NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
12 June 2018:27 Ramazan 1439: Vol:10, No:44
INDIA
Modi asks security officials, police to check funding of NGOs involved in 'anti-national activities':firstpost
https://www.firstpost.com/india/exclusive-narendra-modi-asks-security-officials-police-to-check-funding-of-ngos-involved-in-anti-national-activities-4505317.html
In a closed-door, high-level meeting, PM Narendra Modi has asked top security officials to work with the state police to monitor how NGOs and groups suspected to be involved in anti-national activities are funded.Top sources said Modi recently expressed concerned over the subject, and that Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will engage with states to deal with the matter.In the last couple of years, Govt agencies have brought numerous NGOs under the scanner for allegedly misappropriating funds and engaging in activities believed to be detrimental to the sovereignty of the country.Even the Supreme Court had observed last year that Centre must frame rules to regulate Govt funding to NGOs. Around 30 lakh NGOs operate in India, but merely 10 % of them file their balance sheets.This allows a large number of these NGOs to freely operate without accountability and spend more than Rs 900 crore Govt grants them every year, besides the thousands of crores that pour in as foreign contributions. “A vibrant civil society is vital for democracy, but some recent incidents in India raised suspicion over the intent of some of these NGOs said to be fighting for a cause," a top Govt officer said. The PM ’s directive to have state police monitor the funding of NGOs and other organisations involved in anti-national activities is based on evidence that reveals huge sums circulating in the coffers of civil society groups and several NGOs suspected to be involved in anti-India activities.NGOs are receiving nearly Rs 27,000 crore in domestic and foreign grants. According to MHA, there are approximately 25,000 active organisations registered under FCRA. Records suggest that NGOs received foreign contributions to the tune of Rs 18,065 crore for various social, cultural, economic, educational and religious activities in 2016-17. A majority of these NGOs also received funds from companies under Corporate Social Responsibility mandated by the Govt . On 1 June, Home Minister Rajnath Singh launched an online analytical tool to facilitate closer monitoring of the flow and use of foreign contributions organisations registered under FCRA receive.Tool enables decision-makers in various departments of the Govt to scrutinise the source of the funds and their actual use in the country."It gives them the capacity to make data-driven and evidence-based decisions regarding the compliance of the provisions of FCRA," MHA had said. Firstpost
1 in 2 Indian Muslims fears being falsely accused in terrorism cases, finds study
https://theprint.in/governance/one-in-two-indian-muslims-fears-being-falsely-accused-in-terrorism-cases-finds-study/69295/
New Delhi:The sense of being discriminated against by police is strongest among Muslims, especially those in Bihar, said a study that seeks to analyse the perception about police along state and community lines.The survey was carried out by NGO Common Cause and Lokniti, a research initiative of the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), among 15,563 respondents across 22 states in June and July 2017. “Among the total number of respondents, 26% of Muslims were of the view that police discriminated on the basis of religion, while less than 18% of Hindus and 16% of Sikhs thought the same,” the report added.The researchers also discovered that as many as 44 % of Indians were fearful of being beaten up by police, a finding reported by ThePrint Monday in first of its series of reports on the study.According to the survey, over 47% of Muslims across the country said they feared being falsely accused of terrorist activities. Trying to explain the perception,researchers cited “large proportion” of Muslims in country’s jails.This sentiment was said to be most widely prevalent in Telangana.theprint
Govt to examine feasibility of blocking WhatsApp calling services in insurgency-hit areas
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-to-examine-feasibility-of-blocking-whatsapp-calling-services-in-insurgency-hit-areas/story-qdBwFuA49Sy0BGgGHpXzeO.html
Centre will examine if WhatsApp calls can be blocked in insurgency-hit areas such as J&K after reports that militants are using the feature on the messaging app to stay in touch with their handlers across the border, officials said.The issue was flagged during a meeting on Monday under the chairmanship of home secretary Rajiv Gauba where the recent arrests in connection the terror attack at Nagrota Army camp in 2016 was highlighted. The arrested militants of Jaish-e-Mohammed told the J&K Police that they were taking directions from across the border through WhatsApp calls, they said.Seven Army men were killed in the terror attack.PTI
Gorakhpur: Unidentified persons booked for attack on doctor Kafeel’s brother
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gorakhpur-unidentified-persons-booked-for-attack-on-doctors-brother-5213686/
Gorakhpur police has lodged an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the attack on Kashif Jameel, younger brother of suspended BRD Medical College paediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan, the previous day. Police suspect the attack may be a fallout of a property dispute, while Dr Khan believed it was connected to the “false” cases filed against him. Jameel (35) was attacked late Sunday night. He was rushed to a hospital where his condition was reported to be stable. FIR has been filed on a complaint form Jameel and Khan’s elder brother Adeel Ahmed. City Kotwali police SHO Ghanshyam Tiwari said, “Two bullets grazed through his right hand and right shoulder while the third one hit his neck, which was removed after operation Monday.”indianexpress
Ranchi:5 held for attacking clerics
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/jharkhand/5-held-for-attacking-cleric-237057
Ranchi: 5 men were arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting a cleric at Daladali under Nagri thana area, 20km from here, around 11pm on Sunday.The accused, all aged between 25 and 30 years, have been identified as Babloo Tirkey, Babloo Kujur, Kamlesh Mahli, Dilip Mahli and Satish Singh. Except Satish, who hails from Hehal, all others are from Lalgutwa. They were arrested from different localities of the district and sent to 14 days' judicial custody at BirsaMunda Central Jail.Telegraphindia
Rihai Manch takes victim families to Barabanki DM, demand revocation of NSA against muslim laborers
http://caravandaily.com/portal/rihai-manch-takes-victim-families-to-barabanki-dm-sp-demand-revocation-of-nsa-against-muslim-laborers/
Lucknow:A high-level delegation of rights group Rihai Manch took the families of in-jail Muslim laborers to the Barabanki DM and SP on Monday and demanded revocation of the NSA imposed on the four poor laborers following a minor communal clash in March this year.In their memorandum to the district authorities, the Rihai Manch delegation, led by its president Adv. Mohammad Shoaib and ex IG of UP and human rights activist S.R. Darapuri, said that NSA runs contrary to justice and law and its invocation for the four poor Muslim laborers was politically-motivated.While meeting Barabanki DM Udai Bhan Tripathi along with the victim families, the Rihai Manchdelegation said that 4 Muslims incarcerating in the local jail are street vendors or daily laborers and they can not be a threat to the national security.Rihai Manch delegation meets Barabanki DM Udai Bhan Tripathi seeking revocation of NSA against four Muslim laborers“ DM assured that he would consider the issue when the case will be put before him,” said Rajeev Yadav of Rihai Manch who was also part of the delegation.caravandaily
UP : Building sealed after MLA complains about ‘illegal’ mosque, madrasa
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/uttar-pradesh-building-sealed-after-mla-complains-about-illegal-mosque-madrasa-5213674/
Lucknow;Tension prevailed in a Muslim-dominated area of Siddharth Nagar district after the district administration sealed a building from where a mosque and madrasa were running “illegally” for over a month. Administration claims to have acted after an inquiry into on a complaint from Kapilvastu BJP MLA Shyam Dhani ‘Rahi’ that the owner of the building had only permission for a house and not the madrasa on the ground floor or the mosque on the first. The owner’s grandson, however, denied that the building was used as a mosque for the public, and said that the madrasa was affiliated to UP Madrasa Board.On the MLA’s complaint,FIR was lodged against building owner Hasmullah and his grandsons Saifudeen and Kamrudeen at Sadar police station, said SHO Shamsher Bahadur Singh. “During preliminary inquiry, it was found that Hasmullah had procured power connection at the building mentioning it as a mosque. Last month, three loudspeakers were installed at the top of the building and an announcement was made that a mosque has been established there and locals could offer prayers. Hence, FIR was lodged into the matter,” he said, adding that map for construction house was passed in Nov,2017.“People of Hindu community too live in same area. We invoked IPC sections 295 and 295-A on grounds of allegations that the actions of the accused could cause disturbance of communal harmony. The detailed investigation would find out if the charges are true against the accused,” he said. When contacted, MLA Shyam Dhani claimed, “I was informed by locals last month that Hasmullah Haji was constructing a house on his land at Belsar area. On May 17, he made an announcement through three loudspeakers installed at the building that the place is now a ‘Jama Masjid’ of district and all Muslims of the district could offer prayers there.” When contacted, Hasmullah’s grandson Saifudeen denied that any announcement was made from the “mosque”.“Madrasa was running on the ground and is affiliated to UP Madrasa Board. On the first floor, 42 children, who were enrolled last month, had been taking prayer lessons. District administration is harassing us and we will move court to get the building unsealed,” said Saifudeen. SDM Naugarh Rajesh Singh, said, “On the basis of report, I issued an order on June 2 to seal building and it was enforced same day.”indianexpress
40 arrested for spreading rumours of child lifting gangs in Assam after mob lynches 2 on suspicion
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/around-40-arrested-for-spreading-rumours-of-child-lifting-gangs-in-assam-after-mob-lynches-2-on-suspicion/story-QQJ9wLXbWO2E3av18OEFcN.html
Guwahati:At least 40 people have been arrested across Assam so far for spreading rumours about child lifting gangs and hate messages on social media platforms in the aftermath of the brutal lynching of two young men in Karbi Anglong last week, Assam Police said on Tuesday. More than 70 other people were allowed to go after counselling and making them delete their objectionable posts, police said, adding that most of the arrested are less than 30 years old. In the lynching case, the police have arrested 25 people. Many others suspected to be part of the mob which attacked the duo are on the run.In addition to them, police in Karbi Anglong have arrested six people for recording the ghastly act on their mobile phones and circulating it. However, some more involved in circulating the video are absconding, the police said, claiming that there are at least three different video clips of the incident.HT
Wasim Rizvi orders Shia waqf property caretakers to get its properties vacated from Sunni Muslims
https://www.oneindia.com/india/shia-waqf-board-orders-its-caretakers-to-get-its-properties-vacated-from-sunnies-2713973.html
New Delhi: Dispute over the waqf properties between Shia and Sunni communities has taken a new turn with UP Shia Central Waqf Board asking all its caretakers to get such properties vacated from Sunni community which are being misused by them. It is alleged that the community is not only harming the property but also misusing them even they are being used for the wrong purposes. However, due to fear of peace getting disturb, the Govt and police are not interfering into the matter. Shia Waqf Board chairman Syed Wasim Rizvi told OneIndia gross misuse of waqf properties is happening in UP . They are being illegally sold, they are forcefully occupied and in some cases they are becoming shelters of outlaws.On the other hand a Sunni scholar from Darul Uloom Deoband Mufti Afroz Alam Qasmi told One India that it is absolutely wrong as such property is not for Shia, Sunni or Barelwi but for the welfare of humanity as such. So this is just to cause confusion and enmity among the different sects of Islam. Qasmi further said that if a property is given for waqf it is used for educational institution then anyone can use it for its betterment. If a well is on the waqf property it does not mean water is for any particular class. oneindia
Indore: Religious leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj shoots himself dead
https://scroll.in/latest/882353/indore-religious-leader-bhaiyyuji-maharaj-shoots-himself-dead
Indore-based religious leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj committed suicide at his home on Tuesday, PTI reported. Maharaj was taken to the Bombay Hospital in Indore after he shot himself, but he succumbed to his injuries.The doctors at Bombay Hospital have confirmed his death, TOI reported. Indore DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra told Indian Express that family dispute could be the reason behind the religious leader’s extreme step.
Maharaj commits suicide, suicide note says he was depressed;Congress demands CBI probe
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bhaiyyuji-maharaj-commits-suicide-madhya-pradesh-shivraj-singh-chouhan-shoots-self-5214282/
Communal clash breaks out in Delhi’s Model Town, no complaints filed: Report
https://scroll.in/latest/882298/communal-clash-breaks-out-in-delhis-model-town-no-complaints-filed-report
Delhi Police were deployed to intervene in a clash that broke out between members of the Valmiki and Muslim communities in Model Town’s Sangam Park on Sunday, Indian Express reported. While those present at the site said several people were injured in the stone pelting that ensued, the police said two people had sustained injuries.The clash was triggered when a Class 10 student from the Valmiki community pushed a bystander who fell on a 36-year-old man from Muslim community, the police claimed. “Our son had only pushed the passerby and that man had assaulted him,” the boy’s mother said.A fight soon broke out between the two and others joined in. The man’s wife, however, claimed that he was also hurt in the scuffle. “They say my husband had assaulted a young boy,” the man’s wife said. “But he is injured himself. I made sure he did not go for the peace meetings as I fear for his life.”scroll
Five injured in Delhi communal violence
https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/five-injured-in-delhi-communal-violence-1257948-2018-06-12
BJP’s youth wing files complaint against Shehla over Gadkari remark
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/bjps-youth-wing-files-complaint-against-shehla-over-gadkari-remark/articleshow/64550674.cms
New Delhi: BJP’s youth wing on Monday filed a complaint against JNU student leader Shehla Rashid for making “unpleasant remarks” against Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the organisation said.On June 9, Rashid had tweeted, “Looks like RSS/Gadkari is planning to assassinate Modi, then blame it on Muslims/Communists and then lynch Muslims # RajivGandhiStyle”. PTI
Indian Muslims not falling prey to Islamist violence because of democracy: MJ Akbar
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-muslims-not-falling-prey-to-islamist-violence-because-of-democracy-mj-akbar-5213683/
Sustained democracy over the past 7 decades is the reason behind Indian Muslims not falling to the “temptations” of Islamist violence, Union minister MJ Akbar said. The ideas of democracy, gender equality, gender empowerment and economic equity, are going to be the substantial answers to the ideology of terrorism, Minister of State for External Affairs said.“Today, the reason why Indian Muslims are not falling victim to the temptation of Islamist violence is because, and I hope I am not wrong in saying, that Indian Muslims are the only Muslims in the world who have enjoyed seven decades of sustained democracy,” Akbar said.He was delivering a keynote address at a seminar on ‘Tackling Insurgent Ideologies’ organised by Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.indianexpress
Bodh Gaya Blast: Murshidabad man arrested for helping terror outfit
https://www.news18.com/news/india/bodh-gaya-blast-murshidabad-man-arrested-for-helping-terror-outfit-get-explosives-1775015.html
Kolkata:A Murshidabad resident was arrested on Monday for allegedly helping JMB get explosives to carry out the 2013 Bodh Gaya blast. Hajibulla, 57-year-old resident of Samsherganj in Bengal’s Murshidabad district, was apprehended by Kolkata Police's STF from Hooghly’s Bandel Railway Station while he was buying ticket for a local train. Police said preliminary inquiry revealed that he was also involved in a fake currency racket. Hajibulla is the fifth JMB suspect to have been arrested so far in Bodh Gaya explosion case.News18
India lodges strong protest with Pakistan over amendments to Azad J&K Interim Constitution
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-lodges-strong-protest-with-pakistan-over-amendments-to-azad-jk-interim-constitution-5213412/
New Delhi:India on Monday said it had lodged a strong protest with Islamabad over any “action to alter the status” of territories illegally occupied by Pakistan in J&K and asked it to vacate all such areas. It was reacting to the changes to Azad J&K Interim Constitution (13th Amendment) Act, 2018, which abolished AJK Councils’s administrative and financial powers, reducing it to an advisory body.It was clearly conveyed that the entire state of J&K , which also includes the “so-called Azad J&K ” is an integral part of India by virtue of its accession in 1947, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. “Any action to alter the status of any part of the territory under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan has no legal basis whatsoever, and is completely unacceptable. Instead of seeking to alter the status of the occupied territories, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation,” the statement said.PTI
Since 2010, 467 local youth from 354 villages across Jammu-Kashmir have become militants
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/since-2010-a-militant-or-more-in-every-village-in-jammu-and-kashmir-hizbul-mujahideen-burhan-wani-death-5213627/
New Delhi :Since the summer uprising of 2010, as many as 467 local youth from 354 villages across Kashmir and the Chenab valley have become militants. Among them, 335 have come from 247 villages in South Kashmir.A report by security agencies has spotlighted the geographical spread of the militancy that was quelled in 2010, but which surged after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016.The report divides Kashmir into 29 clusters, and finds that while the epicentre of the new militancy lies in South Kashmir, local youth have been recruited in almost every district in the Valley, besides Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Ramban in the Chenab valley of Jammu province.indianexpress
Kashmiri youths organise 9-day mission to end misconceptions about Islam among non-Muslim tourists
http://twocircles.net/2018jun11/423674.html
Srinagar: A group of youth in Kashmir under banner of a valley-based organisation, Islamic Fraternity (IF) are organising a 9-day campaign from May 30 to June 7 to clear misconceptions about Islam at famous tourist resorts of Sonamarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir valley.A tent was erected by youth at Sonamarg and a canopy at Pahalgam, where dozens of participants distributed Islamic literature particularly the Holy Qur’an in various languages and multilingual books and pamphlets answering many basic questions on Islam. Programme was part of a series of campaigns that Islamic Fraternity had started to spread awareness about Islam among non-Muslims and to break the propaganda created by “biased” media against Islam across the globe.“To present the true image of Islam before the world particularly our non-Muslim brethren, who otherwise are misled by the forces inimical to Islam by their negative portrayal of this religion of peace, is our obligation,” Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, a 27-year-old from Srinagar and head of Islamic Fraternity said.TwoCircles
Jamiat Ulama to release Muslim prisoners booked on minor charges
https://www.siasat.com/news/jamiat-ulama-e-hind-release-muslim-prisoners-booked-minor-charges-1367990/
Mumbai: Jamiat Ulama-i-Maharashtra which takes up cases of Muslim youth who have been implicated in terror charges in the country has taken initiative to release Muslim prisoners falsely implicated or booked on minor charges. The body sought details of the prisoners who are languishing in various jails of Maharashtra on minor charges.Advocate of Jamiat Ulama-i-Maharashtra Shahid Nadeem told that on the direction of Secretary Legal Aid Committee Gulzar Azmi, RTIs were filed to Arthur Road prison, Taloja jail, Byculla jail, Thane jail and Nasik Central jail asking for the list of prisoners who are facing minor charges and could be released on bail.After getting the list, Jamiat will provide them legal aid and pay bail amount for them.siasat
UP IAS officers question lateral recruitment of bureaucrats, will hold meeting
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-ias-officers-question-lateral-recruitment-of-bureaucrats-will-hold-meeting/story-A0xeotdfsfp5n67s6q8LqK.html
Lucknow:IAS officers in UP have objected to the central Govt ’s decision to induct specialists at the joint secretary level through lateral recruitment, saying appointments done that way could be “manipulated”.“UP IAS Association will convene a meeting of its executive committee soon to discuss the issue,” said association secretary Alok Kumar.Although most senior IAS officers in service refuse to speak on record on the issue, lateral entry into the bureaucracy remained a point of discussion among them in Lucknow on Monday.HT
AAP dharna LIVE: Appalled by L-G’s refusal to end IAS officers’ strike, says Kerjiwal
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/aap-dharna-live-updates-arvind-kerjiwal-sisodia-satyendar-jain-gopal-rai-sit-in-protest-l-g-anil-baijal-office-5213733/
New Delhi:The sit-in protest began by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and 3 of his ministers inside the Lt Governor’s Secretariat entered the second day.They are demanding L-G Anil Baijal to act against agitating IAS officials and approve the doorstep delivery of ration — a pet project of AAP Govt .Following a brief meeting with Baijal at 5.30 pm on Monday, Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain and Labour Minister Gopal Rai refused to leave the waiting room of L-G office.Kejriwal alleged that PMO and L-G were instigating a “rebellion” against elected govt by “coordinating” the ongoing agitation that began following the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Feb.19.indianexpress
Muslim Man Donates Rs 3 Lakh To West Bengal Villagers To Build Temple
https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2018/06/12/muslim-man-donates-rs-3-lakh-to-west-bengal-villagers-to-build-temple_a_23456587/
Moved by the story of a Bengal villages' struggle to build a temple, a Muslim software engineer reportedly donated the residents Rs 3 lakh to help them.According to a report on Anandabzar Patrika, Saidul Sheik is a software engineer who returned to India on a break after working in Kuwait and Australia. Though Sheikh had never visited the village in question, he met one of the residents at an eatery near his home. They started chatting, and in course of the conversation, Sheikh came to know how the villagers in Khasmora, near Domjur in West Bengal, were struggling to put together funds to build a temple. He decided he wanted to help.huffingtonpost
WORLD
Trump, Kim sign ‘comprehensive’ document, process to denuclearise N.Korea to start ‘very quickly’
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-sign-comprehensive-document-process-to-denuclearise-north-korea-to-start-very-quickly/story-iHmaz2UqW2u61iHRWx90mI.html
Singapore:US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged on Tuesday to work toward complete denuclearisation of Korean peninsula while Washington committed to provide security guarantees for its old enemy.“President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to DPRK and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,” said a joint statement issued after their historic summit in Singapore.DPRK is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the formal name of North Korea.Trump said he expected the denuclearisation process to start “very, very quickly”. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean officials would hold follow-up negotiations “at the earliest possible date”, the statement said.It however did not give any details on how denuclearisation would be achieved. The document also made no mention of the international sanctions that have crippled North Korea’s economy, for pursuing its nuclear weapons programme. Nor was there any reference to finally signing a peace treaty. The combatants of 1950-53 Korean War are technically still at war, as the conflict, in which millions of people died, was concluded only with a truce.But the joint statement did say the 2 sides had agreed to recovering the remains of prisoners of war and those missing in action and repatriating them.Reuters
Trump and Kim sign agreement after historic summit
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/trump-kim-sign-agreement-historic-summit-180612055349622.html
India welcomes Kim Jong Un, Donald Trump summit, says it’s ‘positive development’
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-welcomes-kim-jong-un-donald-trump-summit-says-it-s-positive-development/story-wwxR4IkNnvXy5XNyxJVJ5H.html
India welcomed the historic summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, calling it a positive development.In its reaction, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) at the same time hoped that any resolution to the North Korean “peninsula issue” will address India’s concerns about Pyongyang’s proliferation linkages with India’s neighbourhood,seen as an apparent reference to Pakistan. India has been pressing for a probe into North Korea’s proliferation linkages with India’s neighbourhood.PTI
UNSC urges Taliban to reciprocate Govt ceasefire 'in full'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/unsc-urges-taliban-reciprocate-Govt -ceasefire-full-180612055452622.html
UN Security Council urged the Taliban in Afghanistan to reciprocate Govt's temporary ceasefire offer "in full". Taliban announced a 3-day truce over the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end of the week, in an apparent response to the earlier unilateral ceasefire announced by the Afghan Govt for nine days until June 20. The armed group said on Saturday that the ceasefire would exclude foreign forces, and that it would defend itself against any attack.Afghanistan is expected to celebrate Eid on June 15-17, depending on the lunar calendar.UNSC members further urged Taliban to accept Kabul's Feb offer of direct talks "without any preconditions and without threat of violence" aimed at ending the conflict. aljazeera
UN in 'intense negotiations' to avert attack on Yemen's Hudaida
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/180611192141087.html
UN is engaged in "intense" negotiations with UAE and Saudi Arabia in a bid to avert a military confrontation in Yemen's port city of Hudaida that could worsen the country's already dire humanitarian crisis,Antonio Guterres, world governing body's chief, had said. UNSC met behind closed doors on Monday at the request of UK to be briefed on the situation after heavy clashes were reported in Yemen's third largest city. aljazeera
Qatar takes UAE to UN's highest court over blockade
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/qatar-takes-uae-human-rights-court-blockade-180611103646133.html
Qatar is taking UAE to UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) over what it described as human rights violations, according to the official Qatar News Agency (QNA). The move on Monday comes a year after UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting "terrorism".Doha has repeatedly rejected the allegations as "baseless". "As set forth in detail in Qatar’s application to the International Court,UAE led these actions, which have had a devastating effect on the human rights of Qataris and residents of Qatar," Govt said.aljazeera
Jordan protesters: 'Gulf money won't help'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/06/jordan-protesters-gulf-money-aid-package-180611114422748.html
"Jordan's budget deficit is huge," says Bani-Melham, a lawyer in Jordan's capital, Amman. "This new money is not going to make a difference."For Bani-Melhem, a pledge by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE to provide Jordan with $2.5bn in aid is not going to solve the kingdom's unemployment problem, nor will it achieve social justice."When we took to the streets, we demanded social change and called for a system overhaul - we were not asking our country to plead for financial support," he said.aljazeera
14 killed as landslides sweep away Rohingya shelters in Bangladesh
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/landslides-in-bangladesh-kills-10/articleshow/64554314.cms
At least 14 people were killed and several others went missing today as torrential rains triggered landslides near camps housing over 1 million Rohingya refugees in southeast Bangladesh.Landslides triggered by heavy rains washed away several homes and shelters in Cox's Bazar and Rangamati - both bordering Myanmar from where some 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled into the country due to a military crackdown. PTI
Iraq parliament speaker calls for new elections
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180612-iraq-parliament-speaker-calls-for-new-elections/
Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim Al-Jubouri has called for new elections after ballot boxes were burnt ahead of a recount last week.Al-Jubouri said the burning of the storage areas where the ballot boxes were kept in Rusafa was “a deliberate and planned crime designed to hide fraud in the election and deceive Iraqi people”. Elections must be held again as the act of sabotage proves that the results of previous election were rigging. According to Interior Ministry spokesperson, Saad Maan, only “a small part of the boxes” was damaged during the fire.middleeastmonitor
Sadr rejects election rerun, warns of civil war after ballots burned
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180611-sadr-rejects-election-rerun-warns-of-civil-war-after-ballots-burned/
Iraqi cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, whose coalition won the largest number of seats in the country’s recent parliamentary elections, has rejected calls for an election rerun, warning Iraqis about breaking out of a possible “civil war” just a day after a storage site in Baghdad, which housed ballot boxes, was purportedly torched ahead of a recount.“Stop fighting for seats, posts, gains, influence, power, and rulership,”44-year-old cleric addressed the entire Iraqi nation in a statement published by his office on Monday, adding, “Is it now time to stand as one for building and reconstruction instead of burning ballot boxes or repeating elections just for one seat or two?”middleeastmonitor
Popular Front: ‘Morocco delegation visit of to Israel is a stab in the back’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180612-popular-front-morocco-delegation-visit-of-to-israel-is-a-stab-in-the-back/
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) condemned the visit of a Moroccan delegation of engineers, writers and directors to Israel, describing it as a “stab in the back of the Palestinian people”.The Popular Front said in a statement: “This visit represents a step that is not separated from the context of Arab reactionary forces which seek unceasingly and in coordination with the enemies of the Arab nation to impose normalisation and act in contradiction with the supreme interests of the peoples of the Arab nation.”It added: “This visit also represents a suspicious attempt to weaken the efforts of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which strives to isolate the enemy entity and its siege at various levels.”middleeastmonitor
White House denies Kushner threatened Kuwait
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180612-white-house-denies-kushner-threatened-kuwait/
The White House has denied that President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner had a “stormy and abrupt meeting” with Kuwait Ambassador to Washington, Salem Abdullah Al Jaber Al Sabah, KUNA reported.Reports had circulated that Kushner had hinted during the meeting that he had intervened to protect Kuwait from an economic blockade similar to the one imposed on Qatar.A White House official said that Kushner and the Kuwaiti ambassador “had a very positive meeting at the White House and exchanged views about the Middle East peace process”. However after 30 minutes, Kushner had to leave for another pre-scheduled meeting with National Security Advisor John Bolton, the statement said adding that US Middle East envoy Jason Greenblatt concluded the meeting with the ambassador.
Tiny ancient Quran on display in Israel for Ramadan
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/tiny-ancient-quran-on-display-in-israel-for-ramadan/articleshow/64544472.cms
Jerusalem: A tiny 10th century Quran is on display for the first time as part of a collection of Islamic texts being shown at Israel's National Library to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.Curator Raquel Ukeles said this week that the exhibition is aimed at drawing attention to Islam and minority cultures in the Jewish state. Ukeles says the Quran is "fragile, but well-preserved'' and is special because it was written without punctuation. She says it likely served as "a religious talisman.Quran is only 68 by 37 millimeters in size.AP
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
Pranab Mukherjee’s decision to address RSS meet in Nagpur need not perturb Congress:Kapil Sibal
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/pranab-mukherjee-rss-event-nagpur-mohan-bhagwat-congress-bjp-5213429/
Ceasefires in Kashmir, Kabul may reinforce peace sentiment in Subcontinent, open up space for politics and diplomacy:C. Raja Mohan
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/jammu-and-kashmir-ramzan-ceasefire-j-k-peace-talk-india-pakistan-relations-5213431/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:59 PM)
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