Latest news with #Eidal-Adha
Middle East Eye
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Armenia's Pashinyan makes history with first official visit to Turkey
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made history on Friday by becoming the country's first leader since the Cold War to pay an official visit to Turkey. Pashinyan is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul, raising hopes that the two countries may soon normalise relations. Turkey broke off diplomatic ties with Armenia in 1993, following Armenian forces' occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh. While Pashinyan attended Erdogan's presidential inauguration in June 2023 and the two leaders have met at several international summits since then, this marks his first official visit to Turkey. According to a statement from the Turkish presidency, the trip is considered a 'working visit'. Both foreign ministers and special envoys for normalisation are also attending, allowing the delegations to discuss every aspect of the bilateral relationship. A senior Armenian diplomat told Middle East Eye that Erdogan extended the invitation to Pashinyan after a phone call earlier this month in which the Armenian prime minister congratulated the Turkish president on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'They had a good conversation,' the diplomat said. 'The invitation was later formalised through diplomatic channels.' The diplomat described the visit as historic, crediting the positive momentum to the two leaders' commitment to keeping communication channels open and 'patiently demonstrating leadership'. To prepare for the visit, Deputy Armenian Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan travelled to Ankara on Monday to review key issues. Speaking in Prague earlier this week, Pashinyan mentioned the improvement in Turkish-Armenian relations, noting that, unlike three years ago, the two countries can now communicate directly rather than relying on third-party intermediaries. Overcoming historic and regional tensions Tensions between Turkey and Armenia extend beyond the issue of Azerbaijan, a close Turkish ally and arch-rival of Yerevan. After a bloody six-week war in late 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military operation in September 2023 to take back the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, resulting in a ceasefire agreement. Most ethnic Armenians fled, and Artsakh, the breakaway region, was officially dissolved on 1 January 2024. The tensions are also rooted in the events of 1915, when hundreds of thousands of Armenians died after the Ottoman Empire ordered their deportation from Anatolia. Armenian leaders and much of the international community regard this as genocide and say 1.5 million were killed, while Ankara maintains the deaths occurred amid the chaos of World War I, with losses on both sides. Nonetheless, Pashinyan has recently downplayed this issue, expressing his desire to establish good neighbourly relations with Turkey, end Armenia's isolation and restore commercial and full diplomatic ties. The timing of Pashinyan's visit is also significant, coming amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran - neighbours to both Turkey and Armenia. 'But this conflict makes dialogue even more pertinent,' the Armenian official said. Turkey's last Armenian village struggles to survive after earthquake Read More » In March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed on a draft peace treaty, but Baku has continued to make additional demands and has pressured Ankara not to implement some of the confidence-building measures agreed with Yerevan in 2023. One such measure was the agreement to open the Alican-Margara border crossing to third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders. Armenia has completed its side of the renovations, but Turkey has yet to take concrete steps to implement the agreement. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan is insisting that Armenia amend its constitution - which currently references Nagorno-Karabakh - before signing a peace agreement. Pashinyan has signaled a willingness to consider constitutional changes, but insists this should not delay the peace process. He has also stated his intention to sign a peace deal with Azerbaijan by the end of the year. Turkish officials told MEE they see Pashinyan as a 'visionary' leader seeking long-term stability for Armenia by resolving longstanding disputes with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Some in Ankara even suggest that Baku should be more receptive to Pashinyan's overtures and avoid maximalist positions, especially given the uncertainty of his political future with general elections looming next year. Pashinyan's visit comes immediately after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's trip to Turkey - a timing that has not gone unnoticed. On Thursday, Erdogan and Aliyev inaugurated a permanent housing development called 'Azerbaijan Neighbourhood' in the southern city of Kahramanmaras, built for the victims of the 2023 earthquakes.
News18
a day ago
- General
- News18
'Lived In UK, But Never Forgot Their Roots': Surat Mourns Death Of Couple, 4-Year-Old Kid In Air India Crash
Hundreds gathered at Hasanji Kabristan in Haripura for the last rites of Aqeel Nanabava, his wife Hanna Voraji, and their daughter Sara, who died in an Air India crash The city that slept silently on Tuesday night stirred to an extraordinary moment of mourning as hundreds gathered outside Hasanji Kabristan in Haripura at 1:30 am. The occasion was tragic – the last rites of Aqeel Nanabava, his wife Hanna Voraji, and their four-year-old daughter Sara, who lost their lives in the Air India plane crash on June 12. The family, though settled in the UK for decades, had deep roots in Surat's Bohra community and were brought home for their final journey. Despite being a British citizen, Aqeel's family had long been woven into Surat's social and spiritual fabric through their charitable work, property holdings, and generations of community presence. The outpouring of grief reflected not just the shock of their untimely death, but the emotional bond the city still shared with them. In the crowd stood Abdullah Nanabava, a father hollowed by loss. He had just celebrated Eid al-Adha with his son's family days prior to the tragic crash. 'What words are left now?" he said, barely audible, adding that he had dropped them at Ahmedabad airport himself as they were flying to London. The crash came barely a day after Father's Day. 'In the morning, I was a father. By evening, I was not," he said to a close family friend. Aqeel, Hanna, and little Sara had come to Surat for a short Eid holiday for just six days. It was meant to be a joyful visit, and by all accounts, it was. 'They brought us happiness like a festival," said Abdullah, 'Now, that joy is my memory." As the ' namaz-e-janaza ' (funeral prayer) was held, a sea of mourners – relatives, local clerics, activists, and neighbours – filled the street. The quiet dignity of the crowd reflected the deep respect Aqeel's family commanded. Though Aqeel was raised abroad, those who met him described him as warm, soft-spoken, and always connected to his roots. 'He never forgot Surat," said an old classmate of his father, adding that even when his accent changed, his humility did not. The Nanabava family had made Gloucester, UK, their home. Abdullah had returned to Surat nearly 15 years ago, but his wife and four sons continued to live in England. The family remained close despite the geography – the sons visiting Surat regularly, especially on religious occasions. Aqeel's younger brother, Hamza, and mother Sajida had flown in from London upon hearing the news. It was in their presence that Aqeel and Hanna were buried side by side, just after 2 am. Yet, not everything about the burial followed tradition. The Islamic practice of ghusl (ritual washing of the body) could not be performed due to procedural constraints after the crash. For many, especially close friends like Rashid, the absence of this sacred step left a void. 'It felt like something vital was missing," Rashid said. The soul was gone, but the goodbye was incomplete, he added. Later that day, another call came – this time from Ahmedabad. The remains of four-year-old Sara had been positively identified. In the evening, her tiny body too was brought to Hasanji Kabristan. The prayer was offered once more, the earth was turned once more; this time for the youngest among them. She was buried just beside her parents. Three members of one family – a mother, a father, and a child – now rest in the same city they once came to celebrate Eid in. First Published: June 19, 2025, 15:44 IST
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
From sacrifice to solidarity: 150,000 fed through Awqaf SA's Eid effort
Over 150,000 families received food parcels this past Eid al-Adha as part of a Qurbani (sacrifices) campaign by Awqaf SA. Image: Supplied Over 150,000 families across South Africa received food parcels this past Eid al-Adha as part of a Qurbani (sacrifices) campaign by Awqaf SA. 'Our mission is to restore dignity,' said CEO Mickaeel Collier, adding that it was a project rooted in faith, driven by heart, and made possible through unity. 'We want to build communities, not dependencies.' For more than 25 years, Awqaf SA has quietly built a legacy of sustainable social investment — it is not a charity in the conventional sense, but a community development organisation, grounded in Islamic endowment principles. Over 150,000 families received food parcels this past Eid al-Adha as part of a Qurbani (sacrifices) campaign by Awqaf SA. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Collier said Awqaf SA uses invested capital to generate long-term benefits for education, health, and poverty alleviation. The Qurbani campaign, a sacred annual tradition that honours the sacrifice of Prophet Abraham, has evolved into one of Awqaf SA's flagship projects. More than 200 cattle were ethically sourced and processed, resulting in over 120 tonnes of meat distributed from Cape Town to Johannesburg. 'In a country where food insecurity is growing, our challenge isn't just about reaching people, it's about doing so with consistency, dignity, and integrity,' said Collier. He said that the work was fuelled by private donors, community partnerships, and the unpaid labour of volunteers. Over 150,000 families received food parcels this past Eid al-Adha as part of a Qurbani (sacrifices) campaign by Awqaf SA. Image: Supplied Then there are the emotional challenges; like the grief carried by Berto du Toit, a white Afrikaner farmer, who, despite losing his son in a tragic accident during the Qurbani week, honoured his commitment to ensure the delivery of livestock. His actions, carried out in the midst of mourning, became a powerful gesture of Ubuntu and a reminder that real humanity is defined not by words, but by deeds, Collier said. 'Oom Berto and his late son believed in this work,' he said. 'They understood that compassion has no colour, and that faith in humanity must live in action.' Over 150,000 families received food parcels this past Eid al-Adha as part of a Qurbani (sacrifices) campaign by Awqaf SA. Image: Supplied
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Air India plane crash: Molars not developed, identifying minors a challenge
The Nanabawa family of Surat had just completed the namaz-e-janaza (funeral prayers) of Akeel, 36, and wife Hannaa Vorajee, 31, when they received a call early Wednesday morning that the body of their daughter Sara, who had died with them in the Boeing Dreamliner crash, had been identified. The relatives rushed to Ahmedabad to claim the four-year-old's remains so that she could be buried beside her parents. Nearly a week after the Ahmedabad-London AI-171 flight crashed, the search for Sara reflects the difficulty in identifying minors among the badly charred remains. Till Wednesday, 159 bodies had been handed over to relatives after DNA matching and identification. Apart from Sara, only one other minor was among those bodies — Fatima Shethwala, who was 18 months old. AI-171 had 13 children under the age of 12, as per the airline manifest, including three who had not yet turned 2. Several others were between the ages of 11 and 18. Explaining the difficulty in using DNA technology to identify minor victims in such a disaster, Dr Jayasankar Pillai, a forensic odontologist with Government Dental College, Gujarat, said: 'In children, the body mass is less and so the tissue damage and the exposure of long bones to heat is more. Teeth, though, can withstand heat as they are more robust.' In the case of minors, however, this too is complicated. 'DNA can be extracted from any tooth in children, but the front teeth cannot be used as heat degrades them in case of fire accidents. So we take DNA from molars. In children aged less than six years, we can't get a permanent molar… They mostly have milk teeth, and sometimes even those are destroyed as the arch is very small. So we make an incision in the jaw and try to get the permanent molar developing inside,' said Pillai, whose department was approached by the Forensic Medicine Department to help extract dental DNA and compile dental charting of victims. A forensic official said the fire that broke out after the crash would have reached temperatures of over 1600 degrees F in a very short period. 'So, only partial DNA profiles are available for some, whom we suspect are minors,' the official said, adding that matching these to that of relatives with 'undoubted accuracy' is difficult. The Nanabawa family received the bodies of Akeel and Hannaa — who were British nationals based in Gloucester — a day before Sara's remains were identified. Akeel's father Abdulla recalled that the three had arrived on June 6, a day before Eid al-Adha, on a surprise visit. 'It was a short trip… We did know this would be their last,' sobbed Abdulla, who had gone to Ahmedabad to drop the family for the flight. In Vadodara, Asif Shethwala mourned his granddaughter Fatima, the toddler whose remains were identified Wednesday, while her mother Sadiqa's body is yet to be found. Asif said Fatima was his London-based son's only child. 'Sadiqa and Fatima were visiting for my younger son's wedding. They were here for about 20 days and their return tickets were booked well in advance.' With his son in Ahmedabad to collect Fatima's body, Asif hoped they would find Sadiqa's too. 'They will try to bring home both together. If not, they will return tonight and we will lay Fatima to rest.' Apart from yielding DNA, dental remains also help determine the approximate age of a person, providing essential clues to identification. This has been vital in the Ahmedabad crash as, even for adults, the explosion and fire meant much of the DNA recovered was degraded. Dr Pillai said the Forensic Odontology Department had extracted dental DNA or done dental charting for at least some victims between one and three years of age. This was then compared with the flight manifest for passengers in that age group. 'That helped narrow down the search. Their DNA samples could then be matched with those of their relatives.' Among those waiting for news is the Vahora family in Vadodara. They lost three members in the crash. While Yasmin's body was handed over on Monday, the remains of Pervez and his daughter Zuveriya, 4, are yet to be found. A close friend said: 'The family needs closure to come to terms with the loss.' A former IPS officer and forensic expert, Dr Keshav Kumar, said the families should not lose hope. 'The air crash was almost like a bomb blast, with 54,000 litres of aviation fuel burning for over an hour. The amount of heat generated is damaging for the body… We would be lucky to get good samples… But if even a tooth has been found, there are chances of getting DNA… Forensics is like finding a needle in a haystack. But as an investigator, I can say that the chances of getting a match are 100%… DNA can survive thousands of years and the wreckage site will hold more traces of DNA if needed.' A senior Gujarat Police officer said they ensured collection of multiple samples from the crash site. 'Since so many agencies are involved in the investigations, the recovery of components of the aircraft was done on priority after retrieving as many bodies as possible. The forensic teams collected as many exhibits as possible for DNA sampling. Teams of the Gujarat Police, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and disaster rescue forces continue to check for any human remains or important leads that could help identify passengers.' —With inputs by Kamal Saiyed in Surat
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
30 Arrested For Attempting To Spark Communal Violence In Assam's Dhubri
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said more than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the recent incident in Dhubri where a cow's head was found in a sensitive area, sparking communal tensions. Five people have also been arrested in similar incidents in Lakhimpur district. Speaking to the media in Guwahati on Wednesday, Chief Minister Sarma said, "In the Dhubri case, there have been many arrests - over 30 people. And yesterday, in Lakhimpur, five arrests were made after three cows' heads were placed in front of a Namghar (Vaishnavite prayer hall). The police will begin further action from today. The matter is serious, but I believe it will be resolved within a day or two." The chief minister also used the opportunity to strongly criticise Rahul Gandhi, linking the incidents to what he described as the Congress leader's "mentality." "Only people of a particular community keep beef in this manner. This is Rahul Gandhi's mentality. If a Hindu wants to keep meat, he will keep pork, not beef. This reflects the poisonous mindset of Rahul Gandhi," Mr Sarma said. The remarks have sparked strong reactions from the opposition, with leaders calling his statements polarising and provocative at a time when communal tensions are already high in Assam. After tensions had flared, the police had issued shoot-at-sight orders in Dhubri last week. At the time, Mr Sarma had said that a Bangladesh-backed organisation, Nobin Bangla, had put up provocative posters, demanding that Dhubri should be part of the country. "These posters indicate that a communal force backed by Bangladesh is active in Dhubri and they are working to destabilise the district," he had said. The chief minister also alleged that a "new beef mafia" had emerged in Dhubri, which procured thousands of animals just before Eid al-Adha.
