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Evening NEWS DIGEST
30 Jan.2017:1 Jamadiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:102
INDIA
RBI ends limits on withdrawals from ATMs, current account;Rs 24000 weekly cap on savings a/c to stay
http://profit.ndtv.com/news/budget-demonetisation/article-rbi-withdraws-cash-withdrawal-limits-on-current-accounts-savings-accounts-may-get-relief-soon-1654192
RBI has lifted the per day cash withdrawal limits from current accounts, cash credit accounts and overdraft accounts with immediate effect. After the demonetisation of high denomination currency notes in Nov. RBI had set a cash withdrawal limit of Rs 50,000 from current accounts which was later increased to Rs 100,000 per day. Though the withdrawal limits for saving bank accounts remain at Rs 24,000 per day and may soon be lifted according to the RBI.In a release issued on Monday, RBI said, "Limits placed vide the circulars cited above on cash withdrawals from Current accounts/Cash credit accounts/Overdraft accounts stand withdrawn with immediate effect." RBI also stated that "the limits on savings bank accounts will continue for the present and are under consideration for withdrawal in the near future".In the same order, the RBI has said that from Feb.1, the restrictions from ATM withdrawals that were Rs 10,000 per day before the release of the order would be lifted.This means that while saving accounts holders would be able to withdraw Rs 24,000 at one go using ATMs on a single day. But the weekly withdrawal limit from savings accounts remains Rs 24,000.NDTV
No withdrawal limits on current accounts, Rs 24,000 weekly cap on savings accounts to stay
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/no-cash-withdrawal-limit-at-atms-from-february-1-announces-rbi/articleshow/56873687.cms
RBI removes withdrawal limits on current accounts, cap on savings accounts to continue
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/56873345.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
AMU executive council draws new panel for next V-C
http://www.ndtv.com/education/aligarh-muslim-university-executive-council-draws-new-panel-for-next-vice-chancellor-1654152
New Delhi: A special meeting of the Executive Council of the Aligarh Muslim University was held under the chairmanship of AMU V-C, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah to recommend a panel of 5 persons to the University Court for the next V-C of the University. The panel of 5 persons unanimously drawn by the Executive Council includes Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, Executive Director and Chief Scholar, US-India Policy Institute, Washington; Prof.Javaid Akhter, Registrar and ex-Controller of Examinations and ex-Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, AMU; Prof.Mazahir Kidwai, V-C of IIMT University, Meerut and ex-VC, Jivaji University, Gwalior; Dr. Shahid Jameel, CEO, Welcome Trust and DBT India Alliance and recipient of Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Award and Prof. Tariq Mansoor, Principal and CMS, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, said a press release from the University. According to the release, the meeting of AMU Court will be held on Feb.4, 2017 at 11 am at the NRSC Club, AMU to recommend a panel of at least 3 persons out of which one person shall be appointed as the V-C by the President of India in his capacity as the Visitor of the University. Recently, Supreme Court was critical of AMU's selection process in appointing Lt Gen (Retd) Shah as the V-C while hearing a case and the matter is still in the court.NDTV
Be sincere in your probe: Missing JNU student’s mother to police after raid
http://twocircles.net/2017jan30/403759.html
New Delhi: The mother of missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed on Sunday requested Delhi Police to adopt fair and impartial means of finding her son and criticised the raid conducted the previous day at her relatives’s houses.“On 28 Jan, around 4 a.m., four jeeps of Delhi Police, accompanied by the local police from Badaun in UP, stormed into the house of Ashraf Qadri, Najeeb’s maternal uncle.“Around 50 policemen forcefully barged into the house without even knocking on the door, let alone showing a search warrent,” Fatima Nafees, Ahmed’s mother, wrote in her letter to Investigation Officer S.K. Guliya of Delhi Police.She said that there were young girls aged 6 and 11 in the house, including other women, and Ahmed’s 80-year-old maternal grandfather, who have not been able to get over the shock of such overbearing manner in which police conducted the raid. The women of the house were also abused by the policemen, she alleged.“Policemen threatened the family members to produce Najeeb if they had hidden him somewhere, held his uncle by his fist and manhandled him during the search operation,” she wrote.They also ordered both — Qadri and Shujat — to appear before Delhi Police on Jan.31.IANS
JNU admin asks students to call off hunger strike
http://www.ndtv.com/education/jawaharlal-nehru-university-administration-asks-students-to-call-off-hunger-strike-1654224
New Delhi: JNU on Monday urged students to call off their hunger strike against the change in admission procedure for M.Phil and Ph.D aspirants.The administration told the students they will discuss "all their concerns, including marks for written test and viva-voce, deprivation points and intake of students within the UGC guidelines" of May last year. The administration said it was "in constant dialogue with all stake-holders and is always open to discussion on any outstanding issues to resolve them amicably", reported IANS. JNU Students Union (JNUSU) on Friday urged the UGC to revoke changes it brought about last year on admissions to M.Phil and Ph.D courses in central universities. ndtv
Maharashtra: Police trying to supress my voice, says Muslims, Maratha, Dalits OBC rally organiser
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/aurangabad/police-trying-to-supress-my-voice-claims-basmat-rally-organiser/articleshow/56839064.cms
Aurangabad: Shaikh Subhan Ali, chief of Shaheed Tipu Sultan Brigade, against whom Basmat police registered a non-cognisable case for dishonouring terms and conditions during a rally held in Basmat recently, claimed on Saturday that the police are trying to suppress those who are fighting against communal forces.Ali denied the allegations and said that the communal forces active in the state were furious to see Muslims, Maratha, Dalits and OBC coming on one platform giving tough times to those who do wish to keep these communities apart.Ali said he had obtained proper permission from the police authorities well in advance. "We have told them that about 1.50 lakh person would participate in the rally but there wasn't enough police force available on the occasion," Ali said.Nafees Fatima, mother of JNU's missing student Najeeb Ahmed, on Thursday led the national integration rally -'Riot Free Maharashtra Campaign against Communal Forces' organised in Basmat of Hingoli district. The rally was organised by the Shaheed Tipu Sultan Brigade and citizens of Basmat to promote communal harmony. timesofindia
states polls & politics
Don't vote for SP-Congress alliance: Shia cleric Kable Jawwad to Muslims
http://www.ptinews.com/news/8347647_Don-t-vote-for-SP-Congress-alliance--Shia-cleric-to-Muslims-.html
Lucknow: Shia cleric Maulana Kable Jawwad, who is known for his bitter relations with Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan, today appealed to Muslims not to vote for Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance in the upcoming assembly polls."Congress always worked against the Muslims, while the ruling SP government did nothing for the community except betraying them. Now these parties are contesting polls in an alliance. I appeal to everyone, especially Muslims, not to vote for them in the election", he told a press conference organised by Sunni Ekta Front. When asked about the party he would support, Jawwad,who had recently met BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui said, "Talks are on. I will decide about it in next three days." Coming down heavily on Akhilesh govt, he alleged the present dispensation has "only given riots and by appealing in Supreme Court against Muslim youths, who were set free by the lower court, he (Akhilesh) has proved that he is "anti-Muslim".PTI
Congress-SP form alliance, Kalbe Jawwad led clerics join hands in opposition
http://twocircles.net/2017jan29/403739.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
UP elections: BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain shocks with ‘Muslim’ comment
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/up-elections-bjp-leader-shahnawaz-hussain-shocks-with-muslim-comment/529636/
Allahabad:On being asked why BJP’s candidate list from Uttar Pradesh does not feature any Muslim names, BJP spokesperson, Shahnawaz Hussain on Sunday said if there were even 20 BJP workers who were capable of winning the elections they would have given them tickets. “It doesn’t matter if we had given them (Muslims) tickets or not, if we thought of 20 Muslim names on a fair platform we would have considered,” said Hussain. He said that its not that BJP has been unfair on religious grounds. But many Muslim BJP workers seemed unhappy when none of their names featured in BJP’s third list, to which Hussain exclaimed that “if some workers are upset we know how to appease them.” He added, “We are from BJP cadre, everybody has a right to put their opinion forward. The Congress does not even have enough members for 75% of the seats, so who will get angry?” financialexpress
3 years on, wounds of riots still raw in Muzaffarnagar
http://www.asianage.com/india/politics/300117/3-years-on-wounds-of-riots-still-raw-in-muzaffarnagar.html
Muzaffarnagar: Raisa Bano, 48, sits under a shed with only a tarpaulin to save her five children from icy winds. Hasan, her husband, works as a daily wage labourer in a farmhouse and the owner has allowed the family to live in the shed.“We lived in Kutba village, but during the riots, our house was burnt down and my father-in-law and brother-in-law were hacked to death. We took refuge here and have been staying here ever since,” she said. Her children — three daughters and two sons — do not go to school, and she does not know what life holds for her family in the coming days.Ask her about elections and her patience gives way. “BJP people slaughtered my family and the govt did nothing to save us. We were denied compensation because we did not have money to bribe local officials. For us, all of them are thieves,” she said.She says that when people from here community sought help from the local leaders, they all turned them away.“Now they are coming to ask for votes but none of us will vote for them. In any case, all our identity documents were destroyed when our house was ste on fire so we cannot vote,” she said. asian age
BJP MLA Suresh Rana booked for 'promoting enmity between classes'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/uttar-pradesh/news/bjp-mla-suresh-rana-booked-for-promoting-enmity-between-classes/articleshow/56875681.cms
Meerut: A day after BJP MLA from Thana Bhawan, Suresh Rana, who is the party's candidate from the seat in the upcoming elections, said curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad if he wins the polls, Shamli police booked Rana for allegedly promoting enmity between classes and circulating rumour to cause fear to public.Rana, who is also the BJP vice-president in Uttar Pradesh - is named in cases related to the Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013. Rana says"If I lose in the polls, there will be celebration in Deoband, but if I win, the curfew will be imposed in Kairana, Deoband and Moradabad. That is why I am urging you all to raise slogans of Bharat mata ki jai in the procession from Shamli to Thana Bhawan on March 11." timesofindia
BJP will form an anti-Romeo squad to protect girls in UP: Amit Shah
https://scroll.in/latest/828024/bjp-will-form-an-anti-romeo-squad-to-protect-girls-in-uttar-pradesh-amit-shah
BJP President Amit Shah said on Sunday that his party would establish an “anti-Romeo squad” to protect girls in Uttar Pradesh if it is voted to power in the upcoming state elections. “We have promised that BJP will form an anti-Romeo squad to save these girls,” Shah told Network 18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi. “This is not communal. It is the right of every girl to study in her own city or village. That is why it would not be correct to paint everything as communal.”Shah’s statement harks back to the rumours of “love jihad” that his party had fanned through its campaign for the 2014 national election. It suggested that young Muslim men were being trained to court Hindu women in order to convert them to Islam. scroll
Amit Shah's leaning on Hindutva tropes suggests BJP's lack of confidence in vikaas
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/amit-shah-leaning-on-hindutva-tropes-suggests-bjps-lack-of-confidence-in-vikaas-3227198.html
Subramanian Swamy promises to table anti-cow slaughter bill and build Ram Temple
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/swamy-promises-to-table-anti-cow-slaughter-bill-and-build-ram-temple/articleshow/56860429.cms
Mangaluru: Subramanian Swamy, Rajya Sabha MP, assured thousands of gau worshipers and lovers that he will take the initiative to table anti-cow slaughter bill in the next Parliament session and stressed on building Ram Temple in Ayodhya.Swamy was addressing the concluding ceremony of Mahamangala Gou Yatra here on Sunday. It was attended by thousands of cow lovers and hundreds seers from across country. Timesofindia
Pawar hits out at Modi, scotches rumours of cosying up to BJP
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/300117/pawar-hits-out-at-modi-scotches-rumours-of-cosying-up-to-bjp.html
Panaji: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his attack on the Congress, saying in a parliamentary set up one should not try to completely rule out any force though there may be differences of opinion even as he dismissed talk of an alliance with BJP."We have heard his (Modi) speeches. His main target is to finish Congress. In a parliamentary set up one should not expect to totally finish others,although there may be differences of opinion and views," he said at a press meet.PTI
OTHERS
67 Students Have Been Skipping Meals Prepared by Dalit Woman in MP School
http://www.news18.com/news/india/67-students-have-been-skipping-meals-prepared-by-dalit-woman-in-mp-school-1342765.html?google_editors_picks=true
Tikamgarh (MP): As many as 67 students, including 16 kids belonging to scheduled caste category, of a government primary school are reportedly not having lunch prepared by a Dalit woman for the mid-day meal since July. The development came to light after the school headmaster Ramgopal Gupta shot off a letter to Jatara Janpad CEO PK Mishra.Gupta said that in the past also he has written two to 3 letters to the seniors about the discrimination but to no avail.The primary school (Class I to V) situated at Madkheda area 19 km off the district headquarters, has 89 students including 22 kids of SC category (Vanshkar) to which Dalit woman also belongs. These 22 children of Vanshkar community were taking their meal but 16 other Dalit students of Ahirwar community aren't joining them revealing that a caste divide was prevalent in the SC category too, claims the letter written by the head master.A student who is not taking meal said that his parents have asked him not to eat the food prepared by the Dalit woman. The others too echo the same reason, says the letter. "67 students, including 16 students of SC category - Ahirwar, are not eating meal. They aren't taking the food as it is cooked by a Dalit woman," Gupta told PTI.PTI
Kashmir: Resistance camp holds protest against ‘Israeli-type settlements’
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/story/240054.html
Srinagar:The joint resistance leaders on Monday staged a demonstration in Srinagar to protest against what they said confining of Kashmiri Pandits to “Israeli-type settlements”.“Kashmiri Pandits are part and parcel of our nation and they should return to their land without any hesitation but confining them to Israeli type settlements is not acceptable to any Kashmiri,” said a statement. They also condemned the incarceration of thousands of young and old in jails “in the name of democracy”.“The participants of the rally chanting slogans in favor of freedom, martyrs’ and unity and against conspiracies to “change demography of J&K and ill treatment of Kashmiri inmates in jails and police stations” started marching towards Lal Chowk from Abiguzar but as they reached near press enclave police and forces in large numbers laid barricades before them and halted their march,” said the statement. Greaterkashmir
5 soldiers rescued from avalanche 2 days ago, 'succumb to injuries' on the way to Army hospital in Srinagar
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/five-soldiers-in-machil-succumb-to-injuries/articleshow/56872775.cms
NEW DELHI: Five Indian Army soldiers, rescued from under the snow+ after being trapped by an avalanche in north Kashmir's Machil sector, died while being evacuated to Srinagar hospital on Monday, Army officials said."The five Army soldiers who had been trapped under snow after the caving in of track in Machil sector on January 28 and subsequently rescued after a grueling daylong mission, were being today (Monday) evacuated to Srinagar, despite persistent poor weather conditions, for specialist medical care, " Army spokesman said adding that all the five have succumbed to their injuries. timesofindia
With 7 lakh ‘foot-soldiers’, Rajput Karni Sena aims to fight distortion of history
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sanjay-leela-bhansali-padmavati-deepika-ranvir-movie-karni-sena-rajput-history-4498177/
Jaipur: Shri Rajput Karni Sena (SRKS), which is spearheading protests against director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati, claims to have 7.64 lakh registered members across Rajasthan and identifies “opposing distortion of history” as one of its 11 aims as an outfit committed to the welfare of Rajputs. Formed in 2006, the outfit is named after Karni Mata, a goddess revered across Rajasthan, with her seat being the famous “rat” temple in Deshnoke near Bikaner. In 2008, SRKS was in the middle of a similar controversy when it protested against Ashutosh Gowariker’s film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ over “inaccurate portrayal of history”. While there are other Rajput organisations such as Shri Rajput Sabha, founded in 1939, which work for Rajputs, SRKS members identify themselves as the foot-soldiers of the community. Interestingly, all its members are below the age of 40. The members who cross the age of 40 are made members of SRKS’s advisory committee. The organisation’s founder patron is Lokendra Singh Kalvi, the son of late Kalyan Singh Kalvi, who was a minister in former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar’s Cabinet. At the time of its formation, SRKS decided 11 aims for itself. These included opposing any political or social malice against Rajputs, opposing distortion of history, promoting Rajput unity and social harmony with 36 communities, and supporting any Rajput affiliated with any political party. It further vowed to motivate Rajput women towards education and self-reliance, to motivate the community for social work, and make Rajputs heard on on the issue of reservation. Indian express
Bohras: Rival factions are counting their flock
http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/bohras-rival-factions-are-counting-their-flock/story-IQ2EASJ5qCzkmB9cZnYypN.html
Mumbai: Last week, when Taher Fakhruddin, the son of Khuzaima Qutbuddin, the claimant to spiritual leadership of the Dawoodi Bohras, was ‘crowned’ the 54th Dai, or head, of the sect, in Thane, his supporters published data from their online forum to argue that the breakaway group was collecting followers. The group said 11 million people had visited the website in one year and more than 500,000 were unique visitors. The numbers, they said, suggested that there were tens of thousands of Bohras who were their discreet supporters. The numbers, they claimed, were substantial as Dawoodi Bohras, mercantile community, has around 1 million members worldwide. The claim has been dismissed by representatives of Mufaddal Saiffudin who succeeded his father, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who died in Jan.2014, as 53rd head of the larger faction. Qutbuddin, Burhanuddin’s half-brother, had filed a suit in Bombay HC challenging his nephew’s appointment to the seat. When Qutbuddin died in March 2016, the court dispute had reached the trial stage. He had appeared in court and answered more than 600questions on the dispute.HT
Court acquits youth who had married with minor, says he did not know her age
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/court-acquits-youth-who-had-sex-with-minor-says-he-did-not-know-her-age/articleshow/56861299.cms?
Mumbai: A special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court acquitted a 24-year-old businessman accused of raping and kidnapping a 17-year-old on the grounds that he was unaware of the age of the girl he married. The court refuted the prosecution's argument that under the special Act even if there was consent, since the girl was below the age of 18, it came under the purview of the offence of rape. Referring to the girl's statement that the accused was unaware of her age, the court said, "She was between 17 and 18 years of age and a college-going student. She was aware about the acts done by her and the acts which were done with her. So, her consent for any act, if done by the accused, will not come under the purview of rape."The court also denied the submissions of the prosecution that since the girl was under the age of 18, her marriage to the accused was illegal. "Both the accused and victim are governed by the provisions of Muslim Personal Law and as per its provisions for the performance of marriage, there is no age restriction. Girl from the Muslim community can perform marriage after she attains the age of puberty," the special court said.The court also pointed out that the victim's mother had accepted the marriage despite having registered the FIR for kidnapping and rape when she went missing.TOI
WORLD
Quebec City mosque attack: 6 dead, 8 injured; Canadian PM terms it as 'a terrorist attack on Muslims'
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/quebec-mosque-attack-170130031548892.html
At least 6 people were killed in a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City during evening prayers, police said. Gunmen fired on about 50 people inside the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre on Sunday at 8pm local time."6 people are confirmed dead - they range in age from 35 to about 70," Quebec provincial police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe told reporters, adding that eight people were wounded and 39 were unharmed.Police said two suspects had been arrested, but gave no details about them or what prompted the attack.The mosque's president, Mohamed Yangui, was not inside the mosque at the time of the shooting. He received frantic calls from worshippers.Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the shooting as a "terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge"."Muslim Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, cities and country," he said in a statement. The shooting came on the weekend that Trudeau said Canada would welcome refugees, after US President Donald Trump suspended US refugee programme and temporarily barred citizens from 7 Muslim-majority countries from entering. aljzeera
At least 6 dead, 8 wounded in Quebec City mosque shooting
http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-quebec-mosque-shooting-20170129-story.html
Americans raise $600,000 to rebuild burned Texas mosque
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/americans-raise-600000-rebuild-burned-texas-mosque-170129205625913.html
A Texas community has rallied behind its Muslim residents after their mosque burned to the ground shortly after President Donald Trump signed into effect a "Muslim ban" on refugees and others from seven Muslim-majority countries.Following the news that their house of worship in southeast Texas was completely destroyed early on Saturday, the Islamic Centre of Victoria set up an online donation drive via GoFundMe to rebuild. It has raised more than $600,000 of its $850,000 goal in 24 hours. aljazeera
Trump administration debates designating Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist group: Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-muslimbrotherhood-idINKBN15D0VV
Washington: A debate is under way in Trump administration about whether the US should declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and subject it to US sanctions, according to US officials and people close to President Donald Trump's transition team.A faction led by Michael Flynn, Trump's NSA, wants to add the Brotherhood to the State Department and US Treasury lists of foreign terrorist organizations, the sources said."I know it has been discussed. I'm in favor of it," said a Trump transition advisor, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.Other Trump advisors, as well as many veteran national security, diplomatic, law enforcement and intelligence officials argue the Brotherhood has evolved peacefully in some countries, according to officials and people close to Trump's entourage.
Saudi King agrees with trump to support Syria, Yemen safe zones
http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/saudi-king-agrees-with-donald-trump-to-support-syria-yemen-safe-zones-1654132
Washington:US President Donald Trump held telephonic conversations with the King of Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi to seek their support for the creation of safe zones in Syria and Yemen, a White House statement said.The calls on Sunday made no mention of Trump's ban on the entry of citizens and refugees from Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Somalia, the Politico news reported.In his call to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the President "requested, and the king agreed to support, safe zones in Syria and Yemen, as well as supporting other ideas to help the many refugees who are displaced by the ongoing conflicts,"the White House said.It was not immediately clear what Trump meant by "requested" safe zones in those two war-struck countries or what the Saudis are willing to do. US President and King Salman also "agreed on the importance of rigorously enforcing the (nuclear) deal with Iran and of addressing Tehran's destabilising regional activities."King also invited Trump to "lead a Middle East effort to defeat terrorism." IANS
Trump, key arab allies agree to boost anti-terror efforts
http://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/2017/01/29/saudi-king-discusses-terror-business-ties-in-call-with-trump
US President Donald Trump, facing growing criticism over his move to block immigration from 7 predominantly Muslim countries, held talks with two prominent Arab leaders on Sunday to bolster ties and discuss anti-terrorism efforts in the Middle East.Trump spoke by phone with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Bloomberg
US protests grow against Donald Trump's immigration ban
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/protests-grow-trump-immigrant-ban-order-170129194912379.html
Yemeni civilians killed in first US raid under Trump
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/yemen-170129101045539.html
At least 10 Yemeni women and children have been killed in the first US military operation in the country authorised by President Trump, medics and local media have said. US military said it killed 14 members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Sunday's dawn raid in the southern province of al-Bayda that involved missiles and helicopter machine guns.In a statement, Pentagon did not refer to any civilian casualties, although a US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they could not be ruled out.Aljazeera
Israel's Knesset to vote on bill that green lights settler homes
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/01/knesset-west-bank-settlements-170130092730832.html
Israel's parliament is to vote on a controversial bill that seeks to retroactively legalise 4,000 settler homes built on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, a measure the attorney general has said is unconstitutional.The bill has already passed the first reading in the Knesset, and will be heard two more times on Monday.Al Jazeera's Imran Khan, reporting from West Jerusalem, said the bill is "incredibly controversial".Unlike territory occupied by Israel under military rule, the "regulation bill" concerns land where Palestinians themselves own title deeds."It's their land. They can prove that it's their land," said Khan. Aljazeera
Israel proposes anti-polygamy plan against Palestinians
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170129-israel-proposes-anti-polygamy-plan-against-palestinians/
In a cabinet’s weekly meeting on Sunday, Israeli ministers backed a long-term plan which calls for polygamy elimination among Israeli Arabs, Times of Israel reported. The plan aims to incorporate anti-bigamy education in the Israeli schooling system and create outreach programmes.Speaking at Sunday’s meeting, Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked described the proposal as an “important step” in a bid to raise awareness of the phenomenon, noting that the polygamous lifestyle has a negative influence on family life, including in financial terms, and serves as a platform for further violations.After the ministers have voted in favour of the plan, cabinet ordered the creation a task force of local authorities, government officials, activists and other professionals to hammer out a plan within six months, and a ministerial committee that would implement programme. The ministerial committee, headed by Shaked, would compose of the education, interior, welfare, health, social equality and agriculture ministers, according to Israel’s Channel 2.Middleeastmonitor
Armed opposition faction withdraws from Syria ceasefire
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170130-armed-opposition-faction-withdraws-from-syria-ceasefire/
An armed group fighting under the Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) banner in northwest Syria has withdrawn from a shaky nationwide ceasefire, blaming the Bashar Al-Assad regime and its allies for violations.“Due to Russia’s lack of commitment as a guarantor…we announce that, as of today, we are not bound by this agreement,” Jaish Al-Ezza, a signatory to the deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, said in a statement yesterday. The group said its decision was in response to what it described as heavy Russian bombardment of its positions and surrounding areas in Hama province. Fighting and airstrikes have plagued the ceasefire between the Assad regime and opposition groups since it took effect in late December, with the combatants accusing each other of violations. Middleeastmonitor
Tunisia: Senior Ennahda leader defends Ghannoushi’s recent moves on Libya, says they are consistent with state policies
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170130-tunisia-senior-ennahda-leader-defends-ghannoushis-recent-moves-on-libya-says-they-are-consistent-with-state-policies/
A senior member of Tunisia’s Ennahda movement said on Sunday that the moves recently taken by the movement’s leader Rachid Ghannouchi regarding the Libya issue are fully in line with the official policy adopted by the national unity government, headed by Youssef Chahed of the secularist Nidaa Tounes Party. Harouni, who heads Ennahda’s Shura Council, added in a press conference held on the sidelines of the council’s eighth round, that communication with all Libyan sides is very important for finding a political settlement and uniting Libyans. Last week, Ghannouchi denied allegations that his external moves regarding the Libyan crisis constitute a “parallel diplomacy” outside the framework of the Tunisian state’s official diplomacy.
Middleeastmonitor
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:09 PM)
