Evening NEWS DIGEST
31 Oct. 2016: 29 Muharram 1438: Vol: 8, No:24
INDIA: BHOPAL KILLING
SIMI activists’ jailbreak: Encounter contradictions, politics: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bhopal-encounter-simi-activists-killed-jailbreak-politics-nia-owaisi-bjp-congress/
New Delhi:Questions are being raised over the killing of 8 SIMI activists in an encounter by security forces on the outskirts of Bhopal hours after they escaped from the high-security Central Jail killing a security guard. As the government congratulated security forces for their successful operation and ordered NIA probe into the jailbreak, videos purportedly from the encounter site surfaced showing a policeman pumping bullets into a man from close range after some unidentified person takes out what appears to be a knife said to be in a plastic cover and places it back, raising doubts over the police theory which described the encounter as a raging gun battle, with the SIMI members instigating the gunfire.Alleging “discrepancies” in the official version on the escape of SIMI activists from Bhopal jail and their killing in a subsequent encounter with police, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi demanded an inquiry by Supreme Court to bring out “all facts”.“There is huge discrepancy in what the Home Minister and the police officials are saying. The Home Minister of MP says that these undertrials were armed with spoons. If they were armed with spoons, the Madhya Pradesh ATS could have easily overpowered them, because ATS has all sophistacated weapons. They could have easily arrested them.But, people who have run away from prison after assassinating a guard and they only have spoons. So, to any normal person, this theory is unbelievable,” he said adding, “what’s surprising is that these under trial prisoners were wearing proper clothes, shoes,watches. These are not given to under trial.”Holding that the statements of the IG and the Home Minister were contradictory, opposition Congress demanded a judicial probe into the encounter. Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said, “SIMI activists have escaped from the jail which is a high security prison, and within few hours they have not only been traced but killed. Now they can’t be questioned, there is no evidence, their statements cannot be recorded. I am demanding a judicial probe because even the government must know under what circumstances they escaped.”Congress leader Digvijay Singh, a former chief minister of MP, smelt conspiracy and, in a series of tweets, asked whether the SIMI activist ”escaped” or they were ”made to escape”.Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged encounter killing of eight SIMI activists in Bhopal. Activists were identified as — Amjad, Zakir Hussain Sadiq, Mohammad Salik, Mujeeb Shaikh, Mehbood Guddu, Mohammad Kalid Ahmed, Aqeel and Majid. Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the state govt on the jail-break and whether there was any lapse on the part of the jail administration and the steps taken to check such incidents. Indian Express
‘Trial was about to conclude, everything was turning in their favour’, Advocate questions police version:southlive
http://en.southlive.in/india/2016/10/31/trial-was-about-to-conclude-everything-was-in-their-favour-defence-advocate-questions-police-version-of-bhopal-killing
The defense advocate has questioned the police and government narrative on Bhopal killing of the SIMI members. Speaking to SouthLive advocate Thahavur Khan said there is conspiracy behind the killing. The trial was about to finish. “I have visited the jail several times. It is highly guarded. One cannot escape easily from there " he said. The trial was going on and there are only 18 to 20 witnesses remaining. Being their lawyer, I can say that there was no ample evidence against them, factually or legally. There is no reason for them to break the jail. The court judgement, which is expected to come out in weeks. The advocate rubbished the claims about jailbreak asking, why “they do such a thing when they know that they are going to be acquitted.”He further said that it was “shocking” for him to hear about the news, who also alleged that there is a “huge conspiracy” behind it.Those men were saying they have total faith in the judiciary. It was very shocking for me when I heard about the jailbreak and the subsequent encounter. I told their family that there is something fishy in this and there is a lie. There is a huge conspiracy behind it.Even the security is tight in the jail. I had been there number of times. It is one of the safest and secure jail in India. These people used to stay in the under trial wards. There is 7 layer security. The police are talking rubbish things like they crossed over and killed etc. Why they would such a thing when they know that they are going to be acquitted, said Advocate Thahavur demanding for a high-level enquiry into the encounter killing to chuck out the truth.
Loopholes in Bhopal encounter theory, right activists and opposition demand inquiry: southlive
http://en.southlive.in/india/2016/10/31/gujarat-model-in-madhya-pradesh-loopholes-in-bhopal-encounter-theory-right-activists-and-opposition-demands-inquiry
8 SIMI activists, jailed in Bhopal shot dead; Police claims they broke jail after killing a guard
http://en.southlive.in/india/2016/10/31/madhya-pradesh-police-claims-8-simi-activists-escaped-from-bhopal-jail-after-killing-guard
Bhopal jailbreak: Digvijaya Singh smells conspiracy, asks ‘escaped’ or ‘made to escape’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bhopal-jailbreak-digvijaya-singh-smells-conspiracy-asks-escaped-or-made-to-escape/
Digvijaya Singh smells rat in SIMI jail break incident
http://english.pradesh18.com/news/madhya-pradesh/digvijaya-singh-smells-rat-in-simi-jail-break-incident-four-suspended-917938.html
NIA to probe SIMI jailbreak: CM Shivraj Chouhan
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/simi-encounter-bhopal-jail-madhya-pradesh-cm-shivraj-chouhan-3730613/
Bhopal encounter: How SIMI activists escaped from jail must be probed, says Congress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bhopal-encounter-how-simi-activists-escaped-from-jail-must-be-probed-says-congress-3730730/
Video shows SIMI men who escaped Bhopal prison shot dead, NIA to probe encounter: indiatoday
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/simi-terrorists-encounter-bhopal-jailbreak/1/799111.html
Owaisi seeks probe into SIMI activists' jailbreak, gunning down
http://twocircles.net/2016oct31/1477919281.html#.WBdJNON97IV
Kejriwal demands SC monitored probe into SIMI activists' deaths
http://twocircles.net/2016oct31/1477920756.html#.WBdS6ON97IU
New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday demanded an apex court monitored probe into the killing of eight alleged SIMI activists in a gunfight with police, after they escaped from Bhopal Central Jail. "We demand an SC monitored investigation (into the case of killings of SIMI activists)," Kejriwal tweeted.In response to a scribe's tweet which questioned the state version of the encounter, saying it was "Gujarat model being truly replicated elsewhere", Kejriwal said, "It was very serious."IANS
Left corners MP Govt., calls SIMI men' killing "dubious, 'manufactured"
http://www.newkerala.com/news/2016/fullnews-137123.html
New Delhi:Calling the encounter of the SIMI men as entirely "dubious" and "manufactured", CPI (Marxist) polit bureau member Brinda Karat on Monday asked for an independent High Court probe into the matter.Karat also criticised the ruling establishment for calling the under-trial prisoners as SIMI terrorists."The entire government version is highly dubious and suspicious and full of self-contradictory statements and, therefore, to get to the truth it is essential to have independent probe under the High Court judge and it should be time bound because nobody could believe of what seems to be an entirely manufactured version. I also want to say these are under trial prisoners and to call them SIMI terrorists is to subvert the law of this land," she told ANI.Raising similar questions, CPI leader D. Raja also asked for judicial probe into the matter and urged the Centre to ask for a detailed report from the Madhya Pradesh Government."It raises several questions. First, how such a breach could take place in a high security prison in Bhopal. It raises questions on the jail administration. Afterwards they were gunned down, how did the encounter take place, did they posses any arms, these all are serious questions which need to be answered. There should be a high-level judicial probe to go into all these questions. The Centre should question Madhya Pradesh. Whatever the state government has done so far, it is inadequate considering the gravity of the issue," Raja told ANI.ANI
CPI-M demands judicial probe into killing of SIMI activists
http://www.thestatesman.com/news/india/cpi-m-demands-judicial-probe-into-killing-of-simi-activists/173588.html
Bhopal Encounter: Video Raises Questions on MP Police Claim of Gun Battle With SIMI Operatives
http://www.news18.com/news/india/video-raises-questions-on-mp-police-claim-of-gun-battle-with-simi-operatives-1306868.html
SIMI encounter: Did MP police kill 8 undertrials armed with just utensils?
http://www.catchnews.com/india-news/simi-encounter-did-mp-police-kill-8-undertrials-armed-with-just-utensils-1477918355.html
SIMI ‘Encounter’: 11 Questions That Were Raised but Not Answered
https://www.thequint.com/india/2016/10/31/simi-activists-escape-bhopal-jail-guard-killed-students-islamic-movement-of-india-prison-madhya-pradesh
Video of encounter between police and SIMI men who escaped prison
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/simi-terrorists-police-encounter-video/1/799273.html
More Video Emerges: SIMI Men Seen Alive Before Bhopal ‘Encounter’
https://www.thequint.com/india/2016/10/31/video-simi-men-seen-alive-before-bhopal-encounter-jailbreak-encounter-police
OTHERS
JNU students call for 'stronger action' to find Najeeb
http://twocircles.net/2016oct31/1477894015.html#.WBcDrON97IV
New Delh : JNUSU organised a sit-in at the varsity's Administration Block on Diwali night to make a plea for stronger action in finding Najeeb Ahmed, who is missing now for the last 16 days.The sit-in -- light a ray of hope for Najeeb -- saw close to 300 students from across the campus on Sunday, who turned up to express their solidarity with Ahmed and his grieving family.Najeeb Ahmed, a university student of Mahi-Mandvi hostel in campus went missing on the intervening night of Oct.14-15 after being beaten by a 20-strong mob of students who had gone campaigning to his door for hostel elections."No violence will be tolerated in the campus, and against any student," JNU Teachers Association (JNUTA) Secretary, Vikramaditya Chaudhary said during the sit-in.The sit-in remained peaceful and was an attempt towards reminding people of Ahmed and the apathy of JNU administration and the police in their willingness to find him."It has been so many days but my brother has not been found, what is the police doing, what is the JNU authority doing," Sadaf Musharraf, Ahmed's cousin said at the protest."Tomorrow, (on Monday) we will again be protesting at the Ad-Block. We won't relent until Najeeb is found," he added.IANS
Santosh Kumar Agrahari arrested with bag full of explosives found inside Allahabad HC
http://www.siasat.com/news/santosh-kumar-agrahari-arrested-bag-full-explosives-found-inside-allahabad-hc-1054277/
Allahabad: A plastic bag full of explosives was found inside the high-security Allahabad High Court premises, sending authorities into a tizzy, even as police claimed to have arrested a man who had allegedly kept the packet at the spot and later raised an alarm with the hope of getting rewarded with a permanent job for his “alertness”. Addressing a press conference this evening, Senior Superintendent of Police, Allahabad, Shalabh Mathur said Santosh Kumar Agrahari (38), who had been running errands at the High Court on an ad hoc basis for over a decade, was arrested based on of CCTV footage of last night wherein his movements appeared to be “furtive and suspicious”.“We therefore took Agrahari into custody for interrogation though he happened to be the one who had raised an alarm about the plastic bag lying inside a court room. He confessed that he had himself prepared the packet, kept it at the spot and later raised an alarm with the hope that he would be appreciated for his alertness and rewarded with a permanent job at the high court,” Mathur said. Meanwhile, Agrahari has been arrested and booked under the Explosives Act, the SSP added. siasat
Kejriwal alleges Judges’ phones are tapped
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/arvind-kejriwal-alleges-judges-phones-are-tapped-central-government-rejects-claim-3730561/
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that Judges’ phones were being tapped, a claim which was rubbished by the central government. Kejriwal made his remarks at an event to mark 50 years of Delhi High Court where ministers from both Central and state government were present.“I heard that judges’ phones are being tapped and they are afraid to talk. This is wrong and must not be allowed,” said Kejriwal at the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present at the event.This comes days after Chief Justice TS Thakur slammed the government over delay in procedure of appointment. Indian express
Cloud over Muslim Personal Law Board's meet venues in Bengal: TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Cloud-over-Muslim-bodys-meet-venues/articleshow/55147019.cms
Kolkata: Even as Muslim clerics and leaders in Bengal converge on Haj House at 26B, Dilkusha Street on Monday to firm up the All India Muslim Personal Law Board's proposed Kolkata convention in November, the state's silence over allowing it to use the Haj Tower-cum-Empowerment Centre on the VIP Road and the Park Circus grounds for the 3-day (Nov.18, 19 and 20) convention has created an air of uncertainty.This will be the AIMPLB's second convention in Bengal after 2008 and it will be held in the backdrop of the board's vocal opposition to the Law Commission's questionnaire on Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Trinamool MP Sultan Ahmed, who is the chairperson of the organizing committee, had reportedly written to the state earlier seeking permission to use the two venues. While the meeting at Haj Tower will be an in-house session, the gathering at Park Circus will be an open public meeting. Nearly 700 delegates from across the country are expected to attend the Kolkata convention. "AIMPLB is an umbrella organization which has representatives from all Muslim sects, theological schools and religious orders. The body, however, is the highest decision-making body on Muslim personal laws. The annual session in Kolkata will deliberate on the key issues and formulate the roadmap ahead. It will, therefore, debate on all issues which are confronting the minority community as a whole," an AIMPLB member and a senior leader said. Ahmed refused to comment on the developments."Barely 3 weeks remain for the session. This is going to be the first AIMPLB general session in the aftermath of UCC and triple talaq debate. A word of confirmation from the state would have made us comfortable. We plan to go ahead with the preparations and hope the state will allow us to use the venues in due time," a leader said.The entire organising committee will be gathering for the first time on Monday. "The delay is causing some unease. This is a prestigious meeting. Moreover, several ruling party members and MPs and cabinet ministers are also part of it," another leader said.Kolkata convention is expected to formulate the AIMPLB's response to a host of issues, including the Dadri killing, repeated attempts to interfere in Muslim personal laws and the Centre's take on triple talaq."AIMPLB usually sticks to only Muslim personal laws, which broadly cover marriage, talaq, inheritance, succession and adoption-related issues. Only in some rare instances in which the community, as a whole, is affected it speaks out on broader issues as well, like the Babri Masjid massacre. Here, too, the script is likely to step beyond the written agenda given the concerted efforts to undermine religious tolerance," said AIMPLB member Dr Ruisuddin.TIMES OF INDIA
West Bengal: 10,000 Muslim clerics to hit the streets against Mamata Banerjee
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/mamata-banerjee-muslims-clerics-protest-november-8-unfulfilled-promises-3730075/
Kolkata: Over 10,000 Muslim clerics are expected to hit the streets on Nov.8 in protest against ‘unfulfilled promises’ of CM Mamata Banerjee.“CM had started giving an honorarium to imams and moizzins of Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,000 respectively. We believe that the amount, which was already too small, had no appreciation in over 5 years now,” Md Kamruzzaman, general secretary of the All Bengal Minority Youth Federation (ABMYF), said. “There are instances when funds have stopped for 6 months and then resumed on the seventh month. No one seems to know what happened to that money,”he added.Members of around 40 organisations of imams and moizzins are likely to participate in the meeting organised by the ABMYF at Rani Rashmoni Avenue. indian express
Post surgical strikes, 8 Indian jawans killed in J&K
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pakistan-ceasefire-violation-timeline-cross-border-terrorism-jawan-indian-army-bsf-killed-3730758/
New Delhi: There have been more that 60 ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops along the LoC and IB in the state over the past few weeks. The cross-border conflict has heightened after terrorists attacked the Uri camp in Jammu and Kashmir following which India conducted the surgical strikes on Sept.29 destroying terror launchpads along the LoC. Last week, the BSF said it killed 15 Pakistani soldiers over a week foiling two infiltration bids in Samba district. However, the Pakistan Army denied the claims saying none of its soldiers had died at the border. indianexpress
Fearing arrest, Zakir Naik skips father’s funeral in Mumbai:TOI report
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Fearing-arrest-Zakir-Naik-skips-fathers-funeral-in-Mumbai/articleshow/55145865.cms
MUMBAI: Dr Zakir Naik's father, Dr Abdul Kareem Naik (88), passed away in a city hospital early on Sunday. Naik, who is said to be in Malaysia, did not turn up for the funeral fearing arrest, said sources.Naik's father was president of the Bombay Psychiatric Society. While there is no fresh FIR against Naik, the Centre is preparing to declare his NGO IRF an "unlawful organization" under UAPA.A draft being finalized by Centre cites Naik's "provocative" speeches, criminal cases against him and his links with Peace TV which allegedly features "communal" content as grounds for a ban. Personnel from the city crime branch, NIA and local police station were seen at the cemetery observing mourners. A policeman told TOI, "We have come here for routine information and will report back to our respective offices." Dr Abdul Kareem is survived by 2 sons,Mohammed and Zakir and 3 daughters."Dr Abdul Kareem Naik's life cannot be described in a few words. He was popular among Hindus and Muslims. He was President of Bombay Psychiatric Society. He worked hard for educational institutions like Anjuman-e-Islam and Anjuman-e-Khairul Islam. In the last couple of days, he suffered from low blood pressure and organ failure," said Manzoor Shaikh, administrative manager of IRF.TOI
Nawaz Sharif pursuing Modi’s interests in Pakistan: Imran Khan
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/world-news/nawaz-sharif-pursuing-modis-interests-in-pakistan-imran-khan-3729957/
Islamabad:Imran Khan on Sunday accused Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of pursuing his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi’s interests in Pakistan as the government cracked down on the cricketer-turned-politician’s supporters with police arresting over 100 of them.“When Nawaz Sharif went to London for whatever kind of surgery, he on the hospital bed first telephoned Modi instead of his mother or children,” Imran told a press conference outside his Bani Gala residence here, referring to Sharif’s open heart surgery at a London hospital in May. “Nawaz is following Modi’s ‘interests’ in Pakistan. Nawaz is behind the security leaks story which defamed the armed forces. Actually his and Modi’s agenda is same,” the Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf Chairman said.Imran asserted that “everybody knows” that sacked Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid cannot leak sensitive information to the media on his own. Sharif on Saturday sacked Rashid over the recent “leaked” media report about a rift between the civilian and military leaderships on support to militancy.“Rashid is a darbari (courtier) and he did what Nawaz told him to do so,” Imran said.“The whole state machinery is being used to save a corrupt Prime Minister. I will not accept a ‘suspect’ as Prime Minister of Pakistan. As long as I am alive I will not go after Nawaz Sharif’s corruption,” the 64-year-old leader said.PTI
Hillary Clinton best bet for Indian-Americans: Frank Islam
http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/hillary-clinton-best-bet-for-indian-americans-frank-islam-116103000149_1.html
Washington:Hillary Clinton is the best bet for the Indian community in the US, India-born American entrepreneur Frank Islam said on Sunday, asserting that the recent outreach by her Republican rival Donald Trump will do very little to impress the influential Indian-Americans. "I believe she (Clinton) is the only safe bet for Indian Americans, Americans and the world. Her opponent is a risky bet in that he has no real track record of experience or expertise in public policy, government and international relations," Islam, a philanthropist and top Indian-American fund raiser for the Clinton Campaign, told PTI.Among one of the top bundler's for Clinton, Islam said a number of Indian-Americans are playing key roles in her campaign in different capacities."Many of us are raising money for the campaign. I believe nearly a dozen Indian-Americans have raised significant dollars for the secretary's historic campaign," said Islam, who is also a member of Clinton's finance committee and has himself donated one million dollars to the campaign.He is also participating on a South Asian work group and is providing input to the campaign on issues and areas such as small business and economic development where he has experience and expertise.PTI
World
UNICEF: Two billion children breathing toxic air
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/unicef-billion-children-breathing-toxic-air-161031082641171.html
As Indians awake to smoke-filled skies from a weekend of festival fireworks, Delhi's worst season for air pollution begins - with dire consequences.A new report from the UN children's agency, UNICEF, says about a third of the two billion children in the world who are breathing toxic air live in northern India and neighbouring countries, risking serious health effects including damage to their lungs, brain and other organs.Of that global total, 300 million children are exposed to pollution levels more than six times higher than standards set by the World Health Organization, including 220 million in South Asia.The alarming numbers are hardly a surprise. Delhi's air pollution, among the world's worst, surges each winter because of the season's weak winds and countless rubbish fires set alight to help people stay warm.Even days before the city erupted in annual firework celebrations for the Hindu holiday of Diwali, recorded levels of tiny, lung-clogging particulate matter known as PM2.5 were considered dangerous at well above 300 micrograms per cubic metre.On Monday, Delhi residents were advised to stay indoors, with health warnings issued for the young, elderly and those with respiratory or heart conditions. Since being identified as one of the world's most polluted cities, Delhi has tried to clean its air in recent years.
Central African Republic: 20,000 stranded at UN base
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/central-african-republic-20000-stranded-base-161030144503824.html
Renewed deadly violence in the Central African Republic (CAR) has forced more than 20,000 people to flee to a UN base to seek safety and shelter.Tensions in the town of Kaga Bandero, in northern CAR, have also risen to such an extent that humanitarian workers have suspended relief efforts in the area, leaving thousands vulnerable."The prevaling insecurity makes the work of humanitarian partners more difficult in terms of access to the vulnerable population as it narrows down humanitarian space," Yaye Nabo Sene, spokesperson at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the capital Bangui, told Al Jazeera on Sunday.The withdrawal of the World Food Programme because of security concerns will impact about 120,000 people dependent on food supplies, and 35,000 others living precariously in surrounding camps for internally displaced people (IDPs). aljazeera
Michel Aoun elected president of Lebanon
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/michel-aoun-elected-president-lebanon-161031105331767.html
Michel Aoun, the former Lebanese army chief, has been elected president of Lebanon, ending more than two years of deadlock surrounding the vacancy.Aoun, 81, secured the presidency by winning the support of 83 MPs, well above the absolute majority of 65 needed to win, according to a tally of votes read out in a televised broadcast from parliament on Monday.Fireworks echoed across Beirut as the tally showed Aoun the winner.Aoun, an MP, was shown smiling in his seat. The Lebanese presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian in the country's sectarian power-sharing system. aljazeera
Syria: Dozens dead as rebels try to break Aleppo siege
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/aleppo-dozens-dead-rebels-break-aleppo-siege-161030164621486.html
Syrian government troops and rebels were locked in fierce fighting on Sunday on Aleppo's western edges, where at least 41 civilians have been killed over the past three days.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said the death toll included at least 17 children, adding hundreds of mortars had been fired.The northern city of Aleppo's frontline runs through the heart of the ancient city, dividing rebels in the east from government forces in the west.Rebels, in an opposition offensive to break a devastating siege, have unleashed car bombs and salvos of rockets and mortar shells to break through government lines. aljazeera
Iran-Trained Militias Join US-Backed Campaign on Mosul:Reuters
http://thewire.in/76912/iran-trained-militias-join-u-s-backed-campaign-mosul-flying-shiite-flags/
Ain Nasir, Iraq: Gun trucks and humvees streamed north on a highway heading to Mosul on Sunday flying the banners of Shi’ite militias along with Iraqi flags while blaring religious songs. The convoys were the first clear sign of a new player on the battlefield in the US-backed offensive to retake Mosul from ISIS: Hashid Shaabi or Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a coalition of Shi’ite militias.Although it reports officially to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the coalition is mostly made up of groups trained by Iran and loyal to its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.They have close ties with General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Brigade,extra-territorial arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. He was seen touring the frontlines around Mosul last week.Among the banners that could be seen flying from artillery cannons, communication towers and buildings recently retaken from ISIS were those of Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, 2 of the main Iranian-backed groups, alongside the Badr Organisation, considered the largest.Though Sunday was only the second day that the PMF had officially joined the battle against ISIS, banners and slogans of the organisation made it clear that theirs is a pan-Shi’ite cause that may not end at Iraq’s borders.Tens of thousands of Iraqi Shi’ite militia fighters have crossed the border to fight on behalf of the government of President Bashar al-Assad with backing from Iran, but the PMF is not officially involved in the fighting there.This could change after Mosul. Shi’ite paramilitary coalition said it plans to fight then alongside Assad’s forces.“We are fully ready to go to any place that contains a threat to Iraqi national security,” Ahmed al-Asadi, a PMF spokesman, told a news conference in Baghdad on Saturday, mentioning Syria as the main “arena” for the fighting.
2,000 Palestinians affected by Israeli demolitions in Jordan Valley: middleeastmonitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161031-2000-palestinians-affected-by-israeli-demolitions-in-jordan-valley/
Some 2,000 Palestinians in the Jordan Valley have been affected by Israeli demolitions since the start of the year, according to United Nations figures.Reporting on the data, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said the number is “particularly high” because Israeli occupation forces have targeted “water networks to several communities in the valley.”In 2016 to date, up to October 9, the Israeli army and so-called Civil Administration officials – the body which manages the day-to-day affairs of the occupation – have conducted “35 destructive raids in the Jordan Valley.”Palestinian homes and other structures are routinely demolished for lacking a permit – which for residents of ‘Area C’ (60% of the West Bank) are impossible to obtain. During the 35 raids, Israeli forces even “confiscated or destroyed 19 toilet structures.”
Israel tries to block PA bid to join Interpol
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161031-israel-tries-to-block-pa-bid-to-join-interpol/
The Israeli authorities are preparing to start a campaign to convince International Criminal Police Organisation, Interpol, to reject the membership application from the Palestinian Authority, Quds Press reported on Sunday.Using its diplomatic representation overseas, the foreign ministry is trying to explain Israel’s stance on the PA’s bid to join the organisation. According to the Walla website, the move to join Interpol is part of PA’s strategy to join international organisations. After the UN, Interpol is largest of such bodies.When the application was submitted a very short time before the last annual meeting of Interpol members, it was rejected. Earlier this year, the PA renewed its request to join the organisation, but the executive committee decided in May not to vote on any new applications. middleeastmonitor
Historic Christian site opened for the first time in centuries
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161031-historic-christian-site-opened-for-the-first-time-in-centuries/
The historic site where Christians believe the body of Jesus was laid after the crucifixion has been opened for the first time since the 15th century, Moheet.com reported on Sunday. The tomb is located in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem. The marble slab on the tomb was moved for the first time since 1810, when it was placed there after renovation works were carried out in the wake of a fire.“The marble covering of the tomb has been pulled back, and we were surprised by the amount of fill material beneath it,” said Fredrik Hiebert, an archaeologist for the National Geographic Society, which is a partner in the restoration project. “It will be a long scientific analysis, but we will finally be able to see the original rock surface on which, according to [Christian] tradition, the body of Christ was laid.” middleeastmonitor
Bodies found in Benghazi suggest mass execution
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161031-bodies-found-in-benghazi-suggest-mass-execution/
Reports of a mass execution are circulating in Benghazi after police found the bodies of ten men who had been handcuffed and shot. The corpses were taken to Benghazi Medical Centre; only one of the victims has been identified so far.This is the second time that a mass killing in the Libyan city has been reported. In July, 14 bodies were recovered from a rubbish dump; their arms and legs had been tied together and there were signs of torture; all had been shot in the head. This followed the discovery of the bodies of at least 12 former Qaddafi-era soldiers across Libya in June. The men had all just been released from prison. middleeastmonitor
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:17 PM)
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