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Islamic World News ( 13 Nov 2015, NewAgeIslam.Com)

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ISIS Warns Russia, Says 'Blood Will Spill like An Ocean'


New Age Islam News Bureau

13 Nov 2015


Thousands of Silvan residents have moved to nearby cities and provinces to escape the ongoing intense clashes in their town. (Photo: DHA)

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Arab World

 

 ISIS Warns Russia, Says 'Blood Will Spill like An Ocean'

 Twin Blasts Claimed By Islamic State Kill 41 in Beirut Hezbollah Bastion

 Syrian Army Conquers Marj Al-Sultan Airbase

 Al-Nusra Stronghold in Aleppo Conquered by Syrian, Hezbollah Forces

 Two More Top Militant Commanders Killed in Syria's Hama

 Syrian Troops Seize Back Several More Villages in Aleppo

 Syrian Army, Hezbollah Win More Territories around Kuweires in Aleppo

 Syria: It's premature to talk about presidential elections

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Pakistan

 

 Religious Leaders Criticise PM for Calling Pakistan ‘Liberal’

 Security Beefed Up As Lal Masjid Cleric Launches Fresh Movement in Islamabad

 Various road projects connecting Pakistan with Tajikistan approved

 In case of threat, opposition to stand by govt: Aitzaz

 Pakistan not holding N-talks with US

 Grenade attack in Lyari injures at least six

 World Bank approves US $ 500 million loan to Pakistan

 US sanctions Pak money laundering group, Dubai-based affiliate

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India

 

 Full Text of PM Modi's Address to British Parliament

 PM Modi Sends out Strong Message on Intolerance

 PM Modi First Indian Head to Address British Parliament

 Omar Abdullah slams critics, asks 'why can't we praise PM Narendra Modi's excellent speech'

 Modi gifts Cameron bookends with Gita verses on it

 Mushroom pulao, tarka dal for Prime Minister Modi at Chequers

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South Asia

 

 Gen. Dostum Hints At Pakistan As Violence Soars Across Afghanistan

 Bangladesh Bloggers Fear Deadly Backlash Won't End Soon

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Mideast

 

 Reactions against Handcuffing Detainees Continue Despite Suspension of Manisa Police Chief

 As Curfew in Silvan Reaches 10th Day, Thousands Leave Tense District

 Private library of Hebrew writings to be sold

 Islamic State committed genocide in Iraq against Yazidis -report

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Africa

 

 Around 25 Dead In Boko Haram Raid In Niger And Clashes With Army

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Europe

 

 Italian Police Announce International Swoop on 'Jihadist Network'

 Jihadi John 'Dead': US Officials Believe Mohammed Emwazi Was Killed In Raqqa Drone Strike

 Russian Foreign Ministry: ISIL, Other Terrorist Groups Use Mustard Gas in Syria

 'Jihadi John': Quiet football fan who became the symbol of IS

 Europe in "race against time" to save open borders: EU president Tusk

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North America

 

 Obama Calls Myanmar President, Endorses Election as Suu Kyi Eyes Majority

 Outcome of Airstrike Targeting ‘Jihadi John’ Is Unknown, Kerry and Cameron Say

 Pentagon Says It Targeted 'Jihadi John'

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/isis-warns-russia,-says-blood/d/105263

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Arab World

ISIS warns Russia, says 'blood will spill like an ocean'

Adam Withnall | The Independent | Nov 13, 2015

The Isis militant group has released a new video threatening to launch attacks in Russia "very soon".

Issued by the group's foreign language propaganda wing, the al-Hayat Media Centre, the video combined footage of the Charlie Hebdo shootings and graphic depictions of executions with a threat that "soon, very soon, the blood will spill like an ocean".

It was issued on Thursday afternoon in an apparent bid to distract international attention from the significant losses it was suffering on the battlefield in Iraq.

Subtitles on the video described Russia as "dying".

"The kafir throats will tremble from the knives. The Kremlin will be ours," it said.

Isis has emerged as the prime suspect in the bombing of a Russian passenger airliner which crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on 31 October, killing all 224 people on board.

And Russian officials also suspect Isis was planning to bomb the village of Kantyshevo, south-west Russia, in a plot which was uncovered last week by special forces.

Isis has previously called for attacks on Russia and the US in response to coalition air strikes on its fighters in Syria and Iraq.

On Wednesday night, US-led coalition fighter jets provided air support to around 7,500 Kurdish and Yazidi fighters launching a major offensive to retake the key town of Sinjar.

As of Thursday afternoon, Kurdish military officials said they had captured three villages outside the town and seized portions of Highway 47, cutting off a major supply route between Isis's strongholds of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria.

"The ground assault began in the early morning hours of Nov. 12, when peshmerga units successfully established blocking positions along Highway 47 and began clearing Sinjar," said the coalition in a statement.

"The peshmerga will continue operations to re-establish government control over key portions of the areas."

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/ISIS-warns-Russia-says-blood-will-spill-like-an-ocean/articleshow/49764366.cms

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Twin blasts claimed by Islamic State kill 41 in Beirut Hezbollah bastion

AFP | Nov 12, 2015

BEIRUT: Twin bomb blasts claimed by the Islamic State group killed 41 people Thursday on a busy shopping street in a Beirut stronghold of the Shiite movement Hezbollah, the worst such attack in years.

Speaking from the scene, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour said more than 200 people had been wounded, many of them in serious condition.

The blasts appeared to mark a return to a campaign of attacks that targeted the group's strongholds between 2013 and 2014, ostensibly in revenge for its military support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The blasts hit a narrow shopping street in the Burj al-Barajneh neighbourhood that is also home to a street market.

IS claimed the blasts in an online statement.

"Soldiers of the Caliphate" detonated explosives planted on a motorbike in an area frequented by Shiites, using a derogatory term to refer to the sect, the statement said.

"After the apostates gathered in the area, one of the knights of martyrdom detonated his explosive belt in the midst of them," the statement added.

The claim could not be independently verified but it followed the usual format of IS claims of responsibility and was circulated on jihadist online accounts.

The army said the attacks were carried out by two suicide bombers and that the body of a third, who had failed to detonate his explosive device, had been found at the scene of the second blast.

The attacks were the deadliest to hit a Hezbollah stronghold since the group entered the conflict in neighbouring Syria in support of Assad.

A string of them targeted areas where the group is popular throughout 2013 and 2014.

In the most recent one in the southern suburbs of Beirut in June of last year, a suicide car bomb killed a security officer.

Burj al-Barajneh is a largely impoverished suburb of the city home to a mostly Shiite Muslim population.

The neighbourhood is bordered by the Burj al-Barajneh Palestinian refugee camp.

At the scene, an AFP photographer saw extensive damage to buildings around the site of the blast and bodies inside some of the nearby shops.

There was blood on the streets, and security forces were trying to cordon off the scene and keep people from gathering.

Local television stations showed footage of wounded people being carried away by emergency services and civilians.

"I'd just arrived at the shops when the blast went off. I carried four bodies with my own hands, three women and a man, a friend of mine," a man who gave his name as Zein al-Abideen Khaddam told local television.

Another described the sound of the blasts.

"When the second blast went off, I thought the world had ended," he said.

The wounded were evacuated to several hospitals in the area, including the Bahman hospital in neighbouring Haret Hreik.

"We've received dozens of wounded people and they're continuing to arrive," a doctor there told AFP.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam announced a national day of mourning for Friday, local media reported.

And former premier Saad Hariri, who leads a political bloc opposed to Hezbollah and its allies, condemned the blast as "vile and unjustified".

French President Francois Hollande condemned the attack as "despicable".

Between July 2013 and February 2014, there were nine attacks on Hezbollah throughout Lebanon, mostly claimed by Sunni extremist group.

Despite ostensibly targeting Hezbollah, the victims of the attacks have been overwhelmingly civilians.

The deadliest in southern Beirut was in 2013, when 27 people were killed by a car bomb in the Rweiss district.

The attacks were claimed by several different Sunni groups, but all cited Hezbollah's role in the conflict in Syria.

However the IS statement did not mention the conflict, instead using strictly sectarian language against Shiites.

Hezbollah is a staunch ally of the Syrian regime and is backed by Iran, another key supporter of the Damascus government.

In early 2013, it dispatched fighters to back government forces against a Sunni-dominated uprising that began with anti-regime demonstrations in March 2011.

Since then, it has become deeply involved in the conflict, deploying fighters throughout the country to bolster Assad's troops on a range of battlefields.

At least 971 Hezbollah fighters have been killed in Syria, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Twin-blasts-claimed-by-Islamic-State-kill-41-in-Beirut-Hezbollah-bastion/articleshow/49760862.cms

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Syrian Army Conquers Marj Al-Sultan Airbase

Nov 13, 2015

TEHRAN (FNA)- Syrian army forces entered Marj al-Sultan military airbase in Eastern Ghouta in Damascus countryside while heavy clashes are underway between them and the terrorists in the region, the second airport taken back by the pro-government troops in the last 3 days.

The Syrian army troops and National Defense Force (NDF) broke through Jeish al-Islam’s defenses at the Marj al-Sultan Military Airbase and reportedly entered the airbase in the East Ghouta region of Damascus province.

According to a military source, the Syrian Armed Forces launched large-scale attack on Jeish al-Islam’s defenses on the army base located at the Western sector of Deir Salman and took full control over this military installation at the Southern perimeter of the Marj al-Sultan Airbase.

Following the capture of the army base, the Syrian soldiers and their allies pushed towards the army terrain that is situated to the South of the helicopter fields, capturing half of the area

According to latest report, Syrian forces are now making a push towards the helicopter fields.

The Syrian army launched operations on Wednesday to win back control over Marj al-Sultan airbase after 3 years of siege by terrorists following its groundbreaking victory in the battle against ISIL in Aleppo that ended up with the removal of a 2.5-year-long siege of the Kuweires airbase on Tuesday.

The military operations started on Tuesday when the Syrian army advanced against the Takfiri terrorists in Eastern Ghouta and retook strategic areas from the foreign-backed militants.

The Syrian troops took full control over al-Mahalej area, to the South of Marj al-Sulatn, and the farms surrounding it.

The Syrian army, popular forces and Hezbollah forces, backed up by Syrian and Russian air force, lifted the two and a half-year-long siege of Kuweires military airbase after killing hundreds of ISIL terrorists on Tuesday.

The Syrian troops and Hezbollah forces rolled into the Kuweires airport at the end of their daylong last phase of massive operations.

The Syrian army, the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Hezbollah combatants, backed up by Russian warplanes, launched the last round of their over one-month-long joint operations against the ISIL terrorists' positions in Eastern Aleppo near the Kuweires airbase Tuesday morning, and won full control over the strategic Aleppo-Raqqa Highway.

The attack started from multiple directions and ended up in cleaning up several villages from ISIL. Hundreds of the ISIL militants were killed or wounded in the operations.

In the next stage, Syrian and Russian Air Forces massively targeted the last strongholds of the ISIL militants around the Kuweires airbase.

In addition to the Syrian and Russian airstrikes, the artillery and mortar units of the army also shelled the ISIL strongholds to weaken their defense lines as much as possible to lay the ground for the combatants of Hezbollah, the army soldiers and the National Defense Forces to launch the final phase of their joint operations to lift the siege on Kuweires airbase.

Intelligence sources said hundreds of ISIL militants were fleeing the Kuweires region to safer areas to save their lives after suffering heavy casualties in the joint massive attack of the Syrian Army and Hezbollah with the Russian air backup.

After cleaning the region, the pro-government troops had to defuse a minefield planted by the ISIL before they could reach the gates of airbase.

Hundreds of Syrian forces were under a tight siege at the airbase as a result of the occupation of vast areas surrounding the airport by the terrorists.

When under the siege, the Syrian army's helicopters supplied foodstuff and other needs to the Syrian troops defending the airport.

english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940821000353

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Al-Nusra Stronghold in Aleppo Conquered by Syrian, Hezbollah Forces

Nov 13, 2015

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army and Hezbollah resistance movement forces made huge advances in the Southwestern countryside of Aleppo, and prevailed over Al-Hadher region as the al-Nusra Front's stronghold.

Al-Hadher was al-Nusra's main stronghold in Aleppo and its collapse can leave a domino effect on other Southwestern parts of the Northern province in Syria and lead to expelling the terrorists from them.

A number of terrorists deployed in the city have been witnessed as withdrawing towards al-Ais town in the Western parts of al-Hadhar city.

The Syrian army and Hezbollah forces captured al-Ais heights yesterday.

The Syrian army troops are prevailing over Aleppo with an increased momentum of victories in the province following its groundbreaking battle win in Kuweires military airport.

Field sources said on Thursday the army purged terrorists from the villages of Kherbet al-Mazare, Kherbet Nazha and Kherbet Mshaweh in the Southwestern countryside of Aleppo.

Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian army and Hezbollah won full control over two other strategic villages in Aleppo province, leaving scores of terrorist dead.

The forces liberated the villages of Musharfah Al-Murayj and Tal Al-Arba’een in Aleppo from the control of the Takfiri terrorists on Thursday, and killed tens of militants.

english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940821000810

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Two More Top Militant Commanders Killed in Syria's Hama

Nov 13, 2015

TEHRAN (FNA)- Two top commanders of the terrorist groups in Syria's Hama province were killed on Thursday as the Syrian army prevails over terrorists' positions at a striking pace in neighboring Aleppo province disconnecting the militants' link to Turkey and to other terrorist groups.

"Emir Abu Al-Qa'qa, a commander of Jund al-Aqsa was killed by the Syrian army at Morek in Hama province," a military source told FNA Thursday evening.

He further added that Al-Qa'qa was killed along with almost all his fighters who formed a group of 42, adding that only one driver escaped the battle scene in his vehicle and at the beginning of the clashes.

Another source also said the Emir of Ahrar al-Sham, As'ad Al-Aryan, was killed in clashes with the Syrian forces in the village of Ma'an in Hama province.

The Syrian army along with their allied forces that include fighters from popular forces and Hezbollah who are receiving advice from Iranian generals and aerial backup from the Russian air force have started a new wave of massive attacks on terrorist groups in the country, specially those in Aleppo, Hama, Damascus and Dara'a provinces, in the last two months.

Tens of militant commanders have been killed in the new surge of attacks by the pro-government troops in the last 8 weeks.

Only in the last three days, several top militant commanders who had received trainings under the US special forces in Jordan have been killed in Hama province.

The Syrian Army stormed strongholds of Ahrar al-Sham militant group in the Northern part of Hama province on Wednesday, and killed at least 13 terrorists, including their commander.

Assad al Eriyan was killed in the army attack on Ahrar al-Sham's positions in the Northern part of Maan village.

The militants' mortars and rocket launchers were destroyed in the army offensive. 

On Tuesday, the Syrian army intensified its military operations against the Takfiri militants in Hama province, killing a large number of terrorists, including a ringleader.

Ahmad Abdel-Karim al-Suh (aka Ahmad al-Karmou), one of the leaders of the so-called "Gathering of al-Izza" Brigades, along with all the members of his terrorist group were killed in an army operation in al-Latamineh town, 35 km Northwest of Hama city.

The army also targeted terrorists' positions in the village of Qalat al-Madiq, 50 km Northwest of Hama city, and killed at least 4 Takfiri militants.

Hisham Bakkour Taha, Walid al- Sheikh, Mohammad Abed al-Saleh and Haidar Abdel-Razaq were identified among the dead terrorists, field sources said.

Meanwhile, Syrian forces killed the terrorists, Ahmad Ali al-Safan, Khaled al-Mahdi and Ahmad al-Marae, and destroyed three vehicles in Ma’rkabeh village.

The army troops also destroyed command posts and 4 vehicles of the so-called Ahrar al-Sham Islamic Movement in the village of Atshan, killing 9 terrorists and injuring several others.

Also on Tuesday, the Syrian Army stormed positions of Ahrar al-Sham militants near al-Mughayr village, killed their commander and pushed them back from the combat zone.

Hassan al-Mrei, a senior commander of Ahrar al-Sham, was killed in the pro-government forces' offensive on their position in the village.

The militants retreated after their commander was killed and the army deployed forces there.

But, after sweeping victories of the Syrian army and Hezbollah in neighboring Aleppo province, the top terrorist leaders issued a general call on all militant groups to leave their positions for Aleppo to slow down the pro-government victories in the strategic province.

Last night, a top Saudi commander of the Al-Nusra Front - Al-Qaeda's official branch in Syria - urged all militant groups across Syria to leave their positions for Aleppo, warning that the strategic territory near the border with Turkey will soon be completely lost if thousands of fresh forces do not join them in coming days.

Abdullah al-Muhsini, the al-Nusra's senior commander, wrote on his social network pages that in case all militant groups do not join their comrades in Aleppo, the entire province "which is of vitally strategic value will soon be lost" to the Syrian army.

The Saudi Sheikh who is also a religious leader voiced deep concern over militants' status quo in Aleppo, saying that the Syrian army and its allies have increased the momentum of their advances in the last few days.

He specially demanded militants in neighboring Hama province to "show care for common, instead of personal and individual, interests" and rush to the al-Nusra and ISIL's aid "before the Syrian army conquers the strategic al-Aeis heights", warning that the government troops will prevail over all militants' positions in Northern Syria soon if their all-out advances in Aleppo are not brought to a halt.

Sheikh Abdullah al-Muhsini stands at the highest ranks of the al-Nusra Front command. When the group leader, Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, moved to the countryside of Hama where Joulani spoke to nearly 1,500 fighters before they headed to battle in Mhardeh, several years ago, the general military commander of Jabhat al-Nusra, Abou Hammam as-Suri, and Sheikh Abdullah al-Muhsini were also present during the gathering, to boost the fighters' morale.

Al-Nusra militants said Hama is of strategic importance to the terrorist group as it connects the countryside of Hama to the countryside of Idlib, which al-Nusra desired to make its new stronghold after it lost the Eastern parts of Syria.

Ever since the al-Nusra attack to take the Hama-Idlib road, Abdullah al-Muhsini was stationed there due to its importance. But now the terrorist commander has rushed to Aleppo and demanded all terrorists across Syria, specially those in Hama to give up their positions, given the strategic value of Aleppo.

Full report at: english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940821000892

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Syrian Troops Seize Back Several More Villages in Aleppo

Nov 13, 2015

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army troops are prevailing over Aleppo with an increased momentum of victories in the province following its groundbreaking battle win in Kuweires military airport.

Field sources said on Thursday the army purged terrorists from the villages of Kherbet al-Mazare, Kherbet Nazha and Kherbet Mshaweh in the Southwestern countryside of Aleppo.

Earlier on Thursday, the Syrian army and Hezbollah won full control over two other strategic villages in Aleppo province, leaving scores of terrorist dead.

The forces liberated the villages of Musharfah Al-Murayj and Tal Al-Arba’een in Aleppo from the control of the Takfiri terrorists on Thursday, and killed tens of militants.

english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940821000596

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Syrian Army, Hezbollah Win More Territories Around Kuweires in Aleppo

Nov 13, 2015

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army troops captured a strategic village, West of Kuweires military airport, in Aleppo province from the Takfiri militants.

According to the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television, the Syrian forces regained control of Jadidet Erbid village, West of Kuweires military airport, in the Eastern countryside of Aleppo on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Syrian army, popular forces and Hezbollah forces, backed up by Syrian and Russian air force, lifted the two and a half-year-long siege of Kuweires military airbase after killing hundreds of ISIL terrorists.

Unconfirmed reports said the groundbreaking victory was gained under the leadership of Iran's renowned Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani.

The Syrian troops and Hezbollah forces rolled into the Kuweires airport at the end of their daylong last phase of massive operations.

Heavy clashes were underway around the Kuweires airport since Tuesday morning and the Syrian army was defusing ISIL's minefield before they could reach their friends in the base.

There are unconfirmed reports from the battlefield about witnessing Iran's Major General Qassem Soleimani leading the battle.

Full report at: english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940821000376

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Syria: It's premature to talk about presidential elections

AP | Nov 12, 2015

DAMASCUS: An official Syrian newspaper says any talk about a transitional period, amending the constitution or early presidential elections is "premature.''

The Baath daily editorial came after Russia circulated a document on ending Syria's conflict that calls for drafting a new constitution within 18 months that would be put to a popular referendum and then be followed by an early presidential election.

Al-Baath, which is the mouthpiece of the ruling Baath party, said Thursday that the prospects to achieve progress in the second round of talks in Vienna this weekend over Syria's crisis are dim due to the failure to reach a clear definition of the moderate opposition.

The Syrian government calls all insurgent groups terrorist organizations and says opposition groups outside the country are foreign-paid agents.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Syria-Its-premature-to-talk-about-presidential-elections/articleshow/49757900.cms

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Pakistan

Religious leaders criticise PM for calling Pakistan ‘liberal’

Suhail Kakakhel — November 13th, 2015

NOWSHERA: Leaders of some religious parties have criticised the prime minister for calling Pakistan a “liberal country” in a recent speech.

Speaking at a programme held at the Darul Uloom-i-Haqqania, Akora Khattak, on Thursday to pay homage to late Dr Sher Ali Shah, they called upon the Supreme Court to take suo motu action on the prime minister’s statement.

The chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Samiul Haq, said that millions of people had sacrificed their lives for the creation of an ‘Islamic country’, adding that the slogan of a “liberal Pakistan” was a violation of the ideology of Pakistan.

Also read: Siraj warns against drifting away from Iqbal’s philosophy

He said the constitution had no term, “liberal Pakistan” and instead had envisaged the country as “Islamic democratic Pakistan”.

The JUI-S chief said ulema were united against un-Islamic forces. He called upon all religious leaders to put pressure on the government for the implementation of Islamic system in the country.

Full report at: dawn.com/news/1219337/religious-leaders-criticise-pm-for-calling-pakistan-liberal

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Security beefed up as Lal Masjid cleric launches fresh movement in Islamabad

Shakeel Qarar — Nov 13, 2015

ISLAMABAD: A heavy contingent of police and Rangers has been deployed in the areas surrounding Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa in the federal capital city to maintain law and order, following an announcement by cleric Abdul Aziz that a rally will be held.

The rally announced by Lal Masjid cleric Abdul Aziz in an earlier press release is being held to mark the initiation of a movement towards enforcement of a system based on the Holy Quran and Sunnah after Friday prayers today.

Full report at: dawn.com/news/1219429/security-beefed-up-as-lal-masjid-cleric-launches-fresh-movement-in-islamabad

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Various road projects connecting Pakistan with Tajikistan approved

Dawn.com — Nov 13, 2015

MURREE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with the visiting President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon here at the Governor House on Friday.

During the meeting, National Highway Authority (NHA) Chairman Shahid Ashraf Tarar gave a detailed presentation to the Tajik delegation, in which different infrastructure projects showing options of connectivity between Pakistan and Tajikistan were presented, reported Radio Pakistan.

Both the leaders gave in principle approval of different road projects connecting Pakistan and Tajikistan including Gwadar-Peshawar-Kabul-Kunduz-Dushanbe route, Khunjerab-Kalasu-Murghab route and Chitral-Ishkashim-Dushanbe route.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi gave a presentation on matters related to regional security.

Full report at: dawn.com/news/1219412/various-road-projects-connecting-pakistan-with-tajikistan-approved

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In case of threat, opposition to stand by govt: Aitzaz

Amir Wasim — Updated about 4 hours ago

ISLAMABAD: Severely criticising a recent ISPR statement on poor implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) by the civilian set-up, several political parties — mainly the PPP — assured the PML-N government of their complete support in any eventuality.

“I am disappointed with the governance of the present government. But the ISPR and the corps commanders have no right to publicly talk about the democratic and constitutional government of Nawaz Sharif,” Leader of Opposition Aitzaz Ahsan said while speaking on a point of order in the Senate.

“Keep on indulging in my character assassination, but you will find Aitzaz Ahsan and those sitting on the opposition benches with you in case of any threat (to the government),” he said in an apparent reference to recent personal attacks on him by some ministers on the floor of the house.

Full report at: dawn.com/news/1219328/in-case-of-threat-opposition-to-stand-by-govt-aitzaz

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Pakistan not holding N-talks with US

Anwar Iqbal — November 13th, 2015

WASHINGTON: Pakistan will not raise the nuclear issue in talks with US officials during Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif’s visit next week, diplomatic sources said.

The Indian defence minister will also be in Washington during Gen. Sharif’s visit, the sources added while underlining the importance of regular consultations between US and Pakistani defence officials.

Full report at: dawn.com/news/1219343/pakistan-not-holding-n-talks-with-us

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Grenade attack in Lyari injures at least six

Asim Khan — Nov 13, 2015

KARACHI: At least six people were injured in a hand grenade attack in Lyari's Nayabad area of Karachi.

Area residents were collecting water at Shah Waliullah pumping station in Nayabad area of Lyari when two motorcycle-riding attackers entered the pumping station premises and hurled a hand-grenade.

The grenade exploded with a huge bang injuring at least six people present at the scene. The attackers managed to escape after the incident.

Security and emergency teams reached the site. Rescue personnel shifted the victims to Civil Hospital for treatment.

Full report at: dawn.com/news/1219424/grenade-attack-in-lyari-injures-at-least-six

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World Bank approves US $ 500 million loan to Pakistan

PTI | Nov 13, 2015

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank has approved a USD 500 million loan to cash-strapped Pakistan for energy sector reform in the country reeling under frequent power cuts.

The loan, scheduled to be issued in April, was delayed due to government's failure to implement key conditions imposed by the bank.

After the government fulfilled over half a dozen conditions, including setting up an independent entity to purchase electricity from producers, the loan was finally approved by the World Bank (WB).

Finance ministry confirmed in a statement on Thursday that " USD 500 million loan was approved".

The loan will be utilised for budget financing, unlike project loans that are used for creating assets, it said.

Among the conditions met included giving an application to the power sector regulator for determining multi-year electricity tariffs to make power distribution companies attractive for privatisation.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/World-Bank-approves-US-500-million-loan-to-Pakistan/articleshow/49766329.cms?

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US sanctions Pak money laundering group, Dubai-based affiliate

PTI | Nov 13, 2015

WASHINGTON: The US has slapped sanctions on a Pakistan-based group and its affiliate in Dubai, which have ties with terrorist outfits like the LeT and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, for laundering money for criminals and political activists.

"The Khanani Money Laundering Organisation exploits its relationships with financial institutions to funnel billions of dollars across the globe on behalf of terrorists, drug traffickers, and criminal organisations," said Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam J Szubin on Thursday.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-sanctions-Pak-money-laundering-group-Dubai-based-affiliate/articleshow/49764764.cms

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India

Full text of PM Modi's address to British parliament

Nov 12, 2015

Following is the full text of PM Modi's address to British parliament:

Lord Speaker,

Mr. Speaker,

Mr. Prime Minister

I am delighted to be in London. Even in this globalised world, London is still the standard for our times. The city has embraced the world's diversity and represents the finest in human achievements. And, I am truly honoured to speak in the British Parliament.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for opening the doors to us, here in this magnificent setting of the Royal Court. I know that the Parliament is not in Session. Prime Minister Cameron looks relaxed and relieved.

But, I want to remind you, Mr. Prime Minister, that you owe me royalty for an election slogan. I know that you are hosting me at the Chequers this evening. But, I also know that you will understand if I am fair to both sides of the floor. Especially since British MPs of Indian Origin are evenly balanced between the Treasury and the Opposition benches. So, I also extend my good wishes to the Labour. Indeed, since these are still early days after the election, my warm congratulations to the Members of the House. And, greetings to the eminent leaders of Britain and great friends of India present here today.

So much of the modern history of India is linked to this building. So much history looms across our relationship. There are others who have spoken forcefully on the debts and dues of history. I will only say that many freedom fighters of India found their calling in the institutions of Britain. And, many makers of modern India, including several of my distinguished predecessors, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Dr. Manmohan Singh, passed through their doors.

There are many things on which it is hard to tell anymore if they are British or Indian: The Jaguar or the Scotland Yard, for example. The Brooke Bond tea or my friend late Lord Ghulam Nun's curry. And, our strongest debates are whether the Lord's pitch swings unfairly or the wicket at Eden Gardens cracks too early. And, we love the Bhangra rap from London just as you like the English novel from India.

On the way to this event, Prime Minister Cameron and I paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi outside the Parliament. I was reminded of a question I was asked on a tour abroad. How is it that the statue of Gandhi stands outside the British Parliament? To that question, my answer is: The British are wise enough to recognise his greatness; Indians are generous enough to share him; we are both fortunate enough to have been touched by his life and mission; and, we are both smart enough to use the strengths of our connected histories to power the future of our relationship.

So, I stand here today, not as a visiting Head of Government, given the honour to speak in this temple of democracy. I am here as a representative of a fellow institution and a shared tradition.

And, tomorrow, Prime Minister and I will be at the Wembley. Even in India, every young footballer wants to bend it like Beckham. Wembley will be a celebration of one-half-million threads of life that bind us; one and half million people - proud of their heritage in India; proud of their home in Britain.

It will be an expression of joy for all that we share: values, institutions, political system, sports, culture and art. And, it will be a recognition of our vibrant partnerships and a shared future.

The United Kingdom is the third largest investor in India behind Singapore and Mauritius. India is the third largest source of Foreign Direct Investment projects in the United Kingdom. Indians invest more in Britain than in the rest of European Union combined. It is not because they want to save on interpretation costs, but because they find an environment that is welcoming and familiar.

It takes an Indian icon, Tata, to run a British icon and become your nation's largest private sector employer.

The UK remains a preferred destination for Indian students. And, I am pleased that an Indian company is taking a thousand British students to India to skill them in Information Technology.

We are working together in the most advanced areas of science and technology. We are finding solutions to the enduring human problems of food and health security, and seeking answers to emerging challenges like climate change.

Our security agencies work together so that our children return home safe and our increasingly networked lives are not prey to the threats on cyber space.

Our Armed Forces exercise with each other, so that they can stand more strongly for the values we represent. This year alone, we have had three exercises together.

And, in the international arena, your support has made it more possible for India to take her rightful place in global institutions and regimes. And, it has helped us both advance our common interests.

Mr. Speaker,

Strong as our partnership is, for a relationship such as ours, we must set higher ambitions. We are two democracies; two strong economies; and, two innovative societies.

We have the comfort of familiarity and the experience of a long partnership. Britain's resurgence is impressive. Its influence on the future of the global economy remains strong.

And, Mr. Speaker, India is new bright spot of hope and opportunity for the world. It is not just the universal judgment of international institutions. It is not just the logic of numbers: a nation of 1.25 billion people with 800 million under the age of 35 years.

This optimism comes from the energy and enterprise of our youth; eager for change and confident of achieving it. It is the result of bold and sustained measures to reform our laws, policies, institutions and processes.

We are igniting the engines of our manufacturing sector; making our farms more productive and more resilient; making our services more innovative and efficient; moving with urgency on building global skills for our youth; creating a revolution in Startup enterprises; and, building the next generation infrastructure that will have a light footprint on the Earth.

Our momentum comes not just from the growth we pursue, but from the transformation that we seek in the quality of life for every citizen.

Much of India that we dream of still lies ahead of us: housing, power, water and sanitation for all; bank accounts and insurance for every citizen; connected and prosperous villages; and, smart and sustainable cities. These are goals with a definite date, not just a mirage of hope.

And, inspired by Gandhiji, the change has begun with us - the way the government works. There is transparency and accountability in governance. There is boldness and speed in decisions.

Federalism is no longer the fault line of Centre-State relations, but the definition of a new partnership of Team India. Citizens now have the ease of trust, not the burden of proof and process. Businesses find an environment that is open and easy to work in.

In a nation connected by cell phones, Digital India is transforming the interface between Government and people.

So, Mr. Speaker, with apologies to poet T.S. Eliot, we won't let the shadow fall between the idea and reality.

If you visit India, you will experience the wind of change.

It is reflected in the surge of investments from around the world; in enhanced stability of our economy; in 190 million new bank accounts of hope and inclusion; in the increase in our growth to nearly 7.5% per year; and, in the sharp rise in our ranking on Ease of Doing Business.

And, the motto of Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas, is our vision of a nation, in which every citizen belongs, participates and prospers.

It is not just a call for economic inclusion. It is also a celebration of our diversity; the creed for social harmony; and, a commitment to individual liberties and rights.

This is the timeless ethos of our culture; this is the basis of our constitution; and, this will be the foundation of our future.

Mr. Speaker, Members and Friends,

The progress of India is the destiny of one-sixth of humanity. And, it will also mean a world more confident of its prosperity; and, more secure about its future.

It is also natural and inevitable that our economic relations will grow by leaps and bounds. We will form unbeatable partnerships, if we combine our unique strengths and the size and scale of opportunities in India.

We will see more investment and trade. We will open new doors in the Services sector. We will collaborate more - here and in India - in defence equipment and technology. We will work together on renewable and nuclear energy.

We will explore the mysteries of science and harness the power of technology and innovation. We will realise the opportunities of the digital world. Our youth will learn more from - and with - each other.

But, a relationship as rich as this, with so much promise as ours, cannot be measured only in terms of our mutual prosperity.

Mr. Speaker,

Ours is an age of multiple transitions in the world. We are yet to fully comprehend the future unfolding before us. As in the previous ages, it will be different from the world we know.

So, in the uncharted waters of our uncertain times, we must together help steer a steady course for this world in the direction that mirrors the ideals we share.

For, in that lies not just the success of our two nations, but also the promise of the world that we desire. We have the strength of our partnership and the membership of the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the G-20.

We live in a world where instability in a distant region quickly reaches our doorsteps. We see this in the challenges of radicalization and refugees.

The fault lines are shifting from the boundaries of nations into the web of our societies and the streets of our cities. And, terrorism and extremism are a global force that are larger than their changing names, groups, territories and targets.

The world must speak in one voice and act in unison to combat this challenge of our times. We must adopt a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN without delay. There should be no distinction between terrorist groups or discrimination between nations. There should be a resolve to isolate those who harbour terrorists and willingness to stand with nations that will fight them honestly. And, we need a social movement against extremism in countries where it is most prevalent and, every effort to delink religion and terrorism.

Oceans remain vital for our prosperity. Now, we have to also secure our cyber and outer space. Our interests are aligned across many regions. We have a shared interest in stable, prosperous and integrated South Asia, drawn together in a shared march to prosperity.

We want an Afghanistan that is shaped by the dreams of the great Afghan people, not by irrational fears and overreaching ambitions of others.

A peaceful, stable Indian Ocean Region is vital for global commerce and prosperity. And, the future of Asia Pacific region will have profound impact on all of us. We both have huge stakes in West Asia and the Gulf.

And, in Africa, where, amidst many challenges, we see so many promising signs of courage, wisdom, leadership and enterprise. India has just held an Africa Summit, in which all 55 countries, and 42 leaders participated.

We must also cooperate to launch a low carbon age for a sustainable future for our planet. This is a global responsibility that we must assume in Paris later this month.

The world has crafted a beautiful balance of collective action - common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.

Those who have the means and the know-how must help meet the universal aspiration of humanity for clean energy and a healthy environment. And, when we speak of restraint, we must not only think of curbing fossil fuels, but also moderating our lifestyles.

We must all do our part. For India, a target of 175 GW of additional capacity in renewable energy by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity of 33-35 % by 2030 are just two of the steps of a comprehensive strategy.

I have also proposed to launch during the COP 21 meeting an International Solar Alliance to make solar energy an integral part of our lives, even in the most unconnected villages.

In Britain, you are more likely to use an umbrella against rain than the sun. But, my team defined the membership of the Solar Alliance in more precise terms: you have to be located within the Tropics.

And, we are pleased that the United Kingdom qualifies! So, we look forward to an innovative Britain as a valuable partner in this endeavour. Prime Minister Cameron and I are, indeed, very pleased that cooperation on affordable and accessible clean energy is an important pillar of our relations.

Mr. Speaker,

This is a huge moment for our two great nations. So, we must seize our opportunities, remove the obstacles to cooperation, instill full confidence in our relations and remain sensitive to each other's interests.

In doing so, we will transform our strategic partnership, and we will make this relationship count as one of the leading global partnerships. Ever so often, in the call of Britain's most famous Bard that we must seize the tide in the affairs of men, the world has sought the inspiration to act. And, so must we.

But, in defining the purpose of our partnership, we must turn to a great son of India, whose house in London I shall dedicate to the cause of social justice on Saturday. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, whose 125th birth anniversary we are celebrating now, was not just an architect of India's Constitution and our parliamentary democracy. He also stood for the upliftment of the weak, the oppressed and the excluded. And, he lifted us all to a higher cause in the service of humanity; to build a future of justice, equality, opportunity and dignity for all humans; and, peace among people.

That is the cause to which India and the United Kingdom have dedicated themselves today.

Thank you very much, thanks a lot.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Full-text-of-PM-Modis-address-to-British-parliament/articleshow/49760503.cms

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PM Modi sends out strong message on intolerance

TNN | Nov 12, 2015

NEW DELHI/LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday issued a joint statement after their delegation-level bilateral meeting concluded.

After the joint statement was issued, Prime Minister Modi was asked a question by a foreign journalist on the incidents of growing intolerance in India which had been making headlines the past few months.

In reply, the PM said the government was committed to freedom of speech and there was no room for intolerance. He admitted some incidents had taken place, but in a strong message made it very clear 'India would not tolerate intolerance'.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Modi-sends-out-strong-message-on-intolerance/articleshow/49759910.cms

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PM Modi first Indian head to address British parliament

TNN | Nov 12, 2015

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday became the first Indian head to address the British parliament. The Prime Minister received a standing ovation when he arrived at the House of Commons. He concluded his speech to a loud round of applause.

The PM started his speech saying he was honoured to speak at the British parliament and was delighted to be in London. "I know that the British parliament is not is session, PM Cameron looks relaxed and relieved," the Prime Minister said to a round of laughter.

READ: Full text of PM Modi's address to UK parliament

During the course of his address, the PM said he was once asked how Mahatma Gandhi;s statue stood outside the UK parliament. "I replied, British are wise enough to recognize his (Mahatma Gandhi) greatness and Indians are generous enough to share him," he said.

Modi arrived in the United Kingdom on Thursday afternoon on a three-day visit. This is Modi's first visit as Indian Prime Minister to the UK. The Prime Minister's visit to Britain will be a mix of bilateral engagements as well as programmes purely relating to Indian diaspora.

Apart from addressing British parliamentarians, PM Modi will have one-on-one bilateral discussion with his UK counterpart David Cameron, with whom he would be sitting across for the third time since assuming the office, foreign secretary S Jaishankar said in a media briefing today.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Modi-first-Indian-head-to-address-British-parliament/articleshow/49760557.cms

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Omar Abdullah slams critics, asks 'why can't we praise PM Narendra Modi's excellent speech'

PTI | Nov 13, 2015

SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday took on critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech to British parliamentarians asking "why cannot we take pride" in the excellent speech made by him.

"The Indian PM made an excellent speech to British MPs in their parliament. Why can't we just take pride in that?" Omar said in response to a tweet on a Twitter account which claims to be a handle for Congress volunteers.

PM Modi, first Indian head to address British parliament

"PM didn't address joint session of parliament, but a speech to MPs in the royal gallery. Yeh Jhoot bhi pakda gaya (this lie has also been caught)," the volunteer handle, @withCongress, had tweeted.

The former chief minister remarked on some of the questions asked of the Prime Minister saying it would be safe to assume that the British press was not "advised" about the questions to be asked.

"I think we can safely assume that the British press was not 'advised' about what to ask & what not to. Some very hard hitting questions!" he said.

However, he made it clear that second part of the question asked by the British newspaper 'Guardian' was "disrespectful" towards the Prime Minister.

"The second part of the @guardian question to PM Modi was rather disrespectful to say the least," he said.

The Guardian reporter had asked Modi about protests on the streets of London saying he did not deserve the respect that would normally be accorded to the leader of the world's largest democracy given his record as Gujarat chief minister.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Omar-Abdullah-slams-critics-asks-why-cant-we-praise-PM-Narendra-Modis-excellent-speech/articleshow/49769421.cms

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Modi gifts Cameron bookends with Gita verses on it

PTI | Nov 13, 2015

LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gifted his British counterpart David Cameron a specially handcrafted pair of bookends with verses from Bhagavad Gita engraved on it and a book compiled of letters sent by Indian soldiers during the World War I when they served in France.

"Presented PM @David_Cameron a specially handcrafted pair of bookends made of wood, marble and silver," Modi tweeted.

The centrepiece of each of these bookends is a silver bell which has a verse from the Bhagavad Gita etched in Sanskrit, along with its English meaning along the inside rim.

These verses are taken from Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita.

Keeping in mind Cameron's fondness for Robert Graves' work on World War I 'Goodbye to All That', the Prime Minister also presented to him David Omissi's 'Indian Voices of the Great War'.

To First Lady Samantha Cameron, he presented an Aranmula metal mirror, a unique GI protected handicraft from Kerala, and some pashmina stoles.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-gifts-Cameron-bookends-with-Gita-verses-on-it/articleshow/49769084.cms

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Mushroom pulao, tarka dal for Prime Minister Modi at Chequers

PTI | Nov 13, 2015

LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vegetarian tastes were well catered for at Chequers, the British prime minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire, where he was served dishes like mushroom pulao (rice) and tarka dal.

Cameron hosted Modi for what has been described as an "intimate dinner" last evening after a power-packed day that included delegation-level talks, an address to MPs and a speech at the financial hub of London.

The two leaders got a chance to relax over the private dinner for which Cameron's expert chefs had prepared British autumn salad of beets and roots as a starter followed up by a main course of porcini mushroom pulao, tarka dal and kachumber salad with mango pudding for dessert.

The menu also reflected a perfect India-UK blend with some of Britain's seasonal vegetables being used for the Indian dishes.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mushroom-pulao-tarka-dal-for-Prime-Minister-Modi-at-Chequers/articleshow/49769273.cms

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South Asia

Gen. Dostum hints at Pakistan as violence soars across Afghanistan

Nov 12 2015

Gen. Dostum hints at PakistanThe First Vice President of Afghanistan Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum hinted at Pakistan for fueling violence and insurgency in the country.

In his statement following a widespread demonstration in capital Kabul after the beheading of women and a child by the alleged Islamic State militants, Gen. Dostum said “It is certain that a number of Taliban and Madrasa Mullahs are not involved behind the incidents and ill-fated plans but the spy agency of our southern neighbor is having a critical role in bloodshed and violence in the country.”

He was apparently gesturing towards Pakistan as the ‘southern neighbor’ of Afghanistan but he warned that the terrorist groups will not suffice by having a grip in Afghanistan only and insisted that they are looking to expand in Central Asia, Russia, China, Turkey and even in Europe.

In the meantime, Gen. Dostum said the recently emerged Islamic State terror group was likely involved in the growing violence across the country, calling the emergence of the terror group as a sophisticated and a major game.

He also thanked President Barack Obama for extending the military presence of United States in Afghanistan and urged that the American forces should continue to their military operations in the country in a solemn and precise way in a bid to eliminate terrorism from the country.

Gen. Dostum also added that latest rally by the Afghan people demonstrates their frustration and hatred against terrorism and horrible acts by them including stoning to death, beheadings, suicide attacks and explosions.

khaama.com/gen-dostum-hints-at-pakistan-as-violence-soars-across-afghanistan-1687

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Bangladesh bloggers fear deadly backlash won't end soon

AP | Nov 13, 2015

A Bangladeshi protester holds a banner during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (AP photo)A Bangladeshi protester holds a banner during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (AP photo)

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Omi Rahman Pial has changed homes five times in the last three months. He hasn't seen his young daughter in weeks and is afraid to be seen on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital and home to several grisly killings of secular bloggers like him.

"I am a refugee in my own country," he said. "And under the threat of being killed, nowhere to go. Where should I go? So if you want to see the maximum punishment a blogger could get in Bangladesh, look at me."

Fear is running high following months in which four bloggers and three other people have been killed, allegedly by Islamist radicals. Many bloggers have gone into hiding, and some have left the country.

Authorities blame the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its main Islamist ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, saying they want to destabilize the country ahead of executions, expected late this year, of two influential politicians from the two parties for war crimes. Some of the victims were involved in a movement that has pressed for capital punishment for those politicians and several others for actions during the country's 1971 independence war against Pakistan. Two of the politicians have been executed.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Bangladesh-bloggers-fear-deadly-backlash-wont-end-soon/articleshow/49766192.cms

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Mideast

Reactions against handcuffing detainees continue despite suspension of Manisa police chief

November 12, 2015

A number of well-known figures continue to criticize the unlawful practice of handcuffing non-resistant arrestees, after the Manisa police chief was temporarily suspended as part of an investigation launched into the handcuffing of arrestees during a government-backed operation targeting the faith-based Gülen movement this week.

Police officers on Monday handcuffed 26 people including lawyers, educators and headscarved women and paraded them on the street until they were escorted to police cars in an operation carried out against the faith-based Gülen movement, popularly known as the Hizmet movement and inspired by the teachings of Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen. The operation was performed on the charges of alleged members providing financial support to the “parallel structure,” a term invented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to refer to the Hizmet movement.

Full report at: todayszaman.com/national_police-unlawfully-raid-zaman-todays-zaman-and-aksiyon-newsrooms_404124.html

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As curfew in Silvan reaches 10th day, thousands leave tense district

November 12, 2015

 As an ongoing curfew imposed on Nov. 2 is still in place, thousands of residents have started to leave the tense district of Silvan in the southeastern Diyarbakır province after the ongoing intense clashes between the Turkish security forces and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorists have turned the district into a battlefield, with many houses destroyed and eight people killed.

Gunshots can constantly be heard in Silvan due to the ongoing clashes in the city, where six civilians, a soldier and a police officer have been killed since the curfew was imposed.

In the latest fatal attack, the terrorists targeted an armored police vehicle in the district on Wednesday, killing one policeman and injuring another. The media reports say a group of terrorists attacked the vehicle along the Diyarbakır Highway with rockets.

Full report at: todayszaman.com/national_as-curfew-in-silvan-reaches-10th-day-thousands-leave-tense-district_404120.html

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Private library of Hebrew writings to be sold

AP | Nov 13, 2015

NEW YORK: Sotheby's is offering what experts consider the world's most important private library of Hebrew books and manuscripts, collected by a London diamond dealer.

The 11,000 items document life in the Jewish diaspora from Europe and Africa to Asia, spanning a millennium, Sotheby's vice chairman David Redden told The Associated Press on Thursday. Some items have burn or water marks or other signs of religious persecution such as censored, inked-over passages.

On December 22, a dozen treasures from the collection will go on the auction block, including a Hebrew Bible from 1189, the only surviving dated Hebrew manuscript written before the Jews were expelled from England in 1290, Sotheby's said.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Private-library-of-Hebrew-writings-to-be-sold/articleshow/49763285.cms

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Islamic State committed genocide in Iraq against Yazidis -report

Reuters | Nov 12, 2015

UNITED NATIONS: Islamic State militants committed genocide against Iraq's Yazidis in the north of the country and carried out crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes against other minorities, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum said on Thursday.

The crimes were committed against Christian, Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, Sabaean-Mandaean, and Kaka'i people in Nineveh province between June and August 2014, found a report by the museum's Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide.

"We believe Islamic State has been and is perpetrating genocide against the Yazidi people," the report said. "Islamic State's stated intent and patterns of violence against Shia Shabak and Shia Turkmen also raise concerns about the commission and risk of genocide against these groups."

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Islamic-State-committed-genocide-in-Iraq-against-Yazidis-report/articleshow/49756993.cms

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Africa

Around 25 dead in Boko Haram raid in Niger and clashes with army

Reuters | Nov 13, 2015

NIAMEY: Around 25 people were killed on Wednesday in a Boko Haram attack on a village in southern Niger and subsequent clashes between the Islamist militants and the army, Niger military officials said.

Fighters from the Nigerian militant group killed five civilians in their initial attack on the village located in the West African nation's Bosso district. Niger soldiers drove back the militants, killing around 20 of them, the officers said.

"Reactingly quickly, the government's forces were able to push them back. Most of the Boko Haram elements have been neutralised," said one of the officers, based in the Diffa border region.

"The situation is under control and we are carrying out clean-up operations," he added.

Boko Haram has ramped up cross-border attacks into Niger, Chad and Cameroon from its strongholds in northeastern Nigeria in recent months.

Almost a third of Diffa's nearly 600,000 inhabitants have been displaced by the violence.

A long-awaited 8,700-troop-strong regional task force is set to begin joint operations soon against the Islamist fighters when the region's rainy season ends, a top United Nations official said late last month.

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Around-25-dead-in-Boko-Haram-raid-in-Niger-and-clashes-with-army/articleshow/49756291.cms

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Europe

Italian police announce international swoop on 'jihadist network'

AFP | Nov 13, 2015

ROME: Italian police on Thursday announced a swoop on a European jihadist network that was allegedly planning to try to spring its leader out of detention in Norway.

Seventeen people were targeted in the raids across Europe - 16 Kurds and a Kosovan. Six of them have been arrested in Italy, four in Britain and three in Norway.

Several members of the group have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight for the Islamic State group, police said.

Investigators said the network was trying to free Norway-based fundamentalist preacher Najmuddin Ahmad Faraj - also known as Mullah Krekar - who is listed as a terrorist by the United States and United Nations.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/Italian-police-announce-international-swoop-on-jihadist-network/articleshow/49757154.cms?

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Jihadi John 'dead': US officials believe Mohammed Emwazi was killed in Raqqa drone strike

Lizzie Dearden | The Independent | Nov 13, 2015

American defence officials have said they are almost certain they have killed the British militant known as Jihadi John in a drone strike.

Mohammed Emwazi, who appeared in a series of gory propaganda videos showing the beheading of foreign journalists and aid workers last year, was targeted in the Isis stronghold of Raqqa last night.

There has been no official confirmation of his death but a senior US military official told Fox News: "We are 99 per cent sure we got him."

Another official speaking to ABC News described the air strike that as a "flawless" and "clean hit" that "evaporated" Emwazi without killing civilians.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Jihadi-John-dead-US-officials-believe-Mohammed-Emwazi-was-killed-in-Raqqa-drone-strike/articleshow/49767209.cms

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Russian Foreign Ministry: ISIL, Other Terrorist Groups Use Mustard Gas in Syria

TEHRAN, Nov 13, 2015 (FNA)- The ISIL terrorist group and other radical groups in the Middle East have access to chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas, and are using them, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing on Thursday.

"The ISIL and some other radical Islamist groups in the Middle East have indeed gained access to the components and technologies for the production of chemical weapons and began using them more actively in Syria and Iraq," the diplomat said.

"If earlier we talked about the use of household and industrial chlorine by them as chemical weapons, now there is verified information about the use of warfare poisonous agents, including mustard gas," Zakharova said.

english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940821000899

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'Jihadi John': Quiet football fan who became the symbol of IS

Nov 13, 2015

LONDON: From a quiet, football loving child to an Islamic State executioner, the man who became one of the most haunting figures of the jihadist movement remains a mystery even after being the high-profile target of a US air strike.

Born Mohammed Emwazi, the masked Brit who became known as "Jihadi John" sparked worldwide revulsion with his grisly executions of foreign aid workers and journalists in Syria on camera.

People who knew him quoted by British media said they could not reconcile the quiet but intense young man they knew with the "cold, sadistic and merciless" killer described by one former hostage.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Jihadi-John-Quiet-football-fan-who-became-the-symbol-of-IS/articleshow/49766253.cms

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Europe in "race against time" to save open borders: EU president Tusk

Reuters | Nov 13, 2015

VALLETTA: Europe is in a "race against time" to save its system of passport-free travel and must move fast to tighten control of migration over its external borders, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday.

Citing Sweden's move to reimpose checks on arrivals from other EU countries and new measures in Germany and Slovenia, he told a news conference at a summit on migration on Malta that these showed EU states were under "huge pressure."

"Saving Schengen is a race against time," the former Polish premier said of the open border system among European states. "And we are determined to win that race."

That would require implementing the series of measures agreed amid great dispute among EU governments over the past few months, he said. "This includes, first and foremost, restoring external border control. Without effective border control, the Schengen rules will not survive."

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Europe-in-race-against-time-to-save-open-borders-EU-president-Tusk/articleshow/49758047.cms

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North America

Obama calls Myanmar president, endorses election as Suu Kyi eyes majority

Reuters | Nov 12, 2015

YANGON: US President Barack Obama called Myanmar leader Thein Sein to congratulate him on Thursday on the staging of a historic general election, in which democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi trounced the ruling camp.

Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) has won more than 80 percent of the seats declared so far in the lower house, a result that puts her on course to form the new cabinet, and is well ahead in the upper house and regional assemblies.

If the full results confirm the trend, Suu Kyi's triumph will sweep out an old guard of former generals that has run Myanmar since Thein Sein in ushered in sweeping democratic and economic reforms four years ago.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Obama-calls-Myanmar-president-endorses-election-as-Suu-Kyi-eyes-majority/articleshow/49757944.cms

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Outcome of Airstrike Targeting ‘Jihadi John’ Is Unknown, Kerry and Cameron Say

By SEWELL CHAN and KIMIKO DE FREYTAS-TAMURAN

OV. 13, 2015

LONDON — Secretary of State John Kerry and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said on Friday that they did not yet know the outcome of an airstrike the American military launched on Thursday to kill Mohammed Emwazi, the Islamic State’s most notorious executioner.

The two officials spoke, in separate briefings in Tunis and London, the morning after the Pentagon confirmed that the airstrike, near the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, Syria, had targeted Mr. Emwazi, a British citizen who became known as Jihadi John.

Calling the Islamic State an “evil terrorist death cult,” Mr. Cameron defended the decision to target Mr. Emwazi, who was born in Kuwait and is a naturalized British citizen, as “an act of self-defense” and “the right thing to do.”

A video still believed to show Mohammed Emwazi, a member of the Islamic State often referred to as Jihadi John.Pentagon Says It Targeted ‘Jihadi John’NOV. 12, 2015

The area in London where Mohammed Emwazi, the Islamic State militant known as Jihadi John, is believed to have once lived.Fertile Ground for Militancy in Hometown of Jihadi JohnFEB. 28, 2015

Full report at: nytimes.com/2015/11/14/world/europe/jihadi-john-mohammed-emwazi-david-cameron-statement.html?emc=edit_tnt_20151113&nlid=71783194&tntemail0=y&_r=0

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Pentagon says it targeted 'Jihadi John'

Eric Schmitt | NYT News Service

Nov 13, 2015

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon said late Thursday that it had targeted Mohammed Emwazi, a member of the Islamic State often referred to as Jihadi John, in an airstrike near Raqqa, Syria.

Peter Cook, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement that the military was "assessing the results" of the strike to determine if Emwazi had been killed.

Emwazi, considered the most prominent British member of the militant group, was shown in videos in 2014 and 2015 killing several U.S. and other Western hostages. European governments, including those in Britain and France, are grappling with how to stem the tide of thousands of European citizens who are traveling to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside the Islamic State.

Full report at: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Pentagon-says-it-targeted-Jihadi-John/articleshow/49765723.cms?

 

URL:  https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/isis-warns-russia,-says-blood/d/105263

 

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