Slavery And Colonialism: South African Hindus And Muslims Celebrate Easter – In Their Own Way
New
Age Islam News Bureau
31
March 2024
Hundreds of Hindu devotees take part in the
Firewalking or 'Thimithi' festival in Durban, South Africa
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• Slavery And Colonialism: South African Hindus And
Muslims Celebrate Easter – In Their Own Way
• My Focus On Issues That Benefit All, Not Just
Muslims: Ex- AMU VC BJP Vice President
• Easter Message: No One Should Be Allowed To Use
Religious, Racial Sentiments To Gain Votes
• London Ramadan Light Display Switches Off For Gaza; Dozens
Gathered With Candles Around Marble Arch
• Bangladesh: PM Sheikh Hasina Slams Opposition’s
Boycott-India Campaign Using Bengali Saris As Tool
Africa
• Muslims in Cameroon observe Ramadan with welcoming
tradition
• The Alternative Bank Launches Water Project For
Ramadan
• 45 000 food hampers to be distributed in celebration
of Ramadan
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India
• Marry Second Time Now, Polygamy Ban After Polls:
Himanta Sarma's Advice To Muslim MP
• What Makes Iftar Special At Coimbatore’s Kottaimedu
Mosque?
• Governors should do their duty, not sit on bills: SC
judge
• Mukhtar Ansari’s Own Letters Reveal He Suffered Two
Heart Attacks In Jail
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Southeast
Asia
• Police Looking For Trio Distributing Business Cards
Offering Illegal Loans, Online Gambling Services At Ramadan Bazaar
• Malaysia mini-mart outlet attacked after 'Allah
socks' outcry
• Sabah CM: Brunei company’s proposed transnational
high-speed rail network project an economic catalyst for Borneo region
• After second attack on KK Mart, PAS wing denounces
boycott and urges authorities to probe possible agent provocateur
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Europe
• British national held for entering Puri temple,
assaulting cops
• Peru government agents break into president’s
residence with sledgehammer in luxury watch probe
• Tories could be left with 'fewer than 100' MPs after
next general election, major poll suggests
• London-based Iranian journalist in stable condition
after stabbing attack
• Harvard Says It's Removed Human Skin From Binding Of
19th Century Book
-----
South
Asia
• Citizen Welfare and Security Top Priorities for the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Says Deputy PM
• Taliban Claim Of Combatting ISIS Disputed Following
Kandahar Bombing And Moscow Attack: ASPI
• Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrests five
Bangladesh nationals for illegal migration
• Dhaka-Seoul economic partnership agreement:
Unlocking bilateral trade potentials
-----
Pakistan
• All Set For Senate Polls As 59 Left In Race For 30
Seats
• Seven killed as rain, hailstorms batter KP
• KP Assembly secretariat says it hasn’t received govt
orders to call oath-taking sitting
• Aurangzeb assures Sindh CM of addressing issue of
‘at source’ tax deduction
• ‘Contaminated’ water being supplied to Parliament
House, lodges: NA deputy speaker
-----
Mideast
• Islamic Jihad Leader: Palestinians Will Win The
Battle Against Israel
• Iran FM meets Islamic Jihad Secretary-General in
Tehran
• Islamic Republic Day; Turning point in Iran
political system
• Two children among 7 dead after car bomb tears
through Syria market during Ramadan
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Arab World
• Dubai: Drugs Awareness Workshops Held In Ramadan Tents
• In Yemen, Renewed Conflict And Rising Hunger Stalk A
Lean Ramadan
• Youth & Communications Ministers inaugurate
Ramadan Football Forum for Al-Aqsa Flood Cup
• From chai addiction to spiritual freedom in Ramadan
• Ramadan rituals inspire visual arts, say Qatari
artists
• Green Tent ends Ramadan activities with focus on
charitable efforts
• Two children among 7 dead after car bomb tears
through Syria market during Ramadan
-----
North
America
• Trump Campaign Slams Biden For Declaring March 31,
Easter Sunday, As Transgender Day Of Visibility
• Al Rashid gives back with community BBQ for Ramadan
• Baltimore bridge highlights role of migrants in US
workforce
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
-----
Slavery And Colonialism: South African Hindus And
Muslims Celebrate Easter – In Their Own Way
Hundreds of Hindu devotees take part in the
Firewalking or 'Thimithi' festival in Durban, South Africa
-----
Nikhil Mandalaparthy
31-03-2024
Good Friday and Easter – along with other days during
Holy Week – are some of the most important on the Christian calendar. During
this time, Christian communities around the world commemorate the crucifixion
and resurrection of Jesus Christ through a variety of religious rituals and
observances.
However, while these dates have religious significance
for Christians, they have also become important for some Hindu and Muslim
communities in South Africa. The story of Easter’s significance for these South
African Hindus and Muslims is intertwined with slavery, colonialism and
indentured labour – all of which have shaped the history of modern South
Africa.
South African Indians number about 1.5 million people,
around 2% of the country’s population, concentrated in the eastern province of
KwaZulu-Natal. Most South African Indians trace their roots to indentured
workers who were brought by the British colonial government between 1860 to
1911 to grow the colonial economy by working on sugarcane plantations. The
majority of these indentured workers came from modern-day Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh, with a smaller percentage coming from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
For these migrant workers who found themselves in an
unfamiliar land, religious ceremonies and rituals provided a way to build
community and a shared identity. For the South Indian workers, who largely came
from non-Brahmin caste and class backgrounds, amman (goddess) worship was a
central part of their religious practices.
Source: Scroll.In
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original story:
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My Focus On Issues That Benefit All, Not Just Muslims:
Ex- AMU VCBJP Vice President
Professor Tariq Mansoor is
the only Muslim in the 27-member BJP manifesto committee. (Sourced)
------
By HT Correspondent
Mar 31, 2024
Talking to HT on phone, professor Mansoor, also the BJP
vice president, said: “I might be the only Muslim in the committee but it
doesn’t mean that my suggestions would only be for Muslims. Rather, I would
want to look at it as an exercise to benefit all the needy across the country,
not one community alone.”
Lucknow: Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice
chancellor and BJP MLC professor Tariq Mansoor, the only Muslim in the
27-member BJP manifesto committee, announced on Saturday that he would continue
to focus on elementary yet hugely important issues like education and health.
Talking to HT on phone, professor Mansoor, also the
BJP vice president, said: “I might be the only Muslim in the committee but it
doesn’t mean that my suggestions would only be for Muslims. Rather, I would
want to look at it as an exercise to benefit all the needy across the country,
not one community alone.”
He added, “Having said that, I can only talk of issues
I am conversant with; those of education and health, having been associated
with these as AMU vice chancellor and a practicing doctor (surgeon).”
The committee will incorporate suggestions from people
online and also via the party’s offline outreach to voters and to facilitate
this, party has kept suggestion boxes across the state and encouraged voters to
send their suggestions on various issues online as well. The date of the first
meeting of the manifesto committee is yet to be announced.
The first AMU VC to be nominated as member of
legislative assembly (MLC), professor Mansoor, a ‘pasmanda (backward)’ Muslim,
had also served as the principal of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and
Hospital, the biggest teaching and tertiary medical care centre in west UP. He
was also the head of the department of surgery.
“Issues of education and health apply universally and
help the most backwards come up the ladder, be they Muslims or any other caste
or community, ” professor Mansoor said. Four members from UP are in the
manifesto committee that is headed by Lucknow MP and defence minister Rajnath
Singh, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Amethi MP and union minister
Smriti Irani and professor Mansoor..
Source: Hindustan Times
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Easter Message: No One Should Be Allowed To Use
Religious, Racial Sentiments To Gain Votes
The instigators of hatred
and suspicions in this country must be held to account, said Association of
Churches Sarawak (ACS) chairman Rt Revd Datuk Danald Jute. — The Borneo Post
pic
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31 Mar 2024
KUCHING, March 31 — The instigators of hatred and
suspicions in this country must be held to account, said Association of
Churches Sarawak (ACS) chairman Rt Revd Datuk Danald Jute.
He also said that no one, including politicians,
should be allowed to use or abuse religious or racial sentiments to gain votes
and popularity.
“As a nation, Malaysia has experienced far too many
near misses towards self-destruction. We cannot afford to go on like that.
Enough is enough. The rot must stop,” he said in his Easter message today.
On Easter celebration, Danald, who is also Bishop of
the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei, said it is a great joy and wonderful
assurance for Sarawakian Christians together with millions around the world to
celebrate the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.
“By his resurrection, he has overcome sin and death
and raised us up to a new life with him (Colossians 3:1). Christ’s resurrection
is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection as believers.
“Without the resurrection, Christ’s death on the cross
will be meaningless and worthless. The power of Christ’s resurrection enable us
to live as renewed people — Resurrection People, Easter People — marked by
forgiveness, hope, love, joy and peace,” he said.
Source: Malay Mail
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original story:
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London Ramadan Light Display Switches Off For Gaza;
Dozens Gathered With Candles Around Marble Arch
Palestinian Ambassador
addresses MAP Vigil in London at Marble Arch Ceremony for Gaza. Photo: Algbra X
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Lemma Shehadi
Mar 31, 2024
The Oxford Street Ramadan light display in London was
switched off to commemorate the people of Gaza on Saturday.
Dozens gathered with candles around Marble Arch, for a
moment of silence as the crescent moon-shaped lights on the busy shopping high
street behind them were turned off.
The event was part of an iftar in solidarity with Gaza
organised by Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a British charity that
supports hospitals and doctors in Palestine and supplies medical aid.
“To hold those lights for me is a symbol, in which the
people in Gaza and beyond would know that we are thinking of them and that
they’re not alone,” he said.
Mr Abdalla has become a prominent voice on the
Palestinian issue in the UK, and spoke at a national march for Palestine held
earlier in the day.
“I've lived my entire life in this country growing up
on the words 'never again'. And here we are, under these circumstances, and
it's been six months, and we're asking this stage even just for a ceasefire.
Most of our politicians won't even demand that,” Abdalla said.
“I would like to see a complete change in direction. I
would like first of all to see a call for an immediate ceasefire. I would like
to see a ban on [arms] sales to Israel.
“I would like to see international law upheld by our
politicians across the world. These are the very basic things. We are fighting
for all our futures."
MAP is among a handful of international non-government
organisations currently operating in Gaza. The group was established 40 years
ago by a British surgeon who witnessed the massacre of Palestinians at the
Sabra and Shatila camp in Lebanon in 1982.
Since the latest war began in October, the NGO has
brought 27 lorries into Gaza, which totals about £3.2 million ($4 million)
worth of aid, said Harriet Scott, MAP’s head of philanthropy.
They are one of the only international NGOs still
operating in Northern Gaza, which has been cut off from aid because of the
continued fighting.
“When there is a ceasefire, the work that will need to
be done very quickly. Especially now, one in six children in the north are
malnourished. We need to be able to mobilise as soon as possible and donations
will enable us to do that,” Ms Scott said.
Its recent Stride for Gaza campaign saw UK
participants walk or run 95km, which is equivalent to the distance between Gaza
city and Jerusalem, and raised “over half a million pounds” for MAP in just
four weeks.
Much of the fund-raising now is dedicated to getting
ready to enter Gaza and operate as quickly as possible once a ceasefire comes
into effect.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who attended the
iftar and vigil, said there was a feeling of tremendous sadness in London about
the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“It's impossible not to be heart-broken, frustrated,
angry about what's happening in Gaza as we speak. All of this was preventable,
none of it was inevitable,” he said.
“We’re now embarking on the last 10 days of Ramadan, a
very auspicious part of the holy month, and I can promise you, everyone is
hoping for peace. Everyone’s hoping for a ceasefire.
Speaking to guests at the iftar, Mr Khan described
himself as “passionately pro-Palestinian”, and said it was possible to be so
while condemning the October 7 attack and calling for the release of hostages.
Though Ramadan was a time for gathering with family
and loved ones, as well as a time for reflection, this year had been sombre,
said HusamZomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK.
“Two million people in Gaza marked this holy month on
the Israel siege and bombardment. They have no shelter, no water, no basic
services," he said.
“They are facing famine, as you all know, imposed on
them. A man-made, an Israeli-made famine, with a clear intent to eradicate the
Palestinian people had to extinguish our light.
Dr Zomlot said the UK had an “obligation” to impose an
arms embargo on Israel and called for actions on all Israeli settlers. “There’s
no such thing as a good settler and a bad settler.”
Despite the crisis in Gaza, many in the UK were
hesitant to speak out against the war, said Nizam Uddin OBE, chief strategy
officer at Algbra, the sharia-compliant FinTech company that sponsors the
Ramadan lights on Oxford Street.
“The litmus test I've always asked my friends is would
you call for a ceasefire on LinkedIn. And the chances are no, because they're
all slightly worried in some way, shape, or form. That asks deeper questions,”
he said.
Alexandra Pringle, former editor-in-chief of
Bloomsbury publishing, described her first trip to Palestine 15 years ago, and
how it compelled her to start publishing the works of Palestinian authors.
“It was the most profound and moving experience of my
life, and nothing was ever the same again after I had been there that first
time. It was not just witnessing the terrible degradation and brutality,” she
said.
Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator and founder
of US Middle East Project, spoke of hope for the Palestinian issue before the
lights were turned off.
“What we’ve seen in the streets of London and
elsewhere in the world disbelief that many in this country feel when our
government has still not taken a decision to stop sending arms, that the
zeitgeist is shifting."
Source: The National News
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Bangladesh: PM Sheikh Hasina Slams Opposition’s Boycott-India
Campaign Using Bengali Saris As Tool
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina
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Mar 30, 2024
Bengali women on both sides of the border are known
for their abiding romance with the six-yard wonder. Bangladeshi PM Shiekh
Hasina deftly used this love for saris among Bengali women to turn the tab...
“How many Indian saris do their wives have?” She asked
at an event organised on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day
observed on March 26, 2024. “When they burn their Indian wives’ saris in ...
The trigger behind the dare to opposition from Hasina
known for her elegant collection of Jamdani and Tangail Saris was on March 27,
2024, when Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary general, of th...
“Social media is buzzing with Boycott India Campaign.
There is public dissent against the import of Indian goods. The wave of Indian
products is visible,” the senior BNP leader had told the media a we...
The undercurrent of the anti-India sentiment in Muslim
majority Bangladesh is not new, but it has become more visible mostly during
sporting events like the celebrations in Dhaka after the Indian cric...
General discontent over India’s alleged interference
in Bangladesh politics goes back to the 1990s, but the murmurs have grown
louder in recent years especially after the general election which was bo...
Since then, the BNP social media army, most of it which
operates from Western countries like the party’s defacto chief Tariq Rehman has
been trying to create a narrative that the one-sided election go...
A source in Dhaka, close to the BNP dispensation said
the idea for a boycott-India call was inspired by the developments in the
Maldives, where Mohamed Muizzu used the anti-India sentiment to win the ...
Source: Organiser.Org
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Africa
Muslims in Cameroon observe Ramadan with welcoming
tradition
31-03-2024
Like many around the world, Muslims in Cameroon are
observing the holy month of Ramadan, including daytime fasting and a communal
meal to break the fast in the evening.
Around 20% of the population of Cameroon is Muslim. In
Yaounde, the Potouo family welcomes dozens of guests every evening, in a
tradition honoured around Cameroon in which Muslims open their doors to anyone
looking to break their fast around iftar time.
Mohamed Mbouo, a member of the family, said that
“sharing in Islam is a very important foundation in which each Muslim should
not eat if he isn’t sure if his neighbour has eaten or not. And not just Muslim
neighbours, your neighbour can also be a non-Muslim.”
Source: africanews
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https://www.africanews.com/2024/03/31/muslims-in-cameroon-observe-ramadan-with-welcoming-tradition/
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The Alternative Bank Launches Water Project For
Ramadan
by Olushola Bello
31-03-2024
In a ground-breaking effort to combat water scarcity
and elevate the standard of living for underserved communities, The Alternative
Bank has announced the launch of the Quench Project.
Timed to coincide with the month of Ramadan, this
initiative is set to revolutionize access to potable water by funding and
constructing boreholes, ensuring communities have clean and safe water for
drinking, sanitation, and agricultural activities.
Managing director of The Alternative Bank, Hassan
Yusuf said, “water is the essence of life, a basic human right that remains out
of reach for countless people, especially women and children. The Quench
Project stands as our commitment to changing this harsh reality, with our
efforts beginning this Ramadan.”
Source: leadership.ng
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https://leadership.ng/the-alternative-bank-launches-water-project-for-ramadan/
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45 000 food hampers to be distributed in celebration
of Ramadan
Tanya Krause
30 March 2024
In celebration of the end of the month of Ramadan,
about 45 000 food hampers will be distributed across South Africa, with 24 000
of those being distributed to needy families in the Western Cape.
Operation Fitrah is an initiative by the South African
National Zakah Fund (SANZAF) to ensure that every Muslim is free of want, when
they break their fast on the day of Eid.
Operation Fitrah is conducted over three months and
includes the individual assessment of families and home visits to find
beneficiaries. CEO of SANZAF, YasminaFrancke says their staff and volunteers
put shoulder to the wheel, to ensure that they can provide to those in need.
“We’re here at the Athlone civic Centre and what’s
happening here today is the packing of our fitrah hampers. basically what
fitrah hampers is is the food parcels we pack for distribution to the less
privileged in our community, those who have been fasting, so they also have
something for the day of Eid to actually celebrate one of the special days that
marks the end of the month of Ramadan.
Source: Sabc News
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https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/45-000-food-hampers-to-be-distributed-in-celebration-of-ramadan/
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India
Marry second time now, polygamy ban after polls:
Himanta Sarma's advice to Muslim MP
Mar 30, 2024
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a jibe
at Lok Sabha MP and president of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF),
Badruddin Ajmal, and said if the latter wishes to take a "second or third
wife" he should get married before the Lok Sabha elections. The Uniform
Civil Code will be implemented in Assam after the Lok Sabha polls and polygamy
will become illegal, he added.
"He should get married now. After the elections,
the UCC will come to Assam, then there will be arrests. So it’s okay if he gets
married before the election... As far as I know, he has one wife. He can marry
a second or third but after the elections, we will stop polygamy, said Himanta
Biswa.
The Chief Minister added that if he gets invited to
the wedding festivities before the elections, he would also attend it as it is "still
legal".
Source: India Today
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What makes iftar special at Coimbatore’s Kottaimedu
mosque?
AKILA KANNADASAN
March 30, 2024
A sense of urgency is in the air. Ponvizha Mahal, a
wedding hall in a by-lane off Eswaran Kovil Street in Kottaimedu, is enveloped
in the sweet smell of biryani. With less than 45 minutes to go for iftar, the
fast-breaking evening meal during Ramzan, members of the Thareekathul Islam
ShafiaJamath are preparing to welcome over 500 people to partake in nonbu
kanji, mutton biryani, paruppuvadai, and mango juice. B A Badurdeen, the
vice-president of the group that is affiliated to the KottaiThareekathul Islam
ShafiaJamath Mosque, is pouring mango juice into a row of steel tumblers.
Nearby, other members are scooping biryani into plates to be placed at waiting
tables.
“This is a yearly tradition,” says Badurdeen, pausing
to dip a jug into a gigantic steel vessel filled with juice with ice cubes
floating atop. Every year, the jamath, that is over 80 years old, offers free
iftar through Ramzan. Contributions come from its members, most of whom are
from Coimbatore.
Today’s meal, is an offering by A Amanullah, a Hyderabad-based
businessman who is originally from the city. “I have long been having the niyat
[intention] to do so,” says Amanullah, adding that his offering is in memory of
his father who passed away last month. Amanulla had to book his slot a month
ahead since he was keen to sponsor a non-vegetarian meal — the jamath serves
non-veg only on weekends.
Source: The Hindu
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Governors should do their duty, not sit on bills: SC
judge
Mar 31, 2024
HYDERABAD: SC judge Justice BV Nagarathna Saturday
questioned the way some governors were withholding assent to bills sent by
state govts and said it was embarrassing for courts to tell governors to do
their duty.
Delivering the inaugural address at the 'Courts and
Constitution-2023 in Review' conference at Nalsar University, the judge also
criticised the demonetisation move, saying it helped black-money hoarders while
the common man suffered.
A new trend of governors is being seen in country now.
It is embarrassing for courts to tell governors to do their specified duties
under the Constitution and also not to delay assent to bills," Justice
Nagarathna said.
It is embarrassing for courts to tell governors to do
their specified duties under the Constitution and also not to delay assent to
bills... It is not a healthy trend under the Constitution to drag guvs to
courts. Their post is a serious constitutional post. They must discharge their
duties responsibly
Source: Times Of India
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Mukhtar Ansari’s own letters reveal he suffered two
heart attacks in jail
Mar 31, 2024
LUCKNOW: Amid his family's allegations that
gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari died of poisoning, applications sent by him
and his wife to the President of India in 2018 and 2019 reveal that he had
already suffered two heart attacks while in jail and was a patient of high
blood pressure and diabetes.
Mukhtar and his wife had petitioned the President in
2018 and 2019, seeking his release on medical grounds. Countering his family's
allegation of neglect, senior officials said that Mukhtar has been unwell and
was attended by specialists as and when needed. He was earlier admitted to PGI
Lucknow on Jan 9, 2018 and discharged on Jan 11. "During his confinement
in Banda jail in UP from 2021 to 2024, Mukhtar underwent 84 consultations with
doctors," they say.
In a plea dated Sept 10, 2018, Mukhtar’s wife Afshan
Ansari detailed his ailments to the President, citing diabetes, high blood
pressure, spondylitis, and a slipped disc, and urged for his release.
On Nov 2, 2019, Mukhtar personally wrote to the
President from Ropar jail in Punjab, revealing that he had two cardiac arrests
while incarcerated. “At present I am a 60-yearold man, who has suffered heart
attack twice inside the jail and also suffering from high blood pressure,
diabetes etc," the letter says. In both letters, Mukhtar and wife appealed
for his release from jail and permanent hospitalisation, according to senior
police officers.
Source: Times Of India
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Southeast
Asia
Police looking for trio distributing business cards
offering illegal loans, online gambling services at Ramadan bazaar
31-03- 2024
IPOH: Perak police are currently tracking down the
suspects believed to be engaged in distributing business cards offering
unlicensed money lending and online gambling services around the Ramadan bazaar
area at Ipoh Stadium.
Perak Police Chief, Datuk Seri MohdYusri Hassan Basri
said that investigations conducted revealed the involvement of three men in
this activity for the past three days.
He said that one of the traders at the bazaar, known
as “Oppa” from the OppaZuzu Kitchen stall, had recorded the activities of the
men involved yesterday.
Source: Thesun.my/local
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Malaysia mini-mart outlet attacked after 'Allah socks'
outcry
MARCH 31, 2024
KUALA LUMPUR — A Molotov cocktail was thrown into a Malaysian
convenience store on Saturday (March 30), police said, after the chain's top
executives were charged with hurting religious feelings for selling socks with
the word "Allah" printed on them.
Photos of the socks on sale at a KK Supermart store
have sparked outrage on social media among Muslims who viewed the association
of Allah — the Arabic word for God — with feet as offensive.
Religion is a sensitive issue in Malaysia, where
mostly Muslim ethnic Malays account for two-thirds of its 34 million people,
with large ethnic-Chinese and Indian minorities.
KK Supermart founder and Chairman Chai KeeKan and his
wife Loh Siew Mui, a company director, were charged on Tuesday with wounding
religious feelings, along with three representatives of its supplier, state
news agency Bernama reported. All pleaded not guilty.
Source: Asiaone
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of the original story:
https://www.asiaone.com/malaysia/malaysia-mini-mart-outlet-attacked-after-allah-socks-outcry
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Sabah CM: Brunei company’s proposed transnational
high-speed rail network project an economic catalyst for Borneo region
31 Mar 2024
KOTA KINABALU, March 31 — The proposed Trans Borneo
Railway project linking Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan in Indonesia will
be an economic catalyst to the Borneo region, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said once materialised the project will be impactful
to enhance people-to-people connectivity and boosting the economy in the
region.
“Economically, it will facilitate trade, promote
growth of industries at the border areas and boost tourism in the Borneo
region,” he said in a statement here today.
The statement mentioned that last November, Works
Minister Datuk Seri Alexander NantaLinggi said his ministry had received a
preliminary proposal on the Trans-Borneo Railway project .
Source: Malay Mail
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After second attack on KK Mart, PAS wing denounces
boycott and urges authorities to probe possible agent provocateur
By YiswareePalansamy
31 Mar 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 — Citing “hidden hands”, a PAS
wing has called on authorities to look into possible acts by so-called agent
provocateurs which it suggested may be behind the two firebombing attempts
against KK Mart.
During a breaking fast event with the media in Ampang
here, Pokok Sena MP and the chief of the party’s clerical Ulama wing, Datuk
Ahmad Yahaya, also distanced the Islamist party from any call for boycott against
the convenience store chain.
“For us it is simple. We want to manage the situation
in the country so that no conflict leads to division. Because our call earlier
for there to be unity, is because the situation that we want is a stable one.
“So because of that, we are stern in that we cannot
accept any parties insulting any religion. In fact, I would say, [that this is
the sentiment] even among Muslims too,” he told reporters.
Source: Malay Mail
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Europe
British national held for entering Puri temple,
assaulting cops
Mar 31, 2024
BHUBANESHWAR: Police detained a 30-year-old British
citizen for allegedly assaulting some on-duty cops inside Lord Jagannath temple
in Puri on Saturday, after they asked him to leave the shrine that is off
limits for non-Hindus.
Puri SP Pinak Mishra said a case had been registered
against the man, identified as Thomas Craig Sheldon from Wandsworth in south
London. He was being questioned and the circumstances leading to the incident
were being investigated, Mishra told TOI.
According to eyewitnesses, Sheldon entered the temple
by covering his face partially and mingling with hundreds of devotees. Some
policemen spotted him hurling abuses at visitors and tried to take him outside.
"He was rude and got into a scuffle with police. Sheldon and one of the
cops sustained minor injuries," said DamaMahapatra, a servitor.
Source: Times Of India
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Peru government agents break into president’s residence
with sledgehammer in luxury watch probe
31-03-2024
Televised images swept Peru late Friday of government
agents from an investigative team breaking into the president’s residence with
a sledgehammer in a raid authorized by the judiciary at the request of the
attorney general’s office.
Dina Boluarte is being preliminarily investigated for
possessing an undisclosed collection of luxury watches since she came to power
in July 2021 as vice president and Social Inclusion minister, and then as
president in December 2022.
Initially, she claimed ownership of at least one Rolex
as a long-held possession acquired through “personal gains” since the age of
18, urging the media not to delve into personal matters.
Earlier in the week, attorney general Juan Villena
criticized Boluarte’s request to delay her appearance before the court for two
weeks, emphasizing her obligation to cooperate with the investigation.
Source: Novinite
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Tories could be left with 'fewer than 100' MPs after
next general election, major poll suggests
31 March 2024
Rishi Sunak's Conservatives are on course to win fewer
than 100 seats in the general election, according to a major poll that suggests
the party is facing the worst result in its history.
A survey of 15,000 people, used to build a
seat-by-seat breakdown, indicated the Tories would win in just 98
constituencies in England and get wiped out in Scotland and Wales.
The prime minister himself is in danger of losing his
own constituency, the new Richmond and Northallerton seat in North Yorkshire,
as his lead over Labour is just 2.4%.
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, Home Secretary James
Cleverly and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps would all lose their seats,
according to the study for the internationalist Best for Britain campaign
group.
Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch looks likely to
retain her seat, along with former home secretary Suella Braverman and
ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick.
Source: News.sky
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London-based Iranian journalist in stable condition
after stabbing attack
31-03-2024
LONDON — A London-based Iranian journalist who was
stabbed and wounded in an attack on Friday being investigated by British
counter-terrorism detectives is in stable condition following a hospital stay.
Pouria Zeraati, who hosts a show on the
Persian-language television news network Iran International which is critical
of Iran’s government, was attacked and sustained an injury to his leg in the
incident in Wimbledon, southwest London, on Friday afternoon.
Police said they are probing whether Zeraati, in his
30s, had been targeted because of his job. Police said his injuries were not
believed to be life-threatening and he was in a stable condition.
“He’s doing very well actually. He’s in the hospital
recovering from the attack,” Baillie told BBC radio, calling Friday’s attack “a
shocking, shocking incident whatever the outcome of (the) investigation
reveals.”
“This cowardly attack on Pouria is deeply shocking,
and our thoughts are with him, his family and all of his colleagues at Iran
International,” said Michelle Stanistreet, the general secretary of Britain’s
National Union of Journalists (NUJ), in a statement.
Source: Times Of Israel
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Harvard says it's removed human skin from binding of
19th century book
Mar 30, 2024
CAMBRIDGE: Harvard University said it has removed human
skin from the binding of a 19th century book about the afterlife that has been
in its collections since the 1930s. The decision came after a review found
ethical concerns with the book's origin and history.
The book, "Des Destinees de L'ame," meaning
"Destinies of the Soul," was written by ArseneHoussaye, a French
novelist and poet, in the early 1880s. The printed text was given to a
physician, LudovicBouland, who "bound the book with skin he took without
consent from the body of a deceased female patient in a hospital where he
worked," Harvard said in a recent statement. The book has been at the
university's Houghton Library.
Bouland included a handwritten note inside the book.
It said "a book about the human soul deserved to have a human
covering," associate university librarian Thomas Hyry said in a published
question-and-answer segment online Wednesday. The note also detailed the
process behind preparing the skin for binding. Scientific analysis done in 2014
confirmed the binding was made of human skin, the university said.
In its statement, Harvard said the library noted
several ways in which its stewardship practices failed to meet its ethical
standards.
Source: Times Of India
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South
Asia
Citizen Welfare and Security Top Priorities for the
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Says Deputy PM
2024-03-30
KABUL (BNA): Abdul Salam Hanafi, Deputy Prime Minister
for Administrative Affairs, recently met with Hafiz Mohammad Agha Hakim, the
Governor of Panjshir province. He emphasized that the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan prioritizes the resolution of citizens’ issues and the assurance of
overall security.
According to a statement from Arg, during the meeting,
Governor Hakim provided an overview of the economic and local governance
situation in Panjshir. He assured that security has been fully established in
the province, and local officials are continually striving to address the
people’s concerns and provide necessary services.
While acknowledging the Islamic Emirate’s efforts in
various sectors, Hakim emphasized the need for strengthening religious schools,
madrassas, and health clinics, particularly in the province’s remote areas. He
also called for special attention to be given to the implementation of
developmental projects.
Source: Bakhtar News
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Taliban Claim Of Combatting ISIS Disputed Following
Kandahar Bombing And Moscow Attack: ASPI
By Fidel Rahmati
March 30, 2024
The Australian research institution added that despite
the Taliban’s claim to combat ISIS, the group remains formidable, demonstrated
by bombings in Kandahar, the Taliban’s power center, and an attack on a concert
hall in Moscow.
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute states that
Western societies view ISIS, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other extremist groups
separately, but these groups share a common ideological orientation.
In its report released on Thursday, March 28th, the
institute wrote that these groups, due to their shared ideology, strive to
transform Muslim countries into a unified society under a single rule.
Source: khaama Press
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Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrests five
Bangladesh nationals for illegal migration
March 31, 2024
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on March 30
said that five Bangladeshi nationals were arrested from Navi Mumbai for
entering and living in India illegally without any valid documents.
An ATS official said that they received a tip-off on
Friday and the Vikhroli unit carried out an operation at two locations in
Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai. During the operation, five Bangladeshis were arrested
from Ghansoli’s Janai Compound and Shivaji Talao area.
Source: The Hindu
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Dhaka-Seoul economic partnership agreement: Unlocking
bilateral trade potentials
By: Arun Kumar Goswami
Mar 31, 2024
Bangladesh shares a strong bond with South Korea,
marked by significant milestones in their diplomatic ties. In 1974, South Korea
established its embassy in Dhaka, reciprocated by Bangladesh with an embassy in
Seoul in 1987. Since then, bilateral relations between the two nations have
flourished.
South Korea, boasting the 11th-largest global economy
and the 4th-largest in Asia, holds a pivotal role in the bilateral relations
with Bangladesh. Areas of collaboration encompass business, politics,
investment, employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers, cultural
exchange, higher education ties, and technical assistance. The substantial
economic investment and exportation of labor force from Bangladesh owe much to
the concerted efforts of the Korean government and its people.
Korea provided early technical support to flourish
Bangladesh’s garment industry, which is seen as the primary pillar of
Bangladesh’s current export sector. With this assistance, the industry has
progressively advanced to its current consolidated position. However, through a
variety of channels, Bangladeshi laborers moved to South Korea to find
employment between the end of the 1970s. Since then, our skilled and
semi-skilled laborers have contributed significantly with their arduous effort
to the ongoing development process that began in Korea. Bangladesh-Korea
relates stands on a rock-solid foundation in terms of bilateral political and
economic ties. In 2022, bilateral trade between Bangladesh and South Korea reached
$3.035 billion, with Bangladesh exporting $678 million and South Korea
importing $2.357 billion.
To increase bilateral commerce and investment,
Bangladesh and South Korea are moving towards a bilateral instrument such as
the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which will pave the way for a future
FTA. The proposed trade instrument seeks to enhance economic growth via trade
linkages, broaden investment prospects, and acknowledge the need of technology
innovation and human resource development. It also contains clauses that
support collaboration in the areas of technology, research, innovation, human
resource development, and trade and investment promotion. The proposed EPA also
seeks to enhance the private sector’s involvement in both nations, particularly
that of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The proposed Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) calls for knowledge sharing, joint work on trade
facilitation issues, efficient execution of the WTO trade agreement, and
simplification of customs clearing processes.
Source: ThenewSmill
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Pakistan
All set for Senate polls as 59 left in race for 30
seats
Iftikhar A. Khan
March 31, 2024
ISLAMABAD: As many as 59 candidates are left in the
run for 30 vacant seats of the Senate following unopposed election of 18
senators from Punjab and Balochistan.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a
statement on Saturday that all was set for the Senate elections on April 2, as
the printing of ballot papers and delivery of election material to the
returning officers had already been completed.
The statistics show that the embattled PTI is to stay
as the single-largest party in the upper house of parliament. The party
currently has 20 members in the house and is in a comfortable position to
clinch at least seven more seats from its stronghold — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The commission said that in all, 147 candidates had
filed nomination papers for 48 Senate seats, of whom 18 had been elected
unopposed. They include seven each against general seats from Punjab and
Balochistan and two each against reserved seats for women and technocrats from
Balochistan. That means there will be no election in Balochistan.
As many as 11 candidates will vie for seven general
seats from Sindh. Three candidates will be in the run for two seats reserved
for women, four for two seats reserved for technocrats and two for one seat
reserved for minorities from the province.
In Punjab where all the seven candidates against
general seats have already been elected unopposed, three candidates are in the
run for two seats reserved for technocrats, four for two reserved seats for
women, and two candidates for one seat reserved for minorities.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1824768/all-set-for-senate-polls-as-59-left-in-race-for-30-seats
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Seven killed as rain, hailstorms batter KP
March 31, 2024
PESHAWAR: Seven people were killed and nine others
injured as heavy rain and hailstorms battered large parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
for the second consecutive day on Saturday, according to Rescue 1122 officials.
The deceased in Bannu were members of the same family,
who died after a house wall collapsed and fell on them. Also, in the Kharian
village of Bajaur’sNawagai tehsil, a roof collapsed, leaving two people dead
and a child injured.
The provincial capital also received heavy rainfall
and hailstorm, which inundated several roads and disrupted power supply in many
areas.
Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) said 54 of
its feeders in Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan and Swat tripped after the rainfall.
The staff was working to restore power supply, the
power utility company said. In Swat, residents of the picturesque Kalam Valley
and its surrounding areas woke up to a blanket of snow covering the landscape.
Source: Dawn
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1824804/seven-killed-as-rain-hailstorms-batter-kp
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KP Assembly secretariat says it hasn’t received govt
orders to call oath-taking sitting
March 31, 2024
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly’s
Secretariat has said that it hasn’t received any government orders to call a
sitting of the house for the swearing-in of the lawmakers elected to the seats
reserved for women and non-Muslims.
The Peshawar High Court had ordered Speaker of the
provincial assembly Babar Saleem Swati to administer oaths to those MPAs on
April 2, according to a statement issued by the office of the press secretary
to the speaker.
It added that soon after receiving the court’s orders,
the speaker asked the secretariat about the April 2 session but was informed
that the government had yet not issued any directions to call that sitting.
“We believe in the supremacy of the law. We are
committed to our struggle for the supremacy of the Constitution and the law,”
Mr Swati said in the statement.
Source: Dawn
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Aurangzeb assures Sindh CM of addressing issue of ‘at
source’ tax deduction
March 31, 2024
KARACHI: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb
on Saturday assured the Sindh government that the issue of at-source deduction
of taxes from the provincial government’s head by the Federal Board of Revenue
(FBR) and other federal entities would be resolved amicably.
This emerged in a meeting between the federal minister
and Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at the CM’s House.
Official sources said that the federal minister and
the chief minister agreed to collaborate in order to attract foreign investment
and boost exports, thereby enhancing the financial stability of the province in
general and of the country in particular.
The chief minister told the federal finance minister
that the FBR and other federal entities were illegally implementing at-source
deductions, contrary to established policy. “The federal government has been
deducting money from the provincial government’s head through at-source
deduction,” he added.
Source: Dawn
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‘Contaminated’ water being supplied to Parliament
House, lodges: NA deputy speaker
Jamal Shahid
March 31, 2024
ISLAMABAD: National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Syed
Ghulam Mustafa Shah took notice on Saturday of the supply of contaminated water
in the Parliament House and Parliament Lodges.
The issue of contaminated water was highlighted in an
investigative report by the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources
(PCRWR), Ministry of Science and Technology.
The government of Pakistan has directed PCRWR to
monitor water sources, including bottled and mineral water brands, and to
publicise the results to raise awareness of public health.
He directed the administration of the NA Secretariat
to take water samples from the Parliament House and the lodges and conduct an
immediate and thorough investigation by the authorised laboratory.
Source: Dawn
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Mideast
Islamic Jihad leader: Palestinians will win the battle
against Israel
March 30, 2024
“I promise you that that we will be the victor of this
battle and the resilience of the Palestinian people will serve as a model for
the world,” Nakhaleh told a press conference in Tehran after a meeting with
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian.
Israel unleased an unprecedented wide-scale war
against the Gaza Strip after the Palestinian resistance front launched the
Al-Aqsa Storm Operation against Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite six months
of relentless war against Gazans that amount to war crimes, crimes against
humanity and genocide the Israel regime has failed to achieve any of its goals.
Nakhaleh also described his meeting with Amir
Abdollahian as important and praised Iran and its foreign minister for standing
on the “side of the Palestinians and the resistance”.
The PIJ secretary general added, “The active diplomacy
of the Islamic Republic of Iran was very important in highlighting the position
of the Palestinian resistance supporting it, and this was something that we had
expected.”
Nakhaleh said Iran has been supporting the
“Palestinian resistance” movements and “paid the costs” of this support and
that is why “many sanctions have been imposed on Iran for defending the rights
of Palestinians.”
He added it was not easy to continue the “auspicious
al-Aqsa Storm” without the open support of Iran at all different levels through
all these years.
Source: Tehran Times
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Iran FM meets Islamic Jihad Secretary-General in
Tehran
Mar 30, 2024
Hossein Amirabdollahian met and discussed with the
Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement of Palestine Ziyad al-Nakhalah
and his accompanying delegation in Tehran.
He praised the important role of the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad movement in defending the rights of the Palestinian nation and
fighting against the aggression of the Zionist regime.
He considered the unity of the Resistance in Palestine
and the Gaza Strip as one of the valuable manifestations of the Palestinian
nation, adding that, the unity and cohesion of the Palestinian Resistance
movements and their heroic battle, as well as the historical and exemplary
standing of the Palestinian nation crushed the spirit of the enemy and great
victories have been granted to the Palestinian nation in various political,
legal, and international fields despite all the hardships and bitterness.
Source: En.Mehrnews
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/213370/Iran-FM-meets-Islamic-Jihad-Secretary-General-in-Tehran
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Islamic Republic Day turning point in Iran's history
Mar 31, 2024
IRGC statement considered April 1st as a bright and
determining turning point in the history of Iran, saying that the independence
of the country was guaranteed in a unique referendum and with the establishment
of the holy system with the vote of 98.2% of the Iranian people which liberated
the country from the dominion of arrogant powers and showed the new model of
governance based on Islam and religious democracy to the world.
This statement added that the Islamic Republic of Iran
with its attractive right-seeking and justice-oriented discourse for humanity
has been the target of the enemies since the beginning and has faced a long and
varied list of conspiracies which separatist and terrorist movements of the
beginning of the victory of the revolution in the border provinces of the
country, the imposed eight-year war, blockade, sanctions and economic war and
chain seditions are among them.
The Islamic Establishment has overcome all the
enmities with the grace of God, the guidance of Imam Khomeini (RA) and
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and the insightful and intelligent presence of
the Iranian people and turned all the conspiracies to an opportunity for the
strength and progress of the Revolution and the Islamic system, the statement
noted.
Source: En.Mehrnews
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/213374/Islamic-Republic-Day-turning-point-in-Iran-s-history
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Two children among 7 dead after car bomb tears through
Syria market during Ramadan
Stuti Mishra
31 March 2024
At least seven people were killed in Syria after a car
bomb went off in a busy marketplace while residents were out shopping after
breaking their fast in the Muslim month of Ramadan.
When the bomb went off, residents were buying clothes
and gifts for children ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the month
of Ramadan.
“It’s timing comes with heavy congestion by shoppers,”
Yaseen Shalabi, a resident who was near the site of the explosion shopping with
his family, told Reuters.
Source: Uk.news.
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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/two-children-among-7-dead-051352039.html
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Arab
World
Dubai: Drugs awareness workshops held in Ramadan tents
March 31, 2024
Dubai: Experts from various government departments,
led by Dubai Police, are raising awareness about the dangers of drugs during
workshops held in Ramadan tents.
Ramadan tents, which are usually set up next to
mosques during the holy month, see scores of worshippers gather to have iftar,
the sunset meal taken to end the day’s fast.
This Ramadan, the Awareness and Rehabilitation Section
at the International Hemaya Centre of the General Department of Anti-Narcotics
at Dubai Police joined forces with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable
Activities Department in Dubai and the General Department of Community
Happiness at Dubai Police to deliver informative workshops for fasting
individuals. These workshops focused on drug-related issues, associated risks,
and reporting procedures.
The workshops were held at various Ramadan Iftar
tents, including the Rashid bin Mohammed Masjid tent in Al Hudaiba area, the Al
Shuhada Masjid tent in Al Muhaisnah area, and Masjid Al Rwashed tent in Al Ttay
area. The target audience for these workshops was over 2,000 people.
Source: Gulfnews.Com
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https://gulfnews.com/uae/ramadan/dubai-drugs-awareness-workshops-held-in-ramadan-tents-1.101937448
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In Yemen, Renewed Conflict and Rising Hunger Stalk a
Lean Ramadan
By Saeed Al-Batati
March 31, 202
In the years before war and hunger upended daily life
in Yemen, Mohammed Abdullah Yousef used to sit down after a long day of fasting
during Ramadan to a rich spread of food. His family would dine on meat,
falafel, beans, savory fried pastries and occasionally store-bought crème
caramel.
This year, the Islamic holy month looks different for
Mr. Yousef, 52, a social studies teacher in the coastal city of Al Mukalla. He,
his wife and their five children break their fast with bread, soup and
vegetables. Earning the equivalent of $66 a month, he frets that his salary
sometimes slips from his hands in less than two weeks, much of it to pay
grocery bills.
“I’m fighting to make ends meet,” Mr. Yousef said in
an interview, describing how even before Ramadan he had begun skipping meals to
stretch his meagerpaychecks, yet could barely afford bus fare to his job at a
primary school.
A decade ago, his salary covered his family’s needs
and more. But conflict, poverty and hunger have overtaken much of Yemen. As
rapid inflation eats away at their spending power, middle-class Yemenis like
Mr. Yousef have found themselves sliding into economic collapse.
Source: nytimes
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https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/31/world/middleeast/yemen-hunger-houthis.html
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Youth & Communications Ministers inaugurate
Ramadan Football Forum for Al-Aqsa Flood Cup
31/March/2024
SANA'A March 31. 2024 (Saba) - The Minister of Youth,
Sports and Communications in the caretaker government, Muhammad Hussein
Al-Muaydi and Engineer Misfer Al-Numair, inaugurated Ramadan Football Forum
Championship for centers in the 15-year-old category, organized by the Talented
Football School, sponsored by the Ministry of Youth and funded by the Youth
Fund.
Ten sports teams bearing the names of Palestinian
cities will participate in the forum, which will last until the 24th of Ramadan.
They were divided into two groups, the first of which included (Jerusalem -
Nablus - Gaza - Hebron - Bir Al-Sara'a) and the second included teams (Ramallah
- Khan Yunis - Rafah - Jenin - Haifa), competing for Al-Aqsa Flood Cup on the
stadiums of Al-Thawra Sports City.
It resulted by, Jenin topped the group with four
points, a goal difference from Khan Younis II, and the Ramallah team came third
with 3 points.
The forum’s competitions will continue today with two
matches in the first group, where Al-Quds team will face Nablus and Gaza team
will play with Hebron. As for the second group, it will witness two matches,
the first bringing together Ramallah with Rafah, and Khan Yunis with Haifa.
Source: saba
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3317416.htm
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From chai addiction to spiritual freedom in Ramadan
Mehmudah Rehman
March 31, 2024
Of course I am going to talk (yet again) about the
beverage that makes me tick: chai. Or tea, if you prefer English. The groggy
morning self longs for a cuppa as I saunter down the stairs and sit lazily on
the couch trying to get myself together. The cat brushes past my ankles and I
frown, annoyed as I cast a longing look towards the kitchen.
If I wasn’t fasting, I would boil water and loose
black tea for a good 12 minutes or so. I would then add evaporated milk, boil
it a bit more till the colour and aroma feels just right and so incredibly
inviting.
Then with a flourish, I would strain it into my
beautiful blue and white mug. (Yes, the mug is new. And it’s beautiful, and he
doesn’t know we have three of the same ones in case the kids or the dishwasher
get overly excited and shatter the masterpiece). But I digress.
After pouring it into the said mug, a sprinkle of
saffron and I’m charged with a million batteries. Suddenly I am good-natured
and humorous and I can come up with sixteen very creative ideas for my
daughter’s science project. But not so today. Today I’m feeling strictly ‘meh’.
Source: Thepeninsulaqatar
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https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/from-chai-addiction-to-spiritual-freedom-in-ramadan-1.101950803
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Ramadan rituals inspire visual arts, say Qatari
artists
MARCH 31, 2024
The atmosphere of the holy month of Ramadan serves as
a source of inspiration for Qatari artists, including visual artists and
photographers, due to the blending of spiritual dimensions and social heritage
in people’s relationship with their religion and daily lives.
Qatari creatives celebrate the aesthetics of heritage
and cultural identity in their artistic works, drawing inspiration from various
dimensions of tradition. They present these ideas in different artistic formats
and diverse styles in photography, sculpture, composition, and graphics.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), prominent
photographers and visual artists highlighted the inspirational aspects of
Ramadan rituals and its atmosphere in their artistic experiences.
Source: Gulf-Times
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Green Tent ends Ramadan activities with focus on
charitable efforts
MARCH 31, 2024
The ‘Flower Each Spring’ programme officially
concluded the Green Tent activities during the month of Ramadan by holding a
symposium that addressed the contributions made by the Qatar Red Crescent
Society (QRCS) in the Arab states, along with the charitable societies during
the humanitarian crises.
The symposium highlighted the accomplishments made by
those charitable societies whose history abounds with giving and dedication to
helping people in the Gaza Strip. The event conducted a comparative study
between the Arab charitable societies and their Western counterparts.
In the closing statement, head of the ‘Flower Each
Spring’ programme Dr Saif Ali al-Hajri emphasised that humanitarian and relief
organisations play incredible roles in conflict, war and disaster-stricken
regions, and it is imperative to understand the functions of those
organisations.
He said that QRCS undertakes the responsibility of
monitoring the enforcement of the international humanitarian law, receiving
complaints relevant to violations, and contributing to upgrading and
disseminating the humanitarian law, in addition to protecting the victims of
war and providing relief in times of disasters through the determined functions
granted by the Geneva convention and the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement.
There are a myriad of challenges that face charitable
organisations when performing humanitarian duties, al-Hajri underlined, stating
that the participants in the Green Tent underscored the importance of
addressing an array of challenges that face the operation of charitable
organisations, such as the perilous consequences of operation in conflict, war
and disaster-hit zones, along with the challenges of limited funding facing
humanitarian and relief organisations.
Source: Gulf-Times
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Two children among 7 dead after car bomb tears through
Syria market during Ramadan
Stuti Mishra
At least seven people were killed in Syria after a car
bomb went off in a busy marketplace while residents were out shopping in the
Muslim month of Ramadan, residents and rescuers told Reuters.
When the bomb went off, residents were buying clothes
and gifts for children ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the month
of Ramadan.
“It’s timing comes with heavy congestion by shoppers,”
Yaseen Shalabi, a resident who was near the site of the explosion shopping with
his family, told Reuters.
The town of Azaz, a strategically important location
in the civil war, has been run by Syrian rebel groups backed by Turkey, which
is opposed to Syrian president Bashar al Assad.
Source: Independent
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-azaz-car-bomb-ramadan-b2521180.html
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North
America
Trump Campaign Slams Biden For Declaring March 31,
Easter Sunday, As Transgender Day Of Visibility
Mar 31, 2024
NEW Delhi: The Trump campaign and other Republican
leaders attacked US President Joe Biden for declaring Easter Sunday as the
transgender day of visibility. On Friday, the US president, in a statement,
said, "Now, therefore, I, Joseph R Biden jr., president of the United
States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2024, as
Transgender Day of Visibility. I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting
up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to Work
toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity."
The falling of transgender day of visibility and
Easter Sunday on the same day is a complete coincidence but Republicans and
religious conservative are not leaving a chance to criticise Biden.
“It is appalling and insulting that Joe Biden’s White
House … formally proclaimed Easter Sunday as ‘Trans Day of Visibility,” former
President Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement.
Source: Times Of India
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Al Rashid gives back with community BBQ for Ramadan
31-03-2024
Volunteers helped work the grill Saturday at Boyle
Street Plaza for the Taste of Ramadan.
The event is an annual tradition organized by the Al
Rashid Mosque, where the community is invited for a hot meal and a helping
hand.
"This is a tradition that we uphold in our month
of fasting," said RajaiFayad, a volunteer with Al Rashid. "It is not
just about us abstaining from food and water, it's also about us giving back to
the community, performing good deeds."
In addition to a meal and some activities, community
members could connect with other social agencies, find resources and pick up
some new clothes.
Source: Edmonton.
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of the original story:
https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/al-rashid-gives-back-with-community-bbq-for-ramadan-1.6828081
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Baltimore bridge highlights role of migrants in US
workforce
Mar 31, 2024
LOS ANGELES: The death of six Latino workers who were
fixing potholes when a Baltimore bridge collapsed highlights the crucial role
immigrants play in keeping America running, say advocates.
And it stands in stark contrast to the rhetoric of
populists like Donald Trump, who cast them as criminal invaders ruining the
country.
A team of eight men were doing road maintenance
overnight Monday into Tuesday on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when a huge container
ship smashed into a support pillar, sending almost the entire span crashing
into the Patapsco River.
The tragedy comes at a time many Latinos feel they are
under assault from sections of the political class, as the United States ramps
up for a bitter presidential election in November between Trump and incumbent
Joe Biden.
Source: Times Of India
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