BRUSSELS: European Union foreign ministers on Monday endorsed a French government decision to sanction Iranian nationals accused of a bomb plot in France, potentially allowing the measures to take effect across the bloc, three diplomats said.
The ministers said technical work could now start on an EU-wide asset freeze on two Iranians and the Iranian intelligence service over a failed plot to carry out a bomb attack at a rally near Paris organized by an exiled Iranian opposition group.
Denmark, which in October said it suspected an Iranian government intelligence service had tried to carry out an assassination plot on its soil, also pushed for support for similar EU-wide sanctions once its investigation is complete, the diplomats told Reuters.
Though largely symbolic, the EU’s readiness to target Iranians marks a shift after months of division within the bloc over how to punish Iranians accused of destabilising activities in Europe and the Middle East.
Eager to save a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran from which the United States has withdrawn, the EU has focused its efforts in trying to keep trade flowing with Iran in the face of renewed US sanctions, in order to keep Tehran from pulling out.
In an effort to balance their Iran policy, ministers also discussed setting up a special mechanism to trade with Iran that would be under EU, not national, law. They believe this formula could shield individual member states from being hit by US sanctions that have been reimposed on trade with Iran after Washington’s pullout from the nuclear deal.
In March, Britain, France and Germany proposed to sanction Iran over its development of ballistic missiles and its role in Syria’s war, but the initiative failed to gather sufficient support across the EU to take effect.
EU backs Iran sanctions over foiled France attack plot: Diplomats
EU backs Iran sanctions over foiled France attack plot: Diplomats
- The ministers said technical work could now start on an EU-wide asset freeze on two Iranians and the Iranian intelligence service over a failed plot to carry out a bomb attack
- Denmark, which in October said it suspected an Iranian government intelligence service had tried to carry out an assassination plot on its soil
Pakistan military sentences 25 to prison over May 9 violence, with verdicts expected soon
- The sentencing is likely to raise concerns among PTI since Imran Khan faces charges of inciting people
- The ISPR says justice will truly be served when the ‘mastermind and planners’ of May 9 are punished
KARACHI: The Pakistan military on Saturday sentenced 25 people to prison for participating in the violent protests that erupted on May 9, 2023, when hundreds carrying the party flags of former Prime Minister Imran Khan attacked government buildings and vandalized military properties.
The protests, which broke out in different Pakistani cities, followed Khan’s brief detention on corruption charges from an Islamabad court, resulting in damage to major military facilities and martyrs’ monuments.
Subsequently, hundreds of leaders and supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were imprisoned, despite their denial of involvement in violence and claims that the May 9 incident was a “false flag” operation aimed at crushing their party.
The government and military also asserted they had gathered ample evidence that the attack on the country’s most powerful institution was carefully planned and executed by the PTI leadership, sharing videos of the attacks showing people setting fire to government and military properties.
“On 9 May 2023, nation witnessed tragic incidents of politically provoked violence and arson at multiple places, marking a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement, listing down names of all 25 people with sentences ranging from two to 10 years. “Building on a sustained narrative of hate and lies, politically orchestrated attacks were carried out on the installations of the Armed Forces including desecration of the monuments of Shuhada [martyrs].”
It informed that it gathered “irrefutable evidence” against these people after conducting investigations to prosecute those arrested in the wake of the incident. “This is an important milestone in dispensation of justice to the nation,” the ISPR added. “It is also a stark reminder to all those who are exploited by the vested interests and fall prey to their political propaganda and intoxicating lies, to never take law in own hands ever in the future.”
The statement informed the military would share the details of other individuals whose cases had also been referred to the Field General Court Martial.
The ISPR said its announced followed a ruling by a seven-member Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on December 13 in which it allowed the military courts to share its verdict.
Prior to that, the court had unanimously declared last year that prosecuting civilians in military courts was in violation of the Constitution.
The sentencing of 25 individuals is likely to raise concerns among supporters of Imran Khan, who faces charges of inciting attacks against the armed forces and may potentially be tried in a military court.
The ISPR noted that many accused in the May 9 attacks are also facing trials in various anti-terrorism courts.
“However, justice would truly be fully served once the mastermind and planners of 9th May Tragedy are punished as per the Constitution and laws of the land,” it added.
The statement highlighted the significance of establishing “inviolable writ of the State,” as it pointed out that all convicts retained the right to appeal, as guaranteed by the law and the constitution.
UAE sends 3,000 tonnes of aid on ship bound for Lebanon
DUBAI: The UAE on Friday dispatched a second aid ship carrying 3,000 tonnes of relief materials to Lebanon.
The ship departed Port of Jebel Ali, bound for the Port of Beirut, as part of the “UAE Stands with Lebanon” initiative which started in October.
It carries a wide range of essential aid supplies, such as food, winter clothing and items specifically designed for children and women, state-run WAM reported.
The statement noted that this was the second UAE relief aid ship to carry various relief supplies from UAE donor agencies, humanitarian institutions to Lebanon, noting that the ship was expected to arrive by the end of this month.
The UAE has consistently reaffirmed its unwavering position towards the unity of Lebanon and its national sovereignty since the Israeli escalation in southern Lebanon.
In October, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed directed the delivery of an urgent $100 million relief package to help the people of Lebanon.
Saudi designer Honayda Serafi shares holiday greeting card from Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa
DUBAI: Saudi designer Honayda Serafi has revealed a holiday greeting card from Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein, which features a family photo of the royal couple and their newborn daughter, Princess Iman.
“Immensely thankful for God’s many blessings. From our small family that has grown to yours, best wishes for a blessed New Year,” the card reads.
Last year, Serafi designed Saudi-born Princess Rajwa’s pre-wedding henna night gown. For the gown, Serafi took inspiration from the Al-Shaby thobe of the Najd region in Saudi Arabia, where Princess Rajwa’s family is from.
“The thobe is known for its long sleeves. They’re so long, the sleeves become the veil of the bride’s dress,” said Serafi of the ethereal white gown.
Earlier this month, the couple visited the Seeds of Hope Center in Amman, which specializes in treating speech and language disorders in children and adults.
The royal couple, who welcomed their first child this year, toured the facility, which houses Jordan’s only space designed to provide multi-sensory experiences aimed at promoting relaxation and sensory integration. The visit also included a look at the center’s gym, which is tailored to improve therapy outcomes for patients, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Aya Al-Jazi, the center’s director, briefed the couple on the facility’s services, which include evaluation and treatment of speech, language and voice disorders, as well as support for swallowing difficulties.
Rival protests in Seoul over South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol
- Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential powers are suspended but he remains in office
- He has not complied with various summonses by authorities investigating whether martial law
SEOUL: Demonstrators supporting and opposing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held rival protests several hundred meters apart in Seoul on Saturday, a week after he was impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law.
Yoon’s presidential powers are suspended but he remains in office. He has not complied with various summonses by authorities investigating whether martial law, which he declared late on Dec. 3 and rescinded hours later, constituted insurrection.
He has also not responded to attempts to contact him by the Constitutional Court, which decides whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers. The court plans to hold its first preparatory hearing on Friday.
Saturday’s pro- and anti-Yoon protests were held in Gwanghwamun in the heart of the capital. There were no clashes as of 4 p.m. (0700 GMT).
Tens of thousands of anti-Yoon protesters, dominated by people in their 20s and 30s, gathered around 3 p.m., waving K-Pop light sticks and signs with sayings such as “Arrest! Imprison! Insurrection chief Yoon Suk Yeol” to catchy K-pop tunes.
“I wanted to ask Yoon how he could do this to a democracy in the 21st century, and I think if he really has a conscience, he should step down,” said 27-year-old Cho Sung-hyo.
Several thousand pro-Yoon protesters, chiefly older and more conservative people opposing Yoon’s removal and supporting the restoration of his powers, had gathered since around midday.
“These rigged (parliamentary) elections eat away at this country, and at the core are socialist communist powers, so about 10 of us came together and said the same thing — we absolutely oppose impeachment,” said Lee Young-su, a 62-year-old businessman.
Yoon had cited claims of election hacking and “anti-state” pro-North Korean sympathizers as justification for imposing the martial law, which the National Election Commission has denied.
Pakistan militant raid kills 16 soldiers: intelligence officials
- Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement it was staged ‘in retaliation for the martyrdom of our senior commanders’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan militants launched a brazen overnight raid on an army post near the Afghan border, two intelligence officials said Saturday, killing 16 soldiers and critically wounding five more.
“Over 30 militants attacked an army post” in the Makeen area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, one senior intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. “Sixteen soldiers were martyred and five were critically injured in the assault.”
“The militants set fire to the wireless communication equipment, documents and other items present at the checkpoint,” he said, before retreating from the two-hour assault which took place 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the Afghan border.
A second intelligence official also anonymously confirmed the same toll of dead and wounded.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement it was staged “in retaliation for the martyrdom of our senior commanders.”
