*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Ministry of Home Affairs misses deadline for formulating CAA rules

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/ministry-of-home-affairs-misses-deadline-for-formulating-citizenship-amendment-act-rules-863963.html

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has missed the six month deadline to frame rules for the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, delaying its implementation and prompting accusations from the Opposition.With the MHA not notifying the rules, the Act cannot be implemented. According to the Manual of Parliamentary Procedure, rules have to be framed within six months from the date on which the statute came into force."In case the Ministries/Departments are not able to frame the rules within the prescribed period of 6 months, they should seek extension of time from the Committee on Subordinate Legislation stating reasons for such extension; such extension being not more than for a period of three months at a time. The request should be made after obtaining the approval of the Minister," the manual said.Parliamentary Standing Committee on Subordinate Legislation will soon be writing to the MHA, which has not yet approached the panel for extension of time, asking for a status report on the issue. Former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha tweeted, "did you know that CAA rules have not been framed and notified despite a lapse of 7 months. The act cannot be implemented in the absence of rules? Do you realise how the whole thing was just meant to fool the people and win elections?" A senior Trinamool Congress leader said, What reasons will the Home Minister cite for delay in framing of CAA rules? Why is he deliberately delaying the rules after passing the legislation in such a big hurry? Was the legislation done only to create a stir and whip up communal disharmony?Has Modi-Shah’s political gamble badly backfired? Was it too hot to handle? Especially in Bengal? This is an admittance of that."According to the report of the Joint Committee of Parliament that vetted a previous version of the Bill, there were 31,313 people belonging to minority communities from these countries will be "immediate beneficiaries", as they had been given Long Term Visas on the basis of their claim of religious persecution in their respective countries and want Indian citizenship. Among 31,313, IB told the panel, 25,447 are Hindus, 5,807 are Sikhs, 55 Christians and two each Buddhists and Parsis. For citizenship, IB said, they will have to prove that they came to India due to religious persecution. "If they had not declared so at the time of arrival in India, it would be difficult for them to make such a claim now. Any future claim will be enquired into, including through RAW before a decision is taken," the IB had told the panel.Deccan Herald

6 months later, MHA yet to frame rules on CAA

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CAA case: JNU students Sharjeel Imam tests positive for coronavirus, Delhi Police delays his transfer from Assam

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jamia-violence-accused-sharjeel-imam-coronavirus-delhi-police-assam-1702909-2020-07-21

Sharjeel Imam, who is currently lodged in Guwahati Central Jail in Assam, has tested positive for novel coronavirus.On July 17, a team of Delhi Police Special Cell had reached Assam to take Sharjeel Imam's custody and bring him back to the national capital.But before his transfer, Sharjeel Imam and the Delhi Police team were screened for Covid-19. While the police team tested negative, the student activist's sample came back positive.Delhi Police has now decided to delay Sharjeel Imam's transfer till he is cured of the disease and his report is negative. Sharjeel is a PhD student at JNU Centre for Historical Studies and has been accused of making inflammatory speeches which led to violence outside Jamia Milia Islamia in Dec. This investigation is related to the funding of riots and larger conspiracy. He will be brought on a production warrant to Delhi and then will be arrested by the cell. All the individuals were tested for the coronavirus before Imam was taken back to Delhi. While police team tested negative, Imam’s sample came back positive. Delhi Police have decided to delay Imam’s transfer until he recovers. Imam was arrested on January 28 from Bihar’s Jehanabad district in connection with the anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia in December last year. Several prisoners have tested positive for Covid-19 in jails across the country as authorities struggle to contain the spread of coronavirus. Assam activist Akhil Gogoi had on July 11 tested positive for the virus at the Guwahati prison, while poet-activist Varavara Rao, an accused in Elgar Parishad case, tested positive last week in Mumbai.

 

Varavara Rao Taking Undue Advantage Of COVID-19, Old Age: NIA

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/varavara-rao-taking-undue-advantage-of-covid-19-and-old-age-nia

NIA, which took over the probe in Bhima Koregaon violence from Pune police in January, has reiterated that Varavara Rao, octogenarian Telugu poet who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, is trying to take undue benefit under the garb of the disease and his old age in seeking bail on medical grounds. Vikram Khalate, SP, Head Office Branch, NIA, Mumbai filed a 170-page affidavit-in-reply in Rao's petition challenging rejection of bail by trial court, before the high court.

 

‘Release Kafeel’ campaign takes Twitter by storm

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/release-kafeel-campaign-takes-twitter-by-storm/article32142900.ece

Ghaziabad:Ahead of the hearing of Kafeel Khan’s case in Allahabad High Court on Wednesday, a campaign to release the Gorakhpur doctor took the Twitter by storm on Sunday evening. With over a lakh tweets in four hours, ReleaseOurDrKafeel was the top trending hashtag.The campaign demanding the release of the suspended paediatrician of Gorakhpur’s BRD Hospital was announced by the All India Students’ Association against the “witch-hunting of activists.”Dr. Khan is lodged in Mathura jail after he was slapped with the National Security Act by U.P. government for delivering a “provocative” speech during the Anti-CAA-NRC protests at AMU.

 

UP cops land in Bihar to nab AMU student who threatened girl over veil on social media

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/up-cops-land-in-bihar-to-nab-amu-student-who-threatened-girl-over-veil-on-social-media/articleshow/77072841.cms

Agra: After filing a case against him, a police team from Aligarh has reached Bihar to arrest a BArch student of AMU who is accused of threatening a fellow engineering girl student on the social media that she would be forced to wear a “brass hijab”. “A case was registered against the suspect on the basis of a complaint given by the girl. A police team went to his house in Bihar, but it was locked,” said Anil Samaniya, CO of Civil Lines in Aligarh.The varsity has also constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter. A show-cause notice has also been issued to the student seeking his reply.

 

Delhi HC adjourns hearing on Jamia violence to Aug 4

https://zeenews.india.com/india/delhi-high-court-adjourns-hearing-on-jamia-violence-to-august-4-2297295.html

 Delhi High Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing in Jamia violence which took place during an anti-CAA in the national capital in Dec. The court will hold its next hearing on the matter on August 4.  On July 18, a Delhi court had granted bail to local leader Ashu Khan, arrested in two cases for allegedly rioting and instigating a mob during anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia.

 

5 months since NE Delhi riots, 700 compensation applications pending

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/five-months-since-ne-delhi-riots-700-compensation-applications-pending-6515560/

New Delhi:Among the many lives upended in Delhi in February were that of an expecting mother, days into her pregnancy, and a father barely making ends meet with a little help from his son.In the riots, Gulzeb Parveen (21) lost her husband Mohsin Ali (23), while Ikramuddin lost his younger son Aakib, who had just turned 19. While public attention has shifted from riots to the pandemic, hundreds of families, including that of Mohsin and Aakib, are struggling to pick up the pieces, with compensation announced by the Delhi government eluding them. Senior officials, quoting official records, said that till June-end, of around 3,200 claims for compensation, 1,700 were approved, around 700 remain pending, while over 900 were rejected. “So far, a little over Rs 20 crore has been disbursed as relief across categories,” said an official. The perusal of records shows that under the category of deaths, in 7 cases, compensation amounts of Rs 9 lakh each have not been released owing to absence of bank account details in one case, pending DNA reports in 3 cases, absence of FIR in one case and claimants not appearing in two cases.

 

'There is an attempt to set up a concocted narrative by police': Watch Lawyer Representing Delhi Riots

https://thewire.in/communalism/watch-why-a-lawyer-representing-delhi-riots-victims-has-questioned-police-probe

Abdul Ghaffar, a 40-year-old lawyer, is fighting about 50 cases related to the Delhi violence in February on his own. He is not charging any fees for nearly half of these. Ghaffar spoke to The Wire about his own experience in the Muzaffarnagar riots 7 years ago. Raising questions over the investigations and arrests in Delhi riots, he says there is an attempt to set up a concocted narrative by the police.

 

Riot-hit Northeast Delhi's Muslim Girl Student Shines In CBSE Exams

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/-riot-hit-northeast-delhis-muslim-girl-student-shines-in-cbse-exams

New Delhi: Vision-2026, a project of NGO Human Welfare Foundation (HWF) has announced to bear all the future educational expenses of Muslim girl, who was a victim of Delhi riots but scored excellent marks in her Std XII examinations. A labourer’s daughter, Nargis Nasim(17), who studied in Std XII  in a govt school in Northeast Delhi scored 62 per cent marks in 2 subjects of CBSE examination bringing smiles on the faces of her family members and relatives.  HWF's CEO Mohammed Naufal said that the house of the girl that was completely gutted during the riots was reapired by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind at a cost of about Rs. 1.84 lakhs. "Our NGO will now financie educational cost of girl", said Naufal.

 

Bengal CM Mamata rakes up NRC, NPR at martyrs' day rally

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/centre-plotting-to-pull-down-opposition-governments-using-state-agencies-mamata-banerjee/article32149417.ece

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday raked up the issue of  NRC and NPR at the annual martyrs' day rally of her party, Trinamool Congress. The party could not hold a rally due to the spread of COVID-19 but Ms. Banerjee addressed party supporters from a stage near her residence in Kaliaghat and it was telecast on television channels and social media platforms of the party.“We have not forgotten the fight against NRC and NPR. Don’t think that in times of COVID-19, we will forget about them”, she said.

 

 

Plea on hate speech, fake news: FB points to steps taken, Google says allegations baseless

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/plea-on-hate-speech-fake-news-fb-points-to-steps-taken-google-says-allegations-baseless-6515659/

 New Delhi :Denying that it has shared user data with American intelligence agencies, Facebook, Inc. has submitted before Delhi High Court that it implemented comprehensive standards and undertook many initiatives to curb “hate speech and fake news” and other types of “harmful” content on its platform. US-based technology firm Google LLC termed as “false and baseless” the allegation that the company has unlawfully accessed personal data of Indian citizens. Submissions were made before a bench of Justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw and Asha Menon, who heard a PIL by ex-RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya, seeking removal of fake news and hate speech from online platforms.The HC had earlier issued notice to Home Affairs, Finance, and Information Technology ministries, besides Facebook, Google and Twitter India. Centre and Twitter India are yet to respond. The court will hear the matter next on Sept.16.

 

 PM Modi likely to attend Ram temple ground-breaking event at Ayodhya

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-likely-to-attend-ram-temple-ground-breaking-event-at-ayodhya/article32152447.ece?homepage=true

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will, in all likelihood, attend the “bhoomi poojan” or ground-breaking ceremony of the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya in early August. Sources in the government say Modi will attend, but that official confirmation was not forthcoming due to security considerations. Ramjanmabhoomi Teerth Trust, set up by the government to oversee the temple construction after the Supreme Court mandated the same last year, has issued an invitation to Modi and several other senior leaders of Ramjanmbhoomi movement, including L.K. Advani and Rajnath Singh. The dates proposed include August 3 and 5, with the later date being more likely. A silver brick will be set into the ground by him as a symbolic gesture of ground-breaking and the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to announce some projects related to the Ayodhya temple complex at the event. thehindu

 

‘Demolished a functioning temple to rebuild it’: Swamy defends Advani in ‘silly’ Babri Masjid demolition case

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/demolished-a-functioning-temple-to-rebuild-it-swamy-defends-advani-in-silly-babri-masjid-demolition-case/624615

New Delhi: A special court of CBI has summoned 92-year-old Advani to record his statement on July 24 in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case.Defending the act of almost 3 decades ago, which sparked a horrifying series of massacre across the country, Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to close down the case before taking the two veteran leaders to Ayodhya. “Before taking Advani, Joshi, etc, to Ayodhya, PM must order the closing of the silly case of demolition of Babri Masjid,” Swamy said on Twitter. Furthermore, Swamy claimed that if at all Advani and Joshi were complicit in the act, they were helping “rebuild” a functioning temple on the site.Times Now

 

Uddhav Thackeray will definitely go for Ram temple ‘bhoomi pujan’: Sanjay Raut

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/uddhav-thackeray-ram-temple-bhoomi-pujan-sanjay-raut-6516416/

Mumbai :Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will definitely go for the ground-breaking ceremony of Ram temple construction in Ayodhya, party MP Sanjay Raut said on Tuesday.Asked whether Thackeray has received an invitation for the ceremony, Raut said, It will come.”PM Modi is likely to visit Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on August 5 for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony to begin the construction of Ram temple. Chief Minister Thackeray will definitely go for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony, because the Shiv Sena shares sentimental, religious and national ties with this issue,” Raut told a TV channel.PTI

 

Dalit youth’s suicide: 23-year-old’s kin, Khaira demand probe, link death to NIA quizzing

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dalit-youth-suicide-kin-demand-probe-link-death-to-nia-quizzing-6515902/

The suicide of a Dalit youth, who was recently summoned by NIA for questioning in a sedition case, has sparked a controversy with the family linking his death to questioning by the probe agency. Lovepreet Singh (23) was summoned by NIA on July 13 in relation to an investigation into a 21-month-old UAPA case initially registered by the Amritsar Police for writing pro-Khalistan slogans on walls. He died by suicide on the same evening inside a room at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. His father, Kewal Singh, who works as a farm labourer, said: “He was summoned by the NIA on July 13. He took a bus from Village Sahejra in Barnala to Chandigarh. He also sent some videos of his journey to his wife. He was in touch over phone with me and his wife till reaching the NIA office. However, he didn’t call back after reaching the NIA office.

 

Govt turned blind eye to management’s ethnic cleansing: Air India trade unions

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/govt-turned-blind-eye-to-managements-ethnic-cleansing-ai-trade-unions

Air India trade unions have complained to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri that the government has now turned a blind eye to management's ethnic cleansing at lower levels through compulsory leave without pay (LWP), redundancies and wage cuts.In a letter to Puri, the Joint Action Forum of Air India unions said, "We are deeply ashamed to say that it seems that after praising our Air Indian Corona Warriors at grand functions, respectfully, the government has now turned a blind eye to this management's ethnic cleansing of Air Indians at the lower levels, through compulsory LWP, redundancies and wage cuts.""This said Compulsory LWP scheme violates every labour law put in place by Parliament and orders of the Supreme Court and various other courts and seeks to dispossess the lower categories workers of their legally guaranteed rights," it added.The trade unions have pointed out that the redundancies are at the elite management cadre level and not the workers.IANS

 

India’s GDP to contract 6.1% in FY21: Nomura

https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/indias-gdp-to-contract-61-in-fy21-nomura/article32149819.ece?homepage=true

Economic activity continues to remain weak and will lead to a 6.1% contraction in India’s GDP in the current fiscal, a foreign brokerage said on Tuesday. RBI is likely to pause at the upcoming policy review in August and cut rates by 25 basis points each in October and December reviews, Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a report. All the analysts expect a contraction in GDP due to COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted both supply and demand forces in the economy since March. Official data also suggests a surge in inflation, which will further drag down the GDP in real terms.Nomura said the June quarter will be the ‘nadir’ from a growth perspective and the economy will contract by 15.2% and GDP will never come into the positive territory in the remaining part of this fiscal.PTI

 

Jats, Punjabis ‘less brainy’, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb stirs another row with his claims

https://theprint.in/india/jats-punjabis-less-brainy-tripura-cm-biplab-kumar-deb-stirs-another-row-with-his-claims/465083/?amp&__twitter_impression=true

New Delhi: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala shared a video of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb allegedly terming Sardars and Haryanvi Jats as “less brainy”. In 48-second clip, CM Deb can be heard saying, “When we talk about the Punjabis, we say the Sardars are not afraid of anyone. They have a lot of strength but they are less brainy.” He goes on to explain that the Jats of Haryana are physically well-built but have “limited brains”.“Bengalis too have an identity – they are intelligent. It is widely said that none can beat the wit of the Bengalis …. it is their identity in India every community is known with a certain type and character,” Deb adds.

 

Disability rights group seeks NHRC intervention to shift Prof GN Saibaba from Nagpur jail to medical facility

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/disability-rights-group-seeks-nhrc-intervention-to-shift-prof-gn-saibaba-from-nagpur-jail-to-medical-facility

Disability rights NGO NPRD has sought NHRC's intervention to shift GN Saibaba, a wheelchair user lodged in Nagpur central jail, to a medical facility for treatment. Ex-Delhi University professor Saibaba, who is serving life sentence in a prison for alleged Maoist links, has filed a bail application before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, citing his weak health and the outbreak of coronavirus.In a petition to NHRC chief H L Dattu, National Platform for Rights of Disabled (NPRD) general secretary Muraleedharan said Saibaba has been facing tremendous difficulties in Nagpur jail. PTI

 

Chhattisgarh: Baghel govt kicks off scheme to buy cow dung

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chhattisgarh-baghel-govt-kicks-off-scheme-to-buy-cow-dung-6515530/

Chhattisgarh government’s Godhan Nyay Yojana, under which cow dung will be procured from cattle rearers for production of organic fertiliser, was launched on Monday. Amid rising Covid-19 cases, cabinet ministers and district representatives inaugurated the scheme at various Godhan collection centres in the state. Total collection of cow dung on the first day was 1,994 quintals. According to the scheme, the govt will buy cow dung from registered animal husbandmen at Rs 2 per kg and, after processing it into vermicompost, sell it back to farmers for Rs 8 per kg. According to a government official, this will provide additional income to farmers and ensure that cattle are taken care of, leading to fewer strays.

 

Rahul Bajaj steps down as Chairman of Bajaj Finance

https://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/rahul-bajaj-steps-down-as-chairman-of-bajaj-finance-6516389/

Noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj will step down as Non-Executive Chairman of Bajaj Finance on July 31, after being at the helm of the company for over three decades. He will be succeeded by Sanjiv Bajaj, currently Vice Chairman, the Bajaj Finance said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.PTI

 

Ex Jamaat Islami Telangana president Khaja Arifuddin passes away in Hyderabad

https://www.siasat.com/ex-state-president-jih-khaja-arifuddin-passes-away-in-hyderabad-1926786/

Hyderabad: Fomer State President Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Telangana Khaja Arifuddin passed away in Hyderabad on Monday evening. This was informed by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Telangana office.  He was also the National Secretary for Social Service at HQRS in the previous term of Jamaat. Hailing from the town of Warangal, Telangana, he played an active role in the establishment of Jamaat-e-Islami’s student organization SIO and also led it at the state and central level. President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Sadatullah Hussaini, Secretary-General Janab T. Arif Ali and other office bearers of Jamaat offered their condolences and prayers of forgiveness for him.

 

Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon dies at 85

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-governor-lalji-tandon-dies-6515792/

Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon passed away in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 85. His son, Ashutosh Tandon, announced his death on Twitter. Tandon had been hospitalised in Lucknow in June with breathing problems, difficulty in urination and fever. He was put on ventilator support on June 11. Medanta Hospital, where he was admitted, said at the time his condition was “serious”. MP govt has declared a 5-day mourning period from July 21 to July 25. indian express

 

Over 1.60 lakh health-care facilities in India operating without permission: CPCB to NGT

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/over-160-lakh-health-care-facilities-in-india-operating-without-permission-cpcb-to-ngt/article32150047.ece?homepage=true

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) told National Green Tribunal on Tuesday that over 1.60 lakh health-care facilities (HCF) across the country have not obtained requisite permission under Bio-medical Waste Management (BMWM) Rules and are running without authorisation.The apex pollution monitoring body told the green panel that as per the annual report submitted by State Pollution Control Boards, out of 2,70,416 health-care facilities, only 1,11,122 units have applied for authorisation and 1,10,356 HCFs have obtained authorisation under BMWM Rules, 2016. PTI

 

 Assam: Mosquitoes kill 23 amid flood, COVID-19 crisis

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/assam-mosquitoes-kill-23-amid-flood-covid-19-crisis/article32152448.ece

About 21.5% fewer people have died of vector-borne diseases caused by mosquito bites during the current season in Assam compared to 2019.Officials said there are multiple reasons, including under-reporting of cases for the “seemingly encouraging” figure compared to other concurrent killers — floods and landslides that have claimed 113 human lives, and COVID-19 that accounted for 58 deaths till Tuesday morning.Japanese encephalitis (JE) and malaria kill scores in Assam every year, specifically during the “flood season” that usually starts in May and can stretch to October.The State has reported a total of 23 deaths due to vector-borne diseases till July 20 this year. JE claimed 21 lives while two people died of malaria.

 

 Over 3 lakh Bihar people hit by flood amid pandemic

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/over-3-lakh-bihar-people-hit-by-flood-amid-pandemic/article32152463.ece

Over 3 lakh people in 8 districts of north Bihar have been affected by flood as heavy rainfall continued in catchment areas of neighbouring Nepal. The State government on Tuesday put the district authorities on high alert and requested people to shift to higher and safer places as the water level in flooded rivers could rise in the next 24 hours.Flood water has gushed into many low-lying areas of East Champaran, Gopalganj, Supaul, Darbhanga, Kishanganj, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Sheohar districts, affecting over three lakh population in 37 blocks of 156 panchayats. Flood threat has also been issued in Madhubani, Siwan, Madhepura, Katihar and other districts, as rivers like the Gandak, Bagmati, Burhi Gandak, Kamla Balan, Kosi, Lalbakeya and the Mahananda are flowing above the danger level.

 

*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

 

 

Eid al-Adha: ‘Allow sale of goats, namaaz in mosques’ – Darul Uloom Deoband urges Yogi govt

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/eid-al-adha-2020-allow-sale-of-goats-namaaz-in-mosques-deoband-urges-yogi-govt/624721

Deoband: Days ahead of Eid al-Adha, Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has written a letter to the Yogi Adityanath government making five demands. Darul Uloom spokesman Mufti Ashraf Usmani, in the letter, demanded that namaaz should be permitted in mosques with proper social distancing on Bakrid. The imposition of 'five persons in a mosque' rule should be lifted, said Usmani.He also called for arrangements for the slaughter of animals and lifting of the ban on the sale of goats. Markets and shopping malls should also remain open for the festival, said the Darul Uloom spokesman.As the festival will fall on either July 31 (Friday) or August 1 (Saturday), the Mufti said the government should shift the weekly lockdown to Tuesday and Wednesday. DM Avinash Krishan, meanwhile, noted that as per the Uttar Pradesh government's guidelines, a gathering of more than five persons in mosques and all other religious places is prohibited. Times Now /PTI

Darul Uloom Deoband Seeks Lifting of Curbs on Bakrid

https://clarionindia.net/darul-uloom-deoband-seeks-lifting-of-curbs-on-bakrid/

 

UP: Open mosques, Idgahs on Eid al-Adha, demands Samajwadi Party's MP Barq

https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/sambhal-samajwadi-party-mp-shafiq-ur-rahman-barq-demands-markets-mosques-to-be-opened-during-eid/68026

Samajwadi Party MP from Sambal district of UP, Shafiq-ur-Rahman Barq has demanded to lift restrictions for Eid festival. He stated that markets for the sale of animals must be opened and Muslims must be allowed to offer prayers in Mosques. He also said that Coronavirus can go only is Muslims continue to pray. Barq says that markets should be opened before Bakra-Eid so that the people can buy animals from there and sacrifice them. He also demands that mosques should be opened and people should be allowed to offer prayers twice during Eid. He also states that Muslims will offer prayers and apologize in the mosque and that can be the end to Coronavirus pandemic.

 

Eid al-Adha in India, Bangladesh on August 1; Pakistan to decide soon

https://www.ummid.com/news/2020/july/21.07.2020/eid-al-adha-2020-bakra-id-india-pakistan-bangladesh-moon-chand-live-news-update.html

 Religious authorities in India and Bangladesh said they had not received confirmed report of moon sighting from any part of the two countries today i.e. Tuesday July 21, 2020 corresponding to 29th of Dhulka'edah 1441 AH.Hence, Eid al Adha will be celebrated in 2 countries on Saturday August 01.While the official announcement in India is made by Imarat-e-Sharaiyah New Delhi, the formal declaration regarding Eid al Adha date is made by Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Bangladesh, Nurul Islam, after the meeting of National Moon Sighting Committee at Baitul Mukarram.Meanwhile, moon committee meeting in Pakistan is still underway, and a final announcement is expected any moment.

 

 

AIMIM MP slams Maharashtra govt's Bakr Eid guidelines amid pandemic

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/aimim-mp-slams-maharashtra-govts-bakr-eid-guidelines-amid-pandemic/624971

Aurangabad: AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel on Tuesday slammed the Maharashtra government's guidelines for the upcoming Bakr Eid festival and demanded that temporary markets be set up for the occasion.Jaleel further said the state govt must explain what it means by "symbolic" sacrifice on Bakr Eid. As per the guidelines, people have been asked to offer namaz at home instead of mosques and also purchase sacrificial animals online or over the phone."The state government should explain to us what it means by 'symbolic' sacrifice. The state government cannot dictate our festivals now.PTI

 

Muslims advised to buy share in cattle outside Maharashtra if qurbani difficult here

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/muslims-advised-to-buy-share-in-cattle-outside-maharashtra-if-qurbani-difficult-here/articleshow/77057629.cms

MUMBAI: In view of the new guidelines that make it difficult to perform animal sacrifice on Eid-ul-Adha, or Bakri Eid, during Covid-19, several Muslims in the state will not sacrifice goats or sheep. They will instead take a share in cattle, preferably outside the state. The festival falls on August 1. Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi of All India Ulema Council maintained that donating money to needy cannot be an alternative to qurbani. He said if sacrificing cattle is difficult, people should try to arrange qurbani at a place where restrictions are not so strict.

 

Butchers set to be tested for Covid-19 ahead of Eid in Hyderabad

https://theprint.in/india/butchers-set-to-be-tested-for-covid-19-ahead-of-eid-in-hyderabad/465129/

New Delhi: Butchers in Hyderabad will have to undergo the Covid-19 test prior to Bakri Eid, which will be marked towards the end of this month. The move comes amid plans to have a larger awareness drive among the most vulnerable sections of society in Telangana. Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi told ThePrint the process will most likely start Tuesday. The expenses will be borne by the government. Bakri Eid, also called Eid-ul-Adha, will be marked either on 31 July or 1 August this year. Sources also told ThePrint that the public could be asked to let only those butchers who show a Covid-19 negative certificate slaughter their animals. Officials in the Great Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said they are currently considering this move, but a final decision is yet to be taken.

 

Ahmedabad: Goat markets to stay shut on Bakr Eid

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/ahmedabad-goat-markets-to-stay-shut-on-bakr-eid/articleshow/77078646.cms

AHMEDABAD: Owing to the Covid concern, the city’s two major goat markets will remain closed on Bakr Eid or Eid-ul-Adha, which falls on July 31. One market is located in Ranip and the other lies in Danilimda. Ahmedabad police commissioner Ashish Bhatia said other goat markets have also promised to remain shut. “However, animals legally allowed for sacrifice can be acquired from individual sellers,” Bhatia said. “The ritual cannot be performed publicly.”Bhatia said police have already held ‘Shanti Samiti’ (peace committee) meetings with Muslim organizations to stress the need to close the goat markets in the pandemic. He said public announcements will also be made to sensitize people.

 

Karnataka lockdown ends today, CM Yediyurappa bats for revival of economy

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/lockdown-ends-today-cm-bats-for-revival-of-economy/article32150386.ece?homepage=true

After several rounds of meetings with officials and consultations with experts during the last few days, Karnataka govt on Tuesday decided against extending the existing lockdown in the State, including Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts, for revival of the economy. This means that the week-long lockdown imposed on July 15 will end on Tuesday and all business activities will become operational from Wednesday. CM B.S. Yediyurappa made it clear that the lockdown was not a solution for containing COVID19. He stressed that the people have to wear masks and maintain social distance while walking on roads and in parks to control the spread of the pandemic. The police would take strict action against those who are found walking without wearing masks, he warned.

 

Godhra mosque turns COVID care centre, provides free treatment

https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/07/20/godhra-mosque-turns-covid-19-care-centre-provides-free-treatment.html

With 48,355 cases of COVID-19, of which 11312 are active,Gujarat is witnessing a shortage of life-saving drugs as well as a shortage of beds for patients. At this crucial juncture, a mosque in Godhra has turned into a COVID-19 care centre, providing free treatment to COVID-19 positive patients.  A week ago, the second-largest mosque of this central Gujarat city opened its doors to patients of all religions. The ground floor of the Aadam mosque, which was earlier used to accomodate female Haj pilgrims, has been converted into a designated COVID-19 care centre.  The mosque has been given permission to host 32 beds.

 

Amarnath Yatra cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic, 'virtual darshan' to continue for devotees

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amarnath-yatra-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic-1702967-2020-07-21

Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to cancel the annual Amarnath Yatra this year owing to safety concerns of pilgrims in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. This decision was taken during the 39th meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board that was chaired by J&K Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Tuesday. The meeting was held virtually andwas called to discuss the current Covid-19 situation and its likely impact on the Amarnath Yatra.

 

Over 23% affected by Covid-19 in Delhi, several asymptomatic: Govt study

https://scroll.in/latest/968146/coronavirus-23-48-of-delhis-residents-may-have-been-infected-show-sero-survey-results

A serological survey done in Delhi has revealed 23.48% of the participants developed Immunoglobulin G antibodies that indicate they may have been infected by the coronavirus, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. The study also noted that a large number of those infected were asymptomatic. According to US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, serology tests are “those that look for antibodies in blood”. “If antibodies are found, that means there has been a previous infection.” However, the CDC adds that:“A positive test result shows you may have antibodies from an infection with virus that causes COVID-19. However, there is a chance a positive result means that you have antibodies from an infection with a virus from the same family of viruses (called coronaviruses), such as the one that causes the common cold.”The results of the Delhi survey imply that the total number of cases in the Capital should be around 47 lakh in relation to the city’s population of 2 crore, according to The Print. The Union health ministry’s Tuesday morning update puts Delhi’s coronavirus tally at 1,23,747, including 15,166 active cases, 1,04,918 recoveries and 3,663 deaths.

 

Delhi: On duty since March, contractual doc Javed Ali  dies of Covid, family in lurch

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-on-duty-since-march-contractual-doc-dies-of-covid-family-in-lurch-6515508/?fbclid=IwAR1B3hzn2QP_J0cR7eo1ZK0jpBK-RDsXahiAT8PRYZZU9lQ8fEY9-M1896g

A quarantine centre in South Delhi’s Chattarpur, Radha Soami Covid care centre, and sero surveillance centre in Pushp Vihar — since March, Dr Javed Ali (42) had done duties at these 3 places before contracting coronavirus in June. After a 3-week-long battle with virus, Dr Ali, who was a contractual doctor with Delhi govt’s National Health Mission (NHM), died at 8.40 am on Monday at AIIMS Trauma Centre.He is survived by his wife Dr Heena, and their two children, aged 6 and 12. Dr Heena said, “He was a dedicated doctor who did not take a single day off since March and was on Covid-19 duty throughout. He even worked on Eid.”For the last 10 days, Dr Ali was on ventilator support. “My children and I didn’t even get to see him one last time. There is no provision for the families to say goodbye. My 6-year-old son doesn’t understand death, and keeps saying ‘main Allah se dua karunga Papa ko ghar vaapis bhej de,”said Dr Heena, over the phone. She said Dr Ali had no comorbidities. His wife said no financial help was extended by the government when Dr Ali was at the private hospital as he was a contractual doctor with NHM. indian express

 

Serum Institute of India to apply for Oxford vaccine trials in India in a week

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/health/serum-institute-of-india-to-apply-for-oxford-vaccine-trials-in-india-in-a-week

Serum Institute of India (SII) will soon apply to Indian regulator for the licensure trials of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID vaccine.Commenting on AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine's results, Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India, said, "The trials have shown promising results and we are extremely happy about it. We will be applying for the licensure trials to the Indian regulator in a week's time. As soon as they grant us permission, we will begin with trials for the vaccine in India. In addition, we will soon start manufacturing vaccine in large volumes."IANS

 

India's 2 Covid-19 vaccines are in phase 1 and 2 of trials: NITI Aayog

https://liveupdates.hindustantimes.com/india/coronavirus-india-world-latest-news-covid-19-death-toll-july-21-2020-21595291294009.html

Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog said, "India's two Covid-19 vaccines are in phase 1 and 2 of trials. Discussions have already begun how will the vaccines be made available to all those who need it".

 

Chinese COVID vaccine produces immune response in phase 2 trial

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/chinese-covid-vaccine-produces-immune-response-in-phase-2-trial

A phase 2 trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate conducted in China has found that the vaccine is safe and induces an immune response, according to a new study published in the journal The Lancet.This comes barely 24 hours after on Monday The Lancet only published that a COVID-19 vaccine developed by scientists at Oxford University produces strong immune responses. The results from Chinese trial provide data from a wider group of participants than the phase 1 trial, which was published in May. Phase 1 trial involved 108 healthy adults and it demonstrated promising results.IANS

 

Poor Countries Could Be Priced Out Of Oxford University's Covid-19 Vaccine?

 https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/oxford-university-covid-19-vaccine-poor-countries_in_5f165266c5b615860bb6652d

A pharma giant could price poorer countries out of a British coronavirus vaccine in future due to a loophole in non-profit agreement it signed with Oxford University, campaigners have warned – among them one of the first participants in the trial itself. Volunteer Luigi Ceccaroni has demanded details of a distribution deal between Oxford University and AztraZeneca be made public, saying he fears the firm could still profiteer from the drug once the first global peak dies down. AstraZeneca told HuffPost UK this week it was “too early to comment on pricing post-pandemic”.Ceccaroni’s concerns have been echoed by shadow minister for science and research Chi Onwurah, and by campaign group Global Justice Now.In an open letter, Ceccaroni said there must be more transparency about the agreement between Oxford and AstraZeneca to ensure “free global access” to the vaccine.“The output of a publicly-funded project should be open and free for everyone,” he told HuffPost UK.  In April, University of Oxford – which has received tens of millions in government funding for its coronavirus vaccine research – announced a “landmark partnership” with the drug company.

 

Kashmir Covid-19 Response on Ventilator: Lack of Equipment, Govt Policies Worsen Crisis in Valley

https://www.news18.com/news/india/kashmir-covid-19-response-on-ventilator-lack-of-equipment-govt-policies-worsen-crisis-in-valley-2727079.html

Kashmir's COVID-19 response is literally on a ventilator going by the red flag raised by the Srinagar administration about hospitals running out of beds for virus-hit patients.“The first hundred COVID-19 patients died in 103 days and next 100 in only 15 days. There is a spike in cases and we don't have enough beds to admit all positive patients,” a short video by Dr Naveed Nazir Shah, a leading doctor at the Chest Diseases Hospital, was tweeted by the Srinagar administration on Sunday. Shah is head of department at Chest Diseases Hospital, a premier institute that has been on the forefront of fighting the pandemic. Four other hospitals in Srinagar are coping with the pandemic that is proliferating into clusters and wider areas. “Hospitals are full and now people have no option but to take care of themselves and exhibit great caution. People should wear mask, maintain physical,” Shah spoke with a deadpan expression reflective of Kashmir's crumbling healthcare structure.

 

Malegaon’s Remarkable Turnaround in the Fight Against Covid-19

https://clarionindia.net/malegaons-remarkable-turnaround-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/

MUMBAI:It has seen one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Covid-19 tragedy in India. It happened in Malegaon, about 250 km north-east of Mumbai, and having a population of nearly a million, with about 80 per cent being Muslims.At the peak of the crisis in April-May, a large number of people used to succumb to Covid-19 daily. But in a remarkable turnaround story, it is now down to just two or three.And steering the powerloom hub through one of its most critical periods is a tough woman police officer (who is also a medical doctor), Dr Arti Singh, SP, Nashik rural.  Singh spoke of the tense days in April and May in the city.“It was a Herculean task for us, and I had to camp in Malegaon for two months to turn the tide,” says Singh. “I moved around on foot for hours, meeting Muslim leaders, ordinary people and importantly, encouraging the police constables.”Clarion India

 

Conditions in children homes: SC directs govt to submit note on funding and audits

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/conditions-in-children-homes-sc-directs-govt-to-submit-note-on-funding-and-audits

The Supreme Court has directed the Amicus Curiae in the suo moto case on the conditions of children protection homes across the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to file an Affidavit compiling all the "good practices" from each of the States, so that a uniform order may be passed in the matter.The SC  heard the matter and directed the Amicus Advocate Gaurav Agarwal to prepare the note and circulate it amongst all the States. Centre was also directed to submit a note regarding how funds were being spent and the subsequent audit of the same.

 

Coronavirus: Hajj pilgrimage to start on July 29 with strict health measures, says Saudi Arabia

https://scroll.in/latest/968134/coronavirus-hajj-pilgrimage-to-start-on-july-29-with-strict-health-measures-says-saudi-arabia

Saudi Arabia has announced that this year’s Hajj pilgrimage will begin on July 29, AFP reported. In June, the kingdom had announced it would hold a “very limited” Hajj this time to include only around 1,000 Muslim pilgrims, to control the spread of the coronavirus.“The stand of pilgrims on Mount Arafat, the peak of the Hajj ritual, falls on July 30,” the kingdom’s Supreme Court said, indicating that July 29 would be the first day of the annual event.

 

Oman to impose curfew, travel bans for Eid holiday due to coronavirus

https://wkzo.com/news/articles/2020/jul/21/oman-to-implement-night-curfew-travel-bans-for-eid-period-to-stem-coronavirus-ona/1041484/?refer-section=world

Oman will ban travel between all its governorates from July 25 to Aug. 8, a period that includes a Muslim holiday, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, state news agency ONA said on Tuesday.A statement from the Health Ministry described the measure as a "total lockdown" of all governorates.The Gulf state will also implement a daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the period, which includes the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday period. Shops and public spaces will be closed during the hours of curfew.Reuters

 

Israel approves mobile phone tracking of COVID-19 carriers for rest of year

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-israel-approves-mobile-phone-tracking-of-covid-19-carriers-for-rest-of-year/

Israel’s parliament voted on Monday to allow the country’s domestic intelligence agency to track the cellphones of coronavirus carriers for the rest of the year amid a resurgence in new cases, reported Reuters.Shin Bet’s surveillance technology has been used on and off to track carriers since March, and Knesset in a late- night decision approved the measure through Jan. 20, 2021. The security agency tracks location data of confirmed carriers for 14 days before they were diagnosed. That data is used to identify anyone with whom they came into contact, which proponents say is crucial to infection chains.

 

China makes negative Covid-19 test certificate mandatory for all arriving from abroad

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-vaccine-oxford-astrazeneca-covaxin-trial-india-delhi-covid19-tips-live-news-updates-1702705-2020-07-21

All foreigners and Chinese nationals should carry the negative Covid-19 test certificate before entering China, an official announcement in Beijing said.

 

*INDIAN POLITICS*

 

 

Rajasthan HC asks Speaker not to take any decision on defection notices till July 24

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rajasthan-hc-asks-speaker-not-to-take-any-decision-on-defection-notices-till-july-24/article32148093.ece?homepage=true

Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday directed the State Assembly Speaker not to take a decision on the defection notices issued by him to rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs supporting him till July 24.Upon completion of the hearing on the writ petition moved by Pilot and 18 dissident Congress MLAs challenging Assembly Speaker's notices, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta reserved the verdict for July 24. Sachin Pilot camp has, thus, got a respite from the court for another three days. Division Bench heard the case for 3 days. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Pilot and the other Congress legislators, concluded arguments for the petitioners on Tuesday. The dissident MLAs had moved the court on Friday amid the infighting in the state unit of Congress, as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his now sacked deputy Mr. Pilot tussled for power.The Bench also allowed the application of intervener Public Against Corruption (PAC), an NGO, during the hearing. The NGO had filed the application on Monday. Pilot camp, however, argues that a party whip applies only when the assembly is in session.

 

Rajasthan cabinet meeting held at CM's residence, COVID-19 situation discussed

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-government-crisis-live-updates-sachin-pilot-hearing-ashok-gehlot-bjp-congress-6514312/

Amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, a meeting of the state cabinet was held at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence here on Tuesday, during which multiple issues, including COVID-19 situation, were discussed.After the meeting, Medical and Health Minister Raghu Sharma said the cabinet has decided to give some concessions to the tourism industry. "The coronavirus pandemic situation in the state was reviewed in detail. Discussions were held on ways to improve recovery rate and decrease mortality rate," Sharma told reporters.He said additional teams of the state medical department were being sent to the districts where relatively more cases were being reported. At the meeting, the ministers also discussed measures taken to mitigate in locust-affected districts.

 

 

*SOUTH ASIA, INDO-PAK & J&K*

'Vested interests behind reports': Iran denies dropping India from Chabahar rail project

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/vested-interests-behind-reports-iran-denies-dropping-india-from-chabahar-rail-project/624492

Tehran: Days after a report claimed that Iran has dropped India from the Chabahar rail project, Iran on Monday denied the report blaming "vested interests" behind it and reassured India's active participation in the mega project.Indian Embassy in Iran stated that Ambassador Gaddam Dharmendra was invited by Saeed Rasouli, Deputy Minister Roads and Head of Iran Railways, to review the ongoing co-op on Chabahar-Zahedan railway.The Embassy also confirmed that Rasouli stated that "vested interests were behind recent reports that Iran excluded India from Chabahar-Zahedan railway project.Ambassador Dharmendra also met Speaker of Iran's Majlis Baqer Qalibaf and held discussions to further boost ties between the two countries. The India Ambassador was called on the occasion of 70th anniversary of bilateral ties between India and Iran.

 

Nepal’s ruling communist party meeting fails to resolve Oli-Prachanda feud

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nepals-ruling-communist-party-meeting-fails-to-resolve-oli-prachanda-feud/article32149795.ece?homepage=true

The much-awaited meeting of Nepal’s ruling communist party on July 21 failed to sort out the differences between Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and the rival faction led by party executive chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” as political issues did not figure during the brief deliberations held in the absence of Premier.The meeting of the Standing Committee of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) was held at PMO residence at Baluwatar in the national capital but it did not discuss political issues, said Ganesh Shah, member of Standing Committee and a senior party leader. Oli did not attend the meeting of 45-member Standing Committee, he said, adding that the next meeting of the top body of NCP will be held a week later.PTI

 

Work on 2 tunnels to link Kashmir, Ladakh all year taken up on war footing: J&K admin

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/work-on-2-tunnels-to-link-kashmir-ladakh-all-year-taken-up-on-war-footing-jk-admin-6515833/

Srinagar :J&K administration on Monday said work on the strategic Z-Morh tunnel and Zoji-La tunnel, which will ensure connectivity between Kashmir and Ladakh round the year, is being taken up on a “war footing” and the tunnels will be completed by 2021 and 2026, respectively. According to an official release, J&K Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam on Monday chaired a meeting with NHIDCL to review the progress of road projects undertaken by them in Union Territory.

 

Pakistan Foreign Office summons Indian diplomat to complain about alleged ceasefire violations

https://scroll.in/latest/968095/pakistan-foreign-office-summons-indian-diplomat-to-complain-about-alleged-ceasefire-violations

Pakistan on Monday summoned a senior Indian diplomat to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register a protest against alleged ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, which it claimed led to serious injuries to a civilian, PTI reported.“Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Bagsar Sector of LoC, 20 year old Moin Akhtar s/o [son of] Muhammad Akhtar, resident of Village Mehtika, sustained serious injuries,” the statement read, according to Express Tribune. “These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security.” India was also warned that it cannot “divert attention from the grave human rights situation” on its side of Kashmir through ceasefire violations.

*WORLD*

Saudi Twitter campaign targets former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200720-saudi-twitter-campaign-targets-former-crown-prince/

Saudi Twitter users have sent thousands of tweets accusing the kingdom’s former crown prince and his long-time aide of corruption, in what two Saudi sources said was a campaign to discredit him ahead of a possible indictment, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moves to sideline rivals to the throne, reports Reuters. The tweets against Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted and replaced as heir to throne by the crown prince in a palace coup in 2017, began and also targeted his aide, ex-intelligence official Saad al-Jabri.Twitter storm comes as King Salman, 84, was admitted to hospital in the capital Riyadh on Monday, suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder, according to state news agency SPA. The govt’s media office declined to comment further on his condition. 2 Saudi sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the campaign by apparent pro-govt Twitter users was aimed at swaying public opinion ahead of an expected announcement of corruption charges against bin Nayef. The second Saudi source said the campaign clearly had government backing since prominent Saudis close to the crown prince – known by initials MbS – were amplifying the tweets.Prior to his ouster, bin Nayef was seen as the most significant rival for the throne.  The moves against bin Nayef are the latest in a series of measures seen aimed at consolidating MBS’s strength within the ruling Al Saud family and removing perceived threats to his power ahead of an eventual succession upon the king’s death or abdication.

 

Saudi media claims ex-intelligence chief Saad Al-Jabri is member of Muslim Brotherhood

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200720-saudi-media-claims-ex-intelligence-chief-is-member-of-muslim-brotherhood/

Saudi media outlets have published claims that former intelligence chief, Saad Al-Jabri, is a member of outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Khaleej Times reported. A disinformation and propaganda campaign was launched against Al-Jabri as authorities try to encourage Canada to extradite him. Al-Jabri is thought to be in possession of documents that prove Riyadh’s support for attacks. Saudi journalist, however, claim he was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, which is deemed a terrorist organisation in the kingdom and he helped the group to infiltrate into Saudi institutions.Abdullah Al-Otaibi wrote in Asharq Al-Awsat: “This person was not only financially corrupt, but he ran a network of corruption organisations and an ideological organisation affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood and other political Islamic parties.” Al-Jabri held a cabinet-rank intelligence post under deposed Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef and has been living in Toronto since a 2017 palace coup in Riyadh. Meanwhile, several influential Saudi papers on Sunday carried a Wall Street Journal report published on Friday that cited Saudi officials and govt documents as saying Jabri led a network of officials who misspent $11 billion in govt money from an interior ministry fund during bin Nayef’s time there.Jabri’s son Khalid strongly denied the Journal report, saying in a text message that his father never controlled the fund and that bin Nayef “had the sole and full discretion” over it “with a clear and undisputed mandate from King Abdullah.”

 

Israeli Jewish rabbi prays for Saudi King Salman’s recovery

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-jewish-rabbi-prays-for-saudi-king-salmans-recovery/

A Jerusalem-based rabbi, David Rosen, prayed for the full and healthy recovery of Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz who was admitted to a hospital in Riyadh after suffering an inflammation of the gall bladder.Posted on Israel’s Arabic-language Foreign Ministry Twitter account, Rosen also supplicated for the 84-year-old monarch to be able to continue to lead his people and “to promote initiatives for peace in the region and the world as a whole”. Jewish leader, who is also international head of Interfaith Dialogue at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), expressed his gratitude to King Salman for hosting him and other members of the board of directors of King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) at his royal palace in Feb. The centre was established eight years ago and is based in Vienna and named after King Salman’s predecessor the late-King Abdullah. Rosen served in Israeli army during the 6 Day War.

 

 

ICC halted decision on probing Israel war crimes after annexation delayed

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-icc-halted-decision-on-probing-israel-war-crimes-after-annexation-delayed/

Israeli Army Radio has claimed that International Criminal Court (ICC) had adjourned taking a decision on its jurisdiction over investigating possible Israeli war crimes due to Tel Aviv postponing its plans to annex the occupied West Bank, Quds Net News reported.This comes two days after ICC adjourned making a decision on whether to investigate Israeli war crime against Palestinians in the occupied territories. According to Israel Hayom, Israeli diplomats and legal experts had expected the panel of three judges to accept the position of chief ICC prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, whereby “Palestinian territories fall under the jurisdiction of the court”.Israeli officials believe the ICC will resume work on the case in mid-August, after its summer recess.

 

 

China reaffirms its commitment to ‘2-state solution’ of Israel-Palestine conflict

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-china-reaffirms-its-commitment-to-the-two-state-solution/

Chinese President Xi Jinping supports an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along 1967 borders on the basis of the 2-state solution to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, reported Wafa.This came during a telephone call this morning with Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas.Making it clear that “this is the right direction,” Chinese president told Abbas that “China supports the just demands of Palestine. The country believes in dialogue and negotiations between the parties.”He condemned Israel’s plan to annex a large portion of the West Bank including areas of the strategic Jordan Valley and said that his country has been exerting efforts in order to encourage Israel to refrain from carrying out its plan.

 

Jordan could look ‘very favourably’ on ‘one-state democratic solution,’ : PM

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-jordan-could-look-very-favourably-on-one-state-democratic-solution-says-pm/

Jordan could view a one-state solution that provides equal rights to both Palestinians and Israelis “very favourably”, PM Omar Razzaz has told the Guardian. “You close the door to the two-state solution, I could very well look at this positively, if we’re clearly opening the door to a one-state democratic solution,” Razzaz said. Jordanian official’s remarks signal a surprising softening of attitude towards a one-state solution, but he was quick to point out that the view is not shared across the border. “Nobody in Israel is talking about [a one-state solution], and so we cannot just sugar-coat what they’re doing. Who’s talking about the one-state solution in Israel? They’re talking about apartheid in every single sense.”

 

Israel insists on security cooperation in return for tax revenue: PA official

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-israel-insists-on-security-cooperation-in-return-for-tax-revenue/

head of Palestinian Authority Prisoners’ and Freed Prisoners’ Commission, Qadri Abu Baker, has said that Israel is insisting on PA resuming security cooperation in return for the release of tax revenue collected on its behalf by the occupation authorities, Al-Watan Voice reported on Monday. Abu Baker said that this is one of the conditions made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to transfer the money collected by Israel on behalf of the PA. He stressed that PA President Mahmoud Abbas is sticking to his decision to end security coordination.

 

Hamas and Fatah agree to hold national festival in Gaza

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-hamas-and-fatah-agree-to-hold-national-festival-in-gaza/

Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement and its rival Fatah have agreed to hold a national festival in Gaza against Israel’s annexation plan, Hamas revealed on Monday. “We have agreed this in order to finalise the unification of Palestinian efforts against the Israeli annexation and the US deal of the century,” explained Khalil Al-Hayya of Hamas Political Bureau. “Representatives of various Palestinian parties will take part in the festival which is going to host international participants as well as speeches for Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas.”

 

Journalists acknowledge involvement in anti-Hamas campaign

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-journalists-acknowledge-involvement-in-anti-hamas-campaign/

Palestinian journalists close to former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan have acknowledged that they were involved in a campaign to discredit Hamas, Quds Press reported on Monday. Hassan Asfour, a journalist from Gaza who runs a news website from UAE, confirmed reports that there was such a campaign targeting Hamas. Asfour’s website, Amad, published fake news about Israeli infiltration of the Hamas military wing. He said that the campaign arose after “increasing” Turkish and Qatari involvement in Gaza with the alleged aim of creating an independent entity led by Hamas.

 

Moroccan activists condemn presence of Israel academic at Berber Culture festival

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-moroccan-activists-condemn-presence-of-israel-academic-at-berber-culture-festival/

A group of Moroccan activists condemned the presence of an Israeli academic at Amazigh Culture Festival held in Fez last week, Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported. The activists, who speak out against the normalisation of ties with Israel and are called the Moroccan Observatory against Normalisation, revealed the presence of academic Bruce Maddy-Weitzman at the festival between 12-16 July, describing it as a “scandal”.Maddy-Weitzman is a professor of Middle Eastern and African history at Tel Aviv University, specialising in the modern Maghreb, and a senior research fellow at the attached Moshe Dayan Centre for regional studies.

 

Tunisia: Ennahda condemns ongoing violation of parliament's sanctity

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-tunisia-ennahda-condemns-ongoing-violation-of-parliaments-sanctity/

Ennahda movement in the Tunisian parliament condemned what it described as “the continuous violation of the bloc of Free Destourian Party and its president Abir Moussi to the sanctity of the parliament.”This came in a statement yesterday, in which the party said: “The criminal acts of Moussi and a number of deputies of the Free Constitutional Bloc constitutes a threat to the security of Parliament, its employees and its facilities. These acts may also lead to the theft and looting of the parliament documents.”Ennahda claimed “its full solidarity with all the staff of the parliament, the chief of the cabinet, Habib Khedher, and the deputies who were subjected to a campaign of insulting, maiming and verbal and material assault by some of Free Destourian deputies.” It also affirmed that “what Moussi committed falls under the jurisdiction of the law.” Ennahda bloc expressed its “adherence to the right of its deputies to sue the aggressors and hold them accountable for what they committed.”

Tunisia anti-corruption body demands ban on ex-PM's travel

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-tunisia-anti-corruption-body-demands-ban-on-ex-pms-travel/

Tunisia’s National Anti-Corruption Authority requested the judiciary impose a travel ban on former Prime Minister Elias El-Fakhfakh who resigned from his post earlier this month and called for them to seize his assets.The authority said it had sent a report to the judiciary containing documents and supporting evidence related to suspicions of conflicts of interest, financial and administrative corruption and tax evasion surrounding deals concluded by the state with a group of companies which the resigned prime minister has shares in.

 

Egypt jails 42 protesters whose homes were demolished

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-egypt-jails-42-protesters-whose-homes-were-demolished/

Egyptian authorities have imprisoned 42 protesters who were demonstrating against the govt’s decision to demolish their homes.On Friday, as residents of Maawa Al-Sayadeen took to the streets, security forces fired tear gas at them and attacked them with batons, killing a 4-day-old girl.Residents of Maawa Al-Sayadeen were told that they would have to move to Bashair Al-Khair where they cannot afford the rent, despite being told that the government would provide them with apartments with affordable rent.Authorities have now said that their houses were built illegally on state owned land.

 

Egypt extends state of emergency for 13th time

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-egypt-extends-state-of-emergency-for-13th-time/

Egypt’s House of Representatives has approved a presidential decree to extend the state of emergency across the country for another three months, effective on 27 July, the state-run MENA reported.This is the 13th time parliament has renewed the country-wide state of emergency. It was first declared in April 2017 after attacks on 2 churches killed 45 persons.

 

UN: Sudan being subjected to a ‘series of tragedies’, needs urgent assistance

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-un-sudan-being-subjected-to-a-series-of-tragedies-needs-urgent-assistance/

UN  has declared that Sudan is in dire need of more than $283 million to support the government in facing the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, warning of a “series of tragedies” if no measures are taken promptly.Gwi-Yeop Son, UN Coordinator for Development and Humanitarian Affairs in Sudan, called for increased support for Sudan and assistance to the country to meet “the urgent and critical needs of millions of people affected by the health and economic consequences of Covid-19.”A UN statement pointed out Sudan’s urgent need for more than $283 million to “support the government-led response and provide life-saving assistance to more than 6.7 million people across the country.”

 

White House contender Joe Biden urges Muslim Americans to help him defeat Donald in elections

https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/white-house-contender-joe-biden-urges-muslim-americans-to-help-him-defeat-donald-trump-in-2020-elections/624644

 Democrat Joe Biden urged Muslim Americans on Monday to join him in the fight to defeat President Donald Trump as he addressed an online summit hosted by the advocacy organisation Emgage Action to mobilise Muslim voters ahead of the presidential election.“I want to earn your vote not just because he's not worthy of being president,”presumptive presidential nominee told participants.“I want to work in partnership with you, make sure your voices are included in the decision-making process as we work to rebuild our nation.”Biden also reiterated a pledge to overturn a Trump administration ban on travelers from several predominantly Muslim countries, calling it “vile”.Wa'el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, said by email that the organisation was seeking to maximise Muslim American turnout in key battleground states.In Michigan alone – one of the states where the organisation has chapters and where Trump won in 2016 by fewer than 11,000 votes – he said he believed there are more than 150,000 registered Muslim voters. Several prominent Muslim American elected officials endorsed Biden for president in a letter organised by Emgage Action ahead of the summit.ANI

 

US Sanctions Additional 11 Chinese Firms Over Human Rights Violations In Xinjiang

http://www.businessworld.in/article/US-sanctions-additional-11-Chinese-firms-over-human-rights-violations-in-Xinjiang/21-07-2020-299475/

US has announced sanctions against a new group of 11 Chinese companies for their alleged involvement in human rights violations in China's western province of Xinjiang, home to about 1 million Uighurs Muslims. Commerce Department added those 11 companies to a trade blacklist, bringing nearly 50 Chinese entities on the list, and restrict them further from access to American technology as well as other goods."Beijing actively promotes the reprehensible practice of forced labour and abusive DNA collection and analysis schemes to repress its citizens," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said.ANI

 

Iraq PM in Iran in first trip since taking office

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200721-iraq-pm-in-iran-in-first-trip-since-taking-office/

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi travelled to Tehran today where Iranian state media reported he would meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on his first foreign trip since taking office in May, Reuters reported.Al-Kadhimi’s visit was meant to come after a trip to Saudi Arabia but that was cancelled after Saudi’s King Salman Bin Abdulaziz was admitted to hospital suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder.

Hagia Sophia Mosaics Will be Covered with Curtains during Prayers: Turkish Presidential Spokesman

https://www.news18.com/news/world/hagia-sophia-mosaics-will-be-covered-with-curtains-during-prayers-turkish-presidential-spokesman-2724305.html

Mosaics depicting Christian figures in Istanbul's ancient Hagia Sophia will be covered with curtains during Muslim prayers, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Sunday, as work to prepare the building for use as a mosque continues. Authorities had said last week that the mosaics would be concealed with either curtains or lasers when the first prayers are held next Friday.In a move that sparked international criticism and concern, President Tayyip Erdogan declared Hagia Sophia open to Muslim worship earlier this month following a court ruling that said the building's conversion to a museum in 1934 was unlawful.Kalin said some mosaics of Mary and Gabriel that are positioned in the direction of Qiblah, where Muslims face during prayer, would be covered with curtains.

 

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Politics of Pandemics: Nandita Haksar,human rights lawyer

https://www.newsclick.in/Coronavirus-Biological-Warfare-GCMU-Project-Smallpox-Pandemics-Politics

Asia’s Biggest Hosiery Market Fell Victim to Riots Before the Lockdown:Afzal Imam

https://www.newsclick.in/asia-biggest-hosiery-market-fell-victim-riots-before-lockdown

For India, costs of neglecting new Arabian business are far higher than a lost railway contract in Iran:C. Raja Mohan

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/chabahar-rail-project-india-iran-relations-us-sanctions-c-raja-mohan-6515415/

To Harass Hindu-Muslim Couples, Rightwing Activists Are Now Using Their Marriage Documents:Shiba Kurian

https://thewire.in/communalism/hindu-muslim-couples-love-jihad-rightwing-marriage-notice

Fear: What Shaheen Bagh Showed Me:Mustafa Quraishi

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/shaheen-bagh-and-the-idea-of-india-excerpt_in_5f15509ac5b6cec246c4c45d

Think before you tweet, look before you leap: Former EAM’s riposte to present:Salman Khurshid

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/think-before-you-tweet-look-before-you-leap-former-eams-riposte-to-the-present

Delhi Riots: Investigate Allegation Of 'Sexual Violence' Against Police, Minority Commission Says

https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/delhi-riots-police-sexual-violence-allegation-minorities-commission-fact-finding-report_in_5f14f4b8c5b6cec246c45ad6

Hindutva groups in US are calling out anti-Black racism – but support bigotry in India:Raju Rajagopal

https://scroll.in/article/967964/hindutva-groups-in-the-us-are-calling-out-anti-black-racism-but-their-support-rings-hollow

The meaning of azan at Hagia Sophia:Vivek Katju, former diplomat

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-meaning-of-the-azan-at-hagia-sophia/article32142279.ece

The futility of lockdowns:Chandrakant Lahariya

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-futility-of-lockdowns-in-india-coronavirus-6516884/

Real reason why India sits out of Iran's Chabahar-Zahedan rail link project:Geeta Mohan

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iran-chabahar-zahedan-rail-link-project-india-1702928-2020-07-21

 

 

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:50 PM)