Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/17/russia-ukraine-war-live-general-igor-kirillov-killed-in-moscow-bomb-blast

Pakistan’s Ambassador Aamar Aftab Qureshi says chances of survival of those missing are slim The death toll in the Greek boat tragedy has risen to five, all of them Pakistanis, whereas 35 are still missing after multiple boats capsized in Greek territorial waters on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Greece Aamar Aftab Qureshi revealed that the boats, carrying more than 80 Pakistani nationals, also included minor passengers. “The rescue operation is underway. [However] prospects of survival of those missing are low,” said the diplomat while underscoring the dozens of Pakistanis — who were travelling illegally from Libya on multiple boats — remain missing. He also said that the ill-fated boats carrying Pakistani citizens were overloaded and capsized after their hulls cracked. Pakistan ambassador statement on Greece tragedyPlay Video The Foreign Office said that its Crisis Management Unit (CMU) had been activated to assist Pakistanis in Greece. Meanwhile, Pakistani nationals in Greece and their families are urged to contact the CMU via telephone at 051-9207887 or by email at cmu1@mofa.gov.pk. Families of the missing Pakistanis can reach the Embassy of Pakistan in Greece to provide details at +30-6943850188. Announcing that the embassy would bear the expenses for the transfer of bodies to Pakistan, Ambassador Qureshi expressed concern over children being sent abroad in such a manner. Urging the parents not to send their children on such dangerous journeys, he called for those involved in this heinous business to be brought to justice. It is pertinent to know that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, formed a committee led by the additional secretary of the Ministry of Interior to conduct an investigation into the incident. The body has been tasked with investigating and submitting its findings within five days. Furthermore, the security czar also directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to launch nationwide operations against human smuggling networks. Victims identified Meanwhile, an investigation report submitted to Islamabad by the Pakistani embassy in Athens said that the death toll of Pakistani nationals jumped to five. The report stated that three boats — which capsized in Greek territorial waters — departed from Libya’s Tobruk. A total of 45 people were on board the first vessel, of which six were Pakistanis. Whereas, the second boat included five Pakistani citizens out of the total 47 passengers. Greek boat incident investigation reportPlay Video The third boat was carrying 83 people including 76 Pakistanis, three Bangladeshis, two Egyptians and two Sudanese nationals. A total of 39 people were rescued from the third vessel of which 36 were Pakistani citizens. The five bodies which have been recovered are of passengers travelling in the third boat with the deceased identified as Pakistanis. The four victims have been identified as Sufyan, Rehman Ali, Haji Ahmed and Abid. Whereas the fifth victim has not yet been identified. According to the report, the deceased hailed from Sialkot, Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin. Furthermore, 39 people are still missing from the third vessel, of which 35 are Pakistanis. The report also noted that a Sudanese driver who was also among the rescued individuals, has been taken into custody. Meanwhile, rescued Pakistani nationals have been shifted to Malakasa refugee camp located at a distance of 40 kilometres from Athens. Survivors’ account Meanwhile, revealing harrowing details of the incident and perilous journey, Pakistani survivors of the boat incident — who are currently at a camp in Greece — have said that the vessel they were aboard neither had proper engine nor communication equipment such as a walkie-talkie and driver. Survivors reveal details of Greek boat incidentPlay Video Shedding light on the incident, the survivors also said they departed from Libya on December 11 after staying there for more than a month. The accident occurred on the night between Friday and Saturday when sea conditions were quite rough, they added. Decrying that they don’t even have clothes and shoes, the survivors have requested the authorities to help and provide assistance to them. FIA action Taking action in the aftermath of the fatal incident, the FIA Gujranwala on Tuesday registered a case and apprehended two facilitators involved in the accident. Out of the two suspects, one was arrested from Gujranwala, whereas the other was apprehended from Gujrat, the investigation agency said. Raids are being carried out to nab 18 human smugglers involved in the boat tragedy, the FIA added. The case registered by the FIA named smuggler Qamar-uz-Zaman alias Khurram Jajja who is currently residing in Libya. Jajja, along with his brother Usman and four other family members, operate the human smuggling ring, the FIA further said. Moreover, Shamrez, hailing from Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir, has also been named in the case. Source : https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1262510-fatalities-rise-to-five-35-pakistanis-remain-missing-in-greek-boat-tragedy

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/12/17/live-israel-again-targets-kamal-adwan-hospital-as-gaza-toll-passes-45000

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