Distribution Of Bible Not Allurement For Religious Conversion, Says Allahabad High Court
New Age Islam News Bureau
08 September 2023
Holy Bible
-----
India
·
Religion Exists For Human Beings To Love Each Other
And Not To Hate Each Other, Says Karnataka CM
·
Gyanvapi Mosque: Varanasi Court Grants 8 More Weeks
To ASI To Complete Survey
·
Smugglers Hire Swimmers To Ferry Drugs From Pakistan
To India As Border Flooded In Punjab
·
Cong’s Stand On Article 370 Very Clear, Every Voice
Should Be Heard: Rahul
·
‘Wagh Nakh’ That Shivaji Used To Kill Afzal Khan To
Come Home From UK
·
India Records 71 Fresh COVID-19 Cases, Active Cases
Stand At 494
------
Mideast
·
Abraham Accords Are Based On Mutual Understanding -
Israeli Minister In UAE
·
Outrage over Mahmoud Abbas's anti-Semitic Speech On
Jews And Holocaust; German And Israeli Officials Condemn
·
GCC affirms support for Palestinian state, condemns
Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
·
GCC ministerial council rebukes Iran over
‘incorrect’ statement on Bahrain prisoners
·
Britain condemns Palestinian president's remarks on
Holocaust
·
Lebanon’s PM says Syrian refugee influx could upset
‘demographic balance’
·
Clashes renew in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee
camp in Lebanon
--------
North America
·
US sending depleted uranium to Ukraine, ignoring its
disastrous effects in Iraq
·
US considering assassination of Niger coup leaders –
Moscow
·
US-backed PKK/YPG terrorist group attacks mosque in
Syria
------
Southeast Asia
·
EC targets over 70 per cent turnout in Pulai,
Simpang Jeram polls
·
Ex-Perlis MB wants review of charges related to
graft, unlawful activity proceeds
--------
Africa
·
September 16 Is The Date To Celebrate Benghazi As
The Capital Of Culture In The Islamic World
·
Police beat, arrest opposition supporters in
Ethiopia's Tigray
·
Mali river boat attacked by suspected jihadists
·
Cameroon: At least three killed in attack blamed on
separatist rebels
·
Mali: Islamist militants kill dozens in attack on
boat, base
------
Europe
·
Top French Court Upholds Ban On Muslim Abaya Robes
In Schools
·
EU, ECOWAS Reports On Nigerian Elections Have No
Judicial Value – Senior Judge
·
Islamic institutions in Belgium oppose sex-education
programme in schools
·
EU ‘globalists’ waging war on Hungary – parliament
speaker
·
The EU’s best weapon against free speech isn’t
working
-------
South Asia
·
Analysts Urge Interim Afghan Govt To Prevent Use Of
Afghan Soil Against Pakistan
·
FM Muttaqi, OIC Special Envoy Confer on
Afghanistan’s Relations with Islamic World
·
Islamic Cooperation Organization Emphasizes Grills’
Education In Afghanistan
·
After Clashes at Torkham, Kabul Calls for Dialogue
to Solve Tensions
·
Deputy PM Hanafi Encourages Domestic, Foreign
Traders to Invest in Afghanistan
·
Pakistan accepts Canada’s request to resettle 6,000
Afghan refugees
·
ANU: Nearly 20M in Afghanistan Are Experiencing
Hunger
·
Afghan American Chamber of Commerce Meets with
Islamic Emirate in Kabul
------
Pakistan
·
Bushra Bibi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Wife Records
Statement With NAB In Toshakhana Case
·
Torkham crossing stays shut for second day
·
Naval Day being observed today to honour heroes of
1965 war
·
Top Military Brass Resolves To Defend Country’s
Sovereignty, Territorial Integrity
·
Islamabad DC, three police officials indicted in
contempt case
·
LHC orders formation of sexual offence probe unit
·
Repelling bigger damage: How timely word prevented
major Chitral disaster
-------
Arab World
·
Al-Khereiji: Saudi Arabia provided $95 billion in
humanitarian aid to 160 countries
·
How Saudi-Indian relations gained momentum through
G20 platform
·
KSrelief assistant supervisor meets Ethiopian
ambassador in Riyadh
·
Durra gas field belongs to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,
say GCC ministers
·
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Sends Message to
President of Cote d'Ivoire
Compiled by New Age
Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bible-religious-conversion/d/130634
-----
Distribution
of Bible not allurement for religious conversion, says Allahabad High Court
Holy Bible
-----
07th
September 2023
By
Namita BajpaiExpress News Service
LUCKNOW:
The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has said that distributing copies of
the Bible and other religious books cannot be called an allurement for
religious conversion, attracting offences under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful
Conversion of Religion Act 2021 (UPPUCRA-2021).
While
granting bail to two accused persons who were booked for alluring persons of
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Community for conversion to Christianity,
the bench of Justice Shamim Ahmad said that an unaffected person could not
lodge an FIR for offences under this UPPUCRA-2021.
The
bench also passed the order allowing an appeal filed against rejection of bail
pleas of the two accused persons named Jose Papachen and Sheeja. The appellants
were sent to jail in pursuance to an FIR lodged by a BJP office-bearer with
Jalalpur police station in Ambedkar Nagar district on January 24, 2023. The
complainant had alleged that the two accused persons were alluring members of
the SC/ST community for getting converted to Christianity.
In
his order, Justice Ahmad observed, “Providing teaching, distributing Holy Bible
books, encouraging children for getting education, organizing assembly of
villagers and performing Bhandara, instructing the villagers not to enter into
altercation and not to take liquor do not amount to allurement under the 2021
Act.”
The
bench further said that the UPPUCRA-2021 provided that only an aggrieved person
or his family could lodge the FIR in the matter of conversion but in the
present case, the FIR was lodged by a BJP office bearer.
It
was argued on behalf of the appellants that they were innocent and were
implicated due to political rivalry. It was also said that helping people was
not an allurement and in fact it was a failure on the part of the state to
provide basic amenities to people in need.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/sep/07/distribution-of-bible-not-allurement-for-religious-conversion-says-allahabad-high-court-2612668.html
-----
Palestinians
Set Out Terms For Agreeing To Historic Saudi-Israeli Deal
Israeli
PM Benjamin Netanyahu
----
7
September 2023
By
Tom Bateman
BBC
News, Jerusalem
A
cash boost of hundreds of millions of dollars and more control of land in the
occupied West Bank are among Palestinian demands in the event of a three-way
deal involving the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel, the BBC has learned.
Officials
from the Palestinian Authority (PA) held talks in Riyadh with Saudi
counterparts on Wednesday.
They
were also due to see US officials.
The
Americans are long thought to have been pushing for a landmark pact to
normalise Israel-Saudi ties.
It
would be underwritten by Washington and would include a major security deal the
Saudis want to achieve with the US. But the prospects for such agreements face
significant obstacles and remain distant.
"We
don't expect any imminent announcements or breakthroughs in the period
ahead," said White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on
Tuesday.
However,
given the scope for a historic realignment of ties in the Middle East, there is
continuing speculation over the framework for any deal, with American shuttle
diplomacy picking up again after trips by officials to Riyadh, Amman and
Jerusalem this summer.
In
2020 three Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, normalised ties
with Israel
US
President Joe Biden is likely to see a Saudi-Israel deal as a breakthrough
foreign policy prize he can present to voters ahead of next year's election.
Saudi
Arabia is a leader of the Arab and Islamic world. It has never formally
recognised Israel since the creation of the state in 1948.
Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talked up the possibility last month,
claiming: "We're about to witness a pivot of history."
Any
deal, though, would be deeply controversial.
In
return for recognising Israel, Saudi Arabia is said to be demanding US
guarantees for advanced American-made weapons and, most contentious of all, a
civil nuclear programme including in-country uranium enrichment.
Israel
for its part would benefit from trade and defence ties with the Gulf superpower
and further historic integration it has always sought in the region, following
on from other Arab state normalisation deals brokered in 2020.
"These
are mostly security and trade agreements. Fast forward to the year 2023, and we
now see that Saudi Arabia also wants to get involved in this," said Diana
Buttu, a former legal adviser to the official Palestinian negotiating team in
the now-moribund peace talks with the Israelis.
For a
deal to succeed it would have to be seen to involve significant Israeli
concessions to the Palestinians.
Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, needs to
assuage his own public - historically opposed to Israel and deeply sympathetic
to the Palestinian cause.
Among
demands of Palestinian officials is the transfer of parts of the West Bank
currently under full Israeli control
Meanwhile,
President Biden will also need to prove he has won significant gains for the
Palestinians to get support from his Democratic Party. Many in the party reject
the idea of any defence sweeteners for the Saudis due to the country's human
rights record and its role in the war in Yemen. They are also hostile to the
idea of rewarding Israel's current extreme nationalist governing coalition,
which they see as exacerbating tensions in the West Bank and which has sparked
unprecedented instability within Israel itself.
The
team of top Palestinian officials in Riyadh - including the two men seen as
closest to President Mahmoud Abbas, the PA's intelligence chief, Majed Faraj,
and Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation
Organisation - met Saudi national security adviser Musaed al-Aiban on
Wednesday, according to a senior Palestinian official familiar with the
discussions.
Their
list of demands in return for engaging with the American-backed process was set
out during a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf last week
in Amman. The Palestinian official told the BBC the demands include:
Transferring
parts of the West Bank currently under full Israeli control (known as Area C
under the 1990s Oslo peace accords) to the governance of the Palestinian
Authority
Resuming
US-brokered negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians from where they
stopped under then-Secretary of State John Kerry in 2014.
Such
concessions are very significant - reportedly already seen by the Americans as
overreaching by the Palestinians. But they are a far cry from the official,
publicly stated Palestinian position on Saudi-Israel normalisation - which is
to reject it outright if it does not leave them with an independent state.
This
follows the Arab Peace Initiative, a Saudi-led plan of 2002, which offered the
Arab world's recognition of Israel in return for Israeli withdrawal from the
occupied territories and a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, with
its capital in East Jerusalem.
The
current approach reflects the deep "bind" the Palestinian leadership
is in, according to Ms Buttu.
"Palestinians
by and large don't want to be part of any of these normalisation deals because
[the Arab world's support] is the only tool that we have left," she said.
"We've
been told that we're not allowed to violently resist. We're told that we're not
allowed to pursue legal measures to demand an end to the occupation. We're told
that we're not allowed to pursue boycotts, divestment and sanction."
"The
Palestinian Authority is now questioning: should we instead be trying to get
our demands heard and realised, or should we do what we did in 2020 which was
to ignore it? And again it's a bind - no matter what the Palestinian Authority
does on this, it is doomed to fail," Ms Buttu told the BBC.
In
2020, three Arab countries - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco -
normalised ties with Israel in deals brokered by the US under President Trump.
A fourth, Sudan, also pledged to take steps towards diplomatic ties with Israel
that year. But the process stalled amid opposition in the country and a
military coup the following year.
They
were seen as a historic shift in relations between old adversaries in the
Middle East, involving diplomatic, trade and security ties. But critics
highlighted the significant US inducements also involved, including access to
top-shelf American-made weapons for Arab autocracies.
At
the time, the PA was frozen out of discussions as it boycotted diplomatic ties
with the US in response to President Trump's Israeli-Palestinian "deal of
the century" - a peace plan heavily weighted towards Israel - and his move
of the US embassy to Jerusalem. The PA saw the normalisation deals as a
"betrayal" of Arab solidarity.
Instead,
engaging with the Saudis this time may be a way to remind Riyadh of the basis
of the Arab Peace Initiative - the goal of an independent Palestinian state -
rather than being left out of the process completely, suggested another senior
Palestinian official.
But
there are significant risks for the Palestinian leadership - already deeply
unpopular with its own public - in becoming involved if the benefits are
perceived as negligible.
Polling
after the UAE-Israel normalisation in 2020 suggested the overwhelming majority
of Palestinians saw that deal as an abandonment of the Palestinian cause that
served only the interests of Israel.
Any
Israeli concessions to the Palestinians are almost certain to be rejected by
the ultranationalists in Mr Netanyahu's coalition, amounting to a further
stumbling block to any deal. Mr Netanyahu earlier this year brushed aside
Palestinian concessions as a "check box" exercise that wouldn't be
part of any substantive American-brokered discussions with Saudi Arabia.
Additional
reporting by Yolande Knell in Jerusalem and Rushdi Abu Alouf in Gaza
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66734638
-----
CAIR
Denounces French Court’s Decision on ‘Islamophobic, Sexist and Racist’ Ban on
Abaya in Schools
‘We
often hear there is an integration problem in France – but what there is, is a
racism problem’ (posed by model). Photograph: Mirsad Sarajlic/Getty
Images/iStockphoto
------
Ismail
Allison
September
7, 2023
(WASHINGTON,
D.C., 9/7/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the
nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today denounced
a decision by a French court to uphold the government’s decision to ban Muslim
students from wearing the abaya, a long, flowing robe-like garment worn by many
Muslim women.
France’s
highest court for complaints against government authorities rejected a motion
by for an injunction against the ban, claiming – despite all evidence to the
contrary – that it was not discriminatory toward Muslims.
CAIR
recently condemned the abaya ban and reiterated its call on the U.S. State
Department to designate France a country of particular concern.
In a
statement, CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor said:
“That
the court would uphold this clearly Islamophobic, sexist and racist ban – which
intentionally and solely targets female Muslim students – is yet another
indication of the French government’s obsession with controlling and
intimidating the Muslim community. Our nation’s leaders must speak out against
this violation of religious and human rights.”
Saylor
added that the ruling is reminiscent of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on
President Trump’s Muslim Ban.He noted that CAIR has previously called for
France to be designated as a country as particular concern because of similar
Islamophobic policies and actions.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-denounces-french-courts-decision-on-islamophobic-sexist-and-racist-ban-on-abaya-in-schools/
-------
On
Jakarta Stage, PM Anwar Tells World Powers To Respect Palestinian Rights, Not
Just Ukraine’s
Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
-----
08
Sep 2023
JAKARTA,
Sept 8 ― Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday stressed that the
rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and urged all countries to
show solidarity in taking the same stand and action that was taken when Russia
attacked Ukraine.
The
message was presented by Anwar at the Asean Summit involving its dialogue
partners including the United States, China, India, Japan, South Korea,
Australia and Canada, and also highlighted the need to address Islamophobia and
repression in the name of religion.
“They
were vocal and condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine but chose to remain silent
when issues involving Palestine was raised.
“Therefore,
we have to firmly voice out, respect the rights of the Palestine people,
respect humanity, value human rights,” he said during a press conference after
attending the closing of the 43rd Asean Summit and Related Summits yesterday.
Anwar
also urged the Foreign Ministry to support the Saudi Arabian government for
taking the initiative on Palestine during the New York Summit in conjunction
with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after being informed by the
Secretary-General of the International Body, Antonio Guterres.
He
said the assembly will stress on the need for Islamic countries and Europe to
take a wise decision on the issue of Palestine.
Meanwhile,
the prime minister said Turkiye had proposed that Malaysia and Turkiye have a
meeting in New York to tackle racial extremism and Islamophobia.
“President
(Recep) Tayyip Erdogan asked me to assist in organising the meeting at the same
time as the UNGA in New York to oppose racial extremism and sentiments of
anti-Islam or Islamophobia.
“The
hatred on religion, especially Islam, and President Erdogan has agreed with me
to organise the meeting and if can we want to expand the call to all Islamic
nations and other countries to come together and support the cause,” he said.
Anwar
and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail left Jakarta for home at
9.16pm last night after attending the 43rd Asean Summit in Jakarta since
Tuesday. ― Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/09/08/on-jakarta-stage-pm-anwar-tells-world-powers-to-respect-palestinian-rights-not-just-ukraines/89664
------
Burkina:
“We Are Not Enemies” Of The “French People”, Says Captain Traoré
Captain
Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso's new president, leaves the ceremony for the ...
Copyright
© Africa news
OLYMPIA
DE MAISMONT/AFP or licensors
-----
September
7, 2023
Burkina
Faso is not an "enemy" of the "French people", said Captain
Ibrahim Traoré, transitional president, following a coup d'état, in an
interview broadcast Wednesday evening by Radio Télévision du Burkina (RTB,
public.
“We
are not enemies with the French people, it is the policy of those who run
France which poses a problem in Africa, so as long as a State is not in an
imperialist spirit (…) there is no problem,” he said in this interview recorded
on August 31.
“We
must agree to look at each other as equals” and “we must agree to review all of
our cooperation,” he added. Without naming it, he criticized France for having
“given independence” and “placed people” at “the head of certain states”.
According
to him, "we have led people to sign a lot of agreements (...) which
prevent us from developing", adding that "imperialist states are not
just France, there are others" he said without quoting them.
Captain
Ibrahim Traoré, who came to power almost a year ago through a coup d'état, also
questioned the effectiveness of the presence of French soldiers in Burkina Faso
as part of the anti-jihadist fight, which he demanded the departure in January.
Burkina
has since been seeking new cooperation. “We have new partners who support us in
terms of equipment and other things,” he added, without naming them.
Burkina
Faso's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivia Rouamba, expressed her country's
desire to "strengthen bilateral cooperation" with Iran on Monday
during an interview in Tehran with President Ebrahim Raïssi.
A
Russian delegation spoke with Mr. Traoré last week in Ouagadougou on questions
of development and military cooperation and Captain Traoré went to Saint
Petersburg in July for the Russia-Africa summit.
He
reaffirmed his country's support for Niger, the scene of a coup d'état on July
26 with which Burkina shares the so-called "three borders" area
between Mali, Niger, and Burkina, considered a den of jihadist groups.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/09/07/burkina-we-are-not-enemies-of-the-french-people-says-captain-traore/
-------
India
Religion
exists for human beings to love each other and not to hate each other, says
Karnataka CM
08.09.23
K.M.
Rakesh
Karnataka
chief minister Siddaramaiah has said religion is for the betterment of human
beings and not the other way round, adding it does not require complicated
science to understand this fact of life and ensure love prevails instead of
hatred.
“Religion
exists for human beings, human beings do not exist for religion. Religion
exists for society and it’s a way of life. Religion exists for human beings to
love each other and not to hate each other,” the Congress veteran told a
state-sponsored celebration of Sree Krishna Jayanti in Bangalore late on
Wednesday.
His
statement on the importance of religion and its purpose comes against the
backdrop of the ongoing controversy about Sanatana Dharma triggered by Tamil
Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's observation that it should be eradicated.
Karnataka
IT minister Priyank Kharge also joined the chorus against inherent caste-based
discrimination in Sanatana Dharma by saying it is “as good as a disease”.
Chief
minister Siddaramaiah exhorted the people to understand the essence of what a
religion should stand for. “We need to understand this very clearly. One
doesn’t need to read complicated science to understand this,” he said, alluding
to why religions should help people love and not hate each other.
He
pointed out how Basava, the 12th-century reformer-saint who founded the
Lingayat Dharma and was fondly known as Basavanna, had described compassion as
the cornerstone of every religion. “There is no religion if there is no
compassion. He said this over 850 years ago,” the chief minister noted.
Siddaramaiah
drew from ancient scriptures and stories that speak about the appearance of
"avatars" each time humanity was on the brink of collapse due to
injustice, and urged the people to electorally defeat such leaders now.
“Gods
appeared in various avatars when there was injustice. But what should we do now
whenever there is injustice? Injustices in the society can be eradicated only
when we attain a high level of alertness (to expose and defeat unjust
leaders),” Siddaramaiah said, without directly referring to the ongoing debate
over Sanatana Dharma.
A
torchbearer of Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, Dalits
and Adivasis) politics that work for the downtrodden and oppressed classes,
Siddaramaiah said caste differences must be eradicated to fulfil the dream of
social reformers such as Basavanna and freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and
B.R. Ambedkar.
“The
caste system must be eradicated. But for that we need to bridge the social and
economic divide among the people, which can be achieved only by following the
principles of our Constitution,” he said.
“The
dream of our freedom fighters was that everyone should enjoy the fruits of freedom,
everyone should be equal and everyone should live as human beings. Only if we
follow the principles of our Constitution can we ever create equality in the
society,” he said, adding that only leaders who work according to the
Constitution can deliver social justice.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/religion-exists-for-human-beings-to-love-each-other-and-not-to-hate-each-other-says-siddaramaiah/cid/1964571
------
Gyanvapi
mosque: Varanasi court grants 8 more weeks to ASI to complete survey
8th
September 2023
Varanasi:
A Varanasi court on Friday granted additional time of eight weeks to the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete the scientific survey of the
Gyanvapi mosque complex and submit its report.
District
Judge A K Vishvesh dismissed the mosque management committee’s objection and
provided the additional time to the ASI, government counsel Rajesh Mishra said.
The
ASI is carrying out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, next
to Kashi Vishwanath temple here, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque
was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple.
The
survey began after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court
order and ruled that the step is “necessary in the interest of justice” and
will benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides.
Source: siasat.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.siasat.com/gyanvapi-mosque-varanasi-court-grants-8-more-weeks-to-asi-to-complete-survey-2689517/
-----
Smugglers
hire swimmers to ferry drugs from Pakistan to India as border flooded in Punjab
07th
September 2023
By
Harpreet BajwaExpress News Service
CHANDIGARH:
Taking advantage of the flood situation in Punjab as water was released from
Pong and Bhakra-Nangal dams, smugglers in Pakistan and India have adopted a new
strategy, hiring professional swimmers to deliver drug consignments in India
through the intricate zigzag path of the Satluj river. The Punjab Police
arrested a big fish drug trafficker Malkiat Singh alias Kali, who sent three
swimmers to fetch a consignment of 50 kg heroin from Pakistan.
Director
General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said, "Police teams have also
seized 9 kg heroin -- a portion of the 50 kg heroin consignment -- from his
possession,”, adding that 22.5 kg of the heroin had already been recovered by
the Punjab Police, taking the total recovery to 31.5 kg. The development came
less than a month after the Jalandhar Rural Police had arrested drug smuggler
Joga Singh, who swam into the Pakistan jurisdiction to retrieve a heroin
consignment, with 8 kg heroin being recovered from him.
Earlier,
the SSOC Amritsar had arrested a drug smuggler identified as Shinder Singh
after recovering 10 kg heroin and Rs 1.5 lakh from his possession. A woman drug
smuggler identified as Amandeep Kaur alias Deep Bhai linked to this module was
also arrested with 1 kg heroin, while another drug smuggler Shinderpal alias
Pappu was arrested with 500 grams of heroin from Mehatpur.
Yadav,
while terming the recovery of this big haul of heroin as the result of vigorous
follow-up investigations by the Punjab Police, said that following forward and
backwards linkages in this case, Jalandhar Rural Police have arrested the
accused drug trafficker Malkiat Kali, who is a resident of Tendi Wala village
in Ferozepur, from near Boparai Canal Bridge near Goraya and recovered the
heroin kept in his shoulder bag.
Divulging
details, SSP of Jalandhar Rural Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar said that Kali
revealed that he was in regular touch with a Pakistan-based drug smuggler
identified as Haider Ali, who helped him smuggle the heroin consignments to
India.
"Malkiat
Kali also revealed that he had sent Joga Singh along with two more persons to
Pakistan using a riverine route to fetch the 50 kg heroin consignment, which
was equally distributed between his party and Joga Singh’s party," he
said, adding that further investigations are on, and police teams are hunting
for the remaining drug smugglers involved in this module.
A
fresh case has been registered under the NDPS Act at Goraya police station.
Sources
said that the swimmers are paid Rs 1 to Rs 2.50 lakh per kg compared to between
Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per kg earlier. Drugs have also been dropped through
drones by smugglers of the neighboring country. Drug cartels in India and
Pakistan have exploited the flood situation in Ferozepur since July 20, making
concerted efforts to smuggle contraband through the intricate zigzag path of
the Satluj River, which it traverses seven times.
Sources
said that some time back a flag meeting was held in which security agencies of
India and Pakistan at length discussed the issue of manifold increase in the
number of drug trafficking cases. The overflow of the Satluj River had resulted
in flooding in over a dozen border villages and the submersion of more than
fifteen border outposts (BoPs) of the BSF besides adverse damage to fencing in
about 50km along the Indo-Pak border. Thus drug traffickers in Pakistan and
India got the opportunity to smuggle significant quantities of drugs by
offering enticing incentives to drug couriers based in both countries.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/sep/07/smugglers-hire-swimmers-to-ferry-drugs-from-pakistan-to-india-as-border-flooded-in-punjab-2612665.html
-----
Cong’s
stand on Article 370 very clear, every voice should be heard: Rahul
Indo-Asian
News Service
by
Neha Khan: 8th September 2023
Brussels:
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on a visit to Europe, said here on
Friday that the party’s stand on Article 370 was very clear and it also wants
to ensure that every voice in the country is heard, with people being allowed
to express themselves freely.
Addressing
a press conference at the Press Club in the Belgian capital, Rahul Gandhi said:
“Our position on Article 370 is very clear. It’s in a resolution passed in the
CWC. We are for ensuring that every single person in our country has a voice,
and is allowed to express themselves. We feel very strongly that Kashmir should
develop, Kashmir should progress, and there should be peace in Kashmir.”
He
was responding to a question about Article 370 and restrictions imposed on
opposition leaders in the union territory in 2019.
When
asked about the India’s relationship with Russia and the US, the senior
Congress leader said: “I mean, India of course has a relationship with Russia
and India has a relationship with with the US. India is a large country and it
will have relationship with many countries. That is a normal thing and India
has every right to have relationship with whoever it wants.”
He
said that there were “serious issues about the type of actions that are being
taken in with regard to institution and democracy”.
“There
is a sense that there are underlined issues.”
When
asked about the opposition’s point of view of the Russia-Ukraine war, Rahul
Gandhi said: “I think the opposition by and large would agree with the
government position. We have a relationship with Russia. And I don’t think the
opposition will have a different view of what the government is currently
proposing.”
He
also said that he has been travelling abroad to meet different people both from
Europe and from the Indian diaspora and he has been doing it regularly now.
“We
have gone to the US and UK and now we have come to the European Union to get a
sense of what is happening here and back home.
“It’s
more of a conversation than a message. I am no one to come and give a message
to Europeans. It’s an exchange of ideas what is going on in India and what is
going on here. The type of cooperation we can do. Its more of a conversation.
“We
discussed with the parliamentarians across the board, the relationship between
India and Europe and the change in the globe and transition into a new sort of
energy paradigm and new mobility paradigm. That was very fruitful.
“We
were giving them a sense of the type of challenges India is facing, economic
challenges, other challenges. The general sort of attack on the democratic
institutions that was discussed,” Rahul Gandhi added.
To
another question, the Lok Sabha MP from Kerala’s Wayanad said: “I don’t think,
the G20 is an important conversation and it is a good thing that India is
hosting. Of course there are issue in India that we raise. I think the framing
that are they giving them free passage is not exactly correct.”
Rahul
Gandhi arrived in Brussels on September 6 and he will visiting some other
nations like France, the Netherlands and Norway till September 11 and
participate in several interactive programmes and also meet businessmen and
diaspora.
Source: siasat.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the
original
https://www.siasat.com/cong-stand-on-article-370-very-clear-every-voice-in-country-should-be-heard-rahul-2689442/
-----
‘Wagh
nakh’ that Shivaji used to kill Afzal Khan to come home from UK
Sep
8, 2023
MUMBAI:
The ‘wagh nakh’ is coming home. With the UK authorities agreeing to give back
the dagger shaped like tiger claws—used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to kill
Afzal Khan, general of the Bijapur sultanate, in 1659—state cultural affairs
minister Sudhir Mungantiwar will visit London later this month to sign an MoU
with the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it’s on display.
If
everything works out as planned, the famed wagh nakh may be headed home this
year itself. “We have got a letter from the UK authorities saying they have
agreed to give us back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s wagh nakh. We might get it
back for the anniversary of the day when Shivaji killed Afzal Khan, based on
the Hindu calendar. Some other dates are also being considered and the
modalities of transporting the wagh nakh back are also being worked out,”
Mungantiwar said.
“Apart
from signing the MoU, we will also look at other objects such as Shivaji’s
Jagadamba sword which is also on display in the UK, and take steps to bring
these back as well. The fact that the tiger claws are on the way back is a big
step for Maharashtra and its people. The date of Afzal Khan’s killing is
November 10 based on the Gregorian calendar but we are working out dates based
on the Hindu tithi calendar,” Mungantiwar said.
“Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj’s wagh nakh is a priceless treasure of history and the
sentiments of the people of the state are associated with them. The transfer
must be done with personal responsibility and care.
For
this, Mungantiwar, principal secretary culture (Dr Vikas Kharge) and Dr Tejas
Garge, director of the state’s directorate of archeology and museums, will
visit V&A and other museums in London,” the government resolution issued by
the cultural affairs department stated. Maharashtra will spend around Rs 50
lakh for the threemember team’s six-day visit from September 29 to October 4,
according to the resolution. Officials said the wagh nakh made of steel has
four claws mounted on a bar with two rings for the first and fourth fingers.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/wagh-nakh-that-shivaji-used-to-kill-afzal-khan-to-come-home-from-uk/articleshow/103481710.cms
-----
India
records 71 fresh COVID-19 cases, active cases stand at 494
07th
September 2023
By
PTI
NEW
DELHI: India saw a single-day rise of 71 fresh COVID-19 cases while the active
cases have been recorded at 494, according to the Union Health Ministry data
updated on Thursday.
The
death toll has been recorded at 5,32,024, the data updated at 8 a.m. stated.
The
country's infection tally stands at 4.49 crore (4,49,97,537).
The
number of people who have recuperated from the disease has increased to
4,44,65,019 and the national recovery rate stands at 98.81 per cent, according
to the health ministry's website.
The
case fatality rate stands at 1.18 per cent. According to the ministry's
website, 220.67 crore doses of the vaccine have been administered in the
country so far.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/sep/07/india-records-71-fresh-covid-19-cases-active-cases-stand-at-494-2612610.html
-----
Mideast
Abraham
Accords are based on mutual understanding - Israeli minister in UAE
By
ARIELLA MARSDEN : SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
Heritage
Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit) on Thursday said he visited the United
Arab Emirates last week, where he attended a series of meetings on the subject
of the Abraham Accords.
“The
Abraham Accords are based on a rich historical legacy,” he said upon his return
to Israel. “Our forefather Abraham is also their forefather, and the UAE is
proof of the Torah verse that states that Abraham will be a source of blessing
to all nations.”
During
the visit, the underlying values of the Abraham Accords were compared to those
of the Oslo Accords, Eliyahu said.
“In
one of our conversations, the host told me, ‘The Oslo Accords [that Israel]
signed ignored the deep identity of the parties and tried to establish peace
merely on the basis of material promises, and I tell you,’ he said confidently,
‘whoever believed this, did not understand the language of the Middle East at
all,’” he said.
Eliyahu
said he was impressed by the “real respect the Emiratis have for Judaism from
the understanding that Jewish heritage is also their heritage.”
This
respect was different from relations that Israel has with other Arab countries,
he said.
“There’s
a different tune here,” he added.
The
UAE and Bahrain were the first nations to sign the Abraham Accords
normalization agreement with Israel three years ago.
Since
the signing of the accords, relations between Israel and the UAE have remained
largely stable, even as reports in March said the latter was considering reducing
its diplomatic ties with Israel over extreme positions of some members of the
coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the reports and said
they had no basis.
Netanyahu
plans to visit Dubai to attend the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in
December.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-757984
-----
Outrage
over Mahmoud Abbas's anti-Semitic Speech On Jews And Holocaust; German And
Israeli Officials Condemn
8
September 2023
By
Yolande Knell
BBC
News, Jerusalem
German
and Israeli officials have condemned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for
comments he made about Jews and the Nazi Holocaust in a speech.
Mr
Abbas said Adolf Hitler ordered the mass murder of Jews because of their
"social role" as moneylenders, rather than out of animosity to
Judaism.
Israel's
ambassador to the UN accused him of "pure antisemitism".
"History
is clear," Germany's Ramallah mission said. "Millions of lives were erased
- this cannot be relativized."
"We
strive to promote a dignified and accurate memory of the victims."
The
German ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, added: "The Palestinians
deserve to hear the historical truth from their leader, not such distortions."
Hitler
used the Jewish people as a scapegoat for Germany's ills. He also considered
them an inferior race which had to be exterminated.
The
Palestinian president, who is 87, has previously been denounced by Jewish
groups as a Holocaust denier for his doctoral thesis on the Nazis and Zionism.
Yet
over the years, he has continued to give long, rambling speeches expounding his
offensive views.
His
address to the Fatah Revolutionary Council was made last month and later aired
on Palestine TV. His remarks were then translated and publicised by the Middle
East Media Research Institute on Wednesday. The translation has been verified
by BBC News.
"They
say that Hitler killed the Jews for being Jews, and that Europe hated the Jews
because they were Jews. No. It was clearly explained that they fought them
because of their social role and not their religion," Mr Abbas says at one
point.
Later,
he specifies that he was referring to the role of Jews involving "usury,
money and so on".
Mr
Abbas also resurrected a long abandoned historical theory that European
Ashkenazi Jews were not descended from the ancient Israelites but from 8th
Century converts to Judaism among the Khazars, a nomadic Turkic people.
"The
truth that we should spread to the world is that European Jews are not Semites.
They have nothing to do with Semitism," he said. "As for the Eastern
Jews, they are Semites," he added, referring to Mizrachi Jews from the
wider Middle East.
The
president previously caused an international furore for making similar suggestions
in 2018, during what he described as "a history lesson" at a rare
gathering of the Palestinian National Council.
His
aim on such occasions is to dispute the connection between the Jewish people
and modern-day Israel. Rights to the land lie at the core of the
Israel-Palestinian conflict and are entwined with the historical narratives of
both peoples.
The
content of the president's latest speech was shared on X, formerly known as
Twitter, by the Israeli foreign ministry and slammed by the Israeli ambassador
to the UN, Gilad Erdan.
"This
is the true face of Palestinian 'leadership'," the envoy said. "Just
as Abbas blames the Jews for the Holocaust, he also blames the Jews for all the
Middle East's issues."
"The
world must wake up and hold Abbas and his Palestinian Authority accountable for
the hatred they spew and the ensuing bloodshed it causes. There must be zero
tolerance for Palestinian incitement and terror!"
The
European Union also condemned the speech, which it described as "false and
grossly misleading".
In a
statement, it said: "Such historical distortions are inflammatory, deeply
offensive, can only serve to exacerbate tensions in the region and serve
no-one's interests. They play into the hands of those who do not want a
two-state solution, which President Abbas has repeatedly advocated for."
"Moreover,
they trivialize [the] Holocaust and thereby fuel antisemitism and are an insult
to the millions of victims of the Holocaust and their families."
In
May, Mr Abbas was criticised for likening Israel to Nazi Germany in a speech at
a UN event. He accused the country of lying "just like Goebbels",
referring to Joseph Goebbels, the chief propagandist of the Nazi party.
Last
year, there was international outrage after he claimed Israel had carried out
"50 massacres; 50 holocausts" during a news conference with German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin. The chancellor later said he was
"disgusted by the outrageous remarks" and Israel and the US issued
strongly worded statements.
Afterwards,
the Palestinian leader issued a clarification on the official Palestinian news
agency, Wafa. He did not explicitly apologise but said that the Holocaust was
"the most heinous crime in modern human history" and that his
comments had not been meant "to deny the singularity of the
Holocaust".
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-66741336
------
GCC
affirms support for Palestinian state, condemns Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa
Mosque
ARAB
NEWS
September
08, 2023
RIYADH:
GCC ministers on Thursday affirmed their position for the establishment of an
independent Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, amid the increasing
illegal occupation by Israeli settlers of Palestinian territories.
In a
statement issued at the close of its 57th session in the Saudi capital, the GCC
Ministerial Council condemned Israel’s continued construction of settlements in
the occupied Palestinian territories which was “in clear violation of
international legitimacy resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution
No. 2334.”
The
ministerial council welcomed the Australian government’s announcement that it
would use the term “occupied Palestinian territories.” In addition, the
ministers called on the international community to pressure Tel Aviv to reverse
their settlement decisions and “to resolve the conflict, in a way that fulfills
all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
The
council also denounced the “repeated incursions by Israeli officials and
settlers into the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Such
incursions were not only “a violation of the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa
Mosque and a provocation of the feelings of Muslims” but also a “serious
violation of international law and the historical and legal status quo in
Al-Quds and its sanctities,” said the statement.
The
council commended Saudi Arabia’s decision to appoint a non-resident ambassador
to the State of Palestine and consul-general in Al-Quds.
It
also welcomed the final statement of the Egypt-Jordan-Palestine Tripartite
Summit, which was held in the city of El-Alamein on Aug. 14, 2023, and the
participants’ discussion of the Palestinian cause in light of the current
developments in the occupied territories.
It
called on the GCC countries and international community to continue supporting
the activities of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the
Near East to ensure all those displaced return to their homes.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2369491/middle-east
-----
GCC
ministerial council rebukes Iran over ‘incorrect’ statement on Bahrain
prisoners
ARAB
NEWS
September
08, 2023
RIYADH:
The GCC’s foreign ministers on Thursday condemned Iran for what they termed
were “false” claims that prisoners were being treated badly in a Bahrain
prison.
The
ministers were responding to comments made by the spokesman of Iran’s Ministry
of Foreign Affairs about jail conditions in Bahrain.
Citing
the principles of the UN Charter on “good neighborliness and non-interference
in the internal affairs of states,” the GCC Ministerial Council called on
officials in Iran “to investigate accuracy and not rely on incorrect
information.”
The rebuke
was part of a comprehensive statement issued by the GCC Ministerial Council at
the close of its 57th session in the Saudi capital.
Manama
had earlier rejected Iran’s ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani’s claim that
“unfavorable” jail conditions in Bahrain had led to a hunger strike by some 800
prisoners.
Bahrain’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Iran should “be more accurate and not to be
misled by false information that harms relations between the two countries.”
Bahrain
is part of the six-nation GCC, which includes Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia
and the UAE.
A
Reuters report quoted Bahrain’s General Directorate of Reform and
Rehabilitation as saying that the number of detainees who have reported being
on hunger strike had at no time gone beyond 124 and that their complaints were
being addressed.
The
GDRR said the hunger strikers are provided with access to medical check-ups on
a daily basis and none of them have required critical care or hospitalization.
“Any claims to the contrary are false,” it said.
Bahrain’s
MFA said the National Institution for Human Rights and the Prisoners and
Detainees Rights Commission have conducted unannounced visits to the Reform and
Rehabilitation Center to investigate allegations regarding the conditions of
inmates.
“They
reviewed a number of demands made by some inmates and submitted a detailed
report to the relevant authorities,” the ministry said.
In
addition to the Bahrain issue, the GCC Ministerial Council statement welcomed
the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran to resume diplomatic relations.
It
reiterated the decisions of the GCC Supreme Council during its 43rd session in
December 2022 that with respect to relations with Iran, mutual respect and
resolving disputes by peaceful means and direct dialogue, rather than the use
of, or threatening the use of force, must be adhered to.
The
Ministerial Council stated that Iran should not exceed the rate of uranium
enrichment required for non-military use, and the need to cooperate with the
International Atomic Energy Agency.
It
further “stressed the importance of preserving maritime security and waterways
in the region, and addressing everything that might threaten the shipping
lanes, international trade, and oil installations in the GCC states.”
The
GCC and other countries have in the past accused Iran of attempting to
destabilize the region, including arming the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in
Lebanon, and various groups in Iraq. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had also been
accused of disrupting commercial shipping in the Arabian Gulf.
Source:
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2369551/middle-east
-----
Britain
condemns Palestinian president's remarks on Holocaust
Reuters
September
8, 2023
LONDON,
Sept 8 (Reuters) - Britain on Friday criticised remarks about the World War Two
persecution of Jews and antisemitism by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"The
UK condemns the recent antisemitic remarks made by President Abbas," a
foreign office spokesperson said in a statement.
"The
UK stands firmly against all attempts to distort the Holocaust. Such statements
do not advance efforts towards reconciliation."
The
United States and the European Union also slammed the remarks by 87-year-old
Abbas which were made in late August to a meeting of his Fatah movement's
Revolutionary Council.
Reporting
by William James and Farouq Suleiman
Source: reuters.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/britain-condemns-palestinian-presidents-remarks-holocaust-2023-09-08/
------
Lebanon’s
PM says Syrian refugee influx could upset ‘demographic balance’
8 Sep
2023
Lebanon’s
caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has disparaged the influx of Syrian
refugees coming into the country, saying it could upset the nation’s
demography.
At
the start of a cabinet meeting, Mikati said on Thursday the fleeing Syrians
“could create harsh imbalances”.
What
was most worrying is that most of the refugees are young men and women, he
said.
“That
threatens our entity’s independence and could create harsh imbalances that
could affect Lebanon’s demographic balance,” Mikati said.
Thousands
of Syrian refugees have crossed into Lebanon in recent months through illegal
crossing points, as the Mediterranean nation faces its own crippling economic
crisis.
Issam
Charafeddine, Lebanon’s caretaker minister of the displaced, told a local radio
station that 20,000 refugees have crossed since the beginning of the year.
According
to the United Nations, Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita
in the world.
“The
Syrian-Lebanese border is porous and the number of soldiers mobilised is not
enough,” an unnamed security official told AFP news agency. “Most Syrians come
to Lebanon in the hope of finding work, given the unprecedented deterioration
in living conditions in their country.”
Mikati
said another cabinet session will be held next week with the commander of the
army and heads of security agencies to discuss the issues of refugees.
Syrians
continue to flee the conflict that has engulfed the country since 2011, which
has since killed half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war
population of 23 million.
In
the early years of the conflict, Lebanon received hundreds of thousands of
refugees, but after its economic crisis broke out in October 2019, that
changed.
Renewed
protests are taking place in Syria as anger grows over deteriorating living
conditions, particularly in the southern province of Sweida. Protesters have
also been demanding the removal of President Bashar al-Assad.
Source: aljazeera.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/8/lebanons-pm-says-syrian-refugee-influx-could-upset-demographic-balance
------
Clashes
renew in Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon
By
TZVI JOFFRE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
Armed
clashes erupted between Fatah and other armed groups in the Ain al-Hilweh
Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon on Thursday night, a little over a
month after a ceasefire ended days of violence in the camp, according to the
Lebanese National News Agency.
A
large number of residents of the camp were displaced from their homes due to
the renewed fighting, as the militants fired RPGs and machine guns toward each
other.
According
to Lebanese LBCI television network, an audio recording was circulated on
social media attributed to Haitham al-Shaabi, an official from the "Muslim
Youth" group, in which he said the group was launching a battle to
"purge the Ain al-Hilweh camp of apostates."
The
Palestinian Joint Action Authority in Lebanon urged a return to the ceasefire,
stating “We call for a ceasefire in the Ain al-Hilweh camp, to make way for the
joint Palestinian security force in the camp and the Joint Action Authority in
Sidon to carry out their duties and implement what has been entrusted to them.”
Ceasefire
between Fatah and Islamists lasted a month
In
late July and early August, 13 people were killed amid clashes between Fatah
and Islamist groups in the refugee camp. Thousands of people were displaced due
to the clashes.
The
clashes in late July were sparked after the killing of an Islamic militant by
Fatah militants, followed by the killing of Fatah official Abu Ashraf
al-Armoushi and four other Fatah members in the camp.
On
August 3, a ceasefire was reached, with the violence ending shortly afterward.
Tensions remained high in the camp, however, with humanitarian access inhibited
in certain parts of the camp, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
In
the weeks since the ceasefire was reached, UNRWA reported that a number of the
schools it manages in the camp were taken over by militant groups.
Source: jpost.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-758085
-----
North America
US
sending depleted uranium to Ukraine, ignoring its disastrous effects in Iraq
08
September 2023
The
United States is now sending depleted uranium tank shells to Ukraine even
though they were widely blamed for increasing cancer and birth defects in Iraq.
It’s
the latest escalation that Washington is resorting to, as the Russian military
continues to prevail against the Ukrainian counter-offensive. Ramin Mazaheri
has more from Chicago.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/09/08/710463/Despite-Fallujah-birth-defects,-US-sending-depleted-uranium-to-Ukraine
-------
US
considering assassination of Niger coup leaders – Moscow
7
Sep, 2023
The
US government is considering whether to assassinate the leaders of the new
military administration in Niger, which seized power in late July, the Russian
Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has warned.
While
the White House is “not satisfied” with events in the former French colony, it
does not want to rely on military intervention by Niger’s regional neighbors,
the assessment released by the SVR on Thursday claimed. Washington considers
that a ‘wetwork’ solution by a proxy would be preferable to military action by
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Russian agency
said.
ECOWAS
has threatened to invade Niger to restore its ousted president Mohamed Bazoum
to office, but has yet to act. French President Emmanuel Macron said last week
that his nation would support military action by the bloc.
“Representatives
of American special services are directly discussing with partners who could
carry out killings” in Niger, the SVR alleged. The preferred candidates would
be people who have received “special training from the Pentagon’s schools” and
belong to the transitional leaders’ inner circles.
Ukraine
has secret assassination squad – ex-security chief
The
CIA has a record of attempted assassinations on foreign soil. Congolese leader
Patrice Lumumba and Cuban leader Fidel Castro were targets of multiple US
murder plots, as revealed by the Church Committee in the 1970s.
President
Gerald Ford explicitly banned employees of the US government from participating
in political assassination plots in a 1976 executive order. President Jimmy
Carter expanded the ban in 1978, adding people “acting on behalf of” Washington
to the order, while President Ronald Reagan removed “political” from the
wording in 1981.
“It
looks like the White House has decided to resort to old and, as they say,
time-tested solutions, after facing what it perceives as a surprising and
unpleasant geopolitical awakening of Africa,” the SVR assessment claimed.
The
Russian agency suggested that the US government would frame any action against
Niger’s administration as “strengthening democracy.”
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/582521-us-assassinations-niger-svr/
------
US-backed
PKK/YPG terrorist group attacks mosque in Syria
SEP
07, 2023
The
PKK terrorist group's Syrian wing, the YPG, which enjoys training and equipment
support from the United States, launched an attack on a village in northern
Syria. Along with houses of civilians, the terrorist group fired rockets at a
mosque in al-Ulashli village in the district of al-Bab on Thursday.
The
terrorists occupied the al-Uraima region where the village is located, forcing
some 200 families in the village to migrate to central al-Bab. Abdullah, one of
the villagers, said almost the entire village had to flee after bombing by the
terrorist group. “This is a religious place. It has nothing to do with any armed
group they (PKK/YPG) fight against,” he told Anadolu Agency (AA).
Al-Bab
is located in an area cleared of terrorist groups with a Türkiye-backed
Euphrates Shield operation. The PKK/YPG occasionally carry out attacks in the
region.
On
Tuesday, four civilians were injured in an attack by the PKK/YPG in an attack
on the village of Qabasin, the northeast of al-Bab.
The
PKK has been waging a bloody terror campaign against Türkiye since the 1980s,
and it is considered a terrorist group by Ankara, Britain, the U.S. and the
European Union. Its terrorists have established safe havens in northern Iraq
and Syria and frequently launch attacks on Turkish soil and local areas. They
have been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women,
children and infants.
The
YPG is the U.S.-backed Syrian wing of the PKK. Under the guise of the YPG, it
has been Washington’s main partner in Syria and has driven Daesh out of the
country’s north and east over the last four years. Despite Ankara’s
documentation of the fact that the YPG and PKK are, in actuality, the same
terrorist group, consistent U.S. support for the terrorists remains a source of
significant strain between the allies.
Taking
advantage of the power vacuum created by the Syrian civil war since 2011, PKK/YPG
terrorists have invaded several Syrian provinces, including Deir el-Zour, with
the help of Washington. They forced many locals to migrate, resettling
terrorists to change the regional demographics.
Since
2016, Türkiye has carried out successive ground operations – Euphrates Shield
in 2016, Olive Branch in 2018 and Peace Spring in 2019 – to expel the PKK/YPG
and Daesh forces from the border areas of northern Syria, as well as Iraq, and
to enable the peaceful resettlement of residents.
The
PKK/YPG terrorists, who attempt to enter the operation zones frequently, target
civilian houses with missile attacks. Local people living in areas held by the
YPG have long suffered from its atrocities, as the terrorist organization has a
notorious record of human rights abuses, ranging from kidnappings, recruitment
of child soldiers, torture, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement in Syria.
The YPG has forced young people from areas under its control to join its forces
within the so-called “compulsory conscription in the duty of self-defense.”
Source: dailysabah.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/us-backed-pkkypg-terrorist-group-attacks-mosque-in-syria/news
--------
Southeast Asia
EC
targets over 70 per cent turnout in Pulai, Simpang Jeram polls
September 8, 2023
JOHOR
BARU: The Election Commission (EC) is expecting over 70 per cent voter turnout
in the Pulai parliamentary and Simpang Jeram state by-elections tomorrow.
EC
chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said if this target is achieved, it would
surpass the voter turnout recorded in the six state elections on Aug 12.
"We
anticipate this figure based on several factors, such as the responsibility
that voters must fulfil and the competent and enthusiastic candidates during
the campaign," he told a press conference after inspecting the preparation
of EC officials at the Kenanga Hall of the Johor Baru City Council here today.
Therefore,
he urged all voters to fulfil their responsibilities and plan their journeys
considering the uncertain weather conditions.–BERNAMA
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
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https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/09/952635/ec-targets-over-70-cent-turnout-pulai-simpang-jeram-polls
-----
Ex-Perlis
MB wants review of charges related to graft, unlawful activity proceeds
08 Sep 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR -- Former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man will submit a
representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to review the ten
charges of making false claims and receiving proceeds from illegal activities.
Lawyer
Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid, who represented Azlan, informed the court that they
had received related documents from the prosecution and were currently examining
them to complete the representation.
“We
request an extension of time to complete the representation. Therefore, we
request Nov 10 as the case management date to update the court on the
representation status,” he said.
Deputy
public prosecutor Noralis Mat Rasyidah Azmi Kalai confirmed that the documents
related to the case had been handed over to the defence team and did not object
to the requested case management date.
Judge
Azura Alwi then granted a two-month extension for the defence to complete their
representation.
“I
set Nov 10 for the case management for both parties to report on the progress
of the representation. If there is no further development on that date, both
parties must be prepared for the trial date,” she said.
On
April 10, Azlan claimed trial at Kangar Sessions Court in Perlis on five counts
of submitting false overseas travel claims amounting to over RM1.18 million
between December 2013 and December 2017.
He
was charged under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009
and is liable to be punished under Section 24(2) of the same act.
On
April 12, he pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here to five counts of
receiving proceeds from unlawful activities, amounting to RM1.06 million,
between Feb 19, 2014, and December 2017.
The
former Bintong assemblyman was charged with committing the offence at the Jalan
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Maybank branch here, the CIMB Bank branch in Putrajaya, and
the Sheraton Imperial Hotel here, under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money
Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act
2001.
On
June 9, Azura allowed all the charges to be heard together at the Sessions
Court here. -- Bernama, September 8, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/98588/ex-perlis-mb-wants-review-of-charges-related-to-graft-unlawful-activity-proceeds
------
Africa
September
16 is the date to celebrate Benghazi as the capital of culture in the Islamic
world
2023-09-07
Tripoli,
September 7, 2023 (LANA) – The High Committee for Celebrating Benghazi as the
Capital of Culture in the Islamic World announced, on Thursday, that September
16 will be the date for the launch of programs celebrating Benghazi as the
capital of culture in the Islamic world.
The
head of the High Committee for the Celebration, Ibrahim Hadiya, said in a press
conference, regarding the latest developments and the ongoing arrangements for
the celebration of Benghazi, the capital of Islamic culture, that the
celebrations will be launched in conjunction with the anniversary of the
"Martyr's Day", the day of the martyrdom of the Sheikh of the
Martyrs, Omar Al-Mukhtar, and will continue until the end of April 2024.
Hadiya
revealed that the committee contracted to implement the opening day with the
Media Group Company through the Benghazi Reconstruction and Stabilization
Committee, stressing that the opening ceremony will impress everyone and will
be a surprise to all Libyans who are jealous of their homeland and who are
united by the word culture, literature and poetry.
The
head of the High Committee for the celebration of Benghazi, the capital of
culture in the Islamic world, said that the festive programs will include 80
cultural, scientific and artistic events, ranging from seminars, workshops,
scientific conferences, cultural lectures, and festivals of theater, music and
various plastic arts.
He
pointed out that the committee worked over the past months continuously, day
and night, to organize and launch this ceremony, and all the other programs
that it will include, which will extend over a whole year, despite all the
obstacles that were facilitated to reach an announcement of the opening day,
expressing his thanks to all the parties that provided support for the
establishment Celebration.
The
Chairman of the Committee noted that the official sponsor of the programs of
the Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World is the Organization for Culture
and Science in the Islamic World (ICECO), and the local sponsor for it in Libya
is the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science.
Hadiya
pointed out that the decision to form the celebration committee was issued last
February by the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, the local
sponsor of the celebration, and included more than 25 personalities who head
media institutions, activists, and those interested in cultural affairs and
various types of knowledge.
It is
noteworthy that the celebration of the capitals of culture in the Islamic world
was approved at the Third Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic
World in 2001, and Tripoli was chosen in 2009 as the capital of culture in the
Islamic world, and Benghazi in 2022, and it was postponed due to the
repercussions of the Corona virus to this year.
Source: lana.gov.ly
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?id=287533&lang=en
-------
Police
beat, arrest opposition supporters in Ethiopia's Tigray
September
7, 2023
The
police on Thursday prevented, with batons and arrests, opponents of the
regional authorities of Tigray from gathering in Mekele, capital of this region
of northern Ethiopia emerging from a deadly conflict, according to a local
journalist and an organizer.
Three
Tigrayan parties united in an “Alliance for radical change” called for
demonstrations on Thursday against in particular “the incompetence of the
TPLF”, the all-powerful party in power in Tigray, and its “autocratic
character”.
Several
dozen police officers in riot gear "totally cordoned off" the
location of the rally, the small Romanat Square in the center of Mekele, a
local journalist reported to AFP.
“They
hit the demonstrators who tried to gain access,” after having “arrested the
organizers” who had arrived earlier, he said.
Large
numbers of police were deployed in the city and "all the roads leading to
Mekele were closed (...) In the center, businesses are also closed and the
streets are empty".
Haile
Kebede, a leader of Salsay Weyane Tigray (SaWeT), one of the organizing
parties, told AFP that at least 26 activists had been incarcerated since the
day before, including the presidents of SaWeT Hayalu Godefay and the Party for
independence of Tigray (TIP ) Dejen Mezgebe.
"Security
forces dispersed the demonstrators with (...) clubbing and arrests",
including those of two senior officials of the third party, Baytona.
The
TPLF municipality of Mekele had refused to authorize the demonstration, citing
the lack of available police officers in the run-up to the Ethiopian New Year
on September 12. But the organizers say that legally a prior declaration is
sufficient.
"The
government does not have to authorize or prohibit peaceful
demonstrations", but the organizers "cannot decide on the time and
place", justified on Wednesday evening the head of the Interim Regional
Authority (IRA), Getachew Reda, leader of the TPLF.
"It
is their right to organize a demonstration" and "we did not say that
it should not take place, we said that the circumstances were not met for it to
take place tomorrow" (Thursday), he added, citing "security
fears" .
Hegemonic
in Tigray, the TPLF (Tigray People's Liberation Front) led the ruling coalition
in Ethiopia for 27 years with an iron fist, until the arrival of Prime Minister
Abiy Ahmed in 2018 at the head of the federal government, against which he took
up arms at the end of 2020.
The
TPLF has again ruled this region of six million people (5% of the Ethiopian
population) since a peace agreement in November 2022.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/09/07/police-beat-arrest-opposition-supporters-in-ethiopias-tigray/
------
Mali
river boat attacked by suspected jihadists
September
8, 2023
A passenger
boat on the Niger River in northern Mali was attacked on Thursday by suspected
jihadists, the Malian army said.
"At
around 11:00 am (1100 GMT), armed terrorist groups... attacked a Comanav
boat" in the Gourma-Rharous area, it said on social media, referring to
the ferry's operator.
The
boat, plying an established route between cities along the river, was targeted
by "at least three rockets" which aimed at its engines, Comanav said
separately.
There
were no details of any casualties, and the authorities provided no followup on
the incident hours after their initial report.
The
vessel is immobilised on the river and the army are evacuating passengers, a
Comanav official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Images
on social media showed a cloud of black smoke rising above the river. The
incident took place in a remote area and the images could not be verified
independently.
The
Niger is a vital transport link in a region where road infrastructure is poor
and railways absent.
The
attack comes after an al-Qaeda-linked alliance, the Support Group for Islam and
Muslims (GSIM), announced last month that it was blockading Timbuktu, the
historic crossroads city of northern Mali.
The
sahelian state has been struggling with insecurity since 2012, when a revolt
led by ethnic Tuaregs erupted in the troubled north.
The
insurgency was fanned by jihadists, who three years later took their own
campaign into central Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, sending shockwaves across
the Sahel.
In
northern Mali, the regional rebellion was formally ended by a peace agreement
signed between the rebels and the Malian government in 2015.
However,
the fragile deal came under strain after the civilian government was toppled in
2020 and replaced by a junta.
Tensions
in the region have revived in recent weeks after the UN peacekeeping mission in
Mali, which has been told to leave by year's end, handed over two bases near
Timbuktu to the armed forces.
The
handover triggered clashes between the army and the jihadists and led to an
angry showdown with the former rebels, stoking fears for the 2015 peace
agreement.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/09/08/mali-river-boat-attacked-by-suspected-jihadists/
-------
Cameroon:
At least three killed in attack blamed on separatist rebels
September
7, 2023
At
least three people were killed in an attack blamed on separatist rebels in
Cameroon's southwest on Thursday. Witnesses said armed militants stopped cars,
shot at passengers and set vehicles on fire early on Thursday.
Two
victims died when their car was set ablaze while a third was shot.
Curious
residents gathered around the remains of a charred car in the village of Muea,
in the South West region, on Thursday as two men pulled out a body wrapped in a
blanket.
Separatists
in minority English-speaking parts of Cameroon have been fighting to carve out
an independent state called Ambazonia since 2017. They carry out attacks,
kidnappings and killings in the North West and South West regions.
The
attack took place just days after schools reopened from a long holiday.
Insurgents
began fighting the Cameroonian military in 2017 after civilian protests calling
for greater representation for the Francophone country's English-speaking
minority were violently repressed.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/09/07/cameroon-at-least-three-killed-in-attack-blamed-on-separatist-rebels/
------
Mali:
Islamist militants kill dozens in attack on boat, base
08
Sep 2023
BAMAKO,
Sept 8 — At least 49 civilians and 15 soldiers were killed in two separate
attacks by suspected jihadists in Mali.
At
least 64 people were killed in Mali on Thursday in two attacks on an army base
and a passenger ship on the Niger River.
The
two separate attacks by suspected jihadists targeted the river ship Timbuktu
and a military base in Bamba in the northern Gao region, officials said.
According to preliminary information, “49 civilians and 15 soldiers were
killed.”
According
to the government, the attacks have been claimed by the extremist Islamist
insurgent group JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with
al-Qaida.
This
is a breaking news article which will be updated. — DW
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/09/08/mali-islamist-militants-kill-dozens-in-attack-on-boat-base/89672
--------
Europe
Top
French court upholds ban on Muslim abaya robes in schools
07/09/2023 -
A
Muslim rights group had sought to overturn the ban on the robe worn by some
Muslim women and girls on the grounds that it was discriminatory.
But
the State Council, France's top court for complaints against government
authorities, rejected the motion.
The
government last month announced the ban on abayas, saying they broke the rules
on secularism in education that have already seen Muslim headscarves banned.
The
court agreed the abaya constituted a display of religious affiliation.
'Discriminatory'
The
association Action for the Rights of Muslims (ADM) had argued that the ban was
discriminatory and could incite hatred against Muslims, as well as racial
profiling.
France's
Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), established to represent Muslims before the
government, warned that banning the abaya could create "an elevated risk
of discrimination" and said it was considering putting its own complaint
before the State Council.
France
goes back to school with abaya ban as government mulls uniforms
Cultural
garment or religious symbol? Debate over France's ban on abayas in school
The
absence of "a clear definition of this garment creates vagueness and legal
uncertainty", it said.
French
schools sent dozens of girls home for refusing to remove their abayas on the
first day of the school year on Monday.
Nearly
300 schoolgirls defied the ban, Education Minister Gabriel Attal said.
Most
agreed to change garments but 67 refused and were sent home, he said.
Source: rfi.fr/en
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20230907-top-french-court-upholds-ban-on-muslim-abaya-robes-in-schools
-------
EU,
ECOWAS reports on Nigerian elections have no judicial value – Senior judge
Chiamaka
Okafor
September
8, 2023
Although
the European Union (EU) and ECOWAS delegations are accredited to observe
Nigeria’s elections, their reports on the elections are ‘valueless’ and
‘inadmissible’ in Nigerian courts, a senior judge ruled on Wednesday.
Moses
Ugo, a judge of Nigeria’s second highest court, the Court of Appeal, said this
while reading his ruling as a member of the Presidential Election Petition
Court.
PREMIUM
TIMES reported how the five-member panel on the PEPC dismissed the appeals
filed by three opposition parties against the election of President Bola
Tinubu.
While
declaring support for his fellow judges on the panel, Mr Ugo spoke on why the
EU and ECOWAS reports which criticised parts of the 2023 presidential election
were inadmissible in court.
“The
EUEOM report on the 2023 presidential elections… and I dare to add even the
ECOWAS report of the same elections tendered by second and third respondents is
completely valueless and inadmissible…,” he said.
The
EU-EOM, in its final report on the 2023 presidential poll, said though the
elections showed the commitment of Nigerians to democracy, it also exposed
enduring systemic weaknesses and therefore signalled a need for further legal
and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and
accountability.
In
his ruling, Mr Ugo said the EU report tendered by both the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party (LP)
presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was inadmissible since the makers of the
report did not present themselves in court to face cross-examination to
authenticate their opinions.
“The
impression given by both petitioners is that the said report is like the gospel
truth of what happened in the election and so must be accepted by this court
and the conduct of the presidential election declared corrupt or at the very
least declared below par regardless of whether or not the authors of the said
report presented themselves in court to defend their opinions,” the judge ruled.
PREMIUM
TIMES reported how all five members of the Presidential Election Petition Court
in Abuja, on Wednesday, unanimously affirmed Bola Tinubu as the validly elected
President of Nigeria, a judicial resolution of the credibility questions that
have hovered around his election for over six months.
In
its over-12-hour-long judgement, the panel of judges led by Haruna Tsammani
dismissed all three petitions challenging Mr Tinubu’s election in his lead
judgement.
The
other members of the panel – Stephen Adah, Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf (the only
female on the bench), Moses Ugo, and Abbah Mohammed – took their turns to adopt
the reasoning and conclusion of the lead judgement.
The
petitioners were Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was
declared as the first runner-up in the election; Peter Obi of the Labour Party,
the second runner-up, and the All Peoples Movement (APM).
The
panel unanimously stressed the total lack of credible evidence adduced by the
petitioners to support their cases and described some of the legal arguments of
Atiku and Mr Obi as “fallacious and ridiculous”.
“From
the foregoing, therefore, it is very clear and certain that the petitioners
have failed to prove that the 2023 presidential election and the return of the
2nd respondent (Mr Tinubu) was invalidated by reason of corrupt practices or
non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022,” Mr Tsammani declared.
Source: premiumtimesng.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/620209-eu-ecowas-reports-on-nigerian-elections-have-no-judicial-value-senior-judge.html
-------
Islamic
institutions in Belgium oppose sex-education programme in schools
8
September 2023
With
the new school year back in full swing, all students in the French-speaking
community in Belgium will now regularly receive relational, emotional and sex
education. A number of Islamic organisations want that reversed.
The
use of the Education for Relational, Affective and Sexual Life (EVRAS) programme
in schools in Brussels and Wallonia was voted in by the local parliament on
September 7 and received immediate pushback from a group of Islamic faith-based
organisations.
A few
hundred people protested in front of the parliament of the Federation of
Wallonia and Brussels. “EVRAS, we don’t want it” and “freedom for our children”
they chanted.
The
local Minister of Education Caroline Désir said there was no reason for unrest.
“Our
intentions are noble. Of course, we will not encourage hyper-sexualization
among young people, we will not promote sexual orientation or gender identity,
and we will not provide lessons on sexual practices. It is unacceptable to
scare parents about this,” she said.
“This
decision strikes us as contrary to the universal and inviolable values of the
framework of family education and to the interests of students and their
families”, Islamic organisations claimed in a statement.
“The
EVRAS programme raises serious concerns about how it will be implemented and
the messages it will convey to young and even very young children.”
They
are concerned that EVRAS may “erode” religious freedom and the rights of
parents to guide their children’s education in accordance with their own
beliefs.
The
statement was signed by the Diyanet of Belgium, the Islamic Federation of
Belgium, the Federation of Albanian Mosques of Belgium, the Associations of
African Mosques of Belgium, the Union of Mosques of Liège, the Bosnian Islamic
Community of Belgium and the Turkish Islamic Cultural Associations Ehli-Beyt.
Brussels
Signal reached out to Diyanet for comment on the specific reasons for which
they took offence to the new programme, but at the time of writing no response
had been received.
The
Centre d’Action laïque (CAL), or secular action centre, on September 6
expressed “more support than ever” for EVRAS.
According
to the CAL, it will empower young people to make their own choices first and
foremost but will also combat inequality by providing all students with the
same information. Given what it said were rising instances of sexual violence,
incest and sexism, “the status quo is unsustainable”.
“Not
to mention that today it is through pornography on the internet that a very
large number of young people do their sex education, pornography that conveys stereotypes
of violence, where the concept of consent does not exist,” the CAL added.
Source: brusselssignal.eu
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://brusselssignal.eu/2023/09/islamic-institutions-in-belgium-oppose-sex-education-programme-in-schools/
--------
EU
‘globalists’ waging war on Hungary – parliament speaker
8
Sep, 2023
Hungary’s
parliament speaker has accused the European Union of waging a “hybrid war”
against his country, saying the organization is withholding funds owed to
Budapest as a means of political control.
Speaking
to the Mandiner magazine on Wednesday, National Assembly speaker Laszlo Kover
agreed that Hungary’s relations with the EU had reached a “low point,” amid a
row over some €28 billion ($30 billion) in funds earmarked for Budapest and
currently frozen by the bloc until it implements various legal reforms.
“They
want to interfere in the political process by withholding resources, and they
would even expect us to be ashamed of it,” he continued. “It is a hybrid war –
to use this fashionable term – that the globalists in Brussels are waging
against Hungary and Poland, which are defending their sovereignty.”
The
politician went on to describe efforts within the EU to “create an economic
governance that dissolves the sovereignty of the member states,” noting that
practices such as joint borrowing and the single currency would further erode
national independence.
“Europe
is almost paralyzed by the fact that the institutional system originally
created to ensure cooperation has turned against its masters, the member
states, as a kind of golem. Today, the member states cannot control this
cancerous bureaucracy,” he said.
We
have to ask ourselves whether the European Union is still an association of
independent and equal member states, or whether we are just one step away from
becoming victims of another imperial expansion.
While
Kover said the European bloc remains “the best enforcement framework for
Hungarian national interests,” he insisted the organization must meet its
obligations to members, suggesting it has not done so in Hungary’s case.
In
order to unlock the frozen funds, Budapest is expected to meet 27 so-called
“super milestones” proposed by the European Commission, including judicial and
media reforms, as well as a crackdown on corruption. The bloc has long accused
Hungary of not abiding by the EU standards of the rule of law. Budapest,
meanwhile, insists that the allegations are entirely politically motivated.
Hungary
has also largely resisted pressure to follow a US-led sanctions campaign
against Russia over its military operation in Ukraine, opting to retain its
more friendly ties with Moscow. It has also refused to supply military aid to
Kiev, even vetoing weapons packages proposed by the bloc, while Prime Minister
Viktor Orban has pushed for talks between the warring parties to bring an end
to the fighting.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.rt.com/news/582555-eu-war-hungary-speaker/
------
The
EU’s best weapon against free speech isn’t working
7
Sep, 2023
The
European Commission has concluded in a new report that despite making
pinky-promises to “mitigate the reach and influence of Kremlin-sponsored
disinformation,” large social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook were
“unsuccessful” in doing so. What a shocker that this research by oversight
advocates has ended up advocating more oversight. Russia just happens to be the
most convenient scapegoat.
Using
the same kind of smear tactics that the bloc has used previously – like when it
included Russia alongside Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) in a security and
threat report – this time it involved conflating “pro-Kremlin” social media
accounts with those that it considers to be “Kremlin-aligned” or
“Kremlin-backed.” In other words, mere disagreement with the Western narrative
is enough to land anyone in the “pro-Kremlin” camp and to be considered worthy of
content moderation or banning by the EU. And now they’re frustrated that social
media platforms have dropped the ball on carrying out that censorship.
“Platforms
rarely reviewed and removed more than 50 percent of the clearly violative
content we flagged in repeated tests,” the report said. What kind of content
would that be, exactly? It’s hard to tell, because their examples conflate the
legitimately debatable with the patently absurd, and suggest that both warrant
censorship. They cite, for example, content that accuses Ukraine of being run
by Nazis – which is a legitimate concern, given that the Western press has
reported extensively on the powerful role played by neo-Nazis in Ukraine, which
are “aggressively trying to impose their agenda on Ukrainian society, including
by using force against those with opposite political and cultural views,”
according to a publication by the Washington-based Freedom House prior to the
conflict, adding that “they are a real physical threat to left-wing, feminist,
liberal, and LGBT activists, human rights defenders, as well as ethnic and
religious minorities” in Ukraine. The Council of Europe had made similar
observations.
The
Western establishment just gave itself a ‘World Peace and Liberty’ award
Read
more The Western establishment just gave itself a ‘World Peace and Liberty’
award
There’s
also the fact that the West trained the neo-Nazi Azov battalion to fight
Russians, and that Reuters reported way back in 2018 that then-president Petro
Poroshenko “would risk major repercussions” should he take action against
neo-Nazis.
That
kind of does sound like there’s a neo-Nazi issue that’s at the very least
worthy of highlighting and debating. Yet the EU dismisses any such suggestion
as Russian disinformation.
The
report also takes issue with accounts “denying war crimes,” using events in
Bucha as an example. I’m sorry, but was there a war crimes tribunal that we
missed? We’re talking here about events taking place in the immediate fog of
war. Attempting to sort through facts, realities, and manipulations is
precisely the kind of thing with which social media is meant to assist.
Everyone by this point knows that it’s about having access to as much raw data
as possible. We expect to see a chaotic mess online – not a curated Encyclopedia
Britannica set or the evening news. What makes Brussels think it is entitled to
a monopoly on that process?
The
report places these examples of inconvenient debates alongside a blatantly
ridiculous example of sh*tposting whereby someone made up the name of a fake
media outlet and announced that Ukraine was sending a radioactive cloud towards
Europe. Look, if anyone is so dumb as to believe something like that, then it
certainly isn’t the EU that’s going to save them from their own stupidity. Not for
long, anyway. Just let them spend their entire next week digging a fallout
shelter while their neighbors have a good laugh.
In a
line that just begs to be read repeatedly out of sheer incredulity that someone
could be so tone-deaf, the report notes that so-called Kremlin disinfo efforts
are “designed to foment political and social instability among its adversaries
by stoking ethnic conflict, promoting isolationism, and distracting public
attention away from Ukraine and onto domestic affairs.” How dare the people of
Europe insist that their leaders focus on the considerable problems faced by
their own country and citizens, which have long been exacerbated by misguided
national and EU-level policies, rather than riveting their attention to
Ukraine! Indeed, if it wasn’t for those meddling Russians, Europe would be a
utopia of sunshine and rainbows, everyone holding hands and singing Kumbaya,
with nothing else for citizens to concern themselves with besides what’s
happening in Ukraine.
Scott
Ritter: A comprehensive Ukrainian defeat is the only possible outcome of its
conflict with Russia
Read
more Scott Ritter: A comprehensive Ukrainian defeat is the only possible
outcome of its conflict with Russia
The
EU laments that “the Kremlin and its proxies captured growing audiences with
highly produced propaganda content, and steered users to unregulated online
spaces, where democratic norms have eroded and hate and lies could spread with
impunity.” They have it all backwards. People wanting to engage in debate and discussion
of topics and viewpoints that the EU — in all its arrogance as the
self-appointed arbiter of truth — is keen to censor, have been driven to other
platforms specifically because they support free speech in all its glory and
imperfection.
“Over
the course of 2022, the audience and reach of Kremlin-aligned social media
accounts increased substantially all over Europe,” according to the report,
adding that “the reach and influence of Kremlin-backed accounts has grown
further in the first half of 2023, driven in particular by the dismantling of
Twitter’s safety standards.” In other words, Elon Musk, who considers himself a
“free speech absolutist,” came along and bought Twitter, leveled the playing
field by opening up debate and reducing censorship, and what ended up happening
is that people flooded to the platform as a refreshing alternative to the
curated and censored Western establishment narrative that they’re spoon-fed
elsewhere.
So
what’s the EU going to do about it now? Well, mandatory compliance with its
Digital Services Act is now in effect as of last month. This means that,
theoretically, all the major social media platforms are obligated to work with
the EU’s handpicked “civil society” actors to moderate and censor content – no
doubt in alignment with the EU’s narrative. Musk should play along and take
notes about the kind of censorship requests that are made of him by Brussels.
Then he should publish them on Twitter in the interest of radical transparency
and the kind of uncompromising defense of democracy to which the EU is
constantly paying lip service as a pretext for its crackdowns on our
fundamental freedoms.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.rt.com/news/582517-kremlin-eu-weapon-free-speech/
------
South Asia
Analysts
urge Interim Afghan govt to prevent use of Afghan soil against Pakistan
September
07, 2023
Brig
(Retd) Mehmood Shah (Defense Analyst):
The
interim government in Afghanistan is responsible for the recent terror attack
in Chitral as it is unable to control the militant organizations operating in
the war-torn country. Pakistan has registered its protest to the Afghan
government to take responsibility as its soil is being used by the militants
against other countries. The weak governance is the main cause that the
militants are having safe-havens in that country. The Afghan government needs
to take strict and practical measures against the militant organizations.
Lt
Gen (Retd) Raza Muhammad Khan (Defense Analyst):
The terror
attack in Pakistan can be the part of International conspiracy. The United
Nations have pointed out the militant organizations having safe haven in
Afghanistan. It is the responsibility of the interim Afghan government to
disarm the militant groups and action must be taken as per law. The Afghan
Supreme leader has already issued a Fatwa that attacking innocent people is not
Jihad. The facilitators of the militants must be brought to justice. The United
States and its allies after withdrawal left behind modern weapons in
Afghanistan that are now in the use of militant organizations. The
international stakeholders must take notice of the activities of the militants
using Afghan soil for terror activities against the neighboring countries
particularly against Pakistan.
Sqd
Leader (Retd) Ghani Akbar (Defense Analyst):
Although
India is a much bigger country than Pakistan, there is no comparison of
professionalism, dedication and devotion among the forces of the two countries.
Pakistan Air Force in the 1965 war expressed its professionalism and defeated a
much bigger enemy. Pakistan Air Force is well equipped with modern technology
and will defend the territorial integrity of the country by all means.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/07-09-2023/analysts-urge-interim-afghan-govt-to-prevent-use-of-afghan-soil-against-pakistan
------
FM
Muttaqi, OIC Special Envoy Confer on Afghanistan’s Relations with Islamic World
2023-09-07
KABUL
(BNA): Acting Foreign Minister, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Tariq Ali
Bakheet, Special Envoy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
According
to a statement released by Foreign Affairs Ministry, the two sides discussed on
security situation in Afghanistan, economic development, fight against illegal
armed groups and drug eradication.
The
two sides also talked about strengthening Afghanistan’s relations in cultural,
political, economic and educational fields with the Islamic world as well as
realization of common interests and finding solutions to common challenges.
Tariq
Ali Bakheet added that the Organization of Islamic Cooperationbelieves in
positive interaction with Afghanistan and will continue to support Afghanistan
in various fields.
Mawlavi
Amir Khan Muttaqi , Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the Islamic
Emirate seeks to strengthen relations with Islamic countries and respects
common interests of the members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/fm-muttaqi-oic-special-envoy-confer-on-afghanistans-relations-with-islamic-world/
--------
Islamic
Cooperation Organization Emphasizes Grills’ Education In Afghanistan
September
7, 2023
The
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) emphasized the importance of
educating girls in Afghanistan during a meeting with several officials from the
de facto administration. They added that “education is an Islamic obligation
for both men and women.”
This
delegation, on Thursday, said in a statement that during their trip to Kabul,
they engaged in discussions on girls’ education with Habibullah Agha, the
Minister of Higher Education, and Nida Mohammad Nadeem, the Acting Minister of
Education.
The
organization’s press release highlighted the “consensus” among Islamic scholars
regarding the “obligation” of educating women and men, emphasizing
comprehensive efforts to empower and educate girls and boys in the country.
The
Organization of Islamic Cooperation delegation arrived in Kabul on Thursday,
aiming to engage with the Taliban authorities on “tolerance, compromise,
women’s involvement in work, and female education.”
Previously,
this delegation also held meetings with Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting Foreign
Minister of the current regime, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the acting Political
Deputy Prime Minister, and Sarajuddin Haqqani, the Interior Minister of the
Taliban administration.
Meanwhile,
in all these meetings, the delegation emphasized the importance of girls’
education in the country.
This
comes amid increasing global concerns about the continuation of restrictions on
women’s education and employment in Afghanistan.
Since
the Taliban came to power, they have severely curtailed women’s rights,
limiting their access to education, employment, and public life.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.khaama.com/islamic-cooperation-organization-emphasizes-grils-education-in-afghanistan/
------
After
Clashes at Torkham, Kabul Calls for Dialogue to Solve Tensions
The
Islamic Emirate's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said that one of Islamic
Emirate soldiers was killed and two others were injured as a result of yesterday's
clashes at the Torkham crossing between the Pakistani military and the Islamic
Emirate forces.
Mujahid
did not address the cause of the clashes, but he emphasized that tensions
should be solved through dialogue.
"We
ask the Pakistani side to be cautious in these cases, because it is natural
that firing on one side causes problems, it takes people's lives, and both of
us face problems here. We should solve problems through dialogue and we have
joint committees for it,” the spokesman noted.
The
Torkham crossing witnessed a clash between the forces of the Islamic Emirate
and Pakistani border guards on Wednesday.
According
to statements made by the local Nangarhar authorities, the clashes were started
by Pakistani forces when the Islamic Emirate's forces were restoring a military
outpost 400 meters from the Durand Line.
Torkham
crossing has been blocked for the second day after the clashes.
Some
passengers and patients are also worried about the closure of Torkham crossing
and they asked both sides to solve the tensions peacefully.
"They
should solve this issue through understanding. War is harmful. Look at the
trucks of fruits and vegetables that have stopped. People have suffered
hundreds of thousands of financial losses,” said Awaz Khan, a resident of
Nangarhar.
"Because
of the clashes, children, women and people faced problems. Here are transit
trucks that have stopped because of war and people are facing a lot of
challenges,” said Wali Mohammad, another resident of Nangarhar.
Meanwhile,
some military analysts have different views about the border clashes between
the Islamic Emirate forces and Pakistani military forces.
"Repeating
and continuing such armed clashes can have negative effects on the diplomatic
relations of countries,” said Sadiq Shinwari, a military analyst.
"It
is not in the interest of Pakistan or Afghanistan in any way. The best solution
is that all misunderstandings between the two sides should be resolved through
understanding, negotiation and interaction based on their mutual interests,”
said Asadullah Nadim, another military analyst.
The
Torkham crossing has witnessed many clashes between Pakistani border guards and
the Islamic Emirate forces in the past two years.
Previously,
the Ministry of Interior reported that in the past two years, nearly 50 border
clashes have occurred with Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184996
------
Deputy
PM Hanafi Encourages Domestic, Foreign Traders to Invest in Afghanistan
2023-09-07
KABUL
(BNA): The Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Mawlavi Abdul
Salam Hanafi, met with national businessman Sayed Karim Hashemi and requested
domestic and foreign businessmen and investors to invest in Afghanistan and
contribute to the development of the country.
Sayed
Karim Hashemi expressed his satisfaction with the nationwide security in
Afghanistan and the availability of business and investment opportunities. He
added that the establishment of the Islamic Emirate has provided necessary
facilities for businessmen and investors, causing them to turn to Afghanistan
and contribute to its economic growth.
In a
separate meeting with national trader Haji Khalil Zadran and other
businesspeople, Haji Khalil Zadran said that ensuring personal and financial
security is the most important issue for businessmen and investors.
Fortunately, the Islamic Emirate has provided security for them and their
capital, encouraging them to invest in the country.
The
traders requested that officials of the Islamic Emirate pay special attention
to the transportation of commercial property and improvement of transportation
routes.
Mawlavi
Abdul Salam Hanafi considered businessmen and investors as main contributors to
the development and progress of society.
The
Deputy Prime Minister added that the Islamic Emirate has provided investment
grounds for domestic and foreign investors in various sectors. He asked
national and foreign businessmen to take advantage of this opportunity and
invest in Afghanistan.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/deputy-pm-hanafi-encourages-domestic-foreign-traders-to-invest-in-afghanistan/
-------
ANU:
Nearly 20M in Afghanistan Are Experiencing Hunger
September
7, 2023
A
paper written by Abdulkader Sinno and originally published on devpolicy.org was
republished by the Australian National University, and it says nearly 20
million people are experiencing hunger in Afghanistan and that the impasse
between the world and Kabul must be broken.
According
to the report, it is possible that a number of Afghan citizens will face famine
in the coming winter.
“The
collapse of Afghanistan’s economy after the US withdrawal in 2021 has led to
the current food shortage. The shortage partly stems from the end of Western
funding support, severe drought, and the rise in wheat prices due to the
Ukraine war. But damaging policies pursued by the Taliban on the one hand and
the United States and its European allies on the other have also played a
part," the paper said.
Fahim
is busy working in the corner of Kabul city. He said that he earns less than
100 afghanis a day and has not made any preparations for winter.
“When
winter comes, problems will increase and more help will be needed, if aid is
not provided, problems will increase,” said Fahim.
Meanwhile,
the United Nations Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office says that they have
earmarked $125 million for countries that need help, of which $20 million have
been allocated to Afghanistan.
The
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in
Afghanistan said that they have earmarked $125 million for countries that need
help, of which $20 million have been allocated to Afghanistan.
“This
brings to 10 million the number of people cut off from its support this year in
the country due to a massive funding shortfall going forward," said Farhan
Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
The
Ministry of Economy said that the imposition of sanctions in the past two years
has caused more economic challenges in the country.
“Restrictions
should be removed as soon as possible and help to the people of Afghanistan
should be continued more strongly so that our dear compatriots do not face
problems in the winter season,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy of the economy
ministry.
This
is while the United Nations Security Council has said in a report that
fifty-six humanitarian aid programs in Afghanistan have been stopped due to the
intervention of "the Taliban," an issue that has always been denied
by the Islamic Emirate.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://tolonews.com/business-184992
-------
Afghan
American Chamber of Commerce Meets with Islamic Emirate in Kabul
September
7, 2023
A
delegation composed of Afghan and American businesspeople met with the
officials of the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Industry and Commerce as
well as the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
President
of the Afghan American Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Greico, said that it is time
for the Afghan private sector to stand on its own two feet.
“I
think the reason our government approved our visit is that there is an
expectation now after 20 years of the United States' support and donor support
to Afghanistan, it is time for the private sector of Afghanistan to stand up on
its own two feet with the Emirate’s government and to start growing their
country without corruption and without the restrictions that the previous
government had put on their own development,” he said.
The
head of the Afghan business council in the UAE, Haji Obaidullah Sader Khail,
said that they have met with the traders and discussed their challenges.
“They
(delegation) want to have an achievement from Afghanistan and want to convince
the government and American traders that the situation in Afghanistan is not as
they imagined it. We visited Afghanistan and met with the ministers. What are
the problems and what are not the problems, we have clarified all of it,” he
said.
Meanwhile,
the acting Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, said that war ended in
Afghanistan and that opportunities for investment have been laid out in
Afghanistan.
“Agreements
were signed with the Americans in Qatar. We said that our war ended, and a new
page was opened. You (Americans) try to bring equipment for reconstruction in
Afghanistan, we don’t have any problem with it,” he said.
“Transportation
and Civil Aviation is an international sector, and no country can develop this
country alone. This is a need, and we welcome this meeting. If the private
sectors inside the country or abroad help us in this regard, we welcome it and
will support them,” said Ghulam Jailani Wafa, deputy minister of Transportation
and Civil Aviation.
The
delegation that included American businesspeople was the first to arrive in
Afghanistan since the Islamic Emirate came to power.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://tolonews.com/business-185004
------
Pakistan
Bushra
Bibi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Wife Records Statement With NAB In Toshakhana
Case
September
08, 2023
Asim
Yasin
ISLAMABAD:
Bushra Bibi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s wife, Thursday recorded her statement
with the Combined Investigation Team of National Accountability Bureau,
Rawalpindi, in the Toshakhana case.
During
around the four-hour grilling, she was asked how many gifts were taken from
Toshakhana, to whom they were sold and who advised their sale before depositing
them in the Toshakhana, sources said.
The
details of the gifts given in the call-up notice to Bushra Bibi showed one
locket with chain, a pair of ear tops, two rings and a pair of bracelet on
26-06-2019, one necklace (gold & diamond), one bracelet (gold and diamond),
one ring (gold and diamond), and a pair of earrings (gold and diamond) on
18-09-2020, one necklace with chain, 1xpair of earrings, and a ring and
bracelet watch on 21-05-2021.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1107739-bushra-records-statement-with-nab-in-toshakhana-case
-------
Naval
Day being observed today to honour heroes of 1965 war
September
08, 2023
Naval
Day is being observed today to honour the heroes of 1965 War.
The
day is observed to acknowledge the sacrifices and spirit of our Naval heroes
who epitomized grit, courage and valour during the 1965 War.
The
day reminds us of the heroic deeds and daring achievements of our Ghazis and
Shuhada who fought gallantly and humbled a much bigger adversary with their
absolute faith in Allah.
This
day marks a golden chapter in our rich naval history and rekindles hope and
pride in our new generation.
On
the night of 7/8 September 1965, a Flotilla comprising seven ships of Pakistan
Navy, bombarded Indian port Dwarka in operation code named 'SOMNATH'.
PN
Flotilla's attack took the enemy by surprise and dealt a severe blow to the
morale of the Indian Navy that not only rattled its defenses but paralyzed its
response. Furthermore, PN Submarine GHAZI posed an ominous threat to the Indian
Navy severely restricting its operations and confining it close to the coast.
In
his message on the occasion, Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi
reaffirmed resolve to defend motherland and protect maritime interests against
all threats and challenges.
The
Naval Chief said Pakistan Navy besides ensuring own maritime defence also
maintains round the clock presence in the international waters and engages with
regional navies to foster interoperability and promotes maritime security at
high seas. Therefore, Pakistan Navy is acquiring state of the art capabilities
to meet emerging security challenges and augmenting indigenous capabilities to
transition into a strong, agile and reckonable force in the region.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/08-09-2023/naval-day-being-observed-today-to-honour-heroes-of-1965-war
-------
Top
military brass resolves to defend country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity
September
07, 2023
The
Corps Commanders' Conference has reiterated Pakistan Army's resolve to defend
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country against all kinds of
direct and indirect threats.
The
259th Corps Commanders' Conference was held in Rawalpindi on Thursday with Army
Chief General Asim Munir in the chair
The
forum paid rich tribute to the supreme sacrifices of Shuhadas including
officers and men of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies and Citizens who
laid their lives for the safety, security and territorial integrity of the
country.
Fateha
was offered for the martyrs and it was reiterated that the State of Pakistan
and Armed Forces will continue to hold the Shuhadas and their families in
highest esteem, ever honoring them with utmost respect and dignity.
Commemoration
of Defence and Martyrs Day on 6 September across the country by all segments of
the society was appreciated for which the Armed Forces of Pakistan remain ever
thankful to our proud nation.
The
forum re-affirmed that inimical propagandists' desperate attempts to cause
wedge between the state institutions and public are indicative of their
mounting desperation and will only result into more humiliation of such
elements.
The
participants were briefed on prevalent geo-strategic environment, challenges to
national security and own strategy in response to evolving threat.
The
forum resolved that all terrorists, their facilitators and abettors, working on
the behest of hostile forces to destabilize Pakistan will be dealt with full
might of the state.
The
need for speedy development of economic potential of Newly Merged Districts and
Border Districts of Balochistan for sustainable peace and growth was also
emphasized.
The
COAS stressed on maintaining high standards of professionalism and motivation
during operations and achieving excellence during training of the formations.
He
commended the commanders for their constant focus on the wellbeing of their
soldiers and maintenance of morale which constituted the foundation of Army's
operational readiness.
The
forum reiterated to continue full support of ongoing efforts in uplifting the
socioeconomic growth under the umbrella of Special Investment Facilitation
Council and wholeheartedly assisting the government in curbing all illegal
activities which hamper economic stability, growth and investors' confidence.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/07-09-2023/top-military-brass-resolves-to-counter-inimical-propaganda
------
Islamabad
DC, three police officials indicted in contempt case
September
08, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court on Thursday issued indictments against Islamabad
Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon and three police officials in connection
with a contempt case related to the detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar under the Maintenance of Public
Order. These officials stand accused of abusing their authority.
The
implicated police officers were SSP Jameel Zafar, SP Farooq Buttar and SHO
Nasir Manzoor.
The
IHC had suspended the detention orders for the PTI leaders on August 16 and
ordered their immediate release. Both leaders had been detained by law
enforcement for their alleged involvement in the May 9 riots.
Justice
Babar Sattar of the IHC presided over the case on Thursday during which DC
Memon and SSP Zafar submitted their responses.
Islamabad
Advocate General Ayaz Shaukat also appeared in court as the prosecutor. Shaukat
extended an unconditional apology to the court on behalf of the accused.
In
response, Justice Sattar remarked that the “accused should spend some time in
jail to comprehend the gravity of their actions”.
Although,
DC Memon and SSP Zafar pleaded not guilty to the charges and offered
unconditional apologies to the court, Justice Sattar reminded them that this
case carries a maximum sentence of six months of imprisonment.
The
IHC appointed lawyer Qaiser Imam as the prosecutor in the case.
Afridi
was initially arrested from his residence in Islamabad under Section 3 of the
MPO Ordinance, 1960 on May 16. Despite a release order, he was immediately
rearrested under the same section on May 30.
The
PTI leader was later granted bail by the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench
on August 3.
However,
his freedom was short-lived, as Rawalpindi police once again took him into
custody following his release from the Adiala Jail.
Following
his arrest, the former minister’s lawyer filed a plea in the IHC, requesting
his release as well as revocation of the MPO order.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1107734-islamabad-dc-three-police-officials-indicted-in-contempt-case
------
LHC
orders formation of sexual offence probe unit
September
08, 2023
LAHORE:
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Thursday directed
the Punjab government to constitute a Special Sexual Offences Investigation
Unit and arrange for necessary training for police officers investigating
sexual offences.
In
the petition, a woman had challenged the police’s findings during
investigation, which claimed that the case was not one of gang-rapes.
The
police had replaced Section 375-A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) with Section
371-B after these findings.
The
petitioner had moved the court to quash the investigation, which led to changes
in the FIR and direct the police to reopen the probe in accordance with the
law, more specifically, Section 9 of the Anti-Rape law.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1107738-lhc-orders-formation-of-sexual-offence-probe-unit
------
Repelling
bigger damage: How timely word prevented major Chitral disaster
September
08, 2023
Kamran
Yousuf
ISLAMABAD:
At
the height of Pakistan’s war on terror, there was hardly any area or city
particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that was spared by terrorists.
But
there was one exception. Despite close proximity to Afghanistan and having
borders with three Afghan provinces, including Kunar, Nuristan, and Badakhshan,
Chitral district of K-P remained peaceful.
It
was in the international headlines occasionally when reports suggested that al
Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden spent some time in Chitral after crossing over from
Afghanistan before getting settled in Abbottabad. But the scenic region had
never been the stronghold of militants.
That
was the reason the Sept 6 cross-border raid by dozens of terrorists from the
banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) came as a major surprise. Perhaps, that
was the whole idea of the TTP, target the region that was spared earlier, and
sprang a major surprise.
Pakistani
security forces repelled the cross-border raid. At least 12 terrorists were
killed and four Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom. The fight lasted for
over four hours. But the damage could have been far bigger. Three days before the
TTP terrorists mounted an unprecedented assault, a key piece of intelligence
was shared with the administrations of Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan. The
intelligence report revealed that a large number of terrorists was gathering
across the border to launch an attack inside Pakistan. The plan was not just to
make inroads in Chitral but also target G-B, according to a senior official
posted in the region.
The
official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was briefed on the
intelligence about the imminent attack.
In
view of the intelligence report, security was beefed up particularly along the
border. Pakistan Army commandos were flown to Chitral to deal with the evolving
situation.
“Had
there been no intelligence, the damage would have been catastrophic,” the
official said.
He
believed the accurate intelligence and quick response by authorities prevented
a major disaster. “Imagine 150 to 200 terrorists managed to enter Chitral. They
would have created havoc. Thankfully, they were dealt with at the border,” the
official added.
But
the attack has raised alarm bells in Pakistan. Authorities are concerned that
under the Afghan Taliban government, the TTP seems to have been emboldened.
Observers say such a massive presence of terrorists across the border was not
possible without tacit approval of the interim Afghan government.
Sources
said Pakistan took up the matter with the Afghan government after getting the
intelligence. However, no action was taken from the other side, according to
the sources.
The
Chitral attack is likely to further deepen tensions between Pakistan and
Afghanistan over the issue of the TTP.
The
day the TTP terrorists mounted an attack on Chitral, Pakistan and Afghan
Taliban border forces exchanged fire at the Torkham border crossing.
The skirmishes
were triggered by illegal construction of a check post by the Afghan Taliban
along the border, according to reports.
As
per the understanding, both sides could only build new structures by taking the
other side into confidence. But in this case, the Afghan side had not informed
Pakistan about its decision, leading to the exchange of fire.
Following
the clashes, the key border crossing—used for trade and people’s movement—was
shut.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2434789/repelling-bigger-damage-how-timely-word-prevented-major-chitral-disaster
-------
Arab World
Al-Khereiji:
Saudi Arabia provided $95 billion in humanitarian aid to 160 countries
September
07, 2023
CAIRO
— Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Al-Khereiji
emphasized that the Kingdom has never hesitated to harness all its capabilities
to serve humanitarian causes. “The humanitarian aid provided by the Kingdom
over the past 70 years has exceeded $95 billion and that benefited 160
countries around the world, making it at the forefront of donor countries for
humanitarian and development aid,” he said.
Al-Khereiji
made the remarks while attending, on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal
bin Farhan, the meeting of the 160th regular session of the Council of the Arab
League at the ministerial level, at the league headquarters in Cairo.
He
reiterated the Kingdom’s emphasis on the importance of peace in the Middle
East, as it is the strategic choice for the Arab countries, and the importance
of encouraging accelerated negotiations to reach a just and comprehensive
solution that meets the aspirations of the Palestinian people in accordance
with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. He expressed the
Kingdom’s condemnation of the attacks, unilateral actions and repeated
provocations by the Israeli occupation forces, which undermine the peace
process.
Al-Khereiji
expressed the Kingdom’s backing on Syria’s return to the Arab fold, stressing
that this will contribute positively to efforts to resolve the crisis there and
restore stability to Syria and the region. He reiterated the Kingdom’s support
for all efforts made to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis in a
way that preserves Syria’s unity, security, stability and Arab identity. He
repeated the Kingdom’s demand for the withdrawal of foreign forces and armed
militias from Syria.
Regarding
Sudan, Al-Khereiji said the Kingdom voices its deep concern over the cessation
of talks that are aimed at ending the conflict and reaching a permanent
ceasefire agreement.
Al-Khereiji
also led the Saudi delegation, on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince
Faisal bin Farhan to the third session of the ministerial meeting for the
Arab-Japanese political dialogue. The meeting of the foreign ministers from the
Arab and Japanese sides was held at the headquarters of the Arab League. The
Arab side was headed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, while the
Japanese side was headed by its Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
In
his speech, Al-Khereiji expressed the Kingdom's aspiration to advance
Arab-Japanese cooperation to better levels in various fields. He stressed the
importance of making the Middle East a safe, stable, and prosperous region that
gives hope for a better future for all. “There is broad agreement with Japan
regarding the importance of establishing peace, encouraging negotiated
solutions, and strengthening security, stability, and development,” he said.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635623/SAUDI-ARABIA/Al-Khereiji-Saudi-Arabia-provided-$95-billion-in-humanitarian-aid-to-160-countries
-------
How Saudi-Indian
relations gained momentum through G20 platform
RAHAF
JAMBI
SANJAY
KUMAR
September
07, 2023
RIYADH/NEW
DELHI: Relations with Saudi Arabia have been steadily gaining prominence on
India’s foreign policy agenda over the past three decades. But their full
potential has only lately been realized thanks to cooperation around the G20
platform.
Saudi-Indian
ties began to see a new level of engagement in 2019 following Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to New Delhi and the establishment of a strategic
cooperation council.
During
Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing
nations in 2020, the two countries started to forge new partnerships and
programs and these developed further when India took over the presidency this
year.
Ashwini
Vaishnaw and Abdullah Al-Swaha sign an agreement on digitization and electronic
manufacturing in Bengaluru, India, on Aug. 18, 2023. (SPA)
“Relations
between the two nations were already growing and G20 has provided them another
platform where new possibilities emerge for engagement on a range of issues,”
Dr. Harsh V. Pant, vice president for studies and foreign policy at the
Observer Research Foundation in Delhi, told Arab News.
“The
relations have gained momentum. I think the relations have acquired greater
depth with the G20 process.”
When
the working group meetings began in January, Saudi Arabia was engaged from the
beginning, sending multiple high-level delegations, and also serving as patron
and co-organizer of some key meetings — especially those contributing to policy
related to sustainable development, food security, health, entrepreneurship,
startups and technology.
All
of these sectors are central to both Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification
and transformation plan and India’s development strategy, making further
cooperation not only promising but possibly also long term.
“While
one can look at energy, trade, defense relationship and security relationship,
where the two sides have been cooperating, given the commonality of challenges
… the G20 platform expands the area of operation for India and Saudi Arabia and
allows new possibilities to emerge,” Pant said.
“This
lays the foundation for a much more productive and broad-based engagement
beyond the G20 … perhaps you will see a lot of activity on the range of fronts,
because certainly groundwork has been laid.”
India
holds the presidency of this year’s Group of 20 advanced economies, previously
held by Saudi Arabia in 2020.
Saudi
delegations have been in India attending summits on finance, health, youth and
other fields of cooperation.
Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made
reciprocal official visits in 2019.
1.88
million people of Indian origin live and work in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi
Health Minister Fahad bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel told Arab News he was
expecting new developments in the health sector.
“This
year’s health ministers’ meeting and the joint finance meeting, which were held
on Aug. 18 and 19, reaffirmed previous health initiatives that were announced
during the Saudi G20 presidency,” he said.
“The
launching of the Global Initiative on Digital Health in cooperation with the
World Health Organization on Aug. 19 was a highlight.”
he
Kingdom’s experience in digital health solutions garnered particular interest.
“During
the meetings, I met with several ministers including the Indian minister of
health. Investment in Saudi public health is a much sought-after topic,”
Al-Jalajel said.
“I
deeply appreciated the invitation by the Indian presidency to speak at the
launching ceremony about our experience in digital health transformation and
the implementation of cutting-edge technologies such as the Seha Virtual
Hospital.”
Launched
in February 2022, this is the world’s largest virtual hospital and one of the
priority initiatives of Saudi Arabia’s health sector transformation program.
The
G20 platform has also provided room for Indian tech entrepreneurs to contribute
to these initiatives and for the exchange of knowledge and experience between
the two countries.
Dr.
Huda Alfardus, CEO of Riyadh-based HealthGena and a member of several Saudi
delegations to G20 meetings, told Arab News there was “a positive momentum” in
relations and cooperation in the field of investment and technology transfer.
“HeathGena
is actively working with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to create cross-country
economic opportunities,” she said.
“Now
we are running a joint program to take 15 Saudi startups to India and bring a
delegation of companies from India next week to Riyadh to help them localize in
Saudi Arabia.”
Meetings
throughout the year have resulted not only in tangible economic results but
also included initiatives to bring the two nations closer together. Some of the
Saudi delegates, who like Alfardus took part in the G20 Young Entrepreneurs
Alliance Summit, have already signed agreements with Indian educational
institutions.
“Promoting
people-to-people connections through cultural and educational exchanges can
foster mutual understanding and friendship,” she said.
“Encouraging
student exchanges, cultural events, and collaborations between universities can
contribute to long-term relationship building.”
At
the YEA summit, which was held in Delhi in July, Prince Fahad bin Mansour, the
chair of the board of directors of Entrepreneurship Vision and president of the
Saudi G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance, told Arab News that new joint projects
were expected soon.
“We
have some entities from the private sector as investors that are looking for
opportunities over here and we found a lot of investors from India that are
planning to invest in Saudi,” he said.
“I
think what we have is a huge opportunity and we’re going to capitalize on that
as we move forward."
The
two countries are already capitalizing on what they have achieved, as they had
come to the “forefront of steps toward sustainable development, inclusive
growth and energy transition,” Muddassir Quamar, associate professor at the
Center for West Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, told
Arab News.
“The
enthusiastic Saudi participation in G20 meetings in India underlines the
confidence the two countries have in each other’s leadership and G20 agenda.
India, too, had taken a proactive approach in participating in G20 events under
the Saudi presidency in 2020,” he said.
“India’s
G20 presidency focus includes sustainable development goals, inclusive growth,
digital public goods, just energy transition, health, education and employment,
as well as international peace and harmony. This fits well within the
priorities of Saudi Arabia’s developmental agenda and the Vision 2030 program
as well as within the scope of Indo-Saudi ties.”
For
Quamar, the fact that relations had gained momentum was reflected in how
“vibrant” they had become and with a “significant strategic component
encompassing political, economic, cultural and security ties.”
He
expects a further boost will come from the G20 leaders’ summit on Saturday and
Sunday.
“G20
can become a platform for greater Indo-Saudi cooperation at multilateral forums
and through multilateral organizations,” he said.
“Saudi
Arabia and India can further strengthen their cooperation and partnership in
areas such as sustainable development and inclusive growth with sensitivity to
environmental and climate change concerns.
“The
theme of India’s G20 presidency is ‘One Family, One Earth, One Future,’ and
this gives a universal message for humanity to work together toward a
sustainable and harmonious future for the world, and this can prove to be the
new glue in strengthening Saudi-India ties.”
Mohammed
Soliman, strategic technologies director at the Middle East Institute in
Washington, agreed that Saudi-Indian engagement had gained more global
significance and attention in recent months.
Saudi
Arabia and India knew well how to use the G20 platform to their international
advantage, he told Arab News.
“Both
nations perceive opportunities in the emerging multipolar world and view the
G20 as an effective platform for addressing global challenges and showcasing
their economic and political influence.
“The
most significant development or change in Saudi-Indian ties, attributable to
the G20, is the elevation of their engagement on the global stage.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2369446/world
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KSrelief
assistant supervisor meets Ethiopian ambassador in Riyadh
September
08, 2023
RIYADH:
Ahmed Al-Baiz, KSrelief’s assistant supervisor general for operations and
programs, met with the ambassador of Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia, Lencho Bati in
Riyadh on Thursday.
Both
sides discussed various humanitarian and relief concerns and explored avenues
through which to enhance them.
Al-Baiz
also met with the deputy special representative for Sudan with the United
Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) and
humanitarian coordinator, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, discussed developments in
the relief and humanitarian projects implemented in Sudan and ways to enhance
them.
Meanwhile,
the center in Pakistan distributed 112 tons of food baskets benefiting 8,106
individuals in the flood-hit areas.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2369651/saudi-arabia
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Durra
gas field belongs to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, say GCC ministers
September
07, 2023
RIYADH:
Al-Durra gas field is exclusively owned by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and they
alone have the right to its natural resources, Gulf ministers said on Thursday.
The
Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers gathering in Riyadh also rejected
“any claims that any other party has rights in this field or the submerged area
adjacent to the area divided by its designated borders between the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait,” in a statement issued by the bloc.
In
July, Iran’s oil minister said his country will “pursue its rights and
interests regarding exploitation and exploration” of the field, which Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait have criticized.
The
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan called on Iran to engage in
negotiations to demarcate the eastern border of the area. Saad Al-Barrak,
Kuwait’s oil minister, said he was surprised by the Iranian plan and added that
the move from Tehran contradicts the basic principles of international
relations.
“The
ownership of the natural resources in the submerged area adjacent to the
Saudi-Kuwaiti divided zone, including the entire Al Durra field, is joint
ownership between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait only, and
they alone have full rights to exploit the wealth in that area,” the GCC
statement said.
The
Joint Al-Khafji Joint Operations, which comprises Kuwait Gulf Oil Company and
Aramco for Gulf Operations, said on Thursday that production at the divided
zone had resumed on Tuesday after the first phase after the completion of
maintenance. In December both entities signed a memorandum of understanding to
develop the field, which is expected to produce about one billion cubic feet of
natural gas per day, along with 84,000 barrels of liquefied gas.
The
Al-Durra gas field is a common submerged area between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
located in the Arabian Gulf. It is situated within the Al-Ahsa governorate,
which is a part of the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
The
discovery of this oil field dates back to the 1960s, which coincided with the
commencement of the demarcation process for the maritime borders between Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait.
The
Al-Durra oil field’s strategic importance and the potential wealth it holds
have attracted the attention of neighboring countries, particularly Iran.
The
dispute over its ownership and exploitation rights arises from differing
interpretations of maritime boundaries and conflicting claims by Tehran.
In
2001, Iran began granting contracts for its exploration, which prompted Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait to finalize the demarcation of their maritime borders, which
included the Al-Durra oil field.
GCC
ministers also rejected Iranian occupation of the three UAE Islands of Greater
Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, calling on Tehran to consider Emirati efforts
to resolve the issue through dialogue.
They
stressed “support for the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over its
three islands, territorial waters, airspace, continental shelf, and economic
zone, as an indivisible part from the territory of the United Arab Emirates,
and considering that any practices or actions carried out by Iran on the three
islands are null, void and have no effect on the right of the sovereignty of
the United Arab Emirates over its three islands.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2369476/middle-east
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Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques Sends Message to President of Cote d'Ivoire
8
September 2023
Custodian
of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud sent a verbal message
to President of Cote d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara pertaining to relations between
the two countries.
The
message was conveyed by Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court Ahmad bin Abdulaziz
Qattan during his meeting with President Ouattara in Abidjan on Thursday.
During
the meeting, they reviewed relations between the two countries and exchanged
views on a host of regional and international topics of mutual interest.
Ouattara
affirmed his country’s full support for the Kingdom’s bid to host Expo 2030 in
Riyadh.
He
also welcomed the news that the Kingdom will be holding the first Saudi-African
summit and the fifth Arab-African summit this year.
During
a press conference after the meeting, Qattan expressed the Saudi government’s
appreciation for Cote d’Ivoire’s support.
Source: english.aawsat.com
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https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/4533721-custodian-two-holy-mosques-sends-message-president-cote-divoire
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bible-religious-conversion/d/130634