Impossible for Pakistan to control terror groups with double game: US lawmaker

February 18, 2017

Washington, Feb 18: A top US lawmaker has said Pakistan's intelligence services have for too long supported some terror organisations and it is impossible to get a handle on fanatical and violent groups when one plays “double game”. Expressing his sympathies for the peaceful worshippers who were killed in a deadly terror attack on a Sufi shrine in Sindh, Congressman Brad Sherman said, “Pakistan's intelligence services have for too long supported some terrorist organisations while combating others.”

pakistan“It is impossible to get a handle on fanatical and violent groups when you play this double game,” he said while strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Sindh that claimed over 80 lives. “Unfortunately, we have a situation where ISIS can operate within Pakistan and carry out attacks as it did this week,” he said in a statement and called on Pakistan to change its policies towards terror organisations.

Sherman is Chairman of the Sindh Caucus and a Ranking Member of the Asia Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “My sympathies are with the peaceful Sufi worshippers and the people of Sindh, who were attacked at the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan on Thursday. The shrine, dedicated to the Saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, is an important site for the Sufi faith and attracts many thousands of pilgrims each year,” he said.

“Including today's attack, over a hundred innocent Pakistanis were killed in multiple attacks around the country this week,” Sherman noted. Sherman said he is well aware of the proliferation of terror organisations within Pakistan and stressed on the need for more concerted efforts to combat terrorism in South Asia.

“I know that we will continue to work with Pakistan to combat terrorism. We should especially support those in Pakistan that are most affected by terror and those forces in Pakistan that are on the front lines of our efforts to defeat militant groups,” he said.

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Agencies
June 6,2020

Seoul, Jun 6: South Korea on Saturday reported 51 new cases of COVID-19, mostly in the densely populated capital region, as authorities scramble to stem transmissions among low-income workers who can't afford to stay home.

The figures announced by South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought national totals to 11,719 workers and 273 deaths.

At least 34 of the new coronavirus cases were linked to door-to-door sellers hired by Richway, a Seoul-based health product provider.

Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said the spread of the virus among Richway sellers was particularly alarming as most of them are in their 60s and 70s. He called for officials to strengthen their efforts to find and examine workplaces vulnerable to infections.

More than 120 infections have also been linked to a massive warehouse operated by Coupang, a local e-commerce giant, which has been accused of failing to properly implement preventive measures and having employees work even when sick.

South Korea was reporting around 500 new cases per day in early March due to a massive outbreak surrounding the southern city of Daegu, before officials managed to stabilize the situation with aggressive tracking and testing.

But the recent resurgence of COVID-19 in the greater capital area, where about half of South Korea's 51 million people live, is now threatening to erase some of the country's hard-won gains. It has also led to second-guessing whether officials were too quick to ease social distancing and reopen schools.

Health authorities and hospital officials on Friday participated in a table-top exercise for sharing hospital capacities between Seoul and nearby cities and ensure swift transports of patients so that a spike of cases in one area doesn't overwhelm its hospital system. 

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News Network
May 18,2020

Washington, May 18: US President Donald Trump on Sunday called his predecessor Barak Obama a ‘grossly incompetent president’.

The Trump’s reaction came after Obama on Saturday criticised the US authorities' response to the coronavirus outbreak.

“He (Obama) was an incompetent president. That’s all I can say. Grossly incompetent,” Trump told reporters at the White House on his arrival from Camp David.

Trump was responding to a question on the virtual commencement address by Obama a day earlier.

In his address to college graduates, Obama had said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the American leadership.

“More than anything, this pandemic has fully, finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they’re doing,” Obama said without naming officials.

“A lot of them aren’t even pretending to be in charge,” he added.

There was no immediate response from the office of the former president on the remarks made by Trump.

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Agencies
August 5,2020

Paris, Aug 5: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said France will deploy a civil security detachment and several tonnes of medical equipment to Lebanon, whose capital was hit by an explosion that left over 70 people dead and thousands injured.

"Emergency doctors will also reach Beirut as soon as possible to strengthen hospitals. France is already engaged," the French President said in a tweet.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, also extended his deepest condolences to all those affected by the "massive explosion at the port of Beirut."

"We are closely monitoring and stand ready to assist the people of Lebanon as they recover from this tragedy. Our team in Beirut has reported to me the extensive damage to a city and a people that I hold dear, an additional challenge in a time of already deep crisis. 

We understand that the Government of Lebanon continues to investigate its cause and look forward to the outcome of those efforts," he said in a statement.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his country is ready to provide support in any way it can.

"The pictures and videos from Beirut tonight are shocking. All of my thoughts and prayers are with those caught up in this terrible incident. The UK is ready to provide support in any way we can, including to those British nationals affected," Johnson said.

Israeli people share the pain of their Lebanese neighbours after a devastating blast in the port of Beirut and reach out to offer their aid, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said on Tuesday.

"We share the pain of the Lebanese people and sincerely reach out to offer our aid at this difficult time," Rivlin said on Twitter.

Over 70 people have been killed while thousands of others were wounded in the massive explosion on Tuesday in Beirut which shattered buildings and caused widespread damage.

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