Category: World

  • Woman in Lahore Harassed by Mob for Wearing Dress with Arabic Calligraphy

    Lahore, Pakistan: A seemingly ordinary day at the bustling Ichhra Market took a dangerous turn when a woman’s dress ignited a misunderstanding that could have turned tragic. The woman, unaware of the potential offense, wore a dress with Arabic calligraphy. This triggered a mob from Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, believing the text to be Quranic verses. They encircled and verbally attacked her, fueled by misinterpretation.

    Heroic Intervention: Fortunately, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Syeda Shehrbano Naqvi bravely intervened. Demonstrating remarkable courage and quick thinking, she de-escalated the situation and ensured the woman’s safety. This act of heroism earned her widespread praise and a nomination for the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Police Medal.

    Beyond the Incident: The incident sparked a nationwide conversation about tolerance, prejudice, and individual bravery. While many condemned the violence and commended Naqvi’s actions, others highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity and the potential for misinterpretations in a deeply religious society. This discussion has led to broader conversations about balancing religious respect with individual freedom, the dangers of mob mentality, and the importance of critical thinking before reacting hastily.

    Lessons Learned: As the incident fades from memory, it serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of misinformation and the importance of seeking understanding before jumping to conclusions. It also underscores the critical role of law enforcement in protecting individuals from unwarranted aggression. The incident ultimately shines a light on the courageous individuals like ASP Naqvi who step forward to defuse tense situations and promote peace amidst misunderstanding.

  • Nearly 10,000 died from COVID-19 last month, fueled by holiday gatherings and new variant, says WHO

    Geneva, Jan 11: The head of the U.N. health agency said Wednesday holiday gatherings and the spread of the most prominent variant globally led to increased transmission of COVID-19 last month.

    Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly 10,000 deaths were reported in December, while hospital admissions during the month jumped 42% in nearly 50 countries — mostly in Europe and the Americas — that shared such trend information.

    “Although 10,000 deaths a month is far less than the peak of the pandemic, this level of preventable deaths is not acceptable,” the World Health Organization director-general told reporters from its headquarters in Geneva.

    He said it was “certain” that cases were on the rise in other places that haven’t been reporting, calling on governments to keep up surveillance and provide continued access to treatments and vaccines.

    Tedros said the JN.1 variant was now the most prominent in the world. It is an omicron variant, so current vaccines should still provide some protection.

    Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead at WHO for COVID-19, cited an increase in respiratory diseases across the globe due to the coronavirus but also flu, rhinovirus and pneumonia.

    “We expect those trends to continue into January through the winter months in the northern hemisphere,” she said, while noting increases in COVID-19 in the southern hemisphere — where it’s now summer.

    While bouts of coughs, sniffling, fever and fatigue in the winter are nothing new, Van Kerkhove said this year in particular, “we are seeing co-circulation of many different types of pathogens.”

    WHO officials recommend that people get vaccinated when possible, wear masks, and make sure indoor areas are well ventilated.

    “The vaccines may not stop you being infected, but the vaccines are certainly reducing significantly your chance of being hospitalized or dying,” said Dr. Michael Ryan, head of emergencies at WHO.–(AP)

  • Waseem Reza Kashmiri denounces cowardly terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran.

    Expressed solidarity and prayers in the face of tragedy.

    Srinagar: Moulana Waseem Reza Al-Kashmiri, a prominent religious preacher currently studying at the globally renowned Jamia Al-Mustafa(S) Howza Ilmiya in Qom, Iran, has vehemently condemned the recent terrorist bomb attack in the city of Kerman.

    Issuing a statement from the holy city of Qom, Moulana Waseem Reza Al-Kashmiri emphasized that the act of shedding innocent blood, particularly during the commemoration of General Haaj Qasem Soleimani at Gulzar Martyr’s graveyard, is a stark manifestation of cowardice rather than bravery.

    The religious cleric condemned the perpetrators and their masterminds as explicit enemies of Islam and humanity, highlighting the severity of the brutality witnessed in the attack. He expressed his solidarity with the Supreme Leader of the Muslim world, Hazrat Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, and extended heartfelt condolences to the people of Iran in the wake of this tragic incident.

    Moulana Waseem Raza Kashmiri’s statement conveyed prayers for the families of the martyrs, urging strength and patience during this challenging time. Additionally, he invoked blessings for a swift and complete recovery for those injured in the attack.

    Emphasizing the resilience of the people, the religious preacher asserted that such acts of terror aimed at weakening morale would only serve to fortify the collective spirit of the community. The statement underscored the unwavering commitment to unity and strength in the face of adversity.

  • Pakistan bans New Year celebration in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

    Pakistan bans New Year celebration in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Announcement made by the caretaker Pakistan PM Kakar.

  • PM Modi Meets Israeli Prez In UAE, Bats For Palestine Resolution

    Dubai- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and underscored India’s support for an early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

    Modi met Herzog on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Action Summit here in the UAE.

    The Prime Minister expressed his condolences on the loss of lives in the October 7 terror attacks and welcomed the release of hostages, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said on X.

    On October 7, Israel was stormed by Hamas fighters in a deadly and surprise assault that triggered invasion of Gaza resulting in the death of thousands of Palestinans mostly civilians.

    Modi and Herzog exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in the region.

    “The Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued and safe delivery of humanitarian aid for the affected population,” Bagchi said.

    Modi emphasised India’s support for a two-state solution and early and durable resolution of the Israel-Palestine issue through dialogue and diplomacy.

    “..at the COP28 conference, I met dozens of leaders from around the world. I spoke with them about how Hamas blatantly violates the ceasefire agreements and repeated again and again the demand to place the release of the hostages at the very top of the international community’s agenda, alongside respect for the right of the State of Israel to defend itself,” Herzog said.

  • Gaza is fast becoming a mass grave: Angelina Jolie slams Israel

    Famous actress and former UNHRC special envoy Angelina Jolie posted to Instagram on Wednesday, attacking Israel and its supporting countries, claiming that Israel is preventing humanitarian aid into the Jabaliya area of the northern Gaza Strip.

    “This is a deliberate bombing of a trapped population who have nowhere to flee,” she wrote as her caption on Instagram to a new post. “Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. 40% of those killed are innocent children. Whose families are being murdered. While the world watches and with the active support of many governments.”

    Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra on Thursday said at a press conference that the death toll rose to 9,061, including 3,760 children and 2,326 women, while the number of injured surpassed 32,000.

    He said Israeli forces carried out 15 attacks in the past 24 hours, killing 256 people and wounding hundreds.

  • Masjid Al Haram Witnesses First Birth In Years

    MAKKAH: The Saudi Red Crescent announced on Monday in a statement that a local team of paramedics safely delivered a baby in the Grand Mosque.

    Dr. Mustafa Baljoun, the director of the Red Crescent branch in Makkah, reported an incident in which the command and control room received a report on Monday at 12:05 a.m. The report stated that a woman hailing from Sudan was suffering from abdominal pain in the western yard of the Grand Mosque next to the Al-Tawhid Hotel. However, upon arrival of the medical teams, it was discovered that the woman was in labor, experiencing contractions, and about to give birth.

    The situation was critical as the woman’s water had broken, and the baby’s head had already emerged. Fortunately, the ambulance teams immediately followed the established protocol for such cases and successfully assisted the mother in delivering the baby.

    Both the mother and the newborn were then transferred to Ajyad General Hospital and were confirmed to be in good health.

    Dr. Baljoun emphasized the importance of requesting ambulance services in emergency situations by dialing 997. Additionally, there are alternative methods to request emergency services, such as using the “Asefni” (“أسعفني”) application or making a distress call through the Tawakkalna app. These options also offer features like accurate location determination to help the ambulance team quickly reach the reported location and provide assistance.

  • Saudi Arabia to go ahead with Shakira concert scheduled to begin today

    The General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, headed by Turki Al-Sheikh, announced that the international artist Shakira will be the star of the opening ceremony of the Riyadh season.

    This comes amid calls to cancel entertainment concerts in solidarity with Gaza, amidst sharp criticism of Saudi Arabia, its leaders, and especially Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of the General Entertainment Authority in the Kingdom, insists on completing the Riyadh season, which will be inaugurated with a grand concert by Shakira.

    Many activists criticized the lack of consideration by Saudi leaders for the massacre experienced by the Palestinians at the hands of the land and history usurpers.

    Shakira will participate in her first musical concert in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as part of the Riyadh 2023 season, which will start on October 28th.

  • Elon musk extends support to Gaza, offers internet connectivity

    Following a communication outage as Israel intensifies its military attack in the enclave, Elon Musk has offered to support internationally recognized humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza with his Starlink advanced satellite system.

    Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel announced on Friday night that all landline, mobile and internet had been lost on the Gaza Strip after the Israeli bombing destroyed remaining fiber routes serving the territory.

    The Israeli military action is in response to horrific terror attacks carried out by Palestinian extreme militant group Hamas in Southern Israel on October 7.