INDIA
‘Ghar
wapsi’ only after ‘law wapsi’: Protesting farmers dig in heels after 8th round
of talks with Centre fail to make headway; next meeting on Jan.15
The eighth round of
negotiations between the protesting farmer unions and the Centre over the
recently-enacted agriculture laws ended on an inconclusive note Friday, with
farmers sticking to their key demand of repeal of the farm laws and the Centre
insisting to limit the talks to contentious clauses. The next round of talks is
likely to be held on January 15.Holding their ground during meeting, the
41-member representative group of the agitating farmers told the government
their “ghar wapsi” (return to home) can take place only after “law wapsi“
(repeal of laws) whereas the Centre ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts. It
asserted that a large section of farmers in other states across the country
have welcomed the laws and asked the unions to think about the interests of the
entire country.“Our ‘ghar wapsi’ can happen only if you do ‘law wapsi’,” a
farmer leader said at the meeting, news agency PTI reported. “Ideally, the
Centre should not interfere in agriculture matters as various Supreme Court
orders have declared farming as a state subject. It seems you (the government)
do not want to resolve the issue as talks have been happening for so many days.
In that case, please give us a clear answer and we will go. Why to waste
everyone’s time,” said another union leader at the meeting.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-protests-highlights-8th-talks-centre-tractor-rally-delhi-border-haryana-punjab-narendra-singh-tomar-7138645/
Will
farmers’ protest be a problem like Tablighi Jamaat, top court asks Centre
NEW DELHI: CJI S.A.
Bobde on Thursday voiced the Supreme Court’s apprehension that mass gatherings
of protesting farmers will lead to a “problem similar to the Tablighi Jamaat
congregation” in March last year amid COVID-19. “Same problem will arise from
farmers’ protest... Don’t know if they are protected from COVID-19... You must
tells us what is happening,” CJI Bobde, heading a three-judge Bench, addressed
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for Centre. “We will find out the status,”
Mehta responded. The court was hearing a petition filed by a Jammu-based
lawyer, advocate Supriya Pandita, represented by advocate Omprakash Parihar,
seeking a CBI probe into circumstances leading to the swelling of migrant
workers, anxious to leave National Capital for their villages and hometowns, at
Anand Vihar Bus Terminal for buses, and Tablighi Jamaat congregation, which
even saw foreign delegates attained, in violation of social distancing norms.
The court issued notice to Centre and the Delhi govt. It asked Mehta to file a
detailed report on its guidelines to prevent COVID-19, including restrictions
on mass gatherings. When Parihar submitted that there was “no trace of Maulana
Saad”, chief of Nizamuddin Markaz, CJI stopped him, saying “we are interested
in preventing COVID and compliance of guidelines here... and you are worried
about one person”.The petition accused Centre, Delhi government and the police of
failing to protect the spread of the virus.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/will-farmers-protest-be-a-problem-like-tablighi-jamaat-sc-asks-centre/article33518744.ece?homepage=true
If
govt calls us 700 times we will go, but our demands will not change: Tikait
Ahead of the eighth
round of talks with the Central government over the new farm laws on Friday,
Bharatiya Kisan Union National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said the farmers
leaders are ready to conduct talks with the Union government 700 times, but
their demands will not change.Friday's meeting will discuss two major issues
which are directly related to the 3 Central farm laws and the Minimum Support
Price (MSP). The meeting is being held at Vigyan Bhavan.Rakesh Tikat told IANS,
"If the government meets us 700 times, we are willing to go but the demand
of the farmers will not change."IANS
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/if-govt-calls-us-700-times-we-will-go-but-our-demands-will-not-change-tikait
Farmers’
protests Updates: Thousands take part in tractor march ahead of talks
Thousands of farmers
are participating in a tractor rally on Eastern and Western Peripheral
Expressways Thursday in a “rehearsal” for Jan.26, when they will move into the
national capital from Haryana, Punjab and UP. Police estimate around 2,500
tractors will be on the expressway during the march. In other parts of Haryana
too, farmers will undertake tractor marches to oppose the three central farm
laws.Addressing a press conference at Singhu border, where farmers have been
camping since Nov.26, Yogendra Yadav, political activist and a member of the
Samyukt Kisan Morcha, Friday said the tractors would leave from the Singhu,
Tikri and Ghazipur borders, and Rewasan in Haryana, for Eastern and Western
Peripheral Expressways, and meet midway. “This may be seen as a rehearsal of
what will happen on Jan.26,” he said. The tractor march comes a day ahead of
fresh round of talks with the govt. 7th round of talks remained inconclusive
Monday over 2 key demands — repeal of the newly enacted laws and provision of
legal guarantee on the minimum support price — with the two sides drawing the
hard line on their respective positions.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-protests-live-updates-tractor-rally-haryana-punjab-talks-with-centre-7136344/
BJP
uses ordinance route to ban slaughter of cattle in Karnataka
Bengaluru: BJP
government in Karnataka has promulgated Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and
Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, 2020, with Governor signing off on the law
for a total ban on slaughter of all forms of cattle other than buffaloes above
the age of 13 years.The ordinance promulgated on Jan.5 by Governor Vajubhai
Vala is exactly in line with Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation
of Cattle Bill, 2020, which BJP passed in the Assembly on December 9 but did
not table in Legislative Council where it does not have a clear majority.The
ordinance, which will be in effect for 6 months, is considered to be a stop gap
arrangement by BJP govt before attempting to get the Bill passed in the Council
in another session. Under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and
Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, 2020 cattle has been designated as “cow, calf
of a cow and bull, bullock and he or she buffalo”. The only exemptions under
the ordinance are buffaloes above the age of 13 years and certified by a competent
authority, cattle used in medical research, cattle certified for slaughter by a
veterinarian to prevent spread of a disease, and very sick cattle.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-uses-ordinance-route-to-ban-slaughter-of-cattle-in-karnataka-7135990/
Emotions
to earthquakes, Einstein waves: A govt body’s cattle class
ANNOUNCED in 2019-20
interim Budget, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog lists organisation of animal husbandry
“on modern and scientific lines” among its prime objectives. Now, taking upon
itself the mission “to infuse curiosity… about the importance of cows”, it has
announced an online nationwide exam where participants will be tested on, among
other things, knowledge of Indian cows’ “superiority” over foreign breeds,
including in showing “emotions”; cow dung benefits, including in ensuring
people were “not affected” during the Bhopal gas tragedy; the “link” between
cow slaughter and earthquakes because of animals generating “Einsteinian Pain
Waves”; and how India became a leading beef exporter under “a cow-eating
leader”. On Tuesday, the Aayog uploaded on its website a 54-page “reference
material” for the Kamdhenu Gau-Vigyan Prachar-Prasar Examination, to be held on
Feb.25. The material would help candidates “get maximum awareness about
Kamdhenu Gau-Vigyan”, the notice on the website says.The reference material
talks at length about the “divinity” of the cow, mentioning Rigveda to the
Bible, adding, “Her face epitomises innocence —her eyes reflect peace, her
horns, royalty and her ears, intelligence. Her udders are the fountain of
ambrosia in the form of milk; her tail, a stairway to the higher regions of
being.” Another section lists how the Indian “desi” cow is vastly superior to
the “exotic” Jersey variety. Unlike the Indian cows that have many medicinal
benefits, the reference material says, the foreign breeds are harmful to
health.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/emotions-to-earthquakes-einstein-waves-a-govt-bodys-cattle-class-7136043/
Saffron
Flag Planted on Muslim Shrine in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur District; Police
Register Case
NEW DELHI — Members
of Hindutva groups on Thursday planted saffron flag on a Muslim shrine in
Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh. The shrine is located in the Sunera area
close to highway NH-52.A case has been registered against unidentified persons
at the Sonera police station under section 295-A (Deliberate and malicious
acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its
religion or religious beliefs). “We have started an investigation,” station in
charge Sorav Sharma told Clarion India over the phone on Friday.The incident
comes at a time when multiple areas of the state have reported violent rallies
by right-wing forces leading to vandalism of mosques and Muslim properties
besides communal clashes.When the locals in the area came to know about shrine
desecration, they rushed to the spot and started a demonstration demanding
legal action against the culprits. A police team arrived on the scene to pacify
the people. The police assured the demonstrators that strict action will be
taken against those involved.Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, a local Muslim leader, said
that planting saffron flags on the shrine was an attempt by the goons to disturb
communal harmony in the area. “The incident has sparked anger in the Muslim
community,” he said, adding that he appealed to the people to maintain
peace.Muslims and Hindus live together but some anti-social elements have tried
to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the village, said Rajinder Singh
Chokhatya, a local leader of Bahujan Samajwadi Party. “We appeal to the
authorities to take strict action against such people,” Chokhatya said while
demanding that authorities should restore the shrine to its original position.
https://clarionindia.net/saffron-flag-planted-on-muslim-shrine-in-madhya-pradeshs-shajapur-district-police-register-case/
'Not
One Entitled to Interfere': Allahabad HC Comes to Interfaith Couple's Aid Again
New Delhi: Not for
the first time, the Allahabad high court on Wednesday came to the aid of an
interfaith couple in Uttar Pradesh and said that no one is “entitled to
interfere in their peaceful life.”Hearing the plea of a Muslim man and a
formerly Hindu woman who had converted to Islam willingly, the bench of Justice
Saral Srivastava said, according to LiveLaw:“The Court has repeatedly held that
where the two individuals having attained the age of majority, are living
together, nobody is entitled to interfere in their peaceful life.”The couple
claimed to be adults and furnished documents reflecting that they were born in
1998 and 1997.Justice Srivastava ordered the Bijnor Superintendent of Police to
provide adequate protection to the couple, if necessary, and fixed the matter
for hearing on February 8, LiveLaw has reported. The court also directed the
husband to deposit a sum of Rs 3 lakh in favour of the wife, although it is not
clear exactly why.
https://thewire.in/law/not-one-entitled-to-interfere-allahabad-hc-comes-to-interfaith-couples-aid-again
‘Anti-conversion
law not passed just like that… survey showed need’:UP Governor Anandiben
Lucknow : On
completing a year-and-a-half in office, UP Governor Anandiben Patel talks to
Indian Express on the new anti-conversion law and security of women. She said,
"Whenever a Bill comes, it does not come just like that. There is a survey
conducted that shows how many girls married, how many faced problems, how many
girls came back, how many girls lodged complaints. Even parents come forward
seeking arrests, alleging that the boy changed his name. When such incidents
are increasingly reported during a survey, in such a situation such a Bill is
brought and is pursued. Women come to me with different issues and if required,
I refer issues to the govt. But there are not many complaints."
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-governor-anandiben-patel-anti-conversion-law-not-passed-just-like-that-survey-showed-need-7135875/
India
welcomes restoration of ties between Qatar, Arab countries
India on Wednesday
welcomed the restoration of diplomatic ties between Qatar and four other Arab
countries that had imposed an embargo on it in 2017, saying such a move would
give a boost to peace and stability in the region. Following the restoration of
full ties between 5 Arab countries, the Ministry of External Affairs
spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said: “We were pleased to note the positive
developments at the recently concluded GCC Summit in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia. We
welcome the reconciliation and rapprochement between countries in the region.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/qatar-saudi-arabia-diplomatic-ties-india-middle-east-crisis-7136250/
For
first time in 55 years, chief guest unlikely at Republic Day parade
For the first time
in 55 years, India is unlikely to have any chief guest for the Republic Day
parade, Indian Express has learnt.New Delhi has come around to this decision, a
day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday called up Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and expressed “regret” that he would not be able to
visit India to be chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations. Johnson took
this decision in view of the fresh national lockdown in his country, as it responds
to the new, more contagious mutant strain of the novel coronavirus.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/for-first-time-in-55-years-chief-guest-unlikely-at-r-day-parade/
Suicide
case: Arnab Goswami fails to show up in court; plea for exemption from physical
appearance junked
An application filed
by Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami seeking exemption from physical
appearance in the abetment to suicide case of interior designer Anvay Naik has
been rejected by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) at Alibaug.Goswami had
been summoned to appear before the CJM on January 7 after the chargesheet filed
by the Raigad Police was taken on record. However, he failed to show up.When
the case was taken up, advocate Gaurav Parkar, appearing for Goswami, requested
the court to exempt his physical appearance considering the ongoing pandemic
situation and the existing standard operating procedures, Bar & Bench
reported.He submitted that since Goswami was in Delhi and there were quarantine
rules in place till January 31, 2021, it would be unsafe for him to travel.
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/suicide-case-arnab-goswami-fails-to-show-up-in-court-plea-for-exemption-from-physical-appearance-junked
AMU’s Bank Account Seized Over House Tax
Dispute, BHU Says “We Don’t Pay House Tax”
NEW DELHI—While the Aligarh Nagar Nigam ( or
the Aligarh Municipal Corporation) has seized the bank accounts of the AMU on
ground of not clearing house tax dues of several years, the Banaras Hindu
University (BHU), which is also a central university like the AMU, says that it
never paid house tax.Speaking to India Tomorrow over phone, BHU Public
Relations Officer Dr Rajesh Singh said, “BHU has never paid house tax for the
buildings on its premises”.Asked if the university has received any notice in
the last few weeks from the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) claiming house
tax for the university hostels, residences, laboratories, classrooms and guest
houses etc on its premises, Dr. Singh said, “We received a notice in this
regard about five years ago as far as my memory goes but the notice was
withdrawn after we convinced the municipal authorities that it does not apply
to BHU. We never received any notice regarding house tax after that”.“We also
did not receive any notice in the last one month or a fortnight”, Dr. Singh
informed.Surprisingly, AMU received a notice with regard to Rs. 14.98 crore
house tax dues on it a fortnight after Prime Minister Narendra Modi described
AMU as “Mini India” and released a commemorative stamp on the university on its
centenary celebrations.But the university says that the matter is pending
before the Allahabad High Court for adjudication.“The matter is sub-judice “, a
statement released by the university said, in reaction to the civic body’s
action.
https://indiatomorrow.net/2021/01/07/amus-bank-account-seized-over-house-tax-dispute-bhu-says-we-dont-pay-house-tax/
CORONA
Covid
effect: 8.4 lakh migrants back in Kerala from abroad, 5.5 lakh lost their jobs
AMIDST the Covid-19
pandemic-induced economic crisis, 5.52 lakh people who have returned to Kerala
from abroad since May last year have given loss of jobs as reason, according to
government data.As per figures compiled by the Department of Non-Resident
Keralites Affairs, 8.43 lakh people returned to Kerala from foreign countries
between the first week of May 2020 and January 4 this year. Of them, 5.52 lakh
said they had lost their jobs — with 1.40 lakh of them returning in the last 30
days. Another big chunk of returnees, 2.08 lakh, stated that their job visas
had expired or mentioned other reasons for their return. The rest include
senior citizens, or children, and family members of expatriates.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/covid-effect-8-4-lakh-migrants-back-in-kerala-from-abroad-5-5-lakh-lost-their-jobs-7136016/
US
reports more cases of vaccine allergy, CDC monitoring safety of Pfizer, Moderna
doses
With US rolling out
2 major coronavirus vaccines Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for its population,
several cases of vaccine allergies have been reported from across the country.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now monitoring the cases and
advised those facing allergic reactions, to avoid the second dose. According to
reports in US media, CDC has said 28 cases of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic
reaction, have been detected after these people were administered the Pfizer
Covid-19 vaccine. One person who had received the Moderna coronavirus vaccine
has reported allergic reactions so far.
https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/vaccine-updates/story/us-reports-more-cases-of-covid-vaccine-allergy-1756746-2021-01-07
Vaccination
doesn't guarantee 100% protection, wearing mask is must: Experts
The second
nationwide dry-run for Covid-19 vaccination will he held on Friday. The dry-run
is expected to help health departments gear up for mass vaccination, once the
vaccines are rolled out.As a note of precaution, experts have cautioned that
while India may have approved 2 Covid-19 vaccines - Covaxin and Covishield -
for emergency use, vaccination doesn't guarantee 100 per cent protection from
the viral disease. Experts say at present, people must continue to wear masks
to protect themselves from contracting the disease."It will require
another 6-12 months before we can let our guards down completely. Although
India is planning to start the vaccination drive soon, it would be only by
early 2022 by when a majority of the population would be vaccinated. Till then,
we have to be on our guards. Wearing masks, maintaining social distance and
avoiding outdoor activities is still important," said Dr Bharesh Dedhia,
critical care head, at Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital.
https://www.indiatoday.in/coronavirus-outbreak/story/vaccination-doesn-t-guarantee-100-protection-wearing-mask-is-must-experts-1756766-2021-01-07
PM
Modi to meet CMs on January 11 to discuss Covid vaccination strategy
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi will hold a virtual meeting with chief ministers of all states
and union territories on January 11 to review the preparedness ahead of the
rollout of coronavirus vaccines across the country.In what will be the biggest
inoculation drive in the world, India is gearing up to begin vaccinating its
population against the novel coronavirus. While two mock drills were held
across the country, the date of the vaccination rollout is not known yet.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-to-meet-cms-on-jan-11-to-discuss-covid-vaccination-strategy-7138625/
Iran
bans COVID vaccines from UK, US
Iran’s Supreme
Leader Ali Khamenei has prohibited imports of COVID-19 vaccines from the United
States and the United Kingdom.In a televised speech on Friday, the supreme
leader said he has no confidence in vaccines coming out of the two Western
powers since they have some of the highest mortality rates in the world.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/irans-supreme-leader-bans-uk-us-coronavirus-vaccines
China
seals off two cities to contain coronavirus outbreak
China has sealed off
two cities south of Beijing, cutting transport links and banning millions of
residents from leaving, as authorities move to stem the country’s largest
COVID-19 outbreak in six months.The pandemic has so far broadly been brought to
heel by Chinese authorities since its emergence in Wuhan in late 2019, with
small outbreaks swiftly snuffed out using mass testing, local lockdowns and
travel restrictions.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/china-seals-off-two-cities-to-contain-coronavirus-outbreak
WORLD
Capitol
siege: If rioters were Black, ‘hundreds’ would be killed
United States’s
stark racial inequality was on display after a mob of predominantly white
supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol with ease on
Wednesday then left with few immediate consequences, according to Washington
residents, activists and politicians, including President-elect Joe Biden.The
rioters broke through barricades, smashed windows, snatched souvenirs and
entered Congressional offices and chambers, some taking photographs with police.The
lack of security and limited police response, despite weeks of promotion of the
pro-Trump protest that sparked the riot, was in sharp contrast to the largely
peaceful Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC six months ago.My mom
said if you did this you’d be shot,” said Beatrice Mando, who works for the
district and attended BLM protests last year. “She is right. There would be
hundreds dead, if not more, had this group been Black.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/if-rioters-who-stormed-capitol-hundreds-would-have
US
Capitol Police officer dies after clash with pro-Trump mob
A US Capitol Police
officer has died of injuries sustained during clashes with supporters of
President Donald Trump, who stormed the Capitol building to prevent Congress
from certifying President-elect Joe Biden, police said late on Thursday.Officer
Brian D Sicknick had sustained injuries while on-duty, physically engaging with
rioters at the US Capitol, the statement said.“He returned to his division
office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to
his injuries” on Thursday night, it said.The death of Sicknick will be
investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the
Capitol Police and federal investigators.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/us-capitol-police-officer-dies-following-clash-with-pro-trump-mob
Biden
Win Confirmed, Trump Concedes Defeat Hours After US Capitol Siege; 4 killed
Washington: Congress
formally certified Joe Biden as the next US president on Thursday, dealing a
hammer blow to Donald Trump whose supporters stormed the Capitol hours
earlier, triggering unprecedented scenes
of mayhem in the seat of American democracy.Lawmakers in the Senate and House
of Representatives successfully beat back Republican efforts to deny Biden the
electoral votes needed to win, prompting loud cheers when the certification was
announced. The affirmation of Biden's 306-232 victory over Trump in
Nov.essentially closes the door on the unparalleled and deeply controversial
effort by Trump and his loyalists to overturn the results of 2020 election.The
president immediately released a statement pledging an "orderly
transition" but suggesting he would remain in frontline politics, amid
speculation that he may run again in 2024. "Even though I totally disagree
with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there
will be an orderly transition on Jan.20th," he said. The certification
came hours after a mob breached US Capitol and sent lawmakers scrambling for
safety. They were able to return hours later, shaken but determined to complete
the task. Egged on in an extraordinary rally across town by an aggrieved Trump,
a flag-waving mob had broken down barricades outside the Capitol and swarmed
inside, rampaging through offices and onto the usually solemn legislative
floors.Security forces fired tear gas in a 4-hour operation to clear the
Capitol. Police said that one woman, reportedly a female Trump partisan from
southern California, was shot and killed and that 3 other people died in the
area in circumstances that were unclear.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/trump-concedes-us-election-defeat-pledges-orderly-transition-after-congress-affirms-biden-win-2349018?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll
Indian
flag seen amid US Capitol rioters, Varun Gandhi asks why
The unprecedented
riots and violence that hit the Capitol building in Washington DC on Thursday
has shocked the world even as US President Donald Trump refuses to accept his
defeat and ensure a smooth and peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden.Four
people have died in the violence that ensued as Trump supporters barged into
Capitol building, an act some alleged was an attempted coup.In the latest,
video of a gathering of Trump supporters outside the Capitol has drawn traction
in India as it shows a person holding the Indian national flag amid Trump
supporters.Dozens have forced their way to the top. More coming up the steps.
Police are trying to bolster their numbers through the west doors but someone
with a fire extinguisher is dousing them from above. The crowd only keeps
cheering. pic.twitter.com/WA526jTBGo
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-flag-seen-amid-us-capitol-rioters-varun-gandhi-asks-why-1756715-2021-01-07
Trump
supporters attack Capitol, China mocks US online over 'beautiful sight' of
chaos
China's internet
erupted in mirth at America's troubled democracy after supporters of President
Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, comparing the chaos to the Hong Kong
anti-government protests of 2019.On Thursday morning, state media tabloid
Global Times tweeted side-by-side photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters
occupying the city's Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday's
Washington riots.The latter saw hardcore Trump fans invade the US Capitol to
protest the election defeat, taking selfies, scuffling with security and
ransacking parts of the building."@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong
Kong riots as 'a beautiful sight to behold'," the Global Times said in the
tweet, referring to Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi's June 2019 comment about
Hong Kong's mass pro-democracy demonstrations, which were mostly peaceful at
that time."It remains yet to be seen whether she will say the same about
the recent developments in Capitol Hill."China's Communist Youth League
also described the unrest as a "beautiful sight" on the Twitter-like
Weibo platform.
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/trump-supporters-attack-capitol-china-goes-online-to-mock-beautiful-sight-of-chaos-in-us-1756675-2021-01-07
US
economy sheds 140,000 jobs in December in end to brutal year
As snapshots of the
United States labour market go, December’s jobs report is ugly, even by
pre-pandemic standards.The economy shed 140,000 jobs last month, the US
Department of Labor said on Friday – marking a horrendous end to the most
abysmal year for job losses on record.The nation’s unemployment rate held
steady at 6.7 percent, as did the number of unemployed persons – some 10.7
million workers.
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/8/us-economy-sheds-140000-jobs-in-december-in-end-to-brutal-year
Iran
in no hurry to see the US return to nuclear deal: Khamenei
United States must
lift harsh economic sanctions on Iran, the country’s Supreme Leader Ali
Khamenei has asserted less than two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden
enters the White House.In a televised speech on Friday, the supreme leader said
Iran does not insist on and is in no hurry to see the US return to the 2015
nuclear deal with six big world powers. Khamenei instead demanded that the
sanctions must be lifted immediately.“Sanctions are a treachery and crime
against the Iranian nation and must be lifted,” the country’s most powerful
leader said.“But we must also plan our economy in a way that we could run the
country well despite sanctions,” he said in reference to his previous remarks
that Iran must focus on “nullifying sanctions” in addition to lifting them.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/irans-khamenei-demands-sanctions-removal-ahead-of-biden-administ
UAE
to reopen land, sea, air borders with Qatar on Saturday
UAE will reopen all
of its land, sea and air entry points with Qatar starting on Saturday, state
news agency (WAM) reported on Friday.The move comes days after Saudi Arabia
announced a breakthrough in ending a bitter dispute between Gulf Arab states
and Qatar at a summit on Tuesday.The Saudi foreign minister said at the Gulf
Cooperation Council summit in Al-Ula that Riyadh and its allies would restore
all ties with Doha severed in mid-2017.Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt
imposed the embargo on Qatar over allegations that it supports “extremism” and
being too close to regional rival Iran. Doha denies the charges and says the
boycott was aimed to curtail its sovereignty.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/uae-to-reopen-land-sea-air-borders-with-qatar-on-saturday
Pakistan
says all visa restrictions for Bangladeshis removed
Pakistan has lifted
all restrictions on visas for Bangladeshi citizens, a move being seen as an ice
breaker in the frosty relations between the two Muslim-majority countries in
South Asia.“Pakistan has already removed all restrictions on Pakistani visas
for Bangladeshi citizens,” said a statement by the Pakistan High Commission in
Bangladesh after a meeting between Pakistani High Commissioner Imran Ahmed
Siddiqui and Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam
on Thursday.“The two sides agreed to intensify bilateral contacts at all
levels,” the statement added.Speaking to Anadolu Agency after the meeting,
Siddiqui said Pakistan is waiting for the same response from the Bangladeshi
side.“Bangladesh’s restrictions on Pakistani nationals are still in place, and
that is why I informed the state minister that we have already lifted all bars
from our side,” he said.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/8/pakistan-says-all-visa-restrictions-for-bangladeshis-removed
OPINIONS-EDITORIALS-VIEWS
Not fatwa brigade or
Islamophobes, scientists and Muslim leaders must set vaccine facts right:Syed
Zubair Ahmad
https://theprint.in/opinion/not-fatwa-brigade-or-islamophobes-scientists-and-muslim-leaders-must-set-vaccine-facts-right/580282/
Covid Vaccine: Is it
Halal or Not?Asad Mirza
https://clarionindia.net/covid-vaccine-is-it-halal-or-not/
UPDATED BY: 08/01/2021 20:22