Uniform Civil Code: Change in The Basic Format of Sharia Will Not Be Acceptable, All India Muslim Personal Law Board Tells Law Commission
New Age Islam News Bureau
25 August 2023
All India Muslim Personal Law Board
-----
India
·
A question for Rahul Gandhi in
Kargil: Can you change the situation for Muslims on coming to power?
·
Kerala education board restores
content on Gandhi murder, Mughals after NCERT deletion
·
While stating that he is
against polygamy, AIUDF chief Ajmal says Spread awareness rather than banning
polygamy
----
South Asia
·
Rohingya Genocide Remembrance
Day: refugees in Cox's Bazar demand a safe return to Myanmar
·
Deputy PM Kabir Meets with
Elders, Scholars, and Mujahiden of Several Provinces
·
Iran urges regular monthly
water level assessment for Helmand River
·
Bangladesh wants enhanced
bilateral and trade relations with African nations: PM
·
China says will back Bangladesh
against ‘external interference’
·
1 dead, 8 injured in road
accidents in Nuristan and Parwan, Afghanistan
-------
Mideast
·
A CIA-backed 1953 coup in Iran
haunts the country with people still trying to make sense of it
·
Iran and Saudi Arabia are among
6 nations set to join China and Russia in the BRICS economic bloc
·
Syria: Protests over growing
economic hardship spread in south
·
Palestinian authorities say an
explosion at a Hamas site in Gaza has killed 1 militant
·
Algeria sends official to Niger
for talks after coup
·
At least 90 Yemenis die in
lightning strikes in 2 months
·
Three PKK members killed in
Turkish drone strike in Iraq: Authorities
------
Africa
·
How Police, Islamic group
tricked Isese worshippers from Ibadan to Ilorin for trial
·
ECOWAS Slams 'Unacceptable'
Niger Transition Plan
·
Niger allows Mali, Burkina Faso
to intervene in case of attack on its territory
------
Pakistan
·
IHC May Rule on Imran’s 3-Year
Sentence Today
·
PM calls for dynamic foreign
policy to strengthen Pakistan’s relationships with world
·
Caretaker PM expresses resolve
to address issues of GB
·
SBP issues commemorative coin
to mark 75 years of Pak-US diplomatic ties
·
Choosing future leaders is for
Pakistanis to decide, US envoy tells ECP
·
PTI chief’s bail: Opposing
forces at work
·
Imaan, Wazir sent to Adiala
Jail on 14-day remand
·
‘Deciding election date
president’s prerogative’
-------
North America
·
Canada Submits ‘Rojek’, A
Documentary About the Origins of The Islamic State, For 2024 Oscar Race
·
Trump arrested in Georgia
election racketeering case
·
US and Ukraine ‘at odds’ over
counteroffensive tactics – WSJ
·
Available Legal Means to
Protect Rights of Families in MD’s Montgomery County Public Schools
------
Arab World
·
Saudi Arabia Hails Invitation
to Join BRICS
·
Saudi Arabia’s trade with BRICS
countries crosses $160 billion in 2022
·
Qatar figures as second highest
category in recovery on Islamic finance: Fitch
·
Saudi authorities seize drug
cache across the Kingdom
·
Saudi civil defence calls for
caution as rain due across Kingdom from Friday
------
Europe
·
Coventry Phd Student Plotted to
Use 3D Printer to Make Drone That Could Drop Chemical Weapons for Islamic State,
Court Told
·
Vile display of Nazi symbols at
Belfast Mosque designed to intimidate
·
Anti-racism rally organised
following erection of Nazi flags outside mosque
·
Frontline report: Ukrainian
special forces attack Russian radio-radar base in Crimea
------
Southeast Asia
·
Ilham Centre: Malay Voters
Rejected Umno in State Polls Due to Disdain Towards Zahid
·
Science minister says Malaysia
installed seawater radiation levels monitors, plans to install more
·
Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, lawyer
on Interpol’s Red Notice
·
Nabawan assemblyman comes under
fire for land deal in own name
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ucc-sharia-aimplb/d/130522
-----
Uniform Civil Code: change in the basic format of Sharia will not
be acceptable, All India Muslim Personal
Law Board tells Law Commission
All India Muslim Personal Law Board
-----
August 25, 2023
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board
(AIMPLB) has told the Law Commission of India that even a minute change in the
basic format of Sharia will not be acceptable, as the Indian Constitution
mentions freedom of religion as a fundamental right.
It said that Sharia law (Muslim personal
law) based on Quran and Sunna (Prophet’s words and actions) cannot be altered,
while Ijtehad, i.e., Islamic scholars’ opinions, can differ with time and
situations.
A delegation from AIMPLB led by its
President Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani had on Wednesday met the Chairman of
the Law Commission, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, to convey its stand on the
Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
The body, which claims to protect Muslim
personal laws, questioned why only Muslims have not been exempted from UCC when
the government is ready to exclude tribals and Christians of Northeastern
states from its application.
The AIMPLB said if anybody has a problem
with religious personal law, then they can solemnise their marriage under the
Special Marriage Registration Act, which is a secular law.
Presently, under the Muslim law, there
is no such specific age prescribed for marriage and if both husband and wife
are in a position to fulfil the obligations of marriage, they can marry.
Notably, this issue whether such
marriages will be hit by provisions contained under the provisions of Child
Marriage Restraint Act and Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act
is pending consideration before the Supreme Court.
As per a statement issued by AIMPL, the
Chairman of Law Commission has assured that it is not going to suggest any
substantial change which may alter the basic features of Sharia Law as its role
is just limited to make suggestions and the government will have to take final
call.
On June 14, the 22nd Law Commission had
solicited the views and ideas of the public and recognised religious
organisations to examine the UCC.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
during his address to BJP workers in Bhopal, too had pitched for UCC. –IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
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‘Three JMI alumnus, Areeb Ahmad, Amit
Kumar Bhardwaj and Mohd Kashif, were part of Mission Chandrayan-3’
Areeb Ahmad,
Amit Kumar Bhardwaj and Mohd Kashif
------
August 24, 2023
NEW DELHI: Three alumni of Jamia Millia
Islamia (JMI) namely Amit Kumar Bhardwaj, Mohd Kashif and Areeb Ahmad were part
of the historical third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3 of Indian Space Research
Organisation (ISRO).
JMI has expressed pleasure on the
participation of its alumni and told IANS that it is a moment of great pride
for Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
“With this historic success, India has
become the first country to land near the Moon’s South Pole,” JMI
administration said.
All three, Amit Kumar Bhardwaj, Mohd.
Kashif and Areeb Ahmad were students of Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering and Technology in JMI and completed their B.Tech in the
year 2019.
JMI administration said that Amit,
Kashif and Areeb cleared ISRO’s Centralised Recruitment Board-2019 Exam for the
post of the Scientist/Engineer.
“ISRO declared the result of the Exam in
September, 2021. Kashif had secured the first position in the exam and all
three were selected for the post of the Scientist/Engineer ‘SC’-Mechanical
(Post No. BE002),” JMI said.
Elated over the development, JMI Vice
Chancellor Prof. Najma Akhtar said: “I take this opportunity to first
congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of the mission.
“It is an occasion of national
celebration and we are happier particularly to know that our students were also
part of this historical mission. I congratulate them for the success and wish
them good luck for their future endeavours. Jamia fraternity is proud of them.”
V-C said that they have become role
models for the students of the varsity and that the students will get
motivation to work hard to take the country to greater heights.
On Wednesday, the university had made
special arrangements at several places on the campus for watching the live telecast
of the soft landing of Vikram Lander of Chandrayan-3.
V-C said that the gathering in the
Faculty of Engineering Auditorium and other venues of the university clapped
and cheered in joy as soon as the Chandrayan-3 landed on the moon. — IANS
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/eng/three-jmi-alumnus-were-part-of-mission-chandrayan-3/
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More Afghan Children Fall Victim to
Unexploded War Remnants: UNICEF
UNICEF Afghanistan/2022/Qayoumi
-----
By Fidel Rahmati
August 24, 2023
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is
concerned about the harm caused to many children by unexploded war remnants in
Afghanistan. This surpasses other groups regarding victims, as said in a
statement.
On Thursday, the organization said on social
media X that 85% of the victims affected by unexploded ordnance are children.
This alarming statistic highlights these
remnants’ disproportionate impact on the younger population, shedding light on
a profoundly concerning issue in Afghanistan.
UNICEF highlights urgent collective
action for Afghan children’s safety amid unexploded remnants, stressing
coordinated clearing and support to avert more tragedies.
UNICEF underscores Afghanistan’s severe
weapon contamination. With EU collaboration, it aims to educate Afghan children
about explosives, fostering awareness and prevention.
Recent reports from international
organizations In the past year alone, 640 Afghan children fell victim to
landmine explosions and unexploded ordnance, facing injuries and deaths.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/more-afghan-children-fall-victim-to-unexploded-war-remnants-unicef/
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Israeli Arabs Demand Action Over Spike
In Murders Linked To Organised Crime
A funeral
was held on Wednesday for Abdul Rahman Kashua, a top municipal official who was
shot dead in the town of Tira
------
24 August 2023
By Tom Bateman & David Gritten
BBC News, in Jerusalem and London
Israeli Arab groups are calling for an
emergency session of the country's parliament, after the latest series of
murders within the community.
Four men were shot dead in the Arab town
of Abu Snan, in the northern Galilee region, on Tuesday.
Three were members of the same family,
including a candidate for the local mayoral election.
Opposition politicians have blamed the
government for failing to crackdown on organised crime gangs.
The bodies of the four men were found in
a field after what paramedics said was a significant amount of gunfire.
One of victims was Ghazi Saab, a
53-year-old who had been due to announce his candidacy for Abu Snan's mayor
later that day.
The others were identified as his
nephews, Zaher al-Din Saab, 45, and Amir Saab, 28, as well as 66-year-old
Salman Khalab from the nearby town of Yarka.
A cousin of Ghazi Saab told the Haaretz
newspaper that he had been a senior Israeli Border Police officer and
businessman, and that "the whole family is respectable". "He was
one of five candidates for council head, but I don't think it's related,"
they added.
A police spokesperson also said there
was no evidence so far connecting Mr Saab's candidacy to the murder.
Haaretz reported that hours after the
shootings an 18-year-old Palestinian man was stabbed to death near the southern
Bedouin town of Lakiya.
Police said they suspected a criminal
motive behind the killing of Majid Faisal Dais, who was from the occupied West
Bank.
On Monday night, the director general of
the central town of Tira, Abdul Rahman Kashua, was shot dead next to the
municipal headquarters and a police station.
The killings are believed to be
connected to organised crime gangs within the Israeli Arab community, as a
spiralling murder rate sends shockwaves through its population of around two
million.
Almost 160 people have been murdered
this year alone. That is already 40% more than the total reported in 2022 by
the Abraham Initiatives, a group that promotes Israeli Arab and Jewish
equality.
One political party - the Arab Movement
for Renewal (Taal) - is demanding urgent action by the Israeli authorities,
with many blaming a failure of representation and proper policing by the state.
The politics around solving the issue
are becoming increasingly febrile.
A leading opposition MP blamed Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for putting the police in the hands of Itamar
Ben-Gvir, the far-right firebrand national security minister who has a history
of anti-Arab racism.
"The Arab society is in crisis, and
the prime minister is busy making empty promises," former Defence Minister
Benny Gantz said.
Mr Netanyahu's office said the prime
minister was convening his government taskforce to deal with it.
On Tuesday, he said the murder of Abdul
Rahman Kashua had "crossed a red line" and vowed to use all means,
including the Shin Bet security service, "in order to defeat this
crime".
"We have eliminated organised crime
in the Jewish sector in Israel and we will eliminate organized crime in the
Arab sector in Israel," he added.
Mr Ben-Gvir released a lengthy statement
on Wednesday that blamed the violence on "militias" within the Arab
community, who he said would ultimately "turn their fire against the State
of Israel".
He repeated his call for detention
without trial for suspects and for the Shin Bet to detect organised crime. That
has been taken to mean surveillance of Arab citizens suspected of crimes - a
highly controversial suggestion which has reportedly been previously rejected.
Israeli Arabs - many of whom prefer to
be called Palestinian citizens of Israel - make up a fifth of the country's
population.
In theory, they have equal rights with
Jewish citizens, but they routinely complain of state discrimination.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66594068
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Niger Coup: Tinubu Has Sent Us Back to
Military Junta — Islamic Clerics
August 24, 2023
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja
Islamic clerics, on the platform of
Ulama’a, on Thursday, said after they briefed President Bola Tinubu on their
meetings with the military junta and their fellow Islamic clerics in Niger
Republic, the President asked them to go back and continue with the dialogue in
their efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the political impasse in the
country.
The Islamic clerics, comprising
different Islamic sects, insisted that they don’t want war or any military
action in the country that shared boundaries with Nigeria.
Recall that since the military junta
overthrew the democratically-elected Niger President, Mohamed Bazoum, on July
26 in a bloodless coup, the authorities of the Economic Community of West
African States, ECOWAS, Heads of State and Government has insisted that the
deposed President be reinstated.
Besides, ECOWAS, which has President
Tinubu as its Chairman, had pronounced many sanctions against the military
junta-led government, including military actions, if they failed to reinstate
the democratically elected government.
In their second meeting with the
President, the Islamic clerics led by Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, maintained their
initial position of resolving the political crisis amicably without the use of
military might.
Consequently, the President mandated
them to go back to Niger to continue the negotiations with the junta.
The delegation led by Sheikh Bauchi, met
with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to brief him on their
dialogue with the military junta in Niger Republic on behalf of ECOWAS.
President Tinubu as the Chairman of the
ECOWAS’ Authority of Heads of State and Government, approved their return to
Niger Republic for another round of dialogue with the military junta.
After the meeting with President Tinubu,
Sheikh Bauchi, told journalists: “We have just met with President Bola Tinubu
and told him all what went on there in Niger.
“He appreciated (our efforts) and he
still gave us the mandate that we should continue to make this dialogue and
discuss with the junta over there, because they gave us listening ears and we
are sure, through peaceful discussions, we’ll be able to achieve what we want.
“We are still going back there to ensure
that through peaceful and amicable ways, as spiritual leaders, we’ll be able to
do and contribute what we can be able to do.
“What we want? We don’t want war, we
want peace to reign in our region. So may Allah continue to bless the President
for giving us this opportunity.”
Source: vanguardngr.com
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------
India
A question for Rahul Gandhi in Kargil:
Can you change the situation for Muslims on coming to power?
25.08.23
Muzaffar Raina
In 1999, Kargil became the battleground
where India was tested, unleashing a wave of solidarity that marked the triumph
that followed.
Nearly a quarter century later, Kargil
has set up another test: What can you do to change the situation confronting
Muslims in the country now?
The question was addressed to Congress
leader Rahul Gandhi who visited the Muslim-majority Kargil in Ladakh after
wrapping up his six-day tour of the adjoining Buddhist-dominated Leh.
A young person asked Rahul in English:
“...Our Muslimness, the identity we hold very dearly, we are very proud to be
Kargili, we are very proud to be Muslim. Equally proud. We hold our identity
very, very strongly. It is extremely dear to us. We have seen the youth in the
country getting incarcerated for minute crimes, for speeches, we want to know
what would you be doing when you come to power to change the scenario that the
Indian Muslims are facing right now?
Loud cheers break out.
The youth continued: “We do not get stages
like this to speak our hearts out. This is one of the stages where we can speak
without being shy, without any hesitation. We are afraid to talk about our
problems, we do not want to be targeted people, by governments. We do not want
to be left out of government job opportunities. What would you be doing when
you come to power?”
Rahul replied: “You are right that
Muslims are under attack in India. This (the complaint) is not wrong. But you
must also realise that there are many other people under attack in India.
Please look at what is going on in Manipur today. For four months, Manipur has
been burning.
“You must not think that you (the
Muslims) are the only people who are under attack. This is happening to
Muslims, other minorities. It is happening to Dalits and tribals.”
Rahul promised the youngster and other
youths present at the interaction: “This is something we are committed to
fighting. You are well aware that myself and the Congress party are at the
forefront of that fight.
“Regardless of which religion you are
from, which community you belong to, where you come from, you must feel
comfortable in this country. Comfortable in every corner of this country. This
is the constitutional foundation of India.”
The youth then asked: “Would you release
the Muslim youth who are in jail?”
Rahul replied: “Listen, we will have to
function according to the courts, friend. We cannot function outside the legal
system of the country, right?
“I have to operate under the
Constitution. I have no choice. If the Supreme Court had not reinstated me, I
would have to abide by their decision. As a politician, those are the
instruments we have.”
Rahul added: “But what you are saying,
absolutely, we are very sensitive to unfairness towards any community, any
group, any religion, any caste, any language. That is for sure.”
2024 ‘guarantee’
To a question about the Congress’s
health, Rahul said it was the BJP, and not his party, that was facing a
downfall.
“Which party faced downfall in
Karnataka, in Himachal? Was it the Congress? There is election in Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. You will see who faces downfall
there. The Congress will win all four states,” the Congress MP said.
“Don’t think the Congress cannot fight
the BJP. I guarantee you that we will defeat the BJP in the 2024 elections,”
Rahul added, to loud cheers.
“The BJP has controlled all institutions
in the country. Do you think India has free and fair media? Is the media
neutral in India? The BJP has attacked all institutions in India. Media, bureaucracy,
the Election Commission or judiciary are under attack. If there was a level
playing field, the media was fair and the BJP had not captured institutions, it
would not have won even the 2109 elections. But despite that, the Congress and
INDIA alliance will defeat BJP,” Rahul said.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Kerala education board restores content
on Gandhi murder, Mughals after NCERT deletion
25.08.23
K.M. Rakesh
The Kerala education department has
restored chapters deleted by the National Council for Education Research and Training
(NCERT) by bringing out additional books on several subjects for higher
secondary students in schools that follow the state curriculum, bringing back
passages on incidents like the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on
Wednesday released the books published by the State Council for Educational
Research and Training (SCERT) — for Classes XI and XII — by including portions
omitted by the NCERT. Students of Classes XI and XII of Kerala schools have
been using 44 NCERT textbooks covering 12 subjects, while Classes I to X
already use SCERT textbooks.
The chief minister said the NCERT had
attributed the deletion to its efforts to reduce the weight of textbooks apart
from rationalisation of study material. In the process, the NCERT dropped
chapters such as the one on the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and others on
Jawaharlal Nehru, Mughal kings and the Cold War, among others.
The additional textbooks were prepared
by including the lessons omitted by the NCERT in the higher-secondary textbooks
for history, political science, economics and sociology, Vijayan said.
“So, naturally, students of those
classes (XI and XII) get NCERT textbooks. They (the books revised by the NCERT)
will radically change the students’ social outlook. What is the danger? It will
endanger our society that is rooted in secularism and brotherhood,” the chief
minister said.
The additional textbooks will be taken
up in classes beginning early September when schools reopen after the upcoming
Onam festival break.
One of the portions dropped by the NCERT
was about the ideological background of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma
Gandhi, in the Class XII history textbook.
“We all know which organisations were
involved in Gandhi’s murder and what was the ideology that guided them.
Deleting such portions from textbooks is not to reduce the weight of the
textbooks, but is in keeping with a specific political interest,” Vijayan said.
“With such attempts they are trying to
whitewash individuals and their organisations involved in Gandhi’s murder.
There is no doubt that those who whitewash such incidents would one day declare
Godse as a great man,” the chief minister cautioned.
He said another example was the removal
of chapters on Mughal kings “to create an impression that this country belongs
to only one particular set of people”.
“They are trying to create an opinion
among students that all other sections are to be thrown out of this country….
Burying social reality is very important for forming a theocratic state,”
Vijayan said.
“They first removed some chapters from
textbooks during Covid. Then they removed portions that provide knowledge that
would help reign in hatred and divisiveness. We should understand that the
attempt is to create a society based on hatred,” the CPM veteran said.
“We have recently seen communal riots in
some parts of India. Those incidents further emphasise the importance of
including human values and the values of the Constitution,” he said, referring
to the violence in Manipur and Haryana.
The Congress government in neighbouring
Karnataka is expected to “de-saffronise” textbooks revised by the previous BJP
dispensation.
The Congress had in its election
manifesto promised to correct the textbooks by restoring several chapters that
were dropped and by deleting contentious material hailing certain Hindutva
ideologues.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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While stating that he is against
polygamy, AIUDF chief Ajmal says Spread awareness rather than banning polygamy
Press Trust of India : 22nd August 2023
Guwahati: AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin
Ajmal on Tuesday said that the Assam government should spread awareness against
marrying more than once rather than imposing a legal ban on polygamy.
He emphasised that polygamy is not
‘compulsory’ in Islam and questioned what the state government has done for the
welfare of Muslim women.
The Assam government has initiated a
process for enacting a legislation to ban polygamy and had issued a
notification on Monday seeking public opinion on the proposed law.
It had earlier formed an expert
committee to study the legislative competence of the Assembly to enact such a
law, and the report stated that the state legislature is competent to enact a
law to ban the marital practice.
“Polygamy is not compulsory in Islam.
The government has not given a person enough to feed one wife, how can he marry
and take care of four wives?” Ajmal said, talking to reporters on the sidelines
of a meeting of heads of different religions on ‘Peace and Justice’.
While stating that he is against
polygamy, Ajmal expressed apprehension that the decision to ban it will go
along political lines.
Mentioning of abrogation of Article 370
from Jammu and Kashmir, Ajmal said, “Did peace come to Kashmir? Soldiers are
being killed every day. What the families of these soldiers get is so
unfortunate that it’s best not to speak of it.”
“You (government) stopped ‘triple talak’
but what did you do for women’s welfare? Did you build schools and colleges or
develop industries where women will get jobs?” he questioned.
“Nothing was done except that fun of
Muslim women was made in front of the world for some days. These women are now
starving, dying by suicide. But the government doesn’t see them, nobody is
bothered about them,” the Dhubri MP claimed.
He maintained that the proposed ban on
polygamy is another attempt at ‘making fun’ and if some ‘illiterate person’
tries to marry more than once, he should be made to understand against doing
it.
“There are so many laws since
Independence. A law can hardly help,” he added.
On the ‘Peace and Justice’ programme,
Ajmal said it will be held across the country to take ‘mohabbat ka paigam’
(message of peace) to the people.
“When we have reached the skies, people
are still not getting justice. People of one community are being tortured,
beaten up, and their women raped.
“The government is silent and not taking
any action. Hence, heads of different religions decided to hold these
programmes across the country and spread the message of peace,” the AIUDF chief
added. PTI SSG SSG
Source: siasat.com
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South Asia
Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day:
refugees in Cox's Bazar demand a safe return to Myanmar
Star Digital Report
Aug 25, 2023
Thousands of Rohingyas raised their
voice in support of their return to their homeland in Myanmar during a
demonstration in Cox's Bazar on the occasion of Rohingya Genocide Remembrance
Day.
Despite the heavy rain, they gathered at
a field in Charmore area in Lambasia camp-1 east in the district's
Ukhiyaupazila this morning.
They prayed and cried for their safe
return to the land that has the graves of their ancestors, reports our staff
correspondent.
Rohingyas across the world observe
Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day on August 25, commemorating the brutal
military campaign beginning this day in 2017 that forced some 750,000 Rohingyas
to flee to Bangladesh.
Mohammad Zubair, a Rohingya leader, said
the international community should put pressure on the Myanmar military junta
to start repatriation as soon as possible.
At the demonstration, another Rohingya
leader Kamal Hossain said, "We want back our citizenship from Myanmar. We
are citizens of Myanmar. Myanmar must accept it. They will have to repatriate
us with full dignity, safety and security. They should do it with the
coordination of international community."
Shahid Win, a Rohingya woman, said,
"It has already been six years. We are exhausted and don't want to stay
anymore in Bangladesh. We demand justice for the genocide."
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/rohingya-influx/news/we-are-citizens-myanmar-they-must-accept-it-3402771
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Deputy PM Kabir Meets with Elders,
Scholars, and Mujahiden of Several Provinces
2023-08-24
KABUL (BNA): Several tribal elders,
scholars, and Mujahideen, in a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister for
Political Affairs of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, called for the
acceleration of efforts for strengthening the bridge between the nation and the
government.
According to a statement released by the
Deputy Prime office, several scholars, tribal elders, and Mujahiden from Kabul,
Baghlan, Nangarhar, Kapisa, Laghman, Parwan, Kandahar, Takhar, Samangan,
Panjshir, Bamyan, Ghazni, Kunduz, Maidan Wardak and Badakhshan provinces met
with Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs.
The government and the nation should be
in close cooperation and the demands of the public should be addressed, the
scholars and elders said.
They also submitted suggestions for
addressing their challenges in written forms to the Deputy Prime Minister and
asked him to pay attention in this regard, the statement added.
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime
Minister, expressed his gratitude to these tribal elders for their support for
the Islamic Emirate.
He said that protecting national
interests and strengthening the economy is the policy priority of the Islamic
Emirate. The nation should be sure that as there is a significant improvement
in the security sector, it also works in the fields of economic and political
progress.
The struggle and victory of the Afghan
nation against occupation proved unity, and solidarity, cooperation between
them, he said.
Meanwhile, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir stated
that the challenges of the people would be taken into account to find solutions
to them.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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------
Iran urges regular monthly water level
assessment for Helmand River
By Fidel Rahmati
August 25, 2023
During a press conference, Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani emphasized the importance of
monthly assessments of the water level in the Helmand River to ensure Iran’s water
quota is met.
Kanani underscored that Tehran’s
technical delegation is actively and seriously addressing this issue.
“Continuing to send regular monthly
information and periodical visits, water measurement information and
indicators, timely visits to this station and accurate determination of the
amount of water in the days of water scarcity and drought, the amount of Iran’s
demand from the Helmand River should be measured correctly and fairly,” he
said.
“We consider the visit of the technical
delegation of Iran as committed to the treaty of 1973 regarding the Helmand
River issue,” Kanani added.
In the meantime, the Taliban-ruled
Afghanistan has not commented on Kanani’s statements. However, Amir Khan
Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister, recently conveyed that Tehran’s water
concern has been successfully addressed.
Last month, the Taliban administration
permitted the Iranian technical delegation to assess water levels in the
Helmand River.
Following their visit to the water level
indicator at Deh Rawud, Afghanistan, the Tehran delegation openly recognized a
substantial decline in the river’s water level compared to previous periods.
The report highlights the stark presence
of a severe drought within the country. However, Iranian authorities, in their
pursuit of securing their water rights from the Helmand River waters, are
advocating for a regular monthly assessment of the river’s status.
Source: khaama.com
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Bangladesh wants enhanced bilateral and
trade relations with African nations: PM
BSS, Johannesburg
Fri Aug 25, 2023
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said
yesterday that Bangladesh has attached priority on enhancing further bilateral
and trade relations with African nations as she held bilateral meetings with
heads of state of four countries on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in
Johannesburg.
"We want to boost the bilateral and
trade relations with the African nations for mutual benefits," she said.
Foreign Minister Abdul Momen briefed
newsmen about the prime minister's daylong engagements on Thursday after the
meetings in his room at the Hotel Radisson Blu Sandton here.
Prime Minister's speechwriter Md Nazrul
Islam was present during the briefing.
Sheikh Hasina also sought investments in
various sectors from the countries.
The bilateral meetings between Sheikh
Hasina and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of
Mozambique Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of Tanzania Saima Sulluhu and
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi were held at the Sandton Convention Centre on
Thursday.
A meeting was also held between the PM
and Dilma Vana Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank, at the same
venue.
During the meetings, the five
dignitaries highly praised Bangladesh's remarkable development under Sheikh
Hasina's prudent leadership, Momen said.
The foreign minister said Brazilian
President Lula assured Bangladesh all sorts of cooperation and invited the
Bangladesh premier to visit Brazil at a convenient time.
He said after bilateral talks with
Sheikh Hasina, Iranian President Raisi expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh
again to see in person the massive development, adding that he had earlier
visited Jashore in Bangladesh 30 years back.
"I want to visit Bangladesh to see
the massive development you have done," Raisi said.
During the bilateral meeting with
Mozambique President Nyusi, Hasina sought investment from Mozambique on a
larger scale particularly in pharmaceuticals.
President of the New Development Bank
Rousseff has expressed her organisation's eagerness to provide assistance to
Bangladesh, particularly in the projects regarding women empowerment, saying
that the bank has already sanctioned $700 million in two development schemes in
Bangladesh.
"I can assure you Bangladesh will
get top priority from the New Development Bank as long as I am the president of
the bank," she said.
The prime minister arrived in
Johannesburg to attend the 15th BRICS Summit on August 22 at the invitation of
the Current Chair of BRICS and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
On the sidelines of the BRICS Plus
Dialogue, Iranian President Raisi and President of the Republic of Indonesia
Joko Widodo earlier exchanged pleasantries with the Bangladesh premier.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, vice-president of Uganda, deputy prime minister of South Africa,
Russian foreign minister, and foreign minister of Saudi Arabia also exchanged
pleasantries with Sheikh Hasina.
The premier also joined a photo session
with the heads of state and government who arrived in Johannesburg to attend
the 15th BRICS Summit.
After wrapping up her four-day visit in
South Africa, the prime minister will depart Johannesburg for home on August 26
and is expected to arrive in Dhaka on August 27 morning.
Source: thedailystar.net
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------
China says will back Bangladesh against
‘external interference’
August 25, 2023
ANANTH KRISHNAN,KALLOL BHATTACHERJEE
Chinese President Xi Jinping on
Wednesday said Beijing would support Bangladesh in “opposing external
interference” and would deepen economic cooperation including through the Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI).
In talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, Mr. Xi said
China was “willing to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with
Bangladesh, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, push bilateral
strategic cooperative partnership to a new level, and better benefit the people
of the two countries.”
“China supports Bangladesh in
safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and
in opposing external interference, so that the country can maintain domestic
unity and stability, and achieve development and revitalisation,” he was quoted
as saying by State media, adding that Beijing was “willing to continue to work
with Bangladesh in firmly supporting each other in issues involving their
respective core interests.”
China’s support to Bangladesh comes
against the backdrop of Dhaka’s recent differences with Washington, which
issued a public call for “free and transparent” elections that are scheduled
for later this year.
Bangladesh-U.S. ties hit a low in May
when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a visa ban against
individuals that the U.S. holds responsible for “undermining the democratic
election process in Bangladesh”.
The U.S. has also sanctioned senior
officials of the Rapid Action Battalion, a tool of Prime Minister Hasina’s in
her crackdown against terrorism. In April this year, Ms. Hasina slammed the
U.S. saying that “it has the power to topple governments in any country and the
Muslim countries in particular are experiencing a tough time.” The Prime
Minister’s meeting with the Chinese President also had a personal touch as she
was accompanied by her daughter Saima Wazed, Chairperson of the National
Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
Ms. Hasina has put forward a foreign
policy of “friendship with all and malice for none” that she has often
highlighted to create space for engaging stakeholders in Bangladesh and for
balancing ties with global and regional powers. Though Bangladesh has expressed
support for the Belt and Road Initiative ahead of its expected joining of the
China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal, Dhaka
hasn’t seen significant financial support from Beijing on the Rohingya issue
for which the U.S. has provided at least $1.6 billion since 2017 to deal with
the refugee crisis
Source: thehindu.com
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1 dead, 8 injured in road accidents in
Nuristan and Parwan, Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
August 24, 2023
On Wednesday, officials said two
distinct road accidents occurred in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Nuristan
and Parwan, killing one person and injuring eight others on Thursday.
Two separate accidents unfolded in
Afghanistan’s Nuristan and Parwan provinces. In Nuristan’s Norgram district, a
car overturned due to reckless driving, resulting in one death and four
injuries.
In Parwan’s Salang district, a bus
driver’s loss of control led to another accident, leaving four injured,
including some in critical condition, as reported by officials.
Earlier, a road accident occurred in
Balkh province of the country, killing six people and injuring two others. The
incident serves as a grim reminder of the road safety challenges in the
country.
The surge in traffic accidents in the
country has been attributed to several factors by experts. These include
reckless driving, congested roads, the prevalence of old vehicles, and a lack
of adherence to traffic rules. These combined issues have contributed to the
alarming increase in road accidents.
Official reports underline the severity
of the situation, revealing that over the past four months, Afghanistan has
witnessed a distressing toll. More than 400 lives have been lost as a result of
road accidents, shedding light on the urgent need for enhanced road safety
measures and awareness campaigns to mitigate this ongoing tragedy.
Source: khaama.com
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----
Mideast
A CIA-backed 1953 coup in Iran haunts
the country with people still trying to make sense of it
BY NASSER KARIMI AND JON GAMBRELL
0, August 25, 2023
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Seventy years after
a CIA-orchestrated coup toppled Iran’s prime minister, its legacy remains both
contentious and complicated for the Islamic Republic as tensions stay high with
the United States.
While highlighted as a symbol of Western
imperialism by Iran’s theocracy, the coup unseating Prime Minister Mohammad
Mossadegh — over America’s fears about a possible tilt toward the Soviet Union
and the loss of Iranian crude oil — appeared backed at the time by the
country’s leading Shiite clergy.
But nowadays, hard-line Iranian state
television airs repeated segments describing the coup as showing how America
can’t be trusted, while authorities bar the public from visiting Mossadegh’s
grave in a village outside of Tehran.
Such conflicts are common in Iran, where
“Death to America” can still be heard at Friday prayers in Tehran while many on
its streets say they’d welcome a better relationship with the U.S. But as
memories of the coup further fade away along with those alive during it,
controlling which allegory Iranians see in it has grown more important for both
the country’s government and its people.
“Maybe the U.S. did this out of fear of
the emerging power of the Soviet Union, but it was like wishing for an
earthquake to get rid of a bad neighbor,” said Rana, a 24-year-old painter who
like some others who spoke to The Associated Press gave only her first name for
fear of reprisals. For Iranians, “the rancor has never melted.”
The August 1953 coup stemmed from U.S.
fears over the Soviet Union increasingly wanting a piece of Iran as Communists
agitated within the country. The ground had been laid partially by the British,
who wanted to wrest back access to the Iranian oil industry, which had been
nationalized earlier by Mossadegh.
Though looking initially like it failed,
the coup toppled Mossadegh and cemented the power of Shah Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi. It also lit the fuse for the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which saw the
fatally ill shah flee Iran and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini usher in the
theocracy that still governs the country.
Today, several who spoke to the AP about
the coup and possible relations with the U.S. put it in the context of Iran’s
ailing economy, which has been battered by years of sanctions after the
collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Lower tensions with the U.S. “will bring
more money for my business,” said Hossein, 47, who runs a canteen for cab
drivers in southern Tehran. “Now taxi drivers spend less compared to the past
years and it is because of these bad relations, sanctions.”
“I know about this bitter history but it
should come to end sometime soon,” added Majid Shamsi, who works as a parcel
carrier in central Tehran. “Young people in Iran seek a better life and it
cannot come as a result of enmity with” the U.S.
Even during increasingly common protests
by teachers, farmers and others in Iran, some of the regular chants include:
“Our enemy is here; they lied to us (that the enemy) is the U.S.”
“Iran today should accept a deal with
the U.S. like what it did to release dual nationals,” added teacher Reza Seifi,
26. “I need it for my better future, for a better future for all.”
But like with the exchanges with the
U.S., there are limits to how far Iran’s government will go in remembering
Mossadegh.
Last weekend, State television’s
English-language Press TV aired a segment with a journalist standing on
Mossadegh Street in northern Tehran. However, over the last 20 years, police
have restricted access to those wanting to visit his grave in his ancestral
home in the village of Ahmadabad, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of
Tehran. In the village, tall walls and a locked gate keep those wanting to pay
their respects out, while officers question those who look like they don’t live
there.
Some found other ways to mark the 70th
anniversary of the coup.
“I could not go to his grave to pay
tribute but I have visited the graves of his supporters and allies like Hossein
Fatemi,“ said Ebrahim Nazeri, 32, as he, his wife and two children stood at the
graveside of Fatemi, Mossadegh’s foreign minister who was executed after the
coup. “He was a hero like Mossadegh.”
Another visitor to Fatemi’s grave,
teacher Ehsan Rahmani simply said that “the U.S. planted hatred in the hearts
of Iranians” through the coup.
For Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, the 1953 coup represents what he views as the continued threat from
the U.S., whether that be from economic sanctions or the nationwide protests
that have gripped Iran after the death last year of Mahsa Amini.
On Thursday, Khamenei told members of
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that Washington had planned to
overthrow the country’s theocracy through a coup like in 1953 through its
military. Iran carried out mass executions and purges of its regular military
after the revolution.
“The enemies tried to undermine and
paralyze the revolution by creating continuous crises,” Khamenei said,
according to a transcript on his official website. “They then plotted to put an
end to the revolution with a measure similar to the coup that took place on
August 19, (1953). However, the (Guard) thwarted it. This is the reason why the
enemies have so much hatred and animosity towards the” Guard.
The Guard’s chief, Gen. Hossein Salami,
in reply, vowed to “expel“ American forces from the region. His remarks came
amid a major American military buildup in the Persian Gulf, with the
possibility of U.S. troops boarding and guarding commercial ships in the Strait
of Hormuz, through which 20% of all oil shipments pass.
However, some remain hopeful Iran could
reach a détente with the U.S., as it recently did with Saudi Arabia.
“I dream that the supreme leader allows
talks and better relations with the U.S.,” said Mohsen, 29, a furniture shop
salesman in northern Tehran. “He allowed the restoration of ties with Saudi
Arabia. He can allow the same for the U.S.”
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United
Arab Emirates.
Source: apnews.com
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------
Iran and Saudi Arabia are among 6
nations set to join China and Russia in the BRICS economic bloc
BY GERALD IMRAY, MOGOMOTSI MAGOME AND
JON GAMBRELL
August 24, 2023
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Iran and Saudi
Arabia were among six countries invited Thursday to join the BRICS bloc of
developing economies in a move that showed signs of strengthening a
China-Russia coalition as tensions with the West spiral higher.
The United Arab Emirates, Argentina,
Egypt and Ethiopia were also set to enter BRICS from Jan. 1, 2024, joining
current members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to make an
11-nation bloc.
The announcement came after two days of
talks at a summit in Johannesburg involving Brazilian President Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi
Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Russian President Vladimir
Putin participated in the discussions virtually after his travel to the summit
was complicated by an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued
against him over the war in Ukraine.
Putin welcomed the six countries by
video link. He did not mention Wednesday’s plane crash that left Russian mercenary
chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and some of his top lieutenants presumed dead.
While there has been momentum for a
BRICS expansion for months - pushed largely by China and Russia - the five
leaders were locked in closed-door discussions for two days Tuesday and
Wednesday before emerging with an agreement on expanding and a list of
countries on the last day of the summit.
BRICS is a consensus-based organization
that needs all members to agree on decisions.
The bloc was formed by Brazil, Russia,
India and China in 2009 and added South Africa in 2010, making Thursday’s
announcement in the heart of Johannesburg’s high-rise Sandton financial
district its most significant decision in more than a decade.
Mohammad Jamshidi, the political deputy
of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, called joining BRICS a “strategic victory for
Iran’s foreign policy.”
“Felicitations to the Supreme Leader of
Islamic Revolution and great nation of Iran,” Jamshidi wrote on X, the website
formerly known as Twitter.
Raisi attended the summit, as did Saudi
Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who said the oil-rich kingdom could
be a leader of the bloc given its resources, wealth and access to the Red Sea
and Persian Gulf.
However, in a twist, Saudi Arabia’s
membership appeared uncertain after Prince Faisal told the Saudi-owned
broadcaster Al Arabiya later Thursday that the kingdom appreciated the
invitation but would first study the details before the proposed Jan. 1 joining
date and take “the appropriate decision.”
BRICS currently represents around 40% of
the world’s population and more than a quarter of the world’s GDP, with that
set to increase. The potential new members include three of the world’s biggest
oil producers: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran.
“This membership expansion is historic,”
Chinese leader Xi said. “It shows the determination of BRICS countries for
unity and development.”
“Over the years, China has stood in
solidarity with developing countries through thick and thin.”
Saudi Arabia and the UAE might provide
new capital for BRICS’ New Development Bank. However, economists also noted
that Argentina and Egypt are the International Monetary Fund’s two biggest
debtors and have required bailouts.
Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous
country with 120 million people, has been at odds with the U.S. and European
Union over their criticism of the recent conflict in the country’s Tigray
region.
Argentinian President Alberto Fernández
said that joining BRICS was “a new opportunity” that “strengthens us.”
BRICS has a stated aim to amplify the
voice of the Global South. All five current members and dozens of other
developing countries represented at the summit repeatedly called this week for
a fairer world order and the reform of international institutions like the
United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank.
Many in the developing world view those
institutions as Western-led and unfair to them and a stream of leaders made
speeches Thursday calling for change.
While that sentiment and challenging the
current international order is useful for China and Russia’s geopolitical aims,
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a speech to the BRICS summit
that the calls for reform were valid.
He quoted figures that said, on average,
African countries pay four times more for borrowing from international
financial institutions than the United States and eight times more than the
wealthiest European countries.
“Redesigning today’s outdated,
dysfunctional and unfair global financial architecture is necessary, but it
won’t happen overnight,” Guterres said. “Yet we can and must take practical
action now.”
More than 20 countries had formally
applied to join BRICS ahead of the Johannesburg summit and more than 20 others
had expressed interest, indicating how the bloc might resonate with many as an
alternative.
“Cooperation is key to our collective
survival,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
South African officials pushed back
against characterizations that BRICS was taking an anti-West turn under the
influence of China and Russia. Putin and Xi laced their speeches with criticism
of the U.S. and its allies earlier in the summit, although Xi did also call for
a “lowering of the temperature” in reference to the geopolitical climate.
Putin used a 17-minute prerecorded
address on the opening day of the meetings to lash out at the West over the
financial sanctions imposed on Russia as punishment for its invasion of
Ukraine.
The expansion of BRICS also appears to
expand China and Russia’s sphere of influence, especially in the Persian Gulf.
While Saudi Arabia had been touted as a likely new member, Iran’s inclusion
wasn’t expected. In the end, three Gulf nations were in line to possibly join.
Until recently, the inclusion of Iran,
Saudi Arabia and the UAE together in the same economic or political
organization would have been unthinkable, as tensions escalated following the
collapse of Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal.
But the UAE became the first to reengage
diplomatically with Iran, and Saudi Arabia and Iran announced they had reached
a separate détente in March, notably with the help of Chinese mediation.
China has recently pushed for more of a
presence in the Gulf and has sought closer relations with all three nations,
particularly Iran, from which it has imported oil. Saudi Arabia and the UAE
have also maintained relations with Russia amid the war on Ukraine, annoying
the U.S., which has long provided security guarantees for the major
oil-producing nations.
The U.S. and its Western allies clashed
with Russia and Iran at the U.N. Security Council last month over Tehran’s
uranium enrichment and its reported supply of combat drones to Russia that are
being used to attack Ukraine.
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United
Arab Emirates. AP writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, Samy Magdy in Cairo, Cara
Anna in Nairobi, Kenya and Almudena Calatrava in Buenos Aires, Argentina
contributed to this report.
Source: apnews.com
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Syria: Protests over growing economic
hardship spread in south
By Lina Sinjab
BBC News, Beirut, 24 August 2923
Protests against Syria's government are
intensifying in the country's south, amid widespread anger over its decision to
cut fuel subsidies when millions of people are already struggling to afford
basic goods because of hyperinflation.
A large banner showing President Bashar
al-Assad hanging in one of the main squares in the city of Suweida is seen
being set on fire in one video shared on social media over the past week.
"We want everyone to come out to
the streets across Syria," says a man in another clip. "We are here
against poverty and humiliation, calling for our rights. Everyone should be out
protesting."
Crowds have even been filmed calling for
the fall of the president, with chants such as "Long live Syria and down
with Bashar al-Assad" echoing those of 2011 pro-democracy uprising that
descended into civil war.
Government-held Suweida has witnessed
protests against Mr Assad over the past 12 years, but this is the first time
that such slogans have been heard on its streets.
His regime has long been careful in its
dealings with the minority Druze sect whose followers make up most of the
residents of the city and its surrounding province. It has tolerated dissent
there to a larger degree than it would in other areas under its control.
Some protesters have also been taking
place in neighbouring Deraa province, where the 2011 uprising began but which
was retaken by the government seven years later.
Demands for change
Deteriorating living conditions have
pushed many people to take to the streets in recent months.
But the protests intensified last week,
after the government announced the total lifting of subsidies on petrol and a
partial lifting of subsidies on fuel oil.
A worsening economic crisis, with a
currency collapse fuelling hyperinflation, has left almost 90% of the
population living below the poverty line. But the sudden spike in fuel prices
has made the situation even worse.
Some public sector workers' monthly
income is worth as little as $20 (£15.80) at the black market exchange rate.
That has left them unable to afford even essential food supplies for their
families.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad speaks during
an interview with Sky News Arabia in Damascus, Syria (8 August 2023)
Earlier in the month, a new group
calling itself "The 10th of August Movement" issued a statement
calling for living conditions to be improved in Syria. Many of those behind the
group are believed to be from Mr Assad's minority Alawite sect, which has
steadfastly supported him during the war.
The statement demanded the government
raise the monthly minimum wage so that it was worth at least $100; provide
electricity for at least 20 hours a day, up from the current average of three
in most areas; and issue new passports within a month, signalling the desire of
many young people to leave the country. The statement also called for the
release of political prisoners.
In recent days, photos of people in
various cities across Syria with letters making similar demands and expressing
opposition to Mr Assad's rule have posted on social media.
Exiled opposition groups hope that these
developments will lead to lead to long awaited changes, but the president's
hold on power appears to be secure for now.
Alawite anger
The criticism from his fellow Alawites
will, however, be a cause for concern for Mr Assad.
Some are reported to have been arrested
after they took to social media platforms to call on the president to act.
Ahmed Ibrahim Ismail is one of them. He
is from Jableh, a town in the north-western coastal province of Latakia that is
the heartland of the Alawites.
"I wished to hear something else
from you... You are flying away from reality. I am very disappointed. I haven't
anything from you to tackle my pain," he said.
He went on to describe his deteriorating
living conditions.
A few days later, Mr Ismail's daughter
announced on her Facebook that he had been detained.
Many similar stories have been
circulating online.
During the past 12 years of protests and
war, many have argued that Mr Assad would be able to stay in power unless the
Alawite community turned against him.
So far, there is no evidence of a strong
organised movement that could threaten his rule, but the growing public anger -
especially among Alawites - could be the start of something bigger.
Source:
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Palestinian authorities say an explosion
at a Hamas site in Gaza has killed 1 militant
August 24, 2023
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — An
explosion ripped through a Hamas militant site in the central Gaza Strip on
Thursday, Palestinian authorities said, killing one militant and seriously
wounding another.
The Gaza-based interior ministry did not
reveal the cause of the blast but said it killed Ashraf Hussein, a member of
Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The Qassam Brigades acknowledged
that Hussein was killed in what the group described as an accidental explosion.
There was no information about what kind
of militant facility was affected in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, or
about the extent of damage caused. Gaza’s Hamas rulers have a number of training
sites and underground facilities used for manufacturing weapons and storing raw
rocket material. Accidental explosions have been reported in the past at bomb
laboratories and munitions storehouses.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007,
prompting Israel and Egypt to impose a blockade on the territory, largely to
prevent the militants from amassing more weapons. Israel and Hamas have fought
four wars and exchanged fire countless times since the Hamas takeover of the
crowded Palestinian enclave.
Source: apnews.com
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------
Algeria sends official to Niger for
talks after coup
AFP/AP
August 24, 2023
ALGIERS: Algeria said it sent a
high-ranking official to Niger on Thursday as part of its diplomatic push in
the aftermath of a military coup in the neighboring country.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry’s
secretary-general, Lounes Magramane, “will be visiting” Niger, the ministry
said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
It comes a day after Algerian Foreign
Minister Ahmed Attaf began a tour of West African countries in a bid to find a
solution in Niger, where Algiers opposes any military intervention following
the coup.
The West African bloc ECOWAS has
threatened to use force to reinstate Niger’s elected president, Mohammed
Bazoum, who was detained by the armed forces on July 26.
Magramane’s visit was another step in
Algiers’ “unceasing efforts ... to contribute to a peaceful solution to the
crisis in Niger, avoiding increased risks for this neighbouring and brotherly
country and for the entire region,” the Algerian Foreign Ministry said.
The diplomat was due to hold a “series
of meeting with figures and high officials” in Niger, it added.
Algeria, which shares a 1,000-km
southern land border with Niger, has previously cautioned against a military
solution, which President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said would be “a direct threat”
to his country.
He stressed “there will be no solution
without us (Algeria). We are the first people affected.”
Algeria — Africa’s largest country —
also shares borders with Libya and Mali, both in the throes of years-long
conflicts.
Niger is the fourth nation in West Africa
since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
The juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have
said that any military intervention in their neighbor would be considered a
“declaration of war” against their countries.
The West African bloc has rejected the
proposal by Niger’s mutinous soldiers for a three-year transition to democratic
rule, with a commissioner describing the slow timeline as a provocation.
The door for diplomacy with Niger’s
junta remained open but the bloc is not going to engage in drawn-out talks that
lead nowhere, said Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and
security.
“It is the belief among the ECOWAS heads
of state and also the commission that the coup in Niger is one coup too many
for the region and if we allow it then we are going to have a domino effect in
the region and we are determined to stop it,” Musah said.
While direct talks and backchannel
negotiations are ongoing, he said the door to diplomacy wasn’t open
indefinitely.
“We are not going to engage in long,
drawn out haggling with these military officers … We went down that route in
Mali, in Burkina Faso and elsewhere, and we are getting nowhere,” Musah said.
His comments came days after an ECOWAS
delegation met the head of Niger’s military regime, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.
After last week’s meetng, Musah said the
ball is now in the junta’s court.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2361086/middle-east
-----
At least 90 Yemenis die in lightning
strikes in 2 months
SAEED AL-BATATI
August 24, 2023
AL-MUKALLA: Lightning strikes killed 45
people in Yemen in July, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said, while
local media reported almost the same number of lightning-related deaths this
month.
In a routine agrometeorological alert
issued on Wednesday, the FAO reported that intense lightning activity and
thunderstorms last month killed 45 people and large numbers of livestock,
mainly in Yemen’s highland provinces.
“Overall, field reports indicate that 45
people and several herds of livestock were confirmed dead across Yemen. As the
kharif rainy season continues, there is a high likelihood of sustained
lightning activities across much of Yemen. Lightning remains an active threat
to pastoral farming across much of Yemen,” it said.
The report coincided with claims by
local media and testimonies from individuals indicating that at least 45
Yemenis have been killed by lightning strikes since the start of August.
Two children died last week when
lightning struck their home in the Bajel district of Hodeidah, a province in
western Yemen, according to locals.
A young man in the same property escaped
unhurt.
Most lightning-related fatalities were
recorded in mountainous provinces, such as Amran, Mahweet, Sanaa, and Hajjah.
This month, lightning struck Mohammed
Hassan Al-Hajj’s home in the Hufash district of Al-Mahweet region, killing him
while he slept.
Numerous Yemenis shared on social media
the image of Qusay Ghawth, a young man who was struck and killed by lightning
in Aflah Al-Sham in the Hajjah district.
In the Khamir district of Amran’s
highland province, a shepherd and more than 40 of her animals were killed by a
lightning strike while they huddled near a cliff.
Yemen’s Red Crescent estimates there
have been 150 lightning-related deaths and injuries since the beginning of the
year.
It has urged Yemenis to take “simple”
precautions, including turning off mobiles and landlines, disconnecting the
internet, unplugging chargers and solar power panels, avoiding sheltering under
trees, and staying indoors during thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, two civilians were killed in
the province of Hodeidah after tampering with unexploded ordnance, Yemeni
Landmine Records, an organization that monitors civilian land mine fatalities
in the country, reported on Wednesday.
Ahmed Fetaini, 18, and Majed Yahiya, 30,
were collecting trash in Hodeidah’s Ad Durayhimi district when blast occurred.
The same organization said that a
deminer in the central province of Marib’s Raghwan region was injured when a
land mine he was attempting to defuse detonated.
The Hodeidah city-based UN Mission to
Support the Hodeidah Agreement said on Monday that explosions caused by land
mines and other munitions killed five civilians and injured four others in
Hodeidah’s Al-Hali, Al-Hawak, Ad Durayhimi, Bayt Al-Faqih and At Tuhayta
districts in July.
The numbers represent a 13 percent
increase on the previous month, but a 57 percent decrease on the same month
last year.
Hodeidah is believed to have the highest
concentration of land mines in Yemen. The Houthis planted thousands of
explosive devices in the province to prevent Yemeni government forces from
capturing territory.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2361011/middle-east
------
Three PKK members killed in Turkish
drone strike in Iraq: Authorities
AFP
August 24, 2023
IRBIL: Three members of the Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) were killed Thursday in a Turkish drone strike in Iraq’s
Kurdistan region, authorities said, as Ankara’s top diplomat visited the
northern region.
“A Turkish army drone struck a PKK
vehicle, killing an official and two fighters” of the group — considered a terrorist
organization by Turkiye and Western countries — in the Sidakan district, the
Kurdish counter-terrorism services said.
It came as Turkish Foreign Minister
Hakan Fidan was visiting the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital Irbil after he
began on Tuesday his first official trip to Iraq.
Fidan met with the Kurdistan region’s
president Nechirvan Barzani and prime minister Masrour Barzani, amid calls by
Ankara for Baghdad to label the PKK a terrorist organization.
“We have settled this question in
Turkiye once and for all. Now the PKK is hiding in Iraqi territory. We are
working with Baghdad and Irbil to protect Iraq from the PKK,” Fidan said at a
joint news conference with Masrour Barzani.
On Tuesday Fidan had urged the federal
government in Baghdad to brand the PKK a “terrorist” organization.
Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region has
long been a target of Turkish air and ground operations against the PKK, which
has waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara.
The Turkish military rarely comments on
individual strikes in northern Iraq.
Both the Kurdish authorities in Irbil
and the federal government in Baghdad have long been accused of not doing
enough to stop Turkiye’s frequent resort to military action on Iraqi soil in
its nearly four-decade struggle against the PKK.
Statements condemning the violation of
Iraqi sovereignty are periodically issued, particularly when there are civilian
casualties.
But critics say both Irbil and Baghdad
are more concerned with protecting trade and investment ties with Ankara.
On July 25, the office of Prime Minister
Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani announced a forthcoming visit to Iraq by Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but a date has yet to be set.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2360801/middle-east
------
Africa
How Police, Islamic group tricked Isese
worshippers from Ibadan to Ilorin for trial
Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
August 24, 2023
The renowned traditional worshipper
otherwise known as “Isese” Mr Abdulazeez Adegbola popularly known as Talolohun
and Chief Ademola OluwoTede unknown to them were tricked into coming and facing
trial in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital by their traducers.
Recall that they had taken to several
social media handles to attack the critics of the Isese festival in Ilorin, a
development that drew the ire of their targets.
Vanguard reliably gathered that
Talolohun who reportedly set the Holy Book of Qur’an ablaze and attacked the
Islamic religion also poured venoms on the revered monarch, the Emir of Ilorin
Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the State Police Commissioner
EbunoluwarotimiAdelesi, and other renowned Islamic clerics for their opposition
to the celebration of Isese in Ilorin in the social media.
It was also gathered that members of a
popular Islamic group known as “The Glory of Ilorin” who were pained by their
virile attacks succeeded in tracking the suspects to Ibadan, Oyo State capital
where they were based.
The Islamic group had reported the
matter at the Kwara State Police Command where they were given plainclothes
security officers who escorted them to Ibadan to bring them to Ilorin.
Arrowhead of the Islamic group, Sheikh
Oniyawo Meta had reportedly approached Abdulazeez Adegbola in Ibadan that he
was interested in his cause and allegedly offered him N500,000 (Five Hundred
thousand naira) to make him celebrate the well-publicised Isese festival in
Ilorin.
Sheikh Oniyawo also promised to provide
printed T-shirts and faze caps among others to make the celebration colourful.
It was while they were discussing that
the police reportedly arrested him with his accomplice and brought them to Ilorin
for trial.
Suspects at the Ilorin Correctional
Centre
An Ilorin Upper Court on Wednesday
ordered Adegbola and his accomplice, Tede to be remanded at the Correctional
Centre Ilorin till September 4, 2023, for further hearing of their case.
Fully armed police officers and other
security agencies were in the court to prevent possible breakdown of laws and
order when Muslim faithful and Isese worshippers stormed the court when the duo
were arraigned before the court over conspiracy to cause crisis in Ilorin which
is contrary to sections 96, 113, 391, and 399 of Nigeria Constitution.
Earlier, last Thursday, the duo had been
dragged before the Magistrate Mohammed Ibrahim court by a group of Islamic
clerics known who also ordered them to be remanded at the same Correctional
Centre till October 5, 2023.
At the Upper Area court, on Wednesday,
Barrister Abolaji Adisa, the Counsel to Alfa Okutagi who is the Plaintiff in
another separate case told the court that he brought the suspects to court for
defaming his client by calling him a fake Islamic cleric on the social media
and lied that his late father approached them for spiritual powers while alive.
Barrister Adisa also accused the
suspects that they falsely claimed to have assisted the father of the cleric to
get spiritual powers from the Osun goddess when his wife could not conceive to
bear children.
Counsel to the suspects Barrister
Adedamola Olalekan sponsored by a Yoruba group “Yoruba Lesin” from Lagos state
opposed the appearance of the suspects in two courts for the same offence,
describing it as abuse of court process.
He urged the Upper Area court to dismiss
the case and allow them to appear before the Magistrate court.
Meanwhile, the Counsel to the Plaintiff,
Barrister Abolaji Adisa, pleaded with the court for seven days to reply to the
submission of the defendants’ Counsel Barrister Adedamola asked for one day.
Magistrate Sunday Adeniyi in his ruling
adjourned the case till September 9, 2023 for further hearing.
Source: vanguardngr.com
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https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/how-police-islamic-group-tricked-isese-worshippers-from-ibadan-to-ilorin-for-trial/
------
ECOWAS slams 'unacceptable' Niger
transition plan
August 24, 2023
The West African bloc ECOWAS rejected
the proposal by Niger’s mutinous soldiers for a three-year transition to
democratic rule.
Speaking to Al Jazeera earlier this
week, the bloc's commissioner for peace and security said it was
'unacceptable.'
The door for diplomacy with Niger's
junta remained open but the bloc is not going to engage in drawn-out talks that
lead nowhere, Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS commissioner for peace and
security, told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday.
"It is the belief among the ECOWAS
heads of state and also the commission that the coup in Niger is one coup too
many for the region and if we allow it then we are going to have a domino
effect in the region and we are determined to stop it," Musah said. While
direct talks and backchannel negotiations are ongoing, he said the door to
diplomacy wasn’t open indefinitely.
"We are not going to engage in
long, drawn out haggling with these military officers … We went down that route
in Mali, in Burkina Faso and elsewhere, and we are getting nowhere," Musah
said.
His comments came days after an ECOWAS
delegation met the head of Niger's military regime, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani,
for the first time since the mutinous soldiers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum
in July.
After last week’s meeting, Musah said
the ball is now in the junta’s court.
Coups and sanctions
The junta has been keeping Bazoum and
his wife and son under house arrest, and ECOWAS has demanded Bazoum be freed
and constitutional order restored.
ECOWAS has used Niger as a red line
against further coups after several in the region, including two each in Mali
and Burkina Faso since 2020.
The bloc has imposed severe economic and
travel sanctions and threatened the use of military force if Bazoum is not
reinstated, but the junta has dug in. It has appointed a new government and
said it will return the country to democratic rule within several years.
Niger was seen as one of the last
democratic countries in the Sahel region below the Sahara Desert that Western
nations could partner with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to
al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. France, other European countries and the
United States have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into providing
equipment and training for Niger's military and in the case of France have
conducted joint operations.
The 2023 Global Terrorism Index
estimated that Sahel accounted for 43% of global terrorism deaths in 2022. With
8,564 victims, Burkina Faso ranked 2nd just behind Afghanistan.
Somalia, Mali and Syria occupied the
3rd, 4th and 5th place respectively. Next came Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Burma
and Niger according to the document.
Since the coup those military operations
have been suspended while both sides decide what to do. France and the U.S.
have some 2,500 military personnel in the country and the U.S. operates two key
drone and counter-terror bases.
Musah said ECOWAS was not discussing
military plans with any external partners and everything it was planning is
based on the resources of member states. Earlier this month, ECOWAS said 11 of
its 15 member states had agreed to intervene militarily if talks didn't work.
ECOWAS is banking on a combination of
external pressure through sanctions and internal unrest within Niger's security
forces and the fact that Tchiani, the junta's leader, met with ECOWAS face to
face after multiple attempts, is a sign that the coup leaders are feeling the
pressure, said Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for
Strategic Studies.
"Nonetheless, it is clear that the
two sides remain very far apart and the risk of conflict is high," he
said.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/24/ecowas-slams-unacceptable-niger-transition-plan/
------
Niger allows Mali, Burkina Faso to
intervene in case of attack on its territory
25 August 2023
Amid an ongoing threat by West Africa's
main regional bloc to take military action to reverse the coup in Niger, the
country allows Mali and Burkina Faso to intervene militarily in case of an
attack on its soil.
Coup leaders toppled Niger's President
Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, following which the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) threatened to use force if they refused to return Bazoum
to power. The bloc reiterated the threat earlier this month, saying an
undisclosed "D-Day" had been agreed for possible military
intervention in Niger.
On Thursday, the Malian, Burkinabe, and
Nigerien foreign ministers said they had met in the Nigerien capital Niamey to
discuss boosting cooperation on security and other joint issues.
The statement said the ministers had
welcomed the signing by Niger's junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani of two
orders "authorizing the Defense and Security Forces of Burkina Faso and
Mali to intervene on Nigerien territory in the event of an attack."
It also noted that Bamako and
Ouagadougou would consider any incursion against Niger to be a
"declaration of war" on their respective soils.
"The Burkinabe and Malian Ministers
... reiterated their rejection of an armed intervention against the people of
Niger which will be considered as a declaration of war," the statement
said.
On Sunday, however, Tiani said Niger was
open to dialogue to avert a conflict with ECOWAS. Neither coup leaders nor
"the Nigerien people want war and remain open to dialogue," he said.
The coup leader warned, though, at the
same time that Niger was prepared to defend itself if needed. "If an
aggression were to be undertaken against us, it would not be the walk in the
park that some believe," Tiani noted.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/08/25/709572/Niger-Mali-Burkina-Faso-military-intervention-ECOWAS
-------
Pakistan
IHC may rule on Imran’s 3-year sentence
today
Malik Asad | Nasir Iqbal Published
August 25, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court
(IHC) is expected to announce a decision in a case pertaining to the suspension
of PTI chief Imran Khan’s three-year jail term in the Toshakhana case, as the
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is likely to conclude its arguments
today.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday
put off proceedings regarding the Toshakhana case till the decision of the IHC,
saying it did not want to “duplicate the proceedings”.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the PTI
chairman’s lawyer Latif Khosa argued before an IHC division bench consisting of
Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, focusing on
three aspects: the release of Mr Khan owing to a short sentence, jurisdictional
defects, and improper authorisation by the ECP.
The lawyer argued for Mr Khan’s release,
saying that appellate courts could suspend such a short sentence even without
examining the merits of the case. He added that President Arif Alvi on Aug 14
remitted sentences of prisoners and in light of this development, Mr Khan’s
sentence was reduced by six months as well.
He argued that Mr Khan was now supposed
to undergo two-and-a-half years imprisonment and the IHC could suspend his
sentence. Mr Khosa further argued that the trial court did not examine the
jurisdiction of the complaint filed by the ECP.
According to him, there was a
jurisdictional defect in the complaint since the Election Commission was
required to authorise an officer to file the reference. “In this case, the
secretary of ECP authorised the district election commissioner to file the
complaint,” he said.
He, however, said that the Election
Commission has been defined in Article 218, which meant that the commission
comprises the chief election commissioner and the ECP members. In this
particular case, the secretary instead of the CEC or the ECP members authorised
an officer, hence, the complaint was filed without due authorisation.
Mr Khosa further argued that the
complaint must be filed before a magistrate who would refer the matter to a
sessions court. “Sessions court cannot entertain the complaint directly,” he
added.
Latif Khosa also said that the trial
court judge “disobeyed the IHC’s directions and instead of examining the
jurisdiction and maintainability of the complaint” convicted Mr Khan. He also
pointed out that the Supreme Court also observed the verdict was passed in
haste.
IHC Chief Justice observed that the
court would look into the matter related to the ‘haste’ shown by Additional
District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar, administratively. Mr Khosa then
went to the Supreme Court as the apex court was scheduled to take up the
petition of Mr Khan at 2pm, which adjourned the matter without any proceedings,
observing that it was still pending before the IHC.
ECP arguments
Mr Khosa then returned to the high
court, where ECP counsel Amjad Pervaiz was rebutting his arguments. Advocate
Pervaiz argued that the superior courts could suspend the sentence of those
condemned prisoners who have at least completed 6 months imprisonment.
He pointed out that an accountability
court awarded one year imprisonment to PML-N leader Capt Muhammad Safdar in the
Avenfield Apartments case and the IHC suspended the sentence after three
months. He said that Mr Khan has not even completed 20 days in prison. He
argued that the matter of jurisdiction and maintainability has been discussed
in detail in the trial court.
He pointed out that the counsel of Mr
Khan did not impleaded the state as a respondent and added that the Supreme
Court in 2016 ruled that the state must be cited as a necessary party in all
the appeals against conviction. Mr Khosa objected to the ECP’s counsel
arguments, saying that the superior courts have declared that the private
counsel could be engaged in the cases where the advocate general recused to
argue. On the court’s query, Mr Pervaiz said that he would take at least three
hours to conclude the arguments on Friday.
‘Out of the blue’
But the SC took everyone by surprise as
it ordered Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to furnish an
official report about the living conditions of incarcerated PTI chief Imran
Khan.
Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP)
Umar Ata Bandial, a three-judge Supreme Court bench that had taken up Imran
Khan’s Toshakhana case directed AGP to furnish the report by Aug 28.
Interestingly, the direction came even
though the matter was neither discussed during Thursday’s brief hearing, nor
was it pending before the court for determination.
During the hearing, the elder sisters of
the former premier – Aleema Khan and Dr Uzma Khan – were also present in
Courtroom No 1, as well as ECP-engaged senior counsel Ashtar Ausaf and Irfan
Qadir
Since the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is
seized with the matter where the proceeding was continuing and adjourned for
Friday, the apex court decided to wait for the high court to hand down its
final order.
On Thursday, the CJP also called for a
representative from the Attorney General’s office in Courtroom No. 1. Since no
one was present, the CJP observed that the order would contain a direction to
furnish a report by the government about the living conditions of Imran Khan in
jail.
The court, however, discouraged senior
counsel Sardar Latif Khosa from sharing details of his meeting with Imran Khan
in the jail. Still, the counsel was successful in blurting out some details,
such as the presence of a uniformed police official during his meeting with the
PTI chairman in prison.
‘Lower courts not subordinate’
Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel – a member
of the bench – emphasised that the high courts or the civil courts were not
subordinate to the Supreme Court. They are independent and their independence
should be respected, Justice Mandokhel observed, regretting that the respect of
both the bench and the bar were dependent on each other. He did not seem happy
over lawyers addressing press conferences targeting the judiciary.
At the outset, when the counsel appeared
at the rostrum to say that he had rushed to the Supreme Court straight from the
high court where he was on his legs at the rostrum, the CJP quipped you have
“almost lost his breath”.
Justice Bandial observed that there was
no need to duplicate the proceedings when the high court was hearing the case.
When Justice Sayyed Mazahar Akbar Naqvi asked about the fate of the case at the
high court, the counsel retorted that he was not a clairvoyant. “My job is to
put in the best effort and it is the job of the court to do justice, the
counsel said.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1772100/ihc-may-rule-on-imrans-3-year-sentence-today
-------
PM calls for dynamic foreign policy to
strengthen Pakistan’s relationships with world
August 25, 2023
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq
Kakar has stressed the need for a dynamic foreign policy to strengthen
Pakistan’s relationship with other countries.
He stated this while sharing his views
at a briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
The Prime Minister gave specific
directions on different aspects of foreign policy with particular reference to
facilitation of and engagement with the Pakistani diaspora.
The Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus
Sajjad Qazi briefed the Prime Minister about Pakistan’s foreign policy.
The briefing covered Pakistan’s external
relations, the working of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recent efforts to
strengthen its diplomatic ties with other countries, and priorities for the
future, especially in view of regional and global developments.
The need for close coordination between
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all other national stakeholders was
discussed with a view to ensuring the synergetic and holistic pursuit of
Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives, security, trade and economic objectives.
The Prime Minister appreciated the
crucial role played by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistani diplomats
in promoting and protecting Pakistan’s interests abroad.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/25-08-2023/pm-calls-for-dynamic-foreign-policy-to-strengthen-pakistans-relationships-with-world
------
Caretaker PM expresses resolve to
address issues of GB
August 24, 2023
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq
Kakar says the government will take all possible measures to solve the problems
of Gilgit-Baltistan and development of the area.
He was talking to Chief Minister
Gilgit-Baltistan Gulbar Khan who called on him in Islamabad on Thursday.
The Chief Minister congratulated the
Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on becoming the caretaker Prime Minister and expressed his
best wishes.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime
Minister said Gilgit-Baltistan has a vast tourism potential which has not been
fully exploited.
He said the government will take all
possible measures to eradicate the backwardness of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan
invited the Prime Minister to visit Gilgit-Baltistan and address the
Legislative Assembly.
The Chief Minister also briefed the
Prime Minister about the administrative issues and problems of
Gilgit-Baltistan.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/24-08-2023/caretaker-pm-expresses-resolve-to-addresses-issues-of-gilgit-baltistan
------
SBP issues commemorative coin to mark 75
years of Pak-US diplomatic ties
August 24, 2023
The State Bank of Pakistan issued a commemorative
coin of 75 rupees during a ceremony held in Islamabad on Thursday to mark the
75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan
and the USA.
Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad
Qazi graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald
Blome dignified the event as Guest of Honor.
Speaking on the occasion, Foreign
Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi praised the beautiful commemorative coin, remarking
that the national symbols of Pakistan and the United States of America on the
coin highlight the democratic roots of both countries.
The Foreign Secretary paid tribute to
the mutually beneficent relationship between the two countries, acknowledging
the efforts of US Ambassador in injecting a new vigor into this relationship.
Delineating the multidimensional
relationship between the two countries, encompassing trade and investment,
defense, counter-terrorism, education, energy, climate and health, he said that
the high-level bilateral visits between the two countries have helped to
further cement the relationship.
Reiterating the importance of the Pak-US
relationship, the Foreign Secretary said that the coin will continue to stand
as an enduring symbol of our commitment to this long-standing association.
He also thanked the Governor SBP for
holding a historic ceremony to commemorate the importance of the Pak-US
relationship.
In his remarks, US Ambassador to
Pakistan Donald Blome said that the coin represents the shared values, ideals
and common ties between the two countries, as well as their commitment to a
brighter future. He thanked the State Bank of Pakistan for the meaningful
gesture of issuance of the commemorative coin, and expressed his hope of
working closely with the Government of Pakistan.
He was confident that new initiatives
such as the US-Pakistan Green Alliance would help both countries to jointly
address their shared challenges.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/24-08-2023/sbp-of-pakistan-issues-commemorative-coin-of-rs75-denomination-to-mark-75th-anniversary-of-establishment-of-diplomatic-relations-bw-pakistan-us
------
Choosing future leaders is for
Pakistanis to decide, US envoy tells ECP
August 25, 2023
ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador Donald Blome
met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja Thursday to reaffirm
the US support for “free and fair elections”, saying it would work to
strengthen the US-Pakistan relationship with “whomever the Pakistani people
choose”.
"The United States remains
committed to working to broaden and deepen the US-Pakistan relationship with
whomever the Pakistani people choose,” a statement from the US Embassy’s
spokesperson read.
Ambassador Blome’s remarks come against
a backdrop of uncertainty surrounding the general elections in Pakistan.
The-then Shehbaz Sharif-led government
dissolved the National Assembly on August 9, while Sindh and Balochistan
assemblies were also prematurely dissolved to allow the electoral authority to
hold elections in the country within 90 days instead of 60 days if the
legislature completed its constitutional tenure.
However, the ECP may not be able to hold
the polls within the stipulated time as the Council of Common Interests (CCI),
days before the dissolution of the assemblies, approved the 7th Population and
Housing Census 2023.
The move led to concerns from several
quarters, including the Pakistan Peoples Party, which was part of the coalition
government that ratified the census.
During the meeting on Thursday, the US
ambassador reiterated that choosing Pakistan’s future leaders is for the
Pakistani people to decide, the statement added. Blome also reaffirmed that
America would back transparent elections “conducted in accordance with Pakistan’s
laws and constitution”.
Earlier in June this year, Michael
Gahler, the head of the Election Observation Mission (EOM) of the EU
Parliament, said that the EU may not send its election observers to Pakistan
this year “because we are not sure about the general elections in Pakistan in
2023”.
Gahler told this to a group of Pakistani
journalists in the EU Parliament who were visiting Belgium at the invitation of
the European External Action Service. Gahler is a member of the EU Parliament
since 1999 and headed the EOM of Pakistan in 2008, 2013 and 2018.
He said the EOM needed an invitation
from the government of Pakistan to send their observation mission for the
monitoring of the election at least three months before the election date. “But
we have not received any invitation from Pakistan yet,” he added.
Former federal ministers, including Rana
Sanaullah, have stated that the general elections in the country may be delayed
until March next year due to the delimitation of constituencies to be held on
the basis of new census. Petitions have also been filed in the Supreme Court to
ensure timely elections in the country.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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PTI chief’s bail: Opposing forces at
work
Hasnaat Malik
August 25, 2023ISLAMABAD:
Amidst the jubilation within the
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) camp, the proceedings of a special bench within
the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, in the
Toshakhana case have ignited a significant backlash from various quarters. In
particular, the bench's observations have sparked criticism, as it pointed out
flaws in the August 5 conviction of former prime minister Imran Khan by a trial
court.
Prominent in the criticism directed at
the apex court's proceedings are legal experts, who are raising questions about
potential parallels between the trial court and the Supreme Court's actions.
They argue that the trial court denied Imran Khan the opportunity to mount a
defense, a perceived miscarriage of justice, and now the special bench of the
Supreme Court is commenting on the trial court's decision despite its sub
judice status in the Islamabad High Court.
At one juncture, Chief Justice Bandial
even floated the notion of the bench issuing an order for the release of Imran
Khan. The prevailing atmosphere during the proceedings on Wednesday suggests
that the Supreme Court is expressing dissatisfaction with the Islamabad High
Court's delay in deciding Imran Khan's plea to suspend his three-year
conviction, which has remained pending since August 8.
The special bench is now eagerly
awaiting the outcome of the ongoing proceedings in the Islamabad High Court.
Imran Khan's legal representatives have argued for the suspension of the trial
court's judgment, while the prosecution (the Election Commission of Pakistan)
is vehemently opposing the same.
Amidst these developments, legal experts
are perplexed about how the Supreme Court can oversee the high court's
proceedings. A division bench that was unable to conclude arguments will resume
the hearing on Friday.
However, the proceeding's
inconclusiveness on Thursday can be attributed to several reasons, lawyers
argue. A primary factor is the lack of coordination among the members of the
PTI's legal team. With three counsels representing Imran Khan and Khawaja
Haris, the former prime minister's counsel, having distanced himself from the
case, the situation has become complex.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court's remarks
on the conduct of the trial court judge have ignited another issue. This has
provided the PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) with ammunition to construct
an anti-judiciary narrative.
Similarly, influential entities have
been actively placing obstacles in the path the special bench intends to take.
The Election Commission of Pakistan has enlisted Irfan Qadir to counter the
bench's actions.
The situation has escalated to the point
where even the Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court, Aamer Farooq,
commented on the high court's predicament, describing it as being caught in a
difficult position.
Another intriguing facet of the
proceedings is that the special bench has requested the Attorney General for
Pakistan to submit a report on Imran Khan's living conditions, all without
formally invoking suo motu powers.
Legal experts have weighed in on the
Toshakhana case. Advocate Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar pointed out that the
Supreme Court's jurisdiction is outlined by constitutional provisions such as
articles 184, 185, 186, 187, and 188. He clarified that the Supreme Court's
establishment is rooted in Article 176 of the Constitution, and its role is to
adjudicate on current disputes, particularly those related to high court
rulings in criminal cases, as stipulated by Article 185.
Khokhar emphasized that while a criminal
matter is under consideration by the Supreme Court, lower courts remain free to
issue any final orders according to the law. He noted that this applies when
there is no restraining order against ongoing proceedings in lower courts by
the Supreme Court. He clarified that the Supreme Court is currently refraining
from making decisions on cases that are pending before it while awaiting the
high court's final verdict, which would render the earlier Supreme Court orders
irrelevant.
Regarding the ongoing case, Khokhar
argued that the orders challenged before the Supreme Court are no longer
pertinent, and thus the Supreme Court has not made rulings on the current
proceedings. He contended that this approach prevents either party from gaining
legal advantage, as the former prime minister's conviction would stand even if
the appeals were decided in their current form.
Khokhar also discussed the
appropriateness of addressing the matter and suggested that the Supreme Court
could have made a decision on the appeals' grounds of non-maintainability and
being infructuous, rather than waiting for the high court's decision. He
proposed that the petitioner could then withdraw and challenge any new high
court order if dissatisfied with the conviction or suspension of the sentence.
While Chief Justice Bandial may not be
able to provide substantial relief to Imran Khan before his retirement, his
efforts to support PTI leaders during challenging times have garnered
appreciation from supporters. His legacy seems to be that of a judge who
endeavored to assist PTI leaders in various matters. However, the Supreme
Court's involvement has inadvertently made Imran Khan's bail a subject of
controversy, even though it represents a classic case of bail following the
suspension of a trial court's judgment.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2432402/pti-chiefs-bail-opposing-forces-at-work
-----
Imaan, Wazir sent to Adiala Jail on
14-day remand
August 25, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC)
on Thursday sent human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Pashtun
Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir to Adiala Jail on 14-day judicial
remand in a sedition case related to the controversial speech against the state
institutions.
On Aug 19, two first information reports
(FIR) were registered against Imaan and Wazir at the Tarnol police station and
the Counter-Terrorism Department police station, following a rally of the PTM
in the federal capital. Both were booked on the charges of sedition, preventing
government officials from carrying out their duties and damaging public
property.
During the proceedings, Imaan and Wazir
were produced before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain after a three-day
physical remand.
“Voice matching and photogrammetry of
Imaan Mazari and Ali Wazir have been completed,” Prosecutor Raja Naveed said,
seeking an extension in their physical remand.
The investigation officer apprised the
court that Imaan was given a piece of paper from which she made the speech.
“She needs to be interrogated who gave her that piece of paper.”
ATC Judge Zulqarnain said that the
decision would be made based on justice only. “Every possible due relief will
be given,” he added.
Imaan’s counsel Safai Zainab Janjua
prayed the court to hear her client’s bail plea. To this, the ATC judge
remarked that the bail plea could not be heard today; however, he issued a
notice of a hearing for Saturday.
ATC judge allowed Imaan to meet her
mother, former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, in the courtroom and
summoned parties on Aug 26 on Imaan’s bail application.
A district and sessions court in
Islamabad on Tuesday granted bail and sent PTM leader Ali Wazir to jail on a
14-day judicial in a different case related to "interference in state
affairs" and damaging public property registered after the PTM held its
rally in Islamabad. (With input from news desk)
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2432399/imaan-wazir-sent-to-adiala-jail-on-14-day-remand
-----
‘Deciding election date president’s
prerogative’
RAMEEZ KHAN
August 25, 2023
LAHORE:The legal experts have rejected
the impression that giving the date for the National Assembly elections was the
prerogative of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), concurring that it
was a power that rests with the President of Pakistan.
They also condemned the election
supervisor’s move to turn down President Arif Alvi’s request for a meeting,
stating that the president was the head of the state, and that Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja should have shown respect the president
office commands.
They said in case the meeting had taken
place, the ECP could have kept its observations, concerns and limitation before
the president and a better sense would have prevailed.
The excuse the polls supervisory body
has cited to turn down the meeting, are the recent amendments to the Election
Act 2017, under which the CEC has been empowered to fix the date for elections
without the president’s input.
The legal experts recalled that the ECP
had turned down the president’s request earlier in February too when Alvi
wanted to consult the dates for holding polls to the Punjab and
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa elections. The election supervisor at the time cited the
reason that the matter was sub judice.
It is pertinent to mention that the CEC
met with US Ambassador Donald Blome on Thursday.
A plain reading of the Constitution
reveals that the powers to give a date, in case the president dissolves the
National Assembly on the advice of the prime minister within 90 days, rests
with the president.
The contention being raised by the ECP
pertains to the changes in Election Act 2017, which was a sub constitutional
legislation ergo has no overriding effect on the requirement laid down in the
Constitution.
Article (5) of the Constitution states,
“Where the President dissolves the National Assembly, notwithstanding anything
contained in clause (1), he shall,— (a) appoint a date, not later than ninety
days from the date of the dissolution, for the holding of a general election to
the Assembly”.
Since in this particular instance, the
president did dissolve the assembly on the advice of the prime minister its
becomes incumbent on the president to give the date.
On the other hand, what the ECP
apparently says, is that the president can only give date for election if he
dissolves assembly on his discretion under article 58 (2), which is in the case
when no one person manages to get a clean majority after a successful vote of
no confidence against the prime minister.
The understanding from the election
supervisor’s stance is that when the assembly is dissolved under article 58(1),
which is when the president dissolves assemblies on advice, the powers rests
with the commission and in that case Article 48(1) applies which states that
the president will act on the advice of the prime minister/cabinet.
Following simple principle as laid down
in the Constitution, if the president gives date for the NA elections, then
dates for Sindh, K-P and Balochistan polls would be given by their respective
governors under Article 105(3A) of the Constitution.
Justice (retd) Shaiq Usmani said that
the President of Pakistan had the constitutional authority to give a date in
this case, but it would be better if he leaves it to the ECP as prior to the
holding of polls, the delimitation process needed to be completed. He said the
president should not give this order.
Referring to an old principle, he said,
never give an order which you know cannot be obeyed.
He, however, express is dismay over the
ECP’s decision to turn down the president’s request for a meeting. The CEC
should have met the president, he added.
Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed said
Article 48(5) was unambiguous and it was not president’s power rather an
obligation on him. He said since there is not dispute on the question of
dissolution of NA assembly so Article 48 (5) gets invoked.
He noted that the ECP’s contention was
“flat out wrong”, adding that through amendments in sub-constitutional
legislations, they (outgoing PDM government) had tried changing the
Constitution, which was unconstitutional.
He said this matter would land in the
court.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2432400/deciding-election-date-presidents-prerogative
-----
North America
Canada Submits ‘Rojek’, A Documentary
About The Origins Of The Islamic State, For 2024 Oscar Race
24 August 2023
Rojek, writer-director Zaynê Akyol’s
documentary that attempts to trace the beginning, rise and fall of the Islamic
State through the personal stories of its members and their wives incarcerated
in prison camps, was selected Thursday by Canada to represent the country in
the 2024 Oscar Best International Feature Film race.
Oscars: Germany Submits SPC-Acquired
‘The Teachers’ Lounge’ For Best International Film Category
A total of 28 films were submitted for
consideration, with Rojek emerging today in a vote determined by a pan-Canadian
committee of industry organizations and guilds, as well as filmmakers and
industry professionals appointed to represent organizations. Telefilm Canada
organizes the committee.
Rojek, which features a mix of Arabic,
English, French, and Kurdish languages, opened in Canadian theatres on January
20 after making the rounds at festivals including winning a special jury prize
at Hot Docs. It is produced by Audrey-Ann Dupuis-Pierre, Sylvain Corbeil, and
Akyol of Métafilms. Icarus Films distributes the film in the U.S.
“In what may have been Canada’s most
competitive year ever, Rojek was selected by a jury of industry peers as the
film to best represent Canada in the Oscar race,” Telefilm Canada director and
CEO Julie Roy said. “This announcement marks the beginning of an incredible
journey and a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Rojek to reach audiences around the
world and give them just a taste of the quality of filmmaking that Canada has
to offer. We wish Zaynê, Metafilms, and the entire creative team all the best
of luck as they move forward.”
Canadian films have reached the
nomination stage for the Best International Feature Film category (formerly
Best Foreign Language Film) eight times, most recently in 2013 for Kim Nguyen’s
Rebelle. Denys Arcand had three of those nominated films, with 2004’s Les
Invasions barbares the only
Canadian film to have won the Oscar in the category.
The deadline for countries to submit for
the 2024 Oscars is October 2.
Source: deadline.com
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https://deadline.com/2023/08/oscars-international-canada-rojek-documentary-1235527692/
------
Trump arrested in Georgia election
racketeering case
25 August 2023
Former US president Donald Trump was
arrested at a Georgia jail on Thursday on racketeering and conspiracy charges for
trying to overturn the 2020 election results in the southern state.
During a brief session lasting less than
30 minutes, the 77-year-old Trump was booked on 13 charges at Atlanta's Fulton
County Jail, according to records published by the sheriff's office.
Trump's height was listed by the jail as
six foot three inches (1.9 meters), his weight as 215 pounds (97 kilograms) and
his hair color as "Blond or Strawberry."
Other defendants in the racketeering
case who have surrendered to the Georgia authorities in recent days have had a
mugshot taken.
Trump slams 'travesty of justice'
Trump decried a "travesty of
justice" following his formal arrest Thursday, calling the case against
him "election interference."
"What has taken place here is a
travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong," he told
reporters as he prepared to fly out of Atlanta after being booked and
photographed at the Fulton County Jail.
"What they're doing is election
interference," he said.
Trump did not specify who he was accused
of interference, but he has routinely denounced President Joe Biden and other
Democrats for allegedly obstructing his reelection campaign.
The billionaire has been criminally
indicted four times since April, setting the stage for a year of unprecedented
drama as he tries to juggle multiple court appearances and another White House
campaign.
In posts on his Truth Social platform
shortly before leaving his New Jersey golf club for the flight to Atlanta,
Trump said he was being arrested for "having the audacity to challenge a
RIGGED & STOLLEN (sic) ELECTION."
"This is yet another SAD DAY IN
AMERICA!" he added.
Trump was able to dodge having a mugshot
taken during his previous arrests this year: in New York on charges of paying
hush money to a porn star, in Florida for mishandling top secret government
documents, and in Washington on charges of conspiring to upend his 2020
election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
But Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said
standard procedure in Georgia is to take a defendant's photograph before they
are released on bond -- set at $200,000 in Trump's case.
The arrest comes one day after Trump
spurned a televised debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, featuring eight of his
rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination -- all of whom lag well
behind him in the polls.
He still stole the spotlight, though,
with all but two of the candidates saying they would support him as the party's
nominee even if he were a convicted felon.
During a pre-recorded interview with
former Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson -- which aired on social media at
the same time as the debate -- Trump dismissed the criminal cases filed against
him as "nonsense."
Trump said the Justice Department had
been "weaponized" under Biden to hamstring his White House bid.
Court dates in election race
A tight security perimeter was set up
for Trump's booking at the Fulton County Jail, which is under investigation for
a slew of inmate deaths and deplorable conditions.
Fani Willis, the Fulton County district
attorney who filed the sweeping racketeering case, had set a deadline of noon
(1600 GMT) on Friday for Trump and the other 18 defendants to surrender.
Trump and 11 others have turned
themselves in so far.
Former White House chief of staff Mark
Meadows surrendered on Thursday and was released on $100,000 bond.
Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who
served as Trump's personal lawyer when he was in the White House and vigorously
pushed the false claims that Trump had won the 2020 election, was booked and
released on Wednesday.
John Eastman, a conservative lawyer who
is accused of drawing up a scheme to submit a false slate of Trump electors to
Congress from Georgia instead of the legitimate Biden ones, has also been
booked and released.
A few dozen supporters of the former
Republican president gathered outside the jail, including Sharon Anderson who
spent the night in her car.
"I think this is a political
persecution and now that's turned into a political prosecution," Anderson
told AFP.
Trump is the first US president in
history to face criminal charges.
His various trials, if they take place
next year, may coincide with the Republican presidential primary season, which
begins in January, and the campaign for the November 2024 White House election.
Special counsel Jack Smith has proposed
a January 2024 start date for Trump's trial on charges of conspiring to
overturn the last election with a lie-fueled campaign that culminated in the
January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.
Trump's attorneys have countered with a
suggested start date well after the election -- April 2026.
Willis, the Georgia district attorney,
initially proposed that the racketeering case begin in March next year, the
same month Trump is scheduled to go on trial in New York on charges of paying
hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels.
On Thursday, after one of the defendants
asked for a speedy trial, she proposed that it begin for all 19 in October of
this year, a move met with an immediate objection from Trump's lawyers.
The Florida case, in which Trump is
accused of taking secret government documents as he left the White House and
refusing to return them, is scheduled to begin in May.
Source: presstv.ir
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US and Ukraine ‘at odds’ over
counteroffensive tactics – WSJ
24 Aug, 2023
Washington is reportedly “frustrated”
with Kiev’s reluctance to follow its advice in the conflict with Russia
American officials are “frustrated” with
Ukraine’s reluctance to accept their advice on how to conduct the
counteroffensive against Russian forces, the Wall Street Journal reported on
Thursday.
The newspaper claimed it was still “not
too late” for Kiev to follow instructions from Washington, and to utilize the
training that tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops have received from NATO
nations. The outlet noted, however, that the two sides are still “at odds about
how to turn the tables on the Russians” before winter sets in.
According to the WSJ’s sources, the US
believes that the amount of Western military aid sent to Ukraine is enough to
breach Russian defenses, although the window of opportunity is closing.
“We built up this mountain of steel for
the counteroffensive. We can’t do that again,” one former US official
explained. “It doesn’t exist.”
The Ukrainian military leadership has
attempted to deflect criticism by claiming that the Americans do not understand
the kind of warfare that Kiev is engaged in, the WSJ added.
“This is not counterinsurgency. This is
Kursk,” General Valery Zaluzhny, Kiev’s top military commander, told his US
interlocutors, according to an unnamed American official.
Putin comments on Kiev’s battle tactics
Zaluzhny was referring to a key World
War II battle on the eastern front, in which defending Soviet troops stopped
Nazi forces before turning the tables on them.
Figures in Washington want Zaluzhny to
concentrate Ukrainian forces near the southern city of Tokmak for a push
towards the Azov Sea, the article claimed. It added that US officials
disapprove of President Vladimir Zelensky’s focus on attempts to retake the
city of Artyomovsk in the east, which Kiev calls Bakhmut.
The Ukrainian leader, who has invested
symbolic significance in the settlement, reportedly argued that recapturing it
would boost troop morale. US officials have long said Artyomovsk has no
strategic value, urging a withdrawal before Ukrainian troops were ousted from
it in late May. The WSJ said Kiev had made adjustments in recent weeks by
taking a defensive posture in the east.
Russia has argued that the US is using
the Ukrainian people as cannon fodder in a proxy war against Moscow. The
Russian military has claimed that Ukrainian troop losses during the first two
months of its summer counteroffensive were more than 43,000.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/581779-ukraine-us-debate-counteroffensive/
------
BREAKING: CAIR Reiterates Commitment to
Restoring Opt-Out, Pledges to Pursue ‘Every Available Legal Means’ to Protect
Rights of Families in MD’s Montgomery County Public Schools
Ismail Allison
August 24, 2023
(ROCKVILLE, MD. – 8/24/2023) – The Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today reiterated its commitment to
supporting families working restoring the right to opt-out option in Maryland’s
Montgomery County Public Schools and pursuing all available legal means to
protect the rights of children in the coming school year.
Earlier today, a federal court issued a
ruling denying a request for a preliminary injunction by an interfaith group of
Montgomery County families who seek to restore the right to opt-out of
curriculum related to gender, family life and relationships that the school
system added to PreK – 12 English classes last fall. The lawsuit was filed by
the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
CAIR was not involved in the litigation
but provided several pieces of new evidence—including a memorandum written by
elementary school principals who objected to the school district’s stance,
discussion guides that direct teachers to silence, debate and refute students
who express traditional religious views, and affidavits exposing MCPS’ contradictory
explanations for cancelling the opt-out.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director
Zainab Chaudry said:
“The campaign to protect the rights of
parents and children in Montgomery County Public Schools is undeterred.
“As the school year begins, we remain
committed to supporting and advocating for families who simply want their
children to not be subjected to discussions and sensitive concepts that would
normally arise in sex education courses and may conflict with their faith.
“Until the opt-out option is restored,
we plan to pursue every available legal means on behalf of families to protect
their rights, including but not limited to new targeted legal action, continued
interfaith rallies and the release of additional internal MCPS documents.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil
rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American
Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las
libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y
empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados Unidos.
Source: cair.com
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-----
Arab World
Saudi Arabia hails invitation to join
BRICS
August 24, 2023
JOHANNESBURG — Saudi Arabia's Foreign
Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan affirmed that the Kingdom will assess the
invitation extended by BRICS for membership and make an appropriate decision.
"In its foreign policy, the Kingdom
focuses on building economic partnerships, and we value the invitation from
BRICS for membership and are studying it," the minister said in remarks to
the press after attending a summit of the group in Johannesburg.
He added: “We await further details
regarding the nature and criteria of membership. Based on this information and
in accordance with our internal procedures, we will make the appropriate
decision.”
Prince Faisal acknowledged that BRICS is
one of the significant channels for enhancing economic cooperation.
He also expressed appreciation for the
invitation extended by the BRICS group, noting that it stems from the Kingdom's
economic stature and international influence.
He also emphasized that all of Saudi
Arabia's partnerships aim to bolster economic and developmental aspects,
underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to achieving its global goals and
aspirations.
Saudi Arabia, among other nations, has
been invited to become a member of the BRICS group of developing nations in its
first expansion in over a decade. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said
Thursday as he wrapped up the annual summit of the group in Johannesburg. “The
membership will take effect from the first of January, 2024,” Ramaphosa said.
The group currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635222/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-hails-invitation-to-join-BRICS
------
Saudi Arabia’s trade with BRICS
countries crosses $160 billion in 2022
JOHANNESBURG — Saudi Foreign Minister
Prince Faisal bin Farhan praised on Thursday the distinguished strategic
relationship between the Kingdom and the BRICS group. In his speech, delivered
on behalf of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, at the BRICS
dialogue conference in Johannesburg, the foreign minister said that Saudi
Arabia’s total bilateral trade with BRICS countries crossed $160 billion during
the year 2022.
Prince Faisal, head of the Saudi
delegation attending the summit, addressed the BRICS Plus Dialogue and
BRICS-Africa Outreach session on Thursday. The theme of the session was “BRICS
and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable
development, and inclusive multilateralism.”
At the outset of the speech, Prince
Faisal conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman
and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the participating leaders and
expressed the Kingdom's appreciation of the efforts made by President Cyril
Ramaphosa of South Africa to host and make these summits a success.
The minister affirmed the Kingdom's
aspiration for the joint summits to pave the way for discussing ways to enhance
coordination, consultation and relations based on mutual respect, as well as
exploring opportunities to deepen cooperation in all fields and providing
conditions of security and stability that support the paths of development and
economic progress.
He said that this approach is an
essential component of the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030. “The distinguished
strategic relationship between the Kingdom and the BRICS group strengthens the
frameworks of common principles, the most prominent of which is the firm belief
in the principle of respecting the sovereignty and independence of states,
non-interference in their affairs. This is in addition to adhering to the
principles of international law, settling disputes by peaceful means,
establishing international peace and security, and adopting the best
multilateral diplomatic frameworks in order to achieve optimal cooperation and
effective common development,” he said.
Prince Faisal expressed the Kingdom's
pride in being the largest trading partner of the BRICS group in the Middle
East, as the total bilateral trade with the BRICS countries exceeded $160
billion in 2022, which reflects the strong relations with the group.
The minister affirmed Saudi Arabia’s
continuation of being a safe and reliable source of energy supplies from all
its sources. “Saudi Arabia has effective tools and a responsible role in
achieving stability of energy markets.”
Prince Faisal said that BRICS is an
important channel for enhancing economic cooperation. “The Kingdom focuses in
its foreign policy on building economic partnerships,” he added.
The 10th BRICS summit, which began on
Tuesday, concluded on Thursday. The theme of the 15th annual BRICS summit was
“BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in
the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
President of South Africa Cyril
Ramaphosa, Chinese President, Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
and Brazilian President Lula Da Silva attended the summit. Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov represented President Vladimir Putin. About 50 other
leaders also participated in the summit.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635226/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabias-trade-with-BRICS-countries-crosses-$160-billion-in-2022August
24, 2023
-----
Qatar figures as second highest category
in recovery on Islamic finance: Fitch
AUGUST 24, 2023
SANTHOSH V. PERUMAL
Qatar is one of the two countries among
the core Islamic finance markets in the second-highest category, Group B, where
the recoveries range from superior to poor, according to Fitch, a global credit
rating agency.
Fitch covers 14 out of the 57 member
countries of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (QIC) in its updated
country-specific treatment of recovery ratings criteria. Countries are split
into four groups (A to D), with differing caps on instrument ratings and
recovery ratings based on country-specific factors.
More than half of the OIC countries are
in Group D – the lowest level of recovery, while none are in Group A.
"The UAE and Qatar are the only
countries among the core Islamic finance markets in the second-highest
category, Group B, where the recoveries range from superior to poor," it
said.
Finding that sukuk restructuring scenarios
continue to develop slowly and unevenly across various jurisdictions, it said
so far distressed sukuk have been limited in most jurisdictions where sukuk
issuance is prevalent; only 0.21% of all sukuk issued globally have defaulted
as of end of first half of 2023.
Furthermore, a number of distressed
issuers and investors have preferred out-of-court consensual restructurings.
Hence, there is a lack of restructuring and legal precedents relating to
effective enforcement, despite the growth of the global sukuk market over the
past decade.
Sukuk issued on international capital
markets are typically governed by English law, but a lack of legal precedents
means it is often uncertain whether sukuk holders can enforce their contractual
rights in local courts where the originator is domiciled, should this be
necessary.
This uncertainty also applies to
conventional bonds issued in the same countries.
Efforts to improve standardisation and
comparability across different sukuk structures and legal frameworks have
continued, including the creation of the Higher Shariah Authority in the UAE.
Still, the enforceability of investor
rights, recourse, debt ranking and recoveries upon issuer default could be
complicated by the differences in underlying Islamic contractual arrangements.
Most sukuk have created an economic
effect similar to that of conventional bonds, but they can resemble equity-like
investments. The issuance of hybrid sukuk, with equity- and debt-like
components, is also growing.
Source: gulf-times.com
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------
Saudi authorities seize drug cache across
the Kingdom
August 25, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi authorities in Jazan and
Narjan have seized in separate operations a huge cache of khat, hashish,
amphetamines and methamphetamines.
Border guards in Jazan arrested two
Yemeni nationals for promoting 40 kilograms of khat and later foiled an attempt
to smuggle 52 kilograms of khat into the Kingdom.
Najran police arrested two citizens for
attempting to sell hashish, amphetamines and methamphetamines. Police also
seized edged weapons found in their possessions.
Amphetamines are largely used by young
men and teenaged boys across the Middle East, and the money raised through the
sale of all narcotics are usually ploughed back into the drug trade while some
find their way into organized crime and terrorism.
The Saudi government has urged anyone
with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs
violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number 00
966 114208417, or email 1910@zatca.gov.sa.
Tips received by the authority related
to smuggling crimes and breaches of common customs law are treated with strict
confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid tips.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2361206/saudi-arabia
------
Saudi civil defense calls for caution as
rain due across Kingdom from Friday
August 24, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s General
Directorate of Civil Defense called for caution after rain was forecast in most
regions in the Kingdom from Friday until Tuesday.
The authority said people should stay
away from bodies of water, swamps, and valleys, and follow instructions
announced through the directorate’s various media and social networking sites.
The regions of Makkah, Asir, Al-Baha,
and Jazan are expected to experience moderate to heavy rain that may lead to
torrential rains, hail, and dust storms.
The authority added that light to
moderate rain and downburst, causing dust storms, is expected in the following
areas of the Makkah region: Makkah, Bahrah, Al-Jumum, Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Lith,
Al-Khurma, Ranyah, and Turbah.
The regions of Madinah and Najran are
also expected to be affected by light rain and downburst causing dust storms.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2361001/saudi-arabia
-----
Europe
Coventry PhD student plotted to use 3D
printer to make drone that could drop chemical weapons for Islamic State, court
told
25 AUG 2023By
Paul Suart
A Coventry student plotted to supply
Islamic State terrorists with a drone capable of delivering a bomb or chemical
weapon, a terror trial jury has heard. Prosecutors allege Mohamad Al-Bared was
designing and building the unmanned aerial device, found in a bedroom at his
home, when he was arrested in January this year.
The 26-year-old, of Kare Road, Wyken,
went on trial before a jury at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday, August 23.
The mechanical engineering graduate denies engaging in conduct in preparation
of terrorist acts to benefit a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Opening the Crown’s case, prosecutor
Michelle Heeley KC told the court: "His home was searched and police found
a drone. They also found material suggesting this defendant supported Islamic
State, a terrorist organisation."
READ MORE: Ex-hairdresser 'living luxury
lifestyle' is linked to Crooked House pub
The court heard Al-Bared, who lived with
his parents, was arrested while driving at the same time as the raid took
place, and had a mobile phone which police also seized. A 3D printer, which
could be used to make parts for the drone, was also found at the home of
Al-Bared, who was studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham, the court
heard.
Ms Heeley alleged that evidence gathered
from devices said to belong to Al-Bared showed he was a supporter of Islamic
State and that “this drone was being built” to help the organisation. The
prosecution said it was of a type which has landing gear and a small digital
camera after the drone was shown to the jury in a large see-through plastic
bag.
"It had all the components required
for it to fly," Ms Heeley added. "We suggest it was being
manufactured to deliver a bomb … to fly into IS enemy territory and deliver a
chemical weapon or some other kind of device."
During the opening day of the trial, Ms
Heeley also alleged that Al-Bared had filled in an Islamic State application
form and set up a UK-registered company to help plans for future foreign
travel. Ms Heeley continued: "He says he is not responsible for filling in
the application form, but we say how else has it got there?"
Written material saying the idea for the
drone was 'somewhat inspired by the design of the Tomahawk missile' was put
before the jury, in what the Crown claims was Al-Bared describing his build
process. Of the evidence found on an electronic device, which also included
reference to fuses, mechanical detonators and an explosive head, Ms Heeley
added: "He is literally reporting back to someone about what it is that he
is doing.
"What drone for legitimate use
needs an explosive head? What does need an explosive head is a drone that has
been designed on a missile."
"That’s the real reason this drone
is being built. That one sentence tells you what this case is about and why we
say the defendant is guilty.
"The only reasonable conclusion you
can reach is you can be sure that he was preparing for acts of terrorism."
Al-Bared, whose PhD work involved laser-based micro-drilling, denies a single
charge covering the period between January 1, 2022 and January 31 this year.
Source: coventrytelegraph.net
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https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-phd-student-plotted-used-27582450
------
Vile display of Nazi symbols at Belfast
mosque designed to intimidate
24 August, 2023
It would be almost impossible to
comprehend the mentality of those responsible for erecting flags bearing Nazi
symbols outside a mosque in west Belfast this week.
There was nothing spontaneous about this
appalling act which was carried out with the intention only to provoke fear and
intimidation.
It required a significant degree of
planning both to source the vile flags and to place them on lampposts at a
carefully chosen target in the dead of night.
Police are rightly treating the erection
of the flags, which bore the swastika and symbol of the SS, as a
racially-motivated hate crime.
It can only be imagined how those using
the Iqraa mosque in Dunmurry felt when confronted with the hate-filled display
on Wednesday morning.
They were first noticed by parents
bringing children to a summer school at the community complex, who will be
understandably concerned about who has been monitoring their activities and
what possible threat is posed to their families.
The imam and chairperson of the mosque,
Jamal Iweida, expressed disgust at the flags as well as alarm about the safety
of the children visiting the site.
One member of the community also
recalled the appalling attack by a white supremacist on two mosques in
Christchurch, New Zealand which killed 51 people in a shooting rampage in 2019.
Politicians have been quick to condemn
the flags and express solidarity to all who worship at the mosque.
Mr Iweida has also generously acknowledged
the support shown by neighbours and those from further afield, while
anti-racism activists will hold a rally in Dunmurry tomorrow which will firmly
demonstrate that those responsible do not speak for people in the area.
It is vital now that police are given
every support to ensure those responsible for this despicable act are
apprehended and a strong signal sent out by the criminal justice system that
such actions will not be tolerated.
And while erecting a Nazi flag is
perhaps the most egregious example of such a hate crime, the same principles
should apply to those who erect symbols or express racist or sectarian slogans
at any places of worship.
It is a sad reality that flags are
routinely used to intimidate, cause offence or mark out territory. The flags in
Dunmurry were thankfully quickly taken down, but it should not prove any more
difficult to remove similar displays in other settings.
Source: irishnews.com
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https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/leadingarticle/2023/08/25/news/vile_display_of_nazi_symbols_at_belfast_mosque_designed_to_intimidate-3558460/
------
Anti-racism rally organised following
erection of Nazi flags outside mosque
John Breslin
24 August, 2023
Anti-racism activists have organised a
rally after Nazi flags were erected outside a Mosque in south Belfast.
The flags, bearing the Swastika and a SS
insignia, were placed on lamp posts outside the Iqraa Mosque in Dunmurry.
While soon removed by mosque leaders,
the flying of the flags provoked outrage in the community and among
politicians.
United Against Racism, a Belfast-based
organisation, is organising the rally in Dunmurry at 2pm on Saturday.
“Those who erected Nazi flags at Iqraa
Mosque in Dunmurry do not speak for the people of this area,” a spokesperson
said.
“Attempts to intimidate our Muslim
brothers and sisters will not go unchallenged.”
The group is calling on “all progressive
sections of society to mobilise against the racists on the far right. We need
to stamp out Islamophobia and all forms of racism and hate.”
Amnesty International and migrant groups
along with the mosque’s leaders are supporting the rally.
“The fascists behind this recent
incident are trying to gain a foothold locally to spread their lies and hate.
It is critical that we all mobilise against them,” the group said.
The flags were spotted early on
Wednesday after being erected overnight with the police informed and the flags
removed.
Mosque chairman and iman Jamal Iweida said
members were working outside in recent days “and that might have brought some
attention to us”.
Mosque leader and imam Jamal Iweida
He said: “But of course we don’t feel
very good about that… a bit intimidated”.
Mr Iweida said there are often children
around the mosque, with some seeing the flags before they were taken down.
He added: “The local community is very
supportive. Very, very nice.
"People were disgusted here and
they showed great support to us and the neighbours actually also in the morning
saw it and came out in support.”
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll
said: “This despicable and racially motivated action is clearly designed to
intimidate members of a minority community.
“Fascism has no place in our community.
I send full solidarity to the members of Iqraa Mosque and to all affected by
this horrendous and racist act.”
SDLP west Belfast councillor Paul
Doherty added: “It is truly staggering to see flags of this nature erected in
west Belfast.
"This is an area that strongly
rejects fascism and I cannot understand why anyone would target a place of
worship in this way."
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Our enquiries
are at an early stage, however at this time, we are treating this report as a
racially motivated hate crime".
Source: irishnews.com
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https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2023/08/24/news/anti-racism_rally_organised_following_erection_of_nazi_flags_outside_mosque-3556605/
-----
Frontline report: Ukrainian special
forces attack Russian radio-radar base in Crimea
25/08/2023
On 24 August, more information became
available about the crush of the private jet that reportedly killed the Head of
the Wagner Group, Evgeniy Prigozhin, his right hand, Dmytro Utkin, and the Head
of Security, Valery Chekalov.
As of 24 August, the Russian Federal Air
Transport Agency confirmed that Prigozhin was present on the board, according
to the records. The investigators of the crush also have just found the
remnants of Prigozhin’s mobile phone.
In the meantime, Russian President
Vladimir Putin commented on the crush. Putin expressed his condolences to the
families of those who died in the crash and added that although Prigozhin had a
troubled fate, he was a very useful person who helped to achieve many goals.
Russian media has also started promoting
a new version of the cause of the crash. Although the locals heard two
explosions and saw contrails, characteristic of air defense work, it was
claimed that the crash likely happened due to the explosion inside the plane,
possibly sabotage.
It was reported that the plane recently
underwent some out-of-schedule reparations when someone could have planted an
explosive device.
But the biggest news as of 24 August is
that Ukrainian forces landed on the Crimean shore.
On 24 August, around 5 a.m., Ukrainians
reportedly used up to 4 boats carrying GUR special forces and performed a
special operation in Cape Tarkhankut. This is exactly where the same forces
destroyed a Russian air defense system on 23 August, reportedly by launching an
anti-ship missile from a boat.
The target of the special forces became
the base of the Russian radio-radar troops, where Russian forces have powerful
multi-functional radar systems, such as Nebo-M, and modern radar systems for
low-level surveillance, such as Kasta 2E.
Russian sources reported that Ukrainians
managed to land on the shore and opened fire at the Russian forces.
Russian sources admitted that Ukrainians
raised their flag above the settlement, as seen from the combat footage.
However, they claimed Russian forces were ready to meet the attackers, quickly
returned fire from machine guns, and destroyed all four boats and crew members.
Later released footage confirms that Ukrainian boat crews safely withdrew.
Even Russian military bloggers reacted
to this with harsh skepticism and said that this was a lame attempt to cover up
Crimea’s complete lack of protection.
Moreover, some less prominent Russian
sources released footage from the base, clearly showing that Russians were not
prepared to be ambushed at night.
The Spokesman for Ukrainian Intelligence
confirmed that Ukrainian special forces landed on the Crimean shore, attacked
Russian forces, damaged 4 Russian boats, killed 30 Russian troops, raised the
Ukrainian flag, and withdrew before Russians understood what was happening.
The landing on Crimea is especially
symbolic because Ukrainians are celebrating the Independence Day of Ukraine on
24 August.
In the meantime, Ukrainian forces
conducted more than a dozen successful strikes on the Russian bases. The
Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Air Force and Artillery
jointly struck four command posts, ten areas of enemy forces concentrations,
four air defense systems, and two artillery systems.
The biggest strike happened in Tokmak.
It was reported that here, due to the HIMARS strike, Ukrainians destroyed an
important Russian command post on the territory of a Russian base.
This is extremely important given that
Tokmak is the closest Russian stronghold to the front, where Ukrainians
recently breached Russian defense and established total control over Robotyne.
Today, Ukrainian fighters reported that
Ukrainians are already advancing on the next settlement on the line –
Novoprokopivka – while Russian forces are retreating.
The derangement of the command on this
front line will exacerbate the situation even more and possibly allow
Ukrainians to generate new gains much more easily.
Source: euromaidanpress.com
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/08/25/frontline-report-ukrainian-special-forces-attack-russian-radio-radar-base-in-crimea/
------
Southeast Asia
Ilham Centre: Malay voters rejected Umno
in state polls due to disdain towards Zahid
25 Aug 2023
By R. Loheswar
lKUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — The majority of
Malay voters rejected Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) during the recently
concluded state elections because they were either jaded with its president
Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi or were unable to move on from the old dogma of
hatred.
Pollster Ilham Centre revealed today
that apart from the two reasons above they also found a large disconnect
between the upper management and lower management in Umno which they said made
Umno members openly support Perikatan Nasional (PN) during the state elections.
“His image was a telling point in what
we found during our survey, even Umno people put him as the main issue for them
not being able to win over voters. When we asked them can Umno-BN rise again
after this general elections, most said no,” Ilham Centre’s executive director
Muhammad Hisommudin Bakar said.
“Then there’s that old dogma of hating
DAP and Anwar which we found many were unable to move away from. They couldn’t
bear to hold an opposition flag and campaign as they feared being teased by
fellow Muslims supporting PN.
“Then you have the supporters at the
divisional levels like in Terengganu and Kelantan who are contentious. You
don’t put their candidate in, they’ll protest,” he added.
Hisammudin said he also found that BN
lost out many supporters when they aligned with PAS in the Muafakat Nasional
(MN) coalition. He said the MN coalition was a magnet for Malays and it showed
in how well and fast both parties gelled.
“Now we see BN’s machinery so shy or
apprehensive when talking about their coalition partners. We noticed many
didn’t work as hard or go all out wholeheartedly during this state elections
and it’s down to this internal turmoil in Umno where some don’t want to be in
the unity government while others want a clearer direction and vision from the
leadership,” he added.
The MN charter was signed between Umno
and PAS in September 2019, following the defeat of Barisan Nasional at the 14th
General Election the year before.
MN was formed to contest against Bersatu
who were the other predominantly Malay party that was formerly with the Pakatan
Harapan (PH) government, before the Sheraton Move which resulted in them
defecting from PH to form and lead the PN coalition.
At the state elections, Umno was the
only BN party to contest in this year’s state elections and won only 19 seats
out of a total of 108 it contested across the six states.
Apart from that Hisammudin also said
Umno had lost its stronghold on Felda settlers and teachers. He said the once
vote bank had now been infiltrated by the opposition and if nothing’s done they
stand to lose out.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/25/ilham-centre-malay-voters-rejected-umno-in-state-polls-due-to-disdain-towards-zahid/87203
------
Science minister says Malaysia installed
seawater radiation levels monitors, plans to install more
By Opalyn Mok
25 Aug 2023
GEORGE TOWN, Aug 25 — Malaysia has
installed a gamma spectrum water monitoring system in the waters off Sabah
after Japan released treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima
nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister Chang Lih Kang said Malaysia is the third country to have such a
system after Singapore and Vietnam.
“We have installed one in our waters to
monitor our seawaters 24/7. So far, it didn’t detect anything abnormal,” he
said after launching a STEM showcase at Han Chiang High School here.
He was responding to questions on the
release of treated radioactive water by Japan.
He said the water monitoring system
would be able to detect any abnormal levels of radioactivity in the seawater.
“If it detected any abnormal radioactive
level, we will know,” he said.
Chang said the ministry has plans to
install four more of the water monitoring systems in Malaysian waters.
“We have not identified the locations
yet, it is in the plans,” he said.
He said the Atomic Energy Licensing
Board is constantly monitoring the situation.
“Data showed that the water released so
far is still under the safe specifications,” he said.
Japan has started releasing treated
radioactive water from Fukushima despite heavy criticisms and threats of import
bans from China, South Korea and Hong Kong.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant was
shut down after it was severely damaged due to a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and
tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011.
The Japanese authorities have said the
water is safe and in line with standards set by the International Atomic Energy
Agency.
Source: malaymail.com
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------
Muhyiddin’s son-in-law, lawyer on
Interpol’s Red Notice
25 Aug 2023
PETALING JAYA – Muhammad Adlan Berhan
has yet to return to Malaysia to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC), leading to his name now being placed on Interpol’s Red
Notice list.
Together with lawyer Mansoor Saat, both
their names are on the list, according to the nation’s top cop.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan
Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed the matter to the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia
today.
It was previously reported that Adlan,
who is married to former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s daughter
Nabilah, had left the country amidst an ongoing investigation on the
registration, recruitment and storage of foreign worker biometric data at a
ministry.
They were sought to assist the MACC in
its investigation had left the country in May.
Subsequently, through his lawyer, Adlan
denied he was running from the law. Mansoor meanwhile claimed he was a victim
of political persecution.
Mansoor is a key figure in NERS SdnBhd,
a company that was awarded a 12-year contract back in 2011 to record and
monitor the entry of foreign workers and to issue temporary employment visit
passes. – The Vibes, August 25, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
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------
Nabawan assemblyman comes under fire for
land deal in own name
25 Aug 2023
Jason Santos
KOTA KINABALU – A PKR division leader
has filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against
a Sabah assemblyman who had applied for a 320-acre plot of land south of the
state capital here for a business venture.
The complaint alleges that Nabawan
assemblyman Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin had applied for the land in his own name,
ostensibly to initiate a joint venture with the government-linked Sabah Land
Development Board (SLDB).
The report was filed by Pensiangan PKR
chief Raymond Ahuar at the Keningau MACC office.
Ahuar asserts that Abdul Ghani exploited
his position as the SLDB Chairman to expedite approval for the land
application.
“Abdul Ghani claimed to have submitted
the land application on behalf of the Nabawan community to prevent external
companies from acquiring the land and, purportedly, to fast-track the process
for a joint venture with SLDB,” said Ahuar in his report.
The land, about 170km from here, was
previously designated as a Class II Forest Reserve, known as the Pensiangan
Forest Reserve.
Its reserve status has been revoked but
has not yet been officially designated as state-owned land.
At an assembly sitting held in May,
Abdul Ghani clarified numerous parties, including large companies from outside
Nabawan, have expressed interest in the land.
“The local residents are adamant about
preventing this land from falling into the hands of outsiders or external
companies,” Abdul Ghani said.
“As a result, they are in the process of
applying for the land themselves with the goal of establishing a cooperative
for a livestock project in collaboration with SLDB.”
“The cooperative is still in the
application phase, and community leaders are concerned about their ability to
compete with individuals and companies that possess greater resources and
capabilities.
“They approached me and asked whether it
would be possible for the application to be temporarily made in my name, with
the understanding that ownership would later be transferred to them,” he said.
– The Vibes, August 24, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
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------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ucc-sharia-aimplb/d/130522