Tuesday, March 19News and updates from Kashmir

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Imam Shot dead outside mosque in United States

Imam Shot dead outside mosque in United States

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Tragedy struck in Newark, New Jersey, as Imam Hassan Sharif was fatally shot outside Masjid Muhammad mosque on Wednesday morning, succumbing to his injuries at the hospital. The incident occurred shortly after predawn prayers, and law enforcement is actively searching for the assailant. According to police reports, the victim sustained a single gunshot wound to the abdomen and the right arm. In the wake of the shooting, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin acknowledged the rising trend of bias incidents against the Muslim community, expressing concern that this act of gun violence would further heighten fears in the state. Platkin stated, "Every possible angle will, of course, be explored and every lead will be fully investigated." Despite the tragic nature of the incident, th...
Over 100 killed in twin explosions near General Qasim Soleimani’s grave in Iran

Over 100 killed in twin explosions near General Qasim Soleimani’s grave in Iran

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Two terrorist explosions occurred near the burial site of Iran's General Qassem Soleimani in Kerman during a ceremony marking his fourth martyrdom anniversary, Press TV reported. The blasts resulted in the death of 103 people and injuries to 188 others, with the possibility of the death toll rising as some of the wounded are in critical condition. The explosions, which occurred about 700 meters and one kilometer away from the grave, were reportedly caused by two bags loaded with explosives that were remotely detonated. The first explosion took place at 14:50 local time, followed by a second one 10 minutes later. Three rescuers from Iran's Red Crescent Society were killed by the second blast, and some injuries occurred during a crowd crush after the first explosion. The Iranian gov...
Amnesty International unveils unlawful surveillance of Indian Journalists with Pegasus

Amnesty International unveils unlawful surveillance of Indian Journalists with Pegasus

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On Thursday, Amnesty International disclosed the detection of Pegasus spyware, designed exclusively for government use, on the smartphones of two Indian journalists. Siddharth Varadarajan, editor of The Wire news website, and another journalist sought Amnesty's assistance after receiving "state-sponsored attacker" alerts from Apple in October. Amnesty's Security Lab confirmed the presence of Pegasus spyware on their devices through comprehensive testing. The developer of Pegasus, NSO Group, exclusively supplies its technology to government agencies. Trade data from 2017 indicates that NSO Group was a source of hardware imports for India's Intelligence Bureau. The Washington Post previously reported that government officials pressured Apple to conceal information about the spyware, pr...
Israel stealing vital organs of dead Palestinians: Health Ministry

Israel stealing vital organs of dead Palestinians: Health Ministry

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On Tuesday, local authorities in Gaza leveled serious accusations against Israel, alleging the illicit harvesting of organs from deceased Palestinians. The Gaza-based government media office issued a statement asserting that thorough examinations of the bodies had uncovered significant alterations, pointing to the purported theft of vital organs. These alleged incidents of organ theft were claimed to have occurred repeatedly during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with reports suggesting that bodies were even exhumed from graveyards. The statement went on to criticize what it described as the "silent position" of international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, regarding what they deemed an "awful crime" committed by the Israeli occupation. The ...
Indian workers replacing Palestinian workforce in Israel from December 27

Indian workers replacing Palestinian workforce in Israel from December 27

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A team of "selectors" from Israel recently concluded a visit to India, and another senior delegation is scheduled to depart next week to commence the recruitment process for filling the acute labor shortage faced by Israel's construction industry. The Israel Builders Association (IBA) is set to start the process in Delhi and Chennai on December 27, aiming to recruit 10,000 workers initially, with plans to scale up to 30,000 in the near future. The selection process, anticipated to last 10-15 days, involves a delegation led by Izchak Gurvitz and CEO Igal Slovik, along with other members of the IBA team and Director General Yehuda Morgenstern from the Ministry of Construction and Housing. During a recent conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister B...
Deadly earthquake hits northwest China, 116 lives lost, several injured

Deadly earthquake hits northwest China, 116 lives lost, several injured

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A devastating earthquake in northwest China resulted in the loss of at least 116 lives, according to state media reports on Tuesday. The catastrophe, which struck around midnight, claimed 116 lives and left nearly 400 injured in Gansu province, local officials confirmed. Additionally, 11 people lost their lives while 100 were injured in Haidong, a city in the neighboring province of Qinghai, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV. The shallow, powerful tremor caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings and prompting terrified residents to flee to the streets for safety, detailed the state news agency Xinhua. Heart-wrenching accounts emerged, with a woman, visibly shaken, sharing her fear and near-death experience through a video posted on a social media account linked with...
Global uproar after photos reveal Palestinian men stripped, under Israeli guard

Global uproar after photos reveal Palestinian men stripped, under Israeli guard

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Images circulating on social media from Palestine have displayed a distressing scene in Gaza: Palestinian men, stripped down to their underwear, were captured in stark vulnerability. The photos depicted more than 20 individuals kneeling on the pavement, heads bowed, while others were crammed into a nearby truck, both scenes under the watchful presence of Israeli soldiers. Among the discarded shoes and sandals strewn across the road, the semi-naked men appeared surrounded and exposed. Israeli television aired footage claiming these men were captured Hamas fighters discovered in Gaza City. The location, said to be in areas considered strongholds for Hamas – Jabalia and Shejaiya – raised questions and drew attention to the situation's complexity. Israeli government spokesperson...
Israel was aware about 7th Oct Hamas attack plan for over a year: Report

Israel was aware about 7th Oct Hamas attack plan for over a year: Report

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Israeli authorities obtained a comprehensive battle plan by Hamas for an attack on October 7th more than a year in advance. This 40-page document, codenamed "Jericho Wall," detailed a meticulous invasion strategy causing around 1,200 casualties, reported New York Times. Despite circulating among Israeli military and intelligence leaders, experts deemed the attack beyond Hamas's capabilities, dismissing it as aspirational. Even warnings close to the event were downplayed or disregarded, leading to an unprepared Israeli military as the attack unfolded, resulting in the deadliest day in Israel's history. The failure to take these warnings seriously and the deep-rooted belief that Hamas lacked the capacity for such an attack led to a cascade of missteps, now regarded as Israel's wo...
60% structures damaged in Gaza, 3,390 Palestinians arrested in West Bank since Oct. 7

60% structures damaged in Gaza, 3,390 Palestinians arrested in West Bank since Oct. 7

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Amid escalating tensions, the Israeli army's widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip has leftover 60% of homes and residential units razed, according to the government media office in Gaza. The severe humanitarian crisis is compounded by the collapse of the health sector, with 26 hospitals and 55 health centers rendered inoperable due to targeted bombings. Tragically, thousands of bodies remain trapped under rubble, as civil defense teams struggle with limited resources and equipment. Gaza requires 1,000 daily aid trucks and one million liters of fuel to initiate recovery. The international community is urged to address the dire situation, holding Israel accountable for the devastating consequences. Continuation - Humanitarian Appeal: The media office underscores the immediate...
Imams from Turkey and Algeria arrested in Saudi Arabia for advocating Palestine

Imams from Turkey and Algeria arrested in Saudi Arabia for advocating Palestine

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Two Imams, one from Algeria and one from Turkey were arrested by Saudi Arabia Police for making prayers for Palestine in the holy mosques. As per news reports, the Algerian Imam was detained at the mosque of the Prophet in Madina after he made prayers for the people of Gaza in Palestine. The Imam was later released after six hours, only after a local court ordered the confiscation of his mobile phone. Mustafa Efe, a revered imam recognized for his heartening cat videos in Istanbul's Üsküdar district, found himself detained in Mecca due to his choice of words. Educated at Marmara University and Ankara University's Theology Faculty, Efe previously served at Üsküdar's Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque. Efe broke the news of his detention in Mecca through a concise video on social media...