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Islamic World News ( 24 Jan 2024, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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Saffron Flags Hoisted, Slogans Raised in Mughal-Era Agra Mosque on Ram Mandir Ceremony Day

New Age Islam News Bureau

24 January 2024

Diwan ji Ki Begum Shahi Masjid. Photo: Rana Safvi

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· Saffron Flags Hoisted, Slogans Raised in Mughal-Era Agra Mosque on Ram Mandir Ceremony Day

· Bay Area Muslim Organizations Hold First-Of-Its-Kind FBI Training On Islamophobia

· Scottish Labour leader: “Inherent Double Standard” Exists in Way Politicians View Muslims

· Boko Haram Launches Deadly Attack on Nigerian Military Brigade in Borno, Kills Army Lieutenant

· UN Chief Warns That Israel’s Rejection of a Two-State Solution Threatens Global Peace

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India

· Two Days after Communal Clash, 15 Shops Demolished in the Muslim-Dominated Suburb In Mumbai

· Three Held For Replacing Mosque Flag with Saffron in UP's Shahjahanpur

· 7 Detained After Bikers with Saffron Flags Create Chaos near Delhi Mosque in Khadda Colony, KalindiKunj

· Muslims behind AMU gave up its minority status in 1920: Centre

· Gyanvapi mosque: HC to hear revision plea today for survey of Wuzukhana area

· Supreme Court Rap On Four Gujarat Policemen for Publicly Flogging Five Muslim Men

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North America

· US Asks China To Urge Iran To Curb Red Sea Attacks By Houthis

· Biden’s abortion attack on Trump disrupted by Gaza protests

· Blinken says US opposes territorial change in Gaza

· US hit missile in Yemen after joint strikes with UK: Pentagon

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Europe

· EU Top Diplomat Says Israel Can’t ‘Have Veto’ On Palestinian State

· Pro-Iranian Islamic Charity in UK Under Investigation for Hosting Anti-Semitic Events Featuring IRGC Commanders

· Swedish Democrats Come Up With Proposal To Ban Islamic Symbols

· Talks on Gaza useless without ceasefire: Russian FM

· Putin, Sisi 'virtually' lay foundation for Egypt's El-Dabaa nuclear power plant

· UK issues statement from 24 nations on strikes on Yemen’s Houthis

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Africa

· Religious Riot Breaks Out In Plateau State As Armed Herdsmen Set Ablaze COCIN Church

· UNICEF Trains 285,000 Borno Children Orphaned By Boko Haram Insurgency

· Malian army kills ISIS leaders in Greater Sahara

· 5 months after, Nigerian govt yet to rescue 6 NYSC members kidnapped by bandits in Zamfara

· Nigerian Police Vow To Go After LGBTQ Community, Probe Members After Viral Video Challenge

· Namibia calls on NAM to unite towards demanding an end to Israeli war on Gaza

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Mideast

· Dozens Of Zionist Settlers Renew Their Incursion Into Courtyards Of Al-Aqsa Mosque

· Safeguarding Islamic Revolution Anchored In Scientific Advancements, President Raisi Says

· Netanyahu will not survive ‘for 10 minutes’ If US stops support today: Iran FM

· Turkey Approves Sweden's NATO Membership Bid After 20-Month Delay

· Egypt rejects Israeli claim of weapon smuggling into Gaza

· Iraqi resistance groups vow to continue operations as US military strikes sites near Syria

· Israel, Hamas said moving toward deal to free hostages for monthlong pause in fighting

· Hezbollah attacks Israeli airbase in northern occupied lands

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Arab World

· Supporting Palestinians In Gaza ‘Religious’ Duty, US To Face Defeat In Yemen: PM

· Saudi Cabinet Reaffirms Kingdom’s Strong Stance Against Israel's Attacks On Gaza

· OIC Denounces Opening Of Ram Mandir On Site Of Demolished Babri Masjid In India’s Ayodhya

· Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah furnished with over 25,000 carpets for worshipper comfort

· Saudi AAM Initiative to provide safe and most developed means of air mobility in Mideast

· Islamic ministry detects over 3,000 violations related to mosque services in 5 years

· The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Chad participates in the launch of “Al-Balsam” medical campaign in the capital, N’Djamena.

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Australia

· Australian Police Attack Pro-Palestine Protests Blockading Israeli Ship

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South Asia

· Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus Not Being Given Documents Needed To Appeal: Lawyer

· Hundreds of Afghan migrants expelled from Pakistan

· Turkish police detain 76 Afghan refugees

· We’re dealing with Myanmar govt on Rohingya repatriation: foreign minister

· PM seeks French cooperation for Bangladesh's sustainable development

· UN on World Education Day: Many children in Afghanistan go to school hungry

· Afghan nationals top the list of asylum seekers in France in 2023

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Southeast Asia

· Malaysia Demands Accountability For Israel’s Violations Of International Law - FM

· Malaysia’s Wish for Palestine to Be Accepted as Full Member of UN Conveyed in New York - PM

· China welcomes progress on restoration of Iran-Pakistan ties

· Singaporean student who planned to attack mosques released from ISA detention after 'good progress' in rehabilitation

· Thousands of people forced out of homes after 7.1 quake hit western China

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Pakistan

· Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Religious Affairs for Spreading True Message of Islam

· Militants Attack Check Post in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 3 Killed

· Afghan-Pakistan Torkham border crossing reopens after 10 days

· Cipher didn’t mention ‘conspiracy’ or ‘threat’: Asad Majeed

· Father shoots dead young son for refusing to remove PTI's flag in Peshawar

· Humanitarian aid stuck at port: PRCS appeals for waiver of demurrage

· LHC restores interim bails of IK in seven cases

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/saffron-flags-mughal-era-agra-mosque-ram-mandir/d/131580

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Saffron Flags Hoisted, Slogans Raised in Mughal-Era Agra Mosque on Ram Mandir Ceremony Day

Diwan ji Ki Begum Shahi Masjid. Photo: Rana Safvi

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Omar Rashid

New Delhi: Police have arrested 11 persons for hoisting Hindu saffron flags atop and inside a Mughal-era mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra district. The incident took place during a ‘shobhayatra‘ taken out by right-wing activists soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya at the site where the Babri Masjid stood till December 6, 1992.

According to the FIR lodged at Tajganj police station in Agra at 00:36 hours on January 23, the caretaker of the Diwan ji Ki Begum Shahi Masjid in Billochpura alleged that around 1,000-1, 500 persons carrying “lathis and sticks” forcibly barged into the mosque at around 3:30 pm in January 22.

“They created complete chaos in the mosque,” said Zahir Uddin, the mutawalli (caretaker) of the mosque. In his police complaint, seen by The Wire, Zahir Uddin said the “anti-social elements” hoisted saffron flags on the minarets, walls and in the inner premises of the mosque. They “desecrated the mosque”, said Zahir Uddin.

The miscreants also raised religious slogans and threatened those inside the mosque, alleged the caretaker. They were “unabashedly using undignified language for the other religion”, the FIR said quoting Zahir Uddin, who was not available for further comments.

The FIR lodged against 1,000-1,500 unidentified persons invoked Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 452 (trespass after preparation for hurt or assault) and 505 (2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.

Station House Officer TajganjJasveer Singh said they had so far arrested 11 persons for the incident and the search was on for others on the basis of their identification. “Investigation is going on,” the officer said, adding that the arrested persons were not linked to any organisation.

The Wire, however, could not independently verify that yet.

The names of the arrested persons are not yet known.

In his police complaint, Zahir Uddin also said that the act was carried out with the intent of “spoiling the atmosphere” in the city. He mentioned that those present near the mosque displayed restraint to prevent any communal flare-up and tolerated the “rowdy” behaviour.

The Rauza (tomb) Diwanji Begum and Mosque, Agra feature in the list of monuments under the Agra Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India. The Rauza belongs to Diwanji Begum, daughter of Khwaja Ghias-ud-Din Qaziwani, said the ASI. “She was the wife of Asif Khan and mother of Mumtaz Mahal.”

The ASI says that the year of construction of the mosque was recorded in a Persian inscription as 1677 and that it represents the Shah Jahani style of architecture. “The mosque stands on a highly elevated podium. Rectangular in plan, it is built of red sandstone. Arches are thrown across the sanctuary. The mosque is crowned by three domes, the middle one being larger,” the ASI said.

The Rauza is in ruins and the tomb superstructure has fallen down, the ASI says. “While the cenotaph chamber is intact, the grave itself is missing. Traces of the foundation wall indicate that it was built upon a square raised platform. The building is flanked by four corner towers.”

Source: thewire.in

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

https://thewire.in/communalism/saffron-flags-hoisted-slogans-raised-in-agra-mosque-on-ram-mandir-ceremony-day

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Bay Area Muslim Organizations Hold First-Of-Its-Kind FBI Training on Islamophobia

Photo: ABC News

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January 24, 2024

Anser Hassan

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The rise in Islamophobia across the U.S. has been well documented. The challenge now is how Muslim Americans can work with the FBI to stop it.

"We want (the FBI) to be partners with us in preventing and responding to hate," says Maha Elgenaidi, Executive Director of Islamic Networks Group, or ING, based in the South Bay.

"One out of two Muslim students are bullied based on their religion. And according to other polls, Muslim communities experience more prejudice than any other religious community in their interaction with law enforcement," she says.

ING led a first-of-its-kind training with almost 200 agents and officials from the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department at the FBI field office in San Francisco. They were joined by several other Muslim American organizations.

"The kind of training that federal agencies were getting wasn't coming directly from Muslim Americans. And that is why this training was significant," explains Elgenaidi. "We were able to discuss the topics that we wanted to discuss, who we are and how the public views Muslims."

Elgenaidi says Islamophobia is not happening in a vacuum. The training addressed how Islamophobia is more than just outright bigotry and racism. It includes stereotypes and misinformation, which lead to institutional discrimination against Muslim Americans - all the way up to national security policy.

"Lack of trust that has always existed between the FBI and the Muslim Americans communities where Muslim Americans have been viewed from the lens of national security," says Elgenaidi.

"I would say even before 9/11, in the last 50 years, the American Muslim community has been treated as a suspect community," says Salam Al-Marayati, President of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, one of the groups that participated.

His presentation attempted to exposed how millions of dollars are spent to fund Islamophobia, which influences federal policy. He says it is critical for agencies like the FBI to understand the connection between Islamophobia and national security policies, like President Trump's 2017 Muslim travel ban, which blocked refugees and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

"That is we have watch lists. That's why there is harassment and discrimination and profiling at airports. That is why there is banking discrimination," says Al-Marayati. "I think they were surprised and gained a lot of awareness when I was able to draw that path between funding Islamophobia and how that manifests itself in national security policy."

FBI Special agent Robert Tripp, who is in charge of San Francisco's field office, says this type of meeting helps to bridge the gap with Muslim Americans.

"One of the concerns that came up is how the Muslim community are perceived by other communities and government servants, indeed law enforcement. So I am gaining their perspective. That was helpful for us to in developing communication strategies," says Special Agent Tripp.

Elgenaidi hopes more outreach by the FBI will encourage more Muslim American to report hate crimes and hate incidents.

"If we want to change policy, it starts with education," says Elgenaidi.

"And dealing with hate crimes, it is very important for the community to trust the FBI when it is coming in to our communities and investigating hate crime," adds Al-Marayati. "Trust is at an all-time low. It is in a deficit actually. Then people are not going to report hate crimes."

Source: abc7news.com

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https://abc7news.com/fbi-muslim-organizations-islamophobia-islamic-networks-group/14354021/

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Scottish Labour leader: “Inherent Double Standard” Exists In Way Politicians View Muslims

The Scottish Labour leader addressed the 'disproportionate slaughter' happening to citizens in Gaza.

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23 January 2024

An “inherent double standard” exists in the way politicians view Muslims, Anas Sarwar has said.

The Scottish Labour leader addressed the “disproportionate slaughter” happening to citizens in Gaza amid an ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Sarwar became the first person of Muslim faith to head a major political party in the UK when he was chosen as Scottish Labour leader in 2021.

His father, born in Pakistan, was the UK’s first Muslim MP.

The Scottish Labour leader has previously spoken about the Islamophobia he experienced growing up in Glasgow, including receiving death threats towards his family during his father’s time in politics.

Speaking during a visit to Alstom Transport Service Traincare rail maintenance depot, in Polmadie, Glasgow, Sarwar described experiencing a “hostile environment” growing up following the 9/11 attacks.

And he has now had his say on comments made by First Minister Humza Yousaf, who has in-laws in Gaza, who said at the weekend that Muslim and Palestinian blood is viewed as “very cheap” by politicians across the world.

Sarwar told the PA news agency: “When I was growing up, we had, of course, the horrific time of 9/11, 7/7.

“You then had the war on terror, you had the war in Iraq. It was, at times, what felt like a hostile environment for young Muslims across the country.

“I think that’s helped shape a lot of people’s politics, a lot of people’s views.”

He added: “My fear with this ongoing situation in the Middle East – the completely desperate situation in Gaza where there’s the disproportionate slaughter of innocent women and children – there will be lots of people right across the world, particularly young Muslims, that will look at it and think there is an inherent double standard in our international politics where sadly every life doesn’t seem as equal.

“Ultimately, we will not see peace within Israel and Gaza, globally, if every life isn’t seen as equal, and that means every Palestinian life, Israeli life, every Muslim and Jewish life.”

Yousaf told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that “without a shadow of a doubt” a different value was placed on the lives of Muslims and Palestinians.

“You talk to anybody who is Palestinian, people in the Muslim community, they feel that the Palestinian blood is very cheap,” he added.

Source: news.stv.tv

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

https://news.stv.tv/politics/anas-sarwar-double-standard-exists-in-way-politicians-view-muslims

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Boko Haram launches deadly attack on Nigerian military brigade in Borno, kills Army Lieutenant

Nigerian Army fighting Boko Haram

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Jerry Wright-Ukwu

January 24, 2024

Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly ambushed and killed an army lieutenant along with two vigilante members in the Lake Chad area of Borno State on Saturday.

The attack occurred after the military successfully took control of the Boko Haram enclave in Krenowa, Marte Local Government Area, five days earlier.

Sources revealed that the attack on the soldiers from the 50 Task Force Brigade took place at Krenowa, where they encountered heavy bombardment, forcing them to withdraw.

The soldiers had initially advanced to the Boko Haram enclave as part of their efforts to intensify the fight against the terrorists.

The soldiers reportedly faced intense resistance during the engagement, leading to the withdrawal from Krenowa. In the process, they left behind 12 out of 15 motorbikes deployed for the operation.

The soldiers, numbering over a hundred and equipped with multiple gun trucks, retreated to Marte town. An Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) tank was damaged in the ambush, and the driver escaped with a leg injury.

A soldier involved in the operation told Daily Trust, “We took the fight to the terrorists at their hideout when suddenly we came under fire that forced us to retreat. I believe they were hiding underground because there was no sign of them before the ambush. We took shelter at the headquarters of the 27 Task Force in Marte town.”

Due to the intensity of the insurgents’ firepower, the bodies of the slain officer, a member of the civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), and another vigilante member could not be immediately recovered.

Source: politicsnigeria.com

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https://politicsnigeria.com/boko-haram-launches-deadly-attack-on-nigerian-military-brigade-in-borno-kills-army-lieutenant/

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UN Chief Warns That Israel’s Rejection Of A Two-State Solution Threatens Global Peace

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP)

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January 23, 2024

UNITED NATIONS: The UN chief warned Israel on Tuesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ‘s rejection of a two-state solution will indefinitely prolong a conflict that is threatening global peace and emboldening extremists everywhere.

In his toughest language yet on the Israeli-Hamas war, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a ministerial meeting of the UN Security Council that “the right of the Palestinian people to build their own fully independent state must be recognized by all, and a refusal to accept the two-state solution by any party must be firmly rejected.”

The alternative of a one-state solution “with such a large number of Palestinians inside without any real sense of freedom, rights and dignity … will be inconceivable,” he said.

Guterres also warned that the risks of regional escalation of the conflict “are now becoming a reality,” pointing to Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Pakistan. He urged all parties “to step back from the brink and to consider the horrendous costs” of a wider war.

Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state in any postwar scenario opened a wide rift with Israel’s closest ally, the US, which says the war must lead to negotiations for a two-state solution where Israel and the Palestinians can live side-by-side in peace. That goal is supported by countries around the world, as ministers and ambassadors reiterated Tuesday.

Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji told the council: “How can this tragedy continue with no serious action to bring an end to it and with no measures to halt the carnage and collective punishment against defenseless civilians in Gaza.”

Elkhereiji told the council that a lasting solution was the only way to ensure peace and regional stability.

“Any measure for regional security or to prevent threats cannot replace a resolution of the root causes the crisis in Palestine and finding a lasting solution,” he said. “You must act to ensure an immediate ceasefire and to restore peace to alleviate suffering and to allow the Palestinian people to safeguard their dignity and their legitimate rights.”

“This peace which we so desire must go via a credible, irreversible path toward creating an independent Palestine state which safeguards the dignity of the Palestinian people, allowing for their coexistence and common security as well as for stability and development for all.”

The health ministry said that at least 25,000 civilians have been killed, mostly children and women, as Israel continues to pound the densely populated Gaza Strip in its campaign to eradicate Hamas, after the group attacked settlements near the enclave killing 1,200.

“We categorically reject violations of international humanitarian law by any parties, in any circumstances. We condemn targeting of civilians and call upon this Council to adopt firm position to oblige Israel to respect international law and bring an end to this suffering.”

He also warned of the dangers of military escalation in the region and its impact of security and stability.

“Military operations in the Red Sea and the Yemeni republic are a source of concern. The necessary measure therefore must be taken to contain incidences and repercussions of this crisis, which is affecting neighboring countries and international peace and security.”

United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the UN, Lana ZakiNusseibeh, told the council: “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The overwhelming majority of the international community has called for this, repeatedly. It is time for the minority view to stop obstructing it from happening.”

She added: “The humanitarian imperative at this moment must be our top priority, in addition to the ceasefire, so that life-saving aid can enter at scale, and hostages can be allowed out and returned to their families safely.”

Pakistan said Israel’s actions in Gaza were genocidal and called for greater recognition of Palestine.

“It is time to admit Palestine as a full member of the United Nations,” said. Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN.

Uzra Zeya, the State Department’s under secretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights, told the council, “A key component of US diplomacy is to pursue a pathway both to a Palestinian state and normalization and integration between Israel and other regional states.”

“The goal is a future where Gaza is never again used as a platform for terror, and a future where Palestinians have a state of their own,” she said, reiterating the Biden administration’s call on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov countered that American diplomacy “oscillates between vetoing resolutions about the ceasefire and at the same time calling for a reduction in the intensity of hostilities in Gaza.”

“Without a doubt this serves as carte blanche for the ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians,” Lavrov told the council.

Secretary-general Guterres repeated his longstanding call for a humanitarian ceasefire — an appeal with overwhelming global support.

But Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan again rejected a ceasefire, saying Hamas, which carried out a brutal attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, is committed to attacking again and destroying Israel, and a halt to fighting will only allow the militants “to regroup and rearm.”

He urged the Security Council to “eliminate the root” of the conflict, which he said was Iran.

Erdan strongly criticized the presence of Iran’s foreign minister at the council meeting, saying the country provides weapons to Hamas, to Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon and Houthi militants in Yemen, “and soon these acts will be carried out under a nuclear umbrella” and “Iran’s terror will reach all of you.”

Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes. But the UN nuclear watchdog has warned that Iran has enough enriched uranium for nuclear bombs if it chose to build them.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian didn’t mention its nuclear program, but he warned Israel that it would not destroy Hamas, its stated goal.

“The killing of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank cannot continue on to the so-called total destruction of Hamas, because that time will never come,” he said. “Stopping the genocide in Gaza is the main key to security in the region.”

Riyad Al-Maliki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said Israel is carrying out “the most savage bombing campaign” since World War II, which is leading to famine and the massive displacement of civilians. “This is an assault of atrocities,” which has destroyed countless innocent lives, he said.

Al-Maliki said Israel doesn’t see the Palestinians as a people and a “political reality to coexist with, but as a demographic threat to get rid of through death, displacement or subjugation.” He said those are the choices Israel has offered Palestinians, calling them tantamount to “genocide, ethnic cleansing or apartheid.”

Al-Maliki said there are only two future paths: One starts with Palestinian freedom and leads to Mideast peace and security, and the other denies freedom and “dooms our region to further bloodshed and endless conflict.”

France’s new foreign minister, StéphaneSéjourné, whose country holds the council presidency this month, presided at the meeting and warned that “a regional conflagration is real.”

He said the world should unite and deliver different messages to the warring parties.

Israel must be told that “there must be a Palestinian state” and that violence against Palestinians, including by West Bank settlers, must end, Séjourné said. And the Palestinians must be told that “There can be no ambiguity regarding Israel’s right to live in peace and security, and to exercise its right to self-defense against terrorism.”

But Turkiye’s Foreign Minister HakanFidan said the argument that the war is about providing security for Israel “is far from being convincing.” He said supporters of this view never talk about the Palestinians’ right to security and self-defense.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the “ideology of hate embraced openly by Israeli ministers is normalizing the mass murder of Palestinians” and urged the council to stop it with a binding resolution.

Israel must be held accountable for war crimes and for blocking a Palestinian state, Safadi said. “The future of the region cannot be taken hostage to the political ambitions and the radical agendas of Israeli extremists who described the Palestinians as human animals, unworthy of life, who enable settler terrorism against Palestinian people.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2446926/middle-east

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India

Two Days after Communal Clash, 15 Shops Demolished in the Muslim-Dominated Suburb In Mumbai

January 24, 2024

Two days after a clash broke out between members of two communities in Mira Bhayander, a city in Maharashtra’s Thane district, the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation used bulldozers Tuesday afternoon to demolish about 15 structures in the Muslim-dominated Haidary Chowk area in Mira Road.

The police picked up 15 more persons Tuesday, in addition to 13 who were held the previous day. Of these 13, nine were arrested; four were minors.

On Sunday night, a group passing by in vehicles with saffron flags and chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, was stopped by some local people from another community. An argument broke out, leading to violence.

Officials of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) Tuesday took bulldozers to Haidary Chowk, which is close to the place where the violence erupted Sunday night. “We demolished around 15 structures in the Haidary Chowk area on Tuesday. The action has been taken since the structures were illegal and were encroached upon in the public place,” Deputy Municipal Commissioner Maruti Gaikwad of MBMC told The Indian Express. Officials in the municipal body claimed demolition of illegal structures are carried out regularly.

Mumbai demolition On Tuesday evening, officials of the MBMC took a bulldozer to Haidary Chowk which is close to the place where the violence had erupted.

Local activists claimed shop owners possessed legal documents, and no notices were served ahead of the demolition. When asked if notices were issued, Gaikwad said as per rules, there is no need to issue notices to demolish structures on footpaths, gutters or other places of civic bodies. “All those were shops, and no house has been touched or razed,” he said.

On Monday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said on social media platform X that he had asked the police to “take strictest action against the culprits” for the violence on Sunday night. The police picked up 13 persons on Monday, and arrested nine; the other four are minors.

The 15 picked up on Tuesday faced charges under Section 307 (attempt to murder), said Madhukar Pandey, Commissioner of Police, Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar.

Police officials said about 13 FIRs have been registered based on complaints from either side in connection with the incidents, at least four of which are from the Muslim side. Additional Commissioner of Police Shrikant Pathak said FIRs filed by the Muslim community members complained of assault and damage of property by an unknown mob. No arrests have been made on these four FIRs. “We are investigating the matter,” he said.

Mumbai demolition The MBMC officials, meanwhile, claimed that demolition of illegal structures are being carried out on a regular basis.

According to Saad Syed, a social activist in Mira Road, “Close to a dozen structures have been demolished. As far as we know, no notices were served. Even if notices were served, what message is being sent by demolishing structures of a particular community a day after the communal clash. Are illegal structures present only in a particular community’s locality.”

When contacted, Sanjay Katkar, Commissioner, Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, told The Indian Express, it was routine exercise. “The demolition activity on the illegal structure takes place on regular intervals,” he said.

Azam Khan, a caretaker of one of the plots where structures were partially demolished said, “We have documents to prove the structures are legal. No notices were served. There may be issues with construction outside shops for which the corporation does not give permission. But there are thousands such in and around Mira Road. There are illegal buildings right next to our structure — they were left untouched. What message is the state trying to send by targeting shops owned by Muslims.”

While all partially demolished shops are located in a Muslim majority locality and are owned by Muslims, some had been rented out to Hindu shopkeepers.

“The police just came in with two bulldozers and demolished the entire shed, our belongings were also damaged. Neither we, as tenants, nor the shop owner has received a notice from the MBMC office,” Subramani, who runs a small eatery, said. Another person Raju from Bihar, who runs a vegetable stall, said, “We have lost Rs 3 lakh because all our belongings, including vegetable stocks for a few days, have been fully damaged. There was no prior notice given to us.”

Soon after violence broke out Sunday, BJP leader NiteshRane had on Monday morning posted a message on X saying: “Mira Road madde je kaalratrijhala.. ekyaadrakhna… Chun chunkemarenge !!! Jai Shri Ram (What happened in Mira Road yesterday.. remember one thing… will hit every person involved).” In another post Monday night, he said, “We will meet tomorrow in Mira Road.” He visited the place Tuesday, met victims of Sunday’s incident, and the police commissioner.

Additional security forces from the SRPF and Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in the region on Tuesday. Security forces also carried out marches at some places.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mira-road-demolition-illegal-structure-haidary-chowk-

9124168/#:~:text=Two%20days%20after%20a%20clash,Chowk%20area%20in%20Mira%20Road.

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Three held for replacing mosque flag with saffron in UP's Shahjahanpur

23 Jan 2024

SHAHJAHANPUR: Three men were arrested here on Tuesday for allegedly removing a flag from a mosque and replacing it with a saffron flag, a police officer said.

Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Meena said, "Some miscreants climbed up a mosque in the Lalbagh area under Ramchandra Mission Police Station Monday night.

The accused removed a green coloured flag from the mosque and replaced it with a saffron flag."

Meena said the three men, identified as Ankit Katheria, Rohit Joshi and Rohit Saxena, were arrested at the complaint of local residents.

"The accused were arrested on Tuesday and the matter is being investigated," said the officer.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Jan/24/abua-awas-yojana-providing-three-room-pucca-houses-launched-in-jharkhand

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7 Detained After Bikers With Saffron Flags Create Chaos Near Delhi Mosque In Khadda Colony, KalindiKunj

Jan 24, 2024

The incident in KalindiKunj involving a scuffle between a group of bikers carrying saffron flags and locals near a mosque has led to the detention of seven people by the Delhi Police.

A video widely being shared on social media shows the bikers carrying saffron flags taking out a rally in the area and shouting slogans.

The confrontation occurred when the locals near the mosque objected to the bike rally, resulting in a scuffle. Some of the bikers reportedly fled the scene, leaving their bikes behind.

No injuries were reported in the incident, and no formal complaints were made. However, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) and subsequently detained seven individuals. Nine bikes were also recovered from the spot.

Following the incident, a peace meeting was organised between the two communities and the situation has been brought under control, police said.

Source: indiatoday.in

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https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-kalindi-kunj-masjid-mosque-saffron-flag-slogan-bike-rally-clash-2492796-2024-01-24

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Muslims behind AMU gave up its minority status in 1920: Centre

Jan 24, 2024

New Delhi: Union government told Supreme Court on Tuesday that Muslims who lobbied with the British government for establishment of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) had voluntarily surrendered its denominational character, and acceded to overarching government control over its administration in 1920, as the aim and intent behind AMU was to establish an institution of national importance.

Arguing against reconsideration of the 56-year-old five-judge SC judgment in AzeezBasha case, which had ruled in 1967 that AMU was not a minority institution, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said the events preceding establishment of the university by the AMU Act of 1920 showed that the governing society of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) College, affiliated to Allahabad University, was dissolved by the 1920 Act and an institution of national importance, on the lines of Banaras Hindu University, was set up.

Surrendered right can’t be resurrected now, says AG

SG Tushar Mehta said patrons of MAO College, historically referred to as British loyalists, faced stiff opposition from within the community for giving up AMU’s denominational character and Muslim control over its administration and formed Jamia Millia Islamia which, unlike AMU, retained its minority status, like St Stephens College, during preand post-Constitution times.

The aim of AMU patrons was to establish a university recognised by the British government to enable students obtaining degrees from the institution to be eligible for employment under the Crown, SG said. “It was wholly open for MAO College to continue as a college, avoid control by the British, and remain a minority institution.

However, the said course was not adopted,” he added.

“Right of administration at the stage of incorporation and establishment of AMU was surrendered by ‘loyalists’ who sought an imperial legislative enactment at the time. The said surrender cannot be resurrected after the Constitution came into being as it was complete at a time when the fundamental right was not in operation,” Mehta said.

SG repeatedly urged SC not to juxtapose the mandate of Article 30 of the Constitution guaranteeing rights of linguistic and religious minority communities to establish and administer educational institutions to the preConstitution days as there was no concept of ‘minority’ institution. He said events leading to the establishment of AMU showed that it was not an institution of denomi national character.

Countering AMU’s argument that the 1920 Act establishing the university was a mere mechanism to get its degrees recognised and had no bearing on its minority character, the SG said, “AMU owed its existence to the 1920 Act, which was the fountainhead of its powers. The British government had overarching control over its administration.”

He said the non-denominational character of AMU was evident in the correspondence between MAO College society and government and the debates in the imperial parliament relating to surrendering of denominational character while the 1920 Act itself robbed AMU of any minority control over its administration. Arguments will continue on Wednesday.

‘If universities can exist for tribals or women, why not for Muslims?’

During spirited arguments from AMU which sought reconsideration of Supreme Court’s AzeezBasha judgment of 1967 declaring it to be a non-minority institution, attorney general R Venkataramani provided a brief light moment, while defending the 67-year-old ruling, by inadvertently referring to the judgment as ‘Ashish Basha’, reports DhananjayMahapatra.

This conversion of ‘Azeez’ into ‘Ashish’ by the AG escaped the attention of mercurial senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who representing AMU was seen repeatedly interrupting solicitor general Tushar Mehta. When Dhavan was arguing for AMU, interruptions by Mehta used to invite the former’s wrath. Dhavan’s pet dialogue was “the new practice in SC is to interrupt a lawyer even during proceedings before a seven-judge constitution bench”.

Arguing for AMU’s minority status, advocate M R Shamshad said the Basha judgment adopted an exclusionary approach and denied minority status to AMU just because it agreed for government recognition of its degrees through the AMU Act, 1920, and received financial aid from government.

“Even in context of a university, governments have established universities for different groups like tribals, women, depressed and backward classes etc. If that is so, why not a university for Muslims?” he asked.

The AG explained the meaning of ‘establish’ and ‘administer’ in context of the right conferred on minority communities relating to ‘choice’ of educational institutions.

“Unfettered freedom to establish educational institutions ‘of their choice’ does not extend to the grant of exemption from the obligation to abide by other constitutional demands and requirements, for example, the obligation to honour provisions relating to reservations, or matters relating to regulations of appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff and including general regulations relating to standards and quality of education,” Venkataramani said.

“The choice aspect of institutions does not exempt the minority from constitutionally sanctioned regulations or constitutional prescriptions which are themselves as important as the choice. As long as the state does not impinge on the choice and which the state cannot, Article 30 is intact,” he added.

“After coming into force of the Constitution, a minority community can claim protection under Article 30, it must first have legal competence to establish a particular class of institutions,” the AG said.

The AG explained the meaning of ‘establish’ and ‘administer’ in context of the right conferred on minority communities relating to ‘choice’ of educational institutions.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Gyanvapi mosque: HC to hear revision plea today for survey of Wuzukhana area

Jan 24, 2024

This civil revision petition has been moved by one Rakhi Singh. Rakhi is the plaintiff no-1 in the Shringar Gauri worship suit of 2022, which is presently pending before the Varanasi’s district court.

PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court will hear on Thursday a civil revision petition filed before it challenging Varanasi’s district judge’s order dated October 21, 2023, by which he had refused to direct the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake a survey of the Wuzukhana area except for the ‘Shiva Linga’ inside the Gyanvapi Mosque adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

In her application before the Varanasi court, which was rejected on October 21, 2023, the primary contention raised by Rakhi Singh was that the survey of the Wuzukhana, excluding the ‘Shivalinga’ was necessary to ascertain the religious character of the property in question (Gyanvapi precincts).

However, while rejecting her application, the district judge had observed in his order that the apex court vide its order dated May 17, 2022 had ordered to duly protect the area where the ‘Shivalinga’ was stated to have been found and therefore, it was not proper to direct the ASI to survey the area as it would violate the Supreme Court’s order.

In the order dated October 21, the district judge also noted that the particular area was also excluded from the ambit of the ASI survey ordered by his court vide an order dated July 21, 2023, passed in the 2022 suit.

In her revision plea, the petitioner – Rakhi Singh has stressed that the survey of the Wuzukhana area is necessary in the interest of justice, and it shall benefit the plaintiff(s) and defendants alike and come in aid of the court to arrive at a just decision in the 2022 suit.

It has also been contended that the district judge, in his October 21 order failed to exercise the jurisdiction vested in the court by law to direct for the survey of the Wuzukhana area.

It may be noted that the ASI has already conducted a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex in Varanasi and has also submitted its report to the Varanasi district judge.

The ASI conducted this survey in accordance with the July 21 2023 order of the Varanasi district judge to determine if the mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/gyanvapi-mosque-hc-to-hear-revision-plea-today-for-survey-of-wuzukhana-area-101706036786316.html

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Supreme Court rap on four Gujarat policemen for publicly flogging five Muslim men

24.01.24

R. Balaji

The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up four Gujarat police personnel for publicly flogging five Muslim men on the charge of obstructing a garba event in Kheda district last year, but stayed the 14-day imprisonment handed down by Gujarat High Court to the cops.

“What kind of atrocities? Tying the people to poles and beating them in full

public view and then you expect this court to save you?” said the bench of Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta, addressing senior advocate Sidharth Dave representing the cops.

The accused officers — A.V. Paramar, D.B. Kumavat, LaxmanisnhKanaksinhDabhi and RajubhaiDabhi — had received a 14-day sentence on October 19 last year under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, following a petition from the victims. The victims had earlier moved the high court citing the apex court’s judgment in the D.K. Basu vs State of West Bengal case (1996) case in which directions had been passed to the police against any custodial violence or excesses against suspects or accused persons.

The accused officers appealed to the apex court, arguing that they were already facing criminal and departmental proceedings, making the contempt punishment unwarranted.

The bench rejected the argument, with Justice Gavai questioning the police’s authority: “So you (police) have an authority under law? To tie people to polls and beat them?”

The other judge, Justice Mehta, interjected to add: “… And take videos?”

The court alluded to reports suggesting the accused officers not only tied and beat the victims but also recorded videos of the incident.

Dave contended that the officers were unaware of the D.K. Basu judgment and argued against willful disobedience, to which Justice Gavai responded: “So ignorance of law is a valid defence.”

The apex court acknowledged the high court’s findings that the five Muslim men were illegally detained for over 24 hours before being publicly flogged.

Dave disputed the illegal detention claim, stating it was subject to trial and shouldn’t be considered under contempt jurisdiction.

Justice Gavai emphasised the duty of every police officer to be aware of the law laid down in D.K. Basu and admitted the statutory appeal by the accused officers.

“It is the duty of every police officer to know what is the law laid down in D.K. Basu. As students of law, we have been hearing about D.K. Basu,” Justice Gavai observed.

Senior advocate I.H. Syed, representing the victims, defended the high court’s punishment, asserting that contempt proceedings were independent of criminal and departmental actions.

The bench issued formal notices to the Gujarat government and the victims on the officers’ plea. Despite Dave urging the court to stay the high court’s imprisonment order, Justice Gavai remarked: “Enjoy the custody. You will be a guest of your own officers. They will provide you special treatment.”

Dave mentioned the high court’s three-month stay on the imprisonment order, enabling the appeal to the Apex court.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-rap-on-four-gujarat-policemen-for-publicly-flogging-five-muslim-men/cid/1995771

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North America

US asks China to urge Iran to curb Red Sea attacks by Houthis

Jan 24, 2024

The United States has asked China to urge Tehran to rein in the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea but has seen little sign of help from Beijing, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing US officials. The US has repeatedly raised the matter with top Chinese officials in the past three months, the report said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his deputy, Jon Finer, discussed the issue in meetings this month in Washington with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Liaison Department of China's Communist Party, the newspaper said.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also raised the issue with his Chinese counterpart, the report said, adding US officials believe there was little evidence that China had put any pressure on Iran to restrain the Houthis beyond a mild statement Beijing issued last week.

Earlier on Wednesday, the US military carried out strikes in Yemen, destroying two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were aimed at the Red Sea and were preparing to launch.

On Monday, US and British forces carried out a round of strikes in Yemen, targeting a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the Iran-aligned group against Red Sea shipping.

The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping and stoked fears of global inflation. They have also deepened concern that fallout from the Israel-Hamas war could destabilise the Middle East.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-asks-china-to-urge-iran-to-curb-red-sea-attacks-by-houthis/articleshow/107102874.cms

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Biden’s abortion attack on Trump disrupted by Gaza protests

January 24, 2024

MANASSAS, United States: Joe Biden attacked Donald Trump over the key election issue of abortion rights Tuesday, but pro-Palestinian hecklers carried out their most disruptive protest yet against the US president as he spoke.

Demonstrators shouting “Genocide Joe has got to go” interrupted the Democrat at least 10 times during the rally in Manassas, Virginia, his first campaign event of 2024 alongside Vice President Kamala Harris.

“This is going to go on for a while. They’ve got this planned,” said Biden as he struggled to get started on the speech, while audience members drowned out the protesters with chants of “Four More Years.”

A protester interrupts President Joe Biden during an event on the campus of George Mason University in Manassas, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, to campaign for abortion rights, a top issue for Democrats in the upcoming presidential election. (AP)

One male activist unfurled a Palestinian flag and a female protester held up a banner reading “ceasefire” before they were escorted out of the rally.

While Biden’s rally was part of an attempt to put abortion rights front and center of his election campaign, the heckling highlighted another problem area among some Democratic voters.

Protesters have disrupted previous Biden events over his support for Israel during its military offensive on Gaza after Hamas’s October 7 attacks, but the demonstrations on Tuesday were the most sustained to date.

Despite the protests, Biden launched his most full-frontal attack on Trump so far over reproductive freedoms, accusing the Republican of being “hell-bent” on further abortion restrictions.

Biden slammed the former president, his likely rival in November, as being “proud” of the fact that his three Supreme Court picks had contributed to it overturning the federal right to abortion in 2022.

“The person most responsible for taking away this freedom in America is Donald Trump,” Biden said.

“Donald Trump and the Republican speaker of the house are hell-bent on going even further,” he added, accusing Republicans of wanting to bring in a full ban on abortion across the United States.

Biden and Harris also raised the abortion issue on Monday, the 51st anniversary of Roe v Wade, the landmark US Supreme Court judgment legalizing abortion.

The current conservative-leaning top court then stunningly threw out that judgment in 2022.

Twenty-one 21 US states have brought in full or partial bans since the Supreme Court issued its ruling.

Democrats increasingly see the issue as a vote winner.

Polls repeatedly show a clear majority of Americans support continued access to safe abortion, even as conservative groups push to limit the procedure — or ban it outright.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2447051/world

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Blinken says US opposes territorial change in Gaza

January 23, 2024

ABUJA: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday renewed opposition to territorial changes in the Gaza Strip as Israel pounds the territory following a Hamas attack.

Blinken, on a visit to Nigeria, was responding to repeated suggestions that Israel would create a buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip, a prospect that has stirred anger in the Arab world.

Blinken voiced understanding for temporary measures, saying that Israel had the right to prevent a repeat of the massive Hamas attack on October 7 and to reassure people in border areas.

“It is totally appropriate, something that we support, that those people be able to return to their homes and that the necessary security arrangements be in place to give them the confidence to do that,” Blinken told reporters in Abuja.

“If there need to be transitional arrangements to enable that to happen, that’s one thing,” Blinken said.

“But when it comes to the permanent status of Gaza going forward, we have been very clear, we remain clear about not encroaching on its territory,” he said.

The United States has been the main military and diplomatic backer of Israel, although it has pleaded to Israel to do more to protect civilians.

The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

More than 25,400 Palestinians, around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents, have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments and ground offensive since October 7, according to the Hamas government’s health ministry.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2446991/world

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US hit missile in Yemen after joint strikes with UK: Pentagon

January 24, 2024

WASHINGTON: The United States destroyed a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile that was ready to launch soon after the second round of joint American-British strikes against the Yemeni rebels, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

“Shortly after taking these strikes, an additional Houthi target was struck by the US in self-defense, destroying an anti-ship cruise missile that was prepared to launch and which presented an imminent threat to vessels operating in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said.

The additional strike occurred “probably within 15 to 30 minutes of the main operation there,” Ryder told journalists.

US and British forces carried out a first wave of strikes against the Iran-backed rebel group earlier this month and followed that up with further joint strikes overnight.

The United States has also launched multiple unilateral air raids against missiles that Washington said posed imminent threats to civilian and military vessels.

Overall, “we assess that we’ve destroyed or degraded over 25 missile launch and deployment facilities” and have “struck unmanned aerial vehicle, coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities, as well as weapons storage areas, with good effects,” Ryder said.

The Yemeni rebels began striking Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Hamas-Israel war.

The Houthis have since declared US and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

In addition to military action, Washington is seeking to put diplomatic and financial pressure on the Houthis, redesignating them as a terrorist organization last week after dropping that label soon after President Joe Biden took office.

Source: arabnews.com

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Europe

EU top diplomat says Israel can’t ‘have veto’ on Palestinian state

2024-01-24

BRUSSELS: EU foreign affairs chief JosepBorrell on Tuesday said that Israel cannot be allowed to unilaterally block the creation of a Palestinian state after the war in Gaza. “One thing is clear — Israel cannot have the veto right to the self-determination of the Palestinian people,” Borrell told a Brussels press conference with his Egyptian counterpart.

“The United Nations recognises and has recognised many times the self-determination right of the Palestinian people. Nobody can veto it.”

The comments come after Borrell on Monday chaired talks between the EU’s 27 foreign ministers and the top diplomats from Israel, the Palestinian Authority and key Arab states.

Borrell has floated a roadmap involving an international conference on a two-state solution and has said peace needs to be “imposed” on Israel. Egyptian Foreign Minister SamehShoukry said there is “an international consensus on the necessity of resolving the conflict on the basis of a two state solution”.

“It is time to implement it and the international community has the means, has the resources, has the mechanisms to do so,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and defied key backer the United States by rejecting calls for a Palestinian state. Israel insists it is focused on its military operation in Gaza aimed at destroying Islamist movement Hamas and freeing hostages captured in the October 7 attack. The Gaza war broke out with Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

Israel’s relentless offensive in response has killed at least 25,490 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The Hamas attack also saw about 250 hostages seized, and Israel says around 132 remain in Gaza. That number includes at least 28 dead hostages, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Shoukry warned that displacement of Gaza’s population from the territory “will occur” if adequate humanitarian assistance is not allowed in. “Making the conditions in Gaza unliveable in itself will induce displacements,” he warned.

Source: brecorder.com

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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40285413/eu-top-diplomat-says-israel-cant-have-veto-on-palestinian-state

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Pro-Iranian Islamic Charity in UK Under Investigation for Hosting Antisemitic Events Featuring IRGC Commanders

JANUARY 23, 2024

An Islamic charity in Britain is under investigation after videos emerged of Iranian generals delivering antisemitic speeches to audiences at its premises in west London.

The videos were unearthed by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a US-based research and advocacy group, and shared with the BBC, which verified their authenticity.

According to the BBC’s reporting, one video described an “apocalyptic war on Jews” while a second contained Holocaust denial.

The footage – which also includes a denial of the Holocaust – adds to growing concerns from some parliamentarians that the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is attempting to radicalize UK Muslims, the BBC report noted.

The videos showed a total of three events, two of which were live-streamed speeches by IRGC commanders, with the third recorded at an in-person event at the Kanoon Towhidcenter, where the group behind the meetings, the Islamic Students Associations of Britain (ISA), holds its gatherings. The ISA was founded to promote the philosophy of the leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini.

In one recording — an Instagram Live from Iran in September 2020 which has been viewed about 1,500 times — IRGC commander Hossein Yekta said universities had become “the battlefront” and urged the students listening to become “soft-war officers”.

KasraAarabi — director of IRGC research at UANI — said the term “soft-war officers” is used by Iran to describe recruits to its ideological battle with the West. He said it was coined by a branch of the IRGC, “which today is proactively conducting terror plots on British soil.”

The Kanoon Towhidcenter is owned by the Al-Tawheed (TUCF) Charitable Trust. The trust was already being investigated by the UK Charity Commission, which governs charitable operations, over an event honoring IRGC Gen Qasem Soleimani, who was sanctioned by the UK for his links to terrorism and assassinated in a US airstrike in 2020. The commission is now examining the videos provided by UANI, which include footage of the Soleimani event.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, described the speeches as a “brazen act of radicalisation”. She said the IRGC should be added to the list of proscribed terrorist groups in the UK, meaning it would be illegal to be an IRGC member or to show support for them.

Source: algemeiner.com

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https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/01/23/pro-iranian-islamic-charity-in-uk-under-investigation-for-hosting-antisemitic-events-featuring-irgc-commanders/

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Swedish Democrats come up with proposal to ban Islamic symbols

23 January 2024

Chairman of the Justice Committee of the Riksdag, a member of the ultra-right nationalist party Swedish Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna), Richard Yumshof, proposed banning the symbols of Islam, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

The Sweden Democrats have long and loudly expressed the opinion that Islam poses a threat to Swedish society and the Western world as a whole. In November, the party's leader, Jimmy Okesson, said that mosques where anti-democratic extremism flourishes should be demolished.

"Muslim symbols such as the crescent and minarets should be removed from public view," Okesson said.

His party colleague Richard Humshof expressed similar thoughts in an interview with the Aftonbladet newspaper. Like Okesson, he draws a parallel between Islam and Islamism. To the question if such a symbol as the crescent can become illegal in the same way as the swastika, Yumshof answers in the affirmative.

"Obviously, not least the minarets, the crescent is a symbol that embodies what Islam stands for. For many people, including me, this is something very dangerous, something very bad. Such a restriction is certainly a possible step forward. We need to overcome the stereotype that says that if you criticise religion, you are against religious freedom," says Yumshof in an interview.

The head of the Department for the Support of Religious Communities, IsakRaichel, reacted to the restrictions on the use of symbols of Islam.

"The crescent is a symbol of Islam. This is not a symbol of political Islamism. It is present in the logo of our department, along with the Star of David, the cross, and the Hindu symbol. Together, they represent a multi-faith Sweden," Reichel said.

Source: azernews.az

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https://www.azernews.az/region/220731.html

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Talks on Gaza useless without ceasefire: Russian FM

Jan 24, 2024

TEHRAN, Jan. 24 (MNA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the UN Security Council that any discussion on the future of the Gaza Strip is useless without an immediate ceasefire there.

Addressing the 15-member council early Wednesday morning, Lavrov said the United States has failed all efforts and initiatives to stop the bloodshed in Gaza and has given Israel a "blank check" to punish the Palestinians en masse.

“To date, the Council has not mounted an appropriate response to the situation due to the position of the United States. That country has blocked all efforts and initiatives geared towards ending the bloodshed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, he said.

The whole world has witnessed that the West's "continuous disregard" for multilateral diplomacy "every time" has led to tragedy, the Russian Foreign Minister was quoted by Anadolu news agency.

Current assessments indicate that Gaza no longer appears to be habitable, Lavrov said, adding that “the United States oscillates between vetoing resolutions about the ceasefire and calling for a reduction in the intensity of hostilities in Gaza. This serves as a carte blanche for the ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians”.

The top Russian diplomat also touched on the tense situation on the border of Lebanon and the occupied territories, calling it "explosive".

Elsewhere in his remarks, Lavrov strongly condemned the aggression of the United States and Britain against Yemen, saying their actions pose a direct threat to international peace.

The Russian foreign minister urged Security Council members to collectively work on creating an independent Palestinian state and asked them not to believe in the words of the United States that "everything is under control".

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/211228/Talks-on-Gaza-useless-without-ceasefire-Russian-FM

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Putin, Sisi 'virtually' lay foundation for Egypt's El-Dabaa nuclear power plant

23 January, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi virtually laid the foundation of El-Dabaa, Egypt's first-ever nuclear power plant (NPP), on Tuesday afternoon, 23 January.

Both presidents witnessed the official ceremony of pouring the concrete of the fourth and final reactor of the NPP, developed by the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM) in Egypt's Mediterranean Dabaa city in MarsaMatrouh province, located about 320 kilometres northwest of the capital Cairo.

As per earlier statements by both governments, Putin was expected to visit Egypt in person and join Sisi during the celebration. But less than 24 hours before the event took place, the Russian presidency declared Putin would attend the ceremony via video conferencing.

It remains unclear, meanwhile, why Putin did not make it to the official celebration in Egypt. The Russian embassy in Cairo could not comment at the publication time.

Speculations suggested that the arrest warrant issued earlier last year by the United Nations International Criminal Court (ICC) against Putin over alleged war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine has restricted his movement internationally ever since.

A legal expert, however, refuted this theory.

"The ICC has no jurisdiction in Egypt, and its arrest warrants cannot be carried out in Egypt against any heads of state," a Cairo-based international law expert told The New Arab.

"Egypt signed the ICC's Roman Statue in 2000, which recognises states having the responsibility and right to prosecute international crimes. But for several political reasons, later including the 2013 military coup, it has not yet been ratified," the expert added on condition of anonymity.

The long-awaited NPP, which will operate with a 120-megawatt capacity for each of its four reactors, costs US$28.75 billion; about 85 per cent of it is financed by Russia and paid by Egypt over a 22-year loan with an annual three per cent interest rate as per a bilateral agreement signed back in 2015.

Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority and ROSATOM began building the first and second nuclear reactors in 2022, while the foundation was laid for the third a year later. Unconfirmed reports said the NPP will be ready to operate by 2028.

Sisi has maintained friendly ties with Russia in several fields since he took power unofficially in 2013 as the de facto leader of Egypt and one year later as a president, which became somewhat problematic following the Russian war on Ukraine.

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/news/putin-sisi-virtually-lay-foundation-egypts-el-dabaa

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UK issues statement from 24 nations on strikes on Yemen’s Houthis

24 Jan 2024

LONDON, Jan 24 — Britain said in a joint statement yesterday that 24 countries, including the United States, Germany and Australia, conducted additional strikes on Monday against eight targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

“In response to continued illegal and reckless Houthi attacks against vessels transiting the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, the armed forces of the United States and United Kingdom, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, conducted additional strikes against eight targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” a joint statement issued by the British prime minister’s office said.

“These strikes were designed to disrupt and degrade the capability of the Houthis to continue their attacks on global trade and innocent mariners from around the world, while avoiding escalation.”

Ambassadors to Yemen from the five countries that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Russia, China, France, United Kingdom and the US will meet today to discuss the situation in Yemen, Russia’s TASS state news agency reported.

“Despite the complexity of the situation in the world, we continue to exchange views within the framework of regular meetings of the ‘five’ ambassadors to Yemen... the next such meeting will take place on January 24,” Russia’s Charge d’Affaires in Yemen EvgenyKudrov told TASS in an interview. — Reuters

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2024/01/24/uk-issues-statement-from-24-nations-on-strikes-on-yemens-houthis/114285

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Africa

Religious Riot Breaks Out In Plateau State As Armed Herdsmen Set Ablaze COCIN Church

January 23, 2024

In what seems like a brewing religious crisis, the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) has been set ablaze in Plateau State, North-Central, Nigeria.

SaharaReporters learnt that rampaging armed men are currently torching church buildings and attacking those perceived to be Christians in Mangu, Plateau State.

A resident of the area told SaharaReporters that the assailants, suspected to be herdsmen came from the surrounding bushes.

She said there is pandemonium in Mangu town as residents are scampering to safety.

The resident who pleaded anonymity said, "As we speak the COCIN Church near SabonKasuwa is on fire and they are advancing towards other churches in town."

When contacted to confirm the incident, the Plateau State spokesperson for the police, DSP Alabo did not answer a call to his mobile phone and did not reply to a text message sent to him.

Source: saharareporters.com

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https://saharareporters.com/2024/01/23/breaking-religious-riot-breaks-out-plateau-state-armed-men-set-ablaze-cocin-church

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UNICEF Trains 285,000 Borno Children Orphaned By Boko Haram Insurgency

24th January 2024

Uthman Abubakar

About 285,000 children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency and children of the vulnerable have been taught basic literacy and numeracy under UNICEF’s Teaching at the Right Level initiative in Borno State over the last three years.

The initiative was funded by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office of the British government.

UNICEF said the project, which is currently in its third year, was to bring about access to safe, inclusive and high-quality learning to children, especially girls, those with disabilities, and those affected by conflict.

Conducting newsmen around some of the benefitting schools in commemoration of the International Day of Education, on Tuesday, the Education Officer, UNICEF Maiduguri Field Office, Mustapha Shehu, said, “The initiative underscores a comprehensive approach to addressing the educational challenges posed by conflict, specifically emphasising inclusivity and quality learning for vulnerable children.

“The TaRL pedagogy is learner-friendly and increases enrolment, attendance and retention of pupils at school.”

He said 2,800 teachers were trained on the TaRL method of teaching in Maiduguri, Jere and Konduga, and each teacher taught about 50 pupils for two hours daily in arranged open spaces outside the normal classroom environment for fast learning.

The Head Teacher of Mohammed AjiGoniLaminu Primary School in the Jere Local Government Areas, one of the 140 benefitting schools in Borno State, NgariBukar, said, “Over 50 per cent of the benefitting children are orphans whose parents were killed by the Boko Haram insurgents.”

Source: punchng.com

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https://punchng.com/unicef-trains-285000-borno-children-orphaned-by-bharam/

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Malian army kills ISIS leaders in Greater Sahara

[24/January/2024]

BAMCO January 24. 2024 (Saba) - The Malian army has killed AbdulwahabOuldChegheib, one of the most senior leaders of ISIS in the Greater Sahara, in an operation in northern Mali, the Russia Today website reported.

In a statement of Malian army, "AbdulwahabOuldChegheib" was killed on Sunday January 21, 2024, in the locality of Inarabane, located 60 kilometers southwest of Menaka state in the north of Mali after the Mali's armed forces carried out an air operation.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3298891.htm

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5 months after, Nigerian govt yet to rescue 6 NYSC members kidnapped by bandits in Zamfara

Jerry Wright-Ukwu

January 24, 2024

Five months after their abduction by bandits in Zamfara, six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have remained in captivity.

Eight NYSC members were kidnapped while travelling from AkwaIbom to Sokoto on August 17.

Although two members were reportedly released after apparent ransom payments, the remaining six are yet to regain their freedom.

The Publicity Director of NYSC, Eddy Megwa, had previously stated that the Nigerian Army secured the release of some abductees, with ongoing efforts to ensure the safe release of the remaining four.

However, the lack of progress has intensified scrutiny and criticism of the government’s response to the abduction.

The extended captivity of the NYSC members has sparked fears for their safety, and questions are being raised about the efficacy of the government’s efforts to address insecurity and kidnappings in the country.

A relative of one of the victims, who pleaded anonymity, lamented that their wards were left at the hands of the terrorists in the forest for so long, heightening fears that they might have been killed.

Also, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the federal government’s failure to secure the corps members’ release after five months in captivity.

The group said the only way to describe what is happening under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is that Nigeria is not just sick, but it has failed.

HURIWA said: “It is now common knowledge that whenever a citizen becomes a victim of organised and sophisticated crime, such as terrorism and kidnappings for ransom, the majority of observers would say that ‘Nigeria has happened’ to the person.”

It said: “That the current administration would just shut her eyes on these corps members and let their parents and kidnappers be negotiating for ransom; and let these Nigerians stay in the lawless Zamfara forests for five months, and yet President Tinubu hasn’t queried the Inspector-General of Police who is statutorily responsible for internal security, shows that this government attaches no importance to the lives of commoners. This is a crime against humanity.”

Source: politicsnigeria.com

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https://politicsnigeria.com/5-months-after-nigerian-govt-yet-to-rescue-6-nysc-members-kidnapped-by-bandits-in-zamfara/

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Nigerian Police Vow To Go After LGBTQ Community, Probe Members After Viral Video Challenge

January 24, 2024

The Nigeria Police Force has vowed to go after members of Nigerian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ), describing them as criminals and saying their acts are punishable under the law.

While participating in a popular online challenge, the LGBTQ members openly spoke about their sexuality and the misconceptions people had about them.

The video received mixed reactions with some Nigerians asking if the anti-gay law signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in January 2007 was no longer effective.

@instablog9ja tweeted: "LGBTQ members in Nigeria join the trending challenge

@cute_pecky responded: "Lesbian don't like men but still dressing up like men just to attract another female likewise gay don't like female but still dress up like female just to be noticed. Nothing but confused souls."

@iamking_yusuf asked: "@Princemoye1 @PoliceNGuna no update us say LGBTQ is now legal in Naija o. Buh no shaking, all of us go well last last."

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP OlumuyiwaAdejobi, while responding to a tweet shared by LGBTQ members that openly revealed their sexuality in a trending TikTok video challenge, said the police were currently investigating the clip.

He said: "They are criminal and punishable under the law. We are on this clip to take necessary action according to the provisions of the law in Nigeria. These are unnatural offences and are totally condemned. Thanks"

Meanwhile, Nigerian X users have questioned whether the law is selective:

@kibass5 said: "We know it not legal in Nigeria sending them to jail or arresting them will not still change their sexuality and you about to give them asylum in other countries because of your discrimination well am stright but arresting or jail term will not end their personal choice."

@adexbee15 wrote: "Sir, I want to ask if Nigerian laws are selective given Bobrisky has spoken and still speaks of his rich Bae nothing was done, James brown too joined the whatsapp group. The law shouldn’t be first on some and loose on others…"

Source: saharareporters.com

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https://saharareporters.com/2024/01/24/nigerian-police-vow-go-after-lgbtq-community-probe-members-after-viral-video-challenge

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Namibia calls on NAM to unite towards demanding an end to Israeli war on Gaza

24 January 2024

Namibia has called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to unite towards demanding an end to the Israeli regime's ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Namibian Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks on Tuesday, speaking on the sidelines of a NAM summit in the Ugandan capital Kampala.

The Israeli regime launched the war on October 7, 2023 following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza's resistance movements.

Close to 25,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have lost their lives so far as a result of the brutal onslaught and a concomitant siege, which the regime has imposed on the territory with all-out American military and political support.

The Namibian official said "quite a number of member states" had expressed support during the NAM summit for a lawsuit that was lodged by South Africa against the Israeli regime at the International Court of Justice last month over the regime’s onslaught on Gaza.

Several countries, including Namibia, the Maldives, and Pakistan, have announced support for the proceedings.

On Sunday, a Belgian minister also pledged her country’s backing for the case.

Nandi-Ndaitwah asserted that, despite being individually small in size, NAM's constituent members comprised the majority of the world's population, and could do much in case they chose to work together.

"We have to accept that we are in the world, where you have some who are strong. But now, as the Non-Aligned [Movement], we feel that in our number, no matter that individually we are small, in all different characteristics I've mentioned, if we can work together, we'll be able at least to help the citizens, the majority of the world citizens."

NAM is a forum of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with any major power bloc.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/23/718785/Namibia-Non-Aligned-Movement-Israel-war-Gaza

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Mideast

Dozens of Zionist settlers renew their incursion into courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque

[23/January/2024]

OCCUPIED QUDS January 23. 2024 (Saba) - Herds of Zionist settlers renewed their storming of the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the protection of the Zionist enemy forces, today, Tuesday.

The Palestinian Wafa News Agency reported that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa from the direction of Mughariba Gate, carried out provocative tours of its courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals.

The Zionist enemy forces stationed at the gates of the Old City and Al-Aqsa Mosque also prevented Palestinian citizens from entering, causing the number of worshipers to be decreased for the fourth month in a sequence.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3298690.htm

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Safeguarding Islamic Revolution anchored in scientific advancements, President Raisi says

January 23, 2024

TEHRAN - President Ebrahim Raisi underscored on Tuesday the vital role of scientific and knowledge-based endeavors in ensuring the resilience of the Islamic Revolution.

Addressing a gathering of professors, faculty members, and researchers, President Raisi drew attention to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution's call for transformative initiatives at the dawn of the new Persian year.

Emphasizing the government's commitment to spearheading transformation, he identified universities as pivotal drivers for effecting change. He urged a thorough review of university actions and activities, commending the mission-oriented approach of Imam Hossein University as a noteworthy example of success.

Highlighting the shift from an essay-oriented to a problem-oriented approach at the university, President Raisi acknowledged the importance of essay and science production. However, he stressed that their impact is truly meaningful when they contribute to society's skill development.

The Iranian president identified a significant gap in the country's universities and scientific centers, noting the insufficient emphasis on skill training alongside theoretical learning. He cautioned that neglecting this aspect leads to implementation challenges for students.

Addressing universities and scientific centers, President Raisi emphasized the imperative of nurturing efficient, skilled, cultured, and committed human resources. He stated that universities should play a central role in shaping knowledgeable and skilled individuals, underscoring the need for human resources equipped with both knowledge and practical abilities.

Regarding the production of science and knowledge, President Raisi asserted the importance of training a well-rounded workforce capable of utilizing new technologies for the country's development. He contended that universities could meet this demand through a transformative approach.

Despite the challenges posed by threats and sanctions, President Raisi emphasized that dedicated efforts have led to substantial progress in both the military and nuclear domains.

President Raisi urged all institutions in the country to align their work with the knowledge and expertise of universities and the fields of science and technology.

Emphasizing the success of endeavors driven by knowledge, he stressed the crucial role of professors, faculty members, and students in driving the nation's progress and achieving remarkable achievements.

Source: tehrantimes.com

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https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/494094/Safeguarding-Islamic-Revolution-anchored-in-scientific-advancements

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Netanyahu will not survive ‘for 10 minutes’ If US stops support today: Iran FM

24 January 2024

The Iranian foreign minister has warned that the risk of a “wider” conflict in the region has sharply increased due to the United States’ all-out support for Israel amid the regime’s genocidal aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an exclusive interview with ABC News on Tuesday, as the bloody Gaza war still rages with no end in sight.

"The scope of the war has become wider. This means that the danger of having a wider war in the region has gone up," he said.

The top Iranian diplomat noted that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “will not survive for 10 minutes" if the US stops its support for the Gaza offensive today.

"If the US today stops its backing -- logistical and weapons, political and media support -- of the genocidal war launched by Israel, then I can assure you that Netanyahu will not survive for 10 minutes," he asserted. "So the key to solve the problem is in Washington before it is in Tel Aviv."

He asserted that Iran only wants to see peace across West Asia, saying, "Nobody is going to benefit from any war. We believe that the solution is never war.”

Israel waged its brutal war on besieged Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

However, 110 days into the aggression, Tel Aviv has failed to achieve its objectives in Gaza despite killing at least 25,490 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 63,354 others.

The US is a partner in the Gaza carnage as it has offered untrammeled support for Israel during the devastating onslaught, and blocked UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

US anti-Iran claims on Yemen ‘is a TV show’

In solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged Gaza, the Yemeni armed forces have targeted ships in the Red Sea with owners linked to Israel or those going to and from ports in the occupied territories.

In response, the US and its allies have conducted illegal strikes on Yemen and alleged that Iran is transferring arms to the conflict-ridden country.

The Iranian foreign minister rejected the baseless accusations, saying the US military is fabricating information against the Islamic Republic in this regard.

"Mostly, this is a TV show," Amir-Abdollahian noted.

He further described Hamas as “a Palestinian liberation group that is standing against occupation.”

All those involved in Soleimani’s assassination must be ‘brought to justice’

Also in his interview, Amir-Abdollahian said whether former US president Donald Trump won or lost his bid for another term in office would ultimately have little impact on Tehran-Washington relationship.

"Individuals are not important, what matters is the behavior of the government that takes the office," he said.

Trump authorized the US assassination of Iran’s top anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani and his companions in Iraq in January 2020.

"That was a big, big mistake made by Trump. That is not something that we will be able to forget," Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that Tehran still wanted to see "all the people involved" in the strike "brought to justice."

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/24/718800/Iran-Abdollahian-Gaza-wider-regional-conflict

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Turkey Approves Sweden's NATO Membership Bid After 20-Month Delay

January 24, 2024

(Reuters) - Turkey's parliament ratified Sweden's NATO membership bid on Tuesday, clearing the biggest remaining hurdle to expanding the Western military alliance after 20 months of delay.

Turkey's general assembly, where President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling alliance holds a majority, voted 287-55 to approve the application that Sweden first made in 2022 to bolster its security in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

All NATO members need to approve applications from countries seeking to join the alliance. When Sweden and Finland asked to join in 2022, Turkey raised objections over what it said was the two countries' protection of groups it deems terrorists.

It endorsed Finland's membership in April last year but, along with Hungary, had kept Sweden waiting.

"We support NATO enlargement to improve the alliance's deterrence efforts... We hope Finland and Sweden's attitude towards fighting terrorism sets an example for our other allies," FuatOktay, head of parliament's foreign affairs commission and a ruling AK Party member, said during debate.

"I greatly appreciate the Turkish Parliament's decision to approve Sweden's entry into NATO today," U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake said in a written statement on Tuesday.

He said Turkey's "commitment to the NATO Alliance clearly demonstrates our enduring partnership."

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom also welcomed the Turkish parliament's approval. "We now look forward to President Erdogan signing the ratification document," Billstrom said in a written statement.

Erdogan is expected to sign the legislation within days, leaving Hungary - whose Prime Minister Viktor Orban has friendly relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin - as the only member state not to have approved Sweden's accession.

Orban said earlier on Tuesday he had invited his Swedish counterpart to visit and negotiate his country joining the bloc. Hungary's parliament is in recess until around mid-February.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Turkish move and said: "I also count on Hungary to complete its national ratification as soon as possible."

Turkey and Hungary maintain better relations with Russia than other members of the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

While opposing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Turkey has criticised Western sanctions on Moscow. For its part, Russia has cautioned that it would respond if NATO bolstered military infrastructure in the two Nordic states.

Sweden, whose membership bid marked a historic shift away from a non-aligned security policy, would enhance NATO defences in the Baltic Sea region facing Russia.

DEMANDS AND CONCESSIONS

Turkey's delays had frustrated some of its Western allies and enabled it to extract some concessions.

Ankara had urged Stockholm to toughen its stance on local members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which the European Union and United States also deem a terrorist group.

In response, Stockholm introduced a new anti-terrorism bill that makes being a member of a terrorist organisation illegal. Sweden, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands also took steps to relax policies on arms exports to Turkey.

In parliament, Oktay said Erdogan's AK Party endorsed Sweden's NATO bid after its positive steps fighting terrorism.

The AKP's nationalist allies MHP and the main opposition CHP also endorsed Sweden's bid. Opposition nationalist, Islamist and leftist parties rejected it, while four MPs abstained.

Erdogan, who had sent Sweden's bid to parliament in October, linked the ratification to U.S. approval of sales of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

The White House backs the sale and some analysts expect a deal to swiftly follow Turkey's approval of Sweden's bid. But there is no clear time frame for the U.S. Congress to approve the deal.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/world-187108

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Egypt rejects Israeli claim of weapon smuggling into Gaza

January 23, 2024

CAIRO: Egypt has denied Israeli claims that its territory was used to smuggle ammunition and weapons into the Gaza Strip.

DiaaRashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, said several statements by Israeli officials, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, included claims that explosives and arms reached Gaza from Egypt through cross-border tunnels.

He said that Egypt’s decade-long effort to achieve security and stability in the Sinai region and on the border “confirms the falsehood of these allegations.”

Rashwan added: “Israel is the country that militarily controls the Gaza Strip and possesses the most modern and accurate means of reconnaissance and monitoring, and its forces, settlements, and naval forces surround the small territory of Gaza from three sides.

“Any claim that smuggling operations are carried out through trucks carrying aid and goods to the Gaza Strip from the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing is ridiculous, because any truck entering the Gaza Strip from this crossing must first pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is run by the Israeli authorities, which inspects all trucks entering the strip.”

Through the claim, Israel is attempting “to justify its continuation of the process of collective punishment, killing, and starvation of more than 2 million Palestinians inside the Gaza Strip, which it has practiced for 17 years,” he said.

“Israel’s continued promotion of these lies is an attempt to create legitimacy for its attempt to occupy the Philadelphi Corridor or the Salah Al-Din Corridor in the Gaza Strip along the border with Egypt, in violation of the security agreements and protocols signed between Israel and Egypt.

“The reoccupation of this corridor by Israel would pose a grave threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations,” Rashwan said.

“Egypt, respecting its international commitments, can defend its interests and sovereignty … and will not jeopardize them in the hands of a group of extremist Israeli leaders seeking to drag the region into conflict and instability.”

Rashwan called on the Israeli government to investigate its own state apparatus to identify the source of any arms smuggled into Gaza.

“Many weapons currently in Gaza were smuggled from Israel, such as M16 rifles and types of RPGs, in addition to materials for military manufacturing,” he said.

Rashwan added that Egypt’s support for the Palestinian cause is “certain and realistic without the slightest doubt, and is in line with Egypt’s official position on supporting the rights of the Palestinian people for an independent state on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Israel’s “false” allegation undermines Egypt’s efforts to resolve the crisis in Gaza, he said.

Rashwan added that the policies of successive Israeli governments have almost eliminated any prospects for a peaceful solution to the Palestinian issue, and have encouraged division among Palestinians.

“These policies, for more than a decade and a half, are part of Netanyahu’s strategy to deepen the Palestinian division and ensure the separation of Gaza from the West Bank to weaken the Palestinian Authority, and to have the justification to refuse to enter into any negotiations on a two-state solution.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2446786/middle-east

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Iraqi resistance groups vow to continue operations as US military strikes sites near Syria

24 January 2024

Iraqi resistance groups have vowed to continue their operations against military bases, where US military forces and trainers are stationed, in retaliation for Washington’s unqualified support for the relentless Israeli war on Gaza, after the US military carried out an airstrike against sites used by the Iraqi anti-terror forces.

Secretary General of Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada resistance group, Abu Ala al-Walai, said in a statement early on Wednesday that his fellow fighters have embarked on the second phase of their operations in the wake of the US strikes against their positions.

“Our strikes will continue until the unjust blockade of Gaza is lifted, and the horrific massacres of Zionists against its residents come to an end,” he added.

Jaafar al-Husseini, a spokesman for the anti-terror resistance group Kata'ib Hezbollah, also said that Iraqi resistance groups “will continue to attack enemy bases until our brethren achieve victory in Gaza.”

Husseini noted that the attacks will continue until the brutal Israeli killing machine, which enjoys the US support, stops and the all-out blockade against Gaza is lifted. “This is a solemn promise to freedom-loving people,” he stated.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin announced in a statement that the US military carried out airstrikes in Iraq on Tuesday, targeting facilities used by resistance groups in the country following repeated attacks on US forces.

The strikes targeted three facilities used by Katai’b Hezbollah and other resistance groups in Iraq.

The US-occupied Ain al-Asad military base in western Iraq comes under new drone attack by resistance forces.

Austin said in the statement that the strikes “are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria” by Iranian-backed militia groups.

According to an unnamed Pentagon official, the strikes were carried out in two sites in western Iraq, including al-Qa’im town near the Syrian border, as well as Jurf al-Sakhar region south of Baghdad.

Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments in the al-Qa’im sector, according to an official at the Iraqi Interior Ministry and a former member of the Hashd al-Sha'abi forces.

In response, Iraqi resistance forces targeted a US-occupied military facility in neighboring Syria and Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq’s western province of Anbar.

Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television network, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that a barrage of rockets slammed into a US-run facility at Conoco gas field in Syria’s eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

Several explosive-laden drones also targeted the Ain al-Asad Air Base, located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the capital Baghdad.

There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facilities or possible casualties.

Iraqi resistance forces have conducted dozens of strikes on the US-run military installations in both Iraq and Syria amid growing anti-US sentiments in the region over Washington’s support for the Israeli genocidal campaign in Gaza.

Israel launched hostilities in Gaza following a historic operation by the Gaza-based Hamas resistance group against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. More than 100 days into the campaign, the regime has achieved no objectives despite killing at least 25,490 people in Gaza, around 70 percent of them women and children.

The United States has supplied Israel with weapons and intelligence support, and blocked UN resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/24/718795/Iraqi-resistance-groups-vow-to-continue-operations-as-US-military-strikes-sites-near-Syria

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Israel, Hamas said moving toward deal to free hostages for monthlong pause in fighting

24 January 2024

Israel and Hamas broadly agree in principle that an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners could take place during a monthlong ceasefire, but the framework plan is being held up by the two sides’ differences over how to bring a permanent end to the Gaza war, three sources told Reuters.

Intense mediation efforts led by Qatar, Washington and Egypt in recent weeks have focused on a phased approach to release different categories of Israeli hostages — starting with civilians and ending with soldiers — in return for a break in hostilities, the release of Palestinian prisoners and more aid to Gaza.

Israel is also said to have made an offer this week for a two-month ceasefire during which Hamas would release the hostages in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners in stages. Under the proposal, Yahya Sinwar and other top Hamas leaders in Gaza would be allowed to relocate to other countries.

An Egyptian official said earlier Tuesday that Hamas rejected the proposal.

The latest round of international shuttle diplomacy started on December 28 and has narrowed disagreements about the length of an initial ceasefire to around 30 days, after Hamas had first proposed a pause of several months, said one of the sources, an official briefed on the negotiations.

However, Hamas has since refused to move forward with the plans until the future conditions of a permanent ceasefire are agreed upon, according to six sources. Most of the sources consulted by Reuters requested anonymity in order to speak freely about sensitive matters.

While Israel has sought to negotiate one stage at a time, Hamas is seeking “a package deal” that agrees on a permanent ceasefire before hostages are released during the initial phase, said one of the sources, a Palestinian official close to the mediation efforts. Israel and Hamas are speaking through the mediators, not talking directly.

The US State Department and White House, Qatar’s foreign ministry and Egypt’s State Information Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Two Egyptian security sources said that there was work underway to convince Hamas to accept a one-month truce to be followed by a permanent ceasefire. However, Hamas is requesting guarantees that the second phase of the deal would be carried out, in order to agree to the initial truce, the sources said.

The sources did not provide details of what such guarantees might consist of.

Asked about the negotiations, senior Hamas figure Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Monday the Gaza-ruling terrorist organization was open to discussing ideas but that no deal was yet in place.

“We are open to all initiatives and proposals, but any agreement must be based on ending the aggression and the occupation’s complete pullout from Gaza Strip,” said Abu Zuhri.

One offer by Israel is to end the war if Hamas removes six senior leaders from Gaza, said a seventh source, a senior Hamas official. However, Hamas “absolutely” rejected the proposal, he said.

The source said the list included the masterminds of the Hamas-led October 7 terror onslaught against Israel, such as Sinwar and Muhammad Deif, who are Israel’s top targets to kill or capture in the war and are thought to be hiding deep within Hamas’s extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm this proposal with Israeli sources. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined a request for comment about the proposal or the broader negotiations.

Five of the sources said Israel had refused to discuss any end to the war that did not include Hamas being dismantled. They did not specify if exiling the leadership would meet that bar.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said at a press conference on Tuesday that efforts were ongoing to secure the hostages’ release. He said Israel would not agree to a ceasefire deal that leaves Hamas in power in the enclave.

Qatar and Washington were instrumental in negotiating a weeklong truce in November that led to the release of more than 100 of the 253 hostages kidnapped during the October 7 atrocities, in which Palestinian terrorists from Gaza slaughtered some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. In return for the release of hostages, Israel agreed to free around 240 Palestinian prisoners and to an increase in humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Starting on December 28, Qatar’s negotiators sent the framework of a new agreement to Hamas and Israel, asking both sides to indicate what they were prepared to agree to, the official briefed on the negotiations said.

When the two sides responded earlier this month, Hamas sought a truce that would last several months, while Israel wanted all the hostages freed in weeks, the official said.

Over the past few weeks, US and Qatari mediators have drawn the two sides closer to agreeing the 30-day process, which would include the release of all hostages, entry of more aid to Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners, the official said.

Despite the difficulty of bridging the gap in positions, one of the sources, briefed on the discussions, described the talks as intensive and said a deal could be struck “at any minute.”

However, Hamas is seeking guarantees that Israel will not restart the fighting after the truce, a US source briefed on the matter and the Palestinian official said.

Hamas wants the United States, Egypt and Qatar to guarantee the implementation, and is concerned that Netanyahu’s government would resume fighting once Hamas frees civilian hostages, even if Israeli soldiers remain captive, the Palestinian official said.

During this round, Hamas had sought the release of all Palestinian prisoners from Israel’s prisons, including those that participated in the October massacres, the US source said. The official briefed on the talks said Hamas had since softened that demand, which would likely be vehemently opposed by Israel.

Hamas believes that before seriously talking about a long-term ceasefire, Israel wants to conclude its operations in Khan Younis, the southern city in Gaza that has seen the most intense offensive and fighting in recent weeks, the Palestinian official said.

Reuters could not immediately establish the status of discussions about whether Israeli forces would remain in Gaza during any prolonged ceasefire.

It is believed that 132 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of 28 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.

The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the military. One more person has been listed as missing since October 7, and their fate is still unknown.

Hamas has also been holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers OronShaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both thought to be alive after entering the Strip of their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/one-month-pause-in-gaza-fighting-now-a-focus-of-hostage-release-talks-sources-say/

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Hezbollah attacks Israeli airbase in northern occupied lands

Jan 23, 2024

TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (MNA) – The Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance movement said on Tuesday that it launched a “large number” of missiles at the Mount Meron base in northern occupied lands.

Hezbollah movement said Tuesday that it had again targeted a sensitive Israel military air traffic control base in northern occu[ied lands with a barrage of rockets.

The movement said the attacks were in response to “recent assassinations and repeated attacks on civilians” in Lebanon and Syria.

It said it had launched a “large number” of missiles at the Mount Meron base, in its second such attack in recent weeks. There was no immediate comment from Zionist regime of Israel's military.

The Israeli military admitted that in its first attack on the Mount Meron base by Hezbollah there was damage to site.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/211210/Hezbollah-attacks-Israeli-airbase-in-northern-occupied-lands

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Arab World

Supporting Palestinians In Gaza ‘Religious’ Duty, US To Face Defeat In Yemen: PM

23 January 2024

Yemeni Prime Minister Abdulaziz bin Saleh Habtoor has described support for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip as a “religious” duty and says the United States will face defeat in its attempts to invade Yemen just as in other battles across the region.

Abdulaziz bin Habtour made the comment in an exclusive interview with Press TV’s Face-to-Face program as he reiterated his country's unflinching support for the Palestinian people in Gaza in the face of Israel’s months-long aggression.

Abdulaziz bin Habtour pointed to Yemen’s decision to target Israeli-owned and -bound ships in the Red Sea in support of Gazans and said the move was a religious duty in response to Washington’s backing of Israeli war in the besieged territory.

“What is happening in the world in general and what is happening in Palestine in particular pushes any person who has a little dignity and humanity; this decision was based on humanitarian, religious and moral aspects to support our people in Palestine,” the Yemeni prime minister said.

“It is no longer important to confront the largest country or the smallest country when you witness daily queues of martyrs, wounded and debris piling up over the heads of our people in Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories.”

Abdulaziz bin Habtour underlined, “This is a religious duty before which all considerations whether geopolitical, strategic or alliances of any kind are insignificant. We know that America is rampaging throughout the world and if we see things this way we will not move and will remain in our homes, therefore we have a vision that stems from the vision of the axis of resistance and this is what prompted us to respond.”

Asked whether the attacks have had any impact on Israel’s economy, Abdulaziz bin Habtour said, “The data that comes from the Zionist enemy says that more than 90 percent of the capacity in the port of Eilat is idle and this is a great gain for our people in Palestine and for us as well. When a port malfunctions in this way at the peak of confrontations, this is a great achievement.”

The Yemeni prime minister censured the US and UK as colonial powers and said they protect Israel as they established the illegal entity themselves.

“The United States and Britain are aggressive countries against all of humanity not against Yemen alone or any other country seeking liberation from Western colonialism. Therefore these two countries have their own old and new colonial projects,” he said

“The US and Britain are the ones that established Israel in 1949; therefore they seek to protect this entity by all means and capabilities. Whoever stands against this entity, Washington and London will seek to destroy them,” he added.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, the Ansarullah spokesman, made the comment in an interview with Reuters.

Asked whether Yemen was ready to confront US and British attacks on the country considering their military might, Abdulaziz bin Habtour said, “We are betting on our people, on history and on the future that the United States will fail in every battle it enters.”

He stressed, “The US entered the Vietnam war and was defeated, it entered the war in Korea and was defeated, it entered Iraq and Afghanistan and was also defeated, imposed siege on Iran since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979 and failed.”

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

The relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has killed more than 25,400 people, most of them women and children. More than 62,000 individuals have also been wounded

Reports revealed that Israeli shipping companies have already decided to reroute their vessels in fear of attacks by Yemeni forces.

Yemeni forces have also launched missile and drone attacks on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories after the regime’s aggression on Gaza.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/23/718782/Yemeni-Prime-Minister-Abdulaziz-bin-Saleh-Habtoor-Palestinians-Gaza-Strip-

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Saudi cabinet reaffirms Kingdom’s strong stance against Israel's attacks on Gaza

January 23, 2024

King Salman on Tuesday chaired a session of the Saudi cabinet in Riyadh reaffirming the Kingdom's strong stance against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The Council of Ministers stressed the necessity of an immediate ceasefire and for the prevention of the displacement of the population of Gaza.

The cabinet called for the return to efforts to achieve lasting and sustainable peace.

The cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts in preserving the environment and reducing climate change.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2446656/saudi-arabia

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OIC Denounces Opening Of Ram Mandir On Site Of Demolished Babri Masjid In India’s Ayodhya

January 23, 2024

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Tuesday denounced the construction and inauguration of the ‘Ram Mandir’ built on the site of the five-century-old Babri Masjid in India’s Ayodhya.

At a grand event attended by some seven thousand guests a day earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi consecrated the idol of Lord Ram at the new temple built on the site where the Babri Masjid stood for centuries before it was demolished by a Hindutva mob in 1992.

The demolition had triggered the worst religious riots in India since independence — killing 2,000 people, most of them Muslims — and shook the foundations of the country’s officially secular political order.

But for Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the opening of the Ram Mandir was a landmark moment in a decades-long campaign to align the country’s governance with its majority faith.

Pakistan condemned the grand celebrations and described the temple’s inauguration as a “symbol of growing majoritarianism and an affront to the Muslim community in India”.

The developments of the last 31 years in India, leading to the consecration ceremony, are “indicative of growing majoritarianism in India”, the Foreign Office (FO) had said in a statement.

Calling the new temple “a blot on the face of India’s democracy”, the FO had also expressed concerns over the future of other mosques in the country, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura that are also facing threats of desecration and destruction.

The inauguration was also met with criticism in India, levelled by opposition parties over turning the event into a grand spectacle and the “state-sponsored assault” on the pan-India peace march headed by Congress’ Rahul Gandhi in the BJP-ruled Assam state.

In a press release issued today, the OIC — a 57-member bloc of Muslim countries — expressed “grave worry” over the construction and inauguration of the temple at the site of the razed Babri Masjid.

“In line with the OIC position expressed by the Council of Foreign Ministers in its previous sessions, the General Secretariat denounces these actions aimed at obliterating the Islamic landmarks represented by the Babri Mosque, which has stood tall in the exact location for five centuries,” it said.

Hindus throng Ram temple as it opens for public

Meanwhile, in Ayodhya, tens of thousands of Hindus braved biting cold to pray at the new temple — a site believed to be the god-king’s birthplace.

Hindu groups, the BJP and its affiliates have portrayed the opening as part of a Hindu renaissance after past centuries of subjugation by Muslim invaders and colonial powers.

“I was adamant about this … I will only leave after I have seen my Lord Ram,” one of the visitors, Guddu Shukla, who queued at the temple gate at 4am in temperatures of about 8 degrees Celsius (46 degrees Fahrenheit), told news agency ANI.

He was among more than 50,000 devotees who lined up before dawn today to enter the temple, among some 200,000 who arrived in the city after the consecration, said a government official, Murli Dhar Singh.

“Devotees inside are hugging the temple walls and crying,” said another worshipper from central India, who did not give his name.

“If you are a true follower of Hindu tradition, you’ll have tears in your eyes, because that idol represents the 500-year long struggle,” he added.

Police on social media urged people to stay away from the temple area because of the large crowds there and diversions on the route.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1808034/oic-denounces-opening-of-ram-mandir-on-site-of-demolished-babri-masjid-in-indias-ayodhya

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Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah furnished with over 25,000 carpets for worshipper comfort

January 23, 2024

RIYADH: The Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah is furnished with over 25,000 carpets for the comfort of worshipers and pilgrims, Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The carpets are laid out in the mosque, its courtyards, and its roof section, and are sterilized and perfumed daily with the finest types of fresheners to ensure they are clean and fragranced for worshippers.

The luxurious carpets are distinguished by their strength and thickness. Each carpet has an electronic chip to track its location and the time it was cleaned, perfumed, lifted, and moved for washing and sterilizing purposes.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2446796/saudi-arabia

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Saudi AAM Initiative to provide safe and most developed means of air mobility in Mideast

January 24, 2024

RIYADH — The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Saudi Arabia initiative, developed by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), is an ambitious roadmap to make the Saudi air transport sector the safest and most developed in the Middle East region.

This includes a wide range of innovative solutions ranging from small unmanned aircraft to aircraft with vertical take-off and landing. These technologies will be able to provide safe, sound, sustainable and faster means of transport for people and goods, characterized by high technical capabilities that contribute to alleviating congestion on the roads and facilitating easy access to remote areas in the country, and thus contributing to achieving overall economic and social development.

Capt. Sulaiman Al-Muhaymedi, executive vice president of GACA for aviation safety and environmental sustainability, said the AAM initiative in Saudi Arabia includes the steps that must be taken to draw a comprehensive road map that places AAM at the forefront of the aviation industry. The AAM is transforming the future of the transportation sector, offering innovative solutions, from small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) to vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

He stated that these developments contribute to revolutionizing the movement of passengers, transportation of goods, emergency response, medical evacuation, and disaster relief. He drew attention to environmental sustainability, in addition to the initiative’s inclusion of the foundations for building a successful system for advanced air transport.

Al-Muhaymedi indicated that tests were conducted in the Kingdom that included diverse terrain and multiple climatic conditions, which resulted in positive results that can be achieved in various transportation sectors thanks to reliance on advanced air transport, such as reducing traffic congestion and road accidents, as well as contributing to the Kingdom’s achievement of net zero carbon emissions by 2060.

The Kingdom has given priority to preserving the environment and people and ensuring sustainable development and making it one of its main goals, including the announcement of a number of ambitious initiatives by the Crown Prince. The most prominent of these are the Green Saudi Initiative and the Green Middle East Initiative, which aim to draw a clear road map to mobilize regional efforts and contribute effectively to achieving global goals.

In 2022, GACA launched a draft plan to develop environmental sustainability in the field of civil aviation, including the “Enabling AAM in the Kingdom” initiative, which is one of the aviation sector’s initiatives aimed at formulating strategic directions and establishing relevant regulatory frameworks following international best practices to reduce the negative impacts on the environment resulting from civil aviation activities. This is also in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in affirming the Kingdom’s position in the global aviation scene and its endeavor to be an international center for the future of transportation.

International cooperation constitutes a major aspect of the AAM journey in the Kingdom, as memorandums of understanding were signed with a number of countries, including South Korea, Singapore and China, in addition to concluding agreements with leading companies in designing and manufacturing AAM aircraft to ensure that the Kingdom achieves an advanced position in this field, especially in the safety and development sectors.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/639880/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-AAM-Initiative-to-provide-safe-and-most-developed-means-of-air-mobility-in-Mideast

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Islamic ministry detects over 3,000 violations related to mosque services in 5 years

January 23, 2024

RIYADH — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance has monitored more than 3,000 violations and transgressions pertaining to mosque services in various regions of the Kingdom, including infringements related to electricity and water. The ministry has completed addressing more than 2,500 of these violations.

The ministry stated that it continues to work through inspection rounds to ensure that there is no infringement or exploitation of electricity and water meters, or exploitation of mosque facilities and property for anything other than what they were allocated for. This is within the framework of its concern for public money and preserving the sanctity of the houses of God.

The ministry called on citizens and expatriates to cooperate with it in reporting any observations or infringements on the services or property of mosques by communicating through the Reports Receiving Center (1933) or by visiting its branches in the regions to submit reports. It stressed the importance of the role of citizens and residents in achieving the ministry’s mission of caring for mosques and preserving their properties.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/639874/SAUDI-ARABIA/Islamic-ministry-detects-over-3000-violations-related-to-mosque-services-in-5-years

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The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Chad participates in the launch of “Al-Balsam” medical campaign in the capital, N’Djamena.

23 Jan, 2024

“Al-Balsam” Society for Training and Health Development team performed 26 operations to treat brain and nerve patients during the first two days of its medical campaign in the Republic of Chad, which began on January 20 and continues until January 28, under the supervision of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

During the first day, the medical team of “Al-Balsam” Association was able to examine 180 patients and performed 8 interventional pain operations, which varied between brain tumors, cases of hydrocephalus, and congenital malformations of the brain and spinal cord, as well as cases of tuberculosis of the vertebrae, and many cases of disc herniations and degenerative diseases of the cervical vertebrae.

The team also completed 18 operations on the second day of the medical campaign, which varied between cases of dural injections, stabilization of the lumbar vertebrae, installation of a cerebrospinal fluid drainage tube to treat hydrocephalus, repair of spina bifida, stabilization of the lumbar vertebrae, cartilage removal, and expansion of the neural canal.

For his part, the ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Chad, Amer Al-Shehri, participated in the launch of “Al-Balsam” Association campaign for training and health development, to treat brain and nerve patients for free. The event also witnessed the participation of the Minister of Public Health and Prevention of the Republic of Chad, Dr. AbdelmajidAbdelrahim, and important figures from the Ministry of Health, as well as the General Director of Al Nahda Hospital, “Al Balsam” medical team, and the team of local doctors.

The visit of "Al Balsam" Association team to the Republic of Chad is the second work of the Association after signing the cooperation agreement with King Salman Relief Centre. Its beginning was a successful medical campaign in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan last November,

which resulted in performing 112 heart surgeries, all of which were crowned with success.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/be8e99370d814cab8f1c27c457335499

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Australia

Australian police attack pro-Palestine protests blockading Israeli ship

23 January 2024

Australian police forces have attacked pro-Palestine protesters at a port in the Australian city of Melbourne, who were calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s ongoing brutal war against the besieged territory.

Police pepper sprayed, arrested and dispersed the protesters who gathered at Port of Melbourne on Monday, as they continued the blockade of an Israel-owned ship at the city dock for a fourth consecutive day.

Mohammed Helmy, one of the protest organizers, said the protesters faced a heavy crackdown, adding that at least 10 people were arrested at the site.

“At around 4 p.m. police arrived, there were over 150 officers from different forces, including riot police and Viper force which is a force normally used for organized crime gangs,” he said.

Some of the police were on horseback, which prompted the protesters to call for more people to join them, he added.

Helmy went on to say that the police used the kettling technique to control the crowd, containing protesters in a confined space by surrounding them, as the number of protesters grew to 300.

“We felt that the crackdown was aggressive and over-powering and did not respect the humanitarian cause of the action,” he said.

Helmy further noted that Melburnians have vowed to continue their actions against the “genocide” in Gaza, until it stops.

"On some days, there could be up to three or four separate actions on the same day against the genocide," he explained.

Helmy also said the blockade at the Port of Melbourne came after protesters felt that not enough was being done despite their continued protests and rallies to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The blockade was therefore aimed at inflicting losses on Zim, “a company that directly supports the genocide,” and to send a direct global message by garnering attention, he added.

On Friday, protesters prevented an Israeli-owned ship from being unloaded at the Port of Melbourne, resulting in four cargo ships being stranded along with 30,000 containers. The blockade has been going on since then.

Nasser Mashni, Australia's Palestine Advocacy Network president, has also said the decision to create a blockade and demonstrate came after months of peaceful protests that seemed to have "fallen on deaf ears,” stressing that it was "time to elevate our action" as Israel’s brutal aggression against Gaza continues.

The latest development came a day after protesters prevented workers from getting to their jobs at the port, while some of the demonstrators held up banners with the words "block Zim ships."

The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s atrocities against Palestinians.

Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 25,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The Tel Aviv regime has also imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/01/23/718778/Palestine-Israel-Gaza-war-Australia-protesters-police-Melbourne-port-blockade-Israeli-ship-call-ceasefire

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South Asia

Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad YunusNot Being Given Documents Needed To Appeal: Lawyer

Jan 24, 2024

Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus's defence lawyer yesterday said despite repeated requests, the labour court, which convicted and sentenced his client to jail, has not provided the documents required for Prof Yunus to appeal.

Speaking to journalists on the Supreme Court premises, lawyer Abdullah-Al-Mamun said not providing the documents was a form of harassment of his client and that Yunus was being deprived of his fundamental rights.

"We have asked the Third Labour Court of Dhaka for the certified copy of the judgement and order and other relevant papers containing the statements of witnesses and cross-examinations and arguments on which the court has delivered the verdict against Prof Muhammad Yunus and three others on January 1.

"The papers are very much needed for filing an appeal with the Labour Appellate Tribunal against the Third Labour Court verdict. Our lawyers requested the court officials every day for the required documents. But they are not giving those documents saying that either the judge or the registrar or the serestadar [administrative official] of the court is absent," he said.

The lawyer said under section 217 of the labour law, Prof Yunus is supposed to get 60 days to file an appeal.

Besides, the labour court is supposed to grant the sentenced bail for 60 days under section 426(2)(ka) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), but it has granted them bail for only 30 days, he said, adding that the court has given the certified copy of the judgement 11 days after the pronouncement of the verdict.

Giving Prof Yunus and three others 30 days to file the appeal is a breach of the law, he said, adding that the Nobel laureate and the others have been deprived of their fundamental rights.

Abdullah-Al-Mamun said everyone is equal in the eyes of the law and has a right to get the protection of the law under the constitution of the country.

Replying to a query, the lawyer said they would have to appeal by February 1 in compliance with the Third Labour Court's verdict, even though they were in a very difficult situation as they did not get the relevant papers from the trial court concerned.

Mamun said the whole world and human rights organisations are watching closely what is happening with Prof Yunus.

Meanwhile, state counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that there was no need for any papers other than the certified copy of the verdict for filing an appeal.

All the relevant papers have been given to the defence lawyer during the trial proceedings of the case, he added.

On January 1, the Third Labour Court sentenced Prof Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months in jail in a case filed by the government over labour law violations.

Prof Yunus is the chairman of Grameen Telecom, while the three are its directors Ashraful Hassan, Nurjahan Begum, and M Shahjahan.

The four were also fined Tk 30,000 each, in default of which they would have to serve 25 more days in prison.

Soon after the verdict, the same court granted bail to all four for a month.

Meanwhile, 12 US Senators wrote to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urging her to end what they said the persistent harassment of Prof Yunus.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/yunus-not-being-given-docs-needed-appeal-lawyer-3526586

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Hundreds of Afghan migrants expelled from Pakistan

Fidel Rahmati

January 23, 2024

The Ministry of Migrants and Repatriates of Afghanistan has announced that over three hundred Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan have been expelled from the country.

On Tuesday, the ministry reported that 317 Afghan migrants have returned to Afghanistan through various border crossings after being expelled.

The Ministry of Migrants and Repatriates added that the migrants entered to the country on Monday, January 22nd through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings.

It’s worth mentioning that recently, Afghan migrants who were newly expelled from Pakistan have been registered with the Ministry of Migrants and introduced to assist the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme, and the International Organization for Migration.

There has been a significant surge in the expulsion of Afghan citizens from Pakistan recently.

This situation comes at a challenging time as these newly expelled individuals from Pakistan are simultaneously facing numerous difficulties, especially with the onset of winter and the lack of essential resources for their livelihood.

This highlights the need for greater support for Afghan migrants who have faced expulsion from Pakistan.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/hundreds-of-afghan-migrants-expelled-from-pakistan/

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Turkish police detain 76 Afghan refugees

Fidel Rahmati

January 23, 2024

Following the expulsion and detention of Afghan refugees in Turkey, the Turkish authorities have announced that they have detained 76 Afghan refugees in the city of “Bitlis.”

The Bitlis Governorate’s office, in a newsletter, stated that these refugees were detained on Sunday, January 21st, in a truck at the inspection point in the central village of “Tanriyar.”

According to the newsletter, all the detained individuals were Afghan citizens, and the reason for their detention was cited as “lack of official residence permits in Turkey.”

The authorities in this country have also arrested one person on charges of “human trafficking.”

Previously, Turkish media reported the detention of 99 Afghan refugees in the city of “Erzincan” on the 20th of an unspecified month.

This comes as Turkish authorities have announced that operations to combat the entry and detention of illegal immigrants will continue throughout Turkey.

Meanwhile, statistics from the Council of Occupational Safety and Health in Turkey show that 18 Afghan workers lost their lives in occupational accidents in 2023.

It is worth noting that, according to official statistics, more than 300,000 Afghan migrants are living in Turkey.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, a significant number of Afghan citizens have been seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, such as Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey, in search of better opportunities and with hopes of eventually reaching European countries.

The instability and uncertainty in their homeland have forced many Afghans to embark on perilous journeys in search of safety and improved living conditions, often enduring difficult circumstances along the way.

These neighbouring countries have been grappling with the influx of Afghan refugees, and the situation highlights the urgent need for international cooperation and support to address the humanitarian crisis and provide assistance to those displaced by the conflict in Afghanistan.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/turkish-police-detain-76-afghan-refugees/

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We’re dealing with Myanmar govt on Rohingya repatriation: foreign minister

Jan 23, 2024

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today said the government is dealing with the Myanmar government on the Rohingya repatriation issue.

"We are dealing with the government of Myanmar. In a meeting with Myanmar's foreign minister who is also the deputy prime minister, I urged him to take back the Rohingyas and to begin the repatriation process," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The foreign minister, who had the meeting with his Myanmar counterpart on the sidelines of the NAM Summit in Uganda, said his Myanmar counterpart personally responded positively in this regard.

He said the government wants to repatriate the Rohingyas through discussion with the government of Myanmar.

The foreign minister also said the government remains aware of the situation in Myanmar through media reports.

At a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hasan Mahmud said they gave priority to a number of issues including Rohingya repatriation, economic diplomacy, and trade expansion during his meetings on the sidelines of the two Summits held in Ugandan capital Kampala.

He said he also discussed the Rohingya issue with the UN Secretary-General and sought UN support for the repatriation.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/rohingya-influx/news/were-dealing-myanmar-govt-rohingya-repatriation-foreign-minister-3526751

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PM seeks French cooperation for Bangladesh's sustainable development

Jan 23, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought cooperation from the development partners, including France, to sustain the ongoing development spree in Bangladesh.

"We need cooperation from the development partners including France to make the development of Bangladesh sustainable as we have to go a long way," she said when French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy called on her at the Prime Minister's official GonoBhaban residence in Dhaka.

PM's speech writer M Nazrul Islam briefed newsmen after the meeting.

The prime minister said once Bangladesh was known as a country of poverty, flood, and drought but it has now transformed into a developing nation.

"Today's Bangladesh is totally a different country with huge development being carried out at the grassroots," she said.

She said that every village in the country has been illuminated with electricity and connected to the communication network.

"The rural areas have changed a lot while poverty has reduced significantly," she said.

Hasina said the government has planned to build flats in rural areas for the poor.

On the Rohingya issue, the prime minister said the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals must be repatriated to their homeland.

"They are involving in various criminal acts like drug, arms, and human trafficking here," she said.

The prime minister urged the Western countries, including France, to mount pressure for the quick repatriation of the Rohingyas.

About stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh, the prime minister said their fourth generation is living here.

"It does not seem that Pakistan will take them back anymore. We are planning to build flats for them to ensure their permanent rehabilitation here," she said.

She requested the French Gas Company to invest in Bangladesh's gas sector and for gas exploration.

They also discussed on some bilateral issues including Airbus purchase and launching of Bangabandhu Satellite-II.

French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy handed over a congratulatory message of French President Emmanuel Macron for being reelected as the prime minister through the last Parliamentary election held on January 7.

She said that France and Bangladesh have excellent bilateral relations, referring to the Bangladesh premier's visit to France in 2021 and French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Bangladesh in 2023.

"These visits have further strengthened the relations between the two countries," she said.

About the climate issue, the French envoy said that her country helps Bangladesh to get the loss and damage fund, adding that they want to see Bangladesh as the pioneer in utilising the fund.

She mentioned that Bangladesh is an example in facing climate change.

She further said that France wants to assist Bangladesh in green energy transition.

The ambassador also said that her country wants to cooperate with Bangladesh in blue economy and cyber security.

Source: thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/pm-seeks-french-cooperation-bangladeshs-sustainable-development-3526256

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UN on World Education Day: Many children in Afghanistan go to school hungry

January 24, 2024

The World Food Program (WFP) said on Wednesday on the occasion of International Day of Education that many children in Afghanistan go to school hungry.

In a post on X, the organization said they distribute “WFP biscuits” to 700,000 male and female students every morning.

According to WFP, distributing biscuits to school children encourages families to send their children to school.

At the same time, Amnesty International has launched a campaign to support girls’ education in Afghanistan.

The organization said on Wednesday that on this day, Afghan girls share their stories and express both their heartbreak and hope, as their basic human right to education continues to be violated.

Amnesty International has launched an online petition to support girls’ education and asked education supporters and its audience around the world to sign this petition and expand the campaign to support girls’ education.

“The Taliban (IEA) must be held accountable for depriving millions of girls from seeking their right to education.The international community must not give up on girl’s education in Afghanistan,” Amnesty International said on X.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the United Nations in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said that equal education in Afghanistan is not only a basic human right, but also the foundation of the country’s future.

She said in a video message on the occasion of the World Education Day, the deprivation of Afghan girls from education will not only affect all Afghans, but will also isolate Afghanistan at the global level and the Islamic world.

Otunbayeva said that equal education is necessary for an economically developed Afghanistan and a prosperous Afghan society.

She added that girls’ education is not only a demand of western countries but also a demand of Islamic countries and called on the Islamic Emirate to recognize education not only as a moral obligation but as a vital order for peace and well-being.

Source: ariananews.af

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https://www.ariananews.af/un-on-world-education-day-many-children-in-afghanistan-go-to-school-hungry/

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Afghan nationals top the list of asylum seekers in France in 2023

Fidel Rahmati

January 23, 2024

The Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons in France (OFPRA) has announced that Afghans, with 17,500 requests, were the largest group of asylum seekers in the country in 2023.

This agency stated that in total, 142,500 people requested asylum in France last year.

OFPRA released the first asylum data for the previous calendar year on Tuesday, January 23rd.

According to this agency, Afghans have been the top asylum seekers for the sixth consecutive year.

The office noted that citizens from Bangladesh, Turkey, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea submitted the most asylum requests to France in 2023.

According to these statistics, the asylum demand in France increased by 8.6% compared to 2022.

The agency also mentioned that the COVID-19 crisis significantly affected refugee population movements.

Reportedly, during 2023, this office issued 136,700 decisions regarding asylum cases. The Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons in France mentioned that the provided statistics are provisional, and final figures will be released after further review.

Recently, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Germany also announced that over 50,000 Afghans applied for asylum in the country in 2023.

Since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan, many Afghan citizens are fleeing to neighboring countries in their quest to reach Europe for a safer future. They are escaping persecution, security threats, reprisals, and extrajudicial killings, especially those who were part of the former Afghan security forces.Top of Form

Source: khaama.com

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Southeast Asia

Malaysia demands accountability for Israel’s violations of international law - FM

24-01- 2024

NEW YORK: Malaysia demands accountability for Israel’s clear violations of international law in Gaza, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

The lack of accountability for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza undermines the legitimacy of international law, and efforts towards ending the illegal occupation of Palestine.

Mohamad said this at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate On The Situation in The Middle East Including Palestinian Question on Tuesday (Wednesday, Malaysian time).

“In upholding international law, and the rights of the oppressed, Malaysia on 23 July 2023, along with 56 other countries submitted a written statement, for the “Advisory Opinion, on the legal consequences, of Israel’s ongoing violations, in the Palestinian territory” at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Malaysia will now also participate at the public hearing, on 19 Feb,” Mohamad said.

He also highlighted Malaysia’s clear stance that there should be no reduction in Palestinian territory.

“Any attempt to grab their land violates international law, and further undermines the prospect of a peaceful coexistence,” Mohamad added.

He also pointed to the Security Council’s inability to call for a ceasefire which is partly responsible for what is now over a hundred days of carnage in Gaza.

Mohamad said Malaysia is appalled that Israel has been allowed to carry out what can only be described as indiscriminate bombing, targetting homes, shelters, evacuation routes, and even medical centres.

“On average, 246 Palestinians are killed every day, or 10 murders every hour. According to the United Nations, Relief and Works Agency, for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), up to 1.9 million people, or nearly 85 per cent of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced.

“This illegal and immoral pogrom of total annihilation should bring us to a single decision by members of this Council. It is time to recognise what Israel has been doing as genocide. And it is time to accept the State of Palestine as a full Member of the United Nations,” Mohamad further said.

He said Malaysia demands an immediate ceasefire and condemns the forced displacement of Palestinians, and will continue to do all, within its means, and within its rights, to bring an end, to this injustice and illegality.

The international community must prioritize the upscaling of all necessary amenities for the Palestinian people.

Access to basic services is a human right, which should not be compromised. Israel’s collective punishment of the entire population of Gaza is illegal, immoral, and must immediately cease, he said.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip since last Oct, killing at least 25,490 Palestinians and injuring 63,354.

The Israeli onslaught has left 85 per cent of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60 per cent of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, during his opening remarks, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the prolonged suffering in Gaza, marking over 100 days of intense hardship.

The region grapples with displacement and dire humanitarian conditions, affecting 2.2 million people facing hunger and food insecurity, worsened by inadequate medical care and harsh winter conditions.

Guterres highlighted the escalating regional tensions, citing recent incidents such as the Israeli attack in Lebanon, the Houthi activities in the Red Sea, and Iran’s military actions in Syria and northern Iraq.

He sharply criticized Israel’s rejection of the two-state solution, stressing its contribution to prolonged conflict and global insecurity.

“The Israeli occupation must end. Israel’s dismissal of the two-state solution, despite strong international appeals, is not only unacceptable but also indirectly prolongs the conflict,” Guterres stated.

He questioned the viability of a one-state solution, expressing concern over the lack of freedom, rights, and dignity for a large Palestinian population within such a framework.

Guterres reaffirmed that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/malaysia-demands-accountability-for-israel-s-violations-of-international-law-fm-NB12024548

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Malaysia’s wish for Palestine to be accepted as full member of UN conveyed in New York - PM

24-01- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s wish for Palestine to be accepted as a full member of the United Nations (UN) as well as the call for a ceasefire was conveyed by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the call was in line with Gutteres’ statement at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Kampala, Uganda that the right of the Palestinian people to build an independent state cannot be denied.

“Peace can only be achieved and maintained if real rights are returned to those who deserve them.

“If oppression, violence, deprivation of rights, and apartheid policies are allowed to spread, there will be no safe end in life. Surely one day, those who are oppressed and denied all rights will rise up against this kind of injustice,“ he said in a Facebook post today.

The Prime Minister also said that Malaysia reaffirmed its principled position that the Palestinians deserved their own independent and sovereign state, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Mohamad in his speech at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate On The Situation in The Middle East Including Palestinian Question on Tuesday (Wednesday, Malaysian time), said Malaysia demanded accountability for Israel’s clear violations of international law in Gaza.

The lack of accountability for Israel’s war crimes in Gaza undermines the legitimacy of international law, and efforts towards ending the illegal occupation of Palestine, he said. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/malaysia-s-wish-for-palestine-to-be-accepted-as-full-member-of-un-conveyed-in-new-york-pm-GB12024929

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China welcomes progress on restoration of Iran-Pakistan ties

Jan 23, 2024

TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (MNA) – China welcomes the positive progress on the restoration of relations between Iran and Pakistan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson says.

China welcomes the positive progress on the restoration of relations between Iran and Pakistan, and supports the two sides in continuing to enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation through friendly consultation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday, Xinhua reports.

In response to a related query, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily news briefing that China is willing to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Iran and Pakistan to jointly safeguard regional peace, stability and development.

Iran and Pakistan have mutually agreed that the ambassadors of both countries may return to their respective posts by Jan. 26. The decision was made following a telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of both countries.

Source: mehrnews.com

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Singaporean student who planned to attack mosques released from ISA detention after 'good progress' in rehabilitation

24 Jan 2024

Lee Chong Ming

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean student who was detained in December 2020 for making "detailed plans and preparations to conduct terrorist attacks" against Muslims has been released after making "good progress" in his rehabilitation, the Internal Security Department (ISD) said on Wednesday (Jan 24).

The 19-year-old, who was 16 when he was detained, was the first Singaporean to be dealt with under the country's Internal Security Act (ISA) for being radicalised by far-right extremist ideologies.

He had planned to use a machete to attack Muslims at two mosques in the Woodlands area on Mar 15, 2020, the second anniversary of New Zealand's Christchurch attacks.

He chose Assyafaah Mosque and YusofIshak Mosque as targets because they were near his home.

The youth, who was not named, is a Protestant Christian of Indian ethnicity. He was also the youngest person to be dealt with under the ISA for terrorism-related activities, ISD said at the time.

ISD said the self-radicalised teen was "motivated by a strong antipathy towards Islam and a fascination with violence".

He had been influenced by the 2019 terror attacks at two mosques in Christchurch and read the manifesto of the attacker, Brenton Tarrant.

Following three years of detention, ISD said the youth was released and issued with a suspension direction as he had made "good progress in his rehabilitation" and was "assessed to no longer pose an imminent security threat".

A suspension direction is a ministerial direction to suspend an existing detention order. The suspension direction may be revoked and the individual will be re-detained if he does not comply with any of the stipulated conditions.

The conditions include prohibition from associating with any militant or terrorist groups or individuals, and the person is not allowed to leave the country without approval.

It was revealed on Wednesday that another teenager, 16, has become the second Singaporean to be dealt with under the ISA for being self-radicalised by far-right extremist ideology.

The ISD said that the youth, who is of Chinese ethnicity, identified as a white supremacist and aspired to conduct attacks overseas. However, beyond online searches for weapons, he did not take steps to actualise his attack aspirations.

INTENSIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME

The youth in the first case underwent an intensive rehabilitation programme during his three years in detention, ISD said.

"He has been receptive to these efforts and has since rejected far-right extremist ideas and the use of violence.

"He no longer harbours any animosity towards Muslims, and has internalised the importance of racial and religious harmony in Singapore," it added.

To address his extremist mindset, which included the misguided belief that Christians were under attack by Muslims, ISD said it worked with the National Council of Churches of Singapore to arrange for a Christian pastor to counsel the youth.

Through the sessions, he was taught to embrace "virtues of non-violence and temperance, and to appreciate inter-faith harmony" as well as to exercise tolerance and moderation when practising his faith in Singapore.

He was also regularly engaged by an ISD psychologist to address his "permissive attitude towards violence" as well as the socio-psychological factors that contributed to his radicalisation.

These included his self-esteem issues and strong desire for social validation, which made him want to emulate Tarrant, whom he idolised as a "hero".

The youth was also assigned three mentors – two volunteers from the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and his former secondary school teacher – who helped him improve his self-esteem and overcome the challenges he faced when relating to others.

His family also played a key role in his rehabilitation, as their weekly visits and words of encouragement motivated him to stay on track, ISD said.

A Secondary 4 student at the time of his detention, ISD made arrangements for him to continue his education and sit for the GCE N (Academic) Level and GCE O-Level examinations.

In the lead-up to his exams, he received weekly lessons from at least five tutors, including Ministry of Education-trained teachers who are RRG volunteers.

“He did well for his examinations and intends to further his studies in an Institute of Higher Learning after his release.”

“ISD will continue to work with his family, school, and other rehabilitation stakeholders to ease his reintegration into society,” it said.

FAR-RIGHT EXTREMIST IDEOLOGIES

With two Singaporeans dealt with so far under the ISA for being radicalised by far-right extremist ideologies, the ISD cautioned that such propaganda can have the potential to create deep divisions in Singapore.

"Far-right ideologies, which often espouse white supremacist, anti-Islam, xenophobic and anti-immigration beliefs, can be adapted to fit the Singaporean landscape," the agency said.

"One example is by advocating for the superiority of specific communities, through the lens of cultural, ethno-religious, or nationalist supremacy."

It added: "Far-right extremist rhetoric promotes an 'us-versus-them' narrative, 'them' being members of other communities who are perceived to be the enemy. Such divisive rhetoric can create deep societal divides, amplify prejudices, and encourage acts of violence towards minorities or 'out-groups'."

ISD said the government takes a zero-tolerance approach to any form of hate speech, regardless of the ideology or justification.

Source: channelnewsasia.com

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-student-isa-plan-attack-2-mosques-released-rehabilitation-4070061

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Thousands of people forced out of homes after 7.1 quake hit western China

January 24, 2024

As aftershocks continued to rock western China on January 24, more than 12,000 people were staying in tents and other shelters, lighting bonfires to fend off the freezing weather.

The previous day, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in a remote part of China's Xinjiang region killed three people and left five injured, while damaging hundreds of buildings.

The earthquake caused significant damage amid freezing temperatures, but the toll on lives and property was relatively light, owing to the sparse population around the epicentre in Uchturpan county, near the border with Kazakhstan.

Footage shown by state broadcaster CCTV on January 24 showed evacuees eating instant noodles in tents with bonfires providing heat.

Jian Gewa, a 16-year old student in Uchturpan, said he was in the bathroom when the quake began. The entire building shook violently. “I just thought I had to get myself to safety as quickly as possible,” Jian said.

He was evacuated to a school where he was staying in a dorm room with his grandfather, joining about 200 others. Local officials said they planned to check houses' stability before people could return.

The earthquake hit in a sparsely populated area with clusters of towns and villages scattered across an otherwise barren winter landscape. A two lane highway runs from the city of Aksu about 125 km (78 miles) to the area, through frozen brown flatlands on one side and craggy outcroppings on the other. Power lines and an occasional cement factory are virtually the only signs of human presence.

In Kizilsu Kirgiz prefecture, the earthquake caused damage of various degrees to 851 buildings, collapsing 93 structures near the epicentre and killing 910 livestock, according to the prefecture deputy party secretary WurouzialiHaxihaerbayi.

The area is populated mostly by Kyrgyz and Uyghurs, ethnic Turkic minorities who are predominantly Muslim and have been the target of a state campaign of forced assimilation and mass detention. The region is heavily militarised, and state broadcaster CCTV showed paramilitary troops moving in before dawn to clear rubble and set up tents for those displaced.

The prefecture has deployed more than 2,300 rescuers, and Akqi county evacuated 7,338 residents. In total, 12,426 people have been evacuated. Rescue crews combed through the rubble while emergency survival gear including coats and tents arrived to help the thousands of people who fled their homes.

“This 7.1 rating is very strong, but the death and injury situation is not severe,” Zhang Yongjiu, the head of Xinjiang Earthquake Administration,” told a news conference. The earthquake's epicentre was in a mountainous area about 3,000 metres (9,800 feet) above sea level, Zhang said.

In the village of Yamansu, about 115 people were staying in a Communist Party meeting hall, their bedding neatly rolled up on Wednesday morning (January 23) on top of five long rows of metal bed frames. Medical staff were on hand to check on older residents.

A light layer of snow covered the frozen ground as temperatures remained well below freezing, although the sunshine brought people outside. The quake hit shortly after 2 a.m. on January 23. By evening, authorities said three people had died and five were injured, two seriously.

State broadcaster CCTV said 1,104 aftershocks, including five that were above magnitude 5.0, were recorded as of 8 a.m. on January 24. The largest registered at magnitude 5.7. Among the buildings damaged, 47 houses had collapsed, the government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region posted on its official Weibo social media account on January 22.

Officials said most of the houses that collapsed were in remote areas and were built by residents. Newer public housing built by the government did not collapse.

Footage broadcast by CCTV showed staff at Aksu's train station ordering passengers out of the waiting hall in a speedy but not panicked manner.

Some walls were cracked or partially collapsed in the empty Aksu country village of Youkakeyamansu, a name transliterated in Mandarin from Uyghur. All residents had been evacuated to a shelter.

The mountainous Uchturpan county is recording temperatures well below freezing, with the China Meteorological Administration forecasting lows reaching negative 18 degrees Celsius (just below zero Fahrenheit) this week. The county had around 2,33,000 people in 2022, according to Xinjiang authorities.

“The quake downed power lines but electricity was quickly restored,” Aksu authorities said. The Urumqi Railroad Bureau resumed services after 7 a.m. following safety checks that confirmed no problems on train lines. The suspension affected 23 trains, the bureau serving the Xinjiang capital said on its official Weibo account.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the area's largest quake in the past century was also magnitude 7.1 and occurred in 1978, about 200 km (124 miles) to the north of Tuesday's epicentre. Tremors were felt hundreds of km (miles) away.

Tremors also were felt in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and reportedly as far away as New Delhi. Videos posted on the Telegram messaging platform showed people in the Kazakh city of Almaty running downstairs in apartment blocks and standing in the street, some of them wearing shorts in the freezing weather.

In Xinjiang and Kazakhstan, classes were suspended to allow children to recover from the shock. Earthquakes are common in western China.

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Gansu province in December killed 151 people and was China's deadliest quake in nine years. An earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008 killed nearly 90,000.

“Elsewhere, authorities raised the confirmed death toll to 31 on Tuesday in a landslide in a remote, mountainous part of China’s southwestern province of Yunnan,” Chinese state media reported.

The disaster struck just before 6 a.m. on Monday in the mountain village of Liangshui. Authorities said on Tuesday that a total of 44 people were either missing or had been found dead.

Source: thehindu.com

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Pakistan

Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Religious Affairs for Spreading True Message of Islam

January 24, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Religious Affairs and Pakistani Diaspora in the Middle East and Muslim Countries Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Tuesday underscored the crucial role of pulpit and arch (Mehrab-o-Mimbr) as potent tools for disseminating the true message of Islam.

Addressing an event to award degrees to protectors of the Holy Quran (Hafiz-e-Quran) here at Jamia Madinia Marhaba Masjid, he emphasized their ability to counter disinformation and educate people at every nook and corner of the country.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1150841-ashrafi-for-spreading-true-message-of-islam

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Militants attack check post in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; 3 killed

24 Jan 2024

PESHAWAR: Unidentified militants attacked a security check post in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing at least three persons and injuring two, police said.

The attack took place on Tuesday. The militants attacked the Aba Shaheed check post in the Dikhan district bordering South Waziristan.

Two labourers and one security personnel were killed in the attack, police said, adding that the presence of militants was spotted through thermal vision cameras.

The dead bodies were found during a search operation on Wednesday. The two labourers injured have been shifted to Dera district hospital, police said.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks by armed groups since 2022 when a ceasefire between the outlawed group Pakistan Taliban (TTP) and the government broke down.

More than 300 attacks have hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2023 alone, according to official data, with a vast majority of them claimed by the TTP, which was founded in 2007.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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Afghan-Pakistan Torkham border crossing reopens after 10 days

January 23, 2024

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Torkham border, which was shut for 10 days due to the imposition of visa restrictions on truck drivers by Islamabad, was reopened on Tuesday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

The crossing was closed on January 13 after Pakistani officials at the crossing began asking for passports and visas from Afghan drivers under a new policy, prompting a reciprocal ban on Pakistani truckers by the Afghan Taliban authorities.

The border closure had come in the wake of Pakistan’s decision to start expelling more than a million undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghans, on Nov 1, amid a row over accusations that Kabul harbours militants that launch cross-border attacks.

Islamabad claimed that Afghan authorities had been conveyed the message on the imposition of the visa policy several times, but Kabul had failed to take any practical steps to adhere to international border crossing rules.

According to traders, the border closure resulted in significant economic losses for people in both countries, with daily losses estimated at around $100,000.

This was not the first time that Torkham was shut. The border crossing has been closed several times in recent months, including in September when it remained shut for nine days due to clashes between border forces.

In a report today, Radio Pakistan said the border crossing was reopened for “commercial consignments”. The decision was taken in a meeting between the Afghan consul general and Pakistani authorities in Peshawar.

Quoting Customs authorities, it said the first cargo vehicle had entered Pakistan through the Torkham while Afghan drivers of commercial vehicles had been given visa and passport relaxations till March 31.

“No cargo vehicle will be allowed entry into Pakistan without travelling documents from April 1,” Radio Pakistan added.

Separately, in a post on social media platform X, the JUI-F said the decision to relax visa requirements was taken on the request of Maulana Fazlur Rehman — who recently visited Kabul and discussed a range of issues, including bilateral trade, with the Afghan government.

Significant losses

Business leaders from both nations were united in opposing the border closures. Khan Jan Alokozai, the vice president of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, earlier told Dawn that Pakistani and Afghan traders suffer losses of about $100,000 daily due to Torkham’s closure.

He alleged that Pakistan usually closes trade routes due to political reservations. “Afghans have almost stopped transit via Pakistan when Pakistan issued a new SRO (statutory regulatory order) nearly four months ago,” Alokozai added.

Meanwhile, Ziaul Haq Sardahi, coordinator of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), said Pakistani exporters had urged the government to give Afghan drivers more time to get passports.

“Traders in both countries suffer millions of rupees of losses due to the closure of the Torkham border,” Sarhadi said, adding that several other crossings to Afghanistan also remain closed, including Chaman in Balochistan, Ghulam Khan Kelay in North Waziristan, AngoorAdda in South Waziristan, and Kharlachi in Kurram district.

Some 2,000 to 2,500 trucks on each side of the border remain stranded, he said, adding that the disruption has also affected Pakistan’s trade with Central Asia.

Source: dawn.com

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Cipher didn’t mention ‘conspiracy’ or ‘threat’: Asad Majeed

January 24, 2024

ISLAMABAD: A witness in cipher case, former ambassador of Pakistan to the United States Asad Majeed Tuesday told the court that there was no mention of words “conspiracy” and “threat” in the cipher telegram.

Judge AbualHasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain of the Special Court of Official Secrets Act recorded the statements of six witnesses, including Asad, in the cipher case against former prime minister Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and adjourned further hearing till Wednesday (today).

The cipher case hearing was held in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi. Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood Qureshi appeared in the courtroom, while the six prosecution witnesses, including Asad Majeed, Faisal Tirmizi and Akbar Durrani, were presented in the court.

Asad Majeed said that he was the ambassador of Pakistan to the United States from January 2019 to March 2022. On March 7, 2022, Assistant Secretary of the US Department of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu was invited to a working lunch. It was a pre-arranged meeting hosted at Pakistan House in Washington.

Communication took place in the meeting, so a cipher telegram was sent to the foreign secretary. The deputy head of Mission and defence attaché were also present in the meeting.

In the meeting, both sides knew that minutes of the meeting were being taken. The conversation in the meeting was reported to Islamabad in cipher telegram. There was no reference to the words “threat” or “conspiracy” in the secret cipher telegram.

Majeed further told the court that he was also called to the National Security Committee meeting. And in the meeting, it was decided to issue demarche.

“I had proposed to issue the demarche.”

He said that the cipher issue was a setback for Pakistan-US relations.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till today.

The lawyers of founder PTI and Shah Mahmood Qureshi will start the cross-examination of the witnesses from today. In total, the statements of 25 witnesses have been recorded in the cipher case.

Earlier, when the hearing started, Qureshi came to the rostrum and said that his nomination papers from NA-151 and PP-218 were rejected. “I had asked for confirmation of nomination papers, the judge asked me to attach his my order but the nomination papers were rejected despite judge’s order, he added.

Qureshi got angry when the prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi spoke on the occasion. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader said: “I am talking about my fundamental rights, why are you interrupting?

Qureshi said: “If you have come from above? Who are you? What is your social standing?

Abbasi replied in the same coin. The judge kept urging Qureshi him to keep his calm.

The PTI leader submitted a petition against rejection of nomination papers. The judge said that it was his right, and the count would look into this request.

“You will get the rights you have,” the court added.

Meanwhile, granting an interim relief, the Lahore High Court (LHC) restored Imran Khan’s bail in seven cases related to the May 9 riots.

A two-member bench headed by Justice AaliaNeelum announced the verdict reserved on the former prime minister’s plea challenging the cancellation of bail in seven cases related to the May 9 events.

Moreover, the high court ordered the trial court to give a verdict on his interim bail pleas. The verdict comes after an anti-terrorism court rejected the petitions seeking bail extension for the politico, who was ousted from his office through a parliamentary vote in 2022, in seven cases, including the May 9 riots and the attack on Jinnah House.

A trial court had given the verdict on August 11 last year, after hearing arguments from both sides.

Separately, the PTI founder moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in connection with his bail in Toshakhana and 190 million pounds cases.

PTI founder has filed separate bail pleas in both the cases. Through the petitions request had been made to annul the accountability court decision.

It had been prayed in the petitions that all the cases registered against Imran were based on political revenge and malafide intent. Former NAB chairman Aftab Sultan refused to frame cases of political nature despite pressure. So the bail be approved till the final decision.

The PTI founder has made NAB chairman, DG and investigation officer respondents.

It is pertinent to mention here that the accountability court had rejected bail after arrest plea of the PTI founder in both the cases.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1150786-cipher-didn-t-mention-conspiracy-or-threat-asad-majeed

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Father shoots dead young son for refusing to remove PTI's flag in Peshawar

January 24, 2024

In what seems to be the worst example of political polarisation, a father in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar shot dead his young son for refusing to take down Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) flag from his home in Peshawar.

The argument broke out when the son, who recently returned from working in Qatar, hoisted the flag of former prime minister Imran Khan´s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party at the family home on the outskirts of Peshawar.

"The father prohibited his son from hoisting the PTI flag at home, but the son refused to take it down and abandon PTI," said district police official Naseer Farid.

"The argument escalated, and in a fit of anger, the father fired a pistol at his 31-year-old son, before fleeing the house."

The son died on the way to the hospital.

Police are searching for the father, who was affiliated with the nationalist Awami National Party and had previously displayed their flag.

Elections which are scheduled for February 8 are often marred with violence in Pakistan, with candidates targeted by bombings and gun attacks.

In the first week of February some 5,000 paramilitary Frontier Constabulary (FC) forces will deploy to the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, commander Moazzam Jah Ansari told AFP.

A day earlier, the caretaker federal cabinet accorded approval to a summary seeking deployment of the Pakistan Army and troops of civil armed forces to help the civil institutions in holding a free, fair and peaceful general election.

The development came during a meeting of the federal cabinet held with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in the chair.

“The troops will perform duties in sensitive constituencies and polling stations and will also act as a rapid response force,” read a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

On the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior, the federal cabinet unanimously okayed the deployment of the Pakistan Army and the civil armed forces personnel at sensitive polling stations across the country during the upcoming general elections.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1150869-father-shoots-dead-young-son-for-refusing-to-remove-ptis-flag-in-peshawar

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Humanitarian aid stuck at port: PRCS appeals for waiver of demurrage

2024-01-24

KARACHI: A consignment of Pakistan Red Crescent Society containing vital humanitarian aid donated by the Egyptian Red Crescent Society has stuck at the Karachi port and due to unforeseen delays the demurrage charges have exceeded the value of the relief items.

The consignment of humanitarian aid includes tents, mattresses, hygiene kits, sheets, and blankets which were intended to provide critical assistance to individuals and communities in dire need of humanitarian aid.

The Pakistan Red Crescent Society has urgently appealed for the waiver of demurrage charges on a consignment, containing vital humanitarian aid generously donated by the Egyptian Red Crescent Society.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has said that despite successfully clearing all duties and taxes at the shipping company and port, unforeseen delays beyond PRCS’s control have led to the imposition of demurrage charges. Delay and detention certificates, granted by competitive authority validate the humanitarian nature and urgency of the consignment, as well as the circumstances causing the delay.

It is disheartening to note that the demurrage costs have exceeded the value of the relief items. PRCS emphasized the sole purpose of these goods is to alleviate the suffering of those affected by crises. The delay in clearance, coupled with demurrage charges, poses a significant challenge to fulfilling this mission.

PRCS appealed to the understanding and compassion of relevant authorities to recognize the unique circumstances surrounding this consignment. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that the donated goods reach their intended recipients without further hindrance.

“We understand the importance of adhering to shipping and port procedures, but we implore authorities to consider the humanitarian impact of our relief efforts. The demurrage charges, exceeding the value of the relief items, threaten our ability to provide essential aid promptly.”

Source: brecorder.com

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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40285361/humanitarian-aid-stuck-at-port-prcs-appeals-for-waiver-of-demurrage

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LHC restores interim bails of IK in seven cases

2024-01-24

LAHORE: A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday restored interim bails, of PTI former Chairman Imran Khan, in seven cases pertaining to the May 9 riots.

The bench headed by Justice AaliaNeelum announced its reserved verdict on a petition of Imran Khan challenging the cancellation of his bail in seven cases pertaining to the May 9 riots.

The bench directed the the trial court to dispose of the bail applications of Imran Khan in accordance with the law.

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) last year on August 11 had rejected the petitions seeking bail extension for the deposed Prime Minister Imran Khan in seven cases including the May 9 riots and the attack on Corps Commander House.

Violent clashes erupted across Pakistan after Imran Khan was arrested on May 9, 2023.

The federal government constituted a cabinet committee to investigate the incidents of May 9.

The PTI former Chairman Imran Khan was named as main accused in all the May 9 riots cases.

Source: brecorder.com

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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40285386/lhc-restores-interim-bails-of-ik-in-seven-cases

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