Evening NEWS DIGEST
20 Feb.2017: 22 Jamadiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:121
Disclose action on Gandhi assassination panel report
which reportedly said evidence only points towards Savarkar, his group being
part of conspiracy: CIC to PMO
New Delhi: CIC has directed
the PMO to disclose action taken on JL Kapur Commission report on Mahatma
Gandhi’s assassination which reportedly said evidence only points towards
theory of Veer Savarkar and his group being part of criminal conspiracy. The
Commission also recommended the top office to build exhaustive archives on
Mahatma Gandhi on the lines of recent declassification of files pertaining to
Subhash Chandra Bose.The watchdog transferred an RTI plea seeking records
related to the assassination of Gandhi on Jan. 30, 1948, subsequent probe and
the court case.The Commission said the petition should be transferred to PMO
for “information” and necessary action to formulate appropriate policy to build
archives of records regarding Gandhi’s assassination, investigation, trial,
punishment, official correspondence, and action taken on the recommendations of
JL Kapur Commission.The govt had appointed a Judicial Commission under the
chairmanship of JL Kapur to inquire into the conspiracy angle and other aspects
of the assassination of Gandhi, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu
said. He said a copy of the Kapur report is available with Indian Law
Institute, New Delhi which has a treasure trove of information about Gandhi’s
death which needs to be probed and an archive could be built in National
Archives of India (NAI). Citing an article by noted historian and lawyer AG
Noorani in ‘The Hindu’ paper, Acharyulu said the court had earlier exonerated
Savarkar for want of corroborative evidence in support of the approver’s
confession.“However, Justice Kapur’s findings are all too clear. He concluded:
“All these facts taken together were destructive of any theory other than the
conspiracy to murder by Savarkar and his group” (Noorani, AG (March 15-28,2003).
“Savarkar and Gandhi”. The Hindu),”he said.PTI
Why hide Nathuram Godse
Statement, Mahatma Gandhi legacy too big to be destroyed
In view of Mahashivratri,
J&K separatists cancel this Friday protest
New Delhi:The separatist
camp in Kashmir has decided to cancel the routine Friday protest in the valley
this week as it falls on the festival day of Mahashivratri, as TOI reported
this morning.The separatist camp comprises Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq and Yasin Malik."Hindu festival Shivratri falls on the same date so
joint leadership (separatist camp) has decided to cancel the protest
call," the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat spokesperson Ayaz Akbar told
TOI today."We weren't aware that the Shivratri festival falls on (the)
coming Friday (Feb.24). But when the issue was reported, we took the matter as
urgent and started working on it," Akbar said earlier. That's why an
earlier calendar last week scheduled the protests on Feb.24."We have time
still. We have taken note and will reschedule protest soon," he added.Meanwhile,
other constituent parties, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat, also
expressed their concern over the protest date coinciding with the Hindu
festival. They too have extended support to the Hindu community in the state."The
issue is under consideration and new date will be announced soon," Hurriyat
(Mirwaiz) spokesperson Shahid-ul-Islam told TOI."We haven't issued any
bandh on the date", he added. timesofindia
J&K: Separatists call
off strike on Friday due to Shivaratri
ban case: IRF opposes
Centre plea for in-camera proceedings in tribunal
New Delhi: Zakir Naik's
Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) today opposed the govt's plea for holding
in-camera proceedings in the tribunal which is scrutinising whether the
immediate ban on IRF was justified. IRF contended before Delhi High Court's
Justice Sangita Dhingra Seghal, who is presiding over the tribunal set up under
the UAPA, that the government's plea for in-camera proceedings was a
"garb" to deny them the material relied upon to ban the organisation.
The lawyer for IRF also said the material relied upon for imposing the
immediate ban on it had to be disclosed in the notification and added that none
of the material has been provided to them as yet. Additional Solicitor General
(ASG) Sanjay Jain pressed for in-camera hearing claiming the "subject
matter was sensitive" and there was a possibility that it could be
disclosed during the proceedings before the tribunal. He said he would claim confidentiality with
regard to certain documents during proceedings before the tribunal and added
that when chargesheet has not been filed, the material regarding ongoing probe
into IRF cannot be provided to it. "The material given to the tribunal
regarding ongoing probe cannot be disclosed to him," the ASG said. After
hearing arguments of both sides, the tribunal said it would pass order on the
govrnment's application for in- camera hearing on Feb. 23. It also fixed March
17, 18 and 20 for recording of evidence in the matter. IRF had earlier moved
the tribunal against the November 17, 2016 notification of the Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA) imposing the ban on it. However, since the tribunal declined to
hear the matter before February 6, the foundation had moved the High Court
challenging the immediate ban. PTI
Zakir Naik's NGO money
trails leads ED to Pakistan, Dawood: TOI report
Mumbai: Security agencies
monitoring Karachi-based businessmen close to D-Company and a `terror outfit
masquerading as charitable and social organisation' for funding Mumbai-based
IRF.3 days after Zakir Naik's chief financial officer Aamir Gazdar was arrested
by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged money laundering, the trail has
led the sleuths to Pakistan and the D-Company. In what could turn out to be a
massive hawala racket in India, the ED is probing a few businessmen in Karachi,
known to be close to Dawood, who have purportedly "moved" large
amounts of money into Naik's IRF accounts."A closely coordinated
investigation is on to conclusively find out whether linked with a
Pakistan-based terror outfit masquerading as social workers' organisation, and
businessmen close to Dawood Ibrahim have moved funds to Naik's NGO," a
high-ranking ED official said.MumbaiMirror/TOI
Musharraf says Afghan intel
agency playing into India’s hands, facilitating terror
Former Pakistan president
Pervaiz Musharraf has said that Afghanistan’s intelligence agency -- the
National Directorate of Security (NDS) -- was playing into India’s hands, and
was being used as a tool for facilitating terror groups in Pakistan, media
reported on Monday.“This operation (Zarb-e-Azb) cleaned up all the camps and
launching pads of terrorists, who were supported by the Indian spy agency with
the collaboration of NDS, to destabilise the tribal areas,” Musharraf was
quoted as saying to a TV Channel by Pakistan Today.Asked why he did not wipe
out these outfits during his tenure, he said these terrorist groups did not
exist during his tenure.“This all started after I stepped down; we had carved
out an effective strategy vis-Ã -vis Kashmir, we were near resolving Kashmir
issue with India on a four-point agenda, our policies were successful; America
and China were aligning with us.”On the arrest of Hafiz Saeed, Musharraf said
Hafiz was not a terrorist.“Hafiz Saeed is not a terrorist, it should be
established as he runs a very large charity; they contributed to relief
activities in post-earthquake and post-flood periods in Pakistan.”IANS
Putting Hafiz Saeed on
terror list first logical step to bring him to justice, says India
NEW DELHI: India on Monday
said Pakistan's action to put Hafiz Saeed on terror list is the first logical
step in bringing him to justice and ridding the region of terrorism and violent
extremism.""Effective action mandated internationally against him and
his terrorist organisations and colleagues is a logical first step in bringing
them to justice, and in ridding our region of the twin menaces of terrorism and
violent extremism," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup
said.PTI
Bhopal: Two more ISI agents fall in ATS
dragnet
Bhopal: ATS have arrested
two more ISI agents from Delhi and Chhatarpur and presented them in the Bhopal
court of JMFC Kamla Ahirwar on Sunday. The court has sent them on police remand
till Feb.23.ATS arrested Abdul Jabbar from Jama Masjid, New Delhi and Sahyog
Singh from Choubey colony Chhatarpur in an ISI espionage case, on Saturday
evening.
Delhi: Family of alleged
Pak spy held from Jama Masjid area says he is innocent
Delhi: For around 24 hours
till Saturday evening, Abdul Jabbar’s family did not know where the police had
taken the 62-year-old man. Delhi police special cell and Madhya Pradesh ATS on
Friday evening had come knocking at his hotel, Basheer guest house in Jama
Masjid area, and said Jabbar was needed for a ‘quick interrogation’ by a senior
officer. Within minutes, police had huddled him into their gypsy parked near
the hotel on the busy road towards Jama Masjid. Jabbar, a father of two, has
been accused of being a part of Pakistan ISI spy, where his alleged role was to
supply hawala money to Pakistan ISI operatives in J&K. “Uncle (Jabbar) was
here in the hotel when 3 police officers came to the guest house and said they
were from special cell. They were wearing plain clothes and said that a senior
officer had summoned uncle and took him in a police gypsy within minutes.They
did not say anything. There were around 15-20 police officers outside the
hotel,” said Fahad, a relative.Family said they were informed about Jabbar’s
arrest in Bhopal only on Saturday.Jabbar’s relatives denied allegations and
said that was being framed. Jabbar owns Basheer guest house while his son runs
a fisheries business. Relatives said Jabbar has a clean record and lives with
his family in a first floor house, near Jagat cinema in Jama Masjid.“Uncle has
a limp.He has difficulty walking and needs to be taken around in a scooter. It
is difficult to believe he is a spy. He does not have a criminal record.” Fahad
said.HT
Daryaganj man held for
suspected ISI links
Missing JNU student
Najeeb’s mother in Bihar: ‘Centre ignoring pleas to find my son’
Patna:Fatima Nafees, mother
of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmad, Sunday took the stage at CPI-ML
(Liberation)’s ‘Adhikar rally’ in Patna and attacked the Centre for failing to
trace the first-year biotechnology student.Najeeb went missing on Oct. 15 last
year, a day after an alleged altercation with some ABVP students on the campus.“Just
because my son comes from a poor family and is a Muslim, BJP Govt has not been
paying heed to our requests. We are running from pillar to post to raise our
voice and want you all to be our voice,” said Fatima.Accompanied by her son
Mujeeb Ahmad, she alleged that ABVP students were involved in her son’s
disappearance Najeeb’s younger brother, Mujeeb, said: “We have approached every
high office. We met UP CM Akhilesh Yadav, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the then
Delhi L- G Najeeb Jung and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. PM Narendra Modi
is the only one we haven’t met, we will meet him too”. indianexpress
Najeeb’s mother makes an
emotional speech at Patna rally
AMUTA Welcomes CBI Enquiry
Into The Complaints Against V-C
New Delhi: AMU Teachers Association
(AMUTA), welcomed the govt's action of sending a CBI team to enquire into the
complaints made against VC. 'Executive Committee of AMUTA appreciates and
welcomes the action of the Govt in
sending a CBI team to enquire into the complaints made against V-C Lt. Gen.
Zameeruddin Shah (Retd) on the subject of irregularities in appointments,
promotions, admissions, financial contracts, deteriorating law and order that
resulted in firings, blinding and murders as well as transfer of AMU property to
outside agencies including a private trust named Sir Syed Education
Foundation,' Teachers association said. Sources said that the enquiry team has
met University Registrar and Finance Officer so far. AMUTA has also appealed to
enable a proper unbiased enquiry to be held and the powers of V-C and Pro V-C
should be withdrawn immediately. NDTV
Malegaon blasts accused
gets bail to contest UP polls; Mumbai police want to give custody to UP cops
Mumbai.Navi Mumbai police
wants to hand over custody of 2008 Malegaon blasts accused Major Ramesh
Upadhyay to UP Police for the 3 weeks he
will be in the state for poll campaigning. Upadhyay has been granted interim
permission by the special court hearing the Malegaon blasts case to travel to UP
for 3 weeks along with a police escort team to the constituency from which he
is contesting polls.Navi Mumbai police wrote to the court on Saturday that its
officers will not be apprised with local intelligence in UP as well as the law
and order situation there at the time of elections, and so they be permitted to
hand over the accused to UP police. The Navi Mumbai police has suggested that
they will escort Upadhyay till UP from where the local police can take over.
They also sought clarifications from the court on whether Upadhyay is to be
handcuffed at all times and whether he should be sent to a prison at the end of
each day of campaigning. indianexpress
Congress, Left, Kejriwal
slam Modi for his 'communal, irresponsible' comment about Ramzan
New Delhi: After PM
Narendra Modi said yesterday that "if there is electricity during Ramzan,
it should be there on Diwali too", Congress, AAP and CPM have slammed him
for making what they call "communal" and "irresponsible"
comments. Yesterday, at a campaign rally in Fatehpur in UP, Modi said
"there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste or
religion", BJP4U, the twitter handle of the party tweeted.TOI
Modi’s speech on Ramzan and
Qabristan violates Supreme Court’s January verdict
Modi, Amit Shah are
terrorists spreading fear: UP minister Rajendra Chowdhary
PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah are
terrorists who are trying to terrorise people in UP , a Samajwadi Party
minister has said, as campaigning in the state turned ugly halfway through the
seven-phase assembly elections. The comment by Rajendra Chowdhary came shortly
after Modi accused SP Govt of discrimination on the basis of religion. “They
want to create an environment of fear. They are both terrorists -- Narendra
Modi and Amit Shah. They are creating terror in our democracy,” Chowdhary said.
“They have nothing to say and hence are making wild allegations. BJP knows it
is losing the plot in UP and it will fare worse than in Bihar,” the senior
minister, who is also the party’s spokesperson, said after voting in the third
round ended on Sunday.HT
Why Mau vote for jailed
Mukhtar election after election?
Mau: For 2 decades, voters
here have elected a MLA whom they have barely seen. He's been in jail facing
charges in over a dozen criminal cases, including for his alleged role in the
murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in 2005. Yet Mukhtar Ansari holds sway over
this east UP town dotted with stuttering power looms and hapless
weavers.Bahubali (strongman) turned-neta Ansari, 56, is back in focus as a BSP
candidate. Last week the Delhi high court stayed his parole and the case will
be heard again on Monday. Nonetheless, some locals say Mukhtar is the man to
beat with Samajwadis' Altaf Ansari, owner of a bunch of power looms, emerging
top challenger.
Law college in Kerala
launches competition to study UCC
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-law-college-in-kerala-launches-competition-to-study-ucc-2328346
The proposed Uniform Civil
Code may have received objection from the Muslim personal board, but a law
college patronised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has
launched a competition, in which law students across the country will research
on the subject.Baselios Cardinal Cleemis the president of CBCI and National
United Christian Forum, who is the patron of Mar Gregorios College of Law from
Thiruvananthapuram is organising competition in association with Menon Institute
of Legal Advocacy Training, reported Mail Today. It was also reported that the
best report will go to the President and PM . DNA
Nitish, Lalu doing
vote-bank politics on triple talaq: RSS leader Indresh Kumar
Patna: RSS leader Indresh
Kumar on Sunday attacked Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad,
saying both leaders have been doing vote-bank politics by supporting triple
talaq and opposing a uniform civil code.Indresh, known for his vocal defence of
Hinduvta politics, said: "Nitish Kumar, who is also the JD-U President,
and Lalu have been playing politics to break the country for the sake of
vote."IANS
95% Muslim women unaware of
personal law board, claims Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan’s study:TOI
Ahmedabad: While there have
been nationwide signature campaigns by Muslim groups against the abolishing of
Triple Talaq practice, a nationwide study shockingly states 95.5% of Muslim
women across the country have not heard or are unaware of All India Muslim
Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). The board has been long opposing the abolishment
of Triple Talaq. In fact, last year in Oct 'Jamiat-e-Ulma-I-Hind' in Ahmedabad
claimed they have garnered the support of at least 2.50 lakh people, which
included a large number of Muslim women, for whose rights votaries of a uniform
civil code law and advocates of triple talaq have been campaigning. However,
the findings of the study, conducted by Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA),
paint a different picture, as most Muslim women are not even aware of the
board's existence.Commenting on the issue, Zakia Soman, founding member, BMMA,
said, "The entire premise of the signature campaign to garner support for
the triple talaq issue is questionable here because when women are not aware of
the board, how are they supposed to know what it propagates and stands
for," said Soman. Mufti Abdul Qayyum Mansuri, vice-president of
Jamait-E-Ulma-IHind's, Gujarat chapter, who led the signature campaigns, said,
"Women of Muslim community are often being exploited in the name of triple
talaq and this is solely due to the mistakes and irresponsibility young men
show. In fact, we are making attempts to spread awareness and sensitize members
of our own community regarding the issue.""Our fight is not against
the triple talaq, but rather against the Uniform Civil Code," he added.
Pay divorced wife from
pension annuities, UK court orders NRI
Mumbai: In an order that
may impact divorce battles between NRI couples in the UK, an appeal court there
has decided that a pension-sharing provision does not apply to foreign
pensions, but directed a man to pay a monthly maintenance to his former wife
from its annuities. The order may make it tough for warring couples in the UK
to transfer or conceal assets offshore, a lawyer said.The squabbling couple is
a banker and his former wife.He once earned over £350,000 a year but blew up
his fortune on spread-betting and gathered debts of £500,000, courts were told.
In October 2015, a UK family court ordered him to hand over two-thirds of his
pension income to his former wife after observing that he had transferred three
UK pension funds to an Indian pension provider.As per UK law, a pension may be
divided between divorcing spouses by means of a sharing order. But the dispute
landed in an appeal court where the husband argued that provisions under Matrimonial
Causes Act of 1973 did not apply to foreign pensions. The court agreed but
ordered him to pay the woman two-thirds of the quarterly income derived from
the annuity policy as it arises.TOI
Note ban delays military
projects
New Delhi: Demonetisation
has had an adverse effect on defence infrastructure projects, say field reports
from the military commands.Various engineering agencies —Border Roads
Organisation, Military Engineer Services and the Corps of Engineers — are
involved in executing several dozen important military projects across the
country mostly using private contractors. Projects are crucial for military
capabilities, especially those closer to borders. The contractors employ daily
wage labourers, mainly migrants from the hinterland.“As of now, we have only
field reports. By early April, the figures would be in and we would know how
badly it has impacted the infrastructure projects,” a senior officer said. From
runways and roads to office complexes and accommodations, all the projects have
dramatically slowed down since the Nov.8 announcement, multiple sources have said. thehindu
In yet another
demonetisation blow to Modi govt, BSF arrests man in Malda with Rs 96,000 in
fake currency notes
New Delhi:In yet another
instance of demonetisation drive not being able to prevent or control the
inflow of fake currency in the new denominations that were introduced in the
wake of PM Modi’s note ban order on Nov. 8, 2016, the BSF has revealed that its
men have arrested a resident of district with Rs 96,000 in duplicate notes. These
were in the form of Rs 2000 denomination notes and the arrest was in in Malda’s
Baisnabnagar. Analysts and political opposition had highlighted their concerns
that the scrapping of the Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes were all very well to fight
generation of fake currency and black money, but the printing of the Rs 2000
note is likely to increase, rather than decrease due to the availability of
this high denomination note. However, the Govt has said that the new notes, both Rs 2000 and
Rs 500 are quite secure as they carry a number of new high-security features.
Nevertheless, the increasing number of people being caught with fake currency
also shows that wrongdoers are not being deterred from indulging in printing
illegal currency. financialexpress
Demonetisation: RBI
increases weekly cash withdrawal limit for savings bank account to Rs 50,000
from today
SC junks PIL for SIT probe
into demonetisation
The Supreme Court today
refused to entertain a PIL seeking an SIT probe into the Govt’s decision to
demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The SC dismissed the plea which also
sought removal of the ‘Swachh Bharat’ Mission logo on new currency notes of Rs
500 and Rs 2,000.PTI
Aides of accused not yet
identified: NIA to court
Kochi: NIA on Friday
submitted before the NIA Special Court here that some of the members of the
South Indian module of the IS were still elusive. Opposing a bail plea filed by
accused Ramshad and N K Jasim, NIA officers said some of the persons who
attended IS meeting at Kanakamala in Kannur were yet to be identified. The court reserved its order on the bail plea. newindianexpress
Right-wing’s poster boy
Tarek Fatah denied entry to literary festival because of Islamophobic remarks
Pakistani social media
celebrity and Hindutva poster boy, Tarek Fatah, faced public anger on Sunday
after his alleged Islamophobic remarks left many at Delhi’s literary festival
utterly enraged. A video of Fatah being rudely told to leave the event,
Jashn-e-Rekhta, has now gone viral on social media platforms.According to
reports, Fatah had arrived at the event uninvited and allegedly began to
address some attendees ‘jihadis.’ This prompted the organisers to told him to
leave the venue of the event. Visibly unperturbed even in the face of
humiliation, Fatah insisted on staying on by adding that he was not ‘scared’ of
anyone. jantakareporter
Tarek Fatah, controversial
TV personality, involved in fracas at Urdu festival in Delhi
Pakistan-born author
targeted at Delhi Urdu festival: IANS
Urdu runs in the blood of
this IPS officer Murlidhar Sharma
Kolkata: While Aamir
Khan-starrer Bollywood blockbuster Dangal showed how wrestler Mahavir Singh
Phogat defied norms and trained his daughters into wrestling champions, another
son of Haryana had years ago went against the family tradition of indulging in
wrestling and kabaddi and pursued Urdu for the love of the language. Today, he
is not just a successful IPS officer but is all set to release his book on Urdu
poetries. Meet Murlidhar Sharma, deputy commissioner, Special Task Force (STF)
of the Kolkata Police who uses the pen name of Taalib to write Urdu ghazals.
Sharma has named his first book of shayari (poetries) Haasil e Sahranavardi
(What is retrieved through wandering in a desert). Born to late Jaikaran
Sharma, who ran a tea stall, and Santosh Sharma, a homemaker, Sharma was in
love with Urdu and other art forms during his school days itself. While his
father encouraged him to participate in kabaddi tournaments, him playing Ram in
Ramleela was highly criticised at home. “I played kabaddi in the district level
but had to quit Raamleela under pressure from family,” he said.DNA
CBI registers FIR against
meat exporter Moin Qureshi in graft case
New Delhil:CBI on Monday
registered a case against meat exporter Moin Qureshi in a graft case, on the
complaint of Enforcement Directorate (ED). CBI conducted searches in 4 cities-Delhi,
Ghaziabad, Hyderabad and Chennai- in connection with FIR against Qureshi,
including at the premises of businessman Pradeep Koneru. Koneru’s name also
figured in Jagan Reddy’s money laundering case. indianexpress
Liezeitsu elected new
Nagaland CM
Guwahati: The political
crisis in Nagaland is heading for an end with Democratic Alliance of Nagaland
(DAN) Legislature Party on Monday electing veteran leader and party president
Shurhozelie Liezeitsu as its new leader in place of TR Zeliang who had quit on
Sunday. Official sources in Kohima said Shurhozelie would be sworn in as CM on
Wednesday.indianexpress
Will meet Shahabuddin in
Tihar, whenever I am in Delhi: Bihar minister
Abdul Gafoor
Patna:Bihar Minority
Affairs minister Abdul Gafoor on Monday said he would meet controversial RJD
leader Mohammed Shahabuddin at Tihar jail whenever he visits Delhi. Gafoor’s
photograph with Shahabuddin inside the Siwan jail last year had gone viral,
creating controversy. “I will definitely meet him whenever I feel. I will tell
you all whenever I make a trip there,” he told reporters on the sidelines of
“Lok Samvad” (Public dialogue) programme held by CM Nitish Kumar.PTI
WORLD
Israel orders demolition of
entire Bedouin village including homes, school
Israeli forces raided the
Bedouin community of Khan al-Ahmar in the occupied West Bank northeast of
Jerusalem on Sunday morning to deliver demolition orders to classrooms for the
village’s primary school, locals told Ma’an News Agency, while 40 homes in the
community were also reportedly delivered demolition orders.Locals told Ma’an
that Israeli forces surrounded the school – which has been threatened with
demolition by the Israeli Govt for years
– as faculty and students were prevented from accessing the building.Israeli
soldiers imposed a military closure on Khan al-Ahmar before they stormed the
village’s school to deliver the demolition warrants, sources said.Official
Palestinian news agency Wafa meanwhile reported that Israeli authorities also
issued demolition order against 40 Palestinian-owned houses in Khan al-Ahmar on
Sunday morning.Eid al-Jahalin, a witness, told Wafa that Israeli forces raided
the area in the early dawn hours and notified residents that they had until
February 23 to leave their homes. middleeastmonitor
In Rare Move, Israel Orders
Demolition of Entire West Bank Bedouin Village: Israeli paper
Israel settlements road to
cut through East Jerusalem
Hundreds of Palestinians in
the Jabal al-Mukaber area of occupied East Jerusalem say they are living in a
state of anxiety and fear as Israeli occupation authorities begin excavations
for the "American road" project, set to be built on the ruins of
their homes.The road that constitutes only one section of a larger highway,
titled al-Touq, will cut through East and West Jerusalem, with the unstated aim
of connecting illegal Israeli settlements north, south, and east of the city.
It is set to bridge between the West Bank settlements of Har Homa and Maale
Adumim, passing through Jerusalem. The Israeli municipality's planning and
construction committee introduced al-Touq road scheme in Jerusalem a decade
ago. The completed highway will run a length of more than 11km, with a width of
about 70 metres.To build the road, the Jerusalem municipality will confiscate
approximately 1,200 dunams (300 acres) of Palestinian land in at least 12
Palestinian neighbourhoods within Jabal al-Mukaber. aljazeera
Netanyahu spurned secret regional
peace offer brokered by John Kerry: Ex-officials
Israel's PM turned down a regional peace initiative last
year that was brokered by then-US secretary of state John Kerry, former US
officials confirmed.The revelation, first reported by the Haaretz daily, was in
apparent contradiction to Benjamin Netanyahu's stated goal of involving
regional Arab powers in resolving Israel's conflict with the
Palestinians.Netanyahu took part in a secret summit that Kerry organised in the
southern Jordanian port city of Aqaba last February and included Jordan's King
Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.According to two former
Obama administration officials, Kerry proposed regional recognition of Israelas
a Jewish state - a key Netanyahu demand - alongside a renewal of peace talks with
the Palestinians with the support of the Arab countries.Netanyahu rejected the
offer, which would have required a significant pull-out from occupied land,
saying he would not be able to garner enough support for it in his right-wing
coalition govt.The initiative also appeared to be the basis of short-lived
talks with moderate opposition leader Isaac Herzog to join the govt, a plan
that quickly unravelled when Netanyahu chose to bring in nationalist leader
Avigdor Lieberman instead and appoint him defence minister.Israel's opposition
leader said the PM was ready to freeze
settlement construction in most of the West Bank, but Netanyahu ultimately
"blinked" under pressure from his hard-line allies.According to the
officials, Kerry tried to sweeten the 15-year-old "Arab Peace
Initiative," a Saudi-led plan that offered Israel peace with dozens of
Arab and Muslim nations in return for a pull-out from territories captured in
the 1967 Middle East war to make way for an independent Palestine.Among the
proposed changes were Arab recognition of Israel as the Jewish state,
recognition of Jerusalem as a shared capital for Israelis and Palestinians, and
softened language on the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees to
lost properties in what is now Israel, the former officials said.The officials,
speaking on condition of anonymity because they were still not authorised to
discuss the secret meeting publicly, said the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders
reacted positively to the proposal, while Netanyahu refused to commit to
anything beyond meetings with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Aljazeera
Libyan PM survives
assassination attempt in Tripoli
Fayez al-Sarraj, the head
of Libya’s UN-backed unity government, survived an assassination attempt on Monday
when his convoy came under fire in capital Tripoli.Two of al-Sarraj’s guards
were reportedly injured in the attack. "The prime minister’s convoy came
under fire as its passed by a government complex held by supporters of the
national salvation government [led by Khalifa al-Ghawiel," a member of the
unity government-linked presidential council told Anadolu Agency anonymously
due to restrictions on speaking to media.Libya has been wracked by turmoil
since 2011, when a bloody uprising ended with the ouster and death of Muammar
Gaddafi after 42 years in power. World Bulletin
Hundreds of Rohingya
'return home' from Bangladesh
Dhaka: Hundreds of Rohingya
who fled to Bangladesh to escape persecution in Myanmar have returned home, community
leaders said Sunday, adding that most had gone back temporarily to fetch
relatives.Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled across the border from
Myanmar's western state of Rakhine since October to escape a bloody crackdown
by troops and police.Dudu Mia, a refugee camp leader in the coastal town of
Teknaf, said nearly 1,000 Rohingya -- mostly young men -- had returned to their
home villages to collect elderly family members left behind earlier."Most
of those men are hoping to bring their relatives back to Bangladesh. It's been
four months and they have barely even talked to their parents back home,"
Mia said.AFP
Thousands declare 'I am Muslim
too' at solidarity rally in US
New York: Over a thousand
people from various faiths declared 'I am a Muslim too' as they assembled at
the iconic Times Square here to express solidarity with the Muslim community
and protest against US President Donald Trump's immigration policies. The rally
was co-organised by the Foundation For Ethnic Understanding and the Nusantara
Foundation in response to the uncertainty and anxiety created by Trump's
now-rescinded executive order to bar citizens from 7 Muslim-majority nations.
The 'I am a Muslim Too' solidarity rally drew several thousand people who
raised slogans and held banners of 'Love Trumps Hate' and 'USA, USA' and 'No
Muslim Ban'. Headlined by American entrepreneur and author Russell Simmons and
actress Susan Sarandon, the rally yesterday saw participation by several faith
leaders who denounced the divisive political environment in the country and
called on Americans to stand up for Muslims facing increasing threat and
pressure. Addressing the rally, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said America
was founded to respect all faiths and all beliefs and stereotypes against the
Muslim community has to be dispelled. PTI
Turkish opposition deputy
arrested in anti-terror probe
An opposition Peoples’
Democratic Party (HDP) deputy has been arrested in southeastern Turkey on
Monday.Placed under arrest at Adiyaman Airport, Behcet Yildirim had failed to
answer a summons linked to a counterterrorism investigation last week.As part
of a terror probe conducted by the Adiyaman prosecutor's office, Yildirim, an
MP from Adiyaman province faces charges such as being a member of terror
organization and making terror organization propaganda.In November, 13 HDP
lawmakers were also arrested, and 10 of them -- including HDP co-leaders
Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag -- remain in custody pending trial on
terrorism-related charges.World Bulletin
Turkey detains more than
1,500 in latest operations over alleged militant links –ministry: reuters
Turkish authorities
detained more than 1,500 people for questioning over suspected links to
militant groups in the latest operations over the last week and arrested 125 of
them, the interior ministry said on Monday.Turkey faces multiple security
threats, including the militant Kurdistan PKK in largely Kurdish southeast and
Islamic State militants.
Iraqi forces push into
ISIL-held southern Mosul
Iraqi security forces have
pushed into the southern outskirts of Mosul on the second day of a new
offensive to drive ISIL fighters from the city's western half, as US Secretary
of Defense Jim Mattis arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit. Iraqi forces backed by jets and helicopters
battled their way to Mosul airport on Monday as they prepared to take on the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant group's stronghold in the city's west
bank."The federal police has resumed its advance ... Our cannons are
targeting Daesh defence lines with heavy fire," federal police chief Raed
Shaker Jawdat said, using and Arabic acronym for ISIL, also known as ISIS.The
main focus of Monday's operations was to secure an area south of the Al-Buseif
airport. aljazeera
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:21 PM)
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