Posters Appear Asking Muslims to 'Leave Gurugram or Face the Heat' Prior To VHP's 'Shobha Yatra'
New Age Islam News Bureau
29 August 2023
Photo:
ETV Bharat
-----
India
·
Left
Government in Kerala Offers to Fund Education of Muslim Child Who Was Slapped
in UP School
·
Haryana
refuses to allow Hindutva groups to take out religious procession in Nuh
district
·
By
enacting Article 35(A), you virtually took away fundamental rights, says Chief
Justice of India
·
SC
asks Centre to indicate if there's time frame to restore Jammu and Kashmir
statehood
·
HC
adjourns hearing in Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque case till Sep 12
·
Gyanvapi
row: Muslim side opposes transfer of cases to CJ-led HC bench
·
FIR
against fact-checker Mohammed Zubair for uploading clip showing child being
slapped in UP school
-------
Europe
·
UK says a cyberattack was not
the cause of air traffic problems that snarled flights
·
Ukrainian intelligence officer
commits suicide
·
Pilots killed in Zhytomyr
Oblast plane collision conferred military ranks
·
Ukraine warns of possible
energy facility attacks amid decreased rocket activity
-----
North America
·
US To Continue 'Illegal' Syria
Occupation For ‘Many Years’
·
Pope Francis Speaks Out Against
His Critics in The U.S. Catholic Church
·
US park rangers bust Burning
Man climate protesters
·
Community Alert: CAIR Welcomes
Halal Meal Accommodations in Two Maryland Public School Systems
------
Arab World
·
Saudi-Palestinian Meeting
Highlights Keenness to Further Bolster Bilateral Ties
·
KSrelief distributes food aid
in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan
·
Saudi authorities carry out
drug busts across Kingdom
·
Crew survive as Tornado fighter
jet crashes during training mission in Dhahran
-----
Southeast Asia
·
Viral
Video of Malaysian Teacher Running with Disabled StudentEncouraging Him to
Cross the Finish Line Touches Social Media Users
·
Selangor Islamic Religious
Council says issue of Fahmi allegedly campaigning in mosque resolved
·
Penang PAS chief says state
Opposition yet to choose its leader
·
PM Anwar’s political secretary
visits next-of-kin of Elmina plane crash victims
·
VP Amin outlines directives to
Islamic economy and finance committees
------
Mideast
·
Shuaa
Jalal Naif, a Palestinian Prisoner Enters His 21st Year in Israeli Occupation
Prisons
·
Iran’s Raisi urges Japan to
release frozen funds
·
Iran, Uzbekistan agree to
implement presidential agreements
·
Iran unveils homegrown
compressor, says can rival US-made type
·
Israeli Forces Detain 29
Palestinians in Raids Across West Bank
·
Calls for Exchange Deal:
Hundreds of Lives for Four
-----
Africa
·
First
Ugandan Charged With 'Aggravated Homosexuality' Punishable By DeathAs Per The
Recently Enacted Anti-Gay Legislation
·
Army troops rescue 25 hostages
from Boko Haram captivity
·
Libyan
Fatwa House Holds GNU Responsible for The Actions of Its Minister of Foreign
Affairs
·
Niger: Paris backs 'president
Bazoum' and 'ECOWAS' military action should it be the case'
------
Pakistan
·
Police
Say Foreign Hand Behind Jaranwala IncidentAnd The Sargodha Blasphemy Case
·
Cipher case: Azam Khan
prosecution witness, not approver, against Imran
·
Imran acted as pharaoh, says
Pervez Khattak
·
Legal snags hit PTI chief’s
release prospects
·
Sutlej waters head downstream
after flooding Bahawalpur
·
Caretaker govt to support ECP
in holding elections: Sarfaraz Bugti
·
Journey to progress pivoted on
adherence to good governance principles: Sami Saeed
·
Pak to host UN Peacekeeping
Ministerial Preparatory Meeting on Wednesday
·
Wapda security staff stops
wearing army-like uniform after GHQ letter
------
South
Asia
·
Afghan
Students in India Face Challenges with Visas, Scholarship Issues
·
Afghanistan’s Fruit Beverages
Reach France and Turkey
·
Afghan railway delegation embarks
on Iran visit for talks
·
Japanese Envoy Urges Afghan
Interim Govt to Strengthen Internal Legitimacy
·
Air pollution reducing
Bangladeshis' life expectancy by nearly 7 years: study
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/shobha-yatra-poster-haryana-vhp/d/130558
------
Posters
Appear Asking Muslims To 'Leave Gurugram Or Face The Heat' Prior To VHP's
'Shobha Yatra'
Photo:
ETV Bharat
-----
29th
August 2023
By
Express News Service
GURUGRAM: Posters were pasted on the walls of a few
shops in a slum here, asking Muslims to leave the place by Monday or face
consequences.
The
posters came up at a slum in Sector 69 here a day before Monday’s call by the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) led various groups for a ‘Shobha yatra’ to resume
the Brij Mandal Shobha Yatra in Nuh which was disrupted by the communal clashes
in July.
In a
complaint registered in this regard, Mojed said he found the poster on the wall
of his tea shop on Sunday morning. The
complainant alleged that the poster carried the names of Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) and Bajrang Dal and asked all Muslims to vacate leave by Monday or be
“responsible for their death.”
However,
the complainant suspected one Asif of falsely planting the poster to threaten
him and “incite violence” in the area. The VHP, meanwhile, denied any
connection with the posters and demanded action against those trying to defame
the organisation.
In his
complaint, Mojed, a native of West Bengal who currently resides in the slum
area opposite Tulip white society in Sector 69, said he found the poster on the
wall of his tea shop on Sunday morning.
He,
however, said he suspected that Asif pamphlet with the names of VHP and Bajrang
Dal on it. ‘Asif runs a scrap shop in sector 69. He had threatened me three to
four days ago and also abused me with casteist remarks’, Mojed said in his
complaint.
Based on
his complaint, an FIR was registered under sections 294 (abusing), 188
(disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 295A
(Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any
class), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace),
506 (criminal intimidation) on Sunday.
"We
are verifying the role of the accused Asif," said Assistant Sub-Inspector
Charan Singh, the investigating officer. The accused will be arrested soon, the
officer added.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/29/posters-appear-asking-muslims-to-leave-gurugram-or-face-the-heatprior-to-vhps-shobha-yatra-2609699.html
-----
France
Bans Long Robes In Classrooms Worn Mainly By Muslims
FILE
- Daniel Cole - stringer, ASSOCIATED PRESS
-------
August
29, 2023
BY
ELAINE GANLEY
PARIS
(AP) — France’s education minister announced Monday a ban on long robes in
classrooms starting with the new school year, saying the garments worn mainly
by Muslims are testing secularism in the nation’s schools.
Critics
say that abayas, worn by women, and khamis, the male garb, are no more than a
fashion statement. They say the garments do not constitute an ostentatious sign
of religion and should not be banned from classrooms under a 2004 law.
For
Gabriel Attal, the recently appointed education chief, the garments are “an
infringement on secularism,” a foundational principle for France, and, in some
cases, a bid to destabilize schools.
The
34-year-old Attal, appointed in July, was potentially moving into a minefield
with his ban on long robes to “protect” secularism, prompted by growing reports
of the garments in some classrooms around the country. Previous statements and
laws on secularism have seeded acrimonious debate.
“Our
schools are continually tested. We know that,” Attal said at a news conference
a week ahead of the start of the school year. He said that the wearing of
abayas and khamis had grown recently, and must be met with a firm response to
tackle what sometimes amounts to “infringements, attempts at destabilization.”
“We must
stand together. We will stand together. ... The abaya has no place in school,
no more than religious symbols,” Attal said, referring to the 2004 law which
banned Muslim headscarves, Jewish kippas, large crosses and other
“ostentatious” religious accoutrements from classrooms.
French
authorities have increasingly moved to defend secularism, a constitutional
principle meant to guarantee religious neutrality in a multicultural nation.
Authorities fear that religious symbols are a gateway to Islamic radicalism,
which has erupted in violence in France in the past. Some Muslims, however,
feel stigmatized by efforts to make them conform. Islam is the second religion
in France.
A 2021
law against what officials refer to as “separatism” was aimed at further
strengthening French secularism, notably by increasing oversight of mosques,
schools and sports clubs to root out signs of Islamic radicalism.
Voices
were quickly raised against the plan to ban long robes from schools.
“For me,
the abaya is not a religious garb. It’s a kind of fashion,” Abdallah Zekri, a
leader of the French Council for the Muslim Faith, said on the news station
BFMTV. The abaya is “a long and ample robe. It has nothing to do (with
religion).” Zekri’s words reflected the position of his organization, that the
abaya is not a religious sign for Muslims.
Attal’s
predecessor as education minister, Pap Ndiaye, effectively left it up to school
principals whether to crack down on long robes in the classroom as the
phenomenon grew.
Between
the 2021-2022 school year and 2022-2023, signs of infringement on secularism
increased 120%, from 2,167 to 4,710, according to a confidential government
note obtained by the newspaper Le Monde. The increase was largely due to the
wearing of abayas and khamis, it said. France has 12 million school pupils
nationwide.
“Public
schools must, at all costs, perhaps more than any other institution, be
protected from religious proselytism, from any embryo of communitarianism,”
Attal said, referring to the notion of communities leaning into their own
cultural, spiritual or other aspects of their origins at the expense of their
Frenchness.
To
enforce the ban on abayas and khamis in classrooms, Attal said that 14,000
educational personnel in leadership positions would be trained by the end of
this year, and 300,000 personnel would be trained by 2025. Top administrators
will visit schools seeking help as well as those “where we judge specific needs
to manage the start of school with them.”
The 2004
law banning religious symbols in classrooms was passed after months of bitter
wrangling and a marathon parliamentary debate. It was too early to say whether
Attal’s order banning long robes from schools would lead to acrimony inside
classrooms.
Hard-right
politician Eric Zemmour, head of the small Reconquest! party opposed to
immigrants, posted on X, the former Twitter: “Banning abayas is a good first
step if it is applied.” He wants uniforms in classrooms. A lawmaker for the
hard-left France Unbowed party, Clementine Autain, called the move
“anti-constitutional” and asked, “How far will the clothes police go?”
Source: apnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://apnews.com/article/france-education-robes-muslim-secular-56ea1c6c458bd9c46a4bf26ceeda73a9
-----
CAIR
Calls for Release of Man Detained in China for Reciting Quran in Public
Representative photo
----
Ismail
Allison
August
28, 2023
(WASHINGTON,
D.C., 8/28/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called
for the release of a Kazakh man detained in China allegedly for reciting Quran
in public and keeping that Islamic religious text in his home.
Chinese
authorities in Xinjiang reportedly detained the man, Kusman Rehim, 56, for
offering public Quranic recitations – including at a Muslim wedding. He was
allegedly detained after “police found a Quran in his home.” In 2017, China
authorities reportedly banned the recitation of the Quran in public in
Xinjiang.
News of
the man’s detention comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping made a surprise visit
to Xinjiang and urged officials to “more deeply promote the Sinicization of
Islam and effectively control illegal religious activities.”
“It is a
clear violation of international norms of religious freedom to detain someone
merely for reciting or possessing the revealed text of their faith,” said CAIR
Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw. “We demand the immediate release of
Kusman Rehim and we urge the international community, including governments in
Muslim-majority nations, to address China’s egregious human rights abuses.”
The
Chinese government is targeting Uyghur Muslims and other Turkic ethnic
minorities with a campaign of genocide. Millions of Uyghurs have been detained
in concentration camps in which beatings, torture and rape are the norm.
Millions more are being used as slave labor on plantations and in Chinese
factories.
Earlier
this month, CAIR welcomed the Department of Homeland Security’s ban on imports
from Camel Group Co., Ltd. and Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd. and its
subsidiary Chenguang Biotechnology Group Yanqi Co. Ltd. because of the
companies’ forced labor practices that target groups, such as Uyghur Muslims in
China.
In
April, CAIR commended the efforts of congressional lawmakers for urging greater
enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA)
CAIR’s
mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote
justice, and empower American Muslims.
La
misión de CAIR es proteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados
Unidos.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-release-of-man-detained-in-china-for-reciting-quran-in-public/
-----
Jeddah To
Host New Festival Celebrating Saudi Arabia’s Musical Heritage
Photo:
Arab News
----
August
29, 2023
RIYADH:
Jeddah is to host a festival first for Saudi Arabia with a celebration of the
Kingdom’s musical heritage.
Organized
by the Ministry of Culture, the Kingdom’s Melody event will take place between
Sept. 28 and 30 at Jeddah Superdome.
The
festival will highlight the history of tunes and their cultural connections to
local communities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The work
of some of Saudi Arabia’s most influential composers will be marked at the
event, including songs by Omar Kedder, Fawzi Mahsoun, Saleh Al-Shehri, Mohammed
Shafiq, Tarek Abdul Hakim, Talal Bagher, and Dr. Abdul Rib Idris.
Visitors
will be taken on an educational journey through the nation’s musical past. The
festival venue’s entrance hall will house murals depicting significant
composers and artists, and an exhibition will feature key stories, melodies,
and experiences that changed the music industry in the Kingdom.
A Send
Peace event will give visitors the opportunity to comment on prominent musical
compositions, and on the first night Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu will perform
several songs composed by Kedder, and a tune by Idris.
The
second night of the festival will see Abdul Majeed Abdullah sing songs by
Mahsoun and Al-Shehri, while on the final night Ebadi Al-Jawhar will present
compositions by Bagher, songstress Dalia Mubarak will give renditions of
Hakim’s music, and Talal Salama will perform tunes composed by Shafiq.
The
festival is one of many initiatives being held under the Vision 2030 banner
aimed at improving the lifestyles and livability of Saudi individuals,
families, and communities.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2363426/saudi-arabia
-----
National
Islamic Council Discusses Use Of ‘Allah’ By Non-Muslims
The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs meets at the Sultan
Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque. – Bernama pic, August 28, 2023
-------
28 Aug
2023
SHAH
ALAM – The National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs today discussed the
issue concerning the use of the word “Allah” by non-Muslims by outlining
complete and comprehensive guidelines, said Sultan of Selangor Sultan
Sharafuddin Idris Shah.
Sultan
Sharafuddin, who also chairs the council, said the use of the word Allah by
non-Muslims was a sensitive issue among Muslims in Malaysia, and that included
the use of the word by some Christians in Sabah and Sarawak that should be
reviewed and thoroughly examined before a final decision could be made over the
matter with full wisdom and responsibility.
“All the
decisions reached by [the council] regarding the issue of the word Allah will
be brought up to the Council of Rulers at its next meeting, and with that a
policy regarding the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims in the country will
be finalised,” he said at the council’s meeting at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul
Aziz Shah Mosque, here today.
Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also present as the council’s deputy
chairman.
Meanwhile,
the sultan expressed regret over the spread of slander that more than 200
tahfiz schools in Selangor had been ordered to close.
“Indeed,
this kind of slander is very irresponsible and I regret it because it has
indirectly troubled parents and can erode public trust in religious
institutions and religious authorities, especially in the state of Selangor,”
he said.
The
ruler also called on those spreading the news to immediately stop the
treacherous and irresponsible act.
“I
request the police to immediately track down this group of individuals and take
legal action against them,” said the sultan.
The
sultan also ordered unregistered private religious and tahfiz schools to be
properly registered to ensure that they have a secure and comfortable learning
environment for students. – Bernama, August 28, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/98282/national-islamic-council-discusses-use-of-allah-by-non-muslims
------
India
Left
Government InKerala Offers To Fund Education Of Muslim Child Who Was Slapped In
UP School
29.08.23
K.M.
Rakesh
The Left
government in Kerala has offered to fully fund the education of the
Muzaffarnagar pupil who was slapped by his classmates on the orders of their
teacher.
Primary
education minister and CPM leader V. Sivankutty on Monday told reporters in
Thiruvananthapuram that the state was ready to adopt the boy and fund his
education, if his parents were ready to send him to Kerala.
“Kerala
is inviting the child to study here. We will provide all the facilities for
him. If his parents agree, our education department is ready to fund his
education,” the minister said.
He noted
that the private school in which the child was studying had been shut down
temporarily, pending an investigation. “That child cannot study in that school
anymore. He can come here and be assured of education without any kind of
documents like a transfer certificate or birth certificate,” he added.
The
child’s father told The Telegraph on Monday that he was in the process of
admitting his son to another school.
“I am
very grateful to the Kerala government for making this offer. It is so kind of
them. But I am in the process of admitting my son to a school in Shahpur (near
Muzaffarnagar), on the advice of Maulana Arshad Madani (principal of the Darul
Uloom Deoband),” he said.
“The
Maulana had sent his representatives to meet me. So, I have already agreed to
shift my son to their school and admit him in the UKG class,” added the father
who had earlier decided not to pursue a police case against the erring
headmistress.
Bharatiya
Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait had on Friday convened a panchayat in the
village and got one of the boys who slapped the child to hug him in a
reconciliation bid following a meeting with representatives of both
communities.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/left-government-in-kerala-offers-to-fund-education-of-muslim-child-who-was-slapped-in-up-school/cid/1962228
------
Haryana
refuses to allow Hindutva groups to take out religious procession in Nuh
district
29.08.23
Imran
Ahmed Siddiqui
The
Haryana administration on Monday did not allow Hindutva groups led by Vishwa
Hindu Parishad to take out a religious procession in violence-hit Nuh district
and instead asked locals to offer prayers in temples amid heavy police
deployment on the last Monday of the holy month of Shravan.
Sources
said the BJP-ruled Haryana had asked police to strictly maintain law and order
to avoid any untoward incidents ahead of the G20 summit in Delhi and Gurgaon.
Nuh is
barely 90km away from the capital.
The
Haryana police were earlier accused of complicity in allowing a religious
procession by activists of the Bajrang Dal and the VHP on July 31 that led to
communal violence in Nuh in which six people, including a cleric and two home
guards, were killed.
“It is
an open secret that if the administration wants, no violence will ever take
place. What we witnessed in Nuh today is the rule of law, which was
surprisingly missing when the violence had broken out last month,” a former
Haryana director-general of police told The Telegraph.
The
administration, he said, was strict this time and a strong message was sent
that those violating the law would be dealt with iron hands.
"The
administration swung into action this time as there was clear instruction from
the top leadership that they did not want a repeat of what happened on July 31.
Any violence would have caused serious damage to the reputation ahead of the
G20 meet,” he said.
On
Sunday, the VHP had announced that a religious procession would be taken out in
Nuh district on Monday.
A
Haryana police official on Monday said everything passed off peacefully as the
entire area was turned into a fortress ahead of the proposed rally.
Outsiders
were barred from entering Nuh, with security personnel being deployed at all
entry points of the district. According to officials, 1,900 Haryana police
personnel and 24 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed to keep a
strict vigil. Multiple layers of barricades had been erected by the police and
anti-riot vehicles and drones were also pressed into service.
According
to officials, the vehicle of Hindu seer Jagatguru Paramhans Acharya from
Ayodhya was stopped at one of the entry points.
The
police allowed 15 seers and leaders of some Hindutva outfits to visit the Shiv
temple in Nalhar to perform rituals, After offering prayers, the group,
accompanied by some locals and cops, left for another temple in the area.
Bajrang
Dal’s Gurgaon district convener Praveen Hindustani told PTI that a limited
number of people took part in the "yatra". Hindu rights leader
Kulbhushan Bhardwaj claimed that Hindu leaders have been put under house arrest
by the Haryana government.
“This is
an attack on the Hindu faith. By putting Hindu leaders under house arrest, the
Haryana government has reminded them of the reign of the Mughals,” he said.
Haryana
home minister Anil Vij said the situation in Nuh was under control and people
performed rituals at temples in keeping with the customs.
“Everything
is under control. We have deployed sufficient police force,” he said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/haryana-administration-refuses-to-allow-hindutva-groups-led-by-vishwa-hindu-parishad-to-take-out-religious-procession-in-violence-hit-nuh-district/cid/1962227
------
By
enacting Article 35(A), you virtually took away fundamental rights, says Chief
Justice of India
PTI New
Delhi Published 29.08.23
Chief
Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Monday observed that by enacting Article
35A, fundamental rights of equality, liberty to practice profession in any part
of the country and others were virtually taken away.
He made
the remarks after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre,
referred to the contentious provision in the Indian Constitution, saying it
gave special rights to only permanent residents of the erstwhile state of Jammu
and Kashmir and was discriminatory.
Without
naming the two mainstream political parties of the erstwhile state, the Centre
told a five-judge bench headed by CJI Chandrachud that citizens have been
misguided that the special provisions for Jammu and Kashmir were "not
discrimination but a privilege".
"Even
today two political parties are before this court defending Article 370 and
35A," the solicitor general told the top court on the 11th day of hearing
the litany of pleas challenging the abrogation of the constitutional provision
which bestowed special status to the erstwhile state of J-K.
The
solicitor general further submitted that the effect of Article 370 was such
that by the administrative act of the President and the state government, any
part of the Constitution of India with respect to J-K can be amended, altered
or even "destroyed" and new provisions can be created.
He said
that after the 42nd amendment, the words "Socialist" and
"Secular" were not made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
"Even
the word "Integrity" is not there. Fundamental duties were not there,
which exists in the Indian Constitution.
"The
Jammu and Kashmir Constitution provided for a separate provision for permanent
residents of J-K in Article 7. It removed references to Scheduled Tribes from
Article 15(4). Other Articles 19, 22, 31, 31A and 32 were applied with some
modifications…," Mehta said.
On
Article 35A, he said it was discriminatory, to say the least.
"Under
the provision (A-35A), people like sanitation workers working in the erstwhile
state for decades were not given equal rights like that of permanent residents
of J-K.
"This
discrimination continued till the provision was abrogated in 2019.
Non-permanent residents of J-K were not able to purchase lands, could not avail
scholarship, employment in the state government," he said, urging the
court to look into issues from the "eyes of people".
CJI
Chandrachud deciphering Mehta’s submissions said that by enacting Article 35A,
"you virtually took away fundamental rights" of equality, liberty to
practice profession in any part of the country and even granted immunity from
legal challenges and the power of judicial review.
The
Solicitor General said, "People were misguided by those - who were
supposed to guide them - that this was not a discrimination but a privilege.
Even today two political parties are before this court defending Article 370
and 35A." Mehta submitted that the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir
needed to be repealed because it could not co-exist with the Indian
constitution.
The apex
court also prima facie agreed with the Centre's submission on pleas challenging
the abrogation of Article 370 that the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir is
"subordinate" to the Indian Constitution, which is on a higher
pedestal.
The
bench, however, did not seem to agree with the plea that the Constituent
Assembly of the erstwhile state, which was disbanded in 1957, was in reality a
legislative assembly.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/by-enacting-article-35a-you-virtually-took-away-fundamental-rights-says-chief-justice-of-india-d-y-chandrachud/cid/1962304
------
SC asks
Centre to indicate if there's time frame to restore Jammu and Kashmir statehood
By HT
News Desk
Aug 29,
2023
The
Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to indicate if there is a time frame
to restore the statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
The
Supreme Court, hearing pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370, on
Tuesday asked the Centre to indicate if there is a time frame to restore the
statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, and a roadmap for this progression.
Solicitor
General Tushar Mehta, who is representing the Centre, has been asked to come
back with instructions on this after the launch break.
Several
petitions challenging the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 and the
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which split the erstwhile state
into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh - were referred to a
Constitution bench in 2019.
On
Monday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that the current status of Jammu and
Kashmir as a union territory was temporary and its statehood will be
restored.“It’s necessary that for some time it remains under the union as a
Union Territory. The Hon’ble Home Minister has said in the House that this is a
temporary measure. Ultimately, J&K will become a state,” Mehta told a
five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news
------
HC
adjourns hearing in Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque case till Sep 12
PTI
Prayagraj 28.08.23
Allahabad
High Court Chief Justice Pritinker Diwakar on Monday fixed September 12 for
further hearing on a petition challenging the maintainability of a suit seeking
the "restoration" of a temple where the Gyanvapi mosque stands in
Varanasi.
The
court will also hear a petition challenging a Varanasi court direction in 2021
to conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi mosque by a commission headed by an
advocate.
The
petition was filed by Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee. The chief justice is
hearing the suit which was earlier heard in the court of Justice Prakash Padia.
The
chief justice's court accepted the mosque committee's plea seeking time to
study the case afresh and adjourned the matter till September 12.
During
the course of the hearing, a mention was made on behalf of the mosque committee
that the matter was heard at length by another single judge of the high court
and judgment was reserved by it.
Counsels
of both sides had argued at length before the single-judge bench, therefore,
proprietary demands that the judgment has to be delivered by that bench.
However,
the chief justice said according to the High Court rules, when a judgment in a
case is not delivered even after completion of the hearing, the case is deemed
to stand released and the chief justice being "master of the roster"
has the power either to send the case to another bench or hear the case
himself.
The
chief justice said since March 15, 2021, the judgment in the case was reserved
on several occasions but the same was not delivered following which, the
counsel for the AIMC then made a request for the adjournment of the case,
saying he needed some time to study it.
The
court then fixed September 12 as the next date.
During
the course of the hearing, the chief justice made a comment on the media
reporting, saying when he was hearing another case related to the ASI survey of
the barricaded area of the Gyanvapi mosque, some vernacular newspapers used to
quote arguments which neither took place in the courtroom nor were placed in
any manner.
On July
25, Justice Prakash Padia had reserved the verdict in the case and fixed August
28 as the date for delivering the judgment.
The
Vishwanath temple is located next to the Gyanvapi mosque.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/allahabad-high-court-adjourns-hearing-in-vishwanath-temple-gyanvapi-mosque-case-till-september-12/cid/1962219
------
Gyanvapi
row: Muslim side opposes transfer of cases to CJ-led HC bench
29th
August 2023
By
Namita BajpaiExpress News Service
LUCKNOW: A division bench of Allahabad High Court,
headed by Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker, on Monday adjourned the hearing of a
bunch of petitions challenging the maintainability of the title suit seeking
restoration of temple in place of Gyanvapi mosque till September 12. The
hearing in the matter had been already concluded by the bench of Justice
Prakash Padia on July 23, and had reserved the order to be delivered on Monday.
Earlier,
the cases related to Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi mosque title suit were
transferred to a different bench, headed by CJ Diwaker on August 25, just a
month after the single judge bench of Justice Padia concluded the hearing and
had reserved the order to be delivered on August 28. In fact, Justice Padia had
been hearing the matter since August 2021.
On
Monday, Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (AIM), for the mosque management committee,
objected to the transfer of the cases to the bench of CJ a month after the
conclusion of the hearing in the matter. “The hearing in the matter was
completed. The order was reserved and it had to be delivered today (Monday),”
said the AIM lawyer and underlined Amar Singh Vs State of UP, where a full
bench of the High Court had ruled that a matter partly heard by a bench had to
be heard by that very bench itself.
On the
contrary, the opposite side’s (Hindu side) lawyer, Advocate Puneet Gupta said
that it was the prerogative of the CJ to withdraw the case from a bench, where
even after exhaustive arguments, the judgement was not delivered. He said it
was the settled law that the CJ was the master of roaster and that he could
decide which bench would hear what matters.
However,
the CJ Diwaker said he will decide after the AIM submissions. The matter
pending in the court includes a challenge to maintainability of a suit filed
before a Varanasi Court, seeking restoration of a temple at the site where the
Gyanvapi mosque exists.
The
application was filed in a suit filed by the Ancient Idol Of Swayambhu Lord
Vishweshwar And 5 Others in the year 1991 claiming the restoration of the land on which the Gyanvapi Mosque stands
to Hindus. The Plaintiffs, in the suit, sought a declaration that the land on
which the Mosque is built on the ruins
of the Kashi Vishwanath temple. The suit has been challenged before the HC.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/aug/29/gyanvapi-row-muslim-side-opposes-transfer-of-cases-to-cj-led-hc-bench-2609682.html
-----
FIR
against fact-checker Mohammed Zubair for uploading clip showing child being
slapped in UP school
29.08.23
Piyush
Srivastava, K.M. Rakesh
Uttar
Pradesh police have filed an FIR against fact-checker Mohammed Zubair for
sharing the video of a headmistress ordering children to slap a Muslim child in
her school, accusing the AltNews journalist of revealing the boy’s identity.
The
lodging of the FIR raises several questions about the way a well-meaning law is
being selectively invoked with the suspected motive of intimidating information
gatherers and verifiers who are filling a yawning vacuum. Several of the legacy
media outlets have been seeking to play down initially such gut-wrenching
events that confirm the worst fears about the state of the nation.
Both the
Muzaffarnagar atrocity and the Manipur savagery on two women — events that made
large sections of Indians gasp in disbelief — were taken note of because of
videos on social media, not because of reporting by the so-called mainstream
media.
The
video of Tripta Tyagi laughing and instructing the children to hit the sobbing
boy harder — after declaring that Muslim children should be beaten before being
sent home for not doing their work well — had gone viral on Friday, with
thousands sharing it to expose the hatred and demand action against the
teacher.
According
to the FIR, Zubair has been booked under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice
(Care and Protection) Act, 2015, which states: “No report in any newspaper,
magazine, news-sheet or audio-visual media or other forms of communication
regarding any inquiry or investigation or judicial procedure, shall disclose
the name, address or school or any other particular, which may lead to the
identification of a child in conflict with law or a child in need of care and
protection or a child victim or witness of a crime.”
Any
person flouting the provisions of the act is punishable with imprisonment up to
six months or a fine up to Rs 2 lakh or both.
Zubair,
who is based in Bangalore, told The Telegraph that he had learned about the FIR
from social media and had got in touch with his lawyer.
“I just
saw the FIR that was shared on Twitter and I see only my name mentioned in
that. Lots of people had shared it (the video of the boy being slapped) before
me and after me, but none of their names are there (in the FIR). I deleted the
video soon after (chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights) Priyank Kanoongo tweeted saying not to disclose the identity of the
boy. In spite of that, they have filed an FIR against me,” Zubair said.
Kanoongo
had on Friday evening, by when the video was viral, asked people not to share
it to protect the identity of the child, and Zubair had tweeted soon after that
he had deleted the video because the NCPCR wanted people to do so.
Subsequently,
several Twitter users have complained that their tweets commenting on the
incident without revealing the child’s identity were being withheld by Twitter
“in response to a legal demand” from the government.
The FIR
against Zubair was filed on a complaint by Vishnudatt, a resident of the
village in Muzaffarnagar where the school is located. In the complaint
submitted to the local police station on Monday, Vishnudatt said: “... a viral
video has come to my knowledge in which the identity of the victim child was
revealed by the journalist of AltNews, Mohammed Zubair, which is a violation of
child’s rights under the Juvenile Justice Act. I request you to kindly take
legal action….” The FIR gives Zubair’s place of residence as Muzaffarnagar.
Several
calls by this newspaper to the mobile phone number of Vishnudatt went
unanswered.
Circle
officer Ravi Shankar Mishra said Vishnudatt “has stated that he got information
that the identity of the child was revealed”.
“We
don’t know much about the complainant except that he belongs to the same
village,” Mishra said.
Asked
about the future course of action, Mishra said: “We have registered the FIR and
the rest is a subject of investigation. Maybe we will call him here or send
police to bring him here, but that would be decided only when the probe is
complete.”
Delhi
police had arrested Zubair in June 2022 on charges of hurting Hindu sentiments
for a tweet from 2018 in which he had shared a screenshot from an old Hindi
film. Cases were registered against him in several districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The Supreme Court had clubbed all the cases, shifted them to Delhi, and granted
him bail in July 2022.
The
headmistress on Saturday said she had got other children to beat the Class I
student because he was not learning the five times table. She said the video
was edited to focus on the word “Mohammedan” but did not deny saying that
Muslim children should be beaten.
Tyagi
has been booked under IPC sections 323 and 504 for voluntarily causing hurt and
intentionally insulting someone with ulterior motives.
Rajiv
Kumar, chairman of the district child welfare committee, told reporters the
child’s parents had withdrawn him from the school. “He will continue his
education in another school,” Kumar said.
The
child’s father said: “Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind is giving us assistance for his
education. He will study in a school in a neighbouring village.”
A video
surfaced on social media on Monday afternoon in which an old man, identified as
the grandfather of the child, is seen wiping his tears as he says: “I am hurt
by the way my grandson was beaten. Right action was not taken against the
guilty....”
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/fir-lodged-against-fact-checker-mohammed-zubair-for-uploading-clip-showing-child-being-slapped-in-up-school/cid/1962223
------
Europe
UK says
a cyberattack was not the cause of air traffic problems that snarled flights
August
29, 2023
LONDON
(AP) — The British government said Tuesday that a breakdown at the nationwide
air traffic control system that saw hundreds of flights delayed and canceled
was not caused by a cyberattack.
Transport
Secretary Mark Harper said the problem was caused by a “technical fault” at
flight control operator National Air Traffic Services. The company said the
outage had hit its ability to process flight plans automatically, meaning that
for several hours the plans had to be input manually, a much slower process
that meant fewer flights could take off and land.
Harper
told the BBC that “it is going to take some days to get people back to where
they should be.”
The
problem hit on a late-summer holiday Monday that is one of the busiest days of
the year for air travel. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said that by Monday
afternoon, 232 flights due to leave U.K. airports and 271 arriving flights had
been canceled.
Dozens
of flights were canceled at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest air hub, which warned of
“knock-on impacts.” At least 32 departures from Heathrow were canceled on
Tuesday, and 31 arrivals axed.
Gatwick,
London’s second-busiest airport, said it planned to operate a normal schedule
on Tuesday, but advised passengers to check with airlines before traveling to
the airport.
Source: apnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://apnews.com/article/uk-flight-delays-air-traffic-problems-eb6c1c569ad37f41334c4b21cb50f7c1
------
Senior
Ukrainian intelligence officer commits suicide
Aug 29,
2023
TEHRAN,
Aug. 29 (MNA) – Colonel Dmitry Bakaev, the deputy head of the special
communications department of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), has
apparently killed himself at his workplace in Kyiv.
The news
was first reported on Monday by Ukrainian media outlet Strana.ua, which cited
sources within the security agency.
“The
incident happened on August 25. Dmitry Bakaev … was found in his office with a
gunshot wound to the head. The SBU officer shot himself with a Makarov pistol;
it was his service weapon,” the source stated, RT reported.
The
outlet also circulated a suicide note left behind by Bakaev to SBU boss Vassily
Malyuk. The late colonel blamed his death on his superiors, claiming he had
been systematically mistreated and had had his “human dignity” repeatedly
violated.
According
to the source, several SBU officers have already been questioned about the
allegations raised by Bakaev.
Later in
the day, the incident was also acknowledged by the service itself, which
claimed it was investigating Bakaev’s death, but refrained from calling it a
suicide.
“The
circumstances of the death of the SBU officer are being investigated as part of
criminal proceedings, conducted by investigators of the National Police. The
Security Service of Ukraine expresses sincere condolences to the family and
friends of the deceased employee,” the agency told Strana.ua in a statement,
pledging to provide “maximum assistance” to the investigators working on the
case.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/205318/Senior-Ukrainian-intelligence-officer-commits-suicide
------
Pilots
killed in Zhytomyr Oblast plane collision conferred military ranks
29 AUGUST 2023
OLHA
HLUSHCHENKO
The
pilots who tragically died in Zhytomyr Oblast on 25 August have been conferred
military ranks, and they were nominated for state awards.
Source:
Mykola Oleshchuk, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force; Ukrainian Air Force
Quote
from Oleshchuk: "The military pilots who tragically died during a combat
mission in Zhytomyr Oblast on 25 August 2023 have been nominated for state
awards.
I also
issued an order to confer them military ranks."
Details:
In accordance with Order No. 661 of the Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force
dated 28 August 2023, Major Viacheslav Mintsa and Major Serhii Prokazin were
posthumously conferred the military rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain
Andrii Pilshchykov was given the rank of Major.
Background:
Andrii
Pilshchykov, who went by the alias of Juice, and two other pilots were killed
in a collision between two Ukrainian training aircraft in Zhytomyr Oblast on
the evening of 25 August. The Vasylkiv Tactical Aviation Brigade reported that,
in addition to Andrii "Juice" Pilshchykov, Viacheslav Mintsa and
Serhii Prokazin were killed in the 25 August crash in Zhytomyr Oblast
The
State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the plane crash.
President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that all the circumstances of the crash of training
aircraft in Zhytomyr Oblast that killed three pilots would be established.
The
State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) reported that among the lines of enquiry
concerning the investigation of the recent crash of two training aircraft in
Zhytomyr Oblast,which killed three pilots, technical malfunction of the
aircraft, pilot error, and a violation of flight management procedures were
being considered. The crash occurred due to the collision of two planes during
a turning manoeuvre.
Source: pravda.com.ua
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/08/29/7417496/
-----
Ukraine
warns of possible energy facility attacks amid decreased rocket activity
ORYSIA
HRUDKA
29/08/2023
The
intensity of Russian rocket strikes on Ukraine has shown a significant
reduction during the summer months, Suspilne reports. However, experts warn
that this decrease could be indicative of Russia’s attempt to stockpile
missiles for potential attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. The Ukrainian
military’s General Staff of Intelligence (GUR) suggests that while massive
barrages like those witnessed last year, which saw simultaneous launches of 70
to 100 rockets, are less likely to recur, the risk of targeted strikes remains.
Skibitskyi
further emphasized that Russia seems to have grasped the potential limitations
of their approach, understanding that their resources could be depleted without
achieving their intended objectives, much like the situation experienced last
year.
As the
situation evolves, GUR anticipates potential shifts in Russia’s tactics.
Skibitskyi disclosed that Russian reconnaissance efforts are underway, focusing
on identifying vulnerabilities in Ukrainian energy facilities and pinpointing
anti-aircraft defense systems, likely to determine optimal launch routes for
missiles. It’s speculated that Russia might opt for a strategy involving 1 to 3
targeted strikes on a single facility or resort to mass drone and missile
attacks.
Ukrainian
military officials believe that Russia’s strategy will depend on its ability to
accurately identify critical targets. While instances of widespread rocket
barrages are expected to decline, more precise strikes remain a potential
threat.
Colonel
Yuriy Ihnat, spokesperson for the Air Force Command, added his insights,
suggesting that in future energy facility attacks, Russia might emphasize the
use of drones.
Insights
into heating season readiness
Based on
data from the Ministry of Energy, five nuclear blocks generating 4.4 GW of
power have undergone maintenance, while an additional four blocks producing 3.4
GW are still in the process of being repaired.
As for
thermal power stations, maintenance has been completed or is ongoing for 24
energy blocks, constituting 62% of the total units, with a combined capacity of
4.3 GW.
In terms
of central heating plants that play a crucial role in keeping people warm, 70%
have undergone repairs, with the remaining 30% currently undergoing
maintenance. Similarly, 32 hydroelectric units have been repaired or are
currently being maintained, accounting for 68% of the total capacity. This
amounts to nearly 1.8 GW of power.”
Source: euromaidanpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/08/29/ukraine-warns-of-possible-energy-facility-attacks-amid-decreased-rocket-activity/
------
North America
US to
continue 'illegal' Syria occupation for ‘many years’
28 Aug,
2023
Chair of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said American troops will remain in the
country for the foreseeable future
American
troops' illegal presence in Syria will continue, General Mark Milley, chairman
of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has predicted. The top general claimed that
the military contingent will remain in the country to fight remaining ISIS
militants.
President
Bashar Assad’s government has repeatedly demanded that Washington pull out its
forces from its territory, describing the US military presence there as
illegal.
Speaking
to Jordan’s Al-Mamlaka TV channel on Thursday, Milley said: “I can’t imagine
that the United States would ever walk away from the Middle East. I think we’ll
remain committed for many, many years and decades to come.”
The
General went on to explain that small groups of ISIS militants remain “in and
around Syria and around Iraq...and if we were to somehow suddenly withdraw,
those forces could reconstruct themselves.”
According
to the military official, while the Islamist group was largely vanquished, its
ideology is still there, which calls for a “level of commitment” on the part of
Washington.
When
asked whether Washington will leave Syria when the terrorist group has been
completely eradicated, Milley said that such a decision would fall to US
President Joe Biden.
The
chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff noted at the same time that the Middle
East as a whole is “very significant to the United States for a lot of
reasons,” not least because it is a “primary source of oil and energy
resources.”
Back in
July, the Associated Press, citing an anonymous Pentagon official, reported
that the US was considering a military response to an alleged “increasing
Russian aggression” in the skies over Syria.
Earlier
that month, US Air Forces Central commander Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich claimed
that Russian fighter jets had “harassed” American MQ-9 Reaper drones over Syria
on three separate occasions in a week.
Syrian
President Bashar Assad invited the Russian military to assist his forces in the
fight against Islamist militants back in 2015, with Moscow maintaining a
military presence in the country ever since.
The US,
too, launched its own bombing campaign against Islamic State militants in 2014
while providing support to dozens of armed opposition groups.
Damascus
has repeatedly accused the US of shipping stolen Syrian oil out of the country
under the guise of an anti-terrorism operation. According to the Syrian
government, as much as 80% of the country’s daily oil output is taken abroad by
“US forces and their supported armed groups.”
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/581988-us-general-military-presence-syria/
-----
Pope
Francis speaks out against his critics in the U.S. Catholic Church
Gerard
O’Connell
August
28, 2023
In his
recent conversation with Portuguese Jesuits in Lisbon during World Youth Day,
Pope Francis commented that the situation in the Catholic Church in the United
States is “not easy,” where “there is a very strong reactionary attitude” that
“is organized and shapes the way people belong, even emotionally.”
He also
spoke about what should be the pastoral attitude toward L.G.B.T. persons and
much else, as revealed in the transcript of the conversation published today in
La Civiltà Cattolica, by Antonio Spadaro, S.J., the magazine’s editor, who was
present at the meeting. The full transcript can be read here.
Pope
Francis addresses American Catholics who are ‘isolating themselves’
The pope
spoke about the situation in the U.S. church after a Portuguese Jesuit brother,
also called Francisco, who had spent a sabbatical year in the United States,
told him that he was greatly affected and even suffered at seeing “many, even
bishops, criticizing your leadership of the Church. And many even accuse the
Jesuits, who are usually a kind of critical resource of the pope, of not being
so now. They would even like the Jesuits to criticize you explicitly.”
America
has learned that Pope Francis knows which cardinals, bishops, clergy and
prominent laity are openly critical of his leadership of the Catholic Church,
but in his answer to the Portuguese Jesuit he did not mention any names.
Instead, he said,
I would
like to remind those people that indietrismo [being backward-looking] is
useless and we need to understand that there is an appropriate evolution in the
understanding of matters of faith and morals as long as we follow the three
criteria that Vincent of Lérins already indicated in the fifth century:
doctrine evolves ut annis consolidetur, dilatetur tempore, sublimetur aetate.
In other words, doctrine also progresses, expands and consolidates with time
and becomes firmer, but is always progressing. Change develops from the roots
upward, growing in accord with these three criteria.
The pope
went on to give some examples of the evolution of doctrine in the Catholic
Church in recent times. “Today it is a sin to possess atomic bombs; the death
penalty is a sin. You cannot employ it, but it was not so before. As for
slavery, some pontiffs before me tolerated it, but things are different today.
So, you change, you change, but with the criteria just mentioned.”
The
first Latin American pope recalled that “Vincent of Lérins makes the comparison
between human biological development and the transmission from one age to
another of the depositum fidei [deposit of faith], which grows and is
consolidated with the passage of time. Here, our understanding of the human
person changes with time, and our consciousness also deepens.”
He
added, “The other sciences and their evolution also help the Church in this
growth in understanding. The view of Church doctrine as monolithic is
erroneous.”
He
noted, however:
Some
people opt out; they go backward; they are what I call ‘indietristi.’ When you
go backward, you form something closed, disconnected from the roots of the
Church and you lose the sap of revelation. If you don’t change upward, you go
backward, and then you take on criteria for change other than those our faith
gives for growth and change. And the effects on morality are devastating.
Pope
Francis said, “The problems that moralists have to examine today are very
serious, and to deal with them they have to take the risk of making changes,
but in the direction I was saying.”
Addressing
the Jesuit brother who had raised the question, Francis remarked, “You have
been to the United States and you say you have felt a climate of closure. Yes,
this climate can be experienced in some situations. And there you can lose the
true tradition and turn to ideologies for support. In other words, ideology
replaces faith, membership of a sector of the Church replaces membership of the
Church.”
In this
context, Pope Francis paid tribute to the “courage” of Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who
served as superior general of the Jesuits from 1965-83. He recalled that Father
Arrupe had inherited a Society of Jesus that was “bogged down” because of a
text known as the Epitome drafted by a previous superior general, the Polish
Jesuit, Włodzimierz Ledóchowski, who led the order from 1915-1942. Francis
described that text as “a selection of the Constitutions and Rules, all mixed
up” and recalled that he had experience of this in the novitiate, “albeit with
great teachers who were of great help, but some taught certain things that
fossilized the Society.”
Francis
remarked that while the younger Portuguese Jesuits “have not experienced these
tensions,” nevertheless what one of them had said “about some sectors” in the
United States church “reminds me of what we [Jesuits] have already experienced
with the Epitome, which generated a mentality that was all rigid and
contorted.”
He
concluded: “Those American groups you talk about, so closed, are isolating
themselves. Instead of living by doctrine, by the true doctrine that always
develops and bears fruit, they live by ideologies. When you abandon doctrine in
life to replace it with an ideology, you have lost, you have lost as in war.”
Pope
encourages ministry to homosexual and transgender people
Another
Portuguese Jesuit called João, who works in the university center in Coimbra,
recalled that Francis had told young people at World Youth Day in Lisbon that
“we are all called as we are, and that there is room for everyone in the
Church.” He told the pope that he does pastoral work with university students,
and “among them are many really good ones, very committed to the Church, to the
center, very friendly with the Jesuits, who identify as homosexuals.” He said
they are “an active part of the Church, but they often do not see in doctrine
their way of living affectivity, and they do not see the call to chastity as a
personal call to celibacy, but rather as an imposition.”
He asked
the pope:
Since
they are virtuous in other areas of their lives, and know the doctrine, can we
say that they are all in error, because they do not feel, in conscience, that
their relationships are sinful? And how can we act pastorally so that these
people feel, in their way of life, called by God to a healthy affective life
that produces fruit? Should we recognize that their relationships can open up
and give seeds of true Christian love, such as the good they can accomplish,
the response they can give to the Lord?
Pope
Francis said, “I believe there is no discussion about the call being addressed
to everyone. Jesus is very clear about this: everyone. The invited guests did
not want to come to the banquet. So he sent out to the streets to call in
everyone, everyone, everyone. So that it remains clear, Jesus says ‘healthy and
sick,’ ‘righteous and sinners,’ everyone, everyone, everyone,” he said, echoing
the chant he led at World Youth Day. “In other words, the door is open to
everyone, everyone has their own space in the Church. How will each person live
it out? We help people live so that they can occupy that place with maturity,
and this applies to all kinds of people.”
The pope
then mentioned a priest he knows in Rome:
I know a
priest who works with young homosexuals. It is clear that today the issue of
homosexuality is very strong, and the sensitivity in this regard changes
according to historical circumstances. But what I don’t like at all, in
general, is that we look at the so-called ‘sin of the flesh’ with a magnifying
glass, just as we have done for so long for the sixth commandment. If you
exploited workers, if you lied or cheated, it didn’t matter, and instead sins
below the waist were relevant.
Pope
Francis repeated: “So, everyone is invited. This is the point. And the most
appropriate pastoral attitude for each person must be applied. We must not be
superficial and naive, forcing people into things and behaviors for which they
are not yet mature, or are not capable.” He said, “It takes a lot of
sensitivity and creativity to accompany people spiritually and pastorally. But
everyone, everyone, everyone is called to live in the Church: never forget
that.”
In his
answer, Francis also went on to speak about transgender people. He recalled
that a Charles de Foucauld sister, Sister Geneviève, who is in her 80s and is a
chaplain for circus performers in Rome with two other sisters, attends the
Wednesday general audiences. He said Sister Geneviève “also works a lot with
people who are transgender” and one day she asked him, “Can I bring them to the
audience?” Francis responded, “Sure! Why not?” and so, he said, “groups of
trans [people] come all the time. The first time they came, they were crying. I
was asking them why. One of them told me, ‘I didn’t think the pope would
receive me!’ Then, after the first surprise, they made a habit of coming. Some
write to me, and I email them back. Everyone is invited! I realized that these
people feel rejected, and it is really hard.”
‘The joy
I have most…comes from the preparation for the synod’
A third
Portuguese Jesuit gave Francis the chance to talk about the Synod on
Synodality’s Roman meeting that opens on Oct. 4 when he asked: “Could you share
with us what weighs most on your heart at this time? What is it that pains you
the most? On the one hand, what is weighing on your heart, and on the other
hand, what joys are you experiencing at this time?”
Pope
Francis said, “The joy that I have most at present comes from the preparation
for the synod, even though sometimes I see, in some parts, that there are
shortcomings in the way it is being conducted. The joy of seeing how from small
parish groups, from small church groups, very beautiful reflections emerge and
there is great ferment, it is a joy.”
In what
seemed an indirect response to his critics, Pope Francis emphasized, “The synod
is not my invention. It was Paul VI at the end of the Council who realized that
the Catholic Church had lost the sense of synodality. The Eastern part of the
Church maintains it. So he said, ‘Something must be done,’ and he created the
Secretariat for the Synod of Bishops. From then on there has been slow
progress, sometimes imperfect progress.”
He
revealed that “in 2001, I participated as president delegate in the synod
dedicated to the bishop as a servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the hope
of the world.” He said that when he was preparing documents on what had come
from the small groups to be voted on, “The cardinal in charge of the synod said
to me, ‘No, don’t put that in. Take it out.’ In short, they wanted a synod with
censorship, a curial censorship that blocked things.”
The
Argentine pope emphasized yet again that “synodality is not about going after
votes, as a political party would. It is not about preferences, about belonging
to this or that party. In a synod, the principal figure is the Holy Spirit. He
is the protagonist. So you have to let the Spirit lead things. Let him express
himself as he did on the morning of Pentecost.”
He
concluded by identifying one of the concerns that he has at the present time:
“One thing that worries me a lot, without any doubt, is war. Since the end of
World War II, all over the world, wars have never ceased. And today we see what
is happening in the world. It’s useless to add more words.”
Source: americamagazine.org
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/08/28/pope-francis-portugal-american-critics-lgbt-245944
-------
US park
rangers bust Burning Man climate protesters
28 Aug,
2023
Campaigners
and ‘Burners’ faced off across a makeshift blockade in Nevada that snarled
traffic for miles
Environmental
authorities in the US state of Nevada arrested a group of climate protesters on
Sunday after they blocked the one road leading to the annual Burning Man
festival and caused a miles-long traffic jam.
Park
rangers in a white pickup truck rammed a makeshift barrier to which members of
the climate campaign group Seven Circles had chained themselves following a
standoff with angry drivers trying to enter the festival.
The
rangers emerged from their trucks with sirens blaring and guns drawn, ordering
the activists onto the ground and manhandling several into handcuffs after they
failed to comply quickly enough.
In a
video of the incident posted to social media, one demonstrator can be heard
shrieking and sobbing “we’re nonviolent!” while another makes a half-hearted
attempt to evade capture by denying involvement with the protest.
The
rangers can be heard informing the demonstrators they are “trespassing on
tribal land.” Several were reportedly taken into custody. The roadblock,
located between the tiny town of Gerlach and Burning Man’s temporary
purpose-built metropolis Black Rock City, prevented cars from passing in either
direction on a road already notorious for traffic during the opening days of
the festival. The event brings 80,000 people to the Black Rock Desert for a
week of dancing, themed camps, events, and by some accounts, copious drug
use.
Greta
Thunberg fined over climate protestREAD MORE: Greta Thunberg fined over climate
protest
In a
video shot earlier on Sunday, the protesters dare angry drivers to “call the
cops” as the festivalgoers’ efforts to fold up the barrier are stymied by
activists chaining themselves to it.
Seven
Circles claimed the protest was meant to draw attention to “capitalism’s
inability to address climate’s ecological breakdown” and the “popularization of
Burning Man among affluent people who do not live the stated values of Burning
Man, resulting in the commodification of the event.” The festival’s goals of
being carbon-negative by 2030 are not sufficient, the group said in a statement
on Sunday.
However,
the event’s most affluent guests often enter via private jet rather than
driving the long, hot road through the desert, landing at an airfield set up
specifically to accommodate these high-rollers.
Dedicated
to the spirit of “radical self-reliance,” the Burning Man Project bans the use
of currency inside festival gates and requires attendees to bring whatever they
need for the week. The festival’s “leave no trace” rule requires attendees to
take all their trash out of the desert with them when the party is over, an
edict which is not always followed.
In
January, the festival organization sued the federal Bureau of Land Management
for allegedly violating environmental laws by approving a massive geothermal
energy project less than a mile from Gerlach. The company behind the project
countered by touting geothermal’s green-energy bona fides and attacking Burning
Man for the “copious amounts of fossil fuels” its annual gathering consumes.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/581996-burning-man-climate-protesters-arrested/
----
Community
Alert: CAIR Welcomes Halal Meal Accommodations in Two Maryland Public School
Systems
Ismail
Allison
August
28, 2023
Civil
Rights Group Advises Observant Muslim Families to Express Dietary Preferences
to BCPS, MCPS School Cafeteria Managers, Urges Other School Systems to Adopt
Similar Policies
(BALTIMORE,
MD, 8/28/2023) – The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) today welcomed news of confirmed halal meal accommodations in
Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) and Montgomery County Public Schools
(MCPS) for Muslim students who observe Islamic dietary guidelines.
CAIR is
encouraging families and students who wish to secure these meals to notify
their teacher and school’s cafeteria manager of their preference at the start
of the 2023-24 academic year.
[NOTE:
Halal, an Arabic term meaning “permissible,” refers to food that adheres to
Islamic dietary laws. Muslims observing these laws consume halal food, which
involves specific guidelines regarding the sourcing, preparation, and handling
of ingredients. Halal meals exclude pork and its by-products, alcohol, and any
food items that contain ingredients derived from animals not slaughtered
according to Islamic requirements.]
“By
offering halal meal options, school systems enable observant students to uphold
their beliefs while participating fully in school activities, including
lunchtime,” said CAIR’s Maryland director Zainab Chaudry. “We welcome these
developments as the availability of halal meals in public schools not only
meets the dietary needs of Muslim students but also promotes a sense of
belonging and inclusion. It contributes to creating an educational environment
where students can thrive without compromising their religious values.”
She
noted that CAIR offers a booklet, called “An Educator’s Guide to Islamic
Religious Practices,” designed to help school officials provide a positive
learning environment for Muslim students.
“As a
former public school student, I know just how difficult it is to consistently
have pizza for lunch because you have no other options,” said CAIR’s
Legislative Intern Dua Hussain. “Working on halal meals, however, has given me
so much hope because we’re going to be seeing more options for these students’
meals.”
Earlier
this year, the civil rights group developed a halal meals proposal for school
systems to consider, and has been in touch with the Department of Food and
Nutritional Services for various school systems over the summer to ensure this
accommodation. Considerations included nutrition guidelines, demand,
accessibility, and diversified menu options that include meat items, which is
still being explored.
CAIR
encourages other school districts and educational institutions across the
state, where a demand exists, to also offer halal meal options. This measure
enriches the overall school experience, building confidence and fostering a
spirit of unity and mutual respect among students of different faiths and
backgrounds.
CAIR
encourages other school districts and educational institutions across the state
in which a demand exists to also offer halal meal options. This measure
enriches the overall school experience, building confidence and fostering a
spirit of unity and mutual respect among students of different faiths and
backgrounds.
Washington,
D.C., based CAIR remains committed to working to ensure that the rights and
needs of Muslim students are met, and fostering an educational environment that
embraces diversity, inclusivity, and religious freedom.
CAIR is
America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission
is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice,
and empower American Muslims.
La
misión de CAIR es proteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados
Unidos.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-alert-cair-welcomes-halal-meal-accommodations-in-two-maryland-public-school-systems/
------
Arab World
Saudi-Palestinian
meeting highlights keenness to further bolster bilateral ties
August
28, 2023
AMMAN —
Naif Al-Sudairi, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Jordan and non-resident
ambassador-designate to Palestine, held a meeting with senior officials of the
Palestinian Authority at his embassy office in Amman on Sunday.
During
the meeting, both sides emphasized the depth and strength of bilateral
relations between Saudi Arabia and Palestine. They discussed various aspects of
further bolstering bilateral relations and cooperation between the two
countries.
The
Palestinian officials who attended the meeting included Hussein Al-Sheikh,
secretary general of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization, Maj. Gen. Majid Faraj, and Palestinian President’s Advisor for
Diplomatic Affairs Dr. Majdi Al-Khalidi.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635300/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Palestinian-meeting-highlights-keenness-to-further-bolster-bilateral-ties
-----
KSrelief
distributes food aid in Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan
August
29, 2023
RIYADH:
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has provided food
parcels to the most vulnerable groups in Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia this week,
according to the Saudi Press Agency.
About
6,000 cartons of dates were handed out on Saturday to the most vulnerable
families in Marib Governorate, Yemen, benefiting a total of 36,000 individuals.
The
provision of food aid, in the form of dates, is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing
commitment to support the Yemeni people through various humanitarian and relief
projects.
In
Pakistan’s Sindh province, a total of 988 food parcels were distributed on
Saturday, benefitting 6,919 individuals who have been directly affected by the
devastating floods.
KSRelief
has also distributed 900 food aid parcels in Somalia. This initiative has
provided vital assistance to 5,400 vulnerable individuals in the area.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2363436/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi
authorities carry out drug busts across Kingdom
August
29, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi authorities have apprehended three individuals dealing drugs in separate
arrests, officials announced on Monday.
A
Pakistani national was arrested in the Eastern Province for dealing
methamphetamine, while two citizens were detained in Madinah for dealing
hashish and other tablets subject to the medical regulation, in addition to
possessing an unspecified amount of cash, authorities said.
Border
guards in Jazan also foiled an attempt to smuggle 90kg of Khat into the Kingdom
on Monday.
Individuals
chew khat leaves for its stimulant effects, which are less intense than those
caused by abusing cocaine or methamphetamine.
The
perpetrators were arrested and legal proceedings were begun against them.
The
government has urged anyone with information related to suspected drug dealing
or smuggling operations to call the confidential hotline 911 in Riyadh, Makkah
and Eastern region, 999 across other regions in the Kingdom, or the General
Directorate of Narcotic Control at 995 and 995@gdnc.gov.sa.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2363356/saudi-arabia
----
Crew
survive as Tornado fighter jet crashes during training mission in Dhahran
August
28, 2023
RIYADH —
The air crew survived as a Saudi fighter plane crashed during a training
mission in the Eastern Province on Monday.
Brig.
Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the Ministry of Defense, stated that the
Tornado aircraft, one of the fighter planes of the Royal Saudi Air Force,
crashed at 3:44 pm on Monday during a routine training mission in the training
area of King Abdulaziz Air Base in Dhahran.
“The air
crew had survived - praise be to God - after using chair parachutes, and that
there were no injuries or losses on the ground as a result of the plane crash,”
the spokesman said, adding that a committee has been constituted and it has
begun investigation into the cause of the incident, the Saudi Press Agency
reported.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa/
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635310/SAUDI-ARABIA/Crew-survive-as-Tornado-fighter-jet-crashes-during-training-mission-in-Dhahran
-----
Southeast Asia
Viral
Video of Malaysian Teacher Running with Disabled StudentEncouraging Him to
Cross the Finish Line Touches Social Media Users
29 Aug
2023
FATIMAH ZAINAL
PETALING
JAYA: A viral video showing a teacher running alongside her disabled student to
encourage him to cross the finish line at a school sports event has left social
media users teary-eyed.
The
48-second video shared on TikTok by user @faridkamaruddin18 showed five
schoolchildren participating in a race on a running track, including a
one-legged boy on crutches.
Based on
a banner spotted in the background of the stadium, the event was the Jerantut
District School Sports Council (MSSD) 2023 special education athletics
tournament.
The boy,
who was the only one with crutches, was seen trying his best to race to the
finish line despite being behind all the other participants during the race.
Not only
did his perseverance, spirit and tenacity to continue the run win over social
media users’ hearts, but so did the caring act by his teacher who ran alongside
him to motivate him to cross the finish line.
Many
commented that the heart-warming act recorded in the video, which has garnered
over 633,000 views as of Tuesday (Aug 29), brought them to tears.
“I was
there on duty too. When I saw him running, I clapped my hands to show my
support but my eyes were watery,” commented TikTok user @Teacher Mun's Life.
@Nurshafienaz
wrote, “My tears are falling. God is great. Thank you teacher. As for the boy,
I pray for him to be blessed with strength and success in this world and the
afterlife.”
“Who is
cutting the onion? I was very touched by the effort of the teacher and the
student,” commented user @pinky.
@Nurul
Yushida1983 commented, “A mother’s tears have fallen. May all the affairs of
this child and teacher be eased.”
“Aunty
is crying. He ran with such spirit,” wrote user @salmahidris68 while
@AtieCute23 said, “I’m teary-eyed watching this video.”
User
@syakirfairus669 then said that “the teacher is the one who moved me. In life,
no matter how difficult it is, as long as there is someone to encourage, God
willing, there is a way.”
@Akak
Saga Kuning commented that the boy could be a para-athlete in the making
following in the footsteps of Paralympic champions RidzuanPuzi, Abdul Latif
Romly and Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli.
Some
also said that someone should look into contributing a sports prosthetic leg
for the boy.
According
to Malay daily Harian Metro, the boy is 11-year-old Muhammad Aqil Naufal
Zahiran and that he had been shy about running in front of an audience but was
determined to get to the finish line like his other peers.
In an
interview with the daily, Muhammad Aqil, who is also an Inclusive Education
Programme (PPI) pupil at the SK Felda Lepar Utara 1, said it was his first time
taking part in a race.
He was
also happy when his teacher congratulated him for finishing the race.
“I was
shy standing next to the other participants but I continued running even though
my pants almost fell because I thought that whatever happens, I wanted to
finish the race even if my friends were already far ahead,” he said in the
interview.
Muhammad
Aqil, who loves playing football, said if given the opportunity to participate
in running again, he is ready to take part.
He had
his left leg amputated in 2015 due to a bacterial infection while his father
passed away two years ago.
Meanwhile,
Intan Zulaikha Jusoh, 35, who was also Muhammad Aqil's accompanying teacher
during the tournament admitted that she was touched and proud to see the
enthusiasm shown by her student in the race.
"My
intention of running with him at that time was just to keep encouraging him to
continue running to the finish line and to accompany him as I didn't want him
to feel like he was running alone because his other friends were far ahead,
that's all," she told the daily.
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/29/viral-video-of-teacher-running-with-disabled-student-touches-social-media-users
------
Selangor
Islamic Religious Council says issue of Fahmi allegedly campaigning in mosque
resolved
28 Aug
2023
SHAH
ALAM, Aug 28 — The issue of Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil
who was allegedly campaigning in a mosque in Kundang, Rawang in July, is
considered to be resolved through an investigation conducted by the Selangor
Islamic Religious Council (Mais).
Mais
chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said that the investigation found that
the Pakatan Harapan (PH) communications director only talked about current
issues and not political issues.
“He
(Fahmi) was replying to questions related to the concert (rude actions by the
vocalist of the British band, The 1975) and the action taken to end the concert
because it had violated the conditions which had been agreed upon.
“He did
not mention politics in the mosque; in my view (this issue) is settled. He came
to pray, he looked for a nearby mosque and surau. As a minister, he should
provide clear answers to the questions asked by the congregants,” he told the
media after officiating the Jalur Gemilang presentation, and flagging off the
Ziarah Merdeka Mais Convoy, here today.
Recently,
several photos of Fahmi were making their rounds on social media, with claims
that he was speaking about political issues in the main prayer hall of the
Nurul Yaqin Mosque, Kampung Melayu Seri Kundang, Rawang.
Meanwhile,
in another development, Abdul Aziz said that Mais, through the Selangor Zakat
Board (LZS), will assist the family of the late Sharipuddin Shaari, one of the
victims of the plane crash on Guthrie Expressway near Bandar Elmina, here, on
August 17.
He said
that the emergency assistance of RM500 had been given by LZS to the victim’s
widow, Suriana Muda, a housewife, on August 21.
“The
check also found that the family has to support two children who are still in
school, and there are some proposals for assistance to be delivered but we look
at the eligibility first, including monthly financial assistance, house rent,
food and schooling,” he said.
The
August 17 crash killed eight people on board the aircraft and two motorists —
an e-hailing driver and a p-hailing rider — who happened to be passing by the
crash site. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/28/selangor-islamic-religious-council-says-issue-of-fahmi-allegedly-campaigning-in-mosque-resolved/87683
-----
Penang
PAS chief says state Opposition yet to choose its leader
By
Opalyn Mok
29 Aug
2023
GEORGE
TOWN, Aug 29 — The Penang Perikatan Nasional (PN) has yet to decide on its
assemblyman who will be the Opposition leader in the state legislative
assembly.
Penang
PAS state commissioner Muhamad Fauzi Yusoff said today that the state chapter
of the coalition has submitted a list of names out of the 11 PN assemblymen
elected in the August 12 state election.
“There
are names from both PAS and Bersatu submitted to the PN national leadership to
decide,” he told reporters here after the state assemblymen swearing-in
ceremony at the state legislative assembly here today.
He said
the PN leadership will have to decide on the Opposition leader post before the
state legislative assembly session which is expected to be held In November.
The 11
Penang PN assemblymen comprise seven from PAS and four from Parti Pribumi
Bersatu Malaysia. Its partner Gerakan had contested in the state election but
won zero seats.
Muhamad
Fauzi was placed at the state Opposition leader seat today during the
swearing-in ceremony.
When
asked about his seating position, he said it was arranged by the current
Pakatan Harapan- Barisan Nasional unity state government.
It is
believed that Muhamad Fauzi, who is Sungai Dua assemblyman, and Penang Bersatu
chief Zulkefli Bakar’s (Penanti) names were among those proposed to the
coalition leadership to hold the Opposition leader post.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/29/penang-pas-chief-says-state-opposition-yet-to-choose-its-leader/87830
------
PM
Anwar’s political secretary visits next-of-kin of Elmina plane crash victims
29 Aug 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The prime minister’s political secretary Ahmad Farhan Fauzi
visited the next-of-kin of two victims who perished in the plane crash in
Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam on August 17.
Through
a post on his Facebook page, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Ahmad
Farhan had the opportunity to visit the parents of p-hailing rider, Muhamad
Hafiz Muhamad Saleh in Taman Sidam Kiri, Kedah yesterday.
During
the visit, the deceased’s father, Muhamad Saleh Othman, 57, informed that his
son was supposed to return home for his sister’s wedding celebration and his
death was a great loss to the family.
Anwar
said Ahmad Farhan also visited Shaharul Amir Omar’s widow, Suhaila Akasha, 46,
in Lumut, Perak yesterday.
“Our
prayers for the families involved to be blessed with great perseverance and
patience in going through the test. I am sure they are deeply affected as they
have been put through a great trial.
“May the
Almighty grant the crash victims the best place and forgive all their sins,
InsyaAllah” said Anwar.
On
August 17, 10 individuals, including Pahang Local Government, Housing,
Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Seri Johari Harun
were killed in the crash.
Eight of
the victims were six passengers and two crew aboard the light aircraft, while
the other two were a p-hailing rider and an e-hailing driver who happened to be
passing by the crash site. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/29/pm-anwars-political-secretary-visits-next-of-kin-of-elmina-plane-crash-victims/87823
------
VP Amin
outlines directives to Islamic economy and finance committees
28 Aug
2023
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin outlined directives to committees of
Islamic economy and finance (KDEKS) from various regions to support development
of the Islamic economy and financial sector in Indonesia.
The vice
president conveyed his directives after witnessing the inauguration of the
KDEKS of DKI Jakarta, Banten, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, and Bangka Belitung
Islands provinces at the Vice Presidential Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.
"Firstly,
I would like to urge you to formulate innovative, targeted, and measurable
programs aimed at developing the Islamic economy and finance by scouting and
identifying prospective sectors," he told the management of KDEKS.
VP Amin
pushed all KDEKS to prioritize devising "quick wins" programs, with
the objective of bringing immediate beneficial impacts to the country's Islamic
economy and financial sector.
Secondly,
he underscored the significance of boosting synergy and collaboration among
KDEKS and other parties as well as among KDEKS from different regions by
upholding the spirit of togetherness and sustainability.
"We
have been executing various activities to develop the Islamic economy and
finance, and I believe they serve as promising foundations for us," he
noted.
Hence,
the vice president deemed it crucial to sustain and expand such activities in
the hopes of spreading the fruitful values of Islamic economy to a broader
population.
Meanwhile,
the third directive constitutes the combination of the two other directives, as
the VP appealed to the management of all KDEKS in different regions to work
hand in hand to produce impactful coordinated programs that align with the
national development plans.
In this
context, VP Amin urged every KDEKS to take into account the development plans
at the national level in the processes of planning and budgeting.
The VP
expressed optimism that by implementing the three directives, all KDEKS,
especially the five newly inaugurated ones, would be able to help their regions
advance in the Islamic economy and financial sector.
The vice
president noted that development of the Islamic economy and financial sector
can also help Indonesia stimulate economic growth and realize equitable economy
and development.
During
the inauguration ceremony, VP Amin was accompanied by his aides from the Vice
Presidential Secretariat, including the head of the secretariat, Ahmad Erani
Yustika.
Source: antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://en.antaranews.com/news/292188/vp-amin-outlines-directives-to-islamic-economy-and-finance-committees
------
Mideast
Shuaa
Jalal Naif, a Palestinian Prisoner Enters His 21st Year in Israeli Occupation
Prisons
August
29, 2023
Shuaa
Jalal Naif, a Palestinian prisoner hailing from Jenin, entered on Tuesday,
August 29, 2023, his 21st year behind bars in Israeli occupation prisons.
Kammaji has become a symbol of resilience and determination, defying the
challenges of imprisonment to achieve remarkable accomplishments.
Mr.
Montaser Sammour, the director of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club in Jenin,
spoke of Kammaji’s extraordinary journey. Imprisoned since 2003, Kammaji was
sentenced to a 25-year term by Israeli occupation authorities. Despite the
harsh conditions of confinement, he managed to not only persevere but thrive.
Sammour
revealed that Kammaji successfully completed his university education while
incarcerated, earning a bachelor’s degree in history. Additionally, he
memorized the entire Quran, a feat that requires immense dedication and
discipline. Even more impressively, Kammaji authored a book titled “Questions
and Answers in the Beliefs of the Beloved,” showcasing his intellectual
pursuits even within the confines of his prison cell.
Highlighting
the cruel impact of his imprisonment on Kammaji’s family, Sammour disclosed
that the prisoner’s mother and brother, Diaa, passed away while he was in
captivity. The Israeli occupation denied him the chance to bid a final farewell
to his loved ones.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://daysofpalestine.ps/palestinian-prisoner-enters-his-21st-year-in-israeli-occupation-prisons-3/
------
Iran’s
Raisi urges Japan to release frozen funds
August
29, 2023
TEHRAN:
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called on Japan on Tuesday to display its
independence from Washington by releasing Tehran’s frozen assets amid US
sanctions — and then said the only blocked Iranian funds were being held in
South Korea.
“Japan
should act independently from the US by releasing our blocked funds,” Raisi
said when asked by a Japanese reporter about $1.5 billion of blocked funds in
Japan.
He then
appeared to contradict himself.
“I must
clarify that our Central Bank earlier said we only had unjustly frozen funds in
South Korea. All other assets abroad are at the disposal of Iran’s Central
Bank,” Raisi said.
Tehran
and Washington have reached an agreement in which five US citizens held in Iran
will be freed in exchange for $6 billion of Iranian assets frozen in South
Korea.
On Aug.
10, Iran allowed four detained US citizens to move into house arrest from
Tehran’s Evin prison. A fifth was already under home confinement.
They are
expected to leave Iran when the money reaches accounts in Qatar.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2363506/middle-east
-----
Iran,
Uzbekistan agree to implement presidential agreements
Aug 29,
2023
The
document was signed in a virtual meeting between Amir-Abdollahian and his Uzbek
counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, as the two foreign ministers discussed all
aspects of bilateral cooperation in political and economic sectors.
The top
diplomats also exchanged views about the summit of the Economic Cooperation
Organization (ECO), which is scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan in November.
Saidov
invited his Iranian counterpart to visit Uzbekistan.
In the
presence of Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat
Mirziyoyev, in Tehran in June, officials from both countries signed 10
documents for cooperation in various fields.
According
to the documents, Iran and Uzbekistan will enhance cooperation in trade,
transportation and transit, pharmacology, standards and insurance, the
establishment of joint free zones, technology and innovation, as well as
agriculture.
Source: mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/205299/Iran-Uzbekistan-agree-to-implement-presidential-agreements
-----
Iran
unveils homegrown compressor,says can rival US-made type
Aug 29,
2023
TEHRAN,
Aug. 29 (MNA) – Iran on Monday unveiled its first exportable compressor
manufactured by knowledge-based company Araz Sanat Asia (ASA).
National
Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) Managing Director Jalil
Salari said the first contract signed with ASA on exports of Iranian-made
equipment has borne fruit.
Salari
added the company has succeeded in indigenizing the compressor, whose technical
know-how belonged to American and European companies, the oil ministry's news
service SHANA reported.
The
Iranian-made compressor can rival the US-made type, boasted the deputy oil
minister, describing the success as very important amid sanctions.
The
domestically manufactured compressor will be installed at the El Palito
refinery of Venezuela, explained Salari, calling it a step toward implementing
a project overseas.
Source: mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/205317/Iran-unveils-homegrown-compressor-says-can-rival-US-made-type
-----
Israeli
Forces Detain 29 Palestinians in Raids Across West Bank
August
29, 2023
Israeli
occupation forces carried out Tuesday, August 29, military raids across the
occupied West Banks, detaining many Palestinians and wounding others.
Local
Palestinian sources reported that 29 Palestinian citizens have been detained by
the Israeli troops, under the pretext of participating in resistance acts.
The
Israeli raids were mainly in Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Nablus, Tulkarm,
Qalqilya, and Jenin, where Israeli forces broke into dozens of Palestinians’
houses and vandalized their contents.
Consequently,
confrontations erupted where Israeli troops fired live bullets and tear gas
bombs at the Palestinian citizens, who responded by throwing small stones at
the armed soldiers and vehicles.
Israeli
armed units reportedly suffocated dozens of Palestinians with toxic gas bombs
while an Israeli soldier was injured by Palestinians’ small stones.
Daily,
Israeli troops storm the Palestinian cities and towns of the occupied West
Bank, including Jerusalem, detaining, killing, and injuring citizens there.
Last
July only, they detained 530 Palestinian citizens, including 42 kids and 8
females, during many military raids across occupied Palestine.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps/
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/israeli-forces-detain-palestinian-in-west-bank/
-----
Calls
for Exchange Deal: Hundreds of Lives for Four
August
29, 2023
The
Israeli occupation continues to detain over 4,900 Palestinians as the families
of its captured soldiers organized a media campaign demanding their release.
Two
Israeli soldiers, Aron Shaul and Hadar
Goldin, were captured while attacking civilians in the Gaza Strip in the 2014
aggression; and the other two, Avera Mengistu and Hashim Al-Sayyed, after
tresspassing Palestinian soil after the end of the aggression.
The
family of one of the captured soldiers, Hadar Golden, said that they hung many
posters around the neighbourhoods in the occupied cities of Palestine.
Wanting
the release of the long-detained Palestinians, the resistance in the Gaza Strip
has been demanding a prisoner exchange deal. Four people in exchange for the
lives of hundreds of others.
However,
However, the Israeli occupation rejected many times the release of any
Palestinians. Instead, the Israeli crimes and attacks against the Palestinian
detainees have been escalating.
It is
noteworthy that a previous prisoner exchange was held in 2011, where 1027
Palestinian prisoners became free in exchange for the release of the soldier
Gilad Shalit.
According
to the latest updates on the Palestinian prisoners’ affairs, the Israeli
occupation has been keeping over 4,900 Palestinians detained in its prisons.
Statistics show 170 minors, 32 women, 750 sick detainees, and 1100
administrative detainees.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps/
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/calls-for-exchange-deal-hundreds-of-lives-for-four/
-----
Africa
First
Ugandan Charged With 'Aggravated Homosexuality' Punishable By DeathAs Per The
Recently Enacted Anti-Gay Legislation
August
28, 2023
A
20-year-old Ugandan man has become the first individual in the country to be
indicted on charges of "aggravated homosexuality," a criminal offense
carrying the possibility of capital punishment as per the recently enacted
anti-gay legislation, according to both prosecutors and the defendant's legal
counsel.
Despite
international pressure from Western governments and human rights organizations,
Uganda introduced one of the world's strictest statutes against the LGBT
community in May. The legislation stipulates a sentence of life imprisonment
for consensual same-sex relations.
In
instances deemed "aggravated," including repeated offenses, same-sex
acts resulting in terminal illness transmission, or engaging in such acts with
a minor, elderly person, or an individual with disabilities, the death penalty
can be imposed.
As
stated in a charge document reviewed by Reuters, the accused was formally
charged with aggravated homosexuality on August 18 after reportedly engaging in
"illicit sexual activity" with a 41-year-old man. The specifics that
warranted the classification as "aggravated" were not explicitly
outlined.
Jacqueline
Okui, spokesperson for the office of the director of public prosecutions,
affirmed that the defendant was apprised of the capital charge within a
Magistrate's Court on August 18, given the charge's jurisdiction within the
High Court.
The
defendant was subsequently remanded. Okui refrained from providing further
details about the ongoing case and stated that no prior instances of aggravated
homosexuality charges were within her knowledge.
Attorney
Justine Balya, representing the defendant, expressed her belief in the
unconstitutionality of the entire law. While legal challenges have been
initiated, the judiciary has yet to engage with the matter. Balya indicated
that her client is the inaugural case of prosecution for aggravated
homosexuality and declined to delve into case particulars.
Though
Uganda has not implemented capital punishment for nearly two decades, the legal
provision remains and President Yoweri Museveni had raised the prospect of
resuming executions in 2018 to address rising criminality.
The
recent enactment of the law prompted international censure and threats of
sanctions. Subsequently, the World Bank suspended new public funding for Uganda
in response. The United States additionally imposed visa constraints on select
Ugandan officials, and President Joe Biden initiated a review of U.S.
assistance to the nation.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/28/first-ugandan-charged-with-aggravated-homosexuality-punishable-by-death/
----
Army
troops rescue 25 hostages from Boko Haram captivity
August 29, 2023
In the
unrelenting effort by troops to clear remnants of Boko Haram terrorists (BHT)
enclaves in Borno and contiguous states, troops of 144 Battalion have
successfully rescued 25 hostages held captive by the terrorists.
This was
contained in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations,. Onyema
Nwachukwu, on Monday in Abuja.
Mr
Nwachukwu, a brigadier general, said the gallant troops, in conjunction with
Hybrid Force, extricated 14 hostages comprising six women and eight children in
a clearance operation at Gobara village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno
on Saturday.
He said
the troops of 82 Task Force Battalion, in conjunction with Hybrid Force, raided
the BHT enclave in Gava Village in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno and
rescued 11 civilians in a similar operation on Sunday.
According
to him, all the rescued victims are in troops’ custody undergoing profiling.
The Army
spokesperson said that seven members of the Boko Haram family surrendered to
troops of the 81 Division Task Force Battalion at Dikwa Local Government Area
of Borno in a separate operation on Sunday.
“In an
anti-banditry operation on Sunday in Kaduna State, troops of 2 Battalion,
Nigerian Army, acting on actionable information, neutralised one criminal and
freed four kidnap victims in Kwana Shehu Village in Birnin Gwari Local
Government Area.
“The
rescued victims had since been reunited with their families.
“Members
of the public are please enjoined to support the troops with credible
information to enhance ongoing operations across the country,” he said.
Source: premiumtimesng.com
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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/618397-army-troops-rescue-25-hostages-from-boko-haram-captivity.html
-----
Libyan
Fatwa House Holds GNU Responsible for The Actions of Its Minister of Foreign
Affairs
28/08/2023
LIBYAMOHAMMED
The
Sharia Research and Studies Council of the Libyan Fatwa House has denounced the
meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of National Unity,
Najla Al-Manqoush, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, considering
that this meeting was a blatant assault on national and religious constants.
The
Libyan Fatwa House held the Government of National Unity responsible, demanding
from Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah to dismiss the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and hold her accountable for committing this crime that does not
represent the Libyans.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
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https://libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/libyan-fatwa-house-holds-gnu-responsible-actions-its-minister-foreign-affairs
-----
Niger:
Paris backs 'president Bazoum' and 'ECOWAS' military action should it be the
case'
August
29, 2023
Niamey
and Paris' differences seem irreconcilable. During a major foreign policy
speech to ambassadors in Paris, Monday (Aug. 28), French president Emmanuel
Macron doubled down on his government's line regarding the juta.
Macron
insisted on Monday that France would not change position in condemning the coup
and offered support to Mohamed Bazoum and ECOWAS.
"Our
policy is the right one. It depends on the courage of President Mohamed Bazoum,
the commitment of our diplomats, of our ambassador on the ground who is
remaining despite pressure,” Macron told a gathering of French ambassadors in
the capital.
French
Ambassador Sylvain Itte was ordered to leave Niger within 48 hours in a letter
Friday (Aug. 25) from the Nigerien Foreign Ministry that accused him of
ignoring an invitation for a meeting with the ministry. The letter also cited
"actions of the French government contrary to the interests of
Niger."
Niger's
President Bazoum was toppled on July 26. France, the Economic Community of West
African States and the UN among others have called for him to be reinstated.
"We
do not recognise the putschists, we support a president who has not resigned,
who we remain committed to. And we support the diplomatic action and, military
action should it be the case, of ECOWAS, within a partnership approach which is
the one I presented last February, " the French head of state said.
The de
facto ruling CNSP have since the coup appointed a new government. Coup leader
general Abdourahmane Tiani said the CNSP will return Niger to democratic rule
within 3 years as he announced a national dialogue on Aug. 19.
ECOWAS
has hit the nation with sanctions, threatening to send troops.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/29/niger-paris-backs-president-bazoum-and-ecowas-military-action-should-it-be-the-case/
------
Pakistan
Police
Say Foreign Hand Behind Jaranwala IncidentAnd The Sargodha Blasphemy Case
August
29, 2023
LAHORE:
Police
found evidence of a foreign conspiracy behind the recent Jaranwala incident and
the Sargodha blasphemy case, hatched to divert attention away from the
ill-treatment of the Christians community in India, Punjab Inspector General
(IG) Dr Usman Anwar said on Monday.
Addressing
a press conference at his office, Dr Anwar said that it transpired during the
investigation that the two accused arrested over the Sargodha blasphemy case
had links to the hostile agency, which hatched the plot to divert the attention
from their country towards Pakistan.
Flanked
by senior police officials of the Faisalabad police Range, including Regional
Police Officer (RPO) of Faisalabad Range Dr Abid Khan, City Police chief Usman
Akram Gondal and Sargodha range police chief Shariq Kamal Siddique, the IG said
that suspects behind these incidents had been traced.
“The
hostile agencies hatched a well thought-out and coordinated conspiracy to
divert the attention from their country towards Pakistan,” he said. “The police
during their investigations found that both suspects arrested in Sargodha
blasphemy case have links to the hostile agencies,” he added.
“The
police found the evidence after their arrest through their mobile phones. The
Sargodha RPO, Shariq Kamal Siddique, himself investigated the suspects and
traced their contacts with hostile agencies,” the Punjab police chief told
reporters.
He said
that police had arrested 180 suspects involved in Jaranwala incident, including
three prime characters. “We have busted the anti-country network. Inshallah,
such incidents will not occur in the future,” Anwar added.
Violent
mobs attacked churches and homes of Christian residents in Jaranwala town in
Faisalabad district after a Christian man was accused of blasphemy earlier this
month. Multiple churches were set on fire, which triggered strong condemnation
from the country’s political and religious parties.
At the
presser, the Punjab police chief waved the copy of a news item regarding
mistreatment of Christian women in the Indian state of Manipur. He also shared
with the media a news report about the European Union resolution against
injustices, violent against Muslim and other minorities in India.
Dr Anwar
said that the suspects after committing the horrible offence of blasphemy had
challenged the community to avenge it. He added that the police officials
engaged with the local community as well religious scholars to maintain peace.
Police
made hectic efforts to trace the suspects. “Police collected videos of the
people. Around 2,500 policemen were deployed in civvies to identify the accused
persons,” Dr Anwar said. “Police used geo fencing, CCTV monitoring, human
intelligence, artificial intelligence, and other techniques.”
The IG
stressed that this one act of an individual did not mean the involvement of the
whole community in the act, he added. “Muslims in Jaranwala, in fact, offered
their houses for the protection to community members.”
He
announced that not only the government helped the victims financially but had
also started the rehabilitation work. He urged the people to be aware of the
enemy’s conspiracy. “It is our responsibility not to react and play into the
hands of the enemy.
Stating
that further investigation into the foreign hand in the incident continued,
Anwar expressed his resolve that the suspects involved in both Sargodha and
Jaranwala incidents would be prosecuted and duly punished.
Petition
Lahore
High Court (LHC) directed a Christian community representative to approach the
appropriate forum on the plea for institution of a “judicial inquiry committee”
for instigation into Jaranwala incident earlier this month.
LHC
Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan heard the petition, filed by Peter Charles,
Chairman of the Grace Bible Fellowship Church. The Registrar Office had raised
objection to the petition that the relevant forum had not been approached.
However, the petition was heard objection.
Shahbaz
Fazal Saroya Advocate, the counsel for the petitioner, argued that more than
500 accused invaded the properties of the Christian community in Jaranwala on
August 16, but the police had arrested only 25 to 30 accused, so far.
Besides,
the lawyer continued, the police officials were under undue pressure from some
“extremist elements” who were forcing the members of Christian community to
compromise with the accused extremists.
Justice
Hassan directed the petitioner to first approach the concerned forum on the
plea for “judicial inquiry committee” and intimate the court about the police
pressure for a compromise with the attackers, as well as continuing threats to
their lives from extremists.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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------
Cipher
case: Azam Khan prosecution witness, not approver, against Imran
August
29, 2023
By Ansar
Abbasi
ISLAMABAD:
Azam Khan, the former principal secretary of ex-prime minister Imran Khan, has
not become an approver but will be a prosecution witness against the PTI
chairman in the cipher case.
During
the last PDM government, the impression was given as if the key bureaucratic
aide of Imran Khan during his premiership had become an approver. Informed
sources said that Azam Khan is not the approver but an important prosecution
witness, who has already recorded his statement under Section 164 of CrPC.
The FIR,
registered in the cipher case by the FIA, nominates Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood
Qureshi as accused. The FIR though also included the names of Asad Umar and
Azam Khan, their involvement in the case as accused was subject to the outcome
of evidence against them during the investigations.
Azam,
who had gone missing for some time, made headlines in mid-July this year after
he had accused the ex-prime minister of using the US cipher to create a false
narrative against the establishment and the-then opposition.
According
to Azam’s statement, on March 8, 2022, the then foreign secretary approached
him and informed him of the cipher, which was sent to his residence later that
evening. Khan said the foreign secretary told him that then foreign minister
Shah Mahmood Qureshi had already discussed the cipher with the PTI chief. This
was confirmed the next day when Azam Khan presented the diplomatic cable to the
former prime minister.
Azam
Khan alleged that Imran Khan had used the cipher to manipulate the public’s
attention towards foreign involvement in the no-confidence motion by the
opposition.
He
claimed that Imran told him he would display the cipher in a public rally and
“twist the narrative that a foreign conspiracy is being hatched in collusion
with the establishment and opposition’s no-confidence motion to play the victim
card”. Azam Khan had said that he had given the cipher copy to Imran Khan but
the document was never returned and he was told that it was lost.
Sources
told The News that Imran Khan in his statement during the interrogation by JIT
on the cipher issue, said that he had asked his military secretary to inquire
into the missing of the secret document.
A couple
of days later, Imran, according to the sources told the JIT, the military
secretary had told the then premier that the document was not found. The JIT,
however, did not find any written direction in this regard to the military
secretary.
During
the trial of Toshakhana case in a sessions court in Islamabad, Imran Khan in
his statement said that he had sold the gifts he received through his military
secretary. He said that the military secretary was an important and relevant
character in the case. “I request the court to call him to record his statement
in the case,” Khan was quoted by the media as telling the court. However,
neither he nor his legal team later insisted on calling the military secretary
in the witness box. Instead the four witnesses, whom Imran Khan wanted to
present in his defence but was denied by the court, also did not include the
name of the military secretary.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1104628-cipher-case-azam-khan-prosecution-witness-not-approver-against-imran
------
Imran
acted as pharaoh, says Pervez Khattak
August
29, 2023
MANSEHRA:
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-Parliamentarians chairman and former chief minister
Pervez Khattak on Monday said former prime minister and PTI chief Imran Khan
acted like a pharaoh with all party leaders strictly following him in all
situations.
“Enough
is enough. We cannot please him [Imran] by confronting the army,” Mr Khattak
told a public meeting in the Kaghan area here.
Former
chief minister Mahmood Khan and former PTI lawmakers from Mansehra district
also addressed the event.
Mr
Khattak said regrettably, the PTI government couldn’t address the country’s
economic crisis.
He said
the country witnessed the worst mismanagement and governance of its history
during the last Pakistan Democratic Movement-ledcoalition government.
The
PTI-P leader said the PTI’s government was actually a “one-man show” by Mr
Imran, who wanted to become a “king.”
He said
PM Shehbaz Sharif’s government proved to be worse than the PTI chief’s as
members of the former served their own interests only.
“Imran’s
dictatorship paved the way for the success of the no-trust motion against him,”
he said.
Mr
Khattak said the PTI government failed to act on the party’s manifesto during
its three years.
“After
coming to power, we [PTI-P] will work for Pakistan’s prosperity and will never
obtain loans from the International Monetary Fund and other lenders like the
PTI and PDM,” he said. The PTI-P leader also said his party’s government would
declare Hazara division a province.
On the
occasion, Mr Mahmood said as the chief minister, he launched mega development
schemes to improve people’s socioeconomic conditions.
“If I
get another chance to work as the CM, I will leave no stone unturned to make
ours a developed province,” he said.
PROTEST:
People affected by the Dasu hydropower project on Monday took to the streets
demanding the removal of non-local staff members of the energy initiative in
Upper Kohistan district.
The
rally was staged on the call of the joint action committee representing the
project-hit families.
Led by
the chairmen of four tehsil councils and shouting slogans, the protesters
marched on various roads and staged a sit-in outside Wapda offices.
Work on
the dam came to a halt the other day on the decision of a local jirga.
The
speakers said all those appointed for theproject from outside Kohistan region
should be immediately replaced with locals.
Maulana
Waliullah Tohidee said under the Area Development Funds programme, the Wapda
had earmarked Rs6 billion in 2016 for the project-hit people but that amount
should be increased in accordance with the current inflation rate.
“We
won’t call off this sit-in until our demands are met,” he said.
Bukht
Buland said the families affected by the project awaited payments under the
Kitchen Package as promised by the Wapda chairman.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1772763/imran-acted-as-pharaoh-says-pervez-khattak
-----
Legal
snags hit PTI chief’s release prospects
Saleh
Mughal
August
29, 2023ISLAMABAD:
The
prospect of PTI Chairman Imran Khan's immediate release from Attock Jail,
should his sentence in the Toshakhana (gift repository) reference be suspended,
appears to be increasingly unlikely.
Imran
Khan, the former premier, is now embroiled in a more intricate legal situation
due to his involvement in the "cypher" case, an official classified
document, and an audio leaks case, all falling under the purview of the
Official Secrets Act.
The
predicament dictates that Imran Khan must seek bails in both these cases
through legal proceedings within the court system. This development complicates
his situation further.
During a
public gathering last year, Imran Khan drew attention to a diplomatic cable,
which he alleged to be the "cypher." In his claim, he pointed towards
a supposed "foreign conspiracy" aimed at removing him from power.
This assertion followed his ousting from office in April, facilitated by a vote
of no-confidence.
However,
the diplomatic cable reportedly went missing from Imran's possession, casting
shadows of uncertainty.
On
August 5, following a trial court's verdict that found him guilty of falsifying
asset declarations to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Imran Khan was
arrested and confined to Attock Jail. This judicial decision also led to his
disqualification for a five-year term, seemingly dimming his prospects for
participation in the elections slated for November this year.
Naeem
Haider Panjutha, the senior counsel of Imran Khan's legal team, emphasized the
significance of Article 10/1 of the Constitution, which mandates that
individuals detained in any case must be promptly informed of their arrest and
presented before the court within 24 hours. Panjutha underscored that neither
Imran Khan nor his legal team had been notified about his arrest in the cypher
case.
In
September 2022, an audio clip surfaced on social media, purportedly featuring a
conversation between Imran Khan and his then-principal secretary, Azam Khan,
regarding the diplomatic cypher. In the audio, Imran Khan was heard allegedly
saying, "We have to play with this. Don't take America's name, just play
with this." A voice attributed to Azam Khan advised convening a meeting on
the subject first. Azam reportedly responded, "See, if you recall, in that
[cypher] the ambassador has written in the end to [send a] demarche."
The
Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Counter-Terrorism Wing (CTW) subsequently
filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Imran Khan and Shah Mahmood
Qureshi, another party leader. The FIR was registered under the Official
Secrets Act and pertained to the missing cypher and audio leaks, prompted by a
complaint from a former interior secretary following an inquiry.
According
to the FIR, the roles of Imran's former principal secretary, Azam Khan, and
ex-planning minister Asad Umar will be determined during the investigation.
The FIR
alleged that Imran, Qureshi, and their associates participated in disseminating
information from a classified document – a cypher telegram received from
Washington – to unauthorized individuals, compromising state security
interests.
While
Qureshi is presently under arrest and undergoing interrogation by the FIA, the
CTW conducted two investigative sessions with Imran Khan within Attock Jail.
During these sessions, Imran Khan provided his statement concerning the missing
cypher and the audio leak.
A senior
FIA official, speaking to The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity,
clarified that Imran Khan's investigation under the Official Secrets Act had
already triggered his arrest order. The official asserted that Imran's release
from Attock Jail would be contingent not only on the suspension of his
Toshakhana case sentence but also on obtaining bail in the cypher case. This
condition would hold true even if pleas challenging the cancellation of his
bail in May 9 cases were accepted.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2432972/legal-snags-hit-pti-chiefs-release-prospects
------
Sutlej
waters head downstream after flooding Bahawalpur
August
29, 2023
Imran
Gabol | Majeed Gill
LAHORE /
BAHAWALPUR: The high water flow in Sutlej river moved downstream on Monday
after causing widespread devastation in villages and riverine settlements
around Bahawalpur city.
The
river has been in a high-flood state for the past many weeks after India
released water following heavy rains in its northern states.
The high
water flow submerged Bahawalpur suburbs after several zamindara (private)
protective dykes were breached.
The
water entered the settlements of Weaslan, Sahlan, Lal De Goth, Hasilpur and
Khairpur Tamewali.
According
to Bahawalpur Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa, the administration had
moved over 128,000 people and over 50,000 livestock to safety before the water
entered these areas.
On
Monday, the district administration managed to protect the Raj-era’s Empress
Bridge on the main Karachi-Lahore track and the Bahawalpur bridge over the
National Highway N-5.
Videos
on social media showed an “unusual diversion” in the flow of Sutlej river as it
made its way under the bridge in Bahawalpur.
Reportedly,
the water had passed through the channel after decades. Videos shared on X,
previously Twitter, showed people gathering on the bridge to look at the
gushing river.
After
submerging Bahawalpur’s suburbs, the water is now headed towards Ahmedpur East
tehsil and Punjnad headworks where the Sutlej river merges into Chenab river
and the combined flow then falls into Indus river 30km downstream.
Deputy
Commissioner Jappa told the media on Monday the Ahmedpur East administration
and Rescue 1122 have already been alerted to take comprehensive relief measures
to ensure the safety of people and their animals. He said several Ahmedpur East
villages might be affected by the flood.
Giving
details of the destruction in Bahawalpur, Mr Jappa said three mauzas were
completely affected by flood while 55 were partially damaged and crops over
47,000 acres had so far been affected in the district.
Sohail
Baloch, a farmer from Jalalpur Pirwala near Bahawalpur, said two bunds,
Zamindara and Sarwani Shah, were breached, leading to flooding of several union
councils.
He said
cotton, corn and fodder, the main crops in the region, were at risk of being
destroyed by the floods.
Shahid
Iqbal, a former Union Council chairman from Bahawalpur, claimed many villages
were submerged as dykes built by farmers failed to withstand water flow.
He
criticised the lack of assistance from the government and lamented as residents
of flooded villages were grappling with the calamity, people from Bahawalpur
city were visiting the affected areas for picnics.
Meanwhile,
the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s Flood Forecasting Division has issued
a rainfall warning for next month.
According
to the advisory on Monday, a “fresh wet spell of moderate intensity is likely
to start over the upper catchments of all the major rivers from September 2”.
PMD stated that forecasts won’t result in flood situations in major rivers.
However, the flow of Sutlej river would remain subject to the amount of water
released by India.
Damage
assessment
According
to data from Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the
water level at headworks upstream of Bahawalpur continued to recede from high
flood state to medium on Monday.
The
maximum flow of 108,049 cusecs was recorded at Ganda Singh Wala Barrage near
Kasur. At Head Sulemanki near Okara, the flow was 94,574 cusecs and 94,282
cusecs at Head Islam near Vehari. All other rivers were recorded to be in their
normal water flow.
According
to the PDMA spokesperson, human settlements and thousands of acres of crops
have been destroyed in villages and riverine areas in seven districts along the
Sutlej river.
Approximately
548 villages in Kasur, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Pakpattan, Lodhran, Vehari and
Bahawalpur have been inundated, prompting the evacuation of 210,912 people,
with another 89,211 individuals rescued between August 17 and 27. Over 100,000
acres of crops have also been inundated.
Rescue
work
According
to Rescue 1122, 254 boats with over 1,000 rescuers have been deployed in
flooded areas.
Successful
evacuations of humans and livestock have been carried out in Bahawalpur,
Pakpattan, Kasur and Vehari districts while similar operations were ongoing in
Multan, Sahiwal, Rajanpur, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, Layyah, Lodhran and Okara,
according to the organisation.
Since
July 9, 112,137 people have been evacuated from and moved to safer locations.
Meanwhile,
95 medical camps have also been set up in areas adjacent to Sutlej river across
the province to provide healthcare facilities, according to the PDMA
spokesperson.
He said
more than 36,000 people had been provided medical treatment so far. “Apart from
that, 178 relief camps are also functioning in the affected districts.”
Over 20
ambulances have also been stationed in the affected areas to deal with any
emergency.
Source:
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1772817/sutlej-waters-head-downstream-after-flooding-bahawalpur
------
Caretaker
govt to support ECP in holding elections: Sarfaraz Bugti
August
29, 2023
Caretaker
Minister for Interior Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti called on Speaker National Assembly
Raja Pervez Ashraf in Islamabad.
During
the meeting, they discussed in details matters pertaining to holding of general
elections in the country in peaceful manner.
Speaking
on the occasion, Sarfaraz Bugti said the caretaker government will extend full
cooperation to Election Commission of Pakistan to hold the election in a
peaceful manner.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-08-2023/caretaker-govt-to-support-ecp-in-holding-elections-sarfaraz-bugti
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Journey
to progress pivoted on adherence to good governance principles: Sami Saeed
August
29, 2023
Caretaker
Minister for Planning Muhammad Sami Saeed says the process of development
should continue by adhering to the principles of good governance in
institutions and system.
Chairing
a review meeting on governance-related issues in Islamabad, he said good
governance calls for proper and efficient monitoring of all projects.
The
Minister underscored that the economic and social outcomes obtained from the
projects should be closely monitored while focusing on optimal utilization of
every single penny incurred on these projects.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/29-08-2023/journey-to-progress-pivoted-on-adherence-to-good-governance-principles-sami-saeed
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Pak to
host UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Meeting on Wednesday
August
29, 2023
A
two-day Preparatory Meeting of the forthcoming United Nations Peacekeeping
Ministerial under the theme of 'Safety and Security of UN Peacekeepers' will be
held in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Pakistan
is hosting this international event, while Japan is co-host of the meeting.
The
Foreign Minister and the Defence Minister of Pakistan will deliver keynote
addresses at the Preparatory Meeting.
Member
States represented in the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations,
comprising 156 countries, will participate along with local and international
experts.
Panel
discussions will be held during the two-day meeting on various sub-themes to
deliberate on capacity-building needs, safety and security of UN peacekeepers.
The
meeting will also feature an expert talk on the threats posed by Improvised
Explosive Devices and a briefing on the system of pledging.
It is
pertinent to mention that Pakistan is an active player in the field of UN
peacekeeping, both at the policy and operational levels.
Pakistan
is among the largest troop contributors and, since 1960, has contributed over
230,000 men and women peacekeepers to 46 UN peacekeeping missions in almost all
continents of the world. One hundred and seventy two Pakistani peacekeepers
made the ultimate sacrifice by sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.
Pakistan’s
hosting of the Preparatory Meeting signifies its continued commitment to UN
Peacekeeping aimed at maintaining security and stability in various conflict
zones.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/28-08-2023/pakistan-to-host-un-peacekeeping-ministerial-preparatory-meeting-on-aug-30-31
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Wapda
security staff stops wearing army-like uniform after GHQ letter
August
29, 2023
By Umar
Cheema
ISLAMABAD:
The security staff of Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has stopped
wearing the army-like uniform after General Headquarters conveyed its concern
whereas Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has started an investigation into
the unauthorised purchase of the uniform in bulk without obtaining requisite
permission.
The
Wapda last made headlines in February this year when portraits of Quaid-i-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Lt Gen (R) Sajjad Ghani, the chairman of Wapda, were
displayed together at different offices and project sites of the authority. The
notification in this respect was, however, withdrawn after this move came under
heavy criticism and a new order was issued suggesting only the display of
Quaid’s picture.
As for
the controversial decision of using the army-like camouflage combat dress (CCD)
is concerned, it has been withdrawn on August 23 following a letter from GHQ
which refers to the rules suggesting that “the personnel other than armed
forces will not wear dress or items of uniform which bear alikeness in any
respect to those of military or paramilitary forces.” It is also against the
spirit of distinctiveness and sanctity of the armed forces’ uniform, the letter
further reads. “Moreover, such practices also pave the way to use/availability
of military pattern uniform for terrorists’ activities,” it explained.
Incidentally,
the decision of initiating the army-like uniform was conceived and executed by
a retired army officer with the consent of Wapda chief, who is also a retired
general. It required an NOC from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of
Defence as wearing such uniform is strictly prohibited. The NOC was not
obtained. The bids were invited and two companies filled them.
The one
which didn’t bid for the entire uniform was accepted and the other which
offered to provide all the items of the uniform were rejected. As many as 5,000
uniforms were ordered. Since the above-mentioned bid didn’t contain shoes, a
construction contractor was chosen for the purpose instead of a shoemaker. No
tender was floated for the purpose. Around 3500 pairs of shoes were purchased
through the construction contractor against the uniform of 5,000. The FIA which
is probing the matter initially faced resistance when it went to Wapda office
for obtaining the record. The retired army officer, who is at the center of
this controversy, is a close confidant of the chairman and this impression
further substantiates when read with the details of his induction and the
powers granted to him. In September last year, he was appointed DG (Security),
a position which was redesignated. Earlier, it was DG (Law). Wapda high-ups
justified the redesignation on the ground that since there is a need to deal
with the law and order situation hence the post should be converted from law to
law & order.
Though
the retired army officer was not entitled to any benefit (other than salary) as
per appointment letter, he was granted two vehicles (one from Bhasha Dam
project and another from Nai Gaj Dam project) along with PSO card of 1,000
litre petrol. He receives rents against his own house and free electricity up
to 1100 units. Three rooms allocated to him in Wapda House Upper Mall Colony
are apart from this. Neither these rooms can be used by anyone else nor he ever
paid for them. They remain vacant as he spends most of the time in Islamabad
for which he also claims TA/DA. This is not the end of the story. In the
beginning of this year, he was re-appointed a scale higher than before and made
GM (Security). Also, he was given the charge of GM (Admin).
Other
than looking after the security affairs, he is also responsible for the
purchase of security equipment, recruitments, sports, land management, hospital
management, building management, legal affairs and transport matters. He is
effectively calling the shots like deputy chairman.
Other
than the unauthorised purchase of uniforms, the retired officer’s conduct in
procurement of 68 bulletproof vehicles had also raised eyebrows. In December
2022, he floated a tender of an estimated amount of Rs2 billion without
obtaining a departmental NOC. Five companies filled the tender, but it was
cancelled in January to the surprise of bidders.
Meanwhile,
heads of different projects (who were in need of these vehicles) were asked to
purchase from two other vendors without following any bidding process. Sources
close to the retired army official reject the allegations as baseless.
The News
sent questions for versions. A Wapda spokesman said the allegations are
baseless. However, he admitted that the FIA was conducting an inquiry and added
that Wapda had shared its point of view/stance with the FIA in this regard.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1104635-wapda-security-staff-stops-wearing-army-like-uniform-after-ghq-letter
-----
South
Asia
Afghan
Students in India Face Challenges with Visas, Scholarship Issues
By
TOLOnews, TV Network
29
August 2023
Afghan
students who have scholarships in India complained that they are struggling
with various problems.
They
said that despite several meetings with the Afghan embassy in Delhi, their
problems have not been addressed.
“We call
on those in charge to address our main problems of visas, regular flights, and
educational scholarships,” said an Afghan student in India.
“We have
had many negotiations with the Afghanistan embassy and its officials. They have
not given us back any satisfying feedback,” said Ishaq Sarwari, an Afghan
student in India.
“Since
we graduated, we have been facing visa problems. Our visas have expired and
when your visas are invalid, the institute doesn’t give you educational
documents,” said Ezatullah Nadim, an Afghan student in India.
The
analysts meanwhile said that if the interim Afghan government improves its
relations with India, many problems of the Afghan citizens in India, including
the visas, will be solved.
“We
should solve these issues through diplomatic relations, negotiations and talk.
As the citizens are in India, there should be talk with the country’s embassy
and foreign ministry,” said Javid Momand, an university instructor.
Earlier,
Afghan students complained that the Indian government does not provide them
visas and that they are unable to attend their classes in India.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184851
----
Afghanistan’s
fruit beverages reach France and Turkey
Fidel
Rahmati
August
29, 2023
Afghanistan
exported its range of beverages to two significant markets, France and Turkey, according
to officials.
On
Monday, the spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, posted on social
media platform X, formerly Twitter, that the Pamir Cola group of companies has
embarked on a new venture. This company has initiated the export of its range
of beverages to two significant markets, France and Turkey.
Mujahid
said that the maiden shipment, dispatched on Sunday, included various
offerings, such as fruit juices, soft drinks, and other related products.
This
marks a notable step forward for the Pamir Cola group as it expands its reach
beyond domestic borders.
Earlier,
the company exported Pomegranate juice beverages for the first time to the US.
A Herat-based company made pomegranate soft drinks.
“The
first shipment of pomegranate juice from Pamir Cola factory was exported to
America from Herat Province, Afghanistan,” the official said.
“Recently,
two containers carrying 45 tons of Pamir Cola Company pomegranate juice drinks
were shipped to America. Also, drinks have been shipped to Germany and
Kazakhstan; there are plans for expansion in this area to boost our exports to
other countries,” the statement added.
Additionally,
the company’s sales manager disclosed that they have successfully exported
products to nations in Central Asia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
Established
in 2018, the company has extended its global footprint, exporting to diverse
nations such as India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Germany.
Afghanistan
ranks among the world’s leading pomegranate producers, yielding over 600,000
tons annually. The Pomegranate is Cultivated in 33 of 34 provinces; key
provinces include Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, Herat, and Balkh.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-fruit-beverages-reach-france-and-turkey/
-----
Afghan
railway delegation embarks on Iran visit for talks
Fidel
Rahmati
August
28, 2023
The Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA)
announced on Monday that its General Director, Bakht-ur-Rahman Sharafat, along
with his accompanying delegation, has embarked on Tehran’s visit.
Afghanistan
Railway Authority says that Sharafat will hold talks with Iranian railway
officials. The discussions will cover the Khaf-Herat railway line, launching
short-term technical training for ARA employees, and enhancing bilateral
railway cooperation.
These
talks, facilitated by the Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA), will encompass
operational aspects, potential improvements, and enhanced cooperation between
the two countries’ railway networks.
Additionally,
the agenda includes introducing concise technical training courses for ARA
staff to bolster their expertise and efficiency within the railway domain.
This
collaborative effort seeks to enhance connectivity and knowledge exchange
between Afghanistan and Iran’s railway sectors, contributing to improved
regional transportation networks and infrastructure.
During
his visit, Sharafat from the Afghanistan Railway Authority will engage with
Iranian officials to bolster bilateral railway cooperation and discuss various
matters of mutual interest.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/afghan-railway-delegation-embarks-on-iran-visit-for-talks/
----
Japanese
Envoy Urges Afghan Interim Govt to Strengthen Internal Legitimacy
By Mitra
Majeedy
August
28, 2023
The
Japanese Ambassador in Kabul, Takashi Okada, called on the Afghan “de facto”
authorities to strengthen legitimacy within the country to expand international
cooperation.
Speaking
at a signing ceremony for “Enhancing Agriculture Production through
Community-Led Irrigation between the Embassy of Japan and FAO”, Okada said:
“For the
expansion of international cooperation, the de facto authorities first needs to
strengthen… legitimacy within the country by prioritizing people’s needs. When
it happens, its external relations will be improved.”
During
the ceremony, a water project worth $9.5 million in eastern Kunar province was
kicked off. The project was signed between the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the UN and Japan.
Okada
said that approximately 12,000 people will benefit from the project.
“With
this agreement, the Japanese government will provide approximately $9.5 million
to FAO for the rehabilitation and expansion of Tetsu Nakamura’s legacy
project,” he said.
Richard
Trenchard, FAO Representative in Afghanistan, said that the project will begin
mid next year.
“The
construction will begin next year. In the middle of next year. Involving local
Afghan companies and the project will be completed by 2027,” he said.
Japanese
ambassador once again reiterated his country’s support to the people of
Afghanistan.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184845
-----
Air
pollution reducing Bangladeshis' life expectancy by nearly 7 years: study
Aug 29,
2023
Bangladesh,
India, Nepal and Pakistan are, in order, the top four most polluted countries
in terms of annualised, population-weighted averages of fine particulate
matter, a study showed Tuesday.
It was
detected by satellites and defined as particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns
or less (PM2.5), according to the research from the Energy Policy Institute at
the University of Chicago (EPIC).
Air
pollution concentrations are then fed into the AQLI metric which calculates
their impact on life expectancy, based on peer-reviewed methods.
Residents
of Bangladesh, where average PM2.5 levels were 74 micrograms per cubic meter,
would gain 6.8 years of life if this were brought to WHO guidelines of 5
micrograms per cubic meter.
Globally,
South Asia is the worst impacted region.
Among
other South Asian countries, India's capital Delhi meanwhile is the "most
polluted megacity in the world" with annual average particulate pollution
of 126.5 micrograms per cubic meter.
China,
on the other hand, "has had remarkable progress in terms of its war on air
pollution" which began in 2014, said Hasenkopf.
Its air
pollution dropped 42.3 percent between 2013 and 2021. If the improvements are
sustained, the average Chinese citizen will be able to live 2.2 years longer.
According
to the study, air pollution is more dangerous to the health of the average
person on planet Earth than smoking or alcohol, with the threat worsening in
its global epicenter South Asia even as China fast improves.
Yet the
level of funding set aside to confront the challenge is a fraction of the
amount earmarked for fighting infectious diseases, the research said.
Its
annual Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report showed that fine particulate air
pollution -- which comes from vehicle and industrial emissions, wildfires and
more -- remains the "greatest external threat to public health."
If the
world were to permanently reduce these pollutants to meet the World Health
Organization's (WHO) guideline limit, the average person would add 2.3 years
onto his or her life expectancy, according to the data, which has a 2021
cutoff.
Fine
particulate matter is linked to lung disease, heart disease, strokes and
cancer.
Tobacco
use, by comparison, reduces global life expectancy by 2.2 years while child and
maternal malnutrition is responsible for a reduction of 1.6 years.
Asia and
Africa bear the greatest burden yet have some of the weakest infrastructure to
deliver citizens timely, accurate data. They also receive tiny slices of an
already small global philanthropic pie.
For
example, the entire continent of Africa receives less than $300,000 to tackle
air pollution.
"There
is a profound disconnect with where air pollution is the worst and where we,
collectively and globally, are deploying resources to fix the problem,"
Christa Hasenkopf, director of air quality programs at EPIC, told AFP.
While
there is an international financing partnership called the Global Fund that
disburses $4 billion annually on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, there is
no equivalent for air pollution.
"Yet,
air pollution shaves off more years from the average person's life in the DRC
(Democratic Republic of Congo) and Cameroon than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other
health threats," the report said.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/environment/pollution/air-pollution/news/air-pollution-reducing-bangladeshis-life-expectancy-nearly-7-years-study-3405961
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/shobha-yatra-poster-haryana-vhp/d/130558