Zaira Wasim Should Continue Mentioning Quran On Social Media: Zakir Naik
New Age Islam News Bureau
2 Jun 2020
Zaira
Wasim
-----
•
Shadow Outfit of The Banned Lashkar-e-Taiba Warning To ‘Indians’: Don’t Settle
In J&K
•
Pakistan Government Refuses to Grant Minority Status to Ahmadiyyas
•
American Scholar Underscores Islam’s Innate Anti-Racism Amid US Unrest
•
Black Muslims Feel ‘Shocking Levels of Alienation’ In the UK Within the Muslim
Community Itself
•
Saudi Arabia, Israel In Secret Talks Through US Mediation Over Al-Aqsa Mosque:
Report
•
Taliban Chief Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada May Have Died Of Coronavirus: Report
•
Discussion on Removing Presidents from Office in Yogyakarta Cancelled Over
Death Threats
---------
India
•
Zaira Wasim Should Continue Mentioning Quran On Social Media: Zakir Naik
•
Shadow Outfit of The Banned Lashkar-e-Taiba Warning To ‘Indians’: Don’t Settle
In J&K
•
UP: Doctor Sparks A Row With ‘Diatribe’ Against Jamaat, Says Viral Video
Morphed
•
Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar’s kin linked to foiled J&K plot
•
How Pakistan High Commission staffers spied on defence and government officials
in New Delhi
•
Pak summons Indian diplomat over expulsion of 2 High Commission officials on
espionage charges
•
Jammu and Kashmir: Three militants killed in Rajouri district
•
Terrorist killed in encounter in south Kashmir’s Tral: Army
•
BSF DG visits Indo-Pak international border in Jammu to review security
scenario
--------
Pakistan
•
Pakistan Government Refuses to Grant Minority Status to Ahmadiyyas
•
Gen Bajwa calls for resolving long pending disputes for lasting peace
•
Imran Says It Was 'Mistake' To Enforce Strict Lockdown Even As COVID-19 Cases
Cross 72,000
•
World Bank to Provide $188 Million To Pakistan To Address Environmental
Degradation, Climate Change
•
Sindh govt told to file complete report with appeal in Pearl case
•
MQM-P rejects govt committee probing fake domiciles, says matter is sub judice
--------
North
America
•
American Scholar Underscores Islam’s Innate Anti-Racism Amid US Unrest
•
US 'knee-on-neck' technique failed with Iran, will fail with African-Americans:
FM Zarif
•
Khalilzad upbeat on chances for intra-Afghan peace talks
•
Barr: Violence from Antifa, other groups 'is domestic terrorism and will be
treated accordingly'
--------
Europe
•
Black Muslims Feel ‘Shocking Levels of Alienation’ In the UK Within the Muslim
Community Itself
•
Italy’s Muslims Call for More Islamic Cemeteries in Wake Of Virus
•
Turkey deports 12 foreign terrorist fighters with suspected Daesh-links to
Finland
•
Altaf Hussain: UK trial begins for Pakistani MQM founder over terror charges
--------
Arab
world
•
Saudi Arabia, Israel In Secret Talks Through US Mediation Over Al-Aqsa Mosque:
Report
•
Soap Operas, Fatwas and Censorship: The Turkey-UAE Battle for Hearts and Minds
•
Amid warming to Israel, UAE urges halt to annexation plans
•
Saudi Shoura Council convenes session online to tackle various measures
•
Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf says ‘coming days decisive’ amid ongoing spat with
regime
•
Egypt shortens coronavirus curfew hours despite rise in COVID-19 cases
•
Lebanon must turn reform ideas into reality, says US ambassador Shea
•
Saudi Arabia, UN hope to raise $2.4 billion in aid pledge drive
•
Arab Coalition intercepts, downs two Houthi drones launched towards Saudi
Arabia
•
Turkish-backed Takfiri militants burn homes in northeastern Syria: SANA
•
Egypt sanitizes prisons, examines inmates in fight against coronavirus spread
--------
South
Asia
•
Taliban Chief Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada May Have Died Of Coronavirus: Report
•
ARG Palace releases details of the video teleconference between Afghan leaders
and Pompeo
•
2 children killed, wounded in an explosion in Nangarhar province
•
NATO’s new SCR takes up role in Afghanistan at a critical juncture
•
Ghani appoints Mahmood Karzai as new acting minister of MUDL
--------
Southeast
Asia
•
Discussion on Removing Presidents from Office in Yogyakarta Cancelled Over Death
Threats
•
Malaysia Struggles to Shake COVID-19 as PM Quarantines, Challenges Mount
•
Indonesian policeman killed by sword-wielding IS militants
•
CMCO: Penang couples to undergo interview instead of pre-marriage course
•
Indonesia cancels haj pilgrimage over coronavirus concerns
•
Suspected IS Militants Attack Police Post, Kill Officer in South Kalimantan
--------
Mideast
•
Iran Calls on White House, US Police to Stop Violence against American People
•
Israel’s Gantz urges army to hasten preparations for annexing West Bank
•
Israel to demolish 200 Palestinian buildings in East Jerusalem al-Quds
•
Syrian, Chinese Speakers Felicitate Iranian Counterpart on Election
•
Spokesman: Iran Mulling Response to US Sanctions Waiver End
•
President: Iran Prepared for Further Development of Ties with Afghanistan
•
Chief Commander Warns of Crushing Response to Enemies' Miscalculation
•
Official: Iran to Orbit Satellites in 1,000-km Altitude in 2 Years
•
Jailed Iranian scientist in US is on his way back to Iran: Zarif
•
230 killed in Iran during November protests: Iranian lawmaker
•
Turkish police break up protest commemorating slain activist Ethem Sarisuluk
•
Hundreds attend funeral of unarmed Palestinian killed by Israeli police
•
On Israeli raid anniversary, Hamas wants Gaza blockade lifted
•
Turkey’s Kurds demand spending probe, end to military ops in Libya, Syria
--------
Africa
•
Turkey Sends Mercenaries, Weapons To Libya’s GNA Daily: LNA General
•
Libyan govt. forces shell positions of pro-Haftar rebel forces south of Tripoli
•
Libyan warlord Haftar agrees to talks on ceasefire: UN
•
Buhari Relaxes Restrictions on Churches, Mosques, Banks, Hotels
•
Islamic State in Somalia suffers setbacks despite uptick in claimed activity
•
Burkina Faso militants kill 35 in separate attacks, government says
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/zaira-wasim-continue-mentioning-quran/d/122015
--------
Zaira
Wasim should continue mentioning Quran on social media: Zakir Naik
June
01, 2020
Zaira
Wasim, star of the Bollywood movie Dangal, was in the news last weekend for a
post on social media. Zaira had posted a verse from the Quran, which many
social media users interpreted as being a justification of the locust attacks
in various parts of the country.
Amid
heavy trolling, Zaira briefly deactivated her Twitter and Instagram handles.
"So We sent upon them the flood and locusts and lice and frogs and blood:
Signs openly self-explained: but they were steeped in arrogance—a people given
to sin -Qur'an 7:133 (sic)," Zaira had said in the now deleted post.
Zaira
had caused a stir last year, when she announced that she was ending her career
in Bollywood as it threatened her "relationship" with Islam.
On
Sunday, Zaira received support from a controversial figure, Islamic scholar
Zakir Naik, for both her decision to disassociate herself with Bollywood and
her social media post on locust attacks. Naik, who has been based in Malaysia
since 2016 and is wanted in India on charges of money-laundering and ties to
Islamic extremists, uploaded a video on Zaira Wasim on his Facebook handle on
Sunday.
The
video is titled We Support Zaira Wasim’s Decision to Quit Bollywood and Spread
the Message of Islam on Social Media—Dr Zakir Naik. Naik talks about Zaira
Wasim in response to a question from a viewer.
Naik
states he "congratulates" Zaira Wasim for taking the decision to
leave Bollywood. Naik argues that "most of the part of Bollywood is not
appropriate for a practising Muslim" and adds "It takes a lot of
courage and sacrifice for a person famous in Bollywood to quit Bollywood."
Referring to Islamic teachings, Naik claims Allah will reward Zaira multiple
times more than "the sin she was doing".
Referring
to Zaira Wasim's post on locusts, Zakir Naik alleged the "rightwing"
media, which mainly supports the "present unjust government, the BJP and
RSS" had taken a quote and added their own information. Naik claimed that
the media had insinuated Zaira Wasim was talking about India, but declared her
tweet did not mention the country.
Naik
further alleged the media had done the same thing with him, referring to the
2016 Dhaka cafe terror attack. One of the attackers involved in the incident
was a follower of Naik. Naik claimed the media reported the attacker was
"inspired by Zakir Naik, when he was just a fan on Facebook". Naik
claimed he had over 22 million followers on Facebook and asked whether he was
responsible for their deeds.
Emphasising
Zaira Wasim's post was "very much relevant", Naik claimed she should
"continue studying the Quran, continue mentioning verses of Quran on
Twitter and social media".
Interestingly,
most of Zaira Wasim’s recent posts on Twitter are based on religion.
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/06/01/zaira-wasim-should-continue-mentioning-quran-on-social-media-zakir-naik.html
--------
Shadow
Outfit of The Banned Lashkar-e-Taiba Warning To ‘Indians’: Don’t Settle In
J&K
Jun
2, 2020
SRINAGAR:
A fledgling terror group operating as a shadow outfit of the banned
Lashkar-e-Taiba on Monday warned Indian nationals from outside J&K against
using the new domicile law to settle in the Valley, saying anyone who does so
would be "treated as an agent of RSS and dealt with appropriately".
The
Resistance Front (TRF), which sources say is the ISI's new blue-eyed boy,
termed the domicile law "an RSS-BJP plot to change the demography of
Kashmir".
According
to the domicile law notified by the Centre recently, any person who has resided
in J&K for a period of 15 years is eligible for a domicile certificate. For
students, the minimum requirement is to study for seven years in any institute
in the Valley and clear the Class X or XII exams. The law also offers domicile
rights to anyone displaced by terrorism in Kashmir and thereafter registered
with the relief and rehabilitation commissioner (migrants).
The
TRF said that though it “observes the principles of Islam and does not harm
non-combatant/civilians of any race, religion or ethnicity under any
circumstances", it would not be "deceived by the machinations of
RSS-BJP".
Pakistan-based
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, who last week escaped a rumoured
assassination attempt in Islamabad with injuries, is said to be peeved with the
ISI over its increased support to the TRF, including preference over his outfit
in terror funding.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/terror-warning-to-indians-dont-settle-in-jk/articleshow/76144198.cms
--------
Pakistan
government refuses to grant minority status to Ahmadiyyas
Jun
1, 2020
AMRITSAR:
The worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community has suffered a major blow in its
efforts to get their Pakistani brethren a status of minority community after
Pakistan government denied to include Ahmadiyya’s in its National Commission
for Minorities (NCM) even as Pakistan’s ministry of religious affairs had earlier
recommended the Pak’s federal cabinet to include Ahmadiyy’s in NCM whose number
touches over 40 lakh and still referred as Kafir’s (infidels) in Islamic
Republic of Pakistan.
Though
the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, India , maintained a stoic silence on the subject
, for the reasons best known to Jamaat, the Nazir Umoor-e-Ama and spokesperson
of Jamaat Ahmadiyya Pakistan Saleemudin rued “When it comes to Ahmadi’s in
Pakistan everyone (all political parties) considers its national duty to spew
venom and hate against the community” adding that even the Pakistan’s federal
minister for religious affairs and inter faith harmony Noor ul Haq Qadri had
been speaking against the Ahmadiyya community of Pakistan.
According
to reports, Pakistan’s federal cabinet had in recent past announced to not
include Ahmadi’s in NCM on the plea that they didn’t fall in the definition of
minorities.
An
Indian Ahmadiyya leader who didn’t wish to speak on record about the
community’s affairs in Pakistan fearing further retaliation against community
fellows who have relatives spread across the border said “The worldwide
Ahmadiyya community had launched a campaign to get the minority community
status to Ahmadiyya’s in Pakistan and was trying to build pressure on Pak
government but the Pak cabinet’s decision has dashed our hopes and their
efforts have suffered a major blow ”.
The
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 in Qadian village of Gurdaspur
district of Indian Punjab and the community is now established in over 212
countries and has tens of millions of members worldwide.
Stating
that they had demanded from Pakistan government to take action against hate
mongers, Saleemuddin said they never requested to be made part of NCM . “First
allowing Ahmadi’s to sit on national commission for minorities and then
reversal of that decision by the government of Pakistan has reignited the hate
campaign against the already persecuted Ahmadiyya community” said the
spokesperson.
In
Pakistan Ahmadiyya’s are considered as non-Muslims and are barred to call their
places of worship as mosques, exchange Islamic greetings in public etc.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-government-refuses-to-grant-minority-status-to-ahmadiyyas/articleshow/76140164.cms
--------
American
Scholar Underscores Islam’s Innate Anti-Racism Amid US Unrest
By
Safaa Kasraoui -
Jun
1, 2020
Rabat
– The teachings of Islam have throughout the years inspired American scholar
Craig Considine, who shared with his social media followers how the religion
and its ethics condemn racism and racial discrimination.
On
May 31, the scholar took an extract from Malcolm Little, better known as
Malcolm X, an American civil rights
activist and minister who invited his countrymen to better understand Islam.
Considine
shared a saying from Malcolm X’s writings during his visit to Mecca in 1964,
reading: “America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion
that erases from its society the race problem.”
Considine
said the black Muslim activist was encouraging Americans to consider the
“farewell sermon of Prophet Muhammad” on racial equality.
Dr.
Craig Considine
✔
@CraigCons
Writing
during his visit to Mecca in 1964, Malcolm X said:
“America
needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from
its society the race problem.”
Why
did he say that?
Consider
the Farewell Sermon of Prophet Muhammad. *Racial equality* is featured.
View
image on Twitter
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“All
mankind is from Adam & Eve an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a
non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over
a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good
action,” the passage reads.
In
a tweet on May 29, Considine said: “Rooted in both ignorance & arrogance,
racism has plagued civilization since the advent of man. Prophet Muhammad
addressed this disease of the heart &
[mind] from its root cause.”
The
scholar, who has authored books and articles on Christian-Muslim
relations, explained that the prophet
actively defended his companion Bilal ibn Rabah, described in Islam as a man of
color who was subject to racism.
Considine
recalled that Prophet Muhammad described racists as “people stuck in jahiliya
(the state of ignorance).”
Bilal
was one of the most trusted and loyal Sahabah, or companions of Muhammad, and
is also considered to have been the first muezzin, the person who summons
worshipers to prayer five times a day.
“[The
prophet] even elevated Bilal to the high position of muezzin (…) this is
anti-racism in action,” the American scholar said.
Considine’s
sharing of the prophet’s anti-racist vision and actions comes after the brutal
and violent murder of George Floyd, a black man whose death beneath the knee of
a white police officer sparked outrage and protests across the United States
and inspired demonstrations across the Atlantic.
Ten
of thousands of people in the US, London, and other countries took to the
streets in solidarity, demanding justice for Floyd.
Some
protests have culminated in riots, looting, and clashes between demonstrators
and the police, while other cities have seen police expressing their solidarity
with the movement.
Floyd’s
case revived anger over racially-charged police brutality and the injustice
black Americans have long faced at the hands of the system meant to “protect
and serve.”
Racism
in the US in numbers
More
than four in ten people say the US has not made progress towards true racial
equality, according to the Pew Research Center.
A
2019 survey from the center said that there is still some “skepticism,
particularly among blacks, that black people will ever have equal rights with
whites.”
The
study shows that 58% of Americans believe race relations in the US are poor.
Meanwhile,
56% think President Donald Trump has made race relations worse. Only 15% say he
has improved race relations, and another 13% say he has “tried but failed to
make progress on this issue.”
The
survey explains that approximately two-thirds of Americans believe it has
become more “common for people to express racist views since Trump became
president,” and about 45% of the country’s citizens believe that racism has become “more acceptable.”
Trump’s
interference
President
Trump angered those denouncing the murder of George Floyd after he took to
Twitter on May 28 to criticize demonstrators.
The
president acknowledged that the killing was tragic but essentially gave the
green light for police to shoot unarmed demonstrators.
“These
THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I won’t let that happen.
Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and I told him the Military is with him all the
way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts,
the shootings starts,” he tweeted.
Dr.
Craig Considine
✔
@CraigCons
Prophet
Muhammaded actively defended Bilal, an Abyssinian, from racism.
Muhammad
described racists as people stuck in jahiliya (the state of ignorance).
He
even elevated Bilal to the high position of muezzin, the person who calls
Muslims to pray.
This
is anti-racism in action.
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Twitter
flagged the president’s tweet for inciting violence.
He
said he will not stand back to watch what is happening in the “great American
City, Minneapolis,” criticizing the city’s officials and describing the
situation as the result of a “total lack of leadership.”
“Either
the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring
the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job
done right…..” Trump wrote.
Activists
pointed out that when white supremacists rioted with torches in
Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017, Trump said, “You also had some very fine
people on both sides.”
On
May 1, as white Americans took up arms in front of government buildings to
protest the lockdown, Trump tweeted, “These are very good people, but they are
angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a
deal.”
The
stark imbalance in Trump’s rhetoric when responding to grievances from his
white citizens versus those of black Americans has further fanned the flames of
social unrest. While the police officer who killed Floyd has been arrested and
charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter, protestors show little sign
of slowing down until the other three officers involved in Floyd’s death are
brought to justice and until hope for systemic reform is tangible.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/06/304465/american-scholar-underscores-islams-innate-anti-racism-amid-us-unrest/
--------
Black
Muslims Feel ‘Shocking Levels of Alienation’ In the UK Within the Muslim
Community Itself
June
02, 2020
A
new report has revealed shocking levels of alienation experienced by black
Muslims in the UK within the Muslim community itself.
The
Black Muslim Forum said it produced the report to improve the condition of
black people and to further unite the British Muslim Ummah.
The
report is based on questions posed to 100 black Muslims between June and
December 2019
53.95%
of participants felt that they generally did not belong to their local mosque
84%
felt that they did not belong to their university’s Islamic society
63.41%
felt that they did not belong to the UK Muslim community
48.98%
of participants said they had faced anti-black discrimination or colourism
within a UK mosque or religious setting
36.36%
of participants said they had faced anti-black discrimination or colourism
within a family setting in the UK
79%
of participants said they had faced anti-black discrimination or colourism
within a secular setting in the UK
Mosques
and madrassahs
When
asked about their experiences in mosques, participants said they were often
stared at and made to feel self conscious. They said they had also experienced
derogatory comments stereotyping black people as well as insinuations that they
were not Muslim.
Many
participants said they were assumed to be reverts because of their skin colour
and received patronising praise over basic actions such as making wudhu.
Some
participants said they altogether avoided the mosque as they felt as though
they were not welcome.
In
madrassahs respondents recounted being called racist names, being told their
skin was too dark and being made fun of, as well as an instance where physical
violence ensued. Others reported feeling invisible and being publicly
humiliated in a religious setting such as a participant being “neighed at” in a
Kurdish Mosque.
One
of the most striking comments was from a participant who reported racial
segregation at a mosque whereby black worshippers were commanded to pray at the
back.
Asian
and Arab cultural dominance
Some
participants spoke about the dominance of some South Asian and Arab cultures
whereby those ethnic groups are interchangeably associated with being Muslim to
the exclusion of Afro-Caribbean cultures.
A
central issue that arose was the issue of colourism and darker-skinned black
Muslims being encouraged to bleach and lighten their skin.
One
respondent said: “My family and community consider calling someone ‘lighty’ a
term of endearment and a symbol of beauty. They add it to names like ‘Sarah
Lighty’ etc and use it in place of ‘darling’ or ‘sweetheart’ etc.”
Another
said: “My mum’s side of the family is lighter in complexion naturally. I take
my rich dark skin tone from my dads side. I am constantly reminded that I
‘could have’ been beautiful had I been a bit lighter. My younger sister is a
bit lighter and I always get compared to her looks wise. It’s always: ‘if you
were light like your sister you would be beautiful because you’ll look like our
side.’”
Several
respondents also mentioned difficulty in marriage because of the colour of
their skin rooted in a family culture or from the culture of the wider Muslim
community.
Solutions
In
terms of how to address the issue many felt more representation was needed. One
participant cited the need for more black leadership and role models in
general, particularly in government. A large percentage of participants simply
stated “awareness” as a means to eliminate ignorance as well as honest and open
dialogue for better mutual cultural understanding.
Others
cited the need for religious leaders and organisations to specifically outline
how sinful it is to be racist or colourist and to raise awareness on the depth
and prevalence of the issue across the Muslim community.
Similarly
many participants mentioned the need for the eradication of cultural hegemony
in Islam:
One
respondent said: “People need educating that not only Asian and Arabs are
Muslim and that black Muslims can also keep their cultures where it does not
affect and impact on the deen.”
Likewise
another participant mentioned the need for: “More diversity in masjids. More
education so that people are not ignorant and become aware of this issue.
Colouris[m] isn’t the only issue as well. Texturism and featurism is also a
form of anti-blackness so we need to consider those of all the spectrum and not
exclude or ignore their experiences.”
The
Black Muslim Forum concluded: “Black Muslim Forum was not surprised by the data
as these are realities that have been experienced by black Muslims across
society frequently expressed in colloquial settings…
“What
is most important to take away is that respondents also had suggestions for
what should be done to improve those lived experiences. What came out most
strongly was the need for further awareness raising and education for
black/non-black Muslims and non-Muslims.
“Despite
the limitations to the scope of the study, BMF believes that the study has
revealed deep rooted issues concerning anti-black racism within the Muslim
community. Multiple participants spoke of the subtle, and overt racism they had
been subjected to in the Ummah and the vast majority of commentators spoke of
the need for awareness raising and education.”
https://5pillarsuk.com/2020/06/01/black-muslims-feel-shocking-levels-of-alienation/
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Saudi
Arabia, Israel in secret talks through US mediation over al-Aqsa Mosque: Report
01
June 2020
Saudi
Arabia and the Israeli regime have reportedly been conducting clandestine talks
over the past few months through American mediation about the inclusion of the
kingdom’s representatives in the Islamic Waqf (Endowment) Council – a religious
body that oversees the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of
Jerusalem al-Quds.
Top
anonymous Saudi diplomats told Hebrew-language daily Israel Hayom that Riyadh
and Tel Aviv have been engaged in the discussions since last December, and a limited
negotiating team of senior diplomats and security officials from Israel, Saudi
Arabia and the United States has been involved in the matter.
The
diplomats further noted that the talks are part of the contacts to advance the
controversial plan laid out by US President Donald Trump on the decades-old
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dubbed ‘the deal of century.’
The
so-called peace plan envisions Jerusalem al-Quds as “Israel’s undivided
capital” and allows the Tel Aviv regime to annex settlements in the occupied
West Bank and the Jordan Valley. The plan also denies Palestinian refugees the
right of return to their homeland, among other controversial terms.
Trump’s
plan has triggered waves of protest rallies around the globe.
According
to a senior Saudi diplomats, Jordanians – who have a special and exclusive
status in managing the Islamic Waqf Council – first adamantly objected to any
change in the council's composition, but later softened their position to allow
Saudi presence.
The
report came only a day after dozens of extremist Israeli settlers stormed the
al-Aqsa Mosque compound under the protection of regime forces, only a few hours
after the sacred site was reopened following more than two months of closure
due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Around
105 Jewish settlers [led by fanatic rabbi Yehudah Glick] have entered the
compound since early morning under protection of Israeli police,” Omar Kiswani,
director of al-Aqsa Mosque, told Turkey’s official Anadolu news agency on
Sunday.
He
said the move “came to upset the worshippers” in the wake of the mosque
reopening for prayers.
On
May 21, Yemen Scholars Association, in a statement, condemned attempts by a
number of Arab states to normalize relations with the Israeli regime, holding
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates responsible for any negative
repercussions of such bids.
The
group stressed the Islamic nature of al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem al-Quds,
emphasizing that Zionists are neither welcome there nor have the right to
occupy even an iota of the places.
It
stressed the need for solid support for resistance movements in Palestine and
Lebanon in the face of the Zionist threat.
The
association then called for the issuance of a fatwa (religious decree), which
prohibits and condemns rapprochement with the Zionists, conclusion of deals
with their criminal leaders and participation in bilateral conferences.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626544/Saudi-Arabia,-Israel-holding-secret-talks-with-US-mediation-over-al-Aqsa-Mosque-Report
--------
Taliban
Chief Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada May Have Died Of Coronavirus: Report
02
Jun 2020
The
Supreme Leader of the Taliban group Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada may have died
of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), it has been reported.
Sources
privy of the development within the Taliban ranks confirmed to Foreign Policy
that Akhundzada tested postitive for the disease.
However,
Mawlavi Mohammad Ali Jan Ahmad has told the publication that Akhundzada is sick
but is recovering.
On
the other hand, three Taliban figures who spoke on the condition of anonymity,
told the Foreign Policy that Akhundzada died while receiving treatment.
The
Taliban group has not officially commented in this regard so far.
Meanwhile,
unconfirmed reports indicate that Mullah Yaqoob, the son of Mullah Mohammad
Omar has has been appointed as the interim leader of the group.
This
comes as reports emerged earlier last month suggesting that Mullah Yaqoob has
been appointed as the military chief of the group following a reshuffle in the
top leadership of the Taliban.
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-chief-mullah-hibatullah-akhundzada-may-have-died-of-coronavirus-report-08881/
--------
Discussion
on Removing Presidents from Office in Yogyakarta Cancelled Over Death Threats
BY
FAROUK ARNAZ
JUNE
01, 2020
Jakarta.
The police are investigating alleged death threats made to several students at
Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta that forced the cancellation of a
discussion on presidential impeachment last week.
The
students at the university's Law Faculty, who are part of a study group called
the Constitutional Law Society, were supposed to hold the discussion,
originally titled "Problems With Dismissing the President Amid a Pandemic
as Seen From a Constitutional Perspective" on Friday.
They
had later changed the discussion's title to "Clearing Up the Issue of
Presidential Dismissal From a Constitutional Perspective."
The
students received the death threats on their phones before the discussion could
take place.
Speakers
invited to the discussion, including Ni'matul Huda, a professor of state
administration at the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII), also in Yogyakarta,
also received similar threats.
"Until
last night, none of them had reported [the threats] to us," Comr.
Yulianto, Yogyakarta Police's public relations head, said on Sunday.
"But
despite that, we've already begun collecting information on the alleged threats,"
Yulianto said.
Sigit
Riyanto, the dean of UGM's Law Faculty, condemning the death threats to his
students in a statement on Friday.
"We
need to protect academic freedom and freedom of expression. Discussions like
this should be allowed to go on," Sigit said.
He
said the death threats were "serious threats to academic freedom, [which
use] brutal intimidation to cancel a discussion."
Coordinating
Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said he regretted
the incident, urging the students to report it to the police to be
investigated.
The
minister separately told Kompas TV the government was definitely not behind the
threats.
Human
rights watchdog Setara Institute, however, was quick to point out the incident
was only the latest example of deteriorating freedom of expression under
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration.
Setara's
Human Rights Performance Index 2019 showed the Jokowi administration scoring
only 1.9 in freedom of expression and expressing opinions during its first term
in 2014–2019.
The
index is measured on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 indicating the most amount of
government repression.
According
to data from Setara, 204 individuals were prosecuted for expressing their
opinions during the period. A total of 32 online media outlets and close to a
million websites and social media accounts were blocked by the government,
seven public discussions were canceled, books were banned and seven people
arrested on dubious treason charges.
"Human
rights violations and persecutions committed against citizens are the
responsibility of the state, especially the government," Setara said in a
statement.
By
refusing to take action on such violations, Setara said the government could be
considered to benefit from them.
"Silencing
resistance gives political benefits to the government," Setara said.
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/discussion-on-removing-presidents-from-office-in-yogyakarta-canceled-over-death-threats
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India
UP:
Doctor sparks a row with ‘diatribe’ against Jamaat, says viral video morphed
June
1, 2020
A
controversy has erupted after Kanpur Medical College principal Aarti
Lalchandani, in a viral video, was purportedly heard referring to Tablighi
Jamaat members who tested positive for Covid-19, saying the government should
not waste its resources on them.
An
event of the Islamic missionary movement in Delhi in late March had emerged as
a Covid-19 cluster.
In
the almost five-minute video, which is likely to be two months old, Lalchandani
could be heard saying, “These people are terrorists, but instead are provided
VIP treatment.” She went on to add that her hospital had to exhaust its
resources for patients linked to the cluster, putting doctors at risk, while
the patients’ hotel bills were paid.
Labelling
the admission of “these people” to hospitals as appeasement, she said the
government should handle them more strictly.
Lalchandani
on Monday claimed the video was morphed by a local journalist in Kanpur who has
been allegedly trying to use it to extort money and receive administrative
favours.
Pointing
out that she did not use words such as Tablighi or Muslims in the video, the
medical college principal said she would get an FIR registered against the
journalist for filming the video and blackmailing her.
Later,
Lalchandani told The Indian Express that she was angry because a lot of
Tablighis had been found positive in the district, and instead of an L-1
hospital they had been sent to the medical college, where they allegedly did
not cooperate with the staff and doctors.
While
the state officials could not be contacted, Lalchandani said Principal
Secretary (Medical Education) Rajneesh Dube had talked to her on Saturday night
about the video.
Kanpur
Nagar District Magistrate Bhram Dev Tiwari said he came to know about the video
only on Sunday evening through some journalists, and was not sure what he could
do about the matter.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-doctor-sparks-a-row-with-diatribe-against-jamaat-says-viral-video-morphed-6436672/
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Jaish-e-Mohammad
chief Masood Azhar’s kin linked to foiled J&K plot
Neeraj
Chauhan
Jun
02, 2020
The
initial investigation into last week’s failed bombing in Pulwama’s Ayangund
area has revealed the involvement of Mohammad Ismail Alvi, alias Lambu -- a close
relative of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar and the current
head of the Jaish in the Valley -- who also played a key role in February 14,
2019 suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF troopers, according to two
counterterrorism officers familiar with the matter.
The
National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to take over the probe of the
failed bombing soon, the officials added. Ismail Lambu is already wanted by the
federal agency for last year’s attack.
One
of the officers cited above said that Lambu, who is often referred to as Ismail
Bhai and also goes by the moniker Fauji Baba, came to India sometime in late
2018 and helped Mudassir Khan, Khalid, and Mohammad Umar Farooq (last year’s
Pulwama attack co-conspirators who were killed in encounters a month later) in
collecting explosive material including gelatin sticks from stone quarries in
the Valley, and ammonium nitrate from local shops.
He
took over the reins of Jaish in Kashmir this January after its Kari Mufti Yasir
was killed by Indian forces.
Ismail
is an IED expert and helped other bombers of February 14, 2019 attack fit the
bomb in Maruti Eeco van,” said the officer.
Ismail’s
deputy Sameer Ahmed Dar was also involved in last year’s suicide bombing, which
was followed by an Indian launching air strike on a terror facility in
Pakistan’s Balakot, and a subsequent dogfight between the air forces of the two
countries.
“We
have information that Ismail Lambu planned to carry out similar car bombing in
one of the camps or a convoy. The bomb was placed in the Santro car but it was
detected on time in the wee hours on Thursday (May 28),” a second officer said.
Forensic
experts have hinted that the unexploded bomb was made of RDX, ammonium nitrate
and nitroglycerin -- the same combination as the 2019 Pulwama bomb.
“The
similarities in both incidents shows the signature of JeM although it appears
that Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba also may have participated in last
week’s attempt as all the outfits are under pressure from Pakistan army to
conduct a spectacular terror strike” the second officer said.
The
officers said they are scouring several “virtual mobile numbers”, social media
accounts and emails to ascertain further plans of JeM, LeT and HM, which are
operating under the banner of The Resistance Front (TRF), a front propped up by
Pakistan to avoid embarrassment at international level.
Full
report at:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/azhar-kin-linked-to-foiled-j-k-plot/story-N73YV6YQTjBysnVGnWf3eP.html
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How
Pakistan High Commission staffers spied on defence and government officials in
New Delhi
Jun
2, 2020
NEW
DELHI: Two years ago, 43-year-old Abid Hussain had come to India from Pakistan
to serve his posting of Visa assistant at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
The
job was merely a smokescreen for Hussain who was, in reality, a ISI trained spy
agent from Punjab province in Pakistan.
In
the mornings, Hussain would venture out of the High Commission and spend his
day standing outside Sena Bhawan and central secretariat. For cover, he had
managed to get an Aadhar card in the name Nasir Gotam, a resident of east
Delhi's Gandhi Nagar. A sweeper had helped him procure the document using
forged papers.
Abid's
partner in crime was Tahir Hussain, another highly trained spy. Their trusted
driver, Javed, accompanied almost everytime they set out on operations.
The
duo scouted for a low level defence personnel and staffers of differ government
departments like railways who could be cultivated and tapped to support information.
Theirs
was a spy op with different objective - rather than the usual type of
confidential military info, the two were keen on knowing details of backhand
jobs.
The
primary task was to know railways coordinated armour movement route. It was the
ground work for a plan wherein the operatives were to use the information to
cut off that route -- derail the train by damaging the tracks -- during a
face-off with Pakistan to prevent the tanks etc from reaching the border in
time.
For
this, the duo assumed different roles - businessmen, industrialist, security
company heads and news reporters as well.
During
what turned out to be their last attempt to tap sources, Abid Hussain was
posing as one Mr Gautam, the brother of a fictitious media professional who was
looking for a story on rail movements to show India's preparedness against
Pakistan.
In
the last one year, they had tried to tap atleast nine lower rank defence
personnel.
In
February, they managed to strike friendship with a Jawan. After a few meetings
here and there, Hussain called him to his so called birthday party at a
restaurant as well.
On
the pretext of a story, Hussain managed to convince the Jawan to supply him
some documents and promised him money in exchange.
After
weeks of purusal, the Jawan reportedly managed to procure some papers regarding
deployment of troops but couldn't meet them during the lockdown for Covid-19
pandemic.
Finally,
the trio fixed a meeting for May 31, considering the fact that the lockdown had
been considerably lifted in the capital and they could mingle in the crowd.
However,
the duo did not realise that they had already come under the radar of Indian
intelligence agencies.
On
Sunday morning, the duo landed at Arya Samaj road around 11am and waited for
their contact.
They
went to a sweet shop and bought a few Samosas. While in the queu, they managed
to take the document from their informant.
However,
sensing some unusual movement around them, the two highly trained agents asked
their contact to wait for sometime before they could hand over his 'gift' - an
iPhone and Rs 15,000 as promised.
They
came out of the Karol Bagh restaurant and went to the cemented block belonging
to one Ganesh fish seller. They were having the Samosas while trying to
ascertain if they were being watched.
Realising
something was amiss, they started to walk towards their car when the cops moved
and nabbed them.
Initial,
the two kept firm about their assumed identity but eventually changed tracks,
revealed their identity and claimed diplomatic immunity.
This
was when the sleuths informed the ministry of external affairs and the Pak High
Commission. They were declared persona non grata and handed over to the Pak
officials.
Full
report at:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-pakistan-high-commission-staffers-spied-on-defence-and-government-officials-in-new-delhi/articleshow/76145132.cms
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Pak
summons Indian diplomat over expulsion of 2 High Commission officials on
espionage charges
June
1, 2020
Pakistan
on Monday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register a strong protest over
India’s decision to expel two officials of its High Commission in New Delhi on
charges of espionage.
India
on Sunday declared two officials of the Pakistan High Commission as “persona
non lgrata” on charges of espionage and ordered them to leave the country
within 24 hours, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The
two officials, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, were caught by Delhi Police
while they were obtaining sensitive documents relating to India’s security
installations from an Indian national in exchange for money, official sources
said in New Delhi.
“The
government has declared both these officials persona non grata for indulging in
activities incompatible with their status as members of a diplomatic mission
and asked them to leave the country within 24 four hours,” the MEA said in a
statement.
Pakistan’s
Foreign Office (FO) said early on Monday that the Indian Charge d’Affaires was
summoned for a “strong demarche”, conveying Pakistan’s condemnation of the
decision to declare two officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi
persona non grata and rejection of all “baseless” allegations against them.
Pakistan
also conveyed that the Indian action was in “clear violation” of the Vienna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the diplomatic norms, the FO said.
Earlier,
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said that the two staff members of the Pakistan High
Commission in New Delhi were lifted by the Indian authorities on May 31 on
“false and unsubstantiated charges”.
It
said the action was “clearly aimed” at shrinking diplomatic space for the
working of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
“Pakistan
strongly rejects the baseless Indian allegations and deplores the Indian action
which is in clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as
well as the norms of diplomatic conduct especially in an already vitiated
atmosphere,” it said.
The
two officials were, however, released on the High Commission’s intervention, it
said.
The
officials, working at the visa section of the Pakistan High Commission,
confessed during the interrogation that they worked for Pakistani spy agency
ISI, official sources in New Delhi said.
The
punitive action against the two officials came in the midst of frayed ties
between the two countries over the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir by
India.
Pakistan
had downgraded diplomatic ties by expelling the Indian High Commissioner in
Islamabad following India’s decision to withdraw the special status of Jammu
and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories in August last
year.
Pakistan
and India were almost on the brink of war in 2019 following the Pulwama terror
attack on February 14 that killed dozens of CRPF soldiers and prompted India to
carry out air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan.
On
February 26, Indian fighter jets entered deep inside Pakistan and bombed JeM
terror camps in Balakot. It was for the first time that Indian jets entered
inside Pakistan to drop bombs after the 1971 War. The air strike was followed
by an aerial combat between air forces of the two countries on February 27 when
Pakistan jets entered India.
The
MEA said a strong protest was lodged with the Charge de Affairs of the Pakistan
High Commission over the activities of its two officials against India’s
national security.
The
sources said the two officials were handing over Indian money and an iPhone for
providing them the sensitive documents.
Full
report at:
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-summons-indian-diplomat-high-commission-officials-espionage-charges-6437075/
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Jammu
and Kashmir: Three militants killed in Rajouri district
June
1, 2020
Three
militants were killed on Monday morning as Army troops foiled an infiltration
attempt from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera sector
of Rajouri district.
Sources
said that the troops were already on heightened vigil in the area and shot the
militants dead when they crossed over to the Indian side in Kalal area, army
personnel shot them dead. More details are awaited.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/three-militants-killed-in-jammu-and-kashmir-6437050/
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Terrorist
killed in encounter in south Kashmir’s Tral: Army
Jun
02, 2020
One
terrorist was killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, the Army
said in a statement.
The
terrorist was killed in Soyimouh village in south Kashmir’s Tral in a joint
operation with the police, the army further said. The operation is still
underway.
This
is the third encounter in Tral since Saturday.
A
terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday in Pulwama
district of Jammu and Kashmir, news agency PTI quoted Jammu and Kashmir Police
as saying. A gunfight erupted between militants and security forces at Saimoh
in Awantipora area of the district, a police official said.
Three
heavily-armed terrorists were killed on Monday in an encounter with army troops
along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s
Rajouri district, officials said.
Full
report at:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/terrorist-trying-to-infiltrate-into-india-killed-in-south-kashmir-s-tral-army/story-91ucdQECNJPaEzCwUn3o0J.html
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BSF
DG visits Indo-Pak international border in Jammu to review security scenario
Jun
01, 2020
Amid
spike in ceasefire violations and intrusion bids along the Line of Control, the
director general of Border Security Force (BSF) SS Deswal visited the Indo-Pak
international border in Jammu sector to review the security scenario on the
strategic frontier.
“Director
General BSF SS Deswal visited the area of Jammu frontier on Saturday and Sunday
He was accompanied by Additional DG S Panwar, IG BSF Jammu Frontier NS Jamwal
and other officers,” said a BSF spokesman.
Jamwal
briefed the DG about complexities of management of Jammu border under
prevailing security scenario.
“DG
BSF also reviewed the border domination plan. He visited the critical areas of
entire border stretch and held discussions with various field commanders and
senior police officers regarding border domination and other security measures
being adopted,” said the spokesman.
The
BSF field commanders apprised Deswal about various ongoing construction works
on the border and constraints being faced during their implementation.
DG
BSF also interacted with jawans and patiently attended to their issues.
He
stressed about the importance of physical fitness and exhorted the border
troops to engage themselves in regular fitness exercises and games.
He
also planted various saplings in the border posts of the BSF to give it a look
of green border. Deswal also stressed upon the idea of cultivation of land
ahead of fencing with the help of BSF, which can provide security to the
farmers.
Amid
stiff resistance by Pakistan, the BSF recently restored Ranbir canal in RS Pura
and Arnia sectors on international border.
Much
to the glee of farmers, BSF stood guard to workers, who desilted the canal.
Ranbir
canal is the major source of irrigation for farmers in Jammu region. Constructed
in 1905, it is considered to be the lifeline of Jammu. Total length of canal is
59.55 kms and it was the game changing project, which laid the foundation of
rapid transformation of rural agricultural economy in Jammu. The famous Basmati
rice of RS Pura owes its cultivation primarily to Ranbir canal.
Full
report at:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bsf-dg-visits-indo-pak-international-border-in-jammu-to-review-security-scenario/story-n05m3pNvVSrEBZYoBK2Q1L.html
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Pakistan
Gen
Bajwa calls for resolving long pending disputes for lasting peace
June
02, 2020
RAWALPINDI:
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday said that the
future of enduring peace and stability in South Asia hinges on ability to
resolve long pending disputes within the region.
“This
can be complemented through meaningful international support and will to take
on challenging regional issues,” he said while addressing officers and faculty
during a visit to Command and Staff College in Quetta, a press statement issued
by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
The
statement comes two days after Islamabad approached the United Nations (UN)
over New Delhi’s blatant attempt to turn the Muslim-majority in Indian Occupied
Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) into a minority.
Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has written letters to the UN Security Council
president and the UN Secretary General, apprising them of the latest situation
in the occupied valley particularly the recent changes brought by the Modi
government in domicile laws that would pave the way for non-Kashmiris to
acquire permanent residence there.
Addressing
the military officials, Gen Bajwa said that a well-trained and professionally
competent Army is guarantor for peace. “Pakistan Army with the backing of the
nation is one such formidable force,” he maintained.
The
COAS stressed the need for officers to remain focused on pursuit of
professional excellence and keeping abreast with latest developments to
overcome new challenges.
Dilating
upon Covid-19 pandemic, Gen Bajwa said that Pakistan Army along with other
state institutions will do all to mitigate the challenges faced by people of
Pakistan.
Only
a cohesive national effort shall take Pakistan to progress and prosperity COAS,
he stressed.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/06/01/gen-bajwa-calls-for-resolving-long-pending-disputes-for-lasting-peace/
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Imran
says it was 'mistake' to enforce strict lockdown even as COVID-19 cases cross
72,000
Jun
1, 2020
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said it was a "mistake" to enforce
a strict coronavirus lockdown as it aggravated the economic situation, even as
the number of COVID-19 infections crossed the 72,000-mark in the country on
Monday.
According
to the Ministry of National Health Services, 2,964 new infections surfaced over
the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally of coronavirus to 72,460.
"Lockdown
is not a solution as it can only slow down. So it was a mistake to shut down
business in the country," Khan said, after chairing a National
Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting here on Monday.
Khan
said he was against the lockdown from the beginning but provincial governments
took the decision to do so.
He
said the economy suffered and if the lockdown continued the government would
lose more revenue and poverty would increase.
"I
was clear from the beginning (on) what we should do when other countries
starting locking down cities. I thought we cannot do it as we have 120-150
million people who are poor," he said.
The
rich demanded a complete lockdown as they have big houses and resources to live
without any need to go out but the poor people face problems and opposed the
policy, Khan said.
"Now
we know that lockdown is not a solution and even rich countries are opening
up," he said.
The
cricketer-turned politician said that people should learn to live with the
coronavirus and they can also help the government to deal with it by following
guidelines.
"Coronavirus
will not go away until the vaccine is discovered. We need to learn to live with
it and we can live with it if we follow precautions," he said.
He
said the 1 million volunteers of the government's coronavirus force will raise
awareness of the need to follow guidelines.
Khan
said that the government was planning to open up tourism as people attached to
the sector would suffer once the summer tourist months are over.
He
announced that the mandatory quarantine for incoming Pakistanis would be
stopped.
Under
the new policy, every passenger will be allowed to go home after giving samples
for testing and they will be asked to isolate at home if they test positive.
Minister
for Planning Asad Umar on Sunday had said the Lockdown option was always on the
table but not under active consideration.
Umar
heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) which recommends to the
government to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The
Ministry of National Health Services reported that 2,964 new infections
surfaced over the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally of coronavirus to
72,460.
While
the number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 72,000-mark, the death toll stood at
1,543 after 60 more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.
According
to the health ministry, 28,245 cases have been diagnosed in Sindh, 26,240 in
Punjab, 10,027 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4,393 in Balochistan, 2,589 in Islamabad,
711 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 255 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The
ministry showed that 26,083 patients have been recovered so far from the virus.
The authorities have conducted 561,136 tests, including 14,398 in the last 24
hours.
Full
report at:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/imran-says-it-was-mistake-to-enforce-strict-lockdown-even-as-covid-19-cases-cross-72000/articleshow/76141810.cms
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World
Bank to provide $188 million to Pakistan to address environmental degradation,
climate change
Jun
1, 2020
ISLAMABAD:
The World Bank on Monday pledged to provide $188 million to Pakistan to address
the risks relating to environmental degradation, deforestation and climate
change in the country.
The
global lender said it would provide funding and technical support for disaster
resilience and ecosystem restoration initiatives through more reliable and
timely weather forecasting, and achieving green growth targets, the ministry of
climate change said in a statement.
World
Bank's Country Director Illango Patchamuthu said that the new initiative will
take Pakistan's climate-resilience and disaster management capabilities to a
new height through the furtherance of bilateral relations between the
government of Pakistan and the World Bank.
Adviser
to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Climate Malik Amin Aslam said the Green
Economic Stimulus supports the objectives of the 10 billion tree tsunami
afforestation project aimed at bolstering plantation, setting up of nurseries,
natural forests, and promotion of honey, fruits and olive plantation in
Pakistan.
Separately,
the Advisor called on Prime Minister Khan and discussed the "Green
Stimulus" package under which 65,000 youths and daily wagers would be
utilised for plantation who are facing unemployment in the wake of COVID-19.
Full
report at:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/world-bank-to-provide-188-million-to-pakistan-to-address-environmental-degradation-climate-change/articleshow/76143227.cms
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Sindh
govt told to file complete report with appeal in Pearl case
June
02, 2020
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court has asked the Sindh government to furnish a complete report
comprising all evidence along with its appeal which has challenged the Sindh
High Court’s (SHC) April 2 decision of overturning the conviction of Ahmed Omer
Saeed Sheikh for allegedly kidnapping and killing Daniel Pearl — the slain
journalist of The Wall Street Journal.
Headed
by Justice Mushir Alam, a three-judge SC bench on Monday also asked senior
counsel Faisal Siddiqui, representing Ruth and Judea Pearl — the mother and
father of the slain reporter — to prepare and complete the record of the entire
case history in all aspects.
SC
urges counsel for slain journalist’s parents to gather complete record of case
history
Justice
Manzoor Ahmed also asked Farooq H. Naek, who was representing the Sindh
government, as well as Prosecutor General Sindh Dr Fiaz Shah, to complete the
paper book by furnishing all documents since many documents were missing.
Justice
Ahmed also stated that the State had to prove through evidence that the slain
journalist was abducted, as well as the conspiracy behind his kidnapping was
hatched and the evidence that he was murdered by the accused.
The
State will also have to satisfy the court whether the trial court had ever
awarded sentence under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) which deals
with murder as well as Section 120 PPC that deals with the punishment for hatching
conspiracy.
The
State will also show whether these provisions were ever challenged before the
SHC or not, Justice Ahmed observed.
The
court is seized with three appeals by the Sindh government and two independent
appeals by the parents of Daniel Pearl against the acquittal of Omer Shaikh and
three others. The matter to be adjudicated was whether to admit these appeals
and grant leave to appeal, whether to suspend the high court judgement of
releasing the accused and whether to allow the parents to separately pursue
their appeals in this case.
The
court is likely to resume the hearing after the court vacations which usually
end in the first week of October.
Referring
to suspension of the sentence, Faisal Siddiqui explained that since there was
no substantive hearing or decision, it was common that the Supreme Court in
capital punishment cases only conducts a substantive hearing after the complete
record was before it. Therefore, it is clarified that neither any verbal nor
written request for suspension of judgement was rejected by the Supreme Court,
he explained.
Daniel
Pearl, 38, was the South Asia Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal. He was
abducted in Karachi in January 2002.
Full
report at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1560672/sindh-govt-told-to-file-complete-report-with-appeal-in-pearl-case
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MQM-P
rejects govt committee probing fake domiciles, says matter is sub judice
Azfar-ul-Ashfaque
June
02, 2020
KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Monday rejected a Sindh government committee
formed to look into the complaints of issuance of domiciles to non-residents of
some districts, terming it contempt of court since the matter had been pending
before the Sindh High Court.
The
party also demanded strict action against all government officials involved in
issuance of fake domiciles and asked the chief justice of Pakistan to take
notice of “corrupt practices” going on in Sindh for the past 40 years.
On
May 26, Sindh Chief Secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah notified a three-member
committee, headed by senior member Board of Revenue Qazi Shahid Pervez and
comprising General Administration secretary Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo and deputy
director (PRC) Nazir Ahmed Qureshi, to probe into complaints and reports
regarding issuance of domicile certificates to non-residents of
districts/province of Sindh.
The
terms of reference of the committee are “to inspect and scrutinise the record
of domicile certificates issued in various districts; to inquire into the
complaints and reports, identify the domicile certificates issued to
non-residents of the district, fix responsibility and give its clear
recommendations for further action”.
The
notification said that the committee “shall give its initial report regarding
districts highlighted in the complaints and report within seven days”.
Around
two years ago, MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan had filed a petition against
the issuance of domiciles and permanent residence certificates (PRCs) to the
people not residing in Karachi and sought formulation of a policy with regard
to the issuance of the two important documents.
Speaking
at a press conference at the temporary headquarters of the MQM-P in
Bahadurabad, senior leader Kanwar Naveed Jameel said that ‘merit’ had been
ignored in formation of the committee and it would have been better if the
chief minister constituted a “merit-based committee”.
He
said that hundreds of thousands of government jobs in Karachi, Hyderabad and
other urban areas of Sindh had been given to people on the basis of fake
domiciles against the principle of merit.
He
alleged that the bureaucracy of Sindh had issued fake domiciles under a planned
conspiracy to “steal” the right of the people of urban areas of the province
including Mohajirs, Punjabis and Pakhtuns permanently settled here.
Mr
Jameel went on to say that the Sindh government had adopted a similar policy
against the people of urban areas that was being implemented in India by
Narendra Modi against Muslims.
Speaking
on the occasion, Khwaja Izhar said that the notification to constitute the committee
was illegal and unconstitutional. “All members of the committee had denied in
court about issuance of fake domiciles,” he said.
“The
Sindh government has committed contempt of court by setting up the committee
and its notification appears to be an attempt to influence the court
proceedings,” he said, referring to his case pending before the SHC.
He
said that all important functionaries of the Sindh government as well as
commissioners and deputy commissioners were on notice in this case.
The
MQM leader said that for the past five years he had been running from pillar to
post on the issue of fake domiciles but no one, including the CM, tried to
listen to this serious matter.
He
said that according to the Constitution and Services Act, grade 1 to grade 15
jobs were the right of local people, but the youths of Karachi, Hyderabad,
Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Nawabshah were not given government employment.
He
said that it was the right of local people to get jobs in police in their
cities but the provincial government “usurped” this right by posting 150
officers from rural areas to Karachi.
He
demanded that action be taken against those officers who issued fake domiciles.
He
said bribes worth “billions” of rupees were involved in the issuance of fake domiciles
and this case came within the ambit of the National Accountability Bureau and
it should take notice of it.
Full
report at:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1560696/mqm-p-rejects-govt-committee-probing-fake-domiciles-says-matter-is-sub-judice
--------
North America
US
'knee-on-neck' technique failed with Iran, will fail with African-Americans: FM
Zarif
01
June 2020
Iran’s
foreign minister says the US administration is using the same repression
technique against its African-American population, which it has been applying
to Iranians for two years, but to no avail.
In
a post on his official Twitter account on Monday, Mohammad Javad Zarif made a
comparison between Washington’s so-called “maximum-pressure” campaign against
Tehran and the “knee-on-neck” technique used by US police when arresting Black
Americans, which in its latest example led to the death in custody of an
unarmed African-American in the city of Minneapolis in Minnesota.
Javad
Zarif
✔
@JZarif
The
“knee-on-neck” technique is nothing new: Same cabal—who've admitted to
habitually “lie, cheat, steal"—have been employing it on 80M Iranians for
2 yrs, calling it “maximum pressure”.
It
hasn't brought us to our knees. Nor will it abase
African-Americans.#WorldAgainstRacism
View
image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter
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“The
‘knee-on-neck’ technique is nothing new,” Zarif wrote, adding that it was
administered to African-Americans by the “same cabal,” which has been pursuing
the campaign of “maximum pressure” against 80 million Iranians during the past
two years.
Iran’s
top diplomat added that just in the same way that US’ repressive technique
failed to force Iranians into submission, it will also fail to bring
African-Americans to their knees.
“It
hasn't brought us to our knees. Nor will it abase African-Americans,” Zarif
said.
Zarif's
tweet comes at a time that angry protests are spreading across the United
States following the recent choking to death of unarmed African-American George
Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis.
Police
have responded with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets to the protests that
have so far engulfed at least 30 US cities. Minnesota, where the murder took
place, has even activated the National Guard against the protesters in a rare
move.
Over
1,400 people have been arrested across the United States in angry protests over
the death of the unarmed black man in police custody.
As
demonstrators clashed with police outside the White House on Friday, President
Donald Trump was taken to the underground bunker for a period of time.
Trump
was there for a little under an hour before being brought upstairs as
protesters pulled metal barricades away from the White House gates, The New
York Times reported Sunday.
In
a Tweet on Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized Washington’s
heavy-handed crackdown on protests against police racism and brutality, saying
instead of using ‘vicious dogs and ominous weapons’, the US government should
listen to the people and change its bankrupt policies.
The
ministry alluded to the fact that the current problems nagging the United
States, including the self-created crisis following the COVID-19 outbreak, stem
from failure of the administration of President Trump to keep its promise of
stopping wasting money on foreign adventurism.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626553/Zarif-US-protest-knee-on-neck-maximum-pressure-twitter
--------
Khalilzad
upbeat on chances for intra-Afghan peace talks
June
01, 2020
WASHINGTON:
The US special envoy for Afghanistan sounded upbeat on Monday about the chances
for peace talks starting between the Kabul government and the Taliban militant
group but suggested further prisoner releases were needed first.
Speaking
to reporters, US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also sought to play down an
independent UN experts report that ties between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda remain
close despite the Taliban’s pledge to cut such links.
Khalilzad,
who helped broker a Feb. 29 US-Taliban troop withdrawal agreement, said the
Afghan government has freed 2,400 to 2,500 Taliban prisoners since that pact
was reached and the militant group has freed more than 400 government detainees
in return.
“We
are in a good place,” Khalilzad said, adding that levels of violence in
Afghanistan have remained relatively low since May’s Eid Al-Fitr cease-fire.
“We are optimistic that finally we’re moving forward to the start of the
intra-Afghan negotiations.”
Under
the US-Taliban deal — to which the Afghan government was not a party — the
United States committed to reduce its military footprint in Afghanistan to
8,600 troops by mid-July and, conditions permitting, to zero by May 2021. US
troop strength already is down to nearly 8,600, US and NATO officials said last
week.
Under
the agreement, up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners and up to 1,000 government
prisoners were to have been freed by March 10, when talks between the Kabul
government and the Taliban were to have begun.
Full
report at:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1683251/world
--------
Barr:
Violence from Antifa, other groups 'is domestic terrorism and will be treated
accordingly'
June
02, 2020
Attorney
General William Barr said Sunday that the Department of Justice will treat
violence by individuals associated with Antifa as domestic terrorism in a
statement that condemned the far-left group and asserted that protests against
police brutality and racial inequality following George Floyd's death have
"been hijacked."
Such
demonstrations in cities nationwide have turned into violent riots complete
with looting, attacks against police and arson.
Barr's
statement came after President Trump earlier Sunday said he would designate
Antifa as a terrorist organization. Antifa -- short for "anti-fascist"
-- has very little central organization but violent left-wing protesters,
particularly in places like Portland, Ore., often act under the Antifa banner.
"With
the rioting that is occurring in many of our cities around the country, the
voices of peaceful and legitimate protests have been hijacked by violent
radical elements. Groups of outside radicals and agitators are exploiting the
situation to pursue their own separate, violent, and extremist agenda,"
Barr said.
KerriKupecDOJ
✔
@KerriKupecDOJ
Attorney
General Barr’s statement on rioting, the role of the Department of Justice, and
Antifa.
“The
violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in
connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.”
He
continued: "It is time to stop watching the violence and to confront and
stop it. The continued violence and destruction of property endangers the lives
and livelihoods of others, and interferes with the rights of peaceful
protestors, as well as all other citizens... The violence instigated and
carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting
is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly."
Kupec
also tweeted: "As a reminder, it is a federal crime to cross state lines
or to use interstate facilities to incite or participate in violent rioting. We
WILL be enforcing these laws."
KerriKupecDOJ
✔
@KerriKupecDOJ
As
a reminder, it is a federal crime to cross state lines or to use interstate
facilities to incite or participate in violent rioting. We WILL be enforcing
these laws.
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The
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the move by the Trump
administration to designate Antifa as a terrorist group, saying the decision
showed "terrorism is an inherently political label, easily abused and
misused."
"There
is no legal authority for designating a domestic group," the ACLU added.
"Any such designation would raise significant due process and First
Amendment concerns."
Antifa
has been blamed for causing at least some of the violence that has happened in
the wake of the death of George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died May 25
while in police custody in Minneapolis, Minn., after an officer kneeled on his
neck for more than 8 minutes in an incident caught on video.
It's
not clear that Antifa is behind all or even most of the violence in the
widespread protests. But, the left-wing group known for bringing radicals
across state lines to instigate unrest has been a target of Republican
politicians who have made clear they stand with peaceful protesters they say
are justifiably angry about Floyd's death and other racially charged
interactions between African-Americans and police in recent months.
Donald
J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
It’s
ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!
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ST.
PAUL MAYOR WALKS BACK CLAIM THAT ALL ARRESTED IN RIOT WERE FROM OUT OF STATE:
'I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY'
"It’s
ANTIFA and the Radical Left. Don’t lay the blame on others!" Trump tweeted
on Saturday.
Democrats,
on the other hand, have blamed white supremacists for allegedly infiltrating
the protests and instigating violence.
Minneapolis
Mayor Jacob Frey said Saturday that officials think "white
supremacists" and "out-of-state instigators" could be behind the
protests, while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the majority of the protestors
arrested were from outside Minneapolis and sought to take advantage of the
chaos.
However,
a report by KARE 11 showed "about 86 percent" of the recent 36
arrests by Minneapolis-based police agencies listed their address in Minnesota,
and that they live in Minneapolis or the metro area, according to data the
outlet analyzed from the Hennepin County Jail's roster.
Barr
continued in his Sunday statement to say that the FBI Joint Terrorism Task
Force (JTTF) would be involved in identifying "criminal organizers and
instigators" and that federal agencies will work toward "apprehending
and charging the violent radical agitators who have hijacked peaceful protest
and are engaged in violations of federal law."
In
reaction to the violence, a number of U.S. cities have instituted curfews for
Sunday night. These include Chicago, Ill.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio;
Columbia, S.C.; Columbus, Ohio.; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colo.; Louisville, Ky.;
Los Angeles, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Richmond,
Va.; Rochester, N.Y.; Salem, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah.; San Antonio, Texas;
San Francisco, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; and Syracuse, N.Y.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/barr-george-floyd-violence-from-antifa-other-group-is-domestic-terrorism-and-will-be-treated-accordingly?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1257042_
--------
Europe
Italy’s
Muslims Call for More Islamic Cemeteries in Wake Of Virus
June
01, 2020
ROME:
Muslims in Italy are calling for the establishment of more Islamic cemeteries
in the country.
As
national and international travel was banned at the height of the COVID-19
crisis, the bodies of Muslim dead in Italy could not be transported back to
where the deceased person came from as was previously possible.
This
caused “a dramatic situation in Italy, with several corpses left on hold in
mortuaries as there are no Islamic cemeteries where they could be buried,” said
Abdallah Redouane, secretary-general of the Great Mosque of Rome.
The
situation was even more serious in the north of Italy, the area most affected
by the coronavirus and where the highest number of deaths were reported. The
Islamic community there is also larger, making the situation even more
difficult for Muslims, Redouane told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.
According
to the 2018 census, 2.6 million Muslims live in Italy and consist of 4.3
percent of the population; 56 percent of them hold foreign citizenship and 44
percent are Italian citizens. Despite Islam being the second largest religion
in the country, only 50 of the nearly 8,000 Italian municipalities have
dedicated spaces for Muslims inside their cemeteries. When those spaces are
available, they are very limited in most cases and there are not enough of them
to meet demand, which dramatically increased in the first half of 2020.
Most
of the spaces for Islamic burials in public cemeteries are located in the
Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions. The first cemetery space for Muslims in
Italy was established in Trieste in 1856. Unfortunately, not much progress has
been made on the issue since then.
The
Flaminio Cemetery in Rome has had space for Muslims since 1974. “Today this
space is full. In the past few months, deaths have increased and so have burial
requests,” Redouane said.
“We
filed requests to open new spaces for Muslims in the municipal cemeteries
nationwide. So far we managed to open some new areas. But as the situation gets
worse and worse, we are still waiting for answers,” said Yassine Lafram,
president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII).
In
the past few months, local newspapers have published several letters with
appeals by Muslims calling for more Islamic spaces to be established in
cemeteries as soon as possible. Some mayors said that they were working on the
issue.
“We
have to sort this out properly. Having a dignified burial is a fundamental
human right which must be assured to all those who live in this country,”
Leoluca Orlando, mayor of the capital of Sicily, Palermo, told Arab News. “In
Palermo an area of the Sant’Orsola Cemetery is already dedicated for Islamic
burial but it is not enough. We must do more,” he said.
As
the president of the Association of Mayors in Sicily, Orlando said that a joint
effort would be made on the issue with his colleagues at a regional level.
Islamic
cemeteries are considered a basic need by Muslim communities in Italy.
“I
wished my mother had been buried in Italy, in the country where she spent most
of her life. My family lives here. Had she been buried here, we would have gone
to find her in the Islamic cemetery more often, we would have felt her closer,”
Samira, 40, told Arab News. Samira, who has been living in Italy for 30 years,
said her mother had to be buried in Tunisia after she died a few years ago.
Hira
Ibrahim, a young Macedonian Muslim, lost her mother a few weeks ago in Pisogne,
near Brescia, to the coronavirus. Her mother’s body had to be kept at home for
more than 10 days because there was no space
dedicated to Muslims available in any nearby cemetery.
“Dozens
of other Muslim families lived this same nightmare in the COVID-19 emergency,”
Jihad, 59, a doctor living in Rome, told Arab News. “That was a double
suffering; along with losing their beloved relatives people felt deprived of
the primary right of burying their dead in a dignified way in a country where
they contribute to economic growth with their work every day,” he said.
Islamic
communities hope that the agreement they signed with the Italian government on
the reopening of mosques at the end of the national lockdown will put them in a
better situation to negotiate more burial areas nationwide. The main problem
that they still face in Italy is bureaucracy.
In
his first sermon after the Via Chivasso mosque in Turin reopened for the first
time in three months, Imam Said Ait El Jide remembered the victims of the
pandemic. “In our first blessed meeting we remember first of all our brothers
and sisters, fellow citizens and friends who have left us. Our condolences go
to anyone who has lost a loved one and we pray to God that he will heal every
sick person promptly,” he said.
The
imam invited “all brothers and sisters to carry on, to continue to strictly
follow the provisions and precautions in force as the pandemic is not over yet.
These precautions must be considered as acts of worship, because thanks to them
we protect our lives and that of our fellow citizens.”
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1683271/world
--------
Turkey
deports 12 foreign terrorist fighters with suspected Daesh-links to Finland
MAY
31, 2020
Twelve
foreign terrorist fighters have been deported to Finland with an evacuation
flight as part of Turkey’s efforts to repatriate former Daesh-linked persons to
their country of origin, the Interior Ministry announced Sunday.
In
a statement on Twitter, the ministry further pointed out that the repatriation
process was continuing. Prior to the global coronavirus pandemic, Turkey had
repatriated a large number of foreign terrorist fighters but had to halt its
efforts after countries closed their borders to curb the spread of the virus.
According
to the ministry’s figures in February, Turkey had deported 229 foreign
terrorists, 75 of whom are European Union citizens, since its anti-terror
operation Peace Spring in Syria.
The
issue of handling Daesh members and their families detained in Syria –
including foreign members of the terror group – has been controversial, with
Turkey arguing that foreign-born terrorists should be repatriated to their
countries of origin, while several European countries have refused, saying the
terrorists are denationalized.
Turkey
has also criticized Western countries for stripping some of the foreign
terrorist fighters of their citizenship. Although the 1961 New York Convention
made it illegal to leave people stateless, several countries, including France,
have not ratified it and recent cases have triggered prolonged legal battles.
The U.K. alone has stripped more than 100 people of their citizenship for
allegedly joining terrorist groups abroad.
Full
report at:
https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/turkey-deports-12-foreign-terrorist-fighters-with-suspected-daesh-links-to-finland/news?utm_source=iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1257042_
--------
Altaf
Hussain: UK trial begins for Pakistani MQM founder over terror charges
June
1, 2020
The
trial of Pakistani opposition politician Altaf Hussain has begun in a British
court over terror charges relating to an alleged 2016 hate speech broadcast to
supporters in Karachi.
Proceedings
at London’s Old Bailey began on Monday via video link because of coronavirus
lockdown restrictions.
Mr
Hussain, the 66-year-old founder of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM),
requested asylum in the UK in the 1990s and was later granted British
citizenship while in exile.
However,
he still wields power and influence within the political party that is based
principally in Pakistan’s largest city.
Following
the politician’s arrest in 2019, police confirmed he had been charged in
connection with a speech he made from London to supporters in Pakistan in
August 2016.
He
appeared in court and was granted bail. Mr Hussain pleaded not guilty to the
charges.
Crowds
gathered to hear the 2016 address, which was broadcast from loudspeakers in
Karachi. Later violence erupted in the city as police clashed with MQM
supporters.
The
MQM, which was founded by Mr Hussain in the 1980s, has long been the dominant
and mobilising political force in Karachi. The party draws support from
working-class, Urdu-speaking Muslims who migrated to Pakistan during partition
with India in 1947.
After
arriving in Britain in 1992 for a kidney operation Mr Hussain has run the party
from London. However, during his exile the political organisation has suffered
a schism, with a rival faction led by Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in Pakistan.
Full
report at:
https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/altaf-hussain-uk-trial-begins-for-pakistani-mqm-founder-over-terror-charges-1.1027440
--------
Arab world
Soap
operas, fatwas and censorship: the Turkey-UAE battle for hearts and minds
June
1, 2020
In
early 2018, the Dubai-based, Saudi-owned, Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC)
announced via UAE media that it was going to ban Turkish drama series, despite
the soap operas’ massive popularity in the Arab world. Though there was no
explanation provided, it was denounced by Turkish officials as a “political
move” because Turkey has supported Qatar throughout the Gulf States’ blockade
of their neighbour. Egypt followed suit by banning all Turkish programme
content in the country; the Egyptian Dar Al-Iftaa (Centre for Islamic Legal
Opinions) reportedly published a fatwa accusing Turkey of trying to create an
“area of influence for itself in the Middle East using its soft power. The
statement targeted the Dirilis Ertugrul series for aiming to “revive the
Ottoman Empire in the Middle East and regain sovereignty over Arab countries
which were previously under Ottoman rule.”
This
was shortly after the Kuala Lumpur (KL) Summit in December 2019 before which
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan abruptly cancelled his scheduled attendance
following a visit to Saudi Arabia prior to flying to Malaysia. Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out that he was “unsurprised” about
reports that Saudi Arabia pressured Pakistan not to attend the summit for
Muslim leaders. “It is not the first time that Riyadh has threatened
Islamabad,” added Erdogan.
Perhaps
among the incidents to which he was referring are allegations of Saudi
displeasure at the prospect of airing Turkish programmes, particularly Dirilis
Ertugrul, on state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), which was ordered
by Khan himself in early December 2019. Employees of the corporation who were
part of the team responsible for dubbing the eagerly-awaited drama series
posted social media videos in early January 2020 claiming that they had been
told that the project had been shelved; no further explanation was provided.
Given alleged Saudi highhandedness when it came to Pakistan going to Kuala
Lumpur, it is reasonable to expect that the Kingdom continued to extract a
price for helping a cash-strapped Pakistan as it faced an economic crisis in
late 2018.
Nevertheless,
PTV eventually aired Dirilis Ertugrul in April this year, and Imran Khan once
again reiterated support for the drama series, claiming that it depicts a “life
with values” and is reflective of Islamic culture. The timing of its broadcast
appeared to be linked to a visit by President Erdogan to Pakistan in February,
when he addressed the Pakistani Parliament for a record fourth time, more than
any other international leader.
This
could be construed as an illustration of diverging Saudi and Turkish
convictions of what regional leadership entails, as well as a vision for the
future when it comes to regional cohesion and cooperation. Saudi leadership
appears to follow a quid pro quo approach with a price to be paid for all
support extended to countries like Pakistan that the Kingdom considers to be
long-time allies, whereas Turkish leadership appears to appreciate the inherent
value of maintaining long-term alliances despite differences.
Moreover,
Turkish foreign policy seems to be more nuanced as it aims to be attuned with
people’s aspirations to enable greater synergy and long term collaboration.
This is in sharp contrast to Saudi foreign policy, which has grown to be reportedly
more reckless, short-sighted and seemingly rigid under Crown Prince Mohammed
Bin Salman, who has overseen the blockade of Qatar; the diplomatic row with
Canada over human rights issues; the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; the
house arrest of the then Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri and the
disastrous war in Yemen, to name but a few examples from the recent past.
Perhaps most importantly in the context of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia did not
condemn India for its ongoing human rights violations against Muslims in
Indian-administered Kashmir. Turkey, on the other hand, was one of the few
countries to call out the Indian leadership publicly for the blatant disregard
for Kashmiris’ human rights.
This
may provide a foretaste of how and why Turkish entertainment media and Turkish
soft power will prevail when it comes to winning hearts and minds across the
world. Not even the Saudi Arabia and UAE-produced $40 million, 14-episode
series Mamalik el-Nar (Kingdoms of Fire) is likely to succeed. It was meant to
reveal the “the fierce history behind the Ottoman state”, depicting the alleged
exploitation of the Arabs by the Turks.
Even
though the UAE was a pioneer of soft power in the Gulf while several Saudi
government agencies have spent billions of dollars on da’wa (Islamic
propagation) activities around the world for decades amongst other public
diplomacy outreach efforts, both countries, being tightly-controlled
monarchies, appear to have stepped up their efforts to further their political
agendas. This has all been coloured by the 2011 Arab Spring when hopes and
aspirations for democratisation and a new social contract were first inspired.
However,
although they have attempted to challenge growing Turkish soft power, they do
not appear to be successful. When Saudi Arabia and the UAE banned Turkish
programmes, social media users across the region expressed their
disappointment; even as Egypt’s highest Islamic authority issued a fatwa
against Muslims consuming Turkish dramas and suchlike, Arab tourists flocked to
Istanbul; and despite the long wait, Pakistanis are reportedly thrilled to be
able to watch Diliris Ertugrul in their own language, breaking popularity
records in the country.
That
may be the crux of Turkey’s success in the Muslim world: its media output is
reflective of the hopes and aspirations of the people for democracy and
dignity. Turkey’s soft power is only going to grow via its film and television
industry, not least because Turkish programme content aims to inspire, not
command, hearts and minds.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-soap-operas-fatwas-and-censorship-the-turkey-uae-battle-for-hearts-and-minds/
--------
Amid
warming to Israel, UAE urges halt to annexation plans
01
June 2020
A
minister of the United Arab Emirates has urged Israel to stop its plan to annex
parts of the occupied West Bank, warning of a serious setback for the so-called
Middle East peace process.
"Continued
Israeli talk of annexing Palestinian lands must stop," UAE Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a tweet on Monday.
"Any
unilateral Israeli move will be a serious setback for the peace process,
undermine Palestinian self determination & constitute a rejection of the
international & Arab consensus towards stability & peace," he
added.
Gargash’s
remarks come while the UAE and other Persian Gulf Arab states largely voiced
support for US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The
Israeli regime’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank and the Jordan
Valley have been envisaged in Trump’s so-called "deal of the century"
which the Palestinians have rejected.
Israeli
prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would start plans for
annexing more areas in the occupied West Bank on July 1, in accordance with
Trump’s scheme, further infuriating Palestinians.
Israel
and the UAE do not have formal diplomatic relations, but have long had
clandestine contacts, according to many reports.
In
recent years, the UAE — along with other Persian Gulf Arab states — has made
several overt moves for warmer ties with the Tel Aviv regime, including letting
in Israeli athletes and officials.
Last
year, Israel's former foreign minister Israel Katz visited Abu Dhabi. A year
earlier, the regime’s sports minister flew to the UAE capital where she went on
a public tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
The
American president officially unveiled his scheme in January at the White House
with Netanyahu on his side, while Palestinian representatives were not invited.
The
proposal gives in to Israel’s demands while creating a Palestinian state with
limited control over its own security and borders, enshrining the occupied
Jerusalem al-Quds as “Israel’s undivided capital” and allowing the regime to
annex settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.
Trump's
highly provocative scheme, which further denies the right of return to
Palestinian refugees, is also in complete disregard of UN Security Council
resolutions and rejected by the vast majority of the international community.
Palestinians
want the West Bank as part of a future independent Palestinian state with East
Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. But Israel's aggressive settlement expansion
and annexation plans have dealt a serious blow to any prospects of peace.
The
last round of Israeli-Palestinian talks collapsed in 2014. Among the major
sticking points in those negotiations was Israel’s continued settlement
expansion on Palestinian territories.
Full
report at:
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626512/UAE-Israel-stop-annexation-West-Bank
--------
Saudi
Shoura Council convenes session online to tackle various measures
June
02, 2020
RIYADH:
Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah Al-Asheikh convened a session of the
council online on Monday during which it approved proposals to amend and
finance the system to combat terrorism, said Assistant Speaker Dr. Yahya bin
Abdullah Al-Samaan.
Al-Samaan
said the council also called on the General Accounting Bureau to expedite work
on the recovery of state dues.
The
council, he said, approved the draft system of the Tourism Development Fund.
It
also called on the Ministry of Economy and Planning to publish digital indicators for the performance of
different sectors and regional sustainable development. The Shoura Council
urged the ministry to release economic indicators regularly.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1683456/saudi-arabia
--------
Syrian
tycoon Rami Makhlouf says ‘coming days decisive’ amid ongoing spat with regime
02
June 2020
Embattled
Syrian businessman Rami Makhlouf, who has claimed he is being unfairly targeted
by the regime headed by his cousin Bashar al-Assad, described his situation as
a “farce” and said that the coming days would be “decisive.”
Makhlouf
released a new Facebook post on Sunday in which he revealed new information
surrounding his employees at Syriatel – Syria’s largest telecom provider and
one of the central pillars of Makhlouf’s sprawling business empire – and that
he hoped there would be a "divine intervention that will shake the earth
under the feet of the oppressors.”
“There
is no doubt that there is an invisible hand of supernatural power that allows
some people to dare to own property and threaten to take serious measures
against our actions if we do not submit to their requests,” Makhlouf wrote.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
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https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/05/20/Syrian-tycoon-Rami-Makhlouf-names-son-Ali-heir-to-telecom-not-playboy-Dubai-based-son.html
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The
Syrian tycoon said that two threats were made against his company, the first of
which was an amount levied on Syriatel to pay 134,000,000,000,000 Syrian pounds
by the Syrian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Makhlouf said the
company accepted the imposed amount. The second threat imposed on the company,
according to Makhlouf, was the authorities raising of the claims imposed on
Syriatel to pay 50 percent of the company’s revenues to the government.
“This
will lead to bankruptcy, which we did not accept,” Makhlouf wrote.
The
Syrian government says Syriatel, the largest mobile phone network in Syria,
owes 134 billion pounds, around $77 million at the current exchange rate on the
parallel market.
A
Syrian court formally placed a temporary travel ban on Makhlouf, whose assets
were also seized by the government last month.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/02/Syrian-tycoon-Rami-Makhlouf-says-coming-days-decisive-amid-ongoing-spat-with-regime.html
--------
Egypt
shortens coronavirus curfew hours despite rise in COVID-19 cases
01
June 2020
Egypt
shortened a night curfew by one hour on Sunday as it recorded new highs in the
daily in novel coronavirus cases and deaths.
The
Health Ministry said 1,536 new cases had been confirmed including 46 deaths,
bringing total cases to 24,985 and deaths to 959.
Earlier,
the prime minister’s office said a night curfew would end at 5 a.m. instead of
6 a.m. The curfew begins at 8 p.m., though its start had been brought forward
to 5 p.m. last week during the holiday that follows the Eid holiday at the end
of Ramadan.
The
curfew is one of a number of measures including the closure of schools, cafes
and places of worship, that are aimed at curbing the pandemic.
The
government announced that the number of hospitals designated to deal with
coronavirus cases is rising to 376 from 340, and the number of laboratories
capable of processing test results to 57 from 49.
Hospitals
assigned to treat coronavirus patients have 3,539 intensive care unit beds and
2,218 ventilators, a government statement said.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/coronavirus/2020/06/01/Egypt-shortens-coronavirus-curfew-hours-despite-rise-in-COVID-19-cases.html
--------
Lebanon
must turn reform ideas into reality, says US ambassador Shea
01
June 2020
The
Lebanese government must turn its reform ideas into reality and take concrete steps
to win international support, the US ambassador said in an interview broadcast
on Sunday.
Dorothy
Shea also told Lebanese local broadcaster OTV it was a mistake to scapegoat any
one person or institution for Lebanon’s economic collapse in response to a
question about the role of central bank Governor Riad Salameh, who she said
“enjoys great confidence in the international financial community.”
Lebanon
is suffering an acute financial crisis seen as the biggest threat to its
stability since the 1975-1990 civil war.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
Shea
said the United States was still assessing the government, formed with backing
from the heavily armed, Iran-backed Shia group Hezbollah, listed as a terrorist
organization by Washington.
“The
government has demonstrated a good intention to fight corruption and make
itself committed to reforms. Now it needs to take that commitment to the next
level and begin to make these ideas reality,” Shea said.
“Are
they willing to push these reforms forward? We haven’t yet made a final
judgement on that.”
The
government launched IMF negotiations in May.
Asked
what Lebanon must do to secure support, Shea said the international community
was looking for concrete reforms. “It is easy to say and much harder to do.”
The
crisis is rooted in decades of waste and corruption and exploded last year as
capital inflows slowed and protests erupted against the ruling elite.
On
the role of Salameh, Shea said the United States had worked very closely with
him over the years. Central bank appointments were a sovereign matter, she
added.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/01/Lebanon-must-turn-reform-ideas-into-reality-says-US-ambassador-Shea.html
--------
Saudi
Arabia, UN hope to raise $2.4 billion in aid pledge drive
02
June 2020
The
United Nations and Saudi Arabia will host a pledging conference for war-ravaged
Yemen on Tuesday to help raise some $2.4 billion as funding shortages imperil
the world's biggest aid operation.
The
conflict between an Arab-led coalition and the Iran-backed Houthi group has
left 80 percent of Yemen's population reliant on aid. The country now faces the
spread of the novel coronavirus among an acutely malnourished people.
For
all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“Anything
below $1.6 billion and the operation will be facing catastrophic cutbacks,”
Lise Grande, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, told Reuters just days
prior to the conference.
“We
won't be able to provide the food people need to survive, or the health care
they need or the water or sanitation or the nutrition support which helps to
keep 2 million malnourished children from dying,” she said.
The
UN-coordinated humanitarian plan received $3.2 billion last year, but so far in
2020 has only secured $474 million, aid chief Mark Lowcock said on Thursday,
adding that most agencies are weeks away from being broke.
Lowcock,
asked about Saudi Arabia co-hosting the event, said Riyadh was a large donor
and the UN would continue to call out warring parties on actions “they should
not be doing.”
Saudi
Arabia has already pledged $525 million. The United States said last month it
would extend $225 million in emergency aid for food.
Some
$180 million of required funding is needed to combat coronavirus in a country
with shattered health systems and inadequate testing capabilities.
“Yemen
is at a precipice. All indications point to COVID19 spreading fast and wide
across the country, overwhelming the health system,” pledge organizers said in
a statement on Tuesday.
Yemen
has been mired in violence since the Houthis ousted the internationally
government from the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014, prompting the coalition to
intervene a few months later.
Donors
had cut funding to Houthi-held areas over concerns the group is hindering aid
delivery, a charge it denies.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/06/02/Saudi-Arabia-UN-hope-to-raise-2-4-billion-in-aid-pledge-drive.html
--------
Arab
Coalition intercepts, downs two Houthi drones launched towards Saudi Arabia
01
June 2020
The
Arab Coalition intercepted and downed two drones that were launched toward
Saudi Arabia by the Iran-backed Houthi militia on Monday, reported Saudi Press
Agency (SPA) citing the coalition’s spokesman Turki al-Maliki.
The
drones were heading towards a “civilian area” in the city of Khamis Mushait,
located east of Abha in the Kingdom's southwestern province of Asir.
The
Houthi militia continues to violate international human law by launching drones
and deliberately targeting civilians, al-Maliki added.
The
Houthis' actions are in violation of the ceasefire and the de-escalation
initiative that began in April and has been spearheaded by the coalition, he
said.
The
Arab Coalition will continue its measures against the Houthis to neutralize and
destroy its capabilities in accordance with international humanitarian law,
al-Maliki said.
The
Iran-backed Houthis have been fighting against the UN-recognized government in
Yemen and captured the capital Sanaa in 2014.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/06/01/Arab-Coalition-intercepts-downs-two-Houthi-drones-launched-towards-Saudi-Arabia.html
--------
Turkish-backed
Takfiri militants burn homes in northeastern Syria: SANA
01
June 2020
Turkish-backed
Takfiri militants have burned local residents’ homes in the northern
countryside of Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah, as they continue to
commit crimes against the local population, including extortion and looting of
their property.
Local
sources, requesting not to be named, told Syria’s official news agency SANA on
Monday that several homes in the villages of al-Qasimia and al-Rihaniyya, which
lie northwest of Tal Tamr town, had been set ablaze by the extremists the
previous day.
The
sources added that the acts of arson took place only a few days after
Turkish-backed militants set fire to a number of farmlands in al-Qasimia
village.
Turkish-backed
militants were deployed to northern Syria last October after Turkish military
forces launched a long-threatened cross-border invasion in a declared attempt
to push the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militants away from border
areas.
Ankara
views the US-backed YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the homegrown
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish
region in Turkey since 1984.
More
than 200,000 people have been internally displaced by the Turkish-led
offensive, according to the United Nations.
On
October 22 last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish
counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signed a memorandum of understanding that
asserted the YPG militants had to withdraw from the Turkish-controlled
"safe zone" in northeastern Syria within 150 hours, after which
Ankara and Moscow would run joint patrols around the area.
Syria
finds US-made TOW missiles in southern region
Separately,
Syrian government officials have discovered a considerable amount of weapons,
including US-built TOW anti-tank missiles, while conducting clean-up operations
in the southern sector of the war-ravaged Arab country.
SANA
reported that heavy machine guns, assault rifles, night-vision goggles,
binoculars, anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), anti-tank
landmines, communication devices and hundreds of kilograms of hashish were
seized in the area.
Syrian
government officials also seized major stocks of Western-made weapons and
munitions, including American TOW anti-tank missiles, last month while they
were conducting clean-up operations in the country’s southwestern provinces of
Dara’a, Suwayda and Quneitra.
SANA,
citing an informed source speaking on condition of anonymity, reported on May
19 that the weapons were found as Syrian army troops were combing formerly
militant-held areas.
Among
the seized weapons were heavy machineguns, submachine guns, US-made BGM-71 TOW
anti-tank guided missiles, Israeli-built M72 LAW portable anti-tank rockets,
landmines, rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, automatic rifles, sniper
rifles, hand grenades and ammunition of various calibers.
Syria
has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian
government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding
the Takfiri terrorist groups that are wreaking havoc in the country.
Full
report at:
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626526/Turkish-backed-Takfiri-militants-burn-homes-in-northeastern-Syria:-SANA
--------
Egypt
sanitizes prisons, examines inmates in fight against coronavirus spread
June
02, 2020
DUBAI:
Egypt has sanitized prisons and carried out tests on prisoners across the
country after banning visits to help curb the spread of coronavirus, local
daily Egypt Today reported.
Masks
have also been given out to inmates and
workers, and a higher number of sanitizers and detergents have been made
available. The prisons have also been provided with infrared thermometer guns.
A
total of 5,532 prisoners in the country were released on May 24, which was the
first day of Eid Al-Fitr, as per a presidential pardon, the Ministry of
Interior announced in a statement.
Full
report at:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1683531/middle-east
--------
South Asia
ARG
Palace releases details of the video teleconference between Afghan leaders and
Pompeo
02
Jun 2020
The
Office of the President, ARG Palace, released the details of the video
teleconference between the Afghan leaders and the Secretary State of State.
Presidential
spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi said President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani spoke with Mike
Pompeo, the Secretary of State of the United States via video teleconference
late on Monday.
Sediqqi
further added that President Ghani specifically held talks on peace process and
the two sides exchanged views on joint efforts on maintaining peace and
stability in Afghanistan.
According
to Sediqqi, Pompeo said a united, sovereign, democratic and stable Afghanistan
is one of the priorities of the United States within the framework of the
bilateral strategic partnership, emphasizing that Washington is committed to
work with the Afghan government to achieve the goal.
Meanwhile,
President Ghani shared the details of the government’s road-map for achieving
lasting peace in Afghanistan, insisting that further efforts are needed by
working teams of the two sides to achieve the goal for a united, stable and
sovereign Afghanistan.
Sediqqi
also added that the first vice president Amrullah Saleh also shared his
assessments and analysis regarding the reduction of violence.
Furthermore,
the two sides discussed next steps regarding peace process including release of
prisoners, analysis, venue for negotiations and other necessary steps to be
taken, Sediqqi added.
Abdullah
Abdullah, the Chief Executive of the High Council of Reconciliation also spoke
regarding the steps taken by the council, specifically for completing the
members of the negotiating team, Sediqqi said, adding that the two sides agreed
to take practical steps regarding peace process in the near future, with the
Afghan government specifically emphasizing on determination of the ‘Rules of
Game’ for the unannounced ceasefire.
https://www.khaama.com/arg-palace-releases-details-of-the-video-teleconference-between-afghan-leaders-and-pompeo-08880/
--------
2
children killed, wounded in an explosion in Nangarhar province
01
Jun 2020
An
explosion killed or wounded two children in eastern Nangarhar province of
Afghanistan, the Afghan military said.
The
201st Silab Corps in a statement said an improvised explosive device, planted
by anti-government armed elements, went off in Shabi area of Deh Bala district
in Nangarhar.
The
statement further added that the explosion killed a child and wounded another
one.
The
anti-government armed militant groups including Taliban have not commented
regarding the incident so far.
Taliban
and militants of the other groups often use improvised explosive device as the
weapon of their choice to target the security forces and government officials.
However,
majority of such attacks inflict casualties on ordinary civilians.
https://www.khaama.com/2-children-killed-wounded-in-an-explosion-in-nangarhar-province-08879/
--------
NATO’s
new SCR takes up role in Afghanistan at a critical juncture
01
Jun 2020
Stefano
Pontecorvo assumed the role of the NATO Senior Civilian Representative in
Afghanistan at a critical juncture for Afghanistan’s future.
The
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said “Ambassador Pontecorvo brings a
long-standing diplomatic experience, including on Afghanistan and the broad regional
context. I look forward to working closely with him at this critical juncture
for Afghanistan’s future.”
Working
with the NATO-led Resolute Support mission which trains, advises and assists
the Afghan security forces and institutions, Ambassador Pontecorvo will advise
the NATO Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council on the Alliance’s
efforts in Afghanistan and relations with Afghan partners, the alliance said in
a statement.
The
statement further added that Ambassador Pontecorvo will liaise with senior
members of the Afghan government, Afghan officials and other prominent national
and local officials. He will engage with representatives of the international
community, Afghan civil society and non-governmental organisations.
Ambassador
Stefano Pontecorvo previously served as Italy’s Ambassador to Pakistan for more
than four years. In 2013-2015, he was the Diplomatic Adviser to the Italian
Defence Minister, working on NATO political-military issues, including on
Afghanistan, where Italy is one of the framework nations of the Resolute
Support Mission. His previous posts included that of Deputy Head of Mission at
the Italian Embassies in London and Moscow.
Full
report at:
https://www.khaama.com/natos-new-scr-takes-up-role-in-afghanistan-at-a-critical-juncture-08878/
--------
Ghani appoints Mahmood Karzai as new acting minister of MUDL
01
Jun 2020
President
Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has appointed Mahmood Karzai as the new acting minister
of Urban Development and Land.
The
Office of the President has announced that President Ghani has issued two
separate decrees, appointing Karzai as the acting minister of Urban Development
and Land and the minister-designate for the same ministry.
President
Ghani has also asked the State Ministry in Parliamentary Affairs to take
immediate actions to introduce Mr. Karzai to the Lower House of the Parliament
where he could obtain vote of confidence from the lawmakers.
Ahmad
Jawad Paikar was previously serving the acting minister of Urban Development
Land.
Full
report at:
https://www.khaama.com/ghani-appoints-mahmood-karzai-as-new-acting-minister-of-mudl-08877/
--------
Southeast Asia
Malaysia
Struggles to Shake COVID-19 as PM Quarantines, Challenges Mount
June
01, 2020
In
Malaysia the challenges keep piling on. The new prime minister went into a
COVID-19 quarantine, even as he tries to crush rivals’ Game-of-Thrones-style
attempt at his job. Hordes broke travel restrictions to celebrate Ramadan,
leading to fears of a virus surge. And the economy has contracted, an outcome
exacerbated by decreasing income from fallen oil prices.
While
COVID-19 spares few nations, Malaysia faces a combination of issues in
particular. Not least of these is the unprecedented power struggle in March,
which brought the party that ruled Malaysia for 50 years back in office.
Muhyiddin Yassin has been prime minister less than three months, with much of
that time spent fighting off power grabs as well as fighting off the
pandemic.
Now
he’s in a two-week quarantine because another official came down with the
virus. Adding to the tense political mood, rumors swirled that he went to
Singapore for medical treatment, forcing Muhyiddin to deny the rumors last
week.
“I
wish to state that these are false claims and are not true at all,” he said,
assuring the public that he continues to work from home in Kuala Lumpur.
“Nevertheless, at a time when the nation is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, I
will ensure that discussions are ongoing in planning the strategy to fight the
disease.”
The
Southeast Asian nation faces a confluence of “political uncertainty, supply
chain disruptions, relatively high corporate debt” and decreased oil prices,
said Raphie Hayat, a senior economist at Rabo Research Global Economics &
Markets.
“Oil
represents 14% of Malaysia’s exports and comprises almost 20% of the
government’s revenue,” he said. “The latter will also hamper the government’s
ability to mitigate the negative economic effects of COVID-19.”
While
officials want to reopen the economy, new virus cases continue to be recorded
daily, including in the triple digits on some days. The number of tasks that
the state must tackle is not letting up. Infections have broken out among
undocumented migrants, whom officials are treating while trying to fend off
xenophobic complaints. Many citizens broke curfew to be with family on Ramadan
and police have arrested thousands of people for breaking the Movement Control
Order.
They
have also arrested citizens who criticized the official handling of COVID-19,
including journalist Wan Noor Hayati Wan Alias. She faces six years in prison
after questioning why Malaysia allowed Chinese tourists to enter the island of
Penang as the virus broke out.
“They
dismissed early concerns and warnings about the coronavirus as ‘fake news,’” she
said of officials in an interview published by the Committee to Protect
Journalists.
Economists
note that the virus emergency has caused gross domestic product to shrink 2% in
the first quarter of 2020, and things will likely get worse before they get better.
The fall in GDP was driven by decreases in exports and investment as foreigners
demand fewer products and travel less.
“Consumer
behavior is unlikely to return quickly to anything like normal, while fear of
contracting the virus remains,” Alex Holmes, a senior Asia economist at Capital
Economics, a research company, said.
He
doubts that the central bank, the Bank Negara Malaysia, will stop at its latest
decision to cut a key interest rate to 2% in early May. That was a bid to stoke
demand in the economy and was already the lowest rate since 2009, at the height
of the Global Financial Crisis.
“With
growth set to be much worse than the bank is expecting,” Holmes said, “further
rate cuts are only a matter of time."
https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/malaysia-struggles-shake-covid-19-pm-quarantines-challenges-mount
--------
Indonesian
policeman killed by sword-wielding IS militants
June
1, 2020
JAKARTA:
Sword-wielding militants killed an Indonesian policeman and critically injured
another on Monday in what authorities described as a terror attack by suspected
Islamic State-linked extremists.
The
early morning raid at a police post in South Daha district on Kalimantan –
Indonesia’s portion of Borneo island – also saw one of the militants shot,
authorities said.
“The
suspect died on the way to the hospital, while the police officer died at the scene,”
National Police spokesman Ahmad Ramadhan told AFP, adding that authorities were
probing possible links to IS.
Authorities
said they confiscated a samurai sword brandished by one attacker, a Quran and a
letter calling for jihad.
A
flag bearing the tauhid – which expresses the belief in Allah as the one and
only god –was also found, they added.
Indonesia,
the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, has long struggled with
Islamist militancy and is home to dozens of radical groups that have pledged
loyalty to Islamic State’s violent ideology.
Monday’s
violence happened on a public holiday that celebrates Indonesia’s pluralist
democracy, and many past attacks have been against police and other state
symbols.
In
April, a couple with links to Islamic State went on trial for a failed
assassination attempt on Indonesia’s former chief security minister last year.
The
pair were allegedly members Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an IS-linked
extremist group responsible for a string of attacks, including suicide bombings
at churches in Indonesia’s second-biggest city Surabaya in 2018 that killed a
dozen people.
Full
report at:
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2020/06/01/indonesian-policeman-killed-by-sword-wielding-militants/
--------
CMCO:
Penang couples to undergo interview instead of pre-marriage course
By
Mohamed Basyir
June
1, 2020
GEORGE
TOWN: Penang will replace existing pre-marriage courses for Muslim couples with
special interview sessions during the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO)
period.
Penang
Islamic Affairs Department (JAIPP) director Zulkifli Long said the same method
will be applied for up to six months after the CMCO is lifted.
"The
couples can read through the syllabus and we will carry out the interview with
them to ensure they have sufficient knowledge and understanding about marriage
in Islam.
"This
is part of the new normal. We will begin this (interview) from June 5," he
said.
Previously,
couples had to attend a two-day pre-marriage course before they were given a certificate
of completion for attending the course.
Muslims
couples who want to get married must possess the certificate they obtain from
the courses, the syllabus of which is fixed by the Malaysia Islamic Development
Department (Jakim).
However,
due to the Covid-19 outbreak, all solemnisation and pre-marriage courses have
been suspended since mid-March.
Solemnisation
only resumed last month after the pandemic situation in Penang improved and it
was declared a 'green state'.
Zulkifli
said couples who attend the special interview and manage to answer the
questions correctly will also be given a certificate, with a minimum fee
imposed.
Full
report at:
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/06/597001/cmco-penang-couples-undergo-interview-instead-pre-marriage-course
--------
Indonesia
cancels haj pilgrimage over coronavirus concerns
June
2, 2020
JAKARTA
— Indonesia has canceled the haj pilgrimage this year for people in the world’s
largest Muslim-majority nation due to concerns over the coronavirus, the religious
affairs minister said on Tuesday.
Each
year hundreds of thousands of Indonesians go on the haj to Saudi Arabia, where
Islam’s two holiest sites — Mecca and Medina — are located. For many
Indonesians, the religious pilgrimage is a once-in-a lifetime event, with the
average wait time 20 years due to a quota system, according to the country’s
cabinet secretariat.
Saudi
authorities have already said the haj and umrah pilgrimages — which attract
millions of travelers from around the world — will remain suspended until
further notice.
Fachrul
Razi, Indonesia’s religious affairs minister, said the decision to cancel hajj
this year was made due to concerns over the coronavirus and ongoing travel
restrictions.
The
quota for Indonesian pilgrims this year was 221,000, with more than 90 percent
already registered to go, according to the religious affairs ministry website.
Dewi,
an employee of a telecommunications company in Jakarta and registered to
perform the pilgrimage this year, told Reuters that while she had waited six
years, she had made peace with the news.
Full
report at:
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/indonesia-cancels-haj-pilgrimage-over-coronavirus-concerns
--------
Suspected
IS Militants Attack Police Post, Kill Officer in South Kalimantan
BY
FAROUK ARNAZ
JUNE
02, 2020
Jakarta.
A small group of militants with suspected link to global terror network Islamic
State attacked a police station and killed an officer with a sword in
Indonesia’s South Kalimantan province early on Monday.
One
of the attackers was killed at the scene in South Daha subdictrict, South Hulu Sungai
district. The deceased militant carried a handwritten manifesto calling Muslims
to wage jihad.
It
remains unclear how many people were involved in the attack, which also left a
police car burned out.
“Investigation
is underway but we need time before we can go to the details,” South Kalimantan
Police spokesman Senior Comr. Muhammad Rifai said on the phone.
The
attack occurred at around 2.15 a.m. local time when only three officers were of
the guard. Brigadier Leonardo Latipapua was killed with a sword inside the
integrated public service office, Rifai said.
Two
other officers identified as Brigadier Djoman Sahat Manik Raja and Brigadier
Muhammad Azmi, who were at a different room, rushed to the scene and found one
man brandishing a sword.
The
attacker, later identified as Abdurrahman, was shot as he tried to attack the
two officers. He was pronounced death moments later at a local hospital.
Meanwhile, an unspecified number of other militants fled the scene, the
spokesman said.
Police
found a handwritten note carried by Abdurrahman. The manifesto, entitled “This
Path is for Islam only”, calls for Muslims to wage jihad wherever they are.
“I
come today to fight you [police]. And my message to all my brothers wherever
you are: wake up and wise up. This jihad will never stop,” read part of the
note seen by the Jakarta Globe from police handout.
The
note carries a signature by Abdurrahman and an Islamic State symbol.
Full
report at:
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/suspected-is-militants-attack-police-post-kill-officer-in-south-kalimantan
--------
Mideast
Iran
Calls on White House, US Police to Stop Violence against American People
Jun
01, 2020
Mousavi
made the remarks in a press conference in Tehran on Monday in reaction to the
recent incidents and daylight violence against the US protestors after the
death of a black man by the police.
He
first addressed the American people, saying, "The world has heard your
outcry over the state oppression. The world is standing with you. The American
regime is pursuing violence and bullying at home and abroad."
"We
are greatly regretful to see along the people across the world the violent
scenes that the US police have recently unfolded. We deeply regret to see the
American people who peacefully seek respect and no more violence are suppressed
indiscriminately and met with utmost violence."
Mousavi
then addressed the American officials and police, saying, "Stop violence
against your people and let them breathe."
The
Iranian foreign ministry on Sunday called on the White House to stop
intimidation of protestors and listen to the American people's voice.
"Failed
to keep its promise of stopping wasting money on foreign adventurism and
embattled in a Covid-19 crisis of its own making, US regime now employs army,
vicious dogs and ominous weapons to intimidate protesters," the Iranian
foreign ministry wrote on its official twitter page.
It
underlined the need for the US to "listen to its people and change its
bankrupt policies".
Protests
erupt for a sixth day across the US over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed
black man, at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
At
least 40 cities have imposed curfews and National Guard members have been
activated in 15 states and Washington, DC.
One
former officer, who was seen with his knee on Floyd's neck, was charged with
third-degree murder and manslaughter but protesters say the charge isn't harsh
enough, and are demanding charges for the other officers involved.
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990312000563
--------
Israel’s
Gantz urges army to hasten preparations for annexing West Bank
01
June 2020
Israel’s
defense minister urged the military on Monday to hasten preparations for the
country’s planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, in apparent
anticipation of what could be fierce Palestinian protests against the move.
The
statement by Benny Gantz came as Israeli media reported that Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu discussed annexation on Monday in a call with Jared Kushner,
President Donald Trump’s senior adviser.
In
a statement sent by his office, Gantz appeared to command the military to
prepare for the fallout from annexation, asking the military chief of staff to
“speed up the (military’s) preparedness ahead of political steps on the agenda
in the Palestinian sphere.” The statement gave no further details.
Gantz
also serves as “alternate” prime minister until he is expected to replace
Netanyahu late next year, under a power-sharing agreement that ended more than
a year of political turmoil.
The
United Arab Emirates, called on Israel Monday to halt its plan to annex parts
of the occupied West Bank — joining a long list of Arab nations that have
condemned the expected Israeli move.
The
UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said on Twitter
Monday that annexing lands sought by the Palestinians would harm the chances
for regional peace.
“Any
unilateral Israeli move will be a serious setback for the peace process,” he
wrote on Twitter.
He
added that annexation would “constitute a rejection of the international &
Arab consensus towards stability & peace.”
د. أنور
قرقاش
✔
@AnwarGargash
Continued
Israeli talk of annexing Palestinian lands must stop. Any unilateral Israeli move will be a serious
setback for the peace process, undermine Palestinian self determination &
constitute a rejection of the international & Arab consensus towards
stability & peace.
928
12:35
PM - Jun 1, 2020
Twitter
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558
people are talking about this
Netanyahu
has announced that he will annex parts of the West Bank, including the
strategic Jordan Valley and dozens of Jewish settlements, in line with Trump’s
Mideast plan. He has signaled he will begin moving forward with annexation next
month.
The
US plan envisions leaving about one third of the West Bank, which Israel
captured in 1967, under permanent Israeli control, while granting the
Palestinians expanded autonomy in the remainder of the territory. The
Palestinians, who seek all of the West Bank as part of an independent state,
have rejected the plan, saying it unfairly favors Israel.
The
annexation plan has come under harsh criticism from some of Israel’s closest
allies, who say that unilaterally redrawing the Mideast map would destroy any
lingering hopes for establishing a Palestinian state and reaching a two-state
peace agreement.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/01/Israel-s-Gantz-urges-army-to-hasten-preparations-for-annexing-West-Bank.html
--------
Israel
to demolish 200 Palestinian buildings in East Jerusalem al-Quds
01
June 2020
The
Israeli regime plans to demolish 200 Palestinian-owned industrial facilities in
the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds, the Palestinian media says.
Palestine's
official Wafa news agency, citing al-Ahd website for the Palestinian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, said the Israeli authorities on Sunday distributed
evacuation and demolition notices targeting 200 Palestinian commercial and
industrial facilities in Wadi al-Joz neighborhood of East Jerusalem al-Quds.
Kamal
Obeidat, head of the Jerusalem’s Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said
the demolition orders were issued with the approval of Israel’s so-called
planning and building committee and that the threatened facilities, including
restaurants, recreational centers and car repair shops, were located in the
industrial area of Wadi al-Joz, which is one of the liveliest areas in the
300,000-population city.
Obeidat
lambasted the “racist move” by the Israelis and said the decision was aimed at
taking over the only Palestinian-owned industrial area in Jerusalem al-Quds in
order to further Judaize the holy city and alter its identity.
The
official also called on the Palestinian residents of Jerusalem al-Quds to unite
and confront the Israeli aggression plan.
The
demolitions come amid heightened tensions in the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds
after Israeli forces fatally shot an unarmed Palestinian with mental
disabilities, who was also from the Palestinian neighborhood of Wadi Al-Joz.
The
incident drew widespread condemnation and forced Israel’s new minister of
military affairs to apologize.
Israel
has been occupying the West Bank, including East Jerusalem al-Quds, since 1967.
Ever since, it has been building settlements throughout the land, in a move
condemned by the United Nations and considered illegal under international law.
International
bodies and rights groups say Israeli demolitions of Palestinian structures in
the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds are an attempt to uproot
Palestinians from their native territory and confiscate more land for the
expansion of illegal settlements.
Full
report at:
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626554/Israel-Palestinian-industrial-facilities-
--------
Syrian,
Chinese Speakers Felicitate Iranian Counterpart on Election
Jun
01, 2020
In
his message, Sabbagh called for enhanced parliamentary cooperation and
strengthening brotherly relations between the two nations.
Also,
Zhanshu, in his message, stressed development of relations between Tehran and
Beijing in recent years, saying, "The relations between Iran and China are
always strategic and long term irrespective of developments on international
and regional scenes."
He
emphasized the need for strengthening cooperation and relations between the two
countries' parliaments and their continued development.
The
Iranian parliament last Thursday elected Qalibaf, the former mayor of the
capital city of Tehran, as the new speaker.
Qalibaf
secured 230 votes out of a total of 264 votes cast by the new legislators to
become the next parliament speaker.
Fereydoon
Abbasi and Mostafa Mirsalim, the other candidates, gained 17 and 12 votes,
respectively after Qalibaf.
Amir-Hossein
Ghazizadeh Hashemi from Mashhad constituency and Ali Nikzad from Ardebil
constituency received 208 and 196 votes to be elected as first vice-speaker and
second vice-speaker, respectively.
The
11th round of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament) kicked off work on
Wednesday in the presence of new legislators, President Hassan Rouhani, Judiciary
Chief Ebrahim Rayeesi and other high-ranking officials.
The
11th parliamentary elections and the midterm elections for the Assembly of
Experts – a body whose members designate the country’s Leader – were held
simultaneously on February 21.
The
lawmakers are elected for a 4-year term, with no limitation for the incumbent
or former parliamentarians to run again.
Full
report at:
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990312000829
--------
Spokesman:
Iran Mulling Response to US Sanctions Waiver End
Jun
01, 2020
"Our
nuclear program continues completely and powerfully and we do not feel any
disruption," Mousavi told reporters in a press conference in Tehran on
Monday.
He
referred to the US decision to end sanctions waivers, and said, "We are
assessing the technical impacts of this event and if they leave any impact on
Iran's peaceful nuclear program, naturally, it will face our more serious
reaction."
Mousavi
said that the reimposed sanctions harm the states which have cooperated with
Iran in the nuclear field, and stated, "We expect those states to show the
necessary and appropriate reaction to the new US bullying."
Mousavi
had earlier described the US new sanctions as flagrant violation of the 2231
resolution and the UN charter, deploring it strongly.
"This
measure ignores the Islamic Republic of Iran's inherent rights and distorts the
public global order," he added.
US
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last Wednesday that Washington had ended
the last remaining sanctions waivers in the JCPOA.
“Today,
I am ending the sanctions waiver for JCPOA-related projects in Iran, effective
in 60 days,” Pompeo wrote on Twitter.
Iran’s
Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi said last Thursday that
the US has destroyed the last means of retention of the JCPOA by ending waivers
for sanctions prohibiting nuclear cooperation with Tehran.
The
European Union also voiced deep regret over the decision of the US
administration to end sanctions waivers.
“We
deeply regret the US decision to end the three sanctions waivers covering key
JCPOA nuclear projects in Iran, including the Arak Modernization Project,” EU
Spokesman Peter Stano said last Friday.
“Work
with Iran on key nuclear projects allow us to ensure that facilities like Arak
can never be used for non-peaceful purposes. The US decision will now make it
more difficult for the international community to ensure the exclusively
peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program", the EU spokesman added.
Stano
reminded that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
and Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell plays a specific role as
coordinator of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA. “We are in touch
with all remaining participants and relevant partners on the next steps,” he
said.
Full
report at:
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990312000661
--------
President:
Iran Prepared for Further Development of Ties with Afghanistan
Jun
01, 2020
Rouhani
congratulated Ghani on his new term in office, and expressed satisfaction with
the agreement reached between the political groups in the country.
He
expressed the hope that with the efforts of all elements of the government and
the High Council for National Reconciliation greater peace, stability and
security would be achieved in Afghanistan.
Referring
to the measures and successes of Iran in the fight against coronavirus and
providing free medical and health services to Afghan immigrants, Rouhani said,
“Health services to the Afghan brothers in the fight against coronavirus will
be continued.”
He
stated that the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to develop fraternal
and friendly relations and cooperation with all neighbors, specially
Afghanistan, and noted, "We consider the development of stability and
security in Afghanistan in line with our own stability and security and believe
that disagreements among groups can be resolved within the framework of
principles and we are always by the side of the Afghan government and people in
doing so.”
"We
must work to accelerate the implementation of agreements and projects between
us, including the Khaf-Herat railway, as one of the most important economic
projects between the two countries,” said Iranian President, adding, “The
bilateral relations between Iran and Afghanistan are on the path to progress.”
"Completing
and launching the Chabahar-Zahedan railway project in the coming year can
create a positive transformation in the development of transportation of goods
in the region,” he noted.
During
the conversation, both sides stressed the need to work for the comprehensive
development and strengthening of Tehran-Kabul relations in order to ensure the
interests of both nations.
Ghani,
for his part, wished good health and success to the government and people of
Iran in fighting coronavirus, and praised the assistance and medical services
provided to Afghan refugees in Iran.
Referring
to the constructive role of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the stability and
security of the region, Ghani called on Iran to support the peace and dialogue
process in Afghanistan.
He
also referred to the developing relations between Iran and Afghanistan in
various fields and expressed hope that with the efforts of the officials of the
two countries, relations and cooperation between the two countries would
develop.
In
relevant remarks last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had
also welcomed national reconciliation process among political groups in
Afghanistan, and voiced his country’s readiness to bolster solidarity among
groups.
Zarif
made the remarks in phone calls with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his
rival Abdullah Abdullah after the two sides signed a power-sharing deal.
Full
report at:
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990312000706
--------
Chief
Commander Warns of Crushing Response to Enemies' Miscalculation
Jun
01, 2020
“The
Iranian Armed Forces will not, for a moment, neglect the new seditions and
ill-wished tricks against this homeland and will respond decisively and
promptly to any kind of miscalculation by the enemies,” General Baqeri said on
Monday in a message on the threshold of the 31st demise anniversary of Imam
Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic.
“The
brave Iranian soldiers in the Army, the IRGC, the police, the Ministry of
Defense and the Basij will once again renew their long-standing allegiance to
Imam Khomeini and Imam Khamenei and the great martyrs of the Islamic Republic
and will always protect the country's territorial integrity, national security,
and progress,” he said.
“In
pursuit of the guidlines and instructions of the Commander-in-Chief on the
strategy of increasing deterrence power, we will make every effort to
strengthen our defense capabilities, and update or offensive tactics
proportionate to modern threats," General Baqeri said, adding, "And
we will not hesitate even for a moment to nip the enemies’ plots in the bud.”
“As
we have repeatedly said, we will show a crushing response to any enemy
miscalculation at any time and in any place,” he stressed.
In
relevant remarks in April, General Baqeri had warned adventurers against taking
any wrong move, saying that the enemies' devilish plots are doomed to failure.
"We
will not permit any wrong thing to be made by adventurers and greedy people
against this country," Baqeri said in a message marking Army Day.
Full
report at:
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990312000419
--------
Official:
Iran to Orbit Satellites in 1,000-km Altitude in 2 Years
Jun
01, 2020
"We
will reach the 2,000-km orbit in two years and our next step is reaching the
36,000-km orbit," Barari said on Monday.
He
added that Iran is not dependent on any foreign country to advance its space
program.
"Fortunately,
today we are self-sufficient in designing and building satellites, platforms,
satellite carriers, control and guide stations, data collection land stations
and the whole cycle of this technology relying on the capabilities of the
Iranian scientists and specialists and this whole cycle is operating with a
fully indigenized mechanism," Barari said.
In
relevant remarks in March, Barari said that his country is planning to increase
the number of ground satellite stations, adding that the agriculture sector of
the country will enjoy more advanced features with more use of satellite
information.
He
added that the country is to increase the number of its ground satellite
stations in the upcoming local calendar year (March 21, 2020- March 20, 2021).
According
to him, the number of stations will be increased from its current two to four
ones, next year.
He
added that the Iranian government also plans to privatize three of its
Satellite Monitoring Systems in the upcoming year.
Also,
in February, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi announced that his country is poised to launch its
latest telecommunication satellite, Nahid 1 (Venus 1), adding that two other
satellites are being assembled to be launched later.
“With
regard to satellite design and manufacture, we have completed Nahid 1
telecommunication satellite, which is ready for launch, and Pars 2 satellite is
being assembled. Moreover, the engineering model of Nahid 2 satellite has been
completed, and the construction process of its flight and qualification model
are underway,” Azari Jahromi said.
The
Iranian ICT minister then explained about design and manufacture of space
engines, saying that testing Arash space engine is another major achievement of
the Space Research Center.
“The
most important issue in the field of aerospace is that all these successes were
achieved in a situation where the country, and [Iran’s] aerospace industries in
particular, are under sanctions and gaining access to such technology has not
been possible in any way,” Azari Jahromi noted.
The
minister reaffirmed that “Iran has been so far conducting major activities in
the field of aerospace and has managed to master the full cycle of space
technology.
Full
report at:
https://en.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=13990312000265
--------
Jailed
Iranian scientist in US is on his way back to Iran: Zarif
02
June 2020
Iran’s
foreign minister said Tuesday that a plane had taken off from arch-foe the
United States carrying scientist Sirous Asgari after his apparent release from
a US prison.
“Good
news, a plane carrying Dr. Sirous Asgari has taken off from America.
Congratulations to his wife and family,” Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in a post
on his Instagram account.
Asgari
was accused by a US court in 2016 of stealing trade secrets while on an academic
visit to Ohio, but the 59-year old scientist from Tehran’s Sharif University of
Technology was acquitted in November.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/02/Jailed-Iranian-scientist-in-US-is-on-his-way-back-to-Iran-Zarif.html
--------
230
killed in Iran during November protests: Iranian lawmaker
01
June 2020
An
Iranian lawmaker said Monday that 230 people were killed in November’s
anti-government protests in Iran, the official news agency reported.
This
is the first time a prominent Iranian lawmaker has given a death toll figure
for November’s protests. The unrest was the most widespread and violent Iran
had seen since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
IRNA
quoted lawmaker Mojtaba Zolnouri, the head of the influential parliamentary committee
for national security and foreign policy as saying, “The incidents saw 230
killed.”
Zolnouri
said about one fifth of those killed were members of the security forces. He
said about one quarter of those killed were passersby not involved in the protests,
some of whom were shot in the head or chest from close distances. He said 22
percent of those killed in the unrest had criminal records.
Protesters
attacked 92 security, police and public buildings in the course of the unrest,
he added.
Amnesty
International has said more than 300 people were killed over the four days of
unrest in cities and towns across Iran in November, which were sparked by a
sharp rise in subsidized gasoline prices.
During
the violence and in the days that followed, Iranian authorities blocked access
to the internet.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/01/Iranian-lawmaker-says-230-killed-in-November-protests.html
--------
Turkish
police break up protest commemorating slain activist Ethem Sarisuluk
01
June 2020
Turkish
police on Monday dispersed a demonstration by a group wanting to commemorate an
activist who was killed during nationwide anti-government protests seven years
ago, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. At least 21 people were
detained.
The
group gathered near a park in central Ankara where 26-year-old Ethem Sarisuluk
was injured in the head by a gunshot on June 1, 2013. He died in hospital 14
days later. A police officer was later convicted over his death.
Millions
of people across Turkey took to the streets to denounce President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian leadership in May and June 2013. The
protests were sparked by opposition to government plans to redevelop Gezi Park,
adjacent to Istanbul’s main Taksim square.
Sarisuluk
was among a dozen protesters who were killed. Thousands of others were injured.
Erdogan
has described the protests as a “coup” attempt against his government.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/01/Turkish-police-break-up-protest-commemorating-slain-activist-Ethem-Sarisuluk.html
--------
Hundreds
attend funeral of unarmed Palestinian killed by Israeli police
01
June 2020
Hundreds
of people attended the funeral on Sunday of an unarmed Palestinian who was
fatally shot by Israeli police.
A
police spokesman had said officers killed a Palestinian they suspected was
carrying a weapon in Jerusalem’s Old City on Saturday, but according to Israeli
media, the man was later found to have been unarmed.
Palestinian
officials said the 32-year-old man, Iyad Khayri, suffered mental health issues
and decried his killing.
In
comments at Israel’s Sunday cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said:
“We are really sorry about the incident in which Iyad Khayri was shot to death
and we share in the family’s sorrow - but I am certain this matter will be
investigated swiftly and conclusions will be drawn.”
He
said Israel will make “every effort” to limit casualties while continuing to
“maintain the proper level of security.”
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not mention the incident in his remarks.
Tension
has risen in recent weeks with Israel saying it hopes to move ahead with a plan
to extend sovereignty to Jewish settlements and the Jordan Valley in the
occupied West Bank - land the Palestinians seek for a state.
Full
report at:
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/06/01/Hundreds-attend-funeral-of-unarmed-Palestinian-killed-by-Israeli-police-.html
--------
On
Israeli raid anniversary, Hamas wants Gaza blockade lifted
01
June 2020
Ten
years since the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, the
Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has called on international rights advocacy
organizations to resume sending aid convoys to break the decade-long siege on
the Strip.
“We
are remembering with pride and love the 10 dear martyrs who were heading for
Palestine to break the siege on the Gaza Strip and sacrificed themselves for the
sake of values and humanity,” Khaled Mashal, the former head of Hamas political
bureau, said during an online gathering to mark the anniversary of the deadly
attack in 2010.
Mashal
went on to call on the organizers of Freedom Flotilla aid and solidarity convoys
to continue their efforts until they would be able to break and challenge the
Israeli blockade on the besieged Gaza Strip.
“Thanks
to everyone who participated in the fleet for their nobility and courage and
for the values of humanity, morality and manhood they showed as they faced the
danger,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Maher Salah, another senior Hamas official, said in a statement on Sunday the
attack unveiled Israel’s ugly face that kills, destroys and breaks
international law.
The
Palestinian official pointed out that at a time when the world did not lift a
finger to break the unjust blockade on Gaza, Arab and Muslim groups, along with
a group of honorable people of different nations boarded the Freedom Flotilla
vessels.
Salah
noted that some Freedom Flotilla activists reached Gaza shores, while others
were stopped halfway by Israeli attacks, which unveiled the regime's ugly face
that kills, destroys and breaks international and humanitarian laws and norms.
The
Hamas official then emphasized that the Palestinians are determined to continue
their struggle against the occupying regime of Israel until their goals for
returning to their motherland is achieved.
On
May 31, 2010, Israeli naval commandos, from speedboats and helicopters,
attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, comprising six civilian ships, in
international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, killing nine Turkish citizens
and injuring about 50 other people. A tenth Turkish national later succumbed to
his injuries.
The
flotilla was attempting to break the blockade.
Condemnations
of the raid filled the air on a global scale.
The
United Nations Security Council called for a prompt investigation into the
incident and the UN Human Rights Council described the attack as “outrageous.”
In
September 2010, Turkey suspended its military ties with Israel and expelled the
Israeli envoy from Ankara over Tel Aviv’s refusal to apologize.
Four
years later, a criminal court in Turkey issued arrest warrants for four Israeli
military officers, deemed by Ankara as the main culprits in the case, and
turned over the warrants to the Interpol to arrest the suspects, but to no
avail.
Turkey
and Israel, however, normalized relations in June 2016 after a series of not
very public negotiations.
Gaza,
a coastal sliver on the Mediterranean, is where Palestinian resistance
movements enjoy massive public support. The territory has seen brutal wars by
Israel over the past years, the last one having been in the summer of 2014,
when more than 2,200 Palestinians were killed.
Full
report at:
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626546/Hamas-Gaza-flotilla
--------
Turkey’s
Kurds demand spending probe, end to military ops in Libya, Syria
June
02, 2020
JEDDAH:
Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has called for an “immediate”
end to the country’s military spending and armed presence in Libya and Syria.
Party
officials on Monday demanded a probe into the full cost of Turkey’s involvement
in the Libyan conflict and are urging the government to concentrate its focus
on dealing with mounting national debt and unemployment crises at home amid the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tulay
Hatimogullari, the HDP’s lawmaker from the southern province of Adana,
submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mevlut Cavusoglu questioning the financial impact of Turkey’s military campaign
in Libya on the national budget.
She
said: “The ongoing war in Libya negatively affects people in Turkey as well.
All Turkish citizens have to bear the cost of war policy that is pursued in
Libya.
“Instead
of spending this money for developing policies related to health, education,
child, disabled, women and refugee rights, such expenses for conducting
overseas war are actually the result of a conscious choice.”
Hatimogullari
criticized the Turkish government for not focusing on the country’s rising
debts and jobless rates which had been compounded by the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The
presence of the Turkish army in Libya and Syria should be stopped immediately
and the government should halt all overseas military expenditures to reallocate
them to the immediate needs of its own citizens,” she added.
The
lawmaker asked for the total amount of Turkey’s military expenditure in Libya
to be revealed including money allocated to the Government of National Accord
and local groups collaborating with it.
The
HDP has also inquired about the costs of air defense systems, weapons, and
ammunition transported to Libya from Turkey, along with the budgetary resources
allocated to Syrian mercenaries.
Hatimogullari
asked which budget the Turkish government was using “to pay the salaries of
about 10,000 Syrian mercenaries who are deployed to Libya?”
Turkey
has been accused of sending military supplies and sponsoring Syrian fighters in
the war-torn north African country. The mercenaries are reportedly being paid
$2,000 a month in cash, although the Turkish government has not made any
official statement on the figures.
President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted for the first time in February that his government
had sent Syrian mercenaries to Libya. “Turkey is there with a training force.
There are also people from the Syrian National Army,” he told media in
Istanbul.
Full
report at:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1683416/middle-east
--------
Africa
Turkey
sends mercenaries, weapons to Libya’s GNA daily: LNA General
01
June 2020
Turkey
continues to support Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA)
by sending mercenaries and weapons daily, said Brigade General Khalid
al-Mahjoub of the Libyan National Army (LNA), which is led by General Khalifa
Haftar and is rivaling the GNA for power of Libya.
“The
planes arrive every day, ranging from transporting mercenaries from Turkey to
transporting weapons and equipment. And we noticed in the recent period that
other types of weapons were also brought in,” he told Al Arabiya’s sister
station Al Hadath on Monday.
Also
read: Libyan National Army captures town as Turkey sends more Syrians to Libya:
Report
Al
Arabiya English
✔
@AlArabiya_Eng
#Turkey
supports #Libya’s UN-recognized Government of National Accord by sending
mercenaries and weapons daily, says Brigade General Khalid al-Mahjoub of the
Libyan National Army, which is led by General Khalifa
Haftar.https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2020/06/01/Turkey-sends-mercenaries-weapons-to-Libya-s-GNA-daily-LNA-General.html
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Turkey,
which has supported the GNA in the ongoing war against the LNA, has previously
been accused of sending thousands of mercenaries to Libya, as well as
ammunition, weapons, and drones.
Al-Mahjoub
confirmed to Al Hadath that Ankara has also been sending weaponry to support
the GNA in its fight for control over Libya.
Al-Mahjoub’s
comments came after Italmilradar, an Italian website that tracks military
flights, detected two Turkish Air Force planes arriving at the Libyan city of
Misrata.
The
website detected the first plane arriving in Libya at midnight on Monday. At
the time, they reported that a second military aircraft from Turkey was flying
over the Mediterranean.
According
to al-Mahjoub, Turkey has sent several types of weapons to the GNA, including
kamikaze planes and Phoenix drones.
“Another
type [of weapons and drones] were also brought, which are called suicide planes
(kamikaze planes) and are used only once. They carry explosives and are meant
to target individuals and equipment by detecting specific targets,” he said.
https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/north-africa/2020/06/01/Turkey-sends-mercenaries-weapons-to-Libya-s-GNA-daily-LNA-General.html
--------
Libyan
govt. forces shell positions of pro-Haftar rebel forces south of Tripoli
01
June 2020
Forces
of Libya’s internationally-recognized government have reportedly launched
artillery attacks targeting rebel forces loyal to renegade general Khalifa
Haftar stationed at Tripoli airport.
The
Libyan government’s Operation Volcano of Rage military command reported Sunday
that the positions of Haftar’s militias had been hit at the airport south of
Tripoli, according to Turkey’s Anadolu News Agency.
Three
armored vehicles belonging to Haftar-led rebel forces were destroyed in the
artillery attacks.
Other
reports said five civilians were killed and 12 others wounded by the shelling
that hit a grassy area used as a park in Tripoli.
The
incident highlighted a continued risk to the civilian population despite a
relative lull in fighting around Tripoli since Haftar’s eastern-based forces
were pushed out of their positions around the city earlier this month.
Such
shelling incidents are mostly attributed to Haftar’s forces, who have been
engaged in an abortive military campaign to seize Tripoli since April 2019.
Haftar’s
forces have launched numerous attacks on government positions over the past
year, but they remain bogged down on the city’s outskirts.
Government
forces recently liberated several towns that had been occupied by the rebels in
the northwest.
More
than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in the fighting.
‘Mass
grave found south of capital’
Meanwhile,
a mass grave has reportedly been found in an area south of Tripoli.
Anadolu
Agency cited the Libyan Interior Ministry as saying on Sunday that the grave
was discovered in Sadiyah area, which had been liberated from Haftar’s forces.
The
ministry said a mother, a father and two children were found buried in the
grave.
Since
mid-2014, Libya has been mired in civil war, pitting the UN-recognized
Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli against a rival administration
in Tobruk, which is allied with Haftar.
Full
report at:
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/06/01/626515/Libya-GNA-LNA-Haftar-Tripoli
--------
Libyan
warlord Haftar agrees to talks on ceasefire: UN
Gulsen
Topcu
02.06.2020
Libyan
warlord Khalifa Haftar has agreed to the resumption of ceasefire talks, the
United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said early Tuesday.
"The
United Nations Mission welcomes the parties in Libya accepting the resumption of
the Joint Military Commission 5+5 talks," UNSMIL said on Twitter.
The
statement went on to say that the parties agreed to talk amid “calls by Libyans
who want to have a dignified and safe life as soon as possible.”
“It
is hoped that all national and international parties involved in the Libyan
issue will respond to the calls of the Libyan people to end the war and that
the 5+5 negotiations will lay the groundwork for the final ceasefire,” the
statement added.
Following
the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya's new government was
founded in 2015 under a UN-led political agreement.
Full
report at:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/libyan-warlord-haftar-agrees-to-talks-on-ceasefire-un/1861474
--------
Buhari
Relaxes Restrictions on Churches, Mosques, Banks, Hotels
June
2, 2020
Olawale
Ajimotokan, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Kasim Sumaina in Abuja, Chinedu Eze in Lagos,
Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja, and Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia
President
Muhammadu Buhari has approved the relaxation of the restriction on places of
worship based on guidelines issued by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on
COVID-19 and protocols agreed by state governments.
He
has also approved reopening of hotels and the resumption of full banking
operation in the financial sector, which hitherto had operated skeletal
services in the last two months as a result of measures put in place to
mitigate the spread of the virus in the country.
These
measures are aimed at curbing
the
virus which infected 416 more persons yesterday, bringing to 10,578 the total
number of confirmed cases in the country.
The
nation also recorded 12 fresh deaths, raising the figures from 287 to 299
deaths within the last 24 hours.
Announcing
this last night, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Lagos
recorded 192 new cases, Edo 41, Rivers 33, Kaduna 30, Kwara 23, Nasarawa 18,
Borno 17, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) 14, Oyo 10, Katsina seven, Abia and
Delta five each, Adamawa and Kano four each, Imo and Ondo three each, Bauchi
and Ogun two each, while Niger recorded one case.
To
rein in the virus, Buhari has also approved the reopening of the airports for
domestic flight operations with effect from June 21, while schools would remain
closed until it is safe for them to reopen.
Also,
under the second phase of the ease of lockdown approved by the president for
the next four weeks – June 2 to June 29, the nationwide curfew imposed on May
18 from 8 pm to 6 am, has now been relaxed from 10 pm to 4 am, while the ban on
interstate movement is sustained.
These
developments were revealed yesterday by the Chairman of the Presidential Task
Force on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha, at a press briefing addressed by the task
force in Abuja.
Buhari
also approved the implementation of new protocols and guidelines for the second
phase of the ease of guidelines on COVID- 19 nationwide.
The
new measures are over the next four weeks effective from June 2 through June 29
and subject to review.
Mustapha
said Buhari also approved the recommendation of the task force by lifting of restriction
on Churches and Mosques across the country.
He
added that the relaxation of the restriction on places of worship will be based
on the guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by state governments
working with religious leaders.
The
federal government also imposed a ban on the gatherings of more than 20 people
outside of the workplace.
Mustapha,
who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said the
restricted opening of places of worship will be based on state government
protocols and restricted guidelines and physical distancing and other
non-pharmaceutical interventions.
He
added that this will apply to regular church and mosque service only.
According
to him, the ban on interstate travels still remains in place with the exception
of movement of agricultural produce, petroleum products, manufactured goods and
essential services.
The
PTF also said the use of non- medical face masks in public places is mandatory
in addition to the mandatory provision of handwashing facilities.
He
said: “The PTF submitted its recommendations and the president has approved the
following for implementation over the next four weeks spanning 2nd – 29th June,
2020, subject to review:
“Cautious
advance into the Second Phase of the national response to COVID-19; application
of science and data to guide the targeting of areas of on-going high
transmission of COVID-19 in the country;
“Mobilisation
of all resources at State and Local Government levels to create public
awareness on COVID 19 and improve compliance with non-pharmaceutical
interventions within communities; sustenance of key non-pharmaceutical
interventions that would apply nationwide and include: ban of gatherings of
more than 20 people outside of a workplace; relaxation of the restriction on
places of worship based on guidelines issued by the PTF and protocols agreed by
state governments,” Mustapha explained.
Mustapha
also announced that from June 2, banks would resume operations within the
normal working hours.
Domestic
Flights May Resume June 21
Also
speaking at the briefing, Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, disclosed
that the restrictions placed on domestic flights may be lifted on June 21.
The
minister said industry stakeholders should start developing protocols towards flight
resumption.
“The
aircraft have been parked for three months, we have to ensure that within now
and that time, these airplanes are good and safe to fly,” he said.
Sirika
also explained that pilots and other members of the cabin crew would be required
to undergo medicals and have their license renewed ahead of resumption.
Clarifying
the issue, the National Coordinator of the task force, Dr. Sani Aliyu said:
“When we say from June 21, we mean that we are preparing the aviation sector
towards that date. That date may not necessarily be June 21; it could be June
26, 28, or even July 1.
“It
depends on whether or not they are prepared. So we are giving them a time frame
of three weeks to start preparing for domestic flights.
“Once
we open up the skies to domestic flights then we would have to review the
arrangements regarding interstate travel because you cannot have a ban on
interstate travel and you have people flying from one state to another.
“We
are giving an opportunity for the aviation sector that is heavily regulated to
make sure that they start getting their acts together so that airports open up
in a safe way.”
Passengers
would be required to wear masks or face shields, maintain physical distancing.
Curfew
Period Now 10pm to 4am
Aliyu
further stated that the 8 pm-4 am curfew has further been relaxed to between 10
pm and 4 am.
He
said: “There would be full opening for the financial sector with banks now
allowed to operate with more working hours five days a week. The mass gathering
of more than 20 people outside of a workplace or places of worship remain
prohibited.
“There
would be controlled access to markets and locations of places of economic
activities but local authorities will continue to provide guidance on opening
times. Restrictive opening of places of worship will be based on state
governments’ protocols and strict guidelines on physical distancing and other
non-pharmaceutical interventions and just to clarify this would apply to the
regular church and mosque services only.
“Mandatory
supervised isolation of person that are arriving the country will continue to
be for 14 days until a new policy comes into play. There would be no further
evacuation of Nigerians until a new policy currently developed with the private
sector comes into place.”
He
said persons that are on essential duty including but not limited to those
involved in critical services, including frontline health workers and
journalists on essential duty and critical infrastructure are exempt from the
curfew.
In
addition, he said all interstate travels by individuals remain prohibited
except for the movement of goods and services.
Aliyu
said hawking and street trading are prohibited, adding that the PTF will look
into this in greater detail with the state authorities.
He
explained: ”For the industry and labour sector, in terms of working hours,
normal working hours will apply to offices and other government offices
provided it is kept within the curfew hours.
“Offices
are to maintain working at 75 per cent capacity. Government offices can open
between 9 am and 2 pm from Monday to Friday. Prior to this, we allowed only
three days in the week. However, only persons that are within Grade Level 14
and above in the federal and state level will be allowed to come to work. We
will encourage staff to continue to work at home if possible, making the best
use of technology that is now available,” Aliyu said.
Hotels
Reopen, Bars, Gyms Remain Closed
Aliyu
added that hotels may also reopen but must observe all mandatory
non-pharmaceutical interventions, while all bars, gyms, recreational parks,
communal sports and night clubs remain closed until further evaluations.
Personalised
services like mechanics and artisans, hair salons that own their workshops and
stations are allowed to operate from now on provided they comply with non-
pharmaceutical intervention like wearing of face masks and provision of
sanitisers, while also limiting the number of customers and workers within
their premises.
All
Schools Remain Closed
The
PTF said all schools are to remain closed until further evaluation while the
Federal Ministry of Education is instructed to work with schools to start the
process of preparing students that require exiting exams to allow them to take
exams early in the next phase of the lifting of the lockdown.
Aliyu
also gave an inventory of the total available personal protective equipment
(PPE) currently available in the country.
According
to Aliyu, as at last week, there were about 44,000 PPE cover-ups, 27,000
protective gowns, 16,000 goggles, 26,000 face shields and 4.7 million types of
gloves and 220,095 masks in the country.
FG
Addressing Resident Doctors Complaint, Says Ehanire
The
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, at the press conference, assured
medical doctors in public hospitals across the country that their grievances
were being looked into and would be resolved soon.
When
asked about the federal government’s response to the threat by Nigeria
Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) to embark on strike action in the next
14 days if nothing was done to address their grievances, Ehanire said he had
spoken to the association assuring them of government’s readiness to attend to
their complaint.
“I
used the opportunity to speak to the resident doctors and urge them not to
carry out any action at this time. Everything is being done to make sure that
all their questions are answered,” he said.
Ehanire
said he had to ensure that adequate personal protective equipment was being
supplied to hospitals, and appealed to the doctors to always approach the
federal ministry of health whenever they have issues bordering them.
“Our
offices are open to them all the time and they can write to me and discuss
issues at the ministerial level before it goes to the public. All of us are
members of the NMA and so we understand their positions and we will see to its
resolution,’ he said.
Kogi
Gov Bows to Pressure, Orders Lockdown of Kabba/Bunu LGA
Meanwhile,
following the reported two cases of COVID-19 in Kogi State by the Nigeria
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Abuja, the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya
Bello, has bowed to pressure and directed the total lockdown of Kabba/Bunu
Local Government Area of the state as part of measures to contain the spread.
The
state government has also urged the medical personnel who attended to the
patient at FMC to go into self-isolation for the next 14 days.
Bello
made this announcement yesterday while addressing journalists at Government
House in Lokoja.
He
said the local government would be locked down for two weeks starting from 12
midnight of Tuesday, June 2, 2020, to stop the spread in the town.
Bello
insisted that these two cases were heavily disputed by the state government.
The
governor noted that the state government had come out publicly to express
reservations with which the cases were allotted to the state by NCDC, stressing
that efforts by the state government to confirm the same proved abortive as
NCDC officers were not forthcoming.
Bello
said: “Only available information is that the two cases are father and son – a
community leader and Imam from Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state.
It was reported that the man took ill after receiving stings from bees after
attending a particular burial ceremony.
“He
was managed at a particular health facility in Kabba and subsequently
transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and later taken to Abuja.
“Contrary
to all known guidelines of NCDC, neither NCDC nor FMC had involved the state
government at any point before these cases were allegedly transferred to Abuja.
This is condemnable, but in order not to engage in avoidable acrimony that
attended the announcement, as a state government we shall pursue this to a
logical conclusion.”
He
added: “As I said in the earlier days of COVID-19, I said while COVID-19 is
genuine in other climes, it is taking a political dimension in Nigeria, which
is already playing out. We are already seeing it, we don’t know the intension
of NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, and all these political jobbers; we do not
know their interest in Kogi State.
Abia
Govt Shuts Down as Ikpeazu, Deputy, Cabinet Members Self-isolate
Meanwhile,
government businesses have ground to a halt in Abia State as Governor Okezie
Ikpeazu has gone into self-isolation and directed his deputy and members of the
state executive council to follow suit following the death of the Commissioner
for Environment, Dr. Solomon Ogunji.
In
addition, Ikpeazu and his commissioners would be tested for COVID-19 infection.
This
new development has generated panic across the state as government officials
and people who might have directly or indirectly come in contact with Ogunji
before his death are now uncertain of their status.
The
state government had earlier stated that Ogunji’s death, which occurred on May
23, 2020 at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital(ABSUTH), Aba was caused
by high blood pressure.
In
a press release issued late Sunday by the state Commissioner for Information,
Chief John Okiyi Kalu, the state government did not disclose the reason for the
self-isolation of the governor, his deputy, and cabinet members.
“Following
the outcome of tests conducted on close family members of the late member of
the state executive council (Exco) and member of the Interministerial committee
on COVID-19, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed all members
of the committee and those of the Exco who might have recently come in contact
with the late commissioner to immediately undergo COVID-19 tests and isolate
themselves thereafter pending the outcome of the tests.
“Governor
Ikpeazu who is still in mourning will also subject himself to all other
necessary protocols as he has directed his Exco members including the Deputy
Governor to do,” the statement explained.
WHO
to Decide on its Hydroxychloroquine Trial Suspension in 24 Hours
Meanwhile,
the World Health Organisation (WHO) should have enough information in 24 hours
to decide whether to continue suspending its trial of hydroxychloroquine for
use against coronavirus, its chief scientist, Ms. Soumya Swaminathan said yesterday.
The
UN body paused its large study of the anti-malarial drug to treat COVID-19 due
to concerns it increased death rates and irregular heartbeats in patients.
Full
report at:
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/06/02/buhari-relaxes-restrictions-on-churches-mosques-banks-hotels/
--------
Islamic
State in Somalia suffers setbacks despite uptick in claimed activity
June
1, 2020
During
the course of May, Somalia witnessed a relative uptick in Islamic State claimed
attacks compared to recent months. However, this activity was offset by
significant setbacks dealt to the organization across the country.
In
total, the Islamic State in Somalia (ISS) claimed just four attacks in May
according to data maintained by FDD’s Long War Journal. While this number is
minuscule compared to other Islamic State branches around the world, this
number represents a relative boost since the beginning of the year.
In
February and March, the Islamic State released only four total claims from
Somalia. And in April, the group stated its responsibility for three raids. The
total amount of claims for May matches the number for January at four.
Additionally,
three of the four claims in May were part of the Islamic State’s global
“Battles of Attrition” campaign. This campaign, in which other branches also
saw relative boosts to their activities, was meant to signal the group’s
staying power in the face of a global battle against it.
The
first use of this moniker was in April 2019 when then-Islamic State leader Abu
Bakr al Baghdadi urged his followers to conduct a “battle of attrition” in
order to “drain the enemies of their resources.”
The
relative increase in activity inside Somalia last month is likely explained by
ISS participating in this renewed campaign. That said, only one of the Islamic
State’s claimed operations inside Somalia in May can be confirmed by local
media.
On
May 18, the group stated its responsibility for detonating an improvised
explosive device (IED) on a vehicle belonging to the Somali military in
Mogadishu the previous day.
Local
media indeed reported an IED on Somali troops in Mogadishu on May 17. This
attack was also unclaimed by Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, thereby
giving more veracity to the Islamic State’s communiqué.
The
other three alleged assaults have so far not been confirmed by local sources.
At
the same time, local media has reported additional clashes between ISS and
Shabaab in Somalia’s north-central region of Mudug.
According
to Garowe Online, several clashes between the two were reported near the town
of Dasaan where earlier rounds of infighting has also taken place.
The
outlet goes on to cite Abdiqani Hassan, a local Reuters correspondent, that the
Islamic State’s men reportedly gained the upper hand in the fight.
The
renewed battles between the jihadist groups marks the first instances of the
infighting since early last year. The two groups have been fighting each other
since the emergence of the Islamic State in Somalia in late 2015.
Garowe
Online‘s report also notes that some of Shabaab’s men fled the region for
Puntland’s mountains, where both Shabaab and ISS maintain refuge. However, this
cannot be independently verified.
Shabaab
has recently been quite active in Mudug, where it killed the regional governor
in a suicide bombing on May 17.
Suffering
setbacks
While
all of this was occurring, ISS suffered several blows in Puntland and
Mogadishu. On May 9, Puntland Security Forces (PSF) killed a purported member
of the group’s amniyat [internal security force] wing near Bosaso.
Photos
released by the PSF following the raid also show captured explosive material,
indicating the breakup of a potential bombing inside the city. And only two
days later, three other ISS members were also arrested by the PSF in Bosaso.
On
May 13, the PSF captured several IEDs and suicide belts from Islamic State
safe-houses in Bosaso. While on May 25, the PSF launched major security
operations in several areas near Bosaso which purportedly captured dozens of
ISS militants.
Puntland
officials have also stated that one of the militants captured during the raids
is the “driver for Abdulqadir Mumin,” the overall leader of the Islamic State’s
branch in Somalia.
If
confirmed, this could provide additional intelligence for the PSF as it
continues to mount pressure on ISS.
These
raids also follow additional strikes against the group earlier this year. In
April, Somali intelligence reportedly captured the head of the ISS branch in
southern Somalia. This has yet to be confirmed, however.
And
in March, the PSF launched other security operations in Bosaso, which
reportedly captured members of both ISS and Shabaab. A senior ISS leader was
also reportedly killed by the PSF in January.
These
security operations have undoubtedly impacted ISS’ operational capabilities in
Puntland. While the group still sporadically claims operations inside Bosaso,
the majority of its claims this year have been focused on Mogadishu and its
suburbs.
Local
security operations, infrequent U.S. drone strikes, and clashes with Shabaab
have all greatly reduced the Islamic State’s capabilities inside Somalia. With
the zenith of its activities in 2018, it has steadily seen a decline in
operations since last year.
Full
report at:
https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/06/islamic-state-in-somalia-suffers-setbacks-despite-uptick-in-claimed-activity.php
--------
Burkina
Faso militants kill 35 in separate attacks, government says
June
1, 2020
Militants
in Burkina Faso attacked a cattle market and a humanitarian convoy, killing at
least 35 people, the government said on Sunday.
Saturday’s
violence highlights the deep instability in parts of Sahel country, which has
been battling armed groups with links to Al Qaeda and ISIS since 2017.
Twenty-five
people were killed and more wounded in the attack on the market in the eastern
village of Kompienga, while five civilians and five military police were killed
near the northern village of Foube, the government said in a statement.
Armed
groups targeted a humanitarian convoy returning from Foube after delivering
supplies, it said.
Twenty
more people were wounded in the convoy attack.
No
group has claimed responsibility either incidents.
Hundreds
have been killed in the past year in Burkina Faso. More than half a million
people have fled their homes due to the violence, which has also fuelled ethnic
and religious tensions.
The
bloodshed follows the death of at least 15 people on Friday in an attack on a
convoy transporting traders in northern Burkina Faso.
On
Monday, eight suspected terrorists were killed and 38 captured in a joint
operation by forces from Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast near the countries'
border.
Full
report at:
https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/burkina-faso-militants-kill-35-in-separate-attacks-government-says-1.1027138
--------
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