Evening NEWS DIGEST
1 Aug. 2016: 26 Shawal 37:Vol:7, No:127
China contradicts NPT
consensus by supplying nuclear reactors to Pakistan: Report
New Delhi:While China
continues to hail the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone
of global non-proliferation regime, Beijing itself has violated the consensus
arrived at 2010 NPT review conference on supply of nuclear technology by
transferring nuclear reactors to Pakistan.This observation on China's supply of
nuclear reactors to Pakistan, a country which is not under IAEA safeguards,
comes from Arms Control Association, one of leading authorities on nuclear
weapons and disarmament, in its latest report assessing progress on
non-proliferation.China has blocked India's membership of Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) saying that participation of a non-NPT signatory in the group will
weaken the international non-proliferation regime.The report says that the
China's 2013 deal for the Chasma-3 reactor in Pakistan contradicts the
consensus document of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, which "reaffirms
that new supply arrangements" for the transfer of nuclear materials and
technology should require that the recipient accept "IAEA full-scope
safeguards and international legally-binding commitments not to acquire nuclear
weapons". Islamabad has accepted neither. China's NSG membership since
2004 has not come in the way of its stated supply of as many as 6 reactors to
Pakistan's Chasma nuclear power complex. Beijing claims to
"grandfather" the reactors to an agreement reached with Pakistan in
2003 - before it became a member of NSG - even though, as the report says, that
exception should have been applicable only to the first two Chasma reactors
whose sale was completed before China joined NSG.It is widely held that in
helping Pakistan with its nuclear energy programme, China has chosen to
override NSG guidelines and shown no regard for the reservations expressed by
its members who control international nuclear commerce.TOI
Resentment mounts against
growing Chinese presence in PoK, Gilgit-Baltistan:ANI
Gilgit/Geneva: Anger is
rising in Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over both
Pakistan and China exploiting their resources in a reckless manner for selfish
economic gain.The residents are strongly opposing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) as it has failed to provide any tangible benefits to them.China is
investing over 40 billion dollars for its ambitious 3,000-km-long economic
corridor+ that will link western China to southern Pakistan through a network
of roads, railway lines and pipelines.The project is being touted as bringing
about a spectacular socio-economic change in the region, but alienated
residents currently feel that both China and Pakistan are past masters in lies
and deceit, as before firming up the project, all stakeholders were not
consulted."People want that at least they should be informed about the
project, be taken into confidence so that they get to know what all benefits
they will get from this project. We fear that this should not happen as if we
sit idle and only count the number of trucks coming from China side and not
benefit even a bit," said Abdul Rehman Bukhari.Pakistan, which suffers
from a huge power crisis, draws its electricity mostly from Gilgit-Baltistan,
but ironically none of the power projects have presence in the region - thus
depriving Gilgit of potential royalties.
Rajnath's Pak visit: Hafiz
Saeed warns of nationwide protest
Lahore: Accusing Rajnath
Singh of being "responsible for the killings of innocent Kashmiris",
Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed has warned of a countrywide protest in
Pakistan by his outfit if the home minister arrives in Islamabad to attend the
SAARC ministerial conference."I want to ask the Pakistani govt will it add insult to injury to the wounds of
Kashmiris by welcoming Rajnath who is responsible for the killings of innocent
Kashmiris," he said in a statement here."It will be ironical as on
the one hand the whole Pakistani nation is protesting against the Indian
atrocities in Kashmir and on the other hand the Pakistani rulers will be
garlanding Singh," said. Meanwhile, Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander
Syed Salahuddin asked PM Nawaz Sharif to
immediately recall its ambassador from New Delhi and "suspend trade and
diplomatic ties" with India in the wake of ongoing unrest in the Valley
that have left 49 people dead following Burhan Wani's killing.PTI
Sohrabuddin encounter:
Supreme Court dismisses plea against clean chit to Amit Shah
New Delhi: The Supreme
Court on Monday refused to permit social activist Harsh Mander to challenge BJP
president Amit Shah's discharge in the Sohrabuddin encounter case.The Supreme
Court said Harsh Mander has no locus standi to challenge Amit Shah's discharge
in the case.The petition filed by social activist Harsh Mander had sought
quashing of the December 30, 2014 order of a Mumbai sessions court giving clean
chit to Amit Shah in the case.The petitioner has also questioned the findings
of the sessions court exonerating Shah in the Tulsiram Prajapati killing case,
holding that there existed "no case" against him and that he had been
implicated for "political reasons".Oh great. In this particular case
SC has become nationalistic and patriotic and the judge has become honest.
Absolutely no need to
reinvestigate BJP chief: SC
ATROCITIES ON DALITS &COW
VIGILANTISM
Gujarat Dalits put BJP govt
on notice, protest march to reach Una on Independence Day
Protesting the flogging of
a Dalit family by gau rakshaks in Una for skinning a dead cow, thousands of
Dalits gathered in Ahmedabad Sunday where community leaders put the BJP-led govt
in Gujarat on notice ahead of the 2017
assembly polls. Seeking strong measures to check atrocities against them,
leaders asked Dalits to give up disposing dead cattle and stop cleaning sewers
to “send a strong message” to the state govt. They announced a march from
Ahmedabad to Una between August 5 and August 15. They said they plan to gather
in Una on August 15 to observe and “feel independence” there.e Dalit Maha
Sammelan in the Sabarmati area of Ahmedabad, organised by Una Dalit Atyachar
Ladat Samiti (UDALS), flagged several pending Dalit issues, including justice
in the Thangadh killing of three Dalit youths in 2012. Valji Rathod, father of
one of 3 youths killed in Thangadh of Surendranagar district, declared he would
sit on a hunger strike in Gandhinagar from Monday.Addressing the gathering,
UDALS convener Jignesh Mevani, raising what he said were unresolved legal and
constitutional issues of Dalits in Gujarat, said: “This govt believes in Daliton ka Utpidan, Daliton ka
Vinash (persecution and annihilation of Dalits) and not in Sabka Saath, Sabka
Vikas.”Referring to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement that PM Narendra Modi was very hurt and upset over the
Una incident, Mevani told the gathering: “I want to ask Rajnathji, if during
his governance in Gujarat (between 2001 and 2014), did Modi visit a single
Dalit family of Gujarat which faced atrocity? If the answer is yes, we will
wind up our protest programme.”Veteran Dalit activists like Valjibhai Patel,
Nitin Gurjar, Chandu Maheriya, Jayanti Makadia, Manjula Pradeep and Ratna Vora
joined the gathering. Also present were Nirzari Sinha, wife of the late rights
activist and lawyer Mukul Sinha, former Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rahul Sharma,
folk singers Charul-Vinay and advocate Shamshad Pathan. Mufti Abdul Qayyum
Mansuri, acquitted in the Akshardham terror attack case, too was there.A number
of Muslim youths also joined the gathering with the message of Dalit-Muslim
unity. Some leaders of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind too were present. In fact, the
proposal to march from Ahmedabad to Una came from Rahul Sharma. “Let us have a
march from Ahmedabad to Una and feel independence at Una on August 15. I am
ready. This social awakening should not be limited to this sammelan,” Sharma
said. Indianexpress
Dalits atrocities: How the
protests have become nightmare for BJP
Massive rally in Ahmedabad
reflects Dalit anger
Ahmedabad Rally: Dalits
Demand Firearms and Permanent Jobs
At Maha Sammelan, Dalits
share stories of discrimination, atrocities across Gujarat
Ahmedabad: 4 years and
still fighting for justice. Family members of three Dalit youths who were
killed and one seriously injured in a police firing during a protest at
Thangadh town in Surendranagar participated in the Dalit Maha Sammelan in
Ahmedabad on Sunday.Demanding speedy action and investigations by the CBI, the
family members announced to sit on a dharna at Sector 3 near Secretariat in
Gandhinagar from Monday.On the intervening night of September 22 and 23, 2012,
three Dalit youths — Pankaj Sumra (16), Mehul Rathod (16) and Prakash Parmar
(24) — were killed in a police firing at Thangadh. indianexpress
Gujarat Police fire tear
gas shells on public as tension in Surat following controversial video
Surat: Tension gripped
Limbayat area of Surat early on Monday, when a video showed a man abusing two
young migrant workers from Bihar, reportedly of zardozi units. The workers were
seen being forced to vacate a rented quarter in Godadara area by a man who
identified himself as Amit Singh Rathore. He abused them and forced them to
strip. The youths were also being beaten up by other youths, alongwith Rathore.
Rathore has been arrested. The video went viral late on Sunday following which,
a group of Muslim leaders, met Limbayat police station officers pressing for a
complaint to be lodged. Meanwhile a large number of people gathered at Maruti
nagar area in Limbayat and chanted slogans against police demanding strict
action against the accused.The situation was later brought under control by
police and leaders of Muslim community. One Bablu Imam Shaikh, a resident of
Limbayat lodged complaint against the accused in the video, at Limbayat police
station on Monday. Rathore who is a migrant from Uttar Pradesh and lives in
Godadara area was arrested and booked for hurting religious sentiments as the
police looked for his accomplices. The Limbayat police station also registered
a separate offence of rioting against Muslims who attacked the police. indianexpress
Repeat of Dadri? Mob
attacks Muslim family house on suspicion of ‘cow slaughter’ in Muzaffarnagar
Lucknow: An angry mob on
Saturday attacked on a house of a Muslim family on suspicion of cow slaughter.
The Dadari like incident took place in Kadali village in Muzaffarnagar district
of UP. Zeeshan Qureshi, who managed to escape with his family before the mob
arrived at his house, was arrested on Sunday afternoon. Rumour that Zeeshan
Qureshi slaughtered a cow spread like a wildfire in Kadali village after a
villager apparently saw traces of blood in his house. A mob of over hundred
people gathered and attacked Zeeshan’s house. Zeeshan managed to flee to safety
with his family before the mob could repeat the Dadri lynching episode. Meanwhile,
an FIR has been lodged against Zeeshan’s wife Sehnaaz and his cousins Saddam on
Moota under the UP Cow Slaughter Prevention Act. India.com
UP mob attacks Muslim home,
owner held for ‘cow slaughter’
Punjab: Caught skinning
animal, 5 booked for ‘cow slaughter’
Ludhiana: 5 persons were
booked on Sunday after members of the Gau Sewa Raksha Board complained they
were skinning and chopping parts of a dead “cow” in the open in Malaut town the
previous night. The police’s preliminary probe into the matter suggested that
the carcass was that of a buffallo.“We don’t want to argue over whether the
animal was a buffalo or a cow. According to us, it was a cow and we saw chopped
parts in the open. And even if it was a buffalo, is it justified to skin and
chop it in the open on the side of GT road?” said Pankaj Bansal, local
in-charge, Gau Sewa Raksha Board. The accused, 2 of whom have been identified as
Rakesh Kumar and Ramesh Kumar, claimed to be contractors who picked animal
carcasses from roadsides and Gaushalas. They claim to have received a call
informing them of a dead buffalo on the Shekhu road in Malaut town on Saturday
night. They had already picked up a few carcasses in their vehicle, a tempo,
and found it difficult to load the dead animal. They decided to chop it up to
load it onto the vehicle.Commuters, considering it a case of cow slaughter,
gathered in large number and protested. Soon, the local Gau Sewa Raksha Board
unit arrived at the scene. Finding other animal carcasses in the parked
vehicle, some persons started pelting stones at it.While three of the
“contractors” managed to escape, Rakesh and Ramesh were roughed up before being
handed over to the police. Indian express
KASHMIR ISSUE
Kashmir protests: What
Azadi…if you play with the future of children, asks Mehbooba
Srinagar: Questioning the
meaning of Azadi when “we play with the future of children”, Jammu and Kashmir CM
Mehbooba Mufti Sunday said protests in
the Valley were being “instigated”. She added that security forces “showed
restraint” and fired only when their camps and police stations were
attacked.“If we play with the future of our children, who should be in schools
and colleges… then what Azadi (are you talking about), what (is the meaning) of
India, and of Pakistan…I believe this will not work. Violence doesn’t help in
changing the fate of nations,” CM told NDTV.Schools in the Valley are closed
for more than a month now.A 17-year-old youth from Sopore, who was allegedly
beaten up by paramilitary forces, succumbed Sunday. With his death, the toll of
people killed in violence following Burhan Wani’s killing rose to 50. indianexpress
Kashmir protests: LeT commander
Abu Dujana ‘attends’ Pulwama gathering
Srinagar: Lashkar-e-Taiba’s
most wanted commander Abu Dujana reportedly attended a gathering in Karimabad
in J&K’s Pulwama district Sunday. Despite a curfew in place, thousands
reached Karimabad for the gathering at “martyrs’ cemetery” in the village and
raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Pulwama is the native village of
several militants killed in recent past.Dujana reportedly attended the
gathering wearing a mask and was seen surrounded by a lot of people. Dujana,
who has been heading the outfit in the Valley after LeT commander Qasim was
killed, is the mastermind behind several attacks. Meanwhile, the curfew and the
shutdown called by separatists crippled the Valley. indianexpress
Life remains paralysed in
Kashmir, restrictions continue
Impunity, immunity:
continuing debate around AFSPA
Kashmir: NC leader Iftikhar
Hussain Misgar joins anti-India protest
OTHERS
Making case against Zakir
Naik, officials list 55 terror accused he ‘inspired’: Indian Express
New Delhi: Tasked by the
Union Home Ministry to examine whether any legal action can be initiated
against Zakir Naik, security agencies have drawn up a list of 55 terror
accused, arrested from across the country over the past decade, who have
claimed to be influenced by or to have watched Naik’s speeches. Sources in the
agencies told The Indian Express that the list includes arrests from as far
back as 2005 to those made by the NIA earlier this year. These accused have
claimed affiliation to groups such as the SIMI, LeT, IM and the IS. Among those
in the list, Indian Express has learnt, are Feroze Deshmukh, a former IRF employee
who was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS for his alleged role in the 2006
Aurangabad arms haul case; Qateel Ahmed Siddiqui murdered inside Yerwada prison
in Pune in June 2012; Biju Saleem, ex sub-inspector with the hi-tech cell of
the Kerala Police and alleged SIMI sympathiser who was accused of trying to
create unrest among religious communities by leaking information to the media
about police snooping on Muslim community leaders and thinkers; alleged IS online
recruiter Afsha Jabeen, who was arrested in September 2015 on deportation from
UAE; Mudabbir Sheikh, Mohammed Obaidullah Khan, Abu Anas and Mohammed Nafees
Khan, who were arrested in raids across the country by the NIA in January for
floating a local IS-affiliate named Junood ul Khalifa e Hind; and alleged
Jamaat ul Mujahideen Bangladesh operatives Asadullah Ali and Rafique Islam,
arrested during the Burdwan blast probe.Details of four criminal cases
registered against Naik in India in the past are also being examined by
agencies. While investigations are on in three of the FIRs against Naik, a
fourth case is pending in a court in Kolhapur. Naik’s lawyer Mubin Solkar told
The Indian Express, “I cannot say anything about these terror accused who claim
they were influenced by Dr Zakir Naik. My only comment is that it’s a total
lie. If you see the contents of Dr Naik’s lectures or his speeches, if the
contents are seen in the context in which he speaks, and also in the entirety
of his lecture, then definitely nobody would ever come to this conclusion that
he would inspire terrorism or he would inspire people to commit terrorist acts…
I do not agree that these 55 people may have been inspired by Dr Naik to commit
terrorist acts.”Solkar also pointed out that none of the FIRs registered
against Naik has any terror charges. “These FIRs were registered by some people
who obviously had allegiance to the right wing. They have also relied upon and
gone through some of the doctored speeches (of Naik) available on the Internet,
and not relied on his entire speech… We have already filed a writ petition in
the Bombay High Court for quashing of 3 FIRs filed in Maharashtra,” he said.He
added that the Supreme Court had taken note of their plea that all the cases
against Naik be investigated by one agency, and had stayed proceedings in the
complaints.
NIA chargesheet refers to
14 globally recognized Islamic preachers: TOI
New Delhi: Even as a probe
is on against Zakir Naik, the NIA latest chargesheet refers to 14 globally
recognized preachers, based in US, the UK, Canada, Australia and Zimbabwe,
whose lectures/sermons directly or indirectly influenced suspects.Though these
Islamic preachers have not been named as suspects or accused, the interrogation
of arrested IS members has revealed that they heard and watched
"provocative" lectures and speeches of these scholars.Some of well-known
names mentioned in the NIA chargesheet include UK-based Anjem Choudhary, Hamza
Andreas Tzortzis, Imran Mansoor, Mizanur Rahman and Abu Waleed, US-based Yasir
Qadhi, Yusuf Estes, Hamza Yusuf and Ahmad Musa Jibril, Australia-based Musa
Cerantonio, Shaikh Feiz Mohammad and Omar El Banna, Zimbabwe-based Mufti Menk
and Canada-based Majid Mahmood.TOI
Minorities Commission to
hold seminar in Hyderabad to educate youth about perils of ISIS:PTI
Hyderabad: As security
agencies grapple with rising trend of youth coming under influence of Islamic
State, a seminar-cum-interactive session is being organised here next week to
discuss ways to wean away people from the violent and ultra conservative
ideology of the terror group. State Minorities Commission for Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh is organising the event here to educate youth about the perils
of ISIS' ideology and serious repercussions of getting involved in its
activities through social media.Commission chairman Abid Rasool Khan said the
event is planned for either Aug.5 or 6. Eminent Muslim leaders, religious
figures, police officers, legal experts and representatives of social media
companies have been invited.PTI
ISIS a tool for Indian
agencies to harass Muslim youths: TCN
Maharashtra govt rules out
blanket ban on liquor, rejects Anna’s demand
Mumbai:Days after social
activist Anna Hazare demanded liquor prohibition in Maharashtra, the state govt
ruled out a blanket ban but said it may
adopt the Tamil Nadu pattern of disallowing sale of country liquor. Finance
Minister Sudhir Mungantiwa, who had followed up the issue of banning alcohol in
his home district Chandrapur, said liquor sale generates around Rs 13,000 crore
revenue and the govt is not considering
banning it in any other part of the state.“If there is specific demand for
liquor prohibition from a certain district, we will consider it. However, we
are not considering a complete prohibition as of now,” he said. Mungantiwar
said aspects like Excise revenue, economics of the sugar industry, health
issues involved with alcohol consumption and pressure from the NGOs and
activists like Hazare need to be considered before taking any decision over the
issue.PTI
Rape case: UP govt posts
Anees Ahmad Ansari as new Bulandshahr SSP
Lucknow:UP govt on Monday posted PAC officer Anees Ahmad
Ansari as the new Senior Superintendent of Police, Bulandshahr following
suspension of Vaibhav Krishna after the gangrape of a woman and her teenage
daughter by bandits on gunpoint. Ansari is Commandant of 34th Batallion of PAC.
Maan Singh has been posted as Additional SP in place of Rammohan Singh, who was
also suspended on Sunday, an official spokesman said in Lucknow. Facing the
flak from opposition, govt had suspended 5 officers, including the SSP. Icident
took place when they were on their way from Noida to Shahjahanpur with 4 other
family members and were allegedly gangraped by a gang of dacoits in Bulandshahr
district, on Delhi-Kanpur highway, on Saturday morning.indianexpress
3 Bulandshahr gang rape
accused sent to judicial custody for 14 days
Babri Mandi molestation
case: SP MLA ‘dares’ police to arrest ‘molester’
Agra:Samajwadi Party MLA
Zameerullah Khan Saturday reportedly challenged “anyone who can dare” to arrest
the sole absconding accused in the Babri Mandi molestation case, kicking off a
storm in an already tense Aligarh, which has been on the boil since the clash
between Hindus and Muslims following the molestation incident around 2 weeks
ago. BJP has, meanwhile, threatened “mass protest” and demanded that the
legislator be arrested for his “infuriating claim”. Local media had reported
Saturday that the MLA, coming out of SSP Luv Kumar’s office in Aligarh, had
told reporters that fourth accused person was “staying at my home”, and “dared”
police to arrest him.“Woh chautha aaropi mere ghar mein hai. Jisme himmat ho
aake pakad le use,” he had reportedly said. indianexpress
Are 2 Pathankot terrorists
just phantoms? The Hindu
New Delhi:Days before Union
Home Minister Rajnath Singh travels to Pakistan to attend the SAARC Home
Ministers’ conference, the debate over how many terrorists attacked Indian Air
Force’s Pathankot airbase in January seems to have got reignited.This is
because investigators have accounted for only four backpacks the terrorists
were carrying with them, possibly containing arms and ammunition, besides dry
fruits and other material.2 backpacks of the same mark and colour were
recovered in fairly good condition, and traces of the same set of backpacks
were found from the airmen’s billet blown up by NSG commandos during the
operation. A top NIA official said 4 backpacks indicated that only four
terrorists attacked the airbase and not six as claimed by the NSG and the govt .Besides
the discrepancy in the number of backpacks, video footage taken by an unmanned
aerial vehicle has recorded the movement of only four terrorists near the
periphery wall of the airbase, each carrying one backpack.“Only two backpacks
have been recovered and there were traces of two more in the billet. Where are
the other two? We also have video footage which shows 4 terrorists moving with
four backpacks,” NIA official said. the hindu
Parrikar’s comments on
Aamir create ruckus in RS, Opposition says remark absolutely objectionable
New Delhi: Defence Minister
Manohar Parrikar’s comments against actor Aamir Khan created a ruckus in the
Rajya Sabha on Monday as opposition members alleged that the govt was targeting
the minorities.Raising issue, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the
minister talked about teaching a lesson to those who talk way Aamir Khan did.
“What type of lesson is he going to teach us? What kind of lesson is he going
to teach the minorities,” Azad asked. “We are with you against Pakistan but you
are threatening us,” he added. IANS
Law on lines of SC/ST
Atrocities Act for Muslims should be enacted: Maharashtra SP Chief
Jalna:Maharashtra chief of
Samajwadi Party, Abu Azmi said a law along the lines of the SC and ST
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be enacted for Muslims to protect them
from “particular section” of society.“On the lines of the Prevention of
Atrocities Act, a similar law should also be enacted for Muslims as they face
atrocities and derogatory remarks from certain section of society,” Azmi said
here.He attacked Raj Thackeray for latter’s reported demand that the SC and ST Act
should be scrapped, terming it as “unconstitutional”.PTI
AMU elects new members for
University Court
In the special meeting of
AMU Court, eminent theologian and President of All India Muslim Personal Law
Board, Maulana M. Rabey Hasan Nadvi, eminent cardiologist Dr. Ashok Seth,
former Indian Hockey Captain Mr. Zafar Iqbal, distinguished Urdu scholar and
critic Prof. Gopichand Narang, renowned Theologian, Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, Member
Parliament Mr. Abhijit Mukherjee and eminent scientist Dr. Shahid Jameel were elected
as members of the Aligarh Muslim University Court, the supreme governing body
of the University.The election of 42 representatives from 5 different
categories to serve as members on the University Court was announced by the
Chief Election Officer, Prof. Tajuddin of Faculty of Unani Medicine. 4 persons
from amongst the Chairmen including President of Waqf Boards have been elected
unopposed. They are Mr. Omer Jaleel, Mr. Justice Mohd. Abdul Ghani, Mr. Zufar
Ahmad Farooqui and Mr. Md. Irshadullah.TCN
WORLD
Wrong to identify Islam
with violence: Pope
Krakow:Pope Francis said on
Sunday that it was wrong to identify Islam with violence and that social
injustice and idolatry of money were among the prime causes of
terrorism."I think it is not right to identity Islam with violence,"
he told reporters aboard the plane taking him back to Rome after a five-day
trip to Poland. "This is not right and this is not true."Reuters
Not right to equate Islam
with violence, says Pope Francis
Syria: Russian chopper shot
down in Idlib
5 crew members were killed
as a Russian military chopper was shot down in Syria, the Kremlin said.The
helicopter shot down on Sunday in the rebel-held Idlib province had three crew
members and two officers on board.Russia's defence ministry was cited as saying
that the helicopter, an Mi-8 military transport helicopter, had been shot down
after delivering humanitarian aid to the city of Aleppo as it made its way back
to Russia's main air base in Syria. aljazeera
US-backed forces advance in
IS Syria stronghold: monitor
Beirut: Advancing Kurdish
and Arab fighters backed by US-led air strikes now control 40% of the Islamic
State stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria, a monitor said on Sunday.Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had pushed
deeper into the town near the border with Turkey, with air cover from the
US-led coalition against the jihadists.Around 2,300 civilians have fled Manbij
in the past 24 hours as the SDF fighters advanced, according to the
Britain-based monitor.It said clashes between the joint Kurdish-Arab force and
Islamic State fighters were continuing in several parts of the town."It's
a street battle, and the process of eating away at IS territory is
ongoing," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.AFP
Syria's civil war: Rebels
push to break Aleppo siege
Syrian rebels have launched
an offensive aimed at breaking a govt siege of eastern Aleppo, where the UN
estimates some 300,000 people are trapped with dwindling food and medical
supplies.A rebel alliance that includes the Jabhat Fatah al Sham group - which
was formerly the al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front - and the Ahrar al Sham group said
it had taken army positions in the southwestern govt -held parts of the city
within the first few hours of launching a battle to break the siege imposed on
rebel-held areas.Al Jazeera Arabic’c Milad Fadel, who is embedded with Syrian
rebels on the edge of Western Aleppo city, said the troops have been preparing
for an extended military campaign.“Regime forces have several lines of defense
protecting Aleppo’s western neighborhoods. This battle could last several days,
or maybe even weeks," he said.“They will first try to capture the nearby
al-Hikmeh school, which is used by regime forces as a military unity. They will
also try to capture nearby security points, advancing towards Aleppo’s western
neighborhoods." Aljazeera
Iraqi PM talks Mosul
offensive with top US officer
Baghdad: Iraqi PM Haidar
al-Abadi held talks in Baghdad on Sunday with the US Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff General Joseph F. Dunford on an anticipated offensive to retake
Mosul from Daesh group. The talks tackled “cooperation between the two
countries in the field of training and arming, ongoing international coalition
support for Iraq and plans to liberate Mosul," al-Abadi’s office said in a
statement. Gen. Dunford reiterated the US support for Iraqi govt efforts to
liberate its territory from Daesh and to secure Iraqi needs in its fight
against terrorism, the statement said. Anadolu agency
Iraq’s displaced face
catastrophic conditions amid absence of humanitarian aid
Iraqis displaced from areas
of fighting between the Iraqi forces and Daesh in northern Iraq face tragic
situations due to the lack of humanitarian aid. Undersecretary of the Ministry
of Displacement and Migration Jassim Mohammed said: “The displaced people live
under very tragic situations, especially in the al-Hajjaj area, south of the
city of Baiji in Salahuddin province.”In remarks to Anadolu agency, Mohammed
said: “The soaring temperatures and lack of humanitarian aid make conditions
more difficult for the displaced.”He noted that Salahuddin province has become
home to more than 95,000 displaced people, calling on Iraqis in combat zones to
leave towards Haj Ali area in Nineveh province. middleeastmonitor
Trump is a black soul:
Khizr Khan
Washington: The father of a
slain Muslim American soldier assailed Donald Trump as a “black soul” Sunday in
an impassioned exchange with the Republican presidential candidate over the
qualities required in a U.S. leader. Khizr Khan electrified the Democratic
convention last week with a tribute to his fallen son that ended with a steely
rebuke that Mr. Trump had “sacrificed nothing” for his country.AFP
Erdogan wants president to
control intelligence and army
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20160801-erdogan-wants-president-to-control-intelligence-and-army/
Turkish President Tayyip
Erdogan said he wants the country’s national intelligence agency and the army
to be put under the direct control of the President of the Republic.In a TV
interview, Erdogan said such a decision requires constitutional amendments and approval
of the Turkish Parliament.
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