RSF ramps up attacks on North Darfur, as rights group accuses the paramilitaries of sexual violence in South Kordofan. Sudanese paramilitaries have attacked the city of el-Fasher killing at least 38 people, according to local activists, while international rights groups accuse the fighters of widespread sexual violence. The local resistance committee, a volunteer group coordinating aid in el-Fasher, said on Sunday that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the centre of the capital of North Darfur state “with four high-explosive missiles”. The massacre followed an earlier drone attack on the city’s Saudi Hospital on Friday, which killed nine people and wounded 20, forcing doctors to halt operations. World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described attacks on healthcare facilities across Sudan as “deplorable” in a post on X on Saturday. The RSF and Sudan’s army have been locked in a power struggle since mid-April 2023, creating one of the worst humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands killed and more than 11 million displaced. Nearly all of Darfur is now controlled by the RSF, which has also taken over swaths of the South Kordofan region and central Sudan, while the army holds the north and east. ‘Epidemic of sexual violence’ On Monday, rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) highlighted widespread sexual violence in the conflict, accusing the RSF and its allied groups fighting the army of “heinous” acts that could potentially constitute “war crimes”. HRW documented dozens of cases of sexual violence, including gang rape and sexual slavery, targeting women and girls aged between seven and 50 in South Kordofan state since September 2023. According to the report, many of the victims were gang-raped at their or their neighbours’ homes, often in front of families while some were abducted and held in conditions of enslavement. One survivor, a 35-year-old Nuba woman, described being gang-raped by six RSF fighters who stormed her family compound and killed her husband and son when they tried to intervene. “They kept raping me, all six of them,” she said. “This research highlights what we have been hearing for some time now about the magnitude of sexual violence in Sudan, with the RSF coming into homes and raping women and girls time and again,” said Belkis Wille, HRW’s associate crisis and conflict director. Another survivor, aged 18, recounted being taken with 17 others to a base where they joined 33 detained women and girls and were raped and beaten on a daily basis for three months. The UN’s humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned last month about an “epidemic of sexual violence” against women in Sudan, saying the world “must do better”. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/16/sudans-rsf-kills-at-least-38-in-drone-attack-on-city-of-el-fasher

400,000 polio workers across 143 districts will visit every household to administer polio drops to children, says official A week-long countrywide anti-polio campaign began on Monday (today) with the goal of vaccinating around 44 million children, while the number of poliovirus cases in Pakistan has mounted to 63 this year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif administered drops to children in Islamabad as he announced the launching of the polio eradication campaign on Sunday. Addressing the launching ceremony, he expressed the commitment to eradicate the poliovirus from Pakistan with the help of provincial governments and international partners. Around 400,000 polio workers across 143 districts of the country will visit every household to inoculate children below five years, as per Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq. She requested the parents to open their doors and fully cooperate with the polio teams in this campaign. Kicking starting the immunisation drive in Sindh, the provincial Health Department said on Monday that the seven-day anti-polio campaign would last till December 22, during which around 16 million children would be administered anti-polio drops. The health department said 80,000 frontline workers would go door-to-door to vaccinate children, while 15,000 security personnel will accompany them for their protection. It said out of 63 polio cases in Pakistan this year, 17 were reported in Sindh. “Parents are urged to vaccinate their children against polio. Repeated polio vaccination strengthens children’s immunity,” it said. The health department also urged parents to contact helpline 1166, if any child missed vaccination. “Polio still exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Therefore, media, community leaders and religious scholars are requested to support the campaign,” it added. On the other hand, Bahawalpur district aims to complete its target of administering polio drops to more than 0.82 million children below five years in five days till December 20 with the help of 3,276 mobile teams, 195 fixed and 136 transit teams, District Health Authority official Dr Amir Bashir said. District Vehari deputy commissioner said they had set the target of administering polio drops to over 0.64 million children in five days with the help of 2,374 teams. Whereas, 609 teams will administer to more than 0.14 million kids the polio drops in North Waziristan and 2,023 police officials will provide security to this campaign, said the North Waziristan deputy commissioner. The Gujrat DC said teams comprising 5,169 officials will administer polio drops to over 0.51 million children in Gujrat. Launching the anti-polio drive yesterday, PM Shehbaz urged the parents to ensure vaccination of their children to protect them from the viral disease. He welcomed international partners including Bill Gates-founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Saudi Arabia for assisting Pakistan in the war against polio. Poliovirus, a highly contagious viral disease predominantly affects children under five, particularly those with weak immunity or inadequate vaccination. The illness invades the nervous system and causes paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease. Pakistan is one of the two remaining polio-endemic countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, and the number of cases on a yearly basis had significantly dropped in the country, until the recent spike in cases. Country’s rigorous efforts towards polio eradication face significant challenges, particularly in areas where insecurity, misinformation, and parental refusals hinder vaccination campaigns. With over 60% of children affected by polio in 2024 having not received routine immunisation, health authorities established a high-level committee to improve coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Balochistan remains the most affected province during the recent spike in the spread of disease with 26 cases reported so far this year.A week-long countrywide anti-polio campaign began on Monday (today) with the goal of vaccinating around 44 million children, while the number of poliovirus cases in Pakistan has mounted to 63 this year. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif administered drops to children in Islamabad as he announced the launching of the polio eradication campaign on Sunday. Addressing the launching ceremony, he expressed the commitment to eradicate the poliovirus from Pakistan with the help of provincial governments and international partners. Around 400,000 polio workers across 143 districts of the country will visit every household to inoculate children below five years, as per Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq. She requested the parents to open their doors and fully cooperate with the polio teams in this campaign. Kicking starting the immunisation drive in Sindh, the provincial Health Department said on Monday that the seven-day anti-polio campaign would last till December 22, during which around 16 million children would be administered anti-polio drops. The health department said 80,000 frontline workers would go door-to-door to vaccinate children, while 15,000 security personnel will accompany them for their protection. It said out of 63 polio cases in Pakistan this year, 17 were reported in Sindh. “Parents are urged to vaccinate their children against polio. Repeated polio vaccination strengthens children’s immunity,” it said. The health department also urged parents to contact helpline 1166, if any child missed vaccination. “Polio still exists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Therefore, media, community leaders and religious scholars are requested to support the campaign,” it added. On the other hand, Bahawalpur district aims to complete its target of administering polio drops to more than 0.82 million children below five years in five days till December 20 with the help of 3,276 mobile teams, 195 fixed and 136 transit teams, District Health Authority official Dr Amir Bashir said. District Vehari deputy commissioner said they had set the target of administering polio drops to over 0.64 million children in five days with the help of 2,374 teams. Whereas, 609 teams will administer to more than 0.14 million kids the polio drops in North Waziristan and 2,023 police officials will provide security to this campaign, said the North Waziristan deputy commissioner. The Gujrat DC said teams comprising 5,169 officials will

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/16/live-israel-kills-50-in-gaza-plans-to-double-settlements-in-golan-heights

Here are the key developments on the 1,024th day of the Russia-Ukraine war. Fighting Politics and diplomacy Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/14/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-1024

Defence lawyer Ansar Kiyani argues police arrested innocent workers from their homes to meet quotas At least 32 suspects arrested during the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI)’s D-Chowk, Islamabad, protest last month have been freed by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the federal capital on Saturday. The individuals were brought for identification before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain late at night, drawing the judge’s flak over the timing. Defence lawyer Ansar Kiyani argued that police had arrested innocent workers from their homes to meet quotas. The investigating officer requested a 30-day remand for the suspects, citing failure to complete identification procedures since their arrest on November 25. Judge Zulqarnain ordered the suspects’ handcuffs to be removed in court and discharged them from the cases. He sternly warned the police against re-arresting them, saying: “If police do this again, I will have them handcuffed.” The suspects were previously linked to cases filed at I-9 and Margalla police stations. The former ruling party’s much-hyped protest last month in Islamabad, aimed at securing the PTI founder’s release, had culminated in the party’s hasty retreat after the government’s midnight crackdown on the protesters. The party’s protesters were dispersed from the Red Zone in Islamabad following a crackdown by law enforcers with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI founder Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi taking to their heels, fleeing the protest site. The law enforcement agencies had arrested more than 1,000 supporters of the party who stormed the federal capital to demand his release, the city’s police chief said talking to Reuters on November 27. Khan’s aides had alleged, without immediately providing evidence, that hundreds had suffered gunshot wounds during chaotic scenes overnight in the heart of Islamabad as police dispersed protesters led by Khan’s wife who had broken through security barricades. They also said thousands had been arrested. Islamabad’s police chief, Ali Rizvi, had denied that live ammunition had been used during the operation, which he said police had conducted alongside paramilitary forces. He had said weapons, including automatic rifles and tear gas guns, were seized from the protest site where thousands had gathered. The site was cleared in a matter of hours. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1261507-32-suspects-arrested-during-ptis-d-chowk-protest-discharged

Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/14/syria-live-news-israel-bombs-near-damascus-as-syrians-celebrate-freedom

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/11/syria-live-news-new-leaders-call-for-stability-israel-launches-480-raids

Soldier Arif ur Rehman embraced martyrdom during exchange of fire with militants, says ISPRAt least 15 militants were wiped out by the armed forces during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Zhob district, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday.  According to the military’s media wing, the IBO was conducted on December 10 in the general area Sambaza during which own troops effectively engaged the terrorists’ location. “A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed Khawarij,” said the statement. However, it added, Sep Arif ur Rehman (age 32 years; resident of Mansehra District) embraced martyrdom after fighting gallantly during the intense exchange of fire. “Sanitisation operation is being conducted to neutralize any other Kharji present in the area,” said the ISPR. It said that the security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country and sacrifices of the brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve. It is pertinent to mention here that the third quarter (July-September) of 2024 saw a sharp increase in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90% surge in violence, according to a report issued by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). A total of 722 people were killed, including civilians, security personnel, and outlaws, while 615 others were wounded in as many as 328 incidents recorded during the period under review. Nearly 97% of these fatalities occurred in KP and Balochistan – marking the highest percentage in a decade, and over 92% of these incidents of terror attacks and security forces’ operations were recorded in the same provinces. The total fatalities from three quarters of this year have now surpassed the total fatalities recorded for the entire 2023; the number of fatalities rose to at least 1534 in the first three quarters compared to 1523 in 2023. Meanwhile, terrorist groups continue to reorganise and beef up their ranks. Most of the terror attacks remained unclaimed by terrorist or insurgent groups, likely for tactical reasons, as per the report. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1260210-security-forces-eliminate-15-militants-in-balochistans-zhob-ibo

Israeli attacks on the north and centre of the besieged Gaza Strip have killed dozens of people, medical sources say. The Israeli army in the early hours of Wednesday bombed a residential building in Beit Lahiya, near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, which has been under an even tighter siege for more than two months. The attack killed at least 20 people, including women and children, but there were fears the death toll could rise. Local media reports said at least 30 displaced people were living in the multistorey home of the Abu Tarabish family before it was struck. Footage seen by Al Jazeera showed people using their bare hands trying to remove large pieces of concrete from the ruins of the bombed structure. One child’s body was removed from the rubble. “This residential building has been turned into ruin. The smoke is still rising,” said journalist Moath Kahlout, reporting from the site. “Due to a shortage of rescue teams, the neighbours are trying to pull the dead bodies from under the rubble.” Later in the day, another attack on a residential home in the densely populated Nuseirat refugee camp killed at least seven people, all members of the same family. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service said another two people were killed by an Israeli air raid on a house in Gaza City. ‘No letup’ in Israeli attacks amid truce efforts Reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said the latest deadly attacks come amid “a deepening humanitarian crisis”. “There are no basic supplies available, markets are depleted and the crisis keeps continuing to evolve in a devastating way,” he added, all the while there is “no letup” in the Israeli bombardment. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, whose attacks on Gaza over the past 14 months have killed at least 44,805 people and wounded 106,257. Israel launched its ferocious military campaign after an estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during attacks led by the Palestinian armed group Hamas on October 7 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive. The renewed attacks are taking place as efforts to reach a ceasefire are under way in Egypt. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is heading to Israel this week for talks on on a truce deal in Gaza, among others. Sullivan will meet Israeli officials to discuss “efforts to reach a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza, the latest developments in Syria, and for discussions about Lebanon and Iran,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/12/11/israeli-attacks-on-gaza-residential-areas-kill-dozens

Read less 146 UpdatesAuto-updates Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/8/syria-war-live-news-opposition-groups-say-al-assad-rule-is-over