Day: December 23, 2021

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Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reiterate their desire to take the existing relations into new heights in all areas of mutual interest 

Islamabad, December 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reiterated their desire to take the existing relations into new heights in all areas of mutual interest. Both sides underlined the importance to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the two brotherly countries.

This was discussed at a meeting between the visiting Chairman of Shura Council of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullah Mohammad Bin Sheikh, who along with members of his delegation called on President Dr Arif Alvi, at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. Welcoming the delegation, the President said that Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia enjoyed deep historical ties and tremendous cooperation which needed to be further promoted for the mutual benefit of the two sides.

He appreciated the Kingdom’s historical and continued support, and financial assistance to Pakistan in difficult times. He congratulated the Saudi leadership for its timely initiative to convene the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC on the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

He lauded the role played by the Kingdom for mobilizing the international community as well as announcing financial help, during the recently held OIC session of Foreign Ministers for the people of Afghanistan. He expressed satisfaction that the OIC countries had given a strong message of hope, solidarity and unity to the people of Afghanistan during this challenging time. The President emphasized that the Islamic Countries should work together to address the challenge of Islamophobia.

The atrocities being committed by India against the innocent people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were also highlighted by the President during the meeting. He urged the international community to put pressure on India to stop committing human rights violations and grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN Security Council’s resolutions.

Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bin Sheikh said that he considered Pakistan as his second home and emphasized the need to take practical steps to further improve bilateral ties. He conveyed greetings to the President from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. He also congratulated the President on successfully holding the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC on Afghanistan.

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Indian police arrest two youth in Budgam

Srinagar, December 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian police on Thursday arrested two Kashmiri youth in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The youth were arrested by police from Magam area of the district. The youth have been identified as Mohammad Shafi Ganai and Zahoor Ahmad Chopan, said a police spokesman in a statement to media.

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Indian govt initiates new game plan to divide Sikhs

Islamabad, December 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Hindutva-backed BJP government has initiated a new game plan to create unrest in Indian Punjab by dividing Sikhs over desecration cases and make grounds for law enforcement agencies to take control of Gurdwaras as witnessed in sacrilegious act at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The media reports said, the issue is planned to exploit mere political gains by either delaying Punjab elections or making suitable alliances to create favourable political space. The reports said, extremist Indian government also wants to create Sikh-Muslim rift by attacking few Gurdwaras in Pakistan to close Kartarpur Corridor/discontinue Yatrees adding it also wants to blame Pakistan for Gurdwara desecration cases and develop hatred, use anti-Pakistan card for political game plan.

Fake propaganda by India against Pakistan for using cigarette wrappers in manufacturing plates to serve food at Gurdwaras in Pakistan, is a glaring example of such Indian nefarious designs, the reports said. Sikh community must expose nefarious Hindutva designs not only against Sikhs but all minorities in India. Hindutva and Brahman are the only beneficiaries and have win-win situation if any harm is caused to Sikh-Muslim affinity or people of Indian Punjab and Gurdwaras in Pakistan.

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Indian troops launch massive CASOs in IIOJK 

Srinagar, December 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Indian troops launched massive cordon and search operations in different areas of Srinagar and other districts, subjecting the local residents to immense inconvenience in biting cold. The troops during cordon and search operations in various areas of Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Islamabad and Pulwama districts forced the people to come out of their homes and made them to stay in open for hours in severe cold.

The residents told media that the troops barged into residential houses, misbehaved with women and intimidated the inmates. The locals of Kralgund area of Kupwara said that the Indian soldiers looted the houses and also took away the gold ornaments of a family. Pertinently, IIOJK is passing through Chilai Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period, which will conclude on January end.

Meanwhile, the families of three persons illegally detained by Indian police from Bandipora town in October, this year, staged a protest demonstration at the Press Enclave in Srinagar, demanding their immediate release. Indian police had arrested Armeem Gojar, Abdul Bari and Muhammad Suleman Gojar, after summoning them to a police station on 08 October, this year. They were later booked under draconian law, Public Safety Act.

Hurriyat leader and the Chairman of Islami Tanzeem-e-Azadi Jammu and Kashmir, Abdul Samad Inqilabi, in a statement issued in Srinagar said that the permanent peace in the world cannot be established without resolving the Kashmir dispute by giving the Kashmiris their right to self-determination.

Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti, addressing a gathering in Jammu, said the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government has turned entire Jammu and Kashmir into a laboratory where experiments are conducted on daily basis. She said the Modi regime is trying to fulfill its motives by using the Indian Army.

On the other hand, a Delhi court extended the judicial remand of noted Kashmiri human rights defender, Khurram Parvez, till January 21, 2022. He was arrested by Indian’s notorious National Investigation Agency after raiding his residence and office in Srinagar on November 22 and was later booked under draconian law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. A group of independent UN human rights experts and the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances have demanded immediate release of Khurram Parvez.

A series of incendiary video clips have surfaced on social media showing prominent Hindutva figures giving genocidal speeches targeting Muslims. The speakers including serial offender and controversial Hindu priest, Yati Narsighanad Saraswati, Sagar Sindhuraj Maharaj, Annapurna Maa, Dharamdas Maharaj and Anand Swaroop Maharaj were addressing a three-day hate speech conclave held from 17 to 19 December in Haridwar city of the Indian state of Uttrakhand. The speakers can be seen openly giving calls to kill members of Muslim community and attack their places of worship.

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US Chipmaker’s Apology to China Draws Criticism

U.S. chipmaker Intel is facing criticism in China after it apologized Thursday for a letter the firm sent to suppliers asking them “to ensure that its supply chain does not use any labor or source goods or services from the Xinjiang region.”

On Thursday, Intel posted a Chinese-language message on its WeChat and Weibo accounts apologizing for “trouble caused to our respected Chinese customers, partners and the public. Intel is committed to becoming a trusted technology partner and accelerating joint development with China.”

Intel’s apology came as U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which bans the import of goods produced by Uyghur slave labor. Under the measure, a company is prohibited from importing from China’s Xinjiang region unless it can prove that its supply chains have not used labor from Uyghurs, ethnic Muslims reportedly enslaved in Chinese camps.

Beijing denies complaints of abuses in the mostly Muslim region.

Intel is just the latest multinational firm to be caught up in the struggle over the Uyghurs issue as China prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February. Intel is among the International Olympic Committee sponsors. According to Reuters, 26% of Intel’s 2020 total revenue was earned in China.

Earlier this month, Intel’s letter to suppliers asking them to be sure not to use labor, products or services from Xinjiang cited restrictions imposed by “multiple governments.”

That sparked a backlash in China, with calls for a boycott and criticism of the company in state and social media. Global Times, a Chinese state-run newspaper, called Intel’s request to suppliers “arrogant and vicious,” according to reports.

Wang Junkai, also known as Karry Wang, a singer with the popular boy band TFBOYS, said on Weibo on Wednesday that he would not serve as an Intel brand ambassador. “National interests exceed everything,” he said, according to wire service reports.

Chinese officials acknowledged Intel’s apology.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a daily briefing in Beijing that “we note the statement and hope the relevant company will respect facts and tell right from wrong,” according to Reuters.

The White House also appeared to note the company’s apology.

Without naming Intel, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said at a briefing Thursday that U.S. companies “should never feel the need to apologize for standing up for fundamental human rights or opposing repression,” according to reports.

Source: Voice of America

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Australia Considers Charging Unvaccinated Residents for COVID-19 Hospital Care

A suggestion by Australia’s most populous state to charge unvaccinated people for COVID-19 medical costs has received widespread criticism. The New South Wales proposal has angered doctors and some federal politicians, who argue that health care in Australia is free and universal.

The New South Wales government has said that unvaccinated patients being treated for COVID-19 have been irresponsible and have burdened taxpayers with “very substantial costs.” And they could be forced to pay for their hospital care.

“There already is two classes of the hospital system because you have got the unvaccinated that are there because they have not been taking responsibility for their actions, and you have got the vaccinated there who have got a genuine requirement for health care, said State Transport Minister David Elliott.

But members of Australia’s federal government have been skeptical about making unvaccinated COVID-19 patients pay for their treatment. The Australian Medical Association said the proposal was “unethical,” and it doubted that it was even legal.

The president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr. Karen Price, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that it would affect disadvantaged communities.

“We might make all sorts of judgments on people who smoke or have an unhealthy lifestyle, and the unvaccinated would be a large cohort of those people who might have low health literacy, and we know in some of our Indigenous communities where vaccination rates are low, this would be an unethical procedure to implement,” he said.

Ninety percent of eligible Australians are fully vaccinated.

On Thursday, New South Wales recorded 5,715 COVID-19 cases — a new daily record for any Australian jurisdiction during the pandemic.

Testing clinics have been overwhelmed as Australians rush to be screened ahead of Christmas. A negative result is required for travel between various states and territories.

Western Australia has become the first jurisdiction to introduce mandatory COVID-19 booster shots for certain sections of its population.

It is also reintroducing internal border controls with Tasmania and the Northern Territory to try to curb the spread of the omicron variant. Entry into Western Australia from other parts of the country will be prohibited without an exemption.

Source: Voice of America