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Evening NEWS DIGEST
18 Oct.2017: 27 Muharram 1439:Vol:9, No:23
INDIA
Aurangzeb era Diwali celebrated with gusto, historians rebut ‘Mughals banned crackers’ claim
http://ummid.com/news/2017/October/18.10.2017/mughals-aurangzeb-patronised-diwali.html
Mumbai: Far from banning Diwali crackers, Mughal rulers, including Emperor Aurangzeb, patronised Diwali and other Hindu festivals, historians claimed adding that there is enough proof to suggest that Diwali with fireworks originated during the Mughals.“The Mughals patronised Diwali. It became a court festival from Akbar's time. It became a festival for everyone, not just Hindus,“ historian Professor Harbans Mukhia is quoted by TOI as saying.TOI article published following the Supreme Court order to ban sales of crackers in Delhi NCR and the consequent propaganda against Mughal and other Muslim rulers claimed, the Nawab Vazir of Avadh and Nawab Nizam of Bengal patronised Diwali and Durga Puja and organised spectacular fireworks displays in the 18th and 19th centuries. “Fireworks became inherent to Diwali from the late 18th century. There are Lucknow Nawabi paintings of fireworks at Diwali and European paintings of fireworks at Durga Puja in Murshidabad and Calcutta,“ Dr Katherine Butler Schofield who teaches at King's College, London said."Mughals and their Rajput contemporaries used fireworks extensively, “especially in the dark months of the year -late autumn and winter“. “The chronicles of the reigns of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb describe fireworks being used for weddings, birthday weighings (tuladan), coronations (including Aurangzeb's), and religious festivals like Shab-e-Baraat", Schofield said.Mughal attitude to Diwali could also be gauged from what Fazl writes in the first volume of Ain-i-Akbari. “His Majesty (Akbar) maintains it is a religious duty and divine praise to worship fire and light; sur ly, ignorant men consider this forgetfulness of the Almighty and fire worship", he noted.Rebutting the claim that Emperor Aurangzeb banned Diwali fireworks, Schofield said, “His supposed `farman' floating on social media is at best a modern copy or an outright fake (it's on modern paper and uses contemporary Urdu orthography)."“There is no religious reason why Aurangzeb would have banned fireworks. Holi was celebrated in Aurangzeb's war camp in the Deccan in 1693, according to the Italian traveller Gemelli Careri, so why not Diwali? "There is, in fact, a painting of Aurangzeb's daughter Zebunnissa celebrating Shab-e-Baraat with fireworks in Delhi in the late 17th century", she said. ummid
Diwali fireworks not very old, give Mughals credit:TOI
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/diwali-fireworks-not-very-old-give-mughals-the-credit/articleshow/61108958.cms
Firecrackers ban: Tripura Governor Roy asks why there is no ban on Azaan being broadcast through loudspeaker
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agartala/tripura-governor-tathagata-roy-asks-why-there-is-no-ban-on-azaan-being-broadcast-through-loudspeaker/articleshow/61129790.cms
Agartala: Expressing discontent over firecrackers ban in Diwali in the national capital, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Tuesday questioned as to why there is no ban on the use of loudspeakers to broadcast Azaan to check noise pollution. Hitting out at certain secular groups for adopting double standard and resorting to vote bank politics Tripura Governor said that if the firecrackers have been banned to check noise pollution then why there is no prohibition on Azaan being broadcast through loudspeaker."The so called secular crowd rundown the noise pollution caused by crackers saying that it harms the heart patient and therefore these things should be banned. They don't see the same things about the Azaan that broadcast over loudspeakers around 4.30 in the morning. Why this double standard? I feel very sad about this but the reason is vote bank politics," Roy said.Earlier in the day, the Tripura Governor took to his Twitter saying that so called secular group pitch for firecrackers ban but never talk about ban on Azaan broadcast to garner vote of a particular community."Every Diwali fights start over noise pollution from crackers. A few days in a year. But no fight about Azaan over loudspeakers at 4.30 AM! Either 'secular crowd' themselves dabbled in vote-bank politics or their patrons do and they have it in their mind when they talk of banning crackers, but they don't talk about banning the Azaan over loudspeakers," he said in a tweet.He further said that Islam doesn't enjoin that Azaan should be broadcast over loudspeakers. "There are minarets around mosques and the Muezzin is supposed to go up on minarets and shout the Azaan. He is not supposed to use loudspeakers. At the time of Prophets of Islam there was no loudspeaker. Therefore loudspeaker should not be used but still they are being used and nobody says anything about it," he added."As a Hindu, I am unhappy with the decision of the court, as Diwali is an all India festival and probably, the most important Hindu festival, and bursting crackers is a part of it," Roy had said.TOI
Tripura governor stokes fresh controversy by comparing Azaan with firecracker noise
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/tripura-governor-tathagata-roy-azaan-firecracker-diwali-noise-pollution/1/1070731.html
Hindu outfit bursts crackers outside SC, 14 Detained
http://www.news18.com/news/india/hindu-outfit-bursts-crackers-outside-supreme-court-14-detained-1549571.html
New Delhi: In open defiance of the Supreme Court’s ban on firecrackers, a fringe Hindu outfit burst crackers outside the apex court’s premises in Delhi on Tuesday evening. 14 people, including 3 women, have been detained by the police and were taken to the Tilak Marg police station. The members, who claimed to be from an outfit called the Azad Hind Fauj, were led by a man named Satpal Malhotra, police said.The group took refuge in the fact that the court had banned the sale of firecrackers and not bursting them. They, however, ignored the intention behind the ban - to control Delhi’s worsening air pollution. This came just hours after Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga distributed sacks full crackers to slum kids in Hari Nagar area of west Delhi. Bagga tweeted photos and a video of him giving out firecrackers to the children, but claimed that just distribution did not amount to contempt of court. Delhi Police’s public relations officer Madhur Verma said police will not take any action against Bagga as distributing crackers as a gift is not a crime.Bagga asked why restrictions on crackers have been placed just around Diwali. “By banning them ahead of Diwali, you are just targeting a Hindu festival. The ban should be implemented around the year,” he said. news18
Mughals were leaders of first independence war: NALSAR University V-C Mustafa
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/mughals-were-leaders-of-first-independence-war-says-nalsar-university-of-law-v-c/articleshow/61129192.cms
Lucknow: These are times of aggressive nationalism we are living in, said vice chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, Faizan Mustafa, where we have started to consider Mughals not part of the country. Mustafa speaking at the grand 200th bicentenary birth anniversary celebrations of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in Lucknow on Tuesday went ahead to say that Mughals were in fact leaders of the first war of independence of 1857 and were considered so by the likes of Tipu Sultan, Tatya Tope and others."Mughals were an integral part of India who could not be fragmented from its soul and now we are here in these times of aggressive nationalism where we are having doubts about them. And this nationalism has not only made us target the Mughals, but also recently there were similar talks about Rabindranath Tagore," said Mustafa who was the guest of honour at the Sir Syed Day organised by AMU Old Boys' Association. Filmmaker Muzaffar Ali was the chief guest on the day, both of whom being former pupils of the university, recounted their time spent at AMU.Mustafa also cleared that now when criticising the Govt is equated to being seditious, it was in 1860 after a fatwa (decree) from clerics at Deoband against the British that the law of sedition as a charge was enacted. Mustafa also exhorted his fellow Aligs (as past pupils of AMU are popularly known) that the dream of Sir Syed has not yet been realised with Muslims lagging in both modern education and securing Govt jobs.In his brief speech, Mustafa also touched upon the controversy around AMU's minority status and said, "People say that the minority status was for the college and with AMU a university, it does not stand now. I researched for this when I had to submit in Allahabad high court as AMU's stand on the case and I found that when Sir Syed laid the foundation of the madrasa it was the university he had in mind and when he gave his first speech in 1877 when the school was raised to the college level, in front of Lord Lytton he said that one day the college would be a university.Mustafa also said that blaming Sir Syed for the two nation theory was not just wrong but also absurd. ON the day, the AMU Old Boys' Association and its members that had gathered in the city from different parts of the state passed the resolution to raise demand of Bharat Ratna for Sir Syed and to generate funds for a Sir Syed House in Lucknow to carry on his Aligarh movement of education.
Taj Mahal was originally Hindu temple, claims BJP MP Katiyar; Christianity is Krishna Neeti? ibtimes.co.in
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/taj-mahal-was-originally-hindu-temple-says-bjp-mp-what-next-christianity-krishna-neeti-746094
BJP MP Vinay Katiyar has kicked up a controversy claiming that Taj Mahal — built in the 17th century by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a sign of love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal — was actually a Hindu temple.This comes just two days after UP BJP MLA Sangeet Som had claimed Taj Mahal was a "blot" on Indian culture. He had also said efforts were being made to teach "true" Indian history in school.Katiyar — one of the spearheads of the Ram Temple movement from the 1990s — told ANI: " Taj Mahal is a Hindu temple. There are all the signs there of (Hindu) gods and goddesses."He added: "There used to be a 'Shivaling' there which had water dripping on it from up top. That 'ling' was removed and a mausoleum built there."Katiyar's statement, meanwhile, is oddly reminiscent of the teachings of PN Oak — a former member of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose-led Indian National Army who went on to become an author and a journalist.Katiyar's claims bear an uncanny resemblance to those of PN Oak, an author who had pushed for revision in history to make it more India-centric.One of his more "famous" theories was that Taj Mahal was originally a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and called Tejo Mahalaya back then.Perhaps some of the more famous and Indocentric claims made by Oak in his writings are about Christianity, which he claimed was a derivative of Krishna Neeti. The words can be loosely translated from Sanskrit to "the law of Lord Krishna."He also claimed that Jesus Christ was in India between the ages of 13 and 30, and learnt this so-called Krishna Neeti here.Oak also claimed that the Vatican — the home of the Holy See, where the pope lives — is derived from the Sanskrit word Vatika, which means garden.
Taj Mahal is a Hindu Temple, Shiv Ling Inside Was Replaced With Mazaar: Katiyar
http://www.india.com/news/india/bjp-mp-vinay-katiyars-alternate-history-calls-taj-mahal-hindu-temple-says-shiv-ling-in-monument-replaced-by-mughals-2540858/
After controversy, Taj features in UP Govt’s 2018 Calendar
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/taj-mahal-up-Govt -calendar
Taj Mahal, which has been in the crosshairs of controversy, has finally found a place of pride in the 2018 calendar brought out by the UP govt.Also finding a place in the calendar is the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur. Gorakhnath Mutt is represented by CM Yogi Adityanath. thequint
Taj Mahal is India's pride: Union Tourism minister Kannanthanam
http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/181017/taj-mahal-is-indias-pride-tourism-minister-alphons-kannanthanam.html
Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam on Tuesday said that the Taj Mahal was "India's pride" and core of tourism circuit, after a BJP MLA questioned the monument's place in the country's heritage."Taj Mahal is India's pride. There is no doubt, we hold pride in Taj Mahal," he said. He also said the Govt had "elaborate plans" for the historical monument.Stating that BJP's stand on the issue was very clear, Kannanthanam said, "Taj is core of tourism circuit. UP Govt is developing new destinations and Taj is already hugely popular."PTI
History not written by politicians: RSS affiliate on Sangeet Som’s Taj Mahal comment
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/history-not-written-by-politicians-rss-affiliate-on-sangeet-som-s-taj-mahal-comment/story-Wrz2BejlIKFjE44dhogbhO.html
New Delhi: Akhil Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojna (ABISY), an offshoot of RSS, which pushes for rewriting history from a national perspective, says politicians should refrain from making disparaging remarks about the Taj Mahal, a monument built by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan.“History is not written by politicians. It is the work of historians and archaeologists to conduct research and this work should be left to them. Politicians should not comment on the history of the Taj Mahal, which is the outcome of hard labour put in by Indians,” Balamukund Pandey, ABISY secretary, told HT.hindustantimes
Yogi's mega Diwali show to pitch Ayodhya as tourist destination
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/yogi-adityanaths-mega-diwali-show-to-pitch-ayodhya-as-tourist-destination/articleshow/61133972.cms
New Delhi: UP CM Yogi Adityanath along with his cabinet reached Ayodhya on Wednesday in a bid to "recreate the treta yug Diwali" and to promote the city as a tourist destination."The Govt has sanctioned Rs 133 crore for Ayodhya. We are taking efforts so that UP becomes tourism hub for India and the world. Ayodhya has taught the lesson on humanity to the world," Adityanath said while speaking at the "Deepotsav" or Diwali celebrations in the city.Timesofindia
UP minority minister terms reports of canceling madrassas affiliation as baseless, says structure of religious education won’t be touched
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/structure-of-religious-education-in-madrassas-wont-be-touched-up-minority-welfare-minister/articleshow/61122928.cms
Meerut: The structure of existing religious education in madrassas of UP will not be touched, minority welfare minister Laxmi Narayan said. “Instead, the science and technology education which lead to employment opportunities for the students will be promoted,” the minister who was in Meerut on Tuesday said.“In the name of Islamic education, madrassas were being fooled earlier. The previous Govts used to give financial help to the madrassas in the name of appeasement and hence the money allocated for the education in madrassas never reached them in true sense. Due to this reason, education could not reach the madrassa students the manner it should have,” said Narayan.He said the Yogi regime plans to transfer funds meant for the madrassas directly into their bank accounts without any interference of the middlemen.The minister said that the BJP Govt is making efforts to improve the quality of education without tinkering with religious texts in their syllabus.“Without tinkering with the religious education in the madrassas, their subjects will be linked with employment and science and technology will be promoted. This is being planned to help the madrassa students excel in various fields and be part of the mainstream,” He said.Narayan termed reports that said the state Govt wanted to cancel affiliation of madrassas “baseless” and added, “over 16,000 madrassas have put their details online and affiliation of not even a single one has been cancelled.” timesofindia
Delhi Police called Maulana Anzar, Al-Qaeda operative; Patiala House Court dismisses case even before trial
http://twocircles.net/2017oct17/417705.html
Bengaluru-based Islamic preacher, Maulana Anzar Shah Qasmi, arrested in Jan. 2016 over alleged links to Al Qaeda, saw all cases against him discharged by the Patiala House Court in Delhi. Discharged means that the court, based on the evidence presented by the Special Cell of Delhi Police, saw it unfit to even take the case to trial.Qasmi’s arrests had made national headlines, with a number of mainstream media quoting police sources to point out that he was working with the Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and had helped the terrorist organisation in recruiting members along with helping top leaders of AQIS meet in Bengaluru. His arrests resulted in massive protests across Bengaluru and Karnataka, with representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Tableeghi Jamaat, Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, Sunni Jamaat, Huda Muslim, Ahle Hadees and Shia Jamaat rejecting the allegations of police regarding the involvement of Qasmi in any terror activity. MS Khan, the advocate of Qasmi, spoke to TwoCircles.net and said that the fact that the case was discharged showed how fabricated the charges were. “Police’s case was built on two major points: one, that Qasmi helped a member of AQIS meet another operative in Bangalore. One of these operatives was arrested from Sambhal in December 2015 and is still in jail. The police said they exchanged letters but was unable to produce them. Secondly, the Police said Qasmi had been giving a number of violent sermons that egged people to join the AQIS. Again, they could not produce a single evidence to substantiate his claim,” Khan said. He added that Qasmi would be released at the earliest.This is not the first time that Delhi Police has seen their investigation fail to even reach trial stage against what they claim to be a “top” operative of the terror module in India. Last year, they had similarly seen four cases against Abdul Karim Tunda discharged. TwoCircles
Al Qaeda links: Delhi court discharges Anzar Shah Qasmi
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aqis-links-islamic-preacher-maulana-anzar-shah-qasmi-let-off-for-want-of-sufficient-evidence-4895914/
Abdul Karim Tunda conviction in Sonipat blasts case: ‘No direct evidence, but circumstances form complete chain’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/abdul-karim-tunda-conviction-in-sonipat-blasts-case-no-direct-evidence-but-circumstances-form-complete-chain4895867/
Chandigarh: Abdul Karim Tunda’s admission of illegal migrations from one country to another, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, and his meetings with LeT leaders like Hafiz Saeed and Zakir-ur- Rehman Lakhvi connect him with the activity of terrorism, the trial court which sentenced him to life imprisonment last week in the 1996 Sonipat blasts case has said in its verdict.Additional Sessions Judge, Sonipat, Dr Sushil Kumar Garg said while pronouncing the verdict that the guilt of an accused can also be established by circumstantial evidence and added that in the blasts case, it is “almost impossible to find out a witness who can claim to have actually seen a bomb being planted somewhere by some person.” The trial court has said in its judgment that it also observed Tunda’s conduct, including his claim of being a Pakistani national, and “all these circumstances, taken cumulatively, form a chain so complete that there is no escape from the conclusion that the same are consistent only with the guilt of the present accused and totally inconsistent with his innocence.”“Undoubtedly, in this case there is no direct evidence of the crime in plantation of the bombs. Prosecution case hinges on circumstantial evidence in this regard. It is an accepted proposition of law that even in cases where no direct evidence is available in the shape of eye-witnesses etc. a conviction can be based on circumstantial evidence alone,” judgment reads.During the trial, Tunda had told the court that he was in Lahore at the time of the blasts and that he went there using an illegal passport. “The accused herein has miserably failed to bring on record any facts or circumstances which would make the plea of his absence even probable, let alone, being proved beyond reasonable doubt,” the court said while rejecting his contention. indianexpress
CAT stays investigation against whistleblower Gujarat IPS officer Rajnish Rai
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/cat-stays-investigation-against-whistleblower-ex-gujarat-ips-officer-rajnish-rai-4895855/
New Delhi:Rajnish Rai, Gujarat cadre 1992-batch IPS officer, who had probed 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter, was charge-sheeted by the Union Home Ministry but got a reprieve from a Hyderabad bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Monday which stayed the inquiry against him for probing alleged “misconduct by CMD and functional director, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd(UCIL), Jaduguda, in Jharkhand without permission.”Rai is currently on central deputation in Chittoor with the CRPF. During his stint as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) in 2015 with UCIL, Rai is reported to have unearthed large scale corruption, allegedly running into crores. Rai is known for arresting about a dozen police officers including ex-IPS officer D G Vanzara among others in 2007 during Sohrabuddin encounter probe. He was then posted in Gujarat CID (crime). Vanzara and scores of other Gujarat police officers were released in 2016-17.In 2014, Rai was transferred to Jaduguda as CVO on Central deputation. After a legal battle in 2015, the Central Govt transferred him to Shillong as IG, North Sector,Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). In June this year, Rai was transferred to Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh at the Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorism (CIAT) School of the CRPF.Before he was shunted to Chittoor, Rai, as The Indian Express had first reported, had alleged that two operatives of NDFB(S) in Chirang, Assam, were killed in a fake encounter by Army, Assam Police, Sashastra Seema Bal and CRPF in Chirang district of Assam on March 30 this year. Later, the Home Ministry set up a probe panel headed by retired DG Ashok Prasad to probe the allegations. The panel is yet to finalise its report. indianexpress
Household Spending: Urban homes spend 84% more, Muslims spend mostly on food
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/household-spending-urban-homes-spend-84-more-muslims-spend-mostly-on-food-4895715/
Mumbai:Urban households spend 84% more per month than their rural counterparts on household expenditure, according to a paper released by the Ministry of Statistics. “Household Consumer Expenditure across Religious Groups in India”, a paper by Monojit Das,deputy director of the National Sample Survey Office, looks into variations in consumer expenditure by various religious groups.Household monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE), usually taken to reflect the living standard of households, is Rs 2,630 for urban India, 84% more than the MPCE for rural India which is Rs 1,430.The difference in rural and urban spending is the least for Muslims, suggesting that where a household lives has the least bearing on its economic position. The difference in rural and urban spending is the highest for Hindus at 67.04%; for Christians it is 47.36%.The difference in spending in urban and rural households is the least in the country’s Muslim community which remains one of the most poor sections of Indian society. Spending on food is the highest for Muslim households; this community’s expenditure on food is higher than non-food expenditure. Economists say that the poor tend to spend most of their expenditure on essentials like food. The share of spending on food and beverages decreases as a household’s income rises.he share of food expenditure for Muslims in Rural India is 59.3% compared to the national average of 52.9%. In urban India, Muslims spend 49.5% on food compared to the national average of 42.6%. Indian express
India can get on UN Security Council if global powers agree 'not to touch the veto': US envoy to UN Nikki Haley
http://www.businesstoday.in/current/world/india-can-help-us-to-keep-an-eye-on-pakistan-nikki-haley/story/262261.html
India can help America in keeping an eye on Pakistan and ensure that it is held accountable for giving safe havens to terrorists, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has said. She also stated that for India to become a permanent member of the Security Council, global superpowers will have to agree to reform the structure of the UN body.She said that one of the pillars of President Donald Trump's recently announced strategy for combating terrorism in Afghanistan and South Asia is the development of Americas strategic partnership with India."Americas overriding interest in Afghanistan and throughout South Asia are to eliminate terrorist safe havens that threaten us. And to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists, we will use all the elements of our national power economic diplomatic and military to pursue these goals," Haley said."Critically we will look to our economic and security partnerships with India," the Indian-origin diplomat said in her address at an event organised by the US India Friendship Council. President Trump has taken a "tougher approach to Pakistan harbouring terrorists, she said."Pakistan has been a partner to the US at times. We value and respect that. But, we cannot tolerate this Govt or any other Govt giving safe haven to terrorists who target Americans.This new approach will require understanding and restraint from both Pakistan and India," she said.The US, she said, is looking at India to help it more in Afghanistan particularly in economic and development assistance. India has already made important contributions to the stability of Afghanistan. "We are really going to need India's help in Afghanistan. They are the good neighbours and partner that we have in the region," she said.Haley emphasised that the key to India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council is "not to touch the veto". She went on to identify Russia and China as the two global powers against changes in the current structure of the Security Council.PTI
India to tighten standards for consumer goods, move to hurt China:Reuters
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-to-tighten-standards-for-consumer-goods-move-to-hurt-china-4896887/
New Delhi:Govt officials said on Wednesday India would tighten quality controls for consumer and capital goods. The move follows calls to curb cheap imports from China amid diplomatic tensions between Delhi and Beijing after the recently defused Doklam stand-off.The new rules target toys, electronic goods, machinery, food processing, construction and chemicals, sectors dominated by China, and come amid greater scrutiny of mainland firms looking to enter India’s multi-billion dollar power transmission and telecom business. For India’s toy retailers, who import everything from toy cars to musical phones and even robots from China, the new requirements have meant supply disruptions just ahead of Diwali. The new testing requirements for toys focus on their chemical content and flammability and demand more stringent testing for those that are electrically operated. China accounts for 85 % of India’s $760 million toy industry. Indian express
Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat welcomes unity between Fatah and Hamas
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/indian-muslims-umbrella-body-welcomes-unity-between-fatah-and-hamas?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
New Delhi: All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM), the apex body of Indian Muslims, has welcomed the agreement of unity between Palestinians' Fatah and Hamas groups after ten years of discord, division and bitter relations.AIMMM president Mr. Navaid Hamid expressed hope that "the unity deal would hopefully get rid, finally and forever, of the division between the two factions and the leadership of West Bank and Gaza and hopefully it also would bring desired relief to the enslaved citizens of Gaza and end their sufferings and agony which they are facing for more than a decade now because of the siege by Israel." Hamid also expressed his satisfaction over the role played by the Egyptian officials to bring warring factions to sign the historic unity deal in Cairo.IndiaTomorrow
27% children in India are married before they turn 18: UN report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/27-children-in-india-are-married-before-they-turn-18-says-un-report/story-L9GH7YDqabxsGwqge7uHcN.html
New Delhi: India is on track to population stabilisation but is still lagging behind in preventing child marriage and protecting mothers from birth-related complications and deaths.India’s maternal mortality rate (MMR) — mothers dying per 1,00,000 live births — of 174 is below the global average of 216, but it is a far cry from the MMR of 12 in the more developed countries, shows ‘State of World Population 2017’ released by UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) on Tuesday. Twenty-seven % of India’s children get married by age 18 as compared to 28% the world over. Among its neighbours, Bangladesh is worst off, with 59% of the married couples being under-age, followed by Nepal (37%).The report, which analyses changes in global demographics — birth, migration, aging, death etc — notes India’s total fertility rate (TFR) — number of children a woman has in her life — is lower than the world average of 2.5.Updated data from India’s ministry of health puts India’s TFR at 2.2. “The latest data shows TFR has come down to 2.2 but we need to bring it down to 2.1, which is essential for population stabilisation,” said a senior health ministry official. The average TFR in India’s neighbourhood of the Asia and the Pacific regions is 2.1, while it’s 1.7 in more developed countries.“We are focusing on select districts with TFR of more than three by introducing programmes specifically designed for the purpose,” said the official.The report also revealed that gaps in wealth have grown wide within most countries; with many hundreds of millions living on less than Rs 78 a day.The combined wealth of the world’s 2,473 billionaires exceeds $7.7 trillion, which equalled the combined gross domestic product of four-fifths of the world’s countries in 2015.India ranks 18th in the world with 81% of its births taking place through skilled personnel, which is better than 77% globally. Adolescent birth rate per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 years between 2006 and 2017 is 28. The rate around the world is 44 per 1,000 girls in the same age group.HT
Kashmir: Mob protesting braid-chopping attacks army, 2 hurt as forces open fire
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/2-injured-as-security-forces-fire-on-mob-after-braid-chopping-incident/story-hOFroJaiN24SOxVdU8uVPN.html
Srinagar:2 people suffered bullet injuries after security forces opened fire on protesters who pelted stones at them in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district on Wednesday, a senior police officer told HT.“There were protests in the area against allegations of “braid chopping” and army personnel were passing through the area. Protesters pelted stones at them and they opened fire in retaliation. Two persons suffered bullet injuries but they are out of danger,” the officer said.The incident comes on the heels of a continuing chaos in Kashmir Valley in connection to “braid chopping” -- a phrase used to describe the mysterious phenomenon of several women claiming that unknown men attack them and cut off their hair.HT
Aadhaar card mandatory for commoners but not for ministers under Modi govt: indiatoday
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aadhaar-card-mandatory-for-all-modi-government-bjp-ministers-rti/1/1071227.html
If you fail to link your Aadhaar card with your mobile operator or with your Bank you may not get uninterrupted service till the time you link and update it. But, what is more surprising that PMO and other few offices of Central government don't have Aadhaar card details of Modi's Ministers.Modi Government has made linking Aadhaar card mandatory to get benefits of all government services that the 125 crore Indian citizen utilise. But, PMO does not have the information about the Aadhaar card details of its own Ministers working under Modi government. This information has come to light through a reply which was provided to RTI Activist Anil Galgali for his query. Galgali said, "It is surprising to see that PMO or other few concern departments don't have data of Aadhaar card with them of their own ministers. Yes, PM does have an Aadhaar card number but due to security reason details were not given to me."Moreover, RTI application filed by Galgali was transferred to 5 different Ministries. RTO application made rounds to Cabinet Secretariat, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Information and Technology Ministry, and finally reached UIDAI where Galgali got an answer from the Under Secretary, PMO.The information regarding the PM's Aadhaar number was rejected under Section 8(1) of the RTI Act 2005. Information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has not relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless the Central Public Information officer or State Public Information officer or the appellate authority, as the case may be satisfied that the larger public interest justifies the disclosure of such Information.
Bank Aadhaar linking: RBI never issued any order, reveals RTI
http://www.moneylife.in/article/bank-aadhaar-linking-rbi-never-issued-any-order-reveals-rti/51926.html
Kamal Haasan apologises for backing note ban, says Modi should accept mistake
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kamal-haasan-apologises-for-backing-note-ban-says-modi-should-accept-mistake/story-zjhQpdy6gWbde1rNfuyBFI.html
Apologising for supporting demonetisation, actor Kamal Hassan said he will again salute PM Narendra Modi if he also accepts that the note ban was a mistake.In an article in the Tamil magazine Anandavikatan, the actor said accepting and correcting mistakes is a marker for great leaders which Mahatma Gandhi was able to do.He said Modi should not be stubborn in arguing that the rabbit he had caught has three legs.On his initial support for the demonetisation, Hassan said he had welcomed the move and tweeted that it should be supported regardless of party affiliation.IANS
JNU students angry over hostel raid, say authorities trying to malign university
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/jnu-students-angry-over-hostel-raid-say-authorities-trying-to-malign-university/story-SNHBQbLdYrZF6b1DIXkteL.html
New Delhi :An early morning raid – the authorities call it a check – in JNU’s hostel rooms has riled its students, with many maintaining that attempts are being made to malign the university’s scholars, especially its women. Students alleged that a group of security personnel led by a lecturer entered the rooms of women and men students.“Many girls found in boys’ rooms,” a newspaper headline screamed. The students claimed 20-25 security guards led by JNU academic Buddha Singh entered the rooms, including those in the women’s hostels, on October 5.“The wardens of various hostels came for raids after 5 am. JNU being a residential campus has always maintained its character and built an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. But this raid was just the opposite. The wardens didn’t even knock,” said former JNUSU general secretary Satarupa Chakraborty.PTI
JNUTA ‘chargesheets’ V-C, wants to hold public hearing
http://indianexpress.com/article/education/jnuta-chargesheets-v-c-wants-to-hold-public-hearing/
JNU Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) has served a “chargesheet” to the Vice-Chancellor, listing charges against him, including violating statutory provisions, harassing teachers and promoting authoritarianism. The V-C has been given time till October 20 to respond to the charges, following which the JNUTA said it will hold a public hearing against him.“In exercise of the powers vested under the JNUTA constitution, JNUTA proposes to hold a public inquiry against Professor M Jagadesh Kumar. The substance of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour in respect of which the inquiry is to be held is set out in the enclosed statement of the articles of charges. Professor M Jagadesh Kumar is given the opportunity to submit, by the end of working hours on Friday, October 20, a written statement in his defence and state whether he desires to be heard in person or through his representative,” the note given, along with the memorandum, read. JNUTA head Ayesha Kidwai said copies of the chargesheet would also be sent to the Visitor, Chancellor and MHRD minister. Indianexpress
CRPF man arrested over anti- Modi, Rajnath social media post
https://thewire.in/188310/crpf-jawan-sacked-arrested-social-media-post-slamming-rajnath-singh-modi/
New Delhi:CRPF has sacked Pankaj Mishra, constable whose video castigating home minister Rajnath Singh for “not advising” PM Narendra Modi “in the right direction” went viral in April. Mishra had posted the video after a relative – also serving in CRPF – lost his life along with 24 others in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma area.On October 15, a day after his dismissal – reportedly following an internal inquiry ordered after the April incident – Mishra was arrested by the Assam police on the charge of “obscene acts in public, criminal intimidation” under the IPC and the IT Act.After his video on the Sukma attack went viral, Mishra was asked to present himself at the CRPF headquarters in New Delhi, following which he moved the Delhi high court to seek protection once he surrenders. On the advice of the high court, he surrendered to CRPF director general on May 6. Pending an internal inquiry, he was transferred to 119 Battalion stationed in the Rowriah area of Jorhat town in Upper Assam.Though he was learnt to have been warned against posting further videos and comments on social media and his phone was allegedly taken away “by seniors,” on Oct. 7 Mishra posted another video to Facebook from a phone he “borrowed from a friend”.In the video, he alleged “beatings” following his post in April and thereafter in Jorhat as well. He blamed both Singh and Modi for turning a blind eye to the “safety issues” of CRPF soldiers and urged fellow “22 lakh jawans” to raise their voice against “inequality” or “be ready to die”. His demands included fixed working hours, same food as officers, weekly offs and end of physical punishments. thewire
23 more Rajasthan cops get heads tonsured, 250 face probe for going on mass leave
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/23-more-rajasthan-cops-get-heads-tonsured-250-face-probe-for-going-on-mass-leave/articleshow/61127194.cms
Jaipur: Rajasthan police on Tuesday ordered departmental enquiry against 250 cops in Jodhpur who went on mass leave. The policemen who refused guard of honour to visiting Union home minister Rajnath Singh will also face probe. Senior police officials told TOI that most of the police men who had gone on `unsanctioned' leave in Jodhpur and Sriganganagar have reported back for duty on Tuesday. Continuing their protest, 23 more policemen in Bharatpur got their heads tonsured. Rajasthan PHQ has asked senior officials to talk to the constabulary , visit police lines and dine with them to sooth the fraying nerves."All constables who had skipped work in Jodhpur have reported for duty , and most of the constables in Sriganganagar have come back to work," said additional DGP (law and order) N R K Reddy .TOI
HC: Mischief mongers trying to hit communal harmony
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/high-court-mischief-mongers-trying-to-hit-communal-harmony/articleshow/61128745.cms
Chandigarh: Coming down heavily on right wing activists for allegedly slapping a Muslim man for not chanting `Bharat Mata Ki Jai', the Punjab and Haryana high court observed that "few mischief mongers have tried to disturb the peaceful coexistence and communal harmony of the country ."On July 11, Mohammed Haroon Kasni, a Muslim trader from UP , was allegedly targeted by unidentified persons when he refused to riase the `Bharat Mata ki Jai' slogan during a protest by Bajrang Dal activists in Hisar against the attack on Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir.Praising the law enforcement agencies for prompt action, the HC observed, "It is unfortunate that a mob of 10050 persons attacked a religious place of Muslims and beat up a person from the community. But the law enforcement agency registered an FIR in the matter and arrested those involved in the incident." timesofindia
Aligarh: 2 BJP MLAs rush in to prevent arrest of doctors ‘caught’ doing sex-determination test
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aligarh-two-bjp-mlas-rush-in-to-prevent-arrest-of-doctors-caught-doing-sex-determination-test-4895966/
Lucknow:A doctor couple in Aligarh, caught allegedly conducting illegal pre-natal sex-determination tests on a pregnant woman who was a decoy planted by the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) cell of the Rajasthan Govt could not be taken into custody after alleged “interference” by 2 local BJP MLAs, Sanjeev Raja and Anil Parashar, late last night.MLAs allegedly did not allow Rajasthan officials to seize the ultrasound machine or pick up the accused doctors and left the local Kwarsi police station only when the doctor was let go. Officials, including the Aligarh District Magistrate, kept trying to convince the MLAs to let the Rajasthan team do their job but they did not relent, sources said.The Rajasthan team had caught Dr Jayant Sharma and his wife conducting the sex determination test in their Jeevan Nursing Home on Monday evening. The woman reportedly escaped from the hospital. Local police brought Sharma with the seized ultrasound machine to the police station. MLAs, too, reached the police station and along with SP City, City Magistrate and other officials, sat there until 2 am.Confirming this, DM of Aligarh Rishikesh Bhaskar Yashod said: “We apprised senior officers in Govt regarding the local public representatives interfering in the legal matter. We tried to convince the MLAs to allow the legal procedure but they refused to listen.” Indianexpress
Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani appointed Muslim Personal Law Board spokesman
https://www.siasat.com/news/maulana-khalid-saifullah-rahmani-appointed-muslim-personal-law-board-spokesman-1244338/
Hyderabad: Keeping in view the importance of media in the country, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) President Maulana Syed Rabey Hasani Nadvi has appointed Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani as spokesman. Earlier Maulana Khaleel ur Rahman Sajjad Nomani had been appointed All India spokesman. Its General Secretary Maulana Vali Rahmani has requested print and electronic media persons to contact Maulana Nomani and Maulana Saifullah Rahmani for Board representation. Siasat
Boycotted for marrying a Muslim: Armed with law, 61-yr-old files social boycott complaint
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/boycotted-for-marrying-a-muslim-armed-with-law-61-yr-old-files-social-boycott-complaint-4895919/
Pune: Ramesh Dattu Hiranwale, 61, made a police complaint on Tuesday, alleging that he had been socially boycotted by the Veershaiva Lingayat Gawali community he belongs to since he married a Muslim girl in 1992. Following the complaint, police have booked 20 people, said to be members of caste panchayat of Hiranwale’s community, under a new Maharashtra law that seeks to protect people from social boycott.In his complaint, Hiranwale said he was not allowed to attend his father’s funeral and was forced to marry a Hindu woman on the assurance that his social boycott would end. “I was also asked not be present for the engagement ceremony of my niece in Dec.2016,” he said. An advocate who no longer practises, Hiranwale said that he had fallen in love and married Shamshunnisa Khan, a girl living in his neighbourhood, on June 19, 1992.“Soon, I was boycotted by my caste panchayat. I had to leave my ancestral home at Gawali Wada in Pune Camp. I started living at Shamshunnisa’s house. I requested the caste panchayat several times and even apologised to them. But the boycott continued… At one point, they assured me that they would stop the boycott if I married a Hindu woman. I was under pressure and got married to a Hindu girl from Pune. But even then, the boycott continued,” he alleged. “I came back to Shamshunnisa. She supported me. I was accepted by her family. They honour me by adding my name on the wedding cards of my Muslim relatives… I miss similar treatment by my own community. I do visit my ancestral house and meet my relatives. They do not hate me. But they are forced to maintain a distance due to the pressure from the caste panchayat,” Hiranwale said. He has also alleged that some caste panchayat members demanded money from him for lifting the social boycott.Indian Express
WORLD
US judge rules against latest travel ban, saying Trump’s own words show it was aimed at Muslims
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/second-judge-rules-against-latest-travel-ban-saying-trumps-own-words-show-it-was-aimed-at-muslims/2017/10/18/5ecdaa44-b3ed-11e7-9e58-e6288544af98_story.html?utm_term=.6e23097a3ed3
A federal judge in Maryland early Wednesday issued a second halt on the latest version of President Trump’s travel ban, asserting that the president’s own comments on the campaign trail and on Twitter convinced him that the directive was akin to an unconstitutional Muslim ban. US District Judge Theodore D. Chuang issued a somewhat less complete halt on the ban than his counterpart in Hawaii did a day earlier, blocking the administration from enforcing the directive only on those who lacked a “bona fide” relationship with a person or entity in the US, such as family members or some type of professional or other engagement in the US.But in some ways, Chuang’s ruling was more personally cutting to Trump, as he said the president’s own words cast his latest attempt to impose a travel blockade as the “inextricable re-animation of the twice-enjoined Muslim ban.”Omar Jadwat, who directs of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project and represented those suing in Maryland over the ban, said: “Like the two versions before it, President Trump’s latest travel ban is still a Muslim ban at its core. And like the two before it, this one is going down to defeat in the courts.”The third iteration of Trump’s travel ban had been set to go fully into effect early Wednesday, barring various types of travelers from Syria, Libya, Iran, Yemen, Chad, Somalia, North Korea and Venezuela. Even before Chuang’s ruling, though, a federal judge in Hawaii stopped it — at least temporarily — for all of the countries except North Korea and Venezuela.Washington Post
Canadian province Quebec to vote on law forcing Muslim women to remove face veils on public transport
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/quebec-muslim-women-face-veil-ban-law-vote-bill-french-canada-state-public-transport-a8005271.html
Muslim women who wear a burka or niqab in the Canadian province of Quebec, could soon be forced to remove them when using public transport. A new law proposed by the local Govt would ban any form of face covering for people offering and receiving public services in the province. Bill 62 could be put to a vote in Quebec’s National Assembly this week and if passed, it would ban public workers including doctors, nurses, teachers and bus drivers from wearing face veils. "As long as the service is being rendered, the face should be uncovered," the province's justice minister Stéphanie Vallée told the Daybreak TV show."This is a bill about le vivre ensemble (living together in harmony). It's a bill about guidelines and clearly establishes neutrality of the state."She said the ban was needed for “communication reasons, identification reasons and security reasons”. The law, which would be the first of its kind in North America, has received criticism over both vagueness of its implementation, and its perceived targeting of Muslim women. Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party, told Huffington Post in August that Bill 62 “contravenes individuals freedoms” and would “disproportionately impact Muslims”.“I think it is important to acknowledge that the Muslim community is facing a very significant amount of hate and Islamophobia, and it is up to all of us to stand in solidarity with the community,” he said. Independent
Quebec to vote on controversial face veil ban
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/quebec-vote-controversial-face-veil-ban-171017194038893.html
British men suffering Islamophobic abuse because they 'look Muslim', reveals research
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/muslim-hate-abuse-racism-uk-verbal-physical-emotional-look-beards-islamophobia-research-a8005156.html
Non-Muslim men living in the UK have suffered verbal, physical and emotional abuse because they “look Muslim,” research has revealed. Interviewees described how animal excrement had been pushed through their mailboxes and their shop windows smashed. Others said they were called terrorists or linked to Isis because of their skin colour or their beards.The study found there were increases in hostility around the EU referendum and after terror attacks.In research presented at the House of Commons during Hate Crime Awareness Week, Dr Imran Awan and Dr Irene Zempi argued the experiences of non-Muslim men suffering Islamophobia because they look Muslim remains invisible, both in official statistics and academic research. “Although it’s a case of mistaken identity, Islamophobic abuse should not be happening in the first place,” Dr Awan, Associate Professor of Criminology at Birmingham City University, said. He said the research showed how perpetrators of hate crimes target their victims “based on prejudice and stereotypes”. The researchers interviewed 20 non-Muslim men aged between 19 and 59 from black, white and Asian backgrounds. They included those from the Sikh, Christian and Hindu faiths, as well as atheists. Their responses were made anonymous in order to prevent them from being identified. The Independent
Hate crimes rise around Brexit vote, recent attacks
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/hate-crimes-rise-brexit-vote-attacks-171018110119902.html
France arrests 10 over suspected plot targeting politicians, mosques
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/france-arrests-10-over-suspected-plot-targeting-politicians-mosques/story-c6pmrf7cNsR77quhwdwTTN.html
Paris: 10 people were arrested in France on Tuesday over a suspected plot to target mosques and politicians, including a Govt spokesman, a source close to the investigation told AFP.The arrests by anti-terror police of suspects aged 17-25 were part of an investigation into far-right activists, the source said.The nine men and one woman are suspected of links to Logan Alexandre Nisin, a former militant of the far-right group Action Francaise Provence who was arrested in June, the source said.Another source named the targeted politicians as Govt spokesman Christophe Castaner and radical left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon.The suspects, taken into custody for “association with terrorist wrongdoers”, were also thought to be plotting to target migrants as well as mosques.AFP
Qatar accuses Saudi of promoting 'regime change'
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/qatar-accuses-saudi-arabia-promoting-regime-change-171018034411357.html
Qatar has accused Saudi Arabia of trying to engineer "regime change" during its four-month blockade of its Gulf neighbour. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told CNBC on Tuesday that Riyadh is attempting to destabilise Qatar's leadership."We see [Saudi] Govt officials talking about regime change …We see a country that is bringing back the dark ages of tribes and putting them together in order to create a pressure on connected tribes in Qatar," he said.Sheikh said the plan of the blockading countries was not to thwart "terrorism" but to "disrespect and bully"."It is nothing to do with stopping financing terrorism or hate speech while they are doing the same by promoting incitement against my country, promoting a regime change in my country," he said. aljazeera
Qatar's leader denounces 'unjust siege'
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/qatar-leader-denounces-unjust-siege-171018101353540.html
Qatar's leader says he is "open to dialogue" in resolving the four-month blockade imposed by Gulf neighbours, calling the move an "unjust siege".Speaking in Indonesia - which has the world's largest population of Muslims and close ties to the Arab world - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said he discussed the crisis with President Joko Widodo."We conveyed … that Qatar is ready to conduct a dialogue to solve the problem as we already know that no one will win," Sheikh Tamim told reporters after meeting with Widodo at the state palace in Bogor, outside the capital Jakarta. aljazeera
Iraq's military declares mission accomplished in Kirkuk
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/iraq-military-declares-mission-accomplished-kirkuk-171018085053447.html
Iraq's military says it achieved its objectives in a lightning-quick operation that saw troops sweep through disputed Kurdish-held territory in a punishing riposte to an independence vote last month. Iraqi troops and allied militia retook the northern province of Kirkuk and its lucrative oil fields on Monday and Tuesday, as well as formerly Kurdish-held areas of Nineveh and Diyala provinces - all outside the autonomous Kurdish region.PM Haider al-Abadi said Kurdish hopes for an independent state were now "a thing of the past". It remains unclear how many Peshmerga fighters were killed in sporadic clashes during the takeover."Since last night we've received 25 corpses of Peshmerga troops killed in battles of Kirkuk and its suburbs," Barzan Mohammed, a morgue official in the Kurdish region's second city of Sulaimaniyah, told Al Jazeera. aljazeera
25 Kurds killed in clashes over Kirkuk, say medics
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/25-kurds-killed-in-clashes-over-kirkuk-say-medics/story-4wTpyWn4TVPGJOKbpOFIUJ.html
Myanmar security forces killed hundreds during systematic campaign to expel Rohingyas: Amnesty
http://www.firstpost.com/world/myanmar-security-forces-killed-hundreds-during-systematic-campaign-to-expel-rohingyas-claims-amnesty-4155421.html
Bangkok:Myanmar security forces killed hundreds of men, women and children during a systematic campaign to expel Rohingya Muslims, Amnesty International said in a new report on Wednesday that calls for an arms embargo on the country and criminal prosecution of the perpetrators.Based on interviews with more than 120 fleeing Rohingya, Amnesty International said at least hundreds of people were killed by security forces who surrounded villages, shot fleeing inhabitants and then set buildings alight, burning to death the elderly, sick and disabled who were unable to flee.In some villages, women and girls were raped or subjected to other sexual violence, according to the report.The witnesses repeatedly described an insignia on their attackers' uniforms that matched one worn by troops from Myanmar's Western Command, Amnesty International said.Among almost two dozen recommendations, the human rights group called for the UN Security Council to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar and financial sanctions against senior officials responsible for violations that Amnesty says meet the criteria for crimes against humanity.It said the council should explore options for bringing the perpetrators to justice under international law if Myanmar authorities do not act swiftly.AP
US takes aim at Yemeni Islamic State for first time:Reuters
https://in.reuters.com/article/yemen-security-usa/u-s-takes-aim-at-yemeni-islamic-state-for-first-time-idINKBN1CM0OY
DUBAI:US said it launched its first attack on Islamic State’s deadly Yemen branch on Monday with a series of nighttime airstrikes that residents said targeted two villages and killed several people. Unmanned U.S. drones launched around 12 missiles at militant positions in Yakla and al-Abl in southern al-Bayda province, according to local people living nearby, who declined to be named due to safety concerns.They said the number of casualties caused by the attack was not immediately clear because locals were too afraid to approach the site as U.S. aircraft hovered over the area for hours.The Pentagon said in a statement that U.S. forces had killed dozens of Islamic State members in a strike on two camps where fighters trained in using machine guns and grenade launchers.
Roadside blast kills elite police in Pakistan's Quetta
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/roadside-blast-kills-elite-police-pakistan-quetta-171018053947074.html
Islamabad:A suicide bomber has killed at least seven police officers and wounded 22 others in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta.The attack targeted a truck carrying police personnel on the city's main Saryab road on Wednesday morning, local police official Muhammad Akbar told Al Jazeera.Provincial home minister Sarfaraz Bugti, speaking to media at the site of the attack, said those attacked were "elite" officers.Six police officers and a civilian were killed and 22 wounded, said provincial CM Sanaullah Zehri, speaking to reporters at the hospital where the wounded were being treated.Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, has often been at the centre of attacks by both religious armed groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban and armed ethnic Baloch separatists fighting for independence from Pakistan. Al Jazeera
Chinese President Xi assures neighbours to resolve disputes through dialogue
http://indianexpress.com/article/world/china-president-xi-jinping-assures-neighbours-to-resolve-disputes-through-dialogue-4896949/
Beijing : President Xi Jinping on Wednesday assured China’s jittery neighbours that Beijing is ready to resolve its disputes through dialogue but not at the expense of its strategic interests, as he opened a key meeting of the ruling Communist party elite that will boost his grip on power with a second term and even an unprecedented third innings. Xi, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), called the progress China had made under his watch “truly remarkable,” but told over 2,000 delegates attending 19th Party Congress that more needed to be done as the country moves towards a goal of “national rejuvenation”.“Our party, our people, our forces, and our nation have changed in ways without precedent,” he said from the Great Hall of the People adjoining the Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing on the opening day of the week-long meeting. About the neighbours, Xi said China would “deepen relations its neighbours in accordance with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership”.“We should commit to settling disputes through dialogue and resolving differences through discussion, coordinate responses to traditional and non-traditional threats and oppose terrorism in all its forms,” Xi said. His comments assume significance in the backdrop of the recent military standoff between India and China in Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector. China was engaged in a number of maritime disputes with neighbours in the South and East China seas.PTI
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
BJP’s Attack on the ‘Muslim’ Taj Mahal Is Part of a Wider Project: Uldeep Kumar
https://thewire.in/188322/taj-mahal-bjp/
Aaj Ki Baat: 'Need to modernize madrasas':Rajat Sharma
http://www.indiatvnews.com/aaj-ki-baat/news-aaj-ki-baat-october-17-episode-need-to-modernize-madrasas-407315
Held under Public Safety Act, 80-yr kashmiri political activist completes a year in jail:Majid Maqbool, The Wire
https://thewire.in/173758/kashmir-hurriyat-detention-psa/
Himachal elections: BJP announces list of 68 candidates, Dhumal to contest from Sujanpur: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/elections/himachal-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/himachal-bjp-announces-list-of-68-candidates-for-upcoming-elections-dhumal-satti-in-fray-4896674/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:19 PM)
