Democrats trying to block Palestine-supporting Jill Stein’s party from key US swing state: Report

Democrats trying to block Palestine-supporting Jill Stein’s party from key US swing state: Report
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein speaks at a Pro-Palestinian protest in front of the White House on June 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)
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Updated 15 August 2024
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Democrats trying to block Palestine-supporting Jill Stein’s party from key US swing state: Report

Democrats trying to block Palestine-supporting Jill Stein’s party from key US swing state: Report
  • Complaint alleges Green Party is ineligible in Wisconsin
  • Stein emerging as top choice for Arab-American voters

RIYADH: The Green Party’s nominee for the upcoming US presidential election, Jill Stein, who is emerging as the most-favored candidate of Arab Americans, is reportedly being targeted by allies of Vice President Kamala Harris.

An employee of the Democratic National Committee, David Strange, filed a complaint Wednesday seeking to remove Stein from the ballot in the key state of Wisconsin, arguing that the party was ineligible, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.

It is the “latest move by the DNC to block third-party candidates from the ballot,” said the report, noting that Democrats are also seeking to stop independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in several states.

The report was carried by various media outlets in the US.

Stein, known for her vocal support of Palestinian rights, has emerged as the top choice among Arab-American voters for the Nov. 5 elections, according to a poll conducted late last month by the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Stein, a physician and environmentalist, received support from more than 45.3 percent of the respondents, while Harris received 27.5 percent.

Republican candidate Donald Trump polled only 2 percent, while 17.9 percent were undecided.

The Green Party’s appearance on the presidential ballot could make a difference in the swing state of Wisconsin, where four of the past six presidential elections have been decided by between 5,700 and 23,000 votes, the AP report said.

Stein is expected to become the Green Party’s presidential nominee at its national convention, which begins Thursday. The party has yet to respond to the DNC’s move.

Why Jill Stein?

Arab-American voters have increasingly gravitated toward Stein owing to her advocacy for Palestinian rights and her opposition to the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza since October, the ADC’s national executive director Abed Ayoub explained earlier in a post on X.

The latest survey showed a big jump in backing since the ADC’s last opinion poll in May, where she led with 25 percent support. In that poll, President Joe Biden, who was still the presumptive Democratic candidate before he withdrew from the race in July, got 7 percent of the Arab-American vote.

Trump polled only 2 percent.

Chris Habiby, the national government affairs and advocacy director for the ADC, said Stein’s support for a two-state solution and an end to Israel’s brutal military offensive in the Gaza Strip is driving her popularity among Arab- and Muslim-American voters.

Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip has killed over 40,000 civilians, most of them women and children.

“Dr. Jill Stein has been very clear and emphatic in her anti-genocide message,” Habiby said on The Ray Hanania Radio Show, as reported earlier in Arab News.

In his column in Arab News, Hanania noted that while the poll numbers for Harris was much better compared to Biden’s, her scornful response to a handful of Detroit protesters calling on her to press for a ceasefire in Gaza may not augur well for her campaign.

Hanania said her response was “a major political blunder that has sparked robust debate in many swing states.” This was where Arabs and Muslims showed during the Democratic primary elections, over the past six months, that “they can deflect thousands of votes away from Biden.”

This had erased his slim margin of victory in 2020 over Trump, wrote Hanania.

“The Democrats are afraid to acknowledge the anti-Biden vote, and the likelihood that it will grow if Harris refuses to take the Arab and Muslim community seriously,” Hanania added.

 

Veteran pollster John Zogby, president and founder of the polling company John Zogby Strategies, noted that Harris was currently leading the upward trendline mainly because she was enjoying a short honeymoon driven by her newness as a candidate.

However, this popularity could change, he said, noting that Arab and Muslim voters have more influence today than they have ever had since first settling in this country, and that the issue driving their vote was Gaza.

In 2022, 2.2 million people in the US reported having Arab ancestry in that year’s Arab Community Survey. The majority are native-born, and 85 percent in the US are citizens.

While the community traces its roots to every Arab country, the majority have ancestral ties in Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Iraq. The top four states by Arab-American population size are California, Florida, Minnesota and Michigan.

DNC’s ‘Strange’ argument

The last time Stein was on the ballot in Wisconsin for the Green Party was in 2016, when she got just over 31,000 votes — more than Trump’s winning margin that year of just under 23,000 votes.

Some Democrats blamed Stein for helping Trump win the state and the presidency, the AP report said.




Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein speaks at a Pro-Palestinian protest in front of the White House on June 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images via AFP)

The bipartisan elections commission in February unanimously approved ballot access for the Green Party’s presidential nominee this year because the party won more than 1 percent of the vote in a statewide race in 2022.

Green Party candidate Sharyl McFarland got nearly 1.6 percent of the vote in a four-way race for secretary of state, coming in last.

But the complaint filed with the commission by Strange, deputy operations director in Wisconsin for the DNC, alleges that the Green Party cannot nominate presidential electors in Wisconsin, and without them they are forbidden from having a presidential candidate on the ballot.

State law requires that those who nominate electors in October be state officers, which includes members of the legislature, judges and others. They could also be candidates for the legislature.

The Green Party does not have anyone who qualifies to be a nominator, and therefore cannot legally name a slate of presidential electors as required by law, the complaint alleges.

Because the Green Party could have mounted write-in campaigns for legislative candidates in Tuesday’s primary, but did not, the complaint could not have been brought any sooner than Wednesday, the filing alleges.

“We take the nomination process for President and Vice President very seriously and believe every candidate should follow the rules,“ Adrienne Watson, senior adviser to the DNC, said in a statement.

“Because the Wisconsin Green Party hasn’t fielded candidates for legislative or statewide office and doesn’t have any current incumbent legislative or statewide office holders, it cannot nominate candidates and should not be on the ballot in November.”

This is not the first time the Green Party’s ballot status has been challenged.

In 2020, the Wisconsin Supreme Court kept the Green Party presidential candidate off the ballot after it upheld a deadlocked Wisconsin Elections Commission, which could not agree on whether the candidates filed proper paperwork.

This year, in addition to the Republican, Democratic and Green parties, the Constitution and Libertarian parties also have ballot access.

The commission is meeting on Aug. 27 to determine whether four independent candidates for president, including Kennedy and Cornel West, meet the requirements to appear on the ballot.

The DNC member, Strange, has asked that the commission also consider its complaint at that meeting.

The AP report stated that there “are signs in some swing states, including Wisconsin, that those behind third-party candidates are trying to affect the outcome of the presidential race by using deceptive means — and in most cases in ways that would benefit Trump.

“Their aim is to offer left-leaning, third-party alternatives who could siphon off a few thousand protest votes.”

The latest Marquette University Law School poll conducted July 24 through Aug. 1 showed the presidential contest in Wisconsin between Democrat Harris and Trump to be about even among likely voters.

Stein barely registered, with about 1 percent support, while Kennedy had 6 percent.


Moderna pulls application for COVID-flu combination shot

Moderna pulls application for COVID-flu combination shot
Updated 56 min 43 sec ago
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Moderna pulls application for COVID-flu combination shot

Moderna pulls application for COVID-flu combination shot
  • The combination shot comprises a new COVID vaccine and an influenza vaccine
  • The company has previously said it does not expect a delay in the FDA’s decision

NEW YORK: Moderna said on Wednesday it has withdrawn an application seeking approval for its flu and COVID combination vaccine candidate to wait for efficacy data from a late-stage trial of its influenza shot, which is due later this year.

The company said it pulled the application in consultation with the US Food and Drug Administration. It is the latest sign of increased regulatory scrutiny of the vaccine approval process since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the top US health job earlier this year.

Moderna’s decision comes a day after the US FDA said it would require new clinical trials for approval of annual COVID-19 boosters for healthy people under 65.

The combination shot comprises a new COVID vaccine and an influenza vaccine, both under development by Moderna.

The company has previously said it does not expect a delay in the FDA’s decision for the next-generation COVID vaccine, which is due by the end of the month.

Shares of the company have been battered by declining COVID revenue as well as investor concerns spurred by the appointment of Kennedy, who is a vaccine skeptic, as secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Moderna has been banking on revenue from newer mRNA shots to make up for falling sales of its COVID vaccine and less-than-expected uptake of its respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, which sent its shares down nearly 60 percent last year.

The company in early May pushed back the time frame for the likely approval of its combination vaccine — meant to protect adults aged 50 and above against both COVID-19 and influenza — to 2026.

The FDA last week approved rival Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine more than a month after missing the deadline for the shot’s approval, and limited its use to people with conditions that put them at risk due to the illness.


Germany defends EU-Israel deal as ‘important forum’ for talks

Germany defends EU-Israel deal as ‘important forum’ for talks
Updated 21 May 2025
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Germany defends EU-Israel deal as ‘important forum’ for talks

Germany defends EU-Israel deal as ‘important forum’ for talks
  • EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said “a strong majority” of the 27 member states had backed the review
  • Kornelius reiterated Germany’s “great concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza“

BERLIN: Germany on Wednesday defended an EU-Israel cooperation deal, a day after the bloc had ordered a review of it in a bid to pressure Israel over the Gaza war.

Without explicitly confirming media reports that Berlin had opposed the review, foreign ministry spokesman Christian Wagner said that “the EU-Israel Association Agreement is an important forum that we must use in order to discuss critical questions” over the situation in Gaza.

The review announced on Tuesday comes as some European nations take a tougher line with Israel over the devastating impact of its offensive in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the territory.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said “a strong majority” of the 27 member states had backed the review.

Diplomats said 17 EU states pressed for the review under an article of the agreement that calls for a respect for human rights, with the Netherlands spearheading the latest push.

On Monday the leaders of Britain, France and Canada condemned Israel’s “egregious actions” in Gaza and warned of joint action if it did not halt its heightened military offensive there.

On Wednesday Stefan Kornelius, spokesman for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reiterated Germany’s “great concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza” but stopped short of mentioning any possible further action.

Wagner also confirmed that on Tuesday nine German nationals had been evacuated from Gaza “in close co-ordination with the Israeli government,” together with three of their immediate family members.


Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style

Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style
Updated 21 May 2025
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Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style

Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style
  • Ship design is based on 5th-century artwork found in Ajanta Caves
  • The ship’s first transoceanic voyage is planned from Gujarat to Oman

New Delhi: The Indian Navy inducted on Wednesday its first vessel constructed using traditional shipbuilding techniques dating back to the 5th century.

The 21-meter wooden ship is a stitched ship, a type of boat that is carvel-built, with its planks stitched together using cords or ropes. The technique was popular in ancient India in constructing ocean-going vessels.

Named Kaundinya, the ship is a recreation of a vessel inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra state, where ancient Buddhist rock-cut monuments feature exquisite murals dating from the 2nd century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E.

“The whole concept was to kind of connect to our ancient methodology of how the construction takes place and also, subsequently, connect to the historical maritime routes which Indian seafarers took during that particular time,” Cdr. Vivek Madhwal, spokesperson of the Indian Navy, told Arab News.

Funded by the Ministry of Culture, the project was launched in July 2023 and constructed by artisans from Kerala, who were led by master Indian shipwright Babu Sankaran. The vessel was completed in February this year.

The INSV Kaundinya’s induction into the Indian Navy took place in the presence of Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka, on the country’s western coast along the Arabian Sea.

The ship will sail its first transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman.

“That is one of the routes which was used by the ancient seafarers,” Madhwal said, adding that new routes will be considered in the future, after the first journey.

The Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to conduct model testing of the vessel’s hydrodynamic behavior at sea. The navy has also tested the wooden mast system, which was constructed without the use of contemporary materials.

“Every aspect of the ship had to balance historical authenticity with seaworthiness, leading to design choices that were both innovative and true to the maritime traditions of ancient India,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“The combination of a stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and traditional steering mechanisms makes the vessel unlike any ship currently in naval service anywhere in the world.”


Saudi hospitality reaches Dhaka as immigration officers assist Hajj pilgrims

Saudi hospitality reaches Dhaka as immigration officers assist Hajj pilgrims
Updated 21 May 2025
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Saudi hospitality reaches Dhaka as immigration officers assist Hajj pilgrims

Saudi hospitality reaches Dhaka as immigration officers assist Hajj pilgrims
  • Saudi Arabia launched Makkah Route initiative for Bangladeshi pilgrims in 2019
  • About 87,000 Bangladeshis are expected to travel to Kingdom for Hajj this year

DHAKA: Bangladeshi pilgrims are enjoying the care and attention of dozens of Saudi officers who under the Makkah Route initiative are working around the clock at Dhaka’s main airport to ensure smooth immigration for Hajj.

About 87,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims are expected to perform the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam. This year, the Hajj is expected to start on June 4 and end on June 9.

Most of the pilgrims are departing under the flagship pre-travel program, which the Kingdom launched in 2019 to help pilgrims meet all the visa, customs and health requirements at their airport of origin and save them long hours of waiting before and on arrival in the Kingdom. 

“It’s a very pleasant experience for the pilgrims as they receive the heartiest welcome by the Saudi immigration officials,” Lokman Hossain, director of the Hajj Office at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told Arab News on Wednesday.   

“The immigration officials here serve the pilgrims very gently and always with a welcoming smile. It’s something that they can anticipate as the Kingdom’s hospitality for Hajj pilgrims … This is something extraordinary, and offers the pilgrims a comfort in their journey to the holy places.”

Bangladesh is among seven Muslim-majority countries — including Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco, Turkiye and Cote d’Ivoire — where Saudi Arabia is operating its Makkah Route initiative.

“The moment pilgrims enter into the airport, their Saudi immigration formalities are taken care of by the immigration staffers stationed here temporarily by the Kingdom’s authorities,” Hossain said. 

“There is no need to wait in any queues. Saudi immigration officials are offering instant services to our pilgrims with more than a dozen service counters. Women immigration staffers are also deployed here, which brings ease for our women pilgrims also.” 

The moment they enter the Makkah Route facilities at the airport, the pilgrims are “treated like distinguished guests,” he added. 

“Sometimes, the pilgrims receive greetings in their local language too. It creates a sense of comfort in the pilgrims’ minds.” 

Special pilgrimage flights from Dhaka started in late April, as many pilgrims arrive early to make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfill their religious duty. More than 51,400 Bangladeshi pilgrims have already traveled to the Kingdom as of Tuesday. 

“Makkah Route initiative is a very significant and helpful offer for our pilgrims,” Hossain said. “Our pilgrims are enjoying this facility.” 


Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style

Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style
Updated 21 May 2025
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Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style

Indian Navy inducts first vessel built in ancient shipbuilding style
  • Ship design is based on 5th-century artwork found in Ajanta Caves
  • The ship’s first transoceanic voyage is planned from Gujarat to Oman

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy inducted on Wednesday its first vessel constructed using traditional shipbuilding techniques dating back to the 5th century.

The 21-meter wooden ship is a stitched ship, a type of boat that is carvel-built, with its planks stitched together using cords or ropes. The technique was popular in ancient India in constructing ocean-going vessels.

Named Kaundinya, the ship is a recreation of a vessel inspired by a painting from the Ajanta Caves — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra state, where ancient Buddhist rock-cut monuments feature exquisite murals dating from the 2nd century B.C.E. to the 5th century C.E.

“The whole concept was to kind of connect to our ancient methodology of how the construction takes place and also, subsequently, connect to the historical maritime routes which Indian seafarers took during that particular time,” Cdr. Vivek Madhwal, spokesperson of the Indian Navy, told Arab News.

Funded by the Ministry of Culture, the project was launched in July 2023 and constructed by artisans from Kerala, who were led by master Indian shipwright Babu Sankaran. The vessel was completed in February this year.

The INSV Kaundinya’s induction into the Indian Navy took place in the presence of Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the Naval Base Karwar in Karnataka, on the country’s western coast along the Arabian Sea.

The ship will sail its first transoceanic voyage from Gujarat to Oman.

“That is one of the routes which was used by the ancient seafarers,” Madhwal said, adding that new routes will be considered in the future, after the first journey.

The Indian Navy collaborated with the Department of Ocean Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to conduct model testing of the vessel’s hydrodynamic behavior at sea. The navy has also tested the wooden mast system, which was constructed without the use of contemporary materials.

“Every aspect of the ship had to balance historical authenticity with seaworthiness, leading to design choices that were both innovative and true to the maritime traditions of ancient India,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“The combination of a stitched hull, square sails, wooden spars, and traditional steering mechanisms makes the vessel unlike any ship currently in naval service anywhere in the world.”