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Nepal has arrested a gang that it accuses of smuggling people to be forced to join the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. The 10 detainees are accused of extorting large sums of money from unemployed youths, with the promise of a travel visa, an official said on Wednesday. However, the customers were then coerced into illegal recruitment into the Russian army. end of list Earlier this week, the government in Kathmandu urged Moscow to stop the use of Nepali mercenaries and send any men serving back home. That move followed the death of six Nepali citizens on the front line in Ukraine, with another captured by Kyiv’s forces. Kathmandu district police chief Bhupendra Khatri said the 10 suspects were arrested over the past few days following tip-offs. “We are discussing with the government lawyers about the case and will produce them to the court,” Khatri told Reuters news agency. He did not say when they would appear in court. Khatri said the detainees illegally charged each person up to $9,000 and sent them to Russia on “visit [tourist] visas”, mainly through the United Arab Emirates. They were then recruited into the Russian army. “It is a case of human smuggling … organised crime,” Khatri added. The detainees could not be immediately reached for comment. Situated between China and India, Nepal has requested compensation from Russia, currently involved in a prolonged war since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, for the families of Nepali citizens who lost their lives. Nepali soldiers, renowned for their courage and combat prowess, known as Gurkhas, have served in the British and Indian armies since India gained independence in 1947 through a trilateral agreement. However, there is no such agreement with Russia. A large number of Nepalis seek employment abroad to make a living, and remittances play an important role in Nepal’s economy. These remittances accounted for nearly a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) last year, ranking as the ninth-highest globally, according to the World Bank. Russia has sought various sources for soldiers to post to Ukraine as its invasion extends. A mobilisation drive launched last year has added more than 300,000 soldiers to the cause, while the Wagner mercenary group recruited thousands of convicts. Last week, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree boosting the size of the Russian army by 15 percent, although the Kremlin said it would not seek to fill the quota with a draft by offering generous benefits to recruits. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/6/nepal-detains-10-over-allegations-they-sent-citizens-to-russian-army

Palestinian foreign ministry demands halt to planned Al-Aqsa march The Palestinian Authority‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is calling for international pressure to halt a planned Thursday march by far-right Israeli activists on Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli police have approved the protest for Thursday. Activists are expected to march through Jerusalem’s Muslim quarter before reaching the holy site, Israeli news site Haaretz reported. They are demanding full Israeli control of the Temple Mount, seeking to revoke the Islamic Waqf’s rights to administer Al-Aqsa. After four days, two girls recovered alive from under rubble in central Gaza Two young sisters have been rescued from under the rubble of a poultry hatchery that was targeted by Israeli tank shelling four days ago. Dozens of displaced people were staying at the hatchery in the central town of Deir el-Balah after they were forced to flee their homes in northern Gaza. “I woke up and felt something hurt, so I raised my hands and found a wall above me, and from the many pains, I went back to sleep,” Maria Abu Safi said, adding that there were about 72 adults and 62 children sheltering in the hatchery. She heard her younger sister Lana screaming in pain, her feet stuck under a pile of boxes and stones. “We stayed four days under the rubble, with no food or drink,” Maria said. “I was trying to get out, but there were many stones above us.” Click here to share on social media Israel, Hezbollah attack each other’s posts near border Hezbollah claims to have directly hit a “radar site” in northern Israel, Anadolu news agency reports. The claim comes as Israel’s military says it is repeatedly shelling Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon and responding to rocket attacks near the border. Click ‘Losing my mind’: Israeli army stripped two Gaza brothers, released only one Linah Alsaafin Maram Humaid Two brothers were walking with their family along the so-called “safe passage” that Israeli forces told Palestinians in northern Gaza and Gaza City to take to flee south. But a short distance from Wadi Gaza, they found dozens of Israeli army tanks flanking the Salah al-Din Road — Gaza’s main highway — with some snipers standing on top. The soldiers ordered the brothers to walk towards the soldiers and forced them to strip to their underwear. One was released, but the fate of the other remains unknown. Khader al-Saeedi shows a photo on his phone of his brother Mohammed, who was kidnapped by Israeli soldiers last October [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera] Click here to share on social media Japan PM tells Netanyahu civilian casualties should be minimised Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day. “Prime Minster Kishida stated continued growth in the number of civilian casualties should be avoided, and that it is important to calm the situation swiftly, minimize civilian casualties and observe international law including international humanitarian law,” a Japanese foreign ministry announcement said. In response, Netanyahu set out Israel’s position on the military operation in Gaza, the announcement said, without elaborating. WATCH: How does Israel compare with failed states? Israel has been in a state of near-perpetual war for decades, receiving billions of dollars annually in aid and weapons. It has also consistently broken international law by expanding its occupation and settlements. But for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it is “the only democracy in the Middle East” – a view often repeated by supporters. Critics, however, say Israel is a political entity that can only survive with repression, the denial of rights and violence. Gaza on the agenda as Putin heads to UAE, Saudi Arabia Russian President Vladimir Putin has begun his rare trip to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia where he is expected to discuss the war in Gaza, among others. Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays says Putin and the Gulf leaders he is meeting share a similar stance on the war and want a permanent ceasefire. “It is interesting when they talk about the US’s role and the US abandoning the Palestinians and going around the Palestinians, actually that was done [by] the UAE … that’s one of the countries that signed the Abraham Accords with Israel. So I think there are possibly some differences there,” Bays noted. “Russia has certainly taken a much tougher line with Israel since the start of this war than it has ever done in the past. It always had pretty good, cordial relations both with the Palestinians and the Israelis, we even saw a Hamas delegation going to Moscow. Despite that, though, Russia is still saying it wants to be involved in any solution to the conflict,” he added. Click here to share on social media How Israel is squeezing 1.8 million Palestinians into al-Mawasi The Israeli military is asking Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate to a section of the southern town of al-Mawasi – the only area it has clearly designated as a “safe” zone. But can the area actually accommodate the more than 1.8 million Palestinians while it carries out its bombardments of southern Gaza, especially around the city of Khan Younis? Here is all you need to know about al-Mawasi and Israel’s latest evacuation order. Click here to share on social media Sirens sound in Eilat, Israel intercepts missile over Red Sea The Israeli military says it has intercepted a surface-to-surface missile over the Red Sea. It added the missile did not cross into Israeli territory and did not pose a threat to civilians. Air raid sirens sounded across Eilat, a city on the southeastern tip of Israel by the border with Jordan, but Israeli forces said this was standard procedure. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have, on several occasions, fired missiles and drones towards the coastal city after the start of the war. Click here to share on social media Israel’s original plan was to ‘level’ the entire Gaza Strip: Report After the Hamas attacks on October 7, Israel’s initial planned response

A man has been charged with two counts of assault for allegedly spitting on Muslim students at Western University in Ontario, Canada. The male, who has also been barred from varsity premises, was arrested by the university’s special constable service after two incidents were reported. It wasn’t specified if the accused, who is scheduled to appear before a court, was a student at the university. In a post shared by WU’s Muslim Students Association (MSA) on its Instagram account, the MSA stated: “We strongly condemn the actions of the repeat offender, and extend our gratitude to Western University and Campus Police for their support during this process.” “It is crucial to acknowledge that this isolated incident is just one manifestation of the broader issue of hatred and Islamophobia that continues to persist at Western…we recognise that there is much work to be done in combating the root causes of discrimination,” the association added. In the same Instagram post, the MSA listed a total of nine Islamophobic incidents they claim have taken place on campus over the last month, including instances of physical assault and car tires being slashed. In a statement shared by WU with The Gazette, Western University’s official student newspaper, the varsity said: “Western is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment and we are here to support our students. Hate and discrimination have no place on our campus and will not be tolerated.” Western University is situated in Ontario’s city of London which has recently been in the news over the conviction of Nathaniel Veltman, who was found guilty of attacking and killing four members of a Pakistani-origin Muslim family with his pick-up truck in June 2021 in the same city. Veltman is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan 4 and Jan 5 in the coming year. Source:https://www.dawn.com/news/1795248/man-charged-with-assault-for-allegedly-spitting-on-muslim-students-in-ontarios-london

The death toll from floods in northern Tanzania following torrential rains this weekend has risen to 63, officials have said. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said in comments broadcast on television on Monday that the number of injured stood at 116 people. Landslides had destroyed half of one village he visited, he said. end of list “We are here in front of bodies of our fellows. We have lost 63 loved ones. Of the total fellows we lost, 23 are men and 40 are women,” he said during an event to bid farewell to the bodies of those who had died in Hanang district, northern Tanzania. “My fellow Tanzanians, this is a tragedy,” he said. Queen Sendiga, commissioner for the Northern Manyara region, said the death toll had reached 68, the AFP news agency reported. Earlier on Monday Zuhura Yunus, a spokesperson for the president’s office, said the flooding has affected at least 1,150 households and 5,600 people, with 750 acres [300 hectares] of farmland also destroyed. “Despite all the challenges rescue work is facing from damaged roads and mud and logs filling the roads, the government is doing its best to deal with that,” Yunus said. Residents stand beside a car damaged by flooding in the town of Katesh, Tanzania, on Sunday, December 3 [AP Photo] The flooding is the latest example of extreme weather that has devastated East African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan, with hundreds of people killed since the region’s rainy season began in October. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was attending a United Nations climate summit in Dubai, has said that she will return from the trip early to attend to the crisis. The flooding follows a period of severe drought that has left soil in the region drier and less capable of holding water, heightening the risk of flash flooding. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Sendiga said that about 100 homes were swallowed up in the village of Katesh, about 300 kilometres (185 miles) north of the capital, Dodoma, and that rescue workers continue to search for people buried in the mud. Worst flooding in decades kills dozens in East Africa At the COP 28 UN climate summit in Dubai, Hassan highlighted the fact that poor countries face disproportionate risks from climate change, despite the fact that wealthy countries in the West bear responsibility for a large share of the cumulative emissions that drive climate change. “It must be said, unfulfilled commitments erode solidarity and trust, and have detrimental and costly consequences for developing countries,” said Hassan. “My own country is losing 2 to 3 percent of its GDP due to climate change.” Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/4/death-toll-rises-as-tanzania-reels-from-flooding-landslides

Israel ramps up attacks across the Gaza Strip, including near hospitals and in the south of besieged enclave where ground operation is intensifying. Israel’s “indiscriminate bombardment” of Palestinian civilians in southern Gaza has reached “new depths”, Norwegian Refugee Council chief warns. The Palestine Red Crescent says it lost contact with its teams after telecommunication services cut off in Gaza amid Israeli bombings. At least 15,899 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200. Disease spreading as 1.8 million people squeezed in area the ‘size of an airport’ Israel’s push to relocate Palestinians in Gaza to a small area in the south is making it impossible to deliver aid and driving up the risk of disease, Bushra Khalidi, a Ramallah-based legal expert and rights campaigner with Oxfam, warned. “Squeezing people into a space that is basically as big as London’s Heathrow airport… is inhumane and makes it impossible to distribute aid to people,” Khalidi told Al Jazeera. “Gaza was already overpopulated… [now] we’re talking about 1.8 million people in an airport.” Khalidi added that cholera and gastroenteritis is rapidly spreading due to the congested conditions. “People are not getting better because conditions are not allowing them to get better,” she said. Click here to share on social media ‘Region witnessing great challenges,’ Qatar emir says ahead of GCC summit The 44th GCC summit is set to take place in Qatar today with the conflict in Gaza expected to top the agenda. While welcoming the officials to the summit, Qatar’s emir said the summit was “being held at a time when our region and the world are witnessing great challenges in which our Gulf countries can play roles that contribute to resolving them and mitigating their effects”. We will bring you all the news and updates from the summit right here. Click here to share on social media Israeli forces stage another deadly raid in occupied West Bank Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian man during a raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp north of Jerusalem, the Palestinian WAFA news agency reports. Mohammad Yousef Hassan Manasra, 25, was killed when Israeli forces blew up the door to his home Tuesday morning, according to witnesses cited by WAFA. The Israeli forces then detained the man’s brother. At least 468 Palestinians have been killed in near-daily occupied West Bank raids in 2023, reports WAFA. Of these, 260 have been killed since the October 7 war broke out in Gaza. Click here to share on social media Photos: Wounded Palestinians rushed to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters] [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters] [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters] Click here to share on social media Iran says not involved in actions against US military forces: Report Iran says that it has not been involved in any actions or attacks against United States military forces, according to the country’s United Nations envoy Amir Saeid Iravani. Iravani’s comments, which the Tasnim news agency reported, come after the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen launched a series of attacks on Sunday against Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea. Those attacks drew a response from a US warship deployed in one of the world’s busiest maritime routes. On Monday, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington has “every reason to believe that these attacks [on vessels in the Red Sea], while they were launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.” Click here to share on social media Latest casualty figures Gaza Killed: 15,899 Wounded: 42,000 Occupied West Bank Killed: 260 Wounded: 3,365 Israel Killed: 1,147 in October 7 attack (revised down from 1,400) Soldiers killed since October 7: 404 Wounded: 8,730 Source: Palestinian Health Ministry, Israeli army Palestinians mourn over the bodies of their relatives who were killed in Israeli strikes, at the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis [Mohammed Dahman/AP Photo] Click here to share on social media ‘State of panic’ after Gaza’s Bureij refugee camp bombed Israeli jets targeted the Bureij refugee camp in Gaza this morning. Mohamed Washa, our colleague at Al Jazeera Arabic, has these updates from the camp: Bombs began raining down around 6:05am (04:05 GMT) while most residents were asleep, leading to a total “state of panic”. At least 15 houses were “completely destroyed” more than 15 people were killed, including children. Many wounded are still trapped under the rubble. Residents are now working with their bare hands to rescue victims. There is no equipment or ambulances, they said. “We have been destroyed,” said one resident who survived the attack. “We did nothing to deserve this… we were all sleeping.” Another survivor added: “Nobody cares about us. Those were unarmed people and innocent children, asleep.” The entrance to the camp has extremely narrow roads making it difficult for ambulances or firetrucks to get in. Click here to share on social media Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/5/israel-hamas-war-live-israeli-attacks-on-southern-gaza-reach-new-depths

Security forces in Pakistan have killed two gunmen who attacked a convoy of Chinese workers in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province. “Two attackers were killed in the operation, which has now concluded,” Gawadar Deputy Superintendent of Police Chakar Baloch told Al Jazeera on Sunday. end of list Local police official Jawad Tariq said all members of the Chinese convoy and security officials involved in the exchange of fire remained unharmed. The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack on vehicles carrying Chinese engineers in the southern coastal city of Gawadar, where China is building a seaport. “BLA Majeed Brigade today targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Gawadar,” the armed group, which is banned in Pakistan, said on social media. Earlier, the media wing of Pakistan’s military issued a statement saying an operation was launched after the “presence of terrorists in the area was confirmed”. “Terrorists used small arms and hand grenades,” the military statement said, adding security forces cordoned off the area and carried out a search operation. China’s state-run newspaper Global Times also confirmed the attack, saying, “the convoy of three SUVs and a van, all bulletproof, carried 23 Chinese personnel”. Gawadar, a seaport town on Pakistan’s southwestern coast, is undergoing developmental projects carried out with help from Chinese engineers and financed by the Chinese government. BLA and other Baloch separatist groups have previously carried out and claimed attacks on China-linked development projects in the province. The area where the attack took place houses the Pak-China Technical Institute, a judicial complex and other government offices. “There was intense firing for 20 minutes and shopkeepers pulled down shutters after the attack”, a local resident, requesting anonymity, told Al Jazeera by telephone. The Chinese consulate general in the southern city of Karachi issued a safety warning, according to Global Times. “The consulate urged people to maintain high vigilance and strictly control large-scale gathering activities due to the severe security situation,” it said. Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is strategically important because of its rich copper, zinc and natural gas reserves. Cities in the province are a constant target of armed groups. Much of the violence is seen as a reaction by rebels to China’s investment plans in the region to link its Xinjiang province with the Arabian Sea in Balochistan through a network of roads and rail. Baloch nationalists initially wanted a share of provincial resources, but later initiated a movement for complete independence. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/13/pakistan-security-forces-kill-two-after-attack-on-chinese-convoy-in-gwadar

HYDERABAD-Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amjad Ahmed Shaikh on Tuesday said that four dacoits, involved in cash van robbery, were killed while their accomplices managed to escape during an encounter in the limits of P.S Hatri late Monday night. A policeman was also injured in the encounter, while the police also recovered Rs 51 million cash, one Kalashnikov, three pistols, two motorcycles and CNICs of the accused from the house where the dacoits were present at the time of the encounter, the SSP said while addressing press conference at Police Headquarters. In retaliatory fire, three of the accused and their accomplice Anis were killed on the spot while the other accused managed to escape, Amjad said and added that the injured policeman, Asad Chana was shifted to civil hospital for medical aid. The SSP said the slain robbers were identified as Zahir alias Mamo alias Qasim Mastoi, Anees Chana, Aqib Mastoi and Zaheer Abro. They were involved in looting of millions of rupees from a private security company van that was carrying cash of over Rs 300 million to HBL Moro branch. Amjad said that one of the accused Anis was already arrested and on his indication, a house was raided in Sadiq Leona to arrest them but the accused opened firing at police. The SSP said that the police had already arrested van driver Asghar Shah and Mirza who had admitted their involvement with the dacoits. He said that Anis had said in the statement given to the police that 11 accused including him (Anis) had looted the van. He said that the police investigation revealed that Tahir alias Mamo, was wanted in nine other serious crimes, including robbery. The SSP said that the operation would continue till the arrest of the last accused involved in the incident and the return of the looted money. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/19-Oct-2022/4-dacoits-killed-in-encounter-rs-51-million-recovered-ssp

Gaza Health Ministry official says hospitals “flooded with an influx of dead bodies”. Israel’s military widens its ground offensive in southern Gaza as Palestinian officials say more than 800 people killed since Saturday. Israeli forces arrest more Palestinians in overnight and early morning raids across the occupied West Bank. At least 15,899 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200. 1.9 million people displaced in Gaza since October 7: UNRWA The UN agency that provides relief to Palestinian refugees says the figure represents more than 80 percent of the population of the besieged coastal enclave. “A staggering 1.2 million people are sheltering in 156 UNRWA installations across all five governorates – including in the North and Gaza City,” it added. Click here to share on social media Telecom services in northern Gaza down: Paltel One of Gaza’s main telecommunications companies has said that all telecom services in Gaza City and the northern areas of the besieged coastal enclave are down “due to the disconnection of main elements of our network in light of the ongoing aggression”. This affects land lines, as well as cellular and internet services. Patel said it its technical teams were working “relentlessly by all available means to restore services”. Photos: Displaced Palestinians gather at Rafah tent camp [Fatima Shbair/AP Photo] [Fatima Shbair/AP Photo] [Fatima Shbair/AP Photo] Click here to share on social media More from Health Ministry spokesperson Here’s what else Ashraf al-Qudra had to say: Seventy percent of the victims of Israeli attacks are women and children. The number of injured has risen to 42,000 since the start of the war. The continued brutal Israeli aggression has completely incapacitated the health system in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces are still detaining 35 medical personnel, including the director-general of al-Shifa Hospital Mohammed Abu Salmiya, under very harsh conditions. We call on the United Nations and the World Health Organization to pressure for the release of our teams in occupation prisons We demand that a safe passage be provided for the entry of medical supplies and fuel and the exit of the wounded. We demand the protection of hospitals, health and humanitarian teams. Palestinians wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip are brought to the hospital in Deir al Balah on Sunday [Hatem Moussa/AP Photo] Click here to share on social media Gaza death toll rises In his latest update, Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesperson for the Health Ministry in Gaza, says at least 15,899 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. Palestinians pray over the bodies of 13 members of the Hams family, killed in an Israeli air strike on a residential building in Rafah overnight, during their funeral early on Monday [Mahmud Hams/AFP] Click here to share on social media1 Click here to share on social media Update: One Palestinian killed in Israeli raid in Qalandiya camp A 33-year-old Palestinian has been killed in an Israeli raid of the Qalandiya refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, according to the health ministry. Wafa news agency, quoting local sources, said 40 Israeli army four-wheel drives, accompanied by a bulldozer, raided the camp and the neighbourhood in the morning. Bullets and tear gas were fired by the army, resulting in injuries to at least 17 Palestinians. We’ll bring you more on this as soon as we can. Israeli soldiers operate during a raid, in Qalqilya in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, in this screen grab obtained from a video released on Monday [Video Obtained by Reuters] Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/12/4/israel-gaza-war-live-israel-expands-ground-attack-in-southern-gaza

Civil bureaucracy comes under fire in Senate over lavish spending. ISLAMABAD  –  Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani Friday informed the Senate that Pakistan had actively engaged in ending the Gaza crisis and resolution of the Palestine issue. Responding to a notice raised by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed the siege of land, sea, and air routes of Gaza by the Israeli occupying forces and the killing of innocent Palestinians by dropping phosphorus bombs on residential units, hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and mosques which is worst form of terrorism and violation of International Law and Human Rights, the minister said, “Pakistan has been actively involved in the resolution of Palestine issue for several years, particularly in the last month and a half.” Highlighting Pakistan’s contributions, he said, “Pakistan, along with Saudi Arabia, co-sponsored the OIC extraordinary session of foreign ministers held last month in Jeddah, and the extraordinary session of OIC was also held in Jeddah due to efforts of Pakistan”. He said Pakistan played a crucial role among the eight foreign ministers who collaborated on a unanimous document during the OIC summit. 18th Capt Usman Ali inter-collegiate declamation contest held The minister said, “Pakistan played a pivotal role in the passage of the resolution presented by Jordan at the United Nations, garnering support from numerous countries.” “I have received calls of appreciation from around 10 to 15 foreign ministers globally for our efforts in building consensus at the UN on the Jordan resolution in UN” he said. He said, “There is no doubt that Israel has committed aggression against Palestinians. In fact, it amounts to genocide against the innocent people of Palestine. The situation in Gaza is dire, with a severe lack of water, health facilities, and food, leading to a major humanitarian crisis.” Condemning Israel for war crimes in Gaza, he urged, “Israel must be held responsible for these actions, and we call upon the international community to focus on the Palestine issue and play a decisive role in ending the crisis. We express hope that the pressure exerted by OIC countries on Israel will yield positive outcomes.” MDCAT test held peacefully in 11 centres in KP The minister said that Qatar had played an OIC-mandated role on the issue of Palestine. He said that protests had been carried out in the USA and Europe in favour of the people of Palestine, and the issue of Palestine had emerged center stage in the last one and a half months. The minister revealed ongoing efforts, and said, “Pakistan is in contact with Egyptian and Jordanian authorities to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. Unfortunately, Israel is currently hindering the delivery of aid to Gaza.” He said Pakistan had also extended offers of medical assistance, including airlifting the injured to Pakistan and establishing a hospital in Gaza, but Israel had not granted permission for these initiatives. Regarding the reported casualties, he shared, “As per reports, around 15,000 people have been killed, and 40,000 injured by Israeli forces. UN workers and hospital staff have also fallen victim to the violence, with 37 hospitals and schools destroyed in Gaza, including one in Indonesia.” Countrywide anti-polio campaign begins In a firm stance, the FM demanded, “Israel must immediately cease its violence against Palestinians, allowing the international community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Pakistan reiterated its position, insisting that Israel respects international law by recognizing the right of self-determination for the people of Palestine, he added. IMF Stand-By Arrangement Caretaker Minister for Finance and Revenue Shamshad Akhtar on Friday informed the Senate that International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board approved the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) worth $3 billion, of which $ 1.2 billion had been disbursed. Replying to various questions during Question Hour, she said the duration of the program was 9 months. The SBA would have two reviews which would be held/ completed in November 2023 and March 2024, she added. The minister said the completion of each review would lead to disbursement of the remaining amount. Govt seeks private sector involvement for mechanized agriculture The principal repayment was due within 3.25 years of disbursement in eight equal quarterly installments while the interest rate currently stood at 4.198%, she added. She said “We have met the target of primary deficit in line with the standby arrangement reached with the IMF,” adding the government had also managed to reduce expenditures. The minister said the prices of essential commodities would now gradually come down as a result of the government effective policies. To another question, Shamshad Akhtar told that State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was a body corporate, established under the State Bank of Pakistan Act, 1956 (Act). The oversight of the affairs and functions of the Bank was entrusted to the Board of Directors under the Act, she said. Moreover, the Board of Directors was empowered, among other things, to make regulations regarding recruitment, compensation and terms of service of employees, she added. ‘Civil bureaucracy’ Palestinian Red Crescent dispatches 50 aid trucks to Gaza Civil bureaucracy on Friday came under fire in the Senate for its lavish spending and lucrative salary packages under management position (MP) scales with the warning that there should be an end to calls of resource reallocation for the provinces as it is the federal government that needed its course correction. The lawmakers from different political parties expressed concerns over the massive disparity in pay and privileges among employees of different state organizations. The salary packages under different MP scales and of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) came under criticism besides those retired civil and military officers getting pensions in dollars while living abroad. The issue came under discussion during question hour when the details of the salary packages of SBP officers were placed on the floor of the Senate, and culminated with the call attention notice moved by PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani. Referring to a recent notification issued by the Ministry of Finance that increased salaries and perks of top bureaucrats in MP scales by