January 18, 2024

Riot police fired tear gas, flash grenades and used batons to disperse demonstrators in Russia’s Bashkortostan region after a local activist was sentenced on Wednesday to four years in prison. Videos showed supporters of Fail Alsynov clashing with police near the court where he had been convicted of inciting ethnic hatred, according to Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti. Bashkortostan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs called the demonstrations an “unauthorized rally” and said police have begun investigating “mass unrest,” in a post on Telegram. Some 20 people have been detained by police, according to OVD-Info, an independent Russian protest monitoring group. CNN cannot independently verify this number, but Russia has routinely carried out mass arrests at protests. Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside a public building in the remote town of Baymak, with some waving the blue, white and green flag of Bashkortostan region, which neighbors Kazakhstan. Protesters were heard to cry “shame” at police officers as they tried to disperse the crowds with tear gas. RusNews/Reuters Protesters could be heard chanting “Freedom,” in a video posted on public Telegram channels and shared by OVD-Info. In another, protesters were seen throwing snowballs at police holding riot shields. Chants of “shame” could be heard after police fired tear gas. Some social media accounts are reporting that internet connection was restricted in the area of the gathering. Alsynov spoke at a rally in spring 2023 against the mining of a mountain considered to be sacred to the Bashkir people, a Turkic ethnic group concentrated in Bashkortostan and closely related to the Tatars. The protests in Bashkortostan have become some of the most significant in Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. Source:https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/17/europe/russia-riot-police-protest-bashkortostan-intl/index.html

Pakistan’s air force has launched retaliatory air strikes on Iran, allegedly targeting fighters’ positions. Iranian state media says the attack killed at least nine people. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described their attack as “a series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes”. The strikes in Sistan-Baluchestan province follow Iran’s attack on Tuesday on Pakistani soil that killed two children in the southwestern Balochistan province. Pakistan stock market takes a hit Abid Hussain Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSE) fell by 1,000 points this morning following news of strikes on Iran. However, the PSE rebounded later in the day, gaining back nearly 650 points at close. Pakistan was on the brink of default last year before it managed to secure an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for $3 billion. In the past six months, it has shown gradual improvement in its economic indicators, including inflation – which fell from a high of 38 percent to 29 percent. Click Pakistan will ‘not compromise’ on security: President Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi says his country fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states while expecting the same treatment from other nations. “Pakistan would not compromise on its national security and territorial integrity and would take all necessary measures to defend its soil,” Alvi said in a statement published by his office on X. Alvi added that Pakistan and Iran were “brotherly countries”, and should resolve their issues through “dialogue and mutual consultation”. Click here to share on social media Taliban calls for ‘regional stability’ The Taliban government has called the attacks in Pakistan and Iran “alarming”, calling for both sides to exercise restraint. “In light of the region’s newfound peace and stability after protracted imposed wars and instability, both sides should direct efforts towards further strengthening regional stability and resolving disputes through diplomatic channels and dialogue,” the Taliban government’s foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said on X. Why did Pakistan and Iran allow space for these ‘militant groups’? Pakistan’s former human rights minister has described the country’s response as “swift and proportionate” but questioned the presence of “militant groups” on either side of the border. “Response swift & proportionate. Full spectrum deterrence reasserted militarily – meeting the threat at a level of our choosing & prevailing,” Mazari posted on X. “But one of the many disturbing questions arising is why both supposedly friendly ‘brotherly’ Muslim countries, with deep historical & social ties, allowed space creation for these militant groups in each other’s territories?” Turkey calls for calm Iran and Pakistan do not want to escalate tensions in the region, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has said after holding calls with officials from both sides. Speaking at a news conference in Jordan, Fidan said Turkey recommended that the sides do not escalate further and that calm should be restored as soon as possible. Click here to share on social media Former Pakistan foreign minister says Iran attacks ‘irrational’ Hina Rabbani Khar has described Iran’s attack on Pakistan as “shocking”, adding that the region could not afford another escalation. “They were irrational, illegal and escalatory. It seems whoever authorised it had not thought through,” she said on X. “Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its concerns about terrorist hideouts in Iran. However, Pakistan preferred to rely on diplomatic solutions and create mechanisms where both countries could address each others concerns within the framework of international law and UN charter.” Pakistan recalled its ambassador from Tehran after denouncing the attack and barred Iran’s envoy to Islamabad from returning. Click Pakistan-based BLF says no fighters killed in attack The Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), an armed group operating in Pakistan, says it “has no hideouts in Iran” and none of “our Saramchar [fighters] was martyred in the recent attacks by Pakistan”. As we reported earlier, the Pakistan army said “hideouts used by terrorist organisations namely Balochistan Liberation Army and Balochistan Liberation Front were successfully struck” on Thursday morning. The BLF has conducted frequent attacks on Pakistani forces as well as on projects operating under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/18/pakistan-iran-attacks-live-at-least-7-killed-near-irans-southeast-border

An air strike in Rafah – an Israeli-designated “safe zone” – kills 16 people, including children, who were sheltering in a home. A shipment of medical supplies for Israeli captives and Palestinians in need is being distributed as part of a deal brokered by Qatar and France. US missiles rain down on sites used by Yemen’s Houthis after the armed group targeted an American Navy vessel and “scored a direct hit”. At least 24,448 people killed and 61,504 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attack stands at 1,139. UN chief meets released Israeli captives in Davos The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has met released Israeli captives for the first time at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to Israeli media. The i24 News report said Guterres met with Nili Margalit and Moran Stella Yanai as well as Noam Perry, the daughter of Haim Perry, who is still held in Gaza. He also met with representatives from the Hostage and Missing People’s Families’ headquarters. Guterres said that he called for the immediate release of all the captives, the report said. ‘All patients have a right to treatment’: Red Crescent Mahmoud Alsaadi – who leads ambulance operations for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank – says Israeli raids and movement restrictions make it impossible to provide timely care for injured and sick Palestinians. This not only impacts Palestinians wounded in Israeli attacks, he said, but others facing unrelated medical emergencies. “We do not only transport the injured and those wounded by bullets,” said Alsaadi. “There are many humanitarian cases and we receive calls from citizens with medical conditions — kidney patients, heart patients, or cancer patients. All of these cases require transportation to hospitals.” Because of lengthy Israeli inspections of Red Crescent ambulances and “harassment of medical staff”, patients in need of urgent hospital treatment may be held up for more than an hour, putting their lives in jeopardy, he said. More than 300 Palestinian sports clubs call for Israel Olympic Games ban More than 300 Palestinian sports clubs and dozens of major Palestinian civil society organisations are calling for a ban on Israel from the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. The International Olympic Committee should “apply its principles and fulfil its obligations by banning Israel from the next Olympic Games to be held in Paris in July 2024, until it ends its grave violations of international law, particularly its system of apartheid and its ongoing genocide in Gaza”, they said. The Palestinian clubs include men’s and women’s football, basketball and volleyball teams, and those whose players have been killed by Israeli fire. Last month, Israeli forces killed the Palestinian Olympic football team coach, Captain Hani al-Masdar. Israel’s bombings also destroyed the office of the Palestinian Olympic Committee in Gaza. Click here to share on social media ‘Endless chaos and growing despair’: UNRWA chief After making his fourth trip to Gaza since the war broke out, the head of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees says the enclave has sunk even “further into despair” and renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire. “Everyone I met had a personal story of fear, death, loss, trauma to share,” said UNRWA Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini. “The people of Gaza have moved from the sheer shock of losing everything – in some cases every member of their family – to a debilitating struggle to stay alive and protect their loved ones. “This has gone on for far too long. There are no winners in these wars. There is endless chaos and growing despair. I call once again for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to bring some respite.” The genocide must stop, Turkey’s FM says Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan issued a call to “stop the genocide” in the Gaza Strip. “It is absolutely unacceptable for Israel to justify its attacks [on Gaza] for security reasons,” he said. Speaking at a news conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Amman, Hakan also said the Palestinians have the right to establish an independent state. In November, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv, citing Israel’s refusal to accept a ceasefire, “continuing attacks against civilians”, and denying free entry to humanitarian aid. It was the culmination of a sharp dive in ties since October 7. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara, Turkey [File: Cagla Gurdogan/Reuters] Click Israel should allow displaced Gaza residents to return home: Jordan Israel should allow displaced Palestinians in Gaza to return to their homes, says Jordan’s foreign minister. Ayman Safadi was speaking at a news conference with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. “With regard to the current priorities, they are clear: ending the aggression in Gaza, letting in sufficient permanent humanitarian aid to all parts of the Strip, south and north, stopping the destruction, and working immediately for the return of displaced Gazans to their areas and homes,” Safadi said. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/18/israels-war-on-gaza-live-medicine-arrives-for-captives-palestinians