Posts

Showing posts from January 31, 2021

Sudan army clashes with Ethiopia forces, regains control of seized borderland

Border clashes between the Sudanese army and Ethiopian forces were renewed in Al-Fashqa Al-Sughra on Thursday. Sudanese sources have confirmed that the army has regained control of new lands previously seized by Ethiopian forces . The clashes that took place on Thursday were confirmed by Sudanese local media, the Sudan Tribune , Al-Sudani and Altaghyeer , reporting that fatalities and injuries occurred on the Sudanese side due to the fighting. The Sudan Tribune reported that the Sudanese army on Thursday recovered an area on the borders following clashes with Ethiopian forces and militias in Al-Fashqa Al-Sughra, resulting in one death and eight injuries in the Sudanese forces. The news website quoted military sources stating that the army managed to re-control the area of Cumbo Melkamu located in Al-Fashqa Al-Sughra, adjacent to the border strip with the Ethiopian Amhara region. The news was also confirmed by Altaghyeer newspaper, quoting a military source stating:

US calls out human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang, Tibet

Image
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Carlos Barria/Pool Photo via AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed for accountability on human rights abuses, particularly in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong while talking to senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi. “I made clear the US will defend our national interests, stand for our democratic values and hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of the international system,” said Blinken. Beijing will be held “accountable for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan strait and its undermining of the rules-based international system,” he added. Blinken also pressed Chinese officials to condemn the current military coup in Myanmar. The diplomat has previously signaled his stance in a Twitter post. The tough stance against China follows signals from the Biden administration that they would not reverse the Trump ad

Uyghur Activist Calls Out Hollywood Hypocrisy: Rihanna, Refuse to Bow to China’s Blood Money

Rushan Abbas, a whistleblower and Uighur activist based in Washington DC, has written an open letter to international pop star Rihanna , asking her to also raise her voice against the genocidal crimes perpetrated on Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese government. In an open letter addressed to the award-winning singer, Abbas, whose sister has been placed in a camp by the Chinese authorities, asked: “Why aren’t we talking about this?” regarding the Uyghur genocide. “Why aren’t we talking about this?” was the phrase used by Rihanna in connection with the ongoing farmer agitation in India. Abbas, the founder and executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs, wrote that while she did not wish to attack Rihanna, Hollywood is one of the reasons the entire world community has turned a blind eye to the plight of Uyghur Muslims. “As the Chinese regime commits active genocide, it is also forcing the silence of Hollywood . In an industry that is quick to comment on social or political

How the US Lost to Hackers

If ever there was a sign the United States was losing control of information warfare, of its own warriors, it was the moment one of its own, a young American contractor, saw first lady Michelle Obama’s emails pop up on his screen. For months, David Evenden, a former National Security Agency analyst, questioned what he was doing in Abu Dhabi. He, like two dozen other N.S.A. analysts and contractors, had been lured to the United Arab Emirates by a boutique Beltway contractor with offers to double, even quadruple, their salaries and promises of a tax-free lifestyle in the Gulf’s luxury playground. The work would be the same as it had been at the agency, they were told, just on behalf of a close ally. It was all a natural extension of America’s War on Terror. Mr. Evenden started tracking terror cells in the Gulf. This was 2014, ISIS had just laid siege to Mosul and Tikrit and Mr. Evenden tracked its members as they switched out burner phones and messaging apps. The images th

Syrian teen arrested in Norway for plotting attack

Norway's intelligence services (PST) said Friday it had arrested a 16-year-old Syrian immigrant suspected of planning an attack on an undisclosed target. The suspect, who was arrested on Thursday, has been living in Oslo for several years and had begun preparations to carry out his attack, PST spokesman Trond Hugubakken told AFP. “He is suspected of plotting an attack. It’s more serious than the usual cases of participation in or attempted participation in a terrorist organisation,” he said. The teen was to appear before a judge on Friday for a detention hearing, which PST was to request be held behind closed doors. No details were provided on the intended target which, according to information provided to AFP, was in Norway. “He claims he is innocent and will ask to be released. His age is not compatible with a detention order,” the suspect’s lawyer Andreas Berg Fevang told AFP. According to the VG

Aid groups hail US taking Yemen's Houthis off terror list

Image
Aid agencies working in war-torn Yemen on Saturday welcomed plans by President Joe Biden’s administration to revoke the terrorist designation of Yemen’s Houthi rebels in order to mitigate one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. Aid agencies working in war-torn Yemen on Saturday welcomed plans by President Joe Biden’s administration to revoke the terrorist designation of Yemen’s Houthi rebels in order to mitigate one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, said the designation would have done nothing to address terrorism in the Arab world’s poorest country, and would only hinder much-needed aid deliveries to Yemenis living in Houthi-held areas. “This is a further, vital, correct decision to bring hope to Yemen’s crisis-stricken population,” he said. “The next steps are to raise aid flows, negotiate a permanent cease-

UN: India vows to fight terrorism on first International Human Fraternity Day

 India continues to raise voice against violence, terrorism and intolerance at the United Nations Security Council. During the first International Day of Human Fraternity India recalls that the Constitution gives pride of place to 'Fraternity'. It underlined pluralistic tradition and need to fight dark forces of terrorism. The day underlines the significance of raising awareness about different cultures and religions. It also promotes tolerance. India also called for engagement between Syria and Org. for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It highlighted the need for an impartial investigation into any alleged use of chemical weapons. India remains concerned about the possibility of dangerous weapons of mass destruction falling into the hands of terrorist organizations and individuals. Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/un-india-vows-to-fight-terrorism-on-first-international-human-fraternity-day/videoshow/80724275.cms

US Blinken, Saudi foreign minister discuss Yemen, human rights

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Arabia's foreign minister on Friday discussed issues ranging from regional security to human rights and the war in Yemen, the State Department said on Saturday, according to a report by Reuters . The discussion between Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud took place on the same day that the United States said it intended to revoke a terrorist designation for Yemen's Houthi movement – against which a Saudi-led coalition is fighting – in response to Yemen's humanitarian crisis. "The secretary outlined several key priorities of the new administration, including elevating human rights issues and ending the war in Yemen," State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. The new administration of President Joe Biden has said it would cut off US support for a Saudi-backed campaign in Yemen and step up diplomacy to end the war through the appointment of a Yemen envoy. Wa

International Criminal Court paves way for war crimes probe in Palestinian territories

THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court ruled Friday that it had jurisdiction over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, paving the way for the tribunal to open a war crimes investigation. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had asked the court for its legal opinion on whether its reach extended to areas occupied by Israel, after announcing in December 2019 that she wanted to start a full probe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the ICC as a "political body" while the United States said it had "serious concerns" over the decision. The Palestinians called it a "victory for justice". The ICC said in a statement that judges had "decided, by majority, that the Court's territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine... extends to the territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem." Palestine is a state party to the court, having joined in 2015

Turkey: Uyghurs stage protest outside Chinese embassy

Uyghur Turks who have not heard from their families living in East Turkistan staged a protest on Friday outside the Chinese Embassy in Turkey, Anadolu Agency reports. They held banners saying: "Where is my family?" and "Release my family". The spokesman for the group, Mirzehmet Ilyasoglu, called on the world to raise voice against those crimes against humanity. He added that another protest they started outside the Consulate General of China in Istanbul has entered its 46th day. Hanefi Sinan, head of the Ankara branch of the Union for Turkish Municipal and Special Administration Employees, who was at the protest, said they could not remain silent to oppression no matter where it occurs in the world. China's Xinjiang region [East Turkistan] is home to around 10 million Uyghurs. The Turkic Muslim group, which makes up around 45% of Xinjiang's population, has long accused China's authorities of cultural, religious and economic discriminatio

In Germany, fighting against extremism starts at school

Jule Grahmann had heard enough from her classmates. Fellow students at her high school in Erfurt, a small eastern German city, would say mean things about Syrian refugees who’ve resettled in the country. And there were the comments in history class when other students would talk “in a very mean way” about World War II. Related:  A new book in Germany makes fun of anti-Semitism through cartoons Outside of school, she’s heard trash-talking on the soccer field, aimed at nonnative German players. “Most of them wanted to make fun but sometimes it escalated to conflicts between parents,” Grahmann said. It inspired Grahmann, 18, to start an anti-racism group at her school last year with a handful of other classmates. The group tries to raise awareness about being respectful of one another through workshops and other projects. “I think this is the problem: Lots of young people don't think of their opinions and of their comments in a real way. They sometimes aren’t aware of what

'I Silenti' gives a voice to those who died in the Romani genocide

Editor’s note: Tcha Limberger, the featured musician in "I Silenti," uses the word “Gypsy” to refer to his community — some find that term offensive and recommend “Roma” or “Romani” instead. Violinist and vocalist Tcha Limberger is deeply connected to the subject matter of “I Silenti,” a performance piece that features his Romani heritage. The work, which translates from Italian to “the silent ones,” pays homage to the hundreds of thousands who died in the Romani genocide during the Holocaust — their story is often left out of history. Related:   5 websites to help educate about the horrors of the Holocaust Limberger, who lives in San Sebastian, Spain, has been having vivid dreams about having to flee the Nazis, and facing death. “I can’t really explain this. It’s like some collective memory or consciousness that is there.” “I can’t really explain this,” 44-year-old Limberger said. “It’s like some collective memory or consciousness that is there.” Limberger and his colla

Canada lists 'Proud Boys' as terrorist group, says 'violent extremism has no place'

Image
Canada on Feb 3 announced a list of 13 groups named ‘terrorist entities’ including the far-right ‘Proud Boys’ saying that it posed an active security threat. Canada on February 3 announced a list of 13 groups named ‘terrorist entities’ including the far-right ‘Proud Boys’ saying that it posed an active security threat and that it played a “pivotal role” in the January 6 US Capitol attack that left at least five people dead including one police officer. The move, hailed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as government’s action to ‘keep citizens safe’, came even though Proud Boys have never mounted an attack in Canada. Further, the nation’s Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in a statement that the worry over the group had increased among the domestic intelligence forces.   "There has been a serious and concerning escalation of violence - not just rhetoric but activity and p

In the Fight Against Extremism, Don't Demonize Surveillance-Busting Tools like Signal and Bitcoin

I n the past few weeks, millions of Americans have joined Signal, a free open-source encrypted chat app. Users are fleeing from WhatsApp in droves, sparked by a pop-up disclosing that the messenger will share personal data with Facebook, and by broader concerns over big tech in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol . But just as encryption is seeing its biggest breakthrough yet, a counter-narrative is rising up again: that we should be wary of privacy-protecting platforms because they can help extremists and criminals. Read More: Big Tech’s Business Model Is a Threat to Democracy. Here’s How to Build a Fairer Digital Future Top media outlets ranging from The New York Times to the Associated Press are running articles about how mass surveillance-busting tools like Signal and Bitcoin are being used by domestic extremists. Joe Biden’s U

Extremists in the military - and how to define and identify them - a challenge for commanders

Image
The National Guard’s deployment of thousands of troops to protect the inauguration of a new president was prompted by the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by right-wing radicals. But its removal of 12 of its own soldiers from that duty underscored a rising concern: how far has radicalization permeated the armed forces? None of the guardsmen had ties to extremists, but two of them made “inappropriate” comments and texts, the National Guard Bureau said. It was enough to chill those already worried about domestic terrorism. The armed forces have rules to weed out extremism in the ranks. The question now is whether commanders will be paying closer attention, some observers said. Military leaders at every level are supposed to remain alert for signs of “future prohibited activities,” and are encouraged to quickly intervene, preferably through counseling. “All military personnel, including members of the National Guard, have undergone a background