CANBERRA, Australia: Australia is close to resettling the 12,000 refugees from the war in Syria and Iraq it promised to urgently take over a year ago.
Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton said Wednesday all 12,000 have been issued visas and over 10,000 have already been brought from Mideast refugee camps to Australia. The remainder will be resettled in the coming months.
The refugees are in addition to the 13,750 refugees Australia accepts each year.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced in September 2015 that the 12,000 refugees would be resettled as quickly as possible. Abbott was replaced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull less than a week later.
Peter Shergold, coordinator-general for refugee resettlement in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, said careful screening would hold up the resettlement process.
Australia close to resettling 12,000 Syrian refugees
Australia close to resettling 12,000 Syrian refugees
India stampede: Six dead as thousands gather for free pass to visit Hindu temple
- People started queuing from as early as Wednesday for tokens to visit an almost 2,000-year-old temple
HYDERABAD: At least six people were killed and several others injured late on Wednesday in a stampede in southern India after thousands of devotees queued outside one of the most visited Hindu temples to collect tokens for a free visit to the deity.
Authorities had set up counters at a school to issue tokens from Thursday for devotees to visit The Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, popularly known as the Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh state during Jan. 10-19, a period considered auspicious by the locals, the Indian Express reported.
People started queuing from as early as Wednesday for the tokens to visit the almost 2,000-year-old temple and pushed and jostled leading to the stampede, according to the office of the chief minister of the state.
“Pained by the stampede in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones,” India Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X.
UN experts urge President Biden to pardon Guantanamo prisoner arrested in Pakistan
- Abu Zubaydah was never an Al Qaeda member, as per US report, though he was waterboarded 83 times
- He was among the early Guantanamo detainees, held at the facility for nearly 20 years without a charge
GENEVA: United Nations experts called Wednesday on outgoing US President Joe Biden to issue a pardon for Abu Zubaydah, who has been held at Guantanamo for nearly 20 years without charge.
“We are exceptionally requesting a Presidential pardon for Mr. Abu Zubaydah, owing to his treatment while in detention and the lack of due process since he was first detained,” a dozen independent UN experts said in a statement.
“His immediate release and relocation to a third safe country are long overdue.”
Abu Zubaydah was the first of a number of prisoners to be subjected to CIA “enhanced interrogation” techniques following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
The Saudi-born Palestinian, whose full name is Zayn Al-Abidin Muhammad Husayn, was captured in Pakistan in 2002 and has been held without trial at the US Guantanamo camp in Cuba since 2006.
He was waterboarded 83 times and suffered other physical abuse, according to a US Senate report, which said that the CIA conceded he was never a member of Al-Qaeda and not involved in planning the 9/11 attacks.
The UN experts, including the special rapporteurs on torture and on promoting human rights while countering terrorism, warned in Wednesday’s statement that Zubaydah “suffers serious health conditions.”
Those included “injuries sustained during torture that are allegedly exacerbated by the denial of medical attention,” they said.
The experts, who were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but who do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, also lamented that his “lawyer-client communication has been seriously impeded.”
They highlighted findings by a range of international and regional rights mechanisms that Zubaydah suffered multiple violations linked to the US rendition and secret detention program.
Zubaydah had endured “profound psychological and physical trauma of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and enforced disappearance,” they charged, demanding he be granted compensations and reparations.
He is among 15 people still being held at the controversial American base, after the US Defense Department on Monday said it had resettled 11 Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo to Oman.
Biden pledged before his election in 2020 to try to shut down Guantanamo, but it remains open with just weeks left in his term.
The facility was opened in the wake of 9/11 and has been used to indefinitely hold detainees seized during the wars and other operations that followed. Some 780 prisoners have spent time there.
The conditions there and the denial of basic legal principles have prompted consistent outcry from rights groups, and UN experts have condemned it as a site of “unparalleled notoriety.”
Pakistan’s UN envoy condemns Israel’s occupation of Syrian Golan Heights, seeks ‘full withdrawal’
- Ambassador Munir Akram calls a peaceful transition to a more inclusive governance structure in Syria
- He also appeals for international assistance in Syria’s reconstruction, emphasizing United Nations’ role
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations on Wednesday condemned Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights and called for the restoration of Syrian territorial integrity alongside the establishment of an inclusive government structure.
Ambassador Munir Akram delivered his remarks during a Security Council briefing on Syria’s political and humanitarian situation. Pakistan, which began its two-year term as a non-permanent council member this month, has pledged to uphold the UN Charter and promote just resolutions to global conflicts.
The Security Council briefing follows the downfall of the former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime after a swift offensive was launched by opposition forces led by the religio-political group Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).
The rebels quickly seized key cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Damascus, forcing Assad to flee to Russia, where he was granted asylum. While Damascus airport has resumed international flights to facilitate exiles’ return, Syria remains burdened by significant economic, political and security challenges.
“Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be restored,” the Pakistani diplomat told the council. “Israel’s occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights is illegal and ‘null and void’ as declared by Security Council ... The Council must demand Israel’s full withdrawal.”
Calling Syria a “fraternal country,” Akram welcomed positive statements from the interim administration but stressed the need for their practical implementation.
“Syria is at an important juncture in its history,” he noted. “The recent political developments offer the opportunity to restore normalcy, stability and peace in Syria. Yet this will depend on ensuring a peaceful transition to a new governance structure which is inclusive and stable and ensures Syria’s unity and territorial integrity.”
He also urged vigilance against the “danger of terrorism” emanating from Syria, citing concerns over the presence of foreign fighters and the potential resurgence of Al-Qaeda and Daesh.
“The antecedents of some of the groups, and the reported presence of foreign fighters, dictates caution,” Akram said.
Emphasizing the need to address Syria’s dire humanitarian crisis, thee Pakistani diplomat highlighted that over 70 percent of the population requires aid, with more than one million displaced in recent weeks.
He called for full funding of the UN Humanitarian Response Plan and support for the safe repatriation of Syrian refugees, including those in Turkiye.
He further appealed for international assistance in Syria’s reconstruction, urging collaboration with the new administration to rebuild institutions and stabilize the country.
“The role of the United Nations – especially the Security Council and the Secretary-General – will be indispensable to ensure effective action on all aspects of the challenges confronting Syria,” Akram said.
Al-Baha almond season flourishes with vibrant blooms
AL-BAHA: Saudi Arabia's southwestern region of Al-Baha transforms into a stunning landscape in winter, with gardens and parks adorned in shades of white and pink blossoms of almond trees.
This year, the almond blossom season in the region is remarkable amid ideal weather conditions fostering dense, vibrant flowers. Local farmers are optimistic about the upcoming harvest, carefully tending to the trees to ensure optimal yield.
Almond cultivation is a longstanding tradition in Al-Baha, playing a vital role in the local economy by creating job opportunities for farmers and promoting agricultural trade. The exquisite almond blossoms also attract tourists, advancing the growth of ecotourism in the region.
The cultivation of almond trees is prevalent throughout the Sarawat Mountains in Al-Baha, as well as in the governorates of Baljurashi, Al Mandaq, and Bani Hassan.
READ MORE: Saudis are still nuts about almonds amid revival in cultivation
A single almond tree can yield about 200 kilograms of nuts each season, farmers say.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in Al-Baha has been instrumental in promoting almond tree cultivation by introducing investment opportunities and enhancing farmers' expertise through a range of informative workshops.
Saudi low fare airline ‘Flyadeal’ to begin operations in Pakistan next month— official
- Flyadeal is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, Saudia
- Airline to operate two flights weekly each from Riyadh and Jeddah to Karachi
KARACHI: Saudi Arabia’s low fare airline, ‘Flyadeal’ is all set to launch its operations in Pakistan from next month, a Pakistani civil aviation officer confirmed this week, saying that it would offer cheaper fares to customers.
Flyadeal is a Saudi low-cost airline headquartered at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. It is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier, Saudia, that commenced operations on Sept. 23, 2017. Initially, it served domestic destinations within the Kingdom. On Jun. 10, 2022, the airline expanded its network by launching flights from Dammam to Cairo.
The airline’s move to expand its operations to Pakistan takes place as Saudi Arabia seeks to boost its tourism sector under the Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to attract over 150 million domestic and international tourists annually to the Kingdom by the end of the decade.
“It will increase market competition by offering better facilities and more affordable tickets,” Air Commodore (retired) Shahid Qadir, director of security of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) told Arab News on Wednesday. He confirmed Pakistan had granted permission to the Saudi airline to conduct operations in the country.
Flyadeal’s fleet consists of Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline, which will initially operate two weekly flights to Karachi each from Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and Jeddah cities, has hinted at plans to expand its network to include more Pakistani cities in future.
“Our new Karachi flights serving Jeddah and Riyadh are a stepping stone for further planned expansion in Pakistan,” Steven Greenway, Flyadeal’s chief executive officer, was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) in December.
Pakistanis constitute the second-largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated population exceeding 2.5 million. Saudi Arabia remains the primary source of remittances for Pakistan. Furthermore, Pakistan is among the leading nations in terms of the number of pilgrims visiting the Kingdom for Islamic pilgrimages Umrah and Hajj.
Qadir said Flyadeal will become the third Saudi origin airline to conduct operations in Pakistan. The Kingdom’s national flag career, Saudia and Flynas, a private Saudi low-cost airline, are already conducting operations in Pakistan.
The Pakistani official said Flyadeal’s entry into the Pakistani market is expected to enhance travel options for passengers.
“Thousands of Pakistani passengers will greatly benefit from it,” he said.
Flyadeal’s first flight will depart from Riyadh on Feb. 1 and return from Karachi on the same day. The second flight will fly from Jeddah on Feb. 3 and return the same day.
