Evening NEWS DIGEST
12 March.2017: 12Jamadiul Akhir 1438:Vol:8, No:139
INDIA:
Post ASSEMBLY ELECTION RESULTS
BJP stakes claim to form Goa govt, Parrikar to be CM: India Today
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/goa-election-result-cm-parrikar-mgp-gfp/1/902755.html
Panaji/New Delhi:BJP will stake claim to form the Goa government. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will be the chief minister once again. BJP has garnered support from independent candidates and now has 22 seats. Parrikar has stepped down from the post of Defence Minister.The Maharashtra Gomantak Party (MGP), one of the kingmakers in Goa after election results were announced, said that it will extend support to the BJP only if Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is brought back to the state as Chief Minister.Union Minister Nitin Gadkari flew to Panaji to hold consultations. BJP claims to have the support of 22 MLAs. NCP's Churchill Alemao has lent his support along with the MGP, the GFP and 2 independents. A letter of support from Rohan Khaunte (Independent from Porvorim), whom the Congress had backed, is awaited. Khaunte would take BJP's tally to 23
Parrikar to resign as Defence Minister before taking oath as Goa CM, says Nitin Gadkari
http://indianexpress.com/elections/election-results-2017-live-updates-bjp-congress-uttar-pradesh-punjab-goa-manipur-uttarakhand-pm-modi-amit-shah-amarinder-singh-manohar-parrikar-4566428/
New Delhi/panjim:The assembly election results in five states saw the BJP sail to a comfortable majority in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and the Congress in Punjab. Manipur and Goa, however, delivered fractured verdicts, but the Congress is likely to stake claim to form government in the two states. BJP is expected to give a tough fight to the Congress in both states despite finishing second. The party’s parliamentary board is expected to meet today evening to pick its chief minister candidates. The Congress leadership will also go into a huddle and adopt a strategy on how to deal with the hurdles arising in Manipur and Goa.According To PTI reports, “Manohar Parrikar to resign as Defence Minister before taking oath as Chief Minister of Goa,”says Nitin Gadkari. He said,"MGP,GFP said during our discussions that if Manohar Parrikar becomes Goa CM candidate, then we will support." indianexpress
Goa: Digvijaya Singh accuses BJP of horse-trading to reach majority mark
http://indianexpress.com/elections/goa-assembly-elections-2017/goa-assembly-election-results-2017-digvijaya-singh-accuses-bjp-of-horse-trading-to-reach-majority-mark-4566921/
Panaji:The Congress on Sunday claimed it has the numbers to form the government in Goa and alleged that the BJP was indulging in “horse-trading” to reach the majority mark. “BJP has been involved in horse-trading, promising sums, ministries, corporations and SUVs to the non-BJP MLAs to get their support,” Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh alleged.“I have never seen in any other state where a political party which has been rejected outright, where the CM has lost, six ministers have lost, yet they are staking claim to form the government,” he told reporters here. “The BJP should accept the defeat. The people of Goa have defeated the BJP,” said Singh who is here in Goa to oversee the party’s affairs after counting of votes.PTI
BJP secures NPP support, needs one more legislator to form Manipur govt:HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/bjp-secures-npp-support-needs-one-more-legislator-to-form-manipur-govt/story-E3CewPRhdAonZsO2lx12pJ.html
Despite coming second, Bharatiya Janata Party edged past the Congress on Sunday in the race to form the next government in Manipur.After day-long parleys, BJP has secured support from National People’s Party (NPP), which has four MLAs -- to take their tally to 30 seats. They need just one more seat to reach the magic figure of 31.“We have decided to extend support to the BJP-led government. NPP and Lok Janshakti Party would be part of the government, while Naga People’s Front will extend outside support,” NPP leader and Lok Sabha MP Conrad Sangma told HT.
Amarinder to take oath as Punjab CM on March 16
http://indianexpress.com/elections/punjab-assembly-elections-2017/punjab-election-results-2017-capt-amarinder-singh-to-take-oath-as-punjab-cm-on-march-16-4566848/
BJP Parliamentary Board to discuss probable CMs
http://indianexpress.com/elections/election-results-2017-bjp-parliamentary-board-to-discuss-probable-cms-for-uttar-pradesh-uttarakhand-4566689/
EVMs: Mayawati has a point, many countries have banned them since they can rig elections
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/election-result-uttar-pradesh-election-evm-mayawati/1/902494.html
New Delhi:Following her crushing defeat in Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, a belligerent Mayawati alleged that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were managed in favour of the BJP and called for a paper ballot election, a demand also backed by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav."The reports I got have raised the suspicion that the voting machines have been managed... It appears that voting machines have not registered votes cast in favour of other parties, or all the votes have been polled for the BJP. Even Muslim votes have gone to the BJP," she said.Asked about Mayawati's allegation, Akhilesh Yadav said, "If a question has been raised on the EVMs, the govt should probe. I will also look at it on my level."The social media, on the other hand, is always full of jokes and rumours whenever an election is held in India that any button pressed on the EVMs ensures the vote goes to the BJP (or whoever is in power).But the fact that EVMs can be easily tampered with is no rocket science. Indiatoday
EVMs made in Gujarat, could have been rigged for BJP win: Lalu Prasad echoes Mayawati
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/mar/11/evms-made-in-gujarat-could-have-been-rigged-for-bjp-win-lalu-prasad-echoes-mayawati-1580414--2.html
Patna: Lalu Prasad Yadav managed to keep the BJP away from power in Bihar just a year after a Modi wave swept the general elections in 2014 by forging a successful alliance between his RJD and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), but he was shocked by a resurgence of BJP tsunami in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh today. Nonplussed, perhaps, the RJD chief Saturday demanded that electronic voting machines (EVMs) used for polling in that state be examined by the Election Commission of India (ECI), suggesting, like the routed BSP’s party chief Mayawati, that they may have been rigged. Echoing BSP chief Mayawati, Lalu said there seemed to be a possibility that the EVMs had been manipulated to help the BJP.“Mayawatijee’s statements have come on the EVMs.EVMs need to be examined. They are made in Gujarat and were supplied from there,” he said, hinting that they may have been tampered with in the BJP ruled state. “We had earlier raised this issue and approached Election Commission of India,” he continued.“Election Commission had assured us that mock polls would be conducted before the real polls. We don’t know if mock polls were conducted in the presence of representatives of all political parties before deploying those EVMs in polling booths. I think the EVMs were not examined and I demand that this issue be probed by Election Commission of India,” he said. new indian express
Harish Rawat blames Modi, EVMs
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170312/jsp/nation/story_140312.jsp#.WMVdwoF97IU
March: Outgoing chief minister Harish Rawat said he did his best but it was clear that anti-incumbency and the electorate's wish to give Narendra Modi a chance hit the Congress government in Uttarakhand hard.It was evident in both the seats that Rawat contested - Haridwar Rural and Kichha - where Swami Yatishwaranand and Rajesh Shukla of the BJP defeated him by a margin of about 12,000 and 2,000 votes, respectively. After handing in his resignation letter to governor Krishan Kant Paul, Rawat said he had done his best as chief minister."I must thank the Modi-revolution and EVM- chamatkaar (miracle)," he said.The Election Commission's report says BJP got 46.5% of the votes in the state and the Congress 33.5%. telegraphindia
UP Election Results: With just 25 MLAs, Muslim representation at a historic low
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/up-election-results-2017-with-just-25-legislators-muslim-representation-at-a-historic-low-3331116.html
Lucknow:For all the focus on Muslims in UP elections — demonised by the BJP and actively wooed by the BSP as well as the Congress-SP combine — the number of people from the community in the 17th Vidhan Sabha has touched a historic low of 25.This is far short of the 68 members the community had in the 403-member assembly after the 2012 election which saw the Samajwadi Party (SP) romp home with 224 seats.That was the best-ever showing for Muslims — comprising almost 19 percent of the state's 22 crore population — who have been sending, on average,about 40 legislators to the house in every election.Poor showing this time around, many Muslim leaders here feel, does not augur well as it implies that a "sizeable population is being kept away from mainstream politics".BSP, however, finished a poor third with just 19 seats — 6 of whom are Muslims. The community was also seen as crucial for the Congress-Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance and received a fair share of tickets from the combine. The alliance, however, returned with just 54 legislators, of whom 19 are Muslim — 17 from SP and two from the Congress. There are as many as 143 seats in UP where it has traditionally been believed that Muslims can make or mar the fortunes of political parties. Of these, in 70 seats Muslims have 20-25%presence,and in the remaining 73, they account for 30% or more of the population.Political observers here say there are many reasons why Muslims fared so poorly this time despite such significant presence in so many seats.For one, the community sought to send Muslim candidates to the assembly, irrespective of political affiliations. This split the vote between the Congress-SP andBSP. As Rizwan, a BSP worker in Indiranagar, Lucknow, put it:"There was no coherence in the Muslim pattern of voting this time."The result is there for all to see - just 25 legislators at a time when recent elections had seen a rising trend in elected Muslims. Numbers had been steadily rising in last 5 elections: 28 MLAs in 1993, to 38 in 1996, 46 in 2002, 56 in 2007 and,of course, as many as 68 in 2012.IANS
UP Assembly have 2nd lowest no.of Muslim MLAs
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/03/11/the-new-up-assembly-will-have-the-second-lowest-number-of-muslim/
BJP majority UP Assembly to have 24 Muslim MLAs, second fewest in its history
http://www.ummid.com/news/2017/March/12.03.2017/uttar-pradesh-assembly-to-have-24-muslims-2017.html
UP: Muslims miss 'sabka saath', down from 69 to 24 MLAs
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/uttar-pradesh/news/muslims-miss-sabka-saath-down-from-69-to-24-mlas/articleshow/57602312.cms
BJP speaks of communal harmony but not one ticket given to Muslims: Congress
http://www.indialivetoday.com/bjp-speaks-of-communal-harmony-but-not-one-ticket-given-to-muslims-congress/135685.html
New Delhi: Following their humiliating defeat in the politically crucial UP Assembly Elections, the Congress on Sunday slammed the BJP for not giving out a single ticket to any Muslim candidate, stating that the saffron party preached about communal harmony but has completely failed in implementing it. "BJP has not given a single ticket to any Muslim in the state, where they constitute 20% of it totally. BJP also wishes that this community should not exist in the country but after the win, BJP speaks on communal harmony and caste feeling all over in the state," Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa told ANI. ANI
AIMIM fails to make a mark; Owaisi says UP verdict an indictment of secular parties
http://www.hindustantimes.com/assembly-elections/owaisi-s-aimim-fails-to-make-a-mark-says-up-verdict-is-an-indictment-of-secular-parties/story-vzagmbVTZNC8qvy8sRJfJI.html
Lucknow: In BJP’s landslide in UP, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM failed to make a start in its electoral debut and drew a blank in all the 39 seats it contested.In a state with 19.3% Muslim voters, AIMIM fielded candidates on seats where Muslim voters were in large numbers and focused its campaign there.However, the results were a complete letdown.The most prominent AIMIM candidate was Zia-ur-Rehman, the grandson of BSP MP Shafeequr Rehman Barq. Rehman finished second in Sambhal with 60,426 votes behind SP’s Iqbal Mehmood who got 79,248.Another promising AIMIM candidate Mohd Tabish Khan came fifth with 19,040 votes from Mehdawal seat (Sant Kabir Nagar). BJP’s Rakesh Singh Baghel won the seat, polling 86,97 votes.Owaisi said the results proved that secular parties have failed the Muslims yet again and asserted that the Muslim vote bank is a myth.“We contested only in 38 seats and even if you say we played spoilsport in these seats, what about other constituencies? Why these secular parties failed miserably is the question they need to answer,” Owaisi told HT.He said there is no point in getting into a blame game unless secular parties make up their mind to see “the reality” and “empower Muslims”. HT
Muslim vote-bank is a myth:Owaisi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/asaduddin-owaisi-says-muslim-vote-bank-is-a-myth/articleshow/57601414.cms
Hope Ram Temple Will Be Built Soon In Ayodhya Now That BJP Is In Power, Says Shiv Sena
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/03/11/hope-ram-temple-will-be-built-soon-in-ayodhya-now-that-bjp-is-in/?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
Mumbai:Shiv Sena today congratulated BJP for its stunning victory in Uttar Pradesh and hoped that the Ram temple will now be constructed soon in Ayodhya."Ram's period of exile has ended. We now hope that Ram temple will be constructed soon in Ayodhya," Sena MP Sanjay Raut told reporters here.The ties between the two allies, who fought the recent civic elections separately, have been strained and Sena had often taken a dig at BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the run up to the assembly polls.The Assembly results in five states are out. We welcome the win of BJP. We also congratulate the Prime Minister on this victory," he added. huffingtonpost
60-member Manipur Assembly will have 03 Muslim MLAs
http://www.ummid.com/news/2017/March/12.03.2017/manipur-assembly-2017-will-have-02-muslims.html
The newly elected Manipur Assembly, which has a total of 30 members, will have just 03 Muslims. The number is one more if compared to Muslim tally i 2012.According to the results declared by State Election Commission, sitting MLA Muhammad Abdul Nasir from Congress has won the Lilong Assembly constituency. Muhammad Abdul Nasir polled a total of 10,764 votes and won the Lilong seat, defeating Independent candidate Y Antas Khan who bagged 9,497 votes. Mohmmad Anwar Hussain was the only Muslim candidate fielded by the BJP in Manipur. He contested the elections from the Lilong Assembly constituency and polled 8,456 votes but lost to Muhammad Abdul Nasir of Congress.ummid.com
UP, Uttarakhand poll outcomes make prez poll easy for BJP
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/up-uttarakhand-poll-outcomes-make-prez-poll-easy-for-bjp/1/902801.html
Lucknow: BJPs decisive victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand assembly polls will empower the saffron party in the selection of the next presidential candidate when Pranab Mukherjee retires in July. BJP, which has a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha, having 281 MPs in the House of 543, needed extra numbers to have the candidate of its choice in Raisina Hills when the incumbent demits office on 25 July, 2017. Mukherjees successor will be elected by an electoral college comprising members of both houses of Parliament and elected members of the assemblies of 29 states plus the national capital territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry.BJP is already in power in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP and Assam and in coalition with the PDP in J&K and with TDP in AP.Now with Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in its kitty with a huge majority, the BJP is now in a better position to see its candidate through to the office of president.Having a person of its choice in Rashtrapati Bhavan will be helpful to the party if it needs support in complicated political situations besides getting formal assent to laws passed by Parliament.Also falling vacant in August is the vice presidents office with incumbent Mohammed Hamid Ansari completing his second five-year term. While the BJP will be certain to nominate one of their own candidates for the post of president, the post of vice president could go to an ally.PTI
OTHERS
'Cops need only a Muslim name to fabricate a case'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/cops-need-only-a-muslim-name-to-fabricate-a-case/articleshow/57601528.cms
KOZHIKODE: It is easy for the police to fabricate a terror case in the country than to foist a case against a thief because all they need, to make a person terrorist, is just a Muslim name, said Irshad Ahmed Malik, who was acquitted by the special court in Delhi in December, 2016. Malik, who was an informer for the IB, was arrested and imprisoned after he disregarded certain directives from IB.Addressing the People's Tribunal on Saturday - organized by the Innocence India Network - he said the special cell of the Delhi police was on his tail after the arrest of his brother in 1991. "Later, I was in IB's custody and officers wanted me to work for the agency," he said, adding that IB offered him Rs 7,000/month as salary.Rashid Hussain, who was an accused in the Jaipur blast in 2008, said IB had a role in every blast that occurred in the country. "I was involved in helping blast victims and had interacted with 250 of them in a month after the blast. I was detained illegally for several days. The only evidence against me was the email I sent to Yahya Kammukutty, who was later let off by the court in the Hubballi terror conspiracy," he said. timesofindia
Absolved of terror charges after 14 years in jail:
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/absolved-of-terror-charges-after-14-years-in-jail/article17450478.ece
KOZHIKODE: Haneef Pakatwala, an Ahmedabad businessman, was fast asleep when he heard a knock on his door at 2am on April 28, 2003. As his mother opened the door, a posse of policemen from the Ahmedabad Crime Branch barged into the house, asking for him.When Pakatwala emerged from his room along with his brother, the policemen asked him to come with them. He says:“The policemen knocked my mother down when she asked them why they were taking me. I was forcibly taken to the police station. I never imagined that I would be behind bars for about 14 years.” Pakatwala was among those who presented their case before a ‘People’s Tribunal’ organised by the Innocents Network India and the Solidarity Youth Movement here on Saturday. It was to showcase the plight of those who were absolved of charges after allegedly being trapped by the State in terror cases.Asked what prompted the police to arrest him, Pakatwala said he had set up temporary relief camps for those affected by the Gujarat riots in 2002. Local policemen and politicians did not take it too lightly and he was reportedly trapped.“Initially, I had no idea why I was being arrested. Later, 17 of us were charged with planting bombs in tiffin boxes in government buses that went off in Ahmedabad in May 2002.”Pakatwala alleged that the police threatened to file cases against his family members and made him sign on a blank paper. the hindu
Pakistan summons India’s Deputy High Commissioner over Assemanand’s acquittal
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-summons-indias-deputy-high-commissioner-over-assemanands-acquittal-4564702/
Islamabad:Pakistan has summoned India’s Deputy High Commissioner to express its concern over the acquittal of right-wing activist Swami Aseemanand – an accused in the Samjhauta train blasts case – in a case of terrorism. In a late night statement, the Foreign Office said Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh was called in by the Director General (South Asia & SAARC) on Friday “to express concern over acquittal of Swami Aseemanand in Ajmer Sharif blast case.” “Swami Aseemanand had publicly confessed that he was the ‘mastermind’ of Samjhauta Express terrorist attack of Feb.2007 and had also identified a serving Indian army officer Col Purohit, who was head of terrorist organisation Abhinav Bharat, as his accomplice in the Samjhauta Express terrorist attack,” it said.“The Government of Pakistan expects India to take steps to bring to justice all those involved in the heinous act of Samjhauta Express terrorist attack,” it said. On Thursday, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria had asked India to bring the perpetrators of the Samjhauta train blasts to justice and termed the acquittal of Aseemanand in the 2007 Ajmer blast case as “regrettable”. Aseemanand is an accused in the Samjhauta blast case.PTI
Youth who joined IS told friend Qureshi had no role: Chargesheet
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/youth-who-joined-islamic-state-told-friend-qureshi-had-no-role-chargesheet-4565829/
Mumbai:ONE OF the Kerala-based youths who allegedly left the country to join the Islamic State told one of his friends that Arshi Qureshi, an associate of controversial televangelist Dr Zakir Naik, had no connection with them joining the terror organisation, the NIA in its chargesheet filed last month has said. The chargesheet names Qureshi for ‘providing support’ to the IS by ‘furthering its activities’ among the missing youths.Bestin Vincent, who converted to Islam and changed his name to Yahiya, was contacted by his friend through social media messenger Telegram in July 2016. “Did he (a relative) complained to police about one brother in Mumbai? Read in news that he got arrested. His name is Arshi. He don’t have any connection with us regarding IS. Read in news that Arshi tried to call him towards IS, which is a clear lie… in fact I’m the one who tried to convince Arshi about IS, but he was not convinced (sic),” reads the message sent by Bestin to the friend, his statement, a part of the NIA chargesheet, says.
4 months after ban, IRF charities run dry
http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/4-months-after-ban-irf-charities-run-dry/articleshow/57600451.cms
Mumbai:Four months after the Centre banned the IRF, the NGO promoted by televangelist Zakir Naik, two charity arms run by the organisation in the city have run dry. Operations at a primary health centre in Mumbra and a student scholarship program were wound up after the government put an end to their benefactor’s activities.According to IRF’s lawyer Shokat Hussain’s statement to the NIA, the foundation spent around Rs 1.5 crore on both these charities each year. Mumbai Mirror couldn’t verify the claim. Run by United Islamic Aid (UIA), the primary health centre in Mumbra is now shut.“Free medical facility was being provided to 100 patients on a daily basis. IRF used to fund this at the cost of approximately Rs 1crore a year. Scholarships also were being provided to bright candidates from poor background, to pursue their educational career,” read Hussain’s statement.Hussain said scholarships were provided to many students to continue studies after they pass class X examinations. A few PhD students too were awarded scholarships, Hussain said. “A test on the Quran would be conducted either in English or Urdu after which these scholarships would be handed out, for local universities.” he said.Mumbai Mirror
ABVP waves saffron shawls at burkhas on campuses
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sunday-special-abvp-waves-saffron-shawls-at-burkhas-on-campuses/article17449239.ece
BENGALURU/MANGALURU:A saffron shawl is not part of the prescribed uniform at the Government First Grade College in the coastal town of Bhatkal in Karnataka. But Jayant Naika, a second year undergraduate student of Arts, was assaulted earlier this month by four of his college mates for not wearing one.The incident marked an aggressive turn in the burkha-versus-saffron shawl battle over dress codes reported from colleges in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts.These districts made news for communal skirmishes, vigilante attacks and moral policing.The saffron shawl appeared in colleges after right wing groups objected to Muslim women being allowed to wear a head scarf or burkha in college. Students (many affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) decided to wear saffron shawls in protest.The saffron group argues that one section of students cannot be allowed to break the norm on uniforms on the ground that it is a cultural or religious right. thehindu
Domestic Violence a Bane of Hindu Society, Says Former HC Judge
http://caravandaily.com/portal/domestic-violence-more-prevalent-in-hindu-society-former-hc-judge/
NEW DELHI: Domestic violence is the most pervasive social crime in India, particularly in the Hindu society, said Justice MSA Siddiqui, former Delhi High Court judge. He was speaking at a seminar on ‘Emancipation through Education’ on the occasion of International Women’s Day organized by All India Confederation of Women Empowerment Through Education(AICWETE) here at the India Islamic Culture Center.Delving into the issue of women empowerment, Justice Siddiqui said women in India have been facing discrimination and subjugation at different levels. Justice Siddiqui, who is also a former chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, pointed out that Hindu women are more subjected than other women to domestic violence for the greed of dowry or the other reasons. “When I was a judge at the Delhi High court, I used to hear domestic violence and dowry death cases on a daily basis. It is strange that Hindu mythology accords so much respect to women but they face such cruel and inhuman treatment,” said the former judge.India has by far the highest number of dowry related deaths in the world according to Indian National Crime Record Bureau as the bride burning case is occurred at every hour.Caravan Daily
Muslim reservation bill will be passed in budget session: K Chandrasekhar Rao
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/muslim-reservation-bill-will-be-passed-in-budget-session-k-chandrasekhar-rao/articleshow/57601310.cms
Hyderabad: TRS government will pass a Muslim reservation bill in the ongoing budget session. This was disclosed by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday while speaking in the Assembly. He also announced that the state govt would urge the Centre to include it in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution (as in the case of Tamil Nadu).In a clear assurance to the Muslim community, the chief minister said the bill was prepared on the basis of inputs from the Sachar and Sudhir Committees. The Backward Castes Commission is examining the nitty-gritty of the bill and legal experts are giving final touches to the bill, he said.TOI
WORLD
World faces worst humanitarian crisis since 1945, says UN official
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/11/world-faces-worst-humanitarian-crisis-since-1945-says-un-official
The world faces the largest humanitarian crisis since the end of the second world war with more than 20 million people in four countries facing starvation and famine, a senior United Nations official has warned.Without collective and coordinated global efforts, “people will simply starve to death” and “many more will suffer and die from disease”, Stephen O’Brien, the UN under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the security council in New York on Friday.He urged an immediate injection of funds for Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeast Nigeria plus safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid “to avert a catastrophe.”“To be precise,” O’Brien said, “we need $4.4bn by July”.
India disposes, US proposes: Bill to declare Pak ‘terror state’: freepressjournal
http://www.freepressjournal.in/world/india-disposes-us-proposes-bill-to-declare-pak-terror-state/1032778
Washington/New Delhi: A US lawmaker has introduced a bill in Congress to declare Pakistan a “state sponsor of terrorism” and sought a “radical reset” in ties between the 2 countries. “Not only is Pakistan an untrustworthy ally, Islamabad has also aided and abetted enemies of the United States for years,” Congressman Ted Poe, Chairman of the House sub-committee on Terrorism, said as he introduced the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act (HR 1449) in the US House of Representatives on Thursday.In a related development, the Indian government on Friday disfavoured in the Rajya Sabha passing of any law to declare countries as ‘Sponsor of Terrorism’ after which a private member’s bill brought with Pakistan in mind was withdrawn. ‘Declaration of Countries as Sponsor of Terrorism Bill’, moved by Independent member Rajeev Chandrashekhar, got support from several members cutting across party lines but the government said there was no need for such a legislation.“From harbouring Osama bin Laden to its cozy relationship with the Haqqani network, there is more than enough evidence to determine whose side Pakistan is on in the war on terror. And it’s not America’s. It’s time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is: a State Sponsor of Terrorism,” he said. The bill requires President Donald Trump to issue a report within 90 days detailing whether Pakistan has provided support for international terrorism. Thirty days after that, the Secretary of State is required to a submit a follow-up report containing either a determination that Pakistan is a “state sponsor of terrorism” or a detailed justification as to why it does not meet the legal criteria for such a designation. Freepressjournal
Pakistan inducts Chinese-built air defence system to its arsenal
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-inducts-chinese-built-air-defence-system-to-its-arsenal/articleshow/57607480.cms
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday inducted a China-made advanced surface-to-air missile defence system to boost its aerial defence and combat emerging threats, army said."Pakistan Army inducts low-to-medium altitude air defence system (LOMADS) LY 80," army said in a statement.Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa was the chief guest at the induction ceremony held at army auditorium in Rawalpindi.TOI
Wirathu silenced by Myanmar's top Buddhist body
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/wirathu-silenced-myanmar-top-buddhist-body-170311141258664.html
A Myanmar monk infamous for his bilious anti-Muslim tirades has been banned from giving sermons for a year by the country's top Buddhist body, an unprecedented slapdown on a man whose hate speech has galvanised religious tensions. Wirathu, a monk once dubbed the "face of Buddhist terror", has led calls for restrictions on Myanmar's Muslim population, penning hyperbolic speeches warning of an Islamic takeover of the overwhelmingly Buddhist country. Myanmar is gripped by deepening religious tensions that have repeatedly spilled into violence. The unrest has been partially attributed to anti-Muslim rhetoric spread by Wirathu's wing of Buddhist monks. aljazeera
US Man Tries To Burn Indian-Americans' Store In Florida
http://www.ndtv.com/indians-abroad/us-man-tries-to-burn-indian-americans-store-1668885
WASHINGTON: A man in Florida tried to burn down a convenience store owned by Indian-Americans because he thought the owners were Muslims, officials said.Richard Lloyd, 64, told police officials that he wanted to "run the Arabs out of our country" so he pushed a dumpster in front of the Port St Lucie store on Friday and set the contents on fire, St Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said in a news release posted on Facebook.The fire was put out quickly and didn't cause much damage since the store was closed and protected by security shutters. According to the Sheriff, at approximately 7:40 am, deputies were called to the Met Mart store in reference to a white male in front of the store acting suspicious."When the deputies arrived, they noticed the dumpster had been rolled in front of the doors and the contents were lit on fire," said Sheriff Ken J Mascara. IANS
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:37 PM)
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