22 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (Huff Post-Yahoo News)

 

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and his wife, Margaret Hunter, were indicted Tuesday on charges of improperly using campaign funds for private use.

A grand jury in San Diego indicted the Hunters on charges of filing false campaign finance records,  saying the couple misused more than $250,000 after a two-year investigation. The Justice Department said the pair used political money to pay for their children’s tuition and spent thousands of dollars at shopping malls, Washington restaurants and surf shops, among other expenditures.

The indictment includes details accusing the Hunters of making efforts to hide their personal expenses, including labeling fees for dental work as a donation to a charity called “Smiles for Life” and tickets to see Riverdance as a fundraising event for “Republican women.”

Hunter, 41, is a five-term congressman representing San Diego County who served for three tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as a Marine. His family has been a household name in California politics for decades, and his father, also named Duncan Hunter, served in the U.S. House for nearly 30 years until handing the reins to his son.

Hunter had blamed his wife, who acted as a campaign manager, for many of the improper charges, saying she controlled the campaign’s credit card, and in February he feigned ignorance in an interview with Politico, saying: “Nah, I know the rules.”

Washington                                                                                                                                                                                         22 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (Yonhap)

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he wants to lift sanctions on North Korea, but only after the regime gets rid of its nuclear weapons.

Trump was speaking to his supporters at a rally in Charleston, West Virginia, late Tuesday, hours after the Treasury announced new sanctions targeting North Korea's illicit trade.

It was the third time this month that Washington has slapped sanctions against Pyongyang, demonstrating the U.S. commitment to increase pressure on the regime until it fully denuclearizes.

Last week North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a personal rebuke against the international sanctions campaign, saying that "hostile forces" were trying to "stifle the Korean people through brigandish sanctions and blockade."

Trump recalled his landmark June meeting with Kim in Singapore, where the two agreed to establish "new relations" and work toward the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for U.S. security guarantees.

"I can tell you, and I got along very well with Kim Jong-un, really well. Good chemistry," Trump said. "We'll see what happens, who knows? Can I be honest, who knows? But I haven't taken off the sanctions. We have massive sanctions. I want to take them off quickly but they've got to get rid of the nukes. We've got to get rid of the nukes. Got to get rid of them."

North Korea has taken some steps to dismantle a missile engine testing site and its only known nuclear test site. But experts say those steps are hard to verify without outside inspection.

Still, Trump has held out hope that Kim will "honor" their agreement and floated the possibility of holding a second summit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will travel to North Korea sometime next month for another summit with its leader Kim Jong-un, but he may be delaying his trip as it may serve as a valuable chance to rid the communist state of its nuclear weapons should ongoing efforts fail.

In high-level talks held earlier this month, the two Koreas agreed to hold what would be the third Moon-Kim summit in Pyongyang sometime in September.

While North Korea's chief delegate hinted that his country offered a specific date for the summit, Seoul officials insisted that a date be set later, prompting speculation that the North may be more eager to hold the summit and to do so earlier.

An official from Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has also made it clear that Seoul wishes to wait at least until after Sept. 10.

"When considering realistic conditions, I believe (holding the summit) in early September will likely be difficult," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said earlier, adding that early September refers to Sept. 1 through Sept. 10.

Qatar                                                                                                                                                                                                       22 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (AlJazeera)

Tehran                                                                                                                                                                                                  20 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (By Ali Reza Jabbari-IRNA)

Being sanctioned  by the US, which has played the most significant role in harming and destroying Turkey in the past years, has revealed the true nature of Washington to Ankara.

Although the US does not have high credibility in the eye of most Turkish people, the country has always had close and strong relations with recent Turkish governments. The US and Turkey have usually been deemed as two allies in the international arena. Ankara used to be viewed as one of Washington's staunch allies in US foreign policy.

Perhaps few people believed that, after coming to power in January 2017, President Donald Trump would impose sanctions on Turkey. Predicting this , however, was not very difficult, particularly following the July 2016 failed coup d'tat attempt in Turkey against state institutions - including the government and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - which was relunctly condemned by the US a few days later, after Washington was assured of its failure.

In the aftermath of the coup attempt, nevertheless, Washinton refrained from extraditing Fethullah Giilen, the US-based Turkish opposition cleric whom Ankara accuses of having masterminded the coup attempt.

This alone was sufficient to pervade the two countries' relations with a cold and gloomy atmosphere.

The relationship between Washington and Ankara continued to worsen until Turkey detained a US spy, Andrew Brunson, who had masqueraded as a pastor and was conducting espionage in Turkey.

This was a favourable opportunity for Ankara to renew the demand for Giilen's extradition in return for Brunson's freedom. The White House, however, not only rejected Ankara's proposal, but bullied Turkey into releasing its spy.

When faced with Ankara's rejection of its request, the US sanctioned the Turkish ministers of justice and interior. Turkey’s retaliation for the US move exacerbated relations between the two countries to an unprecedented level.

After a while, the White House expressed willingness to resolve the differences with Turkey, but then US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the US was ready to impose further sanctions on Turkey if Brunson was not released from house arrest.

Time will eventually show what will happen to relations between Turkey and the US. However, the important point now is that Erdoğan has threatened its Western ally that he would replace it with Eastern friends.

Whispers are heard that it is high time that Russia, China, Iran and Turkey form a coalition against US hostile trade measures.

No doubt, the formation of a strong and united coalition in the face of excessive US demands will help untie many Gordian knots in the tension-ridden Middle East region.

Irrespective of whether this coalition will be forged, Iran can assure Turkey of its full support and that Tehran would never leave Ankara alone in the face of Washington’s sanctions.

Tehran should inform Ankara that if there is a will to defeat unilateral US sanctions, the Iranian people would never leave the Turkish people alone.

Ali-Reza Jabbari is an Iranian expert on political affairs.

The article first appeared in Islamic Republic News Agency's Farsi service on August 18.

 

 

Beirut                                                                                                                                                                                                    20 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (IRNA)

For the first time, Hezbollah Movement unveiled Khaibar-1 missile which had been used in the 33-day war against the Zionist regime in 2006.

Four Khaibar-1 missiles were put on display for the public at the Mleeta Museum of Resistance in Southern Lebanon on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the 33-day war.

In 2012, Hezbollah targeted Tel Avis with Khaibar-1 missiles. Khaibar-1 missile weighs 916 kg, is seven meters long and has a range of 44 to 75 kilometers.

The officials of the Zionist regime have time and again labeled Hezbollah as the most important threat to the security of the regime.

Kabul, Afghanistan                                                                                                                                                                             21 Aug. 2018

According to police, the Taliban has fired several rockets at the presidential palace in Kabul as the Afghan president was delivering his holiday message for the Muslim celebrations of Eid al-Adha.

The attack on Tuesday prompted a ferocious aerial response with helicopter gunships bombing the home from where the rockets were reportedly launched.

The first rocket landed somewhere near the presidency building while the second hit near a NATO compound and the US Embassy but no one was hurt, said police official Jan Agha.

The boom of the rockets was heard in the live broadcast of President Ashraf Ghani's speech. As he also heard the thud, Ghani interrupted his message to say: "If they are thinking the rocket attack will keep Afghans down, they are wrong."

The Kabul area where the rockets hit is one of the most fortified in the Afghan capital, where embassies and government buildings are surrounded by high cement blast walls and coils of razor wire.

Many streets near the US Embassy are closed off, as well as those near sensitive government and military locations.

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzia said Afghan police had noticed a suspicious vehicle earlier on Tuesday morning and followed it to a mud-brick home near the sprawling Eid Gah mosque where hundreds had gathered to offer their prayers for the Eid al-Adha holiday.

There was no immediate statement from the Taliban, or a claim of responsibility for the attack by any other group, but the assault on the major Muslim holiday sent a stark message.

It was also another blow to Ghani's efforts to bring the group to the negotiation table and hold peace talks to end the country's 17-year war.

Shafiq Hamdam, a former NATO adviser, said the attack was a "disaster" for the peace efforts.

"The Taliban have managed to come into the capital, targeting the Green Zone after the government has offered this three-month ceasefire, so other than a big "no" to the ceasefire, this shows the willingness of the Taliban to continue fighting and to keep up with killing civilians and targeting these cities," he told Al Jazeera.

On Sunday, Ghani had offered a conditional ceasefire to last during the holiday, saying it would only take effect if the Taliban reciprocated.

The Taliban have been at war with the US-backed Afghan government for nearly 17 years, and have stepped up attacks in recent months, seizing rural districts and carrying out major assaults against security forces and government compounds on an almost daily basis.

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                             19 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                         (Daily Express Tribune)

A day after he was sworn in, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced he will set up a task force to bring back the bulk of plundered public money from abroad.

He also pledged to assist the anti-corruption drive spearheaded by the judiciary and National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“I will save (public) money,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said in his maiden address to the nation.

Khan outlined an ambitious roadmap, detailing a host of initiatives his government would pursue during its tenure.

Referring to the reports by the United Sates authorities suggesting that $10 billion were annually being whisked away from Pakistan through money laundering, he said: “This is your money. This is Pakistan’s money. We have to bring it back. You will be (on) my team in this battle.”

Taking an obvious jibe at his political foes who are accused of amassing undeclared wealth worth billions of dollars abroad, the PM said, “Never vote for a leader whose entire wealth is not in Pakistan.”

He said departments such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) would be restructured, enabling them to bring back the laundered money besides ensuring stricter anti-money laundering measures.

A ‘Whistle Blower Act’, like the one passed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, would be passed and implemented across the country to take on corruption, he said.

Reiterating the resolve to cooperate with the superior judiciary, he said that reforms were urgently needed in the superior and lower judiciary, including accelerating the pace of disposing civil cases.

He specifically requested Chief Justice Saqib Nisar to personally pursue pending civil cases filed by widows and other deserving people.

Announcing that PTI’s government at the Centre and provinces would rigorously pursue an austerity drive, Khan said that he had opted not to live in a grand mansion like the Prime Minister’s House.

Instead, he said, he chose to reside in the official accommodation for the PM’s military secretary just outside the PM House.

The smaller residence comprises three bedrooms, Khan said, adding that he would keep two servants and two vehicles at his disposal as against a fleet of vehicles and a train of servants maintained by former prime ministers.

Dwelling on the existing expenditure incurred on the PM House, he said that it was spread over 1,100 kanals and was served by 524 employees.

He said that it operated a fleet of 80 luxury vehicles, 33 of them bulletproof.

The cost of each bulletproof vehicle was Rs50 million, the PM said.

He announced that redundant bulletproof vehicles would be auctioned and the PM House would be turned into a state-of-the-art university.

He said Rs 160 million were set aside in the budget for the Speaker of the National Assembly’s expenditure.

The former speaker NA had spent Rs80 million on foreign tours, he said.

“And the PM spent Rs. 650 million on foreign tours. Why waste this much public money? What did they really do on these tours that cost so much? Were they on a mission to conquer foreign countries?”

Pointing out the dismal condition of the national economy, Prime Minister Imran Khan pointed out that Pakistan currently owed Rs. 28,000 billion against Rs. 6,000 billion 10 years ago.

Of the country’s 200 million population, just eight million paid taxes.

Highlighting the need for restructuring the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), he said that it was necessary to expand the tax base.

For improving the tax collection, he said that taxing the privileged class was a logical option, instead of overburdening the salaried class.

He also announced setting up a task force to reduce expenses in government departments across the country.

These measures, he said, would be overseen by Dr Ishrat Hussain, who would also supervise reforms in civil services for capacity-building and ending the trend of political interference in affairs of bureaucracy.

Police, education, health reforms

The PM’s reform plans for police, education and health are detailed as under: Police at the centre and provinces where PTI is in power would emulate its reforms in the K-P police.

The KP-like Right to Services Act would be introduced and implemented for speedy public service by government departments. Former inspector-general police of KP Nasir Durrani, who played a key role in reforming the KP police, would play an advisory role in the reforms of Punjab Police.

In Sindh, where the PTI is not in power, it would approach the provincial government and extend cooperation for reforming the Sindh police.

Police force across the country would be depoliticised.

The capacity and standards of government schools would be improved, bringing them at par with the standards of private schools.

In KP, 150,000 children were shifted from private to government schools because of sharp improvements in quality of education.

Similar reforms would be implemented across the rest of the country. The target is to enroll 22.5 million children who are currently out of schools because of abject poverty.

As many as 2.4 million students of seminaries would be integrated into national social political fabric by reforms in the Madressah educational system.

Health insurance cards, covering medical treatment expenses of up to Rs. 550,000 in government hospitals would be issued for the poor and needy. Similar measures were launched in KP, where it proved to be a huge success.

Water crisis and dams

In a bid to respond to the acute water crisis, Bhasha dam would be built immediately. The Supreme Court’s initiative would be fully supported. Instead of seeking foreign loans, contributions would be sought from Pakistani public at home and abroad.

Housing, youth

Five million housing units would be built over the next five years, opening up job opportunities for youth. Loans would be provided to youth to set up businesses. They would also be provided vocational education.

LG system

An ‘independent and autonomous’ local government system would be introduced across the country mimicking the system introduced in KP, ensuring that development funds were spent through local government representatives instead of parliamentarians.

FATA-KP merger

The integration of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into KP would be completed ‘as soon as possible’ and tribal areas would be developed on an urgent basis after holding local government elections.

Reforms in Balochistan, South Punjab, Karachi

Sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan would be redressed and efforts would be made to reintegrate dissident Baloch representatives into national socio-political fabric. A province in southern Punjab would be created as soon as possible. Issues concerning Karachi, including law and order, employment, sanitation and civic issues, would be assigned highest priority.

NAP

The 20-point National Action Plan would be implemented in letter and spirit to eradicate terrorism.

Ties with neighbours

On foreign policy matters, Pakistan will work to have ‘best relations with all neighbours’

Welfare state

Steps would also be taken to make Pakistan a welfare state in the truest sense for protecting the rights of citizens by the state.

 

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                             19 Aug. 2018

The newly inducted federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan in it's first meeting has decided to place imprisoned  three times elected former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam on the Exit Control List, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Monday.

The first meeting of the new federal cabinet was held in Islamabad earlier today chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, following the swearing-in ceremony of its members.

Talking to media after first cabinet meeting today, Fawad Chaudhry also told that cabinet has also discussed economic challenges and austerity measures, among other matters.

The cabinet directed law and interior ministry to implement red warrants against Nawaz's sons, Hassan and Hussain, and former finance minister Ishaq Dar and bring them back to Pakistan, Chaudhry told.

The law ministry has been directed to contact the British government over the Avenfield properties, he added.

"Avenfield properties belong to Pakistan," the info minister said, referring to one of the corruption cases against the Sharif family in which Nawaz was sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison while his daughter Maryam was given eight years' sentence by an accountability court earlier in July.

The father-daughter duo are currently serving their term at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, along with Maryam's husband Captain (retd) Safdar who was sentenced to a year in prison.

"Eliminating corruption is an important part of our [government's] policy," Chaudhry continued, adding that there will be no political appointments in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's government.

The cabinet did not discuss anything regarding fugitive former military ruler Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf, Information Minister told.

Mount Arafat                                                                                                                                                                                       19 Aug. 2018                                                                                                                                                                                         (Media Reports)

Sheikh Hussein bin Abdelaziz Al Al-Sheikh,  Imam of Prophet's (PBUH) Masjid Madina,  in his Khutba (sermon) at Mount Arafat on Monday stressed on respectful behaviour and good character as the most important lessons of Islam. Around 2.4 million of pilgrims gathered on Monday on the plains of Mount Arafat to perform the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage. delivered the sermon.

“All prophets of God invited humanity to tauheed, and believing in it will be path of success,” he said. “Give respect and importance to your parents and teachers. Strengthen your relation with the Holy Quran,” he said. Islam forbids us from indulging in sins. It propagates harmony and brotherhood amongst Muslims.”

On Arafat pilgrims spent the day praying and repenting and praying for personal strength in the future.  Arafat includes an open plain and Mount Arafat, which is also called Jabal Al-Rahma (Mountain of Mercy), that is 300 meters wide and 70 meters high. Arafat is surrounded by an arc of mountains and Wadi Arana and is located east of Makkah.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.

Among the most important rituals of Hajj is day stay in Arafat, listening of Khutbah (sermon) of Hajj and Dhuhr and Asr prayers are offered together.

Carrying brightly colored umbrellas under the blazing sun, worshippers scaled the rocky hill southeast of the holy city of Makkah.

Arms raised, pilgrims repeated “There is no God but Allah” and “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest). “The feeling is indescribable,” said Umm Ahmad, 61, who made the journey from Egypt, told AFP.

Traffic authorities, security personnel and staff from various government and private sector organizations, in addition to 4,000 Saudi scouts, have been deployed to assist and guide the pilgrims in several languages.

Some of the pilgrims — men in white seamless garments and women in loose dresses — pushed elderly relatives in wheelchairs on the second day of the Hajj.

Jai Saleem, a 37-year-old Pakistani, said he cried when he and his wife arrived on Mount Arafat, where Muslims believe Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon.

“It feels great,” he said. “I have always seen this area, since my childhood, in photographs and on television.”
After sunset prayers, pilgrims made their way down Mount Arafat to Muzdalifah, another holy site where they will spend night under the stars to prepare for the final stage of Hajj, a symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual.

“We know that it’s a difficult task,” said Amna Khan, a 35-year-old American Muslim pilgrim. “That’s why we are all here. We’re doing this to get closer to Allah, to be absolved.”

A hot wind blew across the hill and the surrounding plain after a downpour late Sunday. Many faithful could be seen sipping from bottles of water throughout the day.

“I knew it would be a little hard to climb Mount Arafat,” said Nigerian pilgrim Saidou Boureima. “So I prepared for this challenge by working out. And God willing, we can see it through.”

Muslims on Tuesday observe the first day of Eid Al-Adha, or Feast of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj.
They traditionally slaughter sheep for the three-day Eid Al-Adha, a tribute to the Prophet Abraham’s sacrifice of a lamb after God spared Ishmael, his son.

They will consume a part of the meat and give the rest to poor people unable to buy food.

The ritual of changing Ghilaf-e-Kaaba was also held early Monday morning. The new Ghilaf was prepared at a cost of 200,000 Riyal. It comprises 670kg pure silk, 120kg gold and 100kg silver.

Imam Masjid-ul-Haram Dr Abd ur Rahman Assudais and Governor Makkah Khalid Faisal participated in the ritual.

Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage.

This year, Saudi government has launched a "smart Hajj" initiative, with apps to help pilgrims including from travel plans to medical care.

Geneva                                                                                                                                                                                                   18 Aug. 2018

Former two times serving Secretary General of United Nations ( 1997-2006), world renowned statesman and Noble Prize awardee Kofi Annan, 80, died in Bern, Switzerland. He died peacefully after a short illness.

Ghana, home country announced a week of national mourning.

He has also served as the UN special envoy for Syria to find a solution to the conflict.

Kofi Annan Foundation in a statement announced his death today. Foundation regarded him as a 'global Statesman' and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world.

'Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy', it says.

Kofi Annan learnt one of his most important lessons at  his elite boarding school in West Africa that he said later, 'that suffering anywhere concerns people everywhere'.

Kofi Atta Annan and his sister, Efua Atta, were born in city of Kumasi in what was then Gold Coast in April 1938. The twins' first names meant 'born on a Friday' in Akan, while their shared middle name means "twin".

He was born in a well established family of traditional leaders. His father was a provincial governor,  a country still under British rule.

He was in age 19, Ghana got independence.

He married second time to Nane Marie in 1984, she was along with him at the time of his death.