Please email [email protected]with comments or if you would like to subscribeNOT PROTECTIVELY MARKEDFri 06/08/2010 19:20 Dear colleague,Please find attached this week‟s News Summary. The weekly summary is intended to provide background information to topical news stories and issues that may resonate in communities. The weekly summary also includes links to interesting news articles that people may wish to circulate further. This week‟s summary includes coverage of: Prime Minister‟s meeting with Pakistani President Zardari UN‟s announcement of a panel of inquiry into the interception of the Gaza flotilla Clash on the Israel-Lebanon border Claims that Muslim women are being targeted by extremists at UK universities Also attached is a RICU factsheeton the UK‟s provision of aid to help with the Pakistan floods. We encourage you to share these unrestricted documents with your contacts. As ever we would appreciate your feedback on the format, content and timing of the News Summary as well as suggestions on issues you would like it to cover. Please email[email protected]with comments or if you would like to subscribe. Kind regards, Laura Laura Dobson Communications Adviser RICU (Research, Information and Communications Unit) Office for Security and Counter Terrorism Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF Tel: 0207 035 0478 ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are private and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please return it to the address it came from telling them it is not for you and then delete it from your system. This email message has been swept for computer viruses. ********************************************************************** The original of this email was scanned for viruses by the Government Secure Intranet virus scanning service supplied by Cable&Wireless Worldwide in partnership with MessageLabs. (CCTM Certificate Number 2009/09/0052.) On leaving the GSi this email was certified virus free. Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or recorded for legal purposes.
Please email [email protected] with comments or if you would like to subscribe
NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED
Fri 06/08/2010 19:20
Dear colleague,
Please find attached this week‟s News Summary. The weekly summary is intended to provide backgroundinformation to topical news stories and issues that may resonate in communities. The weekly summary also
includes links to interesting news articles that people may wish to circulate further.
This week‟s summary includes coverage of:
Prime Minister‟s meeting with Pakistani President Zardari
UN‟s announcement of a panel of inquiry into the interception of the Gaza flotilla
Clash on the Israel-Lebanon border
Claims that Muslim women are being targeted by extremists at UK universities
Also attached is a RICU factsheet on the UK‟s provision of aid to help with the Pakistan floods.
We encourage you to share these unrestricted documents with your contacts.
As ever we would appreciate your feedback on the format, content and timing of the News Summary as well assuggestions on issues you would like it to cover. Please email [email protected] with comments or ifyou would like to subscribe.
Kind regards,
Laura
Laura Dobson
Communications AdviserRICU (Research, Information and Communications Unit)Office for Security and Counter TerrorismHome Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Please email [email protected] with comments or if you would like to subscribe
Weekly News Summary
Friday 6th August 2010 Key Issues
Pakistan’s President meets UK Prime MinisterPakistani President Asif Ali Zardari today met with Prime Minister David Cameron at Chequers, wherethey discussed floods, trade, counter-terrorism, and Afghanistan. The meetings between the PrimeMinister and the President followed meetings between President Zardari and other Cabinet Ministers:the President met with Baroness Warsi on Wednesday and the Home Secretary and EducationSecretary on Thursday.
Following the meeting on Friday, the Prime Minister said:
“Above all what we‟ve been talking about is our strategic partnership and how we can deepen andenhance that partnership to make sure we deal with all the issues where we want to see progress – whether that is in trade, whether it is in education and also in the absolutely vital area of combating
terrorism.” President Zardari added:
“...it is a friendship that will never break no matter what happens.
“Storms will come and storms will go and Pakistan and Britain will stand together and face all thedifficulties with dignity. We will make sure that the world is a better place for our cominggenerations tomorrow.”
The Prime Minister and President Zardari issued a joint statement, which can be read here.
Key pointsThe talks were an important opportunity to reinforce the strong links between the UK and
Pakistan and continue to support stability, security, democracy and prosperity in Pakistan.Both leaders affirmed their commitment to further strengthen strategic and co-operative tiesbetween the two countries by intensifying the UK-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and confirminga yearly Summit. This Dialogue will deepen consultation on global and regional issues ofpeace and stability, will include people to people links, enhanced business investment andtrade, collaboration in the education sector, and cultural and parliamentary links.Both leaders agreed that a strong, stable, secure and economically prosperous Pakistan isvital to global and regional peace and stability. In recognition of this, both leaders agreed topursue closer development, economic and trade co-operation as part of the intensifiedStrategic Dialogue.Prime Minister Cameron expressed the UK‟s support for Pakistan‟s democratic governmentand expressed the UK‟s solidarity and support for Pakistan coping with the damage caused by
recent floods. President Zardari expressed thanks for the UK‟s pledge of £10 million of immediate relief for flood victims and for accelerating an already agreed £10 million bridgereconstruction programme.Among the common challenges facing the UK and Pakistan is the fight against terrorism andviolent extremism. Both leaders agreed that terrorism and extremism are global issues andneeded to be combated by intensifying cooperation at the global and regional levels.Both leaders appreciated the close co-operation that already exists between respective policeforces and other security agencies. The two leaders agreed that such co-operation needs toand will intensify. In this regard the British Home Secretary will visit Pakistan in the Autumn.The Prime Minister accepted President Zardari‟s invitation to make an early visit to Pakistan.
Associated articles: BBC News - Cameron hails UK's 'unbreakable' bond with Pakistan
Please email [email protected] with comments or if you would like to subscribe
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced this week the formation of a four-member panel of inquiryinto the incident, which will include an Israeli and Turkish member. Both Israel and Turkey said that theywould co-operate with the inquiry.
Key pointsThe former New Zealand Prime Minister, Geoffrey Palmer, will serve as chair and the outgoingPresident of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, will be vice-chair. The panel will have two additionalmembers, one each from Israel and Turkey, and will begin work next week.The UK welcomes the UN Secretary-General‟s establishment of a panel of inquiry into the
interception of the Gaza flotilla on 31st May, and both Israel and Turkey‟s commitment toparticipate.The UK Government believes that the panel has an important role to play in investigatingand resolving the dispute over the flotilla and preventing future recurrence. It is also vital that theexisting national investigations proceed swiftly, transparently and rigorously to ensure fullaccountability.
Clash on Israel-Lebanon BorderOn Tuesday 3rd August, a border clash between Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and the Lebanese Army leftthree Lebanese soldiers, one Israeli soldier and a journalist dead. The United Nations Interim Force inLebanon (UNIFIL) is carrying out an investigation, and has confirmed that the IDF did not cross the BlueLine.
Key pointsThe UK Government condemns the violence on the Israeli-Lebanon border that led to deathson both sides and calls on Israel and Lebanon to act with restraint.The UK Government remains very concerned by the recent rocket fire on towns in southern Israeland continuing violence in Gaza, and believes that a move to substantial talks by the Israelis andPalestinians is essential. The UK encourages both parties to engage on the core issues as quicklyas possible, and refrain from action that damages the process, in particular acts of violence,settlement construction or other provocations.
Associated articles: The Independent - Four die as Lebanon and Israel clash
Report claims Muslim women targeted by extremists at UK universitiesThe BBC claimed on Thursday that a growing number of Muslim women are being radicalised byextremists whilst studying at university in the UK, according to a Muslim women‟s group.
Key pointsThere is some evidence of extremist groups and individuals operating on our campuses. TheDepartment for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Police are working closely withvulnerable institutions to help them manage the risk and to support student groups to effectivelychallenge extremism where it occurs.We expect the Universities UK working group that looks at balancing tackling radicalisation oncampus with academic freedom to report in the Autumn. This report will form part of the widerreview of Prevent.
Associated articles: BBC - Muslim women targeted at UK universities
Other News Stories from this WeekThe following are interesting news items that we think people may want to circulate further:
Manchester Evening News - A thousand Muslims to receive anti-extremism training This weekend, Minhaj-ul-Quran UK will hold the first major Muslim grassroots event in the UK specificallyagainst extremism and terrorism. The weekend‟s three-day conference, „al-Hidayah 2010‟, will explainfounder Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri‟s fatwa against terrorism to over a thousand young British Muslims as well astrain them to recognise extremism in their own communities.
Time - The Plight of Afghan Women: A Disturbing Picture The cover of Time magazine this week shows a portrait of an18-year-old Afghan woman who wassentenced by a Taliban commander to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws. Thepicture is accompanied by a story about how Afghan women have embraced the freedoms that have come
from the defeat of the Taliban, and how they fear a Taliban revival.
Please email [email protected] with comments or if you would like to subscribe
UK provides aid to victims of Pakistan floodsThe worst monsoon rains in 80 years are continuing to cause flooding in north-west, south and central
Pakistan. On Monday 2 nd August, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced
help for at least 800,000 people affected by the monsoon floods in Pakistan. He also announced on
Wednesday 4 th August that the UK Government is sending 2,000 all-weather tents to flood-affected
districts in Pakistan.
The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) opened the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal thisweek. Money raised will help fund the life saving work in Pakistan of the DEC‟s Members andtheir partners.
International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said on Monday:
“I know many British people are deeply concerned by the terrible suffering caused by the ongoingmonsoon floods in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan is leading the relief efforts, and the UK isready to help in any way we can.
“The UK‟s contribution to the emergency relief effort will help limit disease and further deaths byhelping provide safe drinking water, food, toilets, medical care, and other essential items to at least800,000 people in Pakistan affected by the monsoon floods.”
Key points
The relief effort, being led by the Government of Pakistan, includes urgent search and rescueoperations, emergency shelter, food, drinking water, health care, and sanitation.
New UK aid of £5 million will be channelled through UNICEF and will provide approximately136,000 hygiene kits, 4,560 toilets, 336,000 bars of sanitising soap, 270,000 buckets/jerrycans, 400,000 water purification powder sachets and 800,000 water purification tablets to helpprevent further death and disease of the children and people of Pakistan affected by themonsoon floods.
This is in addition to funding contributed by the Department for International Development
(DFID) to the Pakistan Emergency Response Fund, run by the United Nations. The UKcontribution will provide food, shelter, water, sanitation, and healthcare to thousands of peopleaffected by the floods. The UK was the first country to contribute to this new emergencyresponse fund.
DFID has also agreed with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to accelerate theprovision of new bridges across the region to replace those washed away by the monsoonfloods. DFID will also fund a team of engineers to work with the Government of KhyberPakhtunkhwa to plan and deliver the bridges. Originally scheduled for the New Year, the startdate for the £10 million project will be brought forward to start as soon as soon as possibleafter the recovery process makes access possible.
The tents provided by the UK will be distributed by Save the Children, and will provide all-weather shelter for families who have lost their homes in the recent floods. The tents couldshelter up to 10,000 people.
Please email [email protected] with comments or if you would like to subscribe
DFID will also enable humanitarian experts and aid agencies to travel quickly to affectedareas and kick-start their aid programmes, via emergency relief funding administered bythe Consortium of British Humanitarian Agencies.
Associated articles
DFID - New help for Pakistan – tents to shelter to thousands of families
BBC News - Pakistan's flooding sweeps southThe Guardian - Pakistan flood: Sindh braces as water envelops southern Punjab
