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Morocco earthquake: Death toll reaches 2,901

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Reporters from Xinhua news agency observed a scene of devastation in Ouirgane, located in the Atlas Mountains, one of the most severely affected villages in the mountainous region.

Published Date – 11:00 AM, Wed – 13 September 23


Morocco earthquake: Death toll reaches 2,901



Rabat: The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Morocco — – the country’s deadliest in 60 years — has increased to 2,901, with 5,530 injured persons, according to the latest statement released by the government.

In Ouirgane in the Atlas Mountains, one of the hardest-hit villages in the mountainous areas, Xinhua news agency reporters saw all the houses flattened and rescue teams using excavators to clear the debris.

Ouirgane suffered major losses in the earthquake, with buildings destroyed and most residents are now either sleeping in tents or have left the village.

Morocco has accepted offers of aid from Spain, Britain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, while the help offers from other countries are pending approval.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Tuesday launched an emergency appeal for 100 million Swiss francs ($112 million) to support the victims.

The most pressing needs at this time are water, sanitation, and shelter, Caroline Holt, global director of operations at IFRC, told reporters in Geneva.

“We need to make sure that we avoid a second wave of disaster,” she said.

Rescue and relief efforts are continuing to access the hardest-hit mountainous regions.

However, there is still a shortage in the supply of gasoline and covers.

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the High Atlas mountains south of Marrakesh at 11.11 p.m. on September 8 at a depth of 18.5 km.

The powerful temblor has led to the destruction of many rural and remote villages, including Tafeghaghte has had its population of 200 people nearly halved, and many are still missing.

The World Health Organization said more than 300,000 people had been affected by the earthquake, the deadliest in Morocco since a 1960 temblor destroyed Agadir, killing 12,000 to 15,000 people.

The Tinmel Mosque, a historic site in the mountains, has been severely damaged, and Marrakesh’s old city, a World Heritage Site has suffered collapsed buildings.

World

Libya: Floods claim over 3,000 lives

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“The authorities have buried 2,800 bodies after their families identified them, while 260 unidentified bodies remain in the city’s hospital,” the ministry spokesman Tareq al-Kharraz told Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

Updated On – 09:21 AM, Wed – 13 September 23


Libya: Floods claim over 3,000 lives



Tripoli: The death toll from the devastating floods that struck Libya‘s eastern city of Derna on Sunday has risen to 3,060, while 5,200 others remain missing, according to the eastern-based Interior Ministry.

“The authorities have buried 2,800 bodies after their families identified them, while 260 unidentified bodies remain in the city’s hospital,” the ministry spokesman Tareq al-Kharraz told Xinhua news agency on Tuesday.

Al-Kharraz said 5,200 people have gone missing, stressing that the actual death toll might be considerably higher, given that search and rescue operations are ongoing, and additional bodies continue to be recovered from various locations within the city.

According to media reports, assistance and rescue efforts started to reach Derna on Tuesday, more than 36 hours after the disaster hit the coastal city. The floods had either severely damaged or completely destroyed numerous access roads leading to the city, which is home to approximately 89,000 residents.

Meanwhile, Tamer Ramadan, Libyan envoy representing the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies told a UN meeting on Tuesday that he believed there were still at least 10,000 people unaccounted for in the flood-hit areas.

The catastrophic event was triggered by a Mediterranean storm that made landfall in eastern Libya on Sunday, resulting in widespread flooding and causing extensive damage to infrastructure along its path.

President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi on Monday called for international assistance to help with the aftermath of the floods, declaring the cities of Derna, Al-Bayda, and Shahhat as areas in dire need of assistance.

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Kim Jong-un’s Russia visit signals priority on Moscow ties

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According to Yonhap news agency, Kim’s statement coincides with the anticipated first summit in four years with Russia.

Updated On – 09:22 AM, Wed – 13 September 23


Kim Jong-un’s Russia visit signals priority on Moscow ties



Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that his trip to Russia for an expected meeting with his counterpart Vladimir Putin is a “clear manifestation” of the North prioritizing the strategic importance of their bilateral ties, Pyongyang’s state media said Wednesday.

Kim’s remarks came as the leaders are expected to meet for their first summit in four years in Russia to discuss a possible arms deal as they seek to strengthen military cooperation, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also confirmed that Kim arrived in the Russian border city of Khasan on Tuesday morning and left for his “destination” without specifying details.

It remains unknown exactly when and where Kim and Putin would hold a meeting, though some foreign media reports said the summit would likely take place Wednesday at the Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport in Amur Oblast.

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Kim Jong-un’s Russia visit signals priority on Moscow ties

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According to Yonhap news agency, Kim’s statement coincides with the anticipated first summit in four years with Russia.

Updated On – 09:22 AM, Wed – 13 September 23


Kim Jong-un’s Russia visit signals priority on Moscow ties



Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that his trip to Russia for an expected meeting with his counterpart Vladimir Putin is a “clear manifestation” of the North prioritizing the strategic importance of their bilateral ties, Pyongyang’s state media said Wednesday.

Kim’s remarks came as the leaders are expected to meet for their first summit in four years in Russia to discuss a possible arms deal as they seek to strengthen military cooperation, Yonhap news agency reported.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) also confirmed that Kim arrived in the Russian border city of Khasan on Tuesday morning and left for his “destination” without specifying details.

It remains unknown exactly when and where Kim and Putin would hold a meeting, though some foreign media reports said the summit would likely take place Wednesday at the Vostochny Cosmodrome spaceport in Amur Oblast.

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Brazil cyclone death toll climbs to 47

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Vice Governor Gabriel Souza Reports Eight Still Missing as of Tuesday in Rio Grande do Sul

Updated On – 09:22 AM, Wed – 13 September 23


Brazil cyclone death toll climbs to 47



Sao Paulo: The death toll rose to 47 from the extratropical cyclone in the Brazilian southeastern state of Rio Grande do Sul, officials have said.

The cyclone has ravaged 98 municipalities and caused the Taquari River to swell, leading to the evacuation of over 25,000 people and injuring at least 925 since September 4, the Civil Defense of Rio Grande do Sul was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

Eight people are still missing by Tuesday, said Vice Governor of Rio Grande do Sul Gabriel Souza.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian government launched a package of economic and reconstruction aid for the affected region, as an alert for new cyclones remains in place for Rio Grande do Sul this week.

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Delhi priest conducts private Mass for President Biden

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On Saturday morning Father Nicolas conducted the private service for the US President ahead of his G20 deliberations in India.

Published Date – 05:30 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Delhi priest conducts private Mass for President Biden

Photo: ANI

New Delhi: In the run-up to the G20 Summit, Father Nicholas Dias, Secretary for Liturgy Commission for the Delhi Archdiocese, got a call from the US Embassy in New Delhi, with a purpose that President Joe Biden wished to hold a private mass while on his Delhi visit.

On Saturday morning Father Nicolas conducted the private service for the US President ahead of his G20 deliberations in India.

“I received an invite rom the US embassy, who had my contact through embassy people whom I knew personally, asking me whether I can celebrate the Holy Eucharist for the President of America. They sought an appointment with me, met me personally at the clergy home, next to the Archibishop’s house and they told me that it is a short service of 20 minutes. If they can avail of my services, which I gladly accepted,” the priest told ANI.

“It was an occasion for me to be in faith and fellowship with the President of America who is a born Catholic and a devout Catholic.”

“He began to share with me how he cherishes his grandmother’s faith and that was the starting point of our discussion. I had prepared a minute-to-minute liturgy for this purpose so that we keep to the timing and that I shared with the other participants at the Holy Eucharist, including his personal doctor, and we participated well. I took the intention of praying for the success of G 20 summit, also praying for both the countries, India and America, and we prayed that all things may go well in both these countries. I involved the President in reciting the prayers. I involved the other delegates to reflect upon the Gospel of the day which talks about Jesus giving us lessons in crisis management. If there is a crisis, how should we deal with that at the micro level and therefore also at the macro level? Mass went on and Holy Communion was administered to President Biden and also the other attendants, including his personal assistants.”

After the mass service was over, the the priest gifted Biden with the Goan sweet Bebinca. Whereas, President Biden gifted the priest a seal of the President of the United States.

“When the communion service was over, I gifted him the Goan delicacy of Bebinca, which I had brought with me recently during my visit to my home state. And the President was grateful to me that I had given him time to celebrate the communion service and the Eucharist and prayer. And he said wait, I will gift you something. And his personal assistant brought me this gift that’s memorabilia given only to selected people, I reckon. And he handed it over to me, asked me to close my fist and mentioned this is the way it is given, Father. And that I saw it, both the sides and it had the number 261, which I know before me only 260 people had received such an honour,” the priest said.

“It was a great moment for me that I have been chosen for this to pray with the President, pray for him, pray for our countries too, that all may go well and that the success may see the light of the day,” he added.

Meanwhile, concluding his India visit, President Biden departed for Vietnam. During his visit, he is due to meet Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trọng and other key leaders to discuss ways to further deepen cooperation between the two nations.

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Sri Lankan President forms committee to probe alleged complicity in 2019 bombings

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According to revelation by the controversial video, the massacre which killed 270 locals and foreigners and injured over 500 was aimed at bringing former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to power at the election that followed.

Published Date – 05:49 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Sri Lankan President forms committee to probe alleged complicity in 2019 bombings

File Photo

Colombo: Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday said he will appoint a retired Supreme Court judge-headed committee to probe allegations made by UK’s Channel 4 TV that intelligence of the South Asian country was complicit in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, President Media Division (PMD) said.

In addition to the probe by the committee, the government also plans to appoint a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to inquire into the allegation levelled by a former Attorney General who stated that there was a mastermind behind the Easter attack.

President Wickremesinghe has noted that upon completion of the investigations into the Easter attacks, the PSC reports and the Presidential Commission on the Easter bomb attack would be presented to parliament before any final decisions are made, the PMD stated.

On September 5, Channel 4 in its regular documentary series titled ‘Dispatches’, dropped a bombshell revelation that the Easter Sunday suicide attacks by a group of ISIS connected local Islamic extremists had been carried out with the knowledge of Sri Lankan Military Intelligence officials.

According to revelation by the controversial video, the massacre which killed 270 locals and foreigners and injured over 500 was aimed at bringing former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to power at the election that followed.

Based on interviews given by a whistle-blowers including one who said to have arranged a meeting with suicide bombers and the then Director General of Military Intelligence (DGMI), Major General Suresh Sallay, Channel 4 alleged military and Gotabaya government prevented proper investigation in the coordinated suicide bomb attacks by six suicide bombers who detonated almost on the same time at three crowded churches and three star-class hotels.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Maj. Gen. Sallay who is also the present head of the State Intelligent Service (SIS), immediately denied Channel 4 allegations and later Defence Ministry too categorically rejected the UK TVs charges.

They announced that in 2016-2018, Sallay was serving as a diplomat in Malaysia and from January 2019 he was undergoing training at the National Defence College Course in Delhi. Following the release of Channel 4 video, Sri Lanka’s opposition parties and the Catholic Church which had been complaining about the credibility of earlier investigations, demanded for an international investigation.

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“We are always there to prevent violence, push back against hatred”: Justin Trudeau on Khalistan extremism

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Multiple temples have also been vandalised in Canada by pro-Khalistani protestors, with anti-India graffitis.

Published Date – 06:10 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


“We are always there to prevent violence, push back against hatred”: Justin Trudeau on Khalistan extremism



New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he had many conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference”, and Ottawa will always defend freedom of expression, and at the same time will always be there to prevent violence.

He further emphasized that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada.

When asked about if the issues of Khalistan extremism and “foreign interference” did come up during discussions with PM Modi during the G20 Summit, he said, “Both the issues came up. Over the years, with PM Modi, we have had many conversations on both of those issues. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred”.

“I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law and we did talk about foreign interference,” he added.

Notably, multiple incidents of Khalistan extremism have been reported in Canada over the past few years. In June this year, a tableau parade was organised in Canada celebrating the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi, which drew severe criticism from New Delhi. In March this year, Khalistan supporters held a protest outside the Indian Embassy in Canada. They raised pro-Khalistan slogans and allegedly assaulted Indian-origin journalists present on the spot.

Multiple temples have also been vandalised in Canada by pro-Khalistani protestors, with anti-India graffitis.

Earlier in July, India also raised concerns over threats to its diplomats in posters being circulated in Canada with information on a pro-Khalistan rally to be held on July 8. The posters contained threats to the Indian Ambassador to Canada and the consulate general in Toronto.

The posters purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists have named Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and the Consulate General of India, Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava accusing them of playing a role in the June killing of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

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IMF MD Urges growth-oriented reforms for economic recovery: G20 summit

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To build a prosperous future, Georgieva said the world needs to harness the potential of digital technology and India’s achievement in developing top-tier digital public infrastructure (DPI) stands as a beacon for others.

Updated On – 07:12 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


IMF MD Urges growth-oriented reforms for economic recovery: G20 summit



New Delhi: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Sunday said global recovery is slow and uneven and underscored the need to pursue sound policies for financial stability and growth-oriented structural reforms.

Speaking at G20 Leaders’ Summit here, Georgieva said, G20 members must lead by example in delivering on the promises of USD 100 billion per year for climate finance, supported by strengthening Multilateral Development Banks(MDBs).

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has secured over USD 40 billion to support vulnerable countries through its Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) to build climate resilience, she said.

Countries also need to mobilize domestic resources to finance and manage the green transition through tax reforms, effective and efficient public spending, strong fiscal institutions, and deep local debt markets, she said.

Observing that global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is slow and uneven, she said, all countries should pursue sound policies to support economic and financial stability and growth-oriented structural reforms against this background.

This is especially important in emerging and developing countries, where such reforms can boost output by up to 8 per cent over 4 years, she said.

“We also need to further invest in international cooperation. This implies swiftly addressing debt problems where they arise, including through the G20 Common Framework and the new Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable,” she said.

To make the global economy stronger and more resilient in a more shock-prone world, she said, it is vital to reach an agreement to increase IMF’s quota resources before the end of the year and secure the needed resources for the Fund’s interest-free support to the poorest countries through the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust.

During the India Presidency a, lot of work has been done on MDB reforms, a government official said, adding, “quota reforms are under discussion and we do expect that something will come out.” This is one of the priorities under the India Presidency and quota reforms agenda is expected to come up in Marrakesh, Morocco meeting of the finance ministers and Central Bank Governors next month, the official said.

To build a prosperous future, Georgieva said the world needs to harness the potential of digital technology and India’s achievement in developing top-tier digital public infrastructure (DPI) stands as a beacon for others.

“More work lies ahead, including in the realm of digital money and crypto assets. To this end, G20 has tasked relevant institutions to improve regulation and supervision of crypto assets—the IMF is contributing to proposals for a comprehensive policy framework; and advance the debate on how central bank digital currencies could impact the global economy and financial system,” she said.

Appreciating that India’s G20 presidency is a powerful reminder that when the international community comes together to solve global problems, much can be accomplished, she underlined the need to further strengthening the bonds of international cooperation to create a more prosperous and resilient global economy for all.

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Pak Christian couple arrested on blasphemy charges: Police

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The case has been registered against the Christian couple of Docage Town, Rangers Headquarters, Harbanspura Lahore on the complaint of a Muslim man, Mohammad Taimur, of the same area.

Published Date – 07:30 PM, Sun – 10 September 23


Pak Christian couple arrested on blasphemy charges: Police



Lahore: A Pakistani Christian couple has been arrested on blasphemy charges after ‘torn pages of Quran’ were recovered from the rooftop of their house and in the street in Lahore, police said on Sunday.

The couple — Shaukat Masih and Kiran Masih — are facing life imprisonment as they have been booked under section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPP) which carries a life sentence for the desecration of the holy book.

The case has been registered against the Christian couple of Docage Town, Rangers Headquarters, Harbanspura Lahore on the complaint of a Muslim man, Mohammad Taimur, of the same area.

According to the FIR, Taimur said he was standing at a food shop of Docage Town Street on Friday when he found some pages of the Muslim holy book there.

“It appeared that the pages had been thrown from the roof of a house under which they were found. I knocked on the door and a woman named Kiran Masih opened the door. I showed her the torn pages of the Quran to her. She responded that her minor daughters — Sundas and Rubi, and son Sabir — might have thrown the pages. Taimur went to the rooftop of the house and found a pink colour bag with more pages of the Quran,” the FIR says.

The complainant then informed the police on the emergency number after which the North Cantonment police Station reached and arrested the suspects.

Police officer Mahmood Ahmad told PTI on Sunday that the police registered the blasphemy case against the Christian couple after the “torn pages of holy Quran” were found at their home and in the street.

“The couple’s three children could have also been booked after their mother alleged that they might have thrown the pages in the street. However, only Kiran and her husband have been booked under 295 B of PPC,” he said.

A police source told PTI that Shaukat Masih was not at home when the complainant accused Kiran of blasphemy on Friday midnight.

He said that when complainant Taimur accused the Christian family, the area people gathered there and police were called in which controlled the situation and immediately arrested Kiran.  Shaukat Masih was arrested later in the day, he said.

Last month, a mob of over 6,000 led by the radical Islamist party, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), attacked scores of churches and houses of Christians over blasphemy allegations in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, 130 km from Punjab’s provincial capital Lahore.

At least 21 churches and 86 homes of Christians were burnt down by the violent mob, however, no casualties were reported.

A Joint Investigation Team of police that probed the matter found that the incident was caused by a grudge between two Christian individuals and had nothing to do with the desecration of the Quran. In Pakistan, most blasphemy cases are registered primarily to settle some grudges between the complainant and accused parties.