Friday, November 29
Iran summoned Russia's charge d'affaires in protest of a joint statement by Russia and Arab countries challenging Iran's claim to disputed islands in the Persian Gulf. The statement was issued during the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum in Morocco, calling for a peaceful solution to the conflict between Iran and the UAE over the islands in Persian Gulf. This is the second time this year that Iran has summoned a Russian envoy over comments on the disputed islands.
A court in El Salvador has ordered the arrest of former president Alfredo Cristiani for an alleged cover-up related to a civil war-era massacre of about 1,000 people. The "provisional detention" of Cristiani, whose whereabouts are unknown, stems from an amnesty he declared after the 1981 killings as part of a "personal cover-up." The order also calls for the arrest of four Cristiani deputies. The Mozote slaughter, considered the largest in Latin America, was perpetrated during the country's 1980-1992 civil war.
Fu Xiangdong, a Chinese virology student, faced obstacles in his American career due to the decline of US-China academic engagement and worsening US-China relations. Concerns about Chinese spying have led to a decrease in Chinese students in the US and a shrinking of US-Chinese research collaboration. The decline in collaboration is harming American competitiveness and global efforts to address health issues. Security concerns have prompted investigations into scholars with Chinese connections, leading to negative effects on university campuses and a chilling effect on science.
Imran Khan files petition in Supreme Court against Islamabad High Court's order on Toshakhana case, appealing to remove ban on him to contest upcoming general elections. Khan's plea seeking suspension of trial court's verdict in Toshakhana case dismissed by IHC. In fresh petition, Khan appeals IHC's verdict to be stayed, stating that his sentence has already been suspended. He argues that he is being denied his fundamental right to contest elections due to suspension of his sentence.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday his government will reinforce measures to contain migration as he seeks to help the United States cope with record numbers of people trying to reach the US border. Lopez Obrador's comments come a day after he spoke with US President Joe Biden, during which both agreed that more enforcement was needed at their shared frontier, as record numbers of migrants disrupt border trade. "What was agreed is that we keep working together," Lopez Obrador told a regular press conference.
Mali recalled its ambassador from Algeria, accusing it of interference in its internal affairs. Mali's junta withdrew Ambassador Maiga for consultation. Mali and Algeria have been in diplomatic tensions over efforts to end the armed rebellion in northern Mali. Algeria has been the main mediator in peace efforts between Mali and the local Tuareg rebels. The 2015 peace deal between Mali and the rebels collapsed after both parties accused each other. Mali summoned Algeria's top diplomat to protest recent unfriendly acts. Algeria defended the meetings with rebel leaders, saying it fits into their efforts for peace in Mali.
In the early hours of Friday morning, an earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale shook Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding areas, as reported by ARY News. According to the seismological centre, the tremors were felt around 5:30 am in parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The earthquake's depth was recorded at 16 kilometres.Residents, fearing the quake, emerged from their homes reciting Kalma-e-Tayyaba; however, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage in any part of Islamabad or Rawalpindi thus far, as reported by ARY News.
Imran Khan's wife, sisters, and Bushra Bibi will not contest the upcoming general elections in Pakistan. Aleema Khan, Imran Khan's sister, made this statement outside the Islamabad High Court. She criticized Nawaz Sharif and accused him of not allowing players to enter the political field. Aleema also expressed concerns about the trial in the cypher case and expressed hope for justice from Allah and the Supreme Court. The Islamabad High Court dismissed Imran Khan's plea to suspend the trial court's verdict in the Toshakhana case.
