Jerusalem, May 23 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named a senior army officer as the next head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, drawing immediate criticism from the Attorney General, who warned the appointment was tainted by a conflict of interest.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Major General David Zini would succeed Ronen Bar as Shin Bet Director.Zini has held a series of senior operational posts in the Israeli military, including with the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces and as head of the Commando Brigade.Within minutes of the announcement, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a public rebuke, saying Netanyahu had disregarded legal advice and may have made the decision while in a state of conflict of interest.”The Prime Minister acted in violation of legal guidance, raising serious concerns that he did so while in a state of conflict of interest, rendering the appointment process fundamentally flawed,” she said in a statement.The warning follows a Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday that found Netanyahu’s dismissal of outgoing Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar was unlawful.The court said Netanyahu’s conflict of interest influenced the move due to ongoing investigations involving his associates in the so-called “Qatar-Gate” affair.Bar’s removal came amid growing political fallout over intelligence lapses ahead of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.He had called for a state commission of inquiry into the performance of Israel’s security services and government before and during the assault.Legal challenges to Zini’s appointment are expected.Baharav-Miara had cautioned Netanyahu against moving forward until safeguards were in place to ensure the integrity of the selection process.Netanyahu is currently standing trial on corruption charges, which he denies.He has repeatedly described the proceedings as politically motivated and part of a “witch hunt”.Zini, the son of immigrants from France and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, has held “many” operational and command positions in the Israeli military, Thursday’s announcement said, including for some elite units and combat brigades.The announcement comes after more than two months of political and legal wrangling over who should head the powerful agency.In March, Netanyahu said that he was dismissing Bar due to “ongoing lack of trust”.The move was challenged in court by non-profit organisations and the political opposition, which decried it as a sign of anti-democratic drift on the part of Netanyahu’s right-wing government.Following Thursday’s announcement, Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on “General Zini to announce that he cannot accept his appointment until the Supreme Court rules on the matter”.The NGO Movement for Quality Government in Israel, meanwhile, said it will file a legal petition “in the coming days against this invalid appointment, and will continue to stand firm against attempts to defy the legal system and the rule of law”.Bar himself suggested that his ouster was linked to investigations into Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack “and other serious matters”.He has since said he will step down in June.Baharav-Miara has suggested Netanyahu’s conflict of interest in removing Bar stems from a case, dubbed “Qatargate” by Israeli media, involving close advisers to the premier under investigation for allegedly receiving money from the Gulf emirate, which has long hosted the political office of Hamas.Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on Thursday that “the authority to appoint the head of the Shin Bet is legally granted solely to the Prime Minister — and it is good that the Prime Minister exercised this authority and appointed a very worthy individual”.–IANSint/khz

San Francisco, May 23 (IANS) The US-led Donald Trump administration has revoked Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the institution from enrolling new international students.

US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision, Xinhua news agency reported.”Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,” Noem said in a statement.”Enrolling international students is a privilege — not a right — and that privilege has been revoked due to Harvard’s repeated failure to comply with federal law.”Taking to social media platform X, Noem wrote: “The administration in April froze $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard, after the university rejected demands that it eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and evaluate international students for ideological concerns. As of the fall 2023 semester, international students made up over 27 per cent of Harvard’s student body, according to university data. This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments. Harvard had plenty of opportunity to do the right thing. It refused. They have lost their Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification as a result of their failure to adhere to the law. Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country.”However, in the letter sent to Harvard University, it was mentioned that, if Harvard wants the opportunity of regaining Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification before the upcoming academic school year back, they should provide the “information required” within “72 hours”.DHS said that in addition to barring enrollment of future international students, “existing foreign students must transfer to lose their legal status.”This move by the Trump administration will force existing students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.Harvard University has said that the move is a retaliatory action that threatens serious harm to the university.”The government’s action is unlawful. We are fully committed to maintaining Harvard’s ability to host international students and scholars, who hail from more than 140 countries and enrich the University – and this nation – immeasurably,” the university said in a statement.”We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community. This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission.”In April, US President Donald Trump had called Harvard a “joke” and said it should lose its government research contracts after the prestigious university refused demands that it accept outside political supervision.”Harvard can no longer be considered even a decent place of learning, and should not be considered on any list of the World’s Great Universities or Colleges,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.He had threatened to ban the famed seat of learning from accepting foreign students unless it bowed to the requirements, as early as April.Each year, anywhere from 500-800 Indian students and scholars study at Harvard, according to the official website of the university.Currently, 788 students from India are enrolled at Harvard University.–IANSkhz/

Jerusalem, May 23 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the return of the Israeli delegation from Doha, a senior Israeli official confirmed to media, describing it as “an impasse” in the negotiations with Hamas over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said on Thursday that Israel had recalled its senior negotiation team on Tuesday for consultations after a week of indirect talks, and now the remaining working-level team still in Doha will also return.Hamas, in a statement on Tuesday, accused the Israeli government of derailing the talks, saying the low-level Israeli team left in Doha had no mandate to finalise an agreement.The group accused Netanyahu of “misleading world public opinion and pretending to participate in the negotiation process,” claiming no substantive negotiations had taken place since Saturday.Citing an Israeli diplomatic source, Israel’s state-owned Kan TV reported that the talks broke down over a key disagreement — Israel insisted on a deal involving a temporary truce in return to the release of only some hostages, while Hamas demanded international guarantees, primarily from the US, that Israel would not resume fighting, in exchange for the release of all hostages.”The sides failed to bridge the gaps, despite pressure from Washington,” the diplomat said.In January, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages under the first phase of a three-stage ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, as well as five Thai nationals who were not part of the agreement. In March, Israel refused to advance to the second phase of the deal after a two-month ceasefire, resuming its military offensive.Since then, Israel has rejected international calls to halt the war and allow humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave, where United Nations experts warn famine is spreading.On Saturday, Israel launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots, marking a significant escalation in its 19-month offensive.Israeli officials say the goal is to defeat Hamas and return 58 hostages still held in Gaza.The operation includes seizing the entire Gaza Strip, maintaining military control over the territory, and pushing the population southward, according to Israeli sources.The Palestinian death toll has reached 53,762 since the war began, according to the Gaza health authorities’ update on Thursday.–IANSint/khz

Jerusalem, May 23 (IANS) Israel’s military has said that a missile launched from Yemen had been intercepted by the country’s aerial defence system, marking the second missile attack by Houthi forces on Israel within the same day.
The missile, launched around Thursday noon, triggered air raid sirens in the Jerusalem area, several settlements in the occupied West Bank, and the Dead Sea region, Israeli police said.Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported that no injuries were sustained, Xinhua news agency reported.”A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted,” the military said in a statement, adding that sirens were activated “in accordance with protocol”.Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, the military also intercepted another missile launched from Yemen toward Israel.Houthi forces in Yemen have pledged to cease attacks on US vessels but have continued firing missiles at Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.The ongoing Israeli offensive, which began 19 months ago, has resulted in the deaths of more than 53,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.Israel has conducted a series of retaliatory airstrikes in Yemen, including one in May on the capital, Sanaa, which damaged the main international airport and left several people dead.The Houthis took responsibility for both missile attacks, saying it had targeted Ben Gurion Airport.The Iran-backed group also claimed to have launched two drones at Israel Thursday overnight. There were no reports of drones reaching Israel from Yemen on Wednesday.On Friday, the Israeli Air Force struck the Houthi-controlled Hodeida and Salif ports in Yemen in response to the Iran-backed group’s repeated attacks on Israel.The Houthis vowed to respond.Earlier this month, a Houthi missile slipped through air defences and landed in the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six people, none of them seriously.A slew of international carriers promptly halted services to Israel, though some have since said they will resume operations.Israel responded to that attack with strikes on Sanaa airport, causing an estimated $500 million worth of damage.The Houthis — whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, (and) a Curse on the Jews” — began attacking Israel and general maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre.The Houthis held their fire when a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025. By that point, they had fired more than 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of attack drones and cruise missiles at Israel, including one that killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv in July, prompting Israel’s first strike in Yemen.Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched 37 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel. Several of the missiles have fallen short.–IANSint/khz

Khartoum, May 23 (IANS) The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have announced the discovery of mass graves containing the remains of 465 individuals in the Al-Salha area, south of Omdurman city, just two days after declaring Khartoum State cleared of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) presence.

“During recent clearing operations in southern Omdurman, the armed forces uncovered mass graves and also found civilians and retired members of the regular forces who had been detained by the militia and held inside a school in the Salha area, where they were used as human shields under inhumane conditions,” the SAF said on Thursday in a statement on its Facebook page.”A total of 648 civilians had been detained, of whom 465 died as a result of neglect, including the lack of food, medical care, and essential medicine. The deceased were buried in mass graves, some containing more than 27 bodies,” the statement added.Meanwhile, the SAF also shared videos on its Facebook page showing detainees held inside a school in Al-Salha, along with footage of mass graves found on the school grounds, Xinhua news agency reported.A doctor, who was among the detainees, said, “The total number of detainees was approximately 648, and a significant number of them died due to a lack of food, medicine, and the spread of diseases such as cholera.”On May 20, the Sudanese army announced the full liberation of Khartoum State after regaining control of the last remaining RSF strongholds in the western and southern parts of Omdurman.In late March, the RSF said that it had repositioned its forces to the southern and western areas of Omdurman, particularly in the Al-Salha and the villages of Al-Jamoiya, following its withdrawal from most areas of Khartoum State.Al-Salha and the surrounding villages of Al-Jamoiya later became the scene of intense clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF forces.Volunteers and human rights activists have accused the RSF of committing serious violations against civilians in southwestern Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city.Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal conflict between the SAF and the RSF since April 2023.The war has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee their homes, both within Sudan and across its borders.–IANSint/khz

Sanaa, May 23 (IANS) Yemen’s Houthi group has said in a statement that it had…

Jerusalem, May 23 (IANS) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have issued an urgent call for residents in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate ahead of an expected intensification of its military offensive.
The evacuation order issued on Thursday covered the towns of Beit Lahia and Jabalia, the Jabalia refugee camp, and northern neighbourhoods of Gaza City, areas that Israel has already carried out heavy airstrikes in recent days, killing scores and forcing the local population to flee for the third time or more, Xinhua news agency reported.”The IDF will significantly expand its military operations in your areas,” said Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the IDF, in a post on X, claiming that militants were operating in the targeted zones.”The areas you are in are considered dangerous combat zones… For your safety, evacuate immediately to the south,” he added.Israel has rejected international calls to halt the war and reach a hostage release deal with Hamas.On Saturday, it launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots, significantly escalating its 19-month offensive.Israeli officials said the aim is to defeat Hamas and secure the return of 58 hostages held in Gaza.The operation includes seizing control of the entire Gaza Strip, maintaining military control over the territory, and displacing the population to the south, according to Israeli sources.The Palestinian death toll has reached 53,655 since October 2023, according to the Gaza health authorities.The Israeli military on May 19 instructed residents of Khan Younis to evacuate as it prepares for what it describes as a major offensive in southern Gaza.The IDF told civilians to move towards al-Mawasi, a coastal area in western Gaza, warning that Khan Younis and surrounding areas would become a “dangerous combat zone”.In a statement, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee said, “Terrorist organisations have brought you disaster. For your safety, evacuate immediately.”The order, one of the largest in recent months, also covers Bani Suhaila and Abasan.The offensive is part of what the IDF has named Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which began on May 17.According to hospitals in Gaza, more than 100 people have been killed in the past 24 hours.–IANSint/khz

London/New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Terming it as a “milestone achievement” and a “positive development for the region”, India on Thursday welcomed the signing of the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.

“India has consistently supported Mauritius’s legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on decolonization, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations. As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).”The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024, and marks the culmination of the process of decolonization of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order,” it stated.The United Kingdom on Thursday announced that it has signed a landmark agreement with Mauritius to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, one of our most significant contributions to the transatlantic defence and security partnership.It said that all ‘Five Eyes’ partners – the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – back the agreement, “along with India”, in recognising the critical role Diego Garcia plays in upholding global stability and deterring adversaries.The base has played a vital role in defending the UK and its allies for over 50 years. This new deal ensures its continued operation for at least the next century, protecting capabilities essential to UK intelligence and counter-terrorism, stated the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.”The base plays a key role in operations that support UK forces and our allies across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia. Its deep-water port, airfield, and advanced communications and surveillance capabilities give the UK and its allies crucial strategic capabilities, which have played a key role in missions to disrupt high-value terrorists, including Islamic State threats to the UK,” read a statement issued by the government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.”The legal necessity of this deal has been recognised by successive governments. The previous government started these negotiations over two years ago, and they held 11 out of the 13 rounds of talks that underpin the deal, that this government has concluded. The base is a cornerstone of the Government’s Plan for Change, with operations there deterring threats to our nation and protecting our economic security,” read the statement.Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago, located in the central Indian Ocean. The joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia has a strategic location which makes it vital to UK and US power projection in the Indian Ocean and beyond. The base provides a unique shared platform with irreplaceable security capabilities that enable a UK and US military presence across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific and Africa.–IANSint/as

Dhaka, May 22 (IANS) Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday assigned Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique to carry out the routine works assigned to Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin until further notice as the top diplomat has left his responsibilities.Ruhul Alam Siddique is from the 11th batch of Bangladesh Civil Service. He was High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Pakistan from October 2020 to December 2024.Siddique also served in the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi before his assignment as the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Karachi.The order will come into effect on Friday.It is relevant to mention that Jashim Uddin, a career foreign service officer, had lately stopped his engagements as Foreign Secretary after not being in sync with the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus – who currently heads the interim government in the country – and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain.Jashim Uddin was appointed as 27th Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh in September 2024.Secretary (East) Nazrul Islam had taken on several key responsibilities on the verbal instructions of Foreign Advisor Hossain, local media reported earlier this week.Notably, Nazrul Islam had led the Bangladesh delegation at a Foreign Secretary-level meeting with Japan in Tokyo on May 15.This marked the first time in five decades that such a meeting was led by someone other than the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh. Over the past couple of weeks, Jashim Uddin had reportedly not been present at any inter-ministerial meetings with two other officials of Secretary rank representing the ministry.Sources confirmed that Jashim Uddin had differences of opinion with key policy makers over foreign policy priorities, especially regarding the Rohingya crisis and the Rakhine Corridor, which sealed his fate.Jashim Uddin opposed this initiative of Humanitarian Corridor and safe zone for Rohingya refugees being pushed by Yunus and his National Security Advisor (NSA) Khalilur Rahman and endorsed by the United Nations. His views aligned with the military leadership who fear that the Humanitarian Corridor could compromise the sovereignty of Bangladesh without any strategic benefits. At the same time, non-state external actors could infiltrate the sensitive border regions and the Humanitarian Corridor might see an influx of refugees rather than repatriation.He also led the Bangladeshi side at the FOC-level talks in Dhaka with Pakistani counterpart Amna Baloch on April 17. During the talks, Bangladesh raised the issue of financial claim to the tune of USD 4.32 billion from Pakistan as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971. Bangladesh also demanded USD 200 million (foreign aid from countries and agencies) to East Pakistan during the extremely deadly Bhola cyclone. Jashim Uddin had raised the issue of financial claim to the tune of USD 4.32 billion from Pakistan as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971. Also, Bangladesh demanded USD 200 million (foreign aid from countries & agencies) to then East Pakistan during the extremely deadly Bhola cyclone.Jashim Uddin’s firm resolve to confront the issue directly during the high-level diplomatic visit after a hiatus of 15 years did create frustration amongst Bangladeshi and Pakistani officials. It may be pointed out that Jashim Uddin’s isolation ripened within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chief Advisor’s Office.Analysts believe that the Yunus administration, supported by the hardline pro-Islamist lobbies, is desperate in cosying up with Pakistan cherishing the visions of a stricter, ‘Shariat-dominated’ order which is emerging in “New Bangladesh.”–IANSint/scor/as

Abu Dhabi, May 22 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday assured India that both countries will tackle terrorism together as the strong bilateral relationship extends beyond trade and culture, also encompassing security and strategic issues.

UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Co-Existence Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi – Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of Federal National Council – besides several other senior Emirati parliamentarians expressed full solidarity with India as a high-level all-party delegation from India led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde called on them in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.As the delegation highlighted the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and efforts to cause social disharmony in India by Pakistan, Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan conveyed his deep condolences on the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attacks and said, “India and UAE will tackle terrorism together. The UAE will always stand by India.”The delegation then held substantive discussions with Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of Federal National Council, underscoring the precise, measured, and non-escalatory nature of Operation Sindoor against the barbaric terrorist attack on the tourists in Kashmir on April 22.According to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, during the meeting, Nuaimi stressed, “India-UAE relationship is beyond trade and culture, and encompasses security and strategic issues. Terrorism is against the whole of humanity and the international community must act now.”The UAE is the first stop of the broader four-nation diplomatic outreach for the delegation which also comprises other Members of Parliament, including Bansuri Swaraj, ET Mohmd Basheer, Atul Garg, Sasmit Patra, Manan Kumar Mishra, Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy.Soon after their arrival in the country, the delegation held meetings with the UAE leadership and media to brief on the significance of Operation Sindoor and reaffirm India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism.The delegation also held discussions with Jamal Al Kaabi, Director General, National Media Office and addressed concerns over misinformation campaigns emanating from Pakistan. They presented factual evidence to counter the disinformation and exposed Pakistan’s propaganda machinery.Shinde, as the leader of the delegation, gave an interview to UAE’s leading newspaper, The National, drawing the complete timeline of India’s long battle against cross-border terrorism and setting of new normal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against cross-border terrorism with Operation Sindoor.The delegation’s day concluded with an interaction with the Indian community based in the UAE recognising their vital contributions and reaffirming India’s commitment to its diaspora. The delegation addressed and commended the diaspora for upholding the values of tolerance, pluralism, and unity, and for resisting divisive efforts aimed at destabilising India’s social fabric.On Friday, the delegation is scheduled to participate in closed-door strategic dialogues with leading think tanks and thought leaders based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.The UAE was among the first countries to issue a statement categorically condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack. UAE leaders, President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan personally conveyed their condolences to PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar over phone calls.–IANSint/as