Tag: funding

  • UN calls for closing funding gap to salvage decaying oil tanker off Yemen

    UN calls for closing funding gap to salvage decaying oil tanker off Yemen

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    United Nations: There is a “crucial need” for additional money to close the funding gap to salvage the decaying Safer oil tanker off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, a UN spokesman said.

    A pledging event hosted by the UK and the Netherlands for the UN-led Safer project raised $5.6 million in new funding, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters.

    The UN calls on the international community to help close the funding gap, which still stands at $23.8 million for the emergency phase, he said.

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    The Safer tanker, a 47-year-old vessel that has moored off Yemen and has not been maintained since 2015 because of the conflict, has decayed to the point where there is an imminent risk it could explode or break apart, which would have disastrous environmental effects on the region, reports Xinhua news agency.

    As part of an emergency operation, the UN Development Programme purchased from Belgian shipping company Euronav in March the vessel “Nautica” to remove over a million barrels of oil from the decaying Safer tanker.

    The vessel is expected to arrive in Yemen in early May.

    According to Haq, an additional $19 million is also required for the critical second phase of the UN-coordinated operation to avert a catastrophic oil spill in the Red Sea.

    “It is urgent that this gap is closed to successfully implement the operation,” Haq said.

    “While we appreciate the contributions received so far, there is a crucial need for the funds to allow us to complete the task that we have begun,” he added.

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    #calls #closing #funding #gap #salvage #decaying #oil #tanker #Yemen

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Jamaat-e-Islami terror funding case: NIA carries out searches at 16 locations in J-K

    Jamaat-e-Islami terror funding case: NIA carries out searches at 16 locations in J-K

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    Jammu: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at 16 locations in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday as part of its crackdown on the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in a terror funding case, an official said.

    The searches were conducted at the premises of JeI members and supporters at 16 locations — 11 in Baramulla district of north Kashmir and five in Kishtwar district of Jammu region — a spokesperson of the federal agency said.

    The official said several incriminating materials and digital devices were seized during the searches and were being examined for more clues in the case.

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    “JeI has been found carrying out terror funding activities in Jammu and Kashmir, even after being declared an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on February 28, 2019,” the spokesperson said.

    The NIA filed a charge sheet in a special court in New Delhi on May 12 last year against four accused after registering a suo motu case of terror funding against the outfit on February 5, 2021.

    The spokesperson said previous investigations by the NIA had revealed that one of the four arrested accused, Javaid Ahmad Lone, had been soliciting funds and organising meetings in the name of JeI.

    “He had been delivering hateful anti-India speeches and exhorting people to make donations at these meetings. Along with Aadil Ahmad Lone, he had acquired firearms and ammunition with ulterior motives from the other two accused, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Dar and Rameez Ahmad Kondu,” the spokesperson said.

    In February 2019, the Centre had banned JeI for five years under anti-terror laws on grounds that it was “in close touch” with militant outfits and was expected to “escalate secessionist movement” in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Hundreds of JeI activists were arrested in a major crackdown across Jammu and Kashmir following the ban, which came just months ahead of the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state and its bifurcation into Union territories in August 2019.

    The spokesperson said the investigations so far have revealed that JeI (J&K) members had been collecting funds domestically and from abroad through donations, particularly in the form of zakat, mowda and bait-ul-mal, as well as for purported charitable purposes such as promotion of education and health.

    “The funds were, instead, being used for violent and secessionist activities in J&K. They were also being channelled to proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba and others through well-organised networks of JeI cadres,” the spokesperson said.

    The NIIA said JeI was also engaged in motivating impressionable youths of Kashmir and recruiting new members for carrying out “violent, disruptive and secessionist activities”.

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    #JamaateIslami #terror #funding #case #NIA #carries #searches #locations

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • NIA Opposes Separatist Leader’s Bail Plea In Terror Funding Case

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    SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has opposed the bail plea of separatist leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan in a case related to alleged terror funding under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) before the Delhi High Court.

    Khan has been in judicial custody since August 14, 2017, and has been accused by the NIA of “creating unrest” in the Kashmir valley. He was arrested on July 24, 2017, and charges for various offences under the Indian Penal Code, including sedition and UAPA, were framed against him by a special NIA court on March 16 last year.

    The NIA has submitted that evidence collected in the case clearly establishes a prima facie case against Khan and that he was involved in terrorist and funding activities. Certain letters were found during search and seizure from Khan’s residence showing that he was getting students admitted for MBBS courses in Pakistan, according to the agency.

    The NIA has alleged that this shows Khan’s involvement in terror funding out of commission earned from getting students admitted to MBBS courses in Pakistan. Various videos have also been relied upon by the NIA to allege that Khan is seen leading a “pro-ISIS rally” and “visiting areas where terrorists were killed.” The NIA has stated that the videos have conversations by Khan about funding from Hizbul Mujahideen.

    The matter will be heard on May 03 by a division bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh. The case alleges that there was a larger criminal conspiracy for causing disruption in the Kashmir valley by way of “pelting stones on the security forces, systematically burning of schools, damage to public property, and for waging war against India.” The case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA.

    While denying him bail, the special NIA judge had noted that a detailed scrutiny of evidence and statements of various witnesses was done at the time of framing of charges and it was concluded that there is sufficient evidence available raising “grave suspicion” regarding Khan’s involvement. (LiveLaw)

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    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • KCR funding both Congress, JD(S): Bandi in Karnataka poll rally

    KCR funding both Congress, JD(S): Bandi in Karnataka poll rally

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    Hyderabad: The Congress party is trying to use Karnataka as an ATM to campaign for the next year’s general elections across the country, the Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party president alleged on Friday.

    Participating in the election campaign for the BJP in the Mulabagilu assembly constituency in Karnataka, Sanjay said the Congress, if voted to power in the state, would loot the people and mint money, so that it could use it for its election campaign across the country in the next year’s general elections.

    “In a way, the Congress is planning to use Karnataka as an ATM to make big money for funding its election campaign in the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

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    Stating that development in Karnataka would come to a halt if the Congress is voted to power, the BJP president reminded that the Congress would not be able to mobilise funds from the Centre, as it was in power there. “Where does it get funds for development? From Pakistan?” he asked.

    He alleged that the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) had a secret understanding in the elections. “Wherever the Congress is strong, the JD (S) would field a weak candidate and vice versa. Both the parties are getting funds from Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao,” he said.

    Sanjay said the Congress and the JD (S) haven’t done anything for the development of Karnataka in the last 70 years and whatever development the state had witnessed, it was only during the BJP regime with Central funds.

    Sanjay claimed that the BJP was the only party which was putting up a strong resistance to the AIMIM in the old city of Hyderabad. “At Bhagya Lakshmi temple near Charminar, the BJP has hoisted the saffron flag, uprooting the MIM flags,” he pointed out.

    He lashed out at the Congress leaders for saying that their party would lift the ban on the Popular Front of India if it was voted to power. “We need to drive such leaders away in the elections,” he said.

    Stating that the BJP was the only party which would protect the Hindu dharma and work for the majority of Hindus, Sanjay called upon the voters to hound out the parties which celebrate the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, who had committed rapes and murders on SCs, STs and Lingayats.

    “There is no question of tolerating such forces who belittle Hindu dharma and try to split Hindu votes in the name of castes, creed and colour,” he said and appealed to the voters to elect the BJP in order to prevent the outbreak of terrorism in the state.

    Earlier in the day, Sanjay conducted door-to-door campaign for the BJP at Yelahanka on the outskirts of Bengaluru. He asked the party leaders and cadre to step up their public outreach campaign. “We need to meet the people directly door to door and explain the good work done by the BJP government in the state and the Modi government at the Centre,” he said.

    Several BJP workers welcomed Sanjay by bursting crackers. They showed enthusiasm in taking selfies with him.

    The Telangana BJP chief also held a teleconference with party leaders of Telangana and asked them to make the 100th episode of Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme a big success.

    “There should be public viewing of the Prime Minister’s programme to be held in at least 100 centres at every assembly constituency, which must be viewed by at least 100 people at each centre. Telangana should be at the top in the country in highlighting the programme,” he added.

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    #KCR #funding #Congress #JDS #Bandi #Karnataka #poll #rally

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Funding, forensics – and a fridge freezer? The investigation into the SNP

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    It should have been Humza Yousaf’s political honeymoon as first minister. The new leader of the Scottish National party has barely been leading Scotland for a month yet any plans to focus on policy agenda have been thrown into chaos as he firefights questions over a police investigation that has led to the party’s former chief executive Peter Murrell and its ex-treasurer Colin Beattie to be arrested.

    As part of the fraud investigation into more than £600,000 donated to the party to help them run an independence campaign, an incident tent was set up in the home Nicola Sturgeon shares with her husband, Murrell, and a motor home seized from outside her mother in law’s house.

    With reports that the police are investigating whether the money was spent on items including a motor home – and even a fridge freezer – onlookers have been left wondering how a party that so recently looked all-conquering is unravelling so fast.

    The Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks, explains what the investigation is really about, and tells Hannah Moore, how SNP members feel now. She looks at whether the party’s rapid growth in membership has affected its financial management – and how Yousaf is reacting.

    • This article was amended on 27 April 2023 to correct the spelling of Humza Yousaf’s first name.

    The former first minister Nicola Sturgeon is surrounded by journalists as she returns to the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh. Photographer: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

    Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

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    #Funding #forensics #fridge #freezer #investigation #SNP
    ( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )

  • NGO Terror Funding Case: NIA Raids Khurram Parvaiz’s Office In Budgam

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    SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday raided an NGO office of jailed Khurram Parvaiz in central Kashmir’s Budgam

    A team of NIA conducted searches at an NGO office at Dandoosa area in Budgam. The office is of Khurram Parvaiz, they said.

    An official confirmed and said “Yes, the NIA team conducted searches at the NGO office at Dandoosa Budgam, some documents have been seized during searches”.

    The searches were conducted in an NGO terror funding case. Parvaz is already in jail in a terror-funding case and was chargesheeted in May last year. “Following the first arrest made in the NGO terror funding case on March 20, 2023, the National Investigation Agency arrested Khurram Parvez, the program coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) and chairperson of Philippines-based NGO Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). (KDC)

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    #NGO #Terror #Funding #Case #NIA #Raids #Khurram #Parvaizs #Office #Budgam

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • NGO Terror Funding Case: NIA raids Khurram Parvaiz’s office in Budgam

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    Srinagar, Apr 26, KDC: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday raided an NGO office of jailed Khurram Parvaiz in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.

    Reports reaching news agency Kashmir Dot Com said that a team of NIA conducted searches at an NGO office at Dandoosa area in Budgam. The office is of Khurram Parvaiz, they said.

    An official confirmed and said “Yes, the NIA team conducted searches at the NGO office at Dandoosa Budgam, some documents have been seized during searches”.

    The searches were conducted in an NGO terror funding case. Parvaz is already in jail in a terror-funding case and was chargesheeted in May last year. “Following the first arrest made in the NGO terror funding case on March 20, 2023, the National Investigation Agency arrested Khurram Parvez, the program coordinator of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) and chairperson of Philippines-based NGO Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD). (KDC)

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    #NGO #Terror #Funding #Case #NIA #raids #Khurram #Parvaizs #office #Budgam

    ( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

  • UAE approves additional $1 billion funding to Pakistan: Finance Minister Dar

    UAE approves additional $1 billion funding to Pakistan: Finance Minister Dar

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    Islamabad: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced that the UAE has approved USD 1 billion in financial support, taking the cash-strapped nation a step closer to unlocking the crucial IMF bailout.

    Pakistan is tackling a major economic crisis as it awaits a much-needed USD 1.1 billion tranche of funding from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund, part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019.

    Finance Minister Dar said the Gulf nation has confirmed its commitment to the International Monetary Fund, paving way for the staff-level agreement to unlock a USD 1.1 billion loan by the global lender.

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    “UAE authorities have confirmed to IMF for their bilateral support of USD 1 billion to Pakistan,” Dar said in a tweet, adding that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was now “engaged for needful documentation for taking the said deposit from UAE authorities”.

    The UAE rolled over its deposits of USD 2 billion in January this year too, providing critical support to cash-starved Pakistan’s depleting foreign exchange reserves.

    In another tweet, Dar announced that the apex bank is getting the third and last disbursement from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), worth USD 300 million, out of its USD 1.3 billion loan.

    “Out of Chinese bank’s ICBC approved facility of USD 1.3bn (which was earlier repaid by Pakistan), State Bank of Pakistan would receive back third and last disbursement today in its account amounting to USD 300mn,” the finance minister tweeted.

    The ICBC approved a rollover of a USD 1.3 billion loan for Pakistan on March 3 and made the first payment of USD 500 million on the same day, while the second payment of the same amount was made on March 17.

    The IMF lowered its forecast for Pakistan’s economic growth rate days ago from 2 per cent to just 0.5 per cent for the current fiscal year amid high inflation and a growing unemployment rate in the cash-strapped country.

    The new development brought debt-struck Pakistan closer to signing the staff-level agreement with the IMF and getting access to multilateral loans.

    Pakistan is tethering on the verge of default with just over USD 4 billion in reserves as it grapples with high external debt and a weak local currency.
    All its hopes are tied to the IMF reviving the USD 7 billion bailout programme and releasing a USD 1.1 billion tranche, originally due to be disbursed in November last year.

    The funds are part of a USD 6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical if Pakistan is to avoid defaulting on external debt obligations.

    The IMF programme, signed in 2019, will expire on June 30, 2023, and under the set guidelines, the programme cannot be extended beyond the deadline.

    Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating the programme’s resumption for months but have yet to reach an agreement.



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    #UAE #approves #additional #billion #funding #Pakistan #Finance #Minister #Dar

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Al-Huda Educational Trust Terror Funding Case, NIA Files Chargesheet

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    SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet in the Al Huda Educational Trust (AHET) terror funding case, linked to the Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI), which had set up the Trust to mobilise funds to further its anti-India agenda even after it was banned.

    In a statement, NIA spokesman said that JeI was declared an Unlawful Association in 2019. “The NIA, which was subsequently mandated to investigate the continued suspicious activities of the banned terror outfit, had registered a case against JEI in September 2022. It filed the chargesheet today in the NIA Special Court, J&K, after extensive investigations and multiple raids in Jammu and Kashmir,” the NIA spokesman said.

    The NIA spokesman said that a Pak-based Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist, Mushtaq Ahmed Mir alias Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, is among the four individuals / entities named in the chargesheet. Others charged in the case are AHET, Md. Amir Shamshi, a ‘rukun’ (primary member) and chairperson of AHET, and Abdul Hamid Ganai alias Abdul Hamid Fayaz r/o Shopian. “All four have been charged under various sections of UA(P)Act and IPC,” the spokesman said.

    “Investigations have revealed that Md. Amir Shamshi was responsible for the day to day working of AHET, which was formed by JEI with the explicit purpose of mobilising funds to carry on its secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Amir collected funds for JEI, J&K, through the Trust in the form of educational and religious donations. He channelized the funds to his co-accused, Amir-e-Jamaat (Head of JEI J&K) Abdul Hamid Ganai, to further the banned outfit’s anti-India agenda.”

    The spokesman said that Amir Shamshi also conspired with Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, originally a resident of Rajouri. Mushtaq sent funds to Amir from Pakistan through Hawala channels. “Amir used these funds to organise propaganda meetings to motivate individuals to engage in secessionist and terror activities,” the NIA spokesman said.

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    #AlHuda #Educational #Trust #Terror #Funding #Case #NIA #Files #Chargesheet

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • Militant Funding Case: NIA Files Chargesheet Against Al-Huda Educational Trust

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    Srinagar, April 05: National Investigation Agency on Tuesday said that it has filed Charge-sheets against Jamaat-e-Islami linked Al-Huda Educational Trust in case related to militancy funding.

    In a handout to GNS, the NIA said that JEI was declared an Unlawful Association in 2019. The NIA, which was subsequently mandated to investigate the continued suspicious activities of the banned militant outfit, had registered a case against JEI in September 2022. It filed the chargesheet today in the NIA Special Court, J&K, after extensive investigations and multiple raids in Jammu and Kashmir.

    According to spokesman, a Pak-based Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant, Mushtaq Ahmed Mir @ Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, is among the four individuals / entities named in the chargesheet. Others charged in the case are AHET, Md. Amir Shamshi, a ‘rukun’ (primary member) and chairperson of AHET, and Abdul Hamid Ganai @ Abdul Hamid Fayaz r/o Shopian. All four have been charged under various sections of UA(P)Act and IPC.

    Investigations have revealed that Md. Amir Shamshi was responsible for the day to day working of AHET, which was formed by JEI with the explicit purpose of mobilising funds to carry on its secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Amir collected funds for JEI, J&K, through the Trust in the form of educational and religious donations. He channelized the funds to his co-accused, Amir-e-Jamaat (Head of JEI J&K) Abdul Hamid Ganai, to further the banned outfit’s anti-India agenda, he said.

    Amir Shamshi also conspired with Mushtaq Ahmed Mir, originally a resident of Rajouri. Mushtaq sent funds to Amir from Pakistan through Hawala channels. Amir used these funds to organise propaganda meetings to motivate individuals to engage in secessionist and militant activities, reads the statement.(GNS)

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    #Militant #Funding #Case #NIA #Files #Chargesheet #AlHuda #Educational #Trust

    ( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )