NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
29 OCT. 2018: 19 Safar 1440: Vol: 11, No:44
INDIA
SC to hear Ayodhya title suit pleas in Jan; refuses early hearing
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-title-suit-supreme-court-to-fix-date-of-hearing-in-january-2019/article25358976.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:A 3-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, on Monday posted the Ayodhya title suit appeals in January before an appropriate Bench to fix a date for hearing the case.When parties indicated urgency and an early hearing, CJI-led Bench clarified that it cannot really say when hearing would begin. It left it to the discretion of the "appropriate Bench" before which the matter would come up on Jan. "We have our own priorities...whether hearing would take place in Jan, March or April would be decided by an appropriate Bench," CJI said.CJI repeated that all the court was ordering was that the appeals would come up in January first week before a Bench "not for hearing but for fixing the date of hearing".On Sept. 27, a three-judge Bench of the court led by then CJI Dipak Misra, in a majority opinion, decided against referring the question ‘whether offering prayers in a mosque is an essential part of Islam’ to a seven-judge Constitution Bench.With this, the court had signalled that it would decide the appeals like any other civil suit, based on evidence, and pay little heed to arguments about the “religious significance” of Ayodhya issue and the communal strife it has led to over the past many years.These appeals are against the Sept.30,2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court to divide the disputed 2.77 acre area among the Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Bench had relied on Hindu faith, belief and folklore.thehindu
SC to hear Ayodhya case in Jan, refuses UP govt’s early hearing request
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/supreme-court-adjourns-ayodhya-case-hearing-till-january-2019/story-qLbgwx1BMppHkpzasooWQM.html
Ayodhya: Hindus running out of patience on Ram temple issue, says Union Minister Giriraj
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-land-dispute-hindus-running-out-of-patience-on-ram-temple-issue-says-giriraj-singh-5423555/
Hindus are running out of patience on the Ram temple issue, Union minister Giriraj Singh said on Monday. “Shri Ram” is the cornerstone of the faith of the Hindus, the minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises said. His comments come on a day a 3-judge bench, headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, said an “appropriate bench” will decide in January next year the future course of hearing on the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case.“Congress has decided to make it a Hindu-Muslim issue…Hindus are running out of. I fear what will happen if Hindus lose patience,” Kishore said.indianexpress
Ayodhya: we want law to buld temple, can’t wait eternally for court verdict, says VHP
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ayodhya-case-we-cant-wait-eternally-for-verdict-says-vhp/article25359249.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court’s decision to postpone till January the issue of fixing a bench to hear the title suits in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case has resulted in a demand from the Sangh Parivar that an ordinance for the construction of a Ram Temple be brought in by the Union government.Working president of the VHP Alok Kumar said, “VHP is for a law to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, and we cannot wait eternally for judgement of the court.”It may be recalled that in his recent Vijay Dashami address in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made a similar demand.thehindu
No one would want Babur’s structures in Ayodhya: UP deputy CM Maurya
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-one-would-want-babur-s-structures-in-ayodhya-up-deputy-cm/story-baPejw7nwBRhHW0ySFhXoI.html
Lucknow:A day before the Supreme Court decides on the date and composition of the bench to hear the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya ratcheted up the political temperature, saying no one would want a structure named after Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya.“We are hopeful that the top court will provide a solution to the issue which is a matter of faith for millions of people. If courts and consensus fail, the option of bringing in legislation on the construction of temple would be taken,” he said in Lucknow on Sunday.
Subramanian exudes confidence to win Babri case
http://www.uniindia.com/subramanian-swamy-exudes-confidence-to-win-babri-case/south/news/1391334.html
Bhima-Koregaon: SC stays HC order denying more time to file charge sheet against activists
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bhima-koregaon-case-sc-stays-bombay-hc-order-denying-more-time-to-file-charge-sheet/article25358531.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a Bombay High Court order refusing the Maharashtra police a 90-day extension to complete its investigation and file chargesheet against lawyer Surendra Gadling and others, who were accused of Maoist links in the aftermath of the Bhima-Koregaon violence.A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked whether the State whether it has filed the chargesheet. The Bench initially pointed out to the State that the Bombay HC has stayed its own order till Nov. 1.The High Court order, on Oct.24, had opened the window for Mr. Gadling, Nagpur University professor Shoma Sen, activists Sudhir Dhawale and Mahesh Raut and Rona Wilson to seek default bail.They were arrested on June 6 by Pune Police and a case was registered against them under the various provisions of UAPA, and IPC. “Police started investigation but could not complete the same. On Sept.3, 90 days were completed since the date of arrest of the respondents,”Maharashtra govt petition filed through State counsel Nishant Katneshwarkar said. Katneshwarkar mentioned the case before the Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi.Bench is likely to hear the case on Friday.On September 2, the trial court had allowed an extension of 90 days, following which Gadling and the others moved the HC, which set aside the trial court order.The HC however stayed its order till Nov. 1 to give the State time to appeal the Supreme Court.thehindu
Koregaon-Bhima: SC stays Bombay HC order refusing extension of time to police to file chargesheet against rights activists
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/koregaon-bhima-sc-stays-bombay-hc-order-refusing-extension-of-time-to-police-to-file-chargesheet/story-OJTbDazPJguD5pee573vPM.html
CBI No.2 Asthana gets protection from arrest till Nov 1
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-action-against-rakesh-asthana-till-nov-1-delhi-hc/story-GfScHOxcL3Azu3Wr2It7AK.html
New Delhi:CBI special director Rakesh Asthana, who was being probed by the agency for bribery, will not be arrested till leave following allegations of corruption, will not be arrested till Thursday, the Delhi High Court said on Monday, extending the officer’s shield against arrest. The court interim order came after CBI sought more time to respond to Asthana’s petition challenging the corruption case registered against him.CBI told the high court that they do not have the case file as all the related files and documents are with the CVC. “Has CBI come to a standstill?”Justice Najmi Waziri shot back.The high court had last Tuesday stopped CBI from arresting Asthana who had petitioned the judge to cancel the corruption case filed against him. Soon after, the govt ordered the two officers to go on leave till Central Vigilance Commission completes its inquiry against Verma.The case against Asthana has been registered on a complaint by a Hyderabad-based businessman, Sana Satish Babu, who alleged that 2 Dubai-based brothers – Manoj Prasad and Somesh Prasad – claimed that they were acting on behalf of CBI special director and allegedly struck a deal for Rs 5 crore to protect him in a case that agency registered against controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Former CBI director AP Singh is also an accused in the case.HT
CBI vs CBI: Under Supreme Court gaze, CBI changes probe officer in Moin Qureshi case
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cbi-vs-cbi-under-supreme-court-gaze-cbi-changes-probe-officer-in-moin-qureshi-case-5422602/
New Delhi :Amid the turmoil within the CBI, with two of its top officers sent on leave after levelling serious allegations against each other and the Supreme Court monitoring the matter, agency has changed Investigating Officer (IO) probing the case involving controversial businessman Moin Qureshi, Indian Express has learnt.Satish Dagar, SP in CBI’s Anti-Corruption III unit (AC-III), has been entrusted with Qureshi case, replacing S Kiran who holds the same rank in AC-II. Sources said that documents of the case were transferred to the new IO Sunday.Dagar was among the several officers brought in during the midnight move by the Centre last Tuesday, when it sent CBI Director Alok Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana on leave.indianexpress
Probe against CBI director Alok Verma: CVC seeks papers, mostly linked to Moin Qureshi, IRCTC cases
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/probe-against-cbi-director-alok-verma-cvc-seeks-papers-mostly-linked-to-moin-qureshi-irctc-cases-5422606/
New Delhi :Assigned to probe allegations against CBI Director Alok Verma, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has sought from CBI file notings, records and other documents related to mainly two cases — Moin Qureshi and IRCTC scam involving RJD chief Lalu Prasad and his family members, sources said. CBI No. 2 Rakesh Asthana has accused Verma of misconduct, interference in investigation and corruption.Officials said the communication from CVC is learnt to have been issued soon after the Supreme Court ordered it to complete its investigation within 2 weeks and appointed Justice AK Patnaik, a retired judge of the SC, to monitor the probe. When contacted, CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said, “The matter is being examined by the CVC and we would not like to comment.” indianexpress
CBI interim chief’s wife gave Rs 1.14 crore to firm, says Registrar of Companies
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/interim-chiefs-wife-gave-rs-1-14-crore-to-firm-says-regitrar-of-companies/?fbclid=IwAR0dk28w5jw0LUR6aOCQB-SLdOKplp5ka79hJC7lF5ltRpfiVr0kO5K4THw
While the govt has appointed M Nageshwar Rao to take over “duties and functions of Director, CBI”, records maintained by Registrar of Companies (RoC) point to a series of financial transactions between Rao’s wife and Angela Mercantiles Private Ltd (AMPL), a Kolkata-based trading company, from financial years ending 2011 to 2014.RoC records show that Rao’s wife, M Sandhya, borrowed Rs 25 lakh from AMPL in the financial year ending March 2011. They show that between financial years ending 2012 and 2014, Sandhya gave loans amounting to Rs 1.14 crore to AMPL in 3 tranches — Rs 35.56 lakh in FY’12, Rs 38.27 lakh in FY’13 and Rs 40.29 lakh in FY’14.Kolkata-based Praween Agarwal, listed in RoC records as a director of AMPL, said over phone: “She (Sandhya) is the wife of our dear family friend (Rao). I know him (Rao) for a long time, when he was an officer in Odisha. They are like our family. What is wrong if you give loans or accept some investment from a person you know as your family friend?”A CBI spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by Indian Express with queries on the transactions recorded by RoC between Rao’s wife and AMPL.Rao, an Odisha-cadre IPS officer, took charge of the CBI on an interim basis last Tuesday night after Director Alok Verma was asked to go on leave along with the agency’s Special Director Rakesh Asthana following a bitter fallout between the 2. Indian Express
Govt versus RBI: Pressure on RBI to ease credit to small firms, relax lending norms
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-versus-rbi-pressure-on-rbi-to-ease-credit-to-small-firms-relax-lending-norms-5422590/
New Delhi :While the trouble between the government and the Reserve Bank of India has been simmering for a while, RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya’s public outburst on Friday followed a persistent demand by some recently-appointed non-official directors to the central bank’s board for MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) forbearance and relaxation of RBI’s prompt corrective action (PCA) framework for some banks to ensure better credit flow to stressed sectors. According to sources, S Gurumurthy of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, who is now a part-time, non-official director on RBI’s Central Board, has been unbending on his demand for MSME forbearance and increased credit flow, particularly at a time when growth is seemingly slowing down.MSME forbearance would ease the criterion for banks in recognising loans to this segment as non-performing assets. Some other directors nominated by the government, including former cooperative banker Satish Marathe, former Indian Audit and Accounts Service officer Revathy Iyer and Director General, RIS, Sachin Chaturvedi, have also differed with RBI’s full-time directors on these issues.indianexpress
Malegaon blast case: Bombay High Court declines to stay framing of charges against Lt Col Purohit
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malegaon-blast-case-bombay-high-court-declines-to-stay-framing-of-charges-against-lt-col-purohit-5423775/
Mumbai :Bombay High Court Monday refused to stay framing of charges by the trial court against Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit and other accused persons in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case.A bench of Justices S S Shinde and AS Gadkari, however, agreed to hear next month, a petition filed by Purohit, one of the seven accused in the case, challenging his prosecution under UAPA.It directed the NIA counsel Sandesh Patil to file a reply to Purohit’s plea by Nov.21, the next date of hearing. The bench refused Purohit’s request for staying the proceedings in the trial court, noting that in the past, both the Supreme Court and the Bombay HC had passed orders directing the trial court to expedite the hearing in the case.Besides Purohit,other accused case are Pragya Singh Thakur, Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. All of them will face trial under the UAPA since earlier this month, the special NIA court had rejected their pleas on the applicability of the anti-terror law against them.PTI
UP Police Books 80 Muslims under UAPA after Communal Clash
http://caravandaily.com/portal/up-police-books-80-muslims-under-uapa-after-communal-clash/
Lucknow:In apparently blatant misuse of anti-terror law UAPA-1967, the Uttar Pradesh police have booked 80 Muslims as named accused and 100-200 others as unknown for allegedly attacking an idol procession during Dussehra on 20th Oct.According to FIR lodged at the Baundi police station in the Bahraich district, on the written complaint of an alleged member of the procession Ashish Kumar Shukla, those 80 Muslims along with 100-200 others were hiding on the way of the procession and when it was passing through the Khaira village on way to Badnapur for immersion, they attacked it. The complainant claimed in FIR that the attackers were armed with guns, pistols, bombs and swords. He named three persons and 50-60 unknown persons from the procession who he said were seriously injured in the attack.However, human rights groups Rihai Manch and NCHRO,whose joint delegation visited the area on 28th October, have made holes in the police FIR. They claimed that the complaint seems to have been prepared even before the incident.Caravan News
Sabarimala remark: Opposition slams Amit Shah, wants Supreme Court to take cognizance
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/opposition-slams-amit-shah-wants-supreme-court-to-take-cognizance-5422562/
New Delhi :Opposition parties have criticised BJP president Amit Shah’s remarks on the Sabarimala verdict and said that the Supreme Court should take cognizance of Shah’s statement.In a press statement, BSP chief Mayawati said, “The statement of the ruling party president is condemnable and irresponsible. Such irresponsible remarks from the president of the party ruling at the Centre shows that democracy of the country is in danger.”Congress also criticised Shah’s remarks, saying the ruling party’s goal was to first weaken and then finish institutions.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Shah’s remarks “insult intelligence of the institution and the electorate”.AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Amit Shah actively encouraging people to violate SC orders… Hopefully, SC will take cognizance.”RJD national spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha tweeted that Shah’s remarks were a threat to the Supreme Court. indianexpress
He Is A Man Of Great Eloquence Who Is Silent When Dalits Flogged, Muslims Killed: Shashi Tharoor
https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/he-is-a-man-of-great-eloquence-who-is-silent-when-dalits-flogged-muslims-killed-shashi-tharoor-on-narendra-modi/319178
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said Narendra Modi could have succeeded as prime minister because he often got his diagnosis right but "failed" on account of poor prescriptions. It is time for Modi to go, he said, highlighting a range of contradictions in the prime minister's style of working over the last four and a half years."It's too late for a message now. The message is: Sorry Mr Modi, you have failed. It is time to go," Tharoor said in an interview to PTI on his new book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi and His India'. The book was released Friday by former prime minister Manmohan Singh. Tharoor, however, noted that Modi could have been a successful prime minister had he genuinely concentrated on economic development and on the promises that powered him to victory in 2014. He said instead of his rhetoric of ushering in transformational change in the country's progress and economic development, Modi focussed on his votebank and gave a free hand to such elements that indulged in lynching, cow vigilantism and attacks on minorities and Dalits. Tharoor was also critical of Modi's silence on these incidents of violence and drew a parallel with former US President Barack Obama who addressed the nation on every attack on Americans.PTI
'Whoever talks of Hindu rights will rule India': BJP leaders amplify Hindutva pitch ahead of state polls
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/bharatiya-janata-party-leaders-say-whoever-talks-of-hindu-rights-will-rule-india-in-hindutva-push-state-assembly-elections-2019-anurag-thakur-congress/305715
Hyderabad: Ruling BJP party fervently increased its communal rhetoric ahead of state assembly polls in 5 states. BJP MP Anurag Thakur and Rajasthan Minister of State (MoS) for Panchayat Raj Dhan Singh Rawat at different rallies used Hindutva to drum up support ahead of elections.Thakur while speaking at the party’s Vijay Laksh 2019 event in Hyderabad said “whoever talks of Hindu rights will rule India”. He attacked the Congress leaders for taking a U-turn on its stance after alleging Hindu terror over Hindutva politics. “Those who spoke of Hindu terror for political appeasement now wear ‘janehu’ (a holy Hindu totem), and make temple runs – thereby vindicating the Hindutva stand,” he said. Times Now
BJP doesn't have experience of running country: Ghulam Nabi Azad
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-bjp-doesn-t-have-experience-of-running-country-ghulam-nabi-azad-2680278?fbclid=IwAR2Q0ygEqTbeftODWqnmNsrbpIjwfBxTALit9EBm_wDMxaQHFslLZjk7cXY
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that PM Narendra Modi speaks more outside Parliament than inside the House and BJP does not have the experience of running the country.Ex- Union minister made the statement while addressing party workers here."Prime Minister Narendra Modi seldom speak inside Parliament, but he never gets tired while speaking outside Parliament,"Azad said.He claimed that due to implementation of GST, lakhs of small and medium industrial units have shutdown. "Labourers working there have become unemployed. Similarly, demonetisation has rendered 35 lakh people jobless across the country,"Congress leader said. Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, "BJP remembers the Ram temple only when the elections approach, and by the time elections are over, the issue is forgotten." PTI
Rift in UP Congress out in open after Muslim leaders express dissent in Varanasi
http://twocircles.net/2018oct28/426771.html
Over the past few years, political parties have been trying every trick in the book to consolidate the vote bank against BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. But it seems that the Indian National Congress, the biggest political rival of the BJP, is actually losing the confidence of Muslims in eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially Varanasi. Various leaders and activists from Varanasi have come out in protest, alleging district as well as state Congress committees of ignoring minorities, especially Muslims.They accused the Congress party of using Muslims only for votes and not paying them enough attention within the party or before the media. The issue erupted a couple of weeks back when Anwar Ahmad Pappu, a senior Congress leader and ex-Councillor, wrote a Facebook post alleging that the using them only during the election time. The post went viral within hours and a great rift could be seen in the comments on the post. District Congress president Sitaram Keshari commented that with such posts, Ahmad can only be reduced to a politician of social media.The grievance raised by Ahmad aggravated and soon, he threatened to resign from the party after the festival of Navratri. Many Muslim leaders from the party along with the Corporators joined the chorus, exposing how Muslims were being ignored by Congress.TCN
Assam's rights body opposes Centre's notification on allowing collectors to grant citizenship
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/assams-rights-body-opposes-centres-notification-on-allowing-collectors-to-grant-citizenship/articleshow/66393044.cms
Guwahati: Criticising the Union home ministry’s notification on allowing some district collectors of seven states to grant citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring countries, Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (ASM) on Saturday said the move was unjustified as a petition on the issue is being heard by the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. Eight prominent citizens of the state under ASM in 2016 had filed a petition challenging Centre’s Sept.2015 notification that paved the way for an ordinance for amending the Citizenship Act by tabling the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. The Bill seeks citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bangladesh who were compelled to seek shelter in India because of religious persecution without valid documents.“Religious minorities from Bangladesh staying in Assam can also apply online for citizenship. This is a way of giving citizenship to non-nationals even as the citizenship amendment bill 2016 is still being reviewed by the joint parliamentary committee,” ASM working president Motiur Rahman said.TOI
SC prohibits plying of 15-yr-old petrol, 10-yr-old diesel vehicles in NCR
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/sc-prohibits-plying-of-15-yr-old-petrol-10-yr-old-diesel-vehicles-in-ncr/articleshow/66415120.cms
The Supreme Court on Monday prohibited the plying of 15-yr-old petrol and 10-yr-old diesel vehicles in the national capital region and directed the transport department to announce that such vehicles will be impounded if found plying. The apex court, which described as "very critical" the prevailing situation of pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, said that the list of 15 yr old petrol and 10 year old vehicles be given on the website of Central Pollution Control Board and transport department of NCR. CPCB will immediately make social media account on which citizens can complain about pollution, the top court ordered.PTI
WORLD
'No survivors' after Indonesian plane carrying 189 passengers crashes into sea
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/indonesia-lion-air-flight-jakarta-sumatra-crashes-181029024304336.html
Indonesia's search-and-rescue agency said on Monday there are likely no survivors from the Lion Air passenger flight that crashed into the sea north of Java Island. Rescue officials told Al Jazeera there were 189 people on board the aircraft."We need to find the main wreckage," Bambang Suryo, operational director of the agency, told reporters."I predict there are no survivors, based on body parts found so far," Suryo said.The plane - which was travelling from Jakarta to the island of Sumatra - lost contact at 6:30am local time - 13 minutes after takeoff, according to the official. Boeing 737 MAX 8 airliner was flying from the capital to the city of Pangkal Pinang at 1,113 metres above sea level when it lost contact with air traffic controllers.Pilots requested to return to base shortly before losing contact, said Yohanes Sirait, a spokesman for the country's air navigation authorities.aljazeera
Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja was flying the Lion Air flight that crashed into Indonesian seas
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indias-bhavye-suneja-flew-the-lion-air-flight-that-crashed-into-indonesian-seas-5423185/
New Delhi:Lion Air flight that crashed Monday morning into Indonesian seas was commanded by Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja. A total of 189 passengers and crew were aboard the plane that took off from Jakarta and went missing minutes later. The rescue operations are still underway and officials have no information on survivors as of now.According to Suneja’s LinkedIn profile, he belongs to New Delhi and is associated with the airline since March 2011. indianexpress
Bangladesh court jails ex-PM Zia for 7 yrs for corruption
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/bangladesh-court-jails-pm-zia-7-years-corruption-181029065602070.html
angladesh's imprisoned opposition leader Khaleda Zia was handed another seven years in prison on Monday on corruption charges her supporters say are politically motivated to prevent her running in general elections due at the end of the year.Zia, long a rival to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is already behind bars after being handed a five-year term in February on separate embezzlement charges.Judge Md Akhtaruzaman on Monday found her guilty of misuse of power as prime minister in collecting $375,000 for the Zia Charitable Trust Fund from unknown sources.BNP leader was absent in court as she is currently hospitalised while serving a prison term. The terms will run concurrently, meaning she will spend an extra two years in jail.The judge also sentenced three others to seven years in jail each for collecting the money from undeclared sources for the trust named after Zia's late husband and former President Ziaur Rahman.Her lawyers, who were also absent during the verdict, have consistently described the trial as "political vengeance" by Hasina, who has been accused of stifling her opponents.The opposition vowed nationwide marches on Tuesday to protest against the guilty verdict."People will never accept this judgement," BNP Secretary-General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told reporters.The fresh conviction is expected to further impede Zia's chances of challenging her erstwhile ally Hasina in the parliamentary elections slated for December.aljazeera
Egypt court lists 164 Islamists as leading "terrorists"
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/egypt-court-lists-164-islamists-as-leading-terrorists-118102900007_1.html
Cairo : An Egyptian court listed 164 Islamists as leaders of terrorist entities, including leading members of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) as well as loyalists of the Muslim Brotherhood group, official MENA reported. The list includes Assem Abdel-Maged, Mohamed al-Islambouli and Tarek al-Zomor of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya, a self-proclaimed anti-government Islamic group that committed violent and terror activities in Egypt in the 1990s, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. Cairo Criminal Court also ordered to seize their funds to be supervised and run by special committees.Leading members of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya, who have been jailed following the assassination of late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1981, were pardoned and released in the wake of the 2011 uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak.Most Islamists and Brotherhood loyalists have either been jailed or fugitives since military ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in early July 2013.IANS
Israeli air raid kills 3 Palestinian boys in Gaza
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/israeli-air-strike-kills-palestinian-boys-gaza-181028211536125.html
3 Palestinian boys aged between 13 and 14 have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the southeastern Gaza Strip near the fence with Israel, according to health officials.Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for the health ministry in the besieged enclave, identified the children as Khaled Bassam Mahmoud Abu Saeed, 14; Abdul Hameed Mohammed Abdul Aziz Abu Zaher, 13; and Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullah al-Sutari, 13.He said ambulances brought their bodies to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinian news agency Wafa said the Israeli army "reportedly opened fire toward the ambulances and prevented their access" to the scene of the bombing, located northeast of Khan Younis.
17 killed as bus crashes into ravine in northern Pak
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/killed-bus-crashes-ravine-northern-pakistan-181029054429357.html
At least 17 people have been killed after a bus plunged into a deep ravine in northern Pakistan's district of Kohistan, officials say, with at least eight passengers still missing after the accident.The accident took place late on Sunday night on a remote road winding through steep mountains near the boundary between Kohistan and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, about 200km north of the capital Islamabad, senior police official said.Al Jazeera
Brazil: Far-right leader Bolsonaro wins presidency
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/brazil-elections-leader-jair-bolsonaro-set-win-181028222301084.html
Sao Paulo:Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential elections, signalling a political shift for South America's most populous nation and largest economy. Official results gave Bolsonaro a 55.2 percent share of the vote in Sunday's runoff, comfortably ahead of Fernando Haddad, the candidate of the centre-left Workers' Party (PT), who had 44.8%.Bolsonaro gave an internet address via Facebook Live, shunning a traditional press conference because of security concerns. In Sept., he suffered a near-fatal stabbing at a campaign rally."We could no longer be flirting with socialism, communism, populism and extremism on the left," he said.Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump - whom he has expressed admiration for - called to wish him good luck after his victory in what he called "obviously a very friendly contact".aljazeera
Riyadh should reveal all truth on Khashoggi, says Turkey as Saudi Chief Prosecutor held meeting with Turkish counterpart
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/jamal-khashoggi/riyadh-should-reveal-all-truth-on-khashoggi-turkish-fm/1296843
ISTANBUL:Turkish foreign minister on Monday called on Saudi Arabia to reveal “all truth” regarding journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.“Those who committed the premeditated murder were arrested in Saudi Arabia. There is an investigation going on [in Saudi Arabia] as well,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a joint news conference with his Azerbaijani and Georgian counterparts Elmar Mammadyarov and Davit Zalkaliani, respectively.Noting that Turkey is making “intense” efforts to reveal all the names behind the incident, Cavusoglu said: “Body of Khashoggi couldn’t be reached yet.”He said the culprits were in Saudi Arabia and the country had a big responsibility in this regard.Cavusoglu said Saudi top prosecutor has also admitted that the murder was premeditated.“This is our concern.This investigation should be concluded as soon as possible,” Cavusoglu said, adding the whole world was waiting for it.He also applauded cooperation and information sharing by the chief prosecutors of the two countries.Earlier Monday, Saudi Arabia’s Chief Prosecutor Saud Al-Mujeb and the delegation accompanying him held a meeting with Turkey’s Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan at the Istanbul Caglayan Courthouse over Khashoggi’s killing.Turkish police have been investigating the case, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said 18 people arrested in Saudi Arabia over the killing should be sent to Turkey to face trial.Anadolu Agency
Khashoggi case: Saudi,Turkish prosecutors meet
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/jamal-khashoggi-case-latest-updates-181010133542286.html
Ghannouchi: ‘Like Bouazizi’s case, Khashoggi’s assassination kindled the world’s sympathy’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181029-tunisias-ghannouchi-like-bouazizis-case-khashoggis-assassination-kindled-the-worlds-sympathy/
Rached Ghannouchi, head of the Ennahda movement in Tunisia, has compared the repercussions of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination to the worldwide reaction ignited by Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in December 2010.At the opening of Ennahda’s second annual seminar this weekend, Ghannouchi said: “This seminar is being held under circumstances similar in many respects to those triggered by Bouazizi’s tragic self-immolation and the resulting international empathy and resentment of the conditions that caused such [a] horrible incident”.The leader of the Islamist party added that: “Khashoggi’s alarming death [has] awakened the world’s conscience from its deep slumber, by rejecting the logic of prevailing interests among nations and insisting on unveiling the whole truth”.middleeastmonitor
Rohingya genocide continues in Myanmar: Rights group
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/rohingya-genocide-continues-in-myanmar-rights-group/1296333
New York:Some states hinder our work in raising awareness about the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, head of a rights groups said Sunday.In a special interview to Anadolu Agency, Kyaw Win, director of Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN), said: “Some countries in the UN Security Council seem to prefer their interests over humanity. Some superpowers put obstacles in front of us on the Myanmar issue.”Anadolu
Hundreds of Rohingya imprisoned ‘indefinitely’ in Saudi: report
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/revealed-hundreds-rohingyas-imprisoned-indefinitely-saudi-years-1365716422
Hundreds of Rohingya men, women, and children have been held indefinitely for several years without charge inside a detention centre in Saudi Arabia.Many members of the persecuted group came to Saudi Arabia after 2011 on fake passports to flee persecution in Myanmar and earn a living - but they were swept up in a series of crackdowns against undocumented workers, Middle East Eye can reveal.During a four-month-long investigation, MEE has spoken to former and current detainees, alongside Rohingya living in Saudi Arabia, Bangladeshi refugee camps and activists, who confirmed that hundreds are being detained in the Gulf Kingdom. Current detainees and those who fled to Bangladesh told MEE that many had spent between one to six years stuck inside the Shumaisi detention centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, unable to leave, and incarcerated for an indefinite period.“Saudi Arabia’s historic stance to stand by persecuted Muslim Rohingya refugees is in tatters."Among the detainees are children, alongside men and women of all ages. Abu Ubayd, whose name was changed to protect his identity, is currently locked up in the centre. Using a smuggled phone, he explained the situation inside the detention centre.“Everyone who is here just wants to leave. We feel frustrated and claustrophobic just being here,” Ubayd told MEE. “Lot of people are locked up here because they came on fake passports, but what do you expect us to do.“The Myanmar government refuses to give us any form of documentation let alone a passport.“It feels so claustrophobic just being here for so long, unable to leave, and not able to live the basic freedom of feeling the wind running through our hair.”middleeasteye
Muslims crowdfund for victims of Pittsburgh synagogue attack
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/muslims-crowdfund-victims-pittsburgh-synagogue-attack-181028112649520.html?fbclid=IwAR1lnEE8gKWEOGW__GvycO42lXb-uO7Was6-sRz_iCCW1boYVEWjDAbJ4uw
Muslim-American community has raised tens of thousands of dollars in a crowdfunding effort to help the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left at least 11 people dead and 6 wounded.The campaign, which is hosted by Muslim crowdfunding site LaunchGood, aims to help shooting victims, "whether it is the injured victims or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones".It was started by Tarek El-Messidi, a Muslim-American speaker and founder of CelebrateMercy, a nonprofit body that "teaches about Prophet Muhammad's life and character". According to an update the campaign's page, its original goal of $25,000 was raised in "only" 6 hours. The goal has now been extended to $50,000, with nine days left. At the time of publication on Sunday, the sum had exceeded $43,000.Robert Bowers, 48, has been named as the suspect in Saturday's mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. He has been charged with 29 offences, including hate crimes.According to the Allegheny County medical examiners' office, 11 people killed in the synagogue included a married couple, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, and 2 brothers, Cecil and David Rosenthal. David Rosenthal was the youngest at 54. The eldest was 97-year-old Rose Mallinger.The dead also included Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.aljazeera
Lanka: Warnings of 'bloodbath' as political tensions rise
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/sri-lanka-warnings-bloodbath-political-tensions-rise-181029112125434.html
The speaker of Sri Lanka's parliament has warned the country's political crisis could devolve into a "bloodbath" unless President Maithripala Sirisena reconvened parliament to let lawmakers resolve his power struggle with a sacked prime minister.The warning on Monday came as legislators loyal to ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe called on their supporters to converge on Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, to protest against what they labeled a coup by Sirisena.Speaker Karu Jayasuriya urged Sirisena to let Wickremesinghe prove his majority support on the parliament floor. "If we take it out to the streets, there will be a huge bloodbath," he told reporters.Referring to the death of one man when the bodyguard of a deposed minister opened fire on a crowd on Sunday, Jayasuriya added: "There is unrest and foreign countries are issuing travel warnings. This will set the country back on the international stage and damage our economy."The dismissed minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, was taken into custody over the incident on Monday, a police spokesman said. Sri Lanka, a majority Buddhist nation in the Indian Ocean, has been plunged into constitutional chaos after Sirisena's surprise decisions over the weekend to sack Wickremesinghe and suspend parliament, in an apparent bid to shore up support for newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president accused of human rights abuses and corruption. The initial shock and confusion triggered by the president's moves dissipated on Monday, and Sirisena was under increasing political and diplomatic pressure to reconvene parliament.Some 126 legislators out of 225-member House signed a motion urging Jayasuriya to call an emergency session of parliament. Patali Champika Ranawaka, member of Wickremesinghe's UNP, which has 104 seats in the house, said the resolution also had the support of 22 legislators from the minority Tamil National Party and the People's Liberation Front."This is a constitutional coup and spells the death knell for democracy," Ranwaka said. "I challenge Mahinda Rajapaksa to turn up at the parliament and show his majority."Aljazeera
Sri Lanka crisis: Sacked petroleum minister Ranatunga arrested after Sunday’s fatal shooting
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/sri-lanka-crisis-arjuna-ranatunga-wickremesinghe-sirisena-rajpaksa-5424002/
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SC order on reservation in promotions sanctifies unequal representation of Dalits in higher bureaucracy:Abdul Khaliq
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/glass-ceiling-caste-wall-sc-st-job-promotion-reservation-5422523/
India Had the Highest Number of Pollution-Related Child Deaths in 2016
https://thewire.in/health/india-pollution-related-deaths-children
Ordinance on Sub-Judice Matter? Never Done Before But Not Barred, Say Legal Experts on Ayodhya Issue:news18
https://www.news18.com/news/india/ordinance-on-sub-judice-matter-never-done-before-but-not-barred-say-legal-experts-1923253.html
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