HEADLINES

·        Farmers Vow Delhi-Jaipur Blockade Tomorrow, Ignore PM's Appeal

·        Farmers’ protest: Union ministers claim ‘anti-social elements’ have overtaken demonstrations

·        Farms laws will increase scarcity of food, allow Ambani, Adani to hoard grains: Farmers’ leader Hannan Mollah

·        After a year’s break, fresh anti-CAA protests begin in Assam

·        US: Silicon Valley County passes resolution against CAA

·        Karnataka Cattle anti-slaughter Bill: After roadblock in Council, govt plans Ordinance

·        ‘Foreign manoeuvres’ in Western Sahara destablising Algeria: PM

·        As Israel and Moroccan Jews celebrate new ties, others are critical

 

INDIA

 

Farmers Vow Delhi-Jaipur Blockade Tomorrow, Ignore PM's Appeal

New Delhi: Thousands of farmers from Rajasthan will take out a tractor rally to block Delhi-Jaipur highway on Sunday, demonstrators protesting the centre's new agricultural laws said on Saturday, vowing to intensify their agitation despite a fresh appeal from PM Narendra Modi. Protesters will also hold a nationwide demonstration at all district offices on Monday and hold a hunger strike from 8 am to 5 pm, they said. Thousands of policemen were stationed near Delhi's borders to stop them from blocking major highways and taking over more roads into the capital. Defending the centre's reforms again, PM Modi this morning said: "We've taking all these initiatives to increase the farmers' income and make them more prosperous. Today, farmers of India can sell their produce both at the mandis, as well as outside."More than 1,000 policemen were posted on Gurgaon's border with Delhi and 3,500 policemen in Faridabad to block the movement of protesters after they said they will occupy Delhi-Jaipur highway. Police in large numbers also stopped groups of hundreds of farmers from blocking the main highway from Delhi to Agra.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/farmers-to-block-delhi-jaipur-highway-as-protests-intensify-10-facts-2337592?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Farmers’ Protest: Farmer union leaders to sit on hunger strike on Dec 14

With the farm protests spilling over to the third week and no end in sight to the deadlock, farmer leaders on Saturday said they have decided to intensify their agitation against the controversial agriculture laws and that their union leaders will sit on a hunger strike on December 14.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-protest-live-updates-delhi-chalo-punjab-haryana-farm-laws-7100387/

 

Farmers’ protest: Union ministers claim ‘anti-social elements’ have overtaken demonstrations

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday claimed that some “anti-social elements” were plotting to spoil the atmosphere of the farmers’ movement, reported PTI. He also appealed to the protesting farmers to ensure that their platform was not being misused. “A proposal to resolve the farmers’ objection has also been sent to the farmers’ union and the government is ready for further discussion,” Tomar said. “Anti-social elements are conspiring to spoil the atmosphere of the peasant movement under the guise of farmers. I appeal to the peasant brothers to be vigilant and not provide their platform to such anti-social elements.”Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad claimed there was evidence of a “sinister design” in the ongoing demonstrations against the farm laws, and that it was being overtaken by the “tukde tukde gang”, reported India Today. “Tukde-tukde gang” is a term used to target people BJP and its supporters allege are out to balkanise India.“It is possible that the negotiations [between the government and farmers’ unions] failed due to them,” he added. Union minister made the remarks, noting the posters at the protests expressing solidarity with former JNU student Umar Khalid, and student activist Sharjeel Imam. Earlier in the day, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Centre was ready to hold discussions with farmers, adding that “they want people like Sharjeel Imam to be released”. Imam and Khalid are currently lodged in jail in connection with the violence that broke out in North East Delhi.

https://scroll.in/latest/981002/farmers-protest-union-ministers-claim-anti-social-elements-have-overtaken-demonstrations

 

Farmers protest hijacked by 'Ultra-Left', extremist elements: Intel inputs

NEW DELHI: Ultra-Left leaders and pro-Left Wing extremist elements have hijacked the farmers’ agitation, government sources claimed on Friday, a claimed junked by the farmers as propaganda to defame them. The government sources said there are “credible intelligence inputs” that extremist elements will spur incidents of violence, arson and damage to public property in the coming days. “Radical elements have advised the farmers to block Delhi-Jaipur highway,” said a source. The claims came after posters demanding the release of writers, intellectuals and rationalists, mainly arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad and Delhi riots cases, came up at the sites where the farmers are on sit-in protests to demand the scrapping of three recently passed farm laws.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/12/farmers-protest-hijacked-by-ultra-left-extremist-elements-intel-inputs-2235126.html

 

 

Intensifying their agitation, farmers’ unions close toll plazas across Haryana, Punjab

Intensifying their protest against the recently-enacted farm laws, members of different farmers’ unions on Saturday forced all the toll plazas across Haryana and Punjab to close, giving a free pass to motorists. The union members started gathering at various toll plazas, where the motorists were being charged, and forced the operators to close down the toll collection counters.The toll plazas on Chandigarh-Shimla highway in Panchkula, Chandigarh-Delhi highway at Ambala and Karnal, besides in Panipat, Sonepat, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak and other places where toll was being charged from the road users were all forced to closed down operations.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/intensifying-their-agitation-farmers-unions-close-toll-plazas-across-haryana-and-punjab

 

Farm law protests: Haryana deputy CM says he will resign if MSP is discontinued

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala has promised to resign from his post if he is unable to ensure the minimum support price guarantee for the procurement of farmers’ crops, ANI reported.

https://scroll.in/latest/980982/farm-law-protests-haryana-deputy-cm-says-he-will-resign-if-msp-is-discontinued

 

Farms laws will increase scarcity of food, allow Ambani, Adani to hoard grains: Farmers’ leader Hannan Mollah

Farmers from across the country have been protesting against the three farm laws passed by the BJP government for more than two months. It has been sixteen days since farmers from different states began to camp at various Delhi borders.All India Kisan Sabha general secretary and senior farmer leader Hannan Mollah stressed that all the three laws are a death knell for the farmers. They only aid corporates such Reliance and Adani Groups, he underscored.Mollah, a nine-time Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal, has led several agitations in support of farmers.Mollah pointed out that whenever protests don’t go in the favour of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh attempts to paint the protestors as anti-nationals taking support of foreign countries. Here too they have said that the farmers have help from Pakistan and China.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/videos/farms-laws-will-increase-scarcity-of-food-allow-ambani-adani-to-hoard-grains-farmers-leader-hannan-mollah

 

After a year’s break, fresh anti-CAA protests begin in Assam

Guwahati: After a year-long hiatus, a fresh round of protests against CAA was launched in Assam from Friday, months ahead of the next Assembly polls in the state.Many indigenous groups in Assam and other states in the region feel CAA would lead to an influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which in turn could hurt indigenous communities.The fresh round of protests have been supported by 18 organisations including NESO, AASU, AJYCP and KMSS. All student organizations in 7 northeastern states which are affiliated to NESO marked Friday as a Black Day. The organization had also observed Black Day on Dec.11 last year, the day CAA was passed by Rajya Sabha.“We won’t accept CAA at any cost. NESO had observed Black Day in all states in the region on December 11 last year and this year too we are registering our protest in the same manner on the same date,” said NESO chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya in Guwahati.KMSS, which had spearheaded the anti-CAA protests last year along with AASU and AJYCP, started their fresh round of protests on Thursday. The organization staged a large protest in Sivasagar on Friday which will be followed by a state-wide protest on Saturday.Founder of KMSS, Akhil Gogoi, who was arrested on December 12 last year for allegedly fanning violent anti-CAA protests, continues to remain in jail.AASU’s protests began on Friday with a ‘gana hunkar’ (mass outcry) and torch rallies against CAA while AJYCP also organised a rally against the legislation.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/after-a-year-s-break-fresh-anti-caa-protests-begin-in-assam/story-8BFmVl25qUsClPMOLtk3AP.html

 

US: Silicon Valley County passes resolution against CAA

Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos has welcomed the resolution passed by Alameda County in the state of California against draconian Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and related initiatives such as NRC and NPR that threaten to disenfranchise millions of Indian Muslims. Alameda County resolution refers to the fact that the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom designated India as “Country of Particular Concern ( CPC),” and that the Commission in its 2020 report, said that India was “engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, egregious religious freedom violations.”“Furthermore, it proclaimed that Alameda County Board of Supervisors opposes the CAA, NPR and NRC in India which together are discriminatory towards Muslims, caste oppressed minorities, women and indigenous people,” the resolution concluded.Ahsan Khan, the President of Indian American Muslim Council, said, the “resolution passed by Alameda County, is consistent with the values of the American and Indian democracies. And hence, I strongly believe that such opposition of various city councils to Indian government’s exclusionary laws, should be a model for the incoming Biden administration to follow and uphold.”MuslimMirror

http://muslimmirror.com/eng/us-silicon-valley-county-passes-resolution-against-caa/

 

Saudi deported Indians for protesting against Modi's anti-Muslim NRC

Arab media has reported that Saudi Arabia deported a number of NRIs living in the Gulf state for protesting against the highly controversial register introduced by the government of PM Narendra Modi. Inspired by Shaheen Bagh Protests in India last year, where a group of mainly Muslim women organised a sit-in to deonstrate against NRC, a number of Indians living in Jeddah are said to have shown their solidarity by holding placards against the proposed registration bill. The protest landed NRIs in trouble. It's reported that they were arrested for violating rules that prohibit any kind of assembly and protest and repatriated back to India. Gulf countries have zero tolerance towards any kind of protest, demonstration, or gatherings. But the protesters, some of whom were young, are said to have been unaware of this basic rule. Many also got into trouble for posting support on social media.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-saudi-deported-indians-for-protesting-against-narendra-modis-anti-muslim-register/

 

Delhi HC dismisses petition to transfer case against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad to NIA

 Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction to transfer the investigation of a case lodged against Tablighi Jamaat leader Maulana Saad from Delhi Police to NIA, reported PTI. The case is related to Saad holding a congregation in March in alleged violation of the orders against large gatherings to contain the spread of coronavirus.A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh dismissed the plea after the petitioner sought permission to approach the Supreme Court seeking similar relief, according to Live Law. The bench said once the petition has already been filed in the Supreme Court with similar prayers, it cannot keep it pending in the High Court.

https://scroll.in/latest/980992/delhi-hc-dismisses-petition-to-transfer-case-against-tablighi-jamaat-leader-maulana-saad-to-nia

 

Madras HC orders TN police inquiry after over 100 kg of gold goes missing from CBI custody

Madras High Court on Friday ordered Tamil Nadu Police to look into the disappearance of 103 kg gold worth over Rs 43 crore from CBI’s custody, rejecting its contention that “the prestige of the CBI would come down if investigation is done by local police”, reported Live Law.The court asked the state police’s Crime Branch to file a first information report in the case. “It may be an agni pariksha [trial by fire] for CBI, but that cannot be helped,” it said. “If their hands are clean, like Sita, they may come out brighter. If not, they would have to face the music.”

https://scroll.in/latest/981037/agni-pariksha-madras-hc-orders-tn-police-to-probe-over-100-kg-of-missing-gold-from-cbi-custody

 

Karnataka Cattle anti-slaughter Bill: After roadblock in Council, govt plans Ordinance

BJP government in Karnataka may promulgate an Ordinance to bring the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 into force after the legislation, which was cleared by the assembly on Wednesday, hit a roadblock in the legislative council on Thursday.The government had deferred tabling the Bill amid apprehensions that it may be defeated or referred to a select committee on the demand of a combined opposition. It sought to table the Bill on Friday but council Chairman Prathapchandra Shetty adjourned the winter session Thursday evening itself, as decided in legislative business advisory committee meetings held earlier.“We plan to bring an Ordinance for the cattle slaughter Bill since the Chairman of the council did not cooperate yesterday,” Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Friday after his family conducted a cow puja at his official residence to celebrate the passage of the Bill in the assembly.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/karnataka-cattle-anti-slaughter-bill-after-roadblock-in-council-govt-plans-ordinance-7101531/

 

11 workers hospitalised after massive explosion in Hyderabad chemical factory

At least 11 workers were shifted to a hospital after a massive explosion at a chemical factory in the industrial development area in Bollarum on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Saturday, officials said. Several others are injured and many are feared trapped, they added. Four fire engines were rushed to the spot as thick fumes were seen billowing after the explosion inside Vindhya Organics, Sangareddy divisional fire officer V Srinivas said. Workers were seen running due to the chaos caused by the explosion.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/several-injured-many-trapped-after-massive-explosion-in-hyderbad-chemical-factory/story-jMbahVlE4JlmFC3FXkpBNM.html

 

India says it has independent foreign policy after Russian minister’s ‘anti-China’ claim

Ministry of External Affairs on Friday rejected Russia’s claim that India was being subjected to a “devious policy” of the West to get the country to engage in “anti-China games”, saying New Delhi has an independent foreign policy based on its own national interests.Anurag Srivastava, the official spokesperson of the foreign ministry, said that India’s vision for the Indo-Pacific region was not directed against any country. “India has always pursued an independent foreign policy based on its national interest,” he told a press briefing. “India’s relationship with each country is independent of its relations with third countries.”

https://scroll.in/latest/981017/india-says-it-has-independent-foreign-policy-after-russian-ministers-anti-china-claim

 

India accuses China of violating border agreements, seeking unilateral change in status along LAC

India on Friday once again blamed China for the ongoing border standoff between the two countries, claiming that it tried to effect a “unilateral change” in the eastern Ladakh region.“Situation that we have seen since last six months has been a result of the actions of Chinese side which has sought to effect a unilateral change in status along Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said during a press briefing.Srivastava said that China’s actions were in violation of the bilateral agreements and protocol on ensuring peace and tranquillity along the border.

https://scroll.in/latest/980995/india-accuses-china-of-violating-border-agreements-seeking-unilateral-change-in-status-along-lac

 

J&K: 4G internet remains blocked till December 25, except in two districts

Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday extended the ban on high-speed 4G internet services till December 25, except in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts. Last month, the administration had extended the ban till Friday.“The mobile internet services had to be suspended, although for limited periods of time and in specific areas, due to likelihood of misuse of the data services by the anti national elements to disrupt the democratic process by creating a scare among the voters, carrying out attacks on security forces, targeting of contesting candidates and the workers,” the order by Principal Secretary Home Department Shaleen Kabra read.

https://scroll.in/latest/981007/jammu-and-kashmir-4g-internet-remains-blocked-till-december-25-except-in-two-districts

 

PIL to control population: Can’t coerce family planning, Centre tells SC

Centre has told the Supreme Court that India is unequivocally against forcing family planning on its people and any coercion to have a certain number of children is counter-productive and leads to demographic distortions.In an affidavit filed in the top court, the health ministry told the apex court that the family welfare programme in the country is voluntary in nature, which enables couples to decide the size of their family and adopt family planning methods best suited to them, according to their choice and without any compulsion.The submission was made in response to a PIL filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay challenging a Delhi High Court order that dismissed a plea seeking certain steps, including 2-child norm, to control the country's growing population.PTI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/pil-to-control-population-cant-coerce-family-planning-centre-tells-sc

 

Tamil Nadu: Three arrested for forcing Dalit boys to carry their excreta

3 upper caste youths have been arrested in Tamil Nadu for allegedly forcing five minor Dalit boys to clean up their excreta from ground. The incident took place near Sirukudal village in Perambalur district on Friday. According to reports, the boys, aged 10-15 years, had gone to relieve themselves in an open ground. On seeing them, the accused allegedly asked them to remove their excreta from the ground and carry them in gunny bags that the upper caste youths handed over to them. The accused have been identified as Abinesh (20), Selvakumar (24) and Silambarasan (22). They have been arrested under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.Chennai

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tamil-nadu-three-arrested-for-forcing-dalit-children-to-carry-their-excreta-7101967/

 

India, Iran and Uzbekistan to hold talks on Monday on joint use Chabahar port

For the first time, India, Iran and Uzbekistan will hold a trilateral dialogue on Monday on joint use of the strategically located Chabahar port which is being increasingly seen as a fulcrum of connectivity to Central Asia.The announcement of the meeting was made by MEA.“The first trilateral working group meeting between India, Iran and Uzbekistan on joint use of Chabahar Port will be held virtually on December 14,” MEA said.PTI

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-iran-and-uzbekistan-to-hold-talks-on-monday-on-joint-use-chabahar-port-7102139/

 

 

CORONA

6 million children out of school in India due to the impact of COVID-19; girls most affected

COVID-19 pandemic raging across the globe has led to the closure of schools. In India alone, it has affected the education of nearly 290 million children. Already, there were six million children out of school. This number threatens to go up due to economic insecurity in their families due to COVID-19, causing many children to leave studies.This has especially affected the girl child.The world, according to both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, has never seen the level of contraction of the economy in the last 80 years as may happen in the current year.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/six-million-children-out-of-school-in-india-due-to-the-impact-of-covid-19-girls-most-affected

 

Coronavirus: US drug regulator authorises Pfizer vaccine for emergency use

US Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted emergency use approval to the coronavirus vaccine developed by pharmaceutical company Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. This is the first vaccine candidate to have been authorised by the country to combat the spread of Covid-19, which has taken more than 2.90 lakh American lives.The vaccine had shown to be 95% effective in preventing the disease in a late-stage trial. The first inoculations are expected to happen early next week.

https://scroll.in/latest/981012/coronavirus-us-drug-regulator-authorises-pfizer-vaccine-for-emergency-use

 

 

WORLD

 

‘Foreign manoeuvres’ in Western Sahara destablising Algeria: PM

Algeria’s prime minister has criticised “foreign manoeuvres” that he says are aimed to destabilise it, after US recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Rabat normalising ties with Israel. “There are foreign manoeuvres which aim to destabilise Algeria,” Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad on Saturday said, in Algeria’s first reaction to US decision. “There is now a desire by the Zionist entity to come closer to our borders,” he said, referring to Israel. Algeria, Morocco’s neighbour and regional rival, is the key foreign backer of Polisario Front, which has campaigned for independence for the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara since the 1970s.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/12/foreign-manoeuvres-in-w-sahara-destablising-algeria-pm

 

As Israel and Moroccan Jews celebrate new ties, others are critical

Israel and Moroccan Jews on Friday celebrated an agreement to normalise relations between the two countries, but the largest party in Morocco's government faced internal wrangling over a move that some Moroccans regard as a betrayal of Palestinians. US-brokered deal – the fourth such "normalisation" announcement involving an Arab country and Israel in as many months – also drew criticism from Moscow.A core element of the deal brokered by President Donald Trump was US recognition of Morocco's claim to sovereignty over Western Sahara. A decades-old territorial dispute has pitted Morocco against Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks to establish an independent state.Russia's foreign ministry said the US decision to recognise Moroccan sovereignty was a breach of international law, the RIA news agency reported.Winning global support for its claim over Western Sahara is Morocco's most important foreign policy goal. It has also often pursued a more open stance towards Israel and Israelis of Moroccan descent than have other Arab states. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said on Thursday that King Mohammed VI has pursued a US shift in its Western Sahara policy for 3 years, forging close ties with Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner.But while the king has the final say on foreign policy, the moderate Islamist PJD – which gained the most seats in a 2016 election – did not appear wholly united on the announcement about Israel.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201212-as-israel-and-moroccan-jews-celebrate-new-ties-others-are-critical/

 

 

Algeria parties condemn normalisation between Morocco and Israel

Algerian parties have criticised the tripartite agreement between Morocco, the US and Israel, considering it a political, diplomatic and ethical stain. Meanwhile, the Moroccan people have expressed their rejection of normalisation through their mass protests and various efforts to hinder this step.In a statement published on Facebook, National Liberation Front (FLN) confirmed that it had: "Angrily denounced and condemned the announcement made by the Kingdom of Morocco regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations with the usurping Zionist entity, in exchange for the recognition of US president of Morocco's alleged sovereignty over occupied Western Sahara."The statement added: "The most remarkable part of the humiliating and shameful agreement that traded the nation's honour, is that it coincided with Human Rights Day (10 December)."

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201212-algeria-parties-condemn-normalisation-between-morocco-and-israel/

 

Tunisian, Yemeni politicians slam Morocco, Israel deal

Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki and Yemeni presidential advisor Abdul Malik al-Mikhlafi Friday condemned the controversial announcement of normalisation of relations between Morocco and Israel, Anadolu Agency reported. "As a Tunisian citizen and a Maghrebian, I condemn the Moroccan administration's normalisation with Israel at a time when Israeli illegal settlement and annexation activities and all kind of violations against Palestinian rights are on the rise," Marzouki said on social media."The rights of the Palestinian people will continue to be bound by law and conscience," al-Mikhlafi said on Twitter.Al-Mikhlafi underlined that the Moroccan people reject normalisation with Israel.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-tunisian-yemeni-politicians-slam-morocco-israel-deal/

 

Polisario ambassador to Algeria: 'Trump agreement with Rabat and Tel Aviv is null and void' 

Ambassador of Popular Front for Liberation of Saguia El-Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario Front), Abdelkader Taleb Omar, declared that Trump's agreement with Rabat and Tel Aviv is null, lacks legitimacy, and violates UN resolutions.In his statement to the official Algerian news agency, the Sahrawi ambassador stressed that this agreement: "Will not affect the determination of the Sahrawis in their struggle for their cause." Omar explained that Trump does not have the right to control sovereignty over the disputed land, and that: "Only the Sahrawi people have the right to decide on the matter."

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201212-polisario-ambassador-to-algeria-trump-agreement-with-rabat-and-tel-aviv-is-null-and-void/

 

 

Israel joins International Security Alliance 'to promote peace and security'

Israel has officially joined International Security Alliance (ISA), an Abu Dhabi-based group created to fight organised and transnational crime, the Jerusalem Post has reported. Public Security Minister Amir Ohana described the move as "an important step in promoting peace and security in our region" during an ISA forum on Wednesday evening. "On behalf of the government of Israel, we are proud that you have chosen us to be members of this important alliance," said Ohana. "Progress with Arab world alongside the excellent relations with our European counterparts will allow us to contribute to an alliance that touches on some of the most important issues in the areas of safety and homeland security." He thanked his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-israel-joins-international-security-alliance-to-promote-peace-and-security/

 

Israel launches mock raids in south Lebanon airspace

Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli fighter jets carried out "intensive mock raids" in the southern Lebanese areas of Nabatieh and Iqlim Al-Toufah.This comes as part of Israel's repeated violations of Lebanon's airspace. The official news agency added that Israel carried out the raids at a medium altitude.Lebanese has witnessed an atmosphere of cautious calm after a series of infiltration operations from Lebanese territories into Israel over recent weeks.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-israel-launches-mock-raids-in-south-lebanon-airspace/

 

IHRA definition of anti-Semitism has been weaponised, warns lead drafter

The man who took the lead in drafting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, Kenneth Stern, has warned the incoming Biden administration not to adopt it. In a sensational article in the Times of Israel, Stern claimed that pro-Israel lobby groups have weaponised the definition in an attempt to silence critics of Zionism."Jewish groups have used the definition as a weapon to say anti-Zionist expressions are inherently anti-Semitic and must be suppressed," wrote Stern. The director of the Bard Centre for the Study of Hate, who is also an attorney, wrote his article in response to a letter from the Jewish Federation of North America to the Biden-Harris Transition Commission, urging them to adopt IHRA as one of its top priorities when they take office next month."Reasonable people can have different opinions about when anti-Semitism is reflected in anti-Zionism," continued Stern "But is this – having the government label anti-Zionism [as] anti-Semitism — the number one way we want to ask the new administration to fight the problem?"

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-ihra-definition-of-anti-semitism-has-been-weaponised-warns-lead-drafter/

 

Iran will not oppose Palestine-Israel deal, Biden expected to back normalisation

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said that his country will not recognise the state of Israel but it would not have a problem if Palestinians and Israelis reach an agreement, according to Russia Today.American news website Axios had reported that US President-Elect Joe Biden supports and plans to expand the so-called Abraham Accords, a series of individual normalisation agreements that Trump Administration has brokered between Israel and individual Arab countries. Endorsing the agreements could help Biden "build positive relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders in the Persian Gulf," Axios reported.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-iran-will-not-oppose-palestine-israel-deal-biden-expected-to-back-normalisation/

 

 

Sudan confiscates Bin Laden's farm, ends services of 30 ambassadors

Empowerment Elimination, Anti-Corruption, and Funds Recovery Committee in Sudan announced the confiscation of a farm owned by former Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden as well as ending the services of 30 ambassadors from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In addition, it was reported that land would be seized under the possession of officials of the regime led by former President Omar Al-Bashir.Deputy Chairman of the committee and a member of the Sovereignty Council Mohamed Al-Faki affirmed that the committee ended the services of 30 ambassadors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, due to their ties with the previous regime.Committee member Salah Manna disclosed in a press conference, reported by Sputnik, that the state had recovered a farm owned by Bin Laden, which had been seized from one of the officials of the former regime.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201212-sudan-confiscates-bin-ladens-farm-ends-services-of-30-ambassadors/

 

North Cyprus president: EU's stance on Cyprus 'blows up' chance of cooperation

EU missed an opportunity of cooperation in the region by ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriots and Turkey, said the presidency of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Anadolu Agency reports.In a written statement issued in response to the outcome of the two-day EU leaders summit in Brussels, the presidency said: "EU's unconditional support for the Greek Cypriots and Greece by ignoring the rights of Turkish Cypriot people and the Republic of Turkey under the cover of 'membership solidarity' blows up the opportunity of interdependence and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean."It added that it is not possible for the EU, which has already lost a chance to become an impartial actor in solving the Cyprus issue, to undertake a constructive role with this stance.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201211-north-cyprus-president-eus-stance-on-cyprus-blows-up-chance-of-cooperation/

 

Afghan deal, Israel aid: A look at $740bn US defence bill

US Congress has overwhelmingly approved a national defence bill authorising an annual $740bn US military budget – the world’s largest – for the 2021 fiscal year, despite President Donald Trump’s promise to use his veto.The bill would limit Trump’s authority to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan, South Korea and Germany in the closing days of his presidency – and authorises $69bn for overseas military operations.Among a slew of measures, the bill contains several provisions affecting countries in the Middle East, including $3.1bn in annual US military aid to Israel included in a 10-year commitment reached by former President Barack Obama.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/11/us-defence-budget-bill-provisions-afghan-deal-israel-aid

 

Iran executes dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam: State TV

Iran has executed a once-exiled journalist over his online work that helped inspire nationwide economic protests in 2017, authorities have said.Iranian state television, the state-run IRNA news agency and the semi-official Nour news agency all said Ruhollah Zam was hanged early on Saturday morning.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/12/iran-executes-dissident-journalist-ruhollah-zam-state-tv

 

 

OPINIONS-EDITORIALS-VIEWS

 

Lessons from anti-CAA protests:Kanishk Bhawsar

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/lessons-from-anti-caa-protests-7101411/

 

‘We were here’: What the anti-CAA protests meant to this law student:Iqra Khan

https://scroll.in/article/980314/we-were-here-what-the-anti-caa-protests-meant-to-this-law-student

 

‘Suit Boot Ki Sarkar’: Farmers’ boycott call is the first serious challenge to Ambani and Adani :AJ Prabal

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/suit-boot-ki-sarkar-farmers-boycott-call-is-the-first-serious-challenge-to-ambani-and-adani

 

DDC polls in J&K recall an unsuccessful experiment in Sri Lanka four decades ago:

Nirupama Subramanian

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/jammu-kashmir-ddc-elections-sri-lanka-nirupama-subramanian-7101451/

 

Farm laws alter bargaining landscape in favour of corporate players:Aadil Boparai

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/farmers-protest-agri-laws-apmc-msp-congress-bjp-7101450/

 

END