‘Our Strength Lies in Our Unity - Terrorism, Extremism Continue to Pose Serious Threats to Societies: PM Modiat Global South Summit
New Age Islam News Bureau
17 Aug 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the 3rd Voice
of Global South Summit through video conferencing, in New Delhi, Saturday, Aug.
17, 2024. (PTI Photo)
----------
·
‘Our Strength Lies in Our Unity - Terrorism,
Extremism Continue to Pose Serious Threats to Societies: PM Modiat Global South
Summit
·
New York: Don’t Allow Ram Temple Float in India
Day Parade, It’s ‘Anti-Muslim’, Twenty Faith Groups Including IAMC and CAIR
Demand
·
Mount Kenya University Builds Mosque to Make
Muslim Students Feel at Home
·
Stores in Japan Set Up Prayer Rooms as Muslim
Visitors Increase
·Impact of Far-Right Riots On Muslims
Revealed in Poll as 92% Feel Less Safe Living in The UK
-----
India
·
Tensions Rise as Muslims Protest Against Hindu
Leader's 'Hurtful' Remarks On Prophet Mohammad
·
In call with Netanyahu, PM Modi stresses need
for de-escalation in Gaza
·
Communal tensions in Udaipur after student
stabs schoolmate; vehicles set on fire
·
In India illegally, three Rohingya refugees en
route to Hyderabad arrested at Agartala Railway Station
--------
North America
·
Postponed Islamic art exhibit at the Frick
Pittsburgh to open Saturday for 2-month run
·
Police: Man stabbed, another shot at Rock Hill
mosque
·
Medcalf: Recent attacks against Minnesota
mosques, Muslims are unsettling. Does anybody care?
·
CAIR Welcomes HRW Report Highlighting Modi’s
Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
·
US warns Iran faces ‘cataclysmic’ consequences
if it strikes Israel
--------
Africa
·
Enugu Governor Mbah Orders Churches, Mosques to
Remove Loudspeakers, Issues Ultimatum
·
16 Killed, 20 Abducted in Congo in Attacks
Blamed On Islamic State-Linked Rebels
·
Paramilitaries in Sudan Kill 80 While Their
Delegates Were Holding Talks On How to End the Country’s 16-Month Civil War
·
U.N. Security Council prolongs mandate of AU
peacekeeping in Somalia
·
Tinubu Returns to Nigeria After Three-Day Visit
To Equatorial Guinea
--------
Southeast Asia
·
Country’s sovereignty will be compromised if
military officers involved in corruption, power abuse, says King
·
CAAM reviews regulations on foreign-registered
Aircraft operating in Malaysia
·
Youth must have courage to speak out - PM Anwar
·
Malaysia acts on PM’s concern to bring injured
Palestinians from Egypt - Ahmad Zahid
·
Court dismisses Rosmah’s bid to stay hearing of
suit by Lebanon-based jeweller
--------
Europe
·
CCTV of man defending Darlington mosque
throwing missile
·
Man jailed for making threatening calls to
mosques
·
Politicians visit Lanarkshire Central Mosque to
demonstrate solidarity for Muslim community in wake of far-right violence
across the UK
·
French foreign minister visits Beirut in a bid
to help ease tensions
·
Imitating the Nazis and desecrating graves:
Disturbing actions of Ukrainian troops amid attack inside Russia
--------
Pakistan
·
3 TTP Terrorists Killed, 1 Injured in North
Waziristan Intelligence-Based Operation: ISPR
·
NA committee chief apologises after PTI’s Iqbal
Afridi objects to woman’s attire
·
Three drown as chairlift in KP’s Upper Kohistan
falls into Indus River
·
Five bullet-riddled bodies found tied to electric
pole in Balochistan’s Dalbandin
·
Kabul urged to avoid unprovoked acts against
Pak-Afghan border
·
PTI's Iqbal Afridi faces MPs calls for apology
over 'misogynistic' statement
·
Army chief honours Olympian Arshad Nadeem at
special ceremony
·
Two cops, three others injured in Peshawar
'remote-controlled' explosion
·
Pakistani Army arrests three retired officers
tied to ex-ISI Chief’s scandal
--------
Mideast
·
Iraq’s Yazidis Hope a New Village Will Prompt
Survivors Of A 2014 Daesh Massacre To Return
·
Activists prepare to defy Israeli naval
blockade of Gaza
·
Six killed in Israeli strike in Lebanon, health
ministry says
·
Palestinian village in shock after attack by
Israeli settlers
·
Chad opens consulate in Morocco-ruled Western
Sahara
·
Abbas visit to Turkish parliament linked to
several geopolitical dynamics
·
MPs brawl during debate on jailed opposition
lawmaker
·
Egypt FM affirms Arab support for Lebanese
security in Beirut talks
--------
Arab World
·
Reviving Ithmid KohlEye Cosmetic: The
Intersection of Health, Beauty and Culture in Saudi Arabia
·
Grand Mosque Imam Visits Shariah Sciences and
Modern Studies Centre In Cambodia
·
KSrelief launches Balsam campaign for
neurosurgery in Yemen
·
Ministry of Justice starts process for students
seeking training at judicial facilities
·
Ghana hospital inaugurates hospital rehab
project backed by Saudi Fund for Development
·
Saudi Arabia, Morocco sign MoU to enhance
health cooperation
·
Saudi minister attends inauguration of
Dominican Republic president
·
How biodiesel could cut greenhouse gas emissions
and improve air quality in Saudi Arabia
·
Minister hails Saudi Arabia’s higher education
milestone
·
Saudi aid agency concludes cochlear implant
project in Turkiye
--------
South Asia
·
BoltonFormer US National Security Adviser:
Foreign Terrorists Back In Afghanistan, US Aid To Taliban Must Stop
·
Kamala Harris Appoints Afghan-American Lawyer to
Strengthen Ties withMuslim andArab Communities
·
Hamid Khorasani: I stood against my entire
ethnic group for the Taliban
·
Iran imposes deadline for Afghan refugees to leave
certain regions
·
US to Taliban: Afghanistan’s airspace control
is your problem, not ours
·
CPJ: Remaining Media Outlets in Afghanistan
driven to the brink
·
Bamyan celebrates Victory Day with running
competitions
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
‘Our
Strength Lies in Our Unity -Terrorism, Extremism Continue to Pose Serious
Threats to Societies: PM ModiAtGlobal South Summit
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit through
video conferencing, in New Delhi, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. (PTI Photo)
-----------
The
summit's theme is "An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable
Future." PM Modi highlighted that the summit will address key areas
including development, climate change, health, and energy security.
August
17, 2024
Kicking
off the third Voice of Global South Summit virtually on Saturday, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi called on Global South countries to remain united, emphasizing
that the summit’s focus will be on sustainable development goals and women-led
initiatives.
“Our
strength lies in our unity, and on strength of this unity we will move towards
new direction. Voice of Global South Summit is a platform where we give voice
to the needs, and aspirations of those who have been unheard till now,” he
said.
The
summit’s theme is “An Empowered Global South for a Sustainable Future.” PM Modi
highlighted that the summit will address key areas including development,
climate change, health, and energy security.
“Today
we are meeting at a time when there is an atmosphere of uncertainty all around.
The world has not yet completely come out of the impact of Covid. On the other
hand, the situation of war has created challenges for our development journey,”
Modi said.
“We are
not only facing the challenges of climate change, but now there are also
concerns about health security, food security, and energy security,” he said.
Additionally,
he stressed that terrorism, extremism, and separatism continue to pose serious
threats to our societies.
Under
India’s G20 presidency, the agenda was shaped by the expectations, aspirations,
and priorities of the Global South, Modi said. He also highlighted India’s
contributions, such as setting up hospitals, ventilators, and Jan Aushadhi
centers in Africa and the Pacific Islands, and offering assistance to countries
like Papua New Guinea and Kenya.
He also
lauded the “humanitarian aid” provided amid the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and
Ukraine.
Speaking
to the media earlier today, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir
Jaiswal stated that all Global South countries have been invited to the summit.
The discussions will cover global challenges including conflicts, food and
energy security crises, and climate change.
Jaiswal
also mentioned that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs
Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India at the summit. Regarding the
situation in Bangladesh, he noted that the Indian government is closely monitoring
developments and expressed hope for a swift restoration of normalcy to ensure
the safety of Hindu and minority communities.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-global-south-summit-strength-unity-9518792/
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New York: Don’t Allow Ram Temple
Float in India Day Parade, It’s ‘Anti-Muslim’, Twenty Faith Groups Including
IAMC and CAIRDemand
16-08-24
The Ram
temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. | Adnan Abidi/Reuters
------------
The
Indian American Muslim Council, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and
20 other faith-based groups in the United States have called for the removal of
an “anti-Muslim” tableau depicting Ayodhya’s Ram temple from the India Day
Parade that will be held in New York on Sunday.
The
Federation of Indian Associations is organising the parade to mark India’s
Independence Day. Now in its forty-second year, the event is attended by
several thousand persons every year, reported AP.
The
contentious tableau is being organised by the United States arm of the Hindutva
group Vishwa Hindu Parishad, reported The New York Times. The Vishwa Hindu
Parishad is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent
organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
“This
float presence represents these groups’ desire to conflate Hindu nationalist
ideology with Indian identity,” the Indian American Muslim Council and others
wrote in a letter this month to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York
City Mayor Eric Adams. “This is not merely a cultural display, but a vulgar
celebration of anti-Muslim heat, bigotry and religious supremacy.”
The Ram
temple, which is under construction, was inaugurated in a ceremony led by Prime
Minister Modi on January 22.
It is
being built on the site of the Babri mosque, which was demolished by Hindutva
extremists in December 1992 because they believed that it stood on the spot
where the Hindu deity Ram was born. The incident had triggered communal riots
across the country.
In a
statement on Monday, the Interfaith Center NY called on the organisers and the
Indian consulate to reconsider the inclusion of the float.
“While
the history is complex, the newly (re)built Ram temple sits at the heart of
Hindu-Muslim communal conflict,” the group said. “A celebration of the Ayodhya
Ram temple even in the seemingly innocuous form as a parade-float replica
thousands of miles away in New York City may be seen as an effort by Hindu
nationalists to efface the presence of India’s approximately 200 million
Muslims.”
The
statement added: “The organisers of the India Day Parade have a legal right to
celebrate their religious and cultural heritage as they deem appropriate, but
we hope they will exercise sound judgement and sensitivity towards their
religiously diverse neighbours.”
The
Interfaith Center NY said that at a time when geopolitics and conflict “consume
the Middle East, Islamophobic riots take place in the UK and attacks on Hindus
in Bangladesh are happening”, faith communities have a “special responsibility
to take extra care not to inflame local divisions” in New York city.
On
Wednesday, in an address to reporters outside New York’s City Hall, Husnaa
Vhora of the Indian American Muslim Council said: “This is happening in New
York City. For it to happen anywhere in the United States is appalling, but for
it to happen in New York City, the Big Apple, the melting pot, amplifies the
sentiment.”
Responding
to calls for the float’s removal, Federation of Indian Associations Chairman
Ankur Vaidya said in a statement: “As we celebrate what we consider a vital
aspect of our faith through the celebration of the landmark, we unequivocally
reject violence and hate in any form, including any damage to any religious
place of worship. We stand for peaceful coexistence and encourage everyone to
embrace this value.”
Vaidya
rejected the view that the float was “anti-Muslim or meant to celebrate the
destruction of the mosque”, reported The New York Times.
The
association has described the parade as a “rich tapestry of India’s cultural
diversity” and said that floats representing the country’s Hindu, Muslim, Sikh
and Christian faiths had been featured in its past iterations.
It said
that the inclusion of the 18-foot-long, 9-foot-wide and 8-foot-tall float
“promises to be a powerful symbol of cultural significance and a testament to a
historic moment for the global Indian community”, reported The New York Times.
Ajay
Shah, the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, accused the
tableau’s critics of “Hindu hate”, The New York Times reported. Shah said that
their “full-time job is to malign mainstream Hindus and their faith”.
When
asked about the controversy on Tuesday, Adams said that there was “no room for
hate” in New York.
“I want
to send the right symbolic gesture that the city’s open to everyone,” he said.
“If there is a float or a person in the parade that’s promoting hate, they
should not.”
This is
not the first time that there has been a controversy over what was being
displayed. In 2022, the mayor of Edison town in United States’ New Jersey
criticised the inclusion of a bulldozer by Hindutva groups during India’s
Independence Day parade in the state, saying that “any symbol or action that
represents discrimination is unwelcome”.
The
bulldozer had carried photos of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The
incident was investigated as an act of bias by the local prosecutor’s office
and the police, but no charges were eventually filed, according to The New York
Times.
In
recent years, there has been a growing trend of civic authorities in Bharatiya
Janata Party-ruled states summarily demolishing purportedly illegal properties
of those accused of crime, mostly Muslims. This has prompted the use of the
term “bulldozer justice”. There are no provisions in Indian law to allow for
such punitive demolitions.
Source: scroll.in/latest
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the text of the original Story
https://scroll.in/latest/1072117/faith-based-groups-seek-removal-of-anti-muslim-tableau-depicting-ram-temple-from-new-york-parade
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Mount
Kenya UniversityBuilds Mosque to Make Muslim Students Feel At Home
17
August 2024
Founder
of Mount Kenya University Simon Gicharu.
Image:
COURTESY
-------------
Mount
Kenya University has officially launched a new mosque on its main campus to
promote religious diversity and inclusivity in education.
The
institution said the development will serve the needs of Muslim students and
staff.
The
3000-capacity mosque symbolises the institution's diversity.
MKU
founder Simon Gicharu said the launch is a milestone for MKU, which continues
to expand its infrastructure to meet the diverse needs of its growing student
population.
"Today,
we are not just opening a building; we are opening doors to greater
understanding and respect for all faiths. This mosque is a testament to our
commitment to embracing diversity and ensuring that every student feels valued
and supported, regardless of their religious beliefs," Gicharu said.
Gicharu
said the new space is expected to foster unity and harmony within the
university and the nation.
He also
addressed concerns surrounding the new government funding model for higher
education, saying it has not disrupted the university’s curriculum.
Students
and staff expressed gratitude for the new facility, saying it will enhance
spiritual lives and contribute to a more inclusive campus environment.
In
addition to launching the mosque, Professor Gicharu inaugurated several other
key facilities, including professors' offices, a renovated modern student
centre and a stunning water fountain at the main gate.
These
developments are part of the university’s broader initiative to improve
infrastructure and provide a more enriching environment for both students and
staff.
Source: the-star.co.ke
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2024-08-17-mku-builds-mosque-to-make-muslim-students-feel-at-home/
--------
Stores
In Japan Set Up Prayer Rooms As Muslim Visitors Increase
A man
walks past a restaurant with a water sprayer on its roof duting a hot summer
day in shimbashi, tokyo, Japan, August 13, 2024. RETERS/Willy kurniawan
-----------
TOKYO,
Aug 17 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Department stores and shopping malls in Japan are
increasingly setting up prayer rooms to meet the need for Muslims amid a
growing number of visitors from Islamic countries on the back of a weak yen.
According
to Kyodo news agency, at the Matsuya Ginza department store in Tokyo's upscale
shopping district, a number of people lined up in front of a room designated as
a "prayer room" at certain times of the day
The room
is equipped with a foot-washing area for cleansing parts of the body before
worship and has mats for several people to perform prayers.
A
Malaysian woman in her 30s said she had searched for a prayer room online
before arriving in Japan, saying she was thankful as it is difficult to find
one in the middle of the metropolitan area.
Muslims
pray five times a day, though some reduce the frequency to three times while on
a trip, according to theJapan Tourism Agency.
Their
activities would be limited if they could not find a prayer room and had to
return to their accommodation, it added.
Prayer
rooms are necessary infrastructure similar to bathrooms and nursing
rooms," said a retail industry official,adding that people in the industry
need to cooperate to install such facility.
Among
other department stores in Tokyo, Shibuya Parco in the Shibuya shopping
district has opened a worship room
Aeon
Mall Co., which operates large-scale shopping complexes, has installed prayer
rooms in seven outlets across Chiba, Kanagawa, Aichi, Hiroshima and Okinawa
prefectures, with plans to expand the service to other stores.
The
number of visitors to Japan from Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey surpassed
870,000 in 2023, up 2.7-fold from a decade ago, according to the Japan National
Tourism Organisation.
Source: bernama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.bernama.com/en/world/news.php?id=2330092
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Impact
of far-right riots on Muslims revealed in poll as 92% feel less safe living in
the UK
17-08-24
Muslims
attend prayers at the Abdullah Quilliam Mosque last week (Reuters)
-------------
Many
Muslims feel less safe living in the UK after far-right rioters targetted
mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers, a poll has revealed.
The
survey commissioned by Muslim Census, a data organisation focusing on Muslims
and ethnic minorities, found 92 per cent feel “much less safe” as a result of
the violent disorder. The poll, conducted between 5-6 August with a panel of
1,519 participants from various backgrounds, reported one in six people have
personally experienced racist attacks since the riots began on 30 July, while
two in three people witnessed one.
Verbal
attacks are the most commonly faced by Muslims with 28 per cent followed by 16
per cent recording abuse online. Four per cent said they had experienced a
physical attack in the weeks since the disorder.
Muslim
Census co-founder Sadiq Dorasat said: “We have heard stories about Hijabis that
don’t feel safe to leave their homes or go to work.
“We’ve
seen a witch hunt directed to people of the Muslim faith mentioning Allah and
His messenger and people are concerned for their safety.”
For
days, far-right individuals targeted mosques, Muslim-owned businesses and
hotels housing asylum seekers in cities including London, Liverpool, Bristol,
Blackpool and Belfast. Violence broke out after misinformation was spread
following the deadly stabbings of three girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance
class in Southport on 29 July.
Southport
Islamic Centre was one of the mosques targeted by far-right rioters who set
cars on fire and pelted local buildings with rocks. Since the riots, more than
900 people have been arrested and more than 400 charged nationwide, including
for racial hatred.
Mosques
around the country have advised worshippers to take safety measures including
refraining from traveling alone, avoid leaving their homes after sunset and
consider traveling in groups to “avoid being a target”, Leicester Islamic
Centre announced.
The
polling expert fears racism cases and widespread security concerns have now
increased even more and argued the “shocking spike in Islamophobia” is not an isolated
incident.
Mr
Dorasat said: “This has been a growing and rising problem. We see it day to day
and some people might not even be surprised at the riots that are taking place.
“Since
the start of the year, Muslims have been experiencing these Islamophobic
incidents and it has only been accelerated in the last week. Nobody should be
surprised.”
He
argued the rise hasn’t happened overnight and it has been increasing over the
past five years like a “domino effect” leading to the violence around the country.
According
to the survey, half of the people quizzed have been the victim of a racist
attack just in the last year and an overwhelming 93 per cent of Muslims feel
Islamophobia has increased over the past five years.
The
pollster believes the government should have condemned the violence using
stronger terms and criticised party leaders for not working towards
establishing a definition for Islamophobia.
“The
word has been used very rarely in the last weeks and there is a reluctance to
use it and it is because there is no agreed definition of Islamophobia by our
current and our previous government,” he added.
The
nearest to an official definition in the UK came when an all-party
parliamentary group in 2019 defined Islamophobia as “rooted in racism and is a type
of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness”.
Although
the term has been used by some politicians from multiple parties – including
Labour, Lib Dems, and Scottish Conservatives – it was never officially
recognised by the Tory government at the time.
Mr
Dorasat said: “The conversation around the term needs to be brought to the
table so that when we are discussing these events, we can label them correctly
so we can deal with them appropriately. At the moment some people are just
using the term ‘anti-Muslim hate’.”
Following
the disorder, Sir Keir Starmer insisted his government is committed to tackle
violence and hate against “those affected” and the home secretary promised to
grant greater protection to mosques around the country.
Despite
the measures, Mr Dorasat urged the prime minister to spell out the threat
racism poses for ethnic communities and to “properly call out and punish” the
perpetrators.
He
added: “We hope that what we are seeing on the streets causes a real reaction
to prevent this from going ahead in the future. And it sets a precedent that
the targeting towards a specific faith group is going to be called out and
properly punished.
“I urge
those people to speak to the police to speak to the Islamophobia response unit.
Don’t think this is okay or expected and you just need to be quiet. Raise the
alarm because these instances need to be handled correctly.”
Source: independent.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/muslim-poll-uk-islamophobia-southport-riots-mosque-b2593831.html
--------
India
Tensions
Rise as Muslims Protest Against Hindu Leader's 'Hurtful' Remarks On Prophet
Mohammad
By: ABP
News Bureau |
16 Aug 2024
Tensions
escalated in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, Maharashtra, on Friday after a
group of Muslims gathered outside the City Chowk police station, demanding
action against Hindu religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj for his alleged
objectionable remarks about Prophet Mohammad, according to officials.
The
gathering, comprising a large number of Muslim community members, sought strict
action against Ramgiri Maharaj, accusing him of making derogatory comments
about Prophet Mohammad and Islam. In response, Inspector Nirmala Pardeshi of
the City Chowk police station attempted to pacify the crowd, appealing for
peace and assuring them that their concerns would be addressed, news agency PTI
reported. She also promised that appropriate action would be taken against the
leader.
Chhatrapati
Sambhajinagar: FIRs Lodged Against Ramgiri Maharaj, Maharashtra CM Shinde
Shares Stage With Him Amid Row
The
police have registered cases against Ramgiri Maharaj at Yeola in Nashik and
Vaijapur in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. The FIR in Vaijapur was filed
under Section 302 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious
feelings of any person) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a
complaint lodged by a local resident.
Rafehasan
Ali Khan, the complainant in the case, stated that he became aware of a video
in which Ramgiri Maharaj was heard making controversial statements, including
that one crore Muslims have abandoned Islam and a comment against Prophet
Mohammad. "These words by Ramgiri Maharaj have hurt the religious
sentiments of Muslims and created a rift between the two communities," the
complainant said, as per PTI.
Ramgiri
Maharaj, the mahant of Sarla Bet Dham in Shrirampur taluka of Ahmednagar
district, defended his controversial remarks during am event. He claimed that
his statements were a response to the atrocities being committed against Hindus
in Bangladesh and were aimed at uniting the Hindu community. Speaking to
Marathi news channel ABP Majha earlier in the day, he stated, "Hindus should
remain alert. I have spoken what I wanted to. I am firm on it and I am ready to
face its consequences."
Despite
the growing row over his comments, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde shared the
stage with the religious leader during an event in Nashik district on Friday,
referring to him as a "saint." Minister Girish Mahajan and former
Ahmednagar MP Sujay Vikhe Patil also showed reverence by touching his feet on
stage.
During
the event in Nashik, Chief Minister Shinde praised the work of religious
leaders like Ramgiri Maharaj, stating, “As many as 25 lakh people visited
Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi this year. The ‘warkari’ community creates
public awareness through sermons. As a result, many people have overcome their
grief. Saints like Ramgiri Maharaj carry out the work of giving direction to
people”, as quoted by PTI.
AIMIM
Urges Action Against Ramgiri Maharaj
In a
related development, former MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
(AIMIM) state unit president, Imtiaz Jaleel, wrote to the city police commissioner,
urging action against Ramgiri Maharaj. In his letter, Jaleel asserted that the
controversial statements were made deliberately in Panchale village, located in
Sinnar tehsil of Nashik, with the intent to malign the image of the Muslim
community, PTI reported.
Jaleel
further alleged that such statements were designed to create divisions between
Hindu and Muslim communities and could potentially incite communal riots. He
insisted on strict action against Ramgiri Maharaj, accusing him of following
orders from external forces. "Permissions are given to Sakal Hindu Samaj
to hold protests on the day of community prayers of Muslims. It is a political
conspiracy," Jaleel remarked while speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati
Sambhajinagar, as quoted by PTI.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://news.abplive.com/cities/chhatrapati-sambhajinagar-aurangabad-news-tensions-rise-as-muslim-community-protests-against-hindu-leader-ramgiri-maharaj-remarks-on-prophet-mohammad-maharashtra-1710765
-----
In call
with Netanyahu, PM Modi stresses need for de-escalation in Gaza
August
17, 2024
Narendra
Modi, Gaza, Gaza Israel conflict, Hamas Israel conflict, Benjamin Netanyahu,
Gaza Palestine, Israel and Palestine, Israel Palestine conflict, Israel
Palestine relations, Israel-Palestine talks, Palestine-Israel relations, India
news, Indian express,Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin
Netanyahu and stressed the need for de-escalation in Gaza. Modi also reiterated India’s call for a
ceasefire, release of hostages and the need for continued humanitarian aid.
In a
post on X, Modi said Netanyahu had called him to convey his “warm wishes on
India’s 78th Independence Day”, which was celebrated Thursday. “We discussed
the current situation in West Asia. Emphasised on the need to de-escalate the
situation. Reiterated our call for immediate release of all hostages, ceasefire
and need for continued humanitarian assistance,” the PM wrote.
Modi
also called for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict through
dialogue and diplomacy. Besides, the two leaders also discussed various aspects
of the bilateral cooperation and ways to further strengthen the India-Israel
strategic partnership, A PMO statement said.
In
December 2023, days after India voted in favour of a UN resolution calling for
an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, PM Modi had spoken to Netanyahu and highlighted
New Delhi’s stand in favour of early restoration of peace in the region.
Modi and
Netanyahu last spoke on June 5, a day after the Lok Sabha election results were
announced, with the Israeli PM congratulating Modi on his election victory.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/netanyahu-pm-modi-stresses-need-for-de-escalation-in-gaza-9518486/
--------
Communal
tensions in Udaipur after student stabs schoolmate; vehicles set on fire
Written
by Parul Kulshrestha
August
16, 2024
Communal
tensions have flared and prohibitory orders banning the assembly of people were
imposed in Udaipur on Friday after a fight between two school students from
different communities led to one stabbing the other.
After
the stabbing incident, which took place at 10.30 am under Surajpole police
station limits, right-wing groups called for shops in the market area of the
city to shut. Later, a mob burnt some vehicles and pelted stones. The situation
is now under control, officials said.
The two students
belonged to a government school in the Bhatiyani Chauhatta area. On Friday
morning, one of them attacked the other with a knife. The injured boy is
receiving treatment and is in stable condition, police said.
The
student who stabbed his schoolmate fled the spot after the incident, but has
since been detained, police said.
In a
video statement, District Collector Arvind Poswal said, “The condition of the
injured child is stable. Doctors are giving him the best possible treatment.
The city is peaceful now. The SP and I had roamed the city for an hour with
police officers. Two-three vehicles were set on fire in some areas, but apart
from this, there has been no incident for which the police have had to resort
to lathi charge.”
He made
an appeal to the people of the city not to pay attention to rumours. “The
situation will be normalised in the next two-three hours,” he said.
Udaipur
Rural MLA Phool Singh Meena also told reporters that the situation is under
control.
“It is
unfortunate that a student was stabbed by another student. This is a serious
offence and we are trying to control the situation. I have talked to Chief
Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and what is happening in the city has been brought
under control to a large extent,” Meena said.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/communal-tensions-udaipur-schoolmate-vehicles-fire-9518311/
--------
In India
illegally, three Rohingya refugees en route to Hyderabad arrested at Agartala
Railway Station
Written
by Debraj Deb
August
16, 2024
Rohingya
refugees arrested Agartala, Illegal entry India Bangladesh border, Rohingya
refugees Coxbazar Bangladesh,Tripura shares 856-km long international border
with Bangladesh, parts of which are still unfenced due to local disputes.
(Express Archives)
Three
refugees from the Rohingya community, who had entered India illegally through
the Bangladesh international border with the assistance of a tout, were
arrested at the Agartala Railway Station before they could board a train to
Hyderabad.
The
three accused persons – Kamal Hossain, 27; Rashida, 20, and Ajida, 19 – were
putting up at refugee camps at Coxbazar in Bangladesh before they illegally
crossed the border. The identity of the tout that smuggled them into the
country remains unknown. A case was registered against the trio at the
Government Railway Police Station. A senior police official, on the condition
of anonymity, said the accused had been presented in court.
Amid heavy
security deployment at the Bangladesh International Border, 26 persons were
arrested – in two separate incidents – for attempting to illegally cross the
border, on August 14, a day before India celebrates its Independence Day. Amid
the Bangladesh political crisis, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals and
Rohingya refugees have been arrested from across Tripura over the last few
months.
Amid
increased infiltration, Tripura chief minister Dr Manik Saha held a meeting
with top brass of BSF officials in July and asked them to maintain tight vigil
across the border and to take strict action against those involved in the
infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Indian territory.
Meanwhile,
the BSF has beefed up vigil in the sensitive border outposts and a series of
special operations were launched to crack down on the network of touts and
smugglers in the bordering areas, apart from intensifying anti trafficking
operations to clamp down on the influx of Bangladeshi nationals and smuggling
of contraband items in Tripura.
The
National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested several Tripura youths in
connection with a case registered at Guwahati last year for involvement in
human trafficking of Bangladeshi and Rohingya persons into the Indian territory
through the state, the last of them arrested on June 16 this year.
Tripura
shares 856-km long international border with Bangladesh, parts of which are
still unfenced due to local disputes.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohingya-refugees-agartala-tripura-9518236/
--------
North America
Postponed
Islamic art exhibit at the Frick Pittsburgh to open Saturday for 2-month run
Aug. 16,
2024
A
postponed exhibit at the Frick Pittsburgh called “Treasured Ornament: 10
Centuries of Islamic Art,” will now be open Saturday and run through Oct. 20.
It was
postponed last fall after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
The
exhibition was curated by Christopher Hatten and based on research published in
the accompanying catalogue written by Walter B. Denny, distinguished professor
of the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Massachusetts
Amherst, and Sue D’Auria, former associate curator at the Huntington Museum of
Art. Glenna Barlow, curator of Education at the Columbia Museum of Art in South
Carolina, shared the interpretive plan, didactics, and labels from the Columbia
Museum of Art’s 2023 presentation of the exhibition.
Source: triblive.com
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the text of the original Story
https://triblive.com/local/postponed-islamic-art-exhibit-at-the-frick-pittsburgh-to-open-saturday-for-2-month-run/
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Police:
Man stabbed, another shot at Rock Hill mosque
Aug. 17,
2024
ROCK
HILL, S.C. (WBTV) - A stabbing and shooting happened after services at a Rock
Hill mosque on Friday afternoon.
Police
said it happened at 2:05 p.m. at the Islam Center of South Carolina, also known
as Masjid Al-Salaam, on West Main Street.
When
officers got to the scene, they found a 44-year-old man with a stab wound to
the abdomen. A 27-year-old man with minor gunshot wounds was found at nearby
Laurel Street.
According
to the preliminary police investigation, the younger man, identified as
Travaughn West, went up to the older man and stabbed him before being
confronted by a security guard.
The
security guard then confronted West and shot him when he continued to act
violently, police said. Afterward, West fled from the mosque.
The man
who was attacked was taken to a hospital and is expected to be OK.
West was
also taken to a hospital and then will be taken to the Rock Hill Jail. Police
said he’ll be served warrants for assault and battery of a high and aggravated
nature and possession of a knife during a crime of violence.
Police
also said the two men were acquaintances.
This is
an active investigation.
Source: wbtv.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.wbtv.com/2024/08/16/police-man-stabbed-another-shot-rock-hill-mosque/
--------
Medcalf:
Recent attacks against Minnesota mosques, Muslims are unsettling. Does anybody
care?
AUGUST
17, 2024
With his
daughter playing in the background, I could hear Jaylani Hussein’s concern
expressed over the phone days after Dar Al-Qalam, a mosque in northeast
Minneapolis, received more than a dozen threatening calls over the weekend. The
person who called the mosque also texted a video of the New Zealand mass shooting
that killed 51 people when a mass shooter opened fire at two mosques in 2019.
Those threatening calls are the latest in a startling trend of hateful acts
targeting Minnesota’s Muslim community in recent months.
But as
Hussein and I talked Thursday, I paused when the local Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) executive director mentioned this state’s
breathtaking status after logging more than a half-dozen incidents of violence
and intimidation against Muslims in the last 12 months.
“By the
way, this is a record for the nation,” he said. “There is no other state that
has eight attacks against mosques in one year.”
The
string of headlines regarding violence against our Muslim community has been
unyielding. Earlier this month, Lino Lakes City Council Member Chris Lyden
praised an email that called Islam a “declared enemy” amid a proposal to build
a Muslim-focused development that would include a mosque and housing. In May, a
Minneapolis man driving a minivan struck a pedestrian in the parking lot of a
mosque. Last year, two Minneapolis mosques were set on fire days after a St.
Paul mosque had been vandalized. And those were not the only documented crimes
against the Muslim community over the last year.
But the
care Hussein said he had hoped to see from Minnesotans in the wake of these
incidents never arrived.
“No one
is reacting,” he said. “I mean, very little reaction that we’re seeing.
Meaning, the typical emails, the phone calls. ‘What can we do? How can we help?
Is there money that’s needed? Can we provide you with some support? We’re
sorry.’ You know, that’s typical. It may not take you far, but at least it
shows there is a concern.”
That’s
unacceptable. Too often, our “that’s awful” reactions do not translate to
tangible action. And members of marginalized communities in Minnesota know how
difficult it is to sustain the continuity of any support received in these
situations.
The
truth? People stop caring. And that can’t happen.
The
Muslim community is a part of the larger community of Minnesotans. As such, its
fears should also belong to the rest of us when dangerous individuals threaten
to harm any one of us.
While
the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder showcased the power of solidarity amid
tragedy, it also exposed another problem. Sometimes, Minnesota needs to see a
body before it feels compelled to believe marginalized groups when they
announce their pain. Stitched into that truth, however, is also the fact that
some Minnesota communities receive more acknowledgement and validation than
others.
I told
Hussein I am certain that if a group of Black churches in Minneapolis had
endured the same violence and threats of violence against its people and
institutions over the last year, more people from the larger community would
have responded and reacted. But we should not pick and choose which humans to
support when hatred looms.
We are
all vulnerable and worthy of care when attacked.
“When
hate happens, the first thing you should do is just be responsive,” Hussein
said when I asked him about what real alliance and support means. “Find out
what the community needs. Show up and be present. And we’ve seen that before.
It’s not like it hasn’t happened, you know? And I mean, the neighbors who live
near that mosque, community leaders, nonprofit organizations, faith leaders,
elected officials … there is a sense of duty to respond when a community is
hurting and feeling unsafe. So it’s not like we’re asking people to do anything
new, we’re just asking them to give us the courtesy that they would give any
other community.”
In July,
I packed my whole family — sisters, kids, parents — into a large SUV and drove
to Mississippi for my father’s family reunion in his small hometown. On that
trip, I learned more about our family’s past.
We drove
past the land where my grandfather was a sharecropper. The white family that
owned the land then still owns the land now. And I also discovered more details
about the day my grandfather left town, moved to Milwaukee and didn’t see his
family for three years.
An
enraged white man in that little town — a Ku Klux Klan member and local police
officer — had sent him a message. Leave town or else.
This is
the same sentiment that surrounds our Muslim community in Minnesota today.
Hatred
is a garden. It is planted, protected and watered before its flowers bloom.
Every
form of Islamophobia is sunshine for that garden. The calls, fires and violent
attacks did not sprout from barren soil. And that’s what we have to address, as
a community awaits more support — support it deserves and needs — in a
difficult chapter.
Because
it is one thing to feel unloved but it is equally detrimental to feel ignored.
Source: startribune.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.startribune.com/medcalf-recent-attacks-against-minnesota-mosques-muslims-are-unsettling-does-anybody-care/601114930
---------
CAIR
Welcomes HRW Report Highlighting Modi’s Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
August
16, 2024
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a report by Human Rights Watch
(HRW) highlighting Indian PM Narendra Modi’s use of hate speech against Muslims
and other minorities in his electoral campaign.
CAIR
also repeated its request for the State Department to designate India a
“country of particular concern.”
HRW said
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 electoral campaign frequently used
hate speech against Muslims and other minorities and the leadership of Modi’s
party repeatedly made statements inciting discrimination, hostility, and
violence against Muslims and other minority groups during his campaign to win
his third consecutive term of office.
HRW
noted: “Modi regularly raised fears among Hindus through false claims that
their faith, their places of worship, their wealth, their land, and the safety
of girls and women in their community would be under threat from Muslims if the
opposition parties came to power.
“He
repeatedly described Muslims as ‘infiltrators’ and claimed Muslims had ‘more
children’ than other communities, raising the specter that Hindus—about 80
percent of the population—will become a minority in India.”
In a
statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“We
welcome this disturbing Human Rights Watch analysis of the ongoing Islamophobic
rhetoric used by Indian Prime Minister Modi and other government officials to
incite hatred against that nation’s Muslim community. Based on this analysis,
we again urge the Biden administration to designate India as a ‘country of
particular concern.’”
He noted
that CAIR previously condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a
“hateful and dangerous” campaign speech in which he called Muslims
“infiltrators” who would take India’s wealth if allowed to come to power.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-welcomes-hrw-report-highlighting-modis-anti-muslim-rhetoric/
--------
US warns
Iran faces ‘cataclysmic’ consequences if it strikes Israel
August
16, 2024
WASHINGTON:
A US official warned Friday that Iran would face “cataclysmic” consequences and
derail momentum toward a Gaza truce if it strikes Israel in response to the
killing of a top Hamas official.
The
United States “would encourage the Iranians — and I know many are — not to move
down that road, because the consequences could be quite cataclysmic,
particularly for Iran,” a senior US official told reporters on customary condition
of anonymity.
President
Joe Biden earlier Friday said that a ceasefire in the 10-month Gaza war was
closer than ever after two days of talks in Qatar at which US mediators
presented a proposal to narrow gaps.
“It was
Hamas, a proxy of Iran, that started this war on October 7, and it would be
ironic if Iran was do something to basically derail what we think is the best
opportunity at a very comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal that we
have had in many months,” the US official said.
Iran has
warned Israel of a response to the July 31 strike in Tehran that killed Hamas
political chief Ismail Haniyeh, for which Israel is widely suspected but has
not claimed responsibility.
Israeli
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said earlier Friday in a joint meeting with his
British and French counterparts that he expected support in “attacking
significant targets” inside Iran if the Islamic republic strikes Israel.
Asked
about Katz’s comments, the US official said only that the United States, with
Britain and France, was preparing for “every possible contingency.”
“We are
going to do everything that is needed to defend Israel against any attacks from
Iran,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2567688/middle-east
--------
Africa
Enugu
Governor Mbah Orders Churches, Mosques to Remove Loudspeakers, Issues Ultimatum
August
16, 2024
Enugu
State Governor Peter Mbah has directed all churches and mosques in the state to
remove their outdoor loudspeakers and install soundproofing measures within
their worship centres.
The
decision was made during a stakeholders’ engagement with Christian and Muslim
leaders, government officials, and media practitioners.
The
meeting, organized by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, aimed
to address the implementation of the Enugu State Anti-Noise Pollution Policy.
Governor
Mbah stressed that noise pollution has become a significant challenge for the
state, with over 1,000 petitions received by his office in just one year. The
affected areas include Independence Layout, GRA, Trans-Ekulu, Agbani Road,
Abakpa Nike, Ugwuaji, and Mayor.
Uche
Anya, Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, said, “I have
been in this office for one year and in the last year we have received over a
thousand petitions complaining about noise pollution. “Noise pollution from
Independence Layout to GRA, from GRA to Trans- Ekulu, from Trans-Ekulu to
Agbani Road, from Agbani Road to Abakpa Nike, from Abakpa Nike to Ugwuaji, from
Ugwuaji to name it to Mayor people are in pains.”
The
governor’s directive is in response to the growing concerns of residents, who
have complained about noise pollution from churches, mosques, and businesses.
Source: politicsnigeria.com
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https://politicsnigeria.com/enugu-governor-mbah-orders-churches-mosques-to-remove-loudspeakers-issues-ultimatum/#google_vignette
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16
killed, 20 abducted in Congo in attacks blamed on Islamic State-linked rebels
August
17, 2024
KINSHASA,
Congo -- At least 16 villagers were killed and 20 others were abducted in
northeastern Congo during attacks by militants with ties to the Islamic State
group, a local civil society group said Friday.
The
assailants with the Allied Democratic Forces staged a series of attacks on
locals, some while working on their farmlands, between Wednesday and Friday in
Ituri province’s Mambasa territory, said John Vulverio, coordinator of the New
Civil Society of Congo.
“The
(death) toll remains provisional, as the fate of 20 others kidnapped remains
unknown,” he said.
Among
those kidnapped in the attacks were the mother and sister of Gilbert
Sivamwenda, a local government official, local media quoted the legislator as
saying.
Dozens
of villages across Congo are besieged by armed groups made up of either local
rebels fighting for power and valuable mineral resources or militants with
extremist ideologies. The Allied Democratic Forces have carried out growing
attacks in the region and sometimes across the border with neighboring Uganda
where it was originally formed.
The
violence across the central African nation has resulted in one of the world’s
biggest humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, many
beyond the reach of aid.
The
15,000-member U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo that helped in the fight
against rebels for more than two decades was asked by the Congolese government
to leave over its failure to end the conflict. The withdrawal is to be
completed by the end of 2024.
Source: abcnews.go.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/16-villagers-killed-20-abducted-congo-attacks-blamed-112910288
--------
Paramilitaries
InSudan Kill 80 While Their Delegates Were Holding Talks On How To End The
Country’s 16-Month Civil War
August
17, 2024
RIYADH:
Paramilitary fighters in Sudan killed at least 80 people in an attack on a
village while their delegates were in Switzerland holding talks on how to end
the country’s 16-month civil war.
Witnesses
said the Rapid Support Forces initially faced resistance from villagers in
Jalgini in Sennar state. “They opened fire, torching homes and killing numerous
people,” one man said. “On Friday, some bodies were still strewn on the
street.”
Jalgini’s
medical centre said: “We received 55 dead and dozens of wounded at the hospital
on Thursday, and 25 of them died on Friday, bringing the death toll to 80.”
The war
between Sudan’s regular army led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and paramilitaries
led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has killed an estimated 150,000
people, displaced more than 10 million and pushed the country to the brink of
famine. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including deliberately
targeting civilians and blocking humanitarian aid.
Paramilitary
delegates are attending a peace conference that began this week in Switzerland
co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and the US. The Sudanese army and government have
refused to take part.
US envoy
Tom Perriello said the talks were having some success, simply by drawing
international focus on Sudan at a time “when the world was turning its
attention away.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2567713/middle-east
--------
U.N.
Security Council prolongs mandate of AU peacekeeping in Somalia
16-08-24
On
Thursday, The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2748, which
allows the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) authority to
stay in the nation of Somalia through December 2024.
ATMIS
has been scaling back its presence and is expected to turn over security
responsibilities to Somali forces at the end of the year.
After
the resolution passed, Somali Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said, “we recognize
the necessity of extending ATMIS resolution until December 2024 to ensure a
smooth transition as we prepare for the post ATMIS security arrangement in 2025.
It's imperative to commit to the required support enabling Somali National
Forces and ATMIS to continue its vital work. This collaborative effort is
crucial as we work towards successful transition to the new peacekeeping
framework.”
But he
added “unfortunately, we have witnessed delays in nearly all phases of the
drawdown. Therefore, coordination between TCC countries and UN contractors is
paramount in this process. Effective collaborations not only facilitate the
safe and orderly withdrawal of peacekeeping forces, but also minimize the
potential disruptions that could arise during this critical phase.”
This
resolution comes months after Somalia had asked the United Nations to end it's
peacekeeping mission in the country to fight back against the al-Qaida-linked
extremist group al-Shabab.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/16/un-security-council-prolongs-mandate-of-au-peacekeeping-in-somalia/
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Tinubu
Returns To Nigeria After Three-Day Visit To Equatorial Guinea
16
August 2024
President
Bola Tinubu arrived back in Abuja on Friday evening after completing a
three-day official visit to Equatorial Guinea.
The
Gulfstream jet carrying the President touched down at the Presidential Wing of
the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6:30 pm.
This
marks President Tinubu’s 22nd foreign trip since assuming office 15 months ago.
He was
welcomed back to the country by top government officials, including Chief of
Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George
Akume, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, among
others.
During
his visit to the Central African nation, President Tinubu and his Equatorial
Guinean counterpart, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, signed an
agreement on the Gulf of Guinea Pipeline Project.
The
agreement covers legislative and regulatory measures for the gas pipeline,
ownership, and general operational principles, strengthening the partnership
between the two countries for mutual development.
In
remarks made at the signing ceremony, Tinubu emphasized that the new agreement
would unlock opportunities for gas exploration and create employment
opportunities.
He noted
that during a private meeting with President Mbasogo, they discussed critical
issues such as employment creation, food security, conflict resolution
mechanisms, and the promotion of peace and stability in Africa.
“Concerning
Africa, conflicts and conflict resolution were discussed. We discussed various
areas of conflict and what we can do to promote peace and stability in our
countries and on our continent,” Tinubu said.
The
discussions also touched on security challenges, the African Continental Free Trade
Area, and addressing food insecurity across the continent.
During a
dinner hosted in his honor, Tinubu called on African leaders to make strategic
efforts to address the exodus of skills and talent from the continent.
He urged
leaders to combat tribalism, reward performance, and reform outdated judicial
systems as part of broader efforts to retain talent and foster growth.
The
President queried, “Why are we complaining about healthcare problems if our
doctors cannot have a home in our continent? If our nurses are faced with
destitution, and if our judicial system is archaic?
“Tribalism
has no place in our nation or region. We have to strengthen the continent.
Cultivate and maintain peace together and help one another.
“We have
to develop our resources for our progress. Find solutions among ourselves focus
incisively on research and development, and reward those research and
development programmes. We must bring out the results ourselves. We must not
outsource them or sell them out.
“To the
international organizations, we are partners. We will continue to be partners,
but we must implement more than half of the results of the research established
here. We have many youths to take care of. Millions yearning for progress.”
Equatorial
Guinea is the seventh African state Tinubu has visited. So far, he has been to
Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau,
Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic; Pretoria,
South Africa; Accra, Ghana; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United
Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
(twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal and Doha,
Qatar.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/08/16/just-in-tinubu-returns-to-nigeria-after-three-day-visit-to-equatorial-guinea/
--------
Southeast Asia
Country’s
sovereignty will be compromised if military officers involved in corruption,
power abuse, says King
17-08-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, today said that the
sovereignty and dignity of the country will be compromised if military officers
are involved in corruption and power abuse.
Sultan
Ibrahim said that as the supreme leader of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), he
will not “give face” to any ATM officer involved in corruption or power abuse,
nor those who fail to fulfil their duties.
“A
career as a military officer demands honesty and trust as well as unwavering
sacrifice and loyalty to defend the country’s sovereignty. There should never
be a military officer involved in corrupt practices, especially involving the
purchase of government equipment and contracts,“ said His Majesty.
Sultan
Ibrahim said this at the Royal Commissioning Parade and Presentation of
Certificates to ATM cadet officers at the Sungai Besi Camp here, today.
The
ceremony was also attended by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled
Nordin, ATM Commander General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman, Army Commander Gen
Tan Sri Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan, Acting Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Datuk
Zulhelmy Ithnain and Air Force Commander General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan
Goriman Khan.
The King
said it is the responsibility of all military officers to maintain discipline
at all times, especially when wearing their uniforms.
“Maintain
your manners and never engage in dishonourable actions. Do not undermine the
community’s trust in the military, and let not a rotten apple spoil the whole
barrel,” said His Majesty.
His
Majesty also expressed the need for the government to always emphasise honesty
in matters that involve the purchase of equipment and the building of military
facilities.
The
equipment purchased must be of high quality and meet the needs and requirements
of the country’s defence and not be influenced by suppliers or agents offering
commissions, said the King, adding that he would personally evaluate all the
procurement.
To the
cadet officers commissioned today, the King told them that their journey was
just beginning as there would be more training and courses they needed to
attend to become highly capable military officers.
“My
advice is you must be strong and persevere to continue training and gain new
knowledge to be able to face the increasingly challenging world and adapt to
the latest defence technology.
“If
there is anyone who is not willing to face the challenge as a military officer,
then please get out of line,“ said His Majesty.
The 664
Cadet Officers commissioned today consisted of those who completed the
six-month training at the training academy of the respective wings in ATM.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/country-s-sovereignty-will-be-compromised-if-military-officers-involved-in-corruption-power-abuse-says-king-NM12872719
---------
CAAM
reviews regulations on foreign-registered Aircraft operating in Malaysia
17-08-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) has started a
comprehensive review of regulation 147 of the Civil Aviation Regulations 2016
pertaining to the operation of foreign-registered aircraft in general aviation.
Its
chief executive officer Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud said the review is in
line with the safety recommendations provided by the Air Accident Investigation
Bureau (AAIB) and the proposed new regulations are expected to be published by
end of 2024.
“This
review aims to empower CAAM with improved oversight capabilities regarding
foreign-registered aircraft operating within Malaysia, ensuring that all
aviation activities in the country adhere to the highest safety standards,” he
said in a statement today.
Norazman
said the new proposed regulations reflects CAAM’s dedication to continuous
improvement of aviation safety practices.
“Following
the Elmina incident on Aug 17, 2023, CAAM has intensified its surveillance
measures during ramp inspections, particularly at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah
Airport in Subang, where there is a significant concentration of general
aviation activity,” he said.
He also
said that these measures demonstrate CAAM’s ongoing commitment to ensure safety
and regulatory compliance in all aviation operations.
“CAAM
remains steadfast to uphold the highest standards of safety and efficiency in
Malaysia’s aviation sector and extends its gratitude to stakeholders for their
continued support and cooperation as we implement these important
enhancements,” he explained.
In the
Aug 17, 2023 incident, a Beechcraft Model 390 jet en route to the Subang
airport crashed near Elmina, Shah Alam, Selangor, killing 10 people.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/caam-reviews-regulations-on-foreign-registered-aircraft-operating-in-malaysia-AM12872064
--------
Youth
must have courage to speak out - PM Anwar
17-08-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: The youth must have the courage to speak out on various issues such as
humanity, corruption, poverty gaps and environmental concerns guided by strong
principles and values, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said
society required energetic youths with ideas, ideals and principles, and who
believed in freedom, justice and humanity, that could affect change.
“The
youth must stand and speak up and champion the cause of humanity, the
sufferings of our people, the marginalised, the destruction of the environment,
the corruption in our midst,” he said in his speech at the International Young
Future Leaders Summit 2024 (iFUTURE 2024) at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala
Lumpur, here today.
The
inaugural programme organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) for
three days beginning today, is an effort to ensure that the next generation of
national leaders is exposed to various national and global issues.
It
involves over 1,000 local and international student leaders from 46 countries
and provides a platform and opportunity for students to showcase their
leadership talents, enhance their academic quality and improve their public speaking
skills.
Meanwhile,
Anwar hoped that the students participating in the programme would make the
most of the opportunity to exchange views based on their principles.
“So
share your knowledge, interact as much as possible, act wisely, work diligently,
learn as much as you can,” he said.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/youth-must-have-courage-to-speak-out-pm-anwar-DM12871893
--------
Malaysia
acts on PM’s concern to bring injured Palestinians from Egypt - Ahmad Zahid
16-08-
2024
GUA
MUSANG: The effort to bring injured Palestinians from Egypt to Malaysia was
made following the decision and instructions of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim.
Deputy
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Prime Minister is
deeply concerned about the suffering of Palestinian patients, due to the
ongoing Israeli bomb attacks on Gaza.
“These
patients will be sent to the Armed Forces (ATM) hospital.
“Once
they have received treatment and recovered, efforts will be made to return them
to Gaza, so that they can resume a normal life,” he told reporters during a
gathering with the Orang Asli community at the district voting centre in Pos
Pulat, today.
Ahmad
Zahid was responding to questions about the arrival of two Airbus A-400M
aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, which transported injured
Palestinians to Subang Air Base, Selangor, today.
The
aircraft, which departed from Al Maza Air Force Base in Cairo, Egypt, last
night, carried a total of 41 patients and 86 of their relatives.
Earlier,
Ahmad Zahid visited four more Orang Asli posts in the Nenggiri state
constituency, namely Pos Gob, Pos Tohoi, Pos Simpor and Pos Pasik.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/malaysia-acts-on-pm-s-concern-to-bring-injured-palestinians-from-egypt-ahmad-zahid-EM12871432
--------
Court
dismisses Rosmah’s bid to stay hearing of suit by Lebanon-based jeweller
16-08-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: The High Court here today dismissed Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s
application to stay the proceedings of the suit filed against her by
Lebanon-based jeweller, Global Royalty Trading SAL, over the loss of more than
40 pieces of jewellery.
Her
lawyer, Rajivan Nambiar said Judge Ong Chee Kwan dismissed Rosmah’s application
with RM5,000 in costs.
According
to Rajivan, the application filed on June 7 sought to stay the proceedings of
the suit pending the outcome of Rosmah’s appeal at the Court of Appeal. The
appeal concerns a High Court decision that dismissed her application to include
the government and the police as third parties in the case.
“The
intention was that if proceedings before the High Court were to proceed it
should not affect the third party proceedings in the event Datin Seri Rosmah
succeeds in the appeal.
“The
court today said that if Datin Seri Rosmah succeeds in her appeal, the court
would give fresh directions on the proceedings between Datin Seri Rosmah and
the third parties. In view thereof, the court disallowed the application for
stay,“ he said when contacted today.
Rajivan
said the trial dates for the suit are scheduled for June 2 to June 6, next
year.
Global
Royalty filed the suit on May 29, 2023, claiming that Rosmah falsely alleged
that 44 pieces of jewellery, including diamond necklaces, bracelets, and tiaras
sent to her by the company’s agent, were seized by Malaysian authorities under
the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful
Activities Act 2001.
The
jeweller further claimed that the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri
Najib Tun Razak had shifted the blame onto the Malaysian government when in
fact, the jewellery had gone missing.
The
company had initially sued Rosmah on June 26, 2018, demanding that she return
the 44 pieces of jewellery or pay them USD14.79 million. However, the suit was
withdrawn in 2019.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/court-dismisses-rosmah-s-bid-to-stay-hearing-of-suit-by-lebanon-based-jeweller-LM12870784
--------
Europe
CCTV of
man defending Darlington mosque throwing missile
CCTV
footage of a man throwing a missile during violent disorder while protecting a
mosque has been released by police.
Ashkan
Kareem was caught on camera throwing a missile towards a group of people in
Darlington last Monday evening (August 5).
Dozens
of police officers had been deployed to the North Lodge Park area of the town
after two large groups, mostly males, had gathered, resulting in small pockets
of serious violence.
Kareem,
of Grey Street, Bishop Auckland, was arrested on Monday (August 12) following a
social media appeal and later charged with violent disorder.
The
33-year-old appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday afternoon
(August 13) where he admitted the offence.
He was
remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Friday (August 16) for
sentencing.
Abdul
Rahman, of Pendower Street, Darlington, was also arrested on Monday and charged
with violent disorder.
The
47-year-old did not enter a plea when he appeared before magistrates yesterday.
He was
remanded in custody to appear at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, August 29.
Chief
Inspector Victoria Cubby, of Durham Constabulary, said: “We have a team of
detectives who are investigating the atrocious scenes in Darlington last week
and are continuing to identify suspects and make arrests.
“We will
not tolerate criminality and violent disorder in our communities. I reiterate
to anybody who commits these types of acts, we will tirelessly look for you and
deal with you robustly.
“I’d
like to thank those people who have come forward with information that has
assisted our investigation. If you have information that could help and haven’t
yet spoken to us – please, get in touch.”
Call
Durham Constabulary on 101, or use the live chat function on our website.
Information
can also be submitted anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their
website at www.crimestoppers-org.uk
Source: darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/24520525.cctv-man-defending-darlington-mosque-throwing-missile/
--------
Man
jailed for making threatening calls to mosques
16th
August 2024
A man
has been jailed for two and a half years after making a series of threatening
calls to mosques across London.
Blake
Hindry, 30, of Rosemary Road, Kent, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on
Thursday.
Police
immediately began investigating Hindry after a mosque in London reported a
terrifying call from a withheld number on Monday, August 5.
The
caller was reported to have threatened to kill faith leaders, other occupants
and burn down the mosque.
As well
as conducting reassurance patrols in the area, officers quickly established
that four other mosques had been targeted in London by the same perpetrator.
Hindry
was arrested on Thursday, August 8. He appeared at Maidstone Magistrates Court
on Saturday, August 10 where he pleaded guilty to making a series of
threatening calls to mosques.
Commander
Louise Puddefoot, said: “We understand that Muslim communities have felt
particularly concerned for their safety following the violent disorder and
criminality the country has seen in recent weeks.
“This
sentencing demonstrates our determination to bring offenders to justice for
racist and criminal behaviour.
“Our
teams continue to investigate all offences committed during this period of
disorder as we work hard to build trust and confidence in communities.”
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://5pillarsuk.com/2024/08/16/man-jailed-for-making-threatening-calls-to-mosques/
--------
Politicians
visit Lanarkshire Central Mosque to demonstrate solidarity for Muslim community
in wake of far-right violence across the UK
16 AUG
2024
Coatbridge
and Bellshill's MP and a Central Scotland MSP visited Lanarkshire Central
Mosque to demonstrate their solidarity and support for the Muslim community in
the wake of the recent far-right violence across the UK.
During
their time at the mosque, Frank McNally MP and Labour colleague Mark Griffin
took the opportunity to meet with members and community leaders to discuss the
impact of recent events - and the importance of standing together against
division and hatred.
They
emphasised the critical role that diversity plays in strengthening the fabric
of Lanarkshire's communities.
Mr
McNally expressed his pride in the multicultural makeup of Lanarkshire, saying:
"We are incredibly proud of the diversity in our local communities.
"Our
strength lies in our unity, and we stand with our Muslim community during this
difficult time.
"No
one should feel threatened or isolated because of their faith, and we are
committed to ensuring that our community remains a place of safety, respect,
and inclusion for all.
"Scotland
is an open and welcoming nation that will never give in to the far-right’s
politics of hate, fear and discrimination.”
Mr
Griffin added: "In times of challenge, it is more important than ever to
come together and support one another.
"The
recent far-right riots in other parts of the UK are a stark reminder of the
work we still need to do to combat Islamophobia, prejudice and intolerance.
"It
is important that our Muslim community knows they are not alone; we stand with
you, and we will continue to work towards a society where everyone feels valued
and protected.
"Our
strength as a country depends on our diversity and ability to stand up to those
that seek to stoke violence and undermine the values that Scots uphold.”
Mohammed
Ashraf, president of Lanarkshire Muslim Welfare Society welcomed the visit,
saying: "We deeply appreciate the support shown by Mark Griffin and Frank
McNally.
"Their
presence here is a powerful reminder that we are not alone in facing these
challenges.
"The
strength of our community is rooted in our shared values of peace, respect, and
understanding, and we are grateful for their commitment to these principles.
Source: dailyrecord.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/politicians-visit-lanarkshire-central-mosque-33476288
--------
French
foreign minister visits Beirut in a bid to help ease tensions
15-08-24
French
Foreign Minister, Stéphane Séjourné was in Beirut for a short visit on Thursday
as western powers aim to help ease tensions in the Middle East.
His
visit came a day after US senior advisor Amos Hochstein also visited Lebanon.
International
mediators were set to hold a new round of talks aimed at halting the
Israel-Hamas war and securing the release of scores of hostages, with a
potential deal seen as the best hope of heading off an even larger regional
conflict.
Diplomats
hope it would persuade Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah to hold off on retaliating
for the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut
and of Hamas' top political leader in an explosion in Tehran.
Hezbollah
and Israel have traded strikes since Oct. 8, a day after the Palestinian Hamas
group’s surprise attack into southern Israel that sparked the ongoing
Israel-Hamas war in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Still,
Iran and Hezbollah say they do not want a full-blown war, and a cease-fire in
Gaza could provide an off-ramp after days of escalating threats and a massive
military build-up across the region.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/15/french-foreign-minister-visits-beirut-in-a-bid-to-help-ease-tensions/
--------
Imitating
the Nazis and desecrating graves: Disturbing actions of Ukrainian troops amid
attack inside Russia
16 Aug,
2024
Ukrainian
troops in Russia’s Kursk Region are subjecting civilians to a campaign of
violence and humiliation, footage and testimony from the region increasingly
suggests.
As the
incursion by Kiev’s forces into Russian territory continues, RT has gathered
several particularly disturbing incidents from the attack, which has been
condemned as “terrorism” by Moscow.
Wannabe
Nazis
One
incident last Sunday sparked widespread outrage in Russia after a video filmed
by the perpetrators spread online. In the clip, a pair of Ukrainian soldiers
are seen gleefully imitating Nazis as they insult a confused elderly man.
The
intention to mimic the force responsible for millions of deaths in the USSR
during World War II – including in the part of the country that later became modern
Ukraine – is unmistakable. One of the Ukrainian troops is seen in a distinct
helmet with the insignia of the Schutzstaffel (SS), the military arm of the
Nazi party and particularly infamous for its atrocities.
Both the
soldier and the cameraman are heard speaking a mix of broken Russian and
German, in a manner that Russian popular culture began to depict the invaders
decades later, when the horrors of the Nazis had somewhat faded. Judging by the
laughter heard in the clip, the Ukrainians found amusement in calling the
elderly man a “Russian pig.”
The
fondness that some Ukrainians have for Nazi symbology (and ideology) has long
been a thorn in the side of their Western backers. The media has tried to
explain away multiple incidents of Ukrainian soldiers proudly displaying the
double lighting Siegrune, the skull-and-bones of the 3rd SS Panzer Division
Totenkopf, and other Nazi emblems as unfortunate quirks of Ukrainian
nationalism. Meanwhile, officials in Kiev have casually dismissed this as a way
to “troll the Russians.”
In this
particular episode in Kursk Region, the man in the helmet was identified by the
Russian media, while a senator has offered a bounty for both soldiers involved.
The 74-year-old civilian insulted in the clip is said to be missing. The person
who uploaded the video reportedly bragged that the man “didn’t find his way to
his vodka,” in a grim insinuation of how the encounter ended.
Fighting
the dead
Another
episode apparently showing Ukrainian troops being deliberately offensive to Russians
emerged on Thursday. In the online clip, a pair of soldiers are seen
desecrating the grave of a military veteran in the border Sudzha district.
The
burial site featured two flags – the sky-blue-and-green standard of the Russian
Airborne Troops and the banner of the controversial Wagner paramilitary force,
according to a report. The Ukrainians threw both on the ground, stomping on the
first one before casually walking away.
FILE
PHOTO. © Ben Birchall/AP
Western
media tend to villainize Wagner troops as bloodthirsty thugs, but their
reputation in Russia is complicated. They hold the credit for some of the
hardest-won victories against Ukraine, such as last year’s capture of the
Donbass city of Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukraine). However, Wagner chief
Evgeny Prigozhin tarnished his legacy by staging a short-lived mutiny in June
2023, in an attempt to force a replacement of the Russian military leadership.
Prigozhin died in a plane crash in August of the same year.
Generally,
rank-and-file Wagner troops are respected in Russia, as evidenced by the grave
in the drone footage. The vandals were reportedly hit by a kamikaze drone soon
after leaving the cemetery, so that the explosion would not damage the
gravestones.
Unknown
death toll
The
government in Kiev claims it is acting strictly in accordance with
international humanitarian law, which requires the protection of civilians in
war-affected areas. However, Mikhail Podoliak, a top aide to Ukrainian leader
Vladimir Zelensky, has made clear that civilians are the target of the
incursion. The goal is to unsettle them so that Moscow will supposedly become
more pliable during peace talks, he has revealed in interviews.
Thousands
of residents have fled from the areas impacted by the hostilities, some dodging
tank mines and gunfire on their way out, as evidenced by videos available
online.
Others
did not make it out alive, such as a 24-year-old pregnant woman, who according
to her widower was killed by Ukrainian troops as the family attempted to escape
Sudzha in two cars. Their son and the woman’s mother were in the vehicle with
the victim at the moment she was allegedly shot dead.
Earlier
this week, the regional administration confirmed that at least 12 civilians
have been killed and over 120 others injured in Kursk Region, although the
exact death toll cannot be established in Kiev-controlled territories. Among
the victims were an ambulance paramedic and a telecom repair crew worker, both
killed by Ukrainians forces in the line of duty, according to officials.
A
captured Ukrainian soldier has claimed that his commander instructed troops
before the incursion to violently suppress any resistance from the population.
The order stated that civilian men should be shot in the legs and locked up,
while those carrying arms should be killed on the spot, the troop told Russian
investigators.
The
government in Kiev said on Thursday that it intends to “evacuate” civilians
from Kursk Region to Ukrainian soil.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/russia/602674-ukrainian-incursion-civilians-targeted/
--------
Pakistan
3 TTP
terrorists killed, 1 injured in North Waziristan intelligence-based operation:
ISPR
August
16, 2024
Three
Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) terrorists were killed while one was injured during an
intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan’s Razmak area, the
military’s media wing confirmed on Friday.
According
to a press release from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation
was carried out after security forces were informed of the presence of
terrorists in the area.
“During
[the] conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between own
troops and khwarij, as a result of which, 3 Khwarij of Fitna al Khawarij were sent
to hell, while one kharji got injured,” the ISPR said.
It added
that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from slain terrorists, who
remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as
well as target killing of innocent civilians.
“Sanitisation
of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other Kharji found in the
area as security forces are determined to wipe out the menace of khawarij and
terrorism from the country,” the statement added.
Earlier
this month, the government declared TTP as Fitna al-Khawarij and all other
terrorists associated with the group as khariji (outcasts).
Speaking
during a press conference, ISPR Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed
Sharif Chaudhry said that the move was made because the TTP was a
“mischief-making group” that was “neither an ideology nor has anything to do
with Islam or Pakistan.”
He had
added that security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted 23,622
small and large-scale IBOs in the country this year, out of which 2,045
operations were carried out in the second half of July.
A day
prior, seven TTP terrorists were killed by security forces during another IBO
in KP’s Kurram district.
The
country has lately witnessed a sharp uptick in the number of attacks targeting
security forces, other law enforcement agencies, and security checkpoints,
particularly in Balochistan and KP.
Attacks
escalated after the TTP broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government
in 2022 and vowed to target security forces.
Islamabad
has blamed Kabul for allowing the TTP — a separate group but aligned with the
Afghan Taliban — to use Afghan soil for launching attacks inside Pakistan.
However, the Taliban administration has denied the charges.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1852679/3-ttp-terrorists-killed-1-injured-in-north-waziristan-intelligence-based-operation-ispr
--------
NA
committee chief apologises after PTI’s Iqbal Afridi objects to woman’s attire
August
16, 2024
PTI MNA
Muhammad Iqbal Afridi objected to a woman’s outfit during a meeting of a
National Assembly standing committee, following which the panel’s chairman,
Muhammad Idrees, apologised over the matter.
Afridi
objected to the attire of a high-ranking K-Electric official who attended the
power division committee’s meeting today at Parliament House. The lawmaker said
he raised the issue after the KE official had briefed the panel and left the
meeting room.
According
to a notification shared by the NA Committees’ official X account, one of the
items on the meeting’s agenda was a “comprehensive report/implementation
status” of previous recommendations about issues raised by MNAs Afridi and Syed
Rafiullah “regarding the disconnection overbilling and unannounced
load-shedding of electricity in Karachi and erstwhile Fata”.
Afridi
is not a member of the NA committee but was present as a lawmaker from NA-27
(Khyber) who had raised the matter of load-shedding.
Afridi
termed the KE official’s attire “objectionable”, adding that she “should not
have attended the meeting in such an outfit”.
The PTI
lawmaker also said that “standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be devised
for women’s clothing”.
Responding
to a query if his objection was “ethically correct”, Afridi stressed that the
venue was the NA’s standing committee and attended by many people.
“If
people come [to gatherings] in such a manner in a respectable society, what
will children say?” he asked, adding that the public “learned” from watching
them.
“There
should not be such democracy here that ruins a society,” Afridi insisted.
He went
on to claim that the “manner in which the other woman came risks ruining the
system or the society”. “In my opinion, such people showing up in society is
not right.”
Meanwhile,
Idrees, the power committee’s chairman who presided over the meeting,
apologised for the incident, saying it was “inappropriate”.
Asked if
someone had the “right” to object to a woman’s dress, Idrees said, “No […] it
is an individual’s [choice].”
He said
that it was “inappropriate” to object to it, adding: “What he did would have
happened under some misunderstanding.
“It does
not happen on our forum that someone disrespects or says something like this
[…] Even if it did happen, then I apologise,” the committee chief said.
‘Regrettable,
unacceptable harassment’
Afridi’s
comments were criticised harshly by fellow lawmakers.
PPP
Senator Sherry Rehman said Afridi’s objection to the woman’s dress was
“regrettable and condemnable”.
“Who has
made male MNAs ‘policemen’ on women’s clothing?” she asked in a post on X.
The senior politician said that the woman
“must have reached that position owing to her abilities and qualifications” and
that Afridi, being a committee member, should have respected her.
“Such
objections show a conservative and patriarchal mindset that tries to keep women
under their control by targeting their clothes,” Rehman said, adding that such
thinking was a “hindrance” to achieving gender equality in the country.
“We want
women to be judged by their ideas and services, not by their looks or clothes,”
the senator asserted. “Women have the full right to attend any professional
environment in clothes that they prefer and are comfortable for them.”
The PPP
senator said her party “rejected such discriminatory and contemptuous
statements”.
Minister
for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar called on the PTI to take
action against Afridi, urging it to suspend their lawmaker’s party membership.
In a
statement, Tarar said harassment against women was “not acceptable under any
circumstances”.
Referring
to the PTI, the PML-N MNA quipped that the “movement of justice has become a
movement of injustice for women”.
“Women
in our society already face a lot of difficulties,” the information minister
said, terming the incident “PTI’s fascism that was coming out in the open”.
‘Regrettable
incident, no amount of condemnation will suffice’
Dr
Shahida Rehmani, secretary Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC), said that the
incident was regrettable, adding that no amount of condemnation for such
incidents would suffice.
“But
until when will we keep condemning [such incidents]” she asked in a video
message, adding that “elements” such as the PTI MNA were “burdened by slave
mentality” and wanted to “keep women subjugated forever”.
“There
is a law for it,” she said, requesting the NA speaker to register a first
information report (FIR) against such members.
She also
called for the suspension of their Parliament membership, adding that
commenting on the clothing of women was highly condemnable given that women had
climbed their way to such honourable positions because of their ability.
“The
constitution of Pakistan and Islam give women the freedom to wear whatever they
want and if they [women] are to progress, it would be based on their ability,”
she said.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1852656/na-committee-chief-apologises-after-ptis-iqbal-afridi-objects-to-womans-attire
--------
Three
drown as chairlift in KP’s Upper Kohistan falls into Indus River
August
16, 2024
At least
three people drowned after a chairlift collapsed and fell into the Indus River
in Seo Tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Kohistan District on Friday,
officials said.
Rescue
1122 spokesperson Abdur Rehman told Dawn.com that the chairlift fell into the
river after the foundations supporting the aerial lift collapsed on both sides.
The foundations of the manually operated cable car had become weak due to a
very high flow of water in the river over the last two days, he explained.
Dasu
Station House Officer (SHO) Khalilur Rehman also confirmed the incident,
stating that “three persons drowned in the river after the fall”.
He said
the chairlift was being used by the residents of Kama village and it was
connected with Dasu city.
Rescue
1122 identified the victims as Muhammad Sher, Fidaur Rehman, and Mir Alam — all
of whom were residents of Kaiga — and continued searching for the bodies. The
victims’ relatives told police they were returning to the village from Dasu via
the cable car when it fell.
Kohistan
administration also called a Rescue 1122 team from Shangla to participate in
the search, while the high flow of water in the Indus River hampered the rescue
operation.
Make-shift
cable cars are commonly found in many parts of KP and Gilgit-Baltistan,
connecting different towns and villages where roads or bridges cannot be built
due to the terrain. People use these cable cars as a means of transport.
Last
month on July 23, a man drowned in the river Indus in the Bisham area while
trying to rescue his son, who was stranded on a chairlift.
Eyewitness
Mansoor Ali Khan told Dawn.com that a 13-year-old boy was stranded in the
chairlift over the Indus river and his father, Muhammad Aziz, was trying to
rescue his son through a rope.
Khan
said the rope through which the father was trying to rescue his son snapped,
causing the former to fall into the river and be swept away by the strong
currents.
He said
that the boy remained stuck in the chairlift and was rescued by locals after
hectic efforts.
Last
year, eight people, including six children, in KP’s Battagram were left
stranded in a chairlift when the wires of the lift snapped. The chairlift
remained dangling in the middle of a deep ravine surrounded by towering
mountains and a rocky surface along with the Jhangri River for hours before the
army rescued all passengers with the help of the locals.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1852646/three-drown-as-chairlift-in-kps-upper-kohistan-falls-into-indus-river
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Five
bullet-riddled bodies found tied to electric pole in Balochistan’s Dalbandin
August
16, 2024
The
bullet-riddled bodies of five people were found hanging from an electric pole
in Balochistan on Friday, government officials said.
The
bodies were discovered early morning near a college in Dalbandin city in
Balochistan, where separatist militant groups have waged a long and bloody
insurgency.
“Five
bullet-ridden bodies were found hanging from an electric pylon,” Attiq
Shahwani, a senior government official in the area, told AFP.
“They
have been shifted to a local hospital. Doctors have ascertained that the cause
of death is multiple bullet wounds, mostly in the chest area.”
He said
the men were likely killed on Thursday.
No
missing persons reports were registered with local police and the men had not
yet been identified, he added.
Senior
Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mir Hussain Lehri said that the bodies were not
identified, adding that the deceased were shot dead.
He said
that it “seemed” all the individuals were Afghan nationals. However, National
Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) had been requested to ascertain the
identity of the deceased using fingerprints.
He added
that the police had launched an investigation into the incident after
collecting evidence.
Balochistan
is home to several militant groups, some fighting for independence or a greater
share of the region’s mineral resources, with security forces often the target
of bombings.
Source: dawn.com
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Kabul
urged to avoid unprovoked acts against Pak-Afghan border
August
17, 2024
Amid
rising incidents of cross-border firing, the Foreign Office (FO) on Friday
urged the Taliban-led interim government in Kabul to exercise restraint and
avoid unprovoked acts against the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Foreign
Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch made the remarks while responding to a
question about a recent clash between the border forces of Pakistan and
Afghanistan near the Torkham border crossing.
Earlier
this week, security forces of Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire
after the former objected to the construction of a controversial checkpost near
the border by the Afghans. The cross-border firing incident resulted in the
closure of the border for all types of movement.
Addressing
a weekly news briefing in Islamabad, the FO spokesperson said: “First, I would
not like to go into history of such border violations from the Afghan side.
However, as you know, the recent incident was very unfortunate when on the 12th
of August, Afghan forces opened indiscriminate fire at the Torkham border.”
Pakistani
forces responded appropriately in self-defence, she added.
“We urge
the Afghan authorities to exercise restraint and avoid unprovoked acts against
Pakistan-Afghanistan border. They must understand that Pakistani forces will
always defend their territory.”
She
further said that they remain ready to resolve any misunderstandings through
established diplomatic channels.
“I would
also like to underline that the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan
is multifaceted, and it encompasses various aspects of bilateral cooperation
between the two countries. This is a historic relationship, so seeing this
relationship from a narrow prism would not be advisable.”
The
spokesperson said Pakistan has consistently raised its concerns about the
presence of terrorist hideouts and sanctuaries inside Afghanistan. She said
Pakistan expects the Afghan authorities to take effective and robust action
against the terrorist groups.
'No
talks with India'
Responding
to another question, Baloch said that no talks are currently taking place with
India for the resumption of bilateral trade.
The
spokesperson recalled that following India's illegal and unilateral steps in
illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, several measures were taken by
Pakistan including the suspension of bilateral trade. This situation remains
intact, she added.
Strongly
condemning the killing of four Kashmiri youth by Indian occupation forces in
Doda district, the spokesperson said this brutal act is yet another example of
India's illegal and oppressive steps against the Kashmiri people.
She
urged the international community to take immediate and decisive action to hold
India accountable for its egregious human rights violations in IIOJK and take
steps to protect the rights and freedoms of Kashmiri people.
The
Spokesperson strongly rejected allegations about Pakistan's role in the ouster
of Sheikh Hasina Wajid saying there is absolutely no truth in them. She said
Pakistan believes that the people of Bangladesh have the capacity to settle
their affairs and determine their future.
Baloch
strongly denounced the storming of Al-Aqsa mosque by hundreds of extremist
settlers led by office bearers of Israeli occupation authorities. She said the
desecration of one of Islam's holiest sites and obstruction of the rights of
worshippers have deeply hurt the sentiments of Muslims worldwide. This act is a
violation of the Geneva Convention and blatant disregard of multiple UNSC
resolutions.
The
spokesperson called upon the international community especially the UN Security
Council to take immediate action to end the serious and repeated transgressions
against the sanctity of holy sites in Jerusalem, protect the Islamic character
of Al-Aqsa and ensure the freedom of worship of the Palestinian people.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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PTI's
Iqbal Afridi faces MPs calls for apology over 'misogynistic' statement
August
16, 2024
Minister
for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
Senator Sherry Rehman and Sindh Government spokesperson Barrister Arsalan Islam
Shaikh on Friday lamented Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Iqbal Afridi’s
"misogynistic" remarks targeting a woman’s dressing, demanding an
apology from him.
MNA
Afridi raised an objection over the attire of a woman during the National
Assembly's Standing Committe on Power's meeting. He then received criticism
from other members and attendees present at the session.
Responding
to Afridi, Senator Rehman said that he should apologise for his behaviour.
"This behaviour is reprehensible and falls under the line of harassment.
The PTI should make its MNA apologise."
She,
while addressing Afridi directly, said: “ No one has the right to comment over
a woman’s attire. Don’t make a patriarchal society, who made you a policeman of
clothes?”
Additionally,
the information minister also condemned the act of the PTI lawmaker, saying:
“Harassing women is not acceptable in any condition. The Tehreek-e-Insaf has
become tehreek-e-na-insaf [unjust movement] for women.”
“Women
face so many difficulties in our society. The PTI should take action against
Iqbal Afridi,” he said, adding, “Real justice is that the party membership of
Iqbal Afridi should be suspended.”
He
further added: “This is the PTI’s fascism, which is coming out openly.”
Parallel
to this, the Sindh government spokesperson also said: “There was nothing
inappropriate in the clothes of the woman that should have been objected to.
Women have full freedom in our society.”
Referring
to the PTI MNA, he added: “Iqbal Afridi should be careful of his gaze, his
objection over the woman’s clothing does not make sense.”
He
added, “Iqbal Afridi should apologise to the woman for his act.”
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Army chief
honours Olympian Arshad Nadeem at special ceremony
August
16, 2024
RAWALPINDI:
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir hosted a special ceremony at
the Army Auditorium General Headquarters (GHQ) to honour Pakistan's ace javelin
thrower Arshad Nadeem for his historic achievement at Paris Olympics 2024, a
statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday.
Nadeem
launched a massive javelin throw of 92.97-metre and secured the first-ever
individual gold medal in the Olympics for Pakistan, maiden athletics and first
gold in any discipline in the last 40 years during the final quest of the Paris
Olympics.
The
Pakistani star received countrywide massive praise and admiration for his feat
in the Olympics.
"The
event was attended by sports teams and legendary Olympians including 1984
Olympic and National Hockey Teams, National Cricket Team, Street Football Team,
Army Polo Team, Visually Impaired Cricket and Women Goal Ball Teams, Medal
Winners of Common Wealth, SAF and Asian Games and participants of Paris
Olympics 2024," the ISPR added.
Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Olympian Arshad Nadeems family
members during a ceremony at Army Auditorium GHQ in Rawalpindi on August 16,
2024. — ISPR
Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Olympian Arshad Nadeem's family
members during a ceremony at Army Auditorium GHQ in Rawalpindi on August 16,
2024. — ISPR
Moreover,
notable legends included Jehangir Khan, Isalah Ud Din, Shahbaz Senior, Sohail
Abbas, Muhammad Asif and Aisam-ul-Haq. The event was also attended by Arshad
Nadeem’s close relatives, associates and coaches.
"The
COAS appreciated Arshad Nadeem's remarkable achievement of winning Pakistan's
first-ever gold medal in a singles event and setting a new Olympic record,
attributing it to his commitment, perseverance, and passion for excellence. He
highlighted Arshad's inspirational journey from humble beginnings to achieving
greatness, emphasising the importance of hard work and determination," the
ISPR added.
The army
chief recognised Nadeem's achievement as a national pride and highlighted that
he has been honoured by the complete nation befitting his achievement.
"The
COAS reaffirmed the commitment to support and empower not only sportsmen, but
the entire wealth of Pakistani youth to achieve excellence towards a prosperous
Pakistan. The COAS highlighted the need for Youth Engagement, Development and
Entertainment as essential cardinals of a healthy and prosperous society,"
the ISPR further added.
Nadeem
expressed gratitude and emphasised the immense potential of Pakistani youth,
stressing the importance of hard work, positivity, and perseverance in
overcoming challenges and achieving success.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Two
cops, three others injured in Peshawar 'remote-controlled' explosion
August
16, 2024
PESHAWAR:
Two cops and three others were injured after an explosion targeted a police
vehicle at the Warsak Road in Pir Bala on Friday, Geo News reported citing the
police.
The
target of the blast was the police vehicle, said the law enforcement officials.
The
vehicle, according to Warsak Road Superintendent of Police (SP) Arshad Khan,
was damaged in the wake of the "remote-controlled" blast.
"Explosives
were planted in a cement block," said the policeman, adding that the
explosives used in the remote controlled blast weighed five kilograms.
The five
people injured in the explosion have shifted to the hospital, Rescue 1122
officials told Geo News.
The
spokesperson of Lady Reading Hospital Muhammad Asim said that five injured were
brought to the facility which include two policemen and three civilians.
The
condition of the injured, the spokesperson added, is out of danger and they are
being provided medical aid.
Meanwhile,
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has sought a report on the blast, directing
authorities to provide best medical aid to the injured.
Pakistan
has experienced a spike in terrorism since the Taliban returned to power in
Afghanistan in 2021 with most terror incidents reported in the provinces
bordering the neighbouring country — Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According
to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report, during the
second quarter of the current year, the country witnessed 380 violence-linked
fatalities and 220 injuries among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws.
The report
stated that these casualties resulted from as many as 240 incidents involving
terror attacks and counter-terrorism operations.
Against
this backdrop, the federal cabinet in June this year approved Operation
Azm-e-Istehkam, a reinvigorated national counter-terrorism campaign following
the Central Apex Committee's recommendations under the National Action Plan to
root out terrorism.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Pakistani
Army arrests three retired officers tied to ex-ISI Chief’s scandal
August
16, 2024
The
Pakistan Army announced that it had arrested three retired military officers on
charges of facilitating illegal connections between political figures and
former ISI chief Faiz Hameed. Previously, the army had detained Faiz Hameed on
charges of corruption and abuse of power.
The
Army’s media office stated on Thursday, August 15, that these officers, even
after retirement, continued to engage in facilitating illegal relationships
between political figures and General Faiz Hameed.
According
to the Pakistan Army, these individuals compromised military discipline at the
behest of political entities.
Military
sources have identified the two accused retired officers as Ghafar and Naeem,
noting that they are close associates of General Faiz Hameed.
Earlier
this week, the Pakistan Army announced that Faiz Hameed had been detained in
connection with the “Top City” housing project scandal, and his military trial
has commenced.
Army
officials have previously indicated that they are investigating the actions of
certain retired officers suspected of instigating instability.
The
recent detentions highlight the ongoing efforts by the Pakistan Army to address
internal corruption and prevent political interference within its ranks.
As
investigations continue, the Army aims to restore discipline and uphold
integrity within its institution. The unfolding situation reflects a broader
commitment to addressing issues of misconduct and ensuring that former officers
do not exploit their connections for illegal purposes.
Source: khaama.com
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---------
Mideast
Iraq’s
Yazidis hope a new village will prompt survivors of a 2014 Daesh massacre to
return
August
17, 2024
KOCHO,
Iraq: Ten years ago, their village in Iraq’s Sinjar region was decimated by
Daesh militants. Yazidi men and boys were separated and massacred, Yazidi women
and children were abducted, many raped or taken as slaves.
Now the
survivors are coming back to Kocho, where Yazidi community leaders on Thursday
announced plans for an internationally funded new village nearby to house those
displaced in what was one of the bloodiest massacres by the Daesh group against
their tiny and insular religious minority.
On Aug.
15, 2014, the extremists killed hundreds in Kocho alone. During their rampage
across the wider region of Sinjar — the Yazidi heartland — Daesh killed and
enslaved thousands of Yazidis, whom the Sunni militants consider heretics. To
this day, the Kocho massacre remains as a glaring example of Daesh atrocities
against the Yazidi community.
Out of
1,470 people in Kocho at the time, 1,027 were abducted by the Daesh, 368 were
killed and only 75 managed to escape, according to a report by the Middle East
Center at the London School of Economics.
All the
permits have now been finalized and construction for the new village will break
ground on Sept. 5, said Naif Jaso, a prominent Yazidi leader.
The New
Kocho is planned to be built near the village of Tel Qassab, 10 kilometers (6.2
miles) north from the original Kocho, now mostly in ruins.
The
International Organization for Migration, the UN Development Program and
Nadia’s Initiative, an nonprofit founded by Yazidi survivor Nadia Murad, are
hoping it will provide much-needed housing and infrastructure to encourage
displaced Yazidis to return to their historic homeland.
Their
return is a thorny issue and few Yazidis have trickled back to their former
homes. In Sinjar, the situation is particularly grim, with destroyed infrastructure,
little funding for rebuilding and multiple armed groups vying to carve up the
area.
Though
Daesh was defeated in Iraq in 2017, as of April this year only 43 percent of
the more than 300,000 people displaced from Sinjar have come back, IOM says.
Jaso
said 133 displaced families have said they are willing to return and settle in
New Kocho Village, which envisages parks, marketplaces, a health facility, a
psychiatric support center and recreational spaces along with homes for people.
Each
house will be built according to the size and needs of each family, Nadia’s
Initiative’s spokesperson Salah Qasim said.
Alyas
Salih Qasim, one of the few male survivors from Kocho says he plans to go back
once the new village is ready. He has been living for years in a displacement
camp in northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region and plans to settle in
the new village.
“I would
love to return to my original house,” he said but was not optimistic about
others — many Yazidis have since migrated and started new lives elsewhere.
But it’s
“difficult ... to return to an empty village, and it’s better if we settle in
the New Kocho once they finish constructing it,” he said.
Earlier
this year, Iraq’s government ordered displacement camps in the Kurdish region
housing thousands of Yazidis to be closed by July 30 and even offered payments
of 4 million dinars (about $3,000) to those who leave, but later postponed the
order.
Fatima
Ismael, another survivor of the Kocho massacre who has been living in the same
camp as Qasim for nine years and also hopes to settled in the new village, said
the old village of Kocho contains too many painful memories.
The
remains of her husband and two of her sons were found in a mass graves while
three other sons are still missing, with empty graves waiting for them at the
local cemetery.
“I can
never return home because I can’t look at the empty rooms,” she said, though
she misses the old village community. “How can I live with that?”
Survivors
still live in fear of Daesh and part of the reason for placing the new Kocho at
a distance from the old village is to be closer to mountains where many Yazidis
took refuge during the militants’ rampage. Since their defeat, Daesh militants
have gone underground but are still able to stage surprise attacks.
Commemorations
and ceremonies like Thursday’s bring back traumatic memories.
“It
feels like the first day every time there’s a ceremony or event to remember
these days,” Qasim said. “Whatever they do for us, or how hard they try, what
we saw is unbearably terrible and impossible to forget.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Activists
prepare to defy Israeli naval blockade of Gaza
August
16, 2024
VALLETTA:
Peace activists from several countries are setting out on a converted trawler
to defy an Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the
Gaza Strip.
“The
purpose of this mission is to send a message that civil society is not OK with
what’s happening in Gaza,” said Fellipe Lopes, the Portuguese media coordinator
of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on board the ship Handala during a stopover
in Malta.
It will
be a trip fraught with danger. Another coalition ship on a similar mission to
Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops, and nine activists
died. Other ships were similarly stopped and boarded, without loss of life.
“We
expect to encounter resistance throughout our mission,” said Australian
activist Michael Coleman.
“Ours is
not an illegal activity in any shape or form. The International Court of
Justice has asked them to grant unfettered access to aid into Gaza and I
implore them to let us and other aids through immediately,” he said.
The
Handala was visited in Malta by 78-year-old retired US Army Col. and diplomat
Ann Wright, who was on board another coalition ship boarded by Israeli troops
in 2010, in the incident in which nine activists died.
“These
people are very brave, because we don’t know what’s going to happen. If the
Israelis stop them, we know it’ll be brutal,” Wright said.
The
brightly colored Handala carries activists from Italy, France, Norway,
Australia, the Netherlands, Syria and a number of Palestinians. It has made
several port calls around Scandinavia and the Mediterranean to raise awareness
about the situation in Gaza.
Its hull
carries slogans reading: “Free Palestine,” “Gaza you are not alone” and “Stop
the Genocide,” while its humanitarian aid cargo consists mostly of medicines.
The trip
along the Eastern Mediterranean to Gaza will take a week but organizers said
they might stop over in another harbor on the way.
Source: arabnews.com
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Six
killed in Israeli strike in Lebanon, health ministry says
August
17, 2024
CAIRO:
At least six people were killed and three others were wounded by an Israeli
strike on a residential building in Nabatieh city, in southern Lebanon, the
Lebanese health ministry said early on Saturday.
Tensions
have soared in the region in recent weeks, after a deadly rocket strike in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that Israel blamed on Hezbollah. Israel
responded with the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in the suburbs of
Beirut.
Hezbollah
has also vowed to retaliate against Israel, as has Iran, for the killing in
Tehran of the political chief of the Palestinian Hamas group, Ismail Haniyeh.
Source: arabnews.comvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
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Palestinian
village in shock after attack by Israeli settlers
August
17, 2024
JIT,
Palestinian Territories: The Israeli settlers who attacked Hassan Arman’s
village of Jit in the occupied West Bank had a simple aim, he says: “To burn,
kill, or destroy” — all of which took place that night.
Residents
hid in fear while dozens of settlers ransacked their northern village late on
Thursday, burning homes and cars, until eventually a young Palestinian man was
shot dead.
Arman,
whose car was destroyed by fire during the attack, said he had “never seen
anything like it” in Jit as he opened the charred door of his vehicle.
Inside,
everything had melted, leaving just a skeleton of twisted metal.
When the
Jewish settlers reached his house, they were “in full uniform, armed with
knives, a machine gun, and a silencer,” he said.
A few
houses down, Muawiya Al-Sada struggled for words as he stood in the scorched
remains of his living room. Only the burnt wooden frame of his sofa remained
after the cushions and fabric went up in flames.
“After
they burned the house there, they came to this house, broke the windows, and
threw firebombs — Molotov cocktails — inside,” he told AFP, while shards of
glass from his window panes crunched under the weight of his boots.
Sada and
his neighbors then heard gunshots which they later learned caused the death of
Rashid Sada, 23, who was said to have been shot in the back.
After
that, “there was a brief period of calm, and then the army entered (the
village).”
Crowds
gathered for the funeral on Friday where the young man’s body, wrapped in a
Palestinian flag, was borne aloft by mourners and carried through the streets.
At the
funeral, his uncle Muhannad Sada told AFP: “A bullet came from behind him and
exited the other side, and he was martyred.”
“It was
not the army who fired the bullets, but the settlers,” he added.
CCTV
footage released by one resident showed masked men in black hoodies emerging
from a field, setting fire to a car and breaking into a home, then setting upon
a villager when he tried to chase them away.
The army
said it dispersed the settlers from Jit, detaining one Israeli civilian.
The
Palestinian Authority, which rules the West Bank from Ramallah, called the
attack “organized state terrorism.”
Israel’s
president and prime minister both denounced the attack, which drew condemnation
from around the globe.
The
White House, Germany and France all called the attack “unacceptable,” while
Britain’s foreign minister described it as “abhorrent” and the United Nations
termed it “horrific.”
EU’s top
diplomat Josep Borrell said he would propose sanctions against Israeli
government “enablers” of settler violence.
The
incident came at a tense time for the region, as negotiators try to hammer out
a Gaza war ceasefire that could also douse threats by Iran and its proxies to
attack Israel.
“Any
action that could jeopardize the negotiation process toward a ceasefire deal is
unacceptable,” French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said in Jerusalem.
Violence
in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and
separated from the Gaza Strip by Israeli territory, has surged during the Gaza
war.
Israeli
settlement of the occupied land — considered illegal under international law —
has also hit new records since the war began on October 7.
Since
then, at least 633 Palestinians have been killed in violence with settlers or
Israeli troops, according to the Palestinian authorities.
At least
18 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in attacks involving
Palestinians, according to official Israeli figures.
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Chad
opens consulate in Morocco-ruled Western Sahara
August
17, 2024
RABAT:
Chad opened on Wednesday a consulate in Western Sahara, joining African and
Arab countries that have established diplomatic missions there in a sign of
support for Morocco’s claim to the disputed territory.
Morocco
considers Western Sahara its own territory, but the Algeria-backed Polisario
Front wants to establish its own state there.
So far
29 countries have opened consulates in Western Sahara cities of Layoune and
Dakhla in full support of Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory.
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Abbas
visit to Turkish parliament linked to several geopolitical dynamics
August
16, 2024
ANKARA:
After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Mahmoud Abbas visited
Ankara and gave key messages about efforts for Palestinian unity and a
ceasefire at a tense time during the Israel-Hamas war.
Abbas
heads the Fatah Palestinian movement, a rival to Hamas, and has a more distant
relationship with the Turkish government.
However,
Turkiye’s invitation to Abbas was strategic as it came shortly after Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress on July 25, which
Ankara condemned.
“We will
show that Mr. Abbas has the right to speak in our parliament, just as Netanyahu
has the right to speak in the US Congress,” Erdogan told members of his ruling
Justice and Development Party on Wednesday, before meeting Abbas in Ankara on
Wednesday.
A
staunch supporter of Hamas, President Erdogan said that Turkiye had also
planned to invite Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh before he was
assassinated in Tehran.
Abbas
was addressing an extraordinary session of the Turkish parliament on Thursday,
decorated with photographs of Haniyeh, who frequently visited Turkiye and had
close ties with Erdogan.
The
parliament’s presidency said that the special session for Abbas aimed to
“demonstrate strong support for the Palestinian people and their cause and
ensure that the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people is heard worldwide.”
During
his speech, which was interrupted several times by applause, Abbas — based in
Ramallah in the West Bank — said that he would visit the besieged Gaza Strip to
protest Israel’s war on the enclave, adding that the conflict could not end
until Israel withdrew from occupied Palestinian land.
Abbas
has not gone to Gaza since Hamas took power in 2007.
He also
said that he would stand by the Palestinian people “even at the cost of his
life” and added: “There cannot be a Palestinian state without Gaza.”
The last
time Abbas visited Turkiye was on March 5.
But this
time the visit coincides with a tense geopolitical situation and speculation
about retaliation against Israel by Iran and Hezbollah.
Ankara,
meanwhile, is also grappling with its position on Hamas following the
appointment of Yahya Sinwar, who is seen as closer to Iran, after Haniyeh’s
assassination.
Turkiye
recently imposed a temporary one-week block on Instagram after the social media
platform blocked condolence posts on the killing of Haniyeh.
Betul
Dogan-Akkas, assistant professor of international relations at Ankara
University’s department of international relations, believes that Abbas’s visit
to the Turkish parliament is linked to several dynamics in regional and global
politics.
“Turkiye
is known for its social and political support for the Palestinian cause, but in
the last decade it has become more and more involved with Hamas,” she told Arab
News.
“However,
Ankara’s support for Palestine goes beyond its ties with Hamas or Fatah,”
Dogan-Akkas said.
“Inviting
Abbas to deliver a speech in parliament shows Turkiye’s current efforts to
adopt a comprehensive approach to the resistance without differentiating
between the West Bank and Gaza.”
Dogan-Akkas
believes that the visit was also significant for Middle East politics in the
wake of Haniyeh’s assassination.
“Abbas
can speak safely in Turkiye, and Turkiye is happy to host him to pave the way
for the unification of the Palestinian resistance,” she said.
He had
also dedicated an important part of his speech to the resistance in Gaza.
“Having the opportunity to speak on behalf of Palestine, his discourse was
inclusive and representative of both the West Bank and Gaza, despite the
ongoing fragility of Palestinian domestic politics.”
Abbas
“is an important figure in the Middle East, and hosting him in the Turkish
parliament means that Turkiye is keeping channels of communication open with
various powers in the Middle East, especially in Palestine,” Dogan-Akkas said.
“However,
his visit is more oriented to the international community as Turkiye has
recently submitted a request to join South Africa’s case at the International
Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide,” she said.
Galip
Dalay, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, thinks that the
significance of the visit is largely symbolic.
“Politically,
the Palestinian Authority, despite its international legitimacy, has no
influence in Gaza and limited one in West Bank, where its popularity is quite
low,” he told Arab News.
“Turkiye’s
most important role in the Palestinian cause at present lies in its ability to
promote a common framework of governance and leadership within Palestine,
contributing to the creation of a reformed and unified Palestinian leadership,”
Dalay said.
“This
includes restructuring the Palestine Liberation Organization to ensure broader
representation of all Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah elements.
In addition, Turkiye envisages the emergence of a new government that is not
linked to any existing organization.”
According
to Dalay, this approach also applies to Turkiye’s relationship with Fatah and
aims to contribute to the internal Palestinian dialogue.
“Turkiye
is trying to internationalize the Palestinian issue by involving Arab and
non-Arab, Western and non-Western actors as well as international
institutions,” he said.
Many
experts believe that Turkiye’s increased engagement with the Palestinian issue
is for domestic consumption, as one of the ruling government’s rivals, the New
Welfare Party, with a strong Islamist tendency, has criticized Ankara for not
being active enough on the Palestinian issue, creating significant domestic
pressure on the issue.
Mehmet
Akif Koc, a researcher on Middle East politics, considers Abbas’s visit to
Turkiye significant for three main reasons.
“His
stop in Ankara after Beijing and Moscow underscores Turkiye’s role in global
diplomacy,” he told Arab News.
The
visit comes as Turkiye “seeks to normalize relations with Syria and increase
its influence in Iraq, positioning itself to take more initiative in the Middle
East,” Koc said.
According
to Koc, in the aftermath of the Gaza massacre on Oct. 7 and Haniyeh’s
assassination, Turkish public opinion has leaned strongly toward Hamas.
“For the
flexibility and maneuverability capacity of Turkish foreign policy, balancing
the Fatah aspect is important, particularly from a state perspective,” he said.
Koc said
that the visit helped to balance the pressure on Mahmoud Abbas from Israel and
encouraged a more supportive approach to Gaza and Hamas under difficult
conditions.
Abbas
“had not indicated plans to visit Gaza for the last 11 months since the
beginning of the massacre, and it is evident that he chose Ankara as the place
to announce this.
“It is
not difficult to speculate that Ankara may have pressured Abbas for this
significant move, making this visit a crucial step toward fostering Palestinian
unity,” he said.
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MPs
brawl during debate on jailed opposition lawmaker
August
16, 2024
ANKARA:
A brawl broke out in Turkiye’s parliament on Friday after lawmakers convened to
discuss the status of a jailed opposition figure controversially stripped of
his parliamentary immunity earlier this year.
They
were meeting after the country’s constitutional court struck down parliament’s
decision to oust Can Atalay from his parliamentary seat earlier this month.
Lawyer
and rights activist Atalay was deprived of his seat in January following an
ill-tempered parliamentary session, despite efforts by fellow leftist deputies
to halt the proceedings.
He was
one of seven defendants sentenced in 2022 to 18 years in prison following a
controversial trial that also saw the award-winning philanthropist Osman Kavala
jailed for life.
From
prison, 48-year-old Atalay ran for a seat in parliament representing the
earthquake-ravaged Hatay province in last May’s general election.
He was
elected as a member of the leftist Workers’ Party of Turkiye, or TIP, which has
three parliamentary seats.
However,
that election win led to a legal standoff between President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s supporters and opposition leaders, who pushed Turkiye to the verge of
a constitutional crisis last year.
Parliament’s
decision in January to oust Atalay came after the Supreme Court of Appeals
ruling that upheld his conviction, clearing the way for the move to strip him
of his parliamentary immunity.
But on
Aug. 1, the constitutional court — a body reviewing whether judges’ rulings
comply with Turkiye’s fundamental law — published its verdict on the case.
It ruled
Atalay’s ouster as a member of parliament was “null and void.”
On
Friday, TIP deputy Ahmet Sik defended Atalay against the attacks on him by
ruling party lawmakers.
“It’s no
surprise that you call Atalay a terrorist,” he said.
“All
citizens should know that the biggest terrorists of this country are those
seated on those benches,” he said, indicating the ruling majority.
That
comment drew angry responses from ruling party lawmakers, prompting the chairman
to call a break.
Scuffles
broke out after former footballer Alpay Ozalan, a lawmaker from Erdogan’s
ruling AKP party, walked to the rostrum and shoved Sik to the ground, said an
AFP journalist in parliament.
Another
opposition MP was injured when she tried to calm the session.
Footage
online showed the brawl and staff cleaning blood stains from the parliament
floor afterward.
Turkiye’s
parliament has previously voted to lift immunity from prosecution of opposition
politicians — many of them Kurds — who the government views as “terrorists.”
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Egypt FM
affirms Arab support for Lebanese security in Beirut talks
August
16, 2024
BEIRUT:
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said in Beirut on Friday that Cairo
will “make every possible effort to spare Lebanon and its brotherly people the
woes of any uncalculated escalation.”
Abdelatty
condemned “all provocative policies, including the violation of Lebanon’s
sovereignty.”
He
repeated Egypt’s rejection of “the Israeli aggression on Beirut’s southern
suburb and the policy of assassinations.”
Abdelatty
added that the security and stability of Lebanon “is an Egyptian interest and
an Arab interest that we are working on maintaining.”
His
talks in Beirut came two days after visits by US mediator Amos Hochstein and
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne.
Hochstein
and Sejourne had urged the need for deescalation, in parallel with the Doha
talks targeting a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of hostages.
Abdelatty
— under the assignment and direction of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
— met several Lebanese officials.
The
talks were part of Arab and international efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza
between the Israeli army and Hamas, and deescalate the situation on the
Lebanese border between Israel and Hezbollah.
Following
his meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Abdelatty said that he
delivered a “message of support and solidarity from the Egyptian people to the
Lebanese people.”
Abdelatty
highlighted the importance of “stopping the escalation and not dragging the
region into a comprehensive regional war.
“We are
working to stop this escalation, and we must act to the fullest extent and as
quickly as possible to reach an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and stop
the Israeli aggression,” he said.
“The
core of the conflict in this region is the persistence of the Palestinian cause
without a solution, and the continued failure of the Palestinian people to
obtain their legitimate rights, most importantly their right to establish an
independent state on the entire national territory on the borders of June 4,
1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
According
to his media office, Berri said: “The success of the efforts exerted in Doha to
reach a ceasefire is the main gateway to restoring stability and solutions in
the region.”
He praised
the “great effort made by Egypt and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to stop the
Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.”
Abdelatty
also met Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and his ministerial counterpart,
Abdallah Bou Habib.
Mikati
repeated his country’s commitment to “fully implementing” UN Resolution 1701.
“Pressure
must be exerted on Israel to implement the resolution and stop its aggression
against Lebanon,” he added.
As
diplomacy intensified to prevent a wider regional conflict, Hezbollah again
warned of a possible response to the assassination of its senior military
commander, Fouad Shukr, who was killed in Beirut’s southern suburb in July.
In a
threatening message to Israel, the militant group released a video on Friday
containing footage of an underground facility carved from rock.
The site
featured huge, illuminated tunnels containing steel doors, motorbikes, missile
launchers and trucks.
Hezbollah’s
military media said in a statement on the video: “Western media talks a lot
about the tunnels.”
The clip
was titled “Our mountains are our strongholds” and aimed to reveal Hezbollah’s
extensive military capabilities.
It
included a clip of a previous speech by Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s
secretary-general.
He said:
“The resistance now possesses precision and non-precision missiles, along with
its weapons capabilities, so that if Israel imposes a war on Lebanon, Israel
will face a destiny and reality it didn’t expect any day.”
Hezbollah
sources told Lebanese media that the location, and entrances and exits, of the
tunnel facility, were secret.
“It is
unknown where this underground facility begins, where our fighters are
operating, where it ends and what it is connected to,” they said.
“What we
are revealing today is a small part of the real capabilities of the resistance,
especially in terms of precision missiles.”
The
video was accompanied by a message from the Iranian Embassy, which commented on
the video.
The
embassy said: “We call underground missile installations within rocks and
mountains ‘missile cities.’ They are spread throughout the geography of Iran,
instilling fear in the hearts of Iran’s enemies. If necessary, we can strike
the enemy from any point within Iran.”
On
Friday, Hezbollah launched a series of missile attacks on Israeli military
sites in the Upper Galilee.
The
party mourned one of its fighters who was killed by an Israeli air-to-surface
missile on the border town of Aitaroun. He was identified as Ibrahim Shawqi
Salameh from the town of Blida.
Israel
again targeted the town of Kfar Kila and the outskirts of Rmeich, Ramia, Beit
Lif, Al-Qouzah, Naqoura and Mays Al-Jabal.
Also on
Friday, the leader of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, said that
Hezbollah’s actions on the southern border “are not in support of Gaza, but
rather in support of Iran’s strategic interests in the region.”
Addressing
a press conference, Geagea said: “Implementing Resolution 1701 would
significantly improve our situation.”
He urged
the government to “take a stance based on Lebanon’s national interest, rather
than echoing Hezbollah’s actions.”
Former
Lebanese president Michel Aoun had “put us in one hell,” and now the Axis of
Resistance is “putting us in another hell and digging our hole even bigger,”
Geagea added.
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Arab World
Reviving
Ithmid KohlEye Cosmetic: The Intersection of Health, Beauty and Culture in
Saudi Arabia
August
16, 2024
RIYADH:
The resurgence of ithmid in the Saudi market among the youth has sparked
interest and discussion in recent months.
Ithmid,
also known as kohl, is a type of eye cosmetic that has been used in cultures
the world over. It is made of ultra-fine and homogenized powder containing a
mixture of minerals or elements.
Ithmid
has a long history of use in the Arabian Peninsula and other parts of the
Middle East. But for Muslims it holds special significance because it was used
by the Prophet Muhammad for its benefits to eye health.
Many
young people are embracing this ancient tradition as a way to connect with
their heritage and express their cultural identity.
In
addition to its cultural significance, the revival of ithmid can also be
attributed to its perceived health benefits.
Owners of
the Athmad19 Instagram store told Arab News: “Prophet Muhammad recommended its
use for many reasons, mainly its many benefits for improving eye health and for
cosmetics.”
The
owners said that they were inspired to create their business because of the lack
of authentic ithmid kohl.
“We
strive to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
and remind people of the benefits of ithmid kohl,” they said.
Ophthalmologists
and scientists have conducted studies on the efficacy and safety of ithmid for
use around the eyes. These studies found that authentic ithmid can have
benefits, such as reducing eye irritation and improving vision.
According
to the World Health Organization, Andalib et al. carried out research to inform
frequent users of ithmid about its toxic and beneficial effects.
The
study’s results demonstrate the chemical makeup of ithmid and its safe use as a
cosmetic and therapeutic product for maintaining the health of human eyes, with
no adverse outcomes.
One of
the primary benefits of ithmid kohl is its antibacterial effect. Studies have
shown that ithmid can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, making it an
effective treatment for eye infections such as conjunctivitis.
Bushra
Al-Saeed, 25, discovered the healing powers of ithmid kohl for her persistent
pink eye, or conjunctivitis.
“My eye
doctor prescribed me antibiotics for recurring pink eye, but to no avail,” she
said.
Then her
grandmother told her to try the traditional remedy of ithmid kohl. “To my
surprise, my eye quickly began to heal and my lashes grew darker and thicker,”
Al-Saeed said.
he
solution not only cured her pink eye but also opened her eyes to the wonders of
natural remedies.
A study
by Hasson et al. showed the successful treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis
using ithmid, claiming it as “an innovative approach that has shown promise and
may potentially serve as a viable alternative in clinical practice.”
Ithmid
is also known for its cooling and soothing effect on the eyes. Its natural
ingredients help reduce inflammation and redness, providing relief to those
suffering from eye discomfort. This makes it a popular choice for people who
spend long hours in front of screens or under harsh lighting.
To reap
the benefits, Athmad19 owners said that it is important to be able to identify
authentic ithmid from fake products that claim to be pure ithmid.
“Fake
ithmid causes itching and redness continues, and this is a sure factor that the
kohl is fake and contains high levels of lead, iron or glass.”
They
said that their ithmid is sourced from a guaranteed supplier, which they
carefully study.
There
are several methods used to ensure its authenticity, such as the magnet
experiment.
“When
the ithmid kohl sticks to the magnet, it is conclusive evidence that the kohl
is not original and contains iron filings,” they said.
Some
ithmid retailers incorrectly claim that if the product sticks to the magnet, it
is evidence that the kohl contains beneficial minerals.
“This is
just a promotional method and has nothing to do with the originality of the
ithmid kohl at all because beneficial minerals are not attracted to the
magnet.”
Another
method of finding out if the ithmid is original is to check for its shine. The
owners of Athmad19 said: “If the ithmid kohl powder is highly reflective, then
that means that it is fake, because ithmid loses its shine after being ground
into powder.”
They
also said that people purchasing ithmid should buy it from a seller who can
show the stone being ground into powder.
Overall,
studies show that ithmid is a safe and natural alternative to modern eye
treatments that may contain harsh chemicals. Its long-standing use in
traditional medicine globally highlights its efficacy and safety, giving
consumers peace of mind when using it for eye care.
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Grand
Mosque imam visits Shariah sciences and modern studies center in Cambodia
August
16, 2024
PHNOM
PENH: Dr. Bandar bin Abdulaziz Baleelah, imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah,
who is also a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, visited Abu Bakr
Al-Siddiq Center, which specializes in Shariah sciences and modern studies, in
Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia.
Theodora
visit is part of a tour of the country supervised by the Ministry of Islamic
Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance and organized in coordination with several
official entities.
Baleelah
toured the center’s facilities, comprising halls, classrooms and an Islamic
library, and was briefed about the educational and cultural services provided
by the center to the Cambodians.
Hassan
bin Saleh, the center’s director, acknowledged the ongoing efforts exerted by
the Kingdom’s leaders to serve Islam and Muslims all around the world.
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KSrelief
launches Balsam campaign for neurosurgery in Yemen
August
16, 2024
RIYADH: The
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and Al-Balsam Association for
Training and Health Development have launched a neurosurgery campaign at Prince
Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Aden.
Running
from Aug. 17-23, the campaign aims to perform 25 free surgeries and examine and
diagnose over 200 cases.
According
to Al-Balsam Association a team of Yemeni doctors will collaborate with the
association’s team in the operating rooms, as well as during the examination
and preparation stages for surgeries at the hospital, which is supervised by
the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen.
Prof.
Ibrahim Al-Naami, consultant and professor of neurosurgery at King Khalid
University and head of Al-Balsam Association’s medical team to Yemen, said: “The
neurosurgery campaign, supervised by the KSrelief, will take place from Aug.
17-23 at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Aden. The campaign will feature
an integrated team of neurological and spinal surgeons, along with
anesthesiologists, anesthesia technicians, and nurses.”
Al-Naami
explained that preparations for the medical campaign in Yemen began several
months ago, following its approval by KSrelief, which chose Al-Balsam
Association to execute it.
He
emphasized that the association is committed to ensuring the campaign’s
success, adhering to the regulations and procedures set by KSrelief, which is
renowned for its global leadership in humanitarian work in countries in need of
such medical care.
Al-Naami
highlighted that extensive efforts have been made in all aspects, including
procuring necessary surgical equipment and preparing for the campaign to
achieve its objectives and uphold its noble humanitarian mission under KSrelief
supervision.
Al-Balsam
Association also conducted a medical campaign in Yemen last May, focused on
open-heart surgery and interventional catheterization at Prince Mohammed bin
Salman Hospital.
During
the campaign, 251 procedures were performed, including 25 open-heart surgeries
and 166 interventional catheterizations for adults, and three open-heart
surgeries, along with 57 interventional catheterizations, for children.
All
procedures were successful and were carried out in collaboration with a team of
local Yemeni doctors.
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Ministry
of Justice starts process for students seeking training at judicial facilities
August
16, 2024
RIYADH:
The Saudi Ministry of Justice has begun the process of application submissions
for university students seeking training opportunities at judicial facilities
during the new academic year.
Universities
reopen for the new academic year on Sunday after the summer vacation.
The
ministry announced the submissions process on its official website.
Interested
applicants can apply through the cooperative training service on the ministry’s
official portal, where they can browse various training options and select the
ones that suit them best.
The
program offers students practical training and learning experiences at judicial
facilities throughout the Kingdom.
Through
this initiative, students will gain hands-on experience in operational and
service processes, the ministry said.
Cooperative
training is designed to equip students with the skills to navigate a
professional work environment, collaborate effectively with colleagues, enhance
their communication abilities, and explore practical interests, the ministry
said.
Osama
Ghanem Al-Obaidy, a law professor in Riyadh, told Arab News: “This is a good
learning opportunity for university students seeking training opportunities at
judicial facilities. This will help in enhancing skills and providing valuable
training in operational and service processes, for the university students.”
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Ghana
hospital inaugurates hospital rehab project backed by Saudi Fund for
Development
August
17, 2024
RIYADH:
Work on the Saudi-backed rehabilitation and expansion project of Ghana’s
Bolgatanga Regional Hospital has begun.
Ghana
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led the inauguration of the project on
Friday, with Saudi and other officials of the west African republic in
attendance, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Representing
the Kingdom were Saudi Ambassador Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Dakhil and Director
General Mohammed bin Adhan Al-Shammari of the Saudi Fund for Development's
Department of Africa Operations.
The
project is funded by SFD in two phases with a total value of $32 million
through two development loans, according to the report.
"The
project includes the construction and equipping of various buildings, including
specialized medical departments, emergency services, maternity and pediatric
wards, and emergency units. This aims to help reduce the spread of diseases and
epidemics and enhance the level of integrated healthcare," the report
added.
SFD has
supported 10 development projects and programs in Ghana through concessional
development loans amounting to over $124 million, aimed at enhancing sectors
such as education, health, transport, energy, and agriculture.
About
SFD
Since it
started operating in 1975 until the end of 2020, the SFD had provided 730
development loans to finance 692 development projects and programs for the
benefit of 84 developing countries worldwide, according to the Fund's website.
SFD has
also contributed to the signing of two financing agreements with the
International Development Association (IDA), with a total amount of SR905.01
(over $240 million), to bring the total amount provided by the SFD to SR69
billion (over $18.3 billion).
Many
countries in Africa have benefitted from the SDF's soft loans. During the
Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference in Riyadh last November, the Fund signed
14 new development loan agreements worth over $580 million with 12 African
ministers.
The
amount is to fund projects in healthcare, water, education, and transportation
sectors in Angola, Burkina Faso, Benin, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Guinea, Malawi,
Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
One of
SFD’s projects for the continent is the Saudi Program for Drilling of Wells and
Rural Development in Africa, which aims to sustain livelihoods by providing
sustainable access to water resources.
Among
the most enduring projects of this particular program are water wells in
Gambia's rural communities.
Safiya
Saidi, a 50-year-old Mandinka woman from Gambia who has served as a caretaker
of one of the SFD-funded water wells, said that her family and nearly 2,000
other residents of two villages had relied on the well for their water supply
for more than three decades.
"Most
people rely on this water well for years; it’s a source of water and food
security for all of them,” she said.
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Saudi
Arabia, Morocco sign MoU to enhance health cooperation
August
17, 2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday
to enhance cooperation on health, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi
Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel and Moroccan Minister of Health and Social
Protection Khalid Ait Taleb inked the accord in Rabat.
The MoU
aims to support and develop health services and exchange expertise, and it
covers therapeutic and preventive medicine, digital health, and pandemic
management, said the report.
A
statement by Morocco’s health ministry also said the accord calls for
cooperation on improving healthcare quality and patient safety, and in
combating pandemics and epidemics, including early detection and control
measures, as well as in scientific research in health and medicine, and
facilitates information exchange in telemedicine.
The MoU
will also “allow exploring opportunities for collaboration in blood services to
ensure the availability of safe and sufficient blood supplies in both
countries," said the statement, as reported by The Barlaman Today, a
Moroccan publication.
Moreover,
the MoU’s provisions will be implemented through an exchange of information and
expertise, organizing expert visits, conferences, and seminars, as well as
training in the health sector.
Minister
Ait Taleb briefed the Saudi delegation on Morocco’s extensive healthcare reform
initiatives, including efforts to expand social protection, achieve universal
health coverage, and advance the pharmaceutical and vaccine industries, the
statement added.
In
remarks to the media following the meeting, Al-Jalajel said that his visit to
Morocco “is part of the historical relations between the two brotherly
countries within the framework of joint Arab action.”
Al-Jalajel’s
meeting with his Moroccan counterpart was attended by Saudi Ambassador to
Morocco Sami bin Abdullah Alsaleh and an official delegation from the ministry,
including Assistant Deputy Health Minister Rakan Khalid bin Dohaish, in charge
of international collaboration affairs.
The
delegation visited several governmental and private institutions in Morocco,
including the National Institute of Health and a vaccine manufacturing plant,
during which opportunities for cooperation were explored and discussed.
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Saudi
minister attends inauguration of Dominican Republic president
August
17, 2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed El-Khereiji attended the
inauguration ceremony of President Luis Rodolfo Abinader, who was re-elected as
leader of the Dominican Republic in May.
Representing
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, El-Khereiji took part in the
ceremony on Friday in the capital Santo Domingo and conveyed the Saudi leaders’
best wishes to the president and the Dominican people.
A number
of regional dignitaries, including the leaders of Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay,
were also in attendance.
Abinader,
a former businessman, secured a second four-year term in May, gaining 58% of
the vote on a pro-business platform and a campaign against corruption. In an
address to guests at the National Theater, the 57-year-old promised a path of
economic growth and a set of social reforms for the North American country.
El-Khereiji
also attended a reception where he met the president and other Dominican
officials.
Saudi
Arabia and the Dominican Republic established diplomatic ties back in 2012 and
last year the island state supported the Kingdom’s winning bid to host Expo
2030 in the capital Riyadh.
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How
biodiesel could cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in Saudi
Arabia
August
16, 2024
RIYADH:
Although Saudi Arabia’s economy has long relied on oil and gas, the Kingdom is
setting its sights on a greener future, aiming to diversify its energy
resources and adopt sustainable practices for future generations.
One
promising solution to help Saudi Arabia achieve its green agenda is the
adoption of biodiesel — an alternative fuel that could significantly improve
air quality and help combat climate change.
“Biodiesel
has proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86 percent compared to
petroleum diesel, making it a key player in achieving global climate goals,”
the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory said in its recent “Biofuels and
Climate Change” report.
Biodiesel
is a renewable, biodegradable and clean-burning fuel derived from vegetable
oils such as soybean and algae, animal fats, or recycled cooking oils. It has
gained traction in Europe and the US as a sustainable alternative to
petroleum-based diesel, offering a viable path to cutting carbon emissions.
According
to the European Biodiesel Board, the EU is the world leader in producing and
using biodiesel, with nearly 200 plants producing about 13 million tonnes
annually.
This
shift is driven by biodiesel’s ability to release lower levels of harmful
chemicals, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, and
unburned hydrocarbons when combusted, making it a more environmentally friendly
option.
“The
adoption of biodiesel not only reduces harmful emissions but also enhances
energy security by decreasing reliance on imported fossil fuels,” David
Woollard, director of the EBB, said in the board’s 2023 annual report.
In Saudi
Arabia, the real estate development company Red Sea Global has taken a
pioneering step by adopting low-carbon biofuels for its delivery vehicles. The
biofuel used by RSG emits just 0.17 kilograms of carbon dioxide per liter,
compared with 2.7 kg per liter from traditional diesel.
This
significant reduction in emissions not only benefits the environment but also
has a positive effect on public health, because diesel exhaust is linked to
respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and many types of cancer.
By adopting
biodiesel, Saudi Arabia could set a new standard for green development, playing
a crucial role in balancing air pollution and mitigating climate change in the
region.
The UN
Sustainable Development Goals report on Saudi Arabia’s air pollution interventions
highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to stricter air emission standards,
improved vehicle inspections, and stronger enforcement of environmental codes.
However,
Saudi Arabia’s reliance on energy-intensive industries, such as desalination
and petrochemicals, presents challenges to its green development goals.
Trucks
and heavy vehicles are significant contributors to diesel emissions, making the
widespread adoption of biodiesel critical to reducing air pollution and
achieving the Vision 2030 sustainable development targets.
“Biodiesel
use in transport can significantly lower particulate matter emissions,
improving air quality and public health in urban areas,” according to the
International Council on Clean Transportation’s report on “Alternative Fuels for
Sustainable Transport.”
Globally,
many countries are transitioning from conventional diesel to biodiesel blends
to address the growing climate crisis.
In the
US, for instance, B20 — a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent
traditional diesel — has become a popular choice due to its balance of cost,
reduced emissions and compatibility with existing engines.
According
to the US Department of Energy, B20 can reduce particulate matter emissions and
greenhouse gases, as the carbon dioxide released during combustion is offset by
the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants used to produce biodiesel
For
Saudi Arabia, incorporating biodiesel into its energy mix could be a
significant step toward meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement on
climate change. The Kingdom aspires to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 and
reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by generating 50 percent of its electricity
from renewable sources.
Incorporating
biodiesel into the transportation sector, or even fully replacing traditional
diesel, would bring Saudi Arabia closer to these goals and demonstrate its
commitment to protecting the environment.
As the
Kingdom continues to diversify its energy mix and modernize its industries, the
adoption of biodiesel is likely to be a key component of its strategic planning
for a sustainable future.
Source: arabnews.com
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Minister
hails Saudi Arabia’s higher education milestone
August
16, 2024
RIYADH:
A total of 12 Saudi universities have secured positions among the world’s top
1,000 institutions in the prestigious 2024 Shanghai Ranking, marking a
significant milestone for the Kingdom’s higher education sector.
Saudi
Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan congratulated the Saudi leadership on the
achievement, praising its steadfast support for education, particularly at
university level.
Al-Benyan
said that this progress aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Human Capability
Development Program’s strategic objectives, and added: “This is to ensure the
development of the education and research system and to position Saudi
universities among the best globally.”
The
minister said that the University Affairs Council was working with the higher
education system and relevant bodies, with support from the leadership, to
guarantee that universities achieved the highest levels of excellence and
leadership in research and educational fields.
The
Kingdom’s King Saud University led the pack and was in 90th place globally,
surpassing the target set by the Human Capability Development Program in Saudi
Vision 2030.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi
aid agency concludes cochlear implant project in Turkiye
August
17, 2024
REHANLI:
The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has concluded a volunteer medical project for
ear, nose and throat operations and cochlear implants in Reyhanli, Turkiye.
The
project involved 21 volunteer medical professionals. The agency’s medical team
performed 41 surgical procedures during the campaign, all of which were
successful.
The
project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the
Kingdom through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist populations and
countries in need around the world.
Source: arabnews.com
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South Asia
BoltonFormer
US National Security Adviser: Foreign Terrorists Back InAfghanistan, US Aid To
Taliban Must Stop
August
16, 2024
John
Bolton, the former US national security adviser, recently claimed that foreign
terrorists have returned to Afghanistan. He argued that the United States
should stop providing assistance, warning of the potential threats this
situation poses.
In an
interview with Newsmax TV, Bolton criticized the agreement made by the Donald
Trump administration with the Taliban in February 2020. He stated that this
agreement excluded a legitimate government in Afghanistan and was doomed from
the start, as it was evident that the Taliban would not honor its commitments.
Bolton
further criticized the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, labeling it as
“catastrophic.” He pointed out that while the decision itself was flawed, the
Biden administration also failed in its implementation.
Bolton
expressed concern that foreign terrorist fighters have returned to Afghanistan
and have started launching attacks not just in the Middle East but also in
Europe. He even claimed that these fighters attempted an attack on three Taylor
Swift concerts recently.
Serving
as a former US ambassador to the United Nations, Bolton suggested that the
United States should prioritize isolating the Taliban regime. He emphasized
that the US should not be providing any assistance, whether directly or
indirectly, to the current regime in Kabul.
Bolton
mentioned that despite official claims, reports are suggesting that US funds
are still reaching agencies that assist the Taliban-led government. He
highlighted that the US contributes 22% of the UN’s assessed budget, which
might inadvertently be aiding the Taliban.
According
to Bolton, the Taliban is now harboring terrorist groups like Daesh and
al-Qaeda, which could pose significant threats to both Afghanistan and the
wider world. He warned that Afghanistan could once again become a refuge for
terrorists under the current regime.
John
Bolton’s remarks underscore a deep concern about the current situation in
Afghanistan, particularly regarding the resurgence of terrorism and the
unintended consequences of international aid. His criticisms reflect broader
anxieties about the effectiveness of US foreign policy in the region and the
potential risks posed by the Taliban’s governance.
Source: www.khaama.com
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Kamala
Harris appoints Afghan-American lawyer to strengthen ties with Muslim and Arab
communities
August
17, 2024
Kamala
Harris’s campaign has appointed Afghan-American lawyer Nasreen Barakzai as an
advisor on Muslim and Arab-American community affairs.
Barakzai
previously served as an advisor to the U.S. Vice President on various political
issues, including Muslim and Arab communities, the Gaza conflict, reproductive
rights, voting, and democracy.
According
to NBC News, Nasreen Barakzai worked as a political advisor in Kamala Harris’s
office from 2021 until July of this year.
Harris’s
campaign officials have confirmed that Barakzai will have similar
responsibilities in Kamala Harris’s campaign, focusing on engaging with Muslim
and Arab-American communities.
Many
Muslim Americans, especially Arabs, are dissatisfied with the Democratic Party
and Kamala Harris due to the Biden administration’s policies on Gaza and strong
support for Israel.
These communities
believe that Kamala Harris will continue Biden’s policies regarding Gaza and
Israel, which has led to discontent among them.
Barakzai’s
primary task in Harris’s campaign will be to engage and consult with Muslim and
Arab-American communities to garner their support for Harris’s campaign.
In a
statement from Harris’s campaign, Barakzai expressed her pride in continuing
her work with the Vice President, advising on key issues in this election,
including democracy, reproductive rights, and matters concerning Muslims and
Arabs.
Nasreen
Barakzai was born in 1979 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, during the Soviet invasion.
She fled to Pakistan with her family to escape the bombings when she was about
two years old.
After
three years in Pakistan, Barakzai resettled in the United States in 1985. She
graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law in 2005.
Before
joining the U.S. Vice President’s office in 2021, Barakzai worked as a legal
expert and national security attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU).
Barakzai
led projects on civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq and opposed
indefinite detention without legal process at Guantanamo Bay, which she called
“illegal” in 2008.
Nasreen
Barakzai’s diverse legal background and experience advocating for civil rights,
particularly in sensitive areas like Palestine-Israel relations and national
security, position her as a significant figure in Kamala Harris’s campaign. Her
role highlights the importance of engaging with Muslim and Arab-American
communities in the upcoming election.
Source: www.khaama.com
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Hamid
Khorasani: I stood against my entire ethnic group for the Taliban
August
16, 2024
The
former Taliban district governor of Ahmadabad in Paktia province, Abdul Hamid
Khorasani, says that when everyone in Panjshir was against the Taliban, he
stood against his own “ethnic group” and supported the Taliban.
Abdul
Hamid Khorasani stated that now the leadership of the Taliban is in the hands
of “one ethnic”, and others are treated like “servants.”
Abdul
Hamid Khorasani recently responded to comments made by Taliban spokesperson
Zabihullah Mujahid. Mujahid had described Khurasani as a “wanderer” and claimed
that he had no role in the Taliban administration.
In
response, Khorasani said: “At a time when the people of Panjshir were strongly
opposed to the Taliban, and it was impossible for them to fire even a single
bullet, I supported the Taliban and stood against my own people. Now that you
have gained power and control, you label me a wanderer while claiming ownership
of the house?”
Khorasani
also mentioned that before the Taliban entered Kabul, officials, including
Zabihullah Mujahid, asked him to take military actions in Panjshir. However,
now that they have seized power, they refer to him as a wanderer.
Previously,
Zabihullah Mujahid, in an interview with Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, stated that
Khurasani holds no position within the Taliban administration, and his
statements do not reflect the group’s views.
Khorasani,
despite once holding Taliban security roles, has been criticized for causing
tensions, with his actions drawing ire from both Afghanistan and neighboring
countries like Iran.
Abdul
Hamid Khorasani, originally from the Panjshir Valley, was a key figure during
the Taliban’s efforts to consolidate control over the region. Despite his
initial support for the Taliban, Khurasani has become increasingly vocal about
his dissatisfaction with the current leadership, particularly their
monopolization of power by a single group/ethnic, which he believes undermines
the unity and inclusivity of the movement.
Source: www.khaama.com
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Iran
imposes deadline for Afghan refugees to leave certain regions
August
16, 2024
Iran’s
Economic News Agency has reported that banners have been put up in various
areas of Fars Province, giving Afghan residents a two-month deadline to leave
these regions.
Previously,
an Afghan migrant from Isfahan also reported a similar deadline being posted in
the Koh-e Rah Haq region.
The
Iranian news agency mentioned that images of a banner warning homeowners in the
city of Tasuj and the villages of Dashtak and Vali Asr have been circulating on
social media.
These
banners instruct Afghan migrants to vacate their rented homes within two months
and return them to their owners. The banners also warn that legal action will
be taken against those who do not comply.
It
remains unclear who is responsible for putting up these banners. Images shared
on social media and Iranian news outlets show that in Vali Asr village, the
deadline for Afghan migrants to leave is set for October 22, while in Dashtak
village, they have until September 21 to vacate.
This
situation highlights ongoing human rights violations, as Afghan refugees in
Iran and Pakistan face increasing pressure, forced deportation, and a lack of
protection. Despite the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, both countries
continue to forcibly deport Afghan refugees, raising serious concerns about
their safety and well-being.
The
forced deportations amid such a crisis violate international human rights
obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits
returning individuals to a country where they may face serious harm.
The
actions of Iran and Pakistan not only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in
Afghanistan but also place thousands of vulnerable people at risk as they are
forced to return to a country struggling with conflict, poverty, and
instability.
The
international community must urgently address these violations to protect the
rights and lives of Afghan refugees.
Source: www.khaama.com
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US to
Taliban: Afghanistan’s airspace control is your problem, not ours
August
16, 2024
The
United States Department of Defense stated on Thursday that the Taliban
government’s inability to control Afghanistan’s airspace is an issue for them
to address, not the responsibility of the United States.
Deputy
Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh highlighted in a press briefing that the
“over-the-horizon” program is an effective way for the U.S. to monitor and
manage activities in Afghanistan.
The
Taliban officials have repeatedly accused the U.S. of violating Afghanistan’s
airspace by flying drones without permission.
Reports
have emerged of American drones patrolling the skies over Kandahar, Kapisa,
Kabul, Badakhshan, Panjshir, Nimroz, Herat, and several other provinces in
Afghanistan.
The
Taliban have accused Pakistan of allowing American aircraft to enter Afghan
airspace.
Singh
responded to these accusations by saying, “That seems like a problem for them,
not for us.” She reiterated that the U.S. over-the-horizon capabilities are
indeed effective.
After
withdrawing from Afghanistan, the U.S. government stated that it would monitor
terrorist activities in Afghanistan through aerial surveillance. As part of
this plan, the U.S. military has enhanced its capability to monitor, control,
and, if necessary, strike terrorist targets in the region.
Recently,
John Bolton, the former US national security adviser, claimed that foreign
terrorists have returned to Afghanistan and the US must stop aiding the group.
Despite
criticism from experts who believe that terrorist groups like al-Qaeda are
re-establishing themselves in Afghanistan, the Pentagon’s deputy spokesperson
reiterated on Thursday that the U.S. over-the-horizon program has been
successful in combating terrorism in Afghanistan.
Source: www.khaama.com
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CPJ:
Remaining Media Outlets in Afghanistan driven to the brink
August
16, 2024
On the
third anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, the Committee to
Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the group to halt the “unprecedented
destruction of Afghanistan’s media and the brutal repression of journalists.”
The CPJ
expressed concern that the Taliban has driven the few remaining media outlets
in the country to the brink of collapse.
In a
statement released on August 14, the CPJ reported that over the past year, the
Taliban has detained 16 Afghan and foreign journalists, shut down four radio
and television stations, banned one media outlet, and suspended the licenses of
14 others.
They
also noted that at least one detained journalist had been severely beaten.
The
CPJ’s Asia Program Coordinator stated, “The gross injustices committed by the
Taliban are symbolic of their regime. The brutal crackdown has pushed the few
remaining media outlets in Afghanistan to the edge.” She urged global countries
to facilitate the resettlement of journalists.
The CPJ
also highlighted that the Taliban’s restrictions on women working in media had
created a “hostile” environment, forcing many Afghan journalists to flee to
neighboring countries.
Earlier,
Reporters Without Borders and the Afghanistan Journalists Center also voiced
concerns over the state of journalism and media under Taliban rule.
These
international bodies have underscored the dire situation facing journalists in
Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for international support and intervention to
safeguard press freedom and the rights of media workers in the country.
Source: www.khaama.com
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Bamyan
celebrates Victory Day with running competitions
August
17, 2024
The
Physical Education and Sports Department of Bamyan Province organized a series
of running competitions, bringing together 350 athletes. The event was held in
honor of the country’s third-anniversary victory, showcasing the commitment of
Bamyan’s sports sector to promoting fitness and unity. The races were conducted
under the supervision of professional coaches and sports officials, ensuring a
fair and well-organized competition. Participants exhibited outstanding
athleticism and sportsmanship, making the event memorable for athletes and spectators
alike. The winners were awarded medals and certificates, recognizing their hard
work and dedication to the sport. In addition to promoting physical fitness,
the event also aimed to foster a sense of national pride and unity among the
people of Bamyan. The timing of the competitions, coinciding with the third
anniversary of the country’s independence, highlighted the importance of sports
in bringing people together and celebrating national milestones. The running
competitions in Bamyan were a resounding success, reflecting the province’s
growing interest in sports and physical activities. The event not only
encouraged healthy lifestyles but also strengthened community bonds, leaving a
lasting impact on the participants and the local population. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/terrorism-extremism-continue-global-summit/d/132971