Second suspect in Filipino maid’s murder is arrested in Syria

Jessica, centre, and Jojit Demafelis, left, siblings of Joanna Demafelis react as the wooden casket of her remains arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. (AP)
Updated 25 February 2018
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Second suspect in Filipino maid’s murder is arrested in Syria

MANILA: The second suspect in the murder of Filipino worker Joanna Demafelis, whose body was found in a freezer in a Kuwait apartment, has been arrested in Syria, it was announced late Saturday night.
Mona Hassoun, wife of Nader Essam Assaf, a Lebanese who was Dermafelis’ employer, is now in the custody of authorities in Damascus, the Philippine foreign office has been told.
Hassoun’s arrest came a day after the announcement that Lebanese authorities already have custody of her husband.
Hassoun and Assaf were the principal suspects in the murder of 29-year-old Demafelis.
Citing a report from the Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa, Alan Cayetano of the Philippines foreign office said Hassoun was arrested with her husband in Syria where the two fled after leaving Kuwait last year.
Cayetano said Assaf was immediately turned over to Lebanese authorities.
The two were taken into custody after Kuwaiti authorities requested the assistance of Interpol in locating and arresting them.
With the arrest of the suspects, Cayetano assured that President Rodrigo Duterte’s instructions to vigorously pursue justice for Demafelis would be followed.
Kuwaiti authorities discovered the body of Demafelis, which showed signs of torture, stuffed in a freezer earlier this month. The apartment had been abandoned by her employers in 2016.
Demafelis’ death angered President Duterte, who ordered a ban on deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait.
During his visit to the wake of Demafelis in Sara, Iloilo, last Thursday, Duterte assured her family that he would seek justice for the slain worker but would leave the matter to the Kuwaiti authorities for now.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the president has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to summon the local recruiters of the murdered Filipino.


Two children die in Mediterranean shipwreck, 17 rescued, NGO says

Updated 4 sec ago
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Two children die in Mediterranean shipwreck, 17 rescued, NGO says

  • The rescue took place in the early hours of Sunday morning in the Maltese Search and Rescue area
  • Survivors told rescuers that the boat set off with 21 people, while two passengers were still missing

MILAN: Seventeen migrants were rescued after a shipwreck in the Mediterranean, while two children died, the German NGO Sea Punks said on Sunday.
The rescue took place in the early hours of Sunday morning in the Maltese Search and Rescue (SAR) area, Sea Punks said in a statement.
One child was recovered deceased, while the Sea Punks crew medical team performed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on two other children, saving one’s life.
A Maltese rescue helicopter evacuated a pregnant woman and a seriously injured man, while an Italian coast guard vessel picked up the other 15 survivors and the bodies of the two children.
Survivors told rescuers that the boat set off with 21 people, Sea Punks added, leaving two missing.
Earlier, Italian news agency ANSA reported that 15 migrants had been rescued and three were found dead, with three others still missing.


Indonesian president is India’s Republic Day chief guest as Asian giants forge new partnerships

Updated 26 January 2025
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Indonesian president is India’s Republic Day chief guest as Asian giants forge new partnerships

  • Indonesia’s first president Sukarno was the chief guest in India’s first Republic Day celebration in 1950
  • A 350-member contingent from Indonesian military also joined the Republic Day parade on Sunday

NEW DELHI: India celebrated its 76th Republic Day on Sunday with a colorful parade in New Delhi displaying its military might and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as the guest of honor.

Thousands of people gathered in the capital to watch the long parade commemorating the official adoption of India’s Constitution on Jan. 26, 1950, after gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1947.

Indian troops and their bands were marching on the Kartavya Path, or the Boulevard of Duty, as the 90-minute parade showcased motorbike stunts and a number of cultural performances involving thousands of artists in colorful costumes.

A contingent comprising about 350 members from the Indonesian military also participated in the parade, marking the first time that troops from Southeast Asia’s biggest economy have joined any foreign parade.

Prabowo attended the event as the chief guest and was flanked by India’s premier and president, joining a list of foreign leaders who were invited to witness the spectacle, as per the country’s tradition.

In 1950 — India’s first Republic Day celebration — Indonesia’s first president Sukarno was the chief guest. French President Emmanuel Macron was the guest of honor last year, while former US President Barack Obama had attended in 2015.

The celebrations come a day after Modi and Prabowo agreed to expand ties, signing a series of cooperation agreements on health, defense, digital technology and maritime affairs.

“We discussed ways to deepen India-Indonesia relations in areas such as security, defense manufacturing, trade, fintech, AI and more. Sectors like food security, energy and disaster management are also areas where we look forward to working closely (together),” Modi said following their meeting on Saturday.

Prabowo’s visit to India was his first since becoming Indonesia’s president in October.

“I want to reiterate my commitment, my determination to further develop our cooperation and friendship,” Prabowo said.

“Our (strategic) partnership will be a strong foundation for the two countries to continue moving forward (and) strengthen the friendship that we have had for 75 years.”

Gautam Kumar Jha, an assistant professor at the Center for Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said the two countries have signaled strong interest in increasing cooperation.

“As a former military commander, President Prabowo brings a deep understanding of security and strategic partnerships, enhancing the collaboration between India and Indonesia. His role as the chief guest on India’s Republic Day is particularly significant compared to previous Indonesian presidents who have visited India,” Jha told Arab News.

“President Prabowo’s (priorities in) strengthening Indonesia’s maritime security, trade and social welfare schemes — such as the mid-day meal scheme currently run in India — are crucial for both nations.”

Indonesia is one of India’s largest trading partners among countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with bilateral trade reaching a record high of $38.8 billion in April 2022-March 2023, Indian government data showed.

India has also agreed to support Indonesia’s ongoing defense modernization program through experience and expertise sharing, according to a joint statement.

“The meeting on Saturday has established a trusted platform, enabling both countries to collaborate for mutual benefit,” Jha said. “This timing is ideal, as both Indian and Indonesian stakeholders are eager to elevate bilateral ties to a new level.”


South Korean president indicted as ‘ringleader of an insurrection’

Updated 26 January 2025
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South Korean president indicted as ‘ringleader of an insurrection’

  • Yoon Suk Yeol plunged the country into political chaos with his December 3 bid to suspend civilian rule
  • If the court rules against Yoon, he will lose the presidency and an election will be called within 60 days

SEOUL: South Korean prosecutors indicted impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol Sunday for being the “ringleader of an insurrection” after his abortive declaration of martial law, ordering the suspended leader to remain in detention.
Yoon plunged the country into political chaos with his December 3 bid to suspend civilian rule, a move which lasted just six hours before lawmakers defied armed soliders in parliament to vote it down.
He was impeached soon after, and earlier this month became the first sitting South Korean head of state to be arrested.
That came after a weeks-long hold out at his residence where his elite personal security detail resisted attempts to detain him.
In a statement, prosecutors said they had “indicted Yoon Suk Yeol with detention today on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection.”
He has been held at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest, and the formal indictment with detention means he will now be kept behind bars until his trial, which must happen within six months.
The indictment was widely expected after a court twice rejected requests by prosecutors to extend his arrest warrant while their investigation proceeded.
“After a comprehensive review of evidence obtained during investigations (prosecutors) concluded that it was only appropriate to indict the defendant,” they said in a statement.
The need to keep Yoon behind bars was justified by a “continued risk of evidence destruction,” they said.
The specific charge — being the ringleader of an insurrection — is not covered by presidential immunity, they added.
The opposition hailed the indictment.
“We need to hold not only those who schemed to carry out an illegal insurrection, but also those who instigated it by spreading misinformation,” said lawmaker Han Min-soo.
Without providing evidence, Yoon and his legal team have pointed to purported election fraud and legislative gridlock at the opposition-controlled parliament as justification for his declaration of martial law.
Yoon has vowed to “fight to the end,” earning the support of supporters who have adopted the “stop the steal” rhetoric associated with US President Donald Trump.
“This indictment will provide a sense of relief, reaffirming that the constitutional order is functioning as it should,” said Bae Kang-hoon, co-founder of political think tank Valid.
Yoon also faces a series of Constitutional Court hearings, to decide whether to uphold his impeachment and strip him formally of the presidency.
If the court rules against Yoon, he will lose the presidency and an election will be called within 60 days.


Afghan Taliban supporters rally against ICC arrest warrant requests

Updated 26 January 2025
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Afghan Taliban supporters rally against ICC arrest warrant requests

  • Some 200 Taliban supporters rallied in central Afghanistan on Sunday against the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders

GHAZNI: Some 200 Taliban supporters rallied in central Afghanistan on Sunday against the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor’s request for arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders.
The rally followed the announcement by the ICC on Thursday that chief prosecutor Karim Khan was seeking arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani over the persecution of women.
The Taliban government has imposed a raft of restrictions on women and girls, which the United Nations has described as “gender apartheid,” since sweeping back to power in 2021.
Demonstrators in Ghazni city condemned Khan’s move, chanting slogans that included “Death to America” and “long live the Islamic Emirate” — the Taliban authorities’ name for their government.
“We have gathered here to show the West that their decision is cruel and rejected by Afghans,” said Ghazni resident Noorulhaq Omar.
“It will never be accepted because the Afghan nation will sacrifice their life for their emir,” he said, referring to Akhundzada.
Hamidullah Nisar, Ghazni province’s head of the information and culture department, joined residents at the rally.
“We totally reject what the ICC has said against the leadership of the Islamic Emirate, and we want them to take back their words,” he said.
Most demonstrations have been suppressed in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, with the exception of those by the authorities’ supporters.
Afghanistan’s Taliban government dismissed Khan’s arrest warrant requests on Friday as “politically motivated.”
Rights groups and activists have praised the ICC move.


Iran FM arrives in Kabul in first visit after Taliban’s takeover

Updated 26 January 2025
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Iran FM arrives in Kabul in first visit after Taliban’s takeover

  • One-day visit is part of an effort to bolster relations between the two countries and ‘pursue mutual interests’
  • Discussions will revolve around border security, strengthening political ties and expanding economic relations

KABUL: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Kabul Sunday on the highest-level visit by an Iranian official to the Afghan capital since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
The one-day visit is part of an effort to bolster relations between the two countries and “pursue mutual interests,” according to foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
Upon his arrival, Araghchi met with his Afghani counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi, and he is scheduled to sit down later with the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, state TV reported.
Discussions will revolve around border security, strengthening political ties and expanding economic relations, it added.
Tensions between Iran and Afghanistan have intensified in recent years over water rights and the construction of dams on the Helmand and Harirud rivers.
Iran shares more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) of border with Afghanistan, and the Islamic republic hosts one of the largest refugee populations in the world, mostly Afghans who fled their country over two decades of war.
The flow of Afghan immigrants has increased since the Taliban took over in August 2021 after US forces withdrew.
In September, local media in Iran announced the building of a wall along more than 10 kilometers of the eastern border with Afghanistan, the main entry point for immigrants.
Officials said at the time that additional methods to fortify the border including barbed wire and water-filled ditches to counter the “smuggling of fuel and goods, especially drugs,” and to prevent “illegal immigration.”
In December, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said “over six million Afghans have sought refuge in Iran.”
Iran has had an active diplomatic presence in Afghanistan for many years, but it has yet to officially recognize the Taliban government since the takeover.
Several Iranian delegations have visited Afghanistan over the years, including a parliamentary delegation in August 2023 to discuss water rights.