NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
12 Aug 2018:29 Ziqada 1439: Vol:10, No:86
INDIA
Probe against radical Hindu groups: Crude, low grade bombs recovered from arrested men; ATS says it has seized 'fresh cache' of arms
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/probe-against-radical-hindu-groups-crude-low-grade-bombs-recovered-from-arrested-men-5302676/
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/blasts-plot-ats-says-it-has-seized-fresh-cache-of-arms/articleshow/65370896.cms
Mumbai: Preliminary interrogation of the men affiliated to radical Hindu outfits, whose arrests Maharashtra ATS announced Friday, has revealed that the crude bombs recovered were meant to be used for 2-grade attacks at public gatherings.“The bombs were low explosive devices, not meant to cause massive casualties. They were intended to be hurled in public meetings like protest marches.While this has surfaced during preliminary interrogation, we are verifying the details,” a senior official said.A source from forensic science laboratory said each crude bomb was sealed with a safety fuse of less than a metre. The application of force, friction, fire or pressure could activate the firing mechanism and set the non-electronic detonator afire, which would then blast the gelatine sticks or gunpowder. “The accused planned to set the explosive on fire and run off.ATS has also recovered four electronic detonators, 10 batteries, a 6-volt battery, switches, mobile switches and a relay switch mechanism circuit drawing. “This indicates that the group was planning to prepare ImprovisedExplosives Devices,” official said. According to TOI report, ATS has said it had recovered a fresh cache of arms and ammunition from the hideouts of 3 persons arrested on Friday for plotting bomb blasts in the state to disturb communal amity. ATS officials said that based on information provided by gau rakshak Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar (both held from Nalasopara) and Sudhanva Ghondalekar(held from Pune),they recovered 11 countrymade pistols with magazines, 10 pistol barrels, an airgun, 6 partially made pistol bodies,3 partially made magazines, 16 relay switches and one trigger mechanism battery, among through this inquiry," he said. Sources said arrested accused had apparently stored the cache but may not have manufactured the material.ATS suspects there may be 6 or 7 more sleeper cells in the state, lying low after police raids. TOI/ Indian Express
Gauri Lankesh murder probe: Karnataka SIT says murder weapon is from Mumbai, will visit Maharashtra soon
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/gauri-lankesh-news-murder-probe-karnataka-special-investigation-team-sanatan-sanstha-mumbai-murder-weapon-nalasopara-mahrashtra-anti-terror-squad/268383
New Delhi:In a big development in the murder case of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, Karnataka SIT probing the case has said that it would soon visit Mumbai in connection with the probe. Officials of SIT have stated that the murder weapon used in the case had been traced to Mumbai, sources said. Recently, Maharashtra ATS had found a huge cache of arms from a Sanatan Sanstha worker’s house in Mumbai’s Nalasopara. ATS was also probing if the 3 arrested had links with other crimes carried out by members of the extreme right-wing groups, including the murders of 3 rationalists and Lankesh. In June, SIT had confirmed that Parshuram Waghmare, the last man arrested in connection with the case, had pulled the trigger on the journalist outside her Bengaluru house in 2017. As per SIT, Waghmare was associated with an outfit that had no name but had links with several right-wing groups and recruited around 60 members from such groups. These groups included the Maharashtra-based Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti. Timesnownews
Karnataka: 22 youths got arms training, finds Lankesh SIT
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/karnataka-22-youths-got-arms-training-finds-gauri-lankesh-sit-5302686/
Bengaluru:Over the last few years, a covert rightwing Hindutva group put as many as 22 Karnataka youths through training in the use of firearms so they could carry out assassinations of intellectuals, the nearly yearlong probe by a SIT of the state police into the murder of Gauri Lankesh is learnt to have found. Among these 22 youths was the man who allegedly shot at and killed Lankesh at the door of her Bengaluru home on Sept.5, 2017, police sources said.Details of the training provided to the 22 youths — chosen from a larger group of nearly 60 individuals recruited to carry out subversive activities in Karnataka, including fanning communal hatred and triggering explosive devices — emerged after the arrests recently of four key persons involved with the recruitment and training process.he four men arrested by SIT are Amol Kale, 37, a former Pune convener of the Sanatan Sanstha-affiliated Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and the alleged operations chief for the covert Hindutva group in Karnataka; Sujeet Kumar, 38, a former HJS activist; Rajesh Bangera, 50, a Govt employee and Sanatan Sanstha sympathiser who allegedly trained the youths using his licensed weapons; and Bharat Kurne, 37, of a fringe Hindutva group from Maharashtra called the Shiv Pratishtan Hindustan, and on whose 3-acre farm near Khanapur the arms training was allegedly provided.The covert Hindutva group had also established a parallel network in Maharashtra and Goa, which was its primary area of operations, investigations by SIT have revealed, police sources in Karnataka said. indianexpress
Congress alleged conspiracy of blasts on Bakra-Id
http://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/110818/congress-alleged-conspiracy-of-blasts-on-bakra-id.html
Mumbai:After seizure of explosives from Vaibhav Raut, Opposition leader in Legislative Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil alleged that, communal forces had hatched the conspiracy of bomb blasts on Bakra-Id, to create communal riots across the state. Vikhe Patil and Congress state president Ashok Chavan demanded a ban on outfits like the Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagruti Samiti immediately. Patil said that, “Raut was involved in the riots and other offences and explosives were seized from him. Hindu Janjagruti Samiti declared that, it’s a second part of the Malegaon blasts which proves that, conspiracy was hatched for bomb blasts and communal riots. Role of these organisations were suspicious in context of murders of Dabholkar, Pansare and Gouri Lankesh.”He asked whether now the state would approach the Union Govt in order to ban such organisations. Chavan alleged that, “ATS chief Hemant Karkare had also tried to investigate the Malegaon bomb blast case, but he couldn’t complete it.Now,BJP govt may give clean chit in this matter also. Sanatan Santha workers are always seen in Mantralaya and legislature coordinating with Govt.”NCP state chief Jayant Patil demanded an investigation into recovery of country-made bombs from ‘Sanatan Sanstha’ member Vaibhav Raut.NCP spokesman Nawab Malik alleged that Sanatan Sanstha was indulging in to terrorist activities and thus Govt should ban these organisations. asian age
‘Terror is terror’: Chidambaram targets BJP, RSS after Maharashtra ATS arrests 3 with links to Hindu outfits
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/p-chidambaram-maharashtra-ats-arrests-hindu-groups-bjp-rss-terror-attacks-5302416/
New Delhi: Former finance minister P Chidambaram took a dig at the ruling BJP over the arrest of 3 men affiliated to radical Hindu outfits, by ATS, and asked if the party planned to condemn those who are plotting terror attacks.He said “terror is terror” irrespective of religion and that “there is no purpose in burying one’s head”.“Maharashtra ATS announced the arrest of 3 men affiliated to radical Hindu outfits.Who rules Maharashtra?” he asked. He then said, “BJP. Hindu, Muslim or any other religion, radicalism is radicalism. Terror is terror. There is no purpose in burying one’s head in the sand.”“Will RSS and BJP condemn those who are plotting and planning terror attacks?”he added. Sources said that bombs recovered from Raut’s house were “ready” for use. “They were up to something sinister and the bombs were active and ready to be used. Such a huge cache recovered before Independence day and Bakrid is reason enough to worry. Our probe is now focusing on the purpose behind assembling so many bombs, were they planning a coordinated attack or otherwise, who trained them and related questions,” official had said.indianexpress
Mahrashtra ATS arrests: Satara techie arrested from Pune was avid reader of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mahrashtra-ats-arrests-satara-techie-arrested-from-pune-was-avid-reader-of-sanatan-prabhat-5302754/
Pune techie held in terror plot was close to Sanstha, had ‘knowledge of explosives’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/techie-held-from-pune-was-avid-reader-of-sanatan-prabhat-5302634/
NIA gets scholars to understand IS radicalisation
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-gets-scholars-to-understand-is-radicalisation/story-PvKH9GnkbJxtpaHG0q6XEM.html
New Delhi: NIA has roped in scholars from prestigious institutes like New Delhi’s JNU to study interrogation reports of Islamic State (IS)-inspired accused under its arrest to understand reasons for radicalism.“These researchers are graduates and post-graduates in subjects like criminology or psychology and they have been working with our counter-radicalism cell for the past one month,’’ said NIA official. “They have been given interrogation reports of over five dozen persons arrested on the charges of being IS-inspired.”NIA official spoke on condition of anonymity.“The researchers, mostly females, will try to find a pattern in these cases in terms of the socio-cultural and financial background of the families the accused persons belong to and also what were the early indicators or causes of radicalism in them,”official added.The agency has asked the researchers to prepare a report to suggest ways of countering radicalisation.“At a later stage, we may allow these researchers to sit in interrogation sessions as well to get first hand information from the subjects,” said the official quoted earlier in the story.As of now, the agency has hired the researchers for a year. Officials said the IS threat continues despite the group’s rout in Syria and Iraq. HT
Seminar to discuss role of Muslim youths in nation building, combatting terrorism today
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/seminar-to-discuss-role-of-muslim-youths-in-nation-building-combatting-terrorism-tomorrow/1365507
New Delhi:The role of Muslim youths in nation building and combatting terrorism and radicalisation will be discussed at a day-long seminar to be addressed by prominent scholars from the community in Delhi today.The seminar - Role of Muslim Youth in Nation Building - being organised by Muslim Students Organisation of India (MSOI), is expected to adopt a resolution urging the central Govt to form a firm policy to combat radicalisation and terrorism while maintaining the social fabric of society, a release issued by MSOI said.Mufti Ashfaq Husain Quadri, president of All India Tanzeem Ulema E Islam, Delhi; Ahmed Mujtaba Siddiqui of AMU; Syed Muhammad Razvi of Sunni Dawate Islami, Mumbai; Shahnawaz Warsi, an assistant professor at AMU, Malappuram, Kerala; Mufti Khalid Ayyoob Misbahi, deputy Mufti of Jaipur; Shujaat Ali Quadri, president of MSOI and Maulana Zafaruddin Barkaati, editor of Kanzul Iman, Delhi, will participate in the event.PTI
NIA arrests 2 including a teenager from Hyderabad for conspiracing to carry out terrorist acts
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/nia-arrests-two-youth-from-hyderabad/article24670200.ece?homepage=true
Hyderabad:2 youngsters, including a teenager from Hyderabad were arrested by NIA for their alleged conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts in the country.On August 6, NIA officials searched 7 different places in the city for leads in a terror module busted in 2016 and since then they had questioned more than a dozen youth at their Begumpet office here The arrested persons were Mohammed Abdullah Basith, (24) from Hafeezbaba Nagar and Mohammed Abdul Qhadeer (19) of Chandrayangutta here. Officials said that the accused were arrested to ascertain the details of the ongoing conspiracy and also their role played in furthering ISIS in Hyderabad.“Initial questioning done so far has brought out the involvement of accused Basith, Qhadeer and other associates pledging their allegiance to the proscribed terrorist organization ISIS to carry out terror activities in the country,” NIA officials said.thehindu
Mob lynchings unfortunate but Opposition must not politicise them:Modi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-narendra-modi-to-ani-on-lynchings-rapes-perverse-mindset-of-opposition-to-indulge-in-politics-5302959/
PM Narendra Modi termed ‘perverse’ what he claimed was the Opposition attempt to milk incidents of mob lynching for political gains. Modi said Opposition should not reduce cases of rapes and lynchings to mere statistics and indulge in politics over these crimes and should instead unitedly oppose them.“It would be a great travesty to reduce these incidents to mere statistics and then indulge in politics over them. That shows a kind of perverse mindset that looks at violence and criminality as something to be milked, instead of unitedly opposing,”Modi told ANI. PM also appealed to all parties to rise above politics to ensure unity in the society.“My party and I have spoken in clear words, on multiple occasions against such actions (lynching) and such a mindset. Even a single incident is one too many and deeply unfortunate. Everyone should rise above politics to ensure peace and unity in our society,” he added.As per data compiled by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 45 persons were killed in 40 cases of mob lynching across nine states between 2014 and March 2018. indian express
I want to make it clear lynching is a crime, no matter motive: Modi
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/i-want-to-make-it-clear-lynching-is-a-crime-no-matter-the-motive-pm-modi/articleshow/65371020.cms
Hope PM Modi’s remarks on lynchings is followed by punishment of culprits: Mehbooba Mufti
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/narendra-modi-lynching-ani-interview-mehbooba-mufti-5303147/
New Delhi : PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has expressed hope that preventive measures and stern action against the accused reflected PM Narendra Modi’s recent remarks and thoughts on cases of lynchings across the country. She said, “Mob lynching has become the dominant discourse and its near normalisation has marked a new low for democracy in India. I hope the PM’s statement condemning it is followed by concrete steps and punitive punishment against the culprits.indianexpress
PM Modi takes on Mamata over NRC: Only those who have lost faith, will use words like ‘civil war’, ‘bloodbath’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-narendra-modi-to-ani-on-lynchings-rapes-perverse-mindset-of-opposition-to-indulge-in-politics-5302959/
PM Narendra Modi, in an interview with ANI, touched upon important issues concerning the nation like mob lynchings, GST, women empowerment, and jobs. Besides, the PM also spoke about BJP’s plans to tackle the united Opposition in 2019 as well as the path ahead for India-Pakistan relations in the light of the imminent change of Govt in Islamabad. But, perhaps the most anticipated remarks from the PM came on Assam’s NRC, a topic he broached for the first time since the final draft was released on July 30.Allaying fears that NRC would exclude Indian citizens, PM Modi mounted a strong rebuttal to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks that the exclusion of 40 lakh people in Assam would lead to a “civil war” and “bloodbath”. “Only those who have lost faith in themselves, fear the loss of popular support and lack faith in our Institutions can use words like ‘civil war’, ‘bloodbath’ and ‘Desh Ke Tukde Tukde.’ Evidently, they are disconnected from the pulse of the nation,” Modi said. indianexpress
West Bengal: Will take out rallies of Muslims if BJP gives me money, says Imam
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/west-bengal-will-take-out-rallies-of-muslims-if-bjp-gives-me-money-says-shahi-imam-noor-ur-rehman-barkati-5302633/
Kolkata:Once a close associate of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Shahi Imam Noor-ur Rehman Barkati on Saturday said he could rally for BJP as long as the party “gives money to leaders like us (Muslim leaders)”.Shahi Imam spoke with The Sunday Express after a sting operation was carried out by Times Now and aired on Friday. In the video, the Imam was heard saying, “Muslim vote can change with money. In Bengal, the sentiment has changed. Andar hi andar Muslim log BJP ko pyaar karne lage hai(Muslims have started loving BJP)…BJP is aiming for 22 seats. I’m telling you they’ll get 28.If the Muslims had not voted for her (Mamata) in the last election, what would she have done… I will take out rallies of Muslims if BJP gives me the money…”Speaking to Sunday Express, Barkati reiterated his stand, saying,“Biggest Imam is money. BJP has money. If they spend that money in Bengal, you will see how Muslim votes turn in their favour.Nothing comes for free.” Muslim leader predicted that BJP would get 10% of Muslim vote in 2019, but if the party wants all 30 % of the minority vote, they would have to spend money. “I can rally for BJP and can easily influence people to vote for them,” he added.Barkati, who was once known as Mamata’s “rakhi brother”,said Mamata had gradually sidelined him.“On every July 21 (Martyr’s Day rally), I used to get an invitation. My presence was vital for Mamata and TMC then. This was the first time I wasn’t invited. It is obvious that TMC no more wants to be branded as the party of Muslims. They don’t want to give BJP the grounds to get sympathy votes from Hindus,” he said.indian express
Hoist tricolour, chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ on I-Day or face action: UP Shia Waqf board orders all madrasas
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/shia-central-waqf-board-uttar-pradesh-mandatory-chant-bharat-mata-ki-jai-hoist-tricolour-flag-national-anthem-muslims-madrasas-independence-day-2018/268212
Lucknow: UP unit of Shia Central Waqf Board has issued an order making it mandatory for all its affiliated madrasas, schools and colleges to hoist the national flag, sing the national anthem as well as chant the slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ during Independence Day programmes to be held on Waqf properties. The order, issued on Saturday by UP chief Wasim Rizvi, also stated that strict action will be taken against institutes who violate the directive. As per reports, Rizvi justified the move by saying that Islam does not prohibit Muslims from chanting the slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ as it is emblematic of India’s victory over others. Speaking to ANI, Rizvi said, "Shia Waqf Board has issued an order that on August 15, it is necessary to raise slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai” after the national anthem in the all programmes to be held on the properties of Waqf Board." Rizvi also said that “bigots and clerics” in the community had taken “advantage of illiteracy” among Muslims and had “taught children to disrespect the nation”, India Today reported. Speaking to the news portal, Rizvi said, “We are not going to tolerate this. Independence Day is a matter of pride for us and we want it to be celebrated in all the educational institutions. Meanwhile, Sunni cleric Maulana Sufiyan Nizami said that no one should “teach” patriotism to the community. In response to the board’s directive, Nizami told India Today, "We already hoist the country's flag and recite national anthem every year on Independence Day and Republic Day. I think no one should teach us patriotism like this. This is not right." Shia cleric Saif Abbas also held a similar opinion to that of cleric Nizami and said that while hoisting the tri-colour and reciting national anthem should be done to show love for the country, no one should be forced to do it,portal reported. timesnownews
Muslims denounce mp order singling out Madrasas for Tiranga rallies on I-day in MP
http://caravandaily.com/portal/muslims-denounce-mp-order-singling-out-madrasas-for-tiranga-rallies-on-i-day/
New Delhi: Muslim leaders are denouncing the specific orders to madrasas in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh asking them to hoist Tiranga, take out Tiranga rallies and send videos of these programs to the authorities. They say that singling out madrasas for such programs amounts to questioning of the patriotism of Muslims and asking them to prove that.“It is another ploy under pretension of nationalism to send a signal to their hardcore Hindu vote bank that BJP is strong to deal with Muslim community. They all know that madrasas hoist the national flag. We don’t have any problem if the same circular had been sent to shishu mandirs and other institutions run by RSS affiliates,” said Navaid Hamid, President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat.“We have every right to strongly object if it has been issued to polarize society to garner votes in the upcoming elections in MP,” said Hamid. Masood Ahmed Khan, MP state secretary, Coordination Committee of Indian Muslims, said: “Such order amounts to challenging the patriotism of Muslims.They want to justify violence and lynching against Muslims.”“Why are they singling out madrasas on this issue? Why no such instructions to all schools and institutions,” asked Javed Ahmed from Madhya Pradesh zonal office of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. “Last year, they (the board) had issued instruction to madrasas to start a lesson on patriotism. We asked madrasa board chairman as to why this only in madrasas, this should be in all schools. It means you see madrasas with suspicion,” said Ahmed.Targeting Madrasa Board chairman, Masood Khan said:“Govt has appointed some so-called Muslims as heads of different institutions. Alimuddin who is chairman of Madrasa Board is one of them. Sometimes they are given instructions and sometimes they themselves go to any extent to please their bosses.The current madrasa board instruction to madrasas is one such attempt.”caravandaily
MP Madarsa Board asks madrassa to take out 'message of love' processions on Independence Day
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/mpmb-asks-madrassa-to-take-out-message-of-love-processions-on-independence-day-118081001492_1.html
AIMPLB to go 'online', to set up social media desk
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/aimplb-to-go-online-to-set-up-social-media-desk/articleshow/65369894.cms
Bhopal:For the first time, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announced to set up of a social media desk to counter rising anti-Islam rhetoric, create a narrative counter stereotypes about the Muslim way of life and reclaim secular ground, here. AIMPLB’s youngest secretary to date,31-year-old Maulana Mohammed Umrain Mahfooz Rehmani, “AIMPLB has been slow to respond to narrative set forth in the national discourse. Changes in media policy were first proposed three years ago. Recently, it has been endorsed by the board. Social media would provide space for counter narrative and quell fake news.” He cited recent instance of Halala controversy and the online narrative. “Halala is not part of Islam,”he said. AIMPLB announced formation of ‘Islah-e-Muashra’ committee, that besides addressing reforms within Muslims, would also develop a social media strategy. Around 60 information technology experts would monitor social media and recommend response online narrative.‘Muashra’ means reform of society, he explained.AIMPLB is to consult with 60 information technology experts during four hours meeting planned in Bhopal on Sunday.“There was a time when mass gatherings were the only way to communicate with people. In the age of social media we need to innovate,” said Bhopal based AIMPLB member, Arif Masood. Some board members have urged to personally take up conversations with Muslims, instead of relying on narrative set forth in the national discourse, said sources.For starters social media interaction would be in English, Hindi and Urdu.The committee would also device ways for internal reform within the believers. TOI
Bjp's Niyat not Saaf on Talaq bill:Cong
https://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/sunday-pioneer/nation/bjps-niyat-not-saaf-on-triple-talaq-bill-says-cong-mocking-govts-slogan.html
New Delhi: Congress has alleged that the Govt's motive behind the triple talaq bill was not to protect Muslim women, but to play politics over the issue.Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said if NDA Govt was so keen on introducing the bill, it could have done so on Thursday "instead of targeting Friday, which is a non-Bill day".His remarks come a day after BJP held Congress chief Rahul Gandhi responsible for the triple talaq bill not getting the parliamentary nod in the Monsoon Session, saying his party supported it in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha for its vote bank politics. Accusing Govt of playing politics over the issue,Ramesh said, "Favourite word of Shri Modi, 'niyat' (intention) is not 'saaf' here. 'Niyat' is something else, motive is something else."The motive is not protecting Muslim women. he motive is to paint the Congress and other parties into a corner and why they have not explained till today, why did they... Make it a prestige issue on the criminal provision, why suddenly they have removed this. Why? It is a welcome removal, but why? What prompted them to change their mind?" he said.Ramesh said that the Govt could have allowed the bill to go to a Select Committee, given it one month, and they would come back with the same amendments."Whole thing is a political game," he alleged.PTI
Nikah halala challenges husband's manhood, punishes him for giving instant divorce, says AIUDF leader Ajmal
https://www.firstpost.com/india/nikah-halala-challenges-husbands-manhood-punishes-him-for-instant-divorce-says-aiudf-leader-badruddin-ajmal-4946671.html
Nikah halala is a measure to punish Muslim men who indulge in instant and arbitrary divorce, says Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, a Muslim leader and MP from Assam.Ajmal says that the nikah halala system punishes the man by hurting his masculinity and the fear of that prevents him from arbitrarily divorcing their wives. "Some Muslim men divorce their wives hastily without thinking about the consequence. Later they repent their decision and want their wives back.The nikah halala prevents Muslim men from resorting to hasty and arbitrary divorces,” he said.Ajmal says that the very idea of having to let his wife sleep with another man challenges and hurts the manhood of the husband and traumatises him, and this fear prevents him from divorcing his wife arbitrarily."Muslim men know that if they indulge in instant divorce or unnecessarily divorce their wives, then a day might come when they will have to allow their wives to marry another man and also let her consummate that marriage in order to get her back. This is the biggest challenge for a man. So, the very fear of having to go through this ordeal prevents them from estranging their wives without giving themselves enough time to review the decision to divorce and also to reconcile with their spouses.” firstpost
Slaughterhouses will not be allowed in Uttarakhand: CM
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/slaughterhouses-will-not-be-allowed-in-uttarakhand-cm-trivendra-rawat-5302621/
Dehradun:Licences will not be allotted to slaughterhouses in Uttarakhand anymore, and those issued to slaughterhouses in the past will be cancelled, CM Trivendra Rawat said Saturday. “In 2016, a slaughterhouse was allotted licence in Manglaur (Haridwar), but I have instructed Haridwar DM to cancel the licence that was issued to that slaughterhouse,” Rawat said. He added that “from now on no one shall be issued licences to open a slaughterhouse in any part of Uttarakhand”.Special squads have been formed in Haridwar, Dehradun, and Udham Singh Nagar for cow protection, Rawat said, adding that cow shelters will be built in the state for stray cows.CM was speaking at a function in Dehradun, where a MoU was signed between UttarakhandLivestock Development Board and USA’s Inguran Sorting Technologies LLP for the production of sexed sorted semen that would result in increased cow and buffalo population, and hence enhanced milk production. A laboratory for the purpose will be set up in Rishikesh.indianexpress
Muzaffarnagar DM,SSP say no to withdrawal of riots cases
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/muzaffarnagar-district-magistrate-ssp-say-no-to-withdrawal-of-riots-cases-5302664/
Lucknow: 6 months after the state Govt sought its opinion on withdrawal of 133 cases related to 2013 riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, district administration is learnt to have opposed the move. Sources said that in separate replies sent last week, DM, SSP and the prosecuting officer said they were not in favour of withdrawing these cases, citing “administrative reasons”. When contacted, Muzaffarnagar DM Rajeev Sharma confirmed that they had sent their replies. Of 133 cases, 89 are currently pending in court. The remaining have either resulted in acquittals or closure reports.Pending cases include those related to hate speech, murder, attempt to murder, arson, dacoity. Among the accused are local BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan, BJP MLAs Suresh Rana and Sangeet Singh Som, VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi. On Jan.17 this year, the state’s law department had sent a letter to the Muzaffarnagar DM, seeking details of two cases of hate speech against Sadhvi Prachi, BJP MP from Bijnor Kunwar Bharatendra Singh, local BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan, and BJP MLAs Umesh Malik, Sangeet Singh Som and Suresh Rana.In a second letter on Feb.23, law department sought details of 131 cases related to the riots.Govt attached eight pages with details of FIRs, name of the district and police station where the cases were lodged, and IPC sections.DM, SSP and prosecuting officer were asked to give their separate opinions on withdrawal of these cases. Sources said the Govt began the process after a delegation of khap leaders from Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, led by Balyan and Umesh Malik, met CM Yogi Adityanath with a list of 179 riot cases. A total of 503 cases were lodged after the riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, which claimed 62 lives. indianexpress
J-K BJP MLA Bhagat takes on party, saying Scrapping Article 35A to hit Jammu: Indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-bjp-mla-takes-on-party-scrapping-article-35a-to-hit-jammu-5302651/
Jammu: As the Supreme Court begins hearing later this month a petition challenging Article 35A of the Constitution, which ensures special status for J&K , a BJP MLA from the state has lent support to the law and indicated that BJP is backing abrogation of Article 35A to get votes in rest of the country. Gagan Bhagat, MLA from RS Pura, in Jammu division, has asked people of Jammu, where many are believed to be in favour of the law being struck down, to discuss the issue and raise their voice in support of Article 35A. Bhagat said, “The party is adamant in having it abrogated. I’ll tell you why – the party has only J&K to save but it has to take care of the entire country. It does not have to speak for only two Parliamentary seats in Jammu, but for 300 seats across the country. It is not going to affect them even if people of Jammu do not vote for them.”Bhagat confirmed that he made the remarks supporting continuation of Article 35A.Mehbooba Mufti said she is “relieved” that defending Article 35A is “not confined to a region or religion” any longer. Mufti tweeted, “Heartening to know that 2 MLAs from BJP, Rajesh Gupta followed by Dr Gagan (Bhagat), have raised their voice in defence of Article 35-A. Defending the special status of J-K is not confined to a region or religion anymore.People of the state have realised its importance & sanctity….Today I feel relieved that regardless of political views or affiliations, we are all on the same page…”
JK: Several Spl Police Officers announce resignation
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-several-spos-announce-resignation-in-tral-5302653/
Srinagar:Over a dozen Special Police Officers(SPOs) announced their resignation in south Kashmir’s Tral on Friday. The resignations came after a Hizbul Mujahideen commander gave a week’s time to SPOs to announce their resignation.J-K Police was silent on the issue but a senior officer said that “there are measures in place” to check this.SPOs announced the resignation from mosques after congregational Friday prayers. Hizbul’s Tral commander Hammad Khan had asked SPOs to resign.A senior police officer said that none of these SPOs had officially put in their papers. indianexpress
Policeman killed, 4 injured in gunfight in Srinagar, militants escape
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1-jawan-killed-3-injured-as-encounter-breaks-out-with-militants-in-j-k-s-batamaloo-area-in-srinagar/story-l9QGE0uwez2AmT2dg5SHrI.html
Srinagar: A policeman of the special operations group (SOG) was killed in a gunfight as security forces raided a militant hideout in the Batmaloo area of Srinagar on Sunday. Militants however managed to escape while 2 of their accomplices were detained, police said.4 security personnel, including 2 CRPF troopers, were also injured in the shootout that broke out when a pre-dawn raid was launched in the area after police received specific information about the hideout. The highly-congested area is also surrounded by zonal police HQRS, the police control room and the civil secretariat.DGP, Shesh Paul Vaid said that SOG jawan, Pervaiz Ahmad, was killed in the exchange of firing. Ahmad, a selection grade constable, was a resident of village Dandote of the state’s Rajouri district.Police officials said that Ahmad and four others were wounded in the initial burst of fire. Meanwhile, authorities also suspended mobile internet services in the capital.HT
TISS report points to sexual, physical abuse of inmates at 14 other shelter homes in Bihar
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tiss-report-points-sexual-physical-abuse-of-inmates-at-14-other-shelter-homes-in-bihar/article24669849.ece?homepage=true
Patna:7-member team of Tata Institute of Social Sciences(TISS), which had exposed sexual and physical exploitation of minor girls at Muzaffarpur shelter home in its social audit report submitted to State Social Welfare Dept.on March 15 this year, has also pointed out similar horror stories at other 14 shelter and short-stay homes in the State. TISS team had made social audit of 110 shelter and short-stay homes from 9 divisions and 35 districts of Bihar.100-page social audit report under the caption “grave concerns — institutions requiring immediate attention” has made explicit details of how girls, boys and adults have been subjected to “dreadful details of physical violence, sexual abuse and mental harassment” at 14 other shelter and short stay homes. “We found plastic bottles with urine in it and upon enquiry, learnt that boys were forced to urinate in bottles once the ward was locked for the night…this pattern was observed across Homes”, said the report at one place. At Boys Children Home in Motihari run by NGO “Nirdesh”, one of the staff members was reported to be involved in severe physical violence wherein he hit the children with a “thick pipe”. Similarly, at Boy’s children home in Munger run by NGO “Panaah” the children were found living in a “barrack like infrastructure”.At Govt run Observation Home in Araria district, a boy showed the TISS members “a mark that went across his entire chest and looked like a compression of muscle tissues in the area and swelling around it”. He blamed a Bihar police security guard for hitting him with a metal rod. In the short-stay home in Motihari run by the NGO “Sakhi”, the girls were found suffering from “mental illness”. Home looked more like a Hindu temple rather than a short-stay home with images of God and Goddesses everywhere, said the report. “A Muslim girl informed us that the counselor had beaten her up for practice her faith and had torn her Quran into pieces. She was frequently beaten and ridiculed for praying according to her faith”, said the social audit report. No sanitary pads were provided to them, it said further. At the short-stay home in Kaimur district run by “Gram Swaraj Sewa Sansthan”, the guard was reported to be “sexually abusive”. Similar disturbing instances and patterns of physical violence and sexual abuse were also revealed by the residents of Sewa Kutir at Muzaffarpur run by NGO “Om Sai Foundation”. TISS team leader Mohd Tarique said that “the findings have clearly brought out administrative and procedural gaps affecting the functioning of the institutions…the overall functioning of these institutions found to be far from satisfactory”.the hindu
Muzaffarpur horror case: Phone numbers of 40 powerful people including minister recovered from Brajesh Thakur
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/muzaffarpur-horror-case-phone-numbers-of-40-powerful-people-including-minister-recovered-from-brajesh-thakur/202369/
In another sensational development, Bihar Police on Saturday recovered a list of 40 mobile phone numbers on a sheet that the main accused of Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, Brajesh Thakur was using to seek help from outside the jail.A district administration official said the names of some powerful people, including a minister, were written on two pages recovered from Thakur during the search.Police discovered the list during a surprise raid at the jail. The cops also found that Thakur, who was believed to be close to CM Nitish Kumar, wasn’t inside inside his cell but present in the visitors’ area.According to police, the officers spotted Thakur in an area reserved for people coming to meet prisoners lodged in the jail and recovered two hand written pages with 40 mobile phone numbers and the names of those they were issued against.IANS reported that police raids on Saturday was a part of a statewide crackdown as they recovered objectionable items from prisoners.jantakareporter
Bhopal Hostel Rape Accused An RSS Activist, Enjoys CM Chouhan's Blessings: Congress
https://www.news18.com/news/india/bhopal-hostel-rape-accused-an-rss-activist-enjoys-shivraj-singh-chouhans-blessings-congress-1841551.html
Bhopal: The opposition Congress on Saturday claimed that the director of a hostel, who has been arrested for allegedly raping a deaf and mute tribal girl and molesting two others, is an “activist of RSS” and “enjoys the blessings” of Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.Ashwini Sharma, director of a hostel for deaf and mute persons located in Awadhpuri area of Bhopal, was arrested on Wednesday on the basis of a police complaint filed by an inmate, who accused him of repeatedly raping her during her stay in the hostel over the last three years. 2 more girls, who had previously stayed in the hostel, also filed a case of molestation against accused on Thursday, following which the police slapped charges under POCSO Act as well since one of them was a minor when the alleged incident took place in 2017.MP Congress’s chief spokesperson Shobha Oza also released a video in which Sharma is seen standing close to Chouhan and touching the latter's feet.PTI
Failure rate of VVPATs forces EC to hike demand, total order up to 17.4 lakh
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/failure-rate-of-vvpats-forces-ec-to-hike-demand-total-order-up-to-17-4-lakh-5302658/
New Delhi: Election Commission (EC) has decided to enhance its reserve of voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines by 10% for upcoming Lok Sabha polls, in the wake of rising incidents of failure reported in the recent elections. On June 20, the Commission ordered an additional 1.3 lakh paper trail units costing Rs 250.16 crore, which would effectively increase its VVPAT reserve from 25% to 35%. This is apart from the order for 16.15 lakh VVPATs, already placed with the two manufacturing PSUs, to cover all polling stations during the general elections next year.As first reported by Indian Express on July 25, the poll panel is already struggling to meet the Sept.2018 deadline it has committed to the Supreme Court for procuring the 16.15 lakh VVPAT machines for the Lok Sabha elections. Commission is now expecting deliveries of the paper trail units by the end of Nov.indianexpress
Israel opens visa application centre in Kolkata
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/israel-opens-visa-application-centre-in-kolkata-5302301/
New Delhi:To encourage more Indian travellers to visit Israel, that country has opened a visa application centre in the city for tourists from West Bengal and the north eastern states, sources in the Israel embassy said. Additionally, visa applications in the jurisdiction under the New Delhi centre would also be accepted at the new Kolkata Centre, a release on behalf of the embassy said. The visa application categories include those who go there for employment, for business, tourism, meeting or conference and for students, it said. Speaking on the occasion, Hassan Madah, director in the Israeli Ministry of Tourism – India and Philippines, said Israel is experiencing a tourism boom like never before. India has recorded a half yearly growth of 82 % in tourists visiting Israel from January to June this year as compared to the same period in 2015 and has become one of the best performing markets in Asia for Israel.indianexpress
Jama Masjid awaits facelift as Delhi officials sit on plans
https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/jama-masjid-area-awaits-facelift-as-delhi-officials-sit-on-plans/story-Jze0gmPKlYjoPUvz421T0N.html
The Jama Masjid precinct redevelopment plan has hit a roadblock again as the Delhi Govt failed to hold consultations with stakeholders on plans for giving a facelift to the Mughal era mosque’s surroundings.A senior Delhi Govt official, privy to development, said the proposal is stuck as the central district had not a convened a single meeting with civic agencies and other stakeholders, including shopkeepers of Meena Bazaar and traders of the area, in last 4 months.“There has been no development in the matter for months,” official said.In Nov, Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC) — entrusted with the responsibility of revamping the Walled City — forwarded two plans for Jama Masjid’s surroundings, prepared by noted architect Pradeep Sachdeva and the corporation itself, to the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) for review and comments. This was done after L-G Anil Baijal issued directions to expedite the project.Sachdeva’s plan proposes the restoration of the foreground into a pedestrian plaza with gardens all the way from Shahi Darwaza to Netaji Subhash Marg, and the relocation of Meena Bazaar.However, the SRDC’s design says the market should not be moved.An official of the central district said transfer of senior officials had caused the delay and, soon, a meeting with be held.Chandni Chowk MLA Alka Lamba blamed officials for the protracted delay and sought the transformation of SRDC into a municipal body for revamping Shahjahanabad.HT
UP: Muslim man prevented from offering Namaz for participating in Kanwar yatra; 3 held
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslim-man-prevented-from-offering-namaz-for-participating-in-kanwar-yatra-three-held-5303123/
Baghpat:A Muslim man, who took part in Kanwar yatra, was allegedly stopped from offering Namaz at a mosque here, prompting the police to arrest 3 persons in this regard. “I had gone to Haridwar as a Kanwar and offered water at the temples. On Friday, when I went to a mosque, some people assaulted me and stopped me from offering Namaz. They even forced me to run away from there,” Babu Khan said in his complaint registered with the police.Khan, a resident of Racharh village of the district, alleged that after he was beaten up, his wife and children went to their relatives.When contacted, inspector Devendra Bisht said, “On the complaint lodged by Babu Khan, 3 persons have been arrested for disrupting peace, while another person is absconding.”The accused persons, however, alleged that Babu Khan was trying to enter the mosque in an inebriated state and hence he was stopped from entering. Meanwhile, Hindu Jagran Manch’s leader Deepak Banmauli said, “Manch is with Babu Khan and if anyone harass him then we will not tolerate it.” indianexpress
Nobel Prize-winning author V.S. Naipaul dies aged 85
https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/nobel-prize-winning-author-vs-naipaul-dies-aged-85/article24669318.ece?homepage=true
London:VS Naipaul, the Trinidad-born Nobel laureate whose precise and lyrical writing in such novels as A Bend in the River and A House for Biswas and brittle, misanthropic personality made him one of the world’s most admired and contentious writers, died on Saturday at his London home, his family said. He was 85.He spent time in Buenos Aires, Argentina to write about its former First Lady Eva Peron, and went to Iran, Pakistan and Indonesia for books about Islam.Years before Sept.11,2001 attacks, Naipaul devoted attention to Islamic radicalism in books including Among the Believers and Beyond Belief. Naipaul’s nonfiction often provoked much anger, and many were offended by his views about Islam and India. Rushdie, for example, thought Naipaul was promoting Hindu nationalism. After his first wife Patricia Hale's death,He married his second wife, Pakistani columnist Nadira Khannum Alvi. AP
Naipaul: A controversial author who crafted his lines & insults
https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/vs-naipaul-a-controversial-author-who-crafted-his-lines-and-insults/
‘Carry a photo instead’: Cartoonist Satish Acharya explains why his column with ‘Mail Today’ ended
https://theprint.in/opinion/drop-cartoon-take-photo-instead-cartoonist-at-english-daily-quits-after-hes-censored/97349/
Cartoonist Satish Acharya has explained s how his association with tabloid ‘Mail Today’ came to an end on Saturday. Acharya writes, "Drop the cartoon and carry a photo! That’s how my cartoon column with Mail Today ended yesterday. That’s how the editor looked at a cartoon and cartoonist’s opinion. That’s how the editor chose to shut a voice! The cartoon he rejected was about how China is surrounding India by spreading influence in countries like Maldives and others. The editor said the cartoon is “very defeatist and the China problem is being overplayed”.I thought it’s how a cartoonist looked at the growing influence of China around Indian interests. So I said it’s debatable and cartoonist’s opinion should be valued.And in response, he asked the news desk to drop the cartoon and carry a photo." He continued, "I have been battling to protect my freedom, to protect the sanctity of a cartoon column, for many days. May be for the editor it’s just a 3-column space, but for a cartoonist it’s a whole world. A world where the cartoonist is free to express his opinion. A world to challenge his own creative boundaries. A world to voice protest, criticise, lament, cheer etc." He writes, "First they rejected a cartoon showing a cow, saying “The editor is not too happy with the cartoon with cow”. For a cartoon on lynching I received this message, “There’s a bit of an issue. India Today Group has decided not to come out with any community-based cartoons”. -For one cartoon on Modi, they asked if I can “replace Modi’s character with any general BJP character”. -And then “editor is not comfortable with Muslim angle in the cartoon”." theprint
Mewat : Staged encounter of Muslim youth: dharna to continue till arrest of guilty cops
https://www.siasat.com/news/staged-encounter-muslim-youth-dharna-continue-till-arrest-guilty-cops-1391310/
Panipat: The dharna and protest will continue in Punhana, Mewat till the guilty police officers are arrested. Dharna can also be extended if the demands are not met. They said the voice can also be raised in the national capital and the last rites will not be performed until justice is done.It must be noted that a man named Sahib was gunned down by the police. The family and panchayat of Mewat clearly told that burial will not take place until justice is done and guilty policemen are not arrested. Post-mortem of the body has been done and the body has been kept in the freezer in official custody. Authorities have registered the case against 15 policemen. siasat
Eid al Adha 2018 date in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to be declared today
http://www.ummid.com/news/2018/August/12.08.2018/eid-al-adha-2018-bakra-id-india-pakistan-bangladesh-moon-chand-live-news-update.html
Eid al Adha Moon 2018 India, Pakistan and Bangladesh: Hilal Committees or Moon Sighting Committees in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Dhaka, Lahore, Islamabad and other state capitals in the three countries have in separate statements called upon the Muslims to witness Crescent - the new moon of the Holy month of Dhul Hijjah (also pronounced Zul Hijja), today Sunday August 12, 2018 corresponding to 29th of Dhulka'edah 1439 AH to decide when Eid al Adha will be celebrated this year.Saudi Arabia and other Arab states have already declared that Eid al Adha 2018 in these countries will be celebrated on August 21, 2018. The announcement was made after Saudi Royal Court confirmed sighting of Dhul Hijjah moon on Saturday August 11, 2018.ummid
WORLD
Tens of thousands protest in Tel Aviv against 'nation-state law': aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/tens-thousands-protest-tel-aviv-nation-state-law-180812062047725.html
Tens of thousands of people including Jews and Arabs rallied in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv to protest the country's controversial "Jewish state law".Passed last month, the divisive law officially affirms Israel's Jewish character, but critics say it turns non-Jewish citizens of the country into second-class citizens, further marginalising some 1.8 million Palestinians with Israeli citizenship and other minorities. Protesters marched through the streets of the city on Saturday night calling for the law's cancellation."This is amazing. This is the first time I remember Jews and Palestinians fighting together for something. This is a really big moment for people that believe in democracy and equality," an unidentified demonstrator said.
UAE participated in bombing of Gaza with Israeli army: journalist
https://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2018/08/11/uae-participated-in-bombing-of-gaza-with-israeli-army-journalist
Istanbul:Edy Cohen, an Israeli academic and journalist, has alleged that an Emirati pilot participated in the bombing of Palestinian targets in the Gaza Strip three weeks ago as part of the training of Israeli air force's F-35 fighters.Cohen tweeted Friday that a United Arab Emirates pilot had participated in recent air raids on positions of Palestinian resistance groups inside the Gaza Strip.Cohen then called on Dubai's Deputy Chairman of Police and Public Security General Dhahi Khalfan to deny the participation of UAE pilots in Israel's aerial assaults on Gaza.Cohen's tweet came over a month after Israeli media reported that a Emirati military delegation visited the occupied territories for talks with the Israeli Air Force on the US-made F-35 fighter jets' performance. DAILY SABAH
Report details deadly drone strike on 4 Palestinian kids
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/report-details-deadly-drone-strike-palestinian-children-180812104641381.html
Killing of 4 Palestinian children aged 10 and 11 by an Israeli air strike on a Gaza beach during the 2014 war could have been prevented, internal documents seen by US website The Intercept show. The boys were killed by an armed Israeli drone that fired 2 missiles, with the second one hitting and killing four and injuring several others.On July 16, 2014, four children were playing near a shipping container on a jetty that had been destroyed by an Israeli air strike a day earlier because the Israeli military suspected it of being used as a weapons cache by armed members of Hamas. However, experts, journalists and eyewitnesses have all contested the claim weapons were stored in the container, as no members of Hamas were seen in the vicinity and there was no second explosion following the air strike that destroyed it. On the day of the attack, one of the children entered the remains of the container, and was spotted by two Israeli drones, one of which was armed.An Israeli air force commander subsequently ordered the firing of one missile, killing the child inside the container.aljazeera
Explosion kills 32, injures scores in Syria’s Idlib
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/explosion-kills-32-injures-scores-in-syria-s-idlib/1229076
Idlib:At least 32 people were killed in an explosion in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province on Sunday, according to the White Helmets civil defense agency. The blast took place in Sarmada district, where civilians displaced from the northern Homs province live, White Helmets director in Idlib Mustafa Haj Youssef said. He said some 45 civilians have also been injured in the explosion, which destroyed two 6-storey buildings inhabited by displaced civilians It remains unclear what the cause of the explosion was. Anadolu Agency
Afghan Taliban delegation visits Uzbekistan to talk security, power lines:Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-taliban/afghan-taliban-delegation-visits-uzbekistan-to-talk-security-power-lines-idUSKBN1KX056
Kabul:A delegation from the Afghan Taliban met officials in Uzbekistan during a 5-day trip to the country last week to discuss issues including transport and power lines and peace in Afghanistan, the movement’s political office said.Muhammad Sohail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office, said on Saturday Taliban representatives met Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Kamilov and Special Representative for Afghanistan Ismatulla Irgashev during the Aug. 6-10 visit. He said they “discussed current and future national projects such as security for railroad and power lines.”“Views were also exchanged with officials of Uzbekistan about the withdrawal of foreign forces and how to achieve peace in Afghanistan,” he said. The statement, issued as Taliban fighters were battling Govt forces for control of the central city of Ghazni, adds to a mixed series of signals since an unexpected 3-day truce during Eid al-Fitr holiday in June.Taliban representatives have met US officials to talk about the framework for possible peace talks and the Western-backed Govt is considering offering a second ceasefire during the Eid al-Adha holiday later this month.But at the same time, fierce fighting has continued in different parts of Afghanistan, inflicting heavy casualties on soldiers and police and threatening the security of parliamentary elections scheduled in October.The attack on Ghazni, which controls a vital highway between the capital Kabul and southern Afghanistan, has given the insurgents their highest profile success since they came close to taking the western city of Farah in May.The rail and power links from Uzbekistan are vital both for cross-border trade and for maintaining Afghanistan’s shaky power supplies, which are already subject to frequent blackouts.A senior Taliban official said the movement had established a political office in the Uzbek capital Tashkent aimed at developing better ties and showing that they did not intend to support local insurgent groups.
Erdogan:Alliance with US at risk,Turkey target of trade war
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/erdogan-alliance-risk-turkey-target-trade-war-180811183650835.html
Turkey's president has pledged to defy what he describes as US attempts to weaken his country's economy, rallying supporters a day after Washington imposed even higher tariffs on Turkish metals - sending the lira tumbling.2 NATO allies remain at loggerheads over multiple issues ranging from diverging interests in Syria to Ankara's expressed desire in purchasing Russia's S400 anti-missile system, as well as the lingering case of an Evangelical pastor who is on trial in Turkey on terrorism charges.Amid the worsening relations, the Turkish lira has lost more than 30% of its value against the US dollar since the start of the year. On Friday,Donald Trump's decision to double steel and aluminium tariffs on Turkey sent the lira into another dive, falling as much as 18.5% at one point.aljazeera
'Economic war': Iran’s Khamenei calls for action against financial crimes
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/economic-war-iran-s-khamenei-calls-action-against-financial-crimes-2022612193
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for "swift and just" legal action against financial crimes from new courts after the head of the judiciary said the country faces an "economic war," state TV was cited by Reuters as reporting. The rial currency has lost about half of its value since April under the threat of revived US sanctions, with heavy demand for dollars among ordinary Iranians trying to protect their savings.The cost of living has also soared, sparking sporadic demonstrations against profiteering and corruption, with many protesters chanting anti-Govt slogans.The central bank and the judiciary have blamed "enemies" for the fall of the currency, and the judiciary has said more than 40 people, including a former central bank deputy, have been arrested on charges that carry the death penalty.The judiciary has suggested that arch-foes including the United States and Israel as well as regional rival Saudi Arabia and Govt opponents living in exile are fomenting the unrest.middleeasteye
Imran Khan’s party bags 33 reserved seats
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/imran-khans-party-bags-33-reserved-seats-pti-na-tally-stands-at-158/article24670143.ece?homepage=true
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been allotted 28 reserved seats for women and five for non-Muslims by the election commission, taking the party’s tally to 158 in the National Assembly -- just 14 short of the number required for simple majority. Election Commission of Pakistan on Saturday distributed the reserved seats among the parties on the basis of their final tally of elected members. There are 60 seats reserved for women and 10 for minorities in the NA.PM -in-waiting Imran Khan’s party was allotted 16 reserved seats for women from Punjab, four from Sindh, 7 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one from Balochistan, Dawn reported.The party, which looks set to form its Govt at the Centre, also bagged five of the total 10 seats reserved for non-Muslims. Of the rest of the five, 2 were allotted to PML-N, 2 to PPP and one to Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). The party has already claimed to have crossed the magical figure of 172 required to secure simple majority in the 342-seat National Assembly.PTI
Bus driver demands Muslim lady to remove niqab in UK
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bus-driver-demands-muslim-woman-to-remove-her-niqab-in-uk/article24670187.ece?homepage=true
London:A niqab-wearing Muslim woman in the UK was treated like a “terrorist” after a bus driver demanded that she should remove her face cover over safety fears as he felt that she could “bomb the bus”, according to media reports.The woman, who was travelling on the First bus 24 from Easton to Bristol city centre, said she was shocked when the driver began berating her for wearing the niqab - a face veil that leaves the area around the eyes clear - soon after she boarded the bus with her two-month-old baby, BBC reported.20-year-old woman said the driver told her “this world is dangerous” and demanded to see her face, it added.“He said I was scary and I was dangerous, and he kept talking about it during the journey. He was insinuating I was going to bomb the bus. How is that possible, when I’ve got a baby with me?,” she was quoted as saying by the Bristol Live.PTI
Myanmar asks Bangladesh to stop aid to stranded Rohingya
https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/myanmar-asks-bangladesh-to-stop-aid-to-stranded-rohingya/268417
Dhaka: Myanmar has asked Bangladesh to stop providing aid to 6,000 Rohingya stranded on the border between the two countries since a military crackdown prompted a mass exodus of the Muslim minority last year, the foreign ministry in Dhaka said.The group refused to enter Bangladesh in the months during and after Myanmar's military campaign, which drove 700,000 other Rohingya across the frontier in an act the UN, US and other western countries have condemned as ethnic cleansing.They are now stuck in a narrow "no mans land" relying on international aid sent by Bangladesh.Dil Mohammad, a Rohingya community leader among the group on the border, told AFP the latest pressure from Myanmar to vacate the no mans land area would add to their hardship.AFP
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
After His Book On Hinduism, Tharoor’s Pitch For Muslims:Thufail PT
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/after-his-book-on-hinduism-tharoors-pitch-for-muslims-in-india/314899
First anarchy, now autarky: P Chidambaram
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/first-anarchy-now-autarky-indian-economy-nda-led-bjp-Govt-5302449/
If one day the Constitution of India is amended, it may become a de jure Hindu Rashtra:Christophe Jaffrelot
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/hindu-rashtra-de-facto-bjp-rss-gau-rakshak-mob-lynching-5301083/
‘We don’t have a single friend’: Canada’s Saudi spat reveals country is alone
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/canada-saudi-arabia-support-us
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:00 PM)
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