NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
19 Aug 2018:07 Zilhajja 1439: Vol: 10, No:91
INDIA
Kerala floods: Anger mounts as toll rises to 368; red alert in 3 districts
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/kerala-floods-toll-368-58000-rescued-red-alert-in-three-districts
The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 368, as 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state, and red alert is now there in just three districts, down from 11.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while giving the latest figures, told the media late on Saturday that the flood relief work is going on in full swing and things are slowly coming under control and more helicopters and personnel would be engaged in the rescue and relief operations on Sunday.The 33 deaths reported during the day took place in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. Rejecting a demand from the Congress-led opposition and Kerala BJP to hand over the rescue operations to the Army, he said: "In a rescue operation, the most important thing is that it should be done only by the local authorities who are well-versed with the locality, and the Army and other agencies' help is sought and a combined operation is done."Meanwhile, anger mounted across Kerala as coordination of rescue work went haywire due to the magnitude of the calamity."There are several people who are waiting to be rescued in areas like Pandanad and I saw two bodies floating in the water. If there is anymore delay in, things will taken a turn for the worse. We are drinking rain water to keep us going...," said a resident of Pandanad.On late Saturday evening, a 150-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team started rescue operations in and around affected areas of Chengannur. Congress MLA VD Sateeshan, who was spearheading the rescue operations in Paravur in Ernakulam district, said that he stood before a rescue boat team with folded hands and they obliged and rescued several people.IANS
Kerala floods LIVE: IMD predicts no rains in next 5 days
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-floods-rain-live-updates-rescue-ernakulam-idukki-alappuzha-pinarayi-vijayan-5312746/
Shortage of medicine, drinking water for Kerala flood survivors
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/shortage-medicine-drinking-water-kerala-flood-survivors-180819063140621.html
Kerala counts its losses: 800,000 displaced, at least 245 dead in floods
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/800-000-displaced-over-245-dead-in-flood-ravaged-kerala/story-inVCuM1YZAMqQaVWB6faeO.html
After UAE, now Qatar extends helping hand to Kerala flood victims with Rs 35 crore financial aid
http://www.jantakareporter.com/world/after-uae-now-qatar-extends-helping-hand-to-kerala-flood-victims-with-rs-35-crore-financial-aid/203495/
A day after UAE announced the formation of committee to help Kerala flood victims, another Gulf country has come forward with a huge financial help. Qatar’s Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has announced a financial aid worth $5m (Rs 35 crore) towards the relief of flood victims in God’s own country.According to media reports, more than 325 people have already died in the raging floods, being described as the worst for over a century.The financial help announced by Qatar will be used towards helping in building houses for those, whose houses have been washed away in the floods. A report by Peninsula Qatar website said that Al Thani also sent a cable of condolences to President Ram Nath Kovind for the victims of the nature’s fury.Meanwhile, Qatar Charity, through its representative in India, has also launched emergency relief for those affected by the nature’s fury. The charity has already pumped in half a million riyals for the first stage of its relief operation.This humanitarian interface coincides with the launch of a fund raising campaign targeting more than QR4m to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of 60,000 people through food, medical and shelter assistance.jantakareporter
Mumbai: SIO raises Rs 1.5Lakh from 50 mosques as relief funds
http://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/190818/sio-raises-rs-15lakh-from-50-mosques-as-relief-funds.html
Mumbai: Owing to the dreadful floods due to heavy rains in Kerala, the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of Maharashtra has raised a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh from over fifty mosques in the state.The organisation is carrying out a nationwide fundraising campaign for the state’s relief fund. According to the organisation, they started the relief work after conducting a survey of the affected sites along with some other NGOs. “At present there is a huge need of food supplies, medical aid and shelter for the displaced. Based on the list of requirements, the organisation is carrying nationwide fundraising campaign,” said a member. As the level of destruction in Kerala is huge, the organisation is still trying to bring in more support for them.Khizer Shabibi, a student of mechanical engineering and in charge of flood relief drive in Maharashtra has appealed to all countrymen to come forward and help the people with financial aid. “In coming week, Muslims in Maharashtra will celebrate Eid by sharing the pain of our brothers by sending massive donations to Kerala. Furthermore, funds will be collected at more than 100 mosques along with prayers,” the student.ASIAN AGE
Kerala Floods: More than 50 mosques across Maharashtra raise funds for deluge
http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/kerala-floods-more-than-50-mosques-across-maharashtra-raise-funds-for-deluge/1337718
AAP MLAs, MPs and ministers donating one-month salary for Kerala: Kejriwal
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aap-mlas-mps-and-ministers-donating-one-month-salary-for-kerala-arvind-kejriwal-5313442/
New Delhi: All AAP MPs, MLAs and ministers will donate their one-month salary for the relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said today, and also urged the city govt employees to contribute at least one-day salary for the cause.CM, who yesterday announced Rs 10 crore relief for the state, said that SDM offices will act as collection centres for clothes, blankets etc.Kejriwal also assured the resident commissioner of Kerala that his government will provide any further help needed by the state.PTI
Kerala girl Hanan Hamid trolled for selling fish donates Rs 1.5 lakh to CM’s relief fund
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-girl-trolled-selling-fish-donates-relief-fund-5313320/
A 21-year-old Kerala girl, who was trolled for selling fish outside her college to meet her educational needs has contributed Rs 1.5 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, as the state struggles to cope with the flood fury.Hanan Hamid, a B.Sc student at a private college at Thodupuzha in Idukki district, said the money was donated by various people after her struggle to fund her studies and take care of her family was widely shared on the social media. “I had got the amount from people and I am happy to give back the amount to the needy,” she told PTI.21-year-old, who also worked as an anchor and flower girl for programmes to make ends meet had requested people to donate for relief funds. Her story had gone viral after a Malayalam daily reported her struggles. She was trolled as a section of media users had expressed doubts about her struggles and claimed it was “fake”.indianexpress
Kerala floods: college girl Hanan Hamid donates rs 1.5 lakh she got from well-wishers
http://caravandaily.com/portal/kerala-floods-college-girl-hanan-hamid-donates-rs-1-5-lakh-she-got-from-well-wishers/
UAE-based Indian-origin tycoons pledge Rs 125 mn for flood-hit Kerala
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/190818/lulu-group-uae-based-companies-pledge-rs-125-million-for-kerala.html
Donate 10 of Eid budget for Kerala flood victims Farangi to Muslims
https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2018/08/19/nrg18-up-muslims-kerala.html
Lucknow: The Islamic Centre of India has appealed to Muslims to at least donate 10 per cent of their Eid-ul-Adha budget for flood-ravaged Kerala. Head of the Islamic Centre of India and senior member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi said the amount should be deposited in the Kerala chief minister's relief fund. "Bakr-Eid is a festival which symbolises sacrifice in the real sense. This time, it is the flood-affected people of Kerala who need our support," he said.PTI
Muslim organisations issue advisory to ensure a peaceful Bakri Eid
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-muslim-organisations-issue-advisory-to-ensure-a-peaceful-bakri-eid-2651237
Prominent Muslim organisations, religious leaders and scholars have issued a joint advisory calling upon the community to abide by ‘dos and don’ts’, to ensure that Eid ul Adha, popularly known as Bakri Eid passes off peacefully, without any unpleasantness. The festival of sacrifice will be celebrated on August 22, 2018, across the country. The eight-point advisory, ahead of a festival where Muslims offer cattle as a symbolic sacrifice in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), has asked Muslims to avoid streets and public places for carrying out the sacrifice and hold slaughters jointly at a common place and ensure the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene. It also requested community members to not break the law under any circumstance and keep in touch with the local administration and draw their attention towards maintaining law and order in the area. The advisory was issued by Maulana Syed Muhammad Rabey Husni Nadwi, president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, president of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and other eminent leaders. The advisory stated that owing to the present situation, there could be a difficulty in procuring the qurbani meat (or the sacrificial animal). But people should remember their responsibility and carry out the duty responsibly. It stated that people should not offer the sacrifice in open places and on the roads, footpaths and roadways. “Kindly ensure that you are burying the blood and entrails of the animal in the earth after the qurbani. Kindly ensure the highest level of cleanliness and hygiene,” the advisory read. The advisory also asked people to try and offer the sacrifice collectively in neighbourhoods and asked people to exercise maximum self-control and self-restraint. DNA INDIA
Top Indian Ulema issue advisory for Eid-ul-Adha:‘Make animal sacrifice collectively, bury entails and blood, exercise maximum self-control’: Greater Kashmir
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/top-indian-ulema-issue-advisory-for-eid-ul-adha/293831.html
Muslims organisations issue advisory for Eid ul Adha:TCN
http://twocircles.net/2018aug18/425429.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Ahead of Eid, Muslim groups, scholars issue advisory: Rising Kashmir
http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/ahead-of-eid-muslim-groups-scholars-issue-advisory-331820.html
Muslim bodies issue advisory to community for peacefully Eid ul Adha: theindianawaaz
http://theindianawaaz.com/muslim-bodies-issue-advisory-to-community-for-peacefully-eid-ul-adha/
Bakrid 2018: 8 must-to-do things Muslims asked to follow religiously this Eid-ul-Adha: Okhla Times
http://www.okhlatimes.com/bakrid-2018/16030/
Bill in Parliament for building Ram temple likely if BJP gets numbers: UP deputy CM
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bill-in-parliament-for-building-ram-temple-likely-if-bjp-gets-numbers-up-deputy-cm/story-yuwJqLhMolULnOtot2hoGN.html
Lucknow:Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said he was hopeful that if the need arose and there was no way out, the Centre could opt for the legislative route in Parliament for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, when it has adequate numbers in both Houses.“When such a need arises that there is no way out except bringing a Bill, I am fully confident that in such a situation and when we have adequate strength (in both Houses of Parliament), remember these 2 things”, he said without elaborating.“At present, in Parliament, we do not have adequate strength. Because even if we bring the matter in Lok Sabha, our strength in the Rajya Sabha is less, and it will definitely be defeated. Every devotee of Lord Ram knows this. The court will soon give its judgement.“The day we have the strength, it will be constructively used and not misused (Lekin Jis din hamare paas takat hogaa, uss takat ka sadpuyog hoga, durpayog nahi hoga),” Maurya told PTI.He said the matter was being heard in the Supreme Court.Maurya said if the grand Ram temple was built, it will be a “true tribute” to VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal, Mahant Sri Ramchandra Das Paramhans (former head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas in Ayodhya) and karsewaks who sacrificed their lives.PTI
Bhopal SIMI men killing case: Supreme Court not inclined to interfere in commission’s report
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/simi-encounter-case-supreme-court-not-inclined-to-interfere-in-commission-s-report/story-cUXJt53WbIwhc7OIkFlQgM.html
New Delhi The Supreme Court has said it was “not inclined” to interfere with the findings of an inquiry commission in the alleged encounter killings of 8 activists of the banned outfit, SIMI, after a prison break in Bhopal in 2016.The commission, in its report, had given a clean chit to the MP Police and had termed as “reasonable” and “inevitable” the use of force by the police that resulted in the deaths of 8 SIMI activists.A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and KM Joseph referred to the report of one-member commission, headed by a retired high court judge, and said there was no point in keeping the plea seeking independent probe into the case pending before it.“Inquiry report of a retired high court judge has come. The report is negative,” the bench said, adding, “There is no point in keeping the matter pending”.“In view of the report of the commission of inquiry constituted by a retired High Court judge, which has been brought on record, we are not inclined to interfere. The special leave petition is accordingly disposed of,” the bench said. The bench was dealing with a petition filed by a relative of one of those killed in the encounter seeking an independent probe in the incident.The counsel appearing for the petitioner claimed in the court that the accused had not fired at the policemen and wanted to surrender.The lawyer alleged that it was an extra judicial killing of 8 persons and an independent inquiry was needed in the matter.The commission, in its report tabled in the MP assembly in June this year, had said, “The use of force resulting in the death of the escaped persons was quite inevitable and quite reasonable under the prevailing circumstances.”SIMI activists were identified as Amzad, Zakir Hussain Sadiq, Mohammad Salik, Mujeeb Shaikh, Mehbood Guddu, Mohammad Kalid Ahmed, Aqeel and Majid. PTI
Maharashtra ATS Recovers Coded Letters From Right-wing Terror Suspects
https://www.news18.com/news/india/maharashtra-ats-recovers-coded-letters-from-right-wing-terror-suspects-1849205.html
Maharashtra ATS investigating the case of explosives and firearms recovered from members of Hindu organisations, told the court that they have recovered several documents that have handwritten code language pointing towards a terror conspiracy.ATS has also said that they have recovered some vehicle number plates and firearms, which could have been used in some offence.Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar and Sudhanva Gondhlekar were produced before the special NIA court on Saturday as their eight day custody came to an end.ATS has sought an extension of remand on grounds that it needs to confront the accused with the recovered articles and also decode several chits and letters written in code language recovered from the arrested individuals and also to find the mastermind and other people involved in the terror conspiracy.ATS told the court that several raids have been conducted at various places and huge quantities of suspicious articles have been seized, including arms, ammunition, parts of firearms, explosives, vehicles, number plates, hard disks, pen drives, laptops and several handwritten chits and letters. However, the court was told that ATS could not get time to interrogate the accused as they were busy conducting raids and so more time was needed.ATS has recovered CCTV footage of several locations around the place from where firearms and explosives were seized. The footage is being monitored to find evidence in the case.news18
Gau Raksha Group in Maharashtra Rallies in Support of Terror Accused
https://thewire.in/communalism/mumbai-explosives-case-nallasopara-residents-rally-in-support-of-terror-accused
Mumbai: Even as ATS is investigating the role of three Hindu hardliners arrested in Maharashtra for their alleged roles in terror activities, over six thousand people gathered at a protest rally organised in Nallasopara, North Mumbai on August 17. The protest rally was an “emotional appeal” to the state police and was organised in the support of the prime accused Vaibhav Raut, said one of the organisers.Raut, a resident of Nallasopara and who ran a ‘cow-protection outfit’ called the ‘Hindu Govansh Raksha Samiti’ in the region since 2014 was arrested on August 10 along with Sharad Kalaskar of Aurangabad and Sudhanva Gondhalekar of Satara.According to the investigating agency, Kalaskar and Gondhalekar were allegedly working with Raut to make homemade bombs and to spread panic at public gatherings. ATS has claimed that the trio were planning to place one of the bombs a few metres away from one of the upcoming Maratha rallies. This, accordingly to the investigations so far, was to make the state act upon the long pending Maratha community’s demand for reservation. The trio have been sent to ATS’s custody until August 28.The gathering at Nallasopara on Friday mainly comprised of men and women from different areas like Dahanu, Wada, Thane, Raigad and Mumbai. Most of them belonged to the Bhandari caste, to which Raut belongs to. “Raut has been leading an active public life and his work of saving cows is known across this region. He has in fact influenced several other youths to get involved in the work of Gau Raksha. The Bhandari community came out in support of his work and wrongful criminalisation yesterday in the rally,” said Diptesh Patil, one of Raut’s close friends and also a co-founder of the cow-protection organisation that Raut floated a few years ago.thewire
Dabholkar murder: Pune court remands key suspect to CBI custody till August 26
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dabholkar-murder-pune-court-remands-key-suspect-to-cbi-custody-till-august-26/article24730264.ece?homepage=true
PUNE:A day after Sachin Andure, alleged by probe agencies to be one of the shooters of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, was arrested by CBI, a special court on Sunday directed the accused to be remanded to CBI custody till August 26.Earlier in the day, CBI escorted Andure, a resident of Aurangabad’s Kuwarphalli area, from Mumbai to Pune and produced him before the court of Special Judge Archana Mujumdar a little after noon amid robust police deployment.Andure’s name first cropped up during Maharashtra ATS interrogation of Sharad Kalaskar. ATS had arrested Kalaskar along with Vaibhav Raut from Nallasopara in Mumbai, and Sudhanwa Gondalekar from Pune on August 10 for allegedly planning disruptive activities in several parts of the State.thehindu
Ex-Sena corporator detained in Dabholkar killing case
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ex-sena-corporator-detained-in-dabholkar-killing-case-5314364/
Aurangabad :A former Shiv Sena corporator has been detained in connection with the killing of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, CBI sources said Sunday.Shrikant Pangarkar, a former member of the Jalna Municipal Corporation, was detained Saturday night by the CBI after interrogation of Sachin Prakasrao Andure, the alleged main shooter in the Dabholkar murder case, they said.Andure, a resident of Aurangabad in Central Maharashtra, was arrested in Pune last evening, said a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson Saturday.Pangarkar, aged around 40, was taken into custody after Andure told the CBI that he was with him at the time of Dabholkar’s murder, the sources said. The former corporator was allegedly riding pillion on the motorcycle driven by Andure, they said.PTI
Amroha BJP leader demands capital punishment for Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army Chief
https://www.newsx.com/national/amroha-bjp-leader-demands-capital-punishment-for-navjot-singh-sidhu-for-hugging-pakistan-army-chief
BJP minority morcha leader from Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha on Sunday triggered a controversy after he demanded a capital punishment for Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and sitting beside President of Pakistan Sardar Masood Khan at Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony held on Saturday in Islamabad. Aftab Advani further said Navjot Singh Sidhu is Pakistan’s lover and he should be sent to Pakistan.“Attending Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony over the funeral of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is clearly an act of treason. I demand the central government to file a case of sedition against him. He should be given capital punishment, if possible,” said BJP minority morcha leader from Amroha. It comes hours after BJP criticised Navjot Singh Sidhu for attending Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony.“Did Sidhu take permission from the Congress Party before deciding to visit Pakistan to attend Imran Khan’s oath-taking ceremony,” said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra while addressing a press conference on the matter on Saturday. NewsX
Incumbent upon PM Modi to safeguard Article 35-A: Valley trade bodies
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/incumbent-upon-pm-narendra-modi-to-safeguard-article-35-a-valley-trade-bodies-2857561.html
The business community in Kashmir today said it was incumbent upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard Article 35-A of the Constitution if he was honest in his "deeds and words" to embrace the people of the valley.Article 35-A, which provides special rights and privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, is currently facing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court.The community said Modi should either get the petitions challenging Article 35-A in the top court withdrawn by the petitioners or to defend the provision by pleading for the dismissal of the case."It is an irony that Indian PM, who only few days ago swore of Kashmiriyat from the ramparts of Red Fort, is attempting a judicial onslaught on the same Kashmiriyat with the intention to change its demography for larger insidious political agenda," Abdul Majeed Zargar, spokesman of the joint forum of 27 trade, business and civil society organisations, told reporters here.He said, "If PM Modi is honest in his deeds and words to embrace people of Kashmir, then it becomes incumbent upon him either to get these petitions withdrawn by the RSS-backed organisation or to defend his own constitutional provision in the Supreme Court."Zargar said Modi should also make a statement in Parliament "reaffirming this solemn commitment to the people of Kashmir".The forum also appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra to rise to the occasion and engage the best legal minds to argue against the petitions "both on law and facts and get them dismissed".Zargar said the people of Kashmir would "shed their last drop of blood" to save their demographic character, identity and other hereditary rights. Separatists, under the banner of the JRL, yesterday had called for strike on August 26 and 27 to protest against any tinkering with Article 35-A and also threatened to launch a mass agitation if the Supreme Court gives a verdict against it.PTI
Kashmiri engineer suspected to be ISIS sympathiser deported from UAE
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmiri-engineer-suspected-to-be-isis-sympathiser-deported-from-uae-5314191/
New Delhi :A Kashmiri man, living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was deported to India on August 14 on suspicion of being an ISIS sympathiser, news agency PTI reported. Irfan Ahmad Zargar, a 36-year-old resident of Chattatabal area on the outskirts of Srinagar, allegedly showed active support to ISIS activities in Syria on social media platforms.Zargar was interrogated by the NIA for two days before being handed over to Jammu and Kashmir police, who were carrying out detailed investigations, PTI quoted officials as saying.Zargar, an engineer, was picked up by the authorities in Dubai on April 28 this year when he was entering into the Gulf country from Oman, officials told PTI. Zargar, who used to work with a telecom company in Dubai, maintained that he had travelled to Oman for setting up a handcrafts business.indianexpress
Dawood’s key aide, Jabir Moti, held in London
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dawood-ibrahims-key-aide-jabir-moti-held-in-london-5313879/
New Delhi: Mafia don Dawood Ibrahim’s key aide, Jabir Moti, has been detained in London by security agencies, ANI reported on Sunday. Moti, a Pakistan national, is believed to be in charge of Ibrahim’s finances.It is learnt that Moti was arrested by London Police at a star hotel on Friday and has been produced before a court, according to a news report.It is not clear on what charges Moti is currently being held. The news report claims that Moti holds a 10-year UK visa and is a permanent resident of Hungary. He is also a citizen of Antigua and Dominican Republic, the report added. His passport states that he is a resident of Karachi and is 48 years old.indianexpress
Truck with cow carcasses in MP: BJP politicking over cows, says Congress
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/truck-with-cow-carcasses-in-mp-bjp-politicking-over-cows-says-congress-5313741/
After the recovery of a truck carrying carcasses of 41 cows near Indore on Saturday and deaths of hundreds of cows across the state in recent weeks, the Congress has accused the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh of paying lip service to the cow and using it for whipping up passions.The state has a strict anti-cow slaughter Act and a board devoted to conservation of the animal, yet cows are dying unnatural deaths, the Opposition party alleged. It cited the case of BJP-ruled Rewa Municipal Corporation, in whose premises cows were found illegally buried last week.Congress MLA Sunderlal Tiwari alleged that six cows were buried in RMC premises close to a temple and the matter came to light only after a putrid smell spread. He said that another nine cows were buried near the corporation’s godown. “Bajrang Dal and BJP kept silent and the issue was raised by Congress councillors,’’ he said, accusing the ruling party of suppressing the matter. Only junior-level staff were penalised and senior officers were spared, MLA said, demanding a probe into the incident and the deaths of cows in Udaigiri, Vidisha, Kuakhedi, Gwalior and Ujjain among other places.indianexpress
Cleric, 2 others held under sedition charges in UP for not allowing national anthem in madrasa on I. Day
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/cleric-two-others-arrested-under-sedition-charges-in-up-for-not-allowing-national-anthem-in-madras-on-independence-day-351358.html
Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested a Muslim Cleric and two others for not allowing national anthem to be sung in a madrasa in Maharajganj on Independence Day. In a video, making rounds on social media the cleric, Mohammad Junaid Ansari and two unidentified persons stopped students of the Arabia Ahle Sunnat Anware Taiba Girls’ College from singing the national anthem after hoisting the national flag on August 15th.“Hamare yahan rashtragan nahi hoga…najayaz hai,” Ansari is heard saying in the video.Police who booked the trio for sedition said Ansari was an outsider and had no role in the college.The national flag was hoisted by principal Fazlur Rahman, after which the students were about to sing the national anthem when Ansari came up and stopped children saying it was not allowed in Islam. he principal who was standing next to him does not oppose Ansari, while another teacher, Sunil Mani Tripathi, who shot the video, can be heard protesting against Ansari’s action.Police also confirmed that despite the objection buy Ansari, the students in fact sung the National Anthem later.indiatimes
Engineer, lawyer set up group to monitor 'biased and fake' news, draw flak from journalists
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/aug/18/engineer-lawyer-set-up-group-to-monitor-biased-and-fake-news-draw-flak-from-journalists-1859403.html
MUMBAI: An aeronautical engineer from Mumbai and a Delhi-based lawyer have come together to set up a group, which will monitor news reports and social media posts that are "biased and fake" and take necessary action.The organisation, "India Against Bias Media" (IABM), has been formed by Vipul Saxena, an aeronautical engineer, and Vibhor Anand, a Supreme Court lawyer.The group has been filing cases against disseminators of reports, which are aimed at, "destroying religious and social fabric of the country", Saxena said. However, journalists expressed concern over the setting up of the group, saying it may harass and intimidate scribes and social media users.The duo had been working on the project for the last two years, but made a soft-launch of the forum on Twitter over a week ago.Since then, they have filed almost two dozen cases, mainly of sedition, across the country against several people.City-based journalist Jatin Desai was critical of the new group, saying its existence will prove detrimental to democratic values of the country."Forming different opinions and openly expressing them are the heart and soul of a democratic country. These people are trying to harass journalists and people (social media users) by selectively filing cases against them.""Dissent can never be suppressed.Otherwise,we will have a handicapped democracy,"said Desai, a member of Mumbai Press Club. PTI
Assam: Indigenous Muslims demand 'ethnic' tag
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/indigenous-muslims-demand-ethnic-tag-253050
Guwahati: Fearing an "identity crisis" owing to the inclusion of a large number of Bengali-speaking Muslims in NRC, an umbrella body of Assam's indigenous Muslims will launch an agitation from Aug.25, demanding constitutional safeguards and status of "ethnic community".An executive committee meeting of the Sadou Asom Goria-Moria-Deshi Jatiya Parishad, a forum of at least 40 lakh "indigenous Muslims", held here recently decided to stage protests in each district HQRS and resort to a train blockade on August 25, followed by a "satyagraha" here on Oct.13 and a convention thereafter to urge BJP-led government to fulfil its pre-poll promise."We consider this government to be anti-indigenous people. BJP had promised in its election manifestos in 2011, 2014 and 2016 that it would conduct a census of the indigenous Muslim groups like Goria, Moria, Deshis and accord them constitutional safeguards. But the party seems to have forgotten its promise and has not even taken any welfare measures for the community," said Azizur Rahman, general secretary of the committee."We are clubbed with the Muslims of East Pakistan and considered Bangladeshis. The indigenous Muslim groups are either converts from local communities or war prisoners of the Mughal-Ahom wars. So our identity must be protected," adviser of the committee and veteran lawyer Nekibur Zaman had said recently.The committee also said more than 3,600 indigenous Assamese Muslims have been tagged as doubtful voters, on the suspicion of their being illegal migrants from Bangladesh, while 7 have been declared foreigners and sent to detention camps.telegraph india
Top court comes to the rescue of star-crossed Muslim-Hindu couple, defies parents
https://theprint.in/governance/top-court-comes-to-the-rescue-of-star-crossed-hindu-muslim-couple-defies-parents/100750/
New Delhi:9 days after Anjali Jain went missing, the Supreme Court directed the SP of Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, to produce her before a bench led by CJI Dipak Misra on 27 Aug. Anjali, who holds a BBM degree, married 32-year-old Ibrahim Siddique 6 months ago against the wishes of her parents.The top court’s directions came on a plea by Siddique, who filed a habeas corpus petition.Siddique has also challenged a Chhattisgarh High Court order, which despite hearing Anjali at length, “erroneously” declined to record her wishes and directed her to choose between staying with her parents or at a hostel.“The high court despite recording that the detenue (Anjali) was a major of 23 years of age and by her own admission was married to the petitioner (Siddique), limits her freedom to either live with her parents or be accommodated in a hostel,” (sic) Siddique said in his plea.This, Siddique claimed, is a clear violation of her rights since she had expressed her intent to live with him. According to the petition, the matter is serious given that “certain serious and life-threatening events have transpired subsequent to the impugned order and the petitioner apprehends serious threats to his and his wife’s life”.In his plea, Siddique invoked the top court’s judgment in the Shafin Jahan case — which also dealt with a habeas corpus case involving Hadiya who had converted to Islam before marrying Shafin and was detained by her parents — to press his point on the issue of dealing with the matter of private custody of an adult girl by her parents.Siddique said, instead of deciding the habeas corpus case filed by a husband for custody of his wife forcibly detained by her parents, the high court expressed its doubts about the legality of the marriage.theprint
Another Inter-Faith Marriage Reaches SC; Muslim Man Claims Violation Of Hadiya Judgment By Chhattisgarh HC
https://www.livelaw.in/another-inter-faith-marriage-reaches-sc-muslim-man-claims-violation-of-hadiya-judgment-by-chhattisgarh-hc/
Delhi: Muslim Ola driver found dead, row over his cremation
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-muslim-ola-driver-found-dead-row-over-his-cremation-5312604/
New Delhi: On August 9, Ola cab driver Mohammad Yusuf (40) left his house in north Delhi’s Sadar Bazaar and never returned. His family searched for him, only to find that he had died and his body cremated by the UP Police in Mathura’s Ol village — 200 km from his house. While the family has vented their ire at the police for “their callous attitude” for cremating a Muslim, police said “the man could not be identified and was cremated as per procedure”. As per norms, police wait 72 hours in cases pertaining to unidentified bodies. When no contact with the family is made, the body is disposed of.Yusuf was found murdered, with his hands tied behind his back and dumped in a canal on Aug.10. He had left his house at 10.30 pm to drop a passenger the night before. Ola informed his family that his last known location was at Jhurvai, Mathura, following which GPS went unresponsive at 12.19 am. The passenger who took the cab could not be contacted by the company.The family went to Sadar Bazaar police station to file a missing persons complaint, which was registered the following morning. “When they did his post-mortem, they should have seen that he was circumcised… This is complete callousness on their (UP Police) part. They should have at least waited for us,” said Atiya, Yusuf’s elder sister.The Ol police chowki in-charge, who led the search for Yusuf in the bordering villages, said that they could not ascertain his religious identity due to lack of any documents. indianexpress
20% Muslim women in slums face health risks: Survey
https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/civic/20-muslim-women-in-slums-face-health-risks-survey/articleshow/65456896.cms
Mumbai:Approximately 20 per cent Muslim women in city’s slums suffer from prolonged illness. While 6 per cent suffer from high blood pressure, 8 per cent have diabetes, tuberculosis and thyroid malfunction and 3 per cent suffer from asthma, kidney stones and skin problemsCommissioned by the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, the findings of a first-of-its kind survey conducted by Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) highlights poor health conditions among Muslim women in slums like Behrampada, Bharatnagar, Garibnagar, Jogeshwari, Kalina, Mahim, Navpada, Andheri Dongar and Gyaneshwar Nagar. Titled ‘Health Status of Muslim Women-A Short Study’, the survey reveals that lack of easy access to health care services has also led to daily painkiller consumption by 18 per cent of Muslim women residing in these slums.For the survey, BMMA spoke to 250 women about general, reproductive and mental health and found that most of them also complain about poor access to toilets and health care centres.Maharashtra State Women’s Commission’s chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar, who recently received the report from BMMA, admitted being shocked by the state of health of Muslim women. Mumbai Mirror
AIMIM corporator, who opposed motion on Vajapyee, arrested; BJP members booked after ruckus
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aurangabad-corporator-arrested-for-opposing-condolence-motion-on-atal-bihari-vajpayee-5313204/
Aurangabad (Maha), An AIMIM corporator has been arrested here on charges of trying to promote enmity and incite riot after he opposed a resolution in the municipal corporation to pay tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, police said today. The police later also registered a case against 5 BJP corporators including the deputy mayor of the city for allegedly thrashing the AIMIM corporator at the meeting of the civic body in Aurangabad in central Maharashtra.Syed Mateen Sayyad Rashid, a member of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation(AMC) belonging to AIMIM, was arrested last night, a police official said. The arrest was made after a complaint was filed against him by the AMC’s security officer, he said.Earlier yesterday, Rashid was allegedly thrashed by BJP corporators for opposing a condolence motion for paying homage to Vajpayee who died in New Delhi on August 16. AIMIM corporator had told PTI last night that he was opposing the move to pay homage to Vajpayee in a “democratic manner”, but was assaulted by around a dozen BJP corporators. Cases of assault were also registered today against five BJP corporators on a complaint lodged by Rashid. None of them has been arrested yet, police said.Offences under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 147 (rioting) were registered against deputy mayor Autade and four other BJP corporators including a woman, said inspector Shingare. Police were also looking for around a dozen persons who vandalised a car and created ruckus outside the AMC building, he said.PTI
Muzaffarpur scandal: Former social welfare minister Manju Verma, husband booked under Arms Act
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/muzaffarpur-scandal-former-social-welfare-minister-manju-verma-husband-booked-under-arms-act-5314393/
Begusarai :An FIR was registered against Bihar’s former social welfare minister Manju Verma and her husband under Arms Act following recovery of 50 cartridges from her in-law’s house during a CBI raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal, police said.The CBI had on Friday raided nearly 12 places in four districts of Bihar, including residences of Verma in Patna and her in-law’s place in Begusarai.The FIR was registered on Saturday against Verma and her husband Chandrashekhar for recovery of 50 live cartridges from her in-law’s house at Arjun Tola village during a raid, Cheria Bariarpur police station SHO Ranjit Kumar Rajak said.Police said the live cartridges are of different firearms.The FIR was registered against the couple by a CBI official, Rajak said, but declined to name him.PTI
‘Culture of silent fear’: TISS report points to sexual, physical and mental abuse in shelter homes across Bihar
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/culture-of-silent-fear-tiss-report-points-to-sexual-physical-and-mental-abuse-in-shelter-homes-across-bihar/story-sdtiAV4EcEN1A4YrIluqcL.html
Patna:Sexual abuse, varying in forms and degree of intensity, was prevalent in almost all shelter homes in Bihar, a TISS report made public by the Bihar government has found.Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), which had conducted social audit of short stay homes across Bihar, has found certain institutions “stood out in a manner that was appalling”.The state government had commissioned audit by TISS in 2017 and the report was submitted to the Social Welfare Department in April this year.According to the 100-page report, the Muzaffarpur shelter home run by Brajesh Thakur, prime accused in the sex abuse case, had been “running in a highly questionable manner along with grave instances of violence. Several girls reported about violence and being abused sexually”.The medical reports latter confirmed rape of 34 inmates of the shelter home over a period of time.PTI
Rahul Gandhi revokes Mani Shankar Aiyar’s suspension from Congress’ primary membership
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-congress-revokes-mani-shankar-aiyars-suspension-pmmodi-neech-comment-5313481/
New Delhi:Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Saturday revoked the suspension of senior party leader Mani Shankar Aiyar from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress. Aiyar was suspended in December last year for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “neech kism ka aadmi” during the campaigning for Gujarat polls last year.In the press release issued by the INC, it said that the Congress president had approved recommendation of Central Disciplinary Committee of AICC for revoking the suspension of Mani Shankar Aiyar from primary membership with immediate effect.indianexpress
Modi Is A Model and Hero: Patna High Court Chief Justice
http://caravandaily.com/portal/narendra-modi-is-a-model-and-hero-patna-high-court-chief-justice/
PATNA: Newly-appointed Chief Justice of Patna High Court, Justice Mukesh Rasik Bhai Shah who was recently elevated to the post of Chief Justice from being judge of the Gujarat High Court, has called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “model and a hero” when asked by a journalist why people are linking him with PM Modi and BJP President Amit Shah.During an interview with the Hindi daily Amar Ujala, the journalist asked: You come from Gujarat. As you are from the state of PM Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, people end up linking you with Modi. Why does this happen?Justice Shah replied: Because Narendra Modi is a model. He is a hero. As for Modi, this is going on for the last one month. There are hundreds of such clippings on social media. Newspapers also publish such things every day.caravandaily
Delhi: Sohn Burj Masjid in Mehrauli in precarious condition; encroachments continue
https://www.siasat.com/news/sohn-burj-masjid-mehrauli-precarious-condition-encroachments-continue-1394037/
New Delhi: The condition of Sohn Burj Masjid located at Mehrauli is getting dilapidated day by day. Besides illegal occupation is continued in the premises. But no action has been taken so far. Masjid Sohn Burj is a historical masjid but is now in a precarious condition. Big stones are falling down from the masjid wall where people pass through. Archaeological department has not inspected the masjid so far. The condition of the masjid was also reported to Delhi Waqf Board but encroachments continue in the area. Recently some people have done construction on the Waqf land and illegal occupation is increasing day by day.siasat
Only 23% of rural income from farming, reveals NABARD 2016-17 survey
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farming-agriculture-income-farm-distress-nabard-survey-nsso-5313772/
New Delhi:Agriculture generates not even a quarter of rural household incomes in India. Even for so-called agricultural households, just over 43 per cent of their average income comes from cultivation of crops and rearing of animals, according to the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development’s (NABARD) All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2016-17.The survey reinforces a trend that has gathered momentum since the start of this century — of an increasingly less ‘Krishi’ in ‘Bharat’. While agriculture may, by definition, be largely rural, the converse, though, isn’t true. The NABARD survey estimates the total number of rural households in India for 2016-17 at 21.17 crore. The definition of “rural” is a broad one, covering revenue villages and semi-urban centres with a population of less than 50,000. Out of the 21.17 crore rural households, 10.07 crore, or under 48 per cent, are “agricultural” — those with at least one member self-employed in farming and reporting annual value of produce at more than Rs 5,000. The remaining 11.10 crore households or 52 per cent are “non-agricultural”.According to the survey, whose reference period is 2015-16, the average net monthly income of Indian rural households — after deducting expenses incurred in the course of economic activity — was Rs 8,059. The highest share of this (Rs 3,504) was accounted for by wage labour (both farm and non-farm), which was followed by government or private service jobs (Rs 1,906). On the other hand, agriculture — i.e. income from crop cultivation and livestock rearing — contributed only Rs 1,832.indianexpress
WORLD
More than two million Muslims begin Hajj pilgrimage
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/million-muslims-hajj-pilgrimage-180819081259928.html
More than two million Muslims have started the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.The five-day pilgrimage must be performed by all Muslims, who are financially and physically able, at least once in their lives.On Sunday, pilgrims started gathering in Mina valley, on the outskirts of Mecca, for the start of the Hajj.In temperatures reaching the 40-degree mark, these people will perform rites in the Mina valley, mount Arafat and in Mecca. Male pilgrims wear two white unstitched pieces of cloth that cover their body, known as the 'ihram', while women wear loose fitted clothing.Pilgrims are not allowed to cut their hair, wear perfume, or engage in sexual acts. The ritual ends with men completely shaving their heads.The climax of the Hajj includes the Eid al-Adha festival, which is one of Islam's two major festivals and involves the sacrifice of an animal, usually a sheep, goat, or cow.Around 54 million pilgrims have attended the Hajj over the past 25 years, according to official figures.Almost 14,000 international and domestic flights have so far transported pilgrims with around 21,000 buses also used.aljazeera
Saudi prepares for the annual Muslim pilgrimage as Hajj begins today
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/saudi-arabia-prepares-for-the-annual-muslim-pilgrimage-as-hajj-begins-5313852/
Israel rejects UN report on protecting Palestinians
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-rejects-un-report-protecting-palestinians-149253742
Israel has rejected a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlining options for strengthening the protection of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories.Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement late on Friday that "the only protection the Palestinian people need is from their own leadership".14-page report laid out four options, from increasing aid to the Palestinians, sending UN rights monitors and unarmed observers to deploying a military or police force under UN mandate.The report was requested by the General Assembly in response to a surge of violence in Gaza, where 171 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since late March."Instead of suggesting ways to protect the Palestinian people from Israel, UN should instead hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for continually endangering its own people," Danon said."Report's suggestions will only enable the Palestinians' continued rejectionism."A UN mandate for a protection force would require a decision from the Security Council, where the United States could use its veto power to block a measure opposed by Israel.The report released to all UN member-states comes amid a vacuum in Middle East peace efforts as European and Middle East powers await a peace plan from President Donald Trump's administration that has been under discussion for months.UN diplomats have recently begun questioning whether the US peace plan will ever materialize.middleeasteye
Palestinian president vows to appeal Israel’s law at UN
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestinian-president-vows-to-appeal-israel-s-law-at-un/1235318
RAMALLAH;Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday vowed to appeal Israel's controversial law of Jewish nation-state at the UN.Speaking in a televised program, Abbas said he rejects the U.S. mediation for Palestine-Israel peace talks and emphasized that there would no meeting with the U.S. until it reverts its decision to recognize Jewish settlements and Jerusalem as an Israeli capital.Underlining that the Oslo Accords would not continue if the current situation persists, he called on Hamas to allow the national unity government of Palestine to carry out its activities in the Gaza Strip.Anadolu
Imran Khan announces 21-member Cabinet
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/imran-khan-announces-21-member-cabinet/article24730020.ece
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has unveiled his 21-member Cabinet, most of whom previously held key posts in the regime of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.Out of the 21 names announced, 16 will be ministers while five others will advisers to Mr. Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said yesterday, hours after the cricketer-turned-politician was sworn-in as the country’s 22nd Prime Minister.According to the list shared by Mr. Chaudhry on his Twitter account, veteran politician Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be the foreign minister.Mr. Qureshi, the vice president of the party, was the foreign minister from 2008 to 2011 under the Pakistan Peoples Party government when the 2008 Mumbai terror attack took place.He was in New Delhi when 10 Pakistan-based LeT terrorists attacked India’s financial capital.Pervaiz Khattak has been appointed the defence minister while Asad Umer will be the finance minister. Mr. Khattak served as the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province from 2013-18.Asad Umer is the son of former Lt Gen Mohammad Umer who was part of the Pakistan Army during 1971 war with India.The newly-announced Cabinet is expected to take oath on Monday at the President’s House.At least 12 members of Khan’s Cabinet served under General (retd) Musharraf, The News reported.The new Cabinet includes a former spokesperson of Musharraf, his attorney and several members of his cabinet and core team, the paper said. thehindu
Pak PM Imran Khan's cabinet full list: Pervez Khattak is new defence minister, Qureshi gets foreign ministry
https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/pakistan-imran-khan-cabinet-full-list-pervez-khattak-new-defence-minister-shah-mahmood-qureshi-new-foreign-minister-shireen-mazari-human-rights/271627
Pak Jamaat Chief Congratulates Imran Khan
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/jamaat-e-islami-chief-congratulates-imran-kha-413607.html
Lahore:Ameer e Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Senator Sirajul Haq has congratulated PTI Chairman Imran Khan on taking oath as Prime Minister.In a statement here, he said it was a matter of satisfaction that a democratic process of transfer of power had been completed after oath taking ceremony of the Prime Minister.He said that the Prime Minister should now focus on his election manifesto and fulfil all his promises made during the election campaign. He said the JI did not believe in opposition for the sake of opposition, and it would appreciate every action of the government taken in the public interest besides criticizing the government for its wrong decisions.He expressed hope that the new government would ensure the supremacy of the constitution and ideology of Pakistan as well as it would take all steps to strengthen and stabilizethe national institutions.UrduPoint
Iraq Supreme Court ratifies result of May vote
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/iraq-supreme-court-ratifies-result-vote-180819103525686.html
Iraq's Supreme Court has ratified the results of the May 12 parliamentary election, its spokesman said, setting in motion a 90-day constitutional deadline for the winning parties to form a government."The court has issued a decision to ratify the results of the parliamentary election," the spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.A nationwide recount of votes showed on August 10 that populist Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr retained his lead, positioning him to play a central role in forming the country's next government. Many Iraqis, including Kurdish and Sunni Arab groups, disputed the results of the vote, alleging widespread electoral misconduct.In June, a huge fire destroyed a warehouse housing boxes containing ballots from the May vote. Iraqi officials, including its prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, said that the fire was started deliberately with the aim of harming Iraqi democracy.aljazeera
Bomb that killed 40 children in Yemen was supplied by the US: Report
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/bomb-killed-40-children-yemen-was-supplied-us-report-327830151
The bomb used by the Saudi-led coalition in an attack on a school bus that killed 40 children in Yemen last week was sold as part of a US State Department-sanctioned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, munitions experts told CNN.Working with Yemeni journalists and munitions experts, CNN reported late Friday that the weapon that hit the bus on 9 August was a 500-pound (227kg) laser-guided MK 82 bomb made by Lockheed Martin, one of the top US defence contractors.Of the 51 people who died in the air strike, 40 were children, the Houthi health ministry said last week, adding that of the 79 people wounded, 56 were children.The bomb is similar to one used in an attack on a funeral hall in Yemen in October 2016 in which 155 people were killed and hundreds more wounded, CNN said. The Saudi coalition blamed "incorrect information" for that strike.After the funeral hall attack, president Barack Obama banned the sale of precision-guided military technology to Saudi Arabia over "human rights concerns," CNN said, adding that the ban was overturned by the Trump administration's then secretary of state Rex Tillerson in March 2017.The US says it does not make targeting decisions for the coalition, which is fighting a Houthi rebel insurgency in Yemen, according to CNN, but it does support its operations through billions of dollars in arms sales, the refueling of Saudi combat aircraft and some sharing of intelligence.The day of the air strike, the US State Department called for the Saudi-led coalition to investigate it.middleeasteye
Report: US-made bomb used in deadly attack on Yemen school bus
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/report-us-made-bomb-deadly-attack-yemen-school-bus-180819081323912.html
Turks' woes over currency crisis: 'It is a kind of Cold War'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/turks-woes-currency-crisis-it-kind-cold-war-180819051510161.html
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is striking a defiant tone a day after two major ratings agencies further downgraded the country's debt.He insists the growing economic crisis is part of a plot against his country.Erdogan made the comments at a meeting of his ruling AK Party.The Turkish lira has lost 40 percent of its value against the dollar this year. aljazeera
Iran has good relations with Turkey: Defense minister
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iran-has-good-relations-with-turkey-defense-minister/1235449
ANKARA ;Iran has good relations with Turkey, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Khatami said on Sunday. Speaking to the state television, Khatami said his country’s relations with Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Pakistan are based on “brotherhood and honesty”. He said he has visited several countries recently, describing the results of his visits as “positive”. On August 7, the U.S. re-imposed a first round of economic sanctions on Iran, which mainly target the country’s banking sector. Anadolu Agency
Iranian spiritual leader sentenced for 'insulting Islam':Reuters
https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-rights-taheri/iranian-spiritual-leader-sentenced-for-insulting-islam-idINKBN1L30G2
LONDON:An Iranian court has sentenced the founder of a spiritual movement to five years in jail, his lawyer told ILNA news agency on Saturday, after he was accused of corrupting Muslims.Mohammad Ali Taheri, founder of Erfan Halgheh, which calls itself “Interuniversalism” in English, was arrested in 2011 and charged with “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “spreading corruption on earth”.Taheri was sentenced to death by a Revolutionary Court in 2015, but acquitted on appeal in 2016. The court then re-imposed the death sentence in 2017, but the five-year sentence replaces it.Taheri founded Erfan Halgheh after receiving what he claims were “spiritual inspirations” that empowered him to connect with a larger “cosmic consciousness”.He practised his beliefs, along with his thousands of followers, in “healing sessions” often involving alternative medicine.
2 billion people live in poverty: Report
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/todays-headlines/2-billion-people-live-in-poverty-report-/1235320
Two billion people are living in poverty while 753 million others experience extreme poverty and are struggling to survive, according to the Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2018.The situation of helpless people suffering from famine, drought, clashes and natural disasters has come up as the World Humanitarian Day, marked each year on Aug. 19, approaches.The World Humanitarian Day is held every year on Aug. 19 to support people getting affected by crises around the world.According to the Global Humanitarian Assistance Report 2018, at least 201 million people in 134 countries were in need of humanitarian assistance to survive in 2017.The report said 20.7 million people in Yemen were in need, followed by civil war-hit Syria, where 13.7 million people needed assistance. Hosting 3.5 million Syrians, Turkey came third in the list with 12.8 million people, who were in need of humanitarian assistance.Anadolu Agency
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
The Sangh Sees NRC as a Device to Target Muslims All Over India:Ajay Gudavarthy, thewire
https://thewire.in/rights/assam-nrc-may-campaign-marginalise-muslims
Alwar lynching: Raghuwar Jain… or Rakbar: In his name lay the story of a region’s close ties with its cattle:Hamza Khan
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-alwar-lynching-cow-vigilantism-transportation-5313652/
Election Commission should not allow simultaneous polls: IPA/HARIHAR SWARUP
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/election-commission-should-not-allow-simultaneous-polls
The Relentless Persecution of the Delhi Govt Is a Slap in the Face of Democracy:Prem Shankar Jha
https://thewire.in/politics/delhi-govt-aap-modi-rss-democrcacy
Row over Sidhu in Pakistan exposes us as a nation of paranoid, ignorant, immature idiots:SHEKHAR GUPTA
https://theprint.in/opinion/row-over-sidhu-in-pakistan-exposes-us-as-a-nation-of-paranoid-ignorant-immature-idiots/101196/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:28 PM)
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