Football Match:
USMI FC VS CKT FC

22TH DECEMBER 2023

As part of it's activities in encouraging good healthy living among the International Students in Health Campus, USMi Health Campus hosted a friendly match. The friendly match was played between USMi FC Kelantan and CKT FC Kelantan on Friday 22nd December, 2023 at Football Field of KOPA Area, USM Health Campus. USMi FC won the match with 4 goals against CKT FC.

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USM International Postgraduate Orientation 2023

18TH DECEMBER 2023

On the 18th of December 2023, USM’s very first International Postgraduate Orientation was held, organized by IMCC with USMi for international students newly registered at USM. The event was carried out from 8.30am to 5.30pm at Dewan Pelinggam Cahaya in USM’s School of the Arts, and 77 new postgraduates from USM’s Main and Engineering campuses attended. It was a day of learning, fun, and cultural enrichment as new postgraduates from around the world were welcomed into the USM community.

The event kicked off with registration at 8.30am, and once the hall was filled, IMCC Director Dr. Muhizam Mustafa, and IMCC Deputy Directors Dr. Mohd. Hafizal Mohd. Isa and Dr. Syaheerah Lebai Lutfi were welcomed into the hall by vibrant emcees Tahsina and Yusuf. After a patriotic start with Malaysia’s national anthem ‘Negaraku’ and USM’s official anthem ‘Menara Ilmu’, the participants took their seats for a welcome speech by IMCC Director Dr. Muhizam. Dr. Muhizam, fondly known as Dr. Sam, broke the ice by inviting his audience to get to know those around them, paving the way for new connections amidst his warm and inspiring speech.

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In a mesmerizing burst of colour, Dewan Budaya’s dancers took the stage to showcase Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage with traditional dances ‘Inang’ and ‘Joget’. The audience could not look away as the graceful performers swayed and twirled around the stage in perfect synchronicity. After the performance was over, the emcees decided to put the participants’ knowledge to the test with a fun online quiz called ‘How Well Do You Know USM?’ Once the participants’ curiosity about the university was sufficiently piqued, IMCC Deputy Director Dr. Syaheerah Lebai Lutfi stepped in with an informative and fun talk about USM’s customs, etiquette, and newly-appointed Liaison Officers.

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Halfway through the morning activities was the interactive ‘School and Centre session’, where participants were given a mouth-watering medley of traditional Malaysian ‘kuih’ as they spoke to school and centre representatives and liaison officers at their respective booths. Through this session, participants gained vital information about their school and program, creating connections and gaining a better understanding of their academic community.

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At eleven o’ clock, the participants were ushered back into the hall for a captivating singing performance by Mr. Danish Irfan, the talented Vice President of the USM Jazz Band. The crowd was wowed by heartfelt renditions of ‘Hero’ and ‘Standing in the Eyes of the World’, adding a touch of musical charm to the event and highlighting the diverse talents of USM’s student body. After the performance, a panel of USM postgraduates from Malaysia, Pakistan, Syria, Togo, China, Malawi, and Jordan were welcomed on stage for a candid sharing session on their experiences as a student in USM. Moderated by Dr. Syaheerah and organized by USMi, the dialogue saw panellists sharing their personal journeys as postgraduates of USM—offering invaluable advice and discussing relatable scenarios and ‘culture shocks’ that had the audience chuckling.

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The last talk of the day was on Student Visas, and it was delivered by the knowledgeable Madam Siti Munirah, Assistant Registrar of IMCC’s Visa Office. This long-awaited talk provided crucial insights about the visa application process, student pass renewal process, the dangers of late visa renewal, and other important information. The talk inspired many questions from the audience, and once the Q&A session was over, it was time to see just how much the participants had learned throughout the day with a follow-up quiz entitled ‘How Much Do You Know Now?’ With exciting prizes on the line and a few surprises thrown in by the gamemaster, the hall was buzzing with excitement as participants competed against each other to grab those coveted top three spots.

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After all that brainwork, the participants were treated to an engaging performance of the traditional Malay ‘Joget’ by the energetic Adikarma team. Finally, the highly-anticipated prize-giving ceremony commenced to reward the quiz’s top scorers, with participants from China, Egypt, and Indonesia claiming the top three places. A photography session marked the end of the morning activities, and the participants left the hall with invaluable knowledge and priceless connections.

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The final event of the day was the Campus Tour at 4.30pm, with a goal to familiarise the new postgraduates with USM’s scenic campus. Since the weather was sunny, participants were taken around the campus in vans, with IMCC Buddies pointing out various schools, landmarks, and important buildings along the route. The vans also made stops at USM’s famous ‘Bukit Cinta’ and Durian Valley to let the participants experience the university’s breathtaking views and greenery up close, and once the Campus Tour was complete, the successful International Postgraduate Orientation of 2023 came to an end.

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ISRAELI AGGRESSION
AGAINST PALESTINE:
TO UNDERSTAND THE GENESIS

8TH NOVEMBER 2023

The Palestinian people have been living in their historical homeland since time immemorial. They have endured many wars and invasions, yet their inherent goodness remains unchanged. After World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, under whose administration Palestine had been, Britain entered the Middle East and occupied several Arab countries following the division of these lands between Britain and France, the two major powers of that period, as per the Sykes-Picot Agreement. In 1920, British Mandate over Palestine was announced. Since that time, there were Zionist calls, led by Theodor Herzl, to establish a national homeland for the Jews, which did not initially align with the realities. The Zionist movement, however, served British interests in forming a homeland in the Middle East. In 1917, Britain granted the right to Zionist movement to establish a national homeland in Palestine in a Declaration known as Balfour Declaration. In other words, those how don’t own gave the land to those how don’t deserve it. From that time, Britain supported Jewish immigration and they established an illegitimate entity in the Middle East that always served their interests.

In 1948, the Zionist movement declared the establishment of the State of Israel, supported by unjust world powers, primarily the United States. Since then, several wars were waged both inside and outside Palestine to challenge the recognition of this entity. The most famous of these was the 1973 war, in which several Arab countries participated. However, even after all these wars, the Zionist entity continues to occupy Palestinian territories. The Camp David Accords which were signed in 1978, have given them the right not only to control Palestine but also parts of Lebanon and Syria.

In 1978, Palestinians initiated the so-called "First Intifada" against this supposed entity. In response, this entity-built prisons, governed Palestinians, and killed large number of youths, elders, women, and children. In 1994, based on international treaties and agreements, the most famous of which was the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian self-governance was recognized in parts of Palestine. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the legitimate and sole representative of the Palestinian people, have given the right to rule over West Bank and Gaza Strip.

However, this entity, the Zionist entity, did not accept this, and it continued to exert its dominance over areas controlled by the PLO, building settlements on Palestinian lands. There were many confrontations between the Zionist entity and the Palestinians due to frequent Israeli attacks on Palestinian territories. In these confrontations, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which holds religious and historical significance for Palestinians and the entire Muslim community, has been frequently targeted.

At the end of 2008, Israel launched a large-scale military offensive against Gaza without any clear reason. They attacked and killed many people, including women, children, and the elderly. This resulted in 1,417 martyrs. In 2012, they launched a second war, and in 2014, Israel launched its third war on the besieged Gaza Strip, lasting for more than 50 days. In this war, they bombed homes, killing over 1,700 Palestinians. In 2021, a new attack killed large number of Palestinians, and in 2023, in May, another new aggression destroyed residential towers and houses, killing men, women, and children.

In addition to the above, Israel prevented worshipers from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and at the same time, they allowed settler gangs to enter to cause chaos. They also killed Palestinians at Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank. Israel managed to divide the West Bank into small sections by seizing Palestinian land and building Israeli settlements. They prevented Muslim worshipers from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, and they threatened a new war on Gaza after the end of their holidays in late October 2023.

As a pre-emptive move, instead of waiting for Israeli aggression against Gaza, several Palestinian fighters, with the participation of all political parties in Gaza (Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Fatah, the Popular Front), managed to enter Israeli military positions and buffer zones. They killed some of them and captured Israeli soldiers, taking them to Gaza.

The Palestinians demanded the following:

    1. Reopening of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, allowing worshipers to enter and pray.
    2. An end to Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands.
    3. The release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
    4. Lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which has been in place since 2007, resulting in the closure of factories and sources of income for Palestinian citizens.

However, Israel is not interested to set with the Palestinian or to negotiate with them. They have responded swiftly by conducting their most severe airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, targeting universities, homes, and even ambulance vehicles used to transport citizens. Israel's response was marked by extreme brutality, using fighter jets to bomb homes with residents sleeping inside. In some cases, more than 50 members of a single family were killed in a single house. Residential towers were targeted under the pretext that they housed Palestinian resistance offices.

The number of Palestinians killed has reached more than 7703 including 3195 children and 1863 women, while the number of casualties is more than 19,743, 1000 children under the rubble and 1800 reported missing until October 30, 2023, with the majority being children, women, and the elderly. Israel also cut off electricity, water, and fuel to Gaza and prevented the entry of food and medicine aids. Israel claimed it was targeting Palestinian resistance, but according to Palestinian Ministry of Health sources, over 60% of the casualties were children and women. Hospitals and international UN facilities were destroyed, and even clearly marked ambulance vehicles were targeted. Several journalists, identified by their press attire, were killed.

Gaza residents have been living without water, electricity, fuel, or internet for days. Will the Palestinians be left alone in this world? Even if the world does not act in support of innocent Palestinians, where is international law? Where are the countries that claim to support peace? In which just war does water get denied? Where are the Geneva Conventions, that guarantee safe passages for food aid in times of conflict? Why are innocent children killed on trivial pretexts? Has the Israeli leadership, in its description of Gaza residents as "subhuman" and not equal to them, been ignored? Where are the peace-loving people of the world who believe in humanity and peace?

The Zionist entity is mobilizing its armies to war along the Gaza Strip border

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The Zionist entity warplanes are bombarding Gaza Strip

The internationally prohibited white phosphorus lights up the sky of Gaza Strip instead of the electric lamps

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The Palestinian Children, women and civilians are being killed in cold blood, amid press manipulation

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Gaza Strip hospitals are being bombed amid apparent violations of human rights

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Gaza Strip Mosque and residential houses are being bombed amid apparent violations of human values

The aircraft carrier of the United States "Gerald r. Ford" docked on the coasts of The Zionist entity, in clear support of committing more crimes

This report was compiled by:

Ahmad Housam Arada (PhD student in Civil Engineering programme at the School of Engineering, USM)

Anas Ibrahim (PhD student in Electrical Engineering programme at the School of Engineering, USM)

Edited and published by:

USM International Students Society

USMi International Cultural Food Fiesta 2023

6TH NOVEMBER 2023

A mouthwatering adventure at the International Cultural Food Fiesta, an electrifying event was brought to you by USMi, the dynamic student organisation within the International Mobility Collaboration Centre (IMCC) of Universiti Sains Malaysia! On October 28, 2023, we transformed the engineering campus of USM into a culinary wonderland that ignited the senses.

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Our theme, "Serve & Savour," transported attendees into a global tapestry of flavours, showcasing the gastronomic treasures of 10 countries. Picture this: Malaysia, China, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Togo, and more, all converging to offer their unique culinary creations. But this event wasn't just about food; it was a celebration of unity and understanding. It was a glorious opportunity for the USM community to embrace the spirit of becoming true global citizens. 

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In the evening, students from these diverse nations captivated the crowd with captivating mini games and mesmerising cultural displays, fostering interaction, inclusivity, and a profound sense of belonging. It was an exceptional platform for forging connections, nurturing friendships, and strengthening our tight-knit community.

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In addition to the delicious fare, there was a heartwarming tent by Palestinian students, who not only raised awareness but also collected donations to support their cause. RHB, ever the community partner, set up a booth to assist students with their financial needs.

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As the day transformed into night, the excitement level skyrocketed with thrilling trivia games and enchanting cultural performances from around the world. The Palestinian tent with its campaign received the coveted award of the Best Booth at the event by receiving the highest number of votes from the visitors, capping off an unforgettable evening with a mesmerising fire show.

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Beyond the delectable dishes and captivating entertainment, the Food Fiesta provided a unique stage for students to showcase their dedication and volunteering spirit. It was a melting pot of creativity, where students from across the globe shared their unique cultural identities within the USM community, ultimately making it an event to remember!

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MONTAGE VIDEO

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USM International Students Society (USMi)
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