BJP Has No Space for Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, The Party’s Ladakh Vice-President, Whose Son Married Buddhist Girl
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 August 2023
Representational image.
File Photo
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India
·
West
Bengal CM To Hold Meeting, First Such in Recent Memory, With Imams and Muezzins
at Netaji Indoor Stadium on August 21
·
US
court denies Mumbai terror attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's plea against
extradition to India
·
Government's
intention behind Article 370 nullification can't be questioned: Supreme Court
·
‘Majority
of Muslims in India have converted from Hinduism’: Ghulam Nabi Azad
·
Body
of terrorist who was injured in Rajouri encounter found
·
National
Investigation Agency raid in J-K's Shopian in terror-related case
------
Mideast
·
Saeed Roustaee: Martin Scorsese
backs director jailed in Iran for Cannes screening
·
UAE’s Sultan Al-Neyadi, first
Arab astronaut deployed on a long-term space mission, to return home
·
Iran FM in Saudi Arabia, says
relations ‘on the right track’
·
Yemeni government pledges
economic reforms in light of Saudi aid
·
Lebanon’s caretaker PM says
economic stability at stake with stalled laws
·
‘Silent threat’: Bahrain to
build walls against rising sea
-------
South Asia
·
Ban on Activities of Political
Parties Sparks Reactions
·
Australia urged to prioritize
Humanitarian Visas for Afghan nationals
·
Qatar’s Special Envoy Meets UN
Representative for Afghanistan
·
Afghan Red Crescent Society
Strives to Provide Work Opportunities for Needy Families
·
International Freedom of
Expression Exchange Report: Confronting Media Challenges Amid Taliban Control
in Afghanistan
·
Nearly 80% of Afghanistan’s
population lacks sufficient water access: IOM report
------
Europe
·
Sweden 'Averts Planned Attacks'
As Terror Alert Level Raised to Second Highest After Quran Burnings
·
Ukrainian MP raises ‘loss of
statehood’ fears
·
Biggest UK weapons maker inks
$5.6 billion purchase
------
Pakistan
·
Police round up 140 over
Jaranwala mob violence
·
Every Citizen Has Right to Profess,
Practice His Respective Faith in Pakistan: Chief Justice of Pakistan
·
Caretaker Punjab CM pledges to
restore all churches, Christians’ homes
·
Pakistan affirms minority
rights amid US probe call
·
Imran booked under Official
Secrets Act in cipher case
·
PM terms SIFC a ray of hope for
Pakistan
-----
Arab World
·
Qatar University Research Sheds
Light on Qur'anic Insights into Islamic Legal Politics, Treaties
·
Resumption Of Saudi-Iran Ties
Pivotal Moment For Regional Security: Faisal Bin Farhan
·
Saudi crown prince receives
phone call from UK PM
·
Saudi authorities seize 159
kilograms of khat at Jizan border
·
20 Saudi universities return to
two-semester system
·
Al-Hilal defender Koulibaly
sidelined for initial two weeks due to injury
-----
Southeast Asia
·
Sarawak Deputy Premier Urges
Non-Muslim Groups to Use Financial Aid for Houses of Worship's Upkeep, Not Kept
In Fixed Deposit Accounts
·
Civil groups say Islam isn’t
under threat in Nik Elin case, Shariah laws must follow same law-making process
·
National Registration Dept
denies claim 54,000 applicants seeking citizenship all from China
·
AGC must ‘do the right thing’
to drop Najib's charges following leak of documents, says daughter
------
Africa
·
Libya: Tripoli-Based Prime
Minister Warns Militia Groups Against Further Clashes
·
At least 36 Nigerian soldiers
killed in ambush, helicopter crash
·
Over 60 dead in migrant boat
sinking off Cape Verde coast
·
Daily survival becomes a
struggle for Niger residents
·
ECOWAS defence chiefs insist
they are ready to send troops to Niger should negotiations fail
------
North America
·
Canada wildfires: Yellowknife
residents flee as fires loom
·
US intelligence believes
Ukraine offensive will fail – WaPo
·
US calls on NATO states to send
F-16s to Ukraine – Reuters
·
Canada devising ‘game plan’ for
2024 US election
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bjp-muslim-ladakh-buddhist-girl/d/130474
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BJP Has No Space for Sheikh Nazir Ahmad,
The Party’s Ladakh Vice-President, Whose Son Married Buddhist Girl
Representational image.
File Photo
-----
18.08.23
Muzaffar Raina
The Ladakh BJP has expelled the party’s
Muslim face in the region after his son eloped with a Buddhist girl, with the
party claiming the marriage has “jeopardised” the region’s communal harmony.
A circular issued by the BJP’s Ladakh
general secretary, SkalzangDorjey, said Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, the party’s Ladakh
vice-president, had been provided “ample time to clarify his involvement in a
sensitive issue of the elopement of a Buddhist girl by his son, Manzoor Ahmed”.
“A decision has been reached to promptly
relieve Sh. Nazir Ahmed of his responsibilities as State Vice President and
revoke his primary membership within the BJP with immediate effect,” the note
says.
Nazir Ahmad, 74, who counts himself as
the BJP’s founding member in Ladakh and the party’s seniormost Muslim leader in
the region, told The Telegraph that he was shocked by the party’s decision as
he and his ailing wife had been looking for their son in the hope of convincing
him to return the girl to her family.
“My son married the girl last month
against our wishes. I was busy with the Haj. After I returned, I found my son
was missing,” Nazir Ahmad said.
“I started looking for him. The BJP also
served me a notice to find him. Five days ago, my wife and I left Ladakh to
look for him in Srinagar after we learnt he was here. We are camping in
Srinagar now, but he is untraceable. We were planning to go to Delhi to bring
him back but in the meantime, I find that my party has fired me,” he said.
Nazir Ahmad said he had been punished
for something his son had done.
“I joined the BJP when there was almost
nobody with them in Ladakh. I was part of the LUTF (Ladakh Union Territory
Front), which was merged with the BJP in 2010. After that, the BJP won the
Ladakh Lok Sabha seat twice. Is this what they do with a senior leader?” he
asked.
Nazir Ahmad said the marriage had not
only been opposed by the Ladakh Buddhist Association but by the Leh-based
(Muslim) Anjuman as well.
“Even our family and relatives are
opposed to it because we do not want to disturb communal harmony. I think they
punished me so that their voters are not angry with them,” he said.
The expelled BJP leader said
inter-religious marriages or conversions were not uncommon in Ladakh.
“I know Muslims who have converted to
Buddhism or vice-versa. There are dozens of inter-religion marriages. Ladakh’s
erstwhile Raja had a Muslim wife who never converted to Buddhism. My
grandfather was a Buddhist who converted to Islam,” he said.
The BJP circular issued on Wednesday
said the decision to sack Nazir Ahmad was taken at a meeting chaired by state
unit president PhunchokStanzin and involving executive members.
“Given ample time Sh. Nazir Ahmed, State
Vice President of BJP Ladakh, was provided an opportunity to clarify his
involvement in a sensitive issue of the elopement of a Buddhist girl by his
son, Manzoor Ahmed,” it says.
“The incident is deemed unacceptable by
all religious communities in Ladakh, as it jeopardises communal harmony and
unity among the people of this region.”
Dorjey said Nazir Ahmed was supposed to
bring the girl back but had failed to do so. “He was asked to clarify his stand
but he didn’t,” Dorjey told this newspaper.
Asked whether Nazir Ahmed played any
role in the marriage, Dorjey said he might or might not have, “but he
definitely is in touch with” his son.
Muslims enjoy a slender majority in
Ladakh. Buddhists and Muslims were bitter rivals but have been campaigning
together for the region’s special status after it was carved out of Jammu and
Kashmir as a Union Territory in 2019, fearing an onslaught of outsiders.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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UN Experts Sound Alarm Over Reports Of
Sexual Violence During Conflict In Sudan
Suad Fissa,
40, an asylum seeker and factory worker from Darfur in Sudan cries. Nearly
700,000 refugees and asylum-seekers have been forced to flee to neighboring
countries. (Reuters/File Photo)
------
EPHREM KOSSAIFY
August 17, 2023
NEW YORK CITY: More than 30 UN experts
on Thursday sounded the alarm over reports of “widespread and brutal instances
of rape and other forms of sexual violence” attributed to the members of the
Rapid Support Forces, one of the warring factions in the ongoing conflict in
Sudan, and called for an immediate end to the violence.
“The conflict has led to massive
humanitarian consequences,” the experts said. “Thousands of civilians have been
killed, millions have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Nearly 700,000
refugees and asylum-seekers have been forced to flee to neighboring countries.”
The experts include Reem Alsalem, the
special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and
consequences; Felipe Gonzales Morales, the special rapporteur on the human
rights of migrants; and Siobhan Mullaly, the special rapporteur on trafficking
in persons, especially women and children.
While calling on both the Sudanese Armed
Forces and the RSF to cease their violations of humanitarian and human rights
laws, the experts highlighted specific concerns about persistent reports of
wide-ranging violations by the RSF. They include allegations of enforced
disappearances, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and the abduction of women
and girls.
The RSF is also said to have detained
hundreds of women in degrading conditions, subjecting them to sexual assault
and leaving them vulnerable to sexual slavery. The experts said that local,
female defenders of human rights have been directly targeted.
“Sudanese women and girls in urban
centers, as well as in Darfur, have been particularly vulnerable to violence,”
the experts said. “The lives and safety of migrant and refugee women and girls,
primarily from Eritrea and South Sudan, have also been seriously affected.
“It is alleged that men identified as
members of the RSF are using rape and sexual violence of women and girls as
tools to punish and terrorize communities. Some of the reported rapes appear to
be ethnically and racially motivated.”
The ongoing fighting in the country
means the ability to assist and provide support to victims of violence remains
severely compromised. It is hampering access to affected individuals,
communities and entire conflict-stricken regions, making it difficult for local
and international organizations to provide the necessary help, including
reproductive and sexual health care.
Despite the RSF’s publicly stated stance
of zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence, the experts said that
allegations of such crimes consistently identify RSF members as the perpetrators.
“The RSF must demonstrate its commitment
to upholding humanitarian and human rights obligations, including preventing
sexual and gender-based violence and trafficking in persons, facilitating
humanitarian access and holding perpetrators accountable”, the experts added.
“Assistance and protection to victims
and access to effective remedies must be provided to women and girls.”
As the conflict in Sudan enters its
fifth month, the exact death toll remains uncertain due to the intense fighting
and the challenges in retrieving and identifying remains. The UN estimates that
more than 4,000 people have been killed, including hundreds of civilians, 28
humanitarian and health workers, and 435 children. The true number is likely to
be much higher.
The regions worst affected by the
fighting include Khartoum and its environs, El-Obeid in North Kordofan, and
parts of the Darfur region, particularly West Darfur, where civilians have been
attacked based on ethnicity.
The UN experts called for the peaceful
resolution of the conflict, and for the warring factions to adhere strictly to
international humanitarian and human rights laws. They also urged the
international community to conduct thorough investigations into any reported
violations of those laws.
Special rapporteurs are independent
experts who serve in individual capacities and on a voluntary basis at the UN’s
Human Rights Council. They are not members of UN staff and are not paid for
their work.
Source: arabnews.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2356931/middle-east
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Nine Journalists Arrested in Past 10
Days in Afghanistan: Reporters Without Borders
Representative Image
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By Fidel Rahmati
August 17, 2023
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has
brought to light a worrying surge in the detention of journalists in
Afghanistan following the takeover of the country by the Taliban. Within the
past 10 days, nine journalists have been arrested by the Taliban, causing
significant concern among media organizations globally.
The organization revealed on Wednesday
that 12 journalists are currently being held in detention without any apparent
reasons given. This situation has heightened concerns about press freedom and
journalist safety in Afghanistan.
According to the statement released by the
RSF, the list of the nine arrested journalists is as follows:
“Faqir Mohammad Faqirzai, Jan Agha
Saleh, Haseeb Hassas, Habib Sarab, Sayed Wahdatullah Abdali, Shamsullah Omari,
WahidrahmanAfghanmal, Ataullah Omar and Parwiz Sargand.”
The statement added, “They were arrested
in raids in five of Afghanistan’s provinces without any reason being given, and
all but one are still being held. Where they are held is not known.”
The RSF condemned the arrest of
journalists in Afghanistan and said:
“Fear and uncertainty now reign in
Afghanistan. Two years after a new regime was established, these arrests have
again given the lie to the assurances that certain Taliban officials gave about
respecting press freedom. The record of violations of the right to information
is appalling, and the regime is fully responsible. RSF urges the competent
Taliban authorities to order the release of the detained journalists
immediately and to finally and truly guarantee press freedom.”
The organization called the recent raids
on independent media the trouble and emphasized that the de facto officials are
responsible.
The situation of media and journalists
has been deemed alarming in the two years since the Taliban came to power,
highlighting a concerning trend.
Earlier, the organization Reporters
Without Borders released data indicating that over the last two years, a
minimum of eight thousand Afghan journalists have lost their jobs.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/nine-journalists-arrested-in-past-10-days-reporters-without-borders/
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EU State Raises Islamist Terror Threat
Level: Sweden Is Now Seen as A “Priority Target” By Some Religious Extremists
A police
officer on a Segway patrols Sweden's parliament building as the terror threat
level in Sweden is raised to four on a five-point scale, in Stockholm, Sweden,
Aug. 17, 2023. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/via Reuters)
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17 Aug, 2023
Sweden is now seen as a “priority
target” by some religious extremists, the country’s security chief has said
Sweden’s national security agency has
raised its terror alert to the second highest level after a string of
Quran-burning incidents in the country sparked anger across the Muslim world.
Speaking at a press conference on
Thursday, Charlotte von Essen, chief of the Swedish Security Service (SAPO),
revealed that the threat level had been increased from three to four on a
five-point scale. The assessment implies that the Swedish authorities see a
“high” and “concrete” threat to the country and its population.
Explaining the decision, von Essen said
it had not been prompted by a single incident, but rather by an overall
assessment of the current situation.
The official noted that “the threat of
attacks from actors within violent Islamism has increased during the year.”
“Sweden has gone from being considered a
legitimate target for terrorist attacks to being considered a priority target,”
she added.
Türkiye still waiting for Sweden to
extradite terrorists – minister
Speaking alongside von Essen, Ahn-Za
Hagstrom, director of the National Center for Terror Threat Assessment, pointed
to “the recent period of violations of religious scriptures” as one of the
reasons that has “contributed to the image of Sweden as a Muslim-hostile
country.”
The last time Sweden was on level four
terror alert was between November 2015 and March 2016, at the height of the
migration crisis in the EU and recurring terror attacks by Islamic State (IS,
formerly ISIS) on the continent.
The new terror alert comes after several
instances of activists desecrating the Quran in Stockholm by burning and
stomping on the holy book. The stunts triggered outrage in Muslim-majority
countries, with protesters in Iraq attempting to storm Stockholm’s embassy, and
an Iranian crowd burning a Swedish flag.
Türkiye, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the
UAE, and Jordan also condemned Sweden for the incidents, while Iraq expelled
the country’s ambassador. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson criticized the
Quran burnings, warning that the “destructive” behavior increased risks for the
nation.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/581412-sweden-terror-threat-raised-islamists/
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Muslim-Christian leaders demand swift
justice for perpetrators of Jaranwala incident
Members of
the Christian community chant slogans as they hold placards to condemn the
attacks on churches and houses in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad, during a
protest in Karachi, on August 17, 2023.— Reuters/Akhtar Soomro
------
August 18, 2023
LAHORE - Prominent Muslim-Christian
leaders Thursday united in demanding swift justice for the perpetrators behind
the tragic incident in Jaranwala, which involved the desecration of places of
worship. A delegation of Muslim scholars, led by Pakistan Ulema Council
Chairman Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, visited Saint Anthony Catholic
Church here and extended an olive branch to the Christian leaders and people,
seeking forgiveness for the disrespectful act that has deeply disturbed the
entire nation. Addressing a presser, the Muslim-Christian leaders, including
Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Archbishop Sebastian Shah, Pastor
Emmanuel Khokhar, Pastor Saleem, Maulana Nauman Hashir, Maulana Muhammad Shafi
Qasmi, Maulana Asadullah Farooq, Maulana Zubair Abid, Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq
Pitafi, Maulana Tahir Aqeel Awan, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Siddiqui, Qari Abdul
Hakeem Athar, Maulana Muhammad Aslam Qadri, Mufti Naseem Islam, Maulana Qari
Mubashir Rahimi and others said the incident had not only strained interfaith
relations but also cast a dark shadow over the country’s reputation. They said
a nationwide day of mourning would be observed on August 18 to express
collective condemnation and solidarity, urging the government to provide
compensation for the losses, besides reconstruction of the damaged worship
places. The Muslim religious leaders said the heinous act in Jaranwala was
unequivocally condemned in Friday sermons in mosques across the country. They
said a diverse group of religious leaders and scholars, representing all
schools of thought, would visit Jaranwala to offer support and express
solidarity with the affected people. The religious leaders unequivocally
stated that the perpetrators behind the attack on Christian places of worship
had not only harmed the local community members but also brought disrepute to
the religion of Islam and Pakistan. They urged the Punjab government to
expedite its investigations into the incident. After a thorough probe, those
found responsible for burning churches and desecrating the holy books must be
brought to justice under a fair and expeditious trial, they added. The leaders
underscored the need for a more robust justice system to prevent the
recurrence of such incidents in future. While expressing trust in the Punjab
government’s investigative committee, they urged that accurate and complete
information about the incident be shared with the public within the next 24 to
48 hours.
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/18-Aug-2023/muslim-christian-leaders-demand-swift-justice-for-perpetrators-of-jaranwala-incident
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India
West Bengal CM to hold meeting, first
such in recent memory, with imams and muezzins at Netaji Indoor Stadium on
August 21
18.08.23
Pranesh Sarkar
Mamata Banerjee is likely to hold a
meeting with imams and muezzins at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here on August 21,
said a source in Nabanna.
The meeting, the first such in recent
memory, assumes significance as it is being organised at a time there is a
demand for an increase in the honorarium of imams and muezzins, often regarded
as opinion makers in the Muslim community. The ruling Trinamul Congress has a
strong base in the community.
“There is a demand that the honorarium
of the imams and muezzins at mosques across the state be increased. It is
significant that the chief minister agreed to hold a meeting with them on
August 21 for the first time since the honorarium for them was announced in
2012. But it is still not clear whether the chief minister will announce any hike
in the honorarium during the meeting,” said a source aware of the development.
An honorarium of Rs 2,500 a month for
the imams and Rs 1,000 a month for muezzins was announced in 2012 after
Trinamul came to power in 2011.
Initially, the state government used to
disburse the amounts directly but later, the honorarium burden was passed on to
the Waqf Board after Calcutta High Court had held that the state couldn't make
such payments.
Now, the government transfers the funds
to the Waqf Board which in turn disburses the honorarium among the imams and
the muezzins. At present, nearly 32,000 imams and 20,000 muezzins receive the
honorarium, sources
said.
Senior government officials said there
had been a demand for a hike in the honorarium for the imams and muezzins for
the past few years.
The honorarium has not been revised
since it was introduced in 2012 because of financial constraints faced by the
state.
As the state’s coffers are under strain,
the chief minister may not be able to hike the honorarium immediately, said a
source.
“But she can give an assurance during
the meeting that her government would stand by the imams and the muezzins and
whenever it got a chance, the honorarium would be increased,” said a
bureaucrat.
Trinamul insiders said the meeting should
be seen in the backdrop of speculations on whether the ruling party was losing
a portion of its minority base. The hypothesis gained ground after the party
lost the Sagardighibypoll.
The recent panchayat polls, however,
challenged this theory as Trinamul performed well in the Muslim-dominated
areas.
“It appears the chief minister does not
want to take any chance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As the imams and the
muezzins have influence among the minority populace across the state, she is
trying to keep them in good humour," said a minister.
Another source said the meeting would
end up further consolidating Trinamul's Muslim support base.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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US court denies Mumbai terror attacks
accused Tahawwur Rana's plea against extradition to India
PTI Washington/ 18.08.23
A US court has denied the writ of habeas
corpus filed by Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana, paving the
way for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to issue a certification for him
to be extradited to India where he is sought for his involvement in the 2008
Mumbai terror attacks.
In a major victory for India's fight in
bringing the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to justice, a US court
approved 62-year-old Rana's extradition to India in May.
In June this year, Rana, who is currently
detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles, filed a
"writ of habeas corpus" challenging the court order that acceded to
the request of the US government that the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks accused be
extradited to India.
"The court has denied Tahawwur
Rana's petition for writ of habeas corpus by a separate order," Judge Dale
S Fischer, United States District Judge, Central District of California, wrote
in his order on August 10.
However, Rana has filed an appeal
against the order and sought a stay on his extradition to India till the time
his appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court is heard.
Rana faces charges for his role in the
Mumbai attacks and is known to be associated with Pakistani-American terrorist
David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the 26/11 Mumbai
attacks.
Judge Fischer in his order said Rana has
only made two basic arguments in the writ.
First, he claims that, pursuant to the
treaty, he cannot be extradited because India plans to prosecute him for the
same acts for which he was charged and acquitted in a United States court.
Second, he argues that the government has not established that there is
probable cause to believe that Rana committed the Indian offences for which he
is expected to stand trial, the judge said.
He denied both arguments of Rana.
"Given that, even if (David)
Headley's testimony were the entire basis for the probable cause finding, it
would be sufficient for the purposes of habeas review because it constitutes
some competent evidence supporting the finding. For the reasons stated above,
Rana's petition for a writ of habeas corpus is denied," the judge wrote.
Following Judge Fischer's order, Patrick
Blegen and John D Cline, Rana's two attorneys filed an appeal to the United
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from the Order entered on August
10, 2023, for denying his petition for writ of habeas corpus.
In a separate appeal, Blegen has filed a
petition "for a stay of extradition pending his appeal" to the United
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from the court's order denying
his petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
"As set forth in the accompanying
memorandum, petitioner submits that a stay of extradition pending appeal is
appropriate because he has made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed
on the merits of his non-bis in idem claim; he will suffer irreparable harm if
he is extradited, potentially including the death penalty; a stay pending
appeal will not substantially injure the government; and the public interest
favours a full review of Rana's non-bis claim before he is sent to a country
that seeks to execute him," Rana's attorney wrote on August 14.
In June, the Biden administration urged
the court to deny the writ of habeas corpus filed by Rana.
"The United States respectfully
requests that the court deny Rana's petition for a writ of habeas corpus,"
said E Martin Estrada, US attorney for the Central District of California, in
his petition filed before the US District Court for the Central District of
California.
India filed a complaint on June 10,
2020, seeking the provisional arrest of Rana with a view towards extradition.
The Biden administration supported and approved his extradition to India.
Filing the writ of habeas corpus through
his attorney, Rana challenged his extradition by the government of India.
Rana's extradition would violate the
United States-India extradition treaty in two respects, his attorney argued.
First, Rana has been tried and acquitted
in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois for
charges based on the identical conduct for which India seeks to prosecute him.
He argued that extradition is,
therefore, barred under Article 6(1) of the Treaty, which declares that
"extradition shall not be granted when the person sought has been
convicted or acquitted in the Requested State for the offence for which
extradition is requested."
Second, the material submitted by the
Government of India - consisting principally of transcripts and exhibits from
Rana's trial in the Northern District of Illinois - fails to establish probable
cause that he committed the offences for which India has charged him. The
Indian government's extradition request thus fails to satisfy Article 9.3(c) of
the Treaty, the attorney said, adding the court should grant the writ of habeas
corpus, deny extradition and order Rana's release.
However, the US government has said that
Rana be extradited to India.
In his submission to the US Court on
June 23, the US attorney argued that Rana's claims about the legitimacy of his
business in Mumbai fall flat.
The evidence does not support Rana's
assertion that the Mumbai office conducted legitimate business, but even if it
did, the engagement of legitimate business activities does not preclude a
finding that Rana's business also served as a cover for Headley's
terrorism-related activities in Mumbai.
"Rana's claims about who funded the
Mumbai office also do not relate to whether Rana lacked knowledge of and
support for Headley's activities. Similarly, even if Rana hoped to continue
business operations in Mumbai, the evidence reveals that neither Rana nor
Headley renewed the business lease that expired approximately two weeks before
the start of the Mumbai attacks," Estrada argued.
India's National Investigation Agency
(NIA) is probing Rana's role in the 26/11 attacks carried out by terrorists of
the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group. The NIA has said that it is ready to
initiate proceedings to bring him to India through diplomatic channels.
A total of 166 people, including six
Americans, were killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani
terrorists laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at
iconic and vital locations of Mumbai.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/us-court-denies-mumbai-terror-attacks-accused-tahawwur-ranas-plea-against-extradition-to-india/cid/1959759
-----
Government's intention behind Article
370 nullification can't be questioned: Supreme Court
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 17
The Supreme Court today said the nullification
of Article 370 of the Constitution could be challenged only on the ground of
constitutional violations, and not on the intention or wisdom of the Centre or
Parliament in taking the decision.
“You want judicial review to assess the
intention of the government to abrogate Article 370? Judicial review will be
for the constitutional violation… There is no doubt that if there is such a
violation, this court will intervene. But are you asking us to judicially
review the wisdom underlying the decision to abrogate Article 370?” a
five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud asked senior counsel
Dushyant Dave, who represented one of the petitioners challenging nullification
of the controversial provision.
Dave said the nullification was a political
move promised by the BJP in its manifesto.
“The abrogation is a complete fraud on
the Constitution. In the BJP manifesto, they had promised abrogation, and this
court had ruled that these manifestos cannot be against the constitutional
scheme and spirit. Now because you have a majority in Parliament, you have done
this and it is all because you told people to vote for you and you will
abrogate it. This shows power exercised for colourable considerations. The
President is not a rubber stamp; the majority does not speak, it’s not a
constituent power,” Dave argued.
As Dave said Article 370 could not have
been repealed using Article 370(3), Justice Kaul responded, “It exists in the
Constitution... there is no repeal. Now as it stands, all provisions of the
Constitution will apply to J&K.”
The Bench said the argument that Article
370 had become permanent after the Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly
ceased to exist in 1957 was contradicted by the practice of issuing
Constitution Orders modifying the constitution in relation to J&K. As Dave
termed the Constitution Orders as a “wrong practice”, the CJI said, “We are
talking of practice of 64 years!”
Source: tribuneindia.com
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‘Majority of Muslims in India have
converted from Hinduism’: Ghulam Nabi Azad
PTI
Jammu, August 17
Asserting that religion should not be
used to get political mileage, Azad said whoever takes refuge in religion in
politics is weak.
“Some BJP leader said some (Muslims)
have come from outside and some have not. Nobody has come from outside or
inside. Islam came to existence just 1,500 years ago. Hindu religion is very
old. Around 10-20 of them (Muslims) must have come from outside, some were
there in the Mughal army,” the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief
told a gathering in Doda district.
“All other Muslims converted from
Hinduism in India. An example of this can be found in Kashmir. Who were the
Muslims in Kashmir 600 years ago? All were Kashmiri Pandits. They converted to
Islam. All are born into this religion,” the former chief minister of Jammu and
Kashmir said.
Azad said when Hindus die, they are
cremated. “They are burnt in different places. Their ashes are placed in the
river which mixes the water, and we drink that water,” he said.
“Later, who sees that the water contains
their burnt ashes? People drink that water,” the DPAP leader said.
Similarly Muslims’ flesh and bones
become a part of the nation’s soil, Azad said. “They, too, become a part of
this land. Their flesh and their bones become a part of Bharat Mata’s soil.
Hindus and Muslims both merge into this land. What difference is there between
them?” he added.
Taking a dig on the use of religion for
votes, Azad said, “Whoever takes refuge in religion in politics is weak.
Religion should not be used as a vote bank in politics. Voting should not be
based on Hindu and Muslim names.”
Source: tribuneindia.com
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Body of terrorist who was injured in
Rajouri encounter found
Our Correspondent
Jammu, August 18
Police and Army have found the body of a
terrorist, who was injured in an encounter at Khawas in Rajouri, from Reasi on
August 5.
Pakistani terrorists were trapped by
police in an encounter in Khawas area. In the encounter, one terrorist was
killed and another injured.
In the ongoing anti-terror operation,
joint teams of security forces, including teams of Reasi and Rajouri police, were
on the lookout for the second terrorist who got injured during encounter but
managed to escape.
On Friday morning, the security forces
found the body of the terrorist from a gorge where he had fallen while trying
to escape.
The terrorist is suspected to be
involved in many terror-crime cases in the Rajouri-Poonch region, including the
recent attack on security forces at Kesari Hill and the Dhangri terror
incident.
Two grenades, three AK magazines, 90 AK
rounds and 32 pistol rounds were recovered from the spot.
Source: tribuneindia.com
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------
National Investigation Agency raid in
J-K's Shopian in terror-related case
PTI
Srinagar, August 18
The National Investigation Agency (NIA)
on Friday carried out a raid in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir in a
terror-related case, officials said.
The raid is going on in the house of
Mohammad Yousuf Wani, resident of Chotigam area of Shopian district in south
Kashmir, the officials said.
Source: tribuneindia.com
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------
Mideast
Saeed Roustaee: Martin Scorsese backs
director jailed in Iran for Cannes screening
18 August 2023
By Annabel Rackham & Ian Youngs
BBC News
Martin Scorsese has lent his support to
an Iranian director who has been jailed for screening a film at the Cannes Film
Festival without government permission.
Saeed Roustaee, who premiered Leila's
Brothers at the French festival in 2022, was reportedly sentenced to six months
in prison by an Iranian court.
Festival organisers said it was "a
serious violation of free speech".
Scorsese shared a petition calling for
"justice" for Roustaee and the film's producer Javad Noruzbegi.
According to Iranian media, the pair
were convicted of "contributing to propaganda of the opposition against
the Islamic system".
The film is about economic issues faced
by a family in Tehran. It had already been banned in Iran after it "broke
the rules by being entered at international film festivals without
authorisation" and the director refused to "correct" it as
requested by the culture ministry, the AFP news agency reported.
However, the film-makers will only serve
one-twentieth of their jail sentence, about nine days, while the remainder
"will be suspended over five years", according to the Etemad
newspaper, which said they could appeal against the verdict.
During the suspension period, the
defendants will be required to take a film-making course while "preserving
national and ethical interests" and refrain from associating with other
cinema professionals, the newspaper said.
The 34-year-old director is also not
allowed to work for five years.
Leila's Brothers was in competition for
the Palme d'Or, the top prize at Cannes, and won the event's International
Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci) award.
Cannes organisers added in a statement
that this ban "constitutes once again a serious violation of free speech
for Iranian artists, film-makers, producers and technicians".
"The Cannes Festival expresses its
support to all those who suffer violence and reprisals for creating and
distributing their works. The Festival is their home," it said.
Source: bbc.com
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UAE’s Sultan Al-Neyadi, first Arab
astronaut deployed on a long-term space mission, to return home
ARAB NEWS
August 18, 2023
DUBAI: UAE astronaut Sultan Al-Neyadi,
the first Arab astronaut deployed on a long-term space mission, is scheduled to
return to Earth on September 1 after spending six months aboard the
International Space Station.
Al-Neyadi, together with NASA astronauts
Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, were
part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-6 that lifted off on March 2, 2023 at the Kennedy
Space Center in Florida.
The crew conducted more than 200 science
experiments and technology demonstrations during their stay at the space
station.
A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft – named
Endeavour – that is docked at the orbiting outpost will return the four to
Earth after undocking no earlier than Sept. 1, splashing down off the coast of
Florida.
“During the mission, the crew
contributed to hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, including
student robotic challenges, plant genetics, and human health in microgravity to
prepare for exploration beyond low Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth,”
NASA said in a statement.
“Crew-6 is the sixth crew rotation
mission with SpaceX for the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Regular
commercial crew rotation missions enable NASA to continue the important
research and technology investigations taking place aboard the station.
“Such research benefits people on Earth
and lays the groundwork for future human exploration through the agency’s
Artemis missions, which will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future
expeditions to Mars,” it added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Iran FM in Saudi Arabia, says relations
‘on the right track’
17 Aug 2023
The meeting comes months after China
brokered a deal between the regional rivals in March [Abdulrahman
al-Abdulsalam/Saudi Press Agency via AP]
Saudi Arabia and Iran are making
progress on mending ties, Iran’s foreign minister has said after meeting with
his counterpart in Riyadh, as the two regional heavyweights seek to overcome
past hostility and boost cooperation.
“Relations between Tehran and Saudi are
on the right track and we are witnessing progress,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
said in a joint news conference with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin
Farhan Al Saud on Thursday, adding that “the talks were successful”.
His visit to the kingdom comes months
after Prince Faisal met with officials from Iran in Tehran in June on his first
trip to the country after a China-brokered deal between the regional rivals in
March to restore ties.
Under the deal, Tehran and Riyadh agreed
to end a diplomatic rift and re-establish relations following years of
hostility that had endangered regional stability in the Gulf, as well as in
Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.
Saudi Arabia broke ties with Iran in
2016 after protesters attacked its embassy in Tehran following Riyadh’s
execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
“We had good discussions over a broad
range of issues during our meetings today,” Amir-Abdollahian said.
Thursday’s meeting in the Saudi foreign
ministry’s Islamic Solidarity Hall “will be a prelude to the meeting of the
heads of the two countries”, he said.
Prince Faisal said Saudia Arabia hoped
to see Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi visit the kingdom following an invitation
from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, which he had communicated during the
June visit. Raisi has said he would travel to Saudi at the “appropriate time”.
Prince Faisal said the kingdom was keen
to follow through with all the main points of the China-brokered deal, both
economic and political.
In June, Iran officially reopened its
embassy in Saudi Arabia and Iranian state media reported earlier this month
that the kingdom’s embassy in Tehran had resumed operations.
Its new ambassador, Alireza Enayati,
travelled with Amir-Abdollahian to Riyadh on Thursday.
“We look forward to a new phase in our
relationship based on our Islamic brotherhood and work towards common
interests,” Prince Faisal said, adding that he welcomed Iran’s endorsement of
Riyadh’s bid to host Expo 2030.
Prince Faisal also confirmed that the
Saudi embassy in Tehran had resumed operations, which he described as “another
step in the development of relations between the two countries”.
Deep-rooted issues
The visits and the reopening of
embassies represent “important confidence-building measures”, said Anna Jacobs,
senior Gulf analyst for the International Crisis Group.
“Saudi-Iran rapprochement is still in
its early phases, and it’s still very unclear how the two sides will address
their many points of friction,” Jacobs said.
“Resuming diplomatic ties and engaging
in more dialogue is a good start, but it’s difficult to tell if this will be
enough to resolve the long-standing issues in their relationship.”
Iran and Saudi Arabia have backed
opposing sides in conflict zones across the Middle East for years, including in
Yemen, where in 2015 Riyadh mobilised an international coalition against
Iran-backed Houthi rebels who had toppled the internationally recognised
government the previous year.
Since the March deal, Saudi Arabia has
ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, holding direct talks with Houthi leaders
in April in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
It has also championed the return of key
Iran ally Syria to the Arab fold at a summit in May.
On Wednesday, Iranian state media said Iranian
and Saudi military officials met in Moscow on the sidelines of a security
conference.
At the same time, the two sides have
exchanged competing statements over a disputed gas field that Saudi Arabia
plans to develop jointly with Kuwait.
Iran also wants to explore and exploit
the field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which
has long been point of contention between the three countries.
“The dispute over the Dorra-Arash gas
field shouldn’t be a major obstacle to improving ties, and it could even be an
opportunity for dialogue,” Jacobs said.
“But from the Saudi perspective, they
are more concerned about Yemen, threats to maritime security in the Gulf, and
regional files like Syria.”
Riyadh is also engaged in negotiations
over a possible deal – still widely seen as a long shot – that would see it
recognise Israel in exchange for conditions including security guarantees from
the United States and concessions from Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.
Standing next to Prince Faisal on
Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian described the conflict as “the most important issue
in the Islamic world”, adding: “We continue to support Palestine.”
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
Source: aljazeera.com
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------
Yemeni government pledges economic
reforms in light of Saudi aid
SAEED AL-BATATI
August 17, 2023
AL-MUKALLA: Rashad Al-Alimi, the chairman
of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, expressed gratitude to the Saudi
leadership on Thursday for the latest financial assistance package to bolster
his country’s economy, a day after his government pledged to use the aid
efficiently.
The official news agency SABA reported
that the Yemeni leader wrote a letter to Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid
bin Salman in which he thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
for $1.2 billion in financial aid to help the Yemeni government pay public
employees and import fuel and food.
“It sent a clear message that Yemen has
loyal brothers and that the Kingdom remains at the forefront of efforts to
restore state institutions and achieve the just peace that the Yemeni people
deserve,” the leader was quoted as saying.
Yemenis say the new financial aid
package has helped the riyal recover and saved the government from bankruptcy
after Houthi drone attacks on oil facilities halted crude exports, the
government’s primary source of revenue.
The Iran-backed Houthis have also
prohibited local traders from utilizing government ports to import products, as
well as gas imports from government-controlled Marib city, depriving the
government of alternative cash streams.
Yemen’s government on Wednesday pledged
to implement economic reforms, in addition to effectively dispersing the Saudi
package in order to fulfill its goals of strengthening the state budget and
boosting food security.
“The CoM (Cabinet of Ministers)
reiterated the government’s commitment to fully implement the provisions of the
budget support agreement according to the defined timeline, and its
determination to implement comprehensive reforms with expected regional and
international support,” SABA reported.
Meanwhile, Omani negotiators arrived in
Houthi-controlled Sanaa on Thursday to discuss peace proposals with Yemeni
militia leaders amid intensifying diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen.
Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdul
Salam said that he and a group of Omani negotiators had arrived in Sanaa to
consult with Houthi leaders regarding the resumption of the peace process and
the resolution of difficult issues.
The arrival of the Omani delegation
occurred after Hans Grundberg, the UN Yemen envoy, urged the Houthis and the
internationally recognized government of Yemen to translate their “general
willingness” to achieve peace in Yemen into concrete steps to achieve that
objective by working to resume a comprehensive Yemeni political process.
“I call on the parties to refrain from
escalatory rhetoric and to continue to use and build on dialogue channels
established under the truce through the Military Coordination Committee to
de-escalate incidents,” the UN envoy said in his briefing to the UN Security
Council on Wednesday.
During a meeting with Al-Alimi in Riyadh
on Wednesday, Tim Lenderking, the US Yemen envoy, and Steven Fagin, the US
ambassador to Yemen, discussed peace efforts, expressed their support for the
Yemeni government, and praised its backing for the unloading of the deteriorating
FSO Safer tanker.
Peace efforts in Yemen have mostly
stalled since October when the Houthis refused to renew the UN-brokered truce
and also launched drone assaults on oil installations in government-controlled
Hadramout and Shabwa, as well as refusing to lift their siege of Taiz.
Source: arabnews.com
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Lebanon’s caretaker PM says economic
stability at stake with stalled laws
NAJIA HOUSSARI
August 17, 2023
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker Prime
Minister Najib Mikati issued a new appeal on Thursday for parliament to approve
a string of crucial economic laws, in response to its failure thus far to
convene for discussions on the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and capital
control legislation.
“In countries that have faced similar
economic crises, parliament would be in constant session, and those nations
would have resolved the crises,” said Mikati.
“In Lebanon, we have been talking about
capital control for four years without reaching a discussion, either in a
parliamentary session or in finding a solution.”
Mikati continued: “There are numerous
legislative proposals in parliament regarding the recovery plan, bank
restructuring, and addressing the financial gap. All of these necessitate
immediate resolution.
“If parliament does not convene to pass
them collectively, there will be no economic stability in the country.
“We have reached an exceptionally
challenging phase, and our economy is transitioning into a cash-driven economy,
exposing Lebanon to manifold risks. Should we fail to find a solution, every
individual must bear their responsibility.”
Many lawmakers who boycotted the
legislative session harbor doubts over the existence of loopholes and
favoritism in the Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill, said MP Sajih Atiyeh, head of the
parliamentary work and energy committee.
The bill has not yet undergone committee
discussion, he added.
MP Osama Saad, meanwhile, said that the
proposed capital control legislation “somewhat safeguards the interests of
banks.”
Another MP, Salim Al-Sayegh, remarked:
“The legislative session disrupts the balance of powers in the absence of a
president, and we seek a dialogue led by the president.”
A group of depositors attempted to stop
MPs accessing parliament by staging a protest around the premises, objecting to
any endeavor to enact capital control legislation.
The caretaker government on Wednesday
approved the budget for the current year.
The budget deficit has surged from 18.5
percent to around 24 percent due to requests from some ministers to revise
their allocations.
Meanwhile on Thursday an electricity
blackout prompted Mikati to verbally pledge to a major power provider it “will
receive $7 million of its dues monthly, in exchange for the immediate operation
of the power plants.”
Mikati acted after Primesouth, which
runs power plants in Deir Al-Zahrani and Deir Ammar, initiated a 24-hour
shutdown to pressure the government to settle accumulated debts spanning over
four years, and to honor commitments made by Electricite du Liban to make
instalment payments outstanding since March.
When questioned about the source of the
dollars pledged to pay Primesouth with, Mikati stated: “The emerging crisis is
being resolved.”
Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International
Airport and the Port of Beirut were forced to turn to private generators to
secure power during the crisis.
Fadi Al-Hassan, the airport’s manager
and director general of Lebanon’s Civil Aviation Authority, said: “The airport
is operating according to its emergency plan. However, relying on electricity
generators to run the airport is impractical and unsustainable.”
Water pumps in various regions also
ceased delivering drinking water to homes as a result of the electricity
blackout, with many private generators unable to meet the energy shortfall.
Primesouth attempted to obtain dollars
from the Banque du Liban — Lebanon’s central bank — or through special drawing
rights from the International Monetary Fund. However, sources said the BDL
refused to disburse the money.
The central bank’s acting Gov. Wassim
Mansouri insisted on sticking to his policy — “legislation for disbursement,
coupled with implementing drastic reforms to ensure the government returns
funds to the central bank.”
An official source said the government
had refrained from approving the disbursement, passing it to parliament, where
the speaker, Nabih Berri, declined to get involved as it would mean accessing
frozen dollar deposits borrowed from private banks.
MP Razi Al-Hajj remarked: “(We have
heard) multiple reasons, yet still no electricity; $40 billion in electricity
subsidies since 2010, with 40 percent technical and operational wastage in
electricity production and distribution.
“For 40 years, we have been awaiting
24/7 electricity; makeshift solutions exhaust and frustrate the people.”
Primesouth’s decision to initiate the
shutdown came after several prior warnings, following the extension of its
annual contract for the operation and maintenance of the two power plants,
signed with EDL.
The contract expired in
2021,butPrimesouth retracted its warnings upon receiving a promise from the
Ministry of Energy of $45 million.
The cost of electricity to the Lebanese
state totals “$160 million monthly,” according to a French report.
Economist Marc Ayoub said: “Economic
losses in the electricity sector between 1992 and 2019 exceeded $50 billion,
accounting for over half of the public debt.”
Electricity supply in Lebanon often
spans between two to four hours a day.
Source: arabnews.com
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-----
‘Silent threat’: Bahrain to build walls
against rising sea
AFP
August 17, 2023
MANAMA: Already battling extreme heat,
Bahrain is scrambling to ward off another environmental threat: rising seas
that could swallow parts of its coast, the island nation’s oil and environment
minister told AFP.
By next year, the tiny Gulf state will
begin building its coastal defenses against sea levels that have begun
advancing, by widening beaches, constructing taller sea walls and elevating
land.
“Bahrain is vulnerable,” Mohamed bin
Mubarak bin Daina, Bahrain’s oil and environment minister and special envoy for
climate affairs, said in an interview.
“The main threat is a silent threat,
which is the sea level rise,” he said at his office in the capital Manama.
According to official estimates, an
extreme rise of five meters (16.4 feet) would swamp most of the country,
including its international airport.
Even a rise of 0.5 to two meters could
submerge five to 18 percent of Bahrain’s total area, according to Sabah
Aljenaid, an assistant professor at the Arabian Gulf University in Manama.
Bahrain is the only island nation among
the resource-rich countries lining the Gulf. Most of its population and major
facilities are located in low-lying coastal areas less than five meters above
the water.
Other islands around the world are also
threatened by rising seas as global warming melts ice sheets and glaciers.
Bahraini authorities have already
recorded sea levels rising between 1.6 millimeters to 3.4 millimeters every
year since 1976, bin Daina said.
But by 2050, sea levels could rise by at
least 0.5 meter, according to the minister, citing the United Nations’
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Some experts view the estimate as
conservative.
Rising seas aggravate flooding, threaten
coastlines and could pollute Bahrain’s already scarce groundwater reserves with
salty seawater.
“That’s why one of Bahrain’s top
priorities is the sea level rise,” bin Daina said.
“Either we make the beaches (wider)...
or a rock wall for certain areas, or reclaim lands before the shore.”
It is part of a “detailed plan” that
will be completed in “under 10 years” and funded by the government, according
to the minister.
Ranked by the University of Notre Dame’s
Global Adaptation Initiative as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries
among Arab states in the Gulf, Bahrain must also contend with hazardous
temperatures in one of the hottest regions on Earth.
Extreme temperatures due to accelerated
climate change could make parts of the Gulf unliveable by the end of the
century, according to experts.
Bahrain is already feeling the heat.
This month, it has twice broken its
record for energy consumption as temperatures topped 44 degrees Celsius (111.2
degrees Fahrenheit), sending air conditioners into overdrive.
“In all previous years, the electricity
has not consumed the amount of megawatts as this year, so the temperatures are
increasing,” bin Daina said.
To do its part to combat climate change
Bahrain, a small-scale oil producer, is planning to reduce emissions by 30
percent by 2035 and scale up renewable energy to meet 10 percent of its needs
over the same period.
It is also looking to double its areas
covered by greenery and quadruple the amount of mangroves, which absorb carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere, over the next 12 years.
Bin Daina said he sees no contradiction
in his dual role as minister of both oil and environment — a conflation that is
common in the hydrocarbon-rich Gulf states.
Kuwait’s environment authority falls
under the oil ministry, and the United Arab Emirates has chosen Sultan Al
Jaber, who heads state oil giant ADNOC, as president of the UN’s upcoming COP28
climate talks in Dubai.
“Having one person looking at both oil and
the environment at the same time, shows how serious Bahrain is about”
combatting climate change, bin Daina argued.
The minister “can enforce all
environmental regulations over the oil industry,” he said, dismissing the
inverse possibility that hydrocarbon interests could trump climate concerns.
Source: arabnews.com
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------
South Asia
Ban on Activities of Political Parties
Sparks Reactions
By Mohammad Farshad Daryosh, TOLOnews'
Reporter
18 August 2023
Some Political Parties in the previous
administration criticized the Ministry of Justice's decision to ban political
parties' activity in the nation.
Party leaders said that political parties
are essential for the nation and they urged the current government to not
hinder their activities.
Salim Paigir, the chairman of the
Afghanistan Intellectual Committed Party and a political activist who founded
his party over eight years ago, is concerned about the Ministry of Justice's
decision to ban parties.
"Parties are an absolute necessity
in society. If the Minister of Justice was not a member of Tehreek or the
Taliban party, he would not be the Minister of Justice today,” Paigir noted.
"In modern period, society cannot
advance without parties. They must go toward a dictatorship whenever there is
just one party,” said Moeen Gul Samkani, head of Haq aw Adalat Party.
This comes as, the Ministry of Justice
said on Wednesday that no party in the nation will be permitted to participate
in political activity.
The acting Minister of Justice, Abdul
Hakim Sharai, reiterated that he will not let any person or group run political
parties in the nation.
"This is not based on Sharia, does
not preserve national interests, and people do not want it, so how reasonable
is it for us to give permission for this. It is completely banned clause and we
do not give permission for it in any way,” Sharai noted.
According to lawyers, the activities of
parties are significant and underlined that parties can more effectively
oversee government affairs.
However, political analysts have
different views about banning the activities of political parties.
"Political parties monitor the
actions of the government, political parties can criticize the government, and
political parties can make the government realize that the actions it is taking
are not in the interest of society," said Abdul Shakur Dadras, a lawyer.
This comes as, the former government's
Ministry of Justice granted 73 political parties in Afghanistan a permit to
operate. However, many of these parties' leaders have since moved to other
countries and are living there.
Source: tolonews.com
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------
Australia urged to prioritize
Humanitarian Visas for Afghan nationals
By Fidel Rahmati
August 18, 2023
On Friday, Human Rights Watch (HRW)
released a statement urging Australia to prioritize humanitarian visas. The
organization highlighted the critical role of enhancing adaptability and
innovation within refugee resettlement programs to save the lives of the most
vulnerable individuals effectively.
Amidst the escalating human rights and
humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the organization has emphasized the urgent
need for the government to simplify bureaucratic procedures and prioritise
processing humanitarian visas for individuals in desperate need of escaping the
situation.
Days earlier, the Australian federal
government declared an increase in humanitarian visa allocation from 17,875 to
20,000 refugees.
This week signifies the second
anniversary of the Taliban’s resurgence to power in Afghanistan. Just a few
days before, the Australian federal government declared a boost in its
humanitarian visa allocation, raising the number from 17,875 to 20,000 for
refugees.
Afghanistan has plunged into a dire
humanitarian crisis in the past two years, with two-thirds of its population
facing famine and over three million children struggling with severe
malnutrition. The country also bears one of the world’s highest infant
mortality rates, with thousands of preventable pregnancy-related deaths among
women.
“Following the takeover of the nation on
August 15, 2021, the Taliban have curtailed women and girls’ entitlements to
education, employment, mobility, and peaceful assembly. The remaining Afghan
media contends with extensive censorship. A growing number of journalists and
dissenting voices are imprisoned,” Human Rights Watch said.
“The more complex the circumstances, the
greater the need for adaptability. The Home Affairs Department acknowledged
earlier this year that humanitarian visa applications from Afghanistan face
delays due to challenges from the very Taliban authorities persecuting these
individuals,” the organization said.
HRW reported that in 2021, the
government allotted 26,500 humanitarian visas for Afghan refugees over the next
five years. By May this year, almost half were issued, but applications
surpassed 40,000. This pace indicates a substantial shortfall in available
quotas compared to demand.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/australia-urged-to-prioritize-humanitarian-visas-for-afghan-nationals/
-----
Qatar’s Special Envoy Meets UN
Representative for Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
August 17, 2023
Qatar’s Special Envoy of the Minister of
Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution,
Mutlaq bin Majed al-Qahtani met on Wednesday with Special Representative of the
Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva,
who is visiting the country.
According to an official statement from
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the two diplomats held an extensive discussion that
covered the collaborative initiatives between Qatar and the United Nations.
Furthermore, they explored the ongoing
dynamic developments within Afghanistan’s complex landscape.
“They discussed cooperation between
Qatar and the UN and the latest developments in Afghanistan,” the statement
said.
In recent years, Qatar has assumed a
significant and multifaceted role in the Afghanistan issue.
Qatar’s involvement in the Afghanistan
issue extends beyond its geographical location; it encompasses a series of
diplomatic initiatives, peace talks, and engagement with various stakeholders.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/qatars-special-envoy-meets-un-representative-for-afghanistan/
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Afghan Red Crescent Society Strives to
Provide Work Opportunities for Needy Families
2023-08-17
KABUL (BNA): Acting President of the
Afghan Red Crescent Society at a meeting of the members of the provincial
assembly council said that ARCS strives to provide work opportunities for needy
and vulnerable families across the country.
A provincial assemblies meeting held
attended by Mawlavi Muti-ul -Haq Khalis, Acting President of the Afghan Red
Crescent Society to discuss strengthening the relations between ARCS, and the
people, a statement said.
In the meeting, Mawlavi Khalis said
ARCS’s responsibility is to assist the needy and vulnerable families, if the
ARCS does not treat people like familmemberser, then the organization will not
stand to function longer.
“Our nation is a body, if a widow sleeps
on an empty stomach, all of the body will be upset,” he said.
He said that ARCS has taken action of
appointing representatives for people in every corner of the country to reach
people who are in need.
Humanitarian aid cannot help our
countrymen to stand on their feet, those who are needy and vulnerable should
assist properly to be out of their poor situation forever.
The ARCS making efforts to provide work
to needy families so that they could be able to provide for their families in
the future, Mawlavi Khalid said.
Addressing the participants in the
meeting, said we should all join hands to work together to save the nation in
this dire time.
Meanwhile, a member of the provincial
council, Mawlavi Sheerin Mohammad said that cooperation with the Afghan Red
Crescent Society is in benefits people and the nation hereafter, and bringing
the voices of the needy is a great help for the organization
Another member, Haji Mohammad Tutakhil
vowed to cooperate with ARCS in addressing people’s problems.
Source: bakhtarnews.af/
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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/arcs-strives-to-provide-work-opportunities-for-needy-families/
------
International Freedom of Expression
Exchange Report: Confronting Media Challenges Amid Taliban Control in
Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
August 17, 2023
On the second anniversary of the
Taliban’s control in Afghanistan, IFEX spoke to the Afghanistan Journalists
Center (AFJC) about the state of press freedom and journalist safety in the
country. They discussed the measures the organization implements to protect
access to information in these challenging times.
IFEX, formerly the International Freedom
of Expression Exchange, is a global network of 124 independent NGOs working
across levels to protect and promote freedom of expression as a fundamental
human right.
How has increased control over civic
participation and information flow affected media outlets and journalists’
impartial reporting? What are the main information challenges journalists
currently encounter?
The closing of civic space in
Afghanistan has significantly impacted journalism. Journalists now need help to
report freely due to limited information access, especially from the Taliban
government. Investigative journalism needs help gathering reliable information,
conducting interviews, and accessing official documents. Media outlets risk
closure, while journalists could be imprisoned for defying new restrictions,
like criticizing Taliban policies or violating their rules, such as the music
ban, mixed-gender workplaces, and specific attire guidelines.
Under heightened oppressive conditions,
journalists face serious consequences for covering sensitive topics or
criticizing the Taliban. They experience intimidation, imprisonment,
surveillance, threats to families, and pressure to alter their reporting. This
has resulted in self-censorship, avoidance of certain subjects, and adapting
reporting to align with authorities’ views to ensure personal safety and outlet
survival.
What strategies are journalists using to
counter Taliban media restrictions and the limited infrastructure for accurate
reporting?
Amidst immense difficulty, journalists
demonstrate resilience and ingenuity in pursuing their reporting.
“They have increasingly turned to
digital platforms to disseminate news and information, adopted secure
communication tools and encryption technologies to protect their sources, and
formed networks and collaborations with international media organizations and
journalists to help ensure their stories reach a global audience,” the report
said.
The document added, “To navigate the
media restrictions, journalists have adjusted their reporting style, using more
cautious language and adopting subtle criticism or indirect storytelling to
convey important information while avoiding overt confrontation with the
authorities. Some journalists have continued reporting clandestinely by
operating underground or from exile.”
Afghan journalists grapple with high
risks despite adaptations. They persist under constraints, facing dangers in
reporting the truth in Afghanistan.
How is AFJC addressing gender-based
challenges experienced by women journalists?
In response to the posed question, AFJC
said: “We advocate and lobby for gender equality and women’s rights in the
media, as well as engaging with local authorities.”
Meanwhile, it continued, “AFJC plans to
provide training and capacity-building programs specifically designed for women
journalists, including digital literacy, safety, and leadership.”
AFJC plays a pivotal role in empowering
women journalists. Through a WhatsApp group, experienced women mentors guide
aspiring journalists, ensuring a secure platform for sharing, discussing
challenges, and seeking advice. The organization addresses risks by offering
safety training, legal aid, and emergency protocols. Additionally, AFJC
promotes gender-inclusive reporting for better representation, the report said.
Looking ahead: what role can
international collaboration and support play in safeguarding journalism in
Afghanistan?
AFJC emphasized the role of
international support in the country and said collaboration is vital, offering
training and resources to Afghan journalists under Taliban rule while
prioritizing safety. It involves needs assessment, safety protocols, and
digital security training.
The report concluded that collaboration
between local and international legal organizations is vital for offering
Afghan journalists legal assistance. It is equally important to secure funding
from international donors to ensure lasting support for independent media
entities within our country.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/ifex-report-confronting-media-challenges-amid-taliban-control-in-afghanistan/
------
Nearly 80% of Afghanistan’s population
lacks sufficient water access: IOM report
By Fidel Rahmati
August 17, 2023
The International Organization for
Migration (IOM) has issued a warning highlighting that a staggering 79% of
people in Afghanistan lack sufficient access to water for essential needs such
as drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing.
The water crisis in Afghanistan is
further exacerbated by concurrent challenges, most notably the most severe
drought in thirty years, a deepening economic turmoil, and the enduring impacts
of four decades of warfare.
These compounding factors have resulted
in an alarming situation where half of the population is experiencing acute
hunger, with an alarming six million individuals teetering on the edge of
famine.
Recently the organization tweeted that
in 2022, they successfully offered water, sanitation, and hygiene aid to
160,000 individuals in Afghanistan. The post emphasized the urgency of further
action to tackle the ongoing water and hygiene crisis.
The organization has urgently appealed
for $33 million to deliver essential water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance
to 2.3 million people in Afghanistan throughout 2023. They emphasize that “time
is running out, and Afghanistan cannot wait.”
Earlier this month, the UN Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued a dire report revealing
Afghanistan’s deeply concerning state of affairs.
According to the report, 25 of the
country’s 34 provinces are currently experiencing either “severe” or
“catastrophic” drought conditions.
This distressing shows the urgent need
for international attention and concerted efforts to address the escalating
humanitarian crisis in these drought-stricken regions.
Moreover, Afghanistan is currently
grappling with the most extensive and severe humanitarian crisis globally,
where 29.2 million people need humanitarian assistance for their survival.
The nation is confronted with one of the
most alarming malnutrition rates globally. Around 3.2 million children and
840,000 pregnant and nursing mothers are grappling with the harsh reality of
malnourishment, showing the scale of the issue in the country.
The updated 2023 Humanitarian Response
Plan by OCHA requires $3.23 billion in funding to assist millions of vulnerable
individuals in Afghanistan. However, only 23% of this required funding has been
received up to this point.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/nearly-80-of-afghanistans-population-lacks-sufficient-water-access-iom-report/
-----
Europe
Sweden 'Averts Planned Attacks' As
Terror Alert Level Raised to Second Highest After QuranBurnings
17 August 2023
Sweden's prime minister says planned
attacks against his country have been averted, as the security service raised
the terror threat level to its second highest.
The move to increase it from three to
four, with five being the maximum, means there is a "high threat" of
an attack.
The Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson told a
news conference: "We know that planned terror attacks have been
averted." But he did not provide further details.
It comes after copies of the Quran were
recently burned in the Scandinavian nation by a handful of anti-Islam
activists.
This sparked angry demonstrations in
countries, including Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Yemen, by Muslims who consider
such acts to be blasphemous to their holy book.
Sweden and neighbouring Denmark, which
are among the most liberal countries in the world, have tightened border
controls in fear of revenge attacks.
The US has warned its citizens to be
extra cautious when travelling to Sweden due to possible terrorist attacks.
Like many Western countries, Sweden
doesn't have blasphemy laws that ban the burning of religious texts.
The nation has switched from being a
"legitimate target for terrorist attacks" to being considered a
"prioritised target", SAPO security service chief, Charlotte von
Essen, said.
Ms von Essen added: "The increase
in the terror threat level is being done to raise consciousness that the threat
we see will remain for a while and society needs to build up its resistance to
meet that."
The attack threat posed by "violent
Islamist actors" had risen in the past year but the increased level was
not down to knowledge of a specific plan, she said.
The Swedish military is also raising the
terrorism threat levels for their operations.
As Quran burning protests surge, Denmark
considers clampdown
In June, Salwan Momika, a Christian man
who immigrated from Iraq to Sweden, burned a Quran in front of Stockholm's
largest mosque on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid.
Last month, he staged another protest in
Stockholm, stomping on and kicking a Quran outside the Iraqi embassy, although
he refrained from burning it.
Also, the "Danish Patriots", a
far-right group, set fire to the holy book outside the Iraqi embassy in
Copenhagen in July.
In 2017, Sweden suffered its worst terror
attack in recent history when five people were killed by Uzbek asylum seeker
Rakhmat Akilov, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
He used a truck to knock down
pedestrians on a busy street in Stockholm.
Source: news.sky.com
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------
Ukrainian MP raises ‘loss of statehood’
fears
17 Aug, 2023
Officials in Kiev could be be forced to
declare a full mobilization, Egor Chernev has warned
Ukraine may be forced to announce a
maximum scale mobilization if there is ever a real threat to the country’s
statehood, according to Verkhovna Rada MP and deputy chairman of the country’s
national security committee Egor Chernev.
Speaking to Novosti.LIVE, the official
explained that the country was currently in the second phase of mobilization
out of four, but this number could be extended based on how long the conflict
between Russia and Ukraine continues and the resources are required.
“The fourth assumes that all men go to
war,” Chernev said. “If the country is in danger and there is a real threat of
losing statehood, then everyone will go,” he added, noting that he believes
that “it is the duty of every man to defend his own country.”
According to Ukrainian laws on
mobilization, a fourth stage means that all able-bodied residents of the
country between the ages of 18 and 60 will be called up for service.
The politician noted, however, that
there were no plans to increase the mobilization level at the moment and that
authorities were just focusing on making sure that the system worked.
Zelensky launches sweeping military
purge
Chernev’s comments come a week after
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky launched a sweeping military purge and
sacked all of the regional military officials responsible for the country’s
conscription campaign following a string of corruption scandals.
That was after Kiev’s authorities had
exposed a scheme which allegedly allowed Ukrainian recruits to purchase
fraudulent medical certificates to avoid conscription.
Zelensky revealed that 112 criminal
cases had been opened against officials working in local recruitment centers,
with 33 suspects – including commissars and medical commission employees –
accused of taking bribes in the form of both cash and cryptocurrency.
The Ukrainian leader also officially
signed a bill on Thursday to extend general mobilization and martial law in
Ukraine for another 90 days, until November 15. Martial law was initially
introduced in the country on February 24, 2022, after Russia launched its
military campaign against Ukraine.
Source: rt.com
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------
Biggest UK weapons maker inks $5.6
billion purchase
17 Aug, 2023
BAE Systems is expanding further into
the US with the acquisition of the aerospace division of Ball Corporation, the
FT has reporterd
British defense contractor BAE Systems
has agreed to acquire the aerospace division of US Ball Corporation in a $5.55
billion cash deal, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.
According to the outlet, citing BAE, the
acquisition would add more than $2 billion in annual revenues for the UK-based
defense company. The deal is expected to be closed in the first half of 2024.
Ball, which makes mission-critical space
systems and defense technologies, has “strong growth potential in areas aligned
with the US intelligence community and department of defense’s highest
priorities,” BAE was quoted as saying.
The UK company’s chief executive,
Charles Woodburn, noted the acquisition had a compelling “strategic and
financial rationale.”
The deal reportedly comes less than a
month after BAE raised its annual profit projection due to a record number of
orders amid the conflict in Ukraine. The UK weapons manufacturer builds
Eurofighter Typhoon jets, nuclear submarines, and combat vehicles and produces
ammunition for the British military. BAE revealed a record order book this
month, saying it now expects to generate more than £1.8 billion ($2.2 billion)
in free cash flow, nearly $765 million higher than previously forecast.
A recent ranking by Defense News
magazine showed that the revenues of the top Western defense contractors have
been soaring, topping $200 billion in 2022. According to the report, US, EU,
and UK arms makers have been major beneficiaries of weapons sales to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, a report by the Pentagon inspector general has revealed that some of
the military equipment supplied to Ukraine by the US and its allies has fallen
into the hands of criminal groups.
Source: rt.com
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-----
Pakistan
Police round up 140 over Jaranwala mob
violence
August 18, 2023
Tariq Saeed | Asif Chaudhry
TOBA TEK SINGH/LAHORE: Punjab police on
Thursday arrested at least 140 alleged miscreants, including two prime suspects,
and registered five cases a day after violence targeting the Christian
community in Jaranwala tehsil of Faisalabad left over 20 churches and over a
dozen homes in ruins.
The FIRs registered with the Jaranwala
City police included Section 295 (desecration of a worship place) and Section
295-A (hurting religious feelings) of the Pakistan Penal Code. Section 7 of the
Anti-Terrorism Act had also been inserted in the FIRs besides other sections
related to attacking, burning and damaging properties of the Christian
community.
Those arrested by the police included
main suspect Muhammad Yasin, identified through a video in which he was seen
making an announcement on loudspeakers of mosques to incite Muslims against the
religious minority, urging the former to come out of their homes to take part
in riots. He reportedly made announcements from five mosques.
The Punjab Counter Terrorism Department
claimed to have arrested two prime suspects, which was also confirmed by
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a statement on the social media
platform ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter.
The caretaker CM tweeted that CTD had
made a breakthrough and arrested two prime suspects involved in the attacks. He
appreciated the efforts of the Punjab chief secretary and inspector general of
police, saying both of them had played a key role in ensuring the arrests of
the key suspects.
The government offices and educational
institutions, however, remained closed on Thursday after the Faisalabad deputy
commissioner declared a public holiday in Jaranwala tehsil. All bazaars and
markets also remained shut. According to Dawn.com, Section 144 was imposed in
the area to maintain calm while 3,500 policemen and 180 Rangers personnel were
deployed for safety purposes.
‘Planned conspiracy to sabotage peace’
Meanwhile, addressing a high-level
meeting of clerics of various sects and religions, Mr Naqvi declared the
violent attacks on churches and homes of the Christians a “planned conspiracy
to sabotage peace in the country”.
He vowed to restore all the churches and
homes of the Christians destroyed by the mob within the next three to four
days. The caretaker CM condemned the violent attacks on the worship places of
the minorities, saying such actions were contrary to Islam and the teachings of
the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He announced chalking out a plan to prevent such
incidents in the future by enhancing coordination with the representatives of
the minorities.
List of ransacked churches
Meanwhile, the Christian community’s
social media activists issued a list of 20 churches, which were burnt, along
with copies of the Bible, by the mob. Sources said there were a number of small
churches which were also set on fire or damaged by the mobs.
The list of partially or completely
burnt churches in Jaranwala town and adjoining villages included the Church of
Pastor Saleem Arif and Pastor Rizwan in Essa Nagri; Michael Kingdom Church of
Pastor Adnan; Church of Major Mashooq; Catholic Church of Nasir Colony; Church
of Pastor Israel Maharwala; Church of Shehrunwala locality; Church of God,
Kammoana; Catholic Church of Christian Colony; Capt Sajid’s Salvation Army
Church; FGA Church Farooq Park; Church of Pastor Shahzad in Yasir Town; Kalori
Church of Noora Colony; Kalori Church of Chak 240-GB; Salvation Army Church of
Major Amjad; Catholic Church of Essa Nagri; Pak Khushkhabri Church of Noora
Colony; Amazing Race Church of Shahrwan; and BM Church of Pastor Naveed Mukhtar
in Chak 120-GB, Christian Basti.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1770738/police-round-up-140-over-jaranwala-mob-violence
------
Every Citizen Has Right to Profess,
Practice His Respective Faith in Pakistan: Chief Justice of Pakistan
August 18, 2023
Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar
Ata Bandial says every citizen has the right to profess and practice his
respective faith in Pakistan.
He was talking to an eight-member
delegation of the Sikh community which called on him in Islamabad.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan briefed
the delegation about the rights of minorities as enshrined in the Constitution.
He said courts in Pakistan are the
custodian of the fundamental rights of the people and safeguarding minorities'
rights is the fundamental duty of the state.
He said considerable measures have been
taken to safeguard the religious properties of the minorities.
The delegation presented a souvenir of a
golden Kirpan to the CJP.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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-----
Caretaker Punjab CM pledges to restore
all churches, Christians’ homes
August 17, 2023
Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin
Naqvi has vowed to restore all the churches and Christians’ homes within three
to four days that were ransacked and torched during the Jaranwala violence
yesterday.
Addressing a meeting on Thursday, which
was attended by religious leaders of the Christian community, he condemned
yesterday’s violence and asserted that such incidents are anti-Islam and
against the teachings of the Holy Prophet Mohammad [Peace Be Upon Him].
He said the mob-led attack was a
conspiracy to light a fire in the country and sabotage its peace.
Bishop Lahore Nadeem Kamran also
presented joint communique during the meeting and expressed resolve that
Christian community will play its due role for peace in the country.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government ordered
the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident, in
line with directives issued by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq.
Separately, in a statement, Punjab
police said it had made over 100 arrests while the Jaranwala police booked over
600 people in two terror cases.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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------
Pakistan affirms minority rights amid US
probe call
August 18, 2023
WASHINGTON/ ISLAMABAD:
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra
Baloch on Thursday said Pakistan was fully determined to protect and promote
the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the individuals
belonging to religious minorities.
In a statement, she said as a country of
law and constitution, Pakistan could not accept the intolerant and violent acts
in yesterday's incident in Faisalabad.
The statement came as the United States
on Wednesday had urged Pakistan to investigate mob attacks against churches and
Christian homes that broke out in Punjab.
Hundreds of people attacked a
predominantly Christian area on the outskirts of Faisalabad after over
blasphemy allegations.
"We are deeply concerned that
churches and homes were targeted in response to reported Quran desecration in
Pakistan," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
He said that while the United States
backed free expression, "violence or the threat of violence is never an
acceptable form of expression."
"We urge Pakistani authorities to
conduct a full investigation into these allegations and call for calm," he
said.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said
Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has strongly condemned the reprehensible
incident that took place in Faisalabad yesterday where churches were targeted
and that hurt the sentiments of Christians across the country, she said. She
said these acts are illegal and unconstitutional.
"Our law enforcement authorities
took swift action yesterday. They have been instructed by the prime minister to
apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice," she added.
The spokesperson said as a multicultural
and multi-faith country, Pakistan was fully determined to protect and promote
their constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms and to foster social
harmony, tolerance, and mutual respect. Agencies
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431289/pakistan-affirms-minority-rights-amid-us-probe-c
------
Imran booked under Official Secrets Act
in cipher case
August 18, 2023
By Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has
been booked under the Official Secrets Act 1923 in a cipher case. Government
sources said that the FIR, registered by the FIA against the former prime
minister a few days back, invoked Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923.
It was reported by the media that the
Counter-Terrorism Wing of the FIA registered a case against Imran Khan after
reaching the conclusion that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman was
deliberately involved in misusing the classified documents.
On Thursday, the government sources,
when approached by this correspondent, confirmed that Khan has been booked
under Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923. The authorities, however,
were reluctant to share the copy of FIR.
Offences under Section 5, if proved in
the court of law, involve punishment of imprisonment from two to 14 years, and
in cases even the death sentence.
According to the Section 5 of the
Official Secrets Act 1923: “(1) If any person having in his possession or
control any secret official code or password or any sketch, plan, model,
article, note, document or information which relates to or is used in a prohibited
place or relates to anything in such a place, or which has been made or
obtained in contravention of this Act, or which has been entrusted in
confidence to him by any person holding office under [Government], or which he
has obtained or to which he has had access owing to his position as a person
who holds or has held office under [Government], or as a person who holds or
has held a contract made on behalf of [Government], or as a person who is or
has been employed under a person who holds or has held such an office or
contract —
a) wilfully communicates the code or
password, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information to any
person other than a person to whom he is authorised to communicate it, or a
Court of Justice or a person to whom it is, in the interests of the State, his
duty to communicate it; or
b) uses the information in his
possession for the benefit of any foreign power or in any other manner
prejudicial to the safety of the State; or c) retains the sketch, plan, model,
article, note or document in his possession or control when he has no right to
retain it, or when it is contrary to his duty to retain it, or wilfully fails
to comply with all directions issued by lawful authority with regard to the
return or disposal thereof;
d) fails to take reasonable care of, or
so conducts himself as to endanger the safety of, the sketch, plan, model,
article, note, document, secret official code or password or information;
He shall be guilty of an offence under
this section.
(2) If any person voluntarily receives
any secret official code or password or any sketch, plan, model, article, note,
document or information knowing or having reasonable ground to believe, at the
time when he receives it, that the code, password, sketch, plan, model,
article, note, document or information is communicated in contravention of this
Act, he shall be guilty of an offence under this section.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under
this section shall be punishable, (a) where the offence committed is a contravention
of clause (a) of sub-section (1) and intended or calculated to be, directly or
indirectly, in the interest or for the benefit of a foreign power, or is in
relation to any work of defence, arsenal, naval, military or air force
establishment or station, mine, mine-field, factory, dockyard, camp, ship or
aircraft or otherwise in relation to the naval, military or air force affairs
of Pakistan or in relation to any secret official code, [with death, or] with
imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years; and (b) in any
other case, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with
fine, or with both.”
The cipher case against the former
premier became serious after his Principal Secretary Azam Khan stated before a
magistrate as well as the FIA that the former PM had used the US cipher for his
‘political gains’ and to avert no-confidence motion against him.
The former bureaucrat, in his
confession, said when he provided the ex-premier with the cipher, he was
“euphoric” and termed the language a “US blunder”. The former prime minister,
according to Azam, then said that the cable could be used for “creating a
narrative against establishment and opposition”.
Azam Khan said the US cipher was used in
political gatherings by the PTI chairman, despite his advice to him to avoid
such acts. Azam Khan said that the former prime minister also told him that the
cipher could be used to divert the public’s attention towards “foreign
involvement” in the opposition’s no-confidence motion.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1101318-imran-booked-under-official-secrets-act-in-cipher-case
------
PM terms SIFC a ray of hope for Pakistan
August 18, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq
Kakar on Thursday said that the government would ensure full use of the forum
of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to carry forward the
development agenda.
Terming the SIFC a ray of hope for
Pakistan's economic development, the prime minister said the government would
focus on development of different sectors under the Council's umbrella.
Addressing a meeting in connection with
the working of SIFC, Prime Minister Kakar said the caretaker government during
its short tenure would fully devote all its energies to the stability and
progress of the economy.
He directed to harmonise the regulatory
structure with the contemporary international requirements to improve the
energy sector. He said Pakistan had vast potential for foreign investment in
the fields of agriculture, mining and minerals, information technology, energy
and defence production.
During the meeting, Secretary SIFC
Jahanzeb Khan and Secretary Implementation Jameel Ahmed Qureshi briefed the
prime minister about the steps taken to bolster foreign direct investment.
PM Kakar was also apprised about the
whole of government approach under SIFC to increase the foreign investment by
facilitating investors. The meeting was further informed that under the forum,
the government would provide one-window facility to the investors for different
projects.
The prime minister appreciated the
efforts of Jahanzeb Khan and Jamil Ahmed Qureshi for bringing investment in the
country, adding the SIFC would play a vital role in improving the economy. He
said there was huge potential for foreign investment in the infrastructure and
tourism sectors. APP
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2431290/pm-terms-sifc-a-ray-of-hope-for-pakistan
-----
Arab World
Qatar University Research Sheds Light
OnQur'anic Insights Into Islamic Legal Politics, Treaties
AUGUST 17, 2023
A study conducted by Latifa Menadi
al-Kaabi, a research assistant at the Ibn-Khaldon Centre for Humanities and
Social Sciences at Qatar University (QU), has shed light on the pivotal role of
Qur'anic research in shaping Islamic politics, particularly in the realm of
treaties.
This seminal research, titled “The
Importance of Qur'anic Research in Deducting the Provisions in Islamic Legal
Politics: Issue of Mu’aahadun,” delves deep into the Qur'anic verses to
illuminate the significance of treaties and alliances in Islam, propelling a
paradigm shift in the understanding of international relationships within the
Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.
The study is an exploration of the
intersection between the Holy Qur’an and the intricate tapestry of Islamic
politics. It delves into the question of treaties within Islam, emphasizing
their binding nature and the commitment required by all parties involved. By
meticulously analysing Qur'anic verses, al-Kaabi clarifies the definition of
treaties as enduring political agreements between two entities, governed by principles
of justice and mutual respect.
“In a world that often emphasises
differences, the Holy Qur’an provides a profound framework for nurturing
alliances and fostering peaceful coexistence,” al-Kaabi remarks. The study
identifies three distinct categories of mu’aahadun; the parties involved in
treaties. Al-Kaabi's insights into “Committed Mu’aahadun,” “Uncommitted
Mu’aahadun,” and “Untrusted Mu’aahadun” provide a comprehensive understanding
of the various dimensions of treaty obligations and the outcomes of adherence
or breach.
The research also underscores the
nuanced obligations that both Muslims and non-Muslims bear within treaties. The
Holy Qur’an dictates not only the rights but also the responsibilities of each
party. “This explains the dynamic balance envisioned by Islam, where justice,
dignity, and cooperation thrive,” al-Kaabi elaborates.
As the study unfolds, it draws strength
from the Quranic verses themselves, presenting a cohesive framework for dealing
with treaty breaches. Al-Kaabi explains, “Islam's emphasis on kindness,
justice, and preparedness serves as the cornerstone for maintaining stability
and preventing conflicts.”
In the words of Dr Amir Hasan, director
of the Ibn-Khaldon Centre: “Latifa Menadi al-Kaabi's research embodies the
centre's commitment to rigorous scholarship and the pursuit of knowledge that
enriches global discourse. This study's implications extend beyond academia,
shaping a more harmonious world.”
The research, published in the esteemed
Journal of Islamic Studies and Thought for Specialised Research, Malaysia,
Volume 7, Issue 4, in October 2021, has garnered attention for its meticulous
Qur'anic analysis. By establishing a profound connection between Qur'anic
wisdom and modern-day political considerations, Al-Kaabi's study marks a
significant milestone in Islamic scholarship.
The Ibn-Khaldon Centre for Humanities
and Social Sciences is renowned for its dedication to advancing knowledge and
fostering a deeper understanding of Islamic civilisation. Committed to rigorous
academic inquiry, the centre's research continues to make invaluable
contributions to global scholarship.
Source: gulf-times.com
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https://www.gulf-times.com/article/666705/qatar/research-sheds-light-on-quranic-insights-into-islamic-legal-politics-treaties
------
Resumption of Saudi-Iran ties pivotal
moment for regional security: Faisal bin Farhan
August 17, 2023
RIYADH — Foreign Minister Prince Faisal
bin Farhan has affirmed Saudi Arabia's desire to strengthen bilateral relations
with the Islamic Republic of Iran and his country's keenness to discuss ways to
activate agreements between the two countries.
Addressing a joint press conference with
his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Riyadh on Thursday, Prince
Faisal said the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and
Iran marked a pivotal moment for regional security.
Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Riyadh
follows the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran,
brokered by China in March, after seven years of no formal ties.
"Within the framework of the
implementation of the agreement, the missions of both countries have resumed
their work, and so have the ambassadors-designate," Prince Faisal said.
Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom is
keen to activate security and economic agreements that were inked with Iran. He
also conveyed Saudi Arabia’s gratitude to Iran for its support of the Kingdom’s
bid to host World Expo 2030.
For his part, Amir-Abdollahian described
the discussions in Riyadh as “fruitful.”
He said that the Islamic Republic values
the role Saudi Arabia plays in the region, adding that the two countries can
work together to resolve lingering regional issues.
Amir-Abdollahian said that relations
with Saudi Arabia were moving in the right direction and stressed that his
country was determined to strengthen relations with the Kingdom.
He added that Iranian President Ebrahim
Raisi will visit Saudi Arabia “soon.”
Prince Faisal had made a landmark visit
to Tehran in June, where he met with Amir-Abdollahian and President Ebrahim
Raisi.
Under the deal signed in March, Riyadh
and Tehran agreed to reopen embassies and consulates in each other’s
territories and implement security and economic cooperation agreements that
were signed over 20 years ago.
Saudi Arabia severed ties with Iran in
2016 following an attack on its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad. —
Agencies
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635017/SAUDI-ARABIA/Resumption-of-Saudi-Iran-ties-pivotal-moment-for-regional-security-Faisal-bin-Farhan
------
Saudi crown prince receives phone call
from UK PM
17 August 2023
UK PM expressed his appreciation for
Kingdom’s influential role in contributing to a solution to Ukraine crisis
through the recent Jeddah summit
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from British Prime Minister Rishi
Sunak on Thursday.
During the call, Prince Mohammed and
Sunak reviewed aspects of joint cooperation between the Kingdom and the UK and
ways to enhance and develop it in all fields. They also exchanged views on
regional and international developments and efforts exerted by both countries
in this regard.
“The prime minister and crown prince
said they would continue working closely together to progress UK-Saudi
cooperation and looked forward to meeting in person at the earliest
opportunity,” Sunak’s office said in a statement.
Britain’s prime minister also expressed
his appreciation for the Kingdom’s influential role in contributing to a
solution to the Ukrainian crisis through the recent summit held in Jeddah on
the issue.
Senior officials from 42 countries met
in the city on August 5 and 6 in an attempt to draft key principles on ending
war with Russia.
The crown prince affirmed the Kingdom’s
keenness to make efforts that contribute to achieving peace and stability and
push for a political solution to the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2356911/saudi-arabia
-----
Saudi authorities seize 159 kilograms of
khat at Jizan border
August 18, 2023
Legal action was taken against the
suspects and they were handed over to authorities
JIZAN:Saudi authorities sized 159
kilograms of khat at the Jizan border on Thursday, reported state news agency
SPA.
The 159 kilograms of khat were smuggled
in two separate attempts, one of 88 kilograms and one of 77.
Legal action was taken against the
suspects and they were handed over to authorities.
Amphetamines are largely used by young
men and teenaged boys across the Middle East, and the money raised through the
sale of all narcotics are usually ploughed back into the drug trade while some
find their way into organized crime and terrorism.
The Saudi government has urged anyone
with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs
violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number 00
966 114208417, or email 1910@zatca.gov.sa.
Tips received by the authority related
to smuggling crimes and breaches of common customs law are treated with strict
confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid tips.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2357151/saudi-arabia
-----
20 Saudi universities return to
two-semester system
August 17, 2023
RIYADH — As many as 20 universities across
Saudi Arabia have decided to switch over to two semester system instead of the
three-semester system effective from the new academic year, that will start on
Sunday, Aug. 20.
All these universities have revoked
their existing three semesters and made the changes to transform into two
semesters in the academic calander accordingly.
These universities include King
Abdulaziz University of Jeddah, King Saud University of Riyadh, Imam
Abdulrahman bin Faisal University of Dammam, King Faisal University of Al-Ahsa,
King Khalid University of Abha, Al-Qassim University, Princess Nourah bint
Abdulrahman University of Riyadh, Jeddah University, Taibah University of
Madinah, Al-Jouf University, Najran University, Tabuk University and Hafar
Al-Batin University.
The universities also included Shaqra
University, Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Electronic University, Majmaah
University, Bisha University, Taif University and Hail University.
According to the university sources, 9
universities will continue their three-semester system despite the growing
calls for a return to the two-semester system, starting from the beginning of
the new academic year.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635014/SAUDI-ARABIA/20-Saudi-universities-return-to-two-semester-system
-----
Al-Hilal defender Koulibaly sidelined
for initial two weeks due to injury
August 18, 2023
RIYADH — Saudi club Al-Hilal announced
on Thursday the absence of Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly from the
team's lineup for at least two weeks due to injury.
In a statement, Al-Hilal said:
"Koulibaly underwent a treatment session at the club's headquarters."
Further examinations indicated that he requires a therapeutic and
rehabilitation program spanning from two to three weeks.
Koulibaly, the 32-year-old captain of
Senegal, recently joined Al-Hilal from Chelsea in a deal reportedly valued at
around 23 million euros (24.97 million dollars), according to media sources.
His absence was felt during Al-Hilal's 3-1 victory over Abha in the opening
match of the Saudi league.
The setback comes as Koulibaly had been
eagerly awaited by fans after his high-profile move, marking his transition
from Chelsea to bolster Al-Hilal's defensive capabilities. Despite this
temporary setback, Al-Hilal supporters remain hopeful of his swift recovery and
his imminent return to the pitch.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/635027/Sports/Al-Hilal-defender-Koulibaly-sidelined-for-initial-two-weeks-due-to-injury
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Sarawak Deputy Premier Urges Non-Muslim
Groups to Use Financial Aid for Houses of Worship's Upkeep, Not Kept In Fixed
Deposit Accounts
By Sulok Tawie
18 Aug 2023
KUCHING, Aug 18 — Deputy Premier Datuk
Amar Douglas Uggah today warned non-Islamic houses of worship not to invest
funds allocated to them by the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), but to be
spent on building and repairing houses of worship.
He said the Unifor’s audit team had
discovered that some houses of worship had preferred to keep the funds in their
fixed deposit accounts instead.
“Our policy now is that if you do not
spend the allocation given to you, we will not give you any additional funds
you need to complete the construction of your churches or temples,” said Uggah,
who is also the minister in charge of Unifor.
He was presenting cheques worth RM24.49
million to 177 non-Islamic houses of worship here under the second phase of the
distribution of funds for this year.
Uggah said the state government has
allocated RM100 million this year to Unifor for distributions to the
non-Islamic religious faiths for them to build or repair houses of worship, and
dismissed allegations that the Anglicans had received the lion's share.
He denied the allegations, citing his
membership in the Anglican Church, and explaining that the committee would
decide on the amount rather than himself.
He said the Roman Catholics had received
the most with RM81.6 million, or 24.5 per cent out of RM333.1 million allocated
to the non-Islamic houses of worship since 2017.
In comparison, he said the Anglicans
received RM70.5 million or 21.2 per cent, while the Borneo Evangelical Mission
received RM59.7 million or 17.9 per cent.
This was followed by the Buddhists (RM37
million or 11.1 per cent), the Methodist Church (RM27.977 million) and the
Seventh Adventist Church (RM12.026 million).
“Other houses of worship like
Confucianism, Taoism and traditional religions received a total of RM10.2
million,” he said, adding that an allocation of RM9.9 million was distributed
to the Sikh temples and RM4.3 million to Hindu temples.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/18/sarawak-deputy-premier-urges-non-muslim-groups-to-use-financial-aid-for-houses-of-worships-upkeep-not-kept-in-fixed-deposit-accounts/85859
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Civil groups say Islam isn’t under
threat in Nik Elin case, Shariah laws must follow same law-making process
By Opalyn Mok
18 Aug 2023
PUTRAJAYA, Aug 18 — All laws, including
state Shariah laws, are subjected to the same law-making process, several civil
groups have said following claims that Islam is under threat by a recent review
of Kelantan’s provisions.
The groups said the law-making process
includes proposing the laws through a Bill at the state assembly which is then
followed by three readings before they are passed and submitted for royal
assent.
“Article 4(4) of the Federal
Constitution allows the validity of a law to be questioned based on Parliament
or a state legislature’s competency to enact a law in court through a judicial
review application,” they said.
The groups — Justice for Sisters, Centre
for Independent Journalism, Sisters in Islam, Freedom Film Network, Association
of Women Lawyers and KembanKolektif — said the Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid
vs Kelantan case is not challenging the practice of the Islamic faith in
Malaysia.
“Instead, they are challenging the
constitutionality and validity of state Shariah laws that were enacted by the
Kelantan Legislative Assembly,” they said.
Yesterday, a panel of nine Federal Court
judges heard the constitutional review of 20 provisions in the Kelantan Shariah
Criminal Code 2019 Enactment as part of the proceedings for the case.
The Federal Court emphasised that there
was no dispute arising over Islam as the official religion of the Federation in
the hearing.
The groups said the case is similar to
the Iki Putra vs Selangor State Government case in which Kelantanese lawyer Nik
Elin’s challenge was to affirm federal and state legislative competency and
establish a clear legislative jurisdiction.
“The case has received negative
attention from conservative groups claiming that a win for Nik Elin would
jeopardise the religion of Islam in Malaysia,” they said.
They said the petitioners of the case
were not challenging the practice of the Islamic faith in Malaysia.
“It is our duty to protect the supremacy
of the Federal Constitution,” Nik Elin said.
On May 25, 2022, Kelantan-born lawyer
Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid and her daughter Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku
Abdul Rahman filed the constitutional challenge directly at the Federal Court
via Article 4(4) of the Federal Constitution, and named the Kelantan state
government as the sole respondent.
Under Article 4(4), the validity of any
laws made by the Parliament or a state legislature can be questioned in court,
based on reasons that Parliament or a state legislature did not have powers to
make those laws. For such constitutional challenges under the Article 4(4)
route, it can only start if a Federal Court judge grants leave or permission.
On September 30, 2022, the Federal Court
allowed the two women to start their constitutional challenge.
Through the court challenge, the two
women are seeking for the Federal Court to declare that 20 provisions of
Kelantan’s Shariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 are invalid and null and
void, as the Kelantan state legislature has no powers to make laws on these
matters.
The 20 provisions cover various Shariah
offences listed by the Kelantan state legislature, including Sections 5 (false
claim); 11 (destroying or defiling place of worship); 13 (selling or giving
away child to non-Muslim or morally reprehensible Muslim); 14, 16 and 17
(sodomy, sexual intercourse with corpse, sexual intercourse with non-human); 30
(words capable of breaking peace); and 31 (sexual harassment).
The rest of the 20 provisions are
Sections 34 (possessing false document, giving false evidence, information or
statement), 36 (anything intoxicating), 37 (gambling), 39 (reducing scale,
measurement and weight), 40 and 41 (executing transactions contrary to
hukumsyarak and executing transactions via usury), 42 (abuse of halal label and
connotation), 43, 44, 45, 48 (offering or providing vice services, preparatory
act of offering or providing vice services, preparatory act of vice and
“muncikari” otherwise known as a person acting as an intermediary between a
woman and man or between the same gender for certain offences) and 47 (act of
incest).
Of the 20 provisions under review, 13
are recent, having only come into force in November 2021.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/18/civil-groups-say-islam-isnt-under-threat-in-nik-elin-case-shariah-laws-must-follow-same-law-making-process/85828
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National Registration Dept denies claim
54,000 applicants seeking citizenship all from China
By Opalyn Mok
18 Aug 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The National
Registration Department (NRD) has clarified that the 54,000 citizenship
applications mentioned by the Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin
Nasution Ismail referred to applicants from various backgrounds and countries,
not only China.
NRD said a portion of the statement by
Saifuddin, made on January 9 during a press conference, was manipulated to
misrepresent what he had actually said.
“His statement at that time was to
announce his commitment as the newly appointed minister to speed up the process
of approving or rejecting long-pending citizenship applications that have been
pending for a long period of time,” NRD said in a statement here.
It said the total 54,000 applications
Saifuddin mentioned referred to the total applications received between 2017
and 2022 and it included applications from diverse backgrounds and countries of
origin.
“Based on JPN records from 2019 until
July 31, 2023, only 45 individuals from China were granted Malaysian
citizenship overall (as per Article 19(1) based on country of origin),” it
said.
This came after a viral video clip
claiming that 54,000 Chinese nationals have applied for citizenship — and would
in the future turn into “DAP voters” — based on a Saifuddin press conference in
January.
Back then, Saifuddin had said that there
are 54,000 applicants out of which 7,000 have been approved while 36,000 are
currently being processed.
It said Saifuddin had also mentioned his
goal of delivering decisions on 10,000 applications within this year.
“This is a proactive measure by the
ministry to make timely decisions to ensure fairness to the applicants who had
waited for long periods of time,” it said.
It said it included applications under
Article 15(2), 15A, and 19(1) and that if their applications were rejected, they
can then seek other alternatives of continuing to live here or to relocate
elsewhere.
NRD stressed that citizenship
applications have always been subjected to provisions of the Federal
Constitution and other relevant laws.
An individual can only submit a
citizenship application after fulfilling the requirements allocated under Part
III of the Federal Constitution, Citizenship Rules 1964 and other relevant laws
regarding marriage registration, adoption, status of the child and immigration
regulations, it said.
“JPN hopes this clears up any confusion
or misunderstanding among the public regarding this issue,” it said.
It said the approval of citizenship
application is a privilege only granted to those who fulfilled all requirements
and are eligible.
“All application processes are subjected
to the Federal Constitution and are in line with existing laws to ensure the
sovereignty and security of the country,” it said.
In the January press conference,
Saifuddin was announcing a special committee being set up to look into all
citizenship matters in the country, following law minister Datuk Seri Azalina
Othman Said’s statement that government will soon begin the process to amend
the Federal Constitution to allow Malaysian women the right to grant
citizenship to their children, including those who were born overseas to
foreign fathers.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/08/18/national-registration-dept-denies-claim-54000-applicants-seeking-citizenship-all-from-china/85848
------
AGC must ‘do the right thing’ to drop
Najib's charges following leak of documents, says daughter
RAHIMY RAHIM
18 Aug 2023
PETALING JAYA: Nooryana Najwa Najib
wants the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC) to drop all the six corruption
charges in 2019 against her father Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Treasury
secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd IrwanSerigar Abdullah.
She said the AGC must "do the right
thing" and immediately drop the charges following the alleged leak of
documents from a prosecutor, recommending to the then attorney general Tan Sri
Tommy Thomas to drop the charges against the two.
"The 12-page internal memo goes
into great detail of why there was no merit to the case and that my father and
Irwan did not commit any wrongdoings over the IPIC settlement.
"What was revealed in the leaked
memo is indeed shocking," she said in a Facebook post on Friday (Aug 18).
On Aug 17, Attorney General Tan Sri
Idrus Harun told The Star that the AGC was investigating the matter.
“We are investigating the leak of the
documents,” Idrus said.
In the viral copy of the alleged
internal memo, the IPIC (International Petroleum Investment Company)
prosecution team was concerned that a strong prima facie case could not be
built for the six charges.
The said case referred to the charges
against the former prime minister and Irwan at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court
on Oct 25, 2018, where the two were jointly charged with six charges under
Section 409 of the Penal Code for breach of trust amounting to RM6.6bil in
government funds involving payments to IPIC.
On Dec 7, 2018, the case was transferred
to the High Court.
Nooryana said the alleged document
revealed how the AGC's own prosecution team had concluded that the six charges
were "non-starters" and do not meet the minimum requirement or
threshold to be brought to court.
Thomas had reportedly said he did not
remember the purported memo but Nooryana dismissed his remarks, describing it
as "a great insult to the public's intelligence".
Thomas, to whom the alleged leaked
internal memo was made on Sept 10, 2019, said that he resigned from the post
six months later without taking “a single file”.
“My resignation in Feb 2020 was
unplanned and I left without taking a single file.
“Therefore, I cannot remember this at
all as I do not have any access to any of the AGC files now,” he said.
Source: thestar.com.my
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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/08/18/agc-must-do-the-right-thing-to-drop-najib039s-charges-following-leak-of-documents-says-daughter
------
Africa
Libya: Tripoli-based prime minister
warns militia groups against further clashes
17 Aug 2023
Libya’s prime minister warned Thursday
that he would not tolerate any further militia clashes, following the bloodiest
bout of fighting to rock Tripoli this year, which killed at least 45 people.
Prime Minister of the Government of
National Unity Abdul Hamid Dbeibah made the statement at a meeting of Tripoli
elders, saying that "touching civilians is forbidden".
He added that if rival militias are not
"calmed down", then "there will be other decisions regarding
them".
"Every day people are terrorized.
People's lives are not a game. There will be other measures against them, we
have to be harsh," he said.
Dbeibah also apologized to those who had
lost family members in the violence.
"All of us, Libyans, are not
satisfied with what happened. And we will not be satisfied with it. We will not
be silent until we stop this matter," he said.
Dbeibah's statements came as Mahmoud
Hamza, a commander from the powerful 444 Brigade, was released and returned to
his militia's headquarters in Tripoli, according to footage broadcasted across
Libyan media late Wednesday.
Hamza's was detained by the rival
Special Deterrence Force at an airport in Tripoli on Monday sparking a 24 hour
of gun battle between the two forces in Tripoli.
Malek Merset, the spokesperson for
Libya’s Emergency Medicine and Support Center, said Wednesday that an
additional 146 people were injured. No new update has been provided. It was not
clear how many of the dead were militiamen or civilians.
The violence underscored the fragility
of war-torn Libya following the 2011 uprising turned civil war, which toppled
and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. In that time, militias have
grown wealthy and powerful, particularly in Tripoli and the west of the
country, Many profit from kidnappings and involvement in country’s lucrative
human trafficking trade.
The 444 brigade and the Special
Deterrence Force are two of the largest militias operating in Tripoli. Both
have previously been key backers of Dbeibah, joining forces in May 2022 to
thwart an attempt by a former rival Prime Minister from the east to the country
to enter the capital.
Since Wednesday, Libyan security forces
have upped their presence on the capital's streets. The country’s Interior
Ministry said security forces were deployed to areas where the fighting was
most intense, including the southern Fernajneighborhood and the al-Shouk Road.
A situation room had been set up to monitor developments, but by Wednesday a
tentative calm had returned to the city.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/17/libya-tripoli-based-prime-minister-warns-militia-groups-against-further-clashes/
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At least 36 Nigerian soldiers killed in
ambush, helicopter crash
17 Aug 2023
The Nigerian military announced on
Thursday that no less than 36 of its valiant soldiers were killed in their line
of duty, facing off against armed gangs in the northern-central region of Niger
state.
These resolute efforts to quell the
menace of these marauding gangs have underscored the grave challenges posed by
rampant criminality in the region.
For the past two years, the northwest
region of Nigeria has been under siege by heavily armed groups, causing
widespread devastation. The brazen acts of kidnapping and wanton bloodshed have
cast a shadow of fear over communities, rendering roads treacherous and
farmlands perilous.
In the unfortunate incident that
unfolded on August 14, an ambush struck with ruthless precision near Kundu
village, ensnaring both officers and soldiers in its deadly grip.
The toll of this assault was profound,
claiming the lives of three officers and 22 soldiers, while leaving seven
soldiers wounded. It was a tragic turn of events that shook the nation.
Amidst the turmoil, hope turned to
tragedy as an Air Force Mi-171 helicopter, sent to evacuate the fallen heroes,
met a grim fate near Chukuba village in Shiroro. Regrettably, this endeavor to
provide aid ended in disaster, with lives lost.
Though the cause of the crash remains
uncertain, sources within the military suggest that the helicopter may have
been targeted by gang members, unleashing a fatal barrage.
Major-General Edward Buba, the voice of
the defense, spoke somberly on the incident: "The helicopter crashed with
14 of the earlier killed in action personnel, seven of the earlier wounded in
action personnel, two pilots, and two crew members." The heartfelt
statement expressed the gravity of the situation, underlining the need for
investigation into the air crash and the ongoing efforts to retrieve the
fallen.
Even as these painful events unfold, the
battle against the pervasive menace rages on. The resilience of Nigeria's
security forces is being tested on multiple fronts, from contending with a
violent secessionist group in the east to grappling with the lethal
herder-farmer conflict in central states.
Meanwhile, a 13-year insurgency against
Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) continues to
challenge the resolve of the nation's defenders in the north.
In a glimmer of hope, a separate
military operation in Kaduna state yielded a small victory against the tide of
lawlessness. Acting on a tipoff, troops successfully rescued 10 hostages from
the clutches of their captors in a village within the Igabi local government.
The operation culminated in a fierce gun
battle, which tragically claimed the lives of the abductors.
These dual accounts paint a vivid
picture of the multifaceted struggle that Nigeria faces today. While resilience
and bravery remain unwavering in the face of adversity, the toll of this
relentless battle for security and stability is immeasurable.
Source: africanews.com
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Over 60 dead in migrant boat sinking off
Cape Verde coast
18 Aug 2023
More than 60 migrants are presumed to
have died on board a pirogue that left the coast of Senegal at the beginning of
July and was found off the coast of Cape Verde on Monday, the International
Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday.
An estimated 63 people died and 38
survived, including four children aged between twelve and sixteen, IOM
spokeswoman Safa Msehli told AFP.
The boat was spotted in the Atlantic on
Monday around 150 nautical miles (277 km) from the Cape Verdean island of Sal
by a Spanish fishing vessel, which alerted the Cape Verdean authorities, said
the police of the archipelago, around 600 km from the Senegalese coast.
In addition to the 38 survivors, the
rescuers found the remains of seven people, the spokeswoman reported.
According to the testimonies of the
survivors quoted by the Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other
sources, the boat had left the town of Fass Boye (west), on the Senegalese
coast, on 10 July with 101 passengers on board, all Senegalese with the
exception of one Bissau-Guinean.
As a result, 56 people are reported
missing. "Generally, when people are reported missing following a
shipwreck, they are presumed dead", explained the spokeswoman.
The authorities have so far refrained
from commenting on what happened after the pirogue left on 10 July.
But "those reported missing are all
dead", Abdou Karim Sarr, an official of the Local Artisanal Fishing
Councils (CLPA), a professional organisation, told AFP.
There is "sadness, consternation,
despair and total calm", Moda Samb, a local councillor from Fass Boye,
told AFP.
According to Mr Samb, 98% of the
occupants of the pirogue were from Fass Boye: "They were born and
raised" in this fishing village.
"One of the survivors who spoke to
his father on the phone told him that the others (missing) were dead," he
said. "Other (families) are waiting to find out if their children are
among the survivors", he said.
Cape Verde lies on the maritime
migration route used every year by thousands of Africans fleeing poverty or war
for Europe, or hoping for a better life, despite the danger of the journey
which costs hundreds of them their lives.
They travel aboard modest boats or
motorised pirogues supplied by smugglers who charge a fee for the journey. Many
land in the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago and gateway to Europe.
Numerous accounts tell of the perils of
the journey, subject to the vagaries of the weather, engine damage, thirst and
hunger.
The Cape Verdean authorities said they
had mobilised all necessary resources to assist the passengers, seven of whom
were hospitalised after disembarking on the island of Sal on Tuesday.
The Senegalese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said it was working to repatriate its nationals "as soon as
possible".
Around 90 migrants from Senegal, Gambia,
Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone had already been rescued in Cape Verdean waters
in mid-January.
Senegal has suffered several migration
tragedies in recent years.
Sixteen migrants died on the night of
23-24 July when their boat sank near Dakar. At least 13 Senegalese had lost
their lives a few days earlier off the coast of Morocco.
At the end of July, the Senegalese
government presented a national strategy to combat irregular migration,
focusing on prevention, border control, repression, and the return and
reintegration of migrants.
Source: africanews.com
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-----
Daily survival becomes a struggle for
Niger residents
18 Aug 2023
Amid Niger's political crisis, citizens
of the west African nation are struggling to get by day to day.
Many who fled their homes due to
jihadist attacks have ended up in the country's capital Niamey, where they are
trying to find food and work.
Niger has been in crisis since mutinous
soldiers overthrew the country's President Mohamed Bazoum in July, and detained
him, along with his wife and son.
Several people who had been displaced
from the Tillaberi region said on Thursday while they had fled attacks and
insecurity, life continued to be hard.
"I'm tired, some days I can't find
food. Some days I can work and other days I can't work," said Awa Kaderi.
Daouda Mounkaila meanwhile said he
supported the military, and would prefer that ECOWAS avoid military
intervention.
Deputy Secretary General for the
Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism Boubacar Sabo said the president's
imprisonment was a bigger issue than just Niger.
"This is putting in question the
democratic order in Western Africa and in Africa as a whole," he said.
Niger’s coup was seen by the
international community and ECOWAS as one too many and in addition to
threatening a military invasion, the bloc has imposed severe economic and
travel sanctions.
Awa Kaderi, displaced woman from Tillaberi
region now living in the outskirts of Niamey:
"We fled insecurity to come here.
We're tired. Some days I find food, other days I don't find food. I left my
place of residence to come here, but until now, I'm tired, some days I can't
find food. Some days I can work and other days I can't work."
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/18/daily-survival-becomes-a-struggle-for-niger-residents/
------
ECOWAS defence chiefs insist they are
ready to send troops to Niger should negotiations fail
18 Aug 2023
Will regional bloc ECOWAS send troops to
Niger to face off with the military authorites that staged the July 26 coup,
sacking Mohammed Bazoom from office?
This is the question dominating stories
and headlines across the region and certainly one that has left the landlocked
nation of Niger in an unprecedented mix of anger, fear and defiance.
After several meetings of west African
defence chiefs, the latest held in Accra, Ghana on Thursday 17 August, the
anwser to this question if at all clear remains that the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) is not letting go of the threat of military
intervention. They insist that the option of armed intervention remains on the
table.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner
on Thursday said all member states except for those under military rule and
Cape Verde have agreed to contribute troops for this standby force.
"...... The ball is in the hand of
the junta, the CNSP, in Niger. If they pull back from the brink, the military
option will not be necessary. But we want to warn them that all options are on
the table, and no options are off the table." says Musah.
All eyes are now set to see the next
line of action after the activation of the standby force of the regional bloc.
When will operations begin, where would the troops be assembled and how do they
intend to get into Niger whose borders are currently closed to Nigeria and the
Republic of Benin?
ECOWAS had on July 30, announced a
no-fly zone, the closure of borders with Niger, and the suspension of
commercial and financial transactions. They have demanded the country's coup
leaders release President Mohamed Bazoum after his July 26 ouster. But the
authorities in Niger led by coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani remain
defiant.
The nomination of a new prime minister
by the coup leaders last week appeared to signal the start of a transition to a
new government. Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine is tasked with leaing
the 21-member administration, with generals from the new military governing
council heading the defence and interior ministries.
On Wednesday 16 August, news emerged
that a group of locals in Niamey, Niger's capital aims to recruit tens of
thousands of volunteers from across the country to register for the Volunteers
for the Defense of Niger.
The group would fight, assist with
medical care, and provide technical and engineering logistics among other
functions, in case the junta needs help according to Amsarou Bako, one of the
founders, who spoke with The Associated Press Tuesday. "Anyone over 18 can register and the
list will be given to the junta to call upon people if needed", said Bako.
The junta is not involved, but is aware of the initiative, he said.
The regional bloc has already applied
trade and financial sanctions while France, Germany and the United States have
suspended aid programmes.
"As we continue our deliberations
today, I will like to remind us all that the purpose of our gathering is not
simply to react to events, but to proactively chart a course that preserves
peace, promotes stability and upholds democratic principles across our
region" Nigeria's chief of defence staff told his counterparts at the
meeting in Accra.
"We must remember that our
collective actions today will shape the legacy we leave for future generations.
The path that lies before us is not an easy one, but it’s a path that we must
tread nonetheless with courage and determination", General Christopher
Gwabin Musa stressed.
He was not alone with this view.
“If presidential guards in Guinea and
Niger, I would use the word 'take hostage' their president, nobody, and let me
repeat, nobody in West Africa is safe”
DominicNitiwul, Ghana’s Defence Minister warned.
The Accra meeting of top army commanders
on Thursday and Friday comes after fresh violence in Niger, with jihadists
killing at least 17 soldiers in an ambush. The United Nations warned Wednesday
that the crisis could significantly worsen food insecurity.
These fears come in light of an even
broader conflict with Mali and Burkina Faso, whose leaders have said that they
stand together to defend Niger and further warned that any foreign military
intervention in Niamey will be considered a declaration of war on both nations.
France last year withdrew its forces
from Mali and Burkina Faso after falling out with their military leaders, and
refocused its anti-jihadist strategy on Niger. The two countries, - Mali and
Burkina Faso ever since have grown closer to Russia and analysts expect Niger's
junta to toe the same path.
But first they would have to face the
task of fighting to stay in power should ECOWAS as planned deploy troops to the
country.
Source: africanews.com
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------
North America
Canada wildfires: Yellowknife residents
flee as fires loom
18 August 2023
Canadian fire crews battled to prevent
wildfires from reaching the northern city of Yellowknife, where all 20,000
residents are leaving by car and plane after authorities declared an evacuation
order.
On Thursday, hundreds of people lined up
outside the Sir John Franklin High School, one of the evacuation centers in
Yellowknife, to register for flights out of the city.
The Canadian Armed Forces are assisting
with the airlift operation, using Hercules aircraft to transport evacuees to
safer locations.
Water bombers flew low over Yellowknife
as thick smoke blanketed the capital of the vast and sparsely populated
Northwest Territories. Officials say the fire, which is moving slowly, is now
15 km (10 miles) northwest of the city and could reach the outskirts by
Saturday if there is no rain.
This is Canada's worst-ever wildfire
season, with more than 1,000 active fires burning across the country, including
265 in the Northwest Territories. Experts say climate change has exacerbated
the wildfire problem.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/08/18/709133/Canada-wildfires-Yellowknife
-----
US intelligence believes Ukraine
offensive will fail – WaPo
18 Aug, 2023
US intelligence agencies have made a “grim”
assessment of Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive, believing Kiev will fail to
plunge south toward the Crimean Peninsula by the end of the year, according to
the Washington Post.
Officials voiced doubts about the
Ukrainian mission in a classified intel report, the contents of which were
relayed to the Post on Thursday, with the outlet citing Moscow’s “brutal
proficiency” in defending captured territory.
“The US intelligence community assesses
that Ukraine’s counteroffensive will fail to reach the key southeastern city of
Melitopol,” the report said, adding that Kiev would then be unable to “fulfill
its principal objective of severing Russia’s land bridge to Crimea in this
year’s push.”
Though the peninsula has been under
Moscow’s control since its residents voted to rejoin Russia in 2014, Ukrainian
officials have repeatedly vowed to retake the region by force, insisting it is
Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
CIA knows Ukraine’s counteroffensive
will fail – Seymour HershREAD MORE: CIA knows Ukraine’s counteroffensive will
fail – Seymour Hersh
In Kiev’s plans to reclaim Crimea,
Melitopol would reportedly play a significant role as one of the largest urban
centers near the Azov Sea coast. Taking the city could offer a staging area for
further attacks on the peninsula itself, which has already been the target of
several Ukrainian strikes this year.
The Post report appears to echo recent
revelations by investigative reporter Seymour Hersh. In a story published
earlier on Thursday, he cited an unnamed US intelligence official who bluntly
stated that Ukraine “will not win the war.”
“The word was getting to [US Secretary
of State Antony Blinken] through the [CIA] that the Ukrainian offense was not
going to work,” Hersh’s source said. He added that the offensive has merely
been “a show by [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky, and there were some in
the administration who believed his bulls**t.”
Ukrainian leadership split over
counteroffensive – NewsweekREAD MORE: Ukrainian leadership split over
counteroffensive – Newsweek
The Ukrainian counteroffensive began in
early June, with Kiev deploying its best Western-equipped and trained brigades
in an attempt to sever Russia’s land bridge linking the Donbass with Crimea in
the southern province of Zaporozhye. The operation has been a failure by most
accounts, and according to Russian estimates, has cost Ukraine more than 43,000
troops and nearly 5,000 pieces of heavy equipment in exchange for a handful of
villages.
Since June, Zelensky has repeatedly
blamed his military’s lack of success on the West, insisting he was not
provided adequate weapons to penetrate Russian lines while demanding fighter
jets and long-range missiles. Ukrainian leadership is now split on whether to
continue the operation or wait and try again next spring, Newsweek reported on
Wednesday. According to the American magazine, Zelensky must now decide
“whether to go all-in and risk a costly failure, or to cut Ukraine’s losses and
accept a politically damaging defeat.”
Source: rt.com
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------
US calls on NATO states to send F-16s to
Ukraine – Reuters
17 Aug, 2023
Denmark and the Netherlands can send
Ukraine F-16 fighters as soon as the pilot training is complete, US Secretary
of State Antony Blinken said in a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday.
“I am writing to express the United
States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine
and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors,”
Blinken said in a letter to his counterparts in The Hague and Copenhagen.
According to the agency, Blinken pledged
that the US will approve all the necessary third-party requests for the
delivery of US-made jets, so that Ukraine can take “full advantage of its new
capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots complete their training.”
The letter comes just a day after
Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yury Ignat told reporters that Kiev had “high
hopes” for receiving the jets this year, but “unfortunately, it is already
clear that we will not be able to protect Ukraine with F-16s throughout the
fall and this winter.”
Ukraine’s ‘high hopes’ for F-16s
dashedREAD MORE: Ukraine’s ‘high hopes’ for F-16s dashed
Denmark and the Netherlands are
spearheading the “coalition” to train Ukrainian pilots on the US-made fighters,
which also consists of Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, the UK and Sweden. About half of those countries do not actually have
F-16s in their service. None of them have publicly committed to sending any of
the jets to Kiev.
The US is not sending any jets itself,
President Joe Biden’s top adviser Jake Sullivan was adamant in early July,
telling reporters they will “likely” come from “European countries that have
excess F-16 supplies.”
The single-engine fighter was designed
in the 1970s by General Dynamics, and is currently in limited production by
Lockheed Martin, which also makes the notorious F-35.
Ukrainian F-16 training impeded by
language barrier – PoliticoREAD MORE: Ukrainian F-16 training impeded by
language barrier – Politico
Ukrainian officials have said that the
training should begin “sometime in August,” with the planes entering service by
the end of March 2024, if everything follows the schedule. A recent report by
the Washington Post, however, noted that the initial six pilots will require a
four-month course in English before they can even start with the flight
lessons.
When Biden first brought up the F-16s in
May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that sending them to Ukraine
would be “an unacceptable escalation” and warned the West against “playing with
fire.”
Speaking in June, Russian President
Vladimir Putin predicted that F-16s “will burn” just like the Western tanks
supplied to Kiev, and said that Russia will find ways to strike at sites
outside Ukraine if the jets end up being based there. Operating the F-16
requires pristine runways, which Ukraine does not possess.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/581433-us-f16-ukraine-denmark-netherlands/
------
Canada devising ‘game plan’ for 2024 US
election
18 Aug, 2023
Ottawa’s top diplomat cited concerns
among officials about America’s next presidential race
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly
says Ottawa is working on a government response to the potential rise of an
authoritarian leader in the US following the 2024 election, noting that
officials are preparing to face a “difficult situation.”
Speaking to a Montreal broadcaster for
an interview on Wednesday, Joly said officials are developing several
“scenarios” for the result of next year’s race in the US, though revealed few
details about the planning.
“In general, there is our game plan,
precisely to be able to manage what could be a rather difficult situation,” she
said. “I will work with my colleagues and with the mayors, the provincial
premiers, with the business community, with the unions, with everyone in the
country, so that we are ready regardless of the election outcome.”
Campaigning for the 2024 presidential
contest has already become contentious, with multiple polls showing former
President Donald Trump as a frontrunner for the Republican nomination, despite
a string of ongoing criminal lawsuits.
My chances are close to 100% – TrumpREAD
MORE: My chances are close to 100% – Trump
Filed earlier this week, the most recent
indictment accused the ex-president of violating Georgia’s racketeering laws,
among other offenses, in relation to alleged efforts to invalidate Joe Biden’s
2020 election win. Trump also faces litigation in New York over a purported
hush-money scheme with porn actress Stormy Daniels, as well as separate federal
cases for the alleged mishandling of classified material and election
interference.
While Trump has denied all wrongdoing in
each case, the prospect of prison time for a former commander-in-chief and
current presidential hopeful has triggered fears of political unrest for some
officials.
Ahead of Trump’s first court appearance
for his classified documents case, law enforcement in Florida stepped up
security precautions in the event of violent protests. Though they never
materialized, demonstrators have continued to attend Trump’s hearings, with
supporters and critics facing off at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC
earlier this month.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/581440-canada-us-elections-game-plan/
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