Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
02 Nov, 2015: 19 Muharram 37: Vol:7, No:15
INDIA
Tension at India-Nepal border; Madheshis protest against police crackdown, one killed
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/nepal-police-clear-madhesi-protesters-from-key-trade-point-with-india/#sthash.EbXlml7b.dpuf
Kathmandu: A 19-year-old Indian was killed as Nepal police opened fire on people demonstrating against the new Constitution near the India-Nepal border, hours after security forces baton-charged Madhesi protesters and evicted them from a key bridge in the area in a pre-dawn swoop.Ashish Ram of Raxaul in Bihar was killed as police opened fire on protesters at Shankaracharya Gate near Birgunj Customs, according to home ministry sources.Ram received bullet shot in his head and was declared dead at the hospital.The deceased was identified after a phone call was made to his maternal uncle from his mobile, police said.Clashes erupted in different parts of Birgunj on Monday after Nepalese police baton-charged Madhesi protesters, burned down their tents and evicted them from the Miteri bridge at the India-Nepal border, opening the main Birgunj-Raxaul border trading point for the first time in 40 days.Violence in area forced authorities to clamp an indefinite curfew. Nearly 200 empty trucks stranded in the Nepalese side of the border were allowed to enter into the Indian territory during the brief period when the police took control of the area.Several protesters were injured after police fired rubber bullets to maintain law and order.PTI
India expresses deep concern over firing incidents in Birgunj, Nepal
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/49631434.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
India-US anti-terror cooperation: For first time, NSG commandos train with US Special Forces
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/india-us-anti-terror-cooperation-for-the-first-time-nsg-commandos-train-with-us-special-forces/
New Delhi:India and the US have been cooperating extensively on counter-terrorist activities, as witnessed after the terror attack on a police station in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district in July.In another sign of increasing India-US cooperation on fighting terror, US army’s Special Forces are conducting their first-ever joint counter-terrorist training with NSG at Manesar in Haryana. Christened Exercise “Balanced Iroquois”, this three-week long specialist training began on 18 Oct.2015 and will end this week.“The inaugural exercise clearly captures the momentum and vigor from the US-India relationship to ensure India’s security and that of its neighbours,” US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma said.India and US have been cooperating extensively on counter-terrorist activities, as witnessed after the terror attack on a police station in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district in July. By decoding the GPS captured from the terrorists, the FBI was able to track down that the terrorists started from Pakistan. Similarly, the Night Vision Device, captured from terrorists in Gurdaspur, was tracked down by the Pentagon as having been lost at a battlefield in Afghanistan. Indian Express
Accused in lynching of man in Rajasthan still remain free
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/accused-in-lynching-of-man-in-rajasthan-still-remain-free/article7830070.ece?homepage=true
Birloka: A tin-shed that lies tumbled over the sand in village Birloka marks the spot where 60-year-old Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi was lynched by a mob on May 30 this year. Once a meat shop, the shed was ruined, Ghaffar was beaten up and his house destroyed, on the pretext that he might, in future, sell beef at his shop.4 months before the Dadri lynching, in the Rajasthan village of Birloka, 350 km from Jaipur, an angry mob allegedly beat Ghaffar with sticks and iron rods till a family in the neighbourhood tore through the mob to save him. Ghaffar died the following day. 35 years ago Ghaffar had entered Birloka in Nagaur district’s Khinwsar tehsil as a young man from another village of Amarpura 200 km away to earn a living as a meat seller. “Few years ago Ghaffar's meat shop was objected to by a family from another community that resided opposite his shop,” Haider (name changed), a resident of Birloka, told The Hindu. The series of events that led to Ghaffar’s lynching began on May 30 in Kumhari village, also in Nagaur district, where carcasses of about 200 cows were strewn across a field after a municipality contractor had rented the field to dispose of a cattle carcass, as a routine municipal exercise.A rumour spread that Muslims had killed the 200 cows for a feast and pictures of the carcasses started circulating through WhatsApp and Facebook. Slowly, thousands of people from nearby areas collected at the field.“By the afternoon [of May 30] over five thousand people had collected at the ground where the cows were being disposed of,” Khinwsar Station House Officer Bharat Rawat said. The Hindu
Muslims unfairly being blamed for cow slaughter, says Govindacharya, ex-BJP ideologue: The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/muslims-unfairly-being-blamed-for-cow-slaughter/article7830978.ece
New Delhi: KN Govindacharya, ex-BJP ideologue who now devotes his time to issues related to Ganga rejuvenation and cow protection, has decided to postpone, indefinitely, an agitation against cow slaughter that had been slated for Nov.7. Govindacharya, whose association with BJP practically ended after his public differences with then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998, said that he was “disturbed by politicisation of the issue and didn’t want to launch the agitation in such a political atmosphere.” He pointed out that to link the issue of cow slaughter with the Muslim community was wrong as it was the British rather than Muslim rulers of India who promoted cow slaughter. “Cow slaughter came up in a big way after the revolt of 1857, when the British saw this as a way of driving a wedge between the two communities.Under Mughal rule too, cow slaughter used to happen but not on such a huge scale,” he said.
Muzaffarnagar riots: BJP MP surrenders in court
http://newsworldindia.in/india/muzaffarnagar-riots-case-bjp-mp-surrenders-in-court/144487/
Muzaffarnagar(PTI): BJP MP Bhartendu Singh has surrendered in a local court here in connection with a case of violating prohibitory orders and inciting communal tension and riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013. Appearing before the court, Singh sought cancellation of a bailable warrant issued for not appearing in the case. Additional CJM Sitaram withdrew the warrant after Singh surrendered in the court and submitted a personal bond of Rs 20,000 and an undertaking that he would appear in court on Nov.24. Bailable warrant was issued on Oct.23 against several accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots case including Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan, Bhartendu, BJP MLA Suresh Rana and Sadhvi Prachi by local court.
UP panchayat polls: BSP back to winning ways – gives BJP and SP a scare
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/up-panchayat-polls-bsp-back-to-winning-ways-gives-bjp-and-sp-a-scare/
Lucknow: BSP has emerged as the surprise front-runner in the UP panchayat elections with most of the candidates it has supported for seats in zila panchayat elections, emerging victorious. Panchayat polls are not contested on party symbols.The result has come as a morale-booster for the BSP which had been lying low since its failure to win any seats in last year’s Lok Sabha polls.All the results are expected to be announced officially by State Election Commission Monday evening. Ruling Samajwadi Party which chosen not to officially announce the candidates it had endorsed, has also fared poorly with many relatives of senior party leaders and ministers failing to win their seats. And the BJP, which had supported candidates in zila panchayat and kshetra panchayat polls for the first time, has failed to make an impression.In many districts like Agra, Azamgarh, and Ambedkar Nagar where the BSP had traditionally been strong but lost ground to the SP in 2012 and the BJP in 2014, the party made a comeback, winning the largest chunk of seats in all 3. indianexpress
UP Panchayat polls: Owaisi’s AIMIM makes electoral debut in UP
http://www.india.com/news/india/uttar-pradesh-panchayat-polls-asadduddin-owaisis-aimim-makes-electoral-debut-in-up-676315/
Lucknow: UP panchayat elections brought smile on the faces of the supporters of Owaisi as AIMIM made its electoral debut on Monday. AIMIM candidate Kailash Gautam made to the district development council (DDC) from Azamgarh. For AIMIM, the victory in UP is of more significance as the party was eyeing on the upcoming 2017 assembly election which is scheduled in 2017. Asaddudin and his brother Akbaruddin are developing their base in Uttar Pradesh which is a stronghold of minority community and Samajwadi party.AIMIM which is known as a party creating its vote bank on communal issues had now developed their secular image after the victory of Kailash Gautam in UP panchayat polls.Though there were not any official announcement made by the election commission officials, however the party spokesperson said that Kailash Gautam of Masoodiya from Pawai Block (Number 32) in Azamgarh has won.The party had fielded 50 candidates from 18 districts in the panchayat polls. India.com
Shiv Sena ahead of BJP in Maha's key civic poll
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Shiv-Sena-ahead-of-BJP-in-Maharashtras-key-civic-poll/articleshow/49630192.cms
Mumbai: Shiv Sena has left behind BJP in the key election to the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) bagging 52 seats, while the BJP could manage to win 42 seats.However, the Sena suffered a setback in KDMC as mayor Kalyani Patil was defeated by Suman Nikam of BJP.The independents backed by the BJP won 6 seats, Raj Thackeray's MNS managed 9 seats, Congress 4, NCP 2 seats, MIM 1 and independents 2 seats.he independents and MNS will play a key role in Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation. timesofindia
Owaisi’s party AIMIM gets mixed response in Seemanchal
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/bihar-elections-2015/news/Asadudddin-Owaisis-party-AIMIM-gets-mixed-response-in-Seemanchal/articleshow/49624012.cms?
Kochadhaman (Kishanganj): With its slogan "Ab milega sabko insaf, badlega Seemanchal Majlise ke saath (Everyone will get justice now, Seemanchal will change with Majlis)," Asadudddin Owaisi's party AIMIM is trying to make its presence felt in all the assembly seats it has selected for its entry into Bihar via Seemanchal region.Four of the six assembly constituencies that AIMIM has fielded its candidates in are part of the Kishanganj Lok Sabha constituency and all of them have a sizeable Muslim population.ET/ timesofindia
Modi, facing tight election, hits back at "intolerance" criticism: Reuters report
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/11/02/india-politics-modi-beef-intolerance-rel-idINKCN0SR1A620151102
Crackers thrown during early morning prayers in Patna mosque, walls defiled
http://twocircles.net/2015nov01/1446366775.html#.VjdJKnorLIU
Patna: Miscreants looking to flare up communal tension threw powerful crackers early morning on Sunday in a Mosque in the Phulwari Sharif area of New Millat Colony, Sector-2 Patna, along with scribbling profanities on the masjid’s wall. Thankfully, no one was reported injured in the incident.The faithful were offering the first Namaz of the day at 5.30am, when they heard a loud explosion in the inner courtyard of the mosque. The scared people got up to see the remains of a cracker, which is banned, had been thrown inside the premises. The explosion made such a noise that people living in the area around the mosque woke up fearing the worst. Along with the explosion, eyewitnesses said the miscreants had defiled the walls of the mosque with horrible profanities directed against the Raza Academy, the local coaching institute. The miscreants also broke the switch of the street lights in the area to ensure that no one is able to see or recognize them.TCN
Crackdown on Kashmir separatists ahead of Modi rally
http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/crackdown-on-kashmir-separatists-ahead-of-modi-rally/story-5h4y8g4FccNHOPCGIU2qBM.html
Srinagar:J&K govt has launched a crackdown on separatist leaders ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the state later this week.Top govt sources said that Modi will visit Srinagar for a day-long trip after inaugurating the 450 MW Baglihar hydroelectric project on the Chenab in Chanderkote area of Ramban district. The commissioning of Baglihar II will increase the state’s power generation to 1,211 MW. PM will hold a public rally at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir stadium on Nov.7 where he is expected to announce a massive development package for the state. The rally, on the eve of the Bihar election results, will also be attended by CM Mufti Sayeed. Hindustan Times
Modi's a force of nature ... not communal at all: Mufti
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modis-a-force-of-nature-not-communal-at-all-Mufti-Mohammad-Sayeed/articleshow/49622397.cms
As PM Narendra Modi finds himself the target of criticism for the perceived growing intolerance in the country, he gets a thumbs up from a crucial ally, PDP. Ahead of the PM's visit to Jammu & Kashmir, CM Mufti Sayeed tells TOI that the alliance between the BJP and PDP is very strong and that when Modi speaks at a public rally in Srinagar it would be the perfect opportunity for him to reiterate his faith in India's diversity and plurality.TOI
This J&K doc’s mission to modernise madrassa in militant hotbed: TOI report
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/This-JK-docs-mission-Modernise-madrassa-in-militant-hotbed/articleshow/49623029.cms
Srinagar: A madrassa in Sopore district, one of the hotbeds of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir, is being prepped for imparting formal education along with theological study of Islam - the idea is to set an example for more such Islamic seminaries to open up to formal scholastic education."My aim is to revolutionize madrassas in Kashmir after I learnt that terrorists are produced in Islamic seminaries," Sohail Nasti, a doctor who has also trained as a rescue pilot, said. Nasti's international charity organization, Mother Helpage Worldwide, has worked on several projects in Kashmir in the last two decades. Modernising madrassa is the latest step, following an increasing perception that these seminaries have become breeding grounds for militants and terrorists of all shades. The first seminary identified for modernization is Darul-Uloom Mahrajpora, Sopore, 52km from Srinagar. There are more than 12 madrassas in Sopore which are suspect, state govt sources said. "We have informed authorities (about their activities)," a top intelligence officer said. Speaking about his mission, Nasti, who is settled in UK, said, "We provide computers and other equipment to the madrassa to enable students to earn an honourable livelihood after education." TOI
Writers’ meet accuses BJP of ‘manufacturing politics of hate’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/writers-meet-accuses-bjp-of-manufacturing-politics-of-hate/
New Delhi: Rejecting the charge that the Congress and the Left were behind their protest against “growing intolerance”, writers and artistes on Sunday alleged that ruling BJP was unable to “control its mobs”, with one of them even comparing RSS to terror outfit Islamic State. During a “resistance” (Pratirodh) meet in the national capital, writers, artistes and academics protested what called the an “attack on reason, democracy and composite culture”.Claiming that business leaders, common people and even the President had voiced concern about the “disturbing” trend, the protesters took umbrage to Union Minister Arun Jaitley’s remark dubbing their agitation as “manufactured rebellion”. “In its inability to control its mobs, the only comeback that the BJP has is to describe the protesters as Leftists or instigated by the Congress party.Many of us are Leftists, but many of us are not Leftists. What the protest is about is need for a liberal space and this being emphasised again and again,” historian Romila Thapar said.PTI
There’s extreme intolerance in India: Shah Rukh
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/politics/theres-extreme-intolerance-in-india-says-shah-rukh-khan-on-50th-birthday/#sthash.PoIXEkHK.dpuf
New Delhi:Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan turned 50 today and added his voice to growing protests by the intelligentsia over ‘climate of intolerance’, saying there was “extreme intolerance” in the country.Voicing his feelings over the ‘growing intolerance’ and return of awards by filmakers, science and writers, Shah Rukh said he would not hesitate to give up his awards as a “symbolic gesture” if he has to but feels he does not have to do so. Padma Shri is among the awards in Shah Rukh’s kitty.“There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance… there is I think… there is growing intolerance,” Shah Rukh told India Today TV.“It is stupid… It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue not just an issue…Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot,” he said,Asked whether he will give up his Padma Shri award, Shah Rukh responded, “I mean just for a symbolic gesture, yes, if I have to.”At the same time, he said, “respect those who returned awards, but I don’t have to.”PTI
Christian leaders condemn 'growing' intolerance in India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Christian-leaders-condemn-growing-intolerance-in-India/articleshow/49629393.cms
New Delhi:Christians from across the country on Monday condemned the "growing" intolerance in India and criticised "sinister attempts" to do away with the reservation policy. "In unequivocal terms we denounce the growing intolerance in the country. We also denounce the sinister attempts to do away with reservation policy and ultimately attempt to undermine the constitution," reads a statement, signed by over 100 Christian community leaders and activists. Community leaders have signed the statement to express their anger over violence against Dalits, Adivasis, women, religious minorities and even "ghar-wapsi". Principal of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, Fr. Felix Raj, former Karnataka Police chief Francis Colaso and former Delhi govt Minority Commission member John Dayal were among those who signed the statement. IANS
HC uses Internet to determine if meat is beef
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/HC-uses-Internet-to-determine-if-meat-is-beef/articleshow/49623502.cms
Chandigarh: How does a court convict a man of illegally possessing beef when there's no laboratory to tell one meat from another?Perhaps one can employ professional food tasters as expert witnesses. However, no court would allow them to sit in the witness box with fork and knife, and sample small portions from a menu of meats before giving their opinion.In the absence of laboratory testing, judges of the Punjab and Haryana high court often depend on the internet to differentiate one meat from another whenever cases under the Punjab Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act(1955) reach them. They have even quoted internet searches in judgments while acquitting people convicted by lower courts of possessing beef.While there have been convictions of people caught with the head or skin of a cow which clearly identify the animal, there's nearly 100% acquittal in cases where people have been caught with just the meat believed to have been beef. In an order in April this year, Justice Mahesh Grover quoted from an article on internet while acquitting an accused and said, "Formulating a conclusion on the bare visual examination of meat product to establish it to be beef and to form basis of conviction would be erroneous."TOI
Jamia to collaborate with Hamdard; 2 sign MoU
http://twocircles.net/2015nov02/1446465920.html#.VjddBHorLIU
New Delhi: On the sidelines of the conclusion of the valedictory function of the 95th Foundation Day Celebrations, central university Jamia Millia Islamia signed a MoU with Delhi based Deemed University, Jamia Hamdard.MoU, signed by the respective Registrars of both universities, opens up a plethora of opportunities for both the institutions to synergize their competencies in the field of medical science.Jamia Hamdard University will admit and provide medical facilities to indoor medical patients referred by the Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia on CGHS rates. It will also provide healthcare facilities to all employees of Jamia Millia. Medical students from Jamia Hamdard University would benefit from the specializations of the Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia. TCN
Hyderabad: Muslim outfit trains guns at statues
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/muslim-outfit-trains-guns-at-statues/article7830961.ece
Hyderabad: Statues have been the focal point of expressing human emotions in the country by different social and religious groups but they are repeatedly being turned into controversies by different groups. A little known organisation, Awami Majlis-e-Amal in the city has now threatened to remove six statues of Muslim personalities, including APJ Abdul Kalam and sixth Nizam Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, that are installed at various places citing religious beliefs.“Our religion forbids installing statues and we have communicated this to successive govt s asking them to remove them. We do not distinguish between personalities and will not hesitate to break and throw them into Tank Bund if the authorities do not take them out,” Mujahed Hashmi, general secretary, Awami Majlis-e-Amal Telangana, said.Maulana Haseeb-ul-Hassan, general secretary, Sunni-Ulema- Board Hyderabad, explained that, “Islam prohibits putting up statues and displaying photos or paintings of people. Idol worship is also forbidden in the religion.” The Hindu
WORLD
AK Party swept back into power in a landslide
http://www.dailysabah.com/elections/2015/11/02/ak-party-swept-back-into-power-in-a-landslide-1446417817
Istanbul: AK Party clinched victory after securing slightly more than 49% of the vote in Turkey's 26th general elections on Sunday. The party's votes are higher than the other three parties represented in Parliament combined. Following the June 7 elections in which the AK Party garnered 40.8 % of the vote and failed to receive a parliamentary majority with 258 deputies, the parties failed to come to an agreement to form a coalition, leading Turkey to an early election on Nov. 1. PM and AK.Party chairman, Ahmet Davutoğlu, described the party's success in Sunday's parliamentary elections as a "victory day for democracy." "This victory is not ours [AK Party's], but that of our nation and our citizens," Davutoğlu said in an address in his hometown of Konya hours after the results put the AK Party ahead of the other parties. dailysabah
Turkey:PM prioritizes new constitution for Turkey
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/prime-minister-prioritizes-new-constitution-for-turkey/461209
Ankara : AK Party is to pursue constitutional changes to enhance the role of the president, PM Ahmet Davutoglu confirmed in his post-election victory speech Sunday. “It is obvious that the current system does not meet the Turkey’s needs. This shirt is too tight for this country,” Davutoglu said.AK Party has sought to turn Turkey from a parliamentary democracy to a presidential system since party co-founder and former PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan became president in August last year. Although it regained its parliamentary majority in Sunday’s election, it appears to be 14 seats short of the number needed to push through a referendum on constitutional reform. Anadolu Agency
Hamas, Syrian opposition, Kurdish Regional Govt congratulate AK Party for sweeping polls
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/region-reacts-to-ak-party-victory-in-turkish-elections/461404
Russian airline rules out 'technical fault', blames crash on 'external' factor
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Russian-airline-rules-out-technical-fault-blames-crash-on-external-factor/articleshow/49630088.cms
Russia: A technical fault or pilot error could not have caused the crash of the Russian passenger jet in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board, a top official at the airline said on Monday.Alexander Smirnov, the deputy general director of Metrojet, said the cause of the crash "could only have been an external impact on the plane" in the air.When pressed for an explanation about what could have caused this impact, Smirnov insisted that he was not at liberty to discuss details because the investigation was ongoing. Smirnov also said the crew did not send a distress call and they did not contact traffic controllers before the crash.AP
Syrian coalition: Russia has killed 1,700 civilians
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/22033-syrian-coalition-russia-has-killed-1700-civilians
Russian airstrikes have killed 1,700 civilians in including women and children throughout Syria, Aljazeera.net reported the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces as saying on Saturday.In a statement, the coalition accused Russia of committing war crimes after bombing residential areas, hospitals, schools and bakeries across the country. Middleeastmonitor
US, allies conduct 10 air strikes in Syria, 17 in Iraq: US military
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/02/us-mideast-crisis-airstrikes-idUSKCN0SR1DI20151102
Washington: US-led coalition conducted 10 air strikes against Islamic State in Syria on Sunday and 17 in Iraq, the U.S. military said, stepping up its air assault in Syria as fighting on the ground escalated. In Syria, 6 air strikes near Mar'a destroyed three fighting positions, an ammunition cache and three Islamic State buildings, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement on Monday.2 air strikes destroyed a vehicle and wounded three Islamic State fighters near the militant stronghold of Raqqa, while one strike each targeted militants near al Hawl and al Hasakah, it said. reuters
Russia runs massive media campaign on Syrian ops
http://www.worldbulletin.net/todays-news/165916/russia-runs-massive-media-campaign-on-syrian-ops
The Russian govt is running a massive media campaign to court public opinion in support of its military campaign in Syria.“It is an information war on an unparalleled scale,” commented Lithuanian analyst Vitoldas Jancis on the Lithuanian Tribune's website on Jul 30. The govt ’s purpose is to project an image of the Russian army’s pursuing high-tech warfare with great accuracy and without suffering many losses, policy expert Julia Smirnova noted in the German newspaper Die Welt on Oct 18. World Bulletin
Al-Qaeda urges unity with ISIL to fight Russia, West
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/165910/al-qaeda-chief-urges-unity-with-isil-to-fight-russia-west
Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al-Qaeda, urged supporters to unite in the struggle against Russia and West, suggesting more cooperation between Al-Qaeda and the ISIL."Americans, Russians, Iranians, Alawites, and Hezbollah are coordinating their war against us - are we not capable of stopping the fighting amongst ourselves so we can direct all our efforts against them?" Zawahiri said in an audio recording released on Sunday.Exact date of when the recording was made is unclear. However, remarks against Russian aggression means that Al-Zawahiri's comments come after Sept.30,when Russia launched its anti-ISIL operation in Syria on request of Bashar Al-Assad. worldbulletin
Syria Rebels Using Caged Captives as 'Human Shields': Reports
http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/syria-rebels-using-caged-captives-as-human-shields-reports-1238807
Beirut: A major Syrian rebel group is using dozens of captives in metal cages as "human shields" in the largest opposition stronghold on the outskirts of Damascus, a monitor said today.Jaish al-Islam, regarded as the most powerful rebel group near the capital, has put regime soldiers and Alawite civilians it was holding in metal cages, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told AFP.The group then placed these cages in public squares in the Eastern Ghouta region in an attempt to "prevent regime bombardment", Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.Govt forces regularly bombard the Eastern Ghouta area, from where rebel groups fire rockets into the capital.On Friday, at least 70 people were killed and 550 wounded in regime bombardment of Douma, a large town in the area. NDTV
Israel jails Arab ex-Knesset member over trip to Syria
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/22041-israel-jails-arab-ex-knesset-member-over-trip-to-syria
A former Arab Knesset member started a one year jail term in Israel on Thursday after being convicted of illegally travelling to Syria, Quds Press reported.Said Nafa, a Druze who served in the Knesset between 2007 and 2013, was sentenced last year after making the trip to an "enemy state", Syria, in 2007.He visited fellow Druze along with about 200 other members of the Druze community in Israel. He was consequently stripped of his parliamentary immunity in 2010. Middleeastmonitor
For first time since 1948, Egypt votes for Israel at UN
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/22027-for-the-first-time-since-1948-egypt-votes-for-israel-at-un
Egypt’s representative at United Nations voted on Friday in support of Israel’s bid for membership of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Israeli media reported.Since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and its acceptance to membership of the UN, Egypt had never voted in its favour at the UN before last Friday. 117 countries voted in favour of Israel, 21 abstained, while only Namibia voted against the decision. Countries that abstained include: Qatar, Tunisia, Syria, Mauritania, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Iraq and Algeria. Israeli sources said that they were accepted to this UN committee after "intensive diplomatic efforts" exerted at different levels.Prior to vote, spokesman for the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs refused to comment on the matter. However, in the face of fierce domestic criticism, he said that voting for Israel was necessary in order to secure the membership of a number of Arab countries to the committee.middleeastmonitor
Egypt court orders retrial of 77 Brotherhood aids
http://www.siasat.com/news/egypt-court-orders-retrial-77-muslim-brotherhood-supporters-862191/
A court in Egypt today ordered a retrial for 77 Muslim Brotherhood supporters, who were earlier sentenced between five to ten years in prison for taking part in violent acts in the coastal city of Alexandrian in 2013.The incident took place on July 26, 2013, at Al-Qaed Ibrahim Square, where Muslim brotherhood supporters were protesting against the ouster of president Morsi by the then army general Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.The violent clashes between Morsi supporters and the police, left at least 12 people dead and about 180 others injured.The defendants were charged of thuggery, rioting, killing, attempted killing, demonstration of force, possession of weapons, blocking roads, sabotaging public and private properties, among other charges. siasat
Egypt police detain daughter of Brotherhood ‘mufti’
http://www.newsfultoncounty.com/politics/news/0213879-egypt-police-detain-daughter-of-brotherhood-mufti
Cairo – Egyptian police have detained the daughter of a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood group, according to a local activist. Aisha Abd al-Bar, daughter of Brotherhood leader Abdel-Rahman al-Bar, was detained while visiting her jailed brother in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, Mohamed Abu Hurayra, a spokesman for the Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), said. newsfultoncounty
72 Palestinians killed since Oct 1
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/165881/72-palestinians-killed-since-oct-1
A Palestinian was killed by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since Oct. 1 to 72. Israeli army spokesman Peter Lerner said that 18-year-old Mahmoud Nazzal had been shot dead after attempting to stab an Israeli soldier at Gilboa crossing near the city of Afula in northern Israel.WorldBulletin
Algeria’s Islamist party call for an independent election committee to supervise elections
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/22044-algerias-islamists-call-for-an-independent-election-committee-to-supervise-elections
Algeria’s Islamist party, Movement of Society for Peace, has called for the establishment of an Independent National Electoral Commission to supervise the country’s upcoming elections and guarantees their fairness. In a statement released on Sunday, its leader Abderrazak Makri welcomed the announcement of Algerian PresidentAbdelaziz Bouteflika regarding the implementation of new measures to monitor the elections, saying this proves that the opposition’s demands have finally reached the ruling circles. However, Makri said this alone was not enough and that the country needs to do much more to guarantee fairness of the voting process.middleeastmonitor
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:17 PM)
