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Evening NEWS DIGEST
13 April 2017: 15 Rajab 1438: Vol: 8, No:165
INDIA
Win for SIO: Supreme Court directs Centre to include URDU in NEET from 2018 onwards
http://indianexpress.com/article/education/include-urdu-in-neet-2018-19-supreme-court-directs-government/
New Delhi: Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to include Urdu in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) from next session 2018-19. Since the exam is scheduled to be held in May 7, therefore Urdu will not be included this year. The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) had filed a plea requesting the court for inclusion of Urdu as a medium in which students can attempt NEET 2017.The Centre had, earlier, submitted its acceptance of Urdu as a medium of language for NEET, but had commented that it would be unable to include the language this year. It said that the language can be made an official part of NEET from the next session (2017-18). The Supreme Court said that it would announce its final verdict on the language by the end of the month. Therefore, NEET 2017 will be held in 10 languages— Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Odia and Kannada.Since last year, state governments have been requesting the Centre to include regional languages.This year, the government has introduced two criteria on age and attempt cap has students up in arms across nation. While the criteria was revised, final verdict on upper age limit will be out in July. indianexpress
Win for SIO : Supreme Court asks Center to include Urdu in NEET 2018 onwards
http://twocircles.net/2017apr13/407801.html
Non bailable warrant against Zakir Naik
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/non-bailable-warrant-against-zakir-naik/
New Delhi: A special court in Mumbai on Thursday issued non-bailable warrant against Islamic Research Foundation founder Zakir Naik in a money laundering case. The warrant was issued over a plea filed by Enforcement Directorate. NBW will be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) which will send it to UAE for execution. Before court passing the judgment, Zakir’s lawyer made submissions before it and opposed the Enforcement Directorate’s application. indianexpress
Gujarat riots: Supreme Court relieves SIT chief RK Raghavan from duty on health grounds
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gujarat-riots-2012-supreme-court-sit-chief-rk-raghavan-health-grounds/1/927911.html
New Delhi;Supreme Court today allowed RK Raghavan, chief of its SIT probing the 2002 Gujarat riots, to be relieved from duty on health grounds.A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justices DY Chandrachud and SK Kaul considered the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that Raghavan be relieved from the duty of heading the SIT."Appreciating" the work done by the SIT in investigating the 2002 violence across the state, the apex court also allowed another SIT member K Venkatesam to leave the team.The Supreme Court has asked AK Malhotra of the SIT to oversee the functioning of the team and keep filing quarterly progress report on the various riot cases it is probing.IndiaToday
Gujarat Riots Convict Maya Kodnani Allowed To Call Amit Shah As Witness
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/special-court-allows-gujarat-riots-convict-maya-kodnani-to-call-amit-shah-as-witness-1680689
Ahmedabad: A special court hearing the 2002 Naroda Gam massacre case in Ahmedabad on Wednesday allowed an application filed by former BJP MLA Maya Kodnani seeking to call BJP president Amit Shah and 13 others as defence witnesses to prove she was not present at the scene of the incident.Judge PB Desai said that summons should be issued to these witnesses "at appropriate and relevant stage of trial".The judge also said that "some witnesses can be dropped at a later stage if there is a possibility of repetition of their testimonies, but however, in absence of any objections (by prosecution) and while recognising the right of the accused to examine defence witnesses, I am of the opinion that the number of witnesses sought to be examined is neither unreasonable nor unjustified." Maya Kodnani, sentenced to 28 years in jail in the Naroda Patiya riot case, is currently out on bail.PTI
Why no EVMs with VVPAT, SC asks Centre
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-no-evms-with-vvpat-supreme-court-asks-centre/article17981437.ece?homepage=true
NEW DELHI:Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to respond by May 8 to a plea by the BSP to comply with a 2013 Supreme Court directive to introduce paper trail in EVMs.A Bench led by Justice J. Chelameswar issued notice to the Centre after senior advocate P. Chidambaram submitted that EVMs remain highly vulnerable and susceptible to hacking."What one man can invent, another man can hack," Chidambaram submitted."I (voter) press a button on the EVM and I do not know what the machine has recorded. There is no way I can know that the machine is recording the wishes of the electorate," Chidambaram said.Mr. Chidambaram said if the EVM is fixed to a vote-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine, the voter can see whether the symbol the voter presses is the symbol the EVM registers in the system. thehindu
Supreme Court wants Centre, Election Commission reply on plea against EVMs
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-wants-centre-election-commission-reply-on-plea-against-evms/story-sA9JkMrRKkmzatgQOKj6RP.html
Sudarshan TV editor-in-chief, booked on charges of spreading communal hate
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/suresh-chavhanke-sudarshan-news-editor-in-chief-booked-on-charges-of-spreading-communal-hate/article17951380.ece
Lucknow;Editor-in-Chief of Hindi channel Sudarshan News Suresh Chavhanke has been booked on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between religious groups. The Uttar Pradesh police registered a case against Chavhanke, also the Chief Managing Director of the company, after his channel telecast a programme in which he allegedly made several comments that could spoil communal harmony. The case was registered at Kotwali police station in Sambhal district in west UP on the complaint of station-in-charge Brij Mohan Giri.The police took the action after the matter was raised by prominent citizens of different communities during a meeting of the local peace committee on April 9. Angry residents registered a complaint against Sudarshan News’ show ‘Bindaas Bol’, hosted by Chavhanke, alleging that it aired programmes that promoted communal disharmony, hostility between religious groups and had an adverse impact on cordiality.On April 10, the police reviewed videos of the programme on the web and concluded that in several of the clips, Chavhanke allegedly made statements spreading “Hindu-Muslim hostility” and promoted hatred.The channel is not new to controversy. Last year, after a former employee of company accusedChavhanke of rape, molestation and criminal intimidation, the Noida police booked him on several clauses of IPC. Chavhanke has often been accused of championing the cause of Hindutva through his programmes. thehindu
Congress leader, news editor held over communal tension in Uttar Pradesh town
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/congress-leader-news-editor-held-over-communal-tension-in-uttar-pradesh-town/story-lUCbSMDD8W9QwNdc4hSmCO.html
A Congress leader and the editor-owner of a Hindi news channel were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly spreading communal hatred in the western UP town, police said.Police said Congress leader Israt Hussain Babar was arrested in Shambal for allegedly threatening the owner of Sudarshan channel, Suresh Chavhanke, and his supporters.Chavhanke was arrested in Lucknow for allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between religious groups through a progamme aired between April 6 and 8. hindustantimes
Mecca Masjid blast accused Aseemanand seeks court’s permission to go out of Hyderabad
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mecca-masjid-blast-accused-aseemanand-seeks-court-s-permission-to-go-out-of-hyderabad/story-8gjKkh2y01CrpvjRhJ5bTP.html
Hyderabad:Swami Aseemanand, an accused in 2007 Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, on Thursday moved a local court seeking its permission to go out of Hyderabad to see his ailing mother and for his own medical treatment.Aseemanand on Thursday appeared before the court of the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge and filed a petition through his counsel, seeking permission to visit his mother.In his petition to the court, Aseemanand requested permission to go out of Hyderabad saying he has to see his aged mother, who is ailing (in West Bengal), and also for the treatment of his own ailments. PTI
Ajmer blast: 2 men who could have nailed Aseemanand not called in to testify
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ajmer-blast-two-men-who-could-have-nailed-aseemanand-not-called-in-to-testify/story-XnxqZkYaEzNME5j6JjjkYI.html
New Delhi:Two main accused in an another blast had named Swami Aseemanand as one of the conspirators of a larger “Hindu terror” plot but the NIA didn’t call them as witnesses in the Ajmer case in which the former RSS worker was let off last month.Lieutenant colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, a serving army officer, and Sudhakar Dwivedi arrested and chargesheeted in Sept2008 Malegaon bomb case were first to name Aseemanand, Ajmer blast case papers accessed by HT show.HT
SC grants time till May 8 to Haji Ali Dargah Trust to remove encroachments
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-grants-time-till-may-8-to-haji-ali-dargah-trust-to-remove-encroachments-4611591/
New Delhi:Supreme Court after hearing the petition regarding entry of women into Haji Ali Dargah sanctum sanctorum asked Haji Ali Dargah Trust notify if it will assist in removing encroachment in 908 sq mt area. The court has given time till May 8 to the Dargah Trust to complete the job of removal of encroachments. According to the apex court 171 sq mt land on which mosque is built will be protected.The apex court will hear the matter again at 2 PM.According to a PTI report, a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar made it clear that it was willing to pass some orders today itself as there was no dispute that there were encroachments around the dargah. The bench also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul said that 171 sq mt land having the mosque on it will be protected but the rest has to be removed and demolished. indianexpress
Bypolls:BJP wins 5 out of 10 seats, Congress bags 3
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/counting-underway-in-bypolls-across-country/article17978737.ece
The BJP on Thursday won half of the 10 Assembly seats in bypolls across seven States and Delhi while the Congress bagged three and the Trinamool Congress and the JMM one each with all but two of the seats being retained.Of the five seats won by the BJP, the party retained three while it wrested the remaining two from the AAP in Delhi and the BSP in Rajasthan——Rajouri Garden and Dholpur respectively.BJP retained one seat each in Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Assam winning from Bandhavgarh, Bhoranj (SC) and Dhemaji respectively.Maintaining its hold, the ruling Congress in Karnataka retained the Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly seats in which the party and the BJP had played for high stakes. It also retained the Ater seat in Bhind district in M.P. by a close margin of 857 votes. Ater had witnessed violence on the polling day.The Trinamool Congress kept the Kanthi Dakshin seat in West Bengal where the BJP finished second while the JMM retained Littipara (ST) Assembly seat in Jharkhand defeating ruling BJP. thehindu
Bypoll results 2017 live: BJP wins 5 seats, Congress wins 2 in Karnataka, 1 in MP
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/dwfH8neytkJ1UYAuoG35vO/Bypoll-results-liveBJP-leads-in-Rajouri-Garden-in-Delhi-A.html
Srinagar bypoll: Only 2% voter turnout recorded after repolling in Kashmir
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/srinagar-by-election-only-2-02-voter-turnout-recorded-after-repolling-in-kashmir/story-3lCTvA4P1sYB4eXo4EeRjM.html
Srinagar: A mere 2% turnout was witnessed in the re-polling held in 38 polling stations under the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, making it the lowest percentage in the state’s history, election officials said.The overall percentage in the entire constituency now stood at 7.13%, the officials said.The situation was largely peaceful during Thursday’s electoral exercise which was called for by the Election Commission because of large-scale violence last Sunday when balloting was held in the constituency.“Only 709 of 34,169 voters exercised their franchise across all the 38 polling stations by the time the polling ended at 4 pm,” an election official said.No votes were polled in Khansahib assembly segment while only three votes were cast in Budgam segment and 84 in Chrar- e-Sharief segment, the official said.Counting of votes will be undertaken on April 15.HT
Pakistan promoting 'civil resistance' in Kashmir through radicalisation: Union home ministry
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pakistan-promoting-civil-resistance-in-kashmir-india/articleshow/58165900.cms
New Delhi: Pakistan has changed its strategy of "superimposition" of militancy onto Jammu and Kashmir by promoting "civil resistance" through radicalisation, the Union home ministry has said in its annual report.The ongoing militancy in the state is intrinsically linked to infiltration of terrorists from across the border, both through the International Border as well as the Line of Control, the report for 2016-17 released on Wednesday said.PTI
After Meerut assault, ‘Hindu Yuva Vahini’ members thrash man, harass fiance
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/day-after-meerut-assault-hindu-yuva-vahini-members-beat-up-man-misbehave-with-fiance/story-Y4YUHQcikzM5f13qgSA57M.html
Meerut:Police arrested on Wednesday two people who claimed to belong to the Hindu Yuva Vahini for an overnight assault on a couple in Meerut. They allegedly misbehaved with the woman and beat up her fiance.The incident occurred a day after a Muslim couple in the city’s Shastri Nagar locality was dragged out of a house by members of the Hindu Yuva Vahini , a group founded by Yogi Adityanath before he became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. They thrashed the man and handed them over to the police. Later, the police filed obscenity charges against him.On Wednesday, the couple was on their way to the woman’s house on a scooter when they were intercepted by six men claiming to be cadres of the Yuva Vahini, said Medical police station in-charge Dharmendra Kumar. hindustantimes
Yogi Adityanath government to hold mass wedding of poor Muslim girls
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/apr/13/uttar-pradesh-chief-minister-yogi-adityanath-government-to-hold-mass-wedding-of-poor-muslim-girls-1593308.html
Lucknow: Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to organise mass weddings for poor girls belonging to religious minorities, in an apparent attempt by the Chief Minister to shed his Hindu hardliner image."Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given his consent to mass weddings of poor girls belonging to minority communities and we have included it in the 100 days' programme of the state government," Minister of State for Minorities Affairs Mohsin Raza told PTI here today. Muslims account for nearly 20 per cent of the state's population and a lion's share of the benefits under the scheme will go to brides from that community. A proposal is being prepared, the minister said, adding besides extending monetary assistance of Rs 20,000 to each bride, the government will bear other expenses for the mass wedding.PTI
UN says not in position to comment on Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/un-says-not-in-position-to-comment-on-kulbhushan-jadhav-death-sentence-4611544/
UN: UN has asked India and Pakistan to engage in a dialogue to find a peaceful solution to their problems, but refrained from commenting on the death sentence given by a Pakistani military court to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.“We’re not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this, on this particular case,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the daily briefing here on Wednesday in response to a question by PTI on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage.PTI
Jadhav’s capture proves Indian hand in sabotage activities, says Pakistan
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pak-yadavs-capture-proves-indian-hand-in-sabotage-activities/article17984632.ece?homepage=true
Karachi :Pakistan on Thursday said alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was caught red-handed and claimed this was a clear evidence of Indian involvement in sabotage activities in the country.In its weekly news briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakariya said the ‘RAW agent’ himself had confessed to his crimes and also admitted that he was a serving officer of the Indian Navy. He said Jadhav was involved in subversive activities.The spokesperson said Pakistan had apprised the world community about the ‘Indian interference’ in the country. thehindu
Pakistan’s top Generals say no compromise will be made on Kulbhushan Jadhav
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/pakistans-top-generals-say-no-compromise-will-be-made-on-kulbhushan-jadhav-4612058/
Islamabad:Pakistan’s top military Generals today decided not to make any “compromise” on the death sentence given to Indian national Kulbushan Jadhav on spying charges, notwithstanding India’s stern warning that his hanging will have serious consequences on the bilateral ties.The decision was made at a Corps Commanders meeting presided over by Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.The Generals were briefed about Jadhav and it was concluded that “no compromise shall be made on such anti-state acts”, the statement said.PTI
India worried as US refuses to attend meeting on Daesh in Moscow:TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-worried-as-us-refuses-to-attend-meeting-on-daesh-in-moscow/articleshow/58168108.cms
New Delhi: As HR McMaster, US national security adviser, arrives in Kabul on the first leg of his visit to the region, Russia is maintaining its activist role, hosting the third meeting of regional countries on Daesh and Taliban in Moscow on Friday.The US has refused to attend the meeting, for which it has been invited for the first time. The sharpened geo-political moves have raised the spectre in India that Afghanistan is the new theater for US-Russia rivalry and, if left unchecked, could become the next Syria on India's doorstep.India will be at the meeting, represented by joint secretary of the MEA, Deepak Mittal. India and Afghanistan will find themselves in a lonely corner, and the main participants, China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia, are openly looking for a "peace deal" in Afghanistan, which would accommodate Taliban in some form.Russia, which has inserted itself in the Afghanistan situation, much like it did in Syria, ostensibly wants to keep Daesh/ Islamic State out of Afghanistan, and blames the US for not doing enough against IS.But the US believes the real reason is to use the Taliban to keep the US out of Afghanistan. Russia regards Afghanistan as being within its sphere of influence, and therefore, this third meeting will see the presence of all the Central Asian states - it's a signal to China, too, that despite China being a growing power, the south-central Asian region will see Russia as the dominant power.
Chemical weapons should not be used: India on Syria attack
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chemical-weapons-should-not-be-used-india-on-syria-attack/articleshow/58167217.cms
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday reacted cautiously to the recent chemical attack in Syria, saying its consistent position is that the use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere under any circumstances should not happen and perpetrators of such an act should be held accountable. However, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay did not explicitly condemn the attack, for which Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government is being held responsible."India is a signatory to the chemical weapons convention. It has been our consistent position that the use of chemical weapons by anyone anywhere under any circumstances should not happen."Any perpetrator of such an act should be held accountable. That is our position on the use of chemical weapons," he said.PTI
5 Canadian ministers Khalistani sympathisers: Amarinder Singh
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/5-canadian-ministers-khalistani-sympathisers-amarinder/articleshow/58157062.cms
New Delhi: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said on Wednesday five Sikh ministers of the Justin Trudeau government in Canada were Khalistani sympathisers, adding he would not meet their defence minister, Harjit Sajjan, when he visits India.Capt Singh's remarks, made on a TV show, are expected to kick up a storm as Sajjan is scheduled to visit India for six days, beginning April 19, and to travel between Amritsar, Jalandhar and Chandigarh for four days. "Harjit Sajjan is a Khalistani sympathiser. timesofindia
Telangana cabinet nod to quota hike, backward Muslims to benefit
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/telangana-cabinet-nod-to-quota-hike-backward-muslims-to-benefit/articleshow/58162563.cms
Hyderabad: The Telangana cabinet, on Wednesday, decided to raise the percentage of quota in jobs and education in the state, citing the Tamil Nadu model. The assembly will be specially convened on April 16 to table Telangana State Reservations Bill." Centre will have to give its nod.We are ready to go to any length to implement increased reservations," said CM K Chandrasekhar Rao.First, hike in reservations under BC-E as suggested by Backwards Caste Commission, will be implemented, which will include Muslims. "This will not be called Muslim quota as it's not religion-based. Reservations will be raised for economically backwards in the BC-E," he said. Currently, there is 4% reservation.
NIA challenges ISIS accused Areeb Majeed discharge from a UAPA offence
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nia-challenges-isis-recruits-discharge-from-a-uapa-offence/1/928350.html
Mumbai; NIA has moved the Bombay High Court against a lower courts order discharging on a technical ground suspected ISIS recruit Areeb Majeed from the offence of being a terror outfits member.A division bench of justices V K Tahilramani and M S Karnik today slated the NIA appeal for hearing on June 6. The bench, however, refused to stay the proceedings going on in the case before the special NIA court.A special NIA court had in February this year discharged Majeed from being the member of a terrorist gang in violation of the section 20 of the countrys anti-terror law UAPA.PTI
Telangana: Sharai Faisla Board floated to address ‘talaq’ issues
http://www.siasat.com/news/sharai-faisla-board-floated-address-talaq-issues-1173450/
Hyderabad: Sharai Faisla Board (SFB) has been set up in Hyderabad to address issues such as Nikah, talaq, khula, maintenance etc. Aiming at changing the public perception pertaining to triple talaq, Sharai Faisla Board will play the role of an arbitrator on the lines of Lok Adalats.The Board comprises of 61 members including muftis, lawyers, journalists and ulemas representing different schools of thoughts. 13 Muftis associated with leading religious institutions will resolve the disputes.The Board is represented by Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, Sunni Ulema Board, Jamaat-e-Ahle Hadees and Tahreek Muslim Shabban. Mushtaq Malik is the convenor of SFB. He told presspersons that SFB aims at lessening the burden on courts which are grappling with thousands of cases.Mr. Malik informed that SFB would have regional and zonal panels. Each zone would cover an area comprising 10 masajid and problems arising therein would be looked after by a Mufti. siasat
WORLD
US coalition mistakenly kills 18 allied Syrian rebels
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/coalition-mistakenly-kills-18-allied-syrian-rebels-170413132818435.html
At least 18 members of the American-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in a US-led coalition air strike that mistakenly targeted them in Syria's Raqqa province.In a statement released today, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said 18 SDF fighters died in the air raid south of the city of Tabqa on April 11. The attack was believed to be hitting members of ISIL. SDF was founded in Syria's mainly Kurdish northeastern region in Oct.2015, and is made up of at least 15 armed factions, mostly fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units and the Free Syrian Army. "The strike was requested by the partnered forces, who had identified the target location as an ISIS fighting position. The target location was actually a forward Syrian Democratic Forces fighting position," CENTCOM said."The coalition's deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families. The coalition is in close contact with our SDF partners who have expressed a strong desire to remain focused on the fight against ISIS despite this tragic incident." The coalition added it is assessing the cause of the friendly fire attack. UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday at least 25 other SDF fighters were killed in clashes against ISIL in the suburbs of Tabqa. aljazeera
Coalition airstrike mistakenly kills 18 Syrian rebels: Pentagon
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/coalition-airstrike-mistakenly-kills-18-syrian-rebels-officials/articleshow/58167360.cms
Russia slammed for vetoing yet another Syria resolution: aljazeera
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/russia-veto-syria-resolution-170413004627326.html
Western powers have lashed out at Russia after it vetoed a United Nations resolution that would have condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons in northern Syria and demanded a speedy investigation. The vote on the Security Council resolution drafted by Britain, France and the US was 10 in favour, Russia and Bolivia against, and China, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia abstaining.After the vote on Wednesday, Britain's UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft looked at the Russian envoy and asked: "How could anyone look at the faces of lifeless children and choose to veto a resolution condemning those deaths?"He said samples taken from the site of the April 4 attack had been analysed by British scientists and tested positive for the nerve gas sarin. He said President Bashar al-Assad's govt was responsible. US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley told the council that "with its veto, Russia said no to accountability, Russia said no to cooperating with the UN investigation, Russia said no to helping keep peace in Syria. Russia chose to side with Assad, even as rest of the world, even the Arab world, comes together to condemn murderous regime."
Civilians forced to eat cats in war-torn Mosul
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170413-civilians-forced-to-eat-cats-in-war-torn-mosul/
Humanitarian conditions in the Iraqi city of Mosul have been deteriorating amid fierce battles between the Iraqi forces and Daesh.A human rights activist said many families in Mosul are so desperate they are eating street cats, birds and grass due to the lack of food.Khalil Al-Ashouri said the water in Mosul is unfit for human consumption while food prices in areas under Daesh control are so high that one kilogramme of rice costs up to $36.Meanwhile a doctor in western Mosul, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said residents are showing signs of malnutrition and have to drink contaminated water. A lack of medicines and suitable equipment has meant that people cannot be treated in hospitals.
Half of the 20,000 foreign fighters in Syria are from the CIS, claims Putin
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170413-half-of-the-20000-foreign-fighters-in-syria-are-from-the-cis-claims-putin/
“Nearly half of the approximately 20,000 foreign militants fighting in Syria hail from the Commonwealth of Independent States,” he told Russia’s Mir TV. “According to various estimates, about 20,000 foreign fighters are in Syria, of which almost 10,000 are from CIS countries.” CIS includesRussia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. According to Putin, the fighters from these states pose a real threat to Russia’s security. Russian military action in Syria, he noted, aims to prevent them from returning home. middleeastmonitor
Muslims banned from Ibrahimi Mosque during Jewish Passover holiday
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170413-muslims-banned-from-ibrahimi-mosque-during-passover/
Thousands of Israeli settlers stormed Ibrahimi Mosque in occupied Hebron yesterday to mark the Jewish Passover holiday.Videos appeared online of settlers completing religious rituals in the mosque.Muslim worshippers and non-Jewish visitors were banned from entering the mosque during the ceremony and there was a heavy Israeli army presence in the area.The Palestinian Awqaf Ministry strongly condemned the mass desecration of the Ibrahimi Mosque. It warned that Israel is trying to Judaise the Islamic place of worship and urged communities and organisations to speak about the occupation’s aggressive behaviour towards Muslim and Christian holy sites. Middleeastmonitor
Palestine ministry suspends UNRWA ties amid school row
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestine-ministry-suspends-unrwa-ties-amid-school-row/796303
Ramallah: Palestinian education ministry on Thursday announced it is suspending contact with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). According to a ministry statement the suspension was in protest at UNRWA's intention to amend the Palestinian curriculum in West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip schools.The UNRWA’s decision -- which teaches the curriculum of the host country in its schools -- was taken following repeated accusations by Israel that the Palestinian curriculum contains materials that incite violence, something denied by the Palestinian ministry.Anadolu
US' first female Muslim judge found dead
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/13/first-female-muslim-united-states-judge-found-dead-hudson-river.html
A groundbreaking black jurist who became the first Muslim woman to serve as a U.S. judge was found dead in New York's Hudson River on Wednesday, police said.Sheila Abdus-Salaam, a 65-year-old associate judge of New York's highest court, was found floating off Manhattan's west side at about 1:45 p.m. EDT (1545 GMT), a police spokesman said.Police pulled Abdus-Salaam's fully clothed body from the water and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family identified her and an autopsy would determine the cause of death, the spokesman said.Abdus-Salaam, a native of Washington, D.C., became the first African-American woman appointed to the Court of Appeals when Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo named her to the state's high court in 2013."Justice Sheila Abdus-Salaam was a trailblazing jurist whose life in public service was in pursuit of a more fair and more just New York for all," Cuomo said in a statement. Reuters
Bangladesh buries Huji chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, his aids after hanging
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1382564/bangladesh-buries-militants-hanging/
Dhaka: Bangladeshi villagers buried the leader of a banned militant outfit and two of his aides on early Thursday, hours after they were hanged for a 2004 grenade attack on the British ambassador. The explosion at a 14th century Sufi shrine in the northeastern city of Sylhet killed three people and injured the British high commissioner. Mufti Abdul Hannan, the head of Harkatul Jihad Al Islami and his two HuJI associates were sentenced to death in 2008 over the carnage, with Bangladesh’s highest court upholding the sentences last month.AFP
Bangladesh executes HuJI chief Mufti Abdul Hannan, two aides for 2004 grenade attack
https://scroll.in/latest/834477/bangladesh-executes-huji-chief-mufti-abdul-hannan-two-aides-for-2004-grenade-attack
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:28 PM)
