KARACHI, 2 April 2020, TON: Pakistani Court has passed judgment in Daniel Pearl’s murder case that the murder charges were not proven and has converted death sentence to life imprisonment.

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court reduced Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh's sentence to seven years in prison for kidnapping Daniel Pearl. Ahmed Omar Saeed has been in prison since 2002, and was expected to be released after the court verdict, but the prison authority says the court had yet to issue such an order.

Ahmed Omar Saeed was a former student at the London School of Economics and arrested in 2002.  An anti-terrorism court sentenced to death, while three other defendants in the same case were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal's South Asia Bureau Chief was abducted and beheaded in Karachi in 2002. A video showing Pearl's decapitation was delivered to the US Consulate in Pakistan’s provincial capital Karachi nearly a month later of the kidnapping. Another version of the story says that the murder of Daniel Pearl was filmed and the video posted online by Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, who is presently in US custody. Khalid Sheikh Mohammad was arrested from Pakistan in 2003, denied all charges and claimed before the American court that he was systematically tortured by the US authorities including waterboarded to get his confession. 

RIYADH, 1 April 2020, TON: Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Banten  asked the countries of the world to be patient in concluding Hajj contracts for current 2020 (1441 AH), until the status about the epidemic is clear. He impressed upon the Muslims about Saudi Arabia’s responsibility towards the public health of the world.
He said that the Kingdom, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense are concerned about the safety of all pilgrims.

He ensured those Muslims who obtained Umrah visas and couldn't perform Umrah due to the precautionary will be refunded their amount.

RIYADH, 30 March 2020, TON, WHO: In response to an urgent appeal from the World Health Organization (WHO) and under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has signed an agreement for USD 10 million in financial support to WHO for urgent action needed to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by supporting countries with vulnerable health infrastructures. The agreement was signed between KSrelief’s Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programs, Engineer Ahmed Al Baiz, and the WHO Country Representative for Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ibrahim El Ziq.

Dr. El Ziq, in a press statement following the signing of the agreement, said that “the ten million dollars provided by Saudi Arabia to the World Health Organization will contribute to the implementation of the COVID-19 National Health Plan. With this contribution, we will purchase preventive equipment for health workers, and laboratory equipment needed for investigations on the virus. The grant will also assist in carrying out scientific research towards developing a vaccine to prevent COVID-19, and will fund the purchase of medications to treat cases of the virus.” He ended his remarks by expressing his appreciation for the Kingdom’s generous ongoing support to crisis-affected countries around the world.

Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief, stated that this royal directive reflected the Kingdom’s commitment to applying its significant resources to help alleviate the suffering of all in need. KSrelief, he added, continues to work in cooperation with United Nations agencies and other leading humanitarian organizations to safeguard public health and address a wide range of global humanitarian issues. Dr. Al Rabeeah added his appreciation for this generous gesture from the Kingdom’s leadership, which demonstrates its willingness to act quickly to support for the world community in times of urgent crisis.

Dr. Al Rabeeah also mentioned the extraordinary virtual G20 Summit meeting recently headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; during this summit, the Kingdom also confirmed its commitment towards helping countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This leadership, he stated, demonstrated how seriously the Kingdom takes its responsibility to join with the rest of the world in fighting and overcoming the dangerous health and economic effects of COVID-19.

TRIPOLI, 30 March 2020, TON: Forces loyal to Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) repulsed an attack on south of Tripoli, launched by the rebels under General Khalifa Haftar.

A spokesman for GNA, Mustafa Al-Majei said “The air force carried out three strikes against concentrations of Haftar militia fighters in the vicinity of Sirte. A number of individuals and other locations were also targeted.”

On Saturday, the GNA forces announced that their air strikes killed the operations commander of Sirte, Salem Driaq, his aide, Gaddafi Al-Sadai, and eight of their soldiers. Artillery also targeted buildings in Qasr Bin Ghashir, south of Tripoli, where Russian, American and African mercenaries were sheltering. If we recall, on Thursday, UN recognized GNA, launched Operation Peace Strom and took over airfield and arrested a number of mercenary.

KUPWARA, 30 March 2020, TON: Three bodies of unidentified youth were recovered from outskirts of forest area in Kupwara district on Monday.

Locals said that the bodies were beyond reorganization as the faces of two persons were disfigured. As per the detail a shepherd who went to forest area for grazing of his goats when he smelled bad odor. On reaching the spot, he found three dead bodies of males between ages 20 to 30 years.  Later, local police unit arrived at the spot and shifted bodies to the hospital for identification and other legal formalities. So far no one has claimed the bodies.

SRINAGAR, 29 March 2020, TON: Lieutenant General Nirbhay Sharma while briefing at Corps Headquarters said that over 890 Kashmiris were arrested and 337 FIRs registered in various districts of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, 29 March. He revealed that most of them have been released, however, 89 suspected Kashmiris are still under detention. Details of those arrested during the last 15 days, however, could not be obtained.   

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir police Dilbag Singh told the media that 337 FIRs have been registered and 627 persons arrested for violating prohibitory orders in the Union Territory (Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir) amid the coronavirus outbreak. He added, 118 shops and 490 vehicles were seized for defying the government orders.

The Indian controlled Jammu and Kashmir administration passed orders on 22 March for a shutdown of all establishments, except those providing essential services and commoditiesto control spread of coronavirus.

SRINAGAR, 29 March 2020, TON: The Kashmiris of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir have complained that India government is forcibly put them in quarantine against their will, despite having no symptoms of any disease. Principal Secretary, Planning, Development & Monitoring Department of Jammu and Kashmir, Rohit Kansal said thjat they want to ensure that not even a single case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) remain unnoticed. He claimed that even the suspected cases are quarantine so that there is no change that the virus is communicated to other areas and neighbouring Indian states. Indian authorities have claimed that so far 38 positive cases of COVID-19 disease have been detected in Jammu and Kashmir.  

A Kashmiri who introduced himself as Gholam Nabi Bhatt resident of Kathua district claimed that Indian security forces are conducting house to house search in the guise of surveillance of Coronavirus positive patients and each day dozens of Kashmirs are loaded on military vehicles to unidentified destinations. He claimed that in his neighbourhood, three youth and one elder person are missing. He appealed Human Right organization to visit occupied Jammu and Kashmir to find out plight of families of missing Kashmiris in the recent weeks.

Rohit Kansal disclosed that administration is proactively taking a number of steps to combat COVID-19 pandemic and in testing in Jammu and Kashmir is highest in whole India. Furnishing the details, he disclosed that Indian Army and security forces are controlling the administration and are aggressively trying to trace out every contact of suspected person who are forced to undergo tests.

The incharge of the quarantine facilities in Srinagar and Jammu disclosed that it is expected that the Coronavirus positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir would cross 30,000. Accordingly the Jammu and Kashmir administration have arranged quarantine facility for 35000 patients including 10,000 in Srinagar and 6,500 in Jammu.

MOGADISHU, 29 March 2020, TON: Somali government has sent 20 doctors to Italy to help contain the spread of COVID-19 amid a increase in deaths.

Somali government spokesman Ismail Mukhtar Omar said the doctors are volunteers from Somali National University, who have been in some European countries.

"The 20 doctors have already been registered in Italy and are expected to team up with some doctors from across the world to help Italy to contain the novel coronavirus," Omar said.

He said the doctors have been sent as part of emergency response team following appeal from the Italian government for international help to contain the virus.

Somalia has so far confirmed three cases of COVID-19, who were all returness from foreign countries. Accordingly, Somali Government has banned all international flights as well as domestic ones as part of the measures to contain the spread of the deadly virus in the country.  

RIYADH, 29 March 2020, TON: Saudi Arabia has successfully intercepted missiles fired from across the border at Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on Saturday, 28 March.

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Air Defense Forces intercepted and destroyed the ballistic missiles at midnight, state media said. Saudi state TV reported that its missile defense systems were used in the interception.

Meanwhile, US is praising its Patriot missile defence systems while Russian head of the Defence Committee, Vladimir Shamanov negotiated and advised Saudi Arabia to replace old Air Defence systems with Russian S-400 or S-300 systems.

Another report by the Israeli news agency said that Saudi Arabia intercepted two ballistic missiles on Saturday night launched by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group towards Riyadh and the city of Jizan as reaction to Saudi-led coalition fighting against Houthi militia.

In the recent past, a third country was trying to establish communication between Saudi Arabia and Yemen as well as the rebel groups. The talks were in mid way and the missiles attack seems deliberate attempt, intended to create suspicion in the path of peace between various stakeholders.

MALI, 29 March 2020, TON: Despite Coronavirus, Malian government decided to maintain the legislative elections set for Sunday 29 March, by inviting "all voters to strict compliance with the measures to prevent and combat the coronavirus. Washing kits or hand sanitizers are available at the entrance of each polling station. The government cautioned voters to avoid regrouping inside and outside polling stations. The second round will be held on 19 April 2020.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared a state of health emergency in the country due to Coronavirus spread in foreign countries. In his message to the nation, President Keita said "Mali's land borders will be closed, except for freight and the transport of goods, in particular basic necessities."

The elections were initially scheduled in 2018 but postponed several times due to security reasons. The current parliament was elected in the 2013 elections, which gave substantial majority to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The assembly was to be renewed in October and November 2018, after President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita re-election as president but were postponed several times.