From the brink of despair to sporting success - physically challenged Kashmiri youth defies odds in water sports



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Gowhar Ahmed, a young athlete from Budgam district in central Kashmir, has emerged from the shadows of despair to become a symbol of hope and resilience for youth with special physical abilities. His incredible transformation, from the brink of self-destruction to national recognition in para canoeing, is a testament to the power of determination and an unwavering spirit.

"There was a time when I decided to commit suicide, and I went to Zero Bridge for this. Then suddenly, a ray of hope emerged," Gowhar revealed, reflecting on his darkest moments.

Author Zubair Qureshi mentioned that, Gowhar's path took a turn when he decided to join water sports and found support from Bilquess Mir, the first water sports coach from Srinagar and the first Olympic-level women's kayaking and canoeing player from the Kashmir region. Mir's guidance provided Gowhar a new direction. Last year, in 2022, Gowhar participated in the Para Canoe event held at the Upper Lake in Bhopal, the author wrote. Despite the odds stacked against him, he emerged as a formidable competitor, securing an impressive fourth position. Spectators were left in awe as Gowhar showcased his true potential on the national stage.

This achievement was the result of Gowhar's unwavering dedication, relentless training, and the unwavering support of his coach, Bilquess Mir.

Mir not only boosted Gowhar's morale but also provided crucial financial assistance to enable his participation in the competition. Their bond transcended the role of coach and athlete, becoming a lifeline for Gowhar during his darkest moments. "Bilquess Mir has been my guiding light and pillar of strength throughout this journey," expressed Gowhar with heartfelt gratitude. "Her belief in my abilities and unwavering support has helped me overcome my inner demons and find the courage to pursue my dreams."

Mir recognized the extraordinary spirit within Gowhar and reflected on their journey together. "When I first met Gowhar, I saw a remarkable level of strength in him. His determination to excel in para canoeing and his unwavering spirit of never giving up inspired me as a coach. Together, we embarked on a training regimen that challenged him physically and mentally, pushing his limits and transforming him into a formidable athlete," she said.

Gowhar's training regime mirrors that of any other elite athlete, despite his physical challenges. Endless hours of practice, gruelling workouts, and honing technical skills have become his way of life. His unwavering commitment has shattered stereotypes surrounding disability sports and propelled him forward. Gowhar's journey serves as a reminder to society that individuals with special physical abilities are not defined by their limitations but by their determination and courage. Through his accomplishments, he has become a symbol of hope for countless others facing similar challenges, igniting a movement that celebrates diversity and empowers youth with disabilities to pursue their passions.

As Gowhar looks toward the future, his sights are set on scaling new heights and conquering new waters.

His story exemplifies the indomitable human spirit, reminding us that our struggles do not define us but rather shape us into the people we become. Once on the precipice of darkness, Gowhar Ahmed now stands as a shining example of resilience, triumph, and the power of the human will.

In his own words, Gowhar urges, "No matter how challenging life may seem, there is always a ray of hope that can guide us through the darkest of times. I urge everyone, especially the youth facing adversity, to embrace their unique abilities, chase their dreams relentlessly, and never let their circumstances define their potential."

   

Hamas says 'yes' to Gaza ceasefire



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar and Egypt. But so far nothing has been reported from Israel in this regard. They are looking into the matter.

On Monday (May 6), Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information.

According to a statement by Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas' political wing, Ismail Haniya, called Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and informed him that Hamas had approved the proposal for a ceasefire agreement. Ismail Hania also said the same thing to the Minister of Intelligence of Egypt, Abbas Kamal.

Meanwhile, the residents of Gaza expressed joy at the news of Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire.

It should be noted that at least 34 thousand 737 people have been killed and 78 thousand 108 people have been injured in the Israeli attack on Gaza since October 7. And the number of dead in Israel is 1 thousand 139 people.

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Campuses can be battlegrounds around graduation ceremonies in the United States



International Desk, Barta24.com,Dhaka
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Protests against the Israeli attack on Gaza have erupted in several US universities. The student protests there have entered their second week. Last Saturday (May 4), police arrested at least 25 more pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Virginia.

Al-Jazeera reported that more than two and a half thousand students have been arrested from campuses across the United States. In the meantime, graduation ceremony in universities is approaching.

It is feared that various university campuses in the United States may turn into battlefields around graduation ceremonies in the coming days.

At 47 US universities, students are protesting against Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza. This protest has been going on since April 17. Since the beginning, the police have used excessive force to suppress this peaceful protest.

In this way, the rights activists protested the suppression of the protest and the arrest of the protesting students. They demanded to ensure the freedom of expression of the students.

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for the end of this week at four universities hit by protests. The event is scheduled to take place this month or next June at several other universities, including New York's Columbia University, the epicenter of the protests.

The university authorities fear that the protesting students may disrupt the graduation ceremony. For this reason, the authorities are taking initiatives to strengthen the security system.

The protesting students have threatened that if their demands are not met, they are thinking of alternative programs including boycotting these events and walking out of the venue. In such circumstances, some universities have canceled these programs. Some are procrastinating.

The peaceful protests at the University of Virginia continued until Saturday morning. At that time a video spread among the students. In the video, police are seen detaining some protesting students from the campus lawn.

Apart from this, the police are using chemical sprays to quell the protests. After that the protest turned into a riot.

In a statement, University President Jim Ryan said that the protesters were detained when campus security informed the police that they would be protesting in tents last Friday night. However, it is not clear how many university students are among those detained.

Pro-Palestinians protest in front of the stage at the graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan. But this protest was peaceful. Campus police quickly surrounded the protesters and escorted them to the back of the stadium. But dozens of students dressed in flags, kaffiahs and graduation caps staged a university graduation ceremony.

A day later, Northeastern University and Ohio State University were supposed to hold the closing ceremony on Sunday, but the commencement ceremony was disrupted.

Meanwhile, apart from the United States, this protest has now spread to new countries. Students from France, UK, Italy, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Lebanon, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Mexico have come to protest for the Palestinians.

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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah amid ceasefire talks



International Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Israel launched a ground attack in Rafah in the midst of Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks in Gaza.

A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is in the Egyptian capital for ceasefire and prisoner-release talks. Sources said Ceasefire talks have progressed.

International media Al Jazeera reported in a report that despite the negotiations, Israel continued its ground attack on Rafah, the southernmost city of Gaza.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Saturday to meet with mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States to negotiate a 40-day ceasefire, according to reports published by the United Kingdom.

The talks are at a critical stage, sources told Al Jazeera, as a Qatari technical team is working out the details of a potential deal with the Egyptians.

As technical teams indicate, we are moving into the operational side of a deal. They are monitoring the issues in detail in this agreement.

A senior Hamas spokesman, Osama Hamdan, told Al Jazeera, "It is clear that we are moving forward. There are some good points.

"So far we are still talking about the main issue, which is a complete ceasefire and a complete withdrawal from Gaza," he said. We hope to find some good and positive answers today.

Israel said it will continue to attack Rafah despite talk of a possible deal with Hamas. UN agencies and aid groups have long warned that the ground operation would spell disaster for the 15 lakh people taking refuge there.

Hamdan said, "Unfortunately, Netanyahu has made a clear statement that no matter what happens, if there is a ceasefire or not, he will continue to attack." That means there will be no ceasefire, and that means that the offensive will continue.

Al Jazeera's Ahlbara said the talks were focused on convincing Hamas that it should refrain from demanding a permanent ceasefire from Israel during the first phase of the deal because it is unlikely to happen.

On October 7, Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, killing more than 1,100 people. During this time, more than 240 people were captured by Hamas.

Later, more than 34,600 Palestinians have died in Israel's attack on Gaza. More than 70 percent of Palestinian territory has been reduced to rubble, pushing the region toward famine.

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Attacks on environmental journalists are on the rise worldwide: UN



News Desk, Barta24.com
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According to a recently published report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, 44 environmental journalists from 15 countries around the world lost their lives in violent attacks from 2009 to 2023; And 24 people managed to return alive.

This information was reported in the report of the news agency Reuters on Friday (May 3).

According to the report, attacks on environmental journalists are increasing around the world. UNESCO representatives interviewed 905 environmental journalists from 129 countries to prepare the report.

In the interview, 749 out of 905 journalists (more than 70 percent) said that they had to face physical attacks or intimidation, threats, and pressure at some point in their lives to perform their professional duties. Many have also had to deal with the legal problems of detention and defamation cases.

Analyzing the cases of assault-harassment, it has been found that the cases of physical assault have occurred more among male journalists. On the other hand, women journalists are more victims of harassment.

Journalists have been attacked and harassed while reporting on various environmental issues. These issues include various mining irregularities, land tenure conflicts, deforestation, extreme weather related disasters, pollution and environmental damage, fossil fuel sector and its trade etc.

All of these attacks and harassment have come from individuals and groups associated with the power structure of the state. In this context, the UNESCO report said, 'Police, army, government officials and employees, people of local government authorities are responsible for these attacks and harassment. 

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