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UN provides 15 mln USD for floods response in South Sudan

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UN provides 15 mln USD for floods response in South Sudan

The United Nations has allocated 15 million U.S. dollars for an urgent response to the devastating flooding that has affected more than 700,000 people in South Sudan, an official said Thursday

JUBA, South Sudan (DT/Xinhua) – The United Nations has allocated 15 million U.S. dollars for an urgent response to the devastating flooding that has affected more than 700,000 people in South Sudan, an official said Thursday.

Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, said 10 million dollars from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will be used to provide critical assistance to those affected by severe flooding across five highly impacted counties in South Sudan.

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Gbeho also released an additional five million dollars from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund to complement the 10 million dollars from CERF, aimed at bolstering critical response pipelines and frontline services. “Floodwaters are already devastating lives and livelihoods across South Sudan,” she said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

“Homes, crops, and critical infrastructure have been destroyed, leaving communities without access to essential services such as healthcare and education, and displacing people,” Gbeho added.

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A child is seen at a temporary camp hosting flood victims in Mangalla, South Sudan, Oct. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Gale Julius)

As of Thursday, more than 735,000 people in 38 of South Sudan’s 78 counties, including the Abyei Administrative Area, have been affected by the flooding, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The OCHA said that the CERF funding will enable frontline humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving services in health, shelter, non-food items, and water, sanitation, and hygiene support to vulnerable communities already reeling from the devastating effects of the flooding.

South Sudan is facing unprecedented flooding, with forecasts predicting above-average rainfall, river flows from Uganda, and potentially record-breaking floods.

The joint flood preparedness and response plan, developed by the government, the UN and other partners, aims to assist 2.4 million people. It also identifies 20 high-risk counties across Warrap, Upper Nile, Unity, Jonglei/Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Lakes, Central Equatoria, and Northern Bahr el Ghazal states as priority areas for intervention.

Many of these areas are already grappling with the compounded impact of past floods, ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and acute food insecurity, further exacerbated by the ongoing crisis in neighboring Sudan.

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US Delegation Led by Donald Lu to Arrive in Bangladesh Tomorrow for Talks with Interim Government

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US Delegation Led by Donald Lu to Arrive in Bangladesh Tomorrow for Talks with Interim Government

New Delhi, India (DT) – US Delegation Led by Donald Lu to Arrive in Bangladesh Tomorrow for Talks with Interim Government.

A high-level US delegation, headed by Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu, is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh tomorrow. The visit will focus on meetings with the interim government to discuss key bilateral issues and regional concerns.

RELATED NEWS : Six killed in Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar landslides

Dhaka is ready to host a comprehensive and multi-faceted discussion as it welcomes the first US high level delegation tomorrow following the formation of the interim government, led by Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. 

US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu, who is currently in New Delhi, will lead a delegation to Bangladesh starting tomorrow. The visit will include meetings with key officials, such as Chief Adviser Prof. Yunus, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, and Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, among others.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin will host a working lunch attended by representatives from relevant ministries. According to Jashim, the discussions will address a broad range of issues rather than a single topic.

A US State Department spokesperson indicated that the talks will center on how the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability, and development priorities. Assistant Secretary Lu will also reaffirm the US commitment to promoting economic growth and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.

In Dhaka, Lu will join an interagency delegation, including representatives from the US Department of the Treasury, USAID, and the Office of the US Trade Representative, to discuss advancing bilateral relations in light of the current political situation.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Lu will join an interagency delegation for meetings with the Bangladeshi interim government. The delegation will include representatives from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAID, and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. U.S. and Bangladeshi officials will discuss how the United States can support Bangladesh’s economic growth, financial stability and development needs.

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Six killed in Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar landslides

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Six killed in Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar landslides

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh (DT/BSS) – At least six people, including three Rohingyas, were killed in separate landslides in Sadar upazila and at a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of the district in the early hours of today.

Three members of a family died in South Dikkul area under Jhilongja union in the Sadar upazila while three members of another family died at the Hatikumrul-14 Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of the district.

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The separate incidents occurred late Thursday night and early hours of today.

Giyas Uddin Zhiku, the former chairman of Jhilongja Union Parishad said that they heard the sound of a landslide from the direction of Mizan’s house during heavy rain at night. Later, they went there and saw that Mizan’s family was crushed under the landslide. Mizan was immediately rescued alive around 3am. Later, with the help of the locals, the bodies were recovered from the spot.

The deceased were identified as Akhi Moni, 21, wife of Mizanur Rahman and their two children – Miha Jinnat, 5, and Latifa Islam, 1.

Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury visited the affected area and cash Taka 75,000 were given to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, Additional Commissioner of Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commission Mohammad Samsud Douza Nayan said, due to continuous heavy rains, three residential houses were destroyed by a landslide in Hakim Para Rohingya Camp No. 14 in Ukhiya upazila and three brothers of the same family died due to soil pressure.

They are Abdur Rahim, Abdul Hafeez and Abdul Waheed, sons of Kabir Ahmed of E-2 block of the camp.

Cox’s Bazar Meteorological Office assistant meteorologist Abdul Hannan said that the total rainfall in 27 hours from 6 am on Thursday to 9 am on Friday was 401 mm. This is the highest rainfall recorded in a single day this season.

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Russian security chief Shoigu meets Kim Jong Un in N.Korea

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Russian security chief Shoigu meets Kim Jong Un in N.Korea

Moscow, Russia (DT/REUTERS) – The head of Russia’s Security Council Sergei Shoigu met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday, Moscow said, weeks after the Kremlin signed a defence pact with Pyongyang.

“The meetings in Pyongyang took place in a uniquely trusting and friendly atmosphere in line with the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit in June,” Russia’s security council said on its website.

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Moscow and Pyongyang have denied arms transfers but have vowed to boost military ties. Russia has deepened its relations with North Korea since the start of the Ukraine war, and Kim received Putin on a state visit in June.

Shoigu was Russian defence minister until May, and is now secretary of the Security Council which brings together Putin, his military and intelligence chiefs and other senior figures.

“As part of the ongoing strategic dialogue between our countries, a substantive exchange of views took place with Korean colleagues on a wide range of issues on the bilateral and international agenda,” state news agency RIA quoted the Security Council as saying.
It said the meetings took place in an “exceptionally trusting, friendly atmosphere” and would make an important contribution to the implementation of agreements reached between Putin and Kim at their summit three months ago.

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Three years later, the Taliban’s education ban stokes fears of rising extremism

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Three years later, the Taliban’s education ban stokes fears of rising extremism

Kabul, Afghanistan (EFE) – Experts and social activists are concerned over the decline of modern education in Afghanistan as the country marks the third year of the Taliban’s ban on adolescent girls’ education.

They say several Taliban-backed religious centers have come at the expense of modern schools, which may lead to a rise in extremism.

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According to a recent report from the Taliban’s Ministry of Education, more than 21,000 Islamic education centers have been established, compared to just 316 new modern schools, a trend sparking alarm among education activists.

“It is very dangerous for the country’s future that so many Taliban-backed Islamic study centers are being established while modern education is being neglected,” Ghulam Jelani Alokozai, an education expert, told EFE.

At a press conference on Sep 11, the Taliban’s Education Ministry presented its annual performance report, revealing the establishment of 21,257 Islamic education centers alongside 316 new schools.

The stark contrast has left many experts worried about Afghanistan’s educational trajectory.

Alokozai said it showed a “clear path toward extremism.”

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Afghan girls arrive at the primary school after returning from the summer holidays in Kandahar, Afghanistan, 08 September 2024. EFE-EPA/QUDRATULLAH RAZWAN

Social activists have criticized the Taliban for keeping girls’ schools and universities closed while enrolling female students in seminaries.

“The seminaries existed under the previous government too, but now, with the Taliban in power, girls’ schools and universities remain closed, and girls are only allowed to attend religious institutions,” said Nahid Noori, a social and women’s rights activist.

Experts are also concerned about the Taliban’s changes to both modern education and religious curricula, accusing the de-facto government of using seminaries to indoctrinate the younger generation with its ideology.

“We already had Islamic centers with a comprehensive curriculum, so why did the Taliban feel the need to change the curriculum and expand religious studies centers unnecessarily? The country also needs modern education,” said Mulavi Sayed Ibrar, a religious scholar.

Banning girls’ education has been widely criticized both nationally and internationally. Religious scholars argue that Islam mandates education for both males and females, emphasizing the importance of modern education alongside religious studies.

“Islam clearly states that education is mandatory for men and women, and we need modern education in all aspects of life,” said Mawalawi Saleh Mohammad Islampur, an Islamic scholar.

Former students, like 18-year-old Madina, who was in the 10th grade before joining a seminary, have had to abandon their dreams. “I wanted to become an economist, but now, with schools closed, I’ve had to turn to religious studies just to stay in the educational system,” Madina told EFE.

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Afghan girls attend a class at the primary school after returning from the summer holidays in Kandahar, Afghanistan, 08 September 2024. EFE-EPA/QUDRATULLAH RAZWAN

Nazo Kharotay, 16, a secondary school student, said they watched the Taliban’s recent education conference. “But unfortunately, there was no mention of girls’ education.”

In its annual report, the Taliban’s Education Ministry noted that over the past year, more than 1.4 million new students were enrolled in public and private schools, raising the total number of students to nearly 11 million.

The report also highlighted the establishment of 21,257 Islamic education centers, including 19,669 seminaries, 1,277 Quran memorization centers, 115 religious schools, and 39 orphanages, engaging a total of 3,687,200 people in Islamic education.

Additionally, 316 new schools were opened, including 106 public and 210 private schools, bringing the total number of schools in Afghanistan to 18,337.

The ministry also provided specialized services to 484 disabled children in 18 provinces and educational materials for 3,844 disabled students in 19 provinces, while working to revise textbooks and improve the quality of education. EFE

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493 land plots in Nusantara ready for investors: President

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493 land plots in Nusantara ready for investors: President

Jakarta, Indonesia (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) informed on Friday that 493 land plots in the new capital city (IKN) Nusantara have been prepared to be offered to private investors.

He conveyed this after receiving a report from the acting head of Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN), Basuki Hadimuljono, and the acting deputy head of OIKN, Raja Juli Antoni.

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“There are 493 plots of 2–3 hectares that have been prepared, which we will launch so that investment can come in again,” Widodo announced at the inauguration of Nusantara Swissotel in Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on Friday, which was followed on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.

He said that the land plots could later be used to build hotels and offices, or to conduct trade activities. The plots are planned to be offered next week, he added.

Earlier, on August 21, 2024, Hadimuljono said that seven investors will participate in the Phase 8 project groundbreakings in Nusantara in September.

He informed that the groundbreakings would be held for educational and hotel projects, among others.

According to the OIKN, a total of 45 investors participated in the Phase 1 to 6 project groundbreakings. Meanwhile, the Phase 7 groundbreaking on August 12 involved four domestic investors — BCA, Swiss-Belhotel, Royal Golden Eagle, and Intiland.

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Malaysian police rescue 400 children from care homes after sex abuse claims

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Malaysian police rescue 400 children from care homes after sex abuse claims

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (DT/AFP) – Malaysian authorities have rescued hundreds of children from care homes where they were allegedly physically and sexually abused and have arrested scores of people in large scale raids, police said Wednesday.

Police inspector-general Razarudin Husain said 402 children, aged between one and 17, were rescued during raids at various charity homes in the states of Selangor and Negri Sembilan on Wednesday.

The morning raids involved almost 1,000 personnel from police and other agencies.

That led to some 170 arrests, including Islamic religious teachers and caretakers at the welfare homes, he added.

Initial investigations revealed that the victims were sexually abused by their caretakers and forced to abuse other children, Razarudin told a news conference in Pahang state.

“Those who were sick were not allowed to seek medical attention until their condition became critical,” he said. Some young children were also burned with a hot spoon when they made mistakes, and caretakers had touched the children’s bodies as if to conduct medical checks, he said.

He said the children would be temporarily housed at a police training centre in the capital Kuala Lumpur and would undergo health checks.

Police believed that GISB, which operates in a number of countries, including Indonesia, Singapore, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and France, exploited the children and used religious sentiments to collect donations, said Razarudin.

The case is being investigated under laws covering sexual offences against children and human trafficking.

Two of the premises raided were registered with the state government as Islamic schools, JAIS said in a statement on Thursday.

The department had monitored the schools as recently as July but found no offences had been committed. It said it would investigate further and take appropriate action should any violations be found.

A GISB spokesperson said on Thursday that the group will cooperate with authorities.

GISB has been linked to the now-defunct Malaysia-based Al-Arqam religious sect, which was banned by the government in 1994. On its website, the company says that its aim is “to develop the Islamic way of life”.

Robert Gass, a representative in Malaysia for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said on Thursday that the organisation was “deeply shocked and appalled” by the alleged abuse and called for long-term professional medical and psychosocial support for the children.

Source: DT and news agencies

Australian Prime Minister to Visit the United States for 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit

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Australian Prime Minister to Visit the United States for 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Attend 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington

Canberra, Australia (DT) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Wilmington, Delaware, on September 21, 2024, for the Quad Leaders’ Summit. He will join U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr., Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at this pivotal meeting.

The Quad, a strategic diplomatic partnership comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, aims to foster an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. This collaborative effort focuses on upholding sovereignty and managing competition responsibly.

The Quad’s initiatives are making significant impacts in the Indo-Pacific, with ongoing efforts in enhancing clean energy supply chains, supporting maritime security, training infrastructure professionals, improving regional health security, and advancing undersea cable connectivity.

At the summit, Prime Minister Albanese will engage in discussions on regional challenges and explore ways to further the Quad’s practical and positive agenda. This will be the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit, with plans for India to host the 2025 summit.

Supreme Court Grants Bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

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Supreme Court Grants Bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi, India (DT) – In a significant development, the Supreme Court has granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The verdict marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal proceedings involving Kejriwal. Follow our live updates for the latest news and reactions.

Perception matters and CBI must dispel the notion of being a caged parrot and must show it is an uncaged parrot. CBI should be like caesar’s wife, above suspicion: Justice Bhuyan (Reports)

Manish Sisodia has once again affirmed that no politician matches Arvind Kejriwal’s integrity, honesty, and patriotism.

Who is Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, the judge who granted bail to Arvind Kejriwal and addressed issues related to the CBI? Justice Bhuyan emphasized that the CBI must overcome its reputation as a “caged parrot” and demonstrate its independence, akin to Caesar’s wife—above suspicion.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was born on August 2, 1964, in Guwahati. His father, Suchendra Nath Bhuyan, was a Senior Advocate and former Advocate General of Assam. He completed his schooling at Don Bosco High School, Guwahati, and continued his education at Cotton College, Guwahati. After earning an Arts degree from Kirori Mal College, Delhi, he obtained his LL.B. from Government Law College, Guwahati, and his LL.M. from Gauhati University, Guwahati.

Justice Bhuyan was enrolled with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh on March 20, 1991. He practiced before the Principal Seat of the Gauhati High Court in Guwahati and its benches in Agartala, Shillong, Kohima, and Itanagar. He also appeared before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Guwahati Bench, the Assam Board of Revenue, various Civil Courts, the Labour Court in Guwahati, and the State Consumer Forum in Arunachal Pradesh.

He served as the Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department for 16 years, beginning as Junior Standing Counsel in May 1995 and becoming Senior Standing Counsel on December 3, 2008. He was the Additional Government Advocate for Meghalaya at the Gauhati High Court from April 2002 to October 2006 and served as Special Counsel for the Forest Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, from December 2005 to April 2009. He was appointed Standing Counsel of the Gauhati High Court on March 3, 2010.

On September 6, 2010, he was designated as a Senior Advocate by the Gauhati High Court. He was appointed Additional Advocate General of Assam on July 21, 2011. Justice Bhuyan was a member of several legal associations, including the Gauhati High Court Bar Association, Lawyers Association, Guwahati, the Bar Association of India, the All India Federation of Tax Practitioners, and the Indian Law Institute, Assam Chapter.

He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Gauhati High Court on October 17, 2011, and his appointment was confirmed on March 20, 2013. He also served as the Executive Chairman of the Mizoram State Legal Services Authority and was closely involved with the Judicial Academy, Assam, and National Law University, Guwahati.

Transferred to the Bombay High Court, Justice Bhuyan took the oath as a Judge on October 3, 2019. After a two-year term, he was transferred to the Telangana High Court and took the oath as a Judge on October 22, 2021. He served as the Executive Chairman of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority and was appointed Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, assuming office on June 28, 2022.

On July 5, 2023, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and he was elevated to this position on July 14, 2023. As Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court, he also served as Chancellor of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) until his elevation to the Supreme Court.

Justice Bhuyan remains actively involved in legal education as a Member of the General Council and Executive Council of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, and a Member of the General Council of Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad.

Mexico will amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected

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Mexico will amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico is poised to amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected as part of a judicial overhaul championed by the outgoing president but slammed by critics as a blow to the country’s rule of law.

The amendment passed Mexico’s Congress on Wednesday, and by Thursday it already had been ratified by the required majority of the country’s 32 state legislatures. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he would sign and publish the constitutional change on Sunday.

Legal experts and international observers have said the move could endanger Mexico’s democracy by stacking courts with judges loyal to the ruling Morena party, which has a strong grip on both Congress and the presidency after big electoral wins in June.

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Mexico City legislators demonstrate against judicial reform, with signs that read in Spanish “No justice” at the Mexico City Congress, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. (AP. Photo/Felix Marquez)

López Obrador says the overhaul would crack down on corruption in a system that most Mexicans agree is broken. But critics believe the move will deal a blow to checks and balances and make it easier for cartels and criminals to influence the courts.

The overhaul has fueled weeks of strikes and protests by judicial employees, law students and many other Mexicans.

On Wednesday, it crossed its biggest hurdle by passing Mexico’s Senate. Angry protesters stormed the chambers Tuesday in a last ditch effort to block the proposal, but senators moved to another location and passed the measure in the early morning after hours of verbal sparring.

As of Thursday, 18 legislatures already had ratified the overhaul.

López Obrador said he would time his signing of the measure for Sunday’s celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day. The event will allow the populist leader to solidify the judicial transformation as his legacy, just weeks before he leaves office on Sept. 30.

“With now 18 approving it, well, now it’s legal,” López Obrador said during in a morning news briefing on Thursday.

“It’s an incredibly important reform, reaffirming that in Mexico there is authentic democracy. The people electing their representatives, electing their public servants in all three branches, that is democracy,” he said.

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