NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
10 March 2019: 11 Rajab 1440:Vol: 11, No:147
INDIA
Lok Sabha Elections to be held in 7 rounds from April 11 to May 19, results on May 23; AP, Arunachal, Odisha, Sikkim also go to polls along with LS
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/national-polls-to-be-held-in-7-phases-from-11-april-2005491?pfrom=home-topscroll
New Delhi: Lok Sabha elections will be held in 7 rounds from 11 April and the results will be announced on May 23, the Election Commission said on Sunday. Voting will be held across India on April 11, April 19, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.The announcement signals the start of a colossal voting exercise that will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking another term in office and the opposition attempting to join forces to put up a strong fight.Elections will also be held in four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha -- along with the parliamentary polls.The Model Code of Conduct, which lays down the dos and don'ts ahead of the elections, is now in place.The opposition Congress had accused Election Commission of delaying the dates to enable the government to rush through the launch of welfare schemes and projects; no announcements can be made once the model code of conduct kicks in with the election dates. Commission sources have rubbished the claims.The term of the Lok Sabha ends on June 3.ndtv
AP, Arunachal, Odisha, Sikkim to go to polls along with Lok Sabha elections
https://indianexpress.com/elections/assembly-elections-andhra-pradesh-odisha-arunachal-pradesh-sikkim-5619284/
Due to security concerns, no assembly elections in J&K with Lok Sabha polls: EC
https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-jammu-kashmir-omar-abdullah-sunil-arora-nc-pdp-bjp-5619419/
New Delhi :Election Commission of India (ECI) Sunday announced that assembly elections will not be held in Jammu & Kashmir with the Lok Sabha elections. Citing security concerns, election commissioner Sunil Arora announced that the election will be held on a later date. The parliamentary polls in J&K will be held in 5 phases.“We need a large number of security personnel to be deployed for protection of every candidate. This was a categorical demand from all political parties there. Availability of security forces is a constraint,” said Arora when asked why J&K is not having assembly elections along with Lok Sabha polls.When asked if the Home Ministry did not agree to election commission’s demand for security forces for J&K polls, Arora said, ” (Availability of ) central forces is definitely an issue. You cannot disregard recent events. EC cannot be non-cognisant of the situation on the ground and the feedback of the state administration.The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected got since June last year when BJP pulled out of its alliance with the PDP.TOI
Decision to not hold polls in J&K is surrender to Pakistan, militants and Hurriyat: Omar Abdullah
https://indianexpress.com/elections/decision-to-not-hold-polls-jammu-kashmir-is-surrender-to-pakistan-militants-and-hurriyat-omar-abdullah-5619441/
Jammu :Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah described Election Commission’s decision to not hold assembly elections in the state as “surrender to Pakistan, to militants and to the Hurriyat”.“In light of the failure to conduct assembly elections on time in J&K I’m retweeting my tweets from a few days ago,” tweeted Omar Abdullah. “PM Modi has surrendered to Pakistan, to the militants & to the hurriyat,” he wrote, adding “Well done Modi Sahib. 56 inch chest failed. #slowclap”.Abdullah criticising the prime minister said that Balakot and Uri are not symbols of the Modi’s handling of national security, and termed it as “the mess he has made”, and added, “the abject surrender to anti -India forces is crying shame”.indianexpress
General Election 2019: Full schedule with phases, dates and State-wise list of seats
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/general-election-2019-full-schedule-with-phases-dates-and-state-wise-list-of-seats/article26487747.ece?homepage=true
Stop Using Photos of Armed Forces in Election Campaigning, EC Tells Political Parties
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/stop-using-photos-of-armed-forces-in-election-campaigning-ec-tells-political-parties-2061957.html
New Delhi:Political parties and candidates cannot use photographs of any defence personnel or functions of the defence forces in their poll advertisements for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Election Commission said on Saturday, reiterating its instructions issued in 2013 against such propaganda.“The ministry of defence has brought to the notice of the Election Commission (EC) that photographs of the defence personnel are being used by political parties, their leaders and candidates in advertisements as part of their election propaganda,” EC said.news18
Congress calls EC's scheduled announcement of poll dates 'Modi's vidai parv'
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-calls-ecs-scheduled-announcement-of-poll-dates-modis-vidai-parv/articleshow/68344555.cms
New Delhi: Congress on Sunday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hours before EC's scheduled announcement of dates for Lok Sabha polls, saying it was the first day of his "vidai parv" (farewell festival)."It's first day of Vidai Parv of Modi ji. Voters are ready," said AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera."The farmers, unemployed youth, small traders, they all were waiting for this day. Don't know why Modi ji delayed this, (may be) to cut the ribbons for projects that started in Congress regime,"Khera said.TOI
PM Modi to Contest Lok Sabha Polls from Varanasi Again, BJP Decides to Do Away With 'Above 75' Rule
https://www.news18.com/news/politics/pm-narendra-modi-to-contest-lok-sabha-polls-from-varanasi-again-bjp-decides-to-do-away-with-above-75-rule-2061107.html
New Delhi: In a hope to continue his winning streak, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to contest from UP's Varanasi seat again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The second seat will be finalised later.A decision in this regard was taken at BJP Parliamentary Board meeting , which was held for to discuss key poll-related issues. The prime minister had defeated AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal with over 3 lakh votes in the last elections, while Congress candidate Ajay Rai was way behind with just 75,000 votes.Besides the seat for PM Modi, BJP members also came to a conclusion that there will be no blanket ban on leaders above 75 years of age. Any candidate who is capable of winning, even if he or she is above 75, will be given a ticket, a source close to the development said.After the 2014 victory, PM Modi-led party changed its rules for party members, which included retirement from active politics after 75 and diminishing chances of getting party tickets after reaching 70. However, this year the norms seem to have been amended again as several prominent BJP faces will be ruled out if the party chooses to stick with the 2014 rule.This includes 91-year-old LK Advani, 85-year-old Murli Manohar Joshi and 77-year-old Kalraj Mishra.The source said that BJP also plans to expand its alliances in the states. He said that there 16 allies in 2014 but "this year there will be 29". News18
I have no PM dreams, RSS has no such plans either: Gadkari
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nitin-gadkari-says-neither-do-i-have-aspirations-nor-rss-any-designs-to-make-me-pm-candidate-2005451
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said neither does he have any aspirations nor the RSS, BJP's ideological mentor, any plans to project him as a PM candidate for the national election. The remarks come amid speculation that he would be projected as the next PM of the country if his party needed support of other political parties to form a government after the election. He made it clear that "neither there is anything like this in my mind nor RSS has any such thing. Nation comes supreme for us,"Gadkari said."I do not see dreams,neither I go to anyone nor I do any lobbying. I am not in this race... I my telling you from my heart," he said.ndtv
Raj Thackeray Predicts Another Pulwama-Like Attack Ahead of Polls
https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/raj-thackeray-another-pulwama-like-attack-in-bid-to-win-polls?fbclid=IwAR3HHT6EFiyP7X7pNz-g1SwN70591rr_N-QaR6GCQVchvDlIMVRvvSW4mQk
Addressing the workers of his party, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday,said another “Pulwama-like attack” could take place in a “bid to win the upcoming Lok Sabha polls”. Raj Thackeray said, “There is a limit to speaking lies. Lies are being spoken to win elections. In a bid to win upcoming elections, there will be another Pulwama-like attack within the next one to two months.” Disputing that terrorists were killed in the air raids, Thackeray said had that been the case, Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman would not have been allowed to return home from captivity by Pakistan. Thackeray also alleged that the warnings issued by intelligence agencies prior to the Pulwama attack were ignored. “40 jawans were martyred in the Pulwama attack. Should we still not ask questions? In Dec, NSA Ajit Doval had met his Pakistani counterpart in Bangkok. Who will tell us what transpired at the meeting?”Raj Thackeray said. the quint
Tell families of CRPF that NSA Doval was deal maker who handed over Masood to Pak: Rahul to Modi
https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/crpf-nsa-ajit-doval-masood-azhar-pakistan-jem-narendra-modi-ic-814-indian-airlines-isi-pulwama-attack/379960
New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi cornered PM Narendra Modi over Pulwama attack and told him to inform the families of 40 CRPF martyrs about who released their murderer, Masood Azhar. He further said the PM should also tell the family members of the martyred jawans that the current NSA Ajit Doval was the deal maker who went to Kandahar to hand over Azhar back to Pakistan. The decision to hijack the plane was taken to secure the release of terrorist Masood Azhar and two others.Times Now
PM Modi ‘scaring people like a terrorist’, says Congress leader Vijayashanti
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-vijayashanti-narendra-modi-telangana-5618941/?fbclid=IwAR172FKexOsivjOTmXAVaX0YfxrRKlrGfJS3uNPO2DEoH54PLwpizJmhZzI
Telangana Congress (TPCC) chairperson Vijayashanti courted controversy Saturday when she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “scaring people like a terrorist”.At a public meeting in Chevella constituency of Hyderabad, where Congress head Rahul Gandhi was to make an appearance, Vijayashanti said that the prime minister “dropped several bombs like demonetisation and GST” and “everyone in the country is afraid that he may drop another bomb at any moment”.indian express
Demonetisation: RBI says no data on 500- and 1,000-notes used at fuel pumps
https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/demonetisation-rbi-says-no-data-on-500-and-1-000-notes-used-at-fuel-pumps-119031000142_1.html
New Delhi : In reply to an RTI query, RBI said it has no data on the old 500- and 1,000-rupee notes used to pay for utility bills such as fuel at petrol pumps, which are believed to have formed a good part of the demonetised currency that returned to the banking system.After the November 8, 2016 shock decision to ban the use of old 500- and 1,000-rupee notes, the government had allowed the exchange of the junked notes as well as they being used for payment of utility bills for 23 services. Both 500- and 1,000-rupee notes could be used at government hospitals, railway ticketing, public transport, airline ticketing at airports, milk booths, crematoria/burial grounds, petrol pumps, metro rail tickets, purchase of medicines on doctor prescription from the government and private pharmacies, LPG gas cylinders, railway catering, electricity and water bills, ASI monument entry tickets and highway toll.PTI
NIA summons Mirwaiz, Naseem Geelani for enquiry
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nia-summons-mirwaiz-naseem-geelani-for-enquiry/article26483145.ece
New Delhi:NIA has summoned the Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Naseem Geelani, younger son of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for questioning in a 2017 terror financing case, a senior official said. Mirwaiz is the first top-ranking separatist to be summoned by NIA.Both the Mirwaiz and Naseem Geelani have been asked to appear at NIA headquarters in New Delhi on Monday.NIA’s notice to the Mirwaiz reads: “It appears you are acquainted with the circumstances of a case under investigation by NIA. You are required to report before NIA on March 11 at 10.30am for the purpose of your examination.”Mirwaiz confirmed the issuance of the notice but refused to comment on the development. A Hurriyat spokesman described NIA notice as “an attempt to arm twist the leadership of Kashmir into submission.”NIA team, accompanied by the police and CRPF personnel, searched the residences of some of the separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, Naeem Geelani, and Ashraf Sehrai, chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.The houses of Yaseen Malik, Shabir Shah, Zaffar Bhat and Masarat Alam were also raided. Thehindu
Kashmir newspapers publish blank front pages to protest govt’s decision to stop ads to two dailies
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmir-newspapers-publish-blank-front-pages-to-protest-govts-decision-to-stop-ads-to-two-dailies-5619019/
Srinagar:All the major newspapers in Kashmir came up with blank front pages on Sunday to protest against the government’s decision to “stop advertisements” to two Srinagar-based newspapers. “In protests against the unexplained denial of advertisements to Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Reader,” read the blank front pages of the newspapers published on Sunday.The decision to come out with blank front pages was taken by the Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) that is also planning a protest march on Sunday afternoon.J-K government has stopped govt advertisements to two local dailies Greater Kashmir – valley’s largest circulated English daily – and Kashmir Reader, another English daily published from Srinagar.While there is no written order, the newspapers say they have been verbally told by J-K’s Directorate of Information that the government has decided to stop advertisements to their publications. Kashmir Editor’s Guild has asked the government to at least explain the reason for stopping the advertisements to the two newspapers. The government is yet to come up with a reason, it says.indianexpress
ISI-backed Khalistanis, Kashmiris attack British Indians at Indian High Commission in London:NewsX
https://www.newsx.com/national/isi-backed-khalistanis-kashmiris-attack-british-indians-at-indian-high-commission-in-london-shout-naraa-e-taqbeer-and-allah-u-akbar
Pakistan’s ISI-backed Khalistanis attacked a number of British Indians who were standing outside the Indian High Commission in London on March 9.ISI-backed Khalistanis, Kashmiris attack British Indians at Indian High Commission in London, shout Naraa-e-Taqbeer, Allahu Akbar: Pakistan’s ISI is using pro-Khalistani people and Kashmiris as a weapon to terrorise and attack Indians who are residing in the United Kingdom, reports said. The ugly face of Pak-sponsored hate crime against Indians was visible on Saturday when some pro-Khalistani and Kashmiri people attacked a number of British Indians who were standing outside the Indian High Commission in London.The incident took place on Saturday when members of Overseas Pakistanis Welfare Council (OPWC) and Sikhs for Justice gathered outside the Indian High Commission in London during a demonstration called to protest against “atrocities on ethnic minorities in India”.As a mark of protest, members of Friends of India Society, UK demonstrated placards against the anti-Indian elements which led to a scuffle, reports said.NewsX
Pakistan demands India’s removal from terror financing watchdog’s review body
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-demands-india-s-removal-from-terror-financing-watchdog-s-review-body/story-2ePHNSWcg3OWQRlHCxTNDN.html
Pakistan has asked Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international terror financing watchdog, to remove India as co-chair of its Asia-Pacific Joint Group, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday.Currently placed on FATF’s ‘grey list’, Pakistan has been scrambling in recent months to avoid being added to a list of countries deemed non-compliant with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing regulations by Paris-based FATF, a measure that officials here fear could further hurt its economy.In a letter addressed to FATF President Marshall Billingslea, Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar asked him to appoint any other member country besides India as co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Joint Group “to ensure that FATF review process is fair, unbiased and objective”, the finance ministry said in a statement. Joint Group is a sub-body of FATF’s International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of the Asia Pacific Group. Pakistan is a member of the APG and its case is being presented before FATF by APG. India’s Financial Intelligence Unit’s (FIU) director general is the co-chair of the Joint Group.“India’s animosity towards Pakistan was well known and the recent violation of Pakistan’s airspace and dropping of bombs inside Pakistani territory was another manifestation of India’s hostile attitude,” Umar wrote in the letter.Referring to India’s efforts of isolating Pakistan globally and call for the country’s blacklisting during ICRG meeting on Feb.18, Umar said, “Indian presence among the evaluators and as Co-chair of Joint Group would undermine the impartiality and spirit of the ‘peer review’ process.” “We firmly believe that India’s involvement in the ICRG process will not be fair towards Pakistan,” he wrote.PTI
Tensions in subcontinent, minister from Saudi flies in on Monday
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tensions-in-subcontinent-minister-from-saudi-flies-in-on-monday-5618803/
New Delhi:Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir will visit India on Monday, four days after his trip to Islamabad. This will be his second trip to India in three weeks as he had accompanied Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the height of India-Pak tensions after the Pulwama attack.While New Delhi says there is no space for a mediator between India and Pakistan and rules out any third party’s involvement in the wake of the Pulwama attack and Balakot air strikes, the Saudi minister’s visit is being read by many as an attempt by Pakistan to lean on India. Raveesh Kumar, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said al-Jubeir will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during his trip. “Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs will visit India on Monday and will meet the External Affairs Minister. My understanding is he is visiting to discuss some important follow-ups from the recent visit of Saudi Crown prince.Beyond that, details can be known only after the visit and meeting between 2 leaders,”MEA’s official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.Saudis have been very careful in balancing the relationship—they supported OIC invitation to India and did not ask UAE to withdraw it, despite pleas by Pakistan.But in Islamabad, which he visited before coming to India, Saudi Crown Prince was very effusive in his praise for Pakistan, even declaring himself as the country’s envoy to Saudi.indian express
Dalit Labourer Burnt Alive in Bhilwara, Police Probe Suicide Angle
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/atrocities-dalits-sc-st-act-dalit-labourer-burnt-alive-in-bhilwara?fbclid=IwAR3zhYwaZ5-a6yO6DkHjM7lJLS1O-V5SGN6b-YB_w4llCLcTWlRtB_0nFlc
Photos of a man who was allegedly burnt alive were being shared by Dalit activists on their Facebook timeline while few student activists in Delhi forwarded posts related to the incident via WhatsApp.At least 02 photos that were being circulated spoke volumes about the ghastly crime committed on 01 March in Bjiolia Kalan village of Bhilwara district (Rajasthan). A 60-year-old Dalit labourer, Gangaram Balai’s badly burnt body was found tied to a tree.Photos showed Gangaram’s body had been burnt beyond recognition, with thick wires around his waist tied to a tree.His entire body was covered with black soot and ash could be seen in the perimeter around the tree. Gangaram belonged to the Balai community which comes under the Scheduled Caste category. Baldev Singh, sub inspector at the Bjiolia police station, told The Quint that the police had recovered a suicide note near the site where Gangaram’s body was found. Singh also confirmed that they have also recovered victim’s mobile phone from the same spot where the suicide note was found. While no one has been arrested, Singh said that they are questioning few suspects. According to victim’s nephew, Madan Lal, sub inspector Baldev Singh had come to their home on 7 March. The family was informed about the suicide note in which Gangaram has said that he was concerned about his daughter’s marriage. Madan Lal counters the police claim about suicide note as his uncle Gangaram was an illiterate. How can the police recover a suicide note from a man who could neither read nor write? Madan Lal also told The Quint that his uncle was unmarried thus, making the police version about daughter look like a piece of fiction. Gangaram’s family does not seem to be satisfied with the way investigation is being handled. the quint
Social Activists Blame Police after over 200 Houses of Muslims Burnt Down in Meerut
http://caravandaily.com/social-activists-blame-police-after-more-than-200-houses-of-muslims-burnt-down-in-meerut/
New Delhi: In Meerut, over 200 shanties in a slum area were razed, allegedly when the local authorities were trying to remove encroachments from the area. According to police some of the shanties were set on fire by some miscreants when they were trying to evict the encroachers. However, a video, which is being widely circulated, shows a Muslim man, accusing the police for the shanties being set on fire. The chaos that ensued even took a minor communal colour, thereby escalating the tension.Trouble began when members of Meerut Cantonment board along with police reached the Sadar Bazar area to have encroachments removed. According to the police version, the encroachers angered by the move began stone-pelting and some anti-social element set some of the shanties on fire, which further aggravated the situation.Police filed FIR against unknown men and arrested around six Muslim men in this case.Rajeev Yadav of Rihai Manch said, “This is nothing new. Since we are working as social activists in UP, we have been witnessing such cases to be on the rise. This case is being highlighted because of Meerut’s vicinity to the national capital.” He then added, “Low-intensity communal violence is on the rise in UP, with the sole agenda of polarizing the society. In most of the cases, areas with less Muslim population are being targeted. Here Dalits are being used to incite the violence with the sole agenda of instilling fear in Muslims so that they leave that area and move elsewhere.”Explaining the biased role of the police in details he said, “There is a rise in frequency of such communal violence across UP, where the number of casualties is less and the number of those arrested is more. In most of the cases, Muslims are caught and the draconian NSA is slapped on these men. For any common man, any person being slapped with NSA is a desh drohi. So, the agenda is bigger you see – gradually they want to have Muslims being bracketed as anti-nationals.”Caravan Daily
Mumbai 1992-93 riots: 26 years gone, witnesses, evidence lost, case begins
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mumbai-1992-93-riots-26-years-gone-witnesses-evidence-lost-case-begins/
At 74, Fazal Ahmed Shad’s memory has started fading. But the Sunday of January 9, 1993, remains fresh. From his bookstore counter, a gnarled finger points across South Mumbai’s cluttered Mohammed Ali Road to where Suleman Usman Mithaiwala Bakery stands. “I was in JJ Hospital morgue helping families identify their dead relatives in riots when police fired there,” he says.26 years later, as the trial into the firing, that led to the death of nine Muslims, has finally begun, for Shah, the case is already over.“Nobody is interested. We lost eyewitnesses, evidence,” he says, hinting at the missing police log book, that had wireless call records between police and the control room when the bakery was attacked. On March 1, the prosecution informed the Mumbai City Civil and Sessions Court that it is untraceable, while on Feb.13, the day the trial began, the first witness had turned hostile.Shad talks about the effort it took for him to convince witnesses to record their statements during the judicial inquiry. “But the government delayed the case. Now no one wants to relive those days. I have also stopped following it.”On that Sunday afternoon, in the midst of Mumbai riots, police officers and a Special Operations Squad had opened fire at Suleman Usman bakery, the Dar-ul-uloom Imdadiya madrasa located above it and the adjacent Chunabatti mosque, claiming a tip-off that there were rioters inside the building. Apart from the 9 who died, 12 were injured in the firing. At least 78 people from the bakery were taken into custody. indian express
WORLD
Ethiopian Airlines plane crash: No survivors among 157 on board
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/ethiopian-airlines-flight-nairobi-crashes-deaths-reported-190310082515738.html
None of the 157 people on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight that crashed on Sunday morning en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi have survived, the airline said.Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Tewolde GebreMariam "deeply regrets the fatal accident," the airline said on its Twitter account.The group CEO, who had travelled to the scene of the crash, expressed his "profound sympathy and condolences" to the families of all victims, the statement read.The tweet by Ethiopian Airlines was accompanied by a picture of GebreMariam lifting what appeared to be a piece debris at the bottom of a large crater in an empty field. Little of the plane can be seen in the freshly churned earth.33 nationalities were on board flight ET 302, which crashed near the town of Bishoftu, about 50km southeast of the Ethiopian capital, Ethiopia's state broadcaster reported. 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, 9 Ethiopians, eight Chinese, 8 Americans, and seven British citizens are among the dead, according to Ethiopian Airlines. Four of the victims held United Nations passports.aljazeera
Aircraft Owner, Mayor Among 12 Killed in Colombia Plane Crash, Officials Say No One Survived
https://www.news18.com/news/world/owner-of-aircraft-mayor-among-12-killed-in-colombia-plane-crash-officials-say-no-one-survived-2062023.html
Colombia: A plane crash in Colombia killed 12 people on Saturday, including a mayor and her family, aviation and emergency services said.Douglas DC-3 aircraft, an American-made twin-engine propeller plane that was first produced in the 1930s, crashed in the center-east of the country on a flight between the towns of San Jose del Guaviare and Villavicencio. A fire department official told AFP it then caught fire. "Unfortunately... there were no survivors," the Aeronautica Civil aviation authority said, adding that wreckage was found close to Villavicencio.Among the victims was the mayor of the municipality of Taraira, Doris Villegas, and her husband and daughter, as well as the owner of the aircraft, pilot Jaime Carrillo, co-pilot Jaime Herrera and an aviation technician identified as Alex Moreno.President Ivan Duque paid tribute to the victims on Twitter."My solidarity with families," he wrote. Defensa Civil emergency services put the death toll at 12, with director Colonel Jorge Martinez suggesting an engine failure could have caused the crash."At the moment of flying over the municipality of San Martin, an engine turns off and the pilot ... tries to land ... but it gets out of control," he theorized to RCN news channel.AFP
Palestinian president has chosen longtime adviser Mohammed Ishtayeh as his new prime minister
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/palestinian-president-has-chosen-longtime-adviser-mohammed-ishtayeh-as-his-new-prime-minister/article26487310.ece?homepage=true
Ramallah:Palestinian president has chosen longtime adviser Mohammed Ishtayeh as his new prime minister, officials said on Sunday, a step that further deepens the rift with the rival Hamas group.President Mahmoud Abbas was expected to announce the appointment later in the day, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement. Ishtayeh, a British-educated economist, is a top official in Abbas’ Fatah movement. He is a former peace negotiator and strong proponent of a two-state solution with Israel. He also is a strong critic of the Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah forces in 2007. Hamas takeover has left the Palestinians torn between rival governments in Gaza and the West Bank, where Abbas’ Palestinian Authority administers autonomous areas. Repeated attempts at reconciliation have failed.AP
Israel's right-wing leads ahead of next month's polls
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israels-right-wing-leads-ahead-of-next-months-polls/1414085
Israel's right-wing has returned to the forefront, one month before the April 9 election, a new opinion poll showed on Sunday. The survey conducted for Israeli daily Haaretz showed that the right-wing could win 63 seats in the 120-member Knesset (Israel's parliament) against 57 seats for the center-left and Arab parties.The poll showed that the right-wing parties could grab these seats without the support of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose party was not expected to exceed the four-seat threshold.Haaretz said the progress made by the right-wing means that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has overcome the effect of the attorney-general's decision last month to indict him in three separate cases on charges of corruption and bribery.Anadolu
Palestine cuts staff pay over Israeli tax deductions
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestine-cuts-staff-pay-over-israeli-tax-deductions/1414143
Ramallah: Palestinian govt will pay civil servants half of their salaries after Israel withheld tax money collected on its behalf, according to the Palestinian finance minister. "The government will pay 50% of the salaries," Shukri Bishara told a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday. He said the government has also applied a host of austerity measures, including halting the appointment of new civil servants, promotions and additional allowances. "Govt needs to borrow around $50-60 million a month from the local market to meet its obligations towards its employees and state institutions," he said. Last month, the Ramallah-based government refused to accept deducted tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the PA. The move came after the Israeli government decided to deduct some 502 million Israeli shekels (roughly $138 million) from the Palestinian tax money, citing that the amount was being paid by Ramallah to the families of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israeli targets. Anadolu Agency
Regime forces hit civil defense center in Syria's Idlib
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/regime-forces-hit-civil-defense-center-in-syrias-idlib/1414159
Syria's Bashar al-Assad regime and Iran-backed terror groups attacked a center of the White Helmets civil defense agency in northwestern Idlib on Sunday, killing a civil defense worker, according to local sources. The attack was carried out in Marek district, which is located inside the Idlib de-escalation zone. The civil defense center was heavily damaged and became unusable as a result of the attack, the sources said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. On Saturday, a volunteer was killed when another White Helmets center was hit by a warplane, which belonged to Russia, according to the opposition. Regime attacks in Idlib’s de-escalation zone are estimated to have killed at least 117 civilians -- and injured more than 342 others -- since the beginning of 2019. Anadolu Agency
Flash: views & NEWS
The anti-national newspaper! P Chidambaram
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/rafale-deal-the-hindu-modi-congress-the-anti-national-newspaper-cag-report-5618702/?fbclid=IwAR1YNLj9CY4GxMHamTfDC-qeg5QW35kw_iyz_ws53LbouJkjJxadK7DfZ_4
Balakot Airstrikes Could Help Modi Placate Unhappy Farmers:Rajendra Jadhav
https://thewire.in/politics/balakot-airstrikes-could-help-modi-placate-unhappy-farmers
Lok Sabha 2019: State-wise seats, alliances, voting and result dates
https://www.newsx.com/national/lok-sabha-2019-state-wise-seats-alliances-voting-and-result-dates
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:21 PM)
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