Evening NEWS
DIGEST (Early)
23
Sept. 2017: 2 Muharram 1439:Vol:9, No:01
Ex-Muslim Brotherhood chief Mahdi Akef dies at
89
The former leader of Egypt's Muslim
Brotherhood, Mahdi Akef, has died in a Cairo hospital aged 89. Akef, who headed
the Brotherhood as supreme guide from 2004 to 2010, was diagnosed with cancer
last year."My Father is in God's hands," his daughter, Alia, wrote on
her Facebook page on Friday.Akef was among hundreds of Brotherhood figures
arrested in a heavy crackdown launched against the political organisation
following the military's 2013 ouster of President Mohamed Morsi, a member of
the group and Egypt's first democratically-elected president.He was initially
convicted on violence-related charges and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The verdict was overturned on appeal, and he was facing a retrial.His family
had recently launched an online campaign to demand his release for health
reasons. Akef was born on July 12, 1928, the same year the Muslim Brotherhood
was founded.He became aware of the organisation's teachings in his early
teenage years, and joined the Brotherhood in 1940. Akef was imprisoned from
1954 till 1974.For a large part of Hosni Mubarak's 40 years in power, which
ended when he was overthrown as Egypt's president in the 2011 uprising, Akef
was his main rival. In 2005, under Akef's leadership, the Brotherhood won 20
percent of the seats in Egypt's parliamentary elections. "He has many
achievements," said Khalil al-Anani, an academic and researcher of the
Brotherhood."One of them was that he was one of the most reformist leaders
of the Brotherhood since he took office in 2004. He initiated many changes
within the movement and gave it a new flavour," he said.Writing on
Twitter, the Palestinian group Hamas, which originated from the Muslim
Brotherhood, described Akef's death as "the nation's loss and one of its
most prominent figures".Al Jazeera
Mahdi Akef, former General-Guide of Muslim
Brotherhood dies
INDIA
NDTV Denies Reports Of Takeover SpiceJet Owner
Ajay Singh, Tells BSE 'No Agreement'
NDTV has denied reports that said Ajay Singh,
owner of SpiceJet, has picked up majority holdings in the news channel in a
statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange. It was earlier reported that Singh, who
was part of the BJP’s 2014 poll campaign, has picked up majority holding in the
news channel. NDTV clarified to the BSE that the company has not entered into
any agreement for sale of stake. "With reference to your letter seeking
clarification on the news item... we wish to inform you that the promoters of
the Company have not entered into any agreement for sale of their stake in the
Company to any person," the company has told the BSE. "The Company is
mindful of its obligations under Clause 30 of the Listing Regulations and shall
promptly intimate you of any event required which is required to be disclosed
under the said Regulations," it added. It was said that Singh will take
over the news channel along with the editorial rights.Singh has been a vital
part of BJP's 2014 Lok sabha election campaign. He is said to have coined the
campaign slogan, “Abki baar Modi sarkar”, reported Hindustan Times.Singh had
been an officer on special duty to late Pramod Mahajan during the first NDA
government and was an important cog in the BJP’s advertising/campaigning
team.On June 5, CBI had carried out searches at the residence of NDTV founder Prannoy
Roy in New Delhi and in Dehradun for allegedly causing loss to a private
bank.The agency registered a case against Roy, his wife Radhika and RRPR
Holdings for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 48 crore to ICICI Bank, CBI sources
said.In a statement on the CBI action, the channel had said ruling party
politicians could not "stomach" the "independence and
fearlessness" of NDTV's team.out look
Left-Dalit-Muslim’s Alliance for Social Justice clean sweeps
University of Hyderabad Students Union polls, defeats ABVP
Hyderabad: In a closely fought battle for
University of Hyderabad Students Union (UOH-SU), Alliance for Social Justice
(ASJ) that stood for Left-Dalit-Muslim unity swept the polls defeating the
BJP-affiliated ABVP supported by OBC forum.ASJ presidential candidate Sreerag
P, a PhD scholar Regional studies, polled 1,509 votes against K Palsania of
ABVP and Anju Rao of Congress-affiliated NSUI who secured 1,349 and 872 votes
respectively. A total of 3,846 votes were polled the election.Meanwhile, in a
late night development, the university informed that results for the
vice-president’s post will be declared later. An official release said that though
Lunavath Naresh of ASJ has secured 1,885 votes against Apoorv Jain of ABVP-OBCF
who secured 1,624 votes, position has not been declared due to technical reason
(grievance pending with the Grievance Committee). Results were reportedly
delayed as certain student groups questioned the validity of Lunavath Naresh's
candidature alleging that he lacks attendance. ASJ comprised SFI, Ambedkar
Students Association (ASA), Dalit Students Union (DSU), Tribal Students Forum
(TSF), Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika (TVV), Muslim Students Federation (MSF) and
Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) according to NDTV report.The polling which
took place on Thursday witnessed 75 percent voter turnout.With 1984 votes,
ASJ's Arif Ahammed clinched the general secretary post, while Kiran Kumar
secured 1573 votes.For the joint secretary post, Muhammed Ashique polled 1872
votes while Pooja Rani secured 1591 votes.It was a close fight between G
Abhishek and Aarti Nagpal for the post of cultural secretary. The former won
with a narrow margin of 85 votes, by securing 1792 votes.The sports secretary's
post was won by Shravan Kumar against Rupesh Ranjan by a margin of 406 votes
with the ASJ candidate securing 1913 against 1507 by ABVP candidate.For the two
posts in Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GS-CASH),
ASJ candidates Charu Nivedah secured 878 votes and Tinanjali Dam got 482
votes.This year the election witnessed 75 percent voter turnout.Last year, the
Student Union elections were held eight months after the suicide of Rohith
Vemula and the ASA had contested with NSUI against SFI-led left alliance United
Front for Social Justice (UFSJ) and ABVP. UFSJ had won all the posts. Also,
ABVP hasn’t won president post since 2009. Newindianexpress/ NDTV
Alliance for Social Justice sweeps UoH student
union polls, ABVP defeated
ASJ Trounces ABVP In University Of Hyderabad
Students' Union Polls
Hoist tricolour and play national anthem
daily: MP education minister appeals to madarsas
Bhopal:Madhya Pradesh Education Minister Vijay
Shah has appealed madarsas in state to unfurl the tri-colour and play and sing
the national anthem every day to instill sense of patriotism among students.
“Regular schools should unfurl the tri-colour and sing the national anthem
daily. I appeal all madarsas in MP to unfurl the tri-colour and play the
national anthem daily. I don’t think anybody should have any problem with that.
Nobody has,’’ the minister said at a function to mark the 20th foundation day
of Madhya Pradesh Madarsa Board.Shah said madarsas follow all rules laid by the
school education department and should have no problem to emulate the regular
schools who unfurl the tri-colour and play the national anthem daily. The
minister congratulated the board for working to develop nationalistic ideology
among its students and for connecting the minority community to the
nationalistic ideology.State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was the
chief guest of the function, said, “How to love one’s country and help it march
ahead should be part of school curriculum.” He said Mohammed Paigambar stressed
on love for one’s country (vatan).He said education should make students human
beings and they should be taught love, brotherhood and patriotism. “We drink
the same water and eat the same food and our blood is red. We can follow
different faith.’’ indianexpress
Cops to ask puja organisers for immersion nod
on Muharram: West Bengal govt
Kolkata:A day after the Calcutta High Court
allowed Durga idol immersions on all days from Vijaya Dashami on September 30,
the West Bengal government on Friday decided that the police will ask puja
organisers to take permission for immersion on Muharram on October 1.At a
meeting of top officials presided over by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it
was decided that the police would ask the puja organisers to take permission by
this Sunday, a senior state government official said.The meeting, also attended
by some ministers and senior police officers, including the state DGP, decided
that the SPs in the districts having international border would be put on alert
on immersion days to avoid any untoward incident, the official said.PTI
Compensate cow violence victims, punish
violators: SC to states
New
Delhi:The Supreme Court Friday said states were under obligation to compensate
victims of violence by cow vigilante groups even without any judicial order.
“We do not have to say that. All states are under an obligation to compensate
victims of cow vigilante violence. At the same time, law and order has to have
primacy and anyone violating it must be dealt with sternly,” said a three-judge
bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, while hearing a petition
by Congressman Tehseen S Poonawalla and activist Tushar Gandhi who sought
direction to states to check cow vigilantism.The bench said states must frame
schemes to compensate victims of crime, including those of cow vigilantism as
envisaged by the Code of Criminal Procedure.Appearing for Tushar Gandhi, senior
advocate Indira Jaising sought a scheme for those victimised by law-breakers.
She referred to the case of Junaid, who was lynched on a train in Faridabad,
and said “the payment of compensation should have been an automatic process”.
The bench, however, observed that individual cases should not be clubbed with
the larger issue. Jaising and senior advocate Kapil Sibal also raised the case
of Pehlu Khan, who was killed in Rajasthan, and said that far from getting
justice, the kin of the victims were being harassed through counter-cases. The
apex court also asked states and Union Territories to comply with its September
6 order to appoint nodal officers by October 31 to deal with cow vigilantism.
The direction came after the bench was informed that only five states —
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh — had filed reports
complying with the earlier order and that Bihar and Maharashtra would be filing
it during the day. It asked the Chief Secretaries of the remaining 22 states to
file compliance reports in pursuance of its order laying down a mechanism to
deal with such groups. “Let the compliance reports be filed… nobody can wash
their hands of (duty). We will give directions to all the states,” the bench
said. indianexpress
SC says states must appoint police officers to
prevent cow vigilantism, pay compensation for violence
UP: Sabi Ahmed 's family says he was lynched,
while cops claim no evidence yet
Lucknow:The family of a man, who died of his
injuries on Tuesday, has alleged that he was attacked and murdered by a mob
after his motorcycle allegedly hit and injured a cyclist in Shahjahanpur.
Police, however, say they have no evidence that there was any attack and
instead have registered the case as a death following an accident. The alleged
incident took place when Sabi Ahmed (60) and his neighbour Azmatullah (57), who
was riding pillion, hit Sunil (25) in Madanpur police station area. While Sabi
died in a Bareilly hospital the same night, Azmatullah is under treatment in a
Shahjahanpur hospital. Sunil is admitted in a Bareilly hospital where his
condition is stable.“Sabi Ahmed’s son Shareef Ahmed lodged a complaint against
Sunil on charges including causing death by negligence and stated that death
occurred due to the accident. Now, families of Sabi Ahmed and Azmatullah are
alleging that both were beaten up by relatives of Sunil who reached the place
after accident took place,” said SHO of Madanpur police station, Om Prakash
Gautam. There has been no complaint from Sunil’s family so far.Shaqeer Ahmed,
another of Sabi’s sons, told The Indian Express, “I have been telling the
police since after the incident that my father died died after he was thrashed
by a group of people. But the police is not ready to register a murder case. My
brother agreed over the FIR to be lodged on charges that the death caused due
to the accident after police assured us that they would alter the case into
that of a murder if they get evidence of an attack.”In the FIR it is mentioned
that four other people were present when the alleged incident
happened.“Azmatullah’s family member started alleging today that Sunil’s
in-laws reached the spot after the accident and assaulted Sabi Ahmed and
Azmatullah and that they escaped before the police arrived. indianexpress
2 new observers appointed at Babri Masjid site
in Ayodhya
Ayodhya:Two additional district judges have
been appointed as observers at the Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya
by the Allahabad High Court. The observers are Additional District Judge,
Basti, Irfan Ahmad and Additional District Judge, Faizabad, Amarjeet
Tripathi.They will submit fortnightly reports to the Supreme Court on the
disputed site’s status quo and the adjacent excess area that was
acquired.Faizabad Divisional Commissioner and Receiver (Authorised Person) of
the disputed site, Manoj Mishra told PTI, “On the apex court’s instructions,
the Allahabad High Court appointed the new observers.”The judges will start
their job as observers from Sunday, he said.A three-judge special bench of the
apex court had on September 11 ordered to replace judges T M Khan and S K Singh
who were appointed by the high court in March 2003, during an excavation
conducted by the ASI at the Babri site.The bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak
Misra passed the order after senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the
Allahabad High Court registry, informed it that one of the observers has
retired and the second one elevated as a judge of the high court.The apex court
had on August 11 said it would commence the final hearing in the longstanding
dispute from December 5, the eve of 25th anniversary of the Barbi Masjid’s
demolition.PTI
Kerala woman who left
home and converted to Islam, now 'returns' to Hinduism
When 23-year-old Athira, a Hindu woman from Kerala's Kasargod district,
spoke to media in July, she was clad in a hijab and confidently said that she
had converted to Islam upon her own free will. Months later on Thursday, Athira
addressed the media a second time. This time, the hijab was gone, and Athira
appeared with a bindi and kumkum on her forehead. She was no longer the Islam
convert woman who took the name Ayesha, but Athira, who believes in Hindu
religion, she said. "Om Namah Sivaya," Athira began, while addressing
the press meet in Kochi on Thursday.Athira had left her home in the first week
of July, leaving a 15-page letter explaining that she was going to study Islam.
On July 27, she surrendered before Kannur police and a local court sent her to
a state home for women.Her parents then moved Kerala High Court, seeking her
custody. It was granted after Athira said that she was willing to go with her
parents, as long as they did not object to her practicing Islam.Speaking to
media on Thursday, Athira said that her Muslim friends had misguided her into
believing in Islam."They told me that it was stupid to worship a stone, an
idol and that Hinduism has many gods, while Islam has only one supreme god.
They instilled this doubt in me. When they said that, I felt very curious about
it and when I thought about it, I felt what they said was right," she
said.Soon, her friends began giving her books on Islam, Athira said. "One
of them was about hell. The description of hell in that book was so scary, that
I lost my sleep for several nights. I began thinking that if I don't follow
Islam, then I will have to go through that hell."Apart from this, Athira
claimed that her friends gave her several reading material including a book on
coverted women and also watched speeches made by Zakir Naik."I was
convinced that Islam was a better religion. I blindly believed that my religion
was bad," Athira said.According to her, she got in touch with an Ustad in
Malappuram through a friend, after which, she was added to a WhatsApp group
called "Hidayat sisters."She said that there had been only 6 or 7
people in that group and one of the girls began texting her personally."She
grew close to me and has stayed at my home also. After interacting with her,
what I understood is that she converted to Islam because she was in love with a
Muslim boy," she said.Apart from reading more about Islam, Athira said
that at one point, she also tried to convince her parents to convert."I
started telling them that Islam was the only true religion. When they didn't
get convinced, I began to be very angry with them. Because according to Islam,
non-believers are khafirs. In Quran, it is said that if your parents don't
believe in Islam, you needn't show love to them," she said.According to
Athira, she knew her parents would protest if she started dressing differently
or started praying in the Islamic way. Her friends then told her about three Islamic
institutions where she can study the religion, Athira told reporters"They
told me I will get certificate from one centre in Ponnani, Tharbiat-ul sabha
and Sathyasarani. I was oblivious to my parents' suffering".She also spoke
about a Siraj, a worker of PFI, who she claims, helped her with everything. She
said that people including Siraj instructed her on how she should give her
statement in court, when her family files a complaint."People of Hindu
helpline helped my parents and told us about Arsha Vidya Samajam in Ernakulam.
They didn't force me at all, but gave me right information. They told me that I
should re-read Quran with an open mind and I didn't get the same feeling I used
to get before. When I read it rationally, I had many doubts," she said.
Following this, she said that she took interest in learning Hinduism in detail
and enrolled at the Samajam. "Nobody there forced me to reconvert but they
urged me to read Quran with an open mind and I realised what I had believed
about Islam was not right," she said. thenewsminute
Cong hears ‘whisper’: EVMs for UP polls to be
used in Gujarat
New Delhi :The Congress on Friday told the
Election Commission that there is a “whisper in the public domain” that the
electronic voting machines sent for the elections in Gujarat are the same as
those used in the Uttar Pradesh polls.The party also asked the poll panel to
come out with a series of steps to ensure free and fair elections, including
barring officers facing disciplinary proceedings or inquiries from being posted
in any district after the election notification is issued.A delegation of
Congress leaders led by Ahmed Patel and Madhusudan Mistry met the Election Commission
and conveyed the party’s concerns regarding the EVMs.They asked the poll panel
to clarify whether VVPAT machines would be used in all Assembly segments in
Gujarat. The party also wants CCTV cameras to be installed in all polling
booths to record the movement of personnel and persons during the election
process. indianexpress
‘Treat us like Tibetan and Lankan refugees’:
Rohingyas tell SC they have no terror links
New Delhi; Refuting the Indian government’s
claims of having terror links with the ISI and Islamic State (IS) and being a
threat to the country, a Rohingya refugee filed an affidavit in Supreme Court,
asserting that they were refugees and should be treated on par with Tibetan and
Sri Lankan ones.The affidavit, filed on Friday, rejected contentions of the
government, saying: “No terror links with ISI/ISIS and no Rohingyas in India
have indulged in anti-national activities and this assertion is not
substantiated with any evidence by government.”The refugee has relied on a
statement by Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti in state assembly, which said:
“No Rohingya has been found involved in militancy-related incidents. 17 FIRs
have been registered against 38 Rohingyas for offences relating to illegal
border crossing.”Among the reasons the Rohingya refugees gave in their defence
against their deportation to Myanmar, they clarify the distinction between
refugees and immigrants – while refugees are individuals who have fled their
country fearing persecution, immigrants are individual who voluntarily choose
to move out of the country seeking employment opportunities.The apex court is
already seized of a PIL filed by two Rohingya Muslim refugees challenging the
government’s decision to deport an estimated 40,000 people of the community.
While the hearing on their plea is scheduled on October 3, it is unclear when
the child rights panel’s petition will come up for hearing.
Peace-loving Rohingyas have no link with
crime: SC plea by refugees
Why Centre’s decision to grant Chakma, Hajong
refugees citizenship has Arunachal up in arms
A week after the Centre decided to grant
citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees living in Arunachal Pradesh, old
resentments run high. Politicians and activists, cutting across political
allegiances in the state, have claimed the move undermines the rights and
interests of Arunachal’s indigenous population.All Arunachal Students’ Union,
which has a long history of anti-Chakma agitations, called a state-wide strike
on Tuesday to protest against the Centre’s decision. It led to sporadic
violence, with vehicles being set alight, and the state nearly ground to a
halt, as government offices, schools and markets remained closed.The Centre,
acting on a 2015 ruling of the Supreme Court, is reportedly considering
“limited citizenship” for the refugee communities in the state, implying that
they will not get land rights or be recognised as Scheduled Tribes of Arunachal
Pradesh.Those who are not recognised as native residents of the state need an
Inner Line Permit to enter it. This special travel document, which Indian
citizens from other states require to enter Arunachal, Mizoram and Nagaland,
flows from of the British-era Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873. Today,
the permit system is meant to safeguard the land and resources of the tribal
populations of these states.Yet the Supreme Court ruling, citing an earlier
Gauhati High Court judgement, categorically states that members of the Chakma
and Hajong tribes in Arunachal Pradesh do not “warrant any requirement of inner
line permit”. This has given rise to confusion.
Mangaluru:Case booked against Hindu outfit
leader for provocative speech
Mangaluru: A suo motu case was registered
against an office-bearer of an Hindu outfit on Friday for his alleged
provocative speech and derogatory comments about a police official at a protest
meeting in Mangaluru, the police said. Hindu Jagaran Vedike (HJV) organising
secretary Jagadish Karanth was accused of making “derogatory comments” on the
religious status of Abdul Khader, inspector of the Puttur town police station,
at a meeting at Puttur near here on September 15, to protest against “attacks” on
Hindus.An individual complaint had been filed by one K Aziz asking the police
to register a case against Karanth for allegedly using “derisive” language
against the police officer identifying him with a religion.PTI
Demonetisation an ‘unnecessary adventure’: Manmohan
Chandigarh:Former Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh on Friday described demonetisation as an “unnecessary adventure” and said
such moves had not succeeded anywhere in the world except some Latin American
and African nations.Singh’s comments came amid a renewed debate over the
efficacy of the BJP-led government’s ban on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, with then
RBI governor Raghuram Rajan too recently speaking out againt the move.“I don’t
think it was technically and economically necessary to launch this adventure.
If 86% of country currency is withdrawn from the system then there is bound to
be a fallout,”Singh said. hindustantimes
Pak summons Indian envoy after firing along
LoC that allegedly killed 6 civilians
Islamabad:Pakistan summoned India’s High
Commissioner here even as it condemned the alleged firing by Indian forces
across the LoC, in which 6 Pakistani civilians were killed.A Pakistan Foreign
Office (FO) spokesman said that Acting Foreign Secretary Aitzaz Ahmed summoned
Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale over “unprovoked ceasefire violations
by the Indian occupation forces” in Charwa Sector on Thursday.Ahmed “strongly
condemned” the firing which killed 6 civilians, including four women, and
injured 26 others, including 15 women and 5 children in Bini Sulariyan
village.Many of the affected are seriously injured and the casualties are
likely to rise, FO said.“The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed
deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and
humanitarian laws,” he said.PTI
NSA Doval’s ‘double squeeze’ strategy will
never succeed: Pakistan at UNGA
UN: Pakistan on Friday said that National
Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s “offensive defense and double squeeze” strategy
to make India a regional hegemon will never succeed. Exercising its right to
reply in the United Nations General Assembly, Pakistan said it is “unfortunate”
that India has chosen to criticise the statement of Prime Minister Shahid
Khaqan Abbasi on Kashmir “which reflects the sentiments and aspirations of the
oppressed and suffering people” of the Valley. “The strategy offensive defense
and double squeeze floated blatantly by NSA Doval which India believes can make
it a regional hegemon can never succeed,” Tipu Usman, Counsellor at the
Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, said. “Indian operators of mayhem and
terror such as commander Jadav caught red-handed in Pakistan while spreading
sabotage, terrorism and espionage can never fulfill Indian dreams, which will
remain just that dreams,” Pakistan said.The diplomat said the “plight” of
Kashmiri people at the hands of the Indian security forces is being documented
by the international community and rights organisations. He said the people of
Kashmir look towards the international community especially members of the UN
Security Council to deliver on their pledge to hold a free, fair and impartial
plebiscite under the UN’s auspices, to enable them to decide their future.PTI
China calls on India, Pakistan to resolve
Kashmir issue bilaterally
New Delhi:Dismissing calls by the Organisation
of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for implementation of the UN resolution on the
Kashmir issue, China on Friday said the contentious matter should be resolved
bilaterally by India and Pakistan through dialogue and communication. “China
has noted the relevant report. China’s position on the Kashmir issue is
clear-cut,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, in response to a
question. “Kashmir issue is left over from history. China hopes India and
Pakistan can increase dialogue and communication and properly handle relevant
issues and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” he said.
Jim Mattis to meet PM Modi, Sitharaman on
Sept.26 in Delhi: What to expect
New York:US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will
visit India and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian
counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman to reaffirm that Washington considers New Delhi
a valued and influential ally. This is the first cabinet-level official’s visit
to India under the Trump administration. “The secretary will emphasise that the
US views India as a valued and influential partner, with broad mutual interests
extending well beyond South Asia,” the Pentagon said in a statement
yesterday.During his two-day visit starting from September 26, the Pentagon
chief will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the India Gate, and meet
the prime minister and Sitharaman in New Delhi. “Secretary will also express
US’ appreciation for India’s important contributions toward Afghanistan’s
democracy, stability, prosperity, and security,” the Pentagon said.Mattis’
visit to India comes after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, held a bilateral
meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the
annual UN General Assembly meeting here.PTI
Under ED lens: Moin Qureshi’s transactions in
Dubai, Europe
New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) is
preparing to send fresh letters rogatory (LRs) to two foreign countries in connection
with its money laundering probe against meat exporter Moin Qureshi. It has
already sent two LRs to Dubai and Hong Kong to get details of financial
transactions associated with him.Agency sources said that investigators have
traced fresh dubious financial transactions related to Qureshi in Dubai and a
European country. “The necessary formalities are being done. We will soon ask
the competent court to issue LRs. We need further details and evidence on these
transactions. We have already sent two LRs to Dubai and Hong Kong in related
matters,” an ED official said. The agency had arrested Qureshi on August 26 on
charges of money laundering on behalf of public servants. Indian express
WORLD : OTHERS
Kurd region poll to occur despite opposition,
vows :Barzani, president autonomous Kurdistan: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/barzani-kurd-region-poll-occur-opposition-170922220609585.html
The president of Iraq's autonomous region of
Kurdistan has vowed to go ahead with an independence referendum set for next
week despite intense opposition by the Iraqi government and international
powers. Kurdistan Regional Govt (KRG) plans to hold the referendum on support
for independence on September 25 in three governorates that make up the region,
and in some disputed areas, including the oil-rich province of Kirkuk and parts
of the northern province of Nineveh."Referendum is no longer in our hands
or political parties, it is in the hands of people," KRG head Masoud
Barzani said on Friday to thousands of cheering supporters who packed the
Franso Hariri Stadium in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan."The same people
who are threatening us have not come to ask why we are holding a
referendum," Barzani said, according to a report from Kurdish news portal
Rudaw.Baghdad is vehemently opposed to the vote, which has also alarmed
neighbouring Turkey, which has a large Kurdish minority.
Syrians vote in Kurdish-held northern region
Iraq, Turkey, Iran to coordinate
countermeasures to Kurdistan referendum
Iraq, Turkey and Iran have agreed to consider
coordination over countermeasures to the Kurdistan referendum on secession from
Iraq scheduled for Monday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari said. A
statement issued by Al-Jaafari’s office said yesterday: “The Foreign Ministers
of Iraq, Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu and Iran Mohammad Javad
Zarif have held a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly in New York to discuss the Kurdish planned referendum.”According to
the statement, the three ministers have “confirmed their strong commitment to
maintaining Iraq’s political unity, territorial integrity and expressed concern
about the planned referendum”.The statement stressed that the referendum
“jeopardises Iraq’s great and difficult victories against Daesh”.
Muslim Scholars group: Shelling in Iraq is
crime against humanity
The Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS) has
warned that all parties to the conflict in Iraq are responsible for the
excessive killing and systematic destruction in the country because they do not
hesitate to kill people to achieve personal gains and temporary successes.In a
statement issued yesterday, the organisation said the areas of Anah, Rawa and
Al-Qa’im, west of Anbar province, have been subjected to indiscriminate
bombardment by warplanes and heavy artillery for several days which has killed
and wounded dozens of innocent civilians and destroying homes, shops and school
buildings.The association explained that the same destructive approach is used
by the government forces, the Popular Mobilisation Forces and the US-led
coalition in dealing with cities controlled by Daesh.The statement quoted media
reports which reveal that the government has imposed a tight siege on the city
of Anah in preparation for storming it and that government warplanes and
artillery carried out intensive and violent shelling against the town.The
statement quoted testimonies of civilians who fled the city and said that “the
situation in the city is tragic and the killing and destruction is on daily
basis”.The people suffer from acute shortages of food and medicines which has
affected their lives, they said. The association expressed concern that the
situation could get more complicated, especially since dozens of civilians – mostly
children, women and the elderly – who had escaped earlier did not find shelters
or safe places to flee.middleeastmonitor
Int'l tribunal finds Myanmar guilty of
'genocide'
Kuala Lumpur:An international tribunal found
the Myanmar government "guilty of genocide" against the Rohingya and
other Muslim minorities."The tribunal ruled that Myanmar is guilty of
genocide against the people of Kachin and Muslim groups there," Daniel Feierstein,
head of seven-member Permanent Peoples' Tribunal, said.The Permanent Peoples'
Tribunal was founded in Italy in 1979 and comprises 66 international members.
Since its establishment, the tribunal has held 43 sessions on numerous cases
involving human rights and genocide.The tribunal, which convened in Malaysian
capital Kuala Lampur for five days, took into account various documentaries,
expert evidence and testimony of some 200 victims of the atrocities committed
against the Rohingya, Kachin and other Muslim minority groups. Since Aug. 25,
some 429,000 Rohingya have crossed from Myanmar's western state of Rakhine into
Bangladesh, according to the UN.
Amnesty: US bombs used to kill civilians in
Yemen
A US-made bomb was used to strike a
residential building in Yemen killing 16 civilians, Amnesty International has
revealed.Assessments made from the remnants of shrapnel left over after the
attack on 25 August revealed the use of US-made bombs by Saudi Arabia. The
airstrike was targeted in Faj Attan, in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, destroying
the building.Saudi Arabia confessed to the attack and claimed that it was a
“technical error”. middleeastmonitor
Hamas: delegation’s visit to Russia ‘fruitful’
a Delegation from Hamas concluded a visit to
the Russian capital, Moscow, which it described as “fruitful” in a statement
issued on Thursday.Hamas stated that the movement’s delegation, headed by
deputy head of the political bureau, Mousa Abu Marzook, met with Mikhail
Bogdanov, Putin’s envoy to the Middle East and Africa, the Russian deputy
foreign minister, and other foreign ministry officials.During the 3-hour
meeting, Hamas’ delegation reviewed the developments of the Palestinian
reconciliation and the latest developments in Cairo’s meetings, including the
decision to dissolve the administrative committee and invite al-Wefaq
(consensus) government to come to Gaza Strip and approve to hold the general
elections, according to the statement. middleeastmonitor
Report: Hamas fearful after PA’s delay to
implement reconciliation: middleeastmonitor
Hamas leaders have conveyed to the Egyptian
govt their fears following the Palestinian Authority’s delay in taking positive
steps to complete the Palestinian reconciliation process, Rai Al-Youm newspaper
reported.The paper said it had learnt from “very well informed” Egyptian
sources that Egypt is pressing hard on PA President Mahmoud Abbas and provided
him with a timetable with emphasis on the importance of implementing the terms
of the reconciliation initiative.According to the paper, Abbas issued
directives to send a high-level political and bureaucratic delegation to Gaza
Strip to discuss details of power transition after Hamas pledged to dissolve
its administrative committee which runs the enclave. According to the
newspaper, the delegation is supposed to arrive within 72 hours to begin the
talks.
British MPs urge intervention to stop Israeli
demolition of Palestinian village
More than two dozen British parliamentarians
have urged the government to help thwart a possible Israeli demolition of an
entire Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank.Israeli authorities could
soon forcibly displace the residents of Palestinian Bedouin community Khan
Al-Ahmar, the destruction of which would include the community’s school, made
of tyres and mud, which educates 170 children aged between six and 14 years
old.The letter to Alistair Burt, minister of state for the Middle East at the
Foreign & Commonwealth Office, was signed by 26 cross-party MPs from
Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Scottish National
Party.Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), announcing the MPs’
letter, noted that many of the signatories have previously visited the village
as part of parliamentary delegations. middleeastmonitor
‘Jewish extremists’ condemned for vandalising
Jerusalem church
Council of Catholic Churches in Jerusalem
yesterday condemned the attack by “Jewish extremists” on one its houses of
worship and called on the Israeli government to do more to curtail the
escalating violence against Christians in the holy land.Wednesday’s attack on
St. Stephen Church in occupied Jerusalem resulted in the destruction of glass
artwork and statues that depict the life of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary.The
new patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo,
speaking to AsiaNews said that the incident “fits in with the pattern of past
incidents” and was carried out by “some fanatics” whom he described as most
likely being “Jewish extremists”. middleeastmonitor
Famous Saudi journalist Khashoggi under fire for criticising govt
Famous Saudi journalist and writer Jamal
Khashoggi has come under renewed criticism by Saudis, including Prince Khalid
Al Saud after publishing an article on the Washington Post, Rassd.com reported
yesterday.On his Twitter account, Khashoggi wrote: “Adherence to the leadership
and the country is represented by saying the right word and casting advice.
This is what I have done and what I will continue doing.”This post was one of
his replies to the tirade of criticism he received following the publication of
his article. Prince Khalid Al Saud wrote: “Save your advice for yourself. Our
guided leadership does not need advice from you and your likes.” Khashoggis
replied:"Be a little more humble Prince. The leadership which does not
listen to its subject loses too much and it does not say ‘does not need your
advice and your likes.’ All of us are partners in the country."“You advice
your country through foreign papers!! You should follow the advice etiquettes
in order to achieve your aim. This is how the loyal act.”On the Washington Post,
Khashoggi discussed the latest suppressive measures taken by the Saudi regime,
including the detention of a number of Muslim scholars. middleeastmonitor
War of words between Donald Trump and Kim
Jong-un is like fight between kindergarten children:Russia
Moscow: Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov
has likened the war of words between US president Donald Trump and North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un to a kindergarten fight between children.North Korean leader
earlier labelled Trump "mentally deranged" and a "dotard"
after Trump threatened to destroy his country. Trump responded with a tweet
calling Kim Jong-un "a madman" who "will be tested like never
before!Lavrov said a pause was needed, "to calm down the hotheads",
BBC reported on Friday."Yes, it's unacceptable to silently watch North
Korea's nuclear military adventures but it is also unacceptable to unleash war
on the Korean Peninsula," he said.He called for a political process, which
he said was a key part of the UNSC process.IANS
Frustrated China imposes limit on oil supply
to North Korea as per UN sanctions
New Delhi:In a sign of growing frustration,
China on Saturday imposed a limit on oil supplies to North Korea under United
Nations sanctions over its nuclear and missile development, reported news
agency AP. China is North Korea’s last major trading partner, diplomatic ally
and energy supplier. The Commerce Ministry said the exports of refined
petroleum to Pyongyang will be limited to 2 million barrels per year and sales
of liquefied natural gas banned outright, effective January 1, 2018.It wasn’t
immediately clear how big the reduction might possibly be as China doesn’t
disclose details of trade with isolated North Korea. As per AP, ministry also
said it will ban textile imports from the North. indianexpress
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