Evening NEWS DIGEST
27 July 2016: 21 Shawal 37:Vol:7, No:124
Madhya Pradesh: Muslim
women beaten up by right-wing group on suspicion of carrying beef
Bhopal: In another alleged
attack by gau rakshaks, 2 Muslim women who were suspected to be carrying beef
were assaulted at the Mandsaur railway station in Madhya Pradesh Tuesday. As
BSP chief Mayawati raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha Wednesday, the Congress
said Dalits and Muslims were being targeted in the name of gau raksha.A
purported video of the incident shows the police standing by as a group of
women, reportedly belonging to a right-wing group, assault the two victims —
identified as Salma Ismail Mewati, 30, and Shameem Akhtar Hussain, 35, both
residents of Khanpura locality of Mandsaur town — in the presence of some male
activists. No action has been taken against any of the attackers.The victims,
however, were arrested on Tuesday and booked under Sections 4 and 5 of the
Madhya Pradesh Gauvansh Vadh Pratishedh Act and Section 8 of Madhya Pradesh
Agriculture Cattle Preservation Act, 1959. But Home Minister Bhupendra Singh
said on Wednesday that the meat seized from them was buffalo meat. Slaughter of
buffalo is not illegal in Madhya Pradesh.After the home minister’s statement,
the police were set to withdraw the sections under the anti-cow slaughter Act
and book the women only under the cattle preservation law. “They will be
released on bail because we have conveyed to the court that it was buffalo
meat,’’ said Vijay Rao, investigating officer.When asked about action against
the attackers, the minister said the police would act if the two women filed a
complaint against them.The in-charge of Kotwali police station, MP Parihar,
said 4 cases were filed against Salma and 3 against Shameem in 2010-2016. He
said they had served one month in jail and were also fined.Parihar said the two
women had filed a written complaint against 4-5 unknown women.As Mayawati
raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, BSP and Congress members rushed to the
well of the House and shouted slogans against the BJP. Mayawati asked Minister
of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to explain the targeting
of women of his community in the name of cow protection. She pointed out that
the incident comes close on the heels of the attack on a Dalit family in
Gujarat.“Let it be very clear. We are not against gau raksha. But targeting
Dalits and Muslims in the name of gau raksha is something we are against,” said
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad. Meanwhile, MP Home Minister Bhupendra
Singh added that 2 other women were caught in Ratlam on suspicion of carrying
beef. “Though the samples have been sent to a laboratory in Mathura for final
examination, prima facie it appears to be beef,’’ he said. Indianexpress
Mob beats Muslim women in
MP over beef rumour, Oppn corners govt in House
Madhya Pradesh beef
rumours: Mayawati, Congress slam Modi govt for repeated ‘gau raksha’ violence
Cow was killed by lion, not
Dalit men flogged by gau rakshaks: CID
Rajkot: Gujarat CID
(Crime), probing the July 11 flogging of a Dalit family by gau rakshaks for
skinning a dead cow, has established on the basis of an eyewitness account that
the cow was killed by a lion, and that it was not a case of cow slaughter as
was claimed by gau rakshaks. But investigators are still not clear who informed
the gau rakshaks about the cow being skinned by Vasarambhai Balubhai Sarvaiya
outside Mota Samadhiyala village in Una taluka.An entry made at 1.30 pm on July
11 in the Una police station records is attributed to “state control room,
Ahmedabad”, saying one Naranbhai tipped off an alleged cow slaughter incident
in Mota Samadhiyala. But according to the FIR, the attack by gau rakshaks took
place at 10 am. Vasaram’s father Balu Sarvaiya said that he got a call around 8
am from Najabhai Ahir of Bediya village — it is 5 km from Mota Samadhiyala —
who said a lion had killed his cow and he needed someone to dispose the
carcass.Balu said he sent Vasaram and others to collect the carcass. On their
return, Vasaram, his brother Ramesh, cousin Ashok and relative Becharbhai began
skinning the dead cow at a place around 2 km from their village. Balu said it
was then that a white vehicle passed by. A few minutes later, the white vehicle
returned, with another vehicle and 30-35 men on motorcycles. Balu said the men,
who were carrying sticks, asked them why was the cow being killed. “They abused
and started beating them (Vasaram and the others). Someone called me, and I
rushed with my wife Kunwar to the spot, only to be beaten up. They refused to
listen to us,” he said, adding that the men also took away their phones. Indianexpress
To check Chinese presence,
India orders 4 spy planes for $1bn from Boeing: Reuters
New Delhi: India signed a
contract on Wednesday to buy four maritime spy planes from Boeing Co for about
$1 billion, defence and industry sources said, aiming to bolster the navy as it
tries to check China’s presence in the Indian Ocean.India has already deployed
eight of the long-range P-8I aircraft to track submarine movements in the
Indian Ocean and on Wednesday exercised an option for four more, two defence
ministry officials and an industry source told Reuters.“It’s a follow-on order,
it was signed today,” a defence ministry official said, speaking on condition
of anonymity as he is not authorised to make announcements on procurements. A
second defence official confirmed the value of the contract at about $1 billion
and said the aircraft were expected to enter service over the next three years.
Amrita Dhindsa, a spokeswoman for Boeing defence, space, and security in India,
said she was not in a position to say anything on the contract and referred all
questions to the defence ministry. But she said the P81 was an aircraft used
for not only for long-range patrol but was also equipped with Harpoon missiles
for anti-submarine warfare.India has been building up its naval surveillance
capabilities since China’s navy expanded its reach and sent submarines,
including a nuclear-powered boat that docked in Sri Lanka, across the Indian
Ocean.
Harish Rawat’s makes a
U-turn, says no Chinese incursion in Indian territory
Dehradun: In a volte face,
Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat on Wednesday made a U-turn saying there is an
increase in the number of Chinese troops along the Indian border, but ruled out
any incursion into Indian territory. Earlier in the day, he told ANI that there
was an incursion by Chinese troops into Chamoli district, located in north east
corner of Uttarakhand. “The state revenue authorities were there for mapping of
our land and they noticed their presence. Earlier, there were sporadic
incidents, but this time it is happening at a larger scale. However, I think
that there is nothing to be alarmed as the activities were noticed in Chinese
territory,” Rawat told ANI. “We are alert and that is why we noticed those
movements. Besides, the Central Government is also aware of this fact,” he
added.Rawat, however, said as a country we should be alert and think about
infrastructural development and increase connectivity in our border area.When
asked if the Govt of India should take strong action, the chief minister said,
“Govt of India is alert and will take necessary measures at the right time.”ANI
Rijiju allays fears of Chinese
incursion at Uttarakhand border
New Delhi: Minister of
State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju Wednesday allayed fears of an alleged
incursion by Chinese troops at Uttarakhand border and described it as a “small
incident”.“According to DG ITBP briefing, there was a small incident (at
border). No big intrusion like situation,” Rijiju said. Rijiju added that since
the border is not marked between China and India, the two sides held talks. indianexpress
Chinese transgression in
Uttarakhand: CM Rawat
ATS probes 800 conversions
linked to Kerala man arrested on radicalisation charges
Mumbai: Days after the
Kerala Police started a crackdown against those suspected to have been involved
in the alleged radicalisation of the 21 missing Kerala youths who have
allegedly joined the IS, the Maharashtra ATS has started analysing the
paperwork related to the 800 conversions carried out by one of the accused,
Rizwan Khan.Sources claim that such an exercise was under way to find out if
there were similar cases in this state too and also those related to
‘love-jihad’. Khan, who was arrested Friday night, is alleged to have posed as
the guardian and signed on the ‘nikahnama’ of Merin alias Mariyam, a Christian
woman who converted to Islam and left to join the IS along with husband Yahiya.
Her wedding ceremony took place last year.Sources claim that Khan, who is
associated with an ‘Islamic guidance centre’ run by Dr Zakir Naik in South
Mumbai, has carried out over 800 conversions of Hindus and Christians to Islam
and in most cases has also facilitated their weddings. Khan used to run a
marriage bureau near his Bazarpeth residence in Kalyan on the outskirts of
Mumbai.Interestingly, other than the cases of radicalistaion of converted
youth, the state agency is also going to study if there are any cases of
‘love-jihad’ wherein young Muslim boys and men are said to reportedly target
young girls belonging to non-Muslim communities to convert them to Islam in the
name of love. Most such cases have been reported in western and northern
Maharashtra. indianexpress
Muslim converts speak out
in support of Arshi Qureshi and Rizwan Khan; say forced conversion charges
against them ‘false’: thecognate.com
Mumbai: People who
know 50-year-old Rizwan Khan, who was arrested in Mumbai on 23rd, July for
allegedly carrying out forced conversions, describe him as a man of quiet
demeanour. Family members, friends and especially people, who Khan helped with
their legal documents, during their conversion to Islam, are shocked at the
news of his arrest, and term the charges against him and his colleague,
45-year-old Arshi Qureshi, who was arrested on similar charges as a ‘farce’. Their
arrest came, following a complaint filed by a 25-year-old Kerala man, Ebin
Jacob, whose sister Merin went missing along with her husband Yahya, allegedly
to join ISIS. The husband and wife duo were reportedly among the group of 21
Keralites, who left their homes to travel to Syria.However, with most such
accusations about forced conversions, and terror activities, as witnessed in
countless cases, people close to the accused have a different narrative to
tell.Muhammad Naidu, as his name gives away, is a convert to Islam. He
reverted, as he likes to put it, in 2006, after one of his friend introduced
him to the lectures of Dr. Zakir Naik. The same Dr. Naik, who has come under an
intense scrutiny by media, who have accused him of inspiring terrorist attacks
around the world, although there is no evidence to support the same.Naidu says
he always believed God was one, but found that “preached and practiced only in
Islam.”“When I decided Islam is the religion for me, I went to IRF and took my
Shahadah (a simple declaration proclaiming one’s belief in Islam).That’s where
Naidu met, Rizwan Khan.Mumbai-based Rushda Talukdar, says she converted to
Islam, after watching her Muslim colleagues at work offering namaz. “Their
discussion on Islam, their offering prayers on time, set the first spark of
faith in me.” She eventually changed her religion, and Khan she says, helped
her get married. “Forget about forcefully converting people, he would not talk
to anybody in a loud tone. He is a selfless personality who has nothing to do
with politics or terrorism. He has been framed just like Brother Zakir Naik and
Brother Arshi Qureshi.”Talking about Arshi Qureshi, Rushda Shaikh another
convert said, that a man like him, “can never misguide anyone.”Similar
statements were issued by converts, Muhammad Sahil Gupta, Maimoona Kharade,
Pooja Dutta, and Sakinah Muslimah, who wrote or spoke to The Cognate, since the
arrest of the duo.Ibrahim Neyaz Ahmed Khan, is the founder and secretary of
Masjid-e-Hamza in Malwani, near Mumbai. He says, he knows Rizwan Khan for the
past 7–8 years, and in all these years, there has never been a single instance,
where there was any charge of forced conversion against him.Ibrahim Khan, also
quashes the terror charges against both Rizwan Khan and Arshi Qureshi.Saeed ibn
George, a Christian, who converted to Islam over a decade ago says, the notion
that Muslims lure people of other faiths to convert is absurd, since the
community’s own economic condition is in a deplorable state.“I converted to
Islam, when I found that the Qur’an talks about Jesus, and refers to him as a
Prophet of God. That’s what triggered my interest in Islam. Nobody forced me to
convert”.“Muslims are neither rich to offer money to people, nor are we known
to run educational institutes and hospitals to lure people, nor does Islam
permits us to force others to our way of life,” he says. thecognate.com
Antrix-Devas deal: India to
appeal against Hague tribunal’s verdict
New Delhi: India will
appeal against the verdict of the Hague tribunal in Antrix-Devas deal case, in
which the international court had declared the annulling of the contract as
“unfair” and “inequitable” and asked it to pay huge amount as compensation.“We
will appeal against the verdict at Hague (tribunal),” said AS Kirankumar,
Secretary, Dept. of Space. He, however, declined to comment any further on the
issue.India lost the arbitration case in a Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
tribunal based in the Hague over its space marketing PSU Antrix Corp annulling
a contract with Bengaluru-based private multimedia firm Devas.The tribunal
ruled that the Indian government had acted “unfairly” and “inequitably” in
cancelling the contract involving use of two satellites and spectrum.The
tribunal has found that the Indian government’s actions in annulling the
contract and denying Devas commercial use of S-band spectrum constituted an
expropriation, Devas Multimedia Private Ltd. has claimed. Hitting back, the
government had defended the decision of annulling the deal saying it was taken
considering the “essential security interests” through well-reasoned, valid and
proper consultations in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).PTI
Curfew reimposed in parts
of Kashmir
Srinagar: Curfew was on
Wednesday reimposed in parts of Kashmir including five police station areas of
the city to thwart a separatist march to Kulgam district even as mobile
services were partially restored in the valley which has been rocked by
violence since July 8. Authorities had lifted curfew from Kashmir except
Anantnag town yesterday following which it was rocked by fresh protests.PTI
Fresh violence in Kashmir,
9 suffer pellet injuries
Srinagar: 9 people received
pellet injuries in clashes between security forces and protesters in Kashmir
after authorities lifted curfew in the valley, except Anantnag town, after 17
days of unrest in which 47 persons were killed and 5,500 wounded.Telephone,
internet and train services remained suspended for the 18th day, while
educational institutions were closed. Police said all post-paid mobile services
would be restored by Tuesday night. Curfew is likely to be imposed on Wednesday
amid fears of violence as separatists have called for a march to south
Kashmir's Kulgam district to address a rally. Separatists have extended their
shutdown call for three more days from Wednesday.The state cabinet is likely to
meet on Thursday for a review of the situation and a likely reshuffle in police
and administration. Retired govt employee Mushtaq Ahmad (61) died in Srinagar
when he lost control of his scooter during clashes on Tuesday despite continued
restrictions on public gatherings. timesofindia
Nawaz describes Kashmir as
'unfinished agenda' of UN
Islamabad: Describing
Kashmir as "unfinished agenda" of the United Nations, Pakistan Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday vowed to raise the issue at every
international platform and provide all sort of support to Kashmiris.Sharif made
the remarks here while talking to newly elected lawmakers of Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir (PoK) after his party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won majority
seats in July 21 elections to from the new government."The issue of
Kashmir is unfinished agenda of the UN and Pakistan would continue to support
the people of Kashmir morally and diplomatically," he said."Right of
self-determination is the basic right of the people of Kashmir under UN resolutions
and we will raise this issue at every international platform," he said.PTI
Govt has no right to
disable protesting people: HC
Srinagar:The Jammu and
Kashmir High Court Tuesday slammed the state government for its failure to find
any alternative of ‘lethal’ pellet gun for controlling the protests saying
authorities have no right to disable angry people if they come on streets to
protest. A division bench comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and
Justice Muhammad Hussain Attar observed that the pellet guns had been operated
by police personnel, who are not trained to use the shotgun.“The pellet guns
may be non-lethal for you (government). However, it has proved as lethal in
Kashmir after seeing the damage caused to the victims by its use,” it
said. The bench said maximum people have
suffered serious visual disabilities after being hit by pellets. “It seems the
personnel using it are not trained,” the judges observed while hearing a PIL
filed by an NGO—J&K Peoples Forum.
Kashmir pellet gun victims
pin their hopes on doctors at AIIMS
New Delhi: Firdous, a
25-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, is among the five Kashmiris currently undergoing
treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi for severe
eye injuries. He remains in constant prayer, hands raised up to his eyes. When
someone enters the room, Firdous raises his head struggling to see who it is.
He relies on his cousin, who patiently identifies the person every time there
is a visitor. Firdous was injured in a protest at Mazbugh, Sopore on July 15.
The 25-year-old was the sole bread winner of a family of five and earned his
living driving an auto-rickshaw in Sopore town. He was airlifted to AIIMS based
on the recommendation of a three-member team of eye specialists from the
institute, who had reached Srinagar on July 14 to look at the high number of
pellet injuries in the recent violence in the Valley.“He is still a little
restless. He wants to talk,” Firdous cousin says. He adds that Firdous
understands that this is a last effort, if he does not recover his eye-sight
here, he will never get it back. Firdous interrupts him to say, “I have been
driving an auto for five years. I can’t do that when I can’t see.” His medical
reports mention severe injuries from metallic pellets in both eyes.
Modi may get me killed,
says Kejriwal
New Delhi: CM Arvind
Kejriwal said today that PM Narendra Modi and the BJP chief Amit Shah can stoop
so low that they can get him and his party members assassinated in political
vendetta. In a nine-minute long video, which Mr Kejriwal uploaded on his
facebook account, he asked all his MLAs to be prepared as everyone of them will
eventually be sent to jail by Mr. Modi. “But going to jail is a small sacrifice
that you (MLAs) will have to make as a much bigger conspiracy is at play,” he
said to his party men through the video. Since Sunday, two AAP MLAs have been
arrested, three different FIRs have been filed against AAP MLA Rajesh Rishi, Delhi
Commission for Women chief,Swati Maliwal, and AAP’s youth wing chief, Aman
Dabas, and their MP Bhagwant Mann has been suspended. On Wednesday, at AAP’s
Chhatarpur MLA Kartar Singh’s residence Income Tax officials conducted a raid. thehindu
AAP MLAs arrested, party
blames PM Modi for it
Rajya Sabha MPs up in arms
after SP leader sought to name 'RSS leader accused in Malegaon'
New Delhi: Rajya Sabha saw
a brief uproar on Tuesday when a Samajwadi Party member sought to name RSS
functionary, saying he was named by the accused in the Malegaon case.The
trouble started when Javed Ali Khan spoke in Zero Hour about his experience at
a recent function on promotion of Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages. Khan said
he was surprised to see the RSS functionary, "who has been named by
accused persons in Malegaon blast and pointed at by CBI in Ajmer blast case,
delivering sermons on patriotism and the number of wives which a Muslim man
should have".As he named the RSS functionary, BJP members were on their
feet vociferously protesting it. Deputy chairman PJ Kurien said the name has
been expunged.However, SP members, along with those from other opposition
parties including the Left, insisted that the name of the RSS functionary
should not be expunged. Kurien said he would go through the records and
decide.PTI
RSS leader Indresh Kumar
warns Pak, top cop skips event
Udhampur:Emphasising that winds
of change are blowing through the Valley and may result in a “reverse Tiranga
Yatra” to Delhi by Muslims from Kashmir defying the call by separatists,
Indresh Kumar, national executive member of the RSS, on Tuesday asked Pakistan
to stop encouraging separatists in J&K.Otherwise, Kumar warned, Muslims in
India and Muslim leaders of J&K may also start interactions with people in
Muzaffarabad, Sindh, Baluchistan, Gilgit, Baltistan and Mohajirs — all areas
fighting for independence from Pakistan. indianexpress
Bihar court summons
Asaduddin Owaisi for objecting Yakub Memon’s hanging
Hajipur (bihar):A Vaishali
court has issued summons to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi to appear personally
before it on August 11 in connection with his reaction against awarding of
capital punishment to Mumbai blast accused Yakub Memon last year.SDJM Rajesh
Pandey ordered Owaisi, an MP, to personally appear in the court on August 11
when the case would be heard next.The order was delivered while hearing a
complaint filed by a Hajipur-based lawyer Rajeev Kumar Sharma on July 31 last
year.The complainant had said that the AIMIM chief, while protesting against
death sentence to Yakub Menon, had argued questioning why capital punishement
had not been given to killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and
rioteers during 2002 Gujarat carnage. Indianexpress
Uniform Civil Code
short-hand for imposing RSS view, says Jairam Ramesh
Hyderabad: Senior Congress
leader Jairam Ramesh has alleged the demand for bringing a Uniform Civil Code
is a “cloak” for imposing Hindu Personal Law and “RSS’s view” on what women
should be entitled to.“Women should have equal rights as men. Let’s start with
that principle. All women should have equal rights. There should be no
discrimination against women in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance. Once
you have (these) basic principles, we can move forward,” Ramesh said on the
issue of Uniform Civil Code (UCC).The Department of Legal Affairs had in June
asked the Law Commission, a recommendatory body, to submit a report on the
issue of a common civil code.“The demand for Uniform Civil Code is a cloak for
imposing Hindu Personal Law, which is actually deeply anti-women and has been
made progressively more and more pro-women,” the former Union minister told
PTI.PTI
Barkha Dutt to Arnab
Goswami: Happy that you loathe my kind of journalism
New Delhi: Miffed over
Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami demanding strict action against
“pseudo-secular and pro-Pakistan” journalists, NDTV consulting editor Barkha
Dutt has written a strongly worded Facebook post criticising her former
colleague for his “cowardly hypocrisy”. Dutt said she is ashamed to be from the
same industry as Goswami who called for gagging of media.In his primetime
Newshour debate on July 26, which happened to be Kargil Diwas, Goswami had
called some of his rival channels sympathiseres of terrorists and pro-Pakistan
and had called for stringent punishment for them. Taking strong exception to
the #ProPakistanDoves term used by him for journalists, Dutt questioned his
silence over the alliance agreement between BJP and PDP that commits them to
talks with Pakistan and Hurriyat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own
Pakistan outreach.“So he drones on and on about Pro Pakistan Doves without one
word on the JK alliance agreement that commits the BJP and PDP to talks with
Pakistan and Hurriyat and is silent on Modi’s own Pakistan outreach- neither of
which I object to- but since Arnab Goswami measures patriotism by such views
why is he so silent on the government? Chamchagiri?” wrote Barkha.She also
expressed disgust over sections of media’s silence on Goswami calling them ISI
agents. “Imagine, a journalist actually exhorts the government to shut down
sections of the media, misrepresents them as ISI agents and terror
sympathisers, calls for them to be tried and acted against. And our fraternity
remains locked into politically correct and timid silence,” wrote the NDTV
journalist. indianexpress
WORLD
Did Moscow Help Erdogan
Prevent “US Led Coup”?report
Did Moscow help
Erdogan prevent a “Us led coup”? A
report carried by Macedonian International News Agency (MINA) claims so. “The
Turkish coup was originally planned for August, when the Greek Government was
‘scheduled’ to enter a crisis and be itself couped. This way, the entire Balkan
would have entered a critical phase, with an end result of installing puppet
Governments subservient to the US and a new iron curtain between US controlled
Europe and Russia.” It says. There isn’t a country that didn’t know a coup was
underway in Turkey (apparently with the exception of the Turks who were
wondering why were there tanks on the Bosphorus bridge). The specific coup-date
kept being moved and wasn’t known, however CNN’s Christiana Amanpour helped
everyone narrow it down when she set up base in Ankara and Istanbul just two
days before the coup.The Pentagon has a special relationship with CNN, and
typically lets them know when the US is coup-ing a nation, so they can set up
camp and report live. CNN’s Amanpour has managed to get herself banned from
several countries; with good reason – when she shows up in a country, something
terrible happens to that country. Turkey was no exception. Russia, Iran,
Syria…. were all aware of a US led coup in Turkey. For this purpose, official
Moscow sent one of Putin’s advisors to travel to Ankara. The trip was top
secret, no one in Tehran, Damascus or even in Moscow was aware of it, only few
select in Putin’s inner circle.Aleksandar Dugin was the man that was sent to
Ankara to warn the Turkish leadership, but also to give them a massive list of
people involved in the coup.Coup Begun a month earlier after some of the
plotters were discovered. caravan daily
US Commander Campbell: The
man behind the failed coup in Turkey
A former US commander of International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF), a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan,
was the organizer of the July 15 military coup attempt in Turkey, sources
said.General John F. Campbell was one of the top figures who organized and
managed the soldiers behind the failed coup attempt in Turkey, sources close to
ongoing legal process of pro-coup detainees said.Campbell also managed more
than $2 billion money transactions via UBA Bank in Nigeria by using CIA links
to distribute among the pro-coup military personnel in Turkey.The ongoing
investigation unveiled that Campbell had paid at least two secret visits to
Turkey since May, until the day of the coup attempt.The coup plot that was
foiled by the comprehensive effort of Turkish Nation, including its citizens,
politicians, media and police forces, was organized by the FETO led-by
Fethullah Gülen who has been living in self-exile in America for several years. yenisafak
Turkey expects US to
cooperate on Gülen's extradition, finds lack of support 'heartbreaking': PM
Yıldırım
Istanbul: Prime Minister
Binali Yıldırım said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday
that Turkey expects more support and cooperation from the United States
administration on the matter of Gülen's extradition, who is accused of being
behind the July 15 failed coup attempt to overthrow Turkey's
democratically-elected government.PM Yıldırım called the Obama administration's
support, or lack thereof, 'heartbreaking' in such times, likening the impact of
the coup attempt to that of September 11, 2001 attacks that shook the
U.S."The evidence is crystal clear. We know the terrorist cult responsible
for vicious attacks against us and the Turkish people…We simply cannot
understand why the U.S. just can't hand over this individual," Yıldırım
told WSJ.DAILY SABAH
1.5 pct of military
involved in failed coup: Gen. Staff
ANKARA: A tiny minority,
just 1.5 percent, of the Turkish Armed Forces took part in the failed July 15
coup that claimed hundreds of lives, announced the Turkish General Staff on
Wednesday. "A total of 8,651 military personnel took part in the coup
attempt of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on July 15."This
figure amounts to 1.5 percent of the current number of Turkish Armed Forces
personnel," said the General Staff’s Press and Public Relations Department
in a statement.
US forgets Laden as it
demands proof for Gulen: experts
Washington: As the US
requests evidence from Turkey in order to extradite Fetullah Gulen, experts
tell Anadolu Agency that Washington has inconsistent policies and pointed to a
strikingly similar case.More than a week after a small rogue group within the
Turkish army tried to overthrow the democratically elected government in
Ankara, authorities there are still seeking concrete action from Washington to
send the US-based preacher back to Turkey to stand trial. US has insisted it
requires proof from Turkey in order for Gulen to be extradited and says the
"allegations" need to be handled through a process established in a
treaty signed in 1979 between the two nations. It asked experts to compare the
current situation between US and Turkey circumstances following the Sept. 11,
2001, terror attacks, when US demanded the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden,
who the US alleged orchestrated the attacks. Anadolu Agency
Over 51,000 Turkish public
employees suspended
Ankara: More than 51,000
people employed in state institutions have been suspended from their duties
amid a nationwide probe into bloody July 15 coup attempt.According to latest
records, compiled by Anadolu Agency on Wednesday, a total of 51,332 employees
at state institutions and organizations have been suspended from their duties
for allegedly having links to the failed coup.Among ministries and public
institutions discharging its staff since July 15 coup attempt are the Prime
Ministry, National Education Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Culture and Tourism
Ministry, Economy Ministry and Directorate General for Religious Affairs.
Anadolu Agency
UN: 300,000 Syrians at risk
of siege in Aleppo
Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen
O’Brien has expressed grave concerns about the recent developments in the
eastern Syrian city of Aleppo and other hard to reach areas.O’Brien made his
remarks as he briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Syria on
Monday.“Between 200,000-300,000 people are at risk of siege,” he
warned.“Mortars, missiles and projectiles had killed scores of people and
injured hundreds. Due to the fighting, the Castello road – the last remaining
route in and out of the eastern side of Aleppo – had been cut off. Food was expected to run out in that district
by mid-August, and medical facilities had come under attack,” he warned. middleeastmonitor
Kerry hopes to develop
cooperation plan with Russia on Syria
US Secretary of State John
Kerry said yesterday that he hopes to announce the details of a US plan on closer
military cooperation and shared intelligence information with Russia on Syria,
beginning in August.Kerry, who made his remarks after a meeting with the
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of a meeting for
Southeast Asian countries in Laos, said progress had been made in the past few
days regarding the plan.The proposals would have the two powers share
intelligence to coordinate airstrikes against the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra
Front and prohibit the Syrian air force from attacking “moderate” opposition
groups. middleeastmonitor
PA: Arabs should not
normalise relations with Israel before peace is achieved
Arab and Islamic states
should not normalise their relations with Israel until a just peace is
achieved, the QudsNet reported the Palestinian Authority saying on
Tuesday.Welcoming the outcome of the Arab League summit, which reiterated the
importance of supporting Palestinians in the face of the “systematic” Israeli
aggression, the PA stressed that improved relations with Israel should come on
condition that peace is achieved.Apart from the Arab-Israeli relations, the PA
ministerial council called on the Arab states to provide a financial safety
network, which they pledged more than a decade ago.It also called on them to
fulfil their pledges regarding the support of Palestinians in occupied East
Jerusalem, rebuilding the Gaza Strip and other assistance which aim to improve
the economic situation in the Palestinian territories. middleeastmonitor
Netanyahu likely to accept
US conditions regarding military aid package
Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to give up a large portion of Israel’s demands
regarding the US military aid package, Haaretz reported on Monday. Israeli
newspaper said it had learnt that Netanyahu “is leaning toward giving in on a
good many of his demands and accepting most of the American terms, including a
gradual phasing out of Israel’s spending of one-fourth of the American aid on
purchases from Israeli defence contractors.” middleeastmonitor
Congressman apologises for
likening Israeli settlements to termite infestations
A Democratic congressman
who was harshly criticised for a metaphor that compared illegal West Bank
settlers to termites has apologised for his remarks.Speaking during an event
for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Georgia Congressman Hank
Johnson said: “There has been a steady [stream], almost like termites can get
into a residence and eat before you know that you’ve been eaten up and you fall
in on yourself, there has been settlement activity that has marched forward
with impunity and at an ever increasing rate to the point where it has become
alarming.” middleeastmonitor
More than 1,110 Palestinian
homes demolished by Israel in West Bank since 2006
The number of Palestinian
homes in the West Bank demolished by Israel during just the first half of 2016
is greater than the number of homes demolished almost every year over the last
decade.The data, published by Israeli NGO B’Tselem ahead of a Knesset
conference on demolitions in so-called ‘Area C’ of the West Bank, shows that
from January to end of June, Israeli occupation authorities demolished 168
homes, leaving 740 Palestinians homeless – 384 of them children.
Sisi discusses cooperation
in fighting terrorism with Pakistani official
Egypt and Pakistan
continued their military talks in Cairo yesterday and discussed strengthening
security cooperation and exchanging experiences in the field of combating
terrorism. According to a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency, Egyptian
President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi met with Chief of Staff of the Pakistani Ground
Forces General Ruhayel Sharif and discussed “increasing mutual cooperation between
the two countries.” Conversation took place in the presence of Egyptian Defence
Minister Sedky Sobhy. middleeastmonitor
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:04 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment