News

PARIS-The French education minister has said that nearly 300 pupils arrived at school on Tuesday wearing the abaya, the long Muslim robe which was banned in schools last week. Most of the girls agreed to change into other clothes. According to official figures, 298 girls, mainly aged 15 or more turned up at school in the banned garment. Under instructions laid down by the ministry, there followed in each case a period of dialogue with school staff. Most girls then agreed to dress differently and were able to start classes. However, 67 girls refused to comply and were sent home. A further period of dialogue with their families will now ensue. If that fails, they will be excluded. Set against the 12 million school boys and girls who started term on Monday, the government believes the figures show that its ban has been broadly accepted. However, a legal challenge by a group representing some Muslims goes before the courts later today. At the end of August, the education minister announced that pupils would be banned from wearing the loose-fitting full-length robes worn by some Muslim women in France’s state-run schools at the start of the new school year on 4 September. France has a strict ban on religious signs in state schools and government buildings, arguing that they violate secular laws. Wearing a headscarf has been banned since 2004 in state-run schools. The move comes after months of debate over the wearing of abayas in French schools. The garment is being increasingly worn in schools, leading to a political divide over them, with right-wing parties pushing for a ban while those on the left have voiced concerns for the rights of Muslim women and girls. In 2010, France banned the wearing of full-face veils in public, provoking anger in France’s five million-strong Muslim community. France has enforced a strict ban on religious signs at schools since the 19th Century, including Christian symbols such as large crosses, in an effort to curb any Catholic influence on public education. Reflecting its changing population, it has updated the law over the years to include the Muslim headscarf and Jewish kippa, but abayas have not been banned outright until now. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/06-Sep-2023/french-state-schools-turn-away-dozens-of-girls-wearing-muslim-abaya-dress

With the water flow returning to normal in Sutlej, educational institutions reopened in the areas of eastern Punjab affected by the recent flooding in the river. According to the education department, the 63 schools have been opened again which were closed last month on August 20 after Sutlej submerged a vast area along its path. Forty-eight of these are in Pakpattan tehsil and the remaining 15 in Arifwala tehsil. Both of these tehsils are part of the Pakpattan district. On the other hand, the irrigation department says inflow at Sulemanki Headworks is 30,988 cusecs with an outflow of 16,866 cusecs. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/05-Sep-2023/schools-reopened-in-areas-affected-by-sutlej-floods

BLACK ROCK CITY-Tens of thousands of festivalgoers were stranded Sunday in deep mud in the Nevada desert after rain turned the annual Burning Man gathering into a quagmire, with police investigating one death. Video footage showed costume-wearing “burners” struggling across the wet gray-brown site, some using trash bags as makeshift boots, while many vehicles were stuck in the sludge. All events at the counterculture festival, which drew some 70,000 people, were canceled after rain tore down structures for dance parties, art installations and other entertainment. Police said they were probing one death, without giving further details. Road gates in and out of the Black Rock City venue were closed, but some desperate attendees trudged on foot for hours to reach the nearest road and hitch a lift out. “It was an incredibly harrowing six-mile (10 kilometer) hike at midnight through heavy and slippery mud, but I got safely out,” lawyer Neal Katyal said on social media. “It is very slippery and the mud is like cement and sticks to your boots. “No one should try this unless in good shape and part of a group. These are dangerous conditions to hike and will likely get worse.” Festival crowds were asked to shelter in place and conserve food and water after the heavy rains started Friday night, with more downpours forecast on Sunday. “You can’t really walk or drive,” a young woman named Christine Lee, a circus performer, said on TikTok. Internet service was either not available or patchy, she said. “My boots are five inches, and the mud became five inches so I was kind of on stilts,” Lee said, adding people were being told they may be stuck until Tuesday. “We have enough tuna for a week so we’re OK.” A video posted on social media showed comedian Chris Rock hitching a ride in the back of a pickup truck after managing to leave. Source: https://www.nation.com.pk/05-Sep-2023/thousands-still-stuck-in-mud-at-burning-man-festival-one-dead

French public schools have sent dozens of girls home for refusing to remove their abayas – long, loose-fitting robes worn by some Muslim women and girls – on the first day of the school year, according to Education Minister Gabriel Attal. Defying a ban on the garment seen as a religious symbol, nearly 300 girls showed up on Monday morning wearing abayas, Attal told the BFM broadcaster on Tuesday. end of list Most agreed to change out of the robe, but 67 refused and were sent home, he said. The government announced last month it was banning the abaya in schools, saying it broke the rules on secularism in education that have already seen headscarves banned on the grounds they constitute a display of religious affiliation. The move gladdened the political right but the hard left argued it represented an affront to civil liberties. Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris before the ban came into force said Attal deemed the garment a religious symbol which violates French secularism. “Since 2004, in France, religious signs and symbols have been banned in schools, including headscarves, kippas and crosses,” she said. “Gabriel Attal, the education minister, says that no one should walk into a classroom wearing something which could suggest what their religion is.” Attal said on Tuesday the girls refused entry on Monday were given a letter addressed to their families saying that “secularism is not a constraint, it is a liberty”. If they showed up at school again wearing the gown there would be a “new dialogue”, the minister said. ‘Worst consequences’ On Monday evening, President Emmanuel Macron defended the controversial measure, saying there was a “minority” in France who “hijack a religion and challenge the republic and secularism”. He said it leads to the “worst consequences” such as the murder three years ago of teacher Samuel Paty for showing Prophet Muhammad caricatures during a civics education class. “We cannot act as if the terrorist attack, the murder of Samuel Paty, had not happened,” he said in an interview with the YouTube channel, HugoDecrypte. An association representing Muslims has filed a motion with the State Council, France’s highest court for complaints against state authorities, for an injunction against the ban on the abaya and the qamis, its equivalent dress for men. The Action for the Rights of Muslims (ADM) motion is to be examined later on Tuesday. Source:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/5/schools-in-france-send-dozens-of-muslim-girls-home-for-wearing-abaya

Mainly hot and humid weather is expected in plain areas of the country during the next twelve hours. However, rain with thunderstorm is expected at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pothohar region, Islamabad, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Temperature of some major cities recorded this morning: Islamabad twenty-five degree centigrade, Lahore and Karachi twenty-eight, Peshawar twenty-six, Quetta twenty-one, Gilgit fifteen, Murree sixteen and Muzaffarabad twenty-two degree centigrade. According to weather forecast for Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, partly cloudy chances of rain and wind with thundershower weather is expected in Srinagar, Jammu, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Baramula while partly cloudy in Leh. Temperature recorded this morning: Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramula seventeen degree centigrade, Jammu twenty-five, Leh ten, Pulwama and Shopian sixteen degree centigrade. Source: https://www.nation.com.pk/04-Sep-2023/hot-humid-weather-expected-in-plain-areas-of-country-pmd

TAIPEI – At least 44 people were injured and tens of thousands of homes were left without power as Typhoon Hai­kui made its way across Taiwan, authorities said. The storm made landfall along the southeastern coastal township of Donghe at about 3:40 p.m. local time, Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau said. The storm crossed the island and then left land at at 8 p.m. At least 7,113 people across 11 cities and counties were evacuated, according to Taiwan’s Interior Min­istry. State electricity provider Taipower said 48,506 households were without power as of 10 p.m. local time. Before making landfall, the storm was packing winds of up to 155 kilometers per hour (96 miles per hour), the weather bureau said. The capital Taipei was hit by heavy rains. Haikui is the first typhoon in four years to directly hit Taiwan. The weather bureau said the heavy rainfall brought by the storm could trigger flash flooding and landslides. The mountain­ous Hualien county could see total precipitation of more than 500 millimeters, it added. The typhoon was previously expected to make landfall near the southeastern city of Taitung around 5 p.m. local time on Sunday. Seven counties and cities in southern and eastern Taiwan suspended school and work for Sun­day, according to the respective local governments. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/04-Sep-2023/44-injured-thousands-left-without-power-as-typhoon-haikui-hits-taiwan

MALMO, SWEDEN   –   Swedish police on Sunday ar­rested two people and de­tained around 10 people af­ter a violent riot broke out at a protest involving the burn­ing of Holy Quran, police said. The protest was organised by Iraqi refugee Salwan Momi­ka, whose protests — which have included public desecra­tions of the holy book — have sparked outrage across the Middle East. Sunday’s protest was held in a square in the southern city of Malmo, which has a large immigrant popu­lation, and according to pub­lic broadcaster SVT around 200 people had showed up to watch. “Some onlookers have shown upset feelings after the organiser burned writings,” police said in a statement. “The mood was at times heated,” the statement said, adding that a “violent riot” occurred at 1:45 pm (1145 GMT). According to police, the event had end­ed after the organiser left but a group of people remained at the scene. About 10 people were detained for disturbing the public order and another two were arrested, suspected of violent rioting. Local media reported that some onlookers threw rocks at Momika, and video from the scene showed some trying to break through the cordon before being stopped by police. In another video, a man could be seen try­ing to stop the police car that transported Momika from the location by getting in front of it. Through a series of demon­strations, Momika has sparked anger directed at Sweden and diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/04-Sep-2023/swedish-police-arrest-two-as-riot-breaks-out-at-protest-involving-holy-quran-s-desecration

ISLAMABAD  –  Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gener­al Syed Asim Munir on Friday visit­ed Bannu where nine brave soldiers embraced martyrdom on Thursday when a suicide bomber blew up him­self near a military convoy in Jani Khel area. COAS was briefed on the ongo­ing operations and overall securi­ty situation, says a press release is­sued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). COAS visited CMH Bannu to inquire about the health and well-being of the injured sol­diers. COAS appreciated the high mo­rale and unflinching resolve of the troops. “Pakistan Army will contin­ue to act as a bulwark against terror­ism to safeguard the nation from this scourge” COAS emphasised. While interacting with officers and troops deployed in the area, COAS em­phasised, “The army, law enforcement agencies and the nation can never be coerced by the cowardly tactics of the terrorists, who have a misbelief that they can challenge the iron resolve of the soldiers and writ of the state.” He further said, “We have fought for long and will continue to fight the menace of terrorism till the end. The nation pays rich tribute to those who have laid their lives and their sacrifices will forever be honoured.” Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Commander Peshawar Corps. Meanwhile, the Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayer) of Shuhada (mar­tyrs) who embraced sha­hadat in August 31 motor­cycle-borne suicide blast in the general area Jani Khel, Bannu, was offered at Ban­nu on Friday. According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news, the, Shuhada, would be laid to rest with full military honour in their respective hometowns. Senior serv­ing military and civil ad­ministrative officers and troops attended the Jana­za, it added. “Armed Forc­es of Pakistan stand res­olute and committed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the moth­erland at all costs,” the ISPR said. COAS for en­hanced effectiveness of Peacekeeping Missions Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir has urged the United Nations to enable Peacekeeping Missions to be more effec­tive in addressing the com­plex threats while assuring the safety and security of the Peacekeepers. He was addressing a preparato­ry meet as the chief guest, held as a precursor to the UN Peacekeeping Minis­terial Meet here from Au­gust 30-31. Co-hosted by Pakistan and Japan on the theme of the Safety and Se­curity of Peacekeepers the meet was attended by del­egates from different coun­tries, senior officials from UN and members of the diplomatic community in Islamabad. In his remarks, the army chief commended the role of the United Na­tions in the maintenance of international peace and highlighted increas­ing challenges and unprec­edented levels of threats being faced by Peacekeep­ers. The army chief further highlighted that Pakistan aspired to create a region where peace prevailed and trade, transit and invest­ment generated prosperity for all the states of south, West and Central Asia. He also called on Security Council and the UN Secre­tary General for peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kash Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/02-Sep-2023/army-will-continue-to-fight-terrorism-till-the-end-coas

JOHANNESBURG-Search dogs looked for bodies on Friday in a Johannesburg building that went up in flames killing dozens and forcing South Africa to confront an illegal housing “crisis”. At least 74 people including 12 children died as fire ripped through the five-storey building in the early hours on Thursday. Authorities asked relatives to go to a morgue in Soweto to identify the victims, as the search continued at the site. The fire has reopened a debate about so-called hijacked buildings — old disused blocks that have fallen under the control of criminal syndicates who collect rent from squatters. President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was “a wake-up call for us to begin to address the situation of housing in the inner cities” as he visited the site late on Thursday. The building, located in an economically depressed, crime-ridden area, was owned by the municipality and listed as a heritage site. During the apartheid era, black South Africans would go there for papers allowing them to access white areas for work. City authorities said it was last used as a shelter for abused women but was “invaded and hijacked” towards the end of the past decade. Police raided the building in 2019, arresting 140 foreign nationals. But in a country struggling with massive crime rates, little changed. Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink told reporters on Thursday that police had opened a case following the raid but “no update” was immediately available. About 200 families were thought to be living at the premises at the time of the fire, he said. Authorities estimated that more than “80 shacks” were set up inside. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/02-Sep-2023/deadly-blaze-in-joburg-prompts-debate-over-hijacked-buildings

Nine people were injured Friday in the intervention by Israeli forces against Palestinians protesting in the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip, according to statement from the Kfar Qaddum Popular Resistance Committee. Palestinians reacted in the West Bank to the threat of Jewish settlement construction on lands in Beit Dajan and Kfar Qaddum, affiliated with Kalkilya, and Beyt Dajan in the east of Nablus. Seven Palestinians were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets from Israeli forces against the protesters, and dozens of Palestinians were affected by tear gas, said the group. Two Palestinians, one injured by a live bullet in the leg and the other by a rubber-coated metal bullet, were taken to the hospital for treatment, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement. Israeli forces intervened with tear gas and live ammunition, as well as rubber-coated metal bullets. Palestinians protest every Friday against the construction of illegal Jewish settlements. Israeli soldiers intervene with live and plastic bullets, tear gas and sometimes foul-smelling water mixed with chemical substances. In the Gaza Strip, a demonstration was organized in support of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. According to international law, all Jewish settlements in occupied territories are considered illegal. Source:https://www.nation.com.pk/02-Sep-2023/9-palestinians-injured-by-israeli-forces-in-west-bank-gaza-strip-protests