israeli settlers torch
| | | |

Israeli settlers torch two mosques in West Bank as…

ByJustpaste.in

WEST BANK: Two mosques were set ablaze in the occupied West Bank overnight, Palestinian officials said on Sunday, in the latest escalation of violence that has sharply raised tensions across the territory.

The attacks targeted a mosque under construction in Qusra, south of Nablus, and another mosque in the village of Kour, near Tulkarm. The incidents came only days after a deadly confrontation in the nearby village of Tal that left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead.

In Qusra, Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said settlers set fire to the mosque’s entrance and damaged parts of its stonework. Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge,” was reportedly sprayed across the walls.

The Israeli military said troops were sent to the area after receiving reports of the fire. According to the army, the suspected attackers had already fled when soldiers arrived. Israeli police were expected to collect evidence and investigate the incident.

The second attack took place in Kour, where Palestinian officials said a mosque was set alight and racist slogans were written on its walls. Worshippers and local residents managed to prevent the fire from causing further destruction, according to reports.

The mosque attacks have added another disturbing chapter to a widening cycle of violence in the West Bank, where clashes, arson attacks and raids have intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The latest incidents also follow a deadly confrontation in Tal on Friday, where four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed. The aftermath has triggered further arrests, raids and attacks in surrounding Palestinian communities.

With tensions already running high, the torching of places of worship has raised fresh fears that the latest violence could fuel further retaliation and deepen an already volatile situation across the occupied territory.

Similar Posts

  • |

    Gold prices hold near two-month high as traders await US PPI data

    ByJustpaste.in

    Gold prices remained largely stable near their highest level in more than two months on Thursday, as investors paused to assess the metal’s recent gains following softer-than-expected signals from US inflation data. Spot gold was trading at around $4,408.55 per ounce by 0336 GMT, little changed from the previous session. The precious metal had earlier climbed nearly 1%, reaching its highest level since June 5. Meanwhile, US gold futures for December delivery were broadly steady at $4,467 per ounce. The latest movement came after gold staged a strong rally following the release of US consumer inflation figures. Investors are now turning their attention to the US Producer Price Index (PPI), due later on Thursday, which could provide further indications about the direction of monetary policy and interest rates. Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, said gold was undergoing a period of consolidation after its gains following the consumer price data. He noted that expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike had weakened further, while traders were waiting for the PPI report before making significant new moves in the market. US Inflation Cools Market sentiment was influenced by Wednesday’s US Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures, which showed that inflation moderated for a second consecutive month on an annual basis. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices increased 3.4% in the 12 months through July, compared with a 3.5% rise in June. The reading was broadly in line with economists’ expectations. The data reduced expectations that the Federal Reserve would move toward higher interest rates in the near term. Market participants are now closely monitoring incoming economic indicators to determine whether price pressures are continuing to ease. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, traders were pricing in roughly a 40% probability of a Federal Reserve rate hike at the September meeting, down from approximately 54% a week earlier. Lower Rate Expectations Support Gold Gold generally benefits when expectations for interest rates decline because lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding the non-yielding precious metal. The shift in expectations has therefore provided additional support to bullion, although investors remain cautious ahead of further inflation data. The upcoming PPI report is expected to play an important role in determining whether the recent moderation in consumer inflation is also reflected at the producer level. A weaker-than-expected reading could further reinforce expectations for a less aggressive Federal Reserve stance, potentially providing additional momentum to gold. Conversely, stronger producer inflation could revive concerns about persistent price pressures and limit gains in the precious metals market. Geopolitical Risks Remain in Focus Investors are also keeping an eye on geopolitical developments, particularly tensions between Iran and the United States. A senior Iranian source said Tehran and Washington remained divided over efforts to reach a permanent agreement to end the conflict in the Gulf. According to the source, there had been no significant progress in negotiations aimed at reviving an interim agreement reached in June. Continued geopolitical uncertainty can contribute to demand for safe-haven assets such as gold, although market participants remain focused primarily on monetary policy and economic data. Other Precious Metals Elsewhere in the precious metals market, spot silver rose around 0.3% to $65.47 per ounce. Silver had reached its highest level since June 22 during the previous session. Platinum prices declined 0.4% to $1,749.70 per ounce, while palladium fell 0.5% to $1,362.10.

  • | |

    Bilawal vows to fight alleged poll rigging in AJK

    ByJustpaste.in

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), without naming the party directly, of relying on electoral manipulation to gain power and warned that his party would resist any attempt to rig the upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Addressing a PPP workers’ convention in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal said the large turnout at the gathering showed that his party was heading towards victory in the August 2 elections. He urged party workers to remain active and mobilise voters, expressing confidence that the “arrow” — the PPP’s electoral symbol — would emerge victorious. Bilawal alleged that certain political groups had historically benefited from manipulated elections and now believed they could use the same tactics in AJK. He said the people of Kashmir would not allow such efforts to succeed and that PPP workers and voters would stand against any attempt to undermine the electoral process. Referring to his party’s political rivals, Bilawal claimed that their rise to power had often followed controversial election processes. He said the PPP had repeatedly faced electoral challenges but continued to win public support despite what he described as unfair political practices. The PPP chairman also raised allegations of rigging in the constituency of senior party leader Chaudhry Yasin. He claimed that polling agents and workers had reported irregularities at around 30 polling stations, alleging that the stations were occupied and votes were unlawfully cast. Bilawal said he had evidence regarding the alleged irregularities and called on the Election Commission to order immediate re-polling at the affected polling stations if it had no involvement in the alleged misconduct. He maintained that the PPP would accept defeat if voters rejected the party through a transparent and fair election. However, he said the party would not accept what he called a “stolen election” and would continue to challenge any result that emerged through alleged manipulation. Bilawal also pledged to fight for the restoration of what he described as the “stolen seats” of Kashmir and promised to pursue the rights of the people through democratic and constitutional means. He said the PPP wanted to secure ownership and political rights for the people of AJK through the power of the ballot rather than through armed struggle. He urged voters to support the party’s electoral campaign and vowed that the PPP would continue its efforts to raise the Kashmir issue at the international level. Bilawal said the Bhutto family and the PPP had worked for three generations to highlight the Kashmir cause globally, adding that his party would continue to advocate for the rights and aspirations of the people of the region through political and diplomatic channels.

  • |

    Airbus completes record 24-hour flight with plane …

    ByJustpaste.in

    A specially modified Airbus A350 plane touched down in France on Tuesday after a record 24-hour test flight from Australia, ahead of its joining Qantas’s fleet next year. Its 23,076-kilometre journey across three continents and two oceans, and through two sunsets and two dawns  was one of the most-watched flights shown on the Flightradar24 tracking site. The flight from Australia to France took precisely 24 hours and 24 minutes. On its outbound flight last week, from Toulouse to Melbourne, the test aircraft flew 17,000 kilometres in 19 hours and 12 minutes. The test flight was a crucial step before Australian airline Qantas receives its first A350-1000ULR in April next year, to be followed by 11 others for services able to link Australia non-stop to destinations in the United States and Europe. The ULR in its designation stands for “ultra long distance,” a feat made possible by an additional 20,000-litre rear centre fuel tank being fitted to Airbus’s A350-1000 model. Qantas plans to start offering non-stop flights between London and Sydney from October 2027. Later, it intends to start flying between Sydney and New York. On board the plane was a cockpit crew of eight people from Airbus’s testing division, accompanied by two Qantas pilots. Two Airbus engineers were also on board. Some of the aspects studied on the flight were the modified architecture around the extra fuel tank, changes to make the cabin quieter, and the plane’s air circulation system. Qantas’s ‘Project Sunrise,’ using ultra-long-haul planes, has been on the cards for the past nine years but has been repeatedly delayed. Currently, the longest commercial flight service in the world is Singapore Airlines’ route between Singapore and New York, which covers 15,350 kilometres and lasts more than 18 hours using another variant of the A350. The successful test flight brings Qantas one step closer to realizing its vision of non-stop connections between Australia and some of the world’s farthest destinations.

  • | |

    Atif Aslam performs with Fahad Mustafa, Asim Azhar…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Atif Aslam recently gave fans a special musical moment when he was joined on stage by Fahad Mustafa, Asim Azhar and Talha Anjum at the launch of his new album Subha Aye Naa. The star-studded gathering brought together some of Pakistan’s biggest names from music, television and film. (Facebook⁠) The four celebrities were spotted performing together during the event, creating a scene that quickly caught the attention of Pakistani entertainment fans. According to videos shared from the evening, Fahad Mustafa, Asim Azhar and Talha Anjum joined Atif on stage for a special rendition of his popular song “Hum Kis Gali Ja Rahe Hain.” (Instagram⁠) The unexpected combination of artists made the performance particularly exciting. Atif is known for his powerful vocals and emotional songs, while Asim Azhar has established himself as one of Pakistan’s popular contemporary singers. Talha Anjum, meanwhile, represents the country’s growing hip-hop scene through his work with Young Stunners and his solo career. Fahad Mustafa added a different element to the performance. Best known for his work as an actor, television host and producer, Fahad has also remained closely connected with Pakistan’s entertainment and music scene. The gathering came as Atif celebrated the launch of Subha Aye Naa, his fourth album, making the occasion significant for his fans. The album launch also highlighted how Pakistan’s entertainment industry continues to bring together artists from different parts of the creative world. (Facebook⁠) Social media users were quick to notice the chemistry between the four stars. Images and videos from the event showed the performers sharing the stage, giving fans a rare crossover between mainstream pop, acting and Pakistani hip-hop. For many listeners, seeing Atif Aslam perform alongside younger artists such as Asim Azhar and Talha Anjum also reflected the changing landscape of Pakistani music. While Atif remains one of the country’s most recognised voices, newer musicians are bringing different sounds and audiences into the spotlight. The album launch therefore became more than a promotional event. With four major Pakistani stars coming together for a live performance, it offered fans an entertaining celebration of the country’s evolving music culture. The memorable stage appearance is likely to remain one of the standout moments from Atif Aslam’s latest musical chapter, especially for fans who enjoyed seeing different generations of Pakistani entertainment come together.

  • |

    Zelenskyy warns Egypt of Black Sea food security threats as Russia rejects maritime ceasefire

    ByJustpaste.in

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cautioned Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi that ongoing Russian strikes on commercial shipping in the Black Sea pose a direct threat to regional food security and grain exports across Africa and the Middle East. Speaking via X, Zelenskyy noted that significant supply reductions are already driving up global grain prices and warned of severe consequences if attacks on cargo vessels persist. In response to proposals for a maritime truce, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova rejected a third-party proposal from Kyiv to halt strikes on civilian shipping. Moscow dismissed the initiative as a “half-measure” that would merely grant Ukrainian forces operational breathing space, accusing Kyiv of attempting to destabilise Black Sea shipping routes. The diplomatic standoff coincides with several broader geopolitical developments across the region. Russian authorities acknowledged domestic petrol shortages after a Ukrainian strike forced the six-month closure of the Orsk oil refinery, located 1,300 km from the front line. Meanwhile, Polish officials warned that Russian cyber actors are exploiting historical grievances over World War II massacres to strain relations between Warsaw and Kyiv. Further escalating regional concerns, Romanian defence officials confirmed that a second unidentified drone crashed inside NATO territory near the border village of Plauru, whilst Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed deep security cooperation with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during commemorations marking the end of Japanese colonial rule.

  • |

    US prepares to restore diplomatic staff at middle East embassies following Iran war

    ByJustpaste.in

      WASHINGTON: The United States has begun preparations to return diplomatic personnel to several embassies across the Middle East that were previously evacuated amid concerns over the conflict with Iran. According to a report, an internal document from the US State Department indicates that the process of bringing American diplomats back to the region and scaling down emergency security measures could begin as early as this week. The development is being viewed as a possible indication that the administration of US President Donald Trump does not currently expect a full-scale war with Iran to resume. The planned return of diplomatic personnel suggests Washington may be assessing the security situation as sufficiently stable to gradually restore normal diplomatic operations. The internal document reportedly outlines plans to increase staffing levels at several US diplomatic missions across the region. These include American embassies in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait. The planned changes would mark a gradual shift from the emergency measures implemented by the US government after the conflict began. American diplomatic missions had faced heightened security concerns as tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States escalated. Following the outbreak of the war in February, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of personnel from several diplomatic missions in the Middle East. The measures were introduced as a precaution amid concerns that the conflict could expand and expose American diplomats and other personnel to increased risks. The decision to begin reversing some of those measures indicates that Washington may now have greater confidence in the security environment. However, the reported plans do not necessarily mean that all emergency precautions will immediately be removed or that diplomatic operations will return to their previous levels overnight. Instead, the process is expected to take place gradually, with staffing levels and security arrangements adjusted according to conditions in individual countries. The Middle East remains a strategically important region for the United States, with Washington maintaining diplomatic missions across countries that play significant roles in regional politics, energy supplies and security affairs. US embassies also provide important channels for communication with governments and local authorities. The possible return of diplomats comes at a time when Washington continues to closely monitor developments involving Iran and its regional relationships. Any renewed escalation could potentially affect American diplomatic personnel and military interests in the region. The State Department’s reported internal plans therefore suggest an attempt to balance diplomatic needs with security considerations. Returning personnel would allow American missions to resume broader diplomatic activities while maintaining measures designed to protect staff. The report did not indicate that the United States considers the broader security situation completely resolved. Rather, the planned reduction in emergency measures appears to reflect a reassessment of the immediate threat following the conflict. The move could also have wider diplomatic implications. Restoring normal staffing levels at embassies may enable Washington to strengthen engagement with regional governments and improve coordination on political and security matters. For now, the process is expected to depend on developments on the ground. Any significant escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran could lead Washington to reconsider the planned deployment of diplomats and reinstate stricter security measures. The reported preparations nevertheless represent a notable shift from the evacuation measures introduced after the outbreak of the conflict in February.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *