Terror threat to Singapore ‘remains high', says home affairs report
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
French university rejects Gaza student over ‘hateful' online posts
LILLE, France: A top French university said Wednesday it canceled the enrolment of a woman student from Gaza because of her social media posts that the country's interior ministry called 'hateful.' Authorities did not release the content of the messages but screenshots shown on social media indicated the young woman had reposted messages calling for the death of Jewish people. Israel is seeking to crush the Islamist militant movement Hamas through a devastating offensive in Gaza after the group launched deadly attacks on Israel in 2023. The woman had been offered a place at the Sciences Po Lille university following a recommendation by the French consulate in Jerusalem, the establishment said. Sciences Po Lille said that after consultations with the education ministry and regional authorities it 'has decided to cancel this student's planned registration at our establishment.' Some of the posts 'come into direct contradiction with the values upheld by Sciences Po Lille, which fights against all forms of racism, antisemitism and discrimination, as well as against any type of incitement to hatred, against any population whatsoever,' the university added in a post on X. Accounts in the woman's name have been closed. Following the recommendation by French diplomats, the woman initially lived at the home of the university's director while she waited for permanent lodgings, Sciences Po said. French ministers have demanded an investigation into the case. 'A Gazan student making antisemitic remarks has no place in France,' said Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who added that he had ordered an internal inquiry. 'The screening carried out by the relevant departments of the ministries concerned clearly did not work,' he added in a post on X. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he had demanded the closure of the 'hateful' account and ordered local authorities to take legal action. 'Hamas propagandists have no place in our country,' Retailleau said on X.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Countries should act unilaterally in recognizing Palestine
In the tangled web of geopolitics and moral responsibility, recognition of Palestine stands today not merely as a diplomatic choice, but as a litmus test of integrity, courage, and commitment to global justice. As the world watches yet another cycle of suffering unfold, it is time to call out the procrastinators, praise the bold, and demand that the international community act unilaterally in embracing the two-state solution — starting with the immediate recognition of Palestine. The UK's recent stance — threatening to recognize Palestine if Israel fails to meet certain conditions — encapsulates the paradox of delayed justice. 'Too little, too late' is apt for a nation that played a pivotal role in creating the current geopolitical landscape. Yet, 'better late than never' is equally valid if London finally chooses to right historical wrongs. Former colonial powers such as Britain and France share a legacy of deep entanglement in the Middle East, and the latter's courageous move to recognize Palestine deserves both praise and emulation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that recognition of Palestine equates to rewarding Hamas — a curious argument, given that his government's long-term policies over more than 16 years have emboldened the very group he now seeks to vilify. Netanyahu's devious support for Hamas is well-documented. 'For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it's blown up in our faces,' read a headline in The Times of Israel in the immediate aftermath of the horrible Oct. 7 attacks. In 2019, the Israeli leader reportedly said: 'Those who want to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state should support the strengthening of Hamas.' Peace, prosperity, and progress are within reach. Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief Recognition is not about legitimizing terrorism. It is about affirming the rights of millions of Palestinians who have nothing to do with Hamas, and have endured statelessness, displacement, and daily suffering. It is about offering a framework for peace that includes Israelis, who also deserve security and stability. Not to mention ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, as stipulated by the UN — an organization Israel is a member of but does not seem to respect. Whether Netanyahu and his coalition of far-right nationalists accept it or not, the two-state solution remains Israel's safest path forward — both in terms of regional normalization and long-term peace. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly signaled that full normalization is contingent upon the creation of a Palestinian state. The Arab and Muslim worlds are prepared to integrate Israel into a region brimming with economic potential and strategic value. Peace, prosperity, and progress are within reach — if only the leadership dares grasp it. Sadly, many in Israel's current ruling elite remain ideologically opposed to any peaceful settlement. These are individuals who have overseen West Bank annexations, weaponized hunger, and now face accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their worldview is not anchored in coexistence; it thrives on perpetual conflict and expansionism. For them, any compromise — even one that could save lives — is tantamount to betrayal. Let us not forget that these are elected officials who have, without remorse, described the people of Gaza as 'human animals,' called for nuclear strikes, and openly encouraged mass displacement. When such rhetoric becomes policy, and cruelty is cloaked in nationalism, the moral compass of governance is not just broken — it is weaponized. This is no longer about diplomacy — it is about justice. Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief That is why the global community, especially nations untainted by historical baggage, must act. A coalition spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and France, embracing the two-state solution through unilateral recognition of Palestine, is the only viable path forward. Waiting for consensus or negotiating around extremists only prolongs the suffering. This is no longer about diplomacy — it is about justice. Now, more than ever, the stars seem aligned. Hamas and Hezbollah are weakened. Iran is notably quiet. We have a US president who is focused on negotiating peace deals between Ukraine and Russia, India and Pakistan, and Thailand and Cambodia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman happens to be leading Saudi Arabia and has emerged as a pragmatic regional leader with transformative ambitions. This is a historic window to reimagine the Middle East not as a perennial battleground, but as the next Europe — a region of stability, trade, cooperation, and cultural exchange. In the end, recognition of Palestine is not an act of defiance; it is a pledge to uphold human dignity. It is a call to end decades of suffering, and a step toward a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live not just side by side, but as equal partners in peace. History won't wait. Neither should we.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Philippines' ‘last ecological frontier' battles demand for nickel
MANILA: Home to several endemic species like the endangered Philippine pangolin, the province of Palawan has faced threats to its biodiversity for decades from illegal wildlife trafficking to deforestation. Now the island's forests and communities are vulnerable to mining for its nickel, with the Philippines ramping up operations to meet global demand for metals and minerals to support the green energy transition. 'When you mine nickel, you have to remove the topsoil and forest vegetation, displacing wildlife and causing deforestation,' said Grizelda Mayo-Anda, director of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center, a legal group promoting environmental rights. In response, Palawan Gov. Dennis Socrates signed a 50-year moratorium in March on all applications for mining agreements and exploration permits in the province. But Mayo-Anda said it remains to be seen if the ordinance will be implemented following a change in provincial leadership after elections in May. The Philippines is the world's second largest producer and biggest exporter of nickel, which is used in batteries for electric vehicles, and is critical in the transition to green technologies like wind turbines and solar panels. The International Energy Agency has predicted a 65 percent increase in demand for nickel by the end of the decade. Palawan has 11 active mines, three of which are large-scale nickel mines spanning four towns, but companies planning to open new mines now cannot get the necessary endorsement from the local government. Considered by some to be the last ecological frontier of the Philippines, Palawan holds almost half of the country's old-growth forest, 30 percent of its remaining mangroves and 40 percent of its coral reefs, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Nickel in the Philippines is primarily mined from laterite deposits commonly found near the surface and extracted through open-pit mining methods, and Mayo-Anda said thousands of trees have been cleared in Palawan for mining. • Philippine province's biodiversity threatened by mining and deforestation. • Local ordinance bans new mining permits for 50 years. A study by Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental group, on Palawan's Mt. Mantalingahan protected landscape found in 2008 that the $5 billion value of its ecosystem goods and services — such as clean water, carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation — far outweighed the value of minerals, then placed at 15 billion pesos ($262 million). Church resistance Mayo-Anda, an attorney who has conducted field-based legal advocacy in Palawan for decades, said some farmlands are no longer productive due to disruptions in water cycles and soil erosion she attributed to mining. 'Mining companies may have built schools, tribal halls and roads, but communities, including our politicians, do not have a good cost-benefit analysis of the economic value [of the destruction],' she said. The local church has stood against new mining activities as well. 'As is often the case, mining companies exploit natural resources, take control and benefit from the natural wealth,' Bishop Socrates Mesiona of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa said. Bishops in Palawan oppose mining due to its environmental and social impacts that they say could displace communities and affect the poor. 'But the crucial question is whether they have empowered local economies and communities so that when they are gone, the latter can continue to survive decently,' said the bishop. The three bishops of Palawan, including Mesiona, have also called for a ban on new mining applicants, which number about 68. 'If they are all allowed to operate, then it will surely be the end of Palawan being called 'the last ecological frontier,'' Mesiona said. While national law gives local governments the authority to assess mining projects and express concerns, it is unclear whether the national government will approve the new mining applications in Palawan after the moratorium. A recently publicized ruling of the Supreme Court rejected a 25-year moratorium on large-scale mining imposed by another Philippine province, Occidental Mindoro, citing the limited powers of the local government in regulating mining projects.
