Supreme Court Extends Stay On Survey In Shahi Eidgah Mosque-Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple In Mathura

New Age Islam News Bureau

15 April 2024

 

·         Supreme Court Extends Stay On Survey In Shahi Eidgah Mosque-Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple In Mathura

·         Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad Hail Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes On Occupied Territories

·         Saudi Arabia Names To Shame Harassers In Mecca And Jeddah

·         Scottish Branch of Minhaj-ul-Quran Distances Itself From Scottish Labour MP Michael Shanks

·         Islamabad Blocks Regional Group On Afghanistan Due To Indian Inclusion: Pakistani Media

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India

·         U.P. Muslim Student Slapping Case: SC Asks State Government To Clarify Measures Taken To Prosecute Teacher

·         Poor Man Donated Egg For Mosque In J&K Village, Auction Fetched More than Rs. 2 Lakh

·         Iran's attack on Israel: India presses for immediate de-escalation, return to path of diplomacy

·         Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused in touch with with ISIS operatives?

·         Air India suspends Tel Aviv flights; airlines avoid Iranian airspace

·         No Lasting Peace Possible In Region Without Resolution Of Kashmir Issue: Hurriyat Conference

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Mideast

·         Israel lifts restriction on normal activities after Iranian retaliatory attack

·         All Iran hypersonic missiles hit targets in occupied lands

·         After Iran’s Barrage, Israel Questions What Might Be Next For War In Gaza Strip

·         Iran's historic operation against Israel rooted in Palestine's freedom struggle

·         Iran’s retaliatory strikes only targeted Israeli military sites: Amir-Abdollahian

·         Israel army says Hamas holding hostages in Gaza’s Rafah

·         'Ten times stronger': Iran warns Israel of much harsher response if evil actions continue

·         Palestine urges world court to issue arrest warrants for illegal West Bank settlers

·         Palestinians injured as Israeli warplanes target Gaza hospital

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Arab World

·         Qatari FM criticizes Israel for creating regional instability

·         KSrelief continues aid projects across several countries

·         Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss Middle East escalation

·         UNICEF hails KSrelief’s role in advancing education in Yemen

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Europe

·         G7 ‘ready to take measures’ over destabilization by Iran

·         European Allies Urge Israel Against Military Response To Iran As War Cabinet Convenes

·         EU's Air Safety Agency recommends caution in Israeli and Iranian air space

·         German foreign minister holds phone call with Iranian counterpart

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Pakistan

·         Man Accused Of Killing Indian Spy Critically Injured In Lahore Gun Attack

·         Pakistan calls for global efforts to prevent hostilities in Middle East

·         ‘Meddling’ claims bring Tyrian White case back into limelight

·         Family of Pakistani COO on Israel-linked ship seized by Iran seeks help

·         Pakistanis stranded on ship seized by Iranian forces to be released

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Africa

·         Nigerian Army Refutes Recruiting Repented Boko Haram Members

·         South African Leader Warns Against Regional Conflict After Iran’s Retaliatory Attacks On Israel

·         Congo landslide kills at least 15 people and up to 60 others are missing, officials say

·         Iran-Israel: Nigeria, G7 urges ceasefire, world leaders condemn attack

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North America

·         US House To Vote On Israel Aid Package Following Iran Attack

·         US calls on UN Security Council to condemn Iran's attacks

·         Pro-Palestinian activists continue Pomona College protests despite arrests, suspensions

·         Destroyed more than 80 Iranian ballistic missiles headed towards Israel, says US

·         Biden in ‘very tough spot’ trying to stop Middle East escalation

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South Asia

·         Kabul Calls Iran's Attack on Israel 'Legitimate' Defensive Action

·         Iran-Israel tensions directly impact Afghanistan: Abdullah

·         Five more Myanmar border guards take refuge in Bangladesh

·         Iran-Israel tensions: Dhaka wants peace in Middle East

·         BNP real source of communalism: Quader

·         Thousands of people visit Helmand’s historic Bost fort during Eid

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Southeast Asia

·         Myanmar Rebels Say They Have Repelled Junta Push To Take Back Border Town

·         Iran-Israel conflict: PM Anwar calls for global effort to mitigate escalating tensions

·         Unity Govt has never neglected Indian community - PM Anwar

·         China stops short of condemning Iran, as it continues its balancing diplomacy

·         Muslims in Japan serve up curry for quake-hit Noto residents

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:    https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/sc-mathura-eidgah-krishna-janmahoomi/d/132142

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Supreme Court Extends Stay On Survey In Shahi Eidgah Mosque-Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple In Mathura

  

Apr 15, 2024

The Supreme Court on Monday extended its earlier order, suspending an advocate-commissioner’s survey of the Shahi Eidgah mosque near to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura, till the next hearing in August.

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and DipankarDatta ordered for the listing of the matter in the first fortnight of August for a detailed hearing after noting that the court was yet to formally issue notice in the plea – a legal imperative for admitting a case for an extensive hearing.

“Issue notice in the matter. Re-list the matter in the week commencing August 5, 2024. In the meantime, pleadings will be completed by the parties. Interim order to continue,” the bench stated in its brief order, extending the operation of its January 16 order.

On the next date of hearing, the Supreme Court will also consider a number of petitions, contesting the Allahabad high court’s decision to transfer approximately 18 suits pertaining to the land dispute between Krishna Janmasthan and Shahi Eidgah from several Mathura civil courts to itself for hearing.

The bench had on January 16 stayed the Allahabad high court order of December 14 for the appointment of an advocate-commissioner to oversee the mosque survey, noting that the Hindu side’s plea for the survey was “very vague” and that the matter also raised some significant legal issues that required the top court’s scrutiny.

On the day, the court referred to the questions over passing an interim order without rendering prima facie satisfaction regarding the maintainability of the suit also arose in the case.

On December 14, the Allahabad high court ordered a survey of the mosque that Hindu plaintiffs say holds signs proving that it was a once a Hindu temple, opening a new chapter in the decades-old dispute that is part of a raft of cases where Hindu petitioners are pushing for legal change to gain rights over Islamic holy sites. t also gains enormous political significance at a time when a survey has already been conducted at the contested Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. The Gyanvapi Idgah committee’s challenge to this order is presently pending in the Supreme Court.

Since July 2023, the Supreme Court is seized of the challenge to a May 26 order of the Allahabad high court that transferred to itself all suits filed by Hindu parties claiming right over the mosque land in Mathura. The mosque committee has argued that it did not have the financial wherewithal to defend the suits in the Allahabad high court which is 600km away and would prefer having it in Delhi which only 150km away.

The May 26 order by the high court came on a plea by Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman at Katra Keshav Dev Khewat Mathura (deity) through the next friend, Ranjana Agnihotri, who is also an advocate, and seven others. Next friend is a legal representative of someone incapable of maintaining a suit directly. The Hindu plaintiffs requested that the original trial be conducted by the high court as the matter involved is of national importance.

Multiple suits regarding the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Mosque land dispute pending before various courts in Mathura have a common demand – to reclaim the 13.37-acre land on which the mosque stands – to be returned to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust. The mosque abuts the temple and the suits have sought to annual a compromise entered between the mosque committee and Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh in 1968 allowing the continue at the place where it currently stands.

The mosque, in its petition before the top court, questioned the maintainability of the suits after prolonged delay. It further argued that the suit is barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which protects the “character” of all places of worship existing as on August 15, 1947 (barring the Ram Janmabhoomi land at Ayodhya) and prohibits filing of any lawsuits to alter the character of any place of worship.

In July last year, the top court observed that it would be in the interest of all stakeholders if the matter is decided “at the earliest” because pendency in such “sensitive” cases create “disquiet”. Adding that it would lay down norms for hearing the clutch of suits related to the dispute, the court had directed the high court registrar to send details of all such pending cases. On the day, the court had also remarked that it would be more appropriate for a high court judge to apply his mind considering the complex nature of the case.

The Gyanvapi case has been pending since May 2022 before the Supreme Court, which has so far refused to stay the proceedings before the Varanasi district judge. In that case, too, the civil court first appointed an advocate-commissioner and then July last year, a full scientific survey of the mosque premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was ordered to determine if the 17th century structure was built upon a pre-existing temple. The Supreme Court, at different points in time, refused to stay these orders when appealed against by the Gyanvapi mosque committee.

The Varanasi district court in January further asked for the copies of the ASI report to be given to the parties in the case. The ASI report, which was soon made public, concluded that a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the Gyanvapi Masjid, signifying a tipping point in the contentious community conflict that may have far-reaching effects even as the trial of the underlying civil suit filed in 2021 is yet to commence.

A batch of petitions — some seeking to scrap the 1991 Act and some others asking for tight enforcement of the same law — are pending before the top court since March 2021. Last September, Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, while hearing the Gyanvapi case, observed that the religious “character” of a site also had to be led by evidence.
Source: hindustantimes.com

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-extends-stay-on-survey-in-mathura-mosque-case-101713168284795.html

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Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad Hail Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes On Occupied Territories

 

Iranian demonstrators wave Iran’s flag and Palestinian flags as they gather at Palestine Square in Tehran on April 14, 2024, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel. (Photo by AFP)

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14 April 2024

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has praised Iran's “brave” decision to carry out retaliatory strikes on the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories following the regime’s recent deadly aggression on the Iranian diplomatic facilities in Syria.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted Israel late on Saturday with a barrage of drones and missiles in response to the regime’s deadly assault on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1.

The retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation True Promise, has inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories, but the extent of which is yet to be specified.

In a statement on Sunday, Hezbollah extended its congratulations to Iran’s leadership and nation on the unique and unprecedented attack targeting the Zionist entity and commended the brave and wise decision to respond decisively to the Israeli aggression on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

“The Islamic Republic exercised its natural and legal right despite threats, intimidation, and pressures and fulfilled its truthful promise with unparalleled courage, great wisdom, and a high appreciation of the situation at the entire regional level, and even at the global level as well,” the statement said.

The Lebanese resistance movement underlined that the operation precisely achieved its specified military targets despite the participation of the United States, its international allies and regional tools in repelling the sudden attack.

“The political and strategic objectives of this significant development will gradually become apparent over time and will lay the groundwork for a new phase regarding the entire Palestinian cause and the historical struggle with this enemy on the path to the inevitable victory for our Arab and Islamic nation and the resisting and oppressed Palestinian people,” Hezbollah added.

Iran hit a large intelligence base in the occupied lands and Israel’s Nevatim Airbase, from where an F-35 jet took off to target Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital.

The Israeli attack on Iran's diplomatic facilities resulted in the martyrdom of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, and five of their accompanying officers.

The terrorist attack drew categorical condemnation from senior Iranian political and military leaders, who vowed "definitive revenge."

During a speech in Tehran on Wednesday after leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Israeli regime “must be punished and will be punished” for the deadly strike on the Iranian diplomatic premises.

The international community also condemned the Israeli aggression on the Iranian consulate in Damascus’s Mezzeh district.

Islamic Jihad praises Iranian retaliation

Also on Sunday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement commended Iran’s reprisal and the targeting of military sites inside the occupied territories.

“We consider this response to be the natural reaction to the existence of the occupying entity, and it becomes increasingly necessary in light of the crimes, violations, and assassinations that the entity continues to commit in flagrant violation of all humanitarian and legal values and standards,” the Islamic Jihad said.

“We also condemn all the denying voices that have emerged in defense of the occupying entity, especially the countries that have made themselves a firewall to defend the entity, and portray it as the victim, in a blatant distortion of all facts and realities,” the movement added.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas also hailed Iran’s unprecedented retaliatory operation as a “natural right and a deserved response.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/14/723687/Lebanese-resistance-movement-Hezbollah-brave-decision-Iran-retaliatory-strikes-Israel

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Saudi Arabia names to shame harassers in Mecca and Jeddah

 

Penalties are toughened to up to five years in prison and a fine of SR300,000 in case of repetition or when the act is committed in public. Illustrative image.

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April 14, 2024

Cairo: Saudi Arabia’s security authorities have started naming people arrested for sexual harassment in a step aimed to shame them and deter would-be offenders.

Police in the Saudi holy city of Mecca said they had arrested an Egyptian expatriate accused of harassing a woman and revealed his full name in a press statement in the first such announcement.

Get exclusive content with Gulf News WhatsApp channel

In the port city of Jeddah, police announced the arrest of a Saudi man for the same reason and likewise provided his full name. In both cases, police said the offenders were referred to prosecutors.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has sought to fight such offences and boost women’s rights as part of drastic reforms in the kingdom.

Under Saudi law, sexual harassment is punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of SR100,000 or one of both acts. Penalties are toughened to up to five years in prison and a fine of SR300,000 in case of repetition or when the act is committed in public.

Saudi authorities have said legal punishment against sex harassment is irreversible even if the victim renounced own right or did not file a legal complaint.

If the victim is a child, a person with special needs, or has been subjected to the act while sleeping or unconscious, the crime is punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of SR300,000 or one of both penalties.

The Saudi Human Rights Commission has said that in the crime of harassment, the victim’s renunciation of own right or failure to file a complaint does not deny the competent agencies the right to take the legal action they deem necessary to serve the common good.

The panel has defined harassment as any verbal expression, deed or motion carrying sexual insinuation made by a person towards another referring to the body and honour or harming modesty in any way, including modern technology methods.
Source: gulfnews.com

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https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-names-to-shame-harassers-in-mecca-and-jeddah-1.102157289

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Scottish Branch of Minhaj-ul-Quran Distances Itself From Scottish Labour MP Michael Shanks

 

Michael Shanks at the community Iftaar (Image: Twitter/X)

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14th April

A Scottish branch of a Muslim international organisation has distanced itself from Labour MP Michael Shanks after members raised concerns about his attendance at a religious ceremony.

Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) Glasgow issued a "clarification" to members on Saturday after a community Iftar was hosted on April 7. The ritual, which marked the end of the day’s fasting for Muslims, had been attended by Shanks.

The group said Shanks had not been invited but had "registered himself through the Eventbrite page".

However, MQI reiterated that as a "responsibility", it opens its doors to all of the community "irrespective of their views and thoughts".

Shanks had shared pictures of himself alongside members of the group on his social media accounts,  writing: "Thank you to Rutherglen Mosque and @MQIUK for inviting the community into your place of worship tonight to share in an Iftar meal.

"It was a pleasure to meet you all, talk about our shared connections, interfaith work and learn more about Islam and global charity work."

Scotland’s newest MP has consistently backed Keir Starmer’s position on Gaza over Scottish Labour's Anas Sarwar.

Alongside Scottish Labour MPs Ian Murray, Shanks toed the party line by abstaining on the SNP vote in November and backed Labour's amendment, which instead called for longer humanitarian pauses.

On Sunday, he refused to back Sarwar over calls for the UK to stop exporting weapons to Israel.

It is understood MQI members had raised concerns about Shanks's political positions with group leaders.

The statement released added: "MQI Glasgow believes in engaging with our guests, and we will always open our doors with the values and teachings of Islam, and so long as there is no physical harm to any members of the congregation."

It went on: "It has come to our understanding that certain members of the community have expressed their concerns about Mr Shanks's presence at the community Iftar.

"We would like to make it absolutely and categorically clear that MQI Glasgow expresses its unflinching support and solidarity with their Palestinian brothers and sisters.

"Our dedication is heartfelt, as we will continue to stand with the Palestinian people unconditionally and their just and rightful cause for freedom."

The National: Michael Shanks

The group further laid out its fundraising efforts and aid sent to Gaza.

"We strongly condemn the humanitarian situation that has led to the worst crises in the Middle East. Our welfare arm, Minhaj Welfare Foundation (MWF) has been supporting the people of Palestine for almost two decades.

"MWF have more recently been providing cooked meals to our brothers and sisters in Gaza. MWF has already sent almost 100 truckloads of aid via the Rafah border, including medical aid, food, water, and shelter.

"MQI Glasgow and MWF are unequivocally committed in support the people of Palestine."

In reply, members thanked the group for the "clarification", with one writing: "Thank you for clarifying. I wish I knew the way that you could practice your values and not have cynical people like that man take advantage."

Another said: "How would you educate people about right and wrong if you don't engage with them and cut them off?

"Iftar should be open to all members of the society irrespective of their religion or views. It's a shame that you had to issue a clarification on this."

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24252251.minhaj-ul-quran-distances-scottish-labour-mp-michael-shank/

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Islamabad Blocks Regional Group On Afghanistan Due To Indian Inclusion: Pakistani Media

 

Photo:  The Khaama Press

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Fidel Rahmati

April 14, 2024

The Express Tribune, a Pakistani newspaper, reported that the proposal for a regional contact group on Afghanistan has faced obstacles due to disagreements among participating countries regarding the presence of certain nations.

According to the media outlet, Pakistan has opposed the inclusion of India in this group.

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, put forward the proposal to form a regional contact group in February following the Doha conference on Afghanistan.

The main focus of this proposal was to appoint a special representative of the United Nations for Afghanistan, a move repeatedly rejected by the Taliban.

The Express Tribune, citing diplomatic sources, wrote that this proposal has been delayed due to disagreements over the inclusivity of certain countries.

While Pakistan opposes India’s participation in the regional group, India has recently faced tensions in its relations with the Taliban, but it has increased its engagement with Kabul in recent months.

The proposal to establish a regional group is part of the broader efforts of the United Nations to enhance coordination in dealing with the Taliban.

According to the Express Tribune report, a UN delegation is expected to travel to Kabul soon to follow up on the outcomes of the Doha conference and urge the Taliban to adhere to their international commitments.

The recent Doha meeting, led by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in February, gathered representatives from 25 countries and Afghan civil society to discuss Afghanistan’s ongoing crisis. Notably, the Taliban were absent from the discussions. The meeting aimed to tackle various facets of the Afghan conflict, emphasizing efforts to foster peace and stability in the region.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/islamabad-blocks-regional-group-on-afghanistan-due-to-indian-inclusion-pakistani-media/

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India

 

U.P. Muslim Student Slapping Case: SC Asks State Government To Clarify Measures Taken To Prosecute Teacher

 April 15, 2024

A first information report (FIR) was registered on Saturday against Tripta Tyagi, a private school teacher who allegedly asked students to hit their seven-year-old Muslim classmate at Khubbapur village in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. In a video that has gone viral, Ms. Tyagi can be seen telling students lining up to hit their crying classmate to hit him harder, while referring pejoratively to his faith.

The case has been registered at the Mansurpur police station in the district as a non-cognisable report under Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code, effectively meaning that the police cannot arrest the accused without a warrant and need court approval for an investigation. The case was registered based on a complaint by the child’s father, who had earlier called for a mutual settlement.

The Hindu reached out to Som Prakash Singh, the investigating officer of the case, but did not receive any response.

‘Hit harder’

In the viral video, the teacher can be heard telling one of the students, “Aeykya tum maar rahehoiske, jor se maaronaa… Chalo, aurkiska number hai? (What are you doing, hit harder... who is next?)”. As the distressed child cries after getting continuously slapped in the face, she can be heard directing other students to hit him on the body as “his face is going red”. Speaking to another adult who is not visible in the video, Ms. Tyagi can also be heard referring pejoratively to “all these Muslim children”.

Following the viral video, the teacher defended herself, claiming that the video had been tampered with. She denied any communal angle to the incident and alleged that the boy was being punished for not doing his homework, adding that as she was handicapped, she was forced to ask the students to punish their classmate on her behalf.

‘Show video at G-20’

The incident triggered mass outrage on social media, with Opposition leaders targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for creating an atmosphere of hate in the country.

The Leader of Opposition in the U.P. Assembly and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav asked the ruling BJP government to show the viral video from Muzaffarnagar at the G-20 summit to justify its hate agenda.

“In a viral video from Muzaffarnagar, a teacher is seen getting a minority child thrashed by other children. In this, she is guilty of a double crime because she is beating, and making other children violent. The BJP government should show this video in the G-20 meeting to prove how its hate agenda is correct,” Mr. Yadav posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that such a person is a blot on the teaching profession.

Source: thehindu.com

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/muslim-boy-gets-slapped-by-classmates-on-insistence-of-teacher-in-uttar-pradesh-teacher-arrested/article67237877.ece

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Poor Man Donated Egg For Mosque In J&K Village, Auction Fetched More than Rs. 2 Lakh

April 14, 2024

 Nazir Masoodi

An egg donated by a poor man for the construction of a mosque in a Kashmir village has been auctioned for more than ? 2 lakh.

Reports say after villagers in the apple town of Sopore started raising donations for the mosque at Malpora village, a poor man donated an egg for the mosque.

The mosque committee accepted the egg and like other donations in kind, it was put up for auction.

The humble donation turned out to be a major attraction for villagers.

The egg exchanged many hands. After every auction, the buyer would return it for another auction to raise more money.

Locals say the egg was finally purchased by a man for ? 70,000. The total amount raised by the repeated egg auction was around ? 2.2 lakh.

"We have completed the auction of this egg and it has raised ? 2.26 lakh rupees," said a member of the mosque committee.

Source: ndtv.com

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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/poor-man-donated-egg-for-mosque-in-j-k-auction-fetched-record-amount-5442330

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Iran's attack on Israel: India presses for immediate de-escalation, return to path of diplomacy

15.04.24

With Iran's first direct attack on Israel triggered the spectre of a wider conflict in West Asia, India on Sunday said it is seriously concerned over the escalating hostilities between the two sides and called for immediate halt to violence and return to the path of diplomacy.

As Iran's firing of hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel further escalated tensions in the region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held separate telephonic conversations with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts and underlined the importance of avoiding escalation and exercising restraint.

Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1 that killed seven Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards including a senior general.

In its reaction, India called for immediate de-escalation of the situation and said that its embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community in the region.

"We are seriously concerned at the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran which threatens the peace and security in the region," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"We call for immediate de-escalation, exercise of restraint, stepping back from violence and return to the path of diplomacy," it said.

The MEA said India is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia.

"We are closely monitoring the evolving situation. Our Embassies in the region are in close touch with the Indian community," it said in a statement.

"It is vital that security and stability are maintained in the region," it added.

Iran's unprecedented attacks drew international condemnation and anguish with many global leaders calling for restraint by both Iran and Israel.

In his phone conversation with Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Jaishankar also called for the release of 17 Indians onboard a Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel MSC Aries.

On Saturday, the Iranian military seized a cargo ship with Israeli links near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship has 17 Indian crew members.

"Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries," Jaishankar posted on 'X' "Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch," he said.

In his talks with Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz, Jaishankar shared India's concerns over the situation arising out of the Iran-Israel hostilities.

"Shared our concern at the developments yesterday. Discussed the larger regional situation. Agreed to stay in touch," the external affairs minister said.

With escalation of tensions in West Asia, India on Friday asked its citizens not to travel to Iran and Israel.

It is learnt that New Delhi is looking at various contingencies including possible evacuation of the Indians from the two countries if the overall situation deteriorates.

At present, around 4,000 Indians are residing in Iran while the number in Israel is nearly 18,500, according to official estimates.

Following Iran's attack, the Israeli military said it and its allies have intercepted the majority of more than 300 drones and missiles fired by Iran.

Hours after Iran's attack on Israel, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said Tehran has no intention of continuing the operation against Israel, and the operation has been concluded, according to Iranian news agency IRNA.

Tehran also warned of a "much bigger" strike if Israel decides on a retaliatory attack.

US President Joe Biden said the American military helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles launched by Iran.

"Earlier today, Iran and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq, launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms," he said in a statement.

"At my direction, to support the defence of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week," Biden said.

"Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles," he said.

The US president also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to the security of Israel.

"Tomorrow, I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran's brazen attack. My team will engage with their counterparts across the region," Biden said.

"And we will stay in close touch with Israel's leaders. And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people," he said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned Iran's attack on Israel.

"I strongly condemn the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.

Guterres also called for an immediate cessation of the hostilities.

"I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation. I urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East," he said.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/irans-attack-on-israel-india-presses-for-immediate-de-escalation-return-to-path-of-diplomacy/cid/2013374

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Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused in touch with with ISIS operatives?

14th April 2024

DiganthKengeri

Bengaluru: The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case has taken a significant turn with the arrest of Musavir Hussain Shajeeb and Abdul Mateen Ahmed Taha, who are suspected to have ties with the terrorist organisation ISIS.

Sources within the investigating agency revealed that Taha and Musavir, hailing from Tirthahalli in Shimoga district, are believed to have been in contact with operatives of ISIS organisation. 

During the arrest, the NIA recovered fake Aadhaar cards, Karnataka SIM cards from their possession. Among the recovered documents was a counterfeit Aadhaar card belonging to Anamool Kulkarni, a resident of Vardanagar, Kalaburagi. Currently employed in a Bangalore-based private company, Anamool Kulkarni’s involvement in this case has raised eyebrows, prompting an extensive investigation into how his Aadhaar card ended up in the hands of the accused.

For nearly two weeks, the suspects had been hiding in Midhinapur, Kolkata, frequently changing their accommodations. They adopted various aliases such as Sanjay Agaralwal, Uday Das, Yashu Patel, and Vighesh during their stay in different lodges, including Calcutta Hotel Paradise and Lenin Serani.

Mussavir Hussain was found in possession of an Aadhaar card from Palghar district in Maharashtra, along with fake Aadhaar cards of Vishnesh and Anamool Kulkarni from Karnataka. When interacting with hotel staff, the suspects  identified themselves as Sanjay Agrawal and Uday Das, claiming to hail from Jharkhand and Tripura, respectively.

Abdul Mateen Taha, a notorious figure wanted by the NIA in connection with multiple cases since 2019, had been evading arrest for four years. The NIA had initially offered a reward of Rs 3 lakh for information leading to his capture, which was increased to Rs 5 lakh following the Mangalore cooker bomb blast and further raised to Rs 10 lakh after the Rameshwaram Cafe blast.

According to sources, a terror suspect Khawaja Mohinuddin was reportedly smuggling SIM cards from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka, acquired through fake documents, distributing them among his associates for communication purposes. The police were alerted to this activity and conducted raids, leading to multiple arrests.

Musavir and Taha, childhood friends, were on the run following an attack and were finally apprehended after the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. Their frequent travels to Kerala, Delhi, Nepal, and West Bengal have raised suspicions about their activities and connections.

Abdul Mateen was reportedly in contact with IS militants, and both he and Musavir are suspected to have been involved in various other blasts and incidents, including the Coimbatore car bomb blast, Mangalore cooker bomb blast, Shimoga trail bomb blast, and Mangalore wall writing case. 

Financial investigations have revealed that Abdul Mateen received over Rs 80 lakh in cash over four years, allegedly funding their activities. There are suspicions that the funds may have originated from Pakistan and Dubai, which are currently under scrutiny. 

Abdul Mateen’s background reveals that he is the son of a retired Indian Army soldier and an engineering graduate. He was reportedly inspired by extremist literature and videos. Taha had distanced himself from his family years ago and was not present even during his father’s funeral in 2023. 

The investigation into their activities, connections, and funding sources is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies working diligently to uncover the extent of their network and prevent future acts of terrorism.

Source: siasat.com

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Air India suspends Tel Aviv flights; airlines avoid Iranian airspace

14th April 2024

New Delhi: With the Middle East tensions flaring up, Air India has temporarily suspended its Tel Aviv flights and airlines have charted alternative flight paths to avoid the Iranian airspace.

Longer flight paths will result in increased operational costs for the carriers, and the situation could also push airfares higher.

Air India, Vistara, IndiGo and some international airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace and have opted for alternative paths for their flights to the West.

A senior wide-body aircraft pilot at an Indian carrier told PTI that the alternative paths are increasing the flight duration.

With the revised flight paths chosen after taking safety and security into consideration, the duration of some flights has increased by around half an hour, the pilot said.

Such a scenario will result in higher operational costs, increased fuel usage and more crew members might have to be roped in for flights as there are duty time limitations.

The pilot also opined the rise in expenses could even be passed on to the passengers, which means that international airfares could rise.

Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel in a retaliatory attack.

Amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Air India on Sunday decided to temporarily suspend the flights to Tel Aviv from Delhi.

Air India operates four weekly flights between the national capital and Israeli city.

The Tata group-owned carrier recommenced services to Tel Aviv on March 3 after a gap of nearly five months.

Air India and Vistara have opted for alternative flight paths for their flights to the West.

An official in the know said that IndiGo, which operates flights to Istanbul with aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines, is avoiding the Iranian airspace.

Air India on Saturday said it was closely monitoring the Middle East situation and that its aircraft will operate on alternative flight paths to and from India.

On Saturday, Vistara said it is making changes to the flight paths of some of the flights due to the situation in the Middle East.

On Sunday, India said it is concerned over escalating hostilities between the two sides that threaten regional peace and security.

Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1, in which seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, including two generals, were killed.

Source: siasat.com

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No Lasting Peace Possible In Region Without Resolution Of Kashmir Issue: Hurriyat Conference

2024-04-15

OCCUPIED SRINAGAR: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has said that lasting peace in the region is not possible till settlement of the lingering Kashmir dispute as per the Kashmiris’ aspirations.

According to a Kashmir Media Service report on Sunday, the APHC spokesman, Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas, in a statement issued in Srinagar said the Bharatiya Janata Party regime cannot hide the reality about occupied Jammu and Kashmir through its propaganda machinery during the Lok Sabha election process.

He said India is misleading world by propagating that peace is returning to IIOJK while the ground reality of Kashmir is that the BJP regime, with the help of Indian army, police and National Investigation Agency, has intensified its efforts to harass Kashmiris and colonize Kashmir since 5 August 2019 and create an atmosphere of fear and terror in the territory.

He said the Indian BJP government’s policies in IIOJK have put peace and stability of the entire South Asia at stake, adding the Kashmir dispute should be resolved as per the Kashmiris’ aspirations for peace in the region.

The APHC spokesman expressed serious concern over the continued illegal detention of Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Naeem Ahmed Khan, Aasiya Andrabi and others languishing in different jails of India and IIOJK.

He said not allowing Jumatul-Wida and Eid prayers at the historic Jamia mosque in Srinagar is condemnable and described it a grave violation of people’s fundamental right to practice their religion. The entire Kashmir Valley has been turned into a military garrison while siege and search operations and other brutalities by the Modi regime have made the lives of Kashmiris miserable, he lamented.

Source: brecorder.com

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Mideast

 

Israel lifts restriction on normal activities after Iranian retaliatory attack

Mohammad Sio

15.04.2024

The Israeli army said early Monday that it lifted the restrictions imposed on gatherings, and resumed educational activities, after Saturday's unprecedented retaliatory attack by Iran on the country.

"IDF (army) decided to lift the Home Front Command restrictions it had put in place shortly before last night’s Iranian missile and drone strike," The Times of Israel quoted a military statement as saying.

This decision was made despite the army said on Sunday evening that these measures, which were implemented on Saturday, would remain in effect until Monday evening.

The Israeli military had previously announced the closure of schools nationwide due to the potential threat of attack from Iran.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday in response to the April 1 attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus.

The attack, which killed seven Iranian military officials, including a senior IRGC commander, drew sharp reactions from the Iranian government officials, who vowed a "decisive response."

According to some unconfirmed reports, the IRGC fired more than 300 drones and missiles in an attack that lasted several hours, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.

However, IRGC commander Gen. Hossein Salami told reporters in Tehran on Sunday morning that the operation was successful more than they had expected.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that Israel may decide to retaliate, which experts believe could trigger an all-out regional war.

Source: aa.com.tr

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All Iran hypersonic missiles hit targets in occupied lands

Apr 15, 2024

TEHRAN, Apr. 15 (MNA) – All the hypersonic missiles used in Iran's punitive strikes against Israel have hit their targets after evading the regime's air defense systems.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched extensive missile and drone strikes late Saturday night on the occupied territories, marking the first time the Islamic Republic employed such weapons against real targets.

The series of retaliatory strikes, dubbed Operation True Promise, inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories.

Sources informed Press TV that the Israeli regime and its supporters failed to intercept any of the hypersonic missiles fired by Iran.

Iran is among few countries that possess the technology to produce hypersonic missiles which can travel at stunning speeds and hit their targets with great precision.

Iran’s hypersonic missiles are highly maneuverable, enabling them to have an unpredictable flight path in order to confuse the enemy’s missile shields.

The chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on Sunday that Iran hit a large intelligence base in the occupied lands and Israel’s Nevatim Airbase, from where an F-35 jet took off to target Iran’s diplomatic premises in Damascus.

He added that the strikes “reached its goals” as the regime’s so-called Iron Dome system failed to deal with the Iranian missiles and drones properly.

The IRGC's operation was carried out in retaliation for a missile attack by Israel on Iran's diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier in April.

The terrorist attack drew categorical condemnation from senior Iranian political and military leaders, who vowed “definitive revenge.”

During a speech in Tehran on Wednesday after leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Israeli regime “must be punished and will be punished” for its deadly strike on the Iranian diplomatic premises.

The Leader added, “The evil Zionist regime committed another mistake ...  and that was the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria. The consulate and diplomatic missions in any country are considered to be the territory of that country. When they attack our consulate, it means they have attacked our soil."

Source: mehrnews.com

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After Iran’s barrage, Israel questions what might be next for war in Gaza Strip

15.04.24

Adam Rasgon

Within moments of Israel and its allies shooting down a fusillade of Iranian missiles and drones this weekend, many began wondering what the latest exchange between Israel and Iran would mean for the war in the Gaza Strip.

The Iranian attack was retaliation for what was widely believed to be an Israeli strike this month on an embassy building in Damascus, Syria, that killed seven Iranian officials, including three top commanders in Iran’s armed forces. But it occurred against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, where Israel is battling Hamas, a militant group funded and armed by Iran.

Israeli military analysts were divided on whether a more direct confrontation with Iran would alter the war in Gaza, now in its sixth month. The next fulcrum in that war could hinge on whether Israel decides to pursue Hamas in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have fled amid a spiraling humanitarian crisis.

Some analysts argued that the implications for Gaza would depend on whether Israel responded with a major counterattack against Iran. Others contended that Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip would be unaffected.

ShlomoBrom, a retired brigadier general and a former director of the Israeli military’s strategic planning division, said that if Israel responds with substantial force to the Iranian attack, it could spark a multifront war that would compel the Israeli leadership to move its attention away from Gaza.

In the case of a significant regional conflagration, Brom said, Israel might choose to delay its plans to invade Rafah, which Israeli officials describe as the last Hamas stronghold.

“It’s not comfortable for us to have simultaneous, high-intensity wars in multiple theaters,” Brom added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to send ground forces into Rafah, despite international pressure to back off the operation. On Sunday, an Israeli official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said that the Iranian attack would have no effect on the military’s plan to invade Rafah.

A large-scale direct confrontation with Iran could potentially bring the war in Gaza to a close, Brom said. But for the war to end in such a way, it would require a broader cease-fire that encompassed several parties, including Israel, Iran and the Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

“There’s an idea that in order to resolve a crisis, the situation first needs to become worse,” he said, explaining that an escalation followed by a comprehensive cease-fire with Iran might incline that country to push its regional proxies to stop fighting with Israel.

While the members of Israel’s war Cabinet did not issue a formal statement after meeting Sunday, a separate Israeli official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks, indicated that the country would respond to the Iranian assault — although there was considerable uncertainty as to when and how.

Other military experts, however, dismissed the link between the Iranian attack and the war in Gaza.

“There’s no connection at all,” said Amos Gilead, a retired major general who served in Israeli military intelligence.

Gilead said that Israel’s army had enough resources to fight against Iran and continue to wage war against Hamas in Gaza.

Other analysts made a similar point, arguing that the resources needed to fight Iran were different from those needed in Gaza. Israel needs fighter jets and air defense systems to counter Iran, they said. In contrast, they added, the army mainly requires ground troops, drones, and attack helicopters to fight Hamas in Gaza.

“There’s no real tension between these two things,” said GioraEiland, a retired major general and former head of Israel’s National Security Council.

Still, Eiland said that the success of the coalition that repelled the Iranian attack, which included the United States, Britain and Jordan, could inspire Israel to take advantage of the momentum to overcome its declining status internationally by ending the war in Gaza.

Though the United States, Israel’s closest ally, has broadly supported Israel’s decision to go to war in Gaza, it has increasingly signaled its displeasure over the mounting death toll and warned against a major ground assault in Rafah. The support the United States provided Israel on Sunday in shooting down Iranian drones and missiles could give it more leverage over its Israeli counterparts.

While Eiland said such an outcome could help Israel develop goodwill in the international community and contribute to reaching a solution to end the war in Gaza and skirmishes with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon, he was doubtful that Netanyahu would purse such a path.

“He says he wants to achieve ‘total victory’ in Gaza and conquer Rafah, a process that could last two or three months,” he said, referring to the prime minister. “It’s clear Netanyahu has a different mindset and priorities.”

Source: telegraphindia.com

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Iran's historic operation against Israel rooted in Palestine's freedom struggle

15 April 2024

The eve of April 14, 2024, and the hours that followed into the night will be recorded in history as truly momentous, for it saw the Islamic Republic of Iran launch a military operation directly from its soil on apartheid Israel’s colonial regime.

‘Operation True Promise’, as it was called, was a natural and legitimate response to the Tel Aviv regime’s illegal airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus two weeks ago, which resulted in the assassination of seven Iranian military officials, including a senior IRGC commander.

Settlers attest to the tense hours when Iranian long-range drones and ballistic missiles hovered over the night skies of the occupied territories as bewildering, shocking and alarming.

Many said they spent the night in bunkers and safe rooms, frightened, anxious, and sleepless.

It was a new reality they were confronted with, to have been on the receiving end of an attack, much different from being cheerleaders to the slaughter of thousands of innocent Palestinians in Gaza and the repetitive pogroms in the occupied West Bank.

A columnist in Forward described the somber reality of the effects of Iran's retaliatory strikes in the following words: "Sunday is the start of the Israeli workweek, but schools and many offices were closed for the day. This cosmopolitan city’s typically crowded light rail was sparse and remarkably silent, with the few passengers glued to their smartphones looking for answers nobody could seem to find".

While the uncertainty of the result of Iran's epoch-making attack has preoccupied military analysts keen to find answers, they certainly cannot ignore the fact that the regime’s deterrence capacity has been severely compromised and its much-hyped intelligence prowess has been exposed as a myth.

Former French military mission chief to the United Nations, General Dominique Trinquand made an important point: "The significant development in this conflict is that Iran has directly hit Israel".

Though advanced American defense technology intervened on behalf of Israel to intercept many of the drones and missiles, the Iranian attack "carries significant weight", he hastened to add.

"One cannot underestimate the number of missiles and drones fired at Israel from Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, with strikes on the Golan Heights,” he wrote.

An equally important observation was made by Didier Leroy, a researcher at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.

According to him, "We have crossed a qualitative threshold that changes the dynamics and repositions Iran on the map as an active military player."

From his vantage point as a former director of Israeli military intelligence, Amos Yadlin predicted that the Iranian attack may lead to a strategic change in "the war in Gaza and even to its end."

The military decree issued by Israel’s war cabinet to block information on the damage caused by Iran's attacks has gagged local and international media platforms and denied access to independently verify claims that "minimal" damage had occurred.

Such repressive conduct which unfairly censors news content has given the regime carte blanche to disseminate propaganda couched as "information" but far removed from truth and accuracy.

A prominent Iranian analyst Professor Sayed Mohammed Marandi insisted that Iran's main targets were two Israeli regime airbases. And that 20 or more missiles struck their targets.

“The other drones and older generation missiles were inexpensive decoys that depleted the Israeli air defense capabilities of most of its very expensive missiles,” he noted.

Skeptics who may argue that Iran's attack was a failure either ignore or deliberately obfuscate the new reality of deterrence injected by the Islamic Republic.

From an Iranian perspective, the attack on its consulate in Damascus was a redline which, if not retaliated against, would erase any notion of deterrence, opening the door for even more brazen Israeli military actions, up to and including direct attacks on Iran.

No wonder that former US Marine Corps intelligence officer Scott Ritter described Iran's retaliatory attack as one of the "greatest victories of this century."

“Operation True Promise” will go down in history as one of the most important military victories in the history of modern Iran, keeping in mind that war is but an extension of politics by other means.

The fact that Iran has established a credible deterrence posture without disrupting major policy goals and objectives is the very definition of victory, wrote Ritter.

This point is also emphasized by Palestinian academic Professor Sami Al-Arian. He insists that the theory of Israeli deterrence has been greatly undermined.

"The strategic situation of the Zionist regime after October 7 is not the same as it was before. Similarly, the regional strategic situation after April 14 is not the same as well,” he said.

No matter how Israel’s racist right-wing regime headed by a megalomaniac war-monger Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to spin its lockdown as a "victory", the facts dispute this narrative.

Iran's prestige as the foremost supporter of Palestine's freedom struggle has been enormously bolstered. It is a position it has not shied away from nor concealed.

In fact, part of the strategic calibration that went into its well-coordinated retaliatory attack has been to ensure that Gaza’s plight is neither overshadowed nor forsaken.

Unsurprisingly Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas backed Iran and affirmed “the natural right” of countries and peoples in West Asia to defend themselves “in the face of Zionist aggressions”.

“The military operation carried out by Iran against the Zionist entity is a natural right and a due response to the crime of targeting the consulate in Damascus,” it said.

The most important lesson of Iran's heroic mission is that fighting for liberation, defending sovereignty, and resisting occupation and oppression is a just cause.

Source: presstv.ir

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Iran’s retaliatory strikes only targeted Israeli military sites: Amir-Abdollahian

14 April 2024

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory strikes on the Israel-occupied territories were “limited” and that no non-military sites were targeted in the operation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) targeted Israel late on Saturday with a barrage of drones and missiles in response to the regime’s deadly assault on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus on April 1.

The retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation True Promise, has inflicted damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories, but the extent of which is yet to be specified.

“In this operation, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with accurate calculations and using drones and guided missiles, targeted the military base where the Zionist regime’s F-35 aircraft carried out aggression on the building of Iran’s Embassy in Damascus,” Amir-Abdollahian said in a conference meeting with foreign ambassadors in the capital Tehran on Sunday.

The top Iranian diplomat underlined that the US administration had been informed of the strikes on Israel and that the retaliation was aimed to punish the occupying entity.

“We sent a message early this morning to the White House and stated that this was a limited operation with minimum force only to secure our rights on legitimate defense and to punish the Israeli regime,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

“Being limited in legitimate defense and punishing the Zionist regime means that we did not define any civilian targets in our response,” he added.

“Our armed forces did not target any economic or population location, even in the attack on the military base where the Zionist regime's operation center against the Islamic Republic of Iran embassy in Damascus was located, the necessary care was taken to deal with and respond to the Zionist regime.”

The Iranian foreign minister also stressed that the Islamic Republic has never been seeking tensions in the region and has shown restraint for the past six months in the face of Israeli crimes in the besieged Gaza Strip.

‘Iran will not hesitate to protect its interests’

In a post on his X social media account, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran favors regional and international peace but will not hesitate to safeguard its legitimate interests against any acts of aggression.

“Exercising the right of legitimate defense shows Iran's responsible approach to regional and international peace and security,” he wrote in a Persian-language tweet.

“At this point, the Islamic Republic of Iran has no intention of continuing defensive operations, but if necessary, it will not hesitate to protect its legitimate interests against any new aggression.”

The Israeli attack on Iran's diplomatic facilities in Syria resulted in the martyrdom of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, and five of their accompanying officers.

The terrorist attack drew categorical condemnation from senior Iranian political and military leaders, who vowed "definitive revenge."

During a speech in Tehran on Wednesday after leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Israeli regime “must be punished and will be punished” for the deadly strike on the Iranian diplomatic premises.

The international community also condemned the Israeli aggression on the Iranian consulate in Damascus’s Mezzeh district.

Source: presstv.ir

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Israel army says Hamas holding hostages in Gaza’s Rafah

April 15, 2024

JERUSALEM: Israel said Sunday that Hamas is holding hostages in Rafah in southern Gaza, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to launch a ground invasion despite international outcry.

“Hamas is still holding our hostages in Gaza... We also have hostages in Rafah, and we will do everything we can to bring them back home,” Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at a briefing.

In a separate statement, the army said it was calling “approximately two reserve brigades for operational activities on the Gazan front.”

It did not specify whether the brigades would be deployed inside Gaza.

The move comes just days after the army pulled out all troops from southern Gaza’s main city of Khan Yunis, leaving just one brigade to carry out operations across the Palestinian territory.

Source: arabnews.com

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'Ten times stronger': Iran warns Israel of much harsher response if evil actions continue

15 April 2024

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has warned of a “much harsher response” against any further action by Israel in the aftermath of the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory operation into the occupied territories.

In a statement on Sunday, the SNSC said that Iran carried out the retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation True Promise, because Israel “crossed Iran’s red lines” by attacking its diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1.

It said the operation was in accordance with Article 2 of the UN Charter which urges all UN members to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

“Should the Israeli regime plan to continue its wicked actions against Iran, by any means or methods or at any levels, it will get a response ten times harsher,” it warned.

The SNSC also said that by carrying out Operation True Promise, Iran exercised its inherent right of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

“The operation was the least punitive action necessary to safeguard Iran’s national interest and security,” the statement said.

“Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israeli military and air bases, and we refrained from attacking their civic infrastructure and for now the operation has been completed, and we do not intend to continue,” it concluded.

The Israeli air strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Damascus killed two generals of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, as well as five of their accompanying officers.

In response, on Saturday night, the IRGC targeted the Israeli-occupied territories with a barrage of drones and missiles. The extent of the damage on Israeli military bases across the occupied territories is yet to be specified.

Following the reprisal, Iran warned Israel against taking any retaliatory actions and also urged the US to try not to involve itself in the conflict and signaled that it viewed the matter as “concluded.”

“If the Zionist regime or its supporters demonstrate reckless behavior, they will receive a decisive and much stronger response,” Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi said in a statement on Sunday.

A similar warning was issued by Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, who said that a “much larger” response awaits Israel “if it retaliates against Iran.”

Baqeri also warned the US that any backing of Israeli retaliation would result in its bases being targeted by Iran.

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami also warned on Sunday that Tehran would retaliate against any Israeli attacks on its interests, officials or citizens.

“From now on, whenever Israel attacks Iranian interests, assets, figures, citizens at any point, we will attack from Iran,” he said.

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations also said in a statement on Sunday that Tehran’s response to Israeli aggression was a “legitimate defense” in accordance with the UN charter, warning the US to “stay away” from the matter.

“The matter can be deemed concluded. However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” said the statement.

Source: presstv.ir

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Palestine urges world court to issue arrest warrants for illegal West Bank settlers

Mohammad Sio

15.04.2024

Palestine urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday to issue arrest warrants against illegal Israeli settlers committing crimes in the West Bank and called for international intervention to compel Israel to halt settlement projects.

In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the court to swiftly issue arrest warrants for extremist settlers and their backers who commit crimes against Palestinians.

It also called on the international community to urgently intervene to force Israel to cease all settlement activities, dismantle armed settler organizations and militias, withdraw weapons, halt funding and punish those providing support and protection.''

The statement also called for "imposing binding international sanctions on the entire colonial settlement system, deeming it illegal and illegitimate.”

Illegal settlers on Friday launched a massive attack on the village of Al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah in central West Bank, resulting in the killing of a young man and injury of dozens of Palestinians besides torching 40 homes and dozens of vehicles.

The settlers on Saturday renewed their attacks on several Palestinian villages and towns in Ramallah and Nablus.

Tensions have been running high across the West Bank since Israel launched a military offensive against the Gaza Strip after a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year.

While illegal settlers increased their attacks, the Israeli army escalated its operations, killing at least 463 Palestinians, injuring 4,750 and detaining more than 8,000 others, according to Palestinian sources.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Palestinians injured as Israeli warplanes target Gaza hospital

Mohammad Sio

15.04.2024

At least five Palestinians sustained various injuries in an Israeli airstrike targeting a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip early Monday.

Israeli warplanes struck the vicinity of the Gaza European Hospital south of Khan Younis city, resulting in the injuries of five people, Palestine's official news agency Wafa quoted medical sources as saying.

No fatalities were reported.

The agency also said the Israeli army targeted agricultural land in the Manaraneighborhood, southeast of the city.

The Israeli artillery heavily targeted the southeast of Gaza City, Wafa added.

The Israeli army also killed three Palestinians and injured several others in an airstrike late Sunday targeting a residential building in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, said an Anadolu correspondent, quoting a medical source who requested anonymity.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which nearly 1,200 people were killed.

More than 33,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and nearly 76,400 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Arab World

 

Qatari FM criticizes Israel for creating regional instability

Apr 15, 2024

TEHRAN, Apr. 15 (MNA) – Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani says that the actions of the Zionist regime have caused instability in the region.

The top Qatari diplomat made the remark in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday night.

During the phone conversation, the top Iranian diplomat informed Al Thani about the recent developments regarding Tehran's military action against Israel which was conducted within the framework of legitimate defense.

He also emphasized that the root cause of insecurity is the Zionist regime.

The foreign minister of Qatar, for his part, emphasized the need for ensuring stability and security in the region, adding that the actions of the Zionist regime have caused instability in the region.

The two sides also discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need to end the war crimes of the Zionist regime in the besieged enclave and the West Bank.

Source: mehrnews.com

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KSrelief continues aid projects across several countries

April 15, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi charity KSrelief distributed 1,930 food parcels on Saturday to displaced families in Sudan’s Blue Nile state.

The initiative, part of the group’s food-security support project in Sudan, benefited 12,236 individuals, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The assistance comes within the framework of a series of relief and humanitarian projects implemented by Saudi Arabia through KSrelief to help conflict-hit areas, SPA added.

In Lebanon, KSrelief provided health care services to Syrian refugees and their host community in Arsal town of Baalbek Governorate.

The Arsal Health Care Center received a total of 3,422 patients and offered 6,128 services from various health sections such as clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, nursing and the community and mental health program.

In Yemen, KSrelief continues its implementation of the water supply and environmental sanitation projects across several districts. If February, KSrelief pumped 36,207,000 liters of usable water and 3,194,000 liters of potable water into Hajjah Governorate.

Additionally, the center carried out 237 transportation operations to remove waste from displaced camps.

In Saada Governorate, KSrelief pumped 290,000 liters of potable water and another 290,000 liters of usable water, benefiting 30,100 people.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2493341/saudi-arabia

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Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss Middle East escalation

April 14, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with the prime minister of Iraq on Sunday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During their phone call, Prince Mohammed and Mohammed Al-Sudani discussed developments in the region and increasing escalation against the backdrop of the crisis in the Gaza Strip and its repercussions.

They also dissussed the importance of making the necessary efforts to prevent the situation from worsening and ways to spare the region from the risks of escalation, SPA added.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2493216/saudi-arabia

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UNICEF hails KSrelief’s role in advancing education in Yemen

April 14, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, through its aid agency KSrelief, has allocated $6.2 million to support approximately 827,000 children in Yemen, ensuring their access to quality education opportunities. This initiative was undertaken in collaboration with the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

UNICEF recently noted that the funding provided by KSrelief has facilitated access to public and private education for girls and boys from vulnerable groups, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Peter Hawkins, the fund’s representative to Yemen, said: “One in every four primary school-aged children in Yemen is currently out of school. Moreover, educational outcomes for those able to attend do not align with their age.

“Thanks to contributions from partners such as KSrelief, UNICEF continues to address the educational needs of vulnerable girls and boys in Yemen.”

The funding enabled over 527,000 children to participate in national final exams for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Additionally, 300,000 male and female students received school bags and recreational supplies, aimed at motivating them to return to school while alleviating the financial burden on their families.

Moreover, the Kingdom’s support through KSrelief has enhanced teaching and learning practices in classrooms by training 7,520 male and female teachers across 17 governorates.

Additionally, hygiene supplies were distributed to 71,956 children and 120 schools.

KSrelief’s assistance also facilitated UNICEF’s outreach to nearly 4.9 million individuals, including caregivers, through the implementation of five awareness campaigns. Outreach activities reached approximately 26,000 community leaders and officials, as well as 2,500 families.

KSrelief remains a steadfast partner of UNICEF, providing continuous funding for life-saving interventions that enable UNICEF to address the most critical needs of vulnerable children in Yemen, SPA stated.

Meanwhile, in Yemen’s Hajjah governorate, KSrelief’s mobile medical clinic rendered essential medical services to 2,072 beneficiaries in one month. The clinic’s diverse services included treating patients for epidemiological diseases, providing emergency care, and offering internal medicine and reproductive health services.

In the Saada governorate of Yemen, KSrelief’s ongoing projects aim to address the primary healthcare and water needs of displaced individuals in the Razih district. In one month, medical clinics operating under this initiative treated patients for various ailments, including epidemic diseases, emergencies, internal medicine issues, and reproductive health concerns.

The project also provided nursing services, surgical assistance, and medical referrals, alongside conducting waste disposal programs and supplying potable water to the district.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2493001/saudi-arabia

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Europe

 

G7 ‘ready to take measures’ over destabilization by Iran

April 15, 2024

ROME: G7 leaders offered their full support for Israel on Sunday following an attack by Iran, and said they were ready to “take further measures” in response to “further destabilising initiatives.”

In a statement following a video meeting, the leaders of the Group of Seven powers said they “unequivocally condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel.”

“We express our full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment toward its security,” they said, in the statement published by the Italian G7 presidency.

“With its actions, Iran has further stepped toward the destabilization of the region and risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation. This must be avoided.

“We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation.

“In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilising initiatives.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a separate statement: “Going forward we will reflect on additional sanctions against Iran in close cooperation with our partners. Specifically on its drone and missile programs.”

Iran launched the attack, its first ever to directly target Israeli territory, in retaliation for a deadly air strike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed its consular building in Syria’s capital early this month.

The attack came as the Israel-Hamas war raged in besieged Gaza.

The G7 — which groups the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada — also said Sunday they would step up efforts to end that crisis.

“We will also strengthen our cooperation to end the crisis in Gaza, including by continuing to work toward an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas, and deliver increased humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need,” they said.

The Israel-Hamas war began with an unprecedented October 7 attack by the militant group against Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,729 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2493226/world

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European allies urge Israel against military response to Iran as war cabinet convenes

April 15, 2024

The United Kingdom, France and Germany urged Israel on Monday not to retaliate against Iran after its unprecedented attack on Saturday night, warning that a military response could send the Middle East spiraling into an all-out war, as Israel’s war cabinet prepared to meet to discuss its options against Tehran.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of an expected statement by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday afternoon, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that while the inclination to respond to the roughly 350 attack drones and missiles launched by Tehran was justified, Israel needs to “think with its head as well as its heart, to be smart as well as tough.”

The UK has advised Israel that it would be better off not retaliating, Cameron said, declaring that the attack was a “double defeat” for Iran in that it failed to cause major damage to Israel while at the same revealing “to the world that [Iran is] the malign influence in the region prepared to do this.”

Although the UK is pushing Israel to show restraint and de-escalate, he noted that Israel will ultimately make its own decisions regarding how it protects its citizens.

France, too, has been offering advice to Israel in the wake of Iran’s attack, suggesting a policy of isolation rather than one of retaliation, French President Emmanuel Macron told French news outlets on Monday.

The situation in the Middle East is “very unstable,” he said, adding that France is urging Israel to show restraint and remains committed to ensuring its protection.

“We will do everything to avoid a conflagration,” he told the BFMTV news channel, adding that he was scheduled to speak to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later Monday, and was in contact with other countries in the region.

Both the UK and France were among the allied countries that came to Israel’s defense on Saturday night, in addition to the US and Jordan.

Tehran launched its attack on Israel after an airstrike destroyed an Iranian consulate building in Damascus, killing several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals. Both Syria and Iran blamed Israel for the attack, although Jerusalem has not commented on the allegations.

Pushing a similar policy of isolation as France, Cameron told the BBC that the UK government is looking into diplomatic steps it can take against Iran, in addition to the 400 sanctions it has already implemented.

German Foreign Minister AnnalenaBaerbock added her voice to those of her French and British counterparts, telling a news conference in Paris that after it “won defensively,” Israel must now secure its victory with diplomatic means.

“Now we must prevent an escalation in the region,” Baerbock said, adding she had spoken to Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday and clearly warned him about further escalation.

In the face of the criticism and potential diplomatic ramifications, Iran on Monday claimed it had only acted in self-defense, and suggested that the West “should appreciate Iran’s restraint in recent months.”

“Instead of making accusations against Iran, (Western) countries should blame themselves and answer to public opinion for the measures they have taken against the… war crimes committed by Israel” in its war against the Tehran-backed Hamas terror group in Gaza,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.

At the same time as its allies urge restraint and de-escalation, Israel’s war cabinet prepared to reconvene after a three-hour meeting on Sunday afternoon ended without a decision having been made as to how best to respond to Iran.

Alongside the war cabinet’s deliberations on carrying out a retaliatory attack, Israel has urged the world to punish Iran with sanctions and other diplomatic measures.

Speaking at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday evening, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan called for the body to condemn Iran, reimpose sanctions and designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terror organization.

“The snooze button is no longer an option. The only option is to condemn Iran and utilize every means necessary to make them pay a heavy price for their horrible crimes,” Erdan told the meeting, which he had requested on Saturday.

The United States is also looking to hold Tehran accountable through the use of diplomatic force, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said.

Calling for the 15-member body to unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack, he said the Security Council has an obligation not to let Iran’s actions go unanswered.

“In the coming days, and in consultation with other member states, the United States will explore additional measures to hold Iran accountable here at the United Nations,” he said, without providing specifics.

“Let me be clear: If Iran or its proxies take actions against the United States or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” he said.

Iran’s Ambassador Amir SaeidIravani defended his country’s right to strike Israel to the Security Council, claiming that “Iran’s operation was entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense.”

“This concluded action was necessary and proportionate,” he added.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/european-allies-urge-israel-against-military-response-to-iran-as-war-cabinet-convenes/

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EU's Air Safety Agency recommends caution in Israeli and Iranian air space

APRIL 15, 2024

Europe's aviation regulator reaffirmed advice to airlines to use caution in Israeli and Iranian airspace though it said no civil overflights had been placed at risk during weekend tensions surrounding Iranian drone and missile strikes on Israel.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it and the European Commission would "continue to closely monitor the situation to assess any potential safety risks for EU aircraft operators and be ready to act as appropriate."

EASA guidance that is already in place for airlines on Israel and Iran continues to apply, it said in an emailed note.

That included exercising caution and following all available aeronautical publications for Israel and neighboring airspace up to 100 nautical miles surrounding the country.

Potential for misidentification in Iranian airspace

For Iran, it recommended caution and said "there continues to be an increased potential for miscalculation and/or misidentification" in airspace over the Iranian capital Tehran.

Global airlines face some disruption after Iran's attack on Israel with more than 300 missiles and drones, which were mostly shot down by Israel's US-backed missile defense system or its allies before they reached Israeli airspace.

The attack was in response to a suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran's Syria consulate on April 1 in which seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders and officers were killed.

EASA said all affected airspaces - Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Iran - were closed by the relevant authorities during the relevant period.

"There was no overflight risk for civil aviation at any time," it said. An overflight involves an aircraft transiting through airspace, typically at high cruising altitude.

All the temporary airspace closures imposed at the weekend expired on Sunday, EASA said.

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-797120

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German foreign minister holds phone call with Iranian counterpart

AyhanŞimşek

15.04.2024

German Foreign Minister AnnalenaBaerbock urged Iran on Sunday to stop its attacks on Israel and take de-escalatory steps in the region.

Baerbock held a phone call with her Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and condemned Saturday’s drone and missile attack on Israel, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“She called on Iran to immediately cease all violence against Israel, release the container ship MSC Aries and contribute to de-escalation,” the ministry said in the statement, which was posted on its social media platforms.

Iran conducted an airborne attack Saturday against Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic facility in the Syrian capital. It is said to have fired more than 300 drones and missiles, many of which were intercepted by Israeli air defense systems

Baerbock told public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening that Germany would support expanding European Union sanctions against Iran following Saturday’s attack.

She recalled that the EU has already introduced sanctions against Iran for supplying drones to Russia, which were used against Ukraine.

“We have already introduced sanctions in Brussels because of the drones supplied to Russia…I am campaigning intensively to expand them because we can see how dangerous Iran’s actions are at the moment,” Baerbock said.

EU foreign ministers are scheduled to hold a special meeting on Tuesday via video link to discuss the Israel-Iran conflict and the latest developments in the region.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Pakistan

 

Man accused of killing Indian spy critically injured in Lahore gun attack

April 15, 2024

Asif Chaudhry

LAHORE: Amir Sarfraz Tamba, the man who allegedly killed Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh in KotLakhpat prison in 2013, was critically injured in an attack on Sunday, according to police officials.

Media reports claimed that the victim was killed in the attack, but Lahore SSP Operations Syed Ali Raza confirmed to Dawn that the victim was alive, but critically injured.

Tamba was at his residence in Lahore’s Islampura area when two masked armed men forcefully entered his home in Ganga Street and fired multiple shots.

They fled the scene, leaving the victim in a pool of blood. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was being treated, according to Tamba’s younger brother, Junaid Sarfraz.

Masked men shoot Amir Tamba inside his home; IGP says claim of Indian involvement ‘premature’

In a statement given to police, he said he lived on the ground floor of the house with his family, while his brother lived in the upper portion.

Around 12:40pm, two armed men entered his house, went to the upper floor and “fired multiple shots at Amir”.

Mr Sarfraz added that upon hearing the gunshots, he rushed upstairs and found his brother in a pool of blood. The masked shooter and his accomplice, who was wearing a helmet, fled the scene.

They were riding a Honda 125cc motorbike and escaped.

Mr Sarfraz said the police were informed about the attack, and his brother was rushed to a local hospital with three bullet wounds, including two in the chest. Later, sources told Dawn police were unable to trace the victim’s whereabouts.

Tamba’s younger brother first moved him to a hospital via a private ambulance and then informed the police, sources said, adding that police had yet to make any headway in locating the ambulance as well. However, there was no official corroboration of this claim.

Alleged ‘foreign hand’

The attack has raised concerns among the government higher-ups over the alleged involvement of India.

The attack came days after UK’s Guardian reported that the Indian government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate “terrorists” living on foreign soil. While talking to Dawn, Punjab Inspector General Dr Usman Anwar said any statement about foreign involvement in the attack would be “premature or too early” at this moment.

A high-profile investigation has been launched to determine the motive behind the attack, including the possibility of a foreign government’s involvement. Islampura police have lodged a murder case against unknown armed men on Mr Sarfraz’s complaint.

Due to the significance of the attack, the Punjab government has referred the case to the police’s Counter-Terrorism Department Punjab for investigation.

According to sources, police have been ordered to increase the number of checkpoints in the city, besides heavy deployment at all entry and exit points to trace and arrest the killers.

One of two attackers

Tamba was one of the two inmates who had attacked Singh in Lahore’s KotLakhpat prison, where the Indian was serving a death sentence after being convicted of espionage.

He and the other accused, Mudasir Munir, were acquitted in 2018 by a district and sessions court after all witnesses retracted their statements.

Singh was killed a couple of months after Kashmiri leader Afzal Guru was hanged in Mumbai’s Tihar Jail in Feb 2013.

Guru was awarded a death sentence by an Indian court over his role in a deadly attack on parliament in 2001.

Singh was serving his death sentence awarded by the Supreme Court of Pakistan for a series of bomb attacks in Lahore and Faisalabad that killed 14 people in 1990.

The execution of his sentence was repeatedly delayed by the government.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1827535/man-accused-of-killing-indian-spy-critically-injured-in-lahore-gun-attack

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Pakistan calls for global efforts to prevent hostilities in Middle East

April 14, 2024

Pakistan has expressed deep concern over the ongoing developments in the Middle East and called on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and move towards de-escalation.

In a statement today, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan had pointed on 2nd of this month, to the dangers of attack on an Iranian consular office in Syria as a major escalation in an already volatile region and today's developments demonstrate the consequences of the breakdown of diplomacy.

It said that for months, Pakistan has underlined the necessity of international efforts to prevent expansion of hostilities in the region and for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Foreign Office said that these also underline the grave implications in cases where the UN Security Council is unable to fulfill its responsibilities of maintaining international peace and security.

It is now critically urgent to stabilize the situation and restore peace.

Pakistan is deeply saddened and shocked over the terrible and tragic events at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney, Australia.

In a statement, the Foreign Office expressed thoughts and prayers with the families of those who have lost their lives and prayed for the early recovery of injured.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/14-04-2024/pakistan-expresses-concern-over-ongoing-developments-in-middle-east

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‘Meddling’ claims bring Tyrian White case back into limelight

 April 15, 2024

Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD: The Tyrian White case — a petition filed against former prime minister Imran Khan for concealing his alleged daughter — seems to have become something more than a paternity matter.

This is because the case was one of the only matters specifically referenced by Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges as having invited “pressure” from intelligence operatives after a letter written by six judges to the Supreme Judicial Council became public.

“Considerable pressure was brought to bear on judges who had opined that the petition was not maintainable, by operatives of the ISI, through friends and relatives of these judges,” said the letter addressed to the SJC on March 25.

Following an abortive attempt by the government to form a one-member commission to probe the matter, the complaints of meddling in judicial affairs have now been taken up by the Supreme Court in exercise of its suo moto jurisdiction, and are now likely to be deliberated upon by a full court on April 29.

Set to be taken up again after nearly a year, IHC judges said the matter drew ‘considerable pressure’ from intel operatives who wanted to ensure the plea was deemed ‘maintainable’

Referred to in the letter as “Muhammad Sajid vs Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (Writ Petition No. 3061 of 2022)”, this case has been on the back burner since May last year, when IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq dissolved a three-member bench hearing the case. The high court is likely to take up the matter again in the coming days, but the circumstances under which the bench was scuttled seemed quite peculiar, even at the time.

Maintainability and a ‘premature’ verdict

A three-member larger bench consisting of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, and Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir had reserved their verdict on March 30, 2023.

During earlier hearings, Justice Kayani had questioned the locus standi (right of audience) of the petitioner, Mohammad Sajid, whereas the presiding judge Justice Farooq appeared to be convinced on this particular aspect.

It should be noted that former IHC chief justice Athar Minallah had earlier dismissed a similar petition.

During the hearing of the petition on March 2, 2023, the counsel for the petitioner argued that Imran Khan had submitted an affidavit to the Superior Court of California in a case related to the custody of Tyrian, his alleged daughter.

But the chief justice corrected him, saying that it was not an affidavit, rather a declaration that was signed by an oath commissioner in Pakistan.

At the time, Justice Kayani had pointed out that the declaration never mentioned that Mr Khan was the father of the girl, and questioned the bona fides of the petitioner, observing that only Tyrian White herself could file a petition seeking paternity rights.

Then, on May 10, the opinions of two judges were uploaded on official website of the court, only to be taken down within minutes.

The registrar office then issued a statement clarifying that “the opinion of two judges was uploaded alone with office notes, which does not constitute [a] judgement of the court”.

The statement said the “chief justice has reconstituted the bench for rehearing of the case”, and that action was “being taken against those responsible for uploading the opinion without issuance of cause list”.

Not seeing eye to eye

The letter by the six IHC judges also hinted that some judges do not see eye to eye with the incumbent chief justice of the country’s ‘youngest high court’.

The letter recounted a number of communications with the IHC chief justice, especially in the context of the Tyrian White case.

While the judges noted that the IHC CJ had told them that no official from the intelligence agencies would approach them, they complained that the interference continued despite this assurance.

It is telling that senior puisne judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani — the senior-most after the chief justice — is one of the authors of the letter.

On the surface, Chief Justice Farooq and Justice Kayani have a good working relationship, as both used to sit on the same division bench and have decided a number of important political cases in the past, including references against Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and Asif Ali Zardari.

The two were also part of the original bench hearing the Tyrian White case before it was dissolved.

However, Justice Kayani was recently assailed by a complaint before the Supreme Judicial Council, which accuses him of “inducing and convincing other judges of high court” in connection with the letter.

Retired Justice Noorul Haq N. Qureshi, himself a former senior puisne judge of IHC, told Dawn that differences between the chief justice and the second senior-most judge are “a routine occurrence” in the superior judiciary. He said that the senior-most judge expects power to be shared, but some chief justices want “absolute authority”.

“I also experienced the same, but I never complained because I thought it would harm the reputation of the institution that administers justice to the public at large,” he said.

Source: dawn.com

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

https://www.dawn.com/news/1827530

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Family of Pakistani COO on Israel-linked ship seized by Iran seeks help

Murtaza Ali Shah

April 15, 2024

LONDON: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Israel-linked container ship seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a Pakistani national whose family has asked the government of Pakistan for help.

Family sources told Geo and The News that there are two Pakistanis who were on the ship seized by the Iranian armed forces; one of them is Muhammad Adnan Aziz, the COO of the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries. His family lives in Karachi and Azad Kashmir and some of his relatives live in London who shared their worries with this correspondent.

They confirmed that Muhammad Adnan Aziz, along with another Pakistani, stand kidnapped at this point. “This morning, we approached the Foreign Office seeking help for the safe return of Muhammad Adnan Aziz as soon as possible. The FO has assured us of all help. We understand that the matter has been taken up with the Iranian authorities already.”

The members of the family said they were shocked after learning that Iran has seized the ship near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions across the region after a deadly Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria. They clarified that Muhammad Adnan Aziz had nothing to do with the ownership of the ship or the regional issues. “He was just doing his job as a professional and was seized. We want his release and return,” shared the members of the family.

The ship was commandeered by the IRGC, the elite force that lost seven members, including two generals, in the Syria strike. “The ship has now been guided towards the territorial waters of our country,” state-run IRNA reported.

The vessel -- identified as the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries -- had departed from a port in the United Arab Emirates en route to India. It is associated with the London-based Zodiac Maritime, a part of the Zodiac Group run by Israeli billionaire EyalOfer and his family.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the ship’s crew comprised Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals and pushed back against the vessel’s seizure.

Zodiac Maritime said in a statement that MSC, an Italian-Swiss shipping group, was responsible for all vessel activities. MSC confirmed there were 25 crew members on board the ship, adding in a statement that it is “working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing, and safe return of the vessel”. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had said a vessel was seized by “regional authorities” 50 nautical miles (92 kms) northeast of the UAE’s Fujairah in a waterway vital to world trade.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1178480-family-of-pakistani-coo-on-israel-linked-ship-seized-by-iran-seeks-help

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Pakistanis stranded on ship seized by Iranian forces to be released

April 15, 2024

Ali Imran &Azaz Syed & Murtaza Ali Shah

ISLAMABAD: The two Pakistanis, who were stranded on a ship seized by the Iranian forces, will be released after the confirmation of their nationalities and completion of legal formalities.

Speaking to Geo News, Iranian envoy to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moqadam, said that they were waiting for the confirmation of the presence of Pakistani nationals on the ship.

The diplomat confirmed that the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has shared the details with higher officials in Tehran.

“If there’s a Pakistani on the ship, we will free the national after completing legal formalities considering brotherly ties,” Moqadam said.

On Sunday, the Foreign Office had taken up the matter with Iranian authorities in Islamabad and shared details with them, sources told the TV channel.

The development came after the family of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Israel-linked container ship seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asked the government of Pakistan for help.

Family seeks Pakistani govt help

Family sources told Geo News that there are two Pakistanis who were on the ship seized by the Iranian forces and one of them is Muhammad Adnan Aziz —the COO of the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries.

His family lives in Karachi and Azad Kashmir and some of his relatives live in London who shared their worries with the media.

They confirmed that Aziz, along with another Pakistani, was on the ship seized by Iran's forces.

“We approached the Foreign Office seeking help for the safe return of Muhammad Adnan Aziz as soon as possible. The FO has assured us of all help. We understand that the matter has been taken up with the Iranian authorities already.”

The family members said they were shocked after learning that Iran had seized the ship near the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions across the region after a deadly Israeli attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria.

They clarified that Aziz had nothing to do with the ownership of the ship or the regional issues.

“He was just doing his job as a professional and was seized. We want his release and return,” shared the family members.

The ship was commandeered by the IRGC, the elite force that lost seven members, including two generals, in the Syria strike.

“The ship has now been guided towards the territorial waters of our country,” state-run IRNA reported.

Who owns the vessel?

The vessel — identified as the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries — had departed from a port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) en route to India.

It is associated with the London-based Zodiac Maritime, a part of the Zodiac Group run by Israeli billionaire EyalOfer and his family.

White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the ship’s crew comprised of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian, and Estonian nationals, and pushed back against the vessel’s seizure.

Footage from the deck of the vessel showed soldiers rappelling down from a helicopter.

The helicopter appeared to be a Soviet-designed Mil Mi-17, which is operated by the naval forces of the IRGC.

Zodiac Maritime said in a statement that MSC, an Italian-Swiss shipping group, was responsible for all vessel activities.

MSC confirmed there were 25 crew members on board the ship, adding in a statement that it is “working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure their wellbeing, and safe return of the vessel”.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had said a vessel was seized by “regional authorities” 50 nautical miles (92km) northeast of the UAE’s Fujairah in a waterway vital to world trade.
Source: thenews.com.pk

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

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1178575-pakistanis-stranded-on-ship-seized-by-iranian-forces-to-be-released

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Africa

 

Nigerian Army RefutesRecruiting Repented Boko Haram Members

14 April 2024

The Nigerian Army has refuted a viral report that it recruited repented Boko Haram members.

Naija News reports that the Army made this known in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, OnyemaNwachuckwu.

On Thursday, one HauwakuluTabra was reported to have been killed by Adamu Muhammad, a soldier she was in a relationship with, at the army barracks in Enugu.

A report on Saturday said two senior military officers alleged that the soldier was a repented Boko Haram member who joined the Civilian Joint Task Force and was later enlisted into the Nigerian Army in 2021.

But according to the statement, the Army said while it is highly regrettable that the lady was killed, the incident should not be used to propagate the claim that the act was committed by a repentant Boko Haram member recruited into the Nigerian Army.

It also condoled with the family of the deceased and reiterated that at no time did it enlist repentant Boko Haram members into its fold “as mischievously insinuated”.

However, the Army stated that at no point in time, either in the past or present enlisted repentant Boko Haram members to its strength.

The statement read: “The NA has at no point in time, either in the past or present enlisted repentant Boko Haram members to its strength. However, considerations were given to Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) who in the fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East distinguished themselves morally and patriotically.

“Such members of the CJTF must have also shown commitment, dedication and loyalty to the service and the nation.

“The sad incident of the gruesome murder of Miss HauwakuluTabra by Private Adamu Muhammad occurred on the night of Thursday 11 April 2024 and her corpse was discovered within the barracks on Friday 12 April 2024.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the late HauwakuluTabra was actually murdered by the said soldier, who is presently in detention for further investigation to unravel the motive behind his actions.

Source: naijanews.com

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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/04/14/army-speaks-on-recruiting-repented-boko-haram-members/

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South African leader warns against regional conflict after Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Israel

Hassan Isilow

15.04.2024

South Africa’s president said Sunday that his country had initially warned that if the Israeli-Palestinian war is not handled with care and great wisdom, it would intensify beyond the borders of Israel.

“We did warn at a very early stage that unless the challenges and the war between Israel and Palestine in Gaza are handled with care and great wisdom to ensure that there is a cease-fire and humanitarian assistance, the war would soon escalate beyond the borders of Israel,” Cyril Ramaphosa told reporters amid the tensions between Iran and Israel and the US.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel late on Saturday in response to Israel’s April 1 attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria that killed several senior Iranian military officers.

Ramaphosa called on all parties to de-escalate and desist from escalating the conflict because it is a very dangerous conflict that could soon go beyond even the boarders of the Middle East.

He said the escalation of the conflict is totally unhelpful and should not be happening.

“We should not be having a regional conflict when we know what the origins of these conflicts are,” he added.

Source: aa.com.tr

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 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/south-african-leader-warns-against-regional-conflict-after-iran-s-retaliatory-attacks-on-israel/3191701

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Congo landslide kills at least 15 people and up to 60 others are missing, officials say

15.04.2024

A landslide in southwest Congo caused by heavy rains killed at least 15 people and left as many as 60 others missing, local officials said Sunday.

Seven people were found alive after the landslide Saturday near the port near the town of Idiofa.

"There's a hill above the port, and the rain caused the earth on the hill to collapse," a local deputy elected official, DhedheMupasa, told reporters Sunday.

Interim provincial Gov. FélicienKiway told reporters a team was dispatched to help search for survivors and seven people were found alive and were hospitalized. A further 60 people were still missing, he said.

A local official said it was difficult to determine the exact number of people missing because the area was used as a marketplace every Saturday. The official described the area as a port where fishermen came to sell fish and buy soap.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2024/04/15/congo-landslide-kills-at-least-15-people-and-up-to-60-others-are-missing-officials-say/

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Iran-Israel: Nigeria, G7 urges ceasefire, world leaders condemn attack

15th April 2024

GbengaOloniniran, Gift Habib

Nigeria, along with other international counterparts, on Sunday, urged Iran and Israel to exercise restraint amidst escalating tensions.

Over 300 drones and missiles were fired towards Israel in an attack late Saturday, injuring at least 12 people, according to an Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, in a televised statement on Sunday, AFP reports.

The Israeli military, in a statement, said “dozens of surface-to-surface missile launches” were identified, with the majority intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.

The attack, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was a retaliation for a deadly April 1 drone strike on its Damascus consulate, confirming early Sunday that a drone and missile attack was underway against Israel.

The attack came as the Israel-Hamas war raged in besieged Gaza.

Countries around the world condemned Iran’s strikes on Israel, warning the attack could further destabilise the Middle East.

Nigeria, in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, on Sunday, noted that diplomatic efforts were underway to defuse the situation and prevent a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Omayuli advised that both nations must consider the global commitment to peaceful conflict resolution for the betterment of global peace and security.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria joins other Members of the International Community to call on Iran and Israel to exercise restraint, as diplomatic efforts are ongoing to ease tension and avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East.

“In this critical period, it behooves the two countries to reflect on the universal commitment to peaceful resolution of conflicts, for the advancement of global peace and security,” the statement read.

Reacting to Iran’s attack, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned “the serious escalation.”

“I am deeply alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation,” he added, calling on parties to “avoid any action that could lead to major military confrontations on multiple fronts in the Middle East.”

President of the European Commission Ursula Leyen called on Iran to “immediately cease” attacks, saying in a message on X, formerly Twitter, that “all actors must now refrain from further escalation and work to restore stability in the region.”

Foreign policy chief JosepBorrell said the bloc “condemns in the strongest terms” the attack, calling it “an unprecedented escalation and a threat to regional security.”

The G7 group expressed its “full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security” according to a statement following video talks.

The G7, which groups the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada, also said on Sunday they would step up efforts to end that crisis.

“We demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further measures now and in response to further destabilising initiatives,” it said.

The spokesperson for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Farah Dakhlallah, said the military alliance condemned Iran’s attack and was “monitoring developments closely,” warning it was “vital that the conflict in the Middle East does not spiral out of control.”

Beijing also urged restraint, calling the attack “the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict” and calling for the implementation of a recent UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire.

“China calls on the international community, especially countries with influence, to play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the region,” it added.

US President Joe Biden promised “ironclad” support for Israel after holding an urgent meeting with top security officials.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,” Biden said on X, posting a picture of the meeting in the White House Situation Room.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” later that “we don’t want to see this escalate.”

“We’re not looking for a wider war with Iran,” he said.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the “reckless” strikes, which he said “risk inflaming tensions and destabilising the region.”

He called for “calm heads to prevail” and added Britain will “be working with our allies to de-escalate the situation”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ottawa “unequivocally condemns Iran’s airborne attacks”, adding, “We stand with Israel.”

Russia expressed “extreme concern over the latest dangerous escalation in the region” and urged all sides to “show restraint.”

Source: punchng.com

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https://punchng.com/iran-israel-nigeria-g7-urges-ceasefire-world-leaders-condemn-attack/

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North America

 

US House To Vote On Israel Aid Package Following Iran Attack

Apr 15, 2024

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday he would try to pass aid to Israel this week after Iran’s mass drone and missile attack.

Johnson, who is struggling to unify his fractious Republican majority and avoid an ouster threat, recounted two failed attempts to pass standalone aid for Israel since October 7.

Opponents of the proposal accused Johnson of staging political ploys to distract from the House leader’s opposition to a failed bipartisan Senate bill from last month that encompassed aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

The House leader did not say whether this week’s legislation would also include assistance for Ukraine and other allies.

“We’re going to try again this week, and the details of that package are being put together right now. We’re looking at the options, and all these supplemental issues,” Johnson told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” program.

Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles in its first-ever direct attack on Israeli territory last Saturday night, raising the threat of open warfare between the two countries that could deteriorate into a regional war involving the United States.

US forces played a major role in fending off Iran’s strike this weekend by notifying Israel of the impending drones and missiles while intercepting many en route. After the attack ended early Sunday morning, US President Joe Biden informed Israel that it would not join the IDF in attacking Iran if it chose to do so.

Representative Mike Turner, chair of the House Intelligence Committee, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he expected the House would pass a broad aid bill this week.

“I think it will have overwhelming support both the Ukraine, Israel and Asia packages, not just because of what’s happened with Iran escalating the conflict in the Middle East, but because these are allies that need and deserve our support,” Turner said.

Johnson spoke after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the chamber’s No. 2 Republican, said the House will respond to Iran’s attack with “legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable,” without offering specifics.

Johnson was expected to meet later on Sunday with lawmakers focused on national security issues, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul.

McCaul said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that it was Johnson’s decision on when and how to bring Ukraine aid up for a vote, but that it needed to be done. “We don’t have time on our side here,” McCaul said. “We have to get this done.”

The House remains deeply divided over providing further assistance to Ukraine. No major aid package has passed for Kyiv since Republicans took control of the chamber in January 2023.

While some House members strongly support the aid and predict it would pass with 70% support in the chamber if Johnson allowed a vote, many of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s House allies oppose aid to Ukraine, favoring spending on domestic issues.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has threatened to oust Johnson as speaker over issues including his support for Ukraine.

The White House and top Democrats and Republicans in the Senate called on Johnson to approve a $95 billion bipartisan Senate-passed package that would provide $14.1 billion in aid to Israel and $60 billion to Ukraine.

“They should put it on the floor as soon as possible,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told “Meet the Press.”

Johnson has refused to take up the Senate bill. Instead, he has sought to craft his own legislation, with Ukraine aid structured as a loan at the behest of Trump.

“He and I are 100% united on these bigger items,” Johnson said of Trump, after meeting with the former president on Friday in Florida.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-house-to-vote-on-israel-aid-package-following-iran-attack/

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US calls on UN Security Council to condemn Iran's attacks

Rabia IclalTuran

15.04.2024

The US urged the UN Security Council on Sunday to "unequivocally" condemn Iran's attacks on Israel while Russia and Iran slammed the "hypocritical behavior" and "double standards" of Western countries.

"The Security Council has an obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered," US Ambassador Robert Wood told the emergency session, which was convened at the request of Israel to discuss the situation in the Middle East following Iran's retaliatory response against Israel for its attack on its consular building in Damascus, Syria on April 1.

Noting that Iran has violated its international obligations, Wood said the US will explore additional measures to hold it accountable at the UN in the coming days.

"More immediately, the Security Council must unequivocally condemn Iran’s aggressive actions and call for Iran and its partners and proxies to cease their attacks," he said.

"The United States is not seeking escalation. Our actions have been purely defensive in nature,” Wood stressed.

"The best way to prevent such escalation is an unambiguous condemnation from the Council of Iran’s unprecedented, large-scale attack and an unequivocal call on it and its proxies and partners to refrain from further violence," he added.

Russia, Iran call out 'Western hypocrisy'

Russian Permanent Representative to the UN VasilyNebenzya said that "today, the Security Council is witnessing such a parade of Western hypocrisy and double standards that it is even somewhat uncomfortable to watch."

Recalling Israel's attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Nebenzya said an attack on a diplomatic mission is a casus belli under international law.

“If Western missions were attacked, you would not hesitate to retaliate and prove your case in this room. Because for you, everything that concerns Western missions and Western citizens is sacred and must be protected.”

The Russian envoy said his country called on the Security Council to "clearly and unequivocally" condemn Israel's attack on Iran’s consulate as the Council convened on April 2 to discuss it.

"The US, the UK and France essentially refused to confirm that the basic principles of international law on the inviolability of diplomatic and consular facilities, enshrined in the relevant Vienna Conventions, apply equally to all states," he said.

Iran's Ambassador to the UN, Amir SaeidIravani, said the US, UK and France have chosen "to turn a blind eye to reality and overlook the root causes contributing to the current situation" as they did not condemn the attack against Iran's diplomatic premises in Syria.

"In hypocritical behavior, these three countries falsely blamed and accused Iran without considering their own failures to uphold their international commitment to peace and security in the region," Iravani said.

- Israel accuses Iran of 'blatant violation of international law'

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, said Iran's attack on Israel on Saturday was an "act of utter escalation that can drag the entire region and world into war."

"Last night's attack was a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter," he said.

"The only option is to condemn Iran and utilize every means necessary to make them pay a heavy price for their horrible crimes.”

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-calls-on-un-security-council-to-condemn-irans-attacks/3191688

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Pro-Palestinian activists continue Pomona College protests despite arrests, suspensions

MICHAEL STARR

APRIL 15, 2024

Californian pro-Palestinian protesters continued to hold disruptive demonstrations and threatened to occupy buildings at Pomona college this week, intensifying their activism after students were arrested and suspended for occupying the president's office on April 5.

"Hey [Pomona College President] Gabi Starr, which building is next?" Pomona Divest from Apartheid (PDfA) threatened in a Sunday Instagram post, listing out the names of several campus locations. "All activities at this college are subject to suspension! You have one day."

The group said that they would take action from Monday until Thursday, following on the heels of hundreds of students gathering on Campus from across the Claremont colleges on Thursday in solidarity with suspended activists.

“We don’t want to hear a word about arrests or suspensions or bans unless in the same breath you’re condemning Israeli apartheid, occupation, and genocide, and calling for complete divestment from Israeli weapons manufacturers, Palestine-occupying institutions, for an academic boycott, for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and for anti-discrimination policies for Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, SWANA [Southwest Asian and North African], Black, Brown and Indigenous students,” one of the suspended activists said in a speech read by another student according to PDfA. "“If you’re not with divestment, you’re not with us. And if you are with us, we will win.”

The activists have been calling for academic boycott of Israel and the withdrawal of suspensions, charges, and bans on 20 students from Pomona and the Claremont College group.

Tens of students were arrested in protest

According to PDfA 19 students were arrested for trespassing in Starr's office during a two hour sit-in protest demanding divestment from Israel, and another protester was arrested for interfering with justice.

"Any participants in today’s events on the SCC lawn or in Alexander Hall, who turn out to be Pomona students, are subject to immediate suspension," Starr said in an April 5 statement. "Students from the other Claremont Colleges will be banned from Pomona’s campus and subject to discipline on their own campuses. All individual participants not part of The Claremont Colleges community are hereby banned from campus immediately. Individuals participating in this event must disperse immediately. Those who remain will be escorted off campus."

Starr detailed that Campus Safety and Student Affairs staff were verbally harassed and subjected to anti-black slurs when they attempted to remove the "apartheid wall" that the BDS group erected for the "Israel Apartheid Week" event.

The BDS groups had occupied the lawn of the Smith Campus Center with tents and the wall for a week against College policy, but Starr said that she had attempted to give room to the students to exercise the right to protest.

On April 3, Starr instituted more strenuous identity checks and warned about disciplinary actions when masked activists "repeatedly followed admission tour groups around campus and used amplifying devices that drown out all surrounding speech."

Pro-Palestinian students had protested Starr after she condemned a March student BDS referendum.

"For many years now, the only nation on which ASPC has focused its activity is the world’s only Jewish state. This singling out of Israel raises grave concerns about the referendum's impact on members of our community," Starr said on February 16. "For this reason, and even though I know our students do not intend this, the referendum raises the specter of antisemitism, and it takes place against the backdrop of a challenging and even worsening national and international climate in which hate is despicably on the rise. Even as the authors of the referendum are standing up for a principle they believe in, the call for an academic boycott undermines the core principles of who we are as an institution.

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-797152

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Destroyed more than 80 Iranian ballistic missiles headed towards Israel, says US

15.04.24

The US destroyed more than 80 UAVs and at least six ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel, the Pentagon said Sunday.

This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch, the US Central Command said.

Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, which Tehran said was in response to the April 1 strike on its consulate in Syria.

Almost all Iranian drones and missiles were shot down by Israeli, US and allied forces before they reached their targets.

On Saturday and Sunday morning, US CENTCOM forces, supported by US European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and at least six ballistic missiles intended to strike Israel from Iran and Yemen, the media note said.

“Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behaviour endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces. CENTCOM remains postured to support Israel’s defense against these dangerous actions by Iran. We will continue to work with all our regional partners to increase regional security,” it said.

The G-7 leaders on Sunday unequivocally condemned in the strongest terms Iran’s direct and unprecedented attack against Israel, saying the development risks provoking an uncontrollable regional escalation.

Israel described the attack as a “clear violation” of the UN Charter and international law, and accused Iran of stoking regional instability, calling on the Security Council to “unequivocally condemn Iran for these grave violations and immediately act to designate the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] as a terrorist organisation”.

Iran said it had launched the operation in exercise of its right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. PTI LKJ SKY SKY

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/destroyed-more-than-80-iranian-ballistic-missiles-headed-towards-israel-says-us/cid/2013365

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Biden in ‘very tough spot’ trying to stop Middle East escalation

April 15, 2024

WASHINGTON: Iran’s attack on Israel gives Joe Biden a familiar dilemma, but on steroids — how to balance support for a difficult ally while preventing the nightmare scenario of a wider war?

Tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s war on Gaza were papered over as the US president offered “ironclad” support, including shooting down Iranian drones.

But the White House said it would not support an Israeli counterattack and warned Israel to “think carefully” about escalation that could trigger a full-blown regional conflict.

The question then for Biden, who is facing a tough reelection battle against Donald Trump in November, is what if Netanyahu goes ahead anyway, as he has done in Gaza?

“It puts him in a very tough spot” Colin Clarke, Director of Research at the Soufan Group, told AFP.

“I think he’s suspicious of Netanyahu’s motives here... that Netanyahu is attempting to broaden the war throughout the region to deflect from how poorly the war is going for him in Gaza.”

Biden has been trying to avoid a regional war that could suck the United States back into the Middle East ever since Hamas’s October 7 attack and Israel’s offensive on the Gaza Strip.

The 81-year-old has, however, struggled to use the leverage provided by the United States being Israel’s main military supplier, especially given a long history of tense relations with Netanyahu.

Biden has been increasingly critical of the death toll in the Palestinian territory and even went as far as suggesting the US could limit military aid, but so far to little effect.

Iran’s attack has seen Biden go back to showing overt support — but at the same time scrambling to stop the crisis spiraling.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Netanyahu was “well aware” that Biden did not want a “wider war.”

Biden himself warned Netanyahu of the potential dangers in a call on Saturday night at a time of “heightened emotion.”

“The president had a discussion about trying to slow things down, think through things,” a US official said.

The hope was that “in the light of day” Israel would see it had had a “spectacular success” against Iran’s attack, added the official.

Washington’s calculus looks to be that Iran also got what it wanted, with a show of force in retaliation for Israel’s strike in Damascus earlier this month that killed a key Iranian general, but with minimal damage.

“However, I fear the status quo will be short-lived,” said James Ryan, Executive Director of the Middle East Research and Information Project, warning of a “dangerous spiral.”

“I expect Biden to attempt to restrain Israeli responses, but Netanyahu has already shown a willingness to test any kind of limit Biden wishes to impose,” he added.

“It’s all very cynical now, unfortunately.”

Biden’s options for restraining Israel are likely to be limited at this stage to tough language in private and making threats in public.

“They’ve got themselves into a corner in many ways,” said Clarke.

“I think they’ve overplayed their hand a little bit by saying the administration is considering cutting off weapons to the Israelis. It’s never going to happen — I think it’s an empty threat, especially in an election year.”

The US presidential election in November comes as Biden faces domestic political pressure on all sides when it comes to Israel.

Trump has led a chorus of Republicans accusing Biden of being weak on the issue — while young and left-wing voters in particular are angered by his failure to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.

Netanyahu, facing his own political and legal issues at home, would now be able to use the Iran attacks to “paper over the very real rifts that exist” with Washington on Gaza, said Clarke.

“If he can drag this out until November, he’s hoping for a Trump victory” when he would have “carte blanche” to act however he wanted in the region, said Clarke.

Another possibility, however, is that Netanyahu may decide to “accede to American urgings” for now on Iran — but with a cost, said Paul Salem, President and CEO of the Middle East Institute.

“Politically, I think they can cash in on saying, ‘okay, America, we won’t do anything, we’re being good. But in exchange, you have to, you know, give us more of a free hand in Gaza,’” he said.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2493236/world

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South Asia

 

Kabul Calls Iran's Attack on Israel 'Legitimate' Defensive Action

April 14, 2024

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate in a statement declared Iran's recent attack on Israel a legitimate defensive action.

According to the statement, the Islamic Emirate has called on all influential countries in the region and the world to halt the further escalation of the crisis and stop the conflicts in the Gaza Strip.

This comes as Israel's military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, reports that Iran fired over 300 missiles and drones at Israeli cities.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that 99 percent of these Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted and destroyed.

Based on official statistics, so far, 31 Israeli citizens have been injured and hospitalized in these attacks.

“Last night Iran started an attack against Israel and launched more than 300 different threats. The Iranian threat met the Israel Defense Force’s aerial and technological superiority together with a strong fighting coalition that together intercepted most of the threats. We intercepted 99% of the threats launched towards Israel’s territory. This is a very significant strategic achievement,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

This Iranian attack on Israel occurred two weeks after airstrikes targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the capital of Syria, resulting in the deaths of seven military personnel, including two senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, warned that if Israel takes further action, their response will be more decisive.

“From our perspective, this operation is over, and we have no intention to continue. However, if the Zionist regime acts against the Islamic Republic either on our soil or at our locations in Syria or elsewhere, our next operations will be much more extensive,” said Mohammad Bagheri.

What are the implications of these conflicts between Iran and Israel for the regional countries, especially Afghanistan?

Tariq Farhadi, an international relations expert, told TOLOnews: “Afghanistan should not become a proxy for any side in this war, and the interim government should focus on resolving Afghanistan’s internal problems.”

“Other wars in the region will cause Afghanistan’s problems to be forgotten, and militant groups in this country will gain more power,” said Sayed JavadSajadi, a political analyst.

This attack by Iran on Israel has been widely welcomed by the citizens of that country.

An Iranian citizen said: “I have never seen in any country where an attack on another country and war cause happiness among the people. But tonight, people have given up their sleep to come here and show how important this war is for us and how happy we are with this attack on Israel.”

After these attacks, the war cabinet of Israel, chaired by Benjamin Netanyahu, was convened.

"Citizens of Israel, in recent years, and especially in recent weeks, Israel has been preparing for a direct attack by Iran. Our defensive systems are deployed; we are ready for any scenario, both defensively and offensively. The State of Israel is strong. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is strong. The public is strong," said Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel.

The United Nations, European Union, United States, Germany, and several other countries have condemned Iran's attacks on Israel, calling them a threat to the peace, stability, and security of the region and the world.

President Joe Biden has also stated that he will meet today with leaders of the G7 countries to give a joint diplomatic response to Iran.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188296

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Iran-Israel tensions directly impact Afghanistan: Abdullah

Fidel Rahmati

April 15, 2024

Simultaneously with reactions to Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, Abdullah Abdullah, the former Chief Executive Officer of the previous government, states that any action by Israel against Iran and the escalation of tensions directly affects the situation in Afghanistan.

Mr. Abdullah, on Sunday, April 14th, posted these remarks on his social media platform X, noting that the Islamic Republic of Iran hosts millions of Afghan citizens.

He also stated that Iran’s response to Israel is a defensive action and a reaction to the “violation of Iran’s national sovereignty.”

Abdullah Abdullah continues to write on his social media platform X that “these tensions have unpredictable and unfavorable consequences for the region and global peace and security.”

However, reactions to Iran’s attacks on Israel come as the Islamic Republic of Iran unexpectedly attacked targets related to the Israeli army with its missile attacks on Saturday, April 13th, according to reports from media outlets affiliated with the Islamic Republic, destroying several military targets, including the Nevatim airbase in southern Israel and the band of Israeli military aircraft in the Negev desert region.

The United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union have strongly condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, with the United States and Britain emphasizing unwavering support for Israel.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/iran-israel-tensions-directly-impact-afghanistan-abdullah/

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Five more Myanmar border guards take refuge in Bangladesh

Apr 15, 2024

Five more members of Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) have taken shelter in Bangladesh amid the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar junta and Arakan Army in Rakhine state.

They entered Bangladesh last night through Kharangkhali and Jhimongkhali border under Whykong union in Teknaf said Lt Col Mohiuddin Ahmed, commanding officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) battalion-2 in Teknaf.

BGB seized their weapons and took them into custody, the BGB official said.

Yesterday morning, nine BGP members took shelter in Bangladesh. Two of them were undergoing treatment as they crossed the border with injuries, he added.

On March 11, 179 BGP members took refuge in Bangladesh through Jamchhari border in Bandarban'sNaikhongchhariupazila. They are currently under BGB custody in Naikhongchhari.

On February 15, 330 Myanmar nationals, including 302 BGP officials and four of their family members, two army personnel, 18 immigration members, and four civilians, who had entered Bangladesh were returned to their country.

The conflict claimed two lives on February 5, killing a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man in the explosion of a mortar shell (fired from Myanmar) in Bandarban'sGhumdhum.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/five-more-myanmar-border-guards-take-refuge-bangladesh-3587491

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Iran-Israel tensions: Dhaka wants peace in Middle East

Apr 14, 2024

Saying that Bangladesh does not want war in the Middle East, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud urged the international community to help de-escalate tensions between Iran and Israel.

"We are for peace, not war. We want to see countries play an active role in de-escalating tensions [between Iran and Israel]. We also call for an end to the killings in Gaza," he said.

Hasan Mahmud made the comments when journalists, after an event at the state guest house Padma, asked him about Iran's drone and missile attacks on Israel.

Iran said the attacks were in retaliation for Israel's attacks on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria early April.

Hasan Mahmud said Iran might not have launched the attacks if it was not attacked first.

"We would hope that the states that can play roles would play their roles to de-escalate Iran-Israel tension," Hasan Mahmud said.

When asked about the release of 23 Bangladeshi sailors and the Bangladeshi-flagged ship MV Abdullah from the captivity of pirates, the foreign minister credited the government and others for their efforts.

The ship has advanced 100 nautical miles towards the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by a ship from the European Union, he informed the journalists.

He also thanked the ship-owning company, KSRM, for its active role in releasing the crew and the ship.

He told journalists that nine more members of the Border Guard Police of Myanmar have entered Bangladesh through Southern Myanmar.

Myanmar and Bangladesh are discussing the repatriation of all 180 members of BGP, including those who previously entered Bangladesh during the Myanmar military's conflict with rebel forces, he said.

Earlier, Hasan Mahmud held a meeting with Antigua and Barbuda Foreign Minister EP Chet Greene, who arrived in Dhaka for a five-day visit yesterday.

He said the two countries have discussed cooperation in technology and training in the tourism sector.

He proposed that the Caribbean country can import pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh, which now exports such products to 140 countries including the US, Canada and the EU. They also discussed exporting RMG, ceramics and leather goods from Bangladesh.

Source: thedailystar.net

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BNP real source of communalism: Quader

 Apr 14, 2024

Awami League General Secretary ObaidulQuader today said BNP cannot tolerate Bangalees' culture as the party is the real source of communalism and also the patrons of militancy.

"BNP is inherently pro-Pakistan… Pakistan remains deep in their hearts. These communal evil forces are actually in opposition to the spirit of Bangla and the spirit of Bangladesh," he said.

Qauder, also road, transport and bridges minister, made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of a colourful rally and discussion held at the Bahadur Shah Park in Old Dhaka, marking the Bangla New Year.

The programme was organised by Dhaka South city unit of Awami League.

Terming BNP the "communal evil force", the ruling party leader said, "It is clear who are really against the spirit of Baishakh… they wanted to stop the procession led by then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at the SuhrawardyUddyan… that evil forces still remain on the soil of this country."

The minister, however, emphasised preserving the historic Bahadur Shah Park as the authority must protect this significant place. "We have to protect our culture for the survival of Bangladesh…," he added.

Terming BNP the enemy of Bangalee culture, Bangladesh state and the spirit of the Liberation War, Quader called upon the people to prevent and defeat this enemy and march towards the goal of victory.

Chaired by Dhaka South city unit AL leader Abu Ahmed Mannafi, the programme was also addressed, among others, by Awami League Joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, and AL Dhaka South city unit general secretary Humayun Kabir.

Later, a colourful procession paraded in front of Bahadur Shah Park and ended in front of Awami League central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.

Source: thedailystar.net

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Thousands of people visit Helmand’s historic Bost fort during Eid

April 14, 2024

Helmand Department of Information and Culture says more than 6,000 tourists visited Bost historical fort over Eid this year.

Visitors say that if the government pays greater attention to the preservation and restoration of historical sites, more domestic and foreign tourists will visit the sites in future.

“We request the government to pay more attention to these historical sites,” said Abdul Rahman, a tourist.

“We ask the Islamic Emirate to renovate this place so that the number of visitors increases,” said Izzatullah, another tourist.

Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Culture of Helmand province says that three parts of the Bost fort are set to be restored this year.

Bost fort is one of dozens of historical sites in Helmand province, which according to historians, was built during the time of King Nosherwan and is 2,500 years old.

Source: ariananews.af

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Southeast Asia

 

Myanmar rebels say they have repelled junta push to take back border town

15 Apr 2024

MAE SOT (Thailand), April 15 — A resistance group fighting Myanmar’s military rule said yesterday its fighters had repelled an attempt by junta troops to advance on the key town of Myawaddy along the Thai border that was seized by the rebels last week.

Reinforcements of junta forces have been trying to advance on Myawaddy for days, but were pushed back in a battle about 40 kilometres away, a spokesperson for the Karen National Union (KNU), Saw Taw Nee, said in an interview.

“It is not easy to come here. They face a lot of difficulty,” he told Reuters, saying the KNU’s forces had been “blocking and intercepting” the junta troops.

The KNU information could not be independently confirmed. A spokesperson for the military junta that seized power from an elected government a 2021 did not answer calls from Reuters.

The border town of Myawaddy, adjacent to Thailand, was wrested from military control by a coalition of anti-junta forces led by the KNU on Thursday.

Fighting took place on Friday between the villages of Kawkareik and Kaw Nwet along the main Asian Highway 1 leading west from the Thai border, Saw Taw Nee said.

The KNU spokesperson said information received from the front line put the junta’s toll of deaths and injuries from the fighting at around 100. “We know that they suffered a loss of one armed carrier and a military truck,” he said.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since 2021, when the powerful military deposed an elected civilian government, triggering widespread protests it sought to crush with force.

Simmering anger against the junta turned into a nationwide armed resistance movement that is now increasingly operating in coordination with established ethnic rebel groups to challenge the military across large parts of Myanmar.

Saw Taw Nee said the resistance “will take time”. “We need to have a kind of coordination with other groups... to defeat the military,” he said.

The KNU spokesperson said there were also challenges working in a broad anti-junta coalition.

“We are still in the process of how to negotiate, how to come together and how to move forward among our Karen groups,” he said, referring to members of the ethnic group residing primarily in Kayin State.

Saw Taw Nee said the immediate concern for the KNU is the more than one million displaced people within its territories, and called on the international community, including neighbouring Thailand, to provide support.

“We really need to work together in the future more and more on this issue,” he said.

He urged Myanmar’s junta to see their recent military setbacks as a sign that they should hand back power to the people.

“Please don’t waste time any more,” he said. “This is the time, and a good opportunity, to listen to people first.” — Reuters

Source: malaymail.com

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Iran-Israel conflict: PM Anwar calls for global effort to mitigate escalating tensions

14-04- 2024

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia strongly believes that it is in the best interest of the global community that all parties work towards achieving a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East and avoid further escalation of aggression.

Following the latest conflict involving Iran and Israel, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said for a lasting solution, the ongoing violence in the region must come to an end.

He said any chosen path to a settlement would not be sustainable if the conflict is not stopped immediately.

“Regardless, Malaysia stands with the Palestinian people who continue to suffer in this terrible situation.

“It is time for all parties to exercise utmost restraint, and leading global stakeholders should demand a cessation of hostilities by all parties,” Anwar said in a Facebook post today.

Earlier, Anwar held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and other senior officials to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

According to the prime minister, Iran’s attack was a response to the heinous Zionist Israeli regime’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, adding that Israel’s actions were a clear violation of international laws.

Foreign media today reported that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had launched a barrage of missiles and drones on Israel.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/iran-israel-conflict-pm-anwar-calls-for-global-effort-to-mitigate-escalating-tensions-IC12328123

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Unity Govt has never neglected Indian community - PM Anwar

14-04- 2024

SHAH ALAM: The Unity Government has never neglected the welfare of the Indian community but rather various programmes had been initiated to assist in the development of the community at large said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said every programme that has been carried out or being carried out by the government is universal in nature and tailored with the interest of the entire Indian community in the country as per their needs and aspirations, in line with the concept of the Malaysia MADANI government.

Citing the success of having eradicated hardcore poverty in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Penang, Anwar who is also the Finance Minister said efforts to eradicate poverty was done regardless of race, and such an initiative also included the Indian community.

“...I don’t care whether they are ‘tauke’ who are Malays, Chinese or Indians. What I care is the majority who are not so priviledged.

“That’s why I say our first priority is to eradicate hardcore poverty. Though in terms of numbers, Malays are the majority, but in terms of those who benefitted under the initiative in Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan was the Indian community.

“I don’t see the issue of poverty from the racial point of view, if they fall under the hardcore poor category, they will be assisted,“ he said in his opening speech of the Fifth International Convention and Celebration of Indian statesman Dr Ambedkar’s 133rd birthday and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at the Ideal Convention Centre, here today.

With regard to education for the Indian community, Anwar said various initiatives have been carried out, including setting up four new SekolahJenisKebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) schools in Selangor and Perak plus two more in Negeri Sembilan, which started operations in March.

“Therefore, claims that we did not do anything for the Indian community is not true...there was also an additional RM30 million allocated for the development of SJK (T) and RM5 million for the development of education and Tamil literature which I had announced in Universiti Malaya.

“For Asian Institute of Medical, Science and Technology University (AIMST) I have approved RM25 million, on condition that (AIMST) submit a transparent financial account...we in the cabinet have also agreed to offer Indian students an easy path to enroll in TVET institutions,“ said the Prime Minister.

He added that in efforts to uplift the community in the job market, the government held discussions with various private entities to provide training as well as increase the number of Indians employed in government linked companies.

The Prime Minister also said the government has expanded Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) functions to the Indians of which the microcredit organisation was initially intended for the Malays through the announcement of RM50 million to empower Indian women entrepreneurs through the Prosperity Empowerment and A New Normal for Indian Women (PENN) programme yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also said that the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) which has since been placed under the Prime Minister’s Department again, is not the only avenue for Indian communities to uplift themselves.

Anwar therefore urged the community to not look into everything through the prism of race and pledged that all unity government representatives will work hard to address issues raised by the Indian community.

“Let me remind you, is this adequate? No. Is this the final act? No. But this is the process, do understand and appreciate the problem that we have to face in dealing with some extreme voices among the Malays that formed the majority...we have to deal with all this issues at the same time.

“Everywhere I go when I visit the Malay communities I tell them we are here to show (other communities) a good example...I want to prove a point that if we want to lead this country we need to be just to all of our citizens,“ he said.

Meanwhile, the two-day convention which started today, was attended by about 1,500 participants, including 250 foreign delegates from India, United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Brunei, United Kingdom and Indonesia.

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local_news/unity-govt-has-never-neglected-indian-community-pm-anwar-MC12327920

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China stops short of condemning Iran, as it continues its balancing diplomacy

 Tan Dawn Wei

BEIJING – China has said it is deeply concerned over Iran’s strike on Israel on April 13, but has stopped short of condemning the attack; instead, it described it as a “spillover of the conflict in Gaza”.

While a multitude of countries, including Japan, Denmark, Mexico and Singapore, have immediately censured the drone and missile strikes on Israeli territory – which Iran says is payback for an April 1 bombing of its consulate in Syria – Beijing has held back on criticising its important strategic partner.

The two countries have forged close economic and strategic ties in recent years, with China buying as much as 90 per cent of US-sanctioned Iranian crude oil in 2023 at discounted prices, making it Iran’s biggest trading partner.

In 2023, China also brokered a high-profile deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties after years of hostilities, as it continues to seek to expand its presence and influence in the Middle East.

In contrast, Beijing had earlier condemned Israel’s suspected strike on the Iranian consulate, and it also called the United States to play a “constructive role” in resolving the Gaza conflict.

The lack of a denunciation by Beijing over the violence shows that it considers Tehran’s actions a legitimate response, said Mr Ahmed Aboudouh, associate fellow at London-based think-tank Chatham House.

“However, overall, China is unlikely to take significant steps that may undermine its relations with either Iran or Israel as long as its commercial and political interests are not directly affected,” said Mr Ahmed, who is also head of China studies at the Emirates Policy Centre, a think-tank in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

“The only opportunity this escalation may create for Beijing is to blame the US’ mild pressure on Israel to stop the war in Gaza.”

Since the start of the Gaza crisis, China has advocated for the Palestinian cause, emphasising that a two-state solution is the only way to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

It has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, but has avoided condemning Hamas for its surprise Oct 7 attack on Israel.

“So far, the PRC has been publicly quite hands-off regarding the conflict in Gaza. They have issued statements calling for peace, criticising Israel and expressing support for Palestine. Action has been less evident,” said Associate Professor Chong Ja Ian from the National University of Singapore, referring to the People’s Republic of China by its acronym.

Similarly, Beijing has also been advocating for peace in Yemen – which has been besieged by a civil war for the past decade – but refrained from denouncing the country’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels for attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea since November.

“This relatively quiet approach reflects both the complicated situation facing Beijing and its limited leverage in the region,” said Prof Chong, an international relations specialist with a focus on Chinese foreign policy.

Even so, the US and other Western countries had urged China to use its sway with Iran to prevent a retaliatory attack and an escalation of tensions after Tehran vowed retribution for the consulate attack.

Mr Ahmed said: “I suspect the US already understands the limits of China’s leverage over Iran and the lack of desire in Beijing to support Washington’s strategic preferences towards the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

“I think by repeating that it continues to reach out to China to help curb Iran and its proxies’ actions, the Biden administration seeks to demonstrate it didn’t leave any stone unturned and draw what it considers China’s inaction and self-interested approach under the spotlight.”

He added: “The ultimate objective is to promote to the regional countries the narrative that Beijing is an unreliable partner and that the US is the only security principal that guarantees regional security.”

But Beijing is also likely not interested in direct involvement, said the University of Groningen’s Assistant Professor William Figueroa, whose research focuses on Sino-Iranian ties.

“While happy to play a role in negotiations, the reality is they lack real coercive power in the region and remain primarily interested in trade and diplomatic initiatives. They are aware of this and not eager to overextend themselves the way they believe the US has done,” said Prof Figueroa.

China’s other considerations

Chinese supply chains and energy imports could be at stake if there was wider instability in the Middle East, putting further strain on the Chinese economy – a situation that Beijing would want to avoid, said Prof Chong.

“Beijing also wishes to maintain positive ties with the Arab states and Iran due to these considerations. As a result, it probably wants to avoid behaviour that could seem less supportive to these actors, including acts like publicly criticising or putting pressure on Tehran,” he said.

“How much Beijing can really restrain a partner like Iran is also unclear, especially on issues that Tehran deems important.”

Still, the continued instability is likely to reduce future Chinese investments in Iran and economic relations with the country, which are already constrained due to the US sanctions, said Prof Figueroa.

China has already advised Chinese companies and travellers to Iran to exercise caution, though it had been heavily promoting tourism to Iran until recently.

“This may further damage and limit the growth of ties between the two countries, although probably only temporarily,” added Prof Figueroa.

As a result, China is expected to stick to its risk-averse, balancing policy while dealing with Iran and Israel, said Mr Ahmed.

“This is aligned with Beijing’s concern that if the ‘spillover’ reaches the Gulf region, it may unravel the China-sponsored diplomatic thaw between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Mr Ahmed was referring to the possibility of Israel targeting Iranian interests in the Hormuz Strait, a narrow but vital waterway between Iran and Oman that is the most important oil passage in the world, or a US strike from its military bases in the Gulf which could trigger an Iranian response.

“I suspect this is the biggest concern Chinese officials are considering right now.”

Source: straitstimes.com

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Muslims in Japan serve up curry for quake-hit Noto residents

April 15, 2024

SUZU, Ishikawa (Kyodo) -- A Muslim group in central Japan has been offering curry to victims of the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day, bringing smiles to the faces of those affected by the disaster.

Every week, Mazen Salim, 49, head of the Toyama Muslim Center, and fellow group members drive several hours from Toyama to Suzu in neighboring Ishikawa Prefecture, one of the areas hardest hit by the January quake, to cook curry for local evacuees, many of whom lost their homes and loved ones, and provide other food items along with daily necessities.

"We live in Japan, we drink Japanese water, and we work in Japan. If something happens in Japan, it is only natural to help people who are suffering," said Salim, who refers to the center's volunteer work as a "jihad." Salim stresses he uses the word not to describe a fight against an enemy of his religion but as a call to help those in need. "It doesn't matter if they are Muslim or not."

Salim began visiting Suzu from Jan. 5, just days after the massive quake, which struck while he was visiting Tokyo with his family. As the severity of the damage became more evident, he quickly returned to his home in Toyama before making his way to Noto.

Parts of the roads had collapsed and there had been multiple mudslides. There was also almost no information about which roads were still open. The area was blanketed with snow, resulting in his tires getting caught in holes during the drive.

Gas was in short supply, too, with only a limited number of stations still open. Salim would shift his vehicle into neutral gear when driving down slopes to save fuel. He said it took him almost a day to get to Suzu, located on the tip of the Noto Peninsula, the first time he drove there.

Hot meals have been hard to come by in the quake-hit areas, while some have begun to tire of eating the same food offered at evacuation centers, much of which is canned. He said the specially made curry offers evacuees fresh flavors and variety that they have grown to enjoy.

The curry they make uses spices common in a variety of Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia, and is prepared by the group's members, who come from a range of different backgrounds, including children and those with experience working at curry restaurants.

In a questionnaire conducted on evacuees at Shoin elementary school in Suzu, one of the major evacuation centers in the area, the Muslim center's curry was voted the most popular among the food dishes offered there.

"Not everyone has to do this, but someone has to," said Salim, who is originally from war-torn Syria. "The Quran says we have to help others, but more than anything else, I find it extremely rewarding when I hear a heartfelt thank you."

The savory aroma of coffee wafted through the air at a temporary housing complex in Suzu on a recent Monday as Salim and his friends distributed salad, meat dishes and Syrian coffee they had brought from Toyama to give to those housed there.

"This is really helpful," a 64-year-old woman living in one of the makeshift houses said. "The nearest supermarket is 20 minutes away by car, and many stores are still closed."

Salim says the word "jihad" is often misunderstood. Non-Muslim people tend to think it has a negative connotation because they associate it with images of terrorists and violence, but the word in Arabic simply means to work toward fulfilling one's duty, he said.

"Jihad can be many things," Salim said. "Some people are working on the front line (to rebuild affected areas). We are serving food to evacuees. They are both jihad."

It is not the first time Salim and his team have traveled to disaster-hit areas to offer victims aid.

Since the Toyama Muslim Center was established about a decade ago, its members have traveled everywhere in Japan where major natural disasters have hit, including Kumamoto Prefecture in 2016 after an earthquake struck and western Japan in the wake of a severe rainstorm in 2018.

Everywhere they have gone, they have offered meals and other necessities to both Japanese and foreigners alike, he said.

He said there can be difficulties specific to Muslim people when evacuations occur in Japan. For example, they often find it difficult to eat food provided at evacuation centers as it may contain pork or other ingredients that are forbidden in Islam.

Due to the importance of washing one's hands and other parts of the body before daily prayers in Islam, water is also a basic requirement. Furthermore, often there are not many interpreters on hand to explain what is happening during a crisis.

"This quake has served as a lesson for everybody," Salim said, adding that there is room for improvement concerning how the country communicates important information to its foreign population and how it takes care of people from different cultural backgrounds in times of emergency.

"If Japan is going to become more globalized, it has to understand that there are different religions and cultures in the world and make preparations accordingly," so as to take better care of its foreign population in such situations, he said.

The number of evacuees has gradually decreased over time, but Salim said he will continue to help out, as he feels it is his obligation until everybody is able to return home.

"We will be there wherever we are needed," he said.

Source: mainichi.jp

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https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240412/p2g/00m/0na/028000c

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