*27 OCT. PRIME TIME NEWS*

 

*INDIA-NEWS*

 

Centre notifies new laws allowing anyone to buy land in J&K, Ladakh

New Delhi: Urban land and immovable property in Jammu and Kashmir can now be purchased by residents of any state, with the Centre notifying a new law to integrate the Union territory with the rest of the country. Earlier, only residents of Jammu and Kashmir were allowed to purchase land in the state. But the Centre's move in August last year, scrapping the state's special powers under the Article 370 of the Constitution and its bifurcation into two Union Territories, paved the way for the change.  In a gazette notification, the Centre has omitted the phrase "permanent resident of the state" from Section 17 of the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, which deals with the disposal of land in the Union Territory.Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha clarified that the new law does not apply to agricultural land."I want to say this forcefully and with full responsibility that agricultural land has been kept reserved for farmers; no outsider will come on those lands," said the Lieutenant-Governor."The industrial areas that we have defined -- we want that like the rest of the country, industries too come here so that Jammu and Kashmir also develops and employment is generated," he said at a press Conference.The move, however, set off a stream of protests from the local political parties. With the new notification, three central laws will come into effect in Jammu and Kashmir.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/outsiders-allowed-to-buy-land-in-j-k-unacceptable-says-omar-abdullah-2316520?pfrom=home-topscroll

 

 

Outsiders Allowed To Buy Land In J&K. "Unacceptable" : Omar Abdullah

Reacting to the government's order, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed unhappiness over the amendments in J&K land laws. Omar Abdullah said, "Unacceptable amendments to the land ownership laws of JK. Even the tokenism of domicile has been done away with when purchasing non agricultural land and transfer of agricultural land has been made easier. JK is now up for sale and poorer small land holding owners will suffer." Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted:"After failing on all fronts to provide roti & rozgar to people, BJP is creating such laws to whet the appetite of a gullible electorate. Such brazen measures reinforces the need of people of all three provinces of J&K to fight unitedly." Left leader Sitaram Yechury tweeted: "This is highway robbery. The loot of J&K's resources & beautiful landscape. Having destroyed all people's democratic structures, will the next step be forcible land acquisition to hand over to cronies & fatten the purses of the ruling party at centre? This cannot be allowed."

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/outsiders-allowed-to-buy-land-in-j-k-unacceptable-says-omar-abdullah-2316520?pfrom=home-topscroll

 

Gupkar Alliance Condemns Repeal of J&K Land Laws, Calls it Huge Betrayal

SRINAGAR — People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), the amalgamation of regional parties in Kashmir, on Tuesday strongly condemned repeal of J&K Land Laws thereby stripping the Permanent Residents of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh of exclusive right to acquire and hold immovable property in the State — “now unconstitutionally divided into two Union Territories and granting such rights to non State Subjects.”A statement by the Alliance termed today’s order by Ministry of Home Affairs as a huge betrayal and said that this is a massive assault on the rights of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and grossly unconstitutional.

https://clarionindia.net/gupkar-alliance-condemns-repeal-of-jk-land-laws-calls-it-huge-betrayal/

 

 Hathras gangrape: Supreme Court asks Allahabad HC to monitor CBI probe

The Supreme Court on Tuesday left it to the Allahabad High Court to monitor the CBI investigation into the alleged gangrape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl by four upper-caste accused persons in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.A 3-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde, in a 16-page verdict, concluded that there was no need to divest the Lucknow Bench of the High Court of the case to directly monitor the case itself.Without expressing any opinions on the facts of the case and the allegations made, the apex court left it open for the High Court to consider the CBI probe and grievances about the “illegal cremation”. The CBI has to report to the High Court about its progress.The apex court said the High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the case and passed a detailed order on October 1.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hathras-gangrape-supreme-court-asks-allahabad-hc-to-monitor-cbi-probe/article32952442.ece?homepage=true

 

Pompeo Warns of China 'Aggression' as India-US Ink Pact to Share Sensitive Satellite, Map Data in 2+2 Dialogue

India and US on Tuesday signed a pact to share sensitive satellite and map data as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned of the threat posed by an increasingly assertive China. Pompeo, who arrived in New Delhi on Monday along with Defense Secretary Mark Esper, said after talks with respective Indian counterparts S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh that the two countries had to work together to confront the threat China posed to security and freedom.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the third edition of the 2+2 talks with Pompeo and Esper at a time of heightened tension in the region, with Indian troops confronting Chinese forces on their disputed Himalayan border.The two sides signed the landmark defence pact, BECA, that will allow sharing of high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data between their militaries, and vowed to ramp up their security ties and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.During the talks, the US side also assured India that America stands with it as they confront threats to their sovereignty and liberty. Addressing a joint media event along with Jaishankar, Pompeo and Esper, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the two sides held comprehensive discussion on range of key issues, and dubbed the inking of BECA with the US is a "significant move"."Our military-to-military cooperation with the US is moving forward very well," he said, adding that projects for joint development of defence equipment have been identified. "We reaffirmed our commitment to peace and security in Indo-Pacific region," Singh said.Pompeo, in his remarks, said, during the visit they visited the war memorial to honour the soldiers that sacrificrd their lives for the world's largest democracy, including the 20 that were killed by China's PLA forces in the Galwan Valley in June.

https://www.news18.com/news/india/22-dialogue-live-updates-india-us-to-ink-landmark-defence-pact-chinas-military-aggression-on-agenda-3010862.html

 

"Stop Sowing Discord": China On Mike Pompeo's Visit To India, South Asia

Beijing: China today urged US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "stop sowing discord" between Beijing and countries in the region, undermining the regional peace and stability, amidst his visit to India for a high-level dialogue aimed at further ramping up overall India-US defence and security ties, and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.Asked about Mike Pompeo's visit to India and other South Asian countries during which the top US diplomat's focus would be on China's threats, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing in Beijing that Mike Pompeo's attacks and accusations against China are nothing new."He repeated them time and again," Mr Wang said.His remarks came amidst India and the US signing the landmark BECA that will allow sharing of high-end military technology, classified satellite data and critical information between the two countries.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/china-tells-mike-pompeo-to-stop-sowing-discord-during-visit-to-india-south-asia-2316460

 

Centre declares 18 people as terrorists under UAPA including Hizbul chief Salahuddin

New Delhi :Centre has designated 18 key operatives and leaders of groups such LeT, HuM, JeM, IM and members of Dawood Ibrahim gang as individual terrorists under the recently amended UAPA.Those in the list include key Sajid Mir and Yusuf Muzammil alias Muzammil Butt; IC 814 case accused and JeM leaders Ibrahim Athar and Yusuf Azhar; JeM chief Masood Azhar’s brother Rauf Asghar, who is key conspirator in Parliament Attack, Pathankot Airbase attack and the Pulwama CRPF convoy attack cases; Indian Mujahideen founders Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal; HuM chief Syed Salauddin and Dawood’s close aides Chhota Shakeel and Anees Shaikh apart from 1993 blasts accused Tiger Memon among others. All these are said to be in Pakistan currently.Among other individuals designated as terrorists through the latest order is Abdur Rehman Makki, brother-in-law of LeT chief Hafiz Saeed. Makki is also Head of LeT political affairs and served as Head of LeT’s foreign relations department.Another inclusion is that of Shahid Mehmood alias Shahid Mehmood Rehmatullah. Mehmood is Pakistan based Deputy Chief of proscribed organization Falah-i-lnsaniyat Foundation (FIF), a frontal organisation of LeT.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hizbul-chief-sallahuddin-ims-bhatkal-brothers-designated-terrorists-under-uapa-6898447/

 

Punjab Terror module case: 7 acquitted under UAPA, 4 out of them held guilty under Arms Act

Amritsar :Accused of running a terror module with links in Canada and Pakistan in 2017, Mann Singh Nihang and three others – Sher Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Simarjit Singh – have been convicted under Arms Act by an Amritsar court. These four, along with other accused in the case, were, however, acquitted of charges under UAPA. The quantum of sentence against all four held guilty under Arms Act will be pronounced on October 28. The terror case was investigated by the Special Operations Cell, Amritsar. BSF and the Punjab Police in a joint operation on May 24, 2107, had claimed to bust a terror module with links to Canada and Pakistan after arresting 2 suspected Khalistani militants. Mann Singh (40) from Sri Hargobindpur in Gurdaspur and Sher Singh (28) from Kartarpur in Jalandhar were arrested from the Indo-Pak border area, when they were trying to recover weapons that were earlier smuggled into India from Pakistan, Punjab Police spokesperson had claimed.indianexpress

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/terror-module-case-7-acquitted-under-uapa-4-out-of-them-held-guilty-under-arms-act-6895351/

 

 

RSS Terms Mehbooba Mufti A 'traitor To Islam And India' For Refusing To Raise Indian Flag

Lashing out at PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, RSS's Muslim Rashtriya Manch chief Indresh Kumar on Monday, termed Mufti a 'traitor to Islam and India' for not raising the national flag in Jammu-Kashmir. Lauding her decision to not contest elections till Article 370 is restored, he said it was for the greater good if Mufti remains away from electoral politics throughout her life. A massive controversy has broken out between BJP and PDP over Mufti's remark to 'not raise Indian flag till Kashmir's state flag is restored'.republicworld

https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/politics/rss-terms-mehbooba-mufti-a-traitor-to-islam-and-india-for-refusing-to-raise-indian-flag.html

 

Facebook India Policy Head Quits Days After Parliament Panel Questioning

New Delhi: Facebook executive Ankhi Das, whose name came up in a recent controversy over alleged bias by the social networking giant in dealing with hate speeches, has resigned from the company.A statement by Ajit Mohan, Facebook India's Managing Director, said: "Ankhi has decided to step down from her role in Facebook to pursue her interest in public service. Ankhi was one of our earliest employees in India and played an instrumental role in the growth of the company and its services over the last nine years. She has been a part of my leadership team over the last two years, a role in which she has made enormous contributions. We are grateful for her service and wish her the very best for the future."

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-public-policy-director-ankhi-das-quits-2316552

 

 

'Has to be some decorum': SC judges shocked as lawyer in Sudarshan TV case appears shirtless for online hearing

A lawyer left Supreme Court of India judges shocked when he appeared shirtless for a virtual hearing through video-conferencing hearing of the Sudarshan TV case on Monday.According to Live Law, when the hearing began on Monday, the image of a lawyer without his shirt on flashed on screen for a few seconds.Justice DY Chandrachud, the presiding judge of the bench, asked repeatedly who the advocate was, but got no response. The lawyer logged out soon from the virtual hearing session.After the case was adjourned, Justice Chandrachud expressed his displeasure at the incident to Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta."There has to be some decorum," Justice Chandrachud said.Justice Indu Malhotra, who was also part of the apex court bench hearing the case, expressed her disgust at the lawyer's casual attitude and said, “This is very bad.”Justice Chadrachud asked the solicitor-general to speak to the lawyer and ensure that such a mistake is not repeated.As per Scroll, the lawyer was representing OpIndia.The apex court was hearing the Sudarshan TV case in which it has imposed a pre-telecast ban on the channel's 'UPSC Jihad' programme.

https://www.firstpost.com/india/has-to-be-some-decorum-sc-judges-shocked-as-lawyer-in-sudarshan-tv-case-appears-shirtless-for-online-hearing-8957141.html

 

 Yogi Adityanath issues warning against cow slaughter at bypoll rally in Unnao

LUCKNOW:Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at an election rally in Unnao on Tuesday said those involved in cow slaughter would be dealt with sternly within the boundaries of the law. While Adityanath had in the past too issued such warnings, his remarks come in the backdrop of the Allahabad High Court recently observing that the anti-cow slaughter law was being misused against innocent persons in the State.In Bangermau, which is scheduled to hold bypoll along with six other seats, Mr. Adityanath said: “If anyone [is involved] in cow slaughter, that person will land in jail.”“We will protect gau mata [mother cow] at all costs,” the CM said, adding that his government would deal with ‘sternly’ those accused of the crime “within the boundaries of law”. Adityanath’s speech was also laced with references to the Ram Mandir and dilution of Article 370.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/yogi-adityanath-issues-warning-against-cow-slaughter-at-bypoll-rally-in-unnao/article32956166.ece?homepage=true

 

Bihar polls: In first phase, NDA, Grand Alliance look evenly placed, JD(U) could suffer losses

Patna:In the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, in which 71 seats will witness polling on Wednesday, NDA and Grand Alliance look evenly placed. While the BJP is hoping to make gains, its alliance partner JD(U) may suffer some losses, with the LJP directly contesting against it in at least 10 seats. The LJP strongholds include Dinara, Suryagarha and Amarpur.In the 71 seats, while the RJD has nominated its sitting legislators in 25 seats, the JD(U) and BJP have put up their sitting MLAs in 23 and 13 seats respectively. Eight sitting legislators of the Congress and one each of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) and CPI (ML) are also in the fray. However, seat positions are likely to change in this election from 2015, as the JD(U) is now a part of the NDA. In 2015, the JD(U) contested the state polls as part of the Mahagathbandhan.In the first phase, while the RJD is contesting on 42 seats, its alliance partners, the Congress and CPI(ML), are contesting on 21 and eight seats respectively. JD(U) and BJP are contesting 35 and 29 seats respectively and their alliance partners, HAM (S) and VIP, are contesting six seats and one seat respectively.

https://indianexpress.com/elections/bihar-polls-in-first-phase-nda-grand-alliance-look-evenly-placed-jdu-could-suffer-losses-6902669/

 

Kerala Congress (Thomas) set to end alliance with BJP, may join UDF

Kochi :Ahead of the local body elections in Kerala, the PC Thomas-led faction of the Kerala Congress is set to end its alliance with the BJP-led NDA, miffed that certain promises made to the party as part of coalition understanding have not been kept. The party is the BJP’s sole ally in Kerala with support among Christians in the central Travancore region.While a formal announcement on the break-up is awaited, leaders of Thomas-faction have begun backchannel talks with the Congress-led UDF. If the UDF relents, the entry of the Thomas faction could happen before the local body polls scheduled in December.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala/kerala-congress-thomas-set-to-end-alliance-with-bjp-may-join-udf-6900706/

 

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s views on Hindutva broad, inclusive: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena on Tuesday lauded RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks on Hindutva as being broad and inclusive, adding he has given a befitting reply to those who feel that anyone not with BJP is not Hindu.The Sena also said Bhagwat won’t seek reopening of temples during coronavirus pandemic as he has a scientific temper.“He is for investing in vaccine development. BJP leaders who are happily clanging bells for reopening of temples amid the pandemic should listen to Bhagwat first,” an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana said.PTI

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shiv-sena-rss-hindutva-6901147/

 

Coal scam case: Delhi HC suspends jail term of former Union minister Dilip Ray

A DAY after he was awarded three years in jail by a Special CBI Court in a coal scam case, the Delhi High Court Tuesday suspended the sentence of former Union minister Dilip Ray.Ray’s application for suspension of sentence came up for hearing before the single-judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait. “The sentence has been suspended and the case has been fixed for hearing on November 23,” said advocate Chandra Prakash, who represents Ray in the case.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coal-scam-case-delhi-hc-suspends-sentence-of-former-union-minister-dilip-ray-6902419/

 

‘Sheer Abuse of Law’: Booked Over Tweet, Kathua Rape Case Lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat to Fight it Out

NEW DELHI — Jammu Lawyer Deepika Singh Rajawat on Tuesday said that she would gracefully fight the case lodged against her after she posted two cartoons on Twitter criticising the double standards of men towards women attributing it to the Hindu festival of Navratri.Talking to Clarion India about the case filed against her for ‘hurting religious sentiments,’ the 40-year-old activist-lawyer said, “I will gracefully stand against the case with the legal remedies and sections of law available to us. I will fight this case. Laws are very strong. I have firm faith in the judiciary. I will gracefully handle the case”.Rajawat has been booked under Sections 295A and 505 (b) (2) of the IPC for creating enmity and hatred between different classes of people.

https://clarionindia.net/sheer-abuse-of-law-booked-over-tweet-kathua-rape-case-lawyer-deepika-singh-rajawat-to-fight-it-out/

 

The Wire did not ‘disrespect’ Durga; excerpt from 2016 article misrepresented

An excerpt from an article in The Wire is making the rounds on Twitter to claim that the news organisation promoted ‘anti-Hindu’ sentiments by terming Durga Puja a “racist festival” and the Hindu deity a “sex worker”.Ex-navy officer Harinder Sikka questioned The Wire in a critically worded tweet, “Can u dare write such obscene words for Islam?”Twitter handle @missionkaali followed by Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra also shared the screenshot speculating if the outlet indeed published the excerpt.Had the user read the report, they’d know that the news organisation wasn’t promoting its own opinions but a reference made by Union Minister Smriti Irani in 2016. The use of direct quotes itself hints that the statement was not made by The Wire.The article dates back to February 27, 2016, after the former HRD Minister’s Lok Sabha speech addressing the criticism of the government’s handling of the protests at JNU by alleging that “anti-national” events were held on campus. She made the speech on February 24, 2016, and the relevant portion can be watched 31:40 minutes onward.

https://www.altnews.in/the-wire-did-not-disrespect-durga-excerpt-from-2016-article-misrepresented/

 

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind  distributes groceries to flood-affected in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has started a rehabilitation operation to help families affected by the floods in the city. The organisation has set up various camps and formed several committees to survey, identify and provide relief material to affected families in several areas including Tallabkatta, Hafeez Babanagar, Al Jubail colony, Hashmabad, Rajendranagar and Osman Nagar areas. Arshad Ahmed, organiser of a relief camp set up by JeIH, said so far the group had reached out to 15,000 persons with food and groceries.“At present we are identifying families affected by the floods and providing them household articles to start a new life. So far, we provided articles including stoves, mattress, utensils and clothes to 2,000 families,” he said, adding that the JeIH had also engaged earthmovers and tippers to clean up the areas of slush.JIH is also coordinating with different government agencies and voluntary organisations to reach out to affected persons. According to its survey, around 20,000 families were directly or indirectly affected, he added.TelanganaToday 

https://telanganatoday.com/ngo-distributes-groceries-to-flood-affected-in-hyderabad

 

 

 

*CORONA*

Unlock 5.0 guidelines issued in Sept to be in place till Nov 30: MHA

New Delhi : Centre on Tuesday made no new changes in the fresh unlock guidelines issued for November. The Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement said the Unlock 5.0 guidelines that last month allowed for reopening of cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50 percent of their seating capacity will remain in force till November 30. “Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order today to extend the guidelines for re-opening, issued on 30.09.2020, to remain in force upto 30.11.2020,” a statement issued by the government read.The order further said that lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in the containment zones till November 30, 2020. Earlier, the guidelines for reopening activities issued on September 30 were to be in force till October 31.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/covid-unlock-guidelines-6-0-no-further-relaxation-says-mha-6898968/

 

 

 India lockdown day 215 updates | Children can be spreaders or even super-spreaders says ICMR

In a daily press briefing,  ICMR head Balram Bhargava said, "children were thought to be protected but we now have some evidence which states that children can be spreaders and even super spreaders".Mr. Bhargava said that pollution is contributing to COVID-19 mortality. "The most inexpensive prevention is wearing a mask," he added.Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan added that there should be no hurry to declare ourselves COVID free. "The idea is to go steady and slow".COVID-19 experimental vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, also triggers lower adverse responses among the elderly as well as young adults, British drug maker AstraZeneca Plc, which is helping manufacture the vaccine, said on Monday. “It is encouraging to see immunogenicity responses were similar between older and younger adults and that reactogenicity was lower in older adults, where the COVID-19 disease severity is higher,” an AstraZeneca spokesman said.The news that older people get an immune response from the vaccine is positive because the immune system weakens with age and older people are those most at risk of dying from the virus.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-india-lockdown-october-27-2020-live-updates/article32949932.ece

 

Steady fall in death rate in past five weeks: Govt

There has been a steady fall in the COVID-19 death rate in the past 5 weeks, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a daily press briefing. Average daily deaths are at 620, he said."The new confirmed cases in the last 24 hours have fallen below 36,500 (36,470) for the first time in three months. The new cases were 34,884 on 18th July, 2020. Our testing rate hasn’t seen any fall with 11 lakh tests being done daily," Mr. Rajesh said."Active cases have drastically declined to 6.25 lakh. The total positive cases of the country are6,25,857 and now comprise 7.88% of the total cases."

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-india-lockdown-october-27-2020-live-updates/article32949932.ece

 

 

Studies Found Coronavirus in PM2.5 Particles, Established Pollution Link to Higher Covid Death Rate: ICMR

Citing a report that links air pollution to higher mortality in Covid-19 cases, the government on Tuesday said that studies in Europe and US have established a connection between Covid mortality and pollution.Professor Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, said that there indeed is a connection between PM2.5 particles and that the coronavirus has been found in these suspended particles. “It could be dead as well,” he told News18.

https://www.news18.com/news/india/studies-found-coronavirus-in-pm2-5-particles-established-pollution-link-to-higher-covid-death-rate-icmr-3013244.html

 

 Air pollution linked with 15% COVID-19 deaths worldwide, finds study

Berlin:About 15 per cent of deaths worldwide from COVID-19 may be linked to long-term exposure to air pollution, according to a study published on Tuesday.Researchers, including those from Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Germany, found that in Europe the proportion of COVID-19 deaths linked to air pollution was about 19 per cent, in North America it was 17 per cent, and in East Asia about 27 per cent.PTI

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/air-pollution-linked-with-15-covid-19-deaths-worldwide-finds-study/article32952577.ece?homepage=true

 

 

 

 

                                                                            *WORLD NEWS*

 

 

 

Muslim world’s fallout with France deepens

A rift between France and Muslim nations is growing after French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that Islam was in “crisis”.Tension escalated after French teacher Samuel Paty was killed on October 16 near his school in broad daylight. He had shown caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad to his students. Since the crime, French officials were perceived as linking the killing to Islam.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised Macron, saying the French leader needed “mental checks” over his attitude towards Islam.Across the Muslim world, some leaders have condemned France and Macron, including Saudi Arabia and Iran; while tens of thousands have attended protests in Bangladesh calling for a boycott of French goods.In Qatar, shoppers said they supported the decision by some retailers to withdraw French products from their shelves.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/world-reaction-to-macron

 

#IStandWithFrance trends in India amid outrage in Muslim world

As Muslims across the world protest and broaden their calls for a boycott of French products, hashtags with a different message are trending in Hindu-majority India.#IStandWithFrance and #WeStandWithFrance were among the top trends on Indian Twitter on Monday and Tuesday, with thousands expressing their solidarity with France.“Tolerance should be secular too. #IStandWithFrance. Well done French President,” tweeted Parvesh Sahib Singh, a BJP member of parliament.Other hashtags related to Macron’s remarks that trended on Indian Twitter on Tuesday included #WellDoneMacron and #MacronTHEHERO.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/istandwithfrance-trends-in-india-amid-outrage-in-muslim-world

 

 

Thousands rally in Bangladesh calling for boycott of French goods

Tens of thousands of protesters have marched through the Bangladesh capital, calling for a boycott of French products as anger over President Emmanuel Macron’s defence of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad mounts in the Muslim world.The protesters on Tuesday burned an effigy of Macron during their march in Dhaka, chanting: “Boycott French products” and calling for the French leader to be punished over his alleged Islamophobia.Police estimated that more than 40,000 people took part in the march organised by Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) party.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/thousands-rally-in-bangladesh-calling-for-boycott-of-french-goods

 

Saudi Arabia condemns attempts to ‘link Islam with terrorism’

Saudi Arabia has said it “rejects any attempt to link Islam with terrorism, and condemns the offensive cartoons of the Prophet” amid an escalating row between France and some Muslim-majority nations over Paris’s support for the right to caricature the Prophet.Its government also called for “intellectual and cultural freedom to be a beacon of respect, tolerance and peace that rejects practices and acts which generate hatred, violence and extremism and are contrary to the values of coexistence,” a Saudi foreign ministry official told state media on Tuesday.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/saudi-arabia-condemns-prophets-cartoons-ami-france-turkey-row

 

Several dead in blast at religious school in Pakistan’s Peshawar

Islamabad;An explosion at a religious school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar has killed at least seven people and wounded 109 others, police and health officials say.The blast occurred at the Speen Jamaat mosque, which also serves as a religious school for the local community in the city’s Dir Colony area, at 8:30am local time on Tuesday, a police official told Al Jazeera shortly after the blast.“[Students] were reading the Quran here, that is when the explosion occurred,” Peshawar police chief Muhammad Ali Khan told reporters near the scene. “The initial investigation shows […] that 5 to 6 kg of explosive material was used [and] that someone came here and left a bag of explosives.”It was not immediately clear how many children were among those killed or wounded, as the students gathered at the school included many who were adults.There was no immediate claim of responsibility following the attack.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/several-dead-in-blast-at-religious-school-in-pakistans-peshawar

 

 

 

Israeli Museum Plans To Sell Off Rare Islamic Antiquities

A museum in Israel has sparked outrage with plans to sell dozens of rare Islamic antiquities, including centuries-old carpets, armaments and ceramics from across the Middle East, at a public auction.L.A. Mayer Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem plans to put 190 pieces on the block at Sotheby's on Tuesday and to auction off more than 60 antique watches and timepieces later this week. The rare pieces are expected to fetch several million dollars.Israel's Culture Ministry has condemned the sale and vowed to do everything it can to prevent it. President Reuven Rivlin said he was following the issue with “concern” and called on authorities to prevent the sale of such cultural assets.AP

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/middle-east/israeli-museum-plans-to-sell-off-rare-islamic-antiquities.html

 

 

Malaysia PM Muhyiddin gets reprieve from key political ally

The largest party in Malaysia’s ruling political alliance has declared its support for Muhyiddin Yassin, providing some respite for the prime minister who was facing calls for his resignation after the king rejected his plan to impose a state of emergency.The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, which earlier this month threatened to withdraw support for Muhyiddin, said late on Monday it would now back him so the government could focus efforts on managing a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/27/malaysia-pm-muhyiddin-gets-reprieve-from-key-political-ally-umno

 

 

*OPINIONS-EDITORIALS*

 

Movement against ‘Manusmriti’ must be robustly feminist and unconditionally assert women’s autonomy:Kavita Krishnan

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/periyar-and-feminism-manusmriti-on-women-manu-dharma-feminism-6887237/

 

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