Updated October 27th, 2023 at 17:26 IST
Sweden reportedly withdrew the residence permit of an Iraqi man who staged a series of public desecrations of the Quran this year but put his deportation on hold, saying his life would be in danger if he were returned to Iraq.
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Protestor Salwan Momika outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm.
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AP
Sweden reportedly withdrew the residence permit of an Iraqi man who staged a series of public desecrations of the Quran this year but put his deportation on hold, saying his life would be in danger if he were returned to Iraq.
Sweden’s Migration Agency made the decision this week after determining that Salwan Momika had provided false information in his application for asylum, Swedish broadcaster TV4 reported Thursday.
An order of deportation was issued but placed on hold for security reasons, a Migration Agency official told the television station Thursday. Swedish media say Momika was granted a residence permit in 2021.
“The decision was made yesterday and means that this person's status and residence permit will be revoked and that he will be deported,” agency spokesman Jesper Tengroth was quoted as saying.
However, Tengroth added that “this person risks being subjected to torture and inhuman treatment if he returns to his home country. We have therefore decided that there is an obstacle to enforcing the deportation.”
Momika angered Muslims both in Sweden and abroad with anti-Islam protests in which he burned or otherwise desecrated the Quran. Swedish authorities allowed his demonstrations , citing freedom of speech, but his actions raised alarm among government and security officials who warned they could make Sweden a target for Islamic extremists.
Swedish police also filed preliminary hate speech charges against him.
Last week two Swedish soccer fans were killed before a match in Brussels in an attack by a gunman who specifically targeted Swedes, according to Sweden’s prime minister. Belgian authorities said the alleged gunman, who was shot dead by police following a manhunt, posted a video online after the attack in which he said the Quran was “a red line for which he is ready to sacrifice himself.”
Momika said he didn't want to put Sweden at risk but was exercising his right to criticize Islam under freedom of speech. He told TV4 he would appeal the decision to withdraw his residence permit.
“They want me to leave the country,” he was quoted as saying. “They told me to find a country that can receive me; otherwise it’s Iraq.”
Momika told TV4 he had no plans to leave Sweden and denied having given false information in his asylum application.
Tengroth wouldn't give details on what information in the application was false.
Published October 27th, 2023 at 17:26 IST
Updated October 27th, 2023 at 17:26 IST
Israel, US intelligence heads meet in Qatar for negotiations on hostages held by Hamas
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
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AP
Israel and US intelligence heads on Thursday held the trilateral meeting in Qatar, Doha with the Arab partners to discuss the negotiations for securing the release of the hostages in exchange for a humanitarian pause in Gaza. The heads held a dialogue to felicitate more humanitarian aid in to the besieged Gaza, a diplomatic source familiar with developments told the American broadcaster CNN.
The trilateral talks included the US intelligence agency CIA’s Director William Burns, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad’s head David Barnea and Qatari officials. During the meeting, the officials suggested a draft plan for the Hamas to release at least 10 to 20 civilian hostages in exchange for the short ceasefire that would last 2-3 days. The pause would be used to supply the humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza strip, the officials reportedly discussed.
Burns was a part of the crucial meeting between Barnea and the Qatari prime minister as they discussed about the release of the hostages in Hamas’ captivity since the Oct 7 raid. The meeting in Doha comes days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a dialogue with Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani about the release of the American hostages over the phone. Blinken was briefed about the status of the negotiations with the Hamas by Qatar, a mediator between the Arabs, Israelis, Palestinian Hamas, and Egypt. two sources were cited as saying by agencies.
Biden lauds efforts of regional partners in negotiations
US President Joe Biden previously lauded the efforts of United States’ regional partners for paving the way that enabled the injured Palestinians and the foreign nationals including the Americans to leave the besieged strip of Gaza. “I personally spent a lot of time speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and President Sissi of Egypt and others, to make sure that we could open this access for people to get out,” Biden said during a speech in Northfield, Minnesota.
“I want to thank our partners, in particular Qatar, who worked so closely with us to support negotiations to facilitate the departure of these citizens,” said the US President. Biden furthermore stated that more work needs to be done to “significantly step up the flow of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”
Published November 10th, 2023 at 02:15 IST
Updated October 27th, 2023 at 17:26 IST
WHO reports 'concerning developments' of disease in Gaza amid Israel-Hamas war
WHO warns of 'worrying trends’ of disease in Gaza.
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AP
A warning was issued by the World Health Organization, stating that the Gaza Strip has faced an increased risk of disease spreading as a result of Israeli air bombardments, on Wednesday. These bombardments have disrupted the health system and access to clean water, and have led to people crowding in shelters.
“As deaths and injuries in Gaza continue to rise due to intensified hostilities, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the rapid spread of infectious diseases,” said WHO. Further, it added, “Some worrying trends are already emerging.”
Gaza faces Humanitarian crisis
The humanitarian organisation has highlighted that the lack of fuel in the densely populated enclave had caused desalination plants to shut down, which has led to an increased risk of bacterial infections like diarrhoea spreading. According to them, more than 33,551 cases of diarrhoea had been reported since mid-October, the bulk of which were among children under five. A significant increase in the number of affected children was noted compared to an average of 2,000 cases per month in that age group throughout 2021 and 2022, according to the World Health Organization.
The collection of solid waste has been disrupted by the lack of fuel, leading to an environment conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects and rodents capable of carrying and transmitting diseases, as highlighted by WHO. It was stated that maintaining basic infection prevention measures at health facilities is "almost impossible," thereby increasing the risk of infection resulting from trauma, surgery, and childbirth. The warning emphasized that disrupted routine vaccination activities, along with a lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further heighten the risk of accelerated disease spread.
Key Hamas stronghold secured after 10-hour battle, IDF claims
As per the latest update, The Israel Defence Forces has claimed that it has secured a key Hamas stronghold after a 10-hour battle, reported Sky News. Troops belonging to the Nahal Brigade, one of the IDF's main infantry units, secured what it called a stronghold named "Outpost 17" in West Jabaliya in northern Gaza. Further, the Israeli troops have claimed that they have engaged in fighting "above ground and in an underground route" and suggested that Hamas may have used some of its vast tunnel networks during the battle.
"The fighters completed the takeover of the outpost after 10 hours of fighting, during which they eliminated terrorists, seized many weapons, uncovered terrorist tunnel shafts, including a shaft located near a kindergarten and leading to an extensive underground route," read the IDF update, reported Sky News.
Published November 10th, 2023 at 01:51 IST
Updated October 27th, 2023 at 17:26 IST
US' Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken to visit India to discuss strategic, defence & technology issues
President Biden and PM Modi
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PTI/File photo
A visit to India on November 09 & 10, 2023, by US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, has been scheduled to co-chair the India-US 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and conduct a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Secretary Austin, arriving in New Delhi on November 09, will be welcomed with a Tri-service Guard of Honour at the Palam Technical Area, as per the Ministry of Defence press statement.
The Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue will be co-chaired by Secretary Austin and US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Minister of External Affairs Dr. S Jaishankar on November 10. Subsequently, a bilateral meeting will be held between Secretary Austin and Raksha Mantri. The 2+2 dialogue and the bilateral meeting are expected to cover a range of strategic, defence, and technology issues. Secretary Austin's last visit to India was in June 2023 when he met with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Blinken to attend Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue
The discussions are expected to encompass a wide spectrum of issues, including strengthening bilateral relations, addressing global concerns, and promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. "The Secretary will then travel to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The delegation will meet with Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific," read an official statement by the US State Department.
A wide spectrum of issues, including the strengthening of bilateral relations, addressing global concerns, and promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, is expected to be encompassed in the discussions. An official statement by the US State Department stated, "The Secretary will then travel to New Delhi to participate in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The delegation will meet with Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, and other senior Indian officials to discuss both bilateral and global concerns and developments in the Indo-Pacific."
"Secretary of State Antony J Blinken will travel to Tel Aviv, Israel; Amman, Jordan; Ankara, Turkiye; Tokyo, Japan; Seoul, the Republic of Korea (ROK); and New Delhi, India November 2-10, 2023," said Matthew Miller, US State Department Spokesperson.
Notably, the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue has been considered as a diplomatic summit held every year since 2018, with the Minister of External Affairs and the Defence Minister representing India, and the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defence representing the United States. Common issues of concern between the two countries would be the centre of the discussion, reported ANI.
Published November 10th, 2023 at 01:47 IST
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