07 AUG. 2019:
05 ZilHajj 1440:Vol: 11, No:265
INDIA
Nirmohi Akhara draws CJI anger as it fails to
produce evidence of Ram temple, claims 'property papers lost in dacoity'
Day 2 of Ayodhya case hearing in Supreme Court
did not go quite well for the Nirmohi Akhara. The petitioner, which has been a
party in the case since decades, could not produce any revenue records or oral
evidence to establish its possession over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid
disputed site in Ayodhya.The bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which
clarified that it would decide on the legal possession of the site first, told
the Hindu body that it will have to "establish" its case. However,
when Akhara submitted that they had lost all documents in a dacoity in the year
1982, the court told them that they were underprepared for the hearing and
moved on to hear the next petitioner's case.On day 1 of the hearing, senior
advocate Sushil Jain, appearing for Nirmohi Akhara, appealed to the bench for
control and management of the entire disputed 2.77-acre land, saying Muslims
had not been allowed to enter the premises since 1934. Akhara reiterated that
its claim was based on the fact that it had the disputed land in possession for
a long time. The SC demanded that Jain present either oral or documentary
evidence that Nirmohi Akhara was in possession of Ram Janmabhoomi. CJI Gogoi
said, "Do you have oral or documentary proof, revenue records, of
possession of Ramjanmabhoomi before its attachment?"However, the lawyer
replied that the records had been lost in a dacoity in 1982. The bench then
added, "For the next 2 hours, we want to see documentary and oral evidence
only. If not, we will proceed to the next case."The Bench said that the
counsel for Akhara was underprepared to present satisfactory evidence to back
their claims in the Ayodhya land dispute case.When the bench questioned Jain
about who was paying the land revenue for the disputed 2.77 acres of land, he
said that the documents he was referring to hadn't been submitted, but only
exhibited. In response, Justice Nazeer said, "Exhibit is one thing, and
have they (documents) been proved, corroborated? What is this Jain?",to
which Justice Bobde added, "Jain, what we'll do is we will start Suit No 5
and hear a reply by Muslim body’s
lawyer Dr Dhawan, in the meantime you prepare yourself." Advocate K
Parasaran for the deity Ram Lalla started advancing submissions in the Ayodhya
case, soon after the SC asked the Nirmohi Akhara to resubmit its arguments
after better preparation. Parasaran responded to the court's queries on
documentary evidence and said that it would be difficult to prove that Ram had
been born at the site "after so many centuries".However, he said, the
"unshakeable faith" of the worshippers and believers is
"evidence" that "sthan is the birthplace of Ram"."Ram
Janmabhoomi has become the personification of the deity, it has become an
object of worship for Hindus," he said. "In Valmiki Ramayana also, it
is mentioned in 3 places that Ram was born in Ayodhya,"he added. Justice
Bobde, in response, asked, "Has such a question regarding the place of
birth of a prophet or god arisen before any court before? Whether issues like
birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem have been questioned and dealt with by any
court in the world?" Parasaran said he would check and revert to the
court.The hearing will continue on August 8. firstpost
Faith of believers evidence of disputed land
being birthplace of Ram, deity's counsel to SC
Counsel cites Valmiki Ramayan, SC seeks evidence
of possession of Ramjanmabhumi
Cong could have prevented Babri demolition: Digvijaya
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has said
the demolition of Babri Masjid could have been prevented, but it could not be
done because of the inaction of his party’s govt.He said although he didn’t
know the inside story, but he did later find out that then PM P.V. Narasimha
Rao was taken in by the sworn affidavits of VHP in the Supreme Court, saying
that they have not demolished Masjid.“The fact remains that our inaction, and I
personally feel guilty for it.Congress could have prevented the demolition of Masjid
had it taken preventive steps and allowed Army and Central forces to protect
the place,” Singh said.PTI
J&K ISSUE
Pak expels Indian envoy, suspends bilateral trade
Lahore:Pakistan today announced that it is
expelling Indian High Commissioner and suspending bilateral trade with New
Delhi, days after New Delhi revoked J&K’s special status, AFP has
reported.“We will call back our ambassador from Delhi and send back their”
envoy, AFP reported Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi as said. Meanwhile, a
govt statement declared that Pakistan will suspend trade in a downgrading of
diplomatic ties. The decision was taken at a meeting of National Security
Committee chaired by PM Imran Khan. According to the official Twitter account,
NSC has decided to downgrade diplomatic relations with India, suspend bilateral
trade, review bilateral arrangements and take the Kashmir issue to UN,
including the Security Council. The Committee has also decided to observe
Aug.14, Pak’s Independence Day, “in solidarity with brave Kashmiris”. The
ruling party PTI wrote on Twitter that August 15 will be observed as “Black
Day”.“PM has also directed all diplomatic channels to be activated in order to
expose brutal Indian racist regime, design and human rights violations. PM
directed Pakistani Armed Forces to continue vigilance,” tweeted the party.The
meeting was attended by the Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Minister for
Human Rights, Army chief, DG ISI, DG ISPR and several other senior officials of
the military and the govt.thehindu
Imran Khan warns of another 'Pulwama-type' terror
attack, likens 'BJP to white supremacists'
Pakistan shuts airspace for Indian flights
following abrogation of Article 370: Sources
Pakistan has shut down its airspace for Indian flights and carriers.
Reports said Pak is banning Indian flights in its airspace after Modi govt
abolished Article 370.newsx
OIC on J&K terms Modi Govt’s decision to
revoke Article 370 ‘illegal’
OIC Contact Group on J&K has condemned
India's decision to revoke Article 370, according to Pakistan Foreign Office. Foreign
Office (FO) said that an emergency meeting of OIC Contact Group on J&K was
held in the wake of "illegal" actions by India to alter the
internationally recognised disputed status of Indian Kashmir, it said.The Group
on J&K was formed in 1994 to coordinate policy of OIC on J&K dispute.
Azerbaijan, Niger, Pakistan,Saudi Arabia and Turkey are its members. The
meeting was chaired by ambassador Samir Bakr Diab, Assistant Secretary General,
who represented OIC Secretary General, and attended by Pak Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi. PTI
Over 100 held in Kashmir, cop injured in
stone-pelting incident
Over 100 people have been arrested in Kashmir
after Centre announced abrogation of the provisions of Article 370. Security
forces arrested over 100 people, including political leaders and activists, as
they were considered a threat to peace and tranquillity in the valley,
officials were quoted as saying by PTI. Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting,
the situation was "comfortable" in all 3 regions of J&K,
officials told PTI today. A shutdown was observed in Kargil town in protest
against the scrapping of the provisions of Article 370.indiatoday
In silent Srinagar, echo: Delhi wants Kashmir,
not Kashmiris?
Depending on which way New Delhi moved, there
were generally two expressions on Kashmiri faces: anger or hope. But as the
news of New Delhi’s move to bury Article 370, those faces bore an expression of
defeat. “What is the point of seeking our opinion anymore? Everything is
finished,” said Saeed Khan, an electronics engineer living near Lal Chowk in
Srinagar. Srinagar was a ghost town and Khan’s sentiment is refrain on the lips
of many: a fruit seller at Batmaloo, a father who walked his son home through a
deserted alley near Eidgah and a policeman who stood guard near a concertina
barricade at Rambagh.Virtually on lockdown since Sunday, with communication
lines and net suspended, prohibitory orders imposed across the Valley and a
surge in troop deployment, Srinagar bore the look of a city under siege.Markets
and shops shut, schools and colleges suspended, roads barricaded and guarded by
gun-toting security men and vehicle movement restricted only to emergency
hospital services. indianexpress
Kashmir Valley has seen many a lockdown but why
this time it is so different
Srinagar:A question mark the size of the Kashmir
Valley hangs over its residents who are under an unprecedented lockdown as
security personnel patrol deserted streets, 2 ex CMs are in detention, one is
under house arrest and several activists of major mainstream parties are being
rounded up.“It’s a huge shock, the feeling is still sinking in,” said a NC
leader on the condition that he not be named. “There will be a reaction to this
unilateral decision…this is the biggest act of disempowerment since 1846 Treaty
of Amritsar (between British and Raja Gulab Singh) when Kashmiris were sold,
along with their land, water and sky over their heads.” For a place where the
weight of history is always heavy, rarely has the future seemed so
uncertain.The Valley’s connection with the inside and the outside world has
been cut— all rnet connectivity, cellular, landline, and cable TV services have
been snapped. Residents are not allowed outside their neighbourhoods. The
administration hasn’t issued curfew passes to even its own employees and
security personnel don’t accept Govt IDs as passes.The press isn’t welcome.
Most of TV crew that have flown in are parked in a 1-sq-km area of Zero Bridge
in the city. There is some easing of security here,on the road to airport and
Rajbagh-Jawaharnagar stretch — this is the one that visiting TV cameras film.
Elsewhere, roads are barricaded with spools of concertina wire and regular
checkpoints with police and armed paramilitary personnel on patrol. Most police
personnel are equipped with lathis, not guns.Across the river, at Jehangir
Chowk, a journalist was roughed up by a police officer trying to film the
curfew.For the past 2 days, Indian Express reporters have been holed up in
their office from where they walk around to meet residents and then return. In
the office building itself, dozens of policemen have moved in, the corridors
their temporary shelter. For, space is short — most Govt buildings, schools,
colleges, courts have been occupied by paramilitary forces flown from outside
the state. On Tuesday, half a dozen busloads of Border Security Force personnel
came from Rajasthan and they moved into an empty parking lot in city
centre.Indian Express spoke to several residents including Govt employees and
policemen. Signalling deep distrust and anger, an overwhelming majority of them
fear that the reorganisation of the state is aimed at “changing the demography
of J&K with an aim to reduce the share of Muslims in the population.”While
the chorus among separatists is “we-told-you-so,”entire pro-India political
ecosystem is rattled. Sure, the Valley has seen many a strike, many a curfew,
but this time there’s no escaping the difference — with neighbourhoods locked
away from each other, too, Kashmir has been turned invisible even inside
Kashmir. indianexpress
Kashmir experiencing unprecedented lockdown, 8
million people ‘incarcerated’: ex IAS officer Faesal
Kashmir is experiencing an “unprecedented”
lockdown and its population of 8 million has been “incarcerated” like never
before, ex IAS officer and politician Shah Faesal said on Wednesday, adding
that there is no shortage of food and essentials as of now.It was not possible
to reach ex J&K CMs Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti and J&KPC’S Sajjad
Lone or send a message to them, Faesal said in a Facebook post. “Kashmir is
experiencing an unprecedented lock-down. From Zero Bridge to Airport some
movement of vehicles is visible. Other places are completely out of bounds.
Except for patients or those with a curfew pass,” Faesal, president of J&K
Peoples Movement party, said.Giving a glimpse of the ground situation in
Kashmir, he said curfew is stricter in other districts.“You can say that the
entire 8 million population has been incarcerated like never before,” Faesal
said.“But then what’s lost has been lost. Or Perhaps everything has been lost.
Except our resolve to fight back. And we shall,” he added.PTI
Bajrang Dal Members Attack Protest March in Patna
Against Revoking of Article 370
Patna: Members of left parties, who were
protesting against the revoking Article 370 and dismantling of the state of J&K,
were abused, attacked and injured by a group of Bajrang Dal members in Patna. A
day later, they have sought proper security during a nationwide protest on
Aug.7 from the state govt. The state secretary of CPI Satyanarayan Singh said
the Govt should take serious note of the attack by Bajrang Dal activists on the
peaceful protest organised by left party members and supporters at Kargil
Chowk, near the statue of Shahid Bhagat Singh in the heart of Patna on Monday
evening.He said,“It is not only highly condemnable, but has also exposed the
intolerant attitude of Dal against a peaceful protest march.”Anish Ankur, a
theatre activist, who was also attacked by Bajrang Dal activists during the
protest march, said, “They tried to create fear by attacking us but failed. No
doubt it was an attack to stop us from protest.” “Youths who were carrying
saffron flags first tried to provoke us by shouting slogans like ‘Nathuram
Godse Zindabad and Nehru-Gandhi Murdabad but we ignored them as we had gathered
to stage a protest, not to fight with anyone. When they failed to provoke us,
they abused and attacked us in whereby a few protestors were injured.”NewsClick
Owaisi:Do you want Kashmiris to sacrifice
themselves on Eid?
New Delhi :AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi described
the J&K Reorganisation Bill as the “third historic mistake”, the first
having been committed with the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah in 1953 and the second
with the “rigging” of elections in 1987.“Transmuting a state into a Union
Territory would make Gogia Pasha and Mandrake go green with envy. This Bill is
a violation of Article 3. What does this do to the federal polity in India?” He
urged the Home Minister to read the verdict of Justice Rohinton Nariman in SBI
versus Santosh Gupta case as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court in the
case of Zafarullah. He said the SC had said that Article 370 is not
“temporary”, it is a special status.He warned Govt against issues which may
surface in J&K. Owaisi said, “What will happen on Eid? Are you assuming
that Kashmiris instead of sacrificing a lamb should sacrifice themselves? If
you want that, I am sure they will do that. They have been doing that.”indianexpress
JD-U makes a U-turn on Article 370,now backs move
In a U-turn, JDU, a key ally of BJP-led NDA, today
announced its support to the Centre's move to revoke Article 370 in J&K.After
opposing scrapping of Article 370, JD-U leader R.C.P. Singh said that when any
law come into force, it becomes a law of the country and all should accept
it."We are with the Govt on scrapping of Article 370," Singh,Rajya
Sabha MP, said. Singh, considered close to Nitish Kumar, said Kashmir was
integral part of India and would remain so.IANS
Now anyone can get married to a fair Kashmiri
girl: BJP MLA
lucknow:BJP MLA from Khatauli in Muzaffarnagar
Vikram Singh Saini sparked a row after he said the party workers were “excited”
because they will now be able to get married to “fair girls from Kashmir”.In a
purported video that went viral, MLA is seen speaking at an event to celebrate
the scrapping of special status of Kashmir, in Katauli area of
Muzaffarnagar.MLA said, “The workers are very excited and those who are bachelors,
they can get married there.”indianexpress
Congress’ Scindia supports Centre on J&K,
says ‘it is in country’s interest’
Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia has
supported the Centre’s decision to remove special status accorded to J&K.He
is 8th member to go against the party’s stand. “I support the move
on #JammuAndKashmir & #Ladakh and its full integration into union of India,”
he wrote.scroll
ICJ Condemns Legislative Steps Taken by India in
Kashmir, Says ‘All Eyes on Indian SC’
The Hague: Indian govt’s revocation of the
autonomy and special status of J&K “violates the rights of representation
and participation guaranteed to the people” under the Indian constitution and
in international law, and “is a blow to the rule of law and human rights in the
state and in India”, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) said.“Indian Govt
has pushed through these changes in contravention of domestic and international
standards[…]accompanied by draconian new restrictions on freedoms of
expression, assembly, and travel, and with an influx of thousands of
unaccountable security personnel,”said ICJ Secretary General Sam Zarifi.Zarifi
noted that Indian Govt rushed through the amendments at a time when J&K was
under the direct rule of the Central Govt, and legislature was
dissolved.caravandaily
Muslim Groups Condemn Revocation of Article 370,
Terming it As Govt’s Authoritarian Move
Muslim and political groups have condemned the
unilateral decision of the BJP Govt to do away with the special status of the
troubled-torn state of J&K, which, they said, would satisfy only the
communally frenzied mob psych influenced by Sangh Parivar’s ideology of “hate”.
WPI President Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas questioned the BJP govt’s ‘authoritarian’
approach which he said is evident from deployment of massive armed forces,
imposition of Section 144 and arrest of prominent leaders of the state,
including 2 former CMs, literally holding the Valley hostage.“Through these
draconian measures,” he said, “Govt sabotaged the democratic space and
unleashed terror among the people of Kashmir.”Socialist Party of India also
condemned the decision to scrap Article 370 without consulting the people and
their representatives.Party’s chief Pannalal Surana and vice president Sandeep
Panday said it was a great betrayal to people of J&K who had “preferred
India over Pakistan” after the Partition of the country.PFI also criticised the government’s decision and
warned it heralds the dark days for democracy and civil rights in the country
the way Govt passed some other laws such as NIA, UAPA, RTI, etc.caravandaily
‘Betrayal with People of Kashmir’: Around 100
Civil Society Condemns Scrapping of Article 370
New Dlehi:Various civil rights groups led by
prominent human rights activists condemned the
abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, which together give special status
to J&K, by Central govt.They termed the unilateral move to revoke the said
Articles and bifurcation of the state in two union territories as illegal,
unethical and above all a betrayal with the people of Kashmir.Around 100
activists including prominent human rights activists like Ravi Nair and Kavita
Krishnan held a discussion on the issue at the Indian Social Institute in Delhi.
Caravandaily
OTHERS
RBI cuts repo rate by 35 basis points to 5.4%,
real GDP growth projection revised downwards
RBI today maintained an accomodative stance on
monetary policy and said retail inflation would remain within targeted band. It
also revised downwards real GDP growth for 2019-’20 mentioned in its June
policy. RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee reduced the policy repo rate, or interest
rate at which it lends to commercial banks, under the liquidity adjustment
facility by 35 basis points from 5.75% to 5.4% while the reverse repo rate was
revised to 5.15%. The reverse repo rate is the rate at which RBI borrows money
from commercial banks. The marginal standing facility rate and the bank rate
were changed to 5.65%. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the repo rate cut was
balanced and a reduction of 25 basis points would have been inadequate, PTI
reported.This is the fourth time this year that the central bank has cut the
repo rate. The revision is likely to lower interest rates on new bank
loans.Meanwhile, the bank said retail inflation would remain within its target
level in the next 12 months, and projected it to stay within 3.5% to 3.7% in
the second half of the financial year. Consumer Price Index retail inflation
was projected at 3.1% for the second quarter of the financial year while
CPI-based inflation in the first half of the next financial year was projected
at 3.6%. scroll
Tens of thousands losing jobs as India’s auto
crisis deepens: Report
Slumping sales of cars and motorcycles are
triggering massive job cuts in India’s auto sector, with many companies forced
to shut down factories for days and axe shifts, multiple sources said.The cull
has been so extensive that one senior industry source told Reuters that initial
estimates suggest that automakers, parts manufacturers and dealers have laid
off about 350,000 workers since April.Within this previously unreported figure,
car and motorcycle makers have laid off 15,000 and component manufacturers
100,000, with remaining job losses at dealers, many of which have closed, the
industry source said.Reuters was able to identify at least 5 companies that
have recently cut or plan to cut hundreds of jobs, mainly from their temporary
labour force. The downturn - regarded by industry executives as the worst
suffered by auto industry - is posing a big challenge for Modi’s Govt as it
begins its second term at a time when India’s jobless numbers are climbing.Reuters
Sushma Swaraj passes away: Cremated at Lodhi Road
crematorium, daughter performs last rites
New Delhi:Former External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj died at the AIIMS in New Delhi late on August 6. She was 67. She suffered
a cardiac arrest. She was administered CPR but did not respond. Hundreds of
people, including PM Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and veteran party
leader L.K. Advani, bid farewell to former external affairs minister Swaraj as
her mortal remains were consigned to flames at Lodhi Road crematorium here today.
thehindu
Payal Tadvi suicide: ‘Why has no action been
taken against department head?’ Bombay HC asks police
Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the
prosecution why the statements of a key witness in the Payal Tadvi suicide case
had not been registered yet before a magistrate, ANI reported.The police
informed the court that they had prepared a letter recommending an inquiry against
the Yi Ching Ling, the head of the gynaecology and obstetrics department at BYL
Nair Hospital, where Tadvi used to work, PTI reported. But senior counsel Raja
Thakre told the judges that the crime branch was yet to send the letter to the
municipal commissioner to seek permission for initiating proceedings against Yi
under the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999.Justice SS Jadhav was
hearing bail applications of three doctors – Hema Ahuja, Bhakti Meher, and
Ankita Khandewal – who were arrested in May for casteist abuses that allegedly
made Tadvi kill herself. Jadhav directed the crime branch to write to the
municipal commissioner immediately to initiate action against Yi. The court
said no action had been taken against Yi despite the fact that Tadvi’s mother
had approached her several times with complaints and accused her of shirking
responsibility.“Does the investigating agency have no power to prosecute her?”
Jadhav asked.scroll.in
After deaths of 70 cows at govt shelters, Yogi decides
to give 1 lakh cattle to farmers
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/up-govt-to-give-one-lakh-stray-cattle-from-govt-shelters-to-farmers
Lucknow;Couple of weeks after deaths of dozens of
cows at several state-run cattle shelters in UP, CM Yogi Adityanath has come up with a new scheme
for the welfare of stray cattle that will also help generate employment
opportunities.The state Govt has approved "Mukhya Mantri Be-sahara
Gau-Vansh Sahbhagita Yojana". In Phase 1 of this scheme, the Govt will
hand over one lakh cattle, currently in the government-run shelters, to farmers
and other people ready to take care of them after the due process.The person,
who takes the cattle, will be paid Rs 30 per animal per day, every month via
direct bank transfer, which works out to be about Rs 900 per month.In a press
release, UP Govt acknowledged that keeping stray cattle in the govt-run
shelters is proving to be a major problem in terms of the upkeep as well as the
care of the cattle. Govt said there are 205.66 lakh cattle in the state as per 2012
census of which there are 10-12 lakh stray cattle in UP presently. There are
523 registered 'gaushalas' or cow shelters in the state and more are being
built.This new scheme will cost Govt Rs 109 crore in the first phase.India
Tomorrow
Kerala journalist death: High Court refuses to
stay bail given to suspended IAS officer Venkitaraman
Kerala High Court today refused to stay a lower
court order granting bail to IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, who was arrested
and suspended after he allegedly killed journalist K Muhammed Basheer last
week, PTI reported.However, Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan issued a notice to
Venkitaraman based on a plea by the state Govt against his bail.In its appeal, state
Govt claimed that Venkitaraman misled police and tried to destroy evidence that
showed he was drunk. Govt said that immediately after the incident,
Venkitaraman lied to the police, claiming that the vehicle was driven by his
friend Wafa. During the investigation, however, it was revealed that
Venkitaraman was himself driving the car.scroll.in
Accidents, Injuries, Panic: Sudden NRC Notices
Push Assamese to Brink of Desperation
Guwahati: Inside the surgical ward of state-run
GMCH, Kabeluddin Rahman was sitting with his 4-year-old daughter Kulsum on his
lap. Visible on Kulsum’s small face were patches of bitumen, a material used
for repairing roads.Close by, Rahman’s wife Nilima Khatun was semiconscious.
Patches of bitumen were stuck to her legs, arms, torso and face. Nilima and
Kulsum were among 24 passengers on a bus that met with an accident in
Khanapara, on the outskirts of Guwahati, the night of August 4. The bus was
transporting as many as 50 people from Sontali village in Kamrup (Rural)
district, when it was hit by a dumper transporting molten bitumen for road
repair.The hot bitumen spilled as a result of the collision, leaving the
passengers exposed to it. The passengers had hired the bus to respond to a
“sudden notice” from the authorities compiling NRC, asking them to appear for
re-verification of their documents on very next morning at Golaghat — situated
at a distance of about 300 kms. thewire
WORLD
Israel to join US-led mission in Gulf
Israel will join US-led mission to secure
shipping lanes in Strait of Hormuz, a move likely to provoke Iranian
outrage.The revelation was disclosed by Israel’s Foreign Minister, Yisrael
Katz, during a session of Israeli Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence
Committee, the vast majority of which was held behind closed doors. The “rare
meeting” was held with the Knesset in recess ahead of Israel’s general
election, which is slated for 17 Sept.Katz told the committee that he had
instructed Israel’s Foreign Ministry to work to include Tel Aviv in the US-led
mission after a recent visit to UAE.There Katz met with Emirati officials to
discuss developing ties between Israel and UAE in technology, energy,
agriculture and water management, as well as “the need to deal with the threat
of a nuclear Iran”. It was against this backdrop that the foreign minister
claimed to have discussed Israel’s joining of the operation with an unnamed
senior Emirati official.middleeastmonitor
Israel launches satellite to provide net to MiddleEast
Israel has successfully launched a satellite
which will provide internet, TV and mobile services to the Middle East and
Africa.The Amos-17 satellite was launched at 19:23 local time yesterday from
Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA. The satellite was carried into space by a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket and separated successfully, despite the launch being delayed
for several days after a suspected faulty valve was discovered during
testing.It will now spend the next two weeks travelling gradually to 36,000
kilometres above the earth, at which height it will orbit the planet.The
satellite was built by aerospace giant Boeing and designed by Israel-based firm
Spacecom. Amos-17 will now provide services to TV operators, internet and
telephone providers in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as governments
and private data companies, the Times of Israel reported today.
Extremist Jewish groups call for mass raids of
Al-Aqsa Mosque on Eid
Temple Mount Groups,a body of extremist Jewish
organisations, have called for massive raids of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the
upcoming Eid Al-Adha, Arab48 reported.Asthe calls were being made, Israeli
occupation police started to tighten restrictions on the entry of Palestinians
to the holy site.The raids, reports said, are to mark the anniversary of the
destruction of an alleged Jewish Temple.Jewish posts on social media stated the
times of the settler raids, noting that they will start after Eid prayer on
Sunday and to continue for three days. They have called on occupation forces to
facilitate their activities.Extremist Jewish groups have increased their raids
of Al-Aqsa Mosque with reports stating that 2,233 settlers raided the Muslim
holy site in July.MEMO
Saudi activist: ‘We all wish to visit Israel’
Saudi women’s activist Souad Al-Shammari said
that “most Saudis” wish to visit the occupation state.In an interview on Israeli
Public Broadcaster (Kan)Shammari said: “Visiting Israel is the dream of most
Saudis, as well as many of the residents of Gulf States and Arabs.”The women’s
rights activist who was on air to discuss Saudi’s recent decision to end the
guardian system for women who are over 21 years old, liked Riyadh’s step to “end
of slavery in US”.Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is a “prophet” and
“saviour”, she continued. Her appearance on Israeli TV has sparked further
criticism of Saudi which has been seen to be normalising relations with Tel
Aviv in recent months.MEMO
Comparing Israel to Nazis is ‘anti-Semitic’ in
revised US definition
US State Department has revised its definition of
anti-Semitism and included “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy
to that of Nazis” to its growing list of examples of anti-Jewish hatred. An
earlier definition of anti-Semitism adopted by State Dept. cited 10 examples of
which three were related directly to criticism of Israel, including “claiming
that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.” It appears to
be a reaction to comments made by US Democrat Representative Ilhan Omar during introduction
of a resolution last month championing “right to participate in boycotts in
pursuit of civil and human rights.”MEMO
Assad’s cousin:Regime killed over 500000 Syrians
Firas Al-Assad, cousin of Syrian President Bashar
Al-Assad, attacked his family on Facebook, accusing them of killing more than
100,000 Alawites and more than half a million Syrians in order to stay in
power.“Sympathising with tens of thousands of poor, dead Syrian youth who have
found themselves fighting in the regime’s army to protect it is not my fault.
The regime could have avoided all this with some modesty toward its people,”
Firas said in a letter addressing his pro-regime brother Duraid.“You killed
100,000 Alawites to stay in power …” and “You allowed [Russian Foreign Minister
Sergey] Lavrov and [Iranian Major General Qasem] Soleimani to issue orders and
take decisions.”middleeastmonitor
Deadly attack targets Kabul police station
killing 14
At least 14 people have been killed and more than
140 wounded after a Taliban suicide attack outside a police station in Afghanistan
capital of Kabul. Taliban claimed
responsibility for the attack.According to videos on social media and
witnesses, small arms fire could be heard following the blast. The attack came
a day after the Taliban called for the boycott of a presidential election
scheduled to take place on Sept.28 and threatened to attack election
rallies.Taliban, who have been staging near-daily attacks across the country,
usually target Afghan forces and Govt officials or those seen as loyal to the
government.On Tuesday, a bomb targeting a van carrying employees of the
Interior Ministry's counter-narcotics division killed 5 people and wounded seven
in Kabul.US officials and the Taliban met in Qatar's capital Doha this week for
the eighth round of talks aimed at striking a peace deal that would slash the
American military presence in Afghanistan.aljazeera
Tunisia's Ennahda VP Mourou to run in Prez poll
Tunisia’s biggest political party Ennahda named a
candidate for presidential elections , first time the moderate Islamist party
has put up a nominee for the post since the country transitioned to democracy
after revolution.Party vice president Abdel Fattah Mourou, 71, a lawyer, will
run in elections due to be held two months early on Sept. 15 following the
death of president Beji Caid Essebsi last month.Liberal PM Youssef Chahed will
also stand, his Tahaya Tounes party said last week, making him one of the
likely frontrunners to succeed Essebsi.Other candidates who have announced
their intention to run include liberal ex PM Mehdi Jomaa and Moncef Marzouki,
who served as interim president for 3 years after Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was
toppled.Reuters
Egypt prosecutors order pretrial detention for
suspects extradited from Kuwait
Egypt’s State Prosecution has ordered that 8
suspects, who were extradited from Kuwait in July, be detained for 15 days
pending investigation.Prosecutors accuse the suspects of working toward
plotting terror operations targeting state institutions, and of membership to
an “outlawed terrorist organisation”, in an apparent reference to Muslim
Brotherhood.The men’s detention is expected to be repeatedly renewed. Kuwaiti
authorities had said in July that they had arrested a “Muslim Brotherhood
cell”, whose members were Egyptian nationals who had been on the run in Kuwait
and extradited them to their home country in coordination with Egyptian
authorities.middleeastmonitor
North Korea’s missile launches are a warning to
US and South Korea, says Kim Jong Un
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the
country’s latest missile launches were a warning to the US and South Korea over
their joint military drills, AFP reported. Kim spoke after he inspected the
launch of a new type of missile – the fourth test in less than two weeks. He
said the latest test was “an occasion to send an adequate warning to the joint
military drill now underway by the US and South Korean authorities,” according
to state news agency KCNA. The launches verified the “war capacity” of the
“new-type tactical guided missiles”, he added.
Flash: NEWS, views, Articles
Idea of dividing Kashmir has a chequered
history:T. Ramakrishnan
Guardian view on Kashmir: danger ahead:Editorial
History lessons for Amit Shah on Kashmir that he
should have studied in school:Praveen Davar
It’s not a surgical strike. It’s an open-heart
surgery, and there will be bleeding:Happymon Jacob, JNU
Making Kashmir a union territory is bogus and
pointless: Former interlocutor Radha Kumar
This is a question of autonomy, not integration:
Faizan Mustafa
Uighur man threatened with deportation to China
'safely en route' to US: Areeb Ullah
By scrapping Article 370, Modi is going for a
failed European model of nation building:Yogendra Yadav
News analysis | Afghanistan shadow over India’s
Kashmir move:Kallol Bhattacherjee
Article 370 revoked: Kashmir unlikely to give up
autonomy without fight; Modi govt faces long battle ahead:Divyansh Sharma
The story of Indian democracy written in blood
and betrayal: Pratap Bhanu Mehta
Explainer: Not just Kashmir, how Modi Govt has
weakened other state powers:Sruthisagar Yamunan
Protests continue against revocation of Article
370 both in India and outside
Triple Talaq Bill passage is a transformative
point in India’s socio-political context: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Current paradigm shift in J&K is in tune with
steady centralisation of state since 2014:C. Jaffrelot
A soft solution to the Kashmir dispute has had no
takers in India, Pakistan since 2014: Sanjaya Baru
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq,(Released at: 9:11 PM)
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