NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
13 Nov. 2018: 4 Rabiul-I 1440: Vol: 11, No:53
INDIA
SC to hear Zakia Jafri’s plea challenging Modi’s clean chit in 2002 Gujarat riots on Nov 19
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-to-hear-on-nov-19-plea-challenging-modis-acquittal-in-2002-riots-5444099/
New Delhi :The Supreme Court will hear on November 19 a plea filed by Zakia Jafri challenging the clean chit given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Godhra riots case.Wife of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was killed in the Gulbarg society massacre in 2002, Zakia, has challenged the clean chit given to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and other politicians and senior bureaucrats by the SIT in its closure report, citing lack of “prosecutable evidence” against them. In 2012, a metropolitan court acquitted all 58 accused in the post-Godhra riots in which 69 people were killed. “According to the SIT, no offence has been established against any of the 58 persons listed in Zakia’s complaint,” metropolitan magistrate MS Bhatt had then said. The petitioners had then moved the High Court against the acquittal in 2013.The Gujarat High Court, last year, upheld the judgment of the metropolitan court and rejected Zakia’s allegations that cases such as Naroda Patiya, Naroda Gam and Gulberg were part of a “larger conspiracy”.indianexpress
Modi clean chit in 2002 Gujarat riots: SC to hear plea challenging all-clear to PM
https://www.newsx.com/national/2002-gujarat-riots-supreme-court-to-hear-plea-challenging-clean-chit-to-narendra-modi-by-sit-on-nov-19
Sabarimala hearing LIVE: Supreme Court to hear 49 review petitions in open court on Jan.22
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-sabarimala-hearing-live-updates-kerala-temple-review-petition-5443479/
The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the review petitions against its Sabarimala verdict in open court on Jan.22. However, the five-judge bench, comprising of CJI Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Rohinton Nariman, AM Khanwilkar,DY Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra, clarified that there would be no stay on its Sept.28 verdict that allowed entry of women of all age groups in Sabarimala Temple. This means women of all ages are still allowed to enter the Sabarimala temple till such time the SC hears the matter. The writ petitions are also likely to be listed along with the review petitions. Earlier in the day, a bench of CJI Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph deferred hearing on fresh petitions, saying the writ pleas would be heard subject to the decision of the review petitions. The writ and review petitions were filed after the Sept.28 judgment of the SC, which held that women, irrespective of their age, have the right to enter the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple. The temple has opened twice since the SC’s judgment but has been marred by protests. The SC decision holds importance ahead of the temple opening for a 2-month-long annual festival on Nov.17. indianexpress
SC to hear National Herald case, IT proceedings to be in abeyance till then
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/sc-to-hear-national-herald-case-it-proceedings-to-be-in-abeyance-till-then
The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed December 4 to hear the Special Leave Petition filed by Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Oscar Fernandes to challenge the dismissal by the Delhi High Court of their plea challenging the re-opening of their Income Tax assessment for the year 2010-11.The Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice AK Sikri and Justice Abdul Nazeer also accepted the oral assurance of the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta that the re-assessment would not proceed till the Supreme Court finally hears the arguments.nationalheraldindia
Dassault Aviation CEO on Rafale deal: ‘We chose Ambani by ourselves… I don’t lie’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dassault-aviation-ceo-eric-trappier-rafale-deal-reliance-ambani-5443824/
New Delhi ;Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier Tuesday, in an interview to ANI, reiterated that his company had chosen Reliance as an offset partner, and denied allegations of corruption in the Rafale jet deal with India saying it was a “clean deal”. He added that the price in the contract for 36 aircraft was brought down by 9 per cent after government-to-government negotiations.“We chose (Anil) Ambani by ourselves. We are also looking at other partners. We already have 30 partners other than Reliance,”Trappier said.On allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal, Trappier said, “I don’t lie. The truth I declared before and the statements I made are true. I don’t have a reputation of lying. In my position as CEO,you don’t lie.”indianexpress
Rafale deal: PM Modi snatched contract from HAL, gave it to Anil Ambani, says Rahul Gandhi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rafale-deal-pm-modi-snatched-contract-from-hal-gave-it-to-anil-ambani-says-rahul-gandhi-5444095/
New Delhi :Hours after Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier, in an interview to ANI, denied allegations of corruption in the Rafale jet deal with India, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi snatched contract from HAL and gave it to Reliance’s Anil Ambani. “PM Modi went to France with Anil Ambani, snatched Rafale contract from HAL, gave it to him,” PTI quoted Gandhi as saying while addressing a rally in poll-bound Chhattisgarh.Trappier Tuesday said that his company had chosen Reliance as an offset partner adding that it was a “clean deal”. He also said that the price in the contract for 36 aircraft was brought down by 9 per cent after government-to-government negotiations. “We chose (Anil) Ambani by ourselves. We are also looking at other partners. We already have 30 partners other than Reliance,” Trappier said.The political row over the Rafale jet deal escalated Tuesday with the Congress dismissing as ‘manufactured lies’ the claims by the Dassault CEO there was no wrong-doing and its chief Rahul Gandhi firing a fresh salvo at PM Modi. Responding to Trappier’s defence of the contract in a media interview, Congress chief Randeep Surjewala, “The nation needs a “fair investigation” and not “doctored explanations” on the fighter jet deal.”” ‘Dictated Interviews’ and ‘manufactured lies’ cannot suppress the Rafale Scam. First rule of Law – Mutual Beneficiaries and Co-accused’s statements hold no value. Second Rule:-Beneficiaries and accused can’t be Judge in their own case. Truth has a way of coming out,” Surjewala said on Twitter.indianexpress
Congress refutes Dassault CEO’s claim, says ‘dictated interviews’ can’t suppress Rafale scam
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-refutes-dassault-ceos-claim-says-dictated-interviews-cant-suppress-rafale-scam-5444227/
Asthana case: Delhi HC dismisses bail plea of middleman Manoj Prasad
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rakesh-asthana-case-delhi-hc-dismisses-bail-plea-of-middleman-manoj-prasad-5444013/
Delhi High Court today dismissed the bail plea of middleman Manoj Prasad in a bribery case allegedly involving CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana.Justice Najmi Waziri denied the relief to Prasad, saying the allegations against him were serious in nature and noted the CBI submission that the investigation is at a crucial stage.Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee and Advocate Rajdipa Behura, appearing for the CBI opposed the bail plea on the grounds that investigation was at a crucial stage and Prasad’s case was different from that of other accused. Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Prasad, said he has been in custody for nearly a month and he has not been interrogated even once by the CBI during this period.Prasad had approached the Delhi High Court on Monday seeking bail in the case, following dismissal of his similar application by a trial court here on November 3. The trial court had denied bail to Prasad, saying it was not a fit stage to grant him the relief.Prasad, who was arrested by the CBI on Oct.17, is currently in judicial custody. Prasad, Asthana and CBI’s DSP Devender Kumar have also filed separate petitions in the high court seeking quashing of the FIR against them which are listed for hearing on Wednesday.indianexpress
Rising Tide of Nationalism Driving Force behind Fake News in India, Says BBC Research
http://caravandaily.com/portal/rising-tide-of-nationalism-driving-force-behind-fake-news-in-india-says-bbc-research/
New Delhi:A research conducted by BBC has found that the rising tide of nationalism being witnessed in India since BJP came to power at the centre in May 2014, is “driving ordinary citizens to spread fake news.” “The research found that facts were less important to some than the emotional desire to bolster national identity,” says a report in BBC.Social media analysis suggested that right-wing networks are much more organised than on the left, pushing nationalistic fake stories further.“There was also an overlap of fake news sources on Twitter and support networks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” says the report.The findings come from extensive research in India, Kenya, and Nigeria into the way ordinary citizens engage with and spread fake news. The findings on India have been captured in a 105-page report.Participants gave the BBC extensive access to their phones over a seven-day period, allowing the researchers to examine the kinds of material they shared, whom they shared it with and how often.The research, commissioned by the BBC World Service and published on Monday, is part of “Beyond Fake News” – a series across TV, radio and digital that aims to investigate how disinformation and fake news are affecting people around the world.The research says that “distrust of mainstream news outlets pushed people to spread information from alternative sources, without attempting to verify it, in the belief that they were helping to spread the real story.”caravandaily/BBC
No perfect solution to deal with “fake news”, says Twitter CEO
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/have-to-outsmart-those-spreading-fake-news/article25479259.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:CEO and co-founder of Twitter Jack Dorsey on Monday said there was no perfect solution to deal with “fake news” and “misinformation” on social media in the context of the upcoming 2019 general election. Calling it a multi-variable problem, Dorsey said: “We need to be 10 steps ahead of those trying to spread misinformation and need to ensure that people reading misinformation do not take action based on the information. Twitter can step in to ensure that a reported tweet that is spreading misinformation is contained and does not spread more than the impressions it has already reached.”He likened the problem to that of security and said that even the best lock can be broken and the challenge was to keep building better locks. Mr. Dorsey was speaking at a town hall in IIT Delhi, organised to launch an initiative of Twitter, #PowerOf18, aimed at getting the youth to vote in the next general election.thehindu
Ayodhya dispute: 2 petitioners support out of court settlement:indiatoday
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ayodhya-dispute-2-muslim-petitioners-support-out-of-court-settlement-1387242-2018-11-13
In a major development in the Ayodhya dispute, two Muslim petitioners have signed a letter supporting the Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's initiative for an out of court settlement. The representative of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Gautam Vij met Haji Mehboob and Mohommad Omar, the two Sunni petitioners in Ayodhya dispute case on Monday, who have signed a letter supporting the out of court settlement.The Imam of Kevda Masjid and Tedhi Bazaar Masjid in Ayodhya also signed the letter in support of resolution of the dispute through talks.Speaking to media, Haji Mehboob said, "The Art of Living founder is an educated person and is pitching for peace between both the communities. The matter is pending in Supreme Court but an amicable solution through talks will also send a good message.
Not farmers, Ram temple is Centre's priority:Sharad Pawar
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/not-farmers-ram-temple-is-centres-priority-says-ncp-president-sharad-pawar/313237
Mumbai: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Monday hit out at BJP-led central government saying that it failed to formulate right policies for farmers. Addressing a gathering here, Pawar said that in spite of discussing the issues being faced by the farmers, Ram temple has become the priority of the ruling dispensation.He even accused the central government of diverting people's attention. "Be it loan waiver or other policies, this government failed in formulating right policies for farmers. Today farmers' problems are not being discussed, Ram temple is being discussed. This government has worked towards diverting people's attention. We have to be aware of this," he said. Pawar had earlier targetted PM Modi government over the Rafale deal signed between India and France.ANI
BJP MLA Anil Gote announces resignation from Maharashtra Assembly, party
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-mla-anil-gote-announces-resignation-from-maharashtra-assembly-party-5443923/
Mumbai:BJP MLA Anil Gote has announced his resignation as member of the Maharashtra Assembly as well as from the BJP, alleging that “criminals” were being inducted into the party.Gote, who represents the Dhule Assembly seat in Maharashtra, said on Monday that he will tender his resignation next week. Last month, another BJP MLA had resigned as member of the state Assembly and from the party. Gote has been opposing induction of some leaders from the NCP into the BJP.“I am going to tender my resignation to the Assembly Speaker on Nov. 19, first day of the state legislature’s winter session, and also quit the party,” he said.“Despite my opposition, senior party leaders have been inducting people with criminal background into the BJP ahead of Dhule Municipal Corporation election,” Gote said.PTI
Must be BJP’s policy to not give ticket to Muslims, says Rajasthan MLA after quitting party
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/habibur-rahaman-surendra-goyal-rajasthan-elections-vasundhara-raje-bjp-5444096/
Jaipur :Following the resignation of Rajasthan cabinet minister Surendra Goyal on Monday, BJP MLA from Nagaur district Habibur Rahaman has also quit the party. Both Goyal and Rahaman’s names didn’t feature in the list of 131 candidates released on Sunday for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.Rahaman, who is one of the two sitting Muslim MLAs of the incumbent BJP government in Rajasthan, was replaced by Mohan Ram Choudhary in his Assembly constituency of Nagaur.The name of Yoonus Khan, a close aide of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, has also been held back as the candidate for his current Assembly constituency of Didwana in Nagaur district. His name wasn’t part of the first list.“I resigned from the BJP yesterday. Now, this must be the policy of the party to not give tickets to Muslim candidates…What can we say about it? I didn’t do anything wrong to not get a ticket… I will decide my further course of action after a meeting with workers today,” Rahaman said.indianexpress
Chhattisgarh elections: First phase sees 70% voter turnout amid sporadic Maoist violence
https://indianexpress.com/elections/chhattisgarh-elections-first-phase-voter-turnout-maoist-attack-5442949/
New Delhi :Defying threats by Maoists, 70 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote on Monday in 18 constituencies in the first phase of Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh amid violence and allegations of EVM rigging. The turnout was just a shade lower than the first phase in 2013 when 75.53% of voters turned out to exercise their franchise. Appreciating the enthusiasm of the voters, Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said attempst were amde to instill a sense of fear among people.“Polling was peaceful. In comparison to earlier elections, this elections have been singular achievement of the people working in the fields. Attempts were made to create fear among people but enthusiasm in voters was appreciable,” ANI quoted Rawat as saying.The highest voter turnout was recorded in Khujji at 65.5 per cent till 4.30 pm. Maoist hotbed of Bastar, which saw just 40 per cent voter turnout in 2013, witnessed a healthy participation this time, with 58 per cent of the electorate coming out to vote. Dantewada recorded 58 per cent turnout, while other regions in Naxal belt like Kondagaon, Keshkal, Kanker, Khairagarh and Dongargarh saw 61.47, 63.51, 62, 60.5, 64 per cent voter participation respectively.Minutes before polling began, an IED was detonated in Dantewada district by Naxals, who had called for a boycott of the polls. Security personnel also recovered IEDs near a polling station in Bijapur and in Sukma district.indianexpress
Allahabad renaming: High Court asks Centre, Uttar Pradesh to file affidavits
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/allahabad-renaming-high-court-asks-centre-uttar-pradesh-to-file-affidavits/story-sGMV0ouwT34J5zbYysIpZM.html
lucknow:Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday asked the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government to file counter affidavits within a week on a petition challenging the decision to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj.A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan passed the order on a PIL moved by HS Pandey.The petitioner argued that it was necessary to invite objections from the public under Section 6 (2) of the Revenue Manual before changing the name of a district, but said provision was not followed in the present case. The state counsel opposed the plea by submitting that the provision was applicable in case the revenue area had to be changed. But, he added, only the name was changed in the present case and, therefore, the petition was not maintainable. After hearing both sides, the court asked the state and the central government counsel to place their arguments on record by filing counter affidavits.HT
Don’t sell land or house to Muslims, don’t let shops to them: provocative statements by IkkJutt Jammu
https://www.siasat.com/news/dont-sell-land-or-house-muslims-dont-let-shops-them-provocative-statements-ikkjutt-jammu-1431497/
Jammu: A seminar was conducted under the banner of IkkJutt Jammu. Advocate Ankur Sharma is the chairman of the organisation. Provocative appeals were made during the seminar. Hindus were advised not to sell their lands and residential houses to Muslims. And not to lease out shops to them.The speakers of the seminar claimed that purchase of land and houses by Muslims is part of a deep conspiracy. They also claimed that 8-year-old girl in Kathua was killed by Muslims themselves.Former BJP leader and history Professor Hari Om urged Hindus not to sell land and houses to Muslims; even if the need arises he advised them to sell them to their ‘own’ people. He further said that Muslim population is fast growing in Jammu. This is to create Kashmir like situation in Jammu, he said. He claimed there were 3 Muslim localities and 3 Masajid in Jammu in 1994; today there are 42 Muslim localities. You can’t go there.Writer and academician Madhu Kishwar said it is being planned to make Jammu Muslim majority province which needs to be stopped. She said people of a particular community are being legally invited to the province and are permitted to occupy the land as much as they wish. She said that people from Burma and Bangladesh are brought and inhabited here.siasat
Kashmir youths who joined militancy should surrender: Army Chief Rawat
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/army-chief-kashmir-youths-who-joined-militancy-should-surrender-5443448/
Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Monday said there was no threat of insurgency in Punjab but there was need to remain alert and both Centre and Punjab government were seized of the matter, latter especially dealing it with an iron hand.“There is no threat for Punjab but it is better to remain alert than allow things to go out of control. People of Punjab themselves will not allow the violence to spread. They are the ones who actually quelled the insurgency and they will not allow this to spread,” said the Army Chief while interacting with newsmen at Mamun Military Station after inaugurating a two-day “Samman Samaroh: Year of Disabled Soldiers in Line of Duty”.indianexpress
Karnataka Journalist Arrested for Hate Speech Against Prophet Mohammed, Tipu Sultan
https://thewire.in/media/karnataka-journalist-arrested-infalmmatory-speech-prophet-mohammed-tipu-sultan
New Delhi: After allegedly making several inflammatory comments Prophet Mohammed and Tipu Sultan last week, in the run up to the Karnataka state government’s celebrations of Tipu Jayanti, journalist Santosh Thammaiah has been arrested and booked under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.The editor of right-leaning magazine Aseema, Thammaiah, according to the complaint filed against him, had said: “It was because of the Prophet’s ideologies that Tipu Sultan carried out terrorist acts.”Thammaiah made the comments at an event organised by Hindutva group Pragnya Kaveri titled ‘Tipu Karaala Mukha Anaavarana’ (the exposure of Tipu’s dark side).The complaint was filed by a resident of Siddapura, Askar KV on November 6. “Such speech can lead to unrest and disrupt the peace in Kodagu as Santosh Thammaiah has insulted the Prophet in his speech,” Askar’s complaint states. According to The News Minute, “Such speech can lead to unrest and disrupt the peace in Kodagu as Santosh Thammaiah has insulted the Prophet in his speech,” Askar’s complaint states.thewire
Dabholkar murder: CBI invokes UAPA to slap terror charges
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/narendra-dabholkar-murder-cbi-invokes-uapa-to-slap-terror-charges-5443407/
Pune:CBI has invoked sections relating to terror charges under the stringent UAPA, against the accused in the killing of rationalist and anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar in 2013. In a report submitted to a Pune court Monday, the CBI invoked the UAPA’s Section 15, which defines a “terrorist act”, and Section 16, which states that if the “act” results in death, the punishment is either the death sentence or life imprisonment. The report was submitted by the case’s investigating officer, ASP S R Singh, in the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class), SMA Sayyed.The stipulated time period for filing a chargesheet in UAPA cases is 90 days after the date of arrest, after which the investigating agency can seek a 90-dayextension. The CBI, which was earlier slated to file a chargesheet on November 18, has moved an application in court for the extension, sources said. So far, the agency has arrested six persons in the case, five of them in August and September this year. In June 2016, the CBI had arrested ENT surgeon and Sanatan Sanstha member Dr Virendra Tawde, the alleged mastermind of the conspiracy to kill Dabholkar.CBI told the court that the five arrested this year have links to either the Sanatan Sanstha or its affiliate Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Among those arrested are Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar who, the CBI claimed, opened fire at Dabholkar on August 20, 2013, when he was on a morning walk in Pune.indianexpress
Staged photo that led to arrest of RSS man features at Tajinder Bagga’s Sabarimala event
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/staged-photo-led-arrest-rss-man-features-at-tajinder-bagga-sabarimala-event-5443289/
An event organised by Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga, meant to press for restrictions on entry of women inside Sabarimala temple, has put the party in a spot for using staged photos of an RSS worker who has been arrested.Sunday’s event was held in front of a large poster that had an image of a man dressed in black, with an Ayyappa statue in one hand and a stick in the other. The foot of a man, purportedly a police officer, is placed on the former’s chest. Stickers with the same image were distributed.The poster reads: “100 crore Hinduon ki aastha par prahaar band karo (stop the assault on the belief of 100 crore Hindus)”, along with the words #SaveSabarimala. Those on the stage, including Bagga, also held up smaller posters showing the image. Except, the man in the poster, 39-year-old RSS worker Rajesh R Kurup, was arrested on November 5 from Kerala’s Alappuzha district for staging photographs of the “attack”.On Monday, Bagga, who organised the event, clarified that the photo on the poster was “representative” in nature. A BJP spokesperson said Bagga had organised the event, also attended by rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra, in his personal capacity.indianexpress
RBI Governor Patel meets PM Modi ahead of RBI meet
https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/patel-meets-pm-ahead-of-rbi-meet/article25479362.ece?homepage=true
Mumbai:RBI Governor Urjit Patel met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 9.According to sources familiar with the development, Dr. Patel apprised the central bank’s rationale for its discomfort over a series of demands made by the Finance Ministry, including higher dividend and lower capital requirement for banks.The meeting assumes significance ahead of the central bank’s board meeting scheduled on November 19.The meetings, which some said also included with the Prime Minister, came amid a face-off between the central bank and the Finance Ministry over issues ranging from appropriate size of reserves that RBI must maintain to ease of lending norms to step up growth in an election year.Sources said there are indications that RBI may create a special dispensation for lending to small and medium enterprises, but it was not immediately clear if an agreement has been worked out to ease liquidity situation for non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and the RBI parting with its substantial part of its surplus.thehindu
Changing Muslim, Islamic names of cities by Yogi belies liberal democracy theory : Soz
http://www.uniindia.com/changing-muslim-islamic-names-of-cities-by-yogi-belies-liberal-democracy-theory--soz/north/news/1403853.html
Srinagar:Senior Congress leader and former union minister Prof Saifuddin Soz said changing Muslim and Islamic names of cities and institutions was against the spirit of "liberal democracy"."The general run of political observers have started worrying for the Liberal Democracy that India has to be as per the Constitution of India," Prof Soz said in a statement here on Tuesday afternoon.He said," it was extremely objectionable and condemnable.“Political observers at the national level feel that it is not people like Amit Shah, Yogi Aditya Nath, and Giri Raj Singh, who fan communal and sectarian narrative on almost all issues relevant for their reference, but, it is a direct inspiration from PM Narendra Modi, who has shown culture for this narrative continuously and now is doubly promoting it with Election 2019 in view.UNI
WORLD
Gaza wakes up to rubble and funerals after Israeli strikes
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-israeli-air-strikes-palestinians-killed-destroyed-buildings-hamas-rockets-866820737
GAZA CITY – Israeli air strikes killed six Palestinians and destroyed seven buildings on Monday night in what some Palestinians have called “the bloodiest night” since Israel’s offensive on the long-besieged enclave in 2014.The overnight attacks came after what is widely believed to have been a botched Israeli special forces operation deep into Gaza on Sunday night, which led to the deaths of seven Palestinians, including a Hamas commander, and one Israeli soldier.Hamas responded to the incursion late on Monday, launching around 400 rockets into different locations in southern Israel. Israeli media reported that a Palestinian man originally from Hebron was killed in Ashkelon after a rocket landed on a house, while Palestinian media said two people had been killed in the same attack. Dina Asaad, 27, who lives in the northern Gaza city, said she has not heard "such massive explosions for the past four years"."Last night was the bloodiest since Israel’s last offensive in 2014. We could not sleep all night as explosions rocked almost every neighbourhood in the Strip," she said. "This looks pretty much like the beginning of the last three attacks [the 2009, 2012 and 2014 wars], one of them even started with assassinating a Hamas leader and continued for several days."middleeasteye
Hamas warns Israel it will extend range of rocket fire over raids
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/hamas-warns-israel-extend-range-rocket-fire-raids-181113074530680.html
The armed wing of Hamas says it will step up attacks and fire rockets at the Israeli towns of Ashdod and Beersheba if Israel continues to carry out air raids on civilian buildings in Gaza.At least six Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave since late Monday in the worst violence between the two sides since the 2014 war.The escalation came after at least seven Palestinians were killed on Sunday in a covert Israeli operation, to which Hamas responded with rocket fire from Gaza.Hamas' warning that it would extend the range of its rocket fire was issued on Tuesday, hours after a rocket from Gaza killed an Israeli man in a direct hit on a residential building in the coastal town of Ashkelon.The rocket was fired after an Israeli air raid destroyed Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV building in Gaza on Monday evening.The spokesperson for the Hamas military wing said in a statement that Ashkelon "has entered the range of fire as a response to the bombing of civilian buildings in Gaza"."Occupied al-Majdal (Ashkelon) is now in our cross hairs in response to the shelling that targeted civilian buildings in Gaza … Ashdod and Beersheba are the next targets if the enemy continues to bombard civilian buildings," Abu Ubaidah said on Twitter.Meanwhile, Al-Aqsa TV broadcast a video showing the moment when Palestinian fighters targeted an Israeli army bus near the Gaza Strip border, east of Jabalia. The vehicle exploded moments after Israeli soldiers disembarked.In Gaza, schools and public institutions were closed on Tuesday as people ventured outside to inspect the damage after a long night of aerial raids.aljazeera
Political source: Israel suspends Gaza truce talk
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181113-314776/
A senior Israeli political source said the government had suspended contacts with Egypt and the United Nations regarding a truce with the Gaza Strip.Israeli media, including Channel 10, quoted a senior political source, who it did not identify, as saying that Tel Aviv “has no contacts with Egypt and the United Nations on the ceasefire in Gaza”.The announcement came at the height of the Israeli cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Yesterday, UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov said in a tweet that the United Nations “is working closely with Egypt and the concerned parties to ensure that Gaza is pulled from the brink.”middleeastmonitor
Israel stops Jerusalem students reaching school
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181113-israel-stops-jerusalem-students-reaching-school/
Israeli occupation forces yesterday obstructed Palestinian students as they travelled to their school in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan, Jordan’s Assabeel newspaper reported.The Palestinian students in Silwan attend a school located to the south of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Israeli occupation forces set up several flying checkpoints along their route.Wadi Al-Hilwa Information Centre said that the Israeli occupation forces forced the Palestinian students to disembark from their school bus to be inspected.This, according to the information centre, caused a traffic jam and massive delays to students and workers using the road.middleeastmonitor
Israeli High Court discusses evictions of Palestinians in Jerusalem
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181113-israeli-high-court-discusses-evictions-of-palestinians-in-jerusalem/
Israel’s High Court held a hearing on Monday to discuss the eviction orders imposed on Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighbourhood in occupied Jerusalem, Arab48.com has reported.An Israeli settler NGO, backed by the occupation government, has claimed the ownership of the land on which the homes are built. The group has been working on having the residents evicted from their homes and has already taken over several Palestinian homes and set up settlement outposts.According to media reports, the NGO and others like it have applied to build apartment blocks for illegal Jewish in the Palestinian neighbourhood. At least one member of the Israeli-run Jerusalem Municipality, Arie King, has supported most of the Jewish settlement projects in the holy city and stands beside this NGO on the latest project.Previously, settler NGOs have stolen Palestinian homes in Karm Al-Mufti in Jerusalem and built 25 settlement units and a synagogue by the name of Friend Shimon. This neighbourhood, which has long been a Palestinian area, is now protected by Israeli law.middleeastmonitor
Did Israel's PM Netanyahu Secretly Visit Pakistan? Eyewitnesses Say Plane Did Land
https://www.news18.com/news/world/did-israels-pm-netanyahu-secretly-visit-pakistan-eyewitnesses-say-plane-did-land-1937143.html
After two weeks of vehement denials by Pakistani government that a private business jet flew to Islamabad from Tel Aviv (Israel) via Amman (Jordan) and went back, eyewitnesses have confirmed that such an airplane did visit the country.A pilot, who spoke to Middle East Eye on the condition of anonymity, said that the flight was in the air next to him on October 24 just before it landed at a military airbase in Rawalpindi. One member of staff at the airbase said he saw a car pick up a delegation at the steps of the plane minutes after it landed.The controversy began on October 25 when Avi Scharf, editor of the English edition of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, claimed in a tweet that a jet travelled to Islamabad from Tel Aviv and remained on ground in Pakistani capital for nearly 10 hours.The alleged trip happened a day before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his first visit to Oman in over 20 years. That visit was also kept secret till Netanyahu tweeted a video of a meeting. news18
‘Tell your boss’: Tape hints at Saudi Crown Prince’s link to Jamal Khashoggi murder:NYT
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/tell-your-boss-new-recording-after-jamal-khashoggi-killing-suggests-saudi-crown-prince-link/story-w4MB0Oe0dtZKLpzXytHLlO.html
Shortly after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated last month, a member of the kill team instructed a superior over the phone to “tell your boss”, believed to be Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, that the operatives had carried out their mission, according to three people familiar with a recording of Khashoggi’s killing collected by Turkish intelligence.The recording, shared last month with CIA Director Gina Haspel, is seen by intelligence officials as some of the strongest evidence linking Crown Prince Mohammed to the killing of Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and Washington Post columnist whose death prompted an international outcry.While he was not mentioned by name, US intelligence officials believe “your boss” was a reference to Crown Prince Mohammed. Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, one of 15 Saudis dispatched to Istanbul to confront Khashoggi at the Saudi Consolate there, made the phone call and spoke in Arabic, the people said. Turkish intelligence officers have told US officials they believe that Mutreb, a security officer who frequently traveled with Crown Prince Mohammed, was speaking to one of the crown prince’s aides. While translations of the Arabic may differ, the people briefed on the call said Mutreb also said to the aide words to the effect of “the deed was done”.“A phone call like that is about as close to a smoking gun as you are going to get,” said Bruce O Riedel, a former CIA officer now at the Brookings Institution. “It is pretty incriminating evidence.”Turkish officials have said that the audio does not conclusively implicate Crown Prince Mohammed, and US intelligence and other government officials have cautioned that however compelling the recording may be, it is still not irrefutable evidence of his involvement in the death of Khashoggi.
Khashoggi killing: 'Tell your boss deed is done'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/khashoggi-killing-boss-deed-nyt-181113033718617.html
Erdogan says Khashoggi recordings shocked Saudi intelligence
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/erdogan-khashoggi-recordings-shocked-saudi-intelligence-181113071318770.html
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said recordings related to the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, which Ankara has shared with Western allies, are "appalling", and shocked a Saudi intelligence officer who listened to them, local media reported.Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed on October 2 in Saudi consulate in Istanbul, in a hit that Erdogan says was ordered at the "highest levels" of the Saudi government.The Turkish leader, while returning from a weekend visit to France, told reporters on Tuesday that he discussed the Saudi journalist's killing with the US, French and German leaders in Paris."We played the recordings regarding this murder to everyone who wanted them from us. Our intelligence organisation did not hide anything. We played them to all who wanted them including the Saudis, the USA, France, Canada, Germany, Britain," he said."The recordings are really appalling. Indeed when the Saudi intelligence officer listened to the recordings he was so shocked he said: 'This one must have taken heroin, only someone who takes heroin would do this'," he added.aljazeera
Prospect of Yemen talks rises as Saudi agrees to evacuate Houthis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/prospect-yemen-talks-rise-saudi-agrees-evacuate-houthis-181113013158601.html
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday said prospects for talks to end Yemen's devastating war were "more real" after Saudi Arabia confirmed to him its willingness to evacuate 50 wounded Houthi fighters as a confidence-building measure.The evacuation of Houthi fighters, which Hunt said would involve conditions about who travels with them, was a Houthi condition for peace talks that collapsed in September after the armed group's delegation failed to show up."If this unblocks that, then that makes the prospect of those peace talks happening more real and that will be very important," Hunt said."It's about confidence-building measures on both sides, but certainly [from] the people I've spoken to today, there is a real willingness to engage in those."The Western-backed Saudi-Emirati coalition in Yemen resumed air attacks on the main port city of Hodeidah after a lull on Monday as Western allies pressed Riyadh to end a war that has pushed the impoverished country to the verge of starvation."Even though there's been a temporary lull in the fighting ... it is a desperate humanitarian situation and so I impressed on everyone the urgency of the situation we're facing," Hunt said.aljazeera
Bangladesh poll date pushed to Dec.30
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bangladesh-poll-date-pushed-to-december-30/article25479186.ece?homepage=true
DHAKA:Authorities in Bangladesh agreed on Monday to delay national elections by a week because of Opposition demands for more time to prepare.Chief Election Commissioner K.M. Nurul Huda said officials decided to shift the date to Dec.30 in response to the proposals by the Opposition parties.The new deadline for filing nominations is Nov.28.The ruling Awami League party, its allies and some Opposition parties welcomed the decision, but a new major Opposition alliance was unhappy because it wants the elections deferred by a month.The alliance, called National Oikya Front, consists of the Khaleda Zia-led BNP, among other parties and is headed by prominent lawyer Kamal Hossain. It could pose a major challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s desire to win a third consecutive term. Hossain was a close aide of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Ms. Hasina’s father, and now heads a small party, the Gono Forum.PTI
Egypt Adds ‘al-Gamaa al-Islamiya’ to Terror List
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1459361/egypt-adds-%E2%80%98al-gamaa-al-islamiya%E2%80%99-%C2%A0terror-list
The Cairo Criminal Court has added Islamist group al-Gamaa al-Islamiya as well as 164 of its leaders and members to a list of terrorist entities, in a decision that could expedite the dissolution of “Building and Development” party, the group’s political arm.Gamaa is the most prominent ally of the Muslim Brotherhood, which authorities classify as "terrorist" since the overthrow of former president Mohamed Morsi.The court ruling also includes putting Tarek al-Zumar, Mohammed Shawki al-Islambouli, both fugitives in Turkey, Assem Abdelmajid, who is in Qatar, and others on the terrorist list for five years.The Official gazette “Waqae Masriyya” reported in its Sunday issue that that the decision was announced by the Criminal Court, based on the investigations and reports of State Security Prosecutor's Office. It identified al-Gamaa al-Islamiya as a “terrorist entity” established contrary to the provisions of the law with the goal of forcibly changing the regime.aawsat
China top diplomat: Ignore 'gossip' over Uighur detention camps
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/china-top-diplomat-ignore-gossip-uighur-detention-camps-181113104829997.html
The world should ignore "gossip" about China's Xinjiang region and trust authorities there, the government's top diplomat said on Tuesday, when asked if Beijing would allow international observers to inspect camps holding Muslims there.Western countries, including Canada, France, Germany and the US, have urged China to shut down camps in Xinjiang, where activists say as many as one million members of the Uighur minority and other Muslims are being detained. It rejects all accusations of mistreatment and denies mass internment. It says far western Xinjiang faces a threat from Islamist separatists.After initial denials, however, Chinese officials have said some people guilty of minor offences were being sent to "vocational" training centres, where they are taught work skills and legal knowledge aimed at curbing militancy.aljazeera
Rohingya shocked, terrified as deadline for Myanmar return nears
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/rohingya-shocked-terrified-deadline-myanmar-return-nears-181112060157444.html
Yangon: Abdul fled his burning home last August amid a frenzy of screams, smoke and gunfire. As soldiers from Myanmar's army shot people down at his village in northern Rakhine state, he saw his nephew and son-in-law struck and killed by bullets.Abdul made it across the border with his wife and four children to Bangladesh where, like hundreds of thousands of other Muslim-majority Rohingya, they have lived for more than a year in cramped, desperate conditions.Life there has been bleak, but they have at least been out of reach of the army accused by UN investigators of waging a genocidal campaign of mass murder, arson and systematic rape against the minority group.But now Abdul - whose name has been changed to protect his identity - says he has been told he and his family will be sent back across the border to a region where Rohingya continue to face what one investigator recently called an "ongoing genocide".Earlier this month, an official came to their hut at the Jamtoli camp in Cox's Bazar and told them they would be repatriated this week."We were in shock, I couldn't say anything, my mouth just stopped working," he told Al Jazeera.aljazeera
'Profoundly dismayed': Amnesty strips Suu Kyi of top honour
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/11/dismayed-amnesty-strips-suu-kyi-top-honour-181112180653318.html
Amnesty International has stripped Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over her "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the country's military against the Muslim-majority Rohingya.UK-based human rights group on Monday said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Aung San Suu Kyi in 2009 during her 15-year house arrest."Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Aung San Suu Kyi released by the group."Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so, with great sadness, we are hereby withdrawing it from you."The group said it informed Myanmar's leader of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response.Once hailed as a champion in the fight for democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi has been stripped of a series of international honours over a Rohingya exodus that began in August 2017.aljazeera
Entire village of 250 people converts to Islam in Philippines
http://www.ummid.com/news/2018/November/13.11.2018/entire-village-with-215-people-converts-to-islam-in-philippines.html
Cebu (Philippines): A team of Muslim volunteers cooperating with the UK-based Islamic Education & Research Academy (iERA) on Sunday November 11, 2018 witnessed an entire village in the Philippines converting to Islam.In a Facebook post, which is also tagged with a video, iERA said its volunteers were invited by a Muslim revert, Abu Bakr, to Madina Mosque in Bantayan Island of the central Philippines province of Cebu."iERA team then boarded the ferry to Bantayan Island and proceeded to hire motorbikes for the outreach team and travelled as a convoy to the remote part of the island to visit local villagers."Upon arrival at the village, a local symposium was organised to convey the Message of Islam. The audience with around 250 attendees from a predominantly Christian Background were mesmerised by a passionate talk by both Abu Bakr and Esa Khan. They spoke about the similarities between Islam and Christianity and the true message of Prophet Jesus AS which was to worship Almighty God Alone", iERA said in the Facebook post.ummid.com
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
CAG ‘deliberately delaying’ report on Rafale deal, demonetisation: Former bureaucrats
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cag-deliberately-delaying-report-on-rafale-deal-demonetisation-former-bureaucrats-5444302/
Rafale deal: Modi govt informs SC about reason for buying 36 jets; keeps mum on Reliance, price: UMAKANT LAKHERA
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/rafale-deal-modi-govt-informs-sc-about-reason-for-buying-36-jets-keeps-mum-on-reliance-price
SC panel wants non-CNG vehicles banned on Delhi’s smog days: Practical or knee-jerk idea?
https://theprint.in/talk-point/sc-panel-wants-non-cng-vehicles-banned-on-delhis-smog-days-practical-or-knee-jerk-idea/148803/
India Faces Challenge of Another Afghan Transition as the Taliban Heads Towards Kabul:M.K.BHADRAKUMAR
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/6/15514/India-Faces-Challenge-of-Another-Afghan-Transition-as-the-Taliban-Heads-Towards-Kabul
“I Have Never Seen This Level Of Distress in My Entire Political Life”: Kamal Nath
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/15516/I-Have-Never-Seen-This-Level-Of-Distress-in-My-Entire-Political-Life-Kamal-Nath
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:44 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a comment