India remains committed to ensuring safety, comfort, and well-being of all Hajis

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Riyadh, May 15 (IANS) India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Khan met pilgrims from different Indian states in Mecca on Thursday as the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to make efforts to ensure a smooth and seamless Haj pilgrimage for all.

“Ambassador Suhel Khan visited pilgrims from various states and enquired about their welfare and issues of concern in Mecca today. The Government of India remains committed to ensuring the comfort and safety of the Indian pilgrims and making their spiritual Haj journey hassle-free,” the Embassy of India in Riyadh posted on X.Earlier in the day, the Indian Ambassador accompanied by Indian Consul (Haj) Muhammed Abdul Jaleel and other coordinators, inspected various functional desks, branch offices, and branch dispensaries set up to serve the Indian pilgrims in Mecca.The Ambassador also undertook a comprehensive review of the Azizia transport in Mecca. Azizia transport is seamless, 24-hour service provided for the pilgrims from their residences to the Haram Sharif by the Indian Haj Mission.The medical and accommodation facilities for Indian Haj pilgrims are also being continuously monitored and reviewed. The Indian Consul General of Jeddah, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri on Wednesday held a review meeting with the officials and staff deployed in temporary branch offices and dispensaries, various cells and desks, set up by the Indian Haj Mission.In a significant moment under the Indian government’s progressive ‘Lady Without Mehram’ (LWM) policy, the Indian Ambassador and his wife on Wednesday received an all women Haj pilgrim group from Kerala at the Jeddah Haj Terminal in Saudi Arabia.”Ambassador Suhel Khan, along with his spouse Rifat Khan welcomed an all-women group of pilgrims from Kerala at the Jeddah Haj Terminal today. Women are benefiting from the Government of India’s progressive policy of allowing Haj without a male companion under the Lady Without Mehram’ category,” the Embassy of India in Riyadh posted on X.With the Indian government committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless Haj pilgrimage for all, Ambassador Khan on Wednesday also reviewed the arrival arrangements of Indian pilgrims during his visit to the Jeddah Haj Terminal. Accompanied by Indian Consul General in Jeddah Mohammed Hashim, the Indian diplomat met all the staff and the community volunteers.The first batch of Indian Haj pilgrims arrived in the country on April 29. With the government according highest priority for Indian Muslims to undertake the annual pilgrimage, the country allocation for India has gradually increased to 175,025 in 2025 from 136,020 in 2014.For Haj 2025, the Indian Haj Mission is ensuring dedicated support for elderly pilgrims and persons with special needs, the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), which through the Haj Committee of India manages arrangements for the bulk of the quota allotted to India, said on Wednesday.All the necessary arrangements including flight schedules, transportation, Mina camps, accommodation, and additional services have been taken up and completed as per the Saudi requirements, within the given timelines.–IANSint/scor/as

Former Mauritanian Presz Ould Abdel Aziz sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges

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Nouakchott, May 15 (IANS) An appeals court sentenced former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to 15 years in prison on charges of corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering.Aziz, who led Mauritania from August 5, 2009, to August 1, 2019, had initially been sentenced to five years in prison in the first instance.His lawyer, Mohameden Ould Ichidou, said his client intends to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the verdict was “tainted by abuse of power.”On the other hand, Ibrahim Ould Ebety, lawyer for the civil party representing the state, praised “a rigorous procedure,” saying that the evidence presented in court was “based on material facts,” Xinhua news agency reported.The verdict was delivered during a session specifically convened to announce the judgment in the “Decade of Corruption” case, which centres on Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz’s decade-long presidency. During his rule, he and several top officials faced multiple corruption-related charges.As part of the ruling, the court also ordered the dissolution of the “Al-Rahma Charity Association,” a foundation led by Badr Ould Abdel Aziz, the former president’s son. The association’s assets were ordered to be confiscated.Ould Abdel Aziz’s legal team is expected to challenge the ruling by filing an appeal with the Supreme Court.The Court of Appeal in Nouakchott concluded its examination of the defendants and heard final submissions on April 23.Ould Abdel Aziz and his co-accused returned to court in December 2023 after appealing their earlier convictions.In that same month, a court specialising in corruption sentenced the former president to five years in prison and revoked his civil rights.The case has become the longest-running trial in Mauritanian history. Proceedings began on January 25, 2023, with initial verdicts announced on December 4, before the matter was escalated to a higher court.Charges brought against Ould Abdel Aziz and his former associates included corruption, illicit enrichment, money laundering, awarding improper benefits through government contracts, and undermining the interests of the state.In connection with the investigation, authorities froze assets totalling 41 billion ouguiyas (approximately $100 million). Reports indicate that over half of the seized assets belonged to Ould Abdel Aziz and his family.Ould Abdel Aziz served as president for two terms, from 2009 to 2019. He chose not to contest the June 2019 elections, instead backing his ally and successor, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, who assumed office in August 2019.–IANSint/jk/dan

South Korean military chief inspects naval readiness, calls for deterrence against North Korea

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Seoul, May 15 (IANS) South Korea’s top military officer inspected naval units and the submarine command on Thursday, urging firm naval readiness to deter any provocations by North Korea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo made the call as he boarded the ROKS Jeongjo the Great destroyer and visited the submarine force command, the Jinhae Naval Base Command and the naval special warfare flotilla based in Jinhae, some 310 kilometres southeast of Seoul, according to the JCS.Boarding the destroyer, Kim urged troops to familiarise themselves with the warship’s combat system and equipment to preemptively deter and respond to the North’s nuclear and missile threats.The 8,200-tonne Aegis destroyer, armed with an advanced missile interception platform, was delivered to the Navy in November last year and is expected to be deployed by December.While visiting the submarine force command, Kim instructed the command to maintain a firm readiness posture against the enemy’s potential provocations, Yonhap news agency reported.As part of the visit, Kim also conducted a command flight on the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, the JCS said.The Navy completed its acquisition of six P-8As last year with an aim to deploy them this year. Dubbed the “submarine killer,” the P-8A is capable of conducting an array of missions, including anti-submarine, anti-surface, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.Earlier on Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had supervised combined tactical drills of special operations, stressing that the most “crucial” task for the North’s armed forces is to make full preparations for war.The combined tactical drills of special operations and tank subunits’ joint fire strike demonstration took place the previous day.”Saying that our revolutionary armed forces are now in charge of not a few fronts, but the most important among them is the anti-imperialist class front and making full preparations for war is the most crucial task,” Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.He also said the combat drills will help “turn the whole army into an elite ranks.”Photos carried by state media showed North Korean troops in camouflage suits operating drones. South Korea’s spy agency earlier said it detected signs of North Korean troops deployed to Russia learning drone operations and tactics from Moscow.Last month, North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it had sent troops to Russia to fight against Ukrainian forces. During a visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang last week, Kim said the North’s involvement in the war was “justifiable,” calling it an exercise of sovereign rights under a mutual defence treaty with Moscow.–IANSint/jk/dan

Russia-Ukraine conflict can be solved diplomatically, says Marco Rubio

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Istanbul, May 15 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine cannot be solved militarily.”There is no military solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This war is going to end not through a military solution, but through a diplomatic one,” said the top US diplomat as he arrived in Antalya for an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers.Rubio further stated that the US hopes that progress will soon be made in the negotiation process, noting the situation around the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict remains complicated.Speaking to reporters in the Kremlin in the early hours of May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to the Kyiv authorities to resume direct talks suspended in 2022, without preconditions on Thursday in Istanbul.Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on Thursday said that the Russian delegation has arrived in Istanbul for talks on Ukraine and is ready for serious work.”As we have already stated, the Russian side is ready to negotiate in earnest. The Russian delegation has arrived in Istanbul and is ready for serious work,” Zakharova said, addressing a news briefing.”The Russian President proposed restarting those direct talks in Istanbul on May 15 without delay or any preliminary conditions. As the Russian President emphasised, the purpose of these talks is to, direct quote, eliminate the root causes of the conflict, to reach the establishment of a long-term lasting peace for a historical perspective,” she added.The Russian delegation, headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, head of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kostyukov, and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin. However, Putin has decided to skip the visit.Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the talks, which will be held in Istanbul, will be productive.”Marco (Rubio) is going to be going there, others are going to be going, and we’ll see if we can get it done… Very importantly, talks are being held in Turkey later this week, probably on Thursday, and they could produce some pretty good results,” he told a bilateral investment forum in Saudi Arabia, without elaborating.Addressing reporters, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that on Wednesday evening, President Putin held a meeting to discuss arrangements for talks with Ukraine, due to take place in Istanbul.”Prior to the departure of our delegation for Istanbul last evening, President Putin chaired a meeting on arrangements for upcoming talks with Ukraine,” he said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also took to his social media on Wednesday night, stating that he would hold discussions with his team on the format of the Istanbul meeting.”Today, we held several meetings with the team regarding the format in Turkey. I am waiting to see who will come from Russia, and then I will decide which steps Ukraine should take. So far, the signals from them in the media are unconvincing,” Zelensky posted on X.–IANSint/scor/sd/

1.3 million Afghan nationals deported from Pakistan since November

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Islamabad, May 15 (IANS) As part of the ongoing campaign to deport illegal and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders from Pakistan, the government has repatriated about 1.3 million Afghan nationals since November 2023, Pakistan’s Parliamentary Secretary Mukhtar Ahmed Malik said during a meeting.

The parliamentary committee overseeing the repatriation drive was informed that the government targetted illegal Afghan nationals living in the country, allowing them the opportunity to leave voluntarily, adding that a parallel operation was launched to crackdown against those who were still present after the deadline of March 31 expired.The committee was told that a warning was issued to all illegal Afghan nationals that they would be deported after the deadline ends. Moreover, the government later on decided to also deport those Afghan nationals who were in possession of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), thus expanding the domain of the expulsion campaign by the government.Launched in 2017, the ACC grants temporary legal status to Afghan refugees.”There are at least three million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan. Of these, 813,000 hold Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) while 1.3 million possess Proof of Registration (PoR) cards,” said Mukhtar Ahmed Malik.”Those Afghans who wish to enter Pakistan for medical treatment, education, or business purposes are welcome to do so provided they obtain a Pakistani visa and carry valid documentation with them,” he added.On the other hand, there are thousands of Afghan families in Pakistan, who do not wish to go back to Afghanistan, and are demanding the Pakistan government to reconsider their deportation.”I was born in Pakistan, married in Pakistan, have kids in Pakistan. We do not know anything about Afghanistan. My father brought me here when I was a five-year-old. Since then, we are living here,” said Rahimullah, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.”Now, they want us to leave. I ask them, where would we go and what would our children do there? Do they have a future there? We want to request the Pakistan government to reconsider for the sake of the future of our children,” he added.Pakistan has been home to over 2.8 million Afghan refugees for over 40 years. However, the deportation drive to expel Afghan nationals from the country began after Islamabad blamed the Afghan Taliban interim government in Kabul for cross-border terrorism supporting and supporting anti-Pakistan groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). As tensions simmered, Pakistan has made it clear that it would not host Afghan nationals in the country anymore.–IANSint/hamza/as

Bangladesh: Jagannath University students stage protest for basic necessities on campus

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Dhaka, May 15 (IANS) Students in Bangladesh’s Jagannath University have been protesting against the administration, demanding the acceptance of their three-point demand, which is focused on house allowances, budget for the university and the new campus building. On Thursday, the students blocked Kakrail intersection in Dhaka, causing traffic congestion in surrounding areas, as their protest entered its second consecutive day.The protesting students declared they would not leave the streets until their three-point demand was met, after police action and Information Advisor Mahfuj Alam’s attempt failed to move them through talks, according to local media reports.Their demands included housing allowance for 70 per cent students of the university from the next fiscal year, approving a full budget for Jagannath University for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and building a second campus for the university.In the early hours on Thursday over hundred students and some teachers, including the vice-chancellor and pro-vice chancellor, continued their sit-in in Dhaka’s Kakrail intersection near Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’ official residence Jamuna.According to local media reports, the students declared that they would not vacate the streets until their demands are met.Furthermore, on Wednesday, Information and Broadcasting Advisor Mahfuj was attacked with bottles as he tried to address the students protesting for their demands, Bangladeshi leading daily, Prothom Alo reported.”We don’t see it as a major issue because he went to the government as our representative. Compared to the police attack on students, this is nothing,” said a student in response to the incident.”We have decided that we will not leave this place under any circumstances. If any untoward incident occurs, the advisors and the government must take full responsibility,” said a protesting student, addressing a media briefing.”We’ve been here since yesterday. We will continue our protest until our demands are met,” said another student.Meanwhile, a large number of law enforcement officials, including the police and the Border Guard Battalion (BGB), are on high alert, with barricades being placed in front of the protesters.Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, over 50 people were injured as police intercepted a long march of university teachers and students towards the chief advisor’s official residence, Jamuna, marching for their three-point demand.The police fired tear gas, lobbed sound grenades, and used water cannons to disperse the protesters, local media reported.In a separate development, protests raged at Dhaka University as a group of students under the banner of “Students Against Terrorism” brought out a torch procession on the campus Wednesday night, protesting the murder of fellow student Shahriar Alam Shammo.”In the last 9 months, we have seen three bodies. One was Tofazzal, another was hanging from a tree, and the latest one was last night — a student of Dhaka University. The DU VC must take responsibility for these murders. We reject the condolence expressed by the DU administration,” Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported, quoting a protesting student as saying.–IANSint/scor/sd/