10
OCT. 2019: 10 Safar 1441: Vol: 12, No: 33
INDIA: INDIAN ECONOMY
At
5.8%, rating agency Moody’s
dishes out bleakest 2019-20 growth forecast for India so far
US rating multinational
Moody’s Investor Services today slashed its 2019-20 growth forecast for India
to 5.8% from 6.2% earlier, saying the economy was experiencing a pronounced
slowdown which is partly related to long-lasting factors. The rating agency’s
projection is the most pessimistic so far and comes ahead of IMF’s growth
projections due next week.Last month, ADB and OECD lowered FY20 growth forecast
for India by 50 basis points and 1.3% points to 6.5% and 5.9%, respectively.
Last week, RBI also slashed its growth projection for the economy by 80 basis
points to 6.1% for 2019-20. Rating agency Standard Poor’s has also pared down
its India growth forecast to 6.3% from 7.1% earlier. Moody’s said a prolonged
phase of softer growth in India would dampen prospects for Govt’s fiscal
consolidation plans and hamper its ability to prevent a rise in debt burden,
thus constraining the country’s sovereign credit profile. “While we expect a
moderate pick-up in real GDP growth and inflation over the next 2 years supported
by monetary and fiscal stimulus, we have revised down our projections for both.
We forecast real GDP growth to decline to 5.8% in the fiscal year ending in
March 2020 (fiscal 2019) from 6.8% in fiscal 2018, and to pick up to 6.6% in
fiscal 2020 and around 7.0% over the medium term. Compared with only two years
ago, the probability of sustained real GDP growth at or above 8% has
significantly diminished," it added. Indian economy is battling a severe
demand slowdown and liquidity crunch which resulted in economic growth rate
falling to a 6-year low of 5% in June quarter, while growth in private
consumption expenditure slumped to an 18-quarter low of 3.1%.It said what began
as an investment-led slowdown has broadened into consumption, driven by
financial stress among rural households and weak job creation. “A credit crunch
among non-bank financial institutions, major providers of retail loans in
recent years, has compounded the problem," it added.Livemint
Banks
lost Rs 1.76 lakh crore to loan defaulters in 3 yrs, big hike in write offs
seen after demonetisation
New Delhi: In the last 3
years, the Indian banking system has lost Rs 1.76 lakh crore on account of
non-performing loans of 416 defaulters - each owing Rs 100 crore or more –
being written off. On an average, the amount declared as bad loans turns out to
be around Rs 424 crore per borrower.This the first time data relating to big
loans and biggest defaulters – owing at least Rs 100 crore – has come to
light.Following a directive issued by RBI to all scheduled commercial banks to
come clear on the amount to be prudentially written off and set the accounts
right, the data has been exclusively accessed by CNN-News18 by filing a series
of RTI applications. RTI replies demonstrate a constant surge in the amount
written off by public sector banks and private banks in the country since
2014-15. Between 2015 and 2018, a total of Rs 2.17 lakh crore were written off
as bad debts by the scheduled commercial banks. Statistics showed that 109
unique borrowers had their loans to the tune of Rs 40,798 crore written off.
This number grew to 199 unique borrowers by March 31, 2016 with a total of Rs
69,976 crore as amount written off. The next two years – post demonetisation,
however, witnessed the sharpest increase in the amount being written off for
borrowers. The number of unique borrowers grew to 343 – an addition of 144
more, i.e. a 72 % rise in number of such loanees.For this period, the amount
written off also jumped from Rs 69,926 to Rs 1, 27, 797 crore.news18
India's
inflation surged in September but won't 'bring tears' to RBI: Poll
Indian retail inflation
probably reached a 12-month high in Sept, but still leaving room for further
interest rate cuts because it’s expected to remain below RBI’s target,
according to a Reuters poll.An extended monsoon has delayed harvests and
interrupted supplies of vegetables like onions, a key ingredient in Indian
kitchens.That probably pushed retail inflation higher last month; food prices
account for over half the inflation basket.Any previous sharp rise in onion
prices has been painful for Indian policymakers.To keep that price surge from
spiraling out of control, as it did a few years ago, govt has banned onion
exports. Oct. 4-9 poll of over 40 economists predicted India’s annual consumer
inflation rose to 3.7% in Sept, its highest in a year. Forecasts ranged from
3.10% to 3.92%. Only 2 economists expected inflation to be lower than Aug’s
3.21%.Reuters
FM Sitharaman
faces angry PMC depositors, evades giving any concrete assurance
Union Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitharaman today faced angry depositors of the scam-hit PMC Bank in
Mumbai, who shouted slogans upon her arrival at local BJP office for a presser,
demanding that their money be returned to them.Irate depositors gathered
outside BJP office in south Mumbai ahead of Sitharaman's press
conference.Sitharaman and a few of the depositors went inside and had a brief
conversation."I heard them about their problems and explained to them that
multi-state cooperative banks...are regulated by the RBI," she later said,
adding that the Govt's role is limited.But she assured that she will speak to
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and convey the "urgency and distress" of
the depositors.When asked when the depositors can get their money back, she
said it was a process-driven exercise between RBI and the bank administrator
appointed by the RBI.Harbans Singh, a bank customer, told reporters that the
depositors had expected the Union Finance Minister to give an assurance that
their money was safe, but they were disappointed."16 lakh depositors are
in distress. What is our fault? You have got Rs 4,000 crore assets. Sell it and
start the bank and then go ahead with whatever action you want against the accused,"
he said.After a Rs 4,500-crore scam came to light at Punjab & Maharashtra
Cooperative Bank, the Reserve Bank, which put curbs on withdrawal of funds from
the bank, had also said that it would examine if the regulatory framework
needed tweaks.PTI
Modi
govt to form empowered group to privatise 150 trains, 50 railway stations
Govt is in the process of
forming a task force to draw a blueprint for handing over operations of 150
trains and 50 railway stations to private operators in a "time-bound
manner". A letter from Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to Chairman Railway
Board VK Yadav said an empowered group will be constituted to "drive
process". Besides Yadav and Kant, Secretary, department of economic
Affairs and Secretary, ministry of housing and urban affairs will be part of
the empowered group.Kant said while railways was required to take up 400
railway stations for development into world class stations, very few have been
upgraded so far.PTI
Congress
says Modi govt selling assets in garb of disinvestment, evading Parliament
Alleging a scam in sale
of public sector BPCL, Congress has claimed BJP Govt was evading parliamentary
oversight to sell navratna companies in the garb of strategic disinvestment.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera asked the BJP Govt as to what was the
allurement for "surreptitiously selling out" or "weakening"
public-sector profit-making companies.He also accused BJP and RSS of trying to
divert people's attention to evade "real issue" of economic slowdown
"sale of BPCL is clearly a scam. Whom does Govt want to benefit, by
selling out a profit-making company like BPCL for Rs 68,000 crore while a
loss-making company Essar is sold for much higher," he asked."Now,
there's talk of strategic disinvestment in the garb of which a conspiracy is
being hatched to rob the profit making companies in the public sector. So, this
is, in a way, a very surreptitious way to bring BPCL and other such PSUs away
from Parliament scrutiny and sell them off.You do not want any parliament
oversight on your action,why? Khera said.PTI
RSS
affiliate Swadeshi Manch to protest against free trade pact
Swadeshi Jagran Manch
(SJM), an offshoot of RSS, will hold a nationwide protest against Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) between Oct. 10 and 20. It will also
submit a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi through district magistrates to build
pressure against India joining the trade block. SJM’s announcement comes even as a crucial
ministerial meeting on RCEP begins in Bangkok today. Even as negotiations are
underway on whether India should join 16 country Free Trade Agreement (FTA),
RSS is vehemently opposed to trade pact on the grounds that it will have an
adverse impact on domestic industries.HT
J&K ISSUE & s.asia
J&K
off the table as Xi, Modi all set for summit
New Delhi:India expects
that the second informal summit with China beginning tomorrow will create an
overarching road map to take forward bilateral ties, while the recent
reorganisation of J&K won’t be up for discussion, people familiar with
developments said. Indian position was outlined even as President Xi Jinping
said during a meeting with Pakistan PM Imran Khan in Beijing that China is
closely following the situation in Kashmir and would support Pakistan on issues
related to its core interest, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.After
weeks of speculation against the backdrop of irritants in India-China ties, including
Beijing’s criticism of reorganisation of J&K, two sides formally announced
the informal summit between PM Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping would be
held at the seaside resort of Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu during Oct.11-12. HT
If
China is ‘watching Kashmir’, then why does PM not say we are watching Hong
Kong, Xinjiang:Cong
New Delhi:Ahead of
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit, Congress today asked why does PM Narendra
Modi not say that India is watching muzzling of pro-democracy movement in Hong
Kong when Xi says he is watching Kashmir. Spokesperson Manish Tewari slammed
Modi Govt for failing to stop China from targeting India’s internal matters.“Xi
Jingping says he is watching Kashmir but why does @PMOIndia/MEA not say 1) We
are watching pro-democracy protests muzzled in Hong Kong. 2) We are watching
human rights violations in Xinjiang 3) We are watching continued oppression in
Tibet 4) We are watching South China Sea,” Tewari said on Twitter.He also dared
India to ask China about Aksai Chin which has been “illegally ceded” by
Pakistan to the country, when it keeps raising the issue of PoK and talks about
taking it back.Mr. Tewari asked why India does not raise the issue of human
rights violations in Xinjiang the way China keeps raising the Kashmir issue.PTI
J&K
admin. releases 4 politicians from detention
J&K administration today
released four political leaders who were detained since Aug.5. 4 leaders were
among 3,000 persons who were detained or arrested citing security reasons in
run up to Aug.5. Among those released is Abid Hussain Ansari, a prominent Shia
leader and senior member of Sajad Lone's party JKPC. He is an ex MLA from
Zadibal and the uncle of top Shia cleric Imran Ansari who was released last
month. Other 3 middle rung leaders who were released are Noor Mohammad, a
National Conference worker; Yawar Dilawar Mir, PDP spokesperson and ex MLA; and
Shoaib Lone from Congress party.Officials say that currently around 800 persons
are either in detention or under arrest, which includes 250 in jails outside
the State. The detainees include three former CMs Farooq Abdullah, Omar
Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.thehindu
In
first 3 replies to HC, J&K drops PSA charge after challenge
In its first 3 responses
to more than 250 writs of habeas corpus challenging preventive detentions under
the stringent J&K Public Safety Act, state Home department has informed the
Srinagar wing of J&K High Court that it has revoked PSA slapped against
detainees. Confirming the dropping of PSA charge, J&K Senior Additional
Advocate General BA Dar informed the single-judge bench of Justice Ali Mohammed
Magrey that it has revoked the detention orders passed by DMs in 3 cases. All
the replies were filed by senior AAG on Sept.30. And after Govt response, in
all 3 cases, the court ruled the same day, disposing the habeas corpus
petitions filed by the relatives of the detainees as “settled”.“In that view of
the matter, the petition does not survive, therefore, is disposed of as
settled,” Justice Magrey ordered in each case.
indian express
Tourists
can now visit J&K; restrictions in continue
Srinagar :Tourists will
officially be allowed to visit J&K on Thursday for the first time since
Parliament abrogated Article 370 on Aug. 5. This, after the administration
lifted an Aug. 2 order that asked tourists and Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to
vacate the Valley immediately. The order by Home Ministry had cited
“intelligence inputs of terror threats”. 3 days after the order, Centre had
announced its decision to strike down provisions of Article 370, which granted
J&K special status.indianexpress
Delegation
of Muslim Sufi leaders, shrines heads to
visit J&K
Jaipur:A delegation of
Sufi leaders and spiritual heads of various shrines across the country will
visit J&K between Oct. 12 and 14 to meet the locals and assess the ground
situation there. The spiritual head of Ajmer dargah, Zainul Abedin Ali Khan,
has taken the initiative to send the delegation comprising 18 members that will
be led by his son Nasiruddin Chisty.“Kashmir has been a sufferer of false
propaganda which is executed against India from across the border. I felt the
necessity that we should interact with Kashmiri people, particularly youths,
and work for prosperity in J&K. Therefore the decision to send a delegation
to J&K was taken,” Ajmer dargah Deewan said in Ajmer today.“We would like
to act as a bridge between the Kashmiri (people) and prosperity,” he added.The
delegation members are from Rajasthan, (Ajmer, Jaipur and Jhunjhjunu),
Hyderabad, New Delhi, UP, Karnataka, Gujarat and Bihar.“Our aim is to build
trust among youths and other people and to bring them into the mainstream,”
Chisty said.PTI
British
Labour Party meet: Cong hits back at BJP, says J&K internal matter, no
intervention acceptable
Congress today accused
BJP of making "malicious statements" to distract people from its
failures, after the saffron party asked it to explain British Labour Party
leader Jeremy Corbyn's tweet that he discussed human rights situation in
Kashmir with "UK representatives from Congress".UK unit of Indian
Overseas Congress claimed it had met Corbyn to condemn the Kashmir resolution
passed by Labour Party and reiterate to them that J&K is an internal matter
and no intervention will be accepted. "Our meeting with Jeremy Corbyn was
held to condemn Kashmir resolution passed by his Party and to reiterate that
J&K is an internal matter and outside intervention will not be accepted.
BJP's malicious statements are another attempt to distract people from their
failures," the Indian Overseas Congress said in a tweet. Congress also
tweeted that the BJP has failed to answer questions on economic slowdown,unemployment
and banking crisis and is resorting to spreading lies instead."BJP has
failed to answer a single question on the economic slowdown, rising unemployment,
banking crisis and even the irregularities in Rafale deal. Therefore they have
to resort to spreading lies to evade the truth. They can't hide behind their
propaganda anymore,"Congress tweeted. "A very productive meeting with
UK representatives from the Indian Congress Party where we discussed the human
rights situation in Kashmir. There must be a de-escalation and an end to the
cycle of violence and fear which has plagued the region for so long,"
Corbyn tweeted.PTI
Sk
Hasina defends Delhi deals as she charged of sacrificing country’s interests,
“selling out” to India
Calcutta:Bangladesh PM
Sheikh Hasina has wagered her reputation against domestic insinuations of
selling out to New Delhi during her recent trip, trying to assuage anti-India
sentiments inflamed by the lynching of a student who had accused the western
neighbour of short-changing Dhaka.“Hasina compromising on interests of
Bangladesh is an impossibility,”she thundered at a news conference, defending
the bilateral agreements she had signed during her India visit last week. Hasina
had arrived in Delhi on Oct.3 amid great expectations in Bangladesh about
progress on Teesta water-sharing agreement, which has been kept in abeyance
since 2011 because of opposition from Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.This time, too,
much-awaited deal eluded Dhaka, causing disappointment in Bangladesh. Hasina
was accused of sacrificing her country’s interests and “selling out” to India
by some of her political critics who portrayed two of the seven agreements
signed during her trip as loaded in favour of New Delhi.One of these was a
Bangladeshi pledge to let India withdraw 1.82 cusecs of water from the Feni for
a drinking water scheme in Tripura; the other was a pact to allow the use of
the Chittagong and Mongla ports for movement of goods to and from India.The
“sell-out” charges received further traction with some people using social
media to spread the falsehood that Bangladesh had also agreed to supply natural
gas — a rare natural resource — to Tripura. Actual deal, however, was to export
LPG to India. Amid the high-decibel debates in Bangladesh on what the country
had received from India in exchange, Abrar Farhad, a student at elite
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, wrote a Facebook post
questioning the deals with India. Farhad was beaten to death, allegedly by
members of the ruling Awami League’s student wing.“As the videos of how Farhad
was tortured and finally killed by student wing leaders of the ruling party
went viral, the narrative of India short-changing Dhaka got reinforced,” a
senior news anchor in Bangladesh said. Opposition in Bangladesh has always
accused Hasina of being pro-India.Farhad’s death — which has triggered
countrywide protests by students, academics and ordinary people — has
intensified these sentiments and fuelled questions about Hasina’s control over
her party’s student arm.telegraphindia
OTHERS
Ayodhya
hearings, Uniform Civil Code to be on agenda at AIMPLB meet in UP on Saturday
Lucknow:All India Muslim
Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) will hold its executive body meeting here on
Saturday to discuss the ongoing hearings in the Supreme Court on the Babri
Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi dispute and the Uniform Civil Code among other
issues.Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali, a senior member of the board,
said the AIMPLB executive committee meeting will be held at Nadwatul Ulema in
the state capital."The meeting will deliberate on the ongoing hearings in the
Supreme Court on the Ayodhya issue and future possibilities after the
judgement, expected next month," he said.PTI
Salman
Nadwi who advocated shifting of Babri masjid, heckled at Islamic seminary in
Lucknow
Lucknow: In a rather
unfortunate development in the contentious Ram temple issue, a Muslim scholar
was on Thursday heckled by his own community for supporting Ram Mandir
agenda.Salman Nadwi, ex member of AIMPLB, was heckled by a group of students
and teachers at the Islamic seminary Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow for speaking in
favour of the Ram temple.The Islamic scholar has in the past voraciously
advocated the relinquishment of the disputed land in favour of Hindus.
According to sources, Nadwi had gone to a seminary on Thursday to attend a
board meeting when the incident took place.timesnownews
With
Ayodhya case in court on last lap, a Muslim group says gift land to hindus
Lucknow: As Ram
Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case reaches the final stage in the Supreme Court, a
group of Muslim intellectuals has called for a negotiated settlement to the
case, including the option of gifting the disputed land at Ayodhya to Hindus
even if the Muslim side were to win the legal title suit in the top court. The
group calls themselves 'Indian Muslims for Peace' and includes intellectuals
like former AMU V-CLieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah.During press
interaction in Lucknow, members of 'Indian Muslims for Peace' conceded they had
no role in the court litigation in the matter and had also not taken any of the
litigants on board. "It is a contradiction," Lieutenant General Shah
told NDTV, adding, "Our aim is to bring forward to the country the
requirement that an out of court settlement would benefit all in the
country."ndtv
Bihar
police close sedition case against 49 celebrities and intellectuals, to book
complainant
Patna :A week after
filing a case of sedition against 49 leading personalities including Mani
Ratnam, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Shyam Benegal and Ramachandra Guha for signing an
open letter to PM Narendra Modi over rising incidents of lynching and
intolerance, Bihar’s Muzaffarpur Police decided Wednesday to close the case and
instead book the complainant for filing a “false” report.Police said they had
filed a case on the orders of a Muzaffarpur court in response to a complaint
from local lawyer Sudhir Kumar Ojha who had alleged that these personalities
tried to “tarnish the image of the country and undermine the impressive
performance of the PM” besides “supporting secessionist tendencies”. There was
widespread criticism of the police decision to book the 49.Confirming that they
were closing the sedition case, Bihar ADGP Jitendra Kumar said: “Police lodged
a case on receipt of an order from CJM court under Section 156(3) CrPC. In such
instance, police have no option but to register a case under sections which the
reading of the complaint discloses.”He said the case was supervised by SSP
Muzaffarpur. The complainant, he said, could not produce supporting documents
or evidence, not even the alleged letter written by 49 persons.“On this and
other circumstantial basis, the case is found to be false and order has been
issued by him (SSP) to the investigating officer to submit final report: False.
Along with this, finding this to be an intentional purpose of complainant,
prosecution under Section 182 of IPC will be submitted against complainant for
lodging a false case,” Kumar said.indianexpress
Lawyer
who filed sedition case against celebs, files ‘protest petition’
FIR
against civil society members: 1389 people endorse open letter to the PM
More than 1389 people
have added their names to the statement endorsing the open letter sent to the PM
by 49 prominent citizens on July 23.They also condemned FIR filed by the police
against the signatories which include noted intellectuals like Ramchandra Guha,
Mani Ratnam and Aparna Sen, said Indian Cultural Forum in a press release. The
letter had raised concerns over the rising mob lynching incidents in the
country. Latest signatories include personalities like Arundhati Roy, Pratap
Bhanu Mehta, Asghar Wajahat, Pankaj Bisht and others.185 more celebrities had
endorsed the letter on Monday with total number of signatories now reaching
1389. Earlier today, 650 people added their names in the open letter to the PM.All
the 1389 people condemn the FIR alleging “sedition” and “misuse of courts to harass
citizens who have every right to express their concern about various forms of
violence and inequality in India”.nationalherald
Church
body condemns Bhagwat's Bible reference to justify mob lynching
New Delhi:National
Council of Churches in India has issued a statement condemning the reference to
the Bible by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, in order to
justify the term "mob lynching". In a statement, NCCI said Bhagwat
had misquoted the Bible. NCCI stated: "We are shocked that such statements
which have the potential to divide communities on religious lines are made in
public fora."NCCI statement said this misrepresentation had "created
suspicion among the people" and "humiliated Christian minority".
It added, "We appeal all people not to be carried away by such
misrepresentation or misinterpretation which are often done with political
intentions." NCCI pointed out that the Biblical incident that Bhagwat
referred to in fact shows how Jesus stood by a woman who was a victim of the
patriarchal structures of that time. It said the "incident from the Bible
was as an expression of Jesus’s mercy and compassion towards victims of the
elitist narratives of the society of his day. Quite contrary to what Bhagwat
suggests, Jesus was in fact saving an accused woman from wrath of the mob in
the said passage."telegraphindia
Sikh
bodies object to RSS chief 's Hindu rashtra statement
Amritsar: Sikh bodies
have objected to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s statement on Hindu nation.Shiromani
gurdwara parbandhak committee (SGPC) head Gobind Singh Longowal on Thursday
said that India was a multi ethnic, multilingual and multi religious nation and
even the Indian constitution grants freedom to people of every religion.“It is
unfortunate that RSS chief is deliberately imposing a Hindu nation agenda which
is in contempt of Indian constitution” said Longowal.While advising Mohan
Bhagat to refrain from giving such statements, Longowal said it couldn’t be
tolerated that RSS was trying to influence Sikhs as well as people of other
religions with Hindu nation ideology.SAD (Taksali) secretary general and chief
spokesman, Sewa Singh Sekhwan said, “Such statements tend to bring a sense of
aversion in Indians who belong to other religions and cultures. Currently the
ruling party in India is BJP which is a political wing of RSS. Use of such
words by the chief of such a huge organization expresses his daunting
mindset”.TOI
Bhagwat
speech reveals glimpses of fascistic ideology: CPM
CPM has hit out at RSS
chief Mohan Bhagwat for his remarks that “words like lynching” are “alien to
Bharat and belong elsewhere” and that there were attempts to defame India and
the entire Hindu society and create fear among the “so-called minority
communities”.An editorial in the forthcoming edition of CPM mouthpiece People’s
Democracy said Bhagwat’s speech has revealed “glimpses of the fascistic
ideology which permeates RSS”.Arguing that his remark has exposed the
“doublespeak” and “rabidly communal outlook” of RSS, CPM said “the term
lynching has no territorial-cultural connotation; it is a term used for any mob
attack leading to killing”.indianexpress
'Insaaf',
only thing lynching victim Tabrez’s widow now lives for
Behrasai: Shaista Parveen
has been a widow for 3 months, a month longer than her two-month marriage with
Tabrez Ansari. He was 22, she 19, and the happy couple spoke daily on their
mobiles — Pune to Kadamdiha in Jharkhand. “Tabrez was popular, he could make
anyone laugh,” Shaista told TOI, a tear trickling down.In the days that
followed Tabrez’s lynching on June 17 in nearby Dhatkidih, Shaista fell ill and
suffered a miscarriage. She would sit alone for hours thinking how she would be
able to salvage her shattered life. In her ears, there was just one word
beating down — justice. That, she decided, is what would keep her alive."
Insaaf chahiye, bas,” she said. Shaista knows that could be a long, hard road
to walk. But she’s kept her future firmly on hold till justice is served. “I
seek justice for my husband. An innocent man was brutally killed,” she said,
her voice a whisper. “Unless his tormentors meet the same fate, I will not
rest.” Throughout the conversation, she returns to " insaaf” again and
again.TOI
CPI
to hold seminar on Vedas to ‘prevent scripture misuse’
CPI, an ally of
CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala, will organise a 3-day seminar on Vedas and Upanishads
to prevent the “misuse of Hindu scriptures and texts for communal ends”. The
event will be held in Kannur from Oct.25 under the aegis of NE Balram Memorial
Trust as part of the birth centenary of late CPI veteran N E Balram. Trust
chairman and senior CPI leader CN Chandran said that Indian philosophy was a
favourite subject of the late Balram. 9 experts from across the country will
present papers on Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas and epics at the event. “We want to
prevent the misuse of Hindu scriptures and texts by communal forces for their
ends. The seminar wants to look at the topics from a scientific perspective.”
indian express
Gujarat:
500 Dalits embrace Buddhism on Vijayadashami
Gandhinagar :Around 500
Dalits from various parts of Gujarat embraced Buddhism on Tuesday in three
separate programmes held in Ahmedabad, Mehsana and Idar of Sabarkantha district
on the occasion of Vijayadashami. The first such function was held at Swastik
Bungalows in Rakhiyal area of East Ahmedabad by Gujarat Buddhist Academy. GBA
Secretary Ramesh Banker said 148 Dalits gave up Hinduism and embraced Buddhism
at the function. One of 148 persons is Vandana Parmar from Amraiwadi area who
is pursuing her masters in science. Vandana converted to Buddhism along with
her parents and a brother. “We have been influenced by Buddhism and the
ideology of Dr Ambedkar in recent past. Buddhism and the Ambedkar ideology of
equality and scientific temperament make sense to me and my family. And
therefore, we have taken the ‘diksha’ today,” Vandana said. “Our entire family
used to be a staunch Hindu religious family. My father used to observe fast on
Navratri. But, now we have stopped worshipping gods and goddesses. And my
father does not observe fast. We will not celebrate Diwali too,” she added. “We
have adopted this new lifestyle because it makes sense to us. But, we are not
opposing anybody who is following Hindu faith.” The reason for her to embrace
Buddhism was discrimination towards the Dalit community in Hinduism, she
said.In another such function held at Chitrodapura Vasahat in Mehsana, around
310 Dalits from various parts of the state like Palanpur, Patan, Mehsana and
Gandhinagar converted to Buddhism. The function was organised by practising
Buddhists – Bodhiraj Vishwas and PM Parmar. It was on a Vijayadashami day on
Oct.14, 1956 that Dr Ambedkar famously embraced Buddhism along with lakhs of
his supporters in Maharashtra. indian express
Asim
Umar death in Afghanistan: Feels like we never knew him, says family: Indian
Express
Sambhal : "Who is
Asim Umar to you?” That was the question Rizwan ul-Haq was asked all through
Wednesday at his home in UP’s Sambhal. “Hum kisi Asim ko nahi jaante, humein
toh Sanaul malum hai. Sannu bulate the hum usse (We don’t know any Asim, we
know Sanaul. We called him Sannu),” was his reply every time. Umar, known to
Indian security agencies as Sanaul Haq, was killed in a joint strike by US and
Afghan forces at a Taliban compound in Helmand province, Afghanistan’s NDS
confirmed Tuesday. But news of his death reached his home in Sambhal only on
Wednesday morning as reports slowly trickled in. Umar last made contact with
his family around 1998 before he disappeared from India and later emerged as
Maulana Asim Umar, leader of Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) in 2014.
“There’s no reason for any grief for a person who has been missing for more
than 20 years. It makes no difference to find out about his death because it
now feels like we never knew this person,” his brother Rizwan (51) said. The
youngest of five siblings, Umar was described by family as being “friendly”,
good in studies and fond of cricket. His brother said Umar studied at Hind
Inter College in Sambhal until Class 8, following which he prepared to become a
cleric and joined a madrasa in the city. He later went to Dar-ul-Uloom seminary
at Deoband to complete his studies to become a Maulvi. “He left studies midway
and sometime in 1998 he came home once asking for Rs 1 lakh to go to Saudi
Arabia where he wished to work as an English translator for Arabic,” said Rizwan,
who is a math and science teacher at a private school in Sambhal. When Umar’s
father refused to give him the money, he grew angry and left, his brother said.
He then severed ties with his family. indianexpress
Malegaon
case: Bombay HC adjourns hearing in discharge plea of Pragya till Nov 18
Bombay High Court has adjourned hearing till
Nov.18 in the application filed by BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Colonel
Shrikant Purohit and others seeking discharge from the 2008 Malegaon blast
case. Accused have also challenged UAPA sanction for prosecution. According to
them,necessary permission for the sanction was not taken from the competent
authority and hence it stands null and void.Along with these 2 pleas, the HC
will also to hear the issue of Secondary Evidence validity. DNA
Andra
govt to give plots to Imams working in mosques
Vijayawada: Andhra
Pradesh Govt is planning to provide house plots to Imams working in mosques.
Imams having white ration cards (proof of BPL family) are only eligible for the
scheme. "Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board has written to all the lesser
income masjids to avail the scheme. The Imams who want to get a housing plot
should apply with their Aadhar card and ration card,"Syed Shabbar Basha,
CEO of AP State Waqf Board said. "The scheme is for Imams who don't have a
house. They can submit their application to village volunteers, panchayat or
ward secretaries," he added. Over 5000 imams of lesser income mosques
across the state will get this benefit under the state housing scheme."CM
introduces a scheme named 'House plot to the Imams'. This scheme is very
beneficial for the Imams working in the income less mosque and the Imams should
be of Andhra Pradesh to avail this scheme," Abdul Khuddus, Accounts
Officer of the Board said.ANI
DRDO
shows interest in acquiring wakf land
Hyderabad: DRDO has
written a letter to TS Wakf Board showing interest in acquiring 6 acres and 12
guntas wakf land pertaining to Roshan-ud-Dowla Tomb located at Balapur for
extending its research activities. It may be mentioned that most of the lands
pertaining to this area are under the possession of illegal occupants who are
plotting it.It is reported that when the Wakf Board made an attempt to dislodge
illegal occupants, they approached the court and obtained injunction order.
Wakf Board is making an attempt to restore the land by commissioning the services
of a noted lawyer, Prakash Reddy. It may be mentioned that the Wakf Board has
all the documents to establish its ownership. If the Wakf Board takes a
decision to hand over the land to DRDO, it might get a handsome amount as
compensation. In such a case, Wakf Board has to get assurance from DRDO that it
would protect the tomb and the masjid.siasat
After
Khurshid, Scindia: Congress needs to introspect, take corrective measures
New Delhi :A day after
senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said the party could not “analyse the
reasons” for its defeat in Lok Sabha elections because Rahul Gandhi had “walked
away”, CWC member Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday that there was need to
“introspect” and carry out “corrective” steps if needed. However, veteran
leader M Veerappa Moily argued that Rahul had not “deserted” the party, and
rejected Khurshid’s statement as “outdated.”Scindia said: “Of course, there is
a need for introspection. There are no two ways about that. There is nothing
wrong in saying that. Not only introspection, but take some correctives also.”
Asked how the party should carry out the introspection, he said, “that is for
the party to decide… how can I say that.”Scindia, however, declined to comment
on Khurshid’s remarks about Rahul. “I don’t comment on what other people say,”
he said. Congress high command, meanwhile, asked its leaders not to make “side
comments”, and focus on “exposing” BJP Govt instead.indianexpress
Maha
polls: Maulana to take on Cong candidate in Malegaon Central
Nashik: A fascinating
electoral battle is unfolding in the Muslim-dominated Malegaon Central assembly
segment in Nashik district. Md Ismail Abdul Khalique, 58-year-old maulana of
Malegaon’s Jama Masjid, is preparing to take on sitting Congress MLA Asif
Shaikh. Maulana, who is popularly known in Malegaon as ‘Maulana Mufti, is
contesting on MIM ticket. He was the local MLA in 2009. At that time, he had
contested as the candidate of Teesra Mahaz, a local outfit floated by the
maulanas in Malegaon.MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi’s popularity in this assembly
segment has been on the upswing ever since his party made an impressive debut
in the local body polls in early 2017 winning seven seats.TOI
Kejriwal
to address C-40 Climate Change Summit through video conference after MEA denied
permission to visit Denmark
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
will address C-40 Climate Change Summit through a video conference on Friday
after Ministry of External Affairs denied him permission to visit Denmark, a statement
said today.According to Govt, CM has accepted the request of the summit
organisers to deliver his address through video conference in the session
titled ‘breathe deeply, city solutions for clean air’. CM will also address a joint press conference with
mayors of 6 major world cities at 12 pm on Friday, a statement stated. MEA had
denied permission to the Delhi CM, saying that clearance from “political angel”
has been denied.PTI
Ex-Ranbaxy
promoter Shivinder Singh arrested
New Delhi:Ex- promoter of
Ranbaxy pharmaceuticals Shivinder Singh was arrested today by Delhi Police’s
Economic Offences Wing (EOW).In Dec.2018, Religare Enterprises Ltd (REL)
subsidiary Religare Finvest (RFL) had lodged a criminal complaint with Economic
Offences Wing of Delhi Police against promoters Malvinder Mohan Singh and
Shivinder Mohan Singh.The complaint also named REL ex-CMD Sunil Godhwani, among
other directors, for cheating, fraud and misappropriation of funds to the tune
of ₹ 740 crore.The complaint was registered for various offences including
cheating, criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, fraud and forgery and
criminal conspiracy.HT
Income
Tax department raids premises linked to ex-Karnataka deputy CM Parameshwara
Income Tax (I-T)
department today conducted raids at premises linked to former deputy CM of
Karnataka G. Parameshwara and others in connection with a multi-crore tax
evasion case linked to NEET exams, officials said. A total of 30 premises are
being covered in the raids and a team of around 80 I-T officials, apart from
police personnel, are undertaking the searches at various locations in the
state and some places in Rajasthan, they said.PTI
Yogi
makes moves on UP political chessboard, with outreach to Muslim women
In BJP’s electoral
strategy for the states, CM often shoulders the major responsibility of bringing
back the party to power. Though elections in the state are still far away, Yogi
Adityanath has already started making his moves on political chessboard of the
state to increase the party’s vote share of 49% in 2019 general polls, which
also defined loyalties of major castes, specifically Yadavs and Jatavs, and
dent BJP could make in their vote banks.Adityanath is trying to make inroads
into the vote bank of about 20% Muslims in the state. Hitherto, they were
considered to be an exclusive vote bank of two regional forces, SP and
BSP.Though its foundation was laid by the architects of BJP’s manifesto that
had promised to eliminate the age-old practice of instant Triple Talaq, the CM
is going all out to win over Muslim women, who, despite opposition from
clergies, have supported the move.The effort is seen as an exercise to test the
waters ahead of state bypolls on 12 seats.HT
BJP
MLA wants Bigg Boss banned for ‘vulgarity..making Muslims,Brahmins bed friends’
New Delhi :BJP MLA Nand
Kishor Gurjar has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash
Javadekar asking him to “immediately” stop the telecast of reality TV show Bigg
Boss. In his letter to the union minister, Gurjar has accused the show of
“spreading vulgarity and hurting the social morality of the country”.In the
letter, Gurjar, who represents Loni from Ghaziabad in the state Assembly, has
taken strong objection to the ‘Bed friends forever’ concept launched in show.
Alleging that it discredits the Indian culture and sensibilities, Gurjar said
the show is “intentionally” trying to cause communal discord by pairing
contestants from Muslim and Brahmin communities as bed partners.indianexpress
Suspected
cattle smugglers fire at cow vigilantes in Gurugram, one injured
An activist of the
right-wing group Bajrang Dal got injured in Gurgaon near Delhi as suspected
cattle smugglers opened fire on a group of cow vigilantes who were giving them
chase. The police said the injured man, who was also among the cow vigilantes,
has been admitted to a hospital in a critical condition but now doctors say he
is out of danger.The police said the shooting took place at Millennium City
near Delhi around 3:00 AM after a 20-minute high-speed pursuit on the main
road. Suspected cattle smugglers were intercepted by the activists last
evening. They gave chase when the suspects, who were in a truck, tried to speed
away. Rajeev Deshwal, senior police officer, said when suspected smugglers
realised that they were being watched, they offloaded the cows from the truck
and sped off. "Then they opened fire, in which Mohit -- a resident of
Manesar and member of Gau Rakshak Sangathan -- was injured,"he added.A
video, purportedly shot from the vehicle pursuing the alleged cow smugglers,
shows a dramatic chase where the vehicle in front skips checkpoints and speeds
through the main roads. The miscreants then opened fire and managed to flee.The
police said the injured man, who was also among the cow vigilantes, has been
admitted to a hospitalThe police have already identified 5 of 6 accused.
"A search is on and I hope they will be rounded up soon," the officer
said. The truck has been recovered from Haryana's Mewat, nearly 60 km away.NTDV
UP:Communal
clash in Saharanpur leaves 6 injured
At least 6 persons were injured when 2 groups
from different faiths attacked each other with stones near Saharanpur’s Behat
bus stand. Heavy police force was rushed to the area and the situation was
brought under control by Tuesday night, an officer said. SHO of Mandi Thana,
Ashish Solanki, said, “3 heavily drunk youths from a community purchased ‘chow
mein’ from a hawker.While they were eating the food, one of them puked at the
shop. This led to an argument between the vendor and the youths. When some
fruit vendors, from a different faith, tried to save the hawker from the
youths, they were also abused and attacked.“Soon, it was given a communal
colour. People of both the faiths started gathering and attacking each other.
However, police immediately reached and controlled the situation.” Those
injured were taken to a hospital. As many as 50 people from both the sides were
booked.“No arrest has been made,” SHO said.TOI
23-yr
old Thane doctor Neha Sheikh riding pillion slips on a pothole, crushed by
truck
Thane: A 23-year-old
doctor was crushed to death by a truck in Thane after she fell down on the road
when her scooter hit a pothole.The incident took place around 10.30 pm on
Wednesday when Neha Sheikh was on her way home from Bhiwandi. Her brother was
driving the scooter and she was riding pillion. Sheikh was supposed to get
married next month and had gone out to shop for her wedding.Police said the
incident took place near Dugadh junction on Bhiwandi-Wada-Manor highway. A case
has been filed against the driver of the truck who has been absconding.Irked by
the incident, volunteers from NGO Shramjeevi Yuva Sanghatna gathered at the
toll booth on the highway at midnight and protested.“A case has been filed against
the truck driver but ideally it should be against PWD authorities or the
organization that was in charge of the maintenance and construction of the
roads,” said Pramod Pawar, president, of Shramjeevi Yuva Sanghatna.HT
MP:
Police book 150 people after celebratory firing by VHP, Bajrang Dal supporters
at Gwalior school
Madhya Pradesh Police
book 150 after celebratory firing by VHP, Bajrang Dal supporters at Gwalior
school during Shastra Puja: An FIR has been registered against 150 workers of
VHP and Bajrang Dal for celebratory firing in a school premise during Shastra
Puja, in Gwalior on Oct. 8, reported ANI. The case was filed after a video of
the incident went viral on several social media platforms in which the
activists were seen raising arms in the air to mark the Dusshera celebrations.
One of the workers was also seen firing in the air.Earlier on Wednesday, the UP
police launched a probe after a video of open firing using rifle and pistol at
an RSS event started doing the rounds on several social media platforms. The
incident took place in Sitapur during Shastra Puja. Police are yet to ascertain
that who all were involved in the firing during the event.newsx
Politics
over Murshidabad murders: RSS, BJP claim school teacher was their supporter
Murshidabad:The gruesome
triple murder of a school teacher and his family in Murshidabad took a
political colour today with BJP and its ideological mentor — RSS — claiming
that the victim was their supporter. BJP and the RSS said though the primary
school teacher Bandhu Gopal Pal was not their active member, but at times he
had participated in the weekly ‘milan’ programmes organised by the Sangh.The
police have declined to comment on whether Pal was a member of RSS or not.The
bodies of 35-year-old teacher, his pregnant wife Beauty and 8-year-old son
Angan were found lying in pools of blood in their house at Jiaganj in
Murshidabad on Tuesday when the Durga Puja festivities were on. 3 were murdered
by unidentified miscreants, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.PTI
MP: VHP
leader shot dead in Mandsaur, police suspect business rivalry
Bhopal: A VHP leader was
shot dead in Mandsaur on Wednesday in what the police suspect is a case of
business rivalrly. Yuvraj Singh Chouhan, who ran a local cable network, was
near a tea stall at Geeta Bhavan locality when three motorcycle-borne youths
shot at him. Chouhan, who was in his late 30s, was declared brought dead on
arrival at the hospital.Mandsaur SP Hitesh Choudhary said 6 suspects have been
taken into custody. He said prima facie the police believe business rivalry was
the motive behind the murder.A BJP MLA from Mandsaur district said local
right-wing organizations did not react to the murder because they believe it
was linked to personal rivalry either arising from his cable business or some property
dispute. Indianexpress
WORLD
‘Deeply
concerned’: India calls upon Turkey to exercise restraint against Kurdish
forces in Syria
India has said that it
was “deeply concerned” about the ongoing military operation by Turkey on
Kurdish forces in northern Syria.“We are deeply concerned at the unilateral military
offensive by Turkey in north-east Syria. Turkey’s actions can undermine
stability in the region and the fight against terrorism,” Ministry of External
Affairs said in a statement.It said that Turkey’s action has the potential for
causing humanitarian and civilian distress in the region. India also called
upon Turkey to exercise restraint and respect Syria’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. MEA in its statement also urged the two nations to
settle any issue peacefully through dialogue and discussion. indianexpress
Erdogan
threatens to 'open gates' to Europe amid Syria offensive; politicians, public
support operation
Turkish president said
Ankara will send the 3.6 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to Europe if
European countries label the country's military operation in Syria as an
occupation."We will open the gates and send 3.6 million refugees your
way," Tyeb Erdogan said in speech to his AK Party.Speaking from Istanbul,
Al Jazeera's Sinem Koseoglusaid speech targeted an international
audience."Since the operation started, it seems Ankara is not happy about
what the international public opinion has been, because the rhetoric in media
is thought to be against Turkey," she said."Erdogan wanted to clear
the grey areas for the international public opinion because many media outlets
have been saying Turkey is about to invade or plans to invade Syria," she
continued. "Today Erdogan made it clear that this is not an invasion, and
the operation is to clear the area from what Ankara calls terrorist groups."Turkish
president defended Turkey's incursion into Syria after a wave of international
criticism, saying the military operation would support Syria's territorial
integrity by confronting Kurdish control of the country's northeast."They
are not honest, they just make up words," Erdogan said of Turkey's
critics, singling out Saudi Arabia and Egypt. "We, however, create action
and that is our difference," he told members of his AK Party. Turkish
public and political elite have largely thrown their support behind the
country's forces fighting in northern Syria, standing in defiance against
voices in the international community condemning Ankara's operation.Meanwhile,
Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters are on their way to battle fronts in
northeastern Syria in support of Turkish troops who have crossed the countries'
border, a spokesman for the rebels said on Thursday. The death toll from the
shelling of Turkish border towns rose to 4 today, state TV reported.aljazeera
Russia
will push for Turkey-Syria 'dialogue' on Kurds: Foreign Minister
Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said Ankara and Damascus should discuss the issue of Kurdish
forces in Syria directly, calling Turkey's cross-border assault a product of US
policies."We will strive for the necessity of dialogue between Turkey and
Syria,"he said.
aljazeera
France
summons Turkish envoy over Syria offensive
France's foreign ministry
summoned Turkish ambassador to Paris, Ismail Hakki, over Ankara's air and
ground offensive into Kurdish-controlled areas of northern Syria, a diplomatic
source said.French President Emmanuel Macron said Ankara's operation run
"the risk of helping ISIL rebuild a caliphate".
Israel
condemns Turkish operation
Israel criticised
Turkey's "invasion" of Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria and
warned against the "ethnic cleansing" of Kurdish people, PM Benjamin
Netanyahu said in a statement posted on Twitter. Israeli PM said he was
"prepared to extend humanitarian assistance to gallant Kurdish
people". aljazeera
Iran
parliament speaker cancels Istanbul visit, calls for 'immediate halt' to
Turkish Syria offensive
Iranian parliament
speaker Ali Larijani has cancelled his scheduled visit to Turkish city of
Istanbul following decision by Ankara to launch military operation against
Kurdish militias. Iran called for an immediate halt to Turkey's offensive on
Kurdish-ruled northeastern Syria, citing concern for the dangers to civilians
in the conflict zone."Iran... emphasises (need for) an immediate halt to
the assault and the departure of Turkish military units from Syrian
territory," the foreign ministry said .MEMO
Syrian
Kurds, facing Turkish offensive, "didn't help in Normandy", defends
Trump
Syrian Kurds facing a Turkish military
operation did not "help us in Normandy," US President Donald Trump
said, defending his widely-criticized decision to clear the way for the
assault. Kurdish forces -- which the US partnered to combat the Islamic State
group in Syria -- are "fighting for their land," Trump said."As
somebody wrote in a very, very powerful article today, they didn't help us in 2nd
World War, they didn't help us with Normandy as an example," he said. Trump
was apparently referring to a piece by a columnist on the conservative Townhall
website supporting Trump's decision to pull American forces back from Syria's
northern frontier, which opened the way for Turkish operation. Trump has faced
a bipartisan storm of criticism since White House made surprise announcement on
Sunday. Kurds "are there to help us with their land, and that's a
different thing,"said Trump."We have spent tremendous amounts of
money on helping the Kurds in terms of ammunition, in terms of weapons, in
terms of money, in terms of pay.With all of that being said, we like Kurds,"
he added.AFP
Egypt:
Aisha Shater in hospital for a week following hunger strike
Aisha Al-Shater has been
in hospital for a week after her health seriously deteriorated following a
second hunger strike in protest against her prison conditions. Daughter of top
Muslim Brotherhood leader Khairat Al-Shater was arrested in Nov.2018 and
forcibly disappeared for 21 days before appearing in Al-Qanater women’s prison.
She was one of 19 human rights activists arrested that night.Aisha first went
on hunger strike in mid-August to protest against the fact that her family,
including her children, were not allowed to visit her, which is against
Egyptian law, and that she was being kept in solitary confinement.During a
court hearing in June Aisha said she was using her pocket as a toilet because
she had no access to a toilet or a shower and was not being provided with
sanitary products.middleeastmonitor
Egypt
activist Alaa Abdul Fattah beaten in prison
Prominent Egyptian
activist Alaa Abdul Fattah has told his lawyers that he has been beaten,
threatened and robbed inside prison.Alaa is one of the key figures of 2011
revolution. He was released from jail in March this year after serving five
years for allegedly organising an illegal protest. A condition of his release
was that he would be on probation for five years and was required to sleep in a
police station every night.However, six months after he was released from
prison Alaa was rearrested at 6am outside the police station where he sleeps as
part of a sweep by the Egyptian Govt to curb the 20 September
protests.middleeastmonitor
Palestinian
PM in Egypt to discuss ‘economic disengagement’ from Israel
Palestinian PM Mohammad
Shtayyeh praised Egyptian efforts to support the Palestinian economy during a
visit to Cairo, reported Asharq Al-Awsat.Shtayyeh was speaking at a press
conference alongside his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly. Palestinian PM
“outlined Govt’s strategy of gradual disengagement from Israel, self-reliance
through strengthening national products, and opening Arab markets to
Palestinian products.” Shtayyeh has been visiting Egypt at the head of a
high-level ministerial delegation to Cairo “to discuss cooperation to
strengthen economic relations as part of a Palestinian plan for the gradual
disengagement from Israel,” stated Asharq Al-Awsat.middleeastmonitor
Israel
settlers raid Al-Aqsa Mosque, Ibrahim Mosque on Yom Kippur
Hundreds of Israeli
Jewish settlers raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City and thousands
raided the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old City, Wafa news agency
reported.Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel and Jewish Rabbi Yehuda Glick led the
Jewish settlers to Al-Aqsa Mosque and performed Talmudic rituals, marking the
Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur or Atonement Day.In Hebron, Israeli occupation
forces prevented Palestinians from entering Ibrahimi Mosque to allow the
thousands of settlers who raided the Muslim holy site. Settler raids of Islamic
sites have been on the increase over the past few years with Palestinians
warning that Israel is planning to spatially and temporally split Al-Aqsa to
allow constant Jewish access to the site.MEMO
Yemen
to become world's poorest country if war continues: UN
War-ravaged Yemen is on
course to become the world's poorest country if the conflict persists, the
United Nations said in a report."If fighting continues through 2022, Yemen
will rank the poorest country in the world, with 79 % of the population living
under the poverty line and 65 % classified as extremely poor," according
to the UN Development Programme report.Because of the war, poverty in Yemen has
jumped from 47 % of population in 2014 to a projected 75 % by the end of
2019.aljazeera
Bangladesh
court issues arrest warrant against Nobel laureate Yunus
Dhaka: Alabour court in
Dhaka, Bangladesh has issued an arrest warrant against Nobel laureate Muhammad
Yunus as he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing over sacking of 3 employees
of a company which he heads as its chairman. "Dhaka 3rd Labour Court
chairman Rohibul Islam issued warrant as he (Yunus) failed to appear as the
hearing was scheduled today," court clerk said. Grameen Communications is
IT wing of Grameen Bank and Yunus is the chairman of the Grameen
Communications. 79-year-old economist has been at odds with PM Sheikh Hasina
since 2007 when he made a brief foray into the country's violent politics
dominated by her family. indiatoday
Nobel
Prize in Literature: Peter Handke wins 2019 award, Olga Tokarczuk 2018
Austrian author Peter
Handke is the winner of Nobel in literature this year and the postponed award
for 2018 went to Polish author Olga Tokarczuk. 2 Nobel Prizes in literature
were announced Thursday as the 2018 award was delayed by one year following sex
abuse allegations that had rocked the Swedish Academy.Peter Handke was awarded
“for an influential work that with linguistic ingenuity has explored the
periphery and specificity of human experience,”Academy mentioned. Handke “has
established himself as one of the most influential writers in Europe after 2nd
World War.” indianexpress
Scotland
Yard charges MQM founder Altaf Hussain with encouraging terrorism
London:,Scotland Yard today
charged MQM founder Altaf Hussain, living in exile in UK, with an offence of
encouraging terrorism in connection with a speech relayed to followers in
Pakistan. Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command said Hussain will
appear before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London charged under
Section 1(2) of UK’s Terrorism Act 2006 with encouraging terrorism.Hussain requested asylum in 1990s and later gained UK
citizenship. PTI
Flash:NEWS,views,Articles
Why
did India fall in the Global Competitiveness Index?Udit Misra
Can
the Govt intercept WhatsApp?Pranav Mukul
Civic
laws are flagrantly flouted in India when it comes to religious celebrations of
all hues; what explains this?Samrat
Dr
Saifuddin Kitchlew, the freedom fighter who is hailed as the hero of
Jallianwala Bagh:UNNATI SHARMA
In
Bangladesh, a student’s murder opens a window on rising anti-India sentiment
across the border:Ikhtisad Ahmed
Serial
authoritarianism picks out targets one by one, and tires out challenges:Pratap
Bhanu Mehta
Modi-Xi
meeting tomorrow: What Chinese media has to say on the informal summit
Mohan
Bhagwat Ji, a lynching by any other name would be as murderous:Sujata Anandan
‘The
Family Man’: Propagating Muslim stereotypes in a run-of-the mill plot:Zaheeb
Ajmal
Corporate-communal
fascist threat is growing:D Raja/IPA
Jharkhand:
human rights abuses rampant in Pathalgadi villages; state looks the other way
Documentary
on NRC Narrates the Painful Stories of those Left Out of Final List in
Assam:Waquar Hasan | Caravan Daily
The
Failing Art of Selling Normalcy in Kashmir:Badri Raina
The
Siege in Kashmir Is Damaging India’s Image Abroad:Sushil Aaron
Kashmiri
students run out of essentials, money; Khalsa Aid, J&K Students Assn extend
help
Kashmir
conflict: Are local elections amid lockdown a 'sham'?BBC
Compiled
and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:06 PM)
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