate searches at two places in
Thiruvottiyur and one place in Pulianthope, including those belonging to two
brothers, based on intelligence alert about their possible link to illegal
activities.
Source:
New Indian Express
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Coimbatore
blast: NIA searches across TN and in Kerala
Nov
11, 2022
NEW
DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches
at 43 locations across eight districts of Tamil Nadu and one location in
Kerala, in the case relating to a car bomb blast that took place in the
vicinity of a temple in Coimbatore on October 23.
The
searches were carried out across Chennai, Coimbatore, Thiruvallur, Thiruppur,
Nilgiris, Chengalpatu, Kanchipuram and Nagapattinam districts of Tamil Nadu and
in Palakkad district of Kerala.
Preliminary
investigation into the blast in an explosives-laden car in front of Kottai
Eswaran temple has revealed that a deceased accused, Jamesha Mubeen, after
taking ‘bayath’ or oath of allegiance to IS, was planning to “carry out suicide
attacks and cause extensive damage to symbols and monuments of a particular
religious faith and with the intention to strike terror among a particular
section of community,” the NIA said on Thursday.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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JeM
terrorist killed in encounter in J&K's Shopian
Nov
11, 2022
SRINAGAR:
A foreign Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant was killed in an encounter with
security forces in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, police
said.
The
militant has been identified as Kamran Bhai alias Hanees, they said.
An
encounter broke out between militants and security forces in the Kapren area of
Shopian district in the early hours of Friday, a police official said.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Supreme
Court to hear today plea on extended cover for Gyanvapi ‘Shivling’
Nov
11, 2022
NEW
DELHI: Hindu parties on Thursday requested the Supreme Court to extend its May
17 interim order directing the Varanasi district magistrate to seal off the
wuzu (ablution) area inside the Gyanvapi mosque to protect the ‘Shivling’ which
was purportedly discovered during a trial court ordered survey.
Advocate
Vishnu Shankar Jain requested a bench headed by CJI D Y Chandrachud to extend
the May 17 interim order during the pendency of the issue in the trial court
and the Allahabad HC. While the trial court is seized of a suit filed by five
Hindu women seeking right to worship goddess Shringar Gauri inside the mosque,
the committee of management of the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (Gyanvapi mosque
management) has moved the HC challenging the trial court’s decision to appoint
the local commissioner for survey of the mosque and has sought quashing of the
report.
The
CJI said the plea for extension of interim order needs to be heard by the
bench, which also comprised Justices Surya Kant and P S Narasimha, which had
last heard the matter. He posted it for hearing on Friday at 3pm.
Balancing
the sentiments of Hindus and Muslims, the SC on May 17 had ordered Varanasi
district magistrate to seal off the wuzu khana area, where a ‘Shivling’ was
purportedly found during a recent survey, but had allowed Muslims free access
to the mosque for offering namaz by lifting the trial court order capping the
number of Muslims offering Namaz to 20 at any given time.
Four
days later, the SC had shifted the trial of a suit by Hindu parties seeking
enforcement of their right to worship inside Gyanvapi mosque from civil judge
(senior division) to the district judge, even as it observed that the survey of
a structure to ascertain its religious nature is not barred under the
Protection of Places of Worship Act,1991.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Terrorist
hiring module busted, banned Jamaat properties sealed in J&K
Nov
11, 2022
SRINAGAR:
A terrorist funding and recruitment module was busted and six men were arrested
in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Thursday, while two schools and seven other
properties of the outlawed Jamaat-e-Islami outfit were sealed and confiscated
in the southern district of Shopian as part of counter-terrorism operations in
the Valley.
The
Jamaat, a socio-political and religious organisation, was banned for its
alleged ties with terrorist outfits. It runs several schools through its
affiliate Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT). Their activities have been under the scanner
and authorities had searched their properties as recently as September.
On
Thursday, revenue officials sealed two schools and plots of land owned by the
Jamaat.
In
Kupwara, a combined team of policemen and Rashtriya Rifles soldiers captured
six men for allegedly running terrorist funding and recruitment module. The
team caught the first suspect Bilal Ahmed Dar and he gave away the names of the
others tied to the group operating “under the garb of a fake NGO called Islahi
Falahi Relief Trust (IFRT) that claimed to provide monetary assistance to poor
and needy families”, police said.
“Bilal
revealed his accomplices as Wahid Ahmed Bhat, Javed Ahmed Najar, Mushtaq Ahmed
Najar, Bashir Ahmed Mir, and his cousin Zubair Ahmed Dar,” a police note said.
They
were arrested in a swift swoop and “a huge quantity of arms, ammunition, and
raw material to prepare IEDs” were seized from them. The group was said to be
doing the bidding of its Pakistani backers to help Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen Jammu
and Kashmir, an outfit that reportedly seeks J&K’s merger with Pakistan.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
NIA
Files Chargesheet against TRF Terrorist from Baramulla in Delhi Court
Nov
11, 2022
SRINAGAR:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against a
terror operative of The Resistance Force (TRF), an offshoot of the
Lashkar-e-Taiba, in the NIA special court in New Delhi.
In
the supplementary chargesheet filed on Wednesday, Muzamil Mushtaq Bhat alias
Hamza alias Daniyal, a resident of J&K’s Baramulla district, has been
charged under various sections of IPC, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act,
besides the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
A
NIA spokesperson said the case was registered on November 18 last year and the
investigations revealed that the accused had radicalised, motivated and instigated
vulnerable youth to join terro groups, including TRF, in Kashmir.
Bhat
entered into a conspiracy with active militant commanders to train the Kashmiri
youth to fabricate IEDs/explosives using locally available chemicals and also
facilitated the transfer of weapons for terror activities in India.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Arab
World
Western sanctions have made debilitating impacts on Syrians’ lives: UN human
rights expert
10
November 2022
A
senior UN human rights expert has warned about the deleterious impacts of the
Western sanctions against Syria, saying the ongoing unilateral coercive
measures have caused dire humanitarian consequences for Syrian citizens who are
seeking to rebuild their lives.
Alena
Douhan, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the
unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, on Thursday
called for the removal of sanctions against Syria, warning that they were
perpetuating and exacerbating the destruction and trauma suffered by the Syrian
nation since the onset of the foreign-sponsored conflict in March 2011.
“I
am struck by the pervasiveness of the human rights and humanitarian impact of
the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria and the total economic and
financial isolation of a country whose people are struggling to rebuild a life
with dignity, following the decade-long war,” Douhan said in a statement
following her 12-day visit to Syria.
Douhan
said 90 percent of Syria’s population was currently living below the poverty
line, with limited access to food, water, electricity, shelter, cooking and
heating fuel, transportation and healthcare; and warned that the country was
facing a massive brain-drain due to growing economic hardship.
“With
more than half of the vital infrastructure either completely destroyed or
severely damaged, the imposition of unilateral sanctions on key economic
sectors, including oil, gas, electricity, trade, construction and engineering
have quashed national income, and undermine efforts towards economic recovery
and reconstruction,” she noted.
The
UN rights expert said blocking of payments and refusal of deliveries by foreign
producers and banks, coupled with sanctions-induced foreign currency reserves,
have caused serious shortages in medicines and specialized medical equipment, particularly
for chronic and rare diseases.
She
also warned that rehabilitation and development of water distribution networks
for drinking and irrigation had stalled due to the unavailability of equipment
and spare parts, creating serious public health and food security implications.
“In
the current dramatic and still-deteriorating humanitarian situation as 12
million Syrians grapple with food insecurity, I urge the immediate lifting of
all unilateral sanctions that severely harm human rights and prevent any
efforts for early recovery, rebuilding and reconstruction,” Douhan said.
“No
reference to good objectives of unilateral sanctions justifies the violation of
fundamental human rights. The international community has an obligation of
solidarity and assistance to the Syrian people,” she underlined.
Syria
has been in the throes of foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. While the
Daesh terrorist group was crushed by the Syrian government, the militant groups
continue to hold sway in some parts of the country under the patronage of
Western powers.
Numerous
reports have pointed to the US’ role in transferring Daesh terrorists to the
war-ravaged country and even airlifting supplies to the group.
Last
year, the US government imposed sweeping economic sanctions against Syria amid
the Arab nation’s uphill battle for reconstruction and recovery.
The
controversial Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, signed into law by former
President Donald Trump, targeted individuals and businesses anywhere in the
world that participated either directly or indirectly in Syria’s economy.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Syrian
refugee and supporter of Islamic State sentenced to 17 years for plot to bomb
Pittsburgh church
November
10, 2022
A
Syrian refugee has been sentenced to more than 17 years in what authorities
said was a plot to bomb a Christian church in Pittsburgh.
Mustafa
Mousab Alowemer, 24, was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years and four months on a
guilty plea last year to a federal charge of attempting to provide material
support and resources to the Islamic State group, a militant extremist
organization.
Authorities
said Alowemer, who was born in Syria and came to the United States in 2016, had
detailed plans in 2019 to bomb the Legacy International Worship Center, a small
Christian church on the city’s North Side. Prosecutors said he wanted to
inspire other U.S. supporters of the Islamic State group to conduct similar
actions.
Alowemer
gave someone he thought was a fellow IS supporter instructions about how to
build and use explosives in May 2019, but that person was in fact with the FBI,
prosecutors said. A month later, they said, he purchased nails and nail polish
remover to build an explosive device, they said.
In
a June 2019 meeting with an FBI agent and an FBI confidential source, Alowemer
gave them maps with arrival and escape routes, and a handwritten, 10-point plan
about how he would deliver the explosives in a backpack. He was arrested about
a week later.
The
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that U.S. District Judge Marilyn Horan told
Alowemer on Tuesday that the case had brought "nothing but tragic
impact" on him and his family, as well as the community.
"You
knew full well what you were doing," she sad. "All of your actions
were knowing, intentional and deliberate."
Prosecutors
sought the maximum term of 20 years. The defense argued for an eight-year term,
arguing that years of trauma had left Alowemer with post-traumatic stress
disorder and major depressive disorder as well as survivor's guilt that made
him obsessed about what was happening in his homeland.
"At
the time of his offense, he was sick, and that sickness contributed to his
offense," assistant public defender Andrew Lipson said. "That
sickness distorted the world around him."
Assistant
U.S. Attorney Soo Song acknowledged that he had endured trauma but said what he
planned was not only "an act of terrorism" but had the hallmarks of a
hate crime in targeting a Christian church to try to retaliate for actions
against ISIS in Nigeria. Other potential targets he identified included
classmates and U.S. soldiers, she said.
In
court, Alowemer apologized to the church's pastor and congregation as well as
the community and the government.
Source:
Fox News
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Saudi
Arabia considers public offering to fund Mecca megaproject
10
November 2022
Saudi
Arabia has asked US investment bank Lazard for ways to fund construction of its
$500bn futuristic desert-city Neom, as well as a $27bn megaproject in the holy
city of Mecca.
Saudi
Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is considering selling debt from the
projects and an initial public offering on the Saudi stock exchange. The
sovereign wealth fund is chaired by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and has
more than $600bn in assets.
Bloomberg
first reported Lazard was advising the sovereign wealth fund on Neom.
Neom
is a centrepiece of the crown prince's efforts to transform the oil-rich
kingdom's economy away from petrodollars.
The
project includes a 170km straight-line city, touted to be 33 times the size of
New York City, an eight-sided city that floats on water, a ski resort with a
folded vertical village, and other eyebrow-raising ideas, such as flying
elevators and an urban spaceport.
The
project has been moving slowly and there has been little headway on some of the
more lavish initiatives such as flying cars. Meanwhile, employees at Neom have
complained of a toxic work culture.
Neom
CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr once threatened to "pull out a gun and start shooting
if he wasn't told who was to blame" for two e-sports companies cancelling
a partnership with Neom over human rights concerns.
Mecca
megaproject
On
Tuesday, Reuters reported Lazard was also developing financing options for
Masar, a 1.2 million square metre urban development project in the western part
of Mecca.
The
project is centred around the construction of a 3,650-metre pedestrian boulevard
leading to Al Haram Mosque, flanked on each side by new roads. The development
will include retail, commercial, and residential units, with a focus on
tourism. A new bus and metro line will also be constructed.
About
two million people visit Mecca each year to perform the Islamic pilgrimage of
Hajj. Saudi Arabia has hoped that its existing religious tourism industry will
give it an edge as it looks to diversify the sector and compete with
established regional tourism players such as the UAE and Egypt.
The
new project is expected to receive 80 percent of visitors to Mecca as well as
more than 60 percent of vehicles arriving from Jeddah.
According
to Reuters, Masar was planning an IPO for next year, but the timing may be
pushed back as financiers try to determine the value of the project.
Working
on Neom and Masar is a coup for Lazard, which has been cultivating the Saudi
market since it hired Citigroup’s former chief executive in the kingdom, Wassim
al-Khatib, who was a central player in Aramco's record $29.4 bn initial public
offering in 2019.
Saudi
Arabia is enjoying an economic boom on the back of rising energy prices and
business reforms. The IMF predicts Saudi Arabia will have the fastest rate of
growth among G20 countries this year.
Unlike
previous oil-fuelled upswings, which traditionally saw an increase in handouts
to citizens and public salaries, this time round the kingdom is investing in
its economic diversification.
Source:
Middle East Eye
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-considers-public-offering-fund-megaproject-mecca
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Al
Azhar Grand Imam hails SCIA Chairman's efforts to hold Bahrain Dialogue Forum
10
Nov 2022
Manama,
Nov.10 (BNA): Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (SCIA) Chairman Shaikh
Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa received a cable of thanks from
His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, Sheikh of Al Azhar Al Sharif and Chairman of
the Muslim Council of Elders, for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality,
hailing efforts to host the Bahrain Dialogue Forum.
HE
Dr. Al Tayeb commended the SCIA's role in fostering moderate thought,
confronting extremist ideology, supporting coexistence and human acquaintance,
and service of Islam and Muslims.
Source:
BNA
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https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2bDkRbuGxJiL9cEZCE54GGp%2fE%3d
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Saudi
regime forces re-arrest distinguished cleric from Shia-populated Eastern
Province
11
November 2022
Saudi
security forces have reportedly re-arrested a distinguished Shia scholar in the
country’s oil-rich Eastern Province, as the Riyadh regime presses ahead with
its heavy-handed crackdown on members of the religious community.
The
Arabic-language Mirat al-Jazeera news website, citing informed local sources,
reported that the forces detained Sheikh Muhammad al-Abbad in al-‘Umran city of
al-Ahsa province without a warrant, and took him away to an unknown location.
Sheikh
Abbad had been arrested on September 16, 2019. The Supreme Court sentenced him
at the time to two and a half years in prison, and slapped a travel ban of the
same period against him. He was imprisoned for nearly 3 years before being
released last March.
The
Shia cleric is known for his strong and courageous stances in defense of
citizens' rights, and speaking fearlessly against abuses and misappropriation
of organizational power by state authorities.
This
comes as activities have warned that the fate of an imprisoned prominent Shia
scholar from Eastern Province remains unknown.
They
said they had "no information" about the whereabouts of Hashim
Muhammad al-Shakhs.
Back
in December 2020, members of the General Intelligence Presidency cordoned off
the area around the house of Shakhs in the city of al-Ahsa, before breaking in
and arresting the cleric.
The
sources added that the Saudi regime forces ransacked the house, terrorizing the
entire family.
Saudi
Arabia has stepped up politically-motivated arrests, prosecution, and
conviction of peaceful dissident writers and human rights campaigners, in
particular in the Eastern Province.
The
province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011.
Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of
political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination
against the region.
The
protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown, with regime forces
increasing security measures across the province.
Ever
since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and
de facto leader in 2017, the kingdom has arrested dozens of activists,
bloggers, intellectuals, and others perceived as political opponents, showing
almost zero tolerance for dissent even in the face of international
condemnations of the crackdown.
As
a result, Islamic scholars have been executed, women’s rights campaigners have
been put behind bars and tortured, and freedom of expression, association, and
belief continue to be denied.
Source:
Press TV
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Hezbollah
to punish Israel for any foolishness on maritime deal: Official
11
November 2022
The
Deputy Secretary General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah Sheikh Naim Qassem has warned
that the resistance movement will punish the Israeli regime and bring it back
to its senses in case of any foolishness in terms of the maritime borders
demarcation agreement with Lebanon.
The
second-in-command of the resistance movement reiterated on Thursday that
Hezbollah is ready to confront the Israeli regime, and it is the strength and
unity in Lebanon that has allowed the crisis-hit country to deal with its
problems as well as guarantee the demarcation of its maritime borders.
“If
Israel creates an issue in the maritime border demarcation agreement, Hezbollah
has enough power to punish and prevent any foolishness [of this regime],"
he said.
On
another note, Sheikh Qassem, deputy of Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary
General of Hezbollah pointed out the US oppresses all the people of the world.
Sputnik
quoted Sheikh Qassem as saying, “We will never accept to be under US command or
obey its orders. The coming future will prove that the US will not be able to
implement its plans in a region where resistance is present and there are
nations that do not accept American hegemony.”
He
stated that the US is confronting Hezbollah due to Hezbollah's struggle with
Israel, explaining “Israel was created by the West to be its tool and through
it to dominate the future and destiny of this region.”
“In
breach of human rights and humanity, the West uses Israel as a tool whenever it
wants to achieve its criminal goals without having to pay direct costs,” he
noted.
Commenting
on the Israeli regime’s elections, Sheikh Qassem emphasized “these elections
will not change anything. There is one problem and that is; there is an
occupier in our region called the Israeli regime. Therefore, it does not matter
who is the prime minister.”
Sayyed
Nasrallah's deputy considered Benjamin Netanyahu's threats to be nothing more
than “a sound bomb” that has no effect.
On
Lebanon’s future president, Sheikh Qassem said the president to-be “must be a
nationalist and must reject any foreign meddling in Lebanon’s affairs. He
should not be under US control.”
'Deal
does not end tensions'
Meanwhile,
US mediator in the file of the maritime border dispute Amos Hochstein said on
Thursday that the maritime agreement does not resolve the pending disputes
between Lebanon and Israel and does not end tensions between Hezbollah and the
Israeli regime.
However,
he claimed that the deal with enhance security in the region.
In
remarks to Al-Jazeera television, Hochstein said he is confident that the
Israeli regime will continue to abide by the sea border demarcation agreement
with Lebanon despite Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power.
Israeli
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promise to “neutralize” the maritime deal
made with Lebanon a few weeks before he was tapped to form a new cabinet in the
Israeli apartheid regime.
He
underscored that gas companies will start working in Lebanon and that foreign
investments will flow into the country to boost its prosperity.
Experts
believe this agreement would put Lebanon on the map of oil exporters.
Lebanon’s
outgoing President Michel Aoun stressed in a statement that demarcating the
southern maritime border is a technical matter that has no political
implications and therefore no diplomatic bonds.
Source:
Press TV
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Lebanese
MPs fail for fifth time to elect president
10
November, 2022
Lebanon’s
divided parliament failed Thursday to elect a new president for the fifth time,
with the post vacant since the mandate of Michel Aoun expired last month.
Michel
Moawad, whose father Rene Moawad served as president, was the frontrunner in
the 128-seat parliament with 44 votes on Thursday, still far short of the
two-thirds majority – or 86 ballots – needed to win.
Parliament
is split between supporters of the Lebanese Hezbollah and its opponents,
neither having a clear majority.
Hezbollah
rejects the candidacy of Moawad, who is seen as close to the United States, and
calls for a “compromise candidate” to be found.
In
the meantime, most lawmakers from its bloc spoilt their ballots.
“Neither
camp can impose a candidate, A compromise must be found and an understanding
reached on a candidate acceptable to everyone,” deputy speaker Elias Bou Saab
told AFP in an interview on Tuesday.
Aoun’s
own election in 2016 followed a more than two-year vacancy at the presidential
palace as lawmakers made 45 failed attempts to reach consensus on a candidate.
But
this year’s vacancy comes as Lebanon is gripped by an unprecedented financial
crisis that has pushed much of the population into poverty since 2019.
During
a vacancy, the powers of the president fall to the cabinet.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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UAE
president invites Israel's Netanyahu to visit Abu Dhabi
Said
Amouri
11.11.2022
JERUSALEM
Israel's
former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who won the last Knesset elections,
has said UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed invited him to visit Abu Dhabi
to strengthen bilateral ties.
“I
have now spoken with my friend, the President of the United Arab Emirates,
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and we have agreed to further promote relations
after the historic peace agreement we reached together,” Netanyahu tweeted on
Thursday.
“Sheikh
bin Zayed invited me to visit his country so that we can advance our relations
together. I thank him for the conversation and the excellent relationship
between us!” he added.
Sheikh
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated Netanyahu "on his victory in the
recent Knesset elections, stressing the UAE's keenness to strengthen positive
partnerships in the region,” according to the state-run Emirates News Agency.
Netanyahu
and his right-wing bloc secured an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset,
allowing him to form the upcoming government.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
Stories
of trauma, resilience spotlighted at Palestinian film festival
11 November,
2022
The
fate of a Palestinian girl forced into exile during the 1948 war of Israel’s
creation remains unknown. But her story took on new life in a film about her
experience that captured the big screen at this year’s Palestine Cinema Days
festival.
Hundreds
of viewers flocked to the closing ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah on
Monday to watch “Farha,” a coming-of-age feature inspired by true events from
the conflict more than 70 years ago.
In
a mass event known to Palestinians as the “Nakba,” or “catastrophe”, hundreds
of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during that
war, leaving scars that remain raw generations later.
“This
is a very special moment for all of us, to have the film screened in Palestine
to a Palestinian audience,” said Deema Azar, one of the film’s producers, told
Reuters.
The
Jordanian director and screenwriter, Darin J. Sallam, based the plot on a woman
her mother encountered decades ago at the Palestinian Yarmouk refugee camp in
Syria, Azar said. Her mother later lost touch with the woman and it is unclear
where she is now or if she is still alive.
The
team sensed that building their film around the Nakba would be challenging,
Azar said, but they carried on “because we knew it was an important story to
tell”.
The
festival, now in its ninth year, was organized by Film Lab: Palestine, which
cultivates cinema culture and supports Palestinian filmmakers. It launched on
November 1 with the 2023 Oscar-nominated “Mediterranean Fever,” a drama by Maha
Haj from Nazareth exploring mental health and masculinity.
‘Preserve
our narrative’
The
week-long program drew thousands of guests and showcased 58 films across the
Israeli-occupied West Bank, blockaded Gaza as well as Israel in cities that are
separated by checkpoints and travel restrictions hindering many from leaving
their own areas.
“Unfortunately,
our audience cannot travel freely,” said Hanna Atallah, Film Lab’s founder. “In
order not to deny audiences in other cities enjoying these films, we decided to
go to them.”
The
goal of the festival, which has been drawing new followers each year, is “to
preserve our narrative and see how others are dealing with their own issues
through the language of cinema,” Atallah said.
For
Hazem Abu Hilal, 38, a social and political activist from Ramallah who attended
the festival for the first time this year, “Farha” managed to animate a
personal history that he is well versed in.
“We’ve
heard the stories but these scenes made them seem more real,” he said.
But
before the hall fell dark and silent for “Farha,” the crowd roared with
applause as the winners of this year’s Sunbird competition, celebrating film
productions related to Palestinians, were announced.
Mashal
Kawasmi, 28, who took home the top $10,000 prize in the production category for
“The Flag,” said hearing his family and colleagues cheer when his name was
called was “the most heartwarming feeling.”
“It
means that I am getting somewhere, that someone believes in the story,” the
first-time director from Jerusalem said as filmmakers and guests snapped final
photos on the red carpet.
“Our
voices deserve to be heard and this festival is helping us do that.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
Criticizes G-7 Members for Classifying Terrorism as Good, Bad
2022-November-10
Kana'ani
on Wednesday strongly condemned and rejected a recent statement by the G-7 over
the latest developments in Iran.
Foreign
ministers of the G-7, which consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
Britain, and the US, issued a statement at the end of their meeting in Germany
in early November, condemning Iran for what they called a crackdown on rallies
that followed the death of Mahsa Amini. The statement also condemned Iran for
what they described as “destabilizing activities” and criticized Tehran for the
alleged transfer of weapons to Russia for use in the Ukraine war.
In
response, the Iranian diplomat noted that all those allegations are
"unfounded and fabricated", adding that the G7 statement violates the
UN Charter.
"The
statement practically encourages riots and terrorist attacks in Iran, and that
those issuing the statement should be held accountable over their stance,"
he continued.
Kana'ani
said that the majority of the G-7 member states refused to even condemn the
October terrorist attack in the Southern city of Shiraz that left several
people dead.
"It
shows the G-7 members divide terrorism to good and bad, which by itself is
indicative of contradiction in their words and actions," he added.
At
least 15 pilgrims, including a woman and two children, were martyred and 19
others wounded in the terrorist attack on the famous shrine.
Daesh
(also known as ISIL or ISIS) terror group has claimed responsibility for the
assault in a statement on their telegram channel.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Thousands
of Palestinians perform Friday dawn prayers at al-Aqsa mosque after Israeli
settlers' attack
11
November 2022
Thousands
of Palestinians worshipers reached al-Aqsa Mosque early morning on Friday in
occupied East al-Quds and performed Friday dawn prayer in its courtyards amid
strict Israeli measures and following attacks by illegal Israeli settlers the
night before.
Palestinians
started to flock from the different surrounding cities since early dawn hours
to make sure they make it on time to the congregation. Israeli occupation
police and strict checkpoints were deployed in the streets of al-Quds in an
attempt to hamper their arrival to the holy site, according to Quds Press.
Nevertheless, several thousands of them managed to reach the mosque.
Meanwhile,
dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the complex on Thursday, local sources said.
The illegal settlers forced their way into the holy site through the Bab al-Maghariba
under tight protection of several groups of Israeli soldiers and special police
forces, and carried out provocative acts in order to infuriate Palestinians.
Illegal
settler incursions under police protection to the al-Aqsa mosque have been on
the rise, which has led to daily confrontations with Palestinians at the
mosque, with many injured, arrested and killed. Palestinians have said that
their continued presence at al-Aqsa, a holy place of Worshiping for Muslims, is
imperative.
It
has been a major flash-point between the Israeli occupation and Palestinians
for decades, and was the epicenter of the 2000-2005 Palestinian Intifada, also
known as the uprising.
Such
mass settler break-ins almost always take place at the behest of Tel
Aviv-backed temple groups and under the auspices of the Israeli police in
al-Quds.
The
al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which sits just above the Western Wall plaza, houses
both the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque.
Back
in May 2021, frequent acts of violence against Palestinian worshipers at the
al-Aqsa Mosque led to an 11-day war between Palestinian resistance groups in
the besieged Gaza Strip and the Israeli regime, during which the regime killed
at least 260 Palestinians, including 66 children.
The
Jewish visitation of al-Aqsa is permitted, but according to an agreement signed
between Israel and the Jordanian government in the wake of Israel’s occupation
of East Jerusalem al-Quds in 1967, non-Muslim worship at the compound is
prohibited.
Source:
Press TV
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
Develops Hypersonic Ballistic Missile Able to Overcome All Air Defence Shields
2022-November-10
Speaking
to reporters on Thursday, Brig. Gen. Hajizadeh noted Iran has managed to
develop cutting-edge hypersonic ballistic missile which is capable of
penetrating advanced missile interception systems and hit the targets.
The
top commander stated that the missile, newly manufactured by Iranian experts,
is very fast and able to maneuver both in the space and outer space.
“The
missile can target the enemy’s anti-missile systems and is a great generational
leap in the missile field,” he added.
“I
don’t think any technology would be found for tens of years capable of
countering it,” the IRGC commander declared.
Brigadier
General Hajizadeh went on to say that the Iranian ballistic missile targets the
enemy’s anti-missile systems, describing it as a huge leap in the development
of a new generation of missiles.
Iranian
officials praises the development of the country's defense capabilities in
recent decades, and stress that Tehran's defense power is not negotiable.
Military
comanders say Iran stands among the world's top states manufacturing drones and
precision-striking missiles, and add different types of home-made military
equipment are favored by world powers.
The
Islamic Republic’s military doctrine holds that the country’s armed capability
solely serves defensive purposes.
Iranian
military experts and technicians have in recent years made substantial headway
in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces
self-sufficient in the weaponry sphere.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
Iran
Warns of Appropriate, Decisive Response to Germany's Meddling
2022-November-10
“Provocative,
interventionist and undiplomatic stances don’t signal sophistication and
wisdom," Amir Abdollahian wrote on Twitter addressed to Baerbock on
Thursday.
He
warned that undermining old ties between the two countries has long-term
consequences, and added that Berlin can choose between engagement to address
shared challenges or pursue confrontation.
“Our
response will be proportionate and firm,” the Iranian diplomat pointed out.
On
Wednesday, Baerbock voiced support for the recent unrest in Iran, noting the EU
will seek to adopt new sanctions against Tehran next week.
Protests
erupted in several cities across Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, a
22-year-old Iranian woman who fainted at a police station in mid-September and
days later was pronounced dead at a hospital. The demonstrations soon turned
violent.
An
official report by Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization announced that Amini’s
controversial death was caused by an illness rather than alleged blows to the
head or other vital body organs.
Iranian
officials blame Western countries for orchestrating the riots to destabilize
the country.
Supreme
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei severely censured
the deadly riots, saying they were orchestrated in advance by the United States
and the Israeli regime.
“I
state it clearly that these developments were planned by America, the Zionist
regime and their acolytes. Their main problem is with a strong and independent
Iran and the country’s progress. The Iranian nation proved to be fairly strong
during recent events and will bravely come onto the scene wherever necessary in
the future,” he added.
In
recent days, Iranian officials have blamed the United States, the European
Unions, and several Western states for meddling in Iran's internal affairs over
the death of Mahsa. They advised the US and its allies against
"opportunism and instrumentalization of the issue of human rights" by
misusing the incident.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
President: Cooperation Among Independent States Response to US Destabilisation
Strategy
2022-November-10
In
a meeting with Russia’s visiting Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev
in Tehran on Wednesday, Rayeesi noted that the improvement of regional
cooperation is the best way to create peace and stability, urging Tehran and
Moscow to boost their strategic and economic relations.
He
said Iran and Russia are determined to improve the level of strategic relations
in various fields, adding that the ties are growing and have a clear prospect.
"Cooperation
among independent nations is the most decisive answer to the sanctions and
destabilization policy of the United States and its allies," Rayeesi told
Patrushev.
The
Iranian president once again reiterated the Islamic Republic’s core policy of
opposing any war, stressing, "The expansion of the scope and escalation of
war is a cause of concern for all countries.”
Patrushev,
for his part, said Russia is working very actively to develop cooperation with
Tehran in the political, commercial, energy, agricultural and transit fields.
He
added that the Iran-Russia Joint Economic Commission is following up on the
implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries’ presidents.
The
senior Russian security official expressed hope that Tehran and Moscow would
expand relations in regional circles and organizations.
He
emphasized that the creation of a multipolar world would be beneficial to all
countries in the world.
Since
Tehran and Moscow enjoy common interests in economic, military, and security
affairs as well as friendly relationship pursue common policies on regional and
international developments especially when it comes to taking stances in the
face of the United States’ unilateral and interventionist strategies.
Iranian
officials say Tehran and Moscow, both subjected to tough economic sanctions by
the Western countries, are determined to deepen their economic cooperation,
adding that there are great capacities for increasing the volume of bilateral
trade.
Iran
and Russia have grown exchane of visits by officials to speed up expansion of
relations in recent months.
In
late May, Iranian and Russian officials in a meeting in Tehran inked 3
important Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to further develop the two countries'
energy and banking ties.
Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in June visited Iran for talks on boosting trade
and energy cooperation.
During
a visit to Moscow in late August, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir
Abdollahian discussed the status of the relations with Lavrov, including
Tehran's commercial, economic, transit, defensive, and security relations with
Moscow.
The
Iranian diplomat noted that Tehran and Moscow enjoy abundant capacities for
expansion of ties and that a cooperation document of the two countries will be
put into force in the near future after being examined in the parliaments of
both countries.
Lavrov
stated that Moscow-Tehran comprehensive document of relations is in the final
stage, and added that the relationship between Iran and Russia is on track to
enhance to strategic levels.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Military
Chief: Using Iranian Drones in Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan Dispute Unacceptable to
Tehran
2022-November-10
Maj.
Gen. Bagheri held a telephone conversation with the Kyrgyz Defense Minister
General Lieutenant Baktybek Bekbolotov on Wednesday.
The
chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces noted that Tehran is ready to peacefully
resolve the border dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
Pointing
to the issue of delivering Iranian drones to Tajikistan, he stated that “Ababil
2” drones have only reconnaissance capability and are not equipped with weapons
and offensive equipment.
"The
Iranian Armed Forces have always emphasized that the Tajik Armed Forces should
not use 'Ababil 2' drones in the border disputes against Tajikistan," the
top commander stressed.
General
Lieutenant Bekbolotov, for his part, said political relations between Iran and
the Kyrgyz Republic are based on bilateral relations and trust.
He
added that the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan is ready to develop
cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In
mid-September, fresh clashes erupted in joint border areas between Tajikistan
and Kyrgyzstan. Both sides accused each other of using tanks, mortars, rocket
artillery, and assault drones to attack outposts and nearby settlements.
Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan have announced that tens of their citizens have been killed and
tens of thousands evacuated from the conflict zones.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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--------
Iranian
Envoy Calls on IAEA to Stay Away from Powers' Grip
2022-November-10
Iran's
envoy made the remarks at the UN General Assembly plenary meeting on the report
of the IAEA for 2021 on Wednesday.
"The
IAEA’s duty to verify member states’ activities and concerns over nuclear
proliferation should not turn into a hurdle in the way of peacefully using
nuclear energy as an inalienable right of the member states," he said.
Speaking
about Iran’s cooperation with the UN nuclear agency, Iravani stated that no
issue has remained regarding safeguards agreement between Tehran and the IAEA.
He
noted that Tehran has dispatched a delegation to Austria's capital to negotiate
and reinforce cooperation with the nuclear agency.
"The
IAEA should act as an impartial, independent and professional body, staying
away from control of powers so that all countries can enjoy the technical
support of the agency in developing their peaceful nuclear programs," the
diplomat stressed.
"Iran
has remained committed to its safeguards’ obligations, and is ready to fully
implement the nuclear deal if other parties fulfill their obligations
fully," he added, referring to the 2018 US withdrawal from the 2015
nuclear deal and the imposition of sanctions against Iran
Speaking
about the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists by the Zionist regime in
the past years, the senior diplomat called on international organizations,
including the UN, to condemn the regime’s crimes.
He
also blasted the Zionist regime for refusing to join the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and stated that the IAEA should
deal with this issue without taking sides.
Iranian
officials blame the IAEA for making excessive demands beyond the scope of the
Safeguards agreement from Tehran, and blast the nuclear wathchdog for adopting
political approach over technical issues.
Iran
has always had full cooperation with the IAEA and allowed it to visit the
country’s nuclear sites, but calls the nuclear agency's approach unconstructive
and destructive.
Back
in September, Eslami said the IAEA's reports confirm that there is no deviation
in Iran's nuclear program.
The
IAEA, under the pressure of the Western parties and the Zionist regime, has
always made claims about undeclared nuclear activities in Iran, which, of
course, are not consistent with the records of cooperation between Iran and the
nuclear agency, the nuclear chief noted.
"According
to the repeated reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency, there are no
deviations in Iran's nuclear program, so they cannot advance their goals by
adhering to Mob Rule Ochlocracy," he added.
In
June, Eslami said that heightened propaganda against Tehran's peaceful nuclear
program, including the recent resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog, is part of
the Western states' maximum pressure policy against the Iranian nation.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010819000122/Iranian-Envy-Calls-n-IAEA-Say-Away-frm-Pwers'-Grip
--------
Iran
Stresses Necessity for Political Settlement of Russia-Ukraine Crisis
2022-November-10
Speaking
in a phone conversation with Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on
Wednesday, Amir Abdollahian noted that Iran's "principled and
unchangeable" policy concerning the conflict rests on "the need for
its political resolution and cessation of the war".
"Tehran
would, therefore, continue its efforts towards advancement of the political
process that could spell an end to the warfare," Iran's foreign minister
concluded.
The
senior diplomat also thanked Tajani over Italy's condemnation of the late
October terror attack on a popular Shia shrine in the Southern Iranian Fars
Province that led to the death of 15 pilgrims.
Tajani,
for his part, underlined Tehran's role in the enhancement of peace and
stability in the West Asia region.
The
top Italian diplomat also addressed the issue of the ongoing European
Union-mediated talks that are aimed at potential restoration of Iran's 2015
nuclear deal with world countries.
He
vowed that his country would "do its utmost" so the negotiations
would lead to an agreement that meets the interests of all the concerned
parties.
Iranian
officials have emphasized that Tehran takes no sides in the bloody conflict and
avoids any steps that may result in an escalation of the crisis. They
reiterated their opposition to war between the two countries.
Iranian
diplomats reiterated that Tehran has not provided Moscow with weapons for the
war in Ukraine, and cautioned Ukraine to be careful about extreme European
politicians' attitude towards Tehran-Kiev dispute.
Tehran
has also asked Kiev to submit evidence for the use of Iranian drones by Russia
in the war, and cautioned that arming Moscow or Kyiv will prolong the conflict
between the two neighbors.
In
Late February, President Vladimir Putin stated in response to a request by the
heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special
military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of
occupying Ukrainian territories.
The
US, the EU, the UK and a number of other states have imposed sanctions against
Russian legal entities and individuals. They also increased supplies of weapons
to the Ukrainian authorities. Russia has officially become the most sanctioned
country in the world, surpassing Iran, Syria and North Korea, after launching a
military operation against Ukraine.
Back
in September, Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi cautioned that the
expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a serious threat
to the stability and security of nations.
Source:
Fars News Agency
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--------
Iran
warns of ‘firm’ response to threatened EU sanctions
10
November, 2022
Iran
on Thursday warned of a “proportionate and firm” response after Germany said
the European Union was seeking to adopt new sanctions against it over a deadly
crackdown on protests.
“Provocative,
interventionist and undiplomatic stances don't signal sophistication and
wisdom,” Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tweeted.
“Undermining
old ties has long-term consequences. Germany can choose engagement to address
shared challenges -- or confrontation. Our response will be proportionate and
firm,” he added, without elaborating.
Germany's
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday that the European Union
was “working flat out on the next package of sanctions” against Iran in
response to its crackdown on the protests ignited by Mahsa Amini's death.
“We
won't let up,” she tweeted. “We stand with the men and women of Iran, not only
today, but as long as it is necessary.”
EU
foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Monday.
The
27-nation bloc had already imposed sanctions in mid-October against Iran's
“morality police” and 11 officials including the telecommunications minister.
Amini
died in the custody of the morality police on September 16, three days after
falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran for allegedly breaching the
Islamic republic's hijab dress rules for women.
Dozens
of people, mainly protesters but also members of the security forces, have been
killed since the start of the protests.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
‘Negligence’
to blame for state-run Turkey mine blast that killed 42: Police
10 November,
2022
A
blast that killed 42 people at a Turkish state-run coal mine in mid-October was
caused by a “chain of negligence,” concluded a police report seen by AFP on
Thursday.
The
blast ripped through the mine near the small coal town of Amasra on northwest
Turkey’s Black Sea coast on October 14.
The
concentration of methane in the mine exceeded the warning threshold of one
percent on 85 occasions on the day of the accident, the report said.
A
mine employee said he was unable to reach the miners to warn them in the
minutes before the explosion, citing telecommunication dysfunction and
understaffing.
“Upon
review of the overall operation (of the mine), it is possible to speak of a
chain of negligence,” said the 240-page police report.
Failures
in the ventilation system may have led to a build-up of methane gas.
A
new ventilation system was supposed to have been delivered in March, but the
contracted supplier requested a delay, which expired on November 6.
“The
prevalence of rule violations and failure of supervision have long allowed a
lack of discipline in the company, generating apathy, especially in
occupational health and safety,” the report said.
The
authors interviewed a total of 350 people, including survivors of the accident,
mine employees and managers, and families of the victims.
Eight
people have been formally charged in connection with the disaster, including
the manager of the mine and several of his deputies.
President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged a full inquiry into the blast, saying those
responsible would not “be spared” but has also said he believes such incidents
are the result of fate.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran
sets up IAEA visit this month to give answers on probe
10 November,
2022
Iran
has agreed to a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency this month to
provide answers the UN watchdog and its 35-nation board have long called for on
the origin of uranium particles found at three sites, an IAEA report on
Thursday seen by Reuters said.
Iran
has yet to provide new material, however, and its offer came before next week’s
quarterly meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of
Governors at which diplomats say they expect Western powers to push for a
resolution calling on Iran to cooperate, a move that Tehran usually bristles
at.
“The
Agency has reiterated to Iran that at this meeting it expects to start
receiving from Iran technically credible explanations on these issues,
including access to locations and material, as well as the taking of samples as
appropriate,” one of two confidential IAEA reports on Iran sent to member
states on Thursday ahead of the board meeting said.
The
issue of the unexplained uranium particles has become an obstacle in wider
talks to revive Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, since Tehran now
seeks a closure of the IAEA’s investigation as part of those negotiations,
Western powers say.
The
IAEA has said it will not yield to political pressure and its job is to account
for all nuclear material. The fact material that has not been accounted for
appears to have been present at these sites is therefore an issue it must keep
looking into until it is resolved.
The
(IAEA) Director General (Rafael Grossi) is seriously concerned that there has
still been no progress in clarifying and resolving the outstanding safeguards
issues,” the report said, referring to the uranium traces.
“In
that context, he takes note of Iran’s proposal to hold a further technical
meeting with senior Agency officials in Tehran before the end of the month, but
stresses that this meeting should be aimed at effectively clarifying and
resolving those issues.”
The
2015 deal restricted Iran’s atomic activities in exchange for relief from
Western sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump ordered a US withdrawal
from the deal, reimposing US sanctions against Tehran. Iran responded by
breaching and going well beyond the deal’s restrictions.
In
recent months Iran has installed hundreds more advanced centrifuges, machines
that enrich uranium, at its underground plants at Natanz and Fordow. The move
increases the pace at which it can enrich.
The
2015 deal only lets Iran produce enriched uranium with more basic,
first-generation centrifuges.
The
other IAEA report, issued on Thursday and also seen by Reuters, showed Iran’s
stock of enriched uranium had shrunk slightly, decreasing by around 267 kg to
an estimated 3,673.7 kg, still far beyond the 202.8 kg allowed by the deal.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Freedom
Flotilla coalition prepares to break illegal Gaza siege again
11
November 2022
The
Freedom Flotilla Coalition is set to challenge the Israeli blockade imposed on
the Gaza Strip, in light of the worsening situation and the increasingly brutal
repression in occupied Palestine.
Zaher
Birawi, president of the International Committee for Breaking the Siege on Gaza
declared that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition will soon be back to sailing in
order to “break the illegal, immoral and inhuman siege of Gaza,” following a
halt of activities due to the corona virus lockdown.
Birawi
made his comments following meetings held by the Coalition on the 6th and 7th
of November to discuss its plan to resume efforts to break the siege in the
coming year of 2023, especially the naval blockade.
“Our
goals remain full human rights for all Palestinians, and in particular, freedom
of movement within historic Palestine and the right of return,” said Birawi,
who is also founding member of the Freedom Flotilla.
Assuring
that the sole permanent solution is the total removal of the siege, he added
“at the time some of our partner organizations are actively involved with
important programs addressing the most urgent needs of Palestinian children
traumatized by the blockade and murderous Israeli attacks on Gaza, we recognize
that a lasting solution requires an end to the blockade.”
The
meeting was attended by representatives of the international coalition in
Sweden, Norway, France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, Malaysia, Turkey, Canada,
South Africa and the US, in addition to the International Committee to Break
the Siege on Gaza. British and international pro-Palestine solidarity
organizations (including Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Muslim
Association of Britain (MAB), Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), popular
conference for Palestinians Abroad, Miles of Smiles) also took part in the
meetings.
Several
vessels have tried to break the siege on the Gaza Strip as part of the Freedom
Flotilla, however Israeli occupation forces confronted them and prevented them
from reaching Gaza's shores.
In
2010, Israel brutally raided the Mavi Marmara ship bound for Gaza and left a
dozen activists killed. The attack occurred on a flotilla that comprised six
civilian ships and sent the Ankara-Tel Aviv ties into a tailspin.
Israel
has enforced a crippling blockade on some two million Palestinians in Gaza for
supporting Hamas movement in parliamentary elections.
Source:
Press TV
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Africa
Tunisia
guard swipes 180,000 Euros as banker visit plumber
10
November, 2022
A
Tunisian hired as a security guard despite a long criminal record is suspected
of fleeing with 180,000 euros as the banker he was accompanying made a detour
to meet his plumber.
The
unfortunate banker had been tasked with delivering the cash, a mix of dollars
and euros, to another branch of his bank, said a court official in Manouba, the
region of Tunis where the robbery happened.
The
banker was accompanied by a driver and the security guard, but when he received
a call from his plumber, the banker requested that they make a detour to his
home, where he got out of the vehicle -- leaving the bag.
When
he returned, he found that the guard charged with protecting the delivery had
given the driver the slip and fled with the cash, Sondos Nouioui, Manouba court
spokeswoman, told Tunisian media.
The
driver and the banker have been detained.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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US
pushes for elections and stability in Libya
10
November, 2022
The
US special envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, said on Thursday he shared the
frustration of Libyans over delays to the country’s long-awaited elections.
Speaking
at a news conference at the headquarters of the Libyan High National Elections
Committee in Tripoli, Norland urged all parties to move swiftly towards
producing “a successful outcome.”
On
the economy, he said oil revenues in Libya amounted to between 100 million and
150 million US dollars per day, and that the money is accumulating in Libya’s
bank account abroad.
“We
are seeing a greater interest than ever in trying to come up with a mechanism
whereby Libyans can agree on how that money should be spent and how to have an
accountability and oversight mechanism for transparent management of those
funds,” he added.
He
also discussed the country’s security situation with the National Unity
Government, the Presidential Council and the State.
“Libyans
truly want to see progress on the issue of departure foreign mercenaries,
foreign fighters and foreign forces,” he added.
Oil-rich
Libya is split by rival administrations, one in the east, backed by military
commander Khalifa Hifter, and a UN-supported administration in the west, in
capital of Tripoli.
Each
side is supported by different militias and foreign powers.
Libya’s
current political crisis stems from the failure to hold elections in December
2021 and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who led a
transitional government in Tripoli, to step down.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Ethiopia
says it controls 70% of Tigray region in wake of peace deal
Mohammed
Dhaysane
11.11.2022
MOGADISHU,
Somalia
Ethiopia’s
government on Friday announced that its forces now control 70% of the country’s
northern Tigray regions in the wake of a peace deal.
Redwan
Hussein, national security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said that the
Ethiopian National Defense Force took control of most of the Tigray region and
that humanitarian aid is flowing “like no other times.”
He
said the aid is also reaching areas not yet held by the Ethiopian National
Defense Force.
“Thirty-five
trucks of food and 3 trucks of medicine arrived in (the city of) Shire. Flights
are allowed. Services are being reconnected,” Hussein said on Twitter.
He
added that the recent agreement between the government and the Tigray rebels
provided opportunities to enhance services.
On
Nov, 2, peace talks between Ethiopia's government and the Tigray rebels bore
fruit, ending a two-year war that killed over half a million people and
displaced many others.
Getechow
Reda, adviser to the Tigray president, speaking days after the peace agreement
was reached, said everything they do, every move they make, is driven by the
need to ensure the interests of the people of Tigray.
“Peace
is what our people need more than anything. Whether we will deliver on our
promise in a manner that satisfies our people, time will tell,” he said on
Twitter.
“If
a peace agreement can ensure our survival, why not give it a try?” he added.
The
Tigray conflict has also displaced millions more since November 2020.
There
have been allegations that Ethiopian forces committed atrocities during the
conflict, claims are denied by Addis Ababa.
In
a report released on Oct. 29, the UN said that 2.75 million people in Ethiopia
are internally displaced and 12.5 million children are in need of humanitarian
assistance.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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Kenyan
court drops $60M corruption case of deputy president
Andrew
Wasike
10.11.2022
NAIROBI,
Kenya
A
Kenyan court on Thursday dropped a $60 million corruption case against Deputy
President Rigathi Gachagua, citing insufficient evidence.
Anti-corruption
Magistrate Victor Wakulile also rebuked the prosecution, saying that Kenya’s
judicial system should not be treated as a “doormat.”
Gachagua
was among four people who were charged with corruption in July 2021, before he
became the deputy president. They were all released on bail in August last
year.
Wakulie
said that they may be rearrested if any evidence against them is acquired by
the court in the future.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/kenyan-court-drops-60m-corruption-case-of-deputy-president/2734925
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