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Blinken tells AP he's worried Trump regime may abandon Biden's foreign policy

Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken told The Associated Press that he hopes the incoming Trump administration will press forward with key points in President Joe Biden's foreign policy, including on the Middle East and Ukraine. But in an wide-ranging interview Friday on his last workday as America's top diplomat, he expressed concern that the Trump team might abandon all or some of those policies. Blinken said 'if past is prologue,' there is reason to be concerned that the new administration might not follow through on initiatives that Biden's national security team put into place to end the war in Gaza, keep Ukraine free of Russian interference and maintain strengthened alliances with key partners. 'I don't know, can't know, how they approach things,' he said. 'I do think that there is, there could and I believe should, be some real continuity in a couple of places.' 'The best laid plans. There's, of course, no guarantee that our successors will look to them, rely on them,' Blinken said. 'But at least there's that option. At least they can decide whether this is a good basis for proceeding and make changes.' He lamented that the Biden administration has been diverted from its central foreign policy priorities by world developments, including the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Gaza crisis, all of which took time and energy away from pursuing core objectives, notably in the Indo-Pacific region. These are 'not what we came in wanting or expecting to have to be focused on,' he said. That said, he stressed that even as the administration dealt with those crises, it had still been determined to look at the rest of world, and had succeeded, in his estimation, at rebuilding frayed alliances and partnerships around the world. 'Rest of world: can't lose sight of it,' he said. 'Got to keep the focus on in the places where it really matters for America's security and for America's future.' The interview, conducted in Blinken's office on the seventh floor of the State Department, followed his farewell remarks to the agency's staffers. He urged career personnel to carry on in their mission amid uncertainty about how the incoming administration will handle relationships and rivalries abroad or treat career American diplomats. In that address to employees, Blinken paid tribute to their work over the past four years despite multiple challenges, ranging from Afghanistan and Ukraine to the Middle East. 'Without you in the picture, this world, our country would look so much different,' Blinken told a cheering crowd of several hundred staffers gathered at the department's main Washington entrance, decorated with the flags of all countries with which the U.S. has diplomatic relations. 'With you in the picture, both are so much better," he said. "You're working every day to make things just a little bit better, a little bit more peaceful, a little bit more full of hope, of opportunity. That's your mission, and you do it so well.' President-elect Donald Trump has been publicly skeptical of the State Department and its traditional role in crafting administration foreign policy. Trump once referred to the agency as the 'Deep State Department,' and he and his associates have made no secret of their desire to purge career officials who do not show sufficient loyalty to the president. His choice to be Blinken's successor, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, has said he respects the foreign service, but he has not yet detailed any plans for how the department will be managed. Blinken called for staffers to remain resilient. 'This is a time of transition, and when we talk about transition, sometimes we talk about passing the baton. That's what I'll be doing,' he said. 'But that's not what most of you will be doing. Most of you come Monday, you will keep running, and what gives me more confidence than anything else is to know that that's exactly what you'll do.' He called them 'the custodians of the power and the promise of American diplomacy' and finished his brief remarks with the exhortation to 'carry on.' This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 06:34 AM IST | Washington | AP
Palestinians check the destruction after an Israeli strike in a refugee camp in central Gaza Strip. Pic/AFP

Israel's Cabinet approves deal for ceasefire in Gaza and release of hostages

Israel's Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. Mediators Qatar and the US announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute complications that he blamed on the Hamas militant group. The ceasefire ' just the second achieved during the war ' will go into effect Sunday, though key questions remain, including the names of the 33 hostages to be released during the six-week first phase of the ceasefire and who among them is still alive. The Cabinet met well past the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, in a reflection of the moment's importance. In line with Jewish law, the Israeli government usually halts all business for the Sabbath except in emergency cases of life or death. Netanyahu instructed a special task force to prepare to receive the hostages returning from Gaza and said that their families were informed a deal had been reached. Hundreds of Palestinian detainees are to be released as well, and the largely devastated Gaza should see a surge in humanitarian aid. Israel's justice ministry published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in the deal's first phase and said the release will not begin before 4 pm local time Sunday. All people on the list are younger or female. Israel's Prison Services said it will transport the prisoners instead of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which handled transportation during the first ceasefire, to avoid 'public expressions of joy.' The prisoners have been accused of crimes like incitement, vandalism, supporting terror, terror activities, attempted murder or throwing stones or Molotov cocktails. Trucks carrying aid lined up Friday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. An Egyptian official said an Israeli delegation from the military and Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency arrived Friday in Cairo to discuss the reopening of the crossing. An Israeli official confirmed a delegation was going to Cairo. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiations. Israeli forces will also pull back from many areas in Gaza during the first phase of the ceasefire and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to what's left of their homes. Israel's military said that as its forces gradually withdraw from specific locations and routes in Gaza, residents will not be allowed to return to areas where troops are present or near the Israel-Gaza border and any threat to Israeli forces 'will be met with a forceful response.' Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people and left some 250 others captive. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Israel responded with a devastating offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half the dead. Fighting continued into Friday, and Gaza's Health Ministry said 88 bodies had arrived at hospitals in the past 24 hours. In previous conflicts, both sides stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires as a way to project strength. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 06:33 AM IST | Jerusalem | AP
Emmanuel Macron. File Pic/AFP

French President pledges support for Lebanese army

Visiting French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed on Friday France's commitment to supporting the Lebanese army, announcing plans to establish a new training centre for Lebanese soldiers. "France will establish a new centre to train 500 Lebanese soldiers," Macron said during a joint press conference at Baabda Palace with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Macron highlighted France's support for Lebanon's sovereignty and its leadership's efforts to ensure the country's full control over its territory. He expressed France's aspiration for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and for all weapons to be under the exclusive control of the Lebanese army, Xinhua news agency reported. "We will work to mobilize the international community to assist Lebanon across various sectors," Macron added. For his part, Aoun said, "The world's confidence in Lebanon must also be fully restored because the true and authentic Lebanon has returned." Macron arrived in Beirut on Friday for an official visit. Upon his arrival, Macron also met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to discuss potential support initiatives for Lebanon. Mikati said that Macron expressed his willingness to support Lebanon through a trust fund that the Lebanese government plans to establish in collaboration with the World Bank to aid in the reconstruction of southern Lebanon. Last November, France had backed the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. French foreign ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said that the Court is a "guarantee of international stability" and its orders must be exercised "in all situations." "The fight against impunity is our priority," Lemoine told reporters, adding that France will continue to support the action of the ICC. He also said that France, the host country of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is extremely concerned about the cultural heritages in Gaza and Lebanon which have been destroyed during the wars by Israel. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 06:32 AM IST | Beirut | IANS
People search for survivors after an Israeli attack. Pic/AFP

Israel's security cabinet okays Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage deal

Israel's restricted security cabinet voted on Friday in favour of the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage agreement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced in a statement. The office noted that the full cabinet is expected to convene later Friday for final approval of the agreement, which Qatar first announced on Wednesday. Israel's acceptance of the agreement would become official only after the full cabinet vote. Ministers of the security cabinet voted in favor of the deal "after examining all the political, security, and humanitarian aspects, and understanding that the proposed deal supports achieving the objectives of the war," according to the statement. The ministers were originally scheduled to vote on the deal on Thursday, but the meeting was delayed, with Netanyahu blaming Hamas for raising last-minute obstacles about the terms of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the names of the Palestinian prisoners who would be released. Hamas said in a statement on Friday that disputes have been resolved, a day after the group affirmed in a statement its commitment to the full terms of the accord. The vote came amid concerns that the implementation of the deal would be postponed following objections by far-right partners in Netanyahu's coalition government. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two far-right ministers, voted against the agreement in the security cabinet, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported. The two ministers demanded a government commitment to resume fighting in Gaza once the first phase of the deal, in which Hamas would release 33 Israeli hostages, is completed. On Thursday, they announced their intention to quit the coalition unless their demands were met, which would leave Netanyahu without a parliamentary majority. According to the mediators, which include Qatar, Egypt and the United States, the agreement consists of three phases towards a "permanent ceasefire between the parties." The ceasefire is expected to go into effect on Sunday, marking the start of the first phase. Fighting will be halted for six weeks, during which Hamas will release 33 hostages, including all women, children, and men over the age of 50. Israel will withdraw its forces from populated areas in Gaza, and more aid will follow into the enclave. In return, Israel will release between 990 and 1,650 Palestinians detained in its jails, including all Palestinian women and children under 19, by the end of the first phase, Xinhua news agency reported. According to a separate statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office, Hamas is expected to release three Israeli women on Sunday. The Israeli military continued airstrikes in Gaza despite the announcement of the deal. According to the Civil Defense Authority in Gaza, at least 103 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks after the Gaza ceasefire announcement. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 06:32 AM IST | Jerusalem | IANS
Policemen stand guard around a vehicle carrying Bushra Bibi

Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in prison

A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, after finding them guilty of corruption in the 190 million pounds al-Qadir Trust case. The verdict was announced in a makeshift court set up in Adila jail where Khan is currently lodged. Khan is facing dozens of cases after he lost a trust vote in Parliament in 2022. Khan has been convicted for “corrupt practices” and “misuse of authority”, while his wife has been convicted for “involvement in illegal activities”. Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023, was also fined 1 million Pakistani rupees and Bibi half a million Pakistani rupees. Failure to pay the fine will entail an additional six months of imprisonment for Khan and three months for Bibi. The court also ordered the confiscation of the land of Al-Qadir University set up by them. Bibi was arrested from the court after the sentencing. Supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party protested outside the Parliament House, held placards, and chanted slogans, demanding his release. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 05:19 AM IST | Islamabad | Agencies
Debris from the spacecraft falling to Earth. Pic/X/@elonmusk

Musk’s Starship rocket is ‘lost’ after minutes into test flight

SpaceX’s Starship launch system lifted off on its seventh uncrewed test flight on Thursday, with an upgraded version of the megarocket embarking on the program’s most ambitious flight to date, CNN reported. SpaceX was able to duplicate its prior feat of catching a booster that returned to Earth. But 8.5 minutes into flight, the Starship spacecraft itself was lost. “Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability,” SpaceX posted on X. Starship had already climbed 146 km in altitude and was traveling at 21,317 kmph when it exploded. SpaceX founder Elon Musk shared an image of debris in a post on X and said, “entertainment is guaranteed! …improved versions of the ship (and) booster are already waiting for launch.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 05:19 AM IST | Texas | Agencies
Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages gather in favour of the Gaza truce in front of the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv. Pic/AFP

Deal reached to release hostages held by Hamas

Amid the background of the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Friday said, “Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that the Security Cabinet be convened on Friday. the Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for the negotiating team and all those who assisted. The government will be convened later approve the deal.” “The Prime Minister has also directed the coordinator for the hostages and the missing to coordinate the preparations to receive the hostages upon their return to Israel,” it said. Israel’s Cabinet has postponed a key vote on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal until Saturday, with a smaller Security Cabinet vote scheduled for Friday.Agencies French President Macron visits Lebanon French President Emmanuel Macron began a visit to Lebanon on Friday, where he will meet the crisis-hit country’s newly-elected leaders. Macron is scheduled to meet Salam and President Joseph Aoun. Aoun and the prime minister-designate have promised to work on getting Lebanon out of its economic crisis and to impose state authority over parts of the country long controlled by Hezbollah. Macron last visited Lebanon in August 2020. Weapons, tunnel shaft found near UN base Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon discovered weapons depots in several civilian buildings near a United Nations base, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday. Israeli troops found numerous weapons along with a tunnel shaft during an operation to clear an area in western Lebanon of Hezbollah terror infrastructure. The IDF said all of the equipment was destroyed. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 05:19 AM IST | Jerusalem | Agencies
Sumo’s 73rd Yokozuna, Terunofuji, performs the dohyo-iri or the ring-entering ceremony at the January Honbasho (Grand Tournament) in Tokyo

Japan’s only sumo grand master retires

Sumo is facing a potential chasm at the top of the ancient sport for the first time in over 30 years after the only yokozuna, Terunofuji, announced his retirement on Friday. The Mongolian-born 33-year-old has been the only top-ranked sumo for more than three years, and only 73 wrestlers have reached his level in the history of the centuries-old sport. But Terunofuji has struggled with injuries and withdrew from the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Thursday after forfeiting his bout. He told reporters on Friday that he was retiring to train young wrestlers after “a tough 14 years” in the ring. “I feel that my body isn’t up to sumo so I have decided to retire,” said Terunofuji, who has won 10 tournaments in his career. Terunofuji has been sumo’s lone yokozuna since the September 2021 retirement of Hakuho, who had a record 45 tournament victories. Notably, only one of the seven most recent yokozuna was born in Japan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

18 January,2025 05:19 AM IST | Tokyo | Agencies
Palestinians walk on a dirt road lined with rubble from destroyed buildings in Gaza City. Pic/AFP

Israel's cabinet postpones key vote to Gaza ceasefire to January 18

Israel's cabinet has postponed a key vote on the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal until Saturday, with a smaller security cabinet vote scheduled for Friday, according to a report by CNN. As per an Israeli official, the full cabinet vote on the agreement is now expected to take place on Saturday. However, the smaller security cabinet will meet on Friday to vote on the deal. Notably, the meeting was originally planned for Thursday. Earlier, the leader of the opposition Yair Lapid responded to the threat made by a coalition party to quit the government if the deal is approved. In a rough translation of a post on X, Lapid wrote, "I say to Benjamin Netanyahu, don't be afraid or intimidated, you will get every safety net you need to make the hostage deal. This is more important than any disagreement we've ever had." Israel's Minister of National Security and far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir strongly criticised the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, calling it "reckless." He said that the deal would undermine the achievements of the war and emphasised that if the deal is approved, his party, Otzma Yehudit, will quit the government. In a rough translation of a post on X, he wrote, "The deal that is taking shape is a reckless deal. It includes the release of hundreds of murderous terrorists, the return of thousands of terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip, a withdrawal from the Philadelphia axis, and a cessation of fighting, and thus the deal will effectively erase the achievements of the war." He added, "Not only that, it does not lead to the release of all the hostages, it leaves the fate of the remaining hostages who are not included in the deal uncertain, and it will lead to an end to the war when Hamas has not yet been defeated, with a significant ability to rebuild itself. Therefore, if this reckless deal is approved and implemented, the Otzma Yehudit party will not be part of the government and will withdraw from it." Meanwhile, Israeli strikes have killed 86 and injured 258 since the ceasefire deal was announced on Wednesday, according to a spokesperson from Gaza's Civil Defence.The daily death toll in the period immediately after the ceasefire announcement is the highest in over a week. The dead include 23 children, spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said in his Thursday press release, CNN reported. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

17 January,2025 09:03 AM IST | Tel Aviv | ANI
A displaced Palestinian boy stands inside his destroyed tent at a makeshift displacement camp in Mawasi, Khan Younis

Palestinians in Gaza eager to return home in ceasefire

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are eager to leave miserable tent camps and return to their homes if a long-awaited ceasefire agreement halts the Israel-Hamas war, but many will find there is nothing left and no way to rebuild. Israeli bombardment and ground operations have transformed entire neighbourhoods in several cities into rubble-strewn wastelands, with blackened shells of buildings and mounds of debris stretching away in all directions. Major roads have been plowed up. Critical water and electricity infrastructure is in ruins. Most hospitals no longer function. And it's unclear when ' or even if ' much will be rebuilt. The agreement for a phased ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas-led militants does not say who will govern Gaza after the war, or whether Israel and Egypt will lift a blockade limiting the movement of people and goods that they imposed when Hamas seized power in 2007. The United Nations says that it could take more than 350 years to rebuild if the blockade remains.  Two-thirds of all structures destroyed The full extent of the damage will only be known when the fighting ends and inspectors have full access to the territory. The most heavily destroyed part of Gaza, in the north, has been sealed off and largely depopulated by Israeli forces in an operation that began in early October. Using satellite data, the United Nations estimated last month that 69 per cent of the structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, including over 245,000 homes. The World Bank estimated USD 18.5 billion in damage ' nearly the combined economic output of the West Bank and Gaza in 2022 ' from just the first four months of the war. Israel blames the destruction on Hamas, which ignited the war with its October 7 attack into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were fighters. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The military has released photos and video footage showing that Hamas built tunnels and rocket launchers in residential areas, and often operated in and around homes, schools and mosques. Mountains of rubble to be moved Before anything can be rebuilt, the rubble must be removed ' a staggering task in itself. The UN estimates that the war has littered Gaza with over 50 million tons of rubble ' roughly 12 times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza. With over 100 trucks working full time, it would take over 15 years to clear the rubble away, and there is little open space in the narrow coastal territory that is home to some 2.3 million Palestinians. Carting the debris away will also be complicated by the fact that it contains huge amounts of unexploded ordnance and other harmful materials, as well as human remains. Gaza's Health Ministry says thousands of people killed in airstrikes are still buried under the rubble. No plan for the day after The rubble clearance and eventual rebuilding of homes will require billions of dollars and the ability to bring construction materials and heavy equipment into the territory ' neither of which are assured. The ceasefire agreement calls for a 3-5 year reconstruction project to begin in its final phase, after all the remaining 100 hostages have been released and Israeli troops have withdrawn from the territory. But getting to that point will require agreement on the second and most difficult phase of the agreement, which still must be negotiated. And even the first phase was in doubt on Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office saying a last-minute dispute with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval. Even then, the ability to rebuild will depend on the blockade, which critics have long decried as a form of collective punishment. Israel says it is needed to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities, noting that cement and metal pipes can also be used for tunnels and rockets. Israel might be more inclined to lift the blockade if Hamas were no longer in power, but there are no plans for an alternative government. The United States and much of the international community want a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern the West Bank and Gaza with the support of Arab countries ahead of eventual statehood. But that's a nonstarter for Israel's government, which is opposed to a Palestinian state and has ruled out any role in Gaza for the Western-backed authority. International donors are unlikely to invest in an ungoverned territory that has seen five wars in less than two decades, which means the sprawling tent camps along the coast could become a permanent feature of life in Gaza. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

17 January,2025 09:01 AM IST | Deir Al-Balah | AP
Shehbaz Sharif. File Pic

Human Rights Watch highlights Pakistan government's crackdown on free expression

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government, which took office in February 2024, is perpetuating a longstanding crackdown on free expression and civil society, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday in its World Report 2025. It further said that blasphemy-related violence against religious minorities, fostered in part by government persecution and discriminatory laws, intensified in 2024. For the 546-page world report, in its 35th edition, HRW reviewed human rights practices in more than 100 countries. In much of the world, Executive Director Tirana Hassan writes in her introductory essay, that governments cracked down and wrongfully arrested and imprisoned political opponents, activists, and journalists. Armed groups and government forces unlawfully killed civilians, drove many from their homes, and blocked access to humanitarian aid. In many of the more than 70 national elections in 2024, authoritarian leaders gained ground with their discriminatory rhetoric and policies. "The space for free expression and dissent in Pakistan under the Sharif government is shrinking at an alarming pace," said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Pakistani authorities are repeating a decades-long cycle of power grabs and victimization of opponents at the expense of everyone's human rights." The HRW in its report said that throughout 2024, Pakistani authorities intermittently blocked social media platforms such as X, cracked down on opposition parties, and detained hundreds of activists, some on charges of violence. Journalists faced intimidation, harassment, and surveillance for perceived criticism of the government. Government threats and attacks created a climate of fear among journalists and civil society groups, with many resorting to self-censorship. "The Pakistan government frequently enforced blasphemy law provisions that provide a pretext for violence against religious minorities and leave them vulnerable to arbitrary arrest and prosecution. Mob and vigilante attacks on people for alleged 'blasphemy' killed at least four people. The authorities continue to target members of the Ahmadiyya religious community for prosecution under blasphemy laws and specific anti-Ahmadi laws," HRW said. Soaring poverty, inflation, and unemployment jeopardised rights including health, food, and an adequate standard of living for millions. Austerity measures under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme resulted in additional hardship for low-income groups. The authorities used a colonial-era Land Acquisition Act to evict low-income communities to facilitate development projects. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

17 January,2025 09:00 AM IST | Bangkok | ANI
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