MOSCOW: A Russian man who was killed by French police after beheading teacher Samuel Paty in Paris in October was buried in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya, Russian media reported.
Eighteen-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov, a Russian of Chechen origin who had moved to Paris with his parents, was shot dead by French police after killing Paty, 47, in a Paris suburb.
Anzorov was spurred to act in response to a social media campaign denouncing the teacher's use of cartoons published by satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in a class on freedom of expression.
Amateur video distributed across the Telegram messaging platform showed dozens of men wearing heavy coats walking through snow, chanting and carrying a body shrouded in green cloth.
Sunday's funeral attended by some 200 people was held in the village of Shalazhi in the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya, the Caucasus Knot news website reported.
The village was closed by local security services except to local residents, while more than 60 law enforcement officers were on duty at the funeral, attended by friends and relatives, the website said.
"There are still traffic jams in neighbouring villages because of the large number of people who want to attend the funeral," a local Telegram channel said Sunday evening.
President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday the Kremlin did not have any information about the burial and described Paty's killing as an act of terror.
"We are talking about a murderer, we are talking about a terrorist. His actions are absolutely condemned and are unacceptable," Peskov said.
Paty's murder sparked a torrent of outrage that prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to crack down on Islamist extremism in a country that has suffered a series of jihadist attacks since 2015 that killed more than 250 people.
Chechnya's strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov in October accused Macron of provoking Muslims and compared the French leader to a "terrorist" for speaking in defence of Paty.
French teacher's killer buried in Chechnya amid tight security
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French teacher's killer buried in Chechnya amid tight security
Pentagon chief pushes for donation of more Patriot systems to Kyiv
- “There are countries that have Patriots, and so what we’re doing is continuing to engage those countries,” Austin told a House Armed Services Committee hearing
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday he has been encouraging countries with Patriot missile systems to donate them to Ukraine, which has appealed for more of the air defense batteries.
“There are countries that have Patriots, and so what we’re doing is continuing to engage those countries,” Austin told a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
“I have talked to the leaders of several countries... myself here in the last two weeks, encouraging them to give up more capability or provide more capability,” he said, without identifying the countries by name.
Various European Union countries possess the systems, including Spain, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NATO members earlier this month that his country needed a minimum of seven additional Patriot or other high-end air defense systems to counter Russian air strikes, urging them to step up their military assistance for Kyiv.
KSrelief expands community assistance in Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia
- Zaatari program has expanded to include volunteer projects to train football coaches in the area
- Zaatari program also offers a wide range of courses, including tablet and mobile phone maintenance
RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has initiated its 25th volunteer program at the Zaatari refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan, deploying 29 volunteers specializing in medical, psychological, social, and educational fields to directly assist camp residents, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The program has expanded to include volunteer projects to train football coaches in the area.
The program also offers a wide range of courses, including tablet and mobile phone maintenance, sewing and embroidery, pottery and ceramics, carpentry, wheelchair maintenance and repair, as well as psychological therapy and counseling sessions, the SPA reported.
In Pakistan, KSrelief distributed 733 shelter bags to people affected by floods in the Jarsadh and Lower Chitral districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
This assistance is part of the third phase of KSrelief’s project, which involves delivering shelter materials and bags to people in the region. It provides critical aid to 5,131 individuals from the most vulnerable and needy communities impacted by floods.
In Indonesia, KSrelief has launched a volunteer training project for advanced first aid in Jakarta. The project, which runs until May 3, involves eight volunteers with various specializations.
Since the start of the project, the center’s volunteer team has trained 50 individuals in advanced first aid.
Hospitality brands sign deals to expand in Saudi market
RIYADH: Top hospitality brands signed deals at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh to capitalize on the opportunities available in the Kingdom.
France-based Accor Group said it will strengthen its position in the Kingdom with the addition of more than 25,000 rooms and the launch of a wide variety of brands.
The global hospitality group also recently launched Accor One Living, an initiative offering specialized knowledge in mixed-use and branded residential development.
Ladun Investment Co. signed an agreement with Cheval Collection. The partnership encompasses multiple contracts for the construction and operation of Cheval Ladun Living, which is a hotel apartment tower located on King Fahd Road, near the King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh.
The deal represents Cheval Collection’s inaugural project in Saudi Arabia, featuring 130 residential units of varying sizes, from one to three rooms, alongside amenities like a gym, a swimming pool, and a sauna.
The project’s construction is scheduled to begin this year and will be completed in 2027.
Marriott International, Inc. and Al Qimmah Hospitality, a subsidiary of BinDawood Trading, signed an agreement to bring the JW Marriott brand to Jeddah.
Located on the Jeddah Corniche, the hotel is expected to become a prime destination for luxury-seeking travelers who desire a waterfront escape.
“The signing of JW Marriott Hotel Jeddah continues to reflect the strong growth opportunities for our luxury brands across the Kingdom. As part of the country’s Vision 2030 framework, Jeddah continues to build itself as a leisure and business destination,” Chadi Hauch, regional vice president of Marriott International, development of the Middle East, said in a press statement.
On behalf of Al Qimmah Hospitality, Abdul Razzaq BinDawood commented: “We will leverage our expertise and experience in the retail and hospitality sectors to make JW Marriott Hotel Jeddah a successful addition to the city’s landscape.”
Baheej Tourism Development Co., a joint venture between ASFAR, the Saudi tourism investment company owned by the Public Investment Fund, and the Tamimi-AWN Alliance, signed a deal with Kerten Hospitality.
The agreement grants Kerten Hospitality management of Baheej’s hotel in Yanbu under the premium Cloud 7 brand.
Cloud 7 is an innovative hotel and residential lifestyle brand, recognized for its designs, check-in lobbies, healthy food options, and retail boutiques.
“Baheej’s collaboration with Kerten Hospitality underlines our core principle: empowering partners and subsidiaries through our expansive network,” Fahad bin Mushayt, CEO of ASFAR said.
The PIF-owned company also signed agreements with Mantis and KMC to manage the operations of Al Baha Mountain Lodge & Adventure Park.
Israeli offensive on Rafah is bad idea, French foreign minister tells PM Netanyahu
- “There are too many uncertainties over the humanitarian issues,” Stephane Sejourne told Netanyahu
JERUSALEM: An Israeli offensive in Rafah is a bad idea and would not resolve anything in the country’s fight against Hamas, France’s foreign minister told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, according to a French diplomatic source.
“It is a bad idea to do it. There are too many uncertainties over the humanitarian issues,” Stephane Sejourne told Netanyahu during a meeting at the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem, the source with direct knowledge of the conversation said.
Saudi Cabinet discusses efforts to enhance joint action to stop the war in Gaza
- Efforts to ensure the protection of civilians and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza were also discussed at the Cabinet meeting
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday discussed efforts made by the Kingdom, in cooperation with its partners, to enhance joint action to stop the war in Gaza.
Efforts to ensure the protection of civilians, deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, and obtain international recognition of an independent Palestinian state were also discussed, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom’s keenness to spread peace and security internationally and support paths to stability and development in the Middle East and the rest of the world, SPA added.
It was also briefed on bilateral and multilateral talks that took place during the past few days between the Kingdom and various other countries to expand areas of political and economic cooperation in a way that serves common interests and enhances coordination on global issues and challenges.
It also praised the outcomes of the special meeting of the World Economic Forum that took place in Riyadh on Sunday and Monday, and said that the meeting consolidated the Kingdom’s position as a global investment destination.
The Cabinet also expressed appreciation for King Salman’s sponsorship of celebrations commemorating the golden jubilee of the Islamic Development Bank which reiterated the Kingdom’s firm commitment to the principles of Islamic solidarity and common development, and its keenness to continue working with the bank to achieve its goals in supporting economic cooperation between member states and other states.
Ministers discussed the outcomes of the recently held Umrah and Ziyarah Forum including future initiatives and development projects that will contribute to enhancing the experience of pilgrims.
The Cabinet also approved various memoranda of understanding for cooperation between the Kingdom and other countries in various fields.
