TV news loves ‘Hindu-Muslim’; politicians are feeding the content this election season
New Age Islam News Bureau
14 Nov 2024
Representational image | PTI File photo
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· TV news loves ‘Hindu-Muslim’; politicians are feeding the content this election season
· Wrong teaching of Islamic studies contributed to emergence of Boko Haram – Gov Zulum
· MKI declares GISBH teachings deviant and against Islamic beliefs
· Protection of freedom of expression essential for Bangladesh’s democratic future
· UN Security Council condemns attacks on peacekeeping forces in Lebanon
· Saudi crown prince, Russia’s Putin discuss Ukraine war during call
· Man convicted of rioting tried to blow up a mosque
· Why Canada could become the next nuclear energy 'superpower'
· 'Final call': Imran Khan urges PTI supporters to march to Islamabad on Nov 24
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India
· JMM-led alliance encouraged 'love jihad', 'land-jihad' in Jharkhand: Anurag Thakur
· Congress leader Khadri's remark sparks debate on why Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism and not Islam
· 'Will prevent state govts from punishing Muslims': Owaisi on SC order on 'bulldozer justice'
· 'No Muslim quota even if your...': Union Minister Amit Shah's scathing attack on LoP Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra
· 'Even if Indira Gandhi returns from heaven ... ': What Amit Shah said on Article 370 and Muslim reservation
· Delhi Waqf case: Court refuses to take cognisance of chargesheet against Amanatullah Khan
· Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces launch search operation in Kulgam after inputs about militants' presence
· Not associated with 'The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show': Salman Khan's representative on legal notice
· Razakars did burn down our house, can't hold Muslims responsible: Priyank Kharge
· Proposal for Muslim quota in initial stage: Minister Parameshwara
· Facing Flak For 'Muslim Appeasement', Karnataka's Siddaramaiah Govt Plans Aid For Vaishno Devi Pilgrims
· Vikrant Massey reveals how his Christian father, Sikh mother, Muslim brother celebrate all festivals
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Africa
· Islamic financing rises to $3.8b, says NAICOM chief
· “NAHCON Is Very Dirty” – Reps Committee Tackles Agency Over ₦90bn 2024 Hajj Exercise ‘Scam’
· No end in sight to Sudan war as both sides seek ‘decisive’ win
· Fulani has no hand in Kebbi attack – Miyetti Allah
· Ondo Elections: IGP Deploys DIG Alabi To Lead Security Efforts, Enforces Movement Restrictions
· Lakurawa Terrorists Flee Kebbi As Troops Intensify Onslaught
· Lagbaja Was One Of The Best, He Has Been Called To A Higher Level – NSA Ribadu
· Ex-Minister Slams Keyamo Over New MRO Project, Calls For Revival Of Akwa Ibom Abandoned Facility
· Ondo 2024: Appeal Court Sacks Labour Party Gov Candidate, Ebiseni
· NNPC Subsidiary Signs Gas Supply Agreement With Dangote Refinery
· Protests: It Is Not A Criminal Offence To Hoist Foreign Flags – Falana
· Army Accuses IPOB, ESN Of Killing 2 Soldiers In Abia
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Southeast Asia
· Singapore Islamic college could help madrasah students pursue higher religious education locally
· Over 200 foreign children, guardians at Baitul Mahabbah, Dewan Rakyat told
· Perak KPDN seizes 1,725 litres of diesel worth RM58,577.75 for subsidy abuse
· Man caught transporting RM2m worth of meth paid just RM100, says Bukit Aman after Slim River drug bust
· Sedition Act stays for now, but National Security Bill in the works, says deputy home minister
· Swim coach charged with sexually assaulting five-year-old boy in Sentul
· Amir Hamzah: Contrary to rumours, no cut to Sabah’s electricity subsidy, federal support remains strong
· Over RM12.8b in unclaimed money still waiting for its rightful owners, finance minister II calls for action
· PM Anwar calls for stronger ties with Peru, Global South, highlights untapped potential
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South Asia
· Snub To Mujibur Rahman, 'Secular' Word Out Of Constitution: Bangladesh To Become Islamic Nation Soon?
· 15th amendment ruined democracy
· 4 die in pickup, autorickshaw collision
· Wounded protesters withdraw after 4 advisers meet them
· IEA delegation returns home as Telecommunication Conference concludes in India
· Islamic Art and Civilization Exhibition Highlights Afghanistan’s Historical Legacy at National Museum
· Voice and Data Prices Reduced as Ministry Sets New Telecom Price Ceilings
· Da Afghanistan Bank Hosts National Microfinance Conference to Strengthen Sector Coordination
· Afghanistan Science Academy Hosts Seminar on Sustainable Water Resource Management
· New Medical Equipment Worth 20 Million AFN Enhances Services at Khost Hospital
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Mideast
· Israel’s ban on UN agency for Palestinian refugees will have ‘catastrophic consequences’
· Israel wants freedom to strike Lebanon even after ceasefire, France says
· Six Israeli troops killed in south Lebanon combat: army
· Israeli forces kill 22 people in Gaza, force new displacement in the north
· Israeli airforce bombs Syria-Lebanon border
· Palestinian Islamic Jihad releases propaganda video of hostage Sasha Trufanov
· How Syrians in war-torn Lebanon are coping with double displacement
· Why is only limited aid getting to Palestinians inside Gaza?
· Erdogan still hopes to meet Assad to repair Turkiye-Syria ties, CNN Turk reports
· Iraqi Islamic Resistance claims strikes on “vital targets” in northern Israel
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Arab World
· Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation
· Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month
· Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy
· Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future
· Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum
· Arabic Language Month begins in Thailand
· Winners of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water honored in Vienna
· Saudi Arabia’s transport authority suspends 3 apps for violations
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Europe
· Stories from the east: how William Morris was influenced by Islamic manuscripts
· Ambulance patients killed in Haiti attack, charity says
· West looking at ‘land for peace’ in Ukraine – WaPo
· Newport man, 43, who smashed mosque window sentenced
· Rioting ex-soldier tried to blow up Hanley mosque
· Open day at central mosque in Tallow Hill, Worcester
· Prosecutor seeks jail and election ban for Le Pen
· Russia sends military instructors to Equatorial Guinea - reports
· French headteacher describes spiral of events that led to teacher's beheading
· Málaga evacuates thousands as Spain issues more flood alerts
· Mexican city's security chief held over mayor's beheading
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North America
· Trump's 'anti-woke' defence pick surprises Washington - here's why
· Trump has full control of government - but he won't always get his way
· Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump takes office
· What White House picks tell us about Trump 2.0
· Hilliard council members question city's motive after Islamic Center zone plan denied
· Why is Elon Musk becoming Donald Trump's efficiency tsar?
· Authorities say US man faked kayaking death and fled to Europe
· John Thune elected new Republican Senate leader
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Pakistan
· Security forces kill 12 terrorists in Miran Shah, Kech IBOs
· Security beefed up on roads leading to Karachi airport
· Constitutional bench commences pending cases' hearing
· Pakistan pushes for fulfilment of previous climate pledges at COP29 summit
· ‘BLA ringleader’ among 16 killed in operations across KP, Balochistan
· Nawaz rues past mistakes that cost the country dearly
· PIA to facilitate 35,000 Haj pilgrims next year
· ADR falls to 37pc, IDR reaches 94pc
· Sole PIA bid formally rejected, case sent back to cabinet
· Balochistanprioritises security with new action plan
· Stricter entry rules for visitors at Karachi airport planned
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/tv-news-hindu-muslim-politicians-election-season/d/133712
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TV news loves ‘Hindu-Muslim’; politicians are feeding the content this election season
SHAILAJA BAJPAI
14 November, 2024
Representational image | PTI File photo
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In this season of elections, you have heard and read many slogans—which one will you choose?
Actually, there’s little to choose between them: All of them seek to consolidate the Hindu or the Muslim, the caste, class or creed vote behind a particular political party.
In much of the news media, and especially across television news and social media, the communal pitch makes the headlines most frequently. ‘Vote Jihad’ and ‘Dharam Yudh’ have been trending on both since 9 November, when Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis used the terms to attack AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
Is this the main issue facing the electorate in Maharashtra and Jharkhand or does TV news deliberately highlight it? Hard to judge.
What’s true is that you can’t get away from it. As we saw in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, communalism is the ‘toolkit’ of the poll campaigns in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and the Uttar Pradesh by-polls.
First, there’s ‘BatengetohKatenge’, and if you don’t fancy that, how about the other way around— ‘KatengetohBatenge’? The former is Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s clarion call since the Lok Sabha results, where the BJP performed well below expectations.
The Indian Express commented on it this week: “In the wake of the Lok Sabha poll results, Adityanath appears to have increasingly hardened his Hindutva stance…The CM’s “Batenge to katenge” slogan has gained currency and has been endorsed by the RSS too.’’ The slogan generated controversy—and even TV news debates.
By the way, a variation of this is making the rounds: ‘Na BatengenaKatenge’? or, ‘Na KatengenaBatenge’. Uff, really?
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav then coined his own motto: ‘Judenge to Jeetenge’.BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan liked it enough to use it during the Jharkhand Assembly poll campaign but with a little personal touch: ‘Judenge to Jeetenge, Bhikrenge to Barbaad ho Jayenge’.
Moving on to a different theme, how do you feel about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite campaign catchphrase, ‘Ek Hain toh Safe Hain’? The BJP likes it a lot, so much so that this week, it has used the slogan in advertisements across the front page of newspapers in Maharashtra, which will vote to elect a new assembly on 20 November. The party is banking on what the slogan promotes—unity and oneness—to help see it safely home to power in the state.
Dharma yudh and vote jihad
The slogan slugfest could have remained simply a ‘poster war’, as several Hindi news channels called it, if not for the constant fuel added by politicians and parts of the news media.
Sunday saw the release of the BJP manifesto for Maharashtra—several news channels highlighted the promise of an anti-conversion law.
On Monday, terms like ‘dharamyudh’ and ‘vote jihad’ hit the headlines on Hindi news channels, after Fadnavis had this to say during a campaign speech: “I request you all that if they are coming here and sloganeering for vote jihad, then we can wage a religious war—dharma yudh.” Owaisi was all over the place condemning Fadnavis for it. It was framed as ‘Fadnavis v/s Owaisi’ (Times Now Navbharat) across channels, prime time debates on Republic TV tackling topics like ‘Hindu unity v/s divisive pitch’.
Zee News took the religious theme to another level by reporting that one Islamic cleric, Tauqeer Raza, had said Muslims would lay siege to Delhi and take to the streets, at a meeting in Jaipur on 10 November—‘Maulanas are active, hyperactive…’ said a Zee News anchor. He then proceeded to debate Raza’s comments on the show titled Tal Thok Ke.
Then there was PM Modi. In his campaign speeches, he promised, “Ek hai to safe hai” and spoke about ‘anti-nationals’, ‘tukdetukde’ gangs (remember them?), and ‘divisive forces’. NDTV 24×7 said the BJP was working toward ‘Hindu consolidation’ – “…the PM is for caste unity”.
On Tuesday afternoon, the news channels gave the microphone to Yogi Adityanath and emphasised his comments against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who had criticised the CM for wearing saffron robes and his politics. They headlined the most communal part of his comments— Adityanath reminding Kharge how “Hyderabad Nizam’s Razakars burned down his village in 1948, killing his mother and sister.’’ Times Now Navbharat did an entire show on Razakars on Wednesday.
And thus, it went on and on—Hindu Muslim, Muslim-Hindu.
Only religious campaign
There’s nothing new in any of this—each time an election comes around, the political playbook goes to communal issues.
There are many other subjects that come up during the campaign, many of which are captured by the news media in their ground reporting. On News18 India, people in Jalna, Maharashtra, spoke about water. On Aaj Tak’s ‘Helicopter Shot’, the public spoke of farming issues, among others.
However, the big picture is a ‘dharma yudh’. The surprise is that this openly religious campaign hasn’t been stopped by the Election Commission of India.
Source:theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://theprint.in/opinion/telescope/tv-news-loves-hindu-muslim-politicians-are-feeding-the-content-this-election-season/2355115/
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Wrong teaching of Islamic studies contributed to emergence of Boko Haram – Gov Zulum
November 13, 2024
By Shehu Usman
The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum says the improper teaching of Islamic studies has contributed to the emergence of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
Zulum stated this while declaring open a summit on reforming the Almajiri Education System in Borno on Wednesday.
He noted that the summit is aimed at reforming the Almajiri education system, a traditional Islamic method of learning widely obtained across states in northern Nigeria.
He said to curtail the adverse effects associated with Almajiri education; Borno State Government has established the Arabic and Sangaya Education Board, introducing a unified curriculum for Sangaya and Islamic schools.
“The Sangaya Reform is a great development and will give Almajiri a better chance in life, particularly the introduction of integrating western education, vocational, numeracy and literacy skills into the centres, which are also described as Almajiri and Islamic schools,” Zulum said.
He added, “Distinguished guests and esteemed educationists, the government intends to streamline the informal and formal education systems to quality integrated Sangaya school for admission into colleges and universities.”
”This summit provides a platform for participants to discuss issues, share insights and propose actionable solutions to the challenges faced by the Almajiri education system.
Source:dailypost.ng
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://dailypost.ng/2024/11/13/wrong-teaching-of-islamic-studies-contributed-to-emergence-of-boko-haram-gov-zulum/
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MKI declares GISBH teachings deviant and against Islamic beliefs
BERNAMA
14-11- 2024
Pix for visual purposes – BERNAMApix
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PUTRAJAYA: The Muzakarah Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia (MKI) today declared that the teachings, beliefs, and ideology of GISB Holdings SdnBhd (GISBH) are deviant and stray from Islamic teachings.
MKI Muzakarah Committee chairman, Datuk Dr. Nooh Gadut, stated that the committee, which convened from Sept 24-26, is convinced and satisfied with the arguments and evidence presented by the researchers regarding GISBH.
He explained that the teachings propagated by Nasiruddin Mohd Ali from GISBH, along with his followers or anyone connected to the company, firm, organisation, association, or group associated with it, or anyone else displaying characteristics of deviation, are considered deviant and as straying from Islamic teachings.
The teachings promoted by GISBH include claims that Asy-Syeikh Muhammad Abdullah As-Suhaimi, or Syeikh Muhammad Suhaimi, is the Imam Mahdi, and Asaari Muhammad will appear alongside Asy-Syeikh Muhammad Abdullah As-Suhaimi/Syeikh Muhammad Suhaimi as his assistant at the end of time.
“Asaari bin Muhammad is believed to be able to grant intercession (syafaat) to his followers, while the water used to wash the leader’s body parts, as well as water used to soak his hair and beard, is considered blessed,“ he added.
“(GISBH also) practises a ma’ash economy, characterised by elements of enslavement, where the company fully covers the followers’ needs, and in return, they are required to serve voluntarily without any payment,“ he said in a statement today.
He further stated that GISBH also practisesAuradMuhammadiah, a form of zikir agung (ritual prayer or litany) that has been declared deviant by a fatwa.
Therefore, he urged that people avoid these teachings, beliefs, and ideologies, and be prohibited from adhering to, believing in, teaching, spreading, practicing, or becoming their followers or agents.
“Anyone who adheres to, believes in, teaches, spreads, practises, or becomes a follower of these teachings, beliefs, and ideology must sincerely repent,“ he said.
He added that the MKI has recommended that relevant government agencies at the federal and state levels assist in carrying out the process of istitabah (repentance) and provide the necessary funding for this purpose.
He stated that the public is prohibited from possessing, storing, selling, uploading, downloading, spreading, distributing, displaying, or publishing any posters, books, magazines, pamphlets, or other reading materials—whether printed, typed, handwritten, or produced in any form or reproduction—including any films, audiovisual recordings, websites, print media, or electronic media that contain elements of the teachings, beliefs, and ideologies of GISBH.
Meanwhile, he said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) has submitted the legal opinion on this matter to MKI chairman, Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, and subsequently to the 267th Conference of Rulers held on Oct 23 and 24.
“In this regard, the Council has taken note of the legal opinion that has been approved, and state authorities may consider this decision for the purpose of enacting the fatwa in their respective states,“ he said.
Source:thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/malaysia-news/mki-declares-gisbh-teachings-deviant-and-against-islamic-beliefs-II13285638
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Protection of freedom of expression essential for Bangladesh’s democratic future
Nov 14, 2024
The US state department has said upholding and protecting the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly for all Bangladeshis is necessary to ensure a true democratic future of the country.
The US supports the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association for all, including dissenting and opposition voices, Vedant Patel, a state department spokesperson, told a press briefing on Tuesday.
"These freedoms, in our point of view, are essential elements of any democracy," he said in Washington DC.
He made the comments when asked about his take on a recent November 10 incident in which Awami League activists were not allowed to hold a rally in Dhaka. He was also asked what message the US has for the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Asked about the recent cancellation of press accreditation cards, including that of the AP bureau chief in Bangladesh, Patel said he had not seen reports on it, adding that it would be unfortunate if it was true.
"It is our strong point of view that an engaged free press is vital to covering any situation, including, of course, the situation in Bangladesh.
"Press freedom and media freedom is important to the president, important to the secretary, and we would encourage and want to ensure that the rights and freedoms of all journalists are being appropriately respected."
Source:thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/protection-freedom-expression-essential-bangladeshs-democratic-future-3752011
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UN Security Council condemns attacks on peacekeeping forces in Lebanon
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
November 14, 2024
Members of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force sit on the side of a road at the site of an Israeli strike at the northern entrance of the southern city of Sidon, on November 7, 2024. (AFP)
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NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned attacks in southern Lebanon in recent weeks in which several UN peacekeeping troops have been injured.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon continues to monitor hostilities in the south of the country along the demarcation line separating it from Israel. A year of skirmishes between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters in border areas have escalated into fierce clashes in the past month.
Israel accuses the UN peacekeeping forces of providing cover for Hezbollah and has told UNIFIL to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon for their own safety. The international force has refused to comply, instead vowing to remain and carry out its mandate along the Blue Line of demarcation between the two countries, which was established by the UN in June 2000. It has issued several warnings that the Israeli army’s “deliberate and direct destruction of clearly identifiable UNIFIL property is a flagrant violation of international law” and UN resolutions.
Without mentioning Israel by name, the 15 members of the UN Security Council on Wednesday urged all parties involved in the conflict to take all possible steps to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and facilities, and said peacekeepers must never be the target of attacks.
The council reiterated its “full support” for UNIFIL, underscored “its role in supporting regional stability,” and expressed “deep appreciation” to the countries that contribute troops to the force.
Council members also expressed “deep concern for civilian casualties and suffering, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the damage to cultural heritage sites in Lebanon, and endangerment of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Baalbeck and Tyre, and the rising number of internally displaced people.”
They called on “all parties” to abide by international humanitarian law and fully implement Security Council resolutions.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579222/middle-east
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Saudi crown prince, Russia’s Putin discuss Ukraine war during call
November 13, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed developments in the war in Ukraine during a phone call, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Saudi-Russian relations and efforts made to intensify them were praised during the call. Cooperation between the two countries in various fields was also discussed.
Prince Mohammed and Putin also discussed a number of issues and topics of common interest, SPA said.
Source:arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579180/saudi-arabia
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Man convicted of rioting tried to blow up a mosque
13 NOV 2024
A man who pleaded guilty to taking part in disorder over the summer previously tried to blow up a mosque, it has emerged.
Simon Beech, 36, of Chell Heath, appeared at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday after being involved in riots in Hanley on 3 August.
He is due to be sentenced on 25 November.
In December 2011 he and another man, Garreth Foster, were sentenced to 10 years in prison for deliberately setting fire to Hanley’s Regent Road mosque.
Amjid Wazir, the chairman of City Central Mosque, said Beech did not seem to have learned any lessons after his previous crime.
In 2011, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Beech and Foster ran a pipe into the mosque from a nearby gas meter in a bid to spark an explosion.
The building suffered damage put at £50,000 as a result of the fire.
Beech told the court during the 2011 trial that he had been a member of the English Defence League and the British National Party, but said he was not racist and did not believe his views to be extreme.
Disorder spread across the UK during the summer partly due to false claims online about the alleged perpetrator involved in the murder of three girls in Southport in July.
Mr Wazir praised the actions by police and the legal system to bring those responsible to justice.
"When the riots were happening in Stoke, and elsewhere in the country, people were so scared of going out," he said.
"They were worried, they were nervous."
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3de0rdzv89o
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Why Canada could become the next nuclear energy 'superpower'
Nadine Yousif
14 NOV 2024
Uranium is making a comeback thanks to a renewed focus on nuclear energy as a climate crisis solution. Canada, rich with high-grade deposits, could become a nuclear “superpower”. But can its potential be realised?
Leigh Curyer had been working in uranium mining for nearly two decades when he noticed a striking shift.
In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan badly damaged the world's view of nuclear power, and the price for the heavy metal - a critical component for nuclear fuel - cratered.
But the last five years has seen a reversal, with the global price of uranium spiking by more than 200%one of this year's top-performing commodities.
MrCuryer, an Australian-born businessman, credits this to a changing attitude that began soon after Microsoft founder Bill Gates touted nuclear energy as “ideal for dealing with climate change” in 2018.
Four years later, then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushed forward a policy of generating at least 25% of the country’s energy from nuclear.
Shortly after, the European Union voted to declare nuclear energy climate-friendly.
These events were “catalytic” for the uranium industry and a turning point for MrCuryer's company NexGen, which is behind the largest in-development uranium mine in Canada.
His phone began to ring with calls from investors worldwide - something that “had never happened in my previous 17 years in the industry”, he said.
NexGen, whose project is located in Canada's remote, uranium-rich Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, is now worth nearly $4bn (£2.98bn), despite the fact that the mine won’t be commercially operational until at least 2028.
If fully cleared by regulators, NexGen’s project alone could push Canada to become the world’s largest producer of uranium over the coming decade, knocking Kazakhstan out of the number one spot.
Other companies have also rushed to Saskatchewan to capitalise on the boom, starting their own exploration projects in the region, while existing players re-opened dormant mines.
With its rich resources, Canada’s mining companies see the country playing a major role in the future of nuclear energy, meeting a demand for uranium that is poised to rise after nearly two dozen countries committed in COP28 climate conference to tripling their nuclear energy output by 2050.
Nuclear energy is often hailed for its low carbon emissions compared to other sources like natural gas or coal.
The World Nuclear Association estimates that 10% of power generated worldwide comes from nuclear sources, while more than 50% is still generated by gas or coal.
At this year's COP29, the focus has been on ramping up funding for nuclear projects in the wake of a recent UN report indicating that current policies and investments fall short of what is needed to slow global temperature rise.
Canada’s role in supplying the commodity is made more urgent by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly for the US, which had relied heavily on Russian-supplied enriched uranium to fire up its commercial nuclear reactors.
MrCuryer believes his mine could prove to be “absolutely critical” to America’s nuclear energy future, as the US is now hunting for alternatives to Russia, including by ramping up exploration on its own soil.
Uranium can be found around the world, though it is heavily present in Canada, Australia and Kazakhstan.
But what makes Canada’s Athabasca Region unique is that its uranium is especially high grade, said Markus Piro, a professor of nuclear engineering at McMaster University.
Canada has set strict rules for the sale of its uranium to other countries, Prof Piro said, and mandates it only be used for nuclear power generation.
The country is also referred to as a “tier-one nuclear nation”, he said, due to its capability to produce nuclear fuel from the mining to the manufacturing stage.
Once mined, uranium is milled to produce what is called calcined yellowcake, and then enriched, either at facilities in Canada or overseas, to create fuel for nuclear reactors.
“We’ve got a one-stop shop here in Canada, not every nation’s like that,” Prof Piro said.
Canada is currently the world’s second largest producer of uranium, accounting for roughly 13% of the total global output, according to the Canadian government. NexGen anticipates that once its mine is operational, it will boost that to 25%.
Meanwhile, Cameco, which has been mining uranium in Saskatchewan since 1988 that supplies 30 nuclear reactors around the world, re-opened two of its mines in late 2022 to increase output.
CEO Tim Gitzel told the BBC that he believes “Canada could be a nuclear superpower around the world”.
But enthusiasm around nuclear energy is not without its critics.
Some environmental groups worry nuclear projects are too costly and come with timelines that do not meet the urgency of the climate crisis.
Data from the UK-based World Nuclear Association shows that 60 nuclear reactors are under construction across 16 countries, most of them in China, and a further 110 are in the planning stages.
Some are expected to come online this year - others won’t be ready until at least the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, more than 100 nuclear plants have been closed in the last two decades around the world, including New York State’s sole nuclear power plant, which was retired in 2021 due to high operating costs and environmental and safety concerns.
Plants were also shuttered in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Quebec, Canada.
And not all of Canada is on board with the country’s uranium industry.
British Columbia sits on its own supply of uranium but has not allowed any nuclear plants or uranium mines to operate in the province since 1980.
Critics have also expressed concern about radioactive waste nuclear reactors leave behind for future generations.
Others fear another Fukushima-scale disaster, where a tsunami disabled three reactors, causing the release of highly radioactive materials and forcing mass evacuations.
“The risk is not zero, that is for sure” though t can be reduced, said Prof Piro.
“Even though amongst the general public there are mixed feelings about it, the reality is that it has produced very safe, very reliable and affordable electricity worldwide.”
The industry maintains the technology is both promising and viable.
Mr Gitzel of Cameco said the industry has learned from past safety errors.
“And the public is buying on,” he said. “I can tell you that we have in Canada great public support for nuclear power.”
A 2023 Ipsos poll indicates that 55% of Canadians support nuclear energy.
Still, past uranium booms in Canada have turned into dramatic busts.
North of NexGen’s proposed mine stands Uranium City, once home to 2,500 residents in its mid-20th Century heyday. In 1982, a major local mining firm shuttered operations over high costs and a soft market for uranium.
Now, Uranium City’s population is 91 people.
But investors argue that there is a true global burgeoning demand for the commodity that poses a golden opportunity for Canada.
NexGen anticipates that construction on its mine - which is awaiting clearance from Canada’s federal nuclear regulator - will begin early next year.
Mr Gitzel says around 100 other companies are now actively exploring Saskatchewan for deposits.
As to when it will be on the market remains unclear.
Mr Gitzel cautioned that some companies have started explorations in the past that never reached production stage. The timeline to get mining projects approved in Canada can also be lengthy.
“Building a mine is going to take five to 10 years, and so far, the only ones in operation are ours, so we will wait and see how it plays out,” he said.
For MrCuryer, it is crucial that his project and others are realised in the next four years, for both Canada and the world.
“Otherwise, there is going to be a shortage in uranium, and that will subsequently impact power prices,” he said.
Source:bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yjnkgz0djo
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'Final call': Imran Khan urges PTI supporters to march to Islamabad on Nov 24
By Web Desk
November 13, 2024
Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has announced a protest march to Islamabad on November 24, his lawyer and sister said on Wednesday.
"Imran Khan says this is the final call for a [anti-government] protest. The PTI founder has stressed that the party's entire leadership will be part of the march," lawyer Faisal Chaudhry told reporters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
The protest will not only take place in Islamabad, but throughout Pakistan and across the world where Imran's supporters are present, Chaudhry said.
The lawyer said that the party founder had also formed a committee for the march and asked not to reveal the names of those who are part of it as Imran fears they'll be arrested.
All party leaders are aware of their responsibilities, the lawyer said, adding that the committee would have the authority to call off the protest — ensuring that no single person calls the shots.
There was much disappointment, as previously said by PTI leader Ali Zafar, when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ended the Swabi rally without a date for the protest. This added to the existing frustration of the workers who were part of the Islamabad protest last month, which ended abruptly.
The lawyer further added that KP CM Gandpur would also lead a convoy from the province on the PTI founder's directions.
Detailing the demands of the protest, Chaudhry said that the party demands the withdrawal of the contentious 26th Constitutional Amendment, "return of PTI's mandate", and release of workers who are in jails without trials.
Before this announcement, sources had informed The News that although the PTI founder demanded a date for do-or-die ultimate protest and possible sit-in in Islamabad, he was being persuaded by the party's senior leaders it may backfire if such a protest is announced without proper planning and considering all pros and cons.
Meanwhile, two days back, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political And Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah had warned that the PTI founder was "mistreating" his party workers and supporters by giving a "do-or-die" protest call, warning that it could lead to a crackdown on them.
Aleema, Imran's sister, informed reporters in Rawalpindi that the PTI founder has called for a nationwide protest. The PTI founder has urged supporters to come out for the protest in Islamabad, she said.
"He also told Pakistanis to decide whether they wanted to live under martial law or enjoy freedom," she said, adding that Imran's message was directed at farmers, lawyers, civil society, and students.
Imran, she said, has asked them to come out on the streets and demand their rights, judicial protection, rule of law, and the return of the party's "stolen mandate".
Aleema said that on February 8, when the general elections were staged, the public came out for democracy, and voted against the system of oppression.
On February 9, she added, the people's mandate was stolen and a few individuals were handed power. She also added that the 26th Constitutional Amendment had set the stage for a ten-year-long martial law.
Now, she said, Imran is calling on the nation, farmers, lawyers, civil society, overseas Pakistanis, and students to rise for their future. Source:
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Source:thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1250581-final-call-imran-khan-urges-pti-supporters-to-march-to-islamabad-on-nov-24
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India
JMM-led alliance encouraged 'love jihad', 'land-jihad' in Jharkhand: Anurag Thakur
14.11.24
BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Thursday accused the JMM-led alliance of encouraging "love jihad" and "land jihad" in Jharkhand in the past five years.
He also alleged that the demography of the state is changing now.
Speaking to media persons at the BJP office in Ranchi, Thakur alleged that instead of people's welfare, "jihad" welfare was being carried out in the state.
"The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has given love jihad and land jihad to the state in past five years. Instead of people's welfare, the government carried out jihad welfare", Thakur, a former Union minister alleged.
He alleged that the promises made to the people five years back by the government were not fulfilled and people of the state were feeling cheated.
"The government indulged in loot of Jal, Jungle, Jamin (water, land and forest). The poor people's ration, land, mines and mineral resources were looted here", he said.
Thakur claimed that the people of the state have decided to vote against the loot and give a befitting reply to the alliance government here.
He claimed that the Hemant-led government had promised to provide five lakh jobs to youth five years back.
"The youths were not given jobs but they (JMM-led alliance) played with their future. Exam papers were leaked. The government also promised to give unemployment allowance but it was also not fulfilled", he alleged.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/anurag-thakur-jmm-led-alliance-encouraged-love-jihad-land-jihad-in-jharkhand/cid/2063178
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Congress leader Khadri's remark sparks debate on why Dr Ambedkar embraced Buddhism and not Islam
November 13, 2024
Former Congress MLA Syed Azeempeer Khadri stirred a row by claiming Dr B.R. Ambedkar had considered converting to Islam before finally embracing Buddhism. While Khadri’s election speech during the Adi Jambava (SC) convention at Shiggaon was a bid to woo the Dalit voters towards the Congress candidate Yasir Pathan, it triggered a political slugfest and also a debate over Ambedkar’s reasons for his conversion to Buddhism.
Referring to Dr Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, Syed Khadri said, “Ambedkar had considered converting to Islam. But he embraced Buddhism. If he had converted to Islam, today (our Dalit leaders) Thimmapur would have been Rahim Saab, Parameshwar Peer Saab, Hanumanthaiah Hasan Saab and Manjunath would be Mehboob Saab. But Babasaheb converted to Buddhism. The Dalit settlements too have always remained in the vicinity of Muslim dargahs.”
BJP MLA C.T. Ravi slammed Khadri saying he had displayed his ignorance by saying Dr Ambedkar was ready to convert to Islam. “Khadri has insulted the personality of Dr Ambedkar. When Ambedkar said he was born a Hindu but would not die a Hindu, many people tried to convert them. The Nizam of Hyderabad had tried to bribe Dr Ambedkar with money and power. But Ambedkar had rejected the Nizam’s offer saying Islam did not have equality and was intolerant,” said Ravi.
Leader of opposition R Ashok said, “Muslims should check their DNA if it is from Iran. Even (Congress leader) Ghulam Nabi Azad has said his ancestors were all Hindus who converted to Islam.”
Sensing trouble on the eve of polling Khadri withdrew his statement and sought an apology saying, “I got carried away during my speech and remembered reading that Dr Ambedkar has considered Islam as an option. I regret my remarks if it has hurt anybody.”
If the political voices speak half-truths about Dr Ambedkar’s decision to convert, his essays and excerpts from the books he authored throw light on the stalwart’s long research and understanding of the different religions that influenced his choice.
Dr Ambedkar, who was born into a Mahar (Dalit) family, who were treated as untouchables, fought a long battle against the caste system in Hinduism before finally announcing his decision (in his ‘Annihilation of Caste’ speech) to renounce the faith in 1936. But he converted to Buddhism only in 1956, after two decades of studying prominent religions.
In his essay titled ‘Buddha and Future of his Religion’ published in the monthly magazine of Kolkata’s Mahabodhi Society in 1950, Ambedkar compares the founders of the four religions - Buddha, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed, and Lord Krishna.
“All throughout the Bible, Jesus insist(s) he is the Son of God and that those who wish to enter the kingdom of God will fail, if they do not recognise him as the Son of God. Mohammed went a step further. Like Jesus he also claimed he was the messenger of God and further insisted he was the last messenger. Krishna went a step beyond and claimed he was ‘Parameswar‘ or as his followers describe him ”Devadhideva,” God of Gods. But Buddha never arrogated to himself any such status. He was born as a son of man and was content to remain a common man. Buddha made a clear distinction between a ‘Margadata’ (guide) and a ‘Mokshadata’ (saviour) and was satisfied playing the role of a Margadata,” wrote Ambedkar.
“Unlike other religions, in Buddhism there is no God. In place of God, there is morality and equality,” said Ambedkar.
On October 14,1956, Babasaheb renounced Hinduism and embraced Buddhism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur. He had chosen Buddhism over Islam and Christianity as he did not want to embrace either of Abrahamic religions as he considered them as “foreign”.
“Converson to Islam or Christianity will denationalise the Depressed classes,” stated Ambedkar.
In his book - ‘Pakistan Or The Partition Of India‘ (1940), Dr Ambedkar has stated “Hinduism is said to divide people and in contrast, Islam is said to bind people together. This is only a half-truth. For, Islam divides as inexorably as it binds. Islam is a close corporation and the distinction that it makes between Muslims and non-Muslims is a very real, very positive and very alienating distinction. The brotherhood of Islam is not the universal brotherhood of man. It is the brotherhood of Muslims for Muslims only. There is a fraternity, but its benefit is confined to those within that corporation. For those who are outside the corporation, there is nothing but contempt and enmity. The second defeat of Islam is that it is a system of social self-government and is incompatible with local self-government because the allegiance of a Muslim does not rest on his domicile in the country which is his but on the faith to which he belongs. To the Muslim ibi bene ibi patria is unthinkable. Wherever there is the rule of Islam, there is his own country. In other words, Islam can never allow a true Muslim to adopt India as his motherland and regard a Hindu as his kith and kin.”
Source:theweek.in
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https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2024/11/13/congress-leader-khadri-s-remark-sparks-debate-on-why-dr-ambedkar-embraced-buddhism-and-not-islam.html
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'Will prevent state govts from punishing Muslims': Owaisi on SC order on 'bulldozer justice'
Nov 13, 2024
NEW DELHI: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday while welcoming the Supreme Court's ruling on "bulldozer justice" criticised the actions of state governments using bulldozers to demolish properties, particularly targeting marginalized groups.
Owaisi in a post on X said, “Hopefully the bulldozer judgement of the Supreme Court will prevent state governments from collectively punishing Muslims & other marginalised groups.”
"The bulldozer judgement of the Supreme Court is a welcome relief. The most important part of it is not in its eloquence, but the enforceable guidelines. Hopefully, they will prevent state governments from collectively punishing Muslims & other marginalised groups. We should remember that no less than @narendramodi has celebrated bulldozer raj, which SC today called ‘a lawless state of affairs,'" Owaisi added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav also said that, "now their bulldozer will remain parked in the garage, now no one's house will be demolished."
Akhilesh addressing a public rally in Sismau said, "The Supreme Court has commented against the bulldozer which become the symbol of this (BJP) government. I thank the Supreme Court for this decision against the government... What can you expect from those who know how to demolish houses? At least today, their bulldozer will remain parked in the garage, now no one's house will be demolished... What can be a bigger comment against the government than this? We have full faith in the court, one day our MLAs will be released and will come among us and will work like they used to do earlier."
The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Wednesday, established strict guidelines to limit the practice of bulldozer justice, where public officials demolished properties without due process. The court emphasised that the executive cannot assume the role of a judge by declaring individuals guilty and demolishing their property without following legal procedures. The ruling also stated that officials who act in a "high-handed manner" would face consequences.
The court expressed concern over the impact on families, particularly women and children, whose homes were demolished without proper legal procedures. "It’s not a happy sight to see women, children on streets overnight," the bench noted.
The ruling stipulates that a mandatory 15-day notice must be given to occupants of illegal structures before demolition. If the occupants do not contest the notice, the state can proceed with the demolition, but the entire process must be videographed for transparency.
Furthermore, the court declared that any property demolished without following the due process of law would entitle the affected family to compensation. The bench, led by Justices BR Gavai and KV Vishwanathan, reinforced that the rule of law ensures individuals' properties are not taken away arbitrarily.
"The executive can't declare a person guilty. If based only on allegation, it demolishes his house, it would strike at basic principle of Rule of Law," the court said.
The ruling follows the court’s interim order on October 1, which prohibited demolitions without permission, although the order did not apply to unauthorized constructions on roads or footpaths.
The court further clarified that its directions on demolitions would apply equally to all religious groups, reinforcing India’s secular identity. It specifically addressed concerns that bulldozer actions disproportionately affected minority and marginalized communities.
Source:indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/will-prevent-state-govts-from-punishing-muslims-owaisi-on-sc-order-on-bulldozer-justice/articleshow/115253911.cms
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'No Muslim quota even if your...': Union Minister Amit Shah's scathing attack on LoP Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra
Nov 13, 2024
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should remember that even if his “fourth generation were to come”, Muslims won’t get reservations meant for SCs, STs, and OBCs. “A few days ago, Ulemas met the president of the Congress party and said that Muslims should be given reservation,” Shah said, addressing a rally for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.
“If a reservation has to be given to Muslims, then reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs will have to be cut. Rahul Baba, not only you but even if your four generations were to come, they cannot cut the quota meant for SCs, STs, and OBCs and give it to Muslims,” Shah said. Shah also said Article 370 won’t be restored, come what may. “Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 won’t be restored,” Shah said.
On Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde’s statement that he was scared during his visit to Srinagar’s Lal Chowk when he was the Union home minister, Shah said, “Shinde ji, go to Kashmir now along with your grandkids, no harm will come to you.” “During 10 years of the Sonia-Manmohan regime, terrorists used to come freely from Pakistan and trigger bomb blasts here,” Shah said.
Describing the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi grouping in Maharashtra as the Aurangzeb Fan Club, Shah said the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance abides by the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar. “This MVA alliance only wants to appease and Uddhav ji has forgotten the principles of Balasaheb Thackeray for the sake of power,” Shah said.
“Uddhav Babu, you are sitting with those who opposed renaming Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, who opposed the construction of Ram temple, who opposed the abolition of triple talaq, who opposed the abolition of Article 370, who opposed the surgical strikes, and who call Hindus terrorists,” Shah said. “I have travelled all over Maharashtra and can say with confidence that Mahayuti will sweep the November 20 assembly polls,” he said. “The ‘ladlibehnas’ (women) of Maharashtra are with the lotus flower and the BJP,” Shah said. The Mahayuti will form the next government in Maharashtra with the highest ever number of seats, he added. The Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders are opposing all the communities, Shah said. “They gave a statement against (Hindu seer) Ramgiri Maharaj. They caused riots in Sindkheda and they are promoting such people who are not good for Maharashtra and the country,” he added. “People in this country are troubled by the Waqf law. Recently, the Waqf Board in Karnataka decided that entire villages are Waqf property. 400-year-old temples, farmers' land, and people's houses became Waqf property. “We have brought a bill to amend the Waqf Act, but Rahul Baba and Pawar Sahab are opposing the bill. Rahul Gandhi, listen, PM Modi will definitely amend the Waqf Act,” Shah said. Shah said Manmohan Singh left India's economy at 11th position and PM Modi took it to fifth position within 10 years. “I promise you that by 2027, India's economy will be the third largest economy in the world,” he said. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from PTI)
Source:dnaindia.com
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https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-no-muslim-quota-even-if-your-union-minister-amit-shah-s-scathing-attack-on-lop-rahul-gandhi-in-maharashtra-3117768#google_vignette
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'Even if Indira Gandhi returns from heaven ... ': What Amit Shah said on Article 370 and Muslim reservation
Nov 13, 2024
NEW DELHI: Amit Shah on Wednesday left no Gandhi generation untouched as he attacked the Congress party over their stance on Article 370, Muslim reservation and Ram Temple. Strongly reiterating the saffron party's stance on the restoration of special status to Jammu & Kashmir, the home minister said that even if "Indira Gandhi was to return from heaven," Article 370 won't be restored.
Commenting on the Muslim quota row, Shah said that reservation would not provided to the minority community even if "four generations" of Rahul Gandhi demanded.
He also reacted to Congress leader and former home minister Sushlikumar Shinde's comment of 'scared during visit to Lal Chowk.' "Go with grandkids now, you will be safe," Shah said as the UT recorded eighth gunfight between armed forces and the terrorists in November.
"A few days ago, people of Umela group met the President of Congress Party in Maharashtra and said that Muslims should be given reservation. If reservation has to be given to Muslims, then reservation for SC-ST-OBC will have to be cut. Oh Rahul Baba, not only you but even your four generations cannot cut the reservation for SC-ST-OBC and give it to Muslims," Shah said addressing a rally in Maharashtra.
Shah also took aim at the grand old party's scion Rahul Gandhi, predicting another electoral setback for the party in Maharashtra.
"Sonia ji, please note that your ''Rahul aircraft'' will crash once again in Maharashtra assembly elections," Union home minister added.
Earlier today, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah clarified that no action had been taken on proposed 4% reservation for Muslims in public works contracts.
Shah also called upon Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray for forming alliance with "those who call Hindus terrorists."
"Uddhav Babu, you are sitting with those people who... opposed renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar, opposed the construction of Ram temple, opposed the abolition of triple talaq, opposed the abolition of Article 370, opposed the surgical strike, you are sitting with those who call Hindus terrorists," he said.
Lashing out at the opposition over opposing Waqf Bill, Shah said, "400-year-old temples, farmers' land and people's houses became Waqf property. We have brought a bill to amend the Waqf Act, but Rahul Baba and Pawar Sahab are opposing the bill. Rahul Gandhi, listen, PM Modi will definitely amend the Waqf Act.
Source:indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/even-if-indira-gandhi-returns-from-heaven-what-amit-shah-said-on-article-370-and-muslim-reservation/articleshow/115249319.cms
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Delhi Waqf case: Court refuses to take cognisance of chargesheet against Amanatullah Khan
14.11.24
A court here on Thursday ordered the release of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board case, while refusing to take cognisance of a chargesheet filed against him.
Special Judge Jitendra Singh said while there is sufficient evidence against Khan to proceed against him, there was no sanction to prosecute him.
"Therefore, the cognisance is declined," the judge said.
The court directed that Khan be released from judicial custody forthwith on a bail bond of Rs one lakh and one surety of the like amount.
The ED had on October 29 filed a 110-page first supplementary prosecution complaint (ED's equivalent of a chargesheet), claiming Khan laundered money that was allegedly generated through corruption in the Delhi Waqf Board.
The chargesheet had also named one Mariam Siddiqui, who was not arrested as an accused by the ED in the case.
The court said there was no evidence to proceed against Siddiqui and discharged her.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/delhi-waqf-case-court-refuses-to-take-cognisance-of-chargesheet-against-amanatullah-khan/cid/2063163
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Jammu and Kashmir: Security forces launch search operation in Kulgam after inputs about militants' presence
13.11.24
The security forces launched a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Wednesday after inputs about the presence of militants, officials said.
A cordon and search operation was launched in Badimarg area of Yaripora in the south Kashmir district following inputs about the presence of militants there, they said.
The officials said as the troops approached the suspected location, they came under brief fire.
However, there has been no fresh firing since then, they said.
The officials added that the search operation was going on.
Additional reinforcements have been rushed to the area to prevent the militants from escaping, the officials said, adding the cordon layers have been strengthened and lights have been installed to monitor the area.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir-security-forces-launch-search-operation-in-kulgam-after-inputs-about-militants-presence/cid/2063024
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Not associated with 'The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show': Salman Khan's representative on legal notice
13.11.24
Salman Khan's team on Wednesday said the star's production house had received a legal notice over purported comments on Rabindranath Tagore made on Netflix's "The Great Indian Kapil Show" but they have nothing to do with it.
The legal notice sent by Bongo Bhashi Mahasabha Foundation alleged that disparaging remarks were made against the Nobel laureate which risk offending religious and cultural sentiments.
Khan’s representative said the superstar's production banner had received the legal notice, which is incorrect as they are not associated with "The Great Indian Kapil Show".
"The statement from Salman Khan's team clarifies that the production house is no longer associated with any operations of the show aired on Netflix and is not affected by the legal notice in any way," the representative said.
The television arm of the superstar's banner Salman Khan Television had co-produced the second and third season of 'The Kapil Sharma Show', which aired on Sony Entertainment Television channel.
Netflix had earlier responded to the legal notice, saying that the comedy programme is purely intended for entertainment purposes and features parodies and sketches without targeting any individual or community.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/not-associated-with-the-great-indian-kapil-sharma-show-salman-khans-representative-on-legal-notice/cid/2062994
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Razakars did burn down our house, can't hold Muslims responsible: Priyank Kharge 14 November 2024
IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday clarified that their family would never blame the entire Muslim community for the sad incident of their house being burnt down by the Razakars in the past. Kharge hit back at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for raking up the childhood tragedy of Priyank’s father and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, during an election rally in Maharashtra. Adityanath had mentioned how the Hyderabad Nizam’s Razakars burnt down Kharge’s house in 1948, killing his mother and sister. Reacting sharply to the UP CM’s remarks, Kharge said no doubt his father had lost his sister, mother and house during that tragic incident. But his father (Mallikarjuna Kharge) never held any community responsible for that.“It was done by Razakars and that’s about it,“ he said. He said all communities had bad elements and for this, the entire community cannot be held responsible. sought to know why President Draupadi Murmu was not invited for the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya?. “Yogi should answer this question first,” Kharge said
Source:deccanherald.com
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https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/razakars-did-burn-down-our-house-cant-hold-muslims-responsible-priyank-kharge-3275895
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Proposal for Muslim quota in initial stage: Minister Parameshwara
Nov 14, 2024
The government has received requests for 4% reservation for Muslims in government jobs but the proposal is only in the preliminary stage, home minister G Parameshwara said on Wednesday, day after the opposition accused chief minister Siddaramaiah of “lying” with regard to quota for the minority community.
Parameshwara said: “The chief minister has sent the proposal for verification to the concerned department. The decision in this regard will have to be made in the cabinet, and a proposal has to be sent in this regard by the concerned department.”
He further said that an official decision would only follow cabinet review and further procedural steps. “The order won’t be made after submission of a mere proposal,” he added.
In a post on X, leader of opposition R Ashoka said: “This is not the first time that Congress government has been caught lying.”
“From denying that Pro-Pakistan slogans were raised by Congress workers in Vidhan Soudha despite FSL reports confirming it, to brushing the Rameshwaram Cafe Bomb blast as an act of ’business rivalry’ and ’cylinder explosion’. The Congress government in Karnataka is shamelessly lying on the face of Kanandigas in every matter since last 18 months,” he wrote.
He also shared a government document on X alleging that Siddaramaiah had endorsed an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act’s sixth schedule to enable this reservation. However, Hindustan Times was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the shared document.
In response, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday reiterated that no final decision has been made regarding the inclusion of a reservation for Muslims in government contracts. In Mysuru, he told media: “While requests for reservations similar to those given to SCs, STs, and other backward classes had been received, the proposal remains under review… BJP’s allegations are merely an attempt to create communal discord.”
Source:hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/proposal-for-muslim-quota-in-initial-stage-minister-parameshwara-101731524656462.html
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Facing Flak For 'Muslim Appeasement', Karnataka's Siddaramaiah Govt Plans Aid For Vaishno Devi Pilgrims
November 14, 2024
Even as Karnataka’s ruling Congress has come under severe criticism from the opposition over “Muslim appeasement" in the Waqf land and quota controversies, in a move being seen as a damage control effort, the Siddaramaiah government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to every pilgrim from the state visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.
Not just that, it has decided to safeguard assets belonging to state-run Hindu temples, remove any encroachments, and provide money for this.
The administration has also decided to place signboards in all government-run temples showing the details of various Muzrai initiatives (referring to allowances granted for religious or charitable purposes) and a declaration that cash donations at temples will be used only for those shrines alone.
The decisions were taken at the Rajya Dharmika Parishat meeting chaired by Muzrai minister Ramalinga Reddy.
The Karnataka government already provides money for devotees going to Kashi, Gaya, and the pilgrim circuit in southern India.
Sources had earlier told CNN-News18 that there is a “proposal" to give reservations for Muslims in public contracts for construction (civil) up to Rs 1 crore on the lines of reservations given to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. This comes as the state government has already provided a 24 per cent quota to SC/ST and certain backward classes in the government contracts.
The chief minister’s office later cleared the air and said that there have been demands for reservation, but there is “no proposal" in this regard.
CNN-News18 also exclusively accessed revenue records that show the Waqf Board’s name was inserted in land records of 44 properties in Vijayapura recently. Land records were changed without giving notices in several cases, leaving the farmers in the Indi taluk shocked. Reacting to the controversy, chief minister Siddaramaiah clarified that “no farmer will be evicted".
Source:news18.com
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https://www.news18.com/india/facing-flak-for-muslim-appeasement-karnatakas-siddaramaiah-govt-plans-aid-for-vaishno-devi-pilgrims-9119777.html
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Vikrant Massey reveals how his Christian father, Sikh mother, Muslim brother celebrate all festivals
Nov 14, 2024
Vikrant Massey will be next seen in The Sabarmati Report, based on the Godhra Riots of 2002. On Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Vikrant explained how he and his family live an immensely secular life. Vikrant's parents had an interfaith marriage – his father is a Christian and his mother a Sikh. His brother Moeen converted to Islam. He's married to Sheetal Thakur, a Hindu. (Also Read – Vikrant Massey says India got ‘so called azaadi in 1947’ and the internet is furious: 'Naye itihaskaar')
What Vikrant said
"My brother does Laxmi puja on the occasion of Diwali. His conversion is his personal choice. But we celebrate Diwali and Holi together here. On the occasion of Eid, we celebrate it at his place, having biryani. Today, that fulcrum is absent (in society),” Vikrant said.
“My father has been to Vaishno Devi temple (located in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir) six times. He is a Christian and goes to church twice a week even now. But that’s what India has always been like. You will find Christians whose name is Rahul, Rohit etc. We ourselves go to gurudwaras and many Hindus go to Ajmer Sharif Dargah (located in Rajasthan). This is our Hindustan. Why is it so surprising? There’s a temple in my house. My son’s name is Vardaan. This is the fabric of our country,” Vikrant added.
About The Sabarmati Report
The Sabarmati Report is directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures, Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan. The film also features Raashii Khanna and Riddhi Dogra in pivotal roles.
At the trailer launch, Vikrant told the media, ""Ji haanaayehain aur aa rahehai (Yes, I have been receiving threats). But as I said ki hum kalakarhai or kahaniyaanboltehai (we're artists and we tell stories). This film is purely based on facts. It is something that I am dealing with or we as a team collectively are dealing with and I think we will deal with it the way it has to be."
In the film, Vikrant plays a journalist who probes the truth behind the February 27, 2002 incident of burning of Sabarmati Express at Godhra, Gujarat. The Sabarmati Report will release in theatres this Friday on November 15.
Source:hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/vikrant-massey-on-his-secular-family-christian-father-sikh-mother-muslim-brother-celebrate-all-festivals-101731558836218.html
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Africa
Islamic financing rises to $3.8b, says NAICOM chief
November 14, 2024
The Islamic financing in the country has grown to about three per cent of the country’s total financial market with an estimated value of $3.8 billion.
Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, who spoke at the second edition of the African Takaful and Non-Interest (Islamic) Finance Conference, said the expansion reflected a robust and rising demand for Shariah-compliant financial services.
Mr. Omosehin said Sukuk bonds account for 59.3 per cent of the market share, non-interest banks 39.8 per cent, and Islamic funds and Takaful insurance 0.9 per cent.
The industry is made up of four non-interest banks, five Takaful companies, 15 microfinance institutions, and 10 non-bank financial institutions.
In collaboration with other regulators, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) Omosehin said is committed to supporting the sector’s growth by fostering more Shariah-compliant investment options for Takaful and other non-interest financial institutions.
Mr. Omosehin noted Takaful’s unique position in Islamic finance, explaining that it is a form of insurance grounded in mutual cooperation and shared responsibility, distinguishing it from conventional insurance models that typically involve risk transfer and interest.
“Takaful enables individuals to contribute to a shared fund that assists members in need, reinforcing community solidarity. This approach offers an alternative that aligns with the ethical principles of Islamic finance,” he said.
Since the release of Takaful Operational Guidelines in 2013, NAICOM has licensed five Takaful operators, a sector which now represents around 1-2 percent of Nigeria’s insurance market.
The future of Takaful he said looks promising, with an average annual growth rate of over 34 percent in contributions over the past four years.
Omosehin added that the Commission is supporting this growth through various initiatives, including the adoption of a risk-based capital system that lowers capital requirements for Takaful operators and facilitates market entry for new players.
NAICOM has also implemented the Market Conduct and Enterprise Risk Management Guidelines for Takaful and Retakaful operators, ensuring best practices and effective risk management within the industry. Furthermore, NAICOM has conducted public sensitization workshops to raise awareness about Takaful and its benefits.
The Commission collaborates with international standard-setting bodies, including the Islamic Financial Services Board and the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions, to provide regulatory guidelines, technical training, and support to the industry.
Through the principles of risk mitigation, social justice, and sustainable development, Islamic finance and Takaful contribute to resilience, inclusivity, and the pursuit of long-term, ethical growth.
Source:thenationonlineng.net
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“NAHCON Is Very Dirty” – Reps Committee Tackles Agency Over ₦90bn 2024 Hajj Exercise ‘Scam’
13 November 2024
By Oladipo Abiola
The House of Representatives Committee set up to probe the operations of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) over the 2024 Hajj exercise has described the commission as dirty.
The lawmakers told the new NAHCON Chairman, Abdullahi Usman, that he was presiding over a very “dirty” agency.
Naija News recalls following the controversy which surrounded the utilization of the ₦90bn subsidy provided by the federal government for the 2024 Hajj exercise, President Bola Tinubu, in August, sacked the embattled Chairman of the commission, Jalal Arabi and replaced him with Usman.
The House of Representatives also set up a panel in July 2024 to investigate NAHCON activities regarding the shoddy arrangements and treatment of Nigerian pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj exercise.
Speaking at the investigative hearing of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja, the Chairman of the House Committee and member representing the Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency, Sada Soli, told the NAHCON Chairman that he was presiding over a “dirty” agency.
“Mr Chairman, I pity you. You are in an organisation that is very dirty. NAHCON is very dirty,” said the Katsina lawmaker.
“Yes, I agree,” Usman responded.
Soli, in his opening address during the Committe’s sitting, pointed out the importance of the Hajj exercise in the life of Muslims and stressed the need to remove every bottleneck challenge in the fulfilment of the spiritual exercise.
He said, “Today marks a significant step in our ongoing effort to address the various challenges faced by Nigerian pilgrims during the most recent Hajj operations and to ensure we develop comprehensive solutions that improve future pilgrimages.
“As you are aware, the Hajj is one of the most important spiritual journeys for millions of Muslims around the world, including many Nigerians. It is a deeply personal and transformative experience, one that pilgrims invest a great deal of faith, time, and resources into. Unfortunately, this year’s Hajj was met with several operational difficulties and complaints from our citizens, many of whom felt that the services provided did not meet the standards they expected.
“These challenges, ranging from logistical issues to inadequate services, are what have brought us here today. The House of Representatives has mandated this committee to carry out a thorough investigation into the root causes of these problems and to recommend strategies that will prevent their recurrence in the future.
“I want to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all stakeholders present here today, from officials of NAHCON to travel agencies, airlines, and other service providers, as well as the pilgrims who have come forward with their experiences. Your participation is vital to the success of this process. This hearing is not just about identifying problems, but also about working together to find solutions that will ensure future Hajj operations are seamless, efficient, and worthy of the expectations placed upon them.
“The insights, experiences, and recommendations shared during these hearings will play a critical role in informing our final report, which will be submitted to the House. We are committed to transparency, thoroughness, and fairness in this investigation, and we ask for your full cooperation in making this process as productive as possible.”
Source:naijanews.com
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No end in sight to Sudan war as both sides seek ‘decisive’ win
November 13, 2024
CAIRO: Sudan has seen a surge in extreme violence in recent weeks as the warring military and paramilitary push for a decisive victory, with no political solution in sight.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified since late October, with reports of attacks on civilians including sexual violence against women and girls raising alarm.
The war that erupted in April 2023 has created what the UN calls the world’s worst displacement crises, with more than 11 million people forced from their homes.
It has put the country on the brink of famine, and sparked warnings of intensifying violence in a war that has already killed tens of thousands.
“Over the last two weeks, the situation in the country has been marked by some of the most extreme violence since the start of the conflict,” according to Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
“Let me stress that both warring parties bear responsibility for this violence,” she said, adding that both sides “seem convinced they can prevail on the battlefield.”
Since October 20, at least 124 civilians have been killed in central Al-Jazira state and another 135,000 have fled to other states, according to the UN.
With global attention focused on other wars, chiefly in Ukraine and the Middle East, civilians in Sudan are paying a steep price for the escalation.
“All indicators so far show that both sides are committed to military solutions, with no genuine interest in political resolutions or even easing the suffering of civilians,” according to Mohamed Osman of Human Rights Watch.
Amani Al-Taweel, director of the Africa program at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, agreed.
“There is no political solution on the horizon,” she told AFP, adding that both sides were seeking a “decisive military solution.”
The war in Sudan has pitted army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan against his erstwhile ally Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF.
The country is split into zones of control, with the army holding the north and east, and the government based in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast.
The RSF controls much of the capital Khartoum, the Darfur region in the west and parts of Kordofan in the south, while the center is split.
With no mandatory military conscription, the Sudanese army includes Islamist-leaning forces as well as other factions.
The RSF is primarily made up of tribal militias from Darfur’s Arab communities.
According to local reports, the army has about 120,000 troops while the RSF has 100,000.
On the battlefield, Sudan’s air force gives the military an advantage.
Rights groups have accused both sides of committing atrocities.
The UN population agency published on Tuesday horrific accounts of women and girls fleeing the violence, including one who said she was urged to kill herself with a knife rather than be raped.
Successive rounds of talks have been held in Saudi Arabia, but the negotiations have yet to produce a ceasefire.
In August, the Sudanese military opted out of US-brokered negotiations in Switzerland and an African Union-led mediation has also stalled.
“The deadlock in peaceful channels, whether regionally or internationally, is exacerbating the violence,” said Mahmud Zakaria, a professor of political science at Cairo University’s Faculty of African Postgraduate Studies.
Since October, the RSF escalated its attacks in Al-Jazira state, south of Khartoum, following what the military said was the defection of one of its commanders to the army.
Before the war, Al-Jazira was known as Sudan’s breadbasket, hosting Africa’s largest agricultural project, yielding 65 percent of the country’s cotton, according to Zakaria.
Some areas have been scarred by conflict before.
Darfur saw a major war two decades ago, during which the then-government’s allies in the Janjaweed militia faced accusations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
With roots in the Janjaweed, the RSF became a force in its own right in 2013.
Sudan’s conflict has increasingly drawn in regional powers, prompting the United States to urge all countries to stop arming rival generals.
Former Egyptian deputy foreign minister for African affairs Ali el-Hefny said progress will require global willpower.
Source:arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2579164/middle-east
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Fulani has no hand in Kebbi attack – Miyetti Allah
November 13, 2024
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Kebbi State chapter, has distanced itself from the recent killings in the state.
This is as the group also condemned the killing of six indigenous Fulani and the destruction of 185 settlements and 42-grain silos in a reprisal attack.
The Fulani umbrella body said the attack was carried out by the volunteers’ security known as Yansa Kai following the killing of 15 persons in Mera last Friday.
While absolving itself of any involvement in the Mera attack, the secretary of MACBAN in the state, Abubakar Lamido, in a statement disclosed that the terror group known as Larukawa has been terrorising pastoralists through forceful taxation called (Zakat), and sometimes confiscated their animals and collected money ranging from N300,000 to N20m,120 cows, 51 goats and sheep from Fulani cattle rearers in the Augie area of the state.
“Lakurawa are hardened criminals, and should be treated as such. We are not associated with them. We are worst affected by their illegalities,” it said.
According to MACBAN, members of the terror group are international criminals, adding that they have been moving freely with sophisticated weapons around Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State, and around Nigeria and Niger Republic borders.
The group appealed for urgent support and assistance from relevant authorities for the victims of the reprisal attack, saying they had lost foodstuff they harvested, shelter and cattle.
It also urged the government to investigate the matter and apprehend the culprits.
Source:dailypost.ng
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Ondo Elections: IGP Deploys DIG Alabi To Lead Security Efforts, Enforces Movement Restrictions
14 November 2024
By Ikenna Ngere
The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has unveiled comprehensive security plans for the upcoming Ondo gubernatorial elections set for Saturday, November 16, 2024, to ensure a peaceful and transparent process.
In a statement released on Thursday by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP announced the deployment of DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi as the coordinating officer for election security, supported by AIG Bennett Igweh and CP Tunji Disu.
Together, they will oversee the execution of security measures aimed at maintaining order throughout the election period.
To enhance security, the IGP has ordered a restriction on all vehicular movement from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day. Exceptions are granted for essential services, such as ambulances, media personnel, fire services, and accredited election officials.
The IGP has also prohibited security aides and escorts from accompanying VIPs to polling stations or collation centers to minimize disruptions. Unauthorized security operatives and the use of sirens by unauthorized vehicles are banned during the election.
The statement reads: “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has announced comprehensive security measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process during the upcoming Ondo off-season Gubernatorial elections scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024.
“In preparation for the elections, the IGP has deployed DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi as the coordinating DIG for the Elections, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period, while AIG Bennett Igweh, mni, and CP Tunji Disu are deployed as AIG and CP Elections respectively.
“As part of the security framework, there will be a restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation from 6am to 6pm on Election Day, with the exception of those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.
“Furthermore, security aides and escorts attached to VIPs are banned from accompanying VIPs to polling booths and collation centres to prevent disruptions. Unauthorized security personnel and quasi-security agencies will not be permitted to operate during the election, and a strict ban on the use of sirens by unauthorized vehicles will be enforced. Special consideration will also be extended to individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those facing mobility challenges to ensure that polling stations remain accessible.
“Designated election lines have been established for inquiries and reporting incidents. These lines will be publicized as soon as possible.
“The Nigeria Police Force urges citizens to report all suspicious activities that may threaten the integrity of the electoral process and reaffirms its commitment to fostering a safe and democratic environment as the state gears up for the elections.
“The Police will also be working with the military and other Federal security agencies as collaborative efforts from all stakeholders are vital to ensuring that the elections are conducted fairly and peacefully.”
Source:naijanews.com
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Lakurawa Terrorists Flee Kebbi As Troops Intensify Onslaught
14 November 2024
By Richard Ogunsile
The new terrorist group in the Northwestern part of Nigeria, Lakurawa, has been withdrawing in response to intensified coordinated ground and air assaults by the military targeting their camps in Kebbi and Sokoto states, Naija News learnt.
This escalation followed a violent incident in which the Lakurawa group attacked the Mera community in the Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, resulting in the loss of 17 lives.
In reaction, the army headquarters dispatched a contingent of soldiers to the region.
Upon their arrival in Birnin Kebbi, the troops, as reported by Abdullahi Idris Zuru, the media aide to the Kebbi governor, engaged with Deputy Governor Abubakar Umar Tafida at the Cabinet Office before advancing to Mera.
Zuru noted that the troops were successful in displacing the bandits and recovering numerous cattle that had been rustled during the attack as the assailants retreated.
This military deployment was initiated following an urgent request from Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris for federal assistance to combat the rising violence perpetrated by armed groups that are threatening the stability of rural communities.
“The governor has pledged to safeguard the lives and property of all Kebbi State citizens, leading him to seek federal intervention to counter-terrorism across the state,” Zuru said.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has expressed confidence that the Lakurawa armed group, which has been instilling fear in Northwestern states, will be eradicated from Nigeria.
Ribadu made this statement on Wednesday in Abuja during the inaugural session of the 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference, where he was present on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We will chase the so-called Lukarawa out of our country. We will put critics to shame and shut their mouths in no time.
“Boko Haram, which has been ravaging our country, is now on the run. Its members are now moving to other neighbouring countries because Nigeria is no longer conducive for their operations,” he said.
The NSA also said signs that things are getting better with the economy are there for all to see, citing increased crude oil production in the Niger Delta and the fiscal reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as part of such efforts.
“Crude oil production has hit 1.8 million bpd and the Central Bank has been sanitised; no one is taking a dime from the CBN. When we promised that we would fix this country, we will do so because President Tinubu has never been a failure,” he added.
Source:naijanews.com
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Lagbaja Was One Of The Best, He Has Been Called To A Higher Level – NSA Ribadu
14 November 2024
By Oladipo Abiola
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has described the late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. TaoreedLagbaja as one of the best military officers Nigeria ever produced.
Ribadu also commended Lagbaja for his service to the country during his lifetime.
The NSA said this on Wednesday during a condolence visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Musa Christopher and the Acting COAS, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede on Wednesday at the Defence and Army Headquarters, Abuja.
He said though Lagbaja’s death is a great loss, thanks must be given to God for his life.
Ribadu prayed that God should continue taking care of his family and all those he left behind.
“I am here to condole with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the entire members of our Armed Forces, who have suffered a great loss.
“We lost one of our best because Lt.-Gen. Lagbaja was an incredible man but that is what life is all about.
“He has been called to a higher level and we will continue to pray for his family and those he left behind.
“We will continue to be grateful to God for the life he led, for the service he gave, and the commitment he did for his country.
“To our President, Senator Bola Tinubu, it is a very sad loss, a difficult one to feel, but we thank God for his life,” Ribadu said.
Source:naijanews.com
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Ex-Minister Slams Keyamo Over New MRO Project, Calls For Revival Of Akwa Ibom Abandoned Facility
14 November 2024
By Justina Otio
A former Minister of Lands and Housing, Nduese Essien has condemned the move by Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo to construct a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for aircraft in Nigeria, at an unnamed location.
Essien shared his reservation while speaking to journalists in Uyo.
He questioned the Federal Government’s sincerity in developing programmes.
The erstwhile minister argued that it would be better to focus on the MRO project in Akwa Ibom airport instead of considering a fresh project.
He noted that the project in Akwa Ibom has been abandoned for 20 years and is already at 95% completion level.
According to him, “This proposed new MRO is also announced as the first in the country, while the MRO project in Akwa Ibom airport has been on for over 20 years and is said to be at 95% completion level.”
The former Minister recalled, “In November 2023, the Minister of Aviation, Chief Festus Keyamo,SAN, visited Akwa Ibom State.
“After being conducted round the terminal building, the MRO and the 3.6km taxiway (also called the second runway) he was quoted to have said that ‘Akwa Ibom State is Nigeria’s best kept secret.’
“He lauded successive administrations in Akwa Ibom State and their efforts in developing the aviation sector.
“This “best kept secret “ borrowing the phrase of Festus Keyamo, is even more pronounced in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility of the airport.
It is therefore surprising and most inconsistent for the same Minister, a year later, to propose a new MRO under PPP arrangement. This, he says, will be the first in Nigeria.
“If the Minister is thinking of an MRO project, I advise that he explores more viable options and hinge on alternatives that would promptly deliver expected outcomes, with ease, to the benefit of the country
“The obvious alternative would be for the Federal government to embrace the MRO project in Akwa Ibom State; direct the Private Partner to utilize the nearly completed facilities at Victor Attah International Airport at Uyo. It is doubtful if more than one MRO could be viable in the country for now.
“It is even more worrisome that this is happening despite the State Governor’s glaring show of support and willingness to cooperate with the Federal Government; a governor despite being in an opposition party, has brought down partisan walls for seamless partnership with all layers of government for the nation’s economic growth.
“It does appears that once any viable investment initiative springs up in Akwa Ibom, efforts are generated to either diminish its potentials or thwart its fruition.
“In these days of extreme hardship and anxiety to get Nigeria working again, every organ of government and functionaries in government should work together to bring Nigeria out of the woods.”
Source:naijanews.com
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Ondo 2024: Appeal Court Sacks Labour Party Gov Candidate, Ebiseni
14 November 2024
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has disqualified Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate for the Ondo State governorship election set for Saturday, November 16, 2024.
In a unanimous decision, the three-member panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka and delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, ruled that “the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 brought by the Labour Party against Chief Olusola Ebiseni and two others is allowed.” Justice Banjoko further announced that the Certified True Copy of the judgment would be provided to all parties in due course for review.
Justice Abba Mohammed, concurring with the lead judgment, supported the panel’s decision.
This ruling reverses an earlier Federal High Court decision in Abuja, which had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the upcoming polls on November 16.
Previously, Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court had upheld the validity of a second Labour Party primary election, which produced Ebiseni and Awude as candidates, and ordered INEC to recognize and publish their names.
Justice Nwite’s judgment noted evidence of Ebiseni’s payment of N20 million for a nomination form and an additional N5 million paid to Festus Olorunfemi as compensation for his withdrawal from the race.
However, the appellate court’s recent decision has now invalidated the Federal High Court’s ruling, thereby disqualifying Ebiseni from the governorship race.
Source:naijanews.com
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NNPC Subsidiary Signs Gas Supply Agreement With Dangote Refinery
14 November 2024
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has formalized a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals in Lagos.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday at the Dangote Group’s Corporate Head Office in Falomo, Lagos, aims to secure a steady supply of natural gas to the Dangote Refinery, which will be used for power generation and as feedstock.
The deal was signed by NGML’s Managing Director, Justin Ezeala, and Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of the Dangote Group.
“This major milestone is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s policy of utilising Nigeria’s abundant gas resources towards revamping the nation’s industrial growth and kickstarting its economic prosperity.
“This development, which sees a huge investment of this nature penned with zero capital expenditure outlay, has been described by many as unprecedented in the history of NGML or any gas Local Distribution Company in the country,” a statement by the NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, said on Wednesday.
According to Soneye, under the terms of the agreement, NGML will supply 100 million standard cubic feet of gas per day – 50MMSCF/D being firm supply and the rest 50MMSCF/D interruptible natural gas supply to the refinery for an initial period of 10 years, with options for renewal and growth.
“This collaboration is a significant step toward ensuring the operational success of the Dangote Refinery and enhancing Nigeria’s domestic gas utilisation.
“NNPC Ltd, through NGML, its gas marketing subsidiary, continues to lead efforts in promoting the use of domestic gas to support industries and businesses nationwide.
“The agreement represents a milestone for both NNPC Ltd and Dangote refinery, aligning with their shared commitment to boosting local production and providing vital products for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“It is also further proof of NGML’s unwavering commitment to business excellence and fulfilling NNPC Ltd’s core mandate of ensuring Nigeria’s energy security through the execution of strategic gas projects across the country,” the statement submitted.
Source:naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/11/14/nnpc-subsidiary-signs-gas-supply-agreement-with-dangote-refinery/
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Protests: It Is Not A Criminal Offence To Hoist Foreign Flags – Falana
13 November 2024
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has frowned at the recent arraignment of minors involved in the August #EndBadGovernance protests for treason.
Naija News recalls that the federal government had arrested and charged the minors before the Federal High Court in Abuja for hoisting Russian flags in some northern states during the protest.
After a series of backlash that trailed the arraignment, President Bola Tinubu’s government struck out the case before the court, citing humanitarian grounds.
However, Falana, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, argued that it is not an offence in Nigeria to hoist the flag of any country.
He explained that while some hotels hoist foreign flags, some big churches also display flags of Israel and other countries.
He said, “It is not a criminal offence in Nigeria to raise any country’s flag. If you don’t believe it, go out there. Any hotel hoists the flag of the United States, United Kingdom because they want to look international.
“Some churches in Nigeria, believing erroneously that Israel is a Christian country, hoist the flag of Israel. So it is not a criminal offence.”
The Human rights lawyer also stated that the inscriptions displayed by the protesters demanding the removal of the President were not tantamount to treason.
According to him, the government should have addressed the issues raised by the protesters during their nationwide demonstrations.
He added, “If a democratically elected government is asked to leave office, you might say they are expressing their views. The armed forces did very well by saying ‘We are going to involve ourselves in the removal of the President. We are loyal to the Constitution, we are loyal to the President.’
“It is the government now that is trying to remind people. Government should have ignored and then addressed the issues that led people to the streets.”
Source:naijanews.com
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Army Accuses IPOB, ESN Of Killing 2 Soldiers In Abia
13 November 2024
By Udeze Ekene
The Nigerian Army has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) of killing two soldiers in Umuahia, Abia State capital, on Wednesday.
Naija News reported that unknown gunmen attacked troops of the Joint Task Force South-East Operation, code-named UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along Umuahia-Owerri Road, in Umuahia South local government area.
Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, in a statement, on Wednesday, said the attack was carried out by “irredentist group of the IPOB, and the ESN“.
The statement urged “the South-East people in general and the state, in particular, to furnish the Army with relevant, reliable and credible information that could help in apprehending the suspects“.
“Please note that any relevant information should be passed to Operation UDO KA by dialing 193 and press Option 2’ on your phone,” Lt. Col. Unuakhalu’s statement added.
He added that the Army will continue to carry out its constitutional role of safeguarding lives and property in line with global best practices as laid down in the rules of engagement guiding its operations.
Recall that Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, had called on the federal government to facilitate the repatriation of ESN commander, Simon Ekpa, whom he accused of being responsible for insecurity in the South East.
Governor Mbah also accused the Finland-based Ekpa of using the gunmen to enforce sit-at-home and carrying out criminal activities in the region.
Source:naijanews.com
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Southeast Asia
Singapore Islamic college could help madrasah students pursue higher religious education locally
NOV 13, 2024,
Zhaki Abdullah
SINGAPORE - Madrasah students wishing to pursue higher religious education will have the opportunity to do so in Singapore through a new Islamic college, where they will learn how these teachings can be applied in the country’s context, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli.
The Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) does not intend to compete with thousand-year-old institutions such as Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, he said on Nov 13, noting that it is instead aimed at teaching religious knowledge through the perspective of Singapore’s multiracial, multi-religious society.
The college, which will open in 2028, will also provide aspiring asatizah, or religious teachers, with a more affordable alternative to pursuing their religious studies overseas, said MrMasagos, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development.
Singapore’s full-time madrasah system currently teaches students only up to the pre-university level, with an average of about 120 madrasah graduates pursuing further Islamic studies overseas each year.
Those who go to foreign institutions have to undergo a mandatory one-year postgraduate course upon returning, to apply what they have learnt overseas to the Singapore context.
Describing the college as a “longstanding aspiration of the Muslim community” here, MrMasagos said SCIS can contribute to developing a body of knowledge that can help provide religious guidance to Muslims living as a minority in secular societies.
This is something religious scholars from other institutions have said is essential, he added, speaking to reporters at Parliament House.
SCIS is expected to welcome its first batch of 60 students in 2028, with classes to be held at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore’s (Muis) Bencoolen campus.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Nov 10 that SCIS will offer a full-time undergraduate degree programme, which will allow students to major in either Islamic studies or social sciences.
He said then that SCIS will partner with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) for its social sciences pathway, and with Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta, Al-Qarawiyyin and the University of Jordan for its Islamic studies pathway.
Elaborating on this, MrMasagos said the first two years will immerse students in both pathways, providing them with a foundation in social sciences and Islamic studies. They can then choose to specialise in one or the other in the third and fourth years of the programme, he said.
Those who graduate from SCIS with a degree in either Islamic studies or social sciences will also have the option to top up their hours to obtain a degree in the other field, he added.
This will give graduates the ability to move from the religious field to work in areas such as social work and counselling, and vice versa, MrMasagos said.
He also announced that SCIS’ board of governors, which will lead the strategic oversight of the college, has been established, with former Cabinet minister Abdullah Tarmugi chairing it.
Mr Abdullah, who is currently a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, said he looked forward to working with the board and the SCIS team to create “enriching learning journeys for our asatizah”.
“Our shared vision is to nurture religious scholarship that resonates with contemporary challenges, strengthen our community’s religious resilience, and contribute meaningfully to the future of religious leadership and the vibrant socio-religious life of Muslims in Singapore,” he said in a statement.
The board will look into matters such as remuneration and fees, said MrMasagos, who will chair the college’s advisory panel.
The nine-member panel – which will focus on providing insights on international research opportunities and educational developments in line with SCIS’ needs – includes SUSS president Tan Tai Yong, Egypt’s Grand Mufti Nazir Mohamed Ayyad, and University of Edinburgh professor of Islamic and interreligious studies Mona Siddiqui.
MrMasagos noted that schools such as Madrasah Alsagoff – which was established in 1912 and is the oldest of the Republic’s six full-time madrasahs – have produced religious leaders who have served not just in Singapore, but also around the region.
In the longer term, MrMasagos said he hoped the college could serve religious leaders working in similar contexts as Singapore’s, such as Thailand, the Philippines and South Africa.
He also pointed to a slew of milestones the Malay/Muslim community can expect over the next five years.
These include the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre – which closed for redevelopment in 2022 and is expected to reopen by end-2025 – as well as the completion of renovation works at Tanjong Katong Complex in 2029. It will house self-help group Mendaki’s new headquarters, as well as a Muis office.
Source:straitstimes.com
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Over 200 foreign children, guardians at Baitul Mahabbah, Dewan Rakyat told
BERNAMA
14-11- 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 209 foreign children and their guardians have been placed at Baitul Mahabbah as of Sept 30, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said their placement at the institution is temporary until the process of repatriation to their home countries is completed.
“Baitul Mahabbah is an initiative introduced in 2023, and to date, five Baitul Mahabbah facilities are operational nationwide, with another set to open in Johor soon.
“This programme enables the transfer of detained children from immigration depots to a different premise outside the depot for children aged 10 and below, along with their mothers or guardians,” he said.
He said this in replying to a question by Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong) on whether community-based programmes are being considered as alternatives to the detention of underage children for immigration offences and if similar programmes could be explored for prisoners who have served two-thirds of their sentences.
Shamsul Anuar said that Baitul Mahabbah provides a more conducive environment for child detainees to ensure better physical, mental, and emotional development.
He added that engagement sessions with local and international NGOs are ongoing to explore various initiatives for child detention through community-based programmes.
He further noted that Section 96(1) of the Child Act 2001 (Act 611) states that children under the age of 14 cannot be sentenced to imprisonment for any offence.
“Hence, foreign children under 14 years old will be placed in immigration depots while awaiting the repatriation process to their home countries. Meanwhile, foreign children aged 14 and above who are convicted of immigration offences will be detained in prison before being handed over to the Immigration Department for repatriation purposes,” he said.
Source:thesun.my
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Perak KPDN seizes 1,725 litres of diesel worth RM58,577.75 for subsidy abuse
BERNAMA
14-11- 2024
IPOH: A total of 1,725 litres of diesel which was misappropriated as well as a lorry and some other equipment worth RM58,577.75 were seized in a raid at a sand mining premises at Jalan Gopeng Batu 3, Batu Gajah, near here, yesterday.
Perak Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said the raid was carried out at around 7.30 am by Perak KPDN enforcement officers who had been conducting intelligence in the area for the past two weeks as a result of public information.
“We suspect that this activity was carried out by a number of truck drivers who illegally sold the subsidised fuel at a price of RM2 per litre to a syndicate active in the past one month.
“The syndicate will then sell the diesel to the sand mining company on the premises at a price of RM2.80 per litre,“ he said in a statement today.
Kamalludin said that in the same raid, two local men, aged 28 and 41, who were suspected to be the lorry driver and the owner of the premises, were arrested for further investigation.
Meanwhile in SHAH ALAM, the Selangor Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) confiscated 7,860 units of artificial prawn paste estimated to be worth RM50,000 following a raid on a factory in Taman Perindustrian Pandamaran, Klang near here, yesterday .
State KPDN chief enforcement officer Mohd Khairi Jamaludin said the raid around at 12 noon was carried out as a result of a complaint by a representative of the registered trademark owner regarding the presence of such activities on the premises.
He said the initial investigation found that the premises were selling a variety of frozen raw items including the prawn paste suspected of using fake trademarks.
“Further inspection found the paste was verified by the trademark representative during the raid and the goods were confiscated.
The act in question is an offence under Section 102(1)(c) of the Trademark Act 2019,“ he said in a statement here today.
Source:thesun.my
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Man caught transporting RM2m worth of meth paid just RM100, says Bukit Aman after Slim River drug bust
14 Nov 2024
TANJUNG MALIM, Nov 14 — Police detained three individuals, including a married couple, and seized more than 51 kg of methamphetamine at the Slim Perdana Business Centre in Taman Sri Jaya near Slim River on Monday.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Seri Khaw Kok Chin said the arrests, made in collaboration with Perak and Perlis NCID, involved intercepting a rented Proton Preve in the parking lot at 3.35pm.
“Police apprehended two local men and one local woman, aged between 25 and 27, who served as transporters. They had concealed 50 plastic packets containing methamphetamine powder and crystal chunks inside suitcases in the car’s trunk.
“The 51.97 kg drugs seized are valued at approximately RM2 million,” he said during a press conference at the Muallim District police headquarters today.
He added that it is believed the syndicate smuggles drugs from a neighbouring country and distributes them to the Klang Valley market via land routes.
Khaw said that investigations revealed the first suspect, aged 25, was paid RM2,000 for each drug delivery, while the third suspect, aged 27, only received RM100.
He added that the syndicate had been active since January, and only the first suspect had a criminal record and tested positive for methamphetamine.
The seized drugs, he noted, could supply approximately 260,000 drug users.
Khaw confirmed that all the suspects have been remanded for a week, until Nov 18, to assist in the case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“We are still tracing other members of the syndicate still at large to bring them to justice,” he said. — Bernama
Source:malaymail.com
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Sedition Act stays for now, but National Security Bill in the works, says deputy home minister
14 Nov 2024
By Muhammad Yusry
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — The government will retain the Sedition Act 1948, for now, to maintain public order and national security, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Based on a study conducted by the ministry, he said that the Cabinet has agreed in principle for the National Security Council (MKN) to coordinate the drafting of the National Security Bill.
“The home ministry conducted a study to reassess whether amendments to the Sedition Act are needed to align with the passage of time and the surge in digitalisation, or to draft new provisions addressing 3R issues,” he said, referring to race, religion, royalty.
“Following the study, the ministry presented a cabinet memorandum to set policy on the matter, and the Cabinet agreed in principle for MKN under the Prime Minister’s Department, to coordinate the drafting of a National Security Bill to protect the country from internal and external threats, including safeguarding the constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy, and interfaith harmony.
“Regarding the status of the Sedition Act, the act will be retained for now to maintain public order and national security,” he added.
Shamsul Anuar was responding to Kuching MP Kelvin Yii, who asked about the government’s plan to either abolish the Sedition Act or amend it so that it is used only for matters concerning the royal institution and not misused for other issues.
He said Article 10 of the Constitution clearly states that Malaysians have the freedom to express their opinions; however, in respecting this freedom, one should not overstep boundaries.
“This is why not all issues under 3R are prohibited unless they violate certain acts. It is preferable for the public to avoid discussing sensitive issues openly.
“In reality, actions taken by the police are often exaggerated. The police act to prevent such issues from spreading to the point of threatening national security,” he said.
Shamsul Anuar added that the police always act within the law and do not go beyond their limits. Furthermore, if the public is dissatisfied with the actions taken, there are complaint channels provided by the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC).
In March, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the Cabinet agreed to commence the process of amending the controversial Sedition Act 1948, starting with engagements with the police.
Source:malaymail.com
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Swim coach charged with sexually assaulting five-year-old boy in Sentul
14 Nov 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Nov — A swimming coach pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to a charge of sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy last week.
Ng Gwan Ho, 27, is accused of committing the act against the child for sexual purposes at a swimming school in Taman Sri Bintang, Sentul here at 5.40pm on November 7.
The man was charged under Section 14 (d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and liable for whipping, if convicted.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Atiqa Nazihah Azmi proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety and additional conditions for the accused not to approach the victim, report to the nearest police station once a month and hand over the passport to the court until the case is resolved.
Lawyer Azlan Shah Abd Razak who represented the accused applied for low bail on the grounds that his client is the only child and needs to take care of his mother who is not working.
Judge Azrul Darus allowed the accused to be bailed at RM10,000 with one surety with the additional condition of having to hand over his passport to the court and fixed Dec 17 for the mention of the case. — Bernama
Source:malaymail.com
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Amir Hamzah: Contrary to rumours, no cut to Sabah’s electricity subsidy, federal support remains strong
14 Nov 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — A recent allegation that the federal government has withdrawn the allocation of electricity subsidy to Sabah is untrue, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
According to Astro Awani, he said that the federal government remains committed to providing an electricity subsidy of RM3.54 billion over seven years, until 2030, following the transfer of regulatory authority to the state government.
He further explained that this decision was made after an agreement was reached to transfer the regulatory authority of electricity supply to the Sabah state government on January 3, 2024.
“As of September 2024, the federal government has disbursed RM449.4 million in electricity subsidies (out of the total allocation for 2024 of RM507 million), based on claims that have been reviewed and confirmed by ECoS to Sabah Electricity (SESB).
“The remaining allocation of around RM57.6 million will be disbursed once the claims are submitted, and it is expected that this balance will be fully disbursed before the end of this year,” he was quoted as saying during his closing speech at the Supply Bill Committee Stage yesterday.
Meanwhile, Amir Hamzah said that for 2025, the federal government has allocated RM700 million for the electricity subsidy, an increase of RM193 million from the 2024 allocation of RM507 million.
“The federal government is aware of the financial difficulties currently faced by Sabah Electricity.
“The Ministry of Finance, together with the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra), is currently reviewing and considering the application for the ICPT payment (June — December 2023) to Sabah Electricity, amounting to RM162 million.
“At the same time, the Ministry of Finance is also considering granting a moratorium on the repayment of Sabah Electricity’s loans to the Federal Government, estimated at around RM65 million,” he added.
Source:malaymail.com
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Over RM12.8b in unclaimed money still waiting for its rightful owners, finance minister II calls for action
14 Nov 2024
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 14 — Companies and firms have handed over RM17 billion in unclaimed money to the Accountant General’s Department with RM4.2 billion successfully claimed by rightful owners as of Oct 31.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2025 at the committee level for the Finance Ministry in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, said this leaves a remaining RM12.8 billion to be claimed.
He said since 2022, the Accountant General’s Department has set up 184 booths nationwide to increase public awareness and encourage more claims for unclaimed money.
Amir Hamzah also said that the government is exploring a proposal to use updated data from the National Registration Department (JPN) to locate rightful owners or heirs and directly credit the funds into their accounts.
In a related development, he said the Federal Government is prepared to consider proposals from the Kelantan and Terengganu governments for projects and programmes eligible funded through compassionate aid, particularly those aimed at poverty alleviation and basic infrastructure improvement.
He also said the Federal Government already provides development funds for projects in both states, channelled through various ministries.
“These include the Central Spine Road project and the construction of a water treatment plant in Kelantan, along with hospital construction, rural road links and upgrades to rural schools in Terengganu,” he added. — Bernama
Source:malaymail.com
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PM Anwar calls for stronger ties with Peru, Global South, highlights untapped potential
14 Nov 2024
LIMA, Nov 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed the importance of strengthening ties with the Global South, highlighting the vast untapped potential and emerging opportunities in this region.
“It’s crucial to shift course slightly and enhance collaboration with the Global South, tapping into the vast new potentials and opportunities,” he said in his opening remarks during the roundtable with captains of industry from Malaysia and Peru here Wednesday.
The Prime Minister is here for his official visit and also participation in the Apec Economic Leaders Week (AELW). Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said historically, the focus has been on a narrow set of partners, but the changing global dynamics present a compelling case for broadening the horizons and diversifying alliances.
He reiterated that while the United States remains Malaysia’s top investor, Putrajaya also has strong trading partnerships with China, “and we are collaborating effectively in multiple areas. That is the way forward.”
“We should not be dictated to by anyone; instead, we must be guided by what is best for our country, as determined by our own people.
“I believe Malaysia and Peru share the same perspective. We need to remain open and neutral. In Asean, we call it centrality,” he said.
Anwar said both countries share several major concerns, as both the countries are multiracial, and are working to bring about change and transitions within their respective nations.
“Peru has policies on energy transition, environmental transition, and multilateralism, as well as investment, trade, governance, and anti-corruption efforts.”
“All these areas are critical, and I express that now is the time to take concrete actions,” he said.
He said alignment of some of the policies between Malaysia and Peru are encouraged, as both countries are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), adding that both countries are now closely linked through Asean and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec).
The roundtable meeting with industry and business leaders served as a platform for the Malaysian delegation to promote trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia to companies from South America, particularly from Peru, offering detailed insights into Malaysia’s policies on energy transition, sustainability, and halal certification.
The meeting was attended by 22 representatives from 20 organisations, including major Peruvian conglomerates like Grupo Romero, Grupo Armejo Yepez, and Grupo Molicom.
Representatives from the National Port Authority of Peru and the National Chamber of Commerce were also present.
The parties explored strategies to leverage the CPTPP, and explored potential collaboration in maritime logistics, including port management.
During the meeting, Peruvian companies expressed particular interest in Malaysia’s capacity to export products such as medical equipment and supplies, steel- and glass-related building materials, as well as consumer goods.
Meanwhile, Anwar also launched Yinson Holdings Bhd’sMatarani Solar Park in Peru.
Yinson Renewables has completed the acquisition of the 97 megawatt peak (MWp) Matarani Solar Project in Peru from Grenergy Renewables, an international independent power producer, developer, and engineering, procurement, and construction company with a strong track record in Latin America.
The project is located in the Mollendo desert in the Arequipa region, one of the world’s highest solar irradiation areas.
Most of the project’s energy has been contracted through a power purchase agreement with a bankable off-taker for the next 15 years.
Project Matarani had recently entered commercial operation injecting about 260 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy into the Peruvian grid annually, enough to satisfy the energy needs of about 62,000 Peruvian households and prevent the emission of more than 56,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
In a statement, Yinson Group said the Matarani Solar Park is the country’s second-largest solar farm in Arequipa.
According to Yinson, the substantial increase in trade between Malaysia and Peru reflects Malaysia’s commitment to facilitating bilateral trade through clear policies and an emphasis on ease of doing business, benefiting citizens and fostering strong relations between the two nations.
“This collaboration is a form of Global South partnership, aimed not only at economic cooperation but also at creating a sustainable future for the benefit of the people and nations of Malaysia and Peru,” the company added. — Bernama
Source:malaymail.com
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South Asia
Snub To Mujibur Rahman, 'Secular' Word Out Of Constitution: Bangladesh To Become Islamic Nation Soon?
November 14, 2024
The Attorney General of Bangladesh, Md Asaduzzaman, has asked for the word secular to be removed from the country’s Constitution, arguing that “90 per cent of the population was Muslim". Asaduzzaman has also sought a change in the designation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who is referred to as the ‘Father of the Nation’, with India calling both the moves the rise of radical Bangladesh.
Presenting his arguments during a court hearing on the legality of the 15th Amendment before Justices Farah Mahbub and Debashish Roy Chowdhury, the Attorney General said the changes “would align the Constitution with the country’s democratic and historical ethos".
“Earlier, there was constant trust and faith in Allah. I want it the way it was before. It is said in Article 2A that the state shall ensure equal rights and equality in the practice of all religions. Article 9 talks about ‘Bengali nationalism’. It is contradictory," he said.
He added that many of the amendments, including labelling Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the “Father of the Nation", divide the nation and restrict freedom of speech. “Honouring the contributions of Sheikh Mujib is vital," he said, “but enforcing it by law creates division".
Top Indian government sources told CNN-News18 that more such changes would follow, adding that the Attorney General’s move was in line with the Yunus government. “The Jamaat-e-Islami is running its agenda in the country," they added.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN BANGLADESH?
A special tribunal in Bangladesh on Tuesday asked the international police organisation Interpol to issue a notice for the arrest of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in connection with the deaths of hundreds of protesters during a mass uprising against her.
Hasina fled to India on August 5 this year with her close aides and former ministers, ending a 15-year rule. Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as the interim leader of the South Asian nation on August 8, and later reconstituted the tribunal that once handled charges of crimes against humanity during the country’s 1971 independence war against Pakistan. The Yunus-led government has promised to try Hasina and said that it would seek her extradition from India.
Source:news18.com
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15th amendment ruined democracy
Nov 14, 2024
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman yesterday pleaded for the restoration of the election-time caretaker government system during a hearing at the High Court on a rule that questioned the legitimacy of the 15th constitutional amendment, which abolished the system.
Describing the 15th amendment law as a legislation that was intended to deceive the people, he said it was formulated to prolong the one-party fascist regime.
The "grave of democracy" was dug by abolishing the caretaker government system, Asaduzzaman remarked.
The top legal officer of the state called for declaring the 15th amendment unconstitutional, arguing that it violated the people's fundamental rights to voting, and destroyed democracy and other basic structures of the constitution.
He said the amendment cannot be kept as part of the constitution since it is "directly contradictory" to the spirits of the Liberation War, the 90's anti-autocracy movement, and the July-August mass uprising of 2024.
"If this amendment is not scrapped, the souls of the martyrs, including Abu Sayeed and Mugdho [Mir Mahfuzur Rahman], won't rest in peace," Asaduzzaman said.
The attorney general was presenting arguments before the HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury during the fifth day's hearing on the rule.
The 15th amendment in 2011 scrapped the 13th amendment, which had introduced the non-party caretaker government system in 1996.
After concluding the day's proceedings, the HC bench adjourned the hearing until today.
Earlier in the day, Asaduzzaman sought a directive from the HC to restore article 142 (1A) of the constitution -- a provision for referendums to get the people's opinions before bringing any constitutional amendment. The provision was removed through the 15th amendment.
"This provision was repealed by the votes of those who became members of parliament through vote rigging," he said.
The attorney general said the insertion of article 7A and 7B into the constitution through the 15th amendment "destroyed the sovereignty of the state and supremacy of the constitution".
Article 7A deals with "offence of abrogation, suspension, etc" and 7B states that the "basic provisions of the constitution are not amendable".
Asaduzzaman also said, "We want the words 'socialism' and 'secularism' to be dropped from the constitution …. 'Democracy', not 'socialism', can be the fundamental principle of the state policy."
He argued against declaring Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the father of the nation through the 15th amendment, saying there is a serious debate about the issue.
The attorney general also said article 9 about "Bangalee nationalism" is contradictory to the constitution, as there are people of other languages in the country who fought for independence.
Jamaat-e-Islami lawyer Shishir Manir said during the hearing, "Socialism has never been the aspiration of our people. However, the 15th amendment restored the concept of socialism in our constitution."
Following a writ petition, another HC bench led by Justice Naima Haider on August 19 issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the Constitution (15th Amendment) Act should not be declared unconstitutional.
The rule also asked why the previous actions taken under this act should not be treated as transactions past and closed.
Source:thedailystar.net
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4 die in pickup, autorickshaw collision
Nov 14, 2024
Four people including two siblings were killed and three others injured in a head-on collision between a pickup truck and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Paishka Bypass area at Nakla upazila of Sherpur yesterday noon.
Quoting locals, Habibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Nakla Police Station, said the accident took place when the Mymensingh-bound auto-rickshaw collided head on with the pickup in Gorergaon area.
The deceased are Subina Begum, 20, wife of Raju Mia, her younger brother Tajen Mia, 15, Tayera Begum, 10, daughter of Tofazzal Hossain, and Alauddin, 40.
The injured are Umme Salma, 40, her daughter Tora Begum, 16, and Chabid, 3. They have been admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Source:thedailystar.net
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Wounded protesters withdraw after 4 advisers meet them
Nov 13, 2024
A group of people injured during the July-August mass uprising, who were protesting for better treatment, agreed to return to their respective hospitals with the assurance that their demands would be met.
The development came after four advisers of the interim government -- Legal Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, Local Government Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser Mahfuj Alam -- went in front of the National Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Institute (NITOR), where the injured were staging their protest, at 2:30am and assured them of proper treatment and rehabilitation.
Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the health adviser, also accompanied them.
Around yesterday noon, more than 50 people injured in the uprising, who were undergoing treatment at NITOR in the capital's Agargaon area and the adjoining National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, launched the protest blocking the road in front of NITOR.
They demanded proper treatment and quick release of funds from the July Smriti Foundation for all the victims.
As their protest continued late into the night defying law enforcers, Hasnat Abdullah, convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement, which spearheaded the July uprising, and Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, general secretary of the July Smriti Foundation and brother of slain student protester Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, went there to calm the protesters.
Despite their promises and assurances, the protesters refused to end their protest.
At one point, they demanded that four advisers come to them and assure them of meeting their demands.
According to Prothom Alo, the advisers, who went there to respond to the call, admitted the government's mistakes and expressed their regret to the protesters.
They said a meeting will be held with a delegation of the injured at the Secretariat at 2:00pm today to discuss the demands.
They also announced that a roadmap for the treatment and rehabilitation of the injured will be prepared and implemented by December, the leading Bangla daily added.
Then the protesters agreed to return to their respective hospitals. The advisers were seen accompanying them to their hospital beds.
The four advisers left the scene around 4:15pm.
The protests began after Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, accompanied by British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, went to the hospital to visit them around 11:30pm.
When the two were leaving the hospital after talking to a few patients, the other injured victims gathered outside and blocked the adviser's car on the hospital premises, witnesses said.
Some lay in front of the vehicle, while others climbed onto it.
The protocol officers pushed them away during the protests, they alleged.
In response to the situation, the health adviser left in another vehicle. The UK high commissioner also had to leave the hospital in a different car.
The injured protesters – some with bandages on their hands, legs or eyes and others in wheelchairs or with crutches – then left the hospital premises and blocked the adjacent road.
They declared they would not clear the road until the health adviser met everyone. They also expressed frustration over not receiving the promised compensation of Tk 100,000 each.
Confirming the incident, Ziaul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of Tejgaon Division Police, said the adviser had left safely and her car was not damaged.
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities said those injured in the July uprising were being given the highest priority. Special wards and food have been designated for them.
Shahidul Islam, 19, a protester who was wounded by bullets and is now being treated on the second floor of the hospital, said the adviser and others arrived at the hospital and went to the third floor, where they talked to only a few of the injured.
"There are at least 42 of us receiving treatment on the second floor but the adviser was leaving the hospital without visiting us."
Upon hearing the news, the other injured July protesters, who are being treated at nearby hospitals, joined the protests as well.
At one stage, military personnel stationed near the hospital requested them to return to the hospital.
However, Md Masum, seated in a wheelchair, said they would not leave until the health adviser returned to meet them. "After three long months, she finally comes here but chooses to neglect us."
Expressing his grievances, Masum said, "She became an adviser over our blood. Many of us are yet to receive the promised compensation from the July Foundation."
Al Miraj, an MBA student of IUBAT, was injured in both eyes while protesting in Kakrail on the afternoon of July 19.
He has since been receiving treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital. "Doctors have said the treatment for my right eye is not available in the country. We took to the street to demand better treatment."
Currently, 84 injured protesters from the uprising are undergoing treatment at NITOR. Two separate wards are dedicated for the them -- one in level-2 and another in level-3, according to hospital officials.
Till date, 21 people have had their hands and legs amputated, while six patients have died.
Shahin Alam, a ninth-grader who was injured on August 5, and receiving treatment at NITOR, was also protesting yesterday.
"I was shot in the left leg and underwent four surgeries in NITOR. The doctor told me to come back after nine months. I don't think I'm getting proper treatment here."
Md Badiuzzaman, deputy director of NITOR, said, medical teams from China and Thailand visited them, and there is a team from the UK who are working to assess their treatment. Until yesterday, 15 people have undergone surgeries.
"Moreover, the foreign medical teams have expressed a great deal of satisfaction with our medical procedures. But it will take a long time for the patients' condition to improve, especially those with nerve injuries … Any claims of us not giving proper treatment are false."
Regarding those who did not receive compensation from July Foundation, he said, "As far as we know, there were some problems with papers of some of the patients, which is why they haven't received the money yet."
Source:thedailystar.net
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IEA delegation returns home as Telecommunication Conference concludes in India
November 14, 2024
KABUL: The Islamic Emirate delegation led by the head of the Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA), Barat Shah Agha Nadim, returned to the country after the 25th Meeting of the South Asian Telecommunication Regulators’ Council (SATRC-25), ended in India. The three-day conference, which was held in New Delhi from November 11 to 13, was attended by representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and other countries, the Islam ic Emirate spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on his X account.The IEA delegation exchanged experiences in the development and expansion of the telecommunications and information technology sectors. Recently, J.P. Singh, head of the Pakistan-AfghanistanIran division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, visited Kabul and met with a number of top officials of the government, including the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs. During the meetings, both parties discussed the expansion of bilateral relations. The IEA’s delegation participation in SATRC-25 and the recent diplomatic engagements with India indicate a potential shift towards increased regional cooperation in telecommunications and information technology, he said, assuring that such interactions could pave the way for enhanced connectivity and technological development in South Asia. The outcomes of SATRC25 and subsequent bilateral discussions will likely influence the future trajectory of Afghanistan’s integration into regional technological frameworks and its relationships withneighboring countries. The Kabul Times
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Islamic Art and Civilization Exhibition Highlights Afghanistan’s Historical Legacy at National Museum
2024-11-14
KABUL(BNA): The National Museum, under the Ministry of Information and Culture, held an Islamic Art and Civilization exhibition today, Wednesday at the museum’s auditorium, coinciding with the celebration of International Museum Workers’ Day.
Speaking at the event, Sabrullah Abed, the Director of the National Museum, stated that the museum is currently in good condition and emphasized that Afghanistan, with its rich civilization, has a long and significant history on the global stage.
At the same time, Atiqullah Azizi, the Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture at the Ministry of Information and Culture, noted, “Our responsibility is to ensure attention to all sections of the National Museum. The historical artifacts here reflect Afghanistan’s shared heritage with regional and global communities, and they serve as evidence of the nation’s enduring ties with the world.”
“There is no doubt that a nation may claim to be civilized, but without art or preserved heritage as evidence, such claims lack foundation. Afghanistan is one of the countries that possesses many historical artifacts and pieces of evidence from its past civilization,” Azizi further said.
It is noteworthy that various historical artifacts from the Ghaznaviyan period were displayed at the Islamic Art and Civilization exhibition.
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Voice and Data Prices Reduced as Ministry Sets New Telecom Price Ceilings
2024-11-13
KABUL(BNA): The Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology announced today a reduction in the costs of voice calls and internet packages.
In a press conference, Acting Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mawlawi Najibullah Hayat Haqqani, shared that rates for voice calls and internet packages across telecom networks have been reduced, setting new price ceilings.
The Acting Minister reiterated the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s commitment to providing round-the-clock services to citizens. He emphasized that delivering telecommunications services is a priority for the ministry, noting that addressing citizens’ concerns about call rates and internet costs has been a focus.
According to the Acting Minister Mawlawi Haqqani, following an analysis of service costs over the past year, a new price ceiling has been set for voice and internet services. He explained that the cost for one minute of voice calls within the same network is now 1.30 AFN, reflecting a 30% decrease from previous rates. Calls across different networks are now priced at 1.40 AFN per minute, a 36% reduction. Monthly internet packages are set at 95 AFN per GB, a 14% decrease from last year.
The revised pricing for inter-network calls is now 0.50 AFN, representing a 50% reduction, and the new price ceilings will take effect in a month and a half, at the start of the next year.
Minister Haqqani noted that the ATRA (Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) initially set telecom price ceilings two years ago, leading to increased market competition and significant cost reductions. He assured that transparency is maintained across all services and emphasized ongoing efforts to provide citizens with quality, standardized telecommunications services.
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Da Afghanistan Bank Hosts National Microfinance Conference to Strengthen Sector Coordination
2024-11-13
KABUL (BNA): Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) held the National Conference on Microfinancing today in Kabul. The event aimed to raise public awareness about the facilities created for microfinancing, strengthen coordination between domestic and international institutions, and evaluate the opportunities and challenges facing the microfinance sector in Afghanistan.
According to Bakhtar News Agency, the conference was attended by senior officials from the Islamic Emirate, cabinet members, representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and the World Bank, as well as ambassadors from various countries, heads of national and international institutions, and several national investors and businesspeople.
In his opening remarks, Noor Ahmad Agha, Governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, highlighted the significance of the microfinance sector and its regulatory framework. He stated, “Microfinancing provides countless opportunities for economic progress in our society and is essential for individuals who lack access to formal banking services yet seek to improve the lives of their families and communities through economic activities.”
He emphasized the need for comprehensive cooperation among the Islamic Emirate, the private sector, and both domestic and international institutions, underscoring that such collaboration is vital for addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities within the microfinance sector.
Following this, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund noted that the primary beneficiaries of the microfinance sector are the general public, including farmers and small business owners. He stated, “Supporting these individuals is a shared goal of both the Islamic Emirate and the international community.” He added that the Islamic Emirate is committed to reducing poverty and unemployment in the country, which is why Da Afghanistan Bank has established regulations to oversee and organize microfinance institutions, a task neglected over the past two decades.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on the international community, donor agencies, and affluent Afghans to stand with the Islamic Emirate in supporting the microfinance sector.
Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, also addressed the conference on the role of international partners in developing the microfinance sector, reaffirming that the Islamic Emirate’s policies are economically focused. He assured that anyone wishing to invest in Afghanistan would receive full support, welcome, and necessary facilitation from the Islamic Emirate.
Additionally, Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi expressed that the Islamic Emirate, particularly the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, prioritizes economic growth policies that support the private sector, which serves as the backbone of the country’s economy. He mentioned that reform programs are underway to further facilitate the private sector.
Meanwhile, Rosa Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to Afghanistan, discussed how the microfinance sector has improved economic conditions in other countries and highlighted the commitment of the UN and the international community to assist Afghanistan’s microfinance sector. She called on relevant Islamic Emirate agencies and all national and international organizations to support the sector, enabling it to extend its reach from the capital to provinces and eventually to districts.
At the conclusion, licenses were distributed to representatives of various institutions active in the microfinance sector.
It is noteworthy that microfinance institutions, operating within Da Afghanistan Bank’s regulatory framework, provide secure and appropriate financial services that benefit investors and contribute to the economic development and growth of society.
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Afghanistan Science Academy Hosts Seminar on Sustainable Water Resource Management
2024-11-13
KABUL(BNA): The Afghanistan Science Academy held a seminar in Kabul today under the theme Exploring Methods for Proper Utilization of the Country’s Water Resources.
In a message sent to the seminar, the Prime Minister of IEA, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund emphasized that climate change, drought, and population growth have led to a growing threat of water scarcity. The message noted that in response to this issue, the Islamic Emirate has made water management a key priority.
The Prime Minister also called on the public to cooperate in managing water, conserving water resources, and practicing water-saving measures.
Acting Minister of Energy and Water, Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, spoke at the seminar, stating that the Islamic Emirate, particularly the Ministry of Energy and Water, has accelerated efforts for water management. He noted that the Honorable Amir al-Mu’minin has approved the construction of four major dams and numerous smaller dams across the country, with several projects already underway and others set to begin soon.
He highlighted that, especially with the use of solar power, the country has been excessively drawing on groundwater resources, resulting in a significant depletion of underground water levels.
Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi also addressed the seminar in a message, stating that the Islamic Emirate has taken initial steps toward fair water distribution agreements with neighboring countries, expressing hope that water-related issues will be resolved through diplomacy.
The seminar participants discussed the country’s water scarcity challenges, potential solutions, water management, conservation, and various related aspects.
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New Medical Equipment Worth 20 Million AFN Enhances Services at Khost Hospital
2024-11-13
KHOST(BNA): Officials from the Khost Provincial Health Directorate report that medical equipment and supplies worth 20 million Afghanis have been delivered to the Khost Civil Specialized Hospital.
Dr. Haji Ahmad, the director of the Khost Health Directorate, told Bakhtar News Agency that, under the support of the Ministry of Public Health, the Khost Civil Specialized Hospital has received two echocardiogram machines for diagnosing heart diseases, ten oxygen supply units, two stethoscope ultrasound machines, wheelchairs, and a variety of other medical equipment, collectively valued at approximately 20 million Afghanis.
He added that this new medical equipment will enhance patient care and improve healthcare services at the hospital.
Meanwhile, doctors at Khost Civil Specialized Hospital consider the provided medical equipment to be a significant contribution to meeting the hospital’s essential needs, while urging further attention to the supply of medical tools and medicines.
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Mideast
Israel’s ban on UN agency for Palestinian refugees will have ‘catastrophic consequences’
JONATHAN LESSWARE
November 13, 2024
An Israeli law banning the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees will have “catastrophic consequences” that threaten regional stability, the head of the organization warned on Wednesday.
In an impassioned plea to the General Assembly, Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, urged member states to take action to prevent Israel’s move against his organization.
The Israeli parliament voted last month to cut ties with UNRWA and ban it from operating in Israel. The law, which is expected to be implemented within three months, will severely limit the agency’s ability to operate in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza, where millions of Palestinians rely on its services.
Meanwhile, the appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with international aid groups accusing Israel this week of failing to meet US demands to alleviate the suffering.
Lazzarini spelled out the severity of the situation in his address to the General Assembly as he issued stark warnings about the far-reaching implications of the decision to ban UNRWA. He said it would not only cause the humanitarian response in Gaza to collapse but also deal a blow to the international rules-based order under which all UN agencies must operate.
“The risk of the agency’s collapse threatens the lives and futures of individuals and communities, the stability of the region, and the integrity of our multilateral system,” Lazzarini said.
UNRWA, he added, has become another casualty of the war in Gaza, during which Israeli forces have killed more than 43,000 people, the majority of them women and children. He said famine has probably already taken hold in the territory, and hunger and disease are widespread.
“The implementation of the Knesset (Israeli parliament) legislation will have catastrophic consequences,” Lazzarini said.
“In Gaza, dismantling UNRWA will collapse the United Nations’ humanitarian response, which relies heavily on the agency’s infrastructure.”
He went on to highlight the devastating effects the ban would have on education in Gaza, where “in the absence of a capable public administration or state, only UNRWA can deliver education to more than 660,000 girls and boys.
“In the absence of UNRWA, an entire generation will be denied the right to education. Their future will be sacrificed, sowing the seeds for marginalization and extremism.”
Schooling for a further 50,000 children in the West Bank would also be under threat, along with primary health care for half a million Palestinian refugees.
Lazzarini repeated previous requests for UN member states to do whatever they can to halt the implementation of the Israeli ban and maintain funding for UNRWA. He painted Israel’s actions targeting the agency as representing a wider threat to the UN and the multilateral world order under which it operates.
“The United Nations and its staff are in an increasingly untenable position; if the legal and political framework within which we operate does not hold, we cannot stay and deliver,” he said.
Speaking later to the press, Lazzarini said there had been much anger and condemnation in response to the Israeli law and he hopes there might still be some pathway to prevent its implementation. But he conceded this might be “wishful thinking.”
The Israeli law was widely criticized in the region and the wider international community. Saudi Arabia described it as a “flagrant violation of international law and a direct violation of the rules of international legitimacy.”
On Tuesday, the US said Israeli authorities had made some progress in increasing the flow of aid to Gaza and, as a result, Washington would not limit weapons transfers to the country. However, this came as a report published by eight international aid agencies said conditions in the territory were worse than at any point in the war.
Israel claims that some UNRWA staff took part in the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel last year, which killed about 1,200 people and sparked the war in Gaza. The UN reacted by firing nine of the agency’s workers that might have been involved. Lazzarini said the agency has a “zero-tolerance approach” to any breaches of its neutrality.
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Israel wants freedom to strike Lebanon even after ceasefire, France says
November 13, 2024
PARIS: Israeli officials are insisting on maintaining a capacity to strike Lebanon at any moment as part of conditions to secure a ceasefire with Iran-backed Hezbollah, France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Speaking to a parliamentary hearing after holding talks in Israel last week in Jerusalem, Jean-Noel Barrot said it was a condition increasingly voiced among Israeli officials.
“Today we hear in Israel voices calling for it to keep a capacity to strike at any moment or even enter Lebanon, as is the case with its neighbor Syria,” said Barrot, who held talks with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and new Defense Minister Israel Katz last week.
“That is not compatible with the sovereignty of a strong country,” Barrot said, referring to broader efforts to help strengthen Lebanon’s governance.
Several diplomats said that it would be all but impossible to get Hezbollah or Lebanon to accept any proposal that included this demand.
There was no immediate comment from Israel on the remarks. Its defense minister, Israel Katz, said earlier: “We will not allow any arrangement that does not include the achievement of the war’s objectives — and above all Israel’s right to enforce and act on its own against any terrorist activity.”
France, which has historical ties with Lebanon, has sought to play a role in trying to secure a ceasefire in the Middle Eastern country.
It has worked with the United States to try to implement a temporary ceasefire, but those talks stalled at the end of September.
Coordination between Paris and the outgoing US administration to get a ceasefire has been more complicated since, with US envoy Amos Hochstein focused on his own proposals.
Barrot said it made no sense for France to lead initiatives by itself on Lebanon given it needed the United States to convince Israel, just like it was not helpful for Washington to go it alone because it would “lack a fine appreciation of Lebanon’s internal political dynamics,” he said.
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Six Israeli troops killed in south Lebanon combat: army
November 13, 2024
JERUSALEM: The Israeli army said six soldiers have been killed in fighting in southern Lebanon Wednesday, making it the deadliest day for its troops since the start of ground operations in September.
The soldiers “fell during combat in southern Lebanon,” the army said in a statement. Their deaths mean 47 Israeli troops have been killed in combat with Hezbollah since the start of ground operations on September 30.
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Israeli forces kill 22 people in Gaza, force new displacement in the north
November 13, 2024
CAIRO: Israeli military strikes killed at least 22 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, as Israeli forces deepened their incursion into Beit Hanoun town in the north, forcing most remaining residents to leave.
Residents said Israeli forces besieged shelters housing displaced families and the remaining population, which some estimated at a few thousand, ordering them to head south through a checkpoint separating two towns and a refugee camp in the north from Gaza City.
Men were held for questioning, while women and children were allowed to continue toward Gaza City, residents and Palestinian medics said.
Israel’s campaign in the north of Gaza, and the evacuation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the area, has fueled claims from Palestinians that it is clearing the area for use as a buffer zone and potentially for a return of Jewish settlers.
“The scenes of the 1948 catastrophe are being repeated. Israel is repeating its massacres, displacement and destruction,” said Saed, 48, a resident of Beit Lahiya, who arrived in Gaza City on Wednesday.
“North Gaza is being turned into a large buffer zone, Israel is carrying out ethnic cleansing under the sight and hearing of the impotent world,” he told Reuters via a chat app.
Saed was referring to the 1948 Middle East Arab-Israeli war which gave birth to the state of Israel and saw the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their home towns and villages in what is now Israel.
NO PLANS FOR SETTLERS’ RETURN
The Israeli military has denied any such intention, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he does not want to reverse the 2005 withdrawal of settlers from Gaza. Hard-liners in his government have talked openly about going back.
It said forces have killed hundreds of Hamas militants in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun during its new military offensive, which began more than a month ago. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad armed wing claimed killing several Israeli soldiers during ambushes and anti-tank rocket fire.
Efforts by Arab mediators, Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have so far failed to end the war in Gaza, with Hamas and Israel trading the blame for the lack of progress.
Speaking on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel “has accomplished the goals that it set for itself” by taking out Hamas’ leadership and ensuring the group is unable to launch another massive attack. “This should be a time to end the war,” he said.
“We also need to make sure we have a plan for what follows,” he said, “so that if Israel decides to end the war and we find a way to get the hostages out, we also have a clear plan so that Israel can get out of Gaza and we make sure that Hamas is not going back in.”
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Blinken’s comments showed: “We are facing one enemy and that the US enmity against the Palestinian people is no less than that of the occupation.”
On Tuesday, the United States stressed at the United Nations that “there must be no forcible displacement, nor policy of starvation in Gaza” by Israel, warning such policies would have grave implications under US and international law.
Medics said five people were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a group of people outside Kamal Adwan Hospital near Beit Lahiya, while five others were killed in two separate strikes in Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip where the army began a limited raid two days ago.
In Rafah, near the border with Egypt, one man was killed and several others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike, while three Palestinians were killed in two separate Israeli airstrikes in Shejaia suburb of Gaza City, medics added.
Later on Wednesday, an Israeli strike on a house in western Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip killed eight people, medics said.
Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel last October, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
More than 43,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza over the past year, Palestinian health officials say, and Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland of wrecked buildings and piles of rubble, where more than 2 million Gazans are seeking shelter in makeshift tents and facing shortages of food and medicines.
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Israeli airforce bombs Syria-Lebanon border
November 13, 2024
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said that it carried out air strikes on Wednesday along the border with Syria and Lebanon, with state media in Damascus saying that key infrastructure had been targeted.
A leading monitor said that 15 people had been wounded in the strikes in an area of Syria’s Homs region which is a known stronghold of Lebanon’s Hezbollah although there was no immediate confirmation from Syrian authorities.
Israel rarely comments on its military operations in Syria but it did confirm the strikes which had been first reported by the Syrian state news agency Sana.
“Earlier today, with the direction of IDF (military) intelligence, the IAF (Israeli airforce) struck smuggling routes between Syria and Lebanon,” the army said in a statement.
“These routes coming from the Syrian side of the border into Lebanon are used to smuggle weapons to the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”
The Sana news agency said that “the Israeli aggression” on the Homs region had been met with a barrage of anti-aircraft fire.
Citing a military source, Sana said that the Israeli planes had targeted bridges along the Orontes river and roads around the Syria-Lebanon border.
The strikes had caused “significant damage,” according to the source, putting some of the infrastructure out of action, without giving details.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor also said that Israeli military aircraft had hit Syrian bridges and military checkpoints.
Fifteen members of the Syrian armed forces or allied groups had been wounded in the strikes, said the observatory which has a vast network of contacts throughout Syria.
But since civil war broke out in Syria in 2011, it has carried out hundreds of air strikes on Syrian government forces and groups supported by its arch-foe Iran, notably Hezbollah troops that have been deployed to assist Assad’s regime.
Israel has carried out frequent raids on highways on the Lebanese side of the border with Syria to cut off potential weapons supplies since a major escalation of its conflict with Hezbollah in September.
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Palestinian Islamic Jihad releases propaganda video of hostage Sasha Trufanov
13 November 2024
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group on Wednesday published a propaganda video of hostage Sasha Trufanov, which his family authorized media outlets to publicize.
After a year in captivity, Trufanov describes a shortage of food, water, electricity, and basic hygiene products in the Gaza Strip, adding that he now has a skin condition that he did not have before being abducted. Like in several other hostage videos released by terror groups, Trufanov urges citizens to demand the government reach a deal for their release, and says that the Israel Defense Forces operation only puts them in more danger.
It is unclear exactly when the video was made, though it appears to be recent, as Trufanov mentions Israel’s ground incursion in Lebanon, which was announced on October 1. Though he says in the clip that he is aged 28, the video was released two days after he turned 29, his second birthday in captivity.
“I want to remind the citizens of Israel that every time you eat something or drink something, remember us, the hostages, who don’t have the opportunity to enjoy food or water,” he says.
Trufanov says that when border crossings are closed to Gaza and humanitarian aid is halted, life is made difficult for the hostages as well as the Palestinians.
He says that his life is in danger, mainly due to “the military efforts that are aimed at releasing us,” adding that his captors have guarded him with their lives, and some were injured and killed in the process.
“My fear for my life is daily. The military efforts to release me that [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is selling you is what will end up leading to my death,” he says.
“I can tell you I have become scared of the army. I am really afraid of the moment the army might get to me, or blow up the place I am located,” Trufanov says, claiming that many hostages have been killed by the military.
He says that the only good thing that had been done for the hostages was the first truce in November when 105 were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Trufanov also asks the citizens of Israel to keep protesting and to remember the hostages, expressing concern that the government has moved on and has “forgotten” those held in Gaza while fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“Go to the streets, close the roads for a period of time. Go on strike for a period of time. Remember us. Don’t forget us. We are here in Gaza, in danger daily, in a difficult situation,” he urged, adding that he missed his family and freedom.
The video of Trufanov was released more than 13 months after Palestinian terrorists rampaged through Kibbutz Nir Oz, killing or kidnapping 117 of its 400 residents. Trufanov was taken hostage along with three members of his family — grandmother Irena Tati, mother Lena Trufanova, and his girlfriend, Sapir Cohen.
It was the third video the terror group has released of Trufanov.
Responding to the video, Trufanov’s mother said that she was relieved to receive proof of life but that she was “very worried to hear what he is saying.”
“I urge that every effort be made to secure his immediate release and that of all other hostages. They have no time left,” said Trufanova.
Trufanova and Tati were released by Hamas on November 29 at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cohen was released on November 30 as part of the temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The Hostages Families Forum said that the “horrific” video shows the urgent need for a deal.
The video “highlights the urgency of returning the 101 hostages – and now, with winter approaching, these hostages, who have been subjected to horrific conditions of abuse, starvation, and darkness for over a year, face an increasing risk of losing their lives,” the group said.
Terror groups have previously issued similar videos of hostages in what Israel says is deplorable psychological warfare.
Most Israeli media outlets do not carry the video clips unless given permission by relatives.
Sasha Trufanov is an engineer employed at Annapurna Labs, an Israeli microelectronics company purchased by Amazon.
He and Cohen had recently moved in together in a Ramat Gan apartment, so when the Gaza border communities were attacked by Hamas terrorists in what became a massacre of hundreds, his friends didn’t know at first that he was visiting his family there.
Last month, the terror group said Trufanov and another hostage with Russian citizenship, Maxim Herkin, would be among the first to be released in an eventual hostage deal.
According to Channel 12 news, Russia’s ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov told Israeli political officials on Tuesday that Moscow had received a sign of life from Trufanov ten days ago.
The report said that Trufanov’s mother Lena was updated on the matter. The network also reported Viktorov told officials that Moscow has channels for receiving updates on Trufanov and Harkin.
It is believed that 97 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.
Four hostages were released before the November deal, eight hostages have been rescued by troops alive, and the bodies of 37 hostages have been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military as they tried to escape their captors.
Hamas is also holding two Israeli civilians who entered the Strip in 2014 and 2015, as well as the bodies of two IDF soldiers who were killed in 2014.
Terrorist who participated in Oct. 7 massacre killed in Gaza
A terrorist who participated in the October 7 onslaught was killed in a recent IDF drone strike in Gaza City, the military said Wednesday.
It said that it had targeted and eliminated a cell of gunmen spotted operating in the Shejaiya neighborhood of Gaza City. Among the dead was Yasser Ghandi, who according to the IDF infiltrated into Israel and participated in the attack on October 7.
Palestinian medics said Wednesday that five were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a group of people outside Kamal Adwan Hospital near Beit Lahiya, while five others were killed in two separate strikes in Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip where the army began a limited raid two days ago.
In Rafah, near the border with Egypt, one man was killed and several others were wounded in an Israeli airstrike, while three Palestinians were killed in two separate airstrikes in the Shejaia neighborhood of Gaza City, medics added.
On Tuesday, the military said troops of the Kfir Brigade operating in Beit Lahiya discovered and demolished a Hamas rocket launcher primed for an attack on Israeli border communities.
The IDF said the soldiers also killed several gunmen who were holed up in a building in the area. The building, which the military says served as a command center for the terror operatives, was later demolished.
The Kfir Brigade has been operating in the Beit Lahiya area, close to Jabalia, amid an ongoing operation against Hamas in northern Gaza. On Monday, four soldiers of the brigade were killed during the fighting.
The IDF’s offensive in Jabalia began in early October, the fourth push into the northern Gaza refugee camp since the start of the war a year ago. The military has said that this operation will finally break Hamas’s forces in Jabalia, which it has called the “most significant center of gravity” for the terror group in northern Gaza.
The IDF claims that more than 55,000 civilians have left Jabalia after Hamas allegedly forced them to stay there to act as a human shield for their activities. Some 60,000 Palestinians were estimated to have been in Jabalia before the latest operation was launched last month.
The population has largely moved to Gaza City, with only a few dozen crossing the IDF’s Netzarim Corridor and heading to the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in the Strip’s south.
Last week, the IDF estimated that only a few hundred people were left in Jabalia, both civilians and combatants. Several thousand Palestinians also remain in Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and other northern Gaza towns, where the military is also operating against Hamas as part of the ongoing offensive.
The army said it has killed over 1,000 Hamas operatives in the renewed Jabalia offensive, adding that it has taken over 1,000 operatives into custody.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says that over 43,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war in Gaza, though the numbers cannot be verified and do not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel says it has killed some 18,000 combatants in battle as of November and another 1,000 terrorists inside Israel on October 7.
Israel’s toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and in military operations along the border with the Strip stands at 375.
The war erupted when Hamas-led terrorists rampaged through southern communities on October 7, 2023, murdering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages to Gaza.
Source:timesofisrael.com
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How Syrians in war-torn Lebanon are coping with double displacement
ANAN TELLO
November 13, 2024
LONDON: Syrians displaced to Lebanon by the civil war in their home country have found themselves on the move once again, as Israel’s targeting of the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militia has forced more than a million people from their homes.
Many Syrians, unable to return home for fear of conscription or arrest, face a difficult dilemma — whether to ride out the conflict in Lebanon, despite deepening poverty and mounting hostility, or even risk the irregular sea crossing to Cyprus or beyond.
Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been trading blows along the Lebanese border since Oct. 8, 2023, when the militia began rocketing northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas, its Palestinian militia ally, which had just attacked southern Israel, sparking the Gaza war.
However, in September this year, the Israeli military suddenly ramped up its attacks on Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, disrupting its communications network, destroying arms caches, and eliminating much of its senior leadership.
Israeli jets have pounded Hezbollah positions in towns and villages across southern Lebanon and its strongholds in the suburbs of the capital, Beirut, while ground forces have mounted “limited” incursions into Lebanese territory.
More than 1.2 million people have been displaced since the hostilities began more than a year ago, according to UN figures. Among them, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has identified 34,000 Syrians who have been secondarily displaced since October 2023.
For Lebanese civilians, the conflict has revived grim memories of the devastating 2006 war with Israel and the civil war years of 1975-90. For Syrians, though, the memories of conflict and displacement are even more raw, with the 13-year civil war in their home country still ongoing.
Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon took part in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, on the side of the Bashar Assad regime against armed opposition groups, thereby contributing to the mass displacement of Syrians that followed.
“Refugees who have fled their homeland in search of safety and security are now facing the reality of being displaced once again in Lebanon due to ongoing hostilities,” Lisa Abou Khaled, a UNHCR spokesperson, told Arab News.
“This double displacement exacerbates their vulnerability.”
UNHCR reported that more than 400,000 people, at least 70 percent of them Syrians, have crossed the border into Syria to escape the escalating violence in Lebanon. However, for many, returning home is not an option.
The alternative is to remain in Lebanon, where Syrians have reportedly been denied access to work, housing, and services amid the country’s economic crisis, and mounting hostility from Lebanese citizens who believe their own needs have been overlooked.
Rabab, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, spent several nights sleeping rough in Sidon’s Martyrs’ Square last month before locals offered her and her husband a place to stay.
“When we visited the municipality, they refused to register our names and said priority was given to displaced Lebanese families,” Rabab, who is originally from northwest Syria, told Arab News.
“Returning to Syria now is out of the question as I have no family left there, and my husband will face conscription.”
The result has been a growing number of Syrian families displaced from southern Lebanon sleeping rough on the streets of Sidon and other cities, with the buzz of Israeli drones and jets overhead and winter temperatures fast approaching.
“Many displaced Syrians in Lebanon, particularly those newly displaced due to recent escalations, face significant challenges in accessing shelters,” Tania Baban, the Lebanon country director of the US-based charity MedGlobal, told Arab News.
Recounting an incident in Sidon, where displaced Syrians had been turned away “due to a lack of shelter capacity,” Baban said: “Municipalities in regions have implemented restrictions, often barring entry to Syrian displaced people, citing overcrowding or security concerns.
“As a result, some families are sleeping in informal makeshift camps, abandoned buildings, or even out in the open parking lots in Sidon,” she added, stressing that the situation is particularly dire in areas like the capital, Beirut, which was already overpopulated prior to the escalation.
Hector Hajjar, Lebanon’s caretaker minister of social affairs, has denied accusations of discrimination against displaced Syrians. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Hajjar said earlier this month that his government was committed to safeguarding all affected groups.
Stressing that “UNHCR appreciates Lebanon’s generous hospitality in hosting so many refugees and understands the challenges this adds at this very delicate juncture,” the UN agency’s spokesperson Abou Khaled called on “all actors to maintain and apply humanitarian principles and allow equal access to assistance.”
“Newly displaced Syrians and Lebanese in several regions tell us that they have had to sleep in the open,” she said, adding that “UNHCR and partners are working with the relevant authorities on finding urgent solutions to this issue.”
Lebanon has the most refugees per capita in the world, hosting some 1.5 million Syrians prior to the current escalation, according to government estimates.
Zaher Sahloul, president of MedGlobal, called on humanitarian agencies to “act swiftly to provide the protection and support these refugees urgently need.”
“Every person, regardless of nationality, deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion during this crisis,” he said in a statement in late September.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case for many Syrians in Lebanon.
Footage has emerged on social media showing the purported abuse of Syrians. In one such video, a man was seen tied to a post on a city street while the person filming claims this was done because people in Syria’s Idlib had celebrated the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
Meanwhile, some Lebanese politicians have seized upon the worsening situation in Lebanon to advance an anti-Syrian agenda, insisting Syria is now safe for them to return.
Last month, Bachir Khodr, the governor of Baalbek-Hermel, told Al-Jadeed TV that “the reason for the Syrians’ presence is the war in Syria. This war has ended, so they must now leave Lebanon, as the war is here now.”
Lebanon has endured a crippling economic crisis since 2019, which has plunged much of the population into poverty. In recent years, Lebanese politicians have characterized displaced Syrians as a burden on society and called for their deportation.
Despite human rights organizations unanimously agreeing in May that no part of Syria is safe for returnees, a UNHCR report in March highlighted that 13,772 Syrians had been deported from Lebanon or pushed back at the border with Syria in about 300 incidents in 2023.
Human Rights Watch also reported in April that Lebanese authorities “have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and forcibly returned Syrians to Syria,” including activists and army defectors.
Disputing the findings, Khodr, the governor of Baalbek-Hermel, argued that the return of some “235,000 displaced Syrians” to their country “challenges the theory that the Syrian authorities might arrest those returning to it.”
“We have repeatedly said that the Syrian side has not harassed any of its citizens who have returned since the start of the voluntary return campaigns in 2018, but rather they have been treated in the best possible way,” Khodr posted on the social platform X on Oct. 8.
However, the UK-based Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that Syrian authorities have arrested 23 individuals who had returned from Lebanon since September.
For those Syrians who have chosen to remain in Lebanon, despite its many challenges, assistance provided by humanitarian aid agencies has become a vital lifeline.
Abou Khaled of UNHCR said her agency “is working relentlessly with humanitarian partners and Lebanese authorities to urgently find safe shelter for those without any.”
“A comprehensive emergency shelter strategy has been shared with proposed shelter solutions in all Lebanese regions and work is ongoing at the cadastre and district levels to implement parts of it.”
She added: “Current hostilities, compounded by the ongoing socio-economic situation, create challenges for all communities, all of whom deserve equal access to safety and dignity.”
Source:arabnews.com
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Why is only limited aid getting to Palestinians inside Gaza?
November 13, 2024
JERUSALEM: The US decided not to punish Israel over the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip after giving it an ultimatum to increase aid entering the territory. But the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians is still at nearly its lowest level of the entire 13-month-old war.
The White House last month gave Israel 30 days to improve conditions or risk losing military support. As the deadline expired Tuesday, leading international aid groups said Israel had fallen far short.
But the US State Department announced it would not take any punitive action, saying Israel has made limited progress. However, it called for more steps.
Aid groups accuse the Israeli military of hindering and even blocking shipments in Gaza. Almost the entire population of around 2.3 million Palestinians relies on international aid for survival, and doctors and aid groups say malnutrition is rampant. Food security experts say famine may already be underway in hard-hit north Gaza.
“It’s really frustrating because by almost every objective metric, all agencies say that the humanitarian situation has gotten worse in that time frame that the US has specified,” Aseel Baidoun, a senior manager of the aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians, said.
“Even though we have provided all the evidence that there is a risk of famine ... still the U.S. miraculously finds Israel not violating the humanitarian aid law.”
Israel, which controls all crossings into Gaza, says it is committed to delivering humanitarian assistance and has scrambled to ramp up aid.
COGAT, the military body in charge of aid passage, said they had taken a number of steps over the past month to increase the amount entering the territory, including opening a fifth crossing — into central Gaza — this week.
Israel says the UN and international aid groups need to do a better job of distributing supplies.
Aid into Gaza is typically measured in terms of truckloads of food and supplies entering the territory. The US has demanded 350 trucks daily — still below the 500 a day that entered before the war.
In October, aid entry plunged to its lowest level since the first month of the war. Israeli government figures show roughly 57 trucks a day entering on average. The average has risen to 100 a day so far in November, slightly lower than the same month last year.
The UN, however, says even less is entering. It reports receiving an average of 39 trucks daily since the beginning of October. This is largely because it says it cannot reach the main crossing point in the south to collect cargos due to Israeli military restrictions and lawlessness. The UN says virtually no food or other aid has reached the northernmost part of Gaza since the beginning of October. That’s when the Israeli military launched a major offensive against Hamas fighters in the area of Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, cutting them off.
Israel says October’s drop in aid was because it closed crossings into Gaza during the Jewish high holidays. It said it couldn’t allow deliveries to the far north in October because of the fighting.
Under international pressure, COGAT allowed two deliveries to the far north this month.
But little of it got through. Last week, the World Food Programme said troops on the ground ordered its trucks to unload their cargo before reaching their destination.
Source:arabnews.com
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Erdogan still hopes to meet Assad to repair Turkiye-Syria ties, CNN Turk reports
November 13, 2024
ANKARA: Türkiye’s President Tayyip Erdogan said he still hopes to meet with Syrian President Bashar Assad to repair ties with the neighboring country, broadcaster CNN Turk reported on Wednesday.
“Restoring ties with Bashar Assad will soothe regional tensions, hopefully,” Erdogan was quoted as telling reporters on his flight back from Azerbaijan.
Source:arabnews.com
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Iraqi Islamic Resistance claims strikes on “vital targets” in northern Israel
2024-11-14
Shafaq News/ The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) announced, on Thursday, that it launched multiple drone attacks on “vital targets” in northern Israel.
In three consecutive statements, the group stated that its fighters targeted a key site each time using drones.
The group declared that all its operations are “in support of our people in Palestine and Lebanon”, vowing to continue “resisting the occupation [Israel].”
Meanwhile, the Israeli army reported, on Thursday, that it had downed a drone approaching from Syria, believed to have originated from Iraq.
This marks the second drone intercepted by Israeli forces within 24 hours.
Source:shafaq.com
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Arab World
Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation
November 14, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, held talks in Paris on Wednesday on cultural cooperation.
They discussed cultural exchanges between their countries and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production.
Riyadh and Paris are looking to strengthen partnerships, nurture talent through training programs for workers in cultural sectors, and exchange expertise, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Kingdom’s assistant culture minister, Rakan Al-Touq, also took part in the meeting.
Source:arabnews.com
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Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month
November 14, 2024
RIYADH: Mawhiba, an organization that works to nurture the talents of gifted students in scientific fields, will hold its third international conference this month with the theme “Beyond Creative Minds.”
Its Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity will take place from Nov. 24 to 26 at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Khalid Al-Sharif, the organization’s acting secretary-general, described the event as a “global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future through the exchange of ideas and expertise.”
He told the Saudi Press Agency: “The event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting and empowering talent and promoting a culture of innovation to address future global challenges.”
The conference is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries, many of whom will give keynote speeches, take part in panel discussions and lead workshops.
Al-Sharif said the event will include a “‘creathon’ aimed at finding creative solutions to contemporary challenges. Attendees will also have access to exhibitions and various cultural visits scheduled alongside the conference.”
He added that Mawhiba, more formally known as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, will continue to develop talent, support creativity and provide resources to nurture the potential of gifted individuals. He thanked Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan for the substantial support he provides for the biennial conference.
Source:arabnews.com
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Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy
November 13, 2024
Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom Saimir Bala in Riyadh on Wednesday.
They discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko in Dammam on Wednesday.
Prince Saud welcomed the ambassador to the Eastern Province. During the meeting, the two exchanged friendly talks and discussed a number of topics.
Source:arabnews.com
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Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future
GHADI JOUDAH
November 13, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is among the Gulf Cooperation Council nations taking significant steps to invest in developing its organic food and beverage sector, which has experienced a growth surge in recent years.
The three-day Biofach Saudi Arabia, which was held alongside Saudi Organic Food Day and concluded on Wednesday, is a key platform showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its agricultural future.
Biofach was organized by 1st Arabia Tradeshows and Conferences in collaboration with NurnbergMesse, with support from the Saudi Ministry for Energy, Water and Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Farming Association.
Christian Beyer, manager of international events at NurnbergMesse, highlighted the potential of the Middle East and North Africa region: “The MENA region, especially Saudi Arabia, represents an emerging market for organic food that was estimated at USD 7 billion in 2022 and can expect ongoing growth.”
Recognizing the importance of organic farming for food security and environmental sustainability, Saudi authorities are focusing on enhancing rural production and improving supply chains to ensure organic products reach consumers efficiently.
The exhibition’s knowledge-exchange platform addressed local challenges, including effective water and fertilizer management, which are crucial for the region’s arid climate.
Among the exhibitors was the Saudi company Aamal Al-Andalus, which provides organic fertilizers to address soil degradation and declining fertility. Their products are said to help treat and reduce environmental stress, increase agricultural production, and improve the quality of crops to enhance export opportunities.
Youssif Abdulqader, sales manager and engineer at Aamal Al-Andalus, told Arab News: “Food around the world is increasingly going organic, particularly when all inputs in the plants come from organic and safe sources.”
He noted that this shift is largely driven by the health issues linked to consuming fruits and vegetables produced through conventional farming methods, which are often less beneficial or even harmful to human well-being.
Abdulqader explained: “Conventional farming practices are generally well-structured and effective; however, they face challenges such as the excessive use of pesticides and their persistence in the soil.”
Farmers often encounter bacterial issues within their crops that need to be addressed cost-effectively to maximize profitability.
“This is where organic alternatives can be prohibitively expensive, prompting conventional farmers to seek cheaper, often internationally banned options,” he added.
He added that the use of pesticides results in chemical residues that can remain in the plant’s environment.
These residues pose significant health risks when consumers ingest vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.
“There is a concern that these chemicals may contain heavy metals that the human body cannot process, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver diseases, which are frequently associated with traditional farming practices,” he explained.
Source:arabnews.com
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Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum
November 13, 2024
RIYADH: The imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Baijan, took part in a peace conference themed “Islam is the Religion of Humanity and Peace” during his recent visit to India
More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
As guest of honor, Al-Baijan delivered a speech in which he said that Islam was a religion of security and peace. He warned against divisions among Muslims and said that such discord threatened national unity, led to chaos and could incite wars.
Minister for Wakf and Haj in the government of Kerala Shri. V. Abdurahiman also spoke at the event, praising Saudi Arabia for its efforts in promoting Islam, peace and moderation.
Al-Baijan also joined the 35th All India Ahle Hadith Conference in New Delhi, where he commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts, led by its leadership, to promote security, peace, stability and the safeguarding of human dignity globally.
Source:arabnews.com
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Arabic Language Month begins in Thailand
November 13, 2024
RIYADH: King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has launched Arabic Language Month in Thailand, in cooperation with Krirk University in Bangkok and Prince of Songkla University in Hat Yai, southern Thailand.
The event is a comprehensive program aimed at developing Arabic language curricula, improving teacher performance, promoting Arabic and highlighting Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in this field, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Running until Nov. 29, the event features a variety of activities, including a scientific symposium, two panel discussions and four courses designed to enhance the teaching skills of Arabic teachers for non-native speakers, focusing on modern teaching methods.
The King Salman academy has hosted Arabic Language Month programs in a number of countries, including Indonesia, China, India, France and Brazil.
Last month, the academy hosted Arabic Language Month in France, featuring educational activities aimed at developing Arabic curricula.
The program included visits and meetings with French educational institutions offering Arabic programs and centers focused on teaching and promoting the Arabic language.
Source:arabnews.com
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Winners of Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water honored in Vienna
November 13, 2024
RIYADH: The Saudi environment minister called on scientists and researchers to work together to find practical solutions to global water challenges as he attended this year’s Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water at the UN offices in Vienna on Wednesday.
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli congratulated the winners of the 11th cycle of the awards, which are held under the patronage of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Press Agency reported
Their work, he said, had contributed to the development and sustainability of water resources. He also praised the Kingdom’s leadership for supporting research and innovation in the sector.
“This confirms the importance of government institutions worldwide coordinating and organizing to transfer these innovations into practice,” he said.
Experts should work together to find practical solutions to the world’s water challenges, Al-Fadhli said.
“It has become important for water sectors in the world to embrace and enhance these researches and innovations and adopt the principle of integrated water resources management in a manner that suits the nature and geography of each country, taking into account economic, financial and environmental sustainability.”
He thanked the award’s board members and secretary-general for their efforts and said the Kingdom would continue to play its part in addressing water-related challenges at the local, regional and international levels.
The Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Abdullah bin Khalid Toula said: “In 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the establishment of a global water organization, which aims to enhance integration between countries and organizations to address the challenges of water availability in a comprehensive manner and make it a platform for exchanging best technical practices, supporting research, development and innovation and enabling priority quality projects and facilitating their financing, in an effort to ensure the sustainability of water resources and enhance safe access opportunities for all.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “Water is life, yet billions of people live without safe drinking water, sanitation services or basic hygiene facilities and water scarcity is increasing and people and communities pay the price.”
Dr. Badran bin Abdulrahman Al-Omar, chairman of the award’s board, said: “The late Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud anticipated the water crisis we face today, as a growing population suffers from increasing demand for food, water and hygiene under conditions exacerbated by uncertainty about climate change. He realized that scientific solutions were needed to alleviate this crisis.”
The Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water was a unique scientific award dedicated to advanced innovations, focused on tangible achievements in finding creative solutions to humanity’s water needs, he said.
The award’s secretary-general, Dr. Abdulmalik bin Abdulrahman Al-Sheikh, said the award had been created in response to the global water situation and that previous winners were working together to overcome the challenges of providing sufficient potable water for people all around the world.
The Kingdom’s ambassadors to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia also attended the awards ceremony.
This year’s winners were from 14 institutions in six countries: China, the Czech Republic, Italy, Singapore, the UK and the US.
Dr. Qiuhua Liang from Loughborough University, UK, and his team won the Surface Water Award.
Dr. Chunmiao Zeng from the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, China, and his team won the Groundwater Award.
Dr. Virender K. Sharma from Texas A&M University, US, and his team members attained the Alternative Water Resources Award.
Dr. Joseph Hon Wei Lee from the Macau University of Science and Technology, China, and his teammates won the Water Resources Management and Protection Award.
Anyone who wishes to nominate their project for consideration for the 12th cycle of the awards should do so at psipw.org before the end of December 2025.
Source:arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia’s transport authority suspends 3 apps for violations
November 13, 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority suspended three digital applications on Wednesday for breaching transport regulations and failing to follow the country’s cyber and labor laws.
The three applications used within the online hail and ride and delivery services sectors lacked licenses from the relevant authorities and failed to follow regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The transport authority said that two of the suspended applications provided transportation services for passengers while the third was active in the delivery sector. It added that digital applications should obtain licenses to run on the country’s cyber network.
Digital applications should follow labor laws and hire national staff to work within passenger transportation services, the authority said, adding that each vehicle and driver must meet the legal requirements to operate on the road.
The Transport General Authority’s regulations require that each taxi driver wear an approved uniform to ensure the safety and security of the public.
Source:arabnews.com
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Europe
Stories from the east: how William Morris was influenced by Islamic manuscripts
14 Nov 2024,
Edward Burne-Jones once said that William Morris 'loved everything Persian, including the wild confusion of their chronology.' The combination of Morris's historical interest, his appreciation of the arts of the Islamic world, and his enjoyment of its literature gave him an insight into a world of inspiration. As a consequence, we find elements of these cultural motifs and touchstones in his work – which even today beautify our houses.
Morris's collection of Islamic literature
A library is one of the most perfect representations of a person's mind. It provides a glimpse into the owner's fascinations, curiosities, passions and prejudices. Like many other wealthy Victorians, William Morris had a sizeable library and was an avid reader. Today we may envy the silence and ability to unfailingly focus on a single task, without the overbearing distraction of relentless messages and notifications. But his library was the place where the beloved of English textile arts, William Morris, must have poured over designs, patterns and stories. It was also where he wrote some of his most important lectures and books.
In his library, we know there were books on Middle Eastern history, politics, architecture and travel, including titles such as: The Flowers of Persian Literature (1805) by Samuel Rousseau, a work on the language and most famous authors of Iran; Edward FitzGerald's Salámán and Absái: An Allegory translated from the Persian of Jami (1856); and Tales, Anecdotes, and Letters translated from the Arabic and Persian (1800) by Jonathan Scott.
Also present was an original manuscript from Iran, the Shahnameh ('The Book of Kings'). The Shahnameh was composed by the Iranian poet Ferdowsi (b.940) and was completed in 1010 – it is the national epic of the Iranian people and combines ancient myths with accounts of significant historical events. The Cambridge University Shahnameh Project notes that the epic's 'universal themes had struck a resonant chord in the hearts and minds of unfolding generations. Its stories of the rise and fall of great dynasties, the disputes between kings and heroes, and the conflicts between fathers and sons treat man's struggles against nature, fate and his own conscience.'
Would this have not been a perfect text for a man intrigued by the ancient world, kings and legends, nature, traditions and idealisms – whether they be from Iceland or Iran? Most likely his attraction was due to the text's references to ancient history which covers the fall of the Achaemenid dynasty after the conquest of Iran by Alexander the Great around 330 BC and the collapse of the Sasanian Empire (by the Arab invasions of the seventh century). His writing out of the text was a tribute to Iranian ancient history, in keeping with his adaptations of Norse and Greek epic poetry. It would have also appealed to him as an author of literary works, which consisted of narrative poetry, novels, essays and short tales.
Morris's copy was one of the few believed to have been made in Astarabad in northeastern Iran. The manuscript is now at The Fitzwilliam Museum and since then it has been discovered that 14 illustrations are missing (removed before it was purchased by Morris) and only 68 remain. The vibrant paintings depict famous episodes from the Shahnameh, including scenes of lavishly decorated tents, banners, palanquins, carpets, canopies, hangings and clothing – all of which must have been of great fascination to Morris.
Morris was also captivated by the text. He had read the Shahnameh in translation and in 1883 wrote in a letter that he was 'getting on' with it but was struggling with the 'jargon' of the French translation, which was done by Julius von Mohl. In his letter, he flippantly suggests to his daughter May that he intended to translate it from the French, for their benefit, but qualifies his interest with an exhausted: 'it seems to me very fine though 'tis undoubtedly long'. As it is, Morris did indeed begin writing out the text, although unfortunately he never finished it.
May Morris remembered parts of the story of the Shahnameh and especially mentions the references to carpet weaving in the text. Indeed, the sections written out by Morris concentrate on episodes relating to the creation of technologies of production by various longstanding legendary kings. She spoke of her affection for the manuscript and the memories of her father's interest in literature: 'My father's delight in stories from the East was as keen as his joy in its art…His stories from the Persian Epic as we gathered round the evening fire are among my remembrances of the home life of those days.'
Morris also owned at least one copy of The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, famously translated by Edward FitzGerald in 1859. Omar Khayyám (b.1048) was a distinguished scholar and poet born in Nishapur, Iran during the Seljuk period. He was a specialist in many subjects, most famously in mathematics. Even though he had been known in Europe since 1583, when this collection of quatrains (rubāʿī) ascribed to Omar Khayyám was translated by FitzGerald, it achieved immense success.
Morris quoted from the poem in his letters and copied no less than four manuscripts of the work in his own hand. One was a work on vellum, which he began in 1871 and finished the following year, now held in the British Library. Morris designed the decoration in the margins of the text and each page was beautifully illuminated. The figures depicted in the decorated borders were designed by William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones and painted by Charles Fairfax Murray. The final page beautifully highlights FitzGerald's final words of the book in Farsi: 'Tamam Shud' (The End).
Again, May Morris sheds more light on her father's work, stating that each flower used in this 'jewel-like' manuscript was identifiable, describing the project as 'a flower-garden turned into a book.' There appears to be no attempt at crafting the illustrations in an 'Oriental' style – indeed the designs are decidedly Morris (Willow Bough and Jasmin come to mind) – but the importance here lies in the fact that Morris felt strongly enough about the work to produce four copies of it. A note by Georgiana Burne-Jones in 1908 asserts Morris executed the work 'to do honour to the poem and its English translator, Edward Fitzgerald, whose name he did not then know.' Despite the great success of FitzGerald's Victorian poem, Morris's admiration of Eastern literature makes this assertion seem unlikely. After all, Morris had said of the Rubáiyát, 'I don't know how much of the charm of this lovely poem is due to Fitzgerald, the translator,' perhaps suggesting that FitzGerald was unfairly celebrated over Khayyám himself.
Morris's own writing replicated the works of Middle Eastern origin he had read. For example, the characters in 'The Man Who Never Laughed Again' reflect those in the Arabian Nights or even Nizami's Haft Peykar. Morris was aware that the Arabian Nights (another book read aloud to his family) was an immensely popular work and that people enjoyed fast-paced 'exotic' stories that were, in essence, mediaeval. Such works were inextricably linked to Britain's position as an imperial power and the Victorian environment in which Orientalist thought processes thrived. For Morris, they reflected his worldview of exotic wonders where stories containing moral messages reflected his own socialist sensibilities.
Beyond the library: the influence of Islamic design
These works were not the only Islamic objects he owned, however. Like many wealthy Victorians in London, Morris acquired Islamic objects for his own home. He also served as a consultant on purchases of artwork from Middle Eastern civilisations for the South Kensington Museum. He served as a member of the Committee of Art Referees from 1884 and was instrumental in the purchase of the great Ardabil Carpet, the central masterpiece of the Jameel Gallery at the V&A today.
Morris's own collection of Islamic art was not necessarily representative of the finest pieces (except for carpets) but is fascinating to us because the objects were of interest to Morris. They may have been study pieces, or they could have inspired designs already festering in his imagination. He was very interested in designs found in carpets, tiles, fabrics and other items from India, Iran and Turkey. Morris's Medway design, for instance, is a wonderful example of how colourways and scrolling vines are reminiscent of many of the Islamic objects he most certainly would have seen and owned (Iznik pottery for instance). And yet, it is so redolent of the musk mallow, water chickweed and violets found on the River Medway: it cleverly combines a myriad of inspirations.
Morris's interest in pattern design was magnified by his in-depth study of history, which was an inevitable consequence of his curiosity for literature combined with artistic activity. In his lectures 'The History of Pattern-Designing' in 1879 and 'Some Hints on Pattern-Designing' in 1884, Morris emphasised the need not to blindly follow history and tradition yet stressed that one must study the history of art in order to serve one's art better. In the former lecture, he specifically mentions the art of Persia, Egypt, Babylon and Assyria.
Morris's designs were first recognised by academics in 1893 as being influenced by Islamic elements. The use of tulips and carnations was labelled as 'Morris-Persian', but at the same time it was acknowledged that although his work alluded to these mediums, they were in no way exact replicas. It wasn't until much later that writers began to speculate further about Morris's textiles, claiming that many of his pieces were inspired by Iranian textiles. Morris's knowledge and love of the rich heritage of Eastern visual traditions is key to fully understanding his inventive and original designs.
https://artuk.org/discover/stories/stories-from-the-east-how-william-morris-was-influenced-by-islamic-
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Ambulance patients killed in Haiti attack, charity says
13 NOV 2024
Doctors' charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says at least two of its patients have been killed in Haiti after police and vigilantes attacked their ambulance in the capital Port-au-Prince.
The charity said its crews had been transporting three patients with gunshot wounds to a MSF hospital on Monday when they were stopped by authorities and forced to go instead to a public hospital.
When they arrived, officers and "members of a self-defence group" attacked the vehicle, slashing its tyres and forcing occupants out through tear-gas.
The wounded patients were then taken away from the hospital grounds where "at least two of them were executed", the charity said.
It is unclear from MSF's statement the condition of the third patient. But the group said its ambulance staff were also assaulted in the incident by "law enforcement officers and members of a self-defence group".
MSF said staff were "violently attacked, insulted, tear-gassed, threatened with death" and held hostage for more than four hours before being released. The motive behind the attack is unclear.
"The act is a shocking display of violence and it seriously calls into question MSF's ability to continue delivering essential care to the Haitian people," said Christophe Garnier, the group's head of mission in the country.
MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, is one of the last humanitarian non-government organisations (NGOs) still operating in Haiti, where violent chaos has gripped the capital.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, armed gangs have seized power in many areas, leading to a spike in street violence in the poorest country in the Americas.
A UN Security Council briefing last month heard that criminal gangs had gained control of 85% of the capital.
More than 3,600 people have been killed in Haiti since January and more than 500,000 have had to leave their homes, according to the UN.
The UN has sent an international policing operation to Haiti, largely made up of Kenyan police. The mission is said to have secured some key sites in the capital including the national hospital, seaport and airport.
However, several US airlines suspended flights to the country this week after three planes were hit by gunfire approaching or departing the airport this week.
A new prime minister was sworn into office in Haiti earlier this week. Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said his priority was "restoring security" in the country.
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West looking at ‘land for peace’ in Ukraine – WaPo
13 Nov, 2024
European members of NATO increasingly believe in a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict that would involve territorial concessions, according to the Washington Post, although Kiev remains opposed.
The US and its allies have funneled hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of cash, weapons, equipment and ammunition to Ukraine since 2022, while insisting they weren’t direct participants in the hostilities.
Several European countries are now undergoing a “quiet but growing shift” towards a ceasefire that would leave Russia in control of some of the territory claimed by Ukraine, while giving Kiev some kind of security guarantees, the Post reported on Wednesday.
Discussions behind closed doors have been fueled by the “bleak” battlefield situation for Ukraine and the prospect of US funding drying up when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, according to the outlet. While public declarations of support for Kiev continue, some countries are looking to “lay the foundations” for peace talks, ten current and former EU and NATO diplomats have suggested to the outlet.
One of the ideas reportedly making the rounds is to have Russia keep the territories it currently controls, while Ukraine would get either Western peacekeepers or other security guarantees, but not NATO membership.
“It’s certainly not fringe anymore,” one anonymous Western official told the Post, while a senior NATO official said that people who bring up such land-for-peace suggestions are no longer “practically burned at the stake” as they were in the past.
Among the European NATO members “there are 50 shades of gray” about what the peace deal might look like, Camille Grand of the European Council on Foreign Relations told the Post. Meanwhile, no one knows what Trump will propose once he is sworn in.
The current US administration has been “rushing as much military aid as possible” to Ukraine before that happens, according to the Post. Secretary of State Antony Blinken went to Brussels on Wednesday to discuss strategy with senior NATO, EU and Ukrainian officials.
The day before, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that “when the moment comes, nothing must be decided on Ukraine without the Ukrainians, nor on Europe without the Europeans.”
This presents a problem for NATO, as Vladimir Zelensky has refused any suggestion of abandoning his territorial claims or the so-called peace platform, calling for Russia’s surrender.
On Wednesday, Zelensky’s adviser Mikhail Podoliak posted on X that peace proposals coming from the West amount to “peace at the expense of the victim” and involve no “real scenarios of forcing Russia to stop aggression.”
The biggest challenge for the West, according to the Post, will be “to navigate public messaging on negotiations after more than two years of warning of an existential threat to Europe” that required spending billions on Ukraine.
“That is one important thing about any arrangement we make,” one anonymous official told the Post. “It can never be seen as a victory for Russia.”
Moscow named its terms for the cessation of hostilities earlier this year, among which would be Ukrainian withdrawal from all regions that voted to join Russia, denazification of the government in Kiev, as well as military and political neutrality in perpetuity.
Source:rt.com
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Newport man, 43, who smashed mosque window sentenced
14 Nov 2024,
By Iwan Gabe Davies
A MAN who smashed a mosque window has been sentenced.
Luke Baulch was handed community order after he pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage at the Faizan-e-Madina mosque on Newport’s Shaftesbury Street.
The 43-year-old had been initially accused of religiously aggravated criminal damage but that charge was dropped.
Baulch, of Durham Road, Newport committed the offence at around 7am on Thursday, August 1.
The defendant was made the subject of a 12-month mental health treatment requirement as a non-residential patient after appearing at the city’s magistrates' court.
He will have to attend eight to 12 sessions with a psychologist.
Baulch will also have to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and pay the mosque £500 in compensation.
Source:southwalesargus.co.uk
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Rioting ex-soldier tried to blow up Hanley mosque
ByHayley Parker
13 NOV 2024
A rioting ex-squaddie who threw missiles at police as Hanley descended into anarchy had previously tried to blow up a mosque. Simon Beech faces jail for his role in the post-Southport city centre chaos in the summer.
And it has now emerged that the former soldier previously served a 10-year prison sentence for setting fire to Hanley's City Central Mosque in 2011 when he was aged just 23. Beech, who was serving with the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment at the time, hatched his blast plot after being angered by extremist Muslims burning poppies.
In one Facebook comment posted on Armistice Day, Beech, who was a member of the British National Party and the English Defence League at the time, wrote: “The time has come. We burn their place, burn the lot of them.”
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard at the time that Beech and his friend Garreth Foster carried out their attack in the early hours of December 3 2010 when they connected a pipe to a live gas main and fed it 163ft into the first floor of the Regent Road mosque. They then lit a fire on the ground floor. But firefighters put out the fire before it took hold.
Beech - who quit the Army following his arrest - and Foster were found guilty of arson by a jury. Now 13 years after that conviction, Beech is set to be locked up again.
The court heard Beech repeatedly ignored police in Hanley on August 3 when he was asked to move back. He threw a missile at police and repeatedly challenged public order officers.
The defendant, now aged 36, of Chell Heath, will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on November 25 after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: "We’re continuing to trawl through the evidence we have in-order to take action against those responsible for the violent disorder in Stoke-on-Trent on 3 August and Tamworth on 4 August."
Source:stokesentinel.co.uk
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Open day at central mosque in Tallow Hill, Worcester
13th November
By Cat Phillips
A MOSQUE will open its doors for people to look around and ask questions.
Police will be supporting their community partners at the event on Saturday, November 16 at the mosque on Tallow Hill.
The open day is being held from 11am until 4pm and all are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be available at the venue.
Police will be bringing along their Community Engagement Van and officers from Cathedral SNT will be available to talk to about crime prevention advice and any concerns they may have.
There will also be some freebies for the young people to snap up on the day from the van.
Chief Inspector Paul Harvey from South Worcestershire Police said: “Come along and meet officers from Cathedral SNT this Saturday at the central mosque open day.
“All are welcome to attend this community event which is a great opportunity to speak to us about any concerns you may have as we continue our regular work to support our city partners.”
Mohammed Iqbal, secretary of the Worcester Muslim Welfare Association, added: “You're warmly invited to join us for an open day at our mosque.
“Come explore, ask questions, and discover what being a Muslim truly means.
“It’s a chance to see our place of worship, meet our community, and build bridges of understanding and friendship. We look forward to welcoming you."
Source:worcesternews.co.uk
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Prosecutor seeks jail and election ban for Le Pen
14 NOV 2024
The Paris prosecutor has asked for a prison sentence of five years and a five-year ban from political office for far-right leader Marine Le Pen in an illegal party funding case.
Nicolas Barret asked for the ban to become effective immediately after the verdict, even if the defence team appeals, ruling Le Pen out of standing again for president in 2027.
She and more than 20 other senior party figures are accused of hiring assistants who worked on party business, rather than for the European Parliament which paid them.
Le Pen, who denies the charges, told reporters the requested sentence was an "outrage", and accused the prosecution of trying to "ruin" her National Rally (RN) party.
"I think the prosecution's wish is to deprive the French people of the ability to vote for whom they want," she said after the hearing in the French capital, where she is on trial with 24 other defendants.
Le Pen was defeated by Emmanual Macron at the last presidential election in 2022 by 58.55% to 41.45% but RN is the biggest among the numerous parties in the National Assembly.
As well as the prison sentence and ban from political office, a fine of €300,000 (£249,000; $319,000) is being sought against the RN leader.
The proposed prison sentence is "convertible" and France's AFP news agency says that Le Pen "would not necessarily go to prison".
However, the ban on political office would take effect immediately and would not be delayed by the appeals process, as some had been expecting.
The prosecutor asked for the ban to apply to all 25 defendants.
"The law applies to all," Mr Barret told the court.
The defendants plus the party itself, as a legal entity, are accused of syphoning EU parliamentary funds to pay the salaries of party workers.
According to the prosecution case, Le Pen presided over a system for several years in which RN staff members from Paris were "taken on" as EU parliamentary assistants in Brussels.
It is being argued in court that these RN officials rarely set foot in the EU parliament and had no role there.
Le Pen has argued that parliamentary assistants paid for by the Brussels assembly were naturally involved in politics because that was what drew them to the job in the first place.
RN chairman Jordan Bardella, who is not a defendant in the case, called the prosecution's demands an "assault on democracy" in a post on X.
"The prosecution is not acting justly," he said. "It is seeking to persecute and take revenge on Marine Le Pen."
A lawyer for the European Parliament, Patrick Maisonneuve, said he was not surprised by the sentence being requested.
"There is a consistency in the prosecution's demands," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
The trial is due to continue until 27 November.
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Russia sends military instructors to Equatorial Guinea - reports
13 NOV 2024
BasilliohRukanga
Russia has reportedly sent up to 200 troops to Equatorial Guinea to protect the presidency, as it continues to expand its presence in Africa.
Media reports say that the Russians are training elite guards in the country’s two main cities – the capital Malabo and Bata.
Reports of Russian troops deployed in the country first surfaced in August.
Russia, which has been seeking to gain more influence in Africa, has in recent years sent thousands of mercenaries to West and Central Africa to protect military regimes and help them fight insurgents.
The Reuters news agency quoted sources saying that between 100 and 200 Russians were estimated to have arrived in the past two months.
It said some were likely to be part of the Corps Africa, a paramilitary force previously known as Wagner before being renamed and officially coming under Russian military control.
There have been other reports of sightings of the mercenaries in both Malabo and Bata, also indicating that they were there to protect the president and his family.
The tiny country with a population of 1.7 million is led by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the world’s longest-serving president who has been in power since 1979.
His son, Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who is known for his lavish lifestyle, is the country’s vice-president.
He has been at the centre of scandals around the world, and has been the subject of criminal charges and sanctions.
The Equatorial Guinean administration has faced criticism for its human rights record, including arbitrary killings and torture, according to a US government report.
The country has been trying to broker military deals as well as gas and mineral exploration agreements with Russia and Belarus. It has had similar deals with China in the past.
Both the Equatorial Guinea president and the vice-president have made several visits to Russia in the recent past.
In September, President Obiang thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending instructors to strengthen Equatorial Guinea's defence, according to state news agency TASS.
On Wednesday, Tutu Alicante, a US-based human rights activist from Equatorial Guinea, told US state broadcaster VOA that the alleged military presence in the country could undermine US geopolitical interests.
He said that the Russia was "definitely flexing its military and economic muscles on the ground" through the physical presence of troops in the country.
The US has in the past had investments including in the country’s energy sector but the interest has waned.
Some countries in West Africa that have had coups in recent years have moved away from traditional Western allies like France, accusing them of not doing enough to quash jihadist insurgencies, while seeking closer ties with Russia.
Additional reporting by Ines Silva
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French headteacher describes spiral of events that led to teacher's beheading
13 NOV 2024
The former headteacher of a French school has revealed the shocking sequence of events that led to the beheading of Samuel Paty by a Chechen refugee.
Audrey F told the court in Paris how she had tried to stop a row spiralling out of control that began with a 13-year-old student lying to her parents.
What began with Samuel Paty giving a lesson on freedom of expression in October 2020 escalated when the father of the girl, who had not even been in the class, turned up at the headteacher's office with a local Islamist activist.
"I didn't manage to protect him," Audrey F said of her late colleague - a well-liked history and geography teacher in the Paris suburb of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
"It's such an enormous waste."
The row tragically ended with Paty's murder outside the school by 18-year-old Abdoullakh Anzorov, who was shot dead by police at the scene.
The girl, known in court by the initial Z, had just been suspended by the school for two days for repeated absence and rudeness.
That was not what she had told her parents.
The girl claimed she had confronted Paty in a class she had not attended, falsely alleging that he had told Muslim students to leave the room while he showed "naked" images of the Prophet Muhammad.
Although the mother of another girl had phoned the school in tears, Audrey F said she had called her back, with Samuel Paty also on the call, and said the mother appeared reassured.
In reality, three cartoons published by a French satirical magazine had been discussed in class, and Paty had said anyone who felt they might be offended did not have to stay.
Any depictions of the Prophet Muhammad are considered highly offensive by Muslims. But there had been no attempt to target or exclude Muslims students.
The following morning, Audrey F was told that the excluded student's father Brahim Chnina was outside the school with another man, Abdelhakim Sefrioui, who wrongly claimed to be acting on behalf of French imams.
The pair were demanding action against Paty, who they condemned as a "thug" and wanted removed.
Audrey F said that while she had tried to focus the conversation on the girl's exclusion from school, Abdelhakim Sefrioui had taken the lead, refusing to allow freedom of expression to be used by a "thug".
The murder of Samuel Paty, 47, shocked France and came five years after militant Islamist gunmen murdered 12 people at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo which published the original cartoons.
Abdelhakim Sefrioui and Brahim Chnina are accused of identifying Samuel Paty as a "blasphemer" in online videos and of involvement in a "criminal terrorist" group and complicity in "terrorist murder".
They are among eight people on trial at the court in Paris who all deny the charges against them, while not denying their involvement in the case.
The other six include a pair accused of helping the teenage killer and others who are accused of egging him on on social media.
Audrey F, who has left France to teach at an international school in China, told the court that she had felt the next day that the situation had now become a problem and "something is not right at the school".
Two videos appeared on social media, one from Brahim Chnina in which his daughter repeated her lies about the class, another later from Abdelhakim Sefrioui, naming both Samuel Paty and the school.
"By now I was very worried, not specifically for Mr Paty but for the school," she told the court.
On the advice of a superior she went to the police with Samuel Paty, where he filed a complaint, and contacted the local authority.
The geography teacher was urged to stay at home until the school holidays which were only days away. He refused to do so and Audrey F did not insist.
Threatening emails were sent to the school and there were anonymous phone-calls too. A police car was parked outside the school for several days.
On the final day of half-term, at 16:45 on Friday 16 October, Samuel Paty was stabbed and decapitated by the 18-year-old Chechen refugee outside the school.
Brahim Chnina's daughter has already been convicted of making false and slanderous accusations, while five other teenagers have been found guilty of taking part in a group preparing aggravated violence.
When asked in court what Abdelhakim Sefrioui and Brahim Chnina could have done to calm the situation, Audrey F said nothing would have happened if they had not posted videos online.
Regretting that she had been unable to protect her colleague, the former headteacher said: "I tell myself that if there is justice, perhaps I'll manage to move on."
Source:bbc.com
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Málaga evacuates thousands as Spain issues more flood alerts
14 NOV 2024
Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes in the Costa del Sol region of southern Spain as extreme rain and flooding drenches the area.
National weather office Aemet has placed both Malaga and the northeastern Catalonia region on the highest alert for strong rain expected to last until Friday.
The Malaga area, including the tourist resorts of Marbella, Velez and Estepona, is expected to take the brunt of the extreme weather phenomenon known as a "Dana".
Parts of the eastern Valencia area have also been placed on the highest alert, weeks after the area was devastated by flash floods that killed more than 220 people.
Several other regions in Spain remain braced for more heavy showers and low temperatures.
Up to 180mm of rain could fall in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain in just 12 hours, accompanied by thunderstorms along the coast near Tarragona, forecasters say.
Schools in the entire southern province of Málaga have been closed while many supermarkets have kept shutters down.
Footage circulating on social media showed the city's normally busy areas deserted as water flooded the streets.
Around 3,000 people living in close proximity to the Guadalhorce River have been told to leave their homes, the Regional Government of Andalusia has said.
Regional government's Minister of the Presidency Antonio Sanz said: "We have not evacuated entire towns, but rather specific areas linked to the riverbank.
"This decision has been communicated to the government of Spain in order to receive collaboration from the state security forces and bodies."
The severe weather alert in Málaga has also led to the opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup between Spain and Poland being postponed, the International Tennis Federation said.
The two nations were set to play in Malaga on Wednesday.
Spain's meteorological agency Aemet has placed parts of the Andalusia region and the Balearic Islands on orange alert from now until Thursday.
Aemet warns of rainfall and storms that could be "very strong to torrential".
In other parts of Spain precautions are being taken - with eastern and southern Mediterranean areas the most vulnerable.
That orange alert is the second highest and it signals a significant meteorological event “with a degree of danger for normal activities”.
In Valencia, school classes and sports activities were suspended in some areas and sandbags piled up to protect the centre of the town of Aldaia.
However this second Dana weather system is not expected to be as dramatic as the red alert on 29 October, when the Valencia region in particular suffered an unprecedented loss of lives and material damage.
Elsewhere, rescue teams searching for the bodies of two young brothers who were swept away in the Valencia floods two weeks ago said their bodies had been found.
Izan Matías, 5, and Rubén Matías, 3, were pulled from their father Victor Matías's arms when the torrent ripped through their home in Valencia on the evening of 29 October.
Their aunt Barabara Sastre confirmed to the BBC the boys had been found. Their bodies were recovered in different locations.
“My little angels, we have finally found you” one family friend, David Garcia, wrote online. “Two stars shine brighter in the sky.”
Yesterday, search teams had focused on part of the River Pollo about 6km (3.7km) from the family home.
The boys' uncle Iván had told the BBC he was hugely grateful for all the support they had received and hoped his nephews would be found.
Volunteers from the Canary Islands and other parts of Spain had joined recovery specialists from Mexico, who normally work in the aftermath of earthquakes.
On Monday, the family dog was found dead in a garage in the town of Paiporta, more than 12km (7.4 miles) from their house in La Curra, a neighbourhood of Mas del Jutge.
Dana weather systems are formed when an area of low pressure gets "cut off" from the main flow of the jet stream.
This means that instead of moving through a region relatively quickly, they get blocked over the same area leading to persistent rainfall for several days.
Colder air high in the atmosphere meets warmer air flowing in from the Mediterranean which intensifies the storm.
On the first day of the COP29 climate summit on Monday, the Secretary General of the World MeterologicalOrganisation Celeste Saulo said the recent floods in Spain were a strong message to the world.
"The incredible amount of rain in Spain was a wake-up call (about) how much more water a warmer atmosphere can hold," she said.
Source:bbc.com
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Mexican city's security chief held over mayor's beheading
13 NOV 2024
Vanessa Buschschlüter
Officials in Mexico have arrested a man suspected of involvement in the brutal murder of the mayor of the city of Chilpancingo last month.
The killing of Alejandro Arcos, whose beheaded body was found just days after he had been sworn in as mayor, caused shock and revulsion in the violence-wracked state of Guerrero.
On Tuesday, police detained Germán Reyes, who is the top security official in Chilpancingo, for his alleged role in the murder.
Germán Reyes has denied any involvement in the crime and has said he is being used as a scapegoat.
Rights groups have long warned that local security forces in Mexico are being infiltrated by powerful criminal gangs, which bribe, blackmail and threaten local officials to make them compliant.
The brutal murder of Mayor Arcos within a week of him taking office on 1 October, and Tuesday's arrest of Reyes is seen by many in Chilpancingo as further evidence of attempts by local criminal groups to tighten their grip on the city and its authorities.
The fact that Reyes - a retired army captain who headed the office of the Guerrero state prosecutor for serious crimes before taking over as Chilpancingo's acting security chief - has been named as the main suspect in the mayor's murder has sent further shock waves through the city.
Much of the violence in Chilpancingo is blamed on a bloody turf battle between a criminal gang called Los Ardillos and rival local crime group Los Tlacos.
Los Ardillosspecialise in drug trafficking in the state of Guerrero but have reportedly been expanding into extortion and other lucrative criminal enterprises.
Its members have also been trying to gain control of the city's security forces.
According to Mexico's security minister Omar García Harfuch, Mayor Arcos had travelled to an area controlled by Los Ardillos unaccompanied and without a security detail "for a meeting" when he was killed.
Prosecutors have so far provided little detail as to why they suspect Germán Reyes of involvement in the murder.
Reyes told a judge he "had no motive" to harm the mayor, saying that it was Mayor Arcos who had named him as the city's security chief.
Meanwhile, the federal government has deployed more than 12,000 soldiers and members of the National Guard to the state.
Confronting the wave of violence in Guerrero and other hotspots of cartel and gang violence is one of the main challenges facing President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office on 1 October.
During her campaign for the presidency, Sheinbaum had dismissed the "militaristic" approach of former Mexican president Felipe Calderón - who declared war on the cartels in 2006 - as ineffective.
She vowed instead to continue the approach of her immediate predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who avoided direct confrontation with the cartels, arguing it only led to more bloodshed.
Since being sworn in as president, she has said her government would work on solving crimes and combatting widespread impunity by creating a national intelligence system.
Source:bbc.com
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North America
Trump's 'anti-woke' defence pick surprises Washington - here's why
14 NOV 2024
Pete Hegseth has spent the past eight years on the couch of a Fox News morning show defending President-elect Donald Trump and advocating for a conservative cultural shift in the US military, and he could soon be directing that agenda from behind the top desk at the Pentagon.
The Republican president-elect announced on Wednesday that Hegseth, a television host and veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, was his nominee for defence secretary - a role typically filled by senior civil servants, experienced politicians and high-level executives.
While Hegseth has little of the traditional experience expected for such an important cabinet position - he would be the second-youngest person to serve in the office - he could aim to transform the Department of Defense if confirmed by the Senate.
Just last week, Hegseth said on a podcast that the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff - the US's top military leader - should be fired, along with any "general, admiral, whatever that was involved in any of the DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] woke [expletive]”.
He also said that women should not serve in combat roles because he argued it had not made the military "more effective" or "more lethal".
"Over human history, men in those positions are more capable," he said.
He has also reportedly called for the Defence Department to be renamed the War Department and for a 10-year ban on generals working as defence contractors after leaving the military.
Those views have earned Hegseth many conservative fans, particularly those close to the president-elect. But some also question whether he is capable of running an agency that is considered one of the world's largest bureaucracies, with a budget of nearly $900bn (£708bn).
Does he have enough experience?
Former Pentagon officials stressed that this role is one of the most critical appointments that the president could make, as the office-holder guides national security decisions and oversees the 2.9 million civilians and military service members who work for the Defence Department across the world.
"I've thought before that it was a harder job than the presidency," Lincoln Bloomfield, who served in the Pentagon under Presidents George W Bush and Ronald Reagan, told the BBC.
"Hegseth's not an old guy. He's in his prime, so he has all the energy he needs," added Bloomfield, who noted that the television host was well-educated and a combat veteran.
"But the question is how much does experience help lead to finding solutions? This is a job where every morning there are at least a dozen kinds of fires burning."
It is unclear how Hegseth will fare during his confirmation process in the Senate, when he is likely to faces hours of grilling in hearings.
Some officials anticipated a challenging path through the Senate given his short CV that does not include much work on national security or foreign policy issues.
"This is a job that will involve thousands of hours of advising the president and how, when and under what circumstances to use military force," Mara Karlin, a former senior Pentagon official during the Biden administration, said. "It will involve figuring out how to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars and the care of millions of members of the US military and civilians and their families."
A Trump ally unfamiliar to many
Some lawmakers in Washington DC appeared initially perplexed by Hegseth's appointment to oversee one of the most complex bureaucracies in the world.
“I confess I didn’t know who he was until 20 minutes ago,” Representative Adam Smith, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters on Wednesday. “And he certainly doesn’t seem to have any background whatsoever in (Department of Defence) policy.”
Other lawmakers were more blunt.
“Who?” Republican Senator Bill Cassidy told NBC News when asked about the appointment. “I don’t know Pete. I just don’t know anything about him.”
A co-host of the Fox & Friends weekend show for eight years, Hegseth was reportedly considered for a post during Trump's first administration. But several former military and Pentagon officials said that Hegseth was not a known quantity in the Washington defence community.
"There are different worlds that past secretaries have come from - political people, technocrats, some from Congress - but traditionally they have a pretty decent level of experience with defence, national security issues and foreign policy," Ms Karlin said.
The Princeton and Harvard graduate served as an infantry platoon leader in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. He later deployed to Afghanistan as a counterinsurgency instructor in Kabul.
Many pointed to Hegseth's military experience as a potential aid if he were to be confirmed.
"Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice," Trump said in a statement announcing his choice.
Others, meanwhile, raised issue with Hegseth's close ties to the president-elect.
John Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser, told the BBC that the post of defence secretary should never be a "loyalty appointment".
The person in the position should be willing to provide honest advice, Bolton said, even if it is unpopular.
"The question is: Will he be a yes man to Donald Trump or will he behave professionally and with courage the way he did when he was in uniform?" added Bolton, who has grown critical of the president-elect.
Not the typical nominee
Hegseth has limited experience in politics beyond an unsuccessful run in 2012 for the Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota. Since then, he has largely turned to conservative activism and punditry.
He has advocated for privatising the US government's agency that aids veterans, but his greatest political success in Washington was during Trump's first term when he convinced the then-president to pardon several US service members accused of war crimes.
The two Army officers that Trump pardoned included one accused of killing a suspected Afghan bombmaker and another who was convicted of murder for directing men to fire upon three Afghans.
Still, Hegseth's appointment to lead the Pentagon marks a departure from previous Republican and Democratic administrations alike.
Leon Panetta, who served under former President Barack Obama, was a former CIA director and White House Chief of Staff. Robert Gates, who was appointed by President George W Bush and Obama, worked for the CIA for 27 years.
During his first term, Trump himself turned to those with more military and national security experience than Hegseth, such as Secretaries Jim Mattis and Mark Esper - who both served for decades in the military and were well known in Washington's defence community.
President Joe Biden chose to appoint a retired four-star general, Secretary Lloyd Austin, who served as the commander of US Central Command and faced some criticism from lawmakers for not informing the White House about undergoing medical procedures while in office.
Given the experience of past secretaries, many were quick to argue that Hegseth lacked the necessary credentials.
"A Fox & Friends weekend co-host is not qualified to be the Secretary of Defense," said Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who leads the Senate military personnel panel. She urged her fellow senators not to confirm him.
Others, however, rushed to Hegseth's defence.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said the conservative anchor was a "tireless advocate for America’s soldiers and veterans".
"[H]e brings a fresh perspective to a Pentagon that has lost sight of its mission under Joe Biden. Pete is dedicated to ensuring that our military is focused on lethality and readiness, not woke ideology," the speaker said.
Source:bbc.com
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Trump has full control of government - but he won't always get his way
November 14th 2024
On election night, Donald Trump repeated the phrase: "Promises made, promises kept."
Now, Republicans have officially taken control of Congress and his "promises" are a whole lot easier to keep.
In Washington political parlance, it's called "a governing trifecta", when the president's party also controls both chambers of Congress - the House of Representatives and the Senate.
That control is what Donald Trump's Republican Party now has.
Single-party control was once common, but in recent decades it has become rarer and shorter. Often, the party in power loses seats when midterm congressional elections roll around two years later.
Both Trump and Joe Biden enjoyed trifectas for their first two years in the White House, but they also saw that having such control is no guarantee a president can get their way.
In his first two years, Trump passed a signature tax bill - reducing corporate taxes from 35% to 21%, and cutting some taxes on individuals.
But with some members of his own party resistant to his surprise ascent to the top in 2016, he struggled with other aims.
His plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (known as Obamacare) failed when a senator from his own party, John McCain, refused to vote for it. He also failed to pass an infrastructure bill as he had promised.
In his first two years, when the Democrats controlled the House and the Senate, Biden succeeded in passing the American Rescue plan, the Investment and Jobs Act, and the Chips and Science Act. But he, too, had to significantly scale back his spending and investment plans - touted as the Build Back Better package - after opposition from one of his own senators.
A major impediment to total control for either party is that Senate bills require a three-fifths majority, or 60 votes, to bypass the filibuster, which enables senators to delay legislation by keeping debate open-ended. That means that when a party has a simple majority in the Senate, it needs to reach across the aisle to get a bill passed.
Even with a healthy majority in the Senate this time around, Trump will not have the magic 60 seats that would allow him to overcome opposition attempts to delay legislation.
And on Wednesday, Republicans in the Senate selected John Thune as their majority leader over Florida's Rick Scott, the clear favourite in the Trump camp, in a sign some lawmakers may be reasserting their independence (Trump did not officially endorse Scott).
That said, a trifecta, if astutely managed, does open the way for the possibility of major legislative initiatives.
Trump's power advantage could be key in pushing through his big promises such as the largest deportation of migrants in history, sweeping tariffs on foreign imports, and the rolling back of environmental protections.
Using legislation to achieve these ends will make such plans much harder to overturn in the courts - something Donald Trump was plagued by in his first term when he extensively used executive orders that were regularly and often successfully challenged.
The judicial landscape also has changed in Trump's favour.
The signature achievement of his first term was putting three conservatives on the Supreme Court - cementing a two-thirds majority for possibly decades to come.
He also named more than four dozen judges to the federal appeals courts, flipping several circuits to a more conservative bent.
The majority Republicans have in the Senate also provides a key advantage.
Trump will be able to get his nominees for administration posts approved more easily, something he struggled with back in 2017 when internal resistance to him in the Republican Party was still significant.
All this bodes for a busy and possibly turbulent next two years. But, as recent history indicates, these trifectas don't last all that long. The incoming administration will want to get a move on.
Source:bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn42dzejpjvo
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Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump takes office
14 NOV 2024
Jack Smith, the special counsel who led two federal criminal cases against Donald Trump, is expected to leave the Justice Department before the president-elect takes office, CBS News, the BBC's US media partner, reports.
The timing would allow Mr Smith to leave his post without being fired by Trump or his eventual attorney general, CBS says, citing two people familiar with his plans.
If his exit goes to plan, Mr Smith would leave without either of his criminal prosecutions of Trump – over the alleged improper hoarding of classified documents and an alleged attempt to interfere in the 2020 election outcome – seeing trial.
His team is reportedly winding down its work, as Trump’s election renders the cases all but finished.
A Trump-appointed Florida judge dismissed Trump’s classified documents case in July, though the decision remains on appeal.
The election interference case is currently ongoing. But Justice Department procedure bars criminal proceedings against sitting presidents while they are in office.
Traditionally, special counsels issue a final report when their investigations conclude that detail the steps their investigation took and their conclusions about whether to bring charges.
It is not yet clear whether Mr Smith will submit such a report to US Attorney General Merrick Garland and if it would see the light of day before Trump takes office.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to the BBC's request for comment.
Though they do not directly result in legal action, special counsel reports can have significant impact in the public sphere if they are released.
Over the summer, for example, special counsel Robert Hur released a report on Joe Biden’s retention of classified documents; the prosecutor’s decision not to charge Biden was overshadowed by damaging revelations about Biden’s age and mental acuity.
Mr Smith has already aired much of his evidence in Trump’s election interference case through court filings.
Trump had pleaded not guilty in both cases and sought to cast the prosecutions as politically motivated.
Trump successfully argued to the US Supreme Court that presidents enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution for certain “official acts” undertaken while in office. The victory forced Mr Smith to re-calibrate his indictment – but also allowed him to file a tranche of supporting evidence for his case.
US District Judge Tanya Chutkan has granted Mr Smith a 2 December deadline to decide how to proceed.
Mr Smith’s departure would mark Trump’s legal triumphs over the US criminal justice system.
The president-elect was indicted in four different criminal cases in 2023, only one of which went to trial in New York.
That case, involving a fraudulent attempt to cover up hush money payments to an adult film star, resulted in a conviction on 34 felony counts.
But Trump’s election has thrown even that verdict into question, as his lawyers seek to overturn the conviction on the grounds that it violates presidential immunity, and would interfere with his White House duties.
Source:bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvj2gqn0zno
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What White House picks tell us about Trump 2.0
14 NOV 2024
Anthony Zurcher
A week after Donald Trump won a second-term in the White House, the contours of his new presidency have started taking shape.
The president-elect has announced nearly a dozen appointees, the first steps toward filling out his White House staff and key government departments. He also made comments to the media and on social media that highlight what his priorities will be upon taking office in January, with a special focus on immigration and foreign policy.
After a sometimes chaotic start to his first term, Trump is laying the groundwork for his next administration with a more clearly defined plan - and personnel ready to enact it.
Here’s a look at what we’ve learned so far.
A hard-line immigration team in place
Some of Trump’s newly revealed appointments suggest that the president-elect’s campaign promise to deport millions of undocumented migrants living in the US is no exaggeration.
Stephen Miller, who has been Trump’s close adviser and speechwriter since 2015, is Trump’s choice for White House deputy chief of staff for policy. He will likely shape any plans for mass deportations - and pare back both undocumented and legal immigration. During Trump's first term, Miller was involved in developing some of the administration's strictest immigration policies.
Thomas Homan, acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency in Trump’s first term, supported the president’s policy of separating undocumented families detained at the US-Mexico border. Now he’s back with an even broader portfolio, as Trump’s “immigration tsar”.
“I will run the biggest deportation force this country has ever seen,” Homan said at a conservative conference in July.
Critics have warned that Trump’s mass deportation plan could cost upwards of $300bn. In an interview with NBC News last week, however, the president-elect said cost was not an issue.
“When people have killed and murdered, when drug lords have destroyed countries, and now they’re going to go back to those countries because they’re not staying here,” he said. “There is no price tag.”
How would Trump’s promise of mass deportations of migrants work?
China hawks take flight
Many conservatives believe that China poses the single greatest threat to continued US global dominance, both economically and militarily. While Trump has been more circumspect, limiting most of his China critiques to the realm of trade, he is filling his foreign policy team with vocal China critics.
The president-elect picked Florida Congressman Mike Waltz, a retired Army colonel, as his national security adviser – a key foreign policy post within the White House. Waltz has said the US is in a “cold war” with China and was one of the first members of Congress to call for a US boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
In October, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for US ambassador to the UN, accused China of “blatant and malicious election interference” amid reports that China-backed hackers attempted to gather information from the former president’s phones.
While Trump has yet to officially name his choice for secretary of state, Florida Senator Marco Rubio – another China hawk – appears to be the leading contender for the top diplomatic job. In 2020, Rubio was sanctioned by the Chinese government after he pushed measures to punish the nation for its crackdown on pro-democracy protestors in Hong Kong.
US-China relations were often rocky during Trump's first term, amidst trade disputes and the Covid pandemic. The Biden administration, which kept many of Trump's China tariffs and imposed some new ones, only somewhat calmed the waters. Now it looks like the next Trump administration will pick up where the last one left off.
Musk's new role
While the list of Trump’s political appointees grows, there’s another group that stays small – and exceedingly influential.
Elon Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, has been a full-time presence at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago transition headquarters. According to media reports, he is advising the president-elect on cabinet nominees and even joined a conversation between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week.
On Tuesday night, Trump announced that he was assigning Musk to work with tech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in a "department of government efficiency" tasked with identifying new budget cuts.
Musk has regularly offered his political opinions on his social media platform X, including endorsing Florida Senator Rick Scott’s bid to be the next Senate majority leader.
Musk’s political action committee spent around $200m to help Trump’s presidential campaign, and he promises to continue to fund the group’s efforts to advance the president-elect’s agenda and help Republican candidates in upcoming congressional elections.
Meanwhile, it remains to be seen where Robert F Kennedy Jr, another key figure, lands. Trump has said that he plans to give the former Democrat and vaccine sceptic, who abandoned his independent bid and endorsed the Republican, a role in making America “healthy” again.
“He wants to do some things, and we’re going to let him go to it,” Trump said in his election victory speech.
Prioritising presidential power over Congress
As Trump takes office, Republicans have control of the Senate and could still take the House, albeit by a slim margin. However, the president-elect’s early actions suggest he is more concerned with exercising his presidential power than working with the legislative branch.
Last week, he posted on social media that the Senate’s Republican leadership should smooth the way for more presidential “recess appointments” – allowing him to fill top administration jobs without Senate approval when Congress is not in session. The move would strengthen presidential power by undercutting the chamber’s constitutional role to “advise and consent” on political appointees.
Meanwhile, the president-elect keeps chipping away at those narrow congressional majorities. Senators who move to administration roles can quickly be replaced by appointment from the governor of their home state. But any House vacancies – such as ones created by Stefanik and Waltz’s departures – require special elections that can take months to schedule.
Some of Trump’s advisers, including Musk, have warned that the president-elect could be endangering his legislative agenda if he plucks too many more Republicans from the chambers.
Even in the best of circumstances, congressional legislation takes time, effort and compromise. Executive action, such as new immigration enforcement, can be done with the stroke of a presidential pen.
Trump’s actions indicate he is, at least at the moment, more focused on the latter.
Rewarding loyalists
Trump has only just begun filling out the thousands of jobs that open up with a new presidential administration, not including the senior-level career bureaucrats he has said he will replace.
In 2016, as a political newcomer, he had to rely on more establishment Republicans for key roles. This time, he has a wealth of prospective candidates with proven track records of supporting him and after eight years, Trump loyalists are the Republican establishment.
On Tuesday, Trump named South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, and Fox News host and conservative author Pete Hegseth as defence secretary.
The latter has been particularly controversial, given his lack of experience navigating the sprawling US military bureaucracy and penchant for inflammatory remarks. For Trump, however, status as an outsider and a willingness to lean into hot-button cultural issues are a strength, not a flaw.
And above all else, Hegseth and Noem have been fierce Trump defenders from the start.
Some of Trump’s other picks, like Rubio and Stefanik, were critics of Trump early in his first presidential bid, but they have now spent years demonstrating that their harsh words are a thing of the past.
Rubio, who ran for president against Trump in 2016, may still have White House ambitions, however. Trump often soured on appointees who seemed drawn to the limelight during his first term, and even the warmest of relationships could go bad.
Trump may be placing a premium on loyalty with his early staff announcements, but the pressures of governing ultimately will reveal whether his second four years in office end up different from his first.
Source:bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2m1ey10rxo
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Hilliard council members question city's motive after Islamic Center zone plan denied
November 14th 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A zoning battle for a Hilliard property could be tossed over to a judge.
Tuesday night, Hilliard City Council was expected to vote on a proposal for the former BMW financial building on Britton Parkway. That plan was created by Noor Islamic Center, the property owners.
Instead, the council says it got a version of the plan that city staff wanted for the building. Ultimately, there was too much confusion for the council to pass it.
Hilliard city councilman Les Carrier says city staff members put their version of the plans for the building on the agenda. Not the version that Noor was proposing.
So that by itself was accelerating a lot of confusion.
Carrier says he was very disappointed in how that meeting ended.
"Why are we voting on what the city wants for this property when they didn't apply for it? If you want to be an applicant, before you buy the property we'll tell you if you can use it for what you want."
"That's what you [staff members] said to the community tonight, and that's wrong." Those were statements made by Carrier during Tuesday night's heated meeting.
Carrier says on the agenda was supposed to be a proposal from the Noor Islamic Center and what it wants to do with a building it bought.
But Carrier says they got the city staff members' vision of keeping it zoned as is, which is office space, including restrictions he didn't agree with.
"There was no logical reasons such as safety or health or well-being or anything that you would use zoning code for to tell the applicant, you can have your school on the second floor but not the first floor. How many schools in the United States have multiple floors? Give me a break," Carrier added.
Tuesday night, city staff argued that Noor's plan wasn't going to cut it in multiple ways.
We heard the council, including Carrier, shooting off questions as to why. Some of those questions were about income tax and an education system.
"You've got a government entity indicating to the citizens you can't develop your property because you're not generating enough income tax. Since when is that the standard we go by?" Carrier said.
"We already thought a school operation would be a good fit for that building, and it seems to be good enough for the public schools, but all the sudden, Noor wants to do this and add businesses, and it's not ok." Carrier wondered.
We asked Carrier if he thought discrimination was happening.
"You hold this group to a different standard than this group. And that's the argument that Noor was making. You let prayer go on in the YMCA. You let it go on over here as a conditional use in an area that was zoned commercial, and that's the point they were making, and I think it's a valid one. Is it outright discrimination? I don't know. I haven't seen anything concrete but these are observations."
Wednesday, members from Noor said they felt discriminated against.
Fadi Suleiman, a board member for Noor, says
"Discrimination and unequal treatment is clear; otherwise, how would you explain city staff comments such as “we are willing to wait for 5 more years until the office market comes back” or when the city manager calls us into her office to tell us “we are not here to negotiate”? Would she do the same thing with another developer whom she likes or knows? Would she have done that to Equity? Would the city staff have told another developer where each use in the building should be? Since when did the city staff become involved in master planning private property? If it feels like discrimination and it looks like discrimination, then it’s probably discrimination."
"Even though there is no zoning law that prohibits us from repurposing this building, it's shameful when 4 members of city council decide to vote down a resolution to put life into a giant 225,000 sqft office building that would have brought significant income to the city but they chose to let it sit empty."
"The reality is that we have demonstrated that our requested uses will generate income taxes and at a level and rate higher than city projections for recently approved city projects. Some of which the city has subsidized with income tax incentives.
"The city manager, through the cat and mouse games she played, has jeopardized the city of Hilliard that we live in and love."
As for what happens next, the organization says it is considering several options and has plans to share them in the next few days.
Source:abc6onyourside.com
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https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/hilliard-council-members-question-citys-motive-after-islamic-center-zone-plan-denied
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Why is Elon Musk becoming Donald Trump's efficiency tsar?
14 NOV 2024
Billionaire Elon Musk has been tasked with leading incoming President Donald Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
In a statement on social media, the US president-elect said Musk - along with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy - would "dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies".
It is a role that the tech entrepreneur has arguably prepared for through his business leadership, and one he has spent months pushing for.
But it is also one that is expected to garner him influence over government policy - and the regulatory environment facing his enterprises.
Musk told a Trump rally in October that he believed the US government's budget could be cut by "at least" $2tn from about $6.5tn. He has also frequently suggested the number of government employees could be significantly reduced.
Ramaswamy, meanwhile, has put forward plans to scrap a number of federal departments including the Department of Education, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.
Railing against regulation
Musk has cast his plans to optimise government efficiency in heroic terms, pointing to his hopes of one day colonising Mars, while arguing that the feat would only be possible "so long as it is not smothered by bureaucracy".
At the time, he said creating the new Doge was "the only path to extending life beyond Earth".
Any major cuts to government agencies could also have potentially significant implications for his business interests, which are closely entwined with the government.
Rocket firm SpaceX alone has more than $8bn-worth of ongoing contracts with the US government, according to public contracting sites, and could stand to benefit further from closer government ties.
Meanwhile, his electric car company Tesla is facing investigations from numerous government agencies over issues such as the safety of its self-driving features. His desire to cut regulation could affect such probes.
Musk in recent years has repeatedly accused regulators of launching trivial probes and standing in the way of his companies.
In September he threatened to sue the Federal Aviation Administration over its plans to fine his SpaceX company $633,000 for alleged licence infringements related to some of its rocket launches from Cape Canaveral in Florida. He accused the agency of "regulatory overreach".
Musk "stands to benefit personally from a lot of the deregulation that he touts," says Christopher Phelps, a professor of modern US political history, adding: "I think putting someone who is a billionaire and runs major corporations in charge of a federal project of deregulation is innately full of conflicts of interest."
Others said Musk, who has long described himself as having a libertarian bent, appeared to be a true believer in the benefits of smaller government.
"There’s no doubt that Musk has significant vested interests in the US regulatory landscape as a result of his many business enterprises," says Prof Gift.
"At the same time, it’s hard to make the case that this is the only impetus driving him.
"Musk has undertaken huge personal and political risks in coming out for Trump, and many of his activities and rhetoric seem to reflect an individual ideologically committed to causes he believes in."
"Clearly he has got skin in the game and there’s a self-interest, but equally you can have a sincere belief that there is too much government regulation and too much government bureaucracy," says Alex Waddan, a professor of US politics at the University of Leicester.
Reward for loyalty
For years, Musk did not play a big role in politics, despite his large fortune, now worth more than $300bn, according to Forbes estimates.
But he spoke out against the pandemic lockdowns of 2020. His criticism of the Biden administration mounted after the White House did not invite Tesla to an electric car summit in 2021.
He formally endorsed Trump this year after an assassination attempt, ultimately donating a reported $200m (£157m) to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and appearing at numerous rallies.
Prof Phelps describes Musk's relationship with Trump as "transactional", adding that the new role "gives him a lot of symbolic clout - and possibly the clout to get the things that matter most to him done".
As the South African-born billionaire is not a US citizen by birth, Musk cannot become president - something that has frustrated other famous faces who became involved in politics in the past.
But he can have an influence on US policy, and Trump will have a sympathetic adviser to call upon.
"Trump is looking to surround himself with loyalists in his new administration, and there’s no-one who’s been more loyal than Musk since he announced his endorsement for Trump," says Thomas Gift, a political science professor and director of the Centre on US Politics at University College London.
"Not only did Musk go 'all in' in supporting Trump personally and financially during the campaign, but he’s also evolved into a trusted adviser on topics as diverse as technology policy to the war in Ukraine."
In an early sign of the influence the tech entrepreneur may be rewarded with for his loyalty, Musk was party to a call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the election. The war in Ukraine will be a major foreign policy concern when Trump takes office.
"That is actually quite extraordinary," says Prof Waddan. "Normally, even your biggest donors wouldn’t get that kind of access."
What is the Department of Government Efficiency?
Musk first raised the idea of a cost-cutting effort while hosting Trump on X this summer. The official name is a winking reference to a meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog, which then gave its name to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, a favourite of Musk, which has seen its value soar since the election.
Prof Phelps says the name is "a nod to crypto deregulation being part of what they’ll do".
But it is not clear how much of Musk's talk of cutting might actually become reality.
For one thing, the new department will not have an official role, but provide "advice and guidance from outside government" according to the announcement.
Experts have also warned that cuts of the scale discussed could be enormously disruptive - and run into pushback in Congress - depending on how rapidly they are implemented.
Musk himself acknowledged the risks, saying Americans should be ready to stomach temporary hardship for long-run gain.
The way he has run his own firms may hint at what Americans can expect.
After his October 2022 takeover of the social media platform Twitter - which he branded as X - Musk introduced radical changes, including the reduction X's workforce from around 8,000 to 1,500 in a matter of weeks.
"His idea of efficiency was to let a lot of people go," says Alex Waddan, a professor of US politics at the University of Leicester.
Musk also loosened content moderation, stopped verifying accounts and welcomed users back to the platform who had been banned for violating its rules on hate speech and disinformation.
Among the users he reinstated was Trump, who had been banned following the Capitol riot in January 2021 after continuing to claim the 2020 election had been rigged against him.
Critics argue his changes have given prominence to hate-speech and misinformation - though Musk maintains the site is politically neutral.
The overhaul also prompted an exodus of advertisers, the main way the site has made money. Though Musk has introduced new ways to raise revenue, such as paid subscriptions, the company today is worth far less than the $44bn Musk paid for it just two years ago.
Musk's record at his other big companies - Tesla and SpaceX - is stronger.
Among car companies, Tesla stands out for making electric vehicles at a large profit, thanks in part to streamlined operations. His rocket firm SpaceX is credited with enabling rocket launches at significantly lower cost.
"As a serial entrepreneur, Musk has been relentless in trying to improve institutional efficiency at his own enterprises," Prof Gift says.
He adds that though Musk's primary role will be "slashing through the thicket of red tape that is the US federal government", his position will also give him influence in the new administration.
"While his role in the Department of Government Efficiency will be a more informal one, there’s no doubt that he’s got Trump's ear - at least for the moment."
Source:bbc.com
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Authorities say US man faked kayaking death and fled to Europe
14 NOV 2024
Authorities in Green Lake, Wisconsin, say that a local man who went missing while kayaking this summer may have staged his own death and fled to Europe.
“We believe that he is alive. We know that he's not in our lake,” Matthew Vande Kolk, Chief Deputy Sheriff for Green Lake County, told the BBC.
Ryan Borgwardt, 45, a married father of three, was last seen on 12 August at Green Lake while on a solo fishing trip.
Officials found evidence that Mr Borgwardt had used his passport after his disappearance and may have travelled to Europe.
Mr Borgwardt had last texted his wife on the night of 11 August. The message said he was turning his kayak around and heading to shore soon.
But when he failed to return home, his family contacted law enforcement who sent out a search-and-rescue team, which found his capsized kayak and life jacket on the lake.
Mr Borgwardt’s car, trailer, fishing rod and wallet were all left at the park nearby.
After 54 days of extensive search efforts of divers, drones, sonar and cadaver dogs, no body was recovered and no evidence turned up.
That caused the sheriff's office to widen its scope.
The case took a turn in October when investigators discovered Mr Borgwardt's name had been checked by border officials in Canada on 13 August, the day after he was reported missing.
Investigators then learned that Mr Borgwardt had reported his passport lost or stolen and was issued a new one prior to his disappearance.
His previous passport was later recovered from his wife, indicating he may have travelled on the new document.
Following this lead, officials conducted a digital forensic analysis of Mr Borgwardt’s laptop, and they found that he had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy, had transferred funds to a foreign bank account, photographed his new passport, and altered his email address before he vanished.
And after doing this, they discovered that Mr Borgwardt had replaced the laptop’s hard drive and cleared his browser history the day he disappeared.
Authorities also found indications that he may have traveled to a location in Europe.
While the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office told the BBC they are evaluating the appropriate criminal charges that could include obstruction and fraudulent activity.
Borgwardt’s family is cooperating and the chief deputy sheriff said his wife has been “extremely strong.”
“She has done everything that we have asked of her in regards to helping us with information, and holding on to information," Mr Vande Kolk told the BBC. "Unfortunately, we had to keep this quiet for about a month from the time that we started thinking that he was somewhere else, until we had enough information that we could share with the world, and she did that.”
“Our hope is then, at some point we'll be able to hold Ryan accountable for his actions and request restitution,” he added.
Authorities said that they are continuing to look for Mr. Borgwardt, who they believe is alive and in Eastern Europe, and anyone who may have assisted him in faking his death and fleeing.
Source:bbc.com
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John Thune elected new Republican Senate leader
14 NOV 2024
Senate Republicans have elected John Thune, the long-serving senator from South Dakota, as their new leader in the chamber.
The 63-year-old won a secret ballot on Wednesday, defeating Florida Senator Rick Scott - the preferred choice of many of Donald Trump's most vocal allies - and Texas Senator John Cornyn. Scott was eliminated in the first round.
In a statement, Thune said he was "extremely honoured" and stood "united behind President Trump's agenda".
The Republican Party won a 53-47 majority in the Senate last week, flipping control of the upper chamber as Trump secured his own return to the White House.
Thune will take over from Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down from the top Republican leadership post after 18 years.
The South Dakota Senator will serve for at least the next two years, with his term kicking off when the 119th Congress begins in January.
As Senate majority leader, he will be the chief spokesperson for the Republican conference's positions on issues, as well as controlling the flow of all legislative business through his chamber as well as the confirmation of Trump-nominated judges and cabinet members.
McConnell, 82, was the longest-serving party leader in US history and played a key role in remaking the US Supreme Court and much of the federal judiciary.
But he has faced growing resistance from within a caucus that has drifted towards Trump over the past decade. In February, he announced that he would end his leadership tenure but planned to complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
The announcement sparked anticipated bids from Thune, the current minority whip, and Cornyn, who has previously served as Republican whip.
But Scott, who launched a renegade challenge to McConnell two years ago, also threw his hat into the ring.
Viewed as the most hard-line conservative option of the trio, Scott quickly garnered support in his long-shot bid from top Trump supporters, including Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson, and Trump-world's most visible media allies. Thune and Cornyn are viewed as McConnell allies with close ties to the Republican Party's establishment wing.
Despite the leadership race being contested as a secret ballot, eight senators publicly endorsed Scott ahead of Wednesday's vote, as Mr Carlson and others urged grassroots Republicans to pressure their representatives to get behind the Florida Senator.
But Scott lost in the first round after winning the backing of only 13 of his colleagues. Cornyn earned 15 votes and Thune received 23, four short of the majority needed to win the race.
In the second round, Thune beat Cornyn by a margin of 29 to 24.
McConnell called the result "a clear endorsement of a consummate leader".
"The confidence our colleagues have placed in John’s legislative experience and political skill is well deserved," he said in a statement.
Scott - who has long chafed under McConnell's leadership - meanwhile thanked those "who supported my run and made their voices heard to demand change".
Though Trump himself did not make his opinions about the contestants public, Thune's victory and Scott's early defeat will be seen by some as a sign of Senate Republicans reasserting their independence and electing a seasoned party leader trusted by his colleagues.
Thune raised more than $31m (£24m) to elect Senate Republicans this election cycle, funds that contributed to the party flipping three Democrat-held seats last week and retaking a Senate majority.
But he has long had an uneven relationship with President-elect Trump, from criticising his "inexcusable" actions that led to the US Capitol riot in January 2021 to initially backing fellow Senator Tim Scott in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Thune and Trump have, however, spoken frequently on the phone this year. The incoming Senate majority leader also paid a visit to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort home in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Over the summer, he told the Associated Press that they had a good professional relationship and, if both won their races, “we’ve got a job to do”.
Thune's new leadership team, also elected on Wednesday, includes Wyoming Senator John Barrasso as his deputy, and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton as conference chair.
"I look forward to working with him," Democrat Chuck Schumer, the current Senate majority leader, said in a statement congratulating Thune.
"We’ve done many bipartisan things here in the Senate together and I hope that continues."
Source:bbc.com
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Pakistan
Security forces kill 12 terrorists in Miran Shah, Kech IBOs
By Web Desk
November 13, 2024
At least 12 terrorists were eliminated during separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan and Balochistan’s Kech districts, the military’s media wing said on Wednesday.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on November 12-13, security forces conducted IBO in North Waziristan’s Miran Shah area on reported presence of terrorists.
“During conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged khwarij's [terrorists] location, as a result of which, eight khwarij were sent to hell, while six khwarij got injured,” it added.
Separately, the ISPR said at least four terrorists, including a “high-value target”, were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Kech district.
The statement said security forces, on the night between November 12-13, conducted the IBO in the general area Balgatar of Kech district on the reported presence of terrorists.
During the conduct of the operation, an intense fire exchange took place between the security forces and the terrorists, as a result of which “four terrorists including the HVT, terrorist ring leader Sana @ Baru” were killed.
“He was a focal recruitment agent, especially suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade in district Kech and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.”
The ISPR further said that weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists.
Security forces also launched sanitisation operations to eliminate any other terrorists found in the KP and Balochistan areas, said the military’s media wing adding that forces are determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country.
It is pertinent to mention here that the third quarter (July-September) of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90% surge in violence, according to a report issued by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review.
Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan – marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces’ operations were recorded in the same provinces.
The total fatalities from three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total fatalities recorded for the entire 2023; the number of fatalities rose to at least 1534 in the first three quarters compared to 1523 in 2023.
Meanwhile, terrorist groups continue to reorganise and beef up their ranks. Most of the terror attacks remained unclaimed by terrorist or insurgent groups, likely for tactical reasons, as per the report.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Security beefed up on roads leading to Karachi airport
By Kashif Mushtaq
November 13, 2024
Karachi police have blocked a road leading to the airport and set up checkpoints on other routes, tightening security after last month's terrorist attack that killed two Chinese citizens near the airport.
Police officials said that security has been tightened around the airport, with checkpoints set up along routes from Star Gate and Pehlwan Goth to Jinnah Terminal.
Whereas, the road from Model Colony to Jinnah Terminal has been closed, with traffic now diverted to Sharea Faisal.
The development came a day after Geo News reported that the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) is set to introduce stricter entry requirements as part of measures to ramp up security at the airport of the country's mega city.
The move comes in the backdrop of last month's suicide attack which killed a total of three people, including two Chinese engineers, and injured at least 16 others.
New regulations mandate that anyone showing up at the airport to receive or see off passengers must present a copy of the traveller's ticket at security checkpoints, said sources.
Under the new directives from the PAA, airport entry will be granted to a maximum of four individuals accompanying each passenger, the sources said, adding that entry will be denied without a ticket copy.
Additionally, those arriving to receive passengers must carry their national identity cards, which will be required for verification at security checkpoints while entering the airport's premises.
Meanwhile, the road closures has not only affected the traffic flow on the Model Colony road, but is also causing problems for airlines staff, passengers, and employees in reaching the airport.
A day earlier, Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar announced the arrest of the airport attack's mastermind along with two other facilitators, including a woman.
Speaking at a press conference, the minister said that Javed alias Sami was the mastermind behind the deadly explosion and was apprehended along with woman facilitator Gul Nisa from RCD highway which connects Karachi to Quetta.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Constitutional bench commences pending cases' hearing
November 14, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The six-member constitutional bench started hearing the cases, that have been pending in the Supreme Court for many years, in Court Room No 3 on Thursday.
According to the cause list for November 14 and 15, the six-member constitutional bench, presided by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, would hear 34 cases.
The new bench, established under the 26th tweak to the constitution, is conducting its first hearing today.
Eighteen of these cases will be heard by the bench today and the remaining 16 will be heard on Friday (tomorrow).
Apart from Justice Amin, the constitutional bench comprises Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Justice Musarrat Hilali, and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan.
In view of the unavailability of Justice Ayesha A Malik on November 14 and 15, a relevant committee had decided that a bench comprising all available judges shall be constituted to proceed with cases on these dates.
The bench will hear environment-related cases including the one that has been pending with the Supreme Court since 1993 as well.
A review petition against the dismissal of a case challenging the nomination of Justice Qazi Faez Isa as chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, filed by Riaz Hanif Rai Advocate, will also be heard by the bench.
The bench will also take up a plea seeking a rescheduling of the 2024 elections as it was prayed before the court that the elections should be held between February and March.
Similarly, the constitutional bench will also take up cases related to pleas seeking disqualification of lawmakers, possessing business and assets abroad besides taking up cases related to pleas seeking a ban on government servants for contracting marriages with foreign nationals as well as suo motu a case taken up by former chief justice Isa regarding use of Conventional Centre, Islamabad for private purposes.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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Pakistan pushes for fulfilment of previous climate pledges at COP29 summit
November 13, 2024
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on wealthy nations to fulfil the financial commitments made in previous climate summits, emphasising the importance of supporting developing nations in managing climate impacts.
"COP29 should make this understanding loud and clear that we will have to fulfil those financial pledges committed in COP27, COP28," the premier told the COP29 Climate Action Summit being held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Around 200 nations are negotiating global action on climate change at the summit aimed at climate fund raising to help transition to clean energy and adaptation to a warmer world.
The summit seeks to reach a deal that ensures up to trillions of dollars in financing for climate projects worldwide.
Climate change remains a point of concern and contention for countries around the world who are now fighting over climate finance regarding the phenomenon affecting people all around the world.
"I would not want other countries to face the plight Pakistan faced back in 2022. Pakistan is a resilient, hard-working, and responsible nation. We are fully committed to being part of the global climate solutions," said PM Shehbaz.
"As the minus-one emitters, we should not brave the impact of immissionsrealised by others without even the tools to finance resilience. Without climate justice, there can be no real resilience," he added.
The PM said that the incumbent government in the country has taken concrete actions to deliver on its commitment to producing 60% of all energy from clean sources and shifting 30% of our vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of this decade.
At the same time, Pakistan is going to go through a renewable energy revolution, he added.
The premier told the summit that last year, Pakistan presented a comprehensive national adaptation plan and developed its carbon market framework by 2024.
He, however, underscored that the country cannot reach the goal on its own and needs international support to deliver on its climate ambitions.
PM Shehbaz said that the developing countries will need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current NDCs. The same goes for adaptation and loss and damage.
"In COP27, Pakistan led this phenomenon. I strongly feel that climate finance must be grant-based and not add to the debt burden of developing countries. Finally, two years ago, I warned at the top of my voice that the future would never forgive our inaction, today, I echo the same," he noted.
The premier's remarks come as the country ranks as the fifth most climate-vulnerable country globally, as per the Global Climate Risk Index. The catastrophic floods in 2022 resulted in over 1,700 deaths, affected 33 million people, and caused economic damage surpassing $30 billion.
While international donors committed over $9 billion for recovery efforts, officials report that very little of this aid has been received thus far.
In 2009, the wealthy countries pledged to contribute $100 billion a year to help developing nations cope with the costs of a transition to clean energy and adapting to the conditions of a warming world.
Those payments began in 2020 but were only fully met in 2022. The $100 billion pledge expires this year.
Countries are negotiating a higher target for payments starting next year, but some have been reluctant to confirm its size until it is clear which countries will contribute.
Instead, they are circling around the idea of a multi-layered target, with a core amount from wealthy countries' government coffers, and a larger sum that includes financing from other sources such as multilateral lending institutions or private investors.
In the past, public money made up the bulk of contributions to the $100 billion goal.
Climate change has accelerated globally, as human activities — mainly, burning fossil fuels — have heated up the planet's long-term average temperature by around 1.3°C, turbocharging disastrous floods, hurricanes and extreme heatwaves.
The countries' plans for emissions cuts are not enough to slow climate change, and would instead lead to far worse warming.
According to scientists, next year's UN deadline for countries to update their national climate plans is the last opportunity to avert disaster.
Negotiators have said a failure at COP29 to produce a major funding deal could result in countries offering weak climate plans on the grounds that they cannot afford to implement more ambitious ones.
Most of the world's climate-friendly spending so far has been skewed towards major economies such as China and the US. Meanwhile, Africa's 54 countries received just 2% of global renewable energy investments over the last two decades.
Source:thenews.com.pk
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‘BLA ringleader’ among 16 killed in operations across KP, Balochistan
Umer Farooq
November 14, 2024
PESHAWAR / QUETTA: An important ‘commander’ of a banned organisation was among 16 terrorists killed and six others injured in gun battles, retaliatory attacks and operations carried out in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it was officially announced on Wednesday.
Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on the reported presence of khwarij (the military’s terminology for the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) in the Miramshah area of North Waziristan district between Nov 12 and 13, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The security forces effectively engaged the terrorist locations during the operation. Eight terrorists were killed and six others injured during the exchange of fire.
In the Kech area of Balochistan, four terrorists, including an important ‘commander’, were killed in a gun battle during an operation, the ISPR said.
In a statement, the military’s media wing said that on the night between Nov 12 and 13, security forces conducted IBOs in the general area Balgatar of Kech district on the reported presence of terrorists.
After an intense exchange of fire between the troops and the terrorists, a high-value target, terrorists’ ringleader Sana alias Baru was killed along with three other terrorists.
The ISPR said that Sana was the focal recruitment agent, especially for suicide bombers, for the so-called Majeed Brigade wing of the banned Balochistan Liberation Army in Kech district and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.
Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorists.
Sanitisation operations were being conducted in Miramshah and Kech to eliminate any other terrorists found in the areas, the ISPR said, adding that security forces were determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and thwart attempts to sabotage peace, stability and progress of Balochistan.
Earlier in the day, four terrorists were killed in two encounters conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in Malakand, officials said.
Arms and ammunitions were seized after the gun battles, they added.
In the first encounter, three terrorists were killed when the CTD personnel retaliated against attackers in the Sher Khana Palai area. The dead militants were identified as Rizwan alias Bodagay, Salman, and Abdur Rehman alias Shadmani.
Rizwan was wanted by the police and security forces for his involvement in various terrorism-related cases, and was also involved in the firing incident at the historic Churchill Packet, they said.
Deputy Inspector General CTD Hassan Raza told a press conference in Batkhela that his department had received information on Oct 23 that some terrorists had sneaked into the country from Afghanistan and they were planning to carry out subversive activities in different districts of Malakand Division, including Bajaur, Malakand and Swat.
He said that terrorists attacked a CTD team, which had placed barricades on a road at the Sher Khana Palai area to check their movement. In a retaliatory action, the CTD personnel killed three terrorists.
The CTD personnel recovered three Kalashnikovs, hand grenades, pistols and live rounds from the dead militants.
During the other encounter, security forces killed a terrorist, identified as Abdullah.
DIG Raza, flanked by SP Malakand Amjad Ali Khan, stated that the killed terrorists, who belonged to the Sher Khana Palai area, were wanted by the police and security forces for their involvement in several terrorism-related cases. He said a search operation continued in the area.
Source:dawn.com
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Nawaz rues past mistakes that cost the country dearly
Atika Rehman
November 14, 2024
LONDON: Ruing ‘mistakes’ by petty individuals in the past, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that these errors had cost the country and democracy dearly.
Speaking at a workers’ convention at a local hotel, the PML-N chief said that if not for that ‘disturbance’, Pakistan would have been an Asian Tiger by now, or even a member of the G20 group of nations.
Although he did not name anyone in particular, it seemed from his words that he was addressing the judiciary, as he recounted incidents such as his removal from office in the Panamagate case.
“It was done for a personal agenda, not for the nation’s benefits. You know those faces… it’s unfortunate that they did it for their petty interests, for menial personal gains, they put the country on the line and kept sending prime ministers home,” he said.
He also regretted that a man like him was disqualified from politics for life, removed as president of the party and kept out of elections. “What were these decisions? What was the need? Who did this? Was it for the country or on a personal whim,” he asked, rhetorically.
In a series of references to what he termed ‘irregular conduct’ of judges, he recalled how one judge’s son had sought money in exchange for securing election tickets — a veiled reference to a purported audio recording where a voice alleged to belong to Najamus Saqib, the son of former CJP Saqib Nisar, could be heard asking a PTI ticket aspirant for money.
He also referred to a judge who was removed from office — a reference to former SC judge Mazahar Naqvi — saying, “Look at his assets, these are the people who have done this.
“It’s painful when I think of these things, one cannot criticise these actions enough. It is fortunate now that there is optimism in Pakistan, that it is coming out of darkness. One hopes that the country succeeds, the nation prospers. Had we not been thwarted, there would have been employment for everyone, housing for everyone.”
Mr Sharif was flanked by his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Maryam’s health
In her remarks, Ms Sharif refuted rumours about her health. “I have been working very hard for the last 8-9 months. I have a thyroid issue, last year I had a surgery. People keep asking why can’t I be treated at a hospital in Pakistan,” she said.
She said that while all her treatment had been carried out in Pakistan, the particular malady she had, which she called “parathyroid”, could only be treated in two countries, in Switzerland or America not even England. “I don’t want to play the victim and talk about my illness,” she said.
The previous day, Ms Sharif had addressed the rumours surrounding her health, saying: “My treatment is underway, but I am fine.”
Khawaja Asif heckled
In a video that went viral on social platforms on Wednesday, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif could be seen being heckled on a London train by an unknown man.
The video shows the defence minister being filmed on a train by a man who later abuses him and calls him names, saying that he could be attacked by a knife.
Sources said the incident occurred a few days ago in London on the underground train service Elizabeth Line.
However, Mr Asif did not mention this incident at the workers’ event later on Wednesday night.
Source:dawn.com
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PIA to facilitate 35,000 Haj pilgrims next year
November 14, 2024
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will transport 35,000 Haj pilgrims to the holy land under a government scheme in 2025.
A spokesman for PIA said the Ministry of Religious Affairs and PIA have signed an agreement, under which the national flag carrier will operate special flights from six cities — Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Multan and Sukkur — to transport 35,000 Haj pilgrims to the holy land in 2025.
The agreement was signed by PIA CEO Air Vice Marshal Aamir Hayat and additional religious affairs secretary Dr Syed Ata-ur-Rehman.
The PIA CEO reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to provide best possible services to the Haj pilgrims.
The federal cabinet recently approved the Haj Policy for 2025, setting the cost for pilgrimage between Rs1,075,000 and Rs1,175,000. The sacrifice amount of Rs55,000 will be in addition to Haj expenses. This year’s Haj quota for Pakistan is 179,210, divided equally between government and private sector. Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed to travel for Haj.
The “Road to Makkah” facility will be available at Islamabad and Karachi airports. Haj group organisers will sign service provider agreements with the ministry of religious affairs, and these organisers will be closely monitored for provision of services. Source:dawn.com
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ADR falls to 37pc, IDR reaches 94pc
Shahid Iqbal
November 14, 2024
KARACHI: The country’s Advance to Deposit Ratio (ADR) has been gradually contracting and stood at 37 per cent in June, down from 41pc in December.
This was revealed in the latest issue of A.F. Ferguson & Co’s PwC Banking Publication — Road to Sustainability. This year’s release features core themes like economy, credit penetration and digital transformation, carries insights from over 25 industry leaders, over 10 local and global surveys, snapshots of over 40 international banks and over 10 geographic regions.
“Investment to Deposit Ratio (IDR), on the other hand, has surged from 33pc in 2007 to 88pc in 2023 and 94pc in Jun-24,” the publication reported. These key benchmarks, relative to certain other economies, indicate an enormous potential for credit penetration in the country, it added. There was a sharp rise in profitability on the back of higher margins and non-funded income from different avenues. However, higher tax charges triggered disproportionate moderation in baseline profitability.
The publication offered suggestions for sustained, long-term economic growth. One of the core themes discussed with industry leaders and senior professionals was the country’s economic outlook. Experts underscored the importance of addressing structural deficiencies to improve GDP growth and other key economic indicators.
“Consistent economic policies and actionable long-term roadmap of interventions were also stressed upon,” said the Banking Publication. Experts see increasing imports and consumption as harmful for balance of payments and foreign exchange reserves, it added.
“Opportunities for export diversification and import substitution are enormous, especially in agriculture and tech sectors,” said the report.
Agriculture and SMEs
According to the report, SMEs and agriculture are the backbone of the nation’s progress. “Contributing 40pc of GDP, SMEs constitute nearly 90pc of all private enterprises in Pakistan, generate 30pc in export earnings and employ one-third of the country’s workforce,” said the report. “Out of five million enterprises, fewer than three per cent borrowed from banks,” it reported.
It said around 75pc of farmers still rely on informal sources of credit. Despite its historic importance, access to affordable growth capital remains restrictive.
“Financing for these critical sectors has been declining over the years and currently stands below eight per cent of total loans,” said the Banking Publication. Lending to the private sector is at 12pc of GDP, it added.
According to the publication, deposits grew significantly by 24pc to reach Rs29.1 trillion in 2023, with a further increase of 12pc in June this year, touching Rs32.5tr.
“Advances rose by four per cent to Rs13tr, much lower than 16pc growth rate of 2022, with no further increase till June 2024,” the report added. A significant expansion of 42pc was noted in investments, which reached Rs25.6tr last year and rose by 19pc to Rs30.4tr by June this year.
Borrowings were up by 51pc to Rs11.3tr last year, and by 12pc in Jun-24.
Source:dawn.com
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Sole PIA bid formally rejected, case sent back to cabinet
Amin Ahmed
November 14, 2024
ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission’s board on Wednesday rejected a Rs10 billion bid submitted by the sole bidder for the divestment of 60 per cent shares in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL), the privatisation ministry said in a statement.
The board decided to refer the issue of PIA’s privatisation to the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation for further consideration.
Last month, the final bidding process for the privatisation of PIA attracted just one bid of Rs10bn for a 60pc stake in the national flag carrier.
Only real-estate development company Blue World City participated in the bidding process, placing a bid that was below the government-set minimum price of Rs85bn.
The government had prequalified six groups in June, but only Blue World City participated in the final bidding process. Due to the huge difference between the expected and actual bids, the commission gave the consortium more time to reconsider its bid. However, Blue World City consortium chairman Saad Nazir kept the price unchanged.
On Wednesday, in a meeting chaired by Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, the board discussed advancing privatisation efforts for state-owned entities, including PIA and stressed the need to attract stronger bids in future transactions.
Mr Khan directed that the privatisation process should be carried forward without delay and underscored the importance of securing better offers for upcoming bids.
The board explored various options to expedite PIA’s divestment and reviewed the status of other ongoing privatisation transactions.
Mr Khan said that the framework given by the caretaker government for PIA’s privatisation was taken forward, but “now we have to keep in mind the concerns of the institutions involved in the privatisation”. He emphasised that “we have to learn from the privatisation process of PIA and have to be more active in future”.
The board decided to form a three-member committee to participate in the process of privatisation by members of the board. The meeting was briefed on various issues of privatisation and expressed satisfaction with the development so far.
During the meeting, various proposals were presented for PIA and the process of privatisation, and views were expressed on various issues and important decisions were taken. The minister extended the opportunity to all the Privatisation Commission’s board members and heard their suggestions. Important issues related to the privatisation of other projects were also discussed.
“The privatisation issues will be completed in accordance with the laws and regulations and keeping in view the national interest before us because the final decision on the issues of privatisation of PIA and other institutions has to be taken by the cabinet committee,” Mr Khan said, according to the ministry’s statement.
In his briefing, the secretary of the Privatisation Commission noted that several international airlines, including Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines, had expressed interest in PIA’s privatisation.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1872246/sole-pia-bid-formally-rejected-case-sent-back-to-cabinet
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Balochistanprioritises security with new action plan
November 14, 2024
QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to develop a provincial action plan to significantly enhance governance and security across the province.
Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan on Wednesday briefed a high-level meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, on the proposed plan.
The chief secretary said that a comprehensive strategy is being developed to effectively counter terrorism, crime, extortion and smuggling cases with a focus on enhancing enforcement measures.
The implementation of this action plan is likely to bring substantial improvements in governance and security in Balochistan.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bugti emphasised the importance of integrating modern technology into the plan. He also stressed the need for strengthening the professional capacity of law-enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and crime effectively.
He said profiling of criminals should be conducted for closer monitoring and all security agencies must coordinate to ensure efficient information sharing about criminals, suspects and convicts.
He said a clear and decisive strategy would be put in place to eradicate terrorism and crime without hesitation, pledging the provision of necessary resources to law enforcement agencies while expecting tangible results in return.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1872247/balochistan-prioritises-security-with-new-action-plan
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Stricter entry rules for visitors at Karachi airport planned
November 13, 2024
KARACHI: Visitors accompanying passengers to Karachi airport will now be required to carry a copy of the airline ticket and computerised national identity cards (CNICs) amid security concerns, multiple news outlets reported on Tuesday.
According to ARY News, the recent security protocols are being introduced following a suicide attack on Chinese nationals near Karachi airport, which was facilitated from inside the airport.
The regulations mandate that anyone showing up at the airport to receive or see off passengers must present a copy of the traveller’s ticket at security checkpoints, said Geo News while quoting unnamed sources.
Entry will be denied without a ticket copy.
Under the new directives, airport entry will be granted to a maximum of four individuals accompanying each passenger.
Additionally, those arriving to receive passengers must carry their original CNICs, which will be required for verification at security checkpoints while entering the airport’s premises.
Source:dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1872023/stricter-entry-rules-for-visitors-at-karachi-airport-planned
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