Evening NEWS
DIGEST
03 April 2018:14 Rajjab 1439:Vol:9, No:157
INDIA
SC/ST Act: No interim stay on March 20 order,
Supreme Court says did not dilute provisions
New Delhi:Refusing to grant an interim stay on
its March 20 order, the Supreme Court Tuesday clarified that it had not read
down the provisions of the Scheduled
Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act but had only sought
to protect innocent people from arrest. On the violence that has gripped
several states on Monday, the court said that the people protesting may not
have read its order or may have been misled. Appearing on behalf of Centre,
Attorney General K K Venugopal pleaded for a stay on the apex court’s
directions to law enforcement authorities to conduct a preliminary inquiry
before registering an FIR under the Act and also seeking prior sanction before
arresting an accused. The Maharashtra government has also prayed that they the
directions be kept in abeyance till the next date of hearing.A bench of
justices AK Geol and U U Lalit said it has taken note of the government’s plea
for review and will examine its previous order which imposed stringent
safeguards on arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention
of Atrocities) Act. The bench had clarified that its judgment won’t stand in
the way of awarding compensation which is due to affected parties or
registration of FIR in instances of conjoint offences. indianexpress
Supreme Court stands by its SC/ST Act judgment
Curfew in Rajasthan’s Hindaun City after
houses of Dalit MLA, former minister set on fire
Jaipur;A day after one person died and several
others were injured in Rajasthan in wake of the Bharat Bandh called by
Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe outfits, Hindaun City in Karauli district saw
fresh violence on Tuesday. According to the police, people from other castes
who were miffed over Monday’s protests, allegedly damaged property and set on
fire the houses of two Dalit politicians in Hindaun City on Tuesday
morning.“Yesterday a crowd of around 15-20 thousand protesters who were in
favour of the bandh had created ruckus in several areas such as Gangapur City
in Sawai Madhopur and Hindaun City in Karauli. Today, traders, businessmen and
non scheduled caste people took out a rally against yesterday’s violence,” Alok
Kumar Vashishtha, inspector general of police, Bharatpur range told The Indian
Express on Tuesday.He added that the crowd tried to attack a settlement of
Dalits, particularly people from the Jatav community. “After yesterday’s
incident, there was a reaction from the business and market associations and
people not belonging to SC/ST communities. Defying the orders of section 144
imposed in the area, they tried to go into Jatav settlement and the police had
to intervene,” said Vashishtha.He added that the crowd set on fire the houses
of incumbent MLA from Hindaun City Rajkumari Jatav and former minister Bharosi
Lal Jatav. “A crowd of around 3-4 thousand people attacked the houses of the
MLA and former minister and the police were outnumbered. The houses were set on
fire by the protesters and several police personnel were also injured. There
haven’t been instances of civilians being injured,” said Vashishtha.He added
that so far around 45 people have been arrested for Tuesday’s violence at
Hindaun City while around 50 people have been held for protests that rocked the
Bharatpur division on Monday.“Curfew has been imposed in Hindaun City and
internet services are also suspended in the district. We are identifying the
miscreants and some of them have been already picked up. Extra police personnel
have been deployed and at the moment the situation is under control,” he
said.The police said that throughout Rajasthan around 1,000 people have been
arrested for the violence caused on Monday during Bharat Bandh. “We have
arrested around 1,000 people and 172 cases have been registered till now
against the mob across the state by the police and people whose property was
damaged. At present the situation is slowly returning to normalcy,” said
additional director general of police NRK Reddy.He added that internet services
remained suspended in around 18 districts of the state. “The crowd in Hindaun
City wanted to go towards the Jatav settlement but were dispersed by the police
but the houses of the two politicians that were damaged came into their way,”
said Reddy. Bharosi Lal Jatav, ex minister in the previous Congress government
in Rajasthan, whose house was allegedly set on fire by the upper caste mob
alleged that the police remained ‘silent spectators’ during the attack.indianexpress
A day after protests, Dalit slums targeted in
Rajasthan’s Hindaun, dalit politicians’ houses burnt
Houses of MLA, ex-MLA, both Dalits, set afire
in Rajasthan; death toll rises to 11
Amend SC/ST Act after SC ruling: Congress
Blaming the Modi govt for violence during
protests by dalits after the Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST Act, Congress has
demanded the Centre bring an amendment to the said law in Parliament or file a
"curative petition" in the apex court.The opposition party also
claimed that the Centre was not interested in addressing the issues faced by
the dalits, backward classes, minorities, poor, youths, and farmers, while it
was only interested in those "who make money".IANS
47,000 cases of crime against SC/ST registered
in 2016: Govt
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/47000-cases-crime-against-sc-st-registered-2016-govt-5121981/
As many as 47,338 cases of crime against
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were registered across the country in
2016, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Union Minister of State for Home
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said as per the information provided by the NCRB, a total
of 40,774 cases were registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act and other sections of law over alleged crimes
against SCs and STs in the year 2016.PTI
Jharkhand Police 'Weakened Case' Of Gau
Rakshaks Lynching Muslim Cattle Traders: probe report
An "independent investigation" into
the killing of two Muslim cattle traders allegedly by gau rakshaks in
Jharkhand's Latehar district in 2016 has claimed that the state police
"weakened" the case.The report, brought out by a group of NGOs,
including those based in the US and the UK, was today launched here in the
presence of the family members of the victims."Not only did the police not
fully investigate the crime on the basis of eyewitnesses accounts and
testimonies, but also failed to press appropriate charges against the accused.
This has considerably weakened the case," alleged the report.The victims
-- Mazloom Ansari (32) and Imtiaz Ansari (12) -- were beaten and hanged with a
tree in Latehar allegedly by gau rakshaks on March 18, 2016. They were carrying
eight oxen to a cattle fare when the incident occurred."The main accused
has not been arrested in the case and police did not charge the accused for
abduction, loot and criminal conspiracy, thus supporting them in the
case," said lawyer of the victims Abdul Salam.Senior lawyer of Supreme
Court Prashant Bhushan said that the lynching allegedly by gau rakshaks were
"endangering" the democracy and civilisation of the country."Such
incidents have increased in the past four years and there is no action despite
availability of witnesses and videos of such incidents," he alleged."In
this case of Latehar, all the accused are on bail and the main accused has not
even been arrested which speaks about support of police to them," he
alleged.The family members of the victim alleged that the accused had issued a
threat to Mazloom to stop cattle trading or face the consequences."Two of
the accused, along with 5-6 other people, had come to our place before the
incident. Mazloom had told me that they had asked him to stop cattle trading or
he would be killed," alleged Mazloom's widow Saira Bibi.(PTI)
Hanged by Gau Rakshaks, Denied Justice by State
– probe Report on Jharkhand Cow Lynching Released
BJP fully protecting 'Gau Rakshaks': SC
advocate Prashant Bhushan
Allahabad HC Mosque can't be just asked to
move out: Supreme Court told
New Delhi: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal
appearing for the Sunni Central Waqf Board in the Supreme Court on Monday said
the mosque inside Allahabad High Court premises had been there for several
decades and it can't be just asked to move out.Waqf Board has moved the apex
court against the high court verdict by which it had directed for removal of a
mosque situated in the high court premises. The Waqf Board had challenged the
November 8, 2017, order of the high court which gave it three months to move
out of the premises, according to PTI.The SC had earlier directed the parties
to arrive at a consensus upon where the mosque should be constructed.The
Allahabad High Court however told the Supreme Court that it does not have
alternate land for relocating a mosque situated in its premises and the state
government may consider shifting it to another land.Senior advocate Mukul
Rohatgi appearing for the Allahabad High Court said that as far as high court
is concerned, there is no alternate land for relocating the mosque. He said the
high court has already very less space for parking of advocates' vehicles and
there is no alternate land where the mosque can be shifted.A bench of Chief
Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud then sought
the view of the Uttar Pradesh government and asked the Sunni Central Waqf Board
to serve the copy on the counsel for the state govt.ummid.com
Mosque in Allahabad HC: SC seeks view of UP
govt
No alternate land to relocate mosque in
premise: Allahabad High Court to Supreme Court
Article 370 not a temporary provision;Supreme
Court
New Delhi:Supreme Court has said that Article
370 of the Constitution which gives special status to J&K is not a
temporary provision. The SC said that in its earlier verdict of 2017 in SARFESI
case, it has been already held that Article 370 was “not a temporary
provision”.“The issue concerned is covered by the judgement of this court in
the 2017 SARFAESI matter, where we have held that despite the headnote of
Article 370, it is not a temporary provision,” a bench of justices AK Goel and
RF Nariman said.During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta
appearing for the Centre said that the matter be heard after some time as
similar matters are pending before the court and are to be listed
shortly.Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan and advocate Shoeb Alam appearing for the
Jammu and Kashmir government clarified that other matters which are pending
before SC relates to Article 35 A of Constitution and not Art. 370 as submitted
by ASG.PTI
Fake news order: PM Modi wants guideline spiked;
Irani says more than happy to engage with Press
New Delhi:After PM Narendra Modi’s
intervention, I&B Ministry on Tuesday withdrew its press release which
stated that journalists who “created” or “propagated” fake news would have lost
their accreditation with the govt.In a “clarification” issued on Tuesday, the
ministry said, “This is to inform that the Press release on Fake news
regulation issued yesterday i.e.,02 April 2018 stands withdrawn.”Following the
withdrawal of the press release, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti
Irani tweeted that the PIB accreditation guidelines asking Press Council of
India and News Broadcasters Association to define and act against ‘fake news’
have generated debate. “Several journalists and organisations have reached out
giving positive suggestions regarding the same,” she said. Irani said I&B
Ministry was “more than happy to engage with journalist bodies or organisations
wanting to give suggestions so that together we can fight the menace of ‘fake
news’ and uphold ethical journalism”. The minister said “interested journalists
and/or organisations” were free to meet her at the ministry.Sources said PM,
had “directed that the press release regarding fake news be withdrawn and the
matter should only be addressed in Press Council of India”. On Monday, the
ministry had issued a release that stated on receiving any complaint of a
journalist pushing instances of fake news, the print and television regulatory
bodies, PCI and NBA, respectively would determine the veracity of the news and
if found to be fake, the journalist’s PIB accreditation could be cancelled
permanently.indianexpress
Modi Scraps Controversial I&B Ministry
Order on ‘Fake News’ After Angry Protests By Journalists
RSS leader Rakesh Sinha picked up ‘by mistake’
by Noida police
Noida:In a case of mistaken identity, RSS
leader Rakesh Sinha was picked up in Noida’s Film City area on Monday evening
when a local police team was on the lookout for suspects in vandalism cases
which happened earlier in the day. With thousands of protesters staging
demonstrations against the alleged dilution of SC/ST Act in parts of Gautam
Buddha Nagar district, throwing traffic out of gear and pelting stones and
bricks at an Uttar Pradesh Roadways bus, police teams had been formed to look
at those behind the violence.“Our teams were looking for people when they saw
him in Film City area and mistook him for a protester in the case. He was let
off as soon as we realised our mistake,” said Anil Kumar Shai, SHO, Noida
Sector 20 police station.Sinha said he was outside the office of a news organisation
in Noida Sector 16A when he was picked up. indianexpress
AIMPLB to hold silent protest in Delhi
tomorrow: Women wing to submit memorandum to Prez as it finds fault with his
speech on triple talaq bill
New Delhi: The women wing of All India Muslim
Personal Law Board has expressed its “disappointment” with President Ram Nath
Kovind’s speech during the joint parliamentary session on Jan.29 where he spoke
about how the triple talaq legislation would “emancipate” Muslim women. Dr Asma
Zehra, executive member of AIMPLB, told News18 that an official memorandum
would be presented to the President or his secretary tomorrow where the women
members have stated that they “are safe within their personal law and that they
do not need any kind of emancipation.” AIMPLB member Dr Zehra said that “this
is nothing but a direct attack on the principles of Islam, which is the first
among the world's religions to give equal rights regarding dignity and respect
to the woman.”“The entire concept of divorce, inheritance, women's share in
property, was given by Islam in 610 to 630, 1440 years ago. We regret to submit
that the remarks have hurt the sentiments of Muslim women and are disrespecting
because in Islam Muslim women do not want this emancipation. We are very happy
with our personal law and appeal to take back this bill as it is against Constitution
of India, women rights, and gender justice,” reads the official memorandum. Dr
Zehra also said that the statements coming from the President has made it a
serious issue and that “in no way was it liberating for Muslim women”.“The bill
is anti-children. This law vests woman with the right of custody and bringing
up of children. At the same time, husband will bear the maintenance of
children. However the Present guardianship and wards act places premium on the
child's interest. Husband or wife, whoever can protect interest better will
have custody,” states the memorandum. AIMPLB has also recently organised a lot
of protest marches across the country airing its grievance with the impending
legislation.The board will hold a silent protest in the capital tomorrow before
the memorandum is submitted to President Kovind. news18
Rampur: At triple talaq bill protest,
men-women united by cause & faith, separated by gender
Rampur:Hundreds of Muslim men and burka-clad
women from across the state, and beyond, gathered here today to protest against
a proposed bill to abolish the practice of instant triple talaq in Islam.While
the protesters were joined by the cause and the faith, they were separated by
their gender -- curtains between male and female protesters, and separate
microphones and daises for them.All the female participants had their burkas on
and those who addressed them had also their faces covered in the traditional
Islamic way.They said they saw the proposed bill, which has already been passed
by the Lok Sabha, as an "assault" on the Shariyat, and by separating
men and women this way they wanted to emphasise their firm belief in the
"ideals formulated by preachers of pious ideology".The arrangements
were in accordance with Islamic traditions, said one of the organisers,
explaining the symbolism.PTI
Muslims need Muslim Family Law: Women's body
New Delhi:A Muslim Family Law is the need of
the hour, a Muslim women's body said on Monday, urging the government and the
opposition to stop politicising the issue so as to ensure a balanced and
comprehensive law."This government must now listen to the voices of
progressive Muslim women," the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) said
in a statement."It has so far not heeded the amendments that the BMMA has
been demanding to the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha."A balanced law which
ensures protection of women and at the same time deters the men is required and
the BMMA has done the needful by presenting this amended version to the
government. Why is this government stonewalling the voices of women who have
been working since the last decade to ensure Muslim women's Quranic and
Constitutional rights?IANS
Islam does not permit women to come out in
public spheres: Kerala Sunni leader
Kerala Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram AP
Aboobacker Musaliar has once again kicked off a controversy with his sexist
remarks. Kanthapuram who is also the Chief of Sunni Youth Society has said that
unlike men, women should not come out in public spheres."If women come forward
that could lead to violence and disaster", he added.Kanthapuram said,
"women, unlike men, should not come out in public spheres as Islam has not
permitted so and it has certain reasons. If woman come forward that could lead
to violence and disaster and there are examples to substantiate this
view".Kanthapuram is one of the strongest Sunni Muslim leaders in Malabar
region of Kerala. This statement comes just weeks after a Kerala professor said
that Muslim girls were not wearing hijab correctly and intentionally exposing
their chests like 'sliced watermelon'.Though a case was registered against the
professor based on the complaint filed by one of the female students, the
police have made no arrest yet.indiatoday
Chennai:Students, activists launch 10-day
rally for secularism
Chennai: In a reaction to the 'fascist
divisive atmosphere' in the country, People's Platform Against Fascism (PPAF),
a newly launched group of students, activists, artists and intellectuals,
launched 'March for Secularism', a 10-day rally from Chennai to Kanyakumari on
April 1. Identifying itself as a group carrying forward the legacy of Kaniyan
Poongundran, Periyar and Ambedkar, PPAF launched the march with the idea,
'Defeat Fascism and Unite for Democracy'. "It is in response to the Sangh
Parivar's Ram Rajya Rath Yatra. There is a fascist movement happening across
the country. We felt it was necessary to raise our voice. This march is our
first step," says Kavitha Gajendran, theatre person and a PPAF member. Ram
Rajya Rath Yatra by VHP reached Tamil Nadu late last month. PPAF cites the
demands of VHP activists as a major bone of contention. These include addition
of Ramayana in school and college syllabus and construction of Ram temple at
Ayodhya. PPAF has laid out its demands that include safeguarding the academic
integrity of educational institutions, safeguarding livelihood of coastal
communities and farmers, and an end to atrocities against backward classes.The
march, initially planned from March 21 was denied police permission but got a
go-ahead from the Madras high court on March 28. As of April 2, about 30
people, had covered Kancheepuram, Vaniyambadi, Jolarpettai and Tirupattur, with
groups including SDPI, SIO and WPI,lending support.TOI
Curfew imposed, internet services suspended in
violence-hit Jaitaran
Jodhpur: Situation is gradually turning normal
in Jaitaran in Pali district where a communal violence had erupted on Saturday
during stone pelting on Hanuman Jayanti procession. Curfew has been imposed and
internet services have been suspended in Jaitaran and three other sub-divisions
in the vicinity considering the sensitivity of the issue.“We have already
imposed curfew in Jaitaran town and suspended internet services to curb
inflammatory messages on social media,” said IGP (Jodhpur range) Hawa Singh
Ghumaria. A heavy police deployment, including senior cops, in Jaitaran and
nearby areas has been ensured.According to Ghumaria, 750 policemen have been
deployed in Jaitaran and its neighbouring towns considering their communal
history. Meanwhile, close to 50 persons from both the sides have been arrested
so far and the number may shoot up further as cops are tracing more suspected
persons.TOI
Bihar communal clashes: ‘Over 200 incidents’
since Nitish joined NDA
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is facing a barrage of
criticism from his political opponents over rising incidents of communal
violence in the state. The recent incidents of violence during Ram Navami
rallies and failure on the part of the administration in maintaining law and
order situation have forced the government on the back foot. A report by Indian
Express claimed that since July last year, when Nitish Kumar quit the Grand
Alliance and joined the ranks with BJP to form govt, the state has seen a spurt
in incidents of communal tensions. Based on its scrutiny of official records,
the report said that over 200 cases of communal tension have been recorded by
the police, including 64 in 2018, since Nitish switched allegiance to the
NDA.The report said that a scrutiny of last 6 years of police data shows that
close to 900 such cases have been registered across state. In 2012, 50 such
incidents were reported; in 2013, 112 cases were registered; in 2014, 110
cases; in 2015, 155 and in 2016, 230 cases. In 2017, the state had recorded maximum
number of270 cases.financialexpress
Mumbra couple resolves family conflicts
through Happy Life Programme
Adding to the ongoing movements that aim to
empower women around the world in various walks of life, a small
change-of-lifestyle programme is brewing in Mumbra. Mumbra-based residents are
learning to solve their family problems amicably through Happy Life Programme,
which ensures respect and dignity to women.Started 3 months ago by professor
Mohammed Jawed Shaikh, who teaches mechanical engineering in a Panvel-based
college, the programme has managed to help over 70 couples to solve their
issues. Shaikh says that being a member of the Sharia adalat (court) helped him
understand the need for this programme. "Being on the adalat, I learned
that many husband wife/family issues can be resolved positively if someone
intervenes without being interfering," says Sheikh.Thus, he collaborated
with Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind (JIH) and started a counseling centre for Muslim
couples in the vicinity. "We listen to couples and through workshops help
them learn life skills on how to stay happy; conflict resolution; anger
management, etc," he said. This has helped over 70 couples to either
reconcile or separate amicably without any grudges. "When couples come to
us and we understand that they are eager on separation/divorce, we make them
realise how going to court, police, etc., will waste their time and money. And at
the end they have to sit across the table and find the solution. So why not sit
now and resolve," he added. Shaikh's wife, Fauziya, who is a home-maker,
is an equal partner in this programme.dnaindia
WORLD
Air attack 'kills dozens of children' at Afghanistan’s
Kunduz madrasa
Dozens of civilians, including children, have
been killed in an Afghan air attack on a gathering at a religious school in the
northern province of Kunduz, eyewitnesses and an official said.A religious
school in Dasht-e-Archi district of the Kunduz province was targeted by air
raids late on Monday, resulting in the death of at least 70 people, including
top Taliban commanders, a district official said on the condition of anonymity
because he is not authorised to speak to media.Ministry of Defense spokesman,
Mohammad Radmanish, told Al Jazeera that the air raid was aimed at "top
Taliban commanders". "The air strike killed more than 30 Taliban
fighters, including nine commanders," he said."Taliban training
centre was bombed and no civilians were present." Taliban denied its
fighters were present at the school during the time of the attack. Witnesses
said that the gathering included "a lot of civilians" and the
families of those killed in the attack "were devastated". "There
were children as young as 11 or 12 years old in the ceremony who were to be
presented with awards and gifts for the completion of their religious
courses," Mohammed Abdul Haq, who witnessed the attack, said.
"Mothers are wailing and crying outside the hospitals for the death of
their children and everyone is crying with them," he added. Other
witnesses said that over 100 people were killed in the attack. "I was
working in my farm when I heard helicopters and jets bombing the madrassa where Taliban were gathered alongside new
Qaris to recognise them with awards," Haji Ghulam, a witness, said.
"Taliban are active in the area, but the ceremony was attended mostly by
children and young boys."Haji said when he went closer to the area, there
were many children who were killed and wounded."It was a disaster. Blood
everywhere," he said, adding that the "many" people were
killed.Images circulating on social media purportedly showed a number of
children'ss bodies, accompanied by the phrase:"I am not a
terrorist".Al Jazeera could not independently verify the images. Taliban said
the air raid killed around 150 religious scholars and civilians, mostly
children, while maintaining that no fighters were present during attack.Al
Jazeera
Afghanistan air strike 'kills civilians' at school:BBC
UN probes school bombing that killed 50 in
nort Afghan
UN said it was probing "disturbing
reports of serious harm to civilians" in an Afghan airstrike on a
religious school that Afghan security sources said killed or wounded dozens of
children.A village resident told DPA the number of civilian casualties has
risen to more than 50 following the attack on an alleged Taliban gathering in
northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province.dailysabah
Saudi crown prince: Israelis have right to
their own land
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman has declared that Israel has the right to its own land alongside
Palestinians. In an interview with the US-based The Atlantic magazine, the 32
year old heir to the Saudi throne declared: "I believe that each people,
anywhere, has a right to live in their peaceful nation." The crown prince
said that "there are a lot of interests" his country shares with
Israel."Israel is a big economy compared to their size and it's a growing
economy, and of course there are a lot of interests we share with Israel and if
there is peace, there would be a lot of interest between Israel and the Gulf
Cooperation Council countries and countries like Egypt and Jordan."Bin
Salman also said that while his country has "religious concerns"
about the holy mosque in Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinians, it has no
objection "against any other people"."I believe the Palestinians
and the Israelis have the right to have their own land. But we have to have a
peace agreement to assure the stability for everyone and to have normal
relations."Bin Salman also said Saudi Arabia "does not have a
problem" with Jews, saying that Islam's Prophet Muhammad "married a
Jewish woman".Recent developments in Riyadh, however, have indicated that
ties between the two countries are warming up.aljazeera
Saudi crown prince: Israelis have the right to
a homeland
Africans in Israel voice concern over new
resettlement plan
African asylum seekers in Israel have voiced
concern over Tel Aviv’s agreement with the UN to resettle half of them in
Western countries.A number of African migrants and asylum seekers told Al
Jazeera they remain sceptical that the new plan could bring any real change for
those who are to stay in Israel.On Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel had reached an unprecedented understanding
with the UN to help resettle at least 16,250 African migrants in “developed
countries like Canada, or Germany and Italy,” instead of Africa.Hours after the
announcement, Netanyahu said he would suspend the new plan, which was denounced
by right-wingers in his government.Netanyahu wrote in a Facebook post on Monday
night that he was putting the agreement on hold until he meets with
representatives from south Tel Aviv - where a large number of African asylum
seekers live - along with Interior Minister Arye Dery.aljazeera
Israel cancels UN deal on African migrants
Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has
nixed a deal with UN refugee agency UNHCR regarding the deportation of African
migrants and asylum-seekers.In a statement on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he held
meetings with Interior Minister Aryeh Deri and representatives of residents of
southern Tel Aviv to discuss the agreement. “After evaluating the advantages
and the disadvantages, I decided to cancel the agreement,” he said.On Monday,
Netanyahu’s office said Israel and UNHCR had signed a deal under which Israel
scrapped plans to deport thousands of African migrants and asylum-seekers.Under
the deal, Israel would have sent 16,250 African migrants to western countries,
while thousands more would have been granted temporary (5-year) residency in
Israel.Israel is currently home to some 40,000 asylum seekers, including 27,500
from Eritrea and 7,800 from Sudan, according to UNHCR figures.worldbulletin
PA will only go to Gaza if Hamas hands over
control all at once
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami
Hamdallah has insisted that his government will not go to Gaza unless Hamas
hands over control in one package, Safa news agency reported on Monday.“We are
ready to take up all responsibilities in Gaza,” Hamdallah said while attending
a function in occupied Nablus, “but this will not be applicable if the
responsibilities are handed over one by one.”Hamdallah’s remarks came a year
after the PA imposed punitive measures on the Gaza Strip, which has been under
a decade-long Israeli siege. The measures included slashing the salaries of PA
employees in Gaza by 30 per cent, reducing electricity supplies to the enclave,
cutting the number of medical referrals and forcing thousands of public
servants into early retirement.“Taking up responsibilities in Gaza,” Hamdallah
stressed, “is materialised by the full handover of all security, legal,
administrative and financial powers.”Such a precondition, however, contradicts
the agreement with Hamas which was brokered by Egypt last year. The deal
stipulated a gradual handover of the Gaza Strip with the PA paying salaries for
public servants in the territory.middleeastmonitor
Gaza hospitals: 'Israel was shooting to kill
or cause disability'
Gaza: Mohammad Othman, a 15-year-old
Palestinian boy, lies on a hospital bed at the intensive care unit of al-Shifa
hospital in the Gaza Strip - the oldest and biggest medical facility in the
besieged enclave.Othman is one of more than 1,500 Palestinians wounded on Friday
when the Israeli army unleashed a storm of live ammunition, tear gas and
rubber-coated steel bullets on thousands of people protesting along the Gaza
Strip's eastern border with Israel, killing 18.Speaking to Al Jazeera, Othman,
whose bed was lined with Palestinian flags and flowers from relatives and
friends after he sustained a bullet to the back of his head, says he never
expected to be targeted. aljazeera
Sisi wins 97 percent of vote in Egypt
election, official results show
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been re-elected as
Egypt's president with 97 percent of votes, the exact proportion that brought
the former military commander his first term four years ago, Egypt's election
commission announced on Monday.Also on Monday, US President Donald Trump
expressed his "sincere congratulations" to Sisi in a call, Egypt's
state news agency MENA reported.Trump said in the call that the US was keen on
strengthening strategic relations and continuing to coordinate on key issues,
MENA reported. The turnout in last week's election was lower than in 2014, at
41 percent.Sisi had long been virtually guaranteed victory after all serious opposition
pulled out of the contest earlier this year. Others were arrested or threatened
with being discredited.Some 23 million of 60 million registered voters turned
out during the 3 days of polling that ended on Wednesday, state-owned
newspapers al-Ahram and Akhbar el-Youm, and the official MENA news agency
reported last week. According to al-Ahram, 2 million voters spoiled their
ballot papers, inserting the names of candidates who were not among the only
two approved.Sisi ran virtually unchallenged after the other serious candidates
were arrested or pulled out.Sisi's only opponent, Moussa Mostafa Moussa, a Sisi
supporter, gained 721,000 votes,al-Youm and al-Ahram reported. Opposition
groups had called for a boycott of the week's vote which they labelled a
charade. middleeasteye
Saudi coalition air attack kills 12 in Yemen,
including seven children
An air strike by the Saudi-led coalition
fighting in Yemen killed 12 civilians, including seven children, in the costal
city of Hodeidah on Monday, medics and a witness said.Medics and a witness who
saw the wreckage said the air strike had destroyed a house in al-Hali district,
where displaced civilians from other provinces were settled.12 victims were all
from the same family, they said. Pictures shared on social media - too graphic
to republish, showed the remains of several small children and a baby among
those killed.A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition told Reuters: "We
take this report very seriously and it will be fully investigated as all
reports of this nature are - using an internationally approved, independent
process."While this is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment
further."The coalition repeatedly denies it has committed war crimes in
Yemen, and its investigations have been slammed by human rights campaigners as
not credible."No coalition member can claim clean hands in Yemen until all
its members explain their role in scores of documented unlawful attacks,” said
Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, last
year."It borders on the absurd for the coalition to claim its own
investigations are credible when it refuses to release even basic information
like which countries participated in an attack and whether anyone has been held
accountable.” Hodeidah is home to the impoverished country's biggest port from
where most of the humanitarian aid reaches millions of civilians on the brink
of famine.middleeasteye
Families leaving Eastern Ghouta take prize
possessions
Abu Jawad was among thousands of Syrians who
left their homes and underground shelters in the shrinking rebel enclave of
Eastern Ghouta to one of the last remaining rebel-held areas in northwest
Syria.With dozens of daily convoys of buses making the 320km journey to the
Idlib province since late March, families have been forced to take only the
most essential items. "We left with nothing; we just took our feelings of
despair and heartbreak with us," the 27-year-old from Hammoudia told Al
Jazeera as he explained the pain of leaving the town he had grown up in his
whole life.aljazeera
12 people tortured to death in Syria in March
Syrian Network for Human Rights has said that
12 people have been tortured to death in Syria by regime forces in March.The
network noted in a report published yesterday that the majority of the victims
were from the governorate of Daraa.The network has documented 26 cases of death
by torture since the beginning of 2018 by the main parties to the conflict,
including 24 deaths by the Syrian regime.The network called on the UN Security
Council and the United Nations to reiterate their demands to Syrian regime to
stop torture and to immediately demand the release of the remaining
victims.middleeastmonitor
International commission to sue Israel over
killing Palestinian protesters
Head of the Coordinating Committee of the
Great March of Return Zaher Birawi announced yesterday the formation of an
international legal committee of law experts who will attempt to prosecute
Israel over killing unarmed Palestinian protesters during the first day of the
march, Quds Press reported.In a statement, Birawi said: “The committee is to
exert its utmost efforts in cooperation with Palestinian and international
rights groups to prosecute the soldiers and leaders of the Israeli occupation
army over committing war crimes against unarmed civilians.”Birawi reiterated
that international law guarantees the right to peaceful protests, stressing
that opening fire on the protesters while they were calling for the
implementation of UN resolutions related to their right to return is a war
crime.middleeastmonitor
China pledges to protect freedom of religious
belief
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/china-pledges-to-protect-freedom-of-religious-belief-5121445/
Beijing: China pledged to continue to respect
and protect its citizens’ freedom of religious belief in a white paper
published on Tuesday. As a socialist country under the leadership of Communist
Party of China (CPC), China adopts policies on freedom of religious belief based
on national and religious conditions to protect citizens’ right to freedom of
religious belief, build active and healthy religious relationships, and
maintain religious and social harmony, said the white paper published by the
State Council Information Office, titled “China’s Policies and Practices on
Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief”, Xinhua reported.“Religious believers
and non-believers respect each other, and live in harmony, committing
themselves to reform and opening up and the socialist modernization, and
contribute to the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation,”
the white paper said.Protecting freedom of religious belief, properly handling
religious relations and adapting them to the times, and curbing religious
extremism are common tasks facing all countries around the world, said the
white paper.China will uphold the principle that religions in China must be
Chinese in orientation and provide active guidance to religions so that they
can adapt themselves to the socialist society, it said.IANS
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Lingayata and Hindu Mathas in Karnataka’s
Electoral Politics:Yogesh S
A Mahatma In An Imam:S Gopalakrishnan
Communal tensions will not end until Hindus
keep rewarding the BJP for its anti-Muslim stance:Mahmad Sidat
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Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:58 PM)
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