TUNIS: At least 23 African migrants were missing and four died on Saturday after their two boats sank off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, a judicial official said, amidst a sharp rise in migrant boats from the North African country.
The coast guard rescued 53 others off the southern city of Sfax, two of whom are in critical condition, Sfax court Judge Faouzi Masmoudi said.
He added that four bodies were recovered.
In recent weeks, dozens have gone missing and died in repeated drowning accidents off the Tunisian coast.
Tunisia has taken over from Libya as a main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life in Europe. Crackdowns on human trafficking in Libya have made Tunisia a more accessible option.
The National Guard said on Friday that more than 14,000 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted or rescued in the first three months of the year while trying to cross into Europe, five times more than figures recorded in the same period last year.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday that Europe risks seeing a huge wave of migrants arriving on its shores from North Africa if financial stability in Tunisia is not safeguarded.
Meloni called on the IMF and other countries to help Tunisia quickly to avoid its collapse.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar said last week the country needed funding and equipment to better protect its borders. Tunisia had received equipment from Italy in the past years, but Ammar said it was outdated and not sufficient.
At least 23 missing, four die in migrant shipwrecks off Tunisia
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At least 23 missing, four die in migrant shipwrecks off Tunisia
- In recent weeks, dozens of migrants have gone missing and died in repeated drowning accidents off the Tunisian coast
Review: ’Archive 81’ features an intriguing mixture of horror
- The series excels in its production design and filming, capturing the eerie atmosphere of the Visser structure as well as the unsettling atmosphere of the cult
“Archive 81” is a horror series released on Netflix in 2022 that follows Dan Turner, an archivist who has been tasked to retrieve some videotapes.
These tapes document the investigation into a secret cult and the disappearance of one of its members.
Melody Pendras, a graduate student looking into the ghostly past of a building known as the Visser, which has a dark past tied to supernatural events, recorded the tape.
As Turner digs deeper into the footage, he gradually gets caught up in the drama, filming the line between the world and the supernatural.
“Archive 81” features an intriguing mixture of horror, mystery and psychological thriller elements.
The show’s narrative, through its development footage layout intertwined with Turner’s contemporary narrative, creates an unsettling atmosphere that keeps the viewer on edge.
The performances, especially by Mamoudou Athie and Dina Shihabi, add depth as the characters maneuver their own conflicts.
The series excels in its production design and filming, capturing the eerie atmosphere of the Visser structure as well as the unsettling atmosphere of the cult.
The tempo is generally well managed, with a suspense structure as Turner discovers the shocking truth behind the tape.
However, some viewers may find that the ending is somewhat unclear, which may detract from the overall experience for those seeking closure.
Nonetheless, it is a haunting and challenging series that skilfully investigates themes of memory, injury, and the unknown.
“Archive 81” is a must-see for fans of psychological horror and supernatural mystery.
Israel names Netanyahu ally as US ambassador
- A former adviser to Netanyahu, Leiter, 65, is originally from the United States and currently lives in a settlement in the occupied West Bank
JERUSALEM: The Israeli government said Sunday it had approved the nomination of Yechiel Leiter, an ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the country’s ambassador to the United States.
The announcement comes after US President-elect Donald Trump named hard-line conservative Mike Huckabee as his choice for US ambassador to Israel under his incoming administration.
“The government has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Yechiel Leiter as ambassador to the United States,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
A former adviser to Netanyahu, Leiter, 65, is originally from the United States and currently lives in a settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Close to the US Republican Party, Leiter used to be one of the leaders of the Yesha Council, an umbrella group representing Israeli settlers in the West Bank in the 1990s.
He is also a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and currently works as a strategic adviser to Israeli think tanks.
His son, Moshe Leiter, was killed in combat in November 2023 in the Gaza Strip, where war erupted between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas after its attack on southern Israel in October last year.
Yechiel Leiter will take on the ambassador role after Trump’s inauguration next year, succeeding Mike Herzog, President Isaac Herzog’s brother, who was appointed in 2021.
Leiter is a fierce critic of US President Joe Biden, slamming “American pressure” during the war in Gaza in an interview with private Israeli channel Tov in January.
Israel welcomed Huckabee’s nomination this month, as he is a stalwart supporter of the country’s government.
In 2017, he was present in Maale Adumim for the expansion of one of Israel’s largest settlements in the West Bank.
Imran Khan’s party decries ‘crackdown’ as caravan nears Punjab amid government’s protest ban
- Government says it will not allow anyone to disrupt public order amid Belarusian delegation visit to Pakistan
- PTI caravan from KP expect resistance from federal authorities near Punjab, plans to camp overnight if needed
ISLAMABAD/GHAZI BAROTHA: Sporadic clashes erupted near Islamabad on Sunday as jailed ex-premier Imran Khan’s supporters from nearby Rawalpindi tried to enter the capital in response to a protest call, while their party leaders criticized what they described as a government “crackdown” to block the demonstration.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a “long march” to Islamabad, seeking the release of its founding leader after more than a year of his incarceration on charges it claims are politically motivated.
The party is also protesting alleged rigging in February’s general elections and raising concerns about judicial independence, which it says has been undermined by recent constitutional amendments, a claim the government denies.
Speaking to Arab News, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a senior PTI leader and close aide to Khan, expressed dismay at the government’s response, saying his party only wanted to hold a peaceful protest.
“There is a heavy crackdown in Rawalpindi, as they [the law enforcement officials] have shot rubber bullets, teargas and also picked up people,” he said.
“We just want to do a peaceful protest,” he added. “We will continue [the demonstration] for days to come because we have the right to peaceful assembly and protest.”
Arab News reached out to police officials for comment but did not receive a response.
SECURITY MEASURES
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi toured Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock by air on Sunday to review security arrangements, expressing satisfaction with the measures and reiterating that the government would take every step to maintain law and order in Islamabad.
“The government has made every possible effort to protect the lives and property of citizens,” Naqvi said, warning that “troublemakers will be dealt with strictly according to the law.”
He added that police, paramilitary Frontier Corps and Rangers were performing their duties with vigilance.
The government has described PTI’s protest as a “deliberate conspiracy” against the country’s “honor,” citing its timing as a 68-member Belarusian delegation arrived in Islamabad for bilateral economic talks.
President Aleksandr Lukashenko is scheduled to arrive in the federal capital on Monday, with officials characterizing the PTI march as an attempt to sabotage Pakistan’s economic recovery.
Naqvi underscored earlier in the day that no one would be allowed to disrupt public order in the federal capital during the visit.
PTI CARAVAN
Meanwhile, the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur left Peshawar around 1:30 p.m. and reached Swabi in the evening, where it was joined by protesters from across the province.
The caravan then proceeded to Ghazi Barotha near Punjab, where it expects resistance from federal authorities.
Hajji Fazal Elahi, a PTI provincial lawmaker, told Arab News the party workers were determined to reach D-Chowk, the protest venue in Islamabad.
“There are hurdles as the government has placed barriers in different places. We will try our best to remove them, but if we don’t succeed, we’ll spend the night here,” he said, referring to Ghazi Barotha.
“We will go to D-Chowk and cross all the barriers, even if it takes a day or two,” he added.
Elahi also acknowledged challenges due to “insufficient machinery” for clearing blockades, adding that the group was prepared to camp at their current location if necessary.
PTI leaders remain defiant, with Gandapur vowing to reach the federal capital “at any cost.”
The party has hinted at an indefinite sit-in in Islamabad, pledging not to return until their demands are met by the government.
‘It wasn’t just about me’: Imam honored for unity efforts after UK race riots
- Three children were killed, and 10 others — eight of whom were children — were injured in an attack in Southport
- In days following attack, crowds gathered to demonstrate outside Liverpool mosque
LONDON: A Muslim leader in the UK has been recognized for his efforts to foster unity after embracing protesters outside Liverpool’s Abdullah Quilliam Mosque in the wake of a knife attack in the northern English town of Southport in July.
Three children were killed, and 10 others — eight of whom were children — were injured in the attack.
Axel Rudakubana was detained and charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and possession of a bladed article.
In the days following the attack, crowds gathered to demonstrate outside the mosque in Liverpool after misinformation was spread online about the knife attack suspect.
Imam Adam Kelwick described how he approached protesters outside the mosque once tensions had eased, offering food, handshakes, and conversations.
Photographs of the peaceful exchanges, which included sharing food and even hugs, went viral, symbolizing a moment of reconciliation.
After receiving the Most Impactful Imam accolade at the British Beacon Mosque Awards, Kelwick said: “It wasn’t just about me. I’m dedicating this award to the people of Liverpool, who really came together during difficult times.”
He added: “Some of the most vocal protesters, after everyone else had gone, came inside the mosque for a little tour.”
The imam praised Liverpool’s residents for their unity.
“For those who knew better than to blame a whole religion for the evil actions of one person, for those who came to defend our mosque, and even for those who protested but later reflected and opened their hearts,” he said.
Kelwick, also a humanitarian aid worker and long-time volunteer, expressed gratitude for the award, which recognizes the contributions of mosques and leaders across the UK.
Saudi FM arrives in Italy to attend G7 ministerial meeting
RIYADH: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Italy on Sunday to participate in an expanded ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) countries in Fiuggi, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting will discuss the current situation in the Middle East, SPA added.
During his stay in Fiuggi, Prince Faisal will hold a number of discussions that will address regional and international issues.
