NEWS DIGEST, Afternoon
12 March 2019: 04 Rajab 1440:Vol: 11, No:149
INDIA
Assam NRC: File action plan for addressing discrepancies in voters’ list by March 28, SC tells EC
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/asssm-nrc-file-status-report-by-march-28-sc-tells-ec/article26507160.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to lay out in detail its plan of action in case a person’s name is there in the voters’ list for Assam but missing from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for the northeastern State scheduled to be published on July 31, 2019.A Bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi asked the EC to provide the court with complete information on the latest enumerations and deletions in the voters’ list by March 28.Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for ECI, submitted that no changes were made in the voters’ list on the basis of draft NRC so far.The SC had earlier asked the ECI Secretary to appear before it on March 12 in connection with this PIL alleging that several categories of persons in Assam were deprived of voting rights ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. One of the categories include some whose names figure in the draft NRC but not in the voters’ list.The PIL alleged that a category of persons whose names were deleted from the voters’ list were some whose names appeared in the draft NRC published on July 30, 2018. The petition claimed these people had voted in the last Lok Sabha election held in 2014. The plea also submitted that there were people whose names were not included in the complete draft NRC, but they subsequently filed claims for inclusion of their names in it. They had voted in the earlier Lok Sabha elections and were waiting for inclusion of their names. The third category of people were those who have been declared as foreigners by the foreigners’ tribunal as well as by the Guwahati high court but the court’s order was stayed by the SC.The petition said it is the category of the persons whose names were appearing in the voters’ list from time to time.The petition said the fourth category of people were those who had already been declared foreigners by the foreigners’ tribunal and such declarations were set aside by the apex court.However, their names have been deleted from the voters’ list pursuant to the order of the foreigners’ tribunal, the petition said.The petition said the fifth category of persons are those whose names have not been included in the draft NRC, but other members of their families, including parents, are included in NRC and they have filed their claim for the inclusion of their names.“The above mentioned five categories of people whose names have not been included in the voters’ list are going to be deprived from their constitutional as well as statutory rights to vote in the forthcoming Lok Sabha poll to be held in April 2019,” the petition said. thehindu
Explain the updation of Assam voter list, SC tells Elections Commission
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/explain-the-updation-of-assam-voter-list-sc-tells-elections-commission/story-ti1wqlW3k8NAIeD2oJkbFL.html
Delhi reaches out, Beijing keeps it guessing on Masood Azhar listing on Wednesday
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/delhi-reaches-out-beijing-masood-azhar-un-terror-listing-5621611/
New Delhi:With 48 hours to go before UNSC 1267 sanctions committee’s deadline to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist ends, New Delhi Monday reached out to key players, including US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Turkey to mobilise support. While Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale met US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo in Washington, Saudi minister Adel al-Jubeir’s concluded his second trip to India in three weeks after meeting PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.Modi also spoke to 2 foreign leaders over telephone Monday— UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, their second conversation since Balakot air strike, and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.As the March 13 deadline to raise objections to list Masood Azhar approaches, India is part of hectic parleys across world capitals.With US leading the charge and only Beijing standing in the way, Delhi has redoubled its efforts in Washington and China, as well as with UAE, Saudi and Turkey. Whether Beijing finally signs off on the listing remains to be seen.Adel al-Jubeir, who visited India 4 days after he was in Islamabad, agreed that Saudi and India should work together for “irreversible, verifiable and credible steps against all terrorists without any discrimination”. While there was no mention of Pakistan in the statement, India has been asking for verifiable and credible action by Pakistan against terrorists and terrorist groups. indian express
Erdogan, Modi discuss Pak-India border incidents
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/erdogan-modi-discuss-pakistan-india-border-incidents/1415056
Congress cites Ajit Doval's 2010 interview, says he gave 'clean chit' to JeM chief
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/congress-cites-ajit-dovals-2010-interview-says-he-gave-clean-chit-to-jem-chief/articleshow/68369405.cms
New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday cited a 2010 interview of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to claim that he blamed the BJP-led govt for the release of JeM chief Masood Azhar in Kandahar hijacking episode and gave a "clean chit" to terrorist.The scathing attack by the Congress comes a day after BJP latched on to Rahul Gandhi's reference to JeM chief as "Azhar ji".The opposition party had hit back, accusing its rival of deliberately twisting Gandhi's comments made sarcastically."Modi govt's NSA, Ajit Doval, 'spills the beans' and indicts BJP govt in release of Azhar. Doval said (in the interview), 'Releasing Masood Azhar was a political decision',"Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted."Will PM Narendra Modi and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad admit to the anti-national act now," he said in a series of tweets using the hashtag 'BJP Loves Terrorists'. Surjewala also attached a link of Doval's 2010 interview with the tweets."Modi govt's, Doval's 'clean chit certificate' to Masood Azhar revealed," he said.PTI
India-Pakistan tension: Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi warns of ‘war-mongering’ by journalists
https://scroll.in/latest/916277/india-pakistan-tension-nobel-prize-winner-kailash-satyarthi-warns-of-war-mongering-by-journalists
Human rights activist Kailash Satyarthi was among 71 Nobel Prize winners who jointly called on both India and Pakistan to defuse tensions after several skirmishes at their border, AFP reported. Satyarthi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 warned of “war-mongering” by Indian journalists during the latest confrontation with Pakistan. Satyarthi on Monday expressed relief that the worst confrontation between the countries since the 1999 Kargil war had “calmed down”. Speaking about the dangers of ultra-nationalism, he said it was “unfortunate” that many journalists in their reportage had crossed the line from patriotism to war-mongering.scroll.in
Muslims dismayed at clash of poll dates with Ramzan
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/state-editions/muslims-dismayed-at--clash-of-poll-dates--with-ramzan.html
Lucknow:Muslim clerics and political leaders have voiced their dismay over the clash of poll schedule with the holy month of Ramzan. However, a section of clerics has dismissed the objections as politics, saying that Jang-e-Badr was fought on 17th day of Ramzan. AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani said that he did not remember any Lok Sabha election being held during Ramzan, though Assembly elections have been held during the holy month of fasting.“Election Commission may or may not have considered Ramzan while deciding the dates. There are Supreme Court judgements that once the election process starts, the court cannot interfere in the process,”said Jilani, who is also convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee.Jamait-Ul Hind (Arshad Madni) general secretary, Maulana Abdul Aleem Farooqui, said Meteorological department had made forecast that this summer would be warmest due to climate change.“If the Election Commission could adjust election dates, it would help Muslim voters to exercise their franchise in Ramzan,” he said.“If the Election Commission looks at its decision and adjusts the dates so that they don’t clash with Ramzan, it will be better,” he said. Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, urged the Election Commission to “respect” the sentiments of the Muslims and shift the poll dates of May 6, 12 and 19, as Ramzan was expected to start on May 6. “Polling dates of May 6, 12 and 19 will hence fall during the fasting period and will subject Muslims to ‘extraordinary’ hardships,” Farangi Mahali commented. dailypioneer
War of words over polls being held during Ramzan, AAP leader says it will help BJP
https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-ramzan-aap-bjp-5621362/
A war of words broke out between BJP and Opposition parties on Monday over Lok Sabha elections being held during the month of Ramzan. The first to flag the matter was AAP leader Amanatullah Khan, who said that holding elections during Ramzan will cause inconvenience to Muslims and directly benefit BJP. “There will be less polling among Muslims, and it will directly benefit the BJP,” Khan tweeted on Sunday. Khan’s views were also echoed by some leaders of the TMC in West Bengal.Election Commission clarified that elections were conducted during Ramzan as an entire month cannot be excluded from the schedule. “However, dates of main festivals and Fridays are avoided as poll days,” it said. Taking a dig at AAP, Union Minister Vijay Goel Monday said the Kejriwal-led party was deliberately triggering a row as it had already accepted its defeat in Delhi.While Congress leader Digvijaya Singh offered a guarded response on the issue, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said the coinciding of Lok Sabha polls with Ramzan would not hamper poll percentage.Singh said the Election Commission should, if possible, change the voting time so as to avoid inconvenience to Muslims observing Ramzan fast.“I pray to Election Commission that even if it does not change the election date, make a change in voting time in such a way so that it facilitates voting (among Muslims),” Singh said. indian express
‘Why are Muslims treated like tenants in India?’ asks Azam Khan’s amid elections dates-Ramzan row
https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/article/lok-sabha-election-dates-2019-schedule-muslims-ramzan-samajwadi-party-election-commission/380587
Lucknow: Amid the raging controversy over Lok Sabha election dates clashing with the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Monday shocked everyone with his comments that ‘Muslims are tenants in this country’.Khan asked why did the Election Commission fail to take Ramzan into consideration while finalising the Lok Sabha poll dates. “Why are we treated like tenants in our own country?” he asked.Khan sought to raise doubts over the poll panel and said it has taken into consideration other festivals in the past, “then why not our festival?”“They should have certainly taken care of it. But I say this to you that after 1947, we stayed back on our own, we could have gone to Pakistan; Hindus could not have. Earlier, the RSS used to say that it will make us second and third grade citizens, today we call ourselves tenants in this country,” Khan said speaking to ANI.Times Now
Modi’s babu offered me ₹1,200 crore and post of BJYM president in 2016, claims Hardik Patel
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/bjp-offered-me-indian-rupee1200-crore-and-post-of-bjym-president-in-2016-says-hardik-patel
The leader of Patidar Amanat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), Hardik Patel, who is going to join Congress on Tuesday, claimed that the BJP had offered him ₹1,200 crore and the post of the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in 2016.In a freewheeling conversation with National Herald at a modest office located on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Patel claimed when he was lodged in Surat District Central jail at Lajpore, ex Chief Principal Secretary to ex Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, K Kailashnathan, who is serving as Chief Principal Secretary at CMO, visited him in the jail and offered the whopping sum and the top post of the BJP’s youth wing as truce gestures.Patel claimed that K Kailashnathan, who likes to be called as KK, made the offer at the behest of then Chief Minister Anandi Ben Patel.“BJP wanted me to call off the quota stir, but I immediately rejected it,” said Patel.A response from K Kailashnathan has been sought and the story will be updated if NH hears back from him.nationalheraldindia
Nails ‘hammered’ into them, 2 men ‘tortured’ to death in Bihar police custody, probe ordered
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-police-custody-nails-hammered-into-them-two-men-tortured-to-death-probe-ordered-5621645/
2 men, picked up in a case of robbery and murder, were allegedly tortured to death in police custody in Sitamarhi on March 7. Photos and a video clip of their bodies being washed before their burial showed marks of nails hammered into them.Their families have shared these with the police, an FIR has been registered for murder of 2 and 5 cops have been suspended. Confirming the custodial death and calling it “unacceptable,” Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey said:“We suspended five policemen including Chandra Bhushan Singh, the officer-in-charge of Dumra police station, in Sitamarhi. They will also face departmental action. If they do not surrender, they can even face dismissal. We have issued a show-cause notice to Sitamarhi SP who has been transferred.”Curiously, no policeman has been named in FIR so far.Early on March 6, records show, Gufran Alam (30) and Taslim Ansari (32) were picked up by police from Ramdiha village in connection with the theft of a motorcycle and murder of its owner Muzaffarpur resident Rakesh Kumar.While Taslim faced 4 criminal cases in East Champaran and Sitamarhi and was out on bail, Gufran had no prior criminal record.Ramdiha village falls in the Motihari Lok Sabha seat represented by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. Gufran’s father Munnavar Ali (58) said:“We were all asleep when 5 police jeeps from local Chakiya police station stopped at our house and asked for Gufran. They said they wanted to question Gufran in connection with a case. Before we could ask anything, they took him away and later also picked up fellow villager Taslim Ansari.”Ali, along with his brother Sanawar Ali and other villagers, reached Chakiya police station at around 3 am on March 6. But they did not find Gufran and Taslim there. “We were told that both were dead and their postmortem had been conducted. We were not allowed to see the bodies. Bodies were handed over to us the next day,” said Gufran’s father-in-law Mohammed Ayub Alam.When the bodies were being washed for the burial, relatives said they discovered the wounds and the extent of torture. Sabbil Rooney, a college student who is helping the families with the paperwork, said: “We have filmed videos and have still photographs of the injury marks caused by iron nails being hammered in.Nails were hammered into their thighs, soles and wrists. The legs of both victims were severely injured. We are waiting for postmortem report for specific details.” indian express
Sitamarhi Custodial Deaths of Muslim Youth: 8 Bihar Policemen Still Absconding
https://www.newsclick.in/sitamarhi-custodial-deaths-muslim-youth-8-bihar-policemen-still-absconding
Killing 9 Muslims at Suleman Usman Bakery in Mumbai in 1993: Court pulls up police for ‘casual behaviour’, orders appointment of ‘dedicated officer’
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/1993-suleman-usman-bakery-case-court-pulls-up-police-for-casual-behaviour-orders-appointment-of-dedicated-officer-5621572/
Mumbai:The pydhonie police has told the sessions court that the “missing” original logbook containing details of calls made by seven policemen, accused of killing 9 Muslims at Suleman Usman Bakery during 1993 communal riots in Mumbai, has been found at the police station.On Jan.9, 1993,amid curfew, a special operations squad of the police had opened fire on the bakery, the Dar-ul-uloom Imdadiya madrasa located above it and an adjacent mosque, allegedly following a tip-off that rioters were housed in the building. 9 persons were killed and 12 injured in the incident.The trial in the Suleman Usman Bakery firing case had finally began after 26 years on Feb.13. During the last hearing on March 1, the prosecution had called a witness — a policeman — in relation to a logbook containing call details made by the policemen through wireless units on the day of the incident at the bakery. The prosecution, however, had said that the logbook could not be traced.The police on Monday produced the original logbook before the court and said that it was found at the police station. Following this, the court directed that photocopies of the relevant pages of the logbook be given to both the prosecution and the defence.The court also directed Rajeev Jain, DCP of STF that probed the case, to appoint a dedicated officer to ensure proper coordination with prosecution. While pulling up the police due to its “casual behaviour” in conducting the trial, the court directed that a list of proposed witnesses to be examined should also be submitted to the accused policemen in advance.The prosecution on Monday had called the retired policeman who had typed an FIR on the day of the incident at Dongri police station. The initial FIR was lodged against the Muslim victims with the police claiming that they opened fire in self-defence after being attacked by soda bottles and acid bulbs when they broke open the door of the bakery. Bombay High Court had subsequently quashed FIR. indianexpress
Minorities feel unsafe, protect their rights: Church
https://indianexpress.com/elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-minorities-feel-unsafe-protect-their-rights-church-5621603/
New Delhi:Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), the decision-making body of the Catholic Church, has said BJP’s poll manifesto should focus on upholding the constitutional rights of minorities, adding that “no one needs to prove one’s nationalism”.“Nationalism is in the blood of every Indian, whether belonging to majority or minority. No one should even doubt such a thing or alienate anyone by being suspicious. No one needs to prove one’s nationalism. We have all contributed towards the independence, development, progress and welfare of the country in its onward journey,” CBCI said in its ‘sankalp patra’ suggestion submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“Suppression of the media, lynching in the name of differences in religious practices, food habits and cultural differences have considerably dented the credibility of the government and made the minorities feel unsafe,” it said.“Minority communities should feel secure in the country. The secular nature of the country, democratic principles, constitutional values, republic character, parliamentary traditions should be upheld. Minority rights are basic to the Constitution and they have to be preserved and promoted,” it said.“Govt must respect the sacred days and celebrations of all religions and support, participate and promote such events. The various religions are an asset to the country and uphold the morality and spiritual wellbeing and ethics in the country,” it said.CBCI also said that national institutions and autonomous bodies like UGC,CBSE, NCERT,IITs,IIMs,CBI,ED and judiciary should be allowed to function without “restraint and should not be suppressed or substituted”. “People have more faith in autonomous bodies than govt offices,”it said.indianexpress
Setalvad case: How can grant of anticipatory bail & liberty to cops to seek custody co-exist: SC
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/setalvad-case-how-can-grant-of-anticipatory-bail-liberty-to-cops-to-seek-custody-co-exist-sc-119031100765_1.html
New Delhi:The Supreme Court has expressed surprised that Gujarat High Court granted anticipatory bail to social activist Teesta Setalvad and her husband in an alleged NGO fund embezzlement case and simultaneously gave liberty to police to seek their custody if they do not cooperate in the probe."If investigating officer is given liberty for (seeking) police custody and anticipatory bail is granted, can they co-exist? The moment the investigating officer gets police custody, the anticipatory bail goes," said a bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi. The bench,also comprising justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, said it was asking a question to itself as to whether such an order can be passed."How do you prey for police remand? We are asking it to ourselves. How do you seek police remand," bench observed.PTI
UK Sought Papers To Arrest Nirav Modi. India Didn't Respond, Say Sources
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/why-nirav-modi-wanted-in-india-is-roaming-the-streets-of-london-2006007?fbclid=IwAR0kHFhMzMiDzZjJ7mu8w1rCsZDlmrPRvCUHY8Z-u6W4tQakGptx5NT12fo
New Delhi: When fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi was spotted on the streets of London last week looking somewhat different and wearing an extravagant ostrich-leather jacket, the government insisted there had been no delay on India's part in efforts to prosecute him and extradite him. NDTV has learnt that contrary to these claims, the British authorities have had no response to several queries they've sent for information. In fact, a legal team from the UK also offered to come to India to help facilitate action against Nirav Modi but allegedly got no response from India.NDTV has learnt from the Serious Fraud Office in London that the first time that India sent an alert to UK was under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) way back in Feb.2018. This was soon after the CBI first registered the criminal case against Nirav and his family members for cheating taxpayer of Rs.13,000 crores of money in Punjab National Bank Scam.While earlier, legal assistance for catching offenders abroad could be tedious and time-taking, the legal assistance treaty meant that Home Ministry could directly forward summons or warrants to the Indian High Commission in London, which would then forward it to the central authority. In this case, the central authority in Britain decided that between the crown prosecution service and SFO, it was the serious frauds office that was more appropriate to handle a request for taking action against Nirav.ndtv
Nirav Modi’s creditor firms that received PNB fraud money linked to his siblings: ED
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nirav-modi-siblings-pnb-fraud-scam-enforcement-directorate-5621628/
WORLD
Israel to construct 23,000 buildings in E.Jerusalem
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-to-construct-23-000-buildings-in-east-jerusalem/1415360
Israel will construct more than 20,000 new houses in occupied East Jerusalem in the next five years, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.“We signed an agreement in the framework of construction of 23,000 new housing units in Jerusalem with an investment of one billion shekel ($276 million),” Netanyahu announced on social media accounts.He claimed Jerusalem was not an accommodation unit, but Israel’s “capital”.Israeli Channel 7 reported the agreement was inked by the Ministry of Finance, Israel Land Administration and Municipality of Jerusalem with the attendance of Netanyahu.According to the agreement, neighborhoods in Old and New Jerusalem will be developed, a large area will be allocated for office space and investment in infrastructure.Anadolu Agency
UN:Situation in Myanmar must be referred to ICC
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/un-envoy-situation-in-myanmar-must-be-referred-to-icc/1415289
Geneva:UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar called on Monday for the situation in Myanmar to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) by the Security Council, or a state party or group of states parties. Speaking at the 40th session of the Human Rights Council, Yanghee Lee said: “Victims must not be forced to wait in the purgatory of international inaction; if it is not possible to refer the situation to ICC, the international community should consider establishing an independent tribunal,” Lee said. Lee said that she is “fearful of an increasingly internationalized situation of the Rohingya, with deportations from India and Saudi Arabia recently, as well as a boat arrival in Malaysia just last week”. “I am troubled to hear reports from Bangladesh Govt officials that in April they plan to relocate 23,000 Rohingya refugees from the camps in Cox’s Bazar to Bhashan Char, a recently emerged island in the Bay of Bengal.” "Ill-planned relocation, and relocations without the consent of the refugees concerned have the potential to create a new crisis,”rapporteur warned.Andolu
UN warns Bangladesh of 'new crisis' over Rohingya relocation plan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/warns-bangladesh-crisis-rohingya-relocation-plan-190311131237440.html
Taliban kill 13 troops in country’s west: officials
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/taliban-kill-13-troops-in-countrys-west-afghan-officials/article26506713.ece?homepage=true
Kabul:Officials say the Taliban killed at least 13 Afghan soldiers in battles that raged for three days in western Badghis province, where insurgents overran several army checkpoints. Jamshid Shahabi, the provincial governor’s spokesman, says the fate of a dozen other soldiers is unknown.He says the fighting erupted on Saturday in Bala Murghab district. The military carried out several airstrikes and dispatched reinforcement. Shahabi says 42 insurgents were killed and 15 troops were wounded in the fighting.However, Mohammad Naser Nazari, a member of the provincial council, gave a higher casualty toll, saying that 20 soldiers were killed and 20 others remain missing.The officials say the fighting has subsided with only sporadic clashes on Tuesday in remote areas of the province. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.PTI
Algeria :Demonstrators demand Prez Bouteflika's immediate departure
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/demonstrators-demand-bouteflika-departure-190312052309569.html
Algeria: Demonstrators who took to the streets en masse against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's rule reacted in jubilation to his withdrawal from elections but said he now must step down.In Tlemcen, Bouteflika's stronghold 540km west of Algiers, the president's decision was celebrated on Monday night as drivers honked their horns and people on the street cheered."Protests have paid off. This is a small victory of the Algerian people over the regime," Mohamed, a 27-year-old cook, said while honking his horn.Hundreds of people joyfully gathered in the capital Algiers' Audin Square, according to witnesses.Bouteflika - who has ruled Algeria for decades - has faced three weeks of mass protests against his planned fifth-term run. He relented on Monday by announcing he wouldn't be running again but said the presidential elections scheduled for April 18 will be postponed indefinitely.The ailing president, 82, made the unexpected decision in a letter to Algerian people released on state-owned agency APS, a day after returning from a two-week stay at Geneva University Hospital for "routine medical tests"."There will be no fifth term. There was never any question of it for me. Given my state of health and age, my last duty towards the Algerian people was always contributing to the foundation of a new Republic," he wrote.aljazeera
MPs to vote on May's Brexit deal with 'legally binding' changes
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/mps-vote-brexit-deal-legally-binding-190312084209757.html
With just over two weeks until the UK is due to leave the European Union, the British parliament is heading into a key vote on the Brexit deal.MPs will cast a second "meaningful vote" on Tuesday at around 19:00GMT after PM Theresa May made a last-minute trip to Strasbourg on Monday for talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. After weeks of impasse, the two leaders announced late in the evening that an agreement had been reached around the nature of the so-called backstop, the "insurance policy" protocol of the withdrawal agreement designed to keep an open border in the island of Ireland.May had been tasked by Parliament to renegotiate it after MPs overwhelmingly rejected her deal by a margin of 230 last Jan.aljazeera
US to pull all remaining diplomatic staff from Venezuela
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-to-pull-all-remaining-diplomatic-staff-from-venezuela/article26508056.ece?homepage=true
US will withdraw all remaining diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Caracas as the crisis in Venezuela deepens, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said.The move worsens already tattered relations, with President Donald Trump having said he rules out no options including military intervention to oust President Nicolas Maduro, even as Washington monitors rapidly unfolding events in the oil-rich but crippled South American nation supported by Russia and China.US has already imposed sanctions designed to choke off Venezuelan oil sales, lifeblood of the leftist govt in Caracas.Much of Venezuela has been without electricity for going on five days now due to a power outage that the government blames on what it calls “sabotage encouraged by US.” Venezuela is in the grips of an acute economic crisis that has fueled the rise of opposition leader Juan Guaido, the national assembly speaker who, in late January, declared himself to be the interim leader. More than 50 countries led by the U.S. have endorsed him.PTI
Ethiopian Airlines crash: Six members of Indian family in Canada among 157 dead
https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/ethiopian-airlines-crash-six-members-of-indian-family-in-canada-among-157-dead/380962
Ottawa: The "trip of a lifetime" to a safari park in Kenya turned into a nightmare for six members of a family from India in Canada who perished when the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa.The Boeing 737 took-off from Bole International Airport on Sunday and lost contact six minutes later before coming down near Tulu Fara village outside the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu, killing all 149 passengers and 8 crew on board, including tourists and business travellers.The victims included Pannagesh Vaidya, 73; his wife Hansini Vaidya, 67; their daughter Kosha Vaidya, 37; her husband Prerit Dixit, 45; and their two children Anushka and Ashka Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown was quoted as saying by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.PTI
2018 deadliest year yet for children in Syria: UNICEF
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/2018-deadliest-year-yet-for-children-in-syria-unicef/1415298
2018 was marked by the highest death toll of children in Syria as civil war enters its ninth year, the UN agency for children, UNICEF, announced on Monday. “Children in parts of the country remain in as much danger as at any other time during the eight-year conflict,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement.“In 2018 alone, 1,106 children were killed in the fighting -- the highest ever number of children killed in a single year since the start of the war.“These are only the numbers that the UN has been able to verify, which means the true figures are likely much higher,” she said.Fore said that 262 attacks were carried out against education and health facilities in 2018, which she described as a “record high”.Anadolu Agency
Flash: views & NEWS
OIC meetings just prove that the concept of a ‘Muslim World’ is a myth:Mohammed Ayoob, Professor Emeritus at Michigan State University
https://theprint.in/opinion/oic-meetings-just-prove-that-the-concept-of-a-muslim-world-is-a-myth/203898/
Over 250 Muslim Houses Turned to Ashes in Meerut:Abdul Alim Jafri
https://www.newsclick.in/over-250-muslim-houses-turned-ashes-meerut
Minority,Indigenous Women Human Rights Activists More Prone to Harassment: UN Report:Newsclick
https://www.newsclick.in/minority-and-indigenous-women-human-rights-activists-more-prone-harassment-un-report
6 Reasons Why the Aadhaar Amendment Ordinance Undermines Democracy;Raghu
https://thewire.in/government/aadhaar-amendments-ordinance-democracy
India-Pak Crisis: F-16s and Missile Mystery:Seema Sirohi
https://thewire.in/security/india-pakistan-crisis-f-16s-and-the-missile-mystery
Lucky to Survive a Dangerous Islamophobic Attack Onboard Jalandhar Express:Samiullah Khan
http://caravandaily.com/lucky-to-survive-a-dangerous-islamophobic-attack-onboard-jalandhar-express/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 11:38 AM)
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