*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

'7 million users' data including scans of Aadhaar,certificates, photo ID, PAN accessible to everyone'; but Govt denies data BHIM breach

https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/govt-denies-data-breach-of-7-million-bhim-users-cybersecurity-firm-maintains-its-claim-6437656/

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has issued a statement saying there has been no compromise of data on BHIM app, after Israeli cybersecurity firm vpnMentor’s claims that it had discovered a breach of personal records of around 7 million Indians used to onboard them to the mobile payment app. As per the report, the data was stored on a misconfigured Amazon Web Services S3 bucket and was publicly accessible.The breach was discovered by Noam Rotem and Ran Locar of the vpnMentor research team who say the exposed records are highly sensitive as it includes many documents needed to open an account on BHIM. The firm said CSC e-Governance Service Ltd (company which developed BHIM in partnership with Indian government) established the website connected to the misconfigured S3 Bucket “to promote BHIM usage across India and sign up new merchant businesses, such as mechanics, farmers, service providers, and store owners onto the app”.According to Rotem and Locar, the breach was first discovered on April 23, 2020, and seem to have contained records from Feb.2019. It was available publicly until May 22, 2020.Noam Rotem and Ran Locar told indianexpress.com that it stands by its report and the fact remains that personal data of millions of Indian citizens was left exposed to anyone with a web browser. As per the firm, these records include scans of Aadhaar cards and caste certificates, photos used as proof of residence, professional certificates and degrees, screenshots taken within financial and banking apps as proof of fund transfers, as well as scans of PAN cards.The documents not only give a complete profile of individual’s private information such as name, date of birth, gender, address, religion, caste, biometric details, etc. but also their financial and banking records, thus exposing them to potential fraud, theft, and attack from cybercriminals.“The attempts by various parties in India to deny our findings are sad. The fact remains that PII [personal identifiable information] data of millions of Indian citizens was left unprotected on a public bucket named after CSC BHIM, and instead of looking into the faults that lead to this breach and make sure they won’t happen again, we are faced with ridiculous claims it never happened,” Rotem and Locar said. Rotem and Locar said having such sensitive financial data in the public domain or the hands of criminal hackers would make it easy to trick, defraud, and steal from the people exposed. “BHIM app users could be exposed to identity theft, tax fraud, theft (hackers accessing BHIM accounts via the app and withdraw money), or even fraud (tricking a user into sending you money via app— by sending texts or emails imitating businesses and friends,”they said.indianexpress

BHIM website put Aadhaar details, address, ID proof and more of millions at risk, issue now fixed

 

Global Human Rights Body Calls Activists' Detentions ‘Arbitrary’, Demands Release

https://thewire.in/rights/ifhr-anti-caa-activists-arrests-release

Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (IFHR) has written to PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah terming the detentions of several Indian human rights activists ‘arbitrary’. IFHR has raised concerns, saying the activists have been arrested for “their participation in peaceful protests against CAA” in the last few months.The letter highlights the cases of Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, student activists who have been associated with the anti-CAA protests in Delhi and were arrested recently by the Delhi police.“Observatory firmly condemns the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Ms. Devangana Kalita and Ms. Natasha Narwal, as they seem to be only aimed at punishing them for their legitimate human rights activities. Their detention takes place after the arrest of other human rights defenders earlier this year for protesting against the CAA,” the letter read. In addition to Kalita and Narwal, the IFHR has also expressed concerns over the arrests of and charges against Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Safoora Zargar, Shifa-ur-Rehman, Asif Iqbal, Akhil Gogoi, Khafeel Khan and Umar Khalid. Letter also says that the international body is “concerned about the ongoing arbitrary detention and judicial harassment under UAPA of several other human rights defenders, including Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi and Ishrat Jehan, which is seemingly in retaliation to their opposition to CAA.”thewire

 

'Prisons For Punishing Convicts, Not to Detain Undertrials,' Delhi HC Says in Delhi Riots Case

https://thewire.in/law/prisons-for-punishing-convicts-not-to-detain-undertrials-delhi-hc-says-in-delhi-riots-case

New Delhi: While deciding on the bail application of a person accused of burning a shop during Delhi riots, Delhi high court said that prisons are for punishing convicts and not for detaining undertrials and granted the accused bail. The single bench of Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani noted: “The remit of the court is to dispense justice in accordance with law, not to send messages to society.It is this sentiment, whereby State demands that undertrials be kept in prison inordinately without any purpose, that leads to overcrowding of jails; and leaves undertrials with the inevitable impression that they are being punished even before trial and therefore being treated unfairly by the system.”The court also added that if at the end of the trial the prosecution is unable to prove the guilt of the accused, the years of her life that the accused spends in prison cannot be given back. And that if proven guilty, the accused will be made to undergo his sentence. The court granted bail to the accused, Firoz Khan, upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and sureties of the same amount from his relatives. He has also been directed to not leave Delhi without the permission.

Delhi HC grants bail to Delhi riots accused, says can’t be imprisoned to ‘send message to society’

 SIT may submit charge sheet in northeast Delhi violence case in next 2 days, includes Tahir Khan as accused

https://www.dnaindia.com/delhi/report-sit-may-submit-charge-sheet-in-northeast-delhi-violence-case-in-next-two-days-includes-tahir-khan-as-accused-2826443

Delhi Police's SIT, who is probing the riots in northeast Delhi's in Chand Bagh that happened in February this year, is most likely to submit its first chargesheet by June 1, sources have said.As per reports, over 15 other people, including suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and his brother, have been named in the chargesheet for plotting the riots that claimed as many as 53 lives and left almost 200-250 inured. Tahir is also accused in the murder of IB staffer Ankit Sharma who was stabbed multiple times and his body was later thrown into drain. He has 6 other FIRs registered against him and is currently in judicial custody.dnaindia

 Anti-CAA Pinjra Tod Activist Arrested for Third Time in 10 Days

https://thewire.in/rights/anti-caa-pinjra-tod-devangana-kalita-arrest

New Delhi: Devangana Kalita, an MPhil student at JNU, has been arrested for third time in less than 10 days, this time by Delhi police crime branch. She has been sent to police custody for 3 days. Kalita was earlier arrested, along with fellow student Natasha Narwal, on May 23 for her presence at Jaffrabad anti-CAA protest and subsequently released on bail. But after the court granted her bail, Delhi police moved again and on May 28 arrested them in a separate case related to the violence that broke out in Delhi. They were charged with attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy. Narwal has also been charged under UAPA. While the police had sought 14 days custody, the court only granted 2. Now as soon as the period of custody ended, Kalita has been arrested, or shifted from judicial custody, again in a third case. This time she has been charged with unlawful assembly and rioting at Daryaganj.thewire

 

Kejriwal Govt Slammed for Appointment of Tushar Mehta as Public Prosecutor in Delhi Riots Case

https://clarionindia.net/kejriwal-govt-slammed-for-appointment-of-tushar-mehta-as-public-prosecutor-in-delhi-riots-case/?fbclid=IwAR1wHRM5CupQugOzs7wdfjCA4aG0ffGQCwQSKuunUD8j8Ei5W8IKXehytGw

Kejriwal government of Delhi has been slammed for appointment of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as special public prosecutor (SPP) to argue the cases related to the end-February riots of the national capital in which over 50 people were killed. Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Prashant Bhushan and Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav, both former colleagues of Kejriwal in Anna Hazare movement, have openly criticized AAP government of the city over the appointment of Mehta.“Why would Kejriwal appoint Tushar Mehta as Delhi govt’s special counsel in Delhi riots cases, when it is clear that the police is victimizing peaceful anti-CAA activists & we need a fair counsel? Because he is totally amoral in his politics & will sup with devil if it suits him,” said Bhushan in a tweet.As Mehra’s appointment spiralled into a big controversy, the Kejriwal government said his appointment was forced on them and he wasn’t their choice. But Yogendra Yadav went to Twitter on Sunday and quoted from the Delhi High Court order which, he said, “nails the lie of Kejriwal government.” Not only Bhushan and Yadav, Congress leaders have also cornered the Kejriwal government over the issue.Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken equated Kejriwal’s AAP with BJP after Mehra’s appointment.Clarion India

 

Hyderabad activist Kashaf booked for a tweet, alleges IPS officer did it for vendetta

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/hyderabad-activist-booked-tweet-alleges-ips-officer-did-it-vendetta-125709

A social activist from Hyderabad has accused the police of filing a case against him for vendetta. Hyderabad Cyber Crime police station booked Syed Abdahu Kashaf accusing him of conspiracy, promoting communal enmity and selling defamatory content over a tweet. The activist was informed about the case five months after he was booked on January 11.Kashaf is a political strategist and a social activist, who was formerly IT cell head for AIMIM. After quitting politics, he became a social activist and also participated in the anti-CAA protests. Kashaf, who is a resident of Malakpet in Hyderabad, received a call on May 28 from the Hyderabad CCS informing him that a case had been boked against him for a tweet on January 4. Kashaf alleges that the case was filed on him for complaining about an officer.In a video that Kashaf tweeted and also uploaded on Instagram, he had said that ‘Million March’, an anti-CAA protest, had not been postponed. He uploaded the video on Jan.4, hours before the march took place in Hyderabad. He can be heard saying that the public should not believe in rumours that the protest has been cancelled. He also called upon the public to gather at Dharna Chowk.

 

“They didn’t even spare women,” Muslim villagers allege Police brutality in UP’s Shamli

http://twocircles.net/2020jun01/437228.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true

In Taprana village of Shamli, UP, police vandalized Muslim houses, thrashed residents, including women – local residents told TwoCircles.net. Residents said that a scuffle broke out between police and local residents when Police went to arrest Afzal who was accused of cow slaughtering on the night of May 25. Residents said that the police went to arrest Afzal who had returned home to celebrate Eid with his family. He was not allowed to enter the district by police. During raid, police clashed with locals and later registered cases against dozens of residents and booked many villagers. According to residents, in the series of events lasting 2 days, around 3 a.m. heavy contingents of police force entered the village and deliberately ransacked homes, misbehaved with women, looted jewelry and money. “They brutally attacked the people and took some residents with them,” they said.In a press note issued by All India Imams Council (AIIC) of Shamli, State President, Maulana Shadab stated that “police raided to arrest Afzal (a team in police uniform and others in civil clothes) but they brutally attacked him. Villagers questioned the behaviour of police but in return, police booked 40 residents and filed cases against around 80 people of the village.” Maulana Shadab further said, “Since lockdown police have been threatening villagers and asking for bribes from poor vendors. On the night of May 27 contingents of police barged in the village, smashed and vandalized houses, assaulted women and men, looted money and other valuables.”TwoCircles

 

Elections for 18 Rajya Sabha seats to be held on June 19, says Election Commission

https://scroll.in/latest/963520/coronavirus-elections-for-18-rajya-sabha-seats-to-be-held-on-june-19-says-election-commission

Election Commission of India on Monday announced that the elections for 18 Rajya Sabha seats, which had been deferred in view of the coronavirus outbreak, will be held on June 19. This came two days after the Centre extended the nationwide lockdown to contain the pandemic till June 30, but said that all activities will restart in a phased manner outside containment zones. The first phase of this reopening, called Unlock 1, will focus on economic activities.

 

Former MP and BJP leader joins Congress ahead of crucial bypolls in Madhya Pradesh

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/former-mp-and-bjp-leader-joins-congress-ahead-of-crucial-bypolls-in-madhya-pradesh

As the crucial bypolls in 24 seats draw nearer, both the Congress and BJP have started preparing for the race.In a significant development in this regard, former BJP leader and ex-member of parliament from Ujjain parliamentary seat Premchand Guddu rejoined Congress in Bhopal.nationalheral

 

‘Give 27% reservation to OBC students in medical colleges,’ say political leaders, teachers

https://scroll.in/latest/963471/give-27-reservation-to-obc-students-in-medical-colleges-say-political-leaders-teachers

A group of over 300 citizens, including MPs, activists, teachers, lawyers and students, on Sunday flagged that medical aspirants belonging to OBC were not getting reservation for admission to colleges. They demanded that Centre compensate them for the seats that they have lost. The signatories, including Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and Tamil Nadu Congress leader S Jothimani, said in their statement that private and government colleges are required to reserve 15% of their seats in undergraduate courses to a common central pool called All India Quota (AIQ). For postgraduate courses, the percentage of seats reserved by these colleges for the quota is 50%. They, however, alleged that fewer seats were being reserved for OBC students.

 

Indian manufacturing output falls further in May, rate of job cuts accelerates: PMI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/business/indian-manufacturing-output-falls-further-in-may-rate-of-job-cuts-accelerates-pmi

The country's manufacturing sector activity recorded another sharp deterioration in business conditions during May as new orders placed with producers continued to fall after April's record contraction, leading firms to cut jobs at the quickest pace on record, a monthly survey said on Monday. Headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) stood at 30.8 in May, up from 27.4 in April, pointing to another substantial decline in health of the country's manufacturing sector, albeit one that was slightly softer than recorded in April.PTI

 

Moody's Downgrades India's Rating, Maintains Negative Outlook

https://thewire.in/economy/moodys-downgrades-indias-rating-maintains-negative-outlook

New Delhi: Moody’s Investors Service on Monday downgraded India’s sovereign rating by one notch, noting that there are risks of a “sustained period of relatively low growth, significant deterioration in the general government fiscal position and stress in the financial sector”.The rating agency has downgraded the Centre’s foreign-currency and local-currency long-term issuer ratings to ‘Baa3’ from Baa2’, and added that its outlook for India remains negative. The ‘Baa3’ rating, however, is still investment grade.“The negative outlook reflects dominant, mutually-reinforcing, downside risks from deeper stresses in the economy and financial system that could lead to a more severe and prolonged erosion in fiscal strength than Moody’s currently projects,” the agency said on Monday evening.

 

'Grading' Judiciary Indicates 'After Me Deluge' Attitude of Ex Judges: Justice Kaul

https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-justice-sanjay-kishan-kaul

Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul on Sunday said imputations against the judiciary or its “grading” is a reflection of the intolerance prevalent in all sections of society against all kinds of institutions and also indicates the “after me the deluge” view of some retired judges.“Criticism of a view point or a judgement is not a problem, but when imputations and grading start being made, I think we damage very institution,”Justice Kaul said.“The unfortunate part is that in some of us, those who have been part of the institution itself, there is a problem of ‘after me the deluge’. Which is that since we (retired judges) are gone, everything is going wrong. I will say that itself is a danger.”PTI

 

‘Madrasas have to strike a balance between sacred and secular… latter cannot be an afterthought in education:’ Ziya Us Salam, Aslam Parvaiz’s book 

https://indianexpress.com/article/research/madrasas-book-ziya-us-salam-mohammad-aslam-parvaiz-6436900/?fbclid=IwAR2Qn48r3_T3JhVTdWoCjOIzRz-eMIN_AjU5s03okRSRKJrcHN8Lt4STq6A

“The madrasa is in a bad shape. The ceiling is leaking, making it difficult for devotees to offer prayer….The madrasa has no money to provide its students with blankets or quilts in winters. It does not have enough money to feed its 60 students. It needs urgent help.”Recent book, ‘Madrasas in Age of Islamophobia’, begins with these grim words of a madrasa fundraiser, offering a peek into the bleak state of affairs of any archetypal Islamic seminary located in the Hindi heartland of India. Written by noted literary and social commentator, Ziya Us Salam, and science communicator Mohammad Aslam Parvaiz, and published by SAGE, the book is a comment on the decline of madrasas, from being centres of excellence and learning in the past. While at present they are either seen as archaic centres of Islamic learning or wrongly pictured as dens of extremism, what is often forgotten is that madrasas have had a glorious history in India. Celebrated personalities like the social reformer Raja Ram Mohon Roy, writer Munshi Premchand, and the first president of India Rajendra Prasad received their education in some of the best Madrasas in the country. From providing an easy route to royal employment in Mughal India, to playing a crucial role in fight against the British during the freedom struggle, madrasas have made several significant contributions to Indian history. In a telephonic interview with Indianexpress.com, Salam and Parvaiz discussed, at length, several aspects of their book, along with what they think is the present significance and future solutions to the plight of madrasas in the country. indianexpress

 

*INDIA- CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

Kanpur Medical College principal allegedly says Jamaat members are ‘terrorists’, should be placed in ‘solitary confinement’

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kanpur-medical-college-principal-allegedly-says-jamaat-members-are-terrorists-should-be-placed-in-solitary-confinement/article31719553.ece

A video has emerged allegedly showing principal of Kanpur Medical College controversially referring to Tablighi Jamaat members as “terrorists” and stating that instead of keeping such patients in isolation wards and “exhausting resources” on them they should be punished in “solitary confinement” in jails or “sent to jungles and locked up in dungeons”.While authenticity of the undated video could not be independently verified, person identified in it,Aarti Lalchandani, principal of GVSM Medical College, said she did make the remarks. The video, shot secretively by someone who appears to be a journalist, showed Ms. Lalchandani making communally-laced and unsavoury remarks in a room with several persons in audience.“They should be kept in solitary confinement in jail. You are keeping them in isolation ward,”Lalchandani allegedly said about Tablighi Jamaat members. “We should not say this, but they are terrorists. And we are providing them VIP treatment, providing them food... exhausting our resources on them,”she said, adding that the hospital was “wasting” PPE kits over the Jamaat members. “Those who should be in jail, you are bringing them here for treatment, feeding them food, getting others infected, wasting manpower and kits.”She also accuses BJP govt of “appeasement” and criticised it for “exhausting” the State’s manpower and resources on treating Jamaat members. She argued that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should issue an order stating that no State manpower or resources should be used on treatment of Jamaat members.When contacted by The Hindu, Lalchandani first said the video was “morphed” and that she did not refer to any community or target Muslims. But in the same breath she also admitted that she made the comments as a vent during the initial days of the COVID-19 crisis in Kanpur.Former Kanpur MP and CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali demanded a probe into the video by the district administration. the hindu

Principal of Kanpur’s Medical College Rants Against Muslim Patients in Video, Action Demanded

 

Allahabad High Court orders immediate release of Tablighi Jamaat members from quarantine

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/allahabad-high-court-orders-immediate-release-of-tablighi-jamaat-members-from-quarantine-92964

Taking a stern view of the situation, the Allahabad High Court on Monday ordered CM Yogi Adityanath led-Uttar Pradesh Government to immediately release members of Tablighi Jamaat and others who have completed their period of quarantine.A Division Bench of Justice Shashikant Gupta and Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery delivered the order on Monday on a PIL filed by Supreme Court lawyer Shaad Anwar.The petition had requested the high court to issue directions to UP Government as allegedly a grave violation of fundamental rights of a group of individuals was taking place at the hands of the state government due to laxity in issuing any order or direction in the matter.The court also ordered the setting up of a 3-member committee to monitor the cases of quarantined persons in the districts.According to UP Government’s affidavit presented in the court by the state Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal there were 3,001 Indian and 325 foreign Tablighi Jamaat members in the state quarantine centres.  tribuneindia

 

Indian businessman Yogesh Variava dupes UAE traders of Rs 6.15 crore, flees to Hyderabad on Vande Bharat flight

https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/crime/article/indian-businessman-dupes-uae-traders-of-rs-6-15-crore-flees-to-hyderabad-on-vande-bharat-flight/599350

Hyderabad: In a shocking case, a 36-year-old businessman from Mumbai allegedly duped several traders in UAE and fled to Hyderabad on a repatriation flight arranged by the Indian government under Vande Bharat Mission to bring back stranded Indians on foreign soil amid viral pandemic. Indian businessman, identified as Yogesh Ashok Variava, allegedly duped at least 40 UAE traders of three million dirhams (Rs 6.15 crore) and flew out of Abu Dhabi before the foreign traders could have realized that they have been deceived. Variava made bulk purchases from the traders by issuing post-dated cheques. However, the cheques bounced when traders deposited them for redemption. Later, when they visited Variava’s Royal Luck Foodstuff Trading Office to confront him, he had already fled to India from the Gulf nation on a repatriation flight on May 11. On May 21, the defrauded traders approached the local police and filed a complaint against Variava. While speaking to Times of India over a phone call, advocate Salam Pappinisseri, who is representing the aggrieved traders, said that they have sent an email to the Telangana Police. In the email, an account of how Variava conned several traders has been given. However, no action has been taken against him. The aggrieved traders are planning to seek legal action against him in UAE as well as India. So far, there is no information on Variava’s whereabouts. timesnownews

 

Migrant workers: 11 dead, 22 injured in bus-truck collision in Nepal

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/migrant-workers-11-dead-22-injured-in-bus-truck-collision-in-nepal/article31719746.ece?homepage=true

Kathmandu:A passenger bus with migrant workers who were returning from India crashed into a parked truck in southern Nepal, killing 11 people and injuring 22, officials said on Monday.The accident took place on Sunday in Banke district when the bus collided with a truck that was parked at the roadside. The bus was carrying nearly over 30 migrant workers who returned from India to their home district in Salyan via Nepalgunj, District Police Office was quoted as saying by Myrepublica. The bus hit the parked truck on the road killing 11 passengers, including the bus driver, and injuring 22, it said.Hundreds of Nepalese, mostly migrant workers, are stranded along Nepal’s border with India due to the COVID-19 induced lockdown.  PTI

 

Patient is stable, Gujarat hospital tells kin of man declared dead and cremated

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/patient-is-stable-gujarat-hospital-tells-kin-of-man-declared-dead-and-cremated-6436524/?fbclid=IwAR3JXWk71pFGlBmi58DbGwSHxvOJD7NZ4kq1gzh846-s-P-bbyyYrlua6Yk

Ahmedabad :The family of a 71-year-old suspected Covid-19 patient, who was declared dead at Gujarat Cancer and research Institute (GCRI) on Civil Hospital campus in Asarwa and was cremated same day, was taken over by confusion and anxiety after calls from the hospital later saying that his condition was “stable”.Devrambhai Mahangurao Bhisikar, a resident of Viratnagar, was declared dead on May 29 at GCRI. Within hours of his cremation, his family received a call stating that he was doing well and that his condition was stable. Another call from the command and control centre operating from Civil Hospital campus informed them same the next day.“On May 29, afternoon, we received a call from GCRI that he was dead and we reached the hospital immediately. When I reached there along with my elder sister-in-law, we were shown a body that was packed as per Covid protocol as he was a suspected case and his report was pending. We did not see his face. The bag of clothes and other things I handed over to him at the time of admission was also with him, so I believed that he was my father-in-law,” said Nilesh Nikte (40), Devrambhai’s son-in-law who lives in Noblenagar.indianexpress

 

Unlock 1.0 Day 1: Temples open in Bengal, hustle bustle in other states as new guidelines come into play

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/unlock-1-guidelines-temples-open-in-bengal-traffic-delhi-mumbai-chennai-hyderabad-bengaluru-6437368/

From open shops and markets and milling crowds on roads to the hustle and bustle of railway stations, a semblance of normality seemed to return in various states as the country entered the first of 3-phase unlock plan on Monday. With the government allowing unfettered movement of goods and persons within states, more vehicles were out on the roads, leading to snarls in many cities, even though public transport remained skeletal.In Bengaluru, an increase in people and vehicle movements were seen in most parts of the city except containment zones while roads in Tamil Nadu witnessed much more traffic with arrival of auto rickshaws and taxis.Services were held in the morning for the first time in weeks at Church of Our Lady of Dolours in north Kolkata. Each pew was occupied by two people sitting at opposite ends of the benches, all while wearing masks.indianexpress

 

Delhi's Borders To Be Sealed For One Week, All Shops Allowed To Open: CM Kejriwal

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-delhis-borders-to-be-sealed-for-one-week-all-shops-allowed-to-open-cm-kejriwal/353913

Delhi's borders will be sealed for a week, CM Arvind Kejriwal announced on Monday as he sought suggestions from people by Friday to reopen the same.Kejriwal said people having passes and engaged in essential services will be allowed to enter the national capital.On Sunday, Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration in UP had announced that Noida-Delhi border will remain sealed for movement of people to and from the national capital. outlookindia

 

As Trains Resume, Migrant Workers Line Up With Tickets And Nothing More

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/coronavirus-as-trains-resume-migrant-workers-line-up-with-tickets-and-nothing-more-2238963?pfrom=home-bigstory

ew Delhi: As limited train services resumed on Monday, scores migrant workers were among the first to queue up and brave the risk of COVID-19 infection with little more than tickets bought with money borrowed from friends and neighbours. Out of work for since March, many don't have a single rupee in their pockets. They said they were forced to borrow money and buy the tickets because they couldn't find seats on Shramik (Worker) Special trains that the government started running last month."I was working as a labourer. I am going back to Bihar as I have been out of work for almost three months now. I have no money left. The tickets cost 8,100. I borrowed it from a neighbour. I don't know when I will be able to pay it back," Aryan Kumar told NDTV.His father Umesh Mehto, said, "I worked as a labourer too. There is no work here (in Delhi). We have been siting for idle for three months. We have no money."Others spoke about leaving Delhi because of the rising coronavirus cases."I am going to Patna to drop my family off. There is too much risk in Delhi," said Najmuddin Noor. The train journey has changed significantly in the post-coronavirus world, he said.

 

Wajid Khan, of Composer Duo Sajid-Wajid, Passes Away After Testing Positive for COVID-19

https://thewire.in/culture/wajid-khan-dies-covid-19-sajid-wajid

Mumbai: Singer-composer Wajid Khan of music director duo Sajid-Wajid, popular for their work on superstar Salman Khan’s films such as Wanted, Dabangg and Ek Tha Tiger, died in the wee hours of Monday, June 1, in a city hospital due to coronavirus. The 42-year-old singer had underlying kidney issues.“He died of a cardiac arrest,” Wajid’s brother Sajid told PTI while confirming that the musician had tested positive for COVID-19.Music composer Salim Merchant, who first confirmed the news of Wajid’s death, said that the composer was hospitalised recently at Surana Hospital, Chembur where his condition deteriorated.PTI

 

India Now 7th Worst-Hit Nation By COVID-19

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/live-coronavirus-india-updates-over-8000-covid-19-cases-in-india-in-last-24-hours-1-june-2020-2238419

The nationwide tally of coronavirus cases has crossed 1.9 lakh after a record single-day jump of 8,392 people testing positive for the highly contagious virus infection in the last 24 hours. The total cases in the country stood at 1,90,535 including 5,394 deaths, according to data from the Union Health Ministry. India has climbed to seventh from the ninth spot in the list of 10 nations worst hit by the pandemic, with more cases than that of France. US has so far reported over 18 lakh cases of coronavirus, making it the nation with the most number of cases. Brazil follows with over 5 lakh cases, and Russia with over four lakh cases. The country - now seventh worst-hit due to pandemic - has been registering record spikes for the last three days. The sharp rise in cases comes as India prepares to re-open in a phased-manner after nearly 2 months of lockdown to tackle the pandemic.

 

*CORONA-WORLD*

Turkey reopens most public places after lockdown

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/turkey-reopens-public-places-coronavirus-lockdown-200601143056501.html

Turkey has reopened restaurants and cafes in addition to many other public areas, as the government further eased coronavirus restrictions on Monday.Many other facilities - including parks, beaches, swimming pools, gyms, libraries and museums - reopened across the country.Istanbul's iconic 15th-century Grand Bazaar market also reopened while millions of public sector employees returned to work.

 

Leading Yemen MP dies of coronavirus in Sudan

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-leading-yemen-mp-dies-of-coronavirus-in-sudan/

Dr Saleh Al-Sanabani, a prominent Yemeni MP and representative of Al-Islah Party in parliament, died of the coronavirus in Sudan, Yemeni sources reported.The informed sources said Al-Sanabani died at the age of 63 in Khartoum after he contracted the coronavirus. “The parliament lost one of its noble and good men who was an example of honesty, determination and productivity for the homeland,” a letter of condolence issued by Yemen’s Parliament said. Al-Islah Party said in a statement: “He was one of Yemen’s best men, a prominent scholar and an effective social figure.”

 

Armenia's prime minister tests positive for coronavirus

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/armenia-prime-minister-tests-positive-coronavirus-200601083927628.html

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and his family have tested positive for the coronavirus as the rate of new infections soared in the south Caucasus nation. Pashinyan announced his infection in a self-recorded video message published on Facebook on Monday."My coronavirus test was positive yesterday," he said, adding that his wife - journalist Anna Hakobyan - and their four children also had COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.Pashinyan said he had no "visible symptoms" of the virus and would be working from home.aljazeera

West Bank poverty may double over Covid: World Bank

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/west-bank-poverty-double-pandemic-world-bank-200601071910183.html

Poverty in the occupied West Bank may double as Palestinians are hammered by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank warned on Monday. The Palestinian territories have seen low infection rates after authorities acted quickly to curtail the spread of COVID-19, with 3 deaths from 450 cases registered among some five million residents in the Gaza Strip and the illegally occupied West Bank.But the Palestinian Authority's financial situation is "expected to become increasingly difficult" due to a loss of income and increased spending on healthcare and other areas, the World Bank said in a report.The fallout is expected to see the number of households living below the poverty line increase this year from 14 to 30 percent in the West Bank, largely due to Palestinians being unable to cross into Israel for work.aljazeera

 

*SOUTH ASIA*

Days after Trump's Mediation Offer, Russia Says Worried About LAC Stand-off, But Won't Intervene

https://www.news18.com/news/india/days-after-trump-mediation-offer-russia-says-worried-about-lac-stand-off-but-wont-intervene-2648245.html

Russia’s Deputy Chief of Mission in India, Roman Babushkin, said his country is “of course worried about the current situation on LAC.”To a specific question if Russia, as a friend of both the nations expressed concern to either or both sides, Babushkin told CNN-News18 India and China have “dedicated, specific established mechanisms and tools” to be able to “find a way out for mutual satisfaction.” He said Russia would encourage every endeavor in this regard. Babushkin also said that here lies the significance of a trilateral dialogue like RIC  and SCO-based coordination as they are meant to facilitate regional stability and strengthening of mutual trust.However, unlike US President Donald Trump’s tweet stating that he “has informed both India and China that the US is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate”, Russia signaled that the matter should be resolved bilaterally.While speaking to media in a virtual press conference ahead of India-Australia bilateral summit, Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell echoed a similar sentiment. He said the border dispute between India and China “is for them to resolve bilaterally.”

 

China Says Situation At Border With India 'Stable And Controllable'

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-china-says-situation-at-border-with-india-stable-and-controllable/353919

China today said that the overall situation at the border with India was "stable and controllable", and both the countries have "unimpeded" communication channels to resolve the issues through dialogue and consultations. The comments by the Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian came in the backdrop of the continuing standoff between the militaries of India and China at LAC."China has been implementing the consensus between the two countries' leaders. We have been committed to upholding our national sovereignty, security as well as stability along the border," Zhao said.

 

Pak summons Indian diplomat over expulsion of 2 High Commission officials on espionage charges

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-summons-indian-diplomat-high-commission-officials-espionage-charges-6437075/

Pakistan on Monday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to register a strong protest over India’s decision to expel 2 officials of its High Commission in New Delhi on charges of espionage.India on Sunday declared two officials of the Pakistan High Commission as “persona non lgrata” on charges of espionage and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours, MEA said. 2 officials, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, were caught by Delhi Police while they were obtaining sensitive documents relating to India’s security installations from an Indian national in exchange for money, official sources said in New Delhi.Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said on Monday that Indian Charge d’Affaires was summoned for a “strong demarche”, conveying Pakistan’s condemnation of decision to declare two officials of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata and rejection of all “baseless” allegations against them. Pakistan also conveyed that the Indian action was in “clear violation” of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the diplomatic norms, the FO said.PTI

 

Sikh community in J&K demands six assembly seats, implementation of minority commission

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/sikh-community-in-j-k-demands-six-assembly-seats-implementation-of-minority-commission/story-L8Ne8urFCZKTvUV2nJRDYN.html

Jammu: Sikh organisations, including the state Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee and Jammu district Prabhandak Committee, on Sunday demanded 6 assembly seats and implementation of minority commission to ensure political reservation and benefits to the community in Jammu and Kashmir.National Conference leader TS Wazir said, “Since Delimitation Commission has set the process into motion, we demand that Sikh community must get political representation. The community migrated from Pakistan in 1947 and was settled in Nowshera, Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts but we have not been given any political representation.” “We have no political voice. We had a MLA in 1987 from Gandhi Nagar assembly constituency and since then there has been no representation. We request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delimitation Commission to do justice with us.” Wazir also demanded minority commission in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

3 infiltrators killed near LoC, says Army

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/three-infiltrators-killed-near-loc-says-army/article31720400.ece

Army on Monday claimed to have killed three infiltrators near LoC in Rajouri’s Naushera Sector.“In an ongoing counter-infiltration operation since May 28, alert troops of the Indian Army eliminated an infiltration bid along the LoC in Naushera Sector. Three heavily armed Pakistan trained terrorists have been killed,” Army officials said.thehindu

 

*WORLD*

George Floyd death: Over 4,000 arrested as riots ravage US cities, protests spread to Europe

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/george-floyd-death-us-protests-donald-trump-6437122/

Several cities across US have seen yet another night of unrest on Sunday as people defied curfew and gathered in large numbers to protest against death of George Floyd. Tension with the cops flared up for a third straight day, prompting President Donald Trump to take shelter in a White House bunker while protesters hurled stones and tugged at police barricades.The President also blamed far-left extremist group Antifa for its role in the spike in violence across the country.“The violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly,” Attorney General William P Barr said.As many as 1,700 soldiers were called in at Washington to contain the crowd after demonstrators collected road signs and plastic barriers to set up a raging fire on the street.A cinder block structure, near White House park, that had washroom and a maintenance office, was also set ablaze. In Salt Lake city, demonstrators flipped a police vehicle and set it on fire.In Minnesota, the epicentre of the agitation where the black man was killed, police resorted to pepper rods and flash bangs to disperse the crowd.All attempts to deploy National Guard soldiers and shut down mass transit systems by Minnesota authorities proved to be futile as the crowd broke into upscale stores and fled with merchandise while others set the American flag on fire.Curfew was imposed in major cities, around US, including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. National Guard soldiers and airmen were also kept on standby in Washington and 15 other states.In front of the Capitol, long lines of state patrolmen and National Guard soldiers were stationed along with a dozen military-style armoured vehicles behind them. 2 deaths were reported in Indianapolis, adding to the deaths registered in Detroit and Minneapolis in recent days.At least 4,100 people have been arrested over days of protests. The arrests ranged from looting and blocking highways to breaking curfew.Several protests were held from Miami to Kansas City to San Francisco. While most went forth without any violence, incidents of crime continued in some areas.The fury also spread to Europe, where thousands gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square with placards, while flouting all social distancing norms amid the virus pandemic.

Over 50 Secret Service agents injured in clashes outside White House: Rioters throw Molotov cocktails in DC while looters trash stores in NYC

 

Trump fled to bunker as protests over George Floyd raged outside White House

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/31/trump-flees-to-bunker-as-protests-over-george-floyd-rage-outside-white-house?fbclid=IwAR1vrY21tTKIrJk2CT2X8TubRLC6BmT6Ry1ds4gOdlzpdWTtMHQhHegv3gA

As protests sparked by the death of George Floyd raged outside the White House on Friday night, Donald Trump was taken into a special secure bunker. As protesters converged on White House on Friday, New York Times reports, “Secret Service agents abruptly rushed the president to the underground bunker used in the past during terrorist attacks.” Hardened to withstand the force of a passenger jet crashing into the White House, the bunker is the same one that sheltered vice president Dick Cheney during the terror attacks of Sept.11, 2001. “The president and his family were rattled by their experience on Friday night, according to several advisers,” Times report said.theguardian

 

US’s Anti-Racism Protests Fuel #MuslimLivesMatter Campaign in India

https://clarionindia.net/uss-anti-racism-protests-fuel-muslimlivesmatter-campaign-in-india/

Brutal killing of an African American George Floyd by a white police officer in US’s Minneapolis last Monday raked nationwide protests across US. The heat of the protest also reached India where people started a campaign #MuslimLivesMatter on social media. The social media users brought out all the incidents of police brutality against Muslims suggesting that India also needs a massive protest against the killing of Muslims by the police forces as also by the mob.It was pointed out that how the killing of a black man by the white police officer raked up the massive protests and the erring officer charged with the murder but the killing of Faizan in the police custody during Delhi violence neither evoked any reaction nor was the guilty officer punished. They also pointed to the double standards adopted by Indians including celebrities who are speaking out against racism in US but remain silent on the growing Islamophobia in India and the killing of Muslims by the police forces and the mob.On Twitter, people launched a campaign #MuslimLivesMatter.India-origin Swedish professor Ashok Swain said,“A 46yr-old Black man’s murder by police has brought nationwide protest in the USA, & even in Canada under the banner of #BLACK_LIVES_MATTER! India badly needs a similar type of mobilisation to oppose extra-judicial killing of Muslims in the country. Why not #Muslim_LIVES_MATTER”.clarionindia

 

George Floyd Murder Sign of Systemic Racism, Say Indian Americans

 https://clarionindia.net/george-floyd-murder-sign-of-systemic-racism-say-indian-americans/

Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC ), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, said it is shocked and outraged at the ruthless murder of George Floyd, an unarmed black man. In a statement, IAMC condemned police brutality and extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and to all the well wishers who are impacted by this loss.The treatment of minorities, especially blacks by police officers in USA, is a systemic problem that should not be tolerated or normalised, said IAMC.

 

Saudi cleric: ‘It is prohibited to protest in Islam’

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-saudi-cleric-it-is-prohibited-to-protest-in-islam/

A prominent Saudi cleric, Shaikh Assim Al-Hakeem, has come under fire on Twitter over his response to a question posed to him by a user regarding the permissibility of protesting in Islam, specifically in light of on-going demonstrations in US over the murder of an unarmed black suspect by Minneapolis police.Al-Hakeem came under criticism by many Muslim users, with many citing Quranic principles of standing up against injustice, even were it to be from one’s own family. Other’s highlighted widely known prophetic narrations, such as: “Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith”.

 

Saudi  in ‘secret’ talks with Israel over control of Al-Aqsa

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-saudi-arabia-in-secret-talks-with-israel-over-control-of-al-aqsa/

Israel and Saudi Arabia have reportedly engaged in secret meetings since last December, regarding including Saudi representatives in Islamic Waqf Council at the Al-Aqsa Compound in Jerusalem. Islamic Waqf Council is a Jordanian-appointed body, which oversees Muslim sites in Jerusalem and claims exclusive authority over Al-Aqsa Compound and says it is not subject to Israeli jurisdiction. The talks have reportedly taken place within the context of US President Donald Trump’s controversial Israel-Palestine plan, known colloquially as the “deal of the century”, the diplomats said.“These are sensitive and secret discussions conducted with ambiguity and low intensity with a small team of diplomats and senior security officials from Israel, US and Saudi Arabia as part of negotiations to progress the Deal of the Century,” said senior Saudi diplomats to Israel Hayom. Israeli paper further reports that the Jordanians reached out to Israel and US and said it had softened their position regarding Saudi representation to counter the increased Turkish influence.middleeastmonitor

 

Israel facing ‘greatest economic crisis in its history’

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-israel-facing-greatest-economic-crisis-in-its-history/

Israel is “facing one of the greatest economic crisis in its history” with 40 per-cent of its population struggling to pay for their basic needs, new study has found. The stark discovery was made by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, an organisation which describes itself as “build[ing] broad support for Israel” and a research institute, Geocartography.Close to one in ten Israelis (9.6 per cent) are struggling to put food on the table, and a tenth of Israelis surveyed are in danger of being evicted from their homes, or having their electricity and/or water turned off, said the Jerusalem Post in its report of the Fellowship’s findings.Property owners and those living in rented accommodation are also experiencing difficulty paying for their mortgage and rent while many more are having trouble paying bills such as electricity, water, gas and municipality taxes.

 

Israel policeman who killed disabled Palestinian released

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-israel-policeman-who-killed-disabled-palestinian-released/#disqus_thread

Israeli occupation authorities released a policeman who shot a disabled Palestinian man in Jerusalem a day earlier, placing him under house arrest, Israeli media revealed. On Saturday, Israeli police opened fire at disabled Palestinian Eyad Hallak, 32, near a special needs school in Jerusalem’s Old City, where he used to work. Israeli officers claimed he was a terrorist because he was wearing gloves, Haaretz reported, noting that an investigation has been opened into the case. Hallaq’s mother said that he was autistic and did not understand the orders of the Israeli policemen.Witnesses told Quds Press that he hid inside a garbage container placed in a cul de sac before police called up more reinforcements. Then, witnesses said, police fired six bullets at him and prevented ambulances from administering first aid. The officer’s commander was also released from detention.

 

China rejects Israel’s planned annexation of West Bank

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-china-rejects-israels-planned-annexation-of-west-bank/

People’s Republic of China has rejected Israel’s planned annexation of large swathes of the occupied Palestinian West Bank, Al Watan Voice reported.In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki to express his country’s rejection of the “illegal” Israeli plans.Yi stressed that his country rejects the Israeli plans and calls for creating a sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders on the basis of the two-state solution.

 

UAE: Israel should back off threat to annex occupied West Bank

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/uae-israel-threat-annex-occupied-west-bank-200601075906128.html

A senior UAE official said on Monday that any unilateral move by Israel to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would be a serious setback for the Middle East peace process. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said cabinet discussions would begin on July 1 on his plan to extend Israeli sovereignty to territory Palestinians want for their own state."Continued Israeli talk of annexing Palestinian lands must stop," Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a Twitter post."Any unilateral Israeli move will be a serious setback for the peace process, undermine Palestinian self determination & constitute a rejection of the international & Arab consensus towards stability & peace."

 

 

Calls for Red Cross to stop Israel’s torture of detained journalists

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-calls-for-red-cross-to-stop-israels-torture-of-detained-journalists/

Palestinian Journalist Support Committee (SJC) appealed to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and human rights groups to immediately intervene and stop Israel’s crimes and violations against detained journalists.The committee said:“Medical negligence is one of many violations practiced by the Israeli authorities against Palestinian prisoners”, especially those who suffer from chronic diseases including cancer and who need urgent medical care to save their lives.The committee condemned Israel’s violations of Palestinian prisoner rights’ in general and journalists in particular, which are guaranteed under international law.

 

Fatah: Palestinians will face Israel’s annexation plan with an Intifada

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-fatah-palestinians-will-face-israels-annexation-plan-with-an-intifada/

Senior Fatah member and former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabeel Shaath said that Palestinians would face Israel’s plans to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank with an Intifada, Al-Mujtama magazine reported.In an interview, Shaath said that all the Palestinian forces agree to face the annexation using all the available resistance means, including political and diplomatic options. Regarding Palestinian action on the international arena, Shaath said that there are continuous moves at all levels and the Palestinians depend on their Arab “brothers” to bring their united position to UNSC and UN Human Rights Commission.

 

Hamas calls for reactivating solidarity campaigns with Gaza

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-hamas-calls-for-reactivating-solidarity-campaigns-with-gaza/

Hamas has called on international activists to restart international solidarity campaigns in support of besieged Palestinians living in Gaza Strip, Quds Press reported. Hamas Spokesman Abdul-Latif Al-Qanou said: “On 10th anniversary of Mavi Marmara massacre, we call on activists to reactivate their solidarity with Palestinians who have been living under a strict Israeli siege for 14 years.”

 

Israel to demolish 200 Palestinian buildings in E. Jerusalem

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-israel-to-demolish-200-palestinian-buildings-in-east-jerusalem/

Israeli occupation authorities delivered an order to demolish 200 decades-old Palestinian-owned industrial structures located in occupied East Jerusalem, reported Wafa.As with many neighbourhoods in area surrounding Jerusalem, Wadi Al-Joz is experiencing severe challenges with the aggressive expansion of the Jewish presence in the area.The chairman of East Jerusalem’s Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kamal Obeidat, told Wafa that the order was made by recommendation of Israeli Planning and Zoning Committee and will demolish up to 200 structures including car repair shops, restaurants and other facilities.Obeidat called the move a “racist order” to destroy the only Palestinian industrial area that serves the city’s 300,000 residents in East Jerusalem in order to build Israeli structures.

 

UN warns of new Israel-Palestine conflict if annexation plans go ahead

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-un-warns-of-new-israel-palestine-conflict-if-annexation-plans-go-ahead/

UN has warned of a new political crisis and conflict between Israel and the Palestinians if Israel continues with its plan to annex parts of occupied West Bank.UN gave the warning in a newly published paper yesterday, in which it said that while cooperation between Israel and Palestine to battle the coronavirus pandemic is commendable and welcome, a new and revived conflict will be underway if current trends between the two continue.It stressed that if Israel proceeds with its annexation plans and PA withdraws from bilateral agreements, the work that has been achieved over the past 25 years will be undermined, security will collapse and both sides will witness further extremist politics.

 

Report: Mossad chief secretly visits Egypt to discuss annexation

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200601-report-mossad-chief-secretly-visits-egypt-to-discuss-annexation/

Israel’s Mossad chief met with the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service to discuss annexation of the West Bank, during a secret trip to Cairo a few weeks, New Arab reported.Israel’s Yossi Cohen met top ranking Egyptian officials to discuss the annexation of large areas of the occupied West Bank, as well as the situation in Gaza and Trump’s Middle East peace plan, among other issues.Mossad chief discussed the likely reaction from Palestinian groups, particularly Hamas, to the annexation of illegal Israeli settlements and the Jordan Valley. The pair also talked about the possibility of the situation “going out of control”, according to the report.

 

Dozens killed in separate Burkina Faso attacks

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/dozens-killed-separate-burkina-faso-attacks-200531194701637.html

At least 10 people were killed when an aid convoy was ambushed in Burkina Faso, the government said on Sunday, bringing to at least 50 the death toll from a string of attacks blamed on armed groups.The ambush occurred on Saturday near the northern town of Barsalogho, it said in a statement, adding that an attack on a livestock market in the village of Kompienga in the eastern part of the country earlier in the day had killed 25 people, according to a provisional toll.

 

'Saudi game of thrones': Pressure grows to release jailed prince

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/game-thrones-pressure-grows-release-jailed-prince-200601061056792.html

A $2m US lobbying effort and petitions from European legislators are piling pressure on Saudi Arabia to release a philanthropist prince jailed for two years without charges amid an intensifying royal crackdown.The detention of Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud and his father since January 2018 is seen as part of a clampdown under de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that has swept up potential political rivals, individuals accused of corruption and, at times, figures posing no visible challenge to his hold on power.In March, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, King Salman's brother, and the monarch's nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were detained. Nayef was ousted as Crown Prince two years ago.The clampdowns have also swept up family members of Saad Aljabri, former aide to bin Nayef, who fled to Canada. Prince Salman is seen by many as an unlikely target; the multilingual 37-year-old, who was educated at France's Sorbonne University, apparently espoused no political ambitions and earned the reputation of being a "walking blank check" for funding development projects in poor countries." This is not just an unlawful arrest," an associate of the prince told AFP. "This is daylight kidnapping. This is a forced disappearance."After being detained for approximately one year in the high-security Al-Ha'ir prison near Riyadh and later in a private villa with his father Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, prince was moved to a secret detention site in March, multiple sources told AFP.He was mysteriously returned to the villa last week to be reunited with his father, three of those sources said.

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

US report on religious freedom in India calls for reflection:Faizan Mustafa

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/uscirf-report-on-religious-freedom-in-india-anti-caa-protests-gujarat-northeast-delhi-riots-6436322/?fbclid=IwAR3IDY1wJnoKS_8brHq6fYjFsiq_vuLRcu-cIN3Ion1jHPAHDuC8gnZpDks

Is dissent a tool to strengthen democracy or crime in ‘New India’?Maskoor Usmani

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/is-dissent-a-tool-to-strengthen-democracy-or-crime-in-new-india

Delhi Riots: Kejriwal Aiding Long Arm Of Law To Shorten Justice?Shastri Ramachandaran

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/opinion-opinion-delhi-riots-arvind-kejriwal-aiding-long-arm-of-law-to-shorten-justice/353911

Gujarat Police on Arrest Spree:Samiullah Khan,  Urdu Media Monitor

https://www.urdumediamonitor.com/2020/05/31/gujarat-police-on-arrest-spree/?fbclid=IwAR2TsCX1FVE-wStFp473PAdyZkvZdOEkYOmhaaPP96P0_ody6QickSR1eSc

Why Indians Don’t Come Out on Streets Against Regular Police Brutality;Sidharth Bhatia

https://thewire.in/rights/george-floyd-protests-india-police-brutality

Scientist heading government study group: ‘We weren’t consulted for extending or modifying lockdown’:Arunabh Saikia

https://scroll.in/article/963439/head-of-government-research-group-we-werent-consulted-for-extending-or-modifying-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR2LbrDuMs-kQ6x3IXJrah6PxT5cXWeJn-z54lUrd2mgx_OBjhshav3d2oA

Opinion: Dissent is contagious – and arrests of Delhi activists will not stop the quest for justice:Anirban Bhattacharya

https://scroll.in/article/963360/opinion-dissent-is-contagious-and-arrests-of-delhi-activists-will-not-stop-the-quest-for-justice?fbclid=IwAR1KVVY0hsQxLUp1v0eKIfuvLWuwkAE0DTg5n0wdefy4-X05wuI3KO1h2wc

Here is why PM CARES should be scrutinised by CAG – not by independent auditors:Rohan Deshpande

https://scroll.in/article/963376/here-is-why-pm-cares-should-be-scrutinised-by-the-cag-not-by-independent-auditors?fbclid=IwAR00HNHByCh3zvrGEYPRfqyYWFVXNJMWxa-ZryN37fZbLC3v2OI5hSzgw84

Alliance or Autonomy? Weighing India's Options as China Looks for Asia Hegemony in Face of 'New Great Game' With US:Lt Gen (Retd) DS Hooda

https://www.news18.com/news/opinion/alliance-or-autonomy-indias-options-as-china-looks-for-asia-hegemony-in-face-of-new-great-game-with-us-2647621.html

 

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 10:30 PM)