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Germany Recalls Ambassador, Protests Execution of Iranian German Prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd

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Germany Recalls Ambassador, Protests Execution of Iranian German Prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd

Germany has lodged a sharp protest with Iran over the execution of Iranian German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, who was kidnapped in Dubai in 2020 by Iranian security forces, and has recalled its ambassador to Berlin for consultations.

The German Foreign Ministry announced on the social network X that Iran’s charge d’affaires in Berlin was summoned to hear “our sharp protest” against Tehran’s action, adding that it reserves the right to take “further measures” without elaborating.

Simultaneously, German Ambassador Markus Potzel “protested in the strongest terms against the murder of Jamshid Sharmahd” to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Following this, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock recalled Potzel to Berlin for consultations.

Sharmahd, 69, was executed in Iran on Monday on terrorism charges, according to the country’s judiciary, following a 2023 trial that Germany, the U.S., and international rights groups dismissed as a sham.

Sharmahd was one of several Iranian dissidents abroad who, in recent years, were either tricked or kidnapped back to Iran as Tehran began lashing out after the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, including Germany.

Iran accused Sharmahd, a resident of Glendora, California, of planning a 2008 mosque attack that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others, as well as plotting other assaults through the little-known Kingdom Assembly of Iran and its Tondar militant wing. The country also accused him of “disclosing classified information” on missile sites of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during a television program in 2017.

Sharmahd’s family disputed the allegations and had worked for years to secure his freedom.

In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that “no terrorist enjoys impunity in Iran. Even if supported by Germany.” He accused Baerbock of “gaslighting” and claimed that “your government is accomplice in the ongoing Israeli genocide.”

Sharmahd had been in Dubai in 2020, attempting to travel to India for a business deal involving his software company, when he was abducted. Iran announced his capture in a “complex operation” two days after his mobile phone signal stopped in Oman.

Germany expelled two Iranian diplomats last year over Sharmahd’s death sentence. Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeled the execution a “scandal,” and Baerbock stated that Germany had repeatedly made it clear to Tehran that executing a German national would have severe consequences.

In Brussels, European Union spokesperson Nabila Massrali condemned the killing “in the strongest possible terms” and said that “the EU is considering all measures in response,” noting that any action would need to be discussed among the bloc’s 27 member countries.

Trump Ally Steve Bannon Released from Prison After Serving Sentence for Contempt of Congress

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Trump Ally Steve Bannon Released from Prison After Serving Sentence for Contempt of Congress

Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, was released from prison early Tuesday morning after serving a four-month sentence for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack.

According to Kristie Breshears, a spokesperson for the federal Bureau of Prisons, Bannon left the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut. His representatives announced that he plans to hold a news conference later in the day in Manhattan and is expected to resume his podcast on Tuesday.

Bannon, 70, reported to prison on July 1 after the Supreme Court rejected his bid to delay the sentence while he appeals his conviction. A jury found him guilty in 2022 of two counts of contempt of Congress: one for refusing to sit for a deposition with the Jan. 6 House Committee and another for refusing to provide documents related to his involvement in Trump’s efforts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race.

Upon beginning his sentence in July, Bannon referred to himself as a “political prisoner” and stated, “I am proud of going to prison,” claiming he was standing up to Attorney General Merrick Garland and a “corrupt” Justice Department.

Trump, a Republican, is currently seeking to regain the presidency in next week’s election against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.

In May, a federal appeals court panel upheld Bannon’s convictions. Bannon is now asking the full appeals court to hear his case. His legal team had argued that the congressional subpoena was invalid because Trump had asserted executive privilege. However, prosecutors maintain that Bannon had left the White House years before and that Trump had never invoked executive privilege in front of the committee.

In addition to his contempt of Congress case, Bannon faces criminal charges in New York state court, where he is accused of duping donors who gave money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. He has pleaded not guilty to money laundering, conspiracy, fraud, and other charges. A trial in that case is scheduled to begin in December.

The release of Steve Bannon from prison marks the end of his sentence for defying the congressional subpoena, but his legal troubles are far from over. As he resumes his public life and political activities, the outcome of his appeal in the contempt case and the pending trial in New York will likely continue to make headlines and shape the ongoing discourse surrounding the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and the broader political landscape.

North Korean Foreign Minister Visits Russia Amid Reports of Troop Deployment to Ukraine

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North Korean Foreign Minister Visits Russia Amid Reports of Troop Deployment to Ukraine

North Korea announced Tuesday that its foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, is visiting Russia, further signaling the deepening relations between the two countries as rival South Korea and Western nations accuse the North of sending thousands of troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Choe departed for Russia on Monday but did not specify the purpose of the visit. In a closed-door hearing at South Korea’s parliament, the country’s spy agency suggested that Choe may be involved in high-level discussions regarding the deployment of additional troops to Russia and the potential benefits North Korea could receive in return, according to lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, who attended the meeting.

The announcement of Choe’s visit coincided with a statement from the Pentagon, which claimed that North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, expected to arrive on Ukrainian battlefields within “the next several weeks.” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh revealed that some of the North Korean soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine and were believed to be heading for the Kursk border region, where Russia has been struggling to repel a Ukrainian incursion.

South Korean and Western leaders have expressed concerns that North Korean involvement could help prolong Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and that Russia may offer technology in return, potentially advancing the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile program.

According to lawmakers briefed by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, the spy agency is examining the possibility that some groups of North Korea’s military personnel in Russia, including generals or other high-ranking officials, may have already moved to frontline areas. The agency also noted that the two sides appear to be grappling with communication issues, despite the Russian military’s efforts to train North Korean troops on Russian military terminology.

The intelligence service further suggested that space-based reconnaissance is an area where North Korea is likely receiving Russian assistance. This collaboration could prove valuable as North Korea prepares to launch another military reconnaissance satellite following a failed attempt in May, according to lawmaker Park Sun-won.

In a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned that deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia could pose a “major security threat” to Seoul if the North gains access to Russian technology and its troops gain combat experience. The leaders confirmed plans to exchange government delegations to strengthen communication and coordinate their responses to the conflict.

Yoon also called for closer coordination with European governments to monitor and block illegal exchanges between Pyongyang and Moscow during calls with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

Initially, both North Korea and Russia denied claims about North Korean troop deployments, but they have since adopted a more ambiguous stance, asserting that their military cooperation conforms with international law without directly admitting the presence of North Korean forces in Russia.

North Korea has also been accused of providing millions of artillery shells and other military equipment to Russia to fuel its war in Ukraine. The United States and its partners have described Russia’s procurement of North Korean personnel and supplies as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and raised suspicions that Moscow is helping Pyongyang evade sanctions and unlawfully finance its weapons program.

Russia, along with China, has blocked U.S.-led efforts at the Security Council to tighten sanctions on North Korea over its recent missile testing activities, which intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In March, Russia vetoed a U.N. resolution to extend the mandate of a panel of monitors, effectively abolishing oversight by U.N. experts of Security Council sanctions against North Korea and prompting Western accusations that Moscow was acting to shield its arms purchases from Pyongyang.

President Yoon, in a Cabinet meeting in Seoul on Tuesday, emphasized the potential security threat posed by the illegal military collusion between Russia and North Korea, stating that South Korea must thoroughly examine all possibilities and prepare countermeasures. He also raised the possibility of supplying Ukraine with weapons, noting that Seoul is preparing countermeasures that could be rolled out in stages depending on the degree of military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

As a growing arms exporter, South Korea has provided humanitarian aid and other non-lethal support to Ukraine while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. However, it has so far resisted calls by Kyiv and NATO to directly supply Ukraine with weapons, citing a longstanding policy of not providing arms to countries engaged in active conflict.

The deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia have raised alarm bells in the international community, with concerns that the collaboration could escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. As the situation continues to unfold, the world will be closely watching the actions of all parties involved and the potential implications for global security.

apnews.com

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Faces New Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Assault of Male Minors, Ages 10 and 17

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Faces New Lawsuits Alleging Sexual Assault of Male Minors, Ages 10 and 17

Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been accused in two new lawsuits filed Monday of drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in a New York City hotel room in 2005 and similarly assaulting a 17-year-old would-be contestant on the reality television series “Making the Band” in 2008.

The lawsuits, filed in state Supreme Court in New York, are the latest in a series of allegations against Combs, who is currently incarcerated in a New York City jail after pleading not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges. The indictment, unsealed the day after his Sept. 16 arrest, includes allegations that he coerced and abused women and silenced victims through blackmail and violence.

In the first lawsuit, an unidentified 10-year-old boy who had traveled with his parents from California for meetings with music industry representatives claims he was given a drug-laced soda by a Combs’ associate during what was supposed to be an audition for Combs. The Bad Boy Records founder then allegedly sexually assaulted the child, who eventually lost consciousness. When the boy awoke, Combs reportedly threatened to severely harm the child’s parents if he told anyone about the incident.

The second lawsuit alleges that Combs forced a 17-year-old unidentified male into sexual acts with Combs and a bodyguard during a three-day audition for the “Making the Band” television show, which Combs produced. When the aspiring contestant expressed reservations, he was allegedly eliminated from the competition and unable to return to the music industry for seven years.

Combs’ lawyers have denied the two new claims and accused the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Anthony Buzbee, who also represents accusers in earlier lawsuits, of seeking publicity. In an emailed statement, they said, “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”

Both lawsuits were brought under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, which allows survivors to bring lawsuits even if the statute of limitations has passed.

The allegations against Combs have sent shockwaves through the music industry and beyond, as the iconic producer and entrepreneur has long been a prominent figure in popular culture. The severity of the accusations, particularly those involving minors, has led to widespread condemnation and calls for a thorough investigation.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the public will be closely watching to see how the courts handle these high-profile cases and whether justice will be served for the alleged victims. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for Combs’ career and legacy, as well as for the broader conversation surrounding sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry.

Massive Maya City Discovered in Mexican Jungle by PhD Student

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Massive Maya City Discovered in Mexican Jungle by PhD Student

A sprawling Maya city, hidden for centuries beneath dense jungle canopy in Mexico’s southeastern state of Campeche, has been accidentally discovered by a PhD student. The ancient complex, dubbed Valeriana after a nearby lagoon, is believed to be second only to Calakmul, the largest known Maya site in ancient Latin America.

Luke Auld-Thomas, a PhD student at Tulane University in the US, stumbled upon the city while browsing data on the internet. “I was on something like page 16 of Google search and found a laser survey done by a Mexican organisation for environmental monitoring,” he explains. The survey, known as Lidar, uses laser pulses fired from a plane to map objects below the vegetation.

Upon processing the data using archaeological methods, Auld-Thomas realized he had uncovered a massive ancient city that may have been home to 30-50,000 people at its peak from 750 to 850 AD. This population exceeds the number of people currently living in the region.

The discovery challenges the Western notion that the Tropics were where “civilisations went to die,” according to Professor Marcello Canuto, a co-author of the research. Instead, he argues, this part of the world was home to rich and complex cultures.

Valeriana, which spans approximately 16.6 sq km (6.4 sq miles), features two major centers with large buildings around 2km (1.2 miles) apart, connected by dense houses and causeways. The city boasts two plazas with temple pyramids, a court for playing an ancient ball game, and evidence of a reservoir, indicating that the Maya used the landscape to support a large population.

Despite its proximity to a major road near Xpujil, where mostly Maya people now live, Valeriana has remained “hidden in plain sight.” No known pictures of the lost city exist because “no-one has ever been there,” although local people may have suspected the presence of ruins under the mounds of earth.

The researchers surveyed three different sites in the jungle, discovering a total of 6,764 buildings of various sizes. Professor Elizabeth Graham from University College London, who was not involved in the research, says the findings support claims that the Maya lived in complex cities or towns, rather than isolated villages.

The research suggests that the dense population of Maya civilizations may have contributed to their collapse from 800 AD onwards, as they were unable to survive climate problems. Warfare and the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the region also played a role in the eradication of Maya city states.

Lidar technology has revolutionized archaeological surveys in vegetated areas like the Tropics, revealing a world of lost civilizations. In the decade since its introduction to the Mesoamerican region, Lidar has mapped around ten times the area that archaeologists managed in about a century of work.

Auld-Thomas believes his work indicates the existence of many undiscovered sites, but the sheer number of new findings means researchers cannot hope to excavate them all. “One of the downsides of discovering lots of new Maya cities in the era of Lidar is that there are more of them than we can ever hope to study,” he adds.

The research, published in the academic journal Antiquity, emphasizes the potential for further groundbreaking discoveries in the region and the importance of preserving and studying these ancient civilizations.

Dozens Killed, Including Children, in Israeli Air Strikes on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley

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Dozens Killed, Including Children, in Israeli Air Strikes on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley

The Lebanese health ministry has reported that at least 60 people, including two children, were killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley on Monday. The strikes, which targeted 16 areas in the Baalbek region, also wounded 58 people, with rescue efforts still ongoing in the valley, a known Hezbollah stronghold.

Governor Bachie Khodr described the attacks as the “most violent” in the area since Israel escalated the conflict against Hezbollah last month. Unverified videos posted on social media showed damage to buildings and forests ablaze, with rescuers searching for the injured. In the town of Boudai, residents were seen pleading for heavy equipment to help rescue people believed to be trapped under the rubble.

Bilal Raad, the regional head of Baalbek’s Civil Defence crews, likened the air strikes to a “ring of fire,” stating that the attacks had targeted “residential quarters where civilians live or near them.” He added that a lack of equipment had hampered search and rescue efforts, with the town of Al-Allaq being the hardest hit, suffering 16 casualties from a single family.

Baalbek, home to the ancient Roman ruins of Heliopolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has not reported any damage within the perimeter of the inscribed site, according to a UNESCO spokesperson. The organization is closely monitoring the impact of the ongoing crisis on Lebanon’s cultural heritage sites.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli air strikes on the coastal city of Tyre left seven dead and 17 injured, prompting Israel to issue a warning for people to leave the city center. Hezbollah claimed to have clashed with Israeli troops near Lebanon’s southern border and fired rockets at a naval base inside Israel near Haifa.

The current round of cross-border hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah began on October 8, 2023, after Hezbollah started firing rockets in and around northern Israel in support of Palestinians, following its ally Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel the day before.

Since then, the Lebanese health ministry reports that more than 2,700 people have been killed and over 12,400 wounded in Lebanon. Israel invaded southern Lebanon on September 30 in a dramatic escalation, aiming to destroy Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure in what it called “limited, localised, targeted raids.”

The Lebanese government estimates that up to 1.3 million people have been internally displaced due to the ongoing conflict. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the international community is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to diplomatic negotiations to prevent further loss of life and destruction.

Hezbollah Names Naim Qassem as New Leader Amid Escalating Conflict with Israel

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Hezbollah Names Naim Qassem as New Leader Amid Escalating Conflict with Israel

Hezbollah, the powerful Lebanese Shia militant group, has announced that its deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, will become its new leader. Qassem replaces long-term leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut last month.

The announcement comes as the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon has intensified in recent weeks, with Israel carrying out numerous air strikes targeting Hezbollah operatives, infrastructure, and weapons across the country.

Hezbollah’s former deputy secretary general, Naim Qassem, now its new leader

Qassem, who has been with Hezbollah for more than 30 years and is one of the group’s most recognized faces, was elected by the Shura Council in accordance with the group’s rules. His current whereabouts are unclear, with some reports suggesting he has fled to Iran, Hezbollah’s main supporter.

In a statement announcing Qassem’s promotion, Hezbollah described him as “bearing the blessed banner in this march” and honored the late Nasrallah and others killed in the conflict.

Qassem’s appointment comes as a surprise, as many expected the leadership to be passed to cleric Hashem Safieddine. However, on October 22, it was revealed that Safieddine had been killed in an Israeli air strike nearly three weeks prior, further diminishing Hezbollah’s senior leadership.

The escalation in conflict between Hezbollah and Israel was sparked by almost a year of cross-border hostilities following the war in Gaza. Israel has gone on the offensive against Hezbollah, saying it wants to ensure the safe return of residents of border areas displaced by Hezbollah rocket, missile, and drone attacks.

On Monday night, the Israeli military carried out air strikes in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley, an area where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The Lebanese health ministry reported that at least 60 people were killed and more than 50 wounded in the attack, which the Israeli military has yet to comment on.

Over the past year, the conflict has taken a heavy toll on Lebanon, with more than 2,700 people killed and nearly 12,500 injured, according to the country’s health ministry. Hezbollah has attacked Israel with thousands of rockets and drones during the same period, resulting in the deaths of at least 59 people in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

bbc.com

Woman Found Alive After Six Days Missing in Australia’s Snowy Mountains, Suspected Snake Bite

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Woman Found Alive After Six Days Missing in Australia’s Snowy Mountains, Suspected Snake Bite

A massive search and rescue operation in Australia’s Snowy Mountains has resulted in the discovery of Lovisa Sjoberg, a 48-year-old woman who had been missing for six days. New South Wales (NSW) Police announced that Sjoberg was found on Sunday afternoon local time, “dazed and injured,” suffering from a suspected snake bite, dehydration, and a rolled ankle.

Sjoberg, an avid photographer and regular visitor to the remote Kosciuszko National Park, is known for documenting the wild horses living in the mountains. Concerns for her safety were raised when a hire car company reported that her vehicle had not been returned and she could not be contacted. Her car was later discovered unlocked and abandoned in the park.

NSW Police launched a public appeal on October 21 to help locate Sjoberg and initiated a widescale search operation involving sniffer dogs, firefighters, park rangers, and a helicopter equipped with infra-red capabilities. As the search continued for several days without success and temperatures in the area dropped to freezing levels at night, fears for Sjoberg’s well-being intensified.

On Sunday afternoon, a National Parks and Wildlife Service officer found Sjoberg on the Nungar Creek Trail at Kiandra. She received immediate treatment for her injuries at the scene before being rushed to the hospital, where she is currently in stable condition.

Superintendent Toby Lindsay informed media that Sjoberg had been “wandering [for] days” through “tough” bushland and had told rescuers she believed she had been bitten by a copperhead snake four days earlier. Copperhead snakes, while typically shy rather than aggressive, possess a powerful neurotoxic venom that can be fatal without prompt medical intervention.

“She’s in fact very fortunate to be alive… she obviously went through a tough time,” Supt Lindsay said, adding that Sjoberg is now in a “reasonable condition” and is “happy to be alive.”

The successful rescue operation has brought relief to Sjoberg’s family, friends, and the local community, who had been anxiously awaiting news of her whereabouts. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers faced by individuals exploring remote wilderness areas and the importance of adequate preparation and communication when undertaking such adventures.

As Sjoberg recovers in the hospital, authorities have commended the tireless efforts of the search and rescue teams, whose dedication and perseverance ultimately led to her safe recovery after six harrowing days in the Snowy Mountains.

Controversy Erupts Over Indian States’ Plans to Punish Spitting in Food

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Controversy Erupts Over Indian States’ Plans to Punish Spitting in Food

Proposed laws to punish the contamination of food with spit, urine, and dirt in two Indian states have sparked controversy, with critics alleging they could be misused to vilify the Muslim community, while officials defend them as necessary for ensuring food safety.

This month, the northern state of Uttarakhand, ruled by India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), announced plans to fine offenders up to 100,000 rupees ($1,190; £920), while neighboring Uttar Pradesh, also BJP-led, is set to introduce stringent laws to address the issue.

The government directives followed the circulation of unverified videos on social media depicting vendors spitting on food at local stalls and restaurants, and one video showing a house-help mixing urine into food she was preparing. While the videos sparked outrage among users concerned about food safety, some also became the subject of blame campaigns targeting Muslims, which were later debunked by fact-checking websites.

Food and food habits are sensitive subjects in culturally-diverse India, as they are deeply intertwined with religion and the country’s hierarchical caste system. Norms and taboos around food sometimes lead to clashes between communities, sparking feelings of distrust. Consequently, the notion of “food safety” has also become entangled with religion, which is sometimes used to ascribe motive to alleged incidents of contamination.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) estimates that unsafe food causes around 600 million infections and 400,000 deaths annually in the country. Experts cite various reasons for poor food safety, including inadequate enforcement of food safety laws, lack of awareness, cramped kitchens, dirty utensils, contaminated water, and improper transport and storage practices.

In response to the viral videos, Uttarakhand announced hefty fines on offenders and made it mandatory for police to verify hotel staff and for CCTVs to be installed in kitchens. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said police should verify every employee to stop such incidents and plans to make it mandatory for food centers to display the names of their owners, for cooks and waiters to wear masks and gloves, and for CCTVs to be installed in hotels and restaurants. Reports suggest Adityanath is planning to bring in two ordinances that will penalize spitting in food with imprisonment up to 10 years.

However, opposition leaders and legal experts have questioned the efficacy of these laws and allege that they could be misused to vilify the Muslim community. The Indian Express newspaper criticized the ordinances proposed by Uttar Pradesh, saying they “act as a communal [sectarian] dog whistle that preys on the majority’s notions of purity and pollution and targets an already insecure minority.”

In July, India’s Supreme Court stayed directives issued by the Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments asking people running food stalls along the route of Kanwar yatra, an annual Hindu pilgrimage, to prominently display the names and other identity details of their owners. Petitioners told the top court that the directives unfairly targeted Muslims and would negatively impact their businesses.

Some incidents of alleged food contamination have been given a religious spin on social media, with Hindu nationalist accounts using terms like “thook-jihad” or “spit-jihad” to accuse Muslims of trying to defile Hindus by spitting in their food. This is not the first time the Muslim community has become targets of such accusations; during the Covid-19 pandemic, a series of fake videos showing Muslims spitting, sneezing, or licking objects to infect people with the virus went viral on social media, heightening religious polarization.

Opposition leaders in the two BJP-ruled states have criticized the new directives, saying they could be used to target Muslims and that the government was using such orders as a smokescreen to divert attention from other key problems like unemployment and sky-rocketing inflation.

However, Manish Sayana, a food safety officer in Uttarakhand, maintains that the government’s orders are solely aimed at making food safe for consumption. Legal expert and journalist V Venkatesan argues that existing laws under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, are sufficient to address offenses related to food safety and questions the need for new laws and directives, emphasizing the importance of proper implementation over harsh punishments.

As the debate surrounding the proposed laws continues, it remains to be seen how they will be implemented and whether they will effectively address the issue of food safety without unfairly targeting any particular community.

Iran Executes German-Iranian Dissident Jamshid Sharmahd After Controversial Conviction

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Iran Executes German-Iranian Dissident Jamshid Sharmahd After Controversial Conviction

Iran has executed German-Iranian dissident Jamshid Sharmahd, state media reported, following his conviction for “leading terror operations” and “corruption on Earth”. Sharmahd, who lived in the United States, had been accused of leading a US-based pro-monarchist group called Kingdom Assembly of Iran, also known as Tondar (Persian for Thunder).

Sharmahd was sentenced to death last year, despite denying the charges against him. His family maintained that he was only a spokesman for the group, which seeks to restore the monarchy overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock condemned the execution on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The killing of Jamshid Sharmahd shows what kind of inhumane regime rules (in Iran).” She added that Berlin had repeatedly warned Tehran that the execution of a German citizen would “have serious consequences”.

Human rights organizations, including Iran Human Rights and Amnesty International, have strongly condemned the execution. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group, said, “The entire process, including his arrest, conviction, and execution, constitutes a serious violation of international law.”

Sharmahd is believed to have been kidnapped by Iranian agents in Dubai in 2020 and forcibly taken to Iran via Oman. In August 2020, Iran’s intelligence ministry announced his arrest following a “complex operation” but provided no further details.

Amnesty International has claimed that Sharmahd was forced to confess and had told his family he had been tortured while in detention. Iranian authorities alleged that Sharmahd was Tondar’s leader and had “planned 23 terror attacks”, of which “five were successful”, including the 2008 bombing of a mosque in Shiraz that killed 14 people.

Sharmahd’s daughter, Gazelle, had previously called on German prosecutors to investigate the Iranian judiciary’s alleged mistreatment of her father. In July 2023, she told the BBC, “They’re killing him softly in solitary confinement in this death cell,” adding that the Iranian authorities “want a public execution for my dad, to send out this message of terror: that anybody who speaks out against the regime, we can do this to you.”

The execution took place on Sunday after approval from Iran’s Supreme Court, according to the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan website. The controversial case has further strained relations between Iran and the international community, with human rights organizations and foreign governments condemning the execution and calling for accountability.

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