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US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war

File photo Demonstrators take part in a protest against growing Islamophobia (AFP)

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Updated 30 July 2024

Reuters

July 30, 2024 04:01

US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war

Human rights advocates have reported a global rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism since the eruption in October

Updated 30 July 2024

Reuters

July 30, 2024 04:01

WASHINGTON: Discrimination and attacks against Muslims and Palestinians rose by about 70 percent in the US in the first half of 2024 amid heightened Islamophobia due to Israel’s war in Gaza, the Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group said on Tuesday.
Human rights advocates have reported a global rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias and antisemitism since the eruption in October of the Israel-Gaza war which has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis.
In the first six months of 2024, CAIR said it received 4,951 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents, a rise of nearly 70 percent compared with the same period in 2023.
Most of the complaints were in the categories of immigration and asylum, employment discrimination, education discrimination and hate crimes, CAIR said.
In 2023, CAIR documented 8,061 such complaints in the whole year, including about 3,600 in the last three months after the war broke out.
Alarming US incidents in the last nine months include the fatal October stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian-American child in Illinois, the February stabbing of a Palestinian-American man in Texas, the shooting of three students of Palestinian descent in Vermont in November and the attempted drowning of a 3-year-old Palestinian-American girl in May.
There have been numerous protests in the US, Israel’s key ally, against the war in Gaza since October. The CAIR report noted the crackdown by police and university authorities on pro-Palestinian protests and encampments on campuses.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on Oct. 7 when Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
The Gaza health ministry says that since then Israel’s military assault on the Hamas-governed enclave has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians while also displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, causing a hunger crisis and leading to genocide allegations that Israel denies.
CAIR says it compiles numbers by reviewing public statements and videos as well as reports from public calls, emails and an online complaint system. It also contacts people whose incidents are reported by media.

Topics: US Islamophobia Muslims Gaza

Congress bestows its highest honor on the 13 troops killed during Afghanistan withdrawal

Updated 26 sec ago

September 10, 2024 23:18

Congress bestows its highest honor on the 13 troops killed during Afghanistan withdrawal

Both Democrats and Republicans supported the legislation to honor the 13 US troops, who were killed along with more than 170 Afghans in a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s Airport in August 2021

Updated 26 sec ago

September 10, 2024 23:18

WASHINGTON: House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday posthumously presented Congress’ highest honor — the Congressional Gold Medal — to 13 US service members who were killed during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, even as the politics of a presidential election swirled around the event.
Both Democrats and Republicans supported the legislation to honor the 13 US troops, who were killed along with more than 170 Afghans in a suicide bombing at the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s Airport in August 2021. President Joe Biden signed the legislation in December 2021. On Tuesday, the top Republican and Democratic leaders for both the House and Senate spoke at a somber ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, hailing the lives and sacrifices of the service members.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the lawmakers gathered to “ensure the sacrifices of all our servicemembers were not in vain.”
“We must care for them and their families and defend the values of freedom and democracy they so nobly fought for,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said.
But rather than a unifying moment, the event took place against the backdrop of a bitter back-and-forth over who is to blame for the rushed and deadly evacuation from Kabul. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican and ally of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, scheduled the ceremony just hours before the first debate between Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris.
“They lost their lives because of this administration’s catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Johnson said at a news conference minutes before the ceremony.
Then as the speaker opened the ceremony, he took another jab at how the Biden administration has defended its handling of the final months of America’s longest war.
“To the families who are here, I know many of you have yet to hear these words, so I will say them: we are sorry,” Johnson said. “The United States government should have done everything to protect our troops, those fallen and wounded at Abbey Gate deserved our best efforts, and the families who have been left to pick up the pieces continue to deserve transparency, appreciation and recognition.”
Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee also released a scathing investigation on Sunday into the withdrawal that cast blame on Biden’s administration and minimized the role of Trump, who had signed the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday criticized the House report as partisan and one-sided and said it revealed little new information as well as contained several inaccuracies. He noted that evacuation plans had started well before the pullout and the fall of Kabul “moved a lot faster than anyone could have anticipated.”
He also acknowledged that during the evacuation “not everything went according to plan. Nothing ever does.”
“We hold ourselves all accountable for that,” he said of the deaths.
Top military and White House officials attended the ceremony Tuesday, including Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis Richard McDonough and Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Pentagon reviews have concluded that the suicide bombing was not preventable, and that suggestions troops may have seen the would-be bomber were not true.
Regardless, Trump has thrust the withdrawal, with the backing from some of the families of the Americans killed, into the center of his campaign. Last month, his political team distributed video of him attending a wreath-laying ceremony for the fallen service members at Arlington National Cemetery on the third anniversary of the bombing, despite the cemetery’s prohibition on partisan activity on the grounds as well as an altercation with a cemetery employee who was trying to make sure the campaign followed those rules.
The Gold Star military families who invited him to the Arlington ceremony have defended Trump’s actions. At a fiery news conference outside the Capitol Monday, they implored for the House report to be taken seriously and demanded accountability for those in leadership during evacuation from Kabul.
“President Trump is certainly not perfect. But he’s a far better choice, in my opinion, than the mess that Biden and Harris have created since Kabul,” said Paula Knauss Selph, whose son Ryan Knauss died in the Abbey Gate attack.
At the ceremony Tuesday, Coral Doolittle, whose son Humberto A. Sanchez was killed, spoke on behalf of the Gold Star families and asked the American public to “always remember the 13. Say their names, speak their names, and tell their stories.”
While Trump and Republicans have sought to link Harris to the withdrawal as a campaign issue, and Harris has said she was the last person in the room when Biden made his decision, neither watchdog reviews nor the 18-month investigation by House Republicans have identified any instance where the vice president had a significant impact on decision-making.
Still, House Republicans argued that Harris, as well as Biden’s national security team, needed to face accountability for the consequences of the deadly withdrawal.
“Kamala Harris wants to be the president of the United States. She wants to be commander in chief. She needs to answer for this report immediately,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
McCaul, the committee chairman, also defended the timing of the report by saying that the committee’s investigation had to overcome resistance from the Biden administration.
He cast the investigation as a “truth-seeking mission” rather than a partisan endeavor, but also bragged that out of all the investigations that House Republicans have launched into the Biden administration in the last two years “this investigation is the one they fear the most because they know ... they were wrong.”
Most assessments have concluded Trump and Biden share blame for the disastrous end to the 20-year war, which saw enemy Taliban take over Afghanistan again before the last American troops even flew out of the Kabul airport. Over 2,000 US troops were killed in Afghanistan.
The main US government watchdog for the war points to Trump’s 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw all US forces and military contractors as “the single most important factor” in the collapse of US-allied Afghan security forces and Taliban takeover. Biden’s April 2021 announcement that he would proceed with the withdrawal set in motion by Trump was the second-biggest factor, the watchdog said.
Both Trump and Biden kept up the staged withdrawal of US forces, and in Trump’s case sharply cut back important US airstrikes in the Taliban, even though the Taliban failed to enter into substantive negotiations with the US-backed civilian government as required by Trump’s withdrawal deal.
The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, also issued a memorandum in response to the GOP report, saying he was concerned by the “attempts to politicize the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
“Republicans’ partisan attempts to garner headlines rather than acknowledge the full facts and substance of their investigation have only increased with the heat of an election season,” Meeks said.

Topics: Mike Johnson US troops Afghanistan US Afghanistan withdrawal

Nestle to pay 2m euros to close France water probes

Updated 10 September 2024

AFP

September 10, 2024 21:46

Nestle to pay 2m euros to close France water probes

The deal ends preliminary probes into the use of wells without authorization and fraud for filtering its mineral waters
The non-prosecution agreement was justified as Nestle had cooperated with the probe

Updated 10 September 2024

AFP

September 10, 2024 21:46

STRASBOURG, France: Nestle’s water subsidiary, which produces brands such as Perrier, will pay 2 million euros ($2.2 million) to close French probes over illegal wells and treatment of mineral water, prosecutors said Tuesday.
The prosecutor in the eastern town of Epinal, Frederic Nahon, said the non-prosecution agreement was the “biggest concerning the environment signed in France to date.”
The deal ends preliminary probes into the use of wells without authorization and fraud for filtering its mineral waters — a practice that is illegal in France where mineral waters are supposed to be natural.
The Swiss group, whose water brands also include Vittel and San Pellegrino, will in addition spend 1.1 million euros over two years on projects to restore the environment in several French towns where it operates.
The prosecutor said the non-prosecution agreement was justified as Nestle had cooperated with the probe, had brought its practices into compliance and there were no public health consequences.
The deal, “while sanctioning the unauthorized activities that were found, encourages a faster conclusion, remediation of the environmental damage and compensation of several parties,” he said.
A local environmental group welcomed the deal but consumer groups criticized it.
“It’s a scandalous decision which sends a very bad message about a climate of impunity: Nestle Waters can deceive consumers around the world for years and get away with it by pulling out its checkbook,” said Ingrid Kragl, a fraud expert at Foodwatch.

Topics: Nestle Perrier prosecutors Mineral water

Four Italian and South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc’s summit

Updated 10 September 2024

September 10, 2024 19:44

Four Italian and South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc’s summit

The Chamonix-Mont Blanc search and rescue team found the two pairs of climbers at an altitude of 4,700 meters

Updated 10 September 2024

September 10, 2024 19:44

PARIS: French rescue officials said Tuesday they found the bodies of two Italian and two South Korean climbers close to the peak of Mont Blanc on the French side after they went missing on Saturday in bad weather.
The Chamonix-Mont Blanc search and rescue team found the two pairs of climbers at an altitude of 4,700 meters (over 15,400 feet) on the Alps’ highest peak. They died of hypothermia, rescue officials said.
The unaccompanied climbers had alerted rescuers on Saturday afternoon, but weather conditions continued to deteriorate, preventing rescuers from reaching their location from the ground or by helicopter.
Two other Korean climbers were successfully rescued on Sunday morning at an altitude of 4,100 meters (over 13,400 feet) after rescuers deployed a highly complex operation.
French authorities have opened an investigation.

Topics: France Mont Blanc Climbers bad weather

E3 and US slap sanctions on Iran over missiles for Russia

Updated 10 September 2024

Agencies

September 10, 2024 17:05

E3 and US slap sanctions on Iran over missiles for Russia

“Taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran,” UK, France, Germany said
London, Paris and Berlin: “We now have confirmation Iran made these transfers”

Updated 10 September 2024

Agencies

September 10, 2024 17:05

BERLIN: Germany, France and Britain on Tuesday condemned what they said was Iran’s delivery of ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine war and declared new sanctions targeting air transport.

“We will be taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran,” they said in a joint statement, adding that they would also “work toward imposing sanctions on Iran Air.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said earlier, on a visit to London, that Russia had received shipments of the ballistic missiles and “will likely use them within weeks in Ukraine.”

London, Paris and Berlin said that “we now have confirmation that Iran has made these transfers.”

“This is a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and will see Iranian missiles reaching European soil, increasing the suffering of the Ukrainian people,” they said.

“This act is an escalation by both Iran and Russia, and is a direct threat to European security.”

The three countries said they “will be taking immediate steps to cancel bilateral air services agreements with Iran.”

“In addition, we will pursue the designations of significant entities and individuals involved with Iran’s ballistic missile program and the transfer of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia.

“We will also work toward imposing sanctions on Iran Air,” they said, echoing a step also taken by Washington.

Blinken said Washington had privately warned Iran that providing ballistic missiles to Russia would be “a dramatic escalation” and said new sanctions would be imposed later on Tuesday.

The US later identified nine Russian-flagged vessels it said were involved in the delivery of weapons from Iran to Russia, designating them as “blocked property” under Washington’s sanctions regime, according to the Treasury Department’s website.

It also imposed additional measures on previously sanctioned airline Iran Air, the department said in a statement.

Blinken said Iran has trained dozens of Russian military personnel to use its Fath-360 close-range ballistic missile system, which has a maximum range of 75 miles (121 km).

The UK also said on Tuesday it had started terminating “all direct air services between the UK and Iran” as part of the new sanctions.

London said it was acting alongside international partners to “cancel its bilateral air services arrangements with Iran,” which would “restrict Iran Air’s ability to fly in to the UK.”

Iran Air operates direct flights between London and Tehran three days a week, according to the schedule listed on its website.

* With AFP and Reuters

Topics: Russia-Ukraine Conflict ballistic missiles Iran Air Germany France Britain

Doctors in Kolkata defy court order, protest for safety after medic murder

Updated 10 September 2024

Sanjay Kumar

September 10, 2024 16:48

Doctors in Kolkata defy court order, protest for safety after medic murder

Protesting junior doctors vow to end strike when safety measures are in place
Top medical body in West Bengal gives ‘unconditional’ support to protesters

Updated 10 September 2024

Sanjay Kumar

September 10, 2024 16:48

NEW DELHI: Junior doctors in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal defied a Supreme Court order requiring them to return to work on Tuesday, as they vowed to continue a weeks-long strike for workplace safety following the gruesome murder of a female doctor.

The 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered in early August inside the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal’s capital, Kolkata, where she worked.

A police volunteer also working at the hospital has been charged with the murder and arrested, but the case has since triggered daily demonstrations by medics calling for greater protection and workplace safety.

On Monday, the Supreme Court, which took up the matter in the wake of nationwide outrage over the incident, ordered the protesting doctors to return to work by 5 p.m. the next day and the state’s authorities to ensure the safety and security of doctors in hospitals.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, which represents about 7,000 physicians in the state, said it would follow the court’s order only if their safety demands were met by the state.

“The Supreme Court has said that the state can take action after 5 p.m., if they want to. At the same time, the Supreme Court has also asked the state to increase the security measures which has not been done at all,” Dr. Anustup Pal, the association’s member, told Arab News, as protesters gathered in front of the state’s health department to demand the resignation of its key leadership.

“We will continue till the demand is met,” Pal said. “We are unhappy at the representation done by the state at the Supreme Court.”

The protest is supported by the West Bengal chapter of the Indian Medical Association — the country’s top physicians’ body — which issued a statement after the court’s order, saying that no steps were being taken to deliver justice after the brutal murder and that the protest “will not die down.”

Dr. Sourav Datta, member of the association’s central committee, told Arab News that “almost no demand” from the protesting doctors had been fulfilled so far.

“Whatever decision they will take, the IMA will unconditionally give support to them,” he said. “The IMA will be with them.”

Topics: India Kolkata West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front

US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war

US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war

India court suspends order to restaurants to display owners’ names after anti-Muslim bias concerns

‘Many challenges’ in combating Islamophobia, protecting human rights: top OIC official

Congress bestows its highest honor on the 13 troops killed during Afghanistan withdrawal

Congress bestows its highest honor on the 13 troops killed during Afghanistan withdrawal

US congressional committee subpoenas Blinken over Afghanistan

Taliban says latest talks end on US Afghanistan withdrawal

Nestle to pay 2m euros to close France water probes

Nestle to pay 2m euros to close France water probes

Nestle hands out limited edition KitKat Iftar Bars in Canada

Nestlé Nutrition Institute gathers global experts in Saudi Arabia to discuss pediatric nutrition

Four Italian and South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc’s summit

Four Italian and South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc’s summit

Three Italian climbers found dead on Mont Blanc

French climber pockets Mont Blanc gems after 2013 find

E3 and US slap sanctions on Iran over missiles for Russia

E3 and US slap sanctions on Iran over missiles for Russia

Ukraine concerned at reports of Iranian ballistic missiles being sent to Russia

Iran to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia soon, intel sources say

Doctors in Kolkata defy court order, protest for safety after medic murder

Doctors in Kolkata defy court order, protest for safety after medic murder

Family of slain Kolkata doctor says police rushed them into cremation

Before Kolkata doctor rape, an unmet promise to keep India’s physicians safe

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US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war

US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war

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Congress bestows its highest honor on the 13 troops killed during Afghanistan withdrawal

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Nestle to pay 2m euros to close France water probes

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Four Italian and South Korean climbers are found dead close to Mont Blanc’s summit

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E3 and US slap sanctions on Iran over missiles for Russia

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