Evening NEWS DIGEST
07 Jan.2017: 08 Rabius
Sani 1438: Vol:8, No:83
SC verdict banning use of
religion to garner votes can be exploited: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind
New Delhi(PTI):The recent
Supreme Court verdict that outlawed appealing for votes in the name of
religion, caste and other identities can be “exploited” by parties campaigning
using the “Hindutva plank”, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Saturday said. Addressing a
press conference, the top leadership of the organisation said parties like the
BJP may use the 1995 ruling of the SC, that had held “Hindutva” to be a way of
life, for the upcoming polls, especially in UP. “There is a strong possibility
that the parties contesting elections on the Hindutava plank would use it as a
shield for their communal appeal to voters and claim that they are not seeking
votes on the basis of religion but on the basis of way of life,” Secretary
General of Jamaat, Mohammad Salim Engineer,said.In a landmark verdict seeking
to separate religion, caste and other issues from politics, the Supreme Court,
by a majority verdict, on January 2 held as “corrupt” the practice of
candidates appealing for votes on the basis of these identities included not
only him but his agents and voters. President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maulana
Syed Jalaluddin, who addressed the media as well, called for a public dialogue
on the apprehensions and also underlined the three dissenting voices of the
seven-judge bench that passed the verdict. In a statement, the Jamaat,
headquartered in Jamia Nagar here, also said that if such logic is accepted by
the courts then it will cause “great damage” to the country’s pluralistic
polity and “pave the way for majoritarianism”.It also termed as “undemocratic” Enemy
Property (Amendment and Validation) ordinance, saying the amendments were
“dangerous” and designed to “harass” the minority community. “Legislation via
ordinance is adopted only under special circumstances and the government’s
anxiety to push the Bill in such a hurried manner raises serious doubts over
its real intentions,” it said. indian express
SC verdict banning use of
religion to garner votes can be exploited, says Jamaat: TOI
SC verdict banning use of
religion to garner votes can be exploited, says Jamaat: India Today
SC verdict banning use of
religion to garner votes can be exploited, says Jamaat-e-Islami Hind:out look
SC verdict banning use of
religion to garner votes can be exploited, says Jamaat: jantakareporter
BJP may use 1995 ruling of
SC for the upcoming polls, says Jamaat-e-Islami Hind: catchnews
SC verdict banning use of
religion to garner votes can be exploited, says Jamaat-e-Islami Hind: news18
Jamaat-e-Islami seeks more
clarity on SC judgment on use of religion for votes: theindianawaaz
Zakir Naik's sister,
brother-in-law summoned by NIA in Delhi
New Delhi: NIA summoned Dr.
Zakir Naik's sister Nailah Naushad Noorani and her husband to its Delhi HQRS on
Friday. Sources in NIA said Nailah and her husband Naushad, who are residents
of Mumbai, arrived in the National Capital on Friday afternoon and are likely
to be examined further depending on the requirement of investigators. Examination,
according to NIA, is in connection to the case lodged against the Naik by the
probe agency last year. Agency officials said that the couple were being
examined to ascertain whether suspicious transactions had taken place between
private companies headed by Nailah and the now banned IRF, founded by Naik who
is facing allegations of inciting communal violence and terrorism.Confirming
the development a senior NIA official told DNA, "The examination was a
routine one and related to our probe against IRF. We are currently
investigating all aspects related to the probe and it is likely that more
individuals will be called in for examination". According to NIA, 5
private companies,in which Naik's sister Nailah is designated as director and
additional director, are under the scanner after the agency found
"connections" between the companies and IRF. Sources privy to the
probe also said that Nailah's husband Naushad had served as director in IRF, an
aspect which the investigators were keen on "discussing " with
him.DNA
Sinha-led Kashmir team
recommends dialogue, asks Govt to improve human rights situation
New Delhi: A team of
“concerned citizens” led by ex- External Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader
Yashwant Sinha has on Saturday released its report on Kashmir. The group that
visited the valley twice on a fact-finding mission has recommended
“multi-dimensional dialogue” that includes talks with Hurriyat should be
“initiated at the earliest” and has asked the government to improve human
rights situation and resuscitate democratic linkages between with people and
allow Kashmiris to assemble and meet to hold discussions.This Mission Kashmir
of Sinha led team was facilitated by Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation, a
Delhi based group that has been working in Kashmir for more than a decade. Basic
findings of report are:"Kashmiris believe that there is a “crisis of
acknowledgement” of the Kashmir problem with the Indian state. They feel that
India refuses to recognize that Kashmir is a political problem and, therefore,
requires a political solution. Almost every Kashmiri we met said that there was
a need for a one time political settlement and that unless the basic political
issue was resolved, death and destruction would continue to visit the Valley
with increasing frequency.Kashmiris claim that they have lost faith in India
because India has failed them. Now the trust-deficit is widening. Some
Kashmiris believe that the Indian State looks at Kashmir only within the
framework of national security.They all hark back to the Vajpayee proposal of
resolving the Kashmir issue “within the ambit of humanity” as something that
had offered a ray of hope. However, they do not believe that the present
dispensation in Delhi is interested in that approach." The most important
findings of visiting the militancy affected rural areas of the Kashmir Valley
are the following:"The anger in the rural areas is palpably greater than
in Srinagar and raw. A persistent sense of discrimination against the Kashmiris
pervades the minds of the vocal sections of the population." indianexpress
RSS Muslim wing will host
Kashmiri students to ‘bring them on right path’
New Delhi: Muslim Rashtriya
Manch (MRM), an RSS affiliate, is organising a conference of Kashmiri students
in the national capital Saturday to connect them “with national mainstream,
involve them in nation building and bring them on the right path”.MRM claimed
that they are expecting a turnout of 2,000 students from Delhi and its
neighbouring states for the event to which they have invited several BJP
ministers at the Centre, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, and from
J&K, such as Deputy CM Nirmal Singh. But the conference has triggered
unease in the Valley with BJP’s alliance partner PDP saying they were not aware
of “any such activity” and the separatists describing it as a “campaign to
fragment our society”.For the moment, though, with many of the guests,
including Rajnath Singh and Nirmal Singh, unlikely to be present, PDP is
hesitant to come out publicly against the event. But PDP leaders privately
acknowledged that they viewed the conference as “part of a pattern” where Sangh
groups “unilaterally organise events or file petitions in various courts challenging
the special status accorded to the state”.When contacted, PDP leader and
J&K Education Minister Nayeem Akhtar said:“I am not aware of it. I am
hearing about this conference for the first time. Nobody has contacted
us.”Other PDP leaders said their party is also worried that the “fragile calm”
in place after five months of protests “can easily be broken by another
controversy”. More so, they said, given the ban on political activity by
students in the Valley’s universities and colleges.“We don’t know how and why
this organisation is collecting Kashmiri students. Recently, MRM organised a
campaign in Jammu for the abrogation of Article 370.This activity by affiliates
of our coalition partner is against our agenda of alliance,” said a senior PDP
leader.MRM conference will be held at the Constitution Club and among those
invited by organisers are Union ministers Jitendra Singh, Gen VK Singh, Mukhtar
Abbas Naqvi and Krishan Pal Gurjar; J&K BJP leader and Administrator
(Lakshadweep) Farooq Khan; and, V-C of Jamia Millia Islamia Prof Talat
Ahmad.While Khan and Ahmad confirmed their attendance, a Home Ministry official
said that Rajnath Singh “may not be able to attend because of other
engagements”.“I have got an intimation from the Home Ministry and I will
attend. I have been the V-C of Kashmir University and that’s why they wanted me
to attend,” said Prof Ahmad.One of the organisers said that MRM and BJP
activists have been visiting various universities in Delhi, UP, Haryana and
Punjab over the last 2 weeks to rope in Kashmiri students for the conference.
Indian Express
J&K Jama’at rejects army
chief’s statement about Jamaat
Srinagar: Indian army chief
Gen Bipin Rawat has revealed something about Jama’at-e-Islami J&K which is
totally unfounded and the result of the lack of proper knowledge,
Jama’at-e-Islami said in a statement on Saturday.Reacting to the statement of
Gen Rawat, Jama’at statement said that the allegation of the Indian army chief
that Jama’at-e-Islami is propagating the radicalization among the Muslim youth
for motivating them to take up arms is totally baseless and a clear proof of
the lack of the proper knowledge about Jama’at-e-Islami and its
history.“Jama’at-e-Islami J and K is not backed by any country but formed by
the local people and for the local people. It has no alliance with
Jama’at-e-Islami Hind or Jama’at-e-Islami Pakistan but is an independent
organization governed locally and guided by a written constitution. It has its
own policy making body independent of any influence whatsoever from any outside
quarter. It’s totally an indigenous organization having its policies and
programs restricted for the areas covered by Jammu and Kashmir consisting of
Srinagar and Jammu as its two main cities,” the statement said adding “so
Indian army chief should correct himself vis-a-vis Jama’at-e-Islami
J&K.”According to Jama’at statement Jama’at-e-Islami was formed in 1941
before the partition of India with the sole purpose of inculcating in Muslims
the real knowledge of Islam and the positive results of following Islamic
teachings in letter and spirit. And the goal of Jama’at is to establish a
society governed by the Islamic principles and laws so far as the Muslim
population is concerned. Kashmir Reader
Hundreds attend militant
commander Muzaffar Ahmad's funeral in Kashmir
Srinagar: Security forces
dealt a major blow to militants on Friday when they killed one of longest
surviving commanders who was dreaded for his brutality in Kashmir. Muzaffar
Ahmad Naikoo alias Muz Molvi,a resident of apple rich town of Sopore, was the
prime accused in the cold-blooded murder of two young sisters in Sopore in
2011.Muz Molvi was among the four militants responsible for the killing of 2
sisters Akthara, 20, and Arifa, 17, on the night of Jan.31, 2011. Such was the
brutality that the sisters were dragged out from their home at Muslim Peer
Sopore and taken to nearby Moholla and were shot dead from point blank range.
One of the girls was shot in her eye and the other on her chest. The killings
had sparked a national outrage and even prompted the separatists to call for
hartal against the brutality.Hundreds of people joined his funeral procession
at his home town Sopore on Friday. dnaindia
Stop India from fuelling
terror, Pak urges UN
Karachi:Pakistan’s
Ambasador to UN Maleeha Lodhi on Friday submitted a dossier asking the world
body to restrain India from interfering in and undertaking activities aimed at
destabilising country.“Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador
Maleeha Lodhi today delivered a dossier on India's interference and terrorism
in Pakistan to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres along with a letter
from Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz,”a Foreign
Ministry statement stated. Ambassador claimed that the dossier contains proof
of India and its agency, RAW’s interference in Pakistan and involvement in
terrorism, particularly in Balochistan, FATA and Karachi. “This is a follow-up
to the three dossiers, which were shared with the UN in Oct.2015,” Foreign
Office said.In the covering letter sent with the dossier, Aziz said the arrest
of Indian RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav from Balochistan and his confessional
statement, admitting involvement in activities aimed at destabilising Pakistan,
and support to terrorist elements, vindicated Pakistan’s long-standing
allegation on India’s involvement in such activities. the hindu
AMU students' Union
protests for Najeeb in Lucknow
Lucknow: Demanding justice
for missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed and mounting pressure on Delhi police to
trace him, activists and students attached to the Aligarh Muslim University
(AMU) Students' Union and Students for Democratic Rights, protested in Lucknow
on Friday.The protest was a part of the series of the same being carried out by
AMU students in different parts of the country, over forced disappearance of
Najeeb crossing over 80 days. The protesters also demanded that a CBI probe be
initiated in the disappearance of Najeeb, central government take immediate
action against culprits, family of Najeeb not be harassed and students from
minority communities be secured at universities.Faizul Hasan,president of the
AMU Students' Union speaking to the protesters urged them, "to continue
the protests and fight till justice is done."TOI
Waqf properties to be used
to empower Muslim community: Govt
New Delhi: Union Minister
of State for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
today said the Central Government, National Waqf Development Corporation and
Waqf Council have started a campaign on war footing to utilize the waqf
properties for socio-economic-educational empowerment of Muslim community.While
addressing All India Waqf Conference at SCOPE Complex in New Delhi, Naqvi said,
"Minority Affairs Ministry has been working on different strategies for
welfare of Muslim community which include protection and development of waqf
properties.'' ''A one-man "Board of Adjudication" at Central level
has been established to deal with complaints regarding waqf properties which
will be headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court'', he said. Naqvi said
efforts are being made to ensure that all the waqf boards and their records
across the country are computerised. In this regard, Minority Affairs Ministry
has been providing all possible help to the state waqf boards. The
Computerisation of waqf boards and their properties will help in ensuring
transparency in functioning of waqf boards.3-member tribunals are being
established in the states and about 24 states have established these tribunals
so far. There are about 4,49,314 registered and non-registered waqf properties
across the country. The number of these properties will be increased after
computerisation of waqf boards'', he said. UNI
Maharashtra: Muslim
community takes out morcha demanding reservation in Aurangabad
Aurangabad: Muslim
community from Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district yesterday took out a ‘Muslim
Arakashan Muk Morcha’ to press for their demands, including a grant of 15
percent reservation to Muslim community under the Ragnath Mishra Commission,
Sacchar Committee and Mehmood-Ur-Rehman committee reports.According to the
organisers, more than two lakh participants from various Muslim organizations,
including people from all walks of life, participated in the morcha, which
started from Aam Khas Maidan to Divisional Commissioner office.The morcha later
moved to their destination route and reached to the Divisional Commissioner
office, where the student delegation submitted their demands in the form of a
memorandum to the District Commissioner, Purshotam Bhapkar.ANI
Maharashtra: Muslims of
Osmanabad march in large numbers demanding reservation
The campaign for Muslim
reservation in Maharashtra continues to gain strength, with Thursday witnessing
yet another awareness campaign in Osmanabad district. As many as 1.5 lakh
Muslims gathered in the district and conducted a 3-km silent march.Before
proceeding, the crowd rallied at Gazi maidan at 12.30 pm where 8 students from
different school delivered speeches on “Importance and need of Muslim
reservation”.The crowd also sang the National anthem before the march. The
turnout was impressive especially considering that the city has only 30,000
Muslims while the total number of Muslims in the district is about 3 lakh.TCN
Parliament Street mosque
under govt scanner
Parliament Street mosque
frequented by Vice President Hamid Ansari and Muslim Member of the Parliament,
is now under Delhi government’s radar, for alleged mismanagement of funds,
inflammatory speeches and misuse of mosque premises. Sources said that while
investigation in the matter has been ordered based on a complaint of a mosque
member, SDM has sought the inquiry report in the matter. Meanwhile, the mosque
management has refuted the allegations claiming that they’ve been falsely
levied by certain anti-social elements to grab the mosque land. “The mosque is
being eyed by certain anti-social elements to carry out possible misdeeds at
the Parliament. We have in past complained to the Govt of India about the same
and will once again bring the matter to the Home Ministry’s attention as it
concerns the national security,” said Abid Umar Khan, Legal Advisor, Parliament
Street Masjid. Khan added that while the order by SDM is in violation as it
doesn’t have a jurisdiction over the mosque, the mosque administration is
planning to file a contempt petition in the High Court next week in this
regard.Meanwhile, the authorities confirmed that an inquiry has been ordered in
the financial misconduct of the mosque and also illegal construction. DNA
Chhattisgarh HC issues
notice to govt, police over ‘fake encounter’
Raipur;Chhattisgarh high
court on Friday issued notices to the state government and top police officials
in connection with the alleged fake encounter of a person, claimed to be
Maoist, in Kondagaon in November last year. Bilaspur bench of the court issued
notices to state chief secretary, director general of police, inspector general
of police(Bastar) and SP Kondagaon on a petition filed by the wife of the
deceased, Bal Singh Sori, and local Congress MLA Mohan Markam. hindustantimes
Muslim boy shines in
Sanskrit class, recites verses from the Gita: TOI
Vijayapura: He recites 52
shlokas of the Bhagwad Gita, fluently and with clear diction. Mohammed Unus
Usmangani Makanadar, 13, a student of class 9 at PDJ High School 'A' here chose
Sanskrit as his optional subject, when he joined class 8 in 2015.Unus'
recitation has astonished his teachers. The boy has a simple goal: "I want
to get more marks in Sanskrit and learn an additional language; my ambition is
to complete a postgraduate degree in Sanskrit. Another aim is to recite all
sections of the Bhagwad Gita."
Mangaluru: Muslims offer
fruit juice to Hindu devotees during festival
Mangaluru: Murders, attacks
on innocent youths, communal tension and hate speeches might have made Ullal in
Mangaluru a sensitive region. However, there are instances that make region
famous for communal harmony too.On Friday, Muslim brethren in Ullal showed an
exemplary gesture that herald the message of communal harmony. While members of
the Hindu community were celebrating annual festival at Sri Ullalthi Dharma
Arasara Temple, Uliya in Ullal, Muslims in the region welcomed devotees by
offering fruit juice. Muslim brethren not only offered soft drinks to Hindu
devotees, but also extended festival wishes.TOI
In Bengaluru, now,
burqa-clad girl allegedly molested, injured in wee hours: indianexpress
Bengaluru; A girl was
allegedly stalked and sexually assaulted in KG Halli region of eastern
Bengaluru in the early hours of Friday. Burqa-clad girl was allegedly attacked
by a stranger while she was walking towards a bus stop around 6.45 am. The
attack resulted in injuries, the girl has stated. CCTV footage of the street
captured the movements of the girl and the suspect prior to the alleged
incident.When the girl informed her family members about the incident, they
rushed her to hospital. The family later filed a complaint at KG Halli police
station. The police have registered a case of molestation and wrongful
restraint against the unidentified person.The incident has come to light even
as the police are investigating the incidents on the night of December 31 on M
G Road and Brigade Road, where several women were allegedly molested and groped
despite the presence of 1,500 police personnel to control the New Year
revellers.
Aadhaar now mandatory for
EPFO members & pensioners
New Delhi:Retirement
fund body EPFO has made it mandatory for its about 50 lakh pensioners and
around 4 crore subscribers to provide either Aadhaar or a proof that they have
applied for it till month-end to remain the beneficiary of its social security
schemes.The body's central provident fund commissioner V P Joy said, "We
will review the situation by month-end and may give more time to subscribers as
well as pensioners to provide the 12 digit Aadhaar number," Joy said
further. timesofindia
'Modi has to go': Post-2002
Gujarat riots, Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted then CM to step down: By Ullekh NP
5-STATE POLLS & POLITICS
States polls: EC seeks
Centre’s response on petitions to defer Budget
New Delhi: Election
Commission has sought a response from the Central government on the Opposition
parties' petitions seeking that the Union Budget presentation be deferred.EC
has written to Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha seeking the govt's reply by
Jan.10.The Opposition parties had earlier this week petitioned the Commission
asking that the Central government should defer the Budget presentation on
account of the upcoming Assembly elections in 5 States. Representatives of the
Congress, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, JDU, RKD
and DMK had met CEC Nasim Zaidi. While the EC is examining the petitions,
Commission sources said the date for Budget presentation was not likely to
change in case the Centre chose not to defer it.owever, as per the Model Code
of Conduct, the government cannot make any specific Budget announcement
pertaining to the poll-bound States which may amount to influencing voters. thehindu
EC seeks Centre's response
to Opposition parties' demand to present Budget after state elections
BJP’s Sakshi Maharaj:
Population rise because of those supporting idea of 4 wives, 40 children
Meerut; Controversial BJP
parliamentarian Sakshi Maharaj has waded into another controversy by appearing
to blame Muslims for the population boom and urging all political parties to
come together for framing “population control” laws.“This population rise in
not because of Hindus. The population has risen because of those who support
the concept of four wives and 40 children. It is not acceptable,” the Unnao MP
said at an election rally in UP’s Meerut.The state goes to the polls in about a
month and the BJP is locked in a tough fight with regional rivals Samajwadi
Party (SP) and BSP, and the Congress.The remark came days after the Supreme
Court barred candidates from seeking votes in the name of religion. The
Congress said the comment was “offensive” and violated the model code of
conduct.“We will definitely move the election commission,” Congress leader KC
Mittal told ANI.ANI
4 wives, 40 children, 3
divorces are unacceptable, says BJP leader Sakshi Maharaj
BJP distances itself from Maharaj’s
comment on Muslim
Maharaj booked for
provocative 'population speech', election commission seeks report
Meerut:A case has been
registered against BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj over his controversial comment on
population growth. Maharaj has been booked for hurting religious sentiments by
blaming Muslims for exponential population growth in the country.UP Chief
Election Officer has also sought response from Sakshi Maharaj on his
controversial comment.IndiaToday
UP polls: 24 Muslim
aspirants in BSP’s 3rd list
Lucknow: BSP on Saturday
announced its third list of candidates for 100 more Assembly seats, with 24
Muslim aspirants getting tickets.The party has declared nominees for 300 of the
403 assembly seats so far.While BSP’s first list of 100 candidates contained
names of 36 Muslim candidates, the second and third list have 22 and 24
aspirants respectively from that community.Muslims account for nearly 20% of
the state’s electorate and perhaps keeping this in mind, members of that
community have been given the weightage.PTI
Muzaffarnagar riots
rendered many roofless:newindianexpress
Muzaffarnagar: Empty bags
stitched to each other and a blanket — all tied to a few wooden sticks, erected
in four corners — is what Muhammed Furqaan calls his home. Hardly five feet, it
is just enough to cover the family. But then, there is no roof.Come a light
breeze and the cover, which Furqaan calls a home, blows away. He would then
wait for the wind to calm down, get the empty bags and blanket together and
once again “build” his “house”. When it rains, he would request some of his
neighbours to provide him temporary shelter.Not that Furqaan did not have a
house in his village nearby. He did, but all of it is now in ruins and he
cannot go back as he fears
attacks.Post-Sept.2013, when thousands like him were caught in communal clashes
across Muzaffarnagar and their properties damaged by violent mobs, all were
forced to flee the village and live in temporary camps in other villages. With
the ruling Akhilesh -led Samajwadi party government assuring all help and `5 lakh compensation for each family besides
a plot, Furqaan, who lost his relative in the clashes, had hoped that he could
re-build his life.Now, more than three years later, Furqaan and his family say
they would have preferred death than leading this kind of life. Like Furqaan,
there are hundreds of families who have either not got compensation they were
promised while some received partial amounts. They continue to live like
refugees in the most bizarre conditions as the State administration is all
geared up for the upcoming elections.
Withdraw from govt if you
are sincere, RSS mouthpiece tells Shiv Sena
Mumbai: The war of words
between Shiv Sena and BJP continued on Friday with right wing RSS associated
newspaper “Tarun Bharat” daring Uddhav Thackeray to walk out of the government
instead of hurling abuses daily against the Modi govt. It also cautioned Uddhav
against borrowed bravado, arguing it would be detrimental to their party as
people cannot be fooled with political rhetoric. indianexpress
WORLD
Ex-Pak General Raheel
Sharif appointed chief of Saudi-led Islamic military coalition
Islamabad:Pakistan’s
recently retired army chief General Raheel Sharif will head a Saudi Arabia-led
39-nation Islamic military coalition formed to combat terrorism, Defence
Minister Khawaja Asif said. Asif admitted that an agreement in this regard was
finalised a few days back. He, however, said he did not have much information
about the details of the said agreement. Asif said the decision was taken after
taking the incumbent government into confidence and “it was finalised here
first”. The headquarters of the new Saudi-led coalition would be based in
Riyadh.He said any such assignment or posting requires proper clearance from
the government and General Headquarters (GHQ) both and confirmed that the due
process was followed before finalising the agreement.“As you are aware that
this thing was in the pipeline for quite some time and the Prime Minister was
also part of the deliberations,” Asif was quoted as saying by Dawn News.He was
of the opinion that formation of such an alliance is a good step, as the
“Muslim Ummah is in a spot of bother right now and needs unity among its
ranks”. Raheel retired as army chief in Nov. and has been succeeded by General
Qamar Javed Bajwa.The coalition includes Turkey,UAE, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Tunisia, Sudan, Malaysia, Egypt, Yemen among others.PTI
Israel halts $6m to UN to
protest UNSC settlements vote
Israel says it is cutting a
substantial amount in its annual dues to the United Nations this year in
protest of last month's Security Council resolution condemning Israeli
settlement activity on occupied Palestinian territories.The announcement made
by Israel's UN Mission on Friday stipulated that $6 million out of more than a
regular $40 million allocated to "anti-Israel bodies" will be
halted.Among those who will no longer be receiving monetary assistance are the
UN agency for Palestinian refugees or UNRWA, the Division for Palestinian
Rights, the committee investigating Israeli practices affecting Palestinian
human rights, and information programs on "the Question of
Palestine", the mission said. aljazeera
Turkey orders fresh purge:
Over 8,000 civil servants, 80 associations dismissed
Istanbul: Turkey on
Saturday ordered the dismissal of almost 8,400 civil servants and the closure
of over 80 associations, including sports clubs, in the latest round of purges
after the failed coup six months ago.More than 100,000 people have already been
suspended or sacked in a crackdown on those alleged to have links to
coup-plotters in a relentless purge that shows no sign of slowing.According to 3
new decrees published within the state of emergency imposed after the coup,
8,390 more civil servants are to lose their jobs from 63 different state
institutions. They include 2,687 police officers, 1,699 civil servants from the
Justice Ministry, 838 health officials and hundreds of employees from other
ministries. Another 631 academics and 8 members of the Council of State were
also dismissed. AFP
Turkey report reveals Gullen
outfit’s relations with PKK, IS
Ankara: Turkey's General
Command of Gendarmerie has issued a report revealing the links between the
Fetullah Terrorist Organization, PKK and Daesh prior to and following the July
15 coup attempt, which left at least 248 people martyred and nearly 2,200
injured. 28-page report was submitted Friday to a Parliamentary committee
investigating coup plot.“An assessment of events, intelligence, intercepted
radio conversations, and seized materials suggest that FETO members involved in
the coup attempt could travel to regions with the help of Daesh and PKK members
in order to avoid security forces,” the report said. Anadolu Agency
Car bomb kills 60 in Syria’s
Azaz
Azaz; At least 60 people
were killed Saturday by a car bomb attack in Aleppo’s opposition-held Azaz
district in northwestern Syria, according to a pro-opposition Syrian civil
defense official. An explosive-laden vehicle blew up in front of a local court
in the center of Azaz, Iyad Sheikh Razuk said.The attack caused severe
destruction in the area, Razuk added.Anadolu Agency
Syrian opposition says
Reports of ceasefire near Damascus ‘a lie’
A senior Syrian opposition
official denied a report that a ceasefire had been reached between armed
opposition factions and government forces in the Wadi Barada area near Damascus
yesterday, where Assad regime bombardments have knocked out capital’s main
water source.The govt and allied fighters from the Lebanese group Hezbollah
launched an attack 2 weeks ago to take back Wadi Barada where a spring provides
water supplies to four million people in the capital.A military news outlet run
by Hezbollah reported that a ceasefire had been reached for “a number of hours”
in the area.But Munir Sayal, head of the political wing of the Ahrar Al-Sham
rebel group, told Reuters report was “a lie”. middleeastmonitor
US-backed Syrian forces
seize Jabar citadel near Euphrates from IS
Beirut;US-backed militias
in Syria have captured an ancient citadel from Islamic State (IS) in a
strategically significant advance against the militant group in its stronghold
of Raqqa province, a spokesperson said on Friday.Jabar citadel on the banks of
Lake Assad was taken by SDF alliance on Thursday, militia spokesperson Talal
Silo said. It is located near a dam on the Euphrates River that the US-backed
alliance also aims to capture in the current phase of its campaign.Maamoun
Abdulkarim, Syrian govt’s antiquities chief, told Reuters in Damascus the SDF’s
capture of the castle represented a “victory for the Syrian people because
liberating the citadel from IS is saving Syrian heritage”.SDF, which includes
the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, is the main partner for the US in the
campaign it is leading against IS in Syria. SDF forces are just a few
kilometres from a major dam also held by
IS.IS is also being fought in separate campaigns by the Russian-backed Syrian
army in Deir al-Zor province and near the ancient town of Palmyra, which IS
seized for a second time in Dec. and by Turkish-backed Syrian rebels in Aleppo
province near Syrian-Turkish border.Reuters
Turkish military says 32 IS
militants killed in Syria: Reuters
Thousands more Iraqis flee
Mosul battles
More than 13,000 civilians
have fled Iraq's Mosul over the past five days since govt troops began the
second phase in a battle to retake the city from the ISIL last week, UN has
said."The average daily displacement numbers have increased by nearly 50
percent since military operations intensified, some 1,600 to more than 2,300
displaced per day," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.Iraqi troops,
backed by US-led coalition air strikes, resumed their push to retake the
northern city after a two-week lull in the operation. aljazeera
IS militants kill 4
soldiers near Iraq's Tikrit: army, police sources: Reuters
Muslim country Bahrain rejects
proposal to ban pork
http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/muslim-country-bahrain-rejects-proposal-to-ban-pork/297609
Bahrain’s government has
rejected a proposal by a lawmaker to ban the import and sale of pork in the
country, reported Gulf News.There has been multiple attempts by lawmakers to
ban consumption of pork in the Bahrain, a Muslim country ruled by a Sunni king,
whose family holds the main political and military posts.The government decided
not to ban pork considering that large number of non-Muslims work and live in
Bahrain. Almost half of the population is foreigners “The government said that all kinds of meat
imported by Bahrain, including pork, were duly checked to ensure they met the
sanitary requirements, Bahraini daily Al Ayam reported”.The government’s stance
to allow the sale of pork has been firm despite attempts by lawmakers to
reverse it. outlookindia
Report on US polls hacking
says Russia plans to do more
Washington:The new,
declassified report on Russian efforts to influence the presidential election
has a troublesome prediction: Russia isn’t done intruding in US politics and
policymaking. Immediately after Election Day, Russia began a “spear-phishing”
campaign to try to trick people into revealing their email passwords, targeting
US government employees and think tanks that specialize in national security,
defense and foreign policy, the report released on Friday said.AP
How US intel report on
elections will affect Trump, Putin and the world:article
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:11 PM)
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