HEADLINES

·        UP’s ‘love jihad’ law partisan towards Muslim women? Police refuses to take cognisance of cases involving them

·        Restore temples razed to build mosque within Qutub Minar complex: Petition in Delhi court

·        Indus Valley civilisation had meat-heavy diets, preference for beef, reveals study

·        CAA rules still under preparation: Centre

·        Assam NRC list of Aug.2019 not final, state coordinator tells Gauhati HC

·        After farmers unanimously reject Centre’s proposal, warn to intensify protests;  Govt ready to consider any provision in farm laws where farmers have issues, says Tomar

·        China, Pakistan behind farmers’ protest: Union minister Raosaheb Danve

·        Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) to seek release of ‘rights activists’, Delhi riots accused

·        Emergency vaccine use proposals by Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech rejected; ministry denies report

·        Over 80 million people forcibly displaced globally as of mid-2020, COVID further worsened crisis: UN

·        UNGA: 153 countries called on Israel to 'renounce' nuclear weapons

·        Netanyahu to visit Egypt in first official visit in decade

 

INDIA

 

UP’s ‘love jihad’ law partisan towards Muslim women? Police refuses to take cognisance of cases involving them

Yogi Government’s much-hyped ‘Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2020’, popularly referred to as ‘love jihad’ law, is marred by religious favouritism. UP Police has registered 6 cases in the last seven days when Hindu women were allegedly lured into ‘forcible’ marriages or deceived, but it ignored similar cases where Muslim women were involved.“The law is partisan towards Muslim girls. Any legislation cannot be viewed under a religious lens. The law should hold true for Hindu and Muslim girls alike. But unfortunately, this is not the case with Muslim girls who too could be deceived by Hindu men and forced to convert from their religion,” Madhu Garg, state president of AIDWA said. Garg gives example of two Muslim women who are running from pillar to post to get people arrested under the new law for being deceived into getting married. Shakeela aka Soni, 22, who hails from Kushinagar, married one Suresh Yadav in Lucknow in 2013 in a temple. They stayed in a rented accommodation in Lucknow. Shakeela changed her religion after marriage and became Soni. In early 2017, she came to know that Suresh Yadav was already married and had children too.Soni says she was sexually exploited and tortured. Suresh threatened her with dire consequences if the matter was reported to the police or anyone else. He has now abandoned her and their two-year-old son.Another case is of Ruqaiyya Bano, 35, who married one Yashwardhan Srivastava in 2017 in an Arya Samaj temple. She got converted to Hinduism and was renamed as Muskan. Later, her husband refused to have anything to do with her and even denied that they had got married, despite the fact that she has pictures of the marriage and a certificate from the temple to prove that she got married to him.“My parents say I’m a Hindu while my in-laws say I am Muslim. I am fighting to prove who I am – Ruqaiyya Bano or Muskan Srivastava,” she said. AIDWA, which has taken up the case of these two Muslim women, want the police to register cases under the new law against the culprits and arrest them as is being done in other cases where Muslim men and Hindu women are concerned.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/ups-love-jihad-law-partisan-towards-muslim-women-police-refuses-to-take-cognisance-of-cases-involving-them

 

UP: No FIR, no conversion, but Muslim man held for ‘love jihad’ probe

MEERUT: A Muslim man, 27, and a Hindu woman, 24, fell in love, eloped and started living together. Their parents, while not supportive, didn’t press charges. The woman had not been misled about the man’s religious identity. But now, under pressure from right-wing groups against what they said was a case of “love jihad”, police have been holding the man for questioning and have sent the woman to a shelter. But they don’t know how an FIR could possibly be filed. “The woman said the man hadn’t hidden his identity.""So, we called up her parents, who said they have disowned her but didn’t press charges,” Kankerkheda SHO Tapeshwar Sagar told TOI. An Allahabad high court judgment had weeks ago upheld personal liberty in choosing a partner, referring to interfaith marriages.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/no-fir-no-conversion-but-muslim-man-held-for-love-jihad-probe/articleshow/79648822.cms

 

Restore temples razed to build mosque within Qutub Minar complex: Petition in Delhi court

A civil suit has been filed before Delhi’s Saket Court alleging that 'Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid' situated within the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli was built in place of a temple complex. The plea, filed on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and Hindu deity Lord Vishnu (through their next of friends), seeks restoration of the alleged temple complex, comprising of as many as 27 temples. Civil Judge Neha Sharma fixed the next date of hearing on Dec.24, legal news website Live Law has reported. Plea has alleged that 27 Hindu and Jain temples were dismantled, desecrated and damaged under the command of Mughal emperor Qutub-Din-Aibak, who raised some construction at the same very place of temples naming it as, 'Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque'.It is submitted that the Mughal ruler failed to completely demolish the existing temples and only partial demolition was carried out and after reusing the material of the temples, the said mosque was erected.It is pointed out that the petitioner's version is also supported by a short history displayed by ASI, which narrates that 27 temples were demolished and reusing materials of demolished temples the construction of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was raised. Petitioners have thus urged the court to decree the suit in nature of declaration, declaring that deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and deity Lord Vishnu, along with Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Goddess Gauri, God Sun, Lord Hanuman including presiding deities of 27 temples, have right to be restored and worshiped with rites & rituals, performance of regular pooja within the temple complex situated in the area of Qutub Complex in Mehruli.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/restore-temples-razed-to-build-mosque-within-qutub-minar-complex-petition-in-delhi-court

 

Indus Valley civilisation had meat-heavy diets, preference for beef, reveals study

The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation in northwest India had a predominantly meat-heavy diet, comprising animals like pigs, cattle, buffalo and sheep, along with dairy products, a study published in Journal of Archaeological Science has shown. High proportions of cattle bones was also found, which may suggest a “cultural preference for beef consumption” across Indus populations, the study, titled, Lipid residues in pottery from the Indus Civilisation in northwest India, said. The research offers insights into the food patterns of ancient South Asia by using lipid residue analysis to investigate what kinds of food items were used in ceramic vessels by people of the Indus Valley Civilisation settlements in northwest India, the present-day states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.It was led by Akshyeta Suryanarayan as part of her PhD at the University of Cambridge.“Our study of lipid residues in Indus pottery shows a dominance of animal products in vessels, such as the meat of non-ruminant animals like pigs, ruminant animals like cattle or buffalo and sheep or goat, as well as dairy products,” Suryanarayan said, according to a press release by the Cambridge University.“The high proportions of cattle bones may suggest a cultural preference for beef consumption across Indus populations, supplemented by the consumption of mutton/lamb,” the research said.

https://scroll.in/latest/980808/indus-valley-civilisation-had-meat-heavy-diets-reveals-study

 

CAA rules still under preparation, says Centre

e Ministry of Home Affairs has said that rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act, which was passed in Dec.2019, are still under preparation, The Hindu reported on Wednesday.The Centre responded to a Right to Information query filed by the newspaper, asking for the status of the framing of rules for the Act. “It is to inform that the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 are under preparation,” Director (Citizenship) Foreigners Division BC Joshi said in the RTI response. Joshi added that his office had not sent any letter related to the CAA to the Parliamentary Committee on Subordinate Legislation in August.

https://scroll.in/latest/980821/citizenship-amendment-act-rules-still-under-preparation-says-centre

 

Assam NRC list of Aug.2019 not final, state coordinator tells Gauhati HC

Assam’s National Register of Citizens Coordinator Hitesh Sarma has informed the Gauhati High Court that NRC list published in August last year was not complete, and the final list of the exercise was “yet to be published” by the Registrar General of India. In an affidavit filed on Dec.3, accessed by Scroll.in on Thursday, Sarma told the court that NRC list published on Aug.31, 2019, was a “supplementary National Register of Citizens”, and was fraught with errors as it included “4,700-odd ineligible names”.Despite him informing Registrar General of India about the errors, Sarma said the central body had been silent on the publication of the actual “final NRC”.The official submitted that all anomalies detected by him in NRC list of 2019 were communicated to RGI in Feb. He said he even sought “necessary directions for corrective measures in the interest of an error-free NRC which is of utmost importance as NRC is directly related to national security and integrity”.But the Registrar General of India did not issue any directions to deal with the anomalies, Sarma claimed. “Rather, instructions have been received for issue of rejection slips and winding up of the operation of updation of NRC,” he added.

https://scroll.in/latest/980817/assam-nrc-list-of-august-2019-not-final-state-coordinator-tells-gauhati-hc

 

Farmers’ Protest Updates: Govt ready to consider any provision in farm laws where farmers have issues, says Tomar

As the ongoing farmers’ protest entered day 15, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday urged union leaders to consider the proposals and said he is ready for further discussions with them. “The government is ready to consider with an open mind any provision in the new laws where farmers have any issues and we want to clarify all their apprehensions,” Tomar said at a press conference here.A 20-page proposal offered by the Centre was rejected by farmer unions on Wednesday for being “vague”. Farmers, who are steadfast in their demand that the three farm laws be repealed, said any further talks with the government would be based on the proposals they receive.Farmers have threated to intensify their agitation by blocking more highways leading to Delhi. On December 14, they said the residences of BJP leaders, ministers and offices would be gheraoed, and dharnas would take place at district headquarters across the country. In the southern states, the protests would continue indefinitely.In its proposal, the Centre had offered significant concessions including a written assurance on continuation of MSP-based procurement and ensuring parity in transactions inside and outside existing APMC mandis. The proposal had been sent a day after 13 farmer leaders met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.Meanwhile, a delegation of senior Opposition leaders, led by former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja, submitted a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind Wednesday, urging him to persuade the government to repeal the contentious laws. “We urge upon you, as the custodian of the Indian Constitution, to persuade ‘your government’ not to be obdurate and accept the demands raised by India’s annadatas,” the petition read.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/farmers-protest-live-updates-delhi-punjab-haryana-amit-shah-7097391/

Farmers unanimously reject Centre’s proposal, protests to intensify

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/farmers-unanimously-reject-centres-proposal-protest-to-continue

 

 

Following farmers’ call, thousands flood social media calling for boycott of Adani, Reliance products

After deliberating upon a proposal sent by the government offering a written assurance on MSP, farmer leaders on Wednesday decided to reject the same. Signalling further escalation of their agitation, the union leaders said farmers across the nation would boycott all products of Adani Ltd and Reliance Industries Limited, including the highly-used Jio mobile SIM cards.Addressing the press at Singhu border, they said the government has refused to roll back the laws despite their insistence in the past six rounds of meeting. This has compelled them to escalate their protest, the leaders of the agitation said."We will block Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways on 12th December," they said, adding that payments would not be made at toll plazas and all products of Adani and Reliance will be boycotted. "We will boycott Jio SIMs as well," they added.Following the development, micro-blogging site Twitter was flooded with posts empathising with the farmers, and the hashtag #BoycottAmbaniAdani began to trend.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/following-farmers-call-thousands-flood-social-media-calling-for-boycott-of-adani-reliance-products

 

 

Now A ‘Kisan Bagh’ In Maha, Stirring Shaheen Bagh Memories

PUNE:At the height of the ‘Bharat Bandh’ a day ago, a small event started in a corner of the city has signalled a long winter of discontent among the farmers and workers in the country.Taking inspiration from the now legendary Shaheen Bagh-style of agitation last year all over India, several farmers and workers groups joined together to launch a ‘Kisan Bagh’ in Pune, to get justice for the farmers and workers in the country, the organisers said.The brainchild of veteran social worker Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav, 90, revered as Baba Adhav and many others, ‘Kisan Bagh’ started on a modest scale with 50 farmers sitting in protest outside Pune Collectorate for the second day on Wednesday.“This is the first green shoot From Thursday — the International Human Rights Day — it will start at Konkan Bhavan in Raigad, and later similar ‘Kisan Baghs’ shall come up in all regions of Maharashtra,” Jan Andolan Sangharsh Samiti (JASS) Convenor Vishwas Utagi told IANS.Though in a nascent stage, Baba Adhav feels the idea will pick up and similar ‘Kisan Baghs’ could manifest across India “as farmers all over are angry”.“I have taken part in the Independence movement, the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, the Emergency and many other agitations. But this is the first time that I have witnessed the urban population coming out in full support of the rural farmers and workers,” Baba Adhav told IANS.IANS

https://indiatomorrow.net/2020/12/09/now-a-kisan-bagh-in-maha-stirring-shaheen-bagh-memories/

 

British PM Boris Johnson confuses farmer protests with India-Pakistan conflict

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday landed himself in a controversy after he appeared to confuse the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the agricultural laws in India with the conflict between New Delhi and Pakistan.During the question period in the United Kingdom’s Parliament, MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi asked Johnson to comment on the ongoing protests in India, which have seen tens of thousands of farmers camped in the outskirts of Delhi for over two weeks now. The British MP has been a vocal supporter of the farmers and initiated a letter pledging support for the protests signed by 35 other lawmakers.

https://scroll.in/latest/980799/british-pm-boris-johnson-confuses-farmer-protests-with-india-pakistan-conflict

 

China, Pakistan behind farmers’ protest: Union minister Raosaheb Danve

Union minister Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday claimed that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers, who are seeking repeal of 3 new farm laws. He also alleged that Muslims were earlier misled over CAA and NRC, but as those efforts did not succeed, now farmers were being told that they will face losses due to the new laws.Danve was speaking at the inauguration of a health centre at Kolte Takli in Badnapur taluka of Maharashtra's Jalna district."The agitation that is going on is not that of farmers. China and Pakistan have a hand behind this. Muslims in this country were incited first. What was said (to them)? That NRC is coming, CAA is coming and Muslims will have to leave this country in six months. Did a single Muslim leave?"Those efforts didn't succeed and now farmers are being told that they will face losses. This is the conspiracy of other countries," Danve said.PTI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/china-pakistan-behind-farmers-protest-union-minister-danve

 

‘Conduct surgical strike on China, Pak’: Sanjay Raut on BJP minister’s remark on farmers’ protest

Shiv Sena on Thursday took a dig at its former ally BJP after Union minister Raosaheb Danve claimed that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers. Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said the government should “immediately conduct a surgical strike on China and Pakistan” if there is any such information.“If a Union Minister has information that China and Pakistan have a hand behind farmers’ agitation, then, the Defence Minister should immediately conduct a surgical strike on China and Pak. President, Prime Minister, Home Minister and Chiefs of Armed Forces should discuss this issue seriously,” Raut, who is also Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson said, ANI reported.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/conduct-surgical-strike-on-china-pak-sanjay-raut-on-bjp-leaders-remark-on-farmers-protest-7099257/

 

NIA chargesheets 16 operatives of pro-Khalistan group: ‘Promoting secession in Kashmir’

New Delhi :NIA has chargesheeted 16 key functionaries of pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for alleged terror activities.Those named in the chargesheet include US-based chief of the outfit Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Paramjit Singh, who were recently declared “terrorists” under the newly amended UAPA by the Centre.“Investigation in the case has revealed that Sikhs for Justice, a secessionist outfit floated in the garb of ‘Human Rights advocacy group’ with its offices in various foreign countries like the US, Canada, the UK, Australia etc, is a frontal organisation of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from foreign soils, including Pakistan,” NIA chargesheet said.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sikhs-for-justice-nia-chargesheet-7099025/

 

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) to seek release of ‘rights activists’, Delhi riots accused

Amritsar :Despite the farmer unions’ decision to keep their ongoing protest in Delhi against the farm laws “apolitical”, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) plans to use this platform to demand the release of several accused booked under UAPA for allegedly having links with Naxals, on Human Rights Day, to be observed Thursday.Pictures of more than 20 accused, including Varavara Rao, Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, booked under the stringent UAPA, will be installed on a stage near the Tikri border. Many human rights groups are also expected to participate. “We will celebrate International Human Rights Day at Baba Banda Singh Nagar, near Tikri border, to raise our voices for release of intellectuals and human rights activists. Demand for the release of these prisoners has been raised constantly throughout the agitation. Modi govt is running a Fascist agenda. On one hand it is promoting Adani and Ambani and on the other hand it is pushing intellectuals and activities into jail. Around two dozen activists have been booked under UAPA for Bhima Koregaon and instigating Delhi riots,” said Jhanda Singh Jethuke, senior vice-president of BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan).“It has been part of our demands from the very first day to release human rights activists locked up in jails…Government has said that the farm agitation is provoked by urban Naxals, Congress and Khalistanis. Urban Naxal is an excuse to prosecute people. In Punjab, people are sandwiched between state terrorism and terrorists…Naxalism has helped tribal people claim their rights,” said NK Jeet, lawyer and coordinator of BKU (Ugrahan) event.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bku-ugrahan-to-seek-release-of-rights-activists-delhi-riots-accused-7098812/

 

5 men with suspected Hizbul links sent to Delhi police custody

NEW DELHI: 5 suspects,arrested after an encounter here were remaded for custodial interrogation of 4 days by a Delhi Court on Tuesday. According to police, Shabir Ahmad, Md Ayub Pathan and Riyaz Rather were allegedly affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen while Gurjit Singh and Sukhdeep Singh were accused of being involved in the killing of Shaurya Chakra winner Balwinder Singh in Punjab. All the 5 were arrested on Monday after an encounter from Shakarpur locality in east Delhi. They were produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Sahil Khumri, who allowed their police custody till Dec.11. It had sought their remand for eight days saying it was required for further investigation in the case. According to the police, Ahmad, Pathan and Riyaz were from Kashmir and they were allegedly supplying money to the other two from Punjab to carry out targeted killings.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/dec/09/5-men-with-hizbul-links-sent-to-police-custody-2233751.html

 

“Our men are innocent, have no connection with militancy,” families of 3 Kashmiri men arrested in Delhi fear implication in false cases

Srinagar: “I fear that the fate of my husband should not be like those Kashmiris who were implicated in fabricated cases and later on acquitted after spending decades in jails,” laments 40-years old Shaista Akthar at her home in Nasrullah Pora area of Budgam district.Akthar’s husband, Shabir Ahmad Gojri is among 2 other Kashmiris namely Reyaz Ahmed Rather and Muhammad Ayoub Pathan who were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police from Shakarpur area of Delhi after a “brief encounter” on 7 Dec. The trio were arrested, along with 2 Sikhs from Punjab, in New Delhi for their alleged links with ISI and Khalistani groups. Delhi Police added that following the encounter, arms and ammunition were recovered and banned drugs were also seized from the possession of the accused.“3 pistols, 2 kg of heroin and Rs 1 lakh in cash have been recovered from their possession,” DCP Special Cell Pramod Kushwaha told the reporters in New Delhi. Abdul Latif Mir (22), a resident of Doru village in Baramulla district, and Mohammad Ashraf Khatana (20), a resident of Hat Mulla village in Kupwara district, were arrested on Nov.17 by the police. However, families of the arrested youth strongly contested the police claim’s saying their sons were not ‘remotely connected with militancy.’Back at home at Budgam, the families of the trio vouch for their innocence and alleged that their male members are being “framed” in “fabricated” cases, like “they did with many innocent Kashmiris”.Reyaz Ahmed Rather and Shabir Ahmed Gojri are residents of Nasrullah Pora, while Muhammad Ayoub Pathan hails from Gondhipora village of Budgam.Not only the family members of all these arrested men but their neighbours also pleaded for their innocence.

http://twocircles.net/2020dec09/440143.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29

 

 

J&K DDC polls: Voting underway, Mehbooba Mufti says armed forces used to rig election

Jammu :With voting underway for fifth phase of District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti alleged that the armed forces were being used to rig the elections to “favour a particular party”. In a tweet, Mufti said, “Security forces have cordoned Matribugh in Shopian & are not allowing people to come out to vote under the pretext of inputs about presence of militants. In a brazen display of power, armed forces are being used to rig this election & favour a particular party .”The polling began at 7 am. According to the figures provided by the State Election Commission, a total of 26.54% voter turnout was recorded across different constituencies till 11 am today.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-ddc-polls-fifth-phase-voter-turnout-7099191/

 

Saifuddin Soz condemns house arrest of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Prof. Saifuddin Soz has condemned the house arrest of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was not allowed to address political workers at Budgam. In a statement, he said, “I strongly condemn the incarceration of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who was not allowed to address political workers at Budgam and, instead she was put under house-arrest, illegally and undemocratically.”

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/saifuddin-soz-condemns-house-arrest-of-pdp-president-mehbooba-mufti

 

Kashmir Press Club condemns attack on journalists covering DDC polls, demands inquiry

Kashmir Press Club has condemned the alleged attack by the police on three journalists covering the District Development Council elections on Thursday morning. In a statement, the association said the incident was “unfortunate”and demanded an inquiry.“We hope strict action is taken against those found guilty in this act perpetrated in utter disregard of the freedom of the press,” the statement said. “The KPC [Kashmir Press Club] further urges the chief electoral officer to take note of such incidents and initiate action against the concerned police official.”

https://scroll.in/latest/980844/kashmir-press-club-condemns-attack-on-journalists-covering-ddc-polls-demands-inquiry

 

Roshni Act: no immediate ‘coercive action’ against petitioners, says J&K in SC

 Jammu and Kashmir govt on Thursday made an oral statement in the Supreme Court that it will not immediately take “coercive action” against petitioners, who claim to be lawful occupants and land holders, challenging the “omnibus” verdict of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to scrap the Roshni Act. The petitioners alleged that the High Court had not given them the opportunity of a hearing. They were being deprived of their rightful property in violation of Article 300A of the Constitution. The govt’s statement came even as a Bench led by Justice N.V. Ramana asked the petitioners to first join in with others seeking a review of the High Court verdict of October 9 that struck down the Jammu and Kashmir (Vesting of Ownership to Occupants) Act of 2001, or the ‘Roshni Act’, and its Rules of 2007.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-asks-jk-hc-to-decide-on-dec-21-pleas-seeking-review-of-its-verdict-scrapping-roshni-act/article33296595.ece?homepage=true

 

China gave 5 reasons for deploying troops along LAC: Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that China has given India “five differing explanations” for deploying large forces along LAC in eastern Ladakh, adding that this violation of bilateral pacts has “very significantly damaged” their relationship which is now at its “most difficult phase” in the last 30-40 years. Speaking during an online interactive session organised by Australian think tank Lowy Institute, Jaishankar said, “We are very clear that maintaining peace and tranquillity along LAC is the basis for the rest of the relationship to progress. You can’t have the kind of situation you have on the border and say let’s carry on with life in all other sectors of activity. It’s just unrealistic.”

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-gave-5-reasons-for-deploying-troops-along-lac-jaishankar-7098815/

 

Delhi riots: Accused gets interim bail to attend sister’s wedding

 A Delhi court on Wednesday granted interim bail to an accused in 2 cases related to the communal riots in north east Delhi on “humanitarian grounds” to attend his sister’s wedding. The court said the fact that he (accused) was the “sole brother” of four sisters and one of them was getting married was weighing heavily on his (judge’s) mind.Additional sessions judge Vinod Yadav granted interim bail to him from Dec.10 to Dec.12 on furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 with one surety of like amount each in both the cases.Shubham was arrested in the cases related to the murder of two local persons during the communal violence in Dayalpur area in Feb.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-riots-accused-gets-interim-bail-to-attend-sister-s-wedding/story-ypprAbI4Bw3LGnmxRet6dL.html

 

High Court Grants Bail to Muslim Youth Held in Delhi Riots Case

 Delhi High Court has granted bail to a Muslim youth, jailed in connection with an alleged case of rioting and murder during Delhi riots.The bail was granted on Wednesday on ground of parity, as the court noted that respondents represented by Additonal Solicitor-General have been unable to establish that the petitioner is not similarly situated with four other co-accused who are already out on bail granted by the High Court.Justice Suresh Kumar Kait said he  is of the view that on parity the petitioner deserves bail and  ordered that Iqbal be released on bail forthwith on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs.15,000 (in view of the financial capacity of the petitioner) and a surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court.However, the court said, “the petitioner shall not directly or indirectly influence any witness or tamper with the evidence.”Iqbal comes from a downtrodden family living in a dingy, two-room house in Chandu Nagar locality of North East Delhi. Clarion India had reported in detail about his case and the family’s struggle for justice.

https://clarionindia.net/high-court-grants-bail-to-muslim-youth-held-in-delhi-riots-case/

 

CPI(M)'s Fact-Finding Holds Home Minister Responsible for Delhi Violence, 'Prejudicing' Probe

New Delhi: A fact-finding report released by CPI(Marxist) on Wednesday has held home minister Amit Shah responsible for the communal violence that broke out in Delhi. The report specifically holds Shah responsible for the “escalation” of violence and prejudicing the police probe in the matter.The report, titled ‘Communal Violence in North East Delhi, Feb.2020’, says,“The role of the home ministry under Amit Shah was in substantial measure responsible for the escalation of the violence.” The report released on Wednesday concluded that “it is incorrect to describe the communal violence as Delhi riots. ‘Riots’ describe a situation where both sides are equally participatory… However, the offensive was from the Hindutva mobs while the other side, in the main, was desperately trying to save themselves from such attacks… In almost all areas, there is video evidence of the police siding with the Hindutva mobs.”

https://thewire.in/communalism/delhi-communal-violence-amit-shah-cpim-report

 

Dumka gangrape: Item dance, porn on phone prepare mindset for rape: RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari

RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari Thursday said item dance, ads and pornographic content on phones are responsible for a “mindset of rape”. He also blamed the “consumerist culture” for such incidents in tribal areas “where crimes like rape were unheard of”.Tiwari’s comments come after a woman was allegedly gangraped in Jharkhand’s Dumka district on Tuesday night while she was returning home from the market with her husband. According to police complaint, the husband was allegedly held hostage when the incident happened. “No one could’ve imagined there would be rape in tribal area. Item dance, ads, pornographic content on phones prepare mindset of rape. Just making stringent laws won’t end it. As long as the situation that incites rape persists, you won’t be able to stop it,” Tiwari was quoted as saying by ANI.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dumka-gangrape-item-dance-porn-content-prepare-mindset-for-rape-says-rjd-leader-7099488/

 

Dalit man killed for touching food plates of upper caste men in MP’s Chhattarpur

Touching the food plates of upper caste men during a party cost a 25-year-old Dalit man his life in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhattarpur district on Tuesday. The incident occurred nearly 450-km away from the state capital and close to the Uttar Pradesh border on Tuesday evening.Devraj Anuraji, a farm labourer and resident of Kishanpur village, who belonged to the Schedule Caste community of Kori was beaten to death by his 2 upper caste friends -- Apurva Soni and Santosh Pal – after he touched a plate full of food, the police said.Devraj was beaten up with sticks until he began to bleed. When he fainted, the duo dropped him at his home claiming that he had got injured. He succumbed to his injuries around 7 pm. Gaurihar police booked both the accused, who are absconding, on charges of murder and atrocities against Dalits.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/dalit-man-killed-for-touching-food-plates-of-upper-caste-men-in-mps-chhattarpur

 

5-Yr-Old Dalit Girl Gang-Raped in UP, Two Minors Held

JALAUN – A 5-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by two minor boys in a village situated in Aata police circle area of Jalaun district in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday.The girl was allegedly lured away while she was playing near her house and then gang-raped on Wednesday by the boys living in Sanghi village. The girl’s father claimed that 3 boys were involved in the crime but the police said only two were involved.IANS

https://clarionindia.net/5-yr-old-dalit-girl-gang-raped-in-up-two-minors-held/

 

Maharashtra Cabinet okays 2 bills with death penalty provisions for rape, acid attack, child abuse

 Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved two bills that contain provisions for stern punishments, including death penalty, for crimes such as rape, child abuse and acid attack, Indian Express reported.The bills – the Special Court and Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020, and the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020, – will be tabled during a two-day Winter Session of the state Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council, which begin from December 14.

https://scroll.in/latest/980814/maharashtra-cabinet-okays-2-bills-with-death-penalty-provisions-for-rape-acid-attack-child-abuse

 

Maharashtra govt orders probe into ‘denial’ of specs to Navlakha by jail

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has ordered a probe into Taloja prison authorities allegedly denying Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case accused Gautam Navlakha spectacles after they refused to accept a parcel sent by the latter’s family. Deshmukh made the announcement on Twitter.“Bhima-Koregaon case accused Gautam Navlakha denied spectacles by jail authorities as they refused to accept parcel sent by his family,” Deshmukh said in the tweet.“I have ordered an inquiry in this matter. I believe this situation should have been handled humanly & such incidents need to be avoided in future,” he added.PTI

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-govt-orders-probe-into-denial-of-specs-to-navlakha-by-jail-7099629/

 

Report details massive EU misinformation campaign to promote Modi govt’s interests; names ANI as a key player

An NGO based in Brussels, EU DisinfoLab, has published a report detailing one of the largest ever disinformation campaigns in Europe, organised by Indian stakeholders, to further the interests of the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The report, titled ‘Indian Chronicles’, says that this disinformation campaign was carried out by ANI, India’s largest video news agency, and a shadowy business conglomerate called Srivastava group which organised a visit for far-right members of European Parliament to Kashmir last year. The year-long investigation by EU DisinfoLab was built upon and published exclusively by news organisations such as Les Jours in France, which quoted a misinformation expert who described this campaign as “a network… whose scope and impact are comparable to the operation of Russian interference during the campaign in US in 2016.”According to the report posted on the website of EU DisinfoLab, its open-source investigation shows that the operation led by the Srivastava Group and amplified by ANI began in 2005 and is still ongoing at this date. “The operation’s mission is to discredit nations in conflict with India in Asia, in particular Pakistan but also China to a lesser extent.” Its long-term objective is:

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/report-details-massive-eu-misinformation-campaign-to-promote-modi-govts-interests-names-ani-as-a-key-player

 

Despite USCIRF Concern over Rising Communal Violence, India Escapes Being Tagged as ‘Country of Concern’

 US State Department has turned down the recommendation of its own commission on religious freedom to designate India as a country of concern over violation of religious freedoms of the people. In April, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) had urged the state department to put India in the list of ‘countries of concern’, or CPC, along with 14 other countries which include Pakistan, China, Myanmar and Iran on the list.The recommendation was on the back of findings made by the Commission according to which religious freedom conditions in India has witnessed a ‘drastic turn downward’. It highlighted the passage of the discriminatory citizenship law, the Delhi riots, the supreme court ruling on Babri Masjid, the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, mob violence over cow slaughter, etc.While recommending the CPC tag for India, the Commission accused India of “engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act.”It had also called for imposing sanctions on Indian agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom.But the state department rejected the Commission’s recommendations and did not include India even in the Special Watch List (SWL) which includes Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia for “severe violations of religious freedom”.

https://clarionindia.net/despite-uscirf-concern-over-rising-communal-violence-india-escapes-being-tagged-as-country-of-concern/

 

Cannot disclose details of PM’s flights as it relates to his security apparatus: IAF plea in Delhi HC

IAF moved a plea in Delhi High Court on Wednesday challenging a CIC direction to provide information regarding Special Flight Returns (SRF)-II, saying it relates to details of Prime Minister's security apparatus and cannot be provided. IAF plea has claimed that the "information so sought includes details related to the entire entourage, names of Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel accompanying the Prime Minister of India on foreign tours for his personal safety, and the same, if disclosed, can potentially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State".The petition, filed through central government senior panel counsel Rahul Sharma and advocate C K Bhatt, is in appeal against the CIC's July 8 direction to IAF to provide certified copies of available and relevant Special Flight Returns-ll to RTI applicant Commodore (retd) Lokesh K Batra.PTI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/cannot-disclose-details-of-pms-flights-as-it-relates-to-his-security-apparatus-iaf-plea-in-delhi-hc

 

Modi govt plans to sell up to 20% stake in IRCTC

Union govt has proposed to sell up to 2.40 crore shares or 15 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital of IRCTC through the offer of sale route.It has also proposed an additional share sale of up 80 lakh equity shares of 5 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital, in case of oversubscription.In total, the base offer size and oversubscription option represent 20 per cent of outstanding equity shares of the company. The floor price of the offer has been fixed at Rs 1,367 per equity share.IANS

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/modi-govt-plans-to-sell-up-to-20-stake-in-irctc

 

JP Nadda’s convoy attacked in Bengal; Amit Shah calls it ‘sponsored violence’

Kolkata :The convoy of BJP national president J P Nadda was allegedly attacked with stones and bricks while on its way to Diamond Harbour in Kolkata on Thursday. Several cars in the convoy, including that of BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, were damaged in the attack. About 10 BJP leaders, including Vijayvargiya and Mukul Roy, received minor injuries. “The scenes I saw while coming here are highlights of the anarchy prevailing under (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee in Bengal. We were able to reach here because of the blessings of Maa Durga. TMC workers left no stones unturned to stop or finish us. This is ‘goondaraj’. I had a bullet proof car. But almost all other cars were damaged,” said Nadda while speaking to Karyakartas in Diamond Harbor, which falls under the Lok Sabha constituency of TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-p-nadda-visit-bengal-violence-dilip-ghosh-tmc-government-7099234/

 

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister's Home Attacked By BJP, Cops Helped: AAP

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whom the party alleged Tuesday had been placed under "house arrest" after visiting farmers protesting the centre's new farm laws, tweeted (and tagged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh) that "in a democracy it is worrying to target political leaders".Mr Kejriwal called on Mr Singh and the centre (to whom Delhi Police reports) to "thoroughly investigate the incident" and ensure that responsibility for the alleged security lapse is fixed.Both Mr Sisodia and AAP leader Atishi posted videos of the alleged "violent attack" on Twitter.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manish-sisodia-bjp-supporters-vandalise-delhi-deputy-chief-minister-s-home-helped-by-police-alleges-aam-aadmi-party-2336915?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Poor account for 71% of custodial deaths in India

Data culled from the annual reports of NHRC from 1996-97 to 2017-18 have revealed that 71.58% of the custodial deaths in India were of people from poor or marginalised sections of society, said a statement by an anti-torture group issued on Thursday to mark the United Nations Human Rights Day.According to New Delhi-based National Campaign Against Torture (NCAT), NHRC had cited 95 illustrative cases of custodial deaths during the 11 fiscals ending 2017-18. The victims in 68 cases comprising 71.58% were from poor families while three victims accounting for 3.19% of the cases were from middle-class families.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/poor-account-for-71-of-custodial-deaths-in-india/article33296633.ece?homepage=true

 

TRP scam: Republic TV moves NHRC over alleged torture of employee by Mumbai Police

Republic TV has moved the National Human Rights Commission against the “spine-chilling ordeal of torture” of the news channel’s Assistant Vice President Ghanshyam Singh, Bar and Bench reported. Singh was arrested on November 10 in connection with the Television Rating Points scam. Republic TV faces allegations of rigging numbers to ramp up its viewership.

https://scroll.in/latest/980769/trp-scam-republic-tv-moves-nhrc-over-alleged-torture-of-employee-by-mumbai-police

 

AI Confederation of SC/ST organisations demands naming of new Parliament building after Ambedkar

Dr Udit Raj, ex-MP and national chairman of AI Confederation of SC/ST organisations (Parisangh) on Thursday organised a protest march from North Avenue to Parliament. This demonstration was organised at the time when the Prime Minister was laying the foundation stone of the new Parliament building.Our demand was to name this new building after Dr B R Ambedkar, a press statement released by him said.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/ai-confederation-of-scst-organisations-demands-naming-of-new-parliament-building-after-ambedkar

 

CORONA

 

Emergency vaccine use proposals by Serum Institute, Bharat Biotech rejected; ministry denies report

The proposals made by Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to the government for emergency vaccine use have not been cleared over inadequate safety and efficacy data, and they have been asked to provide more data.This was decided in the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s (CDSCO) Subject Expert Committee meeting on Wednesday, which reviewed the applications of Pfizer, Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech, according to an NDTV report.The Pune-based Serum Institute, the world's largest vaccine-maker, requested approval for the Oxford vaccine, Covishield, on Dec. 6.Pharma giant Pfizer sought Indian approval after securing clearances in UK and Bahrain."It is standard practice for the government to hold several meetings. The process is expected to go on for one or two weeks," sources in Serum Institute told NDTV, reacting to the development.Meanwhile, minutes after NDTV carried the report, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare rejected the development and called it “fake news.” “The media report about the rejection of Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech's emergency use authorisation of vaccine is fake,” the ministry said, at a press conference.

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/emergency-vaccine-use-proposals-by-serum-institute-bharat-biotech-rejected-over-inadequate-data

 

UN chief warns ‘vaccine nationalism’ is moving at full speed

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that vaccine nationalism is moving at full speed, leaving poor people around the globe watching preparations for inoculations against the coronavirus in some rich nations and wondering if and when they will be vaccinated.UN chief reiterated his call for vaccines to be treated as a global public good, available to everyone, everywhere on the planet, especially in Africa. And he appealed for 4.2 billion in the next two months for the World Health Organisation's COVAX programme, an ambitious project to buy and deliver coronavirus vaccines for the world's poorest people.PTI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/un-chief-warns-vaccine-nationalism-is-moving-at-full-speed

 

 

Over 80 million people forcibly displaced globally as of mid-2020, COVID further worsened crisis: UN

More than 80 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as of mid-2020, with existing and new conflicts as well as the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affecting their lives this year, a UN report has said. According to its report on trends in global forced displacement released on Wednesday in Geneva, The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR estimates that global forced displacement surpassed 80 million at mid-year.At the beginning of this year it said that about 79.5 million people had been forced from their homes due to persecution, conflict, and human rights violations. This total included 45.7 million internally displaced people (IDPs), 29.6 million refugees and others forcibly displaced outside their country, and 4.2 million asylum seekers.Existing and new conflicts and the novel coronavirus have dramatically affected their lives in 2020, the UN agency said.An estimated 30 34 million (38-43 per cent) of the 79.5 million forcibly displaced persons are children below 18 years of age (end-2019).PTI

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/over-80-million-people-forcibly-displaced-globally-as-of-mid-2020-covid-further-worsened-crisis-un

 

Coronavirus: Haryana to reopen schools for Class 10 and 12 students from December 14

Haryana government on Thursday decided to reopen schools for Class 10 and 12 students from December 14. The schools will run for three hours from 10 am to 1 pm. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said that he intends to take the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available and he will do so publicly. “It is a moral obligation not only to ourselves, but to help keep our communities safe as well,” he said.

https://scroll.in/latest/980807/coronavirus-india-registers-31521-new-cases-marginally-lower-than-wednesday-tally-at-97-67-lakh

Sri Lanka cremates Muslim COVID-19 victims 'against religious wishes'

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka said Wednesday it would cremate the bodies of 19 Muslim coronavirus victims, overriding the families' objections against contentious policy.The island nation has been experiencing a surge in cases since October, with the number of infections increased more than eight-fold since then to over 29,300 and 142 dead.Coronavirus victims' bodies are claimed by families and then cremated -- a practice forbidden under Islamic law -- under the strict supervision of health authorities.But families of 19 Muslims killed by the virus have refused to claim the bodies from a morgue in the capital Colombo, triggering the edict by Attorney-General Dappula de Livera. "Bodies of Covid-19 victims not claimed by families can be cremated in terms of quarantine regulations," De Livera's spokeswoman said, adding that the bodies would be cremated this week. 5 were cremated on Wednesday, police said.AFP

https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/dec/09/sri-lanka-cremates-muslim-covid-19-victims-against-religious-wishes-2233989.html

 

Indonesia's Highest Muslim Body Expects Halal Certificate For Experimental COVID Vaccine

Highest Muslim body in Indonesia is expected to issue 'halal' certification for the experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech. According to AP, Indonesian Ulema Council Halal Product Guarantee Agency and Institute for the Assessment of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics have completed a study and a fatwa and halal certificate is expected soon. Human Development and Culture Minister of Indonesia, Muhadjir Effendy, informed that the certification would be a significant step in immunisation efforts in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/indonesias-highest-muslim-body-expects-halal-certificate-for-experimental-covid-vaccine.html

 

 

WORLD

 

UNGA: 153 countries called on Israel to 'renounce' nuclear weapons

In a vote held on Monday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) called on Israel to "renounce possession of nuclear weapons," news agencies reported.A resolution entitled "The Risk of Nuclear Proliferation in the Middle East" had 153 supporting votes against only six who did not support it, with 25 abstentions. The US, Israel's ally, was among the six countries that did not vote for the resolution.The resolution was part of a large package of resolutions approved by UNGA related to nuclear disarmament, globally and in the Middle East.Based on the resolution, the UNGA asked Israel: "Not to develop, produce, test or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons."In addition, the UNGA called the Israeli occupation state: "To renounce possession of nuclear weapons and to place all its unsafeguarded nuclear facilities under full-scope agency safeguards as an important confidence-building measure among all states of the region and as a step towards enhancing peace and security."

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201210-unga-153-countries-called-on-israel-to-renounce-nuclear-weapons/

 

Israel starts turning Jerusalem International Airport into settlement

The recent decision of Israeli District Planning and Building Committee in Jerusalem to build 9,000 settlement units in the Israeli settlement of Atarot will erase the remnants of the Jerusalem International Airport built in 1924, The New Khalij reported on Wednesday.Head of Maps at the Arab Studies Society Khalil Tafakji was reported by The New Khalij confirming that Israel is planning to establish an entirely new settlement, mostly located on the land of the Jerusalem International Airport.The airport is known to Palestinians as Qalandia Airport and to Israelis as Atarot Airport. According to Tafakji, the airport received flights until Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in 1967.Later on, Israel used it for internal flights and completely closed it in 2000.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201210-israel-starts-turning-jerusalem-international-airport-into-settlement/

 

Amnesty criticises Airbnb for West Bank settlement listings ahead of IPO

Amnesty International accused Airbnb of acting in bad faith towards investors ahead of its stock market debut on Thursday by failing to inform them of its politically sensitive business activities in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, Reuters reports.Airbnb did not provide comment on Amnesty's charge. A company spokesman referred Reuters to a statement it made in 2019 saying it would not take profits from its listings in the West Bank.Amnesty, which wants Airbnb to delist rental properties in the settlements, said in a statement that the company should have mentioned them in the "Risk Factors" section of a Nov. 16 regulatory filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.The San Francisco-based booking company is holding an initial public offering on Nasdaq on Thursday.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201210-amnesty-criticises-airbnb-for-west-bank-settlement-listings-ahead-of-ipo/

 

Gideon Sa'ar leaves Likud, announces new party

Accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of using the Likud party for "personal interests", senior Likud MK Gideon Sa'ar announced on Tuesday that he was quitting the party and forming a new one.In a press conference broadcast live on Israeli media and Twitter, Sa'ar confirmed that he could not remain in the Likud party because it became a tool in the hands of Netanyahu."The Likud has changed and became a tool serving the personal interests of its leader, including in his criminal trial," The Jerusalem Post reported Sa'ar stating on his move. "I can no longer support the government under Netanyahu and I can no longer be a member of Likud under his leadership."

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201210-gideon-saar-leaves-likud-announces-new-party/

 

Netanyahu to visit Egypt in first official visit in decade

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing to visit Egypt in what will be the first official visit by an Israeli leader in a decade, reports the Times of Israel.According to the the Times of Israel, Netanyahu made a secret visit to Egypt in 2011 to meet then President Hosni Mubarak and another unofficial visit to meet Al-Sisi in 2018 for iftar.The two have met publicly several times on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.On Thursday, Israel Hayom reported that Al-Sisi had invited Netanyahu and that talks held during his meeting would cover strengthening security and diplomatic ties.The leaked news said that Al-Sisi will personally welcome Netanyahu at the airport in an official ceremony with the Egyptian and Israel flags side by side following Joe Biden's win at the US presidency polls.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201210-netanyahu-to-visit-egypt-in-first-official-visit-in-decade/

 

Sisi: Our priority is to fight political Islam, Muslim Brotherhood

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said that his priority is to fight political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood, considering cooperating in this regard with France, the New Khaleej reported. In an interview with the French paper Le Figaro, Al-Sisi said France has developed a clearer vision of the grave danger the Muslim Brotherhood poses to Europe and to European citizens.He claimed that the organisation poses an "existential threat" to the countries where it is located."We have continuously warned of the dangers of this deadly ideology that knows no borders, and Egypt and France paid its price," he claimed, calling for France to "coordinate at the international level to fight terrorism."He consider the Muslim Brotherhood's social and political activities as a "threat", citing the group's wide network of charities and social activities, claiming it formed armed militias.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201210-sisi-our-priority-is-to-fight-political-islam-muslim-brotherhood/

US Senate backs massive arms sales to UAE after Trump veto threat

US Senate has defeated an effort to block the Trump administration’s sale of $23bn in advanced fighter jets and drones to UAE .President Donald Trump had issued a formal threat to veto congressional efforts to block the planned weapons transfer, which is tied to UAE’s normalisation of ties with Israel under the “Abraham Accords”. 2 procedural votes failed to gain a majority of the 100-member Senate, effectively stopping the effort to block the sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets and Reaper drones. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said the resolutions seeking to block the arms sale fell far short of the two-thirds support that would be needed to overcome a presidential veto.“It’s a little baffling to suggest that, now of all times, a protest gesture with no chance of obtaining a veto-proof majority is a valuable use of the Senate’s time,” McConnell said in Senate floor remarks.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/10/us-senate-backs-massive-arms-sales-to-uae-after-trump-veto-threat

 

China using big data to detain Muslim minorities in Xinjiang: Report

Chinese government is using big data to arbitrarily detain Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, a leaked list of more than 2,000 detainees from the province suggests. A new report by New York-based HRW, which carried the list, says the Integrated Joint Operations Platform (IJOP), a predictive computer programme, analyses data and selects members of minority communities to be detained.“A big data programme for policing in China’s Xinjiang region arbitrarily selects Turkic Muslims for possible detention… A leaked list of over 2,000 detainees from Aksu prefecture provided to HRW is further evidence of China’s use of technology in its repression of Muslim population,”the report released on Wednesday said. IJOP programme automatically selects possible detainees for the controversial camps set up in the remote region according to parameters including studying Koran, wearing religious clothing or travelling internationally.“Aksu List (from2018) provides further insights into how China’s brutal repression of Xinjiang’s Turkic Muslims is being turbocharged by technology,” said Maya Wang, a senior China researcher at HRW.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/china-using-big-data-to-detain-muslim-minorities-in-xinjiang-report/story-qYxaQDzWdo0LbjhyTfYHjP.html

 

Azerbaijan's 'struggle' with Armenia not over: Erdogan

BAKU:Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on a visit to Azerbaijan on Thursday said Baku's “struggle” with enemy Armenia was not over after his close ally's decisive victory over a disputed region.“Azerbaijan's saving its lands from occupation does not mean that the struggle is over,” Erdogan said during a military parade in Baku.“The struggle carried out in the political and military areas will continue from now on many other fronts.”Erdogan arrived in Baku to attend nationwide celebrations marking Azerbaijan's victory in the Karabakh conflict.In his speech, the Turkish leader also said that “Karabakh's freedom will be the beginning of a new era” in the region, adding that Armenia must be held responsible for “war crimes” committed during the conflict.AFP

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/azerbaijans-struggle-with-armenia-not-over-erdogan/article33299188.ece?homepage=true

 

 

OPINIONS-EDITORIALS-VIEWS

 

SC Order on Shaheen Bagh Protest Introduced Dangerous Constitutional Ideas: Pratap Bhanu Mehta

https://thewire.in/rights/dissent-protest-democracy-supreme-court

 

A year later, where are the Jamia women in the viral video protecting their friend from police?Vijayta Lalwani

https://scroll.in/article/980425/a-year-later-where-are-the-jamia-women-in-the-viral-photo-protecting-their-friend-from-police

 

From Segregation to Labour, Manu’s Caste Law Governs the Indian Prison System: Sukanya Shantha

https://thewire.in/caste/india-prisons-caste-labour-segregation

 

This is a movement of the whole country but govt is portraying it as a movement of Punjab farmers, say farmers:Aas Mohd Kaif

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/this-is-a-movement-of-the-whole-country-but-govt-is-portraying-it-as-a-movement-of-punjab-farmers-say-farmers

 

END